Today Is The 65th Anniversary of Emmett Till's LynchingDays After The Shooting of Jacob Blake Today is the 65th anniversary of Emmett Tills lynching. On August 28, 1955, Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Chicagoan visiting family in Money, Mississippi, was violently lynched for allegedly flirting with a white woman a few days earlier. Four days prior, shop owner Carolyn Bryant claimed that Till flirted with her while in her store, with different accounts claiming different things on Tills part. Four days later, Roy BryantCarolyns husbandand his brother J.W. Milam showed up at Tills uncles home, demanding to see him. ADVERTISEMENT According to History.com, the pair dragged Till out of the house and into their car. Till was found dead in the Tallahatchie River three days later, unrecognizable from beatings, having an eye gouged out, a bullet in the head, and a 75-pound cotton gin tied to his neck with barbed wire. Milam and Bryant were both acquitted by an all-white jury after just an hour of deliberation. Carolyn Bryant later confessed that she lied about Till coming on to her, claiming he never touched, threatened or harassed her, according to History.com. Tills mother, Mamie Till Mobley, insisted that Tills funeral be open casket so that the world could see what they had done to her sonLet the people see what I have seen. The images shared of Tills body, unrecognizably swollen and broken, became part of the massive push for Civil Rights in the '60s. A feature film about Tills death and Mobleys work telling his story will be directed by Clemency director Chinonye Chukwu. Production is scheduled to start in 2021, coinciding what would have been Tills 80th birthday. I am deeply honored to be telling this story and working with such an incredible producing team, Chukwu said, according to Deadline. Amidst the pain and brutality that is inherent to Mamie and Emmetts story, I intend to delve deeply into their humanities, the love and joy they shared, and the activist consciousness that grows within Mamie as she seeks justice for her son. Tills story is especially relevant today, as we are still seeing violence against innocent black men like Jacob Blake and George Floyd and the heroization of violent white men, like Breonna Taylors murdererswho still havent been chargedor Kyle Rittenhouse, who killed two at a BLM protest and was welcomed by police and called a hero on Fox News. The violence has changed, but it is still undeniably targeted at Black Americans simply for their skin color. At 14 years old, Emmett Till was abducted, beaten & lynched by white supremacistsonly 65 yrs ago. There are still sitting U.S. Senators who dont think lynching should be a federal crime. We must uproot the systemic racism that killed Emmett & kills Black Americans every day. Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) August 28, 2020 These words, these words, these words from Jacob Blakes sister. The soul of this nation is sick. It happened to Emmett Till. Emmett Till is my family. Friday marks the 65th anniversary of the lynching of Emmett Till. pic.twitter.com/LNP4sm9hfx Be A King (@BerniceKing) August 25, 2020 65 years after Emmett Till was lynched and deprived of justice, Jacob Blake was shot 7 times in the back. Hes paralyzed and handcuffed, yet the police officer who shot him is free. This nations history of white supremacy never left. Rep. Joe Kennedy III (@RepJoeKennedy) 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. ? 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 In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch 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 Senator Rand Paul (R., Ky.) is calling on the FBI to investigate the mob of protestors that swarmed him outside of the White House on Thursday following President Trumps Republican convention speech, saying the group is part of an organized interstate racket. In an appearance on Fox & Friends Friday morning, Paul detailed his experience being harassed by an angry mob of over 100 people, saying if not for police who formed a wall around the senator and his wife, he believes he would be dead or seriously injured. I truly believe this with every fiber of my being, had they gotten at us they would have gotten us to the ground, we might not have been killed, might just have been injured by being kicked in the head, or kicked in the stomach until we were senseless, he said. Protestors shouted threats to kill and hurt him, including saying, Were not going to let you go alive unless youll say youre for criminal justice reform though Paul has authored 22 criminal justice reforms, including the Breonna Taylor law to end no-knock raids, he said. Video of the incident appears to show a protestor shoving a police officer, nearly knocking him down. Rand Paul just got chased by a crowd back to his hotel, after leaving the White House from Trumps Republican Party Nomination #DC #DCProtests pic.twitter.com/h1kPcZG1jh Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) August 28, 2020 Paul believes the protestors were people who came from outside Washington D.C. as paid agents of anarchy. I believe there are going to be people who are involved with the attack on us that actually were paid to come here, are not from Washington, D.C., and are sort of paid to be anarchists, he said. This is disturbing because really, if youre inciting a riot thats a crime, but if youre paying someone to incite a riot that person needs to go to jail as well. Story continues Paul said the attack isnt normal and that theres something going on here, saying the FBI needs to be involved. This is an organized interstate racket. My feeling is that there is interstate criminal traffic being paid for across state lines, but you wont know unless you arrest them. Otherwise you just think Oh, these are some normal hoodlums from a big city. he said. I promise you that at least some of the people who attacked us were not from D.C. Paul claimed that protestors came to the city on a plane in fresh, new clothes and are being paid to cause trouble. He called on the FBI to arrest and question demonstrators, suggesting a judge should subpoena their bills to find out who paid for your bill? How did you get here on a plane and staying in a fancy hotel and yet youre acting like a criminal? Somethings going on here and its much bigger than people think, he said. As President Trump prepared to give his speech from the South Lawn on Thursday night, hundreds of protestors gathered outside the White House, yelling No justice, no peace and Join us. Protestors also harassed other attendees of Trumps speech as they left the White House video by the Daily Caller appears to show protestors shouting expletives at attendees exiting the speech with police security. More from National Review The pandemonium at Kenosha, Wisconsin over the shooting of Jacob Blake by the police has in recent weeks increased, as two persons were shot and another injured. Protesters rampaged by destroying cars and properties in the street as they let their grievances of one too many of American police brutalization of African-Americans. Meanwhile Illinois Police has identified the suspected shooter of Africa-American Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, as Kyle Rittenhouse, a former member of a youth police cadet program with an overwhelming affinity for firearms. Police Chief, Philip L. Perlini identified the suspect as Kyle, a 17-year-old and former member of a cadet police programme. According to him, the cadet program is said to offer candidates the opportunity to advance further their policing careers. He continued by saying that Kyle, has been apprehended and charged with first-degree purposeful homicide. In related development, Antioch Police disclosed in a press statement that the suspect is currently been detained at Lake County Judicial System and will later be transferred to Wisconsin. Many Beirut schools wont be ready to open in time for the new school year, having suffered extensive damage from the double explosion at the citys port in early August. FRANCE 24s correspondents bring us a special report from the Lebanese capital. The public school in Ashrafieh, a historic neighborhood near Beiruts port, has known its share of difficulties. Facing budget cuts and a shortage of teachers, it has been forced to shut five classes in recent years. Now, its physical structure is in peril, too. The twin explosions in the citys port on August 4 knocked out doors and windows, and left the walls themselves at risk of collapsing. Lebanese schools are set to reopen in late September, but here, as at dozens of schools damaged by the port blasts, rebuilding has yet to even begin. Altogether, some 85,000 students in the Lebanese capital likely wont be able to return to school next month. We are trying to help as best we can, but our capacity is very limited, outgoing education minister Tarek al Majzoub told France 24. Lebanon was on the edge of bankruptcy even before the port blasts, and Covid-19, struck this year. UNESCO estimates it would cost some $22 million to repair the dozens of affected schools, and has launched an emergency fundraising campaign. In Ashrafieh, school principal Colette Khoury remains optimistic. Beirut has been hit by disasters in the past, and each time it stood up again, she told France 24. Beirut will be reborn once again. Click the player above to watch this exclusive report by FRANCE 24s Thameen Al-Kheetan and Zohra Ben Miloud. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Dire times in the New York City restaurant business have prompted numerous meetings among restaurateurs, a rally on City Hall, a not-for profit called IROAR, lawsuits and, now, a petition encouraged by Staten Island and Brooklyn proprietors. The plea to officials to open restaurants is laid out on Change.org with a goal of 5,000 signatures. As of Friday morning more than 3,600 people have signed, including hundreds of borough food service workers and operators. While Mayor Bill de Blasio reconsiders the return to indoor dining after its shuttering on March 16 in the pandemic pause, statistics show that over half of workers in the industry remain on unemployment. The petition is framed with words describing the Big Apple. It says, NYC is one of the most diverse cities with food establishments that represent every culture, and patrons that are proud to support them. The light of our city is being dimmed by officials who refuse to open up indoor dining, but it is so important to highlight just how vital restaurants are to our citys heart and survival. Carol Rogers of West Brighton supports the effort to immediately open dining rooms in New York City. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) The sentiment continues with a reminder that restricted dining was supposed to begin on July 8 and that Long Island and other regions around the state have reopened since. The petition notes, This puts NYC restaurant owners in a state of limbo, where they choose between trying to revive their business with to-go orders/outdoor dining or continue to wait, and struggle. New Yorkers have been following guidelines to be able to successfully go into each phase of reopening. It laments, It has been a heavy burden to keep up with high rent, supply costs, and employee wages with little to no customers. Rents need to be paid but how can businesses pay without customers to earn profits? The restaurant La Fontana is open for pick up, delivery and outdoor dining as sit-down, indoor eating continues to be banned. (Staten Island Advance/ Victoria Priola) The Change.org document is entitled Allow Indoor Dining for Restaurants in NYC! and those who sign do not have to be in the food service industry. As Staten Island and Brooklyn establishment get ready to file their own lawsuit in Richmond County, James G. Mermigis. of Syosett will file a class action lawsuit tomorrow against Gov. Cuomo and de Blasio to open indoor dining. The class plaintiff will be il Bacco restaurant in Little Neck, Queens. Mermigis told the Advance, The restaurant is a half block away from Nassau County and it is losing its entire customer base to Nassau County restaurants. His firm has also filed a lawsuit on behalf of 1,500 gyms in the state. Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com. MORE IN FOOD: Sneak peek at The Phoenixs food on Forest Avenue Southwestern and a cold brew? Yowza, Yowza! Adobe Blues reopens Tuesday! September without school lunch | Pamelas Food Service Diary Restaurants sue as a last gasp Beer and beans...perfect together -- in a new NYC brew On Forest Avenue, despite a pandemic, the restaurant scene is bursting -- and Mar Mar is back! Whats up with my fig tree in 2020? The restaurant owners mental health: Soon theyll need grief counseling | Pamelas Food Service Diary Restaurant owners rally cry: Start to stand strong or well die Experiencing zeppole withdrawal? Fear not, Staten Island. The zeppole beat goes on | Pamelas Food Service Diary New Dorp restaurants: Is the street still open for dining? A change of plans on The Lane. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 12:00:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close OSLO, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- China and Norway should cherish the healthy, stable development of bilateral ties in recent years and pursue mutually beneficial cooperation in the post-pandemic era while jointly upholding multilateralism, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Thursday. Wang made the remarks while meeting the press with Norway's Foreign Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide. It was the first visit to Norway by a Chinese foreign minister in 15 years, and his first visit to Norway since the pandemic hit Europe, Wang said. Calling his talks with Soreide "fruitful", Wang said bilateral relations in the next stage need to act out three principles in order to help speed up global economic recovery and improve global governance. First, China and Norway should continue to pursue a health and stable development of their ties. Although China and Norway are far away from each other and have different national conditions, bilateral relations can maintain steady and sustained growth with stronger political foundation as long as the two countries continue to respect each other, treat each other as equals and effectively accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns, Wang said. Second, China and Norway should continue to pursue mutually beneficial cooperation. Wang called on both sides to speed up FTA negotiations and reach an agreement as soon as possible, which, in the face of the pandemic, will be vital to promoting economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and maintaining an open and interconnective global supply chain. China attaches importance to the issue of Norwegian seafood exports to China and is willing to establish communication channels with Norway to provide more facilitation while ensuring food safety, Wang added. Moreover, China and Norway will work toward establishing a mechanism for maritime cooperation and dialogue and discuss the signing of Blue Partnership agreements, Wang said, adding that the two sides should also sign an inter-government cultural cooperation MoU and tax treaties as early as they can, and strengthen cooperation in winter sports. Third, China and Norway should jointly uphold multilateralism. Highlighting Norway's unique role in international affairs, Wang noted that China and Norway are both the beneficiaries and supporters of globalization, multilateralism and free trade, and have always been opposed to unilateralism and protectionism. China congratulates Norway on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2021-2022, and stands ready to establish consultation mechanisms with Norway for multilateral policy matters, Wang said. China is willing to have closer cooperation with Norway within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, as well as on issues such as peace mediation and development assistance, Wang said. Both countries can also work closely in the comprehensive implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, Wang added. Norway is the third leg after Italy and the Netherlands 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 France and Germany. Enditem CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Natural disasters alone are not enough to motivate local communities to engage in climate change mitigation or adaptation, a new study from Oregon State University found. Rather, policy change in response to extreme weather events appears to depend on a combination of factors, including fatalities, sustained media coverage, the unusualness of the event and the political makeup of the community. Climate scientists predict that the frequency and severity of extreme weather events will only continue to increase in coming decades. OSU researchers wanted to understand how local communities are reacting. "There's obviously national and state-level climate change policy, but we're really interested in what goes on at the local level to adapt to these changes," said lead author Leanne Giordono, a post-doctoral researcher in OSU's College of Public Health and Human Sciences. "Local communities are typically the first to respond to extreme events and disasters. How are they making themselves more resilient -- for example, how are they adapting to more frequent flooding or intense heat?" For the study, which was funded by the National Science Foundation, Giordono and co-authors Hilary Boudet of OSU's College of Liberal Arts and Alexander Gard-Murray at Harvard University examined 15 extreme weather events that occurred around the U.S. between March 2012 and June 2017, and any subsequent local climate policy change. These events included flooding, winter weather, extreme heat, tornadoes, wildfires and a landslide. The study, published recently in the journal Policy Sciences, found there were two "recipes" for local policy change after an extreme weather event. "For both recipes, experiencing a high-impact event -- one with many deaths or a presidential disaster declaration -- is a necessary condition for future-oriented policy adoption," Giordono said. In addition to a high death toll, the first recipe consisted of Democrat-leaning communities where there was focused media coverage of the weather event. These communities moved forward with adopting policies aimed at adapting in response to future climate change, such as building emergency preparedness and risk management capacity. The second recipe consisted of Republican-leaning communities with past experiences of other uncommon weather events. In these locales, residents often didn't engage directly in conversation about climate change but still worked on policies meant to prepare their communities for future disasters. In both recipes, policy changes were fairly modest and reactive, such as building fire breaks, levees or community tornado shelters. Giordono referred to these as "instrumental" policy changes. "As opposed to being driven by ideology or a shift in thought process, it's more a means to an end," she said. "'We don't want anyone else to die from tornadoes, so we build a shelter.' It's not typically a systemic response to global climate change." In their sample, the researchers didn't find any evidence of mitigation-focused policy response, such as communities passing laws to limit carbon emissions or require a shift to solar power. And some communities did not make any policy changes at all in the wake of extreme weather. The researchers suggest that in communities that are ideologically resistant to talking about climate change, it may be more effective to frame these policy conversations in other ways, such as people's commitment to their community or the community's long-term viability. Without specifically examining communities that have not experienced extreme weather events, the researchers cannot speak to the status of their policy change, but Giordono said it is a question for future study. "In some ways, it's not surprising that you see communities that have these really devastating events responding to them," Giordono said. "What about the vast majority of communities that don't experience a high-impact event -- is there a way to also spark interest in those communities?" "We don't want people to have to experience these types of disasters to make changes." ### The 17-year-old arrested and charged for the alleged killing of two people during a Kenosha, Wisconsin, protest has retained a law firm that previously represented Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. John Pierce of Pierce Bainbridge told Reuters that he and would represent Kyle Rittenhouse of Antioch, Illinois, after he was arrested for shooting three people, two of whom died, on Tuesday evening. The lawyer tweeted on Thursday that he would be joined with a "SEAL team" of defence, as they seek to "obtain justice" for Rittenhouse following his arrest. Mr Pierce will appear with his client at his extradition hearing in Lake County Circuit Court in Illinois on Friday. It was also confirmed that the legal team would be using #FightBack Foundation, Inc., a Texas non-profit Mr Pierce created with Atlanta attorney L Lin Wood, to raise money for Rittenhouse's defence. "Thanks to ALL Freedom Loving Americans who responded to requests for contact information on Kyle Rittenhouse," attorney L Lin Wood posted on Twitter. "We have connected with Kyle's family & help is on the way." "Kyle will have excellent legal representation. We owe him a legal defence," Mr Wood added. "We will obtain justice for Kyle." The lawyer also confirmed the #FightBack Foundation was the only current fund people should be donating to if they wished to support Rittenhouse. Protests following the police shooting of Jacob Blake turned violent in Kenosha on Tuesday evening. A gunman, accused by Kenosha County police to be Rittenhouse, fired gunshots in the middle of the street amid protest. The shots killed two people and injured one person. Video footage then showed someone who looks to be Rittenhouse walking away from the scene as protesters yelled at police that the juvenile had just shot multiple people. Police in cars are seen letting Rittenhouse walk by them as they drove to go attend to the people who were shot. In an interview with a Daily Caller reporter prior to the shooting, Rittenhouse was asked why he was armed in Kenosha. "So people are getting injured and our job is to protect this business," Rittenhouse said. "And part of my job is to also help people. If there is somebody hurt, I'm running into harm's way. That's why I have my rifle because I need to protect myself, obviously. I also have my med kit." Kenosha County police has since filed multiple charges against the 17-year-old after he travelled 20 miles from his town of Antioch, Illinois, to Kenosha to attend the protests all while brandishing an AR-15. The charges accuse Rittenhouse of first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, attempted first-degree intentional homicide and possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18. If convicted of the first-degree intentional homicide charge as an adult, Rittenhouse could face a life sentence in prison. Wisconsin does not have the death penalty. Rittenhouse, who was arrested as a juvenile in Illinois on Wednesday after he fled Kenosha, will attend court on Friday where it will be decided if he will be extradited to Wisconsin. He has been held in jail without bond since his arrest on Wednesday. Reuters contributed to this report 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 in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties grew about 1,000 acres overnight and stood at 82,540 acres Friday morning with 26% containment, Cal Fire officials said in their 6 a.m. press briefing. When the fire first sparked more than a week ago, it was growing at a rate of up to 1,000 acres an hour, but cool, humid weather and increased firefighting operations have suppressed fire activity in recent days. The number of homes destroyed continues to grow as ground crews conduct investigations in burn areas. The latest count is 799 structures destroyed. Of those, 545 are confirmed single family residences. Of the total structures, 11 are in San Mateo County and 788 in Santa Cruz County. More than 13,000 structures remain threatened. Cal Fire officials said Thursday was a productive day building containment lines and extinguishing flames and they expect more progress Friday. "Yesterday we had a really good, productive day," said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mark Brunton. "Lines are holding, weather cooperated. We believe we are going to move forward with our big plans today." Containment lines are continuing to hold on the fire's north end in San Mateo County and on the south end in Santa Cruz County, where breaks are protecting the UC Santa Cruz campus and the city of Santa Cruz. The fire activity is minimal along the coast and Brunton said the community of Davenport "is quite safe" and surrounded by control lines. The Highway 9 corridor continues to challenge firefighters with its steep, rugged terrain and thick vegetation. On Thursday, the fire jumped a containment line near Ben Lomond and Brookdale and burned 30 acres on the other side of the break. Brunton explained this is called a "slop over" and conditions in this part of the Santa Cruz Mountains are prone to erratic fire behavior. "A lot of that has to do with the fact that there hasnt been a lot of fire history here for such long time," he said. "The matter on the forest floor is very thickits called duff. When we put our control lines in, we scrape those lines down to bare mineral soil that wont burn. When youre building containment lines, you have to dig so deep. Its almost like a trench because its so deep. We have to be very cognizant and detail-oriented." A "burn-out operation" near Felton is nearly complete. "We're feeling really good about the community," Brunton said. A burn-out is a tactic used to build control lines and is implemented by setting fire inside the line to consume vegetation between the edge of the fire and the control line. Santa Cruz County released a preliminary damage assessment map Tuesday night with homes that were damaged or destroyed. The map displays 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. "There are areas that are continuing to be assessed," said Chris Clark, a chief deputy with the Santa Cruz Sheriff's Department. "That map is going to continue to grow." Officials said residents should use this map instead of returning to evacuation areas. Weakened, falling trees are a major danger in all burn areas, and crews will be working to remove these in coming days. Cal Fire posted an image on Twitter showing a section of road that was melted by the intense heat of the blaze. "This is one of many hazards in the burn area," Cal Fire said. Tens of thousands of people remain evacuated but Cal Fire is beginning to slowly lift some evacuations. Evacuations for all residents of Scotts Valley were lifted Thursday afternoon, including for those who live in unincorporated parts of the town. The lifting of the order includes all residents of Scotts Valley west of State Route 17, all those in unincorporated areas of Scotts Valley, and residents of Paradise Park and the Cave Gulch Area. (Read more here.) Most residents along the southern San Mateo County coast (primarily in the areas of La Honda, San Gregorio and Pescadero) were allowed to return home as of noon Thursday. (Find all details here.) As of Friday morning, one person is missing, said Clark. 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. The city of Half Moon Bay said Thursday they will close beaches again this weekend, from sunrise on Aug. 29 to sunrise on Aug. 31. MORE WILDFIRE COVERAGE: Map: See where wildfires are burning in Bay Area Big Sur wildfire burns in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Why PurpleAir and AirNow show different AQI scores during wildfires 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 Democratic presidential nominees campaign is holding a trio of virtual events in the swing state of Florida this weekend that focus on engaging Christian, Jewish and Muslim voters. Those will be followed in the days to come by events focused on other faith communities that could play pivotal roles in the election including Latino evangelicals, Catholics, Hindus and young people of faith as well as broader religious-themed events that delve into issues such as immigration and homelessness, according to details shared with The Associated Press. A Russian Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance aircraft escorted by an F-22 after entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone on March 9, 2020. (NORAD/DoD) US F-22 Jets Intercept Russian Planes Near Alaska, Says NORAD The U.S. military intercepted six Russian military jets near Alaska, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirmed on Friday. American F-22 fighter jets and KC-135 refueling aircraft intercepted several groups of Russian Tu-142 patrol jets near the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, NORAD said in a statement. The jets came within 50 miles of the Alaskan shore but remained within international airspace, the agency said. Our northern approaches have had an increase in foreign military activity as our competitors continue to expand their military presence and probe our defenses, NORAD commander Gen. Glen VanHerck said in a statement. This year, weve conducted more than a dozen intercepts, the most in recent years. The importance of our continued efforts to project air defense operations in and through the north has never been more apparent. Also on Thursday, U.S. Northern Command wrote that a Russian submarine was detected near Alaska. The current Russian maritime activity is taking place in international waters well outside the U.S. territorial sea, Northern Command wrote. We have not received any requests for assistance from the Russian Navy or other mariners in the area. A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor takes off to relocate in advance of Hurricane Florence at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia on Sep. 11, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Anthony Nin Leclerec) Russias Defense Ministry confirmed on Friday it is conducting aerial exercises near Alaska, reported The Associated Press. We are holding such massive drills there for the first time ever, Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov said in a statement, saying that about 50 warships and 40 planes were partaking in the exercise near the Bering Sea, which separates Russias Far East and Alaska. We are building up our forces to ensure the economic development of the region, he said. We are getting used to the Arctic spaces. Russian planes have flown near the Alaskan coast several times this year, prompting U.S. officials to scramble jets for an interception. In June, F-22 planes and a KC-135 intercepted two Russian Il-38, which were also flying through the Alaskan air defense zone. The Russian aircraft came within 50 miles of Unimak Island along the Aleutian island chain, spending approx. four hours in the ADIZ before exiting. The Il-38s remained in international airspace and at no time did the aircraft enter United States or Canadian sovereign airspace, NORAD said at the time. For the fifth time this month, NORAD has demonstrated our readiness and ability to defend the homeland by intercepting Russian military aircraft entering our ADIZ, said Gen. Terrence OShaughnessy, the head of NORAD, in a statement in late June. Earlier this week, U.S. officials confirmed that an American military vehicle was involved with a collision with a Russian military vehicle in Syria. Both sides blamed one another for the incident. Liverpools famous Cavern Club is a famously compact space, with low ceilings and sweaty walls. Thats why it closed in March as soon as it became clear that the coronavirus pandemic had hit Great Britain. Six months later, the pandemic is still with us. But the club, known as the birthplace of the Beatles, is back. The venue reopened to patrons on Thursday to celebrate the annual International Beatleweek festival. Physical-distancing procedures are in place, giving the club an airy feeling that regulars wont recognize. And the performances are live but virtual -- beamed from other locations onto large screens on its stages. International Beatleweek is the highlight of the year for many of our loyal customers from around the world, and for that reason, we couldnt let a year go by without doing something to mark the occasion, Cavern Club director Bill Heckle said in a statement on the clubs website. He said hes counting on the Caverns evocative spirit to carry the day. One longtime Beatles fan who showed up on Thursday said it was good enough for him. Its just great to be back, Peter Naylor told the French news agency AFP. Such an iconic club, such great music. We missed it, missed coming down here. The Beatles -- George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr -- in their native Liverpool in the early 1960s. (Associated Press) This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Beatles breaking up. When the group was establishing itself in the early 1960s, they played at the Cavern Club regularly. Paul McCartney, one of the two surviving members of the legendary Fab Four (Ringo Starr is the other), last played the club in 2018. Much of the clubs staff was laid off because of the pandemic, but Heckle hopes that the limited-capacity Beatleweek reopening means the venue can now slowly work its way back to normal operations. Its not quite the live, hot and sweaty, everybody dancing atmosphere that were used to, he said, but its a massive step in the right direction. -- Douglas Perry dperry@oregonian.com @douglasmperry Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Amazon.com, Inc. has announced it will be opening a delivery station in Cambridge. The location has already begun hiring for the opening in late 2020. Kitchener-based tech firm Shaver Industries has developed the School Desk Barrier made of steel and personal protective plastic that could help prevent the spread of COVID-19 when school starts. A Waterloo startup called Sweat Free Apparel has developed a waterproof mask and sold the first 10,000 to Metrolinx. Kitcheners LumenEd is one of the nine Canadian tech startups that have been selected to participate in the first cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator Canada. University of Waterloo alumnus, Richard Henkel, and three business partners have received $6 million in seed funding from investors to open a new video game developer studio in Waterloo Region, Odyssey Interactive. The University of Waterloo has announced it will be taking its kinesiology labs online with Kin Kits, packages that will send students a stethoscope, a goniometer, cloth tape, and a sphygmomanometer to allow them to participate in labs from home. Car technology firm, IMS, is planning to double its Waterloo workforce by the end of 2021 as demand soars for its usage-based insurance and fleet management solutions. PRIMED Medical Products has announced that a nationwide search for a new manufacturing plant has led it to Cambridge, where 40-50 people will likely be hired to launch a mask production facility. Toyota has designed and donated a PPE disinfection machine to the University of Waterloo. The family of Jacob Blake, a black man who was shot by police in a confrontation that has sparked national protests, will participate in a historic march in Washington on Friday, according to their attorney. Ben Crump, a civil rights lawyer and activist, said Mr Blakes parents would attend the rally against police brutality and address the crowds, which were expected to reach record levels. I'm sure his mother's gonna be calling for us to heal this country and also to examine our hearts as she so eloquently said when we were in Kenosha, Wisconsin," Mr Crump said in an interview with CNN. "And his father, I'm sure is going to be saying that this is a problem and we have to speak truth to power." As the Get Your Knee Off Our Necks rally is held in the nations capital, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, a self-described militia member who was arrested as a fugitive of justice and charged with homicide, was due to appear in court on Friday. Police said the 17-year-old shot at innocent victims while out on the streets during the protests in Kenosha sparked by the shooting of Mr Blake, which have continued throughout the week. A 26-year-old avid skateboarder and 36-year-old father of a young daughter were killed in the shooting. Those victims, Anthony Huber of Silver Lake and Gaige Grosskeutz of Kenosha, were identified after video showed a gunman opening fire in the middle of the streets amid the protests. A video that has since gone viral seemingly shows Rittenhouse patrolling the streets of Kenosha during the protests, a rifle strapped to his body, as he speaks about what he was doing. The teen can be heard saying: 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, he added. I also have my med kit. The death of Mr Blake, a black man who was shot seven times in the back by a white police officer, has sparked nationwide protests that began in Kenosha and have since spread to cities like Los Angeles, California. Local officials have described those demonstrations as largely peaceful. In a statement to reporters on Thursday, Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth said: Since Wednesday, the entire atmosphere of Kenosha has changed dramatically as far as the people who live here. The crowds last night were small, it was a few hundred people and they walked peacefully through Kenosha. He added: I think the people that were here last night were Kenosha's people. ... A huge part of me thinks that a lot of our issues start when different people with different agendas come here to Kenosha." Mr Blakes family has called for healing and unity in the wake of his shooting. He remains in hospital and is said to be paralysed from the waist down. There is a jobs boom in the outback with 39,901 positions available across the regions - and some offering more than six figures. Roles including machine operators, nurses, doctors, IT professionals and hospitality workers were vacant. Five regions across New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia posted more job advertisements in July 2020 compared with the same time last year. Dubbo and Western NSW saw an increase of 27 per cent while job ads on the Fleurieu Peninsula in SA rose by six per cent. Data from the Regional Institute showed a range of jobs from machine operators to nurses, doctors and IT professionals (stock image) Five regions across New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia posted more job advertisements in July 2020 compared with the same time last year (stock image) Regional Australia Institute CEO Liz Ritchie said the opportunities in the bush are vast and varied and offer potential new career options - or a new way of living people might not know they are looking for. 'We want people to know that they have a choice, they have alternatives, and that regional Australia is ready and waiting,' she said. The Institute has called on employers to have honest conversations with employees about where they want to live to help create a true national employment market where location is no barrier. Data from the Bureau of Statistics showed the national unemployment rate rose from 7.4 to 7.5 per cent in July as businesses struggled with the coronavirus restrictions introduced in March. More than a million Australians were unemployed in early July, up by nearly 16,000 from the previous month. Most vacancies in the regions are for highly skilled trades and professionals including automotive, engineering and construction roles. Regional towns are also seeking experienced GPs, nurses, health diagnostics and therapy professionals as well receptionists, carers and aides. Roles in Dubbo and Western NSW were up 27 per cent while jobs on the Fleurieu Peninsula in SA rose by six per cent. Pictured: Dubbo Regional towns are looking for experienced GPs, nurses, health diagnostics and therapy professionals (stock image) Ms Ritchie said it was good news for the economy that advertised roles had risen 30 per cent in July, compared with June. Total vacancies in regional Australia were still 13 per cent below the same month last year, but the gap has been closing steadily. 'The regionalisation of the workforce is the change we needed to see because for the first time there is a genuine opportunity to have a level playing field no matter where they live,' she said. Victorian vacancies are still well below 2019 levels after the state recorded 671 coronavirus cases on August 2 and Melbourne was plunged into stage four restrictions while the rest of the state reverted to stage three. 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 Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities laws. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 28, 2020 / Novamind Ventures Inc. ("Novamind"), a mental health and wellness company specialized in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, is pleased to announce that Reid Robison, MD, MBA, has been appointed Chief Medical Officer ("CMO") of Novamind. Dr. Robison co-founded Cedar Psychiatry LLC and Cedar Clinical Research LLC, organizations that were acquired by Novamind in July 2019. Dr. Robison is a thought leader in psychedelic medicine, widely recognized for his contributions as a clinician and researcher towards the use of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in psychiatry. Dr. Robison commented: "Novamind sits at the forefront of one of the most exciting opportunities to improve mental healthcare in our lifetimes. This partnership will allow us to develop and share new ways of helping individuals and families struggling with mental health conditions, especially those for whom traditional treatments have been ineffective. I am enthusiastic about this role with Novamind, where together we will advance scientific research and create access to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for those who need it most." Dr. Robison is a board-certified psychiatrist with fellowship training in neurodevelopmental genetics and clinical research. He has led over 100 clinical trials in neuropsychiatry and co-directed the University of Utah's molecular genetics laboratory. Dr. Robison serves as the Coordinating Investigator for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies' (MAPS) phase II clinical trial examining MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of eating disorders. He also serves as the Medical Director for the Center for Change, a highly respected eating disorder treatment center. Dr. Robison was among the first clinicians to prescribe ketamine off-label for the treatment of depression in Utah. In 2011, he obtained his first grant to study ketamine and developed the ketamine depression protocols for the Intermountain Medical Center, Utah's largest hospital. In 2012, Dr. Robison led the Utah site for the pivotal ketamine study for treatment-resistant depression by Janssen, leading to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Spravato. Currently, Dr. Robison supervises and trains ketamine-assisted psychotherapy practitioners across Utah, and to date has guided thousands of ketamine therapy journeys and, and hundreds of Spravato dosing sessions. As a social entrepreneur, Dr. Robison has built and sold a number of purpose-driven companies including Anolinx Inc., a healthcare data analytics firm acquired by the Bennett Group in 2012. In 2012, he co-founded a personalized medicine company called Tute Genomics Inc., which received venture capital financing from investors including Tencent and Intermountain Healthcare, before being acquired in 2016 by PerianDx Inc., where Dr. Robison continues to serve as a Director. Dr. Robison is active in numerous philanthropic pursuits. He currently volunteers as adjunct faculty at the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and Utah Valley University. In 2010, he founded the Polizzi Clinic, a non-profit organization that provides free mental healthcare services to Utah's uninsured. In January 2020, he co-hosted the Intermountain Psychedelics Symposium, a psychedelics community and awareness event with 500+ attendees. Yaron Conforti, Chief Executive Officer of Novamind commented: "Dr. Robison's appointment as Novamind's CMO is the culmination of a collaboration that began in 2019. Building on his foundational work as a clinician and researcher, Novamind is positioned to make significant contributions to responsibly shaping the future of psychedelic medicine." About Novamind Novamind is building a global network of clinics and retreats that are required for a regulated psychedelics industry. We provide access to safe, legal psychedelic experiences, while advancing research for psychedelic medicine. For more information visit www.novamind.ca. Contact Information Novamind Yaron Conforti, CEO and Director T: +1 (647) 953 9512 E: contact@novamind.ca SOURCE: Novamind Ventures Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603780/Novamind-Appoints-Dr-Reid-Robison-as-Chief-Medical-Officer After the recent events in Tavush Province of Armenia, the ceasefire violations are quite higher than average in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). Tigran Abrahamyan, head of the Henaket Analytical Center and former security adviser to the Artsakh President, told Armenian News-NEWS.am about this. Naturally, this transmits tension to the frontline, he added, noting that in the last month and a half, the dynamics of the border tension has been high in Artsakh, too, in terms of the last two years. According to Abrahamyan, the deadlock in the Karabakh negotiation process was confirmed in the post-Tavush phase, and thus the risks of border tension increased. And touching upon the possibility of deploying a Turkish military base in Azerbaijan and the respective discussions in Azerbaijan, Tigran Abrahamyan said: "() the Azerbaijani political, expert circles are circulating two possible places for the deployment of the military base: in Nakhchivan and in Baku. () but even if a [Turkish] military base is not officially deployed [in Azerbaijan], it is obvious that Azerbaijan and Turkey have deepened their military cooperation after the events in Tavush." According to Tigran Abrahamyan, Turkey seeks to increase its influence and engagement in the region, but this cannot contribute to the establishment of peace and security in the region. Eversource and United Illuminating said Friday most of those without power should have electricity restored by midnight. As of 6 p.m. Friday, Eversource reported nearly 8,906 customers without power and United Illuminating 8,077. Gov. Ned Lamont on Friday declared a state of emergency in response to the damage caused by the storm. One of the hardest hit towns in Eversources territory was Branford with nearly 72 percent of its customers without power at noon Friday and 40 percent still out as of 6 p.m. Eversource estimated that its hundreds of line and tree crews would substantially complete restoration for all towns in Connecticut by midnight, with the exception of Branford where the extensive damage will take additional time to fully restore and is expected to be mostly complete by Saturday night. UI said it expected to restore service to most customers by Friday evening. For specific times, check out the UI outage map here and click on the pin closest to your location. Though not as widespread, the damage caused by (Thursdays) storms is even more severe in some locations than Tropical Storm Isaias, particularly in the hardest-hit communities in western and southern Connecticut, Eversource President of Regional Electric Operations Craig Hallstrom said. He said crews are working urgently to continue clearing roads and repair damage, and we estimate that restoration for all towns other than Branford will be substantially complete by midnight. Most of the Eversource outages are in western Connecticut and along the shoreline from Branford to Madison. Eversource crews are repairing damage in various communities stretching from Branford and the Naugatuck Valley to Woodbury and New Milford. In addition to Branford, the hardest-hit communities include Guilford, Roxbury and Bethany. The energy company stationed a mobile command unit in Branford to work hand-in-hand with community leaders clearing roads and restoring customers in that particularly hard hit region of the state. While midnight is the goal, UI said it may take longer to restore some customers in areas where the damage is particularly extensive and UIs electrical system needs to be rebuilt. The company will update its restoration estimates as it proceeds with damage assessment. UI said as the storms subsided Thursday night, the company sent out more than 260 line and tree workers and other field personnel to help clear roadways, assess damage and restore power. UI crews were working alongside National Guard personnel to clear trees and downed lines from roadways, at the direction of state and municipal authorities. Meanwhile, restoration teams targeted large outages where many customers could be brought back at once, while damage assessors worked to develop a full picture of the devastation and assemble a detailed plan for restoration, the utility company said in a statement. KENOSHA, Wis.: An accused teenage vigilante facing charges he killed two people protesting in support of Jacob Blake Jr., the Black man shot in the back by a white policeman in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was due to appear in an Illinois courtroom on Friday. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, was charged on Thursday in Wisconsin with six criminal counts of first-degree intentional homicide, attempted homicide and reckless endangerment. He was scheduled to make his first court appearance in Lake County, Illinois, where he was arrested on Wednesday, for a hearing on a request from Wisconsin authorities to have him extradited from Illinois. Adding to the attention surrounding the case, Rittenhouse will be defended by a prominent law firm whose clients have included President Donald Trumps personal attorney, Rudolph Giuliani and former Trump adviser Carter Page. Lawyer John Pierce told Reuters on Thursday that he and colleagues at the firm, Pierce Bainbridge, had been retained to represent the teenager and were determined to obtain justice for him. L. Lin Wood, another member of the Rittenhouses legal team, told CBS News his client had acted in self-defense. He was not there to create trouble, but he found himself with his life threatened, and he had the right to protect himself," Wood said. Sundays police shooting, in which Blake was gunned down and left paralyzed, turned Kenosha, a predominantly white city of about 100,000 residents on Lake Michigan, into the latest flashpoint in a summer of protests in the United States over police brutality and racism. Rittenhouse, a resident of Antioch, Illinois whose arrest warrant listed his occupation as a lifeguard, is accused of shooting three protesters, two fatally, during demonstrations on Tuesday night in Kenosha. Video footage from Tuesdays incident shows a young, white gunman firing an assault-style rifle at protesters who tried to subdue him, then walking calmly away from the scene, hands in the air - with his rifle slung around his neck - as several police vehicles drive by without stopping him. According to the criminal complaint, another video shows Rittenhouse saying, I just killed somebody," after shooting one of his alleged victims, 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum, who was gunned down in the parking lot of a used-car dealer. MARCH ON WASHINGTON The renewed drive for racial justice across the country was ignited on May 25 when George Floyd, a Black man in Minneapolis, died in police custody under the knee of a white officer. Protesters planned a march on Washington on Friday, commemorating the anniversary of the 1963 rally where civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his I Have a Dream" speech. The civil strife of recent months has drawn comparisons to the outpouring of anger and civil unrest that flared after Kings assassination in 1968. In Kenosha, three nights of skirmishes between protesters and police in riot gear following Blakes shooting gave way on Wednesday and Thursday to peaceful, smaller demonstrations. The police officers involved in the Kenosha incident, including Rusten Sheskey, a seven-year veteran of the police force identified by authorities as having fired all seven shots at Blake from directly behind him, have been placed on leave. Blakes family and protesters have demanded the officers be fired and prosecuted. The investigation has been turned over to the Wisconsin Justice Department, while the U.S. Justice Department has opened a civil rights inquiry. The exact sequence of events leading to Blakes shooting remain sketchy. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said on Wednesday the confrontation stemmed from a domestic complaint lodged by a girlfriend, and that investigators had recovered a knife from the front floorboard of the car that Blake was leaning into when he was shot from behind at point-blank range. Blakes lead attorney, civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, said his client had no knife in his possession and did nothing to provoke or threaten police before he was shot. 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 Losses sustained by Romania's poultry farmers March 1 - July 1, 2020 as part of an economic crisis generated by the Covid-19 pandemic will be compensated for under a state-aid scheme for poultry farming amounting to 109.8 million lei, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) reported on Friday. The aid amount is the lei equivalent of 100 euro /livestock unit, and the total value of the aid scheme is 109.8 million lei. Qualifying for the measure are poultry farmers, namely individual and family enterprises, authorised natural persons (PFA), as the case may be, as well as legal entities carrying out breeding and/or incubation and/or poultry farming for meat or eggs. Data released by MADR showed that the total number of birds decreased from 73.20 million head in April 2019 to 70.14 million head in April 2020, which represents a decrease by 4.17%. The production of poultry meat was 199,600 tonnes in April 2019, down to 169.300 tonnes in April 2020, meaning a decrease by 15.17%. Vietnams Ministry of Health confirmed two new coronavirus cases and 26 recoveries on Friday. One of the patients is 29 years old and lives in Bac Son Tra District, Da Nang. She had had contact with an infected patient and then tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. The other case has a temporary address in Hanoi and hails from southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. He returned from Russia and landed at Van Don International Airport in northern Quang Ninh Province on board flight VN5062 on August 11. He was sent to a quarantine center in Hai Duong Province upon entry. He stayed in the same room as a person who was later diagnosed with COVID-19. On August 25, he was allowed to leave the quarantine center and returned to his rented room in Hanoi. The Medical Center in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi then tested him again and transferred the man to a quarantine center in Nam Tu Liem District, also located in the capital. His test result came back positive for the novel coronavirus on Thursday. He is currently isolated for treatment at a hospital in the Vietnamese capital. Hanoi authorities are tracing his contacts for testing and quarantine. The health ministry also announced 26 recoveries on Friday, including 23 in Da Nang, one in Ho Chi Minh City, one in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, and one in Ninh Binh Province. Vietnam has logged 1,038 COVID-19 patients, with 663 recoveries and 30 deaths, as of Friday night, according to the Ministry of Health. Two patients died after having tested negative for the pathogen at least three times so they were not counted in the death toll. Vietnam has recorded 549 local infections since July 25, when Da Nang registered the first domestic case after the Southeast Asian nation had gone 99 days without a single community transmission. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - A Kansas girls killer Friday became the fifth federal inmate put to death this year, an execution that went forward only after a higher court tossed a ruling that would have required the government to get a prescription for the drug used to kill him. Questions about whether the drug pentobarbital causes pain prior to death had been a focus of appeals for Keith Nelson, 45, the second inmate executed this week in the Trump administrations resumption of federal executions this summer after a 17-year hiatus. Nelson, who displayed no outward signs of pain or distress during the execution, was pronounced dead at a federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, at 4:32 p.m. EDT about nine minutes after the execution began. There was silence from Nelson when a prison official looming over him asked if he had any last words to witnesses behind the execution-chamber glass. Those observers included the mother of 10-year-old Pamela Butler. who Nelson raped and strangled with a wire 21 years ago. Nelson didnt utter a word, grunt or shake his head no. After the official waited for about 15 seconds, his eyes fixed on Nelson waiting in vain for any sign of an answer, he turned away and began the execution procedure. Nelson didnt appear to deliberately move a muscle or turn his head toward the family witness room, where Pamelas mom wore a T-shirt emblazoned with her daughters picture. Angel wings jutted out from behind Pamelas image. But earlier, before curtains opened enabling witnesses to see inside the chamber, Nelsons spiritual adviser, Sister Barbara Battista, was allowed to walk up and stand two feet from the gurney, lean in and hear his last words, she told The Associated Press later. He said he wanted me to tell his lawyers he didnt have to wear an adult diaper during the execution. He was glad about that, she said. Hed also told me (days) earlier he didnt want to be forced to do that, that it was undignified. Battista, who stayed in the chamber as Nelson was put to death, standing farther away, said her interpretation of his silence during the public portion was that he was afraid if he said anything, he might then say something inappropriate. Battista, a longtime anti-death penalty activist, said she made a point of addressing Nelson by his first name in his last minutes alive. He wanted someone there who would call him Keith rather than Inmate Nelson, she said. Nelson, whose face was obscured from witnesses behind a medical mask, remained still even as the lethal dose of pentobarbital was delivered. None of his limbs twitched or quivered, though his his chest and midsection briefly heaved and shuttered involuntarily. The relative stillness and quiet was a contrast to the scene on on Oct. 12, 1999, as Nelson grabbed Pamela off the street and threw her into his truck. As Pamela screamed, one of her sisters who saw her abducted began screaming, too. Pamela had been returning to her Kansas City, Kansas, home on inline skates after buying cookies. As he drove off with her, he made a rude gesture to her sister as she screamed. He later raped the fifth-grader and strangled her with a wire. Pamelas mom, Cherri West, said she didnt expect Nelson to express remorse. She said, if anything, she thought he might curse at her and her family as he had done during criminal proceedings. I wasnt expecting him to say anything because he never had no remorse, she said. I have no remorse for him. Nelson showed no remorse during a sentencing hearing statement and instead blistered the district court and the victims family with a profanity laden tirade, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals noted in one ruling. After he was declared dead and curtains were again drawn across the windows, Battista was allowed to say a prayer over, touch and anoint Nelsons body, she said. Nelsons attorneys, Dale Baich and Jen Moreno, said in a statement Friday that they had come to know him as someone other than a killer, that they saw his humanity, his compassion, and his sense of humour. The execution of Keith Nelson did not make the world a safer place, they said. A flurry of filings by Nelsons legal team over several weeks zeroed in on pentobarbital, which depresses the central nervous system and, in high doses, eventually stops the heart. In one filing in early August, Nelsons attorneys cited an unofficial autopsy on one inmate executed last month, William Purkey, saying it indicated evidence of pulmonary edema in which the lungs fill with fluid and causes a painful sensation akin to drowning. The federal government has defended the use of pentobarbital, disputing that Purkeys autopsy proved he suffered. They have also cited Supreme Court ruling precedent that an execution method isnt necessarily cruel and unusual just because it causes some pain. In her overturned ruling, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan halted Nelsons execution early Thursday, saying laws regulating drugs require the prescriptions, even for executions. Within hours, an appellate panel tossed her ruling. Nelsons crime was horrific by any measure. Nelson, who didnt previously know Butler or her family, told a co-worker a month earlier he planned to find a female to kidnap, torture, rape and kill because he expected to go back to prison anyway on other charges, prosecutors said. After killing Butler, he dumped her body in a wooded area near a Missouri church. With the execution Wednesday of Lezmond Mitchell the only Native American on federal death row the federal government under President Donald Trump registered more executions in 2020 than it had in the previous 56 years combined. The executions of Nelson and Mitchell were carried out the same week as the Republican National Convention, where many Trump supporters sought to portray him as a law-and-order candidate. ___ Salter reported from St. Louis. AP reporters Mike Balsamo and Jessica Gresko also contributed to this report. Follow Michael Tarm on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mtarm US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with four top officials on Aug. 24 during his quick visit to Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Mossad director Yossi Cohen. Cohen played the most important role in the historic normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Pompeo and Cohen had some loose ends to deal with and a lot of information to exchange before the Israeli delegation leaves for Abu Dhabi on Aug. 31 to push ahead with the normalization process. There are also other agreements, most notably with Sudan and Oman, that look like they will be finalized soon. Ashkenazi may be the minister of foreign affairs, but Cohen is the uncontested architect of the regional peace initiative that was revealed this week. The prime minister consults with him on a regular basis and relies on him to get things done. Over the last few years, Cohen made numerous clandestine visits to the Gulf states and worked with Netanyahu on the tangle of relationships being woven together with pragmatic Arab states. It's all part of a larger effort to forge an alliance against Iran, especially a nuclear Iran. Cohen accompanied Netanyahu on his historic visit to Oman in November 2018 and came under considerable criticism for it from the staff of the Foreign Ministry, who complained he was encroaching on their territory. Cohen is not the first Mossad chief to conduct secret missions on behalf of the prime minister. However, his clandestine and public diplomatic activity has been by far the farthest-reaching and most important. Cohen is also open about his ambition to get to the prime minister's office after Netanyahu. He plans to do so from within the Likud as leader of the right. It was Netanyahu himself who first marked Cohen as his heir. According to journalist Tal Shalev on Walla News in 2019, Netanyahu has been saying behind closed doors that there are two people he considers fit to lead the State of Israel: Yossi Cohen and Israeli Ambassador to Washington Ron Dermer. Netanyahu thus dismissed a long line of senior Likud officials, including several veteran ministers likely to compete for the party leadership as soon as Netanyahu makes his exit. Dermer is Netanyahus young protege, his confidante and his closest adviser on diplomatic and political affairs. Cohen, now 59, is a different story. Back in 2015, Netanyahu deliberated long and hard over appointing him as Mossad director. It is quite possible that Cohens religious background and right-wing orientation gave Netanyahu the confidence to deem him trustworthy and loyal. The previous two Mossad chiefs, Meir Dagan and Tamir Pardo, had been too contrarian. In dealing with the Iranian nuclear project, they actually went behind Netanyahu's back. Netanyahu's choice of Cohen turned out be a major success. Despite his relative youth, Cohen was responsible for several remarkable achievements, chief among them the operation to smuggle Irans nuclear archives to Israel in 2018. The world was shocked by the audacity of this operation, which Cohen managed personally. He then made the unusual move of giving Netanyahu the green light to go public about it. For it, he was accused at the time of assisting Netanyahu politically. The Likud would be delighted to add Cohen to its ranks. As one senior official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, if Cohen decides to run to head it after the Netanyahu era, he will take the party by storm. No one will have a chance against him. Cohens chances of election are excellent. His diplomatic and security background give him a real advantage. That he worked alongside Netanyahu and learned politics and statesmanship from him at the highest levels certainly adds to his prestige. Cohen even looks the part. He looks good in his designer suits, earning him the nickname of the model. He has impressive skills in public speaking and his English is excellent. More importantly, he has natural political skills, a high level of emotional intelligence and the ability to pick the right people for the job. It was these qualities that helped him recruit a new generation of agents for the Mossad. One senior political official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, I saw him in a hotel with his family last year. He was at the pool and people came over to congratulate him. He looked them all in the eye and spoke to them. He was absolutely charming. He won them all over. A year ago, Cohen showed up at the Herzliya Conference to deliver a rare public speech. He revealed that under his leadership, the Mossad had created its own diplomatic-security directorate of sorts to advance peace in the Middle East. He said, The Mossad has a role in identifying opportunities for peace. In order to boost its influence, we have established a new division, which will work precisely on this. It was the kind of political speech that one would expect from a prime minister and not the head of an espionage organization. As he laid out his vision for regional peace, he said, The Mossad was intended to protect Israel from the risk of war, but I believe it has another role, which is no less important. That is to identify opportunities for peace and even more so, to initiate the processes that could advance peace. He went on to say that the current circumstances present a golden opportunity for peace in the Middle East: There are common interests on one hand, and a struggle against rivals like Iran and jihadist terror on the other. These, along with our close relationship with the White House and our channels of communications with the Kremlin, come together to create what could be a unique window of opportunity. Cohen revealed, The Mossad had identified what may be the first opportunity in the history of the Middle East to reach the kind of understandings which would lead to a comprehensive peace agreement. His remarks a year ago may have seemed a pipe dream then, but over the last few days, they turned out to be an established diplomatic fact. Ever since the prime minister revealed that Israel was on the verge of reaching a peace agreement with the UAE, Cohen has been just about everywhere. He was the first Israeli senior to pay an official visit to Abu Dhabi and if the reports are true, he met with a senior government official in Sudan just a few days later. Over time, Cohens decisive role in forging these historic regional alliances will be revealed. If he does end up gunning for prime minister, it would be the perfect way for him to present himself: a person on the right who makes peace, a man trusted by Netanyahu himself and a candidate worthy of continuing Netanyahus legacy. CNN Jacob Blakes father has questioned the drastically different treatment his son received at the hands of Wisconsin police compared to a white suspect accused of opening fire and killing two people who were protesting Blakes shooting. Blake was shot seven times by Kenosha Police Department officers last Sunday evening as he got into a car with his family. The shooting sparked days of protests in the city and, on Wednesday night, two of those protesters were shot dead. The suspect has been named as white 17-year-old Blue Lives Matter fan Kyle Rittenhouse. Jacob Blake Sr. spoke to CNNs New Day on Friday, and spoke of his fury at the difference in how the two men have been treated by Kenosha cops. Rittenhouse was filmed receiving water from police officers before the shooting, and the armed group he was with was told by one cop: We appreciate you guys... We really do. Its two justice systems, said Blakes dad. That 17-year-old Caucasian shot and killed two people and blew another mans arm off on his way back to Antioch, Illinois. He got to go home... They gave that guy water and a high-five. My son got ICU and paralyzed from the waist down. Those are the two justice systems right in front of you. JUST NOW: "He's a human being. He's not an animal. He's a human. But my son has not been afforded the rights of a human. He's not been treated like a human."@CNN exclusive with Jacob Blake Sr. on @NewDay right now.pic.twitter.com/pXpDHg8TWY https://t.co/CHtPJzi521 John Berman (@JohnBerman) August 28, 2020 Blake Sr. also described the heartbreaking conversations hes now been forced to have with his grandchildren, saying: Theyve said Papa, why did they shoot my daddy in the back? Wheres Daddy? They want their father because he was part of their life every day. Hes a person. Hes a human being. Hes not an animal. Hes a humanbut my son has not been afforded the rights of a human. Story continues Blake went on: Sometimes you get a little angry. Sometimes more than a little angry. Because weve been going through this so long. In a separate development Friday morning, Wisconsins Department of Justice gave more details on the moments leading up to Blakes shooting and named two more of the involved officers. In its news release, the DOJ said Officers Vincent Arenas and Brittany Meronek were alongside Officer Rusten Sheskey, who shot Blake. The statement also said that Blake was tased twice before being shot. 17-Year-Old Blue Lives Matter Fanatic Charged With Murder at Kenosha Protest The DOJ said officers were dispatched to the scene after a female caller reported that her boyfriend was present and was not supposed to be on the premises. It went on to say Sheskey deployed a taser to attempt to stop Blake, followed by another tasing attempt from Arenas, but neither shot incapacitated him. The department states that, when Blake approached his car after allegedly admitting he had a knife, Sheskey fired into Blakes back seven times. Blakes father has said the shots left his son paralyzed from the waist down, and said Thursday that, when he visited his son in hospital on Wednesday, he found him handcuffed to the bed. 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. Clay Huffman, CPA Clay has exhibited a genuine desire to serve and brings the necessary insight and skills needed to meet the complex regulatory requirements of CPAs and the ever-evolving ways in which they serve their clients. Frazier & Deeter, one of the nations largest accounting and advisory firms, announced today that Clay Huffman has been named a member of the AICPAs Auditing Standards Board (ASB). The Auditing Standards Board is the AICPAs senior committee for auditing, attestation and quality control applicable to the performance and issuance of audit and attestation reports for non-issuers. Its mission is to serve the public interest by developing, updating and communicating comprehensive standards that enable practitioners to provide high-quality, objective audit and attestation services in an effective and efficient manner. We are delighted to see Clay Huffman take on this important role, said Seth McDaniel, Managing Partner of Frazier & Deeter. We encourage our partners to be active in our profession, serving on boards like the Auditing Standards Board, the Technical Issues Committee and the Financial Reporting Executive Committee. Huffman started practicing public accounting in 2007 after receiving his BBA and MAcc from the University of Georgia. In 2012, he joined the Assurance and Advisory Services Practice of Frazier & Deeter, where he focuses on clients in manufacturing and distribution, construction, technology, aviation, private equity and professional services. Were excited to have Clay in this role, building on his work and leadership for the Georgia State Board of Accountancy and the Georgia Society of CPAs, said Boyd Search, President and CEO of the Georgia Society of CPAs. Clay has exhibited a genuine desire to serve and brings the necessary insight and skills needed to meet the complex regulatory requirements of CPAs and the ever-evolving ways in which they serve their clients. In addition to the Auditing Standards Board, Huffman serves as Chairman of the Georgia State Board of Accountancy, a member of the GSCPAs Leadership Council, as well as a member of the Leadership Team for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Societys Man & Woman of the Year campaign. About Frazier & Deeter Frazier & Deeter is an award-winning accounting and advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The firm provides a wide range of tax, audit, accounting and advisory services to serve the emerging needs of clients as they evolve. Frazier & Deeter and its FD family of brands have nine offices across the United States and one in the United Kingdom. The firm has been recognized repeatedly as a Best of the Best Accounting firm, a Best Firm to Work For in the U.S. and a Best Firm for Women in Leadership. Frazier & Deeters brand promise is Investing in Relationships to Make a Difference. The loan moratorium ends on August 31. Retail borrowers who had availed of it will once again have to bear the burden of paying equated monthly instalments (EMIs). Some borrowers may have lost their jobs or seen salary cuts and may be facing financial stress. There may also be borrowers who did not experience either of these events, but nonetheless chose to avail of the moratorium to conserve cash in these uncertain times. Each of these categories should respond to the end of the moratorium in different ways. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked each bank to formulate its own ... The religious endowments ministry suspended prayers in all mosques on 21 March, in an unprecedented move aimed at curbing the outbreak of the coronavirus Related Egypt allows Friday prayers at major mosques starting 28 August Egypt's religious endowments ministry said in a statement on Thursday that an extensive campaign has been implemented to clean and sterilise mosques nationwide in preparation for the return of Friday prayers this week after a five-month hiatus. Last week, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said that the state would allow Friday prayers in major mosques starting 28 August under strict preventive measures. He added that preventive measures will continue to be implemented during daily prayers, and that the weekly prayers sermon has been set at only 10 minutes. The religious endowments ministry suspended prayers in all mosques on 21 March, in an unprecedented move aimed at curbing the outbreak of the coronavirus. The move came days after the Council of Senior Scholars at Al-Azhar, Egypt's top Sunni Islamic institution, said that it is permitted under sharia law to suspend mass prayers, including the Friday prayer, to stem the spread of the disease. "Due to the rapid spread of the virus, its lethality, and the lack of a cure, Muslims are exempted from attending the Friday prayer or mass prayers at mosques," the council said. The ministry on Thursday published photos of mosques being sterilised and cleaned and spacing marks being put in place. The ministry moreover urged all worshippers in Thursday's statement to cooperate fully with the measures, and violations could lead to the closing of mosques and legal action against the transgressors. The preventive measures include mandatory masks, maintaining social distancing, and the use of private prayer rugs only. Mosques will be open only 10 minutes ahead of prayers and will be closed immediately afterwards. Al-Azhar International Fatwa Centre has urged those who have liver, kidney, heart, or chest diseases, immunity disorders, the flu, a high temperature, cough, shortness of breath, or a sore throat not to attend Friday prayers at mosques. It also reiterated that worshippers may pray and attend the Friday sermon while wearing face masks. In May, the religious endowments ministry, which is responsible for administering mosques nationwide, decided to allow Friday prayers every week at one mosque only, in the presence of only 20 worshippers. The sermon and prayers are livestreamed on television and social media platforms. In June, mosques were allowed to reopen for daily prayers for the first time since March, but Friday prayer services remained off limits. Search Keywords: Short link: Nine states and one Union territory have reported 89% of the countrys deaths related to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the last two weeks, the Centre has said. Rajiv Gauba, Union cabinet secretary and Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan held a video-conference with the chief secretaries and health secretaries of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday to assess the situation in these regions. The Centre has asked them to ramp up testing and tracing to tackle the coronavirus pandemic amid concerns about increasing Covid-19 deaths. They were also advised to ensure that at least in 80% of the fresh Covid-19 cases, all close contacts must be traced and tested with 72 hours and a minimum of 140 tests per million per day conducted in all districts while targeting a positivity/confirmation rate of less than 5%, a health ministry statement said. Heres how they have contributed to 89% of Covid-19 deaths in the past two weeks: Maharashtra continues to report the maximum number of Covid-19-related deaths in the country. With 295 deaths on Friday, the total number of fatalities in the state stands at 23,089. With 173,195 Covid-19 cases, Maharashtras tally stands at 7,18,711, according to the states health department. Andhra Pradesh has recorded 92 deaths on xxxday, taking the toll in the southern state to 3,633. With 94,209 active cases, the infection tally now stands at 393,090 in the state. Karnataka reported 133 deaths on xxxday, taking the total number of deaths in the state to 5,091. With 83,627 active cases, the total tally now stands at 300,406 in the state. Another extremely affected state in terms of the death toll is Tamil Nadu, with 6,839 cumulative deaths reported so far. With 52,362 Covid-19 cases, the tally stands at 3,97,261 in the state. Uttar Pradesh on Friday reported 68 Covid-19-related fatalities, taking the death toll due to the disease to 3,217, while 52,309 cases pushed its infection tally to 208,419. The Covid-19 death toll in West Bengal jumped to 2,964 on Friday after 55 people succumbed to the viral disease, according to Union health ministrys dashboard. With 2,69,54 coronavirus disease cases, the states tally now stands at 147,775. Punjab reported 37 Covid-19 deaths on Friday, taking the death toll in the state to 1,256. With 15,608 Covid-19 active cases, the states total infection tally now stands at 47,836. Gujarat recorded 17 deaths on Friday, thus taking the total number of deaths in the state to 2,945. With 14,767 Covid-19 cases, Gujarats Covid-19 tally now stands at 89,994. Jammu and Kashmir on Friday recorded 7,743 Covid-19 cases, taking its tally to 35,135, while 14 more fatalities pushed the Union territorys toll to 671. Telangana recorded eight more deaths on Friday, taking the number of deaths in the state to 788. With 1,915 Covid-19 cases on Friday, the total number of those infected in the state stands at 114,483. A heartbroken Melbourne mother whose young daughter tragically died last month is spending everyday in agony after being denied an exemption to go to South Australia to bury her eight times. Elizabeth Dau's 22-year-old daughter, Margaret Akima Garang, died on July 31 during a trip to Adelaide. The aspiring lawyer developed acute liver failure in mid-July and was admitted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital before she passed away. Ms Dau, a Sudanese refugee, has since been working tirelessly to leave coronavirus-riddled Melbourne to travel to Adelaide and finally lay her daughter to rest. 'I just want to bury my daughter. How can I sleep? My daughter is just laying in a freezer in an office like someone who doesn't have parents,' she told SBS News. Ms Dau, 47, and her family, who moved from Sudan in 2004, had already been through hell after spending seven years in a refugee camp before travelling to Melbourne. Her husband died after suffering an infection from gunshot wounds he sustained while fighting in the Sudanese Civil War, leaving Ms Dau to raise her three children alone. Margaret had travelled to Adelaide to visit friends before starting a law degree, but ended up staying for several months due to the COVID-19 outbreak. When she fell ill, her older sister Ayen, 29, received an exemption to travel and visit her but Margaret tragically died just hours before she arrived. Margaret Akima Garang (pictured) died on July 31 during a trip to Adelaide from acute liver failure Margaret's mother, Elizabeth Dau (pictured) has been denied eight times by the South Australian government to travel to Adelaide and bury her daughter Ms Dau was initially told by police she could travel to the border where she could apply for a temporary exemption - but was later turned away. Along with her two children and two grandkids, she flew to Adelaide where they were then taken to a hotel. But the following morning police arrived and took her back to the airport to fly home to Melbourne. Ms Dau has since applied a further eight times for an exemption, supplying SA Health with doctors certificates and negative coronavirus test results. Ms Dau and her family (pictured) had spent seven years in a refugee camp before travelling to Australia in 2004 Each time she has been denied. 'They say there is a lot of people who are on the waiting list for an exemption [to travel], but why am I waiting so long, why don't they let me put my daughter in the ground so my daughter can rest?' she said. Ms Dau's cousin Michael has been contacting the SA government on her behalf as she cannot read or write in English. He said with every denied application, the family were not given a sufficient reason. 'It's really been hard for us, with COVID 19 now no one can visit. Elizabeth is alone with the kids, she's very lonely. She calls me at night and I try to counsel her,' he said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted SA Health for comment. South Australia closed its border to Victoria at the start of July, only permitting essential travellers and residents. It came after Victoria saw a huge jump in COVID-19 cases and deaths. Gardai are expected to launch a criminal investigation after an outbreak of Covid-19 at a care home, where it is alleged a worker concealed a positive test result from managers and continued working. Yesterday, the Herald revealed an elderly female resident and a second staff member contracted the virus at the facility, which caters for people with intellectual disabilities. Another four staff members and residents have also been in isolation since early last week, when management first learned of the positive test result. The management said none of the infected individuals required hospitalisation and all were recovering well. According to sources, a preliminary inquiry has established that the contact information given at the HSE Covid test centre two weeks ago did not identify the person as a care worker. As a result, the HSE contact tracing system did not automatically contact the care home when the woman's test proved positive three days later. Obliged It's understood an official complaint will be made to gardai next week following the completion of a preliminary inquiry involving the care management and the HSE. A senior source said under existing regulations and legislation the HSE is obliged "automatically" to refer the matter for criminal investigation. "One aspect of any investigation would be to establish if there is evidence of an offence of reckless endangerment," the source said. Management at the care facility ordered a lockdown on Monday, August 17, when it was discovered the worker had continued looking after the two residents, including the elderly female, despite being informed of the test result. The worker took the Covid test on Wednesday, August 12. She had been contact traced by the HSE after her son, a meat factory worker, had proved positive for the virus. It is understood the care worker was informed of her positive result three days later, on Saturday 15, while she was working a weekend shift providing full-time care for the two residents of the home, including the elderly lady. Sources confirmed management were not informed of the test result and the employee continued working until her shift ended on the Sunday. The issue came to light the next day. Any criminal investigation is likely to try to establish why the individual did not inform her employers of being contacted for a test. The information given to the HSE and the alleged failure to immediately inform managers at the home will also be central to the inquiry. A statement from the care home provider said it "became aware on Monday, August 17, that a staff member" had received a positive test for Covid. The statement added that the families of "all the service users that were exposed to this staff member" have been informed. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen speaks about U.S. exports of beef and pork to Taiwan in the Presidential Office Building in Taipei, Taiwan on Aug. 28, 2020. (Courtesy of the Office of the President, Republic of China - Taiwan) Taiwan Eases Restrictions on US Beef, Pork Imports US, Taiwan Relationship Intensifies as Bilateral Trade Agreement Raised Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen announced Friday that she has instructed her government ministries to relax restrictions on imports of American Beef and Porka move she said was consistent with Taiwans overall national interests and future strategic development goals. Tsai said in a statement that, following a comprehensive assessment, Taiwan will ease restrictions on imports of U.S. beef from cattle aged 30 months or older. The Taiwanese government will also set permissible residue levels for the animal food additive ractopamine in imported pork. Ractopamine is commonly used in animal feedstuffs in the United States to ensure leaner cuts of meat, and to increase animal feed conversion rates. According to the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, ractopamine residues in U.S. meat products had been an insurmountable obstacle for trade talks between the 2 parties for over a decade. Encouraging news out of #Taiwan: Big step toward expanded mkt access for US #beef & #pork consistent w/ science-based intl standards & longstanding commitments. Looking fwd to final action from Taiwan so consumers there can enjoy more safe, delicious US #meat products. pic.twitter.com/QDw2ZHAqk7 Sec. Sonny Perdue (@SecretarySonny) August 28, 2020 I trust that if we can take this key step regarding U.S. beef and pork issues, it will be an important starting point for more comprehensive Taiwan-U.S. economic cooperation, said Tsai. In the future, we can develop a more dynamic and vigorous economic and trade strategy. For industries, especially traditional industries, that have been impacted over the past two years by the U.S.-China trade conflict and the pandemic, this is an important opportunity. Tsai said that from Congress to the U.S. business community, There are clear expectations of building deeper economic and trade ties with Taiwan, which includes the potential of a Taiwan-U.S. bilateral trade agreement (BTA). U.S. Department of State spokesman, Morgan Ortagus, said in a statement that the State Department welcomed the development. We look forward to the timely implementation of these actions, which will provide greater access for U.S. farmers to one of East Asias most vibrant markets, and for Taiwan consumers to high-quality U.S. agricultural products. President Tsais vision and leadership in removing these long-standing barriers open the door to greater economic and trade cooperation between the United States and Taiwan. The U.S. welcomes President Tsai Ing-Wens August 28 statement that Taiwan will move quickly to lift restrictions on imports of U.S. pork and beef. This move opens the door for even deeper economic and trade cooperation. Kudos to President Tsai for her leadership. Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) August 28, 2020 Bilateral Trade Relationship Mooted The announcement was warmly welcomed by trade bodies and the U.S. government. It is hard to calibrate how quickly U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) will respond to this bold unilateral move by President Tsai, said U.S.-Taiwan Council President, Rupert Hammond-Chambers, in a statement. There is strong support for a BTA within Congress, as well as from the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and State, and from the National Security Council. The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), said, Taiwan is an important friend and partner of the United States, and a model for democracy in the Indo-Pacific. Opening up additional trade and economic avenues with Taiwan, which is already the number two trading partner of my home state of Idaho, is important to advancing our already strong partnership, Risch said in a statement. I strongly support the United States exploring a free trade agreement with Taiwan and reaching more markets with high quality products made in Idaho. According to President Tsai, U.S.-Taiwan relations are at their strongest in decades. Taiwan is a significant and critical trade partner of the U.S., and Taiwan and American businesses have close cooperative relationships, she said. I trust that if we can take this key step regarding U.S. beef and pork issues, it will be an important starting point for more comprehensive Taiwan-U.S. economic cooperation. In the future, we can develop a more dynamic and vigorous economic and trade strategy. The U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, meanwhile, called on the United States to respond to the move by initiating BTA negotiations as soon as possible. US-Taiwan Business Council calls on the U.S. to launch talks on a Bilateral Trade Agreement with Taiwan as soon as possible https://t.co/srsXZXNpei pic.twitter.com/jwR8kr2n9s US-Taiwan Business Council (@ustaiwan) August 28, 2020 A BTA between the U.S. and Taiwan would be the kind of template agreement that the Trump Administration could highlight as a future platform for global trade engagement, said Hammond-Chambers. It could include important new platforms for technology, particularly in the semiconductor industry, and for energy and healthcare collaboration. In addition, we would see improved market access for American manufacturers and agricultural producers. It would be a huge win for America, he said. Across my bathroom mirror are the words, Sarah, you cant give what you dont have. Spend time with me. Love, Jesus. Written in red Expo marker, its a message thats hard to miss. Whether Im fixing my hair or brushing my teeth before bed, its a message that wont be ignored. Which is exactly why I wrote it there. Ive needed to remember that I cant give what I dont have. Its one of my core values as a person and as a pastor; but as simple as it seems, it is also been one of the hardest values to live by. If Im not both intentional and careful, I may find myself attempting to draw from a stopped up, and subsequently dry well. My bucket comes up empty when Ive not attended to taking care of myself physically, emotionally, mentally and most importantly, spiritually. When this happens not only am I thirsty for renewal, but I have nothing to offer those around me who are in some way dehydrated and in desperate need of something to drink. I may see and even empathize with their experience. I may want to respond to their need but find myself lacking the resources to respond with, especially during this season of drought that we call a pandemic. It doesnt mean that weve not had plenty of rain here in Franklin County, but the amount of ongoing change weve all been experiencing has perhaps slowly depleted our mental, physical, emotional and maybe even spiritual reserves. If were noticing that we feel overwhelmed, tired, easily frustrated, anxious or worried about the future, that normal tasks are taking us longer, or if those around us notice that we are short-tempered or irritable, unusually forgetful or often distracted, then its a good possibility that our wells are pretty close to dry. Its no wonder. If we keep drawing from our wells, sharing what water we have, the water level continues to decrease. Acting as if the drought doesnt exist or the water level isnt going down doesnt change either reality. We must take note of both. Its why I wrote the reminder on my bathroom mirror. Theres a drought going on, and I need to check my well. My well-being (pun intended) is entirely dependent on the unseen stream of water that replenishes it. In physical science class, we learned to call these streams aquifers. In the gospel of John, Jesus says that there is a spiritual aquifer that never runs dry. He says this as part of an exchange with a woman at a well. He asks her for a drink of water, and she responds out of her own spiritual dryness, How can you ask me for a drink? (John 4:7) She asks him this not because there isnt a literal well that she can draw water from, but that she is acutely aware that she comes up empty culturally. She cant give what she feels she does not have, the right as a Samaritan woman to offer a Jewish man a drink. To this Jesus says, If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water. (vs. 10) Jesus response is a role reversal, a complete shift. He asked for the gift of a drink of water, and then tells her he has a gift for her. He has more than a drink to offer her. He has an endless stream of water that will never stop giving. Jesus offers an aquifer that will never run dry, but become in her, a spring of water welling up to eternal life. (vs. 14) She neednt thirst again nor should those around her. She has an endless stream to fill her well. If this is true, why are our personal wells coming close to running dry? The stream of living water hasnt run dry, so whats happening? Maybe weve been so busy drawing from our wells that weve failed to notice the sediment in the way. Weve not taken the time to make sure that the pathways to our hearts are clear of debris. The water never stops being available, only our access to it. So, friends, if we want to offer support, encouragement, hope, love, patience, forgiveness and kindness, or if we want to share Jesus with others, then we have to experience it for ourselves. See, I wrote a reminder for myself on the mirror not because I dont know I cant give what I dont have. I know that. You know that. I wrote it, because I needed to be reminded that when I spend time with Jesus, that I am given all that I need. Only then do I have something to give. A man lent his vehicle to a juvenile so he could smuggle 13,000 rounds of ammunition into Nuevo Laredo for him, according to an arrest affidavit filed on Thursday. The case unfolded at about 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers conducted an outbound inspection on a Buick Enclave at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge. Records stated the 17-year-old male driver gave a negative declaration to CBP officers. Authorities referred the Buick to secondary inspection. A search of the vehicle yielded 13 boxes with 1,000 rounds each of 7.62x39 caliber ammunition for a total of 13,000 rounds, states the affidavit. The 17-year-old driver was released since he is considered a juvenile under federal law. Authorities discovered that the registered owner of the Buick was Obed Rafael Cuevas-Serratos, a legal permanent resident, states the affidavit. Homeland Security Investigations special agents and task force officers responded to Cuevas-Serratos residence in the 1500 block of Calle Del Norte. Cuevas-Serratos allegedly allowed authorities to search his residence and a storage unit he leased. Nothing was found, according to court documents. He then allegedly agreed to be interviewed at the Laredo HSI Office. Cuevas-Serratos admitted he purchased the ammunition from a store in San Antonio for an individual in Mexico. Cuevas-Serratos stated an unknown individual came from Mexico and gave him $5,000 to purchase a specific caliber of ammunition, states the affidavit. Cuevas-Serratos further stated that he met with the juvenile driver and allowed him to use his vehicle to cross the ammunition. Cuevas-Serratos was going to be paid $1,900 once the ammunition made it to Mexico. Cuevas-Serratos admitted to doing this before with two pistols he acquired from an unknown individual and 6,000 or 7,000 rounds of ammunition that he purchased in San Antonio. Cuevas-Serratos was paid $1,500 on that occasion, the affidavit states. Cuevas-Serratos was arrested and charged with export, attempt to export and conspire to export ammunition. The family of a mother who lost her unborn baby girl after she was forced to travel 750km for an urgent operation because of Queensland's border restrictions has broken their silence. Kimberley Brown and her husband Scott, from Ballina, in northern New South Wales, were told on August 12 that their twins had developed twin to twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). The disorder occurs in pregnancies where the twins share a placenta and the blood is unevenly distributed, leading to malnourishment and organ failure for one donor twin. Mrs Brown needed urgent surgery but despite living just two hours away from Queensland's Mater Hospital doctors told her she would need to apply for a border exemption, which could take too long. Instead the couple waited 16 hours for an emergency flight to Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Yesterday, Mrs Brown learned after an ultrasound that she had lost one of the babies. Mrs Brown's father Alan Watt said the ordeal was extremely distressing for the family. Kimberley Brown and her husband Scott, from Ballina, in northern NSW, learned that they had lost their unborn baby after being forced to travel 750kms because of Queensland's border restrictions The couple were forced to get an emergency flight from Lismore to Sydney despite living just two hours from a hospital in Queensland Mrs Brown's father Alan Watt said the ordeal was extremely distressing for the devastated family TIMELINE OF EVENTS August 8 - Queensland shuts borders to NSW August 12 -Kimberley Brown and her husband Scott are told their twins have developed rare disorder and that one of the babies' lives was at stake. August 13 - Mater Hospital tell Ms Brown she will have to apply for a border exemption so they decide to travel to Sydney. They wait 16 hours for a flight. August 14 - Medics perform laser surgery on Ms Watt. August 27 - Ms Brown discovers she has lost one of the babies following an ultrasound. Advertisement 'I am just really upset - I don't know what to say. I am really upset this has gone as far as it had,' Mr Watt told Seven News. 'We don't blame anyone for what happened. It is just one of those things that happen. 'We just hope [the other unborn child] makes it through to a happy ending.' Mr Watt said the family understands the outcome for the couple may have been the same if they were able to go to Queensland for medical assistance. However he says that more time could have given the unborn twins an extra chance they needed. Wayne Jones, chief executive of the Northern NSW Local Health District, told Nine News that the 'preferred location for the family to give birth was at a hospital in Brisbane.' 'But under the Queensland Border Direction at the time, the woman and her husband would have had to quarantine at a government hotel for 14 days at their own expense prior to the procedure,' he said. Queensland Health told Seven News that the couple would have been granted access to medical treatment in the state. They claim that no exemption or request for transfer was applied for on their behalf. MrsBrown's father said the ordeal had been extremely distressing for the family (picture is Scott Brown and Kimberley Watt) Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the case 'terribly heartbreaking' and 'distressing'. He issued a fresh appeal for states to open their borders on Friday and said Australia faced 'economic ruin' if the restrictions continue. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said last week the decision about who to let into Queensland would be made by health professionals, not politicians. 'People living in NSW have NSW hospitals. In Queensland, we have Queensland hospitals for our people,' she said. On Friday she said that anyone who needs urgent medical care, and Queensland is deemed the best place for it, won't be turned away. Queensland's Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young said not a single person who applied for a medical exemption had been turned away. Prime Minister Scott Morrison Mr and Mrs Brown's ordeal 'terribly heartbreaking' and 'distressing' 'But for those people wanting to come to Queensland for the first time for care, I am questioning I am not denying, but I am questioning why can't you get this care in New South Wales?' she during a press conference on Friday. 'New South Wales has got very, very good hospitals and healthcare. 'I actually genuinely believe, and we do this in Queensland, that whenever possible you should get care close to where you live. 'You shouldn't be travelling for hours to get care.' The Republican National Convention's main message on crime is crystal clear: If you vote for Democrats, there will be more of it, and it will hurt you yes, you, living the "Suburban Lifestyle Dream." "You won't be safe in [Democratic nominee] Joe Biden's America," said New York City police union leader Patrick Lynch at the convention Thursday. But look too long and the picture gets fuzzy. Why, exactly, will Democratic victories mean more crime? The GOP has two incompatible answers. One is that Democrats like crime and don't want it punished. "The violence and chaos we're seeing now isn't a side effect. It isn't an unintended consequence," Lynch claimed. "It's actually the goal" of the "radical left" animating the Democratic Party. "What they want is no policing," he insisted, and for criminals who "victimize the most vulnerable" to face no consequences. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani sounded this note, too. Biden is a "Trojan horse with ... his party's entire left wing just waiting to execute their pro-criminal policies," he said. The other answer is that Democrats are merely weak. "Democratic politicians have surrendered our streets," Lynch said. They're "running in fear of the mob," he charged, and they "froze in the face of rioting and looting." Crime can't be fixed "from your basement, Joe," Giuliani snarked at Biden before immediately pivoting to speak of Trump's "strength" on this issue. Why the contradiction? The likeliest explanation is strategic. Most of the enthusiasm from Lynch and Giuliani seemed to be for the first answer. The idea that Democrats prefer criminals to "real Americans" and govern accordingly fits nicely with the "Trojan horse" attack and imaginings of the average Democratic voter as a godless communist who will burn down your subdivision. But the trouble is many people watching the GOP convention likely know or have themselves been an average Democratic voter, so pushing the caricature too far is risky. Going all-out on "Democrats love crime" might make it too difficult for these viewers (and potential Republican voters) to suspend disbelief. A dash of the old reliable "weakness" allegation keeps it just messy and plausible enough. More stories from theweek.com Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman dies at 43 McConnell inexplicably claims that Democrats want to tell Americans 'how many hamburgers you can eat' 5 more scathingly funny cartoons about the Republican National Convention Campus News Operation Doorhanger focuses on public health By DAVID J. HILL Every year we stress the importance of being good neighbors to our off-campus students. This year, this message is even more important due to COVID-19. There was a new public health component this year to UBs annual Operation Doorhanger initiative. Representatives from the Office of Community Relations on Wednesday provided students who live in the neighborhoods near the South Campus with a packet of information that includes details on the universitys new health and safety guidelines, as well as reminders about being a good neighbor. UB staff members hung doorhangers on the door handles of about 1,500 homes to encourage students and lifelong residents to stay safe and work together to improve their community. The event follows a joint effort this past weekend between UB and the city of Buffalo to ensure that proper protocols are in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 as students return to off-campus housing. City inspectors conducted health and safety inspections, making sure that off-campus apartments are equipped with working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. UB representatives also dropped off Operation Doorhanger packets at apartment complexes in Amherst on Monday. Patrice Malone has been a police officer for two years with the Arlington County police force in the American state of Virginia. She believes going to college made her better at her job. In college, Malone studied criminal justice. She told VOA that college also taught her how to deal well with people. And it gave her courage and patience, a lot of patience, to go out, talk to people. The deaths of several Black men and women in the United States by police have put attention on problems with police training. Arlington County requires its officers to have college or other experience. That puts the Virginia law enforcement agency in the minority. Based on a 2017 study, more than 80 percent of U.S. law enforcement agencies require only completion of high school. Jay Farr is Chief of Police for Arlington County. He told VOA he noticed a difference earlier in his career while working for a smaller police force that did not require higher education. Not to be judgmental, he said, but he thinks the mentality of a lot of police he worked with was very limited. Many were not exposed to different points of view and were not challenged in an educational environment. Farr said he thinks that really made a difference in how they work within the community. Farr is a college professor and a strong believer in higher education for police officers. College teaches you how to be a critical thinker. A big part of the college experience is for you to look at things and to think through them beyond the obvious, he said. With regard to technical skills, going to college does not necessarily make people better police officers, Farr notes. I think it makes them a much better officer in having the ability to be more willing or open to dealing with different cultures, different points of view, (a) different thought process. Gaylene Armstrong is director of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Nebraska Omaha. She says police these days are required to do more than they used to be within the criminal justice system. We call on our police officers to be part law enforcement, part social worker, part assisting individuals who are in mental health crisis, Armstrong said. Our law enforcement officials in America are some of our first responders to all kinds of crises and need(s) situations. In addition to the usual police training, a college education could help officers deal with their growing role in society. The hope is that, with a broader education and more professional skills, police would be better at de-escalation through spoken communication, Armstrong said. A 2010 study published in Police Quarterly found that college-educated police officers are 40 percent less likely to use physical force on the job. It appears a college education did not change the outcome for George Floyd. The Minnesota man died in May after a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Three of the four officers charged in relation to Floyds death reportedly had completed college. Speaking about the Black Lives Matter protests that came after Floyds death, Farr believes concerns about police training are valid. However, money and resources make it difficult to set national guidelines for the training and education of law enforcement officers. Farr said it is very important for police officers to understand their own biases and deal with them. He added that it is dispiriting when people think all cops are abusive and use excessive force. Patrice Malone has recently noticed a difference in some of the people she deals with on the job. It's changed a little bit, she says. The community might be a little distant. But you just go out. You do the same thing that you did before. You just reassure the community that you're there for them, that you're there for their safety. And that's how you regain their trust. Im Alice Bryant. Dora Merkouar wrote this story for VOA News. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story college - n. a school in the U.S. that you go to after high school (often a university) courage - n. the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous expose - v. to cause someone to experience something or to be influenced or affected by something challenge - v. to test the ability, skill, or strength of someone or something role - n. a part that someone or something has in a particular activity or situation de-escalation - n. the decrease in the level of conflict in a situation kneel - v. to move your body so that one or both of your knees are on the floor valid - adj. fair or reasonable reassure - v. to make someone feel less afraid, upset, or doubtful On this day, some of those recollections included the Easter Sunday he was visiting his wife in the hospital after shed just given birth to their seventh child, and got the call the North River Street cotton mill where his mother had worked as a young woman - was going up in flames, casting off embers that not only created a roof fire on Wilder Street but destroyed one of the fire trucks. Parks Canada will not be complying with requests to remove Wesley Bone from Riding Mountain National Park. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/8/2020 (511 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Parks Canada will not be complying with requests to remove Wesley Bone from Riding Mountain National Park. The ask comes from 26 frustrated Lake Audy area residents. Parks Canada stated by email late Wednesday afternoon that it is dedicated to fulfilling its mandate to conserve and share national heritage places, like Riding Mountain National Park, and that the park provided a wide array of experiences and services to thousands of visitors at Riding Mountain during the summer. According to the park website, overnight camping at Lake Audy Campground in Riding Mountain National Park remains closed, and Parks Canada continues to ask visitors to respect Bones space and privacy as it works toward a positive resolution to reopen the site. The group camping area in the south end of the campground along with two kitchen shelters and a fish cleaning station are also inaccessible to visitors. "The agency is also committed to working carefully and collaboratively through dialogue to find constructive and peaceful outcomes to complex situations such as the matter of Mr. Bones assertions and presence at the Lake Audy Campground," Parks Canada stated. "It is working closely with partners, including Indigenous organizations and communities, as well as with local stakeholders, and is considering all options to serve the public interest in this matter." Also on its website, Parks Canada states that reconciliation and building trust with Indigenous partners is a priority. The Anishinabe of Riding Mountain hold deep cultural connections to Lake Audy. Archeological evidence reveals that the site has been occupied and used by Indigenous groups for at least 4,000 years. Darla Krupa, a spokesperson for the residents, told The Brandon Sun last Friday the group wants Bone out of the park for safety reasons. The residents also believe his presence and barricade make people feel unwelcome. The residents have held several meetings, one of which Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa Conservative MP DanMazier attended. He has written to Jonathan Wilkinson, the minister responsible for Parks Canada, pointing out that Bone, with his "unlawful occupation," is flouting the law. He asked for an urgent resolution the matter in two separate letters. While Mazier did not specifically request Bone's removal from the park, he cites legislation in his letter: Under Section 13(b) of the Canada National Parks Act, "no person shall use oroccupy public lands in a park" without permission or directives. However, since December 2019 there has been an unlawful occupation of Lake Audy Campgroundwithin the RMNP precinct. Meanwhile, Bone said that Les Campbell, the parks Indigenous affairs manager, visits him regularly. When asked what the two discuss, Parks Canada stated that careful and thoughtful dialogue is the best approach for responding to complex situations such as this one. "Parks Canada has engaged in respectful discussions with Mr. Bone focused on interests and on finding a constructive resolution to this matter," stated the agency. Bone told The Sun he and park staff discussed putting a lock on the fence he erected, and that both parties would have keys. This is due to acts of vandalism and aggression against Bone. Parks Canada stated gates are used throughout the national park to manage access to certain areas. "In this case, Mr. Bone has expressed that he erected a gate because he does not feel safe due to threats and acts of vandalism committed at Lake Audy. This is an area of ongoing discussion with Mr. Bone," the agency stated. Bone told The Sun Wednesday that he has been advised by park staff that if the residents do seek him out at the park, which they indicated they might, he should "get to safety and call the RCMP." The Sun asked what the parks long-term plan is, as Bone has repeatedly stated he will not vacate the area. "A thoughtful and measured approach is the best way for all parties to come to a positive outcome that will enable camping and cultural use to co-exist at Lake Audy," the agency replied. "Parks Canada team members are monitoring the situation and are also engaging with visitors and the individuals involved in the occupation to provide information and maintain constructive relationships. The agency will continue to communicate with the group of concerned residents around Lake Audy." Asked if park staff had safety concerns similar to those expressed by residents and local politicians, Parks Canada said "careful and thoughtful dialogue is the best way to come to a constructive resolution of this matter that will enable camping and cultural use to co-exist at Lake Audy." "Parks Canada is committed to visitor safety and agency staff are monitoring the situation closely and are engaging with visitors and the individuals involved to provide information and maintain constructive relationships." When questioned about how Parks Canada would address residents concerns, the agency stated that it firmly believes an approach based on thoughtful and constructive dialogue will enable all parties, including the Coalition of First Nations, to come to a constructive resolution of this matter. "At this time, Parks Canada will continue to communicate with the group of concerned residents around Lake Audy." The Sun could not reach Krupa for comment. mletourneau@brandonsun.com Michele LeTourneau covers Indigenous matters for The Brandon Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism. The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the governor-cum-chancellor of universities in Bihar to decide the mode of admission in B.Ed course across the state since the combined entrance test (CET) for admission to B.Ed (CET-B.Ed) courses for 2020-2022 session has remained stuck due to Covid-19 pandemic. We have heard the counsels for all sides. The counsel, appearing for the state nodal officer for the exam, informs us that the chancellor can take a decision as to whether there ought to be a central qualifying examination or whether the marks obtained till graduation are sufficient for the purpose of entrance into the B.Ed, said the bench of Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman and Justice Navin Sinha. The matter will come up on September 2 again for hearing. The Chancellor is requested to positively decide and communicate his decision, given the serious pandemic situation and the flood situation in the State of Bihar, to the court within five days stating whether the Common Entrance Test ought not to be shelved for this year and as to whether the qualifying examination could be on some other basis, the bench said. With the CET-B.Ed for 2020-2022 on hold, Bihars teachers training colleges and their teachers and employees have been facing as many difficulties as being faced by over 1.22-lakh applicants, fearing the loss of a session. OSD-Judicial at the Raj Bhawan, Vinod Tiwari, said that the Raj Bhawan would soon take a decision regarding admissions in B.Ed course and apprise the apex court about it. We will work on it in a day or two in the light of the apex courts order, he added. Also Read: JEE-NEET: To hold or not to hold Due to the lockdown in the wake of Covid 19 pandemic and the subsequent rise of infections, the entrance examinations have been postponed thrice. The private B.Ed colleges have been demanding permission to admit students on the basis of marks received in their last qualifying examination. They wrote to the chancellor and also knocked on the doors of the Supreme Court for relief. Lalit Narayan Mithila University (LNMU), Darbhanga, which is the nodal university for conducting 2020 CET-B.Ed, had also approached the apex court for further guidance. We have proposed a tentative date of September 22 in anticipation that things will get better by then. We had made all the preparations for the test on March 29 itself, but the lockdown prevented its conduct. Later, we planned it on June 14, July 19, and September 13. Now, we will go by the SC order or the Raj Bhawan direction, said LNMU nodal officer Ajit Kumar Singh. Watch: Odisha CM asks PM Modi to postpone JEE-NEET amid flood-like situation, Covid Officials in the Raj Bhawan said a way out of the current logjam would be worked out to hold the examination. As two-year B.Ed programme in Bihar is mostly run by the private colleges in self-financing mode on a fee of Rs 1.5-lakh-- fixed by the Raj Bhawan-- the institutions are hard pressed, fearing wash out of the session after having to bear with losses due to vacant seats for two consecutive years. Many proprietors of the B.Ed colleges said they were in no position to pay salary to their staff due to no admission in the current session. The Supreme Court, while hearing a case of a UPs Maa Vaishno Devi Mahila College in 2012, had ordered adherence to admission schedule and strict conformity by all concerned, without exception. The authorities will also ensure that the students admitted complete the mandatory period of 200 days course in the B.Ed. as per norms of the NCTE, it had observed. With the admission process likely to extend up to December, even if the exam is held on September 23, mandatory teaching for 200-days is just not possible. Therefore, we urged the apex court to direct the authorities to take admissions on the basis of marks this year. The colleges are facing an acute financial crisis due to the lack of admissions. We have been suffering for the last two years due to one reason or the other, said Dr Sanjay Kumar, convenor, Bihar state teachers training colleges association, who had approached the court for admission on marks-basis this year. In Bihar, there are around 350 teachers training colleges, out of which, over 90% are private institutions, employing over 5,500 teachers and around 3,000 non-teaching staff. Dhruv Kumar, head, department of education, Nalanda College, Bihar Sharif said that the new session should ideally begin in July first week. Due to the extraordinary situation in the wake of the pandemic, there is no harm in allowing admissions on the marks-basis for the 2020-22 session. Some states like Chhatisgarh have already announced admission on the basis of marks this year, as conducting exams will not be easy due to high risks involved, he added. The CET-B.Ed was an initiative of the Chancellor office to regulate the mushrooming of private teachers training colleges in the state. Compared to the first year in 2018, the number of candidates registered and appearing in the examination dropped last year. This year, 1.22-lakh candidates filled up the form. In Northern California, crews labored Thursday to control megafires sparked by a rare barrage of lightning strikes. Across the country, a Category 4 hurricane made landfall overnight in Louisiana, destroying buildings and toppling powerlines with unrelenting winds and rain. Two of the wildfire complexes still burning near the Bay Area are in the top three of Cal Fires list of the largest wildfires in modern state history. At its peak, Hurricane Laura brought 150-mile-per-hour winds, and is now one of the countrys most powerful storms ever recorded. These two extreme events thousands of miles apart might seem very different but climate scientists say they are closely connected. There is strong scientific evidence that global warming is influencing both wildfire conditions in the western U.S. and aspects of tropical cyclones in the Atlantic, said Noah Diffenbaugh, a climate change expert at Stanford University. Chris Field, director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, said climate change exacerbates already extreme events. What climate change does is it makes every extreme a little worse, a little more intense, and increases probability every day that were in extreme conditions, he said. How climate change helps fuel wildfires The role climate change plays in Californias wildfires is its effect on both weather and fuels, or flammable vegetation, said Diffenbaugh. Many of the recent large wildfires in California have occurred with a record or near record fuel aridity, which we know is influenced not just by precipitation and winds, but also the temperature, he said. California was experiencing a heat wave before the wildfires, and the scorching temperatures continued last week in areas where wildfires were burning, including Vacaville and the Santa Cruz mountains. Experts say that overall temperatures have increased because of climate change, which increases the risk of major fires, especially during heat waves. In terms of fires burning now, we had record or near record fuel aridity conditions prior to the record-setting heat wave, Diffenbaugh said. Our research shows that global warming has increased the probability of record setting heat in more than 80% of the world. Nic Coury / Special to The Chronicle Field said California always experiences dry summers and strong winds, but climate change has made fire seasons last much longer. What were really seeing is this really strong extension of the wildfire season, especially in the mountain areas, he said. Wildfire season starts when the snow melts, and weve seen a big increase in a snow-free period. Things get more and more wildfire susceptible and continue into the dry season, so theres a drier end of the dry season. How climate change makes hurricanes more intense The evidence of global warmings effect on hurricanes is tied to higher sea levels, warmer oceans and increasing precipitation. The clearest evidence that global warming is influencing tropical cyclones is what scientists call thermodynamic effects, Diffenbaugh said. Global warming has added heat to the oceans that is increasingly available to storms. As water is warmed and expanded, it adds heat to the climate system and contributes to the sea level rise. He said theres very clear evidence that the higher sea level has increased the risk of storm surge flooding, as seen in Hurricane Sandy in 2012, and he is concerned about the level of extreme storm surge flooding to come from Hurricane Laura. Field said the sea level rising 6 to 12 inches doesnt seem like that much, but a storm surge rising 1 foot on top of that creates the risk for much more substantial flooding. William Widmer/NYT Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California Another consequence of climate change is the precipitation intensity in tropical storms: Global warming has led to more water vapor in the atmosphere, which was seen in hurricanes Harvey and Florence in 2017 and 2018, according to Diffenbaugh. UCLA climate expert Daniel Swain said the ocean is higher than before, and climate change has increased the amount of precipitation in storms so they become more severe. Also, the warming oceans are responsible for how quickly a tropical storm turned into a borderline Category 5 major hurricane, he said. In just 24 hours, Hurricane Laura went from a tropical storm with 65-mph winds to a Category 3 hurricane with 115-mph winds, a process called rapid intensification. The storms rapidly intensified approach to the coast is difficult to do under most circumstances, Swain said. Theres evidence that rapid intensification is growing due to climate change. Climate change warming the water temperature is believed to cause the rapid intensification, because a big storm blows the surface water away from the shore, and if the water temperature is cooler, it sucks the energy out of the storm, Field said. Warmer waters, by contrast, can fuel the hurricanes. The result, the experts said, is that a greater share of hurricanes now could be the really powerful, damaging type. The risk of storms reaching the most damaging category is going up as a result of climate change, said Field. Its not necessarily going to result in more storms, but probably means nore reaching those damaging levels, the Category 3, 4 and 5. Field said in addition to limiting the effects of climate change, people need to think about preparation, response and recovery because these extreme events are not going to disappear anytime soon, and we need to learn to live with them. Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KellieHwang In a new twist to the TikTok bidding saga, Walmart on Thursday confirmed its teaming up with Microsoft in a bid to buy the hugely popular short-form video app. Citing potential boost from TikTok to the giant retailers online presence, Walmart said, The way TikTok has integrated e-commerce and advertising capabilities in other markets is a clear benefit to creators and users in those markets. The company added, We believe a potential relationship with TikTok US in partnership with Microsoft could add this key functionality and provide Walmart with an important way for us to reach and serve omnichannel customers as well as grow our third-party marketplace and advertising businesses. We are confident that a Walmart and Microsoft partnership would meet both the expectations of US TikTok users while satisfying the concerns of US government regulators. TikTok, which is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd, has been given 90 days to sell its U.S. operations to an American firm or face a ban in the country if it isnt sold. U.S. President Donald Trump has alleged that the video-sharing app shares its user data with Beijing and considers it as a potential threat to the country. TikTok has denied these claims. Earlier this month, Microsoft had announced that it is planning to acquire TikToks operations in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, the tech giant declined to comment on Walmarts announcement stating that it had nothing to share at this time. Besides Microsoft, other bidders that have been rumored to be in the bidding race include Twitter and Oracle. The announcement follows after TikTok CEO Kevin Mayers surprise resignation on Wednesday amidst an impending ban by Trump. In recent weeks, as the political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural changes will require, and what it means for the global role I signed up for, Mayer said in a memo to employees. Against this backdrop, and as we expect to reach a resolution very soon, it is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company. According to a person familiar with the talks, a deal could be reached within the next week. We appreciate that the political dynamics of the last few months have significantly changed what the scope of Kevins role would be going forward, and fully respect his decision. We thank him for his time at the company and wish him well, a TikTok spokesman said. Infinix Zero 8 Announced With Dual Selfie Cameras, 33W Fast Charging And More News oi-Abhinaya Prabhu Infinix Zero 8 has been announced officially in Indonesia after several rumors and leaks. This new offering from the company is the first for the brand in many aspects. Notably, the latest Infinix offering comes with a 90Hz refresh rate display, a MediaTek Helio G90T SoC, and a quad-camera setup arranged in a rhombus-shaped module and comprises a 64MP primary sensor. Infinix Zero 8 Specs The Infinix Zero 8 is fitted with a massive 6.85-inch IPS LCD display with a FHD+ resolution, a 90Hz refresh rate and a 180Hz touch sampling rate. There is a cutout at the top left corner of the screen to house two selfie camera sensors - a 48MP primary sensor and an 8MP secondary ultra-wide sensor along with EIS. This selfie camera sensor is capable of capturing 4K videos. The company claims that it can capture better shots even in low-light conditions. The Infinix smartphone features a gradient back that is glossy. The noticeable aspect at the rear panel is the presence of a quad-camera setup at the top center with a four lenses arranged within a rhombus-shaped module as mentioned above. This camera arrangement comprises a 64MP Sony IMX686 primary camera sensor with 4K video recording and EIS capabilities, an 8MP secondary ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2MP tertiary depth sensor, and a 2MP fourth low-light sensor. Under its hood, the Infinix Zero 8 gets the power from an octa-core MediaTek Helio G90T processor teamed up with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage space. Also, there is a microSD card slot supporting additional storage space. Running Android 10 OS out-of-the-box, this new Infinix smartphone is fueled by a 4500mAh battery with 33W rapid charging support. The other aspects of the device include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, face unlock, FM radio receiver, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a USB Type-C port. Infinix Zero 8 Price And Availability The Infinix Zero 8 is priced at IDR 3,799,000 (approx. Rs. 19,000). It is all set to go on sale from August 31 in Indonesia and hit the global markets on September 1. Already, it has been confirmed that the device will be launched in India on September 7 and we can expect it be priced aggressively in the country. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications In the second of our features on 'coronababies' we talk to new mothers about their experiences of isolation and loneliness in the hours and days after their child's birth. Also, as numbers continue to spike, we focus on their fears and concerns as they bring their new-born out into the world for the first time. Michelle and Daniel: Michelle Howlin was six months pregnant and a first-time expectant mother when news broke that the Covid-19 pandemic had reached Ireland. And she admits that, with limited data on the effects on mothers and newborns, those early days and weeks were a time of great anxiety and worry. 'It's natural for the mind to run wild with worst case scenarios, especially with a life growing inside of you that you'd do anything to protect from harm,' she says. 'At the same time, we know from research that stress and anxiety are not healthy for babies in utero. My initial thought was that my baby is, or will be, at risk. 'Even if my husband, Barry, and I take every recommended precaution, others may not, and my baby may suffer. Secondly, if I contract Covid-19 I may be separated from my baby after birth.' Having assessed the situation, Michelle took the decision to cocoon completely, the support of her employer and extended family allowing her to do so. 'I had planned to spend the last few months of the pregnancy with family and friends, sharing in the excitement of our first baby; baby showers, shopping trips to decorate the nursery and buy all the important equipment for this new life we were due to welcome in June. None of this came to fruition of course,' she says. With the majority of businesses closed another fear quickly surfaced; what if they couldn't get the essential goods required during the first weeks of a child's birth? 'Most necessary items were purchased in a sheer panic online. We needed to prepare for the eventuality that retail outlets may not open again before our baby was born.' As the virus tightened its grip on society, Michelle says she and Barry were dealing with new fears and anxieties on an almost daily basis. 'Health measure restrictions were put in place in ante-natal centres and maternity units which meant that only the expectant mother could attend all visits. 'Barry missed out on the majority of these visits, however, as tough as this new restriction was, he knew that his absence was a price worth paying to keep our baby, myself and those caring for us safe from harm.' The couple also had to deal with the news that Barry would not be able to spend much time with his wife in the lead-up to the birth and even less with the newborn once it had arrived. But on June 13 all Michelle and Barry's fears were cast aside. 'We welcomed our beautiful healthy baby boy Danny into the world together,' says Michelle. 'All our worries and fears were cast aside the moment he was born. We were thrilled to have shared that magical moment together. 'Barry was not allowed into the labour room until it was confirmed that I was definitely in established labour. Luckily we had a good stretch of quality time together before Barry had to leave, for this we were truly grateful. 'We then spent two days apart as fathers were not allowed to visit again until it was time for mother and baby to go home. 'During this time, the maternity staff made every concerted effort to care for and support both myself and Danny.' Michelle and Barry were reunited upon her departure from the hospital, now with a new life in tow. 'As I walked through those doors for the first time with my baby in my arms. I breathed a huge sigh of relief, but I also found myself wondering about the type of world that lay ahead for my son. Would life ever fully return to "normal" as we know it?' Aoife and Erin: Aoife Maloney's birth differed in that she had a caesarean section, and then ended up returning to the hospital for an unscheduled visit. 'My daughter Erin was born on June 26 by C-section. I was in there for four days, completely alone, it's horrible. You just cry, the nurses are great but it's tough, they don't want to have too much interaction with anyone,' says Aoife. 'My husband (Keith) was bringing in fresh clothes for me, but getting in or out of the ward was like Fort Knox. I didn't understand how I could go down to see him, hug him, but he couldn't come up to see us. 'Then I ended up back in the hospital after two weeks with an infection, so Keith was at home with the two children for four days.' Her experiences at Wexford General have made Aoife more cautious in how she and Erin interact with the outside world. 'Even when my parents came around they were afraid to touch her. You end up not wanting people to touch her, you're very cautious.' And with that caution, that lack of communication, comes loneliness. 'It's been the most lonely experience, the loneliest time. The pandemic really took away from the giddiness and excitement I should have been feeling. 'I roared my eyes out last week because my husband was going back to work. I'm on my own completely. Although I'm lucky, my family are close by, an hour away.' Yet upon reflection, Aoife reasons that this will ensure she has plenty of stories to tell Erin when she gets older. 'In years to come I'll say to her, "you'll never guess what happened when you were born?" Or I might be saying, "did you know there was a time when we didn't have to wear face masks?"' Grace and Elizabeth: The prospect of spending hours in a hospital ward without visitors or loved ones coming to see you after giving birth is one thing, but for those who had opted to have a C-section before the pandemic began that period of time was extended significantly. Grace O'Brien was booked in for hers on May 14, meaning she and her daughter spent the first five days of her life almost completely alone. 'I had a caesarean under a general anaesthetic so I was in the hospital for five days,' says Grace. 'My husband literally left me at the door the night before. 'He was allowed in for about half-an-hour at the birth and then sent home. I was in there on my own for five days; no visitors, the wards were very quiet, there were only three of us on the ward - and when someone came in they were in and out very quickly.' Ordinarily these early stages of motherhood are made a little easier by nurses and midwives, their assistance allowing mammy to get some rest, maybe even some sleep. But Grace didn't have that luxury. 'Being on my own, some people might say I was getting lots of rest, but the nurses didn't want to be handling the baby so I had the baby all the time, and you weren't allowed off the ward, to go to cafe or anything,' she says. 'It was very lonely. We were doing Zoom calls but it was hard as there were other mothers there and you don't want to disturb them, you're on speakerphone and trying to keep it private.' Getting out of the hospital was an ordeal in itself, something which Grace describes as 'a circus'. 'We had to bring our passports because the HSE buildings weren't open so we couldn't register the birth there,' she says. 'We had to get those photocopied, then I had to fill in a form and the nurse had to bring it down to him to sign, the luggage had to be brought down to him, then the car seat brought up to me. 'But at the end of the day it was all done for our safety and we did feel very safe throughout.' Upon returning home, Grace not only had to deal with bouts of loneliness and isolation, but also a further medical issue which was allowed to go unchecked. 'I didn't get my appointments, my check-ups, so I was very annoyed about that. I should have been seen at six weeks, my scar was infected and I ended up back in the hospital. 'They kept prescribing me antibiotics, I felt let down by the doctors, it was eight weeks before it was seen.' Peer support, sharing her experiences with other new mothers, was also something which Grace missed, something she feels is vital for those in her position. 'That was one of the things I found hardest; I breastfed my first son and I had difficulty so I joined Cuidiu and got fantastic support there. 'But this time I couldn't go into the group, make friends with other mammies. I didn't get to make new friends and talk to other mothers. It's very, very lonely having a baby during Covid-19.' Now, with figures on the rise again, Grace says she is reluctant to bring Elizabeth into shops, preferring to go for walks outdoors and keep human interaction to a minimum. 'Even walking places you feel unsafe, there's an instant sense of panic when you go anywhere. I can't bring her in to shops, she hasn't been anywhere. 'When people see me out walking and they come over for a look I have to ask them to do so in a nice, respectful way.' That rise in numbers and subsequent increase in restrictions has led to Elizabeth's christening being postponed. But in years to come Grace says she will use the pandemic to explain just how important her daughter was to the family. 'I'll tell her she was very, very precious and very well protected when she was born.' Tina and Jake: It was only after his birth that Tina Black began to worry about the impact of Covid-19 on her first child, Jake. 'I wasn't really nervous about the virus until after Jake was born (on July 7), it didn't really hit me until he wasn't inside me anymore, it felt a bit like I couldn't protect him anymore,' Tina says. 'Then it was a case of should we let people in to see him, restrictions had eased a bit by then, but you're still concerned.' Jake's arrival was made that little bit less stressful by the presence of Tina's partner, Adrian, who perhaps stayed a little bit longer than he was supposed to. 'Adrian was only allowed in when I was in active labour, but he stayed a few extra hours, he was hiding behind the curtains, I think they forgot he was there,' Tina laughs. Enjoying life as a mother, Tina says she and Jake go out every day but have thus far avoided the shops where possible. And when it comes to explaining to her son what life was like when he was born, Tina thinks that will all be covered in the classroom. 'In years to come he'll probably be learning about the coronavirus in school.' Emma and Mossy: Having a child in the middle of a pandemic and then being left on your own after the birth would prove taxing for most new mothers. But Emma Barnes took it all in her stride, so much so that she was almost reluctant to leave Wexford General Hospital in May of this year. 'Mossy was born on May 23, he was my first baby so I didn't know any different,' Emma says. 'I actually didn't mind it all, I wasn't nervous because I know a few people in the hospital and they'd reassured me everything was safe and it would be okay. 'And after the birth while I was in there I kinda enjoyed the peace and quiet, it was really relaxed, I didn't mind not having any visitors - I wouldn't have minded staying in there a couple of days longer actually.' Although restrictions lifted on the day Mossy was born, Emma and partner Rodney went without the usual check-ups and appointments for the first two months of their son's life. They also missed out on another important moment, something which they won't get the opportunity to do again. 'We didn't get that first family photo, there's no photos of the three of us from when he was born.' Thankfully, Mossy's grandparents did get to visit within a few days of his birth, providing plenty of photo opportunities for the new arrival. Mary * and Niall*: Not every mother had such a relaxing experience at WGH during the pandemic. Here Mary describes what it was like bringing Niall into the world earlier this year. 'My waters broke at 7.30 a.m. and I had to go to the hospital without my partner. I was there from 8 a.m. in the morning on my own without any nurses or doctors until 9.30 p.m. 'I was left there in the ward with another woman who had just given birth, I was terrified. The nurses didn't seem to be around, I only got to see them when I was moved to the labour ward. 'The other woman in the room was kind of sleeping, she had given birth and her child was asleep too. I didn't want to make noise and wake her up. I had the curtains pulled and was trying to stay quiet. 'I didn't get any pain relief until they gave me the epidural that night, all I was given were two paracetamol. I was ringing my partner as I was having the contractions, at one point I was sitting on the floor crying, they didn't come to check on me, to see how dilated I was.' However, once Mary was moved to the labour ward things improved. 'The labour itself was brilliant, the midwife was great. My partner came in at around 11 p.m. and Niall was born in the early hours of the morning.' Since returning home, Mary admits she's been 'paranoid' to have too many people over lest her son contract the virus. 'We haven't really had many people over since we came home, his grandparents have seen him but we haven't had a lot of family or friends over. 'My partner's working so I'm here on my own most of the time. I'm just paranoid about having people in the house.' Despite her worries, Mary says her son is doing well. 'Niall is doing great, some of his check-ups were cancelled, but I have had my six-week check. In years to come I won't let him live it down for putting me through such an ordeal.' Lorraine and Grace: Grace Iannetta was born on March 21, just days after Ireland went into lockdown. The first child of Lorraine and Pasquale Iannetta, she came into the world at one of the most uncertain times in recent history. Yet, according to Lorraine, it wasn't all that bad. 'I thought it would be worse, having a child in a pandemic, but it was okay.' Indeed, the biggest difficulty was acquiring clothes for the new arrival. 'Because most of the shops were closed it was hard to get clothes for her, but luckily I had friends back home in Clare who had recently had children and they were able to send on their old clothes,' Lorraine says. One person who had to wait longer than most to see Grace was her grandfather, Lorraine's dad. 'It was three months before my father got to see her. He came to New Ross to meet her, had been chatting on video calls but it's not the same.' *Names changed to protect interviewee's identity. Everyone is welcome in Roma High School teacher Taylor Lifka's advanced English class, and that's the message she was trying to convey by hanging Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ and Spanish posters in her virtual classroom. But instead, she sparked controversy and was put on administrative leave. My assistant principal told me, Please take the posters down. I guess once that happened, I knew that it might be a rocky road, but considering being put on leave? I never really thought that that was going to be their first step, Lifka said in an interview with The Texas Tribune. SCHOOL NEWS: Two Texas A&M sororities now under chapter-wide quarantine after COVID-19 exposure While thousands of parents, students and community members showed Lifka tons of support and bashed the district for "punishing her," even creating a Change.org petition in her honor, Roma school officials said several parents and community members filed complaints about the Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ posters, the Tribune reported. Lifka said the situation kind of got out of hand when a screenshot of her virtual classroom that she posted to her personal account was shared to a pro-Trump Facebook group and further instigated by Republican Marian Knowlton, who is running for the District 31 state House seat. Knowlton has since deleted the post, but the Tribune reported that she accused the education system of "radicalizing" students and said Lifka's posters were an example of leftist indoctrination." Just two days after being placed on leave, Lifka was reinstated and told she could keep the posters up, but she told the Tribune she doesn't plan to return until the district vows to show support and understanding for anti-racist policies and tolerance in classrooms. "Why should a teacher be punished for creating a safe and inclusive environment for her students?" the Roma High School Student Council, which Lifka advises, said in a Facebook-released statement. Press Release August 28, 2020 Drilon hits designation of de Jesus as PhilHealth OIC The minority leader says 'it is going to be the same old story of corruption and incompetence' with de Jesus at the helm Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon expressed disappointment over the designation of Arnel de Jesus as officer-in-charge of Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth) following the resignation of Ricardo Morales as president and chief executive officer. "I am deeply disappointed with the decision of the PhilHealth Board to name Mr. De Jesus as officer-in-charge of PhilHealth. As PhilHealth's Chief Operation Officer, he implemented the questionable Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM). It must be remembered that he was the one who kept justifying the download of IRM funds to non-Covid-19 hospitals such as dialysis and maternity clinics. His actions and poor professional judgment were so evident during the hearings of the Committee of the Whole on PhilHealth," Drilon said in a statement on Friday. "He is the one who said that liquidation is 'optional', when PhilHealth should have required hospitals to liquidate the funds immediately as required by COA rules. He signed the illegal liquidation memorandum circular which gave too much discretion to regional directors, which resulted in this financial mess and corruption," Drilon stressed. "There is nothing from his past actions that could justify the decision of the PhilHealth Board to name de Jesus as OIC. I am extremely concerned about how the Board picked de Jesus," he added. Drilon said with de Jesus as the OIC, "it is going to be the same old story of corruption and incompetence." "It only highlights the need to revamp the entire organization of PhilHealth," he added. The minority leader had earlier said that the President should be authorized to reorganize PhilHealth. "What PhilHealth needs now is a cleansing process. We need someone with unblemished credibility, with zero tolerance for corruption and with high regard for accountability," Drilon said, "of which Mr. de Jesus really fell short and is really unqualified." "Mr. de Jesus is not the right man to lead PhilHealth even as an OIC," he added. Drilon said earlier that the government should observe the "fit and proper" rule in appointing officials to 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," he said earlier. "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. "It should be led by someone with excellent background in finance and management." 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. Indo-China standoff: All eyes on Jaishankar-Yi in-person meet at Russia India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 28: New Delhi is considering sending External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar to Russia next month. He would have a chance to meet with China's foreign minister, Wang Yi and discuss steps on how to resolve the border crisis. If all goes as per plan, Jaishankar's meeting with Yi would take place anytime between September 9 and 11. This could also be the first in-person meeting of the two leaders. It may be recalled that the two had met through video conferencing on June 23 at the RIC Foreign Ministers meet. Two days after the Galwan Valley clash, Jaishankar and Yi also spoke over phone on June 17. China sees India as a partner instead of a rival: Chinese envoy Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, Anurag Srivastava told reporters that Jaishankar had received an invitation to participate in a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Moscow next month. As soon as we have our decision on his participation, we will inform you, he also said. Flight rules: Banned from flying if you remove mask & more news | Oneindia News On September 4, Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergey Larvov will chair the meeting of the BRICS Foreign Ministers via video conference. This meeting would be attended by Jaishankar and Yi and they would exchange views on topical international matters. Amidst the standoff there are hectic parleys in New Delhi. There is a lot of activity between New Delhi and Beijing through interlocutors from Russia. The MEA spokesperson said that all border situations were resolved through diplomacy. When it comes to finding a solution, this must be predicated on honouring all agreements and understandings. There should be no attempt to alter status-quo unilaterally he also said. No one could have predicted a mother who murdered two of her children and tried to kill the other four would carry out the attack, a review of the case has concluded. Sarah Barrass, 35, was jailed for life last year after she was convicted of strangling her two eldest teenage sons before then attempting to drown their younger siblings in the bath. The father of the children, her half-brother and secret lover Brandon Machin, was also convicted of murder and given a similar minimum 35-year sentence. Now, a serious case review of the killings by local authorities involved has found no evidence that any of the social workers or other agencies involved with the family could have predicted the actions taken in May 2019. This review has seen significant evidence of effective and caring practice with the children by all agencies involved with the family, the report stated. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 January 2022 Demonstrators outside Downing Street during a Kill The Bill protest against The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in London. PA UK news in pictures 14 January 2022 Ecologist Emma Smart (left) and retired GP Dr Diana Warner outside HMP Bronzefield, in Surrey, following their release from the prison where Emma undertook a 26-day hunger strike during her incarceration. Ms Smart was sentenced in November, along with other members of Insulate Britain, to serve four months for breaking a High Court injunction by taking part in a blockade at junction 25 of the M25 motorway during the morning rush hour on 8 October last year PA UK news in pictures 13 January 2022 A TV presenter holds a copy of a newspaper outside 10 Downing Streetafter the Prime Minister apologised for attending a gathering of colleagues in the Number Ten garden in May 2020, while the UK was in strict lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic Getty UK news in pictures 12 January 2022 Fitness guru Derrick Evans after receiving an MBE during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 11 January 2022 A couple walk underneath an umbrella during wet weather on Westminster Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 10 January 2022 A jogger passes the Covid Memorial Wall in London AP UK news in pictures 9 January 2021 The sun rises over horses at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 8 January 2022 Riders compete during the Veterans Men's race at the UK Cyclo-Cross National Championships 2022 in Ardingly, south of London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 7 January 2022 A dog looks out of a car window at the wintry conditions in Killeshin, Co. Laois PA UK news in pictures 6 January 2022 People walk through frost and mist alongside a frozen lake during sunrise in Bushy Park, London REUTERS UK news in pictures 5 January 2022 A skier jumps on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines to the north of Weardale in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 4 January 2022 Freshly-fallen snow covers houses in Corbridge, near Hexham in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 3 January 2022 Dean Morrison, 13, receives his Covid-19 vaccine from student nurse Anthony McLaughlin during a vaccination clinic at the Glasgow Central Mosque PA UK news in pictures 2 January 2022 Konastantinos Tsimikas of Liverpool with Chelseas Mason Mount during the Premier League match at Stamfrod Bridge Liverpool FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 January 2022 New Years Eve Lasers, drones and fireworks illuminate the sky in front of the Royal Naval College in Greenwich shortly after midnight in London EPA UK news in pictures 31 December 2021 Competitors in fancy dress run across the Pennine tops near Haworth, West Yorkshire, in the annual Auld Lang Syne Fell race which attracts hundreds of runners every year PA UK news in pictures 30 December 2021 Sunrise at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 29 December 2021 The Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, looks at Becket, a six month old red-billed chough as he visits Wildwood Wildlife Park in Kent on the anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket PA UK news in pictures 28 December 2021 Troops of the Household Cavalry are seen reflected in a puddle during the changing of the Queens Life Guard, on Horse Guards Parade, in central London PA UK news in pictures 27 December 2021 A pedestrian walks past a winter sale sign outside a John Lewis store on Oxford street in London Getty UK news in pictures 26 December 2021 Riders take their bikes through the snow near Castleside, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 25 December 2021 Patrick Corkery wears a santa hat and beard as waves crash over him at Forty Foot near Dublin during a Christmas Day dip PA UK news in pictures 24 December 2021 People stand inside Kings Cross Station on Christmas Eve in London Reuters UK news in pictures 23 December 2021 Christmas shoppers fill the car park at Fosse Shopping Park in Leicester PA UK news in pictures 22 December 2021 The sun rises behind the stones as people gather for the winter solstice at Stonehenge. Getty UK news in pictures 21 December 2021 People take part in a winter solstice swim at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh to mark the solstice and to witness the dawn after the longest night of the year PA UK news in pictures 20 December 2021 An auction employee displays poultry to buyers and sellers attending the Christmas Poultry Sale at York Auction Centre in Murton PA UK news in pictures 19 December 2021 Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 December 2021 Freight lorries queuing at the port of Dover in Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 December 2021 Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, bursts 'Boris' bubble' held by colleague Tim Farron, as she celebrates following her victory in the North Shropshire by-election PA UK news in pictures 16 December 2021 Brussels sprouts are harvested by workers as they prepare for the busy Christmas period near Boston in Lincolnshire PA UK news in pictures 15 December 2021 Lewis Hamilton is made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 14 December 2021 The Royal Liver Buildings surrounded by early morning fog in Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 13 December 2021 People queue outside a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster Getty Images UK news in pictures 12 December 2021 People take part in the Big Leeds Santa Dash in Roundhay Park, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 11 December 2021 People arrive at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Elland Road in Leeds, PA UK news in pictures 10 December 2021 Stella Moris speaks to the media after the US Government won its High Court bid to overturn a judges decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange PA UK news in pictures 9 December 2021 Camels are lead around Salisbury Cathedral during a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Service PA UK news in pictures 8 December 2021 Margaret Keenan and Nurse May Parsons, a year after Margaret was the first person in the UK to receive the Pfizer vaccine PA UK news in pictures 7 December 2021 Snowfall in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire as Storm Barra hits the UK with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow PA UK news in pictures 6 December 2021 A person tries to avoid sea spray on New Brighton promenade in Wallasey as the UK readies for the arrival of Storm Barra Getty UK news in pictures 5 December 2021 People release balloons during a tribute to six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside Emma Tustin's former address in Solihull, West Midlands, where he was murdered by his stepmother PA UK news in pictures 4 December 2021 People walk through a Christmas market in Trafalgar Square Reuters UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 2 December 2021 Duchess of Cambridge inspects a Faberge egg at the Victoria and Albert Museum Getty UK news in pictures 1 December 2021 Meerkats at London Zoo with an advent calendar PA UK news in pictures 30 November 2021 Workers put the finishing touches to the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree ahead of the lighting ceremony later in the week PA UK news in pictures 29 November 2021 Home Secretary Priti Patel is greeted by a police dog at a special memorial service for Met Police Sergeant Matiu Ratana Getty UK news in pictures 28 November 2021 Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City battles for possession with Aaron Cresswell of West Ham United during a match at the Etihad during snow Manchester City/Getty 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 Practitioners saw [Barrass] as a loving, caring and competent mother. Barrass had initially tried to kill Tristan, 13, and Blake, 14, by forcing them to take a drugs overdose. When this had failed, she then called Machin over, with whom she had been having a secret sexual relationship for several years, to help her strangle them to death. Sheffield Crown Court heard at the time the couple had begun to fear their incestuous relationship would be discovered and Barrass was also concerned her six children would be taken into care. Recommended Incestuous parents who murdered two teenage sons jailed for life The pair had planned for Barrass to murder all six youngsters, the youngest of whom were toddlers aged under three, before then killing herself. When the attempt to kill the four eldest children by forcing them to take tablets, including ADHD medication, did not work, Barrass decided the children were better off dead than in care, prosecutors told the court last year. After the couple strangled Tristan and Blake, they then repeatedly attempted to drown one of the younger children. Police, who had been alerted by a friend Barrass had been messaging, arrived at the house that evening, too late to save the lives of the oldest teenage boys. The four other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were taken to hospital but released the same day. Barrass and Machins trial had heard evidence the mother had previously threatened her children, with visitors to the house reporting she told them I gave you life, I can take it away. The 35-year-old had also requested help from social services to look after her children. Sarah Barrass, 35, has admitted murdering two of her children, Tristan and Blake Barrass, aged 13 and 14, at a house in Sheffield in May this year and conspiring to kill four more. Brandon Machin, 39, admitted the same charges (South Yorkshire Police/PA) In a message to a friend, she said: Ive thought of every possible solution to this mess. Mass murder, putting them all in care, checking in to the local nut house. I love my kids too much to kill them, I cant put them into care for the same reason. But the serious case review, ordered last year by local authorities after the convictions, had concluded none of the professionals involved had any reason to believe anything was wrong. The family had contact with a large number of staff and a variety of agencies but the review said: Professionals view of mothers parenting was overwhelmingly positive and she was seen as a competent, caring and articulate parent who supported and fought hard for her childrens access to appropriate support and help. She frequently self-referred to support services and the police. But, it emerged at the trial, none of the agencies working with the family had any idea Machin was not simply the supportive brother of Barrass, but actually the father of all six children. (Repeats Aug. 27 story with no changes to text) * LME warehousing units: https://tmsnrt.rs/3aXHdPQ * Port Klang storage by operator: https://tmsnrt.rs/2G0dURu * Port Klang load-out queues: https://tmsnrt.rs/3jhXvpW By Andy Home LONDON, Aug 27 (Reuters) - The London Metal Exchange (LME) last week approved the listing of two new storage units in Port Klang, confirming the Malyasian port's rapid emergence as a major LME warehousing hub. Port Klang held 1.01 million tonnes of registered metal at the end of July, 43% of the total inventory in the exchange's global delivery network. LME warehouse operators have been rapidly building out capacity at Port Klang and the collective pivot towards Malaysia shows no signs of abating. As always when it comes to LME warehousing, this is all about aluminium. The market has a history of surplus and large stocks. This year's COVID-19 crisis is expected to result in more of both. Operators are slugging it out for the aluminium storage prize and although the LME claims to have vanquished the long load-out queues that plagued the aluminium market in the past, it is clear it has far from tamed the animal spirits of its warehousers. The LME storage wars, which were once fought out at Detroit and then the Dutch port of Vlissingen, have simply moved to a new setting. SWEATING IT OUT IN SWETTENHAM There are now 115 LME-registered sheds in Port Klang, up from just 42 two years ago. Only Rotterdam has more listed units and that's largely down to Dutch logistics operator C. Steinweg's historical footprint in the city. Port Klang's LME storage capacity grew by 31% to 549,000 square metres in the year to June 2020, the fastest rate of increase of any LME delivery location and one which leaves it trailing only Rotterdam and Busan in South Korea. The port, originally called Port Swettenham after its colonial-era founder, Sir Frank Swettenham, was cleared from the malarial swamps to serve Kuala Lumpur. Story continues It's not an obvious hub for 21st century metals storage unless you're in the LME warehousing business. The first LME warehouses in Malaysia opened at Johor in the mid-2000s as warehouse operators sought a cheaper alternative to Singapore. However, limited container capacity and competition from other freight pushed LME logistics companies to Port Klang, which had plenty of space next to a newly-established but under-used free zone, according to one LME warehousing veteran. Handling costs are "reasonable and independent stevedores compete for business," he noted. The location also has one other key advantage for warehouse operators. Metal is more likely to stick there, unlike LME warehouses in South Korea and Taiwan, which are vulnerable to periodic stocks stripping to meet local or Chinese consumption. ALUMINIUM WARS After Port Klang was first constructed at the end of the 19th century, the only metal moving through it was Malaysian tin. Today it is an aluminium port with 921,025 tonnes of registered metal, almost 60% of all the aluminium in the LME's global warehouse system. There were another 406,000 tonnes sitting in "shadow" storage at the end of June, meaning metal that is being warehoused under a contract with explicit reference to the option of LME warranting. All this metal is constantly on the move as warehouse companies compete with rivals and traders for tonnage. Port Klang has registered 853,000 tonnes of aluminium "arrivals" and 622,000 tonnes of "departures" so far this year as metal revolves between on- and off-market storage depending on warehouse incentive deals. And if that all sounds familiar, it's because it is. Detroit was infamous for its "merry-go-round" deals and Vlissingen for the "Dutch round-about" as aluminium shuttled back and forth to Rotterdam. Many of the players are the same as well. The dominant operators in Port Klang right now are Access World with 43 units, ISTIM with 27, C. Steinweg with 20 and P. Global Services with 14. The same four companies bestride the entire LME warehousing landscape, storing 85% of registered stocks at the end of July. All four are battle-hardened from previous storage wars, two in particular. Access, part of trading powerhouse Glencore, was the "owner" of the Vlissingen load-out queue, which at one stage in 2014 stretched out to an astonishing 748 days. ISTIM, meanwhile, is the latest incarnation of the Whelan family, creators of the original aluminium load-out queue at Detroit, although Goldman Sachs industrialised the model after buying the Whelans' Metro International warehouse company in 2010. Metro, by the way, is now owned by the Reuben brothers, property and metals tycoons, and is still the fifth-largest holder of LME metal. LME warehouse company ownership can itself be a circular game of musical chairs. MULTIPLE FLASH POINTS The LME has spent a lot of time overhauling its warehouse system to prevent the sort of load-out queues at Detroit and Vlissingen that caused so much regulatory and media grief last decade. A mandate for faster load-out of metal prevents queues becoming self-generating or what the LME calls "structural". "Flash" queues still occur whenever large amounts of LME metal get canceled and scheduled for physical load-out. No surprise that Port Klang is the location for most of these flash log-jams, given the amount of aluminium that is constantly on the move. Indeed, there has been a load-out queue at ISTIM warehouses in the port at the end of every month since the start of 2019, varying from 229 days in February 2019 to 11 days in November of the same year. The LME's most recent report shows a 68-day queue for aluminium at the end of July. Evidently, some sort of modified queue model is at work, although it's hard to discern in the general melee. Just about every warehouse operator in Port Klang has experienced a flash queue at some stage in the last couple of years amid the fierce competition for cheaper storage. The slug-fest spilled into the open early last year, when Glencore and ISTIM clashed over an interpretation of the LME's increasingly complex load-out rules. The exchange itself seems to have tired of tweaking its rule-book, although it is still experimenting with allowing warehouse operators to earn more from queues as a way of helping them entice more metal in. Attracting aluminium doesn't seem to be the problem at Port Klang. It's more keeping it in one storage shed for any period of time. The LME storage wars continue, albeit muted by the exchange's regulatory crackdown on the worst excesses of the past. And while they rumble on, the market for LME storage is going to remain a significant driver of LME metal markets. The rise of Port Klang is itself proof of the continuing influence of the LME warehousers. The largest part of the exchange's registered stocks are now located where it suits warehouse operators rather than metal users. (Editing by David Holmes) She has been keeping her followers captivated with her racy social media snaps during her sunkissed break. And Ashley Roberts was at it again as she slipped into a tiny lavender bikini for a scenic pose by the sea in Turkey on Friday. The Pussycat Dolls star, 38, displayed her washboard abs and lithe legs in the glittering sequinned two-piece as she stretched out on some rocks. Toned: Ashley Roberts was at it again as she slipped into a tiny lavender bikini for a scenic pose by the sea in Turkey on Friday The tiny top teased a glimpse of her cleavage and drew the eye to her slender waist while the thong bikini bottoms revealed her pert derriere. Her blonde tresses were drenched with salt water while the beauty displayed her radiant complexion by going make-up free. Looking relaxed and happy, Ashley captioned the snap: 'Si to the siesta.' Ashley revealed earlier this month she is open to the idea of adopting a child in the future. Beach babe: The Pussycat Dolls star, 38, displayed her washboard abs and lithe legs in the glittering sequinned two-piece as she stretched out on some rocks Speaking in an interview with Fabulous magazine, she said: 'I'm definitely open to the idea of adoption. 'You just never know what the future is going to bring and the most important thing is to be happy and, whether my body naturally has kids or not, we'll see what life brings. I'm definitely open to that.' Ashley also reflected on dating following her split from Italian Strictly Come Dancing professional Giovanni Pernice, 29. Wow! The Pussycat Dolls star performed an impressive headstand showing off her toned legs earlier this week The couple called time on their year-long romance in January after meeting during Ashley's stint on the BBC One dance competition in late 2018. She said: 'I'm good on my own, though. I'm pretty independent. It's nice to have that connection with someone, but at the moment lockdown is still [effectively] here, so "me" is where it is.' She said about dating in lockdown: 'You can get to know someone a bit more before other "things" can happen perhaps that's something that's positive. We'll see.' Ashley previously revealed she tried to freeze her eggs a couple of years ago, but the process didn't work. Trevor Noah delivered a powerful segment addressing Jacob Blake and the Kanosha shooting on Wednesday. The host spoke out on his show, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, touching themes such as police violence and racism. He began by mentioning the death of George Floyd and the ensuing protests, commenting: There was definitely a sense that this could be a moment of systemic change. But as weve been reminded of yet again, theres still a long way to go, he added. The segment then cut to news reports about Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old father of six who was left paralysed from the waist down after being shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday. No matter how many times I watch these videos, Ill never get used to how quickly police go from issuing commands to using deadly force, Noah said. Whatever happened to warning shots? Or tackling a suspect? Later on in the clip, he addresses an attack that took place on Tuesday, when authorities say a 17-year-old police admirer from a nearby Illinois community killed two demonstrators and wounded a third in wild shootings that were largely caught on cellphone video and posted online. Kyle Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Illinois, was taken into custody on Wednesday in Illinois on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide in shootings late Tuesday. Rittenhouse, who walked the streets with other civilians armed with long guns, was assigned a public defender in Illinois for a hearing Friday on his transfer to Wisconsin. Under Wisconsin law, anyone 17 or older is treated as an adult in the criminal justice system. It made me wonder it really made me wonder why some people get shot seven times in the back while other people are treated like human beings and reasoned with and taken into custody with no bullets in their bodies, Noah said. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up ...How come Jacob Blake was seen as a deadly threat for a theoretical gun that he might have and might try to commit a crime with, but this gunman who was armed and had already shot people who had shown that he is a threat was arrested the next day, given full due process of the law, and generally treated like a human being whose life matters? Pointing out that his questions are largely rhetorical, Noah added: The gun doesnt matter as much as whos holding the gun. Because to some people, black skin is the most threatening weapon of all. Additional reporting by AP (JNS) Facebook, according to an Aug. 10 report, actively promotes further Holocaust-denial content to that user and has been unwilling to recognize Holocaust denial as a form of hate speech against Jews. Hosting the Holohoax: A Snapshot of Holocaust Denial Across Social Media, was released by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a think tank in the United Kingdom. The findings show that not only is Holocaust-denial content available on Facebook, but the social-media network actively lists it through the sites algorithm. Through a snowball method that allows... P lans for the mass deployment of a Covid-19 vaccine are being fast-tracked to October amid hopes that a jab could be ready before Christmas. An army of tens of thousands of nurses, doctors and community pharmacists will be recruited in readiness to administer a life-saving vaccine the moment one is declared effective and safe by watchdogs. And watchdogs will grant a special temporary authorisation for the use of a new Covid-19 vaccine provided safety tests are passed. The decision to clear the decks for a mass roll out of a vaccine that does not yet exist reflects optimism that a breakthrough is getting close. A senior medical expert told the Standard: The chances of having large volumes of vaccine this side of Christmas are small, but nevertheless it is plausible, at least for a couple of manufacturers that we are looking at. Britain has secured access to four types of vaccine from six different manufacturers and is supporting frantic research across the world. Elderly and vulnerable people and health and care professionals on the front line are expected to be the first people to get the medicine once it is proven safe. But officials stressed that no corners will be cut and no vaccine will be given to anybody unless it first passes safety tests controlled by the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, said: We are making progress in developing Covid-19 vaccines which we hope will be important in saving lives, protecting healthcare workers and returning to normal in future. If we develop effective vaccines, its important we make them available to patients as quickly as possible but only once strict safety standards have been met. The proposals consulted on today suggest ways to improve access and ensure as many people are protected from Covid-19 and flu as possible without sacrificing the absolute need to ensure that any vaccine used is both safe and effective. Health experts say doctors and nurses will be their first choice for people to administer the drug, but even vets might be asked to help out in the most optimistic scenario where large quantities of vaccine can be deployed. In addition, the Government will clarify the protection from civil liability that healthcare staff could face. The special measures include stronger powers for the UK to approve drugs this year independently of the European Medicines Agency that is supposed to licence drugs up to the end of the Brexit transition period in December. That step alone indicates that officials believe the vaccine has a chance of being ready earlier than 2021. Dr Christian Schneider, Director of National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, said: Whilst the existing licensing system or a new UK one from next year, is the preferred and expected route to supply any vaccine, these new measures will strengthen the regulatory regime and our ability to protect public health. Loading.... The expanded workforce will undergo a robust training programme, and could include a wider range of existing NHS staff, as well as groups such as student doctors and nurses. The ACLU also cited criticism Beth came under last year after he criticized five people of color arrested for shoplifting, when Beth said those individuals should be put in warehouses where we put these people who have been deemed to be no longer an asset, which critics said would be far too excessive a punishment for shoplifting. Beth later apologized for what he said. Regarding Miskinis, the ACLU took issue with the police chief appearing to blame two demonstrators Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, and Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha for their own deaths. Miskinis had said that those two men would be alive if they had followed emergency curfew orders, but did not cast blame on the teen accused of shooting them. Video footage OHCHR is aware of two cases. The so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR") has instituted the death penalty. "OHCHR is concerned that 'Donetsk people's republic' has instituted the death penalty," the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a report. Read alsoEx-"DPR" leader officially heads Russian city despite protests"OHCHR is aware of two cases where a 'court' of 'Donetsk people's republic' imposed the death penalty, however these 'sentences' have not been executed as of the date of this report. They nevertheless remain a concern, as other executions were carried out by the armed groups during the earlier years of the conflict," reads the report. Background Kerry Express files for an IPO in Thailand. In Vietnam, the firm is hiring more 2,000 employees, four warehouses, 110 distribution operations, and more than 300 professional trucks. Kerry Express is an Asia-based logistics network with a highly diversified business portfolio and the strongest coverage in Asia, including Vietnam. The company, which was established in 2006, will become the first parcel delivery firm to launch an IPO on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). At the moment, its wide range of services include cold chain, dangerous and bonded operations, pre-retailling, after-sales, and last-mile delivery services, to name a few. With a global presence across 58 countries, Kerry Logistics Network the parent corporation of Kerry Express has established a solid foothold in half of the worlds emerging markets. In Vietnam, the firm has more than 2,000 employees, four warehouses, 110 distribution operations, and 300 professional trucks. Referring to the IPO, Alex Ng, chief executive of Kerry Express Thailand, told the Bangkok Post the company wants to become a homegrown Thai brand for logistics services. Alex Ng also reaffirmed the companys commitment to strengthen its operation as well as recruit more staff this year. During the outbreak, the number of staff doubled from the pre-COVID-19 period following high demand for courier services. We have partnered with all major e-commerce platforms even though those giant e-marketplaces have their own logistics services, he added. We are ready to support e-commerce, home shopping, and traditional businesses, including SMEs and farmers. The funds raised from the IPO will be used to expand the companys express delivery network, loan repayment to financial institutions, and as working capital. Hazleton, PA (18201) Today Mostly cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Morning high of 28F with temps falling to near 15. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 7F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. China urges US military to restrain behaviors to avoid contingency PLA Daily Source: China Military Online Editor: Chen Zhuo 2020-08-28 01:05:39 BEIJING, Aug. 28 -- "China urges the US to immediately stop provocations, strictly manage and control its maritime and air military operations, strictly restrain the behaviors of its front-line naval and air forces, so as to avoid any contingency," said Senior Colonel Li Huamin, spokesperson for the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), in a written statement on Friday. Snr. Col. Li said that a US guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin trespassed into the Chinese territorial waters off the Xisha Islands without permission on August 27. In response, the PLA Southern Theater Command organized its naval and air forces to conduct whole-process monitoring and verification on the US warship and warned it away. Li pointed out that in disregard of the rules of international law, the US has repeatedly provoked troubles in the South China Sea and asserted its navigation hegemony in the name of "freedom of navigation" , which has seriously undermined China's sovereignty and security interests, as well as the international navigation order in the South China Sea. Li stressed that China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and the adjacent waters, adding that the troops of the PLA Southern Theater Command will always stay on high alert and resolutely safeguard China's sovereignty and security and uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ORNL researchers used natural tungsten (yellow) and enriched tungsten (orange) to trace the erosion, transport and redeposition of tungsten. Tungsten is the leading option to armor the inside of a fusion device. Credit: Jaimee Janiga/ORNL The inside of future nuclear fusion energy reactors will be among the harshest environments ever produced on Earth. What's strong enough to protect the inside of a fusion reactor from plasma-produced heat fluxes akin to space shuttles reentering Earth's atmosphere? Zeke Unterberg and his team at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory are currently working with the leading candidate: tungsten, which has the highest melting point and lowest vapor pressure of all metals on the periodic table, as well as very high tensile strengthproperties that make it well-suited to take abuse for long periods of time. They're focused on understanding how tungsten would work inside a fusion reactor, a device that heats light atoms to temperatures hotter than the sun's core so that they fuse and release energy. Hydrogen gas in a fusion reactor is converted into hydrogen plasmaa state of matter that consists of partially ionized gasthat is then confined in a small region by strong magnetic fields or lasers. "You don't want to put something in your reactor that only lasts a couple of days," said Unterberg, a senior research scientist in ORNL's Fusion Energy Division. "You want to have sufficient lifetime. We put tungsten in areas where we anticipate there will be very high plasma bombardment." In 2016, Unterberg and the team began conducting experiments in the tokamak, a fusion reactor that uses magnetic-fields to contain a ring of plasma, at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility, a DOE Office of Science user facility in San Diego. They wanted to know whether tungsten could be used to armor the tokamak's vacuum chamberprotecting it from rapid destruction caused by the effects of plasmawithout heavily contaminating the plasma itself. This contamination, if not sufficiently managed, could ultimately extinguish the fusion reaction. "We were trying to determine what areas in the chamber would be particularly bad: where the tungsten was most likely to generate impurities that can contaminate the plasma," Unterberg said. To find that, the researchers used an enriched isotope of tungsten, W-182, along with the unmodified isotope, to trace the erosion, transport and redeposition of tungsten from within the divertor. Looking at the movement of tungsten within the divertoran area within the vacuum chamber designed to divert plasma and impuritiesgave them a clearer picture of how it erodes from surfaces within the tokamak and interacts with the plasma. The enriched tungsten isotope has the same physical and chemical properties as regular tungsten. The experiments at DIII-D used small metal inserts coated with the enriched isotope placed close to, but not at, the highest heat flux zone, an area in the vessel typically called the divertor far-target region. Separately, at a divertor region with the highest fluxes, the strike-point, researchers used inserts with the unmodified isotope. The remainder of the DIII-D chamber is armored with graphite. This setup allowed the researchers to collect samples on special probes temporarily inserted in the chamber for measuring impurity flow to and from the vessel armor, which could give them a more precise idea of where the tungsten that had leaked away from the divertor into the chamber had originated. "Using the enriched isotope gave us a unique fingerprint," Unterberg said. It was the first such experiment conducted in a fusion device. One goal was to determine the best materials and location for these materials for chamber armoring, while keeping impurities caused by plasma-material interactions largely contained to the divertor and not contaminating the magnet-confined core plasma used to produce fusion. One complication with the design and operation of divertors is impurity contamination in the plasma caused by edge-localized modes, or ELMs. Some of these fast, high-energy events, akin to solar flares, can damage or destroy vessel components such as divertor plates. The frequency of the ELMs, the times per second these events occur, is an indicator of the amount of energy released from the plasma to the wall. High-frequency ELMs can release low amounts of plasma per eruption, but if the ELMs are less frequent, the plasma and energy released per eruption is high, with a greater probability for damage. Recent research has looked at ways to control and increase the frequency of ELMs, such as with pellet injection or additional magnetic fields at very small magnitudes. Unterberg's team found, as they expected, that having the tungsten far from the high-flux strike-point greatly increased the probability of contamination when exposed to low-frequency ELMs that have higher energy content and surface contact per event. Additionally, the team found that this divertor far-target region was more prone to contamination the SOL even though it generally has lower fluxes than the strike-point. These seemingly counterintuitive results are being confirmed by ongoing divertor modeling efforts in relation to this project and future experiments on DIII-D. This project involved a team of experts from across North America, including collaborators from Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, ORNL, General Atomics, Auburn University, the University of California at San Diego, the University of Toronto, the University of TennesseeKnoxville, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as it provided a significant tool for plasma-material interaction research. DOE's Office of Science (Fusion Energy Sciences) provided support for the study. The team published research online earlier this year in the journal Nuclear Fusion. The research could immediately benefit the Joint European Torus, or JET, and ITER, now under construction in Cadarache, France, both of which use tungsten armor for the divertor. "But we're looking at things beyond ITER and JETwe're looking at the fusion reactors of the future," Unterberg said. "Where is it best to put tungsten, and where should you not put tungsten? Our ultimate goal is to armor our fusion reactors, when they come, in a smart way." Unterberg said ORNL's unique Stable Isotopes Group, which developed and tested the enriched isotope coating before putting it in a form useful for the experiment, made the research possible. That isotope would not have been available anywhere but from the National Isotope Development Center at ORNL, which maintains a stockpile of almost every element isotopically separated, he said. "ORNL has unique expertise and particular desires for this type of research," Unterberg said. "We have a long legacy of developing isotopes and using those in all kinds of research in different applications around the world." In addition, ORNL manages US ITER. Next, the team will look at how putting tungsten into differently shaped divertors might affect contamination of the core. Different divertor geometries could minimize the effects of plasma-material interactions on the core plasma, they have theorized. Knowing the best shape for a divertora necessary component for a magnetic-confined plasma devicewould put scientists one step closer to a viable plasma reactor. "If we, as a society, say we want nuclear energy to happen, and we want to move to the next stage," Unterberg said, "fusion would be the holy grail." More information: E.A. Unterberg et al, Localized divertor leakage measurements using isotopic tungsten sources during edge-localized mode-y H-mode discharges on DIII-D, Nuclear Fusion (2019). E.A. Unterberg et al, Localized divertor leakage measurements using isotopic tungsten sources during edge-localized mode-y H-mode discharges on DIII-D,(2019). DOI: 10.1088/1741-4326/ab537b New Delhi, Aug 28 : India on Friday breached its own previous day record of single-day spike of over 75,000 cases, by registering an unprecedented 77,266 fresh coronavirus infections in 24 hours. With this India's tally mounted to 33,87,500 while the toll reached 61,529 with 1,057 more fatalities, said the Health Ministry. India though the third worst-hit at present, after the US and Brazil, has been reporting the highest number of daily coronavirus cases in the world for the last three weeks. No other country has reported such continued surge since the pandemic surfaced in China's Wuhan city in December 2019. India's journey to over 33 lakh cases took precisely six months and 28 days since the emergence of the first case in the country on January 30. On July 17, the country had logged 10 lakh cases, which then doubled in 20 days on August 7, and added another 10 lakh on August 23. It has now added almost 4 lakh cases in five days. Recoveries have crossed the 25-lakh mark and surged to 25,83,948 with 60,177 more people recuperating in the past 24 hours, taking the recovery rate to 76.28 per cent. The actual caseload of the country is the active cases, which currently stands at 7,42,023. The silver lining is that the recoveries are over three times more than the active cases. In India the fatality rate, which is the proportion of people who die from the disease among individuals diagnosed, has dropped to 1.81 per cent, the Health Ministry said. The positivity rate, which is the percentage of samples coming out to be positive out of the tests conducted, stands at 8.5 per cent. Image Source: IANS News According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, a cumulative of 3,94,77,848 samples have been tested till August 25 with 9,01,338 samples being tested on Thursday. Maharashtra continues to be the worst-hit with a total of 7,33,568 cases and 23,444 deaths; followed by Tamil Nadu with 4,03,242 cases and 6,948 deaths. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, West Bengal, and Bihar come next. The overall number of global coronavirus cases has topped 2 crore 43 lakh, while the deaths have increased to over 8,29,000, according to Johns Hopkins University. The US accounted for the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 58,63,363 and 1,80,595 respectively. Brazil came in the second place with 37,61,391 infections and 1,18,649 deaths. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- Syndicated from IANS New Delhi, Aug 28 : After launching its first mid-range premium smartphone Nord, Chinese brand OnePlus is now working on a smartwatch that may arrive as 'OnePlus Watch'. The 'OnePlus Watch' has been certified by the Singapore Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and their page reveals the watch has model number W301GB, reports XDA Developers. It may run Google's Wear OS and feature a Snapdragon Wear system-on-chip, potentially the recently-launched Snapdragon Wear 4100. OnePlus Watch may also include an OLED display to save battery and a host of fitness and health features like a heart rate sensor, blood oxygen monitor and software-based features such as sleep pattern analysis, goals oriented exercise tracking and more. Back in 2016, OnePlus actually confirmed that the company was developing a smartwatch. "We had completed the design but we still decided to scrap it. We have to be focused," OnePlus CEO Pete Lau said during the 'Converge' tech conference held in Hong Kong. OPPO recently launched a smartwatch called the OPPO Watch which looks similar to the Apple Watch but without a digital crown. Luxembourg police were tasked with a rather unusual mission when they had to chase down a kangaroo in the region of Redange over the course of the week. The inhabitants of Colpach, Redange and Reichlingen had been reporting the presence of a kangaroo in the area for a few days. Needless to say, that these are not the kind of reports that Luxembourg police officers are normally used to receiving. This was followed by a crazy search operation that involved several police officers whose basic training certainly did not involve chasing exotic animals. According to the authorities, the search was carried out using search dogs but without any real "obstacles" or concerns. After several expeditions, the police finally found the kangaroo in the middle of a field on Thursday morning. Its owner was also apprehended. The animal is well and will probably be entrusted to the competent authorities. Unfortunately, the police have not provided any further details on this subject. Pakistan on Thursday said the Afghanistan peace process was at a critical stage, and that the intra-Afghan dialogue should begin soon to resolve pending issues. Foreign Office spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said Pakistan consistently maintained its position that there is no military solution to the Afghan conflict. "We believe the peace process has reached a critical stage that was never achieved before. There are some residual issues and we hope that these issues will also be resolved and intra-Afghan dialogue will commence without further delay," he said. The spokesman said China has an important role in the peace process. We have talked to all stakeholders that are involved in the Afghan conflict. The Peace Agreement between the USA and Taliban is recognition of the fact that they are a party to the conflict. For sustainable peace to prevail in Afghanistan, it is important to reach out to all the stakeholders and parties, he said. Dr Yaw Baah, the Secretary-General of Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC), has advocated the promotion of skills development for the youth as part of the future of work post-COVID-19. We must provide the youth greater access to skill development. We must train and retrain formal sector workers; including public sector workers regularly with special focus on competences, attitudinal change, and work ethics, Dr Baah said in his presentation at the 12th National Development Forum in Accra. The Forum organised by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) was on the theme: The Future of Work in Post-COVID-19 Ghana. Dr Baah called for intensified effort in the formalisation of the economy. He also called for the adoption of the German Work Sharing System as a way of preventing mass lay-offs in the formal sector in future. Concerning what Ghanaians could do to shape the Post-COVID future, Dr Baah emphasized the need for the pursuit of the COVID-19 Alleviation and Revitalisation of Enterprises Support (CARES) programme within the Framework of Ghana Beyond Aid vision. This, he said, would depend on the ability to transform the economy, which also depends on changes in attitude towards work and respect for work ethics, he said. He also argued for the implementation of the National Unemployment Insurance Scheme to protect individuals against the risk of job losses. He said the Ghana Statistical Service Business Tracker Survey results (which covered 4,311 firms between 26 May and 17 June 2020) indicated that 35.7 per cent of business establishments had to close during the partial lockdown and that 16.1 per cent were still closed after the easing of the lockdown. Dr Baah said that only 3.5 per cent of firms report that they received government assistance, with not being aware of government programmes indicated as the most common reason. About business confidence, he said firms report substantial uncertainty in future sales and employment, with average expectations of declines of 24 per cent of sales and 15 per cent of employment in the worst-case scenario. Concerning COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the economy and jobs and livelihood, Dr Baah said this was a direct consequence of the measures that were implemented by the government to contain the spread of the virus in the country. He said the measures were needed to stop further spread of the virus and to avert a possible future catastrophe in the country but the negative social and economic consequences of these measures had been monumental. Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, who chaired the function said Ghanaians were prepared to enter the post-COVID-19 era. However, they must learn lessons and put in place sustainable policy measures and mechanisms to ensure social justice and effective transition to the future. We must invest in technological and innovative work processes to promote the employment and productivity enhancement objectives of the government. Professor Emerita Takyiwaa Manuh, the Vice-Chairman, NDPC, said the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had challenged the way people socialize and conduct their business. She said the measures adopted to control the spread of the virus had promoted the need to circumvent conventional strategies to keep employees productive. The measures include working from home and the use of virtual media and applications to ensure social and physical distancing. Dr Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa, the Director-General, NDPC, said contributions and recommendations from the National Development Forums were very vital to the work of the Commission. Discussants at the forum were Professor Baah Boateng, Head of Economics Department, University of Ghana, and Dr Ellen Hagan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, LAINE Services Limited, 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 I agree 100 percent with Johns comments about the speeches last night of Ann Dorn, widow of a murdered retired African-American police officer, and President Trump. America should be grieving the senseless murder of Dave Dorn, not the shooting of a criminal and domestic abuser who resisted arrest. Yet, youll be hard pressed to hear about Dorns slaying from the mainstream media, and its doubtful that our poorly informed social justice warrior athletes even know about it. The length of Trumps speech tended to obscure its strong points, as John says. In addition, because few viewers are likely to have watched the full 70 minutes or so, theres a good chance that many missed the key parts of the speech. I take the key parts to be Trumps defense of the administrations response to the pandemic, his attacks on Joe Biden generally, and his discussion of the breakdown of law and order in our cities. Trump did as well as he could have done on the pandemic response defense. His record on this is mixed, in my opinion. The attack on Biden recycled much of Mike Pences powerful case from the night before, but presumably to a bigger audience. The riffs on law and order were excellent. Trumps delivery was more subdued than usual. Was this because he wanted to come across as more presidential and less angry than usual? Or was it because he was tired and/or his heart wasnt fully in the speech? I dont know. I disagree somewhat with John about Ivanka Trumps speech. Shes not my cup of tea, and, like John, I wasnt pleased with the stuff about criminal justice reform. If Im objective, though, I must rate her speech as effective. She made a strong case that her father has delivered on his promises, and she did a good job spelling out what those promises were and why they matter. Her presentation was also in line with the Conventions pitch to suburban women. Theres also the fact that she looked great. I dont think it hurts the president one bit to have a beautiful daughter standing on the stage making a solid substantive case for his reelection. Looks matter in politics (as in much else). Tom Cottons speech on foreign policy was, as John says, serious. But Tom delivered it softly. He also smiled more than he normally does when hes in front of a microphone (in less formal settings I always found his countenance to be pleasant). Cottons speech stood in marked contrast to that of Rudy Giuliani, who preceded him. Twelve years ago, Giuliani delivered what I thought was a great address at the GOP Convention in Minneapolis. It was hard hitting, but also funny. His timing as he delivered the zingers was flawless. Last night, Giulianis speech on the subject of law and order (and the current absence thereof) was loud and strident. There was no apparent attention to timing and Giuliani looked awful. I liked the content, but felt as if I was being hit on the head with a hammer. Cottons speech provided welcome relief. Getting to speak in prime time on the final night of the Convention was a well deserved reward for the Senator who, I assume (and hope), has presidential aspirations in 2024. However, any such aspirations took a back seat to making the case for Trumps reelection. He stuck to his task of effectively drawing the contrast between Trump and Biden on foreign policy and national security issues. This was not Barry Goldwater in 1960 or Barack Obama in 2004, nor should it have been. This was the speech of a good soldier a solid, well-delivered speech by a formidable man who continues to rise within the Party and to gain national prominence. Veteran Congress leader Kapil Sibal called for reforms within the Indian National Congress, in an interview with Hindustan Times. Sibal called for leadership [that is] 24x7 within the party, which according to him, had reached a historic low. He was among the Congress leaders who wrote to party president Sonia Gandhi, calling for reforms, including a full-time leader. After receiving the letter, Gandhi offered to resign. The offer was rejected by members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC). After CWC, Sonia Gandhi reaches out to friendly parties over GST compensation If people have access to the letter, they will know it is not an attempt to belittle anyone, including the Gandhi family. In fact, we have appreciated the services rendered by the leadership thus far, added Sibal. Our intent is to revive the party. We want to be partners in its revival. That is our commitment to the party constitution and the Congress legacy, and the absolute conviction that the Congress needs others to rally around, to oppose a government which has destroyed the very foundations on which the Indian Republic is built, he added. He went onto to say that the party was at a historic low and the election results of 2014 and 2019 reflect that. Several senior Congress leaders were signatories to the letter including Kapil Sibal himself, Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tiwari, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and Prithviraj Chavan. Some of 23 Congress leaders who wrote to Sonia Gandhi meet after CWC Sibal also expressed grief at those who signed the letter being labelled as traitors. I wish the substance had been circulated, then all those present (at the CWC meeting) wouldve realised that it (the letter) is about strengthening and reviving the Congress. One of those present even used the expression traitor. I wish those present had reprimanded him. There was not one uncivilised comment made in the communication. I am appalled that expressions like these are allowed within the highest forum, he said. Rahul Gandhi was earlier claimed to have questioned the timing of the letter and to have suggested that it was written in cahoots with the BJP. The claim was later rubbished by party members. Sibal reiterated that he had no fear and that he was, through and through, a Congressman. We have no fears. We are Congressmen at heart and we will remain Congressmen without fear, he said. I and the BJP are North Pole and South Pole. We are wedded to the Congress ideology and bitterly oppose the current dispensation (at the Centre), Sibal wrote on Twitter, at the insinuation that his motives were affected by the BJP. Sibal re-established that his loyalties lay with the INC, saying, We are soldiers of the party and some of us are seasoned enough to know what needs to be done. We hope that we will be heard. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday officially announced his plan to step down, citing health issues. "In June this year, I was told that there were signs of recurrence of my chronic condition called ulcerative colitis, and I did my best at work. while taking medicine," Abe told a press conference, reported Sputnik. "But starting the middle of last month, my physical condition changed, and I felt very exhausted. Recurrence of the disease was confirmed at the beginning of this month," he added. Abe said that he would step down because his worsened condition and treatment could threaten the decision-making process. "In politics, getting results is the most important thing. Facing illness and treatment and being in poor physical form, I could not let myself make mistakes in important political decisions and fail to achieve results," he said further. "I have decided that I should not continue to hold the position of the prime minister, as I can no longer firmly carry out the mandate given to me by the people. I've decided to resign as Prime Minister," Sputnik reported further quoting Abe. Computer simulation of the disruption of a star by a black hole shows the formation of an eccentric accretion disk of stellar material spiraling into the black hole. This image from a video of the simulation shows the early stage in the formation of the disk. CREDIT Jamie Law-Smith and Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz 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. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 28 Trend: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Igor Dodon, President of the Republic of Moldova. "Dear Mr. President, I cordially congratulate you on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Moldova, the Independence Day," the head of state said. "Our countries are bound together by the ties of friendship and cooperation. I am confident that based on these traditions of goodwill, the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Moldova will continue to develop and strengthen for the prosperity of our peoples and countries," the head of state wrote. "I avail myself of this opportunity to express the Azerbaijani people`s solidarity with the people of Moldova in tackling the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic," Azerbaijani president said. "I wish you the best of health and success, and the brotherly people of Moldova progress and prosperity," the letter said. History teacher Alice Lee had near full attendance for the first day back of online classes last week at Eagle Rock Jr./Sr. High School. Teachers have had to learn new rules for taking attendance. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Taking attendance at Los Angeles schools amid online learning is more complicated and a lot more liberal than students simply responding "here" when their name is called. In a policy that has raised flags among some teachers and principals, but appears to be permitted by state law, students in the nation's second-largest school district have several relatively easy ways to be counted as present for a day of school: If a student does nothing more than send an email, text or talk to a teacher on the phone at any point in the day, the student will be counted as present. This communication does not have to be with the student it can also take place between a parent or guardian and the teacher. If a student appears in a live session with a teacher or classmates on Zoom, however briefly, the student is counted as present for the day. If students skip these live sessions, but turn in work, they are also credited for attendance. If a student simply logs in to an online school account but does nothing further, it's likely that the student also will be counted as present. "I have a problem with that," said a teacher in reference to the log-in policy during a training session that The Times witnessed via Zoom. Making sure that students attend class and keeping a record of that attendance are important and required tasks, state officials say. "Ensuring that we are reaching and engaging every student is more critical than ever to ensure students already at greater risk of falling behind can stay connected to their learning," said Daniel Thigpen, director of communications for the California Department of Education. The key component of being marked as present is that daily engagement in whatever form must take place during the same school day before midnight. If at 12:01 a.m. a student has been silent in all ways, the student will be definitively absent. The new practices, although not demanding of students, represent a return to formal attendance-taking. When schools closed in mid-March during the onset of the coronavirus emergency, state officials did away with requiring teachers to take attendance. Story continues But both anecdotal reports and episodic tracking indicated that student engagement sagged and also that some teachers provided limited learning opportunities. Los Angeles Unified reported that 78% of middle school students logged in three times or more per week several weeks after schools closed. And an internal report showed disparities in engagement along lines of race, ethnicity and family income with students from low-income families and Black and Latino students participating in fewer learning activities than peers from higher-income families and white and Asian students. With most California campuses closed for the start of the new school year, the state established rules that mandate daily live lessons, restored requirements for minimum instructional minutes and reinstated taking roll. One principal complained in an interview with The Times that a superior told her that if a student logged in for one minute, that student was present for the day. "Would that be fraud?" the principal wanted to know. Another principal advised her teachers that she wanted them to consider the content of an email contact before accepting it for attendance. She expected the student or parent to explain why the student could not attend class and the explanation or the excuses should not be considered evergreen. Teachers cant allow students to be marked as present simply because they send an email every day claiming that they were unable to log in, she said. The names of principals interviewed have been withheld because they were concerned about talking freely without permission from the school district. The principals do not have tenure protection in their assignments and they said they feared retaliation. District officials were unwilling to discuss the topic even though the L.A. County Office of Education, an oversight agency, could not identify any improper practices based on an explanation of the policies provided by The Times. Given a week to confirm information about attendance-taking practices, which The Times gleaned from interviews and documents, the district refused to make anyone available to explain the content of the teacher trainings or the attendance policy and would not review information submitted for verification. Instead, the school system supplied a brief statement. "Los Angeles Unifieds attendance practices are in compliance with SB98 and CDE guidelines" referring to Senate Bill 98, which established teaching guidelines for the fall, and the state Department of Education. The district reported that first-day-of-school attendance rates last week were 86% this year compared with 90% last year. Officials refused to provide attendance numbers for any additional days. Taking attendance is important because districts must comply with compulsory education requirements, which also allows the state "to track things like chronic absenteeism," said H.D. Palmer, spokesman for the state's Department of Finance. Attendance and enrollment numbers also could affect future budgets. In short, fewer students in class typically translates to reduced state and federal funding. State rules mandate daily live interaction and suggest that it must be meaningful. "All students are required to receive daily live interaction with both a certificated employee [like a teacher] and their peers for the purpose of instruction, progress monitoring and school connectedness," according to guidelines from the Department of Education. "Teachers may meet individually with students, but this alone does not meet the requirements for daily live interaction. The minimum standard should be the same for all students...," the guidelines say. "Every effort should be taken to determine the amount of interaction that is needed for students to progress academically and remain engaged in learning and connected to the school community." Students who are absent for three days in a school week are supposed to receive special attention, according to the state. Principals interviewed by The Times insisted they would closely monitor a student's need for counseling or other intervention regardless of what's on the official roll sheet. One teacher commented that she felt as if she needed to keep two sets of books to guide her instructional strategy one for the official and, in her view, inflated tally of attendance and one that represented reality. One quandary leads to another. "How do I tally tardies?" one teacher asked in a training. The principal had no ready answer. One principal noted that past district policy suggested that students should not be penalized for failing to turn in homework because conditions at home could be hindering a student. Yet now all work must be completed at home. Teachers must turn in their roll by 3 p.m. every school day. But student contact can still happen after that as long as it's before midnight. Teachers then have four days to update their roll, changing an absent to a present. If a counselor calls and reaches an absent student rather than a teacher, does that student get marked as present? a teacher asked in one session. The principal promised to return with more information. Principals stressed that students who show up only briefly online might be officially present, but they wouldn't learn the material needed to pass a class. A group of protesters wearing shirts to honor George Floyd at the March on Washington. Read more WASHINGTON Standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. famously laid out a vision for harmony between white and Black people 57 years ago, his son issued a sobering reminder about the persistence of police brutality and racist violence targeting Black Americans. We must never forget the American nightmare of racist violence exemplified when Emmett Till was murdered on this day in 1955, and the criminal justice system failed to convict his killers, said Martin Luther King III, speaking to thousands that gathered Friday to commemorate the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Sixty-five years later (after Tills murder), we still struggle for justice demilitarizing the police, dismantling mass incarceration, and declaring as determinately as we can that Black lives matter, King said. Even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, many felt compelled to join civil rights advocates in Washington to highlight a scourge of police and vigilante violence that gave way to what many feel is an overdue reckoning on racial injustice. Some stood in sweltering temperatures in lines that stretched for several blocks, as organizers took temperatures as part of coronavirus protocols. Organizers reminded attendees to practice social distancing and wear masks throughout the program, although distancing was hardly maintained as the gathering grew in size. They gathered following another shooting by a white police officer of a Black man this time, 29-year-old Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last Sunday sparking demonstrations and violence that left two dead. As peaceful protests turned to arson and theft, naysayers of the Black Lives Matter movement issued calls for law and order. The Rev. Al Sharpton, whose civil rights organization, the National Action Network, planned Fridays commemoration, had a message for naysayers. Some say to me, Rev. Al, yall ought to denounce those that get violent, those that are looting, Sharpton said. All of the families (of victims of police and vigilante violence) have denounced looting. What we havent heard is you denounce shooting. Sharpton asked, We will speak against the looting, but when will you speak against wrong police shooting? Sharpton and King stood with relatives of an ever-expanding roll call of victims: Blake, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, and Eric Garner, among others. Arbery and Martin both were killed by white men who pursued them with guns and whose arrests were delayed until residents protested. There are two systems of justice in the United States, said Jacob Blake Sr., the father of the man whose shooting by police in Kenosha left him paralyzed from the waist down. Theres a white system and a black system -- the black system aint doing so well. No justice, no peace! he proclaimed. Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, stared out at the massive march audience and said he wished his brother was there to see it. Fridays march shaped up to be the largest political gathering in Washington since the pandemic began. Many attendees wore T-shirts of the late Rep. John Lewis who, until his death last month, was the last living speaker at the original March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. It went on to become one of the most famous political rallies in U.S. history, and one of the largest gatherings with over 200,000 people in attendance. Organizers said they intended to show the urgency for federal policing reforms, to decry racial violence, and to demand voting rights protections ahead of the November general election. A handful of satellite marches were held in South Carolina, Florida, Nevada, Utah and Colorado. Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, in a video, said the original conveners would be disappointed that Black Americans are still marching for justice and equality under the law. I have to believe that if they were with us today, they would share in our anger and frustration as we continue to see Black men and women slain in our streets, and left behind in our economy and justice system that has too often denied Black folks our dignity and rights, she said. Former Vice President Joe Biden tweeted his support for the march. Although President Donald Trump did not comment on the march Friday, the Republican National Committee marked the events anniversary by highlighting the presidents record as a champion for the Black community. While there is more work to be done, Donald Trump is the leader to make it happen, Paris Dennard, an RNC senior communications advisor, said in a statement. Activist Frank Nitty, who said he walked 750 miles for 24 days from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Washington for Fridays march, spoke to the audience about persistence in the fight for justice. Are yall tired? Because Im tired, Nitty said. They think this is a negotiation, but I came here to demand change. My grandson aint gonna march for the same things that my granddaddy marched for. Navy veteran Alonzo Jones-Goss, 28, who traveled from Boston to participate in the march, said the nation has seen far too many tragic events that claimed the lives of Black Americans and other people of color, and that needs to come to an end. Following the rally, participants marched to the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial in West Potomac Park, next to the National Mall, and then dispersed. Some participants headed toward Black Lives Matter Plaza, right outside of the White House, which was renamed from Pennsylvania Avenue during protests in June. Chants of Black lives matter and No justice, no peace echoed through downtown Salt Lake City Friday morning, as about 200 people marched from the state Capitol to Washington Square Park for Utahs March on Washington. If people still cant see why were out here and why were marching and why people are loud and angry then theyre blind, said Joshua Chamberlain, a realtor from Holladay, Utah. Theres racism happening every day and -- especially by police brutality -- people are dying from it. In Colorado, several dozen people rallied at a prominent statue of Martin Luther King Jr. in Denvers City Park. Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet cited the names of George Floyd, Elijah McClain and victims of police brutality. You know and I know what happened to them would never happen to me, said Bennet, who is white. Sharpton instructed those in other states to march on their U.S. senators offices and demand their support for federal policing reforms and reinvigorated voter protections, in Lewis memory. In June, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act, which would ban police use of stranglehold maneuvers and end qualified immunity for officers, among other reforms. A Republican-authored police reform bill, introduced in June by South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who is Black, failed a procedural vote in the Senate because Democrats felt the measure didnt go far enough to address officer accountability. In July, following Lewis death, Democratic senators reintroduced legislation that would restore a provision of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965 gutted by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013. The law previously required states with a history of voter suppression to seek federal clearance before changing voting regulations. Both measures are awaiting action in the Republican-controlled Senate. Aaron Morrison reported from New York. Kat Stafford and Ashraf Khalil reported from Washington, and journalists from across the AP contributed to this report. Properties that were bought by the drug trafficking gang that have now been seized. (NCA) A drug trafficking gangs 17m property portfolio has been seized and sold following an investigation that lasted for over eight years. The National Crime Agency (NCA) carried out four connected civil recovery investigations into dozens of properties bought with dirty money, that were suspected of being linked to a group of heroin dealers operating out of east Birmingham. The inquiry, which initially began in 2011, ran alongside a separate criminal investigation which led to three of the gangs ringleaders and five associates being jailed for a total of 139 years at Birmingham Crown Court in 2017. In total, the NCA uncovered a spiders web of 59 properties, including industrial premises, terraced houses as well as one commercial unit which had been turned into a gym mainly in the West Midlands. One commercial unit had been turned into a gym. (NCA) There were also three properties in the seaside town of Bangor, Northern Ireland. The vast majority of the remaining properties were lets, with another 34 separate addresses in the Selly Oak area of Birmingham popular with students studying at the nearby University of Birmingham. The seizures also included two addresses housing multiple apartments. The seizures also included two addresses housing multiple apartments. (NCA) An NCA official revealed that the gang seemed to have set its sights on buying up roads, almost, owning five or six houses in three different Birmingham streets in Selly Oak. None of the addresses were purchased in the names of the criminals, but were each proven beyond reasonable doubt before a High Court judge to be purchases linked to the proceeds of drug importation and supply, fraud and money laundering. MORE: Student jailed for damaging 20m Picasso painting at Tate Modern There is no evidence any of the owners of the seized properties themselves were involved in any criminal activity, the NCA said. All the addresses seized have now been sold or are being sold, with the proceeds split between the Treasury and the NCA, where it is used to help the continuing fight against serious organised crime. Story continues Ameran Zeb Khan, who was jailed in July 2017, was the ringleader of the drugs gang. (Police handout) The NCA started looking into the gangs dealings after a referral from the Police Service of Northern Ireland in December 2011, with the final recovery order on the last two properties, both in Birmingham, being made last year. In July 2014, the NCAs criminal investigation began after Border Force intercepted a shipping container with 165kg of 58% pure heroin hidden inside industrial equipment, with an estimated street value of up to 19 million. MORE: Politicians who lie 'more likely to be re-elected', study suggests After a court case, eight men including Ameran Zeb Khan, of Cobham Road, and his fellow ringleaders, Mohammed Ali, of Wyndcliff Road, and Sajid Hussain, of Fieldhouse Road, all Birmingham, were jailed in July 2017. Zeb Khan, then 38, 37-year-old Ali and Hussain, 32 at the time, each received 22-year jail terms for their part in conspiring to import heroin. The NCA uncovered a spiders web of 59 properties, including industrial premises and terraced houses. (NCA) Andy Lewis, the NCAs head of asset denial, said the inquiry highlighted the importance of both criminal and civil investigations working in tandem to not only jail criminals, but remove their long-term assets which might otherwise prove a nest egg. He added: Had we not taken all these properties away, the main people sentenced would have come out of prison and had 17 million to invest. Taking away the money stops them reinvesting in other criminality, or their retirement. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK President Donald Trump speaks from the South Lawn of the White House on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention. Read more WASHINGTON Facing a moment fraught with national crises, President Donald Trump accepted his partys renomination on a massive White House South Lawn stage Thursday night, breaking with tradition by using the executive mansion as a political backdrop and defying pandemic guidelines to address a tightly packed, largely maskless crowd. As troubles churned outside the gates, Trump painted an optimistic vision of Americas future, including an eventual triumph over the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 175,000 people, left millions unemployed and rewritten the rules of society. But that brighter horizon can only be secured, Trump asserted, if he defeats Joe Biden, against whom he unleashed blistering attacks meant to erase the Democrats lead in the polls. We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years, Trump said. At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies or two agendas. Presenting himself as the last barrier protecting an American way of life under siege from radical forces, Trump declared the Democratic agenda as the most extreme set of proposals ever put forward by a major party nominee. As his speech brought the scaled-back Republican National Convention to a close, Trump risked inflaming a divided nation reeling from a series of calamities, including the pandemic, a major hurricane that slammed into the Gulf Coast and nights of racial unrest and violence after Jacob Blake, a Black man, was shot by a white Wisconsin police officer. He was introduced by his daughter Ivanka, an influential White House adviser, who portrayed the famously bombastic Trump as someone who empathizes with those who have suffered through the pandemic. Ive been with my father and seen the pain in his eyes when he receives updates on the lives that have been stolen by this plague, she said. The president spoke from a setting that was both familiar and controversial. Despite tradition and regulation to not use the White House for purely political events,a huge stage was set up outside the executive mansion, dwarfing the trappings for some of the most important moments of past presidencies. The speakers stand was flanked by dozens of American flags and two big video screens. READ MORE: Fact-checking Trumps speech at the Republican National Convention Trying to run as an insurgent as well as incumbent, Trump rarely includes calls for unity, even in a time of national uncertainty. He has repeatedly, if not always effectively, tried to portray Biden who is considered a moderate Democrat as a tool of the radical left, fringe forces he has claimed dont love their country. The Republicans claim that the violence that has erupted in Kenosha and some other American cities is to be blamed on Democratic governors and mayors. Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday said that Americans wouldnt be safe in Joe Bidens America. That drew a stern rebuke from his predecessor in the post. The problem we have right now is that we are in Donald Trumps America, said Biden on MSNBC. He views this as a political benefit to him, he is rooting for more violence not less. He is pouring gasoline on the fire. Both parties are watching with uncertainty the developments in Wisconsin and cities across the nation with Republicans leaning hard on support for law and order with no words offered for Black victims of police violence while falsely claiming that Biden has not condemned the lawlessness. Rudy Giuliani, Trumps personal attorney and New York Citys former mayor, declared that Democrats silence was so deafening that it reveals an acceptance of this violence because they will accept anything they hope will defeat President Donald Trump. Though some of the speakers, unlike on previous nights, offered notes of sympathy to the families of Black men killed by police, Giuliani also took aim at the Black Lives Matter movement, suggesting that it, along with ANTIFA, was part of the extremist voices pushing Biden to execute their pro-criminal, anti-police policies and had hijacked the protests into vicious, brutal riots. Along with Biden, running mate Kamala Harris offered counter-programming for Trumps prime-time speech. She delivered a speech a half mile from the White House, declaring, Donald Trump has failed at the most basic and important job of a president of the United States: He failed to protect the American people, plain and simple. Some demonstrations took to Washingtons streets Thursday night, ahead of a march planned for the next day. New fencing set up along the White House perimeter was to keep the protesters at bay, but some of their shouts and car horns were clearly audible on the South Lawn where more than 1,500 people gathered. Those chants, coming from masked faces intruded on another illusion that the Republicans have spent a week trying to create: that the pandemic is largely a thing of the past. The rows of chairs on the lawn were tightly packed, inches apart. Protective masks were not required, and COVID-19 tests were not to be administered to everyone. But Trump, who has defended his handling of the pandemic, touted an expansion of rapid coronavirus testing. The White House announced Thursday that it had struck a $750 million deal to acquire 150 million tests from Abbott Laboratories to be deployed in nursing homes, schools and other areas with populations at high risk. Most of the convention has been aimed at former Trump supporters or nonvoters, and has tried to drive up negative impressions of Biden so that some of his possible backers stay home. Many of the messages were aimed squarely at seniors and suburban women. Among the more emotional moments: testimony from Alice Marie Johnson, who was granted clemency from her life sentence on nonviolent drug charges, and from Carl and Marsha Mueller, whose daughter Kayla was killed while being held in Syria by Islamic State militants during the Obama administration. READ MORE: Biden is still beating Trump in Pennsylvania, poll says and most of his backers are really voting against Trump Kayla should be here, said Carl Mueller. If Donald Trump was president when Kayla was captured, she would be here today. Four years ago, Trump declared in his acceptance speech that I alone can fix the nations woes, but he has found himself asking voters for another term at the nadir of his presidency, amid a devastating pandemic, crushing unemployment and real uncertainties about schools and businesses reopening. Another one million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, in numbers released Thursday. And the U.S. economy shrank at an alarming annual rate of 31.7% during the April-June quarter as it struggled under the weight of the viral pandemic. It was sharpest quarterly drop on record. Price reported from Las Vegas. Associated Press writers Zeke Miller, Jill Colvin, Darlene Superville and Aamer Madhani contributed reporting. Burundi refugees who fled to neighbouring Rwanda in 2015 following political unrest have started returning home as diplomatic ties between the two East Africa neighbours warm up. The first group of more than 500 people left Mahama camp in eastern Rwanda early Thursday, after they had tested negative for coronavirus. The camp hosts more than 60,000 Burundian refugees. I am extremely happy to be going back home, I fled with three children and I am going back with five and their mother, we are all fine, Emmanuel Bizimana told BBC Great Lakes aboard one of the buses. A spokesperson for the UN refugee agency, Elise Villechalane, said more than 1,800 refugees in the camp have registered to go back home. We cant take them all now because a transit camp to temporally lodge them in Burundi can only host around 500, she told the BBC. Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye had earlier this month accused Rwanda of holding the refugees hostage and said his country will never have relations with a country that uses irony in its relations. But on Wednesday the army chiefs of the two countries met at the border in efforts to resolve conflicts. UNHCRs data released in June showed that more than 430,000 Burundians refugees live in the East Africa region. 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 Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yunindita Prasidya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 28, 2020 17:23 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4137a7d 1 Business Astra-Agro-Lestari,commodity-prices,crude-palm-oil,CPO,cost,Astra-International Free Publicly listed agribusiness company PT Astra Agro Lestari plans to focus on containing its costs amid fluctuating commodity prices in order to remain competitive and to boost profitability. The companys revenue increased by 6.5 percent to Rp 9.08 trillion (US$623.78 million) during the first six months of the year compared with the corresponding period last year. At the same time, its net profits soared by 796.5 percent to Rp 391.9 billion from Rp 43.72 billion in last years first half. Meanwhile, its cost of revenue, or the total cost of manufacturing and delivering a companys products to its customers, declined by 0.25 percent to Rp 7.78 trillion in this years first half, the companys financial statement states. With this kind of [commodity price] fluctuation, the company has no other choice than to implement a strategy of operational excellence to maintain our processes so that the costs can be optimal, Astra Agro president director Santosa said during a virtual press conference on Wednesday. By doing so, when theres a decrease in prices, we will become the most competitive. But when the prices rise, we will generate relatively better profits than similar companies in this industry, Santosa added. Astra Agro, a subsidiary of diversified conglomerate PT Astra International, reported that its average crude palm oil (CPO) sale price increased 25.9 percent year-on-year (yoy) to Rp 8,109 per kilogram during the first half of this year from Rp 6,441 per kg in the same period last year. The CPO price has been boosted by the governments mandatory B30 blended biodiesel program. At the same time, the companys CPO production fell 15.2 percent yoy to 707,000 tons as a result of dry weather since last year. Aside from strategizing against commodity price volatility, the company has limited the risk of foreign exchange fluctuation by hedging all its United States dollar-denominated bank loans while also hedging all its exports. Hedging is an investment practice deigned to reduce the risks of adverse price movements. The rupiah crashed to as low as Rp 16,575 per dollar, the lowest since 1998, in March amid massive capital outflows due to global fears of the COVID-19 pandemic. The currency has rebounded and pared the loss back to just 6.36 percent so far this year and traded at Rp 14,640, a 0.14 percent appreciation against the greenback as of 2:25 p.m. Jakarta time on Friday. However, Santosa noted that we cant do total hedging of our production because that will eliminate the potential for gain when the price is good. Prioritizing the biggest margins is part of the companys strategy. Santosa explained that the company did not particularly target the domestic or the export market, as it gravitated toward the best price available in the market. The company reported that 56 percent of its sales were from exports while 44 percent were domestic sales. During the press conference, Astra Agro finance director Mario Casimirus Surung Gultom said the companys 2020 capital expenditure (capex) had to be reassessed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted business activity and weakened demand. Earlier this year, the company announced that it planned to allocate Rp 1.3 trillion in capex. Mario noted that as of June this year, the companys capex fell by 35 percent yoy to Rp 381.3 billion from Rp 586.6 billion during the same period last year. The [revision] will not be far off Rp 1 trillion. It could be around Rp 200 billion to 300 billion less than the plan, Santosa said, adding that the company was postponing capex that was considered less essential to anticipate deteriorating operating conditions in the future. Astra Agros share price, traded on the Indonesia Stock Exchange with the code AALI, climbed 0.5 percent as of 2:29 p.m. on Friday to Rp 10,075 apiece. Throughout the year, the company has lost 30.87 percent of its value, a notably poor performance in comparison with the agriculture sector index and the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index, which have fallen by 22.28 percent and 15.23 percent, respectively. 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. 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. Related: Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Auto New York PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BrandPoint Services, a leading provider of facility services and solutions to multi-site commercial clients across North America, proudly announces its inclusion in the Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. "Our tremendous growth has been the direct result of deepening our client relationships," Steve Hearon, President of BrandPoint Services said. "Rather than simply being a supplier, we pride ourselves on being a true business partner for our clients." Mike Hersh, CEO & Steve Hearon, President of BrandPoint Services BrandPoint Services Team photo Prior to 2019 BrandPoint Services were separated into three main divisions: Maintenance, Refresh and Remodel. Through a merger with Legacy Retail Services in April 2019 and recent diversification, BrandPoint has expanded its services to include Construction, digital signage installation and maintenance, as well as merchandising offerings. "The BrandPoint team really came together and rallied around our core values and commitment to customer satisfaction," commented Mike Hersh, CEO of BrandPoint Services. "It's because of our employees and our great vendor network that we can deliver a great experience and high-quality work for our clients," BrandPoint provides custom facility solutions, acting as an extension of our clients, bringing consistency and a high-level of quality to brands that span North America. Learn more at www.brandpointservices.com. About Inc. Media The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. For more information, visit www.inc.com. About Brand Point Services BrandPoint Services provides Facility Maintenance & Repair, Refresh & Remodeling Project and Construction Services across the US and Canada. BrandPoint works with over a third of the Top 100 National Retailers, as well as restaurant, healthcare and banking brands to improve their spaces and experiences. Its vast vendor network allows BrandPoint to get qualified trades out to client locations across North America to address their facility needs and deliver solutions quickly. To setup interviews with: Mike Hersh, CEO [email protected] 267-908-9780. Click here to setup interview. Steve Hearon, President [email protected] 267-908-9780. Click here to setup interview. SOURCE BrandPoint Services In the Philippines a young seminarian gains massive following with web videos on God and the Church One of the merits that our little but great newspaper can boast about is being, despite its name, the only paper in the world that is read every day on all the continents. Thus it can happen that a piece that tells a rather local story can actually inspire reactions and comments from the other side of the globe. This is what happened several weeks ago in this very column of our daily edition when we told the story of Fr Alberto Ravagnani, the young priest from Milan who became an internet star during the pandemic. The day after its publication we received at least a dozen reports of people who, like him, have chosen the path of the new media for their work of evangelization, and they do so with similar originality. From among them we have decided to tell the story of a young Filipino seminarian whose successful internet presence has gained him thousands of followers on Facebook and YouTube. My name is Enrico Macrohon but by now everyone knows me as Rix the Seminarian, he says, the name he uses in his videos, which are often bilingual, in Tagalog and English. I was born 26 years ago in the province of Nueva Ecija, about four hours from Manila, and now Im here at the seminary in my second year of theology at the University of Saint Thomas, almost at the end of my studies. He says that his family is by no means religious. His parents were both artists who separated early and went to live abroad. He doesnt think his siblings have ever entered a church. Perhaps he says, it is precisely because he grew up in such a family that he developed this intense desire to devote himself to evangelization and to proclaim the immense mercy of God. He had the good fortune of growing up with his grandmother Lourdes, he explains, who is a woman of very deep faith. She began taking him to church when he was just three years old and her accounts of the Gospel sounded like a beautiful fairy tale to his young ears. Early on, even before Rix had learned to read and write, Jesus became his little friend. He says he is indebted to his grandmother for the man he has become, as well as for the important role she played in his vocation to become a priest. As a boy he was quite drawn to the sacred liturgies, the singing, the sound of the organ, the smell of the incense, but as he matured, he moved on from the aesthetic aspect, becoming more and more rationally intrigued by the mysteries of the faith. He learned to play the organ and the parish priest entrusted him with the direction of the choir; his attraction for music came naturally. After all, he says with a smile, he is still the son of artists. His decision to enter the seminary came just as naturally, although the experience was more difficult than he had imagined. While he developed a passion for studying philosophy, he also found that it aroused in him a spiritual withering and doubts. However, he was successful with his studies and after five years earned a degree in philosophy. At that point he asked to leave the seminary for a time, partly to clarify his ideas and partly because he was intrigued with teaching philosophy at the university, and in fact did so. It was there that his passion for videos began. He conceived a novel idea for exams: rather than producing elaborate writings he asked his students to record short videos on the subjects of the exams. It was a fun and very interesting experiment, but inside, he says, his vocation to be a priest never waned. In this case too, like his grandmother during his childhood, another woman was of great spiritual help. A Franciscan nun, Mother Margaret Gasal, wisely and lovingly supported his return to the seminary in the Diocese of Paranaque. He had inherited a certain artistic talent from his parents, and video making has been his favourite hobby ever since he was a child. So, he re-entered the seminary but wondered, why not put these talents at the service of the Kingdom? After all, a gift received is a gift to give back, right? And then, it bears noting that in the Philippines no one in the Catholic Church had ever sought to evangelize through the new media. However, the Protestants had: there is a long tradition of preachers, especially on television, of Protestant churches and sects, who often speak in apocalyptic tones. Rix, however, wanted to do something different: to explain the faith of his Church with a new style, that is, capable of fully expressing that existential joy that is or should be the hallmark of Christian life; and above all able to speak to young people. So, two years ago, he put his first video online, in which he tried to explain, as opposed to Protestant use, why Catholics used artistic images and sculptures in prayer. He called himself Rix the Seminarian, in an unrealistic attempt to guarantee himself a certain anonymity. Three days later he turned on the computer and almost fainted: more than 100,000 people had viewed and liked his video. One hundred thousand. He immediately thought that it was as if he had spoken simultaneously in 300-400 filled churches. More than happy, his hands were shaking at the thought of the responsibility it implied. Rixs videos are quite different from those of Italian priest, Fr Alberto Ravagnani. They each have a certain quick, rhythmic, musical style and pop language, both verbal and non-verbal. However, while Fr Alberto aims more at questions of meaning, the character of Rix the Seminarians videos is decidedly more apologetic and also offers some devotional cues. After all in the Philippines, pastoral ministry has always had a tradition of direct transmission, characterized by joy and simplicity. For example, consider the extraordinary communication skills and empathy that distinguish Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Rix considers him his teacher: To me he is a legend. Both my rector and my bishop, says Rix, seem happy with his work, although they rightly remind him that it should only come after his studies, his life of prayer and his community life. Rix always reminds himself not to flatter himself and to remain humble at heart. Because his videos are being widely disseminated: many priests and bishops are sharing them on the web pages of their own dioceses. When young Rix was asked what he would like to do when he grows up, he said he has many dreams. At the top of the list is definitely the desire to be a good priest and to always do the Lords will. And then, he said, I would like to come to study for a licentiate in theology in Rome, to be able to meet Pope Francis to tell him that I pray for him and support his work in reforming the Church. And maybe even to make a few videos with Fr Alberto. Roberto Cetera Scranton, PA (18503) Today Mainly cloudy. A few peeks of sunshine possible. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 27F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. Low 7F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Craig Revel Horwood got engaged to his boyfriend in March while on holiday in Tasmania (Photo: Getty Images) Craig Revel Horwood got engaged to his boyfriend of two years, Jonathan Myring, in March, however, when the pair met in 2018, the Strictly Come Dancing judge had given up on love. The star was chatting on White Wine Question Time with pal Kate Thornton about meeting and falling in love with boyfriend, Jonathan Myring. I was sort of giving up on the whole thing, he admitted. I just thought, 'Well, I'm really actually happy, you know?' The pair, who met on Tinder, hit it off on a speed brunch date while Craig was on the Strictly Come Dancing arena tour. While he had to rush off to do a matinee performance, the pair met up again and it wasnt long before they moved in together. Talking about the first date, Craig said: I knew from the very outset when the double doors to the Mercure Hotel opened and he walked in. I went, Oh yeah, he's got a very smiley, happy face. I like that. I'm definitely going on this date! There wasn't any awkward silences and it's been absolute bliss ever since! Ironically, the day they met, Craig had decided to come off the dating app and try and meet someone at a dinner party. Fast forward to March 2020, and the couple got engaged after Myring, who is 22 years younger than Revel Horwood, proposed. Read more: Craig Revel Horwood on how having his man boobs removed made him happier The pair were attempting to find the very elusive platypus, while on holiday in Tasmania, and while Myring had planned to ask the question there, the Strictly judge scuppered the plans when he demanded they return to the hotel for a bath! After drawing a bubble bath, he jumped in with me and then presented the ring in my face and said, Do you want to marry me? explained Revel Horwood, who jokingly said no at first! Jonathan Myring, Craig Revel Horwood and Beverley June Horwood attend the opening night of MAMMA MIA! The Party at The O2 on September 19, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Mamma Mia) It was a real surprise. It's so nice to commit to someone. It's just such a lovely thing to hear, especially later on in life. I'm very much looking forward to the wedding. This wont be the Australian-born stars first marriage. He was married in the early 90s for two years to Jane Halwood, who ended up cheating on him. The star joked to the Daily Mail that he had been solidly gay ever since the marriage ended, but that he also realised he couldnt find love again until he loved himself. Story continues Read more: Craig Revel Horwood wanted children with ex-wife before their divorce I think at some points I was desperate just to be with someone and I didn't really care who they were, he told Thornton. That's wrong and I wasn't loving myself. It wasn't until I started loving myself and being happy being single and adoring being single that I fell in love with someone. I wasn't expecting that. One thing the West End star wishes is that there wasnt so much pressure on single people to be part of a couple. I think there's so much pressure in society for people to have to be with someone, he said. And I think that's difficult for single people, who like being single, because we're all born in this world alone and we'll all die alone. You can guarantee that. Read more: The realities of dating in your forties He continued: If you can learn to be alone and learn to live with yourself and can still be motivated, you don't need someone else. If someone else comes along in your life, like Jonathan has, that compliments it, then that's a fantastic thing to celebrate and that's why we're getting married because we want to celebrate the fact that we love one another. Hear Craig Revel Horwood talk more about his love life, why he ditched working with Camera Mackintosh and his plans for the future on the latest episode of White Wine Question Time. Listen now on iTunes and Spotify. By Tian Dingyu and Zhang Xiao Chinese service members engage in a tire replacement operation in the workshop crew contest under the Masters of Armored Vehicles competition on August 25th. Photo from Xinhua Agency. MOSCOW, Aug. 28 -- The International Army Games 2020 (IAG 2020) entered its sixth day of competition on August 28. Chinese participating troops have made great achievements in various events. At the opening ceremony of the IAG 2020 on August 23, the Chinese team got a good start in the Tank Biathlon contest on that day in Alabino, Russia. The No. 702 Type 96B tank ranked top in the first group competition of the Individual Race stage by the record of 19 minutes and 44 seconds. On August 24 and 25, the Individual Race and Workshop Crew Contest under the Masters of Armored Vehicles contest were held at the training center for junior specialists of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation in the city of Ostrogozhsk, Voronezh Region. In the overcoming-water-obstacle event by KAMAZ-5350 transport vehicle in the Individual Race stage, Chinese participant Liu Shuai won the first place. In the Workshop Crew Contest, it is required that the crews of the maintenance workshop need to drive vehicles through various obstacles, and complete three tasks of precise hoisting, tire replacement, and jacking up tank armor plates. As of August 27, the overall evaluation of the Chinese team's individual vehicle race and the repair group competition ranked second. On August 26, the shooting competition of the Range Practice under the Safe Environment contest kicked off. The shooting competition consists of three shooting courses: ambush, alert, and combat reconnaissance. The two Chinese teams finished second and fourth respectively, winning second place in overall points. Chinese team member Sui Dongjing performed well and won the first place in the ambush shooting race. Still on August 26, Chinese troops participating in the Airborne Platoon contest completed two events of the individual race on combat vehicles. The Chinese team finished second with a total time of 1 hour 5 minutes and 27 seconds, only 5 seconds left behind the Russian team. Prior to this, they had won the first place in the first event of airborne assembling and rapid march at the Kislovo Airborne Field in Russia. The District Chief Executive and NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Pru West District in the Bono East region Region, Stephen Jalulah, has commenced the distribution of Cashew Seedlings to Registered Cashew farmers in the district, under the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) programme. The Chief Executive, together with officers of the Agric Department in the district are expected to distribute 100,000 seedlings to registered cashew farmers before the year ends. He told Peace FM's correspondent, Kwabena Manu during the distribution that, the officers will train the cashew farmers the procedures, and general knowledge in cashew planting. Hon Jalulah stated that, the officers will ensure all scientific protocols of the Agric department are followed by the farmers, this according to him will help the cashew seedlings to survive to meet its intended purpose. He used the opportunity to challenge the farmers, and the people of Pru West to ensure that over 100,000 cashew trees survived in the District each year. He urged the beneficiaries to take proper care of the plantation by preventing it from bush burning as it will go a long way to help in paying school fees of their wards and ease the financial burden on them. The Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) Programme is a decentralized National Tree Crop Programme to promote rural economic growth and improve household incomes of rural farmers through the provision of certified improved seedlings, extension services, business support and regulatory mechanisms. To create a legacy towards the realization of the Ghana Beyond Aid Agenda, the Government of Ghana through the joint effort by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and Ministry of Food and Agriculture rolled out the PERD programme to develop nine (9) commodity value chains namely Cashew, Coffee, Cotton Coconut, Citrus, Oil Palm, Mango, Rubber and Shea through a decentralized system, the district chief executive told the farmers. After receiving the seedlings, the farmers also commended President Akufo-Addo and their DCE for their good policies put in place to support farmers in the country. Source: Kwabena Manu/Peace FM/Bono East correspondent. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Trump hit at Joe Bidens record on trade during his speech at the Republican National Convention, accusing him of sending working class jobs overseas to China while building his political career on the support of blue collar workers. For forty-seven years, Joe Biden took the donations of blue collar workers, gave them hugs and even kisses, Trump said, to laughter from the crowd assembled on the front lawn of the White House. Biden told them he felt their pain, then voted to send their jobs to China. Bidens record is a shameful roll call of the most catastrophic betrayals and blunders in our lifetime, Trump continued. He has spent his entire career on the wrong side of history. Biden voted for the NAFTA disaster, the single worst trade deal ever enacted. He supported chinas entry into the World Trade Organization, one of the greatest economic disasters of all time. After those Biden calamities, the United States lost one in four manufacturing jobs. The president also attempted to sway voters in swing states by attacking Bidens trade record. The laid off workers in Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and many other states didnt want Joe Bidens hollow words of empathy: they wanted their jobs back! Trump said. In 1993, Biden voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement. In January of this year, Trump signed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to replace NAFTA, which the president had criticized as unfair to American workers. Biden voted to establish Permanent Normal Trade Relations between the U.S. and China, paving the way for China to join the World Trade Organization in 2000. Trump spoke to an audience of roughly 1,500 people outside the White House, including top administration officials and allies. White House senior adviser Jason Miller wrote on Twitter that Trump would continue to emphasize the theme of trade during the campaign. Put a pin in [Trumps] criticism this evening of [Biden] on trade and jobs, particularly with regard to China and NAFTA. Will be a major campaign theme going forward, Miller said. More from National Review Two men were allegedly shot dead by two bike-borne unidentified miscreants in Uttar Pradeshs Varanasi. Another person was injured near a water tank under Jaitpura police station area in Varanasi on Friday, the police said. Additional director-general of police (zone) Braj Bhushan, who inspected the site of the crime, said prima facie the incident appeared to be a fallout of a rivalry. He said instructions had been issued to the police officers to ensure the arrest of the assailants as soon as possible. Bhushan further said that strict action would be taken against the assailants. A police officer said one Abhishek Singh aka Prince, 36, a resident of Shivpur and his friend Deepak Kumar, 25, were on their way to Chauka ghat on a bike on Friday. As per locals, two-bike borne assailants came from behind and hit Singhs bike. As Singh and his friend fell off the bike, one of the assailants opened fire at the duo. Also read: Mehul Choksis plea seeking pre-screening of Netflix series dismissed A bullet also hit a passer-by named Balmiki. The assailants fled the scene after committing the crime. All three were rushed to government divisional hospital where Abhishek and Balmiki were declared dead. Deepak was under treatment in a critical condition. On receiving information, Senior Superintendent of Police Amit Pathak and Superintendent of Police (city) Vikash Chandra Tripathi, along with a police force, also reached the spot. Meanwhile, a probe was underway to establish the motive for the crime. Student murdered in Ghazipur In another incident, Surendra Singh Yadav (19), an undergraduate student, was allegedly stabbed to death by unidentified assailants outside his native Bharawalia village in Dildar Nagar area of Ghazipur district on Thursday evening, police said. Dildar Nagar police station in-charge Dharmendra Pandey reached the spot along with a police force and took the body into possession. Later, the body was sent for a post mortem examination. A case is being registered in this connection following a complaint lodged by the kin of the student who said the youth did not have any enmity with anyone. TANZANIA, Tanzania - The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution Friday cutting the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon and expanding its mandate to address U.S. and Israeli concerns about activities of the militant group Hezbollah in the area. The French-drafted resolution reduced the troop ceiling for the force, known as UNIFIL, from 15,000 to 13,000 under U.S. pressure. And it also made another concession to the Trump administration and close ally Israel. It calls on the Lebanese government to facilitate prompt and full access to sites requested by U.N. peacekeepers for investigation, including tunnels crossing the U.N.-drawn Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel. And it urges freedom of movement and unimpeded access for peacekeepers to all parts of the Blue Line, and condemns in the strongest terms all attempts to restrict U.N. troop movements and attacks on mission personnel. Israel has repeatedly accused Hezbollah, which is backed by its greatest foe Iran, of impeding UNIFIL peacekeepers from carrying out their mandate, a view strongly backed by the Trump administration. In 2019, Israel destroyed a series of what it said were attack tunnels, dug under the border by Hezbollah. The militant group battled Israel to a stalemate in a month-long war in 2006. The resolution gives the United States a symbolic victory, but it almost certainly will also be welcomed by many countries that view UNIFIL as critical to maintaining peace in the volatile region and strongly support its current mandate which is largely maintained for another year. Today we halt a long period of Council complacency on UNIFIL and the growing and destabilizing influence of Iran and its client, the terrorist organization Hezbollah, U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft said in a statement after the vote. The Trump Administration is deeply concerned these last years about UNIFILs overall inability to contain the Hezbollah menace. We are not going to allow this to stand, she said. The Council must join us in confronting this. Kraft urged the U.N. with seize the tools in the resolution and that Lebanons government will redouble efforts to ensure that UNIFIL can discharge its mandate. If, however, todays action does not trigger necessary improvements, including improved access for UNIFIL and steps to diminish the vast and growing Hezbollah arsenal of weapons, council members must be prepared to take further action when the mandate comes up for renewal next year, she warned. Israels U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan went further, calling the resolution a last warning for Lebanons government and declaring that it will be held responsible and will bear full responsibility for any escalation of tensions or the grave consequences of such actions if Hezbollah continues turning southern Lebanon into a base for its terrorist activity under UNIFILs nose. Erdan said Israel will respond with force to any terrorist attacks from Lebanese territory. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 15 members of the council voted by email, with a 3 p.m. EDT Friday deadline. Soon after, the Security Council president, Indonesias U.N. Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, sent a letter to council members, obtained by The Associated Press, saying the draft resolution received 15 votes in favour ... (and) has been adopted as resolution 2539. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote to the council on July 29 recommending a 12-month renewal of UNIFILs mandate, stressing the importance of maintaining high troop strength. While the resolution reduces the troop ceiling from 15,000 to 13,000, it will not require any cuts in the current peacekeeping force. Thats because UNIFILs current strength is about 10,250 troops, well below the ceiling. Craft, the U.S. envoy, called the reduction an important step toward right-sizing a mission that has for years been over-resourced given the limits on its freedom of movement and access. UNIFIL was created to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon after a 1978 invasion. The mission was expanded after a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah militants so that peacekeepers could deploy along the Lebanon-Israel border to help Lebanese troops extend their authority into their countrys south for the first time in decades. Israels former ambassador Danny Danon said in May that Israel would insist that peacekeepers have access to all sites, that they have freedom of movement, and that any time they are being blocked the Security Council must be immediately informed. U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft tweeted at the time that UNIFIL has been prevented from fulfilling its mandate and Hezbollah has been able to arm itself and expand operations, putting the Lebanese people at risk. The resolution recognizes that UNIFIL has successfully implemented its mandate since 2006 and has allowed for maintaining peace and security since then, and therefore the Security Council authorizes the reduction of the troop ceiling from 15,000 to 13,000. The council states in the resolution that the force strength can be increased in the future in the event of a degraded security situation. According to UNIFIL, it currently has about 10,250 troops including more than 9,400 ground troops and over 850 naval personnel assigned to its Maritime Task Force. In addition, the mission has about 900 civilian staff, both international and national. The resolution affirms the Security Councils strong continuing commitment to the existing UNIFIL mandate. And it reaffirms the necessity for Lebanons armed forces to deploy in southern Lebanon and its territorial water at an accelerated pace to implement a key mandate provision. It asks secretary-general Guterres to present the first elements of a plan to improve UNIFILs efficiency and effectiveness within 60 days. Right now, this race is a referendum on Mr. Trump and his leadership. For months, Joe Biden has kept a lower profile, allowing the presidents inability to stay away from controversy to drive the race. But given Mr. Trumps low job-approval ratings, the president desperately needs this election to be a choice. He also needs voters not to focus on what polls say a majority believes to be true: that Mr. Trump responded inadequately to a pandemic that still rages across the country, upending American life. So when violent protests break out in cities, which are largely led by Democratic politicians, Mr. Trump throws up his hands. The commander in chief proclaims himself to be powerless, in an effort to highlight what he sees as weakness on the part of his opponents. Even as he occupies the highest office in the land, Mr. Trump still considers himself an outsider, blaming a political establishment that he now leads for the nations problems. There is violence and danger in the streets of many Democrat-run cities throughout America. This problem could easily be fixed if they wanted to. Just call, he said. We have to wait for the call. This is not a tightly held strategy. The departing White House counselor, Kellyanne Conway, laid it out in fairly blunt terms on Thursday morning: The more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns, the better it is for the very clear choice on whos best on public safety and law and order, she said on Fox and Friends. Thats why far more of the Republican convention was devoted to attacking Mr. Biden than laying out what, exactly, Mr. Trump would do if elected for a second term. For months, Republicans toggled between attacking Mr. Biden as weak, corrupt and unfit for the role. In this speech, Mr. Trump seemed to settle on a clear line of attack: Mr. Biden is a secret socialist, lacking the strength to stand up to wild-eyed Marxists like Bernie Sanders and his fellow radicals. The fact that Mr. Biden ran against Mr. Sanders as an ideological moderate was left out of the narrative. Vikas Singh, the lawyer hired by Sushant Singh Rajputs father, has commented on the newly accessed photos of the actors body, taken by his sister and submitted by the family to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The family claims the photographs differ from the ones that were taken by an unidentified person and subsequently shared on social media. In an interview to Times Now, Vikas Singh doubled down on the murder theory and said, I got some pictures earlier also on a WhatsApp group and I shared them with somebody in the forensic department, and he said that the pictures being circulated earlier were morphed. The new pictures, accessed by Times Now and also shared with Vikas Singh, are original pictures, he said, as they have been taken by Sushants sister Meetu, who was among the first to arrive at his house on the day of his death. Vikas Singh continued, These lines on the neck, I got to know from somebody, these dont look like a death by hanging at all. This looks like a death by strangulation. He said more would be revealed once the forensic teams can analyse all the photos sent to them by the post-mortem team at the Cooper hospital and the Mumbai Police. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput was haunted by MeToo allegations, thought Sanjana Sanghi was part of a big nexus: Rhea Chakraborty Sushants death case was recently taken over by the CBI, after the Mumbai Police ruled his death a suicide. A separate investigation into the financial angles is being carried out by the Enforcement Directorate, and the Narcotics Control Bureau is expected to investigate the drugs angle as well. Sushants father has accused his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty of abetting his suicide and siphoning off his funds. Vikas Singh said that multiple pictures of the actors body were taken at both the site and during the post-mortem. 70 pictures were taken during the post-mortem, he said, adding that the post-mortem report has several serious loopholes. The lawyer also refuted the statements made by a member of Sushants house staff that the actor had consumed juice on the morning of his death, as the post-mortem report did not mention the presence of any juice in his stomach. Vikas Singh claimed to have spoken to a doctor, who had told him that if the death had happened within a few hours of Sushant having consumed the juice, it would have remained in his stomach. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Christopher Nolan's Tenet is soon going to release in theatres in India in a phased manner. The film follows the story of a secret agent who embarks on a dangerous, time-bending mission to prevent the start of World War III. Tenet, a palindrome is going to be significant in the film as well. If you haven't seen the trailer yet, take a look at it here: One striking feature that we found in the trailer was how impeccably dressed the cast of Tenet was. This ensemble includes John David Washington (who seems to be running the mission), Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Dimple Kapadia among others. Warner Bros. Nolan's films have always emphasised detail when it comes to the costume design for the film. From Arthur's (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) sharp three-piece suits in Inception to Bruce Waynes classic rich guy tailoring in The Dark Knight Trilogy. This seems to be a consistent overlapping theme in all his films. For Tenet, Nolan collaborated with Oscar-nominated costume designer Jeffrey Kurland who has previously worked with Nolan for Inception and Dunkirk. Kurtland has previously also worked on costumes of James Bond to Ethan Hunt from Mission: Impossible - Fallout. So, while we were looking at the costume design of Tenet, we noticed: Warner Bros. Robert Pattinson can be seen in a light-grey checked suit blazer with a pair of black slacks, but it's his prominent double-looped chiffon scarf that takes the brownie points. Turns out subtle gender-bending elements in a sharp formal outfit can really take it up a few notches. Warner Bros. With time travel involved, the suits also have a distinct classic vintage aesthetic that we love to them. From the dated colour palette to the tailoring borrowed from the time period, attention has been put to detail. Warner Bros. John David Washington is seen in neutral-hued formals. For a sci-fi thriller shot across seven different countries, John's wardrobe definitely lives up to the thrill. Warner Bros. The speedboat scene showcases an effortless Washington working a fitted gray polo shirt. This makes us reminiscent of Bond's downtime scenes when he's not fighting bad guys. Warner Bros. However, the focus is still on the sharp suits that make it possible for the guys to traverse through shaky timelines to achieve missions that involve posing as officials. Warner Bros. If you think about it, Tenet's costumes prove to be a great lesson on suiting up. Warner Bros. From vintage classics to modern silhouettes to switching a suit into a rather casual version for lounging around with the smart addition of a chiffon scarf. There is so much to learn here. A UK Border Agency officer has admitted using her inside information to swindle vulnerable migrants out of 113,000 to pay off her massive gambling debts. Anjali Patel, 31, of Croydon, conned migrants from Bangladesh, Colombia and Pakistan nearing the end of their visas or facing deportation into handing over cash to her law student boyfriend Abdul Farooq, 28. Patel, an executive officer with the Case Resolution Directorate, used confidential information to help Farooq convince the migrants he was a qualified lawyer. Croydon crown court heard that investigators discovered an image on Patels phone of Farooq illegally giving immigration advice at a hotel. Prosecutor Karen Robinson said the couple worked the scam in 2010 and 2011 when Patel moved to the Parole Board, where she was later arrested. Officers found evidence that Patel had large gambling losses and owed money to payday loan companies. Farooq was studying law at Brunel University and had no obvious income, despite thousands of pounds pouring into his five bank accounts and gambling losses of 12,000. Despite not having a law degree Farooq held himself out to be a solicitor or someone qualified to give immigration advice, said Miss Robinson. He persuaded vulnerable individuals to part with substantial amounts of money in the hope he could assist them stay in this country. Patel assisted him by the unlawful access of database and document files, personal data and other sensitive information. The information she provided enabled Farooq to tailor advice to applicants and she gave advice to Farooq on how to subvert the application process. Bangladesh-born Mamunmar Rahman gave Farooq 12,950 cash to help him secure a five-year work visa, which would eventually give him and his wife and child the right to apply for permanent residency. Their meetings took place in a Croydon hotel and Farooq always insisted on cash payments, but the visa Mr Rahman wanted never materialised. Failed Colombian asylum-seeker Maria Garcia-Zuniga was working illegally as a cleaner and had spent more than a decade in the UK when she paid Farooq 2,000 cash to regularise her status. He told her that he was her solicitor and she did not need anyone else to help her with her immigration problems, explained Miss Robertson. When no visas were forthcoming she reported Farooq to police. Patel admitted two counts of conspiring to commit misconduct in public office between January 2010 and October 2011. Other charges of laundering 48,850 and 24,330 in criminal property were dropped by the prosecution. Farooq, also of Croydon, had already pleaded guilty to the same two conspiracy counts, plus two charges of unlawfully providing immigration services while unqualified. They will both be sentenced on February 20 but Judge Nicholas Ainley indicated any prison sentence will be suspended. Cruising off a two-hole ride, Go With Her delivered an open length victory in track record fashion in the Lady Slipper Stake Thursday evening at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park. The lone division for Lady Slipper three-year-old trotters carried a healthy $16,200 purse and Go With Her was the main benefactor with a five-length romp in 1:59.4 to establish a new track record for sophomore trotting fillies. Tequila Tuesday (Driven by Myles Heffernan Sr.) made a quick break in stride at the beginning but set up shop on the front end with a torrid :28.3 opening quarter followed by a half in :58.1. Three-quarters were reached in 1:28.2 but driver Brodie MacPhee and Go With Her bided their time until the stretch drive where she moved up past Tequila Tuesday to be first to the wire. Kuri White trains the winning daughter of Armbro BarristerSouthwind Faith for owners East Coast Captains of Cornwall. Gottogitmesum (Ambyr Campbell) was third. Fireball Friday won the first $9,300 Lady Slipper split for two-year-old trotters for driver Heffernan and trainer Myles Heffernan, Jr., recording a 2:09.1 victory over Striking Pride (Gilles Barrieau) and Rainbow Valley (Paul Larrabee). The second Lady Slipper division was claimed by Dusty Lane Milo as part of an Adam Merner driving triple. Owned by Marsha Knox of Stanhope and trained by Ron Gass, Dusty Lane Milo was on top at every call for a 2:04.1 triumph with A Little Go Go (Marc Campbell) second and the Trifecta being completed by Treasureonthewater (Brodie MacPhee). Merners other victories came with Ms Moyse (1:58.2) for trainer Gass and with The Fox (1:59.4) from the Brendan Curran stable of Charlottetown. Mile Hill Willie extended his winning streak to four in the $2,500 Open Trot stopping the clock in 1:58.1 for driver Barrieau, co-owner and trainer Paul Morrison and co-owner John Breau of Shediac Cape, NB. Miss Kabana won the top pace of the evening for driver MacPhee in a 1:54.4 victory from the Gary Poulton stable of Charlottetown. (CDP) To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results Charlottetown Driving Park. Our northern approaches have had an increase in foreign military activity as our competitors continue to expand their military presence and probe our defenses, Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander of NORAD, said in a statement. This year, weve conducted more than a dozen intercepts, the most in recent years. The importance of our continued efforts to project air defense operations in and through the north has never been more apparent. A man has been killed by a polar bear while camping in Norways remote Svalbard Islands, the first fatal attack to have occurred there since 2011. The incident happened at a camping spot early on Friday morning, according to local authorities. Following the attack, a foreign national, whose identity has not been made known, was taken to hospital in the town of Longyearbyen, where he was pronounced dead. Although no one else suffered any injuries, six people were hospitalised for shock. In a statement, Soelvi Elvedahl, Svalbards deputy governor, said the polar bear was shot at the campsite and later died nearby in an airport car park. The deputy governor said: "This is also a strong reminder that we are in polar bear country and must take the precautions to secure ourselves. Polar bears can be found all over Svalbard and be encountered anywhere throughout the year, Elvedahl added. The Svalbard Islands, situated 500 miles north of the Norwegian mainland, have 2,939 residents and 975 polar bears, according to Norways statistics office and the Norwegian Polar Institute. The Longyearbyen campsite in Norway's Svalbard Islands, where a man was killed during a polar bear attack on 28 August, 2020. (Line Nagell Ylvisaker / NTB scanpix via AP) Outside of the islands settlements, authorities recommend that people carry guns to protect themselves against the animals. Norwegian broadcaster NRK said the deceased man was the fifth person to have been killed by the animals since 1971. The last person to have died in Svalbard in a polar bear attack was Horatio Chapple, a 17-year-old British tourist who was on an expedition there with other students. In 2015, a Czech tourist suffered minor injuries during another incident north of Longyearbyen. Recommended Polar bear populations could disappear from Arctic by 2100 The animals territory has been shrinking with the melting of the Arctic ice sheet, while tourism and scientific research on the islands have been increasing. Agencies have contributed to this report Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Margareth S. Aritonang and Evi Mariani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta/Depok/Bogor Fri, August 28, 2020 20:41 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c413cf70 1 National sexual-abuse-in-Catholic-Church,sexual-abuse-protocol-church,Catholic-church,sex-abuse,#NamaBaikGereja,nama-baik-gereja,Nama-Baik-Kampus,#catholicsexabuse Free A proverb says that it takes a village to raise a child but oftentimes, it takes only a person to ruin a childs life and in Depok, West Java, a whole community of powerful adults seems to have abandoned children who were allegedly molested in a locally run Catholic orphanage. Far away from their parents, with no one to look after them except for the head of the orphanage, known as Brother Angelo Ngalngola, the alleged molester himself, the children cried out for help. A collaborative team between The Jakarta Post and Tirto.id has uncovered facts that confirm that both the state and the Catholic Church heard the boys cries but washed their hands of them, allowing the suspect to walk free from police detention to celebrate Christmas, and a few months later set up a new orphanage and live among vulnerable boys again. In September last year, Brother Angelo, the head of the Kencana Bejana Rohani orphanage, was arrested by Depok Police for the alleged sexual abuse of several boys. The police released him in December after they failed to complete the dossiers for the prosecutors office to bring the case to court. As of August, Angelo was still the head of a new orphanage, albeit having changed his name to Brother Geovanny Ngalngola and was living among more than 20 children under his care. The state-sponsored National Child Protection Commission (KPAI) and the Catholic Church initially helped the abused children in September last year but later they abandoned the boys during the police investigation. The boys told the collaborative investigation team that they did not receive any legal assistance or psychological counseling from the state or the Catholic Church after Angelo was arrested. Terror of the night bat Lukas Lucky Ngalngola, or Brother Angelo as he styled himself, from the Blessed Sacrament Missionaries of Charity (BSMC) congregation, based in the Philippines, has been accused of sneaking into the boys room at night dressed in all-black attire and molesting several of them. The victims who spoke to Tirto.id on Aug. 12 and Aug. 22 this year, alleged that Angelo would kiss them and engage in oral sex. Some boys were asleep and woke to find themselves naked, others were half-awake, some were not molested but saw him entering in the dark, approach a sleeping friend and heard the sound of him molesting the boy. He became known to the boys as the kelelawar malam (night bat). The state got wind of the case when KPAI commissioner Susianah Affandy received a report about the alleged sexual abuse from the principal of the school that some of the boys attended. Instead of reporting the allegation to the Depok Police herself or sending someone from the KPAI to file it, she left it to an ordinary citizen without any legal power, Farid Ari Fandi, to make the report on Sept. 13 last year. I felt a strong urge to accompany and help the children because I saw myself in them. I was also raised in orphanages. I grew up in different orphanages, struggling to survive, Farid told the Post in a recent interview. Too scared to report Farid said at that time, the children were too scared to make a statement because, as one of the victims said, their lives were in Angelos hands. Far away from their parents, they did not want to create a problem with their sole provider in Depok. Most of the children are not actually orphans but rather boys from poor families in North Sumatra, Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara. I wanted to be with them and convinced them to speak up because no one else would do that. Also, I felt that it was a calling for me. Mbak Susianah [from the KPAI] also supported and pushed me to file a report to the police, Farid said. The Bogor diocese confirmed that it had moved all the children from the Kencana Bejana Rohani orphanage to different orphanages under the dioceses supervision following Angelos arrest. The Bishop of Bogor, Paskalis Bruno Syukur, referred to the decision to take over and move the children as a humanitarian gesture, implying that it was not really the churchs responsibility. (Shutterstock/Amy K. Mitchell) Farids position at the time was in fact more akin to that of a concerned bystander. The KPAI first asked for his help not to report the alleged abuse but to find suitable places for the 68 orphanage residents under Angelos care because they had no place to go. Farid was the deputy head of the National Orphanage Forum. Other people were contacted by the KPAI as well: activists from the Indonesian Child Protection Agency (LPAI) headed by child protection activist icon Seto Mulyadi, Depok Social Affairs Agency and a Catholic nun who has experience in running an orphanage. After attending one meeting with the Depok Police, Susianah apparently left Farid to deal with the investigation alone. Asked for confirmation, Susianah told the reporting team to call the KPAI head, Susanto, who declined to talk to the Post because he claimed to be too busy. The team contacted KPAI commissioner Putu Elvina but she refused to delve into the case in September and went on to explain that the KPAI had contacted the police again and would pursue the investigation. The Depok Police investigation in September appeared to set itself up for failure from the beginning. Even though Angelo made a documented confession that he had molested some of the boys, the police said they could not bring Angelo to court. The police said the prosecutors office wanted them to add more statements from the victims and witnesses but they could not find the three boys who had made the original police reports. Due to his lack of formal standing in the case, Farid did not have constant information about the boys whereabouts. Other than Farid, the children had no legal representative nor did they get any psychological counselling after their trauma. The last time that Farid met the three boys who were ready to speak up was at the police office when they filed official statements and were about to undergo a physical examination. But the police only examined one of the three because they were then picked up by someone. The police did not elaborate as to who it was that picked the boys up. Read also: Justice delayed, denied for victims of sexual abuse in Catholic Church The head of the Depok Polices criminal investigation department Wadi Sabani claimed that they received information that the three children had all gone back to their hometown in North Sumatra so they could not complete the dossiers as requested by the prosecutors. Other sources said the boys were actually being moved by the Catholic Church to an orphanage in Puncak in Bogor, West Java, and another one in Central Jakarta. Wadi recalled that even before the three boys were picked up and later scattered unable to be contacted again, they had retracted their reports against Angelo, citing a debt of gratitude to Angelo as the reason. The suspect [Angelo] financially supported them from the first day they arrived here [in Depok]. They were aware that no one would take care of them and others at the orphanage after we arrested [Angelo]. They knew that no one would pay the rent or their school fees. Therefore, each of them eventually made a statement that they had forgiven [Angelo] because they owed him a debt of gratitude, Wadi said. Farid said to his knowledge, even though Angelo was in detention, he was still a financial supporter of the children while they were under the care of Angelos acquaintance, Darius Rebong. The role of Bogor Diocese After Angelo was arrested and detained on Sept. 14, the Bogor diocese and the parish churches near the Kencana Bejana Rohani orphanage took care of the rest of the children for about two weeks after his detention. But the diocese did not inform Farid and the police about the childrens whereabouts, thus stymieing the police investigation, and when Farid and his wife, child protection activist Ilma Sovri Yanti Ilyas, called an official from the dioceses legal division, both were dismissed as having no legal standing in the case. Who are you? From what institution? We only want to deal with the LPAI, the official said as quoted by Ilma, referring to Setos institution. The Bogor diocese confirmed that it had moved all the children from the Kencana Bejana Rohani orphanage to different orphanages under the dioceses supervision following Angelos arrest. The Bishop of Bogor, Paskalis Bruno Syukur, referred to the decision to take over and move the children as a humanitarian gesture, implying that it was not really the churchs responsibility. The decision was made after the diocese received reports from church members about the childrens miserable conditions after being abandoned by their sole guardian, Angelo. Read also: The Church betrays us: More Catholic school abuse victims speak up Speaking to two journalists from the Post and Tirto.id recently at the Bogor diocese meeting room, Bishop Paskalis said his office did not know anything about Farid, having heard about the case from the KPAI. Paskalis explanation was iterated several times by the eight lawyers and consultants from the dioceses legal team, as well as four other priests, who accompanied Paskalis during the interview. A member of the legal team, Agus Setya Purwoko, said the diocese was informed that the KPAI was the party that filed the report against Angelo to the police. We have never heard of the name Farid until today, he said. Later during the interview Paskalis and his team said they did not want to concern themselves with the legal process against Angelo saying, thats their [Farid and the KPAIs] business. Diocese washes its hands of Angelo The diocese has insisted that the matter is not its problem because it believes that Angelo was not a real Catholic brother given that his congregation, the BSMC, is not an officially recognized order. In a letter dated Sept. 19, five days after Angelo was detained, the diocese wrote a letter to Catholics in their jurisdiction. Signed and stamped, by among others Bishop Paskalis, the letter said that since April 2019, the diocese had asked Angelo to stop referring to himself as bruder (brother) and to stop wearing the attire of a brother in a Catholic order. But he broke his promises, the letter said. Because of that, all his actions and the consequences are his personal responsibility to be answered for by him according to the laws of the State and of the Church, the letter said. However, when asked further if the diocese formally made clear the status of Angelo to members of the parish to stop him from misusing his assumed priestly identity to collect money to support his orphanage, Father Yohannes Driyanto, one of the priests who sat with Paskalis, said that it was unnecessary as it was a matter of internal business. We cannot prohibit people who have good intentions from helping. So, we wouldnt go out there and announce Hey Catholics, dont support him [Angelo]. But we would inform those who came to seek information before making any donation. We would say please go ahead to help but do know that he [Angelo] is not a [Catholic] brother, Driyanto said. The diocese also did not explain what happened in April last year that led the diocese to denounce the BSMC. It also said that a picture of Bishop Paskalis posing with Angelo and children from the orphanage, published in March last year on the website version of the most renowned Catholic publication in the country, Hidup magazine, was not really a sign of approval of the orphanage. As a bishop I cant reject any requests to take a photo with me. Its the same when Angelo asked to take a photograph with me in it, Paskalis said. Angelo told Hidup that the bishop let him open the orphanage on May 18, 2015 for a three-month probationary period. According to the orphanages legal document the Post obtained from the Law and Human Rights Ministry, Lukas Lucky Ngalngola opened the Kencana Bejana Rohani in December 2015. Bishop Paskalis denied Angelos claim, saying that he only permitted him to teach English and not to open an orphanage. (Courtesy of/www.hidupkatolik.com) Angelo told Hidup that the bishop let him open the orphanage on May 18, 2015 for a three-month probationary period. According to the orphanages legal document the Post obtained from the Law and Human Rights Ministry, Lukas Lucky Ngalngola opened the Kencana Bejana Rohani in December 2015. Bishop Paskalis denied Angelos claim, saying that he only permitted him to teach English and not to open an orphanage. Investigation falters On Dec. 17, 2019, approaching the end of the three-month period when the police can detain someone before the case must go to court, the dossiers had yet to be accepted by the prosecutors office, the police called Farid and asked him to withdraw his report. Farid said before he made the difficult decision he was constantly called by the police, which he referred to as horrifying and intimidating. Farid could not hold back his tears when he told the Post how he felt abandoned by all relevant institutions, including the KPAI, which at first encouraged him to go through the legal process. The police called me every single day for a month. I fully understood that that was the way they worked. I tried to discuss the matter with Mbak Susianah [from the KPAI], but to no avail. I was even accused of taking bribes from the police [to drop the case], Farid said, his voice breaking. Read also: Catholic Church excludes adult women in talks about protecting sexual abuse victims To help him with the police case, he created a WhatsApp group comprising representatives from state institutions in charge of child protection issues including the KPAI, the Social Affairs Ministry and the Womens Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry, in addition to a number of other non-state child protection agencies as well as activists, to maintain communications and to obtain support. But none of them backed him when dealing with the police investigation, despite having been informed about the progress of the case. I was so exhausted. In the end, I didnt respond to the police calls anymore. I just went to the police and withdrew my report. I had informed the state. I provided all information about what was going on to the relevant ministries but they abandoned me, he said. I cried when I signed the papers, thinking about those children. The fate of the children After spending two weeks in two separate Catholic orphanages, a cook in the old orphanage, Sinta, told Bogor Diocese that the children needed to continue their studies in their schools in Depok. Some of the children then returned to the orphanage where they are now looked after by Darius Rebong, Angelos acquaintance. Darius said that Agus from the Bogor Diocese legal division told Sinta to look for a place to rent to accommodate the children. Sinta found that Darius had spare space in his house so the diocese paid Darius Rp 50 million (US$3,399) to rent his place for the children for four months. Later in November, Darius asked the Bogor Diocese to hand over the children fully to him and he later set up a foundation for the orphanage. Bogor Diocese said it let Darius take over the children and start the new orphanage because Darius said he had an agreement with Angelo that the children would be under his care. Darius confirmed that he and Angelo had an agreement, showing Tirto.id and the Post a letter, handwritten by Angelo, stating that from Oct. 14 Angelo would no longer be the guardian of the children and devolving the responsibility to Darius. There are now 44 children in Darius orphanage and in early August Darius broadcast a message to Catholics in Depok to help the children because they did not have enough money to feed the children and to pay for their education. Read also: Time for Catholic Church to decide which side of history it is on Bishop Paskalis, whom Darius met in person to express his intentions, said that he could do nothing other than to take the children off his hands after failing to convince Darius to work with the church in the care of the children. We offered to take care of the children together but he insisted on going solo. Thus, we absolved ourselves of the matter, including in regard to the nature of their [Darius and Angelos] relationship. Later on, we found out that he [Darius] had set up his own foundation, Paskalis said. The bishop claimed the diocese had planned to provide counseling and other essential services for the children but after Darius took the children, they dropped that plan. Darius and the five interviewed victims confirm that they never received any counseling services from the church. I dont understand why the Bogor diocese doesnt want to give counseling to help the children. Maybe they are helping them through their prayers, he said. Chandigarh, Aug 28 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said on Friday evening that he would be going into seven-day isolation after meeting a Covid-19 positive Congress MLA during the one-day session of the Vidhan Sabha. An announcement was made by the Chief Minister's Media Advisor Raveen Thukral on Twitter. Heres how a country as diverse as India has fallen in love with the meaningful and heartwarming stories being told on ZEE5. Be it shows or movies, or their line-up of ZEE5 originals, it has found the code to being consistently entertaining, across genres and languages. The depth that ZEE5 portrays in its lineup is hard to be found somewhere else. Be it heart-tugging stories about family, stories about friendship that make you nostalgic, gripping thrillers based on real life events, love stories that cater to the romantic in you, or just something youd want o watch for a fun goofy time, ZEE5 has stories for every whim and fancy you may have. Heres a peek at what youre missing out on, if you arent already engrossed in the world of ZEE5: For the ones who find their kick with real life events: Abhay: If you are ready to be shaken by what human beings are capable of doing, the second season of the critically acclaimed show Abhay is the one you need to watch. Written inspired by real life crime incidents, director Ken Ghosh and a superb Kunal Kemmu elevate the show with their masterful direction and natural acting prowess respectively. Kunal plays the lead cop with a restrained surety, and the psychological thriller route this show takes, is a thrill ride from start to end for the viewer. P.S. With 2 more episodes coming out on September 4th, watch out for the gallery of insane villains and think of what true life crime inspired the characters! Omerta: With Rajkumar Rao at the helm, this intense terrorist story based on real life events is unmissable! Revolving around the events such as 26/11 Mumbai, the 9/11 attacks, the 1994 Delhi Westerners Kidnapping Case as well as the Damiel Pearl kidnapping case, this is a hair raising show supported by a stellar act by Rakjumar Rao, and some deft direction by Hansal Mehta. This one will stay with you long after youre done watching it! For the ones who live for their friends. These movies will make you want to call them up right away! Yaara: Friends are the family you choose, and no matter what, some friendships stay for life. If you want to go back in time and relive the days with your gang, Yaara is the movie for you. This ZEE5 original boasts a fun cast of some powerful actors such as Vidyut Jamwal and Amit Sadh, giving some moving performances in the hands of the ever-so-competent Tigmanshu Dhulia. This epic tale of a gang of friends who get involved in something bad, and how it affects their friendship along with time, is a heartwarming tale told in the right manner. Gather your gang, get some popcorn and get ready for some feels with Yaara! For the ones who are looking for heartwarming movies based on familial bonds. P.S. Watch these with your father! Pareeksha: Yet another feather in the crown for Prakash Jha. Known for the social commentaries in his movies, Prakash Jhas Pareeksha is another powerful turn by the versatile director. Adil Hussain, in probably one of his career best performances, will tug at your heartstrings as a poor father trying to get his son a proper education. The powerful commentary on the Indian education system and the powerful depiction of the familial bond between father-son make this movie a must watch! Chintu Ka Birthday: Want something to tug at your heartstrings, and make you feel all warm and cosy inside? Writer- director duo Satyanshu and Devanshu Singh craft a poignant tale of a boy named Chintu, and the results are outstanding. Filmed against the backdrop of the Iraq invasion by the US troops, the movie is about a family from Bihar stuck in Iraq, trying to celebrate Chintus birthday. Sounds simple? You might be in for a shock at how much this movie will make you feel. The actors do a great job, and the wholesome feeling of a family just trying to be a family, will make you want to spend some more time with yours. A must watch to see for the family, with the family! For the ones who never give up, for the kids who dare to dream, and for the families who support them: Mee Raqsam: Another one in the ranks for watching with your family! A very timely tale, Mee Raqsam is a powerful tale of how religions seeps into our lives and makes even simple things difficult to navigate Through. The story about a Muslim girl interested in learning Bharatnatyam, is dealt with the utmost sensitivity and sincerity by Baba Azmi. Featuring powerhouse performances by the lead Aditi Subedi, her father played by Danish Hussain, and Naseeruddin Shah as the Muslim fundamentalist, this movie is a must watch! Atkan Chatkan: When hopes and dreams combine with music, only beauty can come out of it. Presented by A.R. Rahman, this rag-tag story of a chai-delivery boy named Guddu who has the passion for music, and forms a band with his friends, is very well directed and inspiring to watch. Directed by Shiv Hare, this musical journey is also supported by the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Hariharan, Sonu Nigam and many others, along with international percussionist Sivamani Sir providing the music. . This movie will make you laugh, leave you in tears, and at the end just warm your hearts! The movie releases on ZEE5 on September 5th. Dont miss out! For the ones with love in their hearts and who see romance in the air 24X7: Bamfaad: If love and romance is in the air, Bamfaad is your best bet. This ZEE5 original is the debut of Paresh Rawals son Aditya Rawal, and going by the movie, he is surely someone to look out for. Set against the backdrop of Allahabad, this love story with fireworks is directed by Ranjan Chandel and presented by Anurag Kashyap. Bamfaad as a term is a slang for explosion, and that says everything you need to know about the film and the passionate love story between the leads. Add to it a local mob boss who wont let their love flourish, and you are in for a fully filmy ride, filled with passion, love and romance! For the ones who dream big and make things happen no matter what: Ghoomketu: This one is truly for the dreamers! This effortless ode to old school Bollywood is a fun and breezy tale told with aplomb by Pusphendra Nath Mishra, and held together by an ever so versatile Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The story of an underdog who comes to Mumbai to fulfill his Bollywood dreams is an old trope. But with Nawazs comic timing and goofy act perfectly complemented by a surprisingly funny Anurag Kashyap, Ghoomketu warrants a watch for sure. If you have ever dreamed to make it big and have not given up despite all the odds against you, you will relate to the character of Ghoomketu for sure! After all what are movies if not a means to escape from reality, and feel something you feel you have been missing out on? With ZEE5s incredible line up of movies, which are filled to the brim with great characters, intense storylines and ready to make you feel a variety of emotions. Catch all of these movies, and so much more, only on ZEE5! This is Partnered content Flash China on Thursday condemned some U.S. politicians for "hunting down" non-U.S. companies, saying the essence of such practice is labeling these firms with ideological prejudice. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a press briefing while responding to a question about a survey released by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (AmCham Shanghai) Wednesday. AmCham Shanghai said that about 90 percent of the respondents to a survey it conducted of U.S. firms in Shanghai recently believed that the U.S. planned ban on WeChat will have a negative influence on their operations and more than one-third thought that such ban might lead to a loss of global revenue. Some U.S. politicians have put their selfish interests above market principles and international rules to jeopardize the global internet, said Zhao, adding that such an attempt has already been seen through by the international community. "Some U.S. politicians have abused state power to unjustifiably suppress non-U.S. companies under the pretext of national security. Such bandit action has done harm to the rights and interests of consumers and businesses in the United States and other countries, and it is bound to be opposed and resisted by the international community," said Zhao, who stressed that the move is organized and systematic economic bullying of non-U.S. companies that take the lead in a certain field. "This is a repudiation of the principle of market economy and fair competition that the U.S. has always flaunted," said Zhao. "Such move tramples on international rules and undermines the exchanges and cooperation in science, technology and innovation among countries riding the tide of globalization." Zhao said that from the perspective of some U.S. politicians, the so-called liberalization of the internet is nothing but Americanization, and so-called national security is simply a byword for "American double standards." THE TESTAMENTS, by Margaret Atwood. (Anchor, 448 pp., $16.95.) This Booker Prize-winning, spy-thriller sequel to The Handmaids Tale takes place 15 years later and has three narrators: Offreds younger daughter, in Canada; her older daughter, in Gilead; and Aunt Lydia, the handmaids warden. Our reviewer, Michiko Kakutani, described Atwoods storytelling as immersive and propulsive. SILVER, SWORD, AND STONE: Three Crucibles in the Latin American Story, by Marie Arana. (Simon & Schuster, 496 pp., $22.) The Peruvian-born Aranas illuminating, melancholy history of Latin America deserves a wide audience, our reviewer, Alvaro Enrigue, wrote. With its theme of repetition mirrored by its structure, problems recur like a difficult dream that instead of finishing begins again and again. THE INSTITUTE, by Stephen King. (Gallery Books, 576 pp., $19.99.) Of all the cosmic menaces that Kings heroes have battled, according to our reviewer, Laura Miller, the slow creep into inhumanity in this novel may be the most terrifying yet. Here, the people who torment innocent children separated from their parents and viewed as resources, like the children of migrants and other demonized minorities are much like you and me. THE PATIENTS CHECKLIST: 10 Simple Hospital Checklists to Keep You Safe, Sane, and Organized, by Elizabeth Bailey. (Hachette Go, 192 pp., $15.99.) Abigail Zuger, M.D., called this guide by a patient advocate, revised for our pandemic era, a godsend for concerned friends and relatives trying to rein in the chaos, when she reviewed it in The Times in 2012. Brian Henry, mayor of the town of Pawleys Island and owner of Get Carried Away and Palmetto Cheese, is facing public backlash after posting that Black Lives Matter should be treated like a terror organization, among other comments that some have deemed racist and divisive. In the aftermath of a double murder in Georgetown County on Monday afternoon, Henry publicly posted the following on Tuesday: I am sickened by the senseless killings in Georgetown last night. 2 innocent people murdered. Not 2 thugs or people wanted on multiple warrants. 2 white people defenselessly gunned down by a black man. Tell me, where is the outrage? When and where will we begin rioting and burning down businesses in Georgetown. Answer is simple, it wont happen. Because we live in a civil society, and it wont change what happened. The victims families and friends will mourn and undoubtedly feel anger and confusion. Cant imagine their pain. So why do we stand by and allow BLM to lawlessly destroy great American cities and threaten their citizens on a daily basis? Should they have a carte blanche license to pillage and destroy? Why? This has gone on too long. Rise up America. This BLM and Antifa movement must be treated like the terror organizations that they are. Law and order, protection of liberty, and the right of peaceful enjoyment. If we dont have that, we no longer have a country. My wife cried last night when she read about these murders. Im sure their family is devastated. This did not have to happen. Does the senseless murder of these people not matter as much because it doesnt fit the media narrative. You are damn right their lives matter. And we should all be outraged and engaged to demand action and stem the tide of lawless fringe. We cant stay silent anymore. All lives matter. There I said it. So am I racist now? I think not. How about the POS who just gunned down 3 defenseless white people? You be the judge. We need Law and Order. Now! Henry was referring to both Charles Nicholas Wall and his stepdaughter, Laura Anderson, being shot and killed after a vehicle collision on U.S. 521 in Georgetown County. The Georgetown County Sheriff's Office has charged Ty Sheem Ha Sheem Walters III, 23, of Moncks Corner, with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and three counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime. He made his first appearance in court Wednesday, where his bond was denied. Walters remains in jail at the Georgetown County Detention Center. Henry's Facebook post has since been deleted, but was public long enough for residents and organizations alike to offer critical feedback directed at the mayor, who was sworn in last November. That included a public note from Vincent Davis, the president of the Pawleys Island Civic Club, on the organization's official Facebook page: "Hello everyone to address Brian Buck Henry remarks who is mayor of the town of Pawleys Island beach side not Pawleys Island we are not the same but Brian Buck Henry count your days, cause we will not allow hate of any kind to separate our community. We will always win with Love for everyone. Pawleys Island Strong!!" Davis told the Post and Courier that the community should be compassionate about anyone who dies, no matter the color of their skin. "We have to heal each other, we can't keep dividing us," he said. "Let's not divide anything and let's not forget the real point that people are losing their lives and we need to feel love and compassion for that." Darlene Booth-Bell, a part-time resident of Pawleys Island, publicly shared this message with the town's Facebook page tagged: "Town of Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Our mayor, Brian Henry, seems to have decided to join in the current disinformation and racial division which is tearing our country apart. The interesting thing is, he has never spoke a word about racial injustice, but decides to make a false equivalency with a criminal event which happened to occur between private citizens of different races. I don't remember seeing him march with our beautiful children in the peaceful protest a few months ago in Pawleys? Was he there? Is this who should be speaking for the town? Is this good for the local businesses and property owners who depend on tourist visiting our little piece of paradise? Just FYI, an unarmed black person being killed by an officer sworn to protect and serve, whom is not charged or punished without protest and outrage, is NOT the same thing as a person being killed by a private citizen who is arrested, charged, and certainly will face a harsh sentence as they should. The killing in Georgetown was a horrible tragedy, as I understand it a Moncks Corner individual has been arrested. It appears justice will be served, so why the race baiting posts? Who should protest the fact that it appears justice will be served? I believe Mayor has shown his true heart and does not deserve to represent the Island. Sincerely, a Pawleys Island taxpayer, and part-time resident." On Wednesday, Henry offered up a public statement about the post: "Yesterday, I heard about the senseless killing of 2 Georgetown residents. My wife and I know the family of the victims. I was deeply saddened and angered by the gruesome nature of the killing and felt grieved for the family and this community. I typically refrain from social media because of my position as an elected official. But, in this case, I felt compelled to pour out my heart to this family and release some of the emotion I felt, so I drafted a post on Facebook. "I regret that my post was misinterpreted, and some perceived it as rationally insensitive. My wife and I care deeply about the black community in Pawleys Island and Georgetown County. Our employees and the many organizations that we support have been at the center of our lives since we moved here 20 years ago. I have removed the post because I believe it may have been offensive and insensitive to the very people we care so much about. "Just like everyone in America, I am deeply frustrated with the racial division and unrest in this country. This incident stoked raw emotion from this community, including me. We need more conversation and understanding, and it is my plan to pursue that. "I would also like to emphasize that my opinions and comments were posted on my personal Facebook account and in no way reflects the views of the Town of Pawleys Island." Town of Pawleys Island council member Sarah Zimmerman indicated that she had not heard from the mayor, and was unsure if this topic would be addressed at the next town council meeting, scheduled for Sept. 14. Fellow council member Ashley Carter confirmed that no special meeting or agenda item had been discussed at this point. Per Zimmerman, the mayor makes the agenda for the meetings. "I don't think these are reflective of the beliefs of those in Pawleys Island," Zimmerman told the Post and Courier. "The town has received numerous phone calls and emails about this." A Chinese woman has had over 400 bees stingers removed from her body after the farmer was attacked by an army of the flying insects whilst working on a field. Shocking footage shows the villagers skin covered with black and red spots after she was rushed to a local hospital in Suichang county of eastern Chinese province Zhejiang. The patient, known by her surname Huang, has been in stable condition after doctors conducted an emergency procedure to remove the venomous stings, according to reports. A Chinese woman in Zhejiang province, has had over 400 bees stingers removed from her body after the farmer was attacked by an army of the flying insects whilst working on a field The patient, known by her surname Huang, has been in stable condition after doctors conducted an emergency procedure to remove the venomous stings, according to reports The incident was brought to light after Ms Huangs family took her to seek medical attention at the Yichang County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Wednesday. The farmer told reporters that she was working on a field when swarms of bees suddenly flew by and attacked her. I was working and after a short while, a large group of bees flew over. They started chasing and biting me, the woman said. Within half an hour, the army of insects left more than 400 stings on Ms Huangs entire body. She was rushed to the hospital by her horrified family. The incident was brought to light after Ms Huangs family took her to seek medical attention at the Yichang County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Zhejiang on Wednesday Gruesome footage shows the villagers skin covered with black and red spots after she was rushed to a local hospital in Suichang county of eastern Chinese province Zhejiang After undergoing an hour-long emergency procedure, the farmer is said to have been in stable condition. The picture released by Suichang News shows a bee removed from Ms Huang Dr Weng Jianwu, an ER doctor at the Yichang hospital, told the local media: When the patient was brought in, we saw packs of bees stingers covering her head, neck and back. She said she was feeling very tired. She also had headaches and struggled to breathe, the medic added. Footage released by Suichang News shows the medical workers carefully removing the stingers from Mss Huangs back that was covered with black and red spots. After undergoing an hour-long emergency procedure, the farmer is said to have been in stable condition. Dr Weng has advised to stay calm and avoid running when ones attacked by bees as the movement could lead the insects to become more aggressive and cause more serious injuries. A 22-year-old student has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court for alleged infliction of deep cutlass wounds on a Gardner at Sasabi, near Oyibi in Accra. Benjamin Mensah is said to have followed the victim to his house and inflicted cutlass wound on him. Charged with causing harm, Mensah has pleaded not guilty. Defence Counsel, Mr G.N.K. Owoo prayed the court to admit his client to bail because the accused would not interfere with the investigation and would readily attend court sittings to prove his innocence. The court presided over by Ms Evelyn Asamoah admitted Mensah to bail in the sum of GH50,000.00 with three sureties. The prosecution was ordered to serve the accused with all disclosures and relevant documents and filed same to September 20. The court adjourned the matter to September 29. Prosecuting Chief Inspector Emmanuel Haligah narrated that the complainant resides at Sasabi, near Oyibi in Accra. Mensah also resides in the same vicinity as his father. Prosecution said on July 19, this year, the victim went to Mensahs fathers house after he (the victim) was invited by the accused father. On the victims arrival, Mensah became offended and he pushed the victim who fell on the ground because the victim had opened the gate without his permission. The Prosecution said this resulted in a fight between the victim and accused. Accused father who was then in his room came to the scene and separated them. The victim went back to his house. Chief Inspector Haligah said Mensah followed the victim to his house with a cutlass and inflicted deep cutlass wounds on his left shoulder. The Prosecution said the victim was rushed to the Legon Hospital by some witnesses. Mensah however after committing the crime went into hiding. A report was made to the Police on August 14, this year accused father handed him over to the Police. The Prosecution said accused in his caution statement admitted the offence. 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 UK street artist funds search and rescue boat to help save migrants crossing the Mediterranean. Banksy, the anonymous British street artist, has financed a boat to rescue refugees attempting to reach Europe from north Africa, according to The Guardian. The white and pink motor yacht features Banksy artwork depicting a girl in a life jacket holding a safety buoy in the shape of a heart, a take on his celebrated Balloon Girl image. The boat set sail from Spain on 18 August in secret, out of fears that media coverage would have attracted unwanted attention from authorities, and rescuers agreed to release the news after their first rescue. This occurred yesterday, 27 August, when the 10-person crew rescued 89 people in distress, including 14 women and four children, in the central Mediterranean. They are now looking for a safe seaport to disembark the rescued passengers or to transfer them to a European coastguard vessel, reports The Guardian. Named Louise Michel after a Parisian feminist revolutionary, the yacht is run by a crew of European activists experienced in search and rescue operations with German NGO Sea-Watch, under captain Pia Klemp. The boat's crew "have diverse backgrounds, but they all identify as anti-racist and anti-fascist activists advocating for radical political change" - writes The Guardian - "As it is a feminist project, only female crew members are allowed to speak in the name of the Louise Michel." Pia Klemp Formerly owned by French customs authorities, the Louise Michel sails under a German flag and is smaller but considerably faster than other NGO rescue vessels, with a top speed of 27 knots. Klemp told The Guardian that she hopes the speed of the Louise Michel will ensure that it "outruns the so-called Libyan coastguard before they get to boats with refugees and migrants and pull them back to the detention camps in Libya." The story dates back to last September when Banksy contacted Klemp out of the blue, according to The Guardian: Ive read about your story in the papers. You sound like a badass. I am an artist from the UK and Ive made some work about the migrant crisis, obviously I cant keep the money. Could you use it to buy a new boat or something? Please let me know. Initially believing it to be a joke, Klemp soon realised the offer was real. I dont see sea rescue as a humanitarian action, but as part of an anti-fascist fight, she told The Guardian, clarifying the relationship between Bansky and the mission: "Banksy wont pretend that he knows better than us how to run a ship, and we wont pretend to be artists. Photos The Guardian WYNYARD, UK, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Venator Materials PLC (NYSE: VNTR) ("Venator") today announced that funds advised by SK Capital Partners, L.P. have agreed to purchase approximately 42.5 million shares, representing just under 40% of Venator's outstanding shares, from Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) for a purchase price of approximately $100 million, including a 30-month option for the sale of Huntsman's remaining approximate 9.5 million shares it holds at $2.15 per share. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close near year-end. Simon Turner, President and CEO of Venator, stated, "I am excited to welcome SK Capital as a major investor in Venator. They have a successful track record of investing in the chemical industry with a focus on long term growth. We appreciate this vote of confidence by Barry Siadat and the SK Capital team in the opportunities ahead for Venator and expected value creation for our shareholders." About Venator Venator is a global manufacturer and marketer of chemical products that comprise a broad range of pigments and additives that bring color and vibrancy to buildings, protect and extend product life, and reduce energy consumption. We market our products globally to a diversified group of industrial customers through two segments: Titanium Dioxide, which consists of our TiO2 business, and Performance Additives, which consists of our functional additives, color pigments, timber treatment and water treatment businesses. We operate 24 facilities, employ approximately 4,000 associates worldwide and sell our products in more than 110 countries. Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward looking statements represent Venator's expectations or beliefs concerning future events, and it is possible that the expected results described in this press release will not be achieved. These forward looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of Venator's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward looking statements, including the impacts and duration of the global outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic on the global economy and all aspects of our business, including our employees, customers, suppliers, partners, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, global economic conditions, our ability to maintain sufficient working capital, our ability to access capital markets on favorable terms, our ability to transfer technology and manufacturing capacity from our Pori, Finland manufacturing facility to other sites in our manufacturing network, the costs associated with such transfer and the closure of our Pori facility, our ability to realize financial and operational benefits from our business improvement plans and initiatives, impacts on TiO 2 markets and the broader global economy from the imposition of tariffs by the U.S. and other countries, changes in raw material and energy prices, or interruptions in raw materials and energy, industry production capacity and operating rates, the supply demand balance for our products and that of competing products, pricing pressures, technological developments, legal claims by or against us, changes in government regulations, including increased manufacturing, labeling and waste disposal regulations and the classification of TiO 2 as a carcinogen in the EU, geopolitical events, cyberattacks and public health crises such as coronavirus. Any forward looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as required by law, Venator does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Venator to predict all such factors. When considering these forward looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in Venator's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC and in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The risk factors and other factors noted therein could cause its actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward looking statement. SOURCE Venator Materials PLC Related Links http://www.venatorcorp.com Security guards smoked in stairwells and took hotel towels to use as pillows while napping in corridors while working in hotel quarantine, a Crown manager has told an inquiry. The heads of the hotels that housed quarantined returned travellers in Melbourne on Friday started to give evidence to Victoria's inquiry into the program. Quarantined travellers detained in Crown Promenade in April. Credit:Justin McManus Crown Hotels executive general manager Shaun D'Cruz told the inquiry his staff noticed towels were being taken from the hotel staff area where linen was stored. The guards used the towels to take naps in the corridors, the inquiry heard. While Jeep seems quite pleased with their "Wagoneer Wednesday" silliness, Fridays seem to be the true payoff for those of us looking for substantial updates on the revival of Jeep's family-hauler nameplate. With the Grand Wagoneer just days away from being formally revealed to the world, Jeep has dropped yet another pair of teaser photos. Just like last week, Jeep gave us two photos one interior and one exterior to chew on. Mercifully, these capture far more of the car than we've seen in previous sets, so they give us quite a bit more to go on. We'll start with the exterior shot, which actually has a neat little Easter egg. On the surface, it's just a top-down shot of the Grand Wagoneer. This example obviously includes a panoramic roof (which we'll come back to momentarily) and is finished in a nice, ice blue shade that contrasts nicely with the tinted glass. But wait, is that actually just tint? Let's enhance... Nope, that's not just tint. That's a street map. It's not obvious from this orientation, but that's the Detroit metro area, which shouldn't come as much of a shock, considering how much FCA's brands like to lean into their regional heritage. We even rotated and overlayed onto a screen capture from Google Maps, just in case you don't believe us. Neat little touch, no? Speaking of which, let's move inside. Here, the homages are far less subtle (and, we'd argue, more traditionally Jeep). This shot depicts the dash as viewed from the side with the driver door open. Here, we get a nice little silhouette of the Wagoneer, plus some climate control vent bling and some vague hints as to the shape of the rest of the dashboard. We're as tired of using the word "again" as you are of reading it; don't worry, this will all end soon Thursday, Sept. 3, in fact with the formal unveiling of Jeep's new three row on its YouTube channel at 9:00 a.m. EDT. Try to contain yourselves until then, and happy Friday. Story continues Related Video: Click here to See Video >> U.S. makes public photo of refueling of Taiwan's aircraft ROC Central News Agency 08/27/2020 10:49 PM Taipei, Aug. 27 (CNA) Military planes between Taiwan and the United States conducted air refueling missions in U.S. airspace recently, according to a photo posted by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) on its Facebook page on Thursday. In the photo, an F-16 fighter jet from Taiwan's Air Force is seen being refueled by a U.S. Air Force tanker above the Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The photo showed the security cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S. amid increasing tensions in the Taiwan Strait. "The 21st SQ at Luke AFB conducting an air refueling mission in the US with USAF Tanker under the F-16 training program," the caption of the photo read. Luke AFB refers to the Luke Air Force Base in Arizona while the 21st SQ refers to the 21st Fighter Squadron, which is part of the U.S.' 56th Operations Group at that base. The U.S. agreed to sell 150 units of F-16s to Taiwan in 1992, with first deliveries made in April 1997. About 10 of the these F-16s were kept in U.S.' air force bases to train Taiwan's pilots. The AIT also shared three other photos in that Facebook post, with two showing Taiwan's F-16V fighter jets conducting daily missions and participating in Taiwan's Han Kuang exercises in 2019. The other photo shows an F-16 fighter jet ferrying back to Taiwan over the Pacific Ocean with a U.S. Air Force tanker in 1997, almost one year after the second Taiwan Strait crisis, in which the Chinese People's Liberation Army fired missiles into waters near the northern and southern tips of Taiwan. These jets fighters were sold by the U.S. to Taiwan to enhance its self-defense capacity, the AIT said in the Facebook post. The de facto U.S. embassy in Taipei is celebrating Security Cooperation Month with Taiwan in August. It has been posting photos over the past few days that it said showed activities highlighting "the multifaceted nature of the security cooperation activities that benefit both Taiwan and the United States" over the years, in a message that seemed aimed at China. On the same day, the AIT shared other photos relating to security cooperation between the two sides in another Facebook post. One photo showed the arrival of the first of 32 assault amphibious vehicles, also purchased from the U.S., in July 2020 and another showed AIT personnel posing with Taiwanese soldiers in front of a U.S.-made PATRIOT Air Defense System during the 2020 Han Kuang Live Fire Exercise in Taiwan. These AIT Facebook posts came amid the heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait, which is viewed by some security analysts as one of the flash points in the region due to the increased military activities by China, Taiwan and the U.S. The Brussels-based International Crisis Group's (ICG), in its July edition of CrisisWatch, listed the Taiwan Strait as a region where the security situation is deteriorating. (By Yu Hsiang and Emerson Lim) Enditem/cs NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Each morning about 400 construction workers at one of the Victorian governments signature level crossing projects remove their face masks and put them into QR coded, ziplocked bags. Within six hours they receive an automated SMS telling them whether they are COVID free. This novel, mass screening approach, the brainchild of Acciona's infrastructure boss Bede Noonan, is an example of private industry being part of the solution instead of railing against Melbournes lockdown and failures in government policy. Bede Noonan, Matt McCann and Cameron Hunter believe mass COVID screening could help us safely return to our work and lives. Credit:Jo Armao It represents a COVID mindshift where, instead of waiting at home for a vaccine, smart people across the city are imagining ways for Melburnians to safely work and travel and get on with our lives. With workplace clusters at hospitals, aged care facilities, meatworks and logistics centres contributing heavily to Victorias second wave of infections, Accionas trial at four sites along the Frankston railway line is being closely watched by the broader construction industry, government, unions and science. Kellyanne Conway, the departing White House counselor who served as a campaign manager for Mr. Trump in 2016, recounted a conversation in which Mr. Trump described drug overdoses as a personal responsibility. She recalled: When President Trump asked me to coordinate the White House efforts on combating the drug crisis, he said: This is personal, Kellyanne. So many lives have been ruined by addiction and well never even know it because people are ashamed to reach out for help, or theyre not sure who to turn to in their toughest hour. Perhaps no story was as implausible as the one relayed by Richard Grenell, the former United States ambassador to Germany, who said, Ive watched President Trump charm the chancellor of Germany an anecdote hardly supported by reporting or photo evidence of their meetings. But no convention speaker took as much creative license with quotations from Mr. Trump as his daughter Ivanka Trump. During her remarks introducing her father, she recalled watching on television as Alice Johnson was released from prison after he commuted her sentence. After a long silence, he looked at me and said, Imagine how many people there are just like Alice, Ms. Trump said. From that point on, he became a voice for those who had been unfairly silenced in our prison system. Scores of kilns, pottery wheels, photo enlargers, easels and printing presses used by countless City College of San Francisco arts students at the old Fort Mason campus are heading for the auction block or maybe the dumpster. Also designated for disposal are chairs, desk, tables and lockers among hundreds of pieces of equipment from the beloved venue that was shut down in May to save money. The plan to jettison the arts classroom furnishings was outlined in a four-page document titled Inventory to Dispose tucked into the agenda of the college trustees Thursday meeting: Large kiln, small kiln, 5 clay shelves, 7 metal clay wheels, 6 photography enlargers, 15 wooden easels, 20 paint tables, 14 metal easels, 2 etching presses Six trustees approved the matter. Trustee Ivy Lee was absent. Art students and teachers were aghast at the equipment dump and said it appeared at odds with CCSFs announced plan to move its Fort Mason arts program, a favorite of Bay Area seniors, to other CCSF campuses. Former CCSF instructor Julieta Kusnir, a member of a campus group that opposes the cutbacks, called the disposal of the arts equipment heartbreaking and short-sighted. Theyre throwing out all this expensive stuff it took them a long time to acquire, and now theyre saying, OK, lets just get rid of it, she said. They dont want to call something a cut, so they call it a move or a reallocation. Then we see it really is a cut after all. All under the guise of relocating. On May 29, the trustees of the perpetually cash-strapped college approved a controversial plan to shut the Fort Mason campus on the northern waterfront. The college said it was facing a $35 million shortfall and intended to focus on its equity students recent high school graduates seeking degrees and transfers to four-year colleges. Fort Mason students tended to be seniors and community members not seeking college transfers. The inventory to dispose list represents some but not all of the Fort Mason arts equipment. Other items will be moved to the Ocean Avenue and Chinatown campuses to be used when in-person classes resume, according to college spokeswoman Rachel Howard. Howard said the listed items were in disrepair and no longer usable. She said the trustees were required by California law and board policy to declare the material as surplus before any sale or disposal can take place. The colleges lease at Fort Mason expires at the end of September and, like any tenant, the college must leave the premises clean. Longtime arts student Carol Blakely, a senior who took many classes at Fort Mason over the years, said she found nothing in disrepair or otherwise amiss with any of the Fort Mason equipment, including the easels she used for art classes and the presses she used for print-making classes. It was all well-loved, but it worked fine, she said. Sounds like theyre just closing down everything from Fort Mason and getting rid of any opportunity to re-open. The publication of the list seemed to renew the pain of the Fort Mason closure for the 2,000 students who took classes at the old Army base annually and regarded it as a second home. Exactly what will happen to the equipment remains unclear. The agenda described the inventory as surplus property and of insufficient value to arrange a sale, which seemed to suggest it will be dumped or donated. Howard said that other schools and community colleges will get first dibs on the discards. A third party will be brought in to manage the sale, disposal or re-use of the items, she added. It was not known when that would take place or how the public could take part. A facilities manager told a student by email that there will be an online auction. Student Eira Kien, a leader in the CCSF For All group advocating on behalf of classes for seniors, said the dumping is an example of the college administrations mismanagement and lack of transparencyand not following their words. Blakely said she would like to know where the CCSF dump is located. Id love to go down there and get one of the printing presses, if theyre really going to throw it away, she said. Goodness gracious. Id put it in my basement. Im sure theres nothing wrong with it. Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect that a spokeswoman said the trustees were acting under requirement of California law. Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twittter: @SteveRubeSF Students and teachers were evacuated from a Sydney school after reports a 'suspicious device' was found on Friday. Police were called to Model Farms High School in Baulkham Hills in the city's north west about 10.30am. A police investigation was underway at the school until about 1.30pm, a NSW Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. Police were called to Model Farms High School in Baulkham Hills in the city's north west about 10.30am Friday More than 1,000 students and staff were forced to evacuate the premises before the situation was deescalated at 1.30pm. The NSW Police Bomb Squad was at the scene, as well as ambulance and fire crews, 7NEWS reported. Kamala Harris has said it is no wonder protesters are taking to the streets across America and that she supports them, in a hard-punching attack on Donald Trump. As Kenosha, Wisconsin, was said to be returning to a situation of relative calm following three days of protests, unrest and violence that followed the polices shooting of an unarmed black man, the Democrats vice presidential candidate said Mr Trump had failed to even acknowledge the issue. Thankfully he is alive today, Ms Harris said of 29-year-old Jacob Blake, a father-of-three, whose sons witnessed their father being shot. Joe and I spoke with [the Blake family] yesterday. They are an amazing group of people with extraordinary courage. Even in their pain and grief ... they spoke about the need to end violence so the nation can heal. She added: People are rightfully angry and exhausted. And after the murders of Breonna, George, Ahmaud, and so many others, its no wonder people are taking to the streets. Jacob Blake Sr speaks at a press conference about his son Jacob Blake who was shot seven times by police officers (AFP via Getty Images) And I support them. We must always defend peaceful protests and peaceful protesters. We should not confuse them with those looting and committing acts of violence, including the shooter who was arrested for murder. Ms Harris spoke a day after authorities in Kenosha released the name of the police officer, Rusten Sheskey, who shot Mr Blake seven times at close range on Sunday. Police also said they had arrested a white 17-year-old, Kyle Rittenhouse, on suspicion of shooting dead two people and injuring a third in an incident late on Tuesday night during protests sparked by Mr Blake's shooting. Kenosha police chief defends vigilante shooter's motives At the same time, the family of Mr Blake has appealed for calm and said their relative would not be pleased to learn of the violence. Mr Blakes mother, Julia Jackson, said her son would very unpleased to learn of the damage to his city. If Jacob knew what was going on he would be very unpleased. So Im really asking and encouraging everyone in Wisconsin and abroad to take a moment and examine your heart, Ms Jackson said this week. Ms Harris called for meaningful police reform and an acknowledgement of systemic racism to address the growing violence. The reality is that the life of a black person has never been treated as fully human, she said, as Republicans prepared for the final evening of their national convention. And we have yet to fulfil that promise of equal justice under law. We will only achieve that when we come together to pass meaningful police reform ... and acknowledge, yes acknowledge systemic racism. Ms Harris also criticised the presidents handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has now infected around 5.8m Americans and killed at least 180,000. He froze. He was scared. And he was petty and vindictive, she said. And heres what you have to understand about the nature of a pandemic: Its relentless. You cant stop it with a tweet. You cant create a distraction and hope itll go away. It doesnt go away. Heathrow airport has been carrying out trials of a coronavirus test that claims to provide results in as little as 30 seconds, in the hope of screening passengers and sparing some from quarantine. About 250 airport staff took part in the trial, choosing one of three different tests, which have yet to be proven effective. One self-administered test involves a machine-learning holographic microscope which, backers including Dell and Intel hope, can identify whether a person is carrying the disease and offer results in less than half a minute. Two other experimental tests claim to give results in 10 and 30 minutes. Heathrow bosses are examining the findings of the trials and will share the information with ministers in an attempt to persuade them to replace quarantine for red list country arrivals and increase passenger numbers again. Currently, travellers from countries including France, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands and Switzerland must self-isolate for 14 days after flying into the UK. The aviation industry is chafing at the restrictions, which leaders believe are deterring many people from taking foreign holidays. Oxford and Manchester universities are working with Heathrow on the three rapid tests to screen people on arrival and departure for Covid-19 infection. If they are successful and become available, the tests could cost as little as 30 each. The long-term aim of the trial is to understand whether these tests could be quickly and efficiently conducted on large numbers of people outside of a laboratory setting and to ensure they are accurate enough to be delivered in an airport environment, a Heathrow spokesperson said. The trials evaluate three different testing methods for accuracy, user experience and practicality outside of a lab environment. The airport monitored the various sample collection methods and result times to determine the most efficient and user-friendly testing method. Some countries already administer tests in airports. But at present, the UK does not allow the quarantine period to be reduced if the traveller tests negative because of incubation times. Heathrow already has a testing centre where passengers can pay 150 for an antigen test, to show whether they have coronavirus. It needs a negative follow-up test later to allow someone to come out of quarantine. The other two tests involve a nasal or throat swab that produces results in 30 minutes, and a saliva test that shows results in 10 minutes. Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said that without rapid tests, Britains competitive advantage in aviation may be lost to other countries. An airport statement read: As the results of these initial trials are only advisory until the methodologies are proven to work in a non-clinical setting, participating colleagues also took a government -approved, privately provided PCR test, administered by Collinson Assistance Services Ltd to compare their results to government-accredited tests. An 87-year-old woman who died in a two-car crash in Kircubbin on Thursday has been named as Beryl Carson. The crash happened on the Portaferry Road shortly after 2pm. Ms Carson, who was from the Inverary area of east Belfast, was taken to hospital after the crash but died as a result of her injuries. Inspector Andy McLean said: It was reported that a black Citroen C3 and a silver Lexus were involved in the collision. Beryl, who was the front seat passenger of the Citroen was taken to hospital but sadly died as a result of her injuries. "The female driver and three children inside the Citroen were taken to hospital for treatment to injuries not believed to be life threatening. The female driver of the Lexus was also taken to hospital suffering minor injuries following the incident." The Portaferry Road had been closed between Kircubbin and Greyabbey, but subsequently reopened to traffic. Police enquiries are continuing and they have appealed to anyone who witnessed the incident or who has dash-cam footage available, to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 984 27/08/20. One of the major drivers is that Illinois tax situation and that huge debt for the public worker (government) pensions is always cited because these business leaders have no hope, he said. They have no hope its ever going to improve. Their businesses rely on predictability and stability and thats what we offer in Indiana. And thats why theyre coming. Donald Trump was gearing up to accept his party's nomination for reelection with a speech at the White House -- as protesters gathered outside Hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters gathered in front of the White House Thursday ahead of Donald Trump's presidential nomination acceptance speech, shouting with anger and demanding his resignation. "We need to get Trump out, we need to destroy the whole system. We need a revolution," said Keheirra Wedderburn, 18, above the sound of banging drums and chants of "Trump/Pence out now!" "These presidents are not gonna do anything 'cause they are not the people of color in the streets being shot," the black student from Houston, Texas told AFP. "There are more people who are ready for Trump to leave office," said Washington native Michael Legend, a 33-year-old black man. Protesters shouted with anger and demanded Donald Trump's resignation ahead of the president's nomination speech Just a few yards (meters) away, shielded by large metal fences, the billionaire Republican was gearing up to accept his party's presidential nomination for reelection with a speech on the South Lawn of the White House. "We don't want to see Donald Trump accept the nomination. The goal is to drown it out," said Miriam Oppenheimer, who came from Philadelphia for the demonstration. On the other side of the White House, Trump supporters had gathered on the National Mall, a sprawling green bordered with museums and monuments to US leaders. "We think that Trump is encouraging his people to be violent, and we are encouraging people to be peaceful," said Oppenheimer, 53, carrying a sign that read, "Cops are tools of fascism." Demonstrators on Black Lives Matter plaza, across from the White House Nationwide Black Lives Matter protests, sparked in May by the police killing of black man George Floyd in Minnesota, had begun to subside in recent weeks. But the flood was unleashed once more when a white police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin fired seven bullets point blank into the back of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old black man, as he attempted to get into a car with his children inside. Blake survived the shooting but is likely to remain paralyzed from the waist down, according to his family's lawyer. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 19:30:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HO CHI MINH CITY, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- VN-Index, the benchmark index of the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange, inched up from last week's closure of 854.78 points to close at 878.98 points on Friday. The index posted four ups and one down this week. Shares had a good start on Monday thanks to upbeat market sentiment in the wake of fewer COVID-19 infection cases reported in the country. It posted the largest gain of the week on Monday of 13.9 points or 1.63 percent. The VN-Index finished higher on Tuesday with improved liquidity boosted by strong buying demand. Shares retreated on Wednesday as the market was under selling pressure on large-cap stocks and investor sentiment becoming more cautious when VN-Index approached the 860-870 point range, according to local securities companies. The index rose on Thursday on increasing liquidity but the market still witnessed a big variation in large-caps' prices, given positive market breadth with 241 gainers and 147 decliners. It closed the week with another gain on Friday of 4.27 points or 0.49 percent. An average of nearly 371.4 million shares were traded per day on the southern bourse, surging 45.3 percent against last week. Trading value totaled 34.4 trillion Vietnamese dong (nearly 1.5 billion U.S. dollars), up 60.8 percent. Foreign investors became net selling of 2.7 trillion Vietnamese dong (116.3 million U.S. dollars), compared to a net buying of 768 billion Vietnamese dong (33.4 million U.S. dollars) last week. The VN-Index is forecast to fluctuate before rebounding to the higher resistances at 880-900 points with the support from the large-cap stock group, according to local securities analysts. Investors are recommended to consider maintaining the holding rate in their portfolio at 50-60 percent for medium and long-term goals, focusing on good fundamental stocks, said the analysts. VN-Index closed at 878.98 points on Friday, up 4.27 points, or 0.49 percent against the previous trading day, with some 398.3 million shares worth nearly 7.7 trillion Vietnamese dong (334.2 million U.S. dollars) changed hands on the southern bourse. Specifically, foreign investors bought 19.4 million shares totaling 571 billion Vietnamese dong (24.8 million U.S. dollars), and sold 63.4 million shares totaling 1.8 trillion Vietnamese dong (78.2 million U.S. dollars). Enditem The state government and City of Melbourne have held crisis talks aimed at helping the city pull through the COVID-19 pandemic, as the Victorian economy faces a $41 billion hole in coming years from the effects of repeated lockdowns. Lord mayor Sally Capp said the size of Melbourne's economy had peaked at $104 billion before the pandemic, but it had been hit hard by lockdowns. Melbourne lord mayor Sally Capp. Credit:Jason South "As a result of the health crisis, our economy has been disproportionately impacted and the devastation and despair is being felt across our city," she said. More than 10 per cent of jobs have been lost already and at least 12 per cent of CBD businesses are forecast to close their doors for good once the lockdown is lifted. Sure, it might be warm Wednesday, but what about the rest of the week? local During a press conference, economist Vahagn Khachatryan said Armenia will record positive results in the construction and agriculture sectors until the end of this year, and this will have an impact on the economic situation in the country. According to him, Armenia will see a decline in the tourism sector this year. Khachatryan also stated that the indicators recorded in the construction sector are troubling and that the reason for this is the problem linked to the issuance of construction permits. He is certain that positive indicators can be recorded in the construction sector based on the data of the third quarter. Khachatryan added that agriculture is another sector that can have a positive impact on the economic situation in Armenia. Lucknow, Aug 28 : The Uttar Pradesh BJP has served a show-cause notice to Dr. Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, a four term MLA from the Gorakhpur seat, for anti-party activities on the social media platforms. The notice was served by state BJP vice-president J. P. S. Rathore on the directions of state BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh. Agarwal had taken to social media to raise the issue of a road which he claimed was causing flooding in some of the residential colonies in his constituency. An audio clip in which he is conversing with a party leader and is heard taking barbs at the 'Thakur Sarkar' has also gone viral on social media. The senior MLA, who was ushered into politics by the then MP Yogi Adityanath, has apparently fallen out of favour of the Chief Minister. J. P. S. Rathore told reporters, "Dr. Agarwal's act comes under the category of indiscipline and going against party lines." The MLA has been given a week's time to respond to the notice. He was the fourth MLA to have received a show-cause notice from the saffron party in the past few months. Earlier, two Hardoi MLAs -- Suresh Tiwari and Shyam Prakash -- had been served notices by the BJP. While Tiwari was accused of instigating people not to buy vegetables from Muslims. Shyam Prakash had levelled corruption charges against Hardoi health authorities in the purchase of medical equipment. Sitapur MLA Rakesh Rathore was also slapped with a show-cause notice after an audio went viral on social media platforms in which he was apparently mocking at the steps being taken to combat the coronavirus outbreak by the government. Meanwhile, Gorakhpur MP and actor Ravi Krishna has asked Dr. Radha Mohan Das Agarwal to resign if he was upset at being a Legislator. Referring to a tweet by Agarwal in which he said he was angry with himself for being a Legislator because he could not tolerate the control of corrupt bureaucrats on honest Legislators. "If you are so troubled with the ideology and policies of the party, you should quit," the MP said. He also accused the MLA of trying to obstruct development work in Gorakhpur. TV actors Teejay Sidhu and husband Karanvir Bohra are all set to welcome their third child and shared the news on Instagram. The couple already have four-year-old twin daughters Vienna and Raya Bella. Karanvir wrote on Instagram, Ultimately, its God who is the creator, He crafts every little detail with His own hands. We are the vessels, waiting to receive whatever he has in store for us. Thank you to our Divine for this beautiful blessing. We are beyond grateful that He has chosen us to become parents again. So much love for the little soul already. Best birthday gift ever. Teejay also shared a beautiful picture of her baby bump as the couple posed together. So many blessings.. And now we get one more.. Every soul has a purpose, we dont choose them, they choose us. Thank you, little one, for believing we are worthy of you, she wrote. Teejat and Karanvir were showered with love and wishes as fans and friends flooded the comments sections of their social media posts. Actors Sameera Reddy, Vikas Kalantari, Surbhi Jyoti, Gauahar Khan and Srishti Rode congratulated the couple. Filmmaker and Ayushmann Khurranas wife Tahira Kashyap also commented, Big congratulations. Also read: Kangana Ranaut reacts to claim that Sushant Singh Rajput had a fear of flying: Who came up with this tacky script? Meanwhile, Karanvir and his family are doing their bit to ameliorate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. His parents Mahendra Bohra and Madhu Bohra are helping the needy by preparing 101 hot meals every day. My mom has always been doing seva. Now, since the lockdown, they have been preparing hot meals everyday both for lunch and dinner for the homeless and migrant workers, he told Hindustan Times in a recent interview. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Google is making it easier for Assistant users to donate to an organization working to address racial bias in policing. Using your phone, ask Assistant to "donate to racial justice," and the digital helper will then take you through contributing to the Center for Policing Equity. You'll also find a dedicated card in Google Assistant's Snapshot. Whatever way you go about donating, 100 percent of every contribution goes to the organization. The Center for Policy Equity employs a data-driven approach to help communities and police organizations create a more equitable public safety model. Google quietly added the ability to make donations with Assistant in 2019, but today's update streamlines the process by focusing on one nonprofit. Moving forward, the company says it plans to expand the donation feature to help other specific organizations and nonprofits in the future. (CNN) When it comes to the United States election, policymakers in China would rather their country was not a topic of conversation. In a pair of op-eds published by prominent Chinese state media outlets Thursday, the authors called on the Trump administration to stop "scapegoating" Beijing for American problems, particularly the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Any hope that renewed racial strife might lead US President Donald Trump to focus on domestic issues rather than China was quickly dashed, however, as he accepted the Republican Party's nomination in a speech at the White House Thursday night. In a preview of attack lines against his Democratic rival Joe Biden that are likely to play out with increasing intensity in the weeks ahead, Trump claimed Biden "voted to ship our jobs to China." "(Biden) supported China's entry into the World Trade Organization, one of the greatest economic disasters of all time," Trump said, to boos from the crowd. "He cheered the rise of China as a positive development for America and the world. That's why China supports Joe Biden and desperately wants him to win." Attacking China has been a major theme of the Republican National Convention, including in speeches by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng earlier in the week. Ahead of Trump's speech Thursday, an anti-Biden advert accused the Democratic candidate of "flacking for the Chinese government," while Republican Sen. Tom Cotton accused Biden of having "aided and abetted China's rise for 50 years." Relations between Washington and Beijing have plummeted under Trump, as he started a trade war that has yet to result in a comprehensive deal and attacked China's leaders over the coronavirus, while Pompeo and others have been tough on alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. That China would feature heavily at the RNC will have come as little surprise then, but that doesn't mean the rhetoric hasn't caused alarm in Beijing. "One of the most bizarre characteristics of America's 2020 presidential election is that political attacks on China have gone well beyond common sense," said state-run news agency Xinhua this week. "The vicious rhetoric against Beijing has hit one fresh low after another this week at the ongoing Republican National Convention. At the gathering, China hawks in Washington trumpeted the White House's hard-line approach toward Beijing, attacked China over so-called transparency issue during the Covid-19 pandemic, and continued spreading xenophobic language over the origin of the pathogen." Another piece, published by the state-backed tabloid Global Times, urged US politicians to stop "scapegoating" China. "US domestic problems are ignored and fictive foreign problems enlarged," wrote Song Guoyou, a professor at Shanghai's Fudan University. "This means the more that economic problems and contradictions form in the US the more Washington will target Beijing as a scapegoat." Both pieces were published ahead of Trump's speech Thursday, and essentially predicted its content. Referencing devastating employment figures due to the pandemic, Trump said that "before the China virus came in, (we) produced the best unemployment numbers for African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans ever recorded." "China allowed (the pandemic) to spread around the world, they could have stopped it but they allowed it to come out," he said, later adding that "Joe Biden's agenda is made in China, my agenda is made in the USA." For all Trump's rhetoric, analysts however are split on whether Beijing would prefer Biden -- who may repair relations somewhat, though even the Democrats have tilted hard in the China hawk direction -- or rather keep Trump in office and continue the gradual retreat of the US from international engagement. Earlier this month, the US intelligence community's top election security official said that China would rather Trump is not reelected. "We assess that China prefers that President Trump -- whom Beijing sees as unpredictable -- does not win reelection," said William R. Evanina, director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, in a statement ahead of the November election. Responding to Trump's accusation that Beijing was backing Biden, Global Times editor Hu Xijin tweeted that "on the contrary, Chinese netizens wish for your reelection because you can make America eccentric and thus hateful for the world." But while China may benefit from Trump's policies elsewhere in the world, the bilateral relationship with the US is the most important to Beijing, and its one that is looking shakier than ever. Come November, China will be hoping it can turn things around, whomever sits in the White House next year. This story was first published on CNN.com, "China wants Trump to stop 'scapegoating' Beijing. That seems unlikely." My father fears what Im about to say will make me unable to find a job in the future. He may be right. My whole family worries about my health, as do I, and we have good reason to do so. I feel now more than ever that I must speak up regardless of consequence or retribution because to remain silent about this truly and uniquely American experience would be wrong. I did all the ... (click for more) Married At First Sight star Amanda Micallef has been slammed for setting up a GoFundMe page to help 'start a brand new life' in Queensland, After she announced the news on her social media pages on Thursday, former fans of the show slammed the 43-year-old for asking people for cash when so many were struggling during the coronavirus pandemic. 'Literally just unfollowed her. I cant believe the audacity to set up a GoFundMe is just ridiculous,' wrote one outraged fan. Backlash! Former Married At First Sight star Amanda Micallef (pictured) has been slammed for launching a GoFundMe page to help pay for her to move from Melbourne to the Gold Coast Another asked: 'So you're on Centrelink, so is half of Australia. What makes you special?' Others simply couldn't believe it was a serious request, and thought the personal trainer 'must be joking'. 'You are kidding me right! Bold! Half the country is in hardship! You should have been saving for a rainy day like the rest of us have to! Ask your family!' shared one. Outrage: Former fans of the show slammed the reality star for her 'audacity' to ask people for cash when so many were struggling during the coronavirus pandemic Another added: 'Surely this has to b a joke. Everyone is struggling so why would anyone wanna help u move...Can't believe she's even got the nerve to ask considering what we're all going thru at the moment.' Residents from the Sunshine State seemed less than welcoming at the prospect of Amanda relocating there. 'From a QLDER, stay in Melbourne,' wrote one. Help: Amanda's plea for financial assistance came after she revealed she was living off government benefits Amanda launched her GoFundMe page on Thursday, stating that she's decided it was time for her to 'start a brand new life' in QLD. She also shared a video to her Instagram Story, telling her followers: 'I'm actually not working full-time. 'For those that think that I am, yes, I sell a few programs online, but my business has been severely struggling because of COVID,' the personal trainer added. 'I'm surviving off Centrelink': She shared a video on her Instagram Story, telling her followers: 'I'm actually not working full-time. For those that think that I am, yes, I sell a few programs online, but my business has been severely struggling because of COVID' Time to move: On her GoFundMe page Amanda said she's decided it was time for her to 'start a brand new life' in the Sunshine State She continued: 'We're pretty screwed here in Melbourne, all the gyms are shut. I'm surviving off Centrelink for those of you who don't know. 'Just to give you a quick run down the hotel quarantine alone is going to cost close to $3000, plus getting myself there in a separate flight to Smokey, the car, my personal belongings,' she explained. Elsewhere, the former reality TV star said: 'I also don't need to justify myself, I just think I've done a lot for other businesses out there.' New start: She explained, 'Just to give you a quick run down the hotel quarantine alone is going to cost close to $3000, plus getting myself there in a separate flight to Smokey (her pet cat), the car, my personal belongings' 'I've done a lot of posts for free, I actually haven't charged a lot of the businesses that I've worked with and I'm just asking if you're feeling generous and you want to give back, now would be the perfect time to do it. Amanda added: 'What I don't need is any hate messages or calling me a cheapskate or anything like that, because I can assure you that I'm struggling just like everyone else.' A fan commented on her post, saying she was devastated to see the reality star relocate, saying: 'I hate that you're leaving Melbourne but I'm HAPPY this is what you want and you're going for it! You're a great soul love you.' No hate: Amanda added, 'What I don't need is any hate messages or calling me a cheapskate or anything like that, because I can assure you that I'm struggling just like everyone else' Amanda first rose to fame on season seven of Married At First Sight and was married to Tash Herz. They were the first lesbian couple in the reality show franchise. As of Friday afternoon, Amanda has raised $5451 of her $10,000 goal. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Amanda Micallef for comment. U.S. Border Patrol agents and Encinal police detained nine immigrants in a human smuggling attempt, authorities said. On Wednesday evening, Encinal Police Department officers requested the assistance of the U.S. Border Border Patrol with a bailout on mile marker 48 of Interstate 35. Encinal police had detained eight people who were hiding underneath the pickups bed cover while the driver and other individuals in the cab of the vehicle ran into the brush. Authorities were able to locate another individual in the nearby area. All nine people were determined to be immigrants from Mexico who had crossed the border illegally. 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. Whats a person to do in a crazy summer when our president endorses a candidate who claims the world is controlled by a global cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles, when federal agents club a Navy veteran protesting peacefully, when the government delays postal services to impede voting (and thereby kills chicks sent in the mail)? Take a hike. For wilderness therapy, I came here to Montana to escape the hubbub and embrace the mountains, to sip from creeks, to sleep under the stars, to negotiate with honest interlocutors, like grizzly bears. Over seven years, my daughter, Caroline, and I hiked the entire 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, running from Mexico to Canada on the West coast. So with that trail behind us, weve started another adventure hiking the newest of Americas grand trails. In 2009, President Barack Obama signed legislation creating the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. It runs from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific, hugging the Canadian border, but it sometimes exists more on paper than on the ground. Some 1,200 miles long, the Pacific Northwest Trail was cobbled together from existing trails and forest roads, so every now and then you get to the end of a trail and the guidebook tells you: Bushwhack seven miles until you get to the next trail. Thats what happened to us on a Montana mountain called Northwest Peak. We forged our own trail and cowboy camped that night on a high (and freezing) ridge above timberline soothed at night by a spectacular sunset to our west, and awoken by an even more vivid palette of reds to the east. We then hiked and crawled over boulders along a knife edge of a ridge, thousand-foot drops on each side. It was terrifying and exhilarating to see a pebble skitter from your feet and plunge down forever. It was some of the toughest hiking Ive ever done on any trail (partly because there wasnt a trail), and also some of the most glorious. This is why the Pacific Northwest Trail is often called Americas wildest trail. I backpack every summer because its wonderful family time, when none of us can be distracted by phones, emails or screens, when we share the camaraderie of blisters and bugs and awe. My wife, Sheryl WuDunn, and Carolines boyfriend, Adam Ellis Harper, joined the journey this year. The wilderness is restorative for the soul. Hikers are enveloped by silence, and there is time to think: It is the opposite of Twitter. In the wilderness, one appreciates just how vast Americas public spaces are. Some 28 percent of our country is owned by the federal government by you and me and we hiked for days at a time from Montana into Idaho without seeing any road, building or person. When Woody Guthrie sang This Land is Your Land, he could have been speaking literally about Americas 640 million acres of federal lands. While the top 1 percent in the United States now enjoy greater net worth than the bottom 90 percent, these shared public lands offer an antidote to that inequity. Jeff Bezos is one of the richest people of all time, with wealth accumulating recently at a rate of more than $300 million per day, but there are typically no fees and you have as much access as he does to this public wilderness. The sublime vistas and icy rains (we encountered both) are, in the wild, oblivious to wealth and privilege, humbling everyone. The wilderness reminds us that we humans are temporary custodians of lands held in trust for future generations. Wild places accentuate geological time, reassuring us that present crises will pass but also impressing upon us the need to address long-term assaults that would be irreversible. That includes what Outside Magazine has called Donald Trumps War on Public Lands, shrinking protections and handing them over to oil or coal companies. An even greater threat to wilderness comes from climate change, resulting in forest fires and vast stretches of woods devoured by bark beetles. California has already seen more acres burned this year than in all of 2019. There are few ways in which our actions today will affect our planet 10,000 years from now, long after names like Trump have faded into oblivion, but our carbon emissions will do so. So I return from the wilderness refreshed as well as aching; I may lose toenails but my soul is healed. And I saw the significance of that political fray I was escaping. Trees that were alive when Lewis and Clark journeyed west were scarred by 4-inch grizzly claws, but they were even more threatened by Washington politicians who ignore the science of climate. The wilderness awes us, freezes us, teaches us; it reminds us of forces and values larger than ourselves. Let the wild spaces inspire our efforts in this election cycle by underscoring what is at stake not only in the next four years but also over the next four millenniums. A 'reckless' jet ski lout has been blasted by police for racing within inches of a pod of dolphins which he tormented for 45 minutes off the Devon coast. The man came within a few inches of the aquatic mammals in Berry Head before zooming off, with photographs shared by police showing the animals close to his vessel. Paignton Police posted the image to Facebook as the force reminded Britons that 'actions such as this one are unacceptable.' 'In the recent weeks we have been fortunate enough to have the company of dolphins at Berry Head,' a statement said. The man came just a few inches from the aquatic mammals in Berry Head, Devon before zooming off, with photographs shared by police showing the animal close to his vessel 'We would like to remind everyone that actions such as the one in this picture are unacceptable. 'Intentionally or recklessly disturbing any wild animal, including dolphins, is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. 'We will not tolerate this behaviour, the unknown male pictured harassed these dolphins for over 45 minutes before heading off. 'This type of behaviour is not acceptable and we ask that you please respect our wildlife.' Paignton Police shared the image to Facebook as the force reminded Britons that 'actions such as this one are unacceptable' The animal, believed to be a Common Dolphin, is often seen in Berry Head with dozens of eager nature watchers reporting spotting the creatures in the past few months. The Berry Head reserve hosted a two-hour event in July for National Whale & Dolphin Watch Week to record the number of aquatic mammals seen in the waters. How does the Wildlife and Countryside Act protect dolphins? Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is illegal to 'intentionally or recklessly disturb any dolphin or whale' in British waters. It is also against the law to 'sell, offer or expose for sale any cetacean.' Dolphins are also protected by the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. This prohibits people from killing, injuring, capturing or destroying the place of resting of dolphins within 12 nautical miles of the UK. Advertisement According to the Wildlife Trust, the creature is seen all around the UK but most commonly near the South and West coasts and offshore. The Trust urges people to 'maintain a distance of at least 100m' from the animals if they meet them at sea, 'especially if calves are present.' 'If the dolphins approach you, maintain a constant speed and allow them to interact on their own terms and leave at will,' it added. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is illegal to 'intentionally or recklessly disturb any dolphin or whale' in British waters. It is also against the law to 'sell, offer or expose for sale any cetacean.' Common Dolphins - or short-beaked dolphins - live in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, alongside the Mediterranean, Red and Black seas. They prefer temperate waters and can be spotted close to coastlines and far out in open ocean. In 2018, the Natural History Museum reported there had been a significant jump in the number of the aquatic mammals seen around the Scottish Hebrides. Experts at the time believed the creatures were responding to warmer waters in the area. Becky Dudley, Marine Biodiversity Officer at Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, said: 'We have a consistent dataset gathered over 15 years that allows us to look at trends. 'Common dolphins were rare in 2003, but since then we have had a twenty-fold increase in sightings. Now, common dolphins are the most common species of dolphin that we see.' NOVI, Mich., Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Recognized for his leadership and entrepreneurial vision, Jon DeGaynor of Stoneridge, Inc. (NYSE: SRI) has been named a finalist for the Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020 Michigan and Northwest Ohio Award. Since his appointment in March 2015, DeGaynor has driven the launch of industry disrupting technologies such as Stoneridge MirrorEye CMS, among others, that are transforming the transportation industry and helping lead the way to improved safety and efficiency of our roadways. He has worked to create a world-class team who is securing the company's position as a leader in highly engineered electrical and electronic components for automotive, commercial vehicle, and off-highway vehicle markets, and is pushing the company to new levels of profitable global growth. The Entrepreneur Of The Year program honors entrepreneurial business leaders whose ambitions deliver innovation, growth and prosperity as they build and sustain successful businesses that transform our world. DeGaynor was selected as one of 29 finalists by a panel of independent judges from a competitive pool of nominations. "This nomination is a reflection of the entrepreneurial spirit of our company and goes beyond me. The Stoneridge leadership team is driving our business forward and has been an integral part of our transformation. I'm honored to lead them and the entire organization to more successes," said DeGaynor. Award winners will be announced through a special virtual event on Thursday, October 8 at 6 p.m. EST and will join a lifelong community of esteemed Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni from around the world. This year, entrepreneurs who have provided extraordinary support for their communities, employees and others during the COVID-19 crisis will also be recognized for their courage, resilience and ingenuity. Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive award programs for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. The nominees are evaluated based on six criteria, including overcoming adversity; financial performance; societal impact and commitment to building a values-based company; innovation; and talent management. Since its launch, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, to be announced in November during a virtual awards gala. About Stoneridge, Inc. Stoneridge, Inc., headquartered in Novi, Michigan, is an independent designer and manufacturer of highly engineered electrical and electronic components, modules and systems principally for the automotive, commercial vehicle, motorcycle, agricultural and off-highway vehicle markets. Additional information about Stoneridge can be found at Stoneridge.com. Contact: Regan Grant Director, Global Strategic Marketing and Communications [email protected] +1.248.829.2100 SOURCE Stoneridge, Inc. Related Links http://www.stoneridge.com By Trend Twenty-eight years have passed since the massacre committed on August 28, 1992, by Armenian armed forces against Azerbaijani civilians in the village of Balligaya, Goranboy district, Trend reports. Witnesses of the crimes told the local AzTV channel about the details of the massacre. According to them, the Armenian armed forces committed inhuman crimes against civilians in Balligaya and burned the bodies of the killed. The event took place in the night when Armenian armed saboteur group of 10-12 persons killed 24 and wounded 9 residents, all of whom were Azerbaijani civilians, shepherds involved in animal husbandry, as well as their family members. 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. THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF UNITED STATES SECURITIES LAWS VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 28, 2020 / Further to its news release dated July 17, 2020, 1933 Industries Inc. (the "Company" or "1933 Industries") (CSE:TGIF)(OTCQX:TGIFF), a vertically-integrated cannabis consumer packaged goods company, announces that its previously announced private placement is proceeding. In all other respects, the terms of its financing as announced on July 17, 2020, remain accurate. About 1933 Industries Inc. 1933 Industries is a vertically-integrated, growth-orientated company, focusing on the cultivation and manufacturing of cannabis consumer branded goods in a wide range of product formats. Operating through two subsidiaries, the Company controls all aspects of the value chain with cultivation, extraction, processing, and manufacturing assets supporting its diversified portfolio of cannabis brands and licensing partners. Our award-winning proprietary portfolio of brands include: AMA flower and AMA concentrates, as well as CBD-infused Canna Hemp, Canna Hemp X, Canna Fused, and hemp-specific products. Partners under licensing agreements include: Birdhouse Skateboards, Blonde Cannabis, Bloom, Denver Dab Co., Five Star Extracts, Grizzly Griptape, The Pantry Company, PLUGplay, and The Original Jack Herer. The Company owns 91% of Alternative Medicine Association, LC (AMA), and 100% of Infused MFG LLC. For further information please contact: Alexia Helgason, VP, IR and Corporate Communications 604-674-4756 (ext. 1) alexia@1933industries.com Paul Rosen, CEO 604-674-4756 (ext. 1) Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Notice regarding Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents, which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. 1933 Industries undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. SOURCE: 1933 Industries Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603860/1933-Industries-Announces-Extension-of-Private-Placement Bomb disposal experts in the central province of Quang Tri have removed a 900-kg bomb left from the Vietnam War that was found in a village. Experts from the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) were dispatched to Co My Village in Vinh Linh District on Thursday after the unexploded ordnance (UXO) was found by a local farmer. They found it was not attached to the detonator and so could be moved safely. The farmer had informed local authorities after he found the UXO at a depth of 1.5 m while digging a pond. He hired an excavator to move it out of the pond before informing local authorities. On August 24 MAG personnel had moved another UXO, a 334-kg bomb found inside an irrigation reservoir also in Vinh Linh District to a safe place for disposal. The Vietnam War ended more than 40 years ago, but around 800,000 tons of UXO remain scattered across the country, according to government data. Quang Tri was one of the main battlegrounds during the war as the stage for the Tet Offensive in 1968 and the Easter Offensive in 1972. An estimated 391,000 hectares of land, accounting for 83.3 percent of the provinces total area, are still infested by mines and other explosives from the war. According to Quang Tri's Legacy of War Coordination Center, 8,540 people have fallen victim in the province to exploding UXO since 1975, with 3,431 being killed. Many of them were scrap collectors who inadvertently set off explosives when handling them. Police are searching for a 24-year-old woman after a woman was fatally stabbed Wednesday outside a convenience store downtown. Just after 10 a.m. that morning, 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. First-responders rushed the woman, who had serious injuries, to hospital where she died. Policeidentified her as 41-year-old Tara Morton. Oleesiea Langdon, 24, of Toronto, is wanted in connection with the stabbing and faces second-degree murder charges. Langdon has a light complexion and is of medium build, police say. She was last seen wearing a dark hoodie, light coloured track pants and yellow shoes. Miriam Lafontaine is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @mirilafontaine Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 28, 2020 07:45 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4104902 1 Business ASEAN,Trade-Minister-Agus-Suparmanto,Trade,export,digital,pandemic,supply-chain Free ASEAN economic ministers are committed to strengthening regional supply chains and improve trade digitalization to spur trade and investments, as well as cushion the impact of the ongoing health crisis, according to Indonesian Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto. The commitment came after the 52nd ASEAN Economic Minister (AEM) meeting on Tuesday, in which ministers gathered virtually to discuss the impact of COVID-19 in the regions economy, among other issues. Indonesia supports the ASEANs joint effort to face COVID-19, particularly the economic pillar through the strengthening of supply chains and utilization of digital technology in trade, Indonesian Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto said in a statement on Wednesday. The ministers have also finalized an ASEAN Digital Integration Index, which maps the readiness for an integrated digital economy among ASEAN members. Meanwhile, the region's top officials finalized the terms of reference for the establishment of the Network of Innovation Centers in ASEAN, which would connect innovation centers across the region to bolster the ecosystem for start-up development in the region. Indonesia has recorded a 5.32 percent year-on-year economic contraction in the second quarter, the worst since 1998 financial crisis, as the components of economic activity fell significantly. Meanwhile, movement restrictions implemented in various countries have also hit international trade, with the World Trade Organizations (WTO) projecting global trade volumes to contract by between 13 percent and 32 percent at worst this year. Indonesia, however, has managed to book a strong trade surplus as imports fell deeper than exports. The country recorded a trade surplus of US$8.75 billion as of July compared to a $2.15 billion deficit logged in the same period last year. Read also: Indonesia logs biggest trade surplus in nine years, higher exports for three consecutive months To revive the regions trade, Agus and his regional peers also approved the implementation of a protocol to simplify certification bureaucracy in the region, called the ASEAN Wide Self Certification (AWSC), which enables certified exporters to declare the origin for their goods. The implementation will start on Sept. 20. The utilization of this facility will boost Indonesias exports to ASEAN, Agus said. Indonesias merchandise trade with ASEAN fell 1.22 percent to $55.72 billion in 2019 from a year earlier. Exports to the region were up by 6.42 percent to $41.79 billion, while imports were down by 3.87 percent. The countrys top export to the region was coal, trailed by palm oil, petroleum gas, crude oil and rubber. To minimize technical hindrance in trade, the ministers also committed to signing an agreement on the mutual recognition of automotive product-type approval for products produced within ASEAN. This is based on the immense benefits for the auto exporters in ASEAN, especially in Indonesia. This agreement will remove the need to repeat the procedures of the test for auto product types in export destination countries in ASEAN, Agus said. He also proposed adding a tracking feature to the ASEAN Single Window, a feature that is already adapted by Indonesian National Single Windows (INSW) for the ease of exchanging trade-related documents. In a reminder of a scene from the 1990 Bollywood movie Dil, of people chasing a man for distributing coupon (amusement) currency to beggars sitting outside a temple, some priests in Uttar Pradeshs Sitapur district were recently paid in coupon notes after performing prayers. Police said a woman distributed amusement currency notes or coupon notes to 40 priests, who she had invited to conduct 11-day long rituals in Sitapurs Terwa Manikpur village. The priests have lodged an FIR of fraud and criminal breach of trust against the woman identified as Geeta Pathak, wife of GR Pathak, at Rampur Mathura police station. Inspector general (IG) of police, Lucknow range, Laxmi Singh said the woman had been taken into custody and quizzed about the incident. A large number of similar coupon notes, with Manoranjan Bank of India mentioned on them, were recovered from her vehicle. Also Read: A decade later, a school building in Uttar Pradesh is still in the making As per the complaint of a priest Dilip Kumar Pathak of Bahraich, the woman hired him to conduct 11- day rituals in her village, promising him 9 lakh for all arrangements. After the rituals were completed, the woman handed Pathak and 39 other priests, who participated in the event, a bag allegedly containing currency notes as a gift. But when they checked later, they found that the notes placed on the top were real currency notes while the remaining were amusement notes of face value 5.53 lakh, Singh said, adding, These coupons were in the denominations of 2000, 500, 100 and 10. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON TORONTO, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- August 28, 2020 - Engagement Labs Inc. (TSXV: EL) released results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2020. Condensed interim consolidated Financial Statements and Management Report are available on SEDAR's website at www.sedar.com. During second quarter, COVID-19 led to a significant reduction in marketing spend by major brands of the type who are our customers and with it a pull back in spending on services of the type we provide. This had a revenue impact on our Q2 results. Second Quarter Financial Highlights Total revenue decreased by 35% to $624,013 in Q2 2020 from $961,435 in Q2 2019. in Q2 2020 from in Q2 2019. Gross profit was $188,224 for Q2 2020, a decrease of 60% compared to $465 ,873 for Q2 2019. As a percentage of revenue, the gross margin decreased to 30% for Q2 2020 from 48% for Q2 2019. for Q2 2020, a decrease of 60% compared to ,873 for Q2 2019. As a percentage of revenue, the gross margin decreased to 30% for Q2 2020 from 48% for Q2 2019. EBITDA (1) loss increased by 40% or $146,508 , to - $515,531 for Q2 2020 from - $369,023 for Q2 2019. loss increased by 40% or , to - for Q2 2020 from - for Q2 2019. Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA (1) loss improved by 2% or $5,616 , to - $312,670 for Q2 2020 from - $318,286 for Q2 2019. loss improved by 2% or , to - for Q2 2020 from - for Q2 2019. Operating expenses decreased by 23% or $295,336 , to $979,595 for Q2 2020 from $1,274,931 for Q2 2019. , to for Q2 2020 from for Q2 2019. Net loss for Q2 2020 decreased to - $735,190 , down 6% or $49,332 from - $784,522 for Q2 2019. , down 6% or from - for Q2 2019. Basic and diluted loss per share was ($0.00) for Q2 2020, compared to ($0.01) for Q2 2019. for Q2 2020, compared to for Q2 2019. As at June 30, 2020 , the Company was holding cash of $1,151,002 compared to $844,107 as at December 31, 2019 . Six-month Period Financial Highlights Total revenue decreased by 15% to $1,596,432 in H1 2020 from $1,872,803 in H1 2019. in H1 2020 from in H1 2019. Gross profit was $645,592 for H1 2020, a decrease of 25% compared to $855 ,836 for H1 2019. As a percentage of revenue, the gross margin decreased to 40% for H1 2020 from 46% for H1 2019. for H1 2020, a decrease of 25% compared to ,836 for H1 2019. As a percentage of revenue, the gross margin decreased to 40% for H1 2020 from 46% for H1 2019. EBITDA (1) loss improved by 2% or $22,120 , to - $1,216,263 for H1 2020 from - $1,238,383 for H1 2019. loss improved by 2% or , to - for H1 2020 from - for H1 2019. Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA (1) loss improved by 26% or $704,974 , to - $1,964,314 for H1 2020 from - $2,669,288 for H1 2019. loss improved by 26% or , to - for H1 2020 from - for H1 2019. Operating expenses before impairment loss on goodwill decreased by 26% or $704,974 , to $1,964,314 for H1 2020 from $2,669 ,288 for H1 2019. , to for H1 2020 from ,288 for H1 2019. Net loss for H1 2020 decreased to - $1,629,301 , down 21% or $424,357 from - $2,053,658 for H1 2019. , down 21% or from - for H1 2019. Basic and diluted loss per share was ($0.01) for H1 2020, compared to ($0.02) for H1 2019. (1) EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Number for comparative periods were revised to exclude SRED credit tax, variation on exchange, and bank charges in EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as EBITDA to which the Company adds stock-based compensation including the grant of stock options, restricted shares units, and restricted share awards as these expenses do not result in any use of operating cash flows by the Company, severance payments, impairment loss on goodwill, write-off of intangible assets, change in fair value of investment in shares, expenses related to acquisition or disposal of business, and loss on extinction of debt and equity components of convertible debentures, which are extraordinary and non-recurrent expenses, and Board remuneration, which is paid in shares units. EBITDA and non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA are provided as a supplementary earning measure to assist readers in determining the ability of ENGAGEMENT LABS INC. to generate cash from operations and to cover financial charges. They are also widely used for business valuation purposes. These measures do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. "We were off to strong start of the year, as evidenced by the TotalSocial revenue growth of 11% in Q1 '20 and a 64% reduction in our Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA loss," said Ed Keller, CEO. "Then COVID-19 hit and had a substantial impact on our clients and thus on Engagement Labs. As investment in marketing by Fortune 500 companies dropped by double digits and new growth initiatives gave way to hunkering down to survive, our sales momentum stalled leading to the revenue decline we saw in Q2."Thankfully, we had implemented major cost reduction initiatives that led to a 23% reduction in costs in Q2 and a 6% improvement in our net loss. As we look to the rest of the year we are encouraged by recent reports in the press about ad and marketing spending picking back up in Q4 and returning to growth in 2021, but it is impossible to determine the extent or length of financial implications of these events for the moment." Keller continued, "The Company's cash position has been helped by financial relief from the Canadian and US governments in the amount of approximately $776,000 as noted in our Financial Statement." About Engagement Labs Engagement Labs (TSXV: EL) is an industry-leading data and analytics firm that provides social intelligence for Fortune 500 brands and companies. To learn more visit www.engagementlabs.com Disclaimer in regard to Forward-looking Statements Certain statements included herein constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Engagement Labs does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect, in particular, new information or future events. 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. For media inquiries please contact: Vanessa Lontoc / Ed Keller, CEO Engagement Labs [email protected] / [email protected] SOURCE Engagement Labs Related Links engagementlabs.com UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Small-scale poultry farmers in Vietnam tend to respond to viral outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) by rapidly selling their birds as a way to avoid financial loss, according to a new study by an international team of researchers. As these birds are commingled with other birds in markets and trading networks, this practice may increase the likelihood of widespread disease transmission. The findings could have implications for government policymaking in the many regions of the world where small-scale poultry farming and avian influenza risk co-occur. "Avian influenza is deadly to humans, with a case fatality rate between 25% and 50%," said Maciej Boni, associate professor of biology, Penn State. Fortunately, reports of human-to-human transmission over the past 15 years have been either absent or anecdotal. COVID-19 took us by surprise, but with HPAI we have a known threat with the potential to become pandemic. If we ignore the active role that poultry farmers play in the control and dissemination of avian influenza, we may miss another opportunity to curtail an emerging disease outbreak at a stage when it is still controllable." Lead author Alexis Delabouglise, an animal health economist at CIRAD-Agricultural Research for Development in France who was a postdoctoral scholar at Penn State when the research was performed, explained that small-scale poultry farming is practiced by millions of Vietnamese households and by millions more throughout southeast Asia, mostly on a scale of fewer than 100 birds per farm. These farmers make decisions on a daily basis -- often in response to economic incentives -- about when and where to sell their flocks. And their decisions can influence disease spread. "If the price of poultry goes up, farmers might expand their farming activities, which could create more outbreak risk," said Delabouglise. "If there is an outbreak on a neighboring farm, they might choose to sell their poultry early to avoid their own birds from being infected and to avoid lower prices. And if there is an outbreak on their own farm, the evidence in our study shows that they would be likely to sell their birds early to avoid both monetary loss and epidemiological risk." Boni and colleagues, including researchers at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) in Ho Chi Minh City, conducted a longitudinal study of small-scale poultry farms in the Mekong river delta region of southern Vietnam with a goal of characterizing the effects of disease outbreaks on poultry harvest rates, as well as on two prevention practices -- vaccination and farm disinfection. The team followed 53 farmers and their management of more than 1,000 poultry flocks for a period of two years -- from 2015 to 2017. "Working with partners in endemic countries day-in and day-out on study details and public health priorities is key to establishing collaborations that allow these long-term follow-up studies to succeed," said Boni, who led a research group at OUCRU for eight years. Delabouglise, the statistical lead on the project, used mixed-effects general additive models to investigate farmers' probabilities of harvesting -- either selling or slaughtering -- flocks, of performing avian influenza vaccination on flocks that were not previously vaccinated and of disinfecting farm facilities when faced with an outbreak. Their findings appeared in eLife on August 25. "We found that farmers did send their chickens to market early when there were outbreaks occurring on their farms," said Delabouglise. "Specifically, small-scale farmers increased their harvest of broiler chickens by 56% during outbreaks with no sudden deaths and by 214% during outbreaks with sudden deaths. This has the potential to exacerbate the outbreak and spread the virus even further." The team noted that sudden deaths -- the deaths of chickens less than one day after the onset of clinical symptoms -- are considered to be indicative of HPAI infection. Interestingly, the team found that the probability of disinfection was not affected by the occurrence of outbreaks. Finally, the team found that the likelihood of vaccination against avian influenza strongly increased with flock size. The probability of vaccination was almost zero for flocks of 16 birds or fewer and nearly 100% for flocks of more than 200 birds. According to Delabouglise, one reason that millions of small-scale poultry farmers may not be vaccinating their birds could be their desire to avoid transaction costs associated with declaring flocks to governmental veterinary services before vaccination. Another reason could be that due to their small size, their vaccination status is not controlled and, therefore, vaccination is less worthwhile from the farmers' perspective. "Crucially, it is these smaller flocks that are more likely to be sold into trading networks during outbreaks," he said. "The rapid sale of sick birds can contaminate other birds at traders' storage places and those at live bird markets. It also exposes consumers and traders, slaughterers and retailers to an increased risk of infection." Delabouglise noted that, on the flip side, a massive arrival of underage birds in a live bird market, or a price decrease due to the temporary oversupply of poultry, may be a sign that an outbreak is occurring. "This is an interesting area for surveillance of livestock diseases," he said. Delabouglise said that the team's results could help governmental agencies create policies that aim to avoid the spread of HPAI. "Small-scale farmers could play an active role in the control of emerging infectious diseases if they are given the opportunity to depopulate their farm upon disease detection without disseminating pathogens in trade circuits," he said. "Policymakers could encourage the establishment of formal trade agreements that encourage such 'virtuous' management of disease outbreaks in poultry." One such "virtuous" management strategy could be for farmers to sell their sick chickens as feed for pythons and crocodiles raised on neighboring farms. Another could be to set up agreements with neighboring large commercial farmers who can give them financial indemnities to destroy the birds as a way of protecting their own flocks. "It would be impossible to have reliable public-health control over the millions of small-scale poultry flocks in a place like Vietnam," said Delabouglise, "but providing economic incentives to responsibly manage birds during disease outbreaks is feasible." Other authors on the paper include Nguyen Thi Le Thanh, Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme; Huynh Thi Ai Xuyen, Ca Mau Sub-Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health; Benjamin Nguyen-VanYen, Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme and Ecole Normale Superieure; Phung Ngoc Tuyet, Ca Mau Sub-Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health; and Ha Minh Lam, Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme and University of Oxford. The Defense Threats Reduction Agency, the Wellcome Trust and the Pennsylvania State University supported this research. ### Boris Johnson's plans to introduce daily televised press briefings from October are facing a set back after it emerged Sky News and the BBC may not always cover the events. Downing Street is currently in the process of recruiting a 100,000-a-year political spokesman who will be tasked with hosting the daily grilling. But the UK's two major broadcasters are expected to only show the briefings based 'on merit' which means they could cut away early or fail to show them at all if they are judged not to be newsworthy. Boris Johnson, pictured during a visit to a school in Leicestershire on August 26, is set to introduce daily TV press briefings from October The decision to introduce the afternoon TV briefings was made by Number 10 as part of a bid to communicate more directly with voters. The Government is keen to replicate the success of the daily Downing Street coronavirus press conferences which saw millions of people tune in for the latest updates. The afternoon TV events will replace an existing off-camera press briefing currently carried out by the PM's official spokesman. A similar off-camera briefing which takes place in the morning will continue as normal. The new briefings will take place in a revamped Number 9 Downing Street. The building is currently being overhauled to make it fit for the White House-style briefings. Kay Burley, the veteran Sky News presenter, said the briefings will be covered 'on merit', according to comments reported by The Times. She told the Edinburgh TV Festival yesterday: 'Of course at Sky News we've got 24/7 air to fill, so we will cover those on merit. Number 10 wants to replicate the success of the daily coronavirus press conferences which were watched by millions of people 'But we are not saying that we will automatically carry that news conference every day, at 4pm or 11am or wherever that might be.' Ms Burley added: 'It's a two-way street. If they want to have that broadcast they need broadcasters to be on board.' The Times said that the BBC is understood to be adopting a similar approach to showing the briefings. German Chancellor and the minister presidents of the federal states have agreed on tighter Covid-19 measures to counter the latest trend of rising daily infection numbers. "We want to keep our healthcare system strong during the pandemic because it benefits (not just) everyone, but also the economy and public life," Xinhua news agency quoted Merkel as saying at a press conference in Berlin on Thursday. In the future, a fine of at least 50 euros ($59) would be imposed for violations of face mask rules, for example, in shops and public transport. The compulsory use of masks was "by far the mildest means" of containing the pandemic, said Markus Soeder, minister president of Bavaria, at the press conference. "If there is a growing incidence of infection, it is not justifiable to allow any form of events," Soeder added. Germany's federal and state governments also agreed to stop free tests for those entering from non-risk areas from the end of the summer vacations in mid-September. Returnees from risk areas could only end the required quarantine with a negative test taken five days after their return. This regulation is to apply from October 1 if possible. "We will endeavour to have the broadest possible test capacities. "The federal and state governments strongly appeal to all travel returnees to comply with the quarantine obligation," said Merkel, adding that a breach of the quarantine would result in significant fines. Travellers to known COVID-19 risk areas would have a certain amount of personal responsibility, said Soeder. "It is our task to protect the reasonable from the unreasonable." German media reported on Thursday that private parties at home would be limited to 25 participants. However, the federal and state governments failed to agree on a nationwide upper limit for the number of participants at celebrations with family and friends. As of Friday Germany's overall caseload stood at 240,571 with 9,359 deaths. --IANS ksk/ (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.) Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. In this still image, a man with a firearm, later identified as Kyle Rittenhouse, raises his hands up as he walks towards vehicles during a riot in Kenosha, Wis. on Aug. 25, 2020. (Brendan Gutenschwager/via Reuters) Illinois Teen Charged in Kenosha Shootings Prosecutors in Wisconsin on Thursday charged an Illinois teenager who allegedly shot three people during riots in Kenosha earlier this week. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, was charged by Kenosha County prosecutors with one count of first-degree reckless homicide, one count of first-degree homicide, two counts of recklessly endangering safety, one count of attempted homicide, and one count of possessing a dangerous weapon by a person under 18, according to court records. The teenager was arrested Wednesday, the day after the shooting, in Antioch, Illinois, where his place of residence is listed. Rittenhouse, who is being held without bond, is due to appear in court in the city for an extradition hearing on Friday. According to a criminal complaint, Rittenhouse shot two men who ran at him and another who approached him while holding a gun. Erich Pratt, senior vice president of the Gun Owners of America, pointed to the videos and said in a statement that it appears Rittenhouse was acting in self-defense. Friends of the deceased said they were working to protect others from Rittenhouse. He put his life on the line for others. Thats what he did, a friend of Anthony Huber told CBS 58. Lin Wood, who is representing Nicholas Sandmann in defamation cases against news agencies, announced Thursday night that a Texas-based group called the Fight Back Foundation was sending lawyers to meet with Rittenhouse and his family. Kyle Rittenhouse in an undated photograph. (Kyle Rittenhouse/Tik Tok) The team is bolstered by local and national lawyers, he added on Twitter. They are taking donations for Rittenhouses defense. GoFundMe removed multiple fundraisers for the teen. We will obtain justice for Kyle, Wood said. Riots started in Kenosha, a city of some 100,000 between Milwaukee and Chicago, on Sunday night following the police shooting of a 29-year-old man named Jacob Blake. Blake, who had an arrest warrant out for sexual assault, was at the home of a girlfriend who did not want him there, the Wisconsin Department of Justice said in an update this week. Video footage showed Blake struggling with officers before walking away to his vehicle and reaching in the drivers side. As he did, officer Rusten Sheskey held onto Blakes shirt and fired his service weapon seven times, investigators said. Blake, who was rushed to Froedtert Hospital with serious injuries and is said to be paralyzed from the waist down, admitted to having a knife in his possession, according to the department. A lawyer for Blake didnt respond to an inquiry on the matter. Accusing police of mishandling the situation, protests grew in the hours after the shooting, turning into complete mayhem overnight as rioters burned buildings and vehicles and looted small businesses. The chaos continued the next two evenings, culminating in the deadly shootings. In this still image obtained from a social media video, a man is shot in his arm during unrest in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 25, 2020. (Brendan Gutenschwager/via Reuters) According to video footage from the scene, and witnesses, Rittenhouse walked towards police officers with his hands in the air but he was not arrested. He later traveled about 20 miles to Antioch. Asked about what happened, Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth told reporters at an Aug. 26 briefing that he wasnt there, but could envision the scene. There is screaming. Theres hollering. Theres chanting. Theres a squad car running, he said. Shooting situations create high stress, he continued, and people develop such incredible tunnel vision. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, in a statement about those who were shot, said: We are thinking of their destroyed futures and their friends and families that must live with this overwhelming grief. Kenosha residents deserve the opportunity to grieve, come together, peacefully protest, call for change, and heal. The heavily armed vigilantes, arsonists, and other opportunists who have come to Kenosha to attempt to spur chaos have interfered with that and caused drastic harm to people. If those engaging in violence and destruction of property believe they are furthering some broader goal, they are wrong. They should leave Kenosha, he added. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) called Thursday for Beth and Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis to resign, in part because of the sheriffs remarks about why Rittenhouse wasnt arrested on the scene. The ACLU strongly condemns Sheriff Beth and Police Chief Miskinis response to both the attempted murder of Jacob Blake and the protests demanding justice for him, Chris Ott, executive director of the groups Wisconsin chapter, said in a statement. Their actions uphold and defend white supremacy, while demonizing people who were murdered for exercising their first amendment rights and speaking out against police violence. Beth also told reporters that he believed Rittenhouse was part of a group that wanted him to deputize them. Im like hell no, he told reporters. And what happened last night is probably the perfect reason why I wouldnt, he added. Between 2000-2016 the U.S. government seized over 2 billion dollars from U.S. airport travelers. The vast majority of these people were not charged with a crime. The Institute for Justice highlights one such case involving a retired railroad engineer and his daughter: Retired railroad engineer Terry Rolin's life savings were seized by the government, but he hasn't been charged with any crime. Terry saved up cash and kept it in his Pittsburgh home over many years. But when he moved out of his old house into a new, smaller apartment he didn't feel safe keeping so much in cash savings. He asked his daughter, Rebecca Brown, to take the money home with her to Boston, deposit it into a new joint bank account, and use the money to replace his teeth and fix his truck, among other needs. Concerned about flying with the more than $82,000 her father had entrusted to her, Rebecca checked online to make sure that she didn't need to do anything to take the money with her on the plane. She found out that flying domestically with any amount of cash is completely legal. So, she packed the money in her carry-on and headed to the airport. But she didn't make it to Boston with her father's life savings. Her bag was held by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) after she went through security screening because the money showed up on their X-ray. She was questioned by Pennsylvania State Troopers and then further by a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent. The DEA agent took the money without charging Rebecca with a crime or arresting her. After making them wait for months, the government told Terry and Rebecca that it wants to take that money for good using a legal process called civil forfeiture. Terry and Rebecca didn't do anything wrong. That's why they are teaming up with the Institute for Justice (IJ) to file a lawsuit to get the money back from DEA. Furthermore, their lawsuit is a class action against DEA and TSA for practices that violate the constitution and are outside TSA's legal authority. Finally, the individual DEA agent is being sued for damages because of his violation of Rebecca's and Terry's rights. President Donald Trump painted a grim picture of life in the U.S. if his rival, Joe Biden, were to win the November presidential election, warning that there would be insecurity, economic decline, and an end to basic rights such as free speech and gun ownership. No one will be safe in Bidens America, Mr Trump said, as he accepted his partys nomination to run for a second and final term as president on the last night of the Republican National Convention. The threat dovetailed with a law-and-order message that seems set to dominate the Republican campaign, as just over two months are left before polling day. The speech, which lasted nearly 70 minutes by far the longest at either partys convention included outlandish claims, such as that Mr Trump is the greatest president for African Americans since Abraham Lincoln, who freed slaves. Mr Trump, 74, held the speech on the South Lawn of the White House, a controversial move with limited parallel in U.S. history, as generally such conventions are held in arenas away from government property. Members of Mr Bidens Democratic Party have criticised the move. Moreover, the pandemic notwithstanding, Mr Trump gathered a crowd of many hundreds who sat closely crowded, mostly without masks, some shaking hands as they greeted one another. The president used the speech to hail his own handling of the coronavirus pandemic, insisting he had moved swiftly and saved lives. We will defeat the virus and the pandemic and emerge stronger than ever before, Mr Trump said, without laying out a specific plan. He said a vaccine could be ready before the end of the year. Some 180,000 people have died in the country from the coronavirus, the worst absolute number of fatalities in any nation and one of the worst figures on a per capita basis. Democrats have long accused Mr Trump of bungling the response to the pandemic. While the Republicans promised a positive convention, and often strove to present average citizens who praised the presidents policies on trade, housing and criminal justice, Mr Trumps speech tapped into darker premonitions. Joe Biden is not a saviour of Americas soul, he is a destroyer of Americas jobs, and, if given the chance, he will be the destroyer of American greatness, Trump said. Joe Bidens agenda is made in China. My agenda is made in the USA, Mr Trump added to cheers from a crowd. Mr Trump promised to pull supply chains from China. We are bringing it home, he continued. Mr Trump drummed up fear of a Biden presidency where guns are confiscated from households, liberal orthodoxies are imposed by force while free speech is stifled, and socialism becomes the dominant economic ideology. Mr Biden, who is 77, has spent nearly five decades in the public eye as a moderate, and during the Democratic primary he had to fend off a number of challengers from the left. Mr Trump attacked the globalised trade policies of his predecessors, as well as the foreign wars that the country has repeatedly entered, such as in Iraq and Afghanistan, and which the president noted never end. He pointed to Mr Bidens vote in the Senate in favour of the Iraq war. The president also referenced ongoing unrest over the summer that stemmed from protests against police brutality and racial injustice following the deaths of black citizens at the hands of law enforcement officers. Over the past weekend, a black man was shot seven times in the back by police in Wisconsin, leading to fresh outbreaks of social justice demonstrations and some instances of violence on the streets. Hes rooting for more violence, not less, Mr Biden said of Mr Trump in an interview on broadcaster MSNBC. Advertisements He added, Hes pouring more gasoline on the fire. Former Vice President Joe Biden. [PHOTO CREDIT: Official Facebook page of Joe Biden] Mr Trump has sought to capitalise on the fact that much of the recent unrest has been in cities run by Democrats. Mr Biden noted that all the violence is taking place while Mr Trump is president, and questioned how a second term would lead to a different result. As on each night of the convention, the president had members of his family speak to praise him. On the final night it was his daughter Ivanka, who also works in the White House as an adviser. She tried to soften up the public image of her father, describing him as a loving father and grandfather who behind the scenes frets about the U.S. working class and is willing to stand up against Washingtons elite. Featured speakers on the final night included public housing beneficiaries, business owners and a widow of a former police officer who was killed by looters this summer. However, many of their stories seemed likely to be drowned out by the presidents lengthy speech and grim imagery. (dpa/NAN) The Congress on Friday launched a campaign against the government's decision to hold NEET and JEE exams during the coronavirus pandemic, with former party chief Rahul Gandhi urging people to speak up for the safety of students. The Congress and various opposition parties have demanded that NEET and JEE examinations be deferred due to the COVID-19 pandemic and floods in parts of the country, even as the Union government has made it clear that they will be held as per schedule with due precautions. Gandhi tweeted his appeal as part of the party's campaign under which it is holding countrywide protests on Friday to oppose the government's decision to hold NEET, JEE exams. "Unite your voice with lakhs of suffering students. #SpeakUpFor StudentSafety...Let's make the government listen to the students," he said on Twitter. "Raise your voice with lakhs of worried students...Let us demand from the government to listen to the students," he tweeted, tagging a video which emphasised the party's stand on the issue that the government must take into consideration the problems being faced by the students. The Congress, on its official Twitter handle, said the government must be fair to all citizens when taking decisions. "We urge the BJP government to consider the implications of holding the JEE & NEET exams right now. Listen to the students and then take a decision," the party said. It also posted videos of several senior Congress leaders voicing their opposition against holding of the exams. Congress general secretary organisation, K C Venugopal, had said on Wednesday that various state units of the Congress will be holding protests on Friday in front of central government offices at state and district headquarters. While the NEET is slated to be held on September 13, engineering entrance exam JEE-Mains is scheduled between September 1-6. By PTI JAIPUR: BJP's Rajasthan unit on Friday launched a digital campaign against the state government over several issues including hike in power tariff, law and order and unemployment. The "Halla Bol" campaign was launched by Rajasthan BJP chief Satish Poonia who said his party has decided to corner the state government on all public interest issues. Under the campaign, state BJP leaders are going live on Facebook and posting videos on other social media platforms with #BJPkaHallaBol. In a Facebook live video, Poonia said the state government has put an extra burden on 1.4 crore power consumers. He said the BJP had demanded four-month waiver on electricity bills but the government has instead increased the burden on the consumers. The Rajasthan BJP president said the state government had run away from the Assembly over issues like electricity, law and order and locust attacks but it cannot hide from the public. ALSO READ | Maharashtra and Rajasthan oppose JEE, NEET; to hold state exams Poonia said lakhs of youths in the state are unemployed as they were betrayed by the government which had promised to give them jobs and unemployment allowance. The government has "failed to deliver" and people are asking when will the justice be done, he said. Poonia said the party workers will virtually protest against the state government on social media under the "Halla Bol" campaign. Deputy leader of opposition in the state Assembly Rajendra Rathore, MLA Ramlal Sharma and other leaders also attacked the government through Facebook live videos as part of the campaign. Poonia informed that the BJP workers will hold demonstrations across the state on August 31 on the issue of power tariff. Protests will be also held in front of SDM offices across the state on various other issues on September 2, he said. The state BJP MPs, MLAs and other leaders will also hand over representations to district collectors against the misrule of the government on September 4, Poonia said. Democratically-ruled islands president says Taiwan needs solid defence as China steps up operations around territory. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen promised on Friday to defend the island with a solid air force as she launched a maintenance centre backed by the United States for the islands fleet of upgraded F-16 fighters amid rising tensions with Beijing. Frequent Chinese and US military exercises in the region have increased fears of a conflict touched off by a crisis over Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory. It takes solid defence capability, not bowing and cringing, to defend the sovereignty of the Republic of China and maintain regional peace and stability, Tsai told a ceremony unveiling the islands first maintenance hub in the central city of Taichung for its most advanced F-16s. The Republic of China is Taiwans official name. Tsai said the hub marks a milestone in her years-long drive to build up Taiwans defence industry. The time needed for jet maintenance will be greatly shortened and availability will be boosted significantly, ensuring the Air Forces combat power at the front line, she said. Tsai has complained of increased Chinese military drills and on Thursday warned of the risk of accidental conflict. The hub, led by US weapons maker Lockheed Martin Corp and Taiwans Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC), is the latest example of military cooperation between Washington and Taipei. The US last year approved an $8bn sale of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, a deal that would increase the size of the islands F-16 fleet to more than 200 jets, the largest in Asia. AIDCs president, Ma Wan-june, said the hub would service jets for Taiwans air force and that the company plans to expand it as a maintenance hub for F-16s in the region. He declined to elaborate. The US has no official diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is the islands main international backer and arms supplier. China said last month it would sanction Lockheed Martin for involvement in arms sales to Taiwan. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 28) Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin, Jr. stressed anew that it would be futile to raise China's misdeeds in the West Philippine Sea before the United Nations General Assembly, as it could do more harm than good to the country's sovereign rights. "I cant afford to lose our arbitral award. I dont want to go down in history as the guy who lost it," Locsin told CNN Philippines' The Source, saying the Philippines is unlikely to get enough votes among UN member-states to stand up against Beijing. "I'm saying I trust no one because when we started it, we were alone," he added. "Right now, we are in the lead in protesting China's actions in our territory in the South China Sea. No other country comes close to us... even Vietnam follows us under my watch." Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and self-governing Taiwan also have their own territorial claims in the South China Sea. Other states have been doing their own pushback against China. The United States has been aggressively rejecting China's actions in the disputed waters, having blacklisted state-run companies and officials involved in the reclamation and militarization of these waters. RELATED: China increases military drills as tensions with US heat up Retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, meanwhile, has repeatedly lobbied for joint patrols in the South China Sea as a show of strength. "The smaller the country, the more insular its character in that sense similar to us, the more likely they will not vote with us because they need all the help they can get," Locsin said, pointing out that China has been aggressive with developmental projects and grants to foreign states. The top diplomat pointed out how previous efforts of the Philippines were voted down to just mention the 2016 arbitral award that rejected Beijing's sweeping claims in the South China Sea in a UN Resolution. Locsin again warned that bringing up conflicting territorial claims could upset the country's clear legal victory from the Hague, as it could trigger a reopening of the case which could suddenly be interpreted differently. The rule of law has been the major argument against China's incursions and island-building activities in the disputed waters. However, it's not as easy when diplomacy and aid talks come in, Locsin noted. "When you go into the discussions on the floor of the General Assembly and in the voting, Im afraid its self-interest that governs," he added. The Philippines has resorted to filing diplomatic protests whenever it confirms China's incursions involving waters and features within its exclusive economic zone. Just this month, the DFA lodged a complaint against the Chinese Coast Guard's confiscation of the fishing gear of Filipino fishermen, a move denounced by Beijing as an "illegal provocationillegal provocation." "I don't expect China to say the Philippines is correct. We know were correct and so does the international tribunal, I think that's what counts," Locsin said. The new vaccine candidate - DIOS-CoVax2 will use banks of the genetic sequences of all known coronaviruses. The University of Cambridge on Wednesday confirmed plans to begin trials of a potential new vaccine not only against COVID-19 but all coronaviruses that may spill over from animals to humans in the future. The new vaccine candidate, DIOS-CoVax2, uses banks of genetic sequences of all known coronaviruses, including those from bats, believed to be the natural hosts of many relatives of human coronaviruses. A vaccine that clears all trials can then be delivered pain-free without a needle into the skin through a spring-powered jet injection. "Our approach involves 3D computer modelling of the SARS-CoV-2 [Covid-19] virus' structure. It uses information on the virus itself as well as its relatives SARS, MERS and other coronaviruses carried by animals that threaten to spill-over' to humans again to cause future human epidemics," said Professor Jonathan Heeney, head of the Laboratory of Viral Zoonotic at the University of Cambridge, and founder of DIOSynVax, a Cambridge spin-out company. "We're 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. Ultimately we aim to make a vaccine that will not only protect from SARS-CoV-2 but also other related coronaviruses that may spill over from animals to humans," he said. Prof Heeney said his team's strategy involves targeting those domains of the virus' structure that are absolutely critical for docking with a cell while avoiding the parts that could make things worse. "What we end up with is a mimic, a synthetic part of the virus minus those non-essential elements that could trigger a bad immune response," he added. His team have developed libraries of computer-generated antigen structures encoded by synthetic genes that can train the human immune system to target key regions of the virus and to produce beneficial anti-viral responses. These immune responses include neutralising antibodies, which block virus infection, and T-cells, which remove virus-infected cells. This so-called "laser-specific" computer-generated approach is able to help avoid the adverse hyper-inflammatory immune responses that can be triggered by recognition of the wrong parts on the coronavirus' surface. "Most research groups have used established approaches to vaccine development because of the urgent need to tackle the pandemic. We all hope the current clinical trials have a positive outcome, but even successful vaccines are likely to have their limitations. They may be unsuitable for vulnerable people, and we do not know how long their effects will last for, for example," said Dr Rebecca Kinsley, Chief Operating Officer of DIOSynVax and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge. "Our approach" using synthetic DNA to deliver custom-designed, immune selected vaccine antigens "is revolutionary and is ideal for complex viruses such as coronavirus. If successful, it will result in a vaccine that should be safe for the widespread use and that can be manufactured and distributed at low cost," she said. DIOS-CoVax2, which hopes to go into human trials by later this year, is the latest vaccine candidate to be backed by the UK government with 1.9 million pounds in funding as part of a collaboration between DIOSynVax, which is contributing an additional 400,000 pounds to the trial, the University of Cambridge and the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. The team say their proposed new vaccine can be freeze-dried as a powder and is, therefore, heat-stable, meaning that it does not need to be cold-stored. This makes transport and storage much more straightforward, particularly important in low and middle-income countries, and it can be delivered through PharmaJet Tropis intradermal Needle-free Injection System, which delivers the vaccine in less than a 1/10th of second jet injection. Professor Saul Faust, Director of the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility, said: "It is especially exciting that the clinical trial will test giving the vaccine through people's skin using a device without any needles as together with stable DNA vaccine technology this could be a major breakthrough in being able to give a future vaccine to huge numbers of people across the world." The news comes as the University of Oxford revealed that its trials of a potential vaccine against COVID-19 being developed with AstraZeneca could be put before regulators this year if scientists are able to gather enough data. The Oxford vaccine, as it is commonly known, showed early promise in the first human trial when it produced an immune response, underlining its position as one of the leading candidates in the race to help vaccinate humans against the deadly novel coronavirus. ORANGE Ronnie Fregia is a good neighbor, so he spent Thursday morning helping his friend Mike Lowe rebuild the front wall of his insurance business along Texas 87. As claims go, Lowes was on the lighter side after Laura came and went with little of the coastal calamity forecasters predicted. This is just some wind damage, it could have been a whole lot worse for a lot of people, Fregia, a homebuilder, said as he sized up reattaching the wall. East Texas was mostly spared the sucker-punch Hurricane Laura instead delivered to Louisiana, which state officials credited to luck and local planning efforts that readied resources and got many of the most vulnerable out of harms way. We dodged a bullet, Gov. Greg Abbott said after an aerial tour and meeting with federal, state and local officials. Now Playing: Drone footage of Lake Charles, Louisiana, after Hurricane Laura on Aug. 27, 2020. Video: Houston Chronicle Damage was worst inside Orange city limits where utility crews and locals armed with chainsaws Thursday made logs out of downed trees that pulled power lines with them. Areas close to the Sabine River also found streets flooded but passable by pickup. For most, the storms effect came down to whether a tree fell or whether wind got a good head start on a weak spot in the glass or wall. George Lambing wasnt shocked to find a tree hit his garage when he returned to Orange. His wife foretold it. Yall are going to think Im crazy, but Im not, Teresa Fulcher-Welch said, noting days ago she dreamed a tree would hit the house. So with Lambing on recovery team duty at a nearby chemical plant she skipped town to Oklahoma days ago and headed back early Thursday morning. It wasnt her first time having a premonition protect her. The couple bought flood insurance three years and 45 days ago less than seven weeks before Harvey put a foot of water inside their house at Fulcher-Welchs sudden urging. The $400 or so dollars saved them thousands, Lambing said. This time theyre likely on the hook for more of the cost, but counting their blessings. One of the two toppled trees punched through the garage roof but not the house. A huge limb broke off indoors and landed inches from Lambings prized BMW M3, which appeared untouched. Another branch punctured the overhang. Leaves and tiny branches spread across the back deck like someone set off a shrubbery grenade. Two-thirds of Orange County was without power, County Judge John Gothia said, among an estimated 160,000 cut off by storm damaged electrical lines. Relative to the recovery needs east of the border, even some of the most affected were shrugging off some of the lingering effects of Laura. Elton Robert rode out the storm with his dog Bruce, four blocks from the Sabine River that officials worried would overflow into Orange. The river rose and entered Roberts neighborhood, but not his small rental house. A foot of water on the stoop and no power wasnt enough to shake Roberts spirits. Ive rode out every storm, this one wasnt so bad, he said as Bruce bounced around his knees and he reached down to tussle with him. You rode out the storm, good boy. Moments later, it was as if the storm was a blessing for Bruce. A half-deflated beach ball floated by. Robert kicked it and Bruce gave chase, latching his new toy and dragging it back into the haunch-high water. Get it, Robert urged, the gray cloudy sky behind him starting to show a hint of blue. Galveston gets moving On the Houston side of the massive storm warnings heralding Lauras landfall for the past four days, people found themselves in a much more fortunate place. Galvestonians, who have long memories of violent storms such as Hurricane Ike in 2008, breathed a sigh of relief. On Thursday afternoon, many Bolivar residents had not yet returned to their homes, but Lee Crowder, a road administrator for Galveston County, sat in a pickup truck on the beach assessing the damage. He said no houses or structures were damaged but estimated the peninsula lost roughly half of its dunes. The debris and trash present a difficult challenge for Crowder and his team as the state and county have regulations preventing bulldozers from plowing through the sand due to coastal erosion. Were trying to figure that out now, he said. Might just end up having to handpick the litter off the beach. Kenneth Nutt walked the beach from a second home in Crystal Beach that he is days away from closing. Nutt, a Tomball resident, hopped on the first ferry to Bolivar on Thursday to make sure his new investment was still intact. All good, even the grass wasnt wet, he said. On Seawall Boulevard, the high tide had receded from its peak of about 3 feet above normal levels and the surf had calmed down significantly. There was even enough of a beach for dog walkers to stroll. Brian Jarvis stood on that narrow strip of beach Thursday morning filming the surf conditions to post clips on Facebook. Came down yesterday at 11 a.m. and filmed it because my friends were going out surfing, Jarvis said. By 7 p.m. there was a 12 to 15 foot sea out there. Jarvis, a surf instructor, said he stayed behind in Galveston because he says he knew all along the storm wouldnt be much of a threat. Believe it or not Ive already got bookings for this weekend, he said. Resilience needed Weather helped when forecasts of severe surges and havoc-causing winds didnt materialize on the Texas side of the border, but state and federal officials also credited well-controlled local evacuations. Abbott said city, county, state and federal officials communicated throughout, quickly putting disaster declarations in place. Those declarations allowed contract buses to evacuate those unable to leave on their own, and put state and federal resources in place for faster recovery. Around 80 guardsmen with the 386th Engineering Battalion were among 200 emergency responders who waited out Laura at the Ford Park Arena in Beaumont along with others from Texas A&M Task Force 1, and a number of fire department units from around the state, one of them from San Antonio. Many slept fitfully at the arena as the storm enveloped the area, delivering winds that topped 70 mph and heavy rain. By 8 a.m., Texas Guard reconnaissance teams were searching for high water and structural damage but most of the soldiers waited with their high-water trucks. No orders arrived by noon. Weve put people out in the field to do surveys and recon missions, to do damage assessment, to see if there was a need for our services, and were in constant contact with the local authorities, task force leader Danny Snell said. Sadly, all the swift work to make recovery smoother comes from a lot of experience. We know how to handle these hurricanes, but Lord if youre listening, we dont need any more practice, said U.S. Rep. Randy Weber, who represents nearby portions of Beaumont and Port Arthur. Despite the lack of severe injuries or widespread damage, officials said Laura demonstrates the need for more investment in storm protection. Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick both pushed for keeping plans for coastal protections in place, including the proposed Ike Dike storm protection system for Galveston and the Houston Ship Channel. The threat of storm surge from Laura sent four coastal counties in Texas fleeing, and one day those evacuees could return to washed-away communities. I think it underscores the need for the Ike Dike, Patrick said of Lauras devastation in Louisiana. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has championed other storm protections expanded from Beaumont and Port Arthur, with officials recently beginning construction on the first of 27 miles of enhanced levees along the Sabine River and coastal areas of Orange County. Officials also urged people not to think avoiding Laura means they can lower their guard. This is not the time to high-five and go home, said state emergency management director Nim Kidd. This is the time to plan for the next one. Sig Christenson and Diane Cowen contributed to this report. dug.begley@chron.com nick.powell@chron.com In 1963, when Jawaharlal Nehru was still Prime Minister, a certain Dalip Singh Saund finished a six-year tenure in the United States House of Representatives as a Congressman from California. It took another 42 years before another politician of Indian origin was elected to the US Congress. That was Bobby Jindal, from Louisiana in 2005, before he left national politics in 2008 to become Governor of the state. Just a decade earlier then, there was not a single Indian-American in Congress. Ten years later, there are four. Five, in fact, if you include Senator Kamala Harris who, as we all know given the reams devoted to her roots, is of half-Tamilian, half-Jamaican heritage. Harris may well become Vice-President in January, bringing an Indian element to the Naval Observatory in Washington DC, and to the American capital that is teeming with Indian-Americans at various levels of the Beltways political and official apparatus. With less than one percent of the US population, Indian-Americans have started punching well above their weight. That heft comes from the realisation that just photo-ops and fund-raising for others was doing little to raise the communitys profile, along with the inflow of young Indian-Americans into campaigns of various national leaders, from George W Bush to his defeated opponent from 2004 John Kerry, from Barack Obama to John McCain (2008), and from Donald Trump to Hillary Clinton (2012). This is another posse that is finding its feet and standing up to be counted in American politics. Given how vocal they have turned, and how their participation has increased, it is understandable that the presidential candidates are out wooing the community like never before. Thats why Joe Biden wishes Hindus on Ganesh Chaturthi, or Donald Trump stages a naturalisation ceremony during the Republican National Conference featuring a sari-clad software engineer new citizen. Why, each campaign is trying to dominate social media with videos targeting the community for votes. There are about 1.8 million Indian-Americans eligible to vote this November. Not enough to matter, you would think. Youd be wrong, because of the swing state factor. A recent virtual campaign event called An Electorate Coming of Age: Indian Americans for Biden featured Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez. According to a PTI report, Perez pointed out that Trump bettered Clinton in states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin by margins far leaner than the Indian-American populations there. That could be just as valid for other battleground states such as Florida, Virginia, Arizona or North Carolina. When Obama ran for President, in 2008 and 2012, he easily captured nearly 90 percent of the communitys vote. No surprise there. Politics these days is more global than local. Factors like bilateral ties with India matter, and Obama not only called Manmohan Singh his economics guru, he crafted just as chummy an equation with Narendra Modi. That he made history by announcing US support for Indias claim to a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council didnt hurt. His 2012 Republican opponent Mitt Romney was absent in the race for the communitys votes. Trump had other ideas. He held a standalone campaign event for Indian-Americans in 2016 and issued targeted commercials. There was an erosion of support for the Democrats, with Hillary Clinton tallying nearly 10 percent fewer votes from the community than Obama. Trump is doubling down on that strategy as he boasts of having more Indians than Biden. Democrats themselves acknowledge that Biden is running marginally weaker with the community than even Clinton did. The Harris card, with her Indianness on display, could help him, but as with other Western English-speaking democracies such as the United Kingdom and Canada, a shift of Indian-Americans, particularly Hindus, towards conservatives, is marked. The reason again is not local. Beyond the woke voices that dominate the conversation and create an impression of the community being solid Blue, there are tens of thousands who are sceptical of, if not positively outraged, at positions adopted by Democrats on emotive matters such as Kashmir or the Citizenship Amendment Act, and especially their attitude towards the Modi government. These are mainly Hindus who were once wary of Republicans loyalty to Evangelical fundamentalists. Trumps loyalty is only to himself, however much he may pretend otherwise, and his fervent utterings to the contrary are discounted by these Indian-Americans. The majority of Indian-Americans will still vote for the Biden/Harris ticket. However, the Democrats will face the challenge of addressing and arresting the drift away from the party of the once captive Indian-American vote bank. Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora is taking a crack at the Westside Plaza, a shopping center in the citys West Ward that has been a financial and legal debacle for over a decade due to a failed development deal. And by taking a crack, he means he wants the city to purchase it for $6.7 million. Northern Ireland has recorded more than 7,000 positive Covid-19 cases, just six months after the first case was confirmed. The Department of Health confirmed today that there were 85 new cases of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland. The total number of positive cases is now 7,049. The death toll remains at 560. So far 290,879 people have been tested for the virus. There are currently 17 Covid-19 patients in hospital, two of these patients are in intensive care. There are 15 active outbreaks of coronavirus in care homes. Meanwhile, police in Northern Ireland have issued prohibition notices to nine licensed premises for breaching coronavirus guidance. The notice means the venue must close and remain shut until police are satisfied the rules can and will be adhered to. They were issued in the week up the Monday, August 24. Read More The premises are in counties Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone. Read More Here's how Friday unfolded: New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday (August 28, 2020) made an indirect attack on Pakistan and, without taking the name of the country, said, "states that have turned the production of terrorists into a primary export have attempted, by dint of bland denials, to paint themselves as victims of terror." Terrorism is a cancer that potentially affects everyone just like the way pandemic impacts the entire humanity, the External Affairs Minister said on Friday. In an address at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Jaishankar also said the global responses to terrorism and pandemic have tended to emerge only when there were sufficient disruptions triggered by a specific event. In an apparent reference to Pakistan, Jaishankar said countries that have turned production of terrorists as "primary export" are also attempting to paint themselves as victims of terrorism. "The struggle against terrorism and those aiding and abetting it is a work in progress," he said. The External Affairs Minister said it is for the international systems to create necessary mechanisms to shut down structures supporting terrorism. During his speech, EAM Jaishankar also recalled the developments of last week regarding Pakistans flip flops over the presence of United Nation-designated terrorists like Masood Azhar and Dawood Ibrahim via its own SRO--Statutory Regulatory Order. Pakistan after issuing the SRO that listed the United Nations terror list of 1267 committee came out with a clarification that it doesn't mean acceptance of terrorist on its territory or territories occupied by it. The 1267 UN list, which has maximum number of terrorists from Pakistan, also mentions the name of Masood Azhar who is responsible for Pulwama terror attack and Dawood Ibrahim, the mastermind of 1993 Mumbai attacks. Some may consider these moments little more than shameless, emotional manipulation, as I did when Democrats pulled some of the same heartstrings during their convention. What made the RNCs lineup so effective, however, was that they were so numerous. The new message was that the Trump we dont see working behind the curtain is a much kinder, much gentler guy than anyone knew. Accurate or not, the stories may have had the desired effect of humanizing him while diminishing the idea that Democrats are the decency brokers. Anti-government protesters briefly tussled with police in Bangkok on Friday as 15 leaders of their movement turned up at a police station to answer a summons. A protester hurled blue paint as others surged through barriers set up by the police outside the station compound. When calm returned the summonsed leaders went in to report themselves, pausing to wave to supporters and flash three-fingered salutes, a gesture adopted by those opposed to the government to signify resistance. The student-led protest movement has declared three core demands: holding new elections, amending the constitution and ending the intimidation of critics of the government. They came to acknowledge charges brought against them for an anti-government rally on July 18. Coming voluntarily in a group is a safety tactic to avoid the possibility of being arrested separately by force. A number of other leading protestors have already reported themselves in the past few weeks. "Just regular interrogation I guess," said one leader, Sirin Mungchareon, as she waited to go in. "Our lawyers have prepared us for this so I think everything's going to be OK." The almost daily anti-government protests are building into the most serious threat yet to the rule of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who first took power in a coup in 2014 then retained it in a 2019 election widely seen as rigged to all but guarantee his victory. But with key Cabinet posts remaining in the hands of former generals, people have wearied of what many see as the enduring military influence in the running of the country and of Prayuth's style of leadership and performance. The government's also been dogged with corruption scandals. On Friday one of those summonsed, prominent activist Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, also known as "Pai Dao Din," said the protestors would step up their action. "We are serious about our demands. We'll do anything to achieve them. If we hold a rally for one night and we don't get our demands, we'll hold one for three nights. And if that doesn't work we'll hold one for seven nights. If our demands aren't met we'll keep escalating," he said. About 130 supporters joined the 15 activists as they made their way to the station, carrying banners and chanting "long live democracy" and "down with dictatorship." Some protesters have also publicly called for wholesale reform of the monarchy: a move that has significantly raised the political temperature. The monarchy has traditionally been seen as revered and is protected by harsh defamation laws. Such an open and uncompromising challenge to its position is unprecedented in modern Thailand. There was little to no movement in seaborne coking coal prices on Friday August 28 and sources from China said they expect the cfr market to be soft for another month. Fastmarkets indices Premium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $105.90 per tonne, down $0.02 per tonne Premium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $114.71 per tonne, up $0.01 per tonne Hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $85.27 per tonne, down $0.25 per tonne Hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $98.29 per tonne, unchanged There were no transactions heard on Friday. We traded Australian coking coal mainly in the first half of 2020. As time goes by, there are few coking coal import quotas for 2020 so there has been little movement in seaborne coking coal prices in the cfr China market since August, a trader source in eastern China said. But he noted trading of premium hard coking coal in the fob Australia market was active and its price went up by $1-2 per tonne fob Australia. It indicates there is some demand for seaborne material from ex-China markets. For instance, India bought several cargoes of premium hard coking coal this week, he explained. A buyer source from China said Chinese market participants need to wait for another month before they can procure cargoes of seaborne coking coal with a November-laycan. Therefore, the cfa China market will be quiet until then, in his opinion. Dalian Commodity Exchange The most-traded January 2021 coking coal contract closed at 1,231 yuan ($178.70) per tonne on Friday, up by 7.50 yuan per tonne. The most-traded January 2021 coke futures contract closed at 1,940 yuan per tonne, up by 27 yuan per tonne. Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 28 : The antipathy towards Shashi Tharoor in the Congress' Kerala unit is not new and dates back to 2009 when he was suddenly selected to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Thiruvananthapuram, but recently, the tirades against the diplomat-turned-politician have sharply increased. This comes in the wake of his supporting handing over the Thiruvananthapuram airport to the Adani Group, even as his party has vehemently opposed the decision, and intensified as he was one of the 23 signatories to a letter calling for reforms in the Congress. The latest one to slam Tharoor was fellow MP Kodikunnil Suresh, who on Friday termed him "a guest artiste". "Tharoor is not a politician. He is yet to understand on how to carry on party and parliamentary politics by being within the framework of Congress guidelines. He is one who often jumps the gun. Tharoor came into the Congress as a guest artiste and continues to be the same," Suresh told the media mere. Yet another MP K. Muraleedharan made a veiled attack on him. "Tharoor is a global personality, while I am a simple person and hence I am not commenting on him," was Muraleedharan's jibe. State Congress President Muallapally Ramachandran has time and again expressed his displeasure in the way Tharoor conducts himself and has said he has to express himself in the party forums only. He also noted that since Covid broke out, Tharoor has been based in Delhi. On Friday, Ramachandran told the media that as far as he is concerned, the Tharoor issue is a closed chapter for him. "As a disciplined party worker, I will not make any statement," he said, adding that he does not wish to complicate any issue, as it would affect the party. But batting for Tharoor was senior Congress legislator P.T. Thomas who said just because he wrote a letter, it should not be taken against him, and called him a "jewel". "The stand of the Congress party in Kerala on issues will be said by the state President. Tharoor is a jewel for the Congress party," he said. Tharoor is now in his third term as the member from the prestigious Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat. Way back in 2009, when a dozen leaders from the state capital in Delhi trying to get the party nomination, Tharoor who was not at all in the reckoning, shocked all by being made the candidate. A senior Congress leader had then said: "We were all waiting for a few days to meet the high command and suddenly came this man (Tharoor), who flew down from the US, met the high command and got the seat." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee announced contempt proceedings against Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday, citing his refusal to comply with a subpoena for records into his transparently political misuse" of department resources. The Democratic chairman of the committee, Eliot Engel, also cited a speech Pompeo recorded in Jerusalem for this weeks Republican National Convention and said he had demonstrated alarming disregard for the laws and rules governing his own conduct and for the tools the constitution provides to prevent government corruption." He seems to think the office he holds, the department he runs, the personnel he oversees, and the taxpayer dollars that pay for all of it are there for his personal and political benefit," Engel said. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The committee last month issued a subpoena to Pompeo demanding documents he provided to Republicans investigating Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. A Republican-led U.S. Senate committee has been gathering information related to Hunter Biden, son of the former U.S. vice president, Republican President Donald Trumps opponent in the November election. Engel said Pompeo had told the House committee the documents would be provided if it pursued the same investigation as the Republican-led Senate committee. In other words, Pompeo will give the committee what we were seeking if we join in a smear of the presidents political rival," Engel said. Hunter Biden is a former board member of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma. The company was thrust into the global spotlight last year in an impeachment inquiry into whether Trump improperly pressured the government in Kiev into opening a case involving his election rival. In his speech shown to the RNC on Tuesday, Pompeo praised Trumps foreign policy record. Critics said he broke with decades of protocol in using his appointed office for partisan purposes and Joaquin Castro, head of the House Foreign Affairs Committees oversight subcommittee, said his move may have been illegal. 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 $62 million state fund to support Black Oregonians and their businesses received nearly 7,000 applications in the first four days after its launch Monday. The Oregon Cares Fund for Black Relief and Resiliency will provide grants of $500 to $3,000 for Black individuals and families, and $2,000 to $100,000 for Black-owned businesses and Black-led nonprofits. By Thursday, 6,672 individuals and families, 201 businesses and 43 nonprofits from throughout Oregon had submitted online applications. The fund is being guided by the Council of Trust, a newly established group of 11 Black leaders from across the state, and is being administered by two nonprofits, the Contingent and the Black United Fund. Theres been such a history of disinvesting or ignoring Black communities, says Sharon Gary-Smith, former executive director of the MRG Foundation and member of the council. This is a major effort for a specific time, during a pandemic, to provide investment in people to be whole in this moment. That for me personally, as a native-born, Black Oregonian, is a major step. The Oregon Legislatures Emergency Board voted in July to allocate federal CARES Act dollars to seed the fund, a controversial decision that the legislative counsel warned may be unconstitutional. In distributing the money, organizers hope to avoid the pitfalls that plagued a different relief program targeted at providing short-term aid to Oregonians with unpaid jobless claims. That program, also established by the emergency board, allocated $35 million to pay $500 to people still waiting on unemployment benefits or suffering economically from the pandemic. The money went out on a first-come, first-serve basis and was fully depleted in less than three days last week as thousands of Oregonians lined up for hours. The Oregon Cares Fund will choose its recipients following a review and verification process, with the Council of Trust making final decisions. Its ultimately a subjective call, but organizers say they have a process to ensure the funds are distributed equitably. The funds managers will score applicants on specific metrics based on their need and the financial losses theyve suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic. Last weeks $500 payments had no similar review process -- those at the front of the line got the money, so long as they attested that they qualified and provided valid identification. The $500 payouts went to about 70,000 Oregonians. The total number of Cares Fund recipients will depend on the size of individual grants. Cares Fund organizers say that they will be doing outreach in communities throughout the state and hiring staff to ensure that individuals and businesses, including those without reliable access to the internet, are aware of the fund and have help navigating the application process. Roughly 35% of the money in the fund will be distributed to individuals and families, while 53% will go to businesses and 12% will go to nonprofits, according to the Council of Trust. In our process, one of the things we are rooted in is equity, said Rep. Akasha Lawrence Spence, D-Portland, a member of the Council of Trust. We are going to be looking at peoples needs. This is really about reaching Black Oregonians in every corner of our state and this process is as equitable as possible and really need-based. The Council of Trust will review requests for funding over three application periods and will make funding decisions within two to three weeks after an application period closes. Funding decisions will be made beginning in September and all funds must be distributed before the end of the year. To receive a grant, applicants must show they have experienced financial hardships due to the pandemic. We, as a community-based group who advocated for this fund, came up with the $62 million number because its what we believe will do the work to shore up our small businesses, our community, individuals and families, as well as our nonprofits, Spence said. We do not believe there will be people who apply and demonstrate strong need that will not be able to receive these funds. The legality of the fund is in some question. A July 13 opinion by the Legislative Counsels Office said setting aside funds for one race could be considered unconstitutional without strong data and evidence showing past discrimination in the economic sphere. Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale, asked at the time why other groups who had been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, including Latino and Native American populations, were being left out. But proponents of the fund pointed to a legal opinion from firm Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt that contended that Black Oregonians are both suffering disproportionate economic harms from COVID-19 and receiving disproportionate aid from existing relief efforts. A study conducted by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition in July found that Black business owners had a harder time securing coronavirus financial relief than white business owners. Other metrics show that Black Americans have been disportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic as compared to white Americans. Black Americans are contracting COVID-19 at 2.6 times the rate and dying at 2.1 times the rate of white Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The unemployment rate dropped to 10.2% nationally in July, but still remained at 14.6% for Black Americans, the highest unemployment rate among the racial and ethnic groups tracked by the U.S. Department of Labor. Stephen Green, an entrepreneur and member of the Council of Trust, said that the fund marked an important first step in closing the gap for Black Oregonians who have been hard-hit by the coronavirus crisis and have struggled to access relief. But Green said that more needs to be done to help the Black community and that there will be a continued push for programs that invest in Black Oregonians. The Black community was far behind other communities before COVID-19, Green said. Theres still a lot that needs to be done. -- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Only a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic, a groundbreaking poll was published highlighting the shocking pace of decline of Christianity in America. The Pew research poll included the following alarming statistics: In the last 10 ten years, the percentage of Americans identifying as Christian has dropped from 77% to only 65% During that same time, the percentage of those unaffiliated with religion skyrocketed from 17% to 26% Protestant Christian Americans plummeted from over half of Americans (51%) to only 43% by 2019 The percentage of atheists doubled during that period from 2% to 4% As would be expected, the younger age cohorts, and particularly the Millennials, saw the steepest decline. Coinciding with the decline in Christianity has come the burgeoning support for socialism over capitalism by the Millennial age cohort, with over half supporting socialism over capitalism. The consequences of this upheaval explain much of what we are witnessing in society, and this should motivate Christians to reassert themselves in American life. Let me explain. Most have witnessed the increasing and continuing anarchy and anti-police rioting (note: This is not to diminish the presence of those truly peaceful protesters, whom we support in their right of assembly) in major urban areas like Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis, Chicago, New York, and others, to a level of violence not seen previously. This anarchy has brought tens of billions of dollars of destruction in both private and public property, accompanied by rhetoric of ending the system of property rights and capitalism in America. A leading protest organizer in Portland went so far as to call for not only the abolition of police, but the "abolition of America" to the cheers of crowds. The head of the greater New York BLM threatened to "burn down this system" in a Fox News interview. BLM activist Ariel Atkins supported "100%" the looting of private businesses in Chicago as an alleged form of reparations. The rhetoric and corresponding actions appear incomprehensible to many quietly watching throughout America, and yet continues virtually unabated. In addition to the destruction of property and violence, which acts as a clear repudiation to Christian teachings followed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., those involved have made direct attacks against the Christian church. Most are aware of the well-publicized Bible-burning demonstration in Portland. What has not received as much coverage are the many other attacks against the Christian church, including its sacred symbols. Catholic Action League Executive Director C.J. Doyle wrote: Given that there were four attacks on Catholic churches nationwide over a 48-hour period, from July 10 to July 12, suspicion, obviously, turns toward the left-wing extremists who have been toppling statues of Saint Junipero Serra and attempting to remove a statue of Saint Louis. Christians praying in front of the statue of a Christian saint in St. Louis were subject to potential hearing loss by protesters disrupting prayers with air horns. Air horns blown near the ears of the women and men praying. The examples of anti-Christian radicalism abound, while calls for moving to socialism become more strident. We should not be surprised at the increasing anarchy and corresponding calls for socialism, as Christianity plummets. Most of our founding fathers spoke about the prerequisite of religion among the American people in order for the constitutional system to work. John Adams put it perfectly: "This Constitution was made for a moral and religious people, it is wholly unsuited to the governance of any other." Famed Christian biographer Eric Metaxas had this to say about the connection of Christianity and anarchy within a historical context: I think a lot of the nastiness thats being directed at these statues, it really has to do with something deeper. ... You saw this with the French Revolution. There was a hatred at the bottom of it of God, of any kind of authority, and these people are drunk with the idea that they can somehow be an authority themselves, they can seize power. ... you go right for God, you go right for the Virgin Mary, my goodness, you go for churches. Metaxas provided this warning for Christian leaders: Any Christian leader who doesnt understand that this is a Marxist, violent organization this has nothing to do anymore with George Floyd, theyve hijacked this, and they want to burn down everything that has been built by good people over centuries, most of whom, of course, were Christians. It's important to remember that the forefather of socialism, Karl Marx, claimed religion was the "opiate of the people" and that the future worldwide communism must take the place of religion. The Soviet Union persecuted Christians, as does Communist China to this day. Marx claimed his primary goal in life was to "dethrone God, and destroy capitalism," as they go together. Marx also attacked the biblical "nuclear family" as a hindrance to socialism, and so it's not a coincidence that a goal of BLM is to "disrupt the nuclear family." Pastor Marc Little has warned, we are witnessing a Marxist takeover ... fighting a new religion disguised as racial justice ... (this is) the unveiling of what has been percolating against the church ... Make no mistake: The body of Christ is the target of the Marxists, for it cannot succeed when morality stands in the way. Peaceful protesters have every right to peacefully assemble for their cause under the First Amendment to our Constitution. I acknowledge that many are not aware of the ulterior Marxist and anti-Christian motives of those involved in the mayhem. Regardless, anarchy and calls to upend the American republican system (to move to socialism) could not occur without the massive decline in Christianity in America. It is time Christians come together, pray together and act to move America to that nation Alexis de Tocqueville wrote about in his famous treatise "Democracy in America": "There is no nation on Earth in which the Christian religion holds greater sway over the souls of men than in America". May that become the Christian future of America. Thats it for our coverage of the Republican National Convention - a big thanks to everyone who joined us this week (or last week for the Democratic National Convention). Its been a fascinating fortnight, setting the scene for one of the most consequential elections in US history. All eyes now turn to the presidential debates, which kick off on September 29 between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, followed by a vice presidential debate between Mike Pence and Kamala Harris on October 7. Until then, take care. (Natural News) One of the first results that comes up in a Google search for Jacob Blake is a propaganda piece written by CNNs Leah Asmelash we will not link to it so as not to support CNN that paints the guy as some kind of innocent saint who was brutally terrorized by Kenosha police. But the truth is that Blake is a violent offender who had an arrest warrant out for him based on charges involving domestic abuse, sexual assault and other criminal behavior. As explained by R. Cort Kirkwood writing for The New American, Blake is a violent, dangerous man whom police were right to fear based on the sexual assault charge alone, which occurred just a few months ago on May 3 against his then-fiance Laquisha Booker. Records show that Blake has been violent against women on many occasions, and was wanted for one major felony and two misdemeanors at the time he was apprehended on August 23, which is more than a month after he was first declared to be wanted by police. While fake news CNN is telling its readers that Blake had recently moved to Kenosha from the Chicago area to start over, the truth is that he was a felon on the run who represented a threat to the people around him. The misdemeanors are criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, which carry fines and jail time, Kirkwood explains. The third-degree sexual-assault charge is a Class G felony that carries a fine of up to $25,000 and 10 years in prison. Jacob Blake beat Laquisha Booker at least twice a year, according to police reports Booker told police on May 3 that Blake, whom she described as her ex-boyfriend rather than fiance, had broken into her residence and stolen her car keys, car and a debit card. And he did so at 6am, having woken Booker up in her bed while standing over her and yelling, I want my s***. Following this, Booker claims that Blake stuck his finger into her vagina without her consent, pulled it out, sniffed it and creepily said, smells like youve been with other men such an upstanding guy, right CNN? After Blake left the room, Booker says she got up and went to try to chase him down, only to realize that he had stolen her car, car keys and debit card. She immediately called 911 and reported the incident to the very same police that Black Lives Matter (BLM) terrorists are now trying to abolish. Initially, Booker claimed that she had not been with Blake as a couple for at least the past eight years. But ever since the alleged shooting, she is now referring to him as her ex-fiance and soon-to-be husband, which, conveniently for her, allowed for a GoFundMe account she set up to garner $1.4 million in donations-and-counting. Both of these two appear to be highly questionable individuals, in other words, but Blake takes the cake as a dangerous, violent thug who needed to be off the streets. And when he entered the SUV on Aug. 23 in violation of the police officers orders, they were fully justified in subduing him because he presumably was reaching for a weapon. He was already carrying a knife as the video frame at the top of this story shows. Blake has also been involved in other crimes such as in 2015 when he pulled a handgun on a bar patron in nearby Racine. After he was ordered to leave by bar management, Blake proceeded to point a pistol at patrons through a window, threatening to shoot them. but, but, here is a picture of him holding a child. Forget all that nasty stuff, joked one New American commenter about CNN and other fake news outlets that are deliberately deceiving the public about Blakes true character. For more related news about the Jacob Blake false flag, be sure to check out FalseFlag.news. Sources for this article include: TheNewAmerican.com NaturalNews.com Earlier, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry for the first time in history summoned Ukrainian ambassador to Belarus Ihor Kyzym for consultations in Kyiv. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says Ukraine has frozen all contacts with the Belarusian side, and thus expressed its position on the actions taken by the Belarusian authorities. "In fact, all processes, all contacts with the Belarusian side are now on pause. I can officially declare this to you. We are monitoring the development of the situation. And only when we are convinced that these contacts will not bear any reputational, political or moral losses for Ukraine, these contacts will be restored," he said during the Pravo Na Vladu ("Right to Power") TV panel show on TV Channel 1+1 on August 27. Read alsoUkraine's MFA explains fundamental difference between Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine, protests in BelarusEarlier, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry for the first time in history summoned Ukrainian ambassador to Belarus Ihor Kyzym for consultations in Kyiv. This is a step to demonstrate dissatisfaction with the policy of the Belarusian authorities. Belarus protests: background Government has been urged to partner closely with private tertiary institutions and devise realistic strategies to enhance access to tertiary institutions, as the first batch of students of the free Senior High School (SHS) programme completes. Mr Enoch Okonah, the President of the DUMAT Africa, a policy think tank who gave the advice observed that pressure would be on particularly public tertiary institutions in the next academic calendar because of the successful implementation of the SHS programme. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, Mr Okonah, a policy analyst lauded the free SHS, which had bridged the gap between the rich and the poor in accessing quality education, but added private and public tertiary institutions required infrastructural expansion to absorb more students. We think the government must absorb the fee disparities between public tertiary education and private tertiary education. Many students do not attend private tertiary institutions because of the high cost involved. It will be expedient on the government to subsidize tuition fees of students in private tertiary institutions, Mr Okonah said. He emphasized that the implementation of the free SHS programme would be meaningless if graduates could not have the opportunity to access tertiary education. DUMAT thinks there is an urgent need for the nation to create affordability in private tertiary institutions to enhance enrolment rates. This will give true meaning and make the free SHS programme impactful. 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 Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion at 1 PM. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Supreme Court dismisses PIL seeking postponement of Bihar assembly polls The Supreme Court has dismissed a public interest litigation seeking postponement of Bihar Assembly Elections to be held in October-November citing the coronavirus crisis. The court expressed confidence that the election commission must be considering all aspects before taking the decision to hold polls. Read more Cured patients testing positive for Covid-19 again due to harmless residual virus Residual virus which can do no harm is responsible for at least at least 10 cases of patients testing positive for Covid-19 after being treated and cured in different hospitals in Uttar Pradesh, say experts. Read more Pranab Mukherjee under intensive care, continues to be in deep coma: Hospital Former president Pranab Mukherjee is under intensive care and is being treated for a lung infection and renal dysfunction, the Indian Armys Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi said in a medical bulletin on Friday. Read more Esha Deols reply on Abhay Deols caption this post is absolutely hilarious If you ever came across caption this posts on social media, then you may know that they often prompt people to share replies which are absolutely hilarious. Case in point, actor Esha Deols reply on her cousin, actor Abhay Deols Instagram post. There is a chance that her reply will make you laugh out loud and also prompt you to nod in agreement. Read more Aashram review: Bobby Deols show has a bark thats worse than its bite Aashram, on MX Player, is as inconsistent as Bobby Deols accent. While the actor struggles to shrug off his urbane aura, the series about one of those dhongi babas that you read about in the news never fully lives up to the potential of its premise. It isnt as lurid as it should have been, but that doesnt stop it from being absolutely ludicrous. Read more Covid-19: Andaman tribe infection updates; rich nations bag biggest vaccine deals Hindustan Times National Political Editor, Sunetra Choudhury brings you the top stories you need to know. Sunetra talks about the number of Covid-19 cases in India so far, recovery rate, Andaman tribe test positive, rise of cases in Delhi for 11 days in a row, ICMR starts second all-India Sero Survey, rich nations bag biggest vaccine deals. Watch the full video for more. The Congress on Friday held nationwide protests over Centres decision to hold the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) in September. Party chief Sonia Gandhi urged the government to listen to the voices of students and act according to their wishes. Opposition parties such as the Congress, the Trinamool Congress, the Shiv Sena and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) have demanded that NEET and JEE exams be deferred due to the Covid-19 pandemic and floods in parts of the country. However, the central government has repeatedly made it clear that the exams will be held as per schedule with due precautions. Six ministers of opposition-ruled states West Bengal, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand - on Friday also moved the Supreme Court seeking review of its order allowing the Centre to hold NEET and JEE exams. The Congress also held an online campaign - Speak Up For Student Safety with its leaders and workers extending support to the students on the social media. Also read: JEE-NEET row - Mamata challenges PM Modi to take impromptu opinion of students on Mann ki Baat I feel for you because you are now facing a very difficult situation. The issue of your exams, of when they should be taken up is the most important issue, not only for you but for your family, Sonia Gandhi said in her video message to the students. You are our future. We depend on you to build a better India. Therefore, if any decision has to be taken regarding students future, it is important that it is being taken with your concurrence, she added. I hope the government listens to you, listens to your voices and acts upon your wishes. This is my advice to the government, Sonia Gandhi said in the nearly a minute-long video posted on the partys Twitter handle. The NEET is slated to be held on September 13, while engineering entrance exam JEE-main is scheduled between September 1 and 6. 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. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi also urged the government to hold a conversation with students and take a decision after arriving at a consensus. NEET-JEE aspirants safety should not be compromised due to the failures of the government. Government must listen to all stakeholders and arrive at a consensus, he tweeted. Rahul Gandhi also tagged a video of him urging the government to listen to students and take a decision only after reaching a consensus. You are the students and you are going to take this country to new heights. Everybody understands what has happened over the last three or four months, he said. Everybody understands the mishandling of Covid-19, the devastation that has been caused, the economic destruction, the pain that this country has had to bear. Now what I dont understand is why you should be held responsible and why further pain should be imposed on you, Rahul Gandhi told the students. He alleged that the government has been incompetent, and asked why should the Centre force anything on students. It is important that the government listens to the students, they are wise, they have the interest of this country at heart and any decision that is made with regard to these exams is made after a conversation and after a consensus has been developed and this is my message to the government, he said. Rahul Gandhi urged the government to have a conversation with students and resolve this issue peacefully. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the government cannot ignore the voices of students and those of their concerned parents. They are the future of our country. With the rising scale of the pandemic, is it fair to expose them to infection in this manner? Are they not our children too? she asked. Among those who joined the partys online campaign by posting their messages and videos on the social media were senior party leaders such as Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mukul Wasnik, Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Jitin Prasada and Raj Babbar. Later addressing a joint virtual press conference with Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Trinamool Congress leader Derek OBrien, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren said the Centre claims that thousands of students have downloaded their admit cards. I dont understand what kind of argument is this. If that is the case, then if someone has the life insurance, does it mean that he will die soon? he asked. Singhvi said these six states represent not only 30 percent of Indias population, but also represent 30 percent of Indias geographical area. The mental status of our students, mental situation, mental illness and mental situation is probably more important than physical constraints. They are under pressure, they are under pain, they are under fear, with 6 months of Covid and they are suddenly forced because you threw yourself into a corner, without thinking of alternative for 3-4 months, into a sudden press button, magic button kind of thinking - start giving exams from September 1, he said. O Brien said the petitioners do not want the students to lose the academic year and the petition aims to ensure better safety and security measures for the students. (L-R) Jessie Cole, Albert Bowers, and Henry Long, who were convicted of killing Police Constable Andrew Harper in Berkshire, United Kingdom, on Aug. 15, 2019. (Thames Valley Police) Widow Horrified at Legal Aid Costs for Killers of British Policeman: Not Fair The widow of PC Andrew Harper, the British policeman killed when he was dragged behind a getaway car in August 2019, has spoken out against the reported legal aid costs his three killers were awarded for their legal defense. Reacting to The Daily Mails reporting on Thursday that her husbands three killers collectively received 465,000 ($617,000) in legal aid funding for their defense, Lissie Harper said in a statement, This just doesnt seem right or fair. Not only did we not get justice for Andrew, we now know the cost of that injustice, she said. I am sure the publicwhose support for me has been unstintingwill be as horrified as I am to know how much money is going towards paying this trios escalating legal costs. Right to Representation In the UK you have the right to apply for free legal representation in court for criminal cases if you are on a low income or in receipt of certain state benefits. If your income is 12,475 ($16,605) per year, or less, you will always be granted legal aid for such cases. The coat of arms of the City of London (L) is pictured on the street sign for Old Bailey, where the Central Criminal Court, commonly referred to as The Old Bailey, is situated in central London on Aug. 21, 2016. (Niklas Hallen/AFP/Getty Images) The Ministry of Justice said that the legal aid granted to the teenagers had gone straight to their legal teams. These offenders did not [directly] receive a penny of legal aidit went to lawyers to ensure a fair trial, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson told The Epoch Times. Simon Davis, president of the Law Society of England and Wales, told The Epoch Times, An important pillar of our criminal justice system is that anyone accused of a crime is entitled to a fair trial and for that to happen they need access to a proper defence. To preserve access to justice and the rule of law, legal representation must be available to those without the means to provide it. Harpers Law Harper, backed by the Police Federation of England and Wales, has mounted a campaign in her deceased husbands name called Harpers Law to fight for harsher sentencing for the convicted killers of emergency services workers following the conviction of her husbands killers for manslaughter. Harper has now secured a meeting with Home Secretary Priti Patel to discuss her campaign. PC Harpers three killers, Henry Long, 19, Albert Bowers, 18, and Jessie Cole, 18, were cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter at Londons Old Bailey in July. Long, who was driving the getaway car, was sentenced to 16 years in prison while Cole and Bowers, the two passengers in the car, were both sentenced to 13 years in prison. The Ministry of Justice explained that judges do have to take into account the victims occupation when sentencing criminals. Our Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act means judges must also consider tougher sentences for more serious offensessuch as manslaughter, GBH or sexual assaultif the victim was an emergency worker, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson told The Epoch Times. Sentence Review The Attorney General Suella Braverman announced last week that she believes the sentences are too low. She has sent the sentences of the three killers to the Court of Appeal for review under the UKs Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. Having personally considered the details of this shocking case, I have decided to refer the sentences of PC Andrew Harpers killers to the Court of Appeal, she said in a statement. This was a horrific crime which resulted in the death of a much-respected police officer while he was on-duty, protecting his community. Attacks made against emergency workers will not be tolerated and offenders should be punished with the greatest severity for such heinous crimes, she said. In his comments at sentencing in July, the judge, Mr. Justice Edis, described the killers as young, unintelligent, but professional criminals who were in the habit of going out thieving in cars at night. In Longs case it was his only source of income, he never having done an honest days work in his life, or, it seems, ever thought that he should, Edis said. Bowers and Cole last week reportedly lodged applications with the Court of Appeal requesting permission to challenge their convictions and prison sentences. A date for the hearing at the Court of Appeal is yet to be set. Catastrophic Injuries PC Harper was killed on Aug. 15 last year while still at work several hours after his scheduled finishing time, according to trial documents. As they were the closest officers on duty at the time, he and a colleague responded to a late-night report about the theft of a quad bike. He had inadvertently become entangled in a looped strap coming from the boot of the getaway car that had been used to tow the stolen quad bike. He died of the catastrophic injuries he sustained when he was dragged by the ankles for around a mile and swung from side to side like a pendulum in an effort to dislodge him, the trial documents said. PC Harper was 28 at the time of his death and had been married to Lissie Harper for four weeks. Woodie's owner Grafton Group has repaid over 2.5m received in wage supports from the Irish Government, despite a sharp fall in income for the first half of the year. Grafton is understood to be among the first companies to have repaid the subsidy which was available to encourage businesses to retain staff during the lockdown. To qualify for support under the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) a company must have suffered a fall in turnover of 25pc in the three months to June 30. Woodie's main business in Ireland was closed between March 28 and May 18 due to restrictions aimed at limited the spread of the coronavirus, with just its online shop operating. However, on reopening the physical shops in May the company experienced a "surge" in pent-up customer demand, which continued into June. It means it no longer qualified for the support, which it repaid. In fact, Woodie's reported a similar level of profit in the first half of this year to the same period in 2019. However, parent Grafton's operations in the UK and its builder's merchant business Chadwick's have not repaid government supports. Overall, Grafton Group reported a 63pc fall in operating profit for the first half of this year - to 39.4m (44m). The results includes government assistance of 25.1m in respect of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in the UK and the TWSS here. Revenue fell 29pc to 1.06bn, according to interim results. "The headline number of profit and sales were down, but actually the positive is the strength of the bounce back," Gavin Slark, chief executive of Grafton Group, told the Irish Independent. The company said there has been a strong recovery in home repairs, maintenance and improvements. It is experiencing an "encouraging" start to the second half of the year, with average daily like-for-like revenue up by 3.8pc. "Covid-19 is still with us, but looking at the way the business was going into the crisis, looking at the way it has recovered, we do look forward with a fair degree of confidence and certainty," Mr Slark said. While the new housing building market has come back "more slowly", Mr Slark said he expects to see it recovering, "particularly in the UK where it is quite large scale". The company's online business in Ireland performed "very well" over the six months, and Grafton is about to invest in a "significant" upgrade to the Woodie's digital platform. "It became clear to us that we need even more capacity for our online systems, we need to invest more," Mr Slark said, adding that the online business in the UK "more than trebled" during the lockdown. Despite continuing to generate strong cash flow, the company will not be looking to potentially buy rival firms that are struggling. "We look to acquire good quality businesses with good growth prospects, rather than looking for bargains of distressed businesses," Mr Slark said. Shares in Grafton Group were up over 3pc in afternoon trading in London yesterday. KYIV: Hasidic Jews arriving in Ukraine for an annual pilgrimage were stranded at airports on Friday after the government partially closed the border, a representative of the Rabbi Nachman International Charitable Foundation said. Ukraine restricted the entry of foreign nationals to fight a recent spike in coronavirus cases and also partly in response to a request from Israel to prohibit travel to a pilgrimage site in Ukraine, fearing it could become a coronavirus hotspot. Tens of thousands of Hasidic Jews descend on the town of Uman every Jewish New Year to visit the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, who revived the Hasidic movement and died in 1810. Jewish New Year celebrations run from Sept. 18-20 this year. The head of Israels coronavirus task force had asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to ban the pilgrimage this year. Irina Rybnitskaya of the Rabbi Nachman Foundation said hundreds had initially been stranded on Friday, although she later said some were being let through. It seems they have begun to let them in. But not all of them," Rybnitskaya told Reuters. There was no kosher food available where they were kept, she added. Andriy Demchenko, a spokesman for the border service, told Interfax Ukraine that dozens of Hasidic Jews had been stopped at airports this week as border guards could not confirm the purpose of their trip. We do not make decisions on any discriminatory criteria. We make decisions that help protect the health of our citizens, regardless of their nationality, citizenship or religion," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Friday. Mikhail Tkach, Executive Director of the United Jewish Community of Ukraine, said the pilgrims had been warned in advance there could be problems on arrival. I dont know what they were counting on, its difficult to understand their logic," said Tkach. (Additional reporting by Natalia Zinets; Writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Peter Graff) 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 Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki on Thursday expressed delight over the recent declaration of zero-polio cases amongst the African population, intimating that he had worked alongside other leaders to bring about this development. I am really chuffed at the declaration of the African continent as polio free. While there were set backs along the journey, we stayed committed to achieving this objective, Saraki said in a social media statement, commending the Nigerian Governors Forum and successive Chairmen for consolidating on the gains we made in 2010/11. I believe this achievement is a testament to the objective of the Forum the identification of share goals and the establishment of frameworks to achieve those goals. Saraki said this as he recalled his tenure as Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), I reminiscing on chairing a particular session which he described as extraordinary, also attended by Bill Gates, to lay out a new framework for the eradication of the Polio Virus. At the time, Nigeria accounted for more than 50% of the global cases of polio. The former Senate President said the session led to what is known as the Abuja Commitment which had the Governors of the 36 states pledge to provide active leadership of polio eradication activities, including routine immunization, and ensuring that all children under 5 are reached and vaccinated; The allocation of additional financial and human resources to sustain primary healthcare and routine immunization; improvement of immunization campaigns, and chairing quarterly meetings with LGA chairmen to review the planning and implementation of polio eradication activities. Saraki said by 2011, reported incidents of the polio virus had dropped by 95% following the implementation of the Abuja Commitment. This much was attested to by the then United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, during a breakfast meeting in 2011, he enthused. Saraki however noted that Nigeria faces a need to concentrate on primary healthcare rather than ending up tackling avoidable situations. Today, I reiterate a call I made during that meeting that Nigeria needs to stop the approach of targeting certain diseases through intervention programmes and address the root of the issue primary healthcare, he said. He Fu revealed this thinking had motivated the National Assembly under his leadership to set aside 1% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund to boost primary health care in 2018. I appeal to the 9th Assembly to continue this allocation to place Nigeria on a sustainable path towards improving our healthcare system, Saraki said. More than 50 provinces and cities nationwide have announced schedules for the new school year and prepared scenarios to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tan Thanh Primary-Secondary School in Long An Province is ready for the upcoming academic year. The HCM City Department of Education and Training has submitted a plan with two scenarios to the Peoples Committee for the opening ceremony for the upcoming 2020-21 academic year. Each primary, secondary and high school in the city has 1,000-4,000 students, so social distancing cannot be carried out, if required. A full opening ceremony in which everyone attends would be impractical. Instead, an alternative plan calls for 10 to 20 students to act as representatives for each classroom. But all first, sixth and 10th graders would attend the ceremony under this scenario. The ceremony would last nearly 60 minutes. As scheduled, it will be organised on September 5. The new school year will start on September 7 and end in late May. Ha Ngoc Tuan Huy, rector of Lac Long Quan Secondary School in Binh Tan District, told Viet Nam News Agency that the school would ensure facilities and safety for students. Besides disinfecting facilities, the school has prepared devices to check body temperature of its students. All students must wash their hands before entering classrooms. Table surfaces and door handles will be cleaned regularly. If the city decides to impose social distancing, each classroom will have only about 20 students. The north central province of Nghe Ans Department of Education and Training said that because the province has not recorded any COVID-19 incidence, the opening ceremony will still be organised on September 5, with 800,000 students. The department will instruct educational divisions and schools to ensure safety for students. When they attend the ceremony, they will have to wear masks, wash their hands, and fill out health declarations. If any student has symptoms such as cough and fever, their health will be checked. In the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, students will also attend the opening ceremony on September 5. Those at continuing education centres will organise the ceremony on September 7. The Department of Education and Training in southern Dong Nai will carry out online teaching and extend the school year to complete the training programme if COVID-19 complications continue. Tran Hung Dao Secondary School in the province, for instance, plans to teach its students more skills online if it is necessary to carry out social distancing. In the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, the opening ceremony will be held on September 5, but it is waiting for the last instruction from the Ministry of Education and Training. The department will co-operate with the health sector to disinfect schools before the ceremony. Other provinces such as Binh Thuan and Quang Tri plan to organise an online opening ceremony if there is another COVID-19 outbreak. Da Nang and Quang Nam do not plan to organise an opening ceremony, and the new school year could begin later because these areas are the epicentre for COVID-19 now. The Ministry of Education and Training has instructed educational departments in provinces and cities to strictly comply with regulations about the opening ceremony to ensure COVID-19 prevention and control. For provinces and cities carrying out social distancing, schools will hold an online opening ceremony. Schools should also organise activities related to teaching and learning in the beginning of the new school year to ensure COVID-19 prevention and control. Facilities ready The ministry has required provinces and cities to review the number of schools, teaching equipment and teachers, especially those for the first grade, for the new school year. Textbooks should be provided for all students, the ministry said. To prepare for the upcoming school year, HCM City will put 1,371 new classrooms into use. The Mekong Delta province of Long An has built more new schools and supplemented teaching devices and equipment for the 2020-2021 school year. The province has allocated total capital of VND64.9 billion (US$2.8 million) to build 13 schools. In the provinces Ben Luc District, Luong Binh and Thuan Dao primary schools will be put into use in the upcoming school year. Ben Luc Town Primary School and the Ben Luc Town Secondary School are under construction. The Ben Luc Town Primary School is expected to open next year and the others in the second semester of the 2020-2021 school year. Schools in Dong Nai Province are ready for the new academic year. The Department of Education and Training has completed training courses for teachers at 300 primary schools. The Peoples Committee in the provinces Vinh Cuu District has allocated more than VND10 billion (US$431,230) to buy equipment to teach first graders under the new training programme. Binh Duong Provinces Thu Dau Mot City has upgraded 11 schools. Thuan An City has allocated VND10 billion to repair schools, which is expected to be completed by August 30. Thuan An City has four new schools, including Hoa Cuc 10 Kindergarten, An Thanh Primary School, Thuan Giao Secondary School and Trinh Hoai Duc High School. Since the end of last year, Bau Bang rural district has repaired 16 schools, which are slated to open for the 2020-2021 academic year. HCM City seeks ways to help students with financial difficulties Nguyen Thi Thu Tuyet has spent VND600,000 (US$26) for new textbooks and learning tools for the new school curriculum this year, nearly triple the amount compared to other textbooks. A parent and child choose new textbooks for the new school term in HCM City. Tuyet said that to prepare for her first-grade child in HCM City, she had to pay more than VND1 million to buy three sets of school uniforms and one physical education uniform that cost nearly VND600,000. Similarly, Huynh Tan Minh in Go Vap District had to spend VND1.5 to 2 million ($65-87) to prepare for his first-grade child. The Government will not subsidise the new textbooks, so the parents have to buy the new textbooks for their children, he added. Nguyen Thanh Trung, chief of the secretariat at the citys Department of Education and Training, said that all five sets of textbooks, approved by the education ministry, will be about VND300,000 (US$12.9) each, nearly double compared to last year's textbooks. The city will spend a part of its budget to buy sets of textbooks for students with financial difficulties if they cannot afford to buy them, Hieu said. In Tan Phu District, which is one of the localities having the largest number of low-income migrant workers in the city, a principal of a school in the district said the school will seek donations to buy textbooks for students with financial difficulties. Of the five sets, the Chan Troi Sang Tao textbooks were chosen by 80 per cent of the citys schools. Nearly 1 million copies of the textbooks have been printed, accounting for 81 per cent of the total textbook copies issued in the city, according to Vietnam Education Publishing House Co.Ltd. Because the textbooks were written by many authors from the southern region, words and phrases as well as data are familiar to students. Many primary teachers in the city also took part in compiling them, Hieu said. He said the citys teachers are using new teaching and testing methodologies that will be compatible with the textbooks. To meet the demands of the new training programme, Hieu said that having enough classrooms for first graders is a challenge because schools face a shortage of classrooms. The citys land fund for building more schools is limited. The new training programme will require first-graders to study throughout the day. In the morning shift, students will study Vietnamese, maths, and other subjects. In the afternoon shift, they will receive instruction through various activities. First-graders will study six days per week instead of five days if they study all day. The city has instructed educational sup-departments and schools to review their facilities and teaching aids and devices, Hieu said. The city has 551 primary schools, including 484 public schools, an increase of four compared to the previous academic year. There are 3,550 classrooms for the first grade for the 2020-21 school year, with a shortage of 443, according to the department. Hieu has instructed schools to use classrooms, halls and schoolyards to organise activities to teach skills to first graders if they lack classrooms. VNS Hanoi schools to hold streamlined school-year opening ceremony The Hanoi Department of Education and Training has required local schools to hold short and solemn opening ceremonies for the new school year to both create a jubilant atmosphere for students and ensure observance of epidemic control measures. Two Florida neighbors face federal charges over allegedly inventing farms they claimed to run out of yards in the middle of Miami as part of successful efforts to obtain $1.1million in coronavirus small business relief funds. The US Department of Justice said in a media alert that Latoya Stanley, 38, and Johnny Philus, 33, both of Miami, were arrested and charged with wire fraud and making false statements Wednesday, in connection with making false PPP and EIDL loan applications for their businesses and farms. PPP loans are meant to help small business owners cover business-related expenses and payroll needs during the pandemic, while EIDL loans are meant to cover working capital and normal operating expenses, such as rent, employee health care benefits and utilities. Both loans are forgivable. Neighbors Latoya Stanley, 38, and Johnny Philus, 33, were arrested for allegedly receiving $1.1million in coronavirus relief funds after claiming to run companies from their home (shown) Authorities alleged in their complaint, which was unsealed after Stanley and Philus' court appearance, that the two neighbors had participated in a scheme to file fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $1.1million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans loans. According to the Justice Department, the neighbors put in four, fake loan applications which were ultimately approved by a local, unnamed bank. In Stanley's PPP application, the government says Stanley claimed to run a company called Dream Gurl Beauty Supply LLC that employed 18 people and had $200,000 in inventory. The government said Philus claimed to have a farm at this property, which generated $400,000 in income and employed 10 people Stanley and Philius listed their duplex (left) as the address for their individual businesses. Stanley said she had a farm at that property. Philius said his farm was at another home (right) And in her EIDL application, she allegedly claimed to rake in over $800,000 in income from a farm she operated in the yard of a Miami home and had five people working for her there. The government also said that Philus, in his PPP application, claimed he had 29 people working at his company, Elegance Auto Boutique LLC, which leased 40 to 50 cars worth $1million. In his EIDL application, the government said Philus claimed to have a farm in the yard of a small residential home, which generated $400,000 in income and employed ten people. Court documents obtained by the Miami Herald revealed that Stanley and Philius' business addresses were listed as a duplex building located on one-sixth of an acre - or 6,900 square feet - of land. Public records indicate the property is a 1,938 square foot, four-bedroom, two-bathroom home. Meanwhile, public records indicate Philus' supposed farm was located on a 7,300 square foot lot with a 1,000 square foot, two bedroom, 1 bathroom home on it. The government said that Stanley and Philus neither employed anybody nor had farms in reality, but that the two neighbors had worked together to pull off the fraud. Despite this, a bank approved PPP and EIDL loans for them in the amount of $1.1million, the government said. According to the criminal complain, Stanley's Dream Gurl landed $302,860 in PPP loans, while her 'farm' got $137,500 in EIDL loans. Philius' Elegance Auto got $538,325 in PPP loans, while his 'farm' was given $150,000 in EIDL loans. State records indicate that both Stanley and Philius' businesses were inactive, according to the newspaper. It's unclear whether the two neighbors had spent the loan money or what they might have used it for. Since the PPP and EIDL loans were authorized at the end of March, the government has been slowly bringing charges against people who made false loan applications that resulted in their obtaining millions in the forgivable loans. In July, Andrew Marnell, 40, of Los Angeles, was arrested and ordered to be held without bond on Thursday for allegedly fraudulently obtaining some $9million in PPP loans, which he allegedly used to gamble in Las Vegas and buy a Range Rover and two motorcycles. And, in June, a federal grand jury has indicted reality TV star Maurice Fayne on charges including running a Ponzi scheme for allegedly using an almost $2million PPP loan meant for his trucking company, to buy jewelry, put a down payment on a Rolls-Royce and pay off people involved in the alleged Ponzi scheme. Bimber Distillery and Brew By Numbers team up for beer release South London brewery Brew By Numbers has unveiled the first in a series of collaborative releases with Bimber Distillery. The Imperial Stout, specially brewed to bring forward rich stout flavours and the profile of Bimber single malt whisky, is the first joint release from the companies and is designed to celebrate their shared ethos. The idea for the collaborative series came from a chance meeting between the drinks makers at Brew By Numbers' taproom in Bermondsey. To make the stout, Brew By Numbers' Imperial Stout - with a complex malt bill including chocolate, roast and smoked malt - was left to condition in tank for two months. Post-fermentation, oak chips soaked in Bimber's ex-Bourbon oak cask single malt whisky were added, along with cacao nibs, Madagascan vanilla pods and washed Columbian coffee. Brew by Numbers says this process has resulted in a rich, complex beer with notes of caramel and subtle spice and the distinct profile of Bimber whisky. Brew By Numbers said: "This collaboration is an incredibly exciting project for us, providing the opportunity to work with one of the finest distilleries in the country." The Brew By Numbers x Bimber Imperial Stout is available on Brew By Numbers' webshop for UK-wide delivery. 28 August 2020 - Bethany Whymark By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan remained Turkeys largest gas exporter in 2020, local media reported with the reference to Energy Market Regulation Authorities of Turkey. According to the statement, Azerbaijan exported 5.4 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey during the period of January-June 2020, which is by 23.5 percent more than in the same period last year. Moreover, 917.6 million cubic meters of gas was delivered from Azerbaijan to Turkey in June, which amounted to 46.09 percent of the total volume of gas supplies to Turkey. In addition, there is an increase by 41.02 percent compared to June 2019. Thus, Azerbaijan maintained its leadership in terms of gas supplies to Turkey in June this year. Algeria ranked second among Turkeys gas exporters with 23.53 percent of total volume of gas supplies, Qatar third with 13.16 percent and Russia fourth with 7.86 percent. Moreover, Azerbaijan ranked first among the largest gas exporters to Turkey in May, with exporting 881 million cubic meters of natural gas to Turkey. It should be noted that last year natural gas imports to Turkey from Azerbaijan amounted to 9.5 billion cubic meters. Earlier, it was reported that Azerbaijans share in the total volume of gas supplies to Turkey in 2019 amounted to 21.2 percent. Additionally, Azerbaijan supplied 63.2 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey during the period of 2009-2019. Azerbaijan supplies gas to Turkey only from Shah Deniz field. The supplies have been made since July 2007. Turkey imports Azerbaijani natural gas through the South Caucasus Gas Pipeline (Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum) and TANAP. The first gas supplies to Turkey via TANAP started on 30 June 2018 as planned. During the reporting period, 2.4 billion cubic meters of natural gas were transported to Turkey via TANAP. Since commissioning, TANAP has transported over 6.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Turkey. TANAP Project aims to bring natural gas produced from Azerbaijans Shah Deniz-2 gas field, and other areas of the Caspian Sea, primarily to Turkey, but also on to Europe. The TANAP Project, along with the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) form the elements of the Southern Gas Corridor. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Rolls-Royce Holdings has warned that its future could be at risk if the COVID-19 downturn becomes even more severe, after plunging to a record 5.4 billion ($9.8 billion) half-year loss. The pre-tax loss for the six months to June included a near 1.5 billion hit from currency movements as markets swung violently when the pandemic struck. Rolls-Royce Holdings has been crippled by a near-total halt to global air traffic, sending its shares to their lowest levels in a decade and valuing the company at just 5 billion - a third of the level it was at one year ago. Credit:Kate Geraghty Revenues sank by a quarter to 5.6 billion following a collapse in air travel that crushed demand for the firm's engines, and Rolls also announced its finance chief has a new job. Bosses are now fighting to raise 2 billion by selling assets including their ITP Aero division, which makes parts for the Eurofighter Typhoon. Rolls-Royce Holdings is separate from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, which is owned by BMW. Firefighters from Aksu, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, have built a 2.2-meter-high "fire-fighting robot" by hand with scrap parts in order to reuse waste. (Photo/Liu Mengjia) "Wow, this robot is so domineering!" On Aug. 26, in a fire rescue detachment of Aksu, a 2.2-meter-high robot attracted the attention of passing officers, firefighters, and their family members; everyone stopped to take pictures of the robot. Li Yunfei, an officer from a fire rescue station in Aksu, led the building of the fire-fighting robot named "A Shuai". In order to build the robot, Li referred to transformers as the prototype, successively using 16 design drawings and over 200 scrapped fire-fighting equipment parts. (Photo/Liu Mengjia) It took half a month for Li and his firefighter colleagues, who have experience in electrowelding, to weld the pieces of abandoned fire-fighting equipment parts by hand. Li said that the whole body of "A Shuai" features fire-fighting elements: its head is made from a fire-fighting helmet; the eyes are made of bright lights ; the hands are made of mobile chain saws and fire water guns; the torso and joints are made of fire water guns and fire extinguishers; the front chest is made of a motorcycle fuel tank; the back is made using an air breathing cylinder; the legs are made of fire extinguishers, and the feet are made of car wheels. (Photo/Liu Mengjia) After painting and polishing, A Shuai looks lifelike. "When we were cleaning up the warehouse, we found some waste equipment that could no longer be repaired and used, so everyone went out on a whim and wanted to turn the scraps into treasure, transforming waste equipment into a robot," Li said while referring to the creative idea. (Photo/Liu Mengjia) Reabold Resources Plc (LON:RBD) is possibly approaching a major achievement in its business, so we would like to shine some light on the company. Reabold Resources Plc invests in upstream oil and gas projects. On 31 December 2019, the UK52m market-cap company posted a loss of UK4.2m for its most recent financial year. Many investors are wondering about the rate at which Reabold Resources will turn a profit, with the big question being when will the company breakeven? We've put together a brief outline of industry analyst expectations for the company, its year of breakeven and its implied growth rate. Check out our latest analysis for Reabold Resources According to some industry analysts covering Reabold Resources, breakeven is near. They expect the company to post a final loss in 2019, before turning a profit of UK600k in 2020. So, the company is predicted to breakeven approximately 12 months from now or less. At what rate will the company have to grow in order to realise the consensus estimates forecasting breakeven in under 12 months? Using a line of best fit, we calculated an average annual growth rate of 100%, which is rather optimistic! Should the business grow at a slower rate, it will become profitable at a later date than expected. Underlying developments driving Reabold Resources' growth isnt the focus of this broad overview, however, take into account that by and large energy companies, depending on the stage of operation and resource produced, have irregular periods of cash flow. This means, large upcoming growth rates are not abnormal as the company is beginning to reap the benefits of earlier investments. One thing wed like to point out is that Reabold Resources has no debt on its balance sheet, which is rare for a loss-making oil and gas company, which usually has a high level of debt relative to its equity. This means that the company has been operating purely on its equity investment and has no debt burden. This aspect reduces the risk around investing in the loss-making company. Story continues Next Steps: There are key fundamentals of Reabold Resources which are not covered in this article, but we must stress again that this is merely a basic overview. For a more comprehensive look at Reabold Resources, take a look at Reabold Resources' company page on Simply Wall St. We've also put together a list of essential aspects you should further examine: Historical Track Record: What has Reabold Resources' performance been like over the past? Go into more detail in the past track record analysis and take a look at the free visual representations of our analysis for more clarity. Management Team: An experienced management team on the helm increases our confidence in the business take a look at who sits on Reabold Resources' board and the CEOs background. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com. Three months after the murder of George Floyd in the United States, which has been followed in that country by sustained police violence, similar scenes have been playing out on the streets of major German cities. German police (Credit: Max Pixel) A growing number of police operations have occurred over recent weeks involving the use of ruthless force. Mobile phone videos taken by passersby reveal that police officers not only display extreme aggressiveness and brutality towards their targets, but also towards those seeking to document police violence. Dusseldorf Altstadt: August 15 at around 7:30 pm Amateur video footage shows how four police officers restrain 15-year-old Mohamed A. One police officer kneels with his full weight on the boys head, forcing his head into the asphalt. The scene is reminiscent of the events leading to George Floyds death. The boy was taken to hospital with suspected brain trauma, and bruises in the face, skull, pelvis and spine. The video of the police operation spread rapidly on Twitter. Eyewitnesses reported that police officers sought to violently prevent filming of the incident. Hamburg Neustadt: August 17 Mobile phone videos shared via Twitter and YouTube show how the 15-year-old student Kadir Holdur was surrounded by police officers and forced against a building wall. The police officers threaten and shout at him. When the clearly terrified student wants to take off his T-shirt, the officers restrain him. The video shows how the boy attempts in a panic to resist the police officers attacks, but is wrestled to the ground and handcuffed with the help of pepper spray and five officers. This incident also recalls Floyds death. The officers violently push the boy down onto the ground as he struggles to breathe and says, I cant breathe. On the building wall behind him is the statement, Please, I cant breathe, George Floyds last words. Frankfurt Sachsenhausen: During the night of August 15-16 A 29-year-old man with an immigrant background is arrested by 20 police officers after allegedly resisting an order to leave the area due to alcohol consumption. The video shows how the defenceless man is pushed to the ground by the throat by an officer. A second officer kicks the handcuffed man twice with full force in the back, while another officer twists his legs. The man cries out in pain. The remaining officers use physical force and pepper spray to force witnesses to leave the area. Somewhat later, another officer appears and kicks the restrained man in the head. He is only prevented from committing further violence by another officer. The disproportionately aggressive treatment of the man by the police is commented on by witnesses in disbelief. They say, Look at how theyre laying into him! or Theyre going ballistic! Ingelheim: August 15 In addition to attacking refugees and immigrants, Germanys police, a hotbed for far-right networks, are also notorious for brutal attacks against left-wing protesters. On 15 August, the fascist party Die Rechte (The Right) organised a rally with 24 participants in Ingelheim, Rhineland-Palatinate, to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Rudolf Hess, Hitlers deputy. Around 500 police officers were present. Three counter-protests attracted over 1,000 people. Up to 150 people were forced into a small tunnel after arriving at the train station. Being crammed together in a poorly ventilated tunnel is life-threatening during the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, officers used batons and pepper spray to force the protesters closer together and blocked off both exits to the tunnel as they crammed those confined into an even smaller space. Witnesses reported panic attacks, cuts and mental breakdowns in the tunnel. Forty-year-old Spike M., who wanted to participate in the demonstration with his children, described the situation in the tunnel to the TAZ newspaper, They totally lost it, I could hardly breathe. Everyone I spoke to said it was terrifying. Amelie F., a 27-year-old post-doctoral sociologist, commented, I feared for my life. Later, one of the tunnels exits was opened, and the protesters were forced to one of the three counter-protests, which was effectively transformed into an open-air prison with cars and fences. The 250 demonstrators were held there for several hours. Witnesses reported that in spite of the heat, they were neither offered water nor the opportunity to go to the toilet in private. The police reduced the size of this open-air prison on two occasions, making social distancing impossible. Witnesses reported violence against people who had lost consciousness, were in handcuffs, were injured, or were in wheelchairs. They also noted that many of the officers service numbers were either covered up or totally removed so that they could not be identified. According to the Sanitatsgruppe Sud-West i.V., a local health care group, 116 protesters were injured. The medics wrote on Facebook that the police overran our treatment area and threatened our personnel. They emphasised the high number of panic attacks caused by the extreme brutality of the police. These cases had to be treated by our emergency team for psychosocial care. Amelie F. drew a link between the violence of the police in Ingelheim and the far-right networks that are active in the military and police. We always hear stories about right-wing extremist tendencies in the police, and one would like to think that its only a few cells or something like that. But on Saturday, I had the impression that it is a system. The strength of the force deployed there. And if you just consider that the neo-Nazis were marching 100 metres away, and we are treated like that because we want to protest against them, she said. As in the US, the ruling elite is responding to mounting opposition among workers and young people with massive police deployments and the mobilisation of fascist forces in the security agencies. Officers who lash out or shoot peoplethe police killed 14 people in Germany last yearare hardly ever charged. Investigations into the actions of a mere six officers of the 500 present in Ingelheim were launched. In 2018, there were officially 1,559 cases of bodily harm by a police officer on duty. But only 49 cases made it to court and only 20 of those charged were convicted. Pompeo: Reports of Chinese vessels near Galapagos 'deeply troubling' Iran Press TV Thursday, 27 August 2020 5:03 PM US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said reports of hundreds of Chinese vessels near the Galapagos Islands are "deeply troubling." Pompeo made the remarks in a tweet on Thursday following recent reports out of Ecuador about vessels from a predominately Chinese fishing fleet. "Reports of 300+ Chinese vessels near the Galapagos disabling tracking systems, changing ship names, and leaving marine debris are deeply troubling," Pompeo tweeted, urging China "to be transparent and enforce its own zero tolerance policy on illegal fishing." The US and China have been at odds over a range of issues; but recently, Washington has taken a markedly more aggressive posture against Beijing. Pompeo has called for regime change in "Communist China." Washington's aggressive posturing against Beijing comes shortly before the US presidential election in November. Meanwhile, China has said it has no intention of ratcheting up tensions with the United States and engaging in a diplomatic war with Washington. The administration of US President Donald Trump took a stern anti-China posture soon after it took office in 2017. It has clashed with Beijing over trade, the South China Sea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the coronavirus pandemic. China's Defense Ministry said on Thursday that the country will not "dance to the tune" of the United States or allow it to "cause trouble." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Leaders of the 1970 Chicano Moratorium understood that the disproportionate number of Latinos dying in Vietnam was a symptom of broader social ills at home. (Los Angeles Times) Fifty years ago Saturday, 20,000 people marched through the streets of East Los Angeles to call for an end to the Vietnam War. The Chicano Moratorium Committee, made up mostly of young Mexican Americans under age 30, organized the protest in part to highlight the fact that Latino men were dying in the war far out of proportion to their numbers in the population. Does that sound familiar? Today, as we battle the coronavirus, Latinos are once again on the front lines and dying in disproportionate numbers. And as we confront that grim fact and try to effect change, there are lessons we can learn from the Chicano Moratorium and the larger movement it was a part of. The Chicano Moratorium Committees vision was rooted in the reality that not only were Mexican Americans and other Latinos dying in Indochina, but conditions back home also needed addressing. Latinos were more likely than non-Hispanic whites to experience poverty, poor housing conditions, substandard education and police brutality. The committee understood that all these things were connected and needed to be addressed holistically. The same is true now. Today, the moratorium is most often remembered for its tragic ending. After marching down East Los Angeles Whittier Boulevard, the protesters gathered for a rally at what was then called Laguna Park. The peaceful event was soon disrupted by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies, who used the pretext of a crime on Whittier Boulevard to brutally break up the gathering. Deputies with riot gear fired tear gas into the park and beat protesters indiscriminately. The demonstrators, who included many children, ran to adjacent streets, homes and businesses seeking refuge. Among those who sought shelter was Ruben Salazar, the 42-year-old Los Angeles Times columnist and news director at KMEX, the citys Spanish-language television station. Salazar ducked into the Silver Dollar cafe to escape the commotion. Outside the bar, Sheriff's Deputy Thomas Wilson fired a tear-gas projectile into the building, hitting and killing Salazar. He was one of three fatalities that day. Thirty-five-year-old Angel Gilbert Diaz died when his car rammed into a telephone pole as he tried to escape the melee, while Lynn Ward, a 15-year-old, lost his life when an explosion propelled his body through a plate-glass window. Story continues In the aftermath of the Chicano Moratorium and Salazars death, organizers shifted the groups focus, concentrating on the war at home, rather than the one abroad and focusing far more on police brutality, which was a fact of life in poor neighborhoods in Los Angeles. But the tragedy of the moratorium took a toll on the cause. The demonstration that took place on the first anniversary of the event attracted few participants and the Chicano Moratorium Committee disbanded shortly thereafter. Other Chicano movement groups, including La Raza Unida Party, Las Adelitas de Aztlan, the Centro de Accion Social Autonomo (CASA), and the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA), took up the mantle of empowering Mexican Americans, but they were unable to organize mass demonstrations on the scale of the moratorium. The numbers would not be surpassed until May 1, 2006, when an estimated 1 million to 2 million people marched through the streets of downtown Los Angeles to protest immigration policies. Given our situation in 2020, I propose looking back to the Chicano Moratorium to help illuminate these dark times and inspire a new generation of activists. There are plenty of issues to take on: the forced separation of families at the border, the high mortality rate of Latinos and Black Americans due to coronavirus and police brutality. Latinx soldiers are still losing their lives in service to their country at home and abroad. And a primary reason so many Latinos have lost their lives to the coronavirus is that workplace discrimination and lack of access to quality education have relegated many Latinos to essential, but low-paid jobs that put them at high risk. The Chicano Moratorium organizers understood something essential. The answer wasnt simply assimilation. These activists celebrated our culture and worried that it was being eroded. They promoted a positive self-image under the banner of Brown Is Beautiful. We strongly need to embrace that sentiment today. This week, the Republican Party again chose the rabidly anti-Mexican, anti-immigrant Donald Trump as its presidential nominee. He and the party fear what the Chicano Boomers set in motion: the empowerment of Latinos. The GOP has embraced all kinds of policies to limit Latinos' potential political power with efforts to prevent births on U.S. soil, question citizenship status and undercount Latinos in the U.S. census. The Aug. 29, 1970, Chicano Moratorium and the tragic events of that day should not simply be venerated. Instead we should use them to reinspire us to look at our situation holistically and to make change in the present in order to forge a more just future. Ernesto Chavez is a professor of history at the University of Texas at El Paso and the author of "Mi Raza Primero! (My People First!): Nationalism, Identity, and Insurgency in the Chicano Movement in Los Angeles, 1966-1978." President Donald Trump was looking for the Republican National Convention to rebound from midsummer polls that showed his popularity greatly diminished since the pandemic. Heres what Texans are saying about his re-election chances. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, as he cast all 155 of Texas delegates votes for Trump, called the president the only hope that every American in this country has for true liberty and true freedom and true opportunity. Like President Trump, we are pro-life, we are pro-family, he said. We are pro-law and order. We are pro-law enforcement. We are pro-military. We're pro-Second Amendment." Tom Williams, POOL / Associated Press U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz made the case in the New York Times for Trumps re-election, citing remarkable policy successes, including tax cuts, deregulation and the historic economic boom prior to the pandemic. Melissa Phillip, Staff photographer / Houston Chronicle Beto ORourke, the former Democratic presidential candidate, told MSNBC that Texans frustration with the Trump Administration over its handling of the pandemic will help flip down-ballot statehouse races, and boost Biden. Instead of Biden pushing votes down the ballot, were going to have these statehouse candidates pushing votes up to the presidential level. And it could be the first time since 1976 that Texas awards our electoral college votes to the Democratic nominee. Roy Bailey, national co-chairman for the Trump Victory campaign, told Lone Star Politics, a political show produced by The Dallas Morning News and KXAS-TV, that Trump doesnt need to campaign in Texas to win the state in November. The president needs to be in the swing states, Bailey said. Texas is all red. Anybody who believes in this stuff (that Texas is a battleground) is just full of malarkey. Mark P. Jones, fellow in political science at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, wrote for the schools blog that the 2020 election will rest on nine battleground states: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsyvlania and Wisconsin. He did not count Texas among those. Texas will not become a battleground state in the true sense of the word, Jones said. If Texas was truly competitive, that would mean that Trump was doing so poorly nationally that he would have already lost hope in most of the toss-up and Democratic-leaning states. Customer Case Bergman Clinics Bergman Clinics, a network of clinics in the Netherlands, was expecting a significant expansion in their workforce and wanted to ensure scalability of their security, privacy and efficiency. In this case study, discover what led to Bergmans partnership with Zivver, as well as how they aligned their goals and the outcomes of their journey. August 28 : Rhea Chakraborty has been summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today in connection with Sushant Singh Rajputs death case. She has already reached the DRDO guest house where the CBI team is staying. Media has gathered outside the guest house in large number, but Rhea was escorted by the police as she had asked for police protection on Thursday after her father was swamped by the media outside their apartment in Juhu, Mumbai. Rhea is also likely to be summoned today by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) as the central agency has found her involvement in an alleged drug angle, which was brought to the fore by the Enforcement Directorate. Along with Rhea, her brother Showik Chakraborty, Samuel Miranda, her PR manager Jaya Saha, Gaurav Arya and others are also named in the case filed by NCB. An NCB team has already reached Mumbai on Thursday to question Rhea and her associates in relation to their reported WhatsApp chats about illegal drugs. Meanwhile, Samuel Miranda is already present at the DRDO guest house, and Siddharth Pithani is likely to be called in today. Sushant Singh Rajputs case is currently being probed by ED, CBI and now the NCB. On Thursday, Sushants father K K Singh released a video in which he claimed that Rhea gave poison to his son for a long time and was the murderer of the late actor. He also urged for her arrest. Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > Language Imposition And Education Policy | S.G.Vombatkere [This article is part of New Education Policy 2020 Special Focus Issue] Language as the means to communicate thoughts, ideas, information and knowledge, is an inseparable part of personal and socio-cultural identity. Wars have been fought on the basis of language. An example is the birth of Bangladesh in 1971 due to dominant West Pakistan imposing Urdu on the Bengali-speaking people of East Pakistan. Language policy Constitution of India Article 351 states: It shall be the duty of the Union to promote the spread of the Hindi language, to develop it so that it may serve as a medium of expression for all the elements of the composite culture of India and to secure its enrichment by assimilating without interfering with its genius, the forms, style and expressions used in Hindustani and in the other languages of India specified in the Eighth Schedule, and by drawing, wherever necessary or desirable, for its vocabulary, primarily on Sanskrit and secondarily on other languages. [Emphases supplied] The Hindi-Sanskrit duo was accorded status superior to the other 12, Eighth Schedule languages. With communications not being very good in 1950, the languages and cultures particularly of Southern and Eastern India were not widely known. Hence giving overwhelming primacy to Hindi-Sanskrit was perhaps understandable. Since then, radio, TV, internet, mobiles, and physical mobility for employment/business, has resulted in increased awareness of cultural diversity and plurality. Thus in 2003, the Eighth Schedule listed 22 languages, and Census 2011 recognizes 31 languages. Today, although Constitutionally directed, the primacy of Hindi-Sanskrit is being questioned. History of Hindi imposition Anti-Hindi-imposition agitation followed introduction of compulsory Hindi in schools in Madras State (later Tamil Nadu) in 1937, by the Indian National Congress. The order was withdrawn in 1940. Significantly, the agitation was supported by a Self-respect Movement. In 1948, Congress again attempted to introduce compulsory Hindi, again followed by anti-Hindi-imposition agitations and withdrawal of the order. Again in 1965, following Government of India making Hindi the sole official language, there were anti-Hindi-imposition riots, and yet again PM Lal Bahadur Shastris assurance that English would also continue, gave quietus. The political fallout of Congress attempts to impose Hindi in Tamil Nadu was its influence and presence in that State almost vanishing. Periyar E.V.Ramaswami held that Tamil, an ancient language with a rich culture and literature would be decimated if Hindi took precedence over it. Hindi imposition was seen as an attack on the self-respect of the Tamilian. That Periyar was anti-Hindi-imposition, not anti-Hindi, is demonstrated by the fact that the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha founded in 1918 in Madras by Gandhiji, functions even today. National Education Policy A panel headed by Dr K.Kasturirangan submitted the draft National Education Policy (NEP) to the Union HRD Minister on 31 May 2019, stirring a hornets nest. Non-Hindi speaking states alleged imposition of Hindi. Tamil Nadu saw public protest against the three-language-formula (TLF), while West Bengal and Karnataka opposed the imposition of Hindi and demanded primacy to the regional language. Union Minister D.V.Sadananda Gowda mollified protestors, saying it is not an imposition of Hindi but ... only a recommendation and not a policy. No decision has been taken by the Centre yet. [Prathima Nandakumar; The other side: Does draft education policy favour mother tongues more?; https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/06/04/the-other-side-does-draft-education-policy-favour-mother-tongues-more.html; The Week; June 4, 2019]. But the Union Government did take a decision, approving NEP-2020 on 29 July 2020. To its credit, NEP-2020 states: The purpose of the education system is to develop good human beings capable of rational thought and action, possessing compassion and empathy, courage and resilience, scientific temper and creative imagination, with sound ethical moorings and values. It aims at producing engaged, productive, and contributing citizens for building an equitable, inclusive, and plural society as envisaged by our Constitution. Hindi and Sanskrit Of Indias 121-crores population (Census 2011) Hindi speakers live predominantly in Bihar, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan & Uttar Pradesh. The Hindi speaking population in these states has risen from 36.99% (1971) to 43.63% (2011). This huge increase is attributed to falling education levels and other socio-economic parameters. On the other hand, in the Southern states which have improved their socio-economic parameters, speakers of Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Tamil and Telugu have declined in percentage terms from 1971. Although speakers of Sanskrit have increased in numbers from 2,212 (1971) to 24,821 (2011), they are negligible in numerical and percentage terms. Language primacy Non-Hindi speakers taken together are 56.37%, but Hindi at 43.63% is the single largest spoken language, with Bengali a distant second at 8.03%. NEP-2020 terms Sanskrit as an important modern language, and in view of its literary wealth, it will thus be offered at all levels of school and higher education as an important, enriching option for students, including as an option in the three-language formula, and India also has an extremely rich literature in other classical languages, including classical Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia. Six languages, starting 2004 with Tamil, followed by Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2009), Malayalam (2013) and Odia (2014), were accorded Classical status. The antiquity of Tamil exceeding that of Sanskrit has been posited in academic circles. Census 2011 shows that Tamil has over 6.9-crores speakers. It is a living language with a wealth of both ancient and contemporary literature. Likewise the other Classical languages, excepting Sanskrit which although undoubtedly priceless, has predominantly ancient literature and a negligible 24,821 speakers. Notwithstanding, NEP-2020 Para 22.15 forefronts Sanskritdue to its vast and significant contributions and literature across genres and subjects, its cultural significance, and its scientific nature. It mainstreams Sanskrit with strong offerings in schools including as one of the options in the three-language formula as well as in higher education. NEP-2020 retains implementation of TLF but with flexibility, and assures that no language will be imposed on any state. The three languages learned by students will be the choices of States, regions, and of course the students themselves. Making Sanskrit as an option in TLF was objected to earlier in non-Hindi speaking states since north Indian students preferred Sanskrit to a South Indian language. This is borne out in NPE-2016 Para 6.13.11:... indeed contrary to the spirit of TLF no South Indian language is generally taught in most schools in Hindi speaking states. The reality is that generally is actually almost never. Terming Sanskrit as a modern language and, despite its negligible speaker-population, according it primacy by including it as a TLF option over other living languages, is being questioned as a gambit in present majoritarian politics. Language insularity It is apt to give examples to demonstrate how Hindi-speakers view non-Hindi speakers. Although the examples refer to South Indian languages, examples relating to other Indian languages can be quoted. Example-1: A woman CISF official at Chennai airport asked MP Kanimozhi if she was Indian because the latter requested her to explain something in Tamil or English. [CISF official asked if I am Indian as I dont know Hindi: DMK MP Kanimozhi; Times of India; August 9, 2020; https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/cisf-official-asked-if-i-am-indian-as-i-dont-know-hindi-dmk-mp-kanimozhi/articleshow/77446737.cms]. The issue is not about whether the CISF officer is punished, nor about her asking a MP. It is about why she asked the question in the first place. Clearly she believes that every Indian needs to understand Hindi, and also that she herself has no need to know any other language to carry out her duties anywhere in India. Example-2: During a recent virtual training session, Secretary to the Union Government, Ministry of AYUSH, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha said participants who did not speak Hindi could leave, as he could not speak English very well. [AYUSH Secretary says non-Hindi participants can leave meeting, sparks row; The Indian Express; August 22, 2020; https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ayush-minister-vaidya-rajesh-kotecha-hindi-imposition-row-kanimozhi-karti-6565240/]. The issue is not about his asking the non-Hindi speakers to leave, or about the Tamil-speaking participants reportedly demanding his speaking in English. It is about why Mr. Kotecha believes that conducting an All-India training session in Hindi would be understandable to non-Hindi speaking participants, that he himself need know no language other than Hindi, and everybody else needs to know Hindi. Example-3: Purushotama Bilimale relates an incident: A Hindi professor from a prestigious college in Delhi University once floored me with a question Saabji, yeh Kannad Kahaan ki bhasha hai? In a bid to educate, I pulled out the map of South India and told him about its major languages. We had never been told about all this and we did not learn this in school either, he regretted. [Purushotama Bilimale; Hindi imposition and the impending death of regional languages; October 17, 2019; NewsClick; https://www.newsclick.in/hindi-imposition-and-impending-death-regional-languages]. The issue is about a Hindi language teachers regretful admission that he had no idea of where the Kannad language was spoken. The Hindi professor would surely know that French is spoken in France, German in Germany, etc, but he is ignorant of the names or the places and cultures of Indian languages. These evidences are in part due to the education system which NEP-2020 seeks to rectify but they betray a language-culture based insular mindset among Hindi speakers, ranging from a low-ranking CISF official to a Union Government Secretary to a university language professor. This mindset in Indias diverse society indicates that national integration has a long way to go. Towards inclusiveness People associate language and appearance (facial features, skin-colour, dress). People from our Northeastern states have distinctive features and speaking accent. There have been vicious attacks on such individuals, suspecting them to be Chinese, and hence not Indian. [The reason they are not suspected to be say, Japanese, is that Chinese are cause for negative emotions]. Civilized social transactions between one individual and another whose language or appearance is different, is based upon both education and respect for differences in language, religion, custom, etc. Fraternity in our Constitution Preamble cannot be promoted unless genuine interest in the diverse languages and cultures, and the dignity of the individuals who speak these languages are first promoted. This is not possible if one language or culture is given primacy over another. The political consequences of language imposition in 1937, 1948, 1965 and 1971 should not be forgotten. The genuine concerns of non-Hindi speakers is that imposition of Hindi leads to cultural homogenization detrimental to their own cultures. These concerns need to be sincerely addressed, else the stage is set for divisiveness rather than for integration. [S.Anandi & S.Vijayabaskar; Making Sense of Tamil Nadus Anti-Hindi Protests; The Wire; July 11, 2017; https://thewire.in/politics/tamil-nadu-anti-hindi-protests]. National integration cannot be by diktat. The noble purpose of NEP-2020, is ... to develop good human beings ... for building an equitable, inclusive, and plural society as envisaged by our Constitution. Primacy given to Hindi-Sanskrit in NEP-2020 over other languages cannot lead to overcoming the insularity of Hindi speakers. If TLF is revised to give due importance to non-Hindi languages, it will move Indians towards genuine acceptance of an inclusive and plural society which We the People deserve. Author: Maj Gen S.G.Vombatkere remains interested in developmental and strategic issues. Contact: sg9kere[at]live.com NOTES List of Languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media BRIDGEPORT Two people were wounded in a shooting in the city Thursday night, police said. Around 9:50 p.m., police responded to St. Vincents Medical Center after personnel there alerted officers to two walk-in gunshot wound victims. Demonstrators groups gathered outside Argentina's Congress in Buenos Aires on Thursday to protest the government's controversial justice reform project. Meanwhile, inside the building, senators discussed the legislation which, according to the opposition, seeks to protect Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. Fernandez de Kirchner faces numerous formal investigations into allegations of money laundering and criminal association. She also faces trial on charges that she covered up the role of Iranians alleged to be tied to a 1994 terrorist bombing at a Buenos Aires Jewish centre that killed 85 people. Thursday's debate was led by the vice president herself as head of the Senate. One of the objections from the opposition group, Together for Change, is that the bill aims to dilute the power of the federal courts dealing with hot cases of alleged political corruption. Other critics point out the initiative gives priority to the excessive creation of courts, leading to an unjustified increase in public spending. According to Argentine President Alberto Fernandez, the project aims to "consolidate an independent justice system" that will succeed in reversing "the crisis" of credibility affecting federal jurisdiction. (Image Credit Pixabay) Kolkata: Nearly two months after deciding to call off over a century-old Poush Mela, Visva-Bharati authorities on Friday said that the central university is ready to organise the fair if it gets financial help from the Union government. Vice-Chancellor Prof Bidyut Chakraborty told a meeting that if the institute has to hold the fair, it also needs full cooperation of all stakeholders including local people and traders, according to a member of the Executive Council (EC), the highest decision-making body of the university. At the meeting with the institute's non-teaching employees, Chakraborty said that since Visva-Bharati does not have the financial means to organise Poush Mela on a big scale, the university would request help from the Centre. Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta had on Wednesday suggested that the central government organise Poush Mela, holding that it is not possible for Visva-Bharati to manage such a huge fair on its own. "The VC also said that going by the experience in the past two years, the university needs assurance from everyone concerned that there will be full compliance of the guidelines of National Green Tribunal (NGT) and Pollution Control Board," the EC member who was present at the virtual meeting told PTI. Visva-Bharati authorities had on July 4 decided to scrap Poush Mela citing its "bitter experience" of the last two years in organising the winter carnival in Santiniketan amid a tussle with traders on making them comply with environmental guidelines. Poush Mela is a handicraft, handloom, art, and music festival held in the Bengali month of Poush, usually December-end. Rabindranath Tagore's father Maharshi Debendranath Tagore first organised the fair in 1894 and Visva-Bharati, the university founded by the Nobel laureate, started organising it from 1951. Unhappy with Visva-Bharatis decision to call off Poush Mela, a local traders' body on August 15 prevented the university authorities from erecting a boundary wall around the fairground. Two days later, thousands of locals ransacked the property of the institute and tore down a gate to protest against the fencing work. On the demand for scrapping the plan to fence the fairground, Chakraborty said that it is important to demarcate some areas of the university to protect the sanctity of the place and save these places from encroachment. The fencing work was to be undertaken "as per central government/UGC directives and CAG special security audit recommendations," Chakraborty had stated earlier. The Trinamool Congress government had condemned the violence, but threw its weight behind the protestors, as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that she does not want any construction to take place on that site. At the meeting, the VC also called for "a halt in activities not commensurate with Tagore's ideals on the Poush Mela ground by some people" and called for everyone's help to stop such practice. There have been allegations that anti-social activities take place on the fairground. On July 4, the vice-chancellor had said the central university had to bear all expenses and take responsibility for organising Poush Mela, but a section of stall-owners did not pay heed to the environmental guidelines. As a result, the university was pulled up by NGT for flouting environmental rules for two successive years and it had to pay hefty fines running into lakhs to West Bengal Pollution Control Board. The owner and the manager of hotel Capitol Residency at Ranchis station road were booked for allegedly offering room to Tej Pratap, former Bihar health minister and son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, on Thursday evening, police said. The FIR was lodged against them at Ranchis Chutia police station on a written complaint of circle officer (CO), Ranchi, Prakash Kumar. In his complaint, Kumar said that when he visited room no-507 of the hotel around 9 pm on Thursday, Tej Pratap was found staying there, which was a violation of the government order during the Covid-19 pandemic. Officer-in-charge of Chutia police station Ravi Thakur said, Hotel manager Dushyant Kumar and the owner have been booked under sections 188 and 34 of Indian Penal code (IPC). He said hotels have not been permitted to operate in Jharkhand yet amid the pandemic. In such a case, they cannot offer rooms to anyone. It is a violation of lockdown rules, he said. Pratap was in Ranchi on Thursday and met former Bihar chief minister and his father Lalu Prasad Yadav at Kellys bungalow located in the premises of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS). Yadav is undergoing medical treatment there. An accused in the fodder scam, the RJD president was serving jail terms and has been admitted to RIMS since December 2018 for the treatment of is critical illness. Pratap told media persons that he met his father to enquire about his health and discussed political issues as well. Before meeting Lalu, Pratap underwent rapid antigen test and was allowed to meet his father after testing negative for SARS-Cov-2. When Jharkhand RJD president Abhay Singh was contacted for his comment over FIR, he said, I have no official information of any such development. As far as I know, Tej Pratap had left the city on Thursday night. State BJP spokesperson, Pratul Shahdeo, however, alleged that the hotel owner was made a scapegoat, as the government did not dare to take any action against Tej Pratap who openly flouted the lockdown norms. Over 60 vehicles entered the city with the RJD leader. A large contingent of party workers from Bihar and Jharkhand accompanied the leader in an open violation of social distancing and other Covid-19 norms in the hospital and around the city, but the administration took no action. To save its skin, the police filed FIR against the hotel owner. It should be probed under whose pressure did the hotel owner give a room to Tej Pratap, Shahdeo said. Reacting to the development, the federation of Jharkhand chamber of commerce and industries (FJCCI) office-bearers said the FIR was uncalled for. Hotel owners know that offering rooms to anyone during lockdown is a violation of Covid-19 protocol. But, the situation for them turns tough when leaders like Tej Pratap seek room. The administration should take care when any such leaders come to Ranchi, said Dheeraj Taneja, FJCCI general secretary. But arts advantage over both plague and common predicament is that it is never just life never really a mirror of life. It always gives us a potent intensification or distillation of some aspect of it: tragic, comic, elegiac, erotic or, in the case of the art of anxiety, a sense of disorientation and shadowy, intangible menace. These arent pleasant feelings, but any strong and pure distillation, even of fear, can intoxicate us. It can even enchant us. Around the age of 12, I was mesmerized by Edgar Allan Poe stories like The Pit and the Pendulum and The Masque of the Red Death. Children like scary stories. Hitchcock movies, film noirs and other thrillers, or the perennially popular horror genre inherited from Poe and Mary Shelley, bring us back to a half-forgotten but unconsciously persistent childhood perspective, which is one of being always a little lost, having to find our way in a sometimes perilous world full of unknown things and places and people, most of them much larger than ourselves, and featuring a regularly encroaching, scary nighttime darkness and solitude. Scott Morrison has revealed why his family would take a coronavirus vaccine made using cell lines from an electively-aborted foetus. The prime minister, who is a practicing Christian, has publicly responded for the first time to prominent religious leaders who have threatened to boycott the coronavirus vaccine. Catholic, Anglican and Greek Orthodox church leaders have expressed concerns about the vaccine being developed at Oxford University. Australia has signed a letter of intent with vaccine developer AstraZeneca and Oxford University to manufacture and distribute a COVID-19 vaccine, should their trials prove successful. The Prime Minister announced the government had sign a memorandum of understanding with AstraZeneca Australia to secure the promising Oxford University vaccine candidate (pictured: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison tours the Astra Zeneca laboratories in Macquarie Park, Sydney, Wednesday, August 19, 2020) The three senior Sydney clerics sought assurances the Oxford candidate would not be mandatory and nobody would be forced to prescribe or dispense that version of a vaccine. They also urged the prime minister to ensure an 'ethically uncontroversial alternative' would be made available. Mr Morrison said he was respectful of and sensitive to their views but would get the vaccine and recommend it to others once it cleared all clinical trials. He has previously stated his family would also take the vaccine once available. The prime minister pointed out the cells being used were cloned from others which were sourced as far as the 1970s. 'So it's not current cells that have been taken from abortions or anything like that, this is stuff going back 40 years,' he told 2SM radio on Friday. 'And there are many vaccines at the moment that are out there currently in widespread use which draw on that'. Mr Morrison said his job was to weigh religious objections against the public interest. 'In this case, given the concerns relate to things that happened 40 years ago, it's not a current practice, personally I am comfortable with that,' he said. 'But I mean, these are personal judgments that people make and you've got to always be respectful of other people's views.' AstraZeneca's headquarters in Sydney on August 19 (pictured) where the PM visited to announce an agreement with the company to provide the Oxford University vaccine to Australians if the candidate was successful Cells derived from elective abortions have been used since the 1960s to manufacture vaccines against rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis A, and shingles. They have also been used to fight diseases including haemophilia, rheumatoid arthritis and cystic fibrosis. The Oxford vaccine uses HEK (human embryonic kidney) 293 cell lines, obtained from a female foetus in the Netherlands in 1973. The cells have been modified so they can replicate infinitely, so there is no demand for new cells by scientists. Deputy Chief Medial Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth addressed the issue on Tuesday saying there would be stringent ethical practices used by Oxford University. 'The human cell is really important part of their development, and clearly in the process for the Oxford vaccine, which is one of the leading candidates for COVID-19 vaccines, that was an important part of that process,' Dr Coatsworth said. 'There are strong ethical regulations surrounding the use of any human cell, particularly foetal human cells, and this is a very professional, highly powered research unit at Oxford University, one of the world's leading universities'. Coming soon: A scientist works on the potential vaccine at the Jenner Institute in Oxford 'The nation exists from us and we exist from the nation', says PM Modi PM Modi speaks to SAD leader Parkash Singh Badal after he tests positive for Covid-19 Who is Mahatma Ayyankali: The Dalit leader whom PM Modi praised today India oi-Briti Roy Barman New Delhi, Aug 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tribute to social reformer Mahatma Ayyankali on his 157th birth anniversary sharing PM's 5 years old speech on Ayyankali Jayanti on social media. "India remains indebted to greats like Mahatma Ayyankali. His work towards social reform and empowering the downtrodden will always inspire. Remembering him on his Jayanti." The Prime Minister said that India would remain indebted to Ayyankali. "A few years ago, had attended a program to mark his Jayanti. Here is my speech..., " the PM said in a tweet. Ayyankali Jayanthi 2020 commemorates the birthday of Ayyankali, an social reformer in Travancore, British India. The day is celebrated across Kerala. Who is Mahatma Ayyankali Flight rules: Banned from flying if you remove mask & more news | Oneindia News Born on August 28th, 1963 in a small village in the princely state of Travancore, now within the south of the modern-day nation of Kerala, Ayyankali efforts influenced many changes that improved social wellbeing of those people, who are today referred to as Dalits. Ayyankali was the first of eight children born to Ayyan and Mala, who were members of the Pulayar community of untouchable people. Growing up illiterate and seeing that many Pulayars had been efficaciously rural slaves, Ayyankali resolved to do what he should to get rid of boundaries of the caste system. Ayyankali became a stated protestor for Pulayar rights. Because of the protests led through Ayyankali, in 1907 a decree turned into issued to confess students from the untouchable network to government schools. When a school was burned down because a Puluyar female had attempted to enroll, Ayyankali organised a strike by way of the rural workers within the location. Ayyankali led to large scale changes in the social outlook of the southern Indian state of Kerala. The messiah of the Pulaya community of Kerala, describes Ayyankali as a 'Raja'. Mahatma Gandhi called Ayyankali as 'Pulaya king'. Indira Gandhi described him as 'India's greatest son'. Ayyankali, who has been described as "the most important Dalit leader of modern Kerala" passed away in 1941. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 28, 2020, 15:47 [IST] The leadership of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress has postponed its manifesto launch which was originally slated for Monday, 31st August, 2020 to Monday, September 7, 2020. It was contained in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah. At its weekly meeting held on Thursday the 27th of August, 2020, the Functional Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress has fixed Monday the 7th day of September, 2020 as the date for the launch in Accra of the partys manifesto for the December 2020 General Elections. "This is to enable the National Executive Committee and the Council of Elders approve the policy principles and strategies promised in the Manifesto," the statement said. Speaking to Peace FM's 6pm News bulletin, the Director of Communications of the party, Lawyer Kakra Essamuah explained that the party is still waiting for approval on some of their policies in the manifesto. "As a party, we believe in the good policies that will help improve the living conditions of Ghanaians and be able to make sure that Ghanaians enjoy good governance when we take power in 2021," he told Nana Yaw Kesseh. Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Not for distribution to United States news wire services or for dissemination in the United States. CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / August 28, 2020 / Big Dougie Capital Corp. ("Big Dougie") (TSXV:STUV.P) is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated March 27, 2020, it has entered into a definitive share exchange agreement dated May 28, 2020 (the "Share Exchange Agreement") with Compania Minera Auberon SpA ("Auberon") and Inversiones Romelio SpA ("Romelio", and together with Auberon, the "Andina Unitholders") pursuant to which Big Dougie will, subject to certain conditions, acquire all of the issued and outstanding units (the "Andina Units") of Compania Recursos Andina Limitada ("Andina"). The transaction (the "Qualifying Transaction") is intended to constitute Big Dougie's "Qualifying Transaction" (within the meaning of Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange")). About Andina Andina is a private limited partnership formed under the laws of Chile on December 20, 2019 and is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and evaluation of mineral properties. Andina owns a 100% interest in the exploration-stage Coba Southwest Project, located approximately 55 kilometres north-northwest of Vallenar in the Atacama Region (Region III), Chile. The Coba Southwest Project is accessible by road and consists of three (3) exploration claims and four (4) exploitation claims totaling 820 hectares. A technical report in support of the Coba Southwest Project was prepared by Eric L. Hanson, P. Geo, an independent "Qualified Person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 and will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days from the date of this news release. As of the date hereof, there are 100 Andina Units outstanding and held entirely by the Andina Unitholders. Auberon, a corporation registered under the laws of Chile and controlled by Gert Karl Ellard Zelanzuela, a resident of Chepica Abajo, Chile, holds 60 Andina Units and Romelio, a corporation registered under the laws of Chile and controlled by Cecilia Alday Araya, a resident of Santiago, Chile, holds 40 Andina Units. Therefore, Auberon and Romelio each own, control or direct 10% or more of the outstanding Andina Units. Terms of the Proposed Qualifying Transaction Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, Big Dougie will acquire all of the Andina Units from the Andina Unitholders in exchange for the payment by Big Dougie of USD $500,000 and the issuance of an aggregate 50,000,000 common shares of Big Dougie (each, a "Big Dougie Common Share") at a deemed price of $0.055 per share. Further to its news release dated March 27, 2020, Al Kroontje, a director and insider of Big Dougie, advanced to Andina a non-refundable deposit of USD $250,000 (the "Deposit"). Big Dougie did not advance any funds towards the Deposit and in the event the Qualifying Transaction does not close, Big Dougie shall not, in accordance with the policies of the Exchange, repay any of the Deposit to Mr. Kroontje. At closing of the Qualifying Transaction, Andina will be wholly owned by Big Dougie. Completion of the proposed Qualifying Transaction is subject to, among other things, receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. As the proposed Qualifying Transaction is not a "Non-Arm's Length Qualifying Transaction" (within the meaning of Policy 2.4 of the Exchange), the Share Exchange Agreement does not require approval of the shareholders of Big Dougie (the "Big Dougie Shareholders"). Upon completion of the Qualifying Transaction, it is expected that Big Dougie will be a Tier 2 mining issuer pursuant to the policies of the Exchange. Private Placement Prior to or in conjunction with the completion of the Qualifying Transaction, Big Dougie is expected to complete a non-brokered private placement of up to 22,000,000 Big Dougie Common Shares at a price of $0.055 per Big Dougie Common Share (the "Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds to Big Dougie of up to $1,210,000 (the "Private Placement"). In connection with the Private Placement, BDC, in its discretion, may pay a cash commission of up to 7% of the gross proceeds from the sale of BDC Common Shares and issue such number of broker warrants ("BDC Broker Warrants") that is equal to up to 7% of the number of BDC Common Shares sold pursuant to the Private Placement. Each BDC Broker Warrant will entitle the holder to one (1) BDC Common Share and is exercisable at a price of $0.055 per BDC Common Share for a period of 12 months from the date of issuance, subject to the requirements of the TSXV. It is intended that the net proceeds from the Private Placement will be used for the exploration and development of the Coba Southwest Project and general working capital following completion of the Qualifying Transaction. Conditions to Completion of the Qualifying Transaction Completion of the proposed Qualifying Transaction is subject to a number of conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, (i) acceptance by the Exchange and receipt of other applicable regulatory approvals; and (ii) completion of the Private Placement. There can be no assurance that the Qualifying Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Big Dougie intends to apply to the Exchange for an exemption from the sponsorship requirements for the Qualifying Transaction based upon the exemptions available in Exchange policies. Proposed Directors and Senior Management Team Upon the closing of the Qualifying Transaction, it is anticipated that Al Kroontje, Dale Burstall, Terence Walker and Jeff Graw will constitute the Board of Directors of Big Dougie. It is also anticipated that the new senior management team of Big Dougie will be comprised of Al Kroontje (Chief Executive Officer and Corporate Secretary), Terence Walker (Vice-President Exploration) and Jana Lillies (Chief Financial Officer). The following are brief resumes of the currently proposed directors and officers of Big Dougie following the Qualifying Transaction: Al Kroontje, Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Secretary and Director Mr. Kroontje is the President of Tailwind Capital Partners Inc. and has been involved with numerous corporate start-ups and corporate restructurings. Mr. Kroontje holds a Bachelor of Science degree (Chemical Engineering) from the University of Waterloo, Ontario. Mr. Kroontje also holds a P. Eng. designation from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geologists of Alberta but is currently a non-practicing engineer. Mr. Kroontje currently or in the past has served as a Director and Officer of several public companies listed on the TSX, the Exchange or the NEX board of the Exchange. Dale Burstall, Director Mr. Burstall practices in the area of commercial law with an emphasis on securities law. Mr. Burstall's practice includes all aspects of securities law from both the perspective of an issuer or an underwriter, including initial public offerings, secondary financing, mergers and acquisitions, all dealings with regulators including stock exchanges and securities commissions, and corporate governance. He also practices in business and corporate commercial law, including shareholder agreements, and managing shareholder disputes. Mr. Burstall is a director or secretary of several issuers, both listed and private. Mr. Burstall is also a director or trustee of charitable organizations. In addition, Mr. Burstall has in the past and continues to sit on certain advisory committees of the ASC and the Exchange. Terence Walker, Vice-President Exploration and Director Mr. Walker is a professional geologist with over 52 years of experience in mineral exploration in 12 countries. Mr. Walker resides in the city of La Serena, Chile. He has a BSc. (Geology) from the London School of Mines and a MSc. (Geology) from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec and holds P. Geo. from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geologists of British Columbia. Jeff Graw, Director Mr. Jeff M. Graw has 36 years of experience in the Geophysical Industry, starting his career with Canadian Superior Oil Ltd. in 1984 which later became Mobil Oil Canada. He was the founder and president of Spectrum Seismic Processing Ltd. in 1994 until it was sold in 2007 to the public company Divestco Inc. After working in the processing division Jeff left Divestco and joined Apoterra Seismic Processing Ltd. in 2015 as a consultant and in 2016 became a partner and president of the company. Jana Lillies, Chief Financial Officer Ms. Lillies is the controller for PetroFrontier Corp., an Alberta-based oil and gas company listed on the Exchange and a former director of ChaiNode Opportunities Corp. (now Dore Copper Mining Corp.). Prior thereto, Ms. Lillies was the Chief Financial Officer of Elkwater Resources, an oil and gas company listed on the TSX Venture, from 2000 until 2014. Ms. Lillies is the Corporate Secretary of Lithium Chile Inc. and also provides accounting and administrative services through a private consulting firm in Calgary. Over the past 10 years, Ms. Lillies has been a director of several CPCs listed on Exchange that completed their Qualifying Transactions. Ms. Lillies completed an Applied Bachelor of Business Administration Degree (Accounting) from Mount Royal University and holds a CGA, CPA designation. Qualified Person The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Eric L. Hanson, P. Geo, an independent "Qualified Person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction. ANY SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, (THE "1933 ACT"), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAW, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO A U.S. PERSON IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE 1933 ACT. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAW. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the terms and conditions of the proposed Qualifying Transaction; the terms and conditions of the proposed Private Placement; use of proceeds from the Private Placement; and the business and operations of Big Dougie after the proposed Qualifying Transaction. 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; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; the price of gold and copper; and the results of current exploration. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Big Dougie and Andina disclaim 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 required by law. Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and if applicable pursuant to Exchange Requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information released or received with respect to the transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative. The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. For further information, please contact: Big Dougie Capital Corp. Al Kroontje Chief Executive Officer and Director Phone: (403) 607-4009 Email: al@kasten.ca 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 news release. SOURCE: Big Dougie Capital Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603863/Big-Dougie-Capital-Corp-Enters-into-Definitive-Agreement-for-Qualifying-Transaction Q. If I die and my estate and/or my wife take over the obligation of my monthly car lease payments, does my wife get the benefit of driving the car? Or not because she wasnt part of the original lease? Still around A. The answer will be in the terms of the lease contract. Many times death is considered an early termination of the lease, which means that the payments are still due, said Karra Kingston, a bankruptcy attorney in Union City. She said if there is a cosigner on the lease, the cosigner will be responsible for the payments. If there is not a cosigner, the estate will be liable for the payments. In the event you die, your wife should notify the car leasing company as soon as possible, Kingston said. In some cases the administrator of the estate can return the vehicle for some flat fee or the lender will agree to terminate the lease. Generally, because the person's estate is liable for the lease, the contract is still between the deceased and the car leasing company, Kingston said. To change this, your wife would have to review the terms of the contract or ask them to transfer the lease to her name, she said. Email your questions to Ask@NJMoneyHelp.com. Karin Price Mueller writes the Bamboozled column for NJ Advance Media and is the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Follow NJMoneyHelp on Twitter @NJMoneyHelp. Find NJMoneyHelp on Facebook. Sign up for NJMoneyHelp.coms weekly e-newsletter. Caretakers, show us your favourite horse! If you are a caretaker working at a stable or farm in Canada, wed love to receive a photo of you with that special horse in your care! Enter SCs photo contest and you could win a great prize package! The deadline to enter is Sunday, August 30 at 5:00 p.m. All you need to do is email your photo and a short write up, (100 words or less) that explains why this horse is your favourite, or what this horse means to you. Email your entry to [email protected]. SC will select one winner from the submissions*, and the winner will receive the following prize package: Equine Guelph Short Course (click here to view the options) One Year Subscription to TrackIT $100 Visa Gift Card SC will also share many of the photos submitted in advance of the Virtual edition of National Caretaker Appreciation Day from September 18-20. (*By submitting your photos, you are giving SC permission to use them in print and on the web) Today marks the 57th anniversary Martin Luther King Jr.s speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom that made the words I have a dream an iconic part of civil rights history. For Jacksonville resident Allan Metcalf, it brings memories of a time in college when he not only met King but was able to sit and have breakfast with him. He was very, very charismatic, Metcalf said. Its no wonder he was a good leader. Metcalf, a MacMurray College professor-emeritus, was studying at Cornell University at the time King visited the school. I was editor of the school paper, a sophomore or junior, and he came by promoting one of his many entities, Metcalf said. Notebook in hand and pen in pocket, Metcalf along with five other reporters from the school newspaper were invited to sit and eat breakfast with the civil rights leader, which opened the door to interview him. I had a notebook but I couldnt take one note because I felt it was disrespectful, Metcalf said of how engaging and intelligent King was. He was smart and it wasnt a speech or interview, it was a conversation, he said. It was the most memorable interview I have ever done. Despite not taking any notes so he could focus on Kings words, Metcalf was quick to get back to the newsroom and report what he had learned. King was a minister and activist who became the most visible spokesman in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. I met him in 1959 and he was just one of the good leaders, Metcalf said. Metcalf is the author of several books, such as, OK: The Improbable Story of Americas Greatest Word and How We Talk. He lives at Heritage Health: Therapy & Senior Care and despite the pandemic keeping him indoors he is taking this time to research several new projects. Its hard at times because I am not able to go outside, but I do have a beautiful view from my window, he said. The National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) 2019 HIV Sentinel Survey Report said Ghana recorded 19,000 new HIV/AIDS cases with an estimated 14,000 deaths in 2018. Dr Stephen Ayisi Addo, the Programme Manager of the National AIDS/STI Control Programme, said in 2019 the routine deaths dropped marginally to 11,797 and in 2020, between January and June, Ghana had recorded 798 deaths. People living with HIV in 2019 totalled 339,727 but rose to 345,534 in 2020. Dr Addo, at the launch of the Sentinel Report, said the Bono Region had taken the lead as the region with the highest prevalence followed by the Greater Accra Region, with the Oti Region recording the least. The Report was to determine the HIV and syphilis prevalence among Anti-Natal Care (ANC) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) clients and monitor the trends in HIV and syphilis prevalence among ANC and STI clients at sentinel sites. It is also to provide data for the estimation and projection of HIV prevalence in the general population of Ghana to inform intervention programmes. Dr Addo, who presented the Report, said though the results indicated that the prevalence of the disease was dawn, the Programme remained focused in achieving epidemic control by 2030. By 2030, our projections are that we would have epidemic control where we would have eliminated mother-to-child transfusion. We are first targeting our 90/90 vision by 2023, 95/95 by 2025, then finally epidemic control by 2030, he said. He said there were still high rates of infections in urban centres than in rural centres, adding that the HIV prevalence for 2019 among pregnant women was 2.0 per cent. He said HIV prevalence among STI clients was 5.7 per cent, a decrease from 9.2 per cent, and Syphilis prevalence among STI clients remained at 0.3 per cent. Median Syphilis prevalence for 2019 was 0.2 per cent in urban and 0.4 per cent in rural locations, whilst mean Syphilis prevalence was 0.5 per cent in urban and 0.7 per cent in rural locations, he said. Dr Ayisi called for financial support for the National AIDS Fund, especially private sector support, to help cater for patients. Dr Kofi Issah, Director of Family Health Division of the Ghana Health Service, said the fight against HIV/AIDS should not be hindered by the COVID-19. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 around the world all attention has been geared towards the virus, relegating HIV/AIDs to the background. Both viruses need to be pursued without leaving any behind, because both are national concerns, he said. Dr Issah said NACP should maintain the quality of data it collected since it was the primary source of data for National HIV estimates and projections. You need to continuously enhance additional demographic analysis and sustain survey in new regions to establish trend, he said. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video New Delhi: Even as National Testing Agency (NTA) has decided to conduct NEET on September 13 and JEE Mains for under-graduate Engineering Colleges and Institutes from September 1 to 6, false propaganda is being created in the name of students that these examinations should be cancelled in view of the coronavirus pandemic. Ministers of six non-BJP ruled states on Friday (August 28) moved the Supreme Court against its order allowing the holding of NEET and JEE exams amid the pandemic scare, as the row over the contentious issues intensified with the top Congress leadership stepping up its offensive against the central government. More than 28 lakh students are expected to take the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test and the Joint Entrance Examination for admission to medical and engineering colleges across the country. Since all these students would cast their votes for the first time in the upcoming elections, the exercise on part of these political parties seems to woo the large chunk of youth voters. The DNA analysis also favours that the demand of students to postpone NEET and JEE exams must be given a patient hearing. The complaints have reached from the Supreme Court to the Prime Minister. The Centre has also assured them that social distancing rules will be fully followed for the safety of students. Earlier, the Supreme Court refused to ban the examination issuing clear instructions that one year of students cannot be wasted. More than 150 academics and teachers have also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appealing him that it will be wrong to cancel these examinations. Despite this, six state governments, including West Bengal, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Maharashtra, filed a review petition in the Supreme Court today. Delhi government is also opposing the holding of these examinations, but it did not approach the top court. Chief ministers in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh (Shivraj Singh Chouhan) and Uttar Pradesh (Yogi Adityanath), however, backed holding of these exams as per schedule. Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said that politics should be kept away from education. However, a campaign against the exams has also been launched on social media to create an atmosphere that all students are not interested in taking the exams. On the contrary, a large number of students busy with their studies don't have time for Facebook and Twitter. Through fake Twitter and Facebook accounts, fake pieces of information are being shared with old photos for cancellation of the exams. When the DNA report examined a few campaigns on social media, it came out to be fake. Many of these accounts sharing fake posts were associated with IT cells of political parties. You can understand that political parties are least interested in the future of students but more concerned about seducing this opportunity to capitalise on the popular sentiments of students. Like in the death case of Sushant Singh Rajput, this issue is also being hyped by certain political parties to create a fake atmosphere. Innocent viewers, sitting at their home, may fall prey to such propaganda. If we look at this issue from the opposite angle and imagine about the government decision to cancel the NEET and JEE exams amid coronavirus, the same set of people with their political masters would be seen staging protests, and through fake social media posts, stating that a precious year of students has been wasted. Notably, if these exams are not held this year, the number of seats will remain the same next year, but the number of students will double and students will ultimately suffer. An Iron County judge has ordered a new primary election will be held for the Republican nomination for the countys sheriff position. On Thursday, Iron County Circuit Judge Kelly Parker entered judgment for a new sheriff election to take place Sept. 22, following a petition filed by Iron County Sheriff Roger Medley contesting the results of the August primary election. Medley's petition filed last week alleged that several irregularities occurred during the election, and requested the court to order the sheriff primary to be redone. Medley sought re-election as the county sheriff in the Aug. 4 primary election but was defeated by challenger and former-Iron County Deputy Jeff Burkett. Medleys petition detailed multiple claims supporting the request for a new election, including discrepancies in vote numbers, election judge irregularities, and issues with voting ballots. After a preliminary hearing held Wednesday, Judge Parker found that there were multiple and substantial irregularities of sufficient magnitude to cast doubt on, and place under suspicion, the validity of the primary election in Iron County for the Republican nomination for Sheriff of Iron County, Missouri. The court further found that, beyond substantial irregularities, the Aug. 4 primary election was fraught with multiple errors and violations of the Missouri election laws. Among the errors that occurred in the election were voting irregularities at the Ghermanville Precinct. Initial ballots provided to voters in the Ghermanville Precinct incorrectly allowed voters to vote on the Southern District Commissioner candidates rather than the Western District Commissioner candidates. The automatic tabulating machine provided to the precinct for voters to cast their ballots was programmed to accept those incorrect ballots. When the incorrect ballot issue was discovered by former-County Clerk Stephanie Lebron, correct ballots were provided to the precinct sometime after 1 p.m. However, since the automatic tabulating machine was not programmed to accept the correct ballots, those ballots were rejected by the machine, according to the judgment. (Lebron resigned after the election.) When ballots in the precinct were rejected, they were to be placed in the emergency slot on the tabulating machine. Although it is unclear who placed the rejected ballots in the emergency slot, at least on some occasions, an election judge took possession of the ballots from voters and placed them in the emergency slot, Judge Parker stated in the judgment. Some voters were told to give their ballots to an election judge rather than to attempt to feed the ballot into the automatic tabulating machine. The court found that a total of 51 ballots were ultimately placed in the emergency slot of the machine at the precinct. When voting ended, the election judges in the precinct attempted to remove the ballots from the machine but were unable to gain access with the key provided. The machine was taken, with all ballots remaining inside, to the County Clerk's Office. Once at the clerk's office, access to the ballots was obtained and the ballots in the emergency slot were manually counted. Although it is unclear to the court, it is the court's recollection of the evidence that the election judges from the Ghermanville Precinct were not present for the counting of any of the votes from the Ghermanville Precinct, the judgment states. Due to the problems at the voting precinct, at least one election judge from the precinct refused to serve on what was referred to as the verification committee. In Thursdays judgment, the court also addressed discrepancies between the total number of votes reported to the Missouri Secretary of State and the number of votes certified by the Iron County Clerks Office. Sometime during the late evening of Aug. 4, and the very early morning hours of Aug. 5, Lebron or one of her employees reported the results of the primary election, along with the total votes cast, to the Missouri Secretary of State. The court determined that the total number of votes reported to the Missouri Secretary of State by Lebron's office was 168 votes more than her office ultimately certified. The apparent explanation for this discrepancy is some form of human error. Nevertheless, such a large discrepancy in the reporting of the total votes cast is irregular, states the judgment. Other irregularities were cited by the court, including the fact that one election judge worked a voting poll despite being the mother-in-law of a candidate for sheriff, Ben Starnes. Ultimately, the court ruled that the election should be redone with all county sheriff candidates who appeared on the August ballot appearing on the new primary election ballot in the same order. With full understanding that ordering a new primary election is a drastic and extraordinary remedy, this court feels compelled by the facts of this case to grant just that relief, the court stated in its judgment. Nothing short of a new primary election for the contested office will remove the suspicion and doubt about the validity of that election. Judge Parker explained that by ordering a new primary election with all of the same candidates, it is the court's intent to return Contestant Medley and Contestee Burkett to the previously existing state of affairs and nothing more. To do otherwise would most certainly give one advantage over the other. Bobby Radford is a reporter for the Daily Journal. He can be reached at bradford@dailyjournalonline.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 2 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Beijing's Zhongguancun is the first high-technology development zone and National Self-dependent Innovation Demonstration Area approved in China after the country implemented the reform and opening-up policy. The technology hub is home to over 90 universities and nearly a million college students, more than 400 state-level scientific institutions, and over 20,000 high-tech firms. It is one of the most active regions in the world regarding entrepreneurship and investment. Gu Zhu is an entrepreneur that runs the tech firm GAGO Inc. in Zhongguancun. Born in the 1980s, Gu was once an aerospace scientist studying satellite remote sensing. Now, he is digging into agricultural big data services in his office in a building less than 500 meters away from the southeast gate of Peking University, one of the most elite higher institutions in China. Gu's office houses a spring ploughing platform where the development of ploughing, germination and agricultural capital across the entire country is shown in real time. The data are generated automatically by satellite analysis. The platform was developed by Gu's company in just 10 days responding to urgent demand during COVID-19 prevention and control. "I studied space science for my PhD. It taught me how to analyze satellite data," Gu told People's Daily. "We can see where the crops are planted, their coverage, and the amount planted by each province based on satellite images," he added. Apart from area measurement, Gu's company also collects, processes and analyzes satellite remote sensing, meteorological and Internet of Things (IoT) data based on artificial intelligence, so as to offer data support and management services for the agricultural sector and relevant clients. The company's services cover the whole agricultural chain, from field planning to production cycle prediction, and from pest control to agricultural finance. As urbanization advances its steps, rural regions are seeing a declining population and a rising number of professional farmers. Gu expects that he can digitalize, program and concretize the rich experiences gained by Chinese farmers, so that the green hands in the industry may have a quick understanding of the earth beneath them and better carry on these agricultural big data. So far, GAGO Inc.'s big data services have been used on over 20 million hectares of land in multiple Chinese provinces, including major grain production zones in the north and economic crop plantations in the south. Nowadays, the global climate change is bringing huge uncertainties to agricultural production. Though weather forecast is seen everywhere, farmers want their personalized demand to be satisfied. "Farmers from Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang and northeast China definitely have different demands, so we must know what they want first and then offer proper data," Gu said. His company has launched a digital agricultural platform that features multiple functions such as the acquisition, storage, and analysis of agricultural big data, as well as visualization module. The platform enables users to easily access information from weather condition to crop growth, so that they can make timely adjustment to their farming activities, the deployment of agricultural machineries, and pesticide spraying. Hails, strong winds, droughts and floods always cause huge losses for agriculture, so it is vital to buffer the risks of natural disasters. Analyzing 50 years of agricultural meteorological data in Southeast Asia, GAGO Inc.'s digital agricultural platform can forecast weathers in the next couple of weeks, with a precision of 1 kilometer. To have a better understanding of agriculture and farmers, Gu and his teams always visit the crop fields across the county. "Casual talks with the farmers are treasures for us," Gu said. Gu was once interviewed in the documentary China Reinvents Itself, in which he says the real big data is in the heads of farmers. "You don't need to tell them that there's a rain tomorrow, and they know whether to water, apply fertilizer, or just sleep at home with just a simple look at the sunset glow," he explained. "It's normal for models to make mistakes, so we must communicate with the farmers to improve the models for better prediction. We want them to bid a farewell to the days when they count on the sky for harvest, and embrace a new era in which they make proper and timely responses to the changes of the weather," Gu told People's Daily. China's recent military exercises not targeted at any country PLA Daily Source: China Military Online Editor: Li Jiayao 2020-08-27 16:54:56 BEIJING, Aug. 27 -- China's recent military exercises in waters of the Yellow Sea and the South China Sea are not targeted at any country, said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense of China, at a regular press conference on Thursday. Wu Qian said that according to the annual military training arrangement, the Chinese military recently organized routine military exercises in the sea and airspace to the southeast of Qingdao and to the west of Lvshun, in the sea and airspace around the Nansha islands and reefs, and in the sea and airspace of the Xisha Islands and to the north of Xisha Islands. Wu stressed that the above exercises are not targeted at any country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Korean experts wait around a luggage carousel at Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam, July 2, 2020. Photo courtesy of An Ninh Hai Phong newspaper. Incomplete removal of infections at their source, lax border control and carelessness of quarantine facilities have exposed Vietnam to higher risks of further Covid-19 outbreaks. This assessment was mentioned by acting Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long at an online government meeting Thursday. While saying that "the outbreak in Da Nang, Quang Nam, Hai Duong and other localities is basically under control," Long stressed that the country would continue to see more domestic infection cases and warned of the possibility of another outbreak if the public was not careful. He said a major reason for Vietnams vulnerability to another outbreak was the failure to stop infections at the source during the second Covid-19 wave that hit the country starting July 25. The country has recorded 548 community transmissions since, most of them linked to Da Nang, the countrys Covid-19 epicenter at the moment. The acting minister also noted that 60 percent of infected patients hadnt shown any symptoms before their diagnosis, indicating that the "pathogen still exists and will continue to spread, which might cause a new outbreak some time." He also warned that the pandemic may spread at a rapid pace among the community during the winter-spring season, given the humid weather. Another major reason that poses high risk of community transmission is the lack of strict management of incoming foreign experts and illegal immigrants, Long said. Vietnam has granted special permission to 10,000 foreign experts to enter the country for work, mainly Chinese and South Korean nationals, with others from Japan, Russia and Europe. However, many businesses have taken advantage of the priority immigration policy to bring unqualified foreigners into the country and failed to ensure their 14-day quarantine on arrival as mandated by the ministry, he said. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said at the meeting: "This is a serious matter." He asked relevant ministries to carefully review the process and procedures for foreign experts to enter Vietnam. "Local authorities must be strictly held responsible for the isolation of foreign experts in their areas, and they must do a very good job," Dam said. Vietnam stopped entry for foreign nationals on March 22 and suspended international flights on March 25, and only allows Vietnamese nationals and foreigners who have diplomatic or official passports or are experts or high-skilled workers. The government also requires foreign experts coming to Vietnam for work to get Covid-19 tests done before they arrive and to be quarantined on arrival for 14 days. Illegal immigrants are also a potential risk, officials said. A rising number of Chinese illegal immigrants sneaking into Vietnam to gamble or work have been caught recently. Among the illegal Chinese caught so far, one has tested positive in HCMC. He is being treated at Cu Chi field hospital. Long also highlighted the carelessness and neglect at centralized quarantine facilities as a factor in increasing the risks of a new outbreak of the coronavirus, citing the recent incident in Hai Duong Province as an example. Three men and a woman repatriated from Russia had been quarantined for 14 days at a military facility in the northern provinces Chi Linh Town. All three had been tested for the virus once and the results were negative. They were allowed to leave the quarantine camp and go home on August 25 even before they had received results of the second test. The results returned positive on the same day as they left, and a scramble has ensued to trace all the people whod come into contact with them. Long ordered that quarantined people waiting for results of the second tests are not allowed to leave. He also stressed that those allowed to return home after testing negative for the virus twice have to be closely monitored for another 14 days. Of Vietnams 1,036 Covid-19 cases so far, 367 are active, 30 people have died and the rest have recovered. Mental health professionals, rather than deputies, may be the right people to respond to cases involving known mental health issues, according to Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. Wolff's statement Friday follows the death of Damian Lamar Daniels, 30, who was the subject of four mental health-related calls before he was killed during a struggle with three Bexar County deputies Tuesday in the 11000 block of Liberty Field. "Based on the information I have regarding the unfortunate death of Damian Lamar Daniels, I believe this incident should have never happened. Daniels did not have a criminal history, but did have mental issues," Wolff said. READ MORE: Sheriff: Four mental health calls received for man killed by deputy A review of the call history showed that Daniels' family called for assistance Monday, Wolff said. Deputies went to his home, found him despondent, and gave the family information on accessing a mental health warrant. On Tuesday, deputies returned to the home following a call from the Red Cross, according to Wolff. He wrote that "a confrontation ensued that resulted in the shooting death of Daniels. The information I have is that he had a gun and the deputies were challenged." Activists gathered Thursday outside the Sheriff's Office to protest Daniels' death. Lexi Qaiyyim, an organizer with Young Ambitous Activists, said protestors do not believe officers are equipped to handle mental health calls. Wolff asked County Manager David Smith to review the shooting death, recommend changes in policy, and determine the additional staff that would be required to augment the Mental Health Department. "In cases like this, with known mental health issues, it may have been better to send crises mental health professionals rather than deputies with guns and uniforms," Wolff said. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: August 27, 2020 Release DOD Statement on Recent Chinese Ballistic Missile Launches "The Department of Defense is concerned about the People's Republic of China (PRC) recent decision to conduct military exercises, including the firing of ballistic missiles, around the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on August 23-29. Conducting military exercises over disputed territory in the South China Sea is counterproductive to easing tensions and maintaining stability. The PRC's actions, including missile tests, further destabilize the situation in the South China Sea. Such exercises also violate PRC commitments under the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to avoid activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, and call into question its motivations with ongoing negotiations for a Code of Conduct between China and ASEAN. This military exercise is the latest in a long string of PRC actions to assert unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea. The PRC's actions stand in contrast to its pledge to not militarize the South China Sea and are in contrast to the United States' vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, in which all nations, large and small, are secure in their sovereignty, free from coercion, and able to pursue economic growth consistent with accepted international rules and norms. The Department of Defense alerted the PRC in July that we would continue to monitor the situation with the expectation that the PRC will reduce its militarization and coercion of its neighbors in the South China Sea. The PRC chose to escalate its exercise activities by firing ballistic missiles. We urge all parties to exercise restraint and not undertake military activities that could threaten freedom of navigation and aggravate disputes in the South China Sea." https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2327641/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biniyam Shibre and Ariela Danielle will welcome their newborn on this season of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way. But this is the second time Biniyam is becoming a father. Biniyam shares a child with his estranged ex-wife. And in a recent social media post, the reality star shared a heartbreaking message about his first sons diagnosis at birth and how much he misses him Ariela and Biniyam on 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way | TLC Biniyam is having a baby with Ariela on this season of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way As seen in the premiere episode of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way, Biniyam met Ariela when she was visiting Ethiopia. The two dated for a few months before finding out Ariela was pregnant. Ariela returned to the United States for prenatal care but decided to go back to Ethiopia so Biniyam could be present for the delivery. I consulted with several lawyers hoping that Binny would be able to move to the U.S. to be with me in time for the birth of our son, and all of them told me that it would be a very difficult and long process, Ariel explains in a confessional. I think its really important for both parents to be present at the birth. So the only way we can do that is by me moving to Ethiopia. RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way Star Biniyam Shibre Claims His Son was Kidnapped Biniyam was in the U.S. for the birth of his first child As Ariela revealed on 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way, Biniyam was previously married to an American woman who he shares a child with. According to a report by The Hawkeye, his first wife, Bria, petitioned to get Biniyam to the United States for the birth of their son, Simon, who was born with a rare birth defect. And as indicated by pictures on his Instagram page, Biniyam did spend time with his son after he was born. He has posted pictures with his Simon as a toddler. And in some posts, he claims his ex-wife wont let him see or talk to their son. This is my beautiful son Simon, he captioned a 2019 photo of his son. I love him so much. Its been about a year now since he was taken from me. But I never lose hope that I will see him again. I want to say that I loved my ex-wife and my family, Biniyam explained in a more recent Instagram post. I still dont understand what happened. Even though I have a new life I am still confused and still hurt. Every day I miss my son. I havent seen him for two years. I just want my son. I just need my son. The 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way shares his sons diagnosis in a heartbreaking message In a recent Instagram post, Binyam shared a video of Simon when he was a newborn. In the caption, Biniyan shared his sons diagnosis at birth, along with a heartfelt message. My sister Wish made this video, he wrote. She misses him too. My son was born with gastroschisis but he is now three years old. The whole family misses him. In the comments, a follower asked Biniyam why his ex-wife left him. She went back to her high school friend, he replied. She wanted to hurt me but she hurts my son too by separating us. The Ministry of Aviation and its agencies are putting in place robust measures to ensure the safe reopening of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to international passenger traffic by Tuesday, September 1, this year. The preparations include the installation of seven temperature thermal scanners and 70 sample-taking booths, floor markings to ensure social distancing, counselling units and standby ambulances at Terminal Three of the airport. The protocols put in place are to ensure adequate physical distancing, the wearing of nose masks or coverings, enhanced sanitation and disinfection, health screening, contact tracing and the use of passenger health declaration forms. The measures are in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisations (ICAOs) Take-Off guidance for safe operations amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. An announcement on the reopening of the airport for international passenger traffic will be based on the successful testing of and simulation on the COVID-19 preventive installations tomorrow. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that, as of August 24, Rwanda and Kenya were the only African states in 100 per cent alignment with the ICAO Councils Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) recommendations. Other African states, such as Ghana and Togo, were more than 90 per cent compliant, while The Gambia was about 81 per cent ready. Visit This came to light yesterday when the Minister of Aviation, Mr Joseph Kofi Adda; the Chief Director of the Ministry of Aviation, Ms Christina Edmund; the Managing Director (MD) of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Mr Yaw Kwakwa, and some officials of the Aviation Ministry, Airport Health Directorate and other agencies at the airport inspected health surveillance facilities at the airport which are germane to Ghanas attempt to open up its airport and airspace to international travel. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, during his 15th update on COVID-19 efforts, dropped the hint that the airport could be opened on September 1, this year, and this has triggered preparations towards the opening. Under his instructions, the Ministry of Aviation, the GCAA and the GACL were to work with the Ministry of Health and its agencies to ascertain the country's readiness to reopen the airport. Satisfaction Speaking to the media after the inspection, Mr Adda expressed satisfaction with the measures, saying: "As you can see, there is some serious work ongoing at the airport with the creation of 70 sampling booths and a testing department where the blood samples will be sent, tested and the report electronically sent. He explained that passengers who tested negative would be allowed to go, while those who tested positive would be held back by the Port Health Directorate," he said. Although the airport was not 100 per cent ready as of the time of the visit, Mr Adda expressed the hope that the work would be completed today. The President would address the nation on Sunday and announce the way forward, depending on the outcome of the final testing and simulation of the COVID-19 preventive installations at Terminal Three, the minister said. According to him, the airport would be disinfected as soon as the testing and simulation of the COVID-19 preventive installations were completed. Observations When the entourage got to the lower section of the arrival hall, five temperature thermal scanners had been fully installed, with adequate physical distancing marks on floors. There were also benches at the terminal, while inscriptions encouraging the wearing of face masks were posted all around the walls. At the upper level of the arrival hall there were construction works to fit cubicles, cashier counters, sampling booths and testing laboratories. The minister expressed the optimism that the airport would be ready for opening by close of day tomorrow. Results in minutes Mr Kwakwa said the new installations would ensure that passengers were tested for the disease and given the results within 15 minutes. He said all the arrangements had been done with huge passenger numbers in mind to prevent congestion during peak hours. Although the testing capacity was not disclosed, the officials said they would stagger airline arrival to reduce congestion and testing backlogs. Mr Kwakwa said the floor of both the arrival and the departure halls of Terminal Three had been marked, while hand sanitiser had been installed at vantage points for use in observance of the COVID-19 protocols. He said the airport authorities had put adequate measures in place to ensure that the directive on the wearing of nose masks would be fully enforced. He added that the systems at the terminal had been configured to allow for enhanced ventilation to curtail the concentration of any pathogens in the halls. Source: Graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video On Wednesday, the Alberta Teachers Association (ATA) called for the resignation of a Dr. Chris Champion from the Alberta Curriculum Review Panel. It was recently brought to light that the member of the Alberta Curriculum Review Panel which was made in order for the UCP government to overhaul and review the previous NDP school curriculum was a writer of racist articles which was titled Albertas Little History War, which called the inclusion of First Nation perspectives in school lessons a fad. This particular article was written just last year, and it was written by Dr. Champion, who is advising the social studies curriculum of Alberta. The ATA, as the professional organization of teachers, promotes and advances public education, safeguards standards of professional practice and serves as the advocate for its 46,000 members. In a news release by the ATA, an adviser who has called the inclusion of First Nations perspectives in school lessons a fad needs to be dismissed from his role in advising on Albertas social studies curriculum, says ATA president Jason Schilling. Minister LaGrange, Chris Champion has got to go, said Schilling. Given the well-documented writings and publications that have recently surfaced, Schilling says that Chris Champion has no place advising the curriculum writing work currently under way in Alberta. Champions appointment to advise curriculum is in direct opposition to the Joint Commitment to Action that both Alberta Education and the ATA signed in 2016. The minister must either dismiss Champion or rescind its endorsement of the Joint Commitment. In June 2016, the Joint Commitment to Action was signed by representatives of the Government of Alberta, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and five Alberta education stakeholder organizations as part of an enduring commitment to respond to the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Schilling says that in his school re-entry meeting with Minister LaGrange on Aug. 19, he told the minister that they needed another meeting dedicated to discussing curriculum and that Champion had to go. Acknowledging that the Association has been almost exclusively focused on a safe return to schools in September, Schilling says the Association regrets not issuing an earlier statement on this important matter. Read more about: Mainland maritime police seize HK rioters at sea upon escaping Global Times By Xu Keyue and Chen Qingqing Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/27 22:13:33 Chinese mainland maritime police arrested more than 10 people suspected of illegally crossing the border in waters under mainland jurisdiction, among whom Hong Kong media reported was an anti-government rioter who violated the national security law for Hong Kong and was released on bail pending investigation. Mainland analysts said the case could provide an example for the mainland and Hong Kong to coordinate judicially after the enactment of the national security law for Hong Kong. In addition, they noted that it's a showcase of joint law enforcement between the mainland and Hong Kong to crack down on illegal immigration and other crimes such as smuggling and human trafficking. Mainland maritime police announced on Sina Weibo social media platform on Wednesday evening that Guangdong provincial maritime police seized a speedboat suspected of illegally crossing the border in waters under mainland jurisdiction, and detained more than 10 suspects including one surnamed Lee and another surnamed Tang. The case is under investigation, said the announcement. Hong Kong media reported that the boat held 12 young Hong Kong residents who tried to escape to the island of Taiwan to seek "political asylum" and Lee is a member of the anti-government group "Hong Kong Story." He was arrested on August 10, the same day as Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, founder of Apple Daily, was arrested. Hong Kong media said Lee was arrested by local police on charges of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security and violating the recently enacted national security law for Hong Kong. He was also allegedly involved in money laundering, said media. Lee was released on bail but was required to report to the police in early September. Other people on the boat detained by the Guangdong police were reportedly rioters who participated in the anti-extradition bill protests in 2019. Hong Kong Police Commissioner Chris Tang Ping-keung said at a press conference on Thursday afternoon that the Hong Kong police had not been informed of the incident by the mainland police. Tang said that the mainland would deal with the case in accordance with the relevant laws. If the persons concerned are wanted in Hong Kong, they will discuss how to return the individuals to Hong Kong, Tang said, noting that the police have paid close attention to issues regarding people smuggling. According to Chinese mainland law, the stowaways can be sentenced to a fixed-term imprisonment of one year and shall be fined; after this, they can freely return to Hong Kong. Wu Yingpeng, a lawyer and barrister-at-law in Hong Kong told the Global Times on Thursday that due to the "one country, two systems," the national criminal law is not implemented in Hong Kong. However, when an offender in Hong Kong endangering national security enters the mainland, the mainland law enforcement authorities also have jurisdiction. The authorities can handle the case in accordance with the existing charges of endangering national security in accordance with the national criminal law, Wu noted. Li Xiaobing, an expert on Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, from Nankai University in Tianjin, told the Global Times that whether the mainland or Hong Kong law enforcement authorities would address the case accusing the people detained at the speedboat of offenses including violating national security requires negotiation from both sides. And the case could provide an opportunity and example for the mainland and Hong Kong to cooperate on judicial coordination after the enactment of the national security law, Li noted. Some Hong Kong media reported that there had been an increase in the number of people smuggling to the mainland by sea recently, some of whom fled from novel coronavirus testing. Certain others are suspected of participating in the illegal and violent protests last year, sneaking into the mainland under false identities and then trying to escape to Taiwan seeking "political asylum." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In an official announcement, Toyota and JAXA confirmed that the nickname for the vehicle will be Lunar Cruiser, evoking the all-terrain capabilities that the vehicle must have to traverse the moon's surface. And, of course, they're referencing one of the greatest off-road 4x4 nameplates of all time in the Land Cruiser. Last year the Japanese automaker, together with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency or JAXA, announced that they will be working together on research for a manned moon land vehicle. Today, however, they just decided on a name, and it's absolutely perfect: Lunar Cruiser. JAXA and Toyota are both working on the research for the Lunar Cruiser, and it is intended to be a pressurized lunar rover with fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) drive technology. The joint effort will see research through simulation software to confirm power and heat dissipation performance while driving. The process will also see the development of prototype tires, as well as the construction of scale and full-size models. One key thing about the Lunar Cruiser will revolve around the pressurized cabin. Previous lunar rovers used in the NASA Apollo missions were essentially open top, open wheel buggies that did not have pressurized cabins, requiring astronauts to wear their EVA (extravehicular activity) suits or space suits to drive. The moon, of course, has little in the way of atmosphere, and a pressurized cabin means the astronauts will have the ability to drive without wearing their pressurized space suits. The tires will also be a challenge; previous rovers had mesh tires made of metal using woven piano wire and a titanium frame since the moon had no atmosphere. As to how Toyota and JAXA will work around that, we have yet to find out. JAXA and Toyota expect to launch a working Lunar Cruiser to the moon in the latter part of this decade. Standing in the front yard of her new home Friday morning, Agartha Manu was at a loss for words. I dont know the words to use, said Manu. There is no measure to this. Just minutes prior, Manu and her family had been presented with the keys to their brand new forever home built through a partnership of Habitat for Humanity Hamilton and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. It was a moment nearly two years in the making, said Sean Ferris, executive director of Habitat Hamilton. Agartha has been so very patient in this whole process, said Ferris. Sometimes we would joke or lament that this was the house that didnt want to be built. A challenging project According to Ferris, the Wickham Avenue property was sold to Habitat for Humanity Hamilton by the City of Hamilton for a mere $2 back in 2018. From there, they got to work. Ferris said their team had planned to have a slab-on-grade foundation, much like the other three homes theyve built on the street. In this particular case, we dug down to put foundation walls in and we hit water, said Ferris. So, it was back to the drawing board. By the time they got a second set of plans approved, the water table in the beach strip had risen once again and those blueprints were scrapped. Looking for other solutions, Ferris said they landed on building the house on helical piles which screw into the ground, allowing the home to be built above the dirt on stilts, much like a deck. They finally broke ground in November 2019 and all was going well. Then COVID-19 hit. But their volunteers, donors and partners stuck through it and the work was able to continue without pause, according to Habitat Hamilton board chair Cherie Somerville. It took longer to plan and re-engineer the house than it did to actually build, said Ferris. It was an innovative approach but a great learning experience it all worked out. It means everything Speaking to reporters, Manu said she and her family had been looking forward to Friday for quite some time. Manu, a single mother, is raising her son, Darran and her two daughters, Jessica and Nelly. She also works as a personal support worker. She landed in Hamilton in 2002 from Ghana in West Africa looking for job opportunities. The family had been renting a house that had fallen into disrepair and was too small for them so small that Manu has shared a room with her eight-year-old daughter Nelly since the day she was born. Now, with the brand new 1,300-square-foot home all to themselves, each of them will have their own bedroom as well as a backyard to spend time in. And with, a geared-to-income, interest-free mortgage with Habitat Hamilton, it will remain affordable, said Ferris. It has been a long road but its a happy day, said Manu, describing the house as 10 times better than their current. Theyre very excited. But for Manu, its not the size that truly matters. The home also represents stability for the family. Theyve moved a number of times in the past but have never lived somewhere that was clean or secure, she added. Knowing today (that) I have a key to a home that is going to be a forever home for myself and my children it means a lot, she said. It means everything. Advertisement Pictured: Convicted rapist Mustafa Kayirici A sadistic ice junkie who raped seven women, including a 13-year-old school girl and a 22-year-old who died before she could see her attacker face justice, will die in prison. Mustafa Kayirici, 30, was sentenced to 34 years in jail on Friday for the terrifying five-hour long sexual assault of a child which took place over 10 locations in 2016. The sickening sex monster had already been sentenced to 38 years for the rape and robbery of seven other escorts that same year. A judged at Sydney's Downing Centre District Court deemed Kayirici so evil that his latest sentence won't even come into effect until September 2041, but it's unlikely he will live that long as he has been diagnosed with an incurable disease and has just 12 months to live. Kayirici's rampage began on the morning of May 7, 2016, when he raped a sex worker at an apartment block in Sydney's CBD while threatening her with a butcher's knife. Later that afternoon, he arranged to meet another escort in Parramatta where he carried out a similar attack. She said the face-tattooed predator was 'aggressive and dominant' and called her a sl*t before he spat in her eye, beat her and brutally raped her. 'I had to fight for my life,' she said. Kayirici told her he 'loved seeing the fear in people when they can't do anything about it,' she said. Just one week later he robbed another sex worker at knife point at her Parramatta apartment and then robbed another woman in her home in the same suburb on May 20. The sadistic ice junkie with face tattoos who raped seven women, including a 13-year-old school girl, will die in prison after contracting a terminal illness On May 27, Kayirici pulled a butcher's knife on Dasha Volnoukhin - a 22-year-old Canadian model and escort who was living in Parramatta. Eerie CCTV pictures showed him walking with her through the lobby of the Fiori Apartments in Parramatta and into the lift before his crime. Ms Volnoukhin never saw her abuser suffer the consequences of his depraved acts as she died in the months before his sentencing hearing. The cause of her death cannot legally be published. Eerie CCTV pictures show Kayirici (pictured left) walking with her through the lobby of the Fiori Apartments in Parramatta with Dasha Volnoukhin (pictured right) Kayirici (pictured right ) is seen on the elevator with Dasha Volnoukhin (pictured left) before the brutal sexual assault Within moments of Ms Volnoukhin letting him inside the apartment, he took a 'large butcher style knife' from a kitchen drawer and told her to take off her clothes. Kayirici told the terrified young woman - who screamed upon seeing the knife - to take off her clothes and then carry out sex acts on him. Dasha Volnoukhin, 22, (pictured) was brutally sexually assaulted at the hands of serial rapist Mustafa Kayirici in 2016 'The man then yelled at me ''don't f***ing scream'' (and then) ''take your clothes off'',' Ms Volnoukhin told police. 'I was wearing shorts and a tank top at the time and then started to take my clothes off as I was thinking that if I don't, I will probably die. I was so scared.' The young woman also said in her police statement that Kayirici filmed himself sexually assaulting her while asking her 'do you like being raped?' 'The man was pointing the phone at me then started to demand that I say things he was saying to me: ''Say you are a sl*t'.' The rape ended after three to four minutes, Ms Volnoukhin said, before Kayirici stole her day's earnings and left. Just three days after the brutal attack on Ms Volnoukhin, Kayirici robed and raped another sex worker at knifepoint. On June 19, Kayirici raped yet another woman in a Parramatta apartment block, calling her a 'little dog'. His crime spree would continue on June 26, when he lured a 13-year-old into his car. He then he drove the teenager to an underground car park where he forced her to undress and made her watch pornographic videos. He told her she was going to get 'raped one day or another,' before making the girl perform sex acts and threatening her with a knife when she refused. The young woman's (pictured) LinkedIn profile says she previously studied for a business and communications degree at the University of Calgary before moving to Australia Ms Volnoukhin was raped on just her second night of working for an escort agency in Sydney after securing a month-long contract with Platinum Escorts Within moments of Ms Volnoukhin (pictured) letting him inside the apartment, he took a 'large butcher style knife' from a kitchen drawer and told her to take off her clothes 'Words cannot express the shock and loss felt from all those who knew her well and those who knew her only briefly,' her modelling agency PinUp Promotions said in the week after her death Kayirici then drove the teenager to a unit block basement and forced her to perform another series of sex acts. He even tried to get her to find another young girl to join them as the pair drove 10 different locations, the Daily Telegraph reported. The pair went to a supermarket together to buy duct tape and razors and the teenager tried to make eye contact with one of the staff members, the court heard. Kayirici then scolded the girl for trying to get him caught. He then raped her repeatedly in his car before dumping her at Auburn train station. Kayirici gave the girl $5, apologised to her before threatening to release the videos he made if she told anyone. 'If you tell anyone, I will release those videos,' he said, the court was told. 'How would you like it if your dad saw that I can hold it against you.' The teenager said in a victim impact statement that the girl sometimes felt she would be 'better off dead' and felt constant fear and humiliation due to the attack. The litany of sexual assaults over the horror six-week period resulted in Kayirici being found guilty of 42 charges at two separate trials including 12 charges of aggravated sexual assault with a person under 16 and 12 charges of using a child under 14 years to produce child abuse material. SERIAL RAPIST'S SIX-WEEK SEX CRIME SPREE May 7: Kayirici raped a sex worker at an apartment block in Sydney's CBD while threatening her with a butcher's knife in the morning Later that afternoon he arranged to meet another escort in Parramatta where he carried out a similar attack. She said he told her he 'loved seeing the fear in people when they can't do anything about it.' Just days later the degenerate sex criminal robbed another sex worker at knife point at her Parramatta apartment May 20: Kayirici robbed a woman using a butchers knife in Parramatta May 27: Kayirici pulled a blade on Dasha Volnoukhin - a 22-year-old Canadian model - moments after entering her apartment in Parramatta. The young woman also said in her police statement Kayirici filmed himself sexually assaulting her while asking 'do you like being raped?' Less than two years later, the young woman's friends revealed the model had tragically died. May 30: Kayirici robed and raped another sex worker at knife point. June 19: The sadistic rapist sexually assaulted an escort while threatening her with a knife and calling her a 'little dog'. June 24: Kayirici lures a 13-year-old school girl into his car and repeatedly sexually assaults her at 10 locations over a horror five-hour period. He told her she was going to get 'raped one day or another,' before making the girl perform sex acts and threatening her with knife when she refused. Advertisement When he was eventually caught, police tried to stop him while he was driving a silver Ford sedan on Bondi Road, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, on a Saturday morning. When Kayirici failed to stop, he led police through the area before crashing into a parked vehicle on Old South Head Road. Witnesses said he then ploughed through a footpath before coming to a halt when the vehicle was wedged between a brick fence and bus stop. 'The police were attempting to remove him from the car and he was putting up one hell of a fight against 20 police,' one witness said. Kayirici was arrested and taken to Waverley Police Station before being transported to St Vincent's Hospital under police guard. When he appeared at Parramatta Bail Court via video link in June 2016, Kayirici insisted he was innocent. 'They're making out I'm an evil person, like I'm a paedophile rapist predator,' he said. 'I'm all over the news and it's wrong.' Kayirici told the court he filmed the women he had sex with to prove they consented. Due to his illness, he is currently undergoing chemotherapy in prison. If he survives, he will be eligible for release in 2066 when he is 76 years old. Kayirici led police on a high-speed chase before crashing through a parked car and stopping at a bus stop in Sydney Officers pointed their guns at the Kayirici after he crashed into a parked car on Old South Head Road in Sydney Chennai: Congress MP from Kanyakumari, H Vasanthakumar, passed away due to COVID-19 on Friday evening at the age of 70. Vasanthakumar was admitted to Apollo Hospitals in Greams Road, Chennai after contracting coronavirus. He is survived by his wife Tamil Selvi, two sons and a daughter. His elder son Vijay Vasanth is a Tamil film actor who has appeared in several films since 2007. The first Member of Parliament from Tamil Nadu to succumb to Coronavirus after 18 days of treatment, Vasanthakumar was born in Agastheeswaram in Kanyakumari district to Harikrishna Nadar and Thangamma Ammal. Hailing from a family of politicians, his elder brother Kumari Anandan is a veteran Congress leader who had served as MLA and MP and his niece Tamilisai Soundarrajan is the present governor of Telangana. He was not just a successful entrepreneur who made it big by starting from the scratch, but a familiar face in Tamil Nadu. His smiling and cheerful visage greeted people from each and every advertisement of his eponymous company, Vasanth and Co, which he launched in 1978 as a home appliances showroom in Chennai. Today, it has 71 stores spread across the southern states and is a popular go-to brand for domestic needs. He started his career by working as a salesman in the 1970s before venturing out on his own. He also decided to be the brand ambassador of his enterprise and appeared in the advertisements for the promotion of his showroom, thus becoming a household face. Despite the phenomenal growth of his business, Vasanthakumar always wanted to be in politics, perhaps inspired by his elder brother Kumari Anandan, and was associated with the Congress. He also launched a satellite television channel called Vasanth TV in 2008. His major foray into electoral politics happened in 2006 when he contested the Assembly elections from Nanguneri Constituency, which is closer to the place of his birth. Again, he contested from the same seat in 2016 and won but had to give it up following his triumph from the Kanyakumari Lok Sabha seat in the 2019 general elections. He defeated his BJP rival Pon Radhakrishnan, a locally active politician and former Union Minister, by a margin of 2.5 lakh votes. He was also the Vice President of the Tamil Nadu Congress and chairman of the TNCC Traders Cell. Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundarrajan, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O Paannerselvam, DMK President MK Stalin, PMK founder S Ramadoss and MDMK general secretary Vaiko were among the politicians who expressed their grief and conveyed their condolences to the family of the deceased MP. President Ram Nath Kovind also condoled hid death and said that his devotion to people's cause in Tamil Nadu was inspiring. "Sad to know the passing of Shri H Vasanthakumar, MP from Kanyakumari. An entrepreneur and social activist, he earned his name in the world of politics and business. His devotion to people's cause in Tamil Nadu was inspiring. Condolences to his family, friends and followers," Kovind tweeted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his twitter handle said: "Saddened by the demise of Lok Sabha MP Shri H Vasanthakumar Ji. His strides in business and social service efforts were noteworthy. During my interactions with him, I always saw his passion towards Tamil Nadus progress.Condolences to his family and supporters.Om Shanti. Blue Star Donuts, the artisanal doughnut shop that grew to nearly a dozen locations in Oregon and California, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to a press release from the company. In June, Blue Star announced that the COVID-19 pandemic had forced the company to close of a handful of its Portland-area locations, including its sprawling 2-year-old headquarters in downtown Portland. The doughnut shop is now down to four Portland-area locations and three in Southern California. Our industry has been hit from all sides during the pandemic, Blue Star CEO Katie Poppe wrote in the press release. Ultimately, we made a decision that we believe will help us pivot, unlock the future, and be better than ever. The remaining Portland-area locations can be found at 672 S. Gaines St., #2; 3753 N. Mississippi Ave.; and 3325 S.E. Division St., #1. A location in the pre-security main terminal at the Portland International Airport remains temporarily closed. The original Blue Star location at 1237 S.W. Washington St., meanwhile, is expected to turn into a new doughnut shop focused on cream-filled Berliner doughnuts from talented Bar King baker Katherine Benvenuti later this year. -- Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com, @tdmrussell Subscribe to The Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. As many as seven persons sustained injuries when attacked by two brothers with acid at a village in Sehore district, the neighbouring district of Bhopal, on Thursday night, said police on Friday. The injured include Pradeep Bairagi, Babloo, Gurucharan, Deependra Kuldeep, Bindu Dangi and Rameshwar Mongia, all residents of Khaikheda village under Amhadpur police station. They were referred to a Bhopal hospital after their initial treatment in Sehore. Their condition is said to be out of danger, said police. Sameer Yadav, additional superintendent of police, Sehore, said, The attack was allegedly made by Deepak Thakur and his brother Rahul Thakur who are residents of the same village and run a dairy at the village when the two groups had an altercation over some petty issue at the dairy. The victims sustained injuries on their faces. The police officer said, An FIR has been lodged against the accused and one of them has been arrested. A manhunt has been lodged to arrest the other. We are trying to gather information as to from where the accused got the acid and for what purpose. The investigation is underway. King Canute famously (and apocryphally) took his throne to a beach and commanded the incoming tide to halt. This week, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson warned parents not to pause to gossip at the school gates when dropping off their children in order to cut the risk of passing on Covid-19. Both actions were exercises in futility. Despite the old adage, If you have nothing nice to say, dont say anything at all, we all love a bit of frivolous tongue-wagging. Whether its discussing office politics by the watercooler, nattering about a friend over a coffee, or sharing family news by text, most of us are thrilled to hear about what other people are up to, particularly when we know them. Yes, I know gossiping can be denounced as malicious, unkind or bitchy. But its actually what makes us human and helps build a sense of community. I know gossiping can be denounced as malicious, unkind or bitchy. But its actually what makes us human and helps build a sense of community, writes DR MAX (file image) According to Professor Robin Dunbar, an evolutionary psychologist at Oxford University, gossiping allows us to pass on vital information about who to trust, thereby helping us to bond with family and friends. In a tech-filled world, its also nice to actually speak to someone, rather than interacting by email or text message. Far from feeling guilty about gossiping, we should accept it as a vital part of life. It can even help us to live longer because, from an evolutionary point of view, the size of our social network is one of the most important factors in longevity, as gossiping helps reinforce bonds and make connections. A fascinating study by Dr Jennifer Cole, a psychologist at Manchester Metropolitan University, discovered that while people distrust individuals who gossip too much, theyre also wary of people who gossip too little. According to her research, people who gossip know they are breaking social boundaries and violating other peoples privacy, but as gossiping involves sharing and confiding, it forms a close bond. Meanwhile, those who dont gossip are viewed with suspicion because they are seen as secretive or the type of person who holds back their true feelings. There is a school of thought that argues gossiping is so important in forming bonds, it is likely that language evolved specifically to enable people to do it. In evolutionary biology, this is known as gossip theory. According to Professor Yuval Noah Harari, author of Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind: The new linguistic skills that modern humans acquired about 70 millennia ago enabled them to gossip for hours on end. Reliable information about who could be trusted meant that small bands could expand into larger bands. This week, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured) warned parents not to pause to gossip at the school gates when dropping off their children in order to cut the risk of passing on Covid-19 Other studies have shown that gossiping has important social benefits, as it can prevent bullying and encourage co-operation. It helps society to police bad behaviour and reduce stress levels in social groups. When people are excluded from the group, they learn from the experience and reform their behaviour. Whats more, a study by the University of Michigan found that gossiping increased womens levels of progesterone, a hormone which helps to reduce stress and anxiety levels. And while we like to stereotype gossip as being idle womens talk, its actually men who gossip the most. One study found men spend an average of 76 minutes a day gossiping with their friends or work colleagues, compared with just 52 minutes for women. But there is an art to gossiping a careful balance between enjoying finding out about the minutiae of peoples lives, and being overly salacious or unkind. Thats the difference between harmless gossip and nasty rumours, which could cause upset or distress. Similarly, breaking a confidence can come with a cost if it backfires. Nonetheless, given that gossiping seems to have been around as long as humans have been able to speak, its here to stay and well find a way to indulge in it even if the school gates are out of bounds. drmax@dailymail.co.uk Speaking of gossip, there was a rumour that Boris Johnson is planning to quit as PM in six months, because he is still suffering the after-effects of coronavirus. The story allegedly came from Dominic Cummingss father-in-law, who reportedly said: If you put a horse back to work when its injured it will never recover. I hope this isnt true and that Boris is fighting fit. But Ive seen many patients who, by trying to push on through their illness, have made themselves worse. We seem to have lost the art of recuperating and I hope Covid-19 has taught us the value of taking time out to recover properly. While it might be frustrating, it pays dividends in the end. Dr Max prescribes... BBC1s reported missing In Britain today, a person is reported missing every two minutes. Many have dementia. Tragically, if they are not traced within 24 hours, the likelihood is that they will be found dead. In one nail-biting episode of this documentary series, on BBC1, Gloucestershire police are called after 82-year-old Sheila, who has Alzheimers, wandered off while shopping with her husband John. It touched upon the emotional difficulties of caring for people with dementia. Fortunately, after an agonising few hours, Sheila was found. Advertisement Facemasks have no place in class Thanks to yet another U-turn by this Government, children must now wear facemasks in class. Im astonished that anyone seriously thinks this is a good idea. There is no real evidence of the efficacy of masks, beyond the psychological benefit of reassuring people. But theres good evidence that obscuring your mouth can create real difficulties when it comes to learning, especially among young children with hearing problems. Furthermore, disciplining schoolchildren is already difficult enough without the added nightmare of enforcing mask-wearing. Thanks to yet another U-turn by this Government, children must now wear facemasks in class. Im astonished that anyone seriously thinks this is a good idea, writes DR MAX (file image) For a start, it will be next to impossible to establish who is talking in class. Pupils will fiddle around with them, swap them and fail to wash them sufficiently regularly, thus spreading more germs. Wearing them will increase health risks. Masks have no place in the classroom. Why we fear the wrong things When it comes to assessing, evaluating and responding to risks, we all would like to think that we always take a rational approach. Yet our brains are remarkably bad at doing it. A good example of this was recently highlighted by the strategic communications company KEKST CNC. Its poll of 1,000 people in the UK showed that the average person thinks the coronavirus death rate is 100 times worse than it is. We tend to view novel or unusual things as being more dangerous than things we are used to. We feel something is riskier when a large number of people are affected at once, rather than small numbers over a long period of time. If a child abduction story is in the news, for example, parents will suddenly be alarmed, even if the actual risk of child kidnapping hasnt gone up. There have been various predictions that, ultimately, the lockdown will result in more lives being lost through alcohol and substance misuse, delayed cancer diagnosis, limited access to medical care, domestic violence, suicide and so forth, than the virus itself. Despite this, we are far more shocked and scared by stories of people dying of the virus (even as numbers continue to dwindle) than fatalities caused by the effects of lockdown. What does it mean to be human? Thanks to scientist and robotics expert Dr Peter Scott-Morgan, its fast becoming more than just a philosophical question. He is going to extreme lengths in an attempt to cheat death since being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (the same illness that killed Professor Stephen Hawking in 2018.) Hes almost fully paralysed, except for a few muscles in his neck, and has had his voice box removed in order to help him breathe. He even uses a cyborg system to communicate. Peter has already defied the odds and lived a year longer than doctors predicted. Even so, its impossible not to have immense sympathy for the tragic position he finds himself in. But thanks to his enduring tenacity and extraordinary spirit, hes giving hope to thousands of people who find themselves in an otherwise hopeless situation. The ruling BJP in Gujarat on Friday accused the Congress of creating anarchy by inciting students, and asked the main opposition party to accept the Supreme Courts verdict on NEET, JEE and university exams. On August 17, the top court had refused to interfere with the conduct of medical and engineering entrance exams- the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) scheduled to take place in September saying that life must go on and students cant lose a precious year due to the pandemic. However, the Congress on Friday organised state-wide demonstration demanding that the exams be deferred in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and floods in parts of the country. Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda was among the 30-odd party leaders to be detained by the police for holding protests without permission. State BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said, The Congress is least concerned about the future of students. The partys main aim is to create anarchy by inciting students. When the Supreme Court has already given its verdict, its inappropriate on the part of the Congress to hold protests. After democracy and the Election Commission, it is now the Supreme Court, which the opposition party has lost trust on, he alleged. State Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi hit back saying that the BJP government at the Centre was trying to hide its inefficiency by taking cover behind the apex court. Apart from coronavirus, several states are facing flood-like situation. Even the Centre has kept educational institutions shut to stop the spread of COVID-19. Congress is not doing any politics. We are only concerned about the safety of students, he said. If the government was serious about holding exams, why didnt it plan in advance and came up with options? Now, the Centre is taking cover behind the SC verdict to hide its own inefficiency, he added. While the NEET is slated to be held on September 13, engineering entrance exam JEE-Main is scheduled between September 1-6. The House of Representatives Committee on Health has called for more synergy between the federal and state governments in the efforts to transform Nigerias health sector. The committee made the call on Thursday when the members paid a courtesy visit to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee was in Enugu state for an oversight visit to federal health institutions in the area. The committees deputy chairman, Martin Oke, who led the team, lauded Mr Ugwuanyis administration for its achievements in the health and other sectors of the state. Bashiru Dawodu, representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency, Lagos, said that states stood to benefit more by ensuring effective collaboration with the federal government. Mr Dawodu further commended the governor for reconstructing and remodeling the historic and undulating Milliken Hill Road in Enugu. He expressed the committees appreciation for the massive project works in the state, citing the ongoing construction work at the state-owned Infectious Disease Hospital, Enugu, formerly called Colliery Hospital Enugu. Mr Dawodu also cited the interventions by Mr Ugwuanys administration in upgrading and rehabilitating health facilities in the state, including the states teaching hospital. He thanked the governor for spearheading a peaceful and well-organised state, saying, Enugu State should be emulated, in terms of planning and organisation. This is is a testimony of good governance and we are proud of your performance, Mr Dawodu said. The lawmaker described Mr Ugwuanyi as one of the best governors in Nigeria and assured him of their continued prayers and support to his administration. In a remark, Mr Ugwuanyi said that his administration placed priority on the task of making the health sector in the state one of the best in the country. He thanked them for embarking on the visit and assured them of his administrations commitment to peace, good governance and wellbeing of the people. (NAN) A Palestinian teacher lectures at the Salem School for Girls on the life of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on the 12th anniversary of his death, in the West Bank city of Nablus, on Nov. 10, 2016. (JNS) - Palestinian textbooks are rife with blatant incitement against Israel, as has been reported for decades. And in the United States, for example, Palestinian children studying under the Palestinian Authority school curriculum learn Newton's Second Law through the image of a boy with a slingshot targeting Israeli soldiers. And Dalal al-Mughrabi, the perpetrator of the 1978 Coastal Road massacre - in which 38 Israelis, including 13 children, were killed, and 71 wounded - is celebrated in an entire chapter teaching Arabic reading comprehension. In April 2018, the United Kingdom commissio... Who knew that looters had their own food trucks? Who would have guessed that Antifa had its own soup kitchen to come to after working up an appetite after a hard day's rioting? Turns out they did, and when they headed out to Kenosha, Wisconsin, the cops shut them down. Here's the weepy Washington Post report: A Seattle-based nonprofit group that serves food to protesters said Thursday that several of its members were still in police custody in Kenosha, Wis., after law enforcement officers sprang from unmarked cars and arrested them ahead of Wednesday night's demonstrations in the city. The arrests were recorded by a bystander and shared widely on social media, renewing concerns that unidentified officers could be shielded in crackdowns on demonstrators. The organization, known as Riot Kitchen, was a fixture at protests in Seattle this summer. Cellphone footage of the incident showed officers rushing out of black SUVs and surrounding a silver Toyota minivan belonging to the nonprofit near a Speedway gas station. One officer aimed a gun at the van while another bashed through the passenger-side window. Officers could be seen pulling two people out of the vehicle and handcuffing them. Turns out the "Riot Kitchen" yes, it's really called that may have had some unusual cuisine on its menu: Police said they recovered helmets, gas masks, protective vests, illegal fireworks and suspected controlled substances from the vehicles. Nine people were arrested on disorderly conduct charges. Police did not immediately release their names. The cops said they busted the leftist food truck for being "suspicious" after its denizens broke curfew and were seen buying a lot of gasoline at a gas station, apparently in cans. The Kenosha Police Department later acknowledged that its officers led the operation, saying in a statement posted to Twitter on Thursday evening that they started tracking the group after receiving a tip about "suspicious vehicles" meeting on the edge of town. Assisted by U.S. marshals, they followed the group to a gas station in the northern part of Kenosha. There they watched the occupants fill up multiple fuel cans, according to the statement. Now, it's unclear from the report whether the bus used to slop the rioters was transporting incendiary devices or these items were found in the Riot Kitchen's second vehicle, or there were yet other vehicles, which the Post didn't go into, given that it was just covering the supposedly dreadful police treatment of this "non-profit" with its underserved clientele. Most likely, based on the report, the "vehicles" described were the Riot Kitchen's two vehicles, having raised lots of money (but not quite their goals) on GoFundMe, which is turning out to be quite a useful means of getting cash from anonymous and small fry donors, under the banner of "mental health support" with this pitch to the gullible and maybe not so gullible: Hey everyone!! We're RIOT KITCHEN, and we are a no charge kitchen serving protestors, activists, movements and those in need in Seattle WA. We were founded by Maehem, a queer black woman who started out by wanting to help feed the protestors at The George Floyd protests in Seattle, WA During CHOP we built a full functioning kitchen in Cal Anderson, with a experienced kitchen staff and a array of vegan, gluten free, vegetarian and other dishes These include: Vegan and meat kebabs, a plethora of hot and cold sandwiches, vegan sloppy joes, vegan chili Mac, vegetarian chili Mac, vegan and meat breakfast sandwiches, vegan/vegetarian/meat burritos and much more! We want to continue RIOT KITCHEN on and into the future to keep serving our community! To do that, we need a food truck and licensing. We need about $40,000 to make this happen! This fundraiser is run by direct supporters of Maehem and her work, namely Maehem's right hand "Grandpa" as well as Jennifer Scheurle. Please support us in enabling this wonderful project and its caring people to enrich Seattle's community now and in the future. GatewayPundit updates that the cops have confirmed that the RiotKitchen was transporting the explosive "cuisine." If so, it wouldn't be surprising. We do know the Riot Kitchen has this lovely logo: We can also tell that they have some hygienic challenges what's with the Comet and dish soap next to the bubbling pot and an apparent squeeze bottle of mayonnaise? No fear of the health inspectors there. Heck, who fears the law? And here are their yummie goodies: The project is a signal of the vast logistical network of these rioters, something that shows they're organized, and as their aim is to support criminals, part of a conspiracy. An army marches on its stomach, as Napoleon once said, and Antifa itself is the army; RiotKitchen206 is the food. Update: Glenn Reynolds at Instapundit has more here. This "non-profit" got its start, not surprisingly, in Seattle's CHOP zone. They have a history of going to Portland for assorted projects, and now they claim they were on their way to feed the rioters in Washington, D.C. when the Kenosha riots happened, and by coincidence, they just happened to be right there. It's gaslighting. Their YouTube is an entire collection of gaslightings, trying to tell Americans that they just want to feed people, they're all about peace, just a Summer of Love, really, persecuted by the Seattle cops, too (putrid language warning), and pay no attention to their name, those knives and fist in their logo, or what the Kenosha cops found in their trucks. Now that the political climate has changed, the Kenosha cops called bee ess and busted the operation, and it couldn't happen too soon. Maybe they can punish the prisoners in jail next with their cooking "talents." They don't belong out on the streets keeping rioters fueled, whether with food or firepower. All images shareable YouTube screen shots from "This Food Fights Fascists" by osm0sisProductions. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Local politicians are asking the city to expedite its approval of a proposal needed to begin the next step for the long awaited East Shore Seawall project. Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn), City Council Minority Leader Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island), Borough President James Oddo and Brooklyn Councilman Justin Brannan wrote a letter to the city Public Design Commission on Friday asking it to quickly review the most recent Coastal Storm Risk Management Project proposal. The East Shore Seawall is a joint project between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the city and state of New York. Until the city Public Design Commission approves the submitted plan, city funding cannot be allocated, further delaying a project thats been in development for five years. The Advance/SILive.com reported last year that the 5.3-mile projects completion date was pushed back to 2025, a year later than previously reported. The design plans were submitted Aug. 17, but the next public hearing by the commission isnt scheduled until Sept. 14. Contracts for construction cannot be awarded until the design plans are approved. Initially, the Army Corps said the project would be split into seven construction contracts due to the magnitude of the project, but plans for an eighth contract were added earlier this year. The letters urgency cites the vulnerability of the borough and parts of Brooklyn to flooding, storms and other severe weather. Staten Islanders today cannot help but be reminded of the storm when they see the empty lots where homes and businesses once stood along the East Shore, and they cannot help but feel anxiety paying ever-increasing flood insurance premiums each year, the joint letter says. The Army Corps said the seawall will rise 20 feet above sea level and reduce damages to the area by $30 million annually over a 50-year timeline. Once a certain amount of the project is complete, flood insurance rates are expected to drop. Based on present law, flood insurance rates can start to go down if this project, at its 50% completion mark, hits certain metrics, Rose previously said. Last year, the Federal Emergency Management Administration overhauled the National Flood Insurance Program, putting residents in flood-prone areas at risk of increased premiums of up to 18%. The seawall offers not just peace of mind but financial security and a promise for them to stay in the community they love, the letter says. Staten Island cannot wait any longer for this project to move forward, it concludes. FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER. Greece and Turkey have increased their military manoeuvres in the Mediterranean Sea in recent days. At the heart of the dispute between the historic rivals lies the search for hydrocarbons. Tensions have been mounting in the Mediterranean Sea in recent days with announcements of military exercises in the area emerging from a slew of countries. It has not reached the stage of open conflict fortunately, but the escalations between Greece and Turkey have been alarming. On the one hand, Turkey on Thursday announced that it would conduct military exercises, including firing exercises, on September 1 and 2 off the Turkish town of Iskenderun, north east of Cyprus. On the other hand, the Greek defence ministry on Wednesday revealed that Greece, Cyprus, France and Italy have agreed to deploy a joint presence in the Eastern Mediterranean within the framework of the Quadripartite Cooperation Initiative (QUAD). This exercise included the use of three French Rafale fighter jets, a frigate and an attack helicopter. Between the Turkish fleet and the European ships currently at sea, the Mediterranean is bristling with a military presence, the likes of which the region has not seen for many years. US ships are also present in the area under NATO missions, but Washington so far seems unwilling to be dragged in by either side. The destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill carried out an exercise with the Greek navy on Monday, before carrying out another with the Turkish navy on Wednesday. "There is an intensity of military movements in the Mediterranean that is quite rare," Hugo Decis of the London-based International Institute for Strategy Studies (IISS) told FRANCE 24. "We are facing military powers that are used to this type of deployment, but the context is tense and we are never safe from an incident that could degenerate. Greece and Turkey came close to war in 1996 over two uninhabited islets in the Aegean Sea and have been fighting for decades over the extent of their respective territorial waters. Story continues Nearly 5,765 billion cubic metres of gas in the Eastern Mediterranean At stake is access to gas resources in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Determined not to miss out, Turkey has been conducting research for several months in a disputed area of the Levantine Basin. On August 10, the deployment of the Oruc Reis, a Turkish seismic research vessel, and its military escort to the south of the far-flung Greek island of Kastellorizo was viewed as a provocation by Athens, triggering alarm bells in the Greek capital. The Levantine Basin, which stretches from Crete and the island of Rhodes in the west to the Asian coast in the east, contains 5,765 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas, according to a 2010 estimate by the US Geological Survey. However, the exclusive economic zones (EEZs), as defined by international law, "imprison Turkey inside its shores", said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, depriving it of access to any possible deposits between Crete and Cyprus. In November 2019, Turkey signed a maritime delimitation agreement with the UN-recognised Libyan government in Tripoli aiming at changing the boundaries of the exclusive economic zones. This agreement between Turkey and Libya is an attempt by Ankara to extend the surface area of its territorial waters, and also to thwart the EastMed gas pipeline project, the fruit of an agreement between Cyprus, Greece and Israel. To counter the Turkish manoeuvre, Greece in turn signed a similar agreement with Egypt at the beginning of August. The agreement allows the two countries "to move forward, each taking maximum advantage of the resources available in the EEZ, including oil and gas reserves", said Egypts foreign minister. Like Beijing in the South China Sea, in conflict with several countries including Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia over the exploitation and control of several islands, Turkey is attempting a "fait accompli" policy. Except that the context is different in the Mediterranean, with neighbouring European states that have the means to respond, as shown by the current escalation of tensions. That does not seem to bother Erdogan. For the Turkish leader, the issue at stake is not only strategic, its also political. "For several years now, the Turkish government has chosen to develop a rhetoric of ascending power, a country capable of dictating its conditions to its neighbours," explained Decis. Its therefore a question of Turkey's staging capacity to impose itself against its rivals. As a sign of its refusal to give up the arm-wrestling with Greece and its supporters, Turkey on Thursday accused France of reinforcing tensions by deploying warplanes in Cyprus in a display of support for Athens. "The time of the kings is over. You have no chance of getting anything from us by acting like this," admonished the Turkish defence minister. For its part, Germany, which holds the EU rotating presidency, has been trying to mediate for several days and is calling on Athens and Ankara to engage in dialogue. This article is translated from the original in French. Oregon man caught in Lyon County with $900,000 worth of marijuana The 24-year-old Co.op Mart supermarket located on Cong Quynh Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City is likely to be shut down as the premises are due to be returned to the landlord next year. Known as Co.op Mart Cong Quynh, the supermarket might have to close its doors in the first quarter of 2021, a representative of retailer Saigon Co.op which operates the Co.op Mart supermarket chain said on Thursday. The reason for the potential closure is that the Border Guard High Command, which owns the land plot on which the supermarket sits, has requested to take back its estate. According to the Saigon Co.op representative, the cooperative is negotiating with the landowner on the premises to ensure the shopping needs and interests of customers. Previously, the Office of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee had sent a written request to the Border Guard High Command, asking it to allow Co.op Mart Cong Quynh to operate there until the end of March 2021. Established in 1996, Co.op Mart Cong Quynh was the first-ever supermarket under the Co.op Mart chain. It remains in the brand's top ten highest-grossing stores. Saigon Co.op is Vietnams leading retailer with an estimated revenue of US$1.3 billion a year, according to a 2020 list compiled by British market research firm Euromonitor International. In June, Big C Mien Dong, a major supermarket run by Thailands Central Group in Ho Chi Minh Citys District 10, was also rumored to be suspending its operations due to a rental disagreement with the landlord. However, the store remains in operation as usual as of August. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! JEFFERSON CITY In a contract that could be worth over $1 billion in taxpayer funds, Gov. Mike Parsons administration is seeking companies to run Missouris prison health care program. Documents reviewed by the Post-Dispatch show the state is looking to sign a four-year contract with an option of four one-year renewals. Under current rates, that would put the state on track to pay the private vendor more than $1 billion over the life of the contract. Companies seeking the contract have begun lining up Jefferson City lobbying firms to navigate the bidding process. Virginia-based Centurion, which provides prison health care in 17 states, hired the Gamble and Schlemeier lobbying firm on July 15. They have 10 registered lobbyists assigned to Centurion, which is a subsidiary of Clayton-based Centene Corp. Pennsylvania-based Wexford Health Sources, which has provided health services in Illinois prisons, lined up lobbyists David Winton and Jessica Petrie on Aug. 18 And Corizon Health, which has held the contract to provide services at Missouri Department of Corrections facilities for 22 years, has lobbyists Richard McIntosh and David McCracken on board. Corizon, the nations biggest for-profit correctional health care provider, last year received more than $147 million for its work in Missouri. The possible change in companies comes as nurses who work in the prison filed a lawsuit last year alleging they are owed potentially millions of dollars in back pay by either the state or Corizon. The case mirrors one in which a Cole County jury found that 13,000 current and former correctional officers were owed $113.7 million because the state wasnt paying them when they entered a prisons security envelope, even though they were expected to respond to incidents once inside. The bill for that case has grown by at least $12 million while the state appeals. In addition to standard medical care, Corizon also provides dental, behavioral health and pharmacy services to the states 20 prisons. In June, the state reported 28,020 prisoners behind bars, compared with 32,400 in June 2017. Corizon was established in 2011 when privately held Valitas Health Services Inc., the Creve Coeur-based parent of Correctional Medical Services Inc., acquired America Service Group Inc., a Tennessee-based provider of prison health services. With corporate headquarters in Brentwood, Tennessee, Corizon touts Creve Coeur as home to its operational headquarters. Kurt Erickson 573-556-6181 @KurtEricksonPD on Twitter kerickson@post-dispatch.com Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Saturday July 4 was Independence Day, and while Americas jettisoning of George III may not seem a cause for celebration just now, Sydney found another reason to get giddy. For July 4 was also the day of the famous Powerhouse backflip. But was it actually a backflip? Or was it a pseudo-somersault-with-designer-smokescreen? Everyone was over the moon. The word backflip leapt from every banner and tumbled from every lip. Activist groups welcomed this huge victory after five years of strenuous lobbying. How the Powerhouse was saved, crowed one blog. A victory for cultural life, said another outlet. The ABC, The Australian and all major outlets carried the backflip headline. Activists were over the moon to hear of the government's apparent change of heart. Credit:SMH Up and over she goes! chortled Peter FitzSimons in The Sun-Herald. For it was indeed an enormous backflip, in the pike position, degree of difficulty 2.3. Even The Daily Mail Australia screamed Gladys Berejiklian in huge backflip as NSW Premier saves the original Powerhouse Museum after years of mounting controversy. Strong on hype, short on info. The only thing we can say for certain, wrote FitzSimons, is that the Premier has at least shown she will listen to reason. Weeks later this spirit of trusting triumphalism persisted, even among those for whom scepticism is essential PPE. Greens MP Jamie Parker put out a flyer headed Powerhouse Museum win: together we saved it. White supremacist Brenton Tarrant has been sentenced to life in prison without parole after murdering 51 Muslim worshippers in New Zealand's deadliest shooting. Judge Cameron Mander said the sentence was not enough punishment for the "wicked" crimes. It was the first time in the country's history someone has been sentenced to prison for the rest of their life. Judge Mander said Tarrant had shown no remorse during his trial in Christchurch and no matter how long he spent in prison it would not be long enough to atone for his crimes. "Your crimes are so wicked that even if you are detained until you die it will not exhaust the requirements of punishment and denunciation," said the judge. "As far as I am able to gauge, you are empty of any empathy for your victims." Tarrant, a 29-year-old Australian, admitted to 51 charges of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and one charge of committing a terrorist act during the 2019 shooting rampage at two Christchurch mosques which he livestreamed on Facebook. On March 15, 2019 he stormed the Al Noor mosque armed with military-style semi-automatics, indiscriminately shooting at Muslims gathered for Friday prayers, while filming his massacre from a head-mounted camera and playing a Serbian anti-Muslim anthem. He killed 44 people at Al Noor, the youngest a three-year-old boy shot at point blank range, then attacked a second mosque in the nearby suburb of Linwood, killing another seven people. Judge Mander asked Tarrant if he had any comment. Dressed in grey prison clothes and surrounded by guards, Tarrant nodded when asked if he was aware he had the right to make submissions, but he did not speak. "Today the legal procedures for this heinous crime have been done. No punishment will bring our loved ones back," said Gamal Fouda, the imam of Al Noor mosque. "Extremists are all the same. Whether they use religion, nationalism or any other ideology. All extremists, they represent hate. But we are here today. We respect love, compassion, Muslim and non-Muslim people of faith and of no faith." Prosecutors said Tarrant had accumulated more than 7,000 rounds of ammunition for the attack and wanted to instil fear in those he described as invaders. He planned the attacks to cause maximum carnage. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she was relieved "that person will never see the light of day". Ive tried a lot of different things for pain, and its just exciting to try all of these strains and see what the best is that I would purchase in the future, she said. South Korean authorities stopped short of shifting the country up to the highest level of social distancing measures on Friday, despite recording another triple-digit increase in daily new coronavirus cases. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun instead said the government would extend the current Phase 2 social distancing, which was due to expire this weekend, for at least another week. Phase 3 social distancing is the choice of last resort given the economic and social ripple effect, Chung said at a government meeting. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 371 new coronavirus cases as of midnight Thursday, bringing the countrys total to 19,077, including 316 deaths. After using aggressive tracing and testing to contain a large outbreak earlier this year, South Korea suffered a setback this month after a church cluster spread to a political rally. Health authorities had reimposed Phase 2 social distancing rules on Aug. 16 in the Seoul metropolitan area, expanding the measures nationwide last week. Earlier this week, Seoul officials ordered the closure of most schools in the capital and surrounding areas. Seoul has also mandated that masks to be worn in both indoor and outdoor public places, and has ordered places like churches, nightclubs, karaoke bars and other high-risk venues closed. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on August 27. OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she didn't think there should be any 2020 presidential debates because President Donald Trump would "probably act in a way that is beneath the dignity of the presidency." "I wouldn't legitimize a conversation with him, nor a debate in terms of the presidency of the United States," Pelosi told reporters on Thursday. Roughly an hour later, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden reiterated his commitment to debating Trump: "I'm going to be a fact-checker on the floor." The first 2020 presidential debate of three is scheduled next month on September 29. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she thought Joe Biden should not debate President Donald Trump because the commander in chief would "probably act in a way that is beneath the dignity of the presidency" since "he does that every day." "Don't tell anybody I told you this especially don't tell Joe Biden," Pelosi told reporters at her weekly press conference on Thursday. "I don't think that there should be any debates. I do not think that the president of the United States has comported himself in a way that has any association with truth, evidence, data, and facts." She added: "I wouldn't legitimize a conversation with him, nor a debate in terms of the presidency of the United States. I think he will also belittle what the debates are supposed to be about. And they're not to be about skulduggery on the part of somebody who has no respect for the office he holds." The House Democratic leader and the president have long engaged in verbal attacks and snubbed each other. Perhaps most notably, Trump ignored her handshake at his State of the Union this year, and Pelosi ripped up his speech after he finished speaking. They have not spoken directly in the past 10 months, according to CNN. Story continues Pelosi acknowledged that the Biden campaign "thinks differently" about participating in the debates. Biden quickly reemphasized that point on Thursday. "I'm going to debate him," the former vice president said. "I'm going to be a fact-checker on the floor while I'm debating him." The 2020 nominees plan to appear at three presidential debates, with the first scheduled for September 29. The remaining two are set for October 15 and 22. Each debate will run for 90 minutes. Read the original article on Business Insider Credit: CC0 Public Domain When the new coronavirus stormed the Northeast this year, Alan Kliger, a Yale University kidney specialist, thought it would behave like a typical respiratory virus. There had been signals from China that the new disease was hard on kidneys, but nephrologists like Kliger were not prepared for what happened when cases surged in New York. So many patients suffered kidney injury that dialysis supplies ran short. Two studies of New York patients found that 68% to 76% of intensive-care patients with COVID-19 had kidney damage. In one, a third of ICU patients needed dialysis, a process in which a machine performs the kidney's blood-filtering work. "The amount of acute injury and failure was unexpected and dramatic," said Kliger, cochair of the American Society of Nephrology's COVID-19 Response Team. It is too early to know whether survivors of serious COVID-19 will have long-lasting kidney damage, but doctors are worried. "People are just waking up to the fact that the kidney is an unappreciated manifestation (of COVID-19) but one that is pretty important," said Girish Nadkarni, a nephrologist and researcher at Mount Sinai Health System in New York. "There might be an epidemic of post-coronavirus kidney disease coming." Sonia Toure's story is what Nadkarni fears. Toure, 54, who worked as a research coordinator for City University of New York in the spring, had no chronic health problems before her first symptom of COVID-19 - a single cough - during a work Zoom meeting on March 25. Within a day, she had a sore throat and 103-degree fever, but no breathing problems. Over the next few days, there was more fever along with aches and pains that made her feel as if a mob had beaten her. For one blessed day, she thought she was getting better, but by April 7, she knew she had to go to the hospital. At Mount Sinai, doctors discovered she was in kidney failure and started dialysis. She had pneumonia, but never needed a ventilator. After 35 days in the hospital, she went home on May 12 to her two sons, aged 19 and 21, and two German shepherds. The next day, a doctor called with the results of her kidney biopsy. "The doctor said there was absolutely no hope, that my kidneys were so damaged I would never recover," she said. "I would have to be on dialysis the rest of my life until I could get a transplant." Jia Ng, a nephrologist at New York's Northwell Health, said even patients who recover from acute kidney injury are at higher risk for developing chronic disease later. "Chronic kidney disease is already a major problem for the country, costing us billions," Nadkarni said. He is co-investigator of a new study looking into the long-term prognosis for coronavirus patients who suffered kidney damage, as well as how that damage occurs. The study will include researchers from Rutgers University, Yale, and other large medical centers. Currently, Kliger said, half a million Americans are on dialysis, a process that requires most patients to be connected to a machine for four hours a day, three days a week. About 100,000 new people start dialysis each year while another 100,000 stop because they die. An important question is whether coronavirus will cause a net increase in dialysis patients. It remains to be seen how deaths of people already on dialysis who catch COVID-19 will balance out new dialysis patients, doctors said. Fresenius Medical Care North America and DaVita Kidney Care, the nation's two largest dialysis providers, did not respond to questions about whether demand for dialysis has increased. It is also unclear whether COVID-19 will lead to an increase in demand for kidney transplants. Kliger said his health system encourages virtually all patients with permanent kidney failure and dialysis to consider transplant. While dialysis keeps people alive, it does not return them to normal. "A 30-year-old on dialysis will have (roughly) the same life expectancy of a 55-year-old not on dialysis," Kliger said. People who already have damaged kidneys have the greatest risk for more injury if hospitalized for COVID, but 70% of kidney injuries at Mount Sinai were in people not previously known to have kidney disease, Nadkarni said. Diabetes, high blood pressure, vascular disease, older age, and being Black or Hispanic raise the risk of kidney problems. Even before COVID-19 hit, hospitalization - especially an ICU stay - raised the risk of acute kidney injury. Normally, 22.7% of hospitalized patients have acute kidney injury, Ng said. Only about 4%, though, are at stage 3, the most serious. Studies showed kidney injury rates of 60% to 78% for ICU patients before COVID. During the COVID surge, 37% of Northwell's COVID-19 patients, including 90% of those on ventilators, had kidney injury. Nearly a third of those had stage 3 disease. Thirty-five% of COVID-19 patients with kidney injury had died by the time a study was published in May. A Mount Sinai study of 3,235 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 between Feb. 27 and April 15 found that 46% had acute kidney injury with 20% requiring dialysis. Forty-five% had stage 3 disease. About a third of those in the ICU needed dialysis. The mortality rate for those with acute kidney injury was 41% overall and 52% for ICU patients. Fifty-six% of those who were discharged alive had recovered their kidney function. There are no studies yet of whether kidney function is affected by coronavirus infection that doesn't lead to a hospital stay. Nephrologists at Penn, Jefferson, and Temple Health said they have not yet analyzed their patient data in detail. While it was hard to care for a big influx of very sick patients who needed isolation, they said their hospitals did not face dialysis supply shortages. Dan Negoianu, a Penn Medicine critical care nephrologist, said Penn's numbers are in line with New York's. Omar Maarouf, a nephrologist who directs the Jefferson acute dialysis unit in Center City, said about 20% of Jefferson's coronavirus patients had kidney injury and 10% of those needed dialysis. Suzanne Boyle, a Temple nephrologist, said she couldn't share statistics, but her hospital had a "high volume" of dialysis patients during the COVID-19 surge. Paul Palevsky, a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center nephrologist and incoming president of the National Kidney Foundation, said there is anecdotal evidence that kidney injury has placed less stress on health systems in hot spots outside of New York that had more time to prepare. Data from the South and West are lacking. It is possible, doctors said, that improvements in COVID-19 treatment are reducing kidney damage. Doctors aren't sure why the kidneys are so vulnerable. One reason is that many hospitalized COVID-19 patients are extremely ill, and that's hard on the kidneys. "Critically ill COVID patients are incredibly sick," Negoianu said. The kidneys need strong blood flow, but flow diminishes when patients are dehydrated or have low blood pressure. Fevers, nausea, and diarrhea can lead to dehydration. Early in the pandemic, many patients may have been afraid to go to the hospital, Ng said. "We saw a large number of patients who were very dry," she said. Maintaining blood pressure is a challenge in people with breathing problems. The inflammation that comes with sickness and intense immune response could further weaken the kidneys. Doctors said the kidneys suffer along with the rest of the body. "The kidney is kind of an innocent bystander sometimes," Boyle said. "If the rest of the body isn't doing well, the kidney feels it too." Whether the coronavirus directly attacks kidney cells is controversial. Some studies find no sign of the virus in kidney tissue, but a recent Lancet study found viral RNA in 60% of 63 autopsy samples and in 72% of samples from patients with acute kidney injury. Another possibility, Negoianu said, is that blood clotting caused by COVID-19 damages kidneys. Genetics may also play a part. APOL1 genetic variants have been tied to a higher incidence of kidney disease in people of African descent and have been associated with kidney injury with other viruses, including HIV, Palevsky said. Nadkarni is studying whether the genetic variant, found in 1 in 7 African Americans and 1 in 20 Hispanics with Caribbean ancestors, may also affect how people react to the coronavirus. Whatever is causing the damage, the kidneys stop doing their job. Toxins build up in the body. Palevsky said that can cause confusion, even coma. The kidneys also are responsible for getting rid of salt and excess fluid. When they're not working properly, fluid can build up in the lungs and cause shortness of breath. Higher potassium levels can cause severe and fatal heart rhythm problems. If patients are going to recover kidney function after an acute injury, it usually happens within one to three months. Occasionally, patients get better after a year. Under normal circumstances, half to three-quarters of patients who start dialysis in the hospital will be able to come off of it, Maarouf said. Boyle said patients are more likely to recover if their kidneys were normal to begin with. There's little the patient can do, other than to try to eat well and avoid salt. Negoianu said the patients who were sickest are often the ones whose kidney's won't recover. Dialysis may not be their biggest problem as they head to rehab. "They've often had their whole bodies ravaged by COVID-19," he said. Sonia Toure is still new to kidney failure, and she doesn't like it. Her whole life now revolves around her illness and dialysis visits. "I'm sick every single day," she said. "I'm nauseous and vomiting every single day and all day. That kind of changes your mood." Going to a dialysis center, she said, is a constant reminder that you are among the sick. "It's not fair. I can't accept it," she said. "I don't want to accept it. I just want to hang on to being angry at it because that's the only control I have." Still, she got a new job after her release from the hospital. She's got two boys in college. She's now doing COVID-19 contact tracing for the City of New York. That seemed fitting. She tries not to wallow in her own problems. "Everybody's going through something," she said. "If I need to compare, I can compare to all the people who died on my floor." One of her sons has volunteered to donate a kidney, but she's not sure she could accept it. "He told me I'm being selfish," she said. "No matter how old they are, they still need their mother." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2020 The Philadelphia Inquirer Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Shoplifting is a downside of doing business for many retailers, including some designer boutiques on Madison Avenue, where the problem has intensified in the past six weeks. The Tom Ford boutique is among the stores to have had merchandise stolen by shoplifters in the past week. Manager Jordan Sromek said the incident is being investigated internally and with the New York Police Department. As is often the case, the shoplifters have been working mostly in groups and have struck area boutiques like Brioni, Celine and Balenciaga. A sales associates at Brioni deferred comment to the companys spokesman, who later declined comment. Asked about the recent shoplifting, a sales associate at Celine described the situation as strictly confidential and declined further comment. A Balenciaga spokesman declined comment. The recent neighborhood incidents have been a little more brazen and fearless, according to Sromek, who said, Theres definitely been an uptick in the past month and a half to two months elsewhere. Given that, Tom Fords in-house security team is very much aware of the situation and is here at all times. He declined to disclose any additional information about what type of merchandise was stolen. A NYPD spokesman said Friday there were not any records of shoplifting arrests on the Upper East Side stretch of Madison Avenue. There was, however, a burglary early Thursday morning at Edit New York at 1298 Madison Avenue. The stores front door was forced open, two jewelry lock boxes were pried open and an estimated $77,000 worth of jewelry was stolen, according to the NYPD. Matt Bauer, president of the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District, acknowledged that shoplifting is certainly always an issue at all stores in the area and with fashion brands worldwide. Indicative of the scope of the problem is a 2018 report that showed that 20 large retailers nationwide said they apprehended more than 279,000 shoplifters and dishonest employees, according to the National Retail Security Survey. Those retailers recovered $114 million from those apprehensions, about 8 percent of total theft at retail. Story continues The Madison Avenue BID continues to work closely with the NYPDs 19th Precinct to help businesses take preventive measures against shoplifting and other potential crimes. On Aug. 20, the BID held one of its managers mixers, and focused on how to try to prevent shoplifting. NYPD officers continue to patrol up and down the avenue, as do the local BIDs public safety officers. The BID is continually having safety briefings with area businesses, especially around the holiday season, when shoplifting spikes, Bauer said. We want to make stores as safe as they can be, he said. As for how the problem of shoplifting is changing, Bauer said, I would not exactly say its any worse but its concerning. As businesses have reopened, they are already in a more difficult situation, due to the shutdown and with not as many people on the streets due to the issue of COVID-19. Another Madison Avenue retailer, Dennis Basso, said shoplifting is not an issue in his store. The location is only open by appointment, due to COVID-19 related precautions. Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. - President Donald Trump has formally accepted the Republican presidential nomination ahead of the US presidential election - In his speech accepting the nomination, Trump hit on several policy areas that were a big feature of his 2016 campaign - The US president also took a swipe at his main rival in the election - Former Vice President Joe Biden - Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in President Donald Trump has formally accepted the Republican presidential nomination for the 2020 United States of America presidential election. In his speech formally accepting the Republican presidential nomination, Trump criticised his main rival in the election, Joe Biden. Joe Biden is not a saviour of Americas soul, he told a large crowd of the Republican Party's supporters who witnessed the historic event. Political analysts say Trump recycled most of his 2016 campaign promises during his speech. Photo Credit: CNN Source: Twitter READ ALSO: R Kelly attacked in prison cell, lawyers demand immediate release He is the destroyer of America's jobs, and if given the chance, he will be the destroyer of American greatness, Trump added. He accused Biden of betraying working-class Americans by outsourcing the dreams of American workers throughout his nearly five decades in public life, while also taking a personal swipe at criticism Biden has faced for being overly touchy. President Trump referred to Bidens votes as a senator for NAFTA and to allow China into the World Trade Organization as a shameful roll call of the most catastrophic betrayals and blunders in our lifetime, mocking the emphasis Biden has placed on empathy as hollow in the face of those votes. ABC News reports that at the conclusion of Trump's acceptance speech, a fireworks display was launched at the Washington Monument. READ ALSO: Prophet TB Joshua releases powerful prophecy for US president Donald Trump Trump's speech comes 10 days after Biden was officially nominated on Tuesday night, August 18, as the Democratic nominee for president. The former vice president tweeted his acceptance after he was adopted as the party's candidate in a virtual convention. The historic moment played out with Biden and his wife, former Second Lady Jill Biden, celebrating remotely with family members as the entire convention was virtual due to COVID-19 regulations. YEN had earlier reported that Biden named California senator Kamala Harris as his vice-presidential running mate ahead of the US presidential elections. Experts say Biden's historic choice will likely bolster his chances of beating Donald Trump in an election many predict will be a close race. Harris, a barrier-breaking former prosecutor, is the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India and is the first black woman and the first Asian American to run on a major party ticket. 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 Seoul, Aug 28 : Samsung will further unveil features of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 foldable smartphone next week as it has confirmed the date and time of the device's proper unveiling event. The South Korean tech giant showcased the Galaxy Z Fold 2 at its Galaxy Unpacked online event on August 5, along with the Galaxy Note 20 phablet, Galaxy Watch 3 smartwatch, Galaxy Buds Live wireless earbuds and Galaxy Tab S7 tablet. The company did not explain detailed specs of the Galaxy Z Fold 2, as well as its price and launch date, reports Yonhap news agency. So far, Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy Z Fold 2 features a 7.6-inch screen when unfolded, while having a 6.2-inch cover display, both larger than its predecessor's 7.3-inch and 4.6-inch displays. It packs a 4,500mAh battery. The latest foldable handset comes in two colours: mystic black and mystic bronze. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is the follow-up to Samsung's original foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold, which was launched last year. The company added "Z" in the name to consolidate its foldable smartphones under one brand. The Z lineup currently includes the Galaxy Z Flip, a vertically folding phone. Like the Galaxy Z Flip, Samsung said it will also release the limited edition of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 in partnership with fashion brand Thom Browne. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The Paramount Chief of the Essikado traditional area, Nana Kobina Nketiah V, has told journalists that while applying professionalism in their work during the December polls, they should endeavour to uphold values and ethics of their profession. He indicated that journalists could effectively cover this year's competitive Election if they were bold and courageous. "No journalists can do good coverage of this year's elections clouded in fear", adding that they should be able to inform the public and not misinform them. Nana Nketiah V, who was addressing journalists at the 'Media Convention 2020' in Takoradi, called for fair-mindedness, consciousness and strict adherence to professional ethics. The programme was sponsored by the US Embassy, and organized by the Ghana Journalists' Association (GJA), bringing together selected media establishments drawn from the Western, Western North and Central Regions. Other participants included; the security agencies and representatives of political parties. The 2020 Election: Role of the Media in Promoting Civility and Discernment in the Political Discourse, was the theme for the programme. It served as a platform for dialogue by the stakeholders on issues relating to this year's Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. Topics discussed included, 'GJA Guidelines on Election Coverage and the various Guidelines of the NMC: Correlation and Synergies', 'Concerns and Expectations of the EC, political parties and security agencies on Media Coverage of Election 2020', as well as 'Social Media as a Tool for Information Flow - Prospects and Challenges'. The Paramount Chief pointed out that the duty of the media was to promote the public interest and stressed that the media must not allow their parochial interests to cloud their sense of judgment as they report on political activities ahead of the December General Election. He underscored the importance of journalists in the dispensation of multi-party democracy noting "that the journalist can make the ignorant guilty and guilty ignorant" and tasked them to report fairly and objectively while standing for the truth. Nana Nketiah V said the media's role was to serve as a mouthpiece and guidance to the electorate by keeping them informed of the activities and Programmes of the various political parties to enable the populace make informed decisions. He reminded journalists of the need to always present truthful, factual and unbiased information, and also ensure duty-bearers were accountable for their work and promises to the people. Vice-President of the GJA, Mrs Linda Asante-Agyei, stressed the critical role the media had played in strengthening democracy and the rule of law under the Fourth Republican Constitution. She said the 2020 polls, presented another challenge to the media to be alive to their responsibilities by helping to reduce needless tension to ensure stability and sustainable development. Mrs Asante-Agyei said the Association under the 'Media Convention' project, would continue to engage stakeholders for dialogue as it sought to create a harmonious environment before, during, and after the December elections. She lauded the American Embassy for being a faithful partner in GJA activities, noting that the Ghanaian media had the responsibility to shape the elections, promote issue-based campaigns and promote voter education. Dr Anthony Bonnah Koomson, a media consultant tasked journalists to be passionate about their code of ethics and conduct, adding that a good journalist should carry the burden of others. He said the media landscape was doing well and journalists were now doing more follow-ups on government projects and taking duty -bearers to task. Dr Koomson pointed out that "democracy suffers when journalists are not professional in their work and if they are not professional with their work it could lead to violence". 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 As the population of The Woodlands and South Montgomery County continues to grow at a rapid pace, officials in The Woodlands are looking to the future to ensure there is adequate, and affordable, access to drinking water for residents. On Wednesday, township leaders received a lengthy, detailed update on water issues as well as subsidence concerns from officials with the San Jacinto River Authority. Related: New study links aquifer pumping to fault line movement, structure damage in Montgomery County Jace Houston, the general manager of the SJRA, provided the seven directors with copious amounts of information and data during the Zoom-hosted online board meeting on Aug. 26. Houston provided information about the odor study ongoing at Waste Water Treatment Facility No. 1, the debate versus ground water from wells and surface water from Lake Conroe and he touched on subsidence in the community and the seismic activity present in the community. Subsidence issues Residents in The Woodlands get drinking water from two main sources: ground water that is pumped from wells in the community and also surface water from Lake Conroe, a more recent source that was developed over the past five to six years to address growing needs for water. One issue that has cropped up from well water is subsidence: the scientific term for when the ground sinks because aquifers have had water stores depleted, resulting in less pressure holding up topsoil and layers of earth Houston said the issue of subsidence in relation to ground water pumping is compounded by little-known fault lines that criss-cross the township and have been suspected of causing damage to the foundations of homes and businesses in past 10 years. Faults are definitely an issue, not just in The Woodlands, but all of Montgomery County. Every (piece of) evidence points to the fault movement weve seenit is clearly connected to water level drops and subsidence, Houston explained. One of the issues facing the township is possible changes in how water is sourced, and Houston said, plans by the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District to possibly increase the pumping of well water by 50 percent under a proposal that has yet to be approved. That return to using more well water, which had been reduced since the development of a surface water treatment facility on Lake Conroe, could lead to more subsidence, he added. Laura Norton, a board member of Montgomery County Municipal Utility District 47, had made comments during the Aug. 26 meetiig about the possibility of more ground water being pumped. Norton said many of the wells could see dips in available water and to drill deeper into the aquifer would cost the 10 MUDs in the township an estimated $60 million based on her research of the issue. Norton also said the 2018 election to the LSGCD board has caused confusion and also concern about the future of drinking water in the county, saying those elected sought election on a platform of property rights and restoring affordable water. On HoustonChronicle.com: State agency rejects Montgomery County aquifer plan What has happened with water (access) is ruinous to The Woodlands residents. The assault on our water started several years ago, Norton said. As we draw down the water table with aggressive pumping, well have to re-tool our wells at a cost of $60 million to drill deeper and employ more power. Our current water issues are a big deal, and I would like to see more residents calling in and voicing their concerns over what the LSGCSD is doing and the affect it will have on our water rates and our properties. Securing water Houston also said in light of the uncertainty over water access in The Woodlands, leaders need to be looking to the future to ensure affordable, accessible drinking water sources are available as the areas population grows. He also noted that in the realm of water access rights, governmental entities and other community groups seeking water often labor for decades in advance of when the water may be needed due to the complexities of the issue and all the stakeholders involved. The community will always need to access some amount of ground water, Houston added, but that has to be done with careful consideration of damages caused by possible subsidence. Well always use ground water in Montgomery County, there is just a debate about how much, he added. Continuing to use ground water creates consequences to subsidence. Houston also briefly discussed the ongoing legal battles over the Ground water Reduction Plan, which saw more than 80 different entities join together in the past decade to bring more surface water supplies to the county. That partnership led to the construction of the water treatment plant on Lake Conroe, which has been in use for several years and caused less subsidence in some areas. Related: Woodlands Water reaffirms objection to San Jacinto River Authority fee hike proposal We had a few entities breach the contract either by not paying the full rate or not payiong at all, Houston said of the ongoing legal battle. This controversy, this legal battle, it has real consequences. It threatens to undermine future water supplies. Woodlands board Member Bruce Rieser, who is the chairman of the townships Storm Drainage Task Force, said recent exploration of a Spring Creek detention reservoir mainly intended to mitigate flooding in the township could also include explorations of a dual-use reservoir that provides surface water to the township in future decades. As Rieser and board Chairman Gordy Bunch both noted, the township nor Montgomery County actually own any rights to surface water at this time. Rieser also pointed to a newly created scientific study that will be done by an independent group in conjunction with Woodlands Water and officials with H.A.R.C. to identify subsidence issues in the township. Were jus in the very preliminary stages of identifying the issues, Rieser added. The township is partnering with the MUDs and other entities to do subsidence studies. We need to have somebody independently look at this. jeff.forward@chron.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 17:51:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The government of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has signed a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement (CDTA) with Serbia, signifying the government's sustained efforts in expanding Hong Kong's tax treaty network, a government spokesman said Friday. The CDTA is the 44th such agreement that Hong Kong has concluded. It sets out the allocation of taxing rights between the two jurisdictions and will help investors better assess their potential tax liabilities from cross-border economic activities. Serbia is one of the emerging economies participating in China's Belt and Road Initiative, which brings about vast business opportunities. The CDTA will promote economic and trade connections between China's Hong Kong and Serbia, and offer additional incentives for the business sector of both sides to do business or make investments, Secretary for Financial Services and Treasury Christopher Hui said. Under the CDTA, double taxation will be avoided in that any tax paid in Serbia by Hong Kong companies in accordance with the CDTA will be allowed as a credit against the tax payable in China's Hong Kong on the same income, subject to the provisions of the tax laws of Hong Kong. Likewise, for Serbian companies, the tax paid in China's Hong Kong will be allowed as a deduction from the tax payable on the same income in Serbia. Enditem Co Kildare Chamber has made a special plea to NPHET to lift small businesses out of lockdown because cafes, restaurants and pubs serving food are "at breaking point." The Acting Chief Medical Officer said yesterday that while the coronavirus situation is improving in Kildare, the number of cases has not stabilised to a point to enable a lifting of restrictions at this point. Dr Ronan Glynn said that the measures in place in Co Kildare to slow the spread of Covid-19 "are having precisely the effect we want". However Co Kildare Chamber said it was very disappointed at the continuation of the lockdown despite low case numbers. A spokesperson said: "We were really encouraged by the very low number again for Kildare, but now very disappointed at the latest comments from NPHET who have indicated they want to keep the county in lockdown. "We are urging at a very minimum that Government must lift the restrictions imposed on cafes, restaurants and pubs serving food and re align those businesses with the rest of the country. "Many businesses here are at breaking point and at the point of closure, many employees have lost their jobs, cash flow has completely dried up, creditors are getting impatient. "We must learn how to live with this virus both as citizens and businesses until a vaccine is found." The National Public Health Emergency Team met yesterday to review the latest trends on Covid-19 and the situation in Co Kildare, which remains under restrictions that were introduced earlier this month. Dr Glynn said the situation will continue to be closely monitored. There have been 93 cases of the virus reported yesterday, with seven reported in Kildare. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has previously said that while the restrictions in Co Kildare are working, the difficult question for NPHET to consider is if the infection rate has been reduced enough, as lifting restrictions could cause it to increase again. Dr Glynn said; We continue to see a slow growth of COVID-19 in Ireland. The most effective action we can take to reduce the transmission rate of this virus is to reduce our number of close contacts. If we do this and keep practicing the other safe behaviours by continuing to physical distance, avoid crowds, wash our hands, cover our coughs and sneezes, wear a face mask where appropriate and download the COVID Tracker app, we have a real chance of slowing the spread of the virus to where we want it to be. Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said; The R-number is now between 1 and 1.2. While this is an improvement on what we have seen recently, it is still not where we want to be. We are still seeing growing transmission of the disease and we need to bring the R-number back below 1 if we are to effectively slow the spread of transmission." State prosecutor Noordin Haji is not resting on his laurels this week after ordering for the immediate arrest of Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa. Just hours after giving the green light for the prosecution of former Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director Daniel Manduku, Haji called for the Malindi MP and 7 other suspects to be brought to book over alleged misappropriation of Sh19 million NGCDF cash. The other suspects are Wachu Abdalla (NGCDF account manager), Tender Committee members Kennedy Otieno, Bernard Kai, Margaret Kalume and Sophia Charo, Multserve Contractors Ltd and its Director, Robert Katana. It had been alleged that Jumwa through her proxies fraudulently received funds amounting to Sh57 million but the DPP was only able to establish the misappropriation of Sh19 million. Haji established that the amount was paid to Multserve Contractors Ltd for the construction of the Malindi subcounty education office. He said in a statement that the procurement process spearheaded by the Fund Account Manager and the Tender Committee was awfully flawed and marred with irregularities and skewed in favour of Multserve Contractors Limited. Haji said Sh2.5 million of the Sh19 million was illegally transferred to Ms Jumwa, which amounts to conflict of interest. The suspects will be charged with conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, willful failure to comply with law related to procurement, conflict of interest, money laundering, acquisition of proceeds of crime, forgery and uttering. Craig Revel Horwood was a successful West End choreographer before moving to Strictly Come Dancing (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images for the National Osteoporosis Society) While, to many, hes known as the nasty judge on Strictly Come Dancing, prior to finding fame on the popular BBC show, Craig Revel Horwood had a successful career as a choreographer. However, it was a career that almost came crumbling around him. Speaking on White Wine Question Time, the Australia-born star revealed that he walked away from a very successful career with West End producer, Cameron Mackintosh, who has produced huge shows such as Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera and Hamilton. Revel Horwood explained that while working on The Witches of Eastwick in 2000, he left behind their seven-year working relationship as Mackintosh refused to give him a co-choreographing credit. I just wanted in the back of the program just to say co-choreographed by and he didn't want to do that, explained Revel Horwood to podcast host Kate Thornton. I'd already opened a show as choreographer in the West End for Spend, Spend, Spend, which I received a nomination for an Olivier Award, and so I thought I really felt the need to not assist anymore. Read more: London producer Mackintosh shuts down 'Hamilton' and other top shows until 2021 The Strictly star admitted to Kate that he thought Mackintosh would relent and give him the credit, but instead, the job was handed to fellow West End choreographer, Stephen Mears. I left the double doors of the Macintosh empire and fell directly into the dance gutter, he recalled. Cameron did me a huge favour to be honest, because then I was forced to go it alone and had to prove myself by myself. Craig Revel Horwood said walking out on his partnership with successful West End producer Cameron Mackintosh was the best thing he ever did (Photo: Getty Images) Obviously, I had to give up my mobile phone at the time because I couldn't afford it. Suddenly the money stopped - everything stopped - and I had to try and put myself on the map as a choreographer, but in my own right. His decision proved to be the right one though when he landed a job choreographing a small show at the Chichester Festival Theatre called Pal Joey, which earned him rave reviews. Other producers were talking about me and then suddenly I was on a treadmill to becoming an international choreographer, he said. Story continues And without Cameron's boot out the door - which you can't understand at the time - but if you trust the universe, doors will open. It taught me a valuable lesson to accept your fate and then try and help yourself to something and open another door and say, yes, even if you don't think you can do it. Read more: Strictly Come Dancing will return this year Revel Horwood also said the experienced taught him to push himself even if he feels out of his depth. Craig Revel Horwood arrives for the Caudwell Children 'The Legends Ball' at Battersea Evolution on May 8, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) He told Thornton: When I first directed opera, I was scared to death cause it's in a foreign language obviously and I had to really study it. There are a lot of things I say yes to that really challenged me. I think the more scared and fearful you are, the better it is for you because you then have another string to your bow. The choreographer, who has worked on a diverse range of things from appearing as Miss Hannigan in Annie to helping Hugh Grant learn to tap dance in Paddington 2, said that failures have also been important to him and his career, citing one of his critically panned ventures as a surprising launch pad into something new. I've failed miserably, but I've taken the responsibility on and I've had a good time doing it, you know? he explained. Craig Revel Horwood bows at the curtain call during the cast change press night performance of "Annie" at The Piccadilly Theatre on October 2, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images) I did a wonderful show called The Beautiful And Damned in the West End and that was part of the West End's blood bath! This was the actual year that I got Strictly Come Dancing, believe it or not! That was because of my angst for that show that I ended up the character on the TV that people see today. Isn't it mad? One experience leads to another. Read more: Craig Revel Horwood on how plastic surgery helped him feel happier with his body And his advice for those that are scared of doing something new? Do it anyway! If you feel scared of something, maybe challenge your fear of that, Revel Horwood exclaimed. In this life, there is actually nothing to fear. It's a made up emotion! What is the worst that can happen? Nothing. It's crazy. You've got to fail in order to succeed - and I think understanding failure is part and parcel of success. Hear Craig Revel Horwood chat about his recent engagement, plus why he had to kill off his drag alter ego Lavish in the latest episode of White Wine Question Time. Listen now on iTunes and Spotify. After nearly two months, Eleana Topp finally opened her eyes. She looked at the white board in the hospital and saw the date: May 25. Topp had tested positive for the new coronavirus in late March. Now, it was Memorial Day. What happened to April? What happened to the rest of May? she wondered. The 57-year-old mother of four and devout Catholic didnt get to celebrate Easter, her favorite holiday. She didnt know she had been moved from a hospital in Humble to the medical center near downtown Houston. She didnt know that her husband, Daniel Topp, and children wondered if she would even make it. Eleana Topp is among more than 78,000 people in the Houston area who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 but recovered from the life-threatening illness. After testing positive in late March, the Kingwood resident and Realtor quarantined at home until her condition started to worsen; she then was taken to the hospital and placed on a ventilator. Unable to see her for months, family members gathered to pray and recorded voice messages for Topp, as the Houston Chronicle reported for a Mothers Day story about Eleanas battle. Somehow, some way, the woman described as a fighter awakened and pulled through, offering an inspirational story at a time when more than 180,000 people have died so far in the United States of the virus. One doctor told her, Let me tell you Mrs. Topp, youre a miracle. Is it COVID? Eleana Topp has always lived to help others, friends and family members say. Thats the reason I married her, Daniel Topp, 63, said in an interview last spring. Theres not a mean bone in her body. She is the mother to four beautiful children and is a fighter for the Lord! friends wrote on a GoFundMe page that includes a photo of a smiling, neatly dressed Topp on a bridge overlooking a marina. Before she tested positive for the new coronavirus on March 25, Topp thought she might just have the flu. She was sneezing, had a runny nose and watery eyes. A native of Peru, Topp was also used to getting allergies from the pollen in Texas. However, she also knew that a real estate client, just back from France, had tested positive for the illness. She and the client had been working on a house together, preparing it to be sold. Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Topps doctor eventually confirmed that she, too, had the flu, but she also got tested for the virus. The results: Positive. She quarantined at home for a week, away from family members. They brought her food but became concerned as her breathing became labored. Her real estate clients daughter, who is a doctor, came over to test her blood saturation levels, which were in the 60s. Normally somebodys blood saturation in the 60s is dead, Daniel Topp said. Getting worse That day, April 1, Eleana Topp was admitted to Memorial Hermann Northeast hospital in Humble. The next day is the last one she remembers clearly. She woke up early and reached for her cell phone. She heard a doctors voice in the background. A few days later, Eleana was placed on a ventilator. Her priest came by and administered the Anointing of the Sick sacrament. In the early stages of the pandemic, some viewed a coronavirus patient being put on a ventilator as a death sentence. However, a study published in May showed that 35.7 percent of COVID-19 patients who needed ventilators died a lower figure than was originally being reported, according to The Washington Post. If you have COVID-19 and you end up going on a ventilator, your mortality is much higher than that person that doesnt go on a ventilator. Theres no question about that, said Dr. Bindu Akkanti, a physician with Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and UTHealth who treated Topp. However being on a ventilator in itself is not a death sentence and there are patients that can recover from this. Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Still, Daniel Topp said, his wifes condition was worsening. She was on dialysis. Her organs were starting to fail. He talked to a friend in the medical field who told him about a treatment being offered at Houston Methodist Hospital at the Texas Medical Center. Recovered coronavirus patients were donating their plasma, full of antibodies, to be used in sick patients like Topp. (President Donald Trump on Sunday announced emergency authorization to treat COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma, though some medical experts said the treatment needs further study). Daniel Topps friend gave him the name of a doctor leading the program at Houston Methodist, but all of the beds were filled. He went back to his friend, who told him about another treatment that might work for Eleana: ECMO, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The ECMO machines were being used at the Texas Medical Center, which would also get Eleana closer to where doctors were completing plasma treatments at Houston Methodist. The machine acts as an assist to the lungs, removing carbon dioxide from the blood and then sending oxygen back into the body, according to Akkanti. Akkanti explained that some patients can experience lung injury from a ventilator, which helps a patient breathe, depending on the use. The ECMO machine can work in partnership with the ventilator to limit stress on the lungs. If youre already giving oxygenated blood, then the ventilator does not need to be used at that same force, said Akkanti. Then, we come down on the ventilator settings in able to help the lungs kind of heal on their own. Daniel Topp pushed for his wife to be put on an ECMO machine, and asked doctors if she could be transferred to the Texas Medical Center for treatment. They agreed. Eleana Topp was placed on the ECMO machine, then airlifted on April 11 to Memorial Hermann. Not ready to let her go During the first six weeks of his wifes illness, Daniel Topp said, loved ones delivered meals to the family at their home every night. On Fridays, they would have a smorgasbord of the leftover food from the week. At first, 22-year-old Leonard Topp said, family members kept to themselves, not really wanting to talk about his mothers illness. He didnt want to get out of bed some days and had trouble eating. Were just like kind of wasting away in our own sadness at that point, he recalled. Daughter Hannah Topp said she was also starting to lose hope. The 18-year-old wondered if her mom would be around to help her pack for college. Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer There was so much more that I wanted to do with my mom, said Hannah Topp. I was like not ready to let her go. Leonard Topp said he became emotionally distraught, which prompted him to bring together family members to share what they were going through. Every night, family members gathered to pray and share favorite stories about Topp. We prayed together and that just helps you feel more hopeful, helps you feel like youre actually doing something at that point, Leonard Topp said. After being monitored on the ECMO machine for about five days, Eleana Topp was started on the convalescent plasma treatment. Daniel Topp never said it, but he thought he might lose his wife. He drew some hope from the daily calls he received from nurses updating him on how she had done the night before. She was surrounded by angels and warriors, Daniel Topp said of the hospital staff. Waking up During the first week of May, Eleana Topp was tested again for COVID-19. This time, she was negative. Within days, she started to improve. A couple weeks later, the doctors took her off the ECMO machine. Over the next few weeks, doctor tried to awaken her. She would wake up for moments, but didnt fully awaken until she was transferred to nearby Kindred Hospital Houston Medical Center to start long-term recovery. Leonard Topp teared up the first time he saw his mom on FaceTime after she woke up. It was so surreal, he said. Even though she missed Easter, Eleana Topp learned she wouldnt have been able to go to church anyway because leaders there werent conducting services in person. Her skin was itchy and she wanted a different gown. Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer She also was hungry and craved solid food, which she hadnt had in months because she was hooked up to a feeding tube. Then she spoke again for the first time. My voice! My voice! My voice! she cried out, when she finally heard it. Doctors told Topp she could have only one visitor for one hour daily. She chose her daughter Hannah. At the hospital, Hannah Topp washed the dead skin off her moms feet. She gave her a pedicure and manicure. She washed her moms hair and put in leave-in conditioner. She was amazed that her mom hadnt changed. She was the exact same person, it was so crazy, said Hannah Topp. Her mental acuity, the exact same. She didnt seem to forget anything about anybody. Fighter comes home Day by day, Eleana Topp grew stronger. On June 6, she finally was taken off the ventilator. A few weeks later, she was transferred to Kingwood Medical Center, where she received physical therapy and learned to walk again without a walker. Eleana Topp was released on June 30. She was walking without a walker shortly after. She drove herself the next day to go shopping at the mall, Stein Mart and Costco with her son Nickolas, 19, riding along. (A third son, Alexander, lives in Washington, D.C.) She made Peruvian dishes for her family to celebrate Peruvian Independence Day. Her husband also took her for a spa day in Galveston. Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Topp got a haircut and a massage. One recent day, Daniel Topp sat at the pool and sipped on a drink with an umbrella. It was difficult. Shes a fighter, he said. She has a very strong faith in God. God definitely picked her up and delivered her back home. Eleana Topp still gets tired now and then. Her muscles and joints still ache. She goes to outpatient therapy twice a week. Even though she doesnt remember it all, she remains in awe of her husbands advocacy for her when she was unconscious and facing a very uncertain future. He was my warrior, she said. She smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. brooke.lewis@chron.com Sony is expected to announce the Xperia 5 II at an online event on September 17. This will obviously be the successor to the Xperia 5 from last year, and it looks like Sony isn't ready to give up on its insane naming scheme just yet. Recently we saw the first leaked render showing the Xperia 5 II, and today more of these have been outed, alongside a substantial list of its specs. The phone is said to sport a 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED display with 21:9 aspect ratio, 120 Hz refresh rate, and 240 Hz touch sampling rate. At the helm we find the Snapdragon 865 chipset (the vanilla, non-Plus version), aided by 8GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage. The rear cameras are wide, ultrawide, and tele. The main shooter is a 12 MP unit with f/1.7 aperture, 24mm equivalent lens, with 82-degree field of view. The tele is also 12 MP, with f/2.4 aperture, and gives you 3x optical zoom. The ultrawide is 12 MP too, with f/2.2 aperture, and 16 mm equivalent focal length an 124-degree field of view. The Xperia 5 II will feature 120fps video recording in 4K HDR. The handset measures 158 x 68 x 8 mm, and it's kept alive by a 4,000 mAh battery that charges through a USB-C port with PD support. A headphone jack is in too, making a return (the original 5 didn't have one). Source Wisconsin authorities have identified the two men who were allegedly shot dead by a 17-year-old earlier this week during a protest in Kenosha over the shooting of Jacob Blake by police. The two men, Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, were killed Tuesday when they tried to intervene during the alleged shooting rampage by the teenager. A third man, Gaige P. Grosskreutz, was also wounded in the attack. Cellphone videos from the demonstration Tuesday night showed Rosenbaum approaching the teen, who was carrying an AR-15 style rifle, according to the charging documents, and Rosenbaum appeared to throw a plastic bag at him before the latter opened fire. Rosenbaum was struck several times. Protests in Wisconsin aftermath of Kenosha shooting (Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) After the shooting, people followed the teen, identifying him as the shooter to authorities, the documents said. Among them was Huber, who was carrying a skateboard in one hand and trying to grab the teens gun with the other. The teen opened fire, killing Huber, the documents said. In an interview Thursday, Hubers friend Tim Kramer, 26, called him a hero someone who saw a shooter and put his life on the line to try and stop him. Maybe Huber wasn't the smartest for attacking someone with a gun, but his heart was pure and had good intentions, Kramer said. He did not deserve to die. Anthony Huber. (GoFundMe) Kramer met Huber in middle school in Kenosha and recalled that his skateboard was an extension of his body. I have never seen him without it, he said. He wasnt career-oriented. He just wanted to skate. Kramer, who moved to Racine to work as a press operator, said he hadnt been in touch with Huber lately, but he never knew him to be an activist. Nor does he believe Huber was involved in any of the violence or property destruction that have accompanied the protests. That is not his character, he said. According to an online fundraiser, Huber left behind a stepdaughter and a girlfriend. Rosenbaum was from Waco, Texas, according to his Facebook profile, and was engaged to be married. According to the profile, he studied at Pima Community College, in Tucson, Arizona, and started working at Wendys in Kenosha last year. Story continues Several images posted to Rosenbaums page showed him with his fiancee and young daughter. Joseph Rosenbaum. (via Facebook) In an interview with NBC News, Shirley Ann Eubank, Rosenbaums aunt, called him a precious young man. I loved him dearly, she said. He was like a son to me. It is so very sad that this country has gotten so out of control. Grosskreutz, who had been volunteering as a medic at the protests and was carrying a gun, according to the documents, was shot in the arm. NBC affiliate WTMJ reported that he had undergone surgery and is recovering. The teen, Kyle Rittenhouse, was charged Thursday with first-degree reckless homicide in the death of Rosenbaum and first-degree intentional homicide in the death of Huber. He also faces a charge of attempted first-degree intentional homicide for the wounding of Grosskreutz. At a news conference Thursday, Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes described Rittenhouse as an outside agitator who fired on peaceful protesters. He came in from Illinois with a long rifle and was able to just walk the streets, freely, like thats something normal we should just come to expect, Barnes said. We shouldnt accept it, he added. Because what do you think is going to happen if you have an agitated man with a long gun walking down the streets thinking that hes some sort of peacekeeper? A lawyer for Rittenhouse, who was also charged with reckless endangerment and a misdemeanor count of possession of a dangerous weapon under the age of 18, described the shooting as classic self-defense. We will obtain justice for Kyle no matter how hard the fight or how long it takes, John Pierce said in a statement. New Delhi, Aug 28 : A key Nagaland stakeholder group, the Nagaland Gaon Bura Federation (NGBF), the hereditary custodians of Naga customs and traditions in the state, has strongly opposed the demand for the replacement of R.N. Ravi, the Government of India representative and interlocutor for Naga peace talks, calling the demand "unjust and untenable". The political temperature in Nagaland has been rising after a recent spate of media statements by key groups over the demand for early solution to Naga political issue. The NGBF said in a statement that "It puts on record the following matters for posterity in the face of alarming and malicious media publications on Indo-Naga political issues". On the issues being raised against GOI interlocutor R.N Ravi, NGBF observed that the demand for replacement of interlocutor is unjust and untenable due to the fact that he is also the GoI interlocutor with other negotiating groups. "The status paper is with the tribal leaders and organisations. The transparency and practical aspect of the negotiations between GoI and WC, NNPGs, without compromising Naga history, identity and political right in all Naga areas, being communicated to the tribes and public at the grassroots level has found favour with the people," it said. NGBF has taken exception to some recent statements made by the NSCN (IM). "In recent days, NSCN (IM) statements have described 14 tribes, NTC, NGBF, CNTC and other civil societies as planted by R.N. Ravi and tutored by him, which have deeply hurt the sentiment of the Nagas," the Naga group said. "R.N. Ravi was first seen by Nagas on TV having a warm handshake with Th. Muivah on August 3, 2015. After 20 of peace talks, the GoI had no option but to invite all other Naga armed groups to the negotiating table," it said. "Just like the NSCN (IM), all the groups had different ideologies and policies and owed their origin to the very first undivided NNC. The only role the Naga civil societies, particularly the NTC, NGBF and churches, played was bringing sworn enemies to a common table where they could see eye to eye for the sake of Nagas. It was providence," the statement added. The group said the August 3, 2015 Framework Agreement signed between GoI and NSCN (IM) clearly mentioned that the negotiations have concluded, and R.N Ravi and Th. Muivah signed and sealed with a handshake. "Three years later, GoI realised that it had been misled. There were other stakeholders on the ground. Sensing an exclusive pact was not going to solve the Naga issue, NGBF and all tribal Hohos insisted on an inclusive solution and on November 17, 2017, the agreed position was signed between GoI and WC, NNPGs," the group said. "Logic says if R.N. Ravi, as NSCN (IM) alleges, planted or tutored the stakeholders, he would never dare to acknowledge or admit that the Nagas had political and historical right to self-determine their future in consonant with their distinct identity. Not in a signed document. This is a great achievement and credit goes to the Naga tribal Hohos, the GBs, churches and prayer warriors. Blaming R.N. Ravi or MHA has no basis," the Naga group said in a strong endorsement. "A group negotiating with GoI with R.N Ravi as interlocutor and issuing statements saying '... any organisation falling in line with R.N. Ravi is anti-Naga...' sums up the inconsistencies in the last 23 years of political talks between GoI and NSCN (IM)," NGBF said in a reference to the position taken by NSCN (IM). "NGBF cannot lie to the people at a grassroots level and therefore this press statement is issued with a hope that Nagas would stay calm and positive against disturbing media trials and presumptions," it added. "There is a perpetual tendency within the NSCN (IM) leadership to brand Naga leaders, tribes, organisations, other civil societies as anti Nagas and traitors for not towing their political ideology. This is a mockery of Nagaland for Christ. The statements contradict frequent fasting programmes and prayer requests seeking cooperation from Nagas," NGBF said, criticising the NSCN (IM). "God fearing leaders should not insist their words and actions are final in the Naga context. The people's voice and will is final. NGBF is opposed to dictate that stifles people's sentiment. Nagas did not oppose British occupation and Indian occupation to finally be treated like expendable humans at the hands of fellow Nagas," it added. In the last 23 years of Indo Naga Peace talks, the GBs of Nagaland have stood for and supported inclusive, acceptable and honourable solutions for all Nagas irrespective of boundaries. After the signing of FA on August 3, 2015 between GoI and NSCN (IM) and agreed positions between GoI and WC, NNPGs on November 17, 2017, time and again the NGBF has appealed to all the negotiating parties to bring home an honourable and acceptable political solution to our people," it said. The NGBF has met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and R.N.Ravi a number of times for early settlement of the Naga problem. The Naga group also recalled the past incidents of violence and sought healing of wounds. It said that post the Shillong Accord in 1975, rampant killing among Naga national workers ensued in Eastern Nagaland. After the split of NSCN in 1988, the fratricidal killings spilled into present Nagaland state. "The brazen assassination attempts on politicians, bureaucrats, civil society leaders and wiping out of a generation of young local entrepreneurs is still very fresh in the memory of our people. Today, leaders or groups with such tendencies must rethink. Our children have come of age. Wounds of the past must be allowed to heal and not flare," it said. Town halls were last night urged to play their part by getting more workers back into offices to rescue city centre shops. A Daily Mail audit of councils suggests only a fraction of staff have returned. Many said up to eight in ten workers will not be expected to return until next year or until the pandemic is over. Only a few said they plan a drive to get them back in the coming weeks. We sent the survey to more than 80 councils. Of the 25 that responded, 21 said either only a fraction or less than 20 per cent of office workers had returned. Several claimed no more than a fifth will return until the pandemic is over due to distancing restrictions. Cambridgeshire County Council in Cambridge said about 3,000 of its 4,300 staff are office-based. Of these, about 80 per cent continue to work from home Nottinghamshire County Council in Nottingham has 8,000 to 10,000 workers. It said the majority of our office staff will be remaining at home But critics dismissed this, accusing unions of scaremongering public sector bosses into being overly cautious. Local authorities in some areas are among the biggest employers. Their staff provide crucial footfall for businesses that rely on busy offices. CBI boss Dame Carolyn Fairbairn has warned Mr Johnson must do more to get workers back at their desks The findings last night led to renewed calls for Downing Street to toughen up its back to work message. Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: Public servants must lead the way and play their part. Then the Government can tell all those companies that have said no one is going back until the New Year that they have a duty and obligation to help the economy. If people dont return to offices, smaller businesses will crash and burn. Some of these people have probably been out in pubs and restaurants on the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, so why cant they replicate that in their office environment? He also accused unions of scaremongering public sector bosses. He said: The 20 per cent thing is just b*******. They are just trying to damage the Government. It is nearly a month since Boris Johnson heralded August 3 as the day work from home guidance ends. He said Britons could return to offices at the discretion of their employers. But the response of town halls deals a further hammer blow to commercial centres starved of customers. London City Hall normally has 800 people working in its River Thames HQ but sources said only a limited number are back. A spokesman for mayor Sadiq Khan said: Guidelines mean that only around 200 staff can safely work from the building. Kent County Council in Maidstone said it has around 6,500 staff accessing remote technology, which is the vast majority of our office-based staff. Kent County Council in Maidstone said it has around 6,500 staff accessing remote technology, which is the vast majority of our office-based staff A spokesman added: We do not expect staff who are normally office-based to return on a permanent basis until into next year, except where they need to for business. Cambridgeshire County Council in Cambridge said about 3,000 of its 4,300 staff are office-based. Of these, about 80 per cent continue to work from home. It said they will only allow about 20 per cent to return if distancing guidelines are to be adhered to. Suffolk County Council in Ipswich has around 2,800 office staff but said only a fraction are back. A spokesman said: Our policy is if its working at home, continue to do so. Nottinghamshire County Council in Nottingham has 8,000 to 10,000 workers. It said the majority of our office staff will be remaining at home. Exeter-based Devon County Council said office workers are not expected to return unless they need to. Suffolk County Council in Ipswich has around 2,800 office staff but said only a fraction are back It was a similar story for Cumbria County Council in Carlisle, Somerset County Council in Taunton, Hertfordshire County Council in Hertford and city councils such as Peterborough, Coventry and Barnsley. It comes after figures this week revealed only around 17 per cent of staff have returned to work in the 63 biggest cities. CBI boss Dame Carolyn Fairbairn has warned Mr Johnson must do more to get workers back at their desks. Writing in the Mail on Thursday she said: The costs of office closure are becoming clearer by the day. There are more than 340 councils in England which employ hundreds of thousands of people. Just 5% of workers have returned to Business Secretary Alok Sharma's office despite him leading calls for firms to get workers back to their desks By Jim Norton Business Secretary Alok Sharma led calls this week urging firms to get workers back to their desks. But he faced accusations of hypocrisy last night after just 5 per cent of his own departments 1,800 staff arrived at its central London HQ. Just 95 were seen entering the Whitehall building on Thursday morning, even though the Government has urged the country and its own 430,000 workforce to return to their desks. Earlier this week, Mr Sharma said: If you need to come in you should. I hope what we will see is people coming back into the workplace and, yes, I personally would like to see London vibrant again. Business Secretary Alok Sharma led calls this week urging firms to get workers back to their desks. But he faced accusations of hypocrisy last night after just 5 per cent of his own departments 1,800 staff arrived at its central London HQ Last night, former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said Mr Sharma should note the proverb Physician, heal thyself, adding: The Government has control of departments. Theres a very strong case they should say to civil servants, You must come back. Its safe and theres no excuse. The Mail has monitored the number of staff going to work at several Whitehall departments between 7.15am and 11am in the past month. Just 39 entered the Department of Work and Pensions on Wednesday, which is 18 less than a fortnight ago and equates to just over 2 per cent of the 1,700 who worked there before lockdown. At the Department for Education there was still very little change in numbers, with only 3 per cent of staff turning up on Wednesday. Its boss Gavin Williamson was among 64 people seen entering an increase of just two in a fortnight. A recent Mail poll found 51 per cent of Britons believed civil servants should set an example to the country. At the Department for Education there was still very little change in numbers, with only 3 per cent of staff turning up on Wednesday. Its boss Gavin Williamson (pictured) was among 64 people seen entering an increase of just two in a fortnight. Attendance across other Whitehall departments remains low, but the number seen to return is beginning to increase slowly. The largest increase was at the office housing more than 2,200 staff from the Treasury and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, where 227 signed in up from 178 two weeks ago. Meanwhile, 238 staff arrived at the main entrance to the Home Office headquarters up from 198. Former business secretary Sir Vince Cable called on Mr Sharmas ministry to show by example. A Government spokesman said: It is safe to return to a Covid-secure workplace and government departments have ensured appropriate measures are in place to enable as many civil servants as possible to return safely. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps was also accused of hypocrisy yesterday after urging Britons to get back to work. When an interviewer pointed out to him that he was still at his Hertfordshire home, Mr Shapps said he had commuted to the Department for Transport on an ad hoc basis. Boris Johnson faces collision course with defiant unions as he launches back-to-work drive to get civil servants into their offices By Jason Groves for the Daily Mail Boris Johnson was on a collision course with the unions last night as he prepared a fresh push next week to get all civil servants back to their desks to set an example. Downing Street sources said the Prime Minister was determined to get every official back to demonstrate a safe return to work is possible. However, unions have warned that any attempt to force civil servants to return could result in industrial unrest. Britains human rights watchdog also signalled its opposition, saying the country had proved it could work flexibly and we cannot backtrack now. The PM ordered departments to draw up plans in July for a phased return to work following the lockdown which saw at least 95 per cent based at home for months. But a Downing Street source acknowledged progress had been slow. They said: You will see a more firm direction to Whitehall to get back to the office next week. The Prime Minister is very keen on getting more people back to the workplace. Downing Street sources said the Prime Minister was determined to get every official back to demonstrate a safe return to work is possible The main focus has to be on getting every civil servant back at their desk. It sets an example to the rest of the country and demonstrates that it can be done safely. 'The process has started but it has been slow. It will be accelerated now because this is a priority for the PM. The move will be seen as a slap-down for Health Secretary Matt Hancock who broke with the Government position this week by saying he was happy for his officials to continue working from home as long as they could operate effectively. No official figures are available for civil servants who have returned to work so far, but insiders suggest it may be as low as 10 per cent. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps yesterday ducked questions on his officials, but said he hoped the figure would rise to 20 per cent next week. Ministers face a fight with the unions over the back-to-work push. Dave Penman, of the FDA which represents senior civil servants, said: Ministers are increasingly sounding like dinosaurs. 'Millions of employees are working from home very successfully whilst employers are recognising that the world of work has changed and are embracing it. 'The genie wont fit back in the bottle best not to try. The Public and Commercial Services Union, the largest in the civil service, previously warned that any bid to get officials back to work could lead to industrial unrest. General secretary Mark Serwotka has written to the Government saying it is potentially illegal to move staff from one working place to another that is less safe. A union official predicted that, despite the tough line from No10, departments would not get most staff back this year, adding: We know theres pressure. General secretary Mark Serwotka has written to the Government saying it is potentially illegal to move staff from one working place to another that is less safe Weve seen a change in tone. But a lot of departments have been quite clear regardless of the politics, they will not see people coming back to offices that are not Covid-secure. Theyre definitely not going to get back this year. Ministers faced a backlash yesterday over reports that a Government publicity campaign would warn workers they could lose their jobs if they fail to return to the office. No10 distanced itself from the suggestion the campaign would indicate people working from home are risking the sack, saying it was deeply irresponsible. Sources said the campaign would feature adverts in local newspapers next week urging employers to make sure workplaces are Covid-secure and encouraging people to think about going back. But one minister told The Daily Telegraph those working from home could be more vulnerable in any company restructuring. The Equality and Human Rights Commission said there should be no question of peoples jobs being vulnerable if they do not return to the office. Its interim chairman Caroline Waters said: Having seen how it is possible to work flexibly and retain productivity, we cannot backtrack now. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would not intimidate people back to work. The Labour-run Welsh government yesterday said it would continue to advise people to work from home where possible. Des gardes-cotes americains qui se baignaient au milieu du Pacifique ont ete surpris par l'arrivee d'un requin. Un membre de l'equipage a du ouvrir le feu depuis le pont de son bateau. Coup de chaud pour des gardes-cotes americains ce mercredi 26 aout. Alors quils naviguaient au milieu de locean pacifique, une partie de lequipe a decide de se jeter a l'eau. Un moment de detente, interrompu par les hurlements d'un membre d'equipage qui, reste a bord du bateau, a repere la presence d'un requin a proximite directe des baigneurs. U.S. Coast Guard shoots at a shark as it approaches swimmers The U.S. Coast Guard has released footage of crew members shooting at a shark. They say the shark approached around 40 of their crew who were swimming in the Pacific Ocean when a maritime enforcement specialist still on board fired at it. The Coast Guard says all of the crew members safely got out of the water and the shark, estimated to be six to eight feet (1.8-2.4 meters) long, appeared to be uninjured as it swam away. Publiee par Channel 5 News sur Jeudi 27 aout 2020 Un requin de 2,50 m Ces derniers tentent alors de regagner avec le plus grand calme l'embarcation la plus proche. Pendant ce temps, un garde-cote sort un fusil et tire depuis le pont en direction du requin de 2,50 m pour le faire fuir, en prenant soin de ne pas viser directement l'animal. La video, postee sur Facebook, precise que personne n'a ete blesse lors de cette mesaventure. (Reuters) - Elon Musk said on Thursday that Tesla Inc's factory in Nevada was a target of a "serious" cybersecurity attack, confirming a media report that claimed an employee of the company helped the Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) thwart the attack. News website Teslarati said https://bit.ly/2D6C5N5 that the electric carmaker was the unnamed company in a statement issued by the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday about a Russian national's arrest, in connection with a planned attack on an unidentified company. "This was a serious attack," Musk said in a tweet, in response to the Teslarati article. The Justice Department said https://bit.ly/3b3tyH1 that Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov, 27, a Russian national, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to intentionally cause damage to a protected computer by trying to recruit an employee to introduce a malware into a system. The malware was aimed at extracting data from the network and then to threaten the company for ransom money, the statement said. According to the Justice Department, Kriuchkov had promised the employee an incentive of $1 million upon introducing the malware into the system. But the employee alerted the FBI, who were successful in thwarting the attack, a complaint filed by the FBI's Las Vegas Field Office showed. (Reporting by Bhargav Acharya in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber) 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. A northern Manitoba man has been accused of sexually abusing underage boys in his home over the past three years. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/8/2020 (510 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A northern Manitoba man has been accused of sexually abusing underage boys in his home over the past three years. Less than a month after an adult reported to the RCMP that boys were staying at a Lynn Lake man's home in violation of the 52-year-old man's court order, police arrested him, identified 11 underage victims and laid 67 sexual-abuse-related charges against Arnold Collier. Collier is accused of grooming the boys and plying them with gifts of alcohol, money and drugs while sexually abusing them, dating back to 2017. As part of the investigation, Lynn Lake RCMP officers searched his home. 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. Collier was arrested July 23 on a charge of breaching a court order related to a previous criminal conviction and has been in custody since. He's due to make a court appearance in Thompson on Sept. 3. These allegations haven't been proven. The alleged victims are now between 11 and 16 years old, said Manitoba RCMP spokesman Sgt. Paul Manaigre. The town of Lynn Lake, located roughly 1,000 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, has about 675 residents. Investigations like this have an impact on the whole community, Manaigre said. "It doesn't take long for word of this to spread around. It's very fortunate that the detachment was able to conduct this investigation extremely quickly... basically in the span of less than a month, this whole investigation has been, I wouldn't say wrapped up, but almost completed, to the point now it's in court," he said. "It obviously impacts everyone. I'm sure there's a lot of anger. So I'm just glad we're able to, hopefully, put some closure and provide some answers. Obviously, the community is going to have questions." Investigators are confident they've spoken to all of the victims, but they're open to the possibility that more could come forward, Manaigre said. "If other people were to come forward, obviously, those people will be listened to, statements will be obtained, and if there's evidence for further charges, absolutely those charges will be laid." Walmart is likely interested in TikTok to better connect with younger shoppers who turn to the internet for lifestyle trends, analysts say. (Photo | AFP) San Francisco: US retail giant Walmart said Thursday it had teamed with Microsoft in a bid to buy Chinese-owned short-form video app TikTok. We are confident that a Walmart and Microsoft partnership would meet both the expectations of US TikTok users while satisfying the concerns of US government regulators, the retailer told AFP. It may seem like an unlikely combination, but Microsoft and Walmart are already business partners. Microsoft provides cloud computing services that help run the retailers stores and online shopping. The two companies signed a 5-year partnership in 2018, enabling them to join forces against a shared rival: online shopping giant Amazon Walmart is likely interested in TikTok to better connect with younger shoppers who turn to the internet for lifestyle trends, according to analysts. Younger people are much less likely to shop at Walmart, whether online or in real-world stores, according to GlobalData Retail managing director Neil Saunders. A social platform like TikTok would give Walmart easy access to the very audience it wants and needs to attract, Saunders said. Having access to the social media sensation could help Walmarts marketing campaigns while tapping into a rich seam of data or product development and more, according to Saunders. Walmart teaming with US technology colossus Microsoft was the final piece of the puzzle that ultimately cements Microsoft successfully acquiring TikToks US operations for likely $35 billion to $40 billion, according to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives. High stakes poker While deal negotiations will be complex with a number of technology and data privacy issues that need to be worked out before an agreement is inked, we believe ByteDance is playing a game of high stakes poker with Microsoft looking like the only true white knight around, Ives said in a note to investors. TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer said Wednesday he had quit the company as tensions soar between Washington and Beijing over the Chinese-owned video platform. Mayers departure was taken by some in the market as a sign that a deal to sell TikTok is imminent. Oracle is also said to be in the bidding Mayers resignation came just days after TikTok filed a lawsuit challenging a crackdown by the US government over claims the wildly popular social media app can be used to spy on Americans. TikTok, which has been downloaded 175 million times in the US and more than a billion times around the world, argued in the suit that Trumps order was a misuse of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The platformon which users share often playful short-form videosis not an unusual and extraordinary threat, it said. The platforms kaleidoscopic feeds of clips feature everything from dance routines and hair-dye tutorials to jokes about daily life and politics. The company holds firm that it has never provided any US user data to the Chinese government, and Beijing has blasted Trumps crackdown as political. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. 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 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. Public health teams will be available around the country to fast-track testing of suspected cases of Covid-19 that emerge in schools. Depending on the time of day, swab results will be back within 24 to 48 hours. Fast-track testing is among the measures developed to tackle the coronavirus threat as up to one million pupils and about 100,000 staff return to classrooms for the first time since March. Read More Guidance has been issued to schools regarding steps to follow and what will happen if a pupil or staff member is a suspected or confirmed case. The Schools Pathway for Covid-19, The Public Health Approach has been developed by the Department of Health, the HSE and the Department of Education. The guidance says it is inevitable that, with cases of Covid-19 within the community, there will be suspected or confirmed cases in schools. Infection transmission within school is regarded as low risk once public health measures such as social distancing and hand washing are followed, and it is considered more likely that pupils or staff would bring it in from home. Where Covid-19 is confirmed in a school, each case will be assessed individually to decide on the necessary level of follow-up action. The guidance says every school setting is unique and therefore the risks will also be unique. Public health experts will decide on who else needs to be tested and, in the event of an outbreak - two or more cases - will decide whether to close an entire school or exclude a class or a smaller group, such as a 'pod'. If a pupil is removed from school with symptoms of concern, parents must discuss the matter with their GP who will decide if a test is required. Symptoms of concern, and/or symptoms consistent with Covid-19 infection include fever or a new cough, shortness of breath, deterioration of existing respiratory condition, or symptoms of ageusia (loss of taste) or dysgeusia (an altered sense of taste). If a test is positive, the HSE - not the school - will follow up with contact tracing of close contacts and a risk assessment. Under public health guidelines, close contacts must quarantine for 14 days. According to the guidance, the definition of close contacts within schools will vary. It will not be automatically assumed that an entire class will be deemed as close contacts. It explains that this is because the schools are so varied. For example, in young primary school children, 'pods' - small groups within a classroom - will likely to be deemed close contacts and all removed. In second-level schools, where there is social distancing rather than a 'pod', close contacts will be determined by proximity and interaction with the confirmed case. Factors taken into account in determining close contacts in second-level schools will include class placement, classroom structure, common travel, social networks and friendship groups. If the GP decides that a child needs to be tested, they then become a suspected case. At this point, siblings or other household members should also be removed from the school until the test result is received. The guidance also points out that children will also continue to display symptoms of many other circulating respiratory viruses and refers to the prevalence of a persistent cold among children. It advises that children with a blocked or runny nose, but no fever, can attend school. However, if they require paracetamol or ibuprofen, they must stay at home for 48 hours and their parents should phone the GP to assess whether a test is needed. ATLANTA - A 1-year-old boy is now Georgias youngest victim to die from COVID-19. The state Department of Public Health included the suburban Atlanta boy in a table of deaths released Friday. The department says the boy had a chronic underlying condition that may have contributed to his death, but released no further information. The Cobb County Medical Examiners Officer says it cant release further information until the boys death certificate is completed. Hes one of 5,471 people to die in Georgia so far from the respiratory illness. Deaths from Georgias summer spike remain elevated, having averaged 68 over the seven days ending Friday. The boy displaces a 7-year-old Chatham County boy as the states youngest victim of the respiratory illness. A preliminary count by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found only 29 deaths involving coronavirus among children younger than five nationwide. ___ HERES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK Thousands of U.S. Health departments tell CDC: Reverse testing guidance Four people at RNC event in Charlotte test positive for coronavirus TikTok celebrities charged with misdemeanours for large parties in LA Credibility of FDA and CDC damaged after controversial decisions that outside experts say imply political pressure from the Trump administration. Some college towns are dealing with too much partying and too many COVID-19 infections among students. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris prepare to travel more as campaign heats up. Theyve worn masks in public and Biden has called on governors to order mask-wearing in their states. Follow APs pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak ___ HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING: CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- The University of Virginia announced Friday that it is moving ahead with plans to offer in-person instruction for the fall semester. In a statement posted on the schools website, UVA officials said they had initially delayed the start of in-person undergraduate classes by two weeks to allow for more assessment of the spread of COVID-19. They also said they delayed the decision in order to take a look at how other schools have fared since opening. UVA said it is now proceeding with plans to welcome students to residence halls starting Sept. 3 and to begin in-person instruction for undergraduates on Sept. 8. We know some will be delighted to hear this news and others will be disappointed, the statement said. To be frank, it was a very difficult decision, made in the face of much uncertainty, and with full awareness that future events may force us to change course. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Friday that UVA has reported 67 total positive COVID cases since Aug. 17 among students, faculty and staff. Of those, 23 were students who reported a positive test on Thursday, the schools highest single-day total. Twenty-five students, faculty or staff have been hospitalized. ___ FOSTER CITY, California U.S. regulators are now allowing use of experimental antiviral drug remdesivir for all patients hospitalized with COVID-19, drugmaker Gilead Sciences said Friday. It said the Food and Drug Administration has expanded its emergency use authorization, which lets doctors administer the IV drug during the pandemic. Until now, that was limited to patients with severe COVID-19. Foster City, California-based Gilead applied to the FDA on Aug. 10 for formal approval of remdesivir, to be sold under the brand name Veklury. Gilead said in a statement that the expanded emergency use was based on results of a recent federal study of hospitalized patients with different levels of severity, plus a Gilead study published a week ago. Gileads study found that among hospitalized patients with moderate COVID-19, those getting remdesivir were 65% more likely to improve after a five-day treatment course than those just getting standard care. Remdesivir previously was shown to shorten treatment by about four days for hospitalized patients with severe disease, compared with those getting standard supportive care. ___ NEW ORLEANS New Orleanss youngest public school students will begin returning to classrooms as early as Sept. 14, the citys school superintendent said Friday as he announced a phased re-opening plan tied to the control of COVID-19. Henderson Lewis said the plan is for students from prekindergarten through 4th grade to begin returning to schools in phases beginning Sept. 14. Older students will begin returning in October. We know that our youngest students have the most to gain from in person learning, Lewis said. All of the plans are contingent on current trends indicating the spread of the virus has been successfully limited in the city, Lewis and Dr. Jennifer Avegno, the citys health officer, said. The benchmarks include a continued new-case rate of less than 50 per day in the city. Statewide, the health department reported more than 600 new confirmed cases Friday, bringing the total to at least 146,243, with nearly 128,000 presumed recovered. Thirty newly reported deaths brought the virus-related death toll to at least 4,741. ___ TOPEKA, Kansas Fueled in part by college students returning to classes, Kansas has set another pandemic record for the seven-day increase in coronavirus cases, with the surge prompting a school district to put the brakes on some fall sports and another to extend its mask ordinance. Statewide, the number of new reported cases rose by 1,111 from Wednesday to Friday, bringing the total to 41,048. The state Department of Health and Environment also reported an additional six COVID-19-related deaths, to put the pandemic total at 443. The average for the seven days ending Friday was 599, 3.6% more than the previous record of 578 for the seven days ending Wednesday. The state also reported 16 clusters in colleges and universities with 189 cases. Gov. Laura Kelly called the most recent spike in coronavirus cases horrendous and said her administration is looking into why it has occurred. But she said outbreaks on college campuses and fraternities and sororities are a factor. ___ SANTA FE, N.M. -- Political party delegates from New Mexico who travelled to the Republican National Convention or President Donald Trumps speech at the White House are obligated to self-quarantine for 14 days as they return home under a state public health order. A spokeswoman for Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Friday that the delegates fall under a self-quarantine provision for most travellers as they enter or return to New Mexico. Delegate and GOP national committee member Tina Dziuk says she will abide by the state health order and self-quarantine after attending the White House speech, where many people ignored federal guidelines about keeping distance, avoiding crowds and wearing masks to fight the spread of the coronavirus. Dziuk says she wore a mask to the White House and that New Mexico delegates took responsible steps at the convention to manage potential virus exposure by wearing masks, undergoing COVID-19 test and carrying contract-tracing devices. The self-quarantine mandate did not apply to New Mexico Democrats, including the governor, because they attended their partys national convention remotely by video feed without leaving the state. ___ OTTAWA Canada is extending restrictions on travellers arriving in the country for another month to help combat the spread of COVID-19, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said on Twitter Friday. New arrivals in Canada are required to quarantine for 14 days if they dont show COVID-19 symptoms or isolate for 14 days if they do. Our government is extending the existing restrictions on international travel to Canada by one month until September 30, 2020 to limit the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in our communities, Blair in a Tweet. Canadian citizens and permanent residents returning to Canada will continue to be subject to strict quarantine measures. Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are returning home to Canada will continue to be subjected to strict quarantine measures. Canada has taken steps to stem the flow of foreign nationals into the country by restricting discretionary travel, including for tourism, recreation and entertainment. ___ LANSING, Mich. Michigan has crossed the threshold of 100,000 cases of the coronavirus confirmed since March. Deaths related to COVID-19 reached 6,446 after six more were recorded, the state health department said Friday. Most people recover from the virus. It can cause mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. But for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause pneumonia and lead to death. Dr. Dennis Cunningham at McLaren Health Care said the number of people who were infected is likely higher than the confirmed cases of 100,699. He noted that enough tests werent available in the early weeks of the outbreak. We just havent had enough testing supplies to test every asymptomatic person, either, Cunningham told MLive.com. - RENO, Nev. Nevada officials are reporting what may be the first documented case of coronavirus reinfection in the United States, following similar reports earlier this week from Hong Kong and Europe. A 25-year-old Reno man with mild COVID-19 symptoms initially was found to have the virus in April, recovered and tested negative twice, and then tested positive again in June. He was much sicker the second time, with pneumonia that required hospitalization and oxygen treatment. Genetic tests from each episode showed that viruses were similar in major ways but differed in at least 12 spots that would be highly unlikely from natural evolution of the bug if the man had it continuously rather than being infected a second time, said Mark Pandori, director of the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory. A parent the man lives with also tested positive in June, so its possible he acquired a new infection that way. The findings have not yet been published or reviewed by other scientists, but were posted on a research site. The case should cement in our minds that theres no such thing ... as invulnerability to the virus, even if youve already had it, Pandori said. One can get sick again and that illness can be quite severe. __ LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Arkansas top health official on Friday said the state is beginning to see coronavirus outbreaks at its college campuses as the number of confirmed cases statewide rose by 838. The Department of Health said at least 59,583 people have tested positive for the virus. The department said 5,496 of those are active cases that dont include people who have died or recovered. The number of people who have died from COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, rose by 17 to 756. The number of people hospitalized dropped by 26 to 407. Dr. Jose Romero, the states health secretary, said testing events are planned at universities where officials are seeing outbreaks. In one instance, Romero said, one-third of 75 people tested recently at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville tested positive. That is an alarming amount, he said. Gov. Asa Hutchinson said 181 of the new cases reported Friday came from correctional facilities, most from the states Varner Unit. __ ITASCA, Ill. The American Academy of Pediatrics has joined critics calling for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reverse its updated position on COVID-19 testing. In the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, we must be led by the science, in a fully transparent process that engages the publics trust and confidence, the academy said in a statement. The inexplicable decision by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to advise against testing individuals who have been exposed to the virus but who are asymptomatic is a dangerous step backward in our efforts to control this deadly virus. The academy noted that children often show few or no symptoms, but they are not immune to the virus. Testing exposed individuals who may not yet show symptoms of COVID-19 is crucial to contact tracing, which helps identify and support other people who are at risk of infection, the academy said. ___ SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom is announcing a new process for reopening businesses that is slower and more gradual than what the state tried earlier this summer. The new rules announced Friday create a four-tier, colour-coded system that counties will move through based on their number of cases and percentage of positive tests. It will rely on two metrics to determine which tier a county is in: case rates and the percentage of positive tests. California has the most confirmed virus cases in the nation, with nearly 700,000 and third-most deaths at 12,550. ___ SANTA FE, N.M. -- Political party delegates from New Mexico who travelled to the Republican National Convention and President Donald Trumps speech at the White House are obligated to self-quarantine as they return home to a state that requires face masks and limits public gatherings. A spokeswoman for Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday said the delegates are subject to the states current 14-day self-quarantine provision that applies to most travellers as they enter or return to New Mexico. The precaution is based on the incubation period of the coronavirus. New Mexico is relaxing its stay-at-home order gradually as the spread of COVID-19 slows across much of the state. ___ LOS ANGELES -- TikTok celebrities Bryce Hall and Blake Gray were charged after hosting two parties in the Hollywood Hills despite a ban on large gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic. The Los Angeles city attorneys office says prosecutors filed misdemeanour charges against Hall and Gray. They are accused of violating the citys pandemic health order and a party house ordinance. Penalties include a year in jail and up to $2,000 in fines. The internet celebrities share the home and have millions of followers on TikTok. Los Angeles police responded to both parties, which featured several hundred guests, and issued citations. Mayor Eric Garcetti says with bars closed in town, large house parties can become super spreaders. City Attorney Mike Feuer says he isnt aware of any coronavirus cases linked to their parties. However, he says with a public health crisis and so many followers, they shouldnt be violating the law and posting videos about it. Los Angeles County has recorded nearly 237,000 coronavirus cases and more than 5,700 confirmed deaths, making it the hardest-hit county in the state. ___ DETROIT The Detroit school district reached a deal to start the academic year, a week after members of the Detroit Federation of Teachers authorized a strike over coronavirus safety. The deal includes capping classroom size at 20 students, offering extra pay to teachers and checking daily temperatures of students and staff, officials say. Classes start Sept. 8. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti says the agreement signals we will work together to provide equitable education opportunities for our children and families. The Detroit Public Schools Community District is the largest in Michigan with nearly 50,000 students. Despite the agreement with the union, some teachers dont want to return to in-class instruction, citing the virus risk. The district say teachers will have the option of teaching online, though nearly all schools with have some in-person instruction. The district say teachers could earn an extra $3,000 for the year for working in classrooms. Michigan has nearly 100,000 coronavirus cases and 6,440 confirmed deaths. ___ THE HAGUE, Netherlands The Dutch government is extending financial support into next year for businesses and workers hit by the deep recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Mark Rutte says the latest support package, his governments third virus bailout, amounts to more than 10 billion euros ($12 billion) to protect companies and safeguard jobs threatened by the economic downturn. He says the new aid package also aims to help those whose business or job didnt survive. He says, in that case, its very important that people are helped from one job to another. The coalition governments current coronavirus aid package is due to end in October. BERLIN (AP) Police in Berlin on Friday requested thousands of reinforcements from other parts of Germany to cope with planned protests over the weekend by people opposed to the country's coronavirus restrictions. Authorities in the German capital had banned the protests earlier this week, citing demonstrations a few weeks ago during which participants flouted rules on social distancing and mask-wearing. Germany has seen a rise in the number of virus infections in recent weeks and officials had expressed concern that protesters might contribute to the spread of coronavirus during their rallies and while traveling to and from Berlin. Germany has been widely praised for its handling of the pandemic through robust testing and contact tracing and has seen far less drastic pandemic-related restrictions than other European countries such as France, Italy or Spain. Its confirmed virus-related death toll of 9,291 is one-fourth of Britain's toll, although experts say all numbers understate the true impact of the pandemic due to various factors. Protest organizers had appealed the ban and a regional administrative court ruled Friday that the rallies could go ahead, saying there was no immediate threat to public safety. The court ordered organizers to ensure social distancing. It didn't impose a requirement for participants to wear masks, which aren't mandatory outdoors in Germany but encouraged when social distancing can't be maintained. Angered by the looming ban, several groups had threatened to travel to Berlin regardless. The presence of far-right groups among the protesters had further raised police concerns about the possibility of unrest. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday, ahead of the court ruling, that the right to appeal bans was part of the freedom of assembly. Asked whether she would meet with protesters, as she has done in the past with climate activists and others, Merkel said: I always decide when people approach me whether I will seek to have talks with them." Story continues So far, she was unaware of any such request, Merkel added. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 22:27:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Rescuers work at the scene of a helicopter crash in Lagos, Nigeria, Aug. 28, 2020. Two people were killed and another injured in a helicopter crash in Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub, on Friday, said Gboyega Akosile, a spokesperson to the governor of Lagos state. (Photo by Tope Ayoku/Xinhua) LAGOS, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and another injured in a helicopter crash in Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub, on Friday, said Gboyega Akosile, a spokesperson to the governor of Lagos state. Akosile told Xinhua by phone the injured has been rushed to a local hospital, and an investigation by relevant agencies has commenced. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) also confirmed the accident on its official Twitter account, saying investigation revealed that a Bell Helicopter 206B3 belonging to Quorum Aviation Ltd. crashed on Friday at 16A Salvation Road, Opebi area in Lagos. LASEMA said a combined response team led by its Director-General Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu rescued an adult male from the scene while two adult male were confirmed dead on spot, and operation is ongoing. According to local daily the Vanguard, Oke-Osanyintolu confirmed that three passengers were on board the flight. "The helicopter was carrying three passengers; one is in the intensive care unit at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, while the bodies of the two killed on impact have been deposited in the mortuary. We are on top of challenges especially crowd control while operation is ongoing," said Oke-Osanyintolu. Enditem Regulators have refused to release the Covid-19 death tolls at individual care homes with the public, it emerged today. Care homes have been ravaged by the coronavirus, with tens of thousands of elderly Britons having died after catching the vicious illness. But officials have never released detailed figures showing how badly some homes have been hit. Grieving families have branded the decision 'ridiculous', calling on ministers to release the data. They expressed frustration that families choosing a home for their elderly relative in the future will be left in the dark over how prospective homes fared in the first wave of the pandemic. The Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of the social care sector in England, feared releasing the statistics would 'prejudice the commercial interests of care providers'. And the Care Inspectorate, which takes on the same role in Scotland, set up by the government, said doing so could cause confusion about the safety of homes. Although data on Covid-19 deaths at individual care homes is not available, some have been revealed sporadically The Guardian submitted freedom of information requests to the regulator, asking it to reveal statistics for each home in England and Scotland. Regulators refused to release the data, telling the newspaper they share the figures with the government to help respond to the pandemic. This is despite the fact NHS England, which is in charge of the entire health service, releases daily figures breaking down deaths at each individual trust. The CQC insisted 'the number of Covid-19 deaths at a care home does not provide an assessment of quality or safety'. It said: 'Where we have concerns we'll inspect and make our findings public. Where people are at risk we will take immediate action to protect them.' Data 'would not help' judge how well homes have handled the pandemic, unless it came with the size and occupancy of the home, the CQC said. WHAT WENT WRONG FOR CARE HOMES? A TIMELINE OF FAILINGS FEBRUARY - SAGE scientists warned Government 'very early on' about the risk to care homes Britain's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, revealed in April that he and other senior scientists warned politicians 'very early on' about the risk COVID-19 posed to care homes. He said: 'So very early on we looked at a number of topics, we looked at nosocomial infection very early on, that's the spread in hospitals, and we flagged that as something that the NHS needed to think about. 'We flagged the fact that we thought care homes would be an important area to look at, and we flagged things like vaccine development and so on. So we try to take a longer term view of things as well as dealing with the urgent and immediate areas.' The SAGE committee met for the first time on January 22, suggesting 'very early on' in its discussions was likely the end of January or the beginning of February. MARCH - Hospital patients discharged to homes without tests In March and April at least 25,000 people were discharged from NHS hospitals into care homes without getting tested for coronavirus, a report by the National Audit Office found. This move came at the peak of the outbreak and has been blamed for 'seeding' Covid-19 outbreaks in the homes which later became impossible to control. NHS England issued an order to its hospitals to free up as many beds as they could, and later sent out joint guidance with the Department of Health saying that patients did not need to be tested beforehand. Chair of the public accounts committee and a Labour MP in London, Meg Hillier, said: 'Residents and staff were an afterthought yet again: out of sight and out of mind, with devastating consequences.' MARCH - Public Health England advice still did not raise alarm about care home risk and allowed visits An early key error in the handling of the crisis, social care consultant Melanie Henwood told the Mail on Sunday, was advice issued by Public Health England (PHE) on February 25 that it remained 'very unlikely' people in care homes would become infected as there was 'currently no transmission of Covid-19 in the UK'. Yet a fortnight earlier the UK Government's Scientific Pandemic Influenza Modelling committee had concluded: 'It is a realistic probability that there is already sustained transmission in the UK, or that it will become established in the coming weeks.' On March 13, PHE advice for care homes changed 'asking no one to visit who has suspected Covid-19 or is generally unwell' but visits were still allowed. Three days later, Mr Johnson said: 'Absolutely, we don't want to see people unnecessarily visiting care homes.' MARCH/APRIL - Testing not readily available to care home residents In March and April coronavirus swab tests - to see who currently has the disease - were rationed and not available to all care home residents suspected of having Covid-19. Government policy dictated that a sample of residents would be tested if one showed symptoms, then an outbreak would be declared and anyone else with symptoms presumed to be infected without a test. The Department of Health has been in control of who gets Covid-19 tests and when, based on UK testing capacity. MARCH/APRIL - Bosses warned homes didn't have enough PPE Care home bosses were furious in March and April - now known to have been the peak of the UK's epidemic - that their staff didn't have enough access to personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks and aprons. A letter sent from the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass) to the Department of Health saw the care chiefs accuse a senior figure at the Department of overseeing a 'shambolic response'. 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 was by then mandatory for all healthcare workers, was 'shambolic' and that deliveries had been 'paltry' or 'haphazard'. A shortage of PPE has been a consistent issue from staff in care homes since the pandemic began, and the union Unison revealed at the beginning of May that it had already received 3,600 reports about inadequate access to PPE from workers in the sector. APRIL - Care home deaths left out of official fatality count The Department of Health refused to include people who had died outside of hospitals in its official daily death count until April 29, three weeks after deaths had peaked in the UK. It started to include the 'all settings' measure from that date and added on 3,811 previously uncounted Covid-19 deaths on the first day. Advertisement And Scotland's Care Inspectorate warned releasing the figures would 'substantially prejudice services commercially'. But grieving relatives hit back, saying the data should be transparent because patients should always come before commercial interests. Shirin Koohyar, whose father died of Covid-19 in a West London care home in April, said: 'Commercial interest when people's lives are at stake shouldn't be a factor.' And June Findlater, whose 98-year-old father died from coronavirus at a care home near Glasgow, echoed the concerns. She told The Guardian newspaper: 'There were care homes with no deaths and that's not a coincidence. Regulators should absolutely be able to provide this information.' The UK's care system mainly relies on private operators, which charge families an average of 500 to 700 per week to look after elderly Britons. Matt Hancock claimed in May that the government threw a 'protective ring' around care homes right from the start of the pandemic, in February. But care bosses have accused ministers of forgetting about them in favour of the NHS, which inevitably cost the lives of thousands of Britain's most vulnerable people. Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, said that 'unfortunately the focus on the NHS was to the detriment of the adult social care sector'. There has been criticism of inadequate PPE supplies and a lack of rigorous testing, with tests rationed to just six per care home at the height of the pandemic. And it was revealed that hospital patients were being discharged into care homes in order to free up beds without a Covid-19 test. It meant the virus was able to spread from hospitals into care homes until mid-April when rules changed. Covid-19 kills an estimated 13.4 per cent of patients 80 and older. In comparison, 0.3 per cent of those in their 40s will die, according to Imperial College London research. And scientists say the risk of death to children is exceptionally low. Some 13,417 care home residents in England have died of Covid-19 between March and June, and 645 in Wales. And records show 1,937 have occurred in Scotland's care homes, and 351 in Northern Ireland. Britain's care sector has been hit worse than any other European country, the London School of Economics revealed in July. Researchers found up to 5.3 per cent of Britons living in care homes had died since February, when the coronavirus outbreak began to spiral out of control. Spain suffered the most, with 6.1 per cent of its care home population wiped out by the disease, but the data was less reliable. Although data on Covid-19 deaths at individual care homes is not available, some have been revealed sporadically. A 'shocking' 27 residents at Sandringham Care Home in Bishop Auckland, which has an occupancy of 92, died of the coronavirus, according to a leaked document seen by the BBC in July. It came after Melbury Court, another Durham home with 87 beds, reported 26 deaths in June. Richard Holden, MP for North West Durham, said at the time 'something has gone badly wrong here in County Durham', according to the BBC. The home is operated by HC-One, the UK's largest private provider, which recorded more than 1,000 deaths in total. Seventeen people died at the 84-bed Sunnyview House care home in Leeds, run by Bupa, until May. Some of the largest care home providers have supplied aggregate figures for confirmed and suspected Covid-19 fatalities across their homes. Four Seasons Health Care recorded 567 Covid deaths, and Care UK, which operates 123 homes, recorded 642 deaths. Bupa reported 266 confirmed cases, declining to reveal suspected deaths. Debbie Ivanova, deputy chief inspector for adult social care at the Care Quality Commission said; 'Our thoughts are with everyone who has lost a loved one and with the care workers who are working tirelessly to provide care and support during this challenging time. 'Our regulatory role and core purpose to keep people safe is at the heart of all decisions we make. We regularly share our data with the Department of Health and Social Care, other national and local partners, and researchers. This includes data on notifications of deaths by providers in individual care homes that is used to monitor, plan and respond to the pandemic. 'On its own the number of deaths at a care home does not provide an assessment of quality or safety. Our inspectors use all the data and information we receive to monitor services and where we have concerns we will inspect and make our findings public. Where people are at risk we will take immediate action to protect them. 'We have recently written to all social care providers to remind them that they have a duty to share appropriate information with families regarding outbreaks and deaths, and to let them know that we will be keeping our current position not to disclose provider-level deaths data under review.' A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate said: 'Care services across Scotland are working tirelessly under very challenging circumstances to care for people. 'The Care Inspectorate is working closely with care providers, health and social care partnerships, care industry leaders and the Scottish Government to ensure services get the support they need during the pandemic. 'Part of that work includes asking services to notify us of suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19. The purpose of these notifications is to enable us and our partners to direct help and support where it is needed. We share the general data from these notifications with Scottish Government who are the primary publishers of data related to COVID-19 during the pandemic. 'The Care Inspectorate must adhere to all aspects of freedom of information legislation on the publication of data. Where publication could substantially prejudice the commercial viability of care services and their ability to care for people we have a duty to take this into account. 'We also have a duty to treat information given to us by care providers appropriately. To do otherwise could impact on our ability to carry out our work to ensure people experience care that meets their needs. 'We understand this is a really worrying time for people who experience care, their loved ones and families and for those who work in care. 'Our thoughts are with all those affected.' 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. COVID-19 took a record toll on Canadas economy during the second quarter. Real GDP fell 11.5 per cent during the period. Expressed at an annualized rate, it fell 38.7 per cent. Its the worst showing for GDP since Statistics Canada started tracking it in 1961 and follows a 2.1 per cent drop, 8.2 per cent annualized, in the first quarter. Business investment fell a record 16.2 per cent due to shutdowns, travel restrictions, work and school at home, as well as uncertainty about the global economy. The good news is that disposable incomes actually increased during the period as government support more than offset the drag from the sharp rise in unemployment, said CIBC senior economist Royce Mendes. That drove the household savings rate up to 28 per cent from 7 per cent in the prior quarter, potentially leaving some extra cash for spending in upcoming periods. The month-over-month data for June showed a 6.5 per cent rise, further suggesting the economy began to turn a corner. Statistics Canada estimates a 3.5 per cent expansion in July in its latest flash estimate. That would put GDP on track to follow the record drop in the second quarter with a record expansion in the third, of 45 per cent annualized, said Capital Economics senior Canada economist Stephen Brown. Even with that gain, however, GDP would remain far below the pre-virus level. And while the announcement of a big fiscal stimulus next month could boost the outlook, for now at least we think it will take until early 2022 for GDP to return to its pre-virus level. 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. Motown Records recorded the key speeches and then, adding singer Liz Lands' studio performance of "We Shall Overcome," swiftly released a full album that fall. The company's striking, close mic'd sound was a more accurate capture of the event than any news report of the day. As TIME proclaimed, " Martin Luther King Jr. and Motown saved the sound of the civil rights movement." UMe's work to preserve and archive the audio from that historic day assures that generations of people from every walk of life around the world have been inspired to work for freedom and justice forcefully and peacefully. In honor of the anniversary of The Great March On Washington, and its enduring legacy as one of the world's greatest examples of peaceful mass protest to champion fundamental freedoms for those who routinely experience cruelty and injustice at the hands of wrongful institutions and individuals, Motown and UMe have developed new digital initiatives. These efforts make newly accessible the sounds of a day that is vital to ensuring that America fulfills its promise and that the uplifting messages delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial nearly 60 years ago can inspire those taking to the streets today for the purpose of nonviolent action as they become part of the proud legacy of the original march. One of the core components of this year's campaign will be recreating the energy of that great day through carefully sequenced playlists and digital activations, including interactive timelines, shareable social cards and ongoing support for the work that the late Congressman John Lewis, then a student activist and the youngest speaker at the march, spent a lifetime pursuing. Earlier this year and coinciding with the first-ever digital release of The Great March On Washington album on Motown, TIME and executive producer Viola Davis invited the public to step back into history with THE MARCH a groundbreaking, immersive Virtual Reality museum exhibit that recreated The March On Washington and allowed visitors to witness firsthand the "I Have A Dream" speech, utilizing original audio from Motown. TIME said, "King's clarion voice carries without the distracting echo picked up by inferior attempts to capture it. Spectators on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial chime in audibly as King proceedsmaking listeners feel as if they're 10 ft. from the podium." Now, Motown and UMe are proud to celebrate of the 57th anniversary of The Great March On Washington, with the following: Long-unseen footage of Coretta Scott King . Long-unseen footage of Dr. King's widow, civil-rights activist Coretta Scott King , during an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, during which she movingly introduces excerpts from her late husband's oratory footage that is now officially available here through digital platforms worldwide for the first time since its original airing in 1970. Exclusive "March On Washington" Playlist. March On Washington playlist will feature tracks by seminal Black creators like Marvin Gaye , Stevie Wonder and Kendrick Lamar . Additionally, UMG unveiled USE YOUR VOICE, a digital campaign across UMG's U.S. ecosystem to increase voter participation and civic engagement created with the Task Force for Meaningful Change (TFMC). The campaign launched on August 20 th, marking 75 days before the 2020 presidential election and is designed to equip UMG employees, artists, partners and fans with the information, resources and digital tools needed to help get out the vote. USE YOUR VOICE kicked off with the #HourOfAction initiative when U.S. employees were asked to pause from their workday and take an hour to concentrate on the election and take action. The #HourOfAction included a virtual canvassing event powered by over 150 employees that reached over 200,000 eligible voters across the country. The hashtag, #UseYourVoice, will capture and amplify conversations around voting and activism of all kinds through November 3 rd. With so many now exercising their constitutional rights, this hashtag opens up the possibility to discover shared visions or new opportunities to support, discover and embrace history as it unfolds in plain view. "The tradition for preservation and distribution continues as Motown and UMe create ways for digital generations to enhance their journey," commented Katina Bynum, EVP, East Coast Labels, Urban, UMe. Bynum continued, "The Ed Sullivan Show clip of Coretta Scott King provides an early glimpse of the power of a woman's voice. The #USEYOURVOICE hashtag encourages inclusion and action. The March On Washington playlist links the past and the present, just as today's demonstrators carry on the work of yesteryear's civil rights leaders and activists." Today, Dr. King's plea for racial tolerance and unity as well as similarly captivating speeches by a number of other civil-rights luminaries ring ever truer in light of the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain and other Black Americans. These orations have continued to inspire generations ever since, underscored by the planned March On Washington 2020 that will be held on the 57th anniversary of the original march. To experience this year's Motown/UMe tribute to The Great March On Washington, please visit: Available HERE is shareable video from The Great March On Washington featuring a recording of future Congressman John Lewis , who was then a 23-year-old student activist; this historic snippet provides an early sense of John Lewis' great passion and commitment. , who was then a 23-year-old student activist; this historic snippet provides an early sense of great passion and commitment. Coretta Scott King on The Ed Sullivan Show , originally aired on March 22, 1970 . Watch HERE. on , originally aired on . Watch HERE. The Great March On Washington speeches and music performances were beautifully recorded in 1963, then engineered and released by Motown Records as a complete album. Stream or purchase The Great March On Washington HERE. The single for Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech is available HERE. speeches and music performances were beautifully recorded in 1963, then engineered and released by Motown Records as a complete album. Stream or purchase HERE. The single for Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech is available HERE. The #USE YOUR VOICE conversation takes place HERE. Featuring artists from past and present, The March On Washington playlist honors the anniversary of this momentous protest. Listen HERE. Ethiopia Habtemariam, President of Motown Records and Executive Vice President of Capitol Records, spoke with Elvis Mitchell host of KCRW's "The Treatment" about what Dr. King's speeches mean to her. View their conversation HERE. MARCH ON WASHINGTON SOURCE Motown/UMe/UMG Related Links http://www.umusic.com Liberia's President George Weah has come under criticism for not personally receiving a petition from protesters campaigning for anti-rape laws to be strengthened. This follows a rise in attacks with close to 1,000 rape cases reported since January. For three days hundreds of people have marched through the capital, Monrovia. Some are angry that Mr Weah has not spoken out on the issue - especially after he pledged to guarantee women's rights and has even described himself as Liberia's "feminist in chief". Activists are asking for criminal courts to be set up across the country so that cases of sexual violence can be tried. 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 Quiz: How did Stamfords Halloween Yacht Club get its quirky name? Answer later in the column. Stamfords beaches may be its greatest treasures. Yet loud music by a selfish minority of beach-goers who gather in a cluster at the eastern end of Cummings Park on summer evenings has hardly been music to the ears of nearby Stamfordites. The most affected have been more than 100 residents who live on the southern part of Carter and Tupper drives which abut the park, along with nearby Soundview and Willowbrook avenues and several side streets. Unfortunately, Stamford has only two park police officers who only patrol on weekends, compared with the nine park policemen who patrolled the same 12 parks seven days a week in the past. That hardly makes sense at a time when the city has grown by thousands of people in recent years. Desperate for acoustical relief, Toni DeCarlo, president of a neighborhood association that includes 52 families, has been leading an effort to have the eastern section of the park decreed as a quiet zone, which is possible under a little-known city ordinance. However, the Parks and Recreation Commission has refused to do so. The leader of the commission, Althea Brown, has insisted that we get signatures on a petition from all of Shippan, which makes no sense since residents of Shippan Point arent affected by the music, DeCarlo said in an interview Wednesday. However, DeCarlo and others affected by the blaring music have succeeded this summer in getting the city to lock the gate leading to the eastern part of the beach on weekends at 8 p.m., an hour earlier than in the past. Efforts to have the music-makers tone it down have failed. Park policeman Pete Goule told me that hes told the people playing the loud music to lower the volume, DeCarlo said. But once he leaves, they make it louder. Its a serious problem for those of us living so close to the beach. Almost assuredly, predominantly Democratic Connecticut, including Stamford, will vote overwhelmingly for Joe Biden in the November presidential election unless President Donald Trump gets enough support from Russian hackers and a slowed-down post office (in 2016 Hillary Clinton thrashed Trump, winning 34,148 against 16,223, according to the Democratic Registrar of Voters Ron Malloy). Yet I find it distressing to find so many Stamfordites who plan to vote for a flawed president whose administration six months after the coronavirus took hold has still not come up with a plan to cope with a pandemic that has claimed almost 175,000 American lives, including more than 100 in Stamford; who has lied repeatedly to the American people; has befriended dictators in Russia and North Korea; bragged about sexually assaulting women; mocked physically and mentally impaired individuals along with just about everyone who has left his administration; recommended people inject themselves with disinfectants in an effort to ward off the coronavirus; and has led the most corrupt presidential administration in the nations history. The reasons for the Trumpian support seems to be in considerable measure financial self-interests and a phantom fear Trump stoked during this weeks Republican convention that the country would turn chaotic fomented by anarchists if Biden is elected. These Stamford Trump supporters no doubt reflect the views of millions of Americans who know Trump is a narcissist but are willing to put up with his bullying and juvenile tweeting. Many of the Trump supporters in Stamford and elsewhere are financially secure people fixated on the stock market and the economy and content to endure Trumps incompetence. Complementing them are millions of others who became enamored with the chronically bankrupt Trump they watched as the blustering and arrogant star of a television reality show. That is not to say millions will not vote for him for valid reasons. But what I think is most disturbing are the Trump backers in Stamford whose self-interest supersedes patriotism and the well-being of the county. Thank God, this being pro-Democratic Connecticut, their votes probably wont matter, but it may in other states, and thats enough to concern and even scare many Americans. Answer to quiz: The Halloween Yacht Club, which opened in 1926, took the original name of the park that was later named for the Stamford mayor, Homer Cummings, whose vote broke a deadlock in the Stamford City Council on Halloween night in 1906 that enabled the city to buy the parkland in the early 1900s. The yacht club was founded by 16 boaters, including its first commodore, Alfred N. Phillips Jr., who served three non-consecutive terms as mayor in the 1920s and 1930s along with one term in Congress. May its colorful burgee fly for another 100 years. Jack Cavanaugh, a native and resident of Stamford, is an Advocate columnist. He is a longtime print and network reporter, sportswriter and feature writer for The New York Times and the author of six books. People in Northern Ireland are becoming less concerned about Covid-19, according to a major survey. Image shows shoppers out and about in Portstewart People in Northern Ireland are becoming less concerned about Covid-19, according to a major survey. The latest Coronavirus Opinion Survey undertaken by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) has indicated that concern about the virus has decreased significantly between April and July. Based on interviews with 1,785 members of the public between April 21 and July 23, 67% of people said they were worried about the impact of Covid-19 on their lives. The figure was higher between April to May when the survey found that 77% were worried. More than seven out of 10 people (72%) said they were "very worried" or "somewhat worried" about the impact Covid-19 was having on their lives. However, those with a longstanding illness show higher levels of worry, with more than three quarters of people in this category (77%) expressing concern compared to 70% of people without illness. Life satisfaction ratings were statistically significantly lower (7.54 on a scale of 0 to 10) compared to NISRA's figures for 2018-19 (7.89). Feelings of 'life satisfaction', that what you do in life is 'worthwhile', and 'happiness' were rated significantly higher for people aged 65 and over when compared to other age groups. There were, however, no significant differences observed between people aged 16-44 and 45-64 for these measures. Anxiety also appears to be higher, with an average score 3.33 compared to the score of 2.83 for 2018-19. Broken down by gender, women reported a higher anxiety score on average at 3.57, compared to men (3.08). The survey revealed that there were significant differences in perceptions of how the financial position of the household would change in the next 12 months by age groups. Almost four out of 10 aged 45-64 (38%) expected the financial position of their household to get a little or a lot worse in the next 12 months. This was significantly higher than those aged 65 years and over (24%). Most people aged 65 and over (71%) expected the financial position of their household to remain the same in the next 12 months. Slightly more than half (55%) of people expected it to stay the same, while 13% expected it to get better. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds of those who home-schooled their children said they were confident in their ability to do so, while just over a quarter said they weren't. The survey also found most believe their children were continuing to learn (79%), while just over one in 10 (12%) disagreed. Around nine out of 10 people interviewed between April 20 to May 17, 2020 said that they had avoided contact with older or vulnerable people in the seven days prior to interview due to the virus, a figure which decreased to 72% in the two-week period after June 15. 2020-08-28 - 11:38 p Bahrain Mirror: McLaren's half-year financial statements showed that 653,651 shares were issued at 229.48 per share, with a total value of 150 million, in return of a loan from the National Bank of Bahrain. McLaren recorded the value of the loan in the company's equity clause. The National Bank of Bahrain announced in June that it had received all the necessary approvals to grant a 150 million Bridge Loan to McLaren for 12 months. Arabic Version U K tourists in Switzerland, Jamaica and the Czech Republic have faced a mad rush home to avoid a 14-day quarantine. Passengers have paid hundreds of pounds for seats on flights home after it was announced people arriving from those countries after 4am on Saturday would need to isolate for two weeks. 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. Announcing the new measures on Thursday, the Department for Transport said there has been a consistent increase in the rate in Switzerland over the past four weeks, reaching 22.0 on Thursday. People at Heathrow Airport / PA It added that Jamaicas rate rose from 4.3 on August 20 to 20.8 on Thursday, while the Czech Republic has seen a consistent increase in newly reported cases over the past three weeks. The additions to the UK's "red list" of countries have seen hundreds of Brits scrambling back to avoid the 14-day quarantine. A couple landing at Heathrow Airport from Switzerland on Friday explained how they had cut short their Swiss Alps honeymoon because of the looming rule change. Daniel Maree and Leisa Evans, from Stevenage, spent around 200 on new flights, so they would not have to self-isolate for two weeks as their original flight would have arrived back in England after 4am on Saturday. The couple, both 43, and travelling with their four-year-old son, were due back later on Saturday but decided to change their flight home before the Governments announcement. We took a chance and said well if it happens it happens, Mr Maree said. I would have lost two weeks of work. Im self-employed, so no work, no pay. It would have affected us quite a bit, especially after an expensive holiday. We anticipated it so it wasnt that much of a shock. Yeah its a bit disappointing. Another traveller arriving at Heathrow Airport from Zurich in Switzerland on Friday morning had rebooked his flight to beat the impending travel quarantine deadline. Saul Burban, 26, from London, flew out on August 16 and was due back at 8pm on Saturday, but managed to spend just 28 on a new flight. Air bridges: Czech Republic and Switzerland join England's quarantine list He said: We got the warning a couple of days beforehand. It would have been a massive drama if theyd only told us on the day, or only mentioned it on the day. But there were rumblings in the press a couple of days before that so it sort of gave me a heads-up so I knew to sort of keep an eye out on it. When I thought yeah, they are going to make the decision I just rang up, I actually rang up a little bit earlier to get my flight and Im happy that I did because that was the only flight that was available leaving at 7am. Mr Burban said he knew the risks of travelling, but added: I hadnt seen my family in about eight months and it was the first opportunity. Another Brit who is getting married in Prague on Saturday said almost 30 of his friends and family had to leave before the wedding due to the new restrictions. Oliver, who did not wish to share his second name, is originally from Kent but has lived in the Czech Republic for 11 years. Im down about 30 guests and my little sister, who is a bridesmaid, is distraught at having to fly home tonight before the wedding (she is a teacher), the 38-year-old told the PA news agency. We have not slept much for the past few days and are exhausted emotionally leading up to the wedding. We have just said a tearful goodbye to family who are having to leave before the wedding today at great expense. It leaves me even more angry at the UK leadership (or lack of) than before. Where is their explanation of the decision-making? Its arbitrary, random and has simply left a couple and a family here in tears before what is supposed to be the best day of their lives. The DfT said in a statement: Infections from Covid-19 are on the rise across Europe. The Government has made consistently clear it will take decisive action if necessary to contain the virus, which includes removing countries from the travel corridors list rapidly, if the public health risk of people returning from a particular country without self-isolating becomes too high. This means holidaymakers may find they need to self-isolate on return to the UK and are advised to consider the implications of self-isolation on them and their families before making travel plans. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Boaters navigate a flooded road following Hurricane Laura, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020 in Delcambre, La. (Brad Bowie/The Advocate via AP) The remnants of Hurricane Laura unleashed heavy rain and twisters hundreds of miles inland from a path of death and mangled buildings along the Gulf Coast, and forecasters warn of new dangers as the tropical weather blows toward the Eastern Seaboard this weekend. Flooding and more tornadoes were possible Friday as the leftovers of the once fearsome Category 4 hurricane, now a tropical depression, move eastward. Already, an apparent tornado tore through a church and homes in Arkansas. Forecasters said it could become a tropical storm again when it moves off the mid-Atlantic coast. More than 750,000 homes and businesses were without power in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas in the storm's wake, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports. One of the strongest hurricanes ever to strike the United States, Laura was blamed for six deaths as it barreled ashore near the Louisiana-Texas state line. A sense of relief prevailed that Laura was not the annihilating menace forecasters had feared, but a full assessment of the damage could take days. Entire neighborhoods were submerged and ruined along the coast. Thunderstorms and sizzling heat were expected in the disaster area on Friday, complicating recovery efforts. "It is clear that we did not sustain and suffer the absolute, catastrophic damage that we thought was likely," Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said. "But we have sustained a tremendous amount of damage." Benjamin Luna helps recover items from the children's wing of the First Pentecostal Church that was destroyed by Hurricane Laura, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Orange, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Finishing search and rescue efforts was a top priority, Edwards said, followed by efforts to find hotel or motel rooms for those unable to stay in their homes. Officials in Texas and Louisiana both sought to avoid traditional mass shelters to avoid spreading COVID-19. Edwards called Laura the most powerful hurricane to strike Louisiana, meaning it surpassed even Katrina, which was a Category 3 storm when it hit in 2005. The hurricane's top wind speed of 150 mph (241 kph) put it among the strongest systems on record in the U.S. Not until 11 hours after landfall did Laura finally lose hurricane status as it plowed north and thrashed Arkansas, and up until Thursday evening it remained a tropical storm, with sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and spawning tornadoes. Pastor Steve Hinkle surveyed the damage after a tornado gutted his Refuge Church in Lake City, Arkansas: An outdoor pavilion was reduced to rubble. A brick shed was shredded. The fellowship and family life center was a tangle of bent metal beams. Yellow insulation littered the churchyard. Buildings and homes are flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) "It skipped right over the house and hit every other building that the church has other than us," Hinkle said. "We're blessed." The family huddled into the parsonage's bathroom after seeing transformers blowing out in the distance late Thursday. The storm shook their home, but after about 30 seconds, it was over. "My wife walks out the front door and looks over by the church and says 'The sign is missing.' Then she turned the corner and started crying," Hinkle said. It was the second time the church had been gutted by tornadoes, he added. The storm crashed ashore in low-lying Louisiana and clobbered Lake Charles, an industrial and casino city of 80,000 people. On Broad Street, many buildings partially collapsed. Windows were blown out, awnings ripped away and trees split in eerily misshapen ways. A floating casino came unmoored and hit a bridge, and small planes were thrown atop each other at the airport. A television station's tower toppled. Neftali Luna surveys damages to the children's wing of the First Pentecostal Church caused by Hurricane Laura, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Orange, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Laura also felled a Confederate statue that local officials voted to keep in front of a courthouse just days earlier. "It looks like 1,000 tornadoes went through here. It's just destruction everywhere," said Brett Geymann, who rode out the storm with three relatives in Moss Bluff, near Lake Charles. He described a roar like a jet engine as Laura passed over his house around 2 a.m. "There are houses that are totally gone," he said. The extent of the damage was just coming into focus when a massive plume of smoke began rising from a chemical plant outside Lake Charles. Police said the leak was at a facility run by Biolab, which manufactures chemicals used in household cleaners and chlorine powder for pools. Nearby residents were told to close their doors and windows, and the fire smoldered into the night. Buildings and homes are flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Four people were killed by falling trees in Louisiana, including a 14-year-old girl and a 68-year-old man. A 24-year-old man died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator inside his residence. Another man drowned in a boat that sank during the storm, authorities said. No deaths were confirmed in Texas, which Gov. Greg Abbott called "a miracle." Chevellce Dunn considers herself fortunate. She spent the night huddling on a sofa with her son, daughter and four nieces and nephews as winds rocked their home in Orange, Texas. Now she's without power in the sweltering heat. "It ain't going to be easy. As long as my kids are fine, I'm fine," Dunn said. More than 580,000 coastal residents evacuated despite fears of coronavirus infections. It's unclear when their journeys might end. There's no electricity or running water in many places, including Lake Charles, a city of 80,000, and the coastal towns of Cameron and Holly Beach were swamped by the storm surge. Restoring essential services could take weeks. A building is left damaged by Hurricane Laura, Thursday Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La. (Bill Feig/The Advocate via AP, Pool) "People who are outside of Lake Charles, thinking about coming back, they need to be really blunt with themselves about the harsh reality of what they're coming back to," Mayor Nic Hunter told NBC's Today show Friday. "I'm sorry about that, but we just got hit with the largest hurricane to hit Louisiana in the last 150 years." A lower-than-expected storm surge also helped save lives. Edwards said ocean water rose as much as 12 feet (4 meters) rather than the 20 feet (6 meters) that was predicted. Bucky Millet, 78, of Lake Arthur, Louisiana, considered evacuating but decided because of the coronavirus to ride out the storm with family. He thought the roof of his house would disappear at one point when a small tornado blew the cover off the bed of his pickup. "You'd hear a crack and a boom and everything shaking," he said. Louisiana National Guard helps people who sought shelter out of a vehicle on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) A airplane hangar is destroyed Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, after Hurricane Laura went through the area near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) People survey the damage to their neighborhood on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) This drone photo shows the roof blown off of an AutoZone store along Nelson Road in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La. (Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle via AP) People survey the damage left in the wake of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Holly Beach, La. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Dozens of small fish are trapped inland after Hurricane Laura made landfall, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Holly Beach, La. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Martin Almanza paddles a canoe through some street flooding following landfall of Hurricane Laura on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020 in Galveston, Texas. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP) Lakewood Church staff member Gladis Guerra aided in collecting items for East Texas & Louisiana residents who were affected by Hurricane Laura, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Houston. Donations will be accepted Thursday, Friday and Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. Items they need most are bottled water, baby wipes, formula and diapers. (Steve Gonzales/Houston Chronicle via AP) The windows of the Capitol One Tower are blown out after Hurricane Laura made landfall as a Category 4 storm Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, La. (Hilary Scheinuk/The Advocate via AP) Laura's winds blew out every living room window in the Lake Charles house where Bethany Agosto huddled in a closet with her sister and two others. "It was like a jigsaw puzzle ... we were on top of each other, just holding each other and crying." Laura was the seventh named storm to strike the U.S. this year, setting a new record for U.S. landfalls by the end of August. Laura hit the U.S. after killing nearly two dozen people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. President Donald Trump planned to visit the Gulf Coast this weekend to tour the damage. Explore further Laura thrashes Louisiana, nearby states face tornado threats 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Russias dialogue with Iran has emerged as one of the most dynamic fronts of Moscows diplomacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited Moscow twice this summer first in June and then in July to discuss the future of the nuclear deal, as well as the coordinated response to the American campaign to extend the UN arms embargo on Tehran. Against this backdrop, Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami's trip to the Army-2020 Military Forum taking place Aug. 23-29 is adding fuel to speculation about Moscow and Tehran ramping up military-technical cooperation once the Iran arms embargo expires Oct. 18. The American proposal to extend the restrictions was brought up in the UN Security Council but was rejected. Washingtons demand to use the so-called snapback mechanism to impose sanctions on Tehran also seems unlikely to yield results. Prior to Hatamis visit, Tehrans ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, said military partnership between Russia and Iran is "growing by the day" and should soon break new ground. "We will soon open a new chapter in the Russia-Iran military-technical partnership, Jalali wrote on his Telegram channel. Following Hatamis negotiations with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu, the Iranian Embassy in Moscow spoke of the necessity to further strengthen their partnership provided the depth of strategic understanding between the two countries in the region. Such enthusiasm was not seen in the reports on the Russian media, however, which is usually upbeat on the prospects of the Russian-Iranian military partnership. The Iranian delegations presence at the forum did not receive much attention. The only highlights included footage of the Iranian delegation examining the S-400 and Pantsir-S1 air defense systems, a hint at possible new contracts on the delivery of those systems. According to the US Defense Intelligence Agency, once the arms embargo is lifted, Iranian authorities are looking to purchase Russian tanks, the S-400 and the Bastion coastal defense missile system. In addition to that, Tehran is also interested in Russian Su-30 jets, the advanced Yak-130 pilot training aircraft and T-90 tanks. Those reports have to be taken with a grain of salt, of course. So far the only reliable source of information about possible contracts are the (rather vague) declarations of officials from both countries. Serious doubts remain as to whether Tehran will actually conclude any expensive contracts with Moscow. There are several reasons to be careful. To begin with, Iranian representatives are not the first Middle Eastern delegation to size up the S-400 and show interest in a possible purchase of the system somewhere down the line. Russian experts enjoy talking up the reputation of Russian weaponry, saying how impressed foreign delegations have been with Russian tanks, jets and missile defense systems. In reality, however, there is a big difference between declaring formal interest in purchasing arms and actually signing the contract for its delivery. And Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) does have Russian-made Tor-M1 short-range air defense systems that can be upgraded. Second, the Iranian leadership has on several occasions reiterated that while Russian tanks such as the T-90 or missile defenses remain its favorite choice, Tehran's current priority is producing domestic armored vehicles such as Karrar tanks. Meanwhile, the three S-300PMU missile systems that Russia has supplied Iran should be enough. Tehran also has the Iranian Bavar-373 systems that share common characteristics with the Russian S-300. The IRGC is believed to be the main driver behind the domestic production drive and controls the majority of defense enterprises. Third, a deepening of military cooperation with Iran is fraught with possible if not certain reputational risks for Moscow. The episode with the shooting down of the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 in January demonstrated the low resilience to stress of Iranian military personnel, who fired two Tor-M1 missiles at the plane. Fourth, it would be wrong to dismiss the possibility of Russia cultivating closer relations with Irans traditional foes. After the 8th Moscow Conference on International Security, hosted by the Ministry of Defense, Bloomberg reported that Russia rejected an Iranian request to buy S-400s for fear of stoking trouble in the Middle East and upsetting Gulf states and Israel. However, representatives of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation clarified later that Russia is ready to supply Iran with S-400s. In theory, there is a way for Russia to both avoid strains in relations with Iran and avert reputational damage from getting too close to it. To that end, Moscow might find a golden medium in limiting itself to supplying air defense systems of various ranges to Tehran to build up its protection against possible external threats but not offensive armaments. Russian analyst Yuri Lyamin said he believes Iran will eventually opt for purchasing Su-35 or Su-30M jets from Russia. Iranian air forces face an urgent need for modern multirole aircraft and the Iranian military-industrial complex cannot service these needs at the moment. Mikhail Barabanov, an expert at the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, said in 2018 that the Iranian aviation industry revolves around revamped versions of old American jets, that the industry cannot offer anything beyond that and that engineers are incapable of coming up with new ideas while lobbying for more money for old ones. Barabanov made his comments when Iran presented its new Kowsar jet, practically a variant of the F-5 two-seat jet. Nikita Smagin, a Tehran-based expert with the Russian International Affairs Council, said he believes Iran is unlikely to sign any substantial package deal with Russia for purchasing a wide array of weapons and military hardware. A move by the Iranian regime to go ahead with massive weapons purchases at a time when the country is plagued by stagnation and falling real incomes may well stir unrest within the country. In the end, while Iran will almost certainly refrain from any massive deals with Russia, it likely will opt for making a few symbolic deals to demonstrate its ability to overcome the US blockade, Smagin said. Yet this will not solve the countrys long-term problems. You cannot fix the dilapidated aircraft fleet by buying a few jets, Smagin said. Integrating air defense systems replicas of foreign systems into one system would also prove a challenge. And yet there may be more to the potential of Russia-Iran military cooperation than meets the eye. According to Alexander Stuchilin, the deputy CEO of the Rezonans research center, the Rezonans-NE radar, produced by the center and designed to detect stealth aircraft has been on combat duty in Iran for several years. The radar even managed to detect the American-produced F-35 jets present near the republics borders January, he said. While media somewhat sensationalized Stuchilins statements, they are hardly groundbreaking. The ability of an aircraft to operate undetected is not foolproof. The question is what tactics are used to detect and defend against aerial threats. A more noteworthy detail is that those F-35s may have been detected using the radar models produced for the Russian army. According to official reports, Russia sent Iran two Ghadir radar systems in 2014 and 2015 that were subsequently deployed in the provinces of Semnan and Khuzestan. These radars are designed as an export product and thus have lower characteristics compared with the models for use in Russia. Yet there have also been reports suggesting Iran may also be in possession of radar stations modified for use by the Russian army. Those stations have reportedly been deployed in Fars province west of Shiraz, as well as in Kurdistan province north of Bijar. One way or another, the lifting of the arms embargo presents a challenge for Russias military cooperation with Iran. There is an obvious tension between Moscow being interested in supplying Iran with defense equipment and Tehrans wish to purchase offensive arms. Irans toxic reputation is another factor Russia has to take into account, provided that any sales of aircraft or missiles for fighter jets or warships might cause an outcry among both regional players and the United States. However, it is not unfathomable that the Kremlin would approve sales of offensive weapons to Iran, disregarding reputational concerns and possibly turning Russia into a besieged fortress, albeit without the old Soviet ideological baggage. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (not pictured) make joint statements during a news conference after a meeting in Jerusalem on Aug. 24, 2020. (Debbie Hill/Pool via Reuters) House Committee Launches Contempt Proceedings Against Mike Pompeo The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Friday said he is proceeding to draft a resolution accusing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of contempt for ignoring the panels requests to investigate him. Chairman Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) said the resolution is in response to hand over subpoenaed documents related to an investigation about whether he has misused government resources for political purposes. One involves a subpoena issued in September 2019 related to the House impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trumps dealings with Ukraines leadership, and the second one is related to thousands of documents that the Department of State provided to Republican-controlled Senate panels related to an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden. The Secretarys ongoing defiance of two duly authorized subpoenas on matters directly linked to American foreign policy toward Ukraine has left the Committee no further option but to begin drafting a resolution finding Secretary Pompeo in contempt of Congress, Engel said in a statement. The State Department has not responded to a request for comment. [Pompeo] seems to think the office he holds, the Department he runs, the personnel he oversees, and the taxpayer dollars that pay for all of it are there for his personal and political benefit, the chairman added. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) arrives to hear testimony from U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondlandin Washington, on Oct. 17, 2019. (Erin Scott/File Photo/Reuters) Engel alleged, without evidence, that Pompeo is helping the Senate and Russias agenda to sow discord in the 2020 election by spreading claims about Biden and his son Hunter, who sat on the board of a Ukrainian energy company long accused of corruption. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said he is investigating Hunter Bidens ties and work at the company, Burisma Holdings. Mr. Pompeos final response makes it clear where he stands: the Department would turn over the documents if the Committee announced that we, too, were pursuing an investigation into the same conspiracy theory thats been debunked again and again, Engel said. Earlier this month, Pompeo sent a letter to Engel about his probe. Let me express how outrageous it is for you to suggest that the Department is stonewalling any investigation into the Presidents replacing of Steve Linick, Pompeo wrote to the chairman. For the past three months, you have refused every offer and attempt by the Department to reach a mutually agreeable accommodation to provide you with information you purport to seek. Armenian Foreign Ministry discusses Mirzoyan's participation in Turkey forum Thailand to resume non-quarantine travel scheme from February 1 Instagram introduces paid subscription feature NEWS.am daily digest: 20.01.22 Europe considers new strategy to combat COVID-19 Norwegian prosecutors refuse release Anders Breivik, 2011 mass murderer Erdogan urges Turks to sell foreign currency for liras Azerbaijan not yet returned about 300 sheep of Armenia villager Media: Israeli President thinks about visiting Turkey Dollar quite stable in Armenia Trade turnover between Ukraine and Armenia increases by 24% Armenia legislature speaker meets with of International Republican Institute president, and director for Eurasia Kremlin does not exclude new call between Putin and Biden EU Special Representative for South Caucasus to soon visit Armenia, Azerbaijan State Duma discusses work of biolaboratories near Russia's borders US lawmakers to parliament speaker: Armenian POWs must be returned to their homeland immediately Security Council chief: Armenia expects OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to visit region Armenia government does not approve plan to considerably raise minimum wage 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 Hovhannes Khachatryan is elected Armenia Central Bank Deputy Governor 15 years pass since Hrant Dink assassination Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Legislators bluntly questioned the states public education secretary Friday about whether New Mexico has improved educational outcomes enough since a landmark court decision in 2018. The lawmakers also heard from plaintiffs in the lawsuit who pleaded for a chance to sit down with state officials to craft a long-term plan that would preserve education funding during the pandemic and overhaul the school system. Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart, for his part, said his agency is working on a variety of fronts to improve public schools, including equity councils to address cultural shortcomings in curriculum and paying for programs that extend learning time. Pressed to offer a grade, Stewart who took office a year ago said hed give the state an incomplete. The results have not been there, he said at one point, responding to a question on academic outcomes. The back-and-forth came during a 3-hour meeting of the Legislative Finance Committee, dedicated to the status of a lawsuit on the quality of New Mexico public schools. In 2018, a state district judge found the state was violating the rights of some students including Native Americans, English language learners and those from low-income families by failing to provide a sufficient education. More recently, the court rejected a motion by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams administration to dismiss the case. Rep. Derrick Lente, D-Sandia Pueblo, said the time and money spent on litigation would be better applied to improving public schools. He questioned whether the Public Education Department which has an unfilled position for Native American education is adequately prepared to work with tribal leaders. Weve wasted a lot of time, he said of state attempts to contest court decisions. Sen. George Munoz, D-Gallup, offered a similarly harsh assessment. Lawmakers have ramped up education spending, he said, but without enough information to ensure the money is spent effectively. We have no accountability from PED, he said. Stewart, by contrast, said the department has increased its oversight of districts spending on at-risk students. He also noted that much of the emergency funding provided by the federal government has flowed directly to districts. Furthermore, Stewart said, the state has sharply grown the funding available for programs that have a record of improving student outcomes, such as lengthening the academic year at some schools and extending learning time. But I know we have so much more to do on those strategic pillars, he said. The meeting was held in Red River, but broadcast online for the public. Bracing for financial hit Several lawmakers said they fear the move to remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic will hurt students from rural or low-income areas the most, given the difficulty families might have obtaining high-speed internet service. House Minority Whip Rod Montoya, R-Farmington, urged the plaintiffs in the lawsuit to push state education leaders to more quickly allow in-person classes. Itll be the equivalent of losing an entire school year for some of these students, he said. Lujan Grisham and Stewart announced this week that elementary school students can return to school after Labor Day on a hybrid schedule a mix of in-person and remote learning if their home counties have low enough virus infection rates and the schools meet other requirements. The attorneys in the lawsuit known as the Martinez and Yazzie case, named after families in the suit said they took no position on when schools should reopen. The decision, they said, should be left to public health experts who can better evaluate the safety risk to students and teachers. Instead, the attorneys said, they hope legislators and PED officials will sit down with them to discuss plans to ensure every student gets an education that prepares them for college or a career. They said they want to prevent education cuts during the recession and set out specific goals to measure the states progress. New Mexico is bracing for a revenue hit of $1.8 billion to $2.4 billion this fiscal year, or up to 30% less than expected. Attorney Daniel Yohalem, who represents one group of plaintiffs in the suit, said the plaintiffs and members of the Lujan Grisham administration had started meetings last year, but they were cut off around the time the governor dismissed the previous public education secretary. We need comprehensive change, and we need all of the different players to be working together, which is not happening yet, Yohalem said. The Yazzie and Martinez cases were filed separately in 2014, but later consolidated into one lawsuit. A complex problem Many of New Mexicos educational outcomes remain dismal. Just 30% of third-graders were proficient in reading in 2019, according to a presentation to lawmakers. Charles Sallee, deputy director of the Legislative Finance Committee, said the problem is complex. New Mexico students seem to make about a years worth of academic progress each year, he said, but it isnt enough to catch up because many of them arrive at kindergarten so far behind. The learning loss that occurs over the summer also appears to hit some students harder than others, Sallee said, worsening the gap in outcomes among different demographic groups. But there are also some signs of improvement, including a high school graduation rate that has climbed to about 75%, or within 10 points of the national average. Native American students in New Mexico have made particularly strong gains, Sallee said. Speaking at an online briefing session with central hospitals and local health departments on August 27, Long proposed localities to quickly localise, quarantine and suppress any outbreaks to avoid COVID-19 becoming widespread. He assigned the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology to immediately organise training for localities in COVID-19 testing using made-in-Vietnam ELISA test kit, with relatively high sensitivity. Hospitals were urged to increase testing for medical staff in key departments, as well as for patients with fever, cough or difficulty in breathing. Concerning several cases of Vietnamese citizens showing positive test results for the coronavirus when arriving foreign countries, while they have been tested negative in Vietnam, Long said that the Ministry of Health has now assigned its Department of Preventive Medicine to contact international medical agencies for further information. However, with a high level of vigilance, Vietnam has immediately quarantined closes contacts to such cases to prevent the epidemic from spreading in the community. * Also on August 27, the northern province of Hai Duong decided to extend the current medical isolation on an area in Hai Duong Citys Ngo Quyen Street, where a local restaurant have been detected with connection to several cases of infection. The medical isolation zone on Ngo Quyen Street in Hai Duong City. (Photo: NDO/Quoc Vinh) The order lasts for 14 days from 0:00 on August 28. The area, with 71 households, 255 inhabitants, nine kiosks and a State agency, has been under isolation since August 14. On the same day, the city ordered its wards and communes to remove the local control posts and barriers set up for prevention and fight against COVID-19, but still maintaining quarantine posts at local wet markets. For the seven disease control posts at the gateways to Hai Duong City, they are kept in operation until new instructions are given. * On August 27, the Da Nang City People's Committee issued a document to assign its Department of Health to coordinate with the Da Nang Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to organise COVID-19 testing for people from outside the city who are residing in Da Nang and have the desire to return to their hometowns, as well as local students who will enrol at schools in other provinces and cities. On the same day, Da Nang decided to establish a medical isolation zone for the epidemic prevention covering a local residential area in My An Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District. The duration of the medical blockade must be at least 14 days from the date of determination of the last SARS-CoV-2 case in the medical isolation zone and may be extended if necessary. * Also on August 27, Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee Tran Van Tan signed a decision to end the medical blockade on three locales, namely Duy Xuyen District, Dien Ban Town and Hoi An City, from 6 am on August 28, after nearly a month of isolation to prevent COVID-19 from spreading in the community. Hoi An Ancient Town during medical isolation. (NDO/Tan Nguyen) Previously, the Provincial People's Committee also issued a decision to remove the blockade of many local residential areas as well as on the districts of Thang Binh, Que Son and Dai Loc. * From 2 pm on August 27, Quang Ngai Province removed three blockade zones, including the Vinh Linh District Medical Centre (second campus); Don Due Village of Vinh Hoa Commune, Vinh Linh District; and Bau Hamlet of Ha Thanh Village, Gio Chau Commune, Gio Linh District. * On August 27, in Hanoi, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Tran Thanh Man received two life-support extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) systems worth VND7 billion donated by the NSJ Group to support the COVID-19 fight in Vietnam. According to Man, up until now, the total amount of donations and registered support through the VFF system at all levels has reached over VND2.2 trillion. * On the same day, at the headquarters of the People's Committee of Hai Duong Province, Sao Do Club (Hanoi) presented the province with 62,500 medical masks and other medical supplies. In addition, a women's union of emulation from the Ministry of Public Security has supported Hai Duong with 25,000 medical masks and over 100 bottles of antiseptic gel. * The chapter of the Vietnamese Students Association in the central city of Da Nang launched an aid programme on August 27 to help students of local colleges and universities hit by the COVID-19 pandemic to get daily necessities free of charge. A student receives food at a Zero VND supermarket. (Photo: NDO/Thanh Tam) With VND500 million mobilised from different sources, the Sieu thi se chia 0 dong (Zero VND supermarket for sharing purposes) programme offers essential supplies, medical products, and food. The programme aims to promptly cater to local students demand for necessities so that they can stand side-by-side with the city in overcoming the current pandemic hardship. The activity scheduled to take place from August 27 to 28 as well as from August 31 to September 1 at the Da Nang College of Economics Planning, the Da Nang Architecture University, and the University of Economics under the University of Da Nang. Prime Minister of Pakistan, referring to ties with other states especially the neighbors, said we have good relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran as compared to past and they need to be further strengthened, Trend reports citing IRNA. In an exclusive interview with Pakistani Urdu channel ARY News Imran Khan said further development of Pakistan's relations with Iran as a neighboring country is inevitable. "Pakistan's current relations with Iran are at a very good level as compared to the past," he said. Expressing his views about Pakistan's relations with other countries in the region, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia, Imran Khan said Islamabad was determined to play a role for de-escalation of tensions between key countries in the region. PM praises urban management system in Iran despite sanctions The Prime Minister praised the advanced urban management system in Iran, especially Tehran, despite the sanctions, which has set an example for Pakistan and other states. He noted that Tehran has become a modern city and is generating revenue of US $ 500 million. The Prime Minister of Pakistan advised the host of ARY network to visit Tehran to see how much effective is the urban management of this modern city . He added that such model should be used to address the situation in Pakistan's big cities such as Karachi and Lahore. PEPPER PIKE, Ohio -- A family that lives in Pepper Pike, but within the Beachwood City School District, has decided to fight the Orange Board of Educations decision to not allow its children to continue to attend Orange schools. On Thursday (Aug. 27), lawyer Jeremy Tor filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Kirschner family that seeks to prevent the Orange City School District from withdrawing the Kirschners two sons from Orange schools. Michael Kirschner and his wife, Fani, who live on North Pointe Drive with their sons, Leon, 8, and Noam, 6, are the plaintiffs in the case. The defendants are the Orange Board of Education and Orange City Schools Superintendent Lynn Campbell. A hearing had been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday (Aug. 28) in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. But Tor said the hearing was postponed because the two parties are working to resolve the lawsuit with an out-of-court settlement. I informed the court that we are working toward a resolution, so they agreed to postpone, Tor said in an interview Friday (Aug. 28). Im hopeful that a resolution will be reached soon and that the boys will return to their (Orange) school in a matter of days. The lawsuit was filed after the Orange school board rejected an agreement that would have allowed six children from three families who live in Pepper Pike -- but within the Beachwood City School District -- to continue to attend Orange schools. In a special meeting Wednesday (Aug. 26), the board voted 2-2 -- with one abstention -- on the resolution, which would have permitted the children to attend Orange schools tuition-free until they graduate. The resolution failed because it was a tie vote. Earlier in the day, the Beachwood Board of Education approved the agreement unanimously, with no discussion. Tor said the Orange City School District has assured him that they are working diligently on trying to reach a settlement. Attempts to reach John Latchney, the lawyer representing Orange Schools, were unsuccessful. Latchney is a partner in the law firm of OToole, McLaughlin, Dooley and Pecora of Sheffield. Campbell also could not be reached for comment. Tor said his plan is to update the court on the status of the negotiations by Tuesday (Sept. 1). Obviously, my clients want this done as soon as possible, he said. Every day we dont have a resolution is another day the boys are not in the classroom and not getting an education. The three families affected live on North Pointe Drive in The Pointe at Sterling Lakes subdivision in Pepper Pike on land that was determined in March to be within the Beachwood district. Tor said he doesnt believe the other two families are pursuing legal action against the Orange Schools. A hard-fought battle Leon and Noam Kirschner have been enrolled in the Orange schools since the fall of 2017, during which time they have established roots, forged bonds and developed a great sense of pride in their school, the legal complaint states. But in mid-March, Campbell discovered, through tax documents, that the children of the three families involved were mistakenly attending Orange schools; their homes are located in the Beachwood district. In early April, Campbell notified the families that their children could no longer attend Orange schools unless they paid full tuition -- which is more than $23,000 per student, according to the complaint. After Michael Kirschner provided Campbell with the multiple listing service for his home -- which stated that the home is located within the Orange district -- Campbell acknowledged that the Kirschners had entered the Orange school system in good faith, and he agreed to allow their children to remain enrolled for the rest of the 2019-20 school year without having to pay tuition, the complaint states. The Kirschners had purchased the home in June 2017 and chose it specifically because they wanted their sons to attend the Orange schools. The complaint states that their real estate agent checked with the Cuyahoga County Auditors Office and confirmed that the house was within the Orange district. So Orange enrolled the boys, without question and without hesitation, starting with the 2017-18 academic year, the complaint states. This has been a hard-fought battle since April, Tor said. The Kirschners have persevered, and I commend them for that. It would have been easy for them to roll over and accept their fate, rather than stand up for their principles and values. They moved into this house expecting to send their boys to Orange (schools). They have been doing that for three years. Orange has supported them, and this is where the boys want to be, he continued. I commend Michael and Fani Kirschner for their perseverance. I think they are setting an excellent example for their boys. Tor, a partner in the law firm of Spangenberg, Shibley and Liber of Cleveland, is representing the Kirschner family pro bono. He said he offered to do so after reading an article explaining the familys situation in the Cleveland Jewish News in May. I thought it was an injustice and thought maybe I could help them, so I reached out to help them, he said. Equitable relief sought The complaint filed in Common Pleas Court seeks equitable relief through an injunction. With a civil case, the remedy is often monetary damages, but were not seeking money, Tor said. This seeks equitable relief, which would be an injunction, which is an order from the court that would prevent the (Orange) school board and the superintendent from withdrawing the Kirschner children from the Orange school system. Tor added that equity is a way for the court system to correct an injustice where there isnt an adequate remedy at law, under statute or case precedent. That applies to this case, Tor said, because the statutory and common law clearly are not equipped to handle the situation. Thats why equitable relief is necessary and appropriate, to supplement the law, which is clearly insufficient, he said in the complaint. In addition, the lawsuit seeks an immediate and permanent solution through a temporary restraining order, Tor said. The immediate part is so the boys can continue attending Orange schools, and the permanent part is so they can remain enrolled through the entire 2020-21 academic year, Tor said. Territory transfer suggested During this academic year, the Kirschners would continue pursuing a territory transfer petition to the Ohio Department of Education, Tor said. Campbell had suggested in April that the Kirschners pursue this action, which allows individuals to transfer territory from one adjoining school district to another, per the Ohio Revised Code. To do that, the individual must submit a petition signed by 75 percent of qualified voters who live in the territory that could be transferred. This petition must then be submitted to the school board of the district potentially relinquishing the territory, which in this case is Beachwood. That district then processes the petition and submits it to the Ohio Board of Education, which ultimately decides whether or not to grant the transfer. But such a petition may be submitted only in even-numbered years, and by March 15 of that year. Campbell did not inform the Kirschners that their children were attending the Orange schools in error until April, well past the deadline, the complaint states. Nonetheless, the Kirschners drafted a territory transfer petition, collected the required signatures and submitted it to the Beachwood Board of Education. Through its lawyer, the Beachwood school board responded that the petition was untimely, given that it was submitted after March 15, and stated that it would not be processed, the complaint states. That left the Kirschners with no viable option for the 2020-21 school year, other than an agreement between the superintendents of Orange and Beachwood schools, according to the complaint. Per the Ohio Revised Code, superintendents can agree to permit students in one school district to attend the other school district to protect the students physical or mental well-being or to deal with other extenuating circumstances, the complaint states. Having (Leon and Noam) abruptly switch school districts in the midst of a pandemic, after they have established strong ties to the Orange community, would undermine their mental well-being and constitute extenuating circumstances, the complaint states. Board expresses concerns The two superintendents worked on such an agreement through the summer and presented it to both school boards for approval on Wednesday (Aug. 26). But the one-year agreement would have had to be renewed annually by the superintendents of both districts and by both school boards, and that was an issue for both Melanie Weltman and Deborah Kamat, the Orange school board members who cast the dissenting votes. Weltman and Kamat also expressed concerns about the agreement being fair to taxpayers and others who have requested exceptions, as it would have allowed the students to attend Orange tuition-free, even though they dont live in the Orange district. Orange (has) extended an offer to permit the children to remain in our schools for the 2020-21 school year, Campbell said in an emailed statement Thursday (Aug. 27). Unfortunately, while we have worked extensively with Beachwood to permit such an arrangement, no agreement could be reached that satisfied both school districts concerns. Tor said the Kirschners are still pursuing the territory transfer because in March, the Ohio Legislature passed House Bill 197, which includes emergency provisions to help Ohioans continue to move forward during the coronavirus pandemic. The statute includes a section that deals with deadlines, pausing all legal deadlines between March 9 and July 31 due to the pandemic, he said. I wrote a letter to the Beachwood school district, and they agreed to process the petition, he said. They still reserve the right to reject it as untimely. Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun. On August 27 and 28, 2020, Mr. Kajiyama Hiroshi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry attended the Mekong-Japan Economic Ministers Meeting, the ASEAN Economic Minister (AEM) - METI consultation and the ASEAN +3 (Japan, China and Korea) Economic Ministers Meeting, during the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting and Related Meetings via video conference. On August 27 (Thu.), 2020, the 12th Mekong-Japan Economic Ministers Meeting, dialogue framework with the 5 Mekong region countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam), was held via video conference, and Minister Kajiyama attended the meeting as a representative of Japan. Through the Meeting, the Ministers have enhanced the industrial cooperation between Japan and Mekong countries since 2009. The Mekong Industrial Development Vision was adopted in 2015 to show the way to industrial development of the Mekong region. And last September, the Ministers upgraded it to the Mekong Industrial Development Vision 2.0 (hereinafter, MIDV 2.0) in response to changes of external environment. President Donald Trump speaks from the South Lawn of the White House on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention, in Washington, on Aug. 27, 2020. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo) Trump Touts Achievements of Presidency, Lays Out Ambitious Vision for Future 'They are coming after me, because I am fighting for you,' president says. President Donald Trump conveyed a message of unity and hope in his renomination acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention as he revisited the actions his administration has taken throughout his first presidential term and shared a bold vision of the future for America, calling on the nation to make America greater than ever before. Addressing around 1,500 guests gathered at the White Houses South Lawn and those watching the conventions live broadcast from afar on its final day, Trump praised the countrys greatness, through its history back to its foundationfaith in God and the pursuit of freedom. What united generations past was an unshakable confidence in Americas destiny, and an unbreakable faith in the American People. They knew that our country is blessed by God, and has a special purpose in this world, Trump said. It is that conviction that inspired the formation of our union, our westward expansion, the abolition of slavery, the passage of civil rights, the space program, and the overthrow of fascism, tyranny, and communism. President Donald Trump delivers his acceptance speech for the Republican Party nomination for reelection during the final day of the Republican National Convention from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, on Aug. 27, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) Reaching out to Americans of all political persuasions, the president said that the Republican Party goes forward united, determined, and ready to welcome millions of Democrats, Independents, and anyone who believes in the greatness of America and the righteous heart of the American People. In a new term as President, we will again build the greatest economy in historyquickly returning to full employment, soaring incomes, and record prosperity, Trump said. We will defend America against all threats, and protect America against all dangers. We will lead America into new frontiers of ambition and discovery, and we will reach for new heights of national achievement. We will rekindle new faith in our values, new pride in our history, and a new spirit of unity that can only be realized through love for our country. Trump recounted his various actions over the past four years of his presidency that comprise his Make America Great Again agenda and shared his vision, outlining a number of policy stances. He denounced the actions of the radical left, telling Americans, Always Remember: they are coming after me, because I am fighting for you. This election will decide whether we will defend the American way of life, or whether we allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it, he said. President Donald Trump delivers his acceptance speech for the Republican Party nomination for reelection during the final day of the Republican National Convention from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, on Aug. 27, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) I Kept My Promises In his speech, the president said that his opponent, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, had spent his entire career outsourcing the dreams of American Workers, offshoring their jobs, opening their borders, and sending their sons and daughters to fight in endless foreign wars. Four years ago, I ran for president because I could not watch this betrayal of our country any longer, Trump continued. I could not sit by as career politicians let other countries take advantage of us on trade, borders, foreign policy, and national defense, adding, From the moment I left my former life behindand a good life it wasI have done nothing but fight for you. I did what our political establishment never expected and could never forgive, breaking the cardinal rule of Washington PoliticsI kept my promises. Trump said his administration helped the country gain a strong economy, noting that he had withdrawn from the Trans Pacific Partnership; approved the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines; ended the Paris Climate Accord; and helped the country become energy independent. He also noted that the administration passed record-setting cuts to taxes and regulations; took toughest, boldest, strongest, and hardest hitting action against China; and replaced President Bill Clintons North American Free Trade Agreement with the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement. Trump said the administration had produced the best unemployment numbers for African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Asian-Americans ever recorded, prior to the devastation caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, also known as the novel coronavirus. The president touted his immigration policy, which he says has helped secure American borders. He noted the administrations ending of the catch-and-release policy, its efforts to stop asylum fraud, and its actions to defeat human traffickers. We have deported 20,000 gang members and 500,000 criminal aliens, Trump also said, adding that the U.S.-Mexico border wall will be completed soon, with 300 miles of it built so far. With regard to health, the president recounted how he had just signed orders aiming to lower the cost of prescription drugs for U.S. citizens, and passed the Right to Try legislation to allow critically ill patients to try out experimental treatment. He also noted the passing of the V.A. Choice and V.A. Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. In efforts to help bring prosperity to our forgotten inner cities, Trump noted the administrations effort to pass bills on prison reform, opportunity zones, and long-term funding of historically black colleges and universities. On foreign affairs, Trump noted his withdrawal of the United States from the Iran Nuclear Deal; honored his promise to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, Israel; recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and recently brokered a major peace deal in the Middle East. He also asserted that the administration has obliterated 100 percent of the ISIS caliphate, and killed its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Then, in a separate operation, we eliminated the worlds number one terrorist, Qasem Soleimani, he added. Trump said that his administration has kept America out of new wars and are bringing home troops, and have spent almost $2.5 trillion to build up the military. The administration also recently launched a new military branch, the Space Force. The president acknowledged the devastation caused by the global CCP virus pandemic and assured that the country will defeat the virus and produce a vaccine before the end of the year. He went on to recount a lengthy list of actions his administration has initiated to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. Those actions include the ramping up of ventilator production, shipping of personal protective equipment to frontline healthcare workers, mobilization of supplies and personnel to nursing homes and long-term care facilities, development of an advanced testing system, development of various treatments, including convalescent plasma, among others. He also said that the Paycheck Protection Program has saved or supported more than 50 million American jobs amid a pandemic that has wreaked havoc on the global economy as well as a record-setting American economy. A statement from the Biden campaign released late Thursday accused the president of having sowed division in the nation and mismanaged the pandemic. (From R) Barron Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump, Tiffany Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Kimberly Guilfoyle, Lara Trump, Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner stand after the president delivered his acceptance speech for the Republican Party nomination for reelection during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, on Aug. 27, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) Make America Greater than Ever Before Trump vowed to continue his America First agenda over the next four years should be be reelected, laying out a number of policy goals related to the economy, immigration, public safety and law enforcement, healthcare, religious freedom, and others. He reiterated his pro-life and pro-school choice stance: We proudly declare that all children, born and unborn, have a god-given right to life, adding, in a second term, I will expand charter schools and provide school choice to every family in America. And we will always treat our teachers with the tremendous respect they deserve. He acknowledged current anarchy and riots amid ongoing protests since the end of May and promised Americans he would work to ensure public safety. As long as I am President, I will defend the absolute right of every American citizen to live in security, dignity, and peace, he said, adding, The Republican Party will remain the voice of the patriotic heroes who keep America Safe. Nearing the end of his speech, Trump proceeded to share his broader future plans. Over the next four years, we will make America into the Manufacturing Superpower of the World. We will expand Opportunity Zones, bring home our medical supply chains, and we will end our reliance on China once and for all, he said. He rounded out his speech with a summary of his agenda: We will continue to reduce taxes and regulations at levels not seen before. We will create 10 million jobs in the next 10 months. We will hire more police, increase penalties for assaults on law enforcement, and surge federal prosecutors into high-crime communities. We will ban deadly Sanctuary Cities, and ensure that federal healthcare is protected for American Citizensnot illegal aliens. We will have strong borders, strike down terrorists who threaten our people, and keep America out of endless and costly foreign wars. We will appoint prosecutors, judges, and justices who believe in enforcing the lawnot their own political agenda. We will ensure equal justice for citizens of every race, religion, color and creed. We will uphold your religious liberty, and defend your Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. We will protect Medicare and Social Security. We will always, and very strongly, protect patients with pre-existing conditions, and that is a pledge from the entire Republican Party. We will end surprise medical billing, require price transparency, and further reduce the cost of prescription drugs and health insurance premiums. We will greatly expand energy development, continuing to remain number one in the world, and keep America Energy Independent. We will win the race to 5G, and build the worlds best cyber and missile defense. We will fully restore patriotic education to our schools, and always protect free speech on college campuses. We will launch a new age of American Ambition in Space. America will land the first woman on the moonand the United States will be the first nation to plant its beautiful flag on Mars. Trump called his vision a unifying national agenda that will bring our country together, and emphasized to Americans that the November election is the most important in U.S. history. There has never been such a difference between two parties, or two individuals, in ideology, philosophy, or vision than there is right now, Trump reiterated. Our opponents believe that America is a depraved nation. We want our sons and daughters to know the truth: America is the greatest and most exceptional nation in the history of the world! Britain sent only one asylum seeker a week back to France last year - despite thousands making their way across the Channel. Official figures show that just 53 were returned in the whole of 2019 after being caught sneaking into the UK via Calais. The Mail can also disclose for the first time that France places a cap on the number of migrants who can be returned in one go, hampering the Home Offices efforts to enforce returns. Under EU rules known as the Dublin Regulation, migrants are supposed to claim asylum in the first member state they set foot in. Those who fail to do so can be returned there if they later travel to another EU country. A group of people thought to be migrants are brought into Dover, Kent, by Border Force officers on August 27 But the latest statistics reveal the regulations are virtually useless amid mounting anger that the UK is being taken for a ride by other members of the bloc. Pressure on the Government to shore up our porous borders and toughen our asylum rules is growing after 7,000 migrants made the perilous journey from northern France to Britain in flimsy dinghies in just two years. Conservative MPs and campaigners for controlled migration said the inability to deport illegal immigrants meant the UK had become a soft touch. Just 53 refugees were returned to France in 2019, according to an analysis of Home Office data by the Mail. That was from a total of 495 requests to transfer the migrants. Yet we agreed to take 90 refugees from 461 requests made by France. The figures also reveal that a similar problem extends across EU countries. In the last five years, only 1,658 asylum seekers were accepted by EU member states from Britain under the Dublin rules - fewer than one a day. That was just seven per cent of the 22,211 requests made on the grounds they had arrived elsewhere in Europe. Border Force officers aboard HMC Hunter speak to group of people, thought to be migrants, after they were stopped as they crossed the Channel Yet by contrast, over the same period, the UK accepted 3,079 asylum seekers from other countries under the same rules - or one-third of all requests submitted. Alp Mehmet, chairman of the Migrationwatch think-tank, which campaigns for tighter borders, said the UK gained little benefit from the agreement. He said: The Dublin Regulation has always worked against us. We play by the rules, others flout them. The sooner it ends the better. The system has been identified and exploited to the hilt by both those wanting to live in the UK and the criminals who run the horrendous people-smuggling racket. They know very well that we send very few back. Mr Mehmet added: We are seen as a soft touch. Our asylum laws need root-and-branch reform if they are going to work properly, effectively and instil confidence in the public. These regulations have been especially exploited by France, which claims it is not responsible for migrants coming to the UK from Calais. Under the Dublin rules, member states can set a limit on the number of asylum seekers they will accept aboard a single deportation flight. France enforces a limit of just 20. Germany and Spain also impose a cap of 20 per flight under the same rules. Tim Loughton, a Conservative MP and member of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said: Despite their protestations, the French are not doing their bit to tackle this problem. Its clear they have been using every loophole in the book. He added: Under the Dublin Regulation countries have to take back migrants who have passed through their territory. Frankly, France seems to be playing by different rules. Ministers are increasingly furious at inaction from Paris and Home Office sources last night condemned the Dublin protocol as inflexible and rigid. Home Secretary Priti Patel, who promised to virtually eliminate the problem by spring, has demanded French co-operation in a new joint operation which will turn migrants boats back to France. She says by making it futile for people to pay human-traffickers for transit to Britain, this would drive the criminal gangs out of business. That would mean hundreds of migrants would no longer live in makeshift camps in Calais - solving a problem for France. Last week, a 28-year-old Sudanese migrant drowned trying to reach Britain in a stolen 3ft dinghy - highlighting the human cost of the crisis. Tory MP for Dover, Natalie Elphicke, said: The Dublin agreement is not working in the interests of Britain. Yet again this underlines why asylum and human rights laws need urgent reform along with a fresh agreement for returns. Swift returns are essential to deter people from paying people traffickers to break into Britain through the small boat crossing - we need to be able to return overstayers and illegal entrants - no ifs nor buts. Ends Migrant men picked up by the UK Border Force arrive at Dover Port on August 20 A Home Office spokesman said: The Governments efforts to facilitate entirely legitimate and legal returns of people who have entered the UK through illegal routes are too often frustrated by rigid EU returns regulations and last minute challenges submitted hours before a scheduled flight. These claims are very often baseless and entirely without merit, but are given full legal consideration, leading to removal being rescheduled. This can effectively result in the timing out of a return due to stringent Dublin Regulations. Even when a return is possible, most EU countries place a cap on the number of people they are willing to accept per flight - something we are trying to change. The Berlin hospital treating Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny after a suspected poisoning says the Kremlin critic is still in an induced coma but his condition is stable and his symptoms are improving. Charite Hospital said August 28 that the 44-year-old remains in an intensive-care unit and on a ventilator, describing his condition as serious but not life-threatening. Navalny fell ill on a flight from Siberia to Moscow on August 20, forcing the plane he was traveling on to make an emergency landing in Omsk, where he spent two days in the hospital before being evacuated to Germany. Doctors at the renowned German hospital have concluded that Navalny was poisoned by the group of active substances called cholinesterase inhibitors. Cholinesterase are a group of chemicals that are found in several drugs as well as in some pesticides and nerve agents. He is being treated with the antidote atropine. While his condition remains serious, there is no immediate danger to his life, Charite said in a statement. However, due to the severity of the patients poisoning, it remains too early to gauge potential long-term effects. Navalnys team says he was deliberately poisoned and the Kremlin had a role, an accusation the Russian government has denied. Russian doctors said their tests did not find any trace of poison while they treated Navalny. Navalnys suspected poisoning has prompted Western governments to call for full transparency, with policymakers mulling a number of responses if the Kremlin is confirmed to have had a role. So far, Russian officials have brushed aside allegations Navalny was deliberately poisoned and shown little indication they plan to fully investigate the case. Speaking at her annual summer news conference on August 28, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that once there is more clarity on what happened to Navalny, Germany will try to ensure a European reaction against those responsible. "We will try that, once we have more clarity on the circumstances," Merkel told reporters, noting that a coordinated response was taken after the poisoning of former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Britain in March 2018. We have an obligation to do everything so that this can be cleared up, she said. "It was right and good that Germany said we were prepared...to take in Mr. Navalny. And now we will try to get this cleared up with the possibilities we have, which are indeed limited. Omid Nouripour, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament, said that it is time for Germany to "wake up" regarding its relations with Russia in the wake of Navalnys suspected poisoning. "I hope that the people will wake up in this country seeing the systematic way of attacks on people who are not like-minded with the Kremlin," Nouripour told RFE/RL by telephone, pointing to a long line of Kremlin opponents injured or killed in Russia and abroad. "My government asked for investigations, common investigations with Russia," Nouripour said. "This is wishful [thinking]. I would love to see that, but I do not see that coming." Nord Stream 2 Pipeline He called for Germany to reconsider its dealings with Russia on such projects as the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a contentious underwater Baltic Sea pipeline that will bring gas from Russia to Germany. "I think that the question of Nord Stream is a question of [political] will," he added. But Merkel rejected the idea that the Navalny case should be linked to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline Our opinion is that Nord Stream 2 should be completed," she said. I don't think it is appropriate to link this business-operated project with the Navalny question." Expressing hope that Navalny can recover, Nouripour said that dialogue with Russia must continue. But he also said that Russia should face consequences for its actions. He called for Western European countries to coordinate their response, saying that "the most important thing is to keep the European Union together and to make us strong when it comes to resilience to the hybrid warfare that a lot of countries in Europe are suffering from. Kremlin-controlled Gazprom is seeking to complete the last 160 kilometers of the contentious pipeline along the bottom of the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany, despite U.S. sanctions aimed at preventing it from doing so. Merkel has strongly opposed U.S. extraterritorial sanctions. The Green Partys view on foreign-policy questions is increasingly pertinent in Germany, where the party consistently polls second behind Merkels conservatives ahead of federal elections scheduled for the second half of next year. That could put the Greens in a position to join a future government. Based on an interview conducted by RFE/RLs Rikard Jozwiak, with additional reporting by Reuters, dpa, and AFP (Newser) The Democratic presidential ticket concentrated on counterprogramming Thursday, as President Trump prepared to deliver his prime-time nomination acceptance speech at the White House. Joe Biden's campaign bought 2 minutes of ad time during the TV networks' coverage of the Republican National Convention, the Washington Post reports. The spot begins with clips of Biden riding a bike, walking away from a plane, and jogging up a ramp. "Some people are always in a hurry," the voiceover says. "When Joe Biden is president, America is just going to have to keep up." The clips contrast Biden's energetic displays with Trump slow-walking down a ramp at West Point in June. The ad, which is to run on ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox News, doesn't mention Trump by name. story continues below Sen. Kamala Harris, Biden's running mate, did her bit Thursday afternoon, per Politico, delivering a speech largely about the GOP convention that was carried by the cable networks. The convention's purpose, she said, seemed to be "to soothe Donald Trumps ego." Republicans weren't doing enough to address the coronavirus pandemic and the racial unrest sparked by police shootings, she argued. Harris described the video of Jacob Blake being shot by police in Kenosha, Wis., as "sickening"; asked by reporters earlier, Trump wouldn't say whether he'd seen it. "It's no wonder people are taking to the streets," Harris said, while decrying the violence. The president "froze" when the pandemic began, she said. "Donald Trump stood idly by and, folks, it was a deadly decision," Harris said. (Read more Election 2020 stories.) (Natural News) New documents released by the Wisconsin Department of Justice detail the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Kenosha man wanted on a felony sex assault warrant who was shot seven times while resisting arrest. (Article by Richard Moorhead republished from BigLeaguePolitics.com) The document also reveals Blake admitted to possessing a knife following the shooting incident, a weapon that was found on the floorboard of Blakes car. Preliminary reports had indicated that Blake was accosted by Kenosha Police after merely breaking up a fight. The Wisconsin DOJ instead describes the Kenosha Police Department as receiving reports that Blake was trespassing in a womans home. The document identified Kenosha Police Department officer Rusten Sheskey as the officer that fired on Blake. Watch video of the incident here. The Wisconsin DOJs Division of Criminal Investigation is currently investigating the shooting with assistance from the FBI. All officers involved in the incident have been placed on leave, but theres no sign that theyll be subject to punishment or criminal sanction as of Wednesday. Blake suffered serious injuries from the shooting, and is still receiving treatment at an area hospital. Its unclear if hell be able to walk again. Another camera angle of the incident reveals that the 29-year old man was brawling and wrestling with officers in an attempt to resist arrest. Blake may have been hoping to avoid identification in order to avoid being arrested for his outstanding felony sex crimes warrant. Blake had been arrested and charged with felony crimes in 2015 and 2016, including one incident where he pulled a gun on a man in a bar fight. Read more at: BigLeaguePolitics.com The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Isabella County have nearly doubled in the 10 days when they first crossed the 200-case threshold. Another 34 cases were announced across the county on Friday, with 17 of them directly attributable to students returning to Central Michigan University. It brings the cumulative total number of cases to 394, with 134 directly tied to CMU, according to Fridays data release from the Central Michigan District Health Department. Nine people in Isabella County have died. CMDHD rates a case directly tied to CMUs return of students if it involves a student, a former student or someone whose exposure was related to the return of students. Friday afternoon, CMU President Robert Davies sent an email to the university community explaining that why the universitys numbers look different from those issued from CMDHD. It said: We are working closely with our partners at the Central Michigan District Health Department to report new cases of COVID-19 within our university community, it reads. You may have noticed that the numbers CMU reports on the confirmed cases website are different from the numbers shared by the health department. I want to explain why this sometimes occurs. Each day, the health department releases cases they believe are associated with our return to the Mount Pleasant area. CMU staff review the list and determine if the individuals named are current students or employees. Often, the health departments list includes cases that are not current CMU students, faculty or staff; we do not include those cases in our count as they are not actively present on our campus. In the letter, Davies acknowledged that the number of cases directly tied to the university using their criteria is closer to 100, and said that starting Tuesday they will update their numbers daily rather than weekly. The number on CMUs confirmed cases page, where media outlets are directed and used for universitys statements, remains 54. That number was produced using case information from Aug. 17-23 and published Monday, before cases began to accelerate in Isabella County. It has remained 54 even as cases have accelerated in general and those tied to the university by CMDHD criteria increased from 80 on Tuesday to 134 on Friday. Davies also responded in general to inquiries about what would need to happen for the university to close down face-to-face instruction for the rest of the semester. It read: Together with our Emergency Management Team, I am reviewing several data points daily, including: Percentage of CMU cases in our campus community and the number of CMU cases as a percentage of counts in the overall region. Cases connected with clusters/pockets versus community spread. Capacity of our quarantine/isolation residence hall. Overall trend lines of new cases connected to CMU and of new cases in the greater community unrelated to CMU. At this point, we are not seeing community spread from existing cases. The data seems to uphold our decision to continue to offer in-person instruction. We will continue to monitor this virus closely and to work alongside our partners in the health department and local government to make decisions about our operations. Health and safety will remain our top priorities. A lingering question is why cases in Isabella County and not directly tied to the university have risen at such a dramatic rate since CMU reopened its residence halls, while neighboring counties are not seeing a similar increase. Asked about it earlier this week, CMDHD spokeswoman Melissa DeRoche didnt identify a specific source. Around mid-Michigan, Montcalm County added five cases, to 200 and three deaths; four more in Midland for 315 and 11 deaths. Clare, Gratiot, Gladwin and Mecosta counties, however, saw no growth in cases on Friday. Also on Friday, the number of confirmed cases in Michigan crossed the 100,000 mark, going up 741 to 100,699. The number of deaths increased by six to 6,446. READ MORE: Plenty of factors drove Lucy Kuhn to return to Vassar College. Not going would have meant losing her work-study job on campus, which she could only offset by working at a grocery store or in retail in her home state of Kansas. As a chemistry major, in-person classes would be a major part of her education. And with cases on the rise in Kansas, New York generally seemed like a safer place to isolate, even with the influx of students coming to campus. She followed all of Vassars safety precautions. After testing negative before leaving home, she and her parents began driving to Poughkeepsie, New York, on Aug. 13 and arrived on campus two days later. She was tested again and settled into her on-campus apartment, where she was prepared to abide by New Yorks mandated 14-day quarantine well before classes were set to begin at the end of August. Within a day, she found out she tested positive for COVID-19. I think if any college can successfully be on campus, its Vassar, Kuhn, who was staying in isolation housing without exhibiting symptoms, told City & State. But I dont necessarily know if any college is going to be successful on campus. New York attracts more out-of-state college students than any other state. While usually a point of pride, that statistic now presents immense challenges for the colleges and universities that are attempting to bring students back to campus. Though New Yorks coronavirus infection rate has remained low, an influx of students from around the country could lead to a spike in cases. Outbreaks at the University of Notre Dame and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill which have since canceled in-person classes have prompted others to follow suit in transitioning to online classes. Ithaca College and Columbia University were among the New York-based institutions that decided to cancel in-person learning in mid-August. The state mandated a 14-day quarantine for all travelers, including students, from 31 states and U.S. territories to mitigate the spread of the virus. About 60,000 of the 140,000 out-of-state students that attend private colleges in New York would be subject to the quarantine according to an estimate by Mary Beth Labate, president of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, though the list of states subject to the quarantine has been changing on a weekly basis. It also presents logistical challenges for students and their families, who have to plan to come in earlier and pay for housing to abide by the quarantine. Administrators are also trying to figure out how much financial support they should give students to help them quarantine. Cornell University, for example, initially planned to give students space to isolate and offer them meals. But as the list of quarantine states expanded, Cornell University President Martha Pollack told The Ithaca Voice in early August, it became clear they lacked the space to do so. We would have ended up putting them in hotel rooms as far away as Syracuse and Binghamton, and that was not safe, she told the news site. I wasnt going to put 17-year-olds away from home for the first time in a hotel room hours away. Now, students who must quarantine have been scrambling to book hotel rooms and Airbnbs, or they are being pushed to learn remotely. The quarantine requirements also forced Ithaca College to initially require students from high-risk states to attend classes virtually. We had made the decision to not allow students from restricted states to come to campus, since we did not have the space or other resources to quarantine such a large number either on campus or off campus in the community, Dave Maley, a spokesperson for Ithaca College, wrote in an email. Of course, once we made the decision to go virtual that issue became moot. Higher education institutions also have to grapple with how strictly they enforce the quarantine for students. We dont want to be so draconian that students will be tempted to break it, Labate said, noting that the responsibility ultimately came down to students. The question of enforcement also applies to numerous other health and safety guidelines, such as wearing masks and preventing large gatherings. Parties on and off campus at various colleges have driven several outbreaks of coronavirus cases. Students at Syracuse University, a school with a reputation for partying, already began to break the schools rules prohibiting large gatherings, congregating on the quad without wearing masks or abiding by guidance to maintain distance from each other. School officials ended up suspending 23 students before classes began for participating in the gathering. Even with the many plans colleges and universities have put forward, some research indicates it may not be enough. One study found that the way to manage the spread of the coronavirus on campus comes down to providing all students a rapid test every two to three days. We acknowledge that regularly testing all students sets a very high bar logistically, financially and behaviorally and that that might be beyond the capacity of many universities and the students in their care, the researchers wrote for CNN. But in the absence of regular testing, the consequences of an outbreak might be deadly. Vassar College President Elizabeth Bradley has said frequent testing isnt the only effective strategy to keep cases low. In addition to requiring testing upon arrival and a mandatory quarantine period for all students, Vassar is largely banning students from going off campus and preventing outsiders from entering. Access to dorms and academic buildings will be limited to students and employees. But otherwise, the policy relies on students to follow the rules. In a scenario where a student accrues multiple or serious violations, that person may be told to leave campus and continue the semester remotely. Bradley credited New Yorks overall success in keeping cases down and the states policies for making reopening a safer process. Lastly, we have some characteristics that we hope will help us manage the crisis, she said in a statement. For example, we are a 1,000-acre campus with only about 2,000 students on campus this semester. That alone puts us in a different position than other larger schools that are located in a more metropolitan setting. Some students are certainly feeling apprehensive about the fall semester. Itamar Ben-Porath, a senior at Vassar, has already seen Facebook posts about students leaving campus and others with students not wearing masks. My biggest source of hope and its a grim one is that they said they would close the school once case rates hit about 5% of the campus testing positive. The Gap logo is displayed on a window at a Gap store in San Francisco, Calif., on May 25, 2018. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) More Than 225 Gap, Banana Republic Stores to Close This Year The Gap and the Banana Republic will close more than 225 stores in 2020, the firm said in an earnings release (pdf) on Thursday. The company was already planning on closing some stores this year, but reports said the 225 number is larger than originally planned. Our strong performance in the second quarter reflects the customer response to our brands, products and experiences, particularly as weve rapidly adapted to the changing environment. We nearly doubled our ecommerce business, with approximately 50 percent online penetration, demonstrating our ability to pivot to a digitally-led culture, said Sonia Syngal, chief executive officer of Gap Inc., in the release. Im confident that our purpose-driven lifestyle brands, size and scale, and advantaged digital capabilities are helping us win now and position us for growth in the future. The release noted that net sales were down 18 percent year-over-year, but it noted a 95 percent increase in online sales, which was offset by a 48 percent decline of in-store sales. It noted that a number of stores were closed earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic triggered by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. According to Business Insider, Gap Inc. operates around 1,600 Gap and Banana Republic stores in the United States, while it operates about 3,800 stores in 42 countries overall. The management team and our Board are highly engaged and attuned to investor considerations and looking at the portfolio considering all opportunities for value creation, Syngal added. What I will say is that whats different about us today is that we are a leaner, faster, more focused Gap Inc. than prior. And I have never felt stronger than I do now in this moment that these four brands have the right to grow and that we expect to see tremendous potential within the portfolio. Thats what were focused on, and were focused on unlocking that value through strong execution, not divesting it. COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine wants the Defense Department to enter into a cooperative agreement with the city of Dayton and Ohios Environmental Protection Agency to help protect a major source of Southwest Ohio drinking water from contamination with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) linked to firefighting foam that was used at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. On Thursday, DeWine wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper to seek a cooperative agreement with the Pentagon to prevent the chemicals from seeping into the Great Buried Valley Aquifer, which supplies drinking water to more than 2.3 million people in Southwest Ohio, including more than 400,000 people in the Dayton metropolitan area. Studies have linked the chemicals - which dont break down over time - to liver, kidney, thyroid and immunological difficulties, cancer, increased cholesterol levels and low infant birth weights, among other problems. According to the Environmental Working Group, PFAS chemicals have been found in drinking water in Ohio communities including Cleveland Heights and Struthers, and on military bases including Camp Ravenna and Wright Patterson. The organization says PFAS have been detected in more than 1,400 communities in almost every state, and estimates that more than 100 million Americans may be drinking water contaminated by them. Contamination found near the military base has been traced to firefighting foam the Air Force and others began using in the 1970s to extinguish petroleum-based fires. That firefighting foam has since been phased out by the Air Force, the base said. Last year, DeWine called for Ohio EPA and the Ohio Department of Health to develop a statewide PFAS action plan to identify the extent of PFAS chemicals in Ohio drinking water systems throughout the state. Ohio EPA expects to complete sampling of Ohios 1,500 public water systems by the end of this year. DeWines letter noted that samples that Daytons Water Department took in August 2018 showed PFAS compounds in the citys early-warning network of monitoring wells in levels well above those deemed safe by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It said the Air Force bases monitoring wells have detected plumes of PFAS compounds on base property that are migrating toward the citys Mad River Well field, which the city uses to tap the aquifer. The time for action and a cooperative approach is now and not at the point where PFAS levels approach or exceed the Health Advisory Levels in drinking water, DeWines letter said. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on DeWines letter. More coverage: Ohios Rob Portmans among Republicans defending Postmaster General Louis DeJoy at Senate hearing Jim Jordan defends President Trumps call to boycott Goodyear and says the company, not Trump, is engaging in cancel culture Post Office says it will hold off on changes until after November election Ohio Democrats in Congress question educational redlining Dismantled equipment behind Cleveland post office raises delivery questions Rep. Marcia Fudge blasts signed letter from President Trump enclosed with food for the needy White House defends President Trumps handling of coronavirus in new report that Sherrod Brown calls propaganda Urban farmers in Cleveland invited to join new U.S. Department of Agriculture committee Northeast Ohio Democrats in Congress slam postal service changes, saying they will hurt mail-in balloting Ohio politicians react to Joe Biden picking Kamala Harris as his running mate Ohio workers say ending federal unemployment payments could ruin them if the pandemic persists Coronavirus confusion: Why mistakes are more likely with Ohio Gov. DeWines first test Northeast Ohio charity gets federal grant to house human trafficking victims Lordstown Motors to become publicly traded company after merger Six months after citys worst religious riots in decades, rights groups and families call for investigation and action. New Delhi, India Brothers Amir and Hashem were on their way home from their grandparents house in Indias capital, New Delhi, when they were stopped by a group of Hindus, and beaten to death because they were Muslims, their family said. The two men were among the 53 people killed in February in the worst religious violence seen in the city in decades. Their father Babu Khan recalled when he had to identify his sons bodies. When they showed us the photos, our world came crashing down, Khan told Al Jazeera, sobbing. Our throats went dry. I cant even describe their injuries. They were hit so many times, on the head, their throats were slit, knife or sword injuries on the head. Deadly violence broke out after weeks-long peaceful sit-in protests by Muslims in northeast Delhi against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) were targeted by Hindu nationalist mobs. More than 500 people were also injured in three days of violence, according to the government. In a new report on Friday, rights group Amnesty International said Delhi police personnel were complicit and an active participant in the violence that killed 40 Muslims. Amnesty said it spoke to riot survivors, witnesses, human rights activists and retired police officers and analysed several user-generated videos for the investigation that reveals a disturbing pattern of grave human rights violations committed by the Delhi police during the riots. One of the things that we found that the police officers actually either did not intervene in the riots, despite being present, or intervened only to disproportionately arrest or attack anti-CAA protesters. So there was differential treatment of assemblies, said Mrinal Sharma, policy adviser at Amnesty International India. Atmosphere of fear In a 135-page report, the Delhi Minorities Commission said not only were Delhi police complicit, but their investigation was also biased. An official fact-finding committee has also found the police were involved in the unrest. Delhi police did not respond to Al Jazeeras requests for an interview, but the main governing party dismissed Amnestys investigation, saying the rights group has an agenda against it. The allegations are unfounded completely, said Sudhanshu Mittal, a spokesman for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). There are people who are aggrieved on both sides, saying police has been unfair to them. Amnesty International and victims lawyers have also accused the police of falsely implicating Muslims in the violence. There are a number of examples where Muslims have been shot dead and theyve made Muslims the accused, various examples, so that is the kind of atmosphere of fear Delhi police has actually created, lawyer Mehmood Pracha told Al Jazeera. Rights groups are now calling for action against the Hindu nationalist leaders who threatened violence against protesters before the riots broke out, and for an investigation into the role of police officials. Six months after his sons deaths, Khan says he only wants justice for his family, especially for his granddaughters, who still have not been told that their father and uncle are dead. So far, 12 people have been arrested over his sons murders, he said. Even I called the police and informed them about how people of one community were being targeted and killed, but they didnt do anything. There are two systems of justice in the United States, Mr. Blakes father, Jacob Blake Sr., told the crowd. Theres a white system and theres a Black system. The Black system aint doing so well. Senator Kamala Harris of California, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, recorded a message that drew huge cheers from the protesters when it was played on large screens around the memorial. The road ahead, it is not going to be easy, she said. But if we work together, to challenge every instinct our nation has to return to the status quo, and combine the wisdom of longtime warriors for justice with the creative energy of young leaders today, we have an opportunity to make history, right here and right now. Among the listeners was Ruby Williams, 67, a retired corrections officer from Frederick, Md., who said she was voting for Mr. Trumps opponent, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., in November. Its good against evil at this point, she said. The protest, held at the peak of the capitals stifling heat and humidity, began shortly after sunrise as knots of demonstrators clustered in front of the Lincoln Memorial. It ended in the afternoon with a march by a flood of protesters, stretching nearly a half-mile along the reflecting Pool, to a national memorial honoring Dr. King at the Tidal Basin. Dr. Kings March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom drew an audience of a quarter-million in 1963. The Commitment March on Friday did not approach that number, in part because the city is requiring quarantines for visitors from 27 states. A permit issued by the city on Tuesday had indicated that 50,000 people might attend. Much of the event was streamed live on the internet or broadcast. Attendees were screened for fever and required to wear masks, and were told to stay apart to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection. Placards peppering the area warned of the risk of Covid-19 and urged people to use the hand sanitizer stations. But as the crowd swelled, social distancing clearly became difficult, and at least one speaker urged the audience to take greater care. The highly-anticipated re-imagining of Frank Herbert's sci-fi novels is gearing up for a release in December this year. And ahead of Dune hitting cinemas, Empire have released not one but two epic new covers, with stars Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya leading the way. The stunning issues, available early next month, portrays Timothee as the film's protagonist, Paul Atreides, standing amid House Atreides, while the other features Zendaya as Paul's love interest Chani, of the Freman people. Wow: Ahead of Dune hitting cinemas, Empire have released not one but two epic new covers, with stars Timothee Chalamet (pictured) and Zendaya leading the way Joining Timothee's Paul on the first cover is with Oscar Isaac, as his father Duke Leto while Rebecca Ferguson features as his mother Lady Jessica, the Bene Gesserit witch. Completing the line-up is Josh Brolin as their right hand man and and master-at-arms Gurney Halleck. Over on the second cover, the Freman people of the planet Arrakis make their mark, with Javier Bardem standing tall as Stilgar, leader of one of the Fremen tribes. Sharon Duncan-Brewster takes her place as Liet-Kynes, while Jason Mamoa portrays non-Freman Duncan Idaho in the atmospheric image. Epic: The stunning issues, available early next month, portrays Timothee as the film's protagonist, Paul Atreides, standing amid House Atreides, while the other features Zendaya (pictured) as Paul's love interest Chani, of the Freman people A third cover sees a horrifying first look at the sandworms of Arrakis, with Paul in apparent danger as one looms over him. The sensational and atmospheric new covers give fans a tantalising glimpse of the much-hyped film, ahead of the official trailer, which is set for an early September release. Dune follows Chalamet's Atreides and his family as they embark on a trip to desert mining planet Arrakis to oversee the extraction of melange, the most valuable substance in the universe. A royal decree awards Arrakis to Duke Leto Atreides and ousts his bitter enemies, the Harkonnens. However, when the Harkonnens violently seize back their fiefdom, it is up to Paul, Leto's son, to lead the Fremen, the natives of Arrakis, in a battle for control of the planet and its spice. First look: A third cover sees a horrifying first look at the sandworms of Arrakis, with Paul in apparent danger as one looms over him The story is being re-adapted from the classic Frank Herbert novel by French Canadian director Denis Villeneuve. Speaking in April, Villeneuve, who has previously made lauded sci-fi offerings including Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival, spoke about adapting the legendary novel, including its incredible complicated plot that has previously been deemed 'unfilmable.' Detailing how he came to take the director's chair, Villeneuve told Vanity Fair: 'I would not agree to make this adaptation of the book with one single movie. The world is too complex. It's a world that takes its power in details.' 'It's a book that tackles politics, religion, ecology, spiritualityand with a lot of characters,' he added. 'I think that's why it's so difficult. Honestly, it's by far the most difficult thing I've done in my life.' Candid: Dune director Denis Villeneuve said on Tuesday it was 'the most difficult thing he's done in his life' and said the book's world is so complex it needs to be adapted into two films Going on to discuss the relevance of Herbert's 20th century novel even now, the Sicario filmmaker said how it examined issues such as oil, capitalism and the exploitation of the earth. 'Today, things are just worse. It's a coming-of-age story, but also a call for action for the youth,' he admitted. While Chalamet told the publication: 'The immediately appealing thing about Paul was the fact that in a story of such detail and scale and world-building, the protagonist is on an anti-heros-journey of sorts'. He added: 'He thinks he's going to be sort of a young general studying his father and his leadership of a fighting force before he comes of age, hopefully a decade later, or something like that.' Conditions: On directing Dune, Villeneuve said: 'I would not agree to make this adaptation of the book with one single movie' (pictured: Timothee Chalamet's character Paul Atreides) Elsewhere, in May, Villeneuve likened Chalamet's character in the film to another famous and classic movie personality. 'Paul [Chalamet's character] has been raised in a very strict environment with a lot of training, because he's the son of a Duke and one day... he's training to be the Duke,' he told Empire. 'But as much as he's been prepared and trained for that role, is it really what he dreams to be? That's the contradiction of that character. It's like Michael Corleone in The Godfather it's someone that has a very tragic fate and he will become something that he was not wishing to become.' Leading man: Elsewhere, in May, Villeneuve likened Chalamet's character in the film to another famous and classic movie personality 'It's a very beautiful story about someone that becomes empowered,' the director later added. Dune, a Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures film, is currently slated for a holiday release on December 18th. The film is the second adaptation of Herbert's sprawling book after David Lynch released his version in 1984, starring Sting and Kyle MacLachlan. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse chaired a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day (September 2) in Hanoi on August 28. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the ceremony (Photo: VNA) Present at the ceremony were Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Permanent member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong, Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man, among others. Palestinian Ambassador to Vietnam Saadi Salama, head of the diplomatic corps, foreign ambassadors, charges d'affaires and heads of international organisations in Hanoi also attended the event. Speaking at the ceremony, PM Phuc said over the past 75 years, Vietnam has reaped a range of important achievements with high economic growth, improved living conditions of people, maintained socio-political stability, ensured defence and security, expanded external relations, active and responsible contributions to peace and cooperation in the region and the world. These great and historical achievements proved the strong spirit and will of the Vietnamese nation and affirmed its role as a reliable friend and partner of the international community, he said. The PM said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also lauded Vietnams contributions since its admission in 1977, saying that the 75th anniversary of National Day of Vietnam is concurrent with its ASEAN Chairmanship Year and non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council, proving its increasingly strong presence on the international arena. PM Phuc took this occasion to express his wish to continue receiving invaluable support and effective cooperation from the international community. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnams economic growth neared 2 percent in the first half of 2020 while trade surplus reached around 11 billion USD. According to the Economists financial health rankings in May, Vietnam ranked 12th out of 66 emerging economies in terms of strong financial system, he said. The Vietnamese Government is determined to restructure the economy sustainably and switch to a digital economy, with the public satisfaction as an effective measurement, PM Phuc added. Amid the complicated developments of the pandemic, Vietnam has stepped up diplomatic activities and donated medical supplies to 40 countries and organisations. Since February 2020, 30 teleconferences and phone talks were held between top leaders of Vietnam and foreign countries and international organisations, he said. The PM called for joint efforts to make globalisation more sustainable, humanitarian and safer in the near future, as well as reforming multilateral mechanisms in a more effective manner. He also called on countries to work closely together to fight COVID-19 more effectively, cope with other epidemics in the future, and stay alert against non-traditional security risks such as pollution, climate change and natural disasters. The leader once again affirmed Vietnams foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of external relations, active and proactive global integration; being a friend and responsible member of the international community, promoting cooperation with countries on the basis of respect for independence, sovereignty, equality and mutual benefits, settling differences via peaceful measures in line with international law. He also expressed his belief in a bright future of Vietnam and countries in the international community. Palestinian Ambassador to Vietnam Saadi Salama, head of the diplomatic corps, highly evaluated Vietnam's contributions in its capacity as Chair of ASEAN in 2020 and non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure. The Ambassador also affirmed the willingness and determination to further develop friendship and multifaceted coordination between Vietnam and countries and organisations for a world of peace, equality, prosperity, cooperation and development./.VNA West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Friday likened the tearing down of a gate in Visva-Bharati university by protestors last week to the destruction of Buddha statues at Bamiyan in Afghanistan by the Taliban in 2001. "Divisive forces" have not spared the university founded by Rabindranath Tagore, but most of West Bengal's intellectuals did not protest against the violence at Visva-Bharati and chose to remain non-committal, Ghosh alleged. "Visva-Bharati's gate and boundary wall were pulled down in a Taliban-style attack. It is like the destruction atBamiyan in Afghanistan," he said. Thousands of local people, allegedly at the instigation of ruling Trinamool Congress leaders, on August 17tore down a gate of the central university to protest against the construction of a boundary wall by the institute around aground where 125-year-old Poush Mela used to be held every year. The university had also decided not to hold the fair this year. Ancient sandstone statues of Buddha at Bamiyan were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001 that created a furore acrossthe world. The state BJP president claimed that those who were involved in the violence at Visva-Bharati are the same who vandalised Bengal Renaissance icon Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar'sbust in Kolkata before the Lok Sabha elections. A bust of the education and social reformer was destroyed in May last year during clashes between TMC and BJP activists when Amit Shah, who was president of the saffron party at that time, was holding a roadshow in the metropolis. The two parties accused each other being responsible for the vandalism. Ghosh said that the dreams of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, who had established the Visva-Bharati,have been shattered but no protest by intellectuals was seen. "Perhaps their devotion to Rabindranath is only for show," he said at a webinar on Divisive forces in West Bengal. The intellectuals have written an open letter on the violence, "but it is not clear from it whether they are opposing the incidents that took place at Visva Bharati or not," Ghosh said. The BJP has accused the Trinamool Congress of engineering the acts of vandalism at Visva-Bharati. Political violence has reached new heights in the state to prevent democratic movements by opposition parties,and leaders and workers are being implicated in false cases,Ghosh claimed. Alleging that lockdown dates in the state were designed to prevent people from celebrating the "bhoomi pujan"for the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya or the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, he claimed that the Hindus were being deprived of their rights in West Bengal. The BJP MP said that while other states want to hold the NEET examinations as per schedule, the ruling party in West Bengal was opposing it. "There are attempts to take West Bengal in a direction opposite to that being taken by the rest of the country.Attempts were being made to make people of West Bengal feelthat they are not part of the country, Ghosh claimed. Illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Rohingyas are being welcomed to the state, Prashant Kishor has been brought in from Bihar to strategise the poll campaign of Trinamool Congress, but the prime minister or the Union home minister or chief ministers of other states are not welcome here, he alleged. "People have to move the court to get permission for holding Durga puja in the state. Attempts are on to turn West Bengal into Western Bangladesh," Ghosh claimed. Claiming that 1.5 crore people were made refugees during independence, he expressed apprehension that six crore Bengalis might become refugees again in their own country and take refuge in other states, "owing to attempts to divide the country again." "We should become active to prevent another such division," he said. RSS leader Jishnu Basu said that division of the country in 1947 had caused the death of 20 lakh people andlakhs of women and children suffered atrocities. "Shyama Prasad Mukherjee had played a key role in keeping West Bengal within India," Basu said. He claimed that there has been a conspiracy to undermine the role of Mukherjee for the nation's integrity. "Many decades after independence, Kolkata Port has been named after him as a tribute," he said. Joy Anna Duggar has revealed the name of her second child, a week after giving birth: Evelyn Mae Forsyth. The 22-year-old Counting On star and her husband Austin Forsyth, 26, welcomed the baby girl on August 21, but kept her name a secret until Thursday night, when they unveiled a new set of professionally-shot photos of their family-of-four. 'I wanted her name to be perfect and elegant!' Joy Anna wrote on Instagram. 'We had a hard time deciding but after a few days finally settled on Evy Mae and we think it fits her perfectly!' Unveiled: Joy Anna Duggar has revealed the name of her second child, a week after giving birth: Evelyn Mae Forsyth Ta-da! The 22-year-old Counting On star and her husband Austin Forsyth, 26, welcomed the baby girl on August 21 New pics: On Thursday, they shared professional photos of the new baby Proud dad: Austin poses with the newest addition to the family Much-needed accessory: The Duggars would never photograph a baby girl without a bow 'I wanted her name to be perfect and elegant!' Joy Anna wrote on Instagram 'We had a hard time deciding but after a few days finally settled on Evy Mae and we think it fits her perfectly!' she added They'd initially kept the baby's name a secret, but revealed it on Thursday and on Friday, they followed up with a YouTube video documenting the first half of the birth. Joy has been sharing YouTube videos for several months, as the family seems to be taking more control of telling their story and appearing less on Counting On. In the clip, Joy recorded herself the day before her due date, still pregnant. She admitted she never thought she'd get that far in the pregnancy, and assumed she'd have had the baby a week before. 'Plans change though, and life happens,' she said as two-year-old Gideon crawls all over her. The next day, she, Austin, and Gideon went for lunch and for a 3.6 mile walk in an effort to get the baby 'on her way out' put she didn't budge. Real time: Joy is sharing lots of updates as the latest season of Counting On airs but is about eight months behind Behind-the-scenes: Joy Anna also shared a video of the early part of labor on YouTube Ready: She and Austin went to the hospital after her due date, and she had to be induced 'Our birth plan didnt go as expected, but looking back, I loved it,' Joy Anna wrote in the YouTube caption Lead up: Joy recorded herself the day before her due date. She admitted she never thought she'd get that far in the pregnancy, and assumed she'd have had the baby a week before 'Plans change though, and life happens,' she said Get going! The next day, she, Austin, and Gideon went for lunch and for a 3.6 mile walk in an effort to get the baby 'on her way out' put she didn't budge After visiting the doctor on Thursday, Joy Anna was finally ready to pack for the hospital. She said that the doctor had found that her amniotic fluid levels were low, and was worried that blood wouldn't be pumping well during labor. If that was the case, she'd end up needing a C-section event though she wanted a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After C-section) following her miscarriage and C-section delivery last summer. So to prevent that, they planned to induce but had to be careful to do so in a way that didn't cause her uterus to rupture. 'So we're just praying about just what we need to do,' she said. 'We're excited. I'm kind of nervous. I really want to make the right decision for the baby and I don't wanna do anything to harm her or harm me.' On their drive to the hospital, the couple picked up Austin's sister Rachel, who was Joy Anna's doula for childbirth. 'I'm kind of nervous about all of this, all the unknowns,' Joy Anna admitted on the way there. Once at the hospital, she changed into her gown and she, Austin, and Rachel all wore masks in the room while they waited for active labor to start. On their way: After visiting the doctor on Thursday, Joy Anna was finally ready to pack for the hospital Nerves: Upon learning she'd have to induce, she said: 'I'm kind of nervous. I really want to make the right decision for the baby and I don't wanna do anything to harm her or harm me' Birth team: On their drive to the hospital, the couple picked up Austin's sister Rachel, who was Joy Anna's doula for childbirth 'I only have one regret... I was so stressed about going into the hospital and how the birth was going to go, that I lost site of the excitement of meeting our baby girl!' she said later 'I'm kind of nervous about all of this, all the unknowns,' Joy Anna said Waiting: Once at the hospital, she changed into her gown and she, Austin, and Rachel all wore masks in the room while they waited for active labor to start Wait for more: The new video stops before she went into labor, but shows the lights Austin hung to set the mood They also hung twinkle lights for ambience, and plastered 'birth affirmations' all around the room so wherever Joy Anna looked, she could read something 'encouraging.' The video ended with Austin comforting Joy before actual labor began, when she was still just a few centimeters dilated but the caption teases what comes next. 'Our birth plan didnt go as expected, but looking back, I loved it,' Joy Anna wrote. 'I only have one regret... I was so stressed about going into the hospital and how the birth was going to go, that I lost site of the excitement of meeting our baby girl!' The couple shared their baby news on Instagram earlier this week, with Joy writing: 'To say my heart is full is an understatement..We have been dreaming of this day and are so happy to announce that our baby girl arrived August 21st at 2:12pm weighing 8lbs 5oz and is 19.5 long!' New baby: Joy Anna shared the first photos after the birth earlier this week The 22-year-old announced the news on Instagram and shared images of their bundle of joy in the hospital 'To say my heart is full is an understatement,' Joy wrote on Instagram Flashback: She had previously shared photos from last Wednesday, her due date, showing she was still pregnant She also shared two photos of Evelyn, Austin, and herself in the hospital. 'She has the best personality, is easy going, and loves to be held!' Joy Anna wrote. 'She has her nights and days mixed up, but honestly, I love it! Getting to spend that quiet, quality time with her through the night has been SO special!' Joy was still bumping along on her due date, August 19, and shared the final photos of her pregnancy on Instagram last week. 'We are just here impatiently awaiting your arrival,' she wrote at the time, posing with the couple's two-year-old son Gideon sitting comfortably on her belly. The new baby's arrival comes almost 14 months after Joy miscarried at 20 weeks in July of 2019. 'We only had her for 20 weeks, Life is fragile and precious,' the couple wrote on Instagram at the time. 'So thankful the Lord gave her to us for that short time! She will be in our hearts forever!' Devastating moment: Joy Anna and Austin were excitedly expecting a daughter last year when she tragically suffered a miscarriage Tribute: 'We only had her for 20 weeks, Life is fragile and precious,' the couple wrote on Instagram at the time Family ties: They posed several candid shots taken in the hospital after Joy Anna delivered Memories: In their Instagram post, Joy Anna and Austin shared a photo of their daughter's footprints (left), which her best friend Carlin also posted on her own account 'Although we dont understand why, God has given us unexplainable peace and comfort during this very difficult time. Yes, it still hurts and we have cried countless tears, but we know that we can trust the Lord. 'We dont grieve as those who have no hope because we trust that we will see this little one again,' they wrote. 'Please pray for continued healing, not only physically but for our hearts as well.' The young parents named the baby Annabelle, and went on to bury her at his family's camp in Combs, Arkansas. Four months later, they conceived again, but waited until March to announce it to the public. 'Yes... its true! [Austin] and I are PREGNANT again!' Joy Anna wrote on Instagram earlier this year, confirming rumors that began to swirl a couple of weeks before. 'Ahhh!!! Its been quite the crazy journey these last few months, but we are so thankful that mom and baby are healthy!' Another one on the way! They announced the pregnancy on Instagram in March Family of four: The couple already has a two-year-old son named Gideon Bumpin' around: Joy Anna shared some bump photos on Instagram, and also updated fans on the progress of her pregnancy on YouTube Stepping back: She and Austin have been largely absent from the new season of Counting On She also posted a YouTube video, in which she caught fans up on her pregnancy journey. 'I'm shocked. I'm not actually as scared as I thought I was gonna be after miscarrying at 20 weeks. It's just, I thought I was gonna be so nervous, but I'm really not. I'm excited,' she said in the video. When she told Austin, she did so by wrapping a positive pregnancy test in a gift box. But it wasn't all smooth sailing. Not long into her pregnancy, she started to experience spotting. She went to the doctor, who told her it might be a nonviable pregnancy. After some anxious waiting, though, Joy Anna and Austin learned that that wasn't the case and also found out they were having a daughter. 'We're having a girl! I could not believe it. I just started crying,' Joy Anna said. 'We're super excited, nervous, and thankful, all at the same time.' It's positive! She was already quite far along when she announced her pregnancy and shared a video on YouTube catching fans up on everything that had happened so far Pee stick! She took several negative pregnancy tests before one turned up positive, and she gave it to Austin for his birthday She said: 'I'm shocked. I'm not actually as scared as I thought I was gonna be after miscarrying at 20 weeks. It's just, I thought I was gonna be so nervous, but I'm really not. I'm excited' Woosh: They had a gender reveal party, with big brother John David dropping confetti from a helicopter 'It's just a huge load lifted off our shoulders, knowing that the tests came back good, came back normally,' Austin added. Finally, they finished off the video with the gender reveal they had for family, watching on from their yard as older brother John David dropped a bucked of pink confetti from a helicopter. She and Austin continued to offer updates on YouTube, taking fans along for the gender reveal and doctor's appointments. In July, she celebrated her impending arrival with a baby shower, with her mom, sisters, sisters-in-law, and best friend Carlin Bates coming together for a not-so-socially-distanced party. Photos from social media show a room decorated with white, yellow, and rose gold balloons, which her family put up ahead of time. The party appears to have included a rather large group given that the country is in the middle of a pandemic, with everyone gathered together indoors without masks or social distancing. Excited: Joy Anna celebrated with a baby shower that was thrown in July The whole fam (almost): Pictured at the festivities is Joy Anna's mom Michelle, as well as her sisters Jana, Jill, Jessa, Johanna, Jennifer, Jordyn, and Josie More girls: Her sisters-in-law Lauren and Anna (who is married to sex pest Josh) also came with their daughters Look who got an invite! Her big sister Jill was also notably in attendance. Jill has been absent from quite a few family gatherings, due to some dubious rulings from her dad, Jim Bob BFF: Her best friend Carlin Bates came to visit, too, and helped her open presents Pictured at the festivities is Joy Anna's mom Michelle, as well as her sisters Jana, Jessa, Johanna, Jennifer, Jordyn, and Josie. Her big sister Jill was also notably in attendance. Jill has been absent from quite a few family gatherings, which her husband Derick Dillard has claimed on numerous occasions is because dad Jim Bob restricts her access to the rest of the family. Sisters-in-law Lauren and Anna showed up, too, with Anna bringing along daughters Meredith, Mackynzie, and baby Maryella, and Lauren toting her baby, Bella. Also there was Joy Anna's longtime friend and fellow reality star Carlin Bates, who had her own first child earlier this year. Other Instagram pictures show five other guests, bringing the total to at least 21 people. While the images don't show any masks or other precautions taken, the group did seem to play some games, including one in which Joy Anna and Carlin competed to change a diaper while holding a phone between their faces and shoulders. Joy Anna, who is due August 19, also opened gifts, including diapers and dresses. Pictures don't show any food, and it doesn't appear that Joy Anna had any sort of cake. Previously, after her sister-in-law Lauren miscarried at just five weeks, she had an entirely separate cake for 'Big Brother Asa' at her baby shower during her next pregnancy. Big: The party appears to have included a rather large group given that the country is in the middle of a pandemic The struggle is real: They played some games, including one in which Joy Anna and Carlin competed to change a diaper while holding a phone between their faces and shoulders There are few more compelling stories about Texas than the Alamo. Spanish explorers first encountered the Payaya Indians there in 1691 and gave San Antonio its name. One of the first European settlements in Texas, the Mision San Antonio de Valero was built by Spaniards and the Payaya in 1718. Eventually becoming the Alamo, it is best known as the Cradle of Texas Liberty in honor of the brave defenders who gave their lives on March 6, 1836. Their sacrifice became the battle-cry Remember the Alamo that helped win freedom for Texans. After the battle, the Alamo avoided demolition thanks to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and became the most prominent landmark in Texas, recognized around the world. There have been numerous efforts over the past century to improve it, to help the Alamo tell its story to visitors from all over the world, almost all ending in division and frustration. Today, Alamo visitors are disappointed at the site of tourist traps and a carnival-like atmosphere across the street from our most sacred state shrine. There is no visitor center to explain the rich history of the Alamo church or the plaza on its doorstep. Most visitors are on their own to understand the meaning and significance of our history. It is not an experience they will remember. The lack of reverence and inability to explain one of the most important events in history does no honor to Texas or the Alamo. We can bring back honor and reverence with the Alamo Plan. Over the past five years, the leaders of the city of San Antonio, the state of Texas and community leaders have worked together to accomplish what others have failed. They have assembled the Alamo Plan to rescue the Alamo Church with loving conservation to restore the original battlefield and give the Alamo what it richly deserves: reverence, honor and the ability to tell its amazing story of sacrifice and heroism. The plan will preserve, conserve and make crucial repairs to the deteriorating Alamo Church and other historic structures. It will create a world-class visitor center and museum, including Alamo Plaza as an open museum, to tell its complete history. It will help revitalize the Texas and San Antonio tourism economy. Whats more, recent polling shows Texans support the Alamo Plan by a margin 50 points (68 to 18 percent). However, there are those who oppose parts of the plan. Some dont want to move the art deco Alamo Cenotaph, a 1930s memorial to the defenders who died on March 6, a few hundred feet to a place of honor and contemplation near the south gate and where one of the first Alamo defenders was killed as the beginning of the dawn assault on March 6, 1836. Like the Alamo Church and the Long Barrack, the cenotaph is falling apart. These conditions require the cenotaph to be disassembled and carefully repaired. It requires an entirely new frame of durable materials to replace the currently corroding one. Demolition of the existing frame could damage the Long Barrack one of the first buildings in Texas ruling out the option of repairing it in place. No one says they oppose giving the Alamo what it deserves, but that would be the unintended result if we are unable to move forward. I believe that all Texans, critics and supporters alike, have voiced their opinions because of their love for the Alamo and what it represents. We are at a critical juncture where the project could be unintentionally derailed for generations. San Antonio and the state of Texas have collaborated on many elements thats the Texas way but the demands being made today would destroy those efforts. They would cause yet another effort to save the Alamo to fail. They would unintentionally maintain the lack of reverence and inability to explain one of the most important events in history. All Texans can help make the Alamo Plan a success by joining with us to support making the Alamo as great as it can be. Write a letter to our Texas officials to show your support for the Alamo Plan. Wilson currently serves as chairman of the Alamo Trust and serves on the board of directors of the Remember the Alamo Foundation in San Antonio ALBANY The city and town of Guilderland are still struggling to find a solution to potential traffic issues around new developments, including proposals for a 222-unit residential complex and a Costco Wholesale. The disagreements focus on Rapp Road, home to a historically-protected Black community that has become a miniature highway during rush hour for commuters trying to get between Washington Avenue Extension and Western Avenue. The residential project was introduced in late 2018 and would involve building 192 apartments as well as 30 townhomes on a plot of land near Rapp and Gipp roads. The 160,000-square-foot Costco was introduced in 2019. Both projects are being done by subsidiaries of Pyramid Companies, the owner of bordering Crossgates Mall. Related: Costco Wholesale store passes major hurdle in Guilderland Judge tosses lawsuit filed over tree cutting at Costco site Guilderland residents sue over clear-cutting at Costco site Costco site in Guilderland is suddenly devoid of trees Public hearing March 25 on Costco, Crossgates projects in Guilderland The frustration over the traffic impasse, which has gone on for more than a year, is apparent in a series of letters between the city and town planners. The city believes a new bypass is the best option to deal with the issue while the town disagrees, arguing that several other options need to be considered, including dead-ending Rapp Road at Gipp Road. Beverly Bardequez, president of the Rapp Road Historical Association, said residents have been trying for decades to find a way to reduce traffic along the road. The possibility of 222 residences, along with the Costco, could be devastating for the community, she said. A spokeswoman for Pyramid did not immediately return a request for comment. She described residents forced to wait five or 10 minutes for a long enough gap in traffic to pull out of their driveways during rush hour. Its become a conduit for traffic to get quickly to where they want to go, she said. Rapp Road was originally settled by Black residents from Mississippi who initially moved to downtown Albany as part of the Great Migration in the early part of the 20th century. They later moved out and bought land along Rapp Road to emulate the more rural lifestyle they had enjoyed in Mississippi. We developed it, it was land no one wanted, Bardequez said. Developers have long had their eyes on the community however, Bardequez said. In the 1970s the state took 14 acres, half of the communitys original footprint, to build the Washington Avenue Extension. The community has shrunk from the original 23 families and their descendants to about 12. In 2002 it was named a National Historic District. People have been trying to chip away at it. Weve had to take a stand and say we wont be pushed into a corner without fighting, Bardequez said. The historical association has offered its thoughts on the various alternatives, but none fully fix the problem of ending heavy traffic through a residential neighborhood. One alternative was to push traffic that was passing through onto the mall's property, but Pyramid objected to that idea, Bardequez said. Bardequez noted that for years, concerns of Black residents in the community have been brushed aside. She sees the discussion around Rapp Road as a possible opportunity to avoid that failure again. Only one option has come close to solving the problem, which would prevent an influx of traffic from Western Avenue north but not from the other direction, Bardequez said. "Right now we're in a holding pattern and we don't know where it's going to go," she said. The town has offered several solutions, including dead-ending Rapp Road at Gipp Road and installing a gate across the road. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. But the city has raised numerous objections to dead-ending the road or installing an electronic gate, including concerns over emergency services being able to easily access homes along Rapp Road and other nearby developments and ensuring mutual aid to Guilderland. In an Aug. 18 letter, Guilderland town planner Ken Kovalchik, laid out a number of reasons why the town believed the citys favored option, a bypass that would run from Frontage Road behind the Daughters of Sarah Nursing Center, isnt the best choice. The bypasss construction would potentially damage sensitive Pine Bush habitat, would not reduce the current traffic load along Rapp Road and wasnt among the options the Rapp Road Historical Association chose, according to his letter. Protesters have also pushed against the Costco project because of concerns about the neighboring Pine Bush. The town planning board, however, moved the project forward Wednesday night by saying any environmental or traffic concerns can be addressed as part of Pyramid's plan. Kovalchik did not return calls for comment concerning the traffic questions. Town Supervisor Peter Barber was out of the office this week and not available for comment. In his response, City Director of Planning Chris Spencer sarcasticly thanked Kovalchik for suggesting that the city would be continuing to fail in its own planning goals if it didnt agree to one of the towns preferred options. In reality, we did not ask for this expansion, it does not benefit us, yet our residents are likely to bear the greatest negative impact from these projects, he wrote. Any option should accomplish several goals from the citys perspective, including protecting the Rapp Road community, ensuring the city was able to deliver emergency services to its residents and mutual aid to Guilderland and provide adequate infrastructure for any future development in the area, Spencer wrote. Its unclear how much the proposed bypass would cost or who would pay for it. In an interview, Mayor Kathy Sheehan said the city believed that Guilderland had a right to develop the land but felt that the potential impacts of any development on the city werent being fully considered by the town. Overall the tone and tenor of what we heard from the town is that this is somehow a city of Albany problem, she said. All of the alternatives that were proposed still resulted in heavy traffic. The city is preparing a demonstration project by closing down Rapp Road near the city line at Gipp Road to showcase the potential issues with that option. There absolutely are public safety concerns that have to be taken in to consideration, Sheehan said. UN human rights office calls for probe into prisoners fatally shot while trying to flee Farafangana jail on August 23. The United Nations human rights office has said it is very concerned by the fatal shooting of 22 inmates in a mass prison breakout in Madagascar and pressed for a thorough investigation. Dozens of prisoners attacked guards with rocks and a stolen gun on Sunday as they tried to escape from Farafangana prison in the southeast of the Indian Ocean island. We are very concerned by reports of excessive use of force by security forces at a Madagascar jail on August 23 when 22 inmates were killed and eight injured during a mass escape, said Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The prison breakout occurred amid concerns the countrys squalid and overcrowded detention facilities are a hotbed for the spread of COVID-19, he told reporters at a news briefing in Geneva. We remind the Malagasy authorities that the use of force must strictly comply with the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality and non-discrimination. #Madagascar: We are concerned at the excessive use of force by security forces that killed 22 inmates attempting to escape Farafangana. Overcrowded prisons are a hotbed for the spread of #COVID19; States have a duty to protect inmates health https://t.co/jAnhg9kJAe pic.twitter.com/YL4Zvnvir1 UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) August 28, 2020 According to reports, 88 of the 380 Farafangana inmates managed to escape, most were recaptured but 25 remain on the run, the OHCHR said. Like many other jails in Madagascar, Colville said, conditions at Farafangana were deeply troubling, citing overcrowding, unhygienic conditions, poor food and lack of proper access to healthcare. OHCHR has previously contacted the authorities in Antananarivo to express its concerns about conditions within Madagascars prisons, he said. We will continue to work with Malagasy authorities to ensure that they conduct thorough, prompt, independent and impartial investigations into the circumstances of the killings and injuries during the prison escape, including allegations of excessive use of force violations by state security forces, said Colville. Before you head back to the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, there are some things you need to know: capacity will be limited to 25 percent, temperature checks and face masks will be mandatory, and the advance purchase of tickets is required. Each museum has specific guidelines, so youll want to visit their websites: moma.org and metmuseum.org. Our critics have reviewed some of the new shows Felix Feneon at MoMA, and Making the Met, Jacob Lawrence and Hector Zamoras rooftop sculpture at the Met but they also weighed in previously about several exhibitions that are still on view. Below, youll find an overview of those shows, as well as a partial listing of some of the museums opening in the coming days. NICOLE HERRINGTON MoMA The museum is now open. MoMA PS1 remains closed, though it plans to reopen Sept. 17 with the exhibition Marking Time: Art in the Age of Incarceration. One of Britain's most experienced scientists who has advised four Prime Ministers on health strategy has slammed the Government for causing the covid-19 death toll to rise unnecessarily. Sir David King, who was chief scientific adviser from 2000 and worked with Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Theresa May, says Boris Johnson has got it 'drastically wrong'. He said a one week delay in the Government's coronavirus action plan being put into full swing may have cost around 40,000 lives. And he said at one stage the path being followed by the government early on in the corona virus battle was set to lead to up to 250,000 deaths in Britain before it changed direction. Clinical staff wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at the Intensive Care unit at Royal Papworth Hospital on May 5 Sir David, who is now part of a group of independent scientists offering advice on the virus and was Mrs May's climate change expert, said Britain went into lockdown too late. He criticised the Government for first relying on 'herd immunity' to combat the virus and then changing its course of action and relying on a poorly funded National Health Service. Sir David King (pictured), who was chief scientific adviser from 2000 If Britain had stuck to its initial 'herd immunity' course, the total number of corona virus fatalities would have been between '200,000 and 250,000' he said. He added: 'There are about 12-15,000 people who have died because the National Health Service was unable to give them the emergency treatment they needed and they would normally have got. 'The total number of fatalities in Britain is about 55,000. If the government had acted even one week earlier to put us into lockdown, it would have been about a quarter of this number.' Sir David had several intermittent spells as a Government adviser with the main term being from October 2000 to December 2007. He was a scientific adviser to David Cameron, then advised the Foreign Office and later worked for Mrs May on climate change. Sir David is also a Professor in physical chemistry at Cambridge University. He said Blair and Brown always heeded his advice and in 2006 a report by the World Health Organisation warned of a global infectious disease outbreak and an operation to prepare hospitals with PPE began. The intensive care unit at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge on May 5. Sir David is also a Professor in physical chemistry at Cambridge University But in 2010, he said, austerity measures were introduced by the Cameron Government and were continuing under the present government. 'The National Health Service was badly battered by those austerity measures. The lower funding meant that long range problems were set aside to deal with every day problems. 'So all of that process was set aside. We began to dismember the health care system in the United Kingdom. 'And we are still in that process today where the Government has announced that once again we are going to re-vamp the health care system. He said Tony Blair and Gordon Brown always heeded his advice and in 2006 a report by the World Health Organisation warned of a global infectious disease outbreak and an operation to prepare hospitals with PPE began. Pictured, Mr King (left) with Mr Blair in 2001 'So when this outbreak occurred there was still one group who had joined us in that big programme in 2006, the World Health Organisation fully aware of this challenge to humanity. 'When the Chinese published an extraordinary good paper in The Lancet on January 23rd, WHO went to work and early in February issued a report for every country on what action should be taken. 'We didn't heed that. The country in Europe that did heed that report was Greece, a country that had suffered economically very severely. 'Their income had been perhaps been diminished by 30 per cent of GDP. But nevertheless the Greek government went to work in February getting itself equipped with all the equipment it needed in its hospitals to handle the outbreak, bringing in the expertise to manage it and also going into lockdown before any other European country. Serco staff working on behalf of NHS Test and Trace operate a coronavirus testing centre on July 30 in Stone, England 'At that point, they didn't have the test and trace capacity to manage to catch every case that would emerge in the country. 'When they went into lockdown in the week of March 4th, they didn't have a single death and to this day the total number of deaths in Greece is a little less than 200. 'And in Britain we are approaching 50,000.' Sir David, in a podcast titled 'Thoughts and Leaders' by Jonathan Gabay, waded into the debate on whether children should return to school next month. He said: 'The damage from children not going to school is really much, much greater than the potential risks from picking up covid-19. 'Children go to school and pick up various colds and things, and that is how they build up anti-bodies. Royal Papworth Hospital on May 5. If Britain had stuck to its initial 'herd immunity' course, the total number of corona virus fatalities would have been between '200,000 and 250,000', according to Sir David 'So mixing with other children is actually good for you in the longer term. The most important thing for the country at the moment is to re-open schools and to re-open them safely.' He said the test and trace system must be intensified so that every covid-19 victim and their contacts could be put into isolation with 24 hours. And he said people in isolation should be visited and not just be monitored by telephone calls and called for 'shoe leather' to become the norm. He said pubs and restaurants should not be serving customers indoors because of the risk of unmasked people spreading the virus.. He added: 'There is no question wearing a mask is good indoors. But out of doors as long as you keep that one and half meters or two meters apart, you are fine. 'Where ever possible you should be wearing a mask. ' He said it was possible that Britain 'Could see another spike, He added: 'Our leaders have done a drastically poor job, right up to the present time.' He said localised track and trace should have been the norm with GPs involved rather than the national operation currently in use.' He said doctors, nurses and the NHS had been rightfully praised 'for the amazing job and that is the public sector at work.' Referring to Sweden following its herd immunity path, he added: 'I believe initially this Government's policy was to follow herd immunity, although they deny it. 'Then it was abandoned when it became clear that we couldn't possibly manage when the disease was quadrupling every week. The number of deaths projected at that point was in the region of 200,000 to 250,000 in Britain.' He said he understood the Government ignored the WHO advice on Covid-19' because it's attitude was for developing countries and that was nonsense. He added: 'We didn't act in time, we could have kept this disease down to a very low level. 'We could have had a very small number of deaths and we could now be talking about an economy that would have recovered.' Sixteen years after Changing Rooms ended, one of the hundreds of home makeovers we did still makes me wince with embarrassment. Two women who lived next door to each other in the north of England had been friends for 20 years. I was to redecorate one of their bedrooms, and her friend had briefed me: 'Boudoir, roses, pink.' I ran with that theme, making everything in the room of her modern, semi-detached maisonette exceptionally pink and rosy. Strangest of all, I put underwear in frames on the wall. Looking back, it sounds awful, but I meant it to be arty. Well, the homeowner certainly didn't find it arty she thought it looked 'like a brothel'. Luckily, she didn't burst into tears that didn't happen very often on this pioneering and wildly popular show, a staple of prime-time on BBC One and attracting audiences of 14 million viewers. Design team: Laurence, Anna, 'Handy' Andy, Michael Jewitt, Linda and Graham in 2000 Instead, when she saw it for the first time, she was totally silent. Normally the producers never called 'cut', preferring to let the cameras run, but her complete shock and speechlessness went on for so long that finally someone had to. In fact, she was so angry, she refused to speak to her friend again. I hope they were eventually reconciled once the underwear had been taken off the wall and put back in the chest of drawers. If the rumours are true, and Channel 4 really is hoping to bring back Changing Rooms for the 2020s, it would be fantastic. I adored the eight years I spent on the programme, even though some of the disasters still make me cringe. Over 165 episodes, each including two home makeovers and all made on a shoestring budget, we designers were never going to get everything right. Many of the people whose rooms we changed loved the results but a few howlers do stick in the mind. STORM IN A TEAPOT COLLECTION: In one of Changing Rooms' most memorable mishaps, an unusual set of floating shelves was installed to house the owner's treasured collection of china teapots at their home in Wandsworth, South-West London STORM IN A TEAPOT COLLECTION: But the shelves collapsed and the teapots were smashed beyond repair. Designer Linda Barker said: 'Oh my God, I am really sorry I put you under this stress', and the owners exclaimed: 'That's all our teapots... I'm crying now' In a tiny London flat, two female neighbours made over a room for their male friend. They hated everything I suggested to them. I hung a sculpture made from polystyrene balls on the ceiling, and went for an all-white colour scheme. I thought it was cool and minimalist: they loathed it. Before long, they wouldn't even speak to me, and we were all cooped up in this tiny property it was so awkward! Finally, they downed tools and quit. The producers did manage to persuade them to come back and finish the room, but it was a very uncomfortable moment. I wondered if they had ever seen the show we were designers and our job was to avoid boring beige. We had to be original. On Changing Rooms, sometimes the ideas worked, sometimes they didn't, which was part of the fun. Designer Gordon Whistance once tried to turn a lampstand into a tree by covering it in squirty foam that would set and harden. But it didn't work: the foam sank to a big puddle on the floor. Not that the disasters ever mattered: the show was so successful, it sold around the world, from Germany to Australia. LAURENCE RUINED OUR HOUSE! Susan Dukes hated her Changing Rooms makeover by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen so much that she burst into tears. It wasn't just the red walls, the chequerboard floor or the spray-painted flowers in the dining room of her home in North Cave, Yorkshire, that offended. There was also the matter of the outrageous painting in which she resembled a bosomy Nell Gwyn, mistress of Charles II (credit: Radio Times) LAURENCE RUINED OUR HOUSE! Susan (pictured with Carol Smillie) later told the Mail: 'Russell, my husband, was quite offended because it made him look silly. I looked like a wench I invited them into my home, my inner sanctum, and gave them a free hand. It was insulting' For those who were hiding behind the sofa back then, it was the most absurd format. Two sets of neighbours, who were supposed to be great friends, swapped houses and trusted each other to makeover a room in their respective homes, helped by one of us designers. The main designers were Linda Barker, Laurence LlewelynBowen, Graham Wynne and later Gordon and me. We all had just two days to complete the makeover, with a budget of just 500 and the neighbours who had briefed us working beside us. Poor 'Handy Andy' Kane ricocheted between the two houses, drill in hand, overworked and sometimes grumpy, while presenter Carol Smillie would help out with sewing and painting. It was exhausting, but exhilarating. Audiences never believed it was all done in two days, or that the designers really did the work, but we did and it was often hard. 'EROTIC' BED ART: HOMEOWNERS Helen and Aidan Ruff got the shock of their lives after designer Laurence installed giant drawings of topless classical women on MDF to the end of their bed in Northumberland. Laurence admitted: 'It's quite a statement', while Aidan responded: 'Good grief there's no way I can sleep in here. I'll have too many dreams!' PINK DISCO IN THE LIVING ROOM: Kate and Lindsay asked for something different for their house in Putney, South-West London, but some suggested this wild living room makeover looked more like a school art project. Designer Oliver Heath said of the room: 'It's good to be a bit different it's exciting and decadent and vibrant', but owner Lindsay was not pleased, asking: 'What have they done? Have you seen the fluffy bits on the ceiling?' Kate luckily saw the funny side, though, adding: 'It has good comedy value' We did a lot of rag-rolling I don't know why we ever thought it looked good which was very tough on the arms. By the end of the day, we'd be covered in paint, with broken nails and sore knees. Since each set of neighbours slept at the other's houses and weren't allowed home to have a peep at their room, it was always a huge shock when they were brought in for the 'reveal'. The designers were never there at that moment, which was a blessing the last thing you want is for someone to hate a design you'd put your heart and soul into. To be honest, true disasters were rare: many more people were thrilled. LAVENDER WALLS - YUK! Pat and Jenny's rustic cottage in Bodmin, Cornwall, with naked stone and bare beams was radically altered, with lavender paint and matching upholstery. Laurence described it as like 'a wine bar in Provence'. Jenny said: 'I love the colour, that's fab!', but Pat was less sure: 'The old stomach's going something awful. I don't know what to say, really' AS GARISH AS IT GETS: This statement dining-room makeover left even the presenters shocked. Contestants Jenny and John wanted their dark and slightly dingy dining room to be brightened up, but insisted on nothing 'too garish'. Bright purple and pink it was, then! Presenter Carol Smillie said: 'It's quite an emotive colour,' and Jenny and John added: 'It's wild! Flipping heck ... I don't hate it' In Birmingham, I did a makeover for a lovely couple who were into King Arthur and dressing up as knights and maidens. Encouraged by their neighbours, I turned their dining room into a lavish Arthurian hall with a round table. It was completely over the top, and a bit tacky in hindsight, but they thought it was fabulous. They used to charge people to come and look at it, for charity. That was the spirit of Changing Rooms it brought joy and inspiration. Nowadays, everyone's house looks the same, full of white, grey and beige. It's so boring! The time is ripe for Changing Rooms to return. We can afford to be creative again even, dare I say it, a bit wacky. These days, I own a zoo I heard one was for sale, and thought my children would have a fabulous upbringing surrounded by animals. It's been hard work, but an amazing experience. But I have such fond memories of Changing Rooms that if they asked me to go back, I'd be there like a shot. I promise to leave the undies in the cupboard this time. Egypt's General Prosecution requests Interpol arrests Deputy Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood for charges of inciting violence Egypt's General Prosecution has requested that Interpol arrest Mahmoud Ezzat, the Muslim Brotherhood's Deputy Supreme Guide, who left Egypt weeks ago. A judicial source at the International Cooperation Office said Interpol would arrest Ezzat pursuant to an order from the prosecutor-general for charges of inciting violence. Many of the Muslim Brotherhood's prominent figures have been arrested in Egypt since the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi, who hails from the Islamist group, on 3 July. Search Keywords: Short link: West Palm Beach : President-elect Donald Trump tapped an experienced hand from the George W Bush era and a longtime Trump Organisation official to become members of his inner circle when he assumes office next month. Thomas Bossert will become an assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism. A statement from Trumps transition team said Bossert will advise the president on issues related to homeland security, counterterrorism and cybersecurity, and coordinate the Cabinets process for making and executing policy in those areas. The president-elect also appointed one of his main advisers on US-Israel relations during the campaign and transition as special representative for international negotiations. Jason Greenblatt has worked for the Trump Organisation for over two decades and currently serves as its executive vice president and chief legal officer. The homeland security position notably is being elevated and restored to its independent status alongside the national security adviser, the statement said. Policymakers have long debated whether such national security jobs should operate independently from the White House. Bossert will work closely with Trumps pick for national security adviser, retired Lt Gen Michael Flynn. Bossert is currently president of the risk management consulting firm CDS Consulting. He previously served as deputy assistant to the president for homeland security under Bush. Donald Trumps West Wing is shaping up to have multiple power centers. Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and senior adviser Steve Bannon will work as equal partners, according to Trump, and counsellor Kellyanne Conway is also expected to have autonomy. Trumps influential son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will have a direct line to the president as well. Trump has long stoked rivalries among his staff in business and during his presidential campaign. But some critics fear doing so in the White House could sow confusion and slow decision-making. Discussing the appointment of Greenblatt, Trump said he has a history of negotiating substantial, complex transactions on my behalf, and has the expertise to bring parties together and build consensus on difficult and sensitive topics. Trump recently named his other top adviser on Israel, David Friedman, as his pick for US ambassador to Israel. The billionaire-turned-president-elect is spending the holidays at his Florida resort, where hes held a steady stream of meetings with senior staffers, advisers and business executives. A number of key posts in his administration remain; his transition team says he will fill those positions in the coming days. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. (JNS) - The Democratic National Convention hosted an imam from an Islamic extremist institution on Sunday. Noman Hussain, imam of ISM Brookfield in Wisconsin, was one of the religious leaders who took part in the convention's "Interfaith Welcome Service." Hussain is a scholar at the Texas-based Qalam Institute, whose officials have advocated "the use of female sex slaves, the killing of adulterers, and incite hatred against Jews and other non-Muslims," according to the Middle East Forum. One of the Qalam Institute's courses, "The Prophetic Code," warns Muslims to strive for "cleanlines... Its always good to keep an eye out for slithery creatures during the blaze of a Texas summertime just ask this police department. The Manor Police Department came across a western diamondback rattlesnake and her 16 babies in a work area at the Sunstate Equipment Company on Highway 290 in Manor, the department posted on its Facebook page on Aug. 26. These snakes should never be handled and should be reported to Animal Control for removal, Manor Police said. 3.5 feet long rattlesnake. Texas Parks and Wildlife suggests that if you were to stumble upon a snake, its best to just leave it alone, especially if youre not sure whether the snake is poisonous or not. There are a lot of legitimate [incidents] where its hiding somewhere and people dont see it, but a lot of bites occur when people are messing with snakes and they shouldnt be, said Paul Crump, a herpetologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife, told KENS 5. Baby rattlesnakes are not more dangerous than adult rattlesnakes, according to the Los Angeles Times. Babies actually have less venom to inject when they bite, University of California Davis conversation biology professor Brian Todd told the Times. But they CAN be more hazardous for a different reason. Younger snakes can be more hazardous because theyre small and hard to see, and because they are born without a rattle, Todd said, according to the LA Times The rattle grows each time the snake sheds its skin, so a baby rattler may not have shed enough times to give a warning before striking. The Manor Police Department told McClatchy News that the mother snake and all her babies were transplanted to a large ranch outside of Hutto, TX and reunited there. Texas Parks and Wildlife says that only 15 of the 105 different species of snakes in Texas are, in fact, poisonous. The 15 are listed here. Australians have ridiculed a Victorian police officer who was captured pepper spraying Melburnians in lockdown, as TikToks imitating the cop go viral. Alarming footage was taken on Wednesday afternoon in Dandenong, in the city's south-east, after police confronted a group of locked-down residents who had decided to exercise together at the same time and place. Some of the walkers were doused in pepper spray while four men were arrested during the organised protest. One of the officers at the brawl has now become the target of a national TikTok trend with many Australians mocking the bizarre moment he began waving his arm around warding off residents with a full can of pepper spray. A police officer on Wednesday (pictured) charges at walkers wielding pepper spray after his colleagues took down a man not wearing a mask. He has since been mocked on TikTok TikTok users have taken it upon themselves to dress up as the officer while spraying household items including deodorant and cleaning products. 'I reckon he's fresh out of the academy,' one woman who shared herself performing the TikTok trend said. 'I wanted to make him feel like its OK to work and dance at the same time.' Another woman filmed herself pretending to spray a shampoo bottle while covering her mouth. Police issued $15,000 in fines following the confrontation on Wednesday afternoon. Videos have now gone viral on TikTok with Australians imitating the pepper spray wielding officer One woman (pictured) is seen pretending to spray a shampoo bottle while she covers her face Confronting footage showed officers taking a man down from behind by the neck amid screams from the crowd that he was simply going for a walk. The man, who was not wearing a mask, was pulled off the road and tackled while other officers scurried to fend off the crowd. Another man had a can of pepper spray pushed into his face and sprayed at near point blank range after shrugging off an officer and walking away. Among those arrested were a a 28-year-old Dandenong man, who was subsequently charged with assaulting police, resisting arrest, failing to state his name and address and breaching the chief health officer directions. A man is taken down by police in Dandenong on Wednesday evening after going for a group walk A 19-year-old Dandenong man was also charged with use threatening words, failing to state his name and address and breaching the chief health officer directions while a 22-year-old Dandenong faces similar charges. All three were released pending summons, but all nine were fined $1,652 each for breaching the stage four lockdown restrictions. Tensions had flared for days in the suburb after a large group of residents decided to start walking at the same time and place. 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. In a narrow decision, the U.S. military's top appeals court has upheld a conviction against former Army Sgt. Robert "Bowe" Bergdahl on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, saying public comments by President Donald Trump and the late Sen. John McCain condemning the soldier did not invalidate his prosecution. The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces handed down a decision Thursday on the sentence, which was delivered in 2017 and has already been upheld at the lower appellate level. All five appellate judges on the case agreed at least in part on the conclusion, but two judges filed partial dissents expressing their dismay at the viciousness with which Bergdahl was treated and the conduct of the leaders in question. Read Next: SecDef Throws Support Behind Medal of Honor for Fallen Hero Alwyn Cashe Bergdahl, who abandoned his post in June 2009 on a deployment to Paktika province, Afghanistan, was subsequently captured by the Taliban and held as a prisoner of war for nearly five years. He was ultimately released and returned to the U.S. through a controversial prisoner exchange involving the release of five Taliban detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. While Bergdahl was received with a celebratory welcome at the White House upon his May 2014 return, public opinion rapidly turned against him as the facts of his disappearance and capture became known. He ultimately pleaded guilty at court-martial to desertion and misbehavior, and was sentenced in Nov. 2017 to a dishonorable discharge, reduction to the grade of private, and forfeiture of $1,000 in salary per month for ten months. At issue in his appeal is whether his fair prosecution was jeopardized by the statements of senior leaders. On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly called Bergdahl "a dirty, rotten traitor;" after he became president, his comments were more reserved, but he pointedly referred back to his previous remarks on the subject. And while Bergahl's case was in the investigation phase in 2015, McCain told a reporter, "If it comes out that [Bergdahl] has no punishment, we're going to have to have a hearing in the Senate Armed Services Committee." These remarks are significant because of a military legal issue known as unlawful command influence. Because Trump is at the top of the military chain of command, remarks he makes might be interpreted as orders by the convening authority and other troops involved in the prosecution process. McCain, as a retired Navy officer and subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, also had the ability to commit actual or apparent UCI, the court found. For Judge Kevin Ohlson, who delivered the opinion of the court, the deciding issue, however, was Bergdahl's decision to file a guilty plea, a step that comes with rigorous evaluation to ensure it is voluntary and not coerced. "Based on Appellant's own words, no impartial observer would conclude that it was the comments made by the President of the United States and/or by the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee that caused Appellant to plead guilty; rather, it was the strength of the Government's evidence that caused him to take that step," Ohlson wrote. He added that Bergdahl was given the chance to withdraw his guilty plea after his legal team raised the issue of apparent unlawful command influence in the case, but declined to do so. "Indeed, it is telling that at his sentencing hearing after his guilty plea, and fully aware of his own case in mitigation, Appellant specifically recognized that he was deserving of punishment and asked to have a dishonorable discharge imposed upon him," Ohlson wrote. The judge also noted that Bergdahl's sentence was not as harsh as it could have been; he received no confinement although he could have gotten a life sentence on the charges to which he pleaded guilty. CAAF's chief judge, Scott Stucky, wrote a brief but poignant partial dissent, saying he favored dismissal of Bergdahl's charges in light of Trump and McCain's remarks. While McCain was within his rights to announce plans for a hearing, he said, he should not have conditioned that hearing on the sentence Bergdahl received. And Trump's comments, he wrote, were "vicious and demeaning" and clearly communicated "One final thing needs to be said," Stucky wrote. "This case is unique in modern American military jurisprudence. Let us hope that we shall not see its like again." Another CAAF judge, John E. Sparks, also said Bergdahl's charges should have been dismissed. "Never in the history of the modern military justice system has there been a case in which the highest level figures, including the Commander in Chief, have sought to publicly demean and defame a specific military accused," Sparks wrote in a lengthy partial dissent. "The vilification of Sergeant Bergdahl before, during, and after his court-martial was unprecedented, hostile, and pernicious in the extreme. It both placed an intolerable strain on the military justice system and denied the accused his due process right to a fair trial." Bergdahl's attorney, Eugene Fidell, told Military.com he planned to continue to press for dismissal of charges. "Yesterday's 3-2 decision validates our objection to President Trump's attack on the military judge and equally unprecedented vilification of Sergeant Bergdahl. It also validates our objection to the late Senator John McCain's threat to hold a hearing if Sergeant Bergdahl were not punished," he said via email. "Importantly, all but one of the judges held that unlawful command influence can be committed by a sitting president. We believe the two dissenting judges, who included the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, got the rest of the case right." -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. Related: Bowe Bergdahl Seeking New Trial or Clemency Due to Trump Comments For most of her life, Noreen Khan-Mayberry has felt pressure to pick a side. Her father is Indian-Pakistani, her late mother was Haitian. If she chose one ethnic group over the other, shed be denying a big part of who she is. That never seemed right. So when her husband, Chris Mayberry, who is Black American, told her a few years ago about a politician named Kamala Harris, who is also of Indian and Black Caribbean heritage, Khan-Mayberry felt like there was someone in the world who walked in her shoes. Courtesy Kamala Harris I was never denied by either part of my heritage. My South Asian family accepted me, and my Black family accepted me. But I always felt different, said Khan-Mayberry, a Ph.D. space toxicologist and author known as The Tox Doc. Earlier this month, Harris accepted the Democratic vice presidential nomination and became the first Black woman and Asian American on a major-party ticket. Her multiracial heritage has taken center stage. (Harris parents, Shyamala and Donald Harris, met at the University of California, Berkeley during the civil rights movement.) Ironically, Khan-Mayberry and Harris have such parallel lives that it seems like their paths could have intersected. They both have popular Hindi-Urdu first names. They both attended historically black colleges Harris at Howard University and Khan-Mayberry at Xavier and Texas Southern universities. They both pledged the same African-American sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, the oldest historically Black sorority. Both are Black Caribbean and South Asian. And they both have faced a world that sees them as one race or the other, but rarely of both. Though my own parents are Black American, I have friends who are multiracial and others who have multiracial children. I never have understood why this great nation seems to force them to pick a side. In 2000, the U.S. Census for the first time allowed Americans to pick more than one racial category. Before that, many multiracial people were counted in only one category. Also, the population identifying with two or more races is projected to be the fastest-growing racial/ethnic group between 2010 and 2020, with a 36 percent increase. Khan-Mayberry was often teased for having an Indian father, she said, and was questioned about her Blackness because of it. As she grew into adulthood, she knew life would have been easier had she dropped her maiden name, Khan, all together. Hadley Chittum, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer I am Black Haitian, Indian and Pakistani. Im proud of that, she said. But everywhere I go, Im mistaken for something. It can make you feel like you dont fit in anywhere. In Harris 2019 memoir, The Truths We Hold: An American Journey, she describes herself as a proud American, a daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants. The fact that Harris and Khan-Mayberry are subjected to questions about their heritage is part of the underlying goal of the concept of race, said Vida A. Robertson, the director of the Center for Critical Race Studies and associate professor of English and humanities at the University of Houston-Downtown. Race is a social construct, he said. Its not natural, and its not real. Its goal is to maintain white supremacy and white purity. Its job is to categorize people and put them in their place. The hierarchy goes like this, he said: white, Asian, Latino and Black. Anytime Black touches another race, the default is Black. This is why a white child can only be constructed by two purely white people. Blackness is the great contaminate. So that any race mixed with Black is always Black. Its ridiculous and racist, Robertson said. For that reason, former President Barack Obama, who was born to a white mother and Black father, dealt with endless questioning of his identity but was always identified as Black, never white. Historically, the prevailing criterion for deciding who is Black was the principle of hypodescent, or the one drop rule. It basically meant that anyone with any African ancestry is, simply, Black. To Robertsons point, it was a way to assign racial status with Black people at the bottom. Some 6.2 million U.S. adults or 2.4 percent of the countrys adult population report being two or more races, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of 2018 U.S. Census Bureau data. Of these Americans, 22 percent are white and American Indian, 21 percent are Black and white, 20 percent are white and Asian American, 4 percent are Black and American Indian, and 2 percent are Black and Asian American. About 3 in 10 (31 percent) are some other combination, including 9 percent who select three or more races. According to Pew Research Center, 1 in 5 adults with a multiracial background said they have felt pressure from friends, family or society in general to choose one of the races in their background over another. Multiracial adults with a Black background were among the most likely to say they had felt such pressure to identify as a single race. I attended an all-girl, predominantly white Catholic high school in which the discussion of race came up in history class. One of the students asked the teacher if children of mixed-race parents, namely one Black and one white, would have the appearance of being striped. Like a zebra. I remember glaring at the girl, wondering what reckless adult in her life told her such ridiculousness. But that wasnt an anomaly. VeroniQue Shipley, director of operations at a Houston commercial real estate firm, knows too well the pain of such ignorance. Courtesy photo Though her late mother, Joelle LeSage, was white and a native of France and her father is Black from Ohio, Shipley identifies as a Black woman. She said she was called zebra, Oreo, mixed breed and more growing up in Friendswood. I got tired of explaining who I was, and there was a time I was ashamed, she said. But it wasnt until my mother took me to work one day, and I saw all of the photos of me on her desk. My white mother owned me every day, and she didnt have any shame associated with me. So how dare I have it with her? Both Khan-Mayberry and Shipley say being multiracial is complicated, but they are proud of their heritage. As Ive gotten older, Ive realized its a blessing. Its given me a unique perspective, and its made me strong. I will never deny either of my parents heritage to fit in. Im proud to be biracial, Khan-Mayberry said. Shipley said her mother, who was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver when Shipley was just 15, also instilled in her a love for both her Black and white sides. She even made Shipley a T-shirt with a large Oreo cookie on it and said she could wear it proudly because she was a special treat. She turned a negative nickname into a point of pride. Shes never forgotten that. joy.sewing@chron.com Siddhanta Mishra By Express News Service NEW DELHI: With just 4 per cent occupancy at of the worlds largest COVID-19 facility, the Sardar Patel COVID Care Centre (CCC) in south Delhi, according to the local administration, is serving as a "psychological relief" knowing that there is a backup if number of coronavirus patients in Delhi increases again. For more than a month, the number of positive cases in the national capital has seen a steady decline. Leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party government have also been vocal while addressing the matter saying that the situation in the city is currently under control. Earlier, on June 9, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had said that the government anticipated 5.5 lakh cases by July-end a frightening prospect which, fortunately, the national capital has been able to avoid. Soon after the deputy chief ministers announcement, extra facilities such as banquet halls, hotels and stadiums were identified to be used as extensions for hospitals. But as the numbers continue to decline, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is pushing for unlocking more commercial activities. Hotels, banquet halls and stadiums have been told to start de-linking because the requirement of more hospital beds has gone down. The number of patients are less at the Sardar Patel Covid Care Centre, which is a good thing. Such a big facility was created to cater to Covid patients. Even though cases are lowering, its a relief knowing that the facility can be used if ever the need arises. said South Delhi District Magistrate BM Mishra. He said currently there are 500 patients, which is just 4 per cent of 12,000 the capacity of the centre which was created from scratch on the land given by Radha Soami Satsang Beas Centre in Chhatarpur. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces of the country is currently overlooking the functioning of the Covid facility situated in South Delhi. The facility was inaugarated Over 1K ITBP staffers & other paramilitary forces are taking care of the facility | FILE on July 9 by L-G Anil Baijal. The royal commission described Australia's aged care system as "a shocking tale of neglect". It found "a sad and shocking system that diminishes Australia as a nation". It went so far as to say "many people receiving aged care services have their basic human rights denied". Loading This was the state of affairs months before the pandemic struck. So when the pandemic did arrive, even more of the residents' basic human rights were lost. By Thursday, 373 people had died of the coronavirus in aged care homes. That's about two-thirds of all Australian deaths. On Thursday the Australian Medical Association called for an urgent assessment of every aged care home to help each understand its capacity and to improve care. "Hundreds of elderly Australians have died needlessly, and without family by their side," said the AMA in a submission to the royal commission. "This was in many ways the perfect storm a system already in crisis was hit by a global pandemic." So who is the federal Minister for Aged Care today? It's the very same Richard Colbeck. Indeed, on the day the AMA made its submission, Colbeck was in Canberra giving an account of himself to the Senate. He expressed condolences for the families of the dead, said he was working hard and stated: "I am accountable." He then turned and left the Senate before the opposition could respond. Labor has campaigned daily on the Morrison government's performance on aged care, and the harder it hits Morrison the harder Morrison deflects blame to Victoria. You can see why. Of the 373 deaths in aged care homes as of Thursday, 342 had occurred in Victoria. That's 92 per cent. Loading It doesn't in any way absolve the Morrison government from responsibility aged care is squarely a federal function, not a state one. The federal government is responsible for the funding, regulation, compliance and conditions inside the aged care homes. But it does point to Victoria's catastrophic failure to contain the pandemic. Three. Victoria is unique among the states and territories for its uncontained second-wave virus outbreak. Of the 583 deaths nationwide reported by Friday, 496 occurred in Victoria. That's 85 per cent. The state of knowledge at the moment is that 99 per cent of the second-wave infections stemmed from the failure of hotel quarantine, according to Doherty Institute genomic analysis. Loading Who were the responsible ministers at the beginning of the second-wave outbreak? The Victorian Minister for Health was Jenny Mikakos. But she says she wasn't responsible for managing hotel quarantine, which she has described as a "multi-agency effort". The appointment of private security seems to have been the responsibility of the Minister for Jobs, Martin Pakula. But he says his department was responsible for logistics only. The Health Department was responsible for infection control and health matters, according to Pakula. Whoever it was, the Premier was Daniel Andrews. Andrews convened an inquiry into the hotel quarantine failure. It is still inquiring. It has uncovered a litany of bungles and failures by the private security company guards who were hired to enforce the cordon sanitaire. Some seem to have thought they were on recreation leave, with an optional dating service on offer. But the original sin and central mystery of the affair remains unclear why did the Andrews government make the fatal choice of commissioning private security contractors to run hotel quarantine. Loading The federal government says it offered Defence Force personnel to do the job. Andrews says the offer was never made. The Defence Minister, Linda Reynolds, has produced details to show that it was. This clash of accounts remains unresolved. Andrews and his ministers and officials seem determined to keep this as mysterious as possible. It does not look good. We await the findings of the inquiry. Andrews and his ministers have issued various apologies for the death, suffering and disease they've presided over. Who are the ministers in the relevant Victorian government posts now? The same ones who were there before the outbreak Mikakos, Pakula, Andrews. There is a consistent syndrome here. Whether it's the NSW government, the Victorian government or the federal government, whether the Liberal governments of Berejiklian and Morrison or the Labor government of Andrews. Everyone is sorry. No one is responsible. Ministers preside over catastrophic failure, illness and mass death. And keep their jobs. And their powers. And their privileges. It doesn't matter how glaring the failures of their departments, how many people die as a result. The dead go to their graves. The ministers go back to their jobs. These are not the typical micro scandals of Australian politics rorted expenses, sex with the staff, lying to parliament. All serious but they do not kill the citizenry that governments exist to serve. These have been mostly avoidable deaths. Of dozens, of hundreds of Australians. People with the same rights as members of parliament. The ministers themselves are not personally culpable for the errors in their jurisdictions. Brad Hazzard didn't personally give the disembarkation order to a plague ship. Richard Colbeck didn't personally spread COVID-19 from one aged care home to another. Daniel Andrews and his ministers didn't personally fraternise with travellers under quarantine. Loading Indeed, these ministers have made efforts to fix problems and repair oversights. That's not the point of ministerial responsibility. Ministers represent the authority of the crown. Why is it a big deal to be a minister, to get the lifetime honorific of "the Honourable" in front of your name? It's partly because you get a billion-dollar budget, a department of thousands and godlike powers. But you get control of these only because of the awesome authority of the state, of which a fragment has been entrusted to you. You are accountable for the exercise of that authority by everyone operating it on your behalf. Rudyard Kipling described power without responsibility as "the prerogative of the harlot throughout the ages". That was his contemptuous description of a British press baron, Beaverbrook. Ministers are supposed to wield power with responsibility. "When responsibility for a serious matter can be clearly attached to a particular Minister personally, it is of fundamental importance to the effective operation of responsible government that he or she adhere to the convention of individual responsibility," says the House of Representatives Practice. Canada's House of Commons Procedure and Practice is even clearer: "The principle of individual ministerial responsibility holds that Ministers are accountable not only for their own actions as department heads, but also for the actions of their subordinates; individual ministerial responsibility provides the basis for accountability throughout the system." The Houston Chronicles Live Updates blog documents the latest events in the coronavirus outbreak in the Houston area, the state of Texas and across the U.S. with a focus on health and economic impacts. The Houston Chronicles ongoing coverage is available to subscribers. Subscribe now for full access and to support our work. Total coronavirus cases: 622,496 cases in Texas, including 12,526 deaths. 149,548 in the Houston region, including 2,836 deaths. More than 5.9 million in the U.S., including 181,748 deaths. Click here to see a U.S. map with state-by-state death tolls and the latest coronavirus case counts. More than 24.6 million in the world, with over 835,092 deaths. More than 16.1 million people have recovered. You can view the worldwide totals here. Resources on COVID-19 and Texas' reopening: Use our interactive page to track the spread of cases through Harris County and the rest of Texas. For a detailed look at our state, check out the Chronicle's Texas Coronavirus Map. To get regular updates on our coverage, sign up for our coronavirus newsletter. Latest updates from today: 8 p.m. The statewide total of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 5,331, bringing the total in Texas to 622,496, according to a Chronicle analysis. Another 211 deaths were confirmed Friday, bringing the state's total to 12,526 deaths. In the Houston region, the number of confirmed cases is 149,548, up 1,758 from Thursday.There have been 2,836 deaths in the Houston region, up 19 from Thursday. Statewide, there were 4,422 patients hospitalized for lab-confirmed COVID-19, the tenth straight day with a decline. There are 55,696 total staffed hospital beds, 12,635 beds available and 1,234 ICU beds available. There are 7,028 ventilators available. -Reporter Stephanie Lamm 4 p.m. The U.S. rig count, which has been in a state of freefall since oil markets crashed in March when the pandemic began, held steady over the past week in a growing sign that the drilling sector has hit bottom and is slowly recovering. Energy companies operated 254 oil and gas rigs nationally, the same as last week, according to Baker Hughes, a Houston oil-field services company that has been tracking the onshore rig count since the 1940s. There are 180 oil rigs, down three from last week, and 72 natural gas rigs, up three from last week, as well as two maintenance rigs in operation nationally. Until last week, the rig count had been declining for more than 20 straight weeks, plunging more than 60 percent as the coronavirus pandemic decimated crude demand and forced oil and gas companies to stop drilling. The count bottomed out at 244 rigs this month, well below the bottom of the last oil bust in May 2016, when there were 404 operating rigs nationally. -Reporter Paul Takahashi 2:11 p.m. Ken Carlson, the director of mission and spiritual care at Baylor St. Luke's Hospital, spent 20 years in the military. He sees parallels between his experience there and his work with chaplains who minister to those suffering from COVID-19. Correspondent Lindsay Peyton writes: "These days, to practice social distancing, the group stretches out down a hall. They speak loudly through masks. "And the chaplains ring a bell and say a prayer for each patient who has died the day before. "'Then we start our day taking care of people,' Carlson said. 'Its from the broom pusher to the brain surgeon and everyone in between. We want to take care of everyone.' 1:30 p.m. As university campuses open up for the fall semester and students return, college towns around the country are seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases, reports the Associated Press. That's causing governors and local officials to close down bars. They cite too much partying and not enough social distancing as the cause of the problem. 12:18 p.m. New data show that COVID-19 is trending up among teens, and particularly among Hispanic teenagers, our Andrea Leinfelder writes. From her story: "In data for the nine-county Houston area, COVID-19 cases among people under 20 years old increased 34 percent between April 30 and early August. Most of those cases were in people 15 to 20 years old, said Klotman, citing information that he said came from Eric Boerwinkle, dean of the University of Texas School of Public Health." And it's not just locally. Cases are up for younger people nationwide, busting the myth that COVID-19 primarily impacts older people. 11:31 a.m. The Texas Elections Director says Harris County Clerk cannot send all 2.4 million registered voters in the county mail-in ballot applications, calling it an "abuse of voters' rights". By sending applications to all voters, including many who do not qualify for voting by mail, your office may cause voters to provide false information on the form, Texas Elections Director Keith Ingram wrote in a letter to Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins Thursday. Your action thus raises serious concerns under Texas Election Code." Texas' election laws allow mail-in ballots for those over 65, or who are out of the county, or who have a disability. That latter provision has been the subject of debate regarding the coronavirus pandemic. The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that lack of immunity to the virus alone does not meet the disability standard. But it could be used as a factor to request a mail-in ballot, and county clerks have no duty to confirm a disability. 11:13 a.m. The last time Kingwood resident Eleana Topp was awake, it was March and she had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Two months later, she awakened after spending two months on a ventilator and unconscious. You'll want to read this amazing story from reporter Booke A. Lewis: "'What happened to April? What happened to the rest of May?' she wondered. "The 57-year-old mother of four and devout Catholic didnt get to celebrate Easter, her favorite holiday. She didnt know she had been moved from a hospital in Humble to the medical center near downtown Houston. "She didnt know that her husband, Daniel Topp, and children wondered if she would even make it." 10:37 a.m. Texas will continue to test asymptomatic people who may have been exposed to the coronavirus, despite new CDC guidelines. Texas and Florida are the only Southern states not adhering to the new guidelines, which do not call for tests for those who have exposed to someone who is positive for the virus. "The current Texas guidance recommends testing for all close contacts of a confirmed case because it allows for early case identification among people who are at a higher risk of infection," a spokesman for the Texas Department of State Health Services said in a statement. 10:05 a.m. Country legend Tanya Tucker canceled an appearance at Houston's Heights Theater earlier this year as she postponed a national tour due to the pandemic. Now, she's got a new Houston date but fans, be prepared for a long wait. Tucker will now perform at the Height Theater on Sept. 21, 2021, writes Joey Guerra. 9:57 a.m. Lord & Taylor closed its Houston stores back in the early 2000s, but now the fabled luxury department store chain is closing them all, a victim of changing shopping habits and the coronavirus pandemic, the Associated Press reports. The chain, which has been around for nearly 200 years, will shutter both its 38 remaining stores as well as its website. 9:15 a.m. Two more movie theaters are reopening Friday after months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Movie Tavern theaters at Deerbrook and Willowbrook will open with new safety procedures. Social distancing and masks are required. This comes after Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse announced that it would reopen its LaCenterra Center theater in Katy on Aug. 31. 8:58 a.m. The energy industry in Houston and Texas was already undergoing a digital transformation, in which technology broke rules and rewrote others, but the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated that. Things will never be the same, writes energy report Sergio Chapa: "The coronavirus pandemic and the oil crash it spurred are accelerating a digital transformation that was already underway as oil and gas companies drove to boost efficiency, cut costs and make money at lower commodity prices. Now, with restrictions on travel and social interaction, tools such as drones, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, 5G-enabled sensors and fiber optic networks are allowing energy companies to run field operations from offices in Houston, Paris or London, instead of putting boots on the ground." 8:43 a.m. The Jehovah's Witnesses' door-to-door ministry doesn't necessarily work in a pandemic in which people are urged to social distance, so the denomination has had to get creative with the way it spreads its message. From Chronicle correspondent Lindsay Peyton: "'It made us go back to the old ways of staying in touch,' (denomination member Claudia) Lott said. 'It made us go back to what weve dismissed.' "That meant picking up a phone - or pen and paper. The church already used calls and letters for ministry, but now these old school forms of contact are again becoming the norm, along with texts, emails and Zoom." 8:30 a.m. The statewide total is now at 612,299. Thats an increase of 5,769 cases (0.95%% increase) from yesterday. Texas added 211 newly reported deaths from yesterdays total, for a total of 12,110 statewide (1.8% increase). This is the 51st highest day for newly reported cases and the 19th highest day for newly reported deaths. The state's rolling average for new cases is now at 5,023.9. Houston region count is 147,096, up 1,398 from yesterday (0.96% increase). Harris County added 906 new cases (0.9% increase), and is now at 101,077 cases total. There have been 2,774 deaths in the Houston region, up 48 from yesterday. The positive test rate fell from 15.42% to 13.47%. The rolling average of viral tests is 35,350. Statewide, there were 4,806 patients hospitalized for lab-confirmed COVID-19. There are 54,793 total staffed hospital beds, 12,131 beds available and 1,220 ICU beds available. There are 7,039 ventilators available. - Jordan Rubio A Spring familys fur babies can breathe easy thanks to the firefighters who saved their lives Thursday morning. Spring Fire Departments Engine 73 was first on the scene of a house fire around 6:30 a.m. in the Greengate Place subdivision, said Engine 71 Apparatus Operator Michael Alaniz. Group focuses on regional economic development: Central East Texas Alliance works to grow biomedical presence along route from Houston to Waco It was a car fire in the garage extending to the house, so at that point, their focus was to extinguish that fire and prevent it from extending to the rest of the house, Alaniz said. (Engine) 74 followed soon after themthen we came in. Upon our arrival Engine 71 and Rescue 71 a few minutes after us the fire was mostly extinguished; just a lot of smoke and heat still. The homeowners, already safely outside with their dog, told firefighters that their cats were still in the bedroom. A crew of firefighters, including Alaniz, entered the home and searched the room. We were able to locate three of the four cats, Alaniz said. They were hiding under the bed, behind the dresser, of course scared of us because they dont know whats going on traumatic for them Im sure and we were able to take them outside safely. On HoustonChronicle.com: Scars of Hurricane Laura evident as residents in Louisiana assess storm damage Even after the fire was out, conditions inside the house were smoky, said Station 74 A Shift Captain Tim Weiman. Alaniz said the cats were slightly lethargic when firefighters found them. The carcinogens in the air made it difficult to breathe, but they were still conscious and mobile. There was definitely some smoke inhalation on their part, Alaniz said. Upon the cats being brought outside, Engine 74 Apparatus Operator Mark Hutchison began administering oxygen to two of the felines using oxygen masks specially designed for pets. The Spring Fire Department carries the pet masks on all their engines and trucks, said Alaniz. The masks come in a few different sizes that fit over the entire muzzle of an animals face to provide supplemental oxygen after smoke inhalation. To give them pure oxygen helps them breathe a little better, Hutchison said. In this case, they werent in really bad shape, they were more distressed a little bit of trouble breathing, but not too bad so, it kind of helps them not only breathe better, but calms them down a little bit. The pet oxygen masks have proven successful in life-or-death smoke inhalations during previous fires, Alaniz said. On one scene also with cats we pulled I believe three cats out of a home, Alaniz said. They were all lethargic. All of them were limp when we pulled them out of the house. One of them passed, we werent able to save; but the two other ones, we supplied oxygen to them and we were able to revive them from being knocked-out unconscious to have them awake, breathing and walking around. Three of the four cats at Thursday mornings house fire were safe outside with their owners. But one remained inside the home. Enter Station 74 Firefighter Charles Becker. We went in after the fire was out because they said they were still missing a cat, Becker said. One of the crew who entered the home with Becker was able to locate the fourth cat, which was hiding underneath a couch. Took us moving a couple couches before we found him and then he did not go willingly he tried to run away from us quite a few times, but finally, Becker said, I was able to snag the cat and returned him safely to his family. mfeuk@hcnonline.com Japanese Prime Minister Shizo Abe resigns over health problems, in a bombshell development that will end a record-setting tenure with no clear successor in yet in place. Shinzo Abe, Japans longest-serving prime minister, officially announced that he will step down due to health problems from ulcerative colitis. On Friday, top lawmakers said that he would be doing so, in a bombshell development that will end a record-setting tenure with no clear successor in yet in place. He announced his decision at an emergency session of the ruling Liberal Demoractic party, sources reported. Other lawmakers confirmed the account. The news came hours before Abe was due to give a press conference to address speculation about his health. Tokyo stocks have fallen more than 2%, reversing earlier gains, in the light of this news. Until a succesor is decided, through an election of ruling party lawmakers and member,s Abe will stay in office, Inada, a close Abe ally told reporters. Rumours about Abes possible resignation had intensified after two recent surprise hospital visits for unspecified medical checks, but in recent days, senior government officials had suggested he would serve out the rest of remaining year in office. According to Shinichi Nishikawa, a professor of political science at Meiji University in Tokyo, the decision is a massive surprise. His resignation comes at a time when Japan is facing tough issues, including measures against the coronavirus, Nishikawa told AFP.There may be political confusion., he said. Shinzo Abe will be unquiely familiar with this sitution, seeing as he ha already had to step down before, just one year into his first term in2007. He was later diagnosed woth ulcerative colitis, and on returing to offic ein 2012, said thta it was under control with the help of new medication. I see him every day and feel that there is no change in his condition, Yoshihide Suga told reporters, just a few days ago, when rumors started swirling. And on Thursday, Suga told Bloomberg News that Abe would of course be able to serve out the rest of his term, which ends September 2021. Hell be all right, he said. But the health problems appear to have piled on the pressure for Abe, who this week broke the record for the longest uninterrupted stint in office in Japanese history. Initial reports suggest Abe plans to stay in office while a leadership contest is organised and party officials and members vote on his successor. Among the candidates are deputy prime minister Taro Aso who also serves as finance minister and chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga, as well as former and current cabinet ministers. Ehlers Estate, one of Napa Valleys most esteemed and historic wineries, has announced Colangelo & Partners as its agency of record in the United States. The agency will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive communications plan to target key media, trade, and industry influencers. Ehlers Estate has been part of the Napa Valley wine scene since 1886 and this partnership commences a new chapter dedicated to growing and leveraging brand awareness in a market that continues to present new opportunities. Colangelo & Partners will focus the campaign on strategic media and trade relations to increase Ehlers Estate brand visibility as well as support selling opportunities. The activation solidifies the winerys commitment to the domestic market and its continued dedication as a pioneer of Napa Valley wines. Ehlers Estate joins a growing roster of prestigious California accounts at the agency including Charles Krug, Far Niente, Larkmead, Long Meadow Ranch, and Louis M. Martini. Laura Diaz Munoz was brought on at Ehlers Estate as Winemaker and General Manager in 2018. Educated in Madrid and trained in various wine regions around the world, Laura ultimately landed in Napa Valley where she has been making wine for over ten years. For her, winemaking is a process of discovery, where minimal intervention is done in the cellar but the process of understanding the needs of each individual vine in the vineyard never ends. My greatest aspiration is to make wines that are reflective of the unique fruit and mineral character of the Ehlers Estate vineyard, with long finishes and distinct textures that are memorable on the palate, says Laura. Were excited to amplify the awareness around these wines and the compelling Ehlers Estate story through our partnership with Colangelo & Partners. Were thrilled to add Ehlers Estate to our portfolio, says Gino Colangelo, president of Colangelo & Partners. It is a privilege and a huge responsibility to work with such a prestigious and historic property, to tell their story, and help achieve their communications goals. About Ehlers Estate Ehlers Estate is a picturesque 42-acre vineyard with a stone barn winery dating back to 1886. The original winery was established by Bernard Ehlers. Today, the winery is owned by the Leducq Foundation, a trust established by Jean and Sylviane Leducq in 1996. The Leducqs came to the Napa Valley from France in search of a contiguous estate to create a winemaking legacy much like the great chateaux of Bordeaux. The mission of the Leducq Foundation is to improve human health through international efforts to combat cardiovascular disease and stroke. Proceeds from tasting fees and sales of Ehlers Estate wine help support the Leducq Foundations international cardiovascular research programs. The Leducq Foundation is committed to establishing Ehlers Estate as one of Napa Valleys greatest estates, where the farming and winemaking are always top priority. The vineyard is divided into five main blocks (based primarily on soil type) and 25 sub-blocks. It has six different clones of Cabernet Sauvignon planted on multiple rootstocks, seven sub-blocks of Merlot, four of Cabernet Franc, two of Sauvignon Blanc, and a block of Petit Verdot. The vineyards northern Napa Valley microclimate is defined by cool fog in the mornings, burnt off by bright, full sun at mid-day, and breezes in the afternoon to ensure slow, steady, and even ripening for the grapes. About Colangelo & Partners Colangelo & Partners specializes in premium food, wine, and spirits brands, and has long established relationships with the key press that drive these business categories and help determine the industry leaders. Agency principals have years of experience in retail and distribution as well as communications, a rare combination that gives Colangelo & Partners invaluable insights into consumer purchasing behavior. The agency focuses on 'closing the loop' between creative communications programs, distribution, promotion, publicity, and the consumer in order to maximize the efficiency of its communications programs and deliver measurable results. http://www.colangelopr.com/ RTHK: Australia would consider taking mosque gunman back Australias prime minister said on Friday he was open to allowing an Australian who slaughtered 51 worshipers at two New Zealand mosques to serve his life sentence in his homeland, but the victims wishes were paramount in any decision. Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 29, was sentenced on Thursday to life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to the Christchurch massacre in March last year. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said while no official request had been made by New Zealand authorities for Australia to take Tarrant back, the Australian government was open to such a proposal. Im pleased that that terrorist will never be released anywhere ever again, Morrison said. Well have an open discussion and look at the issues around this. Most of all, were concerned about what the views of the families would be for those affected, and we want to do the right thing by them, he added. New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is among the most vocal proponents for Australia taking responsibility for imprisoning Tarrant and taking the cost off New Zealanders. Tarrant is the first person to be denied a possibility of parole in New Zealand, and he has to be kept under enhanced security for his own safety. Peters said lawmakers could only consider making a request to Australia since Tarrant was sentenced. Given this unprecedented circumstance and all the regard to the cost of looking after the victims in our country who survived and their families and also the 50 million New Zealand dollar plus (US$33 million) downstream in real terms of providing safety for this terrorist, then the sound, reasonable, logical thing to do would be to ask Australia to step up, Peters told Nine Network television. Peters said sending Tarrant back could require the parliaments of both countries to pass special laws because the near-neighbors do not have a legal framework for prisoner transfers. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said he would take legal advice on whether Tarrant might become eligible for parole if he entered Australias prison system. Wed have to look at what happened in terms of parole or the way in which our legal system would work here, Dutton said. First priority is to keep him in jail for the rest of his life, and well work very closely with New Zealand on any request that they provide, Dutton added. New Zealand has criticized Dutton for deporting increasing numbers of New Zealander criminals once they have been released from Australian prisons, accusing the minister of exporting Australia's problems. Some criminals have lived in Australia since childhood and have no family or social networks in their homeland. The New Zealand government argues that Australia should take responsibility for them turning to crime. (AP) This story has been published on: 2020-08-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. (JNS) - Due to global coronavirus pandemic, this year's CAMERA (Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis) student conference was held via Zoom, teaching students how to effectively combat anti-Israel and biased propaganda on college campuses and online. Unable to attend the typical five-day, in-person training session in Boston, more than 100 students from 66 universities in North America, the United Kingdom and Israel joined together virtually earlier this month, representing CAMERA's largest training to date. The students participated in online sessions with experts in... Islamabad, Aug 28 : Virgin Atlantic will start direct flights to Pakistan from December this year, the British airline announced. Direct flights will be flown from Heathrow Airport to both Islamabad and Lahore, Dawn news quoted the airline as saying in a statement on Thursday. Additionally, the airline will operate direct flights to Islamabad from Manchester Airport. Bookings will start from September, it added. The announcement comes after the British Airways (BA) sought permission from Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) to operate flights to Lahore. Earlier this week, a team of experts from the airline had visited Allama Iqbal International Airport to review arrangements made by the airport management. The British flag started flights to Islamabad this month, which had been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. BA had resumed flights to Pakistan in 2019, after an 11-year hiatus. The airline had suspended services to Pakistan in September 2008 in the wake of the Marriott Hotel bombing in Islamabad. Billy the Philly, a 5-year-old bull terrier from Philadelphia, risked his life in January to save his owners from armed robbers. Months later, he is being honored for valor by his home states veterinary association. On Aug. 14, Billy was named as the 2020 recipient of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Associations Wodan Animal Hero Award. The veterinary associations executive director, Jennifer Keeler, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that Billy was chosen because his story captured the spirit of the award. We give a lot of awards to very deserving service dogs, Keeler explained, but the whole committee was touched that this was just a dog who loves his owner He was not trained. Instinct kicked in. In the early hours of Jan. 14, engineering student Felipe Sinisterra, 25, and his girlfriend, 23-year-old Natalia Gomez, were out walking Billy near their West Philadelphia residence; Sinisterra had just finished a night shift at the sushi restaurant where he worked. The couple were approached by armed robbers on the street. Sinisterra handed over his phone, but Billy, agitated, began barking. The thieves panicked, opened fire, and shot the protective bull terrier in the chest. Nearby officers rushed to the scene and provided the young couple with a police escort to Pennsylvanias Ryan Veterinary Hospital, Penn Live reported. Billy was in a bad way; the bullet had ripped through his heart, left lung, diaphragm, liver, stomach, and spleen. After two complex lifesaving surgeries and several weeks at the vet clinics ICU, and contribution from a team of 30 staff, a bill of over $48,000 had amassed. Sinisterra and Gomez touched the hearts of Billys medical team by visiting their pup in the ICU every single day, despite battling with the uncertainty of how they would afford the medical expenses. The Penn Vet veterinary clinic and treatment facility in Philadelphia, Pa. (Screenshot/Google Maps) By this time, however, Sinisterras community had caught wind of Billys bravery, and donations started pouring in. Contributions to a GoFundMe drive, combined with Penn Vets Good Samaritan Fund and gifts from individual donors, eventually paid Billys vet bill in full. Sinisterras heartfelt GoFundMe campaign alone raised over $27,000. Billy, a strong young pup, was given a good prognosis despite his injuries and eventually made a full recovery. To have his best friend back by his side was an immeasurable feeling, said Sinisterra. The 25-year-old, who received Billy as a birthday gift from his grandmother in 2015, accepted the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Associations Wodan Animal Hero Award on Billys behalf via a virtual ceremony. He credited Billys veterinary team for their expertise and for ensuring the brave dog lived to experience his accolade. Martin Hackett, a spokesperson for Penns vet school and hospital, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that Penn Vet staffers were thrilled for Billy, and for his owners. Their very special relationship is a triumphant, heartwarming example of the potency of the animal-human bond, Hackett explained. And we couldnt be more fulfilled knowing that Billy and Mr. Sinisterra have a long, inseparable, and happy relationship ahead of them. Sinisterra suffered a setback when he lost his restaurant job in March, owing to cutbacks amid the pandemic shutdown. But moving to his mothers home in northern Pennsylvania, he admitted, has been respite for his country-loving pup. Billy now has the opportunity of enjoying the green areas, he reflected. He is recovered now, almost completely. He has a lot of energy. Billy seems proud since his ordeal, Sinisterra ventured, puffing out his chest and perking his ears skyward. I think he knows now hes more the center of attention, he joked, adding, I am so grateful for this miracle. Im so fortunate to have him with me. The Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Associations Wodan Animal Hero Award, inaugurated in 2001, was so named for its first recipient: a Harrisburg police dog that apprehended an armed suspect despite sustaining four gunshot wounds. Billy, in receiving his award, joins a succession of animal heroes such as a group of search-and-rescue dogs from Ground Zero after 9/11, and an off-duty police K-9 that protected his own family during a severe tornado. We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc By Express News Service VELLORE: A 51-year-old medical staff employed with the Central Prison in Vellore died after testing positive for Covid on Wednesday. However, officials noted that the death was caused by heart attack. The deceased, served as an assistant male nurse in the prison. His test result came out to be positive on August 20, post which, he was admitted to Government Vellore Medical College Hospital (GVMCH), wherefrom he was shifted to the Covid Care Centre at Thanthai Periyar Government Engineering College, where he died on Wednesday. He had diabetes and hypertension and was asymptomatic despite testing positive for the virus and the death was caused by heart attack, T Manivannan, deputy director of Health Services, said on Thursday. Following the death of the male nurse, a special fever camp was arranged in the Central Prison to test the other staff. As many as 150 samples were collected and the results are yet to be announced. Two prisoners, who were arrested in a POCSO case also tested positive in the prison, sources said. They are being quarantined in the prison premises. The authorities are contemplating whether to shift them to a Covid-isolation treatment ward. If they do, escorting the prisoners would be quite a task. So, a final decision is not taken yet, sources added. Jaipur, Aug 28 : On the call given by the All India Congress Committee, Rajasthan Congress workers staged a sit-in at the Malviya National Institute of Technology in Jaipur on Friday, demanding postponement of JEE-NEET exams in the country in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Former Rajasthan PCC president and deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot also reached the 'dharna' site and said that the central government should reconsider its decision to organise the exams as it endangers lives of thousands of students and their families. Addressing the protests, he said, "Congress party across the country, along with NSUI, are holding 'dharnas' to express our sensitivity over the issue as COVID-19 cases are increasing each day and despite this rise, the students are being called to take the exams. Those students who are supposed to come to take the tests shall face many challenges as there are no transport modes available and staying in hotels is also a tough decision in wake of COVID challenges. How shall they pass through the containment zones to reach their exam centres?" he questioned. "We want the Union government to reconsider the issue," he added. Those who marked their presence in the protests included state minister Pratap Singh Khachriyawas, Prasadilal Meena, MLA Rakesh Pareek and other Congress leaders. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Republicans cobbled together a lineup of Black speakers who observed the etiquette governing Black behavior when in the presence of a White conservative audience: Come across as agreeable and nonthreatening, soft-pedal racism, and paint President Trump as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in disguise. Bless their hearts. The GOP convention, through a tissue of lies, sought to sell the Trump administration as a thing of beauty. It was tantamount to putting lipstick on a pig. New public toilets recently installed in two Tokyo parks are spacious and pristine a welcome sight for any passer-by in need of relief. The only catch: the walls are entirely made of transparent glass. But users do not need to worry about going about their business in full view of those around. The toilets are made of coloured smart glass which is entirely see-through up until the moment the door is locked, at which point the walls turn instantly opaque. Designers say the toilets are meant to allow users to check the facilities are clean and unoccupied before entering. They got a mixed reaction from passers-by. "It's really cool but I felt uneasy using it, tourist Arisa Komori told Reuters. "I use public bathrooms a lot. You can see straightaway that there aren't any suspicious people lurking in the toilets, so I appreciate that I feel safer about letting my children use the toilets on their own and wait for them outside, added Chieri Kurokawa, a Tokyo resident. The toilets were installed as part of the "Tokyo Toilet Project", which aims to reinvent public toilets as cleaner and safer facilities. The Nippon Foundation, the non-profit group behind the project, says it hopes the new transparent toilets are the first of many. "I would like people to rethink the concept of public toilets and how they should appear, Nippon Foundation programme director Hayato Hanaoka told Reuters. I hope this Tokyo Toilet project will be a model for the rest of Japan and around the world." Princess Diana's sudden, tragic death immensely shocked the world. However, unknown to many, she left a mysterious message that remains unresolved. On Aug. 31, 1997, Princess Diana died in a traffic collision along with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and the driver of the car, Henri Paul. The investigation concluded that Paul's gross negligence due to paparazzi tailing the car caused the tragic accident. Although the case has been closed for years now, some people still remain curious about the Princess of Wales due to the mysterious message she left. Princess Diana embraced a new level of freedom one year after she finalized her divorce from Prince Charles. She even used her time to the fullest, as she took her sons Prince William and Prince Harry to the French Riviera at St Tropez in August 1997. What was supposed to be a family time for the mother turned into chaos after a nearby paparazzi heavily photographed them. In the 2007 book of royal expert Howard Hodgson, "Charles - The man who will be King," he discussed how Princess Diana addressed the lack of privacy. She even left the media with a great mystery. "Three days after her arrival and for reasons best known to the Princess, she decided to take matters into her own hands and approach the press," Hodgson recalled. "She jumped into a small motorboat and made for the media boats stationed some way away." Per the royal expert, the Princess of Wales held an "impromptu press conference at sea" where she revealed that Prince William and Prince Harry urged her to live overseas just to get away from the prying eyes of the public. She did not directly demand greater privacy, though. Howeverm she made it clear to the paparazzi that she needed to be protective of his boys. Before she ended the sudden talk with the media, Princess Diana left them clueless when she said: "But you are going to get a big surprise with the next thing I do." In the same biography, Hodgson commented on how people would never know what she meant since she already succumbed. Princess Diana Plotted the First Royal Exit? Before the event happened and a month before her death, The Irish Times already speculated that Princess Diana could have been planning to leaved the country to follow her sons' desire to keep her out of the spotlight. Surprisingly, Prince Charles was planning to host a lavish 50th birthday party for Camilla Parker-Bowles at Highgrove in a few weeks at the time. Since the royal princess often blamed the Prince of Wales' affair with Camilla as the cause of their separation, she allegedly had one eye on the event. This caused more rumors to emerge about how Princess Diana planned to ruin it by revealing her bombshell exit on the same day as the party. The Irish Times, therefore, suggested that Diana seemed to have planned to release the news that she would leave on Camilla's special occasion. Nonetheless, Princess Diana complicated the mystery by releasing a statement through Kensington Palace denying that she gave an exclusive interview to the reporters. "Her purpose in talking to some journalists was merely to inquire how long they intended to remain in the South of France as the oppressive media presence was causing great distress to all the children. There was no discussion of the possibility of any statement being issued in the future," the statement read. Nevertheless, the photographs which caught her jumping on the same boat as the paparazzi already showed that Princess Diana, indeed, hinted about her possible exit. By the time of her death, Princess Diana's mysterious "surprise" remained unanswered. READ MORE: Royal Scandal: Did Prince Charles Plan Princess Diana's Death? The US has pressured allies to drop Huawei from its 5G infrastructure on security fears which Beijing says are groundless French operator Bouygues Telecom said Thursday it will withdraw 3,000 mobile phone antennae by 2028 in "very dense population areas" at the government's behest over purported 5G security issues. "We shall no longer have any Huawei antennae in very dense areas by 2028," said president Olivier Roussat in a conference call to accompany half-yearly results, saying that meant dismantling 3,000 of some 21,500 across the country. "The government has chosen pragmatic management" of the issue "which gives operators time to adapt," said Sylvain Chevallier, telecoms specialiste and associate at Bearing Point consultancy. "But ultimately it is clearthere will no longer be any Huawei" in the French 5G network. The move comes as the United States piles pressure on allies to cut Huawei, world number two in mobile phones and market leader for 5G equipment, from their latest internet infrastructure. Washington alleges Chinese firms are used to spy for Beijing, allegations which China denies. Bouygues Telecom, which does not use Huawei antennae in Paris, will now be unable to use the firm's equipment in Strasbourg, Brest, Toulouse and Rennes, with those cities home to strategic military or cybersecurity installations. In four other unnamed cities Bouygues will be able to carry on using Huawei antennae for 5G until 2023, and until 2025 for another nine cities. In other major population areas the deadline is now 2028. In the 57 percent of the country which is not designated as densely populated, Roussat, who said the timeframe for dismantling was "fairly reasonable in terms of financial impact on our operating results," said in principle Huawei equipment could be used. His firm is negotiating with Paris for financial compensation for the cost of dismantling. Explore further China urges 'fair' treatment after France restricts Huawei 2020 AFP The woman took a Covid test on August 12 and got the positive result on August 15, but did not inform her bosses. Photo posed Gardai are expected to launch a criminal investigation after an outbreak of Covid-19 at a care home where it is alleged that a worker concealed a positive test result from managers and continued working. Yesterday, the Irish Independent revealed that an elderly female resident and a second staff member contracted the virus at the facility, which caters for people with intellectual disabilities. Another four staff members and residents have also been in isolation since early last week when management first learned of the positive test result. The management said none of the infected individuals required hospitalisation and all were recovering well. Read More According to sources, a preliminary enquiry has established that the contact information given at the HSE Covid test centre two weeks ago did not identify the person as a care worker. As a result, the HSE contact tracing system did not automatically contact the care home when the woman's test proved positive three days later. The Irish Independent understands an official complaint will be made to gardai next week following the completion of a preliminary enquiry involving the care management and the HSE. A senior Garda source said under existing regulations and legislation the HSE is obliged "automatically" to refer the matter for criminal investigation. "Such allegations as outlined will automatically be referred to the gardai under existing regulations. One aspect of any investigation would be to establish if there is evidence of an offence of reckless endangerment. Ultimately the DPP would decide what action if any would be taken after receiving the investigation file," the source said. Management at the care facility ordered a lockdown on Monday, August 17, when it was discovered the worker had continued looking after the two residents, including the elderly female, despite being informed of the test result. The worker took the Covid test on Wednesday, August 12. She had been contact traced by the HSE after her son, a meat factory worker, had proved positive for the virus. It is understood the care worker was informed of her positive result three days later, on Saturday 15, while she was working a weekend shift providing full-time care for the two residents of the home, including the elderly lady. Sources have confirmed that management were not informed of the test result and the employee continued working until her shift ended on the Sunday. The issue came to light the following day, Monday 17. Any criminal investigation is likely to try to establish why the individual did not inform her employers of being contacted for a test. The information given to the HSE and the alleged failure to immediately inform managers at the home will also be central to the enquiry. A statement from the care home provider confirmed it "became aware on Monday, August 17 that a staff member" had received a positive test for Covid. The statement added that the families of "all the service users that were exposed to this staff member" have been informed. First things first: I would rather have my teeth drilled every day for a month than write another word about Jerry Falwell Jr. Because of my prior commentary about him, some assumed that I would feel somehow validated by his resignation last week. I do not. Its just sad. Sad because sin is so destructive -- not only for the one who chooses to sin but for everyone else in his or her wake. Theres no joy in it. The story of Falwells tenure with Liberty University, one of the worlds largest and most influential Christian educational institutions, is tragic. Ive had enough tragedy and heartache in 2020 to last me a lifetime. But as a writer tasked with analyzing the intersection of faith, culture, and politics, its nearly impossible to avoid this train wreck. Ive written twice previously about his disastrous example as the leader of a school that holds its faculty and students to high moral and ethical standards. His public rhetoric often exposed a glaring lack of understanding of the biblical worldview; it revealed that Falwells idea of carrying Christianity into the public square is shaped exclusively by political concerns and possesses none of the humility of a life transformed by Christ. Ive called out the Liberty trustees for their failure to guard the schools spiritual integrity and mission by letting Falwell operate completely unchecked for years. They have been far too content with the financial prosperity he delivered in the form of explosive enrollment growth (much of it online) and fundraising, while ignoring the very real cost of his substandard moral leadership. I suppose the latter is harder to see on a spreadsheet. They essentially fiddled while Liberty -- and another pillar of American Christianitys reputation before a lost and dying world -- burned. And yet, in the immediate aftermath of Falwells recent series of bridge too far moments, I find myself disappointed in the Liberty Board of Trustees in a whole new way. They didnt just grossly fail Liberty University; they failed a man under their leadership and authority who was in obvious crises. Lets face it: the red flags concerning his rhetoric, this bizarre relationship with the pool boy turned business partner, and the libertine behavior that Falwell reportedly engages in when in Miami and on his yacht have been there for a long time. And if you and I were seeing them from our homes far away, the folks close to the university surely saw and knew more, and knew it earlier. And yet none of the more than a dozen pastors on the LU Board of Trustees loved Falwell enough to discipline him or remove him from a leadership position with a Christian institution for which he was obviously unequipped. They just let him run -- putting Falwell, his family, and the university at risk. So its not merely that this board is inept as shepherds and guardians of the institution, which they certainly are. Its that those on the board who present themselves as pastors failed miserably in a test of their pastoral integrity and instincts. They didnt love Falwell enough to protect him from himself. They didnt love his family enough to take them out of public spotlight of his position before the moral house of cards collapsed entirely. It would have been an act of mercy, had these fellow believers possessed the courage to deliver it. You know who else was due some love and protection? The faithful and sincere members of the Liberty faculty who had to walk into the classroom each day and face students who were confused and angered by the brazen hypocrisy going on all around them. They had to find ways to keep students eyes on Jesus, while the most prominent face of the school distracted daily from that effort with his poor choices. The trustees failed all of them, as well. And before you parse away their responsibility to Falwell in particular with some seminary argument about the limitations of pastoral responsibility and how these men werent technically Falwells pastor, let me stop you. The standard of accountability called for -- and ignored -- here would apply to those who are merely his brothers in Christ. No special ordination is required to possess the spiritual maturity, love, and wisdom that made the right thing to do for both the individual and the institution glaringly evident for years now. And they were in authority over him in their roles as trustees. Authority equals responsibility, every time. But acting in love, for an institution one has pledged to protect or toward individuals, is often sacrificial. It requires us to say hard things, to experience pushback, or even to lose influence with those in power. Were supposed to do it anyway. Sometimes it might cost us a seat at an increasingly powerful table. Were supposed to do it anyway. The Liberty University Board of Trustees has failed time and again to do their jobs and do them well. For that reason, the resignation of Mr. Falwell is just the first that should be tendered if LU is to thrive under wise, biblically sound leadership going forward. Dana Hall McCain writes about faith, culture and politics for AL.com. Follow her on Twitter @dhmccain for thoughts on these topics and more. Utraula : , Aug 28 (IANS) Just about 10 km from tiny muffasil town of Utraula is Badhya Bhaisayi, where grew up Mohammad Mustaqim Khan, alias Abu Yusuf Khan, an alleged Islamic State operative apprehended by Delhi Police last week. The little hamlet is in Balrampur district of Uttar Pradesh. It has one primary school, a mosque and a soap factory. Just about a kilometre off the Assam Road, a national highway, Badhya Bhaisayi, is otherwise a very peaceful village, where most of the folks have moved on to greener pastures -- either now a metro dweller or is in the Gulf. Image Source: IANS News The story of radicalisation of Mustaqim into IS operative Abu Yusuf began in the Gulf. Mustaqim lived in Gulf from 2006 to 2010, and it is during that time he got influenced by the radical preachers of the terror group ISIS over the YouTube and social media. Prior to 2006, Mustaqim too, like his family and other Badhya villagers, was a follower of Sufi Barelvi sect of Islam. When he returned from the Gulf, he persuaded his family to convert to Ahl-i Hadith, said a villager requesting anonymity. Image Source: IANS News The villagers say they stopped interacting with Mustaqim's family because of the sect change. His old father, Kafil Ahmed Khan, is a farmer who lives in a modest house and owns around 5 acres of land. Half of the land the family tills while the other half is given to vegetable cultivators on partnership. The family mostly grows paddy and wheat or occasionally sugarcane as cash crop as there are sugar mills in the area. Mustaqim has three brothers and four sisters. Two of the brothers live in the Gulf, while three sisters are married. His younger brother, Akib, is a safety engineer, who was employed in Hyderabad and has returned due the lockdown. Akib said: "We don't want to talk on the issue to the media or anyone else." However, he maintained that the family was unaware about Mustaqim's inclination towards the radical group. Mustaqim, used to run a modest shop of cosmetic in Hashimpara -- a small market about two kilometres from his village. His shop is now with another shopkeeper Mujibullah who said: "He used to keep only to himself and would only occasionally talked to others. He was not the social type." Kafil Ahmed Khan, however, has this to say about his son. "He was a Class 9 dropout. He first lived in Raipur. Then after returning from the Gulf he started his work of Plaster of Paris. Image Source: IANS News "One of his work site was in Uttranchal. Once he fell from the terrace and damaged his backbone. He was treated by a leading neuro physician in Lucknow. Following which, we as his family supported him to open the shop in the Hashimpara market." This is when he started buying explosives from a local firecracker manufacturer and started storing it at his house. The firecracker manufacturer was also picked up by the police but later released. Mustaqim alias Abu Yusuf has four children. The family follows strict pardah system. "I did not go to rooms of any children and so did not see what he had stored and he was very strict about religion," the father said. "If I had any knowledge, I would have stopped him as the family has lost everything from prestige to social bonding as people avoid coming to our house now," Kafil Ahmed said. He also claimed that the material recovered from his room was genuine and the police cooperated with them without any prejudice. When asked how Mustaqim reached Delhi? He said that he did not know. Kafil said his nephew was about to get kidney transplant. So Mustaqim went to look after his cousin in Lucknow and boarded a bus from Utraula to Lucknow. However, when he did not reach Kafil's sister an application was given to Dubagga police station in the state capital. Next day he went to Utraula Kotwali for the same, and that is when police came knocking on the door. The father claimed that the policemen who came from Delhi told them that Mustaqim has cooperated with them and given them all the details. He will be sent to jail, they told him. The family has never been to the national capital and will perhaps visit him. The Delhi Police Special Cell arrested Abu Yusuf on August 22 with two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) after an exchange of fire with policemen in central Delhi's Ridge Road area. He was guided and trained by a Pakistani handler Abu Huzaifa on social media, police claimed. The police said that Abu Yusuf Khan was an active IS operative in India since 2015. Huzaifa had even trained him in making IEDs online. Huzaifa was later killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan last year. Abu Yusuf was trained by his IS handlers through social media for the last 4 to 5 years. He was planning a lone wolf attack in a heavy footfall area. "He planned to come to Delhi on Independence Day but couldn't because of heavy security. A terror strike was averted. He also tested the IED in his village in Balrampur," DCP Special Cell P.S. Kushwaha had said. -- Syndicated from IANS Wikipedia has been our saviour during those deadlines for school or college projects. Even though today it is not regarded as the most trusted source, people come to the platform for getting basic information and it still serves a much-needed purpose. Reuters However, a recent scandal surely makes you think that the platform still has numerous flaws that need to be addressed as soon as possible. The Guardian reported a Reddit user named Ultach revealed the discovery of the Scots-language edition of Wikipedia. In case you didnt know, Scots is one of the indigenous languages of Scotland, along with Gaelic. This user showed thousands of entries made in this language that people rarely speak, making it one of the largest repositories one can access to read, for free. This, however, was all done by one American teenager from North Carolina, who doesnt even speak the language. He has single-handedly contributed to around 49 percent of all the entries on the free encyclopedia. The teenager went by the username AmarylisGardner who has been doing this since the age of 12. As 2018 rolled out the then 19-year-old had over 20,000 entries while making over 200,000 edits. Whats worrying is that this content is not even written in the proper language. There are several grammatical errors and in many places, the sentences arent constructed well. This was probably done using an online translator app like Google Translate. And no one noticed it because barely a fraction of the people even used it. Wikipedia MJL, one of the sites admins in a conversation with the Guardian says, "Nobody cared about maintaining [the Scots Wikipedia]. Someone stepped up because no one else did. That person was never given any guidance. Articles ended up being very poorly mistranslated." The kid who did this, was really disappointed with the outcome, shared on Wikipedia, I was only a 12-year-old kid when I started, and sometimes when you start something young, you cant see that the habit youve developed is unhealthy and unhelpful as you get older. He has also revealed that hes received complaints and harassment on social media. Reuters Now Wikipedia is at a crossroads as to what they should do with these broken pieces of text. Scots is an endangered language, many people dont even know it exists. Some recommend completely deleting everything and starting afresh. So some people feel that despite the broken attempts, its good that AmarylisGardner at least tried to contribute to it. Michael Dempster, the director of the Scots Language Centre in Perth told Guardian, "We know that this kid has put in an incredible amount of work, and he has created an editable infrastructure. It's a great resource but it needs people who are literate in Scots to edit it now. It has the potential to be a great online focus for the language in the future." Kansas City Police Fact Check Newspaper On Numbers Game Kansas City Police Department says violent crime decreased since start of Operation LeGend KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department said Tuesday that violent crime decreased since Operation LeGend - the federal task force created to address violent crime - began on July 8. "While we can't say Operation LeGend is the cause of this decrease, there's certainly a correlation," KCPD Chief Richard Smith said. More Deets On Shooter Suspect And Disguised Killing First-degree murder charges announced in Westwood's only recorded homicide Johnson County District Attorney Stephen M. Howe announced murder charges Thursday in the fatal shooting of a 68-year-old grandfather who was shot at a grocery store in Westwood, Kansas, in 2003.Howe said Eugene Clayton Keltner, 40, faces first-degree murder charges in the Aug. Justice After All Court panel allows federal execution of Pamela Butler's killer WASHINGTON - A panel of federal appeals court judges is letting the U.S. government proceed with the planned execution of a man who kidnapped, raped and killed a 10-year-old Kansas City, Kansas girl. The three-judge panel of the U.S. Feds Solve Local Crash 3 men charged in carjacking, high-speed chase that ended in fatal crash Three Kansas City men have been charged in federal court in connection with a carjacking Monday night that led to a high-speed chase and fatal crash.Derrell M. Wade, also known as Derrelle, 19, Curtis R. Daniels, 18, and Michael A. Brown, 18, were charged in a two-count complaint filed in the U.S. Double Killing Postscript KC police identify two victims in deadly East Bottoms shooting KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Police have identified the two men shot and killed in the city's East Bottoms on Tuesday night, August 25. On Wednesday, police announced Jahmiere Green, 18, and Brandon Rainey, 22, were shot inside a gray Honda Accord near N. Montgall and Guinotte Avenues. Police Respond To Crash Pedestrian hit by car Thursday afternoon in Kansas City Kansas City police are investigating after a pedestrian was hit by a car Thursday afternoon.Police were called at 4:40 p.m. to Independence and Indiana avenues.Accident investigators said a silver Hyundai was heading west on Independence Avenue. A pedestrian was on the north side of the street, crossing to the south. Mayor Q Talks Crime, Again How Mayors Are Handling The Crises Facing Their Cities We'll talk to two mayors about the challenges they face in running their cities now. Amid protests for racial justice, the global pandemic, and surging unemployment rates, we'll discuss the way forward at the local level. Guests Quinton Lucas, Democratic mayor of Kansas City, Missouri since 2019. We share this quick roundup of recent stories on local allegations, police action and court decisions as the entire metro prays for cooler heads to prevail on this last weekend of August.Developing . . . WATERLOO REGION An updated public high school schedule will see students study one subject for 10 days in a row, and then study a second subject for the following 10 days. On Friday the Waterloo Region District School Board released an updated high school schedule after receiving feedback from the Ministry of Education. The ministry asked for changes to limit the amount of contact between students, said superintendent Ron DeBoer. Originally, the public board had planned to have students attend one class English class, for example one day, and a second class, such as science, the next day. After hearing from the ministry last weekend, the board changed the schedule. Now, students will be attending one class at school for five days in a row, and then study the same subject remotely from home for the next five schools days. Then, students will study their second subject at school for five days, followed by five days of studying that second subject at home. Although students will have days-long gaps when they arent getting in-class or remote instruction in a subject, they will be doing assignments in both subjects throughout the school week, DeBoer said. The English public and Catholic boards in the region will be running on what the province has called a hybrid model. This means students will be split into two groups or cohorts running on alternating schedules. The public board, for example, has scheduled students in Cohort A to start class in person on Sept. 8, while students in Cohort B will start the first day of school remotely. This allows for smaller in-person class sizes of around 15 students. In addition, the public and Catholic boards will also run on a quadmester calendar, meaning students will take two classes in each of four terms. At the public board, the first quadmester runs from Sept. 8 to Nov. 10, followed by three exam days. The second will run from Nov. 16 to Jan. 29, followed by two exam days. More information about the third and fourth quadmesters will come later. Schools will tell families in the coming days which cohort public school students are in, based on busing schedules. Public school students who opted for distance learning will start school on Sept. 8. The celebration commemorating the anniversary of the 1071 Seljuk victory over Byzantine armies turned into a display of nationalist frenzy, which indicates Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans increasing need to consolidate his support base by expansionist and aggressive foreign policy. The Battle of Manzikert took place 949 year ago. In 1071, the Seljuks, the Ottomans' predecessors, defeated the mainly Greek forces of the Byzantine Empire a victory commemorated in Turkey as the beginning of the gradual Turkification of Anatolia. However, this years celebrations were different. All brouhaha surrounding the occasion were washed with chauvinistic metaphors. Erdogan, accompanied by his wife and his ultranationalist ally Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, took to the stage Aug. 26 to deliver a belligerent speech mainly targeting Greece amid the escalation in the eastern Mediterranean. Aside from his speech, his messages on Twitter were equally belligerent. One of the metaphors Erdogan invoked in a tweet was referring to the concept of Red Apple that is considered as the most important symbol of Turkish nationalism and expansionism. The Red Apple is a symbol of a pan-Turkic movement that aims to unite the Turks in every corner of the globe in order to gain global supremacy. The concept lies at the heart of Turkish expansionism. Erdogans use of this metaphor would have been deemed a casual reference had it not been for Fahrettin Altun, his communication director, reiterating it. In a tweet commemorating the anniversary, Altun wrote, For us, the Red Apple means a great and strong Turkey. It is the sacred march of our nation that made history from Manzikert to July 15 [botched coup attempt in 2016]. The Red Apple is what the entire humanity has longed for from Gibraltar to Hedjaz, and from the Balkans to Asia. In addition, the video clip that has been produced for the occasion by the Directorate of Communications also glorified the Red Apple concept. The clip featured pictures of the Kaaba in Mecca and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, with a frenetic march playing in the background. All this frenzy represents the character and the discourse of the current character of the regime in Turkey: ultranationalism with some Islamic dressing. In Turkey, nationalism, in its essence, has never been exclusive to Islamism. The nationalistic characters of the successive governments before the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) had a secularist component. In 2020, however, Erdogans autocratic regime can be identified with Turkish nationalism that harbors Islamist elements. This constitutes a contrast with the Western medias description of Erdogan as an Islamist. The mounting tensions in the eastern Mediterranean is a reflection of this ideology. Erdogan espouses his ambition in the region with the Blue Homeland doctrine a concept initiated by former secularist naval officers in 2006. He borrowed the doctrine from secularist military elites who call themselves Eurasianists and are known by their avowed hostility toward NATO and the European Union. They advocate that Turkey should take its place in a new axis to be formed with Russia and China. The controversial maritime deal signed with Libyas Tripoli government in November 2019 has been the first step toward the implementation of the Blue Homeland concept. For the advocates of the concept, there is not much to talk about with Greece. At the end of the day, it is a matter of geopolitics and supremacy in the eastern Mediterranean. For retired Gen. Ismail Hakki Pekin, for example, the collision with Greece is ultimately inevitable because Turkey needs to prove its strength, for it is impossible to reach a deal with Greece at the negotiating table. Erdogan gradually adopted a similar belligerent tone with these secularists, and his Manzikert speech was one manifestation of it. He took the occasion to lambast Greece through the ancient memory of Manzikert. He said Greece has failed to learn its lessons from history. We are the real owners of these lands, not the custodians," Erdogan said. He also accused Greece of unwarranted bullying in the Aegean Sea. Erdogan struck a similar tone in an earlier statement snapping at the EUs criticism of Turkeys actions in the eastern Meditarrenean and some EU countries support of Greece. Accusing the bloc of hypocrisy, Erdogan said, Nobody in the world deems the EU as a unity of values and principles anymore. The irony is that there is no mediator or interlocutor in the eastern Mediterranean conflict other than the EU. Indeed, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has recently engaged in shuttle diplomacy to ease the tension. Speaking in Athens Aug. 25, Maas said, The current situation in the eastern Mediterranean is equivalent to playing with fire and warned that every small spark can lead to a catastrophe. It looks like Maas did not achieve much in Athens and Ankara as the conflicting parties are upping the ante through military drills in the contested waters. The region is very combustible indeed, with France joining the joint naval exercises Aug. 26-28, with Greece, Cyprus and Italy. Turkey, in turn, has been conducting military drills and continuing its seismic research in the area. Any collision between Turkeys warships and the Greek and French naval forces may spell the end of NATO, since all of these countries are NATO members. This should not come as a surprise for French President Emmanuel Macron who recently said, "What we are currently experiencing is the brain death of NATO." Turkey is getting increasingly lonely in the brewing eastern Mediterranean maelstrom. In the absence of domestic deterrence, namely a strong opposition, Erdogan with his rising nationalistic temper could care less, as his main focus right now is domestic gains. With his anti-Greek nationalism similar to the anti-Kurdish one Erdogan is self-confident that he can rally a significant section of the Turkish population around his leadership. When it comes to national(ist) matters, the opposition in Turkey is either subdued or neutralized. International diplomatic isolation cannot deter Erdogan either. But a cornered Turkey is a dangerous Turkey Ankara is willing to take significant economic hits and diplomatic losses, and even, in the words of Erdogan last month, to 'sacrifice its entire being,' including lives, to become a regional superpower, Haaretz wrote in an accurate assessment. Moreover, it should never be forgotten that expansionist and aggressive nationalism is a typical foreign policy course that autocratic regimes take when confronted, especially in domestic policy. Turkey having a populist-nationalist leader at the helm who is playing with fire can quickly provide the spark to start a regional fire over the eastern Mediterranean. DGAP Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Announcement on the Board Meeting Resolutions, Supervisory Board Meeting Resolutions, Joint Announcement Issued by the Company and Haier Electronics 28.08.2020 / 20:28 Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Announcement on the Board Meeting Resolutions, Supervisory Board Meeting Resolutions, Joint Announcement Issued by the Company and Haier Electronics Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt, 28 August 2020 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the 'Company', 'Haier Smart Home' or 'HSH', D-Share ISIN CNE1000031C1, A-Share ISIN CNE000000CG9) published following announcements on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in accordance with applicable trading rules of the Shanghai Stock Exchange and applicable PRC laws: 1. L2020-055 Announcement on Resolutions of the 12th Meeting of the Tenth Session of the Board of Directors The Meeting was held by Mr. Liang Haishan, the chairman of the board. The following resolutions have been considered and approved after prudent review of the attending directors: I. The 2020 Interim Report and Its Summary of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. II. Special Report on the Deposit and Actual Use of Raised Funds in the First Half of 2020 of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. For details, please refer to 'L2020-055 Announcement on Resolutions of the 12th Meeting of the Tenth Session of the Board of Directors' published on the Company's website at https://smart-home.haier.com/en/gsgg/. 2. L2020-056 Announcement on Resolutions of the 11th Meeting of the Tenth Session of the Board of Supervisors The Meeting was held by Mr. Wang Peihua, the chairman of the Board of Supervisors. The following resolutions have been considered and approved after prudent review of the attending supervisors: I. Considered and Approved the Report on Review Opinions of the 2020 Interim Report and Its Summary of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. II. Considered and Approved the Special Report on the Deposit and Actual Use of Raised Funds in the First Half of 2020 of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. For details, please refer to the 'L2020-056 Announcement on Resolutions of the 11th Meeting of the Tenth Session of the Board of Supervisors' published on the Company's website at https://smart-home.haier.com/en/gsgg/. 3. Special Report on the Deposit and Actual Use of Raised Funds in the First Half of 2020 For details, please refer to the ' Special Report on the Deposit and Actual Use of Raised Funds in the First Half of 2020' published on the Company's website at https://smart-home.haier.com/en/gsgg/. 4. L2020-057 Announcement on Postponing Reply to the Inquiry Letter from Shanghai Stock Exchange The Company received the Inquiry Letter Regarding Information Disclosure of the Material Asset Purchase cum Related Party Transaction Report from Shanghai Stock Exchange (hereinafter referred to as 'Inquiry Letter') issued by the Shanghai Stock Exchange on August 14, 2020, which requires the Company to respond in writing within five trading days after receiving the Inquiry Letter, to revise the Report on Material Asset Purchase cum Related Party Transaction (Draft), and to fulfill the corresponding information disclosure obligations. On August 21, 2020, the Company disclosed the Announcement on Postponing Reply to the Inquiry Letter from Shanghai Stock Exchange. The Company attached great importance to the Inquiry Letter and immediately organized relevant personnel to respond to the Inquiry Letter. Because some matters involved in the Inquiry Letter still need to be further confirmed and improved, and the relevant intermediary agencies will give their opinions, it is expected that the reply to the Inquiry Letter will not be completed on time. In order to ensure the truthfulness, accuracy and completeness of the reply, after the Company applied to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the Company plans to postpone the announcement of relevant documents for 5 trading days. 5. L2020-058 Indicative Announcement on the Joint Announcement Issued by the Company and Haier Electronics Group Co., Ltd. The Company and HEG (Haier Electronics Group Co., Ltd.) issued a joint announcement (the 'Joint Announcement') regarding the proposed privatization of HEG on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange website (http://www.hkexnews.hk) on 28 August 2020. The main contents of the Joint Announcement include: I. The meeting of exchangeable bondholders approved the EB-to-CB (Exchangeable Bonds-to- Convertible Bonds) Proposal According to the Joint Announcement, the meeting of exchangeable bondholders was held on 28 August 2020 to approve the EB-to-CB Proposal. For the relevant information of the EB-to-CB proposal, please refer to the Extraordinary General Meeting Proposal 28 regarding the updated Proposal of Exchangeable Bonds Issued by the Company through Overseas Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries as disclosed by the company in the Meeting Materials of the Second Extraordinary General Meeting, the First A-Shares Class Meeting, and the First D-Shares Class Meeting of 2020. II. Change of HEG shareholding structure According to the Joint Announcement, FLOURISHING REACH LIMITED (the 'FRL', a wholly-owned overseas subsidiary of the Company) and Haier Shareholdings (Hong Kong) Limited (the 'HS (HK)', another wholly-owned overseas subsidiary of the Company) has entered into a sale and purchase agreement, under which HS (HK) has agreed to sell and FRL has agreed to purchase all the HEG shares (accounting for approximately 31.74% of the issued HEG shares) held by HS (HK) (the 'Intra-group Transfer'). The Intra-group Transfer does not affect the offer terms of the privatization proposal of HEG, and the Company will continue to directly and indirectly hold approximately 45.68% of the issued share capital of HEG upon completion of the Intra-group Transfer. The Intra-group Transfer has been approved at the 10th meeting of the tenth Session of the Board of Directors of the Company. For more details, please refer to Resolution 44 of the Announcement on the Resolutions of the 10th Meeting of the tenth Session of the Board of Directors of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. disclosed on the Company's website. For more information regarding the Joint Announcement please refer to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange website http://www.hkexnews.hk. 28.08.2020 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de SHELTON United Illuminating announced Friday that it is expanding its restoration effort as crews encounter extensive damage in the areas hardest hit by Thursdays storm. As of 2 p.m. Friday, 546 (2.93 percent) of the 18,632 UI customers cut off by the storm in Shelton are without power. UI officials said the vast majority of the outages were concentrated in Shelton, Hamden, North Haven, New Haven and North Branford. UI officials on Friday said that there will be nearly 600 line and tree workers, damage assessors and other field personnel working to restore power to approximately 13,000 of its overall customers who were still without service as of noon Friday. Most of those should be back on by Friday evening, or Saturday at the latest, UI officials said. The exception will be customers in areas where damage is so severe that crews will have to rebuild the electric system. They expected those customers to be restored by Monday. UI President and CEO Tony Marone, who joined Governor Ned Lamont, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and other officials at a news conference Friday morning, said the devastation in those communities is severe and highly concentrated. During the day today, well bring the number of outages down significantly, but there are parts of the system where the damage is really extensive, so well need to rebuild the infrastructure in those areas. That will likely take a day or two, Marone said Friday. We have all the resources we need and, considering the limited area of focus, weve got as many crews as can safely work, especially in a COVID environment. At the news conference, both Lamont and Blumenthal praised UIs efforts. UI has impressed me because theyve had smart meters in place going back a decade, said Lamont. They can remotely see where the damage is. They can remotely see whose lights are on and whose lights are not on, so they can target the resources where they need to be. Blumenthal said: Ive been heartened and encouraged by what Ive heard from UI. They seem to have been prepared and they are on the job and working to get the power back. UI reiterated that customers should stay far from downed wires, which can be live and dangerous even if they show no signs of being energized. Customers are advised to keep kids and pets inside, and never drive over a downed wire. Always report any downed wires to UI at 800-722-5584. To report an outage, visit uinet.com or call 800-722-5584. Customers can also report outages using the companys new mobile app, available from the Apple Store and Google Play. Or, they can report outages via UIs mobile alerts system: text OUT to 839-884. Registration is required. Sign up for free Outage Alerts at uinet.com to be notified by text, email or phone when you lose service and for restoration updates. Or sign up for free text alerts by texting REG to 839-884. brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Prosecutors in Washington DC have accused shopping service Instacart of pocketing tips that customers believed were going to the delivery team. Demand for Instacart's services soared during the pandemic, with the San Francisco-based start-up announcing in April that it had hired 300,000 extra workers, and the company becoming profitable for the first time since its founding in 2012. Yet the attorney general of Washington DC, Karl Racine, on Thursday alleged that this was in part due to short-changing the delivery workers. He accused Instacart of violating DC tax law, and failing to collect 'hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales taxes.' Instacart uses gig-economy delivery workers who shop for consumers at supermarkets The San Francisco-based firm has been accused of short-changing the delivery teams Racine said the company listed a 10 per cent 'service fee' for delivery services on its website, and customers believed they were providing a tip for drivers, as the percentage could be adjusted according to what the customer desired to pay. No alternate form of payment to the driver appeared to be available on the site, Racine said, in documents obtained by Fox 5. His office is now suing the company for restitution for consumers, back taxes and interested on taxes owed to DC. One Instacart user described the system as 'sneaky', while another asked Twitter how it worked. Another described Instacart as a 'shady business'. Instacart told DailyMail.com that they were 'disappointed' by Racine's suit, which they described as 'without merit', and hope 'to continue an open dialogue on these matters.' A spokesman said: 'Customer transparency is incredibly important to Instacart. 'In our product, we disclose to customers that tips are always separate from and in addition to any service fees, and we clearly indicate that service fees go towards our operations. 'Additionally, 100 per cent of customer tips always go to Instacart shoppers who are providing an important essential service for customers. 'We believe the accusations made in this complaint are without merit.' One Instacart user, confused by the system, asked Twitter for advice on tipping Another Twitter user described Instacart as having a 'sneaky' fee structure Another Instacart user, responding to Racine's suit, said the company was a 'shady business' Karl Racine, the attorney general of Washington DC, filed the case against Instacart Thursday Racine accused Instacart of misleading users about the tipping system and 'service fee' Instacart's app and website allow you to shop from 30,000 stores across the U.S. and Canada. Instead of having a warehouse for the goods, buyers will select what they want from their local store, and then a 'shopper' will go to the store, collect the produce, and deliver it in their own car. Delivery is free for your first order, and you do not need to become a member. After that same-day delivery starts at $3.99 for orders worth more than $35. However, if you sign up for the $9.99-a-month service, or $99 a year, you will continue to get free delivery for orders of more than $35. It is not the first time that workers for the company have complained about the system. The company changed its tipping policy in April following a report from CNN Business about the practice of 'tip baiting', where customers entice shoppers with tips as large as $50 or more - only to change the tip to zero after the order is completed. The policy change came days after four democratic senators called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the practice. Instacart offers consumer the option of having their groceries delivered from their local store Racine said that Instacart made it seem like the service fee was going to the delivery workers On Thursday The Los Angeles Times published an expose of working conditions for Instacart's delivery teams. Instacart relies on a combination of in-store hourly employees and contractors; in-store shoppers pick groceries, while contractors can choose to pick and deliver or just deliver. In-store employees receive minimum wage and work a maximum of 29 hours a week just under the 30-hour cutoff to qualify for employee healthcare. 'In the early days of Instacart, we were losing money on every single delivery, and we were growing fast,' said Apoorva Mehta, chief executive, in an on-stage interview in 2018. 'That's not a good combination.' Instacart expects veteran shoppers to spend no more than 72 seconds including standing in line at deli or seafood counters to find an item or an appropriate replacement if it's out of stock, sources and documents obtained by the paper said. Before the pandemic, slow shoppers were eventually fired and faster shoppers were assigned more orders, according to two sources, and documents and screenshots detailing company policy and metrics, reviewed by The LA Times. Natalia Montalvo, the company's director of shopper engagement and communications, said the in-store shopper role was built on the premise of 'flexibility, efficiency, innovation and customer service.' She said: 'Efficiency and fulfillment of customer orders in a timely manner is important, but it's just one of many factors we look at in our overall business health and growth.' She said revenue derived from advertising, and partnering with consumer brands, was also vital to the company's success. With the cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) increasing in the city, the district administration has called the current situation a wake-up call for citizens. According to the administration, infection is once again on the rise as people have started organising and attending public gatherings and parties and are not following rules of social distancing. Health officials said that contact tracing in many of the newly detected Covid-19 cases shows that in some instances, family members are turning out to be positive after attending a social function or a private gathering. Gurugram Police, however, said that they have been taking action against people who are organising parties, violating social distancing norms. Deputy commissioner Amit Khatri on Friday, while addressing the media at Mini Secretariat, said, There is an upward trend in the Covid-19 cases in the district. More than 100 new cases are being reported every day, which was not the situation a few weeks back. It is a wake-up call for people to maintain social distancing and avoid private or public gatherings. In Gurugram, 126 new cases were reported on Friday, taking the overall count of infected persons to 11,555. Out of these, at least 973 are active cases, while 10,450 have recovered from the illness. The Covid-19 toll stands at 132, while the fatality rate stand at 1.15%. The growth rate of new infection has climbed up to 1.2%. It has also led a drop in the doubling rate from 104 days earlier to 81 days this week. Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer, said, The positivity rate of the district is maintained at 6.77% but infectivity is increasing, especially among people who are moving out and attending functions or gatherings. In one Large Outbreak Region ( LOR), our team came across a case where 15 people from a family got infected on the same day. To tackle the cases, Yadav, who was also present at the meet, said that the health department will focus upon proper 14-day quarantine of people who have come in contact with infected people. If there is a need to admit people in a Covid Care Centre, we would even do that to break the chain of transmission. Also, more symptomatic cases will be identified, tested and isolated, said Yadav. Gurugram police, on the other hand, said that they have been taking strict action against people who are organising these parties and functions in the present phase of Unlock. Eighty people, who were found partying and drinking in public places, have been arrested till now, said K K Rao, commissioner of police. Special teams have been formed who are keeping check on party venues. Anyone found organising parties will be arrested. Party organisers are on the police radar and the cyber cell is keeping a tab on social media to see if anyone is promoting any page for a night party, said Rao. He also said that people partying in Gurugram are mostly from Delhi and Noida and get in touch with party organisers on social media. People are still posting online advertisements for weekend parties. tech2 News Staff Samsung will host Galaxy Z Fold 2: Unpacked Part 2 event on today. At this event, the company will launch another foldable smartphone: Galaxy Z Fold 2. To recall, the company hosted the Galaxy Unpacked event part 1 on 5 August where it launched Galaxy Note 20 series, Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Watch 3 and Galaxy Tab S7 series. Galaxy Z Fold 2: Unpacked Part 2: How to watch it live Today's event will kick off at 7.30 pm IST. You can watch the livestream by tapping on the link embedded below. Galaxy Z Fold 2 expected price Samsung has already opened pre-orders for the foldable smartphone on its UK website. According to The Verge, the retail website also leaked the pricing of the handset (the prices are now taken down). The report reveals that the Galaxy Z Fold 2 will come in two colour variants-- Mystic Bronze and Mystic Black. In terms of storage, the website reveals that it will come in a 256 GB storage variant only which is likely to be priced at 1,799 (approx Rs 1,75,900). A tipster Max Weinbach suggests that the foldable phone might start shipping on 17 September. Galaxy Z Fold 2 will cost 1,799.00 in the UK. Samsung's pre-order page is already live. Confirms September 17th shipping date and September 18th release. https://t.co/HpkErtigWJ Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) August 27, 2020 Galaxy Z Fold 2 expected specification As per a previous report, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 will have two AMOLED displays. On the exterior, there will be a 6.23-inch punch-hole screen. The device also has a 7.7-inch Super AMOLED primary foldable display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. Samsung had previously confirmed that the upcoming device will be available with ultra-thin-glass for improved durability and a punch-hole for a cleaner design. The triple rear camera setup might comprise 12 MP + 64 MP + 12 MP sensors, while the inner selfie camera is said to be 10 MP. It might draw power from a 4,356 mAh battery that will support 15W wireless charging. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ending the long wait of coastal community, Pratheeksha, the first marine ambulance will be commissioned on Thursday. The marine ambulance built by the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) will be deployed at Vizhinjam, here. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the function.The ambulance built at a cost of `6.08 crore would help in saving the lives of fishermen during accidents at sea. According to the fisheries department, around 30 fishermen lose life due to various accidents in sea annually. Fitted with medical equipment the ambulance can provide critical care to five persons at a time and bed for 10 others. It contains paramedical staff, trained sea rescue squad, portable mortuary and medicines. The vessel is of 23 metres in length, 5.5 metres in width and 3 metres in dept. It uses two 700 HP Scania engines and can achieve a maximum speed of 14 nautical miles per hour. The boat was designed by the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology as per the specifications of Indian Registry of Shipping. Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation provided the crew and safety squad consists of trained fishermen. The marine ambulance project involves the construction of three vessels. The float-out ceremony of two other boats - Prathyasha and Karunya will be held on Thursday. The boats will be commissioned without delay, said fisheries minister, J Mercykutty Amma.The marine ambulance project received an impetus after several lives were lost to cyclone Ockhi in 2017. Apart from government funding, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited contributed H 6 crore and CSL H 2.8 crore. By ANI NEW DELHI: After late actor Sushant Singh Rajput's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty during an interview with a media channel said that he did not have good relations with his family, Rajput's sister Shweta Singh Kirti slammed Chakraborty. In a series of tweets, Shweta Singh Kirti responded to some of the claims by Chakraborty and also said that she "drugged, confined and isolated" him. Citing that Rajput had strained relations with his family, Rhea Chakraborty had on Wednesday during an exclusive interview with a media channel said that the actor returned to Mumbai from Chandigarh after meeting his elder sister within a short time frame in January 2020. Responding to the claim, Shweta tweeted, "Jan (January 2020) was the time when Bhai made an SOS call to Rani Di, he was drugged, confined and isolated. Soon after he reached Chandigarh there were 25 calls made by Rhea in less than 2-3 days time frame. WHY?? What was the urgency to call him back!! #ArrestRheaNow." Jan was the time when Bhai made a SOS call to Rani Di, he was drugged, confined and isolated. Soon after he reached Chandigarh there were 25 calls made by Rhea in less than 2-3 days time frame. WHY??What was the urgency to call him back!! #ArrestRheaNow shweta singh kirti (@shwetasinghkirt) August 27, 2020 Shweta Singh Kirti further claimed that it was due to Rhea's "constant pestering calls" that her "bhai" had left Chandigarh without even meeting her. "The worst part was I didn't even get to meet him coz by the time I reached, Bhai had already left Chandigarh because of the constant pestering calls of Rhea and some work commitments. Family was always there standing rock solid for him!! #JusticeForSushantSinghRajput #Godiswithus," she tweeted. The worst part was I didnt even get to meet him coz by the time I reached, Bhai had already left Chandigarh because of the constant pestering calls of Rhea and some work commitments. Family was always there standing rock solid for him!! #JusticeForSushantSinghRajput #Godiswithus shweta singh kirti (@shwetasinghkirt) August 27, 2020 "I wish Bhai would have never met that girl at all!! Drugging someone without his consent and then convincing him that you are not well, taking him to the psychiatrists... what level of manipulation is this!! How will you ever redeem your soul!!! You are so done!! #ArrestRheaNow," she said in another tweet. I wish Bhai would have never met that girl at all!! Drugging someone without his consent and then convincing him that you are not well, taking him to the psychiatrists... what level of manipulation is this!! How will you ever redeem your soul!!! You are so done!! #ArrestRheaNow shweta singh kirti (@shwetasinghkirt) August 27, 2020 Responding to the 'Mere Dad Ki Maruti' actor's claims that Rajput's family did not love him, Shweta shared screenshots of her flight tickets from America to India which she said were booked because she wanted to meet his brother. "As Rhea mentioned in her interview,We didn't love our brother!! Yeah right, that's why I flew all the way from USA to India in Jan as soon as I got to know Bhai is visiting Chandigarh and is not keeping well. I had to stall my business and leave my kids behind! #Godiswithus," Kirti tweeted. As Rhea mentioned in her interview,We didnt love our brother!! Yeah right, thats why I flew all the way from USA to India in Jan as soon as I got to know Bhai is visiting Chandigarh and is not keeping well. I had to stall my business and leave my kids behind! #Godiswithus pic.twitter.com/LACoJ0iK25 shweta singh kirti (@shwetasinghkirt) August 27, 2020 The ED had on July 31 registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in the late actor's death case after a First Information Report (FIR) was filed by Rajput's father KK Singh against actor Rhea Chakraborty in Bihar on July 28. On August 19, the Supreme Court had asked the probe agency to investigate the case related to the actor's death, while holding that the FIR registered in Patna was legitimate. The agency has 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. Rajput was found dead at his residence on June 14. The third worst COVID-hit state Andhra Pradesh (AP) has set the ball rolling with eight-fold jump in social sector's capital expenditure in the June quarter compared to the corresponding quarter last year. According to the government data, the state's capex on social services stood at Rs 2,417 crore up to June 2020 which was 27 per cent of the budgeted amount. During April-June 2019, the expenditure under this head stood at Rs 303.4 crore which was just 4 per cent of what was pegged and was Rs 1,431.5 crore in the comparable period of the previous fiscal. Overall, its social sector spends (including revenue expenses) with a share of almost 50 per cent in the total budgeted expenditure for FY21 jumped substantially by 83 per cent. The government has mopped up almost 12 per cent of budgeted tax revenues in the first quarter of FY21 compared to 10 per cent in the matching period last year. The social sector spends of the government include expenses related to education, public health, family welfare, sanitation, urban development and other social services. As on June 30, AP had the eleventh highest number of coronavirus cases in the country while the other three southern states Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Karnataka took the second, eighth and nineth spot, respectively. With addition of over 3 lakhs cases since then, AP crossed Delhi to become the third worst hit state while Tamil Nadu retained its grim position. Currently, the top ten states, led by Maharashtra, contribute 80 per cent to overall cases. Meanwhile, in the top ten, the Q1FY21 spending data for only Telangana and Karnataka is available till date. Telangana government managed to spend only 3.4 per cent of the budgeted capex on social services compared to 21.7 per cent while the total spends under this head was around 15 per cent compared to nearly 19 per cent last year. Going by this yardstick, its tax revenue was lower by 8.2 percentage points. Karnataka on the other hand, spent Rs 175.5 crore against Rs 433 crore in FY20. However, these spends jumped almost 4.4 times to Rs 776 crore by July. The state has managed to collect nearly 21 per cent of the budgeted tax amount against 29.3 per cent last year. In the wake of this pandemic and a series of lockdowns, both Centre and states are struggling to make ends meet. AP has also managed to fare better in terms of testing, as the number of tests per million at 65,168 was 2.3 times the national average (as on August 27). The number of tests per million in Tamil Nadu stood at 57,433 while Karnataka and Telangana resported 38,517 and 27,534 tests per million, respectively. Also Read: IndiGo, Tata-backed Vistara and AirAsia take off as SpiceJet, GoAir lose clout Also Read: Employee union files complaint against Accenture for forcefully asking staff to resign Also Read: COVID-19 pandemic: DGCA to put passengers with no masks on no-fly list BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 28 Trend: Various Italian online outlets, in particular Politicamente corretto, L'Opinione, Notizie Geopolitiche, Sicurezza Internazionale, Sardegnagol, Kmetro0, Giornale Diplomatico, published an article by Azerbaijani ambassador to Italy Mammad Ahmadzada entitled "The conflict can be resolved through the restoration of Azerbaijans territorial integrity", Trend reports. In his article, Ahmadzada talks about Armenia's attempts to distort historical realities, its military aggression against Azerbaijan, as well as military provocations of Armenia that began July 12, grave consequences of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the possible ways of its settlement. The diplomat stressed that the world has witnessed that after Armenias military provocations against Azerbaijan on the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border in the direction of Azerbaijans Tovuz district, which began on July 12, the Armenian side, in an attempt to evade responsibility and hide its aggressive actions, decided to resort to various tricks. With the help of its extremist groups, Armenia committed acts of violence and vandalism against Azerbaijani diplomatic representatives and members of the Azerbaijani communities abroad, put pressure on the media, politicians and public figures holding an objective position related to the events and carried out a large-scale disinformation campaign against Azerbaijan, Ahmadzada said. The countries and peoples of our region are well aware of the abilities of the Armenian side to falsify historical events, misappropriate history, culture, music, cuisine and traditions of the region in which we are located, the ambassador wrote. The Armenians represent Armenia as the "first Christian state", misappropriating the history of Caucasian Albania, distorting the events of the World War I and, finally, masking their policy of occupation and aggression against Azerbaijan, bringing to the fore the "principle of self-determination" of the so-called "people of Nagorno-Karabakh", Ahmadzada added. All these historical perversions are aimed at attracting sympathy in relations with the world community, especially with the West, the diplomat said. It is hard to imagine what Armenians in the world would be talking about today without these historical insinuations. Being a small, poor country, Armenia without the access to sea and natural resources, excluded from all regional economic processes, is incapable of being useful in international cooperation, Ahmadzada said. The diplomat cited factual evidence of who is the aggressor in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. 1. Armenia occupied 20 percent of the internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts. 2. The Armenian armed forces are located in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. The line of contact between the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops passes through the occupied Azerbaijani territories. 3. Armenia carried out ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis both in Armenia and in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. During the conflict, 250,000 Azerbaijanis were expelled from Armenia, 50,000 from the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh region and 750,000 from the surrounding districts. Amid high population growth in Azerbaijan, today the number of Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced people is more than 1.2 million people. 4. During the hostilities, the Armenian armed forces committed numerous war crimes against the Azerbaijani civilian population, including the Khojaly genocide. 5. Armenia destroyed Azerbaijani historical and cultural heritage in the occupied territories. It is no coincidence that Aghdam city, one of the seven occupied districts adjacent to the Nagorno-Karabakh region, once the most important economic and cultural center in the region, is now called "Caucasian Hiroshima". 6. Armenia carries out illegal activity in the occupied territories, including illegal resettlement of Armenians from other countries, illegal using of the natural resources in the region, facilitates illegal visits of foreigners to the region, as well as produces drugs on the 7. The documents adopted by numerous international organizations in connection with the conflict, including the UN Security Councils four resolutions recognizing the Nagorno-Karabakh region as part of the Republic of Azerbaijan and calling for the complete, immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the occupying forces from all occupied Azerbaijani territories and the return of refugees and IDPs to their lands are still ignored by Armenia. No matter how the Armenian side tries to hide all these facts by using various groundless arguments, the truth is still the same, the diplomat said. Armenia is the aggressor while Azerbaijan is the victim. Only naive or biased may believe the lies of the Armenian side, which is trying to hide its aggression against Azerbaijan pretending to be poor and long-suffering people. However, ignoring a crime prompts to commit new crimes. Regarding the positions of the parties to the conflict and its fair settlement based on international law, Ahmadzada stressed that Armenia presents the conflict as an ethnic clash between the Armenian minority, that is, the Armenians of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and Azerbaijan. However, the conflict, which began in February 1988 with the aim of separating the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region from Azerbaijan and uniting with Armenia was based and is still based on the idea of "miatsum" (reunification in the Armenian language), which led to the adoption of the resolution of the Supreme Council of the Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) of Armenia on "reunification of Armenia SSR and Nagorno-Karabakh" in 1989, which contradicted the Constitution of the USSR, the diplomat said. After the collapse of the USSR, trying to avoid accusations of violating Azerbaijans territorial integrity, Armenia started to talk about "self-determination of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh" by occupying the Nagorno-Karabakh region by military means and expelling all Azerbaijanis and establishing a puppet regime in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic", not recognized by any country, including Armenia, Ahmadzada added. It is obvious that this conflict has nothing to do with self-determination and is based on Armenia's desire to annex the Azerbaijani territories, the diplomat said. There is not such a concept as people of Nagorno-Karabakh. There is an Armenian community in the Nagorno-Karabakh region that currently resides there and the Azerbaijani community that was ethnically cleansed and forcibly expelled by Armenia. The demand by the Armenian side of the right to self-determination of the Armenians of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, who were subsequently resettled to this territory due to the expulsion of Azerbaijanis, the indigenous inhabitants of the region, is senseless and reveals the true nature of Armenia's aggressive policy," the diplomat said. Ahmadzada stressed that Armenia, ignoring the provisions of the UN Security Councils four resolutions calling for the unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, is trying to impose a fait-accompli on the occupied territories and demands the Nagorno-Karabakh region to be provided with "independence" status in exchange for the withdrawal of its troops from part of the occupied territories. This condition, which violates international law, is in fact the recognition by Armenia of its aggression against Azerbaijan, the diplomat said. At the same time, by focusing on technical issues such as expanding the powers of the OSCE observation mission, Armenia seeks to perpetuate the status quo and avoid the negotiations aimed at the direct settlement of the conflict. Regarding Azerbaijan's position on the settlement of the conflict, Ahmadzada stressed that Azerbaijan is considering the "stage-by-stage" settlement, in which the issue of the final status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region is resolved at the final stage, as the best way out of the current situation. First of all, in case of international guarantees, the focus should be on gradual solution of such tasks as the liberation of the occupied Azerbaijani territories, ensuring the security of the population, restoring transport communications and the return of Azerbaijani IDPs to their places of residence, as well as to the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and then, on the basis of experience of the best models of autonomy in the world, including Italy, determination of the final status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region within Azerbaijans territorial integrity, the diplomat said. Azerbaijan's position is based on international law, the Helsinki Final Act, numerous documents adopted by international organizations, including the four already mentioned resolutions of the UN Security Council, Ahmadzada said. Armenia must understand that in the 21st century it is unacceptable to change the state borders by using force and that the puppet regime created in the occupied Azerbaijani territories will always remain an illegal formation, the result of aggression and racial discrimination, the diplomat added. Therefore, if Armenia is really interested in the settlement of the conflict through negotiations, it would have to abandon maximalist positions, that is, from the "status of independence" or "preservation of the status quo", and accept the option of gradual settlement, the diplomat said. Only if Armenia agrees with the option of gradual settlement, starting with the withdrawal of its troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, we will see that it is ready for peace, Ahmadzada said. The diplomat stressed that the events of April 2016 and the events of July 2020 showed that the current status quo is not a solution to the problem and poses a big threat to the security of the entire region. Azerbaijan is the guarantor of security and peace in the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan's multi-billion dollar energy transport and infrastructure projects have contributed to the development, cooperation, prosperity and stability to the region, the diplomat said. Azerbaijan is not interested in a new war, but will never reconcile with the occupation of its territories and will do everything to restore its territorial integrity, which is absolutely legal. "The actions of the Armenia's current authorities until today have shown that they have not learned lessons from the past and continue the policy of their predecessors, which led to the isolation of this country from regional processes and its socio-economic difficulties, Ahmadzada said. The Armenian people must understand that regardless of who is in power in Armenia, this country has only two choices, namely, lasting peace, integration into regional processes, development and hopeful future, first of all, by withdrawing the Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories or constant tension, isolation, poverty, depopulation with the preservation of the status quo, Ahmadzada added. In any case, the conflict can be resolved by restoring Azerbaijans territorial integrity and there is no other solution," the diplomat said. The article is available through the following links: https://www.politicamentecorretto.com/2020/08/25/ambasciatore-mammad-ahmadzada-la-soluzione-del-conflitto-passa-dal-ripristino-dellintegrita-territoriale-dellazerbaigian/ http://opinione.it/esteri/2020/08/26/mammad-ahmadzada_provocazioni-militari-armenia-contro-azerbaigian-nagorno-karabakh-osce/ https://kmetro0.it/2020/08/26/ambasciatore-mammad-ahmadzada-la-soluzione-del-conflitto-passa-dal-ripristino-dellintegrita-territoriale-dellazerbaigian/ https://www.notiziegeopolitiche.net/azerbaijan-lambasciatore-ahmadzada-la-soluzione-del-conflitto-passa-dal-ripristino-dellintegrita-territoriale/ https://sicurezzainternazionale.luiss.it/2020/08/26/larmenia-lambasciatore-dellazerbaigian-scrive-sicurezza-internazionale/ https://www.sardegnagol.eu/2020/08/26/nagorno-karabakh-lambasciatore-ahmadzada-la-soluzione-del-conflitto-passa-dal-ripristino-dellintegrita-territoriale-dellazerbaigian/ https://www.giornalediplomatico.it/Azerbaigian-amb-Ahmadzada-soluzione-conflitto-con-ripristino-integrita-territoriale.htm Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-27 22:51:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A woman wearing a face mask walks at the Trocadero Palace near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, July 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Prime Minister Jean Castex said France was witnessing "a phase of resurgence of the epidemic," in the wake of the strict confinement imposed between March 17 and May 11. PARIS, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- French Prime Minister Jean Castex on Thursday declared an additional 19 departments, including the Paris region, high-risk zones as "the virus is progressing throughout the territory," forcing authorities to toughen rules and consider all scenarios to contain an eventual second wave of coronavirus cases. The government already classified Paris and the Bouches-du-Rhone area around Marseille as red zones for coronavirus cases on Aug. 14. At a news briefing, Castex warned that France was witnessing "a phase of resurgence of the epidemic," in the wake of the strict confinement imposed between March 17 and May 11. A man wearing a face mask walks on the street in Paris, France, Aug. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) In the red zones where the virus is actively circulating, the vigilance threshold, which indicates the number of infected people per 100,000 inhabitants, exceeds 50 patients, well above the limit of 10, Castex said. The COVID-19 reproduction (R) number is now 1.4, up from 0.77 percent in June when France returned to normalcy. This means that 10 infected people will infect an additional 14 on average. In the coronavirus high risk zones, the authorities have the power to impose localized confinement by limiting travel, restricting public transport and closing non-essential businesses. A further 5,429 patients tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, the highest daily spike in four months, the country's Public Health Public Agency said. A total of 253,587 cases have now been confirmed, while 340 clusters are still active, up by 27 in one day, it added. People wearing masks visit the Montmartre in Paris, France, Aug. 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Citing the deteriorating sanitary indicators, Castex stressed that the government had to intervene fast to control an eventual new outbreak, which French scientists say may overwhelm the country's health system this autumn-winter. "The epidemic can grow exponentially if we do not react now", he said. "The rule is simple: wearing a mask is now compulsory in all closed spaces where several people gather," he added. Teachers in kindergartens, schools, colleges and universities as well as students older than 10 years are now required to wear mask. Furthermore, the wearing of face masks would also be mandatory on the streets of Paris and the neighboring cities, which make up the country's most populated region. The same rule has already been imposed in Marseille and Toulouse. A man walks past a poster reading "This summer I wear a mask when I go out" in Clichy, next to Paris, France, Aug. 4, 2020. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) As part of its prevention plan, the government also aims to bolster the testing capacity to one million tests per week in September from 830,000 currently. "Our first weapon to fight against the spread of the virus is prevention," Castex told reporters, adding that the government was considering "all the scenarios" in case of a new outbreak. "Territorial or nationwide lockdown plans are ready. Our health system is also ready for a new wave of patients. But our objective is to do everything to avoid a new general re-confinement," the prime minister said. "The more activity stops, the more the economic and social crisis increases, the more dramatic the human consequences will be," he said. But by the time Aleman arrived at the U.S. border in July, the administration had launched a pandemic-era policy that sends Nicaraguans directly back to their country without letting them apply for asylum. Seventeen days after crossing into Texas, she was put on a plane back to Managua with more than 100 other Nicaraguans, almost all of them opponents of President Daniel Ortega. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Champignon Brands Inc. (CSE: SHRM) (the Company or Champignon) is expanding its rapid-onset treatment service for major depressive disorder (MDD). Champignon will offer esketamine for the treatment of adults with MDD at its flagship clinic starting in September 2020. Ketamine was declared a breakthrough treatment for depression by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In May 2020, Health Canada approved esketamine for the treatment of MDD. Champignons clinic, the Canadian Rapid Treatment Centre of Excellence (the CRTCE) is Canada's first multidisciplinary community clinic offering rapid-onset treatments for depression and is expected to be the first of its kind to provide this novel treatment for depression in Canada. The CRTCE is located in Mississauga, Ontario. Depression is a leading cause of reduced income in Canada due to workplace disability: adults with MDD lose almost one month of work per year.1 Furthermore, depression, when co-occurring with heart disease, diabetes and other major chronic conditions, can worsen the course of these conditions and raise the risk for premature death.2 The availability of esketamine at the CRTCE provides tremendous opportunity for adults across Canada affected by treatment-resistant depression to receive an effective, well-tolerated treatment. Moreover, this novel treatment works relatively faster than most conventional treatments for depression, commented Dr. Roger McIntyre, Champignons Chief Executive Officer. Esketamine has also been observed to help people with MDD when conventional treatments have been insufficient. This provides hope for people affected by MDD to have their symptoms improved and begin to function better again in their lives. Continuous Disclosure Review As a further update, the Company continues to work with the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) to complete its continuous disclosure review. The review relates to the Company's disclosure obligations since it became a reporting issuer on February 6, 2020, and includes a review of the disclosure surrounding certain recent acquisitions completed by the Company. The Company continues to fully cooperate with the BCSC to assist in completion of the review in a timely fashion. Story continues In connection with the review, on August 26, 2020, the BCSC revoked the cease trade order previously issued against the Company on June 19, 2020, following the filing of business acquisition reports in connection with the acquisitions of Artisan Growers Ltd., Novo Formulations Ltd. and Tassili Life Sciences Corp. Concurrently with the revocation, the BCSC issued a replacement order which will remain in effect pending the filing of an amended material change report in connection with the acquisition of AltMed Capital Corp. Interim Financial Statements The Company also announces it will rely on the blanket relief granted by the Alberta Securities Commission Blanket Order 51-517, Temporary Exemption from Certain Corporate Finance Requirements (BO 51-517), BC Instrument 51-515, Temporary Exemption from Certain Corporate Finance Requirements (BCI 51-515), and Ontario Instrument 51-502, Temporary Exemption from Certain Corporate Finance Requirements (OI 51-502), in respect of the filing of its interim financial statements for the period ending June 30, 2020, including the accompanying managements discussion and analysis and related CEO and CFO certifications (collectively, the Required Filings). The Company is working to complete the Required Filings, and addressed comments raised by the BCSC in the course of their disclosure review, within the time period of the extension. In the interim, all shareholders, including members of the Companys management and other insiders are subject to a cease trade order issued by the BCSC. The Company confirms that since the filing of its interim consolidated financial statements for the period ended March 31, 2020, there have been no material developments other than those disclosed through news releases or through disclosure filings completed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). 1 The effect of bipolar I disorder and major depressive disorder on workforce function McIntyre, R S, MD, FRCPC;Wilkins, K, MSc;Gilmour, H, MA;Soczynska, J K, HBSc;Konarksi, J Z, MSc;M... Chronic Diseases in Canada; 2008; 28, 3 2Economic and humanistic burden associated with noncommunicable diseases among adults with depression and anxiety in the United States. Armbrecht E., Shah A., Schepman P., Shah R., Pappadopulos E., Chambers R., Stephens J., Haider S., McIntyre R. S. J Med Econ. 2020;1-11 ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dr. Roger McIntyre Chief Executive Officer E: info@champignonbrands.com FOR INVESTOR INQUIRIES: Champignon Brands | Storyboard Communications Investor Relations, Toronto, Canada Investor Line: +1 (833) 375-9995 x611 E: champignonbrands@storyboardcommunications.com FOR CHAMPIGNON BRANDS FRENCH INQUIRIES: Remy Scalabrini Maricom Inc. E: rs@maricom.ca T: (888) 585-MARI The CSE and Information Service Provider have not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, statements we make regarding the speed and effectiveness of our treatments are "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", 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. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, events, or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the Company's requirements for additional financing, and the effect of capital market conditions and other factors on capital availability, the Company's limited operating history and lack of historical profits; competition; failure of treatments to provide the expected health benefits; unanticipated side effects; dependence on obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals, including acquiring and renewing federal, provincial, state, municipal, local or other licenses; developments and changes in laws and regulations, including increased regulation of the Companys industries and the capital markets; economic and financial conditions; volatility in the capital markets; engaging in activities that could be later determined to be illegal under domestic or international laws; failure to obtain the necessary shareholder, government or regulatory approvals, including that of the CSE; and failure to retain, secure and maintain key personnel and strategic partnerships including but not limited to executives, researchers, clinicians, customers and suppliers. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other risk factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Companys filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are available at www.sedar.com . There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements. The Company has no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, even if new information becomes available. AIDS awareness ribbons (Photo: Getty Images / Canva Pro) Today, the United Methodist Global AIDS Committee has announced plans to host a series of educational webinars that will be made available at Facebook.com/UMCglobalaidsfund and archived on their website. The webinar series will be held during the following months: October 2020, November 2020, February 2021, April 2021 and June 2021. These webinars will serve to educate, support and advocate for those affected by HIV/AIDS. The webinars will be free, no registration required and will be archived for later viewing. The Rev. Don Messer, moderator of the first panel and a member of the Global AIDS Committee, says: Humanity faces an unprecedented threat from three simultaneous pandemics: HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, and racism. As forums of education and advocacy, these webinars will call Christians to join in God's healing mission and ministry in the world. Suffering, hunger, and poverty increase globally as COVID-19 reveals racial disparities in health and medical services. UNAIDS estimates an additional half million people will die in sub-Saharan Africa in the next year because of the confluence of these three pandemics. Not just Zoom calls, these are calls to action." The United Methodist Global AIDS Committee established by the 2004 General Conference of The United Methodist Church has sought to strengthen the churchs compassionate response to those affected with HIV/AIDs by helping to stem the tide of the pandemic through education and advocacy. Details of the webinar series are below: October 1, 2020, 1:00 p.m. CT COVID-19 and HIV & AIDS Theme: Explore how COVID-19 is impacting the global effort to reduce HIV infections and AIDS deaths. People locked down globally results in people with HIV not getting treatment, preventive medication or testing. People lack food, causing hunger & causing people to stop medications. UNAIDS has estimated that in sub-Sahara Africa an additional 500,000 people could die from AIDS in 2020-21. December 1, 2020, 1:00 p.m. CT: World AIDS Day Worship Service Theme: World AIDS Day Service on Tuesday, December 1, will be available for anyone to access. This is sponsored by the Global AIDS Committee and its member agencies and the Center for Health and Hope. February 1, 2021, 1:00 p.m. CT Racial Disparities, HIV & AIDS Theme: The Dismantling Racism: Pressing on to Freedom initiative is a multi-level effort throughout The United Methodist Church to initiate a sustained and coordinated effort to dismantle racism and promote collective action to work toward racial justice. Racial disparities are abundantly evident regarding HIV and AIDS and health care, HIV education, housing and populations most impacted by AIDS in the United States. April 1, 2021, 1:00 p.m. CT - PrEP, HIV & AIDS Theme: Church leaders generally have been silent, or negative, about promoting PrEP (pre exposure prophylaxis) in combatting HIV. This forum will provide details about the medication globally, as well as a theological basis for Christians to encourage its usage. June 1, 2021, 1:00 p.m. CT Organizing HIV & AIDS Retreats/Camps Theme: Panelists will share their experiences organizing and attending retreats for people living with HIV or AIDS and their caregivers. These events can bring spiritual, emotional, social and psychological support to those living with the virus, as well as joy and affirmation. # # # About the United Methodist Global AIDS Committee The United Methodist Global AIDS Committee (UMGAC) provides resources and training to annual conferences and local churches, engaging them in HIV and AIDS education and advocacy. This work reduces stigma and provides greater opportunity for welcoming all people into the church. The committee, chaired by Bishop Julius Trimble, is comprised of members from the Council of Bishops, Division on Ministries with Young People, General Board of Church and Society, General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Communications and United Methodist Women. Minsk doesn't want to suspend diplomatic dialogue with Kyiv, putting all blame for potential consequences on Ukraine. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry says the responsibility for the freezing of Ukraine-Belarus relations lays solely with the Ukrainian side. That's according to a statement released on the Ministry's website. Belarus' diplomats say "they will always carefully approach cooperation with all neighbors, especially with Ukraine, so as not to explain their mistakes to their people with emotions and geopolitical situation." "Belarus did not put the dialogue with Ukraine on the so-called 'pause'- this is not just pressing a button on the record player. This is concrete damage to the close multifaceted relations of the two neighboring states," the statement says. Read alsoPoland reacts to "Grodno annexation" allegations, condemns Russia's plan for military intervention in BelarusThe Foreign Ministry of Belarus noted that "the responsibility for the possible consequences of the step lies entirely with the Ukrainian side, as well as with its senior foreign policy partners." "On our part, we are ready to continue cooperation at all levels and to the extent that Ukraine and its friendly and fraternal nations are ready for," the ministry concluded. Ukraine's reaction to Lukashenko's moves: background On August 23, President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with Euronews suggested that Alexander Lukashenko hold a revote within a month's period amid unrest across the country caused by public distrust in the election results. In response, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry asked Ukraine to focus on own problems rather than offer advice. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry in turn recommended that Belarus authorities "listen to the public opinion and not reject friendly advice." On August 28, Ukraine's diplomacy said it froze all diplomatic contacts with Belarus. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba explained that relations with the neighbor will come out of a "pause" when they "won't incur any reputational, political or moral losses for Ukraine." Ukraine plans to consider the possibility of imposing sanctions on Belarus, having supported the corresponding declaration released by the European Union. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayans former IT fellow, Arun Balachandran, appeared before the customs on Friday afternoon in Kochi for questioning in the sensational gold smuggling case following reports that he had played an important role in arranging for a flat right outside state secretariat for one of the main accused Swapna Suresh. It is suspected that the location of the flat was aimed at facilitating smooth smuggling operations by creating a perception of proximity to power. Balachandran, who is believed to be close to the former private secretary of the CM, told officials that he was asked to arrange a flat for Swapan Suresh by the former secretary, M Shivashankar, who is under the scanner in the case. 20 persons have been arrested so far and 5 are absconding or are to be extradited in the gold smuggling case, which is being probed by several agencies including the National Investigative Agency (NIA). NIA has claimed that the smuggling network was linked to anti-national activities and possibly terror-funding. The smuggling case has cast a shadow on the left front government in Kerala. The case surfaced on July 5 after 30 KG gold was seized from baggage that arrived from UAE in the name of an official of the UAE consulate in Thiruvananthapuram. Also Read: Kerala secretariat fire: State govt constitutes panel to probe incident Recently, Kerala higher education minister K T Jaleels name, too, got dragged into the matter upon revelation that another consignment to the UAE consulate in Thiruvananthapuram in March weighing more than 4,000 kg had been received by him. Jaleels name also figured prominently in the call list of Swapna Suresh. However, the minister has denied any wrongdoing and said the consignment contained the holy book of Quran which was distributed among people in his constituency. Also Read: Opposition steps up pressure on Pinarayi Vijayan-led govt With the state assembly elections just eight months away, the opposition Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have announced a series of protests seeking the resignation of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is on the back foot due to the gold smuggling case. Man Accused of Attempted Murder, Hate Crime Shouted Black Lives Matter Before Stabbing: Police A black man in Colorado yelled black lives matter while stabbing a white man, according to charging documents. Steve Sinclair, 30, faces first-degree attempted murder and hate crime charges. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by KDVR, Aurora police detectives wrote that a 911 call reported a fight on Alameda Place in Aurora on Tuesday night. When an officer arrived, Sinclair approached him with blood on him while saying black lives matter. Sinclair refused to obey requests to sit on the curb before admitting that he stabbed another man, the officer said. During the conversation, the suspect repeatedly asked the officer if he believed black lives mattered. Sinclair asked the officer and another who had just arrived to shoot him and use a stun gun on him, according to the affidavit. The victim, who was not named, told police that Sinclair shouted black lives matter before stabbing him. The victim was being treated at the hospital for injuries including a collapsed lung. More than one witness saw Sinclair stab the other man, CBS Denver reported, citing court documents. Sinclair was ultimately arrested without incident. A GoFundMe fundraiser set up for the victim says he was stabbed while walking his dog. The man has a 5-month-old child and cannot work for the next 6 weeks because of the injuries he suffered, the organizer stated. Although hospitals and nursing homes could use generators to restore power, they couldnt operate without water, which makes it possible to have air conditioning and to sterilize equipment. Lake Charles, La., Mayor Nic Hunter said that of the citys six water plants, one was pulverized in the storm, two were not working and three were working minimally. In most of the citys buildings, he said water was coming out of the faucet only in a trickle. The Red River Delta will be developed into a major logistics hub in Vietnam At last weeks meeting held by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and other ministries, agencies, and localities, services such as seaports, sea transport, logistics, and aviation were cited as the key sectors for upcoming investment and development by Tran Duy Dong, director general of the MPIs Department for Local and Regional Economy. The affirmation is part of the terms of the socioeconomic development plan and public investment targets of both 2021 and the 2020-2025 period for the Red River Delta region. The region, with Hanoi as the centrepiece, is the hub of politics, culture, and the economy, with Hanoi-Haiphong-Quang Ninh as a development triangle connecting to other economic areas in both the country and overseas. The Red River Delta is also a location where factories of leading manufacturers such as Samsung, LG, Panasonic, and VinFast are based. As a result, developing seaports, logistics, and more in the region is a strategic priority. According to the master plan for seaports for 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050 drafted by the Vietnam National Maritime Bureau, around VND100 trillion ($4.35 billion) is required for seaport infrastructure. The annual volume of goods transported through seaports usually increases by tens of percentage points. Two decades ago only 73 million tonnes were transported by seaports, but the volume rose to 654 million last year, a representative of the bureau said. In the north, Lach Huyen deep-water port in Haiphong, which can receive ships with of 100,000-200,000 tonnes, enabled Vietnam to become a key part of the global supply chain, he added. Thus, in addition to such world-leading corporations in transport and port operations that already have a presence in Vietnam like Hutchison, PSA, DP World, SSA, Maersk, and CMA-CGM, it has become necessary to lure more investment into the sector to increase the potential of terminals and sea ports, along with aiding the evolution of add-on services like loading and unloading, warehouses, logistics, and the road system. Besides this, the road transport system also needs to be developed synchronously to match the increasing demand for logistics and enable the Red River Delta region to become the key logistics centre of Vietnam. According to Decision No.356/QD-TTg from 2013 on the Vietnamese road transport development scheme to 2020 and orientation towards 2030, around 35 projects related to building, upgrading, or expanding national highways have come to fruition, connecting big centres together and linking mountainous provinces with administrative centres, sea ports, and airports. Asserting the result of implementing the socioeconomic development plan for 2016-2020, Tran Duy Dong from the MPI said that the transport system in the region is the best in the country and is constantly improved, providing motivation for growth and added links between the Red River Delta, the key northern economic region, the capital, the northern midlands, and beyond. We should mobilise all resources to realise the plans, while synchronously developing and step-by-step modernising infrastructure system for fast and modern development to make sure that the Red River Delta will become a big centre for logistics, trade, and investment in the country, said Dong. Additionally, health, education and training, and scientific research will also be a focus for the development of the region in the time coming. Tourism will also be developed sustainably to become a key, environmentally friendly economic sector while effectively promoting the traditional cultural values associated with Red River civilisation. The industry will be focused on fields with high productivity and added value, applying science and technology for increased export potential and ability to join global value chains. In the first seven months of the year, socioeconomic development has been hit by the pandemic, but development indicators of the region are still positive. Regional GDP growth fell to 3.74 per cent, but was still higher than the average of the country (1.81 per cent). The index of industrial production of some provinces in the region increased, such as Haiphong (12.8 per cent), Quang Ninh (7.8 per cent), and Hung Yen (6.9 per cent). Total state revenue of the region was VND284.2 trillion ($12.36 billion), equivalent to 36.5 per cent of the countrys total revenue, reaching 52.3 per cent of the yearly estimate. Export turnover was $49.3 billion, accounting for 33.4 per cent of the country, rising by 4.9 per cent on-year. Total registered FDI, meanwhile, was $5.824 billion, equalling 31 per cent of the country, of which Hanoi ranks second nationwide in registered capital ($2.82 billion) and in project numbers (336). Its time I outed myself as being somewhat challenged by what is deemed exemplary feminism these days. For me, it is and will always be about the end goals of equality, inclusivity and respect full stop. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. Credit:CardiBOfficial.com To others, it is about the advancements made to achieve these goals; the heroes of the movement and the manifestation of their emancipatory efforts that are core. And here is where I tend to sometimes go off piste with my sisters, because one persons champion can be anothers disappointment. An example: for every woman applauding a Germaine Greer, there is likely another booing. Recently I have found myself jeering two women who are being heralded as the fresh faces of feminism. Their names are Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, two female rappers responsible for what is arguably the hottest track in the world at this moment, a song known by the acronym WAP. At the time of writing, one version of WAP, the lyrically softened radio edit, has clocked some 140,021,599 views, many I fear from repeated plays by my teenage goddaughter, who is amongst millions of young girls currently lip syncing and dancing to its catchy bass riff. SPRINGFIELD One way or another, the upcoming state primary election will be unlike any other statewide vote in Massachusetts history. Amid a pandemic and high unemployment, and in the shadow of the presidential race, it would be easy for Tuesdays primary to get lost in the shuffle. But officials say turnout may eclipse previous primaries. Although given the woeful participation rates in previous September primaries, it probably would not need to be a very big eclipse. This is the first statewide election that has included a vote-by-mail option. It was approved by the Legislature and ratified by Gov. Charlie Baker in early July as an alternative to people standing in line at the polls and risking exposure to COVID-19. The early indications are that voting by mail has been well received by the states registered voters. Debra OMalley, spokeswoman for Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin, said Galvin does not like to predict turnout until a day or two before an election. But she said there are signs turnout could be up. Its just guesswork, but its looking like an unprecedented election, she said. The biggest change is the vote-by-mail option. Voting by mail has always existed in the form of absentee ballots, employed only by those who were either away or unable to go to the polls. This is the first time that Massachusetts has actively promoted voting by mail to all voters. Galvins office in July sent out more than 1 million applications to registered voters across the state. As of Aug. 21, local voting officials reported the number of ballots filled out and mailed back totaled around 290,000. To put that in perspective, thats about 75% of the total turnout from the 2016 primary, when 386,175 ballots were cast statewide. The 2016 primary is seen as the most comparable to this year because both were held in presidential election years. Springfield Election Commissioner Gladys Oyola said last week that her office had seen around 12,600 requests for vote-by-mail ballots. Total turnout in the September 2016 primary for Springfield was 14,451. I think the amount of vote-by-mail ballots will ensure that that amount is on par with or higher than either state primaries in a presidential election year, she said. Oyola said her staff intend to begin counting mail-in ballots during the day on election day before polls close. She said she doesnt anticipate any problems. OMalley said the high number of requests for ballots for the primary may have something to do with the application itself. When people got their application, there were three check boxes. One was to request a ballot for the primary, one was to request a ballot for the Nov. 3 general election, and the third was for both. OMalley said that may have served to remind people of the primary when they would have tuned it out otherwise. Its only a primary, but its a presidential, so the constant drumbeat of presidential politics is certain to play a factor in turnout, right? Not necessarily. Voter turnout in presidential elections has been significantly higher than in nonpresidential elections. This has been the pattern for at least the last 70 years. But for the September primary in years where there is a president election, the opposite is true. Using Massachusetts election data from the last 10 primaries since 2000, turnout in nonpresidential years tends to be significantly higher than in presidential years. This is likely the result of the fact Massachusetts gubernatorial races are decided in nonpresidential years, and there is a more intensive get-out-the-vote effort in those years. Because all politics is local. In the presidential years of 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016, an average of 599,000 ballots were cast in the September primary, or an average of 11.15% of the states registered voters. In the nonpresidential years of 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018, an average of 892,000 ballots were cast, for a turnout of 21.67% The lowest turnout in terms of percentage of registered voters for any statewide election over the last 20 years either primary or general was September 2016, at 8.84%. Some 386,175 votes were cast in that primary. In terms of the number of ballots cast, the September 2000 primary had the lowest turnout at 360,120. In this years primary, turnout likely will be boosted by several contested races both statewide and regionally. Incumbent Edward Markey is being challenged by U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III for the Democrat nomination for U.S. Senate. One the Republican side, Shiva Ayyadurai is vying against Kevin J. OConnor. The winners of each primary will go head-to-head in November. Markey and Kennedy have each taken to the airwaves for the last several months and the race has attracted national prominence. Kennedy is being endorsed by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, while Markey is endorsed by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In the 1st Congressional District, the race between U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, and Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse has generated national headlines. With no Republicans in the race, the winner of the primary is all but guaranteed to win in November. There are several other contested congressional races in Massachusetts, and contests for the state Legislature. Four of the states nine congressional districts have contests in either the Republican or Democratic primary. In the 4th Congressional District the seat being vacated by Kennedy nine Democrats and two Republicans are each seeking to be their respective partys candidate in the November election. In the state Senate, there are four contested Democratic races and one on the Republican side. In the House, there are 28 contested races among Democrats and four among Republicans. In the 3rd Hampden District, incumbent Nicholas A. Boldyga, R-Southwick, is being challenged by businessman and Agawam City Councilor Dino R. Mercadante. The winner will go up against Democratic challenger Kerry A. OConnor in November. In the 4th Hampden District, Republicans Dan Allie and Kelly W. Pease are competing in the primary. The winner will go up against Democrat Matthew J. Garlo in November. The 4th Hampden District seat has been vacant since May, when state Rep. John Velis, D-Westfield, was elected to represent the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District in the state Senate. The 5th Hampden District race has three candidates on the Democratic ballot: attorney and Holyoke City Councilor David K. Bartley; Patrick Beaudry, public affairs manager for the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission; and Patricia Duffy, legislative aide for state Rep. Aaron Vega, D-Holyoke. Vega, the current holder of the seat, is not running for reelection. There are no Republicans running, and the winner of the primary in all likelihood takes the seat in November. In the 9th Hampden District, Springfield School Committee member Denise Hurst, Springfield Ward 8 City Councilor Orlando Ramos and Sean Mullan, office manager for Sacred Heart Church, are seeking the seat being vacated by current state Rep. Jose Tosado, D-Springfield. In the Hampden District Senate seat, incumbent James T. Welch faces a primary challenge by Springfield City Councilor Adam Gomez. The winner of the primary faces no opposition in November. Rosemary Saccomani and Bob Collamore face off in the Democratic primary for Hampden County register of probate. The winner of that race will face unenrolled candidate Lori Landers-Carvalho in the general election. In-person polling hours on Tuesday are from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. People unsure of where their polling place is should contact their local city or town clerk or check with the secretary of states polling place finder website. People who plan to vote by mail but who havent sent in their ballot by now should probably get moving. The deadline for requesting a vote-by-mail ballot was Aug. 26, and filled-out ballots need to be returned to their local election office by 8 p.m. on Sept. 1, when polls close. If there is not enough time left to mail it, people can personally drop their ballot off with the local city or town clerk or elections office. Several communities have set up secure 24-hour drop boxes for vote-by-mail ballots. Galvins office has a webpage devoted to listing the addresses of every city and town clerks office and locations of drop boxes. The President of Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has cut the sod for the commencement of construction of the Keta Water Supply Rehabilitation and Expansion Project. At the ceremony held at Agordome, in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region, on Thursday, 27th August 2020, President Akufo-Addo noted that the southern part of the Region has, in recent years, experienced rapid population growth, and, as a result, the existing water supply system is unable to meet the ever-increasing demand for water. Additionally, the hydrological conditions of the ground water in these parts of the Region, the President said, is mostly saline, thus, making it difficult to use ground water as an alternative source of potable water. In recognition of these difficulties, Government has decided to provide a befitting Water Supply System to ensure the reliable supply of potable water to meet the water demands of Keta and its environs, for the rapid development of the area and the Region, he said. President Akufo-Addo continued, The Project involves the rehabilitation and expansion of the existing Keta Water Treatment Plant to restore it to its installed capacity of 7,200m3/day, and also the construction of a new water treatment facility, with a capacity of 35,000m3/day, to meet current and future water requirements of residents up to the year 2030. In order to achieve this, he stated that Government has secured funding from Deutsche Bank S.p.A, with an Export Credit Guarantee from SACE S.p.A, Italy, of an amount of eighty-five million, one hundred and twelve thousand, eight hundred and fifty-four euros (85,112,854.00). Upon completion, President Akufo-Addo said the Project will supply potable water to the following communities: Kpodze, Kpotame, Vume, Tefle, Sokpoe, Dabala Junction, Tregui, Badadzi, Havedzi, Adzato, Suipe, Adutor, Horvi-Amedzi, Devegodo, Horvi-Kokoroko, Salo, Galo, Agortoe, Kpenu, Lolito, Floto, Lotame, and New Town. The rest are Agbatsivi, Kpordui, Alakple, Kodzi, Flohor, Atito, Genui, Azanu, Bomigo, Tumu, Anyanui, Atiteti, Dzita, Atorkor, Whuti, Srogboe, Anloga, Woe, Tegbi, Hovi-Aferdome, Vodza, Keta, Kedzi, Nukpesekope and surrounding villages, serving over 422,160 people. The President was expectant that, with the availability of potable water in these communities, investors will take advantage of Governments Flagship Programmes, such as One- District, One-Factory, to establish small and medium scale factories to exploit the natural resources of the area, create employment for the youth, and stimulate the growth and development of the local economy. Let me thank Deutsche Bank S.p.A for financing the project, and SACE of Italy for providing the export credit guarantee, and I urge the Contractor, Messrs Lesico Infrastructures S.R.L, to complete this project on time and on budget, so as to help improve the living standards of residents of Keta and adjoining communities, he said. In line with Governments agenda of helping to create jobs for Ghanaian youth, the President told the Contractor that it would be appropriate for him to engage the services of indigenes during the construction period. On another matter, the President told the gathering that the Minister for Roads and Highways has assured that the details of the Chime road network, and the Hotel Cisneros-Dabala road are currently in the procurement process, whose completion will enable him award the contracts and fix the dates for the rehabilitation of the roads. This, he said, is going to be done soon, with the Ministry of Works and Housing, for its part, prioritising the search for funds to undertake the dredging of the Anloga-Keta lagoon. 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 On Thursday afternoon, Laredo Animal Control got quite the surprise in the field. After receiving a phone call about a loose alligator, an officer went out on the call and sure enough found what was described by Laredo Animal Care Services as a baby dwarf alligator. 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 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 03:56:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Security fences are set up outside the White House as U.S. President Donald Trump plans to deliver his Republican National Convention (RNC) acceptance speech at the White House, in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Aug. 27, 2020. The White House has beefed up security ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's speech to accept the Republican Party's renomination from the South Lawn on Thursday night, while protesters are expected to stage demonstrations in the capital city. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The White House has beefed up security ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's speech to accept the Republican Party's renomination from the South Lawn on Thursday night, while protesters are expected to stage demonstrations in the capital city. The Secret Service said in a statement that it, "in coordination with the National Park Service, is announcing perimeter closures of the areas in and around the White House complex," including Lafayette Park, which sits north of the presidential residence. "These measures include security fencing which is being erected and will be clearly marked," the statement added. "These closures are in an effort to maintain the necessary security measures and ensure public safety." Protesters opposing Trump are expected to gather in downtown Washington, D.C. on Thursday night. Shutdown DC, an activist group, has planned to hold a noise demonstration to counter Trump's remarks. A pro-Trump rally will take place at Freedom Plaza, east of the White House, on Thursday night. The event, organized by the Maryland GOP and the Maryland Black Republican Council, expects to draw up to 2,500 participants. Trump will "unload on" 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and go after the former vice president on "everything from the economy to trade," according to Politico, citing people familiar with the address. "At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas," Trump is expected to say. The remarks will come as protests and riots raged on in Kenosha, Wisconsin in the wake of the Aug. 23 police shooting of 29-year-old African American Jacob Blake. Police on Wednesday arrested a teenager who allegedly shot and killed two people late Tuesday during the protests. On Wednesday night, Vice President Mike Pence in his acceptance speech stressed Trump's "law and order" message and reiterated the administration's support of law enforcement officers but didn't address what activists have called systemic racism in policing and in the United States at large. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump said he could increase the presence of National Guard in Kenosha to address the unrest if needed. "We will put out the fire. We will put out the flame," he said. "We will stop the violence very quickly." Biden, in an interview with MSNBC on Thursday, accused Trump of "rooting for more violence, not less." "He views this as a political benefit to him," the former vice president said. "And he's clear about that. And what's he doing, he's pouring more gasoline on the fire." To appeal to his voters, Trump has made the enforcement of "law and order" a major theme of his reelection campaign, repeatedly lashed out at cities run by Democrats, and sought to paint a doom-and-gloom picture of what the country would look like under the Biden presidency. Joe Biden, whose campaign has made race relations a key part of his White House bid, has said that he supports police reform but not the movement to "defund the police." The finale of the 2020 Republican National Convention (RNC), under the theme "Land of Greatness," will also feature Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, former New York City mayor and Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, and the president's daughter and senior adviser Ivanka Trump. A fireworks display is expected to light up the sky above the National Mall after Trump concludes his remarks. D onald Trump described Joe Biden as the "destroyer of American greatness" as he formally accepted his party's presidential nomination. The US leader used his speech to launch a blistering attack on his rival, saying a victory for the Democratic nominee would only worsen the crises besieging the country. Speaking on the closing night of the Republican National Convention, he said of former Vice President Mr Biden: "If given the chance, he will be the destroyer of American greatness." "We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years," Mr Trump said in his address, which lasted more than an hour. Donald Trump arrives to deliver his acceptance speech for the Republican Party nomination / AFP via Getty Images "At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas," Mr Trump said. "This election will decide whether we save the American dream or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the White House as Mr Trump spoke on the South Lawn, following calls on social media for demonstrators to attempt to disrupt the president's outdoor speech by making lots of noise. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Trump delivered his remarks at the White House in front of more than 1,000 people, standing in front of dozens of American flags. AFP via Getty Images Mr Trump also used his speech to attack China, blaming it for unleashing Covid-19 on the world. "China would own our country if Joe Biden got elected," he said. "Unlike Biden, I will hold them fully accountable for the tragedy they caused." The president added: "When I took bold action to issue a travel ban on China, Joe Biden called it hysterical and xenophobic. "If we had listened to Joe, hundreds of thousands more Americans would have died." US election polls: Biden holds seven-point lead over Trump Mr Trump and other Republican speakers argued that state and city Democratic leaders were to blame for the racial strife convulsing US cities, including Kenosha, Wisconsin, where police shot and paralysed a black man. "No one will be safe in Biden's America," Mr Trump said despite the surge of unrest during his watch. Donald Trump - In pictures 1 /112 Donald Trump - In pictures President Donald Trump takes the oath of office as his wife Melania Trump holds the bible and his son Barron Trump looks on, on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC Getty Images Acceptance speech Republican president-elect Donald Trump gives a thumbs up to the crowd during his acceptance speech at his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of 9 November 2016 in New York Getty Images Little Trump Donald Trump pictured when he was 4 years old Donald J Trump/Instagram The Trump Princess Donald Trump waves to reporters in 1988 with his first wife Ivana as they board their yacht 'The Trump Princess' in New York AP Donald Trump stands next to one of his three Sikorsky helicopters at New York Port Authority's West 30 Street Heliport in 1988 Out on the town Trump and his first wife Ivana arrive at a social engagement in New York in December 1989 AFP/Getty Images Surviving at the top Trump followed up his successful book The Art of the Deal with Surviving At The Top in 1990 Random House Meeting the King of Pop With Michael Jackson in 1990 FilmMagic Taking a break with Miss Universe contestants Donald Trump meets Miss Universe contestants during a break in rehearsals in the Imperial Ballroom at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas in 1990 Miss Universe Organization via AP Genie of the lamp Donald Trump stands next to a genie lamp in 1990 as the lights of his Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort mark its grand opening in Atlantic City AP Marla's wedding day Donald and Marla Trump at their wedding in 1993 AP Donald Trump with daughter Ivanka at a Harley Davidson Cafe Event, New York City on 9 October 1993 Rex Features New arival Marla and Donald Trump leave St. Mary's Hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida with their newborn baby girl, Tiffany on 14 October 1993 AP Behind the lens Donald Trump takes a picture of Bridget Marks in 1993 after interviewing her for Playboy magazine's 40th anniversary playmate in New York AFP/Getty Images Top Trump New York real estate giant Donald Trump poses in his Trump Tower office on a giant letter "T" on 08 May 1996 AFP/Getty Images New love interest Donald Trump and Melania arrive for VH1's Divas Live concert at the Beacon Theater in New York City on 13 April 1999 Getty Images Toasting in the New Year Donald Trump and Melania toast the new year during Trump's gala bash in 2000 The Sun-Sentinel/AP Wax work A wax replica of Donald Trump stands ready to be put on display at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, New York City in 2000 Madame Tussaud's/Getty Images Rebuild call Donald Trump talks in 2005 to reporters where he presented a proposal that the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center be rebuilt in New York Reuters Cracking prformance Amy Poehler, Tracy Morgan, Donald Trump, Seth Myers, Maya Rudolph perform on Saturday Night Live in 2002 Rex Features 'How To Get Rich' Donald Trump poses with a copy of his new book 'How To Get Rich' during a book signing on 24 March 2004 at Barnes and Noble in Lincoln Center in New York Getty Images Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka (left) and girlfriend Melania Knauss (right) attend the "Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century" Costume Institute benefit gala on April 26, 2004 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York City Getty Images Fired up figure Donald Trump poses with the new Donald Trump 12-inch talking doll 29 September 2004 at the Toys "R" Us store in New York City Getty Images Olympic flame Donald Trump carries the Olympic flame during Day 15 of the Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay on 19 June 19, 2004 in New York Getty Images Donald Trump on The Celebrity Apprentice (2005) Rex Features Anyone for golf? Donald Trump gestures as he arrives at the Old Course in St Andrews where he was meeting with the media to answer questions regarding Trump International Golf Links on 28 April 2005 in St Andrews, Scotland Getty Images Hollywod star Donald Trump, billionaire developer and producer of NBC's "The Apprentice," with his wife, Melania, and their son, Barron, pose for a photo after he was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles in 2007 AP In the Highlands U.S. property mogul Donald Trump gestures during a media event on the sand dunes of the Menie estate, the site for Trump's proposed golf resort, near Aberdeen, north east Scotland on 27 May 2010 Reuters Donald Trump plays a round of golf after the opening of the The Trump International Golf Links Course in Scotland in 2012 Getty Images Family time Donald Trump, Barron Trump and Melania Trump attends Trump Invitational Grand Prix Mar-a-Lago Club at The Mar-a-Largo Club on 04 January 2015 in Palm Beach, Florida Getty Images Officially in the running U.S. Republican presidential candidate, real estate mogul and TV personality Donald Trump poses with his family after formally announcing his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination during an event at Trump Tower in New York on 16 June 2015 Reuters Love, life and laughter Donald Trump sits with his wife Melania Trump while appearing at an NBC Town Hall at the Today Show on 21 April 2016 in New York City. Getty Images Thumbs up Donald Trump speaks on the last day of the Republican National Convention on 21 July 2016, in Cleveland, AFP/Getty Images Don't cry for me ... Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump holds babies at a campaign rally in Colorado Springs, Colorado on 29 July 2016 Reuters Donald Trump eating KFC on his private jet in August 2016 Is this really the Oval Office? Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump views a replica of the Oval Office on a tour of the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan on 30 September 2016 Reuters Women for Trump Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump kisses a "Women for Trump" placard during a rally at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida on 12 October 2016 AFP/Getty Images In debate Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speak during the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, America on 09 October 2016 AP Love your country The future is orange: Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump hugs a U.S. flag on 24 October 2016 Reuters U.S. President-elect U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks at his election night rally in Manhattan, New York, U.S. on 09 November 2016 Reuters 60 Minutes Donald Trump and wife Melania being interviewed on 13 November 2016 by Lesley Stahl on 60 Minutes 60 Minutes/CBS At The Whiie House US President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump meet in the Oval Office of the White House on 10 November 2016 EPA Kiss-story Republican president-elect Donald Trump embraces his wife Melania Trump during his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of 09 November 2016 in New York Getty Images Person of the Year U.S. President-elect Donald Trump poses on the cover of Time Magazine after being named its person of the year, in a picture provided by the publication in New York on 7 December 2016 Time Magazine Meeting Kanye U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and musician Kanye West pose for media at Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York on 13 December 2016 Reuters First Press Conference President-elect Donald Trump stands with his son Eric Trump (left) daughter Ivanka and son Donald Trump Jr. (right) on 11 January 2017 Reuters US President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington,Virginia 19 on January 2017 AFP/Getty Images Big shoes to fill: US President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania arrive to attend an inauguration concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on 19 January 2017 AFP/Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania arrive for a VIP reception and dinner with donors in Washington on 19 January 2017 AP British Prime Minister Theresa May and U.S. President Donald Trump walk along The Colonnade of the West Wing at The White House on January 27, 2017 in Washington, DC Getty Images Pope Francis walks along with US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump during a private audience at the Vatican in May 2017 AFP/Getty Images US President Donald Trump inspects border wall prototypes in March 2018 AFP/Getty Images Prime Minister Theresa May and U.S. President Donald Trump walk to a joint news conference at Chequers in July 2018 Reuters US President Donald Trump takes the hand of Prime Minister Theresa May as they enter Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire in July 2018 PA A six-meter high cartoon baby blimp of US President Donald Trump is set to fly as a protest against his visit July 2018 AP Activists inflate a giant balloon depicting US President Donald Trump as an orange baby during a demonstration against Trump's visit to the UK in Parliament Square, London July 2018 AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump with The Queen in July 2018 AP German Chancellor Angela Merkel deliberates with US president Donald Trump on the sidelines of the official agenda on the second day of the G7 summit on June 9, 2018 in Charlevoix, Canada Getty Images President Donald Trump meets North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Sentosa Island in Singapore on 12 June 2018 Evan Vucci/AP U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland in July 2018 Reuters US President Donald Trump meets with rapper Kanye West in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on 18th October 2018 AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump and Kim Kardashian posed for a photograph together at the White House meeting Donald Trump/Twitter A White House staff member reaches for the microphone held by CNN's Jim Acosta as he questions U.S. President Donald Trump during a news conference in November 2018 Reuters President Donald Trump looks over tables of fast food for the the college football playoff champion Clemson Tigers in the State Dining Room of the White House in January 2019 Reuters US President Donald Trump (L) shakes hands with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un following a meeting at the Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel in Hanoi on February 27, 2019 AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump (left) with Nigel Farage when they met met face-to-face on 2nd March 2019 PA/White House President Donald Trump smiles at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, after signing a proclamation in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019 AP US President Donald Trump (L) First Lady Melania Trump (C) and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe' Akie Abe (R) watch a sumo battle during the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on May 26, 2019 AFP/Getty Images President Donald Trump gestures after receiving a prayer at McLean Bible Church on 2nd June 2019 AP US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump make their way to board Air Force One on 2nd June 2019 AFP/Getty Images Donald and Melania Trump arrive at Stansted Airport on 3rd June 2019 AP President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are pictured ahead a meeting in Helsinki on July 16, 2018 AFP/Getty Images Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg watches as Donald Trump enters the United Nations to speak with reporters on September 23, 2019 Reuters Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump during a welcoming ceremony at the NATO leaders summit in Watford on December 4, 2019 Reuters President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, in Milwauke AP US president Donald Trump delivers a speech at the Congres center during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, on January 21, 2020 AFP via Getty Images US President Donald Trump speaks during the first presidential debate at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio AFP via Getty Images A car with US President Trump drives past supporters in a motorcade outside of Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland AFP via Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump works in the Presidential Suite while receiving treatment after testing positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland via Reuters U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a phone call with Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley October 4, 2020, in his conference room at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Not shown in the photo also in the room on the call is Chief of Staff Mark Meadows Reuters Donald Trump walks out of hospital after receiving treatment for Covid-19 AP Mr Trump boards Marine One to return to the White House after receiving treatment for coronavirus AP Donald Trump stands on the Truman Balcony after returning to the White House from hospital Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump removes his mask upon return to the White House from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on October 05, 2020 in Washington Getty Images As the night unfolded, Mr Biden struck back on Twitter, writing, "When Donald Trump says tonight you won't be safe in Joe Biden's America, look around and ask yourself: How safe do you feel in Donald Trump's America?" White House adviser Ivanka Trump introduced her father as 'the People's President' in a speech before he took to the stage. I recognise that my dad's communication style is not to everyone's taste. And I know his tweets can feel a bit unfiltered, she said. But the results speak for themselves. The scene - befitting the first reality TV host to serve as president - was in marked contrast to Mr Biden's acceptance speech last week, which was broadcast from a largely empty arena due to Covid-19. Mr Trump's decision to speak from the White House lawn drew criticism that he was using the official residence for partisan purposes. Loading.... The crowd, seated in white chairs inches apart, showed little evidence of social distancing or face masks despite health experts' recommendations. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 29, 2020 00:02 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c413edaa 1 Sports chess-competition,utut-adianto,chess-school,Novendra-Priasmoro Free Indonesias leading chess school, the Atut Adianto chess school, will hold a competition featuring 27 pairs of players. On the main stage, international master (IM) Medina Warda Aulia will face off against IM Sopiko Guramishvli of Georgia. Grand master (GM) Novendra Priasmoro will meet IT Jodi Setyaki, who has just graduated from university. Both players are from Jakarta. As for local champions, 2019 national womens champion and national womens master (NWM) Farika Mariroh of East Java will meet NWM Gracelia Paramesthi of Bali. Cash prizes of US$1,000 to $1,842 are up for grabs. The matches will be live streamed on Sunday on SCUA TV. Open matches will also be organized on Saturday. In addition to the matches, an online discussion will also be organized and aired on SCUA TV on the same day. The discussion, titled "Mental Toughness for Champions", will feature Indonesian chess figures like grand master (GM) Susanto Megaranto, womens grand master (WGM) Irene Kharisma Sukandar, school founder and GM Utut Adianto, school director Kristianus Liem and Eka Putra Wirya. FirstEnergy Had Big Stake in Tainted Nuclear Plant Bailout CLEVELANDFirstEnergy Corp. was once blamed for its part in triggering North Americas largest blackout nearly 20 years ago. Now, the multistate power company is again facing intense scrutinythis time for its role in an alleged $60 million bribery scheme that has ensnared one of Ohios most powerful politicians. While FirstEnergy and its executives have denied wrongdoing and havent been criminally charged, federal investigators say the company secretly funneled millions to secure a $1 billion legislative bailout for two unprofitable Ohio nuclear plants then operated by an independently controlled subsidiary called FirstEnergy Solutions. Officials from the Akron-based corporation, including CEO Chuck Jones, have long insisted FirstEnergy Corp. had no financial stake in rescuing the plants because they were operated by FirstEnergy Solutions. Yet nearly all of the money used to fund the scheme, authorities said, came from the corporation itself. Critics say the bailout bill, known as HB6, helped smooth the way for FirstEnergy to officially shift ownership of the nuclear plants and two coal-burning power plants to its creditors in federal bankruptcy court in February. Shedding the plants allowed the corporation to focus on its profitable business of powering 6 million customers in Ohio and other states. Ashley Brown, executive director of the Harvard Electricity Policy Group at Harvard Universitys John F. Kennedy School of Government and a member of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio from 1983 to 1993, said the bailout legislation clearly benefited FirstEnergy Corp. I think theres no question that FirstEnergy was acting in its own self-interest, Brown said. Ordinarily, theres nothing particularly wrong with that. But HB6 skewed everything. Company A After its bailout-driven success, FirstEnergys fortunes took an unwelcome turn on July 21. Thats when federal authorities released a criminal complaint detailing how Company Aa clear reference to FirstEnergyspent $60 million to get well-known Republican Larry Householder selected as Ohios House speaker, finance his bailout passage efforts, and prevent Ohioans from having their say about the legislation at the polls. FirstEnergys stock price plummeted nearly 35 percent within two days and has yet to rebound. Independent board members have called for an internal investigation and shareholders have filed at least four potential class-action lawsuits alleging FirstEnergys executives committed fraud and concealed an illicit campaign to secure the bailout. The companys most senior executives, including its CEO defendant Jones, were directly involved in and oversaw these efforts, placing the company and its shareholders at extreme risk of legal, reputational and financial harm, one lawsuit stated. FirstEnergy said in a statement this week that it backed the bailout because the corporation has a stake in Ohios economic success, the stability of its electric grid, and maintaining reliable energy sources. The plan to separate from the nuclear plants and complete the bankruptcy process didnt depend on securing the bailout, the company stated. U.S. Attorney David DeVillers was asked about FirstEnergy during a July 21 news conference in Columbus. Individuals that work for Company A and Company A in and of itself, were going to continue to investigate this, and were going to investigate it wherever it leads and whoever it is and whoever they work for, DeVillers responded. The corporation funneled $38 million to a dark money group to finance a dirty tricks campaign that prevented bailout opponents from gathering enough signatures to place a referendum on the ballot, federal authorities alleged. FirstEnergy also benefited from a last-minute change to the bailout legislation that essentially allowed the utility to charge retail customers more for lost revenue, a sweetener that Jones said made roughly one-third of the companys business recession-proof. While the utility said the add-on would stabilize rates for customers, an analysis released by the Ohio Manufacturers Association estimated FirstEnergy could reap $355 million in unearned revenue through 2024. Federal investigators said the add-on likely came as a result of the successful influence campaign waged by Householder and his four associates, all of whom were indicted on federal racketeering charges in July. The associates have pleaded not guilty, while Householder has been given more time to find a new attorney. Cornered Junkyard Dog FirstEnergy began looking six years ago for ways to subsidize the Perry and Davis-Besse nuclear plants in northern Ohio as they struggled to compete with cheaper natural gas power generation. The companys top priority was to save the plants, Jones told investors in 2017. That same year, one state lawmaker backing FirstEnergys attempts to get financial help told energy conference attendees that the company was in substantial financial trouble. The company created the mess by taking on too much debt when it invested in coal and nuclear plants, said Ohio State University economist Ned Hill, a vocal critic of the bailout. FirstEnergy acted like a cornered junkyard dog to keep the plants from shuttering, he said. But with state and federal officials reluctant to help, the FirstEnergy Solutions subsidiary announced in March 2018 that it would close the plants in 2021. The subsidiary filed for bankruptcy three days later, saying it had $7.2 billion in assets and $3.1 billion in debt as of Dec. 31, 2016. By that time, according to federal authorities, the bribery scheme had already been set in motion. Two months after Householder flew on a company plane to President Donald Trumps inauguration in January 2017, FirstEnergy wired $250,000 into the bank account of Generation Nowa dark money group created to promote social welfare under a provision of federal tax law that shields its funding sources or spending. Authorities say Householder controlled Generation Now as part of the alleged scheme. Of the $60 million eventually funneled by FirstEnergy to Generation Now through the end of 2019, $42 million came from an entity called FirstEnergy Services that is overseen by Jones and his corporate team, the criminal complaint stated. Hardly Strangers Jones and Householder themselves were hardly strangers, the complaint stated, with the two men having 84 telephone contacts between February 2017 and July 2019 many at key points during the alleged scheme, including 30 calls while the bailout bill was pending. Jonathan Entin, a law professor emeritus at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, said there is no way for FirstEnergy to spin this. They cannot credibly say theyre completely innocent bystanders even if they did not break the law, Entin said. Its really hard to believe they were completely ignorant of what was happening. During a conference call with investors in late July, Jones said he was confident that he and the company did nothing wrong. Two months before Householder unveiled his bailout plan in early 2019, Jones sent a letter to state lawmakers emphasizing that his company and FirstEnergy Solutions were separate. His letter also said his corporation would not financially benefit from any legislation helping the plants he asserted were vital to Ohio. The bailout legislation became law in October 2019, the day after the anti-bailout referendum effort failed. By February, FirstEnergy appeared to have gotten what it wanted: FirstEnergy Solutions had emerged from bankruptcy as a new privately held company called Energy Harbor. FirstEnergy Corp. was out of the power generation business and was now a regulated electric transmission company, feeding power to 6 million customers in six states. And it was good, at least initially, for FirstEnergys bottom line, its shareholders, and the FirstEnergy leadership team. The company, in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing early this year, said Joness total compensation in 2019 was nearly $21 million, including a $1.6 million performance-based salary bonus for that year and $18 million in performance-based stock units for a three-year period ending in 2019. Now, 17 summers after a tree branch touched a high-voltage line and a computer malfunction at FirstEnergy unraveled into a massive blackout in the U.S. northeast and Canada, the company again finds itself on the defensive. If it turns out what FirstEnergy went over the line, the question is who will be held responsible, Entin said. Will it be individuals? Or will it be the company? By Mark Gillispie & John Seewer Melania Trump 'flat out refused' to move into the White House until the bathroom previously used by the Obamas had been ripped out and its 'shabby' decor replaced, her ex-aides book is set to claim. Melania's fussiness is set to be revealed in a new book titled, 'Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady', written by her former advisor Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, which is to be released next Tuesday. Daily Mail Online has already exclusively revealed how the book details Melanias alleged complaints about her eldest stepdaughter Ivanka, claiming she didn't show her respect and was constantly trying to steal the spotlight. According to a book insider who spoke to The Sun, Wolkoff will paint a picture of a hard-to-please Melania, who found the White House decor so unacceptable that she refused to stay there for over six months. 'Melania just flat out refused to move to Washington DC until it had been completely redesigned and revamped,' a book insider told the Sun. 'Stephanie talks about how she took one look at her bedroom and bathroom and demanded a new shower and toilet. 'She was not prepared to use the same bathroom as the Obamas or anyone else for that matter - it wouldn't matter if it was the Queen of England.' The insider reported that Melania, as 'the wife of the president', pushed for everything to be redecorated, with new furniture installed. She is said to have thought 'everything was old and shabby' and that she was more bothered about the decor than of 'allegations of her husband's alleged infidelity'. Then presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump gestures to his wife Melania after she delivered a speech on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio According to a source familiar with the contents of the book, Melania 'was not prepared to use the same bathroom as the Obamas or anyone else for that matter - it wouldn't matter if it was the Queen of England. A flag flies atop the White House November 15, 2000 in Washington, DC. It's been reported that Melania Trump refused to move into the White House until after a major redecoration of the Obama's former quarters was complete While the former quarters of the Obamas were completely revamped to her high standards, Melania stayed at her plush rooms in Trump Tower in New York, the Sun reported, adding that her son Barron Trump stayed with her there until June 2017. The source told the Sun that rumors began to circulate about why she hadn't moved in with the president in the months after he assumed office. Other revelations in the book say Melania grumbled that Ivanka, Trump's daughter, 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 exclusively revealed earlier this week. 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 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. First Lady Melania Trump exchanged a frosty greeting with Ivanka Trump on the stage of the Republican National Convention on Thursday, hours after details of their fraught relationship were released in an excerpt of an upcoming book. After Ivanka shared an introductory remarks for her fathers acceptance speech she shared a brief glance with Melania walking across the stage. Melania was captured on video giving the First Daughter a smile and a nod before bulging her eyes and making a cold, sour expression. Earlier on Thursday an excerpt of an upcoming book penned by Melania's former best friend Stephanie Winston Wolkoff was released, revealing that the First Lady plotted 'Operation Block Ivanka' to prevent Ivanka from appearing in Trumps inauguration photos. First Lady Melania Trump exchanged a frosty greeting with Ivanka Trump on the stage of the Republican National Convention on Thursday, hours after details of their fraught relationship were released in an excerpt of an upcoming book Icy relationship: Melania's face turned cold after the First Daughter passed by Twitter users had a field day with the icy exchange. This Twitter user captioned the moment saying: 'Melania Trump gives Ivanka Trump that look that "I like you only because I have to"' Social media users were quick to pick up on the tension and posted close-up videos of Melanias reaction. 'Melania Trump gives Ivanka Trump that look that "I like you only because I have to,"' one Twitter user noted. 'Call it a hunch, but I don't think Melania likes Ivanka very much. On that, we can agree,' another Twitter user commented. 'Did Melania just roll her eyes at Ivanka,' another Twitter user asked. In 'Operation Block Ivanka' Melania approved seating arrangements for the inauguration platform that would keep Ivanka out of the camera shot when her father was sworn in as president. Wolkoff, who oversaw big events like the Met Gala, helped organize events around Trumps inauguration. Melania was all smiles when Ivanka wrapped up her speech at the convention and made her way towards the First couple But after passing by Melania's face expression turned sour. It comes after Melania's former best friend Stephanie Winston Wolkoff published an excerpt of her upcoming book Thursday revealing the First Lady plotted 'Operation Block Ivanka' to prevent Ivanka from appearing in Trumps inauguration photos A slew of Twitter users shared the moment the two shared their awkward glance. This Twitter user said 'Did Melania just roll her eyes at Ivanka?' Together they worked out where the cameras would be set on inauguration day and how the chairs for family members should be positioned to get the images they wanted. In the end Ivanka was placed behind Melania, in some images lost from view. 'We were all exhausted and stressed out. Yes, Operation Block Ivanka was petty. Melania was in on this mission. But in our minds, Ivanka shouldn't have made herself the center of attention in her father's inauguration,' Wolkoff wrote. She notes their operation was a result of the first daughter trying to control the schedule for inauguration day and make sure her family - husband Jared Kushner and their three children - had prominent positions on the big day. 'It was Donald's inauguration, not Ivanka's. But no one was brave enough to tell her that. Melania was not thrilled about Ivanka's steering the schedule and would not allow it. Neither was she happy to hear that Ivanka insisted on walking in the Pennsylvania Avenue parade with her children,' she noted. Melania Trump plotted to block Ivanka Trump from being in photos of President Trump taking the oath of office on Inauguration Day, in what was dubbed 'Operation Block Ivanka' Melania Trump wanted an image like the one above - with her Trump and their son Barron in the forefront Wolkoff's book gives legitimacy to years of talk of a rivalry between Melania and Ivanka that has accumulated in an intense, competitive relationship between the two women. The two most prominent women in President Trump's life - his 50-year-old wife and his 38-year-old eldest daughter - have little overlap in the White House complex: Ivanka Trump, who serves as an adviser to her father, has an office in the West Wing. Melania Trump works out of the East Wing on the opposite side of the building. They have never hosted a joint initiative or event. And are rarely seen together at events. Wolkoffs forthcoming book 'Melania and Me: My Years as Confidant, Advisor and Friend to the First Lady' comes from secretly recorded tapes and years of friendship with Melania. Itll be released September 1. A woman wearing a mask walks past a wall bearing graffiti that asks for rent forgiveness amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in Los Angeles on May 1, 2020. (Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images) Eviction Moratoriums Create Challenges for Mom-and-Pop Landlords Some tenants abuse the amnesty to avoid paying rent, landlord association says Mom-and-pop landlords across the United States are coming under increasing pressure as a patchwork of regulations and eviction moratoriums passed by the federal government, states, counties, and municipalities amid the pandemic have strongly curtailed their ability to enforce their property rights. In addition, The Epoch Times has received reports that a small number of tenants are abusing the reprieve by choosing to withhold payment of their rentand, in some cases, without claiming CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus-related hardship. Some landlords associations have resorted to legal action (pdf) to challenge the moratoriums, as many are currently unable to evict tenants breaking the terms of their lease agreement, such as those causing a nuisance to their neighborsunless those tenants pose a danger to public health. Here in Illinois, landlords have been under a lot of pressure, Jane Garvey of the Chicago Creative Investors Association told The Epoch Times in an email. Roughly half of the residential rental properties are owned by small Mom and Pop owners who count on the income from them to pay their own bills. This is their retirement investment and income. If their investment is lost due to inability to pay their bills, they will be in dire straits. With the moratorium in place, property owners have no ability to enforce anything in their leases, Garvey says. If tenants are causing a nightmare for other residents, or neighbors, there is nothing the owner can do about it. If they are tearing up the place, same thing. According to a letter (pdf) from Chicagos Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance to Illinois Gov. Jay Pritzker, Many small and medium-sized housing providers are struggling to make ends meet because of rental income lost due to their inability to remove tenants who have not been paying rent for months. Without the ability to pursue an unlawful detainer, unless to protect public health and safety, some residents are creating nuisances and disturbing neighbors, and there is very little owners and managers can do, Kendra Bork, president of the Southern California Rental Housing Association, told The Epoch Times in an email. Some tenants who are not impacted by COVID-19 are also choosing not to pay rent because of the regulation. This certainly doesnt help property owners, but it also ignores the fact that tenants will have to pay past due rent at some point, she said. Piecemeal Solution The biggest issue is the layers of regulation, Bork says. Owners and managers in many cases are having to comply with a patchwork of eviction moratoriums from different jurisdictions, as well as court limitations statewide that essentially prohibit any kind of eviction. Landlords in California, for example, have had to navigate a web of state, county, and municipal regulations on the issues of property rights, evictions, and rent collection since CCP virus-related lockdowns were introduced. A for-rent sign is posted in front of an apartment building in Los Angeles on Feb. 1, 2017. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order in March suspending state laws that restricted local governments ability to limit evictions. The order allowed local governments to suspend evictions when rents remained unpaid due to, for example, substantial decreases in household or business income, or substantial medical expenses. The executive order was subsequently extended, and is due to expire on Sept. 30. In addition, the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and the city and county of San Francisco adopted their own emergency and executive orders and proclamations. In Los Angeles, landlords of residential properties cant evict tenants who are unable to pay rent due to loss of income during the CCP virus crisis. Mayor Eric Garcettis emergency order is due to expire 12 months after his emergency declaration is terminated. The Los Angeles city order defines and prohibits no-fault eviction, as well as evictions based on the presence of unauthorized occupants, pets, or nuisance related to COVID-19. The ordinance confirms that tenants are still obliged to pay the rent they owe, though they are allowed up to 12 months after the local emergency period expires to pay their arrears. Under the terms of the eviction ban, Owners are also prohibited from charging interest or late fees on the rent owed during the emergency period. As early as April 8, Californias Alameda County extended its moratorium (pdf) on evictions to protect tenants from all eviction notices served or unlawful detainer complaints filed through at least December 31, 2020. After being sued by retiree landlords Peggy Christensen and Peter Martin, however, Californias Judicial Council reversed its April 6 emergency order last week, announcing that the moratorium would officially end at midnight on Sept. 1. Lawsuits Filed Eviction moratoriums have been met with considerable resistance from property owners associations. The Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles (AAGLA) filed a lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles on June 11 on behalf of its members and the citys housing providers. The AAGLA said in a statement that the citys prohibition of evictions singles out landlords and property owners throughout the City to absorb the residents claimed economic losses attendant to the crisis. According to Garvey, members also raised funds in June to sue the governor of Illinois over the moratorium. The legal complaint (pdf) filed by Christensen and Martin against the California Judicial Council claimed that the Councils emergency rule ER1 violated the fundamental rights of property owners by suspending, indefinitely, their right to initiate actions against unlawful detainers. Both landlords had been rendered unable to evict non-paying tenants that were disturbing other tenants. Neither tenant had claimed any coronavirus-related hardship, according to the complaint. The rule creates the perverse incentive for all tenants, whether they face financial hardship or not, to refuse to pay their rent during the crisis, according to the petition. Eviction Moratoriums Many states view the prevention of evictions as a key measure to prevent the spread of the CCP virus. Today, with the United States focused on containing the COVID-19 pandemic, the broader and longstanding issue of income and housing insecurity has quickly become paramount to the health of an entire nation, according to the Eviction Lab database team at Princeton University. Signs that read No Job No Rent hang from the windows of an apartment building in Washington, on May 20, 2020. (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo) Eviction Lab describes eviction and foreclosure moratoriums as a stopgap measure for state and local governments. To prevent the deleterious health consequences of eviction and an escalating economic crisis, states are beginning to pursue strategies to ensure safe, decent, and stable housing during and after the pandemic, the team said. A wide range of measures have been enacted at various levels of government to protect tenants from eviction, though the measures vary widely across the United States. The Eviction Lab team has developed a COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard to compare tenant protection measures that assign scores to states according to the extent that they have acted to protect tenants during the CCP virus crisis. Jurisdictions that scored highly in their efforts to protect tenants from eviction include Connecticut, Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, Washington state, and Oregon. At the other end of the scale, a total of eight states were awarded zero points for their apparent reluctance to increase tenant-protection measures, among them Texas, Tennessee, and South Dakota. Landlords Plight Bork says many landlords in Southern California have been fortunate thus far with tenants paying rent, or have been able to reach a forbearance agreement with their lenders. However, she says that much of the mortgage forbearance provided to date has been for single-family homeowners or federally backed mortgages, while those with traditional loans for multi-family properties arent always experiencing lender forbearance. Moreover, Bork says, there is a significant chunk of independent property owners who do not have mortgages, but rely on rents as their primary or sole source of income, and still have to pay for insurance, ongoing maintenance, taxes, and wages for employees, if theyve been fortunate enough to retain them. According to Garvey, the belief that property owners all have deep pockets is a myth. She says that rental income goes to pay a wide range of expenses that include property taxes, insurance, maintenance and repairs, property management, mortgages, utilities, trash, and cleaning, as well as the replacement of appliances, roofs, etc. In good times, approximately 9 cents of each dollar in rent is available as income to the owner of a well-operated property, Garvey says. However, she says the vast majority of her members residents were either paying in full or had a brief hiccup and were on a payment plan catching up. 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. Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said many questions remain about the Postal Services actions, whether the changes such as the removal of sorting equipment are being reversed, and whether mail delays will continue. He noted the case isnt just about the timely delivery of mail-in ballots, but also about the delivery of prescriptions, Social Security benefits and other items people depend on. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24 Trend: On August 24, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a phone call to People's Poet Fikrat Goja. The head of state congratulated Fikrat Goja on his jubilee and wished him new successes in his creative activity and the best of health. Emphasizing Fikrat Goja`s special contributions to the development of Azerbaijan`s literature, President Ilham Aliyev noted that his works had always been followed by a wide audience. The head of state said that Fikrat Goja was awarded the Istiglal Order, and congratulated him on this occasion. Expressing deep gratitude for the warm words and congratulations, Fikrat Goja described the conferment of the Istiglal Order upon him as a high recognition of his creativity by the state. Stressing that national leader Heydar Aliyev always paid great attention to Azerbaijan`s literature and culture, Fikrat Goja recalled his meetings with the national leader. Fikrat Goja underlined that this tradition had today been successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev, and once again thanked for the attention. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 08/28/2020 ADVERTISEMENT Shawniece and Jephte FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! AJ and Stephanie ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth and Jamie ADVERTISEMENT Ashley and Anthony ADVERTISEMENT Danielle and Bobby ADVERTISEMENT Deonna and Greg ADVERTISEMENT Jessica and Austin ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. : Couples Cam featured Elizabeth Bice and Jamie Thompson testing positive for coronavirus, Danielle Bergman losing her beloved dog Henry, Gregory Okotie deciding to shut down his math learning center amid the pandemic, and Jephte Pierre spending some time away from his wife during Thursday night's episode on Lifetime.: Couples Cam features raw, self-shot footage updating viewers on the current lives of former couples from the show's first ten seasons.The couples' domestic lives are documented in real time and shared via mounted cameras, Diary Cams and virtual group chats.The couples featured on : Couples Cam are Season 1 couple Jamie Otis and Doug Hehner, Season 5 couple Ashley Petta and Anthony D'Amico , Season 6 couple Jephte and Shawniece Jackson , Season 7 couple Danielle and Bobby Dodd , Season 8 couple AJ Vollmoeller and Stephanie Sersen , Season 8 couple Kristine Killingsworth and Keith Dewar , Season 9 couple Elizabeth and Jamie Thompson , Season 9 couple Greg and Deonna McNeill , and Season 10 couple Jessica Studer and Austin Hurd Those nine couples are all still married, and four of them have started families.Below is the latest on each couple based on Episode 12 of : Couples Cam.Jephte decided to give Shawniece some space because they had been fighting a lot and take their daughter Laura to New York to visit some of his family.When Jephte arrived at his mother Laura's place, everyone was thrilled to see him and his daughter.Meanwhile, Shawniece enjoyed her alone time in Rhode Island by doing a thorough cleaning, going out with her cousins, and napping in a hammock in her backyard to catch up on some sleep.Jephte was then shown meeting up with his brother and talking to him for some support since he and Shawniece's relationship had been very "rocky."Shawniece told his brother that "little things turned into big things" in his marriage and Shawniece had detached herself from him. Meanwhile, Shawniece told her mother that she wanted her marriage to be more of a partnership in terms of taking care of the house and raising little Laura.Shawniece's mother advised her daughter to be patient because marriage was never going to be easy, but Jephte vented to his brother, "I don't know if we can do it.""It sounds to me like you guys are done," Jephte's brother said.Jephte said hearing that scared him a little bit, adding, "I didn't realize how bad things have gotten."However, Jephte's brother said Jephte should fight for his marriage and try to weather the storm.Later that night, Jephte noticed Shawniece had packed Laura and Jephte's favorite books, and Jephte shared that's why he loves his wife -- because she is so thoughtful. Jephte really seemed to appreciate Shawniece in that moment.Stephanie was heading to Aruba without AJ because AJ realized when it was too late his passport is expired.Stephanie explained the passport system has been backed up due to the coronavirus pandemic and so AJ didn't submit his paperwork in time.Stephanie had to take many precautions in order to fly and leave the country, including submitting a negative COVID-19 test.While Stephanie was in Aruba, AJ cooked himself a nice dinner, but he admitted he didn't like eating alone and that's one of the main reasons why he had signed up for .AJ apparently missed his wife, even though he took "solo dining to the next level."Meanwhile, Stephanie documented herself scubadiving and drinking cocktails on the beach."Even without him, a day at the beach is better than a day at home [in Philadelphia]," Stephanie told the cameras.When Stephanie returned home, AJ printed out a picture of Stephanie's face and put the photos all over the house. AJ said he wanted to feel like he was with Stephanie in the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and more.Stephanie laughed but told her husband his behavior was "borderline creepy," as if AJ had created a shrine or gravesite for her.Elizabeth and Jamie revealed to the group of MAFS alums Elizabeth's mother had tested positive for coronavirus and so they were going to get tested as well since they had been staying in Elizabeth's parents' home.Elizabeth said she and Jamie weren't showing any signs of COVID-19 but they decided to take rapid tests in order to make sure they didn't have the virus. Elizabeth wanted to make sure they'd quarantine if they're sick in order to keep other people safe.Elizabeth and Jamie had to test themselves in the car, which apparently made Jamie a little queasy.Elizabeth was really worried about her mother and said she couldn't even process the severity of the situation. However, both Elizabeth and Jamie's COVID-19 tests results came back negative.Jamie and Elizabeth were so relieved they were both in good health, and then they returned home to California, which Elizabeth admitted truly felt like her home now.Four days after returning to Silicon Valley, Elizabeth said she was feeling really sick and considered taking herself to the hospital. Jamie also felt sick, and Elizabeth said the couple both felt "like death."Elizabeth complained of stomach pains and added how she felt achy, dizzy, and tired. Jamie agreed he got light-headed when he stood up, as if he was floating, and their situation seemed pretty dire.Elizabeth and Jamie therefore decided to get tested for coronavirus again, and this time, Elizabeth was coughing in the car.The couple had to wait in a long line for the rapid COVID-19 test, but Elizabeth said all of their symptoms matched those of coronavirus.Elizabeth and Jamie's results both came back positive for coronavirus! Elizabeth revealed to the person who administered the test that they had been exposed to someone with COVID-19, and the pair were told to quarantine for 14 days.Elizabeth and Jamie were told if their symptoms got worse and they experienced chest pain, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, dizziness, or high fever, they must head to the nearest ER."We have corona," Elizabeth said, as Jamie appeared shocked and upset in the driver's seat next to her.Anthony poked fun at the large size of Ashley's pregnancy pillow, which she snuggles with in bed and takes up most of the bed.Anthony later hid Ashley's pillow on her, but Ashley found it about an hour later in Mila's bedroom.Anthony admitted he had hid the pillow on his wife and Ashley needed to decide between them."Well, I guess you're sleeping in Mila's room," Ashley joked with her husband.Later on, Ashley came home to Anthony sleeping on her pregnancy pillow, so she said with a laugh, "I guess it's not so bad after all."Danielle dropped Henry off at the vet, saying Henry had sadly spent so much of his time with her in the vet office. Henry was Danielle's first foster dog and apparently came to her with a tick-worm illness, heartworms and severe anemia because he was underfed.Danielle said Henry also had cancer scares. When Danielle began parenting Henry as a single woman, the dog went through multiple moves and accompanied her on her journey in falling in love with Bobby."About five days ago, he stopped eating his hard food, but yesterday, he stopped eating completely," Danielle revealed.Danielle hoped the vet would figure out what was going on with Henry quickly so she could bring him back home.Later on, Danielle filmed herself crying, saying her day turned out to be the worst day she could have possibly had.Danielle apparently thought Henry was having a tooth problem in the morning, but the vet called her with some bad news."She basically said that the cause of Henry's loss of appetite, it didn't have anything to do with his teeth," Danielle said on the verge of breaking down."He had a very large mass that was growing on his spleen. The X-rays showed very large, large amounts of fluid filling up his internal cavity -- and the doctor called and said it was blood."Danielle added, "Bobby and I talked about it and just thought that the best thing and the most humane thing to do would be to let him go to doggy heaven."Danielle said she, Bobby and their daughter Olivia got to visit Henry and say goodbye, even though Olivia didn't know what that meant."We all got to give him hugs and kisses," Danielle cried."I knew that this day was going to come, but I don't think I was ready for it to happen so soon. He really was the best dog ever."Because Danielle was feeling so down and under a lot of stress following Henry's passing, Bobby decided to gift Danielle with a beautiful headstone created for Henry "in his little spot" at the house.The headstone read, "Forever in our heart. Forever the best boy."Danielle then said a few words to Henry and shared how he was her best friend. Danielle said it was crazy how quickly time had passed and she'd love him forever."You were a part of our family. We got married with you and had a kid with you," Danielle told Henry. "We're definitely going to miss you and you are forever the best boy.""No question," Bobby added.Back in February 2017, Greg had opened up his math learning center and said he helped over 300 students in the past two years, which made him very proud.But Greg said paying bills had become difficult in light of COVID-19, as he had bills to pay both at home and at the learning center. About half of Greg's students also left the center due to the spreading virus and financial woes."My heart is breaking for him. I know it means a lot to him to give back to the community and to help students learn math, so for it to get to this point, I know it must be crushing," Deonna told the cameras.Greg worried about their finances, especially because they were trying to bring a baby into the world. Greg wasn't sure how long he could keep the center going, and a big part of him knew he just had to close it down."A part of me has been scared to say it out loud. It's really not something I want to do," Greg told the cameras.Greg then announced he was going to close his math center for good and the situation was "very stressful" for him.Going from a two-income household to one was going to be "hard," according to Deonna, but she still had her job as an operations manager at a financial technology company -- so she said it would be "doable."Greg had a tough time accepting the fact he could no longer be a provider for his family, but he really appreciated Deonna being so understanding and supportive.Greg then joked that maybe he could become a stay-at-home "husband," but Deonna pointed out he'd have to be a stay-at-home "dad."In order to take Greg's mind off their hardships, Deonna suggested they play a game with fake money. For example, Deonna could "pay" for a 20-minute back rub. Deonna or Greg could win the money based on an intense game of "Rock, Paper and Scissors."Deonna won in the end, but she apparently helped to take Greg's mind off the math learning center for a bit.Austin began thinking about how to accelerate his career, and he told Jessica that he was considering entering the National Guard.Jessica acknowledged that wouldn't be "a light or easy decision to make" and she found his career aspiration "really scary" since she didn't want to see him get involved in any dangerous situations."This is really important to Austin and I definitely want to support him. I just am struggling because I feel like we have so much going on right now between getting a dog and trying to buy a house and surviving a pandemic," Jessica told the cameras.Austin said he wished he had entered the military back in college and it's in his family's bloodline to serve the country. Austin, however, told Jessica that he'd have to get in better shape, and Jessica said she'd like to help her husband if she could.Jessica offered to help Austin train or "drill" him, which she joked "sounded so bad."Later on, Jessica tried to be supportive by training Austin through "a friendly competition" of pushups, situps and jumping jacks. The person to do the most of each exercise would win.Austin won the pushups round, the couple tied in Round 2 with the highest amount of situps, and then Austin took round 3 with the most jumping jacks. In the end, Austin won, but Jessica called Austin "a cheater" in the jumping jacks round.Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group It was a heartbreak moment for Pavan Nash, a class 6 student from Keralas Ernakulam, when he woke up to find that the tree which he had been growing for the last two years was chopped by unidentified people. On the advice of his elder sister Pavithra and his school teacher Harikumar, he contacted the polices initiative Chiri (smile). Chiri is a police helpline started to help children navigate through mental issues during the pandemic. Someone took away my gooseberry sapling. Please capture the culprit who did this," he was quoted as saying by media reports. He said given his training for the past two years as the cadet of the Student Police Cadets (SPC), he got the courage to take up the matter with the police. Responding to his grievance, police gifted him saplings of gooseberry, guava, and sitafal and to keep an eye on miscreants, they also gave him a CCTV camera. Children are calling for assistance and to raise complaints on various issues ranging from a fight between parents to lack of playground. Over 80 psychologists and psychiatrists have voluntarily extended support to offer counselling. We have formed district-level units comprising volunteers to attend to the requirements of children. We are doing our best to offer support to children, Chiri project state nodal officer, Inspector General P Vijayan was quoted as saying by the New Indian Express. Chenango, NY Two people from Broome County have been arrested following a break-in at a home on Wilson Road in the town of Chenango, according to a New York State Police news release. The release said troopers began their investigation Aug. 11 after the homeowner reported that a person entered their home without permission. According to state police, the person was someone the homeowner knew and had stolen tens of thousands of dollars worth of items. Troopers said several items were sold to at least one pawn shop. Days later, on Aug. 13, state police arrested Christina M. Martinez, 28, of Johnson City. She was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. Martinez was processed and released on appearance tickets. Jamie M. Levene, 44, of Binghamton, was arrested on Aug. 27 and charged with second-degree burglary. Levene was already in jail for an unrelated crime. He was transported to State Police Binghamton for processing and then was returned to the Broome County Jail. VILNIUS, Lithuania -- Now in its 19th day, Belarus's political crisis has slipped toward a potentially more dangerous phase with President Vladimir Putin signaling the possibility of deploying a Russian security force to help buttress Alyaksandr Lukashenka's grip on power. Deploying Russian forces in her country would be a mistake, said Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the self-exiled former presidential candidate who has become an unlikely leader of the Belarusian opposition. "This is our internal problem, an internal issue that Belarusians must resolve with the Belarusian government," Tsikhanouskaya told RFE/RL. Tsikhanouskaya spoke with RFE/RL on August 28 from the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, where she fled amid threats to her family. Her husband Syarhey, a potential challenger to Lukashenka in the August 9 presidential election, had been arrested before the vote and remains in police custody, reportedly in a jail on Minsk's outskirts. A proficient English speaker who previously was a stay-at-home mother, Tsikhanouskaya took up the mantle from her husband after he was jailed. Then, with opposition protests mounting over allegations the vote was rigged in Lukashenka's favor, Tsikhanouskaya joined with prominent cultural figures to create the opposition Coordination Council. Its stated aim is to negotiate with Lukashenka's government on a new election, the release of detained protesters, and, potentially, the president's departure from power. But Lukashenka has dug in his heels. In recent days, prosecutors have announced a criminal investigation of the council -- jailing two of its leaders who remained in Minsk and calling in other members for questioning -- including the Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich. In towns and cities across Belarus, the streets have been packed with tens of thousands of protesters and possibly hundreds of thousands at the largest gathering in Minsk. The outpouring of opposition has become the biggest challenge to Lukashenka's 26-year rule. In her RFE/RL interview, Tsikhanouskaya again called for Lukashenka to step aside, calling it a "worthy" decision to close out his tenure. "It would be very worthy for him to be just the first president, who ruled for a long time and then resigned at the request of the people, and not to turn his departure into bloody massacres, not to cause hatred of his people," she said. While defying the popular calls for a new election that is free and fair, Lukashenka has also signaled the possibility of a harsher approach toward demonstrators. Russia, Belarus's most important economic and strategic partner, has been closely watching the upheaval. Kremlin planners are wary of a repeat of what happened in Ukraine in 2014 when mass protests led to the ouster of the pro-Russian president there. Underscoring the Kremlin's potential involvement in the crisis, Lukashenka and Putin have held at least five phone calls since the election. In an interview broadcast by Russian state TV on August 27, Putin revealed that Russia has set up a special security force at the request of Lukashenka -- the strongest signal to date that Moscow might physically intervene in Belarus. "We also agreed that it will not be used unless the situation gets out of control," Putin said. Tsikhanouskaya suggested that Putin's message was clear. But she insisted bringing in Russian forces would be unnecessary. And she warned of the possibility of "provocations" -- with authorities trying to intentionally provoke violence in order to create a pretext for imposing harsh measures. "There will be no reasons for bringing in some kind of 'help', riot police or someone else, because we have purely peaceful protests," she said. "Among the Belarusian people, no one wants a violent resolution to the issue." Lukashenka, she said, should leave office willingly and without violence. But she also suggested that there will be consequences for the officials who directed the violence and repressions that targeted protesters. "Unfortunately, the authorities have committed a crime that will not be erased from memory," she said. "Belarusians are not vindictive," she said. "If, it seems to me, it's possible to leave with dignity, then perhaps this will be a very great mitigating circumstance for [Lukashenka's] fate." "I would like it all to end beautifully," Tsikhanouskaya said. "I do not want to plunge into the abyss." As the NBA figures out how to proceed after a player boycott which led to the postponement of at least two days of playoff games, Russell Westbrook is making some off-court moves. The former Oklahoma City Thunder point guard is currently in the process of offloading not one, but two propertiesone in Edmond, Oklahoma, and the other in the Beverly Hills Post Office area of his home state, California. According to realtor.com, Westbrook is closing on a deal to sell his 8,398-square-foot Oklahoma mansion after putting it on the market for $1.7 million last November (its most recent listing price was $1.3 million). The five-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bathroom spread is situated on a 1.43-acre lot, and has all the trappings a sports star could want. A grand, high-ceilinged foyer features polished marble floors, a chandelier, and dramatic dual staircases with intricate wrought-iron railings. The kitchen boasts two marble-topped center islands and a walk-in pantry, and the living area has a carved mantel anchoring the space. The ground floor features two main suites, each with its own spalike bathroom, and the second floor hosts a spacious bonus room with its own kitchen and bar area, a home theater, and a large exercise area. See the video. Meanwhile, on the West Coast, Westbrooks place in Beverly Hills recently sold for $4.375 million, according to the Los Angeles Times. The hillside home, which previously belonged to Keeping Up With the Kardashians star Scott Disick, also boasts five bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms, spread out across 4,100 square feet. The contemporary-style residence features an open-plan living area with dark hardwood floors and pocket glass walls that open completely for an optimal indoor-outdoor flow. Outdoors, there is a swimming pool, as well as a spa and a patio for outdoor dining, all with stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the ocean beyond them. Westbrook bought the home from Disick in 2014 for $4.65 million. Incredibly, the athletes two simultaneous deals arent the only ones hes made this calendar year: In March, he sold his smaller Oklahoma starter home for $383,500. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest Kyle Rittenhouse cleaning up graffiti near the Kenosha County Courthouse on Tuesday, the night of the shootings in which he is charged. Scott Olson/Getty Kyle Rittenhouse, the teen accused of killing two protesters and injuring a third in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was charged by prosecutors on Thursday. A criminal complaint obtained by The Daily Beast said a protester threw a plastic bag at Rittenhouse before the teen opened fire. Rittenhouse is accused of shooting and killing Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and injuring Gaige Grosskreutz. He traveled to Kenosha on Tuesday from his home in Antioch, Illinois, and joined groups of armed civilians who said they were protecting local businesses. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. The teen accused of shooting and killing two protesters and injuring a third on Tuesday in Kenosha, Wisconsin, opened fire after a protester threw a plastic bag at him, a criminal complaint obtained by The Daily Beast said. Kyle Rittenhouse, who had expressed support for "Blue Lives Matter" and President Donald Trump, was charged on Thursday with five felony counts over the deaths of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and the injury of Gaige Grosskreutz. The charges include first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree reckless homicide, as well as a misdemeanor charge of possession of a deadly weapon. The 17-year-old had traveled up to Kenosha from his home in Antioch, Illinois, and told a reporter for the conservative outlet the Daily Caller that he was there to protect local businesses from looting. Kenosha has been the center of regular protests since a police officer on Sunday shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, at least seven times in the back. According to The Daily Beast, the criminal complaint said Rittenhouse was walking down a street in Kenosha at about 11:45 p.m. alongside the Daily Caller reporter when Rosenbaum approached and tried to "engage" Rittenhouse, who was armed with a rifle. Investigators said videos they reviewed showed that Rosenbaum, who appeared to be unarmed, chased Rittenhouse as he ran across a parking lot and threw something at him. Story continues "The object does not hit [Rittenhouse] and a second video shows, based on where the object landed, that it was a plastic bag," the complaint said, according to The Daily Beast. Shortly after, the complaint said, a loud bang can be heard and a man shouts "F--- you!" Another four shots can be heard, and Rosenbaum falls to the ground, it said. The Daily Caller reporter told investigators that he didn't hear the two exchange words but that he thought Rosenbaum was trying to grab Rittenhouse's gun when the teen fired. The Milwaukee Medical Examiner's Office said Rosenbaum died of multiple gunshot wounds in his right groin, left hand, left thigh, and back, The Daily Beast reported. The criminal complaint said that after shooting Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse made a phone call and could be heard saying, "I just killed somebody." The complaint said protesters started chasing him, with some yelling "Beat him up!" and "Get him! Get that dude!" It said several people tried to grab Rittenhouse's gun, including Huber, who the medical examiner said was fatally shot in the chest. The complaint said that Grosskreutz, who appeared to be holding a handgun, was shot in the arm as he approached the teen. People close to Grosskreutz told the Chicago Sun-Times that he would require surgery. Rittenhouse was taken into custody on Wednesday in Illinois. Because he is a minor, he is being held at a juvenile facility in Vernon Hills, ABC 7 Chicago reported. Read the original article on Insider The power is out for nearly 75,000 Entergy Texas customers in Jefferson, Orange and Hardin counties this morning after a night of high winds brought on by Hurricane Laura. The outages were not as severe as local officials had feared, however, as the historically potent Laura trained its fury on the other side of the Texas-Louisiana border. The storm took a more northerly track a few hours before landfall in Cameron, sparing Texas the worst of wind and tornadoes that created havoc throughout the night in the neighboring state. Entergy spokesperson Allie Payne said the company has nearly 10,000 workers ready to assess the damage and work to restore power when daylight comes Thursday morning. It's possible that a good portion of those workers could be redirected to hit-hard areas of western Louisiana. PHOTOS: Hurricane Laura makes landfall in Louisiana, bringing power outages, destruction Payne urged customers to stay away from down power lines and wait for workers to show up. Vidor Police Chief Rod Carroll said most people in his Orange County community had heeded evacuation calls, and there were only six or so calls to 911 for service, mostly regarding trees felled by the wind or knocked into homes. Carroll said officers told folks to shelter in place until daylight, when police would be by. The chief said he did not yet have anything further to report. Orange County Judge John Gothia said response crews will be dispatched at daylight as well to help clear roadways and deal with any other damage. No calls came into the county's emergency center. "It was very quiet tonight, which I guess is a good thing," Gothia said. Jefferson County emergency officials rode out the storm at the courthouse and were digesting the reports. There was a smattering of calls to law enforcement for "minimal" service and no major disasters, said Allison Nathan Getz, the tax assessor-collector who serves as county spokeswoman. No calls came in overnight at the Emergency Operations Center in the courthouse, where one relieved worker marveled, "I don't know what we did to deserve this." "Its amazing based on what they were predicting," Getz said. "Just incredibly thankful," she added. Beaumont is not quite 60 miles from Lake Charles, where early reports were far more consequential. Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick acknowledged the difference those miles made for his community. High winds arrived later than had been earlier forecast. Once they arrived, they were impressive to watch from the safety of the courthouse but far from anything obviously life-threatening. Street lights also remained visible through the falling rain. When conditions are deemed safe, crews will begin looking for debris from fallen trees, power lines and even livestock, Emergency Management Coordinator Michael R. White said. White said clearing that debris would be the focus of efforts once the wind dies down. Getz said officials were not ready to let down their guard. We're still monitoring the outer bands (of the storm), making sure it doesnt rotate toward us before leaving our region," she said. Getz, whose office TV featured a meteorologist talking about the unpredictability of Mother Nature, checked social media accounts of people she knows for reports. Downed trees were all she found. Branick had said on Wednesday that he hoped residents who evacuated would be allowed to return as roads are deemed passable. The would not be required to wait until power is restored at their homes, he said, acknowledging frustrations from past wind emergencies. Branick also said talks had already begun with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Small Business Administration in hope of expediting assistance. More to come in this developing story. Halle Berry goes where most women her age are told not to go. But doing so makes her message about self-love all the more convincing. On Thursday, the notable actress put out a message that has to be said repeatedly for her 6.5 million followers. "Self-love is never selfish," Berry wrote. To make the message even more convincing, the actress added a stunning portrait of herself. Any portrait would do, but she had to go up and beyond herself and post a topless picture on her Instagram. The actress was sitting on the floor showing off her toned arms and upper body. Her face was turned away from the camera toward herself, which artistically drives in the message of loving oneself. The photo comes a day after reports surfaced claiming that Berry wants to rush her divorce. Allegedly, Berry filed to represent herself in her divorce case with ex Olivier Martinez. Berry and Martinez already filed for divorce in October 2015, but the case failed to move forward. Not because they are changing their minds, but because of the slow paperwork. This present move by the actress showed that she personally wants to see the separation through. She shares one son with Martinez, Maceo, 6. It is not typical for women above their 50s (heck, above 30s and 40s) to post pictures wherein the focus is them and only them. This is not because women, in general, do not like to. Somehow, society has ingrained in women that self-love is selfish, and women at certain ages cease to be even lovable. Sadly, some women are even inclined to bash other women for showing an ounce of self-love. Some women might even be the first ones to say negative things about other women's pictures with any sign of self-promotion -- like it is a crime. Good thing for Berry though, it appears that she no longer cares. Moreover, the majority of the comments on the post were positive. It is a good sign that the world is indeed moving into a new direction where self-love is deemed important. "WOW," fellow "Catwoman" Zoe Kravitz commented. In addition, actress Kim Fields wrote: " Stunning quiet power & grace. " One commenter was obviousay inspired, writing: "I love it...that's my new mission in life,self-love.I can't pour into anyone else if my cup is empty." Back in April, Halle Berry also showed that she no longer feels the need to do things based on societal pressure. When she opened up about why she is still single following her divorce from ex, she explained that this is her choice alone. |I no longer feel the need for a relationship, so I don't feel the need to rush or accept something that's not totally right for me," the Oscar-winning actress said at the time. She explained that although she personally loves relationships, she wants to spend time with herself now. Berry added that her children makes her happy. The "Extant" actress did not say she was shunning relationships though. Instead, Berry believes that by loving herself first and getting to know who she truly is, she would have a better chance of attracting someone who is and feels right for her. Isn't this the lesson that all women should learn? This new photo might break the Internet, but it is not the first time Berry posted something sexy. Earlier this month, she made sure her birthday is memorable despite the pandemic by posting a picture of herself in a sexy, strappy bikini. READ MORE: Megan Fox Regretting Machine Gun Kelly Relationship? 'Stupid' Comment Hurts Her R. Kelly has been thrown into solitary confinement after being attacked by another inmate. Solitary confinement might not be pleasant, but it might be the safest for the disgraced artist. A disgruntled inmate, who did not like the lockdowns indirectly caused by R. Kelly, decided to take matters into his own hands. Charging towards the artist's cell, the inmate proceeded to beat R. Kelly up. This happened sometime on Wednesday, per PageSix. R. Kelly in Solitary Confinement On Thursday, it was reported that he was already placed in solitary confinement for his safety and for everyone's peace. His lawyer said that because there are constant pro-R. Kelly protests outside of the jail, the entire facilities occasionally had to be locked down. This created undue inconvenience to other inmates. One obviously could not take it anymore and decided to make sure the artist knows it. "My understanding is, every time there is a pro-R. Kelly protest outside of the jail, they lock down the entire facility," R. Kelly's lawyer said during a brief interview. "When they do this, inmates don't get their commissary, they don't get their shower, stuff like that and since they're fairly sporadic anyway, they get upset." The lawyer hinted that the prison authorities might be the ones at fault because they are punishing everyone in the facility just because the artist's fans want him out. Can R. Kelly Get Out Alive? In the aftermath of this beating, R. Kelly only sustained minor injuries. This is only the case because the guards were able to quickly take action. One could shudder thinking what would have happened had the guards failed to address the situation immediately. Being in solitary confinement, therefore, is a blessing. The attorney said that R. Kell is still very concerned because there are great possibilities of it happening again. However, it would not be all the time that guards can look out for his cell. Someone can easily go in his cell with a shank and worse. Guards might even be busy with other things, which is quite typical for any overworked prison. The artist is awaiting trial on several sexual abuse charges. Specifically, he's in jail at the Metropolitan Correctional Facility in Chicago and facing charges in Illinois, Minnesota and New York stemming for sexually abusing underage girls. No COVID-19 on R. Kelly Prison Repeated petitions were made for his release because of the coronavirus pandemic. All the requests, however, were denied because there are no confirmed cases of the infection in the prison anyway. The artist has denied the charges he faces. He is firm on his stance that he did not abuse anyone. Fans find it hard to hear that their idol is in jail. However, the accusations against R. Kelly are even harder to hear. New York Times reported that a defendant is accusing him of committing arson and bribery, all to scare a witness out of talking. The case might still be ongoing, covering crimes he allegedly committed since 1999, but his fans already made a verdict. For them, he's not guilty and certainly does not deserve to be locked up in the middle of a pandemic. They are marching on the streets, even protesting outside the prison, for his freedom. These supporters chant "Free R. Kelly" to "where were the parents," probably placing the blame of the alleged crimes on the children and their family, not the artist. Given what happened to R. Kelly inside though, their continuous protests might do him more harm than good. READ MORE: Megan Fox Regretting Machine Gun Kelly Relationship? 'Stupid' Comment Hurts Her In a big move for the country, France has announced it will be permitting events without social distancing. In an interview with French publication France Inter, Prime Minister Jean Castex has said "to govern is to know how to adapt to circumstances", and that French citizens should learn to "live with the virus". Culture minister Roselyne Bachelot then confirmed the policies on Twitter. From now on, audiences of up to 5000 will be able to sit together, though all attendees must be seated and wearing facemasks while the pandemic continues. The Prime Minister also said that the cultural sector would receive 2 billion support, a similar value to the UK's 1.57bn support. It is not all crystal cut however similar to local lockdowns in the UK, the easing of rules will not apply to "red zones" areas with high levels of transmission for example Paris, Lyon, Gironde, Marseille and Bordeaux. At the moment France has 132,090 active cases of Covid-19, with 3,304 new cases confirmed on August 25. Bans on events with more than 5000 people will last until at least November. The World Bank said on Thursday it was pausing publication of its Doing Business report to probe data collection irregularities in the closely watched annual ranking of countries business and investment climates. The World Bank said in a statement that it would conduct a systematic review of data changes in the last five Doing Business reports, and independent auditors will probe data collection and review processes. The publication of the Doing Business report will be paused as we conduct our assessment, the bank said. The Doing ... Gasoline prices are expected to remain low in the Houston area and across the country as the nations largest refineries seem to have survived Hurricane Laura relatively unscathed. Energy companies are starting to assess the extent of damage to refineries that transform crude oil into petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Preliminary reports indicate that the Category 4 hurricane spared the nations largest refineries in Beaumont and Port Arthur, which process about 1.7 million barrels of crude a day, from the worst of the devastation. It seems like that area largely dodged a bullet and could see a relatively quick restart, said Denton Cinquegrana, chief oil analyst with Oil Price Information Service. We might see some capacity offline next week, but it wont be nearly as bad as (Hurricane) Harvey. Hurricanes pose a major threat to the nations refineries concentrated along the Gulf of Mexico. More than 45 percent of the nations refinery capacity is along the Gulf Coast. The refineries between Beaumont and Lake Charles, La., process about 2.6 million barrels of crude a day, according to OPIS. Refineries are built to withstand hurricane-force winds, but they can suffer major damage from storm surges and excessive rainfall that can flood equipment. Saltwater, in particular, can wreak havoc on electrical connections and corrode metal equipment if it remains flooded for lengthy periods. LIFE AFTER COVID: Pandemic to permanently change oil & gas tech, skills Eric Gay, STF / Associated Press Storm surge is the biggest concern, said Susan Grissom, chief industry analyst for the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, a refinery trade group. Refineries arent meant to be underwater. In 2017, Harvey knocked out nearly a quarter of U.S. refinery capacity and forced the nations largest refinery Motiva Enterprises in Port Arthur to shut down for weeks. There were reports of gasoline shortages across Texas as panicked consumers topped off tanks. Average gas prices nationally quickly soared above $2.50 a gallon, up more than 17 cents in a matter of weeks. After Laura, however, gas prices are expected to remain stable, as refineries took action early to halt production and prepare for the storm. As a result, operations are expected to resume within days instead of weeks. The average price of a gallon of gas in the Houston area Thursday was $1.86, up 2 cents from a week ago. The statewide average was $1.92, up 5 cents from a week ago, according to AAA Texas. Four of the largest refineries Motiva, Valero and Total in Port Arthur and Exxon Mobil in Beaumont were not in Lauras direct path. These refineries process about 1.7 million barrels of crude a day, according to OPIS. Three refineries in Lake Charles Citgo, Phillips 66 and Calcasieu, which process a total of 800,000 barrels of crude a day took a direct hit from Laura. Citgo and Phillips 66 on Thursday said they are starting to assess storm damage. Calcasieu did not respond to a request for comment. FUEL FIX: Get energy news sent directly to your inbox There may be some localized gas shortages in Lake Charles and the surrounding areas where Laura went through, but in the grand scheme of things, this is not going to be a major catastrophe for the gasoline markets, Cinquegrana said. I dont see any shortage. Even if refiners could not restart operations as quickly as expected, a glut of crude oil from the global coronavirus pandemic will keep prices low. Gasoline supplies are about 11 million barrels over the five-year historical average, and at the current demand rate, the U.S. has a 27-day supply of gasoline, up from 24 days a year ago, according to OPIS. Although gasoline demand has been recovering since May, sales remain about 18 percent below pre-pandemic levels as many workers continue to work from home and as the busy summer driving season is ending. With decreased demand, we dont see any constraints, said Sherri Stone, vice president of the Petroleum Marketers Association of America, which represents gasoline wholesalers and retailers. Theres plenty of crude in the market. Reporter Erin Douglas contributed. paul.takahashi@chron.com twitter.com/paultakahashi Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 09:18:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close The Capitol and a stop sign are seen in Washington D.C., the United States, on Feb. 13, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday condemned some U.S. politicians for "hunting down" non-U.S. companies, saying the essence of such practice is labeling these firms with ideological prejudice. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a press briefing while responding to a question about a survey released by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (AmCham Shanghai) Wednesday. AmCham Shanghai said that about 90 percent of the respondents to a survey it conducted of U.S. firms in Shanghai recently believed that the U.S. planned ban on WeChat will have a negative influence on their operations and more than one-third thought that such ban might lead to a loss of global revenue. Some U.S. politicians have put their selfish interests above market principles and international rules to jeopardize the global internet, said Zhao, adding that such an attempt has already been seen through by the international community. "Some U.S. politicians have abused state power to unjustifiably suppress non-U.S. companies under the pretext of national security. Such bandit action has done harm to the rights and interests of consumers and businesses in the United States and other countries, and it is bound to be opposed and resisted by the international community," said Zhao, who stressed that the move is organized and systematic economic bullying of non-U.S. companies that take the lead in a certain field. "This is a repudiation of the principle of market economy and fair competition that the U.S. has always flaunted," said Zhao. "Such move tramples on international rules and undermines the exchanges and cooperation in science, technology and innovation among countries riding the tide of globalization." Zhao said that from the perspective of some U.S. politicians, the so-called liberalization of the internet is nothing but Americanization, and so-called national security is simply a byword for "American double standards." KENOSHA The American Civil Liberties Union, via both the national organization and its Wisconsin branch, has called for the immediate resignations of Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis and Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth for what the ACLU considers to be a Failed Response to Attempted Murder of Jacob Blake. The ACLU made the announcement Thursday afternoon. They blame the law enforcement leadership for failures that led to the police shooting of Jacob Blake, the death of two protesters and for allowing the alleged shooter of the protesters 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse of Illinois to get away. Sheriff David Beths deputies not only fraternized with white supremacist counter-protesters on Tuesday, but allowed the shooter to leave as people yelled that he was the shooter. The sheriff excused this by saying his deputies may not have paid attention to the gunman because there were many distractions, including screaming and hollering, people running, police vehicles idling, nonstop radio traffic, and that in situations that are high stress, you have such an incredible tunnel vision, the ACLUs release stated, quoting statements made by Beth during a Wednesday press conference. The ACLU also cited criticism Beth came under last year after he criticized five people of color arrested for shoplifting, when Beth said those individuals should be put in warehouses where we put these people who have been deemed to be no longer an asset, which critics said would be far too excessive a punishment for shoplifting. Beth later apologized for what he said. Regarding Miskinis, the ACLU took issue with the police chief appearing to blame two demonstrators Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, and Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha for their own deaths. Miskinis had said that those two men would be alive if they had followed emergency curfew orders, but did not cast blame on the teen accused of shooting them. Video footage Videos taken from the scene appear to show that Rittenhouse was being chased down in both killings. What exactly led to the first shooting of Rosenbaum remains unclear, although a crowd was trying to chase down Rittenhouse after he was seen shooting Rosenbaum; Huber was shot apparently while trying to strike Rittenhouse with a skateboard. The ACLU strongly condemns Sheriff Beth and Police Chief Miskinis response to both the attempted murder of Jacob Blake and the protests demanding justice for him. Their actions uphold and defend white supremacy, while demonizing people who were murdered for exercising their First Amendment rights and speaking out against police violence, Chris Ott, executive director of the ACLU of Wisconsin, said in a statement. The only way to rectify these actions is for both Sheriff Beth and Police Chief Daniel Miskinis to immediately tender their resignations. The ACLU added that if the men do not resign, they will be calling on Gov. Tony Evers to remove Beth from office and Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian to call to order the citys Police and Fire Commission to remove Miskinis from office. Under Wisconsin law, county officials (district attorneys, sheriffs, registers of deeds, and chief executive officers) can be removed from office by order of the governor. But, according to the Wisconsin Legislative Council, The removal procedure requires that the Governor provide a copy of the charges and give the officer an opportunity of being heard. Love 3 Funny 3 Wow 4 Sad 1 Angry 1 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Supreme Court has ruled that the states cannot promote students without final year exams. However, in view of Covid-19 situation, the deadline set by UGC, i.e September 30, can be altered. Supreme Court has pronounced its verdict on a batch of pleas challenging University Grants Commissions (UGC) July 6 circular and seeking cancellation of final term examination in view of COVID-19 situation on Friday. A Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan has ruled that students cannot be promoted without final year exams. Exams must be held for promotion. Under the disaster management act, states can postpone exams and fix an appropriate date. The court had reserved its judgement on August 18 and had said it will also decide whether the states will have power under the Disaster Management Act to defer final examination till situation normalises. The University Grant Commission through an affidavit had earlier told the Supreme Court that the decision of Delhi and Maharashtra government of cancelling the final term examination will directly impact the standards of higher education in the country. The UGC has filed an affidavit on Delhi and Maharashtra governments stand of not conducting the final term University exams said that the UGC has taken the policy decision to conduct final year / terminal semester examinations in the interest of students across the country after duly considering the prevailing situation of a pandemic. Supreme Court says students cannot be promoted without University final year exams. https://t.co/Ko55nKaczS ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2020 Also Read: Atmanirbhar Bharat push: PM bats for self reliance in defence production Also Read: GST Council meeting news updates : Centre gives two options to states on GST compensation The affidavit was filed in on a batch of pleas challenging UGCs July 6 circular and seeking cancellation of final term examination in view of COVID-19 situation. Earlier, Delhi and Maharashtra governments had told the top court that they have cancelled the examination in the states. Also Read: Muharram 2020: SC denies mourning processions during Covid-19 BUFFALO, N.Y., Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- M&T Bank Corporation (NYSE:MTB)("M&T") will participate in the Barclays Global Financial Services Conference being held in a virtual format. Representatives of M&T are scheduled to address investors and analysts on September 16, 2020 at 7:30 a.m. (ET). A live audio-webcast of the event will be available via the Internet at: https://ir.mtb.com/events-presentations. The discussion and webcast may contain forward-looking statements and other material information. A replay will also be made available following the event. M&T is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T's principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, operates banking offices in New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Trust-related services are provided by M&T's Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. CONTACT: Donald J. MacLeod (716) 842-5138 SOURCE M&T Bank Corporation Related Links http://www.mandtbank.com The Kenosha County sheriff said in 2018 that a group of black theft suspects need to disappear and should be warehoused so they wouldnt have children now faces calls for his resignation over his handling of the aftermath of the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Sheriff David Beth apologized in late January 2018 for comments that he made at a news briefing after his deputies arrested four adults and a minor - all of whom are black. The five were taken into custody after leading deputies on a high-speed chase. Deputies were in pursuit of the suspects who allegedly stole some $4,800 worth of clothing from a Tommy Hilfiger store in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. In 2018, Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth gave a news conference after the arrest of five black theft suspects. Saying he was tired of being politically correct, Beth added: I have no issue with these five people completely disappearing. At (this) point, these people are no longer an asset to our community, and they just need to disappear. He later apologized On January 24, 2018, five people - four adults and one minor - were arrested and charged with felony retail theft after they allegedly stole merchandise from a Tommy Hilfiger store in a mall in Pleasant Prairier, Wisconsin. Two of the suspects - Sandra Smith (left), 20, and Wanda Winslow, 23 - are pictured above Also arrested were Kevin Thompson (left), 18, and Eugene Scull (right), 18. All suspects were residents of Milwaukee. An unidentified 16-year-old minor was also arrested I think at some point society has to get so fed up that they are no longer willing to tolerate people who are not an asset to society, Beth told reporters at the January 25, 2018, news conference. I think we have to create a threshold where, once you cross the threshold, Wisconsin, the United States, builds warehouses where we put these people who have been deemed to be no longer an asset, that are really a detriment, like these five people. Saying he was tired of being politically correct, Beth added: I have no issue with these five people completely disappearing. At (this) point, these people are no longer an asset to our community, and they just need to disappear. Days later, Beth issued an apology after meeting with members of the Kenosha branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In the press conference, I should have kept my comments better directed toward the incident itself and not allowed my emotions to get the better of me at the time, Beth said in a letter of apology that was released to the news media. The five were arrested after leading deputies on a high-speed chase. The dash cam video from above is from January 24, 2018 The five were allegedly in a silver Pontiac that reached speeds of up to 111mph while fleeing arrest I have been involved in hundreds of on camera interviews and press conferences and have shared my emotions before, but never in this fashion or this extent. My goal is to do my best to protect those that live, work, play or travel through Kenosha County. In the situation last week, my comments did not necessarily live up to even my own expectations for my office, and I again apologize. The five suspects were taken into custody the day before Beths news conference. At around 4:10pm on January 24, 2018, a theft was reported at the Tommy Hilfiger store at Prime Outlets in Pleasant Prairie. Employees of the store called the police after three men came into the store, grabbed several articles of clothing, and ran from the building before fleeing in a silver Pontiac, according to Kenosha News. Even though the men were only in the store for a couple of minutes, employees said they managed to grab nearly $5,000 worth of merchandise. The employees told police that there were two people waiting inside the Pontiac. A few minutes after the 911 call, a Kenosha County Sheriffs deputy spotted a silver Pontiac heading north on Interstate 94. The deputy attempted to pull over the vehicle, which was reaching speeds of up to 111mph. The American Civil Liberties Union is demanding that Beth (center) and Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis (far left) resign in the wake of their handling of the Jacob Blake shooting and its aftermath. Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian is seen far right on Wednesday Jacob 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 Jacob Blake, the black man shot in the back seven times in front of his three young children by Wisconsin police, had a knife in his possession, the Wisconsin Attorney General revealed Wednesday. Jacob Blake lies on the street after he got shot following a police shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday The images above show the moments leading up to the shooting on Sunday. 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 Officer Rusten Sheskey, a seven-year veteran with the Kenosha Police Department, was identified as the cop who fired all seven shots into Blake's back The Pontiac eventually got off the interstate and onto another roadway, where it ran a red light and crashed into two vehicles in the intersection. One of the vehicles was driven by a 16-year-old boy who had just gotten his drivers license. There were no injuries in the crash, though the vehicles did sustain minor damage. After the crash, all five suspects got out of the silver Pontiac and fled on foot. One of the suspects, Wanda Winslow, 23, was tracked down by police with the help of a K9. Kevion Thompson, 18; Eugene Scull, 18; and Sandra Smith, 20, who was the driver of the Pontiac, were all taken into custody. Another suspect, a 16-year-old, did not appear in court as an adult. Thompson, Scull, and Smith were charged with felony retail theft and obstructing. Winslow was also hit with the same charge as well as an additional charge of jumping bail. At the time of the arrest, she was out on bond for a misdemeanor resisting-obstructing police charge from Milwaukee County. The five suspects were also believed to be involved in other thefts in Illinois. In a January 26, 2018, interview with Fox 6 TV, Beth used the word cancer when describing the suspects and their alleged thieving spree. Beth is also under fire for his department's handling of Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old who has been charged with first degree intentional homicide following the shooting death of two protesters in Kenosha on Tuesday. Social media photos show the teen had a strong admiration for law enforcement and guns 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 Shortly before the attack, and armed with a rifle slung across his body, Rittenhouse told the reporter he was a certified EMT and explained he was patrolling the streets of Kenosha to provide medical attention to anyone who had been injured, as well as protecting businesses from looters You worry about the cancer spread, he said. This is a terrible cancer. These five people, or maybe a few other people involved in this in the last two weeks, have stolen $40,000 from different stores. Beth and Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis have faced intense scrutiny in recent days after Sundays police shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake. Blake, a black man, was shot seven times in the back from point-blank range by a Kenosha police officer who was responding to a domestic disturbance call from his girlfriend. The shooting has left Blake, a father of six children, paralyzed. Wisconsins attorney general revealed that Blake had a knife inside his vehicle, though it is unclear if the knife was on him at the time he was shot. Anthony Huber has been identified as one of the men who was shot dead during the protests on Tuesday night Blakes shooting, which was in full view of his three children who were in the back seat of their SUV, sparked nationwide outrage. Officer Rusten Sheskey was identified as the policeman who shot Blake. Since the shooting, Kenosha has been engulfed in protests and rioting which has left businesses destroyed. Two people have been killed in the civil unrest in Kenosha that followed. On Wednesday afternoon 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse was arrested and charged for the shooting in Kenosha that killed the two protesters - Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26 - and injured another person, 26-year-old Gaige Grosskreutz, in a possible vigilante attack just before midnight Tuesday. The police-obsessed teen was arrested in his hometown of Antioch, Illinois, about 15 miles from Kenosha, and was charged with first degree intentional homicide. He was arrested after video footage emerged of him walking up to police with his hands in the air and his semi-automatic rifle slung across his body before the shooting. The ACLU is demanding that Beth and Miskinis resign after accusations that Rittenhouse was allowed to leave the scene of the shooting even as others nearby yelled that he was the gunman. Beths deputies were also seen on video fraternizing with white supremacist counter-protesters on Tuesday, according to the ACLU. Beth said that his deputies missed the gunman because were there distractions on the ground, including screaming and hollering as well as nonstop radio traffic. In situations that are high stress, you have such an incredible tunnel vision, Beth said. Miskinis prompted outrage when he said that the shootings from Tuesday night were a result of people violating curfew. His comment was perceived as blaming the victims for their deaths. Memory, Museums, and the Once Known In his book Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives, neuroscientist David Eagleman writes that we all die three deaths: The first is when the body ceases to function. The second is when the body is consigned to the grave. The third is that moment, sometime in the future, when your name is spoken for the last time. We all know we will die some time, but the idea that at some point our name will never again be spoken is disturbing. The memory of a name, after all, is a signifier that a life mattered. What happens when a name is deliberately erased from the historical record? The intentional decision to remove a name is a way to communicate another persons life was not worthy of remembranceand therefore it was not significant. National Memorial for Peace and Justice, Montgomery, Alabama I visited the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama, in 2019. The memorial, a project of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), is an important acknowledgment of the victims of racial terror lynchings. Set on a six-acre site, it consists of 800 six-foot Corten steel monuments, one for each US county where a lynching occurred. The names of victims are inscribed on the columns. The EJI documented more than 4,400 African American men, women, and children who were hanged, burned alive, shot, drowned, or beaten to death in 12 American states between 1877 and 1950. I was particularly saddened by the number of columns that simply identify victims as Unknown. People in the past decided that these deaths did not matter enough to record the victims names for posterity. Permanent erasure is the ultimate racist denial of a persons humanity. African Americans still struggle to have their humanity acknowledged and valued, as we recognize by the Black Lives Matter movement. And in 2014 the African American Policy Forum launched a #SayHerName campaign to focus awareness on each Black woman and girl who has been the victim of police violence. Sadly, museums often have many objects for which the name of the original owner or maker is not recorded. At the National Gallery of Art, 4 percent of the works in the permanent collection are identified as having been made by an anonymous artist. Encyclopedic museums with global collections that include African, Native American, Oceanic, and Asian artwork have an even higher percentage of makers described as anonymous. At the Minneapolis Institute of Art, where I served as director, 25 percent of the works in the collection are identified as made by anonymous. The use of anonymous is worse than unknown as it implies artists intentionally withheld their name so they could be forgotten by history. We now concede that the early anthropologists and ethnographers who collected these objects were rarely interested in the identity of the individual or the people who made them. Installation view, Colony: Frontier Wars (March 15November 18, 2018), National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Photo: Tom Ross On a visit to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne, Australia, I was moved to see that indigenous objects collected in the past were described as having been made by artists who were Once Known. This phrasing recognizes that these works were created by people who once had families and friendsand names. Myles Russell-Cook, curator of Indigenous art at NGV, acknowledges that we are more likely to have the name and details of the European who collected an object than those of the original maker. He wrote, It is essential to remember that every Unknown artist was Once Known. The production and the initial reception of these works was deeply embedded in a web of relationships between the individual makers and their community, culture and place, and the mere fact that these relationships were not recorded does nothing to change that. August Saint-Gaudens, Shaw Memorial , 1900, patinated plaster, U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, Cornish, New Hampshire For the people of Kerala, and Keralites across the world, Onam is a festival that is deeply entrenched in their DNA. A unique festival, Onam transcends caste and religion, and brings together the entire populace marked by activities such as Puli kali (a folk art where people dance wearing tiger masks and paint their bodies), Vallam Kali (boat race), pookkalam (floral arrangement on the ground) topped by a sadya (feast) on a banana leaf accompanied by no less than 26 dishes. Of late, however, specifically from 2018 onwards, Onam has been marred by catastrophes such as floods and landslides, and the pattern continues this year with the onslaught of COVID-19, on top of a landslide in Munnar and a flight tragedy in Kozhikode in the beginning of the month. While floods did not wreak havoc across the state as feared, COVID-19 cases continue to spike, and is expected to peak in September. The Left front government, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, which won universal praise for Keralas preparedness and its initial success in containing COVID-19, has been struggling with mounting cases. Worse is the political heat in the wake of the gold-smuggling scam, with Vijayans erstwhile principal secretary emerging as a key figure, has been a bigger challenge to tackle for the government. The political turmoil in Kerala took a turn for the worse the other day when it emerged that some files in the state secretariat caught fire in a freak accident, a day after the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) brought a no-trust motion against the government in the assembly in the wake of serious allegations in the governments flagship Life Mission housing project. Thus, Onam 2020 is being marked under the shadow of all these developments, and with the local economy struggling to cope with the COVID-19 situation. A lot of businesses have gone under or have been struggling to survive, and people have taken to roadside vending massively, even as markets see sluggish sales. The tourism and hotel industry is also badly hit, despite the slew of measures announced to tackle the crisis in the industry. The state government has dispersed salaries and pensions to its employees well before the 10-day festival kicked off which is expected to boost the market sentiment. However, Onam will practically be limited to a four-day affair this year, or even shorter, with the prevalent social distancing norms preventing large gatherings. There is a dearth of flowers coming from the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka this year, and people are expected to source it locally as it used to be in the old days. The current COVID-19 crisis, the recent spate of floods, other virus outbreaks, etc. have made the Keralite more sensitive towards preserving the environment. The positive response towards Subhiksha Keralam, a scheme to locally produce paddy, fruits and vegetables is proof of it. In the coming days, consumption is set to pick up, and will, in all probability, bring some respite for the reeling farmers who can expect fair prices for their produce. With local produce flooding markets, the spike in the prices of essentials items will not be repeated this year. In the commercial capital of Kochi, the reopening of the Chambakkara fish market and the Aluva market apart from the main market in the city has brought back a sense of normalcy. However, the state capital Thiruvananthapuram is still in the throes of the outbreak and has reported the most number of daily cases for more than a month, even after the severe restrictions have been eased. This year, the Onam celebrations might be subdued and controlled: the melas might be missing, the many Onam-related games will be missing, and so on. Women decked up in traditional Kerala handloom sarees will be accompanied by matching masks, the new normal. However, despite all the restrictions, the Malayali wont compromise on the Onam sadya because, as the saying goes, Kaanam vittum Onam unnanam (one must have Onam lunch even if they are forced to sell property). The sadhya is non-negotiable. MBABANE - There is a likelihood that law abiding community members may take the law into their hands, leading to damage of property and loss of life. These submissions were made by Acting Chief of KoNtshingila Inkhosatana Gelane Simelane in the matter where she has taken Prince Velebantfu Dlamini and 11 others to court over Lawuba Business Centre. The acting chief filed an urgent application where she is seeking an order to interdict the prince and 11 other respondents from continuing with the alleged illegal construction of a hardware store or extension of any illegal building structure at Lawuba Business Centre. She is further praying for an order interdicting the respondents or anyone acting under their behest from continuing with the construction of a filling station at Lawuba Business Centre without the authority of the Mbangweni Umphakatsi under KoNtshingila Chiefdom. Respondent Simelane also wants the court to restrain Gcina Dlamini, who is the sixth respondents in the matter, from operating a butchery and liquor business at Lawuba Business Centre. Respondents in the matter are Khesaya Dlamini, Bongani Pointer Dlamini, Fana Mahhala Nhlabatsi, Dumisani Dlamini, Gcina Dlamini, Prince Velebantfu, Chairman of the Swazi Commercial Amadoda Manzini Branch, Winile Nhlabatsi and the chairman of Swazi Commercial Amadoda. The respondents are defying authorities of the chiefdom in full view of the community members, giving a bad example which if copied will lead to lawlessness. They are effecting development at Lawuba Business Centre which will call for demolition of these illegal structures in the future, precipitating moral and human rights issues, argued Simalane. She told the court that there was a likelihood that legitimate and law abiding community members who observe that local authorities were helpless in protecting chiefdoms assets and order using traditional practices, might take the law into their own hands. Substantive Giving a background, Simelane stated that the KoNtjingila chiefdom had been without a substantive chief for the past 30 years since the demise of Chief Mabonya Simelane in 1986. She recounted that immediately after the demise of Chief Mabonya; she then became the acting chief from 1989 to date. She pointed out the KoNtjingila chiefdom was currently awaiting the blessing of a substantive chief by His Majesty the Ingwenyama and installation thereafter following the registration of the designate substantive chief in 2014. Simelane alleged that in the absence of the substantive chief, the area has been characterised by chieftaincy disputes emanating from the surrounding chiefdoms which had now encroached into the KoNtjingila chiefdom. She narrated that the first person to establish business at Lawuba Business Centre was Madika Mngometulu, a subject of KoNtjingila, who operated a butchery business for many years. Meanwhile, Chief Velebantfu Dlamini contended that all the judges of the High Court could not hear and determine the matter between him and Simelane. This is because one of the crucial witnesses of Acting Chief Gelane happens to be the incumbent head of the Judiciary and their Lordships have a close working relationship with the chief justice who also exercises administrative role and/or supervisory role over all High Court and Supreme Court judges, argued the prince. The prince was referring to Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala. He further pointed out that the chief justice also sat as chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission which was the body entrusted with the employment, interviews and recommendations for the subsequent appointment of judges. The prince alleged that as such, the judges stood to be prejudiced to decide against their supervisor in a matter where he happened to be a witness in a matter before a particular justice of the High Court. Undoubtedly I submit that the nature of the relationship between Bheki Maphalala and their Lordships is such that if their Lordships were to preside over this application, justice will be manifestly and undoubtedly be seen and a reasonable by stander watching the proceedings from afar will not stop murmuring in discontent, he argued. According to the prince, the chief justice had a direct, peculiar and substantial interest in the matter as he was the incumbent indvuna of the applicant (Acting Chief Gelane) and he unequivocally aligned himself with the applicant in this matter. I am not saying the chief justice will influence the outcome of this case but all that I am saying is that their Lordships, who are under his supervision, will be conflicted and prejudiced to possibly decide against the declared interest of the sitting chief justice in matter, contended the respondent. The matter is still pending in court and appearing for Simelane is Bheki Tsabedze from the chamber of the attorney general while Khumbulani Msibi is representing the respondents. The most intense hurricane to hit Louisiana in more than a century has left at least six people dead, hundreds of thousands of people without power and an untold number of homes and buildings in ruins. Laura, which was downgraded to a tropical storm Thursday after making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane with 150 mph winds, was expected to weaken to a tropical depression overnight as it moves across Arkansas, the National Hurricane Center said. 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, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards told reporters Thursday. But we have sustained a tremendous amount of damage. We have thousands and thousands of our fellow citizens whose lives are upside down. Officials with the Louisiana Department of Health said that three of the six deaths occurred in two coastal parishes Acadia and Calcasieu. Three other people died in the eastern and northern part of the state. Officials attributed four of the deaths to falling trees. A 24-year-old man also died from carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator, the department said. Another person who was in a boat during the storm drowned. The storm caused serious destruction. On the Calcasieu River, the Lake Charles Isle of Capri Casino Barge broke free of its moorings and slammed into a bridge along Interstate 10, the highway that connects Houston and New Orleans. Image: Hurricane Laura Makes Landfall On US Gulf Coast (Eric Thayer / Getty Images) A few miles away, a fire at a chemical manufacturing plant in the city of Westlake prompted a shelter-in-place advisory after a giant plume of smoke rose into the sky. The fire at the BioLab plant, which makes household cleaners, was burning chlorine. No injuries or deaths have been reported at the plant or casino. In the city of Lake Charles, population roughly 78,000, images of a major financial building, the Capital One Tower, showed dozens of windows that had been blown out. Meteorology student Levi Newell, 20, who documented the storm in the city overnight, told NBC News that he saw sections of drywall and roofs whipping through town. Story continues Lake Charles will look very different when the sun rises, Newell tweeted. Absolute devastation. In the nearby community of Moss Bluff, Brett Geymann told the Associated Press that Laura sounded like a jet engine when it passed over his house at 2 a.m. He compared the storms destruction to a thousand tornadoes. There are houses that are totally gone, he said. As of 7 p.m. C.T., nearly 540,000 customers were without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us, a site that tracks, records, and aggregates power outages across the U.S. The Louisiana Department of Health estimated that another 220,000 people were without drinking water. Still, the potentially catastrophic 15 to 20 foot storm surge that the National Hurricane Center had predicted appeared to remain several feet lower. Forecasters attributed this in part to timing Laura made landfall when the tide had begun to recede and because the storm shifted east slightly, preventing a direct hit on Lake Charles. In Texas, where nearly 300,000 customers were without power, according to PowerOutage.us, Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday that the state dodged a bullet. When you consider the magnitude of the damage that could have occurred here, we dodged a bullet, Abbott said. If we make it through a Category 4 hurricane that ripped through the coastline all the way up through the Texarkana area, and we have been able to have minimal or perhaps no loss of life thats a miracle. Gettyimagesbank South Korea's total population inched up last year, but elderly people continued to outnumber children due to a rapid aging trend and a record low birth rate, the national census showed Friday. A total of 51.78 million people lived in South Korea as of Nov. 1, 2019, up 0.3 percent, or 150,000, from a year earlier, according to the 2019 census by Statistics Korea. The agency started to hold a census based on national resident registration records every year in 2016, with the conventional person-to-person survey to be conducted every five years. Out of the total, the number of South Korean nationals reached 50 million, while foreign residents who stayed in the country for at least three months totaled 1.78 million, accounting for 2.9 percent. Some 50 percent of South Korea's population, 25.89 million, lived in the capital city area that covers Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province. Seoul saw its residents decline 0.4 percent to 9.64 million last year, while people in Gyeonggi Province rose 1.5 percent to 13.3 million. Busan, the country's second-largest city on the southeastern coast, was home to 6.5 percent of the population, or 3.37 million people. The study showed that South Korea is rapidly aging, with the proportion of people aged over 65 years rising 5.5 percent to 7.75 million last year, making up 15.5 percent of all citizens. It marks the third straight year that the number of seniors surpassed that of the youth aged zero to 14, which amounted to 6.31 million in 2019. As a result, South Korea's elderly-child index, which measures the ratio of people over 65 to every 100 children between 0 and 14, stood at 122.7 in 2019, up from 114.1 tallied a year ago. The agency said the surge is attributable to the country's fast-aging population, coupled with a low birthrate, which fell to a record low in 2019. The data also showed that the country's economically active population contracted last year. The number of people in the age group reached 35.94 million last year, accounting for 71.9 percent of the total. In 2018, such population amounted to 36.1 million, which accounted for 72.2 percent of the total, they showed. There were 20.89 million households in the country last year, up 1.9 percent from a year earlier, with an average of 2.39 members. One-member households were the main family type in 2019, accounting for 30.2 percent, while the typical four-member families took up 16.2 percent. About 51 percent of South Korean families, or 10.01 million households, reside in apartments, followed by 31 percent living in detached houses. (Yonhap) He was waiting for me at a bus stop. And a police officer came and asked him, What are you doing here? said Lancaster, a professor of nursing at Lehman College in the Bronx. He told him he was waiting for me. And the officer asked him again. And again. It kept going on and on. The only thing that saved him was me getting off the bus. August 28, 2020 The marijuana industry has seen a lot of growth with every passing year. It is a fact that has made investors take notice, and through it, they have made sure that they use their money and incorporate technology in the cannabis industry and offer the best brand. Using new technology ensures that the cannabis industry keeps getting better and better. Technology has revolutionized how business happens in the modern world. The cannabis industry has not been left behind. As long as innovations are happening and technology is improving, then the cannabis industry will continue to flourish. The improvements will continue because the policies are less strict compared to the past. It is a good idea for anyone who wants to invest in the marijuana industry. Technology has changed the way people conduct their businesses, and the cannabis industry has not been left behind. Here are several ways in which technology has changed the cannabis industry. Job creation Financial analysts predict that by 2015, the cannabis industry will be worth more than $6.59 billion or more. Technology has played a big role in helping the industry as well as reducing federal interference. Almost all fifty states in the United States have legalized marijuana for recreational and medical purposes. It shows that people and governments have come a long way from the famed "War on drug" to accepting that marijuana can help people with medical conditions. As a result, a lot of people have benefited from the legalization of marijuana. Its medical benefits are great, and a lot of people have gained from its benefits since it became legal. When marijuana was legalized in most of the states, people were able to create sites where they could market the product and earn money in the process. DNA Sequencing As mentioned earlier, many states in the U.S. have been passing laws that legalize marijuana. It is vital to understand that allowing these products to trade in the market has also opened up many avenues, including several scientific breakthroughs. Marijuana is a plant that has made many scientists wonder because of its brain-altering compounds. However, there are many chemicals associated with the plant, including CBD, THC, and hundreds of other compounds. A company based in Colorado is already leading the way in trying to come to sequence the plant's DNA in an attempt to understand how the plant has so many chemicals that are beneficial to the human body. The company is using the CRISPR gene editing to grow marijuana, which does not have CBD or THC compounds. The company expects that if the experiments are successful, they can come up with customized crops that will be easier to grow, and they also expect that they will have different flavors. The scientists also expect to grow plants that have more rare forms of cannabinoids such as CBC, which is known to have very strong anti-inflammatory properties. Personalized weed products Coming up with the correct blend of CBD and THC is a challenge because when people try to do it themselves, the processes are usually incorrect, and the end product is not what one would expect. Technology solves this problem by helping the experts to put in measured contents when processing cannabis contents. Some companies are using new ways to personalize how the cannabis products are administered, including using a saliva swab test, which makes use of more than 70 genetic markers to come up with a profile of your response to cannabinoids. After the analysis is complete, it generates a report which shows your compatibility with different cannabis strains. App retail Buying and marketing cannabis products have changed a lot since its legalization. Technology has made it possible for people and companies to develop applications through which people can buy marijuana products without problems or fear from federal authorities. There are stores out there where marijuana products are on sale, and they are clearly labeled. Some of those stores are so professional that they rival Apple (News - Alert) Stores. To sum it up Technology will continue to influence the cannabis industry. There are many apps and websites out there where you can get marijuana products. It is even possible to have the products delivered to your doorstep. Reggie Cunningham Like many entrepreneurs right now, Dionna Dorsey knows how important it is to be nimble with your business strategy, as she was forced to make her own "pandemic pivot" due to the unprecedented effects of COVID-19 on many small businesses. Dorsey is the founder of Dionna Dorsey Design, a boutique design company that offers consultation on creative direction, brand strategy and graphic design. Unfortunately, she experienced the crippling financial affects of the pandemic, leading her to switch gears and focus more full-time on her side hustle, District of Clothing, a lifestyle brand "encouraging progression, inspiring action and supporting self-love." Reggie Cunningham You've likely seen her inspiring designs pop-up on Instagram District of Clothing's "Trust Black Women" range reflects on the current mood of the country in the wake of Breonna Taylor's murder and the racial unrest spreading across the nation. And while wearing one of Dorsey's designs feels like a small act of social justice, it's also an endorsement of her Black-run business, something that she says humbles her as she reflects on her decades-long career in design, over the course of which she's had many highs and lows and experienced the effects of systemic racism. Reggie Cunningham Below, Dorsey opens up about running her own business in the pandemic climate and what she hopes is next for the future of fashion. Have you always been interested in fashion? Yeah, absolutely. I think I was as young as maybe 7 or 8 years old when I first saw Audrey Hepburn in a film and my entire life changed. I wanted to know everything about her. That and having a love for coloring books sparked my passion for fashion. I attended fashion design school in Milan. I was a fashion designer in New York City for almost six years until the economy tanked in 2008. I was eventually laid off and moved home to Washington D.C. where I thought I would be able to get a job quickly. That just wasn't the case. Since I couldn't get hired, I sort of had to hire myself. Story continues How have you adjusted your platform to stay afloat, financially, during the pandemic? During the first week of March, I noticed a quick downturn in client requests and business at my company Dionna Dorsey Design. By the second week, I would say I was down 50%, and by the third week, I was down about 75-80%. I was like, "Okay I have to quickly do a pivot here." I was grateful that I had positioned myself years earlier with this side hustle, District of Clothing, to be able to have something to pivot to. My first thought was, "Well, let's adjust the website." But I had this idea for a collection back in 2019 that I hadn't yet released. I thought to release it now because there's no time like the present. What was the result? I get emotional just thinking about it, but obviously we never imagined that we would be experiencing a global pandemic in 2020.We never imagined that people like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor would be murdered. But seeing people wear Common Purpose, Trust Black Women, Dreamer/Doer and Do Not Touch the Artwork apparel lines that I've designed while marching and protesting in the streets is such an honor. Reggie Cunningham District of Clothing is what I consider my little side hustle baby; the side hustle that's not a side hustle. It's very much a living, breathing, entity for me. As a Black woman in the fashion industry, how have you experienced systematic racism? I think there's so much to unpack here. I would definitely say that I remember being in my office and my coworkers confusing me with the other young Black woman every single day. I remember hearing the N-word multiple times on my first professional retreat. Reggie Cunningham I also remember not being paid appropriately, especially for some of the things that I was a part of. With that, I grew and learned. I understood what it meant to eventually own my own business. I'm just so thankful I had so many allies that were constantly helping me through each day as a designer in New York City. How can the industry do better? If there's anything that needs to be retired right now in the fashion industry, it would be cultural appropriation and this performative sense of giving back and helping. Sometimes I see some of these brands that are making donations to various organizations or movements and I just chuckle. It's great, but I also know that's probably their party budget for 2021. It is my hope that young women and young People of Color will continue to feel encouraged to keep moving forward from a creative perspective. And that they will see that if I did it, you can do it too. What's something you would tell your teenage self? Oh my goodness. The first thing I would say is, "Whatever it is girl, you got it. Just keep believing in yourself and keep going." I would also probably tell her to stop plucking her eyebrows. I'm still trying to get these eyebrows back. I think I would really tell myself, "You're going to be okay but you have to keep going. Don't let the fear stop you. And it is okay to pause, it is okay to sit down. It is okay to be still, it is okay to take some steps back but you just have to keep going." 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. Climate change is causing more rapid intensification of Atlantic hurricanes Posted on 28 August 2020 by Guest Author This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters Hurricane Laura put on a phenomenal show of rapid intensification prior to landfall, increasing in strength by 65 mph in just 24 hours on August 26, 2020. That ties Hurricane Karl of 2010 for fastest intensification rate in the Gulf of Mexico on record. In the 24 hours prior to landfall, Lauras winds increased by 45 mph, and the mighty hurricane made landfall in western Louisiana as a category 4 storm with 150 mph winds the strongest landfalling hurricane in Louisiana history, and the fifth-strongest hurricane on record to make a continental U.S. landfall. Lauras rapid intensification was a disturbing deja vu of what had happened just two years earlier. As Hurricane Michael sped northwards on October 9, 2018, towards a catastrophic landfall on Floridas Panhandle, the mighty hurricane made an exceptionally rapid intensification. Michaels winds increased by 45 mph in the final 24 hours before landfall, taking it from a low-end category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds to catastrophic category 5 storm with 160 mph winds. And Michaels performance echoed what had happened in 2017, when Hurricane Harvey rapidly intensified by 40 mph in the 24 hours before landfall, from a Category 1 storm with 90 mph winds to a Category 4 storm with 130 mph winds. Human-caused climate change causing more rapidly intensifying Atlantic hurricanes Unfortunately, not only is human-caused climate change making the strongest hurricanes stronger, it is also making dangerous rapidly intensifying hurricanes like Laura and Michael and Harvey more common. According to research published in 2019 in Nature Communications, Atlantic hurricanes showed highly unusual upward trends in rapid intensification during the period 1982 2009, trends that can be explained only by including human-caused climate change as a contributing cause. The largest change occurred in the strongest 5% of storms: for those, 24-hour intensification rates increased by about 3 4 mph per decade between 1982 2009. Led by hurricane scientist Kieran Bhatia of NOAAs Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory and titled Recent increases in tropical cyclone intensification rates the study used the HiFLOR model to simulate intense hurricanes. HiFLOR is widely accepted as the best high-resolution global climate model for simulating intense hurricanes. Dangerous scenario rapidly intensifying hurricane making landfall Rapidly intensifying hurricanes like Michael and Harvey that strengthen just before landfall are among the most dangerous storms, as they can catch forecasters and populations off guard, risking inadequate evacuation efforts and large casualties. A particular concern is that intensification rate increases are not linear as the intensity of a storm increases they increase by the square power of the intensity. Lack of warning and rapid intensification just before landfall were key reasons for the high death toll from the 1935 Labor Day hurricane in the Florida Keys, the most intense hurricane on record to hit the U.S. That storm intensified by 80 mph in the 24 hours before landfall, and it topped out as a Category 5 hurricane with 185 mph winds and an 892 mb pressure at landfall. At least 408 people were killed, making it the eighth-deadliest hurricane in U.S. history. Another rapidly intensifying hurricane at landfall, Hurricane Audrey in June 1957, tracked on nearly the same course as Hurricane Laura. Audrey was the seventh deadliest U.S. hurricane, killing at least 416. Its winds increased by 35 mph in the 24 hours before landfall near the Texas/Louisiana border as a Category 3 hurricane with 125 mph winds. Lack of warning and an unexpectedly intense landfall were cited as key reasons for the high death toll. With todays satellites, radar, regular hurricane hunter flights, and advanced computer forecast models, the danger that another Audrey or 1935 Labor Day hurricane could take us by surprise is lower. But all of that sophisticated technology didnt help much for 2007s Hurricane Humberto, which hit Texas as a Category 1 storm with 90 mph winds. Humberto had the most rapid increase in intensity, 65 mph, in the 24 hours before landfall of any Atlantic hurricane since 1950. A mere 18 hours before landfall, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in 2007 had predicted a landfall intensity of just 45 mph, increasing its forecast estimate to 65 mph six hours later. Its fortunate that Humberto was not a stronger system, as the lack of adequate warning could have led to serious losses of life. Historical records show that since 1950, the eight storms have intensified by at least 40 mph in the 24 hours before landfall. It is sobering to see three of those storms, below in bold face, occurred in the past four years: Humberto, 2007 (65 mph increase); King 1950 (60 mph increase); Eloise 1975 (60 mph increase); Danny 1997 (50 mph increase); Laura 2020 (45 mph increase); Michael 2018 (45 mph increase); Harvey 2017 (40 mph increase); and Cindy 2005 (40 mph increase). Extreme rapid intensification rates just before landfall to become more common In a 2016 study Will Global Warming Make Hurricane Forecasting More Difficult? from the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society MIT hurricane scientist Kerry Emanuel used a computer model that generated a set of 22,000 landfalling U.S. hurricanes between 1979 and 2005. Emanuel then compared their intensification rates to a similar set of hurricanes generated in the climate expected at the end of the 21st century. For the future climate, he assumed a business-as-usual approach to climate change the path we are currently on. Emanuel found that the odds of a hurricane intensifying by 70 mph or more in the 24 hours just before landfall were about once every 100 years in the climate of the late 20th century. But in the climate of the year 2100, these odds increased to once every 5 10 years. Whats more, 24-hour pre-landfall intensifications of 115 mph or more, essentially nonexistent in the late 20th-century climate, would occur as often as once every 100 years by the year 2100. Emanuel found that major metropolitan areas most at risk for extreme intensification rates just before landfall included Houston, New Orleans, Tampa/St. Petersburg, and Miami. Figure 1. VIIRS image of Super Typhoon Haiyan at 1619 UTC November 7, 2013. Haiyan at that point was about to make landfall near Tacloban in the Philippines with 190 mph winds, the strongest land-falling tropical cyclone in recorded history. (Image credit: NOAA/CIRA) Eight-fold increase in ultra-intense hurricanes predicted The same HiFLOR high-resolution global climate model for simulating intense hurricanes referenced above produced some rather startling findings detailed in a 2018 paper, Projected Response of Tropical Cyclone Intensity and Intensification in a Global Climate Model. The scientists who authored that paper forecast a dramatic increase in the global incidence of rapid intensification as a result of global warming, and a 20% increase in the number of major hurricanes globally. For the Atlantic, the model projected an increase from three major hurricanes per year in the climate of the late 20th century, to five major hurricanes per year in the climate of the late 21st century. The HiFLOR model also predicted a highly concerning increase in ultra-intense Category 5 tropical cyclones with winds of at least 190 mph from an average of about one of these Super Typhoon Haiyanlike storms occurring once every eight years globally in the climate of the late 20th century, to one such megastorm per year between 2081 to 2100 a factor of eight increase. Even more concerning was that the results of the study were for a middle-of-the road global warming scenario (called RCP 4.5), which civilization will have to work very hard to achieve. Under the current business-as-usual track, the model would be expected to predict an even higher increase in ultra-intense tropical cyclones. One technique for computing hurricane damage uses ICATs damage estimator to review all contiguous land-falling U.S. hurricanes between 1900 2017. That technique computes the amount of damage they would do currently and corrects for changes in wealth and population. It finds that while Category 4 and 5 hurricanes made up only 13% of all U.S. hurricane landfalls during that period, they caused 52% of all the hurricane damage. Given that assessment, its very concerning that the HiFLOR model, the best model for simulating current and future behavior of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes, is predicting a large increase in the number of these destructive storms. Even more concerning is the models prediction of a global factor of eight increase in catastrophic Category 5 storms with winds of at least 190 mph by the end of the century and that under a moderate global warming scenario. All of which leads to the regrettable conclusion that the prospects for quickly intensifying storms as they approach landfall are likely to increase in a warming world. Woman Alleges Race Played Role in Shoplifting False Arrest A Black woman is suing El Segundo and the parent company of Anthropologie stores, alleging she was arrested and falsely accused of shoplifting last summer because of the color of her skin. Sheronda M. Bonners Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit, filed Friday, alleges civil rights violations, false arrest and imprisonment, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress and negligent supervision. She seeks unspecified damages. Urban Outfitters issued a statement regarding the lawsuit. ADVERTISEMENT Anthropologie explicitly prohibits profiling based on race or other invidious discrimination, the statement read. In furtherance of fostering a welcoming environment for all our customers, we have instituted diversity, inclusion and implicit bias training for all employees. Many training sessions have been completed over the summer with additional trainings planned. Anthropologie is in the process of investigating the allegations contained in the lawsuit, which has not been served yet, and will determine how to respond following the conclusion of its investigation. El Segundo also released a statement, saying the city takes all allegations of racial discrimination very seriously and will be reviewing the details of the lawsuit. According to the lawsuit, the case arises from employees of an Anthropologie store who see an entitlement that says only certain people belong in the store, their unfounded and false report to the El Segundo Police Department that accused plaintiff of grand theft and the El Segundo Police Departments false arrest of Sheronda M. Bonner, an older Black woman. El Segundo police handcuffed the 53-year-old plaintiff and put her in jail, according to her court papers. They required her to remove her bra and she spent numerous hours in jail until she posted bond all because of the color of her skin, the suit alleges. ADVERTISEMENT Bonner went to Anthropologie on Sepulveda Boulevard with a male companion on Aug. 24, 2019, and looked at a romper and a long dress, but she did not buy anything because the prices were too high, the suit states. She had a bag that measured eight inches by five inches and held her cellphone, credit cards and car keys, but neither she nor her companion, who is not a plaintiff, had a shopping bag, according to the suit. After leaving the store, El Segundo police officers detained Bonner and her companion, told them that cameras were rolling and that they were the subject of an investigation because the store manager identified them as shoplifters, the suit states. Employees of Anthopologie stores have confirmed that they were told to watch people of color closely and would refer to them as `nicks to other employees, the complaint alleges. Until recently, Anthropologie sold a candlestick that resembled an Aunt Jemima figure, the suit states. In 2003, the stores sold a Monopoly knockoff, Ghettopoly, that featured properties with names such as Cheap Trick Avenue and Smittys XXX Peep, according to the suit, which says the NAACP called for the end to the production and sale of the racist board game. Both Bonner and her companion were arrested, although he was cited and released after about four hours, the suit says. She was not let out until she posted $2,000 bail, and was placed on leave from her job at Los Angeles International Airport pending the resolution of the case, which ended with no charges filed, according to the suit. Based on the allegedly false shoplifting report by the Anthropologie manager and lack of probable cause by El Segundo police to arrest Bonner, the plaintiff suffered economic damages and emotional distress, the suit states. Acto, a Toronto, Canada-based education and engagement platform for life sciences companies, raised $11.5m in Series A funding. The round was led by Resolve Growth Partners. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its business reach. Led by CEO Parth Khanna, Acto provides an education and engagement platform for life sciences companies. The company uses AI-powered mobile experiences and agency partnerships to educate and engage field reps, physicians and patients, while giving senior commercial and clinical leaders real-time insights. Acto currently works with more than 60 drug and medical device manufacturers on brand strategies and outreach tactics. FinSMEs 28/08/2020 Postal union leaders in five battleground states told ABC News that they have seen few concrete steps to reverse or halt a set of cost-cutting measures that have slowed mail service, despite assurances last week from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy that he would suspend those initiatives until after the general election. DeJoys announcement led to confusion among some in the Postal Service ranks as to whether he meant there would not be cutbacks in addition to the ones already in place, which include reductions in overtime and limiting mail carrier trips, or if it meant a return to prior operational standards before the cuts altogether. For now, the union officials said DeJoy's initiatives remain in place -- despite a deluge of legal and legislative efforts to reverse them. As a result, and with the clock ticking on election day, many of them said the mail continues to pile up in sorting facilities. Nick Casselli, the president of the Philadelphia postal union, said overtime pay has not come back fully, post offices are still operating with slashed hours, and trucks are still being instructed not to stay and wait for all of the mail to be loaded on in an effort to keep to a stricter schedule, instead of staying later. "Nothing has changed," he said, echoing concerns from postal union leaders in major cities in Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina and Colorado. In a press release issued last week, DeJoy said he would [suspend] these initiatives until after the election is concluded to avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail. He specifically stated that retail hours at Post Offices will not change, mail processing equipment and blue collection boxes will remain where they are, and [reasserted] that overtime has, and will continue to be, approved as needed. (MORE: As states threaten lawsuits, postmaster general suspends mail-handling changes until after election) PHOTO: A mail carrier delivers mail to an apartment building in Bethesda, Md. on Aug. 21, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Despite his promise to suspend the measures, however, some lawmakers and postal workers said they want them fully reversed. On the matter of mail sorting machines, for example, DeJoy pledged to halt removals -- but refused to reinstall those that have already been taken offline. Story continues When asked for clarification on DeJoy's comments, a Postal Service spokesperson referred ABC News to the postmaster generals congressional testimony. With a record-setting number of Americans expected to vote by mail amid the coronavirus pandemic, critics said they fear the measures he enacted could threaten the election and undermine voter confidence in submitting absentee ballots. DeJoy, a former logistics company executive and longtime Republican donor, said during his congressional testimony last Friday that any allegation he is using the cost-cutting measures to "[try] to have any negative impact on the election is an outrageous claim." MORE: 5 takeaways from postmaster general's grilling on mail-in voting The postmaster general has acknowledged a dip in service levels since enacting the cost-cutting measures earlier this summer. But he claimed to lawmakers during a hearing on Monday that the agency is already seeing a nice recovery in mail delivery times. Union leaders told ABC News that simply pausing the changes does little to curb delays, saying the cuts already in place are still impacting mail service in their areas. The mail is still being delayed, said Daleo Freeman, a postal union president in Cleveland. The damage has been done. Meanwhile, legislators in Washington, D.C., said they are planning their next steps to ensure the Postal Service follows through on its pledge to suspend changes. Like I said when Louis DeJoy, under pressure, announced a suspension of changes: talk is cheap, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, said in a statement to ABC News. Ill be watching DeJoys actions, not just his words -- and working with my colleagues to hold him accountable." PHOTO: Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testifies during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on slowdowns at the Postal Service ahead of the November elections on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC., Aug. 24, 2020. (Tom Williams/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) 'We hear verbal promises all the time' In Cleveland, Freeman said he and other postal workers were first made aware of the cost-cutting initiatives during a meeting in June, shortly after DeJoys arrival. Since then, he said, workers have not observed any reversals implemented on the ground, nor have they been told of plans to suspend the changes. Keith Combs, a postal service president in Detroit, said the same applies to workers there. He said that as far as he knows, the postal service is "still to this point operating per the initial instructions from Postmaster General DeJoy." The union is quite used to management saying one thing and doing another, Combs added. We hear verbal promises all the time, and we cannot rely on those promises. Cuts to overtime and diminished truck trips persist, the union leaders said. Mail sorting machines remain offline, too. When defending the decision not to reinstall the sorting machines that already had been taken out of commission, DeJoy told lawmakers they were simply not necessary. (MORE: Timeline: This years political fight over the Postal Service) Postal workers feel strongly otherwise, according to the union officials. Casselli, Philadelphias union president, said removing the mail sorting machines is akin to "taking a rifle off a soldier in a battle. We can't deliver the mail without these machines, Casselli said. In Charlotte, N.C., Miriam Bell, the local union president, said at least eight of the 28 mail sorting machines at her facility have been removed. Bell echoed her fellow presidents in saying she had not heard any directives that changes to other protocols would be reversed. Even in states where mail delays have not yet set in, fear of impending service drops remain. In Colorado, where delivery times remain steady, Robert Helmig, the president of a statewide postal union, said he worries cuts to overtime could lead to a snowball effect in mail pileups. It hasnt hit us yet, Helmig said. But you can see the clouds forming and the skies darkening and the lightning off in the distance. And its like, yep, its going to storm. Its coming. Were going to get hit." PHOTO: A mail carrier delivers mail in the Brooklyn, NY, Aug. 21, 2020. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) With lawsuits and legislation, Democrats push back In anticipation of what they are concerned could be further damage to the Postal Service, Democrats in state governments and Congress have sought to hold DeJoy accountable for his pledge to suspend the cost-cutting initiatives. Democratic attorneys general in 24 states plus Washington, D.C., have cumulatively filed three separate lawsuits targeting the Postal Service and the postmaster general. One of the lawsuits, led by Washington state, charges the postmaster general with hindering the states constitutional right to conduct free and fair elections. Another, led by New York, claims mailing executives failed to seek approval for the changes from a regulatory board with oversight of the agency. All three will attempt to reverse DeJoys initiatives. (MORE: In new lawsuit, New York state adds to mounting legal pressure on Postal Service over mail-in voting) We are seeking to overturn those changes go back to the way they were delivering mail in a timely manner before, said Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who is leading a third lawsuit. Our lawsuit is full steam ahead, he added. And we will pursue this on an expedited basis in court, so that the mail can begin to flow again regularly and that people can have faith that their ballots will be mailed and received in a timely manner. When asked about lawsuits before they were filed, White House Deputy Press Sarah Matthews dismissed them as "politically motivated." After back-to-back hearings in the House and Senate, some Democratic lawmakers remain unconvinced of DeJoys commitment to roll back initiatives, despite assurances that election mail will be made a priority. We can't take DeJoy's statements at face value, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., tweeted after hearing the postmaster generals testimony. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., the chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, introduced a bill this week meant to de-politicize appointees to the Postal Service Board of Governors and executive positions. The Postal Service inspector generals probe of cost-cutting changes and DeJoys financial interests also remains ongoing. Meanwhile, postal workers on the ground remain in limbo, told of changes publicly without evidence of concrete steps all while they say the mail continues to pile up in warehouses. "They have given the promises, but I haven't seen anything in writing, said Combs, from Detroit. We've been asking: for everything that's going to be reinstated, tell us about it. Put it in writing. I still today haven't received anything in writing." Despite USPS chief DeJoy's pledge, postal unions say mail delays persist originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A Kenyan governor and four of his children have been arraigned in court over the alleged embezzlement of public funds amounting to 73m Kenyan shillings ($675,000; 511,000). Governor Okoth Obado of Migori county in western Kenya is accused of indirectly receiving the money through his children - who received multiple payments from companies trading with the county government The money was used to, among other things, pay for his children's school fees, upkeep, maintenance and medical bills in Australia and the UK, according to the public prosecutor. Mr Obado and his co-accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges and asked to be released on bail pending trial. The governor and his children were arrested on Wednesday after being summoned for questioning by anti-corruption officials. They have been charged alongside directors of the companies named in the court papers. The governor was in September 2018 charged with aiding and abetting the brutal murder of his ex-girlfriend, who was a pregnant university student. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was released on bail. That case is still ongoing. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Supreme Court ruled on Friday students cannot be promoted without writing the final year or terminal semester examinations, upholding a July 6 directive of the University Grants Commission (UG). However, states will have the liberty to defer such exams beyond the September 30 deadline in view of the coronavirus pandemic, the three-judge bench headed by justice Ashok Bhushan said. States cannot promote students based on internal assessment or past performance. If states want to hold exams after September 30, they can approach UGC for the same, the bench said. Also Watch | JEE, NEET 2020: Should exams be postponed? Education minister answers Yuva Sena, the youth wing of the Shiv Sena, is among several petitioners in the top court who questioned UGCs directive to hold examinations amid the coronavirus pandemic. The bench had reserved its verdict on the issue on August 18. UGC had earlier told the top court that its July 6 directive, asking universities and colleges to conduct final year exams by September 30 amid the Covid-19 pandemic, is not a diktat but states cannot take the decision to confer degrees without holding the exams. The benefit of students as the universities have to start admissions to postgraduate courses and state authorities cannot override the UGCs guideline, it had added. On August 10, UGC had questioned the decisions of Delhi and Maharashtra governments to cancel final year exams of state universities amid the Covid-19 pandemic, saying they were against the rules. The Solicitor General had earlier informed the bench that out of over 800 universities in the country, 209 have completed the examinations while around 390 universities are in the process of conducting exams. UGC had said that in June this year, considering the evolving situation of the pandemic, it requested an expert committee to revisit the guidelines in which it had asked the universities to hold final year examinations in July 2020. The committee submitted a report recommending that terminal semester and final year examinations should be conducted by universities by the end of September, 2020 in offline or pen and paper or online or offline mode, UGC had said. UGC had said, while assailing the decisions of some states like Maharashtra and Delhi of cancelling the final year exams, that such decisions directly affect the standards of higher education. It will be an encroachment on the legislative field of coordinating and determining the standards of higher education that is exclusively reserved for Parliament under Schedule VII of the Constitution, it had said. (With agency inputs) Four terrorists, including a former police constable, were Friday killed in an encounter with security forces, while another surrendered, in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. The former Jammu and Kashmir police constable, identified as Shakoor Parray, was the district commander of the Al-Badr outfit. Another terrorist involved in the abduction and killing of a panch from Khanmoh area of Srinagar whose body was recovered from Shopian on Friday was among the killed terrorists. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Kiloora area of Shopian district in south Kashmir, following specific information about the presence of terrorists, a police spokesperson said. During the search operation when the presence of terrorists was ascertained, they were given an opportunity to surrender, however, they opened fired indiscriminately at the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter, he said. The spokesperson said in the ensuing encounter, four terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of the encounter. Srinagar-based Defence spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia said one militant also surrendered during the encounter. "One terrorist (has) surrendered. Two AKs and three pistols recovered (from the encounter site)," he said. However, the police spokesperson said, during the encounter, police and security forces while exhibiting extreme professionalism also arrested one active terrorist, identified as Shoiab Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Awantipora. The killed terrorists have been identified as Suhail Bhat, Zubair Nengroo and Shakir-ul-Jabbar. As per police records, Parray got engaged as a special police officer (SPO) in 2014 in district police Kulgam. Meanwhile, on operational grounds, he was converted as a constable in the police department and was adjusted in police district Awantipora, the police spokesperson said. He said later on, Parray was transferred from Awantipora district to Anantnag district, where he took away four rifles from the other officials and joined the terrorist outfit. After joining the terrorist group, Parray got active in the area and distributed the snatched weapons among his close associates, the spokesperson said, adding that he was the main handler of the proscribed outfit Al-Badr and was involved in recruiting youth into terror ranks. All the killed terrorists had a long history of terror crime records and were involved in planning and executing several terror attacks in the area, including attacks on police and security establishments, the police spokesperson said. Parray and Suhail Bhat were also involved in the recent abduction and killing of a panch from Khanmoh area of the city, he said, adding that they were also involved in abduction of a Territorial Army soldier Shakir Manzoor Wagay, a resident of Shopian who has been reportedly killed. Police on Friday recovered the body of the panch, who was reported missing 10 days ago from Khonmoh area of the city, from Shopian district of south Kashmir. Local residents of Dangam village in Shopian informed the police that a body seems to have been buried inside an orchard of the village, police said. The deceased man was later identified as Nisar Ahmad Bhat, 45, a panch affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party, who was reported missing since August 19 by his family at Panthachowk in the city. The police spokesperson said keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from inherent risk of contracting the infection, the bodies of the militants shall be sent to Handwara for burial purposes after completion of all formalities. The nearest family members of the killed terrorists shall be allowed to participate in the last rites at Handwara, he said. Incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from the site of the encounter and they have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes, the spokesperson added. Virgin Atlantic will start direct flights to Pakistan from December this year, the British airline announced. Direct flights will be flown from Heathrow Airport to both Islamabad and Lahore, Dawn news quoted the airline as saying in a statement on Thursday. Additionally, the airline will operate direct flights to Islamabad from Manchester Airport. Bookings will start from September, it added. The announcement comes after the British Airways (BA) sought permission from Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) to operate flights to Lahore. Also Watch: Earlier this week, a team of experts from the airline had visited Allama Iqbal International Airport to review arrangements made by the airport management. The British flag started flights to Islamabad this month, which had been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. BA had resumed flights to Pakistan in 2019, after an 11-year hiatus. The airline had suspended services to Pakistan in September 2008 in the wake of the Marriott Hotel bombing in Islamabad. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 28) Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin, Jr. said he will recommend ending local contracts with Chinese firms found to be behind incursions in the South China Sea, similar to sanctions imposed by the United States. "Yes, if I find any of those companies are doing business with us, then I would strongly recommend we terminate that relationship with them. If they were in any way involved in the reclamation, then it becomes consistent on our part to terminate any contract with them," Locsin told CNN Philippines' The Source on Friday. "Of course, since the contract was already entered into, they could sue us back... I'm very careful about validating anything China does by inaction," he added, saying he still needs to coordinate with the Department of Transportation and the National Economic and Development Authority if any approved or ongoing projects are being carried out with Chinese partners covered by US sanctions. Washington has taken an aggressive stance against China's incursion in the South China Sea. Just this week, the US government imposed sanctions on Beijing's state-run firms as well as visa restrictions on Chinese nationals involved in reclamation and militarization activities in disputed waters. RELATED: The US and China say they're making progress on trade, even as other tensions worsen China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told state media Xinhua that its construction activities "are entirely within its sovereignty," adding that the activities of state firms are legitimate and lawful. He went on to call the US sanctions as "unjustified," telling Washington to stop meddling in Beijing's affairs. Also covered by the blacklist are workers of China-owned enterprises including subsidiaries of China Communications Construction Company. The same company is tapped as partner of Lucio Tan's MacroAsia Corporation in upgrading the Sangley Airport in Cavite. CNN Philippines is striving to get comments from the project proponents. For his part, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla said he will wait for the national government's official decision. "We will wait for the President's directive. This is a very complex issue with geopolitical implications. I cannot weigh on this alone," he said via text message. Malacanang said President Rodrigo Duterte's "main consideration is what is best for the countrys Build, Build, Build program." It also appealed to the US and China for calm, without commenting on Locsin's proposed sanctions. "The Philippines considers the United States and China as special friends and trading partners. We hope that both partners of the Philippines will be able to draw an understanding and resolve any and all issues between them amicably and peacefully," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement. The Cavite provincial government awarded the contract to the joint venture of MacroAsia and CCCC in February. The state-owned construction firm in China was blacklisted by the World Bank from 2011 to 2017 for engaging in "fraudulent practices" in building the Philippines' National Roads Improvement and Management Project. The US said China has been using its state-owned corporations to dredge and reclaim more than 3,000 acres of disputed features in the South China Sea, destabilize the region, trample on the sovereign rights of its neighbors, and cause untold environmental devastation. Earlier this month, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian flagged American presence in the South China Sea, saying they should stop trying to make trouble in the region. In 2016, a Hague-based international tribunal ruled as invalid Beijing's sweeping territorial stakes in the South China Sea and recognized Manilas sovereign rights within areas of its exclusive economic zone which China claims. Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and self-governing Taiwan also have their own territorial claims in the South China Sea. Despite the ruling, China has continued with its island-building activities in features covered by the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. Cynthia Miller, 14, died in the early hours of Thursday morning after Hurricane Laura threw a tree onto her home The first confirmed victim of Hurricane Laura has been named as a 14-year-old in Louisiana who died when a tree fell on her parents' bedroom as she rode out the storm with them and her two sisters. The heartbroken family of Cynthia Miller revealed the terrifying conditions as the Category 4 hurricane, among the strongest to ever hit the US, tore apart their home as they tried to shelter inside. Miller's hometown Leesville was not under an evacuation order and her Mom and Dad tragically believed that they would be safe. The damage caused by the storm left the Miller family abandoned for five hours as the rescue effort from the sheriff's office was forced to travel on foot and use chainsaws to cut apart trees that were blocking the roads. At least six people died in the US as the devastating storm ripped through Louisiana and Texas on Thursday. Other fatalities included a 68-year-old man who also died when trees fell on his home in Louisiana, as well as a 24-year-old man who died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator inside his residence. Another man drowned in a boat that sank during the storm, authorities said. Miller and her family tried to ride out the storm in their now destroyed home A rescue effort from the sheriff's office worked for five hours on foot, using a chainsaw to cut apart the trees that blocked the two -mile stretch of road to the Miller home Miller's heartbroken family, pictured, spoke about the terrifying night the storm hit It is feared that more fatalities may be discovered as rescue teams battle to clear the billions of dollars worth of damage caused by historic 150mph winds. Miller was the first reported death Thursday when she was killed in the early hours of the morning after being trapped underneath a fallen tree. Her family said she had been doing what she loved the most, reading, when the tree crashed down on top of them. 'It was scary, dark. It was terrifying. There was rain wind everywhere. It was huge ... We went to ride out the storm in our parents' room. Everyone was sitting in there and the tree it came down,' her sister Nellie told CBS News. 'I walked and tried to find Cindy cause she wasn't talking. And I tried to wake her up and she wouldn't wake up,' she added. Help remained unavailable as Cindy was pinned down by the tree and the sheriff's office battled on foot along the two-mile stretch of road covered in trees that led up to their home. Images of the aftermath show the enormous damage to the house as the family tried to come to terms with their loss. 'She was going to do something big,' her sister said of Cynthia. 'She was really smart. She wanted to go to Harvard and be a microbiologist.' Miller's family said the teenager was reading when she died Her family said the 14-year-old wanted to be a microbiologist The family's house was destroyed by the storm, pictured The rubble of the bedroom where they sought shelter remains Laura weakened to a Tropical Depression by Friday morning but fears of further twisters and flooding remained after a tornado apparently tore through a church and homes in Arkansas Thursday night. More than 580,000 evacuated from the Gulf Coast as authorities warned of the dangers of the storm earlier in the week. The hurricane's top wind speed of 150mph put it among the strongest systems on record in the U.S. More than 750,000 homes and businesses were without power in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas in the storm's wake, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports as of Friday morning. The National Weather Service reported that the storm was losing its tropical characteristics early that morning but that a flood threat continued. Up to 5 inches of rain were expected across the Tennessee Valley region before the system closed in on the Mid-Atlantic states by Saturday. Destroyed planes lie around a Southland Field airport hanger in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura in Sulphur, Louisiana, Thursday. The storm is now a Tropical Depression Buildings and homes are flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura. More than 580,000 were forced to evacuate along the Gulf Coast as the historic storm hit A couple go through their destroyed mobile home following the passing of hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Thursday. The true extent of the damage is not yet known On Saturday, Laura is expected to produce 1 to 2 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 3 inches across portions of the central and southern Appalachians, and the Mid-Atlantic States before strengthening again slightly before it moves into the northwest Atlantic. A sense of relief prevailed that Laura was not the annihilating menace forecasters had feared, but a full assessment of the damage could take days. Thunderstorms and sizzling heat were expected in the disaster area on Friday, complicating recovery efforts. The other victims of the hurricane have not yet been named. The storm was so powerful that it could regain strength after turning east and reaching the Atlantic Ocean, potentially threatening the densely populated Northeast. Laura hit 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. It was 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. Laura was tied with five other storms for fifth most powerful U.S. hurricane, behind the 1935's Labor Day storm, 1969's Camille, 1992's Andrew and 2004's Charley, Klotzbach said. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Drug firm Dr Reddy's Laboratories on Friday said the US health regulator Food has closed warning letter issued for three of its sites in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, following evaluation of corrective actions taken by the company. In November 2015, the company said it had received a warning letter from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for three of its sites -- active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facilities at Srikakulum, Andhra Pradesh, and Miryalguda, Telengana, and Oncology formulation manufacturing facility at Duvadda, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. "...We have now been informed by the USFDA that based on its evaluation, we have addressed the violations and deviations contained in the said warning letter. With this, the said warning letter has been closed," Dr Reddy's Laboratories said in a regulatory filing. Shares of Dr Reddy's Laboratories were trading 0.60 percent lower at Rs 4,411.30 apiece on the BSE. The new draw brings the total number of invitations issued so far this year to 3,299. Manitoba PNP invites 213 immigration candidates The new draw brings the total number of invitations issued so far this year to 3,299. Manitoba PNP invites 213 immigration candidates The new draw brings the total number of invitations issued so far this year to 3,299. Manitoba PNP invites 213 immigration candidates The new draw brings the total number of invitations issued so far this year to 3,299. Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Manitoba held a new draw inviting 213 candidates to apply for a provincial nomination on August 28. The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) invited skilled workers and international student graduates through three immigration streams: Skilled Workers in Manitoba, Skilled Workers Overseas and International Education streams. The invitations, also known as Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs), were distributed as follows along with their respective Expression of Interest (EOI) score requirement: Skilled Workers in Manitoba 171 LAAs with a minimum score of at least 475; Skilled Workers Overseas 8 LAAs with a minimum score of at least 824; and International Education Stream 34 LAAs, no EOI score requirement. The province has issued 3,299 LAAs to immigration candidates in these categories so far in 2020. This was Manitobas 97th draw since the program began in April 2014. Express Entry Among the LAAs issued in the August 28 draw, 23 went to candidates with a valid profile in the federal Express Entry system. Candidates who qualify for the Express Entry pool are ranked based on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score that considers human capital factors such as age, work experience, education, and language ability. The highest-scoring candidates are invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence through regular draws from the Express Entry pool. Those who receive a provincial nomination are awarded an additional 600 CRS points and are effectively guaranteed an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Express Entry candidates who received a provincial nomination from Manitoba in this draw declared a valid Express Entry ID and provided a job seeker validation code. Manitobas EOI system People who want to immigrate through Manitobas Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) need to register an Expression of Interest with the MPNP to receive an LAA through the Skilled Workers in Manitoba and Skilled Workers Overseas streams. Under Manitobas system, such candidates are ranked out of 1,000 points for human capital characteristics such as their English or French language skills, education, work experience, Manitoba connections, and other factors. About Manitoba immigration streams The Skilled Workers Overseas Category and Skilled Workers in Manitoba streams allow the province to nominate skilled workers who can support Manitobas labour market needs. People who are overseas need to have an established connection to Manitoba. This can be demonstrated through close family ties or friends in the province, previous experience in Manitoba, or an invitation under one of the MPNPs Strategic Recruitment Initiatives. Candidates do not need to be physically present in Manitoba at the time of the application to be eligible. Successful candidates in the Skilled Workers in Manitoba category must meet certain criteria, such as having a full-time permanent job offer from an employer in Manitoba. International students that graduated from an educational institution in Manitoba may receive an LAA under the International Education Stream if they have in-demand skills. 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. I was standing on Whittier Boulevard outside an East L.A. record store a few days ago with my friend and colleague, Chava Sanchez, while store manager Mario Reyes tried to explain the nuances of record player needles to a customer. They were standing right near the doorway of Sound of Music Records and Chava and I were eager to get in, but with the threat of COVID-19 all around us, we didn't want to push through and endanger anyone's physical health. While we waited, I wondered if this older Latino customer identified as Chicano. I wondered if he knew he was possibly standing in the path of a tear gas canister that killed L.A. Times columnist Ruben Salazar 50 years ago this Saturday. I wondered if the Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy, who shot that canister into this small building that used to be the Silver Dollar Bar and Cafe, thought twice about endangering the lives of those inside. "Maybe Ruben was murdered intentionally," I said to Chava, who nodded as he unpacked his camera. "Maybe the cop who killed him just didn't care about shooting tear gas into a building full of Brown people." Chava and I spent the better part of this week talking with people in East Los Angeles trying to find meaning and a deep connection to Aug. 29, 1970, when a peaceful anti-Vietnam War march known as the Chicano Moratorium ended violently after L.A. County Sheriff's deputies declared an unlawful assembly and broke it up with batons and projectiles. Three people died, including Salazar, who was there doing his job. And while there's nothing to prove he was intentionally targeted, there will always be speculation. Either way he died at the hands of someone with a badge -- a scenario that keeps repeating itself. We carried out our mission not just in the long shadow of a 50-year-old history, but in the blazing daylight of a string of recent police killings of Black and Brown people all across the country that have made me feel at times angry, sad and numb to the injustice of it all. 'ALL THAT HAPPENED HERE' Finally, we entered the store and saw the original Silver Dollar Bar and Cafe sign mounted near posters and photos of Ruben Salazar. It was surrounded by records of Black and Brown music, Chicano art, hats with L.A.'s iconic Latino neighborhoods scrolled on them. The Silver Dollar Bar sign hangs inside Sound of Music Records, which now occupies the space where journalist Ruben Salazar was killed on Aug. 29, 1970 during the Chicano Moratorium anti-Vietnam War protest. (Chava Sanchez/LAist) I asked Mario Reyes, whose dad owns the shop, if he remembers when he first heard of Salazar or of the National Chicano Moratorium Committee Against the Vietnam War, a movement that protested not just the war, but the use of young Brown men with few educational alternatives as cannon fodder. "I must have been like 20 when I first started working in the shop," he said. "And the veteranos would come around and talk about it. And I was like, 'Wow, really. All that happened here?'" I have to admit, both Chava and I, two Mexican American journalists deeply indebted to a pioneer like Ruben Salazar, were struggling to connect in a meaningful way to this important and often unheralded moment in American history. Part of that has to do with the numbness. We both grew up in a region where police disproportionately kill or use force on people of color. Our disconnect, I'm sure, also has to do with the fact that U.S. history usually leaves Latinos out. Almost no one we spoke to this week learned about Ruben Salazar or the Chicano movement in school. But a big part of it has to do with the fact that Chicano culture, as we've experienced it, can sometimes feel like it excludes people like our parents, who are immigrants, and other Latin American communities that have also contributed a great deal to this country. I remember watching an HBO movie about the Chicano blowouts as a kid and asking my father if we were Chicano and my father telling me, "No. Chicanos are like gringos. They hate us, too." Chava told me he had a similar experience with his father being called a wetback and told to go back to Mexico by Chicanos. It's also invariably my proud Chicano relatives, friends and acquaintances who often say things like, "What about Brown Lives Matter?" They seem to not understand that at least 25% of Hispanics identify as Afro-Latino. Black lives are also Latino lives. But painting an entire culture with a broad brush for the behavior of a few ignorant members is its own kind of ignorance. Chicano culture has helped define Los Angeles culture as a whole, and the Chicano movement helped strengthen our access to education and amplify our political voice. It helped shape us, even if we weren't aware of it. A detail from a new mural commemorating the 50th anniversary of the massive Chicano Moratorium march in East Los Angeles on Aug. 29, 1970. (Chava Sanchez/LAist) Our friends at the Los Angeles Times have dedicated a beautiful package to the history and legacy of the Chicano Moratorium, and our own station, KPCC, has partially dedicated the airwaves to it this week. And then you have me and Chava, trying to live in the present and look toward the future of Latinidad in this town founded by our ancestors. THE MURAL ON FERRIS AVENUE We spoke with many people this week who did not know about Ruben Salazar or did not want to share their memories about the Chicano Moratorium with a couple of strangers. Then we finally met a group of artists called 3B Collective who were putting the finishing touches on a 50th anniversary Chicano Moratorium mural on the corner of Whittier Boulevard and Ferris Avenue, just a block away from the old Silver Dollar turned Sound of Music. The 3B Collective is Adrian Alfaro, Alfredo Diaz, Aaron Estrada, Oscar Magallanes, and Gustavo Martinez. The group is made up of Persian, Salvadoran, Indigenous and Mexican American artists who met while attending UCLA. They are all graduates of the school's fine arts program. And these five young men gave me and Chava hope for the future. "They remind me of Lucia Torres, this young organizer I met last week," Chava said. "She told me how the Chicano movement is now about Black Lives Matter, and trans lives, and more inclusive." We talked with members of the collective for several hours one hellishly hot day this week in front of their striking mural that invokes the imagery of protest posters with phrases like "Brown Power!" and "Ruben Salazar Presente!" Their mural took several weeks to paint, all during this recent heat wave. Members of the 3B artist crew in front of their mural commemorating the Chicano Moratorium on Whittier Blvd. in East Los Angeles. (Chava Sanchez/LAist) "The community has been very supportive. They are always stopping by and bringing us water or something cold to drink," said Oscar, a Mexican American from the San Gabriel Valley. Almost on cue, a man drove up in a white truck and dropped off a case of soda. Oscar told us he believes the Chicano movement has evolved, and that past attitudes that had some Chicanos pushing "outsiders" out were based on the systems that are set up to keep marginalized people competing with one another. He said, "There's so many different challenges between the different communities -- Black and Brown, Salvadoran and Mexican -- but where does it go back to? Why did they leave [their home countries] in the first place? And then what are the conditions we're forced to live in once we're here? What are we fighting over? It's usually over resources." That infighting is by design, he said. "We're pretty much subjugated into trying to fit into this idea of what is American culture, how we should look, speak and dress. I think that's always been the pushback. There's always been these different ways of trying to distinguish ourselves and to say that we're no less American." Oscar grew up in Azusa. He told us he'd been arrested several times, that he's had to deal with police brutality and the criminal justice system first hand. And he thinks it's important that we see the Chicano Moratorium in the context of Black Lives Matter, the separation of immigrant families, and state-sponsored violence against Black, Brown, Indigenous and transgender communities. "That's what happens with hyper criminalization," he explained. "A lot of things have to do with the rhetoric going on that is hyper xenophobic, but also the criminalization that's been going on with our community. There's so many different things that came about and really came to the forefront of the American consciousness, basically during the Chicano [movement]." Next we spoke to Alfredo Diaz, a South Central native who recently returned from getting his master's degree at Yale University. He said the mixing of identities within the modern Chicano movement is where he finds his strength. He said, "I do identify as Mexican American. I mainly identify as Indigenous. My family's from Oaxaca. I also identify as Chicano. I also identify as American. So I think the fluidity between those identities is what I find interesting about myself and a lot of members of my community." Aaron Estrada agreed with Oscar and Alfredo. Aaron is a 26-year-old Salvadoran American artist from Pico Union who said he identifies as Chicano. "With respect to the history of Chicano -- it was mainly a Mexican American movement -- however, I do know that there were a mixture of different Central Americans and other minorities inside of that movement," he said. "And as things change it's become more wide in the range of the term." I looked at the mural behind Aaron -- a collection of phrases in black, brown, red, blue, yellow -- and asked him to talk about what he hopes this piece of street art does in a world where Black fathers such as Jacob Blake and Brown sons like Andres Guardado are being shot in the back by police officers. "It continues the conversation," Aaron said. "It shouldn't end. People die, but we'll multiply. We're gonna keep going. We're not gonna stop the movement. There's other phrases that could be added [to the mural] -- Black Lives Matter. Trans Lives Matter -- all those phrases are just as important." I wonder how long a wall would have to be if it were just a list of names such as Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Anthony McClain, Sandra Bland, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Sean Monterrosa, Andres Guardado, Daniel Hernandez, Angel Diaz, Gustav Montag, Ruben Salazar, and on and on. A wall inside the Sound of Music Records in East L.A. pays tribute to slain journalist Ruben Salazar, who was fatally struck by a tear gas canister inside the same building during the Chicano Moratorium protest on Aug. 29, 1970. (Chava Sanchez/LAist) And I wonder if police officers will ever think twice about endangering the lives of my people, of Chava's people, Jacob Blake's people, of your people. Because -- maybe the 3B Collective's idealism has rubbed off on me -- we are all each other's people. Ruben Salazar was your people, even if he was a Chicano who died 50 years ago, and you're only just now reading about him, or just now realizing why. About the Mis Angeles column: Erick Galindo is chronicling life in Los Angeles for LAist. He took on this role after serving as our immigrant communities reporter. Erick came to us last year from LA Taco, where he was the managing editor of a James Beard award-winning staff. MORE FROM ERICK GALINDO: What does the romance between Jill and Joe Biden have to do with whether he'd make an effective president? (Associated Press) Now that theyre over, lets be honest about political conventions. Theyre theater, theyre propaganda, theyre pep rallies. Nothing meaningful happens at them. First established in the 1830s, they once served a purpose to select a party nominee, often in a smoke-filled back room, but sometimes on the convention floor but that hasnt been true for half a century. At best, they offer the parties a chance to excite their voters, lay out some themes of the campaign, hammer their enemies and introduce an often unknown vice presidential nominee. Doing away with these pointless quadrennial exercises would be a fine idea. But dont kid yourselves: Abolishing the conventions wouldnt fix a deeper problem, which is that American presidential campaigns are too often deceptive, manipulative and misleading. Just consider this years conventions. The Democratic National Convention, by far the less offensive of the two, focused overwhelmingly on creating a heartwarming emotional connection between voters and the candidate rather than on explaining what Joe Biden would do as president. Really, what does Jill and Joes romance have to do with how were going to beat back COVID-19 and rebuild our economy? What does the friendship former Vice President Biden forged with a security guard on an elevator tell you about how hell combat climate change? What does his relationship with an Amtrak conductor say about how hell untangle our complicated and dangerous relationships with Russia and China? Im not saying character is entirely irrelevant, especially if youre running against a person like Donald Trump, whose deeply flawed character is a big part of the problem with his presidency. But the Democratic convention was dominated by mawkish, feel-good, likability moments designed to fool us into voting for Joe Biden for the wrong reasons. Why? Because the political pros know that Americans like nice-guy candidates with hard-luck beginnings who overcome obstacles. They like tragedies and romances, especially set against uplifting music. Saccharine videos have been de rigueur since at least 1992, when a slick mini-documentary The Man From Hope about candidate Bill Clinton told the story of his rough childhood with an alcoholic and occasionally abusive stepfather. Story continues But is this any way for a grown-up nation to pick its leader? With TV spectacles closely modeled on awards shows like the Oscars? And whatever sentimentalism and misdirection were on display at the Democratic convention, the Republicans were worse. Far worse. At their convention, lies, anger and fear were what the marketing professionals decided would best win voters. The narrative the Republicans spun was the ugly mirror image of Bidens message of empathy. It was encapsulated in Kimberly Guilfoyles unhinged opening-night rant about socialists and rioters and cosmopolitan elites who want to destroy this country ... steal your liberty, your freedom and they want to control what you see and think and believe. Then there were the gun-toting McCloskeys, who warned that Democrats want to abolish the suburbs altogether. There was a Cuban immigrant who compared Biden to Fidel Castro. There were some token efforts to portray Trump as a family man, some lame efforts to woo Black Americans and women, and there were plenty of untruths about the presidents record. But the message always reverted to this: The world will collapse in anarchy and chaos unless you reelect Donald Trump. Or, as Trump put it on Thursday, No one will be safe in Bidens America." The conflation of Biden (who youll remember was the moderate in the primaries) with anarchists and the radical left was particularly outrageous. In reality, he opposes defunding the police, has condemned violent protests, wont destroy the suburbs and isnt a socialist. But stoking fear is an old GOP strategy going back to Nixon, and lying is a Trump specialty. It would be easy to dismiss this all as politics as usual. It is politics as usual. But it is unhealthy nevertheless. The definition of demagoguery is playing to emotions rather than reason. A country with problems on the scale of those facing the United States needs more than focus-grouped narratives and shallow arguments as it ponders its future. It would be nice to think we could be more like some European countries, with shorter, cheaper and more serious campaigns. But in recent years, democracies elsewhere have become more like us, rather than us becoming more like them. It would be nice if candidates ran more transparent, issue-driven campaigns that were less reliant on poll-driven dishonesty and unregulated spending. It would be nice to overturn Citizens United and enact meaningful public financing. It would be nice if the winner of the popular vote always became president. But for the moment, Americans could improve the process by refusing to be manipulated and asking the right questions about policy and priorities, and about what makes an effective and trustworthy president. Emotional appeals about empathy and likability are off the point. Lies, horror stories and red-baiting are outright dangerous. @Nick_Goldberg 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 Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 17:34:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GUANGZHOU, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Middle and primary schools in low-risk areas of south China's Guangdong Province, except those in the city of Lufeng, will start the new semester on September 1, with epidemic control and prevention measures in full swing, according to a press conference by the provincial government Friday. Nantang Township in Lufeng is the only middle-risk area in the province, and schools in the city are required to follow local regulations to receive students in different batches. Students will have their temperature taken twice a day at school and those absent due to sickness will be under close observation for any emergency, said Wang Chuang, deputy head of the provincial education department. All schools should conduct a major campus safety inspection one week before the start of school, checking and troubleshooting hidden dangers related to fire, water, food and laboratory safety, and roll out drill and emergency plans to prevent COVID-19 and other epidemics, Wang said. Enditem [August 27, 2020] Live Life Your Way with WavePay YANGON, Myanmar and SINGAPORE, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Enter a world of lifestyle possibilities with WavePay, Myanmar's trusted mobile wallet application. 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"Today's younger generation are always connected to their smartphones and their daily lives are enriched, enabled and empowered by super apps such as WavePay," Brad Jones added. Since launching in 2018, WavePay has been connecting people and businesses across Myanmar. It is also the payment platform of choice among many government and non-government organizations (NGO) mobilizing assistance during this COVID-19 pandemic. About WavePay Introduced by Wave Money, WavePay is a mobile wallet application that delivers a new era of digital finance for Myanmar. WavePay was launched in 2018 to make every day financial transactions more convenient and accessible for the people of Myanmar. WavePay offers major use cases such as money transfer services, mobile top-up, bill payment, loan repayment, basic utility services payment, merchant payments, ticketing services and donations. In partnership with other digital companies, WavePay fosters a vibrant fintech ecosystem and an enriching, secure and convenient digital payment experience. About Wave Money Wave Money is the leading mobile financial services provider operating with over 60,000 Wave shops across Myanmar. Wave Money is a joint venture between Telenor, Yoma Bank and Singapore Exchange listed Yoma Strategic Holdings and provides easy, fast and reliable mobile financial services through a nationwide agent network. Wave Money introduced a unique way of transferring money, bringing millions of people in Myanmar access to formal financial services. Through Wave Money, thousands of people a day are sending money anywhere and at any time. The Wave Money call center operates 24/7 and is always available to respond to any customer queries. For more information, please visit: http://www.wavemoney.com.mm. SOURCE Wave Money [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com\LTE's Homepage ] Kyle Rittenhouse, the alleged Wisconsin gunman who is accused of opening fire during protests over the police shooting of Jacob Blake and of killing two people, did not appear for his first scheduled court appearance Friday. The 17-year-old from Antioch, Illinois, requested to waive his presence at the extradition hearing. His lawyer, however, did not waive the extradition to Wisconsin request during the short virtual court proceeding Friday morning, but asked for more time. A hearing on the status of his extradition has now been set for Sept. 25. MORE: Wisconsin gunman charged, allegedly shot protester 5 times: Criminal complaint Rittenhouse has been charged in Wisconsin with two counts of homicide, one count of attempted homicide, two counts of recklessly endangering safety and one count of possession of a dangerous weapon. He is currently being held in Lake County, Illinois. PHOTO: Volunteers, including Kyle Rittenhouse at 2nd left, clean graffiti from a high school near the Kenosha County Courthouse following another night of unrest after the police shooting of Jacob Blake on Aug. 25, 2020, in Kenosha, Wisc. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) The violence occurred late Tuesday night near a gas station in Kenosha, some 40 miles south of Milwaukee, amid a third night of protests over the police shooting of Blake. One of the victims in the deadly shooting was shot five times, including in the head, and the other was shot in the chest, according to a criminal complaint. A third gunshot victim was taken to the hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, according to police. Rittenhouse surrendered to authorities in Antioch, Illinois, on Wednesday, local police said. PHOTO: Kyle Rittenhouse, center, with cap on backwards, walks along Sheridan Road in Kenosha, Wis., Aug. 25, 2020, with another armed civilian. (Adam Rogan/AP) Social media accounts allegedly linked to Rittenhouse are part of the investigation, authorities have said. Those now-deactivated accounts contain references of support for President Donald Trump and support for Blue Lives Matter. Trump's reelection campaign issued a statement Wednesday night distancing itself from the alleged shooter. "President Trump has repeatedly and consistently condemned all forms of violence and believes we must protect all Americans from chaos and lawlessness. This individual had nothing to do with our campaign and we fully support our fantastic law enforcement for their swift action in this case," Trump 2020 campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said via the statement. Story continues Moreover, social media video of Rittenhouse, who is white, passing police with his assault-style rifle shortly around the time of his shooting rampage has caused further outrage -- especially as Blake was shot seven times in the back by police without possession of a gun. ABC News' Wil Steakin and Whitney Lloyd contributed to this report. Extradition hearing for alleged Kenosha gunman, Kyle Rittenhouse, set for Sept. 25 originally appeared on abcnews.go.com 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. Afghan politician Fawzia Koofi says the assassination attempt will not dampen her resolve to fight for womens rights. Fawzia Koofi, an Afghan politician who fights for womens rights, has been recuperating in a Kabul hospital, where doctors told her the wound she sustained in an assassination attempt two weeks ago will take some more time to heal. Koofi, a member of the negotiation team representing the Afghan government and leader of the Movement for Change political party, was expected to participate in the so-called intra-Afghan talks scheduled to be held in the Qatari capital, Doha. The talks between the Kabul politicians and the Taliban were part of the peace process pushed by the United States, which invaded the country in 2001 to topple the Taliban regime. But since then, the country has been mired in a bloody war between the Taliban and the government forces backed by the US-led NATO forces. The good thing is that they did not chase our car up to Kabul, I think because they probably thought I was dead. Fawzia Koofi, Afghan politician Confined at the Kabul hospital, Koofi is worried that her mission to fight for womens rights in the war-torn country will be affected. The vocal Afghan politician had come face-to-face with Taliban representatives at an unofficial intra-Afghan gathering in 2019, asking them the definition of hijab. Because, during the Taliban time, women were beaten for not wearing a burqa [veil], she had said back then. They thought I was dead Koofi says she wants to make sure to attend peace negotiations with the Taliban, but her bullet wound is still fresh. On August 14, while travelling to the capital city from Kalakan, a district on the northern outskirts of Kabul, she was fired at by unidentified gunmen. Let's face it, the fact that women are being attacked is a true indication of how vulnerable we are in this society. Fawzia Koofi, Afghan politician Koofi told Al Jazeera while she was travelling along with her 20-year-old daughter, two black cars followed and soon blocked her vehicle. An unidentified person from the other car fired two shots at Koofi, injuring her upper right arm and shoulder. The second shot was missed and hit the side of the car. My driver managed to escape the area and sped as fast as he could as gunmen continued to shoot at our car. I was shocked but I soon realised my right shoulder was bleeding and I could not move my hand, Koofi said. The good thing is that they did not chase our car up to Kabul, I think because they probably thought I was dead. Koofi believed she would not survive the attack as she lost a lot of blood on the one-hour journey to the Kabul hospital. Her daughter ensured she did not close her eyes. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the leader of the Taliban delegation, and Zalmay Khalilzad, US envoy for peace in Afghanistan, shake hands after signing an agreement in Doha [File: Ibraheem al Omari/Reuters] The assassination attempt drew nationwide condemnation with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani calling the attack cowardly and many on social media calling for an investigation into the attack. Worrying pattern of targeted attacks that can negatively impact confidence in peace process, the chief of Afghanistans Independent Human Rights Commission, Shaharzad Akbar, wrote on Twitter. Why did they attack me? Koofi launched a political campaign called back to school to promote girls education after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. Four years later, she won her seat in Parliament. She has railed against the Taliban and other groups against the fundamental rights of women that has angered conservative elements of Afghan society. Violence has not abated despite the February deal between the Taliban and the US [File: Mohammad Ismail/Reuters] As the US-Taliban negotiations began in 2018, the armed group has given vague comments on adopting a less strict stance towards women than during their five-year rule during which women were banned from attending school, employment, political participation or even leaving their homes without a male family member. We give women all rights whether in terms of rights of education and work on the basis of Islamic rules, a Taliban spokesman, Sohail Shaheen, told Al Jazeera in an interview last year. Koofi, who has a masters degree from the Geneva School of Diplomacy, has relentlessly been working to make sure women were able to achieve their dreams and aspirations in the war-torn country, but is also aware that it comes at a price. However, after the assassination attempt on her, Koofi has asked why she was attacked and deserved to die. What did I do wrong? Why do they want to kill me? I have done positive and good things for this country. Why would someone become this cruel that they have spent money on this operation to kill me, she said. I have not done anything wrong to anyone, I have only tried to help people in need. No group has claimed responsibility and the Taliban denied involvement in the attack. I will not stop Peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban are likely to start in Doha next week, Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, said at an event of the Institute of War and Peace Studies on Thursday. Though the Taliban has contradicted Abdullahs claim on the date of the talks. The intra-Afghan talks have been delayed over the prisoner swap deal between the Taliban and the Afghan government. As per the deal Washington, signed with the Taliban in February, the Afghan government was to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners and the Taliban was to free 1,000 government and military men it held. So far, the Afghan government has released more than 4,500 Taliban prisoners, but has refused to free the remaining saying they face heinous crimes. The first round of talks was scheduled to happen earlier this month when a traditional grand council, or Loya Jirga, approved the immediate release of a final group of 400 Taliban prisoners in government custody. But since the decision of the Loya Jirga on August 10, only 80 prisoners have been released so far. Meanwhile, Australia and France had officially asked Kabul not to let out Taliban prisoners convicted of killing their citizens. The Afghan government also recently demanded the Taliban free 22 commandos in its custody before they free the remaining Taliban prisoners. But as the delay in talks potentially hinders the peace process, there has been a rise in attacks on rights activists in recent months in an attempt, experts say, to intimidate members of civil society away from participating in the talks. A week ago they took away a beautiful smile, an amazing soul, a kind human being who only wished to be happy and make others happy. @Limaahmad and I with a heart full of love and empathy only wish that this cycle of violence, hatred and anger stops! We must heal. We must love. pic.twitter.com/KiQpU3HiIw Omaid H. Sharifi- (@OmaidSharifi) July 4, 2020 In less than week after the assassination attempt on Koofi, Abdul Baqi Amin, director of the Scientific Council of the Ministry of Education, was killed by an explosive device that was placed in his car in Kabul. Amin was part of the Afghan delegation which took part in several high-level meetings with the Taliban in Doha where they discussed points on the reduction in violence and womens rights. In June, Natasha Fatima Khalil, a member of Afghanistans Independent Human Rights Commission, was killed in a blast. The death of the 24-year-old human rights activists drew widespread social media reaction. Many said a voice for peace was silenced. As Koofi is part of the negotiation team, she hopes the talks begin soon. The country cannot afford to lose any more of the promising youth with dreams and aspirations, she said. Despite her injury, Koofi said she will continue to ask challenging questions and participate in the peace process to ensure women are not sidelined. If there are talks about a peaceful prosperous situation in our country, no one can exclude women from it. I am with the people of Afghanistan, women have to be vocal and strict when it comes to preserving the rights of women. I will make sure the priority will be womens rights to education, social political participations, holding jobs among others on the agenda of the talks. Lets face it, the fact that women are being attacked is a true indication of how vulnerable we are in this society, she told Al Jazeera from the Kabul hospital. The Constituional Court is yet to issue an official press release on the judgment. The Constitutional Court of Ukraine has ruled that the appointment of Director of the National Anti-corruption Bureau Artem Sytnyk was unconstitutional, a source in the Court has told UNIAN. "Indeed, the Constitutional Court has recognized as unconstitutional the decree on appointing Artem Sytnyk a NABU Director. The details are yet to be clarified," the source said. NABU director's appointment: essence of claim On July 9, 2020, the Constitutional Court launched consideration of the claim filed by a group of 51 people's deputies who asked the court to look into the constitutionality of the presidential decree on appointing Artem Sytnyk NABU Director. According to the law on NABU (Part 9 Article 7), a president appoints a Bureau director from among two to three candidates selected by the competition committee. In 2015, of 176 candidates running for the top post at NABU, Arem Sytnyk and Mykola Siriy reached the final stage of selection. The then-President Petro Poroshenko has appointed Artem Sytnyk. Read alsoUkraine State Judicial Administration, Kyiv District Administrative Court's heads served with charge papers NABUThe group of deputies, which includes Vladimir Putin's political operative in Ukraine Viktor Medvedchuk, explained in their filing with the Constitutional Court that the post of NABU director is beyond the explicit list of positions laid down in the Constitution to which a president is entitled to appoint officials. They believe that the president thus breached the ban on usurping state power, enshrined in Part 4 Article 5 of the Constitution. What is NABU The agency was established in 2014 after its predecessor, the National Anti-Corruption Committee was considered a failure. The Bureau was created on the request of the International Monetary Fund, according to Wikipedia. The agency's government funding is mandated under American and European Union aid programs. It has an evidence-sharing agreement with the FBI. Kyle Rittenhouse, left, with backwards cap, walks along Sheridan Road in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 25, 2020. (Adam Rogan/The Journal Times via AP) Judge Delays Extradition for Illinois Teenager Accused in Kenosha Shootings Hearing now won't take place until Sept. 25 A teenager accused of shooting three people during unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Tuesday will remain in Illinois for now after a judge delayed his extradition on Friday. The public defender representing Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, of Antioch, asked for the hearing to be delayed. The judge agreed, pushing the extradition hearing until Sept. 25. Rittenhouse, who waived his right to appear, plans to hire a private attorney, a Lake County, Illinois, spokesman told reporters outside the courthouse. Lin Wood, an attorney, said Friday morning that John Pierce has been engaged to defend Rittenhouse, with assistance from local lawyers and public defenders. The group directed donations to a nonprofit called the Fight Back Foundation. Wood said Rittenhouse was engaged in self-defense. Prosecutors in Kenosha County charged the teen Thursday with six counts, including one count of first-degree reckless homicide and one count of first-degree homicide. Rittenhouse told Daily Caller reporter Richie McGinnis before the shootings that he was in the area to protect a business and to help people. In this still image obtained from a social media video, a man is shot in his arm during unrest in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 25, 2020. (Brendan Gutenschwager/via Reuters) According to a criminal complaint, Rittenhouse was clearly seen holding a long gun, later identified as a Smith & Wesson AR-15 style .223 rifle. Video footage showed Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, appear to throw an object, apparently a plastic bag, at the defendant, according to the complaint. The teen and the man kept moving across the parking lot of the car dealership, Car Source, which has been torched by rioters earlier in the week. A loud bang is heard and a male shouts [Expletive] you! before Rosenbaum kept approaching the defendant. He came into close proximity when four more shots are fired. Rosenbaum fell to the ground. He died. Rittenhouse appears to get close to the body and make a call. As he runs away, he can be heard saying, I just killed somebody, the complaint states. Two other videos showed the teenager running on a road. People on the street and sidewalk began yelling Beat him up! and Hey, he shot him! One shouted: Get him! Get that dude! Then a male is seen running towards the defendant and appearing to swing at him, making contact with Rittenhouse. The defendant keeps running before tripping and falling to the ground. A man is wounded by gunfire amid rioting in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 25, 2020. (@Louriealex/Instagram via Reuters) At that point, another male jumps at and over the defendant, the complaint states. Rittenhouse appears to fire two shots but the man was not hit. Then a second person, later identified as Anthony Huber, 26, approaches Rittenhouse. Huber has a skateboard in his right hand. When Huber reaches the defendant it appears that he is reaching for the defendants gun with his left hand as the skateboard makes contact with the defendants left shoulder. Huber appears to be trying to pull the gun away from the defendant, the complaint states. The defendant rolls towards his left side and as Huber appears to be trying to grab the gun the gun is pointed at Hubers body. The defendant then fires one round which can be heard on the video. Huber staggers away, taking several steps, then collapses to the ground. Huber subsequently died from this gunshot wound. Rittenhouse then shot Gaige Grosskreutz, who had begun approaching him while holding a handgun in his right hand, authorities said. Grosskreutz is recovering in a hospital. According to a GoFundMe fundraiser, he underwent surgery and will keep the arm that was struck by bullets. Vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris clarified that the Democrats' plan for a nationwide mask mandate wouldn't force people into masks. 'It's a standard,' she explained in a 'Today' show interview with Craig Melvin that aired Friday. 'I mean, nobody is going to be punished. Come on.' At their first public outing together as running mates, Democratic nominee Joe Biden announced he'd implement a three-month nationwide mask mandate to get the spread of COVID-19 under control if he was currently president. Sen. Kamala Harris called the Democrats' proposed three-month national mask mandate 'a standard,' adding 'nobody is going to be punished' Joe Biden (left) and Kamala Harris (right) pitched the three-month mask mandate earlier this month as a way to stop the spread of the coronavirus There were questions then - including from President Donald Trump - if such a move would be enforceable. At the time, Biden referenced that it was something he would push governors to do. Harris seemed realistic about how unpopular that move could be when she spoke to Melvin in Washington Thursday, directly after she gave her first solo remarks since last week's vice presidential acceptance speech. 'Nobody likes to wear a mask. This is a universal feeling, right? So that's not the point - "hey, let's enjoy wearing masks,"' she said. 'No, the point of this is that we are responsible people who love our neighbor, we have to just do that right now.' 'God willing, it won't be forever,' she said. Harris also told Melvin she hoped to hit the campaign trail soon, but she and Biden wanted to do so in a responsible fashion. 'You know, Joe, that's one of the things that he and I have in common. We love to interact with people,' she commented. Harris said she and Biden would campaign 'in every way that we can in a way that will be safe for the people we are meeting with, right?' 'It would be irresponsible of us to try and pack people into a situation where they cannot safely social distance,' she said. 'And that's one of the problems, frankly, with the way Donald Trump conducts himself,' she continued. 'Because it really, it appears to be more about the people around him and himself, doing what is necessary to feed his ego, as sopposed to what is necesssary to feed the needs of the American people.' Melvin and Harris' sit-down happened in the hours before Trump gave his Republican National Convention speech from the White House's South Lawn, which featured an audience of some 1,500 people who were not practicing social distancing nor with many wearing masks. Biden made similar comments on a fundraising call prior to Trump's speech Thursday evening. He said the Democratic ticket was looking to campaign in-person in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Arizona after Labor Day, which is next weekend. Wisconsin and Pennsylvania had flipped to red to help Trump win against Hillary Clinton in 2016. Minnesota remained blue, but Trump wants to compete there, especially after the Memorial Day death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and some of the chaos that followed. Arizona went red in 2016, but Democrats believe it might be flippable, especially with a Senate race featuring astronaut Mark Kelly, the husband of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the Tucson massacre of 2011. 'I'm a tactile politician. I really miss being able to, you know, grab hands, shake hands, you can't do that now,' Biden said on the fundraising call. When he and Harris do travel, there would not be 'irresponsible rallies,' the former vice president said. 'We're going to do it in a way that is totally consistent with being responsible, unlike what this guy's doing,' Biden said of Trump. 'He's on the White House lawn tonight, first of all, violating the Hatch Act, virtually throwing every major rule in the dustbin.' 'So what we're working on is how I get out,' he continued. I'm going to be traveling throughout the country where I can do it consistent with the state rules about how many people can be assembled,' Biden said. A North Carolina man who spent 44 years in prison for a rape he says he didn't commit was freed Thursday. Ronnie Long, 64, was a 20-year-old Black man living in Concord when he was accused of raping a white woman Sarah Judson Bost, then 54, at knifepoint in her home on the evening of the 25 April 1976. Long was sentenced to 80 years in prison for the first-degree rape of Bost and first-degree burglary - by an all-white jury, NBCNews reported. Despite decades of appeals to overturn the conviction, and though DNA evidence obtained throughout the years pointed to his innocence, he remained in jail. The DNA evidence in question was that hair samples and clothing fibers didn't match those of Long's. According to news reports, the evidence was not shared with the defense at the time of the trial. In 2015, it was revealed that 43 fingerprints taken from the scene 'excluded' the prisoner as the source of the prints. A request for a new trial was still rejected by the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals the same year. 'They will never ever, never ever ever, lock me up again,' Long told reporters after he was freed yesterday, according to NBCNews. 'This is real. I'm going to try to enjoy every minute of it.' Ronnie Long is pictured being released from prison 44 years after being convicted of a rape he said he didn't commit Pictured: Long meets with his family and the press outside the Albemarle Correctional Institution in North Carolina yesterday In this 2007 file photo, Ronnie Long stands in a hallway at the Albemarle Correctional Institution in Albemarle, east of Charlotte, N.C. The attorney for Long, a North Carolina man who has spent 44 years in prison for a rape he says he didn't commit, will be freed Ronnie Long's attorney broke the news of his impending release via Twitter on Wednesday, the Charlotte Observer reported. 'The state said it will ask the district court to enter a writ vacating Ronnie's conviction. In short, Ronnie Long is coming home!' lawyer Jamie Lau wrote. Long's conviction was then vacated on Thursday and he was released from the Albemarle Correctional Institution shortly after 5 pm, news outlets reported. Earlier this week, a federal appeals court had granted a new hearing for Long. A judge had criticized North Carolina for defending Long's conviction despite the possibility that investigators withheld evidence. A motion filed by North Carolina's Attorney General's Office said that 'interests of justice call for immediately remanding the case to the district court.' At the time, detectives said they thought the suspected rapist might have been among defendants in court on other charges the same day. Long was in court for a trespassing case and Bost, the victim, said she recognized his voice, NBC reported. Long (pictured in his mugshot photo) was a 20-year-old Black man living in Concord when he was accused of raping white woman Sarah Judson Bost, now 54, at knifepoint in her home in April 1976 Long was put in a photo lineup as the only man wearing a leather jacket, which was allegedly what was worn on the night of the attack, according to court records. Long had an alibi for the time of the assault. His mother, who he lived with at the time, and the mother of his child said he was on a group phone call with them. He was getting ready to attend a party in Charlotte at the time of the assault, they said. The 4th Circuit opinion, led by Judge Stephanie D. Thacker, cited 'a troubling and striking pattern of deliberate police suppression of material evidence.' A main argument by prosecutors to the jury, it said, was that 'police acted honestly.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 23:57:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) --The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority in Taiwan has stubbornly opened its market to problematic U.S. agricultural and livestock imports due to political motivations, a Chinese mainland spokesperson said Friday. The move, which ran against public opinion, has damaged the health and well-being of people in Taiwan in exchange for external support for "Taiwan independence," said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. The decision is bound to be firmly opposed by people across the Taiwan Strait, he added. Enditem DUNSFORD The Ontario Provincial Police community street crime unit seized 15,300 marijuana plants during a raid Thursday at a grow op on a farm on Kawartha Lakes Road 36 near Dunsford. A search warrant was executed by the squads officers from the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton Highlands, joined by the OPP Central Region emergency response team and the OPP canine unit. Nine people were detained, police said Friday, but there was no immediate word on any charges. The investigation is continuing. Police described the grow op as a very structured growing site that was being operated outside of the Health Canada regulations. Besides the 15,300 marijuana plants, officers also seized cannabis bud, industrial-sized dehumidifiers, generators, a riding lawn mower and vehicles, police said. The Danish Government, through the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), has presented a vehicle and IT equipment to the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) to strengthen its capacity to combat irregular migration. The items were, a 44 Mitsubishi Pajero, 20 laptop computers, five desktop computers, five uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs), three forensic magnifiers, 320 magnifiers, a digital camera and two printers. According to the Danish Government, the presentation formed part of its Strengthening Border and Migration Management in Ghana (SMMIG) project to support the Government of Ghana (GoG) in strengthening her institutional and operational capacities to manage irregular migration flows. The Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery, who received the items in Accra on Wednesday, said the support was an example of a practical cooperation that existed between the Government of Denmark and Ghana. He noted that securing the border and effectively managing migration were extremely important for the country, and that the presentation would support the GoG's efforts in that regard. Internal peace, public safety and security and social stability are necessary components for development, he added. The minister, on behalf of GoG, thanked the Danish Government for their kind support and indicated that the support would help advance the mission of the GIS through the implementation of the SMMIG project. The Deputy Head of Mission in-charge of Cooperation, Birgit La Cour Madsen, commended the GIS and the implementing agency, ICMPD, for making the ceremony possible in spite of the pandemic. She said that the SMMIG project, which was scheduled to end in November this year, had been extended to the next 12 months. This, she said, had also allowed some amendments to the project to include the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the capacity building of 300 personnel of the GIS to manage travellers with any health related issue. The Deputy Head of Mission, urged Ghanaians not to only make the continuous and collective effort to fight and eradicate Covid-19 but to also ensure that the 2020 elections were conducted in the spirit of fairness and peace, which she said had become the hallmark of Ghanaian democracy. On his part, the Comptroller General of Immigration (CGI), Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi, expressed gratitude to the Danish Government for the support and assured them that the items would be put to good use to fight irregular migration. He noted that the project has so far helped in strengthening the capacity of the personnel of the service in the areas of intelligence gathering, information exchange and document inspection. Jacques Morisset, World Bank Lead Economist and Programme Leader for Vietnam (Photo: VNA) Hanoi Vietnam has been always very good at taking advantage of crisis to accelerate reforms and move faster and grow better, Jacques Morisset, World Bank Lead Economist and Programme Leader for Vietnam, has said. In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), Morisset explained why the WB Bank has recognised Vietnam as one of the most successful emerging economies, apart from China, India, Malaysia and Thailand, in its latest report. He said during the 2010-2019 period, economy growth rate in Vietnam has been the second fastest in the world, behind China. Not only Vietnam has been growing very fast, but it has also been creating many products and jobs. And this explains why Vietnam has been very successful, he noted. Morisset said Vietnam has done two things very good, with the first being agriculture, adding that during the 1990-2000 period, Vietnam has been able to multiply agriculture productivity - a revolution of the country. The second lies with the opening of the economy to manufacturing and FDI enterprises, according to the WB expert. Since the early 2000s, new businesses have come to Vietnam, creating millions of jobs, including new, more productive and better paid ones, Morisset said. Illustrative image. (Source: VNA) Regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, Morisset said he himself and many governments and multinationals believe that the pandemic crisis gives an opportunity for Vietnam to attract more foreign investors. A perception that many multinationals will need to persify because of the crisis, and Vietnam is clearly a country that can host more FDI, so that would be the first opportunity, he further said.Speaking of digitalisation, he said Vietnam has been a bit slow in developing digitalisation. It was too difficult or impossible to pay by phone, and most of the government procedures have been carried out on papers.But the crisis would accelerate the need and the reform to more digitalisation in Vietnam, the expert said.The Vietnamese government has been implementing many new reforms to digitalise, including the building of e-government, he said, adding that in terms of digitalisation in the financial system, the Vietnamese government is gearing towards an e-payment system.It means that hopefully in next few months, most of Vietnamese will be able to use the phone for payment, which will be a big change compared to the situation before the COVID-19 crisis, the expert said.The pandemic has also proven the significance of information sharing, he said, adding that the Vietnamese Government has shared a lot of detailed information about COVID-19 transparently and effectively via the media.Vietnam is already on the radar screen of many investors. Investors are coming to the country and the pandemic crisis has been helping it to attract more investors, he emphasised, commending Vietnams initial successes in containing the virus, with low rates of both infections and fatalities.Except Da Nang that is focusing on fighting the disease, other major cities in Vietnam have maintained their normal activities, showing the world that Vietnam has been an attractive place for investment.Morisset suggested Vietnam balance the opening and closure of the border amidst the pandemic outbreak, and seek ways to attract good investors who create jobs, provide technologies, train Vietnamese workers and work with major suppliers.That is good to make difference to Vietnam, he said.In addition, the Vietnamese government should consider spending more and better in public investment, and further support people and businesses most affected by the pandemic, he said, adding that such sectors as tourism, garment-textile and footwear need assistance.According to the expert, e-commerce and digitalisation will thrive during and after the crisis. Although we're hearing a lot about online learning because of arguments about how to reopen schools, colleges and universities, it's been an educational tool for decades. One of the most important factors in learning is motivation: whether students want to engage with the material. Credit:Tanya Macheda Online learning allows flexibility; learning when it suits you rather than attending classes scheduled at particular times, and learning at your own pace. When information is presented online, it becomes accessible to those who might have found it difficult to attend classes in person. Online presentation also offers the chance for students to access material repeatedly if they didn't understand anything first time around. On the other hand, face-to-face learning also offers a number of advantages. Collaboration - sharing discoveries and debating questions - is easier, and students are more likely to establish interpersonal relationships and hone their social skills. Teachers can tell more quickly whether students are engaged with the material and whether they understand it. Both approaches, when presented well, appear to be equally effective. Karen McCutcheon and colleagues at Queen's University Belfast found this even applies to some practical teaching. In a review of 19 studies, they found online teaching of clinical skills to nursing students was no less effective than traditional face-to-face approaches. Airline company Cargolux has painted a mask on one of its aircraft to demonstrate its commitment to the fight against the coronavirus. The mask wearing plane landed for the first time at Luxembourg Airport on Thursday. LX-VCF has received its very own mask on its iconic nose-door, reflecting the airlines commitment to the fight against COVID-19. #notwithoutmymask #LXVCFacemask pic.twitter.com/N2dXLfKbyK Cargolux Airlines (@Cargolux_Intl) August 23, 2020 Foreign Minister Heiko Maas agreed with his Israeli counterpart Thursday that an effort must be made to extend a weapon embargo on Iran, while stressing Germany still sees the landmark 2015 deal between Tehran and world powers as the best way to prevent the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon. With a current UN arms embargo on Iran due to expire on Oct. 18, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi told reporters in Berlin an extension was needed to prevent Iran from getting ``more advanced weapons systems and spreading them around the Middle East.'' ``We would like to see the European countries, not just Germany, preventing it,'' he said. ``It's not helpful for the stability of the region.'' Ashkenazi was in Berlin to attend a two-day meeting of European foreign ministers at the invitation of Germany, which holds the European Union's rotating presidency. The United States wants a full extension of the embargo on Iran, which would almost certainly be vetoed by Russia and China in the UN Security Council, Maas said. Germany and others are currently trying to find some middle ground that would meet with Russian and Chinese approval _ and not be vetoed by the US in the Security Council. ``We are trying to reach a diplomatic solution so that there will be an arms embargo on Iran in the future,'' Maas said. At the same time, he said Germany still sees the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signed with Iran in 2015, promising the country economic incentives in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program, the best deal to prevent the country from developing an atomic weapon. Israel is against the deal, and the US pulled out unilaterally in 2018, leaving the others involved _ Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China _ struggling to keep it alive. Maas said concerns outside the JCPOA, like Iran's ballistic missile program and influence in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, need to be addressed, but that ``we want to preserve the JCPOA to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.'' ``Iran must change its approach in the region, we are not naive about Iran,'' he said. ``We know that Iran plays a dangerous role.'' The two ministers met at the House of the Wannsee Conference memorial, a villa in southwestern Berlin where senior Nazis and bureaucrats coordinated plans for the Holocaust in 1942. Ashkenazi said that as the son of a Holocaust survivor, it was particularly emotional for him to visit the place where the ``evil and cruelness'' of the genocide of 6 million Jews was plotted. Maas said anti-Semitism still exists in Germany today, and the memorial serves as a reminder that ``we should fight it with available means.'' Search Keywords: Short link: GODFREY Lewis and Clark Community College welcomed four new full-time faculty members this fall. All four replaced former faculty members in programs that demonstrated a need, said L&C Chief Academic Officer Jill Lane. Were really excited for this group, Lane said. Instructor of Chemistry Ben Hutcherson has a bachelors degree in chemistry from Georgetown College and a masters degree in analytical chemistry from the University of Louisville. He is a former instructor and scientific instrument specialist for the University of Louisville Chemistry department. As a recent transplant to this area, Im glad to join L&C, Hutcherson said. I am excited about teaching students full time and helping them both to learn and hopefully get excited about my subject. Assistant Professor Louise Jett is the new coordinator of the Graphic Design and Web Design and Development programs. She earned her associate degree from Lewis and Clark, a bachelors degree in organizational leadership from Greenville College and her Master of Education in education policy, organization and leadership, with an emphasis in new learning design and leadership, from the University of Illinois. Jett has worked the past eight years as a media specialist in L&Cs Media Services department and has been an adjunct instructor and advisor of The Bridge student newspaper. Prior to L&C, she worked as the editor of a weekly newspaper and marketing director at a non-profit independent living facility. As an L&C graduate, there is a special place in my heart for Lewis and Clark, Jett said. Helping others is my passion. Whether advising colleagues or teaching students, I attempt to elicit the best in others and myself. I am absolutely grateful for this opportunity to do so on a grand scale in my new role. An educator at heart, I have dedicated my life to connecting students and colleagues with the resources and knowledge they need to not only live meaningful, successful lives, but also to increase enrollment and further the legacy of Lewis and Clark Community College, which has given me numerous opportunities for which I will always be grateful. Associate Professor of Biology Scott Shreve did his undergraduate work in zoology at Miami University in Ohio and his graduate work in entomology at the University of Illinois, where he studied the evolution of asexual reproduction in bark lice. Shreve had visiting teaching positions at two colleges in Kentucky, before teaching zoology and evolutionary biology at Lindenwood University-Belleville for four years before coming to L&C. He has also been active in the Entomological Society of America and the Association of College and University Biology Educators and is on the editorial board of the biology teaching journal Bioscenes. As a teacher, Im excited by the opportunities to grow and improve my teaching skills as part of the Lewis and Clark community, Shreve said. As an entomologist, Im looking forward to bringing my excitement for insects into my zoology and entomology classes. Associate Professor of Chemistry Megan Stouffer earned a doctorate in organometallic chemistry from Washington University and a bachelors degree in chemistry from Gettysburg College. She taught at Lindenwood University-Belleville for five years as an assistant professor, where she was also Faculty Council chair for a year. She previously taught at Washington University as an adjunct professor in the Chemistry department. Im excited to join the Lewis and Clark community, Stouffer said. Im looking forward to helping students develop and accomplish their career goals as well as working collaboratively with the outstanding faculty here at L&C. This semester should bring a few challenges but Im ready to incorporate some new teaching techniques into the virtual setting. BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis will take temporary responsibility for trade after the resignation of Ireland's Phil Hogan over allegations he broke COVID-19 guidelines, EU executive chief Ursula von der Leyen said. The former Latvian prime minister will take charge as the European Union seeks to ease trade tensions with the United States, seal a deal on future relations with Britain and unite around a new leader for the World Trade Organization. Dombrovskis previously stood in for two weeks in June when Hogan said he was considering putting himself forward to become the next WTO director-general. He finally opted not to do so. The Commission coordinates trade policy for the EU's 27 members, meaning the EU trade chief is among the most powerful of the "college" of commissioners. Von der Leyen said on Thursday that the Irish government should propose a man and a woman as potential successors and she would later determine the final allocation of tasks. Ireland may not retain the trade portfolio. Prime Minister Micheal Martin said Ireland would look at von der Leyen's preference for two nominees and that he planned to meet his coalition partners to discuss a successor. Asked if he would be interested in replacing Hogan, Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told reporters his intention was to continue to lead his Fine Gael party and to take over as prime minister again in 2022 under a coalition deal. Varadkar, who was prime minister from 2017 to 2020, has been named by some newspapers as a potential though unlikely candidate. Others mentioned include Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, former minister Richard Bruton, European Parliament members Mairead McGuinness and Frances Fitzgerald, and former senior EU officials David O'Sullivan and Catherine Day. Hogan quit late on Wednesday after days of pressure over allegations he had breached COVID-19 guidelines during a trip to Ireland, saying the controversy had become a distraction from his work. Story continues He said in his resignation statement that he did not break any law but should have been more rigorous in his adherence to the COVID-19 regulations. Von der Leyen said she expected her team to be particularly vigilant about complying with national or regional coronavirus restrictions. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, additional reporting by Padraic Halpin in Dublin; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Alison Williams) Visitors and Massachusetts residents returning home from Colorado, Delaware, West Virginia and Pennsylvania are now exempt from the Bay States travel order mandating a two-week quarantine period, according to the latest travel restrictions. The updated order adds the four states to the list of those exempt from the order, according to the state website. The updated order and the new exemptions take effect Saturday. People entering Massachusetts from 40 other states must quarantine for two weeks or test negative for COVID-19 up to 72 hours before arriving in Massachusetts. The travel order, which first took effect Aug. 1, also exempts Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey and New York. Rhode Island was initially exempt but was dropped from the exemption list after a rise in COVID-19 cases. Massachusetts exempts states in which the positive test rate is below 6 per 100,000 people and a positive test rate below 5%, both measured over 7-day periods. Every traveler coming to Massachusetts, no matter where theyre from, has a responsibility to help keep COVID-19 out of the commonwealth, Gov. Charlie Baker said in July when he first announced the order. West Virginias positive test rate has dropped since nearing 5% in mid-July. The state dashboard shows the daily positive test percentage has remained below 4% throughout August. As of Friday, the positive test rate is 3.14%. Colorados COVID-19 dashboard does not include a 7-day positive test rate, but the states two-week positive test rate stands at 2.2%. Delaware reported a positive test rate over the past 7 days of 4.1%. The average number of cases per capita over 7 days was not immediately available. Pennsylvania reported a positive test rate over the past 7 days of 3.2%. The average number of cases per capita over 7 days was not immediately available. The travel restrictions came as state health officials started seeing a slow creep in COVID-19 positive test rates, as Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders described the increase. The gradual increase in tests coincided with the Fourth of July holiday and record-high positive test rates in hotspots around the country. The order also exempts travelers passing through the state, as well as those who cross state lines for work, people entering the state for medical treatment, military personnel complying with orders and others providing essential services. Related Content: WASHINGTON - The United States plans to reduce its military force in Iraq from the current 5,200 to about 3,500 by November, U.S. officials said Friday. The cut would be in line with President Donald Trumps repeated call to bring troops home and his reelection campaign pledge to end what he calls endless wars. The plan to shrink the U.S. force in Iraq was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Officials who confirmed the plan spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a matter not yet publicly announced. American troops are in Iraq to train and advise Iraqi security forces battling the Islamic State group, but the relationship has been rocky at times in large part because of periodic attacks by Iran-backed militia groups that are not fully controlled by the Iraqi government. U.S. troops, after invading Iraq and toppling President Saddam Hussein in 2003, had withdrawn from the country only to begin returning in 2014 after IS militants swept across the Syrian border and took control of large swaths of Iraqi territory. Trump met last week at the White House with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. We look forward to the day when we dont have to be there, Trump said then. We were there and now were getting out. Well be leaving shortly and the relationship is very good. Were making very big oil deals. Our oil companies are making massive deals. ... Were going to be leaving and hopefully were going to be leaving a country that can defend itself. Last month, the top U.S. general for the Middle East said he believed the U.S. will keep a smaller but enduring presence in the country. Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command, said he believes the Iraqis welcome U.S. and coalition troops, especially in the ongoing fight to keep IS fighters from taking hold of the country again. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said as recently as this month that the administration intends to get U.S. forces in Iraq to the lowest possible level as quickly as possible, but he has not cited specific numbers. Pompeo said after meeting last week with Iraqs foreign minister that Washington was committed to helping Iraq regain and maintain security. Armed groups are not under the full control of the Iraqi prime minister, Pompeo said, adding that those groups should be replaced by local police as soon as possible and that the U.S. would help. Tensions spiked between the U.S. and Iraq in January after a U.S. drone strike near the Baghdad airport killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Angry Iraqi lawmakers, spurred on by Shiite political factions, passed a nonbinding resolution to oust all U.S.-led coalition forces from the country. In response to the Soleimani killing, Iran on Jan. 8 launched a ballistic missile attack on al-Asad air base in Iraq, which resulted in traumatic brain injuries to more than 100 American troops. Two months later, U.S. fighter jets struck five sites in retaliation, targeting Iranian-backed Shiite militia members believed responsible for the January rocket attack. DETROIT -- The Detroit school district and its teachers have agreed to terms that will allow for in-person teaching to resume for the 2020-21 school year. According to the Associated Press, the deal involves measure that call for capping classroom size at 20 students, offering extra pay to teachers who work in person and checking daily temperatures of kids and staff. As the largest school district in the state, Detroit schools faced pressure from the Detroit Federation of Teachers which authorized a strike last week over coronavirus safety. Approximately 50,000 students attend school in the district and teachers were concerned about what steps were being taken to protect students and staff if they returned for in-person learning. Even in a pandemic, we need to find ways to best serve and support our children, Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said. For some of our families and students, this means face-to-face instruction and for others it is online learning. This agreement signals we will work together to provide equitable education opportunities for our children and families. Teachers who return for in-person learning can earn an extra $750 per quarter or $3,000 for the year as part of the agreement. Teachers who do not want to return to the classroom will be able to teach virtually as well. The district expects all schools will have some form of face-to-face instruction when classes resume Sept. 8. READ MORE Kids find money, drivers license floating in Lake Michigan, track down owner Bandannas, neck gaiters no longer acceptable face coverings at Northern Michigan casino Big weather change coming for Michigan during this weekend One new case of COVID-19 was reported in New Brunswick on Friday, as Public Health announced the return of off-site visits and support people at long-term care homes. The coronavirus case is an individual between the ages of 10 and 19 in health Zone 2, the Saint John region. It is travel-related and the individual is self-isolating. The total number of active confirmed cases in the province remains at seven. Three of the active cases are in the Moncton region, or health Zone 1, two active cases are in the Fredericton region, and one active case is in the Bathurst region, or Zone 6. There is one active case in health Zone 2, the Saint John region. Long-term care visiting Off-site visits are now permitted for residents of long-term care homes, the province announced Friday. Facilities can also introduce support people to help care for a resident. Restrictions have eased somewhat in the current yellow phase of recovery, but a family member still has to make appointment to visit a resident, and the visits haven't been daily. "It was important for us to ease these restrictions to meet the needs of the residents and their families while continuing to protect our most vulnerable residents," said Dr. Jennifer Russell, the chief medical officer of health. Public Health said restrictions could be reintroduced if New Brunswick returns to the Red or Orange levels of recovery. Expanded testing The province is making testing mandatory for students arriving from outside Canada to attend public school or post-secondary institutions. Along with all travellers from beyond the Atlantic bubble, they will be required to self-isolate for 14 days, and tested on day 10. For students already in Canada, but outside the bubble, testing will be voluntary. Public Health said testing is recommended for individuals with only one or mild symptoms as the fall approaches. It will be available to asymptomatic staff and volunteers at long-term care homes, First Nations community health centres, homeless shelters and corrections facilities. Story continues Possible flight exposure New Brunswick Public Health confirmed Thursday that a case announced Tuesday was an international traveller who may have been infectious on a flight to Moncton. That same day, Mount Allison University notified students, faculty and staff that an individual at the institution had tested positive. Most people coming to the city from outside the Atlantic bubble would have been required to self-isolate. New Brunswick Public Health is asking individuals who were on the following flights to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days. Qatar Airways Flight 763 Doha to Montreal on Aug. 14 Air Canada Flight 423 Montreal to Toronto on Aug. 14 Air Canada Flight 8918 Toronto to Moncton on Aug. 14 People who develop symptoms should self-isolate and call 811. New Brunswick has recorded 191 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began in mid-March. Two people have died and 182 have recovered. On Thursday, 293 tests were conducted for COVID-19. A total of 60,598 tests have been conducted since the pandemic started. What to do if you have a symptom People concerned they might have COVID-19 symptoms can take a self-assessment test on the government website at gnb.ca. Public Health says symptoms shown by people with COVID-19 have included: a fever above 38 C, a new cough or worsening chronic cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, new onset of fatigue, new onset of muscle pain, diarrhea, loss of sense of taste or smell, and difficulty breathing. In children, symptoms have also included purple markings on the fingers and toes. People with one of those symptoms are asked to: The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged a former broker with fraud for engaging in unsuitable and unauthorized trading in the accounts of retail brokerage customers. The SEC's complaint alleges that Dominic A. Tropiano placed more than 500 trades of complex, high-risk securities called leveraged exchange traded funds (ETFs) for at least 40 retail customer accounts. According to the complaint, the leveraged ETFs Tropiano purchased were high-risk securities intended to be traded by sophisticated investors and not held for periods longer than one day. As alleged, however, Tropiano recommended and purchased leveraged ETFs for the accounts of retail investors who had only moderate risk profiles and long-term investment objectives. The complaint alleges that Tropiano held the leveraged ETFs in those accounts for weeks and, in some cases, months. The complaint also alleges that Tropiano fraudulently traded leveraged ETFs for certain customers without their authorization. According to the complaint, as a result of Tropiano's fraudulent trading in leveraged ETFs, his customers sustained combined losses of more than $1 million. The SEC's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, alleges that Tropiano violated the antifraud provisions Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. Without admitting or denying the SEC's allegations, Tropiano agreed to the entry of a judgment that permanently enjoins him from violating the charged provisions of the federal securities laws, and provides that the amount of disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and civil penalties will be determined by the court at a future date. The settlement is subject to court approval. The SEC's investigation was conducted by Chris White and Jean Javorski and supervised by C.J. Kerstetter of the Chicago Regional Office. Senior Trial Counsel Ben Hanauer will lead the litigation. SAN FRANCISCO (J. the Jewish News of Northern California via JTA) When the evacuation orders came last night, Guerneville resident Sonia Tubridy and her daughter packed the car and left, joining a caravan of vehicles fleeing the North Bay area and the fires that threatened to engulf them. Tubridy, cultural director of the Russian River Jewish Community, was among the thousands of people ordered to evacuate from fires burning 46,000 acres across a vast area covering five counties and stretching from Vacaville north to Lake Berryessa and out to the Sonoma County coast. Dubbed the LNU L... Store Manager, Justin Moore, looks on near a boarded up window at Uncle Bobbies coffee shop in Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA. Friday, August 28, 2020. The stores was yet again affected by burglary and vandalism. Read more It was late, and I was watching the closing spectacle of the Republican National Convention when a friend texted me the disturbing news: Uncle Bobbies Coffee & Books had been broken into again. That made me turn off the TV and run into my office. This was the third time this summer that the beloved bookstore/coffee shop run by Temple University professor Marc Lamont Hill had been vandalized. I reached out to Hill, who texted back a photo showing a large glass window in the front of his business that had been destroyed. Broken glass was everywhere. That same window had just been replaced earlier this week. Its been that kind of summer. Vandals targeted the operation for the first time on July 26. Hill remembers the date because he had just recovered from COVID-19. Then it happened again several days later. This latest incident took place Thursday. READ MORE: Uncle of CNN's Marc Lamont Hill inspires Germantown bookstore/coffee shop | Jenice Armstrong Its funny, because the police told us that they had someone in custody, someone who had done a string of commercial robberies and we were one of them, Hill told me. Thats what they told us, and that was Tuesday. I dont know whats going on, he added. Located in the 5400 block of Germantown Avenue, Uncle Bobbies opened in 2017 and quickly became a popular gathering spot for bibliophiles interested in Hills personally curated selection, and area residents who wanted food and a place to relax. For Hill, who rose to national prominence as a media commentator on Fox News and CNN, establishing Uncle Bobbies was more about creating a community center to have intellectual discussions and less about making money. Thats why the fact that it keeps getting targeted the way it has stings so much. I saw the footage. It was two young guys who smashed the window with a brick, ran in and cut themselves, and didnt really know what they were doing, Hill recalled of the first break-in. They grabbed the iPad that we had. There was nothing really in the register. The second time, they broke the glass [window] but didnt get in because a neighbor saw and they ran. And this time, I dont know what happened. Im in New York, said Hill, who was preparing to host a BET special on Fridays March on Washington commemorating the 57th anniversary of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s historic I Have a Dream speech. Despite it all, hes not a lock-them-up kind of guy. Whatever the person needed or needs, I would have done anything and everything to meet those needs. Im the last person youve got to break in and steal from, Hill said. Were out here feeding the community, educating the community. Me, Wallo [Wallace Peebles] and [rapper] Bahmadia just gave away food on Saturday. Were doing all we can to meet peoples needs. I dont want anyone to get harmed in the community, but its just so disappointing that it seems like those of us sometimes who are doing the most for the vulnerable are getting harmed the most. But I dont feel like woe-is-me or anything. Im happy to be in Germantown. Im happy to be doing what were doing, he added. Were not going to back down from this challenge, but Ive got to tell you, it wears on your spirit. Hill really needs security gates. We were told initially that we couldnt put security gates up because we are in a historic district, he explained. After being robbed three times in a month, I would hope that we can get some kind of a variance. We can do something to make them look OK. But what we cant do is to be expected as a business to stay open while getting our windows broken. Theres only so much that even a community-oriented business like Uncle Bobbies can take. Bosky Khanna By Express News Service BENGALURU: Rana, the dashing German Shepherd of the forest department, sealed the case of the tiger shooting, leading foresters to a poacher hiding in a hamlet, and seven of the animals claws. The sniffer dog, aged 7, who lives in Bandipur Tiger Reserve, was brought to Nagarahole Tiger Reserve (NTR) to find the culprits, after foresters learnt that the 5-year-old male tiger had been shot dead. The carcass was found on Tuesday night. Since its a serious case, we brought Rana. He led us to the poacher, who was arrested on Wednesday, and also to the house of a coffee estate worker where we found the seven fresh canines, NTR Director Mahesh told TNIE. Rana has come to the aid of the department after three years of rest. He had helped them nab poachers and solved a sandalwood smuggling case in Srirangapatna, and in 2017, had tracked those who had escaped with the claws of Prince, a popular male tiger of BTR. Rana has solved 15 cases so far. Mahesh said the foresters had recovered wildlife meat from the house of Santosh (35), who was nabbed on Wednesday. Santosh had confessed that it was 1.2kg of deer meat. The team also seized 250 gm of iron balls used to make cartridges and bullets. Santosh said he was part of a gang of four members who had entered the forest to hunt deer. They had stumbled upon the tiger lying near the bushes. Not sure that the tiger was dead, they shot it. Santosh revealed that Sharanu, who stayed on a coffee estate in Kodagu, had taken the claws. By the time we reached, Sharanu had escaped but we recovered the claws. Santosh revealed the whereabouts of the three other poachers, who are absconding. We have sought police help to catch them, he said. Chief Wildlife Warden Ajai Misra said that a tiger being shot is a serious matter, and that staffers and people residing in the hamlet are being questioned. Pointing out that Santoshs confession had many loopholes, Misra added that camera trap images have given some information. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said the state government supports Centres decision to conduct National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examinations (JEE). The chief minister also said all activities should be carried out while following the Covid-19 protocol, adding that the B.Ed (Bachelor of Education) entrance examination was conducted for five lakh candidates in the state on August 9 and there were no complaints about the Covid-19 infection during that exam. The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) should also conduct its examinations in a similar manner, he said. Adityanath was reviewing the Unlock-3 situation at a high-level meeting at his official residence in Lucknow on Friday. Also read: 6 non-BJP states file review petition in SC for NEET, JEE postponement The National Testing Authority (NTA), the nodal body to conduct examinations, and the central government plan to hold JEE-Main between September 1 and 6 and NEET on September 13. JEE-Main and NEET are for undergraduate engineering and medical aspirants, respectively. A review petition was filed before the Supreme Court on Friday by ministers from six non-BJP-ruled states challenging an August 17 order of the Supreme Court which had allowed the central government to hold NEET and JEE in September despite the prevailing Covid-19 situation. These six states are West Bengal, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Maharashtra. Yogi Adityanath reiterated his directive for 1.50 lakh Covid-19 tests per day in the state. All efforts should continue to break the chain of Covid-19, he said, adding that there should be an increase in medical testing with a special increase in the number of rapid antigen tests per day. The number of RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) tests per day should also go up and there should be an increase in the required manpower for the purpose, the chief minister directed officials. He also said district magistrates should focus on pandemic work between 9 am to 10 am, inspect offices between 10 am and 11 am and redress grievances of people in their offices between 11 am and 1 pm. The chief minister also asked additional chief secretaries/principal secretaries to carry out inspection of offices functioning under them. He said barring the employees on leave or those who were sick, 50 percent of attendance should be ensured in all the offices and action should be taken against those found absent at 9.30 am. Adityanath also said an inspection system should be implemented at the tehsil and development block levels. The same system should be followed by the police officers as well, he added. In the absence of district magistrates and subdivisional magistrates, any other responsible officer should follow the schedule at various levels, he said. Besides improving surveillance, the arrangements at the integrated command and control centres should be increased. People should be made aware of Covid-19 in such a manner that they did not feel afraid to come forward for treatment, he said. Work on the paediatric institute coming up in Gorakhpur should be completed in time, he said. The chief minister noted that cases of malaria had been reported from some districts. He said special medical teams should be sent and necessary arrangements for medical treatment should be made available there. Arrangements for the distribution of fertilisers should be smooth and monitored regularly, he said. He also directed officials to take action against sugar mills owners who are not clearing the dues of cane growers. The distribution of relief and compensation to people in the flood-affected areas should be timely ensured, he said. After celebrating the Indian Army with Uri: The Surgical Strike last year and recently announcing another war film Pippa, RSVP is all set to back air force film Tejas, which will go on floors this December. Tejas is the story of a daring and fierce fighter pilot, played by Kangana Ranaut. The Indian Air Force was the first among the country's defence forces to induct women into combat roles in 2016. The film takes inspiration from this landmark event. RSVP took to their social media handle and marked the announcement. They said, "#Tejas starring @KanganaTeam to take-off this December! Airplane This film is our ode to the brave Airforce Pilots of India! Jai Hind Flag of India #FridaysWithRSVP @sarveshmewara1 @RonnieScrewvala @nonabains" Written to evoke a sense of pride and most importantly inspire the youth of our nation, this mission-based film takes us through some of the most challenging combat missions our forces undertake, in their effort to keep our country safe from terrorism. Written and to be directed by Sarvesh Mewara, this is another RSVP film after Uri: The Surgical Strike that salutes the armed forces and aims to inspire the country at large. Kangana On Tejas "TEJAS is an exhilarating story where I have the privilege of playing an air force pilot. I am honoured to be a part of a film that celebrates these brave men & women in uniform who make immense sacrifices in the line of duty everyday... Our film celebrates the armed forces and its heroes ... Excited to take this journey with Sarvesh and Ronnie" says Kangana. Ronnie Screwvala Talks About Resuming Work "We were in the midst of prep when the world was hit by this unfortunate pandemic. I'm pleased to announce that we are resuming work and will commence shoot later this year. URI: THE SURGICAL STRIKE, celebrated the courage of the Indian Army and TEJAS is our dedication to the brave fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force. The idea of developing a story around a woman fighter pilot was born in-house by Salona Bains Joshi, the Associate Producer on the project, and I backed it instantly. With Kangana as the lead, I hope our film inspires many more women to join the Indian Air Force" says Ronnie Screwvala. Director Sarvesh On Tejas "My film is a reflection of the current sentiment in our country. We celebrate our armed forces and I hope to further evoke a spirit of patriotism and nationalism through my story telling. Kangana is a strong woman with a voice that resonates with the youth of this nation and I cannot wait to begin shoot with her" says Sarvesh. Kangana Ranaut To Shed 20 Kilos After Thalaivi, Before Beginning Shoot For Dhaakad And Tejas Kangana Ranaut Acknowledges Panga's Failure: If It Was Stuck Now, It Probably Wouldn't Have A Future The bitter tussle between the Tatas and ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry came to fore at the annual general meeting of Tata Sons, as the two sides traded allegations and counter-allegations over the management of $110 billion salt-to-software group. While no official statement or record of proceedings was released on the first-ever online AGM of Tata Sons held on August 27, sources said representatives of the Mistry family firms, which are the single biggest shareholders, flagged concerns over the drop in performance and mounting debt of two major group companies -- Tata Steel and Tata Motors. Besides, the representatives of the Mistry family, which holds 18.5 percent stake in Tata Sons, also questioned recent investment decisions taken at Tata Sons, which according to them have gone into funding losses. However, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran refuted the allegations of the family, saying he was clearing the "mess" left by his predecessor Mistry. He, according to another source, said the "mess was created in 2013-16", the period during which Mistry was the chairman of the group. He also asserted that Tata Sons' investments in operating companies were done to correct the capital structure of group firms and prevent the default of any liabilities by them. During the AGM, which was also attended by Tata group Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata, the Mistry family representatives raised issues of mounting losses and borrowings at Tata Motors and Tata Steel. They also flagged concerns regarding auditors' remarks on Tata Steel Europe and Air Asia India "for their ability to continue as a going concern". According to the sources, Chandrasekaran responded by saying that in the past three years, lot of efforts have been made in the restructuring of Tata Steel, which witnessed the mix of profitable Indian operations increasing during the period. He also said the revival plans of Tata Steel and Tata Motors have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. On the issue of losses in airline ventures, Chandrasekaran commented that the investment commitment was made in the past, and "Tata Sons does not go back on its commitment", while reiterating that the airline business takes longer to be profitable. The Mistry family representatives had questioned if a proper analysis was done by the Tata Sons board prior to funding in these ventures -- Air Asia India and Vistara. They also highlighted that at present Air Asia India's current liabilities exceeded its current assets by Rs 1,200 crore and its net worth has been fully eroded. They asked if Tatas were to buy out the JV partners, would not it be just buying liabilities of the budget carrier, the sources added. On the positive side, the Mistry family representatives appreciated the good performance of Tata Communications and the strategy of Tata Power to deleverage. They also lauded the pledged taken by the Tata group to support the fight against COVID-19, with Tata Sons and group firms working together along with Tata Trusts, the sources said. Tata Sons board had sacked Mistry as chairman on October 24, 2016. Ever since, the Tatas and Mistry camps have gone through several rounds of legal battles, reaching all the way to the Supreme Court. The apex court had in January this year stayed an order by the NCLAT that restored Cyrus Mistry as executive chairman of the Tata group, observing that there were "lacunae" in the orders passed by the tribunal. By Hugh Bronstein BUENOS AIRES, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Argentina is seeking a new deal with the International Monetary Fund solely to pay back around $44 billion that it had received under an ill-fated stand-by lending agreement in 2018, the country's representative at the fund said on Thursday. Sergio Chodos, IMF executive director for the Southern Cone and Argentina's representative at the fund, told Reuters the government would not seek new financing. "Argentina's intention is to seek IMF financing for the sole purpose of full repayment of the $44 billion that is still owed to the fund," he said in a telephone interview. Argentina, set to wrap up a $65 billion debt deal with bondholders this week, is also opening talks for a new IMF deal. Of the $57 billion promised when the 2018 deal was signed by the previous administration, as part of an unsuccessful attempt to halt a run on the local peso and avoid what would be the country's ninth sovereign bond default, $44 billion had been disbursed before the current government canceled the pact. Argentina is not expected to seek debt relief, or a "haircut" from the fund, while private creditors have agreed to receive less than originally promised when they bought bonds the government says it cannot honor without worsening what is already expected to be a 12.5% economic contraction this year. "The crisis that affects our country today was deepened by a quick agreement with the IMF in 2018, that was unsustainable," Argentine Economy Minister Martin Guzman and central bank chief Miguel Angel Pesce wrote in a letter to IMF head Kristalina Georgieva on Wednesday. (Reporting by Hugh Bronstein; editing by Jonathan Oatis) The Democratic Party press has done its best to suppress news about the riots that have devastated cities across the country, but it is a hard secret to keep. Sometimes their efforts would be amusing, if the subject were not so serious. Here are a couple of minor cases in point from the Democrats flagship newspaper here in Minnesota, the Star Tribune. At 8:59 last night, the Stribs top headline was an optimistic claim that rioting in downtown Minneapolis had subsided: In fact, the looting and arson had barely begun. Before long, that story went down the memory hole. This morning, the Strib attempted a lame coverup of last nights lawlessness with this still photo of rioters looting the Saks store on Nicollet Mall. Note the caption: Nothing to see here! Just a bunch of people gathered around a window that had mysteriouslypassive voicegotten broken! The woman in the foreground with her arms full of clothes? She must have brought them from home. The saddest thing about the Democratic Party presss pathetic evasions is journalists' unwillingness to tell the real story of the lives that have been devastated by Democrat-allied, Democrat-supported rioters. This Facebook post by a man whose familys Asian restaurant was destroyed by Black Lives Matter rioters isas he saysheartbreaking: There is a compelling story here, but it is not one that liberal media, focused on Novembers election, want to tell. Wineries and distilleries across Texas say they won't make it through the pandemic if they don't receive help soon. Under Gov. Greg Abbott's orders, bars must remain closed in an effort to curb the virus, and because so many spirits-based businesses rely on tasting rooms to drive revenue and make most of their sales on alcohol, they are treated like bars. Many of the smaller businesses fear their temporarily closures may become permanent. The Texas Craft Spirits PAC wants changes in regulations that would allow distilleries and wineries to ship alcohol directly to consumers as well as eliminate the limits set on the amount of alcohol they can sell to a consumer during a certain period. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission limits businesses to only selling two or fewer bottles per customer every 30 days and doesn't allow spirits companies to ship alcohol. Allowing wineries and distilleries to sell and ship to customers has worked in states like Kentucky, New York, Illinois and California, according to the Texas Craft Spirits PAC. Winery owners say its the only way distilleries and wineries have a fighting chance to keep their businesses afloat. ON EXPRESSNEWS.COM: San Antonios No. 1 Best Hill Country Winery: William Chris Vineyards "We are just hopeful that the government will step in and help us for the short term so that we can be set up for long-term success," said Dennis Rylander, co-founder of GM Whiskey and Ranger Creek Brewing and Distilling in San Antonio. "They are small changes that can make a big impact for our industry." Rylander estimates Ranger Creek could see double-digit growth if it were allowed to ship more of their products out, which could lead to increasing staff hours and possibly add more employees. Since the start of the pandemic, most wineries and distilleries have lost nearly 80 percent of the normal revenue due to the regulations, according to Texas Craft Spirits PAC. For smaller spirits businesses, the experience of visiting a winery or distillery is what drives customers to them a business model that is nonexistent in the current world. For now, the call for changing regulation has fallen on deaf ears. READ ALSO: Mayor slams popular Northwest Side bar after videos emerge of packed crowds of maskless patrons "The need for the PAC is critical," said Susan Johnson, owner of Texas Heritage Vineyards in Fredericksberg. "I think it will help our voices be heard more to help solve this problem." She said the difficulty has been that the TABC lumps in tasting rooms with bars. The group said taprooms and tasting rooms should be allowed to operate under the same regulations as a restaurant, especially since most have large outdoor-seating areas that would adhere to the orders given to other businesses in the food and alcohol industry. "It isn't like we are here slinging drinks like a bar, people are are buying wine by the bottle," Johnson said. "It is sad because wine sales nationwide technically have gone up, but people are really just buying from like H-E-B or Target or Walmart because we either can't be open or they don't know that they can still come buy to-go from us." It also goes beyond the wineries. Businesses have had to cancel tour guides, musicians and others who rely on the them to make money. Johnson said because the wineries aren't making as much revenue, they can't afford the high-price of grapes from local farmers, who in turn also suffer. "It has been really difficult," Johnson said. "There was no inkling that we would have to completely shut down not only once but twice. And for us mom-and-pop small businesses, it has been really tough. "It has been a lot of doom and gloom since this all started, but I think if we can survive this, it will make us all stronger." Customers wanting to help, visit Save Texas Wineries or Help Save Distillers Who Helped Texas. Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway Party leaders claimed that the interim Congress chief was cocking a snook at Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari and others in the Lok Sabha New Delhi: In a clear message to those who recently wrote a dissent letter challenging her leadership, Congress president Sonia Gandhi Thursday formed a five-member panel in Rajya Sabha including her confidants and elevating two young MPs to senior positions in Lok Sabha. Ahmed Patel, KC Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh will be part of the Rajya Sabha Committee, which will also include Leader of Opposition and party's deputy leader Anand Sharma. Azad and Sharma are signatories to the letter that demanded an overhaul of the Congress party and a new "full-time and visible" party president. They were attacked by party leaders in the Congress Working Committee meeting on Monday, where some even sought action against them. Ramesh has also been appointed the chief whip in Rajya Sabha, a post that fell vacant after Bhubaneswar Kalita quit the party and joined the BJP. Former minister and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, who was also a signatory to the letter, did not find a place in the strategy committee. The group will take a call on the party's floor strategy with sources saying the idea is to strengthen floor management. In the Lok Sabha, Sonia elevated party MP from Assam Gaurav Gogoi and made him the deputy leader of Congress, while Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu was made the party's whip. The two, along with leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, chief whip K Suresh and another whip Manickam Tagore would form a five-member Committee of floor leaders in the Lower House. It is a move by the Congress to strengthen its team of floor leaders in the Lower House, party leaders said, adding it is also a message to dissenters such as Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari in Lok Sabha and Azad and Sharma in the Upper House. Bittu, a three-time MP from Punjab who has been entrusted with the responsibility as the Congress whip in the Lok Sabha, trumps his Punjab colleague Tewari, also a three-time MP. Currently, Bittu represents Ludhiana, which had earlier elected Tewari, who now is MP from Anandpur Sahib. Bittu had won from Anandpur Sahib in 2009. Party leaders said Tewari and Tharoor were aspiring for positions in Lok Sabha. The Opposition party did not have a deputy leader in Lok Sabha, the last was in the previous Lok Sabha when Amarinder Singh was on the post before he became the chief minister of Punjab. The appointments came ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which is likely to commence from 14 September. Gogoi hails from Assam, where Assembly polls are due early next year. The MP from the Kaliabor Lok Sabha constituency, he was the party's whip in the House till now and has been elevated. Gogoi is the son of former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi. One hundred and fifty employees who were laid off due to the the COVID-19 pandemic will return to their jobs this September, the TTC said Thursday night. The transit agency laid off 450 employees in April amid a mass decline in ridership caused by the implementation of the COVID-19 lockdown. The decision to rehire staff comes as elementary and high schools are re-opening in September. Ridership usually goes up about 10 per cent due to the start of school each year, the TTC says. These have been difficult times for everyone at the TTC, as weve been forced to respond to the pandemic by making some tough decisions to reduce expenses and revise service delivery, said CEO Rick Leary in a release to media. The good news is that things are turning around and were able to start bringing back operators and reinstating some of the service, as well as adding service to the busiest routes across the network. The agency says it plans to rehire the remainder of those laid off once ridership levels meet at least 50 per cent of what they looked were prior to the pandemic. Before the pandemic, the TTC saw 1.7 million rides on a typical weekday. Once the lockdowns came into effect, this was reduced to 15 per cent to 20 per cent of that. Ridership levels this week were also in the range of 35 per cent to 40 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, as more people are returning to work outside of the home. The unprecedented ridership drop was no fault of the TTC and Im proud to have secured hundreds of millions from the Federal and Provincial governments to help protect our transit system, said Mayor John Tory in the news release. The changes announced today will ensure that as schools reopen and more people return to work, the TTC can continue to deliver safe and reliable service across the city, with increased service on its busiest routes. Miriam Lafontaine is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @mirilafontaine STAMFORD As her attorney was prepared to argue to have her electronic monitoring device removed, new charges were filed Friday against Michelle Troconis in the Jennifer Dulos case. Minutes before the hearing, Chief States Attorney Richard J. Colangelo Jr. filed two additional counts of conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence, removed one charge of first-degree hindering prosecution and added a second-degree hindering prosecution charge. Her attorney, Jon Schoenhorn, entered pleas of not guilty to the new charges at the end of the court appearance. He was informed of the additional charges as the judge walked into the courtroom, Schoenhorn said. A multiple of zero is still zero, Schoenhorn said of the new conspiracy counts. It doesnt change the fact that there is no probable cause and the detective misrepresented the truth in the warrant. The new charges claim Troconis tried to alter, destroy, conceal, and a remove a thing with the purpose to impair the states investigation into Jennifer Dulos disappearance and presumed death. The filing also claims Troconis aided Fotis Dulos with intent to prevent, hinder and delay the discovery and apprehension of her then-boyfriend through concealment, alteration and destruction of physical evidence. Fotis Dulos faced murder, kidnapping and other charges in his estranged wifes death and disappearance when he died Jan. 30 from an apparent suicide. According to arrest warrants, police said Fotis Dulos used an employees pickup truck to drive to New Canaan where he attacked his estranged wife in the garage of her home shortly after she dropped off their five children at school on May 24, 2019. The New Canaan mothers body has not been found, but police said she has been presumed dead based on blood evidence found in the garage of her Welles Lane home. The new charges against Troconis stem from the night of the disappearance, when she and Fotis Dulos were seen on video surveillance on Albany Avenue in Hartford, police said. The video showed Fotis Dulos throwing out garbage bags that were later determined to contain his estranged wifes blood and clothing, arrest warrants stated. In court filings, Schoenhorn has argued the video shows his client never exited the vehicle that night. The new charges are also connected with video footage police said shows Fotis Dulos and Troconis taking the pickup truck believed to be used the day of the disappearance to a car wash in Avon on May 29, 2019. Police later discovered Jennifer Dulos blood on one of the vehicles seats, arrest warrants state. The new charges were only briefly mentioned during the hearing Friday, when Judge John Blawie rescinded pretrial supervision, but he ruled that all other conditions of release, such as GPS monitoring, house arrest and travel restrictions, will remain intact for now. Blawie said he will also consider Colangelos request for sanctions against Schoenhorn. Colangelo accused Schoenhorn of leaking documents to the media without court approval. Colangelo claimed to have emails showing that Schoenhorn leaked info to four media outlets. Schoenhorn called the accusations absolutely false and a stunt on behalf of the state. I will state categorically that if something is filed with the court and is not otherwise privileged or protected, the state or the police do not have the right to keep the public from knowing it. I am not simply disclosing information that has been given to me that I have to keep in confidence, Schoenhorn said. Blawie said the request for sanctions would be taken under advisement. Schoenhorn in turn asked for sanctions against Colangelo for accusing him of wrongdoing. I do not see the adversarial process as it has to be hostile, but apparently thats how he plays his game and Im up for it, Schoenhorn said after the hearing. Ive been practicing for almost 40 years, Schoenhorn added. Ive never heard that the states attorney gets to control who gets copies of what is filed in a public court file. Schoenhorn contended following the hearing that the arrest of his client in June 2019 was in bad faith, with detectives putting inaccurate information in the arrest warrant. Schoenhorn said hes preparing to file more documents, including additional motions to suppress evidence and motions to dismiss the charges. Schoenhorn has been trying for months to have his clients electronic monitoring device removed and some of the evidence tossed out. Schoenhorn argued Friday that the extensive restrictions placed on his client are unnecessary and unconstitutional. He further claimed that travel restrictions have kept Troconis from visiting her ailing father in Florida, where he was recently released from intensive care for treatment of COVID-19. These restrictions are more like punishment than anything else, Schoenhorn said. Colangelo argued that the GPS monitoring and other restrictions, however, were the only measures keeping Troconis in Connecticut. She has no ties to this community, there is nothing keeping her here except this case, Colangelo said. While Blawie rescinded pretrial supervision, he ruled that all other conditions of release would remain intact until he could issue a written decision, which he expects to have done by mid-September. Troconis will next appear in court remotely on Oct. 1, when it is expected that Schoenhorn and Colangelo will argue whether to hold an evidentiary hearing over the defenses claim that jury selection should be held in another district due to prejudicial pretrial publicity in southern Connecticut. Troconis and attorney Kent Mawhinney, who was also charged in January with conspiracy to commit murder, are the remaining defendants in the case. Mawhinney, who remains jailed on $2 million bond, is next scheduled to appear Oct. 29 in state Superior Court in Stamford. Kevin Mayer, TikTok's CEO, has resigned from his position as the Chinese-owned social media app faces backlash from U.S President Donald Trump. Banning TikTok Mayer said in a memo to the employees that in recent weeks, the political environment in the United States has changed, and he had done significant reflection on what the company changes will require and what it means for the global role that he signed up for. TikTok hired Mayer four months ago to run the famous video-sharing app, which is the first Chinese-owned social media platform that gained success in the Western market. Mayer was a former top Disney executive, and aside from being the CEO of TikTok, he was also the COO of ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, as reported by The New York Times. Also Read: Actress Bette Midler Called Racist After Tweeting Melania Trump "Still Can't Speak English" Months after he took the role, TikTok came under fire from the US government, and President Trump has threatened to ban the app in the United States if it is not sold. A spokesperson from TikTok said in a statement that they fully respect Mayer's decision since the current political climate in the country has changed the scope of his role. ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming said in a memo sent to the employees that the political circumstances that they are operating within had a significant impact on Mayer's job. Zhang also said that Mayer talked to him before resigning and that he wished Mayer well. Major setback Even before President Trump issued an executive order calling for the ban of TikTok, the company was already rethinking its corporate structure. The Wall Street Journal reported in July that ByteDance was considering establishing a headquarters for TikTok outside of China or create a new management board to distance the service from China. A TikTok spokesperson said that they were already evaluating the changes. Mayer's resignation is a massive setback for the company, according to Edith Yeung, who spent years investing in Chinese companies with venture capital firm 500 Startups. She is a partner with Race Capital, investing in US firms. According to the executive order, TikTok poses a national security threat because TikTok collects data on users, which threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to the personal and proprietary information of Americans. The move against TikTok is a part of an escalating US-China tech war that has already affected other Chinese apps and tech firms, such as Huawei and WeChat, as reported by Variety. TikTok has sued the Trump administration over the executive order, calling it heavily politicized. The company also said that Trump's order illegally rests on emergency powers law in ways that do not apply to TikTok. The company has also stated that it stores data on its US users in the United States and in Singapore and that it would refuse any requests by the Chinese government for US user data. TikTok is highly popular in the United States, with 100 million users. The company has now explored in selling its US business, which is worth $40 billion to $50 billion, to Oracle and Microsoft, but there is no update about it yet. Related Article: China Accuses US of Sending Spy Planes to Trespass on Exercises @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Pronab Mandal By Express News Service KOLKATA: Sharpening her attack on the Centres decision to conduct NEET and JEE exams in September, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Friday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to use his Maan Ki Baat platform to gauge the students pulse. She also advised Modi to interact with genuine students, not with "fabricated" ones. "The Centre is trying to impose its unilateral decision on the states. There is a programme titled Mann Ki Baat. Why dont you interact with the students regarding your decisions to conduct exams in September? You interact with genuine students, not fabricated ones. You will come to know what students want," said Mamata while addressing a virtual rally from her Kalighat residence on the occasion of the foundation day of the students wing of her party. ALSO READ | All CMs should move SC for postponing NEET, JEE, says Mamata at Opposition CMs meet West Bengal government has raised strong objection after the Union education ministry asked the states to conduct NEET and JEE citing the risk factors in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. In a virtual meeting with Opposition chief minister and Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday, she requested all to come together and move the Supreme Court against the Centres decision. ALSO READ | Clamour to postpone NEET, JEE grows: From Mamata to Sisodia, here is a look at who said what Referring to the UGCs recent directive asking universities to conduct final semester examinations within September, Mamata said, "The UGC had earlier recommended not to conduct exams in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. But in a recent communication, it asked to conduct the university examinations. Earlier they were concerned about students safety and now they are not." The West Bengal CM announced the state government will not conduct any examinations in schools across the state in September. "The institutes come under the state governments affairs will not ask students in schools to appear for any examinations. We will consider how exams can be conducted in October," she said. ALSO READ | Please assess the risk: Mamata appeals to Centre to postpone JEE, NEET exams The TMC chief has asked the supporters of its students wing to launch a large-scale movement against the Centres decision. "I have requested the Centre to postpone NEET and JEE for the sake of lakhs of students safety. I urge the young supporters of the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Praishad to hit the roads and form a large-scale movement against the central governments decision," she said. A 45-year-old man arrested in Britain on suspicion of committing war crimes during Liberias civil wars has been released, but remains under investigation, police said on Friday. Detectives did not identify the man but Liberias FrontPageAfrica newspaper named him as Jankuba Fofana, without quoting sources. The daily described him as a former frontline commander in the Liberia United for Reconciliation and Democracy rebel group, which opposed president Charles Taylor. Londons Metropolitan Police arrested the man in the southeast of the British capital on Thursday morning after an allegation relating to the civil wars between 1989 and 2003. He was held under section 51 of the International Criminal Court Act 2001, which covers genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Officers have finished searching an address in southeast London. Enquiries are ongoing, the force said in a statement. Some 250,000 people were killed in the back-to-back wars that ravaged Liberia, which were marked by the widespread use of mutilation and rape and deployment of child soldiers. Several arrests have been made across Europe in recent years in relation to the civil wars, including in Finland in March. Last year, a British judge dismissed torture charges against the ex-wife of former president Taylor, whose National Patriotic Front guerilla group sparked the civil war in 1989. Agnes Taylor, a former lecturer at Coventry University in central England, had denied being involved in the torture of a child and conspiring to use rape during the conflict. Charles Taylor, who became president in 1997 and quit in 2003, was the first former head of state to be jailed by an international court since the Nuremberg trials after World War II. He was convicted in 2012 on 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity over acts committed by Sierra Leonean rebels he aided and abetted. He was transferred to Britain in 2013. Appeals Court Lifts Order Protecting Journalists, Legal Observers From Dispersal Orders in Portland Protests A federal appeals court has lifted a lower courts order that limited the amount of force federal agents could use against journalists and legal observers while dispersing protesters in Portland, Oregon. A divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Ninth Circuit temporarily lifted a preliminary injunction on Thursday night that exempted journalists and legal observers from dispersal orders. The 21 panel found that the U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simons ruling was broad and lacked clarity. Given the orders breadth and lack of clarity, particularly in its non-exclusive indicia of who qualifies as Journalists and Legal Observers, appellants have also demonstrated that, in the absence of a stay, the order will cause irreparable harm to law enforcement efforts and personnel, the judges in the majority, who were both Trump appointees, wrote (pdf). Meanwhile, Judge Margaret McKeown, a Bill Clinton appointee, dissented, saying that the government had not shown an emergency of irreparable harm given that Simons order has been in place for over a month. In light of the deferential review accorded to the district courts factual finding at this stage, the district courts extensive factual findings with respect to journalists and legal observers, including the finding that the injunction would not impair law enforcement operations to protect federal property and personnel, and the fact that a temporary restraining order has been in place since July 23, 2020, the government has failed to meet its burden to demonstrate either an emergency or irreparable harm to support an immediate administrative stay, McKeown wrote. In recent months, Portland had seen unrest and nightly riots in the wake of the in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in late May. Federal agents were sent to the city to protect the federal courthouse and surrounding areas from destruction. The violence had led to over 600 arrests between local and federal law enforcement. Meanwhile, more than 200 federal officers have been injured in Portland alone. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), among several others, filed a lawsuit in response to law enforcement actions during the unrest, saying that journalists, photojournalists, and legal observers were targeted and injured, teargassed, and beaten amid attempts to quell the violence. The lawsuit asked the court to declare the actions unconstitutional and prohibit federal agents from using force against journalists and legal observers. Simon granted the request blocking federal agents from arresting, threatening to arrest, or using physical force against journalists and legal observers. The judge extended his order on Aug. 20 (pdf). The Justice Department said Simons order prevented the federal government from effectively addressing the violence through general crowd-control measures and had increased the risk of serious injury to federal law enforcement officers. Attorney General William Barr said in a statement that perpetrators of violence who have hijacked the protests are using the crowds to make it more difficult for law enforcement to detect or reach them. He said that in some cases purported journalists or legal observers have provided cover for violent individuals and some had even attacked officers or trespassed on federal property. He called the Ninth Circuits decision a crucial step to allow federal agents to carry out their important security responsibilities without being subject to untenable conditions. The Portland city government has the ability to stop this. Instead, the city government has abetted the violence through action and inaction, neutered the ability of the police department to deal with the mobs, impeded the ability of police to coordinate with federal law enforcement, and refused to pursue charges against the rioters, Barr said. The First Amendment protects the rights to speak and assemble, but not to attack people or property. The Department of Justice will continue to fully and fairly enforce federal law against these violent rioters, he added. In response to the ruling, the ACLU said although they disagree with the courts order, it is only temporary and not the final word. We look forward to having a chance to brief the issue on the merits. The freedom of the press protects a democracy from devolving into tyranny, they said in a statement. Under the First Amendment, press and legal observers must be allowed to document whats happening at protests without being assaulted, shot, detained, or arrested. The government cannot be held to account if there is no one left to document its actions. On Friday, the Justice Department announced that 74 people are facing federal charges for crimes committed during rioting in Portland in previous months. The individuals were charged with offenses such as assaulting a federal officer, throwing a bomb at the federal courthouse, and operating a drone in restricted airspace. Grant Shapps urged Britons to return to the workplace while conducting interviews from his Hertfordshire home (YouTube/LBC) Grant Shapps has defended his comments urging Britains workers to return to their offices - made while conducting interviews from his Hertfordshire home. The transport secretary faced criticism for telling people 'it is now safe to return to work' following the coronavirus pandemic, while pictured in front of a bookcase in his home study. Appearing on LBC Radio Breakfast, host Nick Ferrari said: 'Im sitting in my studio in central London. Unless I am mistaken you are in your study in Hertfordshire. 'So I am back to work, Secretary of State you are not. Why? Discuss Shapps replied: That is true. For this mornings round [of interviews] this works very well. Last week when I spoke to you same time, same place, as it were my place was different. I was in Cardiff. He added: I was actually going in on an ad-hoc basis throughout, there were just things that I had to do. Of course I did half a dozen of those Downing Street press conferences during the height of this and that necessitated going into the office. The controversy came as Boris Johnson prepared to launch a major drive to persuade more Britons to return to their workplaces - as remote workers were warned they could be more at risk of being sacked. A warning from an unnamed government minister reported on Thursday that remote workers could find themselves in the most vulnerable position if employers look for cutbacks. Grant Shapps defended urging people to return to the office while he continued to work from home and explained he had visited Downing Street several times at the height of the pandemic to host daily briefings (Alberto Pezzali/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Working from home could prove problematic for some employees if their bosses are only seeing them once a fortnight, the source said. Labour has accused ministers of 'threatening' workers and of 'forcing' them to make an 'unconscionable' choice between their health and their job after a Government source said people who continue working from home could be the first to go if firms restructure. Labours shadow business minister Lucy Powell said: It beggars belief that the Government are threatening people like this during a pandemic. Forcing people to choose between their health and their job is unconscionable. Story continues Number 10 should condemn this briefing and categorically rule out any such campaign. Boris Johnson's campaign to get Britain's workers back into the office has been labelled 'unconscionable' by Labour MPs (REUTERS/Toby Melville TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) Shapps suggested many people will want to go back to their places of work because there is a limit 'in human terms' to remote working. Speaking on Sky News, he said: 'What we're saying to people is it is now safe to go back to work and your employer should have made arrangements which are appropriate to make sure that it is coronavirus-safe to work and you will see some changes if you haven't been in for a bit as a result.' He added: 'We're absolutely clear that employers and employees need to work together to resolve this and there are of course a whole host of sort of employee protections in place if employees have concerns about the work place for example, then the Health and Safety Executive, the local authority will be the right places to go. Coronavirus: what happened today Click here to sign up to the latest news, advice and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter A court-appointed independent monitor urged the Trump administration on Wednesday to stop holding migrant children in hotels before summarily expelling them from the U.S. southern border, expressing concerns about a secretive detention system that's been used to detain at least 660 minors during the coronavirus pandemic. Since mid-March, U.S. immigration authorities along the southern border have expelled tens of thousands of unauthorized migrants, including an unknown number of children who were encountered without their parents or legal guardians. Instead of deporting them under U.S. immigration law, officials are rapidly expelling most border-crossers without allowing them to seek humanitarian refuge an unprecedented policy shift that officials say is authorized by a public health statute designed to contain infectious diseases. Unlike most single adult migrants, who are expelled directly to Mexico by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), some unaccompanied minors and families with children processed under the emergency public health directive are held in hotel rooms while officials arrange to expel them through deportation flights. The families and children held in hotel rooms are supervised by personnel from MVM Inc., a private company that contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Andrea Sheridan Ordin, the independent monitor appointed by a federal court to oversee the government's compliance with the Flores Settlement Agreement, which governs the care of children in U.S. immigration custody, revealed Wednesday that at least 577 unaccompanied minors were detained in more than 25 hotels between March and July while officials worked to expel them. Another 83 children have been held in hotels with their families during the same time period, according to an interim report filed by Ordin in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. Most of the unaccompanied migrant children held at these border hotels have been teenagers, but some were as young as 10, according to Ordin's report. In early May, CBS News chronicled the rapid removal of a 10-year-old Honduran boy, the first publicly reported expulsion of an unaccompanied minor under the emergency border policy. Ordin's report also revealed that the average length of hotel detention for children is approximately five days, but some have been held for nearly a month. Story continues Unaccompanied migrant children as young as 10 have been held in an unregulated system of hotels while U.S. immigration authorities arranged their rapid expulsion from the southern border. / Credit: Court filing by Andrea Sheridan Ordin Ordin, a former U.S. attorney in California with decades of legal experience, noted that children held in hotel rooms are provided hot meals, hygiene products, access to medical personnel and other amenities. While she "appreciated" the services, Ordin said the makeshift detention system is "not fully responsive to the safe and sanitary needs of young children." "There remains no assurance that the [hotel detention system] can provide adequate custodial care for single minors, who by definition are being moved through the immigration system alone and without familial support or protection," she wrote in her report. Ordin urged ICE to cease using hotels to detain children awaiting expulsion especially those 14 and younger. She said the agency should, at the very least, exempt all minors below the age of 15. "There is a vast body of pediatric and psychological evidence documenting sharp differences in the requisite custodial needs and developmental vulnerabilities of children over this range of ages," Ordin added. While Ordin's recommendation is not binding, advocates believe her findings will bolster their efforts to convince Judge Dolly Gee of the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles to rule that children processed under public health order are entitled to the protections of the Flores settlement, including access to lawyers, placement in safe and sanitary facilities and an obligation that the government pursue the prompt release of minors from detention. "We hope that the government is ultimately prohibited from flouting its legal obligations through its arbitrary classification of unaccompanied children as 'single minors' subject to expulsion under Title 42," Neha Desai, the director of immigration at the National Center for Youth Law and one of the attorneys in the Flores case, told CBS News, referring to terminology used by the Trump administration. Justice Department lawyers have argued that these children are not covered under the 1997 Flores consent decree because they are being processed under the public health authorities of an order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While the use of a public health law to effectively shut down the asylum system to border-crossers is unprecedented in and of itself, the summary expulsions of unaccompanied migrant children is what has alarmed advocates the most. U.S. immigration and anti-trafficking laws protect unaccompanied migrant children from expedited deportations and require border officials to generally transfer these minors to shelters and other non-restrictive housing facilities overseen by the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Once in the custody of the refugee agency, migrant children can seek asylum or other forms of relief from deportation as they await their release to family members in the U.S. Ordin's report is the most detailed account yet of the use of hotel rooms for immigration detention purposes during the pandemic, but it does not include statistics on migrant children expelled by land to Mexico or the total number of minors expelled under the public health order a figure the Trump administration has repeatedly declined to disclose. Advocates fear many migrant children processed by U.S. border authorities during the pandemic remain unaccounted for. In April, May, June and July, U.S. officials at the southern border made more than 5,900 apprehensions of unaccompanied children. During that same time span, the Office of Refugee Resettlement reported receiving 330 migrant children from the Department of Homeland Security. ICE did not immediately respond to a series of questions about the findings and recommendations in Wednesday's report. The contractor MVM Inc. has said it can't respond to press inquiries because of its contract with ICE. Citing ongoing litigation, CBP declined to answer several questions, including whether the agency has a policy of not placing unaccompanied children who are 9 or younger in expulsion proceedings. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other advocacy groups are currently challenging the expulsions of children in federal court. A class-action lawsuit was filed earlier this month after several individual cases were rendered moot because the government removed the named plaintiffs from hotels and greenlighted their transfer to the U.S. refugee agency. This is a trend documented by lawyers and advocates from groups like Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) and the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Right. After reaching out to U.S. immigration officials about children held in hotel rooms, the groups said the government has generally abandoned plans to expel those minors. Ordin also reported Wednesday that at least two children previously held in hotels have been allowed to stay in the U.S. under regular immigration proceedings after testing positive for the coronavirus. Advocates said it is unclear what factors immigration officials weigh when deciding whether to halt the expulsion of a minor. "It is really only the threat of litigation that seems to be what causes DHS to say, 'fine, fine, we'll re-designate them and transfer them to ORR custody,'" Jennifer Nagda, the policy director at the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Right, told CBS News. "It doesn't seem to have anything to do with characteristics of the child, the country of origin, the age, their vulnerabilities or their health which is allegedly the purpose behind this rule." Maria Odom, vice president for legal programs at KIND, said her group has helped halt the expulsions of more than 25 migrant children after finding out about their detention in hotels, usually through family members in the U.S. Odom, however, expressed concern about the minors she and her organization have not been able to locate. "We're stripping these kids from their right of seeking legal protection and humanitarian relief to which they are entitled to under the law and I continue to be deeply concerned about the system of housing children in hotels when we have the Office of Refugee Resettlement shelter system designed for the very purpose of housing this vulnerable population," Odom told CBS News. Gunfire leaves two dead in Kenosha, Wisconsin as protests continue over Jacob Blake shooting Eye Opener: Hurricane Laura makes landfall with 150 mph winds New details in Jacob Blake police shooting emerge in first law enforcement press conferences Thats not how Facebook sees it. The social media giant has taken down the Kenosha Guards page for violating its dangerous organizations policy. Rittenhouse, who is facing murder charges in connection with the Tuesday night shootings, had his Facebook and Instagram accounts taken down and the company will temporarily prohibit anyone from starting a new account in his name. Senior Minister Var Kimhong speaks at the ceremony at Peace Palace. Photo: Khmer Times Phnom Penh Cambodian border affairs committee chairman Var Kimhong said the government will send newly-drawn Vietnam-Cambodia border topographic maps to the UN for international recognition. Speaking at the ceremony to hand over the maps to 35 Cambodian ministries and state institutions at the Peace Palace, Phnom Penh on August 27, Var Kimhong considered the border topographic maps scaled at 1:25,000 as a historic achievement for Cambodia. We plan to send the topographic maps to be kept at the United Nations, he was quoted by Khmer Times as saying, adding that the Cambodian government will negotiate with Vietnam to demarcate the remaining 16 percent of the border. The map represented 84 percent of border demarcation work completed between the two nations which have been implemented since 2006. Kimhong said the maps were made based on the original maps of 1:100,000 scale produced during the French colonial era. The handover ceremony took place under the presidency of Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence. The map is an indispensable appendix to the Vietnam-Cambodia land border demarcation protocol signed on October 5, 2019, and the supplementary treaty to the 1985 Treaty on the Delimitation of National Boundaries and the 2005 Supplementary Treaty. On August 1, Vietnamese and Cambodian officials exchanged border topographic maps at 1:25,000 scale at Moc Bai international border gate in Vietnams southern province of Tay Ninh. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Le Hoai Trung, Deputy Foreign Minister and Chairman of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Committee on Border Demarcation and Marker Planting, while the Cambodian delegation was headed by Var Kim Hong. The two sides examined and agreed on all 500 sets of border topographic maps, including 250 in Vietnamese-Khmer languages and 250 others in Khmer-Vietnamese languages, with signatures of the two countries relevant authorities. Each side keeps 250 sets. The event laid an important foundation for both sides to hold a ceremony to exchange a document approving the validity of the supplementary treaty to the 1985 Treaty on the Delimitation of National Boundaries and the 2005 Supplementary Treaty, and the Vietnam-Cambodia land border demarcation protocol. Both sides agreed to inform each other of the schedule for the ceremony via diplomatic channels, after the two Governments end measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed an acknowledgement of both countries border marker planting, which achieved 84 percent, in Hanoi on October 5, 2019. Cambodia and Vietnam share a border of 1,270 kilometres. Over 80% conversion of Inferred oxide resource to Measured and Indicated categories; Pit constrained Measured and Indicated Oxide Resource of 3.43 M tonnes averaging 0.84 g/t Au (92,000 ozs Au contained) in a low strip starter pit; Inferred Oxide Resource of 1.61 M tonnes averaging 0.74 g/t Au (38,000 ozs Au) within the same starter pit; Waste : Resource ratio of oxide starter pit is 0.2:1.0; Exploration drilling has resumed at the Candelones Extension; TORONTO, Aug. 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unigold Inc. (Unigold or the Company) (TSX-V:UGD) is pleased to announce an updated mineral resource estimate for the Candelones Project, part of the Companys 100% owned Neita Concession in the Dominican Republic. The updated mineral resource estimate was completed by Mr. W. Lewis, P.Geo. and Mr. A. San Martin, MAusIMM (CP) of Micon International Limited. (Micon). Micon is independent of Unigold and Messrs. Lewis and San Martin meet the requirements of a Qualified Person as established by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (May, 2014). Key methodology and assumptions utilized in estimating the mineral resource is provided in Table 1.0 below. Joe Hamilton, Chairman and CEO of Unigold notes: One of the key objectives for our initial 2020 exploration program was to upgrade a significant portion of the inferred oxide resource to the measured and indicated classification in preparation for completing economic studies. The work we completed over the past year has successfully converted over 80% of the historic oxide resource to the measured and indicated classification in addition to adding almost 10% more ounces to the global oxide resource. Over the rest of 2020 we plan to advance towards a pre-feasibility study that will evaluate the economics of the oxide resource. When considered in conjunction with the efficient metallurgical recoveries suggested by the test work to date we believe that there is a justifiable economic opportunity for a low cost starter pit. Our intent is to continue working towards de-risking the oxide resource through additional metallurgical testing and preliminary engineering studies with the objective of establishing a maiden reserve estimate for the oxide mineralization in 2021. Story continues It is important to note that the sulphide resource is based on drilling up to 2015. The sulphide resource estimate does not include any of the recent, high grade, drill results collected from interpreted epithermal feeder systems that have been a focal point of our exploration programs since late 2015. We plan to update the sulphide resource on completion of our recently announced follow up drill program scheduled to commence by the end of August. Our initial drill holes will focus on increasing the geological confidence of the high grade epithermal systems through infill drilling before transitioning to expanding the limits of these same systems along strike and down dip. Our objective is to increase the geological confidence of the inferred sulphide resource in a similar fashion to what we accomplished for the oxide component of the resource, converting a significant portion of the inferred mineral resource to a measured and/or indicated classification. I am very pleased to announce that we have completed refurbishing both our diamond drills currently in-country and mobilized these into the field this week. We have also commenced refurbishing two additional drills recently purchased in Canada and we are targeting to have those drills operational in early Q4, 2020, allowing us to target the epithermal feeder systems at depth. The following table summarizes the updated mineral resource estimate for the Candelones Project. A NI43-101 compliant report will be filed within 45 days. The Company expects to update the sulphide resource estimate, utilizing high-grade intercepts from 2015 to 2020 and assuming underground mining techniques, after the current 15,000 meter drill program is complete. Table 1.0 Mineral Resource Estimate Candelones Project Description Mineralization Classification Deposit Tonnes Au Au ozs Strip Type (x 1,000) (g/t) (x 1,000) Ratio Pit Constrained OXIDE MEASURED Main & Connector 1,835 0.84 49 0.2 INDICATED Main & Connector 1,595 0.83 43 0.2 SUBTOTAL M & I Main & Connector 3,430 0.84 92 0.2 OXIDE INFERRED Main & Connector 1,069 0.62 21 0.2 TRANSITION INFERRED Main & Connector 545 0.97 17 0.2 SUBTOTAL INFERRED Main & Connector 1,614 0.74 38 0.2 Pit Constrained SULPHIDE INFERRED Main & Connector 4,622 1.26 188 1.1 Extension 24,822 1.67 1,330 9.2 SUBTOTAL INFERRED 29,444 1.61 1,518 7.9 Underground SULPHIDE INFERRED Main & Connector 598 2.25 43 NA Extension 3,247 2.42 252 NA SUBTOTAL INFERRED 3,845 2.39 295 NA Notes relating to Mineral Resource Estimate Mineral resources were estimated by Mr. W. Lewis, P.Geo. and Mr. A. San Martin, MAusIMM(CP) of Micon International Limited. (Micon), a Toronto based consulting company, independent of Unigold. Both Mr. Lewis and Mr. San Martin meet the requirements of a Qualified Person as established by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (May 2014) (the CIM Standards). The estimate is based on a long term gold price of US$ 1,500 per ounce and economic cut-off grades 0.30 g/t Au (OXIDE), 0.60 g/t (TRANSITION AND SULPHIDE) and 1.30 g/t (UNDERGROUND SULPHIDE). Pit constrained resources are reported within an optimized pit shell; underground resources are reported within continuous and contiguous shapes which lie adjacent to and below the ultimate open pit shell and interpreted to be recoverable utilizing standard underground mining methods. The mineral resource estimate has an effective date of August 17, 2020. The mineral resource estimate is based on a long term gold price of US$ 1,500 per ounce and economic cut-off grades of 0.30 g/t Au (OXIDE PIT CONSTRAINED), 0.60 g/t (TRANSITION AND SULPHIDE - PIT CONSTRAINED) and 1.30 g/t (SULPHIDE - UNDERGROUND). Pit constrained resources are reported within an optimized pit shell; underground resources are reported within continuous and contiguous shapes which lie adjacent to and below the ultimate open pit shell and interpreted to be recoverable utilizing standard underground mining methods. The estimate assumes the following metallurgical recoveries that are based on completed test work to date: Oxide 90%, Transition 50%, and Sulphide 84%. The estimate assumes the following costs: Mining (Pit) US$ 2.50/tonne, Mining (Underground) US$ 30.00 Oxide Processing (Heap Leach) US$7.00 / t, Transition Processing (Heap Leach) US$ 7.00/t, Sulphide Processing US$ 18.00/t ((Leach) and G&A US$ 5.00/t. The pit constrained resource is reported within an optimized pit shell that assumed a maximum slope angle of 45 degrees. Open pit mining recovery was assumed to be 100%. Open pit dilution was assumed to be 0%..Underground mining recovery was assumed to be 100%. Underground dilution was assumed to be 0%. Micon has not identified any legal, political, environmental or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of the mineral resource estimate. The mineral resource estimates are classified according to the CIM Standards which define a Mineral Resource as a concentration or occurrence of solid material of economic interest in or on the earth's crust in such form, grade or quality and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade or quality, continuity and other characteristics of a mineral resource are known, estimated or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge including sampling. Mineral resources are sub-divided, in order of increasing geological confidence, into inferred, indicated and measured categories. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than an indicated mineral resource. An indicated mineral resource has a higher level of confidence than an inferred mineral resource but has a lower level of confidence than a measured mineral resource." The CIM Standards define an inferred mineral resource as: "that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an indicated mineral resource. It is reasonably expected that the majority of inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration." All procedures, methodology and key assumptions supporting this mineral resource estimate shall be fully disclosed in a Technical Report that shall be available on SEDAR and the Companys website within forty five (45) days of the effective date of the mineral resource estimate. The reader is reminded that mineral resources are not mineral reserves and therefore do not have demonstrated economic viability. QA/QC Diamond drilling utilizes both HQ and NQ diameter tooling. Holes are established using HQ diameter tooling before reducing to NQ tooling to complete the hole. The core is received at the on-site logging facility where it is, photographed, logged for geotechnical and geological data and subjected to other physical tests including magnetic susceptibility and specific gravity analysis. Samples are identified, recorded, split by wet diamond saw, and half the core is sent for assay with the remaining half stored on site. A minimum sample length of 0.3 meters and a maximum sample length of 1.5 metres is employed with most samples averaging 1.0 meters in length except where geological contacts dictate. Certified standards and blanks are randomly inserted into the sample stream and constitute approximately 5-10% of the sample stream. Samples are shipped to a sample preparation facility in the Dominican Republic operated by Bureau Veritas. Assaying is performed at Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd.s laboratory in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. All samples are analyzed for gold using a 50 gram lead collection fire assay fusion with an atomic adsorption finish. In addition, most samples are also assayed using a 36 element multi-acid ICP-ES analysis method. W. Lewis P.Geo, and A. San Martin MAusIMM (CP), of Micon have reviewed and approved the contents of this press release. Wes Hanson P.Geo., Chief Operating Officer of Unigold has reviewed and approved the contents of this press release. About Unigold Inc. Discovering Gold in the Caribbean Unigold is a Canadian based mineral exploration company traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol UGD, focused primarily on exploring and developing its gold assets in the Dominican Republic. Forward-looking Statements Certain statements contained in this document, including statements regarding events and financial trends that may affect our future operating results, financial position and cash flows, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are based on our assumptions and estimates and are subject to risk and uncertainties. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words like strategy, expects, plans, believes, will, estimates, intends, projects, goals, targets, and other words of similar meaning. You can also identify them by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. We wish to caution you that such statements contained are just predictions or opinions and that actual events or results may differ materially. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Where applicable, we claim the protection of the safe harbour for forward- looking statements provided by the (United States) Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 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. CONTACT: For further information please visit www.unigoldinc.com or contact: Mr. Joseph Hamilton Chairman & CEO jhamilton@unigoldinc.com T. (416) 866-8157 As of August 23, 45,299 rooftop solar power projects had become operational with total capacity of 1,029 MWp, according to the Electricidty of Vietnam (EVN). The owner of a 20 hectare banana farm in Gia Lai, B.M.H. wants to install a solar power system on the roof of the compost house. However, he cannot implement his plan because of complicated regulations. He was told that he can install solar panels on the roofs at the farm and connect to the national grid, but he will have to explain some issues to the local power companies. Meanwhile, the land, which is listed as land for perennial crops, must be switched to other types of agricultural land. However, H could not register the changes in the land-use purposes because the local authorities had no more plans for land use. As of August 23, 45,299 rooftop solar power projects had become operational with total capacity of 1,029 MWp, according to the Electricidty of Vietnam (EVN). At a recent workshop, Nguyen Van Khang, chair of the Tien Giang provinces Union of Science and Technology Associations, told his story about rooftop solar power development. Khang installed a 6KW rooftop solar power system in July 2019, which cost VND93 million. Khang sold the electricity created by the system to Tien Giang Power Company, while he bought electricity from the company for household use. One year later, the power company paid him VND9 million for the electricity he sold. Tt'he electricity selling price was VND1.9 million for 1 KW. Khang concluded that the electricity price at which households sell to EVN is not attractive enough to encourage people to develop rooftop solar power. Meanwhile, Tran Viet Nguyen from EVN said that many people still hesitate to install rooftop solar power because they lack information about the quality of products, installation companies and equipment maintenance. Moreover, the expenses for equipment and installation remain relatively high. There are no policies to encourage households to install rooftop solar power systems and there are no national standards for equipment and rooftop power systems. Nguyen proposed that the government and ministries design the mechanisms and support packages that help minimize the installation and operation costs. He stressed that after the fixed electricity selling price mechanism stipulated in the Prime Ministers Decision No 13 (FIT 2 price) expires, Vietnam will need a new pricing mechanism in 2021. Regarding the safety standards for rooftop solar power systems, Hoang Manh Tan, deputy CEO of Son Ha Group, expressed his concern about the low quality of solar panels. We know that some products cannot meet standards available in the market, he said. There is a manufacturer making B- or C-class products and exporting the products to China. Who can say for sure that the products wont come back to Vietnam? he said. H. Duy Single power price to be applied when theres a competitive retail market The Minister of Industry of Trade Tran Tuan Anh has decided to withdraw the suggested plan to allow consumers to choose to pay electricity bills with either a multi-level or single-level price mechanism. Senate Majority Mitch McConnell begged voters to keep the Senate in GOP hands, telling Republican National Convention viewers that the 'stakes have never been higher.' He said that if Washington, D.C., were to get two liberal senators, 'we can't undo the damage they've done,' with the Democrats already in control of the House and the election looking like it could deliver the Senate to the Democrats too. McConnell's address was pre-recorded from Louisville, Kentucky and included a litany of reasons Republicans should be scared of Democratic rule, including that the party would limit 'how many hamburgers you can eat.' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell begged voters to keep the Senate red and gave a litany of reasons why Republicans should be scared of Democratic Congressional control Among McConnell's worries: He accused Democrats of limiting 'how many hamburgers you can eat' 'Todays Democrat party doesnt want to improve life for middle America. They prefer that all of us in flyover country keep quiet and let them decide how we should live our lives,' McConnell said, pointing out in his opening that he was the only Senate or House leader not from New York or California. That includes his own party's House leader, Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California. 'This election is incredibly consequential for middle America,' McConnell said. Democrats, he argued, wanted to 'tell you when you can go to work' and 'when your kids can go to school,' likely references to Democratic governors' shutdown orders throughout this year's coronavirus pandemic. 'They want to tax your job out of existence, and then send you a government check for unemployment,' he went on. When he delivered the 'hamburger' line, he gave it with a grin. He also knocked Democrats for wanting to 'defund the police,' which some on the ultra-left of the party have called for, but is mostly a call from 'Black Lives Matter' activists. Democratic nominee Joe Biden has said he's against defunding the police. 'They want free health care for illegal immigrants, yet they offer no protection at all for unborn Americans,' he said. He then turned to the threat of Washington, D.C., where its more than 700,000 residents have no vote in Congress. 'And they want to codify all of this by making the swamp itself - Washington, D.C. - America's 51st state,' he said. 'With two more liberal senators, we cannot undo the damage they've done.' The House of Representatives passed a D.C. statehood bill in June, but the Senate under McConnell's leadership won't touch it. 'Now you understand why Democrats spent an entire week telling us about who Joe Biden is - not what he intends to do,' McConnell said. McConnell, who stayed out of Washington for President Donald Trump's Thursday night White House address, spoke about the president too. 'President Trump knows he inherited the first generation of Americans who couldnt promise their children a better life than their own,' McConnell said. 'He has made it his mission of this Administration to change that. I know, because I work beside him every day.' He concluded his remarks by asking Americans to support 'Republican Senate candidates across the country.' 'And re-elect my friend, President Donald Trump,' McConnell said. The Wa West District Assembly will distribute 600,000 cashew seedlings under the government's flagship programme of Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) to farmers for cultivation. Mr Edward Laabiiri Sabo, the Wa West District Chief Executive (DCE), announced this at the first ordinary meeting of the Assembly at Wechiau. He said the Assembly had established 20 acres of cashew nursery at Ga and Bankpama in the district. It is also rehabilitating Small Earth Dams at Meteu and Polle Laniyiri as part of climate change measures under the Ghana Productive Safety Net Project. The DCE said the Assembly would improve health care service delivery to the people. He said the MP of the area, through the Assembly, had awarded a contract for the construction of a Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) facility at Kachau. There are also plans to furnish a CHPS facility at Nyoli. Mr Sabo said the construction of CHPS compounds at Wechiau-Bau and Maaduteng were at various stages of completion in efforts to bring health service delivery closer to the people. He said the Assembly was committed to extending electricity to some health facilities in the district. The DCE touched on education, security, water and sanitation and the revenue generation of the district. On his part, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, the MP for the area, said he donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to the District Health Directorate and the electoral areas in the district to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the district. He said the pandemic had affected every sector of the economy and advised the people to strictly observe the COVID-19 safety protocols to help protect themselves and others. Mr Chireh also entreated the Assembly Members to ensure that duty- bearers put the monies approved by Parliament into judicious use for the benefit of the people. Mr Stephen Saator Gbul, the Presiding Member for the Wa West District Assembly, called for unity among the members to enhance the development of the district. He reiterated his commitment to be fair and to accommodate divergent views of the members to promote peace and development of the district. ---GNA The wait for an indoor table in New Jersey may soon come to an end. Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday the state is getting close to allowing bars and restaurants to offer some indoor dining after nearly six months of dining rooms being closed to help battle the coronavirus pandemic. Were almost there. Thats what Ill say, Murphy said during an unrelated news conference in Metuchen. Were getting close, he added. With positivity rates around 2% or lower, rates of transmission that have now come down meaningfully below 1. And theyre sustained. This isnt just one good day. Theyre sustained. Were getting very close to be able to take that step. These comments come after Murphy said Wednesday that he hopes there can be limited indoor dining before the middle of September. Most other states have allowed limited indoor dining. New Jersey is one of only three states, along with California and New Mexico, that currently has no indoor dining, said Diane Weiss, executive director of the New Jersey Licensed Beverage Association. But New Mexico will allow indoor dining with 25% capacity starting Saturday. Weve done everything the governor has asked us to do, Weiss told NJ Advance Media. (Bar and restaurant owners are) borrowing from their 401K an childrens college funds. We dont understand anymore the magic thing hes looking for. We are prepared. We know the protocols. Were ready. Weiss noted that about one-fifth of the nations bars and restaurants arent expected to reopen at all because of losses they sustained during the pandemic. Speculation over the return of indoor dining in New Jersey grew this week when Murphy announced the state will permit gyms another long-closed industry to reopen to 25% indoor capacity and other restrictions starting Tuesday. Gyms and indoor dining were among the first businesses Murphy ordered closed as COVID-19 began spreading rapidly through New Jersey in March. 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. Murphy has also warned that indoor dining are difficult because people are sitting inside for long periods of time and have to remove face masks to eat. The governor has faced intense pressure from some lawmakers, businesses, and residents to pull back restrictions more quickly as the states economy suffers during the pandemic. State lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill that would use $30 million in taxpayer money to reimburse New Jersey restaurants that lost money when Murphy canceled indoor dining plans in July. The governor would need to sign it into law. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage 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. State officials on Friday reported nine more deaths related to COVID-19 and 372 new cases, while the rate of transmission was below the critical mark of 1 for the eighth straight day. New Jersey has reported 15,930 total deaths 14,150 confirmed and 1,780 considered probable with 190,971 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. Cartoonist Emad Hajjaj was arrested on Wednesday August 26 for "disturbing relations with a sister country in a cartoon. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns this arrest and recent attacks on media freedom in Jordan and demands Emad Hajjajs immediate release. Update: Emad Hajjaj was released on August 30 and will still face trial for "slander and libel". Published in Al Araby Al Jadeed, the cartoon mocked the recent deal the United Arab Emirates struck with Israel. Hajjaj was referred to the State Security Court yesterday, his trial will be held under the antiterrorism law. Hajjajs arrest comes amid growing crackdown on freedom of information and union rights in Jordan. On July 25, the Jordanian Teachers Association was closed on shaky grounds, and police arrested several of its leaders. At the same time, authorities imposed a media blackout on the media coverage of protests over the union's closure - which had spread to several cities - , as well as the coverage of subsequent trials. On August 18, the IFJ joined the Education International (EI)s call to release leaders of the Jordanian Teacher Association and to end the media blackout. Union leaders were released on bail on August 23, but the media blackout is still in force. IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: " These unfortunate developments reveal a rapid and severe deterioration of press freedom and union rights in Jordan. The media blackout crushes journalists ability to report on issues of the utmost importance, and restricts peoples right to engage in a democratic debate. Jordan must immediately lift the media blackout and release Emad Hajjaj ". NORRISTOWN Emergency rooms across Montgomery County are filling up as the area continues to deal with another surge in the COVID-19 pandemic. We have encountered a dramatic rise in the number of emergency department visits recently, said Dr. Kisha Martin, chairwoman of emergency medicine for Redeemer Health. Health officials met virtually on Wednesday morning in [] Farm organisations across Europe have opposed the deal and have exerted huge pressure on national politicians over the issue. Brazils Vice President Hamilton Mourao played down the fires raging in the dry season in the Amazon on Thursday, saying it was surreal how they are being seen abroad as if the whole rainforest was on fire. Mourao said it did not appear that the EU-Mercosur free trade talks were not reaching a conclusive agreement and he blamed government opponents and European farmers who are unable to compete for the criticism of Brazils environmental policies that have fueled resistance in Europe to deal with the South American trade bloc. It comes as Brazils President Jair Bolsonaro appealed on Thursday to negotiators to conclude the final text of the European Union- Mercosur trade accord so that it can be signed this semester. Bolsonaro said he is working to undo distorted views of Brazils policies on the Amazon and its indigenous people. His governments environmental measures have raised criticism in Europe and calls to block the trade deal that has taken 20 years to negotiate. A fifth of EU soy imports from Brazil may come from land illegally deforested, according to a study released last month that offers a detailed inventory of farms in the supply chain. French President Emmanuel Macron said he agreed that France should not sign any agreements with countries that do not follow the Paris Agreement on climate change. Once fully ratified, it will see almost 100,000 additional tonnes of beef from the Mercosur countries of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay allowed into the EU annually. Farm organisations across Europe have opposed the deal and have exerted huge pressure on national politicians over the issue. Farmers have his out as what they see as a 'very hypocritical' of EU politicians to agree a Mercosur trade deal which will see food imported to Europe which has multiples of the carbon footprint of Irish farmers. Notably one of the strongest opponents of the deal in Ireland was Fianna Fail's Charlie McConalouge now favourite to take up the position of Minister for Agriculture. He has said the deal would likely reduce beef prices further, farm incomes and damage the environment. "It undermines EU climate change policy with large volumes of South American beef entering the EU market from less carbon-efficient production models Government must oppose any ratification of the Mercosur deal due to the fact the full impact of Brexit is still unknown, given half our beef exports transit to the UK with no instant alternative markets available," he said. Additional reporting from Reuters A giant halo of gas that surrounds the Milky Way's closest galactic neighbour - the Andromeda galaxy - has been mapped by NASA's Hubble Telescope for the first time. Astronomers from Yale University used instruments on Hubble to study the scale of the galactic shell and found it stretches 1.3 million light-years from Andromeda. As a result of the research, astronomers now believe Andromeda's halo of gas is 'bumping into' the gas halo that surrounds our own Milky Way galaxy. The Andromeda galaxy, also known as M31, is a majestic spiral of around 1 trillion stars and comparable in size to the Milky Way. This is the most comprehensive study of a halo surrounding a galaxy, and reveals that it has a layered structure with two main nested and distinct shells of gas. At a distance of 2.5 million light-years, the majestic spiral Andromeda galaxy it is so close to us that it appears as a cigar-shaped smudge of light high in the autumn sky. The purple area surrounding it is what it would look like if the halo was visible to the naked eye The team, including researchers from Yale and the University of Notre Dame, used instruments on the space telescope to probe deeper into the gaseous depths. 'Understanding the huge halos of gas surrounding galaxies is immensely important,' explained co-investigator Samantha Berek of Yale. 'This reservoir of gas contains fuel for future star formation within the galaxy, as well as outflows from events such as supernovae. 'It's full of clues regarding the past and future evolution of the galaxy, and we're finally able to study it in great detail in our closest galactic neighbour.' This illustration shows the location of the 43 quasars scientists used to probe Andromedas gaseous halo According to study leader, Nicolas Lehner of Notre Dame, the inner shell extending half a million light years is far more complex and dynamic than expected. 'The outer shell is smoother and hotter. This difference is a likely result from the impact of supernova activity in the galaxy's disc directly affecting the inner halo.' A signature of this activity is the discovery of a large amount of heavy elements - cooked up in the interiors of stars and ejected into space - inside the halo. The Andromeda galaxy is about 2.5 million light-years from the Milky Way - so close it appears as a cigar-shaped smudge of light high in the autumn sky. In about 4.5 billion years Andromeda is predicted to collide with our own Milky Way galaxy but stars are so far apart it is unlikely any will individually collide. The resulting galaxy has been nicknamed either Milkomeda or Milkdromeda. The gaseous halo surrounding Andromeda is so big that if it could be viewed with the naked eye it would be about three times the width of the Big Dipper. Through a program called Project AMIGA (Absorption Map of Ionized Gas in Andromeda), the study examined the light from 43 quasars. These are the very distant, brilliant cores of active galaxies powered by black holeslocated far beyond Andromeda. Quasars are scattered behind the halo, allowing scientists to probe multiple regions. This diagram shows the light from a background quasar passing through the vast, gaseous halo around the neighbouring Andromeda galaxy (M31), as spectroscopically measured by the Hubble Space Telescope The team, including researchers from Yale and the University of Notre Dame, used instruments on the space telescope to probe deeper into the gaseous depths Andromeda's halo has been probed before by Lehner's team. In 2015, they discovered that it was 'massive'. ANDROMEDA: OUR NEAREST GALACTIC NEIGHBOUR Andromeda is a spiral galaxy similar to our own Milky Way. Also known as Messier 31 or NGC 224 - it is about 2.5 million light years from the Milky Way. It gets its name from the fact it appears in the Earth sky in the constellation of Andromeda. It was first observed around 964 and originally dubbed a nebulous smear - it wasn't until the 1920s that it became known as a galaxy. It is roughly the same size as the Milky Way - one trillion solar masses - and one day the two will collide. They are expected to come together in about 4.5 billion years - the current age of the Earth - and form a giant elliptical galaxy. Advertisement But there was little hint of its complexity; now it's mapped out in more detail, leading to its size and mass being far more accurately determined. 'Previously, there was very little informationonly six quasarswithin 1 million light-years of the galaxy, explained co-investigator J. Christopher Howk 'This new program provides much more information on this inner region of Andromeda's halo. 'Probing gas within this radius is important, as it represents something of a gravitational sphere of influence for Andromeda.' Because we live inside the Milky Way, scientists cannot easily interpret the signature of our own galaxy's halo. However, they believe the halos of Andromeda and the Milky Way must be very similar since these two galaxies are quite alike. 'This is truly a unique experiment because only with Andromeda do we have information on its halo along not only one or two sightlines, but over 40,' explained Lehner. In fact, Andromeda is the only galaxy in the universe for which this experiment can be done now, and only with Hubble. Only with an ultraviolet-sensitive future space telescope will scientists be able to routinely undertake this type of experiment beyond the approximately 30 galaxies comprising the Local Group. 'So Project AMIGA has also given us a glimpse of the future,' said Lehner. The team's findings appear in the August 27 edition of The Astrophysical Journal. Louis George Dorsey passed away at the Colonnades in Charlottesville, Va., on August 25, 2020. He was a loving and devoted husband, brother, father, grandfather and friend. Born to Zetta and Laurence Dorsey on February 22, 1929, Louis grew up on his family's farms (along with his twelve siblings) in Frederick County, a few miles from Winchester, Virginia. After graduating Handley High School in 1947, Lou and his brother, Smith, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force (they attended Basic Training together), serving from 1948-1952. After his discharge from the USAF in 1952, Lou moved to Washington, D.C. to attend Strayer College. He soon met the love of his life in D.C. and his first date with Lois Brooks was to view the Independence Day fireworks at the Washington Monument. Thus began a romance of nearly 67 years. Lou and Lois married in November, 1954, and the couple moved back to Lou's hometown of Winchester, Va., before their children were born, (Dee in 1956 and Danny in 1959). Lou took employment with his family business at the Winchester Casket Company, calling on funeral directors in Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia, as well as taking on the bookkeeping duties. Lou, his brother Smith (yet again) and another family partner later became owners of the company, then sold the business and retired in 1993. Lou was active in the First United Methodist Church in Winchester, serving as a trustee and choir member for many years. Our time on North Braddock Street was a simple, small town life where we could all walk to church, walk to work, and walk to school. Lois and Lou relocated to Virginia Beach after retirement to be closer to Dee and her daughters, Taber and Haley. Lou enjoyed his retirement years, with walks on the beach, travels with Lois and friends, and decorating their new home. He treasured time spent with his grandkids, attending all sorts of games and concerts to cheer them on. At the same time, he kept in close contact and visited often with family and old friends from Winchester and southern Virginia, and spent time with Dan, Cathy and grandson Garen once they moved back to Virginia. Lois and Lou moved once again in 2009, taking up residence at the Colonnades in Charlottesville, close to Dan and his family. By this time Lois was beginning to struggle with memory loss, and Lou was able to get extra support in caring for her. After two years of living together in Independent Living at the Colonnades, Lois had experienced enough decline in her memory functions and mobility that a move into dementia care was necessary. Lou was steadfast and faithful over the past many years, visiting every day to help Lois with love, care and even feeding her meals, until she passed away this past April. Despite battling numerous health issues of his own, he rarely spent a day without spending time with his beloved sweetheart. Louis was preceded in death by his parents, Laurence Fries Dorsey and Zetta Smith Dorsey, and siblings, Willa Brown, Gretchen Rosenberger, Sidney Rosabelle Phillips, William Dorsey, Gloria Macauley, Smith Dorsey, Amaryllis (Ann) Slonaker, and Luther (Peachy) Dorsey. Lou is survived by siblings Chauncey Dorsey, Phineas Dorsey, Sue Merriner and Benjamin Dorsey. He is also survived by his daughter, Dee Carpenter and husband, Gil, of Virginia Beach; granddaughters, Taber Catillaz and husband, John, and Haley Vidrine and husband, James; and two great-granddaughters, Brooks Catillaz and Cameron Vidrine. Also his son, Dan Dorsey and wife, Cathy, of Charlottesville, and grandson, Garen Dorsey also of Charlottesville. Our family wishes to thank our parents' physician, Dr. Christina Tieu for her excellent guidance and care. Additionally, we want to express our gratitude for the staff at the Colonnades for their attention, love and dedication to Lou and Lois over many years. The family requests that memorial donations be made in memory of Louis to either the Alzheimer's Association, or the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. A private burial for Louis and Lois will be held at Mt. Hebron Cemetery in Winchester on Monday, August 31, 2020. Friends and family wishing to pay their respects may call at Jones Funeral Home in Winchester on Saturday August 29, 2020, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Sunday, August 30, 2020, from 1 until 5 p.m. Online condolences may be left at www.jonesfuneralhomes.com. Lucknow, Aug 28 : A special CBI court has asked the investigating agency to hold a fresh probe into the mysterious death of Karnataka cadre IAS officer, Anurag Tiwari outside a government guest house in Lucknow in May 2017. The court rejected the closure report filed by the Central agency in this connection. The court, on Thursday, directed the CBI to conduct further investigation in view of the points raised in the protest application filed by Anurag's brother Mayank Tiwari. The court has summoned a progress report of the investigation on September 30. The order was passed by the special Judicial Magistrate (CBI) Subrat Pathak on the application of Mayank Tiwari. Objecting to the closure report, Mayank had sought further investigation in the matter. Tiwari was posted as Civil and Supplies Commissioner in Karnataka and had come to Lucknow after returning from a mid-career training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie in May 2017. He was found dead in mysterious circumstances outside the state guest house on Mirabai Marg on May 17, 2017. Later, on the insistence of the family, the state government had recommended the case to the CBI. The agency had taken over the case on June 15, 2017. The CBI filed a final report on February 20, 2019 stating that the IAS officer's death was accidental. A protest petition was filed by Tiwari's elder brother Mayank in the first week of September 2019, challenging the closure report of the CBI. Mayank said that the post-mortem had stated that Anurag died around 12.30 a.m., but his body was recovered at 5.30 am. He further said that the CBI did not seek assistance from an external agency in opening the iPad and MacBook of his brother. The protest petition further said that the agency was silent on Anurag's second mobile phone, which is still missing. He has also said that the CBI should find out why Anurag cancelled a flight for Bengaluru on May 16 a few hours after booking and then booked another flight via Kolkata. He has also demanded to know why Anurag suddenly changed his WhatsApp number at 1 a.m. on May 17. He pointed out that his brother's phone was busy at 5.30 a.m. on May 17 -- the day he was found dead -- why the person who called from Jordan around 3.45 a.m. was not interrogated by the probe agency. Mayank's father Badri Narayan Tiwari, who lives in Bahraich, told reporters that he had full faith in the court. "Now I am hopeful that my youngest son will get justice," he said. The CBI's closure report had stated that IAS officer Anurag Tiwari was suffering from "acute gastroenteritis" on the day he died. Doctors, in their written observation, stated that it is medically proven that acute diarrhoea can trigger incapacitating weakness due to electrolyte imbalance, resulting in accidental fall and loss of consciousness. The CBI had pleaded before the court to close the matter having established that the officer died because of accidental fall on a hard surface. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Today, the lost hearing can be restored only with the help of a surgical operation to install special implants. However, this method is not always effective. Artem Brazhnikov, a master student of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy and Transport of Samara Polytech suggests to solve the problem with the help of a vibrating glove designed by him. Most recently, a young scientist received a patent for his invention. Initially, Artem designed a joystick glove with which you can play computer games with one hand. Then the young man improved the device and turned it into an unusual hearing aid. To make the joystick glove the vibro-glove, the engineer removed the finger position sensors, provided the glove with tactile feedback modules (vibration motors), and converted the electronic control unit from a game controller into an audio signal spectrum analyzer. "When a person loses his hearing, his other senses become more acute. The sensory substitution occurs: the brain compensates the lack of information from one sense organ at the expense of others", says Artem. "A vibrating glove is a retranslator that converts sounds into tactile sensations". A glove microphone amplifies the audio signal and transmits it to a spectrum analyzer that splits the audio range into separate frequency bands. Each tactile module corresponds to one sound strip. The strength of a tactile stimulation is proportional to the amplitude of sound vibrations in the corresponding frequency band. This process is somewhat similar to playing a keyboard musical instrument. "For example, a piano has many keys, pressing which (tactile stimulation) generates a certain note, that is, a sound vibration of a certain frequency", Artem explains. "Now imagine that there is an instrument that performs the opposite operation, that is, catches notes (sound vibrations) and converts them into keystrokes (tactile stimulation). A person playing such an instrument does not hear the sounds it makes, but feels how the piano itself presses the keys. So a vibrating glove is a piano, but only working vice versa". For reference: Samara State Technical University (SSTU, Samara Polytech) as a flagship university offers a wide range of education and research programs and aims at development and transfer of high-quality and practically-oriented knowledge. The university has an established reputation in technical developments and focuses on quality education, scientific and pragmatic research, combining theory and practice in the leading regional businesses and enterprises. Education is conducted in 30 integrated groups of specialties and areas of training (about 200 degree programs including bachelor, master programs and 55 PhD programs) such as oil and gas, chemistry and petrochemistry, mechanics and energy, transportation, food production, defense, IT, mechanical and automotive engineering, engineering systems administration and automation, material science and metallurgy, biotechnology, industrial ecology, architecture, civil engineering and design, etc. ### On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he would be ready to send some of its forces to Belarus to help quell protests. The official warned demonstrators not to overextend their efforts in ousting their president. Putin revealed that his country had prepared a special reserve force filled with security officers that will be stationed to restore order in the possibility of chaos in its close neighbor. Special reserve force According to The New York Times, during an interview with the Russian state television, Putin said he had released the order to form a certain reserve of law enforcement officers that Aleksandr G. Lukashenko, Belarus's authoritarian leader requested. The Russian president that the reserve force has not been sent to its neighbor yet because Putin promised he would not order their deployment unless the situation in Belarus gets worse. His remarks suggest that Putin is willing to use force to quell the protests that have been raging for two weeks. In a statement, Putin called Belarus the closest country to Russia and said that despite Belarus's citizens being the rightful holder of their country's future during a disputed presidential election on August 9. The Russian president also said his administration is not indifferent to the incidents occurring in the neighboring nation. Also Read: Fact Check: Did Putin's Daughter Die After Getting Second Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine? The protests in Belarus has resulted in widespread criticism against Putin and has given him a difficult dilemma. Several weeks of demonstrations in Far East Russia and a surge of resentment over the poisoning of Aleksei A. Navalny, Putin's most prominent political adversary. The incident shows that a fellow authoritarian who seemed invincible similar to Putin might give citizens ideas. However, Mateusz Morawiecki, Poland's prime minister, said that Putin's idea of using force to quell protests in Belarus masked the fact that he had plans of hostile international law breach, as reported by BBC. Aiding allied countries Both Russia and Belarus are part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which consists of several post-Soviet countries. The two countries joined in a union in 1996 to promote greater integration and ensure that citizens received the right to work and live freely in either country. Confirming what Lukashenko claimed previously that Russia would move to assist him using force if things got out of hand as Putin begins to move increasingly aggressive against protests in Belarus. According to CBS News, the demonstrations in Belarus have been mostly peaceful despite Lukashenko's continued aggressive responses, known as Europe's last dictator, a title he has long-since relished. On Sunday, Protests were accompanied by the president's helicopter hovering overhead while he called demonstrators "rats" before coming down equipped with a bullet-proof vest and wielding an AK-47 assault rifle. He continued to applaud his security forces, which were the only ones between him and his authoritarian rule's last moments. However, Putin is wary of becoming involved in Lukashenko's fight for survival, which would potentially garner widespread criticism and global condemnation and other possible sanctions from the West. The most significant factor for the Russian president's doubts is the risk of turning pro-Russian Belarus citizens into another anti-Moscow crown similar to Ukraine. Related Article: Russia Becomes First in the World to Register Coronavirus Vaccine @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Newser) During his weekslong standoff with demonstrators, it hasn't been clear what Alexander Lukashenko plans to do to resolve the situation. Vladimir Putin raised one possibility Thursday, Reuters reports. The president of Belarus asked Putin "to create a reserve police force, and I have done that," the Russian president said. "But we agreed this would not be used unless the situation got out of control." Mass demonstrations and strikes have been held since Lukashenko, who has been in office for 26 years, was reelected Aug. 9an outcome the demonstrators don't accept. Thousands of them have been arrested this month. Russia and Belarus belong to the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which includes other countries once part of the Soviet Union. The two nations formed closer ties in 1996, per the BBC. story continues below The opposition in Belarus called the existence of the Russian force a violation of international law. Poland, a neighbor, agreed and said the offer should be taken off the table. The people of Belarus "should be free to decide their own fate," Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said. Putin told state television that "Russia would fulfill all its obligations." About 1,000 people demonstrated in the main square of Minsk on Thursday, and many were arrested. Putin said he wouldn't send his force unless demonstrators "cross a certain boundary and start armed robbery, setting fire to cars, houses, banks, try to seize government buildings and so forth." Overall, he said, "the situation now is leveling out." (Lukashenko has told opponents there will be no new election "until you kill me.") 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has praised the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) for the initiative of holding weekly launching ceremonies for Vietnamese platforms to honor and promote Vietnamese ICT products. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc At an online meeting with relevant agencies and leaders of 63 provinces and cities on e-government yesterday, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Chairman of the National Committee on E-Government, praised the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Information and Communications for their effort to promote IT application and make the most of digital infrastructure to Vietnams Covid-19 fight. He also praised technology enterprises for their contribution of human and financial resources to epidemic prevention, their investment in designing applications for handling, analyzing the epidemic situation, and tracking infected people such as Bluezone and NCovi. The PM emphasized that the force of more than 50,000 technology firms currently plays an important role in digital transformation in Vietnam. In recent years, e-Government platforms have developed rapidly. The number of provincial-level built-in and data sharing platforms has increased dramatically. In the past six months, the proportion of ministries and provinces having this kind of platform increased by over three times (in February 2020, only 25 ministries, provinces had that platform, equivalent to 27%. The figure was 76 ministries, provinces by July, or 82.6%). Currently, the rate of level-4 online public services is about 15.9%, doubling that of the same period last year. E-document exchange between State agencies has reached a rate of about 88.5%, very close to the target of 90% by 2020. The PM said that Vietnamese enterprises have gradually mastered core technologies, and developed technology platforms for digital transformation. He praised the Ministry of Information and Communications for its initiative of holding a weekly launch of Vietnamese platforms to honor and promote Vietnamese ICT products. So far, dozens of platforms have been launched. PM Phuc requested ministries and localities to soon address shortcomings in legal environment for building the e-government. He noted that the rate of online public services remains low, which is unlikely to reach 30 percent at the years end without new ways of implementation. Some ministries and provinces could only reach less than 10 percent, an alarming level, he added. The deployment of national database that creates a foundation for the e-government has been slow, especially on land issues, the PM said, adding that it is too late to wait until 2025 as proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. He urged the Ministry of Information and Communications to map out a training project and a national digitalisation roadmap for localities, as well as complete a draft on the development strategy of the digital government for 2021-2025, with a vision to 2030, in the third quarter of this year. The Ministry of Public Security was tasked to speed up the building of a decree on the protection of personal data, then submit to the Government for consideration in 2020. From 2021, the Government will consider conducting e-government ranking for the 63 cities and provinces nationwide, he revealed. Vietnam ranked 86th out of the 193 countries and territories by the e-government development index (EGDI) in 2020, climbing two places from two years ago, according to the 2020 e-government survey conducted by the United Nations. It ranked sixth in Southeast Asia, behind Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and the Philippines. Advanced technology to be applied on building art, literature database Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved a programme to research and build a database and announce Vietnamese art and literature works on the platform of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The programme aims to apply achievements of the revolution into the field to effectively implement the Party and State policies on the building and development of culture, literature and art, contributing to fighting the peaceful evolution scheme in the field of ideology in the current period. It targets the announcement of 500 printed books published between the 10th century to 1945, along with 100 3D books introducing artistic works with high historical, artistic and architecture values. Alongside, it will sumarise 2,000 data items on artistic and literature works in document and non-document forms, while making 50 documentary films to introduce outstanding artistic and literature authors and works as well as art and cultural practices in the community. A software system will be designed to store and manage all the products of the programme to serve research and data utilisation. Collection of documents and data from various sources will be implemented. The programme will be implemented from 2021 to 2025, using State budget. VNA Thu Hang Make in Vietnam solution solves question of electronic identification eKYC uses new technologies such as face and writing identification, Big Data and AI to automate the verification process. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 19:23:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TOKYO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government on Friday said it aims to have secured enough COVID-19 vaccinations for all of the country's citizens by the first half of 2021. The vaccines will be purchased from reserve funds from the budget of the current fiscal year to March 2021, the government said. At a government meeting convened to outline measures to tackle the novel coronavirus here ahead of the influenza season, it announced that the testing capacity for COVID-19 would be significantly increased. One of the focuses of the expanded testing protocol will be on those working in the healthcare system who under the government's plan will be the target off mass-testing, as the rising infections have been noticed in health care providers, such as those working at nursing homes. Those testing positive for the virus but displaying no symptoms or only showing mild symptoms, will be asked to self-isolate at home or at designated facilities, under the government's revised guidelines, so that those with more severe symptoms can be given priority when it comes to allocating hospital beds and medical staff resources. If Japan were to be hit by a double-blow of an influenza outbreak and a second wave of novel coronavirus infections during winter, the government wants to ensure that enough medical facilities are available and the system does not buckle. Earlier this month, the Japanese government said it had agreed with British drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc. to receive 120 million doses of a potential coronavirus vaccine being developed with the University of Oxford. Similarly, Japan has agreed with Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech SE to receive 120 million doses of their potential vaccine, providing its development proves successful. Enditem Mr Moses Anim, Member of Parliament (MP) for Trobu Constituency has said the most valuable asset that a country could possess is through the development of its human resources base. Mr Anim has therefore encouraged the use of virtual environment or situations to develop the countrys human resource base. The MP was speaking at the inauguration and Swearing in of Executive Members of the Ga North Municipality Conference of Heads of Basic Schools (COHBS) at Pokuase in the Greater Accra Region. Mr Anim who is also Deputy Majority Chief Whip noted that the COVID-19 Pandemic had taught the world including; Ghana a number of lessons. According to him, it made people to work from home or wherever they were. He contended that due to COVID-19 pandemic over 22 million jobs were being challenged worldwide and people had to change their jobs. Mr Anim said head teachers and teachers also ought to change their methods of teaching by adopting and sharpening the ICT skills. We need to churn out balanced human resource that is endowed with skills, value and attitudes. One could exhibit those distinguished characteristics, if one was independent minded, he said. Mr Anim appealed to the head teachers to be transparent and accountable in the management of schools and ensure that there was continuous improvement in their performances. Believe in continuous improvement of work and churn out double of what you are doing now, he said. Mr. Anim further pledged governments continued support for the education in the country. Mr Imoro Sulemana, Chairman of COHBS, La Nkwantanang in a solidarity message, noted that Schools cannot be closed forever, and called for the use of temporal structures such as churches and mosques for academic work. According to Mr Sulemana the use of the shift system could also control crowding and ensure social distancing in various schools. He noted that there was the need to re-adjust the times for meals and lessons to avert the spread of COVID-19 among schools. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The wait is finally over! The mini-screen audiences will only have to wait for a few more days to witness the premiere of Bigg Boss Telugu 4. Yes, you read that right! As per reports, the celebrated reality show will have a massive premiere on September 6, 2020 at 6 pm. The usual episodes of the show will telecast on Star Maa from Monday to Friday at 9.30 pm displaying the daily activities and task of the contestants. Nagarjuna Akkineni will be seen hosting the show with his candid chit-chats and serious takes on issues inside the house during the weekend episode- Saturday and Sunday from 9 pm. Recently, the promo of the show featuring Nagarjuna had received appreciation from the audiences, especially for his unique yet comic avatar of an old man peeking at others business. For the unversed, the last season of the show gained huge attention compared to all the previous seasons of Bigg Boss Telugu, due to the flawless hosting skills of the Manmadhudu actor. Bigg Boss Telugu 4 house will reportedly be set up in Hyderabad's Annapurna Studios. The show will kick-off amid the COVID-19 situation, following several norms imposed by the state and the central government while keeping in mind social distancing. A close monitoring of the contestants will be held on a day-to-day basis by an expert team of doctors, who will be checking their health condition and temperature. Talking about the contestants, there are several names being rumoured on social media including Poonam Bajwa, Hamsa Nandini, Sunitha Upadrashta, Mangli Chinmai, Akhil Sarthak and Viva Harsha. However, there is no official confirmation regarding the same. Bigg Boss Telugu 4 Contestants Currently Under Quarantine! Read Deets Inside! Nagarjuna's Remuneration Per Episode Of Bigg Boss Telugu 4 Will Stun You! The New York Mets and Miami Marlins took the field for their game on Thursday night, only to promptly walk off in protest over the police shooting of Jacob Blake. The teams took the field, removed their hats for 42 seconds of silence and then laid a Black Lives Matter shirt at home plate before leaving the field. After a moment of silence, the Mets and the Marlins have left the field. The only thing remaining on the field is a Black Lives Matter shirt. pic.twitter.com/t7QfWwofOS SNY (@SNYtv) August 27, 2020 The Mets-Marlins game became the sixth postponed game on Thursday as players in the MLB, NBA, WNBA, and MLS chose to strike in solidarity with protests against police brutality after police in Kenosha, Wis. shot Blake in the back seven times. Police had been responding to a call that Blake, who had a warrant out for his arrest, had taken a womans keys and refused to return them. When the police arrived, Blake admitted to having a knife in his possession, according to Wisconsins Department of Justice. Police instructed Blake to drop the knife as he is seen on video holding something in his hand, though it is unclear what. Division of Criminal Investigation agents later recovered a knife from the drivers side floorboard in Blakes van. More from National Review 28.08.2020 LISTEN An Accra Circuit Court has asked a 30-year-old musician to pay a fine of GH2,400.00 for stealing items valued GH167.87, belonging to Shoprite Company. In default, David Ike, an Australian would serve a three-month jail term. He denied the charge but was found culpable after the trial Ike is also facing trial in a different court over alleged use of a narcotic drug without authority. The convict in his defence told the Court he picked the items and was going to pay but he was told the place had closed. In sentencing, Justice Mrs Ruby Naa Aryeteey, a High Court Judge sitting as an additional Circuit Court Judge considered the facts that he was in custody for two years. Besides, all the stolen items were retrieved, the cost, Ike being a foreigner and having no fixed place of abode. Police Inspector Samuel Ahiabor told the Court that the complainant is a security guard at the West Hills Mall located at Weija whilst Ike had no fixed place of abode. On August 8, 2018, at about 2000 hours, whilst customers were shopping at the Mall, the convict also entered the Shoprite section of the Mall and picked a bag, where he loaded it with pieces of Cring Crackers biscuit, one medi-soft soap, two pieces of Lindor chocolate, two sets of Floral tissue, underwear, two plastic bottles of Voltic water, one packet of Burger peanuts and a bag, all valued GH167.85. He said Ike did not pay and walked out of the shop but he was apprehended by the said security man who asked him to produce receipts covering the items. Inspector Ahiabor said after failing to provide the receipt, he was then handed over to the policeman at post and a search on him revealed one wrap of a substance suspected to be a narcotic drug. He was re-arrested by the New Weija Police together with the exhibit for investigations. Inspector Ahiabor said in his cautioned statement, Ike admitted the offences whilst the exhibit was sent to the forensic laboratory for examination. ---GNA Jacob Blake was shackled to his hospital bed because of a warrant against him for criminal charges that were filed several weeks before an officer shot him in the back several times on Sunday, the police in Kenosha, Wis., said on Friday. Mr. Blake was charged in July with third-degree sexual assault, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, court documents say, after a former friend accused him of breaking into her home while she was asleep and assaulting her. The woman told the police that Mr. Blake also took her car and debit card, according to the court documents. On Sunday, the police were called to the womans home again after she reported that a man was at her home and was not allowed to be there. The police were arresting Mr. Blake when the shooting occurred, Wisconsin state officials said. The authorities have offered few other details of the shooting, which set off demonstrations in Kenosha and in cities across the country. But on Friday, the union representing Kenosha police officers issued a statement suggesting that Mr. Blake had strongly resisted arrest: He forcefully fought with officers even after being hit twice by a Taser, the union said, putting one in a headlock and ignoring orders to drop a knife that he held in his left hand. A third officer, Brittany Meronek, was also present at the scene, the department said. All three officers have been put on administrative leave. None of the officers involved wished for things to transpire the way it did, said Brendan P. Matthews, a lawyer representing the union. It is my hope that truth and transparency will help begin and aid in the healing process. Bethlehem College in Ashfield, in Sydney's inner-west, has a number of fine buildings dotted around its campus dating from the 1880s through to the 1970s. A relatively tight site that previously offered little outdoor space, the problem was also its lack of connection through the school buildings. "In the 1950s and '60s, buildings were simply located on the little amount of space that was available, easier rather than appropriate," says architect Rachel Neeson, director of Neeson Murcutt + Neille. Circulation was problematic, requiring a maze of corridors and stairs. Credit:Brett Boardman In creating a more rational plan, Neeson and her colleagues had to remove the Marion, a science building from the late 1950s, to allow the Catholic senior girls school to gear up for the future. Now removed, and named Marion Square, there's increased outdoor areas and greater sight lines through the grounds. Indonesia has reported 3,003 coronavirus infections, a single-day record for Australias near-neighbour. COVID-19 infection rates have been steadily rising, day-on-day for months in Indonesia as the national government implemented a limited lock down which was quickly wound back. The total number of cases in Indonesia has now risen to 165,887 infections and the total number of suspected cases has now hit 77,857 people. Virus awareness billboards in Jakarta feature President Joko Widodo. Although not the hardest hit, Indonesia is still struggling to contain the spread. Credit:AP The death toll, which is the highest in south-east Asia by a considerable distance, is now 7,169 people after rising by another 105 people on Friday and suggests the total number of cases in the country could be significantly higher. Morey said the county has been working on infrastructure, and that he has been focused on ways to bring good-paying, year-round tech jobs to the county. He added that Pierson has worked hard to address addiction, which has had a devastating effect on the county. Casey, 55, of Upper Township, is an attorney with an office in Ocean City. She believes this year will be different than last. Oh, absolutely, she said. For one thing, she said, the state Senate race topped the ticket last year, with no race for governor, federal office or president. This year, people are far more focused on the election. She also has more name recognition in a race where both sides are energized. My hope is that they will look at the candidates individually and not just look at the party designation, Casey said. Voters are in a different world in 2020, in the midst of a pandemic and an economic slowdown unequaled since the Great Depression. Businesses are struggling. Weve done everything we can to get them open, Morey said. A standoff with an armed man ended after a couple hours Thursday afternoon. Police had surrounded a house on Vinesville Road, just off Bessemer Super Highway. Armed officers took cover behind trees and patrol cruisers while they tried to negotiate with a man inside. The negotiator was heard and seen trying to communicate with him, but there was no response. Sgt. Rod Mauldin said officers responded to the house at 12:30 p.m. on a domestic disturbance. The mans fiance expressed to them concerns about possible mental issues and substance abuse. Family members say the man at one point was holding a gun to his head, threatening to shoot himself or the police. When police went to the door, the man was standing in the window with a gun to his head, Mauldin said. A large perimeter has been established. A relative said she and other family members left the home and went to a nearby church to call 911. Mauldin said police also responded to a domestic disturbance at the home Wednesday night. About 3:30 p.m., Birmingham police ended the standoff and retreated from the scene. Because the fiance was in a safe place and police had no confirmation of direct threats from him or charges against him, they left the home. Defensive driving courses will help you stay safe on roads and become a better driver. Also, you will pay less on insurance after you graduate, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. Enrolling in a defensive driving course can be beneficial for drivers of any age. In these classes, drivers will improve their driving skills and they will learn how to avoid road obstacles. Those who manage to graduate a defensive driving course will obtain a discount on their insurance premiums. Usually, defensive driving courses are covering the following topics: Car accident statistics. In this topic, the instructors will present updated statistics about the annual number of car crashes, the number of fatalities, and the number of injured persons. Also, the main causes of the collisions, the age groups that are prone to be involved in crashes, and the financial losses will also be presented. Dangers of DUI/DWI. In this topic, drivers will learn how alcohol or drugs can affect driving. Drivers will learn about the blood alcohol limits and what are the penalties for drivers that are caught driving while under influence. The dynamics of car crashes. Drivers will learn how car accidents happen and how speed and vehicle position can influence the severity of collisions. Crash prevention techniques. This topic contains multiple driving tactics that will help drivers avoid a collision. Some of these tactics are road scanning, sharing the road with other vehicles, proper passing procedures, speed adjustments in different weather conditions, how to pass the railroads, and knowing the vehicles braking distance. How emotions affect driving. Stress, anger, fatigue and other emotions can affect the drivers driving abilities. In this topic, the instructors will show how drivers can keep a positive attitude and stay focused while driving. Safety gear. Drivers will get an extensive look at safety equipment, and they will learn about the importance of seat belts, headrests, airbags, and child safety seats. Furthermore, attendants will learn about modern safety gear and how they can protect the driver and his passengers. 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. The start-up aims to cater to budding sportspersons with its special performance enhancement programs Sancheti Institute of Orthopedic and Rehabilitation has recently launched a home-based physiotherapy start-up in Pune. The start-up aims to cater to budding sportspersons with its special performance enhancement programs; to women for pregnancy-induced issues and to the elderly with its geriatric physiotherapy programs. When it is difficult for people to visit hospitals frequently for physiotherapy sessions, the start-up named HealYos plans to cater by taking care of the doorstep. It aims to offer easy access to anybody who needs physiotherapy consultation. HealYos will have a detailed assessment and extensive training programs for sportspersons. It has comprehensive body healing programs for athletes, pregnant women, elderlies. Physiotherapy is conventionally considered a post-operative rehabilitation treatment approach. But HealYos along with Sancheti Hospital aims to extensively work in prehabilitation i.e. Physiotherapy to prepare patients for surgery which ensures faster and complete recovery after the surgery. 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. (Natural News) SACRAMENTO, CAWhile many Californians are growing increasingly worried about the wildfires spreading throughout the state, Governor Gavin Newsom assured everyone that the fires are actually mostly peaceful. (Article republished from BabylonBee.com) The fires are mostly peaceful, mostly calm nothing to worry about, Newsom said as the fires burned through thousands of acres of forest behind him. They are peaceful infernos and will definitely not burn your house down or anything. Were fine here, everythings fine here. How are you? Newsom also pointed out that fires were here before humans, and so in a way, we stole the land from fires, and the indigenous infernos are just taking the reparations they are due. If a peaceful fire approaches your home, do not fight back. That would be racist. Allow it to consume your home peacefully, of course if you are a true ally of indigenous blazes everywhere. Just remember this is fine. Read more at: BabylonBee.com One in five young children are living in poverty, with rates in Queensland and Western Australia worsening despite the mining boom depositing billions of dollars into government coffers over the past decade. The proportion of children under five in poverty rose to 21.4 per cent in Queensland and 20.7 per cent in WA in 2017-18, from 16.5 per cent and 18.7 per cent respectively in 2009-10, research from Curtin University's Curtin Business School shows. The rate of children in poverty has been rising in some states. Credit:iStock Children in almost all other states were better off over the period, with about 20.8 per cent of under fives living in poverty in NSW, down from 23.1 per cent, and 17.8 per cent in Victoria, down from 21 per cent. Nationally, the rate was 19.6 per cent in 2017-18, down from 20.1 per cent in 2009-10. Tasmania was the best-performing state, almost halving the rate to 10.9 per cent, from 19.6 per cent. Two students write to CJI Bobde, seek postponement of NEET, JEE exams amid pandemic Two students including a third year law student and a student of class 12th have written a joint letter to Chief Justice of India SA Bobde seeking postponement of JEE and NEET on humanitarian grounds amid the coronavirus pandemic. The letter said the issues required urgent and kind attention of the court and added that the decision of the government to hold NEET and JEE examinations during the COVID-19 pandemic is a clear violation of Article 21 of the Constitution in as much as it forces all students, who wish to participate in the said examinations, to either endanger their lives and health by exposing themselves to the virus or risk their academic future by losing a chance to appear in the said entrance examinations. Read more NSUI leaders stage hunger strike in Goa Three leaders of the Congress-affiliated National Students Union of India (NSUI) on Saturday sat on indefinite hunger strike in Goa demanding that JEE and NEET examinations be postponed. Prasenjeet Dhage of NSUI said the fast will continue till the Central government agrees to defer JEE and NEET exams. Read more Jharkhand allows public transport, reopening of hotel/lodges for exams Jharkhand government has allowed reopening of hotels, lodges as well as restaurants and also given a go-ahead to public transport to ply within the state for a month till September 30 in view of the JEE-NEET examinations scheduled next month.The relaxations under Unlock 4 were announced in a notification issued late Friday night. No lockdown in JEE, NEET exam cities, says Odisha govt There will be no lockdown or shutdown in force in the cities in Odisha where NEET and JEE exams will be held from August 30 to September 7 and from September 12 and September 14, said the Odisha Government on Friday Odisha govt to facilitate transportation of JEE,NEET candidates Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy of Odisha on Friday said that the state ovt will facilitate transportation of candidates appearing in JEE, NEET 2020. District administration alerted accordingly to ensure that students do not face any difficulty in transportation. Govt will provide free transportation to those who do not have any arrangement. Around 37,000 candidates to appear JEE, NEET in centres across Odisha. No travel restrictions on movement of NEET, JEE Main candidates, their parents & others due to lockdown in Odisha. We are sharing sentiments of students community: Venugopal Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said,We are sharing the sentiments of the student community of India. We want the safety of students. In northern rural areas students have to travel long distances to reach the centre. Will the government ensure accessibility or safety? Jharkhand CM rejects admit card download argument for holding NEET, JEE exams They (Centre) said that lakhs of students have downloaded admit cards. I dont understand what kind of argument is this. If this is the case, then if someone has life insurance, does it mean theyll die soon, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren said on JEE & NEET exams at AICC video conference Listen to voices of students, act according to their wishes: Sonia Gandhi Listen to voices of students, act according to their wishes, Congress president Sonia Gandhi told to govt on issue of conducting #NEET and #JEE 7-8 CMs had met and decided to file review petition in SC: Mamata 7- 8 CMs had met. We had taken a decision that on behalf of students we will file an appeal for review in the Supreme Court. In accordance, ministers of 6 states have signed the petition. Minister Moloy Ghatak has signed on behalf of West Bengal, CM Mamata Banerjee said. Earlier on Friday afternoon, the review petition was filed in Supreme Court. Centre is risking lives of students:Mamata Banerjee The Centre is risking the lives of the students by being adamant on holding of JEE/NEET exams : Mamata Banerjee said at a virtual rally of TMC student wing NEET, JEE must be conducted on time so that year doesnt get wasted: Shivraj Singh Chouhan NEET and JEE examinations must be conducted on time so that one year of our students doesnt get wasted. It is about their future: Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan Congress workers burn effigy of education minister in Haryana Congress workers in Bhiwani burnt an effigy of the Union education minister and demanded that the exams be deferred keeping in view the present COVID-19 situation. Centre should listen to Mann Ki Baat of Students: Mamata Banerjee Centre busy issuing sermons, it should instead listen to Mann Ki Baat of students: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. BJP should tell from when the institutions will open after this exam, asks Akhilesh Yadav BJP should tell from when the institutions will open after this examination, when the selection process will be completed, when will the classes start. When this is not decided, then under whose pressure is the government rushing to conduct JEE,NEET? asks Akhilesh Yadav JEE, NEET , , . ?#StudentLivesMatter#INDIAunitedtoPostponeJEE_NEET Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) August 28, 2020 Decision to conduct NEET, JEE mains amid pandemic, floods causing mental stress, says Ghulam Nabi Azad Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday tweeted that the rising number of Covid-19 cases, transport and lodging problems and floods in Orissa, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam are causing mental stress to the students and the central government must postpone the NEET, JEE mains exams.. #SpeakUpForStudentSafety Aspirants are worried with decision to hold NEET-JEE exams because of: - Fear of COVID with rise in cases - Transport & Lodging prob - Floods in Orissa, Bihar, WB&Assam causing huge mental stress & suffering. Central Govt must postpone the NEET-JEE exams Ghulam Nabi Azad (@ghulamnazad) August 28, 2020 Telangana Congress holds protest against conduct of NEET, JEE mains exam amid pandemic Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy along with other party members on Friday staged protest against conducting NEET and JEE Exams amid the coronavirus pandemic. Read more.. Government cannot ignore voices of students, says Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday tweeted: The govt cannot ignore the voices of the students appearing for #JEE_NEET exams and those of their concerned parents. They are the future of our country. With the rising scale of the pandemic, is it fair to expose them to infection in this manner? Are they not our children too? The govt cannot ignore the voices of the students appearing for #JEE_NEET exams and those of their concerned parents. They are the future of our country. With the rising scale of the pandemic, is it fair to expose them to infection in this manner? Are they not our children too? Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) August 28, 2020 UP govt supports conduct of JEE,NEET, says CM Yogi Adityanath Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath on Friday tweeted, State government supports the conduct of NEET and JEE examinations. On August 9, UP B.Ed exam was conducted in the state, in which about 5 lakh candidates had appeared. No problem of infection was brought to notice. NEET JEE 9 .. , 5 : @myogiadityanath Yogi Adityanath Office (@myogioffice) August 28, 2020 I am standing by you, says Sonu Sood, promises to help candidates reach exam centres Sonu Sood on Friday tweeted, Students appearing for JEE, NEET 2020, I am standing by you. If you are stuck anywhere, let me know your areas of travel. I will help you reach your exam centres. No one should miss their exams because of resources. " I N C A S E " #JEE_NEET doesnt get postponed. pic.twitter.com/D2iYzt4wf4 sonu sood (@SonuSood) August 28, 2020 NEET JEE aspirants safety should not be compromised: Rahul Gandhi NEET-JEE aspirants safety should not [be]compromised due to the failures of the Govt. Govt must listen to all stakeholders and arrive at a consensus, Rahul Gandhi said. NEET-JEE aspirants safety should not compromised due to the failures of the Govt. Govt must listen to all stakeholders and arrive at a consensus.#SpeakUpForStudentSafety pic.twitter.com/Y1CwfMhtHf Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 28, 2020 Protest to be held outside UN Headquarters, New York against JEE, NEET tomorrow Eight-year old Climate and Environment activist Licypriya Kangujam said on Twitter, Tomorrow, some of our friends are planning for a protest outside the @UN Headquarter, New York at 1 pm EST. All Indians & other global friends living in USA Flag of United States, Plz join @JeromeFosterII Thank youFolded hands CC: @AlexandriaV2005 Tomorrow, some of our friends are planning for a protest outside the @UN Headquarter, New York at 1 pm EST. All Indians & other global friends living in USA , Plz join @JeromeFosterII. Thank you CC: @AlexandriaV2005 #PostponeNEETJEE_Today #SpeakUpForStudentSafety Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) August 28, 2020 Students are future of our country: Priyanka Gandhi It is necessary to listen to the students and their parents who are going to take the JEE and NEET exam. These students are the future of the country. The concerns of students have to be viewed sensitively and not stubbornly and politically, Priyanka Gandhi tweeted. JEE & NEET - - #SpeakUpForStudentSaftey Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) August 28, 2020 Is it wise to risk student health in this way, asks Shashi Tharoor Is it wise to risk student health in this way? We believe not Stand up for students, speak up with students, I stand with them too, do you, Shashi Tharoor said in video tweeted by INC. Is it wise to risk student health in this way? We believe not Stand up for students, speak up with students, I stand with them too, do you?: @shashitharoor #SpeakUpForStudentSafety pic.twitter.com/l4vClBqoS7 Congress (@INCIndia) August 28, 2020 Centre will have to consider the demands Sachin Pilot on postponement of JEE, NEET If we keep raising the matter, Centre will have to consider the demands of people and postpone #JEE_NEET examinations: Sachin Pilot, Congress in Jaipur said. Sonu Sood tweets to provide transportation facilities to JEE, NEET candidates in flood hit states Actor Sonu Sood tweeted, Incase #JEE_NEET happens: To all the students who will be appearing & are struck in flood hit areas of Bihar, Assam & Gujrat. Do let me know ur areas of travel. Trying to make ur travel arrangements to reach ur examination centres. No one should miss their exam bec of resources. Incase #JEE_NEET happens: To all the students who will be appearing & are struck in flood hit areas of Bihar, Assam & Gujrat. Do let me know ur areas of travel. Trying to make ur travel arrangements to reach ur examination centres. No one should miss their exam bec of resources https://t.co/fv5GqjOq90 sonu sood (@SonuSood) August 28, 2020 NSUI Telangana President starts indefinite hunger strike Earlier, on Friday morning NSUIs Telangana President Venkat Balmoor started an indefinite hunger strike at Gandhi Bhavan. Review petition filed in SC against conducting the JEE, NEET exams Review petition filed in Supreme Court against the August 17 order of SC allowing central government to hold NEET and JEE in September. The petition has been filed by ministers from six states - West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Rajasthan. Delhi Pradesh Congress President Anil Chaudhary arrested Delhi Pradesh Congress President Anil Chaudhary who participated in the protest against holding the exams, has been arrested by Delhi Police, INC Delhi tweeted. Members of NSUI detailed by police during protest in Ahmedabad Members of National Students Union of India (NSUI) detained by police in Ahmedabad during a protest against Centres decision to conduct JEE & NEET examinations in September Congress holds protest outside Shashtri Bhawan Congress has started protesting outside education ministry office,Shastri Bhawan against holding of the JEE and NEET examinations in September amid Covid-19 pandemic. Rahul Gandhi tweets to Unite voice with lakhs of suffering students Former party chief of Congress, Rahul Gandhi tweeted on Friday morning, Unite your voice with lakhs of suffering students. #SpeakUpForStudentSafety from 10am onwards. Lets make the Govt listen to the students. Unite your voice with lakhs of suffering students. #SpeakUpForStudentSafety from 10am onwards. Lets make the Govt listen to the students. #SpeakUpForStudentSafety 10 , pic.twitter.com/NBri5lx8Ff Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 28, 2020 Congress launches campaign against holding JEE, NEET The Congress on Friday launched a campaign against the governments decision to hold NEET and JEE exams amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Congress and various opposition parties have demanded that NEET and JEE examinations be deferred due to the COVID-19 pandemic and floods in parts of the country, One person is presumed by police to have drowned in Port Colborne Thursday. At about 1:30 p.m., emergency services responded to the beach at Sherkston Shores for a report of a possible drowning. Officers learned two adult males and four children under 13 years old, had been in the water when they became distressed in near two-metre waves, Niagara Regional Police reported. Three people on shore entered the water to rescue the struggling swimmers. As a result of their efforts, one of the adults and the children were pulled from the water. The adult was transported by paramedics to a local hospital for assessment, police said. Lifeguards from Sherkston Shores responded to the beach after hearing the cries for help, said the NRP. The lifeguards entered the water to attempt to rescue the second adult male, who was not able to return to shore. Lifeguards and witnesses lost sight of him in the turbulent water, police say. The NRPs marine unit attended with a boat to assist the search, as did the Port Colborne Marine Auxiliary Rescue Unit and Canadian Coast Guard. Search efforts to locate the missing male were suspended at approximately 3:50 p.m. when water and weather conditions worsened. Police say the missing man is in his 30s and from Waterloo. Foul play is not suspected. The NRP marine unit was to return to Lake Erie to continue search efforts Friday. Police ask anyone with information or who may have witnessed this matter to phone investigators at 905-688-4111, ext. 3300. Kris Dube is a St. Catharines-based reporter for the Welland Tribune. Reach him via email: kris.dube@niagaradailies.com WASHINGTON - The U.S. armed forces will have no role in carrying out the election process or resolving a disputed vote, the top U.S. military officer told Congress in comments released Friday. The comments from Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, underscore the extraordinary political environment in America, where the president has declared without evidence that the expected surge in mail-in ballots will make the vote inaccurate and fraudulent, and has suggested he might not accept the election results if he loses. Trumps repeated complaints questioning the elections validity have triggered unprecedented worries about the potential for chaos surrounding the election results. Some have speculated that the military might be called upon to get involved, either by Trump trying to use it to help his reelection prospects or as, Democratic challenger Joe Biden has suggested, to remove Trump from the White House if he refuses to accept defeat. The military has adamantly sought to tamp down that speculation and is zealously protective of its historically nonpartisan nature. I believe deeply in the principle of an apolitical U.S. military, Milley said in written responses to several questions posed by two Democratic members of the House Armed Services Committee. In the event of a dispute over some aspect of the elections, by law U.S. courts and the U.S. Congress are required to resolve any disputes, not the U.S. military. I foresee no role for the U.S armed forces in this process. Milleys tone reflects the longstanding views of military leaders who insist that the nations military stays out of politics and that troops are sworn to protect the country and uphold the Constitution. But the two Congress members, Reps. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, said Friday that Trumps recent comments and his efforts to use the military to quell protests have fueled their concerns. The two lawmakers released Milleys answers. These are just prudent questions to be asking given the things that the president has been saying publicly, said Slotkin, pointing to Trumps use of the military to clear protesters from Lafayette Square and his suggestions that he may put law enforcement at the polls to make sure voting is conducted professionally. Milleys answers, she said, demonstrated that the chairman recognized the militarys role in our elections is to essentially stay out; that the militarys role in the peaceful transition of power is to stay out. Faced with polls showing he is trailing Biden, Trump last month said it was too early to guarantee hed accept the election results. I have to see. Look ... I have to see, Trump said on Fox News Sunday. No, Im not going to just say yes. Im not going to say no. The Biden campaign at the time responded that the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House. Trump later suggested that the election should be postponed, since the coronavirus pandemic has made it likely it could take days or weeks to count mail-in ballots. But that idea was immediately slapped down, including by top congressional Republicans, since the election date can only be changed by Congress. Milley, known to be a student of military and constitutional history, anchored many of his responses in the nations founding document. Asked if the military would refuse an order from the president if he was attempting to use military action for political gain rather than national security, Milley said, I will not follow an unlawful order. Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot, said, this is personal for me. She said the questions reflect concerns raised by her constituents and others around the country as we see the president refusing to say that he will accept the defeat; as we see the president of the United States of America questioning our democracy and or ability to run free and fair elections. The attorney general and other Cabinet members should be asked similar questions, she said. The speculation about the military getting drawn into the election is fueled by Trumps inclination to use the military as partisan props. He raised alarms and met resistance from the Pentagon when he threatened to use the Insurrection Act to use troops for law enforcement during the protests after George Floyds death. Defence Secretary Mark Esper publicly said he opposed such a move - a stand that enraged Trump and nearly cost Esper his job. The questions were also sent last month to Esper, and the answers were due Thursday. Esper is travelling in Asia this week, and Slotkin said he has not yet responded. Slotkin is a former CIA analyst and senior Pentagon policy adviser and Sherrill served in the Navy for about 10 years. This is the second time in recent months that Milley has made a public stand against military involvement in politics. In June he used a speech at the National Defence University to express regret for walking with Trump through Lafayette Square in what turned out to be a photo op during public protests after the death of George Floyd. He said photos of him there sparked a national debate about the role of the military in civil society. And he told the military audience, we must hold dear the principle of an apolitical military that is so deeply rooted in the very essence of our republic. I ts always exciting to go back to school or college after the summer holidays, but for children and young people around the country, this year feels particularly special. Though things are set to look a little different, teachers and schools are excitedly anticipating the start of a new academic year, and ready to safely welcome pupils back to the classroom. With all children in England required to return to schools and nurseries this September, its important for parents and pupils alike to not only understand the protective measures put in place, but also the many benefits that children will reap from this return to routine. On top of the improvement to childrens education, a safe return is likely to promote positive social development as well as benefits to mental and physical health. As many schools remained open throughout the Covid-19 crisis to support children of key workers, they are well-equipped to deal with the challenges presented by new safety measures from increased cleaning regimes and regular hand washing to social bubbles and staggered arrivals and break times. Whats more, a new Wellbeing for Education Return package has been developed to provide teachers and staff with training and resources to help them respond to the mental health needs of children and young people affected by the Covid crisis and lockdown, ensuring they can access the right support. Here's what returning pupils at Charles Dickens Primary School, Southwark, can look forward to this autumn term... "It feels like a fresh start": headteacher Cassie Buchanan Im sat in an empty building at the moment and it will come to life when we have childrens voices in it again, says Cassie Buchanan, headteacher of Charles Dickens Primary School, South London, pictured above and main image. "Theres always anticipation at this time of the year. It feels like a fresh start but its much greater this year. With three school-age children herself, Buchanan who has been head of the Outstanding Southwark school since 2012 understands the challenges that have been faced by parents and children alike over the past several months. As someone running a school but also with children locked down, I know what a struggle it can be to juggle your time especially when they are all different ages and have different needs, she says. Back to school safely Infections are decreasing, but its still vital to stay safe at all times. Pupils and parents are encouraged to walk, cycle or scoot to school and college where possible. If its necessary to travel on public transport, make sure to follow Government guidelines and take extra care by: Washing your hands thoroughly before and after your journey Wearing a face mask if aged 11 and over and using public transport Staying home if you or any members of your household have symptoms After months spent at home, Buchanan is keen to emphasise the many benefits children will be able to experience once they return to school for the autumn term. Its hard to learn at home if your parents are trying to do their job as well, or youve got siblings trying to learn around the same table. We also know from parents that the thing the children have really missed not surprisingly is their friends. Its so important for childrens wellbeing that they get to be with children of their own age. The safety of its teachers, staff and pupils is top priority for Charles Dickens Primary School, which has implemented the preventative and response measures laid out by the Department for Education, on top of additional actions that ensure the smooth and safe running of the school day. Alongside more hand washing facilities and communicating clearly with children on how they can stay safe, start times, breaks and lunch times are staggered so that staff and pupils will be able to remain in their bubbles. Aside from all the safety protocols we follow, the key for parents is communication, letting them know what were doing, what the risks are and how we are minimising them, Buchanan adds. Whats more, with a specialism in mental health and wellbeing, Charles Dickens Primary School is ready to support its pupils with any anxiety and worry they might be experiencing. Were really well-equipped for this: we have support workers and a full curriculum in place, and lots of talking therapy groups, Buchanan explains. Just being back in the routine of school and being with their friends is going to help lots of children. Your questions answered Three paediatric experts offer reassurance for parents concerned about the return to school. Dr Rakhee Shah Dr Rakhee Shah, above, is a community paediatrician at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and research associate at the Association for Young Peoples Health (AYPH). What has changed since March? Our R number was very high in March, community transmission was high and distancing measures and hand washing could only do so much, so a full lockdown was needed. Now community transmission is much lower and we can safely reopen as long as safety measures are adhered to. Are Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) children more at risk? Evidence suggests that all children are less likely to get the virus, have less severe illness, and are less likely to transmit it. Severe illness from Covid-19 in BAME children is very, very rare and the risk is low. Plus, there are other risks if BAME children dont go back to school such as a lack of learning and widening social gaps. Dr Damian Roland Dr Damian Roland, above, is a paediatrician, chair of Paediatric Emergency Research in the United Kingdom & Ireland (PERUKI), and an executive member of online paediatric learning resource Dont Forget the Bubbles. Are the safety measures in place enough? Absolutely nothing is easy about the science of Covid-19, but one of the biggest issues it has raised is getting the public to understand risk. A child crossing the road, or adults smoking in front of children these pose much bigger risks. But by washing hands well, social distancing and limiting contact with other groups, you can remove risk further. Young children may be less able to social distance, but if they catch Covid-19 they will probably be asymptomatic, so theres a low risk of them passing it onto others. What if children are apprehensive about returning? Be as honest as you can without going into gory details, as children are more savvy than we give them credit for. Tell them theres a bug that cant be seen, but can be passed on, so its important to wash hands and social distance as much as possible. But also reassure them that these bugs rarely cause problems for children. Dr Elizabeth Whittaker Dr Elizabeth Whittaker, above, is a senior clinical lecturer in paediatric infectious diseases and immunology at Imperial College London, and on The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) expert advisory group for Covid-19. What benefits are there to children going back to school? The benefits are multi-fold: there are educational benefits, but also emotional and social development. Schools play an important role in identifying things like chronic illnesses, autism, and mental health issues, plus it can help parents return to work and get the economy going, and thats important because poverty is one of the worst considerations for health outcomes. Is the advice the same for BAME children? The number of children with serious illness from Covid-19 is so small that we cant come to any conclusions about ethnicity, and there isnt an increase in severe cases associated with BAME children. So, yes, I think they should go back to school. Their parents may want to discuss with grandparents and elders in their society about keeping a good distance if theyre more vulnerable, but there is no reason to believe that BAME children are at greater risk of Covid-19. Contact your childs school, nursery or college directly to find out the measures in place for the new term. The information in this article is for England only A death row inmate is escorted back to his cell after spending time in the yard at San Quentin State Prison. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) More people convicted of murder may receive death penalty exemptions under a measure California lawmakers approved Friday that would expand whom the courts can classify as intellectually disabled. Under the legislation, the death penalty could not be sought against defendants if health experts determined there was evidence of an intellectual disability that began during their "developmental period" the time in a person's life when their brain is developing as defined by mental health diagnosis standards. Current California law prohibits intellectually disabled defendants from being sentenced to death if mental health experts determine that their impairment was evident before they were 18 years old. This legislation removes that age threshold. "All we're really doing is updating the state of the science used to determine intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities to what is currently being used," said Assemblyman Mark Stone (D-Scotts Valley), who introduced the bill. "There are people who are sitting on death row who shouldn't be there and don't need to be there. That's what we're trying to rectify." The bill would also prohibit prosecutors in capital cases from adjusting the results of tests measuring a defendant's intellectual ability based on their race, ethnicity, national origin or socioeconomic status. The bill received strong support from death penalty opponents and was contested by the California District Attorneys Assn., which criticized the measure for creating "a vague and prejudicial loophole that would result in a miscarriage of justice for all murder victims and their loved ones." Assembly Bill 2512 will head to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his consideration. A staunch opponent to capital punishment, the Democratic governor just months after taking office placed a moratorium on the death penalty in California and ordered the dismantling of the execution chamber at San Quentin State Prison. The moratorium will expire as soon as Newsom leaves office, pushing decisions on capital punishment to his successor. Story continues "The death penalty still technically exists," Stone said. "So this policy is still very relevant and necessary." If the bill is signed into law, inmates on death row would have the right to petition the courts to assess whether they qualify as intellectually disabled under the new definition. Retired Alameda County prosecutor Angela Backers, who handled death penalty cases for decades, said reputable mental health experts overwhelmingly agree that intellectual disabilities become evident before people turn 18 years old. Replacing the age threshold with a defendant's age-indeterminate "developmental period" would allow defense attorneys to argue that their clients are intellectually disabled even if no signs of impairment surfaced until they were in their 30s, she said. They dont want there to be a definition of intellectual disability. They want it to be all wishy-washy, said Backers, co-chair of the California District Attorneys Assn. capital litigation committee. "All qualified experts agree that if you have an intellectual disability, it manifests itself before 18. In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it was cruel and unusual punishment to impose a death sentence on a person convicted of murder who had a mental disability. In that ruling, Atkins vs. Virginia, the court relied on a definition of intellectual disability set by the American Psychiatric Assn., which said that the onset of such disabilities occurred before the age of 18. California later adopted the Supreme Court's definition for capital cases in state law, which stated that intellectual disability means "condition of significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior and manifested before 18 years of age, when the brain is still developing. The American Psychiatric Assn. has since changed its definition of intellectual disability, removing the age threshold and determining that the developmental period of a person should be left up to the discretion of physicians. Stone said existing California law should be changed to reflect that new definition. The assemblyman's bill also prohibits prosecutors from arguing that Black and Latino people have less access than white people to adequate education, healthcare, nutrition and other essentials while growing up, and therefore may score lower on tests measuring potential intellectual disabilities, leading to a determination that results should be adjusted upward. Backers, however, said that addresses a problem that does not exist. Wheres the proof of that?" she said. "Where is the proof where prosecutors inflate the IQs of people of color?" After being cooped up for months because of COVID-19, nursing-home residents in Ontario can now go out for day trips, errands and overnight stays once again but with some conditions. The changes approved by chief medical officer Dr. David Williams came Friday as the province climbed back above 1,100 cases of the novel coronavirus for the first time in three weeks, with 122 new infections and six deaths reported by the Ministry of Health. This new policy follows months of concerns from family members that visitation policies in long-term care have been too restrictive, leaving elderly loved ones particularly those with dementia with a devastating lack of personal contact detrimental to their well being. This is a day we have all looked forward to, said Long-Term Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton. It is my hope these welcome changes will improve our residents quality of life, while keeping them safe. But caregiver advocate Vivian Stamatopoulos said the new measure is ridiculous because most nursing-home residents are far too high-needs to leave the home and many cant as a result. She called for a further easing of restrictions on family members and friends being allowed to visit residents in nursing homes. Fullerton promised an updated policy next week. To go out on day trips, errands or appointments, nursing-home residents must be issued medical masks to be worn at all times providing their medical conditions tolerate a face covering. Residents will be screened but not required to get tested or to self-isolate upon their return. Nursing-home administrators must approve any overnight trips after getting details and assessing the risk, such as whether its a visit to a private home or a large gathering. Approvals will be based on the ability of the nursing home to provide space for the resident to self-isolate for 14 days upon return to protect other residents from any possible COVID-19 infection that may develop. Any rejections of overnight plans must be detailed in writing. Authorities have been cautious after the virus swept quickly through nursing homes in April and May despite the governments promise to put an iron ring of protection around them. COVID-19 killed more than 1,800 residents and eight staff, accounting for about two-thirds of Ontarios death toll and prompting an investigation by Ontarios ombudsman. The 122 new infections reported across the province Friday marked an increase of four from the previous day and helped push the number of people recently tested and actively fighting the virus to 1,103, an increase of 100 since last Saturday. Active cases were as low as 891 on Aug. 13 The rise follows warnings from medical officers in Toronto and Peel that an uptick of COVID-19 in their regions means residents must redouble their precautions. Premier Doug Ford released a chart showing Ontario well ahead of hard-hit states like Florida and Georgia in stemming the virus, boasting that Canadians listen a lot more than the Americans do, and I appreciate it. Everyone seems to be doing a fairly good job, he added, but reinforced the need for being diligent about wearing masks, physical distancing and frequent handwashing. We cant take our eye off the ball for a second because this moves like an Australian bushfire once it starts, it starts moving in and its hard to control, as we all know. So Im always concerned. The bulk of new cases are in the GTA and Ottawa, with 17 of the provinces 34 health units reporting no new cases and 12 others with fewer than six new infections. Torontos 32 new cases pushed the number of residents with active cases to 253, the second-highest in the province behind Peel Region at 264 after 27 new infections were reported there. Ottawa had 17 new cases, increasing its active case load to 185 people, according to the ministry statistics based on reports from health units at 4 p.m. the previous day. The 61 patients now in hospital for COVID-19 is an increase of 12 from the previous day. The number of people in intensive care across the province remains steady at 18, with 12 of them on ventilators, an increase of two. Labs across the province processed 31,823 tests on Thursday. The Ministry of Health said another 83 people who have tested positive are now considered recovered, lifting that total to 38,023. Resolved means the person is not hospitalized 14 days after receiving a positive test result or is hospitalized but is 14 days past the onset of symptoms. In the week ending last Saturday, statistics show 3.7 per cent of people who tested positive had their infections traced to travel, while 44.4 per cent caught the virus in an outbreak or through close contact with a confirmed case, and just over 50 per cent had no known epidemiological link for their case, or information on their infection was missing or unknown, the ministry reported. A Star compilation of data from health units at 5 p.m. Friday found 117 confirmed and probable cases in the previous 24 hours, raising the total to a new benchmark of 44,060 since the first infections were reported in late January. There have been 2,846 deaths. 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The seven returnees were all on the same Air India flight and their cases were detected on day three after their arrival. Auckland's Middlemore Hospital, which is treating patients with COVID-19. Credit:Getty Images Speaking at the daily COVID-19 briefing, New Zealands Director of Public Health Caroline McElnay said the seven had "travelled from a country with a high incidence of COVID". Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the fact that the cases had been detected showed that the countrys managed immigration and quarantine system was working. Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold - William Butler Yeats (The Second Coming). For most students of history, the decline of the once-mighty Mughal empire and the gradual erosion in the authority of a modern dynastythat of the reigning Gandhis in the Congresshas uncanny parallels. Like during the latter part of the Mughal era, the weakening of the central authority, or the high-command, has led to a drift and assertion by regional and sub-regional satraps within the Congress. While the storm in the Congress after a group of leaders petitioned interim president Sonia Gandhi seeking structural reforms is still to die down, the party has to contend with rising discontent in Maharashtra, where it holds power by default than design. Kailash Gorantyal, a three-term Congress MLA from Jalna in the Marathwada region, had threatened to launch a hunger strike with 11 other party legislators to protest the step-motherly treatment to their constituencies. Gorantyal was especially irked at the urban development department, which is headed by the Shiv Senas Eknath Shinde, for not releasing developmental funds for the Jalna municipal council, which is controlled by the Congress. Gorantyal is part of a group of Congressmen who rose to become legislators through municipal politics. Hence, for them, their control over these civic bodies is crucial for maintaining their reward economy networks in their constituencies. The threat of around a fourth of its 44 legislators launching a protest triggered an alarm in the Congress and the reigning Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Intervention by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, has quelled the unrest, at least for the moment. Though Gorantyal has announced that the protest has been put off for now, he maintains radio silence when asked over whether it may take place if the assurance for funds fails to fructify. Congress leaders admit that the anger of these legislators may be the tip of the iceberg. They complain that the state leadership of the party has been unable to articulate their concerns to the Maharashtra government on issues like funds for constituencies of Congress legislators or even transfers of officials. The appointments to state-run corporations, which are sinecures with perks of power for those left out of ministerial posts, are also pending due to a lack of unanimity in the three ruling allies. The gradual erosion of the high-commands control over the Congress apparatus has percolated down the ranks. Though these matters were discussed in murmurs within party circles earlier, Gorantyals threat of a now-shelved protest indicates that there is a possibility of things escalating to near-disruptive levels in the state. In Maharashtra, revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat, who belongs to the dominant Maratha community, holds charge as the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president. Despite being a legislator for eight consecutive terms from Sangamner in Ahmednagar, the low-profile Thorat is seen as lacking the charisma and authority to control the party or ensure that it holds its own against a resurgent NCP. With growing concerns about the NCP, led by party supremo Sharad Pawar, who has hit the ground running, eating into the Congress vote base, a section of party leaders are reportedly jockeying to get Thorat replaced, preferably with a more hands-on Dalit or Muslim face. Congress ministers had also met Uddhav earlier this year to complain about not being considered when it came to taking major policy decisions. It is claimed that another such meeting may be on the cards soon. As some Congress veterans argue, the party is punching below its weight, playing not second, but third fiddle to ruling allies, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. Though the Congress has just 44 seats compared to the NCPs 54 and the Senas 56, it was the partys support that led to the MVA regime under Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray coming to power. The Congress, which as even most dyed-in-the wool party men admit, had almost given up on its chances in the Maharashtra assembly elections, and had reconciled itself to another five years on the opposition benches. However, it found itself being propelled into the government by a strange twist of circumstances. With power in striking distance, there was a scramble for the 12 ministerial berths on offer. Gorantyal was among those who lost out, with former chief minister Ashok Chavan, and Amit Deshmukh, the son of former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh making the cut from the Marathwada region. An irked Gorantyal had then threatened to quit all party posts with his supporters before being placated. With lack of a strong authority who can hold the party together in Maharashtra, the Congress state unit is witnessing a rise in internecine disputes. Cabinet minister Sunil Kedar has threatened three leaders from Maharashtra, former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, Mukul Wasnik and Milind Deora, who were among the signatories to the letter to Sonia, seeking that they apologise. He has warned that or else, Congress workers will not allow them to move around in the state. As a senior Congress leader often notes, the Congress leadership in Maharashtra is repeating the mistakes committed by the Socialists. Lulled into complacency by power and riven by factional fights, the party is losing the connect with the grassroots and the ground-reality, a mistake that cost the Socialists dearly. "Queen of Mean" Ellen DeGeneres and her series of problems doesn't seem to be slowing down. Early this week, it was confirmed that one of Australia's biggest broadcasting network, Nine, decided to pull out "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" reruns and instead replaced it with "Desperate Housewives" reruns. They're also currently in negotiations whether or not they will be getting the rights for the latest season, which will air this September. Though many people have shared their stories of Ellen DeGeneres being a mean person and "a boss from hell," there were some celebrities who shared good things about the Emmy award-winning host. Comedienne Rosie O'Donnell has spoken about the 62-year-old celebrity A-lister, and surprisingly, she threw in a few good words about DeGeneres. Speaking to Busy Philipps' podcast, she revealed, "You can't fake your essence. That's why I have compassion for Ellen DeGeneres, right?" Referring to the allegations of toxic work environment on the show, O'Donnell said, "I have compassion, even though, you know, I hear the stories, and I understand. I think she has some social awkwardness." When asked why she has never been on "The Ellen DeGeneres" show, the comedienne revealed that she was terrified of DeGeneres and how she'll probably give her a heart attack. "You know how Ellen surprises everyone?" she asked. "I've never done that show because I'm terrified she's going to scare me and give me a heart attack." Like previously mentioned, Rosie O'Donnell wasn't the first person to defend DeGeneres. Other A-list stars include Sofia Vergara, Ashton Kutcher, Kevin Hart, and Katy Perry. Another person who is yet to speak up is American rapper Cardi B. The "WAP" hitmaker made an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," and towards the end of their conversation, Cardi B jokes she wished she was friends with the host. "Well, now you are," DeGeneres said. It has been noted that DeGeneres knew her baby daddy, Offset since she helped him buy a car. To that, the famous wrapper notes that she wanted a Lamborghini truck even though she's just a professional passenger. "I'm gonna look up my friends and see if I can get you a Lamborghini truck," the "Finding Dory" star claimed. "See, I need friends like you. All my friends just get me into fights and trouble." The talk show host jokes, "That's not me. That's not our friendship. Our friendship is going to be totally different, Cardi." There have been significant changes on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," following the termination of three of its top executive producers after claims of the toxic work environment. DeGeneres has also addressed more than 200 staff members on a video conference call and expressed her deep sorrow and that she was not perfect. "I am sorry. Anyone who knows me knows it's the opposite of what I believe and what I hoped for our show." Despite her scandal-clad name, Ellen DeGeneres is reportedly hoping she and the series will come back strong. DeGeneres, who is married to actress Portia de Rossi, was quoted, "This will be the best season we've ever had." READ MORE: Ellen DeGeneres' Apology Too Late? Toxicity Kept Secret Since 2018 Travelling without a face mask, sitting on seats that are meant to be left vacant in order to maintain social distancing, spitting, and littering in trains or platforms, may attract hefty fines once Delhi Metro services resume in the Capital, according to people familiar with the matter. A flying squad of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which guards the Delhi Metro, will be on the lookout for any violation of rules that have been put in place to contain the spread of Covid-19. The fines could start from Rs 500 for first-time offenders and are likely to be scaled up significantly for a repeat offence, the people added. Delhi Metro services have remained suspended since March 22, when the janta curfew (voluntary curfew) was observed on an appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, two days before a 68-day national lockdown was imposed. While other modes of public transport have been allowed with restrictions since then, as part of a gradual unlocking, Metro services -- including the Delhi Metro, which caters to nearly 2.4 daily million passengers -- have remained suspended. Also Read: To reach 40k tests target, Delhi govt clinics to stay open longer When the Delhi Metro will begin has not been announced yet, but there have been indications that its resumption could be a part of the next unlock norms to be announced before September 1. Decisions regarding new protocols for the Metro -- whenever it resumes -- were taken in a meeting convened by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Thursday, and attended by senior officers from CISF and the Delhi Police. The meeting was also attended by senior police officers from the adjoining states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, as the Delhi Metro also operates services to parts of these states that fall within the National Capital Region (NCR). One of the officials who was a part of the meeting said on condition of anonymity that it was decided all guidelines set by the Indian Council of Medical Research must be strictly followed. Any passenger who is caught spitting or dirtying will be fined. Those who do not follow rules like wearing a mask; are found sitting on seats that are to be left vacant; or deliberately violating social distancing norms will also be fined, the official said. Also Read: Govt asks states to focus on elderly to reduce fatalities When contacted, deputy inspector general, CISF, Jitender Rana, said the forces Alpha teams and flying squads will step up checks and monitoring. Apart from our regular security work, our teams will also keep an eye out for anyone disrupting hygiene on Delhi Metro, thereby putting fellow passengers at risk. Such violators will be caught and fined, Rana said. A third officer privy to the developments said: The fine will be of 500 for a first-time offender and may go up significantly for repeat offenders. Those not complying or refusing to pay the fine may be prosecuted and be handed over to the Delhi Metro Rail Police (DMRP), a unit of the Delhi Police, he said. The third officer added that the CISF personnel checking commuters at entry points will wear personal protective equipment. Before passengers can enter the station, their will be checked for body temperature, masks, and their status on Aarogya Setu app will be verified. This may cause queues outside the station and so a Delhi Police personnel will be deployed to ensure social distancing, he said, adding that access gates to stations will be opened depending upon the footfall and size of the station. Also Read: Covid-19: What you need to know today Other norms in Delhi Metro once it starts operations include a ban on the use of tokens, introduction of automatic top-up facility to recharge smart cards, designated spots for passengers at platforms and controlled air-conditioning, with the temperature to be maintained at 26 degrees Celsius. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal last week urged the Centre to resume Metro services in the national capital, saying the people of city were requesting for it. We have taken this up with the central government on several occasions. We have urged the Centre to explore the possibility of resuming Metro services in Delhi, while keeping it prohibited in other states. Delhi is a special case because we have the Covid-19 situation under control, he had said at a webinar with traders. A DMRC spokesperson confirmed that a meeting was held with security officials on Thursday. The spokesperson, however, declined to comment on what transpired at the meeting. Prashant Kumar, 27, a resident of Mehrauli, who works at a private finance firm in Connaught Place, said since the Metro is shut, he has been forced to take cabs. Working from home isnt an option every day. We have to go to office and cab refunds are not provided by the company. The expense is too much for me. Weve been waiting for Metro services to resume. If the government can resume flights, it can also take due precautions and resume the Metro service, Kumar said. In nearly all countries hit hard by Covid-19, lockdown restrictions, including those on public transit, have been lifted after the peak of daily cases had abated and remained low. This trend has been consistent in countries such as Italy, Spain, Germany, South Korea, and Japan. Epidemiologists have also warned against resuming Metro services, citing an increase in Delhis case positivity rate. In fact, as on Friday, Delhi had logged an average of 1,544 new cases of the infection in the past seven days the highest since mid-July. Doctor Lalit Kant, former head of epidemiology and communicable diseases, ICMR, said in Delhi, the number of Covid-19 cases is increasing every day. The positivity rate is already on the rise. So if the population is mixing, it is likely to increase the chances of infection, he said. Sewa Ram, professor and head of the department of transport and planning, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, said there was a similar fear with running DTC buses, but Metro has a better infrastructure. However, modifications will be required. The authorities will need to ensure contactless travel, social distancing and operational changes. There needs to have stringent measures and checks. If its done the right way, reopening of the Metro will be of immense help to people who depend on it for their mobility, Ram said. The Volta Caucus, a group of Voltarians based outside the Volta Region and members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is calling for cool heads to prevail in the party. There is a raging controversy between the NDC founder, Jerry John Rawlings, other members of the NDC and Professor Kwamena Ahwoi, a leading member of the party, over the contents of a book titled Working with Rawlings. Prof. Ahwoi, the author of the book in question, has been criticized by a number of NDC members over supposed factual inaccuracies in the book. Jerry Rawlings issued an over 4,000-word response to Prof. Ahwoi. Others whose names were mentioned in the book have all issued disclaimers to that effect. The Volta Caucus said it is saddened by the turn of events ahead of 2020 polls 2020. We as a group feel saddened that, this issue will come up in such a crucial time as this when Ghanaians are crying for an electoral rescue from the maladministration and misrule of the Nana Akufo Addo-led Government, the Volta Caucus said in a statement. The group thus urged all factions involved to bury their differences and work for the collective good of the NDC. The 2020 election is so crucial requiring all energy and hands-on-deck because it is that election which will again define Ghanas destiny. It is an election which will have good triumph over evil and to return Ghana onto the path of development, departing from the status quo; an affinity for treachery and engagement in divisive politics; a typical case as we witnessed and suffered during the recent Voters Registration exercise. Claims Prof. Ahwoi made in the book Prof. Ahwoi among other things wrote in his book that ahead of the 2008 elections, Mr. Rawlings tried to sabotage Prof. John Evans Atta Mills from becoming flagbearer of the NDC. He also alleged that Rawlings wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings had wanted to succeed her husband to become President. But these claims and others have all been refuted by Mr Rawlings. The former president said the book contains fabrications and grapevine accounts. Mr. Rawlings also said the book was meant to paint a denigrating picture of him. Below is the statement from Volta Caucus ---citinewsroom Building a consistent and personalized experience for over a million users per month, PG Mall aims to revolutionize e-commerce KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Netcore Solutions , one of the leading marketing automation, and personalization platform announced that PG Mall, the Malaysian e-commerce giant has chosen Netcore Smartech to power it's multi-channel marketing automation and engagement campaigns. PG Mall plans to use the comprehensive AI-Powered automation and personalization platform to ensure multichannel experience optimization for its users and ensure unmatched customer engagement. Established in 2017, PG Mall is the brainchild of Public Gold Group Founder and Executive Chairman, Dato' Wira Louis Ng Chun Hau, who aspires to take homegrown merchants to the global stage under a unique Sharing Economy business model. 75% of all of Asia's Unicorns trust Netcore with their customer engagement campaigns. Netcore has been a Marketing Technology leader in Southeast Asia for over a decade and the recent engagement with GoBear and now PG Mall has helped solidify that spot. The Netcore Smartech platform bundles the CDP, multi-channel campaign management, a comprehensive journey builder, AI-based email delivery, and Smart Push for push notifications, with Raman - the AI engine adding intelligent insights across pivotal components of the platform, makes Smartech a preferred partner for brands focusing on having the most cutting edge retention strategy. "PG Mall wants to revolutionize the shopping business model and we want to do it at scale. On the path to accelerated growth, we are sure that Netcore will help us create personalized experiences and engagements for our million-plus users every month." added Charles Lim, Director - MIS, PG Mall. "We are a preferred partner of global e-commerce enterprises and that has given us deep insights into the multichannel engagement and retention strategies of the vertical. We are excited to be in a position to replicate the learning and success for PG Mall and help them in their growth trajectory." added Abithab Bhaskar, CEO - International Business, Netcore Solutions. About Netcore Solutions: Netcore Solutions, the world-renowned martech solutions company enables marketers to outline their customer journey to achieve extraordinary 1:1 customer experience. Netcore has been delivering marketing ROI for more than two decades to world's leading brands and serves as a strategic partner to enterprise and mid-size businesses across many industries in the United States, India, SEA and EMEA. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1176346/Netcore_Solutions_Logo.jpg LAKE MARY, Fla. - A county worker was killed and three firefighters were injured after a sidewalk in a Florida suburb collapsed on Friday, officials said. A county environmental service department employee was working on a water main leak beneath the sidewalk in Lake Mary when it collapsed, officials said. Responding firefighters tried to use a hydraulic extraction known as Jaws of Life to remove concrete slabs from the worker, but they were unaware that wires from a transformer ran directly into the hole and they got shocked, Seminole County Fire Chief Otto Drozd said at a news conference So at the point they moved part of the sidewalk to give the victim some relief, ... the hole became energized, electrocuting several of our firefighters, Drozd said. The three firefighters were taken to a hospital as a precaution and were in stable condition, Drozd said. The environmental service worker wasnt immediately identified. The death is being investigated as an accident, said Kim Cannaday, a spokeswoman for the Seminole County Sheriffs Office. Lake Mary is located about 20 miles (32 kilometres) north of Orlando. The Jharkhand High Court on Friday adjourned hearing on bail plea moved by RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in connection with a fodder scam case in which the Bihar politician was convicted on corruption charges and sentenced to five years of imprisonment in January 2018. The bench comprising justice Aparesh Kumar Singh adjourned the hearing and fixed next date on September 11 after the CBI informed that its counsel assistant solicitor general Rajiv Sinha was unwell. Prasad, who has been undergoing treatment in custody at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi, moved the bail application on the ground that he had already completed half of the sentence in the aforesaid case related to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 33.13 crore from Chaibasa treasury over fictitious spends on fodder and other expenses for cattle. Prasad had suffered a major jolt in the fodder scam case on September 30, 2013, when a trial court in Ranchi held him guilty in the first of six cases against him. The conviction got him five years in prison, disqualification from the Parliament and a ban on contesting elections. He was given bail by the Supreme Court in December that year. Also read: Hotel owner, manager booked for allegedly offering room to Lalu Prasad Yadavs son Tej Pratap The former Bihar chief ministers trouble renewed again after December 23, 2017, when he was convicted in three other fodder scam cases in quick successions. Since then, he has been in jail. Of these three cases, he had secured bail in one of them last year on the ground that he had served half of the imprisonment awarded to him. In the second case, Prasad had completed half of the 5-year sentence in June this year. We, therefore, applied for aforesaid bail in July but it was heard for the first time on Friday, said Prasads lawyer Prabhat Kumar. He added that another bail application in the third case would likely be filed in November this year. After spending the initial two months - from December 2017 to February 2018 - in Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi, Prasad had developed health complications in March 2018 and was moved to a hospital. Since then, he never returned to jail. After a steep surge in Covid-19 cases in August, Prasad was moved from RIMS paying ward to the hospitals directors bungalow early this month. A massive fire has broken out at a chemical facility outside of Lake Charles, Louisiana after Hurricane Laura battered the area last night. BioLab, a household chemical product manufacturer in Westlake, Louisiana and owned by Canadian company KIKCorp., caught fire after the storm according to multiple companies in the area, the Houston Chronicle reported. Louisiana Gov. John Edwards issued a shelter-in-place order for residents of the Westlake-Moss Bluff-Sulphur area. HURRICANE LAURA: 14-year-old girl confirmed as first fatality A HAM radio operator told the National Weather Service that part of I-10 is closed due to a massive chlorine leak in the area, the Lafayette Daily Advertiser reports. Huge clouds of smoke can be seen coming from the plant. WDSU reports that state police, hazmat and emergency officials are at the scene. The Lafayette Daily Advertiser reports that KIKCorp. is also deploying a specialized team to the site to assist. "We can confirm that, as a result of damage sustained during Hurricane Laura, there is currently a fire at our plant located at our Biolab Lake Charles, LA facility," the company said on its website. "Our priority is the safety and well-being of the Lake Charles community of which we are a part. We are deploying a specialized team to the site, and we are working with first responders, local authorities, and environmental agencies to contain and mitigate the impact of this incident as quickly as possible. The facility had been evacuated when the hurricane was upgraded to category 4 after following shut-down protocols, and all employees are confirmed to be safe at this time. We will provide additional information as it becomes available." 28.08.2020 LISTEN The leadership of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) has congratulated all-party sympathizers and various stakeholders who contributed to the success story of its just-ended national congress. In a statement copied to the media, the CPP also thanked the Electoral Commission(EC) and the Police Service who efficiently oversaw the elections in a peaceful manner devoid of any setback. Read Statement Below A VOTE FOR CPP IS A VOTE FOR YOURSELF Over the weekend the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) held its National Congress to elect new leaders and we thank all of those who contributed in making that event a successful program. We thank the Electoral Commission who kindly and very efficiently oversaw the elections held on a regional basis for the first time due to the Covid 19 crisis. We also thank the Police who ensured that the event was held safely and incident-free. We thank the Council of Elders in general under the wise leadership of Felix Amoah and his secretary Mallam Issah as well as the Interim Organization Committee (IOC) in particular for the special and committed way they have intervened and solved many of the problems the Party faced prior to Congress. Special thanks go to the energetic and indefatigable R. O. Frimpong Manso, the Chair of the IOC and its members, Madam Salifu Dagarti, Kofi Amponsah, Nana William Buckman, Christian Zigah and their secretary Adjetey Sowah. We also thank the Chairman of the Vetting Committee Professor Nii Noi Dowunna and the Chair and secretary of the Congress Committee Dr Adolf Lutterodt and Justice Kofi Henaku as well as all other members who have availed themselves for all this important work culminating in today. We also thank the contestants and all Party members and last of all and perhaps most importantly we thank the previous leadership in general and in particular the acting Chair and Leader Hajia Ham Datu and the acting secretary James Kwabena Bomfeh for their very hard and committed work over a significant period of time without which we would not have been able to go to Congress. To the elected representatives of the party, as well as all Party members I hope that we will all see the urgency of the situation in Ghana and bury all our differences for the sake of the party and the wider cause of our country. After all, the Party is supreme. I for my part say that if I have said or done anything either directly or indirectly which has offended any party member I am sorry. May the spirit of the founders of the party continue to live in us who have taken on the mantle of leadership. Forward ever backwards never. People of Ghana A VOTE FOR CPP IS A VOTE FOR YOURSELF For the last 28 years our country has been governed by the NDC and the NPP who have ruled more to serve the interests of they themselves and not the interests of the people of Ghana. In actual fact, voting for the NDC or NPP is a wasted vote. Whereas A VOTE FOR CPP IS A VOTE FOR YOURSELF. Our country needs the CPP desperately: We are the Only, Only we are the ONLY Party with Alternative policies, Totally Alternative policies that will deliver to the long suffering people of Ghana. We are the only Party that truly represent Your interests which means that A VOTE FOR CPP IS A VOTE FOR YOURSELF. Our country needs a Government that will deliver for All the people of Ghana Everywhere that we have gone on the campaign trail all we get told is Where is the CPP that will deliver for the people of Ghana? Today we give you our pledge that the CPP will deliver for all Ghanaians. We will deliver the Social justice that will make Ghana a more equal nation: A VOTE FOR CPP IS A VOTE FOR YOURSELF. We shall implement the Self-Reliance that this country has been crying out for: A VOTE FOR CPP IS A VOTE FOR YOURSELF. We will continue to work towards the African unity that our founding fathers saw as the only way that independent African countries could develop: A VOTE FOR CPP IS A VOTE FOR YOURSELF. We will give our people access to good quality healthcare: A VOTE FOR CPP IS A VOTE FOR YOURSELF. We will give our people good education and Skills Skills Skills: A VOTE FOR CPP IS A VOTE FOR YOURSELF. We will reduce the cost of living and give our people better housing and transportation: A VOTE FOR CPP IS A VOTE FOR YOURSELF. The CPP will deliver because our country is a rich country, our country is endowed with all the raw materials BUT, successive governments after the first republic have lacked the resourcefulness, the strategies, the vision and the desire to transform these into sustainable wealth. The CPP has that vision to take Ghana and Africa into the next steps of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, to leapfrog us into a Future Industrialized First World Nation where the people will forge forward in a new spirit of Work with Happiness. Today is not the day for making promises our manifesto and other programs, policies, and events will come out almost immediately. Today is the day for Action the day when the Campaign for Government starts Forward into victory Forward Ever, Backwards Never AND REMEMBER AND NEVER FORGET: A VOTE FOR CPP IS A VOTE FOR YOURS ---KingdomfmOnline "I am worried for my sons soul. He has nightmares often now. At first he held his emotions in, but the flashbacks of seeing me getting shot and others dying around me, [it] makes me cry thinking about it." But after the court case, the conviction and the cataclysmic events of March 15, New Zealand confronts an existential question: how does a nation move on? Distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley, from New Zealand's Massey University, says a theme emerged during the victim impact statements - an acknowledgment that New Zealand did not have the death penalty, and that therefore the maximum penalty of life without parole was warranted. "So the sentence met the expectation of those in court," he says, "and I'm certain that is echoed by the majority of New Zealanders." More broadly, Spoonley says, "this has really been a huge shock to New Zealand's collective sense of how we see our country in particular with regard to respect for minority ethnic and religious groups and to the indigenous Maori". "New Zealand is like Australia and Canada in many respects, a settler colonial country, but beginning in the 1970s with the introduction of biculturalism and the recognition of indigenous rights, it meant that our public spaces, our policy and political spaces give priority to indigenous rights. Australia and Canada adopted multiculturalism in the 1970s. New Zealand went down a different route in a sense. "March 15 was a moment when we failed in our duty of care to religious and ethnic minorities and I think the origins of that are in biculturalism." Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern set a course designed to bring the nation back together - and to try and ensure such a calamity never happened again - almost immediately. Jacinda Ardern visits members of Christchurch's Muslim community after the attack. Credit:AP She announced a gun buyback scheme much like that announced by John Howard after the Port Arthur massacre in 1996 (the New Zealand scheme bought back more than 56,000 weapons and banned semi-automatic weapons, though some have questioned the efficacy), promised new hate speech laws and wore hijab as she visited victims in Christchurch's Muslim community in the days after the attack. She vowed never to utter Tarrant's name, to deny him the notoriety he sought, and kept to her promise as the Australian was sentenced on Thursday. "Nothing will take the pain away but I hope you [the Muslim community] felt the arms of New Zealand around you through this whole process, and I hope you continue to feel that through all the days that follow," she said. "The trauma of March 15 is not easily healed but today, I hope, is the last where we have any cause to hear or utter the name of the terrorist behind it. His deserves to be a lifetime of complete and utter silence." Charles Crothers, an Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Auckland's University of Technology, says Ardern did a "fantastic job of framing it as 'the Muslims who were attacked and killed were part of our society, so we were all attacked'. "And the second thing was the way the New Zealand media respected the call to not sensationalise the reporting. There was a little criticism of New Zealand media for being a bit too complicit but it did help frame it, it meant that the message [Tarrant's extreme views and far-right manifesto] didnt get pushed out or amplified." Coverage of the trial has been subject to an unprecedented level of control. Eleven New Zealand news organisations and 18 overseas media organisations applied to report on the sentencing, but live reporting was forbidden and news from the hearings was carefully controlled, with embargoes until lunchtime and the end of the day. The consequence of this was that victim impact statements were front and centre in the last week, though Judge Cameron Mander's damning judgement of Tarrant - that a lifetime in jail could not begin to atone for the murders - was released. "Your actions were inhuman ... you deliberately killed a three-year-old infant as he clung to the leg of his father." Looking back at newspaper front pages from the day of the attack is akin to travelling back in time to an earlier, more innocent and pre-coronavirus age. The front page of The Press, Christchurch's paper, on the Friday the massacre occurred featured news of a local surfing competition and a city council fight over water rights. The headline on Saturday, the day after Tarrant arrived at Al Noor mosque at 1.40pm, was "End of Innocence", with a photo of bloodstained and bedraggled survivors. Loading It would be weeks before the massacre left front pages in Christchurch - and around the world - as the small city of nearly 400,000 people, still rebuilding from the devastating February 2011 earthquake, grappled with a second sickening blow to its foundations. With the trial wrapped up and Tarrant set to commence his life sentence, New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters - who leads the NZ First Party and governs in coalition with Ardern's Labour - called for Tarrant to be repatriated to Australia to serve his time. While Peters' call will undoubtedly be popular in some sections of the community, it's unclear whether this will happen given that the legal agreements to facilitate such a transfer are not in place. Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison indicated on Friday such a move was possible. With Kiwis due to go to the polls on October 17 and the country's largest city, Auckland, due to remain in COVID-19 lockdown until midnight on Sunday, Ardern - who remains very popular with the electorate - will probably be focused on other short-term challenges in the weeks ahead. Asked how the attacks changed New Zealand, Spoonley says they did three things. First, the mosque attacks highlighted that government agencies were not paying adequate attention to the threat to minority communities: "It shocked New Zealanders out of our complacency in terms of how exceptional we thought we were, that we wouldn't have white supremacist terrorists in New Zealand." Second, gun laws banning automatic weapons were passed in the parliament, though Spoonley adds that "there is unfinished business because we still don't have the promised hate speech legislation". Third, "New Zealand's Muslim community is a little over 50,000 people, about 1 per cent of the population. What this has done is encouraged non-Muslim New Zealanders to be much more aware of that Muslim community and the threats that they face". Abdul Aziz Wahabzadah gestures to Brenton Tarrant as he gives his victim impact statement. Credit:AP Abdul Aziz Wahabzadah, the hero of Linwood mosque, was another of the victims to address Tarrant in court. Armed only with a small EFTPOS machine, which he threw at Tarrant as the terrorist sat in his vehicle, Wahabzadah had been fired upon repeatedly. Then, when Tarrant dropped one of his guns, Wahabzadah picked it up and smashed the side window of the terorrist's car. Tarrant fled the scene. Loading Syrian President Bashar Assad on Wednesday met with Faleh Al-Fayyad, the envoy of the Iraqi prime minister and the head of the Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces. According to the Syrian news agency, SANA, they discussed the bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries in various fields and focused on enhancing the coordination and efforts in combating terrorism and bolstering security on the border. The Iraqi News Agency, or INA, reported that Al-Fayyad carried a message from Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi to Assad. The report did not elaborate. Al-Kadhimi visited the United States last week and met with President Donald Trump. Trump reaffirmed his plan to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq as quickly as possible. There are more than 5,000 American troops in Iraq now as part of the international coalition to fight terrorism. Hundreds of U.S. troops are also stationed in northeastern Syria. (Image Credit: AP) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces a major challenge after Covid-19 took a hefty toll on the economy, which fell 38.7 percent in the second quarter Canada's economy shrank at a record pace in the second quarter but by the end of the period showed signs of a rapid recovery from the pandemic trauma that forced businesses to close and put millions out of work. At the same time, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government ran up a Can$120 billion (US$90 billion) budget deficit dolling out emergency aid to Canadians, compared to a shortfall of Can$85 million during the same period last year. The economy contracted 11.5 percent, or at an annualized pace of 38.7 percent, in the three months ending June 30, the government statistical agency said Friday. Declines were recorded across the board amid a nationwide lockdown including in consumer spending, business investment, trade and tourism -- in line with analyst forecasts, following a 2.1 percent (8.2 percent annualized) contraction of Canada's gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter. After steep declines at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak in April and May, however, GDP surged 6.5 percent in June. And preliminary data for July forecast a three percent rise in GDP. Economists said this suggests the worst is over for the Canadian economy. "It was a quarter to forget for Canada's economy," commented CIBC analyst Royce Mendes in a research note. The drop in GDP, he said, was of "a magnitude never before seen... and was likely the worst performance since the Great Depression." But, he added, "things were looking up by the end of the second quarter" with "solid momentum" continuing into July. Mendes also noted that Canadians' disposable income actually grew in the period as emergency government support more than offset a drag from a jump in unemployment. That drove the household savings rate up to 28 percent, from seven percent, "potentially leaving some extra cash for spending in upcoming periods," he said. Derek Holt, head of Scotiabank Economics, noted that more than half of the three million Canadians who lost their jobs at the start of the pandemic, pushing up the unemployment rate to a peak of 13.9 percent in May, have since gone back to work as restrictions eased. Story continues "Canada's economy may be rebounding even faster than expected into Q3," Holt said. "Canadian GDP is quickly recovering (from) the pandemic hit... which cautions against the policy narrative that years of pain lie ahead." But senior TD economist Brian DePratto warned, "Many sectors are going to continue struggling in the absence of a vaccine." "We may be through the worst of it, but it is still a long road to normal." - Cautious consumers - The finance department said government revenues were down Can$32.0 billion, or 37.9 percent, in the second quarter, while expenses -- including wage subsidies, business incentives and direct aid -- climbed by Can$90.3 billion, or 116.5 percent. Trudeau last week announced an extension of the emergency aid to the end of September, when he said he would seek parliament's support for massive new social and environmental spending to pull Canada out of an economic slump. If all three main opposition parties balk and vote against the proposals, however, Trudeau's minority liberal government would fall, triggering snap elections. According to Statistics Canada, household spending fell 13.1 percent in the second quarter due to substantial job losses and few opportunities to spend as most stores and restaurants were closed and travel and tourism was restricted by the closure of the border. amc/dw US President Donald Trump on Friday accepted the Presidential candidate nomination by the Republican Party. In his acceptance speech, Trump also remembered his younger brother Robert, who passed away on August 15. US President Donald Trump accepted the Presidential candidate nomination by the Republican Party for the upcoming elections in November, here on Thursday (local time). The President was introduced by his daughter Ivanka before entering the stage. The crowd was seen chanting four more years as Trump took centre stage. I stand before you tonight honoured by your support proud of the incredible progress we made in the last four incredible years and brimming with confidence in the bright future we would build for America over the next four years, Trump addressed the Republican National Convention at the White House. He added, My fellow Americans, tonight with a heart full of gratitude and boundless optimism, I profoundly accept this nomination for President of the United States. Donald Trump, in his nomination acceptance speech, for President by the Republican Party also remembered his younger brother Robert who passed away on August 15 stating that he would be proud of the job we are all doing. I know my brother Robert is looking down on us right now from heaven. He was a great brother and he was proud of the job we are all doing. Thank you (and) we love you Robert, Trump said while addressing the Republican National Convention at the White House. Also Read: Pence slams Biden over no miracle coming remark on Covid-19 Also Read: TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer quits amid lawsuit against Trump administration The US President also addressed Hurricane Laura that hit the US State of Louisiana and Texas. Six people have succumbed to the hurricane in Lousiana. Our thoughts are with those who came through the wrath of Hurricane Laura. We are working closely with state and local officials in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi. We are sparing no effort to save lives, he said further at the convention. According to CNN, the Hurricane came as a category 4 storm on Thursday near the Texas border. Trump is set to visit the affected regions this weekend. Well probably be going on Saturday or Sunday, and well be heading to Texas and Louisiana and maybe an additional stop, Trump said earlier on Thursday. Trump further said that in his next term as President, the US would build the greatest economy in history and quickly return to full employment. US Vice President Mike Pence also formally accepted the nomination for Vice President by the Republican Party, earlier on Wednesday. The US Presidential elections are set to take place on November 3, this year. Also Read: US sanctions Chinese individuals involved in South China Sea militarization Police said cyclists and people doing any other type of exercise will not have to wear face masks when they are outside in Paris. The exemption, which also applies to children under 11-years-old, comes after masks were made compulsory throughout the city after it emerged as a hotbed of coronavirus contagion that has sent cases in France soaring. Prime Minister Jean Castex said yesterday that masks - which were already compulsory on public transport and in enclosed spaces - will now be mandatory in all public places across the city, though did not give a date for it to come into force. Mr Castex said the move is necessary to curb a new wave of infection that has its epicentre in Paris and the Ile-de-France region. Jean Castex, France's Prime Minister, has announced that masks will be made compulsory in all public spaces across Paris, as the city emerged as a hotbed of coronavirus contagion France has seen coronavirus cases soar in recent days, with 5,429 cases logged on Wednesday, the country's third-highest total since the pandemic began France recorded 5,429 cases of coroanvirus on Wednesday - the country's highest daily total since March, and third-largest since the pandemic began. The country's R number is now 1.4, Castex added, well above the crucial 1 figure needed to keep the curve of infection level. There was an 'undeniable resurgence' of the Covid-19 epidemic throughout France, Castex told a press conference on Thursday. He revealed that the 'positivity rate' in France - the percentage of tests that come back positive - rose from one percent in May to 3.7 percent yesterday. In turn that has increased the R figure - or replication number - of the virus to 1.4 nationwide, meaning ten infected people are infecting 14 others on average. More than 800 coronavirus patients are being admitted to hospital every week on average, up from 500 six weeks ago, said the prime minister. 'The epidemic is gaining territory, and now is the time to intervene,' he said. Castex insisted there is no need to return to general lockdown because it is mostly young people getting infected, meaning hospital admissions remain low (pictured, testing in Paris) Despite rising cases deaths have not followed suit, which is thought to be because most new cases are in people aged between 25 and 45, who are least at risk of serious infection The government would do everything in its power to avoid issuing new, nationwide stay-at-home orders, the premier added. However, he cautioned that the possibility could not be excluded entirely and localised confinements may be on the cards. Paris is the second French city to impose laws making masks compulsory, after Toulouse brought in the same measure on Friday last week. Toulouse is France's fourth-largest city and and officials fear that a mass movement of people as the summer break draws to a close will lead to a spike in infections. Office workers across France will have to wear masks in all enclosed work spaces from next month, including in corridors and lobbies. Masks were already compulsory in some part of Paris - including public transport, markets and indoor spaces - but will now become mandatory in all public places Labour Minister Elisabeth Borne met industry leaders on Tuesday to discuss the new measure, which she said was based on the advice of the government's public health council. It took into account a growing scientific consensus that the coronavirus is transmitted not only in large drops projected when a person coughs or sneezes, but also in smaller ones that can remain suspended in air breathed out by infected people, she said. France has already made mask-wearing obligatory on public transport and in enclosed shared public spaces such as shops and government offices, but has left their use in offices to the discretion of employers until now. This was criticised by a group of medical experts in an open letter in Liberation newspaper, in which they compared virus accumulation in enclosed spaces to 'cigarette smoke'. 'And the more the virus accumulates in the air - either because of a long exposure time or because of a large number of excreters - the more we risk contamination,' they said. President Donald Trump speaks Thursday from the South Lawn of the White House on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention. Read more Valerie Barbin was trying to figure out whom to support for president, so the retired prosecutor from Harrisburg settled in for every night of the Democratic and Republican conventions the last two weeks. In the end, Barbin, a Republican who once voted for Barack Obama, came away certain she will support President Donald Trump for reelection. And a significant factor wasnt what she saw at the conventions. It was news footage of protests and riots in far-away cities. Every city where there were major riots and problems that continued was run by Democrats, Barbin said Friday. Normally when people break the law and they injure people and they loot and they commit arson, people get arrested for that, but in all those cities, they werent arresting people. That very message was one of the central and most hard-hitting themes of the Republican National Convention this week and is set to be one of Trumps driving arguments for the rest of the campaign. Trailing in national and battleground state polls, including in Pennsylvania, Trump is aiming to change the trajectory of the race by focusing on the crime and violence that have followed some protests against police brutality and racism. Just as his convention peaked, the theme pointedly dovetailed with scenes from Kenosha, Wis. Buildings there burned and protesters clashed with officers after the latest police shooting of a Black man. Your vote will decide whether we protect law-abiding Americans, or whether we give free rein to violent anarchists, agitators, and criminals who threaten our citizens, Trump said in his nomination acceptance speech. His address Thursday night delivered on the White House lawn and likely violating a federal law barring such open politicking on government property signaled that his reelection hopes will revolve around that law-and-order promise. While blasting those acting out of anger toward police, however, Trump said nothing about the self-styled militiamen who joined the fray in Kenosha, including a 17-year-old who is now accused of shooting and killing two protesters. The 70-minute remarks made one brief reference to police misconduct (the justice system must hold wrongdoers fully and completely accountable, and it will, Trump said), but focused heavily on predictions of chaos and crime if Democratic nominee Joe Biden wins the presidency. They will make every city look like Democrat-run Portland, Oregon, Trump said. No one will be safe in Bidens America. Republicans say the offensive can bring back some of the moderate suburban voters who have recoiled from Trump. When it comes down to a choice between anarchy, where youre afraid to leave your house, where roving mobs are running through the streets. ... Its going to be an easy choice, said U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, a staunch Trump supporter from York County. Democrats argue that Trump is trying to distract from the coronavirus and the stumbling response that has left millions unemployed and almost 180,000 dead, more than any other country. And they say Trumps vows to restore order are undercut by his pledge to end crime and violence in 2016. Now, they point out, the very clashes he is decrying are happening on his watch, after years in which he openly stoked racial grievances and criticized even peaceful protesters, including Black athletes. These are not images from some imagined Joe Bidens America in the future. These are images from Donald Trumps America today, Biden said in a statement Thursday. The violence were witnessing is happening under Donald Trump. ... To solve this problem, first we have to honestly admit the problem. But he wont do it. Instead of looking to calm the waters, he adds fuel to every fire. Violence isnt a problem in his eyes its a political strategy. READ MORE: Biden is beating Trump big in Pennsylvania. Will anything change that? Biden has frequently said he opposes calls to defund the police, though Republicans repeatedly and falsely charged the opposite during their convention. Biden condemned looting and rioting this week, as he had done previously, including in Philadelphia in June. With protests still unfolding, its unclear if the issue will have the effect Trump hopes and whether his response is swaying swing voters, boosting conservative turnout, or merely energizing people who were already sure to vote for him. Most polls show that Americans are more concerned about the coronavirus, though in some surveys violent crime comes close. The suburban voters Trump is courting have consistently rejected him in Pennsylvania including two years ago when he drummed up fears of a migrant caravan heading to the southern U.S. border. Democrats made historic gains anyway. READ MORE: Trumps path to winning Pa. runs through small Rust Belt towns like one near Bidens hometown Still, Charlie Dent, a former Republican congressman who has endorsed Biden, said the issue creates vulnerabilities for Democrats. The whole point of the Biden campaign right now is to persuade independents and soft Republicans to come his way, and I do think that many of those folks believe public safety is important, said Dent, who represented a moderate district around Allentown until 2018. I think a lot of these people understand why the protests are occurring and the need for reforms. ... But looting, vandalism, burning of cars, and other lawless behavior is abhorrent to many of these same people. In Wisconsin, a Marquette Law School poll in early August found that approval of Black Lives Matter protests had fallen sharply, down to 48% from 61% in mid-June, entirely because of a loss of support among white voters. The poll was conducted before police in Kenosha shot Jacob Blake seven times in the back, paralyzing him, and the ensuing unrest. The same poll, however, found that 58% of registered voters in Wisconsin disapproved of Trumps handling of protests. Wisconsin, like Pennsylvania, is a critical swing state.Either could effectively decide who wins the election. Kenosha could be the message Trump has been grasping for, GOP strategist Sarah Longwell wrote Thursday on the Bulwark, a website led by conservative Trump critics. Longwell, a founder of Republican Voters Against Trump, cited two focus groups she led Wednesday with a total of 12 college-educated, suburban white women who all voted for Trump in 2016 but now disapprove of his performance. The group that was more aware of the situation in Wisconsin was more critical of the violence, and less sympathetic to the protests. Almost every speaker at the GOPs four-night convention brought up the unrest.The convention also featured more than a dozen Black speakers, most saying Trump is not racist. In a poignant segment that aired Thursday, Ann Dorn, the widow of a retired police officer, spoke about her late husband, David, who was gunned down in June as he tried to intervene in the burglary of a gun shop in St. Louis following protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Violence and destruction are not legitimate forms of protest. They do not safeguard Black lives. They only destroy them, Dorn said of her husband, who was Black. David Dorns daughters have said he did not support Trump and would not have wanted his death to promote the presidents candidacy. READ MORE: Everything you need to know about voting in Pennsylvania, by mail or in person A night earlier, Vice President Mike Pence denounced the May killing of a federal agent in Oakland, Calif., without mentioning that the people charged in the shooting are associated with the anti-government, militant boogaloo movement, not Black Lives Matter. Even before the convention, Republicans in Pennsylvania were pointing to violent scenes in Portland and Seattle. It is absolutely driving people to Trump, Kerry Jobe, the former GOP chairman in Westmoreland County, in Southwestern Pennsylvania, said in July. We dont want Pittsburgh burned to the ground. We dont want Greensburg burned to the ground. We dont want that to come here. Fran Johannes, a 77-year-old Republican who only recently decided to vote for Biden, worried about how the scenes of violence will affect still-undecided voters. Im afraid Biden is going to be done in by this, said Johannes, a retired educator from Newtown Square. Kenosha has a Democratic mayor, a Democratic governor, and you know, in this case, Trump doesnt really have to say much. He can just point to those images on TV. Yet one undecided Republican said he doesnt buy Trumps claims. Either man sitting in the office is going to have to quell the violence, said Allen Haas, 66, a retired software engineer from North Wales, Montgomery County. Its not like Mr. Bidens going to allow the cities to burn. Haas, who voted for Mitt Romney in 2012 and sat out the 2016 election, protested the Vietnam War and said he was concerned by some of Trumps aggressive response to todays demonstrations. Democrats dismissed the idea that Trumps message will have the effect he hopes for. Like so many of the messages the Trump campaign is delivering these days, it seems like its just targeted at the same narrow band of supporters that hes always targeting, said Mark Nevins, a Democratic consultant based in Philadelphia. This is a crisis that has arisen on his watch. ... Itd be like asking someone to hire an arsonist to put out a fire he started. READ MORE: Americas twin crises are highlighting Trumps biggest weaknesses State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, a prominent Biden supporter from Philadelphia, had a similar view. People recognize that this country is on fire because of Donald Trumps ineptness, Kenyatta said. He has really cost lives and livelihoods with his heated rhetoric, and what people want is someone who is an adult to help lead us through these complicated moments. Staff writers Andrew Seidman and Chris Brennan contributed to this article. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 29 2020 Indonesia is expected to receive another grant for its efforts to reduce carbon emissions and deforestation, despite the numerous devastating forest and land fires of the past few years. The government is set to receive a grant of US$103.8 million from the Green Climate Fund (CGF), after an announcement at the 26th meeting of the funds administrators from Aug. 18 to 21. 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 Rohingya man scans the internet on his mobile phone at Lambashia refugee camp in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, Aug. 28, 2020. Bangladesh restored internet access in Rohingya refugee camps and surrounding communities on Friday after a nearly year-long blackout, saying pressure from international groups led to the change. When the government imposed the ban on internet services at the 34 refugee camps in southeastern Coxs Bazar district on Sept. 3, 2019, authorities at the time said they were seeking to ensure security for the Rohingya population. The blockage left Bangladeshis who live in communities that surround the camps in the border region without internet service as well. Many local and foreign organizations insisted on lifting the ban, and we listened to them, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told BenarNews. Mohammad Illiyas, secretary of the Arakan Rohingya National Union, thanked the government for lifting the ban. It seems, we have received a new ray of hope. We were thrown into the Dark Age and now we get back to normalcy, Illiyas told BenarNews. Now, our children can enroll in online classes. They will spend some quality time here in the camps and life will be easier. More than 740,000 of about 1 million Rohingya in the Coxs Bazar camps had fled from Myanmars Rakhine state amid a brutal military crackdown that began on Aug. 25, 2017, in the wake of deadly attacks carried out by Rohingya insurgents on army and police outposts. Bangladesh officials announced the 2019 blackout a week after about 200,000 Rohingya rallied at the Kutupalong camp to mark the second anniversary of the beginning of the mass exodus. At the same time as the ban was implemented, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) asked mobile phone providers to stop selling cellphone SIM cards to Rohingya, according to Mohamad Johurul Haque, the agencys chairman. The Rohingya are not entitled to use Bangladeshi SIM cards. But they have been using a huge number of mobile SIM cards in and around the camps, he told BenarNews at the time, referring to regulations stipulating that only people with passports or national ID cards were allowed to have mobile phones in Bangladesh. Fridays announcement did not affect Rohingya access to SIM cards. Khan, the minister, said the refugees found a way around the ban by getting the cards from and using internet networks in nearby Myanmar. [T]he locals were suffering, he said of the internet ban. Since the ban was instituted, local and international activists and officials, including Sam Brownback, the U.S. State Departments ambassador at large for International Religious Freedom, have called for internet restoration. In April, 25 Bangladeshi activists called on the government to lift the ban to spread information about the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Daily Star newspaper. We, therefore, request the Bangladesh government to restore mobile internet service immediately and help prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the Rohingya as well as the local communities, the Star quoted the groups as saying in a joint statement. Even early this week, as the world was preparing to mark the third anniversary of the Myanmar crackdown that drove hundreds of thousands of Rohngya across the frontier into southeastern Bangladesh, influential Western NGOs were clamoring for the government to restore access to mobile internet communications in the camps. Among other reasons, they said this was needed to help children take part in remote learning as well as to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Rohingya population during the COVID-19 outbreak. One of these groups, the International Rescue Committee, published a report Monday calling for restoration of internet services to ensure all refugees have consistent access to speedy internet services across all camps in Coxs Bazar so that children can learn. Access to the world Md. Rashid, the chairman of the Arakan Rohingya National Union, said lifting the ban would allow refugees to have access to the rest of the world. Our life was confined to these refugee camps and we were deprived of all sorts of news around the world. It seems Rohingya get a new life, he told BenarNews. Relatives of many Rohingya live in Middle East, Europe, the U.S. and many other parts of the world, he said. Since we didnt have high-speed internet connections, we couldnt contact them. The problem is now solved. Some officials and Rohingya, however, expressed concern that the return of the internet could bring with it a return of criminal activities, with gangs taking advantage of online access to communicate with each other. An associate professor at the National Mental Health Institute questioned that assessment. Listen, criminals are criminals. We cannot say, only Rohingya are committing crimes and Bangladeshis are not. Labelling the entire group as criminals is unacceptable, Helal Uddin Ahmed told BenarNews. It is not possible to control crime by banning high speed internet connections. Law enforcement agencies should find the causes behind the rising number of crimes but imposing restriction on connectivity would not reduce them. DERBY The Board of Aldermen and Alderwomen unanimously approved several proposed charter changes that will appear on the November ballot. The board acted during a virtual meeting on a final report recommended by the Charter Revision Commission, which had been working on the proposed changes since June. The board now will work with Corporation Counsel Vin Marino in formulating the questions and how they will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. Voters get the final say in whether to approve the charter changes. Some of the changes up for consideration include making the mayors position full-time and changing the terms for all elected officials in Derby from two years to four years. Another change would designate the Board of Aldermen and Alderwomen as the superior body in Derby. Another one is designed to give the mayor a larger role in the annual budget process. One change that didnt make the cut was renaming the Board of Aldermen and Alderwomen to simply the Board of Alders. A full summary of all the proposed changes can be viewed online. At the start of the meeting, Marino gave a legal opinion after looking into a recent complaint by a resident that challenged the make-up of the bipartisan commission, alleging it violated state statutes. Marino, after researching the matter, said the composition of the commission was properly constituted and its actions were done properly. The city charter serves as a blueprint of sorts to help guide in the day-to-day operations of town government, including setting the annual budget, guidelines for town meetings and terms of elected boards and commissions. Alderman Rob Hyder, chairman of the commission, had said he was pleased with the work the commission was able to accomplish in a relatively short time, and hopes residents can support the proposed changes in November. I feel the changes we are proposing are very good for Derby, Hyder had said. A common complaint among residents of Derby is about the mayors position being part-time. As for making the terms of elected officials 4 years instead of 2 years, Im of the opinion that this would provide elected officials more time to actually govern the city and complete projects already started before having to seek reelection within 2 years, he said. Mayor Richard Dziekan commended the commission for its efforts, and said he hopes to see the commission continue its work in the future. I want to see the Charter Revision Commission continue every year, we need to update the charter regularly, Dziekan said. Commission members had said there are still items theyd like to explore during another round, including making the tax board a subcommittee of the aldermen/alderwomen and potentially reducing the number of board members, as well as the process of how the police chief is chosen. Ja'Ron Smith, deputy assistant to the president, testified to President Trump's commitment to Black communities at the Republican National Convention Thursday, saying: "I have seen his true conscience." Why it matters: Smith is the highest-ranking Black official in the White House. Trump has taken to calling him "my star" in meetings, according to a New York Times profile. What he's saying: "Growing up, Id never really known a RepublicanI believed all the stereotypes. It took meeting Republicans who shared my values to show me I was wrong," Smith said. "Donald Trump knows that in the work of revitalizing communities, Americas strength is Americas people. And I can tell youhe really cares. But, more importantly, he takes action." "Every issue important to Black communities has been a priority for him: prison reform, re-building broken families, bringing jobs back to Americajobs in Cleveland, jobs in Detroit, jobs in Milwaukee. Jobs for the future and jobs right here, right now." "And, in the wake of the murder of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and LeGend Taliferroa moment of national racial consciousnessI have seen his true conscience. I just wish every American could see the deep empathy he showed to families whose loved ones were killed in senseless violence." The bottom line: "For a New Yorker, he's got a lot of Cleveland heart," Smith, who was raised in Cleveland, concluded. "And I'm proud to say that he's my president." They hunkered down and braved the storm, but now some residents in southwestern Louisiana are asking for help in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura's devastating landfall near Lake Charles. "There are some people still in town, and people are calling...but there ain't no way to get to them,"Calcasieu Parish's president of police jury Tony Guillory told the Associated Press. Orange resident Joe Cole is one of the many locals who stayed behind to ride out the storm. He and others are now stranded and calling for emergency help, but downed power lines and flooding have hampered efforts to reach them. HURRICANE GUIDE: Get complete storm coverage for the duration of hurricane season "Trees down in the backyard, water flooding, water coming from out under the house. That's about three inches of water," Cole said in photojournalist Lola Gomez' Twitter video. Cole describes his neighborhood in Orange as a "mess." "We are safe and the generator up and running...the neighborhood and town is a mess through trees everywhere and car ports and roofs gone in a lot of places," Cole said. Laura's devastation extended to downtown Lake Charles, where the Capital OneTower was hammered with 150-mph winds, rendering the tallest building in town a "mangled mess." Storm chaser Jeff Piotrowski captured footage of downtown Lake Charles as the building was lashed by the high winds of Laura's eyewall. "Many skyscrapers have blown out windows. Some of the buildings may be total losses," Piotrowski tweeted. In a Thursday morning tweet Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards told residents to stay home and listen to local officials as the hurricane continues through the state. "As we wake up today, everyone must remember the threat Laura poses to Louisiana is ongoing. Stay home, continue to heed the warnings and instructions of local officials and monitor your local news to stay informed." Edwards' deputy chief of staff Christina Stephens confirmed the hurricane's first fatality--14-year-old girl who died when a tree fell on her home. "We do expect that there could be more fatalities," Stephens tweeted. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 28 By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend: The Government of Turkey sending a big batch of humanitarian aid to Uzbekistan, Trend reports with reference to the Turkish Government. Turkish Deputy Minister of Health, Emine Alp Meshe, signed an agreement with Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Turkey, Alisher Agzamkhodjaev on donation in the field of health. Under the agreement, the Turkish party will donate 40.000 pieces of protective coveralls, 200.000 pieces of medical mask 50.000 pieces of N95 masks, 5.000 pieces of the face shield, 10,000 boxes of Hydroxychloroquine and 1.000 boxes of Favipiravir to Uzbekistan. According to the agreement, this donation is granted b the Government of Turkey as gesture of friendship and goodwill. On July 31, Turkey shipped humanitarian aid cargo weighing about 12.5 tons, included 50,000 N-95 masks, 200,000 surgical masks, 40,000 overalls, 5,000 full-face masks, as well as medicines for the treatment of COVID-19 in Uzbekistan. In May 2020, Turkey shipped 50 lung ventilators manufactured at the Arcelik factory in Istanbul to Uzbekistan. --- Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini In a surprise move roughly one month ago Colombias Supreme Court ordered the house arrest of former President Alvaro Uribe after allegations of witness tampering. The considerable controversy this has triggered could not occur at a worse time for Colombia, which is reeling from the harsh impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the March 2020 oil price crash. The controversial former president is credited with creating the conditions which reinvigorated Colombias vital oil industry and sparked the economic miracle that saw the Andean country report some of the strongest rates of growth in Latin America. Crucially, this includes suppressing the leftist guerillas who by the time of Uribes ascension to Colombias top job had control over large swathes of the country. This latest event comes on the back of growing fears that the landmark 2016 peace deal with the largest guerilla group, The FARC (Spanish acronym), is unraveling leading to greater insecurity, notably in rural regions. It is believed up to 15 percent of the FARC combatants who demobilized in 2017 have rearmed. This along with estimated record cocaine production in Colombia, which is now the worlds number one supplier of the narcotic, has precipitated a sharp decline in the security environment. The last remaining leftist guerilla group the ELN (Spanish acronym) also stepped up efforts to seize control of former FARC territory and lucrative drug trafficking routes, as it persecutes its own war against the Colombian state. These events have seen a sharp uptick in the volume of attacks on Colombias oil infrastructure, including a June 2020 assault on 31 wells on national oil company Ecopetrols La Cira-Infantas oil field. While well-head attacks were commonplace prior to the 2016 peace agreement, they had fallen significantly in recent years. That along with a rising number of pipeline bombings has the potential to disrupt Colombias economically crucial and increasingly vulnerable petroleum industry. Oil and derivative petroleum are Colombias single largest export, accounting for almost 30 percent of all exports by value for the first six months of 2020, according to national statistics agency DANE. The extraction of petroleum and natural gas was responsible for 3.5 percent of Colombias second-quarter 2020 gross domestic product. The ongoing oil slump is responsible for a sharp decline in the value generated by the Andean countrys crucial hydrocarbon sector. At the height of the last oil boom, crude oil and natural gas produced almost 5 percent of Colombias GDP, which is 1.5 percent greater than in the second quarter of 2020. It is this decline in the contribution of petroleum to Colombias economy which is responsible for the marked decline in growth. This will only be worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, with Colombia among the 10 worst affected countries globally with over 534,000 cases and 16,183 deaths. The IMF estimates that Colombias economy will contract by almost 8 percent during 2020, compared to expanding by 3.3 percent in 2019. If the outlook for the Andean countrys all-important petroleum industry worsens because of sharply weaker oil prices, reduced production, and increased security risks, the economic fallout will be amplified. By July 2020, Colombias oil production had fallen 15 percent year over year to a near-decade low of 734,897 barrels daily and natural gas plunged 11 percent compared to a year earlier to 933 million cubic feet daily. Source: Colombia Ministry of Mines and Energy. At the end of July 2020, there were six oil rigs operating in Colombia, according to Baker Hughes, a fifth of the number of operational rigs a year earlier. The sharp decline in spending on exploration and development activities because of the March 2020 oil price collapse does not bode well for sustained production growth during the foreseeable future. Related: Bullish EIA Inventory Report Pushes Oil Prices Higher Of greater concern, however, is that Colombias proven oil reserves are drying up. At the start of 2020, the Andean country was determined to have just over 2 billion barrels of proven reserves, which amounts to around six years of oil production at current rates. There have been no major onshore hydrocarbon discoveries in Colombia since 2009 and if production dwindles because of a lack of reserves, it will have a sharp impact on the South American countrys oil-dependent economy. This highlights the urgency for Bogota to attract investment into the economically vital petroleum industry. In late 2018 President Duque stated Colombia needs to double its oil reserves if the country is to remain energy self-sufficient. Growing insecurity, violence, and civil unrest is hampering that effort and will continue to impact oil production and vital exploration activities. Toward the end of 2019 Colombia, like many Latin American countries, was rocked by anti-government protests. The issues driving those civil disturbances are far from resolved. They are centered on human rights, the murder of social leaders, state-sponsored oppression and a lack of equitable access to resources. Protests are expected to recommence once Colombias COVID-19 lockdown is lifted. There are fears that Uribes detention will magnify civil unrest in Colombia, potentially even triggering armed conflict between pro and anti-Uribe groups. That would be a devastating outcome for a Colombia that is still reeling from almost seven decades of low-level asymmetric conflict and now the deep economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of violence on the vital oil industry and ultimately the economy is highlighted by the attacks on energy industry infrastructure, notably oil pipelines. Between January 2020 and the end of May, there were 27 attacks on national oil company Ecopetrols oil pipelines. In a report compiled by Colombian think tank Fundacion Ideas para la Paz (FIP), it was identified that there have been over 3,600 attacks on the Andean countrys petroleum infrastructure during the last three decades. Most of those were committed by the leftist ELN and FARC guerilla groups. Related: Saudi Oil Minister: Oil Demand Could See A 97% Recovery By The End Of 2020 Community blockades also remain an ever-present risk that could escalate after Uribes detention and proposed fracking pilots proceed. Upstream producer Gran Tierra Energy was forced to shutter operations and declare force majeure at its Suroriente and PUT-7 Blocks in Southern Putumayo because of local farmer blockades. Many people in the localities where petroleum companies operate are opposed to the industry because of the potential for environmental damage and antagonism towards the central government in Bogota. This was amplified by royalty reform which saw oil revenues more broadly distributed, causing income for those departments where the petroleum industry operates to fall. The Constitutional Courts 2018 decision that local community referendums which ban oil extraction cannot halt energy projects further magnified regional resentment toward the Andean countrys hydrocarbon sector. Heightened security risk, notably in the remote countryside where most oil companies operate is weighing heavily on Colombias petroleum industry. Uribes recent detention could spark further conflict in a country that has been wracked by low-level asymmetric warfare for decades. That would act as a significant deterrent to urgently needed foreign investment in Colombias waning oil industry, which will cause production to fall damaging an already fragile economy. By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Republican Sen. Thom Tillis got caught red-faced posing for a photo on social media in a mask and then seated in the audience of President Donald Trump's White House speech bare-faced. 'I've stressed the importance of mask wearing throughout this pandemic and have tried to lead by example on this issue, but last night I fell short of my own standard,' Tillis said in a statement Friday, according to McClatchy. Tillis, who is facing a tough re-election battle in North Carolina, tweeted a photo of himself in front of the large crowd, which was not following social distancing protocols, wearing a Navy blue mask. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican facing a tough re-election fight, posted a photo to Twitter showing him at President Donald Trump's White House speech wearing a mask On Friday, Tillis had to issue a statement saying he had 'fell short of my own standard' after cameras caught him sitting bare-faced among Trump's audience members His Democratic opponent, Cal Cunningham, blasted Tillis for being two-faced, saying that he's 'Mr. Independent' when he's on camera, but 'Mr. Go With The Crowd,' when he thinks the cameras are off 'I am honored to be in Washington for President Trump's acceptance speech for the GOP nomination where he will share with America our continued vision of freedom, prosperity, and opportunity to live the American Dream,' Tillis tweeted with the photo. But crowd footage of the event showed Tillis seated, clearly not wearing his mask. A number of Twitter users posted the footage as a reply to Tillis' tweet. On Friday, his Democratic opponent, Cal Cunningham, went after Tillis for being two-faced. 'Sen. Thom Tillis criticized folks for not wearing masks, until Washington Republicans were the culprits. His attendance last night shows North Carolinians that the rules dont apply to his colleagues in Washington - and that his talk about fighting this pandemic is just that: talk,' Cunningham wrote in one tweet. In another, Cunningham said that when Tillis is on camera he's 'Mr. Independent.' 'When he thinks the cameras are off [he's] "Mr. Go With the Crowd,"' Cunningham wrote. 'Why? He's too weak to show North Carolinians his true character,' the Democrat said. 'Plain and simple: he's a follower, not a leader.' Sonu Sood has become a messiah for many people amid the pandemic. Also, we don't think he will stop being a real-life hero for us anytime soon. The Bollywood actor has become the talk of the nation and only because of the good work that he is doing. He sent so many migrant workers back home through private buses amid the deadly Coronavirus and ensured that everyone reaches home safely. And Sood has found people who need help through social media and helped them out without fail. He has also provided Mumbai police with twenty-five thousand face shields to help them in battling the novel Coronavirus. This is HISTORY. I want the Nation to follow this. NEW INDIA https://t.co/1FPecFqXUD sonu sood (@SonuSood) August 27, 2020 However, this time he has got recognition from the self-reliant tribals for building roads in Andhra Pradesh. The tribal residents of Kodama-Bari Village in Saluru Mandal of Vizianagaram district had built a road for a stretch of 4Km for their village by themselves and they also expressed how they were ignored by the authorities. We have our own ROAD now. Hope we get to inspire many more villages around the country to take the responsibility of doing everything on our own. No need to wait for anybody because WE CAN DO IT https://t.co/kagdIlJaVd sonu sood (@SonuSood) August 27, 2020 Sonu Sood noticed their efforts and decided to visit their village someday. He also expressed and praised the tribals in a post on Twitter. People Awareness Forum president Kalisetti Appala Naidu said, As many as 200 families living in Kodama are dependant on Bari in the neighboring Odisha for all their needs. With no road to the village, the residents had been enduring untold hardships. Pregnant women were being shifted to the hospital on dolis. Vexed with the wait for the authorities to lay a road, the residents decided to take it on themselves. Now the tribals have put up posters showing Sonu Soods support on Twitter. With the kaccha road works almost complete, tribals in Kodama panchayat put up posters of @SonuSood at different points to thank him for the recognition. #Vizianagaram #AndhraPradesh. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/UW5OUlmh8F krishnamurthy (@krishna0302) August 27, 2020 3-time Salur MLA Peedika Rajanna Dora from @YSRCParty writes letter urging @SonuSood to visit the tribal hamlets. pic.twitter.com/azACC7BclU krishnamurthy (@krishna0302) August 27, 2020 Sonu Sood is the good Samaritan we need and we hope that he continues doing the good work. Verkhovna Rada's Committee elaborates on unemployment in Ukraine 16:55, 28.08.20 1081 Some 61,000 vacancies have been registered in the State Employment Service's database as of August 28. Alastair Mactaggart, center, accepts congratulations in June 2018 after the California Legislature approved a privacy law he championed. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Back in 2018, after years of consumers' privacy rights being trampled by businesses with the indulgence of the federal government, California enacted its own consumer privacy law. The California Consumer Privacy Act is a landmark. It gives Californians greater privacy protection than consumers anywhere this side of Europe. But it's imperfect and vulnerable to gutting by business interests working their magic in the state Legislature. So Alastair Mactaggart, the wealthy real estate investor behind the privacy law, has put up a ballot initiative to strengthen the law and inoculate it from the mischief of business lobbies. The law is so new we don't know what's working and what's not working. Mary Stone Ross, opponent of Proposition 24, which would strengthen state privacy law It will appear on the November ballot as Proposition 24. MacTaggart has funded the pro-24 campaign with about $5 million of his own funds so far. Business interests so far have kept a low profile on Proposition 24, but signs have emerged that they may already be sharpening their knives against it. The campaign to defeat the measure has dressed itself up with sober-sounding concerns about moving too fast to change the privacy law before it has had a chance to work, and creating new burdens on small businesses, and establishing a "duplicative" new state bureaucracy to oversee privacy rights. Some of the opponents' concerns are legitimate, but many others are not. Make no mistake: If Proposition 24 is defeated, the beneficiaries would be businesses that want to exploit your privacy without your consent. In the wake of the initiative's failure, "I fear that industry would be emboldened to come to the Legislature next year and ask to weaken the CCPA," says Maureen Mahoney, policy analyst in the California office of Consumer Reports. (Consumer Reports hasn't taken a formal stand on the measure.) There's good reason for Mahoney's concern. After the passage of the CCPA, the California Chamber of Commerce and other big business lobbies inundated the Legislature with measures to gut it, to the point where fighting the bills and getting them watered down became nearly a full-time job for privacy advocates. Story continues The most damaging measures were stopped, Mahoney reports, but some others made it through the Sacramento sieve. Mactaggart says the experience underscored the need to give the privacy act greater protection to "level the playing field" against "businesses with trillions of dollars of corporate value and extraordinary power." The ballot measure allows the Legislature and governor to amend the privacy act only if the changes "further the purpose and intent" of the law. Data-driven tech companies are plainly unhappy with the privacy law. In its latest quarterly report, Facebook warned investors that the "limitations on our advertising services, or reductions of advertising by marketers" resulting from the law "have to some extent adversely affected, and will continue to adversely affect, our advertising business." Companies reliant on personal data have reason to fear that California's law will be replicated by other states, and possibly at the federal level. It's curious, then, the opposition to Proposition 24 includes some groups and individuals normally considered privacy advocates, such as the ACLU of California and the Consumer Federation of California. But, as we'll explain, some of the opponents' arguments don't show them in the best light. Let's briefly examine what Proposition 24 would accomplish. In addition to raising roadblocks to efforts to gut the law, the measure would improve enforcement by creating a state agency to do the job, with funding of at least $10 million a year. The existing law places the burden of enforcement chiefly on the state attorney general, but Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra has said that his office has only "limited resources" to shoulder the task, and that he would be able to bring only a handful of cases per year. The initiative would close several loopholes in the law that have already been exploited by companies such as Amazon, Google and Spotify. They include provisions related to targeted advertising online ads aimed at users based on personal data scraped from their browsers. The initiative, Mahoney says, would give consumers more control over how companies use that data. The initiative also would grant an exemption from data-collection rules for more small businesses that collect information from fewer than 100,000 customers or households a year (up from 50,000 in the existing law). Some opponents assert that the initiative falls short of their ideal. They observe that it fails to provide for an "opt-in" default requiring businesses to avoid collecting personal data unless the consumer affirmatively allows it, rather than an "opt-out" system by which consumers are given the chance to bar collection of their personal information. They say the initiative would require consumers to "pay for privacy" by allowing businesses to charge customers higher prices if they refuse to allow their information to be collected. Mactaggart and other defenders of the measure say these objections are exaggerated or based on misunderstandings of the rules. The "pay for privacy" provision is already part of the privacy law. Both the law and the initiative make clear that a price difference can't be larger than the value to the business of the withheld data, which is generally measured in cents or a few dollars at most. In other words, customers who refuse a retailer the right to use their personal data as part of a "loyalty" or frequent-user program can't be charged double the price on a given item for not giving up their privacy, though they might be charged a few cents or bucks more. Many privacy advocates appear to be holding out for a simple yet all-encompassing statute. Yet that's an unrealistic goal, says Chris Hoofnagle, a privacy expert at UC Berkeley, a former staff member of the influential Electronic Privacy Information Center and a supporter of the initiative. "They favor a law that can't be passed politically or that the Supreme Court will strike down," Hoofnagle told me. The Supreme Court signaled in a 2011 case that it would find opt-in clauses to be unconstitutional breaches of businesses' free speech rights. Some of the objections aren't exactly paragons of consistency. Consider those of Mary Stone Ross, a lawyer and former colleague of Mactaggart's in the original project to pass the privacy law, who is now head of the No on 24 campaign. Ross, who has described herself as a privacy advocate, counts some high-tech companies subject to the privacy law among her consulting clients. She says it's too soon to pass an initiative addressing a law that went into effect only Jan. 1. "We already have all this time and energy expended toward compliance," Ross told me. "The law is so new we don't know what's working and what's not working." She complains that the new state agency would add another layer of bureaucracy and cost too much "at a time when we can't even pay our firefighters." (Ten million dollars would come to about five thousandths of a percent of the state's $202-billion budget this year.) Not only do those arguments sound as if they came directly from the Chamber of Commerce playbook, but they're also at odds with points Ross made in an article published in January. She argued then, as the article headline stated, that the privacy law "doesn't go far enough." She wrote then that "industry has relentlessly lobbied for legislation that will fundamentally undermine" the privacy law. She called leaving enforcement in the hands of an attorney general with inadequate resources "one of the most egregious mistakes in the drafting of the law ... rendering the CCPA largely toothless." After the state political party conventions in June, Ross's committee issued a press release stating that both state parties "rejected" Proposition 24. That was true of the Republican Party, but a lie as it applied to the Democratic Party. The Democrats at their convention decided to remain neutral on Proposition 24. Ross tried to tell me that this was tantamount to a rejection, but in the real world it is not. Period. It's impossible to know who is behind Ross' No on 24 campaign because the campaign hasn't filed any donor disclosure reports with the California secretary of state's office. Campaign spokeswoman Marva Diaz told me that's because the campaign "has not yet received any reportable contributions." Generally, starting 90 days before an election (that is, Aug. 3 this year), an initiative campaign must report any contributions of $2,000 or more within 24 hours. The campaign employs a campaign consultant and has created a website and issued press releases, all of which presumably carry costs; Diaz says that "all expenses accrued such as website or consulting fees ... will be disclosed, as required, on our first pre-election statement due Sept. 24." "We're not a self-funded multimillionaire that has the money to be doing this," Ross said. That's a swipe at Mactaggart, but of course the reason we know about MacTaggart's contributions is that his campaign committee has filed detailed contribution disclosures covering the time span from December through Aug. 24. Ross says she's not averse to taking money from the tech industry, even though it's a central target of the privacy law. "They should give us money," she told me. "We've shown that once we get our message out to policy makers and voters, they realize they should vote no." Consumers should be very nervous about any effort to block an upgrade to California's groundbreaking privacy law at the ballot box that welcomes contributions from its own targets. The law isn't perfect, and neither is the initiative. They're both complicated, which leaves the path open to misrepresentation by their opponents. But that complexity is inevitable, Hoofnagle says. "There is no way to write a simple privacy law because a simple law would be unworkable." Of the CCPA, he says, "In the history of privacy laws in California, no one has ever been able to get a law this strong." Updates: 6:52 PM, Aug. 28, 2020: This column was updated to acknowledge additional opponents of Prop. 24 and include a more detailed response from the No on 24 campaign on the issue of contributions. (Newser) For decades, historians, academics, and Jewish advocacy groups have longed to catch a glimpse of Pope Pius XII's wartime records, kept under lock and key in the Vatican's archives. Earlier this year, the Vatican finally unsealed those records, though the archives were open for less than a week before COVID-19 shut them down again, per the Washington Post. But that gave interested parties enough time to seek answers regarding one of the most-asked questions about Pius, a candidate for sainthood: Did he, behind the scenes, try to help the Jews escape the Nazis during World War II, or did he turn a blind eye? In an article published in the Atlantic, Brown University historian David Kertzer reveals what he found when he plumbed the archives during a multiday visit in March, looking for, among other things, an explanation on Pius' silence during the Holocaust. story continues below Kertzer says he found records that indicated Vatican officials told French Catholic clerics who harbored and secretly baptized two Jewish boys during the war (their parents were taken and killed at Auschwitz) not to turn the boys over to their aunt. Kertzer also dug up a memo "steeped in anti-Semitic language" from a member of the Vatican curia persuading Pius not to speak up when the Gestapo rounded up 1,000 Jews in Rome in 1943. "The pope was well aware that a failure to speak out could be seen as an abdication of his moral responsibility," writes Kertzer. "In the end, he judged it imprudent to raise his voice." Most of those Jews died at Auschwitz. Some church experts warn that any discoveries found in the archives should be studied carefully, and with context. "You can't publish one scoop after another just because you've been in the library for a few days," one tells the New York Times. "That's not the way to work." A more in-depth look at Kertzer's finds here. (Read more Pope Pius XII stories.) Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. Animation writer Joe Ruby, who co-created popular cartoon series Scooby-Doo, passed away on August 26 in Westlake Village, California. He was 87 years of age and died of natural causes. Variety quoted Sam Register, President, Warner Brothers Animation, and Blue Ribbon Content, as saying: Joe Ruby made Saturday mornings special for so many children, including myself. He was one of the most prolific creators in our industry who gifted us some of animations most treasured characters and it was a thrill to host him at our studio. Scooby-Doo has been a beloved companion on screens for more than 50 years. The animator was nominated for Daytime Emmy and had worked with Ken Spears to create several popular series, such as Scooby-Doo, Dynomutt, and Jabberjaw. Scooby-Doo launched on CBS in 1969 and the original series ran till 1976. The official Instagram account of the cartoon series 'Scooby-Doo' mourned the demise of Ruby and wrote: Thank you, Joe Ruby, for co-creating and giving the world one of the grooviest cartoons that continues to influence generations today and beyond. Passengers tested for COVID-19 after disembarking at Rome's Ciampino airport. (AP) Italy has recorded the highest daily rate of COVID-19 infections since it eased its lockdown. In total there were 642 new cases and seven deaths recorded on Wednesday. The country eased restrictions in May after enforcing one of the strictest lockdowns when it suffered a high number of casualties from the infection. Since its outbreak came to light in February, Italy has recorded more than 35,000 deaths related to COVID-19. On Monday, Italy shut nightclubs and made it compulsory to wear a mask outdoors in some areas during the night. It was the first reimposition of restrictions as cases of coronavirus picked up across the country, especially among younger people. New cases in the past week in Italy, the first European country to be hit hard by the coronavirus, were more than double those registered three weeks ago. The median age of people contracting the virus has also dropped below 40, data showed. The new rules will run until early September. Italian health minister Roberto Speranza (Getty) The government had kept clubs open despite mounting criticism they attracted large crowds, that social distancing was not being respected and masks were not being worn. The industry has yearly revenues of 4 billion, the sectors lobby group Silb said, calling on the government for support. Industry minister Stefano Patuanelli conceded there would be economic damage, but said he saw no alternative. Masks will be required between 6pm and 6am in areas close to bars and pubs and where gatherings are more likely. We cannot nullify the sacrifices made in past months. Our priority must be that of opening schools in September, in full safety, health minister Roberto Speranza added on Facebook. Speranza on Saturday urged young people to be as cautious as possible as if they infect their parents and their grandparents, they risk creating real damage. Both Sherrill and Slotkin said the use of the military to clear protesters from Lafayette Square park in June compelled them to pose such direct questions to Esper and Milley. I became really concerned that we needed to ensure a peaceful transition of power, Sherrill said. She approached Slotkin and suggested that they use their role on the House Armed Services Committee to raise their worries with the militarys top leadership. Lane Ryo Hirabayashi studied the history of Japanese American incarceration during World War II and the government's attempts to sanitize the images of the concentration camps. (Jake Fabricius Photography) Lane Hirabayashi, one of the nation's leading scholars on the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II who spent decades trying to keep memories of the prison camps from being swept to the back pages of history, has died. Hirabayashi died Aug. 8 in Santa Monica after a long struggle with cancer, his family said. He was 67. The son of concentration camp survivors, Hirabayashi plowed through field notes from the camps, interviewed photographers tasked with making the forced confinements seem like a pleasurable experience to the rest of the U.S. and dove into the backstory of his own uncle, Gordon Hirabayashi, who was imprisoned when he protested the roundup of Japanese Americans after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Gordon Hirabayashi's legal fight reached the U.S. Supreme Court, and though the court ruled against him, his case was cited again and again as President Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which blamed the wartime imprisonment of Japanese Americans on racial prejudice and failed political leadership. "In the height of the hysteria, I think Gordon was very, very brave," Lane Hirabayashi told The Times in 2006. That year, Hirabayashi became the first professor in the nation to be named to an academic chair dedicated to the study of the incarceration camps and the wartime experience of Japanese Americans. It was a deeply personal appointment. "To me, I feel that this is a family obligation," he said during ceremonies when he was appointed to the George and Sakaye Aratani Endowed Chair in UCLA's Asian American Studies Center. In the months after the 9/11 terror attacks, the U.S. began requiring people from mostly Middle Eastern countries to register with the government, a reactive policy that to people such as the Aratanis both incarceration camp survivors seemed like worrisome evidence that the racial hysteria that gave birth to the World War II-era prison camps had been forgotten. Story continues "A thing like that," George Aratani said during Hirabayashi's appointment, "should never happen again." Lane Ryo Hirabayashi was born Oct. 17, 1952, in Mill Valley, Calif., and grew up in a house of academics. His father, James, was the first dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State, and his uncle Gordon, whose education was interrupted by his imprisonment, was a professor at the University of Alberta in Canada. The family's shared experience with incarceration was anything but a secret. "In a lot of Japanese families there are still feelings of trauma or stigma, even today, and people don't want to talk about it," he told an American Friends Service Committee blogger in 2013. "But the camp was an episode in our extended family's experience that was openly discussed." In the late 1960s, with the music scene thriving in San Francisco, he joined the Muskadine Blues Band, a rock group that shared the stage with musical acts such as Mike Bloomfield, Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, and the Flying Circus. More comfortable with academics, Hirabayashi put aside his guitar and headed to Sonoma State, where he earned his bachelor's degree. He earned his master's and doctorate in anthropology at UC Berkeley. Through his life, Hirabayashi blended academia and activism. While a professor at San Francisco State, he joined the fight to preserve housing for elderly Japanese immigrants during the redevelopment of San Francisco's Japantown. He taught at the University of Colorado Boulder, UC Riverside and finally UCLA, all the while investigating a bygone era when more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were rounded up, stripped of most of their possessions and property, and taken against their will to prison camps encircled by barbed wire where armed guards stood watch. Japanese Americans in the Manzanar incarceration camp in California's Owens Valley during World War II. (Los Angeles Times) Hirabayashi wrote books on the fieldwork conducted at incarceration camps such as Manzanar in the Owens Valley and Tule Lake in Northern California, and he documented and contextualized the government effort to photograph the prison camps and the arriving or departing inmates in as sunny a way as was possible. In "A Principled Stand: The Story of Hirabayashi v. United States," he shared his uncle's diaries from his years of bruising legal fights with the government, including his arrest for violating a nightly curfew for Japanese Americans, his imprisonment for resisting being taken to a concentration camp and his profound disappointment when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that his constitutional rights had not been violated. In 1987, more than four decades later, Gordon Hirabayashi's conviction was finally overturned. As a scholar, Lane Hirabayashi pushed to eliminate government euphemisms such as "relocation" and "evacuation" and use honest terminology such as "imprisonment" and "mass arrests." "He wanted to change the narrative," said Brian Niiya, a friend and a director with Densho, a grass-roots organization dedicated to preserving the story of the World War II-era incarceration. "In that, he was the leading figure." Hirabayashi is survived by his wife, Marilyn, his sister, Jan Rice, and several other relatives. Starting car cold weather winter storm Experts say it's not a good idea to warm up your car in winter. Here's why. Pentagon says use of missiles, military exercises in disputed sea are destabilising and violate 2002 Code of Conduct. The United States Department of Defense said on Thursday that Chinese test launches of ballistic missiles in the South China Sea were a threat to peace and security in the region. Confirming reports that China had launched as many as four ballistic missiles during military exercises around the Paracel Islands, the Pentagon said the move called into question the countrys 2002 commitment to avoiding provocative activities in the disputed seas. Conducting military exercises over disputed territory in the South China Sea is counterproductive to easing tensions and maintaining stability, the Pentagon said in a statement. The PRCs actions, including missile tests, further destabilize the situation in the South China Sea. The PRC or Peoples Republic of China is the countrys official name. Such exercises also violate PRC commitments under the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to avoid activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, the Pentagon statement added. Over the past decade China has built up military installations on several disputed reefs and outcrops in the South China Sea to assert its claim over much of the area. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Indonesia also have maritime claims to the sea. The South China Morning Post reported earlier on Thursday that China launched an intermediate-range DF-26B ballistic missile from Qinghai Province and a medium-range DF-21D missile from Zhejiang Province after a US spy plane reportedly entered a Chinese-designated no-fly zone in an area where live-fire naval drills were taking place. China described the flight of the US spy plane in the area as a provocative action. Aircraft-carrier killer The Pentagon said the Chinese militarys August 23-29 military exercises near the Paracels which it calls the Xisha Islands were the latest in a long string of PRC actions to assert unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its Southeast Asian neighbors. It said the US had urged China in July to reduce its militarization and coercion in the region. Instead, The PRC chose to escalate its exercise activities by firing ballistic missiles, it said. The DF-26B was formally unveiled earlier this month, and is capable of hitting moving targets at sea. The Global Times, a state-run tabloid, dubbed it the aircraft-carrier killer. It is unjustified for the US to impose sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals for involvement in construction activities in their own country. pic.twitter.com/3jpaN9z8v9 Lijian Zhao (@zlj517) August 27, 2020 Earlier on Thursday Beijing criticised Washington over its blacklisting of two dozen state-owned Chinese companies involved in building and supplying Chinas South China Sea bases. The USs words grossly interfere in Chinas internal affairs it is wholly tyrannical logic and power politics, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian. China will take firm measures to uphold the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and individuals, he said. US rejects Russias offer for virtual summit on Iran (JNS) The United States has rejected Russias offer for a virtual summit outside of the United Nations regarding Iran. The United States believes strongly that the Security Council is the best place to have discussions related to extending the U.N. arms embargo, and we have the benefit of 13 years of Security Council precedent on our side, a U.S. State Department spokesperson told U.S. News & World Report. The Russian effort comes as the U.N. Security Council rejected on Friday a U.S.-led resolution to indefinitely exten... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 28, 2020 13:23 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c41217fc 1 News Lombok,Senggigi,Mandalika,Gili-Trawangan,Gili-islands,Gili-Meno,Gili-Air,Rinjani Free Although four prime destinations in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), have resumed operations, tourists are few and far between on the island. The recreational areas of Rinjani, Senggigi, Mandalika and the three Gili Islands (Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air) reopened for tourists on June 27. Lalu Moh Faozal, head of the NTB Tourism Agency, said the low number of tourists coming to the area was due to the travel restrictions. We cannot force it. Although tourism activities have started again, it is difficult to go back to normal, Faozal said as quoted by kompas.com. He said that, while there had been an increase in tourist arrivals at NTB's airports, people were still reluctant to visit destinations due to travel requirements as well as fear of contracting the disease. Read also: 18,375 tourists flock to Yogyakarta's Malioboro during long weekend The three Gili Islands had been closed for tourists to curb the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with a regulation issued by NTB Governor Zulkieflimansyah. The three small islets to the northwest of Lombok Island were among the most popular spots for tourists in Indonesia. A paradise for divers and snorkelers, the islets also cater to those who long for quiet shorelines, with numerous tourist huts offering an ocean view. Mount Rinjani, the second-highest mountain in Indonesia, was closed to hikers and tourists on March 16. Meanwhile, Senggigi and Mandalika, the main tourist strips on the island, were closed in May. (gis/wng) Washington, Aug 28 : The number of initial jobless claims in the US last week remained above the 1 million mark for a second straight week, painting a gloomy outlook for the recovery of a labour market ravaged by the Covid-19 crisis. In the week ending August 22, the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits decreased by 98,000 to reach 1 million, Xinhua news agency quoted the Labour Department as saying in a report on Thursday. It's the 22nd time in the past 23 weeks that the figure was above 1 million. As Covid-19 shutdowns affected the workforce, initial jobless claims spiked by 3 million to reach a record 3.3 million in the week ending March 21, and then doubled to reach a record 6.87 million in the week ending March 28. After that, the number had been declining for 15 weeks consecutively, though they were still at historically high levels, before the trend was reversed in the week ending July 18 amid a resurgence in coronavirus cases. The number then fell to 963,000 in the week ending August 8, the first time it has dipped below 1 million since mid-March, but the trend was reversed in the week ending August 15, when the number rose back to above the 1 million mark. The Labour Department's jobless claims report also showed the number of people continuing to collect state unemployment benefits declined by 223,000 to 14.5 million in the week ending August 15. The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending August 8 also declined to 27 million. Meanwhile, the extra $600 in weekly unemployment benefits expired at the end of July, but Democratic lawmakers and President Donald Trump's administration remain deadlocked over the next Covid-19 relief package, with both sides blaming each other for making little progress. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 20:43:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MACAO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Macao's average occupancy rate of guest rooms was 12.1 percent in July 2020, a slip of 81.0 percentage points year-on-year, the special administrative region (SAR)'s statistic department said here on Friday. The latest report from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) showed that the average occupancy rate of five-star hotels declined by 86.2 percentage points to 7.8 percent, while that of guesthouses fell by 42.9 percentage points to 23.2 percent. A total of 114 hotels and guesthouses were open for business in Macao in July, a decrease of 5 year-on-year. The number of available guest rooms dropped by 9.3 percent to 35,000. Data on hotels and guesthouses used for medical observation were excluded in the DSEC report. The number of guests checked into hotels and guesthouses shrank by 87.9 percent year-on-year to 152,000 in July. The average length of stay of guests went up by 0.2 night year-on-year to 1.6 nights. Guests from Chinese mainland (55,000) and Hong Kong SAR (11,000) both registered decreases of more than 90 percent. Meanwhile, number of local guests (81,000) increased by 49.5 percent as hotels continued to offer staycation packages to local residents. In the first seven months of 2020, the average occupancy rate of guest rooms reduced by 66.4 percentage points year-on-year to 25.0 percent. The number of guests of hotels and guesthouses slid by 75.7 percent to 1,983,000, whereas their average length of stay rose by 0.2 night to 1.7 nights. The DSEC report added that as the issuance of travel permits for mainland residents to visit Macao remained suspended in July, and the entry ban on visitors from other countries was still in effect, there were no package tour visitors coming to Macao in July. Meanwhile, outbound residents using travel agency services totaled 200 in July. In the first seven months of 2020, a total of 253,000 package tour visitors were recorded, a fall of 95.6 percent year-on-year. Outbound residents using travel agency services declined by 91.6 percent to 88,000. Enditem The family of conservationist and father-of-three Michael McCoy, who was murdered in the Dublin Mountains four years ago, have said they miss him every day and are living with the knowledge he was cruelly taken from them. Michael loved the outdoors life, and the rugged beauty of the mountains where he had made his home with his wife and daughters. The 64-year-old lived high in the hills over the capital in Ballinascorney Upper, where pine trees and gorse colour the landscape green and yellow and the forest paths fill the lungs with cool clean air. Michael was fond of hiking with his two dogs, and at 6.30am on Thursday, September 29, 2016, he set out in his car for the 10-minute drive to Blackhill Forest, a favourite spot. Blackhill is 600m high at its peak and overlooks the Blessington Lakes. When Michael's family returned home from work that evening they noticed the hens had not been let out and the post had not been picked up. They instantly became concerned. His wife Caitriona and daughter Suzanne later found his car parked at the usual place he used when visiting Blackhill, but there was no sign of Michael. They contacted gardai who then called in the services of the Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue team. Michael's body was found early the next day, with one of the family's dogs, Sophie, in a distressed state beside him. Michael's family were devastated. There were some apparent injuries to his body which at first were thought to have resulted from a fall. But a post-mortem by pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan found he had sustained complex fractures to his skull and facial bones, a fractured skull and numerous irregular cuts and grazes. She determined his cause of death was blunt force trauma to the face and head and the injuries were consistent with blows from a solid object. Michael had been murdered and for Caitriona and daughters Rachel, Suzanne and Sarah and their wider family, life would never be the same again. They have now appealed for the public to help find his killer and bring them to justice. "It has been almost four years since Michael, husband to Caitriona and father to Rachel, Suzanne and Sarah, died while walking our dogs in the forest near our home," his family told the Irish Independent. "Since then, we are living with the knowledge that he was cruelly taken from us. We miss him every day, and every day we are reminded of the events of September 29, 2016. "We again appeal to the public to help us to get closure on our case, and to contact the gardai if they have any information that would help to get justice for Michael." He was not robbed. He was not involved in crime and had a strong and dedicated family life, so motives such as robbery or jealousy were implausible. But somebody had got close to Michael and beaten him to death, and nearly four years later that person has never been charged. Gardai believe Michael's love of nature, the mountains, environment and conservation may have prompted someone to kill him, hard as that is to believe. He was involved in conservation campaigns and was a founder of the Dublin Mountain Conservation Group. He also objected to a number of local planning applications and was a thorn in the side of anyone who wanted to build or quarry in the mountains, activities Michael viewed as alien to the tranquillity and beauty he loved. A 41-year-old man was arrested the day after the body was found, and questioned at Tallaght garda station. He was released the next day and a file submitted to the Director of Public Prosecution. However it was seemed there was insufficient evidence to bring charges. Michael's conservation actions caused tensions with people in neighbouring parishes and townlands, so much so that in 2011 a large group of residents held a protest outside his remote home claiming that he was a "serial objector". The protest was organised by Baltinglass Sinn Fein councillor Gerry O'Neill. He later told the Tallaght Echo newspaper that over one 18-month period, Michael had objected to 30 out of 32 planning applications. "I think a lot of people felt they were cornered or trapped," he said. "I know of one man from Wicklow who was stopped twice on planning. He then had pre-planning landscaping done for 47,000, with the knowledge that it would get permission, but Mr McCoy brought it to the board's attention, and it was refused. The poor man had to move back in with his father." Around a year before his death Michael was involved in a High Court case where he, through the Dublin Mountain Conservation Group, and South Dublin County Council succeeded in shutting down works by Shillelagh Quarries on a 3.27-hectare area of a 25-hectare site near Brittas, Co Dublin, on the north-facing slope of the 465m Butter Mountain. The company had opposed their application. This is just one example of a case where Michael was dogged in his pursuit of protecting areas of natural beauty in the Dublin Mountains. Raucous protesters chanted and banged drums near the White House as more than a thousand guests of the president were gathered inside in advance of President Donald Trumps acceptance speech. An area outside had also become a dance party featuring EDM remixes of MoTown music. The noise along with occasional police sirens could be heard faintly from within the White House grounds. Another area had turned into a raucus dance party. Black women matter, because we get stuff done! some yelled. Shortly before 10:30, while Ivanka Trump was in the middle of her speech to introduce her father, protesters began using bullhorns, whistles and bells while chanting Black Lives Matter just outside the White House. Minutes later, protesters beyond the gates began setting off firecrackers at the start of Trump's speech. They also amped up the horn-blowing and the chants all audible from the South Lawn of the White House but none of it seemed to distract Trump or his supporters, who chanted "USA!" and "Four More Years!" About 10 minutes into his speech, though, the horns, sounding similar to the vuvuzela that dominated the background of the 2010 World Cup, grew louder and was audible on televised broadcasts of the speech. Crowds gather between the White House and National Mall during President Trump's speech on the final night of the Republican convention. Outside the gates, crowds chanted "Black Lives Matter" and "No justice, no peace! The crowds were gathered between the White House and National Mall and in Black Lives Matter Plaza, the epicenter of the protests earlier this year over racial injustice amid the death of George Floyd and others at the hands of law enforcement. At least two groups planned protests on city property near the White House Thursday night. Refuse Fascism is holding a #TrumpPenceOutNOW rally down the street in Black Lives Matter Plaza renamed amid the protests earlier this summer. The Party Majority PAC, which was founded by former Clinton aides, is organizing a #ThePeoplesHouse demonstration nearby. Story continues A couple participates in a protest near the White House as President Trump prepares to deliver his acceptance speech on the final night of the Republican convention Fencing and barriers around the White House have been bolstered ahead of Thursday night's events in anticipation of the protests. Demonstrations outside the White House following Floyd's death led to some vandalism and violent confrontations with security forces, notably after authorities cleared Lafayette Square of peaceful protesters for Trump's walk to nearby St. John's Church for a photo op. With the White House as a backdrop, activists chant Black Women Matter, because we get stuff done #dcprotest pic.twitter.com/GM92w7yIX9 Matt Brown (@mrbrownsir) August 28, 2020 Refuse Fascism co-founder Carl Dix said his organization which began planning the demonstration after Trump decided his acceptance speech would be delivered at the White House initially only expected a few dozen participants but that interest had swelled after Jacob Blake was shot multiple times in the back this week by police. Dix said he initially expected only a small crowd, but convention speakers denounced demonstrations and a Missouri couple, who became famous for pointing guns at Black Lives Matter protesters, among its speakers, he thought "That's why I expect that there will be an even larger crowd of people in D.C.," Dix told USA TODAY. The streets outside the White House were crowded. The handmade sign held aloft by one man read My Melanin is not a threat. Protesters gather near the White House in advance of President Trump's speech on the final night of the Republican National Convention. The sign of another protester declared: Defund the police is a strategy. Abolish the police is the goal. Republicans have repeatedly accused Joe Biden of wanting to defund the police. Biden has said he does not support that and has called for a $300 million increase in police funding to address concerns about racial profiling. Contributing: Rebecca Morin, William Cummings This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RNC: Protesters at White House heard during Trump convention speech On Friday, August 28, the United States donated critical medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Ghana Health Service to assist frontline health workers in Kumasi and Sekondi in the fight against COVID-19. U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan presented the supplies to members of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), who will transport the supplies and be joined by representatives of the U.S. Embassy to deliver them on September 1 to the Kumasi South Hospital in the Ashanti Region and the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital in the Western Region. The United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) provided the funding to purchase the supplies, valued at over 430,000 cedis, which include 10,000 N95 face masks, 1,600 hospital gowns, 2,000 liters of methylated spirit, 3,000 liters of sodium hypochlorite, 20 glucometers, 200 glucometer strips, and 14 pulse oximeters. This donation of medical supplies and the cooperative delivery between USAFRICOM and the GAF are testaments to the advanced partnership between the United States and Ghana. In a handover ceremony at Burma Camp on Friday, August 28, U.S. Ambassador Stephanie S. Sullivan commented: The United States is leading the world in providing critical international assistance as, together, we battle this global pandemic. And the GAF continues to play a leading role, along with the Ministry of Health, in responding to the pandemic here in Ghana. The U.S. Embassy and AFRICOM are proud to partner with the GAF in this and many other endeavors. USAFRICOM previously supported 37 Military Hospital with a similar donation of medical supplies and notably provided two state-of-the-art Level II Field Hospitals to the GAF in February 2020. The GAF has since deployed one of the hospitals in Accra, and it is now the second-largest COVID-19 treatment center in Ghana. The Attorney General's Office has described the controversial Agyapa Minerals Royalties deal as burdensome and not in the interest of Ghana. The Government of Ghana, through the Minerals Income Investment Fund, set up a limited liability company, Agyapa Royalties Limited, to receive money Ghana is supposed to earn from gold royalties. In exchange, the company will be raising between $500 million and $750 million for the Government on the Ghana and London Stock exchanges to invest in developmental projects. The Attorney Generals office in an opinion sighted by Citi News explained that the benefits Ghana is expected to derive from the agreement are limited, given the strict obligations and sanctions attached to the deal. It is noted, that the nature and purpose of the Minerals Royalties Investment Agreement and the related agreements that there will be a one-off payment of the sum of $1 billion. It is, however, unclear what benefits will come to the Republic of Ghana and the fund other than the one-off payment, considering that this agreement runs in perpetuity with stringent responsibilities of the fund throughout its lifespan. Further, it is noted that the terms and conditions of the agreement are very onerous. The provisions are skewed against the interest of the Fund and the Republic. Both the Fund and the Republic have strict obligations and liabilities with punitive consequences in the event of a breach or default while the other contracting parties are to use their best efforts to ensure the execution of the transaction. The office also argued that the agreements appear to be cast in stone with no option to evaluate their effectiveness or satisfactory performance so as to review or terminate the same if the need arises. Apart from the Attorney Generals office, the arrangement has faced criticism from opposition political parties, Civil Society Organisations and other observers who have called for its suspension. Agyapa Royalties Limited has been incorporated in Jersey of the Channel Islands as a means to avoid paying extra taxes on mining royalties. Jersey is a known tax haven and a destination for incorporating companies that want to be listed on the London Stock Exchange like Agyapa Royalties. Former Minister of Finance, Seth Terkper has however said such a move may not sit well with multinationals and other state-owned enterprises who have to operate in Ghana and pay taxes. citinewsroom Harris: National Mask Mandate Would Not Be Enforced Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said a national mask mandate Joe Bidens administration would impose if elected wouldnt include a punishment component. Its really a standard. I mean, nobodys gonna be punished. Come on, Harris said, laughing, during an interview with NBCs Today show that was released Friday. Nobody likes to wear a mask. This is a universal feeling. Right? So thats not the point, Hey, lets enjoy wearing masks. No, she continued. The point is, this is what we as responsible people who love our neighbor, we have to do that right now. God willing, it wont be forever. Biden said this month that every American should be wearing a mask for the next three months as a minimum. Harris, speaking at the time, said Biden was showing real leadership by telling us the stuff that we dont necessarily want to hear but we need to know. Then Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) arrive to speak at a news conference at Alexis Dupont High School in Wilmington, Del., on Aug. 12, 2020. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo) The need for this mandatory mask-wearing will also be about what Joe has articulated, and what a Biden/Harris administration will do, she added. When Biden is president, she said in a speech this week, he will put in place a nationwide mask mandate because, in Joes words, its not a burden to protect each other. According to the AARP, 34 states and the District of Columbia mandate people wear masks while in public. President Donald Trump has said multiple times that people should wear masks but his administration opposes issuing a nationwide mandate. I dont know if you need mandatory, because you have many places in the country where people stay very long distance. You talk about social distancing. But Im all for masks, Trump told Fox Business last month. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows added in a separate Fox News interview that mask orders are a state-to-state issue. When we look at masks and the wearing of masks, thats done on a location basis, when you cant have social distancing, but certainly a national mandate is not in order, said Meadows. Were allowing governors and mayors to weigh in on that. Vice President Mike Pence said in an appearance on CBS Face the Nation in June that the White House is deferring to governors. One of the elements of the genius of America is the principle of federalism, of state and local control, he said. Weve made it clear that we want to defer to governors. We want to defer to local officials, and people should listen to them. Jack Phillips, Isabel Van Brugen, and Venus Upadhayaya contributed to this report. Contact tracing dates as far back as the 16th century, when physician Andrea Gratiolo used the method to show that the bubonic plague didnt originate in a particular individual. In 1854, physician John Snow broke new ground in contact tracing, using maps and records to track the spread of a disease back to its source, and gave birth to modern epidemiology.So if contact tracing has proven effective in detecting and slowing down the spread of disease for more than a century, why hasnt it led to more success in the U.S. effort to control the COVID-19 outbreak?Steve Bennett, former director of national biosurveillance at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said the type of technology used for contact tracing can make a difference.Phone apps, for example, may not be the best choice. For one thing, research from software company Myplanet indicates that certain populations, such as older individuals, are less likely to trust such applications.Perhaps more importantly, Bennett, who now directs global government practice at software company SAS, said the alert-based system of the apps doesnt clearly identify what kind of contact individuals have with one another. Traditional contact tracing is based on interviews with individuals, who describe their activities in detail.Youre going to get a whole bunch of noise [with phone apps], Bennett said. Its not going to be a real good decision to isolate people based on that.Sherrine Eid, global head of real-world experience and epidemiology for SAS, said shes glad many companies have invested in contact-tracing tech, because better solutions can be found when many great minds work together. However, she said the phone apps may not provide the deepest level of information that would make contact tracing effective.Eid also pointed out that privacy policies and regulations can be a hurdle for the apps.We usually develop [technology] quicker than our regulations can keep up, Eid said. Thats just human nature, I think.Nothing beats the tried-and-true method of contact tracing, Bennett said, but theres a problem: the speed and scope of COVID-19 can turn the reliable process of contact tracing into a workforce numbers game that public health organizations may not be able to win.Specifically, there are so many people getting sick at one time that it can make the classic interviewing method too slow. Bennett said agencies have tried to combat this issue by throwing more people into the mix. Research from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) has even estimated the number of staff that each state would need for successful contact tracing.Unfortunately, gathering interview data is only the first step of contact tracing, and all the interviewing can result in data overload.Throwing bodies at the contact tracing problem can generate interview data, but youre overwhelming public health epidemiologists who need to do the investigations, Bennett said.J.T. Lane, chief population health and innovation officer at ASTHO, said public trust in America plays a large role in the relative success of contact tracing. Depending on the state and county, citizens may complete interviews at a lower rate and may even be less likely to answer contact tracers' phone calls.To me, the biggest challenge is not the volume of data," Lane, a former state health official, said. "The biggest challenge is encouraging people and trying to get people to trust that their health department and the contact tracers are trying to protect the community."From an investigative standpoint, epidemiologists need to be able to focus on augmenting interview data with other data, Bennett said. For instance, if an infected person got on a flight, one could then utilize flight records to further trace the outbreak. After one enriches the data in this way, the next step is deriving connections between all of the information at play and then identifying risk patterns.But again, with COVID-19, scaling can be an issue. Bennett said this is where technology can help. Rather than have epidemiologists do investigative steps by hand, certain processes can be automated with software tools.To Bennetts point, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a short guide on how digital tools can assist with various aspects of contact tracing.Lane said systems that can keep up with taskloads and create reminders about following up with contacts can indeed be beneficial. However, such capabilities are not universal for health departments.Public health infrastructure has been chronically underfunded for decades," Lane said.Another issue remains: the quality and consistency of the data. Both Bennett and Eid spoke about the lack of a national standard when it comes to contact tracing data.You could be in the same state and have 30 counties with 30 different ways of curating the data, Eid said.As a final concern, Bennett said the best contact tracing in the world wont help much if you dont have good testing to confirm who is sick. Testing becomes even more important when one considers how many COVID-19 carriers are asymptomatic.Bennett believes the United States should have gotten more testing lined up when the country first locked down.The ability to test effectively has been our biggest failing, Bennett said. I think the United States will have a lot of soul searching to do for a long time. Its a big policy question for whoever wins in November. COVID-19 has decimated jobs, especially for young people. According to Statistics Canada, youth unemployment in Canada has skyrocketed from 10 per cent in January to 31 per cent. Many students have lost jobs or have had recent job offers delayed, or even cancelled, says Joane Thompson, an SFU Co-op student. Like others, I had also recently lost my job. Now more than ever, students need safe and reliable employment opportunities and Canada needs their innovation to bolster our recovery. To help young people find work amid the pandemic, a new federally-funded youth employment program led by Simon Fraser Universitys Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, Youthful Cities and the Canadian Council for Youth Prosperity is open for applications. Pivot 2020, an urban research project, will provide more than 1,200 young Canadians with paid research and skill development positions in 27 cities across Canada. We are facing unprecedented times, and as Canadas engaged university we are working to help youth overcome barriers to employment and develop a broad range of skills and knowledge in order to participate in the current and future labour market, says SFU president and vice-chancellor Andrew Petter. We are excited to be partnering with Youthful Cities, the Canadian Council for Youth Prosperity and other partners to engage youth in contributing to Canadas COVID-19 economic and workforce recovery effort. Hired youth will conduct urban research to better understand youth needs and ideas about their city. This information will populate an open source database that cities can use as part of their pandemic recovery plans. Urban youth are innovators who can and should play an active part in shaping our cities, says Robert Barnard, co-founder of Youthful Cities and an SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue Fellow. More than ever, cities need their curiosity, openness and connectedness to help regenerate momentum towards a better urban future for all. Pivot 2020 positions are available in 27 Canadian cities, will pay above minimum wage, ranging from two to five months, focus on enhanced skill development and on-the-job training, and are entirely virtual to meet COVID-19 safety considerations. Participants will develop technical skills to equip them for a changing labour market and will be given an Award of Completion from SFU Lifelong Learning. Applications for team leader roles in Quebec (Laval, Montreal and Quebec) have been extended to September 3 and team member roles for all cities have been extended to September 7. Hedy Fry, Liberal Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre, says that shes proud to see SFU be part of the project and bring employment opportunities to young people. Their focus on youth who have not been employed in the past six months helps young people get training and experience, and ensures safe opportunities for youth during COVID-19, says Fry. Additional program partners include Tamarack Institute, Canadian Urban Institute and Institut du Nouveau Monde, and community-based organizations in each city that will support local youth engagement. For Thompson, Pivot 2020 comes at just the right time. Pivot 2020 would be an amazing opportunity for me to work and improve my skills, says Thompson. I look forward to future employment prospects it will bring me once the pandemic subsides. For more information about Pivot 2020 and to apply, see www.pivot2020.ca. The race is on to bring a US-style TV news service to Britain with two groups plotting to rival the BBC and Sky. Both the planned services, set to be dominated by strong and well-known personality presenters, are expected to shake up the market and challenge the BBC, which is increasingly regarded as Left-of-centre and dominated by woke politics. In a sign of how serious the plans are, one of the businesses has been in talks with the BBCs most respected political interviewer Andrew Neil, who has still not resolved his future at the corporation. While it is unclear exactly where the new services will pitch themselves on the political spectrum, it is thought they are certain to be to the Right of the BBC. The race is on to bring a US-style TV news service to Britain with two groups plotting to rival the BBC and Sky. In a sign of how serious the plans are, one of the businesses has been in talks with the BBCs most respected political interviewer Andrew Neil (pictured) Todays exclusive Daily Mail poll reveals that half of people said the corporation does not reflect their values. And 59 per cent said they agreed with Boris Johnsons criticism of the BBC for cringing with embarrassment over our history. The two planned new services are both expected to be more news-talk shows than the traditional rolling news services that are provided by BBC News and Sky News. One of the companies, GB News, which has already secured an Ofcom licence, is backed by investors from the US and the UK. It has been in talks with American media giant Discovery. It is understood that GB News has been in discussions with Mr Neil about joining up, with sources suggesting it would be similar to a TV version of the LBC radio station. Todays exclusive Daily Mail poll reveals that half of people said the corporation does not reflect their values. And 59 per cent said they agreed with Boris Johnsons criticism of the BBC for cringing with embarrassment over our history According to an insider it will aim to sit in the centre of the political spectrum but be less Left-wing and less woke than the BBC. The insider said: Just by taking a centrist line it will seem more to the Right because the others are so much to the Left. Sources say News UK, the publisher of The Sun and The Times, which is controlled by Rupert Murdoch, has also been developing plans to launch a news channel. Discussion are at an advanced level. Earlier this year David Rhodes, former president of CBS News in the US, was brought in to News UK. It is understood he joined to launch a news channel. There are said to be high-level discussions about what form the service will take. Mr Rhodes also worked as a senior executive at Fox News, which is on the Right of American politics and is famous for its strident take on the news. The past week has seen a flurry of new developments for Hamilton schools as staff and school boards scramble to finalize their reopening plans. Both the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) and the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB) have moved to reduce elementary class sizes, stagger reopening dates, make masks mandatory for all students and more. Heres the latest on Hamiltons school reopening plans. Class sizes reduced The HWDSB and HWCDSB have decided to reduce elementary class sizes for kindergarteners and students in Grade 4 to 8 using a combination of board funds and provincial money. The HWDSB has said it will put $10.4 million toward lowering kindergarten classes to an average of 22 students per class, and Grade 4 to 8 classes to an average of 23 to 24 students per class. The Catholic board has said it will spend $3.5 million on lowering kindergarten classes to an average of 19 to 20 students per class, and Grade 4 to 8 classes to an average of 22 to 23 students per class. The Catholic school board has a significantly lower overall student population than the HWDSB. Both boards will need to hire dozens more teaching staff and find classroom space to accommodate smaller class sizes. The boards have also agreed to dip into their reserve funds coffers typically designated for emergency expenses to pay for most of the size reductions. The HWDSB says it will likely spend about $9 million with its reserve funds, while the HWCDSB says it will spend about $2.5 to 3 million. Staggered reopening dates Both school boards have introduced plans to stagger school reopening dates in order for students to become acquainted with the schools COVID-19 safety protocols in smaller cohorts. The HWDSB says its students will enter classes gradually for the first weeks of school, with students being place into two groups to enter schools on alternating days during the first week. One group will attend school on Sept. 10 and Sept. 14, while the other will attend school on Sept. 11 and Sept. 15. Sept. 8 and Sept. 9 will only be open to students with special needs. All students will return to school on Sept. 16. The HWCDSB approved a plan to stagger reopening dates for elementary classes last week. In a letter to parents on Friday, the board said students in elementary and secondary schools will re-enter schools between Sept. 9 and Sept. 14. One of four kindergarten groups will return on Sept. 9, along with students in Grades 1 and 2, students in Grade 9 and students with special needs. Three more kindergarten groups will return on the following three days, along with three more elementary groups, divided by grades. Secondary school classes will start up on Sept. 10, while elementary classes will resume with all students on Sept. 16. Mandatory masks for all The boards have mandated that all students, from junior kindergarten to Grade 12, will be required to wear masks during school hours, expanding a previous rule that would have required only students in Grade 4 to 12 to wear masks. The HWDSB approved a motion to mandate mask-wearing at a meeting earlier this week. These are little ones and their lives are just as precious as everyone else, said Carole Paikin Miller, trustee for Ward 5, who moved the motion. Mandatory masks have been a point of contention among parents and teachers who see the requirement as a potential solution to situations where students cannot maintain physical distance. Elementary schools, notably, have been required to return to full-sized classes on a regular, five-day schedule, prompting concerns that students between kindergarten and Grade 8 will study in overcrowded classrooms. The Catholic school board has also required students to wear masks on school buses. Most students to return in-person The boards have spent the past two weeks collecting registration numbers from families to determine how many students will study in-person versus online come September. The vast majority have opted to return in-person. Pat Daly, chair of the HWCDSB, has said roughly 85 per cent of students will return to in-person classes while the remaining 15 per cent will learn online. The HWDSB enrolment numbers have not been finalized, though the board has previously estimated about 80 per cent of students will return to classes, with up to 20 per cent learning online. Registration numbers at the HWDSB have been slow to finalize due to technical difficulties with the boards registration system, which has prompted several deadline extensions for families to register. Parent Portal, which the HWDSB launched to help families register their children, has become a headache for parents who say theyve experienced glitches and difficulty navigating the site. The deadline for registration was set for Thursday at midnight. New funding from the feds The Ontario government is set to receive an additional $763.34 million in funding from the federal government for school reopenings across the province. The amount transferred to Hamilton school boards has yet to be determined, though Ontarios Ministry of Education has indicated the money will be spent on transportation, mental health and special education, nurses, remote learning and the health and safety of boards, according to Education Minister Stephen Lecce. The boards have not indicated how they intend to spend any money received from the additional funding. By Arthur I. Cyr "A riddle, wrapped in an enigma, inside a mystery." Winston Churchill described the Soviet Union with those words. He was speaking in October 1939, right after World War II commenced in Europe. Churchill's words have direct importance for continuing and current developments in the strange world of Vladimir Putin's Russia. The regime, society and underlying culture remain fundamentally different from those of the United States and the wider Western world. Alexei Navalny, a prominent and influential Russian opposition leader, is currently in a coma. German doctors state he was poisoned. Navalny is now in Berlin, flown in a secure German aircraft for specialist medical treatment. In Britain on March 4, 2018, a police officer found Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, unconscious on a park bench in Salisbury, a city near London. Authorities immediately hospitalized them in intensive care. The nerve agent also sickened the officer, likewise hospitalized. They were the victims of an extremely rare chemical not readily available to the public, or even the criminal underworld. The military nerve agent is a product of Russia. Skripal worked for the GRU, the military intelligence arm of Russia's government. He also started working as a double agent for British intelligence in 1995. In 2006, a Russia court convicted him and imposed a prison sentence of 13 years. In 2010, authorities freed him as part of a U.S.-Russian spy swap, following the exposure of a ring of Russian espionage agents in the United States. In September 2018, opposition activist Peter Verzilov became severely ill after a court hearing related to a protest and his subsequent arrest. He also was flown to Berlin for specialist medical treatment, where poisoning was diagnosed as the likely cause. Vladimir Kara-Murza, an opposition leader and journalist, suffered two severe health attacks in 2015 and 2017. The diagnosis in each case was probable poisoning. He is vice chairman of Open Russia, an organization founded by successful business entrepreneur Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a strong Putin opponent who has been persecuted and imprisoned. A particularly prominent victim is Alexander Litvinenko, who died in London in November 2006 from acute radiation poisoning. Litvinenko was a former colleague of Putin in the KGB, the principal arm of state security in the Soviet Union, an agency rightly feared for its ruthless methods and effective results. Putin is a product of the KGB's distinctive culture. Litvinenko defected to Britain, where he until silenced was a prominent and influential public critic of Putin and the government of Russia. After a meticulous thorough investigation, representatives of Scotland Yard testified in a public inquiry the Russian government was involved in his killing. Earlier, critics of Russia's regime sometimes died violently gangland style, in public. In early 2009, in a public street near the Kremlin on a sunny day, a gunman murdered activist attorney Stanislav Markelov. Journalist Anastasia Baburova was murdered as well, trying to aid him. The hit man was a practiced pro, his pistol equipped with a silencer. Markelov had publicly denounced the early release from prison of Colonel Yuri Budanov, sentenced to 10 years for strangling a woman during the war in Chechnya. Churchill observed "the key" to Russia was national interest. Alliance with the Soviet Union was vital during World War II, when our interests joined. Today, as in the past, national interest should guide policy. Scientific collaboration, including space exploration, should continue. NATO should shield Europe. We must condemn criminal behavior, including election meddling. Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College and author of "After the Cold War" (NYU Press and Macmillan). Contact acyr@carthage.edu The Home Office has been forced to cancel a migrant deportation flight after concerns were raised in court that it might be illegal. The plane, one of a number this month, was scheduled to leave the UK on Thursday morning but was abandoned so that appeals for people onboard could be heard. Campaigners said the flights were dangerous and rushed, while the Home Office claimed the legal challenges were baseless and entirely without merit. Chai Patel, legal policy director at the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, said: The treatment of immigration detainees in the UK is a matter of national shame. We are facing a global pandemic and the Home Office has chosen to focus on running dangerous and rushed deportation flights, placing vulnerable refugees at risk and prioritising speed over fairness. Every time a flight is stopped, we find people on it who go on to win their cases. We need to fix the broken system that tries to deport people at all costs, and we must resist all attempts to speed up unjust deportations and reduce legal protections for people who already have almost none. Eight human beings were so scared of what we were willing to send them back to face, that they tried to take their own lives. No one under our protection should ever feel that way again. The Home Office was forced to apologise this week after civil servants branded solicitors defending migrants and refugees rights activist lawyers. A Home Office spokeswoman defended the deportation drive, telling reporters: The governments efforts to facilitate entirely legitimate and legal returns of people who have entered the UK through illegal routes are too often frustrated by last-minute challenges submitted hours before a scheduled flight. These claims are very often baseless and entirely without merit, but are given full legal consideration, leading to removal being rescheduled. This can effectively result in the timing out of a return due to stringent Dublin Regulations. It is right that we seek to remove migrants who have travelled through a safe country and have no right to remain in the UK. On Wednesday, the day before the cancelled flight, Priti Patels department deported 12 people a mix of nationals from Kuwait, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Sudan and Yemen. They were sent to France and Germany. On 14 August an Iranian national who arrived in Dover via dinghy was sent to the Netherlands. Charities have reported that the poor treatment of migrants and refugees in detention centres has led to eight suicide attempts in Brook House immigration removal centre near Gatwick. Three people have been taken to hospital. The Home Office was defiant when asked about the attempted suicides and said the people had no right to remain in the UK. We take the welfare of the detained individuals extremely seriously, the spokesperson claimed. 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 All immigration removal centres have trained medical staff on hand to provide medical care to those in detention. Everyone who is removed from the UK is seen by a health professional and the Home Office is notified of any individual who is not well enough to be removed. We make no apology for seeking to remove those who have travelled through a safe country and have no right to remain in the UK. This is part of our strategy to make this dangerous route unviable. Figures from the Home Office show the department has spent around 1m deporting 285 people during the pandemic. A sero survey report on Madhya Pradeshs Indore made public on Friday suggested that as many as 7.75 percent people of the city have developed antibodies against Covid-19. This brought a sense of relief in the administration and the government that there was no community spread of the disease, but at the same time raised concern too that a huge population in the city is still vulnerable to the disease. As per 2011 census, Indores population was 1.94 million. However, the present population in the city is supposed to be 2.6 million which suggests 203,160 people in the city have developed antibodies, officials said. Commissioner of Indore division Pawan Sharma shared the sero survey report with the public during a programme on Friday and said, The survey was conducted in the city from August 11 to 23 during which samples of 7,103 persons were collected. About 95 percent people cooperated with the survey for which 85 teams were engaged. The ward-wise breakup of the results showed that there are at least five wards which were worst affected by Covid-19 where more than 20 percent of people were found to have developed antibodies. Also read: With Covid-19 cases nearing 1 lakh, Assam mulls another lockdown Speaking on the occasion, deputy director of National Centre for Disease Control, New Delhi, Dr Meera Dhuria said, After the report, citizens of Indore should not think that they have developed herd immunity and that there would be no cases of infection. The report suggests the government and the administration took effective measures to control the spread of the virus but people are required to continue to follow non-pharmaceutical safety measures like sanitisation, mask, social distancing etc. Studies suggested that the virus spread was much more in crowded places in the cities as in slum areas of Mumbai. State additional chief secretary, health, Mohd Suleman said, The report suggests that our containment strategy worked well in the city and it corroborates our claim that there was no community spread of the disease. Certain localities which we had identified earlier had a prevalence of the disease on a higher side but with an effective strategy, the spread of the virus was controlled from spreading to other localities. However, he added, the report also suggests that there are more than 92 percent of people who are still susceptible to the disease and we have to be prepared to deal with the situation accordingly. The battle is going to be a long one and we have to continue to implement our strategy as effectively as we have done it till now. Dean of MGM Medical College, Indore, Dr Jyoti Bindal and head of the respiratory department of Shri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences (SAIMS), Indore, Dr Ravi Doshi expressed similar concerns. A pulmonologist who didnt want to be named said, The survey results should be analysed comprehensively to arrive at a conclusion. A low percentage of 7.75 percent doesnt mean that the virus spread was not much prevalent in the city. It may vary from locality to locality. Students from Camden listen as Forest Hill Elementary School Principal, Fatihah Abdul-Rahman read at Farnham Park in Camden, NJ on Wednesday afternoon, August 26, 2020. Abdul-Rahman is finding ways to keep in touch with students when Camden schools opens Sept. 8th for virtual learning because of Coronavirus. Read more TL;DR: Schools are reopening, many online-only, and my colleagues talked to students, parents, teachers, and other school staff from around the region about their thoughts on the year to come. People with obesity are at a high risk for severe reactions to COVID-19, putting them in a particularly awful bind, my colleague Marie McCullough writes. Ellie Silverman (@esilverman11, health@inquirer.com) What you need to know: Philadelphia announced 152 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus Friday. The city is still on track to reopen indoor dining and theaters Sept. 8. A Kutztown University professor has apologized after encouraging students to contract the coronavirus and telling them, None of you are going to die from this. A Wawa customer shot an off-duty security guard after a dispute over social distancing, police say. The 25-year-old security guard is now in the hospital. Health-care workers are opening their mailboxes and finding their own portraits. Ya Fav Trashman raised $32,000 for PPE for his Philly sanitation colleagues, and his work is gaining national attention. A professor recounts the first days back at Temple: This pandemic experiment wont work. Whats going on in your county? We organized recent coverage of the coronavirus pandemic by local counties mentioned in the stories to make it easier for you to find the info you care about. Local coronavirus cases The coronavirus has swept across the Philadelphia region and cases continue to mount. The Inquirer and Spotlight PA are compiling geographic data on tests conducted, cases confirmed, and deaths caused by the virus. Track the spread here. Schools are reopening, many online-only, and my colleagues talked to students, parents, teachers, and other school staff from around the region about their thoughts on the year to come. Read through their perspectives here. People with obesity are at a high risk for severe reactions to COVID-19, putting them in a particularly awful bind, my colleague Marie McCullough writes. While doctors are advising those patients to be extra careful by staying home, that may also discourage usual recommended activities for weight-loss like walking and going to the gym. Read more here. Helpful resources You got this: Set up the best school desk for your kid at home My colleague Grace Dickinson asked experts for advice on how to set up a desk at home in a way that helps your kid learn during virtual school. Throughout school, learning how to learn is perhaps the most important thing, and that involves organizational skills, keeping schedules and routines, learning responsibilities and how to think ahead, says Todd Levy, an occupational therapist at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. Those are particularly challenging virtually, but its possible, and a good setup will help. Read more here. Megan Thee Stallion, Jim Gaffigan, Virtual March on Washington, drive-in horror movies, and more things to do this week. Corn pop treats, pizza, and more Philly dishes you should try shucking this summer. Women, especially mothers, are being tested like never before. How is your family coping? Have a social distancing tip or question to share? Let us know at health@inquirer.com and your input might be featured in a future edition of this newsletter. What were paying attention to A new analysis of Massachusetts COVID-19 data reveals some factors behind the increased infection rate among Latinos, including immigration status, housing, and food-service work, STAT reports. The FDA commissioner has fired the agencys spokesperson Emily Miller just one week after he announced her arrival at the agency, CNN reports. SEPTA bus route 24 is a lifeline for Northeast Philly, but ridership has dropped almost 40%, Billy Penn reports. Enjoy getting our journalism through email? You can also sign up for The Inquirer Morning Newsletter to get the latest news, features, investigations and more sent straight to your inbox each morning Sunday-Friday. Sign up here. On Thursday, Hurricane Laura hit Cameron, Louisiana, as a Category 4 storm, bringing 150 mph winds and damaging storm surges to an area that's still recovering from previous storms such as Harvey. State officials in Texas and Louisiana ordered over 1.5 million residents to evacuate, but some of the communities in the evacuation zones are among the poorest in their respective states forcing many residents to make tough decisions. Texas' Jefferson County, which was in the path of the storm, has a poverty rate that's more than 18%, higher than the state and national average, reports Texas Public Radio. https://twitter.com/CassieFambro/status/1298660084009115650?s=20 Adding to the complications of this storm is the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. States have fewer shelters available and already-stressed medical systems. In fact, some shelters were already full ahead of the storm and officials were scrambling to secure more rooms for evacuees in hotels. As the full scope of the damage starts to emerge, nonprofits and government agencies are mobilizing to offer disaster relief assistance. Monetary donations are important for disaster relief organizations to fund recovery efforts, experts say, and should be prioritized over contributing physical items, unless an organization asks for specific things. Here are 10 organizations that are working on the ground or in concert with those in communities affected by Hurricane Laura. All Hands and Hearts Smart Response Founded in the wake of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, All Hands and Hearts focuses on both the immediate and long-term needs of towns and communities that have undergone a natural disaster. In the past, that's meant building earthquake-resistant schools in Nepal and doing home repairs in Texas after Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The nonprofit has a four-star rating, the highest available, with Charity Navigator, which evaluates nonprofits on two main components: the financial health of the nonprofit and the accountability and transparency with which they handle funds. Direct Relief Nonprofit Direct Relief has a long history of assisting those affected by hurricanes in the U.S. by providing medical supplies and care. Most recently, it was involved in efforts after Hurricanes Barry, Michael and Harvey. The organization reported Wednesday that it's in contact with over 80 partner health facilities in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, as well as coordinating efforts with primary care associations and free clinics ahead of Hurricane Laura. The organization is rated a four-star nonprofit on Charity Navigator. Family Promise A nonprofit focused on helping homeless and low-income families, Family Promise has seven of its local programs in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas standing by to provide shelter and assist those who have been impacted. Family Promise has set up a fund to directly help families in the Gulf Region who have been impacted by Hurricanes Marco and Laura. The nonprofit has a four-star rating with Charity Navigator. Houston Food Bank The Houston Food Bank said Wednesday that it was already starting to prep pallets and identify partners to serve as disaster sites in the wake of Hurricane Laura. The nonprofit is also collecting water, cleaning supplies and ready-to-eat-food. In addition to monetary and physical donations, Houston Food Bank is also accepting volunteers. They already have some supplies and you can volunteer here to help sort and organize the items. The nonprofit has a four-star rating with Charity Navigator. Mercy Chefs The Virginia-based nonprofit Mercy Chefs focuses on bringing professionally prepared meals for victims, volunteers and first responders involved in natural disasters. A spokeswoman tells CNBC Make It that the team plans to have up to three kitchens operating and is providing meal service to those affected by Hurricane Laura. The organization also accepts and works with local volunteers. If you're interested, sign up here. Mercy Chefs isn't rated by Charity Navigator. Operation USA Founded in 1979, Operation USA specializes in disaster relief. The organization reported on Wednesday that it was mobilizing to deliver aid through its established partnerships in Houston and New Orleans. Operation USA said that donations will help the nonprofit quickly deliver materials and cash grants to community-based organizations affected. The nonprofit has a three-star rating with Charity Navigator. Rescued Pets Movement This Houston-based organization is working to help pets that have been displaced by the storm. On Wednesday, Rescued Pets Movement reported they cleared out a shelter to make space for animals that may come in after Hurricane Laura has passed. Rescued Pets is also encouraging local residents to check back for the new dogs and cats who may need sponsorship and fostering. Rescued Pets Movement isn't rated by Charity Navigator. Save the Children Save the Children has an emergency response team and local program staff in Louisiana and Texas who mobilizing to help displaced families get the essential supplies they need, including hygiene kits, diapers, wipes and cribs. The organization will be working with local partners to help restore child-care and early learning centers devastated by Hurricane Laura, a spokesman tells CNBC Make It. The organization has a four-star rating with Charity Navigator. St. Bernard Project (SBP) Louisiana-based SBP is a nonprofit focused on shrinking the time it takes from when a disaster hits to recovery. The organization has teams that are staged in Houston and New Orleans, "ready to deploy as soon as it is safe to do so," SBP reported on Wednesday. About 200 volunteers have been pre-registered to assist those impacted. In addition to donations, SBP says in-person and remote volunteer opportunities are available. The nonprofit has a four-star rating with Charity Navigator. Team Rubicon Founded by former U.S. Marines in 2010, California-based Team Rubicon's military veteran volunteers form emergency response teams that help with disaster relief and recovery. Currently, Team Rubicon has three teams on the ground to assess the initial damage caused by Hurricane Laura, spokeswoman Joy Moh tells CNBC Make It. Additionally, the organization has two dozen volunteers activated in Texas and Louisiana. The nonprofit has a four-star rating with Charity Navigator. Texas Diaper Bank The Texas Diaper Bank says it is planning on delivering diapers, incontinence supplies, feminine products and hygiene kits to evacuees in shelters in 20 Texas cities and those sheltering in San Antonio. The nonprofit is also assembling 1,000 kits with hygiene supplies, including masks. The Texas Diaper Bank is accepting monetary donations, as well as supplies purchased off the organization's Amazon wish list. Charity Navigator gives this small nonprofit a score of 100 out of 100. Last month, Charity Navigator rolled out a new rating system that ranks less established and smaller nonprofits. United Cajun Navy Based in Louisiana, the United Cajun Navy is a nonprofit focused on disaster relief and search and rescue. The organization says it's deployed for Hurricane Laura, and in addition to monetary donations, is accepting water, gasoline and generators. Those who are interested in volunteering can sign up on the website. United Cajun Navy isn't rated by Charity Navigator. Cambodia on Thursday distributed a newly drawn topographical map of the countrys shared border with Vietnam to local authorities and submitted it to the United Nations for recognition, despite ongoing allegations that the government has allowed Vietnam to encroach on Cambodian territory. The border designation reflects one agreed to in a 1:25,000 scale map exchanged between Cambodia and Vietnam in a ceremony at the Moc Bai International Border Gate in southern Vietnams Tay Ninh province, on the border with Cambodias Svay Rieng province, on Aug. 1. Speaking at Thursdays distribution ceremony, Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh called the new map historic and of significant importance to the country. These maps are for public usethey are authentic, he said. We didnt have one in the past, but it is real now. We have demarcated the border according to the maps I am very proud of it. This gives us a strong foundation to resolve our differences. Tea Banh said that anyone who criticizes the governments handling of the border is an extremist and will not be forgiven for making false statements about Cambodia ceding land to its neighbor. He noted that Cambodia also shares a border with Laos and Thailand, but only the border with Vietnam receives negative attention from activists. Unresolved border issues between Cambodia and Vietnam, former French colonies from the 1860s to 1954, have regularly inflamed nationalist sentiment. The disputed border has sparked incidents in the past, with the construction by Vietnam of military posts in contested areas quickly challenged by Cambodian authorities in Phnom Penh. Activists in Cambodia say farmers are losing land because the government is demarcating the border based on a 1985 treaty signed during Vietnams 1979-89 occupation of the country following its ouster of the Khmer Rouge regime. A joint communique signed by Cambodia and Vietnam in 1995 stipulates that neither side can make any changes to border markers or allow cross-border cultivation or settlement pending the resolution of outstanding border issues. The dispute again came to the forefront with the July 31 arrest of union leader Rong Chhun for claiming the Cambodian government has allowed Vietnam to encroach on farmland along their shared border. The president of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions (CCU), was officially charged with incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest the following day, prompting near-daily protests demanding his release. Since then, two of Rong Chhuns supporters from the civil society group Khmer Thavarak have been charged with crimes in connection to a protest calling for him to be freed, while Suong Sophorn, the president of the little-known opposition Khmer Win Party (KWP), was arrested and charged with incitement after visiting the border and making similar accusations. Prime Minister Hun Sen on Aug. 15 told the public that the new map was published in Denmark, suggesting it was independently arbitrated, but said it had put Cambodia at an advantage over Vietnam. However, Um Sam An, the border policy chief of the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), suggested that the new map was unilaterally drawn by Hanoi and said it had caused Cambodia to cede at least 3,000 hectares (7,415 acres) of land to Vietnam. The government has handed over an illegal map and we have lost Cambodian land, he told RFA, adding that he will continue to advocate for a redrawing of the border. Um Sam An did not offer any evidence to support his claims but referred to the 1985 treaty as the reason for the land loss. Rong Chhun discusses border demarcation with villagers in Tbong Khmum provinces Ponhea Kraek district, July 21, 2020. Photo courtesy of villagers Border structures Meanwhile, border activists called Thursday on the government to prevent Vietnamese authorities from building concrete structures near nondemarcated border areas in the Cambodian provinces of Takeo and Kandal, Kratie, Prey Veng, Svay Rieng, Tboung Khmum, Mondulkiri and Ratanakkiri. They said that so far, the Vietnamese have built 27 permanent structures. RFA was unable to reach Kandal Provincial Governor Kong Sophoan for comment about the structures on Thursday, but he recently told local media that he had made a formal request to stop building structures to his counterparts in Vietnam, which was refused. He said he would continue to call for an end to the construction. Cambodias government has lodged diplomatic protests over the structures, but Vietnam has yet to respond. Government spokesman Phay Siphan said Thursday he had not received reports of the construction from Kandal provincial authorities but added that he doubts the legitimacy of the claims. Hun Sen already talked with Vietnamese leaders and asked them not to build any structures in border areas that have not been demarcated, he said. We have already agreed on that principle. Cambodia Watchdog Council (CWC) President Men Nath urged the government to resolve the issues in Kandal province, adding that it is time for Cambodia to file a complaint against Vietnam with the International Court of Justice and the U.N. to find a resolution. The Vietnamese have violated international law and invaded Cambodiathis is our concern, he said. We want Hun Sen to tell Vietnam to stop violating international law. A border activist named Mean Prumh Mony said Vietnam had also violated the charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which both nations are members, and called for Cambodia to seek resolution of the issue through the regional and international community. Vietnam has threatened our territorial sovereignty, he said. We urge the government to file a complaint with the international court. The Vietnamese Embassy was not immediately available for comment on the dispute. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Umberto Bacchi (Reuters) Milan, Italy Fri, August 28, 2020 12:03 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c411c2ad 2 Art & Culture virtual-museum,virtual-art-museum,Virtual-Online-Museum-of-Art,VOMA,arts,Museum Free The world's first entirely virtual art museum is set to open next month, hoping to bring masterpieces to anyone in the world with an internet connection, according to its British creator. The Virtual Online Museum of Art (VOMA) will feature art from renowned museums such as the Musee d'Orsay in Paris and New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, as well as digital-only originals, said Stuart Semple, the artist behind the project. "The point of art is to communicate and share ideas ... (but) a lot of people can't travel to a museum," said Semple, whose large-scale public projects have included releasing thousands of smiley faced clouds over London, Moscow and Milan. "This is a way to make it a lot more accessible," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone. The new coronavirus pandemic forced almost all museums around the world to close this year, with some reopening for shorter hours to smaller numbers of mask-wearing visitors while others may never reopen, particularly in developing countries. Admittance to VOMA will be free, which its founders hope will help attract a diverse audience at a time when many artworks are under scrutiny for their links to slavery and colonialism with racial inequality in the spotlight globally. "The art world is very much skewed towards the white viewer, That's because of the way the system has been operating," said VOMA curator Lee Cavaliere, a London-based art dealer. "It's basically New York, London, Paris and Hong Kong. So this is an opportunity to break that open." Read also: World's first fully interactive virtual museum to open on Aug. 14 Real world While virtual tours soared in lockdown, users often feel they are looking at "loads of photographs stitched together" rather than walking through an art gallery - something VOMA aims to change, Semple said. The museum is set within a digital building, which allows visitors to freely stroll through its grounds and galleries, take a close up look at art using high resolution 3D imagery, read reviews left by others and chat with friends, he said. Purpose-built software developed with input from architects, computer-generated imagery (CGI) designers and gaming experts, aims to create an immersive and interactive experience. On the outside, seasons, weather and time change, affecting light on the inside. So visitors could be seeing the art on a cold rainy morning or a starry summer night. "It's important to root this experience in the real world. I've seen digital art experiences that haven't worked because they felt too diffuse and that's slightly alienating," said Cavaliere. Running a space that doesn't actually exist offers extra flexibility, he said, as staff can easily add a room if needed and housing a 10-meter high sculpture is not a logistical nightmare. You can also burn the whole place down, as Kenyan-born multimedia artist Phoebe Boswell plans to do in her inaugural digital-first work for the museum, added Semple. According to the latest YouGov/Times opinion polls, 79 percent of respondents in Scotland believe First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is doing well or fairly well in her handling of the coronavirus pandemic. By contrast, the same percentage think Prime Minister Boris Johnson is doing badly or fairly badly. Approval ratings for the pairs respective governments are similar79 percent approval for the Scottish government, 73 percent disapproval for the UK government. From the beginning of the pandemic, Sturgeons media presentation was more effective than Johnsons. She fronted daily press conferences on the progress of the virus, coming across as relatively serious, while portraying herselfwith the assistance of a pliant mediaas relatively down to earth and possessing a grasp of factual issues. Johnson, by contrast, shut down his governments daily briefings in June, rarely appeared on them anyway and cannot open his mouth without proving himself a dangerous liar and fool. Yet the governments formed by Johnsons Conservatives and Sturgeons Scottish National Party (SNP) have rolled out, and continue to pursue, near identical policies with regard to the pandemic. These have resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, mainly of a generation of the elderly and most vulnerable. This has even led to Scottish police already investigating care homes, which suffered especially large numbers of deaths. By late June, a special Scottish Crown Office unit had begun inquiries into 238 coronavirus fatalities, including 177 in care homes. It should be noted that Sturgeon attended several meetings of the Tory governments Emergency COBRA committee held in the Cabinet Office at Downing Street, to discuss the ruling elites response as the pandemic took hold. Sturgeon attended her first COBRA on March 2, with the Johnson government committed to its herd immunity strategy of the mass infection of the population. Comparing death rates between UK regions is problematic since England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all use somewhat different techniques; there are differing delays in records emerging and so on. There is also powerful political pressure to continually reduce the death toll and massage the figures. But the picture that repeatedly emerges is of a generally disastrous and murderous response to the pandemic. To take one measure, as of August 26, according the Public Health England (PHE), there were 41,465 deaths within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test across the UK. Of these, 36,818, (89 percent of the total) occurred in England, 2,494 (six percent) in Scotland, 1,594 (four percent) in Wales and 559 (one percent) in Northern Ireland. England accounts for 84.3 percent of the UK population, while Scotlands is around one tenth of that at about 8.4 percent, Wales represents 4.7 percent, and Northern Ireland 2.8 percent, so the Scottish death rate is somewhat lower but disastrous nonetheless. If Scotland had the same population as England, COVID-19 deaths would be at least 24,000. A tally of excess deaths to the middle of June, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on August 5, produced a revealing set of figures. According to the ONS, the UK as a whole has registered the highest increase in its death rate this year of all European countries at 6.9 percentcompared with the next highest Spain (6.7 percent), Belgium (3.9 percent) and Sweden (2.3 percent). Within the UK, England showed a 7.5 percent increase, compared with Scotlands 5.1 percent, Waless 2.8 percent and Northern Irelands two percent. The Scottish figure was therefore the third worst in Europe, behind England and the UK, despite Scotlands relatively dispersed population, outside of the main populated central belt between Glasgow and Dundee. Putting numbers on the percentages, PHE recorded 53,238 excess deaths in England since late March, of which 49,201 (92.4 percent) referred to COVID-19 on the death certificate. The National Records of Scotland registered 4,813 excess deaths since March, of which 86 percent were attributed by the death certificate to COVID-19. By these measures, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Scotland has been utterly devastating and of a piece, giving due regard to geography and population, to its impact in England and throughout the UK. The impact on the elderly in Scottish care homes underscores the point. Repeated counts have concluded that 46 percent of all coronavirus-linked deaths in Scotland took place in care homes. To the end of July, a total of 2,335 excess deaths occurred in these settings. This mirrors events in England. Precise comparable figures are not available, but by July the BBC was reporting a vast figure of around 30,000 excess deaths in care homes in England and Wales in comparison with 2019. Of these, according to the ONS, 19,394 mentioned COVID-19 on the death certificate--around 50 percent of coronavirus-related deaths in Scotland and England. As the pandemic crisis developed, both governments followed a policy of releasing elderly hospital patients from hospitals into care homes in a manner which can only be described as homicidal. To the extent there are differences between Scotland and England, the level of government culpability is, thus far, even more fully exposed in Scotland. Earlier this month, it emerged that at least five Scottish health boards transferred patients who had already tested positive for COVID-19 into care homes. The Scottish government had previously admitted that 1,431 untested hospital patients were moved to care homes between March and April this year, as the pandemic crisis deepened. According to the Sunday Post, at least 300 elderly hospital patients were in fact tested prior to being moved to care homes. Of these, it has now been confirmed that 37 had tested positive, from figures released by Ayrshire and Arran, Grampian, Tayside, Fife and Lanarkshire health boards. NHS Lothian and NHS Highland failed to respond to the Post s freedom of information requests. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said it released 752 patients into care homes but provided no further details. The health board mandarins overseeing Scotlands largest population centreand including Inverclyde, with the highest concentration of deathsclaimed it would be too expensive to check records to see which patients had tested positive. Allyson Pollock, a professor of public health at Newcastle University, likened the move to putting a lit match to dry tinder and starting a forest fire because we know that infection control measures werent good in care homes, we know care homes were understaffed and we know that older people are very vulnerable to COVID-19. The Scottish government was directly responsible for these criminal actions. Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman wrote to the health boards in April praising them for exceeding the challenging targets set by the government for clearing hospital beds. Asked to move 900 delayed discharge patientspeople in hospital and requiring care but not necessarily at the level provided in a hospitalthe health boards had moved 920. Nick Kempe, a former head of Glasgow City Councils older peoples service, told the Post, The Health Secretarys letter shows the Scottish Government put enormous pressure on hospitals to discharge patients. The letter also said it remains of paramount importance to free up hospital beds. There is no mention of risk here at all and it appears clear that any consideration of risk was secondary to the paramount importance of getting people out of hospitals. That explains how infected people were sent into care homes, and this is where responsibility lies for a large proportion of deaths. Sturgeon has now resorted to desperate parliamentary evasions. Speaking during First Ministers Questions this week, she claimed the Scottish Government was still awaiting analysis from Public Health Scotland on the number of people who were discharged from hospitals into care homes who may have had the virus. Sturgeon has refused to commission an interim report into the coronavirus deaths, seeking instead to delay launching a full public inquiry until after the next Scottish parliamentary elections, due in May 2021. Sturgeon has also refused to explain when she found out about transfers of COVID-19 positive patients. The Scottish government refused a Freedom of Information request from the Scottish Tenants Federation for February and March minutes of SNP governments top level so-called Resilience Room meetings, which were attended by ministers, doctors, scientists, local government representatives and logistics experts. According to the Herald, There were nine such meetings led by officials and eight of ministers. What response the SNP government did give reveals the extraordinary nervousness in ruling circles of the implications of these decisions becoming apparent to working people. A statement conceded, Disclosure of these internal discussions between Ministers would be likely to have the effect of undermining the Governments position and thus the effectiveness of the decision, which would not be in the public interest. A Nairobi-based engineer was Thursday charged at Kibera Law Courts for failing to pay his bills totaling Sh 885, 000. Moses Adagala, an aircraft engineer, is accused of obtaining credit by false pretense. He was also charged with knowingly writing a bouncing cheque on July 15. The court heard that Mr Adagala took his family to the Stanjo Karen Suites in Langata Sub-County on June 19 and stayed for 63 days. The accuseds family occupied four rooms, with each room going for Sh3, 750, but Adagala only paid a deposit of Sh50, 000 when they checked in. The hotel management on July 15 demanded payment of services rendered from June 15 and Adalaga wrote a Stanbic Bank cheque of Sh455, 000. However, the bank dishonoured the cheque because his account had insufficient funds. In his defense, the man told the court that he landed a Sh600, 000 contract in Somalia after which he came back to the hotel to wait for his money to be wired to him. It was not clear what happened to his paycheque but the hotel management detained him, his wife and four children in a single room. The hotel also impounded his car, which the accused claimed that the management wants to sell to recoup their money. Adagala denied the two charges and is out on a cash bail of Sh. 300, 000. The case is set to be mentioned on October 27. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 19:51:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ROME, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Italy's consumer and business confidence improved in August compared with the previous month, the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) estimated on Tuesday. The consumer confidence index grew to 100.8 from 100.1 points. Three out of four components of the index improved, and specifically the economic climate, the current climate, and the future one, ISTAT explained in its monthly note. The fourth component -- the personal climate -- slightly dropped to 104.9 points from 105.2 in July. According to ISTAT, the rise in consumer confidence "is triggered by a marked improvement in expectations on the country's economic situation and on unemployment." In July, consumer confidence slightly deteriorated to 100.1 points from 100.7 in June. As for the business climate, the composite confidence index confirmed its growth trend, rising to 80.8 from 77.0. All sectors improved, although at different levels. The highest increase was registered by the market services confidence index, which grew to 74.7 points from 66.0 points in July. It was followed by the retail trade sector, construction and manufacturing, data showed. "The confidence climate among firms grows for the third consecutive month," the statistical office noted. However, it explained that, despite improving in all productive sectors, "business confidence indicators still remain far from the levels registered ahead of the COVID-19 health crisis, and especially in the market services." The Italian economy has been severely hit by the coronavirus pandemic, which broke out in the country in late February. A national lockdown was imposed from March 10 to May 3, bringing all productive activities to a halt except for those in essential sectors. Due to the impact of the lockdown, Italy's gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by 12.4 percent in the second quarter of 2020 compared with the previous quarter, and by 17.3 percent over the same period of 2019, according to the preliminary estimate provided by ISTAT on July 31. The economy was expected to partially recover, recording an overall 9.5 percent drop of GDP by the end of the year, the Bank of Italy predicted in its latest bulletin. Enditem There are roughly 25 federal countries in the world today, which together represent 40 per cent of the world's population. These countries as documented by Wikipedia, the worlds information power house, include some of the largest and most complex democracies - India, the United States of America (USA), Brazil, Germany, Mexico and of course Nigeria-a nation that John Campbell, a former American Ambassador to Nigeria, suggested is dancing on the brink. Conventionally, federal system of government tends to have so much passion for consensual constitutional governance based on a mixed or compound mode of government that combines a general government with regional governments in a single political system. While many political commentators accept as true that its greatest strength as a system of governmental is that in a country where there are many diversities and the establishment of a unitary government is not possible, a political organisation can be established through this form of Government. In this type of government, local self-government, regional autonomy and national unity are possible, others argue that with the division of powers, the burden of work on the centre is lessened and the centre has not to bother about the problems of a purely local nature. It can devote its full attention to the problems of national importance. Because of provincial or regional autonomy, the administration of these areas becomes very efficient. To the rest, in a federal government the provinces, regions or the states enjoy separate rights and they have separate cabinets and legislatures. Local governments have also separate rights and the councils elected by the people to run the local administration. Despite these virtues, recent conversations/thoughts shared about this system of government across the globe manifest signs that it enjoys more burdens than goodwill and in some cases act as pathways to discord. Very recently, Frank Luntz, an American pollster talking about the United States federal system thus noted; Federal system is about taking power away from Washington. Its not about smaller or more limited government. Almost no one I interview cares about the size of government as much as the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of government. Americans want to empower states and governors to take a more active role in that governance because theyve given up on Washington Trump or no Trump. As the world reflects on the above position, Federal system in India presents a different scenario. It is a quasi-federal system containing features of both a federation and a union that allows power to be divided between the central government and the states. Article 1 of the Indian Constitution suggests that the territory of India shall be classified into three categories; the Union Government (also known as the Central Government), representing the Union of India, the State governments and the Panchayats/ Municipalities As one of its major ills, Indias (federal system) basically implies an inculcation of a strong sense of love and respect for ones region, ethnicity, language, and culture. It is this love which makes regions fight for greater autonomy within the nation and directly putting the authenticity of Indian federalism in danger. The most important power of the Governor which sometimes comes in conflict with the federal structure of the country is the power vested upon him by the Article 154 of the Indian Constitution which states that all the executive powers of the state are held by the Governor. This provision implies that the Governor can appoint the Chief Minister and the Advocate General of the State, and State Election Commissioners. The most paramount and in my views troubling executive power at his disposal is that he can recommend the imposition of constitutional emergency in a state. In Brazil, from what analysts are saying, the specific problems facing federal system and constitutional governance involves several issues. First and most importantly, Brazil is a federation that has always been characterized by regional and social inequality. Although the 1988 Constitution and those preceding it have provided several political and fiscal mechanisms for offsetting regional inequality and tackling poverty, these mechanisms have not been able to overcome the historical differences among regions and social classes. Governments of the three orders have not been able to reduce poverty and regional inequality. Their ability to act is limited by a number of factors, not the least of which is the fiscal requirements of international lenders and federal financial institutions and regulations. Another factor adversely affecting states is the opening up of Brazils economy. This tends to make intergovernmental relations more complex, as it increases the differences between developed and less developed states. This also contributes to the current trend towards reversing previous, although timid, initiatives favouring economic decentralization. An added issue is that in Brazil there are few mechanisms to provide for coordination between the three orders of government. This has become more important because municipal governments have had their financial standing upgraded within the federation vis-a-vis the states and have also been given responsibility for important social policies. The prospect of transforming constitutional principles into policies for regional development is not currently on the agenda for Brazil. While the world sympathizes with Brazilians on whose shoulders lay this awkward situation, federal system in Germany, says 75 years old Rain-Olaf Schultze, and author of the book; the Politics of Constitutional Reforms in Northern America, is at a crossroad and dramatizes worrying concerns. Schultze noted that the new weaknesses have emerged in the success story of postwar German federal system. The highly successful West German federal system, which for 40 years brought economic and social prosperity to Germanys second democracy, has fallen into a state of crisis, mostly as a result of the momentous changes that occurred toward the end of recent decades. On the surface, German reunification looks complete however, reunification is still in progress on the cultural and economic levels, the consequences of which will continue to evaluate German politics for decades to come. These strains have made structural reforms essential for the political system. From Germany to Nigeria, the situation is not different. The British colonial overlords probably intended the protectorates to operate in a symmetrical manner with no part of the amalgam claiming superiority over the other. This arrangement conferred on the fledgling country the form of the Biblical trinity explained above. And at independence in 1960, Nigeria became a federation, resting firmly on a tripod of three federating regions-Northern, Eastern and Western Regions. Each of the regions was economically and politically viable to steer its own ship, yet, mutual suspicion among them was rife. In fact, regional loyalty surpassed nationalistic fervor with each of the three regions at a juncture threatening secession. The late Premier of the Western Region once described Nigeria as mere geographical expression and later threatened we (Western Region) shall proclaim self- government and proceed to assert it, a euphemism for secession. The Northern Region under the Premiership of the late Ahmadu Bello never hid its desire for separate identity. Just before independence, the Region threatened to pull out of Nigeria if it was not allocated more parliamentary seats than the south. The departing British colonial masters, desirous of one big entity, quickly succumbed to the threat. In fact, the North at that time did pretend it never wanted to have anything to do with Nigeria. For example, the motto of the ruling party in that region at that time was One North, One People, and One Destiny. And the name of the party itself Northern Peoples Congress, NPC, was suggestive of separatist fervor, distinct identity. Today, restructuring debate rends the political wavelength. The south-south claim continued deprivation and blight from oil pollution, despite being the hub for the nation's oil wealth. The south-east legitimately gripes that nothing will change the history of the Igbos being divested of some of their properties and wealth after the war and being handed only twenty pounds each; and that fifty-six years after independence, the Nigerian presidency continues to elude the Igbos. The North has valid gripes too. Most of Nigeria's insolvent states are in the North; the broadest swathes of underdeveloped Nigeria are in the North and the largest numbers of uneducated and unskilled youths are from the north. Because northern states are not oil producing, they also lose out on preferential derivation from oil. From the above account, it is now obvious to those who were oblivious of the situation that federal system may not be a cohesive governmental system. However, the greatest lesson of federal system, says Scott Moore, a research fellow at Harvards Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, is that countries can often become stronger by adopting a looser union. By Scotts assertion, it will not be characterized as unfounded to conclude that we are doing this country more harm than good and quickening its disintegration by insisting that Nigerias restructuring will never happen. The template to solve these problems is already there: the Report of the 2014 National Conference. Jerome-Mario Utomi, Lagos, Nigeria. Multinational firms based in Ireland tend to get most of the media headlines it is undoubtedly the Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which are the backbone of the Irish Economy. SMEs make up the substantial proportion of the enterprise economy, accounting for over 95% of businesses ownership and almost 70% of total employment. The majority of these are classified as Micro businesses (less than 10 employees) often family business with the two directors being spouses. It is very common for a husband and wife to be Ddirectors of a small business and for both of them to be drawing a salary. This is usually motivated by the desire to extract as much Income tax efficiently each year (a married couple with two Incomes can earn 70,600 pa before moving to the higher 40% Tax rate). The role of the spouse can vary greatly from full-time active directors to part-time workers. Regardless of their role, all of their salaried service is recognised by revenue as pensionable service. However, when it comes to pension planning this is where many businesses get it wrong. Many of these SMEs focus only on the higher earning spouse/Director and fund what they see as a joint pension for the couple in the name of one director only, but there are many advantages of putting in place a separate pension structure for each spouse regardless of their level of Income. Take the example of a husband and wife who run their own company. Both of them are full time working directors in the company; and each draws a salary that would allow the company fund a pension on their behalf. In Scenario 1 the company makes pension contributions in the name of the husband only (the higher earning spouse) with the intention of trying to accumulate a pension pot of 1.6m, the intention is that this pension pot will provide an income for both the husband and wife during retirement. In Scenario 2 this time the company makes pension contributions in the name of each director and funds 2 separate pensions to the value of 800k each. In both of the scenarios outlined above the company has funded 1.6M in pension contributions for the benefit of the 2 directors (husband & wife) and therefore received the same level of corporation tax relief against these pension contributions. But the benefits to the directors are much more advantageous in Scenario 2 rather than Scenario 1.Lets have a look at some of these advantages. Firstly, lets look at the Tax free Lump sum at Retirement. In scenario 1 where they funded for the husband only. He would receive a net lump sum of 360,000 from a total Pension Pot of 1.6m. However in scenario 2 by funding two separate pensions and each director taking advantage of their maximum personal allowance for a tax free lump sum at retirement, they receive combined net lump sums of 400,000, 40,000 more than scenario 1. Lets say the two directors have different planned retirement dates and want to implement a Phased retirement plan. By funding for Separate pensions this allows them to draw down their benefits at different times. Once the funds have transferred to the ARF post retirement, there is a requirement to draw down a minimum income annually (from age 61). The income drawdown and associated income tax liability could be managed more effectively by staggering the timing of draw-down of the two pensions. Funding a pension is just one part of Retirement planning and should always be considered in conjunction with other reliefs such as Retirement Relief, Entrepreneurial relief. Always seek professional Financial advice before embarking on any plan. The sooner the discussion starts, the sooner the most tax efficient solution can be implemented. Barry Kerr BBS QFA CFP is the Managing Director of Wealthwise Financial Planning, Hartley Business Park, Carrick on Shannon, www.wealthwise.ie. Wealthwise Financial Ltd T/A Wealthwise Financial Planning is Regulated by the central Bank of Ireland. All details and views contained within this article are for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. Wealthwise Financial Planning makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness or suitability of any information and will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses arising from its use. 28 August 2020 Acron Group Posts Q2 2020 IFRS Net Profit of USD 138 Million Today, Acron (Moscow Exchange and LSE: AKRN) released its consolidated IFRS financial statements for Q2 and H1 2020. Key Financials Q2 revenue was RUB 28,353 million, up 1% quarter-on-quarter. In US dollar equivalent, revenue was down 8%, to USD 390 million from USD 423 million. Q2 EBITDA* was RUB 8,029 million, up 10% quarter-on-quarter. In US dollar equivalent, EBITDA was up 1%, to USD 111 million from USD 110 million. Q2 EBITDA margin reached 28% (up from 26% in Q1 2020). Q2 net profit was RUB 9,140 million (against a loss in Q1 2020). In US dollar equivalent, net profit was USD 138 million. As at Q2 end, net debt was down 7% from Q1 end to RUB 90,939 million. In US dollar equivalent, it was up 3% to USD 1,300 million. As at Q2 end, Net debt/LTM EBITDA** was 3.0, unchanged from Q1 end. In US dollar equivalent, it was up to 2.9 from 2.5. Operating Results In Q2 2020, commercial output of key products was 1.973 million tonnes, up 1% quarter-on-quarter. In H1 2020, output reached 3.921 million tonnes, up 3% year-on-year. Q2 sales of key products were 1.865 million tonnes, down 6% from Q1 2020. In H1 2020, sales were 3.859 million tonnes, up 1% year-on-year. Alexander Popov, Chairman of Acron's Board of Directors, commented on the results: 'In Q2 2020, Acron Group saw better key financials quarter-on-quarter. Results have continued to recover after slumping in H2 2019 due to lower global prices for mineral fertilisers. The Group's debt burden, however, remains high. We have taken a number of measures to change this, including CAPEX cuts and the sale of a potash lease in Canada and of a 10.1% stake in VPC. 'In Q2, we completed one of our key projects in recent years with the launch of a new urea granulation unit capable of producing up to 700,000 tpa of premium product. Another two projects are in progress at the Veliky Novgorod site: upgrading the Ammonia-4 unit to increase its capacity by 70,000 tpa, and finishing the Urea 6+ project to increase the unit's capacity by 520,000 tpa; we expect to complete these projects in Q4 2020 and Q2 2021, respectively. 'We believe that even stronger operating results, a weaker rouble, and the expected recovery of global fertiliser prices will support our financial performance over the coming quarters'. APPENDIX Notes to Key Items in the Financial Statements Financial Performance Acron Group posted Q2 2020 revenue of RUB 28,353 million, up 1% quarter-on-quarter, due to a 9% increase in the average USD-RUB exchange rate. Sales of the Group's key products were down 6% quarter-on-quarter because demand traditionally softens after the first three months of the year. Global US dollar-denominated prices for a number of the Group's key products also fell (see the Table below). In H1 2020, the Group posted revenue of RUB 56,432 million, down 7% from H1 2019. In Q2 2020, the cost of sales was down 18% quarter-on-quarter to RUB 14,362 million, mainly due to lower sales and effective cost controls. Q2 selling, general and administrative expenses were up 14% quarter-on-quarter to RUB 2,482 million due to higher personnel costs, since some salaries are denominated in foreign currency, including at the Group's facilities abroad. Transportation expenses were up 34% to RUB 5,945 million due to higher exports quarter-on-quarter (a significant share of Q1 sales went to the domestic market because of seasonal demand), and because a weaker rouble raised the cost of logistics outside Russia. In Q2, EBITDA was up 10% quarter-on-quarter to RUB 8,029 million. The Group's Q2 EBITDA margin was 28%, up from 26% in Q1 2020. H1 EBITDA was RUB 15,308 million, down 27% from H1 2019. Based on Q2 2020 results, the Group posted a net foreign exchange gain of RUB 5,189 million due to a revaluation of assets, loans, and liabilities, against a RUB 12,301 million loss in the first quarter. In Q2, the Group posted profit of RUB 891 million from sale of a potash mining lease in Saskatchewan, Canada. Net profit in Q2 2020 was RUB 9,140 million, against a RUB 10,126 million loss in Q1 2020. For H1 2020, the Group posted a net loss of RUB 986 million (H1 2019: profit of RUB 17,196 million). Market Trends In Q2 2020, global urea prices saw the usual dip due to low seasonal demand; in June, however, prices started to recover in response to India's strong demand, reaching USD 250 FOB Baltics in August. Further purchases by India, strong demand from Brazil, and recovering natural gas prices are expected to support urea prices over the coming months. In Q4, high demand in the northern hemisphere will prop up the market. After dropping in Q2, AN prices started to recover in Q3, mimicking the dynamic of urea, which is a benchmark for other nitrogen fertiliser prices. UAN prices, on the other hand, were driven up in Q2 by strong demand in the US - the key market for this product - but then fell when the US market season was over. Q2 NPK prices remained relatively stable on the back of similar price performance for the basic product basket. While phosphate fertiliser prices remained unchanged, lower prices for nitrogen fertilisers were offset by recovering prices for potash products. Average Indicative Prices, FOB Baltic Sea/Black Sea USD/t Q2 2020 Q1 2020 Q2 2019 Q2 2020 / Q1 2020 change Q2 2020 / Q2 2019 change NPK 16:16:16 258 252 305 2.4% -15.3% AN 153 187 197 -18.6% -22.5% UAN 144 123 138 17.2% 4.8% Urea 207 217 250 -4.7% -17.3% Ammonia 197 222 223 -11.4% -11.9% The full version of Acron Group's financial statements is available at www.acron.ru/en Note: The exchange rate used for currency conversion was RUB 69.9513 to USD 1 as of 30 June 2020 and RUB 61.9057 to USD 1 as of 31 December 2019. The average exchange rate for the first six months of 2020 was RUB 69.3714 to USD 1. The average exchange rate for the first six months of 2019 was RUB 65.3384 to USD 1. * EBITDA is calculated as operating profit adjusted for depreciation and amortisation, foreign exchange gain or loss on operating transactions, and other non-cash and extraordinary items. ** LTM EBITDA is EBITDA calculated for the past 12 months. Mediacontacts: Sergey Dorofeev Anastasiya Gromova Tatiana Smirnova Public Relations Phone: +7 (495) 777-08-65 (ext. 5196) Investor contacts: Ilya Popov Investor Relations Phone: +7 (495) 745-77-45 (ext. 5252) Background Information Acron Group is a leading vertically integrated mineral fertiliser producer in Russia and globally, with chemical production facilities in Veliky Novgorod (Acron) and Smolensk region (Dorogobuzh). The Group owns and operates a phosphate mine in Murmansk region (North-Western Phosphorous Company, NWPC) and is implementing a potash development project in Perm Krai (Verkhnekamsk Potash Company, VPC). It has a wholly owned transportation and logistics infrastructure, including three Baltic seaport terminals and distribution networks in Russia and China. Acron's subsidiary, North Atlantic Potash Inc. (NAP), holds mining leases and an exploration permit for ten parcels of the potassium salt deposit at Prairie Evaporite, Saskatchewan, Canada. Acron also holds a minority stake (19.8%) in Polish Grupa Azoty S.A., one of the largest chemical producers in Europe. In 2019, the Group sold 7.6 million tonnes of main products to 78 countries, with Russia, Brazil, Europe and the United States as key markets. In 2019, the Group posted consolidated IFRS revenue of RUB 114,835 million (USD 1,774 million) and net profit of RUB 24,786 million (USD 383 million). Acron's shares are on the Level 1 quotation list of the Moscow Exchange and its global depositary receipts are traded at the London Stock Exchange (ticker AKRN). Acron employs around 11,000 people. For more information about Acron Group, please visit www.acron.ru/en. Osteoarthritis is the most common joint problem all over the world. It most often affects middle aged to elderly people but most are older than 60 years. It affects all joints, particularly the weight bearing joints like the hip and knee. In Nigeria, the most frequently affected joint is the knee, followed by the hip. Many treatment programmes have been proven effective in the management of osteoarthritis. These range from physiotherapy to pharmacotherapy and surgery. Measuring the effectiveness of the treatments ensures optimal management, which is the most important part of clinical decision making. One way to measure the effectiveness of treatments is outcome assessment. This is a measure of the consequences of the disease and the health changes over time health under treatment. Outcome assessment is crucial as it guides the management of the patient. More importantly, outcome measures must reflect the environment, habits and lifestyle of the people they were originally developed for. Yet, almost all existing osteoathritis outcome measures exclude activities that are important to many patients we see in our clinic. For example, some of the existing osteoarthritis outcome measures do not include the postures people adopt while carrying out daily activities peculiar to Nigeria. These include the Islamic praying posture (sitting on the back heels), incomplete kneeling (by females) or prostrating (by males) to show courtesy to elders while greeting. Existing tools for assessing knee and hip osteoarthritis are largely relevant in a western cultural setting. They refer to activities such as turning faucets off and on and walking several blocks. The average Nigerian is not familiar with the concept of a block being equal to 100 metres and faucets are known as taps. The existing tools do not include numerous activities that are important to an average patient seen in a Nigerian clinic. This prompted us to conduct research to develop an outcome measure that is sensitive to the Nigerian cultural setting. We included all important activities that reflect the sociocultural and religious activity of an average Nigerian. The result is the first indigenous health measuring tool in the management of knee and hip osteoarthritis. Its called the Ibadan Knee/Hip Osteoarthritis Outcome Measure. Ibadan outcome measure tool The relevant activities in our measure include tilling of land with a hoe, cutting grass, sweeping with a short broom and using pit toilets. In certain settings, females are expected to kneel on the floor or curtsy to greet an elder, while males are expected to prostrate, squat, or bow completely to the ground. Prayer is an important part of daily activities too. The measure was specifically made for patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis as they accounted for 65%-78% of all osteoarthritis cases. In developing the Ibadan Knee/Hip Osteoarthritis Outcome Measure, we noted major areas of difficulty in physical functioning of an average Nigerian with knee and hip osteoarthritis. Selected items on this outcome measure were from other measures found in literature, as well as complaints of attending patients. The Ibadan measure is divided into three parts. The first and second part can be used and completed by the patient through an oral or written interview. The third part is assessed by the health care professional. The first part assesses the disability in achieving activities of daily living. The second part assesses restriction in participation as a result of the knee or hip osteoarthritis. The third part comprises physical performance tests. We assessed 49 patients with pain from knee or hip osteoarthritis and 49 individuals without knee or hip pain using the Ibadan Knee/Hip Osteoarthritis Outcome Measure. The patients physical function and pain intensity were assessed using our outcome measure and the Visual Analogue Scale, used to measure the intensity or frequency of various symptoms before and after a six week physiotherapy programme. The Ibadan Knee/Hip Osteoarthritis Outcome Measure scores of the patients with pain from knee or hip osteoarthritis were lower than those of the 49 individuals without knee or hip pain. After the six week physiotherapy programme, the patients scores were lower than they were before the treatment. In addition, we found significant relationships between changes in Ibadan Knee/Hip Osteoarthritis Outcome Measure and Visual Analogue Scale scores of the osteoarthritis group before and after the six week physiotherapy programme. The way forward Since its development, our tool has been used to effectively measure the changes in health status of knee or hip osteoarthritis patients. It has also been used to evaluate the end result of therapeutic intervention. Its value is that it is able to measure what it is supposed to measure. This outcome measure is listed as one of the clinical tools in knee/hip osteoarthritis in Nigeria. Health care professionals are encouraged to develop new outcome measures for other health conditions, too, with consideration for cultural sensitivity of the population, especially where such measures do not exist. For existing measures in English, cross cultural adaptation of such measures into indigenous languages is necessary. The Ibadan Knee-Hip Osteoarthritis Outcome Measure was made available in the three major Nigerian languages so that individuals with knee or hip osteoarthritis who are not literate in English are not excluded from outcomes assessment. It is available for the management of knee and hip osteoarthritis management in Nigerian and similar African contexts. Adesola C. Odole, Senior Lecturer/ Consultant Physiotherapist, University of Ibadan This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The conversation More than three weeks after a tropical storm knocked out power to most of Connecticut, state lawmakers on Thursday lambasted top management of Massachusetts-based Eversource Energy, venting the frustrations of ratepayers and charging that a slow response and poor communications were unacceptable. Members of the legislative Energy & Technology Committee questioned Eversource CEO Jim Judge for most of the day, recounting week-long outages caused by downed trees that blocked driveways, streets and entire neighborhoods for more than a million customers. Remarks by Judge created the headlines, of course for example, even though Eversource isnt required, like utilities in other states, to provide reimbursement for spoiled food, Judge hinted the company might provide something to customers, eventually, maybe. But for lawmakers locked out of the state Capitol for most of the last six months, the hearing was a rare chance, ten weeks before Election Day, to tee up on the head of a company that, in their view, did wrong by their constituents and needed to be called to reckon. The current regulatory environment is not working for Connecticut, said State Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-Westport, whose town experienced about 98-percent outages and 200 roads blocked. Tyler Sizemore / Tyler Sizemore Thursdays hearing was not the first time a CEO was hauled in to appear before the General Assembly after a crisis. But it was the biggest public backlash against a state-regulated electric monopoly since the August and October storms of 2011. Then as now, communication was a big sticking point. There was great frustration, maybe it was a communication issue, that there were not more make-safe crews available, Steinberg said, referring to the crews that identify live wires. We saw four, five, six crews, some of them out-of-state crews, sitting around often at our schools for six, seven, eight hours, without any assignments, most of the time just looking at maps. State Rep. Bill Buckbee, R-New Milford, said there were obvious breakdowns in communications between the utility and local officials, with more than 90 roads closed due to downed trees and live utility wires. I think that communication breakdown is paramount to the entire process, Buckbee said during the virtual committee meeting, which started about 10:30 and was still in process more than six hours later. Contributed Photo / Contributed Photo Judge said that under the conditions, Eversource restored service in record time. Would Eversource consider a rebate to their customers as a gesture of goodwill for the delay that was, again, while you say its been record times, for a township to go five days without hearing anything and getting anyone in the town, thats not success, thats failure as far as were concerned, Buckbee said. Is there anything that Eversource is looking to do to make things right on their own without being told they have to? I think the issue comes down to the mistakes that a company made, Judge said. You mentioned that communications is a breakdown and well take a look at just how broken we were as we do our post-storm review and file this report....and well make a decision at that time. Judge said that the company would file the report with the state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority by Sept. 8. We didnt do everything perfect and communications is something that we desperately have to work on. During his daily news conference from the State Capitol, Gov. Ned Lamont said that reimbursing customers would be a sign of good faith. Look, you could wait for regulation, you can wait for the legislators and see what they make you do, Lamont said. If I was the CEO of a company like that, I would say look, I know the incredible stress people are going through. Maybe it was a hard storm, but we all know we could have done better. And it cost some of these folks a lot in terms of financial, in terms of food and in terms of stress. I would definitely lead with a refund. I think that would be the right thing to do. During the committee session, State Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan, D-Bethel, recalled an elderly couple, one blind and the other in hospice care, was stuck without power or their landline phone for days. He saw a Twitter post from their caregiver and was able to get local police to help them. If I didnt catch that tweet who knows how much longer that couple would have suffered in the heat without medication and food, Allie-Brennan told Judge. At an elderly housing complex in nearby Redding, the power outage stopped the flow of well water. This is a life-safety issue, Allie-Brennan said. Im asking you, Mr. Judge, what do you tell that couple? Those 300 seniors, that first selectman, about your failure to restore electricity not only 48 hours after the storm, but eight and nine days later? H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media What I would say is Im sorry they had to go through the ordeal that they went through, Judge responded. I think that our team dealt with a devastating storm as effective as they could...Its heartbreaking in many ways in terms of what people had to endure here. I wish that we could provide perfect power. I really do, but its just not a possibility at this stage of the technology. It was to my thought relatively chaotic, said Rep. Stephen Meskers, D-Greenwich, stressing that the corporate response seemed too positive for the occasion, amid the actual frustration of ratepayers. He said local crews that were prepared to remove trees, faced the inability to shut power because of the failures of Eversource. Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media I understand this was a cost-driven decision, Meskers said. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT ADHD in teenagers may be triggered by exposure to a group of common chemicals used in applications from food packaging and drugs to cosmetics and fragrances. US experts found associations between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-related behaviour and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, especially phthalates. Phthalates are typically added to plastics to improve their flexibility, transparency, durability and longevity. According to the team, the problematic chemicals act like artificial hormones with phthalates in particular interfering with the normal activity of androgens. These 'male' hormones which include testosterone and are found in all humans, albeit in different amounts play a role in both male traits and reproduction. ADHD in teenagers may be triggered by exposure to a group of common chemicals used in applications from food packaging and drugs to cosmetics such as shampoos, pictured 'Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are used in a wide variety of consumer products resulting in ubiquitous exposure,' paper author and epidemiologist Jessica Shoaff of the Harvard Medical School and colleagues wrote in their paper. 'The study findings suggest that exposure to some of these chemicals, particularly certain phthalates, during adolescence may be associated with behaviours characteristic of ADHD.' 'The identification of modifiable risk factors for ADHD is of great public health importance,' they continued. In their study, Dr Shoaff and colleagues measured the chemicals found in urine samples taken from 205 adolescents. They compared this analysis with the result of behavioural surveys undertaken both by each teenager, as well as their parents and their teachers. From this, the team identified which of the young participants had 'significant behavioural problems' with 40 per cent meeting this criteria and 19 per cent a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. 'Each 2-fold increase in the sum of antiandrogenic phthalate concentrations was associated with a 1.34 increase in the risk of significant ADHD-related behaviour problems,' the researchers said. The associations, the team added, 'tended to be stronger in male participants.' The full findings of the study were published in the journal JAMA Network Open. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey officials said Thursday they will not follow new, more restrictive coronavirus testing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention denounced as insufficient by many public health experts. People who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 should be tested, even if they have no symptoms, Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said Thursday, adding that identifying people who have the infection is key to stop[ping] the chain of transmission. He and Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey were among several leaders, including the governors of New York, Connecticut, Kentucky, Washington, and California, who said they were alarmed by the change and would not heed the guidance. The Pennsylvania Department of Health will not change its testing guidelines either, and Gov. Tom Wolfs administration is continuing to work on expanding testing availability, a spokesperson told The Inquirer. The CDCs new guidelines said it isnt necessary for those who have been exposed to infected people to get tested if they dont have symptoms. After that prompted sharp criticism on Wednesday, CDC Director Robert Redfield made a clarification Thursday, saying that testing may be considered for people who have been in close contact with someone with the virus. READ MORE: Officials change COVID testing advice, bewildering experts The CDC had previously recommended testing for anyone who had been within six feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes. Widespread testing has been a key component of the coronavirus response for most countries. People can transmit the virus even when they dont feel sick, and the CDC estimated in July that 40% of people infected are asymptomatic. President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested the United States should do less testing without providing any scientific rationale, and in June told a rally that he asked his staff to slow down testing. On Wednesday, the leading association of U.S. infectious-disease experts called for the CDC to immediately reverse the decision, and the American Medical Association said the guidelines were a recipe for community spread and more spikes. Testing is not only used to stop someone from transmitting the virus, but also the percentage of tests that come back positive is a key indicator in how the virus is spreading and in guiding public health decisions about shutdowns and other measures. Robust testing has been crucial in decreasing the spread of the virus, Murphy said in a joint statement with the governors of New York and Connecticut. This 180-degree reversal of COVID-19 testing guidelines is reckless, and not based on science and has the potential to do long-term damage to the [CDCs] reputation, they said in the statement. This abrupt and ill-informed shift threatens the robust testing regimes our states have worked tirelessly to stand up with our federal partners. The governors noted that the CDC and Department of Health and Human Services had not provided scientific evidence for the policy change, something the AMA also called on the federal agencies to do. Redfield said in his Thursday statement that everyone who needs a test can get a test, but said: Everyone who wants a test does not necessarily need a test; the key is to engage the needed public health community in the decision with the appropriate follow-up action. However, the CDCs website still said people who have been exposed and dont have symptoms 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 agency applied the same guidelines to asymptomatic people who live in an area of high virus transmission and have attended a gathering of 10 or more people without masks or social distancing. Farley recommended that anyone who has been exposed to someone with the coronavirus wait about seven days after exposure before getting tested to ensure an accurate test result. But he said the public health goal for stopping the spread of the virus is to increase testing, not decrease it. As the case rates go down, testing for those people who have been exposed is even more important, Farley said, because we want to identify as many people with the infection as possible so that we can do contact tracing and stop the chain of transmission. Almost half of Philadelphia residents who catch the virus know whom they got it from usually a household member, a relative, or a friend, the city has learned through contact tracing. Testing yielded new information in the region Thursday: Less than 3% of the 3,200 Philadelphia test results returned within the last day were positive, and of the 151,008 tests administered statewide between Aug. 20 and Aug. 26, about 2.9% were positive, the Department of Public Health said. Those relatively low numbers indicate a slower spread. We see continued progress against the coronavirus epidemic with improving signs locally, regionally, and nationally, Farley said. In reporting new cases of the virus Thursday, Philadelphia confirmed 88, Pennsylvania 620, and New Jersey 374. Less than two weeks into its fall semester, Bloomsburg University announced 90 cases of the coronavirus had been reported among students and said it would switch to mostly remote instruction. Elsewhere, no fans will be allowed at Eagles games until further notice, the Eagles said Thursday, saying the state and city had provided confirmation of the expected moratorium on spectators. As autumn nears and preparation begins for the annual flu season to occur amid a pandemic, Wolf announced $10 million in grant funding for projects working on coronavirus vaccines, treatments, and therapies. The money will go to 23 promising projects, including vaccines and treatments such as developing a protective antibody and determining whether cancer medication would help coronavirus patients. We know that the only way we can get back to our normal lives is by developing a robust testing and tracing infrastructure combined with effective, safe and affordable treatments and vaccines, the governor said in a statement. Farley said it is unknown what exactly the virus will do when late fall and winter arrive. Its such a new virus, he said. Anything is possible. Staff writers Erin McCarthy, Rob Tornoe and Susan Snyder contributed to this article, which also contains information from the Associated Press. In a surprising move, American multinational retail corporation Walmart has joined Microsoft to bid for the Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok, which has come under fire from US President Donald Trump's administration. TikTok has gained hundreds of millions of users globally but is facing resistance due to its ties with China. While the Indian government has banned the app, the White House is pushing TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance to sell its US business if it wants to keep operating in the country. Walmart's decision to bid for the video app has caught quite a few off guard. While the brick-and-mortar giant isn't the likeliest candidate to own an internet app, which is wildly popular with Generation Z, a look at the retailer's ambitions shows that the decision is part of a long-term plan to attract more shoppers, advertisers and vendors. Through TikTok, the retail giant wants to significantly expand its customer base. Walmart believes it can scale its third-party marketplace and advertising businesses by joining hands with Microsoft and acquiring the video app. "The way TikTok has integrated e-commerce and advertising capabilities in other markets is a clear benefit to creators and users in those markets. We believe a potential relationship with TikTok US in partnership with Microsoft could add this key functionality and provide Walmart with an important way to reach and serve omnichannel customers," a Walmart spokesperson told Yahoo Finance. Also Read: How TikTok's talks with Microsoft turned into a soap opera "We are confident that a Walmart and Microsoft partnership would meet both the expectations of US TikTok users while satisfying the concerns of US government regulators," the retailer said in a statement. Walmart's shares were up about 4.4 percent after the news broke. Microsoft and Walmart are already business partners as Microsoft provides cloud computing services that help run the retailer's stores and online shopping. The two companies signed a 5-year partnership in 2018, in a bid to counter shared rival Amazon. The emergence of Walmart's bid follows the resignation of TikTok's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kevin Mayer. After taking charge as CEO on June 1, Mayer quit TikTok less than three months on August 27, citing 'change in the political environment'. "In recent weeks, as the political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural changes will require, and what it means for the global role I signed up for. With a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company," Mayer said in the letter. In addition to Walmart and Microsoft, Oracle is also bidding for TikTok's US operations along with a coalition of investors. Backing the computer technology corporation, Trump had on August 18 said that Oracle was a great company that could handle buying TikTok. The Trump administration is forcing a sale of TikTok's U.S. operations because of its Chinese ownership. US authorities are concerned that TikTok would turn over user data to Chinese authorities and that it censors content that would upset China. ByteDance on August 27 said that it is moving fast to address issues related to its video-sharing platform TikTok's ban in India and the US. Chairman of ByteDance Zhang Yiming said the company is moving quickly to find resolutions to the issues it faces globally, particularly in the US and India. "I can assure you that we are developing solutions that will be in the interest of users, creators, partners, and employees," he said. ByteDance launched TikTok in 2017, then bought Musical.ly, a video service popular with teens in the US and Europe, and combined the two. Conservative commentator Ann Coulter tweeted support for accused Wisconsin shooter Kyle Rittenhouse, saying "I want him as my president". Twitter removed Ms Coulter's statements for violating the platform's rules after users took offence at her opinion, made in response to a user saying they wanted the teenager as a "bodyguard". Mr Rittenhouse, 17, was charged with first-degree intentional homicide in connection with shootings that left two people dead during the violence in Kenosha on Tuesday night. Analysis of the video from the scene of Tuesday night's shootings showed a man pursued by a group before an unknown gunman fires nearby. He turns in the direction of the shots. As someone else lunges towards him, the teenager appears to fire four times. The second shooting occurs after the man trips and falls while leaving the scene of the first shooting. As three people rush toward him, he appears to fire four times while at least 16 other gunshots sound out around him. This timeline of events has left some observers to question whether the man was acting in self-defence, with Fox News host Tucker Carlson also being criticised for considering that scenario. "A court will decide whether what you just saw qualifies as self-defence. As of tonight, we really don't have more details," Mr Carlson said on his show Wednesday. "We do know why it all happened, though. Kenosha is devolved into anarchy because the authorities in charge of the city abandoned it. People in charge, from the governor of Wisconsin on down, refused to enforce the law. They stood back and they watched Kenosha burn. "So are we really surprised that looting and arson accelerated to murder? How shocked are we that 17-year-olds with rifles decided they had to maintain order when no one else would? Everyone could see what was happening in Kenosha. It was getting crazier by the hour," he continued. An attorney for a Charlotte man accused of fatally shooting a Kernersville man in 2018 wants Forsyth prosecutors to turn over information about an alleged deal with the getaway driver, who is now the DJ for rapper DaBaby. The attorney said in the motion that she found out the possible deal in an email exchange this month. According to search warrants, the driver admitted his role in interviews with Kernersville police and identified the three men who have been charged in the fatal shooting. /* custom css */ .tdi_75_370.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_370 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_370.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_370.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_370.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), has sealed off 677 premises of Pharmacies and Patent Medicine Stores in Kano over lack of compliance to professional guidelines in handling and selling of medicines in the state. PCN Registrar, Pharm. Nurudeen Mohammed, who spoke after a weeklong Inspection and Monitoring engaged by the Council, declared that lack of adequate training and language barrier as parts of the major challenges facing Patent and Propriety Medicines Vendors (PPMVs) in Kano. He was represented by the Director, Inspection and Monitoring, Pharm. Anthonia Aruya. According to him, at the end of the exercise, a total of 996 premises were visited, comprising of 65 pharmacies and 931 PPMV shops. /* custom css */ .tdi_74_73a.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_73a .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_73a.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_73a.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_73a.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Six hundred and seventy-seven premises were sealed, comprising of 41 pharmacies and 638 PPVM shops for not registering or renewing their premises licence as required by law or infringing on any other provisions of the law bordering PCN mandate. He added that 15 compliance directives were issued to three pharmacies and 12 PPMVs for lapses that can easily be corrected. Pharm Nurudeen, however, observed that, many stakeholders open medicine stores at will without recourse to regulations, some could not write or read in English which makes one wonder how they are able to give the right medicines to the right patient. Overall, there is a displayed lack of understanding of the fact that handling of medicines is firstly a professional service before consideration of the business component. The Registrar insisted that, the PCN will follow the process through to provide required guidance to improve the level of service delivery in Kano state. He said two Committees responsible for monitoring and inspection across the state have been re-activated to move round twice a week to ensure strict compliance of professionalism in the handling and sell of medicines, both wholesale and retail. The PCN boss further stated that, professional aspect of pharmacy should take precedent over the business aspect. We inspect and monitor to ensure that they do what is right. He, however, lamented that, people dont submit themselves to training before handling the scope of medicines that is approved for them to sell. This we observed here in Kano, particularly, in the hinterlands. He also hinted that, we did not make any arrest, because arrests are made when there is resistance. Through out our assignment here in Kano, there was no resistance. Pharm. Nurudeen, however, advised the public to, look out for the Pharmacists annual licence to practice and the premises certificate which should be conspicuously displayed or made readily available and the licence of the PPMV to avoid patronizing quacks. He warned that medicines sold in unregistered outlets cannot be quaranteed to have efficacy, quality and safety as those sold in regulated facilities. While expressing appreciation to security agencies, Kano state Ministry of Health, and other stakeholders, the PCN Registrar, maintained that, our activities is geared towards cleaning and sanitizing the system. A placard states "ALL SMALL BUSINESS IS ESSENTIAL" as demonstrators, employees, and patrons gather outside the Atilis Gym on May 20, 2020 in Bellmawr, New Jersey. As stimulus talks remain deadlocked in Washington, the situation on Main Street is becoming increasingly dire. The window to apply for new Paycheck Protection Program loans has expired and many who have accessed loans have used the funding. As businesses operate with limited capacity due to Covid-19 restrictions, new data show many anticipate more aid will be needed or the sector's decimation will continue. Recent data from the National Federation of Independent Business finds that one in five businesses say they will have to shut down if economic conditions don't improve within the next six months. Lawmakers are considering two approaches to turn the economic tide: stimulus to encourage consumer spending and small business loans to help keep Main Street afloat, but both have been tied up in negotiations for weeks. The survey from the advocacy group finds that 84% of respondents have used their entire PPP loan, with the remainder likely not far behind. Just under half say they'd apply for a second PPP loan if eligible, with another 31% saying they would consider applying for more aid. Forty-seven percent of PPP loan borrowers anticipate needing additional aid in the next 12 months, the survey of 562 members found. Last month, the House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) testified that some 110,000 small businesses had permanently closed and 7.5 million more were facing the same fate. CNBC reported Wednesday that Republican lawmakers in the Senate were working on a "skinny" $500 billion coronavirus relief bill that would include reauthorizing the small business loan program. Business owners like Paul Hoodless, owner of Rose Dry Cleaners in San Antonio, Texas, is eager for a second loan. After using his $90,000 in PPP aid in its entirety over an eight-week period earlier in the crisis, he's kept most of his staff of now 18 on board and said additional aid is critical. "We've done everything we can to help everybody continue to buy groceries and make their car payment and [pay] the light bill. But frankly, we're bleeding we're really hurting," Hoodless, an NFIB member, said. "We're white knuckling it out here, and hopeful and prayerful that that is going to come together here pretty quick." Hoodless, like other small business owners and Main Street advocates, is hopeful Congress may take action to further simplify the forgiveness process and potentially automatically forgive all loans under $150,000. The Consumer Bankers Association, along with 140 trade groups, have pushed to have this become a reality with congressional approval via the Paycheck Protection Program Small Business Forgiveness Act in the House, and its Senate counterpart. Both bills have bipartisan support. "This would potentially save small business owners thousands of dollars and up to 100 hours of paperwork at a time when they are still facing economic uncertainty. And, nothing in the bill would prevent the audit of these loans for potential fraud," CBA President and CEO Richard Hunt said in a statement to CNBC. Hunt added that small business and bank owners are waiting for more simplification before submitting applications. The CBA along with the International Franchise Association requested to the Treasury Department and the Small Business Administration that all rules and guidance in the next wave of PPP enhancements be finalized before going into effect. "Through this program, the only thing that has been certain is the uncertainty," Hunt said. "Banks have started taking applications or are preparing to start taking applications now that the SBA's system is up. But there is still a great deal of confusion on behalf of small businesses about both the complexity of the forgiveness forms and what additional changes might be forthcoming." With office routines disrupted, Hoodless said revenue at his four dry cleaning locations is down more than 50%. He said he and other businesses are running out of time, and he is hopeful lawmakers will consider passing small business aid independent of a full stimulus measure. "It's super critical to be released from this deadlock that seems to be tied in with negotiating other items. Not sure why [small business aid] can't be broken out, and then go ahead and get to the streets, because we're not just talking about the small business owner that's trying to continue to keep the doors open. We're talking about, in my case, those 18 people and their families and their needs and what's happening there," he said. "It's extraordinarily urgent." Until now, more than 800 Lebanese-Armenians have arrived in Armenia. This is what High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of Armenia Zareh Sinanyan told reporters in parliament today. Some of them arrived before the blast in Beirut, that is, when the first plane arrived in Yerevan. Currently, there are two flights from Beirut to Armenia every week, and all the planes are full of passengers. The Lebanese-Armenians have various problems, and the Office of the High Commissioner is constantly in contact with them. Were still working on a package of actions to take, but some of the Lebanese-Armenians dont need state support. At this moment, Armenian society is very kind towards the Armenians devastated by the economic crisis and blast in Lebanon and is willing to help. Therefore, you would be surprised to know how many people are offering to host Lebanese-Armenians in their homes. There are people who are offering Lebanese-Armenians to stay in their resorts. In other words, we can take care of everyones needs, he said, adding that the package of actions will be placed into circulation on September 1. Subscriber content preview NEW YORK (AP) When the iconic T. Rex at the American Museum of Natural History again welcomes visitors, it will gaze down at humans acting a bit differently. They will still gape up at its massive skeleton, but there will be fewer of them. They'll stand farther apart and wear masks. Other pandemic precautions will include hand sanitizer stations and one-way signs guiding guests through exhibits. . . . German drug company Bayer AG said on Thursday there were bumps in sealing its $11 billion settlement of thousands of U.S. lawsuits over its Roundup weed killer after a U.S. judge cast doubt on the progress of the agreement. Bayer is battling a slew of lawsuits stemming from its $63 billion takeover of seed and chemical company Monsanto in 2018. The company unveiled the settlement in June, which paused the lawsuits while details of the agreement are hammered out. U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria threatened to restart the litigation and let it move forward after questioning if Bayer was going back on the settlement, according to a Bloomberg News report. There are often some bumps in the road in implementing a resolution of this magnitude, but we remain confident that a comprehensive settlement will be finalized and executed, said a statement from Bayer. A lawyer for consumers said he was prepared to bring cases to trial. I agree that these Monsantos shenanigans need to stop. Either settle or dont at this point the only enemy is indecision, Brent Wisner told Reuters. Chhabria told the parties to continue to finalize the settlement and to confer about next steps should the litigation resume and scheduled a Sept. 24 hearing to discuss progress, according to a source who monitored the hearing. Chhabria criticized the companys description of the settlement in June and said on Thursday he was inclined to make public several confidential letters from consumer lawyers complaining that Bayers Monsanto unit is reneging on the deal, Bloomberg News said. Bayer shares slumped after it closed the Monsanto deal in June 2018 as juries ruled against the company. As of April, the company had been sued by 52,500 U.S. plaintiffs who blame glyphosate-based weed killers for their cancer. (Reporting By Mrinalika Roy in Bengaluru and Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Tom Brown) Topics USA After remains of dead dolphins washed up in the shore of Mauritius a month after the oil spill that contaminated its waters, the Greenpeace movement called n the country's government to conduct an urgent investigation. In a statement by the senior climate and energy campaign manager of Greenpeace Africa, Happy Khambule, she stated that the incident reflects a sad and alarming day for the people of Mauritius. She also appealed to the authorities on behalf of the movement to initiate a transparent, swift, and public autopsy on the remains of the dolphins that were recovered. On July 25, the Japanese-owned ship MV-Wakashia hit a coral reef of the Indian Ocean. The hit caused damage to the ship causing oil from the vessel to spill on August 6. The government immediately declared a state of environmental emergency after the incident, Jakarta Post reported. A large area of corals was highly affected by the spill; thus, fish and other marine life were affected as well. The spill was referred to by experts as the worst ecological disaster in the country. Scientists have stated that as the impact of the spill continues to unfold, the damage may affect the country and its economy, which highly dependent on tourism for decades. Moreover, on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported that a minimum of 14 dead dolphins has washed up on the coast of Mauritius, citing experts and environmental groups for the data. Meanwhile, there were also dolphins that have been stranded onshore and looked seriously ill, as stated by Sunil Dowarkasing, an environmental consultant. Read also: China Launches Powerful Missiles Into South China Sea, Sending a Message to Intimidate US According to Dowarkashing, the country has never seen the deaths of dolphins like this before. He also expressed frustration and stated that it is a terrible day for Mauritius. Meanwhile, an official from the country's fisheries ministry Jasvin Sok Appadu stated that the number of dead dolphins is now at 17. He also added that the dead mammals have sustained several wounds on their jaws and around it. However, he noted that no trace of oil was found in their bodies. In an interview with Reuters, Appadu stated that the dolphins that can barely swim and looked very fatigued. Eco-Sud, a local environmental group in Mauritius, also called the government to publicize the results of the autopsy on the mammals. They also stated that they wanted to be present while the autopsy is being performed in order to completely understand the cause of the dolphins' death. At the moment, the group is still waiting for a response from the government. Aside from the dolphins, reports also stated that melon-headed whales have also washed up on the coast of the country. The report stated that the whales washed up on the shores alive but died later on. The whales appeared to have sustained injuries. While many have assumed that the death of the creatures was due to the oil spill, experts stated that it is still too soon to conclude anything. At the moment, the country has already reached out to the United Nations for help regarding the oil spill and has also called on experts on environmental protection. Related article: State of Environmental Emergency Declared as Mauritius Struggles to Contain Oil Spill @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Pakistan said on Thursday that it was not legally possible to allow a lawyer from India to represent Indian prisoner on death row Kulbhushan Jadhav in a court in this country. Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri was asked at the weekly press briefing about India's demand to appoint a local counsel to plead Jadhav's case in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) which announced that it would the case on September 3. "The Indian side has been also making incongruous demands of allowing an Indian lawyer to represent Commander Jadhav. We have repeatedly told them only those lawyers can represent Commander Jadhav in the court who have a licence to practise law in Pakistan. This is in accordance with legal practice in other jurisdictions also," he said. The spokesman also said that the Indian Supreme Court, in one of its judgments, also ruled that foreign lawyers cannot practise law within the country. Jadhav, the 50-year-old retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of "espionage and terrorism" in April 2017. Weeks later, India approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav and challenging the death sentence. The Hague-based ICJ ruled in July last year that Pakistan must undertake an "effective review and reconsideration" of the conviction and sentence of Jadhav and also to grant consular access to India without further delay. "The ICJ judgment clearly says that the review and reconsideration process would be carried out in Pakistani courts as per the laws of Pakistan," Chaudhri said. He said immediately after the ICJ's verdict, Pakistan informed Jadhav of his rights; provided consular access; and put a stay on his execution. He said the provision of effective review and reconsideration is also under process. Chaudhri said Pakistan facilitated the meeting of Jadhavs family on humanitarian grounds and also provided second consular access to him. Last month, Pakistan provided consular access to Jadhav, days ahead of a deadline to file a review petition in a court here against his conviction by a military court. This was the second consular access to Jadhav. The first consular access was provided by Pakistan on September 2, 2019, the Foreign Office said in a statement "However, the Indian consular officials abruptly left while the consular meeting with Commander Jadhav was underway," the spokesman claimed. Chaudhri said that to give effect to the ICJ judgment, the Government of Pakistan has itself approached the Islamabad High Court and India must come forward and cooperate with the court in Pakistan to give effect to the judgment of the ICJ. Pakistan claims that its security forces arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3, 2016 after he reportedly entered from Iran. India maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy. Dublin, Aug. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "5G-powered Digital Economy Catalyzing the Global Wireless Technology Market, 2020-2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global wireless technology market is well established and is witnessing a period of dynamic growth. This market is expected to expand its revenues from $1,431.3 billion in 2019 to $5,519.4 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 31%. Wireless technology is used for enabling connectivity between different communication networks, within enterprises, or in residential buildings to reduce complexity between different cabling networks. There is a growing business need for the technology to improve operational efficiency, achieve quicker decision-making capability, and generate cost savings. 5G, which is one of the major drivers for this market is set to become a new catalyst in the digital economy, generating new growth avenues in the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and other business models. Smart manufacturing has led to a rise in connected machines and automated plant floors. Connected machines offer complete transparency and quicker identification of faults, helping manufacturers to become more productive and efficient in making operational decisions. The global wireless technology market can be segmented on the basis of key end-user verticals (i.e., Enterprises and Service Providers), key technologies (i.e., Wi-Fi and cellular), and region (i.e. North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), and Rest of World (RoW)). IBM, Broadcom, Micro Focus, SmartBear Software, Cygnet Infotech are the top 5 participants in the Wi-Fi technology market offering a broad range of services to customers. Leading vendors in the cellular technology segment include AT&T, NTT DOCOMO (Nippon Telegraph & Telegraph), Softbank Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, Telstra, and Telefonica. The key application segments for this market are automotive, consumer electronics, healthcare, public safety, wearable devices, energy, and others. Leading participants in the wireless technology market comprise Verizon Communications, China Mobile Ltd, Softbank Group Corporation, and Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. These 4 companies together contributed an 8.6% share of the total market revenue. APAC will account for the largest revenue share by region during the forecast period. The wireless technology market is growing at a high rate in countries such as China, India, and Japan. The primary factor leading to market growth in the region is the growing adoption of smartphones and other consumer electronic devices, along with the growth in smart city projects in countries like China and India. Significant upgrades in the network characteristics will lead to a rise in use cases across industries. Faster speed, low latency, and higher bandwidth will allow for innovations and billions of new connected devices. Governmental support for R&D activities, the establishment of frameworks for spectrum, and improvements to the digital business environment will be the key factors driving technology implementation in the near future. Story continues Companies Mentioned AT&T Broadcom China Mobile Ltd. Cygnet Infotech Deutsche Telekom IBM Micro Focus Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. NTT DOCOMO (Nippon Telegraph & Telegraph) SmartBear Software Softbank Group Corporation Softbank Telecom Telefonica Telstra Verizon Communications For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/g65h5b 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 NEW YORK, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK KEVIN D. MEYER, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated, Plaintiff, v. UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORPORATION, SHAN-CHIEH CHIEN, JASON WANG, PO-WEN YEN, and CHITUNG LIU, Defendants. No. 19-cv-02304-VM SUMMARY NOTICE OF PENDENCY AND PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION TO: ALL PERSONS WHO PURCHASED OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRED UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORPORATION AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES DURING THE PERIOD OCTOBER 28, 2015 AND NOVEMBER 1, 2018, INCLUSIVE, AND WERE ALLEGEDLY DAMAGED THEREBY (THE "CLASS") YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and an Order of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, that Court-appointed Lead Plaintiff Mark Nelson ("Lead Plaintiff") on behalf of himself and all members of the Class, and Defendants United Microelectronics Corporation ("UMC" or the "Company") and certain of its current and former officers and/or directors, including Shan-Chieh Chien, Jason Wang, Po-Wen Yen, and Chitung Liu (collectively with UMC, "Defendants"), have reached a proposed settlement of the above-captioned action (the "Action") in the amount of $3,000,000 (the "Settlement Amount"). A hearing will be held before the Honorable Victor Marrero, United States District Judge of the Southern District of New York, in Courtroom 15B of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, New York, New York 10007 at 10:00 am. on January 15, 2021 (the "Settlement Hearing") for, among other things, the purpose of determining: (i) whether the proposed Settlement should be approved by the Court as fair, reasonable, and adequate; (ii) whether the proposed plan to distribute the Settlement proceeds is fair, reasonable, and adequate; (iii) whether the application for an award of attorneys' fees of 30% of the Settlement Amount, reimbursement of litigation expenses of approximately $75,000, and an award to the Lead Plaintiff Mark Nelson should be approved; and (iv) whether the Class Action should be dismissed with prejudice. The Court may change the date of the Settlement Hearing without providing further notice. You do NOT need to attend the Settlement Hearing to receive a distribution from the Net Settlement Fund. IF YOU PURCHASED OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRED UMC AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES BETWEEN THE PERIOD OCTOBER 28, 2015 AND NOVEMBER 1, 2018, INCLUSIVE (THE "CLASS PERIOD"), YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE SETTLEMENT OF THIS CLASS ACTION AND YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO A MONETARY PAYMENT. If you have not received a detailed Notice of Pendency and Settlement of Class Action (the "Notice") and a copy of the Proof of Claim and Release, you may obtain copies by contacting the Claims Administrator by mail at UMC Securities Litigation, Claims Administrator, Analytics Consulting LLC, P.O. Box 2007, Chanhassen, MN 55317-2007; by toll-free phone at 1-855-917-4968; or by visiting the website www.UMCSecuritiesLitigation.com . If you are a member of the Class, in order to share in the distribution of the Net Settlement Fund, you must submit a Proof of Claim and Release postmarked no later than January 8, 2021 to the Claims Administrator, establishing that you are entitled to recovery. Unless you submit a written exclusion request, you will be bound by any judgment rendered in the Action whether or not you make a claim. If you would like to be excluded from the Class, you must submit a request for exclusion so that it is received no later than December 16, 2020, in the manner and form explained in the detailed Notice. Any objection to the Settlement, Plan of Allocation, Class Counsel's request for an award of attorneys' fees and reimbursement of expenses, or payment to Lead Plaintiffs must be in the manner and form explained in the detailed Notice and received no later than December 16, 2020 by each of the following: Clerk of the Court United States District Court Southern District of New York 500 Pearl Street New York, NY 10007 Gregory M. Nespole LEVI & KORSINSKY, LLP 55 Broadway New York, NY 10006 Tel.: (212) 363-7500 Fax: (212) 363-7171 James F. Moyle LAZARE POTTER GIACOVAS & MOYLE LLP 747 Third Ave., 16th Fl. New York, NY 10017 Tel: (212) 758-9300 Fax: (212) 888-0919 Jason A. D'Angelo HERRICK, FEINSTEIN LLP Two Park Avenue New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 592-1400 Fax: (212) 592-1500 If you have any questions about the Settlement, you may call or write to Class Counsel: Gregory M. Nespole LEVI & KORSINSKY, LLP 55 Broadway New York, NY 10006 Tel.: (212) 363-7500 Fax: (212) 363-7171 PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT OR THE CLERK'S OFFICE REGARDING THIS NOTICE. DATED: AUGUST 28, 2020 BY ORDER OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky A member of the Popular Front of India (PFI) was arrested in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday from Lucknows Krishnanagar locality for posting alleged incendiary messages on the social media, the police said. Confirming the arrest, additional commissioner of police (ACP) Harish Singh Bhadauria said, We have arrested one Mohamed Dilshad, who is associated with PFI, for posting incendiary messages on social media platforms a few days ago. Dilshad is the legal in charge of PFI in the region. The FIR against Dilshad was lodged at Krishnanagar police station on Wednesday. Earlier, more than a dozen members of PFI were arrested after violent anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (anti-CAA) protests in December last year. The Popular Front of India is also under investigation for its alleged role in August 11-12 Bengaluru riots in retaliation to an allegedly objectionable social media post by a relative of a local Congress MLA. The Karnataka government is mulling banning the outfit and its offshoot, Social Democratic Party of India. Also Read: SP removes backward classes cell chief after anti-Ram remarks PFIs name had also cropped in Delhi riots that took place in February this year. Earlier this month, the National Investigative Agency (NIA) arrested one PFI member in connection with the Kerala gold smuggling case. The outfit, however, denied being associated with the man. The NIA has said that a major portion of the proceeds from smuggling was used to fund anti-national activities. (Natural News) Packaging has a major role in the protection and shelf-life extension of food products. For decades, food producers and manufacturers had used plastic-based packaging because it is cheap and accessible. But due to the alarming plastic pollution problem that continues to escalate around the globe, scientists are beginning to look into biodegradable substitutes for plastic packaging. In a major breakthrough, a team of Indian and Tunisian scientists utilized pumpkin seeds and peels to create biodegradable packaging films. The team also studied different compositions of the films using different ratios of seeds to peel. It appeared that an equal ratio of defatted pumpkin seeds to peel produced the strongest film. Their findings appeared online in the journal Food and Bioproducts Processing. Repurposing pumpkin seeds and peel into biodegradable packaging Pumpkins are popular crops around the globe, and their seeds and peels make up the bulk of commercial pumpkin waste. Laxmikant Badwaik, a food engineer from Tezpur University in India, and his colleagues theorized that commercial pumpkin waste can be utilized to create biodegradable films for food packaging. To start, the group collected mature pumpkin seeds and peels from a local market in India. Both waste products were washed and dried first before being ground into a powder. This process helped de-fat or eliminate the remaining oils in both waste products. The scientists then dissolved this powder in water to create a film-forming solution. This was then treated with ultrasound for 45 minutes to break down large molecules in the solution. The scientists added calcium chloride for strength and an emulsifier after the solution has cooled, then poured it across non-stick plates for casting. Badwaik and his colleagues repeated this process five times using different ratios of seeds to peel each time. This was done in order to test which film-forming solution produced the best film in terms of its mechanical, barrier and optical properties, as well as its tensile strength. The film-forming solution made with an equal ratio of defatted seeds to peel produced the strongest biodegradable film. The development of biodegradable packaging film is one of the better options for the effective use of commercial food waste, the scientists wrote. Furthermore, producing biodegradable films at a large scale will also be more cost-effective than plastic production due to the waste materials used and the simple film-making method, the group added. However, a more economical and sustainable commercial model for production needs to be developed first before this biodegradable film can be introduced to the market. (Related: Researchers develop blend of bioplastics that can decompose under diverse conditions.) Bio-paper has antibacterial effects Food producers and manufacturers have been scrambling in the recent decade to lessen their carbon and environmental footprint while also saving on costs. Biodegradable films and packaging like the ones that Badwaik and his colleagues made had been the solution to that. In 2018, the European Union (EU) funded a project called YPACK that aimed to develop a compostable alternative to plastic food packaging. The resulting bio-paper was made using food industry by-products, such as cheese whey and almond shells. Tests showed that the material fully degraded within the regulated 90 days. YPACK project coordinator Jose Maria Lagaron from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) also said that the bio-paper had potent antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. These two are among the most common causes of food poisoning in humans. Lagaron and his colleagues had incorporated zinc oxide and oregano essential oil into the bio-papers. Both compounds are known to have antimicrobial properties. In addition, lab results showed that the bio-paper can increase the shelf life of fresh products like meat, fruits and vegetables. The YPACK project has entered the next phase of consumer acceptance and shelf-life studies, and it is set to be presented at a conference in Brussels in October 2020 before being introduced to the market. Read more articles about biodegradable substitutes for plastic-based packaging at Products.news. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk BioPlasticNews.com Federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania indicted four American men August 27 allegedly conspiring to buy Iranian crude oil for a Chinese refinery as part of a scheme to circumvent U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Nicholas Hovan, 34, Daniel Ray Lane, 39, Robert Thwaites, 30, and Zhenyu Wang, 39, allegedly devised a plan to illegally buy the Iranian crude oil then ship it to China, through a secret vessel to vessel transfer, twice per month. They were expected to pocket $28 million profit per month. Each of the men was charged with conspiracy, violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), and money laundering. "The defendants allegedly conspired to sell Iranian petroleum to a Chinese refinery to enrich themselves at the U.S. Iran sanctions regime's expense," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security, John C. Demers. "The defendants devised a scheme to use front companies, bribes, and false contractual documents to conceal their brazenly illicit activity. We will continue to leverage all of our tools to detect and prevent individuals such as these from engaging in actions that would have harmed this nation's national security," Mr. Demers stressed. Washington dropped the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in May 2018 and reimposed batches of devastating economic sanctions on the clergy-dominated Iran. Since then, international organizations and oil tanker tracker companies say, Iran's oil exports fell from 2.5 million to less than 300,000 barrels per day (BPD), most of which went to China and Syria. Nonetheless, an international tanker tracking firm, TankerTrackers.com, recently reported that Iran's oil exports are probably twice what international organizations and companies estimate. One prevalent practice is to transfer oil between tankers on the high seas to conceal shipment of Iranian crude. Reports also maintain that Iran sells part of its oil to China as Malaysian and Indonesian crude. The United States has so far added dozens of companies, tankers, and foreign nationals to its blacklist for violating Iranian oil sanctions. According to the Department of Justice, the four indicted in Pennsylvania attempted to conceal the crude oil's origin by, among other things, bribing an official in the Chinese government. Additionally, as part of their plan to launder their scheme's proceeds, the defendants tried to obtain Antigua passports to open Swiss bank accounts and launder their profit. Prosecutors also alleged that the four plotted to launder the profits from the illicit sales through a series of shell entities and offshore financial accounts to prevent authorities from detecting the funds' origin. "It doesn't get much lower than attempting to get rich by flouting the United States' national security interests," said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania William M. McSwain. "The defendants here allegedly jeopardized the United States' safety and security by scheming to get in bed with Iran and China. This type of conspiracy deserves the full condemnation of my office, and it has it," McSwain asserted. According to the indictment, between May 2019 (when the United States suspended oil waivers for Iranian customers) until February 2020, the four conspired in Philadelphia and other areas to buy Iranian oil and sell it to China. The report says the men were arrested in February 2020. The quartet had planned the monthly sale of two Iranian oil consignments. The defendants face a maximum possible sentence of 45 years in jail and a $1.75 million fine. Kim Jong-un inspected typhoon damage with a cob of corn in his hand on Thursday - scotching the latest rumours that he is gravely ill or dead. North Korea's supreme leader gave an upbeat verdict on the storm damage as he examined rice paddies and bean crops in the coastal province where Typhoon Bavi made landfall early yesterday. The dictator's health has been the subject of persistent speculation in recent months, which resurfaced this week when an aide to a former South Korean president claimed that Kim was in a coma. South Korea's spy agency separately claimed Kim had delegated some authority to his sister Kim Yo-jong to relieve his 'governance stress'. Alive and well: Kim Jong-un and his masked officials hold cobs of corn as they inspect a typhoon-damaged area in the coastal South Hwanghae province this week Kim's state-planned economy has been under strain in recent weeks because of heavy rains and floods, as well as measures to contain the coronavirus - although the North has not admitted to having any cases of the disease. Many of the officials who accompanied Kim on his visit to South Hwanghae province were wearing masks, but the dictator himself was not. Kim said the scale of damage was smaller than expected after he had 'worried a lot and he feels it is fortunate', according to official media. He also praised ruling party organisations and government officials for implementing measures that 'minimised the damage in the agricultural field'. State TV carried unusual near-live coverage of the typhoon's trajectory as it struck the peninsula, interrupting regular programmes with footage of the storm's impact. The North is vulnerable to flooding because many mountains and hills have long been deforested, allowing water to flow downhill unchecked. Trees were uprooted in Pyongyang, including along Mirae Scientists' Street, one of Kim's showpiece developments. In South Korea, the storm caused scattered damage to homes and grounded hundreds of domestic flights, but no casualties were reported. No mask: Kim's officials wore face coverings despite the North's claims that it has not confirmed a single case of coronavirus - but the dictator did not wear a mask Inspection: Kim visited a coastal part of North Korea and gave an upbeat verdict on the damage caused by Typhoon Bavi International aid workers in North Korea are currently unable to travel outside Pyongyang due to coronavirus restrictions. North Korea has not announced a single case of the virus, although there is widespread scepticism about the regime's claims. Last month Pyongyang imposed a lockdown on the city of Kaesong near the DMZ, claiming a defector who had returned was suspected of carrying the virus. The restrictions were lifted earlier this month and the infection was never confirmed. Kim presided over a meeting of a top committee of the ruling Workers' Party this week and warned of 'defects in the state emergency anti-epidemic work'. The dictator addressed 'some shortcomings' in the preventive efforts and called for stronger measures to eliminate the 'defects', official media said. Kim's appearance came after a former aide to late South Korean president Kim Dae-jung said he thought the North's leader was in a coma, though without offering any evidence. Separate claims emerged in the South that Kim was turning over more authority to his sister, the leader's only close relative with a public role in politics. Discussion: Officials take notes as Kim inspects fields in South Hwanghae province in an appearance which scotches the latest rumours that he is seriously ill or dead In a closed-door briefing to South Korean lawmakers on Thursday, Seoul's spy agency said the stress of managing state affairs had led Kim to delegate some of his powers. Ha Tae-keung, an lawmaker on a parliamentary intelligence committee, said the leader's sister Kim Yo-jong was helping to run the regime. However, the South's spy agency has a patchy record in pronouncements about the North and analysts have played down rumours about Kim's health. Earlier this year Kim was absent from public view for nearly three weeks, missing a key celebration in April for the birthday of his grandfather, the North's founder. His absence from the most important day in the North's political calendar prompted widespread speculation, including rumours that he was seriously ill or dead. Official media was slow to quash the speculation, providing no concrete signs of life beyond reports of letters sent in Kim's name. But Kim finally resurfaced in May and subsequently hosted a meeting to discuss the country's nuclear capabilities. The post office doesnt crop up in many conversations and if it does, its likely someone wants to complain about slow delivery of documents or the cost of posting a parcel. Truth is, though, a working postal service is among the most reliable markers of a sophisticated and civilised society. A cornerstone of civil society: the post office building at Beechworth in north-east Victoria. Every village and town in Australia traces its right to be recognised as a place on a map to the day a post office was established there. It meant that even the most remote outpost was linked to everywhere else. As a side benefit, it persuaded many to elevate reading and writing to such a desirable goal that Australia was among the first nations to embrace free, compulsory and secular education. Victoria went first with its Education Act of 1872. Sydney wasnt much more than a brutal, rum-fuelled encampment before an emancipated convict named Isaac Nichols was named Australias first postmaster in 1809. The mail previously had been subject to theft, fraud and the occasional riot when it arrived from Britain. Nichols took charge of securing the mail on board arriving ships and then distributing it from his home. Melbourne got its first post office in 1837, only two years after John Batman and John Fawkner arrived separately and began parcelling out land that had belonged to the Kulin people for just about forever. Australias Indigenous people had long established their own form of mail, as it happens. Message sticks were carried between clans, language groups and nations clear across the continent, providing the bearer of messages a form of diplomatic immunity. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus offered poetic evidence of what is thought to be the first really swift postal service. He described a scheme in ancient Persia where riders conveyed mail on horseback, swapping exhausted horses at posts and carrying on at a constant gallop. Roads were built from the city of Susa in todays Iran to Sardis in the far west of the Persians' Achaemenid Empire, which today is part of Turkey. The 2600-kilometre distance between the two cities could be covered in just seven to nine days, and the system was eventually extended to Greece and India. The word post comes from the Latin ponere, meaning to place, referring to the placing or posting of the riders along the postal route. Herodotus was so impressed he devoted a section of his Histories - written in 430 BC - to a description of the Persian mails. It is said that as many days as there are in the whole journey, so many are the men and horses that stand along the road, each horse and man at the interval of a days journey; and these are stayed neither by snow nor rain nor heat nor darkness from accomplishing their appointed course with all speed, he wrote. When the United States established its famed postal service, part of that quote, slightly rejigged, became the proud but unofficial motto of those who delivered the mail: "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." Today that creed is carved in stone above the pillars of the James A. Farley Building in Manhattan, the US Postal Service's main office in New York City. The James A. Farley Building in Manhattan, with the line from Herodotus carved above its pillars. Credit:Jim Henderson Donald Trump, a simpleton who appears barely able to read anything beyond a short tweet, clearly doesnt respect the motto of the United States Postal Service or where it came from. His fear of losing the US election in November is so great he has declared war on his own nations post office in order to slow the mails and to disenfranchise millions of voters who will want to cast their ballots by post during a deadly pandemic. Still, spending too much time thinking about the likes of Donald Trump could ruin anyones day. The U.S. leads the world in number of the prisoners per 100,000 citizens, and no other developed country comes close. The jail and prison population has increased 500 percent over the last 40 years, and one in six inmates is serving a life sentence. The Sentencing Project reports that on any given day, 10 percent of all the Black men in America are in jail or prison.For years, reform advocates have been making the case that flawed policies and practices in the countrys criminal justice system have filled correctional institutions with men and women who dont truly belong there. The COVID crisis has dramatically raised the temperature of this debate. Prisons and jails account for all of the top 10 coronavirus clusters in the country, and all but two of the top 20 (the exceptions are meat processing plants in South Dakota and Iowa). At least 100,000 prisoners have tested positive for COVID-19. In California , at risk-prisoners who had been moved outside as a precautionary measure were forced back indoors due to historic wildfires. Beyond this, ending mass incarceration is also at the top of Black Lives Matter demands. Dozens of bills have been introduced in the last month that at least chip away at pieces of the prison problem.Here are some examples: HB6010 , abill, would enact provisions for the modification of a jail sentence during a public health emergency. It outlines a procedure through which an inmate or prosecuting attorney can file a petition to modify a sentence. Circumstances to be considered in decisions to reduce a sentence include the portion of a sentence served to date, potential risk to public safety and the age and medical condition of the petitioner. SB5018 outlines situations in which elderly, terminally ill or permanently physically disabled felony offenders to be considered for parole. Inmates 65 years old or older must have served five years or more of their sentence. Those convicted of Class 1 felonies would not be eligible for consideration. In SJR94 aims to create a task force to study racial bias within the states criminal justice system. It notes that Black Americans experience disparate treatment and racial bias in each of its major components, including corrections. Community-based advocacy groups are to be included as members of a task force that will identify strategies to end bias and make recommendations to the governor. HB5 increates a two-year pilot project to help children up to age 17 have more access to their incarcerated mothers. It asks the departments of corrections and social services to provide transportation for a child (or children) and their caretaker to visit with the mother once a month, and to prepare a report on the results from this program at the end of the two-year pilot. Mothers convicted of crimes against children or child abuse would not be included in the program. SF16 inrelates to the sentencing of military veterans charged with offences such as misdemeanors or gross misdemeanors. If a defendant is able to provide convincing evidence that the offense was committed as a result of certain conditions related to military service, including post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse or sexual trauma, the court may decide to place them on probation without entering a judgment of guilty. Violation of the conditions of probation could lead to an adjudication of guilt and sentencing to jail or prison. Probation may include orders to attend an appropriate treatment program. The bill also outlines a restorative justice process through which charges may be dismissed based on the defendants performance during the probation period. Alongside those caring for COVID-19 patients, there are countless people working behind the scenes that are equally important to Vietnam's battle against the pandemic. Medical staff from Molecular Biology for Infectious Disease Department under the National Childrens Hospital have worked almost around the clock to test samples. VNS Photos Thai Binh They include the medical staff who are working almost around the clock to test and trace for coronavirus from the National Childrens Hospital (NCH) in Hanoi. The hospital is one of four units assigned by the Ministry of Health to conduct real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for people returning to Hanoi from the central city of Da Nang. Since late July, it is estimated that 72,000 people returned to the capital from Da Nang, a popular tourism destination on the central coast that is the country's COVID-19 epicentre. City authorities have ordered people who returned from Da Nang July 15-29 to get tested for the novel coronavirus to prevent the spread of the disease. Phung Thi Bich Thuy, head of Molecular Biology for Infectious Disease Department under the NCH, said: As soon as receiving the task from the hospitals management board to perform 10,000 tests for COVID-19 in two weeks, I sent messages to my staff. All of them asked me for half a day off to take preparation for two weeks as they will be so busy that might not return home. On the morning of the next day, they officially entered the two weeks 'racing against time'," she recalled. On the first days, less than 1,000 samples were sent to the department and everyone was excited about the job. We finished the job at 9pm, they could take a rest and rejuvenate for the next day. However, in the following days, when the number of samples was up to 2,000 per day, things got more hectic. There were days when all 11 of us had to work until midnight, Thuy said. We did not know whether it is day or night because there are so many samples. We cant leave the work for the next day. We have lunch around 1-2pm and dinner around 7-8pm. In addition to performing COVID-19 screening, the departments also had to test between 300-400 samples a day and do emergency screening for all departments of the hospital, she said. "Those were especially stressful days for all of us. We had never done so many tests like that before," Thuy said. Tran Minh Dien, deputy director of the National Childrens Hospital, said the hospital was capable of testing 500 samples a day. Phung Thi Bich Thuy, head of Molecular Biology for Infectious Disease Department under the National Childrens Hospital, and her staff have worked hard to complete testing for samples of people returning from the central city of Da Nang. Taking charge of 10,000 samples in two weeks was beyond the hospital's normal manpower and equipment capacity, so the hospital had mobilised all resources to ensure it could meet the deadline, he said. Both the machines and people have been working at full capacity over the past two weeks. The department has three systems able to separate 88 samples in an hour and a half. However, due to a lack of chemicals and machines, they could not keep up with the number of samples being received so decided to work by hand with the volume of the samples halved, she said, adding that by doing so they could separate 96 samples within an hour and a half. It is even faster compared to the operation of a machine, Thuy said. Most of the staff in the laboratory are female. Many of them have suffered from blisters and bloodied their fingers by working on small tubes containing samples. They also face the risk of COVID-19 infection. Khuc Thi Renh Hoa, one of Thuys staff, said: There were days when the number of samples reached its peak, my boss asked us to stop working for fear that we couldnt stand the work pressure and faint the next day." Emotional burden On top of having to work more intensively during the period, Hoa had an emotional burden. As the workload was growing, the number of calls from her family and children declined, Hoa said. My son will enrol in first grade this year. He lives with his grandparents in Hung Yen Province more often than with his parents since Tet (Lunar New Year). He cries many times as he misses his parents but we cant do anything but give encouragement, saying his mother is busying fighting the pandemic. I remember that day I received a call from him at midnight once after I just stopped working. He told me he had to wait for a long time to call me before he goes to sleep. Then he asked me when I would come back to pick him up. Hoa told her son that she would pick him up after the COVID-19 pandemic ended. I miss my son a lot but I have to hold back because I am on duty, she said. Hoa said she was still lucky compared with other colleagues because some of them have been separated from their children. The 11 staff in the department did their best to encourage each other, but still they struggled with fatigue. When the number of samples was up to 1,000 a day, we could manage. But when it was up to 2,000 per day, we couldnt help but feel tired. We couldnt talk or smile. Sometimes we couldnt eat food because we were too tired," Hoa said. The tireless dedication of the medical staff paid off as they finished the work on time and more than 10,000 samples were negative for the SARS-CoV2 virus. Hoa attributed their success in finishing the testing to the encouragement from the hospitals management board and other staff including those from the IT department and environmental service workers who helped them. We all feel happy because if a positive case is found, it is not easy to predict how many samples will increase, she said, adding that they felt nervous at every result. When asked whether she was concerned about her safety, Ho Thi Bich, from Centre for Paediatric Tropical Disease under the NCH, who takes samples of suspected cases, said there were times she worried about getting infected. However, she always followed safety rules. With the encouragement from my colleagues and my family, I always try my best to complete my duties, making a small contribution to the fight against the pandemic of the whole country." VNS Thai Binh and Mai Hien Brave doctors head to Da Nang to fight outbreak As thousands of tourists fled Da Nang after the COVID-19 outbreak sprang up in the central city, dozens of leading doctors went in the opposite direction, towards the danger. The 13th French film festival in Angouleme gets underway on Friday until 2 September, with 20 entries angling for ten Valois awards. In addition to the screenings is an exhibition in honour of Lebanese artists sponsored by the Institut du Monde Arabe - part of a cultural tribute to Beirut following the deadly explosions on 4 August. The 2020 edition of the Festival du film Francophone d'Angouleme (FFA) will be unlike any of the previous 12 editions, due to the exceptional circumstances brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. The festival is going ahead, despite having to impose strict health measures on visitors, which is "not an easy task," concludes Marie-France Briere, co-founder of the festival alongside Dominique Besnehard. "The health restrictions will be applied to the letter," the organisers told French daily Le Figaro, referring to the need for visitors to reserve their tickets online, wear a mask at all times, and leave every second seat vacant. "The artists invited as special guests will have to wear a mask too, when in the cinema, and during photocalls," Briere said. Among the guests on opening night will be French prime minister Jean Castex, and Culture minister, Roselyne Bachelot, keen to show they are supporting a sector which has been particularly hard hit since March. Instead of goody bags, luxury brand LVMH is to hand out masks, Puressential will take care of the hand gel and several mobile Covid testing centres will be set up during the week-long event. Springboard to international scene Ten feature films and ten short films are in the running for one of the 'Valois' awards, which range from the Diamond Valois to best actress and actor via best scenario and music. The public also have their pick of an award, while students get their own jury. Among this year's crop is Petit Pays, (Small country) directed by Eric Barbier, based on an award-winning novel by Gael Faye, recounting the horrors of the Rwandan genocide seen through the eyes of a young boy. Story continues The 7 member jury is presided over by actor-directors Benoit Delepine and Gustave Kervern, whose joint film Effacer l'historique (Delete search history) is the opening film in the preview category. Considered a stepping stone to conquering the French-speaking public, before moving into the arena of the international festival circuit, the FFA prides itself on being a 'popular' event, with films appreciated by critics and public alike. Solidarity with Lebanon This year, cofounder Marie-France Briere is proud to add an extra something to the festival a tribute to Lebanese artists, featuring works by Shafic Abboud, Assadour, Hussein Madi and Francois Sargologo. This as a sign of support from the cultural sector following the massive blasts in Beirut on 4 August which saw more than 200 killed and thousands injured or homeless, and a city left in ruins. Highlighting the close ties between France and Lebanon, Briere reached out to her artist friends and collectors Claude and France Lemand, who had already donated a substantial collection of works to Institut du monde arabe in Paris (IMA) in 2018. Together, they set about organising an exhibition for the duration of the festival, and a fundraiser screening of the film Capharnaum by Nadine Labaki, on 31 August, hosted by Jack Lang, former French minister for Culture, and now president of the IMA. City of light Claude Lemand, born in Lebanon, Parisian by adoption, jumped on the occasion. He was one of the first gallery owners to promote Arab world artists in Europe. "I was so happy to see that we (the festival) shared the same universal human values," he enthuses. "This exhibition will, I hope, get media attention in France and Lebanon, and further a field, thanks to the charisma of Jack Lang," he told the press. "This initiative is just another one of the many undertaken by the IMA and its president and others in the arts world, to express solidarity with the people of Beirut...It's a way of showing the city in a more positive light." Three years. Thats how long its been since the #MeToo rallying cry became a global movement a collective howl from the women of the world that enough was enough. And yet to watch the sad and messy saga of AMP Capital unfold, where a man in a position of power Boe Pahari was accused of harassing a female subordinate Julia Szlakowski and to see that company wrestle with the issue and get its response so utterly wrong, was, for many, a moment of depressing and dejected deja-vu. The whole thing followed a dispiritingly familiar path, which is that the woman makes the complaint, and thats mucked up in the beginning, theres ducking and covering, and she writes a formal complaint, and a period of time goes by before its actually dealt with. And then when its dealt with, she ends up leaving. Shes the one who ends up out of the organisation. Theres a financial penalty for the person shes made the accusations against, but he remains, says Virginia Trioli, host of ABC Radio's Melbourne morning program and author of Generation F: Why We Still Struggle With Sex and Power. Its a pattern thats followed again and again. Piyush Goyal calls for stronger India-ASEAN partnership Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal has called for three-pronged strategy of Cooperation, Collaboration and Commitment to strengthen partnership between India and ASEAN countries. Addressing the ASEAN-India Business Council virtual meet, Goyal said the Covid-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity for India to demonstrate itself as the trusted partner to the world, particularly in times of stress. Goyal extended a hand of friendship to the ASEAN region, which he described as deep and valuable partners, and partners in progress. The minister said that as India becomes `Aatamnirbhar Bharat, the country is ready to engage with the world from the position of strength and confidence, and on equal and fair terms. He said that India and ASEAN have not been able to harness the full trade potential, for various reasons, but now is the time to open matrix to expand trade, address concerns of all nations and businesses, and resolve the differences. He extended Indias friendship and partnership to ASEAN through businesses, so that together both the partners are able to succeed, secure future, work together, attain prosperity, and achieve a target of $300 billion trade. Goyal said that the business council meeting is a good forum to discuss concerns and best practices, share ideas, and flag the problems. He said that during the early days of the pandemic, India went out to the world for its requirements to fight Covid-19, but didnt get much traction, as everyone was holding on for their own requirements. But, India, on the other hand, with the ability to provide medicines, acted as the Pharmacy for the world. We supplied medicines to over 150 countries of the world, to every part of the world, particularly to the less developed nations. Restrictions were imposed initially but that was with the noble intent of ensuring that the poor nations are not deprived of the medicines. All this showed that India is a resilient country, a trusted partner and a friend indeed. Goyal said that the country has since developed adequate capacity to manufacture PPE, masks, and ramped up its testing capabilities from under 1,000 per day to about a million a day. We have been self-sufficient under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the period, Indians developed commitment and consciousness to maintain social distancing, to adequately take care of personal hygiene, wear a mask at all times and care for near ones., the minister said. India, he said, demonstrated its resilience, ability to overcome problems and our collective efforts ensured that we can protect lives and livelihoods. We enforced strictest lockdown to save lives, and then ensured quick unlock to take care of the livelihood issues, he added. Bayer AGs comprehensive settlement of U.S. lawsuits over its Roundup weed killer is in jeopardy after lawyers for some consumers accused the company of reneging on the $11 billion deal and the judge overseeing the litigation questioned its truthfulness. U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria said during a hearing Thursday hes concerned Bayer has manipulated the settlement process since announcing its plan in June to resolve 125,000 cases alleging that the herbicide causes cancer. He said he will revisit in a month whether to keep the litigation on hold for settlement talks to continue or to let more trials proceed. My concern is that if I leave the stay in place, am I complicit in whatever shenanigans are taking place on the Bayer side? the judge said. If the June deal were to break down, settlements of many cases would probably still move forward. Lawyers representing those plaintiffs expressed confidence in the negotiations. Still, the hitches in the process create a new headache for the German pharmaceutical and chemical company just as it seemed to be moving on from a wave of litigation over Roundup and the Essure contraceptive device. The legal threat has weighed on Bayer since its 2018 acquisition of Monsanto, maker of the herbicide, with the shares losing more than a third of their value. The stock traded 0.4% lower early Friday in Frankfurt. Earlier Concerns Only weeks after the Roundup settlement was announced in June, a proposed system for resolving future lawsuits was pulled after Chhabria raised objections to it. The company has appealed verdicts against it and says the product is safe. Bayer said it remains optimistic about finalization of the deal. A mass tort settlement of this size and complexity can take significant time before it is fully executed, and we are still early in this process, the company said in a statement. There are often some bumps in the road in implementing a resolution of this magnitude, but we remain confident that a comprehensive settlement will be finalized and executed. Brent Wisner, one of the lead attorneys for consumers, told the judge there is no settlement. He urged Chhabria to lift a pause on the litigation because the process has hit a wall. At this point its become clear to me that when we were told we had an agreement, either they didnt have authority to do that or theyve reneged on it, Wisner said. The judge said hes inclined to make public confidential letters from plaintiffs attorneys complaining that Monsanto, the maker of Roundup that Bayer acquired in 2018, is retreating from the settlement. If Monsanto is going back on its deal and the deal it announced in June, that seems to me something that should not be kept confidential, Chhabria said, adding that its a matter of significant public concern. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. The Rainier Valley Food Bank (RVFB) announced that its Community Harvest Gala Grow with us Virtually will be livestreamed from 6pm onwards on Saturday, November 14th, 2020. Tickets for the virtual event, which is being powered by interactive livestream technology company Zeacon, is on sale now and all proceeds will go directly to RVFB to support and feed local communities. Founded in 1991 as a volunteer-led neighborhood pantry, RVFB is currently A group of scientists from Skoltech and Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops in Krasnodar performed genetic analysis of the Russian rapeseed collection. The scientists described the genetic diversity of Russian rapeseed lines and discovered new candidate genes that are potentially involved in controlling the content of glucosinolates, toxic secondary metabolites in rapeseed oil. Their findings can be used by crop breeders to improve the rapeseed oil composition. The research was published in the Genes journal. Rapeseed is the world's second-largest oilseed crop after soybeans. Glucosinolates are secondary metabolites of rapeseed and related cruciferous plants. The content of these glucose-derived sulfur-containing organic substances strongly influences oil quality: if present in large amounts, glucosinolates spoil the taste of rapeseed oil and affect the quality of rapeseed meal, compelling crop breeders to look for ways of reducing their content. The scientists performed genome-wide genotyping of 90 rapeseed lines and compared the results with the glucosinolate content data for these lines collected over 3 growing seasons. This helped identify both the genetic markers of glucosinolate content in oil and the linked candidate genes potentially involved in regulating the biosynthesis of glucosinolates. Once verified on an independent set of plants, the markers can be readily used for breeding new varieties and hybrids with low glucosinolate content. Our research aims to foster marker-assisted crop breeding in Russia by using genetic markers to control the characteristics relevant to cross-breeding processes and progeny analysis. This approach can make the breeding of new varieties much faster. Measuring glucosinolates content is an arduous task that can be made much easier by using the markers we have identified." Rim Gubaev, PhD, Study First Author, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology Choi Dae-zip, head of the Korean Medical Association (KMA) which represents local doctors, speaks during a press conference held in Seoul, Friday, announcing the KMA's plan to launch an indefinite strike starting Sept. 7, in protest of the government's new policy that centers on increasing the number of students at medical schools. Yonhap A group of South Korean doctors said Friday it has decided to launch a general strike starting early September in protest of the government's new policy that centers on increasing the number of students at medical schools. The Korean Medical Association (KMA), which represents local doctors, said it has decided to launch an indefinite strike starting Sept. 7, expressing disappointment over the country's decision to submit a complaint against 10 trainee doctors who were refusing to return to work. "If our demands are not met, we will stage a general strike starting on the day indefinitely," Choi Dae-zip, who heads the KMA, said. Doctors on Friday entered the last day of their three-day nationwide strike in protest of the government's medical reform scheme despite a widened return-to-work order. Tens of thousands of practitioners have joined interns and resident doctors at general hospitals for the walkout, raising their voice against the government's move to increase the number of medical students. Earlier in the day, the government ordered not only trainee doctors in the wider Seoul area but all across the country to return to work, warning of possible prison terms, as their actions could cause major difficulties, with the country facing a spike in novel coronavirus cases. The government also reported to police 10 doctors for violating the order issued earlier this week in the Seoul region, making good on its repeated warnings of strong legal action against those who failed to come back to hospitals. As part of the country's medical workforce reform plan, the health ministry is planning to expand admission quotas at medical schools by 4,000 over the next 10 years, starting in 2022, and to open a new public medical school, as it seeks to broaden the reach of health care services. This will increase the number of students admitted annually to medical schools to 3,458 in the 2022-2031 period from the current 3,058, according to the plan. Local doctors, however, say that increasing the number of new doctors will only lead to more competition among doctors and will not help ease the disparity in medical infrastructure among regions. Doctors also protest against the plan to include traditional oriental medicine in the nation's public health insurance system, as they consider the field to be less scientific and vital. Each morning starts with a huddle. Pearland resident Ken Carlson, director of mission and spiritual care at Baylor St. Lukes, gathers with chaplains on staff in prayer. They focus on their missions for the day, and discuss the issues and obstacles they will face. These days, to practice social distancing, the group stretches out down a hall. They speak loudly through masks. And the chaplains ring a bell and say a prayer for each patient who has died the day before. Then we start our day taking care of people, Carlson said. Its from the broom pusher to the brain surgeon and everyone in between. We want to take care of everyone. In the battleground that has formed at the hospital, nurses, doctors and staff fight the coronavirus pandemic. Hospital chaplains are especially busy during this time - soldiering alongside healthcare workers, providing comfort for them, as well as emotional support to patients. Who better to lead the way than someone who has been in the war zone before? Carlson, who has served in the military for 20 years, cant help but see the parallels. Its just in a different uniform this time, he said. I dont wear camo anymore. But I see the same attitude of care, dedication and excellence. Carlson grew up in Park Forest, a town south of Chicago, originally a planned community for veterans returning from World War II. His father Ray Carlson served in the U.S. Air Force. He was an inspiration to me, Carlson said. I always had an interest in the military since I was a little kid. Growing up, he also dreamed of joining the police force or the ministry. His career would end up touching on all three worlds. At age 17, Carlson joined the military. I wanted to grow up and see the world, he said. And I did. When he returned, he enrolled in Niles College Seminary of Loyola University and then earned a masters of divinity at University of St. Mary of the Lake, also in Illinois. Carlson spent the next four years as a pastor in the Archdiocese of Chicago. his transition to becoming a chaplain was serendipitous. When he walked down the street to check on a fire, he learned that members of the police force could use his help. Theres a lot of stress and anxiety that goes along with the job of any first responder, Carlson said. There are folks who are really focused on taking care of others - and that doesnt always include taking care of themselves. His role became helping police officers step back and spend time on their own emotional, spiritual and mental health. Then, 9/11 occurred. Carlson was sitting in a cemetery, having just presided over a funeral, while he listened to the radio reports from New York. I knew there would be a need for chaplains, he said. If I could have signed some papers and flown out that day, I would have. I had an overwhelming desire to be where I needed to be. First he had to go to Fort Hood for basic training to become a U.S. Army Chaplain. Chaplains are still soldiers, he said. The only difference is we dont carry a weapon. Carlson was deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Korea multiple times over the next 11 years. He also joined several convoys. Soldiers like a chaplain to get into their vehicle, he said. Youre there to support them, to encourage them and help them refocus. Carlson was serving in Afghanistan when Hurricane Harvey hit Houston. Shortly thereafter, he interviewed for a position at Baylor St. Lukes, even though hed never visited Houston. He was immediately hired, and moved to the city. Carlson felt like the shift to the medical field made sense. In his role with the U.S. Army, he was guiding junior chaplains to help soldiers assisting them in self-care so they could better help others. At the hospital, he vowed to do the same for the chaplains on his staff. Its the same skill set, he said. Mang Tiak, Carlsons senior staff chaplain, said she was nervous to first meet him. If he wasnt working at a hospital before he came, what will he be like? she wondered. Tiak said his past know-how dovetailed perfectly in his current position. Even though the setting may be different, the people hes dealing with are the same, she said. Theyre people in crisis. He also brings a rich interfaith experience. I feel blessed to work with him. Tiak admires the way Carlson puts his staff first. And he wants us to take care of ourselves, she said. He really works to make sure that we are well-taken care of, emotionally, spiritually and physically. She said the anxiety and stress level is high for healthcare workers and their chaplains. Since the coronavirus hit, that stress has only increased; Carlson sees a closer comparison between hospital staffers roles and those of members of the military than ever. Hospital staff toiled day and night, taking care of patients. They also became caregivers, since visitors were strictly limited. And the work doesnt come to an end, Carlson said. It just keeps going. We as chaplains are here to take care of them so they dont burn out. The pandemic has caused chaplains to reassess and expand their efforts. For instance, Carlson worked with the hospital to create a spa-like staff retreat on an empty patient floor. Now when you walk off the elevator, there are soft lights, he said. Aromatherapy diffusers also create an environment of comfort. There are towels, foot massage machines and fruit-infused water in a dispenser. Hotels donated slippers. Doctors and nurses have a place of respite, to relax before going home or returning to a shift. Chaplains provide staff with tea carts, where they can grab a cup of coffee or tea and set up some one-to-one time with a chaplain or fill out a prayer request. Recently, the chaplains brought cookies and bottles of water to hospital staff. Theyve served them sandwiches and passed out thank you cards. Its our way to say theyre important, Carlson said. We want to take care of them, while theyre taking care of others. Carlson believes that he has a unique advantage, because of his training with the military. Going to war a number of times prepared me for being here, he said. When you go to war, you learn how to handle stress and tragedy. Carlson had learned to stay calm while navigating uncertainty. Its allowed me to give steady guidance to staff, he said. Were in this together. Were going to get through this together. Each day at the hospital, Carlson assures his chaplains about their important role during the pandemic. What youre doing is effective, he tells them. Were going to be able to touch lives. Carlson is now brainstorming how to create a resiliency center for staff members. Were looking for different ways to take care of them, he said. How can we develop this? And what can we do immediately and in the near future? First, Carlson plans to build a virtual center, a website with resources for staff. Eventually, he hopes to add more features and create a physical space. Carlson explained that resiliency is essential while facing a crisis. Stress is part of life, he said. Knowing how to face it, how to work your way through it is the important piece. And thats where we can help. First responders, soldiers and healthcare workers have a lot in common, Carlson explained. Hes helped them all become more resilient as they march into crises to help others. And the chaplains on staff are shouldering their own share of grief, stress and anxiety during this time. Im here for each and every one of them, to support them, to make sure theyre a cohesive unit, Carlson said. They come and sit down in my office almost every day. They want to talk. Its cathartic. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Turmalina Metals Corp. (Turmalina, or the Company; TBX-TSXV, TBXXF-OTCQX) is pleased to announce that the first three holes of our Phase Two (~5000 meter) drilling program at the San Francisco project (San Francisco or the Project) have intersected broad intervals of high-grade gold-silver-copper mineralisation at the San Francisco de Los Andes (SFdLA) breccia. Significant intersections are reported in Table 1 below, and include: 83m @ 4.4 g/t Au, 82 g/t Ag & 0.43% Cu (5.9 g/t AuEq) from 25m (SFDH-011) Including 41m @ 7.03 g/t Au, 91 g/t Ag & 0.51% Cu (8.76 g/t AuEq) from 27m from 25m (SFDH-011) Including from 27m 109m @ 4.94 g/t Au, 109 g/t Ag & 1.1% Cu (7.55 g/t AuEq) from 12m (SFDH-012) Including 27m @ 9.02 g/t Au, 94 g/t Ag & 1.08% Cu (11.4 g/t AuEq) from 31m Including 3m @ 13.8 g/t Au, 111 g/t Ag & 0.08% Cu (15.3 g/t AuEq) from 15m Including 6.7m @ 7.43 g/t Au, 58 g/t Ag & 0.15% Cu (8.35 g/t AuEq) from 65m Including 11m @ 5.59 g/t Au, 134 g/t Ag & 1.34% Cu (8.75 g/t AuEq) from 98m from 12m (SFDH-012) Including from 15m Including from 65m Including from 98m 74m @ 1.1 g/t Au, 48 g/t Ag & 0.41% Cu (2.2 g/t AuEq) from 88m (SFDH-013) And 13m @ 0.9 g/t Au, 51 g/t Ag & 0.54% Cu (2.1 g/t AuEq) from 179m These high-grade intersections remain open both at depth and laterally. The breccia textures observed in the drill core confirm that the current intercepts are related to the very top of the breccia system. Mineralisation in the top of tourmaline breccias may have a different orientation to the orientation of the breccia pipe (such as forming flat-lying ceiling zones): Should the above drill intersections be at an oblique angle to mineralisation then the true width of mineralisation will be less than the reported intersections. Further drilling and geological modelling is required to constrain the geometry of mineralisation within the SFdLA breccia. The current Phase Two drilling program tests for extensions to high-grade gold-copper-silver mineralisation encountered in the first phase of drilling completed by the Company in 2019, which included intersections of 36.9m @ 6.3 g/t Au, 122 g/t Ag & 0.88% Cu (8.7 g/t AuEq, SFDH-001) and 85.3m @ 4.4 g/t Au, 109 g/t Ag & 0.79% Cu (6.6 g/t AuEq, SFDH-002; see Turmalina news release dated December 2, 2019 for full details). Dr. Rohan Wolfe, Chief Executive Officer, states: These outstanding initial results from our Phase 2 drilling indicate that high-grade mineralisation not only continues at depth at SFDLA but, as expected by our geological model, the SFdLA breccia pipe is starting to expand in width as we go deeper. Our 2019 campaign tested the SFdLA breccia pipe to a depth of 150 meters. These initial Phase 2 holes test the breccia pipe 30 to 150m below the 2019 drill holes and have returned similar high grades. Most tourmaline breccias are considered to be gold-rich at 1 g/t gold so the broad intersections of gold-mineralised breccia returning 9-10 g/t gold at San Francisco are quite remarkable. With high-grade mineralisation open at depth and laterally these are exciting times for Turmalina Metals and we look forward to keeping the market informed of new drilling results both at SFdLA and at satellite breccias that will be tested by the current program. We have also been actively consolidating our holdings in the region with the recent acquisition of the neighboring Miranda properties. While our focus remains very much on San Francisco we have also strengthened our overall portfolio by acquiring the Chanape project in Peru, which contains a cluster of strongly gold-copper mineralised tourmaline breccias. We look forward to providing more detailed information on our acquisitions as we complete field work on these projects. Drilling continues at the San Francisco Project, with 14 holes completed to date for a total of 3890m. Ten of these holes tested the SFdLA breccia pipe while four holes tested two breccia targets identified during the summer field program. The assays for the first three Phase 2 holes have been returned and are reported in this release, samples from a further three holes have been dispatched for assay at a commercial laboratory, and drill core from the remaining holes are currently being logged and sampled prior to dispatch for assay. The current drilling aims to extend mineralisation at SFdLA to greater depths as well as test for lateral extensions. In addition, the current program tests four of over sixty gold-copper mineralised breccias identified during the summer field program. Hole ID From To Interval Au g/t Ag g/t Cu % Pb % Zn % AuEq g/t SFDH-011 25 108 83 4.40 82 0.43 0.74 0.52 5.93 SFDH-011 27 68 41 7.03 91 0.51 0.23 0.02 8.76 SFDH-012 12 121 109 4.94 109 1.13 0.23 0.06 7.55 SFDH-012 15 18 3 13.78 111 0.08 0.14 0.01 15.28 SFDH-012 31 58 27 9.02 94 1.08 0.15 0.01 11.37 SFDH-012 65 71.7 6.7 7.43 58 0.15 0.17 0.03 8.35 SFDH-012 98 109 11 5.59 134 1.34 0.54 0.14 8.75 SFDH-013 88 162 74 1.1 48 0.41 0.36 0.42 2.16 SFDH-013 179 192 13 0.9 51 0.54 0.04 0.08 2.14 Table 1: Phase 2 drill hole intersections from Turmalinas drilling at the San Francisco de Los Andes breccia pipe. Equivalent gold values (AuEq) are calculated assuming 100% recovery using USD$ 1900/t oz Au, $25/t oz Ag and $2.8/lb Cu. New Acquisitions The Company continues to consolidate our holdings in the mining friendly state of San Juan, as well as review opportunities in South America. Miranda Properties, San Juan, Argentina. As part of our regional consolidation around the San Francisco project the company is pleased to announce that it has, under its Argentinian subsidiary Aurora Mining S.A, entered into an option agreement with third parties to acquire a 100% interest in the 17,690 ha Miranda properties, located ~4 km to the east and northeast of our Project area. The Company can acquire a 100% interest in the Miranda properties by making total cash payments of USD$225,000 over four years, with $150,000 of the payment due in the final year. The vendors retain a NSR of 1%, which can be purchased for USD$300,000. The Miranda properties covers a large area prospective for gold and base metal mineralisation on the eastern margin of the San Francisco Project. Chanape Project, Lima, Peru. As part of the Companys strategy to possess several high-grade projects in our portfolio the Company is pleased to announce that it has, under its Peruvian subsidiary Aurora Copper Peru S.A.C, entered into an option agreement with third parties to acquire a 100% interest in the Chanape Project, located in Lima district, Peru. The Company can acquire a 100% interest in the 680 ha property by making total cash payments of $3,410,000 and by incurring exploration expenditures of US$2,000,000 over 5 years, with $2.2M of the cash payment and $750k of the exploration commitment due in the final year. The vendors retain a 2% Net Smelter Returns royalty, of which the Company may purchase 1% (50%) of the NSR for a payment of USD$ 1,200,000. The Chanape Project hosts over 50 tourmaline breccias, however previous exploration focused on testing porphyry copper-molybdenum mineralisation on the property (i.e. 284m @ 0.32% copper, 82 ppm molybdenum and 6 g/t silver). The last two holes drilled by the previous operators tested two tourmaline breccias and returned the best intersections drilled to date at the project (i.e. 71m @ 1.92% copper, 0.84 g/t gold & 42 g/t silver and 108m @ 2.0 g/t gold & 41 g/t silver). These breccias remain largely untested and are open at depth and along strike. Turmalina Metals plans to review and prioritise tourmaline breccia mineralisation on the project. About the San Francisco Project The 3404 ha San Francisco project is located in San Juan, Argentina. The project area contains over 60 tourmaline breccia occurrences, several of which have supported small-scale mining. The Company is focused on mapping and sampling the breccias in the project area, and drill testing the highest priority targets. To minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission to our team and the community the Company has applied rigorous protocols throughout the program. These protocols have been approved by the authorities of the province of San Juan, and both Turmalina Metals and Aurora Mining maintain close contact with the local authorities in order to comply with all regulations. These procedures include social distancing, improved hygiene, health screening of all staff and contractors, longer rosters at our remote field camp and an onsite medical professional to monitor health and ensure procedures are followed. Other Projects Turmalina has entered into an agreement to explore the Turmalina copper-gold molybdenum project located in Piura, Peru (the Turmalina Project). The Turmalina Project hosts a cluster of undrilled tourmaline breccias that were historically mined for copper, gold and molybdenum. On Behalf of the Company, Dr. Rohan Wolfe, Chief Executive Officer and Director. Email: rohan@turmalinametals.com Mobile: +976 9999 6994 Website: turmalinametals.com Address: #488 - 1090 West Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6E 3V7. For Investor Relations enquiries, please contact Bryan Slusarchuk at +1 833 923 3334 (toll free) or via info@turmalinametals.com . Statements About Turmalina Metals and the San Francisco Project: Turmalina Metals is a TSXV-listed exploration company focused on developing our portfolio of high grade gold-copper-silver projects in South America. Our focus is on tourmaline breccias, a deposit style overlooked by many explorers. Turmalina Metals is led by a team responsible for multiple gold-copper-silver discoveries who are highly experienced in this deposit style. Our projects are characterised by open high-grade mineralisation on established mining licenses that present compelling drill targets. The principle project held by Turmalina is the San Francisco project in San Juan, Argentina. For further information on the San Francisco Project, refer to the technical report entitled NI43-101 Technical Report San Francisco Copper Gold Project, San Juan Province, Argentina dated November 17, 2019 under the Corporations profile at www.sedar.com . Sampling and Analytic procedure: Turmalina Metals follows systematic sampling and analytical protocols which exceed industry standards and are summarized below. All drill holes are HQ diameter diamond core holes. Drill core is collected at the drill site and transported by vehicle to the Turmalina core logging facility in Villa Nueva, where recovery and RQD (Rock Quality Designation) measurements are taken before the core is photographed and geologically logged. The core is then cut in half with a diamond saw blade with half the sample retained in the core box for future reference and the other half placed into a pre-labelled plastic bag, sealed with a plastic zip tie, and identified with a unique sample number. The core is typically sampled over a 1 to 2 meter sample interval unless the geologist determines the presence of an important geological contact. The bagged samples are then stored in a secure area pending shipment to the ALS sample preparation facility in Mendoza where they are dried, crushed and pulverized. Following sample preparation the prepared pulps are then sent to the ALS laboratory in Lima for assay. The samples are then analyzed using a 50g aqua regia digest and fire assay-AA finish analysis for gold and four acid digestion with ICP-MS analysis for 53 other elements. Samples with results that exceed maximum detection values for gold are re-analyzed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish and other elements of interest are re-analyzed using precise ore-grade ICP analytical techniques. Turmalina Metals independently inserts certified control standards, coarse field blanks, and duplicates into the sample stream to monitor data quality. These standards are inserted blindly to the laboratory in the sample sequence prior to departure from the Turmalina Metals core storage facilities. Qualified Person: The scientific and technical data contained in this news release pertaining to the San Francisco and Turmalina projects has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Rohan Wolfe, Chief Executive Officer, MAIG, who serves as the Qualified Person (QP) under the definition of National Instrument 43-101. Forward Looking Statement: This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed", "positioned" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks (including those risk factors identified in the Corporations prospectus dated November 21, 2019) and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Corporation is under no obligation, and 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 expressly required by applicable law. There is no assurance when the government-imposed measures related to COVID-19 in Argentina will be lifted. There is uncertainty over the form and duration of government measures and multiple policy changes may occur with regards to these measures over time. The Company may not provide updates on various government measures and changes to these measures as they occur. Figure 1 Winter drilling at the San Francisco Project is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/54d9a9e9-52bf-43a4-b50f-9d6060caad1f. The project is located in an arid, sparsely-populated area at a moderate elevation of ~2600m. The drill program and camp are located 20km by unsealed road to the nearest public road and 30km from the local village of Villa Nueva where the Company maintains an office and core facility. Figure 2: Typical gold-bearing breccia mineralisation: angular tourmaline-altered clasts of siltstone set in a pyrite-chalcopyrite-tourmaline-quartz matrix is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e14a2dba-20bb-44dc-afee-0de9f83e42a5. SFDH-011 70.5m; from a 1 m interval that averaged 4.9 g/t gold, 105 g/t silver & 0.32% copper. Photograph is of a selected interval and is not necessarily representative of mineralisation hosted throughout the property. Figure 3: Typical breccia mineralisation: angular silica-tourmaline altered siltstone clasts supported in a pyrite-chalcopyrite matrix is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9108b063-2c82-4f2e-a551-ab95c614356d. The breccia matrix at San Francisco is sulphide-rich, with 60-90% sulphides by volume. SFDH-012, 116.2m. From a 1m sample that averaged 1.4 g/t gold, 280 g/t silver and 3.8% copper. Photograph is of a selected interval and is not necessarily representative of mineralisation hosted throughout the property. Figure 4: Typical breccia mineralisation: Tourmaline-silica altered siltstone clasts set in a pyrite-chalcopyrite matrix is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/946eabab-5365-459f-9181-40fa3989052d. SFDH-013, 97m. From a 1m sample that averaged 1.9 g/t gold, 27 g/t silver and 1.03% copper. Photograph is of a selected interval and is not necessarily representative of mineralisation hosted throughout the property. Figure 5: San Francisco tenements with main breccias and locations of planned Phase 2 drill holes is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2265accf-0718-493a-92d5-10b873a7c3d0. To date over 60 tourmaline breccias have been mapped in the project area. Phase 2 drilling will test the San Francisco de Los Andes (SFdLA), Chorrillos, Humilde, Solita and Colorada breccias. Drilling at SFdLA has focused on the south-east corner of a composite breccia body, with the north-west extension to be tested as a part of Phase 2 drilling. Figure 6: Plan map of Turmalina drill holes at the SFdLA breccia pipe is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5a3e7f53-7ea8-4f91-b24a-9f01f3e7e34c. The breccia remains open at depth and to the north and west. Figure 7: SFDH-011 cross section at the SFdLA breccia pipe is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3bbbea70-28be-49ea-ba5b-43f3e070b6bb. Hole 11 tested 40 to 70m below high grades intersected in SFDH002 (i.e. 85m @ 4.4 g/t Au, 109 g/t Ag & 0.79% Cu (6.6 g/t AuEq); see Turmalina news release dated December 2, 2019 for full details). Mineralisation remains open at depth and will be tested by further Phase 2 drilling. Figure 8: SFDH-012 cross section is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9ea69ccf-13ca-4e0a-a6c8-52cef3d3e186. SFDH-012 tests the easternmost margin of the SFdLA breccia pipe, 70m below high grades intersected in SFDH-003 (i.e. 50m @ 3.6 g/t Au, 82 g/t Ag & 1.90% Cu (6.7 g/t AuEq; see Turmalina news release dated December 2, 2019 for full details). Figure 9: SFDH-013 Cross section is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e71aeaa3-443e-42b5-9539-cf02295e89bc. SFDH-013 tested 70 to 150m beneath high-grade mineralisation intersected in the center of the SFdLA breccia in holes SFDH-003, 004 and 006, and delineated the northern breccia margin 40m beneath hole SFDH-008. Mineralisation remains open at depth and along strike and will be tested by further Phase 2 drilling. Drill hole East North Elevation Azimuth Dip Length (m) SFDH-0011 442531 6588491 2766 200 -80 293.5 SFDH-0012 442519 6588470 2758 100 -80 130.5 SFDH-0013 442532 6588424 2739 345 -65 341.5 Table 2: Turmalina Metals Phase 2 drill hole locations reported in this release. Co-ordinate projection - WGS84 UTM Zone 19 South. Senior Political Science Lecturer of the University of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Asah Asante has commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for implementing his free SHS policy. The free SHS policy was a major campaign promise by the Akufo-Addo administration and one of the promises that saw Ghanaians vote for the government to come into power following the 2016 elections. As the nation gears towards the 2020 elections which come off on 7th December, President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia are seeking another term in office. It's obvious they're banking their hopes on the free SHS track record to win this year's elections. The free SHS programme is said to benefit over a million school children in the country. It was introduced to ensure every child who gains admission into Senior High School doesn't pay fees but enjoy free tuition from the beginning of their secondary education to graduation. The programme is seen as a huge relief to parents and families since the financial pressures that characterized they sending their children to school are now a thing of the past. The free SHS policy has also been captured in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) 2020 manifesto as the government promises to continue it in its second term. Contributing to Friday's 'Kokrokoo' on Peace FM, Dr. Kwame Asah Asante applauded the President for not reneging on the free SHS promise but boldly implementing it to ease the financial burden on families. He touted it as a good initiative and was happy the government will see to its continuity. However, he made an appeal to President Akufo-Addo to extend the policy to cover Universities as well. Dr. Asah Asante implored the government to institute the policy for first-year University students so as to cushion them to complete their tertiary education. "It's my prayer that what the party is doing will be extended to the University," he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi. 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 Jacob Blake, the 29-year-old black man left paralyzed after he was shot by Kenosha, Wisconsin, police on Sunday, is no longer handcuffed to his Milwaukee hospital bed. Patrick Cafferty, an attorney representing the Blake family, told WISN-TV on Friday that the felony arrest warrants which stem from alleged crimes that Blake committed before the shooting have been vacated and that deputies were no longer in his hospital room after he posted bond. Kenosha County Sheriff's Department spokesman Sgt. David Wright said on Friday that Blake was handcuffed to his hospital bed because he 'has felony warrants for his arrest from crimes he committed prior to the shooting incident.' Milwaukee County Sheriff's Investigator Scott Still said, 'Mr. Blake posted the bond underlying the arrest warrant, enabling his release from custody. The hospital watch was discontinued immediately after receiving this information from Kenosha authorities.' Jacob Blake Sr (seen above in Washington, DC, on Friday) said he was shocked to see his son being handcuffed to his hospital bed in Milwaukee Jacob Blake (right), 29, has been left paralyzed from the waist down in Sunday's shooting The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office told The Associated Press that all hospitalized patients in police custody are restrained unless undergoing medical procedures and that it's working to 'ensure a safe and humane environment for Mr. Blake.'' A reporter asked Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers about the handcuffs Thursday during a news conference. 'The Sun-Times is reporting that Jacob Blake is handcuffed to his hospital bed. Does that concern you?' the reporter asked. 'Hell, yes. I would have no personal understanding why that would be necessary. 'Certainly, he's paid a horrific price already being shot seven or eight times in the back. I can't imagine why that's happening,' Evers said. At the time that police in Kenosha responded to a domestic disturbance call from Blake's girlfriend on Sunday, there was an outstanding warrant for Blake's arrest. Blake was wanted in connection with a domestic abuse call from earlier this year. He faces charges of third-degree assault, trespassing and disorderly conduct in connection to an alleged domestic abuse incident on July 6. A woman Blake knew has alleged that Blake came into her house at about 6am, sexually assaulted her, and then took a debit card and car keys before fleeing in her vehicle, according to a criminal complaint. In 2015, Blake was charged with a gun-related offense in Racine, Wisconsin, but it did not result in a conviction. The officers who responded to the Kenosha residence near the location of the shooting on Sunday appear to have been warned by the dispatcher to be on 'alert at this address for a ninety-nine.' In police code, 10-99 can refer to a wanted suspect, according to CNN. It's unclear whether the officers knew the exact circumstances of the outstanding warrant against Blake when they arrived at the residence. Earlier on Friday, Blake's father revealed the news that his son was handcuffed to his bed at Froedtert Hospital. Outrage spread quickly at the news, and people demanded Kenosha police remove the handcuffs. 'How the f**k do you handcuff Jacob Blake that you paralyzed to a hospital bed after you shot him in the back seven times?' tweeted Rashida Tlaib, congresswoman for the neighboring state of Michigan. Tony Evers, governor of Wisconsin, was asked if he's concerned about Blake being handcuffed. 'Hell yes,' he said. Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by Officer Rusten Sheskey on Sunday Sheskey grabbed Blake's vest as he was getting into a car and shot him seven times in the back 'I would have no personal understanding why that would be necessary. 'I can't imagine why that's happening and I would hope that we would be able to find a better way to have him get better and recover.' Jacob Blake Sr told the Chicago Sun Times that he had just been to see his son in hospital. 'I hate it that he was laying in that bed with the handcuff onto the bed,' he said. 'He can't go anywhere. Why do you have him cuffed to the bed?' Blake also asked what he had been arrested for, and received no answer. The Blake family attorney, Benjamin Crump, said it would take a 'miracle' for Blake to recover use of his legs. 'The medical diagnosis right now is that he is paralyzed, because those bullets severed his spinal cord,' he said at a press conference on Tuesday. 'He will need a miracle to walk again. He is currently in surgery as we speak, to try and save his life. And return to some semblance of the man he once was.' Crump's legal partner, Patrick Salvi, confirmed that a bullet went through his spinal cord. He had bullets in his stomach, and had to have almost his entire colon removed. He had a bullet in the kidney, and in the arm. 'He has a long road to recovery,' said Mr Salvi. When Blake, 29, saw his father in the hospital Wednesday, he thought he was hallucinating because he could not believe what he was seeing, according to his father. 'I told him, 'You thought Daddy wasn't going to see my son?' his father said. 'He grabbed my hand, held it real tight and started weeping, telling me how much he loved me.' Though his son's eyes were swollen, the elder Jacob Blake said he 'looked and sounded like' his son, and he's alive. Seeing him in the hospital was like walking across a desert to find someone waiting with a glass of water, his father said. 'It was way more than fulfilling,' his father said. 'It was a feeling I can't describe.' Renatto Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor, said: 'Jacob Blake was shot in the back multiple times and is paralyzed from the waist down. 'What possible justification could there be for handcuffing him to his hospital bed?' Wesley Lowery, correspondent for 60 Minutes, said he had just spoken to Blake's uncle, who was deeply distressed by the handcuffing of his nephew. 'One thing the family is particularly upset about the uncle just gave me a call to make sure I had noted this in our interview is that Jacob Blake, shot seven times and paralyzed, has been handcuffed to his hospital bed,' Lowery said. Tlaib, member of the 'squad' and congresswoman for neighboring Michigan, was outraged The former head of the civil rights division for the DoJ said: 'I have no words' Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotto asked: 'What possible justification' could there be 60 Minutes correspondent Wesley Lowery said that Blake's family was deeply upset Rusten Sheskey, the police officer who shot Blake in the back, is a seven-year veteran of the Kenosha Police Department. Sheskey, 31, has been put on administrative leave while Wisconsin officials investigate the confrontation caught on video. Sheskey, a member of the department's bicycle squad, long aspired to a law enforcement career and once described police work as 'a customer service job, and the public is our customer.' On Thursday officials announced that the National Guard will send troops from three additional states - Arizona, Alabama and Michigan - to Kenosha to assist with operations there. Rusten Sheskey, 31, shot Blake seven times in the back. He has been placed on leave Evers had already authorized the deployment of the Wisconsin National Guard to Kenosha, and declared a state of emergency Tuesday and enforced an overnight curfew lasting until Sunday. On Tuesday night protests at Blake's shooting descended into lethal violence in which two men, Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, and Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, were shot dead. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, was arrested on Wednesday at his home in Antioch, Illinois, accused of killing the protesters. In Washington, the Justice Department said it was 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 Justice Department also announced that the U.S. attorney's office and FBI would conduct a civil rights investigation into the shooting of Blake, in cooperation with Wisconsin state law enforcement agencies. Groups that had taken to Kenosha's streets with long guns were nowhere to be seen early Thursday following somber protests and no widespread unrest for the first night since the weekend police shooting of Jacob Blake. Marchers were solemn during Wednesday night's protests in the southeastern Wisconsin city between Milwaukee and Chicago following the chaos of the previous night. THE HAGUE, Netherlands - The Dutch government is bringing forward the mandatory end of mink farming in the country by three years amid a growing number of coronavirus infections at fur farms, the countrys agriculture and health ministers announced Friday. The government earmarked an extra 150 million euros ($178 million) to buy out farmers by early next year. Minks infected with the virus have been found at 42 farms in the Netherlands since the global pandemic began, and the government said earlier this year it was plausible that two workers later caught the virus from the minks. That led scientists to explore whether that was the case and how much of a threat such a spread might pose. All the minks at infected farms well over 1 million animals have been killed and strict hygiene measures implemented in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus. It is worrying that despite the tough measures it has not been possible to get a grip on the spread of the virus in this sector, said Health Minister Hugo de Jonge. The mink industry already was working toward a total ban on all mink Dutch mink farms by 2024. That has now been brought forward to the spring of 2021. The Netherlands is the worlds fourth-biggest producer of the prized fur after Denmark, China and Poland, according to Wim Verhagen, director of the Dutch federation of fur farmers. Verhagen could not immediately be reached Friday for comment. Infections also were found earlier this year at a farm in Spain and earlier this month five infected mink were identified at two large farms in the U.S. state of Utah. Animal rights activists welcomed the early closure of the Dutch farms. Without this early termination of fur farming, up to 13.5 million more animals would be forced to suffer short and miserable lives solely to supply the fickle fashion industry, Joanna Swabe of Humane Society International said in a statement. It is a sick industry both literally and figuratively. There has never been a more compelling time for the Netherlands to shut down this industry for good. A professor at the University of Pennsylvania has renewed a request to investigate how President Donald Trump was admitted to the school in 1966, citing what he called "new evidence" on secretly recorded tapes in which Trump's sister says a friend took his entrance exam. The professor, Eric W. Orts, is one of six faculty members who asked Penn's provost earlier this summer to launch an investigation into how Trump transferred into the school. He noted that the president's niece, Mary Trump, wrote in her book published in July that the president paid someone to take his SATs. The provost, Wendell E. Pritchett, replied to Orts on July 20 that "we certainly share your concerns about these allegations and the integrity of our admissions process. However, as you suggest in your message, we have determined that this situation occurred too far in the past to make a useful or probative factual inquiry possible. If new evidence surfaces to substantiate the claim in the future, we will continue to be open to investigating it." Orts, a professor of legal studies and business ethics at the Wharton School, said he contacted Pritchett after The Washington Post on Saturday published a story that included audio of conversations Mary Trump recorded in 2018 and 2019 with Maryanne Trump Barry, the president's sister. In one tape, Barry said she did her brother's homework for him and that "I drove him around New York City to try to get him into college." She said Donald Trump "went to Fordham for one year [actually two years] and then he got into University of Pennsylvania because he had somebody take the exams." In their initial letter, the six professors wrote that failing to investigate an allegation of fraud at such a level broadcasts to prospective students and the world at large that the playing field is not equal, that our degrees can be bought, and that subsequent fame, wealth, and political status will excuse past misconduct. The schools rejection of the July request was reported by the Daily Pennsylvanian, a student-run publication. After The Post published the recording online last weekend, Orts said he emailed Pritchett that the audio constituted the kind of new evidence that the provost said was needed to launch an investigation. Orts said he had not heard back from Pritchett. The provost and his spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. Orts is a registered Democrat but said he is seeking the investigation on moral, not political, grounds. He provided the text of Pritchett's email to The Post, and he said he wrote the follow-up request individually, not with the group that asked for the initial investigation. Barry said in one of the tapes that the person who took the test was named Joe Shapiro. Trump knew a person with that name at Penn, but his widow and sister told The Post that he would have never taken a test for Trump, and they said he didn't know Trump until he attended Penn, so the timing was not right. Mary Trump has said it was a different Shapiro, but that person has not come forward or been identified. The White House declined to comment for this article. Before the existence of the tapes was known, White House spokeswoman Sarah Matthews said the allegation that someone took the SATs for Trump was "completely false." Trump, responding on Saturday to The Post's report about the tapes, said "Who cares?" and did not dispute their authenticity. Barry has not responded to requests for comment. Starting in 1964, Trump went to Fordham in New York City for his freshman and sophomore years and then transferred in 1966 to Penn's undergraduate Wharton School of Finance. Trump has said that he was admitted to the "the hardest school to get into, the best school in the world," calling it "super genius stuff." Trump has contrasted his own intellect with that of others and made an issue of releasing transcripts, saying in 2011 that he questioned how President Barack Obama got into Columbia University and Harvard Law School and challenged him to substantiate how he was admitted. "How does a bad student go to Columbia and then to Harvard?" Trump asked in a 2011 Associated Press interview. "I'm thinking about it, I'm certainly looking into it. Let him show his records." Trump has not released his own records, and an investigation by The Post last year found that his claim that Wharton was the hardest school to enter was not substantiated. The Post reported last year that the Penn admissions official who interviewed Trump was a close friend of Fred Trump Jr., the brother of Donald Trump and father of Mary Trump. That former official, James Nolan, said that it wasn't difficult to get into Penn at that time, with more than half of applicants granted admission and an even higher percentage of transfer students. By comparison, the admission rate last year to Penn was 7.7%. "It was not very difficult," Nolan said last year about Trump's admission in 1966, adding: "I certainly was not struck by any sense that I'm sitting before a genius. Certainly not a super genius." In an interview Thursday, Nolan said Penn did require that an applicant submit SAT scores in order to be considered for admission. Typically, Nolan said, a transfer student would have taken the SAT to get into the initial school and those scores would then be submitted to Penn. A Fordham spokesman said the school required SATs for entrance at the time Trump attended. The spokesman declined to comment when asked whether the school would investigate Trump's application. Nolan said that, given the taped conversations with Trump's sister, there may be enough information for the school to launch an inquiry at Penn. It does not matter if the SATs were taken to gain entrance to Fordham, he said, because the same scores would have been required to be submitted to Penn. "The allegation was made," Nolan said. "If indeed he falsified his application - even though it is [54] years ago - his admission should be withdrawn and therefore his degree would be null and void." Nolan said the school could try to determine if Trump's admission records are stored in its archives. Such information is not publicly available because of privacy laws. Even if the records are found, it could be difficult to determine if someone else took the test for Trump. Nolan, while stressing that he had no knowledge if someone else took Trump's test, said it would have been easier decades ago for someone to take a test for another person. He said that he sometimes proctored SAT exams at the time, and he recalled that students submitted a paper stating who they were, but doesn't recall such information being checked as rigorously as it is today. _____ The Washington Posts Alice Crites contributed to this report. Reported PLA anti-ship ballistic missile launches 'show saturated attack capability' Global Times By Liu Xuanzun Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/27 20:08:40 The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Wednesday launched multiple anti-ship ballistic missiles into the South China Sea in a military exercise, overseas media reported. The missile launches, if true, demonstrated the PLA's ability to hit maritime targets with powerful ballistic missiles from multiple directions in coordinated, saturated attacks against which there is no defense, analysts said on Thursday. US media outlet Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing an anonymous US defense official, that China launched four medium-range ballistic missiles into the South China Sea. As a part of broader military exercises, the missiles landed in the sea in an area between South China's Hainan Island and the Xisha Islands, according to the report. The PLA exercises 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 regarding the drills. Citing an anonymous source "close to the Chinese military," the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post claimed that China launched a DF-26 missile from Northwest China's Qinghai Province and a DF-21D missile from East China's Zhejiang Province into the South China Sea on Wednesday morning. The PLA had not confirmed the launches as of press time. China's DF-26 and DF-21D are the world's first ballistic missiles capable of targeting large and medium-sized vessels, earning them the title of "aircraft carrier killers," military observers said. Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Thursday that using different missiles launched from different regions in attacking targets in the same area showed the PLA tactic of saturated attack. China can use different ways to attack one or more targets at the same time, so the enemy will not be able to intercept these attacks, Song said, noting that despite US aircraft carriers' air defense capability, they cannot defend themselves against ballistic missiles. A Beijing-based military expert told the Global Times on Thursday on condition of anonymity that the coordinated attack also showed China has a complete system to detect, track and lock on enemy ships. The system, which possibly consists of reconnaissance aircraft, radar, satellites and warships among others, can direct and coordinate missiles to find moving maritime targets, so they can adjust their trajectories when initiating the final attacks after re-entry. On Wednesday morning, the time of the reported missile launches, the US sent an RC-135S ballistic missile-detection plane to the South China Sea. Chinese military analysts speculated that the US believed the PLA would launch anti-ship ballistic missiles like the DF-21D or the DF-26 in the drills. Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military aviation expert, told the Global Times at that time that China is the only country that has the technology to develop anti-ship ballistic missiles, and the US is eager to learn about China's methods. Some of the reports hyped the "China threat" in the South China Sea, but it is the US that has sent aircraft carriers and spy planes to the region, which brings instability, analysts noted. In July, a US dual aircraft carrier strike group featuring the USS Ronald Reagan and the USS Nimitz conducted exercises in the South China Sea. The USS Ronald Reagan again entered the South China Sea on August 14 after sailing in the East China Sea near the island of Taiwan, according to the monitoring of Beijing-based think tank the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative. The US has also frequently sent spy planes near China for close-up reconnaissance. Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said at a regular press conference on Thursday that recent Chinese military exercises are routine and not targeted at any country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Scrapping 213 of Englands smallest councils and replacing them with 25 new larger local authorities could save almost 3bn, a new report published on Friday claims. Abolishing district councils would also reduce complexity and voter confusion in areas where there are currently two layers of local government, the study for the County Councils Network says. The suggestion comes ahead of a government review of the countrys council system which is expected to be published in the autumn. Currently, in much of England outside the biggest cities, local government operates under a two-tier system, with both a county and district council providing different services. But the new report argues that merging these into single organisations would save 2.94bn over five years creating a much-needed financial boost amid the coronavirus pandemic. Savings would come from reducing the number of councillors, streamlining the number of council workers and reducing overlap of services. David Williams, chairman of the County Councils Network, said the report, compiled by PriceWatehouseCoopers, provided compelling evidence for creating single-tier unitary authorities across the board. And he added such organisations would bring greater simplicity and democratic accountability. They have the potential to bring services closer to residents, developing new ways for residents to engage and shape service provision more effectively and enhance local democratic participation, he said in a statement. In his own county, Hertfordshire, he pointed out, there are currently 11 authorities with 11 chief executives and 526 councillors meaning a large amount of overlap. But advocates for the two-tier system argue such proposed single councils would be too large, centralised and remote to many of the people they serve. Sharon Taylor, leader of Stevenage Council, a district council within Hertfordshire, told the BBC the countys population of 1.3 million people made it too big for a single council. That is centralising local services which seems entirely wrong, she said, adding that the UK already had he least representation at local level of anywhere in Europe. Several billion-dollar foreign projects have been mired down for years According to the Economic Zones Management Authority of the southern province of Kien Giang where the $1.27 billion Block B-O Mon pipeline project is located, it was licensed in 2017 but has yet to even kick off construction, despite the initial plan calling for a five-phase development which would have been completed next year. Le Minh Trung, deputy director of the authority told VIR, No phase of the project has begun work so far as the investor PetroVietnam said that Block B has insufficient gas for project development. With the involvement of investor PTTEP Southwest Vietnam Pipeline Co., Ltd., and Mitsui Oil Exploration Co., Ltd., the project aimed to supply gas for power plants in the O Mon Power Centre, and supplement for the Ca Mau Gas-Power-Fertiliser complex and other power plants in Kien Giang Power Centre. A similar situation has befallen other mammoth power projects, including the Nam Dinh 1 build-operate-transfer (BOT) thermal power plant in the northern province of Nam Dinh, and the Nghi Son 2 BOT thermal power facility in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa. They were also licensed in 2017 but remain well behind schedule. Tran Minh Hoan, director of Nam Dinh Industrial Zones Management Authority said, The $2.07 billion Nam Dinh 1 project is still in slow progress due to problems related to coal supply. State-run Vinacomin has yet to ensure sufficient coal supply, but the investor said that the supply is the decisive condition required to continue the development. Limited coal supply in the country as a whole is the major factor for the delays. In another case, the $2.79 billion Nghi Son 2 plant funded by Japanese and South Korean investors Marubeni Corporation and Korea Electric Power Corporation is stagnant in part because of knock-on COVID-19 effects. The Nghi Son Economic Zones Management Authority disclosed that experts cannot yet return to Vietnam due to the global health crisis. The three are among dozens of major foreign-invested projects showing sluggishness across the country. However, whether or not they are in risk of licence revocation altogether remains unknown for now. At a recent online meeting of planning and investment agencies, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung noted that long-stagnant projects should have their licences revoked and hand over the opportunities for other capable investors to increase quality of both foreign investment and disbursement. In fact, Vietnam has so far taken strong action in this regard in other areas, in which many schemes in manufacturing and real estate had their licences revoked (see box). While many stagnant projects have caused negative social and economic impacts, local authorities have taken measures to fast-track projects. However, not much progress has been seen so far. For instance, Kien Giang, Nam Dinh, and Thanh Hoa have made efforts to speed up the projects. However, the issues surrounding PetroVietnam, coal supply, and the pandemic mean any efforts made to speed up the ventures require more developments to weigh in their favour in order to succeed. In Ho Chi Minh City, where a handful of huge projects at a standstill, leaders of the municipal Peoples Committee have many times expressed dissatisfaction with the slow progress and asked departments and agencies to take measures to accelerate them. They include Thu Thiem Eco Smart City, worth nearly $1 billion from Lotte Properties, which cannot make the next steps due to various procedural problems. The South Korean group seeking for government thumbs-up for further advancement. In Hanoi, the future operation prospects of the controversial Cat Linh-Ha Dong urban railway project the first venture of its kind in Vietnam remains dim despite over a decade of construction. The project has caused high indignation among local people because of traffic problems, although Hanoian authorities and the Ministry of Transport have many times asked Chinese contractors and other relevant agencies to accelerate it. The list of some billion-US-dollar foreign invested projects got licence revocation - The $1-billion foreign-invested New City Vietnam project from New City Properties Development and Sunrise Vietnam located in the central province of Phu Yen; - The $1.6-billion Bai Dai Resort venture from Starbay Holdings Ltd., and the British Virgin Islands located on Phu Quoc Island; - The $1-billion sponge iron plant invested in by Japans Kobe located in the central province of Nghe An; - The $1 billion auto manufacturing plant from Russias Buscenter Met in the south-central province of Binh Dinh; and - The $4.1 billion Saigon Atlantis project of Winvest Investment located in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Investment disbursement has been a concern for years, despite some improvements in recent years. As shown in statistics from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in 2018, Vietnams foreign investment disbursement hit $19.1 billion, accounting for about 50 per cent of the total registered capital. The disbursed figure in 2019 was $20.23 billion, or 53.6 per cent, marking an all-time high. Economists and lawyers said that the government needs to take bolder action than previously in order to deter future sluggish ventures otherwise, the list of major stagnant projects will keep rising. Turkey resumed airstrikes on the Yazidi heartland of Sinjar in northern Iraq on Aug. 25 after first attacking the area in mid-June. Turkish airstrikes have been going on for months in other parts of Iraqs Kurdistan. The Turkish drone struck an Iraqi border guard convoy in the Bradost area, north of Erbil. The strike that killed two senior officers was part of Turkish operations by land and air against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in parts of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Following the incident, Iraqs Foreign Ministry summoned Turkeys ambassador to Iraq Fatih Yildiz Aug. 12, calling the strike an act of aggression and a violation of the countrys sovereignty. The Iraqi government canceled the Turkish defense ministers visit to Baghdad and other scheduled visits by Turkish officials to Iraq. The Turkish airstrikes have raised great concerns inside and outside of Iraq, as Iraq is already suffering from a lack of security and stability. The federal government's silence on the repeated Turkish attacks is increasingly angering the Iraqi street, and dozens of Iraqis have held multiple rallies in front of Turkey's embassy in Baghdad Aug. 13 and in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In the Zakho district of Dohuk governorate in northern Iraq Aug. 19, mass demonstrations erupted against the repeated Turkish bombing of the district's villages and countryside. They asked that the Ibrahim Khalil border crossing be closed and for Turkish trucks to be banned from entering the province. The protesters burned tires and clashed with Kurdish security forces, resulting in the injury of at least 11 civilians. In an effort to reduce the tension, the United States suggested Aug. 25 that Baghdad, Erbil and Ankara cooperate to clear the region and especially Sinjar of armed militias. The United States offered to help mediate between the three parties. 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, said US State Department's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Joey Hood, specifically mentioning the PKK and adding, You could put a civilian administration in there that would work for the people and be accepted by the people so that Yazidi [displaced persons], victims of genocide could actually go home, which they cant do safely and voluntarily right now. Hood revealed that the United States is talking to all parties about this at a high level. The KRG Interior Ministry had previously demanded that the PKK move its military operations out of Kurdistan. In an Aug. 11 statement on the recent Turkish attack, it reiterated that the PKK and Turkey must take their dispute out of the Iraqi and Northern Iraqi territories and stressed the need to spare citizens the costs of such conflicts. Ankara has breached international law, including Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the UN Charter, which require that all states respect the sovereignty of other states. Commenting on the reasons Iraq cannot put a stop to attacks by both Turkey and Iran, Iraqi parliament member Nada Shaker told Al-Monitor that when a state grows weaker, neighboring countries ravish it, and this is what is happening with Iraq. She noted, Iraqs weakness, particularly under the two previous governments, left the country in major distress, permitting Turkish and Iranian planes to comfortably strike parts of the country without a response commensurate with the continuous attacks. Shaker called on the Iraqi government to withdraw its ambassadors from countries that violate Iraqi sovereignty and expel their ambassadors. She explained that Iraqi politicians ties to foreign countries prevent the enactment of strict measures to protect the state. The violence has added to Iraqs security, political and economic crises. The country faces surging terrorist attacks by Islamic State militants in the north, the coronavirus outbreak, the decline in oil prices and the protests that erupted in October. Both the KRG and the central Iraqi government are too weak to file a complaint against Ankara with the United Nations. Ankara's multiple political connections in Iraq stand with Turkey against the PKK, including the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which enjoys political and economic relations with Turkey. The party leads the KRG and is more hostile to the PKK than any other Kurdish party. There are also economic considerations tying the KDP and Ankara together. Erbil does not want to lose its profitable trade relations with Turkey, even in light of Turkey's most aggressive stances toward the Kurdistan region and the Kurds in the region. Hanaa Riyad, a journalist from Baghdad, told Al-Monitor it is imperative that the Iraqi government and KRG boycott Turkey economically and that they protest the repeated Turkish violations to the UN. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which controls Sulaimaniyah, sympathizes with the PKK more than the KDP. The PUK itself faces the same criticisms regarding the Iranian attacks in Sulaimaniyah. Commenting on the Iranian and Turkish violations, top PUK official Hawkar al-Jaff told Al-Monitor that the Iranian violations are different from the Turkish ones, as Iran does not have permanent camps or forces equipped with heavy weapons and ammunition inside Kurdistan, as Turkey does. Also, the Iranian aircrafts are not striking Sulaimaniyah daily and heavily, as Turkey does in Erbil and Dohuk, which the KDP controls. He said that Turkey is present on a near daily basis in the Kurdish airspace and on the ground. Iran is only bombing remote mountainous areas, away from population centers, as it goes after the Kurdish opposition. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Endpoint security refers to the practice of securing the entry points or end-points of a number of end-use devices such as laptops, desktops, mobile and other portable devices, in order to prevent them from being broken into or hacked by bad actors or campaigns. Endpoint security has drastically evolved from its early days of being used as antivirus software, to offering all-round protection from sophisticated malware and zero-day threats. With both big and small organizations being the target of enemy nations, hackers and organized crime, endpoint security has assumed much greater importance in todays data-driven environment. With more and more devices, software and application being integrated in an organizational network, there has been an exponential increase in the number of security and data alerts. The introduction and rapid growth in adoption of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), which allows professionals to use their personal laptops or mobiles for performing official work, has added complexity to the data and network security, thus highlighting the importance of endpoint security systems. Additionally, there has been an emerging trend of virtualization, which involves separation of physical systems into a number of virtual machines that require similar endpoint protection. This has added another layer to endpoint security, thus significantly expanding the market. A 2019 survey by SlashNext and Dark Reading revealed that 66 percent of enterprises surveyed had detected phishing attacks on their network frequently, with 41 percent of enterprises frequently detecting malware. Additionally, 36% of businesses have experienced more than one serious breach or compromise a year, while three percent experienced such a compromise on a daily basis. A separate survey by SANS in 2018 revealed that 28% of participating respondents reported that their endpoints had been breached, and only 39% of attacks were detected by traditional antivirus. All these statistics point towards the importance of presence of a sophisticated endpoint security infrastructure, which has driven the market in recent years. Access Research Report of Endpoint Security Market Major companies in the endpoint security market such as McAfee, FireEye and Sophos have focused their operations on developing technologies that can improve capabilities, secure internet protocols, test software and analyze vulnerabilities. furthermore, there has been a growing adoption of cloud-based security services, which enables storage of significant amounts of data at one place. Various government regulations have been put in place to oversee this aspect, which is factoring in the market growth. Endpoint security serves a number of key sectors such as IT & telecom, BFSI and Retail, which provides significant opportunities for growth and expansion to major industry players. In terms of solution, the endpoint security market has been segmented into firewall, antivirus, application control, MDS, ID/IP and encryption technologies, among others. Antivirus segment accounts for a respectable share in the market, as it is very useful in reducing or negating the threat of trojans, viruses, worms, adware, spyware, keyloggers and rootkits. The mobile device security segment is anticipated to grow at a rapid pace in the coming years, on account of the drastic increase in the usage of mobile and portable devices across organizations, coupled with the popularity of the BYOD system that is being rapidly implemented across companies. Based on deployment, the endpoint security market is segmented into on-premise and cloud. Cloud-based services are expected to be the dominant segment in the near future, as more and more organizations move towards adoption of cloud across every aspect of the company. Additionally, the on-premise segment is much more expensive to maintain than cloud, which has led to migration of many professionals towards the latter segment. With regards to organization, the endpoint security market has been classified into enterprise and SMBs. The former segment currently dominates the market, and is expected to remain so in the near future, on account of constant upgradation of existing security infrastructure. SMBs are expected to show substantial growth in the market, as organizations both big and small move towards adoption of cloud technology for storing data, thus necessitating the presence of strong security systems. However, it is expected that reluctance of SMBs to outsource security services to a third party will restrain the growth of the market to some extent. Based on application, the endpoint security market has been segmented into IT & telecom, BFSI, Industrial, education, retail and medical, among others. IT & Telecom segment is expected to remain the major customer of endpoint security systems, while BFSI is also expected to generate substantial revenue for the market, on account of the growing regulation in the finance sector. The medical sector is expected to show noticeable growth in the endpoint security market on account of the increasing risk of hacking faced by the multitudes of internet-connected healthcare systems. Moreover, mobile healthcare has also gained a lot of prominence across developed and emerging economies, which has necessitated the presence of an efficient security system. The 2019 Healthcare Data Breach Report by HIPAA Journal found that the year saw 510 healthcare data breaches in the US, in which 500 or more records were exposed, with the total number of patient records exposed drastically increasing from 13,947,909 in 2018 to 41,335,889 in 2019. The North American and European regions are projected to dominate the endpoint security market in coming years, owing to the presence of established healthcare and IT infrastructure, and the rapid adoption of cloud-based security in the regional economies. The growth has been accelerated by the presence of major market players such as Bitdefender, IBM, Intel, Cisco and Microsoft in these regions. Asia Pacific is anticipated to show substantial market growth in the coming years, as the trend of BYOD and cloud adoption has massively caught up with the regional organizations in recent years, and more specifically in the emerging economies of India, Malaysia and China that have seen IT and telecom sector grow by leaps and bounds. Recent Trends and Developments COVID-19 Impact: The global COVID-19 pandemic has led to shutdown of workplaces across global economies, with organizations instead asking employees to work from home. This is expected to become a norm even after the pandemic recedes, as organizations are taking extra precautions for their employees. A recent Gartner survey revealed that 70% of the CFOs would be encouraging employees to work remotely, and this situation is expected to boost the development of the endpoint security market, as professionals make use of their personal devices and VPN networks for performing their tasks, which would enhance the risk of cyberattacks. To combat this situation, the company may provide established antivirus software as well as proactive solutions like moving target defense. Intel announced in June 2020 regarding its plans to introduce new hardware-based protection against common malware attacks in the companys upcoming 10-nanometer Tiger Lake laptop processors. This will be the first Intel processor family to utilize the new Intel Control-Flow Enforcement Technology (CET). CET is a set of silicon-level instructions that targets a malware type known as control-flow hijacking that has been traditionally difficult to mitigate through software. The feature is expected to satisfy the demands of organizations prioritizing endpoint security in the current work-from-home scenario due to the current coronavirus scenario. In June 2020, Siemens teamed up with SparkCognition to collaborate on a new product and service offering aimed at devices utilized in industrial operational technology (OT) networks. This is a machine learning-based endpoint security offering, with the partnership expected to address the issue of the longstanding issue of tracking and protecting endpoints in OT networks. The product will initially offer support to only endpoints running Windows 2000 and later versions, and would be expanded to include other systems gradually. Symantec revamped its endpoint portfolio with the introduction of Symantec Endpoint Security (SES) in October 2019, with the system delivering protection, detection and response in a single solution, along with a new attack surface reduction, threat hunting, and breach assessment and prevention capabilities. Furthermore, customers can deploy and manage SES via cloud or on-premises, or a hybrid of both, for all operating systems including mobile devices, with single agent installation. 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. Business Secretary Alok Sharma led calls this week urging firms to get workers back to their desks. But he faced accusations of hypocrisy last night after just 5 per cent of his own departments 1,800 staff arrived at its central London HQ. Just 95 were seen entering the Whitehall building on Thursday morning, even though the Government has urged the country and its own 430,000 workforce to return to their desks. Earlier this week, Mr Sharma said: If you need to come in you should. I hope what we will see is people coming back into the workplace and, yes, I personally would like to see London vibrant again. Business Secretary Alok Sharma led calls this week urging firms to get workers back to their desks. But he faced accusations of hypocrisy last night after just 5 per cent of his own departments 1,800 staff arrived at its central London HQ Last night, former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said Mr Sharma should note the proverb Physician, heal thyself, adding: The Government has control of departments. Theres a very strong case they should say to civil servants, You must come back. Its safe and theres no excuse. The Mail has monitored the number of staff going to work at several Whitehall departments between 7.15am and 11am in the past month. Just 39 entered the Department of Work and Pensions on Wednesday, which is 18 less than a fortnight ago and equates to just over 2 per cent of the 1,700 who worked there before lockdown. At the Department for Education there was still very little change in numbers, with only 3 per cent of staff turning up on Wednesday. Its boss Gavin Williamson was among 64 people seen entering an increase of just two in a fortnight. A recent Mail poll found 51 per cent of Britons believed civil servants should set an example to the country. At the Department for Education there was still very little change in numbers, with only 3 per cent of staff turning up on Wednesday. Its boss Gavin Williamson (pictured) was among 64 people seen entering an increase of just two in a fortnight. Attendance across other Whitehall departments remains low, but the number seen to return is beginning to increase slowly. The largest increase was at the office housing more than 2,200 staff from the Treasury and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, where 227 signed in up from 178 two weeks ago. Meanwhile, 238 staff arrived at the main entrance to the Home Office headquarters up from 198. Former business secretary Sir Vince Cable called on Mr Sharmas ministry to show by example. A Government spokesman said: It is safe to return to a Covid-secure workplace and government departments have ensured appropriate measures are in place to enable as many civil servants as possible to return safely. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps was also accused of hypocrisy yesterday after urging Britons to get back to work. When an interviewer pointed out to him that he was still at his Hertfordshire home, Mr Shapps said he had commuted to the Department for Transport on an ad hoc basis. Boris Johnson faces collision course with defiant unions as he launches back-to-work drive to get civil servants into their offices By Jason Groves for the Daily Mail Boris Johnson was on a collision course with the unions last night as he prepared a fresh push next week to get all civil servants back to their desks to set an example. Downing Street sources said the Prime Minister was determined to get every official back to demonstrate a safe return to work is possible. However, unions have warned that any attempt to force civil servants to return could result in industrial unrest. Britains human rights watchdog also signalled its opposition, saying the country had proved it could work flexibly and we cannot backtrack now. The PM ordered departments to draw up plans in July for a phased return to work following the lockdown which saw at least 95 per cent based at home for months. But a Downing Street source acknowledged progress had been slow. They said: You will see a more firm direction to Whitehall to get back to the office next week. The Prime Minister is very keen on getting more people back to the workplace. Downing Street sources said the Prime Minister was determined to get every official back to demonstrate a safe return to work is possible The main focus has to be on getting every civil servant back at their desk. It sets an example to the rest of the country and demonstrates that it can be done safely. 'The process has started but it has been slow. It will be accelerated now because this is a priority for the PM. The move will be seen as a slap-down for Health Secretary Matt Hancock who broke with the Government position this week by saying he was happy for his officials to continue working from home as long as they could operate effectively. No official figures are available for civil servants who have returned to work so far, but insiders suggest it may be as low as 10 per cent. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps yesterday ducked questions on his officials, but said he hoped the figure would rise to 20 per cent next week. Ministers face a fight with the unions over the back-to-work push. Dave Penman, of the FDA which represents senior civil servants, said: Ministers are increasingly sounding like dinosaurs. 'Millions of employees are working from home very successfully whilst employers are recognising that the world of work has changed and are embracing it. 'The genie wont fit back in the bottle best not to try. The Public and Commercial Services Union, the largest in the civil service, previously warned that any bid to get officials back to work could lead to industrial unrest. General secretary Mark Serwotka has written to the Government saying it is potentially illegal to move staff from one working place to another that is less safe. A union official predicted that, despite the tough line from No10, departments would not get most staff back this year, adding: We know theres pressure. General secretary Mark Serwotka has written to the Government saying it is potentially illegal to move staff from one working place to another that is less safe Weve seen a change in tone. But a lot of departments have been quite clear regardless of the politics, they will not see people coming back to offices that are not Covid-secure. Theyre definitely not going to get back this year. Ministers faced a backlash yesterday over reports that a Government publicity campaign would warn workers they could lose their jobs if they fail to return to the office. No10 distanced itself from the suggestion the campaign would indicate people working from home are risking the sack, saying it was deeply irresponsible. Sources said the campaign would feature adverts in local newspapers next week urging employers to make sure workplaces are Covid-secure and encouraging people to think about going back. But one minister told The Daily Telegraph those working from home could be more vulnerable in any company restructuring. The Equality and Human Rights Commission said there should be no question of peoples jobs being vulnerable if they do not return to the office. Its interim chairman Caroline Waters said: Having seen how it is possible to work flexibly and retain productivity, we cannot backtrack now. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would not intimidate people back to work. The Labour-run Welsh government yesterday said it would continue to advise people to work from home where possible. 'Start playing your part to save city centres': Council chiefs are urged as they say up to eight in ten workers will not be expected to return until next year By David Churchill for the Daily Mail Town halls were last night urged to play their part by getting more workers back into offices to rescue city centre shops. A Daily Mail audit of councils suggests only a fraction of staff have returned. Many said up to eight in ten workers will not be expected to return until next year or until the pandemic is over. Only a few said they plan a drive to get them back in the coming weeks. We sent the survey to more than 80 councils. Of the 25 that responded, 21 said either only a fraction or less than 20 per cent of office workers had returned. Cambridgeshire County Council in Cambridge said about 3,000 of its 4,300 staff are office-based. Of these, about 80 per cent continue to work from home Nottinghamshire County Council in Nottingham has 8,000 to 10,000 workers. It said the majority of our office staff will be remaining at home Several claimed no more than a fifth will return until the pandemic is over due to distancing restrictions. But critics dismissed this, accusing unions of scaremongering public sector bosses into being overly cautious. Local authorities in some areas are among the biggest employers. CBI boss Dame Carolyn Fairbairn has warned Mr Johnson must do more to get workers back at their desks Their staff provide crucial footfall for businesses that rely on busy offices. The findings last night led to renewed calls for Downing Street to toughen up its back to work message. Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: Public servants must lead the way and play their part. Then the Government can tell all those companies that have said no one is going back until the New Year that they have a duty and obligation to help the economy. If people dont return to offices, smaller businesses will crash and burn. Some of these people have probably been out in pubs and restaurants on the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, so why cant they replicate that in their office environment? He also accused unions of scaremongering public sector bosses. He said: The 20 per cent thing is just b*******. They are just trying to damage the Government. It is nearly a month since Boris Johnson heralded August 3 as the day work from home guidance ends. He said Britons could return to offices at the discretion of their employers. But the response of town halls deals a further hammer blow to commercial centres starved of customers. London City Hall normally has 800 people working in its River Thames HQ but sources said only a limited number are back. A spokesman for mayor Sadiq Khan said: Guidelines mean that only around 200 staff can safely work from the building. Kent County Council in Maidstone said it has around 6,500 staff accessing remote technology, which is the vast majority of our office-based staff. Kent County Council in Maidstone said it has around 6,500 staff accessing remote technology, which is the vast majority of our office-based staff A spokesman added: We do not expect staff who are normally office-based to return on a permanent basis until into next year, except where they need to for business. Cambridgeshire County Council in Cambridge said about 3,000 of its 4,300 staff are office-based. Of these, about 80 per cent continue to work from home. It said they will only allow about 20 per cent to return if distancing guidelines are to be adhered to. Suffolk County Council in Ipswich has around 2,800 office staff but said only a fraction are back. A spokesman said: Our policy is if its working at home, continue to do so. Nottinghamshire County Council in Nottingham has 8,000 to 10,000 workers. It said the majority of our office staff will be remaining at home. Suffolk County Council in Ipswich has around 2,800 office staff but said only a fraction are back Exeter-based Devon County Council said office workers are not expected to return unless they need to. It was a similar story for Cumbria County Council in Carlisle, Somerset County Council in Taunton, Hertfordshire County Council in Hertford and city councils such as Peterborough, Coventry and Barnsley. It comes after figures this week revealed only around 17 per cent of staff have returned to work in the 63 biggest cities. CBI boss Dame Carolyn Fairbairn has warned Mr Johnson must do more to get workers back at their desks. Writing in the Mail on Thursday she said: The costs of office closure are becoming clearer by the day. There are more than 340 councils in England which employ hundreds of thousands of people. RIO DE JANEIRO Brazils president, Jair Bolsonaro, was visiting a cathedral in the capital in recent days when a reporter threw out a question: President, why did your wife receive $16,000 from a former aide under investigation for corruption? The response was aggressive, even for a president known for venting his anger at journalists and critics. What Id like to do, Mr. Bolsonaro told the reporter, is smash your mouth in. In his two years in office, as Mr. Bolsonaro and his inner circle, including his sons, have become engulfed in a growing number of criminal and legislative investigations, he has lashed out at reporters, investigators and even members of his own cabinet who have dared go against him. By Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijan Carpet Museum is searching new ways to be closer and more accessible to people living anywhere in the world. The Carpet Museum invites you to take part in a virtual tour through its extensive collections. The museum has a 360-degree virtual tour with detailed information in Azerbaijani and English The updated 360-degree virtual tour of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum can be viewed on the following link. Now a virtual walk through the Carpet Museum spaces is available for mobile devices and with VR glasses. Click on an object and take a closer look! The exhibits are accompanied by texts in Azerbaijani and English. Founded in 1967, the National Carpet Museum holds more than 14,000 exhibits of the finest Azerbaijani carpets. The museum, initiated by eminent carpet artist Latif Karimov, is beautiful inside and out. The museum's new building is designed in the form of a rolled carpet. The Carpet Museum opened its doors in 2014 at Baku Seaside Park. All carpets were transferred to the museum's new location. Now, the museum hosts multiple events, including international symposiums, conferences and various exhibitions. In 2019, the museum received the national status for its significant contribution in popularization and promotion of the Azerbaijani Carpet Weaving Art. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz ISTANBUL/ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece ratified an accord on maritime boundaries with Egypt on Thursday, hours after Turkey extended the operation of a seismic survey vessel in the Eastern Mediterranean and said it will hold firing exercises in the region next month. NATO allies Greece and Turkey are at odds over the rights to potential hydrocarbon resources in the area, based on conflicting claims over the extent of their continental shelves. Tensions escalated this month after Ankara dispatched the Oruc Reis seismic survey vessel in a disputed area following the pact between Athens and Cairo. Turkey has said the pact infringes its own continental shelf. The agreement also overlaps with maritime zones Turkey agreed with Libya last year, decried as illegal by Greece. The Aug 6 maritime deal has already been ratified by Egypt's parliament and was approved by a majority of Greek lawmakers on Thursday evening. Earlier, the Turkish navy issued the latest advisory, known as a Navtex, saying it will hold the shooting exercises in the eastern Mediterranean off the coast of Iskenderun, northeast of Cyprus on Sept 1-2. It also extended the seismic work of the Oruc Reis vessel southwest of Cyprus, until Sept 1. Greece says the Turkish advisories are illegal. Maritime zones give a state rights over natural resources. Largely unexplored, the east Mediterranean is thought to be rich in natural gas. As the dispute widened, France said on Wednesday it was joining military exercises with Italy, Greece and Cyprus in 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 that France's 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. Turkey recognises the Turkish-populated north of Cyprus as a separate state, which is not recognised by other countries. Story continues Greece said on Wednesday it plans to extend its territorial waters in the Ionian Sea to 12 nautical miles from its coast, from six nautical miles, after the ratification of a maritime deal with Italy. To the east of Greece, Turkey has warned that a similar move by Athens in waters east of Greece would be a cause for war. (Reporting by Daren Butler in Istanbul and Renee Maltezou and Lefteris Papadimas in Athens; Editing by Peter Graff and Kirsten Donovan) Tarrant will serve a life sentence without parole in Auckland's Paremoremo maximum security prison, the first person in the country to receive that sentence. The 29-year-old Australian admitted to 51 charges of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and one charge of committing a terrorist act during the 2019 shooting rampage at two Christchurch mosques which he livestreamed on Facebook. Before Tarrant, triple-murderer William Bell was serving the longest sentence in New Zealand with a minimum non-parole prison term of 30 years for his 2001 crimes. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 13:12:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) and Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide greet each other by elbow bump before talks in Oslo, Norway, Aug. 27, 2020. (NTB/Handout via Xinhua) China welcomes the active participation of European countries including Norway in the new round of China's opening up, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. OSLO, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Facing the impact of COVID-19 and the global economic downturn, China will not shut its door but will instead open it wider to the outside world, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Thursday. This is a clear message from Chinese President Xi Jinping, who delivered a very important speech recently on China's economic development and opening up, he added. Wang made the remarks during a joint press conference with Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide later on Thursday. Responding to the question as to whether China's opening up policy will be affected by the current situation, where the pandemic has caused deep recession of the world economy and rising unilateralism and protectionism, Wang said that it has been proved by China's reform and opening up for more than 40 years that openness brings progress, while isolation leads to backwardness. "Over the past 40 years, through opening up, China has developed together with the world, and at the same time has been repaying the world," he said. Aerial photo taken on Aug. 5, 2020 shows the Chengdu International Railway Port in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) China has over fulfilled its commitments to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and reduced the average tariff rate to 7.5 percent, which exceeds that of all the other major developing countries and approaches the level of developed countries, he added. He also pointed out that China, for two consecutive years, has been one of the world's economies making the biggest improvement in business environment. Over the past 40 years, China's opening up has brought enormous business opportunities and development dividends to countries including Norway, and made an important and irreplaceable contribution to the global economic growth, he added. "Today, with the impact of the pandemic, China and the world are facing a new situation and entering a new stage of development," he said. Xi, when delivering the speech on China's economic development and opening up, said that China will promote a dual-cycle development pattern, Wang said, adding that this means the country's growth will rely on both domestic and international economic cycles, with the domestic cycle being the mainstay. Aerial photo taken on July 14, 2020 shows the container terminal of Jingtang Port District under Tangshan Port in Tangshan City, north China's Hebei Province. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) Xi also said that China will raise the level of opening up in an all-round way and build higher-level new institutions of the open economy, Wang noted. Through deeper reforms, lower tariffs, shorter negative lists, more convenient market access, more transparent market rules and a more attractive business environment, China will link its domestic market, the world's largest one, with the global market more closely, promote a virtuous cycle of mutual development which will be larger, more efficient and more dynamic, and create wider development space and more opportunities for China itself and other countries around the world, he said. In the new round of China's opening up, China welcomes the active participation of European countries including Norway, he added. He called on both parties to provide a strong and lasting impetus for their respective development and the global economic recovery by enhancing opening up and cooperation in such fields as trade, investment and industry. London: A truck driver from Northern Ireland has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the deaths of 39 people found in the back of a container truck last year in south-eastern England. Ronan Hughes, 40, of County Armagh in Northern Ireland, entered the plea on Friday at Central London Criminal Court. The victims, all of whom were Vietnamese, were found on October 23 in the back of a truck in an industrial park in the English town of Grays. Thirty nine people were found dead in the back of the truck last year. Credit:Getty Images The scope of the tragedy became clear as police released the names and ages of those who died in one of Britains worst incidents of human smuggling. Two of the dead were only 15, while the oldest was 44. About 20 of the victims came from one province, Nghe An, in north central Vietnam. When I asked Facebook about concerns around the ethics of big tech entering the brain-computer interface space, Mr. Chevillet, of Facebook Reality Labs, highlighted the transparency of its brain-reading project. This is why weve talked openly about our B.C.I. research so it can be discussed throughout the neuroethics community as we collectively explore what responsible innovation looks like in this field, he said in an email. Ed Cutrell, a senior principal researcher at Microsoft, which also has a B.C.I. program, emphasized the importance of treating user data carefully. There needs to be clear sense of where that information goes, he told me. As we are sensing more and more about people, to what extent is that information Im collecting about you yours? Some find all this talk of ethics and rights, if not irrelevant, then at least premature. Medical scientists working to help paralyzed patients, for example, are already governed by HIPAA laws, which protect patient privacy. Any new medical technology has to go through the Food and Drug Administration approval process, which includes ethical considerations. (Ethical quandaries still arise, though, notes Dr. Kirsch. Lets say you want to implant a sensor array in a patient suffering from locked-in syndrome. How do you get consent to conduct surgery that might change the persons life for the better from someone who cant communicate?) Leigh Hochberg, a professor of engineering at Brown University and part of the BrainGate initiative, sees the companies now piling into the brain-machine space as a boon. The field needs these companies dynamism and their deep pockets, he told me. Discussions about ethics are important, but those discussions should not at any point derail the imperative to provide restorative neurotechnologies to people who could benefit from them, he added. Ethicists, Dr. Jepsen told me, must also see this: The alternative would be deciding we arent interested in a deeper understanding of how our minds work, curing mental disease, really understanding depression, peering inside people in comas or with Alzheimers, and enhancing our abilities in finding new ways to communicate. Theres even arguably a national security imperative to plow forward. China has its own version of BrainGate. If American companies dont pioneer this technology, some think, Chinese companies will. People have described this as a brain arms race, Dr. Yuste said. Not even Dr. Gallant, who first succeeded in translating neural activity into a moving image of what another person was seeing and who was both elated and horrified by the exercise thinks the Luddite approach is an option. The only way out of the technology-driven hole were in is more technology and science, he told me. Thats just a cool fact of life. Moises Velasquez-Manoff, the author of An Epidemic of Absence: A New Way of Understanding Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases, is a contributing opinion writer. 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. Taiwanese chipmaker MediaTek has now filed an application to seek permission from the US government to supply chipsets to Huawei for its devices. Well, the trade ban imposed by the US government on Huawei is nothing new, only if you are not living under a rock. The trade ban imposed last year on allegations that it sells user data to the Chinese Jinping government. Huawei has denied all the allegations as of now. But the US government is in no mood to let loose the Chinese smartphone giant without proper scrutiny. Advertisement In fact, it is taking all the steps possible to rise hurdles in the path of business for Huawei. However, fortunately for Huawei, the US government eased off a bit by granting a TGL to conduct limited business with U.S. companies. TGL means a temporary general license that allows Huawei to perform business on a limited scale with companies in the US. Moreover, the US also banned all its suppliers to sell chipsets to Huawei. This ease has expired last month, and the restrictions on Huawei has not gotten tighter. Notably, the parties who wish to conduct business with Huawei have to submit license applications. Advertisement TSMC has stopped taking orders for new chips from Huawei Now a report by Reuters confirms that MediaTek has filed a license application. This permission will allow MediaTek to supply chipsets to Huawei. Besides, if MediaTek gets approval, it can continue supplying chipsets with Huawei even after September 15. For the unaware, new U.S. regulations take effect on September 15th. TSMC is the manufacturer of Kirin chipsets, which powers Huawei devices. However, before the new regulations that curb the potential loopholes in the previous rule come into effect, it has already stopped taking orders from Huawei. Advertisement Meanwhile, as per the application, MediaTek stated that it has filed for permission with the U.S. side under the new rules. This is pretty important for MediaTek. Because it has stopped taking orders from new orders from Huawei. The revised rules would require all companies to gain a special license for any transaction with Huawei. So, the application seems in tandem to what it has applied for. Note that Huaweis upcoming Mate 40 series devices will be the last flagship phone from the OEM to sport the Kirin chipset. The device is expected to officially unveil in the IFA 2020 next month. Advertisement So, a lot is riding for MediaTek on this application. And if this application gets rejected, the Taiwanese chipmaker will suffer severe consequences. We will wait on that and see for further developments in this regard. Advertisement Australian actress Cate Blanchett, 50, and her husband Andrew Upton, 53, are still searching for a buyer for their stunning $12 million (AUD) Sydney apartment, almost six months after putting it on the market. The luxurious five bedroom apartment in the heart of the CBD is currently listed for sale on Realestate.com.au. It is the largest apartment in Sydney CBD's historic Astor building, and boasts sweeping views of the Sydney Opera House. Struggling to sell: Australian actress Cate Blanchett , 50, and her husband Andrew Upton, 53, are still searching for a buyer for their stunning $12 million (AUD) Sydney apartment, almost six months after putting it on the market According to Domain, the couple first put the put the Macquarie Street property on the market back in March. The lengthy listing period could be an indication that the famous couple are struggling to sell during the the COVID-19 recession. Cate and Andrew originally purchased the property five years ago for $8million, potentially providing them with a $4million profit if sold for $12million, according to the publication. Wow! The more than 400-square metre apartment features five bedrooms and four bathrooms, with panoramic views from The Domain to The Sydney Opera House Big spender! Cate (pictured right) and husband Andrew (pictured left) purchased the property five years ago for $8million, potentially providing them with a $4million profit if sold for $12million This marks the third Australian property the couple have sold in the past four years, as they now reside permanently in a $6million (AUD) English manor, Highwell House, in East Sussex. The more than 400 square-metre apartment features five bedrooms and four bathrooms, and a modern kitchen with on-trend stainless steel appliances and finishes. The dwelling was originally built as four separate units, which were redeveloped into a two-storey apartment mansion by Australian comedian Barry Humphries, and later businessman Mark Bouris. Drama! Barry Humphries, also known as Dame Edna, illegally combined three units in the 1923 property more than 35 years ago. Apparently, the building's board had no idea of the changes until Barry invited them all to a party, where he greeted them as he dramatically descended the new circular staircase Chef's delight: The modern kitchen boasts on-trend stainless steel appliances and finishes, and offers plenty of storage and bench space for food preparation Barry Humphries, also known as Dame Edna, illegally combined three units in the 1923 property more than 35 years ago. Apparently, the building's board had no idea of the changes until Barry invited them all to a party, where he greeted them as he dramatically descended the new circular staircase. Businessman Mark Bouris bought the property in 2005, adding an additional apartment to create the expansive development it is today. The couple, who wed in 1997, are proud parents to sons Dashiell, 17, Roman, 15, Ignatius, 11, and daughter Edith, five. Bharadwaj had approached the Bombay High Court seeking bail, saying that she suffered from chronic cnditions such as diabetes and hypertension Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday refused to grant bail to lawyer and activist Sudha Bharadwaj, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Koregaon Bhima case being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). A bench led by Justice RD Dhanuka rejected an appeal filed by Bharadwaj in June 2020, whereby she had challenged a special court's order that denied her bail on health grounds. Bharadwaj, 58, had approached the High Court seeking bail, saying that she suffered from chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. She had said these comorbidities put her at a higher risk of contracting coronavirus while at the Byculla women's prison where an inmate had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier. The court, however, noted the submissions made by the NIA and the Maharashtra government that the prison authorities were taking all precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and that they were providing necessary medical care to Bharadwaj for her comorbidities. NIA counsel, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, also told the court that if at any time, Bharadwaj's condition needed further treatment or if she was required to be admitted to a hospital, even a private one, the state would provide for the same. He pointed out that poet-activist Varavara Rao, a co-accused in the case, had been admitted to the state-run JJ Hospital and then shifted to the private Nanavati Hospital in the city for treatment of COVID-19 and other ailments. "In our view, no case is made out for grant of bail. This appeal is devoid of merits," the high court said while dismissing Bharadwaj's plea. On 21 August, pursuant to a high court order, the state government had submitted a report stating that Bharadwaj had been examined in the prison by a medical officer and that her health condition was found to be "stable and satisfactory". The state report stated that Bharadwaj's vital health parameters were stable. It stated that she had been suffering from mild depression too, and had complained of body ache. The state said that Bharadwaj had been given medication for dizziness and had been advised to continue medicines for her chronic conditions. Bharadwaj's counsel Ragini Ahuja, however, pointed out that the report of 21 August did not mention that Bharadwaj suffered from hypertension or from a heart condition. She pointed out that previous report of the state had said that Bharadwaj suffered from ischemia, a heart condition. Ahuja claimed the latest medical report therefore, was inconsistent and perhaps "bogus". The bench, however, said the present report probably only dealt with Bharadwaj's vital parameters vis-a-vis COVID- 19. It said, "In our view there is no substance in the appellant's submissions on inconsistencies in the medical report." Bharadwaj has been lodged in the Byculla women's prison here since 2018 September following her arrest in the case. The case pertains to the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune district on 31 Decembe, 2017. It is alleged that speeches made by some activists at the conclave led to violence near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial on outskirts of Pune city the next day. Azerbaijan, located in the centre of the so-called middle corridor of the transportation links between China and Europe remains a reliable transit partner for China. This ongoing successful business cooperation will contribute to increasing the economic trade links between the two countries, Bahruz Babayev, a researcher at the Centre on Foreign Trade Support and serves as a faculty member at the Business School of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics, writes in the article Chinese investment in Azerbaijan is a win-win for both countries for South China Morning Post. A perfect example of this happened on June 20 when a cargo train consisting of 43 cars from China headed to Istanbul, passing through Azerbaijan. The cargo was received at the Port of Baku and successfully delivered to Turkey through the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway. The Xian Free Trade Port Construction and Operations logistics platform regularly transports cargo from China to Turkey through Azerbaijan. Furthermore, Azerbaijans role as a transit country for China is not limited to cargo, as it is keen about becoming a regional hub for the establishment of the Asia-Europe telecommunications corridor and the transmission of Chinese internet traffic. A strategic memorandum of cooperation signed between China Telecom and AzerTelecom in 2019 is a crucial framework agreement to achieve this objective. Becoming a telecommunications transit country between Europe and China is of great benefit to Azerbaijan. Indeed, Azerbaijan gains both transit revenues and Chinese technical assistance to strengthen the countrys telecommunications and logistic capabilities. The middle corridor through Azerbaijan is the least costly transit route for China. The shortest rail route to deliver goods from China to Europe runs through Azerbaijan. The middle corridor passing through Azerbaijan has several advantages over other trans-continental transport corridors in terms of existing infrastructure and proximity to Europe. Azerbaijan has placed great emphasis on developing transport routes connecting China to Europe since President Ilham Aliyev visited China in 2015, and the two countries signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Encouragement of the Establishment of Silk Way Economic Belt. Azerbaijans positive attitude towards the Belt and Road Initiative is an important prerequisite for increasing the volume of trade cooperation beyond the transit partnership. Azerbaijan is a more than a reliable trading partner and transit country for China. Oil-rich Azerbaijan is one of the few countries on the historic Silk Road which has an interest in developing the East-West transport corridor, which is Chinas grand plan. Azerbaijan has so far made a modest investment in the development of its railroads, seaports, highways and logistics centers from the Caspian Sea to the West as a part of its economic diversification strategy. The Baku Cargo Terminal, Port of Baku, modern cargo ships on the Caspian Sea and the Baku-Tbilisi- Kars railway are part of Azerbaijans valuable contributions to the East-West transport corridor. Azerbaijans cooperation with China as a financial partner equally benefits the interests of both countries. Thus, Chinese goods crossing through Central Asia and the Caspian Sea benefit from the existing infrastructure developed with the support of Azerbaijan. And Azerbaijan is becoming an increasing active trading partner with China. The volume of bilateral trade has increased by 67 per cent so far this year from the same period in 2019. The trade between China and Azerbaijan continues to grow at a rapid pace to the benefit of both countries. There is also a need for foreign direct and private investment in various economic sectors of Azerbaijan and Chinese private companies can be a source of that investment to fill this funding gap. Azerbaijan has welcomed Chinese investment in Azerbaijan in the past. While participating in the second Belt and Road Forum in 2019, deals were signed between Azerbaijani and Chinese companies worth US$821 million. Azerbaijan should work on a framework to welcome more Chinese investment, which would be a win-win for both countries. Azerbaijans membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) could accelerate the flow of Chinas private investments into Azerbaijan and create a legal framework to build trust. However, WTO membership is not a priority for the government of Azerbaijan at the moment, as the country is instead busy strengthening the competitiveness of its national economy. Possible WTO membership may become realistic in the future. In addition, if China decides to prioritise the economically and geographically advantageous middle corridor passing through Azerbaijan, it will further bolster economic and trade relations between the two countries. Bilateral agreements on investment and trade could be agreed that would create a framework for allowing greater Chinese private investments in various sectors of Azerbaijans economy. These types of agreements between the two countries would benefit both countries. The development of the middle corridor to its full potential is only possible with the mutual commitment of China and Azerbaijan. Without the participation, technical support and investment of China, it would be almost impossible for Azerbaijan to reach the full potential of this transport corridor. And at the same time, the role of Azerbaijan is vital for China in terms of development of the most cost effective and reliable telecommunications middle corridor within the Belt and Road initiative. Given that WTO membership is not currently a priority for Azerbaijan, both Azerbaijan and China would benefit if Baku gives more market space to Chinese private investors through bilateral agreements. Mumbai, Aug 28 : Maharashtra Minister for Higher and Technical Education, Uday R. Samant has said he welcomes the Supreme Court verdict on holding the JEE, NEET examinations. However, the minister - who is among ministers from six states who have moved the apex court for a review of its earlier order - said Maharashtra had never asked for cancelling the examinations, but only sought to defer them till a more opportune time. In their review petition, the ministers from various non-BJP ruled states - Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Punjab - plan to raise several issues that may impede the smooth and safe conduct of the JEE, NEET exams, scheduled for September 30. "We never wanted to cancel the exams, we wanted it to be postponed for a suitable time in view of the Covid-19 crisis," Samant told mediapersons. In view of the latest development, he said the state government will consult universities and students on the issue and then decide how to go about implementing the SC order. "We respect the SC verdict. We shall take into account the health and safety concerns of the students before deciding how to conduct the exams," said Samant. On Thursday, the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi partners - Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress - had urged the Centre to consider postponing the exams in view of the pandemic lockdown that would make it difficult for candidates to reach exam venues, besides exposing them to the risk of coronavirus. Earlier, state Tourism Minister Aditya Thackeray had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention in the matter in view of the health concerns of students and their families. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Rhea Says Sushant Thought Sanjana Was A Part Of A Big Nexus The actress told India Today, "Sanjana Sanghi and Rohini Iyer troubled him a lot. Rohini had introduced us but later she stopped talking to us. Sanjana and Rohini, Sushant thought, were part of a big nexus." Rhea Chakraborty Questions Sanjana Sanghi Rhea said, "It was odd that if I am doing a film, a big film, why would you take so much time to clarify the #MeToo allegations? I want this to be investigated. Why will I keep quiet for a one-and-a-half months? Wherever she [Sanjana Sanghi] was, be it America or anywhere on Earth, she would have had Google. Every budding actor checks news about them. So, did she not know about such a big piece of news?" Rhea Chakraborty Claims The #MeToo Allegations Destroyed Sushant's Mental Sanity Speaking about it, the actress continued, "Sanjana Sanghi had alleged that Sushant Singh Rajput harassed her, and those #MeToo allegations haunted him. Sanjana hadn't given any clarification, she finally came out 1.5 months later, but that destroyed Sushant's mental sanity. Later, Sushant had to come out and reveal their personal chats himself." When Sushant Opened Up About The #MeToo Allegations In An Interview The late actor had told a portal, "It was paradoxical because it [the #MeToo movement] was something that I stand for. I happened to be one of the intentional and strategic casualties. Many paid campaigners were used to give it a burst. I felt bad and misunderstood. The more it gets written about, the more it damages my reputation, which I have worked hard to build. The movement is a good thing. It is all about changing mindsets. Talking about this, Rhea, in her interview with India Today, said that Sushant was affected by the fale articles and the operated and manipulative #MeToo allegation, as they ruined his reputation which was built by his hard work. Late last Sunday night inside her family home in northern Colorado, Erin OToole directly felt the reverberations of Canadas Conservative Party leadership race. As news fast spread about the federal Tories new leader, OTooles Twitter account lit up with mentions and new followers all from Canada, more than 1,000 km away. I think I got (about) 2,000 new followers. Its still weird to say that because thats roughly how many I had before all this started, said the American OToole, a veteran radio host who has been intermittently using Twitter for seven years. Now, I fully expect probably after this week is over, people will be like, OK, I followed the wrong OToole or just because it was kind of fun, and now I see she only tweets about Colorado stuff and lots of her dog pictures. For the past couple of years, OToole had come to know there was a member of Parliament in Canada who is her exact namesake a random odd tweet would come in tagging her handle by mistake. But she had no idea the Durham MP and former minister of veteran affairs was running for the partys top job, and certainly didnt see this weeks deluge coming. When she finally decided to look the politician up, she was even more surprised at what she found. Not only do we have the exact same name, his middle name Michael is my dads name. And we have the same birthday. What are the odds? OToole whose radio career spans 25 years and taken her to currently hosting on KUNC, a community radio station affiliated with NPR said she has never spoken to the Canadian politician and has no knowledge of his policies. But she said some of the tweets she gets that are meant for him tend to be a bit vitriolic, though she doesnt know if any of it is a true reflection of his actual values and positions. OToole said both her family and her colleagues at work were among the first to notice the social-media boost. They thought it was the most hilarious thing and even joked at meetings that if anyone needed a laugh they could check out her Twitter feed. In fact, it was one of her digital editors who suggested she pin a tweet on her timeline explaining to Canadians that she may not be the Erin OToole theyre looking for. Over the past several days, OToole has spent some time interacting with Canadians on her Twitter feed, some of whom joking that she be named Canadas Twitter ambassador. Its been just fun. Everyone has been so nice and wonderful, very apologetic too. I guess thats a Canadian thing to do. OToole said she and her family briefly visited Canada many years ago, and now that she has a high-profile namesake in the countrys politics though shes a little disappointed he hasnt reached out to her yet it might be time to plan another visit. We went to the Canada side of Niagara Falls, which is way more spectacular. Sorry, United States! she said while laughing at her own Canadian-ness in apologizing. One of the great things with this whole week on Twitter has been people sending me suggestions of places to go. Theres so much pride that Canadians have in the places where they live. Mangrove forests are long known for storing large amounts of carbon in the trees and soil. In recent times, mangrove deforestation has raised alarms about increased carbon emissions into the atmosphere. However, research shows that the net amount of carbon released from deforestation in the past 20 years is lower than widely believed, thanks to conservation and restoration efforts, and the natural establishment of new mangrove forests. Over the past decade, mangroves have been the focus of many conservation and restoration projects, aimed at keeping the carbon stock locked up in this coastal ecosystem. Until now, the effects of these actions in preventing mangrove carbon losses was not known. New research led by the Singapore-ETH Centre shows that globally, the net loss of mangrove carbon stocks between 1996 and 2016 is only 1.8% - or less than 0.1% of global CO2 emissions over the same period. The research is the first to take into account the expansion of mangroves--through natural and human forestation--in quantifying net losses of mangrove carbon stocks. Previous estimates only considered the negative effects of deforestation, but not the possibility that new mangroves would grow. The new method combines improved global datasets on mangrove coverage and carbon densities with new research quantifying how much carbon is typically lost when a mangrove becomes deforested. Using the new method, carbon loss estimates are 66% lower than previous models. The low net loss of mangrove carbon stocks was surprising, according to Dr Dan Richards, from the Singapore-ETH Centre, who led the research. He is currently the principal investigator of the Natural Capital Singapore project, which is funded by the National Research Foundation of Singapore, under its Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE). "Mangrove deforestation is often portrayed as an ongoing crisis, but our study, among recent pieces of work, show that there has actually been considerable success in slowing down deforestation around the world". In fact, in some parts of Mexico and Myanmar, there was more carbon stored in mangroves in 2016 than in 1996. Despite the apparent success of conservation efforts in protecting mangroves from deforestation, there is no room for complacency. "Mangroves hold some of the highest densities of carbon in any ecosystem. Effective conservation and restoration still require considerable management effort and investment to maintain these low rates of net loss," said Dr Benjamin Thompson from Monash University, who co-authored the study. Moreover, lessons learnt from mangrove conservation and restoration activities could be extended to benefit other ecosystems. "Tropical peatlands are another ecosystem with large stocks of carbon that have seen high rates of deforestation in recent decades," says Dr Lahiru Wijedasa from the National University of Singapore, who is the final author of the study. ### The full article "Quantifying net loss of global mangrove carbon stocks from 20 years of land cover change", published in Nature Communications, can be accessed here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-18118-z. Three US Senators are calling for a federal investigation after two nursing homes administered hydroxychloroquine to residents infected with the novel coronavirus without gaining proper approval first. In a letter sent on Thursday to the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) said the incidents occurred in facilities in Pennsylvania and Texas. They are demanding authorities determine the extent to which the medication was used on residents without their or their families' consent. The senators also sent letters to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid asking for information on what efforts were made to guarantee residents weren't exposed to unsafe or unproven treatments. Hydroxychloroquine, most commonly used to treat malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, has been touted by President Donald Trump, who revealed he was prescribed a two-week regimen as a prophylactic. Several studies, however, have found the drug neither prevents someone from contracting COVID-19 nor helps treat patients. Hydroxychloroquine (pictured), used to treat conditions such as malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, has been found to be ineffective at treating coronavirus US Senators Bob Casey (left), Elizabeth Warren (center) and Ron Wyden (right) are calling for an investigation into the drugs' use at two nursing homes and on what efforts were made by federal agencies to guarantee residents weren't exposed to unsafe or unproven treatments 'The use of hydroxychloroquine is all the more concerning due to warnings from medical experts about the increased risks seniors face from the drug,' the lawmakers wrote in the letter. They pointed to at least one state inspection report citing the Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in Brighton Township, Pennsylvania. In the report, state inspectors say 205 residents infected with coronavirus were asked to sign 'experimental treatment' forms and then given hydroxychloroquine. However, staff did not get approval from the state's Department of Health before doing so. 'The facility failed to obtain the necessary approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Health prior to administering a medication that is not a generally accepted practice in the medical community,' the report read. At The Resort in Texas City, in Texas, Dr Robin Armstrong gave hydroxychloroquine to 38 elderly residents diagnosed with COVID-19 who were not showing symptoms yet. He then compared the outcomes of patients who had and had not received the drug, calling it an 'observational study.' Regulators found that Armstrong did not tell some families their relatives were put on the drug - or asked for their consent - and sometimes didn't even tell the patients themselves. 'Not only was this treatment undertaken without consultation with the state, it was still taking place five days after the FDA issued warnings against its use in non-hospital settings,' the senators wrote. Casey, Warren and Wyden are also asking for any data on complaints made to the FDA about the drugs' use nursing homes. 'I am demanding answers from FDA and CMS officials about what they are doing to track the use of hydroxychloroquine and how they will ensure that residents' rights are protected,' Casey said in a statement to The Washington Post. 'I am also asking the Inspector General to open an independent investigation. Nursing home residents need us to be their voices right now.' Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center, in Pennsylvania (pictured), treated 205 residents with the drug and had them sign 'experimental treatment' consent forms, but did not receive proper approval from the state's Department of Health A doctor at The Resort in Texas City, in Texas (pictured), treated some residents infected with the virus and compared outcomes. However, investigators say he did not tell some families about the treatment or even some of the patients President Trump was among the first to wax lyrical about the possible benefits of hydroxychloroquine for coronavirus patients in March. 'This would be a gift from heaven, this would be a gift from God if it works,' he said. 'We are going to pray to God that it does work.' He then repeated the claims on Twitter. 'HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE & AZITHROMYCIN, taken together, have a real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine. The FDA has moved mountains - Thank You! Hopefully they will BOTH (H works better with A, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents),' he wrote on March 21. The study Trump referred to came from Marseille, France, in which 30 patients were treated with hydroxychloroquine for 10 days combined with azithromycin, an antibiotic. Although very small, the study 'showed a significant reduction of the viral carriage' after the six days and 'much lower average carrying duration' compared to patients who received other treatments. But, weeks later, in a statement published online, the International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy addressed several new concerns with the research. Officials say they found out the researchers excluded data on patients who didn't respond well to the treatment and that they did not clarify what they meant when they said patients were 'virologically cured.' President Donald Trump has touted the benefits of hydroxychloroquine and, earlier this year, he announced he took a two-week prescription of the drug as a prophylactic. Pictured: Trump accepts the Republican presidential nomination during the final night of the Republican National Convention, August 27 Trump took a two-week course of hydroxychloroquine, along with zinc and Vitamin D, after two staffers tested positive for COVID-19, and had no ill effects, according to results of his latest physical released by his physician. The FDA initially granted emergency authorization use early in the pandemic only to later revoke it among mounting concerns. Federal regulators have warned against the drug's use except in hospitals and formal studies because of the risk of side effects, especially heart rhythm problems. In June, the journal The Lancet posted an 'expression of concern' about a study it published earlier this month of nearly 15,000 COVID-19 patients on the malaria drugs that tied their use to a higher risk of dying in the hospital or developing a heartbeat problem. Scientists have raised serious questions about the database used for that study, and its authors have launched an independent audit. That work had a big impact: the World Health Organization (WHO) suspended use of hydroxychloroquine in a study it is leading, and French officials stopped the drug's use in hospitals. Days later, the WHO said experts who reviewed safety information decided that its study could resume. KENOSHA Jacob Blake is no longer being restrained in his hospital bed after cuffs were taken off, and deputies guarding him were removed from his room at Froedtert Hospital Friday afternoon. As of five minutes ago, the cuffs have been removed from Mr. Blake and the deputies have left his room, Attorney Patrick Cafferty said just after noon on Friday. During a 1 p.m. press conference Friday, Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis said that Blake remains under arrest since there was a warrant out for him preceding Sunday's shooting. Blake, 29, was left paralyzed from the waist down by shots fired Sunday by a Kenosha Police officer and has other critical injuries. Members of Blakes family said Thursday that Blake was handcuffed at the hospital. "This is an insult to injury," Justin Blake, the uncle of the victim, told CNN. "He is paralyzed and can't walk and they have him cuffed to the bed. Why?" When Gov. Tony Evers was in Kenosha on Thursday, he said he "couldn't imagine" why handcuffing a paralyzed man "would be necessary." "I would hope that we would be able to find a more, a better way to help him in recovering. That seems counterintuitive. It seems to be bad medicine," Evers continued. Getting the cuffs off Cafferty is representing Blake on a domestic violence-related criminal charge filed in July regarding a May incident in which Blake allegedly entered an ex's home and touched her without permission. According to Cafferty, deputies from Milwaukee County were stationed in Blakes room and he was restrained because of the rules surrounding that July warrant. No one directed that he be detained as a result of the incident where he was injured. At this point there are no charges filed (related to the incident Sunday) and there are no warrants outstanding for that incident. The defense attorney said taking care of that warrant has been complicated because of the difficulty filing legal documents because the Kenosha County Courthouse has been closed this week due to unrest following Blakes shooting. Cafferty said he spoke with District Attorney Michael Graveley Friday morning and was able to arrange payment of $500 bond on the July charge. Attorney Graveley cooperated with me to have the warrant vacated and the cuffs removed and have the deputy leave, Cafferty said. They were all very professional in the removal of the cuffs and the removal of the deputies. They were extremely prompt in responding to my requests and cooperated very quickly. Cafferty said he could not give an update on Blakes medical condition. When talking to reporters earlier in the week, Blakes family said they had been limited in their ability to visit with Blake. There had been two restrictions on access to him. One layer was the rules that the hospital ordinarily has in place for people in his condition. But the second layer had been the presence of the sheriffs department. Now the family is free to be with him as the hospital allows, Cafferty said. Attorneys Cafferty has been the defense attorney in some of Racine's most prominent court cases, including having defended former Racine Mayor Gary Becker who was sentenced to three years in prison in 2010 for attempted sexual assault of a child and child enticement. Blake's family has also been working with nationally known Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump, who been part of some of the country's most prominent court cases over the past decade, having worked with the families of Trayvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery, Michael Brown, George Floyd, and represented families affected by the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. Kenosha bail being handled in Racine For those jailed in Kenosha, their bails have had to be paid or their signature bonds have had to be signed at the Racine County Courthouse due to the closure of facilities in Kenosha. "My understanding is that Kenoshas bond window is closed at this time. I believe Kenosha reached out and asked that we help assist. This isnt dissimilar to the Jails normal operation of taking bond for defendants in other jurisdictions. In this instance it just happens that the defendant is housed in Kenosha instead of Racine," Samuel Christensen, Racine County's clerk of courts, told The Journal Times in an email. "Racine has a good relationship with our neighbors. If one of them asks for help and were able, well help." Court processes have been slow in the area over the past few days. Some people arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday for being out after curfew were still in jail Friday, according to Kenosha County records. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. I think it does have an effect when you live in the suburbs and youre worried about looting and the rioting in Chicago, not peaceful protesting. These are criminals and theyre tearing up the city of Chicago, and a lot of these suburbanites, they work in the city, they entertain in the city, and there is a concern that this is going to reach out into the suburbs, Durkin said. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the nation's longest-serving premier, said on Friday he is resigning due to health reasons. Here is what some international leaders and businesspeople are saying about Abe: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson "@AbeShinzo has achieved great things as PM of Japan - for his country and the world," Johnson said on Twitter. "Under his stewardship the UK-Japan relationship has gone from strength to strength in trade, defence and our cultural links. Thank you for all your years of service and I wish you good health." Russia The Kremlin regrets that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has decided to step down, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, describing the working relations between Abe and President Vladimir Putin as "brilliant". United States "We want to thank Prime Minister Abe for his outstanding leadership as Japans longest continuously serving Prime Minister," a senior administration official said. "Together with President Trump, Prime Minister Abe has made the United States-Japan Alliance, and our overall relationship, the strongest it has ever been," the official added. "We look forward to working with Prime Minister Abe's successor in further strengthening our nations' ties and advancing our shared goals." Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen Prime Minister Abe was always friendly to Taiwan, whether on policy or the rights and interests of Taiwans people he was extremely positive. We value his friendly feelings towards Taiwan and hope he is healthy. South Korea - Presidential Blue House Spokesman Kang Min-Seok "We regret the sudden resignation announcement of Prime Minister Abe, who has left many meaningful achievements as Japan's longest-serving prime minister, and has also especially played a large role for development in South Korea and Japan's bilateral relations. "We wish the prime minister a quick recovery. Our government will continue cooperation with the new prime minister and the new cabinet for improved ties with Japan." Kwong Tae-Shin, Vice Chairman of the Federation Of Korean Industries, A South Korean Business Lobby Group "President Moon Jae-in and Abe do not have good personal relationship, which contributed to adverse bilateral ties. When a new leader takes office in Japan, he can give momentum to improving bilateral relations. The two countries acknowledge that unnecessary diplomatic and trade conflicts would not help each other at a time when COVID -19 further adds difficulty to trade and business activities globally." Marcus Schurmann, CEO, German Chamber Of Commerce And Industry In Japan He did a lot of good with regards just to the fact that he was one of the key promoters for multilateralism and free trade and did a lot to move to Japan back onto the world stage. Japan recovered the visibility and recognition the third-largest economy in the world deserves. We have FTAs and he also tackled a lot of difficult problems. Just thinking about relations with China, relations also with Russia, and also the difficult relationship with the U.S. at least since Trump came into power. "I do not want to say he failed, but at least what is an unsolved problem is the relationship was Korea. I think that's the kind of problem which his successor has to work on. He succeeded in bringing the Olympics to Tokyo. I think this is also a major achievement we should not forget. Search Keywords: Short link: When Ursula von der Leyen was named in July 2019 as the first woman ever to head the European Commission, she declared the need to have a 50/50 balance of men and women on her team. Since its inception back in 1958, a total of 183 European Commissioners had been appointed - and just 35 of these were women. Since joining the then-EEC in 1973 Ireland has had 10 commissioners and just one woman, Maire Geoghegan-Quinn. As she assembled her new team, Ms von der Leyen urged each member state to nominate both a man and a woman candidate from whom she could choose the most suitable person. Many countries did just that, either taking a hint and nominating a woman, or forwarding the two names. But Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his ministers kept their heads down as "their man", Phil Hogan, was staying on for another five years and hoping for a glittering prize that duly materialised in the shape of the EU Trade Commissioner's job. Read More The EU president had a rattling good go at achieving gender parity on her new team. By the time she was sworn into office on December 1 last, it was 12 women, including herself, to 15 men, and the highest number of women ever. It could have been closer still, at 13 women to 14 men. But the French nominee, Sylvie Goulard, slated as single market commissioner, was rejected by the European Parliament at ratification hearings over alleged conflicts of interest. The job eventually went to a French man. Yesterday's statement by President von der Leyen - requesting the nomination of a woman and a man from Dublin from which she would choose Phil Hogan's replacement - cannot be ignored. Taoiseach Micheal Martin and his coalition colleagues are already very badly placed, having heaped pressure for the EU leader to part company with Mr Hogan. "Whatever happens next, the president's colleagues and advisers will be determined that Ireland cannot be seen to profit from this episode. Chances of getting an Irish commissioner back in the trade post are very slim, indeed. But the only hope of getting a post of power and relevance depends on nominating a woman," one senior Brussels diplomat told the Irish Independent. Another Brussels official took much the same view. "The commission president owes nothing to Ireland arising from all of this. Quite the opposite. If the Dublin government has any sense, it will comply with her wishes," the official said. These views suggest that another potential nominee, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney, faces a very hard sell to land the post in which he expressed an interest in the recent past. He is well known in Brussels, as an MEP from 2004 to 2007, attending EU ministerial meetings since 2011 and dealing with Brexit since 2017. But another former Fine Gael tanaiste, Frances Fitzgerald, may be ahead here and factors other than gender may also help. As a member of the European Parliament, her appointment would not require a Dail by-election, unlike Coveney's case. Her European Parliament membership would mean ratification hearings before MEPs - something which is far from an empty formula - should go smoothly. It is clear that she is owed something of a moral debt by her party leader and one-time political protege, Leo Varadkar, who dumped her in November 2017 to stave off a general election threat. The important Fianna Fail element to this proposition is that the Taoiseach Micheal Martin unfairly forced Ms Fitzgerald's resignation over a justice department controversy in which she was cleared by a later inquiry. But any element of atonement would be enhanced by her MEP position going to her designated replacement, Mark Durkan, the long-time leader of the SDLP party in the North, with which Martin's party is aligned. Ms Fitzgerald could, however, face stiff competition from another Fine Gael MEP, Mairead McGuinness, who has a well-deserved, hugely positive reputation in Brussels. An MEP since 2004, she is now the parliament's senior vice-president, and very well informed about how Brussels really works, which would enhance her credentials. Some people believe Ms McGuinness has a stronger case than Ms Fitzgerald. But Mairead McGuinness publicly backed Simon Coveney in the May 2017 party leadership election won by Leo Varadkar. There's a bit to go here yet. UN Struggles to Meet Humanitarian Needs in Northern Syria By Margaret Besheer August 27, 2020 The United Nations said Thursday that it is struggling to meet massive and growing humanitarian needs in northern Syria after losing access to a vital border crossing last month, at a time when the country's economy is collapsing and COVID-19 is spreading. "These challenges were foreseen, and have resulted in a more costly, higher risk, less timely and, ultimately, less effective humanitarian response," Acting Deputy U.N. Humanitarian Chief Ramesh Rajasingham told a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the impact of the closure of the Bab al-Salaam crossing at the Syrian-Turkish border. The U.N., which has appealed for more access, is trying to work with the remaining crossingBab al-Hawa in Idliband with the parties on the ground to ensure deliveries can be made unimpeded. "The capacity of the remaining authorized crossing at Bab al-Hawa needs to be expanded; as does the capacity of crossing points inside Syria," Rajasingham said. "Significant road works will need to be completed before the onset of winter weather." After protracted negotiations and multiple rounds of council votes and vetoes, a majority of council members on July 11 bent to Russia's will and closed the crossing north of Aleppo. That has complicated the process of getting aid to 1.3 million people in the northwest who live outside the territory controlled by the government of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. "Due to the callous and inhumane Russian and Chinese vetoes earlier this summer, U.N. humanitarian access via the cross-border modality is forced to trickle into Syria from the single remaining crossing point at Bab al-Hawa," said U.S. Political Coordinator Rodney Hunter. "And despite their assertions to the contrary, we have seen no sustained improvements in the regime's provision of cross-line access." Russia, a staunch Assad ally, has argued that all aid should go through Damascus across internal lines, so the government has control over where it goes. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said cross-line operations should be further improved and "should become the natural and the only way" to deliver aid. Since January, Russia, with support from China, has essentially forced the council to close a total of three border crossings from Turkey, Iraq and Jordan. The remaining oneIdlib's Bab al-Hawais authorized to remain open at least through next July. Aid needs are growing as the Syrian economy continues to struggle to stay afloat. Unemployment is high and food prices have soared beyond the reach of many Syrians. Across Syria, some 11 million people need humanitarian assistance; the U.N. reaches about 7.2 million each month. Food insecurity is a growing concern, with an additional 1.4 million people at risk in the last six months. The U.N. and its partners reach about 5.4 million people monthly with food aid. The COVID-19 pandemic has also reached the war-torn country. The Health Ministry has confirmed 2,440 cases, but the U.N. says with a daily average of only 345 tests conducted nationwide, the number is likely far higher. "Reports of healthcare facilities filling up, of rising numbers of death notices and burials, all seem to indicate that actual cases far exceed official figures," the U.N.'s Rajasingham said. COVID-19 also briefly forced the suspension of political talks this week. A third session of the Constitutional Committee due to start in Geneva on Monday was put on hold when four Syrian participants tested positive for the virus. On Thursday, the U.N. said health officials had given the green light for the talks to resume with proper COVID-19 protocols in place and they were due to begin in the afternoon. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address GAZA, Palestinian Territory - Ahmed Eissa, a father of two living in the Gaza Strip, was already struggling to make ends meet on $7 a day, dealing with frequent electricity cuts and worried that another war might break out. Then the coronavirus found its way into the impoverished Palestinian territory, just as Israel was tightening its blockade in a standoff with Gazas militant Hamas rulers, and a strict lockdown has confined everyone to their homes. Now Eissa doesnt know how he will feed his family. I dont have savings and I dont have a job, so no one would lend me money, he said. I wont beg from anyone. The restrictions imposed by Hamas are aimed at averting what many fear would be an even bigger catastrophe: a wide-scale outbreak in a population of 2 million people confined to a territory where the health care system has been devastated by years of war and isolation. The lockdown was triggered by the discovery earlier this week of the first locally spread cases, after months in which infections were confined to quarantine facilities where all returning travellers were forced to isolate for three weeks. Authorities have not yet determined how the virus made its way into the general population. Israel and Egypt imposed a crippling blockade on Gaza after Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Israel, which has fought three wars and countless smaller battles with Hamas since the takeover, says the closures are needed to prevent the militants from importing and manufacturing arms. Critics view it as a form of collective punishment. The blockade, the periodic fighting and a longstanding feud between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank have devastated the local economy, which suffers from roughly 50% unemployment. In recent weeks, Hamas-linked groups have sent incendiary balloons and rockets into Israel in a campaign aimed at pressuring it to ease restrictions and allow large-scale development projects. In response, Israel launched airstrikes targeting Hamas military infrastructure, sealed off Gazas fishing zone and closed its sole commercial crossing. That forced Gazas only power plant to shut down for lack of fuel. Most Gazans now get just four hours of electricity a day, leaving them without refrigeration, air conditioning or electric fans for hours on end as temperatures hover around 32 degrees Celsius (about 90 degrees Fahrenheit). Eissas wife, Majda, says its unbearable. They struggle to sleep at night because of the heat and humidity. Her daughters sleep on the tile floor because its cooler. They change rooms, they open and close windows, trying to catch the occasional breeze. The water pump in their building runs on electricity, so the taps run dry when the power goes out. The dishes and laundry are piling up in the kitchen, she said. Everything gets dirty, and I have to keep scrubbing and cleaning using a bottle of water. I cant bear to stay at home anymore. Eissa used to buy from fishermen and then resell the fish in local markets, work that he says brought in around 25 shekels ($7) a day. But the fishermen are marooned by the Israeli closures, and hes not allowed to leave home because of the lockdown to look for other work. On Thursday, his parents, who live downstairs, sent him a pot of stew for lunch. I dont know what or how we will eat tomorrow, he told The Associated Press by phone from his home in the Nusseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. He complained that he has not seen a serious government plan on how to cope with the crisis. In recent days, authorities have detected 80 cases of local transmission and two people have died from COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. Hamas has extended the lockdown until Sunday, forcing most businesses to close and setting up checkpoints to limit movement. We may have to shut down entire neighbourhoods and lock up residents in their houses while providing them with what they need, Tawfiq Abu Naim, the head of Hamas security services, told reporters. Many Gazans live day-to-day on meagre wages earned at markets, shops, restaurants and cafes, all of which are shuttered. About two thirds of Gazas population are refugees whose families fled or were driven out during the 1948 war surrounding the creation of Israel. More than a million receive food aid from the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, but it has been forced to suspend food distribution due to the pandemic and is now providing only health care and basic sanitation. We are aware that food is even more critical during such a period, and are working hard on finding a modality that will allow us to resume this massive food operation in the very near future in a safe way, said Matthias Schmale, the UNRWA director in Gaza. UNRWA launched a program to deliver food to peoples homes in March, at the start of the global pandemic, but ended it when an initial lockdown was lifted. The electricity crisis also poses challenges, Schmale said. If were not able to run our generators this would be a major challenge for continuing essential services, and in particular, health, he said. Angolan police go after illegal diamond miners in Lunda Sul 28 august 2020 News Angolan police have seized several equipment used in illegal diamond mining in the eastern Lunda Sul province, according to local media. Angolan state-owned news agency, Angop quoted the local deputy coordinator of Operation Transparency, Commissioner Mario Queiroz as saying that they detained 41 illegal diamond miners in the Samusseleca, Saurimo municipality. Angola reported last month that it seized 462 diamonds in May and June in Lunda-Norte Province. Of the diamonds seized, 200 (46, 8 carats) were valued at $9 million, while the value of the other 262 stones was yet to be established. Operation transparency was launched in December 2018 to combat illegal diamond mining, illegal immigration, administrative infractions, among other things. More than 6500 diamonds were seized in 2019 under the operation. At least 19 vehicles and $275,000 were also confiscated while 147,379 foreign citizens were deported for illegal immigration. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished Liz Truss struggled to answer questions on the history of remarks made by Tony Abbott the former Australian prime minister who has reportedly been asked to help Britain drum up trade agreements around the world. In an awkward interview, the international trade secretary who is also the minister for women and equalities refused to be drawn on whether he was a suitable figure to represent the UK. Mr Abbott has been accused by both the Labour Party and leading political figures in Australia of misogyny, homophobia and downplaying the science on climate change. Questioned about some of his previous comments by ITV News, Ms Truss repeatedly said Mr Abbott was the former prime minister of Australia and suggested his trade experience was the only relevant thing in deciding if he will take up a leading role on Britains Board of Trade. Asked by ITV's Harry Horton, "Why is it right that someone whos widely viewed as sexist, homophobic and a climate-change denier should be representing Britain around the world?", Ms Truss responded that: What Id say about Tony Abbott is that hes a former prime minister of Australia." Australia is a key ally of the United Kingdom and he has done a very good job in areas like trade," she added. Asked again if she was personally comfortable with Mr Abbots remarks, Ms Truss said: Look, Im not going to spend my time commenting on comments other people have made in the past. Reminded she was the minister for woman and equalities, she said: Im the minister for women and equalities in Britain I dont think my commenting on previous comments by somebody else is remotely relevant. Mr Abbott is to be appointed joint president of the UKs Board of Trade, according to The Sun, while other reports have suggested he is being lined up for an advisory role. The former prime minister, who stepped down in 2015 after losing a leadership contest in his right-wing Liberal Party and lost his seat as an MP last year, is no stranger to controversy. 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 He was accused of misogyny in a famous speech by Australias former Labour prime minister Julia Gillard after he questioned whether men having more power than women was necessarily a bad thing. Mr Abbott once described a young, female Liberal candidate as having sex appeal, campaigned against same-sex marriage and suggested climate change is probably doing good. Shadow international trade secretary Emily Thornberry said she was disgusted that Boris Johnson thinks this offensive, leering, cantankerous, climate change-denying, Trump-worshipping misogynist is the right person to represent our country overseas. According to Scrivener, my writing software, I have written 28,427 words of new fiction since we entered The Great Confinement. Im not worried about getting in trouble for admitting this, with either colleagues or family, even though this productivity may suggest Im not fulfilling more immediate daily duties. On campus, its long been public knowledge that the detailed notes that I take during meetings, as a university administrator, often have more to do with my latest novel than with the fine print of new curriculum proposals. At home, I have always tried to work around family life and indeed, in the middle of it: the image of the writer that speaks most directly to me comes from Virginia Woolfs Orlando. Its that of a minor character, Nick Greene, a hustling literary critic and family man, moving dirty dishes and diapers out of the way to keep working at the kitchen table of his crowded household. When Im not waking up at 4 a.m. to write, Im doing something like that (in pandemic times, its more often sourdough starter and swampy kombucha ecosystems that Im moving out of the way). But these days, being effectively attached to a laptop all day at a small desk in our bedroom, I dont have the pretext or space for handwriting notes. Instead of my notebook, I have my Scrivener app open and active alongside my meeting apps; I add to my story any time an idea strikes me or a PowerPoint goes glitchy or long (or both). Now, the only time I handwrite notes about characters and plots is just before I go to sleep. As a result, I have lost a lot of what now feels like the free flow of thinking and imagining about a story-in-the-making that comes from handwriting. This isnt surprising, upon reflection; what is surprising, however, is my discovering that Im not the only serious fiction writer in our household; pandemic parenting and pandemic writing have come together this summer. Each of our four children has at some point in their early lives declared plans to become a writer; the youngest, Imogen, 7, has lately become especially fixed on this plan. We find notebooks and loose-leaf sheets all over the house, full of character lists and story plans and various parts of various stories written in bold black pencil and bright markers. The other night, I found her working at her desk, under lamplight, well past her bedtime, her older sister fast asleep on the other side of their bedroom. As a family, wed just watched a new documentary about the life and work of the short story master Flannery OConnor, and the viewing had inspired Imogen to something new. Matching this intensity, she has also made daily, sometimes hourly requests to read my fiction. Working on a novel of her own, she wants to read mine just to get a sense of how much she has to write in order for her book to be published. Ive pointed out there are other books she could read for this same purpose, but she really wants to read Original Prin, my latest. The main character is a bike-riding Sri Lankan-Canadian English professor and bad Catholic who lives in the east end of the city with his American wife and their four daughters. Heres the opening line: Eight months before he became a suicide bomber, Prin went to the zoo with his family. I let Imogen know she can read it in about ten years. She accepted this and in turn asked me to tell her the story, confident Ill make it age appropriate. Instead of doing so directly, alas, like most parents looking for a way to get past a childs persistence while trying to work or pick up or whatever else, eventually I reached for a device. I let her watch a couple of YouTube clips of my discussing the book, one from an event at the Toronto Public Library and another made by the University of Toronto. Afterwards, when I asked her what she thought my book was about, I was struck less by what she said than by how she said it. My daughter answered me with the airy confidence and self-deprecating stylings of an author being interviewed. I dropped my dish towel and sat down on the couch beside her. Adopting the thoughtful, quizzical tone of an interviewer, I began to ask her about her own new novel. She responded immediately and with ease, launching into the story. After a little while, however, I sensed the onset of a big ellipsis: she hadnt written more than a few pages of her latest effort and, I suspect, didnt know where the story was going. I asked her why the main character, Katie, had decided to visit her grandmother and why readers should be surprised by what Katies grandmother gives her. Imogen looked troubled, even suspicious. Was she trying to remember if in fact that was her plan for her character? Or was she trying to figure out if I was patronizing her? Thats the worst possible feeling for a small child, never mind the youngest in the family, and especially in the midst of imaginative play. Thankfully, she sensed I was proposing something else altogether. She explained why Katie had decided to visit her grandmother by introducing a new set of motives and mysteries to her work-in-progress. Staying in interviewer mode, I took the story in a new direction with my next question. She came right back at me, with fresh turns and unexpected events. And so we continued very happily that night, and have since then, with father-daughter author interviews. Each time, she starts explaining creating, on the spot a story by taking it one direction, and I ask followup questions that move things in different directions, sometimes randomly throwing in a new character or event to see what she and her imagination will do with it. The result is wonderful: here is a childs living inner life expressed as storytelling; our back and forth is defined by a combination of her creative license and my creative constraints on it. Compared to me and my flat, efficient writing app, Imogens vital, sprawling, spontaneous approach to storytelling on and off the page has refreshed my own sense of how to write during these confined times. Heres hoping, whenever we finally emerge from the pandemic, itll be with plenty of new fiction from two members of the Boyagoda household. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Geneva, Switzerland Fri, August 28, 2020 08:15 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4108cf6 2 World WHO,coronavirus,Tedros-Adhanom-Ghebreyesus,health-crisis,pandemic Free The WHO said Thursday it was setting up a committee to consider changing the rules on declaring an international health emergency, following criticism of its COVID-19 pandemic response. The World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) over the new coronavirus on January 30 -- at which time the respiratory disease had infected fewer than 100 people outside China, and claimed no lives beyond its borders. But under the current International Health Regulations (IHR) governing preparedness and response for health emergencies, there are no lower, intermediate levels of alarm beneath a full PHEIC, either on a global or regional scale. The WHO has faced accusations -- notably from Washington -- of mishandling the pandemic, and waiting too long to sound the alarm. WHO experts had met on January 22 and 23, but at that point did not conclude that the outbreak merited the high state of alert of a full PHEIC. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual press conference on Thursday that the COVID-19 pandemic had been an "acid test" for countries as well as for the IHR. Now the WHO will set up a review committee into the global regulations to see whether any changes should be made, Tedros said. He added that even before the coronavirus pandemic, emergencies such as the Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo had exposed flaws in the IHR. Such emergencies showed that "some elements of the IHR may need review -- including the binary nature of the [alert] mechanism," Tedros said. Several countries have also called for a more nuanced system, for example with three levels of alert, or regional alarms. The committee will be comprised of independent experts. Tedros hopes the committee will present a progress report to the World Health Assembly -- the WHO's decision-making body, made up of member states -- in November, and a full report to the assembly in May. "WHO is committed to ending the pandemic, and to working with all countries to learn from it, and to ensure that together we build the healthier, safer, fairer world that we want," he said. The committee is separate from the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, set up to evaluate the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The IPPR is being headed by former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark and former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Three critically endangered Delacour's langurs were released back to nature in northern Ninh Binh Province Thursday. Cuc Phuong National Park, in cooperation animal welfare organization Four Paws Viet, transferred the Delacour's langurs (Trachypithecus delacouri) to Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in the province for release back to nature. The complex used to host Delacour's langurs during the 90s, though all were wiped out by hunting, said Do Van Lap, deputy director of Cuc Phuong National Park, during the transfer ceremony. Releasing the langurs back into the complex would not only help the species recover, but also raise conservation awareness, he added. Delacour's langur populations have inhabited Cuc Phuong National Park since the early 90s, said Lap. This lead to the creation of an endangered primate conservation project at the park, which aims to rescue, take care of and rehabilitate endangered primate species, so they could eventually be released back into nature and recover their populations in the wild. Since 2000, the project has succeeded in rehabilitating and releasing back into the wild hundreds of endangered primates, including the release of several langur and slow loris species to multiple national parks and conservation sites. In the coming years, the project plans to release over 30 more individuals of several primate species back to the wild. The Delacour's langur is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Their population has been declining due to habitat loss, local development of tourism, and hunting for use in traditional medicine. VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Defense Metals Corp. ("Defense Metals") (TSXV: DEFN) / (OTCQB: DFMTF) / (FSE: 35D) is pleased to announce that the Government of Saskatchewan announced $31 million in funding for a Rare Earth Element Processing Facility in Saskatchewan. The facility will be owned and operated by the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC). The conversion of REE ore to individual REE products is done in two main stages. The first is the concentration of ore to mixed REE Carbonate. The second is the more complex separation stage that converts the mixed REE Carbonate to commercial pure-grade REEs. The facility in Saskatchewan will address both stages of REE processing. The Saskatchewan Government also stated that the global demand for REEs will increase significantly in the coming decade.1 Craig Taylor, CEO of Defense Metals commented that "as we continue to advance our Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Property, access to specialized rare earth processing facilities in safe and friendly jurisdictions will be of critical importance. Outside of China, the rest of the world is rapidly working to secure access to REE concentrate and processing facilities. Given that the Wicheeda deposit is located in Canada gives us a strategic advantage as we continue to have discussions with various parties about this deposit." About the Wicheeda REE Property The 1,708 hectare Wicheeda REE Property, located approximately 80 km northeast of the city of Prince George, British Columbia, is readily accessible by all-weather gravel roads and is nearby to infrastructure, including power transmission lines, the CN railway and major highways. Geologically, the property is situated in the Foreland Belt and within the Rocky Mountain Trench, a major continental geologic feature. The Foreland Belt contains part of a large alkaline igneous province, stretching from the Canadian Cordillera to the southwestern United States, which includes several carbonatite and alkaline intrusive complexes hosting the Aley (niobium), Rock Canyon (REE), and Wicheeda (REE) deposits. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release as it relates to the Wicheeda REE Property has been reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (BC) Principal and Consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, AB, a director of Defense Metals and a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Raffle verified the data disclosed which includes a review of the analytical and test data underlying the information and opinions contained therein. About Defense Metals Corp. Defense Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition of mineral deposits containing metals and elements commonly used in the electric power market, military, national security and the production of "GREEN" energy technologies, such as, high strength alloys and rare earth magnets. Defense Metals has an option to acquire 100% of the 1,708 hectare Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Property located near Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. Defense Metals Corp. trades in Canada under the symbol "DEFN" on the TSX Venture Exchange, in the United States, under "DFMTF" on the OTCQB and in Germany on the Frankfurt Exchange under "35D". Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Forward Looking Information This news release includes certain statements that constitute "forward-looking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities law, including without limitation, Defense Metals' plans for its properties/projects, advancing the Wicheeda property, other statements relating to the technical, financial and business prospects of Defense Metals 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 Defense Metals 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 Defense Metals will operate in the future, including the price of metals and elements, 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 Defense Metals 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 Defense Metals, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events, level of activity, performance or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: (i) risks related to rare earth elements, and other commodity price fluctuations; (ii) risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration results; (iii) risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; (iv) that resource exploration and development is a speculative business; (v) that Defense Metals may lose or abandon its property interests or may fail to receive necessary licences and permits; (vi) that environmental laws and regulations may become more onerous; (vii) that Defense Metals may not be able to raise additional funds when necessary; (viii) the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with Defense Metals expectations; (ix) exploration and development risks, including risks related to accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration and development; * competition; (xi) the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of geologic reports or studies; (xii) the uncertainty of profitability based upon Defense Metals history of losses; (xiii) risks related to environmental regulation and liability; (xiv) risks associated with failure to maintain community acceptance, agreements and permissions (generally referred to as "social licence"), including local First Nations; (xv) risks relating to obtaining and maintaining all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations relating to the continued exploration and development of Defense Metals projects; (xvi) risks related to the outcome of legal actions; (xvii) political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; (xix) risks related to current global financial conditions; and (xx) other risks and uncertainties related to Defense Metals prospects, properties and business strategy. These risks, as well as others, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, the loss of key directors, employees, advisors or consultants, adverse weather conditions, increase in costs, equipment failures, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), litigation, decrease in the price of rare earth elements, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations and fees charged by service providers. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date hereof and Defense Metals 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 expressly required by applicable securities legislation. SOURCE Defense Metals Corp. Curtin University infectious disease expert Archie Clements believed the achievement was both good luck and good management. I think [the soft lockdown] was the right thing to do at the time because it wasnt clear that we had dodged the bullet, so from that perspective, it was good management, he said. Professor Clements said there was also an element of luck in that WA was isolated and not an international travel hub, but good management could be seen in the swift action by authorities: "the government went hard and I think that was the right thing to do". "If we had had a number of cases coming across from the eastern states, Id be confident we would have picked them up and there would have been contact tracing and local containment, but we would have prolonged the economic consequences because it would have meant the internal easing of restrictions would have had to have been delayed," Professor Clements said. Perth was deserted as social distancing measures took hold. Credit:Sharon Smith Since eliminating community transmission, the state government has taken the lead from the federal government in honing WA's protective measures, including tightening WA's border closure with Victoria and New South Wales following a second wave of infections, and introducing new measures to test those in hotel quarantine and truck drivers, who pose the highest threat of reinfection. Genome sequencing in Victoria earlier this month revealed more than 90 per cent of the states deadly second wave could be traced back to a breach in hotel quarantine at The Rydges on Swanston hotel, where a security guard became infected from a returning traveller. The remaining 10 per cent was linked to another similar breach at the Stamford Plaza. In WA, three hotel quarantine security guards became infected with coronavirus, but their infections did not lead to an outbreak. A senior Victorian Labor source likened this stroke of luck to Premier Mark McGowan being "smacked on the arse by a rainbow". WA has since moved to tighten its hotel quarantine infection control measures, and has enlisted the Australian Defence Force for additional support. Meanwhile in South Australia, which has also eliminated unknown community transmission of the virus, a Victorian truck driver staying in a border town hotel caused a small outbreak after testing positive to COVID-19 on July 30. Loading The man infected a cleaner at the hotel, who then went on to infect two others in the community. With truck drivers one of the few workers given exemptions to travel across the country without quarantining, the risk of a similar outbreak in WA exists, but is slightly lessened due to SA acting as a buffer between the west and Victoria. Nonetheless, on August 14, WA introduced mandatory masks and testing for truck drivers. Queensland lost its community transmission-free status on August 20, when a mystery cluster emerged at a Brisbane youth detention centre. The outbreak, which includes 12 cases to date, could not be ruled out as having been sparked by two women who allegedly lied on their border declaration passes to enter Queensland in late July after visiting Melbourne. Instead of entering mandatory quarantine at their own expense, the women were active in the community and infected three other confirmed cases. Loading The latest cluster has the same strain of the virus as the women, however it is the most common strain circulating in Victoria and New South Wales, and therefore cannot be categorically linked to them. WA has had at least six people breach the states quarantine measures, although none were infected with coronavirus at the time. Another stroke of luck, perhaps. However, in an act of good management, the WA government has since moved to clamp down on quarantine breachers considered high risk through increased police surveillance and the potential use of tracking devices. Nev Power, the person tasked with Australia's economic recovery post-pandemic, likened WA's pandemic policies to "squashing an ant with a sledgehammer", but the defiance of the WA government to keep its state borders closed is overwhelmingly supported by West Australians who have been able to return to relative normality thanks to the state's virus-free bubble. Professor Clements said the nature of the virus meant it would never be known if a different approach could have achieved the same positive outcome. "Every jurisdiction has been learning as it goes, weve never been exposed to this before and so youve got to give the government the credit for doing as good a job as they could with the evidence thats available to them," he said. The North Dakota Supreme Court has ruled that the Democratic nominee for insurance commissioner is ineligible for the November ballot. In a unanimous opinion, the high court upheld a lower court ruling that concluded Travisia Martin hasnt lived in the state long enough to hold the office. The North Dakota Constitution requires statewide officials to be a resident of the state for five years prior to an election for statewide office. Martin, of Bismarck, said she moved to North Dakota in 2015 and worked as a traveling critical care respiratory specialist. She said she also owned a home in Nevada at the time and considered herself a resident of both states. North Dakotas Republican Party cited Martins November 2016 vote in Nevada as evidence of her ineligibility to hold office, based on a five-year residency requirement for executive branch officials. Democrats endorsed Martin in March to run against Jon Godfread, who is seeking a second term. He was elected to the position in 2016, defeating Democrat Ruth Buffalo by a 2-to-1 margin. A Democrat hasnt headed North Dakotas Insurance Department since 2000, and only three have served in the office since statehood. Related: Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics North Dakota Video of the incident showed the officer as one of about a half-dozen police and paramedics who responded to the call. The woman appeared to be strapped to a gurney with the officer leaning over her when she could be seen turning her head toward the officers leg. As many as 1,318 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 were recorded since the last report, following tests carried out at national level, the Strategic Communication Group (GCS) informs on Friday. As of Friday, 84,468 cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus had been confirmed in Romania. A further 48 people infected with the novel coronavirus have died, bringing Romania's death toll to 3,507. Of the 48 fatalities, 23 men and 25 women, 2 deaths were recorded in the age category 40-49 years, 5 were in the age category 50-59, 13 in the age category 60-69, 15 in the age category 70-79 and 13 were in the category 80+. According to the GCS, 47 of the dead patients had a medical history, and one had no other condition. As many as 37,056 people were declared cured and 10,344 asymptomatic patients were discharged 10 days after detection. According to the GCS, 1,756,920 SARS-CoV-2 infection tests have been processed nationwide so far. As many as 7,325 people with COVID-19 are admitted to health facilities, and 497 patients are being treated in ICU, the cited source said. On the territory of Romania, 8,797 people confirmed with the novel coronavirus are in home isolation, and 5,713 are in institutional isolation. GCS announces that 645 people have been retested and reconfirmed positive with COVID-19. In the last 24 hours, the law enforcement workers have applied 958 fines amounting to 235,850 lei, as a result of the violation of the provisions of Law 55/2020 on specific measures to prevent and combat the effects of the COFID-19 pandemic. Bucharest City (159) and the counties of Iasi (89), Prahova (78), Bacau (76), Brasov (67) are the areas with the most newly confirmed cases of coronavirus compared to the last report, GCS says. Most cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection recorded to date are in Bucharest - 10,521 and in the counties of Suceava - 5,240, Arges - 4,962 and Brasov - 4,459, the GCS release says. Outside the country, the number of Romanians confirmed as infected with the novel coronavirus inched up to 6,589, while the number of those who died stays put at 126, GCS reports. A man has suffered a head injury after being hit with a bottle during an aggravated burglary in south Belfast on Friday morning. Three men have been arrested following the burglary in the Agincourt Avenue area. Police said just after 2.15am, a number of males forced their way into the property and assaulted four victims. One of the victims sustained a head injury, after being struck with a bottle. Three males, aged 19, 23 and 26, were later arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary and inflicting grievous bodily harm. They remain in custody, assisting police with their enquiries. PSNI Detective Sergeant Fairfield said the men were arrested in the Downpatrick area following the assistance of local officers. Enquiries continue, and anyone with information is asked to get in touch on 101 quoting reference number 115 of 28/08/20," he said. "Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org." Clothes, footwear, cab fares to get costlier from January 1, 2022: All you need to know GST on textiles will not be increased from 5 to 12 per cent: FM Sitharaman On GST revenue shortfall, Centre gives states two options India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 28: Amid a chorus by non-NDA ruled states for compensation of GST revenue shortfall, the Centre presented two options to states under which they can borrow from the market to make up for the estimated deficit of Rs 2.35 lakh crore this fiscal. At the end of a five-hour-long meeting of the GST Council, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said there was no proposal to raise tax rates to make up for the shortfall that has been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Citing a legal opinion from the Attorney General, she ruled out the Centre making good the shortfall from either its coffers or borrowing against its balance sheet. GST Council meeting: Will states corner Centre over pending compensation? The deficit can be made good by states borrowing using a special window, she said, adding this loan can be repaid after five years from the collection of GST cess. If states agree to either of the options, it would effectively mean that cess would continue beyond five years of the GST rollout. In 2017, all states agreed to subsume their local taxes such as VAT into the new, nationwide Goods and Services Tax (GST) in return for the Centre promising to make good any loss of revenue in the first five years. But with the economy slowing down, Rs 70,000 crore shortfall was seen in the last fiscal and this year it is estimated to widen to Rs 2.35 lakh crore. Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey said out of this amount, only about Rs 97,000 crore is attributable to the implementation of GST, while the rest in on account of the coronavirus pandemic hitting the economy. Flight rules: Banned from flying if you remove mask & more news | Oneindia News Pandey, who is also the finance secretary, said while GST collections have been impacted by the pandemic this year, there was a shortfall of Rs 70,000 crore in 2019-20 (April 2019 to March 2020) which was made good from the surplus of previous two years. When GST was implemented in 2017, the Centre had promised to compensate states for any revenue loss for five years from a pool created by levying cess over and above the GST on luxury and sin goods. This cess pool generated a surplus in the first two years but witnessed a deficit in FY20 as well as the current fiscal. Detailing the options presented to the states, Sitharaman said the Centre, in consultation with the RBI, will provide a special window to states to borrow Rs 97,000 crore at a reasonable rate of interest. This money can be repaid after five years from the collection of cess. COVID-19 an 'Act of God', may result in economy to contract this fiscal: Nirmala Sitharaman The other option is that the states borrow the entire GST compensation gap of Rs 2,35,000 crore through the special window. The states have seven working days to decide which option they want, she added. Sitharaman said "the interest from borrowing would be repaid from the cess collected in the years beyond the first five years of GST implementation." "There will be no additional burden on the states," she said, adding the states have been asked to borrow through the RBI to ensure they do not rush for the borrowing and there is no hardening of bond yields. The minister said the GST Council decided that the borrowing arrangement would be for the current fiscal and a review would be done at the beginning of the next financial year. "We very clearly said in both the options... that we shall facilitate talking to the Reserve Bank and getting it at a G-Sec proportionate number of years linked rate for all the states so that each state does not have to go running for the loan and face different situations and in the process the bond yields (turn) higher. "So we said we will facilitate it, but the borrowing can be done in the name of the states and all states roughly can get the same rate of interest," Sitharaman said. A detailed note on the two options would be shared with the states and they would give their views on it in seven working days. The minister said as soon as an arrangement is agreed upon by the GST Council, the Centre will clear the pending bi-monthly compensation. The compensation amount due for April-July period stands at Rs 1.50 lakh crore. "This year we are facing an extraordinary situation... we are facing an act of God which might even result in a contraction of the economy, to what per cent I am not getting into that. "Therefore, we said that portion (of compensation) which strictly is hardwired in the (GST) Act, we will arrange, give it to you...," Sitharaman said. She said both the options hinge upon the fact that borrowing will be done by the states. "We explained why it would be preferable for the states to borrow and not the Centre and also we said if states are going to borrow, instead of crowding out people, we will facilitate the process through central bank," she said. The Centre had released over Rs 1.65 lakh crore in 2019-20 as GST compensation. However, the amount of cess collected during 2019-20 was Rs 95,444 crore. The balance of about Rs 70,000 crore was paid from the excess cess collected in 2017-18 and 2018-19. The compensation payout amount was Rs 69,275 crore in 2018-19 and Rs 41,146 crore in 2017-18. New Delhi: The Banks Board Bureau (BBB) on Friday recommended the name of Dinesh Kumar Khara, SBI's senior-most managing director, as the next chairman of the country's largest lender. Khara will replace SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar, whose three-year term comes to an end on October 7. Members of BBB, the headhunter for state-owned banks and financial institutions, interviewed four managing directors of State Bank of India (SBI) on Friday for the upcoming vacancy. "Keeping in view their performance in the interface and their overall experience, the Bureau recommends...Dinesh Kumar Khara for the vacancy of Chairman in State Bank of India (and) Challa Sreenivasulu Setty as the candidate on the Reserve List for the said vacancy," BBB said in a statement. BBB's recommendation will now be forwarded to the government. The final decision will be taken by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As per convention, the SBI chairman is appointed from a pool of serving managing directors at the bank. Interestingly, Khara was among the contenders for the chairman's post in 2017 as well. Khara was appointed as managing director of SBI in August 2016 for a three-year term. He got a two-year extension in 2019 after review of his performance. An alumnus of the Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi University, Khara heads the Global Banking division of SBI. He holds a board-level position and supervises the businesses of SBI's non-banking subsidiaries. Prior to being appointed managing director, he was the MD and CEO of SBI Funds Management Pvt Limited (SBIMF). Khara, who joined SBI in 1984 as a Probationary Officer, was instrumental in merging five associate banks and Bharatiya Mahila Bank with SBI effective April 2017. The new SBI chairman will have a tough task ahead as the banking sector is going through a major crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As on June 30, SBI had made total provisions of Rs 3,000 crore to cover potential COVID-19 losses. Gross non-performing asset (NPA) ratio of 5.44 per cent was lower than 6.15 per cent in the March quarter. BBB is headed by former Department of Personnel and Training secretary Bhanu Pratap Sharma. Its members include Secretary, Department of Financial Services; Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises; and RBI Deputy Governor in charge of banking. Other part-time members are Vedika Bhandarkar, former MD of Credit Suisse; P Pradeep Kumar, former MD of SBI; and Pradip P Shah, founder managing director of ratings agency Crisil. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in 2016 approved the constitution of BBB as a body of eminent professionals and officials to make recommendations for appointment of whole-time directors as well as non-executive chairpersons of public sector banks (PSBs). It was also entrusted with the task of engaging with the board of directors of all PSBs to formulate appropriate strategies for their growth and development. The government wanted to encourage bank boards to restructure the lenders' business strategies and also suggest ways for their consolidation and merger. Style SheKnows When Kim Kardashian became famous, she ushered in an era of highly curated and airbrushed photos and she even influenced makeup trends with a heavily contoured face. But what we should be celebrating is how gorgeous she looks without all of the editing. The SKIMS founder was spotted in longtime friend Allison Statters birthday [] The Daily Tribune-newsofbahrain Total fines amassed by parties involved in the multi-billion dollar Future-banks sanction-evading money laundering scheme has touched $47 million, with a court here slapping $1 million fines on three officials and the Iranian banks involved yesterday. In the latest judgment, Bahrains High Criminal Court awarded a five-year prison term and $ 1 million in fines to each of the three Future Bank officials in about seven cases involving the Central Bank of Iran and other banks. The court also fined the Central Bank of Iran and the other banks involved $1 million each, General Advocate Nayef Youssef Mahmood said. Besides, the court ordered Bahraini auditors also uncovered $2.7 billion in payments made by the Future bank using an informal alternative to the SWIFT system that is difficult to trace, documents show. Bank Melli and Bank Saderat have also been accused by US officials of helping finance Irans nuclear programme. The scheme allowed the bank to make the transfers in violation of laws and regulations, Public Prosecution stated. The future bank registered to provide commercial banking services including deposits, loans and credit cards had over 100 employees at the time of its establishment. Bahrain Central Bank of Bahrain in May 2016 put Future Bank and Iran Insurance Co - the Bahrain branch of an Iranian insurer - under administration to protect the rights of depositors and policyholders. The confiscation of the illegally transferred money that reached $13 million. Public Prosecution has un-covered evidence of a multibillion-dollar corruption scheme in which future bank officials secretly helped Iran evade sanctions for more than a decade. Reports say the bank allegedly concealed at least $7 billion of transactions between 2004 and 2015, with Bahraini officials uncovering hundreds of bank accounts tied to individuals convicted of various terrorism crimes, as well as phantom loans provided to companies that op- erate as fronts for Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps August 27, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - We have seen how China is meticulously planning all its crucial geopolitical and geoeconomic moves all the way to 2030 and beyond. What you are about to read next comes from a series of private, multilateral discussions among intel analysts, and may helpfully design the contours of the Big Picture. In China, its clear the path ahead points to boosting internal demand, and shifting monetary policy towards the creation of credit to consolidate the building of world-class domestic industries. In parallel, theres a serious debate in Moscow that Russia should proceed along the same path. As an analyst puts it, Russia should not import anything but technologies it needs until it can create them themselves and export only the oil and gas that is required to pay for imports that should be severely restricted. China still needs natural resources, which makes Russia and China unique allies. A nation should be as self-sufficient as possible. That happens to mirror the exact CCP strategy, as delineated by President Xi in his July 31 Central Committee meeting. And that also goes right against a hefty neoliberal wing in the CCP collaborationists? who would dream of a party conversion into Western-style social democracy, on top of it subservient to the interests of Western capital. Comparing Chinas economic velocity now with the US is like comparing a Maserati Gran Turismo Sport (with a V8 Ferrari engine) with a Toyota Camry. China, proportionately, holds a larger reservoir of very well educated young generations; an accelerated rural-urban migration; increased poverty eradication; more savings; a cultural sense of deferred gratification; more Confucianist social discipline; and infinitely more respect for the rationally educated mind. The process of China increasingly trading with itself will be more than enough to keep the necessary sustainable development momentum going. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter The hypersonic factor Meanwhile, on the geopolitical front, the consensus in Moscow from the Kremlin to the Foreign Ministry is that the Trump administration is not agreement-capable, a diplomatic euphemism that refers to a de facto bunch of liars; and its also not legal-capable, an euphemism applied, for instance, to lobbying for snapback sanctions when Trump has already ditched the JCPOA. President Putin has already said in the recent past that negotiating with Team Trump is like playing chess with a pigeon: the demented bird walks all over the chessboard, shits indiscriminately, knocks over pieces, declares victory, then runs away. In contrast, serious lobbying at the highest levels of the Russian government is invested in consolidating the definitive Eurasian alliance, uniting Germany, Russia and China. But that would only apply to Germany after Merkel. According to a US analyst, the only thing holding back Germany is that they can expect to lose their car exports to the US and more, but I tell them that can happen right away because of the dollar-euro exchange rate, with the euro becoming more expensive. On the nuclear front, and reaching way beyond the current Belarus drama as in there will be no Maidan in Minsk Moscow has made it very clear, in no uncertain terms, that any missile attack from NATO will be interpreted as a nuclear attack. The Russian defensive missile system including the already tested S-500s, and soon the already designed S-600s arguably may be 99% effective. That means Russia would still have to absorb some punishment. And this is why Russia has built an extensive network of nuclear bomb shelters in big cities to protect at least 40 million people. Russian analysts interpret Chinas defensive approach along the same lines. Beijing will want to develop if they have not already done so a defensive shield, and still retain the ability to strike back against a US attack with nuclear missiles. The best Russian analysts, such as Andrei Martyanov, know that the three top weapons of a putative next war will be offensive and defensive missiles and submarines combined with cyber warfare capabilities. The key weapon today and the Chinese understand it very clearly is nuclear submarines. Russians are observing how China is building their submarine fleet carrying hypersonic missiles faster than the US. Surface fleets are obsolete. A wolf pack of Chinese submarines can easily knock out a carrier task force. Those 11 US carrier task forces are in fact worthless. So in the horrifying event of the seas becoming un-sailable in a war, with the US, Russia and China blocking all commercial traffic, thats the key strategic reason pushing China to obtain as much of its natural resources overland from Russia. Even if pipelines are bombed they can be fixed in no time. Thus the supreme importance for China of Power of Siberia as well as the dizzying array of Gazprom projects. The Hormuz factor A closely guarded secret in Moscow is that right after German sanctions imposed in relation to Ukraine, a major global energy operator approached Russia with an offer to divert to China no less than 7 million barrels a day of oil plus natural gas. Whatever happens, the stunning proposal is still sitting on the table of Shmal Gannadiy, a top oil/gas advisor to President Putin. In the event that would ever happen, it would secure for China all the natural resources they need from Russia. Under this hypothesis, the Russian rationale would be to bypass German sanctions by switching its oil exports to China, which from a Russian point of view is more advanced in consumer technology than Germany. Of course this all changed with the imminent conclusion of Nord Stream 2 despite Team Trump taking no prisoners to sanction everyone in sight. Backdoor intel discussions made it very clear to German industrialists that if Germany would ever lose its Russian source of oil and natural gas, coupled with the Strait of Hormuz shut down by Iran in the event of an American attack, the German economy might simply collapse. There have been serious cross-country intel discussions about the possibility of a US-sponsored October Surprise involving a false flag to be blamed on Iran. Team Trumps maximum pressure on Iran has absolutely nothing to do with the JCPOA. What matters is that even indirectly, the Russia-China strategic partnership has made it very clear that Tehran will be protected as a strategic asset and as a key node of Eurasia integration. Cross-intel considerations center on a scenario assuming a quite unlikely collapse of the government in Tehran. The first thing Washington would do in this case is to pull the switch of the SWIFT clearing system. The target would be to crush the Russian economy. Thats why Russia and China are actively increasing the merger of the Russian Mir and the Chinese CHIPS payment systems, as well as bypassing the US dollar in bilateral trade. It has already been gamed in Beijing that were that scenario ever to take place, China might lose its two key allies in one move, and then have to face Washington alone, still on a stage of not being able to assure for itself all the necessary natural resources. That would be a real existential threat. And that explains the rationale behind the increasing interconnection of the Russia-China strategic partnership plus the $400 billion, 25-year-long China-Iran deal. Bismarck is back Another possible secret deal already discussed at the highest intel levels is the possibility of a Bismarckian Reinsurance Treaty to be established between Germany and Russia. The inevitable consequence would be a de facto Berlin-Moscow-Beijing alliance spanning the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), alongside the creation of a new digital? Eurasian currency for the whole Eurasian alliance, including important yet peripheral actors such as France and Italy. Well, Beijing-Moscow is already on. Berlin-Beijing is a work in progress. The missing link is Berlin-Moscow. That would represent not only the ultimate nightmare for Mackinder-drenched Anglo-American elites, but in fact the definitive passing of the geopolitical torch from maritime empires back to the Eurasian heartland. Its not a fiction anymore. Its on the table. Adding to it, lets do some little time traveling and go back to the year 1348. The Mongols of the Golden Horde are in Crimea, laying siege to Kaffa a trading port in the Black Sea controlled by the Genoese. Suddenly, the Mongol army is consumed by bubonic plague. They start catapulting contaminated corpses over the walls of the Crimean city. So imagine what happened when ships started sailing again from Kaffa to Genoa. They transported the plague to Italy. By 1360, the Black Death was literally all over the place from Lisbon to Novgorod, from Sicily to Norway. As much as 60% of Europes population may have been killed over 100 million people. A case can be made that the Renaissance, because of the plague, was delayed by a whole century. Covid-19 is of course far from a medieval plague. But its fair to ask. What Renaissance could it be possibly delaying? Well, it might well be actually advancing the Renaissance of Eurasia. Its happening just as the Hegemon, the former end of history, is internally imploding, distracted from distraction by distraction, to quote T.S. Eliot. Behind the fog, in prime shadowplay pastures, the vital moves to reorganize the Eurasian land mass are already on. Pepe Escobar is correspondent-at-large at Asia Times. His latest book is 2030. Follow him on Facebook.- If WeChat is banned...no reason why Chinese shall keep iPhone and apple products, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian tweeted. Chinese social media users on Friday responded to foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijians warning on Twitter, which is blocked in China but accessible through virtual private network softwareoblivious to the irony of using a blocked American platform to call out the US proposed ban of WeChat. In this photo, a news-stand vendor sits near QR codes for Alipay and WeChat, two popular online payment system in Beijing, China on Tuesday, July 21, 2020. (Photo | AP) Beijing: Chinese consumers could boycott Apple if the United States bans WeChat, Chinas foreign ministry spokesman warned Friday, as the clock ticks down on a US order to block the popular social app. US President Donald Trump this month announced a ban from mid-September on WeChat and another Chinese-owned app, TikTok, accusing them of threatening national security, further stoking tensions between Beijing and Washington. But foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian tweeted Friday that If WeChat is banned, then there will be no reason why Chinese shall keep iPhone and apple products. Zhao had already on Thursday said many Chinese people are saying they may stop using iPhones if WeChat is banned in the US, and accused the US of systematic economic bullying of non-US companies by targeting the Chinese app. The comments mark a rare direct reference by Beijing to boycotting an American product and come as the superpowers spar on multiple fronts including military activity in the South China Sea, Hong Kong and blame for the coronavirus. Chinese social media users on Friday responded with mixed feelings to Zhaos warning on Twitter, which is blocked in China but accessible through virtual private network software. I use Apple, but I also love my country, one user on the Twitter-like Weibo platform. Its not a conflict. No matter how good Apple is, its just a phone. It can be replaced, but WeChat is different, another user argued. Modern Chinese people will lose their soul if they leave WeChat, especially business people. Wechat, known in mainland China as Weixin, has more than 1.2 billion active users. Trumps executive order against WeChat forces the platform to end all operations in the United States and bans Americans doing business with it. Apple accounted for eight percent of Chinas smartphone market in the second quarter of 2020, according to Counterpoint Research, far behind domestic leader Huawei. A bronze statue of Indian doctor Dwarkanath Kotnis, who is revered in for his contributions during the Chinese revolution headed by its founder Mao Zedong and the World War II, would be unveiled outside a medical school in North next month, according to the official media here. Kotnis, who hailed from Sholapur in Maharashtra came to in 1938 as part of a five-member team of doctors sent by the Indian Congress to help the Chinese during World War II. He joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 1942 and died the same year at the age of 32. The bronze statue of Kotnis, known in China as Ke Dihua, would be formally unveiled at the medical school at Shijiazhuang in September, state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday. Kotnis' medical assistance during the difficult days of the Chinese revolution was praised by Chinese leader Mao Zedong. His status and memorials were also set in some of the Chinese cities in recognition of his services. He is married to Chinese Guo Qinglan, who died in 2012. Apart from the school named after him as the Shijiazhuang Ke Dihua Medical Science Secondary Specialised School, there are memorials of Kotnis in both Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei province, and Tangxian county where he once worked. Late Chinese leader Mao Zedong was deeply affected by his death, the report said. Mao wrote in his eulogy that "the army has lost a helping hand, the nation has lost a friend. Let us always bear in mind his internationalist spirit". According to Liu Wenzhu, an official of the Shijiazhuang Ke Dihua Medical Science Secondary Specialised School, since the founding of the school in 1992 more than 45,000 medical professionals have graduated from it. Each of the new students and staff must swear in front of a stone statue of Kotnis that they would work like him, he said. Liu hopes that Kotnis will be remembered not only as a symbol inspiring medical students to work hard, but also an eternal bond between the people of China and India. "We are the world's two most populous countries ... We should always be friends, coexisting peacefully," he told Xinhua. (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 West African economic bloc are holding a summit to discuss Mali after negotiations with the junta failed to agree on a timeline for a civilian transitional government The heads of state of the West African economic bloc are holding a virtual extraordinary summit Friday to discuss Mali after negotiations with the junta that staged a coup last week failed to agree on a timeline for a civilian transitional government. On Thursday, military leaders released former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to his home, where he remains under tight security. His release could be a signal that Mali's ruling junta are trying to meet some of the 15-nation ECOWAS bloc's demands. The main demand from ECOWAS, however, is at a standstill. West Africa's leaders have demanded that the junta put in place an interim government, headed by a civilian or retired military officer, that would last no longer than one year before democratic elections are held to restore the country to civilian rule. Mali's junta has proposed staying in power for three years until an election. That's 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 longer. ECOWAS has been leading negotiations with the junta that calls itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People since last week. Friday's summit is also likely to focus on sanctions imposed by the bloc on Mali since the Aug. 18 coup. ECOWAS has shut borders, halted financial flows with Mali and threatened further sanctions. The regional group is also considering mobilizing a standby military force to restore civilian rule, a proposal likely changed by the overwhelming show of support for the coup by Malians who took to the streets to support the junta. African countries and others have expressed fear that Mali's upheaval could allow Islamic extremists that the military has been fighting with heavy international support for seven years to extend their reach. The junta has released a degree signed Monday by junta leader Col. Assimi Goita that installs ``provisional authority and lays the foundations for a rule of law.'' It says the law is necessary given the dissolution of the National Assembly and the government. It declares that the provisions of Mali's 1992 constitution ``apply as long as they are not contrary or incompatible with those of the present act.'' Search Keywords: Short link: The government will rely on adaptive quarantine and localization of outbreaks of the disease. The Cabinet of Ministers, Ukraine's government, is not considering the possibility of reintroducing a tough quarantine amid the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. "According to the prime minister, the government will not consider the introduction of tough restrictive measures in case of a second wave of coronavirus spread, but instead will rely on adaptive quarantine and localization of outbreaks of the disease," the press service of the European Business Association said following an online meeting of its representatives with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. Read alsoDaily COVID-19 spike reaches new high in Ukraine with over 2,400 cases on Aug 28Also, according to the prime minister, the government is working on a systemic recovery of economic activity. In particular, on the development of a long-term development strategy for Ukraine until 2030, as well as on the implementation of the economic stimulus program and the government action plan, which contain incentive measures for various sectors of the Ukrainian economy. Quarantine in Ukraine San Franciscans are used to waking up to a thick fog on summer days, but on Friday residents in the the city and across the Bay Area were met with a dense, stifling blanket of smoke. The wind movements across the region pushed the smoke from nearby wildfires into the Bay, sending residents back into their homes, reducing visibility and choking their airways. AirNow, a site that reports air quality using the official U.S. Air Quality Index gave an AQI of 170 in San Francisco at 7 a.m. Readings on Purple Air put many neighborhoods above 200. An AQI above 150 is considered "unhealthy," while a number over 300 is considered "hazardous." "We're seeing more of an influence from the Santa Cruz fires," Air District spokesperson Aaron Richardson told SFGATE. "There's some low pressure off the coast, pushing smoke from the CZU fires into San Francisco. What wind there is is allowing smoke to trickle in from Santa Cruz." Posts on social media revealed the abnormality of the conditions that residents were met with Friday morning and showed some creative responses to the problem. Author Steve Silberman showed the smoke in his backyard, writing that it "smells like the whole city is on fire." This eerie shot from Photographer Christopher Michel shows the density of the smoke layer in San Francisco. Oakland resident Diego Basch found that a makeshift fan/air filter combination kept some of the smoke at bay. The New York Times recently tested this DIY approach to cleaning the air in your home and found it successful. This shot shared on Twitter of the Market Street shows that the reduction in visibility from the smoke was down to under two city blocks on Friday morning. These posts pointed out that it's sometimes hard to tell where the fog ends and the smoke begins. This video taken this morning in city shows the thick smoke blanketing the horizon. Find updates on the air quality in San Francisco and the Bay Area here. Andrew Chamings is an editor at SFGATE. Email: Andrew.Chamings@sfgate.com | Twitter: @AndrewChamings By Trend Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov received credentials of newly appointed Ambassador of Greece to the Republic of Azerbaijan Nikolaos Piperigos, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend. The sides had an exchange over the bilateral cooperation relations between Azerbaijan and Greece. Congratulating Piperigos on his appointment as ambassador Azerbaijan, Bayramov expressed hope that he would contribute to further development of relations between the two countries. In his turn, Piperigos said that he is pleased to be appointed as an ambassador to Azerbaijan. He conveyed congratulations of Foreign Minister of Greece to Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and noted that he will spare no efforts to further develop relations between the two countries during his tenure. During the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on cooperation within international organizations, as well as other issues of mutual interest. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz CLEVELAND, Ohio -- More than two dozen men were arrested and slapped with felony charges that accuse them of trying to meet what they thought was a child for sex following an online sting operation carried out this week, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael OMalleys office announced on Friday. Those accused as part of Operation Moving Target include a registered sex offender from Pennsylvania and a former minister at the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland whose 2018 firing made national news. The Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force oversaw the operation that was carried out between Monday and Thursday, with help from federal authorities and officers from several departments and agencies, according to a release. The men, ranging in age from 21 to 61 years old, started talking with agents posing as children on popular social media applications, prosecutors said. The chats turned sexually explicit and the men agreed to meet for sex, prosecutors said. The men arrived to find law enforcement waiting on them and were arrested and taken to the Cuyahoga County Jail. Investigators seized firearms, condoms, personal lubricant, sex toys and drugs from some of the men, prosecutors said. The men are charged with attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, importuning and possessing criminal tools. Their cases will be presented to a grand jury for indictment, prosecutors said. Among those arrested in the sting is Nathan Troup, 39, of New Castle, Penn., who was convicted in 2015 of interstate transportation of material depicting sexual exploitation of a minor. The conviction requires him to register as a sex offender. Keith Kozak, 41, of Brooklyn, Ohio, is also charged in the operation. Kozak is a former outreach minister who was stationed at Cleveland State University from 2016 until he was fired in 2018, according to his LinkedIn page and news stories about his firing. Kozak alleged that the Diocese of Cleveland fired him after he posted a photograph of himself at a reception of a same-sex wedding and congratulated the couple on Facebook, and then liked a photo of another same-sex couples wedding ceremony. The claims, first reported by WEWS Channel 5, garnered national coverage by the Huffington Post, The New York Daily News and several other LGBTQ+ publications. The others charged in the sting are: Adam Davis, 41, Painesville; Rajwant Singh, 44, Mayfield Heights; Germaine Truett, 38, Cleveland; Jason Johnson, 37, Cleveland; Ronel Washington, 24, Garfield Heights; Hector Pietri, 29, Cleveland; Kyle Vansteenburg, 28, Cleveland; Raphael Robinson, 26, Cleveland; Corey Huber, 32, Elyria; Michael Labondano, 30, Lyndhurst; Nicholas Cook, 38, Bedford Heights; Chazz Johnson-Hawks, 22, Solon; Ian Rensel, 43, Bedford; Jerry Harris, 35, Westlake; Carson Strnisa, 21, Seven Hills; Justin Cowger, 22, Cleveland; Kim Koran, 61, Cleveland; Abed Aldur, 45, Parma; Arturo Martinez, 47, University Heights; Phillip Jones, 30, Streetsboro; Pedro Correa Jr., 42; Cleveland; Ryan Dempsey, 37, Ashatbula; Jonathan Smith, 34, Cleveland; Robert Spisak, 45, Broadview Heights; Jason Schmucker, 37, Canton. Such stings have become common over the years, with authorities in Cuyahoga County and elsewhere in the country conducting similar operations. The coronavirus pandemic has led to a huge nationwide spike in cybercrime involving children across the country, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A blog post said that the number of incidents of online child enticement and tips submitted to their online hotline jumped 90 percent in the first half of 2020 compared to the same time period last year. OMalley said in a news release that the same trend has been seen in Ohio. As we have seen the number of Cybertips dramatically increase this year, it is clear that online predators remain a serious threat to our children, OMalley said. Hopefully the success of yet another operation serves as a stern warning to offenders that you will be found, you will be arrested, and you will be prosecuted. Read more stories Dozens arrested in undercover sex stings in run-up to 2019 MLB All-Star Game in Cleveland Undercover sting akin to To Catch a Predator nets arrest every 90 minutes in Cleveland suburb Man accused of shouting racial slurs, threatening man with knife in Cleveland, police say Beachwood man charged in painting of swastikas, anti-Semitic images on University Heights businesses Cleveland woman accused of fatally stabbing boyfriend after a decades-long, abusive relationship Analysts say Indias economy likely shrank by about 20 percent in the April-June quarter as country went into lockdown. New Delhi, India: Like many countries, India is experiencing a boom in demand for bicycles, as people shun public transport and gyms for fear of catching the novel coronavirus. As a result, Inderjit Navyug should be a very happy man right now. But, his bicycle-parts factory in the city of Ludhiana in northern Punjab state has remained shut since late March when India went into lockdown to rein in the spread of the virus. The nationwide shutdown was lifted in phases starting on June 8, but virus cases have surged past 3.3 million, making India the third-worst affected country globally. Some states, like Punjab, have decided to maintain some restrictions, and Navyugs 35 workers are afraid to return until the virus has been brought under control, he says. My sales have dropped completely, Navyug told Al Jazeera. His company had a revenue of $140,000 last year, and he is not hopeful of achieving anything near that this year. I have sent money to the workers. I hope theyll rejoin next month, he said. Navyugs firm is one of the hundreds of thousands of small Indian manufacturers whose business has been decimated by the virus. His plight is a reflection of the deep economic slump India is likely to face for some time. Indias economy the worlds fifth largest had already been sputtering before the pandemic. But the lockdown, one of the worlds strictest, crippled most economic and commercial activities. The economy is expected to have shrunk by about 20 percent in the April-June quarter compared with the same period last year, likely setting a record, according to recent polls of economists by the Reuters and Bloomberg news agencies, capturing most of the lockdown period. For the full financial year to end-March 2021, the Reuters survey predicts gross domestic product (GDP) will shrink by 5.1 percent, the weakest performance since 1979. The government is due to release its GDP data for the April-June quarter on Monday. Rahul Bajoria, an economist at London-based lender Barclays, has an even more pessimistic outlook. In a research note this month, he said the economy probably shrank by 25.5 percent over the three months, which is worse than his earlier 22.2 percent contraction forecast. Source: Statistics Ministry, Bloomberg [Bloomberg] If you shut everything down for six to seven weeks, obviously everything is going to be impacted, Bajoria told Al Jazeera. Indias biggest challenge right now is how do you go back to a certain amount of normalcy and how do you grow from there? In an attempt to do that, Indias finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, in May launched a $265bn fiscal stimulus package, which it said amounted to 10 percent of the countrys GDP. But, economists say the actual amount of money spent is expected to be just 1 percent of total economic output and that it is unlikely to significantly boost consumer demand. Business unusual After the government began reopening the economy in phases on June 8, there was a noticeable jump in several sectors. Sales of passenger cars and motorbikes, among other goods, rose, as did electricity demand and commercial activity, including manufacturing. But those metrics have since started to slow down, a sign that, while the number of coronavirus cases continues to increase, the economy will not return to pre-pandemic levels, economists warn. Things cant be business as usual [while] the health crisis persists, said Bajoria, adding that even if all sectors of the economy, such as travel and tourism, opened up, people have to feel safe enough to want to pursue those activities. Its one thing [for] the government not allowing certain types of economic activity and its another to see if people want to partake like they used to. Economic normalcy will only come when the health crisis appears under control. While the economy has improved in comparison to where it was at the start of the lockdown, the pace of the improvement is looking much shallower than what we were anticipating and that concerns us, said Barclayss Bajoria. Indias small- and medium-sized businesses, and its informal workers, are among the hardest-hit parts of the economy due to the coronavirus pandemic [File: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters] The other problem is that even as the country has opened up for business, sporadic local lockdowns continue. Because of its federal structure, individual states have a large degree of autonomy over whether they open parts of the economy allowed by New Delhi, or not. Among the latest such decrees, Punjab imposed a night-time curfew from 7pm to 5am and a weekend lockdown from August 21 in all towns and villages across the state. On the same date, Haryana announced that only essential shops and offices will be allowed to operate on weekends. Gurpargat S Kahlon, who manufactures auto parts in Ludhiana, mostly for export to the Middle East, Germany and the United States, is also feeling the effects of Punjabs measures. He had already been dealing with a drop in orders, a shortage of workers and looming bank repayments, among other issues, during the nationwide lockdown. As a result, his two factories are running at half capacity, he said. Now, with the 7pm curfew in place, he has to shut shop earlier than normal and expects annual revenue to halve to about $700,000. Our industry has been badly hit and now not even half the business is left and its getting difficult to pay salaries, he told Al Jazeera, adding, Theres no sight on orders down the line and we cant go abroad to secure new orders and neither can they come here. Thats the worst part right now, said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at research firm CARE Ratings, adding that measures such as the ones Punjab are implementing are disrupting supply chains, limiting businesses from operating and increasing costs. What theyre doing is not serving any purpose, he told Al Jazeera. CARE has predicted a 20.2 percent shrinkage in Indias economy for the quarter ending June, citing a steep contraction in industrial activity including mining and quarrying, manufacturing, utility services and construction. Selling the family silver? The government is somewhat hamstrung in its ability to provide much more of a fiscal stimulus. The slowdown in activity has resulted in a 41 percent drop in tax collections, amounting to about $25bn for the quarter to end-June compared with the same period last year, according to CARE. The governments measures to protect small businesses and rural populations are expected to result in a fiscal deficit a shortfall between revenue and expenditure amounting to 7.4 percent of GDP in 2020, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Indias government hopes that privatising the countrys railways will give it much-needed funds to boost the economy [File: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters] That is a smaller gap than the IMFs 9.1 percent average forecast for emerging-market and middle-income countries. But, India has already seen a cut in its credit rating and outlook by Moodys in June, and a change in outlook from the Fitch ratings agency. Analysts say the government is wary of increasing spending in case it results in more downgrades, pushing its cost of borrowing funds from international markets higher. To raise the extra funds, one option could be to sell off some government assets, says Jagannarayan Padmanabhan, director at CRISIL Ltd, a unit of rating agency S&P Global. In July, state-owned Indian Railways invited bids from private firms to operate some passenger trains, a step towards diluting its long-held monopoly. The government is inviting bids for 109 rail routes (which it calls origin and destination pairs) which will cover the major economic hubs of the country including, Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Chennai, Howrah, among others, for an estimated investment of about $4bn. No doubt this is an opportunity with a fair amount of interest for the private sector, said Padmanabhan. The vast network of Indian railways is tested daily with millions of passengers travelling on it. The private companies wading into this sector are being drawn in by the same incentives that helped Indias budget airlines take off: the aspiration among Indian people for faster, more pleasant travel at an affordable price. Achieving that balance will be the tricky part for any company getting involved, as Indian consumers are very price-conscious, warns Padmanabhan. But ultimately, the need for travel will continue, and if this is successful, the government can open this sector further and the initial set of operators [who bid for the routes] can catch the population in the first mover advantage, he added. Padmanabhan has other suggestions to help the government not only find some revenue streams in the short term, but also help it meet an ambitious target of investing $1.4 trillion through the National Infrastructure Pipeline over the next five years to upgrade the countrys ports, airports, railways and mass-transit metro systems. It also aims to provide affordable and clean energy as well as high-quality education and health services, among other investments. Where will you get so much money? he asked. If, given the current economic uncertainty, companies are unwilling to invest money in new projects, Padmanabhan suggests auctioning to them existing ones so the government can use those funds to create new infrastructure. Milk the tier-one airports [and highways] and use that to fund regional airports, for instance. It can be one of the pillars of go-to market strategy, he said. However, such strategies may not be useful in providing any immediate economic relief, other economists warn. CARE Ratings Sabnavis said: These things will work over a period of time, and are good in the medium term to earn income but they wont be of any help to the economy right now. An Amazon delivery driver allegedly assaulted a 73-year-old man that asked him to put on a face mask before entering a condo. The alleged assault was caught on surveillance video. Ray Breslin, who asked the driver to stay out of the building until he had a mask, returns from their discussion wearing a mask. The driver then shoves a phone in Mr Breslin's face and holds it there for a moment before slamming it into Mr Breslin's head. The assault occurred on 4 Aug, but the driver has yet to be charged. "I was mortified" Mr Breslin told local broadcaster WSVN. "I just couldn't believe it." The Miami Beach resident said he saw the delivery driver enter the building without a mask. When the driver tried to go further into the building, Mr Breslin stopped him and said he couldn't go further without wearing a mask. "I open the door, I said, 'Excuse me, you have to have a mask on.' He said 'I'm just delivering.' I said 'It doesn't matter. You wanna come in the building, you need to have a mask on,'" Mr Breslin said. He said the man attempted to enter anyway. "All of a sudden, he just puts his foot at the door like that. He's not gonna let me close the door," Mr Breslin said. "I pushed his foot out of the way and closed the door." Mr Breslin said he took the packages from the driver and left them near the building's front door. He also took a photo of the driver's vehicle and his license plate. The driver went back to his vehicle to get a mask and returned to finish the delivery. It was at that point that their confrontation escalated. "Then he came back with a mask on, and I thought 'Ok, not so bad' and I open the door and I let them in," Mr Breslin said. "He brings his phone up like that and smashes me in the face." Mr Breslin pointed out to the driver that the entire encounter had been caught on surveillance video, which prompted the man to flee the scene with the packages. "I was like - what are you kidding me? I said 'there's a camera right there that just shot all this' and he looked up, put his head down, took his packages and walked right out the door," Mr Breslin said to NBC 2. Mr Breslin said the driver claimed he hit him because Mr Breslin hit him first. However, the footage does not show Mr Breslin striking the driver at any point. The 73-year-old condo president was not injured in the encounter, but he said he was shaken up by the incident. Mr Breslin's lawyer, Michael Grieco, said the the incident was "felony battery," explaining that any time someone hit someone over the age of 65, it was considered a felony. Mr Breslin filed a victim's report with the local police, but the driver has yet to be identified or charged. "The fact that an Amazon driver, any delivery driver, would contemplate getting violent with somebody in a situation like that is beyond me," Mr Grieco said. Amazon said it sent an apology letter to Mr Breslin. The driver worked for a company that contracted with Amazon to deliver its packages. According to Amazon, the driver no longer works for the delivery company. "This does not reflect the high standards we have for delivery service partners," Amazon said in a statement. "We are addressing the incident with the delivery service partner and can confirm that this individual is no longer delivering Amazon packages. We are in touch with the customer to make things right." Miami-Dade county is currently under a county-wide mask mandate, requiring everyone to wear a mask while in public or face a potential $100 fine. Mr Breslin said he was simply trying to follow the law. "I was being firm. I wasn't being nasty. I wasn't going to let him in the building without a mask," Mr Breslin said. "Plain and simple." Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. FAIRFIELD The Fairfield Health Department is hosting an overdose awareness vigil Friday in honor of International Overdose Awareness Day. The department, according to a release, said the vigil is going to be held virtually at 7 p.m. over Zoom. It said the Fairfield Police Department and Fairfield CARES, a task force established by the first selectman in 2009 to prevent underage alcohol and substance abuse, will also be hosting the third annual event. People can register for the event online. International Overdose Awareness Day takes place on Aug. 31 every year, the department said. People and communities come together to raise awareness of one of the worlds most urgent public health crises one that, unfortunately, is only getting worse. The department said it encourages anyone attending the vigil to participate as much as possible, adding that there would be a candle lighting during the event. This vigil is a great place for people to come together who have lost loved ones due to an overdose, for those in recovery, for those who know someone who is struggling with the hardship of addiction and for anyone who would like to support community members or learn more, the department said. The candlelight vigil will allow us to remember those in our community we have lost to this terrible disease, and to find the strength and support to fight for those we know who are battling with addiction, it said. All are welcomed to attend. The health department said 47,000 Americans die each year from overdoes, adding that they were the No. 1 cause of death for Americans under the age of 50. According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, there were 1,200 opioid overdose deaths in Connecticut in 2019, an increase in years past, the department said. Statewide figures for the months of March through May 2020 show that deaths from opioid overdoses rose 21.4 percent between 2019 and 2020, rising year over year for each month through April. The health department said the state reports there were 560 confirmed fatal drug overdoses by mid-June 2020, and 275 more pending confirmation. Fatal drug overdoses are killing too many people. In 2019, fentanyl was responsible for 82% of the overdose deaths due to the potency of the drug. From 2012 to 2020, there have been 35 drug overdose deaths in the town of Fairfield. These deaths could have been prevented, the department said. The department said resources for people struggling with addiction, or those who have family members struggling, can be found on the towns opioid epidemic page and the Fairfield CARES page. For questions about the Vigil and for more information please contact the Fairfield Health Department at 203-256-3020. Earlier this month, 140 concerned organizations sent a letter to Facebook requesting that this leading online company fully adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism to accurately identify the anti-Semitism that proliferates throughout its social media platform. The reasons that adopting the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism specifically are so critical include: IHRA has become the international de facto standard for defining what is (and what is not) anti-Semitism, endorsed/adopted by more than 40 countries. IHRA relates to ages-old anti-Semitism directed at Jews, as well as modern anti-Semitism directed at Israel as a proxy for Jews. On university campuses and in social media, it is the more modern anti-Israel variety that is so widespread. The Facebook letter was part of the ongoing and intensified efforts to advocate for governmental institutions and social media companies to adopt IHRA. We are starting to see results. Shortly after receiving this letter, Facebook announced that it has strengthened its policy on treating identifying anti-Semitism, moving closer to the IHRA definition. In the U.S., the State Department has adopted the IHRA definition. Yet other governmental institutions and leading social media platforms have been reluctant to do the right thing and embrace the most accurate definition of anti-Semitism, thus shirking their civic responsibility to stop this discriminatory hatred from being propagated. Therefore, it is instructive to examine the recent actions in the state of Florida, which can serve as a model within the United States for creating the appropriate state and local legal infrastructure for combating anti-Semitism. This includes using IHRA as a guideline for definition as well as introducing provisions to penalize those guilty of spreading anti-Semitism in public schools and universities. Last month, 8,000 Florida State students signed an online petition to remove their student senate president over social media posts described as anti-Jewish. This prompted the university to pass a resolution combating anti-Semitism as defined by IHRA. Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation last year mandating that discrimination against Jewish people must be treated the same as acts of racial discrimination in Florida's public education institutions. The definition for discrimination against Jews refers to the U.S. State Department definition, which is based upon IHRA. Finally, at the federal level, President Trump signed an executive order combatting anti-Semitism earlier this year specifying that the Title VI anti-discrimination provision of the Civil Rights Act is applicable to anti-Semitism and that IHRA should be considered when defining if an incident at a public school or university is anti-Semitic. Governor DeSantis called Florida "the most Israel-friendly state in the country," and he just may be right. But beyond that, the state of Florida and Florida State University have adopted measures to define anti-Semitism correctly, taking measures to eliminate this hatred from public educational institutions. Doing so actually doesn't relate to Israel; rather, joining the international community in adopting the IHRA definition is the first step in enabling Jewish students to study and thrive in environments free of harassment and discrimination. What is critical now is that other states and universities take notice and join the efforts to define anti-Semitism properly so that it can be identified and eradicated from our public institutions. Equally important, the largest social media companies should finally begin to use the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism to enforce their internal regulations against hate content, making it more difficult for such postings to be propagated virally. With such a concerted effort, we can finally push back against the anti-Semitism that continues to skyrocket throughout our country. Ron Machol is the COO of Zachor Legal Institute, an organization using the law to combat anti-Semitism and the delegitimization of Israel. WASHINGTON - The nation is once again at a crossroads over racial inequity, marking the 57th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s I Have a Dream Speech, yet torn apart by the Black Lives Matter protests against the police shooting of another Black man, this time in Wisconsin. Fridays commemoration of the 1963 March on Washington comes as a new civil rights era is unfolding in real time in Kenosha, Wisconsin, after Sundays shooting of Jacob Blake. He now joins a growing list of Black Americans whose treatment by law enforcement has sparked worldwide protests, echoing Kings speech at the Lincoln Memorial, where he said, We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. In recent weeks, several leading Black members of Congress reflected in interviews with The Associated Press on their experiences then, and now, as the House and Senate debated the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to overhaul law enforcement procedures. REP. MAXINE WATERS, D-CALIF. Maxine Waters said she started focusing on police violence in 1979 after Los Angeles police shot a Black homemaker, Eula Love, during a confrontation over an unpaid gas bill. Waters rallied against the police chief, fought to ban the chokehold and pushed for greater civilian oversight. By 1991, as a freshmen member of Congress, she was a leading voice against police violence after the videotaped beating of Black motorist Rodney King by LAPD officers. This summer as demonstrators filled streets nationwide over the police killing of Floyd she told The Associated Press, The thing that struck me was, why did it take so long? Weve been dealing with this issue for so many years. Floyd was killed over Memorial Day weekend in Minnesota after being detained by an office who pressed him to the ground, a knee on his neck. She noted the chokehold issue, in particular, has been around for a long time. While the police legislation passed the House, another version stalled in the Senate. Its not over, said Waters, now the chair of the Financial Services Committee. And its not going to be over until we succeed in changing and re-imagining what policing is all about and how it should work. REP. BENNIE THOMPSON, D-MISS. During the floor debate over the policing bill, Rep. Bennie Thompson, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, urged his colleagues to walk a mile in his shoes to understand the depth of the issue before them. He grew up in rural Mississippi in the middle of the last century, eventually rising to become mayor of his tiny hometown of Bolton. Anytime we wanted to integrate a restaurant or a motel or a public school, the police was called out to prevent us from following the public accommodations law, he told AP. So when you saw the police when Bennie Thompson grew up, you would run, you wouldnt stop and wave, because you didnt see them as somebody friendly. Thompson, 72, came to Congress in 1993. When he gaveled open the Democratic National Convention this month, he was the first from his state to serve as chairman. He told his colleagues he is passing down to his grandson the same instructions he was given as a teen learning how to drive 50 years ago. Be careful. If the police stop, you dont do anything other than keep your hands on the wheel and say, Yes, sir. No, sir, he said. People should not be afraid of the police. The police should be viewed as a friend in the community. REP. JAMES CLYBURN, D-S.C. Democratic whip James Clyburn said he hasnt been stopped by police without apparent reason, as was GOP Sen. Tim Scott, a fellow South Carolinian and the author of the Senate Republican police bill, who publicly shared his stories of being pulled over for driving while Black. But at 80, Clyburn is now willing to speak more openly about his own encounters as a Black man, including one confrontation he had with a shop owner as a high school student. He told the AP he declined to include it in his memoir, which was published shortly after Trayvon Martins 2012 killing, because he was concerned hed be accused of playing on the issue. Now hes ready to tell the story. Clyburn was in 11th grade in 1950s rural South Carolina when he and two friends went to a local grocery store. The clerk at the cash register overcharged them. I mean, he was treating us as if we didnt know how to count, Clyburn recalled. Clyburn put the items back on the counter and started counting it out for him. He took objection to that. From there, things escalated. We got in an argument. I left the store. I got in my car, attempted to crank the car. He walked out with a long-barrelled pistol, laid it in the window and said, You owe me 15 more cents, Clyburn said. And my two friends jumped out, yelling and crying, and they gave him the 15 cents. I wouldnt do it. But I suspect Im still here today because they gave him the 15 cents. Clyburn went on to become colleagues with the late John Lewis at the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee organizing student sit-ins of the 1960s, and in Congress where they served until Lewis death in July. A younger Thompson joined SNCC later as a student organizer. Now the highest-ranking Black American in Congress, Clyburn was speaking Friday at a satellite rally in Columbia, South Carolina. So theres a lot of work for Black Lives Matter to do, Clyburn told AP, and I hope to live long enough to help them get it done. A panel of federal appeals court judges is letting the US government proceed with the planned execution of a man who kidnapped, raped and killed a 10-year-old Kansas girl. The three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Thursday evening acted to let the execution of Keith Dwayne Nelson go forward Friday afternoon as scheduled. The court acted less than 24 hours after a lower court judge had halted his execution, saying the law requires the government to get a prescription for the drug it plans to use. In an opinion early Thursday, US District Judge Tanya Chutkan said a federal law that regulates drugs requires the government to get a prescription for the lethal injection drug pentobarbital, which it plans to use. But in a brief, unsigned order Thursday evening, the panel of three appeals court judges acted to let the execution go forward, saying there are insufficient findings and conclusions that irreparable injury will result from the statutory violation found by the district court. The panel included two judges appointed by President Barack Obama, Cornelia Pillard and Robert Wilkins, and Neomi Rao, who was appointed by President Donald Trump. Nelson attorney Dale Baich in an email to The Associated Press: We are carefully reviewing the order and considering the options available to us. Nelsons execution is scheduled to be the fifth carried out this year by the federal government at the death chamber of the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana. The executions followed the Trump administrations announcement last year that it would resume executing death row inmates for the first time since 2003. Nelson was sentenced to death after pleading guilty to the 1999 kidnapping, rape and killing of Pamela Butler. The 10-year-old was rollerblading in front of her Kansas home when Nelson abducted her. He later raped her before strangling her to death with a wire. Chutkans 13-page opinion putting Nelsons execution on hold came hours after the government carried out the execution of Lezmond Mitchell, the only Native American on federal death row, despite objections from many Navajo leaders. With Mitchells execution, the federal government has now carried out more executions in 2020 than it had in the previous 56 years combined. Two more executions are scheduled for September. All of the executions have been carried out using pentobarbital. Though the inmates who were put to death by the federal government have sought to halt their executions, challenging the drugs use, among other things, the Supreme Court has sided with federal officials, in two cases reversing lower court orders keeping the government from carrying out scheduled executions. Chutkan, who was nominated by President Barack Obama, said in her opinion that it is undisputed that a prescription is required to dispense pentobarbital in the ordinary course. It is also undisputed, she wrote, that the government has not obtained a prescription nor does it intend to for the use of pentobarbital in Nelsons execution. But Chutkan said that under previous court decisions, when pentobarbital is being used for an execution it is still subject to the requirements in the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act so a prescription is required. The government has argued that pentobarbital is not subject to the act when used for lethal injections. Pentobarbital depresses the central nervous system and, given in a high dosage, causes the heart to stop. It doesnt have widespread medical uses, though is often used by veterinarians to anesthetize or euthanize animals. For three federal executions in the early 2000s, the government used different drugs, but pharmaceutical companies later refused to allow those drugs to be used in executions, forcing the federal and many state governments to seek an alternative. Attorney General William Barr last year approved reworked execution protocols that called for using pentobarbital alone. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NATO Chief Calls on Belarus President to 'Respect Fundamental Rights' By VOA News August 27, 2020 NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday the alliance is "watching developments in Belarus closely," and that NATO supports "a sovereign and independent Belarus." Stoltenberg made the comments to reporters after meeting in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The two leaders met to discuss pressing European diplomatic issues ahead of meetings with European Union defense ministers in Berlin. In their bilateral talks, the two leaders also discussed the territorial dispute between Greece and Turkey, and the situation in Afghanistan. Additionally, Stoltenberg mentioned the U.S. decision to pull troops out of Germany earlier this year and put additional personnel in Poland. The NATO chief said, "It is important that allies continue to consult closely because the U.S. presence in Europe is important both for the security of Europe and for the security of the United States." Ahead of the meeting with EU defense ministers, Stoltenberg added his voice to growing calls for a "transparent" investigation into the case of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Stoltenberg said there was "no reason to doubt" German doctors' conclusions that the Kremlin critic was poisoned. Navalny's supporters say he was poisoned by a cup of tea at a Siberian airport. Navalny later became ill on a flight to Moscow. The plane made an emergency landing in the Siberian city of Omsk, where he was hospitalized before he was airlifted to Germany for treatment last Saturday. Russia has not opened an investigation into the incident and a Kremlin spokesman said there was "no pretext" to do so. The EU leaders are meeting in Berlin because Germany currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union Council. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address By Carolina Mandl SAO PAULO, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Brazil's most prominent financial startup, Nubank, has raised $300 million in equity investments, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Five investors participated in the deal, according to the document, which did not disclose their names. News of the document, which was filed on June 19, did not surface until this week when a Brazilian financial blog noted it. Nubank declined to comment on whether the equity capital constitutes a new funding round, but data from Crunchbase described it as a "venture round." Existing investors in the Brazilian financial technology firm include TCV, Tencent Holdings Ltd, DST Global, Sequoia Capital, Dragoneer, Ribbit Capital, Kaszek and Thrive Capital. Nubank, which offers credit cards - which typically carry a fee in Brazil - for free, reached 26 million clients in June. That makes it Brazil's second-largest credit card issuer, just behind the country's top lender, Itau Unibanco Holding SA , according to a note by UBS analysts. The Brazilian firm narrowed its first-half loss to 95 million reais from a loss of 140 million reais in the same period a year earlier, as the bank added 6 million new clients. In contrast with Itau, Banco Bradesco SA and Banco Santander Brasil SA, which were hit by the coronavirus pandemic, Nubank's credit card transactions rose 54% in the first half. It also presented a "healthy" asset quality trend, UBS added. (Reporting by Carolina Mandl in Sao Paulo Editing by Matthew Lewis) Gradient AI Teams Up With Origami and Sapiens Gradient AI has formed partnerships with Origami Risk and Sapiens to make Gradients claims and policy modeling and predictive modeling available on the Origamis risk management and Sapiens workers compensation platforms. Gradient, based in Boston, said in a press release that its product uses artificial intelligence to enable claims professionals to focus greater attention on claims with a high probability of being significant cost drivers. Theres no question that speed and accuracy in both claims management and underwriting have become paramount for insurers, stated Gradient AI Chief Executive Officer Stan Smith. The seamless integration of our tools with Origamis capabilities will facilitate improved decision-making, faster responses and measurable improvements in claims experience and underwriting results. The partnership allows insurers, third-party administrators, risk pools and self-insured organizations to use Origamis automation capabilities along with Gradients proprietary database, the company said. Sapiens is folding Gradients predictive analytics function into its CoreSuite for Workers Compensation and Sapiens GO for Workers Compensation. Integrating AI capabilities into our core workers compensation suites will empower insurers to better forecast future probabilities via real-time insights, stated Sapiens President and CEO Roni Al-Dor. We are pleased to partner with Gradient AI and plan to expand its technology to our property & casualty and life core suites in the near future. AmCap Using Betterview for Property Claims American Capital Assurance Corp. has deployed Betterviews Remote Property Intelligence platform for commercial residential and office property claims. AmCap, a carrier based in St. Petersburg, Fla., specializes in commercial property coverage for apartments, condominium associations, senior living facilities, houses of worship, strip retail centers and office buildings. Damage to large roof structures can sometimes go undetected and lead to larger losses and displacement of residents. Betterview will allow AmCap to more quickly review roof coverings and take action, the carrier said in a press release. AmCap Insurances Claims Department previously relied on multiple sources for pulling permit data and reviewing property images, stated Tim Cotton, vice president of claims. Betterview makes it easy to integrate current and historical imagery into the claims process for faster resolution. Betterview also accesses historical images, which helps detect fraud by showing roof condition over time, especially when evaluating damage after a storm, AmCap said. That is especially important because AmCaps covers property in Florida, Texas, Louisiana and South Carolina and plans to expand to North Carolina and Georgia, the company said. Mercury Deploys Flyreel in N.Y. and N.J. Mercury Insurance is offering homeowners policyholders in New York and New Jersey the ability to conduct do-it-yourself home inspections using Flyreel. Flyreels app guides homeowners through a self inspection of their property, helping them maintain their physical distance during the COVID-19 epidemic, Mercury said in a press release. The app canoe downloaded from Apple App Store or Google Play. New Mercury policy owners will be emailed a link to to download the app and activate it. They app also helps policyholders catalog belongings and building materials in the event the customer needs to file a claim. Flyreel, based in Denver, Colo., said its digital intake allows carriers to see rooms, assess condition and begin claims adjustment, triage and prioritization. Kin Selects Snapsheet for Claims Management Kin, an insurance agency, stock carrier and managing general agent that connects with customers digitally, has selected the Snapsheet Claims platform to provide claims management from electronic first notice of loss through settlement. Kin, launched in 2016, recently raised $35 million from investors in a Series B funding round, Chicago-based Snapsheet said in a press release. Snapsheets online claims platform further streamlines the agencys direct-to-consumer business model. By quickly enabling the automation of workflows, omnichannel engagement, and the ability to capture unique data and analytics, this partnership bolsters our growth by creating new efficiencies and better customer experiences, stated Kin Chief Executive Officer Sean Harper. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: After taking the services of a group of priests for 11 days during a special puja at her home, a woman paid them in 'churan label' fake notes in Sitapur, around 80 km from state capital Lucknow. The woman was later arrested on late Thursday evening. As per the local police sources, the woman identified as Geeta Pathak, wife of GR Pathak, distributed fake notes or coupon notes to 40 priests after they performed an 11-day special ritual in Sitapurs Terwa Manikpur village. The priests created ruckus at her place after coming to know about the fake currency and lodged an FIR of fraud and criminal breach of trust against the woman at Rampur Mathura police station. The Inspector general (IG) of police (Lucknow range) Laxmi Singh said the woman was arrested and interrogated. She claimed that scores of amusement notes (Churan currency) with Manoranjan Bank of India mentioned on them were recovered from her vehicle. The sources claimed that around 216 stacks of amusement currency was found from her vehicle. ALSO READ | Ex-Indian Army personnel duped of Rs 1.25 crore in bid to buy 'meteorite worth Rs 5000 crore' As per the complaint of a priest Dilip Kumar Pathak of Bahraich, the woman hired him to conduct the 11-day rituals in her village. She had promised him a dakshina of Rs 9 lakh for all arrangements. Pathak was joined by 39 other priests for the special puja. After the rituals were completed, the woman handed Pathak and 39 other priests a bag containing currency notes as the gift, said the IG. But when they checked later, they found that notes placed on top were real currency notes while the remaining were fake to the face value of Rs 5.53 lakh, she said. Singh added that the fake notes were in the denominations of Rs 2000, Rs 500, Rs 100 and Rs 10. She said a police team had also been deployed in the village to avert further trouble, following the resentment among the priests. Local sources claimed that the woman along with her husband have duped several people in the name of puja. She would go to a village and tell people that she could sense gold and silver buried in their village. She would then ask the villagers to help her taking out the treasure buried underground by conducting a special puja. She would ask them to shell out money if they wanted the treasure and decamp with money collected by the gullible villagers. Photo credit: Bulgari From Esquire Much like the rope-veined bruisers of a pre-fight weigh-in, luxury watches run the whole gamut of size. There's the same hi-spec ceremony, too. In the blue corner stands Hublot: chrome, futuristic, and heavyweight, like Deontay Wilder in his now infamous flashing android suit. There's TAG Heuer: nippy, modern, a middleweight and proud. And lest we forget Rolex: the closest thing to a Swiss-made Ali. But where many marques experiment in watches of all shapes and sizes, in recent years Bulgari has stuck to flyweight and flyweight only. So much so that they created the world's thinnest watch in 2017. And 2018. And 2019. And now, its prize fighter the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Chronograph Skeleton Watch has taken the title home again. Ladies and gentlemen: here stands the thinnest watch in the world. Again. In fact, the storied marque has broken the record six times in as many years, with the latest edition of Octo Finissimo clocking in at a barely-there 7.40mm. Which may seem relatively standard to onlookers by normal watch standards. But this isn't a normal watch. Bulgari's marquee timepiece is a tourbillon: a watch defined by its own staggering complexity, and one in which the escapement and balance wheel are housed within a rotating cage to ensure accuracy, and thus prevent gravity sending the spring off-kilter. Look we told you it was complex. So all that said, 7.40mm isn't much room at all to fit such fiddly hardware. Photo credit: Bulgari The latest iteration has doubled down on Bulgari's knack for forward thinking. It's a chronograph, with a visible skeleton dial, and that's very modernist indeed. But that doesn't mean the Octo Finissimo is inelegant. On the contrary, it's a robust yet fine-tuned piece that counters the common tropes of a dress watch, but still manages to blend in with its black tie contemporaries. Find you a watch that can do both. Unveiled at Geneva Watch Days now an online spectacle as Switzerland socially distances the Octo Finissimo is in strong company at the marque. "We already launched last January in Dubai [the] Serpenti Seduttori Tourbillon, the smallest ladies watch tourbillon on the market," said Bulgari's CEO Jean-Christophe Babin of the latest release. "Complication and records are without genders at Bulgari." Story continues If you want to take the title home, the October Finissimo is scheduled for an October release at a 130,000 price tag. Prize fighters cost, kid. 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 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. Government says it spent over GHc76 million towards the disinfection, fumigation and cleaning-up of markets, lorry parks and public toilet facilities across the country. The first phase of the disinfection and clean-up exercises formed part of the government's response towards preventing the spread of the Coronavirus disease in the country. Hajia Alima Mahama, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, announced this in Accra when she took her turn of the Meet-the-Press series. She said the Ministry set up disinfection teams at the local level, disinfected and fumigated more than 2,000 market centres and 2,000 public toilet facilities. The amount went into purchasing of disinfectants, spraying machines, personal protective gears for sprayers, and other useful items secured for the exercise. The Minister said the contract for the second phase of disinfection had been signed and would soon begin. Giving accounts of financial inflows to the MMDAs for development, the Minister explained that GHc4.5 billion was transferred to the 260 Assemblies for infrastructural development including; education, healthcare, water and sanitation facilities and expressed satisfaction over the utilisation and work done so far with the funds by the MMDAs. She noted the Ministry was mandated to promote good governance, equitable and balanced development across the country and was delivering its mandate through the formulation of policies on rural and urban development and designing systems to monitor the implementation of those projects. Hajia Mahama assured of government's unalloyed commitment to implement socio-economic interventions across the country to ameliorate the suffering of the masses, especially the poor and vulnerable. The Minister indicated that in the second term of the Akufo-Addo led government, it was poised to engage all stakeholders towards building a consensus and amending the entrenched provisions in the 1992 Constitution for the election of Metropolitan,Municipal and District Chief Executives on partisan basis. That, she said, would enhance transparency and accountability at the local governance set up. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video By Akbar Mammadov Azerbaijans Foreign Affairs Ministry has said that Armenias recent sabotage attempt on the line of contact shows that Yerevan is pursuing military adventure on the line of contact and seeks to aggravate the situation. The ministry made the remarks while commenting on Armenian provocation in the direction of Azerbaijans Goranboy district at about 05:45 on August 23 when the commander of the Armenian sabotage group, Senior Lieutenant Gurgin Alberyan was taken prisoner. At a time when the Armenian armed forces are intensifying reconnaissance measures in various parts of the frontline, including the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, the reconnaissance and sabotage activities carried out under the leadership of Gurgen Aleverdyan show that the Armenian military-political leadership is pursuing another military adventure on the frontline, the ministry said in a statement issued on August 28. The ministry said that Azerbaijani has treated the captured Gurgen Alaverdiyan in line with the humanitarian law, adding that Armenias attempts to prove otherwise is aimed at diverting attention for Yerevans military provocations. The ministry reminded Armenias cross-border aggression in the direction of Azerbaijans Tovuz district last month that killed 12 Azerbaijani servicemen and a civilian. The world community understands that the Armenian military-political leadership clearly bears responsibility for the deliberate escalation of the situation in the direction of Tovuz. Armenias attempt to use the situation around the country's prisoner of war Gurgen Aleverdyan in order to divert the attention, is doomed to failure. Commenting on the Armenian FMs claims that Azerbaijan violated humanitarian law with regards to Aleverdyan, the ministry reminded that Armenia has committed crimes against humanity against Azerbaijan including an act of military aggression accompanied by genocide and ethnic cleansing, for almost 30 years. As a result of the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed, 50,000 were disabled, about one million civilians were forcibly expelled from their homes, 5,364 went missing, taken prisoner and hostage and subjected to severe torture and humiliation by Armenia. The fate of about 4,000 of these people is still unknown. The foreign ministry also touched upon the two Azerbaijani civilians Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev who were taken hostage by the Armenian armed forces while trying to visit their homes in the occupied Kalbajar region on July 11, 2014. Currently, holding our compatriots, civilians Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev hostage, Armenia has tortured and illegally imprisoned them. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry also said that the Armenian authorities have repeatedly objected Azerbaijan's proposal to exchange prisoners and hostages from both sides with the principle of "all for all", supported by the international community, including the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. Armenia has made the bodies of those killed in the conflict the object of political and material gain, and has applied a "price list" to corpses in accordance with their profession or military rank, disregarding the most basic values of humanity and the most fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, the ministry added. Furthermore, the ministry reminded that the Armenian authorities have refused to apologize for the grave war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Azerbaijan and its civilians by the previous military-political leadership. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 04:56:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MEXICO CITY, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Mexico's exports grew 9.81 percent in July compared to June, mainly driven by vehicle exports to the United States, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) said on Thursday. The value of exports amounted to 34.847 billion U.S. dollars in July for the second consecutive month of growth after dropping in April and May due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Inegi said. Imports grew 3.19 percent in July compared to June, amounting to 28.095 billion U.S. dollars, the agency said. Inegi's president, Julio Santaella, said via Twitter that Mexico's vehicle exports, which mainly go to the United States, accounted for one of the most dynamic trade flows in the past two months. Mexico's Banorte Financial Group responded to the Inegi report, saying the figures confirm signs that external demand will be the main engine of Mexico's economic recovery, with greater dynamism in exports relative to imports. "While we continue to see a recovery led by manufacturing, the situation continues to be very challenging," said Banorte, referring to the ongoing pandemic. "Production capacity continues to be limited by the need to maintain sanitary and social distancing measures at plants, although it has been gradually improving," the group's analysts said. Mexico began to gradually reactivate some sectors of the economy on June 1, which had been closed since the end of March to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts a 10.5 percent contraction in Mexico's economy in 2020, due to the pandemic. Enditem Harris launches her first major attack on the president hours before his address to the virtual Republican convention. Democratic vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris has launched a scathing critique of United States President Donald Trumps handling of the coronavirus pandemic and racial unrest roiling American cities. In a speech on Thursday, hours before Trump was due to address the final day of the virtual Republican National Convention (RNC), Harris argued that the president has shown a reckless disregard for the wellbeing of the American people in failing to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. Donald Trump froze. He was scared. He was petty and vindictive, Harris said of his early response to the outbreak in the US. Even now, some eight months into this crisis, Donald Trump still wont take responsibility. He still wont act, Harris said. And the tragedy in all of this is, it didnt have to be this bad. Just look around. Its not like this in the rest of the world. All we needed was a competent president, Harris said in her first major political attack on Trump since she joined presidential candidate Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket last week. The US has confirmed more than 5.8 million infections and 180,000 deaths related to COVID-19, more than any other nation, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Harriss remarks, delivered point-by-point in the style of a prosecutor, came in a 20-minute prebuttal speech before Trump was due to deliver a major address from the White House to the virtual RNC. Americans go to the polls on November 3 to decide whether Trump should serve a second four-year term. Trump is expected to deliver a law-and-order themed address at the Republican National Convention [Carlos Barria/Reuters] Support for protesters Harris praised the protests against the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and condemned the killing of two protesters in what appeared to be clashes between vigilante militias and demonstrators. A 17-year-old has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the killings. And after the murders of Briana and George, and Ahmad, and so many others, its no wonder people are taking to the streets, and I support them, Harris said, drawing a sharp distinction with Trump, who has been hostile to the protests. We must always defend peaceful protest and peaceful protesters. We should not confuse them with those looting and committing acts of violence, including the shooter, who was arrested for murder, Harris said. And make no mistake, we will not let these vigilantes and extremists derail the path to justice, she said. Meanwhile, White House adviser Kellyanne Conway suggested on the conservative Fox News television talk show Fox & Friends that the Wisconsin unrest could help Trumps re-election chances. The more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns, Conway said, the better it is for the very clear choice on whos best on public safety and law and order. Biden and Harris do not support defunding the police but have advocated for overhauling police practices after years of high-profile killings of Black Americans by officers. Harris sponsored a bill in the US Congress to ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants, and to create a national registry for police misconduct. Demonstrators take part in a protest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Kenosha, Wisconsin [Stephen Maturen/Reuters] Biden, who has largely limited his personal travel during the pandemic to near his home in Wilmington, Delaware, told MSNBC he would consider traveling to Kenosha himself. If I were president Id be going, Biden said on Thursday. But its hard to tell now what the circumstance on the ground is. Should he make the trip, Biden said, he would attempt to pull together the Black community as well as the white community and sit down and talk about how we get through this. Of Trump, he said: This is his America now. And, if you want to end where we are now, weve got to end his tenure as president. Harris focused much of her speech on Trumps handling of the coronavirus outbreak, which has shuttered much of the US economy for months. She accused Trump of incompetence that has become deadly while painting Biden as a president who would address the pandemic seriously. She criticised Republicans for not offering a clearer, more truthful picture of the pandemics toll during their convention. The Republican convention is designed for one purpose: to soothe Donald Trumps ego, she said. Hes the president of the United States. Its not supposed to be about him. Its about to be about the wellbeing and the safety of the American people. And on that, Donald Trump has failed. Kenosha was on edge on Thursday, as protests against the shooting of Jacob Blake entered their fifth night. Protesters broke the 7pm curfew once again to march through the streets, but it was comparitively calm compared to previous evenings. There was no repeat of the disturbances that wracked the town earlier in the week, and the militia were not out on the streets. By 10:30pm local time the streets were quiet, Kenosha News reported. The National Guard was patrolling Kenosha on Thursday night, and the town was quiet The National Guard and other law enforcement were stationed around municipal buildings The 7pm curfew was ignored by several dozen protesters, but Thursday night was calm Protesters in Kenosha were out in the streets on Thursday, but there was no violence Crowds of people gathered to sing, pray and talk on Thursday, but there was no unrest Demonstrators made their feelings known and marched, but were off the streets by 10:30pm Sheriff David Beth said on Thursday afternoon he hoped that the worst of the violence was over. 'Last night, it was very peaceful,' he said. 'Tuesday night, not quite so peaceful, but it wasn't too bad. Monday was our was our big night. 'Hopefully we're over that hump of what of what we have to face. 'We know there are still people out there instigators that are trying to cause trouble and fire things up. Got it. We're going to do our best to deal with, with that too.' The riots sparked from protests in the aftermath of the shooting of Jacob Blake, on Sunday afternoon. Blake, 29, who is black, was shot in the back seven times at close range by Officer Rusten Sheskey, 31, after a disturbance outside a property. Blake's attorney said he was breaking up a fight between two women. Jacob Blake was shot in the back seven times by a white police officer on Sunday in Kenosha Rusten Sheskey, 31, shot Blake seven times in the back. He has been placed on leave Blake remains in hospital, and is paralyzed from the waist down but expected to survive. Sheskey has been placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation. Protests on Sunday escalated into large-scale riots on Monday, when large swathes of the center of Kenosha, a lakeside town of 100,000, were smashed and burnt. On Tuesday night protests at Blake's shooting descended into lethal violence in which two men, Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, and Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, were shot dead. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, was arrested on Wednesday at his home in Antioch, Illinois, accused of killing the protesters. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, was arrested Wednesday and charged with the murder of two protesters On Thursday officials announced that the National Guard will send troops from three additional states - Arizona, Alabama and Michigan - to Kenosha to assist with operations there. Tony Evers, the governor of Wisconsin, had already authorized the deployment of the Wisconsin National Guard to Kenosha, and declared a state of emergency Tuesday and enforced an overnight curfew lasting until Sunday. In Washington, the Justice Department said it was 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 Justice Department also announced that the U.S. attorney's office and FBI would conduct a civil rights investigation into the shooting of Blake, in cooperation with Wisconsin state law enforcement agencies. Groups that had taken to Kenosha's streets with long guns were nowhere to be seen early Thursday following somber protests and no widespread unrest for the first night since the weekend police shooting of Blake. Marchers were solemn during Wednesday night's protests in the southeastern Wisconsin town, between Milwaukee and Chicago, following the chaos of the previous night. On Thursday the solemn but determined tone continued. Kenosha, a town of 100,000 people, has been the scene of five nights of protests Demonstrations were peaceful on Thursday night - unlike earlier in the week, when chaos ruled Cars were torched earlier this week in Kenosha amid widespread violence and rioting With the 7pm curfew passed, the group of protesters which had numbered in the hundreds earlier in the day thinned out to about 50 to 75 people, the Kenosha News reported, and set up shop back in Civic Center Park. They grilled food and established a relaxed atmosphere. The protesters marched twice around the law enforcement compound, but no attempt was made to stop them or arrest anyone for breaking curfew, the paper said. Protesters occasionally hollered at the officers. At one point, a protester got on the megaphone and chided one of the officers for allegedly laughing and 'making fun of' the protesters. He implored them to look in their hearts and understand the protests. The demonstration ended around 10pm local time, the paper said. Earlier on Thursday Rev. Jesse Jackson joined NAACP leaders in the town. 'We must have the justice,' Jackson said. 'Police are not above the law. We must protest until the three of them (police) have been indicted and convicted.' STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The story behind Wu-Tang Clans $2 million secret album, Once Upon A Time In Shaolin, is headed to Netflix, according to Collider. Only one copy of the album was ever made. It was stored in a secure vault in Morocco, which turned it into an instant collectors item. The album was eventually sold at auction in 2015 for $2 million to former pharmaceutical company CEO Martin Shkreli. That same year, Shkreli was convicted of federal charges for deceiving investors in a pair of failed hedge funds. The purchase infuriated Wu-Tang Clan, which attempted to buy it back when a federal court seized control of the album following Shkrelis conviction for securities fraud. In 2017, Shkreli tried to sell the album on eBay. At any time I may cancel this sale and I may even break this album in frustration, Shkreli posted on the bidding site. The next line of his post read: I will donate half of the sale proceeds to medical research. The winning bid was $1,025,100, according to the site, but it was later confirmed to be bogus. The Netflix projects script will be written by Ian Edelman (How to Make It in America). Founding Wu-Tang Clan member RZA is expected to produce the film alongside Plan B, Brad Pitts production company. Details on casting and a release date have not been confirmed, but fans should not expect to hear any tracks from Once Upon A Time In Shaolin in the film. A clause in the albums sale stated that it could not be used for commercial purposes until 2103. YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan says the purpose of the proposed creation of a militia is to prepare the society to challenges and threats of military nature. In conditions of the existing and developing threats and risks around Armenia, and new bellicose statements from the neighborhood, the resources of solely the active armed forces could certainly not be sufficient, he told reporters in parliament. The Defense Ministry has introduced a bill for public discussions on creating the nationwide voluntary-basis militia which would be activated at times of war. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan An off-duty security guard is in critical condition after a Friday morning shooting at a busy Pa. Wawa that was too full for more customers to come in, igniting violence FOX29 in Philly reports the Wawa at 1300 block of East Erie Avenue in Philadelphia was deemed too crowded early this morning, so a store security guard told a customer to wait outside in order to comply with social distancing requirements. A fight broke out, instead. And an off-duty security guard who was in the store tried to help subdue the customer who had barged his way inside and began arguing, then fighting. BREAKING: Armed and dangerous suspect wanted after Pa. woman shot multiple times and killed in her backyard: cops The brawl at Wawa reportedly spilled into the vestibule area of the store where police say the suspect pulled out a gun and shot the 25-year-old off-duty security guard in the chest, FOX29 reports. The suspect then fled the store and, at last report, remains at large. The guard was reported to be in critical condition following the 4:30 a.m. shooting. He was identified by family members as Khalil Patterson, according to 6ABC. This is the victim, 25 year old Khalil Patterson. Family says hes currently in surgery and praying he pulls through. They said hes always willing to jump in and help other people, which is probably why he defended Wawa security guard this morning @6abc https://t.co/frQcNF0DwH pic.twitter.com/kRMkWwLEmn Jaclyn Lee (@JaclynLeeTV) August 28, 2020 Police expressed confidence the store surveillance system and multiple witnesses would quickly identify the suspect. Here is video from the scene posted by a FOX29 reporter: Breaking: At Wawa on Erie Ave in Juniata @phillypolice on scene man, 25, shot in the chest in past hour. Shooter was Stopped by private guard for social distancing violation another guard off duty customer gets shot trying to help. @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/D99xu9eHcc Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) August 28, 2020 READ MORE: Pa. woman accused of breaking into apartment, stealing puppy, then throwing dog from moving car: cops Shots fired outside Pa. hotel where Milwaukee protest group is staying 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 COLUMBUS, OhioRapper Kanye West is asking the Ohio Supreme Court to order his name on the states presidential ballot this year on the grounds that Secretary of State Frank LaRose needed a protest to be filed to reject his nominating petitions. On Friday, Lewis Goldfarb said in a court filing that he did file such a protest -- hours after LaRose denied Wests petition to appear on Ohios Nov. 3 ballot as an independent. Goldfarb, a University of Cincinnati law professor from suburban Columbus with ties to Democrats, is also a co-plaintiff with the Ohio Democratic Party in a lawsuit filed earlier this week against LaRose to force him to allow multiple drop boxes for general-election absentee ballots this fall. In his protest, dated Aug. 21 and submitted hours after LaRose ruled West didnt qualify for the ballot -- Goldfarb listed 10 fatal defects to Wests petitions, including that: There are discrepancies between his statements of candidacy and the signature petitions used to collect voter signatures. West, two of his presidential electors, and four petition committee members dont reside at the addresses they provided. West doesnt meet the statutory definition of an independent candidate. Several of his petition circulators provided illegible, incomplete, or incorrect addresses on their statements. Several circulator statements appeared to be altered by someone other than the circulator. One circulator is a felon and is therefore ineligible to collect petition signatures. Forms appointing an authorized representative do not contain the original signatures of the candidates. Goldfarb, reached by phone, confirmed he is also involved in the drop-box lawsuit. However, he referred further comment to his attorneys, who did not return a phone call late Friday morning. LaRose, through state elections director Amanda Grandjean, notified West last Friday that he denied Wests application because of mismatched paperwork. The statement of candidacy on the original filing didnt match the statement on the circulated petitions, Grandjean stated, and the signatures by Wests running mate, Michelle Tidball, bear no resemblance, calling into question which is genuine. Wests Supreme Court filing states that Tidballs signatures, though they appear different, are both genuine. As for the paperwork discrepancies, Wests filing states that the Ohio Supreme Court held that variations between the original statement and circulated petitions are allowed as long theres no indication of fraud or voter deception. While LaRoses office admitted it didnt notify Wests campaign about the protest, Goldfarbs filing stated that his protest was not scheduled or noticed for a hearing ...presumably because, independent of Mr. Goldfarbs protest, Respondent LaRose earlier in the day determined that Relators petition failed to comply with Ohio law. LaRose admitted in his own filing Friday that county elections boards concluded that the names, addresses, and signatures of more than 5,000 registered voters listed on Wests petitions appeared to match the records of registered voters those boards have on file in their respective counties. However, LaRose, a Columbus-area Republican, denies that he had a clear legal duty to accept Wests ballot-access petitions, as West claims. LaRoses filing on Friday doesnt explain why he disputes Wests argument to the Ohio Supreme Court. Maggie Sheehan, a spokeswoman for the secretary of states office, said via text that LaRose will file a full explanation and argument on Friday, Sept. 4. Neither LaRoses original ruling denying ballot access to West, or his Supreme Court filing Friday answering Wests filing, mentions Goldfarbs protest. Republican operatives have been assisting Wests attempts to get on the ballot in several swing states, leading many to suspect that his campaign is a ploy to siphon votes from Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. Wests attorney in the case, Curt Hartman, was an Ohio delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention and is the GOP nominee this year for a Hamilton County Common Pleas Court judicial seat. A Texas woman has been shot dead during a massive brawl between residents fleeing from Hurricane Laura. The victim - who has not been publicly identified - was struck by a stray bullet shortly after midnight Thursday when she unexpectedly became caught up in the altercation, which took place in downtown Austin. According to police, two large groups, each consisting of around 30 people, were in the city after evacuating from coastal areas further to the south. A confrontation ensued and things soon turned physical. Two opposing men drew guns, and one of them fired a bullet into the crowd. It struck the victim, who happened to be making her way through the area. A homeless woman was shot killed after being struck by a stray bullet during a massive brawl in Austin overnight. Vision shot by KDFM showed multiple police cars at the scene and the area taped off for an investigation She was rushed to a nearby hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly before 1am. Officials say she was a homeless woman who was simply a bystander, and was in no way involved in the clash. No one has been arrested over the death. Vision shot by KDFM showed multiple police cars at the scene and the area taped off for an investigation. However, the Austin Police Department say they were 'stretched thin' during the night. Four additional shootings were reported in the city on the same night. Residents in parts of Texas further to southeast had evacuated to Austin to escape Hurricane Laura, which was expected to slam into areas close to Houston on Thursday evening. Around 385,000 residents were told to flee the cities of Beaumont, Galveston and Port Arthur. No one has yet been arrested over the woman's death. The Austin Police Department say they were 'stretched thin' during a night in which four other shootings were reported The eye of the storm slammed into neighboring Louisiana, killing at least four people and causing tens of millions of dollars damage One Texas resident was killed in the hurricane when a tree fell through their mobile home. However, the eye of the storm slammed into neighboring Louisiana, killing at least four people and causing tens of millions of dollars damage. Laura made landfall in southwest Louisiana early Thursday morning as an 'extremely dangerous' Category 4 hurricane. It brought strongest winds that Louisiana has seen since 1856 and warnings that the storm could rip apart buildings and penetrate up to 200 miles inland. A 14-year-old girl in Leesville, Louisiana, died when a tree fell on her house early Thursday. Just hours later, three more fatalities were reported due to falling trees in Louisiana, including a 60-year-old man in Acadia Parish, and another man in Jackson Parish. The location of the fourth Louisana death is yet to be announced. Residents in Lake Charles have been urged to stay inside with their windows closed and air conditioners turned off after a massive chemical fire broke out at a nearby manufacturing plant. Billowing clouds of smoke could be seen near Interstate 10. Louisiana Gov Bel Edwards tweeted: 'There is a chemical fire in the Westlake/Moss Bluff/Sulphur area. Residents are advised to shelter in place until further notice and close your doors and windows.' Hurricane Laura is expected to track northeast, moving through Arksansas before tearing through Kentucky and West Virginia late Friday. The windows of the city's 22-floor Capital One Tower were blown out shortly after Hurricane Laura damaged other buildings in the area on Thursday in Lake Charles, Louisiana Louisiana Gov Edwards tweeted Thursday morning that a massive chemical fire has broken out at a plant in Lake Charles A damaged travel trailer sits among flood water after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on Thursday in Holly Beach, Louisiana QMetry Inc., a Santa Clara, Calif.-based QA products company offering continuous testing platform, raised a series A funding of undisclosed amount. Backers included Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division and Everstone Group. The company will use the funds to expand its sales, marketing, customer support and product development efforts. QMetry will also leverage the investor firms relationships, and capabilities of their domain specific operating partners to further expand globally. Led by Manish Mathuria, Founder, QMetry provides a combination of tools, methodologies, frameworks, and best practices enabling agile teams to build, manage and deploy high quality software faster and with confidence. Its tools are designed to help QA and DevOps teams manage their quality cycle more efficiently, increase levels of automation, gain actionable insights from analytics, and optimize their use of other tools and platforms in the DevOps ecosystem. It is used by over 1000+ customers globally across Finance, Healthcare, Travel, Hospitality, Retail and more. FinSMEs 28/08/2020 Actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death case took a new turn when Rhea Chakraborty replied to the many allegations made against her by the late actors family, in an interview on Thursday. Her comment on Sushants relationship with his sisters and father didnt go down well with his family. Sushants US-based sister, Shweta Singh Kirti, in an Instagram post, rubbished the claims. Posting a picture of her e-ticket itinerary, she spoke about how she dashed home to India to meet her brother, when he was visiting their other sister in Chandigarh. She wrote: As Rhea mentioned in her interview,We didnt love our brother!! Yeah right, thats why I flew all the way from USA to India in Jan as soon as I got to know Bhai is visiting Chandigarh and is not keeping well. I had to stall my business and leave my kids behind! The worst part was I didnt even get to meet my brother coz by the time I reached, Bhai had already left Chandigarh because of the constant pestering calls of Rhea and some work commitments. Family was always there standing rock solid for him!! Dare anyone ever doubt it for a moment!! #JusticeForSushantSinghRajput #Godiswithus, she added. Also Watch | If CBI arrests Rhea without hard evidence...: Sushant Singhs family lawyer She later tweeted that there were 25 calls from Rhea to Sushants phone when he visited Chandigarh. She wrote: Jan was the time when Bhai made a SOS call to Rani Di, he was drugged, confined and isolated. Soon after he reached Chandigarh there were 25 calls made by Rhea in less than 2-3 days time frame. WHY??What was the urgency to call him back!! #ArrestRheaNow Jan was the time when Bhai made a SOS call to Rani Di, he was drugged, confined and isolated. Soon after he reached Chandigarh there were 25 calls made by Rhea in less than 2-3 days time frame. WHY??What was the urgency to call him back!! #ArrestRheaNow shweta singh kirti (@shwetasinghkirt) August 27, 2020 In an interview to India Today, Rhea had refuted the claim that Sushant had come back to Mumbai from Chandigarh at her behest. She said: In January, he went to meet his sister in Chandigarh but returned after two days. Maybe he didnt like them, and returned on his own. I was not even aware that he was returning. Responding to the charge that she had isolated him from the rest of his family, she said: How could I isolate Sushant if he was with his sister from June 8 to 13. In February, he met his sister and brother-in-law OP Singh and they went out to eat together. Those photos are in public domain. Also read: Kangana Ranaut says Sushant Singh Rajput was killed as he knew some dirty secrets, his sister Shweta demands security for her Rhea had claimed that the late actors relationship with his father had not been good as his father left them at a young age. He was very close to his mother and he felt bad due to this. Before he met me, Sushant hadnt met his father for five years. She also spoke about how the siblings would fight and argue when they would meet. She spoke of the time two of his sisters had visited him at the Waterstone resort. I touched Meetujis feet and hugged Priyanka because Sushants mental health was suffering. I wanted his family to be involved. He had been crying and calling them for two months that come and meet me. However, they left the same night and didnt stay and help him. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Chandigarh, Aug 28 : Relaxing the strict weekend restrictions imposed to curb rising cases of coronavirus, the Haryana government on Friday decided to keep shops and shopping malls, except those dealing with essential items, closed on every Monday and Tuesday instead. Now, shops and markets will remain open on every Saturday and Sunday, an official told IANS. These orders will only apply to urban areas, he added. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Samsung hasnt shared much about the Galaxy Z Fold 2 officially and this includes the price, but the UK website seems to have its own plans because it just leaked the cost. Something which Samsung was no doubt going to announce formally during the companys second part of Unpacked. While Unpacked on August 5 did tease the Galaxy Z Fold 2, there was little information about actual details that consumers want to know about. All of that information will be forthcoming though. This morning Samsung began sending out invites to Unpacked part 2, which happens on September 1. This event should include the price for the Galaxy Z Fold 2, including the UK pricing. Advertisement The Samsung UK website leaks the Galaxy Z Fold 2 price and it still aint cheap Earlier this morning a leaked price for the phone in Europe surfaced. It does appear to be coming in at a less expensive cost than the original Galaxy Fold. But the cost still isnt cheap. That is if these prices are accurate. While it could have been argued that they were just rumors, Samsung UKs official (perhaps accidental?) leak unofficially confirms that the prices were likely right. In the UK the Galaxy Z Fold 2 will cost 1,799. Theres only one model and it comes with 256GB of storage. And you can choose from Mystic Bronze or Mystic Black for your color options. It seems that Samsung is also giving away four free months of YouTube Premium to those that buy the phone. Advertisement That offer also lasts until December 31. So regardless of when the phone is actually released for public purchase outside of pre-orders, this particular promotion will last until the end of this year. Further evidence that the cost in the US is likely $1,799 The earlier leak about the European pricing mentions that the cost in the US could be $1,799. Now that the UK cost will be just that in the equivalent of its own currency, chances are Samsung will sell the phone in the US for the previously speculated cost. Uniformity and all. Advertisement In the UK, Samsung will also allow people to pay for the phone in installments of 45.54 per month. Assuming the consumer is qualified to break up the cost in monthly payments. In the end, this is going to be an expensive phone no matter how you look at it. Even if it is less expensive than before, itll still be much more than most consumers are looking to pay. Especially now. Tell our Lawmakers Enough is Enough: We Demand Action Now EWG News Roundup (8/27): Costly Algal Blooms, California Senate Spikes Lead Faucet Protection Bill and More EWG Comments to NEJAC Recommending Measures for Addressing PFAS Contamination Crisis BREAKING: Dangerous Gas Leak at Valley Generating Station Covered Up By LADWP EPA Cancels Study To Incinerate PFAS Waste Near N.J. Fenceline Community Nuclear Industry Politics: Bribes, Corruption and Lies EWG Analysis: Preventing and Treating Algae Blooms in U.S. Has Cost At Least $1.1 Billion Since 2010 New Analysis: Half of America Suddenly Vulnerable to Water Shutoffs Senate Dems Climate Report: Underwhelming and Inadequate (Newser) Health officials in Charlotte said Friday they conducted 792 coronavirus tests connected to the Republican National Convention, and four test resultsfor two attendees and two local employeeswere positive, the Hill reports. "We had diligent safety protocols in place, including testing all attendees before arriving in Charlotte, and again upon arrival," a party official said. The four people who tested positive did so upon arrival and were sent home, per Politico. The party also issued badges to attendees that logged their movements to help contact tracers if needed. The original plans for a full convention were reduced to allow for a few hundred delegates to nominate President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence on Monday. Both traveled to Charlotte to address the delegates. story continues below Mecklenburg County health officials were worried by the lack of social distancing and masks during the roll call vote on the Trump's nomination, per the Observer. Delegates can be seen on video crowding together, often for photos. The four who tested positive were told to isolate; those who were in close contact with them also were told to self-quarantine. The county's public health director said people in the Charlotte area were not at heightened risk. "There have been no known incidences during the five days of RNC meetings in Charlotte where the public has potentially been exposed," she said. The county said the number of new infections has been falling, but nearly 25,000 confirmed coronavirus cases have been reported overall. (Read more coronavirus stories.) (JTA) One of the six men with the power to substantially change the direction of the United States Postal Service is a Jewish businessman who says his support for organized labor was heavily influenced by his socialist Zionist summer camp. Ron Bloom, who steered the nations automobile industry through its own crisis a decade ago and now works in private equity, was appointed to the mail services board of governors last year. One of two Democrats on the board, his term ends in December. Bloom told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in 2009 after becoming Obamas car czar that hi... Chinas Tibet Autonomous Region, by relocating impoverished residents from extreme high-altitude reserves, is better guaranteeing the life and health of the people and providing better public services for them, paving a road to wealth. Under unified efforts of Tibets local government, residents living in harsh environment are currently being resettled in batches. Gangdoi township of Gonggar county, Lhoka, separated from Tibets capital Lhasa by only a mountain, has a relocation site in its Senburi village where rows of new Tibetan-style residential buildings are constructed, with a Chinese national flag waving on the top of each of them. Dawa, a 44-year-old villager, lives in building #37 of the village. I moved here at the end of the last year, and now I live with my three children. Our house has an area of 150 square meters, and is equipped with both water and power supplies. Everything is ready to use when we moved in, he told Peoples Daily. Dawa is quite emotional when speaking of the changes to his life. He told Peoples Daily that the ranch houses built with adobe have been replaced with neatly-built brick houses. Water supply and heating were a headache for the villagers, but now the relocation site has all kinds of domestic installations, he added. The man used to live in Sewu township, Amdo county, Nagqu. With an average altitude of around 5,100 meters, the township suffers from both severe coldness and thin air. Its remote location also leads to poor transportation, which further impoverished the residents there. Besides, medical service, schooling, and traveling were also difficult for local residents who lived in a dispersed manner. Back then, my house was built with adobe, a small one in which my families had to be jam-packed. In addition, we had no other job to do apart from grazing, Dawa shared his past story with Peoples Daily, frowning. He added fresh vegetables were only sold downtown. We did have some wells, but they were all frozen in the winter, so we had only quarry ice cubes from nearby rivers as our water storage, Dawa noted, saying he always sent ice home with his pickup. The Senburi relocation site is only around 10 kilometers away from Lhasa Gonggar Airport, and 60 kilometers away from Lhasa. It has complete infrastructure from roads to water supply and sewage, and to power supply. Besides, public service facilities regarding education, medical service and culture were also built there. A total of 4,058 people from 957 households had been relocated from extreme high-altitude reserves in Shuanghu, Amdo, and Nyima counties in Nagqu as of the end of 2019. We have hospitals and farm produce markets here, and its also convenient to go to Lhasa. We no longer have to walk a long way to the hospital if we are ill, Dawa said, adding that his children can also go to the school built near his house. Now, the Tibetan villager is running a small shop and his family earns around 150,000 yuan each year. We have such great policies, and Ill use my own hands to make my life even better, he said. Kyle Rittenhouse, a teenager arrested and charged in the shootings in Wisconsin that led to the death of two people and injury of another, faces six criminal counts, according to a court document released on Thursday. The charges against Rittenhouse in Kenosha County include first degree intentional homicide in the death of Anthony Huber, who was carrying a skateboard when he was gunned down. A conviction on that charge alone carries a life sentence. Also read: Police shooting lays bare Wisconsins deep partisan divide Rittenhouse, 17, is being held in Illinois where he lives. He has a court hearing on Friday for his requested extradition to Kenosha. The public defender assigned to his case in Lake County, Illinois has declined to comment. The charges were detailed in a criminal complaint released by Kenosha Countys clerk of courts. The document is the first detailed disclosure of the case against Rittenhouse for his role in the violence that erupted on Tuesday night when armed militia members clashed with protesters in the city. The protests started after Jacob Blake was shot multiple times in the back by a police officer on Sunday afternoon. Rittenhouse was also charged with causing the death of Joseph Rosenbaum, a 36-year-old demonstrator who he shot in the parking lot of a used car dealer just before midnight on Tuesday, according to the complaint, which draws on multiple cell phone videos and witness accounts. Also read: Police shooting of Black man stirs unrest in Wisconsin city One video records Rittenhouse saying I just killed somebody after shooting Rosenbaum, the complaint says. Rittenhouse was carrying a Smith & Wesson AR-15 style rifle and was not handling the weapon very well, one witness states in the complaint. The recovered magazine for this rifle holds 30 rounds of ammunition, the complaint says. The complaint says one video shows Huber, with a skateboard in his right hand, approaching Rittenhouse when he was on the ground. Huber appears then to try and grab the gun from Rittenhouse with his left hand before Rittenhouse fires. Huber staggers away, taking several steps, then collapses to the ground. Huber subsequently died from this gunshot wound, the complaint says. BEN LOMOND, Santa Cruz County The last thing Leonardo La Placa did before fleeing the CZU Lightning Complex fires looming over Ben Lomond was make bolognese sauce in his family bakery. La Placa moved his family from Sicily five years ago and grew the La Placa Family Bakery into a local fixture in the tiny town tucked away in the Santa Cruz Mountains. As they were evacuating on Aug. 19, their friend Allen Strong made them a promise: He wasnt leaving, and he would do his best to make sure their livelihood survived. Eight days later, on Thursday afternoon, Strong was still sitting guard at a table on the bakerys front porch, smoking a cigarette near his blind 10-year-old dog, Anna. But the La Placa family hasnt been able to return, despite Leonardo La Placas daily efforts to get past closed roads, and they were getting antsy as evacuation orders stretched more than a week. Everybody just wants to go back home, said daughter Debora La Placa on a video call from a Sunnyvale hotel where her family of five has been staying. We try to keep positive. If you cry all the time, its not going to figure out nothing. We are a family, were all together, we support each other. This week, firefighters have contained a quarter of the lightning-sparked fires that tore, uncontrolled, through the Santa Cruz Mountains. But even as Cal Fire lifted evacuation orders in Scotts Valley on Thursday, those who live to the north along Highway 9 in Ben Lomond, Brookdale, Boulder Creek and into Bonny Doon are still waiting anxiously to go home. The fire, which destroyed dozens of homes in the close-knit communities, also downed power lines, took out guardrails on winding roads and destroyed water infrastructure. Big Basin Water Co. said it lost plants, tanks and collection lines, and all pipelines between two of San Lorenzo Valley Water Districts tanks were destroyed, draining 4 million gallons of water. Cal Fire said Thursday it is working on getting people back in as soon as possible, but its a concerted effort between utility companies to make sure its safe to repopulate the area. While some evacuated families said theyre considering moving away, fearing they can never return to the way it was, most were eager to get home. Some are worried about looters. Others are staying in cramped spaces. For many, being evacuated for more than a week has been exhausting and expensive. The La Placa family has spent at least $1,000 on housing first in a seedy motel in Santa Cruz for two nights, then at a hotel discounted for evacuees in Sunnyvale. On Thursday, they finally secured free shelter at a hotel in Milpitas through the Red Cross. But theyre worried about their business and want to return, despite the harrowing past week. On Aug. 18, as the fire engulfed the forests and small towns west of Highway 9, evacuation orders pushed the familys oldest son, Davide La Placa, from his house in Boulder Creek to the family home in Ben Lomond. But within a day, Davide, along with his sister Debora La Placa, parents Leonardo and Antonella La Placa, and 15-year-old brother Gabriele had to leave. Debora La Placa only had time to grab their dogs and cats, clothes and a necklace with a pendant from her aunt who died last year. Weve never been through something like this. Working in this place for four years, we didnt start with a lot of money, we built a reputation, then we were thinking were going to lose it, Debora La Placa said. Its scary because, what is the future? We dont know, when we come back, how people are going to react, and hows the economy. Its a lot to rebuild right now, she added. Some residents feared they couldnt return for the foreseeable future if ever. Its one of those hurry up and wait situations, said Kelly Smith, who evacuated Boulder Creek with her husband and 5-year-old daughter on Aug. 18. Smith has been staying with her parents in Santa Cruz, and her family is looking at renting in the area because she fears they wont get running water in Boulder Creek for months. It breaks my heart, she said. This is just catastrophic for the San Lorenzo Valley. Everyones family up there, if you need something, hundreds of people are there for you, but in this situation, we cant help each other because nobody knows anything. Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California Still, residents are pulling together to support one another, with generations-long homeowners determined to return. Ben Lomond native Veronica Grace persuaded her parents and neighbor, who has leukemia, to flee before the mandatory evacuation orders. To Graces knowledge on Thursday, her home was still standing, but she knows friends who lost everything. Debora La Placa described how locals frequented the family bakery, lingering to talk over coffee. Her father, a baker since he was 12, was locally famous for his Italian donuts with ricotta cheese or Nutella, traditional Sicilian almond cookies, pizza and gelato still sitting cold in the fridge on Thursday. Honestly, we love that place a lot, she said about Ben Lomond. The community is amazing. Strong, who used to come to the bakery every morning for a mocha, has now been sleeping on an air mattress in it for a week. Hes kept a lookout for looters, who he said tried to steal the outside heaters from the restaurant across the street but only made it a mile down the road. On Thursday, the fire was still raging west of town, but there was power, water and leftovers macaroni and cheese, corn beef and cookies. And a day after he arrived, his friend of 40 years, Brent White, showed up. He, too, had defied evacuation orders. Were doing it for our hometown, White said on Thursday. I know each one of them, so I want to make sure I stay and pray for them. Its a giant family, he added. Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench A new study points to a new symptom reported in children with coronavirus. The study out of Wuhan, China shows some children infected with COVID-19 show eye symptoms, including pink eye. The study examined 216 children between the ages of 2-11, all of whom had tested positive for coronavirus. While many of those with symptoms reported fevers and coughs, 49 roughly 23% - showed various ocular manifestations. The most common symptom was conjunctival discharge, seen in more than half the children. Children who had other symptoms, like cough, were more likely to show conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye. Eye symptoms along arent a likely sign of the virus but if a parent knows their child has been exposed or they are showing other symptoms, it might be good to have them tested, health experts said. Here are other coronavirus headlines from around the country: University asks students to leave dorms North Carolina State University is asking students who live on campus to move out of their dorms by Sept. 6, a move due to the rapid spread of coronavirus. NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson said the university has seen a quickly rising number of positive cases in both on- and off-campus housing. The university reported 325 positive cases of COVID-19 during the period between Aug. 20 and 26 out of 3,105 tests performed, a positivity rate of a little more than 10%. Students are receiving refunds for housing and food costs. FDA warns about hand sanitizer The U.S. Food and Drug is warning people about hand sanitizer packages that look like food or drinks. The alcohol-based hand sanitizers are being packaged in things such as beer cans, childrens food pouches, water bottles, juice bottles and even vodka bottles. Some of the hand sanitizers even contain food flavors, such as chocolate or raspberry, the FDA said. Hand sanitizer can be toxic if ingested and even a small amount can be deadly to a young child. Pottsville, PA (17901) Today Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High near 30F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low around 10F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Bielat Santore & Company intends to periodically update its Resource Library with pertinent information and relevant data that restaurateurs can depend on during the road back to a new normal and beyond. It has been nearly six months since New Jersey restaurateurs have had customers dining inside their restaurants after Governor Phil Murphy ordered all food and beverage establishments to close indefinitely on March 16th. The drastic measures were an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus, a disease that has swept the globe affecting millions of people. With no reopening date in sight, restaurant owners have tried to keep their businesses afloat with outdoor dining and takeout services. But as summer comes to a close, reality is setting in; the year 2020 may be the demise of countless hospitality businesses. Bielat Santore & Companys mission since Day 1 March 16th, has been to assist owners and operators of restaurants, bars, banquet halls, hotels and the like in navigating through the coronavirus closures. In addition to their daily Restaurant Industry Alert email bulletins and weekly Thursday Restaurant Rap video interview series, the firm recently launched a new Resource Library page on their website featuring exclusively created resources for the food and beverage industry. Currently, the page is home to the firms Restaurant Opening Playbook, a preparation and execution guide, illustrating the steps forward to successfully reopen for businesses amid Covid-19, and their newly released 100 Days of Darkness E-Book, detailing the journey through the first 100 days of the global pandemic that impacted our nation. Bielat Santore & Company intends to periodically update its Resource Library with pertinent information and relevant data that restaurateurs can depend on during the road back to a new normal and beyond. To view Bielat Santore & Companys Resources Library page, visit https://www.123bsc.com/resource-library/. To request a copy of these books, email Courtney at courtney@123bsc.com or call 732.531.4200. For other Bielat Santore & Company updates, visit http://www.123bsc.com/news/. About Bielat Santore & Company Bielat Santore & Company is an established commercial real estate firm. The companys expertise lies chiefly within the restaurant and hospitality industry, specializing in the sale of restaurants and other food and beverage real estate businesses. Since 1978, the principals of Bielat Santore & Company, Barry Bielat and Richard Santore, have sold more restaurants and similar type properties in New Jersey than any other real estate company. Furthermore, the firm has secured in excess of $500,000,000 in financing to facilitate these transactions. Visit the companys website, http://www.123bsc.com for the latest in new listings, property searches, available land, market data, financing trends, RSS feeds, press releases and more. U nion bosses have urged ministers to accept that working practices have changed amid a row over a Government push to get people back in offices. Ministers are encouraging people to stop working from home with many coronavirus restrictions lifted, as fears grow that firms reliant on city centre trade are suffering from a lack of commuter business. People choosing to keep working from home could make themselves more vulnerable to redundancy if businesses need to restructure because of Covid-19, an unnamed source told the Telegraph on Friday. But unions have hit back at the move by the Government as out of touch with what many workers want. Empty streets in UK after pubs and restaurants close 1 /8 Empty streets in UK after pubs and restaurants close An empty Westfield Stratford City Getty Images The empty car park outside a cinema in Leicester, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered pubs, restaurants, leisure centres and gyms across the country to close PA Westminster Bridge is quiet in London AFP via Getty Images A pedestrian walks past a closed pub in New Cross, south London PA Cyclists keep their distance in Richmond Park PA A sparse Odeon cinema in Leicester after the Government ordered leisure facilities to close PA Dave Penman, general secretary of civil service union the FDA said ministers need to accept the world of work has changed and called them dinosaurs for attempting to get civil servants back to their desks. And Trade Union Congress general secretary Frances OGrady said many workers now wanted a better balance of office and home-based working. Her comments were reflected in new research that suggests people want to continue working from home more. A report called Homeworking in the UK: before and during the 2020 lockdown claimed 90 per cent of people who had worked from home during lockdown wanted to continue to do so. Meanwhile Labour shadow business minister Lucy Powell also slammed the report in the Telegraph, calling the remarks unconscionable and demanding that Downing Street condemn this briefing. She added: It beggars belief that the Government are threatening people like this during a pandemic. And the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) hit out at the idea of peoples jobs being vulnerable if they do not return to the office. Interim commission chair Caroline Waters said: The pandemic has seen many employers rip up the red tape and scale up their flexible working practices. File photo of office workers / PA Having been forced out of offices and to adapt to working from home overnight, many employers have seen the benefits of flexible working and have said they will continue with a more flexible approach beyond the pandemic. This has presented an opportunity to drive up flexibility for everyone, unlocking more career opportunities for disabled people and helping people to balance the complexity of working from home with caring responsibilities and family life. Having seen how it is possible to work flexibly and retain productivity, we cannot backtrack now. Reopening offices does not need to mean the end of homeworking and there should be no question of peoples jobs being vulnerable if they do not return to the office. The critics' comments came as Grant Shapps said that there is a "limit" to working from home as joined calls urging people to get back to the office. Speaking from home, the Transport Secretary told Sky: I think theres a limit, just in human terms, to remote working. And there are things where you just need to spark off each other and get together in order to make progress. A near-empty Tube train in July / AFP via Getty Images He added that the social aspect of leaving home to go to work could be important for some people's mental health, especially people in smaller properties. He said: "If you think about somebody whos maybe at the younger end of the workforce, perhaps, lives in an apartment or a shared flat, is literally spending their days on Zoom from a corner of their bedroom. You can see why for a lot of peoples mental health, it is important to be able to return back to a safe workplace. Mr Shapps' comments echo calls that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been making for weeks for people to start going back to their workplaces wherever possible. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps / PA But their remarks contrasted with comments made by Matt Hancock on Thursday. The Health Secretary told Times Radio that he had absolutely no idea how many civil servants in his department have returned to the office. He added that he cares more that they are doing their jobs effectively. But the head of one the UK's top business groups warned of the "cost of office closures" and called for a "hybrid" approach to home working. Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the CBI, said: Some of our busiest city centres resemble ghost towns, missing the usual bustle of passing trade. People walking from London bridge station in July / Jeremy Selwyn This comes at a high price for local businesses, jobs and communities. Her comments came after Pret a Manger said it planned to cut 2,800 roles from stores, with 30 sites due to be closed, after trade dropped about 60 per cent since last year. As workplaces reopen, all employers need to carry out Covid-19 risk assessments and should seek input from staff on introducing safety measures, the Government has said. Tom Neil, a senior adviser at workplace experts Acas, said: If an employee is worried about catching coronavirus by going into work, they should talk to their employer as early as possible. An employer should listen to any concerns an employee may have and seek to reassure them by highlighting measures already taken. By Carl O'Donnell, Vishwadha Chander and Manojna Maddipatla (Reuters) - A majority of U.S. states have rejected new Trump administration COVID-19 testing guidance in an extraordinary rebuke of the nation's top agency for disease prevention, according to officials at state health agencies and public statements reviewed by Reuters. At least 33 states continue to recommend testing people who have been exposed to COVID-19 and have no symptoms, spurning guidance published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week that said testing may be unnecessary. Sixteen states did not immediately respond to requests for comment and North Dakota said it had not made a decision. Among the states breaking with the federal government are conservative-leaning Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona. Public health experts said a rupture of this magnitude with the CDC may be unprecedented and shows deepening distrust of the Trump administration and its response to the pandemic. "This is states almost all-out rebelling against the new guidelines," said Michael Mina, assistant professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The CDC said on Monday that people exposed to COVID-19 but not symptomatic "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 had previously recommended testing of all people who had close contact with someone who was diagnosed with COVID-19. That remains the policy of at least 30 states. Some that have not changed policy said they were studying the CDC guidance. (Graphic: Majority of U.S. states rebuff CDC's new COVID-19 testing guidance - https://graphics.reuters.com/HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/TESTING/dgkvllbbrvb/chart.png) Admiral Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for health at HHS, said in a statement to Reuters that the guidance "has been updated to reflect current evidence and best public health practices, and to further emphasize using CDC-approved prevention strategies." He said it places emphasis on testing individuals with symptoms of COVID-19, those with significant exposure, and vulnerable populations, which includes asymptomatic individuals that local public health officials choose to prioritize for testing. Story continues Some state leaders and public health experts accuse the administration of using politics rather than science to guide its response to the pandemic. "This 180-degree reversal of COVID-19 testing guidelines is reckless, and not based on science and has the potential to do long-term damage to the (CDC's) reputation," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut said in a statement, rejecting the new CDC guidance. Giroir said on a Wednesday press call there was no political pressure from the administration. He said testing asymptomatic patients too early could produce false negatives and contribute to the virus's spread. "It's pointless to be tested for the five to seven days (after infection) because you're not going to be positive," said David Battinelli, chief medical officer at Northwell Health, acknowledging concerns over testing too early. "There is an enormous amount of unnecessary testing going on." Idaho recommends that people exposed to COVID-19 contact their doctor to determine if they need testing. It was among the states that did not respond to a request for comment on the CDC guidance. Public health officials believe the United States needs to test more frequently, that it is crucial to find asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers to slow the spread, and that the CDC's comments could risk discouraging necessary testing. Even before the CDC guidance, the number of coronavirus tests being conducted was on a decline. The United States tested on average 675,000 people a day last week, down from a peak of more than 800,000 people a day in late July. Nationally, cases have fallen for five weeks in a row but infections are surging again in the U.S. Midwest with four states reporting record one-day increases in cases on Thursday as the U.S. death toll climbed above 180,000. (Reporting by Carl O'Donnell, Vishwadha Chander and Manojna Maddipatla; Editing by Peter Henderson and Daniel Wallis) Advertisement Seventy-one areas in England and Wales didn't suffer a single death from Covid-19 in July, according to an interactive map of official data. The map adds to growing evidence that Britain's coronavirus outbreak is fading out and shows a postcode-by-postcode breakdown of where the most people have died. Crabtree and Fir Vale in Sheffield had the most Covid-19 deaths between March and July with 67, followed by Bishop Auckland in County Durham with 38. There were 90.2 deaths per 100,000 people that involved Covid-19 in England and Wales over the five month period. But this dropped over the summer from a peak of 53.4 per 100,000 during April to just 1.8 in July. The North West of England had the highest coronavirus mortality rate for the month of July, but figures for all regions have decreased since the previous month. There were 2.8 deaths involving Covid-19 per 100,000 of population for the North West compared with 0.3 in the South West and 1.2 in London. People in deprived areas were twice as likely to die of Covid-19 than those in wealthy areas, the figures described as 'sobering' showed. The Office for National Statistics figures are based on all deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate and which had been registered by August 15. There were 51,831 Covid-19 deaths between 1 March and 31 July this year, representing a fifth of deaths of all causes. It comes as public health bosses today announced that Trafford in Greater Manchester and Burnley and Hyndburn in Lancashire will be released from tough restrictions that banned residents from meeting other households in the comfort of their own home or garden. Officials also revealed the reproduction rate of the coronavirus in England could be above one for the first time since Britain's chief scientists started issuing weekly updates. It must stay below one or the virus risks spiralling out of control again, experts say. And government figures revealed the number of people testing positive for coronavirus has jumped by a quarter in the past week. Another 1,276 Britons were confirmed to have the virus today - up from 1,033 last Friday. Health bosses also confirmed nine more victims - taking the overall death toll to 41,486. But separate data published today showed that the estimated number of people catching the virus in England is continuing to fall, with the Office for National Statistics predicting there are 2,200 new cases each day, down eight per cent from 2,400 last week. In other coronavirus developments in Britain today: Ministers announced eight boroughs including Trafford in Greater Manchester, and Burnley and Hyndburn in Lancashire, will be released from tough local lockdown rules; Britain is preparing to fast-track a coronavirus vaccine to get it approved without the EU's say-so, and will train more doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, physiotherapists and even vets to administer the jabs; A poll of more than 14,000 adults in 14 countries found that people believe the UK and the US have handled the coronavirus pandemic worse than any other developed country; Prime Minister Boris Johnson is stepping up his efforts to get people back into their offices and bring an end to working from home as he prepares a PR campaign to revive struggling town and city centres; Research published overnight revealed that not a single previously-healthy child has died of Covid-19 in Britain, and that all the six youngsters who did die were severely ill before they caught the virus. WHICH AUTHORITIES HAVE HAD ZERO COVID-19 DEATHS IN JULY? Darlington North East Lincolnshire Rutland Nottingham Torbay Bracknell Forest Reading Isles of Scilly Cambridge East Cambridgeshire South Cambridgeshire Copeland South Lakeland East Devon Exeter North Devon South Hams Teignbridge Torridge Hastings Epping Forest Uttlesford Cotswold Forest of Dean Stroud Tewkesbury Basingstoke and Deane Eastleigh Fareham Maidstone Ribble Valley Oadby and Wigston Boston South Kesteven West Lindsey Great Yarmouth King's Lynn and West Norfolk North Norfolk Norwich Corby Ryedale Mendip Stafford Babergh Epsom and Ewell Mole Valley Reigate and Banstead Surrey Heath Waverley Rugby Adur Arun Chichester Malvern Hills East Suffolk Somerset West and Taunton City of London Kingston upon Thames Lewisham Merton Redbridge Tower Hamlets Gwynedd Ceredigion Swansea Neath Port Talbot Blaenau Gwent Torfaen Monmouthshire Newport Merthyr Tydfil Advertisement The total Covid-19 death toll from the ONS is higher than that given by the Department of Health (41,477) because the Government count victims only if they have had a positive test result and died within 28 days of being diagnosed. But tens of thousands of infected Britons weren't tested in the spring because of a lack of tests. Many would not have even suffered any symptoms, meaning they never felt the need to get swabbed. There were 90.2 deaths involving Covid-19 per 100,000 people in England and Wales from March to July - 90.9 in England and 75.7 in Wales. But this has significantly declined over the pandemic period since April, to 20.8 in May, 5.9 in June and 1.8 in July. London had the highest mortality rate during the pandemic, with 143.4 deaths per 100,000 population - far more than the North West, in second place, with 122.2 deaths per 100,000. The South West saw the lowest mortality rate of 44.1 deaths per 100,000 people. Some 30 per cent of deaths in London from March to July have been as a result of suspected or confirmed Covid-19, the data shows. This compares with 11.5 per cent in the South West. Figures today show the number of deaths that were caused by or at least partially blamed on coronavirus on a local scale. Looking at cumulative cases, after Crabtree and Fir Vale and Bishop Auckland, Church End in Brent recorded the most Covid-19 deaths (36). This was followed by Halton Lea and Brookvale (Cheshire), Chellaston West and Shelton Lock (Derby), Nascot Wood (Watford) and Cramlington Town and Beaconhill (Northumberland), all with 34 each over the five month period. But when looking at overall deaths, including those caused by Covid-19, the data paints a different picture. Heene, in Worthing, has had the most overall deaths (137), with only 24 caused by the coronavirus. Of the 336 local authority areas in England and Wales, 71 areas had no deaths in July involving Covid-19. Only two areas recorded more than 20 deaths for every 100,000 people in July - Leicester (24), which was the first and only place in England to be placed under a full-scale local lockdown, and Ashford, in Kent (21). A further 239 recorded fewer than 10 deaths involving Covid-19, but this may change as more deaths are registered, the ONS said. The North West of England, including Lancashire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Mersey and Cheshire, had the highest coronavirus mortality rate for the month of July. But figures for all regions have decreased since the previous month, while many parts of the north-west were put under stricter coronavirus measures to tackle rising cases. When looking at cumulative numbers, which are not in proportion to population size, Thurstaston and Irby, in Wirral, had the highest number of Covid-19 deaths in July. But it still only had six, followed by St Matthews and Highfields North in Leicester, with five. In England, deaths involving Covid-19 in the most deprived areas in July (3.1 per 100,000 people) was more than double in the richest areas (1.4). Health Foundation Chief Executive, Dr Jennifer Dixon, said the data makes 'sobering reading'. She said: 'They show people living in the most disadvantaged areas of the UK are 2.2 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those in the least disadvantaged areas. Sadly, this is nothing new. In more ordinary times, the poorest among us were almost twice as likely to die on any given day than the richest. 'It was bad for your health to be poor before the pandemic; COVID-19 has made it even worse. Much ill health is avoidable. 'Todays figures make it plain that the Government has a huge task ahead to begin closing this health gap, which is growing.' Heat maps of coronavirus deaths in England and Wales during April (left) and July (right) show a dramatic decrease in the number of people dying and also show that considerably fewer areas are being affected by the virus now Data from the Covid Symptom Tracker app, run by King's College London, has picked out seven new potential coronavirus hotspots using local testing data and self-reported symptoms from some of its 3.9million users in the UK (Pictured: Areas highlighted in red have been added to the hotspot list this week, while those in grey were already on the list and remain high-risk areas) Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that there was a spike in new daily cases of Covid-19 in July, after pubs, restaurants and sports centres reopened, but this now appears to have levelled off and be declining. Today's estimate is that 2,200 people catch the virus each day in England In positive developments, Trafford and Burnley and Hyndburn are expected to be released from tough North West lockdown measures, it was claimed today. Everyone living in Greater Manchester was banned from meeting other households in the comfort of their own home or garden under a desperate attempt to tackle rising rates of Covid-19. LOCAL LOCKDOWNS LIFTED IN EIGHT AREAS OF NORTHERN ENGLAND Lockdown rules will be loosened in eight areas of Northern England from next Wednesday, September 2, the Department of Health has confirmed. Bolton, Stockport, Trafford, Burnley, Hyndburn and parts of Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees will be afforded more freedom to meet other people from next week. More than a million people living in Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire had been banned from meeting people from other households since July. But these rules will now be lifted for those living in all parts of the boroughs except Bradford city, Keighley, Halifax, and Dewsbury and Batley in Kirklees. Falling infection rates in those areas have led officials to soften restrictions to bring them into line with the rest of the country. It means businesses such as beauty salons, indoor play areas, bowling alleys and ice rinks will also be able to open after being held back when they reopened in the rest of the country on August 15. Leicester, however, must remain under its current lockdown rules for another two weeks until at least September 11. It was the first part of the UK to lock down and has now faced extra rules for two months. Today's announcement follows a meeting of the Joint Biosecurity Centre's 'Gold Command', chaired by Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday. Birmingham, which had been touted as the next area to face the dreaded rules, has escaped Government action but officials have raised serious concerns about the nearby borough of Sandwell, as well as Stoke-on-Trent and Swindon. Advertisement But a local health chief today confirmed that Trafford, home to 236,000 people, will be exempt from the rules as of next week. Restrictions on mixing between different households in Burnley and Hyndburn will also be lifted, bosses claimed. The Manchester Evening News claimed Trafford council leader Andrew Western has confirmed that the Greater Manchester borough will be released from lockdown. Number 10 has yet to confirm the moves but ministers are set to officially announce an update to local lockdown rules this afternoon. Health Secretary Matt Hancock chaired a 'Gold Command' meeting yesterday to discuss further action in badly-hit areas. In a furious Twitter rant, Mr Western accused Number 10 of not explaining why they were removing Trafford from the lockdown. He said it was 'disgraceful' that no-one had 'bothered to contact me at all'. He said: 'I lead a council with a population of 230,000 people but [the] government couldnt be bothered to pick up the phone to tell me we were being overruled, let alone explain why.' Trafford Council asked ministers to extend the rules for another fortnight 'in the interests of public safety'. Lancashires director of public health Dr Sakthi Karunanithi confirmed the news that Burney and Hyndburn would be released from tough measures, but urged residents that the lifting of additional restrictions 'should not lead to complacency'. She said: 'In both Burnley and Hyndburn infection rates are significantly above the national average with an increasing rate in Hyndburn. 'Coronavirus does not respect administrative boundaries and there is a high volume of social, educational and commuting travel between these areas and Lancashires hotspots. 'The virus is very much still present in both Burnley and Hyndburn so residents must play their part to help protect themselves, their families and their communities.' Millions of people in the North West and the Midlands are currently affected by rules designed to control the spread of coronavirus. It comes amid fears Birmingham could be the next place to face tighter lockdown rules, after the government added it to the official watchlist last week because of a spike in cases. Local health bosses warned residents of the city that 'what we do in the next seven days will decide if we go into lockdown or not'. Officials in the Midlands city, home to 1.1million people, were this week given extra powers to shut down bars and restaurants that don't make themselves Covid-safe, and will also be able to close parks and cancel weddings. Trafford (left) and Burnley and Hyndburn (right) are expected to be released from tough North West lockdown measures, it was claimed today SYMPTOM-TRACKING APP NAMES SEVEN NEW COVID-19 HOTSPOTS Seven new coronavirus hotspots in the north of England and Wales have been flagged up today by a Covid-19 symptom-tracking app that uses data from more than three million people. King's College London researchers highlighted South Tyneside, Oldham, Redcar & Cleveland, Wirral, Bradford, Barnsley and Denbighshire as potential areas of concern. This adds to Blackpool, Halton and Manchester which remain on the list from last week. Data from the app project, which uses testing data and self-reported symptoms from more than three million people, suggests there are 1,073 new cases of coronavirus per day in England. These form the majority of the projected 1,292 daily cases across the whole UK, and mark an increase from the 1,265 (1,071 in England) estimated last week. The app data suggests 18,340 people currently have Covid-19 and that cases continue to decline - last week's total estimate was 20,299. Researchers behind the project said flat and shrinking data showed that even as local outbreaks pop up around the country, these don't seem to be spreading and impacting the national situation. Picking out hotspots of the disease, the team listed South Tyneside, Blackpool and Oldham as the worst affected areas, each with over one in 500 people infected. Blackpool, and the fourth and fifth placed Halton and Manchester, appeared on last week's list but seven of the 10 worst affected were newcomers. They also included Redcar & Cleveland, Wirral, Bradford, Barnsley and Denbighshire in North Wales. Places that were on last week's list but were no longer areas of concern included Rochdale, Dundee, Nottingham, Blackburn and Salford. It comes as data from the Office for National Statistics suggest England's coronavirus outbreak has slowed down for a third week in a row, with experts estimating there are now just 2,200 new cases per day. Some 28,200 people in England are thought to be infected at any one time - 0.05 per cent of the population or one in every 1,900 people. This total is an increase from last week's estimate of 24,600 but the number of new daily cases dropped from 2,400. Advertisement Other data published today show that the estimated number of people catching the virus in England is continuing to fall, with the Office for National Statistics predicting there are 2,200 new cases each day, down eight per cent from 2,400 last week. And data from King's College app project, which uses testing data and self-reported symptoms from more than three million people, suggests there are 1,292 new cases of coronavirus per day in the UK. It's an increase from the 1,265 (1,071 in England) estimated last week. But researchers behind the project said flat and shrinking data showed that even as local outbreaks pop up around the country, these don't seem to be spreading and impacting the national situation. The app data suggests 18,340 people currently have Covid-19 and that cases continue to decline - last week's total estimate was 20,299. Other experts suggest the outbreak could be getting worse, as England's coronavirus R rate could be above one for the first time since Britain's chief scientists started issuing weekly updates. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) today revealed the reproduction rate of the virus in the UK is still between 0.9 and 1.1 but admitted it could be just as high in England. Advisers last week ruled that it was no higher than one. This means that local outbreaks are likely to increase in size because each person who gets infected is passing the virus on to one or more others. SAGE's update today showed that the R rate is between 0.9 and 1.1 in the UK as a whole, England, London, the North West, South East and South West. It is between 0.8 and 1.0 in the East of England and the North East of Yorkshire, the report said, and between 0.8 and 1.1 in the Midlands. Although an R rate higher than one is concerning, experts have warned that the number is only a guide and is not particularly reliable any more. It is based on outdated information, using numbers from weeks ago, and fluctuates more erratically when numbers of cases are low because small surges can impact the overall number. SAGE said: 'Models that use COVID-19 testing data that have less of a time delay, have recently suggested higher values for R in England. 'For this reason, SAGE does not have confidence that R is currently below 1 in England. 'We would expect to see this change in transmission reflected in the R and growth rate published over the next few weeks as we gain more certainty of what is currently happening. 'Estimates of R and growth rate per day are less reliable and less useful in determining the state of the epidemic when disease incidence or the number of deaths is low, or where there is significant variability in the population or incidence, for example during local outbreaks. 'When this is the case, estimates of R and growth rate should not be treated as robust enough to inform policy decisions alone. Both are average measures and will smooth over localised outbreaks or over short periods of time, which will not accurately reflect the way infections are changing throughout the regions.' A report published today reveals the majority of people in the UK (54 per cent) were not pleased with the government's handling of the crisis even worse than the US (52 per cent), which has the most number of cases NO HEALTHY CHILDREN HAVE DIED OF COVID-19 Data published in a study last night showed that no healthy children have been killed by Covid-19. Research led by the University of Liverpool found that six children died during Britain's crisis but that all of them were seriously ill with conditions such as cerebral palsy or cancer before they caught the virus. The study found that the risk to children is 'strikingly low', only a tiny proportion of them end up in hospital and deaths are 'exceptionally rare'. Six children under the age of 15 have died of coronavirus in England and Wales since the start of the pandemic, along with nine 15 to 19-year-olds. This compares with 52,082 victims in all other age groups up to August 14, according to the Office for National Statistics. Scientists led by the University of Liverpool found that one per cent of hospitalised children died, compared to a significantly higher 27 per cent of adults. This means that while one in four adults who ended up in hospital with Covid-19 died of it, only one in 100 children did. The research, published in the prestigious British Medical Journal, comes amid a fiery debate about whether children in England should return to school in September, with critics saying there is not enough evidence they will be safe. Parents should be reassured that their children will not be put in danger by returning to school, the scientists who led the study said. But unions and other experts are concerned that schools reopening will not put children at risk but their parents, grandparents and adult staff at the school as children transport it between households. 'The study is reassuring,' said Dr Liz Whittaker, an infectious disease expert at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. 'It echoes other studies which have reported low numbers of Covid infection over a six month period 651 children out of a paediatric population of 16million. 'Very low numbers of children have been admitted to critical care and the researchers reported a very low death rate particularly in comparison to adults, but also in comparison to the death rate due to other infections and other causes of childhood death.' Professor Calum Semple, an expert in outbreak medicine and child health at the University of Liverpool who led the study, said: 'Severe disease is rare and death is vanishingly rare. 'They should be confident that their children are not going to be put at direct harm by going back to school and we do know that they are harmed by being kept away from school because of the lack of educational opportunities, and thats affecting mental health.' Advertisement The number of people testing positive for coronavirus has jumped by a quarter in the past week as government figures today revealed another 1,276 Britons have been diagnosed. Data shows there are now 1,173 new cases each day, on average - a figure which has surged from 992 last Friday, when 1,033 infections were recorded. More than 1,000 positive tests have been confirmed on 16 days this month, after a clear run of no four-figure days throughout June and July. And the Department of Health today confirmed the deaths of another nine Covid-19 patients across the UK, taking the official death toll to 41,486. It means the rolling seven-day average number of daily deaths has crept up to 12, after dropping to as low as seven last week. It comes as a report reveals Boris Johnson's Britain and the Donald Trump administration in the US have handled the Covid-19 pandemic the worst, according to a study. Just 46 per cent of Britons and 47 per cent of Americans think their government has coped well with the coronavirus. In comparison, 95 per cent of people in Denmark believe their country's politicians have performed well under the pressure of the crisis. In every country polled other than the UK and US, more than half of people said their government has done well. Just 27 per cent said their country has handled it poorly. Denmark came top of the table (95 per cent), followed by Australia (94 per cent), Canada (89 per cent) and Germany (88 per cent) Sweden, which opted against a lockdown, also scored well, with 71 per cent of residents praising their government's controversial approach. The figures come from Pew Research Center, a Washington DC-based think tank, which interviewed more than 14,000 adults in 14 economically advanced countries. Those who voted for the government in were more likely to give a positive rating of their leader's handling, compared to those who didn't. And countries where economies had crashed were more likely to hold a negative opinion, including the UK which has officially entered a recession because of the economy-crippling lockdown measures. The UK and US had high levels of political polarization on views of the government's handling of this crisis. A majority of right-leaning Britons (55 per cent) gave a positive rating to the way Mr Johnson's Conservative government has dealt with the crisis. But just 26 per cent on the left were of the same opinion, the study led by research associate Kat Devlin found. Similarly, 76 per cent of Republicans and independents who lean to the Republican Party say the Trump administration has done a good job. Just a quarter of Democrats and Democratic leaners agree. But the revelation the UK Government has plans to fast-track any coronavirus vaccine may change that. New rules are being drawn up that allow giving a proven vaccine emergency approval, when one is eventually found to be safe and protect patients from the life-threatening disease. Deputy chief medical officer for England, Dr Jonathan Van Tam, said today: 'We are making progress in developing Covid-19 vaccines which we hope will be important in saving lives, protecting healthcare workers and returning to normal in future. 'If we develop effective vaccines, it's important we make them available to patients as quickly as possible but only once strict safety standards have been met. 'The proposals consulted on today suggest ways to improve access and ensure as many people are protected from Covid-19 and flu as possible without sacrificing the absolute need to ensure that any vaccine used is both safe and effective.' The new rules being drafted will not shortcut the path a vaccine must take before it is approved for human use, and rigorous clinical trials must still be completed. It is intended, instead, to speed up the approval process by giving the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) the power to issue a 'temporary authorisation' without waiting for the jab to be fully licensed by Europe. The Government is also training up an army of medical workers to be able to give out the jabs in order to speed up the process. This could include pharmacists, midwives, paramedics, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and even vets. The workforce is set to be trained by October. The race to find a vaccine for Covid-19 is hurtling ahead, with scientists around the world designing and trialling dozens of candidates in the hope that one will work and spell an end to the pandemic. One of the most promising has been developed in the UK by researchers at Oxford University and is already in large-scale human trials to test its effectiveness. Donald Trump is reportedly considering fast-tracking it for use in the US before the election this November, even though scientists haven't proven it works. When one is eventually found to be effective and safe, officials will scramble to get it to as many people as possible to avoid another devastating wave of deaths like the one Britain suffered this spring, when 40,000 infected patients died. A jab is not expected to be found until 2021 but Number 10 is drawing up emergency plans now in case of a scientific breakthrough before Christmas, officials said. Tesla founder Elon Musk has confirmed that an employee was offered $1million by a Russian to install a virus. Fortunately, the employee did not accept the bribe. US authorities arrested the Russian national this week after they travelled to the US as a tourist but reportedly had the intent of attacking Tesla with malware. Tesla hasnt commented publicly on the matter but Musk responded to a tweeted news article about the plot and his employee turning down the $1million. He wrote: Much appreciated. This was a serious attack. According to court documents, a Russian man named Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov messaged the Tesla employee via WhatsApp after previously meeting in 2016. The 27-year-old said he was on holiday and asked to meet up with the Tesla employee. They met up several times and Kriuchkov told the employee he was working with a Russian-based hacker group. He asked the Tesla employee if they would install custom-built malware on the companys internal network for a hefty reward. The malware reportedly cost around $250,000 and was designed to steal sensitive Tesla files and data. The hackers apparently wanted the data so they could ask for a large ransom not to release it. The FBI described the Tesla employee as a Russian-speaking immigrant. They told the FBI and Tesla about the Russian hacking plot after the first meeting. This led to a plan for the subsequent meetings of the employee and the hacker to be recorded, including when the employee negotiated the price up from $500,000 to $1million. The Russian hacker was also documented saying the hack would have to be delayed until later this year because his criminal group were focusing on a different company they had targeted. The Russian was arrested as he tried to leave the US over the weekend. Hes been charged and, if found guilty, he could face up to five years in prison. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Pet-friendly public facilities suggested in Shanghai By:Huang Qingyang, Zheng Qian | From:english.eastday.com | 2020-08-27 16:11 The 2020 Pet Fair Asia held in Shanghai recently has spurred peoples enthusiasm for keeping pets. For pet owners, their beloved pets are a treasured companion, however, sometimes not being permitted to bring pets to public places like the metro, scenic spots, hotels and shopping malls, can be annoying. Yu Siyan, deputy of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress and director of Jinshan Museum, suggests making scenic spots, hotels and shopping malls more pet-friendly. The Hyatt Regency Chongming is one of the few five-star pet-friendly hotels in Shanghai that allows residents to bring pets and has thus been warmly welcomed by guests that want to be with their pets. During the holiday season, its 25 special pet-friendly hotel rooms are fully booked. As for scenic spots, the current laws and regulations in Shanghai require that "animals should not be brought into the park without permission", which can be gained from the park manager. However, some people worry that it is difficult to allow pets into country parks, because it requiresjoint efforts inhealth and hygiene, tourist safety and emergency management. The similar no pet without permission regulation is applicable to most shopping malls in Shanghai. According to Yu, since more and more consumers have such a demand, if large shopping malls provide corresponding services and set up relevant service standards, they will be more competitive. Pet-friendliness is one aspect reflecting the level of social civilization,Yu said. Pet-friendliness can boost the formation of an industrial chain which later becomes a growth point of the emerging economy. By referring to the success of the current pet friendly establishments it is hoped that pet friendly scenic spots and shopping malls may be introduced in places where conditions permit. (TNS) Personal information pertaining to Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authoritys roughly 9,300 employees might have been compromised during a malware attack that has hindered the authority for nearly three weeks.Unauthorized individuals may have accessed files containing employee names, Social Security numbers, addresses, benefits enrollment information, salary or hourly rate, as well as bank account and routing numbers, SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards told employees in an email Thursday morning, which was shared withSEPTA prioritizes the protection of the personal information of our employees, Richards said in the message. While we are still in the process of confirming the full extent of the data that may have been impacted, SEPTA is providing you with resources as quickly as possible so that you may protect your personal information for actual or attempted use. The authority was quick to reassure customers that SEPTA Key accounts were not affected.A malware attack forced SEPTA to shut down its ability to share real-time information with riders on Aug. 10 to prevent the virus from spreading. Those features, including the SEPTA apps Next-to-Arrive feature and platform announcements, were returned Monday afternoon. But there isnt a timeline on restoration elsewhere within the network. SEPTA employees worked without email for about a week, and a lack of access to servers and programs has continued to make their jobs more difficult.The authority has brought in the FBI and outside information technology experts to assist in the investigation.SEPTA is offering a year of free credit monitoring to workers through Kroll, a cybersecurity consultant. Its also set up a call center dedicated to answering employee questions about the attack. Costs of both measures are covered by SEPTAs cyber insurance, SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch said. Letters were also mailed to employees Wednesday.The authority is encouraging employees to sign up for the credit monitoring for peace of mind, Busch said. Its not clear how long information had been exposed.SEPTA appears to be concerned that intruders got into its employee database, which has a treasure trove of personal information that can be used for identity theft, said Michael Levy, former chief of computer crimes at the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.Credit cards get shut down pretty quickly with fraud, he said. But if youre stealing Social Security numbers, the problem now is people start opening [credit] accounts using your Social Security number, and you dont know about it until you go to buy a car or need financing.If hackers stole sensitive information, theyll likely sell the information on illicit markets in the deep corners of the so-called dark web, Levy said.Workers should take advantage of the free credit monitoring SEPTA is offering, he said. Consumers are also entitled to free annual credit reports under federal law.Attackers often access computer systems with phishing emails that dupe employees into handing over user credentials or clicking links that download malware, Levy said. The fact that SEPTAs systems have been down for weeks may mean the agency is still not sure which parts of its computer systems hackers were in and whether they have them out yet, he said.Some of SEPTAs supervisory, administrative, and management or SAM employees expressed frustration toover a lack of communication from the authority on the attack. Employees had been left wondering basic questions such as whether their information was at risk while balancing the many hardships SEPTA faces from the pandemic. Morale at the headquarters is low and wavering, employees said. About 2,000 of SEPTAs workers are SAM employees.The authority is encouraging employees to monitor financial statements and contact their banks if they spot any suspicious activity, Richards told employees in the email sent Thursday.We werent in a position to say it two weeks ago, Busch said. It would have been alarming for employees to hear then, Im sure, as it may be now. But its a process that we had to work through, and get things into place. This came to light as we went through further investigation of what happened. Seven passengers, who had travelled from Delhi to Auckland in New Zealand on Sunday have tested positive for COVID-19 three days after their arrival, a senior government official said on Friday. Earlier this month, all Air India passenger flights were barred from landing in Hong Kong till August-end after 14 passengers on its Delhi-Hong Kong flight of August 14 tested positive for COVID-19 post arrival. "Seven passengers on Sunday's Air India Delhi-Auckland flight have tested positive for COVID-19 three days after arrival," the government official said. Air India did not respond to PTI's request for a statement on this matter. While scheduled international passenger flights remain suspended in India since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic, special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission and bilateral air bubble pacts formed between India and various countries. At a daily press briefing at Auckland on Friday, New Zealand's Director of Public Health Caroline McElnay said, "There are five new confirmed community cases of COVID-19 to report and seven imported cases giving us a total of 12 new cases." The seven imported cases all arrived on the same flight on August 23 and tested positive on their day-three tests, she stated. These people will be transferred to the quarantine facility at Jet Park hotel in Auckland, she added. These people have "travelled from a country that has a high incidence of COVID-19 so it is highly likely that they have been undetected case before they got on the plane", she noted. Along with McElnay, New Zealand's Finance Minister Grant Robertson was also present at the press briefing in Auckland. When asked what country the passengers were from, Robertson told reporters, "I don't want to say what country because I don't know what country each traveller was from, the flight was an Air India flight, but that does not mean that the people who came on that flight are necessarily from India. They are all people who are entitled to be in New Zealand." A record single-day spike of 77,266 COVID-19 cases pushed India's virus tally to 33,87,500, while the recoveries surged to 25,83,948 on Friday, according to Union Health Ministry data. The death toll climbed to 61,529 with 1,057 people succumbing to the diseases in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed. "A flight operated by Air India (AI314) arriving Hong Kong from India on August 14 had 11 passengers confirmed to have infected with COVID-19,"said a spokesperson of the Department of Health of the Hong Kong government, in a statement to PTI. As a result, the department invoked the "Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H) on August 17 to prohibit landing of passenger flights operated by Air India for two weeks from August 18 to 31 in Hong Kong", the spokesperson noted. "As of August 20, a total of 14 passengers on that flight were confirmed to have infected with COVID-19," he added. (Image Credits:PTI) GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) will host the 17th Annual Mayors Grand River Cleanup during a week-long campaign in September. The nonprofit organization is focused on building sustainable communities and protecting water resources. While the cleanup has traditionally been a one-day event, this year WMEAC has organized a deconstructed event to allow for COVID-19 safety measure. The campaign will run from Saturday, Sept. 12 through Saturday, Sept. 19. During this week, WMEAC is providing a way for those in the community to remove trash that accumulates on streets and sidewalks and could end up in drains and waterways. Officials say this effort will ensure a swimmable, drinkable, and fishable future for the waters shared in the community. Free disposable gloves and bags will be provided to all registered volunteers within Grand Rapids, Grandville, Kentwood, Walker and Wyoming. WMEAC asks that all volunteers respect social distancing measures and follow the procedures recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Volunteers will be asked to use the Clean Swell mobile app to track their impact. Participants should forward their results to mayorscleanup@wmeac.org or share via social media by using #MayorsCleanup2020. Event details and registration information are available online at wmeac.org/mayorscleanup. Online registration closes Wednesday, Sept. 16. Registration is required to receive cleanup supplies. WMEAC will celebrate its 52nd year of being a resource for environmental education and advocacy in West Michigan. Learn more about WMEAC at wmeac.org. More on MLive: Nothing is predictable this year: Michigan retailers report positive July despite pandemic disruption Michigan Democrats target Pences vote against auto bailout before visit, tout Biden as job savior Bursts of heavy rain up to 4 inches likely, damaging gusts or a tornado possible later The cases in on Friday crossed the 36,000-mark after 927 new cases were confirmed. The country on Thursday recorded its highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases with 1,111 new infections. At a press briefing, Health Ministry Spokesperson Jageshwar Gautam said that 927 persons tested positive for the virus, taking the total number of infections to 36,546. The COVID-19 death toll in reached 195 with 12 more fatalities reported in various parts of the country in the past 24 hours. The health authorities carried out 10,229 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests at various labs across the country in the past 24 hours, he said. The Kathmandu valley reported 415 new cases of the in the past 24 hours. With 169 people recovering from COVID-19 on Friday, the country's total number of recoveries stands at 20,242, Gautam said. There are currently 16,019 active patients undergoing treatment at various isolation centres across the country. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) - Dr. Pastor Daniel Gyamfi, a brother of NDC's communications officer, Sammy Gyamfi, has proudly graduated with a medical degree - The young Ghanaian doctor earned his degree in 2020 amid the raging global pandemic - Dr. Daniel Gyamfi has been celebrated by his brother and other social media users in a post online for his commendable academic feat Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana! As the world grapples with the global coronavirus pandemic amid the gloom and doom, Dr. Pastor Daniel Gyamfi has defied the odds to graduate with his medical degree. Dr. Gyamfi has joined the ranks of young achievers who, regardless of the current state of the world, are chalking distinctive academic laurels. READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Brilliant Ghanaian Dr. Kwame bags golden certificate as he graduates from top university NDC's communications officer, Sammy Gyamfi's brother, Dr. Daniel Gyamfi, has bagged a medical degree. Photo credit: Sammy Gyamfi/Facebook.com Source: Facebook The young Ghanaian doctor has recently graduated with a medical degree from a prestigious university. Dr. Gyamfi has been celebrated as a result. In a post on social media, the communications officer of the National Democratic Congress (N.D.C), Samuel Gyamfi, hailed his brother, Dr. Daniel Gyamfi, as he bags his medical degree. READ ALSO: NASA's Jeanette Epps set to become first Black woman to join an International Space Station crew Samuel Gyamfi captioned his post: ''Congratulations to you, Dr. Pastor Daniel Gyamfi for graduating from medical school with distinction. I am proud of you and I celebrate you today." Dr. Gyamfi has been hailed on social media and many have indicated that his milestone has inspired them. According to Casper Sunday Kampoli, a social media user, Dr. Gyamfis distinctive performance at the medical school ''shows that brilliance runs through the Gyamfis''. He wrote: ''Congratulations to the Gyamfis. Daniel Gyamfis distinctive performance at the Medical School shows that brilliance runs through the Gyamfis. Congratulations to him. Surely, he will brighten the Health sector as you have done in our body politics.'' Commenting on Sammy Gyamfi's post, Sylvester Isang also wrote: ''Congrats Sammy jr. In the future if you and your bro earn appointment by the same government, though deservedly we shall still call it family and friends government..'' Araba Addo also showered accolades on Dr. Gyamfi. She wrote: ''Sammy I just like you for no reason. May God keep you safe. and congrats to your brother.'' Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh recently reported that Ghanaian lawyer and entrepreneur, Claudia Kesse Boateng, is the daughter of business titan, Stephen Boateng, popularly known as Kwabena Kesse or 'Kessben'. The accomplished barrister's dad is a multi-millionaire and one of the richest men in Ghana. Claudia is an alumna of Yaa Asantewaa Girls' Senior High School in Kumasi. She earned her law degree from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and was successfully called to the bar after her training at the Ghana Law School. In another story, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, a deputy Minister for Health, has recounted his childhood struggles as he makes some revelations about how he managed to further his education. Coming from a financially disadvantaged home, he struggled throughout his junior and secondary school education. According to Dr. Boye, he had a very difficult childhood because his late mother was financially incapacitated to pay his fees at the time. READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Brilliant Ghanaian Dr. Kwame bags golden certificate as he graduates from top university Carruthers Tetteh: Overcoming blindness to be a lawyer in Ghana: 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 ANN ARBOR, MI Nearly two months after City Council voted down a police union contract, concerned it didnt include incremental reforms requested by Ann Arbors police oversight commission, a new deal is in the works. Our understanding is that there has been a potential temporary agreement reached, said Lisa Jackson, chairwoman of the Independent Community Police Oversight Commission. The commission isnt privy to details yet, but City Councils Budget and Labor Committee and a subset of the commission are expected to be briefed next week, Jackson said. The commission requested changes to the police union contract July 1, seeking to play a stronger role in overseeing the Ann Arbor Police Department. Requests include giving the commission access to police officers personnel files and names of officers when reviewing complaints against them so commissioners can track complaint patterns, and changing city procedures to take into account the last seven years of conduct when making officer discipline recommendations, rather than just two years. The commission also asked to change the contract to cease use of binding arbitration for officer termination cases a process that can lead to reinstatement of officers whove been fired. The way things are done now can make it difficult and costly for the city to get rid of bad officers, Jackson said. With the union pushing back, council voted unanimously July 6 to reject a negotiated contract, while endorsing requests made by the citizen-led oversight commission. Councils action spurred the start of a mediation process and officials havent disclosed details of the latest negotiations. Ann Arbor council prepares for possible battle with union over police reform Sean Stewart, the new president of the Ann Arbor Police Officers Association, didnt respond to requests for comment. Eric Ronewicz, the outgoing union president, said he was at the last mediation session and confirmed a deal is in the works, though he didnt offer details. Ronewicz has been as an executive board member of the Police Officers Association of Michigan, which last month announced it and its members endorse the re-election of President Donald Trump, citing Trumps resistance to law enforcement reform. POAMs members include local police unions throughout Washtenaw County and across the state. Michigans largest police group sticks with Trump, citing opposition to law enforcement reform Jackson has said the Ann Arbor oversight commissions top request in AAPOA contract negotiations is to be able to see the names of officers against whom complaints are made. We are not currently able to see names of police officers in complaints. Right now they are Officer 1 and Officer 2 to us, Jackson said at this weeks commission meeting, adding she expects to find out next week if that may change. After the new agreement comes forward, the oversight commission likely will have a special meeting so it can provide feedback before City Council votes on it, Jackson said. Ali Ramlawi, a City Council liaison to the oversight commission, said councils Budget and Labor Committee will discuss the points of interest with the contract Monday, Aug. 31. If an agreement is not reached, he said, it will go to arbitration. In addition to current contract negotiations, city leaders have discussed a long-term vision for radically rethinking the citys approach to policing and considering alternatives to armed officers, such as police social workers or others involved with crisis intervention. The oversight commission discussed that briefly at this weeks meeting. We need to consider whether, for example, adding social workers to the police department just makes a bigger police department, Jackson said. And I think that many people in the community who worry about the increased power of police departments are not thinking that we need to make them bigger, that we need to invest even more and more money in them. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS: Ann Arbor looks like a college town once again. Heres what police are doing about it. Ann Arbor officials want to radically rethink policing, consider alternatives to armed officers Wisconsin police shooting victim Jacob Blake has Ann Arbor family roots Being armed is just really a part of our job. Ann Arbor police chief weighs in on disarming officers Governor taps Ann Arbor police oversight chair to serve on state policing commission Lome, Togo, 26 August 2020 The leading pan-African banking group, Ecobank, is delighted to announce that it has won the Award for Innovation in Financial Services at the 2020 edition of the prestigious African Banker magazine Awards. The Awards, which reward banking excellence in Africa, were announced at a virtual ceremony held on 26th August. The African Bankers judging process sought to recognise the African banks that have demonstrated original and practical uses of technology to provide customer convenience, improved and more affordable services and greater access to the financial services sector in Africa. Ade Ayeyemi, Group Chief Executive Officer said: Winning the Award for Innovation in Financial Services from the African Banker magazine is such an honour. It provides public recognition of our pioneering role in harnessing technology to complement our pan-African presence and partnerships, to deliver accessible, convenient, affordable and innovative banking products which are making a difference to millions of lives and businesses across sub-Saharan Africa. Five years ago, we commenced a digital transformation journey to transform our banking products and services. This award attests to the success of that journey and we are delighted that our significant investment in technology is yielding the desired results. Our one bank model, powered by our robust pan-African banking digital platform provides diverse products and services to governments and corporate clients using our digital platforms including Ecobank Omni Plus amongst others, Ecobank Omni Lite for our SMEs and commercial bank clients as well as our Ecobank Mobile App and Ecobank Online for our consumer clients. These are in addition to the highly effective cash management, transaction banking solutions and our cross-border Rapidtransfer remittance solution - a few of the headline-grabbing innovations that we have delivered to meet and exceed the evolving needs and expectations of our customers. I applaud all my Ecobank colleagues for their continued commitment and dedication to serving our customers especially during these challenging COVID-19 times. Other African banking awards won by Ecobank so far in 2020 include amongst others, Most Innovative Bank in Africa, Best Bank for Payments& Collections, Best Integrated Corporate Banking Site in Africa (Global Finance) and the Best Bank for Corporate Responsibility (Euromoney Awards for Excellence). President Akufo-Addo has said he would not relax until he wooed Volta Region and its people to his side. The President wants the Volta Region, which has always been the stronghold of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) founded by a son of the land, former President Jerry John Rawlings, to start voting massively for his party. Addressing the Chiefs of South Tongu to cut sod for the about 85 million Keta Water Supply rehabilitation and expansion project at Agordome, the President said he was aware of the region's loyalty to the NDC and that he was determined to win it over for the NPP. I'm like the suitor who is bent on marrying a beautiful woman and I'll keep on knocking at the door until it is open to me. This, President Akufo-Addo said he would pursue by relentlessly working to see to the pressing needs of the people including; the water project, which he cut sod for, to provide water to some 400,000 people of communities in the Keta Municipality, Anloga and South Tongu Districts. He said his government was on a journey to spread development projects equitably in the country with Volta having its share noting, plans were underway for the rehabilitation of the Sogakope-Gbenuakope Road known as the Hospitality Lane serving big names like Villa Cisneros and Holy Trinity SPA & Health Farm. The President mentioned other plans for the region such as the dredging of the Keta Lagoon and the Keta Harbour to open up the southern Volta for accelerated development and urged the citizenry to give four more for Nana to do more for you. The President's one day visit to the region on Thursday took him to Anloga, earlier, where he met with the Awoamefia of Anlo State and his retinue of chiefs from Akatsi North, Akatsi South and Anloga Districts, Ketu North, Ketu South and Keta Municipalities. There, he touted his achievements like the creation of the Anloga District, the ongoing construction of the new Assembly Complex and GETFund projects in Anloga, and Keta Districts to justify his second bid and called on people to ignore claims he and the NPP had an ethnic agenda against the region saying, history will not forgive me should that be true. Nana Akufo-Addo disclosed the region was and would remain an integral part of both the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition (current NPP) for providing shelter to their forebears, when it was needed the most and Ghana for the composition of the National Anthem and the patriotic song Miade 'nyigba lorlor la by Mr Philip Gbeho and Mr Ephraim Amu respectively. GNA Two members of Ghislaine Maxwell's legal team were spotted visiting her in prison on Friday, reportedly making her the first federal inmate in New York City to be granted an in-person visit since the start of the pandemic. Maxwell, 58, has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since early July when she was denied bail after pleading not guilty to child sex trafficking charges. Until today, prisoners had not been allowed to meet with their attorneys or other visitors in person due to coronavirus restrictions. Defense attorney Christian Everdell was seen arriving at the prison Friday morning alongside another female member of Maxwell's legal team, The New York Daily News reported. Both wore masks as they entered the facility. Sources told the paper it was the first time an inmate had received a legal visit since the pandemic started and that the visit lasted nearly four hours. Ghislaine Maxwell became the first federal inmate in New York City to receive an in-person visit since the start of the pandemic, sources said The British socialite, 58, is currently being held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn (pictured), New York, as she awaits trial over her alleged involvement in the crimes of pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein Attorney Sean Hecker, who has filed a lawsuit seeking to grant defense attorneys access to their clients again, slammed the visit as 'absurd and unjust'. 'We've been litigating for the Fed Defenders of NY to obtain a safe, in-person visiting option for many months. MDC detainees have been waiting up to 6 months for such visits. And BOP-MDC decides that the 1st such visit should go to a wealthy British socialite? Absurd & unjust,' he said on Twitter. The Bureau of Prisons refused to confirm whether Maxwell was the first inmate to receive an in-person visit, but said coronavirus protocols remain in place. 'While, in general, legal visits are suspended, case-by-case accommodations will be accomplished at the local level and confidential legal calls will be allowed in order to ensure inmates maintain access to counsel,' a spokesperson told the paper. 'We are facilitating attorney client-visitation, as well as judicial proceedings, via video conference, primarily at our detention centers.' Attorney Sean Hecker, who has filed a lawsuit seeking to grant defense attorneys access to their clients again, slammed the exception as 'absurd and unjust' Defense attorney Christian Everdell was spotted arriving at the prison on Friday to visit his client. Days earlier, lawyers were denied their request for Maxwell to be transferred out of solitary confinement Hecker said he learned Maxwell was the first prisoner to be granted access to her legal team in person from another source. 'It is outrageous that the first in-person visit would be granted to a well-heeled British socialite who the president of the United States stated that he wished well,' he told CNBC. 'It only serves to confirm that our government doesnt understand that they operate two different systems of justice, one for the well-heeled and well-connected, and one for everyone else.' Hecker said officials have been discussing allowing inmates visits from their lawyers again, but they are likely to be limited to a one hour session from one lawyer. Maxwell however, was visited by two people for over three hours. Maxwell, who has pleaded not guilty to child sex trafficking charges, is to remain behind bars until her trial next July It come days after the British socialite was denied her request to be transferred out of solitary confinement after lawyers argued she was unable to properly prepare for trial under 24-hour surveillance. She had previously complained about conditions inside the jail where she is to remain until her trial next July. Maxwell was taken off suicide watch earlier this month but is being searched multiple times each day and is under constant watch of the guards, her lawyers said. In a letter protesting about the 'uniquely onerous conditions of her confinement', her legal team claim she has been kept under constant surveillance without her consent. Maxwell was arrested on July 2 on charges that she assisted her former boyfriend - convicted pedophile and late financier - Jeffery Epstein in the sexual abuse of minors between 1994 and 1997, and lying under oath. She has pleaded not guilty. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Licenses to allow road tests for autonomous cars were granted to German automobile giant Volkswagen Group by the government of China's eastern city Hefei on August 26. After obtaining the license, the automaker will start testing autonomous vehicles in the capital of Anhui Province, its first move in the worlds largest auto market. At the same time, Volkswagen also became the first global automobile manufacture that initiated the construction of autonomous driving service ecosystem in China. Volkswagen said it will begin the autonomous driving tests in Hefei's Haiheng Community with the Audi's e-tron all-electric SUVs from September. The vehicles will be tested in a 16-sq.km. area that contains the open roads spanning 80 kilometers in total and embraces abundant functional spots like schools, shops, supermarkets, hospitals, residential quarters and industrial parks. The passenger-carrying tests will be open to the public from next year. The fleet will bear the name of ezia, a smart mobility service brand Volkswagen specifically launched for China's users. In May September, Volkswagen (China) Investment Co., Ltd. and Mobility Asia (Volkswagen China's wholly-owned subsidiary) signed a framework agreement with Hefei municipal government and JAC Motors for the strategic cooperation on smart city project. Under the partnership, Mobility Asia and JAC will pool resources and collaborate to provide autonomous mobility services, including robotaxis and autonomous fleet management, VW said. The collaboration, intending to assist Hefei with its transformation into a smart city, will create chances for Volkswagen to test new technologies, business models and products in a smart connected urban environment, the German automaker added then photo source: Volkswagen Group). Baseless: My Search for Secrets in the Ruins of the Freedom of Information Act By Nicholson Baker Penguin Press. 450 pp. $30 - - - Nicholson Baker likes to get to the bottom of things. His first novel, 1988's "The Mezzanine," followed every passing thought in the mind of a narrator riding up an escalator. He obsessed over the notion of World War II being a "good war" in 2008's "Human Smoke"; 2001's "Double Fold" was a fussy investigation of library preservation protocols. He once wrote a 150-page essay on the word "lumber." So writing "Baseless," his book about the Freedom of Information Act, was only ever going to be an exercise in frustration. He may wish to get to the bottom of things, but FOIA, especially when it comes to matters of national security, will barely let you see where the bottom might be. Any investigative reporter will tell you that FOIA - a law enacted in 1967 that requires the federal government to release records upon request - can often obscure as much as it reveals, thanks to redactions and outright that's-classified denials. Disappointment is constant regardless of what a journalist is fishing for, and in "Baseless," Baker is trying to land a whopper: Did the United States use biological weapons on China and Korea during World War II and the Korean War? The title of "Baseless" evokes Baker's escalating anger over his lack of hard evidence to answer that question. It also points a finger at the Pentagon and the CIA for the callous human rights violations they indisputably (at least) imagined. But more directly, it refers to Project Baseless, a program launched by the Pentagon during the Korean War to study chemical and biological weapons. Its work was centered at Camp (later Fort) Detrick, a research center opened in 1942 in Frederick, Md. What did Detrick and Project Baseless do? We know some things. For instance, they explored the feasibility of dropping bombs stuffed with fleas, mosquitoes and feathers dusted with diseases that could kill crops and sicken people. We know they bred all sorts of creatures, like voles, for experiments; in 1952, hundreds of dead voles fell on parts of China, with strong circumstantial evidence that U.S. military planes had dropped them as part of biological-warfare research. But was the vole-dropping a man-delivered plague, a decoy or something else? Amid stacks of paperwork, Baker can only speculate at the absurdity of it all. "Throwing voles from a plane is not germ warfare," he concludes. "It's just a stupid thing to do." Baker's disillusionment is built into his book's structure. Its chapters are diary entries written through the spring of 2019 that catalogue the scraps of knowledge he gleaned and his tussles with the FOIA infrastructure to get them. This format isn't so much a sustained argument about America's history of biological warfare as it is a real-life version of "Groundhog Day"; the book follows a circadian rhythm of file requests, denials, archive visits and attempts at dot-connecting, punctuated by dog walks and Baker's puttering around his Maine home. That structure gives the book a sweetly personal feel; no book about FOIA may be more accessible to a layperson. But it also accumulates storm clouds of despair. Baker has no firm, overarching story to tell - documents arrive "piano-rolled with redactions," and requests are responded to with "Pleistocenian ponderousness." All Baker can do is show you the limp pile of string he's gathered. "Baseless" is almost inherently unsatisfying, like a memoir about a climb halfway up Mount Everest. Still, it's not wasted effort. Baker uncovers enough factoids - and reminds the reader of enough past U.S. military horrors - that it's clear his hunger for clarity comes from a sensibly righteous place. The CIA, he argues, almost certainly had a hand in delivering swine fever to Cuba in 1971 and hog cholera to East Germany in 1953; it plotted and may have followed through on wrecking Guatemala's coffee crop with invasive insects as part of its support of a1954 coup. The military developed Operation Sphinx, a plan to drop poison gas on Japanese cities during World War II, that was hidden until 1998. And more: Detrick scientists were exploring Songo fever, a hemorrhagic fever with a death rate approaching 30 percent, in the years before an outbreak mysteriously emerged in Korea in 1951 - among American soldiers. Americans seem to often have been the unwitting test subjects and occasional victims of these misadventures. In1950, Detrick scientists led an experiment in which the San Francisco Bay area was sprayed with organisms that simulated diseases, to see if such an airborne assault was possible. Though supposedly innocuous, one American died as a result. (His grandson sued the government, unsuccessfully.) This all has left Baker furious, most pointedly at Frank Wisner, the head of covert operations at the CIA who supervised many of the outrages implemented or at least discussed during this period. But he's also outraged at a FOIA process that slow-walks, redacts and denies responses. For the sake of efficiency and the sake of the United States being honest about itself, he makes three blunt recommendations: Double the National Archives budget, give the National Declassification Center stronger authority, and "automatically declassify any document that is more than fifty years old - no exceptions. No exceptions." It's a noble desire, though one that isn't likely to cut the way Baker plainly hopes. Even if the military's documents were released and show what Baker suspects they do, admissions of complicity and acts of atonement would probably be absent. Document dumps from whistleblowers like Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden have been met with concerted efforts to re-fog the contents of those records; an unchained FOIA process would be likely to leave us in the same messy, squabbling world, just with more documents in it. But Baker is right to take on this battle as a challenge to America's conscience in the long term. "Sometimes I don't believe in the history of the United States," he writes. "I don't believe that this place deserves to have any sort of moral standing in the world. As a country. It has been the source of incalculable disruption." Government documents will only underscore that feeling. But they can start a path toward changing it. - - - Athitakis is a writer in Phoenix and the author of "The New Midwest." The maximum height of new towers and the number of apartments planned over the next two decades for a part of Sydney's north shore have been scaled back from earlier plans, after community concerns about overdevelopment. The NSW government has cut the allowable building heights at five sites in St Leonards and Crows Nest by between 13 and 23 storeys. The tallest buildings permitted on a site abutting the Pacific Highway has been capped at 42 storeys, down from 61. A final blueprint has been released for development in St Leonards and Crows Nest over the next two decades. Credit:Airphoto Australia The final blueprint for St Leonards and Crows Nest has also reduced the number of dwellings earmarked to be built by 2036 to 6683, from 7500 earlier. The government has also committed to 8.5 hectares of extra parkland, which will be partly funded by an increase in developer contributions. President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of Alice Marie Johnson, a 63-year-old grandmother who has been serving a life prison sentence for a non-violent, first-time drug offence. The commutation comes just a week after Mr Trump met with businesswoman and celebrity Kim Kardashian, who has championed Johnsons case after learning about the issue through a viral video produced by Mic. BEST NEWS EVER!!!! Kardashian wrote on Twitter after the commutation, alongside several praying emojis. Recommended Meek Mill pulls out of Trump panel on prison reform In a statement announcing the commutation, the White House said that the administration remains tough on crime but that the president believes that individuals who have paid their debt to society should be allowed to return to civilian life. Ms Johnson has accepted responsibility for her past behaviour and has been a model prisoner over the past two decades. Despite receiving a life sentence, Alice worked hard to rehabilitate herself in prison, and act as a mentor to her fellow inmates. Her Warden, Case Manager, and Vocational Training Instructor have all written letters in support of her clemency. According to her Warden, Arcala Washington-Adduci, since [Ms. Johnsons] arrival at this institution, she has exhibited outstanding and exemplary work ethic. She is considered to be a model inmate who is willing to go above and beyond in all work tasks. the statement reads. The commutation means that Johnson will walk free after her conviction on non-violent drug charges in the 1990s gave her a life sentence, but the felony will remain on her criminal recor (Clemency for All Nonviolent Drug Offenders (Clemency for All Nonviolent Drug Offenders) Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Show all 29 1 /29 Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump acknowledges the audience after taking the oath of office as his wife Melania (L) and daughter Tiffany watch during inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West Front of the US capital in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jim Bourg: "This photo was shot with one of two remote cameras. The cameras were monitored and triggered remotely and the pictures were transmitted to clients worldwide within minutes of being taken." Reuters/Jim Bourg Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Obama farewell address - 10 January 2017 US President Barack Obama wipes away tears as he delivers his farewell address in Chicago on 10 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "In his final days in office, Obama made a visit home to Chicago. As he spoke from the stage to his wife and daughter in the audience, he became emotional when he talked about what they had sacrificed during his time in office. I turned from photographing the Obama women embracing to find him onstage wiping away tears." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 A combination of photos shows the crowds attending the inauguration ceremonies to swear in U.S. President Donald Trump at 12:01pm (left) on January 20, 2017 and President Barack Obama sometime between 12:07pm and 12:26pm on January 20, 2009. Reuters/ Lucas Jackson/Stelios Varias Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Liberty Ball - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the Liberty Ball in honour of his inauguration in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "What I see when I look at this picture is the end of a very long day, not to mention weeks and months of preparation by many photographers, editors and network experts and the beginning of everything since." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception - 22 January 2017 US President Donald Trump greets Director of the FBI James Comey as Director of the Secret Service Joseph Clancy (L), watches during the Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception in the Blue Room of the White House on 22 January, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "I have covered the White House for 16 years and normally either the President or the pool is in position when an event starts. In this case the President was not where anyone expected him to be. In fact, he was almost blocking the door when the pool came in. We had to scramble to find a position without bumping him or the furniture as he greeted and thanked members of law enforcement for their security efforts during the inauguration. Luckily, he greeted FBI Director James Comey a few seconds after the pool had made its way into the room." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Private phone calls to world leaders - 28 January 2017 US President Donald Trump, is joined by his staff, as he speaks by phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office on 28 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Very early in the Trump administration, weekends were as busy as weekdays. On Trump's second Saturday the official schedule said he would be making private phone calls to a number of world leaders including Russia's Vladimir Putin. I arrived early and, before sitting down at my desk walked up to Press Secretary Sean Spicer's office. He, too, was just taking his coat off. I gingerly made the suggestion that previous administrations had sometimes allowed photos of such phone calls through the Oval Office windows on the colonnade. To my mild shock, he didn't even think about it twice. "We'll do it!" he said. In truth, I really only expected the Putin call, but we were outside the windows multiple times throughout the day as the calls went on." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway - 27 February 2017 Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway (L) attends as US President Donald Trump welcomes the leaders of dozens of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) in the Oval Office on 27 February, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "We're often asked how much access we have to the Trump administration, and the answer is we have an awful lot. President Trump himself is very comfortable in the spotlight, and his aides are similarly unfazed by cameras. In this instance, senior advisor Kellyanne Conway was so comfortable in our presence she seemed not to consider the optics of kneeling on a Oval Office sofa to take pictures with her phone." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Angela Merkel heads to Washington - 17 March 2017 Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump hold a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House on 17 March, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Chancellor Merkel made one of the earliest important visits of any US allies to meet Trump in his first months in office. When world leaders give joint news conferences they don't always tend to give each other their full attention - but Merkel watched Trump intently at several key moments, and here seemed particularly rapt." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump welcomes truckers to the White House - 23 March 2017 President Trump reacts as he sits on a truck while he welcomes truckers and CEOs to attend a meeting regarding healthcare at the White House on 23 March, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "The White House organised a listening session with truckers and CEO's of major American companies, regarding healthcare reform. An 18-wheeler tow truck was parked on the South Lawn of the White House and as Trump welcomed the truckers someone invited the him to come and sit in the driver's seat. Trump jumped into the cab and started yelling and pretending to drive - creating one of the most memorable pictures of the year. A lesson learned, always be prepared for the unexpected." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 6 April 2017 US President Donald Trump talks to journalists members of the travel pool on board the Air Force One during his trip to Palm Beach, Florida on 6 April, 2017. Carlos Barria: "During the many trips to President Trump's residence in Florida it is usual to see the president coming to the back of the plane to chat with journalists. During one of the trips to the so called 'Winter White House', Trump had a long talk with reporters while the Air Force One entertainment system was playing one of the latest Star Wars movies. As I was listening to Trump talk I was also looking at the movie waiting for a part of the movie to frame the mood of the day. Of the many scenes, I choose the one with Darth Vader." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump speaks during an interview with Reuters in the Oval Office of the White House on 27 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "A day before President Trump's hundred days in office I was part of the team that interviewed the commander-in-chief in the Oval Office. I was only allowed to photograph Trump during the last five minutes of the interview. The time was very tight so I had to move fast as I had pictures in mind that I wanted to shoot. I walked into the Oval Office and saw that the President had printed maps of the country showing areas in red where he won. I raised my hands holding my camera as high as possible to get the best view of the scene using a 16mm wide angle lens." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump reacts as he arrives at Harrisburg international airport, before attending a rally marking his first 100 days in office in Pennsylvania on 29 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to celebrate his hundred days in office with a victory rally. He was in friendly territory as he won with a big difference over his opponent Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania, during the November elections. As usual when the commander-in-chief arrives local residents gather to greet him. This time a small group of military personnel attended the arrival. Surrounded by secret service agents Trump walked from the Air Force One and raised his hand in a sign of victory as the crowd cheered him on." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 2 May 2017 White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer (L) and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus watch as US President Donald Trump presents the U.S. Air Force Academy football team with the Commander-in-Chief trophy in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on 2 May, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "Covering the White House does not just mean covering the President. White House staffers are an important part of the story and their relationship with the President and each other is an indicator of how things are going in the West Wing. The tendency is to focus exclusively on the President once an event starts but I always try to look around to see how people are reacting as things unfold." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Secret Service - 4 May 2017 Secret Service agents use a presidential limousine as cover from spraying water as US President Donald Trump lands via Marine One helicopter in New York on 4 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "The best part of any trip to New York City with the sitting US President is the helicopter ride into Manhattan. The ride out at night can be stunning. Here, Secret Service agents protect themselves from the spray from the East River as Trump lands on the helipad." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures NATO Summit - 25 May 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wait the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron (unseen) before a lunch ahead of a NATO Summit in Brussels on 25 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "One of the best parts of travelling overseas for White House coverage is the chance to see the U.S. president in different environments and (literally) a different light. Here, Trump and his wife came out of the shadows to greet France's President Macron." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump meets Putin at G20 summit - 7 July 2017 US President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany on 7 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "On July 7, I witnessed one of the most important meetings of President Trump's first year in office. Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin during a bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Germany. The world's eyes were on these two leaders after speculation about Russian interference during the 2016 US elections. We entered the room for less than two minutes, where I took dozens of pictures. But there was this very interesting moment when Trump extended his hand to Putin for a handshake. Putin paused for a second and looked at Trump's hand. That was the picture that I was looking for, a little moment that seemed to say a lot." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures First lady - 8 July 2017 First lady Melania Trump chats with US President Donald Trump during their return from Germany at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on 8 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "After President Trump's trip to Germany he arrived back at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. First Lady Melania Trump said goodbye to Trump as she was heading off in a different direction that day. While chatting a breeze blew Melania's hair up in the air." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Made in America product showcase - 17 July 2017 Vice President Mike Pence laughs as President Donald Trump holds a baseball bat as they attend a Made in America product showcase event at the White House on 17 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "This summer the White House organized an event to showcase 'Made in America' products. All kinds of exhibitors brought their products as the President and Vice President toured the event. One of the companies was Marucci Sport, a manufacturer of baseball bats based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As Trump approached a table full of baseball bats, photographers at the event, including me, rushed to get a good angle hoping that he would pick up a bat. As we predicted, he did. He took one and joked around as though he was hitting something hard. The only thing closer to him right there, was the media." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 25 July 2017 Former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski says hello to reporters as he and White House advisors including Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci accompany President Trump for an event celebrating veterans at AMVETS Post 44 in Ohio, July 25, 2017. Jonathan Ernst: "The most visible person in any White House is naturally the President, followed by the press secretary. But there are also the staff who support them. For those of us covering the Trump administration, there seem to be more compelling figures in the West Wing than ever before. It's crucial to know who's who and why they're important. When I raised my camera and back-pedalled ahead of the group to take this image Lewandowski gave me a hello. I liked the photo, but had no idea it would go a little bit viral, especially since Scaramucci, who was the biggest mover and shaker that week, was hidden back in the pack. But I guess the image catches a glimpse of what it's like to be a West Wing staffer on the road." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Campaign rally - 3 August 2017 US President Donald Trump arrives at a rally in West Virginia on 3 August, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Huntington for one of his usual campaign rallies. While members of his family spoke to the crowd he was waiting under a black curtain to be introduced. Suddenly he walked onto the stage, one of the first frames that I took was of his hand. I set my exposure for the light on the stage hoping to create this dark background and it worked." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Staring into the solar eclipse - 21 August 2017 Without his protective glasses on, US President Donald Trump looks up towards the solar eclipse while viewing with his wife Melania and son Barron at the White House on 21 August, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "On a day when everyone, and I mean everyone, was told not to look at the eclipse without protective glasses, Trump, President of the United States, couldn't help himself." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Harvey - 2 September 2017 US President Donald Trump poses for a photo as he and first lady Melania Trump help volunteers hand out meals during a visit with flood survivors of Hurricane Harvey at a relief centre in Houston, Texas on 2 September, 2017. Photohrapher Kevin Lamarque: "Trump, eager to deliver the image of a hands-on response to Hurricane Harvey, made this visit to a relief centre and obliged this woman with a selfie as Melania continued to work." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House - 15 September 2017 Donald Trump welcomes 11-year-old Frank Giaccio as he cuts the Rose Garden grass at the White House on 15 September. Frank, who wrote a letter to Trump offering to mow the lawn, was invited to work for a day at the White House along the National Park Service staff. Frank was so focused on his task that he did not notice the President arrive to surprise him. He took his father jumping in to grab his attention and point Trump out. Photographer Carlos Barria said: The image of Trump shouting at a kid who is mowing his lawn might have many interpretations in today's politically polarized United States. But for me it was just a kid who loved what he was doing, to the point he almost appeared to ignore the President." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Take a knee - 27 September 2017 A man kneels with a folded U.S. flag as the motorcade of U.S. President Donald Trump passes him after an event at the state fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., September 27, 2017. In September, soon after Trump had made comments condemning NFL players who kneel during the national anthem, he made a day trip to a rally in Indianapolis. Jonathan Ernst managed to capture a man on one knee with a tri-folded flag and was able to use a portion of the sign on the building he was kneeling in front of to track the man down and tell his story in full. US Army veteran Marvin Boatright wanted to send a message against social injustice. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Maria - 3 October 2017 President Donald Trump throws rolls of paper towels into a crowd of local residents affected by Hurricane Maria as he visits Calgary Chapel in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 3 October, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "During an afternoon visit to Puerto Rico for President Trump to survey damage from Hurricane Maria and greet some of its victims, Trump made a stop at a church where food and supplies were being distributed. Among the items were paper towels and Trump, apparently caught up in the moment, decided to distribute some of the rolls." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Jared Kushner - 1 November 2017 White House Senior adviser Jared Kushner sits behind President Trump during a cabinet meeting in Washington on 1 November, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "The role of Jared Kushner has gone through a series of changes. He began front and centre as a high profile adviser, but as time has passed and issues surrounding him have surfaced, he has become more of a background figure." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump in China - 9 November 2017 Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping shake hands after making joint statements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 9 November, 2017. Photographer Damir Sagolj: "It's one of those "how to make a better or at least different shot when two presidents shake hands several times a day, several days in row". If I'm not mistaken in calculation, presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump shook their hands at least six times in events I covered during Trump's recent visit to China. I would imagine there were some more handshakes I haven't seen but other photographers did. And they all look similar - two big men, smiling and heartily greeting each other until everyone gets their shot. But then there is always something that can make it special - in this case the background made of US and Chinese flags. The first time it didn't work for me. The second time I positioned myself lower and centrally, and used the longest lens I have to capture only hands reaching for a handshake." Reuters/Damir Sagolj Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 10 November 2017 US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One to depart for Vietnam from Beijing Airport in Beijing, China, November 10, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "There is a Reuters photographer in the tight pool covering the US president for every appearance he makes 365 days a year. This was just one of 32 images of mine that were transmitted on the Reuters wire of President Trump visiting China and Vietnam that day. You never know when a sudden interaction, a gust of wind or a unique facial expression will lead to a striking image that grabs peoples' attention." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures ASEAN handshake - 13 November 2017 Donald Trump registers his surprise as he realises other leaders, including Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte and Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, are crossing their arms for the traditional "ASEAN handshake" as he participates in the opening ceremony of the summit in Manila on 13 November, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Having covered a few ASEAN summits, I knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. Not everyone in the room knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. A lot was written about this unscripted moment, and what deeper meaning it might have. The simple truth is that sometimes in life there are unscripted moments." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst She is currently being held in Aliceville, Alabama. Mr Trump has reportedly become fascinated with his pardoning powers as president, which are almost completely unchecked by mandate from the Constitution. In recent weeks, Mr Trump has made controversial statements that he was considering pardoning or commuting the sentences of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who is serving time in federal for prison for soliciting bribes in exchange for a US Senate seat, and for businesswoman Martha Stewart, who is not in prison but was convicted for financial crimes in the mid-2000s after she sold her entire stake in a company just a day before its stock dropped considerably. Those comments came just after Mr Trump announced he was giving a full-pardon to conservative author and filmmaker Dinesh DSouza, who was convicted on charges of violating federal campaign finance laws. Mr DSouza had previously admitted in court to having knowingly broken campaign finance laws, but the White House said that he was treated unfairly by prosecutors. Prosecutors on the case have denied there was any bias in bringing charges against Mr DSouza. The American Civil Liberties Union, which has represented Ms Johnson in her clemency application, responded to the decision by thanking the president and Kardashian, and by urging the White House to consider more cases like Johnsons. Alice Marie Johnson was convicted of a nonviolent drug offense in 1996 and received a sentence far too severe for the crime: life without the possibility of parole. Alice has become a grandmother and a great-grandmother while behind bars, and she has talked to me about the pain of being kept from her family with no hope of ever rejoining their lives. Im grateful to the president for allowing Alice to go home after 21.5 years in prison and to Kim Kardashian for her advocacy on Alices behalf, Jennifer Turner an attorney with the ACLU who is working on Johnson's case, said in a statement. I urge the president to do the same for other federal prisoners serving extreme sentences that dont match the offences, while reforming our Draconian sentencing laws that produce these senseless punishments. Ms Turner cited a 2013 report conducted by her organisation that found that at least 3,278 people are serving sentences of life without parole for relatively minor offences. That includes cases like one where an individual received the sentence after stealing a $159 jacket, and another where an individual was sentenced to life without parole for acting as a middle-man for the sale of $10 worth of marijuana. The ACLU estimates that roughly 65 per cent of those individuals are black, and that many of them struggle with drug addiction or mental illness. The civil rights organisation argues that these incarcerations cost the US government "billions" of dollars to maintain. Mr Trump's decision to grant clemency to Johnson was met with wide praise, but the president has shown little appetite for these sorts of measures compared to his predecessor. President Barack Obama pushed for commutations for non-violent drug offenders during his time in office, and commuted 330 individuals who were in that category on his last day in office. Mr Obama granted clemency to more people than the 12 presidents who preceded him combined, including nearly 600 people with life sentences. Belarus - NATO Lobby Acknowledges That Its Color Revolution Failed By Moon Of Alabama August 27, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - On August 15 we explained why the color revolution in Belarus would fail. Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko had offered President Vladimir Putin of Russia to finally implement the long delayed Union State that will unite Belarus with Russia. In exchange he wanted full Russian backing for shutting down the U.S. led color revolution against him. Putin accepted the deal. In consequence: Lukashenko, and his police, will not hang from a pole. Russia will take care of the problem and the Union State will finally be established. That does not mean that the color revolution attempt is over. The U.S. and its lackey Poland will not just pack up and leave. But with the full backing from Russia assured, Lukashenko can take the necessary steps to end the riots. And that is what he did. Lukashenko continued to allow demonstrations but when on Sunday the demonstrators were directed to storm the presidential palace they saw a theatrical but strong response: [T]he 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. 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. The protesters, which police had earlier identified as "rich city kids, the children of rich parents who are fed up with the well-fed life", did not have the stomach to attack a well armed and motivated police force. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter The NATO lobby shop Atlantic Council has also recognized that fact and bemoans it: The protesters are generally very sweet, polite, and peaceful. Many are young, middle class Belarusians who work in the countrys booming IT industry and come to rallies dressed in form-fitting hipster ensembles. Unlike events in Kyiv in 2013-14, there is no militant edge to the demonstrations. Indeed, this revolution is so velvet that at times it feels positively sleepy. For better or worse, there is a marked absence of the rough and stalwart young men capable of making liberals uncomfortable or leading the resistance if and when the authoritarian state decides to deploy force. Without Nazi stormtroopers like the U.S. used during the 2014 Maidan riots in Ukraine there is no chance to overthrow Lukashenko. With such troops the fight would end in a massacre and Lukashenko would still be the winner. The author rightly concludes: [T]he resistance of the Lukashenka regime is strengthening by the day. With Russia now seemingly standing firmly behind Lukashenka, photogenic rallies and patchy strike action will not be enough to bring about historic change. It is over. The 'patchy strikes' were never real industrial actions. A few journalist of the Belarus state TV went on a strike. They were unceremoniously fired and replaced with Russian journalists. A few hundred workers at the MTZ Minsk Tractor Works did a walk out. But MTZ has 17,000 employees and the 16,500+ who did not walk out know very well why they still have their jobs. Should Lukashenko fall it is highly likely that their state owned company will be sold off for pennies and immediately 'right sized' meaning that most of them would be out of work. During the last 30 years they have seen that happen in every country around Belarus. There have no urge to experience that themselves. On Monday the leader of the earlier MTZ walk out, one Sergei Dylevsky, was arrested while he agitated for more strikes. Dylevsky is a member of the self-proclaimed Coordination Council of the opposition which demands negotiations over the presidency. Other members of the council have been called in for questioning by state investigators over a criminal case against the council. Meanwhile the rather hapless opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who falsely claimed to have won the election, is in Lithuania. She is supposed to be an English teacher but has difficulties reading the English text begging (vid) for 'western' support. She has already met various 'western' politicians including the General Secretary of the German Christian Democratic Union party of chancellor Angela Merkel, Peter Zeimiag, and the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun. Neither will be able to help her. With Russia's backing the military, political and economic stability of Belarus is for now guaranteed. Lukashenko will at some point be ousted but that will be at a time and in a way that is convenient for Russia and not because some hapless NED financed IT hipsters try to stage a revolution. Source - Moon Of Alabama 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 Putin hopes there will be no need to use Russian forces in Belarus, but has established standby unit at Lukashenkos request Belarus and Russia plan to create a single parliament, government and unite markets The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Ukraine has suspended all contacts with Belarus at the diplomatic level, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. He said this on the Right to Power talk show on the 1+1 television channel on August 27, according to Ukrinform. Kuleba said Ukraine had joined the EU's statement on the situation in Belarus. The resumption of contacts between the two countries will be discussed when Ukraine is sure that it will not suffer reputational losses, he said. "As soon as the Belarusian authorities resorted to violence against peaceful protesters, I personally initiated a statement by the foreign ministries of the Lublin Triangle countries (Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine), in which we condemned the violence," Kuleba said. After that, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry published an explanation in which it "expressed its position in more detail." According to Kuleba, the statement says that Ukraine shares the position of the European Union. Kuleba stressed that Ukraine had suspended relations with Belarus so far and had also taken a serious diplomatic step, which "no country has taken so far - it has recalled its ambassador for consultations." "We are monitoring the development of the situation, and these contacts will be restored only when we make sure that they do not cause reputational, moral and ethical losses for Ukraine," Kuleba said. Contacts between the Ukrainian and Belarusian presidents are not even being planned, he said. Mass protests against the rigging of the results of the August 9 presidential election in Belarus have lasted for the third week. According to official figures, Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the country since 1994, received 80.1% of the vote, while opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya garnered 10.1%. op For King and Country, Christian artists join virtual concert to help developing world suffering amid COVID-19 Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment It would be a tragedy, says Joel Smallbone of Christian pop band, for King and Country, if the coronavirus pandemic ended and the world failed to learn anything from it or even grew closer to God. This is the one time in our lifetime that every single human being has been affected by something. It doesnt matter your educational level, your affluence level, your location, everyone has been impacted by this pandemic and by the conversation that has taken place this year, Smallbone said in a recent interview with The Christian Post. Just under 24 million people have been infected with the novel coronavirus globally as of Wednesday evening, according to Johns Hopkins University, and more than 5.8 million of them are located in the United States. More than 821,000 people have died from the virus globally, with just over 179,000 deaths recorded in the U.S. Those, however, arent the only COVID-19 numbers. Describing the coronavirus pandemic as the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II in a presentation to the U.N. Security Council in April, head of the World Food Program David Beasley warned that the number of people suffering from hunger could increase from 135 million to more than 250 million and urgent action was needed, especially when it comes to vulnerable populations in conflict-driven countries. The World Bank also estimates that the pandemic will likely hit the worlds poorest countries the hardest, and the economic impact of the virus will be felt for years to come. The World Bank estimates that this year alone, about 49 million people will be pushed into extreme poverty, with a large share of the new poor coming from countries already struggling with poverty. Almost half of the projected new poor, 23 million, will be in Sub-Saharan Africa, while another 16 million will come from South Asia. All the people who have died and will die and all the people who are grappling in the throes of economic pain would have suffered for nothing, says Smallbone, if the world fails to learn anything from this moment. I think the great loss (of life, income, etc.) the loss would be compounded and deeper and more tragic if we dont grow and learn and become more compassionate, more kind, more selfless, and frankly, people that are more connected to the planet and people that are more connected to God, he said. I think there can be a great, bright future where we look back on this tragic time and we say that allowed us to grow and change and evolve and become better or we can look back and say that was really inconvenient. In support of his hope for a brighter future for everyone, Smallbone will join a host of Christian artists and leaders including Hillsong, Kirk Franklin, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Amy Grant and Cece Winans in a virtual concert Friday called Unite to Fight Poverty to bring the Christian community together to help the worlds most vulnerable. And behind the concert is three of the worlds largest Christian humanitarian organizations World Vision, Compassion International and Food for the Hungry which have joined forces together for the first time ever to meet the gargantuan challenge created by the virus. The concert will be streamed live but is also expected to air on Aug. 29 on Fox Business channel, and Smallbone hopes it will help generate a spirit of unity to fight poverty around the world. I hope that they sense a real unified voice, he said of people who will be watching. I also hope that a lot of us are able to get out of the way to put focus on the real people that need to be lifted up here. And that is the developing world. And so Im hopeful that it will start conversations that it sparks, lights a fire, he said. Theres a lot of layers that were dealing with in the United States, but theres a wider world that is also suffering. And sometimes when youre able to put that focus in those severe places and realize that theres a big world thats suffering out there, it actually puts our own suffering in the right perspective, he added. Representatives of an automotive firm had been trying to get two issues cleared by government departments in two states for a few months, with little success. Then they explored Biz Buddy, a faceless grievance redress mechanism of Tamil Nadu's Guidance Bureau for industries, and their issue was resolved in about five weeks. So, what is this mechanism and how does it work? It is completely digital and similar to the grievance redress system for citizens, except that this portal is meant to address issues faced by industries. A first of its kind in India, Tamil Nadu's Biz ... (Natural News) Fewer than four in ten pregnant women in America follow the public health recommendation to get a flu vaccine. Although this percentage is a lot lower than public health officials might like to see, it is still remarkably high when you consider the dangers. Worries by mothers-to-be about potential harm to their fetuses are the main reason many choose to avoid the jab, and their concerns are justified. Unfortunately, a lot of pregnant women arent hearing about studies like one from a team of South African researchers that compared four outcomes for infants whose mothers were given flu shots during pregnancy versus those who were given a placebo. They found that the shot was ineffective at lowering the risk of the outcomes studied, which were low birth weight, preterm birth, small for gestational age birth and fetal death. Perhaps even more concerningly, they found that the infants whose mothers were vaccinated actually fared worse on these metrics. The study was a large randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study involving more than 2,000 mothers who were given the flu shot or a placebo during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. The researchers then followed up on fetal outcomes once the infants involved reached 24 weeks of age. Another interesting finding was that the average gestational age at birth in the vaccinated group was lower than that of the placebo group, which is a statistically significant result pointing to a greater risk of preterm birth from the shot. It is also worth noting that studies have shown there is a higher risk of autism among children whose mothers got the flu shot during their first trimester of pregnancy. Not surprisingly, researchers are trying to find ways that they can design communication interventions that are more persuasive and improve uptake. In other words, they still want to convince pregnant women they need these shots even as research shows it can damage their childrens health. A study from 2013 that looked at adverse pregnancy outcomes among women who were given the flu vaccine determined that low-risk women without medical complications who were given the jab during the 2009-2011 flu seasons saw a rise in a composite measure of negative outcomes (fetal demise, neonatal demise, preterm birth, and miscarriage) when compared to pregnant women who were unvaccinated, even after the researchers made adjustments for confounding factors. Flu shots during pregnancy can weaken immunity in subsequent years A study carried out by researchers from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found that pregnant women who were given a flu shot exhibited a weaker peak antibody response to it if they had gotten the flu shot the year before. The study was published in the Vaccine journal. Pregnant women need to know that no vaccine has ever been approved by the FDA specifically to be used during pregnancy to protect the infant. The flu shots effects on pregnant women are not yet fully understood by doctors and researchers. For example, the insert for the flu jab Flulaval, which most patients never end up reading, specifies: Safety and effectiveness of Flulaval have not been established in pregnant women, nursing mothers or children. So why are so many women still having these shots pushed upon them? Of course, no discussion of the flu vaccine would be complete without pointing out that the shot simply isnt that effective in many cases. The vaccines are developed well ahead of the beginning of the flu season and predictions about prominent strains are often wrong, which means they afford little to no protection most years. This means expectant mothers are taking on a pretty sizable risk for potentially no rewards whatsoever. Sources for this article include: HealthImpactNews.com ChildrensHealthDefense.org NaturalNews.com New Delhi, Aug 28 : Riding on the success of its Galaxy A71 and A51 devices, Samsung grabbed the top position in the premium smartphone market (Rs 25,000-Rs 50,000) in India for the first six months this year, a new report said on Friday. While the South Korean giant captured 37 per cent market share in H1 2020, Apple continued its impressive run in the premium segment, growing by 14 per cent (year-on-year) with 26 per cent market share in the country, according to the 'CMR India Mobile Handset Review Report'. OnePlus was a distant third with 15 per cent market share in the premium segment in H1 2020. "Owing to the pandemic, H1 2020 was a tough period for the overall smartphone industry in general, with multiple challenges. However, the premium smartphone segment was one of the least affected segments. In fact, the segment grew owing to strong consumer demand and good supply-side dynamics," said Anand Priya Singh, Analyst, Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CMR. Overall, the smartphone shipments in the premium segment grew 18 per cent (YoY) in the country in H1 2020. This segment accounted for 5 per cent of the total smartphone shipments in the January-June period. Samsung's domination of the overall premium smartphone segment was made possible through good supply side dynamics, attractive discounts and smart channel strategies. Samsung Galaxy A71 was the star in this segment, contributing to 19 per cent in this segment. For Apple, the iPhone 11 continued to garner good market response in the initial part of the year. "On the other hand, the all-new iPhone SE 2020 is on track to repeat the exceptional performance of iPhone 11. It captured 8 per cent market share of the total premium smartphones shipped during Q2," the report mentioned. According to the report, India's premium smartphone segment is potentially slated to grow 20 per cent (YoY) in H2 2020, with many new device offerings anticipated from various players in the festive season. "Samsung and Apple will be in a dead heat in H2 2020, and potentially slated to garner 28-29 per cent market share each," the report said. Beyond the incumbents, the new premium segment aspirants, including the likes of Xiaomi and OPPO will seek to shake the turf. "In H1 2020, consumer demand in the premium smartphone segment continued to remain high, and, in fact, fuelled the market growth. This bodes well for H2 2020, and, especially, in the run-up to the all-important festive season," said Amit Sharma, Analyst, IIG, CMR. Beyond the incumbents, aspirational premium brands will seek to make inroads into the premium segment, he added. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 22:48:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BERLIN, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- After a slump in rapeseed cultivation in Germany in the previous year, the harvest year 2020 is expected to show signs of recovery, according to the official harvest report published by the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) on Friday. A total harvest of around 3.5 million tons of rapeseed is expected in Germany this year, 24.4 percent more than in 2019, but still 20.7 percent below the six-year average, according to BMEL. For grain, the expected harvest volume would be six percent below the six-year average, noted BMEL, mainly due to a reduction of the land used to grow grain in Germany. On a national level, yields were "better than expected, albeit slightly below average," said German Minister of Food and Agriculture Julia Kloeckner when presenting the official report on Friday. Crops and plants "again grew under difficult weather conditions," BMEL noted. Late frosts in April and May, a drought in spring and a "regionally still persistent lack of soil moisture" were the main causes for weather-related damage this year. For the third year in a row, many livestock farms also experienced serious problems of basic fodder supply, mainly due to the drought, according to BMEL. Only a few regions in Germany recorded enough rainfall to preserve sufficient silage and hay for the coming winter feeding. According to the German National Meteorological Service (DWD), a trend of increasing heat extremes had become noticeable over the past 40 years. In recent years, new record summer temperatures had been registered throughout Germany. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the harvest this year in Germany is taking place under "changed conditions," the BMEL noted. Despite special governmental permits, fewer-than-usual harvest workers were able to enter Germany this year due to travel restrictions. "Good harvests are our livelihood," stressed Kloeckner, adding that the COVID-19 pandemic "created new awareness" of how important it was to secure harvests. Enditem The number of dead dolphins that have washed ashore on the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius after an oil spill has risen to 39, the government said Friday, ahead of protests this weekend against authorities' handling of the disaster at sea. Three whales also were found dead Friday, an environmental expert said. It's not yet clear what caused the dolphins' deaths, but alarmed environmentalists have called for an investigation. The dolphins began washing up this week, several days after some 1,000 tons of fuel spilled from a Japanese ship that ran aground on a coral reef then split apart under the pounding surf. The country's fisheries minister, Sudheer Maudhoo, told reporters that some dead dolphins had injuries but he denied reports that oil had been found inside them and called their deaths a ``sad coincidence.'' Experts were still studying the corpses. Other dolphins may have died out at sea, environmental consultant and former lawmaker Sunil Dowarkasing said Friday. We expect that a lot more have been killed during these few days,'' he said, adding that three whales also died. It was not clear what kind of whales they were. Dowarkasing believes the dolphins either died from the fuel or were poisoned by toxic materials on the ship, which was sunk offshore after the vessel split in two. Most of the remaining 3,000 tons of fuel had been pumped off the ship by then. Residents of Mauritius plan to march in the capital, Port Louis, on Saturday after weeks of demanding why the government didn't act more quickly when the ship, the MV Wakashio, ran aground on July 25. It began leaking fuel Aug. 6 into the Mahebourg Lagoon, fouling a protected wetlands area and a small island that was a bird and wildlife sanctuary. Thousands of civilian volunteers worked for days to try to minimize the damage, creating makeshift oil barriers by stuffing fabric bags with sugar cane leaves and empty plastic bottles to keep them afloat. Environmental workers carefully ferried dozens of baby tortoises and rare plants to shore, plucking some trapped seabirds out of the goo. The nation of some 1.3 million people relies heavily on tourism and already had been hit hard by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which has limited international travel. Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth earlier blamed bad weather for the slow response to the ship's grounding, but Dowarkasing said ``no one believes in official reports.'' The Wakashio was supposed to stay at least 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Mauritius and it's not yet clear why the ship strayed miles off course. The ship's captain and first officer have been charged with endangering safe navigation.'' Ship owner Nagashiki Shipping is investigating and has sent experts to Mauritius. The Mauritius government is seeking compensation from the company. Search Keywords: Short link: Washington, Aug 28 : Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris has ripped into President Donald Trump to rebuke the 2020 Republican National Convention (RNC), saying it was "designed to soothe his ego". "The Republican convention is designed for one purpose -- to soothe Donald Trump's ego. To make him feel good. But here's the thing, he's the President of the Us. And it's not supposed to be about him," Harris said in a speech in Washington, D.C on Thursday. "It's supposed to be about the health, and the safety, and the well-being of the American people," she said. "And on that measure, Donald Trump has failed." Harris railed on Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected 5,863,363 million people and killed 180,595, the highest tallies in the world. "It's relentless. You can't stop it with a tweet. You can't create a distraction and hope it'll go away. It doesn't go away. By its nature, a pandemic is unforgiving. "If you get it wrong at the beginning, the consequences are catastrophic. It's very hard to catch up... President Trump got it wrong in the beginning," she added. Harris also addressed the August 23 police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old African-American, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which has triggered consecutive days of protests that have grown chaotic and violent at times. "The shots fired at Blake pierced the soul of our nation. It's sickening to watch. It's all too familiar. And it must end. "The reality is that the life of a Black person in America has never been treated as fully human and we have yet to fulfil that promise of equal justice under law," she said. Harris noted that she and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has spoken with the Blake family, while expressing support for peaceful protests against racial injustice and police brutality. The remarks came just hours before Trump officially accept the Republican Party's nomination for re-election in a speech from the White House South Lawn. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Police are searching for a man who allegedly forced another man into a car at gunpoint Thursday in Aloha and drove away with him, before shoving him out of the truck and driving away. Nicholas San Nicolas, 31, is suspected of kidnapping a man, then throwing him out of the car in Washington County.Washington County Sheriff's Office The Washington County Sheriffs Office said a 22-year-old man was standing outside the Forest Ridge Apartments in Aloha, when two men approached him with guns drawn. Deputies say Nicholas San Nicolas, 31, forced the victim into his own Nissan pickup and drove away. The second man, whom police described as an accomplice, followed in a dark blue BMW Z3. Washington County Sgt. Danny DiPietro said there is some connection between San Nicolas and the victim, who was able to identify San Nicolas. DiPietro said its not yet clear to investigators exactly how the two know each other. DiPietro said the circumstances of the kidnapping and the entire encounter are still unclear, and that San Nicolas and his accomplice dont live in the apartment complex, but were there looking for something. Deputies say a relative suspected the man had been kidnapped, and began driving around the area looking for the Nissan truck. DiPietro said the relative did not witness the kidnapping, but suspected something was going on when they saw the victims car gone. The relative caught up to the truck less than 10 minutes later and about half a mile away, at Southwest 185th and Farmington Road. The family member rammed the Nissan truck with their own car. San Nicolas pushed the victim out of the truck and onto the road and drove away, and the man in the other car followed San Nicolas. He said the victim had some road rash from being pushed out of the car, but no life-threatening injuries. Both San Nicolas and his accomplice are believed to be armed, DiPietro said, and are wanted for first-degree kidnapping, felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and menacing, as well as outstanding felony warrants. This story will be updated. Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. (Photo : Max Whittaker/Getty Images) CARSON CITY, NEVADA- SEPTEMBER 4: Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, left, and Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, right, at a press conference at the Nevada State Capitol, September 4, 2014 in Carson City, Nevada. Musk and Gov. Sandoval announced a plan to build a Tesla Gigafactory in Nevada to produce batteries for electric vehicles providing 6,500 jobs to the state. (Photo : Smnt/Wiki Commons) Tesla Nevada Gigafactory A Russian man who tried bribing a Tesla employee was arrested on August 22, the Department of Justice announced on Thursday, August 27. As reported by Mashable, the official complaint released by the Justice Department stated about an intercepted malware attack against an unnamed company in Sparks, Nevada where Tesla has a factory for its electric motors, battery cells, and packs. The statement did not mention Tesla, but Electrek reported that Elon Musk's company was indeed the target of the attack. The Tesla CEO retweeted Teslarati's article regarding the failed $1 million bribery, which the Tesla employee turned down. Musk wrote in his tweet: "This was a serious attack." Much appreciated. This was a serious attack. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 27, 2020 The employee then worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) to catch the culprit. Special Agent in Charge Rouse said that the FBI was able to intervene before any damage could happen and promised to continue pursuing "any person or entity that attempts to inflict damage to American business or enterprise." Read also: Job Hiring: Tesla is in Need of 10,500 Employees To Work For Elon Musk's Gigafactory in Berlin The complaint charged the 27-year-old Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov, a Russian citizen with "conspiracy to intentionally cause damage to a protected computer." Kriuchkov was arrested on August 22 in Los Angeles. U.S. Magistrate Judge Alexander F. MacKinnon in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles ordered Kriuchkov's detention while on trial. According to the complaint, Kriuchkov rented a hotel room in Sparks, Nevada where he met with the unnamed company employee and proposed a "special project" in early August. The supposed project allegedly involved giving a malware that the employee would install on the company's computers while Kriuchkov and his cohorts would run a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack against the company to trick its security group. The malware would steal company information, which the suspect would use to extort millions from the company, which appeared to be much more than the $1 million offered to the employee. Meanwhile, Kriuchkov attempted to fly out of the country as he drove overnight from Reno to Los Angeles after the FBI contacted him. He then asked someone to buy him an airline ticket. If found guilty of the charges, Kriuchkov will face a maximum sentence of five-year jail time and $250,000 fine while the Tesla employee continues to work in the company. Read also: Elon Musk's SpaceX's Road to the Fastest Internet From the Orbit: Here's' What Latest Stats Say Netizens react to the Tesla employee's bribe rejection After one of his employees rejected the $1 million offered by a Russian cyber attacker, Musk tweeted: "Much appreciated." Netizens applauded the staff's action as the offer seem very tempting. One Twitter user said: "Look after such loyalty." He added that he is glad that it still exists. Another user called the employee as an "excellent human being." He also noted that "good people with good work ethics and values" still exist. Meanwhile, Twitter user Joel Collinson said that "It wasn't a matter of integrity." Instead, he said that the staff was smart enough to know he would be eventually caught if he took the money. Another user Calvin George had a much movie-like plot as he explained that anyone who would pay a million dollars is also willing to kill to cover up the crime. "He probably saves his own life," he added. Read also: Neuralink Brain Chip Update: Elon Musk Says Neurons Will Fire Up in Real-Time on August 28 This is owned by Tech Times Written by CJ Robles 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. On July 31, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard his Air Force One that he planned to ban the popular video-sharing app TikTok from operating in the United States. In an attempt to hold back China's scientific and technological advancement, the Trump administration has imposed unwarranted sanctions on Huawei and TikTok. By launching the so-called "Clean Network" program, it is actually building a digital barrier and fragmenting the global Internet to seek selfish development at the expense of other countries. Throughout human history, advances in science and technology have always resulted from consistent and concerted efforts. Any progress builds on previous achievements, and requires interdisciplinary cooperation between different countries. A century ago, a British physicist suggested hydrogen-helium fusion could be the primary source of stellar energy. The theory was confirmed by a German scientist about 20 years later. In roughly the same period, New Zealand and Australian physicists realized the fusion of deuterium into helium, opening the way for present-day fusion research. Meanwhile, more than six decades ago, the first tokamak (a magnetic confinement device) was developed in the Soviet Union to produce controlled thermonuclear fusion power. On July 28, ITER the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor opened its assembly in southern France, ushering in a phase of the massive project searching for the ultimate energy source. Progress achieved in the ITER Project is attributed to the unremitting exploration by scientists around the world for a century. As Isaac Newton put it, "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." It is international cooperation that enables humanity to resolve major scientific issues. A total of 35 countries, including China and the U.S., are participating in the ITER Project, since any country alone cannot afford the substantial investment involved. Similarly, the first direct image of a black hole was captured last year thanks to coordination among observatories around the world. In the face of the COVID-19 crisis, more people have come to realize that no country can be immune from such a common threat. However, the U.S. has willfully quit organizations and incited division in pursuit of digital and technological hegemony. Such moves threaten global scientific progress and the common interest of humanity. Global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss are becoming increasingly severe. Only through close cooperation and major scientific advances can the international community overcome a potential grave crisis. Content created in partnership with Science and Technology Daily Canadas Immigration and Refugee Board will turn back the clock and start hearing asylum claims as it did in pre-pandemic days with judges, lawyers, refugees and interpreters all in enclosed hearing rooms. After months of consultation, the IRB said Thursday it will begin transitioning to its pre-COVID model for refugee hearings, with all parties in the same hearing rooms beginning Sept. 14. The move goes against a recommendation from the Canadian Bar Associations immigration section, whose 1,200 members had asked that virtual hearings be the default option due to health concerns. The IRB response has fallen short, said Toronto immigration lawyer Lina Anani. They said theyre adding plexiglasses. The virus is airborne and plexiglass may work when you go to a grocery store. ... Were inside a small, enclosed space. Plus high-risk activity, which is talking continuously and going on for hours. As of March 31, the IRB had a backlog of 90,267 asylum claims to be processed. The IRB shut down all hearings in March but has slowly resumed its in-person hearings since July, first in Vancouver and at its offices in the rest of the country at the beginning of August. Since Aug. 3, it said, there have been 880 refugee hearings scheduled, including 62 through videoconferencing. Under the current protocol, judges and interpreters have worked off-site or in different rooms than claimants, appellants and their counsel to observe social-distancing. However, claimants and lawyers are often asked to remove their masks during oral submissions and when testifying. Virtual hearings and whats called paper-based file review adjudicating a claim based on documents only have also been carried out in limited capacity. We are in the midst of the most ambitious transformation of our operating model in the boards 30-year history, board chair Richard Wex said in his latest operational updates, which were posted online. We have been guided by the dual objectives of both protecting the health and safety of all those appearing before the IRB and ensuring access to justice, including for those vulnerable populations who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. With the full resumption of in-person hearings, the IRB said plexiglass barriers are being installed in its larger hearing rooms as an added layer of protection in addition to physical distancing and a requirement that everyone wear masks during the hearing. (Effective immediately, hearing participants who would like to wear masks while testifying or providing submissions can do so.) It said the percentage of external air in the ventilation system has been increased in IRB facilities, and high-quality filters are being used. There is also extra attention being given to ensuring that ventilation maintenance schedules are adhered to. In its submission to the IRB this month, the bar association raised concerns over the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for claimants and counsels travelling to the IRB offices, using public elevators and being confined to small rooms for extended periods of time. Installing plexiglass and taking temperatures will not eliminate those risks, said Ravi Jain, chair of the bar associations immigration division. A vaccine the only effective method to mitigate the risk of harm will not be available for public distribution in the foreseeable future. Last week, more than 250 lawyers and advocacy groups wrote a petition to the IRB demanding it stop scheduling both in-person and virtual hearings until their health and safety concerns were addressed, which includes the logistics for claimants to participate in remote hearings. Ive been appearing at the (Toronto office of the) board for the last 20 years. The ventilation is a huge issue there. We want to open the door but, due to privacy, we cant keep the door open to get some air into the room, said lawyer Preevanda Sapru, who spearheaded the campaign with other colleagues. We have to be up and ready with Microsoft Teams for virtual hearings. Im OK with it, but my clients dont have Microsoft or internet. And we have a small office. Theres no way to do social distancing. Whats been done for the claimant to have a safe space? To date, Sapru said, 15 of her clients have declined to be scheduled for an in-person hearing out of safety and technical concerns even though they are eager to get a hearing and move on with their lives. Many clients in the refugee bar are marginalized. They dont have access to a computer or any type of videoconference system. Some of them dont have a smart phone, said lawyer Nastaran Roushan, who has already had clients expressing concerns about in-person hearings. Compelling them for a hearing virtually sometimes is not an option, especially when you add in language barrier. Connecting between an interpreter and one or more claimants virtually is a logistical nightmare. IRB spokesperson Line-Alice Guibert-Wolff said the boards detailed health and safety protocols have been reviewed by the Public Health Agency of Canada. To further reduce the need for in-person hearings, she said, the board has also begun to hold more virtual hearings and resolve less-complex refugee claims through a paper-based file review, so certain well-documented cases can be resolved without a hearing. The IRB is also exploring arrangements that would let claimants and appellants use computers on IRB premises to participate in virtual hearings, while their counsel attend the proceedings remotely. We are confident that they address the concerns expressed by the group of lawyers and advocates, Guibert-Wolff said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 22:23:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Friday said that the number of positive COVID-19 cases across the African continent has reached 1,220,511 amid rapid spread of the virus in a few African countries. The Africa CDC, noting that five African countries account for about 72 percent of all COVID-19 infections in the continent, also stressed that the death toll from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic rose to 28,850 on Friday. The African Union (AU) Commission's specialized healthcare agency also said that some 953,643 people who were infected with COVID-19 had recovered across the continent so far. Amid the rapid spread of the virus across the continent, South Africa alone accounts for about 50 percent of all COVID-19 infections in the continent, followed by Egypt which has eight percent of all COVID-19 infections in the continent, the Africa CDC said. The continental disease control and prevention agency said that South Africa is way ahead compared to the rest of the continent both in terms of number of COVID-19 cases and ratio of COVID-19 infected population, as the country has so far reported 618,286 cases and 13,628 deaths as of Friday. The country has 1,060 cases per 100,000 population, it was noted. Egypt is the second most COVID-19 affected country with 98,062 positive cases and 5,342 COVID-19 related deaths, it was noted. Morocco, which has so far reported 57,085 positive cases and 1,011 deaths, comes third with five percent of all COVID-19 infections in the continent, while Nigeria and Ethiopia round the top of five list with each having about four percent of all COVID-19 infections in the continent, according to the Africa CDC. According to the Africa CDC, the southern Africa region is the most affected area in terms of confirmed cases, followed by northern Africa and western Africa regions. On Thursday, the Africa CDC disclosed that nine African countries are reporting fatality rates higher than the global case fatality rate of 3.4 percent. However, the overall continental fatality rate in the African continent currently stands at 2.4 percent, below the global fatality threshold. On a positive note, the Africa CDC said over the last one week 58,417 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in the continent, a 20 percent drop in cases when compared to the previous week. The agency of also noted an overall increase in the number of COVID-19 tests being carried out in the continent. Enditem MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla., Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OMNICOMMANDER , a financial technology firm specializing in website development and full outsourced marketing for credit unions, is proud to announce another round of award-winning partners in various categories at the Louisiana Credit Union League (LCUL) Annual Conference. While OMNICOMMANDER clients won a multitude of awards, three awards were specifically for projects executed with OMNICOMMANDER. The winners are as follows: Newsletter $0 - $50 Million in Assets: 1st Place: BRECO FCU Website $50 - $200 Million in Assets: 1st Place: Wymar FCU Website $0 - $50 Million in Assets: 2nd Place: Barton Plant Employees FCU While this year's LCUL Annual Meeting was virtual due to the complications of COVID-19, it was still an extremely successful event. The online conference and educational forum theme was PIVOT - a reference to an iconic episode of Friends, as well as an ode to the need for continuous pivoting in these times. In response to the wins, OMNICOMMANDER Founder and CEO Eric Isham says, "We are excited to yet again be partners with such a large number of the honorees of the Louisiana Credit Union League's awards. It is an illustration of the understanding these credit unions have of the need to create an exceptional digital presence. We are happy to execute the vision of our credit union partners in a manner which is worthy of top recognition, and continue to look forward to doing it again year after year. Working with incredible credit union leaders like my man Josh Poole at BRECO makes it that much more fun!" Josh Poole, President/CEO at BRECO FCU , said, "We are absolutely ecstatic with our first place win for Best Newsletter from the Louisiana Credit Union League in this year's Best of Marketing Awards! We cannot overstate our excitement to be partnered with OMNICOMMANDER, who, with passion, has brought to life our vision of marketing to and communicating to our members. We look forward to even more award-winning campaigns!" OMNICOMMANDER is a veteran-owned and operated credit union website design and social media marketing firm. Focusing on member experience, the company ensures every touchpoint has an identical user interface. Along with incredible design, OMNICOMMANDER creates sites with built-in mobile responsiveness, SSL encryption, and observance of ADA guidelines. OMNICOMMANDER provides marketing services including targeted marketing, branding, and social media. For more information, visit OMNICOMMANDER on LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . Media Contact: Melanie Tucciarone, (850) 564-7765, [email protected] SOURCE OMNICOMMANDER Related Links http://www.omnicommander.com Belfast City Council has said it will inspect the "derelict" state of the George Best Hotel building as its insolvent developer vowed to realise plans for the site. Before the company's collapse, investors had paid a total of 4m to own 59 rooms in the would-be hotel. Couples dreaming of marrying in a venue honouring the late footballer's memory paid deposits of tens of thousands of pounds. One pair who paid 5,500 for a wedding to take place a year ago said they were stressed and wanted their money back. Construction on the Scottish Mutual Building at Donegall Square West stopped after a litany of planning rows and disagreements. Administrators Duff & Phelps were appointed in April after growing financial problems at Liverpool-based developer Signature Living, which owned the building. Now the historic building is defaced by graffiti, and a rubbish chute remains on Bedford Street, intended to catch debris during construction. Expand Close Lawrence Kenwright / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lawrence Kenwright Signature Living, led by Lawrence Kenwright, said it cannot comment on the building or other former assets due to the administration, which affects other parts of their UK hospitality business. It also includes the Shankly Hotel in Liverpool. But a source claimed Mr Kenwright intends to honour his commitments and realise the dreams of those who paid deposits. "It was never Signature Living's intention for the building to become an eyesore and they fully intend to deliver everything they've promised once they're through this period of administration," they said. The source claimed that the hotel investors have agreed to back a bid to gain finance, enabling completion of the hotel and other unfinished projects. A winding-up petition was first presented against Bedford Hotel Ltd, the Northern Ireland-registered company which owns the building, in January. Bride-to-be Catherine said she paid a further installment of her 5,500 deposit in February. She said she is also waiting to hear from a wedding planner from Northern Ireland who is employed by Signature Living to plan weddings for Rainhill Hall - another venue in Liverpool - the George Best Hotel and the Shankly Hotel Preston. The Preston venue is to be built in a historic ex-Post Office but is also unfinished. Expand Close The planned city centre George Best hotel lies in disrepair / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The planned city centre George Best hotel lies in disrepair A spokesman for the council said it has powers to tackle dilapidated buildings "deemed to be seriously detrimental to the amenity of the area". They said: "Council officers will undertake a site visit to assess the state of the building and whether it would meet the criteria for further action. "Our cleansing team can also remove offensive or threatening graffiti. We are working with our statutory and private sector partners to revitalise the city centre and to address such issues." Simon Hamilton, chief executive of Belfast Chamber, said it was "disappointing" to see the hotel fall into disrepair. "The ideal outcome would obviously be for the hotel scheme to be taken forward and finished but we understand the significant number of challenges that will entail," he said. "In the interim though, I think we would all want this beautiful building to be made look a little better than it currently does given its key location in the heart of Donegall Square". Expand Close The planned city centre George Best hotel lies in disrepair / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The planned city centre George Best hotel lies in disrepair A spokesman for Duff & Phelps said its appointment "consists of the property interests of the George Best Hotel and they therefore cannot comment on status of bookings". In its June report it said it was assessing where it will be viable to finish the hotel "never mind to open and trade the hotel, once complete". Kenneth Crothers, a valuation surveyor based in an office on James Street South behind the building, said the building was now in a state of dereliction. "I can't see a reasonable person not having an issue with the state of the building. It's important because of where it is as a cornerstone of Donegall Square," he said. "But now with the graffiti and the rubbish chute, it's really just portraying an air of dereliction." A report by Duff & Phelps on the administration of Bedford Hotel in June said it owed at least 15.4m when it went bust. Engaged couple Catherine and Mark told the Belfast Telegraph about their experience. In an email, they wrote: "It's got beyond a joke now. We should have been married now a year this September. It's stress at the minute we could do without. "We think Covid-19 was the icing on the cake for us and we never got to see anything inside the hotel to see what state the building was and if any work carried out at all - just photos of what it was meant to like, and loads of false hopes of when this amazing hotel was due to open. Like, never. "We just want our money back as like normal couples we worked and saved for this special day. "We have also had to postpone several times on other people who were involved with our day, ie, cake, flowers, music, invites, cars, etc, which is stressful and embarrassing. "We just want to get married and put this last year behind us. We've still heard nothing back." The couple added that they feel "so let down". Mr Crothers said he wanted the site to be tidied up in the short-term. He added: "I have no difficulty with the use of the building as a hotel or offices, or retail. But in this economic climate it's difficult to see any hoteliers having the appetite for it." (Natural News) If youre wondering why major news companies like the New York Times and USA Today as well as NBC News and PBS and many many more seldom publish negative stories about the problems and vaccine disasters (deaths) caused by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation they have been paid de facto bribes for their silence. And paid well. By Gates. In fact, most of the media in the United States is in Bill Gates pocket, according to revelations on the Thomas Paine Podcast. Listen above. (Article republished from TruePundit.com) Gates has infiltrated all major media, spreading around hundreds of millions perhaps billions to control and ensure that only fluff and positive PR pieces are published about his foundation. Negative stories get spiked, hidden. Just who has Gates greased in the MSM? And how many hundreds of millions has he paid in bribes? You wont believe how deep the corruption goes. USA Today 'Fact Checked' One of our Scoops on Gates That Went Viral And Rated it "FALSE" Turns out Gates Bribed the owners of USA Today to attack True Pundit for Uncovering Gates' Schemes. PROTECTION RACKET https://t.co/ts2O3GDoOv Thomas Paine (@Thomas1774Paine) August 27, 2020 Listen to the insightful Thomas Paine Podcast Below Read more at: TruePundit.com Last week, Channel Seven announced that Melissa Doyle had left the network after an incredible 25 years of service. And it appears the veteran journalist has taken the career change in her stride, promoting a feminist film on her Instagram on Friday. The 50-year-old shared Stan original film I Am Woman's promotional poster on her account, encouraging parents to watch the powerful movie with their children. 'One groundbreaking woman!' Former Seven star Melissa Doyle (pictured), 50, encouraged parents to watch feminist film I Am Woman with their children, in an Instagram post on Friday 'This is such a fabulous film. It's Helen Reddy's story - she was certainly one groundbreaking woman!' Melissa penned online. 'Watch it with your daughters and I reckon your sons too,' she added. The biopic tells the inspirational story of Helen Reddy, who championed the women's movement in the 1970s. Arriving in New York in the late sixties with her three-year-old daughter and just $230, Helen had singing aspirations with the promise of a recording contract. Paved the way: The biopic tells the story of Helen Reddy, who championed the women's movement in the 1970s. Pictured is actress Tilda Cobham-Hervey in the role in the Stan film When the contract fell through, she decided to stay in New York without a visa, making contacts with a rock journalist and a talent agent-turned-husband. Penning and singing the lyrics to I Am Woman, the track not only championed the women's movement, but also encouraged her to take control of her career and life. Meanwhile, during Melissa's career, she hosted several of Seven's flagship programs, including Sunrise, Today Tonight, 7News, Sunday Night and The Latest. Powerful: Penning and singing the lyrics to I Am Woman, the track not only championed the women's movement, but also encouraged her to take control of her career and life Veteran presenter: Last week, Channel Seven announced that Melissa had left the network after an incredible 25 years of service Melissa first joined Seven's Canberra bureau as a political reporter back in 1995. She then moved to Sydney, working as a newsreader on the 11AM program. After 11 years working alongside David Koch on Sunrise, the mother-of-two announced she was leaving Sunrise, departing in August 2013. Melissa remained with the network, however, presenting Seven Afternoon News and Seven News at 7. In 2015, she was announced as host and senior correspondent for Sunday Night, but the current affairs show was cancelled in October 2019, as a cost-cutting measure. You can watch the Helen Reddy biopic I Am Woman on Stan. (Photo : Official SpaceX Photos - Starlink Mission) Starlink's speed tests may look impressive, but experts say SpaceX's is unlikely to win any federal subsidies (Photo : Forest Katsch/Unsplash) The Starlink 3 train rides across the early morning sky, accompanied by a handful of other satellites. (Photo : Glenn Carstens-Peters/Unsplash) Redditors are submitting links to their Speedtest results for SpaceX's Starlink internet Redditors are submitting links to their Speedtest results for SpaceX's Starlink internet. It would be the first publicly available speed data for Elon Musk's satellite-internet project, but it seems not impressive enough. On August 15, members of the r/Starlink subreddit started posting links to the results of their tests on internet speed through the testing site Speedtest. While Speedtest this information is undisclosed, buried on a hidden page of the website, users can share links to the results to others. This seems to violate the site's nondisclosure agreements with SpaceX. On the r/Starlink subreddit, results showed download speeds ranging from 35 to 60 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 5 to 18 Mbps while pings are between 20 to 94 milliseconds. Ping measures the time when data reaches a server from a user's computer. Speedtest's mother company, Ookla told Business Insider these results "all appear to be legitimate." One Reddit user wrote, "I'm honestly very impressed." Also, another user said the data gives him so much hope. Meanwhile, another Redditor said that his attention is drawn more to the latency, despite good speed numbers. "It exceeded my expectations." However, another user warned that the latency may become worse once more users are connected. Experts say Starlink results may not award SpaceX $16 billion While these results excite users who have no access to broadband service, experts think otherwise. According to a Business Insider report, the numbers are not remarkable. And this is not good news for SpaceX. Tech Times reported that Musk's company has been trying to compete to grab a share of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) $16 billion funding under the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). While the current numbers are just 6% of the required 1 gigabyte per second FCC requirement, it is still much faster internet than current service providers in rural areas. This may be the reason for the numerous subreddit members who were impressed by the test results. The FCC is set to pay up to $16 billion to providers that can offer the best broadband access to the most areas at the cheapest cost. This is part of the two-phase program that aims to provide high-speed, low-latency web access in rural parts of America where broadband service is not available. The total budget for the program is $20.4 billion and FCC requires minimum speeds of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, which would allow telecommuting, doing schoolwork, or streaming 4K video, among other things. However, the rules of the program stack the deck against satellite-based systems. A telecommunications policy analyst Blair Levin said that with the numbers, the Starlink "satellites don't win anything." Levin is a former FCC chief of staff and a Brookings Institution nonresident fellow. Also, experts may have expected too much from the Starlink network, even in its beta phase. Photonics engineer and Stealth Communications CEO Shrihari Pandit also aired his concerns about the results. "I would suspect it should be a little higher than where it is," said Pandit adding that he thought it would be "a couple of hundred megabits per second." Meanwhile, Electronic Frontier Foundation senior legislative counsel Ernesto Falcon told Business Insider that "it's not good" to see these performance results, particularly when it is bidding for FCC subsidies. Read also: Elon Musk's SpaceX's Road to the Fastest Internet From the Orbit: Here's' What Latest Stats Say This is owned by Tech Times Written by CJ Robles 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. MOSCOW - The Russian navy conducted major war games near Alaska involving dozens of ships and aircraft, the military said Friday, the biggest such drills in the area since Soviet times. Russias navy chief, Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov, said that more than 50 warships and about 40 aircraft were taking part in the exercise in the Bering Sea, which involved multiple practice missile launches. We are holding such massive drills there for the first time ever, Yevmenov said in a statement released by the Russian Defence Ministry. It wasnt immediately clear when the exercises began or if they had finished. Yevmenov emphasized that the war games are part of Russias efforts to boost its presence in the Arctic region and protect its resources. We are building up our forces to ensure the economic development of the region, he said. We are getting used to the Arctic spaces. The Russian military has rebuilt and expanded numerous facilities across the polar region in recent years, revamping runways and deploying additional air defence assets. Russia has prioritized boosting its military presence in the Arctic region, which is believed to hold up to one-quarter of the Earths undiscovered oil and gas. Russian President Vladimir Putin has cited estimates that put the value of Arctic mineral riches at $30 trillion. Russias Pacific Fleet, whose assets were taking part in the manoeuvrs, said the Omsk nuclear submarine and the Varyag missile cruiser launched cruise missiles at a practice target in the Bering Sea as part of the exercise. The manoeuvrs also saw Onyx cruise missiles being fired at a practice target in the Gulf of Anadyr from the coast of the Chukchi Peninsula, it added. As the exercise was ongoing, U.S. military spotted a Russian submarine surfacing near Alaska on Thursday. U.S. Northern Command spokesman Bill Lewis noted that the Russian military exercise is taking place in international waters, well outside U.S. territory. Lewis said the North American Aerospace Defence Command and U.S. Northern Command were closely monitoring the submarine. He added that they havent received any requests for assistance from the Russian navy but stand ready to assist those in distress. Russian state RIA Novosti news agency quoted Russias Pacific Fleet sources as saying that the surfacing of the Omsk nuclear submarine was routine. Also late Thursday, NORAD sent F-22 fighter jets to intercept three groups of two Tu-142 Russian maritime patrol aircraft that came close to Alaska. The Russian aircraft remained in the area for about five hours and came within 50 nautical miles of Alaska. Officials said the Russian jets remained in international air space, and at no time entered United States or Canadian sovereign air space. Our northern approaches have had an increase in foreign military activity as our competitors continue to expand their military presence and probe our defences, Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander of NORAD, said in a statement. This year, weve conducted more than a dozen intercepts, the most in recent years. The importance of our continued efforts to project air defence operations in and through the north has never been more apparent. It cited former Russian navys chief of staff, retired Adm. Viktor Kravchenko, as saying that by having the submarine surface in the area the navy may have wanted to send a deliberate signal. Its a signal that we arent asleep and we are wherever we want, RIA Novosti quoted Kravchenko as saying. The presence of Russian military assets in the area caused a stir for U.S. commercial fishing vessels in the Bering Sea on Wednesday. We were notified by multiple fishing vessels that were operating out the Bering Sea that they had come across these vessels and were concerned, U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Kip Wadlow said Thursday. The Coast Guard contacted the Alaskan Command at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, which confirmed the ships were there as part of a pre-planned Russian military exercise that was known to some U.S. military officials, he said. The Russian military has expanded the number and the scope of its war games in recent years as Russia-West relations have sunk to their lowest level since the Cold War after Russias 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula, and other crises. Read more about: An Australian woman has been appointed as the interim head of TikTok. Vanessa Pappas, who had been working as TikTok's general manager in the US, Australia and New Zealand, announced her 'next chapter' on Twitter on Friday. She has taken over from former chief executive Kevin Mayer, who quit less than three months in the job after joining from Disney. Ms Pappas is a University of Queensland graduate and previously worked at Next News Networks and YouTube. Vanessa Pappas (pictured), who had been working as TikTok's general manager in the US, Australia and New Zealand, announced her 'next chapter' on Twitter on Friday 'Incredibly proud and humbled to take the role of interim head of TikTok,' she tweeted. 'Our community and our team who work so hard to enable this product continue to inspire me. 'It's truly amazing what we've accomplished in 2 years, I have no doubt what we can accomplish in this next chapter!' Mr Mayer resigned amid a 'sharply changed' political environment and US pressure for TikTok's Chinese parent company to sell the social media platform. Kevin Mayer (pictured) resigned amid a 'sharply changed' political environment and US pressure for TikTok's Chinese parent company to sell the social media platform 'In recent weeks, as the political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural changes will require, and what it means for the global role I signed up for,' Mr Mayer said in a letter to employees, CNBC reported. 'I understand that the role that I signed up forincluding running TikTok globallywill look very different as a result of the US Administration's action to push for a sell off of the US business. 'It is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company.' TikTok has come under fire in countries including Australia and India for its Chinese ownership and data security concerns. US authorities are concerned that TikTok would hand over data to the Chinese government if asked. The company claims it would refuse to share data and censor videos, even though the Chinese Government can compel businesses to share information with them. On August 6, Donald Trump signed an executive order giving Americans 45 days to stop using the app, effectively setting a deadline fro the sale of the app to an American company. US president Donald Trump (pictured) ordered parent company ByteDance 90 days to sell US TikTok assets and divest itself of 'any data obtained or derived' in the country BANGALORE, India, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2018, the global Ride Sharing market size was 24400 Million USD, and it is expected to reach 103600 Million USD by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of 19.8% between 2019 and 2025. The implementation of new technology enabling real-time ride matches and a shift in trend towards car ownership is expected to augment the growth of ride sharing market size during the forecast period. This study analyses the ride Sharing market size by companies, countries, product types, and end industries. This study also examines the dynamics of global market competition, market factors and patterns, opportunities and threats, risks, and barriers to entry, distribution channels, distributors, and Porter's Five Forces Analysis. Get Detailed Analysis of COVID-19 Impact on Ride Sharing Market https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-28R2152/Global_Ride_Sharing_Market TRENDS INFLUENCING THE RIDE SHARING MARKET ANALYSIS Ride sharing programs have tremendous economic potential and can lead to significant cost reduction and increasing savings. It can also help decrease substantial greenhouse emission reductions and minimize traffic congestion. These advantages are, in turn, expected to increase the ride sharing market size. The increase in the number of regulated lanes providing car-pooling incentives, and the increasing car-sharing economy would create new growth opportunities for the ride sharing market during the forecast period. Advances in technology that assist with the adoption of ridesharing and support from government policy, such as toll fee waivers and high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, are fuelling the growth of ride sharing market size. An increase in smartphone and internet penetration is expected to increase the ride sharing market size. As ride sharing is an internet-enabled service, Internet access is the basic prerequisite in every part of the world to ride sharing services. Users are expected to download an app to their smartphone for accessing ride sharing information. With rising fuel prices and a rise in the financing, insurance, and car registration rates, the costs of owning a personal vehicle have risen. Maintenance expenses, including replacement of parts & components and labor fees, have also risen and contributed to the total cost of ownership. This increasing vehicle ownership cost is, in turn, expected to propel the growth of ride sharing market size. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-28R2152/global-ride-sharing RIDE SHARING MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS The station-based mobility segment is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period. This segment's growth is attributed to the government's initiatives to promote station-based mobility and construct dedicated tracks. Navigation service holds the largest ride sharing market size during the forecast period. Drivers and passengers use navigation applications for mapping and traffic data. Navigation service usage is imperative for ride sharing services. North America held the largest ride sharing market size. This region's dominance is attributed to the increasing investments from automakers and changes in travelers' preferences. Inquire for Regional Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Auto-28R2152/Global_Ride_Sharing_Market TOP COMPANIES IN THE RIDE SHARE MARKET The ride sharing market is moderately fragmented, with major payers dominating the market. Based on our analysis, the top 5 companies dominating the ride sharing market took up more than 79.04% of the global market. Top companies in the ride sharing market are: Uber Lyft Fasten Haxi Via Didi Chuxing Ola Cabs Grab Go-Jek BlaBlaCar myTaxi Dida Chuxing Others. RIDE SHARING MARKET BREAKDOWN DATA BY TYPE PC Terminal Mobile Terminal. RIDE SHARING MARKET BREAKDOWN DATA BY APPLICATION Age 18-24 Age 25-34 Age 35-44 Age 45-54 Age 55-64. Buy Now for Single User: https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-28R2152&lic=single-user Buy Now for Enterprise User: https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-28R2152&lic=enterprise-user SIMILAR REPORTS : Mobility as a Service (MaaS) Market Report The Global Mobility as a Service (MaaS) market size will reach 230400 Million USD by 2025, from 43440 million USD in 2019, at a CAGR of 32.6% during the forecast period 2020-2026 Currently, Uber is dominating North America, over 80% market share in 2016. In July 2017, Lyft held for 20% share in the United States. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-33X48/global-mobility-as-a-service-maas Smart Mobility Market Report The global smart mobility market size was USD 34.04 Billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 70.46 Billion by 2027, registering a 20.2% CAGR. Top companies discussed in this report include Cisco, Excelfore Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Innoviz Technologies. Inc., MAAS Global Oy, QuaLiX Information System, Robert Bosch GmbH, Siemens, TomTom International, and Toyota Motor Corporation. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/ALLI-Manu-2B32/smart-mobility Ride Sharing Software Market Report This report focuses on the status of global ride sharing software, forward forecasting, growth opportunity, key market, and key players. The aims of the study are to present the development of Ride Sharing Software in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India, and Central & South America. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-16R2629/covid-19-impact-on-global-ride-sharing-software Car Rental Market Report The global car rental market size was valued at USD 92.92 Billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 214.04 Billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 10.7% from 2020 to 2027. In terms of revenue, North America accounted for the largest Car Rental Market share in 2019, and LAMEA is expected to show remarkable growth rates during the forecast period. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/ALLI-Manu-0E23/car-rental Car-Sharing Market Report The global car-sharing was valued 33.5 Billion USD in 2018 and will reach 103 Billion USD in 2025, with a CAGR of 17.2% during the forecast period View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-1A197/global-car-sharing Ride-Hailing Service Market Report The global ride-hailing service market size was USD 36,450.0 Million in 2017 and is projected to reach USD 126,521.2 Million by 2025, registering a CAGR of 16.5% from 2018 to 2025. North America was the highest contributor to the global market in 2017, garnering 12.7% CAGR during the forecast period. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/ALLI-Auto-3H343/ride-hailing-service Corporate Car-sharing Market Report View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-20L2898/global-corporate-car-sharing ABOUT US: Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs. To achieve a consistent view of the market, data is gathered from various primary and secondary sources, at each step, data triangulation methodologies are applied to reduce deviance and find a consistent view of the market. Each sample we share contains detail research methodology employed to generate the report, Please also reach to our sales team to get the complete list of our data sources CONTACT US: Valuates Reports [email protected] For U.S. Toll-Free Call +1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call +91-8040957137 WhatsApp : +91-9945648335 Website - https://reports.valuates.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Linkedin - https://in.linkedin.com/company/valuatesreports Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports SOURCE Valuates Reports By Jon Meacham Random House. 354 pp. $30 - - - "His Truth Is Marching On" is an unembarrassed hagiography. According to Jon Meacham, the late John Lewis "embodied the traits of a saint in the classical Christian sense of the term." He was "quietly charismatic, forever courtly, implacably serene." He was "a prophet of the mountaintop." And "he was as important to the founding of a modern and multiethnic . . . America as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison and Samuel Adams were to the creation of the republic." Meacham's account is loving and instructive. In his portrayal, Lewis was not as visionary as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., or as arresting as Malcolm X, or as captivating as Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture). But to Meacham he was more admirable than any of them in terms of his dogged determination, his unimpeachable personal decency and his unshakable faith that seeking justice by noble means would ultimately lead to redemption. Lewis displayed in action, Meacham insists, what Abraham Lincoln alluded to when he lauded "the better angels of our nature." The American present and future, Meacham declares, "may in many ways hinge on the extent to which the rest of us can draw lessons from his example." He relates with verve the story of Lewis's early manhood, when he participated in the most stirring Southern civil rights battles of the 1960s. As one of his comrades, Bernard LaFayette Jr., put it, "was always on the front line, wherever the front line was." He participated in sit-ins, suffering his first arrest in Nashville on Feb. 27, 1960, when he refused to leave a lunch counter at an establishment that refused to serve food to blacks. Over the course of his life he would be arrested an additional 44 times. He participated in the Freedom Rides in 1961, enduring a beating in Rock Hill, S.C., and incarceration in the notorious Parchman Farm, a Mississippi penitentiary. He was the youngest speaker at the March on Washington on Aug. 28, 1963, representing the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). He led the Bloody Sunday demonstration of March 7, 1965, in Selma, Ala., that was broken up by tear gas, horse-mounted deputies and baton-wielding policemen, one of whom whacked Lewis with sufficient force to leave him with a severe concussion. That act of naked repression became one of the iconic scenes of the Second Reconstruction and helped propel the era's most far-reaching civil rights legislation: the Voting Rights Act. "His Truth Is Marching On" makes two important points especially well. The first has to do with a feature of the Black freedom movement that is often neglected. The movement battled on two fronts: One was the external fight against white-supremacist policies. It entailed confronting White authorities. The other was a fight within Black communities. It entailed confronting Blacks who had accommodated themselves to pigmentocracy. To disobey White strangers with whom you shared no affection was one thing. Even more difficult was disobeying relatives and associates whom you loved. Lewis revered his mother and father. But they urged him to avoid civil rights activism, which they termed "that mess."To pursue his fight against racial segregation and his quest to create "the Beloved Community" - what he later described as "nothing less than the Christian concept of the Kingdom of God on earth" - Lewis had to reject his parents' counsel. That is a fraught step for anyone. It was particularly daunting for a vulnerable, Southern teenager in the circumstances of the early 1960s. Praiseworthy, too, is Meacham's care in emphasizing the breadth of the leadership that stepped forward so splendidly to guide the Black freedom movement. Lewis was roused not only by the incomparable King. He was also inspired by a bevy of remarkable models - the Rev. James Lawson, A. Philip Randolph, James Farmer, Bayard Rustin - including women whose contributions continue to be unfairly minimized on account of sexism: Ella Baker (the activist who urged students to create the independent platform that became SNCC), Septima Clark (the educator in South Carolina who established "citizenship schools" to organize unlettered poor folk) and Diane Nash (the intrepid dissident who refused to allow violence to thwart the Freedom Rides). "His Truth Is Marching On" would have benefited from more creative tension between its author and his hero. On the things that appear to matter most to Meacham, he and Lewis are, in his view, in almost complete unison. Both, for example, seem to regard faith in the eventual triumph of good as an ethical imperative. Meacham approvingly portrays Lewis repeatedly asserting that he, the civil rights movement and, indeed, the United States of America stand on "the right side of history.""We have a mission, and we have a mandate to be on the right side of history," Lewis proclaimed in 2019 during a speech urging the impeachment of President Trump. But how does he know in which direction history proceeds? And what does the trajectory of history have to do with the morality of conduct? Just suppose it could be shown that history is actually on the side of tyranny, oppression and hatred. Would that justify embracing wrongdoing? More questioning on Meacham's part would have provided a salutary interruption for cheerleading that, at last, becomes a bit boring. Meacham is not much interested in excavating problems. He gingerly skirts them as if complexities were obstacles as opposed to opportunities. What, for example, are the racial politics behind Lewis's attractiveness to some Whites? Is it merely an uncomplicated appreciation of his undeniably heroic traits? Or were there things related to race that made Lewis more palatable than, say, Julian Bond (another standout in SNCC whom Lewis defeated in 1986 to claim a seat in Congress)? Meacham quotes the Rev. Joseph Lowery suggesting that a good many Whites were drawn to Lewis's apparent humility: "White people tend to like humble black folk." Lowery's observation provides an opening into a complex topic that might be difficult to investigate but that warrants the exploration Meacham avoids. I suspect he could have come up with useful additional illumination had he pressed a bit further. Meacham says little about Lewis's 33 years in the House of Representatives. Like Thurgood Marshall, another "Mr. Civil Rights," Lewis's accomplishments before attaining the validation of officeholding eclipsed his later doings, imposing upon him the burden of a fabulous youthful reputation. Future biographers will presumably cover the lows and highs of his career as an electoral politician, assessing in detail the validity of his title as the conscience of the Congress. But "His Truth Is Marching On" is a valuable discussion of an extraordinary man who deserves our everlasting admiration and gratitude. - - - Kennedy is the Michael R. Klein professor of law at Harvard Law School. By AFP LAKE CHARLES (US): 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. 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," Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said at a press conference. "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. I hope not and pray not," Edwards said. 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. - '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. But we are thankful that it didn't flood, and we're not making water rescues, swift water rescues or things of that nature," he said. 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. It was very big. It was very powerful but it passed quickly," Trump said. 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. Texas was also in the path of the hurricane but the state ended up being spared the brunt of the storm with the most significant damage taking place in neighboring Louisiana. 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. NEWS PROVIDED BY Alveda King Ministries Aug. 28, 2020 ATLANTA, Aug. 28, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- Evangelist Alveda King submits the following and is available for comment: August 28, 2020 marks the 57th anniversary of the I HAVE A DREAM speech delivered by Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Junior in front of the Lincoln Memorial here in America in 1963. As we reflect on those tumultuous days of the 1960s, with race wars and street riots, some may wonder what, if anything has changed. Today, as we remember the life, legend and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Junior, I'd like to revisit the iconic check marked insufficient funds he spoke about. This bounced check represents an injustice in the American Dream; a slight to the dignity of what was then known as the Negro Community. Throughout America's history, Americans of African descent have been enslaved in the past, and are sometimes treated as second class citizens in America even today. Heretofore, promises have been made and broken. Today, if we are to believe the reports from the African American community, most recently by Voices from Blacks associated with both the Democratic and Republican parties, during the RNC Convention, there is light on the horizon. President Donald John Trump has made and kept many promises; including making good the check to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, making good opportunities for paychecks with a rise in jobs for African Americans, and bringing about the return of nonviolent offenders to grateful families and communities. With his MAGA strategy, President Trump, with promises made and promises kept, and his reminder that we must worship God and not government, has produced great gains on behalf of the African-American community and for all Americans; making good on the American dream for every American. Now is the time, on this MLK I HAVE A DREAM DAY, to raise our voices in unity. We must decry all violence and injustice. MLK once said: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Breaking news: Jacob Blake should not be shackled. He is a human being. NON VIOLENT protests from athletes should be heard. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice anywhere. Black man shackled, white man shooting protestors free to go home? Answers please! Therefore, to fix what is broken: Racist Police Brutality must cease. Mob and Gang Violence must cease. There must be a real and unified war on poverty. Abortion and the War on the Womb must cease. The fight against religious freedom must cease. The fight against the nuclear family must cease. HUMAN DIGNITY MATTERS. GOD'S LOVE MATTERS. As MLK also said, "We must learn to live together as brothers," and I add, as sisters, "or perish together as fools." My brothers and sisters, we are one blood, one human race here in America. We have so much to gain. We are not color blind. We see clearly that skin color denotes ethnicity, not race. As one blood, one race, let us rise up and live. The dream of MLK lives on and will grow into greater reality as we pray and work together. Ronan Hughes admitted 39 counts of manslaughter. (PA/Essex) A haulier has pleaded guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter after migrants were found dead in the back of a container in Essex. The bodies of Vietnamese men, women and children were discovered in Grays after it arrived in Purfleet on a ferry in October 2019. An inquest heard they died from asphyxia and hyperthermia a lack of oxygen and overheating. Ronan Hughes, 40, from County Armagh, Northern Ireland, also admitted one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration between 1 May 2018 and 24 October 2019 at the Old Bailey on Friday. It was alleged he played a leading role, using his trailers and drivers to transport migrants. Eamonn Harrison, 23, of Mayobridge, County Down, Northern Ireland, pleaded not guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Ronan Hughes, 40, from Co Armagh in Northern Ireland, has pleaded guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter. (PA/Essex Police) The defendants all appeared at the Old Bailey. (PA) He is alleged to have driven the lorry trailer to Zeebrugge, Belgium, before it sailed to Purfleet. Gazmir Nuzi, 42, from North London, pleaded guilty to a single charge of assisting unlawful immigration on or before October 11 2019 and April 18 2020. In April, Maurice Robinson, 25, a lorry driver from Craigavon in Northern Ireland, who found the bodies after transporting the container from Purfleet to Grays, pleaded guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration of non-European Union citizens and acquiring criminal property, but denied a further charge of transferring criminal property. In June, Romanian Alexandru-Ovidiu Hanga, 28, from Essex, admitted one count of conspiring to assist unlawful immigration between May 2018 and October 2019. Harrison now faces an Old Bailey trial in October with three other defendants. Gheorghe Nica, 43, of Basildon, Essex, has previously denied 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Valentin Calota, 37, of Birmingham, and Christopher Kennedy, 23, of County Armagh, Northern Ireland, deny being part of a people smuggling conspiracy. The two volunteers who were administered the Covishield vaccine developed by Oxford University and being mass-produced by city-based Serum Institute of India (SII), as part of phase II clinical trial have reported being stable, even as shots were given to three more volunteers on Thursday. There were given the doses on Wednesday. According to Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College and Hospital, Katraj campus, the first two candidates, both men, aged 32 and 48 years, have not reported any complaints and all their vital parameters appeared to be normal even after 24 hours. I have not reported any fever or pain since Wednesday. I have also started my routine work, said one of the candidates who come from the health sector and was also a candidate for the swine flu vaccine in 2009. A day later, three more volunteers, two females and a male were given shots of the vaccine, which is one of the front-runners in global efforts of vaccines to prevent deadly virus Sars-Cov-2 which causes the Covid-19 infection. These were tested on Wednesday to ascertain if they have antibodies, the absence of which made them eligible to be a candidate for human trials. Besides Bharati Vidyapeeth, another city-based hospital KEM is involved in conducting human trials. The KEM hospital has carried out Covid and antibodies test on five volunteers and go ahead administering vaccine shots if they come negative at its Vadhu campus. All these candidates, according to Dr Jitendra Oswal, deputy medical director at Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College and Hospital, will once again be given another dose after a month. We are in touch with the two candidates who were given vaccine doses. Neither of them has reported systemic illness or pain and fever in the 24 hours ending Thursday afternoon. We will continue to monitor all the candidates being given the shots, said Dr Oswal. The hospital has deputed doctors to monitor the health condition of each candidate daily. All the five volunteers were allowed to go home within minutes of being administered the vaccine, said hospitals medical director Dr Sanjay Lalwani. Serum Institute of India had asked the hospital to carry out clinical trials on over 300 candidates. We are planning to inject vaccine doses in at least 25 candidates within a week, said Lalwani. According to him, the eligibility criteria is that the person must be aged between 18-99 years without any co-morbidities. He or she has to be tested negative for the virus, and also for antibodies of the virus. So, the person must not be currently, or previously have been, infected by Covid. While candidates will not be given any compensation for trails, the hospital is bearing the cost of tests and trails along with any medical treatment to volunteers, if necessary. Serum Institute of India, the worlds 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 Serum Institute of India in an email asked for restraint in disclosing the interim data about trials, which according to Vaccine manufacturer, will be concluded in the next two months. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday reviewed the preparations for Asias largest air show, Aero India, to be staged at the Yelahanka air base outside Bengaluru next year in the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic, officials familiar with development said on Friday. Also read: IAF to formally induct Rafale jets on September 10 The biennial air show will be staged from February 3 to 7 with all the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the disease, the officials said. Singh is monitoring all developments related to the international aerospace and defence exhibition. The defence ministrys spokesperson on Friday tweeted that the air show is taking wings and the minister reviewed the roadmap for Aero India-2021. All precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 will be followed. Its a prestigious event and will be held as planned. Top defence firms have shown interest in taking part in the show, the officials said. The air show is a significant event in the defence ministrys calendar, given that self-reliance in the sector is a top priority for the government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India had the potential to become a reliable weapons supplier to friendly foreign countries and strengthen its strategic partnerships as it takes strides towards self-reliance in the defence sector. India has taken several key steps to boost self-reliance in the defence sector such as creating a separate budget for the purchase of locally-produced military hardware, notifying a negative import list and raising the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit. Earlier this month, the government announced a separate budgetary outlay of 52,000 crore for domestic capital procurement and came out with a negative import list. Indian announced on August 9 that it will ban the import of 101 different types of weapons, systems and ammunition over the next five years --- from artillery guns to light military transport aircraft and conventional submarines to long-range land attack cruise missiles. The PM said more defence items would be progressively added to the negative import list to encourage the domestic industry that can look forward to more orders in the coming times as a result of initiatives taken to boost self-reliance. The government is likely to notify a second negative import list early next year. Ahead of Aero India-2021, the defence ministry is likely to issue a request for proposal for building next-generation submarines in the country, one of the costliest Make in India programmes in the military sector. Six advanced submarines will be built under 50,000-crore project P-75I to scale up the navys undersea warfare capabilities and counter the rapid expansion of Chinas submarine fleet. The project will be pursued under the governments strategic partnership (SP) model, which seeks to provide fillip to the governments Make in India programme. The Indian strategic partners cleared to collaborate with foreign vendors are Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited and L&T. The foreign yards they can team up with for the project are the French Naval Group, German conglomerate Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Russias Rubin Design Bureau, Spains Navantia and South Koreas Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Company. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Carbon monoxide poisoning from generators has appeared to kill more people in Louisiana and Texas than Hurricane Laura itself, claiming at least eight lives on the Gulf Coast. Lake Charles, La., Fire Chief Shawn Caldwell said Friday that five people were found dead inside a home there after running a generator in the attached garage, although the Louisiana governors office later said it received a report that four people were inside that home. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso confirmed another death due to carbon monoxide poisoning. He did not explicitly say that was caused by a generator. And a Justice of the Peace in Port Arthur, Texas, has confirmed three deaths stemming from a carbon monoxide incident at a pool room there. Three others were taken to the hospital from that scene, where a generator was found running inside the business. Theyre not with us anymore. Its troubling. Its scary, said Caldwell, the fire chief, of the Lake Charles victims. Everybody out there is trying the generator Guys, keep it away from your home Dont let a generator cost your life. Thousands of people remain without power after the storm, increasing usage of generators. Residents sometimes are concerned the devices will be stolen if kept outside the house. Consumer Reports says users should never run a generator in an enclosed space. Instead, it should be kept at least 20 feet from the home, with the exhaust directed away from the building. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas emitted by many portable generators. The National Institutes of Health say the gas can prove lethal in as little as five minutes by impeding the bloods ability to carry oxygen. People are running generators indoors through very poorly ventilated areas, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said Friday. That is just an ultra-hazardous thing to do. So Im encouraging everybody: Until the lights come back on, please dont do that. Sheriff Mancuso said four people died from the same cause in aftermath of Hurricane Rita, including one of his deputies. The exact death toll from Hurricane Laura is unclear. Gov. Edwards said Friday afternoon the death toll in Louisiana is 10, including five from carbon monoxide poisoning. The governors office said it was working to confirm the number of people inside the Lake Charles house. Four people, including a 14-year-old girl and 68-year-old, have been killed by fallen trees, and another man drowned in a sunken boat, the governor said. Beaumont Enterprise staff writers Isaac Windes and Jorge Ramos contributed to this report. The official COVID-19 death toll in Illinois may not account for at least 1,000 fatalities -- and potentially far more -- that could be attributable to the pandemic, according to a Tribune analysis of federal data. Through July 25, Illinois had officially recorded 7,397 COVID-19 deaths. But public health experts say that for a fuller picture of the pandemics toll, its important to look at so-called excess deaths -- or deaths beyond the number that would typically occur during a given time period. Examining excess deaths can help capture both COVID-19 cases that went uncounted and the greater numbers of deaths from conditions exacerbated by the pandemic, such as untreated heart attacks or fatal drug overdoses. There is an excess mortality, even though were doing our best to capture all these COVID-19 deaths, said Dr. Ponni Arunkumar, Cook Countys chief medical examiner. Just looking at the excess mortality after this pandemic ends is the only way we can get a true sense of the numbers of deaths due to COVID-19. From Feb. 2 through July 25, Illinois had officially recorded 10,252 more deaths than typically would be expected, according to historical data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Helping explain much of that excess are the 7,397 COVID-19 deaths reported during that period. But that still leaves an additional 2,855 deaths beyond what is typical. In essence, thats 1 in 4 excess deaths in that period not explicitly labeled as being caused by COVID-19. Some of these deaths likely were directly or indirectly caused by the pandemic despite not being recorded as such. That number might be as low as roughly 1,000 additional deaths, or it could be more than twice as many, according to different CDC estimates. The Tribune, in its analysis of CDC data, found unusual rises in deaths labeled as flu/pneumonia in the early stages of the pandemic -- as early as two weeks before Illinois logged its first official COVID-19 death. Health officials have said it could be easy to mistake COVID-19 for the flu or pneumonia, particularly when testing was scarce and knowledge of the virus limited. Other possible contributing factors to the states overall higher death toll: larger-than-normal numbers of deaths blamed on heart disease, Alzheimers disease, diabetes and stroke. Add to that the more publicized jumps in homicides, suicides and fatal drug overdoses in communities that the virus has also hit hard. Researchers say some people already fighting chronic conditions may have contracted the virus, which then triggered deadly events -- for example, someone with a heart issue getting sick with COVID-19 and then dying after a heart attack without ever being tested. Others may have placed the wrong bet on the likeliest way to stay alive when they avoided crucial medical care for fear of catching the virus. Regardless, the data shows the toll has fallen heavily on nonwhite residents. In early May, for example, Hispanic residents of Illinois saw three times as many deaths as has been typical for that period -- with most, but not all, of those extra deaths blamed on COVID-19. A lot remains unknown about this years deaths because the federal data isnt up to date or complete. Still, researchers say theres enough to get a better idea of the pandemics toll. Heres what we can tell from the latest data: The COVID-19 spike First, the effect of the pandemic on deaths in the state is undeniable. Far more people have died this year than is typical. The simplest way to calculate the number of excess deaths in a given week is to average the deaths that occurred in past years, then compare that figure with the number of deaths during the same week this year. Any deaths above the average are considered excess deaths. But even in nonpandemic times, death figures fluctuate from week to week and year to year. So the CDC also uses a statistical model to calculate the number that a spike in deaths would have to hit to be considered significantly higher than the average for that week. By the first measure, Illinois saw 10,252 more deaths than usual from Feb. 2 through July 25. Of those deaths, 7,490 were part of weekly numbers so high they were considered to be statistically significant. It would be easy to assume that COVID-19 was responsible for nearly all the excess deaths. After all, the conservative estimate of total excess deaths -- 7,490 through July 25 -- is pretty close to the 7,397 COVID-19 deaths reported by the state as of that date. But the truth is likely a bit more complicated, partly because states can be late in supplying the CDC with death data and partly because some weeks saw numbers that exceeded the known COVID-19 deaths. After trying to account for those factors, the CDC estimates that 3,569 excess deaths occurred in Illinois from February through July that were not labeled as COVID-19. Of those, 1,057 were part of weekly spikes big enough to be considered statistically significant. Missing COVID-19 deaths? So if some excess deaths were not labeled as COVID-19, what types of deaths are they? With people near death often fighting a variety of ailments, its not always easy to determine the underlying cause that triggers the chain of events leading to a death. Health experts said a new virus only complicated things, likely leading to some mislabeling. As an example, researchers point to deaths that doctors said were triggered by seasonal influenza or pneumonia, which share symptoms with COVID-19. In the first week in March, 92 Illinois deaths were attributed to the flu or pneumonia, up from an average of 55 in that week from 2014 through 2019. Thats a week before the state or Cook County issued disaster declarations and up to two weeks before Illinois recorded its first official COVID-19 death, of a retired Chicago nurse. Back then, there was little testing available and limited knowledge of the virus as it began taking hold in the Chicago area. Few doctors were sending potential COVID-19 cases to the medical examiners office for review until mid-March. But as time went on, people became more aware. There was more testing done at the hospitals. And we started getting more cases, Arunkumar said. Even as awareness grew, the state continued to see more deaths from the flu or pneumonia than is typical. Through the end of March there were 125 more deaths than usual, the vast majority in weekly numbers so large they could not be easily explained as statistical quirks. Through early May, when flu and pneumonia deaths began tracking closer to average, the number of above-average flu/ pneumonia deaths topped 200. Daniel Weinberger, an epidemiologist at Yale University who has studied excess deaths, noted that the increase in deaths from infectious respiratory diseases -- including COVID-19 -- occurred even though the recent flu season was relatively mild and the pandemic lockdown likely limited the spread of infectious disease in general. Deaths from other diseases Though most of 2020\u2032s excess deaths in Illinois were caused by COVID-19, there have also been higher-than-normal numbers of deaths attributed to other underlying conditions. Conditions with significantly higher numbers of deaths than usual include Alzheimers disease, diabetes, heart disease and cerebrovascular problems that affect blood flow to the brain, such as strokes, each rising above average at slightly different times during the pandemic: Experts say some of these deaths also may be undiagnosed COVID-19 cases. Weinberger of Yale said he thinks that could explain most of the rise in deaths from Alzheimers disease, particularly for patients suffering from the disease in nursing homes early in the pandemic. The Cook County medical examiner diagnosed COVID-19 in roughly 80 people with Alzheimers disease who died, and those deaths were coded as COVID-19 cases. But more COVID-19 deaths among Alzheimers patients may have been missed if the infection went undiagnosed, particularly for patients who may have struggled to understand or communicate symptoms. For other conditions, the reasons for the increase are murkier. It could be that undiagnosed coronavirus infections triggered the worst of other diseases. It could be that patients without COVID-19 were afraid to venture out to seek important treatment. Most likely, experts said, its a combination of factors thats hard to untangle. Consider the states No. 1 killer: heart disease. Dr. C. Michael Gibson, a Harvard University cardiologist, said the new coronavirus inflames blood vessels and can cause clots, while producing a fever that puts more stress on the heart, all of which can further damage the heart muscle. Some deaths attributed to heart attacks might actually have been triggered by a COVID-19 infection, he said. At the same time, people with heart issues may have been leery of venturing out and catching the virus. Studies show emergency room visits plunging early in the pandemic, with potentially fatal consequences for people having a heart attack. We think people are riding them out at home, and thats not a good idea, Gibson said. And when people do come in, they come in very late, a day or two later, and at that point, the horse is out of the barn. Dr. Shyam Prabhakaran, who chairs the University of Chicago Medicines neurology department, said theres some evidence the new coronavirus can spur strokes. But he said he believes the jump in stroke deaths is more likely because hospital visits by stroke patients dropped steeply during the height of the pandemic, suggesting that many simply stayed home. Thats a dangerous gamble for a condition whose symptoms often seem mild at first. People might be on the fence about it. You might say, Well, maybe itll go away. Maybe its not worth the exposure to COVID. Maybe I can just sit it out. And those kinds of patients could worsen at home, he said. Doctors told the Tribune they believe testing has advanced enough to correctly label nearly every death of someone carrying the virus. They also said they hope the message is getting through to people with chronic conditions that its important to continue to seek help as they did before the pandemic. Theres a lot of confusion and a lot of fear about whether the hospital is a safe place, Prabhakaran said. Most of my patients who ask, I just tell them, Well, actually the hospital is probably a safer place to go than the grocery store, in terms of what we do to protect you to getting exposed to COVID. What else do the numbers show? Another key finding in the number of excess deaths: a stark racial and ethnic divide. While non-Hispanic white Illinoisans saw weekly deaths rise as high as 32% above the averages seen in recent years, Black residents in early April saw roughly 100% more deaths than normal. In early May, Hispanic deaths rose by more than 200% above the average, and Asian residents deaths spiked nearly as high then too. The divide is evident even when looking at deaths not directly blamed on COVID-19. Weekly deaths of Asian residents were up to 73% higher than average, even without the fatalities attributed to the virus. For Black and Hispanic people, weekly tallies of nonvirus deaths peaked at 52% and 44% higher than average, respectively. For non-Hispanic white residents, the weekly peak of nonvirus deaths was 11% higher than the norm. Another way to look at it is to take the first week in May, amid a particularly deadly stretch of the pandemic. That week in Illinois: *1,915 non-Hispanic white residents died, with 1,579 not blamed on COVID-19, which is still above the average in past years of 1,461 deaths that week. *587 Black residents died, with 388 not blamed on COVID-19, still above the average of 310. *329 Hispanic residents died, with 127 not blamed on COVID-19, still above the average of 102. *106 Asian residents died, with 64 not blamed on COVID-19, still above the average of 41. These findings track with how the virus took hold initially in the Chicago area, where it penetrated economically disadvantaged communities facing more health challenges, and with some groups more likely to work essential jobs that can put them and their families in harms way. Some of the excess deaths could be partly explained by other troubling trends. For one, fatal opioid overdoses in Cook County are on track to double from the previous year. While some tests are pending, officials expect to have logged roughly 1,200 such deaths through early July, compared with 605 over the same period last year. Chicago homicides also hit 433 deaths in the first seven months of 2020, fueled by a July that saw more killings than any month since 1992. And at least 58 Black residents have died by suicide so far in 2020, more than in all of 2019. Last month, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle blamed the boost in overdoses and homicides on desperation and hopelessness in communities suffering centuries -- centuries -- of racial inequity. After a report by The Trace revealed the increase in Black suicides, she said it was not surprising the communities that have suffered the most are the ones who also have the least. Researchers caution that much still remains unknown about the pandemics true death toll. It could take months, perhaps years, to piece together not only how many more people died, but also why. Until we get finalized death certificates, its going to be difficult to say whats going on with some of these categories, Weinberger said. EDWARDSVILLE As part of its ongoing dialogue on race relations and equality in Edwardsville, Mayor Hal Pattons community action group has the results of its race relations and equality survey, which closed Aug. 24 and had 426 respondents. The majority of respondents identified as White (77 percent), while 15 percent, or 64 people, of those surveyed identified as Black. Eight people (1.9 percent) self-identified as Asian/Pacific Islander and four (0.9 percent) as Hispanic. Nearly one-third of those who answered (28.4 percent or 121) are between 30 and 39 years old. One hundred and ten are between 40 and 49 years old (25.8 percent). Nineteen people (4.5 percent) said they were at least 70 years old. There was only one response (0.2 percent) from anyone 18 or under. The first question, Have you experienced or observed/witnessed racism or other inequalities in Edwardsville? was answered by all respondents. Affirmatives outnumbered negatives 236-190 or 55.4 percent to 44.6 percent. One hundred fifty-three people (35.9 percent) chose to give long answers. Some of the long answers covered a wide range: When you see trucks going up and down my street flying a confederate flag on the same day of a BLM protest. I have seen it at local bars and restaurants. Read about it at the local high school and multiple accounts on social media. There is nowhere in the US where racism doesnt exist in some form. There is not adequate representation of the multiple ethnicities in this city in all the levels of city government or city employees. Landlords have been discriminatory against minorities and poorer residents. There are plenty of racist residents of Edwardsville who do not feel that people of color and immigrants have a place in this community. In my neighborhood, I have heard comments from specific neighbors that a Black family wouldnt be welcome as new neighbors. These same neighbors freaked out over a young Black salesmen [sic] walking the neighborhood to sell windows and tried to get other neighbors to call the police. Almost 97 percent answered the question, Do you believe members of minority groups are being held back by discrimination in our community? The affirmatives edged out the nos, 214-199. When asked if they know their city alderman or alderwoman, 96.9 percent replied, with 52.6 percent answering yes. When it came to discussing housing in town, 23 percent of those surveyed agree that the current housing is sufficient to meet all of the residents needs. More than 28 percent disagreed with that statement and 20.2 percent were neutral on the subject. On the subject of whether the area schools (public or private) give adequate education, 37.1 percent agreed while 10.3 percent disagreed. Another 36.4 strongly agreed. On the topic of city services being adequate for all residents, 33.3 percent of those surveyed agreed and 26.1 percent strongly agreed while 12 percent disagreed, and 2.1 percent strongly disagreed. The remainder were neutral. Related to that, 7.3 percent said the citys police department was inadequate, followed by streets (6.6 percent), parks (4 percent), water (3.5 percent), sewer (2.8 percent) fire department (2.6 percent) and library (2.3 percent). However, only 56 people answered this question. When it came to describing which city services are adequate, 242 people answered. The library led the way with 53.5 percent, followed by the parks and recreation department at 52.3 percent; the fire department at 52.1 percent; the water department at 51.2 percent; the police department at 50.2 percent; sewer at 50 percent and streets at 43.7 percent. Everyone answered whether they feel safe in Edwardsville 43.7 agreed, and 46.9 strongly agreed while 1.4 percent strongly disagreed. Eight percent remained neutral on this topic. No one strongly disagreed. Respondents were clear on the topic of adequate minority representation in city government, police department and city employees. A total of 57.7 percent of the 403 people said no. According to those surveyed, the two areas that need minority representation the most are the police department (47.4 percent) and city government (52.1 percent). Over 24 percent of those surveyed described race relations in town as poor, while 50.7 percent of them said they are good. The rest said it is excellent. Almost 55 percent of 419 people believe a citizens review committee to improve police accountability, among other items, is needed. Almost 21 percent disagreed. The rest were neutral. Asked if this review committee could be filled with the current fire and police commissioners, 41.5 percent of 210 who answered said no. Police Chief Jay Keeven noted in June that this board of commissioners is comprised of civilians, not police officers or city staff members. The commission met once in July and once in August. Its next meeting is Sept. 1 at 5 p.m. at city hall, located at 118 Hillsboro Ave. Neutral answers led the way when it came to those who believe that the city pays attention to race relations and inequities, or 26.5 percent. Nearly 25 percent agreed while 20.9 percent disagreed. In addition, 19 percent strongly agreed, and 7.3 percent strongly disagreed. Lastly, 55.4 percent of respondents agreed their privileges did not extend to others. Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at 618-659-5735 People tell a multitude of stories about themselves: who they are, what they believe in, what they imagine life is all about. As theologian Joshua D. Chatraw sees it, the core task of Christian apologetics today is helping nonbelievers recognize themselves in the story God tells in Scripture. Chatraw, executive director of the Center for Public Christianity and theologian-in-residence at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, is the author of Telling a Better Story: How to Talk About God in a Skeptical Age. Kristi Mair, a research fellow at Oak Hill College in London and the author of More Truth: Searching for Certainty in an Uncertain World, spoke with Chatraw about the role of imagination in gospel persuasion. Why do you focus on the role of story in apologetics? Reason and logic are important. However, all our reason and logic happen within a certain frameworkin the book, I call it the grand story, the true story that Christianity tells. Story is our lingua franca. Everyone has a story. People think in stories. Rather than relying on syllogistic reasoning, we can let story serve as the common ground. Apologetics can quickly become a monologue rather than a dialogue. When we ask people about their stories, we get some appreciation of their values, their aspirations, and their sense of what makes for a good life. And we can see where their ideals might conflictor overlapwith the Christian story. So rather than starting the conversation on our turf, we start it on theirs. Theologically, I know their deepest longings will never be satisfied as long as they are looking in all the wrong places. They were made to worship God, but because of sin, they are worshiping alternatives that will eventually let them down. I want to tap into their aspirations by showing how only the Christian story can fulfill them. Closely related to the importance of story is the importance of appealing to the imagination. How can doing this help us better share and defend the Christian faith? All human beings live within some kind of social imaginary, as the philosopher Charles Taylor would describe it. This means weve inherited social norms and moral beliefs we would hardly think to question because we havent really reasoned our way into them in the first place. Persuasion is hard work, especially in our polarized age. If our approach to persuasion is just breaking things down to their smallest logical bits, we miss the way people make the biggest decisions. To persuade someone of something important, you need to give them the big picture and go for their heart. Its through our imaginations that we put things together in a comprehensive way, realizing how we long for something morea home weve never seen. C.S. Lewis was getting at this idea when he wrote about believing in Christianity not only because he could understand it but because through it he could understand everything else. All of us have existential pressure points concerning questions of meaning, hope, beauty, love, and morality. If we arent getting our coordinates from the Christian story, we will get them somewhere else. Our role in speaking to nonbelievers is to ask which story best makes sense of all the existential realities they experience. We can communicate how the Christian story actually out-narrates the story they are assuming or subconsciously living out. Beyond appealing to the imaginations of non-believers, you also emphasize paying close attention to the stories forming in our own imaginations. Why is that? In our culture, the phenomenon of deconversion stories seems to be gaining steam. At least part of the blame belongs to popular forms of apologetics that give the impression of having all the answers. Article continues below Christianity is often presented as a rational trail of evidence which, when followed, will naturally make you a Christian. This may be a bit of a caricature, but Ive sat in on those youth talks. People grow up and discover that things are more complicated. If theyve grown up with a binary view of Christians as smart and atheists as stupid, then eventually theyll realize this isnt fair or true. As Christians, we have our own mysteries or pressure points that were not sure how to resolve. But in our concern to reassure younger believers, weve at times built a culture of hard, rationalistic Christianity. And when that happens, dont be surprised if they sometimes end up walking away. Christianity does offer explanations, but it cant be reduced to that. Christianity is about meeting our Creator God in the person of Christ and living in relationship with him through the power of the Holy Spirit. It doesnt answer every question you might have, even if it has greater explanatory power than any of its rivals. We need to teach young believers that these mysteries themselves are glorious. If we arent clear about the limits of rational argument alone, we do them a great disservice. What would it look like for this kind of apologetic vision to take root in the church? In a post-Christendom context, we need to think more carefully about what goes into a churchs apologetics curriculum. I see apologetics as a culminating discipline. It has to be a team sport, in which were drawing from disciplines like history, philosophy, and theology in both our preaching and our larger apologetic witness. This means pastors need a different sort of training. If this approach took root, we would have a growing movement of pastor-apologists. In fact, this is what happened in the first three centuries of the church as it ministered in a pluralistic culture. Most of the early church fathers were pastors who wrote apologetic works. Apart from pastor-apologists, how else can the church reach skeptical outsiders? It helps to consider Augustines account in his Confessions of meeting Ambrose, then the bishop of Milan. When Augustine appeared in Milan, he wasnt yet a Christian. He heard Ambrose preach, and some of that was beginning to make a difference. But there was something about the kindness Ambrose demonstrated that left a greater impression than any of his arguments. My point is that the strongest apologetic impact often happens when the people of God embody the gospel. When outsiders see a community that loves one another, cares for the world, and models grace, this is enticingand it brings credibility. Apologetic arguments always happen within an embodied context. Unless we demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit, its probable our arguments will fall on deaf ears, even if they are good arguments. In a world scarred by COVID-19, where face-to-contact is limited, how can we put the principles of your book into action? In the book, I talk about how Christianity is seen as irrelevant. There is a lethargy toward religion. In part, thats because we are such a distracted people. As Pascal might have put it, we have all these diversions in our lives, but on some level we know theyre making us miserable. With COVID-19, however, were missing at least some of these diversions. Were having to sit quietly, but we cant. For many people, this is a moment of intense anxiety and loneliness. Reaching out to our neighbors and asking meaningful questions about their lives seems like an obvious way of opening doors. When we discuss the angst we feel, it creates momentum for exploring whether something deeper is going onwhether there really is something the matter with the world, both out there and in here. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Whilst it may not be a huge deal, we thought it was good to see that the Savannah Energy Plc (LON:SAVE) Non-Executive Director, David Clarkson, recently bought UK70k worth of stock, for UK0.092 per share. Even though that isn't a massive buy, it did increase their holding by 212%, which is arguably a good sign. See our latest analysis for Savannah Energy The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Savannah Energy Notably, that recent purchase by David Clarkson is the biggest insider purchase of Savannah Energy shares that we've seen in the last year. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, at around the current price, which is UK0.097. That means they have been optimistic about the company in the past, though they may have changed their mind. If someone buys shares at well below current prices, it's a good sign on balance, but keep in mind they may no longer see value. The good news for Savannah Energy share holders is that an insider was buying at near the current price. David Clarkson was the only individual insider to buy during the last year. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Insider Ownership of Savannah Energy Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Our data suggests Savannah Energy insiders own 2.8% of the company, worth about UK2.7m. However, it's possible that insiders might have an indirect interest through a more complex structure. We prefer to see high levels of insider ownership. Story continues So What Do The Savannah Energy Insider Transactions Indicate? It is good to see the recent insider purchase. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. However, we note that the company didn't make a profit over the last twelve months, which makes us cautious. We would certainly prefer see higher levels of insider ownership but analysis of the insider transactions suggests that Savannah Energy insiders are expecting a bright future. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Savannah Energy. For example, Savannah Energy has 3 warning signs (and 1 which is concerning) we think you should know about. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com. The US economy contracted 31.7% (revised estimate) on an annualized basis in the second quarter, marking the steepest decline ever. The COVID-19 pandemic erased millions of jobs and crushed several businesses. The fate of the companies in the industrial sector is closely tied to the economy. Heavy equipment manufacturers like Deere and Caterpillar are significantly impacted by the economic downturn. However, Deeres recent results indicated that the situation may be better-than-feared. We will analyze the recent performance of Deere and Caterpillar and use the TipRanks Stock Comparison tool to see which stock offers a more compelling investment opportunity. Deere (DE) Deere impressed investors with its better-than-anticipated results for the third quarter of fiscal 2020 (ended August 2) and a better outlook for the full fiscal year despite continued uncertainty. The companys fiscal third-quarter revenue declined 11.1% to $8.93 billion and EPS fell 8.5% Y/Y to $2.57 as shipments dropped amid the crisis. The farm equipment company, which derived about 68% of its last years net sales from the Agriculture and Turf business, stated that the demand for small tractors remained strong in the quarter due to an increase in projects for home and property owners amid the pandemic. The segments sales declined 5% to $5.67 billion due to lower shipment volumes. But the decline was lower than anticipated supported by higher pricing. It now expects fiscal 2020 sales for the Agriculture and Turf business to fall 10% compared to the previous forecast of 10% to 15% decline. That's thanks to the benefit from replacement demand as the farm equipment fleet continues to age out. Deeres Construction and Forestry segments sales fell 28% to $2.19 billion reflecting lower shipment amid the crisis, partially offset by higher pricing to some extent. The company is now anticipating a 25% fall in the segments fiscal 2020 sales, reflecting an improved outlook compared to the previous forecast of a 30% to 40% drop. Story continues Most importantly, Deere has been curbing its production to right-size its inventory levels and is also cutting down costs amid challenging market conditions. These efforts and a faster than anticipated recovery helped the company raise its fiscal 2020 net income forecast to $2.25 billion, up from the previous projection of $1.6 to $2.0 billion. At the same time, Deere plans to intensify its investments in Precision Agriculture as farmers are seeking advanced technologies and more automation. It is also enhancing its capabilities in the aftermarket and retrofit business. Following the results, RBC Capital analyst Seth Weber increased his price target for Deere stock to $228 from $180. The analyst maintained his Buy rating as the companys fiscal third-quarter results and improved guidance for fiscal 2020 highlight its "ability to navigate fluid markets". Weber also raised his fiscal 2020 EPS estimate to $7.21 from $6.15 and fiscal 2021 view to $9.45 from $8.65. He believes that the company is well-positioned for fiscal 2021 based on its agriculture orders and declining inventory in construction. (See DE stock analysis on TipRanks) Based on 12 Buys, 4 Holds and 1 Sell, Deere scores a Moderate Buy consensus from the Street. Deere stock was up about 21.8% year-to-date as of August 26. An average analyst price target of $217.44 indicates a further upside of 3.1% over the next 12 months. Caterpillar (CAT) Caterpillar beat analysts predictions for the second quarter but COVID-19 caused a significant decline in its top-line and earnings due to lower demand in the companys end markets. The second-quarter revenue fell 30.7% Y/Y to $10 billion while its adjusted EPS plunged 70.3% to $0.84. The pandemic caused Caterpillars dealers to cut machine and engine inventories by about $1.4 billion compared to an increase of $500 million in 2019s second quarter. Revenue from the companys larger segments--Construction Industries and Energy & Transportation fell 37.4% and 24.4%, respectively. And revenue from Resource Industries and Financial Products declined 35.2% and 12.6%. One favorable trend in the second quarter was that the Asia Pacific business fared better than North America due to improved demand in China. Caterpillar did not provide any full-year guidance, unlike Deere. But, it cautioned that it expects dealers to reduce their inventory by over $2 billion by year-end. The company expects the residential construction business to improve in North America and drive the demand for small equipment. Deere is also optimistic about the medium and long-term prospects for mining, although it expects the overall demand for Resource Industries to remain soft. Within the Energy & Transportation business, the company expects to benefit from demand for data centers and emergency power while continued challenges in oil and gas might hurt the demand for reciprocating engines. On August 3, Credit Suisse analyst Jamie Cook raised her price target for Caterpillar to $159 from $144 and maintained a Buy rating based on a better-than-expected quarter. Cook noted that the market was disappointed by Caterpillar's third-quarter forecast which indicates that the sales and margins will be down sequentially, implying that the second quarter is not the trough of earnings. However, the analyst believes that Caterpillars earnings will bounce back next year and that the companys bottom line has been more resilient than in prior downturns. (See CAT stock analysis on TipRanks) Caterpillar stock has declined about 4% so far in 2020 and the average analyst price target of $141.07 does not indicate a possible upside. Eight Buys, 9 holds and 1 Sell add up to a Moderate Buy rating for Caterpillar stock. The better stock Deere stock has outperformed Caterpillar on a year-to-date basis. Also, analysts on average see more upside in Deere stock compared to Caterpillar. Deeres recent performance has shown that it is more resilient compared to Caterpillar. In particular, Deere has more exposure to farming, while Caterpillar relies more on construction, mining and power equipment. Meanwhile, Caterpillars valuation multiple is lower than Deere and it has a higher dividend yield of 2.9% compared to Deeres 1.4%. However, Deere looks more poised to recover faster post COVID-19. About 70% of analysts covering Deere have a Buy rating vs 44% in the case of Caterpillar. To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment More recent articles from Smarter Analyst: LOS ANGELESThe broadcaster known as AkGingerSnaps tells AVN her cam room on Chaturbate is a team effort. Its me, but its also we, she says. The we includes her husband Smassh and their girlfriend, Lana Mars, both of whom go live on cam with her on a regular basis from their home base in Alaska. Lana is her own thing, but she also is part of us, GingerSnaps says. The polyamorous triothey call themselves a throupleembarked on a tour this summer, driving around the Alaskan wilderness in a motorhome and broadcasting to the world from cabins and campgroundsor anywhere they can find good WiFi. We love it up here, GingerSnaps says. Its absolutely beautiful. There isnt a lot of people. Its really nice. In the midst of her epic road trip Ginger found time to check herself out in Cam_Girlfriend, the breakout comedy series which reaches its season finale today with the 10th episodetitled The Bossavailable exclusively on The Camming Life YouTube channel. Ginger appears at the beginning of Episode 8titled The Competitiondescribing how cam girls know the vast majority of their viewers only by their sometimes ridiculous-sounding usernames. And its something usually sexually graphic, Ginger jokes. Created and co-written by Ethan Cole, produced by CAMGF1 Productions and made possible by the Independent Production Fund, the digital series follows the on- and off-cam hijinks of Chloe Cables, a rising cam model played by exclusive Chaturbate broadcaster and adult star, Lily LaBeau. Each fast-moving episode tackles a realistic cam girl problem from the perspectives of Chloe and her well-meaning boyfriend Mike, who is played by veteran TV personality Dave Keystone. Chloe and Mike discover her profession often intersects with their relationship in unintended ways. A group of accomplished TV, documentary and film pros led by director Daniel AM Rosenbergalong with producer/writer Michael Goldlist and producer Jason Kennedycaptured every episode of Cam_Girlfriend during a 12-day stretch in February 2018 in Toronto. In todays six-minute finale, Mike goes on a search for the truth when he suspects his boss (Neil Malone) may be one of Chloes biggest fans. Does Mikes boss have a secret thing for his girlfriend? And what will Mike do if he can prove it? AkGingerSnaps says from what shes watched the series is pretty spot on. Its on topic with a lot of things that could happen as a cam model, Ginger says. That was by design. The cast and crew placed maximum emphasis on making Cam_Girlfriend sound and feel as real as possibleall while keeping their tongues firmly in cheek. In a nice touch that gives the series an extra layer of authenticity, each episode kicks off with a testimonial-style interview with a popular Chaturbate broadcaster who talks about situations that arise on cam. Today's episode features cam girl and adult performer, Hime Marie, while past installments have also spotlighted MyPerfectHarem, Whaaaaaaaat, Lena Spanks, Avery Black and Sleepy Chew. AkGingerSnaps started her camming journey with Smassh in July 2016. We had been avid viewers of Chaturbate, Ginger recalls. We would watch our favorite cam girls and get horny and have sexlike people do. Then one night we were just chilling and kind of bored and decided to turn the camera on ourselves. We thought, Why dont we just try to do it ourselves? She says Smassh, who is an IT manager, was between jobs at the time, waiting for a high-paying government position in Juno to open up during a hiring freeze. So we just were bored and we tried it and we made 700 dollars in our first cam session, Ginger says. They decided to ride out their new tag on Chaturbate for a week "and it just kept going well. Then once they didnt have the new beside their name anymore, they thought theyd continue giving it a go. "And it was still going well and we were still making money and we said, Why dont we just keep doing this? Ginger adds. It took about two months for Ginger and Smassh to realize they were onto somethingand now four years later theyve become one of the top camming couples on Chaturbate with more than 400,000 followers. Ginger and Smassh both are from South Florida, growing up in the same small town without ever meeting each other until one wild weekend in the Florida Keys. Hes from across the river. Im from the good side of the river and hes from the not-so-good side of the river, Ginger says with a laugh. Hes a few years older than I am. We went to the same high school but we never really met as kids. But our families knew each other. My dad and his mom had gone to the same high school. Smassh attended the University of North Carolina and served 14 years in the Army, where he worked on satellites and computers with a Military Occupational Specialty of 25Cor Radio Operator-Maintainer. He was stationed in Germany for seven years, while Ginger graduated from the University of South Florida in Tampa with a degree in gerontologythe scientific study of aging. I could run a nursing home, she says. I can do nursing home administration. She also is a trained phlebotomist who can draw blood. They met in a shallow swimming pool. We had mutual friends in our hometown who were going down to the Keys to rent a house for Memorial Day weekend, she recalls. There was a little pool in the back where you can wade in thats only 4 feet deep and the guys were talking about jumping off the balcony into the pool. Nobody had done it yet and then Smassh got there. Friends urged Smassh to do it. So he stripped down to nakedness and jumped off the roof and swam up to me and looked at me and said, Youre hot, lets go upstairs. I was sitting next to the pool. I said, Sure, lets do it. I was 21, I was just having a good time! We were talking about getting married within four months of that weekend. They tied the knot in August 2007. Ever since Smassh joined the military when he was 18 he had wanted to move to Alaska, Ginger says. They lived in North Carolina for about seven years, moving to The Last Frontier in 2014. He had been trying to convince me for a while. I was like, I dont know, its kind of far away and its cold and I dont know whats up there, says Ginger, noting theyre based in the Anchorage area in the south central part of the state. They met their girlfriend and now fiancee, native Alaskan Lana Mars, at AkCamGirls, the cam studio they launched that became the largest of its kind in Alaska. The couple also helped Mars launch her porn career and now she is represented by leading talent agency Motley Models for professional bookings and has more than two dozen porn credits since 2018, including scenes for Brazzers, BangBros, Mofos, FTV Girls, Team Skeet and Reality Kings. She came to join our studio and wanted to get into porn, Ginger says. And we all cammed together and vibed really well, and weve just all been together from that point on. Ginger and Smassh dont run their brick-and-mortar studio anymore, but they continue to offer services that assist cam models with key aspects of their businesses such as payouts and processing, social media marketing and general guidance about how to get started and be successful. One of the biggest things is we provide employment verification for cam models, Ginger says. If a model wants to go get an apartment we provide an employment verification through our mainstream company. Smassh also runs FetFan.com, which started as a social networking platform and evolved into a digital and print magazine that is up to its 18th issue. While theyve been traveling this summer Ginger and Lana try to broadcast two or three times a week and Smassh joins when hes not on daddy duty for their three kids. Hell come into on our cam shows and hang out with us or well make people tip to get him to come in so he can play, so he can do his daddy stuff, Ginger says. Weve always been polyamorous. Lana has been with us for three years and she has been our longest and most successful poly relationship. Sometimes theyll do shows in their 14-foot trailer they use to haul their Argo, an eight-wheel, amphibious, all-terrain vehicle. We can pull our Argo out and set up a cute space to cam out of, Ginger says. We also rent a cabin if were in a campground and cam from it. I have three kids, so I cant cam from my RV. Everybody is with us. Summer is ending and well be home schooling soon. Theyve visited Homer, a small city on Kachemak Bay on the Kenai Peninsula. Its a really beautiful place, a pretty famous Alaskan place, Ginger says. We spent a week or two down there and a week in Valdez. Weve gone up and spent a week in Talkeetnaand Willow alsoand the Tolsona area. Ginger says they are big cannabis advocatesshe is sponsored by Cannabaska, a dispensary in Anchorage Its legal up here in Alaska to grow and consume in your own home. Its also recreationally legal now, she says, adding she would be receptive to other weed sponsors, too. Ginger takes pride in the life and career she's created with Smassh. Im really proud of us for doing what we do, Ginger says. Were like a normal family. Smassh and I arent the most gorgeous people. Were pretty average I feel like. Were just like an average family and weve been able to have success in this industry. Im 34. Im not 22, and we have over 400,000 followers on Chaturbate. Im just really proud of how far weve come in this industry and how weve been able to make a name for ourselvesa good name. People want to come to Alaska and want to make content with us. We invite other porn stars to come up and cam with us. Usually theyll stay for a long weekendfly in on a Thursday and go home on a Sunday. In between cam shows well go see Alaska. Well go on a hike or well look around Anchorage. We try to get out and show them things as much as possible. To watch Episode 10 of Cam_Girlfriend, click here. Appendix 4E and Annual Report Melbourne, Aug 27, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - The Group reported a consolidated loss after providing for income tax for the financial year ended 30 June 2020 of $4,501,085, compared to a consolidated loss of $3,257,996 for the financial year ended 30 June 2019.Results of OperationsThe Company recognised net revenue totalling $235,630 (2019: $1,025,052) during the financial year from the sale of products and provision of engineering services, representing a 77.0% decline from previous financial year. This was attributable to a slow down at a contract manufacturer to one of the processes during the first half of the financial year followed by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic with contracted orders mainly in North America and Europe put on hold.Other income increased during the financial year by 29.2% from $1,350,037 to $1,744,370 mainly due to the increase in R&D tax incentive income receivable during the year in line with the increased R&D activities.To view the Annual Report, please visit:About Bluechiip Limited Bluechiip Ltd (ASX:BCT) understands that every sample - stem cells, blood, eggs, sperm and other biospecimens - is critical, so our objective is to manage each one with optimal quality in the most efficient way. Bluechiip's advanced management solution is the only one that provides sample temperature with ID in cryogenic environments to. Most importantly, this delivers confidence in every sample. Bluechiip's unique patented technology is a MEMS-based wireless tracking solution that contains no electronics. It represents a generational change from current tracking methods such as labels (hand-written and pre-printed), barcodes (linear and 2D), and Radio Frequency Identification. Bluechiip tags are either embedded or manufactured into storage products such as vials or bags. Each product can be easily identified, and critical information such as sample temperature, is detected by readers and stored in the Bluechiip software. In addition to functioning in extreme temperatures, the Bluechiip(R) Advanced Sample management solution can survive autoclaving, gamma irradiation sterilization, humidification, centrifuging, cryogenic storage and frosting. Bluechiip's technology has applications in healthcare, including in cryogenic storage facilities (biobanks and biorepositories), pathology, clinical trials and forensics. Other key markets include cold-chain logistics/supply chain, security/defence, industrial/manufacturing and aerospace/aviation. Bluechiip: Delivering confidence in every sample. Delores Tronco-DePierro is the owner of the Banty Rooster. Photo: Scott Heins For three months, Delores Tronco-DePierro and John DePierro served Southwestern fare at their West Village restaurant, the Banty Rooster. Praise quickly rolled in for their take on a cuisine rarely seen in New York City, as did a roster of regulars hungry for pork collar with hatch chile, and the spice-packed bizcochitos. But with the pandemic gutting the number of diners they could seat, and Tronco-DePierro reaching an impasse in lease negotiations, reopening the Banty has proven impossible. Now, the couple, and former Denverites, will say good-bye to New York, and head more than 1,600 miles back west to the Mile-High City to try again. Tronco-DePierro spoke to Grub Street about leaving so soon, and what benefits Denver could offer her and the Banty Rooster 2.0 in a post-COVID-19 world. We opened our doors to the public on December 11, 2019 96 days before the coronavirus hit. The blessing in all of this is that for those three months, I lived what was a lifelong dream: For somebody who grew up in a small town in Colorado to make it here. Thats all I ever wanted. I opened my first restaurant, Work & Class, in Denver in 2014. I wanted it to be a neighborhood restaurant, and then it just sort of blew up. The restaurant had national recognition, we were insanely busy, and I think I got to a point three years into that where I thought, Whats next? I really wanted to keep growing, I wanted the challenge of a tougher market, and New York had never stopped calling. Theres something fascinating to me about Southwestern cuisine, and I felt like it was missing in New York. In a city where I could go find almost anything to eat, I couldnt get green chili. Youd see these little examples Arizona 206 is an example from way back, Bobby Flay had his place, Mesa Grill but still, I just felt it was something that wasnt here, and Southwest was something I felt both Johnny, the executive chef, and I could speak to genuinely. I grew up in Colorado and throughout my childhood wed go to visit New Mexico. Johnnys family moved to El Paso, Texas, when he was 15, and then he spent 17 years in Colorado. After we opened, I was shocked at the number of people that came into the restaurant, and said Im from New Mexico, or they were Coloradans or Texans or people from Arizona that were like Im so homesick, and Im so happy its here. And also people who were experiencing it for the first time and having that ah-ha moment, like, Holy shit where have these hatch chiles been my whole life? Some of my favorite customers were two gentlemen in their early 80s. They lived in the West Village for 40-plus years. These two would come in at 8 oclock, theyd want to have two rounds of martinis, and then theyd want to have dinner. Theyd always want to have dessert. They came in two or three times a month. The reception that we received was exactly what I hoped for, and what my team worked for. But in March, when COVID-19 hit, the ground beneath our feet was shifting daily, maybe even hourly. I decided Sunday morning, March 15, that we would not be continuing. Even a week prior, I had felt that my greatest moral obligation was to keep my staff working, but I quickly felt that my greatest moral obligation was to keep them safe. Not a single one of my staff can afford to live in Manhattan, including myself, and so everybody wouldve been commuting in on trains, and that felt risky. I decided to err on the side of absolute caution, and we closed. At that point my life became a series of emails, webinars, trying to figure out what was possibly available. I did file a business interruption claim, and I received a denial for that claim on the 20th. I also applied for, and received, PPP loans. At the beginning of May, I started in earnest to try to negotiate a rent situation with our landlord, who has owned the building outright since 1998. Reopening is considerable work, and its expensive in a time thats very uncertain. A big piece for me to reopen was knowing I would have a tenable situation moving forward. Our rent for that space is $23,000 a month, and in a pre-COVID-19 environment, that was ok. Is it still a lot? Yes, but it was ok. In a post-COVID-19 environment, that was no longer possible. Our first three months in business, our revenues actually exceeded what I had projected. Post-COVID-19, I put together new projections. I measured our patio area to see how many outdoor seats we could have, looked at factors like on average how many days do we think rain wipes us out the other night the rain came so hard and fast. All of my tables and chairs started getting knocked over and blown into the street. Originally, we had 74 seats. With proper social distancing, wed have 24, so I wrote new projections based on that. Of course, we came up short; its just math. Our reality today is I have 18 seats outdoors, and those seats are completely vulnerable to rain, but I dont have any extra money right now for some kind of awning, and PPP loans cant buy me umbrellas. I still have to pay for insurance, and the PPP was designed to be two-and-a-half months of payroll; as soon as its gone, youre back to paying all of your labor. I offered the landlord $69,000. I prepaid for the month of May, so $23,000, and another $46,000 out of my PPP fund. I asked, Would you be willing to accept that and amortize that toward the end of the year with a percentage of sales on top of that, and well open as soon as we have an agreement worked out? She unfortunately was not open to that. Her statement was that percentage rent is a disincentive for me to work hard, and that she was not in the business of subsidizing her tenants. That was hurtful, because thats not true. It was probably late June when it really hit me there wasnt a long-term path here, and that any future in New York would be wrought with incredible stress, trying to make numbers work when they fundamentally do not work. In that moment, the lightbulb went on, and I thought, I have another option, and that option is to move the Banty to Denver and to go to a market where I have a solid reputation, I have a network of people who are supporters and fans, and there are landlords who are looking for good tenants, and who are willing to put together deals that make sense in light of the current situation. Like, its not even funny. Rent is a fraction of what youd see in New York, maybe half in a desirable neighborhood. Landlords offer tenant improvement dollars and incentivize good tenants to come into spaces. Its not just rent. There are a number of other expenses the insurance costs less, going into business costs less, opening moves faster. My liquor license in New York City by the time I paid the legal fees and for the license was over $60,000, and it took nine months. At certain points, I actually had to go to the State Liquor Authority in person and say, I will sit here today as long as it takes but I need someone to help me. I need to walk away with my liquor license in my hand. In Denver, its a 90-day process and it costs around $10,000. A huge number of people Ive worked with in the industry, who are not necessarily owners theyre chefs, theyre servers, theyre somms are leaving New York. I rehired eight people on my team; six have confirmed that theyll be moving out of state sometime in the next year. Were going to see a lot of the secondary markets grow. We made the decision to reopen for business in New York for one last seven-week farewell tour. Were doing dinner from Wednesday through Saturday, and were selling through the inventory of things we already have, trying to incur as few costs as possible. I also want to have some emotional closure, saying farewell to New York, and this chapter of the Banty Rooster and my life. The hardest part was coming to terms with the fact that something I wanted, and worked so hard for to watch the arc of it. Theres the anticipation and the opening, and then that brief moment of happiness. Its kind of like being the new parent: the baby is finally here, youre exhausted, youre up all night, but its the thing you worked for. I loved it fiercely, and tried for months to make it work. But there were factors that were out of my control and it didnt matter how hard I worked. It didnt matter. I asked myself what lengths I would go to to save this business, and for me, the length became that I would move it across this country. I would leave this place that I love, but Id have a real fighting chance to do what I love to do, and for my husband and me to have our livelihood again. Eat like the experts. Sign up for the Grub Street newsletter. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Terms & Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. Related Trump and the fragility of the American republic Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment President Donald Trumps speech Thursday night accepting the Republican presidential nomination unwittingly highlighted the delicate balances that must be struck if the Republic is to survive, and indirectly revealed the subtle but intense forces that seek to upset the equilibrium. Some criticized the length of Trumps speech. We live in the soundbite age when 70 minutes requires mental endurance. We are far beyond the days when politicians and preachers were expected to speak at least an hour, or often more. Trumps oration was long because he provided much detail, along with some repetition. Ours is not only the soundbite period, but also the age of ambiguity. Thus, it was important for him to get beyond hazy generalizations. The nation needs the positive, confident tone it conveyed without the Trumpisms. Overall, it was a refreshing speech in an era characterized by a pseudo-intellectualism that treasures ambiguity and innuendo. Like it or not, Trump is blunt and head-on. That brings us to the delicate balance essential for the survival of the American Republic. Here are the elements that must be carefully sustained: Recognition and active acceptance of True Transcendence and the accountability that goes with it Trumps mention of God in his acceptance speech may have been intended to put the spotlight on the Democrats exclusion of such reference. There is also evidence that after four years in the Oval Office Trump takes religion seriously. However, expressions in his speech about what he has done came too close at times to the messianic. Without the sense of True Transcendence human beings make human flesh transcendent, as so graphically seen now in nations under state atheism. The American Founders recognize the issue up front, described in the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence: Human rights come from the Creator, and governments are accountable to Him through the people they serve. If Donald Trump does not understand that principle, his very strength could upset the delicate balance. A strong Executive Woodrow Wilson had been a strong president for good or bad until a debilitating stroke in October 1919. Wilsons wife, Edith, took over not only the care of the president, but oversight of the nation itself. Dr. Howard Markel, a medical historian, wrote that she embarked on a bedside government that essentially excluded Wilsons staff, the Cabinet, and the Congress.[1] In a period when the Washington establishment and Deep State work intensely to bring down the Trump presidency, threatening the essential equilibrium, Trump understandably seeks to exert executive power. This is a situation that threatens the survival of constitutional government. So, the good news is that Trump is a strong president. But, the bad news is that Trump is a strong president. The positive side of his strength is that he will make decisions, he will go forward despite opposition and even barrel over it. The negative side is that his strength can deteriorate into authoritarianism. Presidential strength alone becomes dictatorship. Presidential strength linked to balancing components makes for healthy governance. An equally strong Legislative body Checks and balances constitute the equilibrium the architects of the American Republic sought. The Washington Post accused Trump of consistently steamrolling the Congress on some of its most basic functions.[2] However, it could be argued that the House of Representatives especially has weakened itself through diversion of its time and resources to attempt to bring down the Trump presidency. A principled Judiciary The contemporary age is one of intensely passionate ideology and partisanship. Too often that ideology has driven judicial decisions rather than principle. In a sense we are in a period like that of the horrific Supreme Court decision in the Dred Scott case in 1857. Driven by the spirit of the age the high court ruled that Scott could not sue for his emancipation because as a slave he was not considered a citizen and therefore had no standing in the nations courts. In making that decision the Supreme Court trashed the Declaration of Independence principle that all people are created equal, seriously damaging a core principle of the Republic that should protect the freedom of all its people. Thankfully, the decision was overturned in the 13th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution, but only after a devastating civil war. A free, fair, and objective press When establishment media become part of the cabal seeking to, in effect, nullify the vote of the citizens who elected the president, they have abandoned their important function in the constitutional Republic and done it harm. Rather than trying to bring down the president true journalists will seek an objective exposure of fact devoid of spin. The people need information, not opinionated fiction. For example, in some of the coverage Thursday night media sought to delegitimize minorities who supported Trump in their speeches. Politico, for example, inferred that Alice Johnson, a black woman freed from prison by Trump was a prop in his election effort. Such heavy-handed journalism diminishes the media and its vital role in the delicate balance. All this signals that the campaign ahead is going to test the stability of the American enterprise. It is no wonder that Benjamin Franklin, when asked what kind of government the founders had wrought famously replied: A Republic if you can keep it. [1]https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/woodrow-wilson-stroke [2]https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/08/10/trump-keeps-running-roughshod-over-congress/ Rob Kardashian's recent weightloss is changing more than just his health. The notoriously reclusive former reality star has begun 'casually dating' and is setting his sights on returning to his famous family's hit series, a source told Us Weekly on Thursday. The 33-year-old - who has Dream, three, with ex-fiancee Blac Chyna - is continuing to work on his health and general well-being, and he's also re-entered the dating game. Big moves: Rob Kardashian, 33, has begun 'casually dating' and is setting his sights on returning to his famous family's hit series, a source told Us Weekly on Thursday Rob has been romantically linked to model Aileen Gisselle, who recently took to Instagram Story to reveal details of a night out that they spent together. He previously was in a relationship with Blac Chyna in 2016 - the two even had an E! spin-off together. It was a roller coaster of a year for the pair as they got together, got engaged, welcomed daughter dream and then had a messy split. The rocky end to their relationship led to Rob accusing Chyna of infidelity on social media as well as sharing explicit photos of her. Finally: Rob has been romantically linked to model Aileen Gisselle four years after his messy split from Blac Chyna - the mother of his three-year-old daughter Dream (Rob and Chyna pictured in 2016) New girl: Rob's casual new dating life has led to him hanging out with Aileen Gisselle who recently took to Instagram Story to reveal details of a night out that they spent together Those images were later deleted but led to him being banned from Instagram for posting revenge porn. As well as returning to dating, Rob is also set to star in the new season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. A source told the outlet that the former TV personality 'will be on the upcoming season, just not a lot'. Meanwhile, an insider previously claimed Rob had been 'taking really good care of himself' amid the coronavirus pandemic. Come back: As well as returning to dating, Rob is also set to star in the new season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians; the source confirmed that the former TV personality 'will be on the upcoming season, just not a lot' The reality star is a 'very active parent' and has made a conscious effort to embrace a healthier lifestyle in recent times. The source said: 'He's in a good mental state. The combo of all those things and time has really paid off with his fitness and his body. 'He's really focused on being a parent, he lives for Dream and that keeps him in a good place.' Rob has maintained a low-profile in the last few years, as he's made a concerted effort to improve his lifestyle. 'He's in a good mental state. The combo of all those things and time has really paid off with his fitness and his body. He's really focused on being a parent, he lives for Dream and that keeps him in a good place.' (Pictured in 2016) He reportedly felt 'embarrassed' about his appearance for a long time - but he is now healthy and is already feeling better about himself. The insider shared: 'For a long time, he was unhappy and embarrassed about the way he looked. [But now] he knows he looks better. He is comfortable enough to be photographed. 'He wants people to know that he is doing well.' Rob has also become more active on social media since his weightloss journey began, sharing more images of himself and appearing on his sister's ultra popular accounts. Daddy's girl: On Thursday, Rob's Instagram account shared a cute photo of daughter Dream snapping pictures of her own pajama clad feet and new mini Jordan sneakers Loop hole: Despite the fact that he is technically banned from Instagram, his Momager's company claims to run his account, Rob's handle has been busy posting content about his summertime Despite the fact that he is technically banned from Instagram, his Momager's company claims to run his account, Rob's handle has been busy posting content about his summertime. On Thursday the account shared a cute photo of daughter Dream snapping pictures of her own pajama clad feet and new mini Jordan sneakers. He seemingly wrote the caption himself: 'My baby loves her new Js' Genres : Drama : Drama Running Time : 85 min. : 85 min. Directed by : Zhang Lu : Zhang Lu Starring : Park So-dam, Kwon Hae-hyo Synopsis : A film about a middle-aged man's retrospect to his past, two Koreans' trip to Fukuoka, and three people's reconciliation with love. The Google Pixel 5 is the next-gen Pixel phone that many users are waiting for. Up until now, quite a bit of Pixel 5 information surfaced, including the pricing and release date, and well try to share those in this article. Google is taking a slightly different approach to the Pixel 5 this time around, it seems. The company not only plans to include a mid-range SoC inside this phone, but we may get a single variant of the phone. The Google Pixel 4a got launched recently, and the Pixel 5 will take some of its design cues from that phone. The same actually goes for the Pixel 4a 5G which is expected to launch in the near future as well. By the looks of it, the Pixel 5 will be the more powerful devices, while the Pixel 4a 5G may get released instead of the Pixel 5 XL. Yes, you read that right, the Pixel 5 XL may not launch at all. Do note that everything were talking about here is just speculation at this point. If any of the info got officially confirmed, we will make sure to note it. Otherwise, take all this information with a grain of salt, as its possible that these rumors and leaks are inaccurate. That being said, lets kick off this Google Pixel 5 preview. Advertisement This article will be regularly updated with new information on the Google Pixel 5 (this is a preview article) both official teasers and credible leaks, rumors, and insider claims as it becomes available in the run-up to the release of the upcoming Android smartphone. The last update was made on September 25. Metal + ?! build, thin bezels & rear-facing fingerprint scanner The Google Pixel 5 will be quite similar to the Pixel 4a in terms of the design, it seems. The phones CAD-based renders surfaced, along with an image that shows the phone next to the Pixel 4a 5G. Based on these images, the Google Pixel 5 will be made out of well, we dont know. We do know that it wont be made entirely out of plastic. Its quite possible it will be a metal frame + glass or plastic on the back, but well see. The device will include a capacitive fingerprint scanner on the back, along with Googles branding. The companys branding will be barely visible, so it wont bother many people. Unlike the Pixel 4a, the Google Pixel 5 will include two cameras inside its rear camera module. On top of that, an LED flash will be included inside as well. That camera module will protrude on the back. Advertisement On the front, youll notice a single display camera cutout. That hole will be included in the top-left corner of the display, the same as on the Pixel 4a. The phones bottom bezel will be slightly thicker than the rest of its bezels, it seems. The power / lock button will be placed on the right-hand side, along with the volume up and down buttons. If you take a look at the real-life image provided below this paragraph, youll be able to see the Pixel 5 next to the Pixel 4a 5G. As you can see, the Pixel 5 will be the smaller device. That is to be expected considering its specs suggest its display will be considerably smaller. More on that in the next section. Before we get to it, though, its worth noting that the Pixel 4a 5G will offer a similar design to the Pixel 4a and Pixel 5. It will also pack in two cameras on the back, it seems. Advertisement Following the image above, several other images popped up. These are also real-life images, and theyre showing off the Google Pixel 5 only. You can see both the phones front and back sides in the images provided down below. You will notice really thin bezels, familiar design, and everything we talked about earlier in this paragraph. This does seem to be the final design of the phone. The Google Pixel 5 will ship in Black and Green color variants. The green model will be called the Subtle Sage, while the black will probably ship with a well-known Just Black name. The second one Google used before, but Subtle Sage is brand new. Those seem to be the only two variants the phone will ship in. Having said that, you can check out the Subtle Sage Google Pixel 5 in the gallery below along with the black variant of the device. From a flagship SoC, to a mid-range one When it comes to specs, the Google Pixel 5 may not be what you expect. This handset, unlike its predecessor, will ship with a mid-range processor. The Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL shipped with the Snapdragon 855 SoC, which was a flagship processor at the time. The Pixel 5, on the other hand, will include the Snapdragon 765G, if rumors and leaks are to be believed. That is the same chip that the OnePlus Nord is rocking, and its one of Qualcomms best mid-range chips. Advertisement This also means that the Pixel 5 will support 5G, as the G variant of the Snapdragon 765 comes with a 5G modem. The Google Pixel 5 will include a rather large battery, despite what previous rumors suggested. The phone is expected to sport a 4,080mAh battery on the inside. Considering its display measure 6 inches, thats not a bad battery size at all. The complaint we heard the most about the Pixel 4 was its battery life (2,800mAh battery was included), so Google is trying to fix that with the next-gen model, it seems. The phone will include fast charging as well, 18W wireless charging. It is also expected to ship with wireless charging support, and reverse charging support. The phone will likely include 8GB of RAM on the inside, while a 90Hz display is also expected. Some people expected a 120Hz panel on the phone, but that probably wont happen. That will be an OLED display, though. The Pixel 4a 5G will likely include a 6.2-inch display (60Hz, OLED), by the way. Android 11 will come pre-installed on this handset, with Googles Pixel experience UI. The Pixel 5 will almost certainly be officially rated for water and dust resistance, unlike the Pixel 4a. The device is expected to measure 144.7 x 70.4 x 8.1mm (8.5mm with a camera bump). Well talk more about the camera in the next section. Advertisement An ultra-wide camera is finally coming The Google Pixel 5 will include two cameras on the back, it seems. So, the number of cameras did not change compared to the Pixel 4, but a telephoto camera will no longer be a part of the picture. That will probably make a lot of people happy, as Google is finally planning to include an ultrawide camera. In addition to that secondary, ultrawide camera, the company will also utilize a 12.2-megapixel unit (f/1.7 aperture, 1.4um pixel size, dual-phasae autofocus, OIS, EIS), probably the same one used on the Pixel 4 and 4a. When it comes to the ultra-wide camera, the phone is tipped to include a 16-megapixel unit (f/2.2 aperture, 1.0um pixel size, 107-degree FoV). This will be immensely useful when taking pictures of landscapes, and when you need a wider field of view in general. Googles camera software magic will, of course, work with that ultrawide camera, the same as it does with the main sensor the company is using. In terms of the front-facing camera, rumors are claiming well get an 8-megapixel unit. That could be the same camera that Google is using on the Pixel 4a. We may be wrong on that, but chances are it is the same. There you have it, thats all the camera info that we have at the moment, though nothing has been confirmed just yet. Advertisement Pixel 5 Release Date First and foremost, it is worth noting that the phone did get certified by the FCC already. Google has officially confirmed the launch date for the Google Pixel 5. The phone will become official on September 30, the same day as the Google Pixel 4a 5G. Google did not specifically said that the two phones are arriving during that date, but its implied. The company is allegedly planning to launch the Google Pixel 5 in both black and green color variants on that release date. The Google Pixel 4 5G, on the other hand, will arrive in a black color option on September 30, and a white variant will drop in October. Both devices are expected to launch in the US first, but theyll ship to a number of additional regions. Advertisement In terms of pricing, well, it will cost less than todays flagships, which is to be expected. The phones price tag will be $699 in the US, a little bit more than the original Google Pixel. It is expected to cost CAD799.99 in Canada, and 629 in Europe. Both the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4 5G are expected to launch in the following countries, at least on the September 30 release date: Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Ireland, Japan, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the US. August 28, 2020 THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR IN OR INTO ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO MIGHT CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OR BREACH OF ANY APPLICABLE LAW OR REGULATION. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR CONTAIN ANY INVITATION, SOLICITATION, RECOMMENDATION, OFFER OR ADVICE TO ANY PERSON TO SUBSCRIBE FOR, OTHERWISE ACQUIRE OR DISPOSE OF ANY SECURITIES IN IMPERIAL X PLC OR ANY OTHER ENTITY IN ANY SUCH JURISDICTION. THE SECURITIES TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE US SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES ABSENT REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DEEMED BY THE COMPANY TO CONSTITUTE INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATIONS (EU) NO. 596/2014 ("MAR"). WITH THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. Imperial X Plc Non-Binding Heads of Agreements to Acquire Assets Issue of Equity to Raise Up to 750,000 Issue of Unsecured Convertible Loan Notes to Raise Up to 500,000 Imperial X Plc ("Imperial" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a number of heads of agreement ("Heads of Agreement") to acquire a platform of mineral assets, equity positions and royalty positions (the "Acquisitions"). The Acquisitions will initiate the establishment of Imperial as a new, growth-focused diversified project generator and natural resource royalty business. In addition, Imperial is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to 30,000,000 new Ordinary Shares of 0.1p each (the "Placing Shares") at a price of 2.5p per share in order to raise up to 750,000, net of expenses and which shares are to be admitted to trading on the Aquis Exchange PLC's AQSE Growth Market ("AQSE"), together with the issuance of unsecured convertible loan notes ("CLNs") of 500,000 principal. As the Acquisitions, when taken together, are expected to constitute a Reverse Takeover under rule 58 of the AQSE Rules, Imperial's shares will be suspended from trading on the AQSE with immediate effect. On completion of the Acquisitions, Imperial intends to seek the readmission of its Ordinary Shares to trading on the AQSE, which the Directors consider to be a suitable market and regulatory environment for a growth-focused diversified project generator and natural resource royalty business. As such, the Acquisitions will be conditional upon the publication of an admission document by the Company and shareholders' and regulatory approvals. Heads of Agreement The Company has entered into a series of non-binding Heads of Agreement to complete: one (1) corporate acquisition, comprising the acquisition of 100% of Howson Ventures Inc. (" Howson "); "); the acquisition of certain assets in Anglo African Minerals PLC (" AAM ") in the form of certain share acquisitions in AAM, the acquisition of two (2) separate warrants to subscribe for shares in AAM and three (3) acquisitions of convertible loan notes from various parties; ") in the form of certain share acquisitions in AAM, the acquisition of two (2) separate warrants to subscribe for shares in AAM and three (3) acquisitions of convertible loan notes from various parties; the acquisition of certain assets owned by Cloudbreak Discovery Corp. (" Cloudbreak ") or its affiliated companies; and ") or its affiliated companies; and the acquisition of certain assets owned by Cabox Gold Corp. ("Cabox") or its affiliated companies. The exact structure of the acquisitions of the Cloudbreak and the Cabox assets is subject to further due diligence and advice and may involve the acquisition of the corporate entities holding such assets, should this be considered to be more efficient. Corporate Acquisition Howson Ventures Inc. ("Howson") Howson is a private investment company, incorporated in British Columbia . . Howson owns the Rupert Minerals Property, located in British Columbia . The Property is subject to a sale option agreement dated as of July 7, 2020 with Buscando Resources Corp. (" Buscando "), as optionee. . The Property is subject to a sale option agreement dated as of with Buscando Resources Corp. (" "), as optionee. In addition, Howson holds a convertible loan note and warrant position in Anglo African Minerals Plc (" AAM "). "). AAM is an exploration and development company incorporated in the Republic of Ireland and its portfolio comprise of licenses and ownership of the rights to three assets in Guinea , Africa that have targeted production of 1.385 bn metric tons of export quality bauxite resources.[1] and its portfolio comprise of licenses and ownership of the rights to three assets in , that have targeted production of 1.385 bn metric tons of export quality bauxite resources.[1] AAM has executed a binding term sheet with ASX listed TerraCom Limited ("TER"), who are partnered with the Private Office of His Royal Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Dalmook Al Maktoum , Member of the Ruling Family of Dubai , for the acquisition of AAM. Pursuant to the Howson transaction and, subject to negotiation, legal and financial due diligence and the entry into a definitive legally binding share purchase agreement, Imperial will seek to acquire a 100% interest in Howson by issuing an aggregate of 31,614,118 Imperial shares at 2.5p per share. Anglo African Minerals Plc Acquisitions Pursuant to three (3) separate Heads of Agreement, the Company intends to acquire the following interests in AAM: Equity 11,000,000 ordinary shares in AAM. Warrants 33,529,978 warrants, exercisable into ordinary shares in AAM at an average weighted strike price of USD$0.028 per warrant. Loan Notes USD$1,344,735 in totality of unsecured convertible loan notes in AAM Note the above described debentures, valued as at July 31, 2020 , are subject to change in value between execution of Heads of Agreement and execution of the definitive agreement due to customary fees and interest. Pursuant to the AAM transaction and, subject to negotiation, legal and financial due diligence and entry into a definitive legally binding acquisition agreement, Imperial will acquire the above referenced interests by issuing an aggregate of 29,430,378 Imperial shares at 2.5p per share and 8,714,227 Imperial warrants with a strike price of 5.0p and term of two (2) years from execution of the definitive acquisition agreement. Cloudbreak Discovery Corp. Acquisitions Cloudbreak Discovery Corp. (" Cloudbreak ") Cloudbreak is a private, Prospect Generator and Diversified Royalty Business incorporated in British Columbia , with Assets across North America Cloudbreak's assets comprise a focused portfolio of natural resource properties, private and public equity positions and royalties Pursuant to a Heads of Agreement, the Company intends to acquire the following assets held by Cloudbreak: ") Name of Asset Details and Status of Asset La Blache Property 10,000,000 common shares of Temas Resources Corp. (TMAS:CSE) and a 2% NSR Royalty on the La Blache Property The shares were originally acquired as of June 18, 2020 with Temas Resources Corp. as purchaser of the La Blache property. The royalty was originally acquired pursuant to a Net Smelter Returns Royalty agreement dated as of June 18, 2020 with Temas Resources Corp. Caribou Property 1,000,000 common shares of Norseman Capital Ltd. (NOC.H.TSXV) and a 2% NSR Royalty on the Caribou Property The mineral claims comprising the Caribou Property are registered in the name of Samuel Anthony Kyler Hardy and are held in trust for Cloudbreaks' subsidiary, 1250263 B.C. Ltd ("1250263"). The Property is subject to an option agreement dated as of June 2, 2020 with Norseman Capital Ltd. ("Norseman"), as optionee. The option agreement provides for common shares and cash payments upon anniversaries; The first installment which has completed was composed of $10,000, payable on the effective date of the Option Agreement and 1,000,000 common shares issuable within five business days of approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The second installment is composed of $20,000 and 750,000 Common shares and is payable on the first anniversary of the Effective Date of the option agreement. The third and final installment is composed of $50,000 and 1,000,000 Shares and is payable on the second anniversary of the Effective Date. The Company was granted a 2% NSR Royalty on the Caribou Property. Gold Vista Property The Company has rights to the Gold Vista Property pursuant to an underlying option agreement dated as of May 8, 2020 with 197. The Company has a verbal commitment from Deep Blue Trading Inc. ("Deep Blue") respecting the Gold Vista Property and is in the process of preparing a draft option agreement with Deep Blue respecting the Gold Vista Property. Apple Bay Property 4,000 common shares of Linceo Media Group Inc. and a 1.50% Apple Bay Production Royalty 1250263 holds shares and a royalty, The shares were originally acquired pursuant to two option agreements. - An option agreement dated as of August 17, 2019 with Linceo Media Group Inc. as purchaser of the Fuji property. - An option agreement dated as of August 17, 2019 with Linceo Media Group Inc. as purchaser of the Granny Smith property. A 1.50% Production Royalty respecting the Apple Bay Property, pursuant to a production royalty agreement dated as of February 28, 2017. 450,000 Preferred Shares of Imperial Helium Corp. 1250263 holds 450,000 preferred shares of Imperial Helium Corp. These shares were acquired on April 20, 2020 at a price of $0.0001 per share. Silver Switchback Property The Company has rights to the Silver Switchback Property pursuant to an underlying option agreement dated as of May 8, 2020 with 1975647 Alberta Ltd. and/or its Nominee ("197"). The Property is subject to an option agreement dated as of August 27, 2020 with Norseman Capital Ltd. ("Norseman"), as optionee. The option agreement provides for common shares and cash payments upon anniversaries; The first installment is composed of: (i) $30,000, $10,000 of which is payable to Company on the effective date of the Option Agreement and the remaining $20,000 of which is payable within five business days of approval of the Exchange; (ii) 370,000 common shares payable to the Company issuable within five business days of Exchange Approval; and (iii) 250,000 common shares payable to 197 within five business days of Exchange Approval. The second installment is composed of 380,000 common shares and is payable to Company on the first anniversary of the Effective Date. The third installment is composed of $20,000 and 600,000 common shares payable to 197 on the second anniversary of the Effective Date. The final installment is composed of $40,000 and 1,000,000 common shares payable to 197 on the third anniversary of the Effective Date. The Company was granted a 1% NSR Royalty on the Silver Switchback Property. Silver Vista Property The Company has rights to the Silver Vista Property pursuant to an underlying option agreement dated as of May 8, 2020 with 197. Pursuant to the Cloudbreak transaction and, subject to negotiation, legal and financial due diligence and entry into a legally binding definitive asset purchase agreement, Imperial will acquire the above assets by issuing an aggregate of 149,568,502 Imperial shares 2.5p per share. Cabox Gold Corp. ("Cabox") Cabox is a private business incorporated in British Columbia that owns the New Moon Property, located in British Columbia . that owns the New Moon Property, located in . New Moon is an exploration stage asset with epithermal gold veins and possible volcanogenic massive sulphide targets. Pursuant to a Heads of Agreement, the Company intends to acquire the New Moon Property interest in Cabox. Pursuant to the Cabox transaction and, subject to negotiation, legal and financial due diligence and entry into a legally binding definitive asset purchase agreement, Imperial will acquire the above assets by issuing an aggregate of 35,000,000 Imperial shares 2.5p per share. A summation of the assets to be held by Imperial, post completion of all the contemplated transactions are noted below. Acquisition Partner Ticker Asset Equity Position Royalty Corporate - Howson Buscando Resources Private Rupert Property 1,000,000 2% NSR Corporate - Howson Anglo African Minerals PLC Private $572,928 Convertible Debenture @ 10% Substantial Interest - AAM Anglo African Minerals PLC Private $278,524 Convertible Debenture @ 10% $442,712 Convertible Debenture @ 10% $50,964 Convertible Debenture @ 15% 11,000,000 Shares + 33,529,978 Warrants Asset Acquisition - Cloudbreak Temas Resources Corp TMAS: CSE La Blache Property 10,000,000 2% NSR Asset Acquisition - Cloudbreak Norseman Silver Corp NOC: TSX-v Caribou Property 1,000,000 2% NSR Asset Acquisition - Cloudbreak Deep Blue Trading Inc Private Gold Vista Property Asset Acquisition - Cloudbreak Linceo Media Group Private Apple Bay Property 4,000 1.5% NSR Asset Acquisition - Cloudbreak Imperial Helium Private Preferred Shares 450,000 Asset Acquisition - Cloudbreak Private Silver Switchback Property Asset Acquisition - Cloudbreak Private Silver Vista Property Corporate - Cabox Private New Moon Property Announcement of Equity Raise The Company, through a non-brokered private placement, is seeking to raise up to 750,000 through the placing of up to 30,000,000 new Ordinary Shares of 0.1p each (the "Placing Shares") at a price of 2.5p per share, net of expenses. If 750,000 is raised, the Placing Shares, once issued, will represent 34.63% per cent of the enlarged issued share capital of the Company, prior to the closure of the above-mentioned acquisitions, with the funds to be used for working capital and corporate costs associated with the Acquisitions. Each placee will also receive one Imperial warrant for every two Placing Shares, resulting in 15,000,000 Imperial warrants, on the basis of 30,000,000 new Ordinary Shares being issued, with a strike price of 5.0p and term of two (2) years from execution of definitive agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Placing Shares will not be subject to readmission, pursuant to the contemplated reverse-takeover transaction and the Placing Shares will be allotted and issued shortly after closing the Placing, however, the Placing Shares will be subject to the share suspension contemplated in this announcement. A further update announcement on the Placing will be made in due course. On completion of the Placing, though prior to the closure of the above-mentioned Acquisitions, the Company's enlarged issued capital will consist of 86,631,212 Ordinary Shares of 0.1p per share with voting rights attached, assuming the full 750,000 is raised pursuant to the Placing. Issuance of Unsecured Convertible Loan Notes The Company is also seeking to raise up to 500,000 via the placing of unsecured CLNs. The CLNs will mature on the date that is 24 months from the date of issuance, bear interest at the rate of 10% per annum, computed on the basis of a 360-day year, and payable semi-annually on the last day of June and December of each year, commencing on issuance of the CLNs. The CLNs will be issued at a price of 1.00 per CLN with each CLN being convertible, at the option of the holder, into 20 ordinary shares in the capital of the Company at a conversion price of 5.0p per ordinary share, subject to customary adjustments. The CLNs will not be a tradeable issue. Each CLN will also receive ten Imperial warrants for every one CLN, resulting in 5,000,000 Imperial warrants, assuming the full 500,000 is raised, with a strike price of 10.0p and term of two (2) years from execution of definitive agreement. A further update announcement on the CLNs will be made in due course. Whilst negotiations are at an advanced stage, there can be no certainty that all or any of the Acquisitions will be concluded successfully and the Company will therefore update the shareholders as the matter progresses. The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the content of this announcement. For further information please contact: Imperial X Plc Kyler Hardy Tel: +1 250 877 1394 khardy@cronincapital.com Peterhouse Capital Limited Guy Miller Tel: +44 20 7220 9795 IMPORTANT INFORMATION This Announcement may include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "estimates", "plans", "anticipates", "targets", "aims", "continues", "expects", "intends", "hopes", "may", "will", "would", "could" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include matters that are not facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this Announcement and include statements regarding the Directors' intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, amongst other things, the Group's results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the industries in which the Group operates. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances. A number of factors could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: ability to find appropriate investments in which to invest and to realise investments held by the Group; conditions in the public markets; the market position of the Group; the earnings, financial position, cash flows, return on capital and operating margins of the Group; the anticipated investments and capital expenditures of the Group; changing business or other market conditions; changes in political or tax regimes, exchange rates and clients; and general economic conditions. These and other factors could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. Forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement based on past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. Subject to any requirement under AQSE Rules for Issuers or other applicable legislation or regulation, neither the Company nor Peterhouse Capital Limited undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Announcement. No statement in this Announcement or incorporated by reference into this Announcement is intended to constitute a profit forecast or profit estimate for any period, nor should any statement be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share will necessarily be greater or lesser than those for the relevant preceding financial periods for the Company. This Announcement may contain information regarding the Company's business and the markets in which it operates and competes, and which has been obtained from various third-party sources. Where information has been sourced from a third party it has been accurately reproduced and, so far as the Company is aware and is able to ascertain from the information published by that third party, no facts have been omitted which would render the reproduced information inaccurate or misleading. Such information has not been audited or independently verified. Certain data in this Announcement, including financial, statistical and operating information, has been rounded. This Announcement is for information purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to buy, sell, issue, or subscribe for, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, sell, issue, or subscribe for any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Peterhouse is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is acting exclusively for the Company as its financial adviser and is acting for no one else in connection with the matters referred to in this Announcement. Peterhouse Capital Limited will not regard any other person as a client in relation to the such matters and will, accordingly, not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients, nor for providing advice in connection with the same or any other matter, transaction or arrangement referred to in this Announcement. This Announcement has been issued by and is the sole responsibility of the Company. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by Peterhouse Capital Limited or by any of its respective affiliates or agents as to, or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed. The distribution of this Announcement and the offering of the Placing Shares and Unsecured Convertible Loan Notes in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by the Company or Peterhouse Capital Limited that would permit an offering of such shares or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes are required by the Company and Peterhouse Capital to inform themselves about, and to observe such restrictions. Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual or other legal obligation to forward a copy of this Announcement should seek appropriate advice before taking any action. Neither the content of the Company's website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this Announcement. [1] AAM is currently progressing the due diligence with TER and therefore at this stage is classing the resource tonnage as an exploration target. The potential quantity and grade of an exploration target is conceptual in nature, there has been insufficient exploration to determine a mineral resource and there is no certainty that further exploration work will result in the determination of mineral resources or that the production target itself will be realised. Further evaluation work and appropriate studies are required to establish sufficient confidence that the target will be met. Hong Kong authorities recently denied an Irish journalist based in the city from getting a visa after an independent local news outlet hired him to work for them. The move marks the latest in a series of attacks on political freedom in the city after the controversial legislation passed. Hong Kong's new security law The order also sparked concerns among activists and media personnel on how the new security law is conducting a crackdown on media operating within the region. The new law states that authorities should strictly regulate them. According to the Wall Street Journal, Hong Kong police raided the offices of one local newspaper outlet several weeks earlier, which supported anti-government protesters calling for a change in the current administration and moved to arrest the agency's owner. Living in Hong Kong since 2015, Aaron McNicholas was hired by Hong Kong Free Press. This English-language news site is widely known for featuring aggressive coverage of the independent city's government and its officials. On Tuesday, after waiting for almost six months, McNicholas's visa application to transfer to his new employer was denied, and no explanation was given as to why. The news was revealed by the editor-in-chief of the online publication, Tom Grundy. Grundy believes McNicholas was explicitly targeted and singled-out as an indirect blow to Hong Kong Free Press. He said that the agency was a local news outlet whose new editor was an Irish journalist. Grundy added the incident was not merely another case of China's retaliation against the United States over trade disputes. During last year's anti-government protests in Hong Kong, McNicholas was very active on social media and gave commentary on the surge of demonstrations that ravaged the city for several months. His latest work history includes Bloomberg and Storyful, a part of News Corp, which owned the Wall Street Journal. Also Read: Hong Kong Police Arrest Pro-Democracy Publisher Jimmy Lai in Newest Purge of New Security Law Blatant disregard of press freedom Grundy noted that other news media outlets and individuals working in the press sector should expect to be subjected to similar treatments in light of the new security law passed in Hong Kong. He warned businesses that denial of visas was a decision and not a bug in the system, as reported by Aljazeera. In July, Hong Kong authorities denied an Australian reporter his visa application for the New York Times amid the rising tensions of back-and-forth retaliation with the United States government over press freedom and mistreatment of journalists. Both countries had since worked to expel several journalists over the heated arguments. Still, McNicholas's case is the first known incident of the move affecting a local, non-US news media outlet. The Committee to Protect Journalists's (CPJ) Steven Butler said that the denial of McNicholas's visa application to a local media news outlet based in Hong Kong is a jarring disregard of the most fundamental principle of press freedom the city's government has long-since implemented. Butler said that the move also severely undermined Hong Kong's independence and image as an international city and financial center. He said the city heavily relied on journalists doing their work properly to thrive and flourish. According to CNN, a lawyer representing Hong Kong Free Press, Michael Vidler, said immigration officials gave no reason why McNicholas's visa application was denied. Vidler noted the Irish journalist's application was straightforward as he was already approved to work in the city and only applied for a transfer to a new employer. Related Article: Hong Kong Tags Pro-Democracy Activists as Criminal Group, Calls for Their Arrests @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Chunks of ice float inside of meltwater pools on top of the Helheim glacier near Tasiilaq, Greenland By Jonathan Saul LONDON (Reuters) - As melting sea ice opens the Arctic to navigation, more ships are plying the loosely regulated polar waters, bringing increasing amounts of climate-warming pollution, a Reuters analysis of new shipping and fuel-consumption data shows. Traffic through the icy region's busiest lane along the Siberian coast increased 58% between 2016 and 2019. Last year, ships made 2,694 voyages on the Northern Sea Route, according to data collected by researchers from the Centre for High North Logistics at Norway's Nord University. The trade is driven by commodities producers mainly in Russia, China and Canada sending iron ore, oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other fuels through Arctic waters. Even the COVID-19 pandemic, which has significantly slowed shipping worldwide as supply chains have been disrupted, has not prevented traffic increasing on the Arctic artery. Ships made 935 voyages in the first half of 2020, up to the end of June, compared with 855 in the same period last year, the data shows. The increase in shipping is a worry for the environment. As those heavy ships burn fuel, they release climate-warming carbon dioxide as well as black soot. That soot blankets nearby ice and snow, absorbing solar radiation rather than reflecting it back out of the atmosphere, which exacerbates warming in the region. See graphic on the Arctic's melting ice, shipping lanes and pollution: https://tmsnrt.rs/2EuNoiA The Arctic has already warmed at least twice as fast as the rest of the world over the last three decades. With the region's warming rate increasing in recent years, governments are gearing up for a future of open Arctic waters. "The driving concern is the reduction of Arctic sea ice and the potential for more shipping," said Sian Prior, lead adviser with the Clean Arctic Alliance. "We are already seeing that happen." LNG tankers make up the largest proportion of traffic on the Northern Sea Route. They alone burned 239,000 tonnes of fuel in 2019, versus only 6,000 tonnes in 2017, according to previously unpublished data collected by the non-profit International Council on Clean Transportation and shared with Reuters. EARLIEST THAW ON RECORD Story continues The Northern Sea Route, which traces the coasts of Siberia and Norway, is the region's busiest artery. It allows cargo ships to save at least 10 days sailing between Europe and Asia, shipping specialists estimate. The route is about 6,000 nautical miles shorter than sailing via Africa, and 2,700 nautical miles shorter than sailing through the Suez Canal. That shortcut drew ships to make the 2,694 voyages in 2019, up from 2,022 in 2018, 1,908 in 2017 and 1,705 in 2016, according to Nord University's Centre for High North Logistics. Those trips are made each year by just 200-300 ships. This year, unusually warm weather over northern Russia caused an early retreat of sea ice from Siberia. That heatwave, which scientists have linked to climate change, had opened up the Northern Sea Route by the second half of July, marking the earliest complete thaw of that area yet recorded, scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder's National Snow and Ice Data Center say. As summertime heat shrinks the sea ice further, traffic is expected to become even heavier. Last year, September was the region's busiest month in terms of the number of ships navigating the route, with 34 vessels passing though compared with 29 in August, according to data from shipping intelligence platform MarineTraffic. Traffic beyond the Northern Sea Route is also rising. A total of 1,628 ships entered the Arctic region, outside that route, in 2019, up 25% from 2013, a study by the intergovernmental Arctic Council working group showed. "We have seen constant growth (in shipping) over the last several years," said Kjell Stokvik, managing director of the Centre for High North Logistics at Nord University. This trend will continue as long as there is demand for fuel and mineral cargoes across the global market, he added. Russia in particular is driving trade through the region by developing energy and mineral projects in the Arctic, Stokvik said. President Vladimir Putin has set a target of transporting 80 million tonnes of cargo annually via the Northern Sea Route by 2025, more than twice what it ships today. A TALE OF TWO POLES Also of concern for environmentalists is the risk of fuel spills in Arctic waters, where the harsh conditions make cleanup efforts especially challenging and spills could have devastating impacts on sensitive ecosystems. The 1989 crude oil spill by the Exxon Valdez tanker off southern Alaska spread out for months over 1,300 miles (2,100 km) of coastal wilderness, killing marine animals and plants throughout Prince William Sound. The accident, considered one of the worst human-caused environmental disasters, led to new rules requiring double-hulled ships in the region. But while Antarctic waters are protected by stringent regulations, including a ban on heavy-grade oil adopted in 2011 - despite no cargo moving through those turbulent southern waters - the rules for sailing the Arctic are far looser. Waters at both poles are governed by the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Polar Code, and ships are "encouraged" to avoid using or carrying heavy fuel oil in the Arctic. The IMO is pushing for a full ban on both the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil through the Arctic by 2024. "The approach is to take action to mitigate any potential negative (environmental) impact," an IMO spokeswoman told Reuters. Environmentalists note, however, that the draft rules being negotiated by member states currently include a clause to exempt ships flagged to countries with Arctic coastlines while operating in those waters until 2029. That exemption would end up applying to some of today's most active Arctic shippers, including Russia and Canada. Such "big loopholes" would make the regulation "virtually meaningless", said Prior, of the Clean Arctic Alliance. "A significant amount - probably three-quarters or more - of the shipping currently using the Arctic will not need to apply the ban until July 1, 2029, if it remains as currently drafted, Prior said. When asked about whether such exceptions would undermine the proposed regulation, the IMO spokeswoman said: "These are decisions made by the member states following discussion in the relevant fora." (Reporting by Jonathan Saul; Graphic by Michael Ovaska; Editing by Katy Daigle and Pravin Char) Sydney's population swelled beyond 5.3 million before the coronavirus pandemic as migrants flocked to the inner city at record rates, but its claim to the title as the nation's most populous capital is to be challenged by Melbourne by the middle of the decade. Population Minister Alan Tudge on Friday cautioned growth was likely to be lower for longer, with the government now set to focus on attracting "job-making migrants" to help rebuild the economy. Outer suburbs such as Oran Park have continued to grow strongly, but Sydney's population has been swelled by people moving to the inner city. Credit:Getty Images The Australian Bureau of Statistics, in its annual regional population report, said the population of Greater Sydney reached 5,312,163 by June 30 last year, an increase of 81,833, or 1.6 per cent. Melbourne's population went through 5 million after an increase of almost 115,000, or 2.3 per cent, over the previous 12 months. Sorry! This content is not available in your region The missing soldier from Fort Hood who was found dead this week claimed he was sexually abused by a male superior and was hazed and 'humiliated' at the Army base afterwards. Sgt. Elder Fernandes, 23, had not been seen since August 17 and was reported missing on August 19. He was found dead hanging from a tree in Temple, Texas, about 28 miles from the base, on Tuesday. Temple Police are investigating his death and said foul play is not suspected. Attorney Natalie Khawam says Fernandes reported in May that he was inappropriately touched by a male superior and was transferred to another unit, but word of his report spread and he was harassed, belittled, bullied and hazed. 'They dont know what happened whether it was suicide or whether murder. But Im gonna tell you, what they did to him, the blood on their hands, its a form of murder,' Khawam said. Sgt. Elder Fernandes, 23, who was found dead hanging from a tree on Tuesday, had been hazed and 'humiliated' by peers after he reported he was sexually assaulted by a male superior, his family's lawyer says 'They dont know what happened whether it was suicide or whether murder. But Im gonna tell you, what they did to him, the blood on their hands, its a form of murder,' his family's lawyer Natalie Khawam said during a press conference Wednesday 'He was humiliated, he was embarrassed, he couldnt even tell his mom. He didnt want to tell anyone. He was afraid. He was ashamed by this,' Khawam said Wednesday. Elder is the latest death in a disturbing string of at least 15 fatalities and disappearances at the embattled Fort Hood base in Killeen, Texas. The base came under scrutiny following the April disappearance of 20-year-old soldier Vanessa Guillen, who vanished after telling her family she was being sexually harassed. Her dismembered body was discovered in July. Army Criminal Investigations Division special agent Damon Phelps confirmed Wednesday Fernandes reported that someone had 'reached out and touched his buttocks.' Fort Hood public affairs officer Lt. Col. Chris Brautigam later confirmed Fernandes had reported sexual abuse before his disappearance and was transferred to another unit, 'to ensure he received the proper care and ensure there were no opportunities for reprisals.' In May he reported that a male superior inappropriately touched his buttocks. After the report he was transferred to another unit where he was hazed and bullied for his report, his family says Fernandes was discharged from a hospital on August 17 and was dropped off at this address in Killeen, Texas, where family said he previously lived Timeline of Fort Hood disappearances/deaths February 1, 2020: PVT Eric Christopher Hogan and PFC Anthony Nevelle Peak Jr. die in a car crash March 1, 2020: SPC Shelby Tyler Jones is shot dead at a convenience store in Killeen March 5, 2020: Spc. Christopher Wayne Sawyer found dead at his home. Foul play is not suspected. March 14, 2020: SPC Freddy Beningo Delacruz Jr. is killed in a triple murder March 23, 2020: Fort Hood soldier Spc. Jovino Jamel Roy, 22, was charged with murder after allegedly shooting former Fort Hood soldier Michael Steven Wardrobe, 22 April 22, 2020: Vanessa Guillen goes missing and is last seen in the parking lot of the base. She disappeared after telling her family she was being sexually harassed by a sergeant on the base. May 18, 2020: Body of Army Pfc. Brandon S. Rosecrans, 27, was discovered with gunshot wounds and his Jeep was found three miles away engulfed in flames. June 19, 2020: Search teams discover the corpse of missing soldier Pvt. Gregory Wedel-Morales following a tip to Army base investigators. Remains were found in a field in Killeen, just over 10 miles from Stillhouse Hollow Lake, five miles from Fort Hood. July 1, 2020: First parts of Giullen's remains found about 20 miles east of Fort Hood. Spc. Aaron Robinson, 20, kills himself. Officials say he killed and dismembered Guillen and had the remains disposed of. July 17, 2020: Pvt. Mejhor Morta, 26, of Pensacola, Florida was found dead July 17 in the vicinity of Stillhouse Hollow Lake, around 15 miles from the Fort Hood base. August 2, 2020: The body of Spc. Francisco Gilberto Hernandezvargas, 24, is recovered from Stillhouse Hollow Lake following boating incident not far from where Morta was found. August 12, 2020: Spc. Cole Jakob Aton, 22, of Kentucky died after he was hit by a car as he was assisting a minor accident scene August 13, 2020: National Guard soldier, Sgt Bradley Moore dies during a training exercise at the base August 19, 2020: Sgt. Elder Fernandes, 23, is reported missing after he was last seen on August 17. August 26, 2020: The body of Fernandes is believed to have been found about 30 miles from Fort Hood Advertisement The Army Criminal Investigation Command launched a probe into Fernandes claims and couldn't corroborate Fernandes' allegations. Fernandes was made aware of the outcome, officials say. 'The subject of the investigation took and passed a polygraph investigation, and we found no witnesses that could corroborate Sgt. Fernandes allegations,' Special Agent Damon Phelps of the Army Criminal Investigation Command said. 'There was a thorough legal review, and the allegations were unsubstantiated,' he added. Lt. Col Justin Redfern, the commander of the 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion said the command staff noticed behavioral changes in Fernandes in mid-March, before he brought forward allegations of unwanted touching. He didnt elaborate on those changes. Fernandes aunt Isabel told The Beaumont Enterprise Tuesday that her nephew was harassed in his new unit. 'According to his friends, since that happened, they kept harassing him. The person he accused was following. They were hazing him, torturing him, making his life impossible,' she said. A survey of Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine personnel in 2018 found about 20,500 instances of unwanted sexual contact, a 38 percent increase from 2016. Among that group six percent of women in the military were subjected to sexual assault and one percent of the men were victimized. Fernandes' leaders at the base shared their 'heartfelt sympathy' for his family, friends and fellow soldiers on Wednesday. 'The chain of command was very much invested in this trooper. It was a person that we felt was exemplary,' Lt. Col. Justin Redfern said. Fort Hood said it takes reports of sexual assault seriously. 'Were concerned about every soldier. Thats the bottom line. We are a team ... We, as an organization, strive our best each and every day to make sure that were taking care of and being the best leaders that we possibly can for our soldiers,' 1st Cavalry Division Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Broadwater said. Fernandes was last seen on August 17 when Fort Hood leaders said Fernandes was dropped off at a residence of his former roommate in Killeen, Texas after a weeklong stay at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center. Isabel Fernandes said her nephew was hospitalized because he felt suicidal and he promised to call his mother when he was released. Fernandes enlisted in the Army in 2016 and was deployed for three years in Germany. He returned in December and was sent to Fort Hood, originally for six months, but that stay was extended due to the pandemic. Isabel says her nephew was happy in the Army and had just renewed his contract through 2024. But she says his behavior changed culminating in his sexual assault report. Fort Hood soldier, Pfc. Gregory Morales (left), was reported missing from the base a year ago on August 20, 2019. The 24-year-old's remains were found on June 21 in a field in Killeen. Then on July 1, Army officials found human remains that were later identified as those of 20-year-old Pfc. Vanessa Guillen (right) - a Fort Hood soldier who had been missing since April All soldiers were stationed at the Fort Hood Army base in Killeen, Texas The base was thrust into the national spotlight with the disappearance of Vanessa Guillen. Her body was found days after the body of missing soldier Pfc. Gregory Morales, who went missing last August, was found in a field near the base in June. In June Army Secretary Ryan McCarty announced announced an independent investigation will take place into the base. Five civilian experts have already been sworn in for the investigation to assess command culture to 'root out' why there's been such high cases of violence, deaths, and disappearances. Those review results will be released in October. Interscope Records The Struts have premiered a new song called "Another Hit of Showmanship," featuring Albert Hammond Jr. of The Strokes on guitar. "'Another Hit of Showmanship' reminds me of being at a club night called Ramshackle years ago at the O2 Academy in Bristol, where they'd play bands like The Libertines and Razorlight and Scissor Sisters, and of course The Strokes," says frontman Luke Spiller. "I hit up Albert out of the blue and told him, 'We've got this song, and I'm so excited to see what you would do with it,'" Spiller continues. "As soon as he got his hands on it, he took it to a whole different level -- it really just shows why he's so brilliant at what he does." You can download "Another Hit of Showmanship" now via digital outlets. "Another Hit of Showmanship" follows The Struts' 2018 sophomore album, YOUNG&DANGEROUS. By Josh Johnson Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. The new, town-hall-built hospital building outside Estepona has been handed over to the regional government's Health Service for fitting out and to make it operational. Since Estepona town hall finished the construction of the new local facility in December 2018, the building has been empty waiting to be taken over by health authorities. The president of the Junta de Andalucia regional government, Juanma Moreno, was in Estepona on Tuesday to officially be handed the keys, saying his ministers are " committed to" the new service. Moreno said that the first outpatient appointments wound be, "if everything goes well", and the Covid pandemic allows for it, in less than six months and the centre will be fully operational next year. The new local hospital is in the Santa Maria area, just west of Estepona town. It will serve some 100,000 people in the resort and surrounding area, as well as an extra 36,000 people who stay on the coast in the summer months. Its operational plan allows for 85,000 outpatient appointments in 20 specialisms a year, as well as 91,000 emergency cases and 4,000 surgical operations. Day cases and the Casualty department will start first. The Junta will spend a million euros kitting out the building. The site was financed by the town hall, which spent 16 million euros as part of an unorthodox deal with the regional Health Service in order to speed up its construction. For decades, the political left has been arguing fecklessly against open-carry and other expansive gun rights. But even in the face of repeated schoolhouse slaughter and daily carnage in our homes and on our streets, these rights have been sustained and even expanded not only by numerous court rulings but also by activism on the political right, where guns are seen as the tools of law-abiding, home- and property-defending patriots. Cabinet ministers from six states, namely, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, and West Bengal, have filed a review petition in the Supreme Court seeking the postponement of the JEE Main 2020 and NEET 2020 exams. The Cabinet ministers have urged the apex court to review the August 17 judgment on JEE Main and NEET 2020 exams, in which the SC had stated that the engineering and medical entrance exams cannot be postponed. According to the judgment, JEE Main will be held between September 1 and 6 and NEET 2020 will be held on September 13. The Centre and the Supreme Court have been refusing to postpone the exams despite Opposition parties, activists, and students requests, over concerns of jeopardising the students careers. Here are the latest developments: Youth Congress protests: The Indian Youth Congress led by National President Srinivas BV protested outside the Ministry of Education echoing students' demand to postpone NEET and JEE examinations, which are supposed to be held next month. 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 Congress leader, workers detained: Delhi Congress leaders and workers, including Delhi the party's Delhi head Anil Kumar, were detained by police for protesting against holding the JEE Main 2020 and NEET 2020 exams amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Several Congress workers were also detained by the police near the Shastri Bhawan. Rajasthan, Haryana Congress protests: Rajasthan Congress workers staged a dharna at the Malviya National Institute of Technology in Jaipur, demanding JEE-NEET exams be postponed. In Haryana, Congress leaders and workers staged protests at several locations, including Karnal, Bhiwani, Kaithal, and Sirsa. Listen to students, says Sonia Gandhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi urged the Centre to listen to what the students want vis-a-vis the NEET, JEE exams issue. She tweeted: "Students are our future, we depend on them to build a better India, therefore, if any decision has to be taken regarding their future it is important that it is taken with their concurrence." NSUI activists on hunger strike: Members of the Congress-affiliated National Students Union of India (NSUI) in Bengaluru staged a hunger strike on August 28, demanding that JEE Main 2020 and NEET 2020 examinations be postponed in view of Indias current COVID-19 situation. Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh government support decision to conduct NEET, JEE exams in September: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said: "The state government supports holding of NEET and JEE", while Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said: "NEET and JEE examinations must be conducted on time so that one year of our students doesn't get wasted. It is about their future." Congress least concerned about future of students, says Gujarat BJP: Gujarat BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya has said: The Congress is least concerned about the future of students. The party's main aim is to create anarchy by inciting students. When the Supreme Court has already given its verdict, it is inappropriate on the part of Congress to hold protests. After democracy and the Election Commission, it is now the Supreme Court, which the opposition party has lost trust on," he alleged. Sonu Sood pledges help and support to students: on Friday tweeted, Bollywood actor Sonu Sood, who has practively been helping people out since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, tweeted on August 28: "Students appearing for JEE, NEET 2020, I am standing by you. If you are stuck anywhere, let me know your areas of travel. I will help you reach your exam centres. No one should miss their exams because of resources. Congress calls for nationwide protests: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has urged people to speak up for the safety of students and convince the Centre to postpone the NEET 2020 and JEE Main 2020 exams to a later date when the COVID-19 situation in the country improves. The various state units of the Congress party are supposed to be holding protests on August 28, in front of central government offices at state and district headquarters. The party has also launched a nationwide online campaign, which would involve people sharing videos and posts using the hashtag #SpeakUpForStudentSaftey, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Academicians insist NEET, JEE exams cannot be postponed/ diluted: Professors across medical and engineering institutes are of the view that the exams cannot keep postponing. The Deputy Dean of a medical college in Navi Mumbai asked: How does a student benefit, tell me? Say NEET 2020 is postponed to October or November and virus cases explode. Are students fine with skipping this academic year? New Delhi, Aug 28 : With just days to go for the Parliament's Monsoon Session, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday held a meeting with officials of the Health Ministry, AIIMS, DRDO, and other agencies to give a final shape to arrangements and said that all MPs would have to undergo a Covid-19 test to attend the session. During the meeting, Birla gave directions to ensure that proper caution is exercised with regard to health safety and for this, comprehensive arrangements related to health checkups are being put in place within the Parliament House. Birla said that all preparations based on "expert advice" will be undertaken to ensure smooth conduct of the session and prevent spread of Covid-19 infection. The Session will be conducted with all necessary health safety arrangements in Parliament House. "All members shall be requested to undergo Covid-19 test," he said. As per the Chairman's directions, all possible steps are being taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19 infection. For this, thermal guns and thermal scanner cameras will be used for measurement of temperature at entry points in the Parliament House. In addition, proper measures for sanitisation of Parliament House premises will be undertaken. The facility of touchless sanitisers will be in place at 40 different places within the Parliament House and emergency medical teams and ambulances will also be stationed. All guidelines related to COVID-19 prevention will be strictly followed. Social distancing and other guidelines will be followed within the Lok Sabha Chamber. Members will be allowed to address the Chair while being seated, so that the risk of infection might be minimised. During the Session, visitors will not be allowed entry into the Parliament House Complex. "This decision has been taken to minimise the risk of infection in light of the pandemic. Necessary arrangements will be made in galleries for members to ensure social distancing," he said. Birla further said that testing facility for officers and staff of Parliament will also be in place. "For this purpose, the detailed guidelines are being prepared. The staff may be reduced, if required. The facilities for testing of officials of Ministries and personal staff of Members will also be in place," he said. Along with this, there is a proposal to restrict the number of media persons, both from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. COVID (RT-PCR) test will be mandatory for all media persons. The monsoon Session is scheduled to take place from September 14. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Giancarlo Granda on Good Morning America on Friday morning The pool boy who had an affair with Jerry Falwell Jr's wife Becki says he told him to 'go for it' with her the first time they had sex and that he waited for them on a bed, 'drunk and giggling' after telling him that they didn't like swingers clubs and wanted an 'intimate session'. Giancarlo Granda, now 29, appeared on Good Morning America on Friday morning to share more alleged details of his tawdry six-year relationship with the couple. He said Jerry is 'lying' about never being involved in his affair with Becki and that he 'knew from day one' but is now 'trying to throw her under the bus'. The former Liberty University president claimed at first that he had no knowledge of their affair and that it devastated him to learn about it. He said Granda was lying in his claims that he 'liked to watch them', and that he has been trying to extort them. Granda, in his interview, rebuffed his denial. 'Jerry's lying. That was his game plan from the beginning, to throw her under the bus. It speaks a lot about who he is, his character. He was aware from day one. EXCLUSIVE: Former pool attendant caught in middle of affair with wife of evangelical powerhouse Jerry Falwell Jr. speaks out to @GStephanopoulos. https://t.co/dzygsti6Gc pic.twitter.com/gZ5MkJsgGs Good Morning America (@GMA) August 28, 2020 Granda claims Jerry Falwell Jr. knew about his affair with his wife Becki 'from day 1' Granda claims the Falwells told him they'd been at Miami Velvet, a swingers club, the night before he met them but that they didn't like it 'He did in fact watch,' he said. Granda also shared more alleged details of his first meeting with the couple in 2012, when he was working at the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami as a pool boy. 'I was 20-years-old, working my way through college. I'm talking to guests and I notice this woman behind me... she was noticeably drunk. She was just flirting with me. 'Towards the end of my work shift she was like, "hey, would you wanna go back to my hotel room." As a single 20 year old, I'm like, "yeah of course." 'Then she's like, "just one thing. My husband wants to watch." I thought it was a bit strange so I backed off and she said "he's not going to do anything, he just likes to watch it's his thing." 'She mentioned they were at a swingers club the night before - Miami Velvet - but that it was gross and there were too many people, they wanted a more intimate session,' he said. Granda claims he then gave them his phone number and later, they called him from a blocked number. They arranged to meet in another hotel. A view of Jerry Falwell Jr's estate just outside Lynchburg, Virginia pictured above Jerry Falwell Jr and Becki Falwell pictured with Donald Trump in May 2017. The couple are ardent supporters of Trump Falwell Jr with Giancarlo, his wife, and other members of their family in a photo taken in Washington DC before the relationship soured 'I walk into the lobby, Becki's sitting there, we were both nervous. She offered me whiskey to calm my nerves,' he said. Another former Liberty student who says Becki Falwell pursued him was in a band with the Falwell's eldest son Trey Falwell (above) When they went up to the room, Granda claims Jerry was 'lying on the bed, drunk, giggling.' He previously said he was in his Speedos. 'I'm kind of weirded out...I say, "hey. At any point you get jealous or you want me to back off, let me know and I'll walk right out of here." 'He was like, "no, no. Just go for it." When pushed for more details on what Jerry did while he and Becki had sex, Granda became coy. 'I don't want to go too much into the details but he enjoyed watching,' he said. Granda claims they then went away to the Florida Keys together and that the same pattern of him having sex with Becki while Jerry watched happened again. He also claims that Jerry offered him a real estate opportunity to make him money when he told him that he'd wanted to launch an organization giving therapy to young people who become addicted to video games, as he had as a teenager. Jerry Falwell Jr and his wife Becki above on their Virginia farm Granda says their next trip was to New York City, where they stayed at the Gansevoort hotel. He previously alleged that they continued with their relationship for six years, during which time he was given a stake in a hostel in Miami that he continues to own but wants to sell. Granda said the couple's claim that he was trying to extort them is 'false and ridiculous'. 'It's kind of ridiculous to think this 20-year-old with not many resources - I didn't come from a family with a lot of money - was targeting and preying upon this power couple that have all the political connections and money in the world. 'I feel like I was an ideal target for them,' he said. He also claimed that he wanted to cut ties with the couple by selling his stake in their hostel. 'I never asked for more than what was promised to me,' he said. It comes after a second man claimed Becki performed oral sex on him in 2008 after climbing into his bed while he was staying at the family's farm in Cifax, Virginia. The man declined to be named but he spoke to Politico. He said he'd been at a band practice with the Falwells' son, Trey, and that he stayed the night afterwards. Becki and Jerry denied that man's claims. Another pool boy, Gordon Bello, claims he had a 'personal relationship' with Becki too but he has not shared any more details of it. When the New Democratic Partys (NDP) Central Committee convened on Thursday, August 20, the primary intent was to ratify the candidates selected by the East Saint George and Marriaqua Constituency Councils. In a complete turnabout of affairs, the Partys highest decision-making body opted to appoint former area MP Bernard R. Wyllie to represent the Marriaqua constituency, thereby setting aside that Constituency Councils choice of Kirk Da Silva. Da Silva, a former Unity Labour Party hopeful candidate for Marriaqua, had emerged from the NDP Marriaqua primaries with a 7-vote (15-8) lead on Wyllie. He in fact, copped more votes than the two remaining contenders combined, those being Curtis Bowman, the NDP candidate in elections of 2010 and 2015, and newcomer Phillip Jackson. Wyllie managed to secure the second highest vote count, 8, at the Constituency Council level. Reports are that Da Silva fell out of favour when separate polls conducted by the NDP, since the August 11 primary, showed Wyllie enjoying a better approval rating in the largely agricultural district. "The polls and the pulse both said Wyllie. Everybody seemed to be calling for Wyllie, an NDP insider told this reporter. Other reports claimed that a constituency walkabout conducted by Party Leader Dr. Godwin Friday revealed that the constituents favoured Wyllie over the other contenders. In the wake of claims reporting Wyllies endorsement by the Central Committee, NDPs Public Relations Officer - Laverne King, not only confirmed the reports but also noted that "the NDP is the most resilient political institution that I know, and Im confident that we made a winning decision tonight. It is understood, that the other three contenders have since affirmed their support of Wyllie, described by his party as "a candidate who would deliver Marriaqua. Constitutional right Following on what broke late last week, Dr. Godwin Friday, Political Leader of the NDP, used his Monday morning programme on NICE Radio to address the matter. According to Dr. Friday, the decision by the partys Central Committee to rule in favour of Wyllie over Da Silva, was in keeping with the partys constitution. Constitutionally, as per Dr. Fridays explanation, a person who wins with less than 75% of the votes cast at the Constituency Council level, must have to be ratified as the candidate by the Central Committee. In the case of Da Silva, he copped the support of 15 of the 30 eligible voters, and notwithstanding that only 29 voted, he did not garner the required 75% so as to enjoy automatic selection. Dr. Friday also corroborated that a walkabout in the constituency was met with fervent support for Wyllie, and this had influenced the Central Committees decision in his favour. Wyllie at the pools Upon his electoral victory in 1989, Wyllie served as a Parliamentary Secretary first in the Ministry of Housing, Local Government and Community Development, and then the Ministry of Communications and Works. Success at the 1994 polls occasioned his appointment as the Minister of Trade, Industry and Commerce before a reshuffle resulted in him being assigned ministerial duties in the Ministry of Agriculture and Labour. Victory by the Unity Labour Partys Girlyn Miguel in the 1998 election resulted in Wyllie withdrawing from active politics and he migrated to the USA where, to his credit, he continued to serve his party as the PRO of its support group in New York. Thursday nights Central Committee Meeting also confirmed Laverne Gibson-Velox as the NDPs candidate for the East St. George constituency. The NDP is yet to confirm a candidate for the North Windward constituency, for an election which is likely to be called before the year ends. For a better experience on our website and avoid any trouble, we strongly recommand to activate Javascript ( click here ). Hello and welcome to Journal des Palaces You are a communication or the PR manager? Click here You are an applicant? Check out our questions and answers here ! Israel and Hamas have traded fire on a number of occasions in recent weeks, and Hamas has launched a wave of incendiary balloons across the frontier that have torched wide swathes of farmland. Gaza City: The Israeli military says it struck militant targets in Gaza, including a weapons manufacturing site, after six rockets were fired from the territory early Friday. There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage on either side. Israel and Hamas have traded fire on a number of occasions in recent weeks, and Hamas has launched a wave of incendiary balloons across the frontier that have torched wide swathes of farmland. Hamas is pressing Israel to ease its blockade on Gaza and allow large-scale development projects. Egypt and Qatar are trying to shore up an informal cease-fire. Those efforts have grown more urgent in recent days as authorities in Gaza have detected the first cases of local transmission of the coronavirus. Hamas has imposed a lockdown in the coastal territory bordering Israel and Egypt, which is home to 2 million Palestinians. Bassem Naim, a Hamas official, warned of further escalation, saying the catastrophic conditions the Gaza Strip is experiencing are unprecedented. He said the situation could lead to an explosion in which things get out of control. Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on Gaza after Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Israel says the blockade is needed to keep Hamas from expanding its arsenal, but critics view it as a form of collective punishment. Israel and Hamas have fought three wars and several smaller battles since the closure was imposed. The restrictions have pushed the local economy to the brink of collapse, leaving more than half the population unemployed, and years of war and isolation have left the health care system ill-equipped to cope with a major outbreak. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Aug. 27, 2020 -- International border closures and travel bans have led Americans to travel within the US. With domestic travel rising in popularity, travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth shares what travelers need to know before heading out of state. Coverage for Contracting COVID-19 Available Domestic travelers concerned that contracting COVID-19 will impact their trip can find coverage from select travel insurance policies. Despite high coronavirus cases in some states, travelers can still purchase a policy that includes cancellation coverage in the event they contract coronavirus before departure. Travelers can search for policies that may include cancellation or medical coverage for contracting coronavirus from 14 providers on Squaremouth. Quarantine Requirements Not Covered Reason to Cancel Some travelers are surprised to learn their destination state requires a quarantine period upon arrival, some up to 14 days. However, these requirements do not trigger trip cancellation benefits. Travelers who no longer wish to travel because they will have to quarantine at their destination will not be covered to cancel under a standard policy. COVID-19 Concerns Covered by Cancel for Any Reason The Cancel for Any Reason upgrade offers the most extensive cancellation coverage, making it the best option for travelers who have most concerns related to COVID-19, including changing travel regulations, flight cancellations due to lack of passengers, or accommodations canceling reservations due to COVID-19. With this upgrade, travelers can cancel their trips 2-3 days prior to departure and receive 75% reimbursement of their pre-paid, non-refundable trip cost. KEY CURRENT RESOURCE: After three months of sustained public protest, Black Lives Matter organizers are stepping from streets and plazas into the policy arena. And theyre going big. The BREATHE Act, a four-part proposal named after the phrase uttered by Black men Eric Garner and George Floyd while in police choke holds, aims to codify the movements core objective: redirecting federal funds away from police, prisons and other parts of the criminal justice system and into underserved communities of color. I think that we've demonstrated over time that we have the rigor and the relationships and the expertise to truly generate meaningful ideas into public policy solutions," said Jessica Byrd, a Democratic strategist and lead organizer of the Black National Convention, the virtual gathering of activists taking place Friday night. And the BREATHE Act is the best and highest example of that. The policy document is set to take center stage at the Black National Convention, which aims to create a vision for Black Lives before the biggest election of our time, and long after. While its architects recognize it does not have the necessary backing on Capitol Hill even in a Democratic-majority House they argue its an important marker for activists as they seek to turn the momentum gained through a summer of protest into political wins. How far they go in building support will be a critical test of the movements enduring influence, post-George Floyd. Certainly, this is a moment politically where I think so many of us are trying to see where the rebellions in the streets will have impact on policy, platform and practice of the major political parties, said Alicia Garza, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter. And, you know, for us, I think the BREATHE Act really represents an opportunity to galvanize voters, particularly Black voters, in this election cycle. The BREATHE Act finds its roots in the 2016 policy platform called the Vision for Black Lives. It was drafted in response to the police killings of African Americans like Michael Brown, Sandra Bland and Philando Castile and called for a similar divest-invest approach to policing and public safety that Byrd said was often rebuffed as this lofty, unviable set of ideas. Story continues But George Floyds death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer catapulted the discussion over defunding the police into the mainstream and turned Black Lives Matter from a controversial topic into a household phrase. In the latest sign of its cultural significance, athletes across several professional leagues including the NBA, WNBA and MLB this week opted to break their contracts and sit out games and matches in a show of solidarity with anti-racism protesters. The response has convinced Byrd and other organizers that the BREATHE Act also has the potential to go mainstream. She and others involved with the Black National Convention plan to highlight the proposal Friday as an example of the work organizers are doing not just to protest current injustices, but end them. What we want to tell folks is that in this moment, we are ripe for transformation. And we can build that and achieve that if we come together under a shared political vision that touches on policies around reproductive justice and housing and the criminal legal system which includes policing and the environment, said Kayla Reed, executive director of the organizing group Action St. Louis and co-founder of the Movement for Black Lives Electoral Justice Project. We don't have to just get one thing done, Reed continued. We can get it all done, because it's what our communities deserve. The BREATHE Acts terms go beyond criminal justice reform. The plan calls for funding for infrastructure that can withstand climate change-related disasters and federal grants to guarantee clean air and water for all communities. It also supports the passage of H.R. 40 , which would establish a committee for the study of reparations; and calls for the expansion of existing health programs like Medicaid under the terms of the Affordable Care Act. There have been some small signs of progress in building support for the proposal, which has yet to be formally introduced in Congress. When the Movement for Black Lives requested a meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus to present the BREATHE Act, Sen. Kamala Harris, stepped up to arrange it. Sen. Cory Booker introduced a sweeping criminal justice reform bil l in 2019 that would reduce mandatory minimums for drug offenses, reinstate the right to vote for the formerly incarcerated and expunge records for those with marijuana offenses. And in July, Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, addressed the Democratic National Committees platform committee to encourage the partys top brass to adopt the BREATHE Act as part of its platform. Harris, now the party's vice presidential nominee, has made no further commitment to backing the BREATHE Act, however. And the DNC did not adopt the proposal as part of the party platform, though it did include the phrase Black lives matter with the promise to study the impacts of slavery and Jim Crow-era segregation on current racial inequities. Bookers bill is unlikely to make any progress in the current, Republican-held Senate. Even in the Democrat-controlled House, the legislation is likely to face a frosty reception. Most Democrats in Congress have already rejected the idea of defunding the police. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has proposed a $300 million investment in the COPS program, which would hire more police officers and require that their demographics mirror the communities they serve. During a virtual panel hosted by UCLAs Latino Policy and Politics Initiative in July, CBC Chair Karen Bass told POLITICO that elements of the BREATHE Act are already in existing legislation. However, parts of the sweeping proposal, she said, are more challenging. One of the main points of that bill is that it shows how you can cut federal spending and re-invest in communities and that concept, that principle is something I feel very strongly about, Bass said. The wholesale elimination of programs, I think, would be challenging. The legislation does, however, have the support of prominent progressives Democratic Reps. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, who plan to co-sponsor it. And organizers see a handful of new allies in young, Black progressives politicians such as New Yorks Jamaal Bowman and Missouris Cori Bush, whose primary victories this summer all but assure them of seats in Congress in 2021. To some organizers, Bowman and Bushs election wins, which involved ousting older, moderate Democrats, are an important step forward for the young generation of activists seeking to shape policy at the local, state and federal levels. I hope that we continue as protesters to go and seek the power [in] Congress and state legislatures and city halls and that we remember the values and principles we wanted the leaders before us to have, said Clifton Kinnie, a St. Louis-based organizer and founder of Our Destiny STL, a network of young activists in Missouri. I believe that Cori Bush will not only do that but will do so much more to voice the concerns of the people here. I think this is just the beginning. Supporters of the proposal also note that despite the publics reluctance to embrace calls to defund the police, sweeping police reform measures remain popular. A 2019 study conducted by the Black Futures Lab, a think tank led by Garza, found that 85 percent of the more than 30,000 Black respondents desired more police accountability. A plurality of respondents reported having negative interactions with police and a majority were in favor of more investment in Black communities. And polling shows support for reform is also growing outside the Black community: According to a Gallup poll , nearly two-thirds of all Americans support Black Lives Matter protests and nearly half say the demonstrations have altered their views of racial justice. The BREATHE Act, argues Garza, is actually speaking to the majoritarian values that I think are not only being expressed through these rebellions, but are also being expressed through the ways that people are showing up to participate in cities and states across the country. The movement is making impact and the question becomes, how will our elected representatives and those who seek our votes step up to meet this moment? she added. With this in mind, the goals of the Black National Convention are not only to encourage support of the BREATHE Act, but of Black movement work, writ large. The convention will stream on the evening of the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington and on the heels of another police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, in Kenosha, Wis. Organizers hope that by creating a program where Black communities are front of mind, they can garner the support they need to continue organizing across the country and make possible the changes theyve been advocating for decades. This is for everyone who has ever seen the story of someone who lost their lives to police and knew that it was unjust. For someone who maybe came to their first protest this year. It's for the person who hasn't gone out to a protest at all but sees the hashtag or sees the conversation, Reed explained. This is not for politicos. This is not for people who are entrenched in partisan politics or party politics. This is for everyday people to understand that our movement is for everyone, that all Black people have the right to be alive and thrive in our communities. And we are fighting for that. Laura Barron-Lopez contributed to this report. (Newser) Bad luck: to crash into other vehicles while driving. Worse luck: to crash into other vehicles that happen to be police cars. Worst luck of all: to do all of the above while you're watching a movie. Officials in North Carolina say that was the fate of a Raleigh doctor who early Wednesday smashed into the parked patrol cars of a Nash County Sheriff's Office deputy and a State Highway Patrol trooper along the side of US Highway 64, per WRAL. Officials say Devainder Goli was viewing a flick on his cellphone while his Tesla was in "Autopilot" mode when he slammed into the deputy's car, which in turn smashed into the trooper's vehicle. Both officers, who were helping out at the site of a crash, were standing outside their cars at the time, which took place just after midnight near Spring Hope, per the Enterprise. story continues below "Luckily, the state trooper pushed our deputy out of the way when he heard the tires squeal," Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone tells WRAL. "It could have been very horrific." Tesla's website notes that while "Autopilot enables your car to steer, accelerate, and brake automatically within its lane," the technology's features still "require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous." WXII 12 reports that no one was hurt in the incident. Goli was charged with failure to move over for an emergency vehicle and watching TV while driving a vehicle. No word on what the movie was. (Read more weird crimes stories.) The Houston Zoo announced on Thursday that it has added a new animal to its fold, a pack of African Painted Dogs. The all-male quartet, Modo, Rafiki, Tamu and Wiki, was moved to Houston from Binder Park Zoo near Battle Creek, MI. Egyptian social media users recently started posting information about two incidents concerning a serial sexual harasser and a gang rape in the wake of people beginning to tell their own stories of sexual harassment. In July, the Egyptian prosecution announced that Ahmed Bassam Zaki, referred to as ABZ, had been detained pending an investigation into allegations that he raped, sexually assaulted and sexually harassed dozens of young women, using blackmail and intimidation to silence them. After Zakis detention, social media accounts of women accused Zaki of assaulting them. The prosecution also said the alleged victims should start to press charges against Zaki if they wanted their cases to go to court. In the gang rape incident, alleged to have occurred in 2014, the attorney-general ordered an investigation two weeks ago. Social media posts maintain that six men raped a young woman after drugging her with GHB, or Gamma Hydroxybutyrate, a central nervous system depressant that is commonly referred to as a club drug or date rape drug, at a five-star hotel party. According to another Instagram account, Gang Rapists of Cairo, which is currently collecting information about the incident, the offenders drugged the victim with GHB until she became unconscious. The account also says offenders filmed a video with their initials written on the victims body and started spreading it online as a trophy of being gang rapists, as the account explained. Social media users are calling on the prosecutor-general to press charges against the alleged rapists, and ban them from leaving the country, after an Instagram account that first started disseminating information about the rapists and the incident, known as Assault Police, opened. The account was closed after some people claimed its managers had received death threats and their identities and home addresses were revealed. Egyptians linked the gang rape incident with public sex offenders getting away after not being charged. Angry users launched a website named Support Egyptian Women, condemning violence against Egyptian women ranging from verbal harassment in the streets to the alleged gang rape incident. Several local and international media outlets on the abuse of women include links to social media accounts tackling the rape incident, sexual harassment, providing local legal-council advice as well as providing a psychological support group for the survivors. Several accounts condemned the sexual harassment atmosphere in Egypt. The power of social media in dealing with the victims of sexual assault surfaced prominently in the US in October 2017 when The New York Times and The New Yorker reported that a number of women had accused Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein of committing non-consensual sexual acts, that some claimed included rape, for at least 30 years. Women created the hashtag that surfaced then, #MeToo, to uncover criminal sexual acts. As Egypt enters a second #MeToo movement, Egyptians are now calling on the authorities to arrest alleged rapists and harassers on the loose. Wellness Counsellor Yasmine Madkour told Al-Ahram Weekly that usually people start blaming the victims of sexual assault because it seems easier than to oppose harassment. Its a culture. Eyewitnesses of sexual harassment will blame what the victim was wearing while taking the side of the offender, Madkour says. They will act as if the offenders are not responsible for their actions and that the womens attire was provocative enough. Madkour says some eyewitnesses are too scared to take any action because they dont know what an offender might do to them if they intervene. Offenders are usually aggressive and unpredictable. People dont want to get harmed or get involved with them, Madkour said in explaining how some people think. According to Egyptian law, Article 306 A, the harasser should be punished by prison for not less than six months and/or fined not less than LE3,000 and not more than LE5,000, for making forward actions, insinuations or hints that are sexual or pornographic whether by signals, words or action and by any means including wired and wireless communication methods. Engi Badr, 29, told the Weekly she is verbally harassed almost every time she walks on the street, while a few times she was physically sexually assaulted. The first time was in her secondary school years when she said she was harassed by a taxi driver. I was too young to understand. I took a taxi to drive me home from school, then the driver put his hand on my leg, Badr says. She said that even though she was too young to understand what was happening, she panicked and was traumatised and did not tell anybody what happened, not even her family. Badr said she experienced more harassment, this time at 22, when taking the underground metro. The subway was so crowded I couldnt even see the floor. I was sexually molested in every way possible by many people, Badr says. I was climbing the subway stairs, when I felt someone putting his hand on my back for a long time. I grabbed his hand, then started hitting him hard, Badr said, adding that the crowd helped the offender escape. Badr said bystanders noticed there was something wrong so they started asking her what was happening but Badr said nothing. Badr is not the only one speaking out on the incidents she experienced. Mahinour Said, 31, told the Weekly that her clothes had caused her trouble and people were staring at her. Another time, two days ago, I was providing aid for less fortunate people in my neighbourhood. There was a man who tried to approach me several times. I had to run away, Said says, adding that at that point the man started using foul language. Said stated that this was not the first time she was sexually threatened. She recalled an incident during a summer trip as a university sophomore when she, at age 19, was being bullied by a young man who was following her in his car. I was too young and in fear, but suddenly, a Bedouin who saw the incident blocked him with his own car, Said says. Both Badr and Said blame families for not taking responsibility to teach boys how to deal with women respectfully. They said these were not the only incidents they faced, adding they had met offenders of different ages, with some as young as 12, and elderly men who would pull over next to their cars and start offering them money. Said also says that speaking on social media might not be effective, but its the only thing we can do to limit this social phenomenon, especially after the Egyptian prosecution page on Facebook started taking action when responding to #MeToo and ABZs case. The Egyptian National Council for Women started to raise awareness concerning womens safety and rights using Facebook. The manager of the councils complaints office, Amal Abdel-Moneim, told the Weekly that the complaints office is available through its hotline to support women who are threatened or assaulted nationwide. Abdel-Moneim said the office supports victims by providing legal counselling and filing lawsuits on their behalf. While trying to provide legal support for the victims, we noticed a significant decline in sexual harassment incidents on the streets. She said the reason for the decline goes back to the strict laws applied against offenders that eventually started forcing them to back off or at least consider the consequences of their actions. There are persistent attempts to raise the awareness of women reaching out to the complaints office and the laws restricting harassment, Abdel-Moneim said, adding that the complaints office receives many calls from women in governorates on its hotline. They lend them support in their cases which range from sexual assault to family violence as well as providing a lawyer for many others. Sociology professor at Ain Shams University Soraya Abdel-Gawad told the Weekly that sexual harassment is part of the Egyptian patriarchy in the community, calling on the government to take some serious measures to counter the intruding ideologies of patriarchy and extremism in the community. If we go back to the mid-20th century, women were wearing more revealing clothes, yet no one would dare comment on them, Abdel-Gawad noted. Today we have fully veiled women facing all sorts of harassment. Abdel-Gawad also referred to the legal and social bias against women, saying they were never present in Egyptian society in the past. Replying to a victim condemning parents for not raising their children properly when dealing with women, Abdel-Gawad said families were not tackling such topics before. Children were raised properly and they knew they couldnt do this to women. I see that its the governments responsibility to eliminate the flowing extremist ideologies through good education and empowering the real Egyptian culture, Abdel-Gawad says, adding that empowering culture through education and the law with strict penalties for sex offenders is capable of eliminating this phenomenon within 10 years. Abdel-Gawad also said there must be regulations for the relationship between men and women in the community, criticising men for being allowed to control every aspect of a womans life, starting from clothes to their professions, especially professions which restrict women from venturing into them, under what Abdel-Gawad described as safety regulations. A 2013 United Nations for Women study on sexual harassment of Egyptian women shows 99.3 per cent have been exposed to some kind of harassment. Over 82 per cent said they dont feel safe on the streets, and 86.5 per cent said they do not feel safe in public transportation. While Egyptian society is mobilising to confront sexual harassment against women on social media, many women say there are few attempts to safeguard females on the streets. *A version of this article appears in print in the 27 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: Rating Action: Moody's affirms Pennsylvania-American Water's ratings; outlook stable Global Credit Research - 27 Aug 2020 New York, August 27, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") today affirmed the ratings (including the A3 long-term issuer rating; a full list of the affected ratings is provided at the end of this press release) of Pennsylvania-American Water Company (PAWC) based on Moody's expectation that the utility will maintain a stable financial profile, such that the ratio of funds from operations (FFO) to net debt averages around 19% over the next three years. The outlook remains stable. Affirmations: ..Issuer: Clarion (County of) PA, I.D.A. ....Senior Secured Revenue Bonds, Affirmed A1 ....Underlying Senior Secured Revenue Bonds, Affirmed A1 ..Issuer: Clarion County Industrial Dev. Auth., PA ....Senior Secured Revenue Bonds, Affirmed A1 ..Issuer: Luzerne County Industrial Dev. Auth., PA ....Senior Secured Revenue Bonds, Affirmed A1 ....Underlying Senior Secured Revenue Bonds, Affirmed A1 ..Issuer: Montgomery County Industrial Dev Auth, PA ....Senior Secured Revenue Bonds, Affirmed A1 ....Underlying Senior Secured Revenue Bonds, Affirmed A1 ..Issuer: Pennsylvania Economic Dev. Fin. Auth. ....Senior Secured Revenue Bonds, Affirmed A1 ....Underlying Senior Secured Revenue Bonds, Affirmed A1 ..Issuer: Pennsylvania-American Water Company .... Issuer Rating, Affirmed A3 Outlook Actions: ..Issuer: Pennsylvania-American Water Company ....Outlook, Remains Stable RATINGS RATIONALE "Pennsylvania-American Water's credit reflects very supportive regulatory treatment in Pennsylvania, strong cost recovery provisions and a steady financial profile. We calculate an average ratio of funds from operations to net debt around 19%" said Ryan Wobbrock Vice President -- Senior Credit Officer. "Moreover, the company benefits from being one of the largest utility subsidiaries within the American Water Works corporate family" added Wobbrock. Story continues PAWC has a low business risk profile as a rate regulated water distribution utility and operates in a supportive regulatory environment with ongoing cost recovery provided by key rate mechanisms (e.g., the Distribution System Infrastructure Charge that allows for annual recovery of roughly $150 million of related capital spending), relatively high levels of equity capitalization (estimated to be over 53%) and an allowed return on equity estimated at 10%. This should help PAWC keep stable financial ratios, even though the company will begin to return over $300 million of excess deferred income taxes to customers upon conclusion of its current general rate proceeding. The rapid spread of the coronavirus outbreak, severe global economic shock, low oil prices, and asset price volatility are creating a severe and extensive credit shock across many sectors, regions and markets. The combined credit effects of these developments are unprecedented. We regard the coronavirus outbreak as a social risk under our ESG framework, given the substantial implications for public health and safety. Moody's expects PAWC to be resilient to recessionary pressures related to the coronavirus because of its rate-regulated, essential service business model. Nevertheless, Moody's is watching for water usage declines, utility bill payment delinquency, and the regulatory response to counter these effects on earnings and cash flow. As the events related to the coronavirus unfold, Moody's is taking into consideration a wider range of potential outcomes, including more severe downside scenarios. The effects of the pandemic could result in financial metrics that are weaker than expected; however, Moody's sees these issues as temporary and not reflective of the core operations or long-term financial or credit profile of PAWC. Environmental considerations incorporated into Moody's credit analysis for PAWC are primarily related to climate change risks, which are generally highest for the sector in terms of supply variability and exposure to natural and man-made disasters, including flooding and soil/water pollution. These and other severe weather conditions could disrupt operations, change water usage patterns and have negative financial impacts on the company. Social risks are primarily related to health and safety, demographic and societal trends, as well as customer relations as the company works to provide reliable and affordable service to customers and safe working conditions to employees. Regarding affordability, Moody's sees the potential for rising social risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on PAWC's service territory, should unemployment remain high, making customers less able to absorb rate increases. The company's governance is reflective of that of its parent, which has very strong governance practices, particularly in the areas of compensation disclosure, transparency of financial reporting and audit quality. Outlook The stable outlook for PAWC reflects its ability to generate FFO to net debt metrics in the 16-19% range over the next few years, even when implementing tax reform requirements. The outlook also assumes that any COVID-19 related issues will be temporary and that supportive regulatory treatment for timely cost recovery continues. FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS Factors that could lead to an upgrade PAWC could be upgraded with improved regulatory provisions for operating or capital costs or if FFO to net debt exceeds 19% on a sustainable basis, along with improved cost recovery provisions (e.g., revenue decoupling). Factors that could lead to a downgrade PAWC could be downgraded if FFO to net debt declines below 16%, consistently, or if regulators become less supportive of timely and adequate cost recovery. The rating could also be downgraded if operational challenges resulted in weaker service performance. Pennsylvania-American Water Company is a regulated water utility headquartered in Camden, New Jersey and a subsidiary of American Water Works Company, Inc., also headquartered in Camden, New Jersey. The principal methodology used in these ratings was Regulated Water Utilities published in June 2018 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1121971. 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. Ryan Wobbrock VP - Senior Credit Officer Public Proj & Infrastr Fin 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 Michael G. Haggarty Associate Managing Director Public Proj & Infrastr Fin 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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Xiaomi is set to launch the Mi 10T and Mi 10T Pro next month and more details of the phones have now been revealed, throwing light on what will be Xiaomi's next affordable premium offering after the release of the exciting Redmi K30 Ultra. Working For Notebookcheck Are you a techie who knows how to write? Then join our Team! English native speakers welcome! News Writer (AUS/NZL based) - Details here The Mi 10T and Mi 10T Pro are billed to launch sometime in September. A few days ago, renders of the Mi 10T Pro were revealed, showing the phone with a 108 MP camera. More information has now also leaked. The Mi 10T and Mi 10T Pro will both sport FHD+ 144 Hz displays. All information so far indicates that both phones will use LCD panels, not OLEDs as some would hope. That's a shame, as the Redmi K30 Ultra already offers a 120 Hz AMOLED. Both phones are expected to feature side-mounted fingerprint readers. In late March, Jennifer Mazzotta-Perretti, a public school administrator on Long Island, New York, was in a hospital with a 103-degree fever discussing end-of-life plans with her domestic partner. I couldnt breathe. I was really in and out of consciousness, she said. I was sweating profusely. And just really feeling out of my body. Mazzotta-Perretti, who donated a kidney to one of her students in 2009, so was particularly at risk from COVID-19, said she had contracted the coronavirus two weeks earlier at work. She still suffers from recurrent fevers, fatigue, migraines and other lingering symptoms, according to letters from her doctor that she provided to NBC News. She renewed her contract over the summer with the Massapequa School District, where she had worked for three years and was overseeing 1,200 special education students. On Aug. 7, after she gave her supervisor a letter from her doctor saying she needed to work remotely until at least Sept. 7, she was told she was being recommended for termination. Her supervisor said it was because she forwarded work emails in 2018 and 2019 to a personal email account she shares with her partner. She said she did so to be able to work on cases at nights and on weekends and was unaware it was not allowed. She believes that she was retaliated against for requesting to work remotely. Jennifer Mazzotta-Perretti, a public school administrator on Long Island, N.Y. (Courtesy Jennifer Mazzotta-Perretti) I received stellar reviews and a new contract and only after requesting accommodations did they search for a reason to terminate me for emails from two years ago, Mazzotta-Perretti said in a telephone interview Wednesday. The only thing that changed was I got sick and I needed help. The school district declined to comment but denied any wrongdoing. "As this is a matter of personnel, the district has no comment," Superintendent of Schools Lucille Iconis said in a statement Tuesday. "However, the district unequivocally denies any and all allegations of discrimination, misconduct, and/or wrongdoing made against any district personnel." Story continues Mazzotta-Perretti's lawyer, Isaac Nesser, said he's hopeful that the Massapequa Board of Education "will do the right thing and realize it is crazy to fire her." If not, she plans to sue to get her job back. A student-centered administrator Mazzotta-Perretti was an executive assistant for pupil personnel services. She was lauded by her supervisor as an ethical, compassionate, empathetic and student-centered administrator in her 2019-20 review. She is passionate and enthusiastic about helping students and supporting families, it said. The review noted that she's been in the education field for 23-plus years, 18 of which she has served as a special education administrator. Her supervisor did not immediately respond to phone and email requests for comment Friday. Her role requires that she be available on nights and weekends, and she said that she had difficulty accessing work emails from home on the Chromebook the district gave her. So she would sometimes forward work emails to her personal Gmail account. After a March 10 work meeting, Mazzotta-Perretti said she began to feel sick. "I started reaching out on March 16 to my direct supervisor to let him know that I had fever and difficulty breathing symptoms that we were hearing at that time about COVID-19," she said. The same day, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order directing all schools statewide to close for at least two weeks to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The governor announced May 1 that schools throughout New York would remain closed through the end of the school year. He said it was impossible to reopen schools "in a way that would keep our children and students and educators safe." Mazzotta-Perretti donated a kidney after a writing assignment about doing good deeds without expecting anything in return led to a discussion about a student's need for a transplant. She has one child, an 18-year-old son who has high-functioning autism. She said the worst of her symptoms lasted through the end of April. "My kidney doctors were concerned that if it went into the one kidney I have, it could be deadly because I do need a kidney to live," she said. "It also lowers my immune system in terms of being susceptible." "And thats why they think COVID-19 hit me so hard," she said. 'Special allowances should be made' In July, after she received her review and a new contract for the 2020-21 school year, Mazzotta-Perretti said the school district reopened for administrators. "When I had to go back to work, I failed their employee health screening because it asked if you've had symptoms for any of the things associated with COVID-19," she said. She stated she was still exhibiting symptoms and was sent home, which she says upset her supervisor. "He told me, 'You're the only one who answered yes to any of these questions'" and that it would require he speak with human resources, she said. Afterward, her doctor wrote another letter saying "special allowances should be made to accommodate her" working from home "as needed throughout the 2020-2021 school year" when she experiences symptoms. Approximately three weeks later, she said she received an email informing her she needed to appear in a video conference call that could result in disciplinary action. In that meeting, she learned she was placed on administrative leave and faces termination. "Were in the middle of a pandemic and to put me out with no health insurance, for myself and my son and my ability to have a paycheck, its heartless," Mazzotta-Perretti said. I come bearing good news: Spain's economy is already recovering from Covid! I know you're probably thinking that most of the available evidence points to the contrary, but it really is true, because Economy minister Nadia Calvino said so in a TV interview with Antena 3 this week. Calvino, who is also one of the country's four deputy prime ministers, admitted that there had been an "intense but temporary" contraction in Spain's GDP so far this year, but quickly added that the "revival is under way". Phew! It's not the first time that Calvino has spun this line. At a parliamentary session back in June, the boundlessly optimistic minister said that the economic recovery from Covid and lockdown had "already started". But what exactly did she mean? Clearly, Calvino can't have meant that the economy had already started to regain strength just a few weeks after lockdown had been lifted: at the end of July, it emerged that Spain's GDP contracted 18.5% between April and June, a rate not seen since the outbreak of civil war in 1936. Combined with a reduction of 5.2% during the first three months of the year, that means that Spain lost almost a quarter of its annual GDP in the first half of 2020. Tourism has also been severely affected by the virus and resulting lockdown. There were zero international visitors to Spain in April, and in June there were 97% less than in the same month last year. Tourist spending in the first six months of 2020 was down by 70% compared with 2019. And that was even before the UK's remarkably inept government slammed an indiscriminate quarantine on British tourists returning from any and all parts of Spain. It's also hard to believe that the inexplicably early closing times of bars and restaurants is helping the hospitality industry return to full strength as quickly as it otherwise could. Even more bafflingly, Calvino said in this week's interview that the government has to "keep on controlling the outbreaks to keep this [economic] trend going on". Controlling the outbreaks? Spain has recently seen a substantial increase in new Covid infections, despite the obligatory use of face masks, the imposition of social distancing and new regulations about smoking and bar and restaurant opening hours. If taken literally, Calvino seems to be saying that cases must keep on rising, to ensure that Covid continues to have the same (negative) effect on the economy that it already has - which cannot possibly be what she meant. What Calvino really meant is that her government is doing a sterling job of managing the current situation and that, as a result, Spain's battered economy is already out of the danger zone. I'll let you be the judge of whether she's justified in making either of those claims. Men might want to think twice before reaching for their smartphone at night. A new study found correlations between electronic media use at night and poor sperm quality. Preliminary results show that greater self-reported exposure to light-emitting media devices in the evening and after bedtime is associated with a decline in sperm quality. Sperm concentration, motility and progressive motility -- the ability of sperm to "swim" properly -- were all lower, and the percentage of immotile sperm that are unable to swim was higher, in men who reported more smartphone and tablet usage at night. Smartphone and tablet use in the evening and after bedtime was correlated with decline in sperm quality. Furthermore, smartphone use in the evening, tablet use after bedtime, and television use in the evening were all correlated with the decline of sperm concentration. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report these types of correlations between sperm quality and exposure time to short-wavelength light emitted from digital media, especially smartphones and tablets, in the evening and after bedtime." Amit Green, PhD, principal investigator, head of research and development at the Sleep and Fatigue Institute at the Assuta Medical Center in Tel-Aviv, Israel The researchers obtained semen samples from 116 men between the ages of 21 and 59 years who were undergoing fertility evaluation. Participants completed questionnaires about their sleep habits and use of electronic devices. The study also found a correlation between longer sleep duration and higher sperm total and greater progressive motility. In contrast, greater sleepiness was associated with poorer sperm quality. The research abstract was published recently in an online supplement of the journal Sleep for Virtual SLEEP 2020, which will be held Aug. 27-30. SLEEP is the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, a joint venture of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society. The World Bank Group has hit pause on the publication of the Doing Business report after irregularities pertaining to the changes to the data being used in the report surfaced. A statement issued by the World Bank Group read, A number of irregularities have been reported regarding changes to the data in the Doing Business 2018 and Doing Business 2020 reports, published in October 2017 and 2019. The changes in the data were inconsistent with the Doing Business methodology." It added that the board of executive directors of the World Bank and authorities of the countries that were affected by the data irregularities have been briefed on the situation. The publication of the Doing Business report will be paused as we conduct our assessment," the statement said. A Wall Street Journal report, citing a source with knowledge of the development, said that data of four countries China, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia appeared to have been inappropriately altered." Notably, after the October 2019 report was published, the Ministry of Commerce had said that India recorded a jump of 14 positions against its rank of 77 in 2019 to be placed now at 63rd rank among 190 countries assessed by the World Bank. Indias leap of 14 ranks in the Ease of Doing Business ranking is significant, considering that there has been continuous improvement since 2015 and for the third consecutive year India is amongst the top 10 improvers," the ministrys statement said. As a result of continued efforts by the Government, India has improved its rank by 79 positions in the last five years from 2014-2019," the statement added. India was among the countries which were recognised by the now-rescinded report as having shown the most notable improvement in Doing Business 2020. Other countries included Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Togo, Bahrain, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Kuwait, China and Nigeria. During the year 2018-2019, the said countries carried out one-fifth of all the reforms reported worldwide. Up to 70 guards gathered in a room the day before hotel staff were forced to isolate after an outbreak in Victoria's hotel quarantine program. The inquiry investigating Victoria's hotel quarantine heard on Friday that 70 guards, contracted by MSS Security, were in one conference room and not socially distanced during a shift change-over at the Stamford Plaza. Stamford Plaza general manager Karl Unterfrauner gave evidence to the hotel inquiry. Stamford Plaza general manager Karl Unterfrauner told the inquiry this happened on June 14. Earlier evidence to the inquiry heard this was the day an employee contracted to work at the hotel tested positive. "We all quarantined from the next day onwards," he said. He had to steer the hulking vessel which can hold more than 300 cars and 500 passengers close enough to the child for someone to grab her without risking toppling the inflatable unicorn. The captain also had to keep the unicorn from getting caught up in the backwash of the ships engine. He cut the front engine and worked to create a lake, as he described it, around the ferry. As he steered, the ramp used to load cars onto the ferry was lowered and his brother Vasilis Karnesis, the ship mechanic, scooted to the edge of the platform and snatched the girl from the sea. There was nothing this child could do, he said when reached by telephone. The rescue was captured on video by a passenger, Petros Kritsonis, 45, who posted it online on Monday. It quickly caused a sensation, and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called the captain to thank him and his crew. While Mr. Kritsonis said he had posted the video to show the danger of the sea toys we all use extensively, social media quickly filled with comments from people casting blame on the parents. The family has declined requests for interviews and could not be reached on Friday, and Mr. Karnesis said the criticisms were unfair. We dont know what can happen from one moment to the next, he said. The sea is a deceitful thing. The Congress has demanded an investigation into the alleged nexus between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and filmmaker Sandeep Ssingh in connection with Sushant Singh Rajputs death. The BJP hit back questioning why the Maharashtra police overlooked drug dealing angle to the case and whether they were trying to shield some political leaders from the ruling Congress, Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alliance in the state. When HT called Ssingh for a comment, his phone was switched off, and he had not responded to a message till the time of going to press. State Congress general secretary Sachin Sawant has written to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and home minister Anil Deshmukh seeking a probe into the drug dealing in Bollywood. He claimed the filmmaker has links with BJP leaders from the state. Sawant said it needs to be investigated if the leaders had been shielding people involved in narcotics dealings. He added it appears BJPs top state leaders are very close to the Bollywood members and it needs to be probed if they are privy to the drug dealing. I have tweeted the poster of biopic on the life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi produced by Sandeep Ssingh. The poster was released by then Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. We want to know if this was the reason why the drug nexus in Bollywood was not probed by the previous government. It needs to be clarified that Sandeep Ssinghs involvement in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case was the reason why the case was hurriedly handed over to CBI and Enforcement Directorate, the agencies controlled by the Central government, Sawant said. BJP leader and former CM Devendra Fadnavis questioned why the state did not probe the Ssingh angle. The state police kept maintaining it was a suicide. They should have probed Ssingh too. Now a news has come about how Sssingh was co-producing a biopic on the life of honourable Bal Thackeray a few years ago. What will Congress now say about that link, he said. BJP MLA Ram Kadam separately wrote to Thackeray demanding a debate in the Assembly over the matter and a through probe into the drugs dealing in Bollywood. In his letter to Thackeray on Wednesday, Kadam said, The use of drugs in Bollywood is the latest angle which has come up in the SSR [Sushant Singh Rajput] death case and needs to be investigated. Bollywood has a long-lasting impact on the youths and such revelations related to the film personalities are harmful as many draw inspiration from them. The issue needs to be discussed during the forthcoming monsoon session beginning from September 7. Kadam said they do not know why the Mumbai police did not check the drug angle related to the case during their probe that went on for 65 days. Why didnt Sandeep Ssinghs chats not come to the fore? Was Mumbai police trying to shield some leader from the ruling parties. Congress is now raising doubts over Sandeep Ssinghs links to our leaders, but it should have probed it when the investigation was with the state police. The state government is free to probe the Sandeep Ssingh episode to any extent. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Zone 2 Police Command , Onikan, Lagos, has arrested five members of a syndicate which specialised in using peoples telephone SIM cards to steal money from victims accounts. The gang through the SIM card would be able to decode the victims Bank Verification Number ( BVN ) which would enable them to hack into peoples accounts. Zonal Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Hauwa Idris Adamu , said the suspects comprised a female and four male who she gave their names as: Daniel Asigbe, Ikechukwu AIgbe, Frank Opara, Seun Dairo and the female among them, Goodness Ndukwe. Adamu said: Operatives of Zonal Monitoring Unit have arrested a syndicate of five persons comprising four males and one female who specialised in stealing and transferring funds from peoples accounts through their SIM Cards. It all started on June 20, when Daniel Asigbe, 25, stole a Samsung X9 from a barbers shop at the Lekki area of the state. The said Asigbe, removed the SIM card and gave it to Ikechukwu who fraudulently got the owners BVN and sent the same to one Yele (currently at large). Yele later generated and gave Ikechukwu the account owners transfer pin. Ikechukwu, then, transferred N2,300,000 from the account to the third accomplice ,Seun Dairo, 19, account. He also purchased N20,000 worth of airtime from the account. Meanwhile, Seun had given his ATM card to Frank Opara , 21, apparently for another deal. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates WATERLOO REGION Waterloo Regions public health unit says it will consider school closures this year if there is evidence of or potential for widespread transmission of COVID-19 within the school. But any decision to close a school will depend on the specific scenario, said public health resident doctor Jason Morgenstern it wont be based on a one-size-fits-all set of criteria. For example, he said, if a number of students and staff develop COVID-19 who have no known contact within the school, and no known source from outside the school either, then public health would close the school. That wouldnt necessarily be the case if the source of infection was identified, and the school was able to quickly isolate all the students and staff involved. The Ontario Ministry of Education released its return-to-school guidelines on Wednesday, laying out the framework for how schools will manage COVID-19 outbreaks. Public health staff were poring over the documents after their release. The guidelines say local public health units will be responsible for determining if an outbreak exists, declaring an outbreak, and providing direction on outbreak control measures to be implemented. Public health has the power to impose partial or complete closures until an outbreak is contained. However, a school wont necessarily close if an outbreak defined as two positive cases within 14 days is declared. Instead, the public health unit will guide the school on the proper response. A school outbreak is considered over after 14 days without a positive case connected to the school. Even if there has been a closure, students and staff in some parts of the school may be able to return to school before the outbreak is declared over, the ministry says. Groups of staff and students with no evidence of infection can gradually return to school as information and test results become available, the guidelines say. Meanwhile, Morgenstern said public health is actively working with school boards to reduce the risks of outbreaks and ensure they are prepared. That includes continuing to monitor COVID-19 transmission in the neighbourhoods closest to a school. Public health already works with schools to monitor student absenteeism and Morgenstern said it will carry out similar monitoring for COVID-19. We will be in regular contact with schools throughout the year to ensure they have the support that they need and that we all have situational awareness, he said. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Private candidates are eagerly awaiting what the government would decide with regard to their Class 10 exams. The government had cancelled class 10 State Board exam in June and said it would later issue separate instructions for private candidates. However, no such clarification ensued leaving the students in a fix. In this situation, the students can neither apply for higher secondary schooling nor professional courses. Some fear that they may even have to drop out. Higher Education Minister KP Anbalagan on Wednesday said that the government wanted to give a chance to all students who had applied for the exam by passing them. Similarly, the government should pass all private candidates who applied for the class 10 exam, said Tamil Nadu Government Teachers Association leader PK Ilamaran. The government should at least pass all candidates who attended school and failed exam last year, he urged. Among the 9.45 lakh students who had applied for the public exam this year, 30,000 had applied privately. Majority of students who apply privately are those who failed the exam last year. I failed the mathematics exam last year. Since I am not great at studies, my parents are even asking me to drop out and go for some work. My future depends on the governments decision to cancel or to conduct the exam, a 15-year-old from Thirukandalam in Thiruvallur district said. An official from the School Education Department told Express that no decision has been taken on the matter yet. Gagik Tsarukian, the leader of the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), on Friday again criticized the governments response to the coronavirus pandemic and other policies but stopped short of demanding its resignation. Tsarukian described as fruitless government efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus as he addressed hundreds of supporters in Armenias central Kotayk province. In terms of the number of deaths, hospitalizations and infections, we are the leaders in the region, he said in a speech. Tsarukian pointed to the officially registered deaths of 1,135 Armenians infected with COVID-19. People get sick and they dont get proper treatment, he claimed. The BHK leader, who is also one of the countrys wealthiest businesspeople, dismissed as insufficient the governments wide-ranging stimulus measures against the socioeconomic fallout from the pandemic. He also blasted its broader economic policies, saying that they are not alleviating the plight of most Armenians. Tsarukian went on to accuse Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians administration of undermining Armenian traditional values with what he described as plans to replace the teaching of the Armenian Apostolic Church history in schools with sex education classes. He said the BHK will hold a big rally soon in a bid to scuttle those plans. Let them think that we are backward. The people of Armenia will not allow sex classes for kids, added the 63-year-old tycoon leading the countrys largest parliamentary opposition force. Tsarukian had attacked Pashinian government and demanded its resignation at a June 5 meeting with senior BHK members. The move prompted angry reactions from the prime minister and his political allies. Ten days later, Tsarukian was stripped of its parliamentary immunity from prosecution and indicted on vote buying charges rejected by him as politically motivated. He claims that Pashinian ordered the criminal proceedings in response to his speech. Tsarukian did not call for the resignation of Pashinian or any other senior government official on Friday. He announced instead that he will hold a series of meetings with BHK activists and supporters across the country ahead of the upcoming autumn session of the Armenian parliament. He indicated that he will discuss with them his partys next legislative initiatives. Alen Simonian, a senior member of the ruling My Step bloc, dismissed the criticism voiced by Tsarukian, saying that Pashinians political team is not afraid of opposition rallies and other challenges. I cant wait to hear criticism from Tsarukian in the parliament, he told RFE/RLs Armenian service. Simonian claimed that Tsarukian as well as former Presidents Serzh Sarkisian and Robert Kocharian and their former or current associates attack the current government in hopes of avoiding imprisonment on various criminal charges leveled against them. They all think that it will help them get away with stealing money from the state, beating up or kidnapping people, privatizing strategic facilities, handing out vote bribes and other things, he said. I believe they are wrong. News conference of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo Reuters Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Friday that he will step down soon, citing worsening health problems. Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, has ulcerative colitis, a bowel condition. He has had the condition for years, but said Friday, it had worsened. He said he did not want his illness to affect his decision-making. The prime minister has come under fire recently for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and scandals among party members. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Japan's Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, said Friday that he would resign soon, citing the resurgence of a chronic health problem. Abe said that his ulcerative colitis a bowel condition he has long suffered from had recently come back worse, according to the BBC. He said that was stepping down so that his health issues did not affect his decision-making. Abe is Japan's longest-serving prime minister. Abe has battled the disease ulcerative colitis for years and made two recent hospital visits within a week, Reuters previously reported. This prompted questions of whether he could stay in the job until the end of his term in September 2021. The conservative member of parliament returned as prime minister for a rare second term in December 2012, pledging to revive growth with his "Abenomics" mix of hyper-easy monetary policy, fiscal spending and reforms. On Monday, he surpassed a record for longest consecutive tenure as premier, which was set by his great-uncle Eisaku Sato. Under fire for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and scandals among party members, Abe has recently seen his support fall to one of the lowest levels of his nearly eight years in office. He resigned abruptly as prime minister before, in 2007, citing ill-health after a year plagued by scandals in his cabinet and a huge election loss for his ruling party. He had since kept his illness in check with medicine that was not previously available. Read the original article on Business Insider DUBLIN, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Aquaponics Market - Forecast (2020 - 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Association of organic commodities consumption with wellness is taking the consumer products arcade towards epidemic innovations. As per the U.S Department of Agriculture, organic food sales have increased by 20% annually, and has surpassed the $10 billion mark in 2003, up from merely $3 billion in 1997. Owing to such trends, the global aquaponics market size is valued at $580 million - $630 million as of 2020, as per the findings of this business intelligence report. The report forecasts the demand to grow at CAGR of 14.5% -15.5% going through to 2025. Aquaponics basically combines orthodox aquaculture with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a symbiotic environment. In this organic setting excretions from the aquatic-animals (snails, fish, crayfish or prawns) are procured by hydroponic system which acts like a settling basin, the by-products breaks down as nitrites and nitrates and are utilized by the plants as nutrients. The whole process in return filters the water for aquaculture, hence it is beneficial for plants and organisms in the process as well. As per an acute analysis of the aquaponics market regional aspects, growing uptake has propelled the North America region to hold a major 42.0%- 45.0% of the global aquaponics market size under its own territory as of 2020. Aquaponics requires minimal aquatic space for farming herbs, fruits, vegetables, which contributes highly towards market growth. Since the produce is free of pesticides and herbicides, fruits and vegetables produce type leads the segment and is progressing with a CAGR of 14.5% - 15.5% during the forecast period of 2020 to 2025. Global Aquaponics Market Growth Drivers: Aquaponics utilizes least aquatic space for husbandry of vegetables, which contributes highly towards its market traffic. This is an imperative facet for aquaponics salability as arable lands are shrinking owing to rapid urbanization and industrialization. According to Nelson and Pade, a USA based company, aquaponics produces eight times more food per acre in 1/6th of the space required by traditional agriculture Such economic and ecological aspects are forecast to stroke the market with abundant demand. based company, aquaponics produces eight times more food per acre in 1/6th of the space required by traditional agriculture Such economic and ecological aspects are forecast to stroke the market with abundant demand. Organic produce acquired from aquaponics culture is free from any pesticides or fertilizers. The World Bank's Fertilizer Price Index observed a rise of 9% in 2020 and is expected to rise 2% in 2020. Fish waste acts as natural fertilizers for the vegetables that grow inside the water solvent thus curbing fertilizers expense. This whole process refrains from the employment of any expensive farm equipment, agricultural machinery and fertilizers. These characteristics make aquaponics market highly profitable owing to the economic efficiency and environment sustainability that it offers. Global Aquaponics Market Challenges: Sustainable Agricultural practices like hydroponics, vertical farming, and organic arable farming are witnessing growth from the past few years with the increased adoption of sustainable practices. This could be a challenge that could hinder the growth of the Aquaponics market. But tracing the investments (The World Bank Group is a leading financier of agriculture, with US$ 6.8 billion in new IBRD/IDA commitments in 2020) made globally into agricultural domains to feed billion of individuals, this ecological and organic arcade displays all the operational caliber to divert a huge chunk of investments into its revenue pockets defeating its competitors. Global Aquaponics Market Players Perspective: Some of the top market players profiled in the publisher's global aquaponics market report are The Aquaponic Source, Nutraponics Canada Corporation, Nelson and Pade, Inc., My Aquaponics, Greenlife Aquaponics, ECF Farmsystems GMBH, Aquaponic Lynx LLC, Aqua Allotments and Backyard Aquaponics. Nelson and Pade, one of most trusted entity and pioneer in the field of aquanomics, provides aquaponic systems, aquaponic systems part, water quality kits and monitoring systems. Apart from a range of products it also offers classes, seminars and aquaponics greenhouse tours. Such educational practices acts as a free marketing tool for the aquaponics market and divert potential traffic towards being market participants. Global Aquaponics Market Trends: The Aquaponics Source concentrates in the development of aquaponics culture. They farm floras, and faunas in a recirculating ecosystem' that promotes perpetual aquatic symbiosis with maximum profits and returns. In 2016, the company relocated from Longmont to Boulder in Colorado to exploit its production and distribution operational facilities. 98% of their revenue generates from E-commerce websites, implying the aquaponics market to be directly proportional to the blooming urban population. The Company has made a name for itself in the aquaponics market by also offering education in the similar domain to the general public. One of their most popular school systems is the 60 Gallon Mobile Aquaponics System which has settings to display on wheels for mobility, making public demonstrations easier. Aquaponics Market Research Scope The base year of the study is 2020, with forecast done up to 2025. The study presents a thorough analysis of the competitive landscape, taking into account the market shares of the leading companies. It also provides information on unit shipments. These provide the key market participants with the necessary business intelligence and help them understand the future of the aquaponics market. The assessment includes the forecast, an overview of the competitive structure, the market shares of the competitors, as well as the market trends, market demands, market drivers, market challenges, and product analysis. The market drivers and restraints have been assessed to fathom their impact over the forecast period. This report further identifies the key opportunities for growth while also detailing the key challenges and possible threats. The key areas of focus include the types of equipment in the Aquaponics Market, and their specific applications in different phases of industrial operations. Key Topics Covered: 1. Aquaponics Market - Overview 1.1. Definitions and Scope 2. Aquaponics Market - Executive summary 2.1. Market Revenue, Market Size and Key Trends by Company 2.2. Key Trends by type of Application 2.3. Key Trends segmented by Geography 3. Aquaponics Market 3.1. Comparative analysis 3.1.1. Product Benchmarking - Top 10 companies 3.1.2. Top 5 Financials Analysis 3.1.3. Market Value split by Top 10 companies 3.1.4. Patent Analysis - Top 10 companies 3.1.5. Pricing Analysis 4. Aquaponics Market Forces 4.1. Drivers 4.2. Constraints 4.3. Challenges 4.4. Porters five force model 4.4.1. Bargaining power of suppliers 4.4.2. Bargaining powers of customers 4.4.3. Threat of new entrants 4.4.4. Rivalry among existing players 4.4.5. Threat of substitutes 5. Aquaponics Market -Strategic analysis 5.1. Value chain analysis 5.2. Opportunities analysis 5.3. Product life cycle 6. Aquaponics Market- By Aquaponics Method (Market Size -$Million / $Billion) 6.1. Market Size and Market Share Analysis 6.2. Product Revenue and Research Trends 6.3. Product Segment Analysis 6.3.1. Raft (deep water culture) 6.3.2. Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) 6.3.3. Media filled beds 6.3.4. Drip irrigation 6.3.5. Ebb and Flow System 7. Aquaponics Market- By Components (Market Size -$Million / $Billion) 7.1. Fish tanks 7.2. Soil-free plant bed 7.3. Clarifiers 7.4. Filter tanks 7.5. Degassing tanks 7.6. Troughs 7.7. Sump 7.8. Base additions tank 7.7. Settling basins 7.10. Bio filters 7.11. Tubes 7.12. Pumps 7.13. Hydroponics sub systems 7.14. Others 8. Aquaponics Market - By Cultivation (Market Size -$Million / $Billion) 8.1. Fishes 8.2. Herbs 8.3. Fruits and vegetable plants 9. Aquaponics Market- By Equipment (Market Size -$Million / $Billion) 9.1. Water Heaters 9.2. Pumps and Valves 9.3. Monitoring and Alarms 9.4. Water Quality Testing 9.5. Fish Purge Systems 9.6. Complete Systems 9.7. Growing Accessories 9.8. Growing Media 9.9. Nutrients and Supplements 9.10. Pest Control 9.9. Plant Support 9.12. Pots and Containers 9.13. Stands and Trays 9.14. Aeration Systems 9.15. Others 10. Aquaponics Market - By Application (Market Size -$Million / $Billion) 10.1. Commercial 10.2. Community 10.3. Home production 10.4. Research centers 10.5. Agriculture & Farming 10.6. Others 11. Aquaponics Market- By Geography (Market Size -$Million / $Billion) 11.1. Aquaponics Market - North America Segment Research 11.2. North America Market Research (Million / $Billion) 11.3. Aquaponics Market- South America Segment Research 11.4. South America Market Research (Market Size -$Million / $Billion) 11.5. Aquaponics Market- Europe Segment Research 11.6. Europe Market Research (Market Size -$Million / $Billion) 11.7. Aquaponics Market- APAC Segment Research 11.8. APAC Market Research (Market Size -$Million / $Billion) 11.9. Aquaponics Market- Middle East Segment and Africa Segment Research 11.10. Middle East & Africa Market Research (Market Size -$Million / $Billion) 12. Aquaponics Market - Entropy 12.1. New product launches 12.2. M&A's, collaborations, JVs and partnerships 13. Aquaponics Market Company Analysis 13.1. Market Share, Company Revenue, Products, M&A, Developments 13.2. Nelson and Pade Inc. 13.3. Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems Inc. 13.4. ECF Farmsystems GmbH 13.5. AquaCal AutoPilot Inc. 13.6. Japan Aquaponics 13.7. Green Life Aquaponics 13.8. Backyard Aquaponics Pty Ltd 13.9. Lucky Clays Fresh 13.10. Aponic Ltd 13.11. LivinGreen 13.12. MyAquaponics 13.13. The aquaponik manufaktur GmbH 13.14. NutraPonics Canada Corporation 14. Aquaponics Market -Appendix 14.1. Abbreviations 14.2. Sources For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/9wzwyw 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 WestJet self-service check-in kiosks are seen at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport on July 31, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Paul Chiasson) No Mask, No Fly: WestJet Announces Zero-Tolerance Mask Policy The Westjet Group has announced that passengers who fail to comply with mask regulations will be denied travel for one year, effective Sept. 1. The airline also requires passengers to supply contact information to help the Public Health Agency of Canada and provincial public health agencies with contact tracing in the case of infected individuals on board. The zero-tolerance mask policy requires that all passengers over the age of 2 wear masks or face coverings. Non-compliance will result in denied boarding, offloading the passenger, and suspension from travel for a year. Masks are mandated by our regulator and the vast majority of our guests are happy to keep themselves and each other safe by complying, said WestJet Group President and CEO Ed Sims in a press release. Travellers must understand if they choose to not wear a mask, they are choosing not to fly our airlines. A three-step process will be used to manage non-compliance on board the aircraft. First, the cabin crew will ask the passenger to put on a mask. Then the passenger will be given a warning that compliance is necessary. If the passenger does not comply, he or she will be informed that non-compliance will result in being placed on a no-fly list for a year. As for WestJets contact tracing enhancements, starting Sept. 1 it will become mandatory during the check-in process that travellers input up-to-date information at the kiosk at the airport or online. This will be necessary prior to the issuance of a boarding pass. We continue to work collaboratively with our health partners to adapt our procedures, said Sims. A coordinated approach is essential, and we are advocating for contact tracing enhancements along with the introduction of testing. In related news, starting on Sept. 9, those planning on flying to China from Canada will need proof of being negative for the COVID-19 virus before boarding the plane, the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa says on its website. Passengers will be required to have taken nucleic acid tests within three days of boarding the plane and the test must prove negative. FP Trending Scientists have identified 50 new potential planets with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI). It is for the first time researchers have used and succeeded in analysing a sample of potential planets and determine which ones are real and which one 'fakes'. These planets range from worlds as large as Neptune to those smaller than Earth and with orbits that range from as long as 200 days to as little as a single day. The astronomers and scientists of the University of Warwick calculated the probability of each candidate to be a true planet. A machine learning-based algorithm has been trained to recognise real planets using two large samples of confirmed planets and false positives from now-retired NASA's Kepler mission. After this, the researchers used the algorithm on a dataset of the prevailing unconfirmed planetary candidates from Kepler. Speaking about the finding, Dr David Armstrong from the University of Warwick Department of Physics said in terms of planet validation, no-one has used a machine learning technique before. He further said that machine learning has been used for ranking planetary candidates, but never in a probabilistic framework, which is what one needs to truly validate a planet. "Rather than saying which candidates are more likely to be planets, we can now say what the precise statistical likelihood is. Where there is less than a one percent chance of a candidate being a false positive, it is considered a validated planet," Dr Armstrong said. He said that almost 30 percent of the known planets to date have been validated using just one method, and thats not ideal. Dr Armstrong added that while developing new methods for validation is desirable, machine learning lets then do it very quickly and helps prioritise candidates much faster. The researchers and scientists of the university hope to apply the technique to large samples of candidates from existing as well as upcoming missions including TESS and PLATO, Dr Armstrong said. Local senator John McGahon is encouraging employers in Louth to register for the new Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) which replaces the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme from the 1st of September 2020. Senator McGahon said: The EWSS is the centrepiece of the Governments July Jobs Stimulus. I would like to encourage all employers and businesses across Louth who believe that they will continue to experience a significant decline in their level of turnover or customer orders as a result of the pandemic to avail of it. The EWSS has been designed with the needs of employers and businesses at its heart and is simple to qualify for, straightforward to operate and broad in its availability. It is also important to note that employers will continue to pay PRSI at the very significantly reduced rate of 0.5% for jobs that are supported by the subsidy. Senator McGahon continued: Since March over 2.7 billion of support has been given to over 69,500 employers via the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS), covering over 600,000 workers. The EWSS will replace the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme from the 1st of September. Both schemes have run in parallel from July 31st until the TWSS concludes at the end of August to provide additional flexibility to employers with new hires and seasonal workers who were not previously eligible to be paid via TWSS and who may now qualify for EWSS. The primary qualifying criteria for the EWSS is that the employer must be able to demonstrate that in the majority of cases, they are operating at no more than 70% in either the turnover of the employers business or the customer orders received by the employer by reference to the period from July to December 2020 compared with the same period in 2019. The Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, said: The EWSS is intended to provide employers and businesses with a high degree of certainty that this Government will continue to support them through the uncertain period ahead for the economy and put them in a position to retain key staff and ensure viability so that they are in a strong position as the economy recovers. The domestic aviation sector is making a slow, but steady recovery with bookings jumping by half, week-on-week, and online travel agencies seeing business getting back to up to 35 percent of pre-COVID-19 levels. This coincides with domestic airlines now frequently clocking 1,000 flights a day, and over a lakh passengers taking to the skies. This is what Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had tweeted on August 27: Sky full of milestones! More than 1000 flights. More than 200K passenger footfalls at airports. Now we cross the milestone of more than 100K domestic passengers in a day! Civil Aviation sector flies high. Congratulations to everyone who has made this achievement possible. pic.twitter.com/sGb9rehxE9 Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) August 27, 2020 Moneycontrol spoke to multiple online travel agents, with all of them talking about robust bookings, especially from passengers travelling from smaller cities to metros. "Booking is increasing day-by-day. Business for us is back to normal by over 35 percent on a constant basis of pre-COVID-19 level," Nishant Pitti, CEO, EaseMyTrip.com, told Moneycontrol. The online travel agency had about 9,600 passengers booking on its site on August 26. This was a jump from a daily average of 6,000 seen in July. Before March, when domestic flights were suspended, the OTA would do about 22,000 bookings a day. Similarly, Ixigo has seen four times growth in return flight bookings for August, as compared to May last week. "There has been a 50-55 percent growth in total domestic flight bookings in last week of August as compared to May last week when flights just resumed operations," said Aloke Bajpai, CEO & Co-Founder ixigo. A spokesperson from Yatra.com added that the OTA is witnessing more bookings being made for near future i.e., next two weeks. "We can expect booking enquires to have a double-digit growth during the festive season of October-December this year, said the spokesperson. What has helped? It could be a mix of the onset of festival season when people visit friends and relatives, and relaxation in travel restrictions, according to industry experts. "This could be because of easing of quarantine restrictions in many states," said Balu Ramachandran, Executive Vice President and Global Head - Air Product, Cleartrip. The OTA has seen a 20 percent increase in volumes this week has compared to the previous week. The West Bengal government, which had earlier banned flights from six cities, on August 26 said it will allow airlines to operate from September 1. It will now allow flights from these cities - Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Chennai and Ahmedabad - thrice a week. This is significant as the festival season has begun with the Ganesh Chaturthi, and continues through the next few months with Onam, Durga Puja and Diwali to come. Top sectors All the OTAs said that much of the traffic is originating from the northern and eastern cities. "The top sectors booked so far in August are dominated by source airports in the North and East to metro destinations such as Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi. Metro to Metro routes continue to retain a much lower share as compared to pre-COVID levels," said Ramachandran. "One-way bookings account for nearly 90 percent of total bookings and while the share has gone down recently, it still is much higher than pre-COVID levels," he added. Popular metro and non-metro routes in demand include Patna, Varanasi, Lucknow, Srinagar and Bengaluru. Interestingly, it is not just flights that are seeing more people. "Even train bookings are on an all-time high demand as tickets for existing routes like Delhi-Lucknow are going completely sold out if you see bookings for the next seven days. People are also booking train tickets in advance for the upcoming Diwali season which indicates a growing festive travel demand this year," said Ixigo's Bajpai. The OTAs also claimed that customers are shifting from offline travel agents to their websites. EaseMyTrip's Pitti said that the company's market share has jumped from pre-COVID-19 times, also helped by discounts for armed forces and refunds to passengers. Ixigo's Bajpai added: " In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic having a severe impact on the travel industry, we have preserved more than half monthly active users and we gained market share, owing to offline travel agents not functioning, and automating processes relating to customer redressals." Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 10:36:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- No new locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases were reported Thursday across the Chinese mainland, the National Health Commission said Friday. A total of nine confirmed cases arriving from outside the mainland were reported Thursday, with four in Sichuan, three in Shanghai and one each in Fujian and Guangdong, the commission said in its daily report. Two new suspected cases, also imported from outside the mainland, were reported in Shanghai. No deaths related to the disease were reported Thursday, the commission said. On Thursday, a total of 45 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery, the commission said. By the end of Thursday, a total of 2,464 imported cases had been reported on the mainland. Of them, 2,271 had been discharged from hospitals after recovery, and 193 remained hospitalized, with four in severe condition. No deaths from the imported cases had been reported. As of Thursday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland had reached 85,013, including 288 patients who were still being treated, with four in severe condition. Altogether 80,091 people had been discharged after recovery, and 4,634 had died of the disease on the mainland, the commission said. There were still three suspected COVID-19 cases on the mainland, it added. According to the commission, 10,040 close contacts were still under medical observation after 1,654 were discharged on Thursday. Also on Thursday, 16 new asymptomatic cases, all from outside the mainland, were reported, and two asymptomatic cases were re-categorized as confirmed ones. The commission said 358 asymptomatic cases, including 313 from outside the mainland, were still under medical observation. By Thursday, 4,755 confirmed cases including 81 deaths had been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), together with 46 confirmed cases in the Macao SAR and 487 cases including seven deaths in Taiwan. A total of 4,200 COVID-19 patients in the Hong Kong SAR, 46 in the Macao SAR, and 462 in Taiwan had been discharged from hospitals after recovery. Enditem Election 2020 Myanmar's Ruling NLD Rejects Calls to Ditch Muslim Candidate Daw Win Mya Mya at her home in Mandalay. / The Irrawaddy Mandalay The National League for Democracy (NLD) says it is standing by its Muslim candidate, despite complaints from nearly 600 Mandalay residents and Buddhist monks who have asked the party to pick a Buddhist candidate. The NLD picked Daw Win Mya Mya to run for the Lower House seat in Sintgaing Township, Mandalay Region. She is one of the few Muslim candidates picked by the party to run in the November general election. A letter sent to the NLD central executive committee from residents and monks said she was inappropriate because she is Muslim, not from Sintgaing and not a university graduate. Myanmar has been facing rising Buddhist nationalism for several years with increasing anti-Muslim rhetoric from right-wing monks claiming Myanmars Buddhist foundations are under assault. During the general election in 2015, some monks openly campaigned for nationalist parties while attacking NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for marrying a foreigner. NLD vice-chairman Dr. Zaw Myint Maung rejected the complaint against the Muslim candidate. We made careful selections based on the partys principles. We want the critics to understand properly that besides Buddhism, other faiths can be practiced in our country and we only select those who meet the eligibility criteria to stand for election as well as the principles of our party, Dr. Zaw Myint Maung told reporters at the Mandalay Regions parliament on Thursday. The party applies two main criteria when selecting candidates: they must support party policies and must be party members. The party picked Daw Win Mya Mya based on those criteria, said Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, who is also Mandalays chief minister. I have no comment about the objection. This is politics. I have to do what I am supposed to do, Daw Win Mya Mya told The Irrawaddy. The 71-year-old Mandalay resident has dedicated her life to the NLD since its formation in 1988. She faced life-threatening oppression under the military regime, spending years in prison or under some form of detention. During the Depayin massacre in 2003 in which Daw Aung San Suu Kyis motorcade came under brutal attack by military-backed thugs both of Daw Win Mya Myas arms were shattered. She was detained in Shwebo Prison for over eight months. In 2007, she was arrested and sentenced to 12 years in prison for talking to the media about the so-called Saffron Revolution, the uprising of Buddhist monks against the junta. Other parties are manipulating the fact that the NLD is fielding a Muslim candidate. This wont impact much on voters in urban areas with some political knowledge. It is different in rural areas where voters wont consider much and usually respect monks. I want the candidate to be a native and a Buddhist. Otherwise, [voters] will be swayed and choose other parties because they have no other choice, a Sintgaing resident who asked for anonymity told The Irrawaddy. Myanmar is a largely Buddhist country and monks are highly respected on issues of morality. However, the countrys nearly 500,000 monks are constitutionally barred from casting votes. The NLD did not pick any Muslim candidates in the 2015 election but in November it will field at least two Muslim candidates. The other is Ko Sithu Maung, a former political prisoner, who will run for the Yangon regional parliament in Pabedan Township. The NLD will field 1,134 candidates in November. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko You may also like these stories: New Ethnic Faces Dot Myanmars 2020 Election Landscape Myanmars Military Chief Urges Personnel to Vote for Correct Candidates Suu Kyi Tells Her MPs They Depend on Partys Image The scene of the fatal crash on the Drum Road in Cookstown The victim of a fatal road accident in Co Tyrone last night has been named locally as prominent Cookstown businessman Raymond Turkington. Mr Turkington, in his 80s, was well known and respected in the town, and owned the popular Turkington Interiors on Sweep Road. The multi-vehicle accident involving a black Mini car, a Volvo lorry, a Mercedes Goods vehicle and a Renault Kangoo happened at around 5pm yesterday evening, at a junction close to both the Glenavon House and Greenvale Hotels on the Drum Road. The Turkington Interiors store is less than half a mile away from the scene and has been a popular shop in the town for home interiors, fashion and its cafe. Its understood Mr Turkington lived in nearby Sandholes. Cookstown UUP councillor Trevor Wilson said the whole town had been left in shock at the loss of one of its most popular figures. Like so many in the town I have know Raymond for a long, long time. Jovial, friendly, respected and so well liked by everyone, he said. His enthusiasm for business and for the town made him the successful man he was and brought so much to our town. He made a huge impression in the business community in Cookstown and beyond and will be sadly missed. I extend my deepest sympathies to his family circle. UUP councillor Mark Glasgow described Mr Turkington as a great man who everyone knew and respected. Its heartbreaking to hear of anyone losing their life on our roads, but this will touch so many people in the area who will have known Robert so well. I send my deepest condolences to his family. Raymond was a great man around the town and there will be a great many people shocked to hear what has happened. Its just very sad, tragic news for the town. His UUP colleague on Mid-Ulster Council, Robert Colvin, also said he was shocked at hearing the news. Theres a bit of disbelief around that this has happened to someone we all knew so well, he said. I send my deepest sympathies to his family. Inspector Irvine said: At around 5:10pm, it was reported that a black Mini car, a Volvo lorry, a Mercedes Goods vehicle and a Renault Kangoo were involved in the collision. The driver of the Mini was treated at the scene but sadly passed away as a result of his injuries. The Drum Road was closed as officers attended, with the road now reopened following the incident. Our enquiries are continuing and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident or who has dash-cam footage available, to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 1406 27/08/20. A spokesperson for NIFRS confirmed crews were called to the scene at 5.12pm. It was the second accident on the same road in the space of a few hours, with a car ending up on its roof earlier yesterday. Its not confined, the lawlessness, to big cities like Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Atlanta. Its in Kenosha, Wisconsin, literally right over the border from Illinois. And you know to just see peoples property torched as retribution for what people perceive to be an act that was not fair by policemen, she said of Jacob Blake, who was shot several times in the back by a police officer and is now said to be paralyzed. CNBC.com's MacKenzie Sigalos brings you the day's top business news headlines. On today's show, CNBC.com's Salvador Rodriguez explains how new features in Apple's soon-to-launch iOS 14 make it more difficult for Facebook's advertising partners to track users from app to app. Plus, CNBC's Frank Holland has new data from the CNBC Global CFO Survey including some election predictions from the C-suite. Facebook warns Apple's iOS 14 could shave more than 50% from Audience Network revenue Facebook on Wednesday acknowledged that Apple's upcoming iOS 14 could lead to a more than 50% drop in its Audience Network advertising business. Facebook had previously warned that iOS 14 could impact its advertising business, but the company's blog post Wednesday outlined just how specific that impact could be. The Facebook Audience Network allows mobile software developers to provide in-app advertisements targeted to users based on Facebook's data. Today, advertisers can use a unique device ID number called the IDFA to better target ads and estimate their effectiveness. In iOS 14, each app that wants to use these identifiers will ask users to opt in to tracking when the app is first launched. Facebook said its apps will not collect IDFA information on iOS 14. 75% of top executives now say Biden will win the 2020 Presidential election, CNBC survey reveals According to the most recent CNBC/Change Research Poll, fear over coronavirus has fallen in several key six swing states while at the same time President Donald Trump's approval rating has seen an uptick. In Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, Trump now has an approval rating of 48%, two weeks ago his approval was at 46%. Despite an uptick in his job approval rating, President Trump is still trailing his Democratic presidential opponent Joe Biden. According to Nate Silver's FiveThirtEight, Biden is currently favored to win the election a 70 in 100 chance. Those numbers are in line with some of the world's top business leaders. Seventy-five percent of the CNBC Global CFO Council say Joe Biden will win the U.S. Presidential election in November, according to the latest quarterly survey of members released on Friday. That same number holds true for North American-based members. United Airlines to cut 2,850 pilot jobs without more U.S. government aid Advertisement The suspected Covid-infected passenger dragged off a plane by Hazmat-suited medics showed 'no symptoms' and received a text only seconds before take-off 'saying he was positive', a fellow flyer has claimed. The Ryanair flight was allowed to make its journey from Stansted to Italy after the dramatic incident, which saw no other travellers asked to self-isolate on arrival, according to Fionn Murphy, from west London. The 21-year-old, who spoke previously of his shock that he was able to complete the trip to Pisa, where he could be unknowingly walking around with coronavirus. Today, he reveled how the plan was seconds from take off after reversing, ready to taxi to the runway before the dramatic intervention. He told the Sun: 'The doors were shut, we were ready to fly... it was literally last minute.' 'I got up and walked towards the back of the plane to grab one of the empty seats back there and the air hostess told me to sit down as we were just about to take off. And then everything stopped.' 'At first I thought it may have been because of the result of a temperature check, but I didn't remember there being any.' The allegedly infected person and his travel companion were taken off the aircraft and moved to the airport's isolation area, where they were met by health authorities. Their seats and the overhead cabin were disinfected before the plane was allowed to fly to Pisa an hour and 40 minutes behind schedule, according to Flight Radar. The passenger, who has not been named, breached coronavirus quarantine restrictions by leaving their home and boarding the flight. Mr Murphy, a musician who was travelling with his 59-year-old mother Fliss, told the Mirror: 'He's put everyone at risk. 'We could be all now infecting Pisa. The plane had pushed back and it was ready to take off and it just stopped suddenly.' He added: 'The crew said the fire brigade was coming and 10 minutes later a fire truck appeared outside the plane and got dressed in full hazmat suits. Honestly it was scary. They came on and it was like ''oh s***, this is real''.' The chaotic flight came as: Up to 40 coronavirus outbreaks were identified at food processing sites across the UK, leaving supermarkets including Marks & Spencer with a shortage of prawn mayonnaise, BLT and other types of sandwiches; Matt Hancock chaired a meeting on local lockdowns amid fears Birmingham could be the next to face tougher coronavirus restrictions; The Health Secretary insisted earlier 13 is not enough for low-paid workers in Covid-hit areas to survive if they self-isolate; Europe's second wave continues with France's Covid R rate hitting 1.4, Spain topping the US in cases per million and Italy recording its highest daily case toll since May; Ministers are expected to make a decision tonight on whether to add Switzerland, the Czech Republic or Jamaica to the UK's quarantine travel list; Thousands of students prepare to return to the classroom for the first time next week; England and Wales announce eight more coronavirus deaths. A full update on the number of cases is expected later this afternoon. Hazmat-clad officials boarded a plane in London Stansted after a passenger received a text from track-and-trace minutes before take off. The flight was bound for Pisa Horrified passengers clutched their seats as the customer was escorted off the flight with their travel companion. The plane was still allowed to travel on to Pisa Ryanair said in a statement the passenger received a text message minutes before his departure that he had tested positive for Covid-19. The spokesman said: 'The passenger and his travel companion were immediately offloaded and taken to a Stansted Airport isolation area where they were assisted by local public health authorities. 'Since this passenger and his companion had complied fully with Ryanair health regulations, they were both wearing masks at all times at Stansted Airport and for the very short period (less than 10 minutes) they were seated on the aircraft prior to departure. 'There was little if any risk of Covid-19 transmission to other passengers or crew members as all of whom were also wearing face masks at all times. 'The aircraft departed for Pisa following a delay of 1 hour and 20 mins to allow for the empty seats and overhead cabin bins to be disinfected to comply with all UK health authority guidance. Ryanair apologises to all passengers for this short delay.' Shocking video shows three officials dressed head-to-toe in protective gear approaching the individual on the plane as a crew member tried to keep passengers in their seats. The revelation could throw the carefully-crafted air bridges scheme into turmoil, where people are allowed to travel between certain countries without having to self-isolate. Instructions on NHS England's website warn those with symptoms to stay at home and avoid all travel. Advice on the Department of Health website read: 'If you are getting a coronavirus test because you have symptoms, you and anyone you live with must self-isolate until you get your result. 'This also applies to anyone in your support bubble (where someone who lives alone - or just with their children - can meet people from one other household).' It can take up to 72 hours for tests to be completed to show whether someone has coronavirus. A crew member was filmed trying to calm passengers down and keep them in their seats The Ryanair flight was delayed for an hour and 40 minutes as the passenger's seat and overhead cabin was disinfected in line with government guidance One passenger onboard the plane posted a picture of themselves wearing a facemask with the caption: 'The face when you are about to take off and someone gets a text from track and trace.' They added that police came onto the plane and claimed the individual was tested for coronavirus. Stansted airport said: 'The airport were made aware of the passenger by the airline and our fire service attended the aircraft and escorted the passenger (and travel partner) to an isolation area where they were put in contact with Public Health England, who then oversaw the passenger's onward journey.' The Ryanair flight was still allowed to continue to Pisa. It is believed that no further action was taken by Italian authorities, and no other passengers were required to self-isolate. Italy, which was at the epicentre of the pandemic, made facemasks mandatory in 'all spaces open to the public' between 6pm and 6am on August 16. The country is currently battling a second wave of coronavirus, although the government has already promised it will not return to a similar lockdown to the one seen earlier this year. It recorded 1,367 new cases yesterday, the highest number since May 12. Italy remains on the government's travel corridor scheme, meaning people travelling from the UK to Italy will not need to undertake a 14-day quarantine. Its coronavirus infection rate remains about half the rate of the UK. Austria, Croatia and Trinidad and Tobago were all struck off the list this week, joining France, the Netherlands, Belgium and many other countries. Travellers arriving in the UK from these countries will need to quarantine for 14 days. Thousands of British holidays were thrown into chaos at the end of last month when Spain was removed from the airbridge scheme. Spain, France and Italy are all seeing surges in the number of coronavirus cases, as a second wave of infection takes hold across Europe Italy is also beginning to see its cases rise again, after logging 1,367 new cases on Wednesday, the highest figure the country has seen since May Italy logged 13 deaths from the virus on Wednesday, a slight increase on the previous day, but fatalities have so-far not kept pace with infections Europe is continuing to battle a second wave of the pandemic as France, Spain and Italy all record large jumps in the number of coronavirus cases they are seeing. France announced it had added 5,429 cases overnight, marking its largest single-day jump since April 14, and the third-largest daily rise since the pandemic began. Jean Castex, the French prime minister, said the country's R rate is now at 1.4, well above the crucial 1 figure needed to keep the infection curve flat. Spain registered another 7,296 cases, enough to push the country above the US - the world's worst-affected nation - in number of cases per million inhabitants, based on a seven-day rolling average. The Home Office has been contacted for comment. NHS Test and Trace: What to do if you've been in contact with a person with coronavirus If you're told you've been in contact with someone who has coronavirus: Advice on NHS England says you should stay at home for 14 days from the day you were last in contact with that person as it can take this long for symptoms to appear. You are also required to do the following: Do not leave your home for any reason - if you need food or medicine, order it online or by phone, or ask friends and family to drop it off at your home Do not have visitors in your home, including friends or family, except for essential care Try to avoid contact with anyone you live with as much as possible People you live with do not need to self-isolate if you do not have symptoms People in your support bubble do not need to self-isolate if you do not have symptoms If you get symptoms of coronavirus: Get a test to check whether you have coronavirus as soon as possible Anyone you live with must self-isolate until you've been tested and received your result Anyone in your support bubble must self-isolate until you've been tested and received your result Advertisement Test and Trace is worse than ever: Just 72.6% of Covid-19 patients were tracked - and only a THIRD of those were reached in 24 hours The Government's Test and Trace system is getting worse as figures yesterday revealed that call handlers reached a record-low of just 72.6 per cent of infected patients last week. It's the fifth week in a row the number of Covid-19 cases who have been tracked has fallen, dropping from the best performance of 82.8 per cent in the week ending July 22. Scientists have repeatedly warned at least 80 per cent of coronavirus patients must be contacted and interviewed in order for the system which Boris Johnson has called 'world-beating' to work effectively. Department of Health data released yesterday also showed a third of people who tested positive for the coronavirus and referred to the system were not reached within 24 hours. It's crucial for the system to work rapidly, so that close contacts of Covid-19 cases who may unknowingly have the virus are tracked down and told to self isolate before they can spread the infection further. It comes as Matt Hancock yesterday defended his plan to pay people on low incomes 13 a day to self-isolate, even though critics said the payments would not be enough to stop people going to work. The Government's Test and Trace system is getting worse as figures yesterday revealed that call handlers reached a record-low of just 72.6 per cent of infected patients last week The figures yesterday also add to evidence that Britain's outbreak is not spiralling out of control as feared, with the number of positive cases dropping almost nine per cent in a week. HANCOCK DEFENDS HIS PLAN TO PAY 13 A DAY TO BRITONS SELF-ISOLATING Matt Hancock yesterday launched a furious defence of his plan to pay people on low incomes 13 a day to self-isolate as critics said the payments would not be enough to stop people going to work. From September 1 people who receive Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit who are required to self-isolate, who are unable to work from home and who are in Covid-19 hotspots will benefit from the new payment scheme. Eligible people who test positive for the virus will receive 130 for their 10-day period of self-isolation while other members of their household, who under current rules must isolate for 14 days, will get 182. The scheme will initially be trialled in Blackburn with Darwen, Pendle and Oldham - areas which are currently subject to local lockdown measures. The Government hopes the payments will boost compliance with requests from NHS Test and Trace for people to stay at home, with Mr Hancock pointing out the money will be 'in addition' to other benefits. But critics believe the payments are far too small and many people will still feel that they cannot afford to stay at home. Advertisement A total of 6,115 people were diagnosed between August 13 and 19, down from 6,656 the week before. This represents 1.4 and 1.5 per cent of all tests taken, respectively, proving that cases have not fallen just as a result of less testing. Of those cases, 72.6 per cent were reached by call handlers. In comparison, the rate was 79 per cent the week before. Data also shows it is even worse than the 73.4 per cent recorded in the first week of the scheme. Of those who were contacted, only 69.7 per cent were reached within 24 hours. Five per cent weren't tracked down for at least three days. Some 75.9 per cent gave at least one phone number of a close contact, a figure that has dropped every week since mid-July. But in positive developments, 75.5 per cent of close contacts were reached, up from 71.6 per cent in the previous week. But it's still a dramatically lower number than the 91.1 per cent of cases who were reached in the first week of launching, on May 28. Experts suspect that people do not pick up the phone to contact tracers because it is an unrecognised number. Head of the NHS Test and Trace Baroness Dido Harding, said England 'now has the capacity to test for coronavirus and trace contacts on an unprecedented scale'. She said: 'This week marks a milestone for NHS Test and Trace, which has now been in operation for more than three months. 'The statistics... show every week we consistently reach the majority of people testing positive and their contacts, and have now reached almost 300,000 people who may have unknowingly passed the virus on. 'We will continue to build the service further to reach more and more people and to scale up our testing capacity. 'I urge everyone to use NHS Test and Trace to help everyone get back to a more normal way of life.' Danny Mortimer, deputy chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: 'The latest test and trace figures show a yo-yo effect with vital improvements in some areas balanced out by steps back in others.' Local health protection teams showed to have a higher success rate than the centralised system once again, proving that a 'boots on ground' approach is more effective for contact tracing. Some 95.6 per cent of close contacts were reached and asked to self-isolate in the week to August 19, compared to 61.6 per cent of cases handled by call centres. Various local authority councils took matters into their own hands and launched local contact-tracing operations to supplement the national system, before ministers offered local systems extra resources to strengthen their response. The figures also show test turnaround times between 13 and 19 August have fallen. The proportion of recent close contacts handled by call centres that were contacted More people are being referred to the NHS tracing system reflecting an increase in cases Testing turnaround times have also dipped since the record high at the start of July. But they are starting to improve for home test kits and satellite centres Just one fifth of tests from all test sites were received within 24 hours of a test being taken. The number of people who got their result returned in 24 hours after visiting a regional testing site mostly drive-throughs was the worst yet. Almost two-thirds (63.5 per cent) were still waiting for their result after 24 hours, up from 42.2 per cent the week before and 8 per cent in the week ending July 1. But at last, the 24-hour target was improved for satellite test centres places like hospitals and care homes that urgently need results and home kits after weeks of dismal figures. But still only 5.9 and 6.4 per cent of people in those testing categories got their result back in 24 hours. The PM had pledged that, by the end of June, the results of 100 per cent of all in-person tests would be back within 24 hours. Experts say getting test results fast and carrying out contact tracing immediately is vital to stopping the spread of coronavirus because there is only a short window to alert people that they are at risk of infecting others without yet knowing they're ill. But those who take a home test kit now have to wait 71 hours on average to find out if they have Covid-19. The average amount of time it takes for test results to come back from all routes has increased, apart from those done at satellite test centres. Fears of a second wave have grown over the past month, with official data showing the average number of daily cases has doubled since mid-July. Growing outbreaks in Europe have also spooked ministers. But the Department of Health figures and separate data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which tracks the size of the outbreak through swab tests of thousands of people, suggest that the number of cases is shrinking. Last week it claimed 2,400 people are catching the virus in England each day, down 37 per cent on the week before. Statisticians claimed the outbreak has 'levelled off'. For comparison, the ONS estimated that around 4,200 people were getting infected each day at the end of July. However, a senior government source told journalists last Friday that data on growth rates and R values suggest cases are 'trending upwards, very gently'. The official said: 'We are not seeing fast increase here, but I do think we are on a positive slope and its gently increasing.' SAGE warned the reproduction rate the average number of people each coronavirus patient infects could now be above the dreaded level of one. The Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) estimates the R value is now between 0.9 and 1.1. Experts say the R needs to stay below one or Governments risk losing control of the epidemic and the virus could start to spread exponentially again. But the estimate is based on three week old data due to the lag in time between Covid-19 patients falling ill and appearing in the statistics, meaning it does not paint a real-time picture of the UK's current epidemic. And it can be skewed upwards by local clusters of infections, which has been seen in swathes of the North West of England. Coronavirus has magnified the land and housing crisis in urban South Africa, where the legacy of apartheid has placed a crippling burden of inequality on the country's non-white majority. Already struggling to gain access to a decent home or land, many vulnerable South Africans have been badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have illegally settled in disused urban spaces and buildings, resulting in forced evictions by the authorities. These "land invasions" are a familiar feature of life in South Africa, but their frequency seems to have increased since the country went into anti-coronavirus lockdown five months ago. Authorities in the touristic southwestern city of Cape Town recently demolished more than 58,000 illegal shacks erected in just under two months on vacant spaces. Some of those evictions turned violent, as residents refused to abandon their newly-built shacks and clashed with police. On Monday, stray rounds fired by landless citizens killed an eight-year-old boy and wounded a 12-year-old girl. Cape Town mayor Dan Plato said there had been over 30 "violent and coordinated land invasions" over the past six weeks. "We are nearing the point where we will probably do in a month-and-a half... what we did in an entire year," said municipality safety chief Jeanne Pierre Smith. Around 50 city officers effecting the evictions were wounded and several cars were damaged. Violent evictions But this week the city was dealt a blow in its bid to curb land invasion. A High Court ruled that from now on, court orders would be required to demolish or evict illegal occupants while a coronavirus-induced national state of disaster remains in place. Cape Town plans to appeal the ruling. The order arose from a case brought by South Africa's human rights commission and the radical left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters party after a viral video showed police officers dragging a naked man, Bulelani Qolani, out of his single-room shack during an eviction blitz. Destroyed: A shack that had been illegally built on a nature reserve outside Cape Town. By RODGER BOSCH (AFP) Officers then proceeded to demolish his home, located in the township of Khayelitsha. City officials later claimed Qolani had orchestrated the incident. Land ownership by Black people is a long-standing struggle in South Africa. During apartheid, non-white citizens were not allowed to own land. Every year hundreds of thousands of people migrate to cities in search of employment and they set up peripheral informal settlements that have only continued to grow. "Urban areas tend to be much more contested than rural parts," said Rick de Satge, a researcher at Phuhlisani, a pro-poor land reform group. "Impoverished, unskilled people stream into cities that just weren't designed to accommodate those kinds of numbers." Government is working on a constitutional amendment enabling land expropriation without compensation. 'Unprecedented desperation' Not ruling out that there are some people who simply have nowhere to go, mayor Plato believes the latest invasions are premeditated attempts for political and economic gains. Land crisis: A protest placard at an informal settlement in May 2019 in the northern city of Polokwane. By GUILLEM SARTORIO (AFP) He said truckloads of people with personal belongings arrive at a chosen piece of land at night and use the cover of darkness to set up shacks. "To put it bluntly, people illegally invade land for the financial pay-off," said Plato. "They occupy the land illegally and then sell pieces of land." But there is an undeniable link between anti-coronavirus confinement measures and the spate of land invasions. Economic hardship has left many back-yard dwellers in townships without money for rent. Kicked out by landlords, they are forced to relocate to open spaces. At times they move on to flood plains or wetlands sometimes or simply occupy land set aside for other developments. "I'm not doing this for something small," said Tyrone Pietersen, a land occupier in Cape Town's Delft suburb. "I'm doing this to build a family so that each one of us have our own privacy, so that each one of us have our own dignity. Where I can say: that is mine." De Sagte estimates there are more than one million back-yard dwellers across the country. "Covid-19 and the impact of lockdown has created unprecedented levels of desperation," he said. Sea turtle had buried eggs on Torvaianica beach near Rome. When a loggerhead sea turtle buried its eggs in the sands of Torvaianica beach near Rome in June there was much excitement among conservationists, amazed that a turtle had travelled so far north up the Italian peninsula to lay its eggs. The event, filmed in the early hours of 23 June by a member of the Italian coast guard, saw a massive operation swing into place to safeguard the site, located on a popular beach south of the capital. The area was immediately cordoned off and was monitored around the clock by 60 volunteers, overseen by Tartalazio, the regional branch of the association that works to protect sea turtles, and the Anton Dohrn research institute in Naples. A webcam was set up and there was even a plan to turn off the lights of the apartments behind the site to prevent the emerging baby turtles from being disoriented and taking the wrong direction to the sea. Loggerhead sea turtles are endangered species that live in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea. They usually nest in southern Italy but have been moving up through the peninsula since 2016, reports Reuters. Site where turtle laid eggs at Torvaianica. Photo REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane. A provisional expected arrival date some time around the mid-August holiday of Ferragosto, with hopes of up to 100 eggs hatching from the site which experts said had the "perfect characteristics" - sheltered, far from the sea, and in a slightly sloping dune with a good temperature and easily drained by rainwater. Every day hundreds of beach-goers lined up on either side of the special corridor in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the magical sight of baby turtles poking their way through the sand and shuffling into the sea. Tartalazio waited a further week before deciding to investigate the reason why the baby turtles had not made an appearance, gently excavating the nesting site in the middle of the night, to avoid the heat that could have damaged the eggs, and using only red lights which turtles do not perceive. The excitement of 64 days and nights soon turned to sadness however as the volunteers discovered just 15 eggs, all of which were unusually small and empty. A statement from Tartalazio attributed the phenomenon "exclusively to the conditions of the mother and not to the local situation," adding that experts will study the eggs to try and ascertain what prevented them from being fertilised. Thanking the volunteers for their hard work, the conservationists also paid tribute to the turtle: "There remains the wonderful adventure of a turtle who, in this summer of social distancing, managed to gather more than 60 volunteers who watched day and night, and to fascinate hundreds and hundreds of citizens, big and above all small, on the theme of sea defense and of its inhabitants." While casualties from Plan B were cataclysmic, casualties from Plan A would have been more heinous. I cant count the number of Army Divisions destined for the invasion, but its easy to count the Marine Corps Divisions that would have been involved all of them. On a visit to the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library many years ago, I purchased a souvenir magnet. It read, THE BUCK STOPS HERE. As POTUS, President Truman was forced to make the call. Not only did his call lead to ending the war, it started an argument that will outlast Chevrolet versus Ford. History doesnt indicate that Truman lost any sleep over opting for Plan B. However, had he blinked and opted for Plan A he would have spent the rest of his life explaining to Gold Star families why he possessed a weapon to end the war, but elected not to use it. The atomic bomb did not unilaterally affect World War IIs outcome but it significantly decreased the amount of destruction to Japan and the extent of casualties to both Japan and the United States. In all likelihood, someone reading this piece owes their existence to the abrupt ending of World War II and swift return home of our troops. Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., a unit of Chinese conglomerate Fosun International Ltd., will deliver 10 million doses of German partner BioNTechs potential coronavirus vaccine to Hong Kong and Macao, the company said Thursday. Fosun Pharma agreed with BioNTech SE to supply the BNT162 vaccines for Covid-19 under development by the German biotech company to the two special administrative regions, Fosun said. The company signed a letter of intent to allow Hong Kongs Jacobson Pharma Corp. to distribute the vaccine locally once it is available. The Covid-19 pandemic has sickened more than 24.5 million people worldwide as of Friday. Scientists and governments are racing to find effective vaccines and treatments while building up production capacity. Chinese drugmakers including China National Biotec Group Co., CanSino Biologics Inc. and Sinovac Biotech Ltd. are among the major global players in the vaccine development. In June, the Oxford University and BritishSwedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca PLC agreed with several countries and organizations to supply 200,000 doses of their potential vaccine products. In July, BioNTech and U.S.-based Pfizer Inc. signed vaccine supply contracts with the U.S. and Japanese governments. Earlier this month, American biotech company Moderna also agreed to provide 100 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to the U.S. Chinas Fosun Pharma entered an agreement in March with BioNTech to exclusively develop and commercialize its mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine products in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. The BNT162 vaccines are RNA-based inoculations that encompass four candidates. RNA vaccines work by introducing an mRNA sequence, a molecule that tells cells what to build. The sequence is coded for antigens, the proteins that resemble those of the pathogen and enable the immune system to recognize and fight the virus. Compared with traditional vaccines, RNA vaccines are faster and cheaper to produce and are believed to be safer. The drugmaker has yet to reveal any plan to produce and supply BioNTechs vaccine products on the mainland. Wu Yifang, chief executive officer of Fosun Pharma, said the company is discussing possible contract manufacturing, packaging or even full production in China with its German partner. In early August, Fosun Pharma said one of BioNTechs BNT162 vaccines won approval to start the first of the three phases of clinical trials in China. A second candidate also applied to start human trials in the country, Wu said earlier this week. Pfizer is working with BioNTech to commercialize the vaccines outside China. The pair won U.S. approval to conduct phase 2-3 clinical trials for one of the candidates, aiming to supply as many as 100 million doses worldwide by the end of this year. Wu said he expects the vaccine to be approved in Hong Kong and Macao shortly after it obtains U.S. approval as the two regions accept global clinical trials data. The Chinese mainland, which requires local trials, wont be much delayed, Wu said. According to Huang Libin, an official at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, 13 Chinese companies started building vaccine production capacity as of late July. Fosun Pharma posted a 13% year-on-year rise in net profit Tuesday to 1.7 billion yuan ($247 million) in the first half of 2020, as revenue dropped 1.02% to 14 billion yuan. Sales of Covid-19 test kits and life-support ventilators contributed to the profit growth, the company said. Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bobsimison@caixin.com). Download our app to receive breaking news alerts and read the news on the go. I was circled by five different people, and they were telling me, You need to get out of here, said Ryan Miller, 21, who works for Gilberts campaign. I looked over at one of my friends and said, Help. As soon as I did that, I was immediately punched in the face several times. . . . And then I turned around and saw someone take a swing at my mom. By Associated Press ATHENS: A sniffer dog in Greece led coast guard officers to more than 100 kilogrammes of cocaine hidden in a truck bound for Italy, officials said Friday. The coast guard said the discovery was made Thursday at the western Greek port of Patras as the truck was about to board an Italy-bound ferry. A 63-year-old Greek man was arrested on drug trafficking charges after 105 kilogrammes of cocaine were discovered, shrink-wrapped in 100 plastic packages, the coast guard said. Authorities said the drugs had an estimated street value of at least 3 million euros (USD 3.6 million). August 28, 2020 / 06:29 PM IST The Supreme Court of India on August 28 in its verdict on UGC final year exam today upheld the July 6 circular of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to conduct the exams. In their plea to the SC, students had challenged the decision of the UGC asking universities and colleges to conduct final year exams by September 30 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The verdict pronounced by a bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said that exams are a must to promote students. However, in slight relief, the apex court also said the states can choose to defer the exams in discussion with UGC. However, the final decision rests with the UGC and will be binding on states.The bench had reserved its verdict on the issue on August 18. The UGC had told the top court that its July 6 directive, asking universities and colleges to conduct final year exams by September 30 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, is "not a diktat" but states cannot take the decision to confer degrees without holding the examinations. It had told the court that the directive is for the "benefit of students" as the universities have to start admissions to postgraduate courses and state authorities cannot override the UGC's guideline. Yuva Sena, the youth wing of Shiv Sena, is one of the petitioners in the apex court and has questioned the UGC's directive to hold examinations during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Catch the LIVE updates here: Oil and gas exports from the United States have been severely disrupted by Hurricane Laura, with nearly a million barrels per day (bpd) of crude exports likely reduced this week by closures of US Gulf Coast terminals and disruptions at ports. The hurricane also temporarily suspended operations at several liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in the worlds third largest exporter of the super-cooled gas, with shipments on track to fall to their lowest in 18 months. Laura made landfall early Thursday near the Texas-Louisiana border, one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the region, and raced north. Ports of Lake Charles, Beaumont and Port Arthur remained closed on Thursday, according to the US Coast Guard. The Port of Houston, which is the top US crude oil export hub accounting for about 600,000 bpd of shipments, closed on Wednesday and was in the process of reopening to commercial shipping late Thursday, according to the Coast Guard. Some 50 vessels, most of them tankers, were at anchorage offshore and waiting to re-enter the Houston Shipping Channel, said JJ Plunkett, port agent for the Houston Pilots Association, which guides vessels in and out of the ship channel. The closures of Houston Port, Beaumont and Port Arthur were expected to reduce seaborne crude export capacity by nearly 1 million bpd, data intelligence firm Kpler estimated, based on average figures over the past four months. US crude exports averaged about 2.9 million bpd in the last four weeks, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration. The closure of those ports would also reduce a total of about 830,000 bpd in refined product departures, Kpler said. The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP), the largest privately-owned crude terminal in the United States, also suspended operations at its marine terminal on Sunday ahead of the storm. Oil tankers have headed back to major loading points along the Gulf Coast on Friday after taking shelter at Corpus Christi on Thursday, shipping data on Refinitiv Eikon showed. LNG tankers in and around the Gulf of Mexico start to resume operations. Two LNG tankers are currently waiting near ports to load cargoes while several others are still off the Caribbean, Kplers Rebecca Chia said. The extent of disruption would depend on any damage inflicted on export and production facilities. Energy companies were gearing up to survey the storms impact on Thursday. Loadings of LNG cargoes from the United States have also been delayed. LNG exports were on track to fall to 2.1 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) on Thursday, their lowest since February 2019, according to data from Refinitiv. Given the direct hit on the Sabine Pass and Cameron LNG export terminals by Hurricane Laura, they will likely be the last terminals to restart exports in the Gulf, analysts at ClipperData said in a note, referring to Cheniere Energy Incs Sabine Pass and Sempra Energys Cameron LNG export plants in Louisiana. Both plants suspended operations earlier this week and said they would conduct damage assessments as soon as it was safe to do so. Separately, Venture Global said on Friday that its Calcasieu Pass LNG facility which is under construction in Cameron, Louisiana, has sustained minimal impacts from the hurricane and that it is working with contractors to regain access to the site. Victorias hotel quarantine program was $24.3 million over budget by mid-June, with senior government officials attributing much of the blowout to the decision to use private security instead of Australian Defence Force personnel. Internal government emails tendered in evidence at the board of inquiry into hotel quarantine show the Victorian governments contentious decision to use security guards rather than defence force personnel at COVID-19 quarantine hotels cost taxpayers millions of dollars and delivered windfall profits to the owners of security companies. Rydges on Swanston hotel, a major source of Victoria's second-wave COVID-19 cases. Credit:Penny Stephens Both Queensland and NSW have enlisted the help of the ADF, which would have significantly decreased expenditure on security, a Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions official wrote in an email to colleagues. The officials name has been redacted. The emails show Victorias spending on quarantine was forecast to reach $130 million by the end of June compared to NSW's $50 million and Queenslands $19 million. However, the DJPR's own breakdown of spending said it did not know what was included in the Queensland and NSW figures, and whether they took into account that the Commonwealth was splitting costs approximately 50-50 with the states. By Express News Service SAMBALPUR: A final-year graduate student of Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) in Burla has launched a magazine on frontline workers as a mark of honour for their selfless efforts to battle the pandemic. The magazine Frontline Warriors -Flaring to Retain The Spark of Hope was released by the student Hrudananda Prusty over a virtual conference on Thursday. As part of the conference, former secretary of Health and Family Welfare (GOI) Preeti Sudan, MPs Sujeet Kumar and Prashanta Nanda and sprinter Dutee Chand were present among many others. Conceiving the idea during the lockdown, Prusty approached frontline workers across various fields and compiled their experiences into a memorabilia. The write-ups cover efforts of workers at the forefront from over 80 departments including health, administration, sanitation, media and many other fields. The United Nations says it is stepping up emergency assistance to Lebanon following the explosion that devastated Beirut and is urging the international community to stand beside the Lebanese people who have generously hosted thousands of Palestinian and Syrian refugees for years. UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Wednesday that among the thousands injured from the blast at Beirut's port are over 100 U.N. staff members and dependents, and among the more than 100 dead are two family members of UN staffers. He said 22 members of the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon were among the injured. One of the U.N. Maritime Task Force ships docked in the port was damaged, leaving naval peacekeepers injured, some of them seriously, he said. We expect that the damage at the port will significantly exacerbate the economic and food security situation in Lebanon, which imports about 80-85 percent of its food, Haq said. The U.N. humanitarian office also expects that it will affect the U.N.'s ability to provide aid to Syria because the port in Beirut is one of the ways we are shipping aid, he said. U.N. peacekeepers and staff in Lebanon are assisting in the emergency response and specialists are en route to support urban search and rescue operations and to conduct rapid assessments about the situation on the ground and help coordinate emergency response activities, Haq said. A top U.N. priority is to support the existing hospitals and trauma response capacity, and the U.N. World Health Organization is working closely with the Lebanese Ministry of Health to conduct an assessment of hospital facilities in Beirut, their functionality and needs for additional support, particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. Assessments of humanitarian needs and shelter needs following the explosion are also underway, Haq said. The United Nations is looking at all options to find ways to provide financial assistance to support ongoing response efforts, he said. Haq said it was too early to say if the U.N. will issue an international appeal to help rebuild Beirut. It would seem given the amount of damage that there will be a need for additional international support for Lebanon, he said, adding that the U.N. is heartened to see support from many governments and hopes all countries will stand beside the Lebanese people at this time. Ten members of Indias dwindling Great Andamanese tribe have tested positive for coronavirus, officials said Thursday, fuelling concerns about the safety of the group and other indigenous people in the remote archipelago. Six of the 10 have recovered and are in home quarantine, officials told AFP, while the rest are undergoing treatment at a local hospital. The tribe consists of just over 50 people, who live on the tiny Strait Island. A team of health officials were sent to Strait Island on Sunday after six members of the tribe tested positive in the archipelagos capital, Port Blair, recently. Some of the tribes members regularly travel to Port Blair, where they have government jobs. The team tested 37 samples and four members of the Great Andamanese tribe were found to be positive. They are admitted to a hospital, Avijit Ray, a senior health officer in-charge of disease management told AFP. Sanjiv Mittal, a senior government officer for tribal welfare, told AFP that authorities were doing their best to keep all the members safe and healthy. In recent days, concerns have grown for the safety of the Great Andamanese and other tribes, including the remote Jarawa and the Sentinelese people. Outsiders are banned from visiting the island, to protect the Sentinelese way of life and avoid exposing them to infectious diseases. As one of the most isolated tribes in the world, the Sentinelese are extremely vulnerable to diseases from outsiders, especially during a global pandemic such as the coronavirus, experts say. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter UGC Exam Guidelines 2020: Supreme Court verdict expected today India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 28: The Supreme Court's verdict on the UGC Exam Guidelines 2020 is expected to be delivered today. UGC final year exam: SC upholds exam but delay option available | Oneindia News 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 it 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. Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu By The Unlock 3 guidelines released on 29 July 2020 allowed many activities including commercial operations to restart, but kept schools closed. As per news reports, the Centre is in consultation with state governments, the health ministry and parents to draft guidelines around school reopening. However, parents and some states are reluctant because of concerns over the health of children. The nationwide lockdown has closed over 1.5 million schools and impacted 24 crore students across India. It has forced parents, educators and policymakers to choose between the education and health of children. In other countries, schools serve as centres of learning and the primary purpose is the teaching of a certain curriculum. In these countries, the trade-off between health and education holds. The same thinking, however, cannot be applied to India. Over the years, multiple policy interventions have bundled child healthcare with the schooling system in India. About 13 lakh anganwadis across the country provide 6.4 crore children under the age of six with hot, nutritious meals and vaccinations. Mid-day meals provided to over 9.8 crore children studying in government schools keep malnutrition and stunted growth at bay. It has been estimated that over 2 lakh children have missed the BCG and pentavalent vaccines because of the lockdown. Not only are children not being immunised, but many may also be forced to work by families standing at the precipice of poverty. It is likely that the children who start working now may never come back to schools. Closing schools also exacerbates the existing problems of child abuse and trafficking. Children staying at home are vulnerable to abusive family members and have neither the escape of the school nor the support structure of teachers and friends. The Childline 1098 helpline saw a 50% increase in the number of calls received since the lockdown started. The Kailash Satyarthi Foundation surveyed 53 NGOs working with children and found that 89% of them anticipated a rise in trafficking and 64% expected a rise in child marriage after the lockdown. In addition to providing education, schools also enable parents, especially mothers, to find meaningful work. Extended school closures are forcing women to quit their jobs and engage in full-time childcare. This will accelerate Indias declining female labour force participation rate. Losing an additional source of income will also force households back into poverty. To mitigate this, the Union and state governments can take lessons from the Andhra Pradesh governments Jagananna Amma Vodi scheme. In January 2020, over 42 lakh mothers from BPL households were given a direct benefit transfer of Rs 15,000 for sending their children to school. Learning during school closures has also suffered. Even though governments, schools and teachers work hard to make alternative means of education work for all students, structural problems around internet access impede their efforts. The National Statistics Office reported that in 2017-18, only 23.8% of households had access to the web and only 20% of those aged five and above were able to use a computer. A recent NCERT survey conducted among 18,188 students revealed that 27% of students do not have smartphones and laptops, and 30-50% of the students found online learning difficult or burdensome. It is time to create a plan for the nationwide reopening of schools. The UNICEFs Framework for Reopening of Schools released in June 2020 offers guidance on this and divides the reopening plan into three phases: Prior to reopening, during reopening and after reopening. The first stage involves identifying schools for reopening based on local conditions of transmission. A phased reopening plan with schools opening for certain days of the week or for certain grades should be made. Simultaneously, guidelines around social distancing and hygiene practices should be formulated. As schools reopen, student attendance must be monitored to ensure all students, especially the marginalised, re-join. Economic distress will force parents to send their children to government schools as private schools become unaffordable. This will require investments in government school infrastructure. Andhras Mana Badi-Nadu Nedu scheme serves as a model, under which 15,715 government schools are being upgraded at a sanctioned cost of Rs 3,523 crore for hygiene, classrooms and English lab facilities. With schools reopened, teachers must be supported so that they can effectively make up for the learning gap and monitor whether students are following social distancing norms. Syllabi and examinations can also be rationalised to retain focus on core curriculum. Local level bureaucracy must prepare a decision model for the opening and closing of a school due to a resurgence of the virus in the future. Finally, investments in blended education, with a focus on digital and remote education, must be made so that schools are ready for closures in the future. Policymakers and school authorities should consider classes in shifts, which is already followed in government schools in AP. Classes run in two alternate shifts spread over the day. Private schools can give parents the option, based on access to digital resources, whether to send their child to school. This will ensure that even those who do not have the digital resources are able to learn. The ability to reopen schools shall also depend greatly on the ability to rapidly test and isolate infected students. This is necessary to create a safe space for students and give confidence to parents, teachers and school staff. The pandemic risks not only the education but also the health and well-being of our children. By ignoring their health needs, we are doing a great injustice to their present and future. Let us ensure that we dont look back at this crisis as the time where we set up our children for sickness and economic failure later in life. It is time to safely reopen schools and secure our childrens future. Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu YSRCP MP from Narasaraopet, Andhra Pradesh (krishna.lavu@yahoo.in) By Robert Sam Wilson, KYODO NEWS - Aug 28, 2020 - 21:20 | All, Japan LOS ANGELES - This summer has been notable for Japan's missile and missile defense policy. On June 25, Defense Minister Taro Kono announced the cancellation of the planned acquisition and deployment of the Aegis Ashore land-based missile defense system. Around the same time, the Liberal Democratic Party established a study team looking at whether Japan should adopt enemy base strike capabilities. Officials will reportedly set a new policy direction in September that could cover missile strike capabilities and the potential for integrated air and missile defense. These developments extend to the space domain. On June 30, Japan's Cabinet approved the newest version of the country's national space policy. Revised for the first time in five years, it says that, in cooperation with the United States, Japan will study small-satellite constellations with infrared sensors for missile warning. Studying missile warning satellites fits within a flurry of recent missile and missile defense activity in Japan, but it also reflects long-term trends. The country has been on a gradual shift toward space security since the 1980s, when Japan first started acquiring imagery for its military. The new space policy is not overtly hawkish. It does not characterize China as a threat or competitor, nor does it mention North Korea. And the inclusion of missile warning satellites is only a commitment to studying alternatives, not developing a capability. Studying missile warning also comports with the broader military space relationship with the United States and long-standing concerns over missile threats. Japan acquiring its own early warning satellites would be significant. Currently, only the United States and Russia operate early warning satellite systems. And if Japan fielded missile warning using a constellation of small satellites, it could be the first to do so, although the U.S. Space Development Agency has proposed a "tracking layer" of small satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) that would provide "global indications, warning, tracking, and targeting of advanced missile threats." If Japan were to adopt an early warning system in LEO, it could opt for highly inclined orbits, synchronized to provide continuous coverage over the latitude bands encompassing western Japan, North Korea, and parts of China. If Japan were to pursue a more offensive-focused defense, it is possible such a system could be used for counter-battery targeting. This is not the first time Japan has considered a missile warning satellite system. As noted in a recent Aerospace Center for Space Policy and Strategy paper on Japan's space security activity, when the country was making the decision to acquire its deep-space radar, some experts argued instead for investing in missile warning satellites. Further, as an experimental capability, Japan is putting an infrared sensor on JAXA's ALOS-3, which could potentially be used for missile warning in the future. This LEO earth observation satellite is scheduled for launch later this year. Japan's consideration of an early warning system is consistent with its prior space security capability decisions that have centered around missile threats. In 1998, it made the decision to develop its own reconnaissance satellites -- its Information Gathering Satellites -- partly in response to North Korea's missile tests from 1993-1998. This was the first time the country acquired satellites with a direct military application. From 2003 to 2020, it successfully launched 16 Information Gathering Satellites, eight of which are currently in orbit. In 2003 -- the same year that it launched its first Information Gathering Satellite -- the government also decided to adopt a ballistic missile defense system. Even with the recent decision to cancel the Aegis Ashore system, the country currently operates seven Aegis-equipped destroyers and a handful of land-based Patriot missile batteries. Japan and the United States enjoy an effective defense space partnership. Since 2013, the two countries have had a space situational awareness agreement in place. In recent years, they have jointly participated in space security exercises and war-games, such as the situational awareness exercise called Global Sentinel and the space war-games at Schriever Air Force Base. The U.S. Air Force is also placing some of its sensor payloads on the next round of Japan's navigation satellites. The launching of those satellites, planned for 2023, will mark the first time the United States has put operational national security payloads on a foreign satellite and a foreign launcher. Japan's studying additional space security capabilities -- in this case, missile warning -- in cooperation with the United States fits within this wider U.S.-Japan space security relationship. The direction of Japan's near-term missile and missile defense policy should become clearer in the next month. Regardless though, we should expect Japan's space capabilities to continue in their upward trajectory. In May, the government established its first defense space unit. The Space Operations Squadron, part of Japan's Air Self-Defense Force, is beginning with about 20 members and is expected to grow to around 100, once the unit is fully operational. In 2018, Japan's National Defense Program Guidelines call for counterspace capabilities, the first official Japanese document to do so. Japan's space program will likely continue to increasingly emphasize security with an emphasis on missile threats. (Robert Sam Wilson is a policy analyst in the Center for Space Policy and Strategy at The Aerospace Corporation, where he is responsible for leading work on international space; nuclear command, control, and communications; and missile issues.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 11:33:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close YAOUNDE, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 160 street children, including those from neighbouring countries, have been rescued since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Cameroon, Minister of Social Affairs Pauline Irene Nguene said Thursday. "We started an operation to extract them (street children) from the streets since April 1. For the elders, we tried to distribute sanitary kits for them to be protected," Nguene told reporters after a weekly cabinet evaluation meeting on the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Children were "doing well" and "well taken care of," she added. Though no street child has tested positive since the first case of COVID-19 was detected in the country on Mar. 6, a "zero street children" project plan is in progress as part of preventive measures and response to COVID-19 for street children, said authorities. During the meeting, Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute stressed the need to protect vulnerable people, especially children who are at risk in the current environment caused by COVID-19 crisis, and "to ensure their safety and healthcare." As of Thursday, Cameroon has reported 19,142 COVID-19 cases with 411 deaths and 17,651 recoveries, according to the government. Enditem Google has declined to remove ads from a shadowy group echoing President Donald Trump's misleading claim that there is a meaningful difference between voting by mail and absentee voting. Google took five days to reach its decision to leave the ads in place, alarming voting rights advocates as well as researchers in the University of Washington's Human Centered Design and Engineering department who had alerted Google to the ads last week. "This is active and blatant disinformation," said Himanshu Zade, a doctoral student in the department. "I don't think there's any question that it's a misleading narrative." The ads "stand to promote confusion for the public at a time when clarity is needed," said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the national Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. "And so it is deeply troubling." A Google spokeswoman, Charlotte Smith, declined to answer specific questions about the ads or explain why they squared with the company's policies, saying only in an emailed statement, "We have zero tolerance for ads that employ voter suppression tactics or undermine participation in elections. When we find those ads, we take them down." Facebook removed similar ads from the same group in response to a Washington Post story last week. The ads are the latest in a campaign to discourage voters from using the U.S. Postal Service to deliver their ballots in the upcoming election by suggesting there is a difference between "mail-in voting" and the way absentee ballots have been cast for decades in most states. While some states prefer one term over the other, experts say, there is no meaningful difference. All ballots delivered by mail are verified before they are counted. The ads were sponsored by a little-known group called Protect My Vote and appeared in response to Google searches for "mail-in voting" in numerous battleground states. These included Florida, Michigan, Iowa, Arizona, Texas and Georgia, according to University of Washington researchers. Most voters, one common variation of the ad read, "think mail-in voting and absentee voting are the same. Think again! There are different safeguards for each." But in Texas, for example, there are not distinct processes for absentee voting and voting by mail, making the claims in the ad inaccurate. "Absentee balloting is when a voter who is eligible to do so requests a ballot by mail and votes that way," Stephen Chang, a spokesman for the Texas secretary of state, confirmed in an email. The ads direct users to a website, protectmyvote.com, that warns that mail balloting results in "lost votes and lost rights." It attacks the U.S. Postal Service, saying the institution is "Steadily Getting Worse," and argues, "Rushing to fundamentally transform voting processes just a few months before a critical election puts your vote at risk." The website, which lists no owner or contact information, has been promoted extensively by FreedomWorks, a tax-exempt nonprofit that helped launch tea-party protests a decade ago and is now aligned with causes central to Trump's reelection. FreedomWorks is the sole organization to have repeatedly promoted the website, according to data from CrowdTangle, a social media analysis tool, and even purchased an ad on Facebook earlier this month to boost the campaign. Peter Vicenzi, a FreedomWorks spokesman, said a "partner group" was responsible for the website and the associated ads. Elements from the FreedomWorks site appear extensively in the Protect My Vote site's source code, illustrating the extent of the overlap, though no connection is publicly disclosed. "We are proud of the work we have done and continue to do on election security," Vicenzi said. "We've spent at least six figures in the past year and plan on spending even more than that going into November." The decision by Google not to remove the material, and the length of time it took to reach that decision, raise questions about whether the technology giant is prepared to respond swiftly to election-related misinformation, said Shannon C. McGregor, a professor of political communication at the University of North Carolina. "This is a really worrying warning sign," McGregor said. "On its face, this is misleading users about the voting process. And if that's what these platforms want to protect against, then this is the type of ad they should remove." The days-long period Google took to review the ads, she added, deepens worries that Silicon Valley may not be equipped to respond adequately in the event of a chaotic post-election period, in which politicians or others may seek to make unfounded claims about the outcome of the vote. Because of the expectation that large numbers of voters, concerned about voting in person during a pandemic, will prefer to vote by mail, experts anticipate that tabulating the results of the Nov. 3 election will take longer than usual. "So how long is misleading information about the outcome of the election going to be left up?" McGregor asked. "And what damage is that going to do to the legitimacy of the election writ large?" While the ads speak to minor differences in the voting process in some states, experts said, the sweeping and extreme language they use - similar to the Twitter salvos issued by Trump - are clearly intended to stoke fears about mail balloting, and to bait users into visiting the associated website. "We've not been taking the position that there's a meaningful distinction between absentee voting and voting by mail and deem President Trump's statements as fully intended to cause chaos and confusion for the public," Clarke, of the Lawyers' Committee, said. In the case of Iowa, for instance, there is an opportunity to vote absentee in person, as opposed to the all-mail option. But the additional information about voting in Iowa provided on the website is plainly false. "Is mail-in voting in place?" it asks. The erroneous answer, provided in all caps and blue letting, is "NO." Facebook, in explaining its decision to remove the material appearing on its service, pointed to the use of "voter suppression tactics" by the Protect My Vote page. Google's divergent decision reflects the patchwork of election-related rules in Silicon Valley. Facebook and Google allow political ads. Twitter does not. Facebook allows narrow behavioral targeting of these ads, while Google has limited that capacity. Twitter has taken to hiding posts from Trump that violate its rules on "civic and election integrity," while Facebook has merely appended a link to its Voting Information Center. In the case of the ads from Protect My Vote, Google did not even classify the posts as political - a category limited to ads mentioning candidates or elected officials, as well as political parties and ballot measures - meaning they did not appear in the company's Transparency Report. That made it difficult to discern the size of the ad buy, or the precise geographical scope of the campaign. It was not even clear if any of the ads were still active. Google has taken a harder line against other kinds of political material. Last month, the company rejected a 30-second spot called "Police State" that showed police officers beating, pushing and tasing protesters and other unarmed Americans - clips set against Trump's description of himself as "your president of law and order." The ad, sponsored by Priorities USA and Color of Change PAC, two liberal political action committees, violated the company's rules forbidding "shocking and disturbing content," Google maintained at the time. - - - The Washington Post's Michelle Ye Hee Lee contributed to this report. Union minister of state for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Friday met KK Singh, father of late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, and sister Rani Singh, saying they will get justice soon and the role of the Bollywood mafia will be exposed. Athawale met Sushant's family for nearly half-an-hour at the residence of Faridabad Police Commissioner OP Singh, who is also the brother-in-law of the late actor. Athawale said the truth will be revealed by the CBI investigation and the Bollywood mafia will be exposed, which tries to suppress new talent in the industry. The Union minister said he was in favour of a CBI probe in the case right from the beginning. KK Singh sees a deep conspiracy behind Sushant's death. He also questioned the role of Mumbai police in the case. Rani Singh has also raised many questions about the suspicious death of her brother Sushant. Athawale is a Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra. In such a situation, his meeting with the father and sister of Sushant Singh Rajput holds a lot of significance. Athawale has been vocal about demanding a high-level inquiry into the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. (Alliance News) - AfriTin Mining Ltd on Friday said it hit milestones in the most recent financial year with its first shipment of tin concentrate in Namibia, but remains wary of the effects of Covid-19 on supply chains going forward. The mining company with a portfolio of tin assets in Namibia and South Africa reported a pretax loss for the financial year ended February 29 of GBP1.8 million, widening from GBP1.1 million a year prior. Revenue was up to GBP69,032 from GBP26,782 a year ago. The company hit two milestones over the period. One was the initial production of tin concentrate through a newly constructed pilot processing plant. The other was recording its first revenue of GBP47,000 following a shipment of tin concentrate out of Walvis Bay in Namibia just before year end. AfriTin said the revenue on top of the GBP47,000 from the tin shipment was produced from the sale of sand at Zaaiplaats tin mine in South Africa. The sale of sand at Zaaiplaats was the company's main source of revenue before its main project in Namibia started producing tin concentrate. Capital expenditure for the pilot plant in Namibia amounted to GBP7.4 million, up from GBP4.7 million a year prior due to the construction of the processing plant as well as capitalised ramp-up and team costs. The company will not be recommending a dividend. Chair Glen Parson: "Despite the global tin market being small compared to other base metals, tin is predicted to be the metal most positively impacted by advances in new technologies such as robotics, renewables and energy storage, amongst others (according to a study done by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2018). Clearly the more traditional uses for tin are the basis of the demand for the metal, but it is exciting to contemplate these new growth areas." It is under this context that Chief Executive Anthony Viljoen said he looks forward to ramping up the company's mining efforts as well as scaling up its operations. The company is however aware of the possible impacts of Covid-19, particularly on the supply chain, where in the case of further disruption the company may require additional funding. Afritin additionally announced Friday the resignation of Non-Executive Director Roger Williams. Williams' resignation comes as he would like to pursue other business interests and will take effect on September 29. The company has no immediate plans to appoint a replacement. AfriTin Mining shares were up 0.7% at 2.16 pence each on Friday afternoon in London. By Greg Roxburgh; gregroxburgh@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Several teachers, parents, and school heads in the Northern Region are full of praises for Madam Felicia TETTEY for her utmost dedication and commitment to the success of the one hot meal project in the Northern Region. Madam Tettey who is the Northern Regional Coordinator of the Ghana School Feeding Programme has been. on the necks of caterers in both the public and private schools in the region to ensure that they not only cook delicious meals but also, supply the food to the schools on time. She has been touring schools in the Northern Region to ensure that things are done correctly. Where there are challenges, she has particularly ensured that those problems are fixed on time. Some of the teachers who spoke with the Voiceless Media in the Northern Region were enthused about the food and also the effective monitoring by Madam Felicia Tettey. Speaking to the Voiceless Media during the tour of some schools in Tamale, Madam Tettey indicated that the one hot meal to students and teachers was so dear to the heart of the President and she needs to ensure that all stakeholders play their roles well to ensure the success of the programme. Madam Tettey used the opportunity to appeal to schools in the Northern Region who are facing challenges of any form or shape to not hesitate to contact her office for immediate redress. London: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will launch a major drive to get Britons back to the office as ministers warn that working from home will make people more vulnerable to being sacked. A publicity campaign to begin next week will extol the virtues of returning to the workplace, making the emotional case for mixing with colleagues and highlighting the benefits to mental health, several ministers and sources said. Workers keep their distance during a break from producing medical ventilators at AMRC Cymru in North Wales. Credit:AP It will also provide reassurance that "the workplace is a safe place", while a new online tool will help people avoid the most crowded trains and buses. While the media blitz, to be launched at the end of next week once schools in England have reopened, will focus on the positives of returning to the office, ministers are already warning of the negatives of home working as part of a carrot and stick approach. Despite a coronavirus-triggered recession looming large for the world, China remains a gold mine for global investors amid the country's unswerving efforts to create a better business environment with easier market access, more benefits, and improved services. According to the World Bank's Doing Business 2020 report, China has made greater progress in the 2005-2020 period than any other large economy in terms of facilitating the ease of doing business, with its global ranking rising to the 31st position among 190 economies globally from the 78th in the 2018 report. A magnet with improving business environment Foreign direct investment (FDI) into the Chinese mainland, in actual use, expanded by 15.8 percent year on year in July, marking the fourth consecutive month for the country to witness positive FDI growth, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce (MOC). Uniqlo, a clothing brand under the Japan-based Fast Retailing Group, opened 19 chain stores in China in August, entering six new cities, including Zhejiang's Tongxiang, and Jiangsu's Danyang. "It signals our confidence in the Chinese market and the Chinese economy," said Jalin Wu, Chief Marketing Officer of Uniqlo Greater China, adding that the company hopes to explore opportunities in more third-tier and lower-tier cities. Uniqlo was not the only example. A total of 18,838 new overseas-funded enterprises were established on the Chinese mainland in the first seven months, a vote of confidence in the market. To encourage foreign investment, China has taken multi-pronged measures to open its market wider. The country's 2020 version of the negative lists for foreign investment, which took effect in July, reduced the number of sectors that are off-limits for foreign investors to 33 from 40 in the 2019 version. The negative list for pilot free trade zones also cut the number of prohibited industries to 30 from 37. According to the new lists, foreign ownership caps on securities, fund management, futures, life insurance companies, as well as commercial vehicle enterprises are removed, and more opportunities in agriculture, medicine, minerals, fuel, infrastructure, and education are offered to foreign investors. The country put into effect the landmark foreign investment law on Jan. 1, 2020, providing institutional protection for the interests of foreign investors. It grants foreign-invested enterprises access to government procurement markets through fair competition and bans the use of administrative licensing and penalties to force foreign investors and firms to transfer technology. In south China's Hainan province, a "single window" program for international investment was officially launched on Aug. 13, providing one-stop services for foreign investors, and enabling foreign-funded firms to complete the registration procedure in two working days. China will help foreign-funded companies solve prominent problems and create a more law-based, internationalized, and convenient business environment, said Zong Changqing, an official with the MOC. A bigger cake for all As China upgrades its industrial sector and seeks new growth drivers, foreign investors are expected to get a slice of a bigger cake. China is soliciting opinions on the draft of the 2020 version industrial catalog in which foreign investment is encouraged. Aimed at attracting more foreign investment in the high-quality development of manufacturing, producer services, and to the central and western regions, the draft has proposed extending the coverage of investment in sectors such as raw material, research and development, modern logistics, information services, and e-commerce. The country is pushing the construction of new infrastructures, attracting foreign investors to tap into these opportunities, along with domestic firms, amid a boom in the industry. French corporation Schneider Electric signed a strategic cooperation deal with China's battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. on Aug. 5, intending to cooperate in fields including green smart factories, new energy power generation, safe power use, and energy storage. Among the 54 foreign-funded projects signed on July 22 in Shanghai, 15 are in the field of new infrastructure construction, covering sectors including network technology, artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and integrated circuits. The new infrastructure is becoming a new opportunity for foreign companies to invest in China amid the global economic recession since the COVID-19 outbreak. The huge market is bound to attract foreign companies, said Zhu Keli, a researcher on the new economy with the Development Research Center of the State Council. Tuscaloosa mayor Walt Maddox saw the numbers and fully understood the situation facing his city early last Saturday morning. A phone call with University of Alabama and health officials led to the request that he close bars in the city to stem the tide of positive COVID-19 tests around campus. By Monday, the two-week closure of Tuscaloosa bars was announced as one prong in the effort to curb the rapid spread. After three nights without bar service and with the weekend approaching, Maddox addressed how he will handle the executive order when the two weeks end. Science and data are going to guide us, Maddox said Thursday afternoon in a joint news conference with Senator Doug Jones. Thats going to be our north star through the process. The data wasnt positive entering the first weekend since UA students returned to campus Aug. 19. The school reported 531 positive tests from that first day of classes last Wednesday through Sunday. We all saw the pictures out of Tuscaloosa, Jones said. We all saw the pictures out of Auburn. And there is no question in my mind, and I think in the mayors mind, that all of that has contributed to the rise in the number of cases. Tuscaloosa Police said there have not been any violations of the bar closure order issued Monday. One bar violated the Aug. 6 executive order reducing capacity of bars to 50 percent while 13 house parties violated occupancy restrictions since Aug. 8. RELATED: University of Alabama reports more than 500 confirmed COVID-19 cases But what about the low positivity rate touted by the schools in the reentry testing? Of the 75,000 tested statewide using the GuideSafe platform, only 0.75 percent were positive. With the Tuscaloosa campus, 1.04 percent or 310 of the 29,938 tests were positive. So, how did that translate into 531 cases in less than a week? Theoretically, most every student as they came on campus was in all likelihood COVID free, said Dr. Michael Saag, infectious disease expert at UAB. Obviously, you cant assure that 100 percent but that spread occurred within a very short period of time and that underscores what I said earlier that this virus is very, very infectious. Saag was among the doctors who spoke with Maddox in the 8:30 a.m. Saturday teleconference. He compared the campus outbreaks at multiple schools to the wildfires raging in the western United States. If you give it fuel and you give it opportunity, its going to take off, Saag said. And thats what weve seen and thats why the sentinel testing is so important such that if we can monitor and find an outbreak, a pocket, its very much like theyre doing in California right now in trying to control wildfires. The idea is to catch it before it spreads widely because once it gets into widespread, it becomes much more difficult to bring under control. The City of Tuscaloosa and University of Alabama determined the bar scene was that gasoline. RELATED: Auburn University reports 4 percent COVID-19 positivity rate on student reentry tests Maddox, the father of a freshman at UA however, offered a caveat. I think were a little too judgmental at times when we talk about students, he said. Weve all been there, and I suspect we all probably thought we were a little bit invincible at that time. And for the most part, Ive seen the vast majority of students doing the right things, but it doesnt mean that we ignore the obvious. When you look at the data, bars are one of the most highly contagious places for the coronavirus. The mayor also felt comfortable with the way the university was handling the situation on campus. I believe my daughter is safer at the University of Alabama than anywhere else or she wouldnt be out there so that should give you my level of comfort, Maddox said. Does that mean she will not get it? Theres no way I can promise that. We cant promise that to anyone. But as an area, I think the University of Alabama is as safe as any place in Tuscaloosa. The rise in cases on the UA campus have not been factored into the numbers released by the Alabama Department of Public Health. In the same timeframe UA says 531 students/faculty/staff tested positive, 268 positive tests were reported from Tuscaloosa County, according to the BamaTracker.com dashboard. And Maddox has said much of his decision-making process is driven by the capacity at DCH hospital in Tuscaloosa. As of Thursday afternoon, DCH reported it had 58 people receiving in-patient care for COVID-19. Thats down from a two-week high of 74 on Aug. 13. The number in ICU has hovered in the same range the past two weeks and is currently 24. Seven are on ventilators. The data released by DCH does not break down the numbers based on age or affiliation with the university. Everyone has been learning together, Maddox said, and I think what weve seen is you can have the best resources and the best planning and all the infrastructure in place, but I think Dr. (Anthony) Fauci said this and Im going to paraphrase, the virus dictates the timeline. Clearly, were up against a vicious virus thats highly contagious and when you put that into the mix of highly sociable adults at that age Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook. President Donald Trump claimed accomplishments he didnt earn on the pandemic, energy and veterans at a Republican convention finale that also heard Black Lives Matter baselessly accused of coordinating violent protests across the country. A look at some of the rhetoric Thursday from Trump and his supporting speakers at Republican National Convention proceedings: COVID-19 TRUMP: Instead of following the science, Joe Biden wants to inflict a painful shutdown on the entire country. His shutdown would inflict unthinkable and lasting harm on our nations children, families, and citizens of all backgrounds. THE FACTS: Thats false. Biden has publicly said he would shut down the nations economy only if scientists and public health advisers recommended he do so to stem the COVID-19 threat. In other words, he said he would follow the science, not disregard it. Speaking Sunday in an ABC interview, Biden said he will be prepared to do whatever it takes to save lives when he was asked if he would be willing to shut the country again. So if the scientists say shut it down? asked ABCs David Muir. I would shut it down, Biden responded. I would listen to the scientists. The former vice president has said repeatedly that no one knows what January would look like. ___ TRUMP: For those of you that still drive a car, look how low your gasoline bill is. You havent seen that in a long time. THE FACTS: Trump seems to be taking credit for lower prices that were the byproduct of a pandemic that has killed more than 180,000 Americans. Gasoline prices didnt fall because of the Trump administration. They plunged because of the coronavirus forcing people to abandon their offices, schools, business trips and vacations. As more people worked from home, they needed to fill up their cars less frequently. Airlines didnt need to burn through as much fuel. Heres the statement from the U.S. Energy Information Administration: Reduced economic activity related to the COVID-19 pandemic has caused changes in energy demand and supply patterns in 2020. World demand for oil has fallen by 8 million barrels a day, according to that agencys estimates. ___ TRUMP: The United States has among the lowest case fatality rates of any major country anywhere in the world. THE FACTS: Not true. Not if you consider Russia, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines and India to be major countries. The U.S. sits right in the middle when it comes to COVID-19 mortality rates in the 20 nations most impacted by the pandemic, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. Of the 20, Mexico has the highest mortality rate at 10.8 deaths for every 100 confirmed COVID cases, followed by Ecuador at 5.8. Saudi Arabia had the lowest rate of the 20 nations at 1.2, followed by Bangladesh, the Philippines, Russia, Morocco, India, Argentina, South Africa and Chile. The U.S. had the 10th lowest of the 20 nations, with a mortality rate of 3.1. When the center looked at the data in another way, analyzing the COVID death rate for every 100,000 residents, the U.S. fares even worse. Only three nations Brazil, Chile and Peru posted higher death rates. Understanding deaths as a percentage of the population or as a percentage of known infections is problematic because countries track and report COVID-19 deaths and cases differently. Many other factors are in play in shaping a death toll besides how well a country responded to the pandemic, such as the overall health or youth of national populations. ___ BLACK LIVES MATTER RUDY GIULIANI, Trumps personal attorney and former New York mayor: Black Lives Matter and antifa sprang into action and, in a flash, they hijacked the peaceful protest into vicious, brutal riots. THE FACTS: Thats a hollow claim. Theres no evidence that Black Lives Matter or antifa, or any political group for that matter, is infiltrating racial injustice protests with violence. In June, The Associated Press analyzed court records, employment histories and social media posts for 217 people arrested in Minneapolis and the District of Columbia, cities at the center of the protests earlier this year. More than 85 percent of the people arrested were local residents, and few had affiliation with any organized groups. Social media posts for a few of those arrested indicated they were involved in left-leaning activities while others expressed support for the political right and Trump himself. Local police departments across the country were forced to knock down widespread social media rumors that busloads of antifa, a term for leftist militants, were coming to violently disrupt cities and towns during nationwide racial justice protests. In June, Twitter and Facebook busted accounts linked to white supremacy groups that were promoting some of those falsehoods online. ___ EDUCATION TRUMP: Biden also vowed to oppose school choice and oppose all charter schools. THE FACTS: Thats false. Biden doesnt oppose charter schools. He opposes federal money going to for-profit charter companies. Such firms are only a slice of the charter school market, meaning Bidens position wouldnt substantially alter the charter landscape that is dominated by non-profit organizations. Biden does oppose federal money for tuition vouchers. ___ MILITARY TRUMP: We have spent $2.5 trillion on completely rebuilding our military, which was very badly depleted when I took office, as you know. THE FACTS: Thats an exaggeration. His administration has accelerated a sharp buildup in defense spending and paused spending limits but a number of new Pentagon weapons programs, such as the F-35 fighter jet, predate Trump. The Air Forces Minuteman 3 missiles, a key part of the U.S. nuclear force, for instance, have been operating since the early 1970s and the modernization was begun under the Obama administration. ___ VETERANS TRUMP: We also passed VA accountability and VA Choice, our great veterans. We are taking care of our veterans. THE FACTS: False. He didnt get Veterans Choice approved; President Barack Obama did in 2014. Trump expanded it, under a 2018 law known as the MISSION Act. It allows veterans to get health care outside the VA system at public expense under certain conditions. ___ ENERGY TRUMP, claiming to have secured for the first time American energy independence. HOUSE MINORITY LEADER KEVIN MCCARTHY, R-California: Under Trump, we ... achieved energy independence. THE FACTS: This is misleading. The pandemic has severely lessened the demand for crude oil. But through June, the United States was still importing more crude oil than it was selling overseas, according to the Census Bureau. While the United States has become less reliant on foreign oil, it only produces 11.3 million barrels a day and consumes 18.5 million barrels of liquid fuels daily, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Technological advances like fracking and horizontal drilling have allowed the U.S. to greatly increase production, but the country still imports millions of barrels of oil from Saudi Arabia, Canada, Iraq and other countries. One reason is that foreign oil is more affordable. Another is that much of what the U.S. produces is hard for domestic refiners to convert to practical use. So the U.S. exports that production and imports oil that is more suitable for American refineries to handle. ___ VIRUS TESTING IVANKA TRUMP: Our president rapidly mobilized the full force of government and the private sector to produce ventilators within weeks to build the most robust testing system in the world. THE FACTS: Her assertion of superior U.S. testing for COVID-19 is dubious. The U.S. repeatedly stumbled with testing in the early weeks of the outbreak, allowing the virus to quickly spread in the U.S. His own experts say the U.S. is nowhere near the level of testing needed to control the virus. Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recently testified that health officials are still working to significantly increase testing capacity, calling such expansion a critical underpinning of our response. The U.S. currently is conducting nearly 750,000 tests a day, far short of what many public health experts say the U.S. should be testing to control the spread of the virus. Looking to the fall, some experts have called for 4 million or more tests daily, while a group assembled by Harvard University estimated that 20 million a day would be needed to keep the virus in check. Redfield has said the U.S. was aiming to boost testing to 3 million daily by pooling multiple peoples samples, a technique that is still under review by the FDA. He stressed the need for expanded surveillance because some people who get infected may not show symptoms. We still have a ways to go, Redfield said. Frequent shortages also spurred the CDC to quietly issue new guidance on testing. While in the early months of the outbreak Trump repeatedly insisted that anybody who wants a test can get a test, Redfield issued a statement this week that Everyone who wants a test does not necessarily need a test. The U.S. stumbled early in the pandemic response as the CDC struggled to develop its own test for the coronavirus in January, later discovering problems in its kits sent to state and county public health labs in early February. It took the CDC more than two weeks to come up with a fix to the test kits, leading to delays in diagnoses through February, a critical month when the virus took root in the U.S. ___ IRAN SEN. TOM COTTON of Arkansas: Joe Biden sent pallets of cash to the ayatollahs. THE FACTS: This is a distorted tale Trump and Republicans loves to tell. Yes, the U.S. flew cash to Iran in the Obama years, but it was money the United States owed to that country. Cotton also played into the conventions pattern of attributing every questionable action of President Barack Obamas administration to Biden personally. The value of Bahrains exports of national origin decreased by 12% to BD202 million ($533 million) during July, compared to BD230 million for the same month of the previous year, said a report. The top 10 countries in terms of the value of exports of national origin purchased from Bahrain accounted for 74% of the total value, with the remaining countries accounting for 26%, said the Information &eGovernment Authority (iGA) in its foreign trade report of July 2020, which encompasses data on the balance of trade, imports, exports (national origin), and re-exports. Saudi Arabia ranked first among countries receiving Bahraini exports of national origin, importing BD40 million from Bahrain. Meanwhile, Oman was second with BD24 million and Malaysia third with BD19 million. Unwrought aluminium (not alloyed) emerged as the top products exported duringJuly2020 with BD41 million. Unwrought aluminium alloys was second with a value of BD32 million and Agglomerated iron ores and concentrates third with BD19 million. The total value of re-exports decreased by46%to reach BD41 million during July2020, compared toBD76 million for the same month of the previous year. The top 10 countries accounted for 87% of the re-exported value, while the remaining countries accounted for the 13%. Saudi Arabia ranked first with BD13 million, United Arab Emirates second with BD7 million, and the US third with BD6 million. Parts for aero planes was the top product re-exported from Bahrain with BD3.1 million, four-wheel drive cars came in second place with BD3 million, and cigarettes containing tobacco came thirdwithBD2.6 million. The trade balance, difference between exports and imports, the value of the deficit of the trade balance reached BD135 million during July versus BD188 million for the same month of the previous year with a decrease of 28%. Imports The value of imports decreased by 23%, reaching BD378 million during July2020compared to BD493 million for the same month of the previous year. The top 10 countries accounted for 62% of the value of imports, with the remaining countries accounting for 38%. According to the report, China ranked first when it came to imports to Bahrain, with a total ofBD53 million, Saudi Arabia was second with BD27 million; and Australia was third with BD23 million. Non-agglomerated iron ores and concentrates emerged as the top product imported into Bahrain with a total value ofBD27 million, while aluminium oxide was second withBD21 million, and heat exchange units third with BD10 million. TradeArabia News Service Rome, Aug 28 : The Covid-19 situation in Italy was "under control" despite a recent surge in the number of new cases, according to authorities. Such assessment was provided by Agostino Miozzo, coordinator of the technical-scientific committee (CTS), at a hearing before the education panel of the lower house on Thursday, reports Xinhua news agency. He explained the new cases registered in recent weeks, which authorities confirmed as mainly linked to holidaymakers, resulted from "the liberty someone took of not respecting the basic preventive rules". "Right now, even if numbers are on the rise, our epidemiological trend is under control," said Miozzo, who is also a member of the Civil Protection Department. "They are relevant numbers, but our territorial (health) system is capable to manage them." On Thursday, 1,179 new cases were reported, taking the overall total to 263,949, according to the latest statistics from the Health Ministry. The death toll grew to 35,463 after five new fatalities were registered. A large majority of the new infections in recent weeks were reported among holidaymakers under the age of 40, and especially young people returning from popular beach destinations, such as the Sardinia island, and nearby countries. This prompted the government to impose mandatory Covid-19 tests on people returning from Greece, Spain, Malta and Croatia from August 12 onwards. A few days later, Health Minister Roberto Speranza issued a decree closing all-dance facilities across the country, and making face masks mandatory again between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.. In his report to lawmakers on Thursday, the CTS coordinator also drew attention to the forthcoming school reopening set on September 14. He explained that CTS experts would expect a limited increase in infections after millions of students and school staff are back to their classrooms, as it has happened in other countries. "School now is our absolute priority in terms of consideration and debate," Miozzo said. "One goal we are committed to helping our school system to reopen is safety, yet an even more crucial goal is to help it to remain open in safe conditions." Set up during the emergency, the CTS is the official body advising the Italian government on its policies concerning the Covid-19 health crisis. It comprises 20 top scientists and health officials. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Glenn Chapman (Agence France-Presse) San Francisco, United States Fri, August 28, 2020 09:43 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c410fa3d 2 Science & Tech Walmart,Microsoft,TikTok,united-states,Bytedance,China,Donald-Trump Free US retail giant Walmart said Thursday it had teamed with Microsoft to buy TikTok, the Chinese-owned short-form video app that has come under fire from the administration of President Donald Trump. The app has been at the center of a diplomatic storm between Washington and Beijing since Trump signed an executive order on August 6 giving Americans 45 days to stop doing business with its Chinese parent company ByteDance. The president claims TikTok could be used by China to track the locations of federal employees, build dossiers on people for blackmail, and conduct corporate espionage. The order effectively set a deadline for a sale of TikTok to a US company, with Trump insisting that the US should get a cut for its role in making the deal happen. "We are confident that a Walmart and Microsoft partnership would meet both the expectations of US TikTok users while satisfying the concerns of US government regulators," the retailer told AFP. Walmart is likely interested in TikTok helping it better connect with younger shoppers who turn to the internet for lifestyle trends, according to analysts. Younger people are much less likely to shop at Walmart, whether online or in real-world stores, according to GlobalData Retail managing director Neil Saunders. "A social platform like TikTok would give Walmart easy access to the very audience it wants and needs to attract," Saunders said. Having access to the social media sensation could help Walmart's marketing campaigns while tapping into "a rich seam of data" or product development and more, according to Saunders. The potential gold mine of younger users' data could also help Walmart compete more strongly with online retail rival Amazon. Walmart saw its profits jump in latest quarter as e-commerce sales surged during the coronavirus pandemic and US government stimulus payments boosted spending, the company recently reported. Walmart teaming with US technology colossus Microsoft was "the final piece of the puzzle that ultimately cements Microsoft successfully acquiring TikTok's US operations for likely $35 billion to $40 billion," according to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives. Read also: TikTok says to sue over Trump crackdown 'High stakes poker' "While deal negotiations will be complex, with a number of technology and data privacy issues that need to be worked out before an agreement is inked, we believe ByteDance is playing a game of high stakes poker with Microsoft looking like the only true white knight around," Ives said in a note to investors. TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer said Wednesday he had quit the company as tensions soar between Washington and Beijing over the platform. Former Disney executive Mayer, who has only been in the post since May, said in a letter to staff that the "political environment has sharply changed" in recent weeks. He added that TikTok expects "to reach a resolution very soon." Mayer's departure was taken by some market watchers as a sign that a deal to sell TikTok is imminent, with Oracle -- owned by Trump donor Larry Ellison -- also said to be in the bidding. ByteDance confirmed to AFP that current general manager Vanessa Pappas will become TikTok's interim head. According to Pappas' LinkedIn profile, she formerly worked as global head of creative insights at YouTube. "In a nutshell, we believe Mayer leaving at this juncture is more smoke that TikTok (and ByteDance) realizes a sale of its US operations is a matter of when, not if, at this point, despite court challenges," Wedbush analyst Ives said. Mayer's resignation came days after TikTok, which has been downloaded 175 million times in the US and more than a billion times worldwide, filed a lawsuit arguing that Trump's order was a misuse of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The platform -- on which users share often playful short-form videos -- is not "an unusual and extraordinary threat," it said. The platform's kaleidoscopic feeds of clips feature everything from dance routines and hair-dye tutorials to jokes about daily life and politics. The company says it has never provided any US user data to the Chinese government, and Beijing has blasted Trump's crackdown as political. Fact check: Was there anti-Modi sloganeering during his Varanasi visit? Fake: Government is not offering free laptops to all Fact check: Was a terrorist really caught at Hubbali Fact Check oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 28: A video with the title, 'terrorist at Hubli bus stand Karnataka state,' has gone viral on the social media. It is being claimed that a terrorist was banned at the Hubbali bus stand-in Karnataka. Many captured the entire incident on camera as well. While doing a reverse image search, OneIndia learnt that this was a mock drill that was conducted at the Hubbali bus stand. It also led us to an article from the Hubbali Times, which said that the mock drill was conducted jointly by the Hubbali-Dharwad police and emergency workers on August 22 to alert the citizens about suspicious elements around them. Old FAKE video of China made plastic eggs being sold in India goes viral again The drill was also conducted to alert the people on how to respond when such a situation arises. This mock drill was also conducted at the airport. This video has gone viral with several netizens believing that the police had indeed caught a terrorist. Fact Check Claim Terrorist caught at Hubbali Conclusion Police conducted a mock drill to alert citizens Rating False Raise your request for FACT CHECKING. Mail us at factcheck@one.in Xaos636 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Down South Posts: 326 Thanked: 1,757 Times Re: A Close Look : Kia Sonet Quote: Behemoth Originally Posted by End of the day it will boil down to personal choice - some people like the torquey, punchy nature of the diesel engine while some prefer the high revving linear and less noisy nature of the Turbo Petrol. Take your pick! ). If you take the 1.5Mpi top end variant of the Seltos, then the difference between the top end of this petrol and the diesel counterpart would be bigger. Hyundai/KIA exploited this space to give us a punchy turbo petrol, but this does not apply to other manufacturers generally, who doesn't have a turbo petrol in their lineup. I for one hate the diesels for simply their pollution levels. Idle the diesel 2 minutes while dusting your car and the smell of the diesel literally gives me a 'kick to the head' feeling, and the calculations over a period of 7 years could mean significant damage to the atmosphere with all these toxic going in there. I am sure less than 10% of people consider this while choosing the fuel type of your car, but I would never buy a diesel in my life. I am not going extremely choosy here by not going for an electric, but since the turbo petrol's offer better/similar performance than a diesel these days, I would suggest everyone to look at this engine just for the protection of our environment. As far as I can see, it wont be long before diesel engines are out of the market, then slowly petrol as well. Just sharing my views here, no offence. Also on the KIA Sonet, if I were to buy this over the Venue it would be a tough task, not because the Venue is a superior product, but with a few overdone design elements on the Sonet. Now since the Venue has less features(which looked to have so much at the time of launch), I would have been a confused soul and could have gone up a segment higher and chosen the Seltos or the Creta. But if someone wants an automatic with a very decent engine, there aren't much choice in this range. One thing on the design is that I cannot live with that switches on the center console, no way. If those switches were placed lower down, it could have been livable with. I was fed up with buttons on Baleno where I have to take my eyes off the road to see what I am pressing. Knobs any day of the week. The next thing is the digital instrument cluster and that rev needle. I have seen a few members bashing S-Presso, Kwid and the new Nexon for having a digital instrument but looks like they forgot this one because of the other features on offer. But it could be livable with though depending on people. I also hope that they improve their spare parts sourcing as I could see lots of cars waiting for bumpers and tail gates even after a month when I went for a Seltos test drive(No, it wasn't due to Covid-19, situation was same before lock-down as well). But yeah, lets give them time for this as they slowly set up more showrooms and service centers in India. The SA did say that the introductory price would be low for the top end versions of the Sonet, which would be be gradually increased in a few months time which is a good strategy. But the Venue top end DCT Sport at over 14L on-road in Bangalore, the Sonet GTX+ DCT with all those extra features could be atleast 15L-15.5L as my books suggest, which is dangerously close to S/SX variants of Creta/Seltos. Other than these, the features are well laid out and its bang on the C-SUV segment and I wonder what Nissan is thinking now with the Magnite. The gear lever is chunky, the ventilated seats and LED headlights looks so good. One side Honda brings out the same old Jazz as the all new Jazz with chrome ring on steering as a feature and on the other side, KIA does this. I so hope this one is tuned a bit softer than the Venue, but might affect the handling characteristic of the car, but could take the potholes better than the Venue. That is a really good math that you provided here and as far as I can see, this can only apply for a car which has a turbo petrol(Yes, the Sonet here). If you take the 1.5Mpi top end variant of the Seltos, then the difference between the top end of this petrol and the diesel counterpart would be bigger. Hyundai/KIA exploited this space to give us a punchy turbo petrol, but this does not apply to other manufacturers generally, who doesn't have a turbo petrol in their lineup.I for one hate the diesels for simply their pollution levels. Idle the diesel 2 minutes while dusting your car and the smell of the diesel literally gives me a 'kick to the head' feeling, and the calculations over a period of 7 years could mean significant damage to the atmosphere with all these toxic going in there. I am sure less than 10% of people consider this while choosing the fuel type of your car, but I would never buy a diesel in my life. I am not going extremely choosy here by not going for an electric, but since the turbo petrol's offer better/similar performance than a diesel these days, I would suggest everyone to look at this engine just for the protection of our environment. As far as I can see, it wont be long before diesel engines are out of the market, then slowly petrol as well. Just sharing my views here, no offence.Also on the KIA Sonet, if I were to buy this over the Venue it would be a tough task, not because the Venue is a superior product, but with a few overdone design elements on the Sonet. Now since the Venue has less features(which looked to have so much at the time of launch), I would have been a confused soul and could have gone up a segment higher and chosen the Seltos or the Creta. But if someone wants an automatic with a very decent engine, there aren't much choice in this range.One thing on the design is that I cannot live with that switches on the center console, no way. If those switches were placed lower down, it could have been livable with. I was fed up with buttons on Baleno where I have to take my eyes off the road to see what I am pressing. Knobs any day of the week.The next thing is the digital instrument cluster and that rev needle. I have seen a few members bashing S-Presso, Kwid and the new Nexon for having a digital instrument but looks like they forgot this one because of the other features on offer. But it could be livable with though depending on people.I also hope that they improve their spare parts sourcing as I could see lots of cars waiting for bumpers and tail gates even after a month when I went for a Seltos test drive(No, it wasn't due to Covid-19, situation was same before lock-down as well). But yeah, lets give them time for this as they slowly set up more showrooms and service centers in India. The SA did say that the introductory price would be low for the top end versions of the Sonet, which would be be gradually increased in a few months time which is a good strategy. But the Venue top end DCT Sport at over 14L on-road in Bangalore, the Sonet GTX+ DCT with all those extra features could be atleast 15L-15.5L as my books suggest, which is dangerously close to S/SX variants of Creta/Seltos.Other than these, the features are well laid out and its bang on the C-SUV segment and I wonder what Nissan is thinking now with the Magnite. The gear lever is chunky, the ventilated seats and LED headlights looks so good. One side Honda brings out the same old Jazz as the all new Jazz with chrome ring on steering as a feature and on the other side, KIA does this. I so hope this one is tuned a bit softer than the Venue, but might affect the handling characteristic of the car, but could take the potholes better than the Venue. A Malta man admitted to assaulting a police officer earlier this year on a CDTA bus. The Albany County District Attorney's office said Jerson Vargas, 43, pleaded guilty to felony assault on Friday. On Feb. 11, Vargas caused a disturbance and urinated on the bus. When police arrived, Vargas began cursing and wouldn't listen to officers, the district attorney's office said. When an officer tried to get Vargas off the bus, Vargas grabbed the officer and began fighting with him. The officer was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a concusson. As he portrayed the current era of recession and pandemic as good times, he warned voters not to return power to the people who presided when there actually were good times. He warned of a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny and to crush our industries. He said Democrats would give free rein to violent anarchists, agitators and criminals and allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy our way of life. In Trumps telling, the violence in the streets occurring on his watch, which he foments and which his followers have engaged in, is the fault of Democrats who stand with anarchists, agitators, rioters, looters and flag-burners. Two farmhouses that were as large as luxury hotels, that had come up in the protected Aravllis areas were demolished on Friday after the Supreme Court took cognizance of the matter. The Aravallis, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the country and the green lung to Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi, has suffered in the hands of illegal construction over the past many years, including several hillocks vanishing. The Supreme Court had issued stern warnings then to the state governments and did so again this week to Haryana. The two luxurious farmhouses had come up illegally in the Bandhwari village of the Aravallis, along with 17 others that were demolished too over the last three days. One official from the department town and country planing, which along with the municipal corporation of Gurugram (MCG) oversaw the demolition, described it as spread over two acres, with swimming pools and large lawns. In one, we found around 400 plates and assorted crockery usually found in hotels. The rooms were furnished and equipped like commercial property and even a spa was part of the establishment, said the official who did not wish to be named. The two farmhouses were large and well built that the authorities had to call for heavier earthmovers than the usual ones that are usually deployed during demolition drives. RS Bhath, district town planner, said though no one was found living in these farmhouses, they met the owner of one large farmhouse. They came on and off to take care of the property, he said. MCG joint commissioner Hari Om Atri said, These two farmhouses were huge and it took an entire day to demolish these structures. A large boundary wall in acres built by a school was also demolished as it was illegal. Bhath said that with Fridays operation, all illegal farmhouses in the area were demolished. We are now analysing the violations that were carried out by the developer as per urban areas act and municipal act so that a police case is registered against the developer, he said. The authorities did not offer comment on how these large farmhouses came to be without their knowledge. The DTCP official said that a formal report on the demolition drive would be submitted to the deputy commissioner of Gurugram. As per the directions of the government 19 farmhouses in various stages of construction, boundary walls, plinths and related constructions were demolished in the last three days. The director of DTCP has also been apprised of the action taken. A police complaint would also be lodged against the accused after compiling the violations as per different departments, he said. Earlier on Thursday, Vinay Pratap Singh, MCG commisioner had said the Haryana chief secretary had ordered the demolition. We will also work on collaboration with forest department and based on their recommendations take all steps to restore the forest in the area, he had said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON China's Liaoning aircraft carrier with accompanying fleet conducts a drill in an area of South China Sea, in this undated photo taken December 2016. Photo by Reuters/Stringer. The U.S. Department of Defense has expressed concerns over Chinas recent military exercises, including missile tests, in the South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea. "The Department of Defense is concerned about Chinas recent decision to conduct military exercises, including the firing of ballistic missiles, around the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on August 23-29," it said in a statement released early Friday. Conducting the military exercises is "counterproductive to easing tensions and maintaining stability," it said. Vietnam has repeated asserted its sovereignty over the Paracel Islands, which it calls Hoang Sa. Its consistent stance is that all activities concerning the islands without Vietnams permission is a violation of Vietnams sovereignty and holds no value. The Pentagon said China's actions "further destabilize the situation" in the sea, violate its commitments under the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to avoid activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, and call into question its motivations with ongoing negotiations for a Code of Conduct with ASEAN. This military exercise is the latest in a long string of China's actions "to assert unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea," the U.S. statement said. The department said in July it had alerted China that it would continue to monitor the situation with the expectation that China will reduce its militarization and coercion of its neighbors in the sea. As China chose to escalate its exercise activities by firing ballistic missiles, it now urges all parties to exercise restraint and not undertake military activities that could threaten freedom of navigation and aggravate disputes in the sea. Earlier, a source close to the Chinese military said China launched two missiles, including an "aircraft-carrier killer," into the South China Sea on Wednesday morning, sending a clear warning to the United States, South China Morning Post reported. The missile launches came one day after China said a U.S. U-2 spy plane entered a no-fly zone without permission during a Chinese live-fire naval drill in the Bohai Sea off its north coast. Both missles were fired into an area between Hainan province and the Paracel Islands, the source said. On August 26, Vietnam requested China to cancel its naval exercises near the Paracels, adding it would complicate the East Sea situation. Hainan Maritime Safety Administration announced on August 23 the Chinese army would perform drills on southeastern Hainan Island and Vietnam's Paracel Islands from August 24 to 29. It is the second time China has performed illegal drills near Hoang Sa within the last two months. China seized Hoang Sa from South Vietnam by force in 1974, and has since illegally occupied the archipelago. Burma Myanmars Suu Kyi Pledges Full Support to Fight Rakhine COVID-19 Outbreak State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday. / State Counsellors Office Yangon Myanmars State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has pledged enough food supplies and financial support for Rakhine State, where more than 3 million people are under partial COVID-19 lockdown. In Fridays video conference with Rakhine State chief minister U Nyi Pu, the states health director Dr. Sai Win Zaw Hlaing and a volunteer Ko Saw Thaw Moe Eh, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi promised sufficient food supplies and financing. On Aug. 26, the union government placed the whole of Rakhine State under partial lockdown after nearly 100 COVID-19 cases were reported within 12 hours. Residents are instructed to stay at home while only essential shops are allowed to open. As of Friday morning, the state has seen 217 positive cases, nearly one-third of the countrys COVID-19 tally. The spike in cases came as Rakhine is reeling from fighting between government troops and the ethnic armed group, Arakan Army, in northern parts of the state and in neighboring Chin State. The armed clashes prompted tens of thousands to flee their homes to makeshift camps. U Nyi Pu said during the video conference that many feared food shortages as trade was blocked with other states and regions due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Rakhine State has spent more than 1 billion kyats (US$748,000) in fighting the spread of coronavirus in the state, said U Nyi Pu. He also asked the State Counselor for 1 billion kyats in emergency funding as the state has budgeted more than 85 million kyats ($640,000) to provide financial assistance to those living hand-to-mouth and to fund quarantine centers in the state. I dare say Rakhine will never face shortages. We will send food supplies, said Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. She also guaranteed enough financial assistance for the state. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi promised to provide quality personal protective equipment to volunteers at quarantine centers in Rakhine State in response to volunteer Saw Thaw Moe Eh from Yangons Insein Township, who is assisting at quarantine centers in the state capital, Sittwe. However, the lack of mobile internet access in Rakhines seven townships was not discussed during the video conference, despite heavy criticism within the state. Mobile internet is restricted to 2G in seven townships in response to the Arakan Army insurgency. The State Counselor pledged in a recent speech that there would be no discrimination on the basis of faith or ethnicity in the governments fight against COVID-19. Until Friday morning, Myanmar reported 231 COVID-19 transmissions between Aug. 16 to Aug. 28 with most of the cases in Rakhine State. The first domestically transmitted case in a month on Aug. 16 was a 26-year-old female employee at the CB Bank in Sittwe. As of Friday morning, 628 COVID-19 cases were reported in Myanmar, including six deaths and 349 recoveries. You may also like these stories: Myanmar to Jail Illegal Returnees Amid COVID-19 Surge Myanmars Rakhine State Under Partial Lockdown Amid COVID-19 Surge Myanmar Sets Out Re-entry Rules for Foreign Staff Twenty-one bitcoin mining farms, including those of Bitmain, Ebang and China Telecom in China's Inner Mongolia region, are set to face higher electricity prices after a local government crackdown. Inner Mongolia's Department of Industrial and Information Technology issued a notice to Inner Mongolia Power Group on Monday, saying that 21 bitcoin mining farms should be disqualified from getting discounted energy because they were disguising themselves as big data and cloud computing companies to get electricity benefits. As a result, electricity prices for these farms are likely to increase by 0.1 yuan, or $0.015, per kilowatt-hour (kWh), PoolIn CEO Kevin Pan told CoinDesk. The current electricity cost for mining farms in the region is reportedly around 0.260.28 yuan ($0.038 to $0.040) per kWh. The higher electricity prices, in turn, would result in higher operating costs for these mining farms. If a mining farm is running at a capacity of 10,000 kWh, that will reportedly result in an additional $3,360 operational cost per day. The real impact of this news, however, is yet to be seen on China's mining industry, Thomas Heller, former F2Pool executive and now COO of bitcoin mining firm HASHR8, told The Block. This is because "there are a number of large coal-powered mining farms in Inner Mongolia, and many more in other parts of China, such as Sichuan and Xinjiang." 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. Me at the base of the Eiffel Tower in Paris While watching television ... (What else is there to do during this pandemic quarantine? Well. If I wasn't a widow I would figure it out!) Anyway, I saw some great movies in the last few days. "First Wives Club" was one of them. BETTE MIDLER and GOLDIE HAWN were two of the stars and both are Jewish. Also, SARAH JESSICA PARKER is featured in that movie, (Another Jew.) Next, I saw "Foul Play," again with Goldie Hawn as one of the stars. The movie featured the music of Barry Alan Pincus throughout. You may know him better as BARRY MANILOW. (You guessed it! Another Jew.) Wait! I'm NOT done! Th... London teenager Nora Quoirin was approached by a stranger just one day before she vanished from a Malaysian rainforest resort, an inquest into her death has heard. The schoolgirl, 15, had been standing with her two younger siblings at Kuala Lumpur International Airport when they were approached by an unknown male on August 3. The man spoke to the children, who were unaccompanied at the time, for less than 30 seconds before walking away. The following morning Nora's parents reported her missing from their holiday villa at the Dusun Resort before her unclothed body was discovered on August 13. Nora Quoirin (pictured) was approached by a stranger a day before she vanished from the Malaysian rainforest resort, an inquest has heard On Thursday the inquest heard how Nora's father Sebastien had arrived at the airport with his three children after taking a flight from London. Nora's mother, Meabh, had flown in separately from Singapore after a business trip. Sebastien had left Nora, who had learning difficulties, with her two younger siblings - aged 12 and eight - for less then five minutes while he went to meet Meabh at the arrival gate. A female police office told the inquest that as Sebastien walked away, despite only taking around 30 steps, the siblings were approached by an unknown male. The schoolgirl, 15, had been standing with her two younger siblings at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (pictured) when they were approached by an unknown male on August 3 It is thought that they ignored his approaches after being warned previously by their parents 'not to speak to strangers'. But Assistant Superintendent Chong Mee Chyi told how after Nora went missing anonymous WhatsApp messages were sent to a family friend claiming that the family had been followed from the airport. Authorities quickly seized the CCTV footage to review the encounter. The female officer said: 'It showed the children arriving earlier accompanied by their father but they did not exit the arrival lounge shortly after 10.45am on August 3. 'The siblings were left unattended for less than five minutes and another camera captured the father welcoming the mother at the arrival gate a short distance away. 'Another camera showed an unidentified individual walking up to the children spending a couple of seconds with them.' A map shows the Dusun Resort near Seremban in Malaysia where Nora disappeared last year Parents Meabh and Sebastien (pictured calling for their daughter with a megaphone last year) demanded an inquest after arguing their daughter would not have wandered off She added: 'We investigated and the children told us the man whom they did not know said "hello" and wanted to know where they were from. 'He left after the children ignored him, as they were constantly trained not to entertain strangers.' Detectives reviewed the footage and asked Nora's siblings about the encounter but remain convinced that she wandered off of her own accord through a window which had a faulty lock. It comes after the inquest had previously heard that Nora's family asked Malaysian police to look into several leads on the missing girl provided by overseas psychics. One of the theories purported from the spiritual mediums claimed the 15-year-old was trapped in a van, a police officer told the Coroner's Court Thursday. The body of 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. Nora 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. While the authorities were looking for the missing girl, a friend of Nora's uncle received purported messages from relatives through WhatsApp, Chong Mee Chyi, Assistant Superintendent from Negri Sembilan Criminal Investigation Department's Sexual, Women and Child Investigations Division (D11), said before Coroner Maimoonah Aid. Chong, who testified as the fourth witness at the inquest, was the appointed liaison officer between the family and the police at the time of Nora's disappearance, according to Malay Mail. 'On August 8, 2019, I was on standby at The Dusun resort and the family informed me that they had received several instant messages from spiritual mediums said to be based overseas who were willing to provide their assistance,' Chong said. 'One of them, Dominic, who was a friend of Quoirin's uncle, then showed me the WhatsApp message he received from people claiming to have spiritual powers which I duly noted down and that he asked if we could look into the locations listed,' the officer added. Police officers searching for Nora in the jungle surrounding the Dusan Resort in August, 2019 The first of the three messages claimed that Nora was being followed by someone from the airport and that she was still alive. The second lead indicated that she was held nearby The Dusun resort as the girl was in fear of her life and in need of her mother. The last message said that the teenager was trapped in a van located at the south-western part of the jungle near The Dusun resort. All of the messages were subsequently submitted to the search-and-rescue operation control centre for further action, according to the liaison officer. A Malaysian coroner opened an inquest on August 24 into the death of the London teenager (stock image Seremban courthouse building) Chong said the authorities had conducted their follow-up before receiving the messages. The officer said she had gone to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on August 6, 2019, to obtain closed-circuit television footage of the family's arrival to probe for possible criminal elements. Nora 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. The inquest is scheduled to conclude on September 18. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Maruti Suzuki India on Friday announced partnership with Myles Automotive Technologies to expand its vehicle subscription service for individual customers under 'Maruti Suzuki Subscribe' brand in Hyderabad and Pune as a pilot project. In July this year, the company had tied up with ORIX Auto Infrastructure Services Ltd, a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation, Japan, to launch the subscription service as a pilot in Gurugram and Bengaluru. Through the partnership with Myles Automotive Technologies, customers will pay an all-inclusive monthly subscription charge starting at Rs 17,600 for Swift Lxi in Pune and Rs 18,350 in Hyderabad (including taxes) with no down payment, the company said in a statement. The subscription service offers many features such as zero-down payment, complete car maintenance, insurance, 24x7 roadside support and no resale risk. Myles will take care of vehicle maintenance, insurance coverage and road side assistance through Maruti Suzuki's dealer channel. "Once the subscription tenure is over, the customer can also avail buyback option," it added. Under the Maruti Suzuki Subscribe, customers can choose to subscribe a new Swift, Dzire, Vitara Brezza and Ertiga from Maruti Suzuki ARENA and a new Baleno, Ciaz and XL6 from NEXA for a period of 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 and 48 months, the company said. "In the changed business dynamics, many customers want to shift from public transport and shared mobility solutions to personal cars. They want mobility solutions that are easy on pocket and do not involve long-term financial commitments. Maruti Suzuki Subscribe addresses these changing needs of customers," Maruti Suzuki India Executive Director (Marketing and Sales) Shashank Srivastava said. He further said, "we are confident that our new offering will introduce many new customers to the brand. It will also be embraced by the millennial, who frequently look at upgrading to the latest cars with flexible tenure options as low as 12 months." Myles Automotive Technologies Founder & CEO Sakshi Vij said "we have always believed in the power of partnership in fulfilling our mission of easier vehicle ownership solutions in the Indian market." Karnataka is in talks with the Centre to explore the possibility of obtaining 3,200 acres of land from Bharat Gold Mines Ltd, in Kolar Gold Fields, to set up an industrial park in Kolar, said states large and medium scale industries minister Jagadish Shettar. BGML is a government of India enterprise and at one time was the largest gold producer in the famed Kolar Gold Fields but has been inoperational as the gold deposits in Kolar had become unremunerative to extract after nearly a century of operations. Shettar said he had held talks with Union minister for mines Pralhad Joshi in this regard. We held talks with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi to obtain 3,200 acres of unused land at Bharat Gold Mines Ltd to set up an Industrial park in Kolar. The availability of the land will be known in six months after a survey is undertaken by the mines and geology department to assess the presence of any natural resources. After the survey, if the land parcel does not possess any natural resources, then Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) shall obtain the land from the ministry with necessary approvals to set up an Industrial park. The land, he said, is strategically located at 90kms from the Bengaluru airport, 260 km from Chennai Port, 314 km from Krishnapatnam port. The state minister further said that the New Industrial Policy 2020-2025 launched recently would help to build a prosperous Karnataka and create large-scale employment opportunities. This industrial policy is very forward-looking and brings with it several incentives and regulatory reforms such as land access and labour market regulation, he said. Promoting economic and industrial development of the state, he said, has always been a top priority for the government. Amid Covid-19 pandemic and months of stringent lockdown, Karnataka has attracted investments worth 31,676 crore in the last five months which is expected to generate 65,459 direct employment opportunities, said Shettar. Hurghada Museum has recently opened and Sharm El-Sheikh Museum is set to be opened this year Twenty items from the Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh exhibitions 166 pieces will be put on display at Hurghada Museum and Sharm El-Sheikh Museum. The exhibition has been touring abroad for two years. Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and the precautionary measures taken in London, the third leg of the touring exhibition was closed in March, 44 days before it was planned to end. Although the Egyptian cabinet has approved compensation for the exhibitions organisers for the 44-day closure and to extend the display period of the exhibition to July and August, the precautionary measures applied in London against the coronavirus remained an obstacle to its resumption. Therefore, said Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), the board of directors of the SCA decided the exhibition should return to Egypt, and the artefacts arrived on Friday morning. The board has also decided to select 20 items to be exhibited temporarily in Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh museums in an attempt to promote both museums and cities, before being transported to their permanent display at the Grand Egyptian Museum, which is planned to open in 2021. Moamen Othman, head of the ministrys Museum Sector, said that statue of Ka, the consort of King Tutankhamun, will be the masterpiece of Sharm El-Sheikh Museum and the gilded wooden statue of god Ptah will be the masterpiece of Hurghada Museum. Hurghada Museum has recently opened and Sharm El-Sheikh Museum is set to be opened this year. Search Keywords: Short link: The federal government says it will no longer tolerate the incessant harassment of its citizens in Ghana and the progressive acts of hostility towards the country by Ghanaian authorities. In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, the government said it was urgently considering a number of options aimed at ameliorating the situation. The statement signed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the government had been documenting the acts of hostility towards its people and authorities. The minister listed such hostilities to include the seizure of the Nigerian Missions property located at No. 10, Barnes Road, Accra, which the Nigerian Government had used as diplomatic premises for almost 50 years. He said the government considered the action as a serious breach of the Vienna Convention. Mr Mohammed added that the demolition of the Nigerian Missions property located at No. 19/21 Julius Nyerere Street, East Ridge, Accra, was another serious breach of the Vienna Convention. He said the government also frowned at the aggressive and incessant deportation of Nigerians from Ghana, noting that between January 2018 and February 2019, no fewer than 825 Nigerians were deported from Ghana. Mr Mohammed noted that more than 300 Nigerian shops were locked for four months in Kumasi in 2018, while over 600 Nigerian shops were locked in 2019, and currently, over 250 Nigerian shops had been locked. Residency Permit requirements for which the Ghana Immigration Service has placed huge fees, (are) far higher than the fees charged by the Nigerian Immigration Service, he said. These include the compulsory Non-citizen ID card (120 U.S. dollars, and 60 U.S. dollars for yearly renewal), Medical examinations, including for Covid-19 which is newly-introduced (about 120 U.S. dollars), and payment for residency permit (400 U.S. dollars compared to the N7,000 being paid by Ghanaians for residency card in Nigeria). The minister also identified outrageous stipulations in the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act. When the Act was initially promulgated in 1994, a foreigner was required to invest at least 300 000 U.S. dollars by way of equity capital and also employ 10 Ghanaians. This Act has now been amended twice, with the 2018 GIPC Act raising the minimum capital base for foreign-owned businesses to one million U.S. dollars. Though targeted at foreigners, it seems GIPCs definition of foreigners is Nigerians. The GIPC Act also negates the ECOWAS Protocol. The minister said the Federal Government frowned at the media war against Nigerians in Ghana. He raised the alarm that the negative reportage of issues concerning Nigerians resident in Ghana by the Ghanaian media was fuelling an emerging xenophobic attitude towards Nigerian traders and Nigerians in general. The immediate fallout is the incessant harassment and arrest of Nigerian traders and closure of their shops. Harsh and openly-biased judicial trial and pronouncement of discriminately-long jail terms for convicted Nigerians. There are currently more than 200 Nigerians in the Nsawam Maximum prison in Ghana alone, he said. Mr Mohammed said the government would like to put on record the fact that even though more than one million Ghanaians are resident in Nigeria, they are not being subjected to the kind of hostility being meted out to Nigerians in Ghana. He added that although the main reason given for the seizure of Federal Government property at No. 10, Barnes Road in Accra was the non-renewal of lease after expiration, the Ghanaian authorities did not give Nigeria the right of first refusal or the notice to renew the lease. By contrast, the lease on some of the properties occupied by the Ghanaian Mission in Nigeria has long expired, yet such properties have not been seized. Nigeria has time after time demonstrated its fidelity to the long cordial relations with Ghana. Advertisements But indications, especially in recent times, are that Nigerias stance is now being taken for granted and its citizens being made targets of harassment and objects of ridicule. This will no longer be tolerated under any guise, he said. According to Mr Mohammed, the government is appealing to its citizens resident in Ghana to remain law-abiding and avoid engaging in self-help, in spite of their ordeal. (NAN) Read the full statement by the minister below: NIGERIA WARNS GHANA, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH PRESS RELEASE FROM MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, ABUJA Nigeria Will No Longer Tolerate Harassment of Its Citizens in Ghana FG The Nigerian Government is deeply concerned by the incessant harassment of its citizens in Ghana and the progressive acts of hostility towards the country by Ghanaian authorities, and will no longer tolerate such. In this regard, the Federal Government is urgently considering a number of options aimed at ameliorating the situation. The Federal Government has been documenting the acts of hostility towards Nigeria and Nigerians by the Ghanaian authorities. These include: Seizure of the Nigerian Missions property located at No. 10, Barnes Road, Accra, which the Nigerian Government has used as diplomatic premises for almost 50 years. This action is a serious breach of the Vienna Convention. Demolition of the Nigerian Missions property located at No. 19/21 Julius Nyerere Street, East Ridge, Accra, another serious breach of the Vienna Convention. Aggressive and incessant deportation of Nigerians from Ghana. Between Jan. 2018 and Feb. 2019, 825 Nigerians were deported from Ghana. Closure of shops belonging to Nigerians. Over 300 Nigerians shops were locked for four months in Kumasi in 2018; over 600 Nigerian shops were locked in 2019 and, currently, over 250 Nigerians shops have been locked. Residency Permit requirements, for which the Ghana Immigration Service has placed huge fees, far higher than the fees charged by the Nigerian Immigration Service. These include the compulsory Non-citizen ID card (US$120, and US$60 for yearly renewal); Medical examinations, including for Covid-19 which is newly-introduced (about US$120), and payment for residency permit (US$400 compared to the N7,000 being paid by Ghanaians for residency card in Nigeria). Outrageous stipulations in the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act. When the Act was initially promulgated in 1994, a foreigner is required to invest at least US$300,000 by way of equity capital and also employ 10 Ghanaians. This Act has now been amended twice, with the 2018 GIPC Act raising the minimum capital base for foreign-owned businesses to US$1m. Though targeted at foreigners, it seems GIPCs definition of foreigners is Nigerians. The GIPC Act also negates the ECOWAS Protocol. Media war against Nigerians in Ghana. The negative reportage of issues concerning Nigerians resident in Ghana by the Ghanaian media is fuelling an emerging xenophobic attitude towards Nigerian traders and Nigerians in general. The immediate fallout is the incessant harassment and arrest of Nigerian traders and closure of their shops. Harsh and openly-biased judicial trial and pronouncement of indiscriminately-long jail terms for convicted Nigerians. There are currently over 200 Nigerians in the Nsawam Maximum prison in Ghana alone. The Federal Government will like to put on record the fact that even though over 1 million Ghanaians are resident in Nigeria, they are not being subjected to the kind of hostility being meted out to Nigerians in Ghana. Also, Even though the main reason given for the seizure of Federal Government property at No. 10, Barnes Road in Accra is the non-renewal of lease after expiration, the Ghanaian authorities did not give Nigeria the right of first refusal or the notice to renew the lease. By contrast, the lease on some of the properties occupied by the Ghanaian Mission in Nigeria has long expired, yet such properties have not been seized. Nigeria has time after time demonstrated its fidelity to the long cordial relations with Ghana. But indications, especially in recent times, are that Nigerias stance is now being taken for granted and its citizens being made targets of harassment and objects of ridicule. This will no longer be tolerated under any guise. In the meantime, the Federal Government wishes to appeal to its citizens resident in Ghana to remain law abiding and avoid engaging in self help, despite their ordeal. Alhaji Lai Mohammed Honourable Minister of Information and Culture Abuja 28 Aug. 2020 In a bid to revive the electoral fortunes of Congress party in Bihar, former party chief Rahul Gandhi will address a virtual rally to address to the party cadres and people in Bihar. Apprising the media of the partys preparedness for the upcoming Bihar assembly election, election in-charge and national secretary Ajay Kapoor said that from September 1 to 21, Congress will conduct 100 virtual rallies throughout the state. Each rally will be addressed by two national leaders, five state leaders and 10 district-level leaders who will talk about peoples cause and how the Congress would provide redressal of public issues. To mobilise the masses for this program, a missed call campaign will also be launched, he added. On campaign strategy, he said that the party has also planned a virtual rally of Rahul Gandhi, which will reach more than 5 lakh people. Taking a jibe at the current NDA government in the state, Kapoor alleged that the government had failed on every front whether it is Covid-19 or recent floods. Kapoor said that the people of Bihar wanted change and were looking towards Congress for a viable and trusted alternative. Party workers and leaders will fight for the people with full strength to recreate the old aura of the party in the state, he added. On the question of seat distribution in the grand alliance, he said that it was up to the high command to decide on such matters. It will be amicably done in the atmosphere of mutual respect, he added. Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) campaign committee chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh also said that an intensive campaign would be launched across the state to bolster the partys electoral prospects for the next assembly elections. With the announcement of the election likely in early September, the seat-sharing talks in the grand alliance will be crucial due to several constituents, including the likely induction of the Left parties. Independence is not a solution for Hong Kong, but the national security law imposed on Hong Kong two months ago is a particular concern that Britain has about the citys future, said Barbara Woodward, the outgoing U.K. ambassador in China. Its important to emphasize the areas where the U.K. and China agree on Hong Kong, Woodward said in response to questions about Hong Kong at her last press conference for Chinese media last week. First, we agree that we handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997. Second, we agree that independence is not a solution for Hong Kong. Third, we agree that one country, two systems is a good system of government for Hong Kong. Despite the number of areas of agreement in regard to Hong Kong, there are two things in particular that Britain has concerns about, Woodward said. Its top concern is that the national security law may have undermined the high degree of autonomy promised under the Sino-British Joint Declaration signed in 1984, which is seen as an international treaty. In addition, Britain is concerned that the implementation of the new law may interfere with multiple elements of freedom for Hong Kong, including academic freedom, press freedom and freedom for elections. At the end of June, the Chinese government passed and enacted national security legislation for Hong Kong, which has been embroiled in about a year of social unrest. The swift passage of the legislation came a day ahead of the 23rd anniversary of the U.K.s handover of Hong Kong to China on July 1, 1997, and was put into effect immediately. In late July, the British government released a detailed plan saying people in Hong Kong with British National Overseas status would be granted a special path to obtain U.K. citizenship starting in 2021, as part of the nations response to Chinas decision to impose a national security law on Hong Kong. Chinas foreign ministry opposed such a policy as interfering in domestic affairs, and a week later announced that it had suspended Hong Kongs extradition and mutual legal assistance treaties with Britain, Australia and Canada in a retaliation for the three countries decisions to halt extraditions to the special administrative region. Faced with the disputes between China and the U.K. over Hong Kong, Woodward said it is vital to continue working to build up trust and understanding, as she was particularly struck by remarks that the Chinese ambassador to the U.K., Liu Xiaoming, made about the deficit in trust and understanding in a recent interview with Global Times, a state-run Chinese newspaper. However, Liu also told the Global Times that the U.K. no longer has any sovereignty, jurisdiction or right of supervision" over Hong Kong, and the U.K. should not use the Sino-British Joint Declaration as an excuse to make irresponsible remarks about Hong Kong and interfere in Chinas internal affairs. The areas where the two nations agree on Hong Kong should be the basis for continued discussions about the areas where China and the U.K. disagree, Woodward concluded. Woodward will finish her five-year term as British Ambassador to China by the end of this month before heading to New York to be the new U.K. Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Caroline Elizabeth Wilson, who headed the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong from 2012 to 2016, will take over for Woodward leading the U.K.s Embassy in Beijing next month. Contact reporter Isabelle Li (liyi@caixin.com) and editor Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com) Download our app to receive breaking news alerts and read the news on the go. Two Kenosha County men were killed and another was wounded Tuesday night in a shooting during civil unrest over the shooting of Jacob Blake. Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old self-described militia member from Illinois, has been charged with homicide. He faces a first-degree intentional homicide charge and five other charges. Under Wisconsin law, Rittenhouse is charged as an adult, and he would face life in prison if convicted. Charges filed Thursday in Kenosha County Court in a complaint detail how Rittenhouse used an AR-15-style rifle to shoot and kill Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and injure Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, shortly before midnight along Sheridan Road, where protesters went after being expelled from Civic Center Park during clashes with law enforcement. Kenosha shooting, DC protest: Kyle Rittenhouse to appear in court as thousands descend on Washington Here is what we know about the victims: Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake Friends described Huber as a happy and laid-back guy who loved to skateboard. "He was always a really sweet person. Always had a smile on his face," said Max Seebeck, who grew up skateboarding with Huber in Kenosha. Anthony Huber Tim Kramer, 26, said he had known Huber since they were students at Lincoln Middle School in Kenosha. "He was always really friendly. He got along with everybody. He was a class-clown-type of guy. He loved skateboarding. It's been a big part of his life." Kramer said he had not seen Huber in recent years but remembered him as having a gentle nature. One Facebook account said Huber was running at Kyle Rittenhouse, the teen accused in the killings, with his skateboard when he was shot. "I heard he was trying to save somebody from being shot," Seebeck said. The criminal complaint against Rittenhouse says Huber approached Rittenhouse, who was on the ground. Huber had a skateboard in his right hand and reached for the teen's gun with his other hand. Story continues Rittenhouse fired one round, hitting Huber in the chest. Huber staggered a few steps and then collapsed to the ground. Fellow skateboarders gathered at a Kenosha skate park in his honor Wednesday, but they declined to speak for this article. Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha According to social media posts from friends and family, Rosenbaum is a Texas native. He moved to Kenosha within the last year. Rosenbaum was shot in the head, a friend said. He leaves behind a fiancee and a young daughter. "May you forever be with the angels and rest easy bro. I love you!" his sister wrote on Facebook. The criminal complaint says Rosenbaum was unarmed. Rittenhouse and Rosenbaum ended up in a parking lot, with the reporter close behind them. The reporter said Rittenhouse reached a car and had his gun in a "low ready position," with the gun angled down, before raising it. Hearing a gunshot, the reporter dove to the pavement. A video cited in the criminal complaint captured a loud bang, presumably the first gunshot, then a man shouting an expletive. Rosenbaum can be seen appearing to approach Rittenhouse. As Rosenbaum gets closer, four more loud bangs ring out and he falls to the ground. The reporter told police Rosenbaum tried to grab Rittenhouse's gun. Rittenhouse pulled the rifle away, then raised it, and as the two came together, Rittenhouse fired a second time. A visual timeline: Violence in Kenosha after police shooting of Jacob Blake Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, of West Allis Grosskreutz was shot in the arm and is expected to survive. Grosskreutz was in Kenosha on Tuesday with the Milwaukee-based social justice group the People's Revolution Movement, spokeswoman Bethany Crevensten said. She said Grosskreutz was recuperating in a local hospital and was not available to speak. She said the entire group of about 25 protesters was attacked Tuesday. She said their tires were slashed and Kenosha officials towed them, so owners were left stranded in the city. Grosskreutz had volunteered as a medic at Black Lives Matter protests across Milwaukee this summer, according to WTMJ-TV. The criminal complaint says Rittenhouse sat up and pointed his gun at Grosskreutz, who had started to approach him. Grosskreutz froze and took a step back, putting his hands in the air. Then, Grosskreutz moved toward Rittenhouse, who aimed his rifle and fired one shot, hitting Grosskreutz in the arm. Grosskreutz appeared "to be holding a handgun in his right hand when he was shot," the complaint says. Grosskreutz is a senior at Northland College in Ashland and has an anticipated graduation date of December 2020, according to the registrars office at the college. Contributing: Ashley Luthern This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kyle Rittenhouse shooting in Kenosha: What we know about the victims Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will formally induct five Rafale fighter aircraft into the Indian Air Force on September 10. The ceremony would be held at the Ambala air base. French defence minister Florence Parly would also be invited for the event. The induction ceremony would take place after Rajnath Singh returns from Russia where he is scheduled to attend the meeting of defence ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member countries from September 4 to 6. "The Rafale aircraft induction ceremony would be held on September 10 with the defence minister as the chief guest. The French defence minister is also being sent an invite to attend the event to mark the strategic friendship between India and France," sources said told news agency ANI. On July 29, five Rafale aircraft arrived in India. Within 24 hours of touch down, the IAF started extensive training sessions. Part of the IAF's 17 Golden Arrows squadron, the Rafale jets have already flown over Ladakh and have been familiarising with terrain of different parts of the country. The Rafales are equipped with the air-to-air Meteor, air to ground SCALP and Hammer missiles. Under the largest-ever defence deal, India placed an order for 36 Rafales worth over Rs 60,000 crore with French firm Dassault Aviation. Majority of the payments have already been made. The deal was signed in September 2016 with Manohar Parrikar as defence minister. Also read: Rafale in India: Rajnath Singh welcomes Rafales jets, says India can deter any threat now Also read: India's Rafale vs Pakistan's JF-17, F-16 vs China's J-20: Which one is better? Dr. Scott Bauer normally treats veterans at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center. When the internist heard about an opportunity to volunteer at San Quentin State Prison during the coronavirus outbreak, he raised his hand. San Quentin, a Bay Area-based prison for men and the oldest institution of its kind in California, has experienced a staggering Covid-19 outbreak in recent months. About two-thirds of its inmates have tested positive for the coronavirus and 25 people have died. Now, about two months after the outbreak took off, infections are starting to slow. Internal prison data shows that there are only 37 confirmed active cases of the virus and only three positive tests within the past two weeks. While San Quentin and other prisons may have seen the worst of the outbreak, it's not over for the incarcerated men and staff. For some patients, it's been months since they first tested positive. And the road to recovery has been stilted and slow. Bauer had never been to a prison. During his first visit in mid-July, he was accompanied by a correctional officer while seeing inmates on death row and in the death-row medical clinic. In other blocks, he could move around more freely. Many of the patients reminded him of the veterans he treats, as they tend to be older and have comorbidities, meaning they have other medical conditions that might put them at a higher risk of dying if they catch Covid-19. Earlier in the summer, several doctors from Amend, a group at UCSF and the University of California, Berkeley that's working to transform correctional culture, wrote an urgent memo about vulnerabilities at San Quentin. What those doctors saw alarmed them. That memo called for more resources on the ground and a plan to address overcrowding to stem the outbreak. "We saw incredibly rapid transmission there," Dr. David Sears, a director of health-care quality at Amend, said in an interview in July. The group recommended some immediate reforms, including better ventilation, more quarantine spaces, and increased testing with a faster turnaround. "The urgent resources San Quentin requires range from human capital to environmental risk reduction and rapid testing," the group wrote in the June 15 memo. "Failure to meet these urgent needs will have dire implications for the health of people incarcerated at San Quentin, custody, staff, and the healthcare capacity of Bay Area hospitals." Some of the measures appeared to have made an impact, including the release of about 1,000 inmates to reduce overcrowding. The prison also increased its testing program. But the changes weren't made in time to stop the virus from spreading quickly, eventually infecting more than 2,000 people. Bauer has now worked about a dozen shifts at the prison where he usually gets in at 8 a.m. and leaves at 5 p.m. A big part of the job involves evaluating those who were treated in community settings, such as local hospitals, and then returned to San Quentin after their symptoms alleviated. Many Covid-19 patients outside of San Quentin have told him they're still experiencing fatigue, muscle aches, shortness of breath and other symptoms for months after recovering from the coronavirus. Many patients still have a persistent cough, lingering fatigue and a limited ability to exercise weeks after testing positive. Recently, Bauer said, San Quentin has been opening up access to the yards. He has also seen evidence of cognitive impairments, developmental delays, depression, anxiety and some evidence of post-traumatic stress disorder from patients who were put on a ventilator. For volunteers who have been there only a few months, it's hard to say how much of that stems from Covid-19 and how much was present before the infection. "There's a very robust mental health system at the prison and I know everyone has been working very hard," he said. For Bauer, the experience has been an "eye opener" because it has helped him understand more broadly how countries may struggle to cope with large volumes of people who are still experiencing symptoms in the long run, particularly those with limited resources. He suspects that it might weigh on health systems and providers outside of the correctional facilities. One recommendation involves bringing in pulmonologists, who specialize in treating lung conditions, at places like San Quentin and share best practices for post-Covid-19 care. Outside of prisons, hospitals are setting up specialized clinics for those who are still struggling. Doctors across the country are still learning why certain people continue to experience symptoms for so long, while others bounce back more quickly. "More direct access to people with expertise in managing symptoms would be helpful," said Bauer. Chennai: Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officials at the Chennai International airport have arrested a gold smuggler, who flew in from Sharjah, and the receiver who was meant to collect the gold from him. 1.16 Kg gold of 24K purity, worth Rs 64 lakh (87,348USD) was seized under the Customs Act 1962. Based on intelligence, a special alert was maintained to nab the smuggler who was expected to arrive on an Air India Express flight from Sharjah. On observing a passenger who appeared to be hurriedly rushing towards the exit with a carton box, officials intercepted the individual and checked his belongings. The carton box was found to contain clothes, household items and a toolkit. However, the toolkit contained an Electric wrench, which was found to be unusually heavy. On dismantling the machine, a black cylindrical piece of metal was found concealed inside. On further examination, it was confirmed that the metal cylinder was painted in black, but made of pure 24K gold and it weighed 1.16kg. The passenger who carried it was identified as Jahir Hussain, (54) a native of Thiruvarur in Tamil Nadu. He had stated that he was handed over the tool kit by an unknown person at the Sharjah airport, with instructions to hand it over after reaching his quarantine facility, which is not far from the airport. In a swift operation after getting his swab test done, an AIU team boarded the bus (to the quarantine facility) along with the passenger, with another team following the bus. On reaching the hotel, the passenger contacted the receiver, in order to proceed with the handover. At the time of handover, the receiver and smuggler were arrested. The receiver was identified as Mohammad Asif (33), a Chennai-resident. It is routine to catch the carriers by the time they exit the airport or sometimes even outside the airport. But this is a first-of-its-kind case where we have nabbed the carrier and the receiver, by following the individual till the quarantine hotel," said Rajan Chaudhary, Commissioner Customs. NCB has asked for details from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials that may have surfaced during their investigation in the case related to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The NCB had earlier this week registered a case against actor Rhea Chakraborty and others in connection with Rajput's death case under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, including Section 27. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has asked for details from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials that may have surfaced during their investigation in the case related to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, officials said here on Friday. According to NCB officials, the NCB team probing the narcotics case registered in the matter has sought more details from the ED in the matter. Notably, the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are also probing the case. The NCB had earlier this week registered a case against actor Rhea Chakraborty and others in connection with Rajputs death case under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, including Section 27, which specifies punishment for consumption of any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance and Section 29, which provides for punishment in case of abetment and criminal conspiracy. Also Read: Row over JEE NEET 2020: Review petition filed in SC, Congress-led Opposition holds nationwide protests The ED had on July 31 registered an Enforcement Case Information Report in the late actors death case after a First Information Report (FIR) was filed by Rajputs father KK Singh against actor Rhea Chakraborty in Bihar on July 28. On August 19, the Supreme Court had asked the CBI to investigate the case related to the actors death, while holding that the FIR registered in Patna was legitimate. The agency has registered an FIR against Chakraborty and others in connection with the actors death after the Centre accepted Bihar governments recommendation to transfer the probe in the matter from Patna. Rajput was found dead at his residence on June 14. (ANI) Also Read: Sushant Singh Rajput death case LIVE news updates: NewsX accesses CBIs line of questioning for Rhea Chakraborty Thousands of people fail the Australian citizenship test each year but the federal government is about to make it even harder. Out of the 146,717 people who sat for the test between 2019 and April 30 2020, more than 15 per cent failed, according to Peak Migration. The test currently includes questions on Australian history and the way the government works. But it will now be revised to include subjects based on Australian values with questions like, 'Is it acceptable to strike your spouse?' and 'Is it okay to prohibit girls from education?' Between January and November 2018, 4807 people failed the multiple choice, 20-question test, another 1213 were unable to pass three times. Pictured: Newcastle citizenship ceremony January 2020 The federal government will update the test with questions based on Australia's values - Is it acceptable to strike your spouse? Is it okay to prohibit girls from education? Pictured: stock image of new Australian citizen receiving certificate Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge told The Courier Mail, Australian citizenship is a privilege and a responsibility. EXAMPLE OF CURRENT AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP QUESTIONS What do we remember on Anzac Day? What are the colours of the Australian Aboriginal Flag? Which official symbol of Australia identifies Commonwealth property? What happened in Australia on 1 January 1901? What is the name of the legal document that sets out the rules for the government of Australia? What is a referendum? Which arm of government has the power to interpret and apply laws? Advertisement 'It should be granted to those who support our values, respect our laws, and want to contribute to Australias future,' he said. Migrants will be 'strongly encouraged' to take English classes under the new plan but it will not be mandatory. The former Turnbull Government tried to introduce a values test in 2017 along with a university-level English language test but it was widely criticised and never implemented. The controversial plan would have required hopeful citizens to reside in Australia for four years as permanent residents and prove they had integrated into their local community. Under the current system, new citizens are entitled to 510 free hours of English lessons at a cost of $1billion to taxpayers. Mr Tudge says the government plans to increase those hours to encourage people to learn the language. 'Without English language skills, migrants are less likely to get a job, less likely to integrate, and less likely to participate in our democracy,' said Mr Tudge. 'We should ensure that those who come here and those who want to settle here clearly understand, and are willing to commit to, the shared common values that unite us all as Australians.' The government has not revealed the specific 'values' questions but they are expected to make up part of the multiple choice questionnaire which currently includes topics like: what are the colours of the Australian Aboriginal flag? What is the name of the legal document that sets out the rules for the government of Australia? What do we remember on Anzac Day? The current pass mark for the test is 75 per cent, with prospective Australian's only required to answer 15 questions correctly. No dates have been announced for the new citizenship test but the acting minister for immigration is expected to reveal more details soon. 'The stronger focus on Australian values in citizenship testing will be an important part of helping protect our social cohesion into the future,' said Mr Tudge. Tunisian Prime Minister-designate Hichem Mechichi confirmed Thursday that he "welcomes any initiatives that contribute to the success of the new government mission." At a press conference held in Tunis, following his meeting with members of his proposed cabinet, Mechichi reassured that "he will do everything possible to gain the confidence of parliament during the plenary session scheduled for Sept. 1." Mechichi affirmed his personal commitment to work and interact positively with all political parties and parliamentary groups. "The new government will be a link between all political actors and will set up a mechanism for the execution of the programs of the parties which serve the interest of the country," said Mechichi. Mechichi announced on Monday night the lineup of his proposed government. The new cabinet is composed of 28 members, including 25 ministers and three secretaries of state. Search Keywords: Short link: Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 17:37:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's presidential Blue House on Friday expressed regret at Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's abrupt announcement of resignation. Blue House spokesman Kang Min-seok said in a statement that the South Korean government feels regrettable for Prime Minister Abe to abruptly announce his resignation. The statement said Abe, who left behind meaningful achievements as Japan's longest-serving prime minister, had played many roles in developing the South Korea-Japan relations for long. It hoped that Abe recover soon, vowing to continue cooperation with a new Japanese prime minister, who will be elected, and Japan's new cabinet to enhance the friendly, cooperative relations between Seoul and Tokyo. Abe said at a press conference earlier in the day that he will step down from his post due to health concerns. The Japanese leader noted that he needs to be treated for a flare-up of his intestinal disease that led his first one-year stint to end abruptly in 2007. Enditem Americas peaceful transition of power every four or eight years is a hallmark of our democracy and the envy of people striving for freedom from totalitarian regimes around the globe. For more than two centuries, each of our presidents has passed authority to the next in the manner stipulated by the Constitution. Whatever the outcome of the fall election, we must work together to make sure that it truly reflects the will of the people. It starts at the ballot box. We are fortunate that, in this country, were given multiple avenues to vote: in person on Election Day, early or by mail. But it doesnt stop there. We also have a civic duty to participate in making the election orderly and fair. In the COVID-19 world of 2020, that requires more from all of us who are able. Critically, we are giving the staff at the George W. Bush Presidential Center the full day off Nov. 3 and encouraging all our employees to find a way to fulfill their civic duty. We believe a job should never stand in the way of voting or empowering others to do so. Were not alone. Companies including Coca-Cola, JPMorgan Chase, Best Buy and the Gap have announced that theyre giving workers time off to vote or wont schedule meetings on Election Day. We challenge more employers across the nation to follow our lead and treat Election Day as a holiday. But we can do more to support our democracy on this important day. In addition to casting their own ballots, our employees will be encouraged to train to be poll workers, volunteer to open mail-in ballots, provide child care so others can go to the polls, drive elderly people to their precincts, help new Americans decipher the voting process or find other proactive ways to encourage participation. As a team that works on democracy issues at the Bush center, its important that we practice what we preach. And the two of us will lead by example by volunteering to be election workers in Dallas. Because most poll workers historically are over 61, and older adults are at higher risk from the coronavirus, election officials across the country are scrambling to recruit new, younger poll workers. Theres a critical need for workers before and on Election Day, according to the independent, bipartisan U.S. Election Assistance Commission. More than 600,000 workers were required at over 200,000 polling places nationwide during the 2018 general election, according to an EAC survey, which also revealed that recruiting was very difficult or somewhat difficult then. And that was during a midterm election, not a presidential election, and before the pandemic made in-person voting a concern. Closer to home, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said before the July 14 runoff that some poll workers were driven away by inconsistent use of masks by voters. The Bexar County Elections Department is seeking registered voters to serve as presiding election judges, alternate election judges and election clerks for an hourly wage as well as lining up volunteers for other assignments. Dallas County election officials have a similar need for people to serve. Its everyones responsibility to ensure all can vote. At a time when many Americans think their votes dont count, its critical that we unite to make sure they do. We challenge every secretary of state and election official across the country to verify that their systems are working right now for early voting, mail-in voting and in-person voting on Election Day. Act now to confirm machines are operating, contingency plans are in place and enough workers are signed up. And we challenge our fellow citizens to make an active contribution Nov. 3 and reinforce what an awesome privilege it is to live in a democracy where we are free to select our leaders. As President George W. Bush said after the 2008 election, no matter how they cast their ballots, large numbers of citizens voting across the country showed a watching world the vitality of Americas democracy and the strides we have made toward a more perfect union. Lets do it again. Kenneth A. Hersh is president and chief executive officer of the George W. Bush Presidential Center. Holly Kuzmich is executive director of the George W. Bush Institute. A saltwater crocodile measuring 3.3 metres has been pulled from a trap at a popular tourist spot in the Northern Territory - prompting a warning for swimmers to be 'croc wise' in the water. Park rangers found the killer reptile in a trap in the Katherine River, about 55km downstream of the town of Katherine, on Wednesday. The catch comes as large crowds have been spotted visiting local reserves. A saltwater crocodile measuring 3.3 metres (pictured) has been caught prowling a popular tourist spot in the Northern Territory Park rangers found the dangerous animal in a trap 55 kilometres downstream of Katherine earlier this week (stock image of the Katherine River) Most visitors are believed to be locals taking advantage of the state government's tourism voucher scheme. The campaign was brought in to promote local tourism while the state's borders remain closed because of COVID-19. Locals can claim $200 off their tour or accommodation while on holiday. Senior NT Parks wildlife ranger John Burke warned intrastate travellers needed to remain wary of saltwater crocodiles. He said a poor wet season had led to low flow in rivers and raised the risk of encountering one of the deadly predators, Katherine Times reported. 'Crocodiles can be found in any waterway in the Top End region and you should always be Crocwise,' Mr Burke said. 'Never be complacent around the water and only swim in designated swimming areas or pools.' The warning comes after a man was photographed beating croc-infested waters with a stick in an attempt to lure out one of the predators. South Australian tourists Campbell and Cheryl Brodie were horrified to see the man so close to the animals while they visited the notorious Cahills Crossing at Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory earlier this month. The couple spotted at least a dozen crocodiles lurking in the water and were bracing themselves for the man to be taken. The warning comes after a man was photographed beating croc-infested waters with a stick in an attempt to lure one of the predators Cahills Crossing - often used by tourists - is notorious for having large numbers of crocodiles The couple repeatedly told him to stay back but he ignored their warnings and went on to take a selfie. The saltwater crocodile is regarded as one of the deadliest animals in the country with an estimated 150,000 living in the Top End. A male crocodile can grow up to six metres in length while a female can measure as long as three metres. The crushing power of their jaws makes them a formidable beast in the wild. They have the ability to apply 5,000 pounds of pressure per square inch with their jaw - humans can only apply 100 pounds per square inch. Despite the incredibly strong bite, crocodiles have little 'opening strength' and their mouths can be kept shut with a simple band. Saltwater crocodiles are agile and can swim at speeds up to 32kmh. Ham radio ISS contact in UK press The UK newspaper the Daily Mail featured an article about the amateur radio contact between Canadian students and ISS astronaut Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR The newspaper reports: A group of Canadian students used ham radio technology to have a once-in-a-lifetime conversation with a crew member aboard the International Space Station Young members of the Airdrie Space Science Club in Alberta connected with NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy [KF5KDR], who was conducting experiments aboard the ISS some 240 miles above Earth's surface. Brian Jackson [VE6JBJ], a teacher at CW Perry Middle School, started the club to inspire children to learn more about astronomy. Launched in 2000, the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program connects students like his with space station crew via amateur radio communications. Since the program debuted, it's connected more than 250,000 students in 57 countries to astronauts on the ISS. Read the full story at https://dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8666705/NASA-astronaut-Chris-Cassidy-ISS-receives-call-Canadian-students-using-ham-radio.html 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/ Far-right activists have filmed themselves storming a hotel with migrants inside and confronting them about 'where they are from' before leaving as police were called. Members of Britain First gained entry to the Daresbury Park building in Warrington, Cheshire, and knocked on bedroom doors. The protesters recorded themselves asking the guests what countries they were from, with some answering Iraq and Sudan. They approached an Iranian man and blasted him for staying there for free, with the cameraman saying: 'I pay my taxes, I'm paying for your stay in this hotel.' Next the group corner a Sudanese man in his bedroom and an Iraqi-Kurdish with his wife and six children in one of their three rooms. They quiz the men over their housing situation and probe for details about how long they have been in the hotel. Members of Britain First gained entry to the Daresbury Park building in Warrington, Cheshire, and knocked on bedroom doors Next the group corner a Sudanese man (right) in his bedroom and an Iraqi-Kurdish with his wife and six children in one of their three rooms (left) The Home Office this month booked 4,000 hotel rooms for asylum seekers amid pressure from a surge of cross-Channel migration and the coronavirus pandemic. Hotels in Hull, Birmingham, Nottingham and Glasgow are among those used due to a shortage of permanent homes for migrants while their asylum claims are assessed. Companies which provide accommodation had been permitted to find rooms in places not part of the scheme that oversees where the newcomers are dispersed. The Britain First activists continued through the hotel room and spoke to an Iraqi woman who had been there for three months. They later stopped a Libyan man, to which one of them said: 'Can I just say you've got hair like Colonel Gaddafi.' The asylum seeker smiles and replies: 'No, it's my hair.' But three white men then entered the room and led the migrant away, to which one a female protester said: 'Excuse me, that was a bit rude.' The protesters recorded themselves knocking on doors and asking the guests what countries they were from, with some answering Iraq and Sudan The Britain First activists continued through the hotel room and spoke to an Iraqi woman (pictured) who had been there for three months Another male one said: 'And here we go, the migrant hotel police have obviously come out.' The female activist confronts them saying: 'Our taxes are paying for their stay in this hotel, so we have every right to challenge you.' The cameraman said: 'These are the migrant hotel police by the looks and you can see just down the end there all the migrants are being ushered back to their rooms.' He added: 'And these gentlemen have just turned their backs to us and are not talking to us.' The group then tried to talk to migrants who emerge on a balcony, but are drowned out by a man shouting: 'Go to your rooms.' The cameraman added: 'This is absolutely shocking, the fact the British taxpayer are paying for all of this. 'Why can't we do this with our homeless veterans. Why can't the Prime Minister just get out of bed and say I want every homeless veteran in the country rounded up and put into hotels.' Britain First Organiser Ashlea Simon said the group were told not to harass the migrants and asked to leave the hotel. She said: 'A lot of the migrants have been willing to speak to us about how long they've been here. 'Some have been here three months, four months. Some have three rooms because they've got so many children with them.' She added 'three burly men came out of nowhere' who called the police told them not to speak to the migrants. She also criticised that taxpayers' money was going on putting up the migrants when British people are still sleeping rough. Yesterday another another 26 Sudanese migrants were picked up in three boats in the English Channel - taking this year's total to more than 5,000. Migrants pictured being brought into Dover, Kent, while on board a Border Force vessel yesterday This boat was found on Shakespeare Beach, Dover, around 6.30am yesterday. Around five more were towed into the harbour in Kent earlier in the morning Guest houses being used to house asylum seekers include The Scarisbrick Hotel in Southport and the Royal Hotel Hull. The Home Office and asylum accommodation providers Mears, Serco and Clearsprings use hotels due to the halting of all removals of applicants from properties amid the Covid-19 outbreak. Britain First's march on the Daresbury Park hotel was widely condemned after the video was posted on social media. Head of advocacy at campaign group the Refugee Council Andy Hewett told the Evening Standard: 'People who come to the UK in search of safety and protection deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. 'They have a legal right to claim asylum, and the government has a responsibility to ensure people seeking asylum do not become homeless or destitute while they await the outcome of their claim. 'It's shameful that far-right groups feel entitled to intimidate people seeking asylum and make them feel so unwelcome.' A social media user commented: 'I cannot imagine the fear that these people felt when confronted by half a dozen angry white men at the front door of their temporary homes.' He added: 'They seek sanctuary and refuge, not hostility and hatred, they fled from that.' A another posted: 'Why don't they go ask the people spending ''their tax money'' where it's going instead of harassing refugees?' A spokesman for Cheshire Police told MailOnline: 'At around 7.10pm on Tuesday 25 August police reports of a potential breach of the peace at a hotel on Chester Road in Daresbury. 'The caller reported that a small number of protestors had entered the building. Officers attended the premises and on arrival the group had left the site. 'No complaints were made by anyone present at the hotel and enquiries into the matter are ongoing.' A Home Office spokesman added: 'Any violence or abuse directed towards asylum seekers is completely unacceptable. 'We take the wellbeing of asylum seekers extremely seriously and we are taking all necessary and legal steps to protect the people in our care. 'All incidents at our accommodation providers are reported to the Home Office immediately, and we then work with the provider to put in additional measures if required.' Daresbury Park Hotel has been approached for comment. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Delays in receiving financial help in time of need, especially when the person knows theyre entitled to the money, can be distressing. And if my email inbox is a fair indication, frustrations are running high in Ohio over both the status of extra unemployment benefits and some still lingering problems in receiving stimulus checks that went out to most Americans earlier this year. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 28 By Ilkin Seyfaddini Trend: The OSCE-Uzbekistan relationship has improved to historically high levels in the past few years, OSCE Project Co-Ordinator in Uzbekistan, Ambassador John MacGregor told Trend in an interview. As he said, relationship has improved helped by high level visits to Tashkent and Samarkand especially in 2019, including the highest level Chairperson-in-Office and other top officials such as the Secretary General, and 20 OSCE Ambassadors who were permanent representatives of their States to the OSCE in Vienna. At the same time, senior Uzbekistan Government officials have fully represented Uzbekistan at OSCE bodies, including at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Ministerial Council, and Permanent Council. It is noteworthy that Deputy Foreign Minister Sherzod Asadov had received the highly prestigious appointment as Chairman of the OSCEs Economic and Environmental Committee during his final year as Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative to the OSCE in Vienna, said MacGregor. He stressed that the excellent relationship has allowed for excellent co-operation and collaboration on joint Uzbekistan-OSCE projects across many areas of government and society. Just to mention a few, those have included Justice reform, combating corruption, dealing with transnational threats such as illicit drugs, cyber threats, terrorism, and trafficking in persons, developing a new Electoral Code, promoting Young Women in Tech, support to improving digitalization of the economy and improving open data ecosystems, said MacGregor. According to John MacGregor, a common theme of the projects is that they are consistent with national priorities and with OSCE commitments, and they are all benefit the people of Uzbekistan. Finally, it is important to note that, in Uzbekistan, the OSCE projects are carried out by a dedicated team of 35 national staff, many of whom have more than 15 years of experience with the OSCE. In fact, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan has the smallest number of international staff, only four, of any OSCE field operation, MacGregor pointed out. --- Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini MANZINI Is government going against its own rule, that of freezing promotions? Despite having suspended recruitment and promotions, the Ministry of Public Service is promoting civil servants to higher posts that are bloating the already high wage bill. In recent months, the ministry has been promoting senior human resources officers to be principal human resources officers and other personnel within the civil service. By default, the promotions have created vacant posts which in turn demand recruitment of personnel into the civil service much against the hiring freeze imposed by the 10th Parliament. This publication has gathered that there are nine senior posts that have been made vacant by the promotions conducted by the Ministry of Public Service. The Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Sipho Tsabedze, confirmed the promotions. He further acknowledged that there was a suspension of promotions; however, these in particular, were old. Process These are old and were not initiated after the cost-of-living adjustment (CoLA); but have been in the process for some time. They were actually approved by Cabinet a long time ago, in March, Tsabedze said. Having said that, the PS further noted that Circular No.3 of 2018 stated that critical positions would have to be filled through the approval of Cabinet. Tsabedze said the promotions were necessary as stalling them would render the government machinery dysfunctional. He made an example of how a school would fail to operate if the head teacher had retired. However, when introducing the hiring freeze, through Circular No.3 of 2018, titled Freezing of vacant posts and creation of new posts in all government ministries and departments, principal secretaries (PSs) and heads of department were informed that Cabinet had directed that all vacant posts, including creation of new ones and promotions across government, be frozen. Situation The Cabinet relayed this through retired PS in the Ministry of Public Service Evart Madlopha, who through the circular said: This state of affairs has been necessitated by the current financial situation in the country and the cash-flow problems faced by government. Since the exit of the 10th Parliament, the incumbent Executive embraced this stance and has stood by it, stating that the wage bill was still bloated and needed to be dealt with through the hiring freeze. The circular informed PSs and heads of department that the Ministry of Public Service would not consider any requests from ministries or departments seeking approval for the filling of vacant posts whether through appointments or promotions. All service commissions and other designated appointing authorities are therefore urged to heed this directive and ensure that no appointments and promotions are made against any vacant post, read the circular. Upon assuming office, the incumbent administration is said to have saved about E30 million following the suspension of new recruitments, replacements and promotions in the civil service. Implement With the bloated wage bill in the country, this seemed to be a positive move as it sought to implement the reasoning of the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg who in his maiden budget speech, said government had to shift from being the employer of choice by involving the private sector. Yesterday, Rijkenberg informed this publication that government did not have money to fund the promotions. He said the same was the case for the recruitment of health personnel who were employed to bolster the sector following the crisis brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. I cannot recall the promotions but what I know is government approved the recruitment of health personnel and about 20 other civil servants. However, if they were approved by Cabinet, then that is fine, he said. The minister further emphasised that government had a challenge in dealing with the wage bill and the hiring freeze was means to deal with it. He said where circumstances called for the replacement of personnel in critical positions, government had to make a plan, not that money was there. Rijkenberg, when delivering his maiden budget speech, said in the last decade, the wage bill had grown by 125 per cent. In contrast, volatile SACU receipts have made governments fiscal position untenable, in the medium term, SACU receipts are expected to decline due to South Africas worsening economic position, the minister had said. However, for a decade, government has failed to do one thing and one thing only, to reduce the wage bill. According to global lender, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Eswatini ranked second highest spender on civil servants among the 53 captured countries. Currently, estimates of the wage bill are said to be E8.44 billion, which corresponds to 37 per cent of governments expenditure. This figure, despite the advice of the IMF, has been escalating over the years. Since the 2010/11 fiscal crunch in the kingdom, the IMF gave pointers on what government had to do in order to deal with the bloated civil services salaries. Instead, whatever means are implemented seem to have been countered by their execution and or flipping on them immediately there was an extra Lilangeni to spare. For the 2012/13 financial year budget, government, with the assistance of the African Development Bank (AfDB), developed a fiscal adjustment road map (FAR) which aimed at addressing both the fiscal and structural challenges. Through implementation of the FAR, government planned to reduce the civil service by 7 000 workers by 2015 and this was set to put the wage bill on a more sustainable path. However, according to the IMF, given the political sensitivities surrounding the civil service reform, the authorities adopted a more cautious approach, which sought to foster a buy-in from key stakeholders. The retrenchments never took place as that would have thrusted upon government socio-economic challenges. However, during this period, government had to cut the wage bill by E300 million (1 per cent of GDP) on an annual basis, while protecting pro-poor spending, as a first step towards restoring fiscal sustainability. Government, at the time, claimed to prefer a more gradual approach, based on reducing the civil service through an audit of the civil service roster, attrition, a reduction in the retirement age, and possibly a revised voluntary retirement scheme. In 2017, government released a report citing that there were no ghost employees contrary to reports and allegations made by those who were in the civil service. This was just a year after hefty increments were awarded to the civil servants, including politicians. The increments saw politicians, judges, and senior bureaucrats being awarded as high as 32 per cent. The salaries of low-paying occupations were increased by between 15 and 18 per cent. This was viewed to be imprudent in keeping the wage bill in check. But there is more to the compensation costs than meets the eye. Meanwhile, in 2017, the IMF reported that its directors underscored that steps to contain the public wage bill, prioritise capital outlays, reduce transfers to extra-budgetary entities, and boost tax revenues, would be critical to the adjustment effort. The IMF encouraged government to improve budget formulation and expenditure controls, and strengthen the governance of extra-budgetary entities to ensure the credibility of consolidation plans. The IMF reported that for the 2016/17 financial year, the public wage costs for central government employees peaked to 13.8 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP). Revenue This was a 2.5 per cent growth from the 2012/13 financial year as it was 11.3 per cent of the GDP and it amounted to 99 per cent of domestic revenue (45 per cent of domestic primary spending). While already on a rising path, in the 2016/17 financial year, the wage bill sharply increased as a review of public sector salaries reformed, among others, the pay structure and resulted in about two per cent of GDP in additional wage expenses. It was then projected that the public wage-to - GDP ratio was expected, under current policies, to increase further and exceed 1718 per cent of GDP (about 49 per cent of domestic primary spending) by 2021/22, largely above domestic revenue collection. Seoul, Aug 28 : Scientists have urged people with atrial fibrillation -- the most common heart rhythm disorder -- to quit smoking if they want to reduce stroke risk. Previous studies have shown that smokers are more likely to develop atrial fibrillation and subsequent stroke. "Smoking precipitates blood clots that could lead to a stroke, which may be why giving up lowers risk," said study author So-Ryoung Lee from the Seoul National University Hospital in South Korea. "The remaining stroke risk after quitting might be through the damage already caused to the arteries -- called atherosclerosis," Lee added. The study, presented at ESC Congress 2020 - The Digital Experience, examined the association between smoking cessation after newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation and the risks of stroke and all-cause death. The researchers included the 97,637 Korean patients who had a national health check-up less than two years before being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, and a second check-up within two years afterwards. Patients were followed-up after the second check-up until the end of 2017 for the occurrence of stroke or death. The average age was 61 years and 62 per cent were men. Participants were classified according to smoking status before and after atrial fibrillation diagnosis: never-smoker, ex-smoker, quitter, current smoker. The proportion of never smokers, ex-smokers, quitters, and current smokers was 51.2 per cent, 27.3 per cent, 6.9 per cent, and 14.6 per cent, respectively. During a median three-year follow-up, there were 3,109 strokes and 4,882 all-cause deaths (10.0 per 1,000 person-years and 15.4 per 1,000 person-years, respectively). Compared to current smokers, the findings showed that quitters had a 30 per cent lower probability of stroke and 16 per cent reduced likelihood of all-cause death. According to the study, quitters remained at a higher risk compared with never-smokers. The risks of stroke and all-cause death were raised by 19 per cent and 46 per cent, respectively, but these associations were consistently observed only in men. New and persistent smokers had even greater risks of stroke compared to those who had never smoked. For new smokers, the probability was raised by 84 per cent and for persistent smokers it was elevated by 66 per cent. The researchers noted that the benefits of quitting were less pronounced in those who had been heavy smokers before their atrial fibrillation diagnosis. Cybersecurity solutions leader ESET South Africa recently hosted its Partner Awards virtually to honour its top-performing partners. The awards recognise top-performing partners in the channel for their innovation, leadership, contribution, and commitment to growing their business and the ESET brand in Southern Africa. The awards are divided into categories that identify partners that excelled in sales, revenue, and service. The purpose of the ESET Partner Awards is not only to share in the success of ESET partners, however, but to also introduce their new partner programme and the benefits of being an ESET partner throughout South Africa and Namibia. From a South African perspective, we are really pushing along with ESET global, our MSP type programme and cloud product which was introduced over a year ago really is flying, said Carey van Vlaanderen, ESET CEO. As ESET Southern Africa, we will continue to bring these amazing benefits that ESET global have provided. ESET also aims to focus on service delivery, which includes their strong technical team that continues to evolve through training and sales certification but most importantly through their partner programme. Our main focus is to bring the best service to our partners in terms of account management to grow with them as partners in South Africa and Namibia, and were excited to award those that have done so well in the past year and to motivate the rest for the coming year. Award winners This year, the awards were divided into two categories regional and national. The winners of the 2020 ESET Partner Awards are listed below. Taryn Gill left behind an established career in marketing, working at some of South Africa's largest media companies, to develop and launch her own haircare brand. The Perfect Hair was created to plug a gap in the local marketplace for quality, natural haircare products formulated with curly and coily hair textures in mind. Sunpac distribution deal Can you tell us a bit about yourself - your upbringing and career history prior to starting The Perfect Hair? What inspired you to launch your own natural haircare brand? How did you go about formulating The Perfect Hair products and getting them onto retail shelves. What was this process like? How has your business grown since it launched? As a female entrepreneur of colour, what is it like to be a businesswoman in your sector? Are there any female figures who have had a particularly positive influence on your life? The natural and curly hair-focused haircare market has exploded in recent years. What do you think is driving consumers (women particularly) to embrace the hair they were born with? What is your ultimate vision for The Perfect Hair? What advice do you have for other budding female entrepreneurs this Womens Month? Now in its sixth year, the proudly South African brand is successfully tapping into the positive trend of women embracing their natural beauty, with products designed for natural curls and kinks steadily grabbing shelf space previously reserved for relaxers and other damaging chemical treatments.Crafted to meet the needs of African hair in African climates, The Perfect Hair products use high-tech conditioning polymers and botanically-derived ingredients like mango butter, grapeseed and marula oil, and basil root extract to offer curl and coil care and control. All products are vegan and free from silicone, parabens, petroleum and sulphates, and sold in PET recyclable packaging.The Perfect Hair may have been started by Gill on a shoetring budget, but the brand has caught the attention of beauty distributor Sunpac, which recently a concluded a deal with The Perfect Hair to scale the Johannesburg-based brand. Established in 1967, Sunpac is a trusted partner to retailers and brand owners, offering a full category management solution in personal care and beauty.The strategic distribution deal is focused on pharma-retail, with The Perfect Hair products making their return to Clicks shelves. Through the partnership, the two companies aim to capture the trust (and spend) of black female shoppers looking to invest in quality, natural products.Commenting on the deal, Sunpac CEO Shaun Laffer, says: We are thrilled at the prospect of partnering with Taryn and jointly relaunching and then growing The Perfect Hair. The opportunity to connect with this consumer and serve with products that make a difference in their lives, is an exciting journey we are embarking on."Gill will remain heavily involved in the brands growth journey to ensure the continuation of a personalised approach to the range. Working closely with the experienced Sunpac executives, she is leading a team focused on brand, product development and marketing strategy.Here, The Perfect Hair founder and CEO shares more on her entrepreneurial journey in the dynamic personal care space.Being brought up in a middle-class suburb in Durban, it was expected that your hair would be straightened, and that was the only neat option apparently! But I wore my curls naturally from an early age, and took serious flack for doing so.After completing my BA in English and Literature, I joined Republican Press and so began my 20 year career in media, spanning writing, editing, marketing research and publishing.When I got my first taste of life as an entrepreneur in the curl care space, it finally felt like I had arrived home in terms of purpose and fulfilment with work lifeThere was simply nothing on the shelves for curly girls 6 years ago, when I was getting started. As they all say, find the gapLong, and arduous! It took me 14 long months to get my first range to market: online and via Sorbet Candi & Co salons. Edgars followed shortly after that. Its a long and tricky road of bio-chemists, formulations, testing, packaging sourcing, marketing, route to market research, and finding the funds to make it all happen.We have had good years and years when we got burnt - lessons learnt. At this point our joint venture with beauty distributor Sunpac has put us on a path for rapid acceleration into a retail strategy with Clicks, as well as developing more product lines together to ensure successful scaling of The Perfect Hair to reach more consumers, faster. Its the perfect partnership for us.We as a brand made a decision to take a partner like Sunpac in order to scale. It is profitable for both of us as I am a marketer and brand developer specialist and they are distribution pros.Being a woman, a black woman, with no formal FMCG retail experience, a sole entrepreneur trying to ply her trade in a busy and saturated category like natural hair care, can be daunting and feel like a David and Goliath scenario everyday. It requires resilience and a belief in what you have built as brand foundation. Also, finding the right partner to scale with is key.My mother.As my lecturer at GIBS once said, you are not selling hair care, you are selling self-love. Natural beauty is the embrace of who we are without wanting to conform or submit or change to a standard imposed by others.To be a household name in African beauty.Get started! Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the head of the U.S. Space Force on Thursday agreed to enhance bilateral defense cooperation in outer space, where regional rivals China and Russia are building up their capabilities. Chief of Space Operations Gen John Raymond was visiting Japan for the first time since the creation of the Space Force and his appointment in December last year. He was the first high-ranking foreign official to meet with Abe since late February, with such meetings halted due to the coronavirus pandemic. Abe and Raymond discussed strengthening cooperation between the Space Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Space Operations Squadron, as well as the U.S. plan to send astronauts back to the Moon by 2024, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry. Created in May with just 20 members, the Space Operations Squadron is tasked with monitoring threats to Japanese satellites such as space debris and meteorites. It is expected to grow in size and become fully operational in 2023. The Space Force, meanwhile, is a full-fledged branch of the U.S. military with 16,000 airmen and civilian personnel. It was launched by President Donald Trump to counter the ambitions of Russia and China, which have been accused of developing anti-satellite weapons, as well as ballistic missile threats from North Korea. The New York Times BLACKBURN, Inglaterra -- La conversacion fue urgente y emotiva cuando Gulbar Akram se reunio con la policia en Manchester, Inglaterra, el sabado y hablo con su hermano, que tenia a cuatro personas como rehenes en una sinagoga ubicada a casi 8000 kilometros de distancia, en Texas.Akram insto a su hermano, Malik Faisal Akram, a liberar a los rehenes y a entregarse, las negociaciones con la policia y las fuerzas del orden se prolongaron hasta las primeras horas del domingo en el Reino Unido. Russian Military Chief Holds Talks With US Gen. Milley on Recent Incident in Syria Sputnik News 07:31 GMT 27.08.2020 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Chief of the General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov spoke with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley about the recent incident with the US troops and Russian military police in Syria, the Russian Defence Ministry said Thursday. "Chief of the General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov drew the US side's attention to the fact that the commanders of the International antiterrorist coalition were notified about the passage of the Russian military in accordance with the existing rules," the ministry said in a statement. Gerasimov told Milley the US servicemen, in breach of the existing agreements, attempted to block the Russian patrol, which "took every step necessary to prevent the incident and proceed with its mission." According to the ministry, the US received a full explanation on the incident. The White House National Security Council said Wednesday that the incident violated the existing deconfliction protocols. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Alyssa Pointer / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution A small liberal arts college in rural Georgia has seen a COVID surge in the last two weeks that has made it one of the nation's leading hotspots. In response, campus workers at Georgia College in Milledgeville, part of the University System of Georgia, are holding an on-campus "die-in" Friday to protest what employees see as the school's "willful negligence" in failing to control the coronavirus through the first weeks of classes. The COVID tracking page on the school's website has posted 495 cases since June, 450 of those among students who have returned to campus since the week of Aug. 17. The New York Times college case tracker ranked the school 14th nationwide in total cases Thursday. That number represents about 7% of Georgia College's total 7,000 enrollment, easily the highest rate of the top 25 schools on that list. By comparison, the Times' tracker ranks infections at the University of Texas in ninth place overall but that represents just 483 reported cases out of 50,000 enrolled students. Aside from Texas Christian University, which has about 10,000 students, none of the schools ahead of Georgia College on the Times' list have fewer than 20,000 students or more than 1,000 cases. The workers' action is part of the United Campus Workers of Georgia's (UCWGA) statewide campaign to hold the University System of Georgia Board of Regents responsible for outbreaks due to what a UCWGA press statement calls a "forced campus reopening." "Union members demand choice in online teaching and learning, increased testing capacity, quarantine housing for positive students, hazard pay for all essential workers, and no layoffs in the event of campus closure," the statement says. A non-tenured faculty and union member, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the school is "acting as if they can't do anything, but there are a number of reasons to believe they could be doing more," pointing to in-person regulations. Story continues The die-in is in solidarity with Georgia College's sister school, the state flagship University of Georgia, which held one earlier this year. The action, scheduled for two hours from 8 to 10 a.m. will feature students lying on the grass socially distanced with signs with messages such as, "We don't want to die" and "We don't want our students to die." Georgia College President Steve Dorman posted a welcome video last week urging students to practice social distancing. Administrators plan to work with private off-campus apartment complexes to dissuade students from holding large gatherings, which the school holds responsible for most of the surge. A tenured faculty member told Salon that the circumstances were "some dark shit." "I think what I fear the most is that they'll get away with it with treating faculty, staff and students, not to mention the local community, as utterly expendable. This is some dark shit," the professor said. "You can feel the long arm of the Republican money machine all over it." Faculty were reportedly told that they could teach remotely only if they could prove one of a dozen or so health conditions on a list such as high blood pressure, or being over 65 but that did not extend one degree further, for example, to faculty members who may live with someone who is elderly or ill or has underlying conditions. "Many faculty and students here are very, very disturbed by the willful negligence on the part of the USG and our own administration," another faculty member told Salon, again on the condition of anonymity. Working groups developed a multi-part reopening plan over the summer, including rules and policies, one of those being that classes must be in-person but office hours and student meetings could be virtual. Though faculty were included in these policy groups, multiple professors told Salon that many concerns were dismissed out of hand, and they did not expect that in-person teaching would continue if case numbers surged as they have. "Most people in these groups, I think, thought that if case numbers went up, they would go to the all-remote plan, to ensure everyone's safety," the tenured professor said. "So here we are, two weeks in. Some people have 50 percent of their class populations in quarantine or isolation." Campus workers say that the university administration seems to be displacing blame onto students, threatening them with suspension if they attend parties and sending students who fall ill home, with no reserved quarantine locations in place. "I think most faculty find this appalling," a professor said. "Those in the wrong are the people running the show, who brought the students back into what was, in early August, already a precarious environment." That environment extends to Milledgeville which has itself registered as a coronavirus hotspot, month after month a relatively poor city of about 19,000 residents, with the college campus dominating its manicured antebellum downtown. The Milledgeville Union-Recorder reported earlier this month that Navicent Health Baldwin Hospital's intensive care unit has been full since the pandemic hit the city in mid-March. Todd Dixon, the hospital's CEO, told the paper that they have experienced about a 3% overall increase in admissions from previous years. "We also have seen a 26 percent increase in our average daily census," said Dixon. On the other side of Milledgeville which was the capital of Georgia from 1804 to 1868, and was left untouched by Union Army Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman's scorched-earth march through Georgia during the Civil War sits another campus: The empty, cratered brick dorms of Central State Hospital, which was originally called Georgia Lunatic Asylum and was once the largest mental hospital in the world, with 12,000 inmates. Central State has seen at least 10 coronavirus deaths, according to local news reports, including staff. Shawn Brooks, vice president for student affairs at Georgia College, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week that no students have reported serious symptoms, a claim faculty say is flatly false. One non-tenured professor told Salon that students had in fact been admitted to the hospital for "quite serious symptoms not one, but multiple," but would not provide further details out of fear that it might reveal identifying information to the administration. The school, which has mandated masks on campus, struck a partnership with the state to provide testing at a local health outpost, private providers and two local pharmacies, but results can take up to a week, according to faculty and reports in the Journal-Constitution. There is reportedly no mechanism in place to compel students or employees to report results to the school, so public statistics are derived entirely from self-reported cases. Brooks told the Atlanta paper that the spike traced to students who were overexcited and too relaxed after returning to campus in August. "They get off campus and relax their methods of masking and social distancing," he said. However, faculty members told Salon that the school had reneged on its promise that fraternity and sorority rushes, held before classes start, would not occur in person. Furthermore, students weren't required to be tested before arriving. The school did install distanced desks and tables in classrooms as well as plexiglass barriers, and loaded up on hand sanitizer though it is still not available in all classrooms. "Rooms are only cleaned once a day, and many of us still don't have hand sanitizer in the classroom," a professor said. "There was none in buildings for first two weeks." "It's not easy to take collective action here. As you can imagine, many are afraid to speak up for fear of retaliation," the tenured faculty member said. "But the lack of ethics and of general humanity is stunning. And apparently it's largely about housing revenue." Rolling Stone reported Aug. 11 that it had seen documents that a property-management company called Corvias had pressured the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia not to impose limits on dorm capacity this fall. In response to the letter, Rolling Stone reported, the Board of Regents considered directing at least one school, Georgia State University, to lift its 75% occupancy cap on all dorms controlled by Corvias. To this point, Georgia College has not replied to Salon's request for comment. Related Articles WATERLOO The Black Hawk County Treasurers office has mailed out real estate, mobile home and special assessment bills have been mailed out as of Aug, 28. Due to the COVID-19 proclamations and transitioning to a new property tax software program, there are some changes you may see on this years billing. For those that have taxes paid by their mortgage company, it is required by law that the homeowner still receives a bill for their records with payment to come from their mortgage company. In the past the treasurers office was able to flag the tax stub requested by Mortgage Company. With the conversion to the new tax software program, they are unable to continue that practice. If you are unsure if you are to pay, the office asks that you please contact your mortgage company. If there are past due taxes on a parcel, it will be noted on your bill prior years taxes due. Please contact the treasurers office at (319) 833-3013 for payment information. A tax sale certificate will be noted on the September tax stub if a parcel is in tax sale status. Please contact the treasurers office for redemption amounts. Payment by guaranteed funds for redemption from tax sale must be in the treasurers office by 4 p.m. Sept. 30. Guaranteed funds are cash, certified check, cashiers check or money order. A September postmark cannot be accepted for redemptions. As mandated by Iowa law, the deadline for paying the first installment of real estate and mobile home taxes is Sept. 30. Taxpayers are advised if mailing in payments that a post office postmark date of Sept. 30, 2020 is needed to avoid interest accruing Oct. 1. Interest for the September 2020 installment will accrue at the rate of 1.5% per month beginning Oct. 1. If paying in office, checks, cash or debit card can be used. A $2 fee will apply if using a debit card. Due to COVID-19 social distancing, there are several options to make payments other than going to the courthouse. Mail the payment stub or stubs from the tax bill along with your check to Black Hawk County Treasurer, 316 E. 5th Street, Waterloo, IA 50703. If you want a receipt, include the entire bill and a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your payment. You can also pay online at www.iowatreasurers.org. Payments can be made by Visa, MasterCard or Discover credit cards. A non-refundable service delivery fee of 2.25% per transaction will be charged. Payment by electronic check is 25 cents per transaction. You can also set up scheduled payments or recurring payments on this website for your convenience. A copy of the tax statement can now be found if you click on View Statement. The treasurers office in the courthouse is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Payments may also be deposited in the secured drop box located at the northeast corner of the courthouse. The Crossroads branch office is permanently closed due to technical problems. The Iowa Property Tax Credit Claim forms will accepted up to Sept. 30. You may qualify for this credit if your income is below $23,810.00 and you are over 65 or 100% disabled. Proof of disability is required. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 West Bengal: With depleting fish catch, Sundarbans fishers migrate to other coastal states by Snigdhendu Bhattacharya August 28,2020 | Source: Mongabay Sankizahan in Kultali area of the Sundarbans, the worlds largest mangrove ecosystem made of islands, rivers and creeks, used to be a village of fishermen who hunted on traditional and motorised boats in the local rivers and creeks and on trawlers in the Bay of Bengal. It is now a village of migratory fishermen who fish in Indias coastal states of Kerala and Karnataka, that house part of the western coastline and Tamil Nadu to the south, for the better part of a year. - About 500 traditional fishermen from the Sankizahan village in the Sundarbans region migrate to other coastal states in India for the better part of the year. - This migration, that seems to have happened over the past five or six years, is fuelled by the depleting fish catch that is affecting the livelihood of the traditional fishing communities. - Human intervention, including harmful fishing practices and pollution along with climate change are among the reasons attributed for the depleting fish stock. Sankizahan resident Rakhal Das, a 38-year-old fisherman, recalled that the situation used to be different a decade ago. In 2015, when one of his two brothers informed him of his plan to migrate to Kerala to work in trawlers engaged in marine fishing and insisted that he too should do the same, Das had resisted. He didnt want to leave home. His bother Nikunja was convinced that the gradually declining fish catch around Sundarbans had left them with no other alternative. Nikunja left for Kerala. Banamali, his other brother, followed Nikunja the next year. And from 2017, Rakhal Das, too, has been working in Kerala from the beginning of the winter to the onset of the monsoon. The three brothers have to earn for a family of 15, including their elderly parents. My father never faced shortage of fish during winter. I have been fishing for nearly 20 years. The situation was not like this even 10 years ago. But now fishing in the winter hardly helps. The haul starts reducing from November, Das said. About 500 fishermen from Sankizahan now migrate west and southwards to work in other coastal states. Most of them work there from November-December to June, while some work there throughout the year. And Sankizahan is only one of the many villages in Kultali, Kakdwip, Gosaba, Basanti and Namkhana administrative blocks in the Sundarbans region that underwent this transformation over the past five-six years, as depleting fish catch in the rivers and creeks affected their livelihood. We knew that some fishermen from the Sundarbans were migrating to other coastal states but had no idea about the extent of their migration until they started contacting us from the end of May, in their hundreds, for help returning home. Now, we estimate that about 10,000 fishermen from this area work in those coastal states, said Milan Das, general secretary of Dakshinbanga Matsajibi Forum. Kultalis Communist Party of India (Marxist) legislator Ramsankhar Haldar echoed him. In the west coast (west of Sundarbans), fishworkers can earn up to Rs. 15,000 per month. Working in the Sundarbans, it would be less than half. Some people have sold off the traditional boats they owned and have become full-time worker in trawlers on the Arabian Sea, he said. For years, fishing and aquaculture have been the backbone of the economy of the ecologically fragile Sundarbans region. The migration of the fisher people started about five-six years ago. Over the past two years, many fishermen simply abandoned their boats and left for the west coast to work in trawlers, said Joykrishna Haldar, a former member of the West Bengal legislative Assembly and president of South Sundarban Fishermen and Fishworkers Union. Local fishworkers associations estimate there to be nearly 4,000 small to large trawlers and about 50,000 traditional and motorised boats that are engaged in fishing in the sea, the rivers and the creeks. However, Sourabh Kumar Dubey, a researcher who has been following the changes in the Sundarbans region for several years, pointed out that the fish catch has reduced mainly in the rivers, creeks and estuaries, while the marine catch in Bay of Bengal has not been affected. Trawler owners are not migrating or abandoning business. Number of trawlers have sharply increased. Its the traditional fisherfolks who fished in the rivers and creeks who have been hurt and are migrating, said Dubey. Members from the fishing community, scientists and researchers referred to multiple factors, including impacts of climate change and human interventions, which led to this migration. One of the impacts of climate change has been rising sea level, resulting in increased salinity in river water. The other is increased frequency and intensity of cyclones that keep hampering the usual flow of life. The catch reduces in the winter because the water level goes down in the rivers, resulting in increased salinity, which in turn affects the habitat of the fish species that prefer lesser saline water. Besides, pollution is also decreasing the reproduction capacity, said Suman Bhusan Chakraborty, an associate professor in zoology at the Calcutta University who specialises on endocrinology. For increasing water pollution, the dumping of industrial waste in the rivers and canals in the Sundarbans northern neighbourhood has been generally blamed. Pradip Chatterjee, an environmentalist and convener of National Platform for Small-scale Fishworkers (Inland), referred to a study conducted in 2009, which interviewed fishers in nine places in nine different blocks adjacent to the Sundarban Tiger Reserve (STR). According to the study, 97% of the fishermen that responded to the survey complained of declining fish catch and 86% of them had blamed trawlers fishing close to the mouth of rivers, 71% blamed the use of micro-hole nets, 54% mentioned water pollution and 14% had mentioned increase in the population dependent on fishing. Organisations of fisher people also cite the gradually decreasing area within Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve where fishing is still allowed. Collection of tiger prawn seeds by dragging fine-mesh nets along river banks has also be blamed for the destruction of many other species of fish. However, they blame trawlers most for trawling along the mouths of rivers and also for the use of fine-mesh nets. According to Tuhin Ghosh, a professor at the department of oceanographic studies, Jadavpur University, human interventions had more to do with this migration than climate change. More people joined fishing over the years, increasing competition, while the use of fine-mesh net by trawlers resulted in the netting of juveniles and led to depletion of fish population, he said. Bankim Hazra, chairperson of Gangasagar-Bakkhali Development Authority, however, blamed climate change as the main reason behind migration. Increasing cyclones have left the local people an anxious lot, he said. For some fishermen, like Sankizahan resident Paramesh Das who has been working in Kollam of Kerala, the prospect at home is so gloomy that they did not return despite the lockdown, hoping to resume work once trawlers started moving into the Arabian Sea. The Bay Area is finally recovering from a second spike in coronavirus infections that hit a peak in mid-t0-late July. With the virus receding again, Alameda and Contra Costa counties have both allowed personal care services, gyms and more to resume operations, and if the number of new cases continues to slow across the Bay Area, counties could finally come off the state's watch list and reopen indoor businesses as well as schools for in-person instruction. When a broader reopening happens, the Bay Area could end up where it was at the start of the summer: Open for business again, but far away from herd immunity leaving the population susceptible to another spike in cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Epidemiologists estimate that 60% of the population must be immune to the virus by way of either infection or vaccination to achieve herd immunity. Data scientist Youyang Gu's widely cited COVID model projects that roughly 14% of Californians have been infected with the virus to this point. Many things have been blamed for California's summer spike, ranging from a rush to reopen certain sectors without sufficiently stringent social-distancing protocols, thousands of people gathering together to protest police brutality and family gatherings during the Memorial Day and Fourth of July holidays. One challenge the region did not have to contend with in May, June and July was the opening of schools, and UCSF epidemiologist Dr. George Rutherford believes that what happens in Bay Area classrooms will determine whether the region sees a third spike that prompts another round of business closures. "The level of spread will come back to a certain baseline level, the question is will it surge out of control from there," he said. "The places I worry about are high schools, middle schools and colleges, and whether we see large outbreaks there." Rutherford stated he does not have "much worry" over elementary schools and preschools, citing evidence that young children are less likely to transmit the virus and are also less likely to get infected. However, he's particularly worried about colleges and surrounding areas. "The colleges that opened and then closed back down across the country, that doesnt bode well," he said, referencing the alarming number of cases reported at Notre Dame, Alabama and elsewhere. "Yes, there was that frat outbreak at Cal, but it hasnt seen numbers push into several hundreds. But there's still a lot of risk there as seen in other areas, so thats what I worry about with a third wave. Not malls, not retail." As it relates to businesses, Rutherford believes that if employees and customers are better about mask wearing and physical distancing than they were in June, the region should not have much to worry about. He also questioned whether Gov. Gavin Newsom and state officials should have ordered the closure of indoor hair salons and other personal care services in watch list counties. "If someone is infectious and there's no mask-wearing, you're hosed, but if both are masked, it's a different story," he said. "Two hairdressers in Springfield, Missouri took care of a bunch of customers when both were infected, but there were no reported infections after because they both wore masks." On Friday, Newsom is expected to unveil a set of new guidelines for businesses that can reopen in counties that have come off the watch list. Eric Ting is an SFGATE reporter. Email: eric.ting@sfgate.com | Twitter:@_ericting Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia Arayik Harutyunyan must talk to the people who dont agree with his actions. This is what President of the Against Legal Arbitrariness NGO, first Human Rights Defender of Armenia Larisa Alaverdyan told reporters during a protest that citizens were holding with the demand for Harutyunyans resignation today. Im mainly demanding that Arayik Harutyunyan renounce his policy. We see that he is not only continuing to lead the policy, but is also clinging to the Prime Minister. I not only reject the attempts to completely revolutionize the value system of Armenians, starting from schools and even kindergartens, but also condemn it, she said. Asked if the minister will resign after these protests, Alverdyan said the following: I would be surprised to know that he thinks hes going to be minister forever. Literate people need to understand that people dont hold office forever. He must negotiate with all extra-parliamentary forces and talk to the people who disagree with him. Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team members talk during a practice session in Staten Island, N.Y., in 2010. (Ramin Talaie / Corbis/Getty Images) To the editor: Thank you for the very informative article about the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team's struggle to be included in the World Games. The print edition headline "A national team in need of a nation" is misleading, however. The Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy are indeed nations, with their own histories, territories and governments. In 1794, President George Washington signed a treaty with the Confederacy on behalf with the United States. The United States only signs treaties with other nations, not races or ethnic groups. When European Christians "discovered" the Americas, they proclaimed a doctrine of Christian discovery that denied the rights to life, territory and self-government of the indigenous non-Christian nations. Chief Justice John Marshall, in his decision in Johnson vs. M'Intosh (1823), brought the doctrine of Christian discovery into U.S. Indian law as the basis of all U.S. property law. The United States refuses to acknowledge the nationhood of the Six Nations, because doing so would call into question the whole body of unjust laws built on the doctrine of Christian discovery. John Maddaus, Los Angeles The writer is an associate professor emeritus of education at the University of Maine who focuses on Native American education. .. To the editor: Rarely do we read such a richly bicultural piece that conveys the stories and values of another people while communicating the conundrum they find themselves in when dealing with a worldview based on conquest. How critically important reading such a piece is if we are to outgrow the blindnesses of white privilege. The story of how the birds' acceptance of the mouse and the squirrel enabled them to win their lacrosse game over the larger animal team is a story about how every being has gifts to bring. Our founding idea of a confederacy of states comes from the Haudenosaunee peoples. There is so much we have to learn frown the wisdom of others. Alanna K. Brown, Valley Village COINSILIUM GROUP LIMITED ("Coinsilium" or the "Company") Coinsilium Group Limited: Notice of AGM London, UK, 28 August 2020 - Coinsilium Group Limited (AQSE:COIN) the Blockchain, DeFi and Crypto Finance venture operator, is pleased to announce that the Annual General Meeting ('AGM') of shareholders of Coinsilium Group Limited (the "Company") will be held at Suite 2a, 5/4 Crutchett's Ramp, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA at 10:30am CET on 21 September 2020. Covid-19 As a result of COVID-19 the Company would like to advise shareholders that, in accordance with the HM Government of Gibraltar guidelines on restrictions for public gatherings, physical attendance in person by shareholders of the Company will not be possible and the AGM will be held as a closed meeting. Shareholders will therefore not be permitted to attend the AGM in person and are strongly encouraged to submit their proxy in advance of the meeting to ensure that their votes are registered. We trust that Shareholders will understand the need for these precautions in light of current public health guidelines on COVID-19. Voting We encourage all Shareholders to submit their proxy sufficiently in advance of the AGM to ensure that their votes are registered. To be valid, Forms of Proxy and any power of attorney or other authority under which it is signed must be lodged with Coinsilium Group Limited, 32 Threadneedle Street, London, EC2R 8AY, United Kingdom by no than 9:30 am BST on 17 September 2020. Given the restrictions on attendance, for your votes to be counted, we advise that Shareholders should appoint the 'Chairman of the meeting' as their proxy for all the shares they hold rather than a named person, as they will not be permitted to attend the meeting. Appointing a proxy will ensure your vote is recorded in the same manner as it has been at previous annual general meetings. Shareholder questions As Shareholders will not be permitted to attend the AGM in person, the Company would like to give Shareholders the opportunity to ask questions of the Board of Directors. The Board understands that the AGM also serves as a forum for shareholders to raise questions and comments. The Directors engage regularly with shareholders on an informal basis and would be delighted to address any Shareholder queries prior to the AGM, including any questions which Shareholders wish to raise prior to submitting proxy votes for the AGM. Please email all questions to agm@coinsilium.com by 10 am on 17 September 2020 and state your name and Investor Code (as detailed on your share certificate) or should your shares be held in a Nominee account, please specify the name of said Nominee. We will provide answers directly to the Shareholder who asked the question. The Notice of the AGM and Proxy Form will shortly be available for download from the Company website: https://coinsilium.com/investors/nex-exchange-rule-71 The Directors of Coinsilium Group Limited take responsibility for this announcement. For further information, please contact: Coinsilium Group Limited Malcolm Palle, Executive Chairman Eddy Travia, Chief Executive +44 (0) 7785 381 089 www.coinsilium.com Peterhouse Capital Limited Guy Miller / Mark Anwyl (AQSE Growth Market Corporate Adviser) +44 (0) 207 469 0930 SI Capital Limited Nick Emerson (Broker) +44 (0) 1483 413 500 Notes to Editor About Coinsilium Coinsilium is a focused Blockchain, DeFi and Crypto Finance venture operator. As the first ever IPO of a blockchain company in 2015, Coinsilium has harnessed its experience and wide-ranging network to invest in leading blockchain projects such as RSK/IOV Labs, Indorse and Blox. In July 2020 Coinsilium executed an agreement with global blockchain protocol company IOV Labs, to establish a 50/50 Joint Venture Company in Singapore to promote and commercialise RSK's products, services and technologies in the Asian markets and to promote the adoption in the region of the RIF token which powers the ecosystem of solutions developed by RSK, their partners and developers around the world. Coinsilium shares are traded on the AQSE Growth Market, the primary market for unlisted securities operated by Aquis Stock Exchange, a Recognised Investment Exchange under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. For further information please visit www.coinsilium.com or follow @CoinsiliumGroup on Twitter Amarena the bear and her cubs pay a visit to S. Sebastiano dei Marsi. A bear known affectionately as Amarena took her four cubs for a ramble through the streets of the tiny Abruzzo village of S. Sebastiano dei Marsi where the family was filmed by local residents. The mountain village, located in the Apennines in the province of L'Aquila, and is part of the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo Lazio e Molise (PNALM), a protected area home to the critically endangered bears. There have been repeated sightings of Amarena and her cubs, particularly in the area around Lago di Scanno and Villalago, where they were pictured eating cherries earlier this summer. It was also here that in recent days Amarena attacked and killed a sheep, in front of the shepherd and several forest rangers, dragging the animal into the woods to feed her cubs. Visitors to the vast national park, which comprises 50,000 hectares of protected land in central Italy, are reminded that although Marsican bears are not known to be aggressive towards people, they should not be approached, particularly when with cubs. The Marsican brown bear is a subspecies of the brown bear, with only about 50-60 of the animals left in existence, compared to 100 in 1980. Between 2007 and 2018, 15 females died, including a mother and her cubs that drowned in an inadequately covered mountain well. The park's president Antonio Carrara believes the Marsican bear will be able to escape the "real risk of extinction if it is possible to increase, even slightly, the survival of adult females. Unsurprisingly the main threat to the bears' survival is man, with direct and indirect risks including poaching, poisoning, deforestation, cattle grazing and road accidents. Also known as the Apennine brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus), the animal is the largest land creature in the wild in Italy. The PNALM website contains an excellent source of information, in English, about the bears and how to respect their habitat.Photo Ohga! Getty Images From left: Carl and Marsha Mueller with a photo of their daughter, Kayla Mueller, who was killed in 2015 after being kidnapped by Islamic State militants Holding up a photo of their late daughter, the parents of Kayla Mueller said during Thursday's Republican National Convention that they're still working to find her body after she was kidnapped in 2013 by Islamic State militants while providing humanitarian aid in Syria. "All Kayla wanted was to make it home," said Marsha Mueller, while her husband, Carl Mueller, held up a photo of Kayla at her side. "We're still working to find her and, God willing, we will bring her home." The 26-year-old was abducted by ISIS while leaving a Doctors Without Borders hospital in 2013. She remained missing for a year and a half before U.S. officials confirmed her death in February 2015. President Donald Trump, 74, announced in October that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi who officials say raped Kayla while she was held captive, during which she was also tortured had been killed in a military mission, which Trump described as being in honor of Kayla's memory. After his announcement, her Arizona parents thanked the president and appeared to blame former President Barack Obama's administration in an Arizona Republic interview, saying that it did not fully seek answers to their daughter's disappearance. The Muellers became increasingly critical of Obama after their daughter was taken hostage. "I still say Kayla should be here, and if Obama had been as decisive as President Trump maybe she would have been," Marsha told the paper. They repeated those beliefs Thursday, accusing the Obama administration of doing too little and thanking Trump's administration for its effort in tracking down al-Baghdadi, as well as the soldiers who carried out the mission that led to his death. "The Trump team gave us empathy we never received from the Obama administration," Carl said. "Kayla should be here. If Donald Trump had been president when Kayla was captive, she would be here today." Story continues For 18 months she endured, and we endured an agonizing back-and-forth between us, the Obama administration and ISIS, Carl continued. We put all our faith in the government, but the government let us down. President Obama refused to meet with us until ISIS had already beheaded other Americans. To this day, weve never heard from Joe Biden. (Biden tweeted in February 2015 that he was "deeply moved by the life of Kayla Mueller. Our nation is stronger than any enemy can understand." A Biden campaign spokesman declined to comment on Kayla's parents' RNC speech.) RELATED: Trump Assistant Who Reportedly Bad-Mouthed Tiffany Trump Texted Her to Apologize but Never Heard Back AP Kayla Mueller Kayla was taken by ISIS in in 2013 while in Aleppo, Syria, where she was leaving a Doctors Without Borders hospital, according to ABC News, along with her boyfriend Omar Alkhani, a contractor, who was also kidnapped. ISIS said that Kayla was killed by a Jordanian airstrike that February, and her death was confirmed by her family; though officials disputed the exact circumstances and Jordan denied involvement. Her body was never recovered, while Carl and Marsha say they took efforts upon themselves to track down more information about their daughter's disappearance. The couple said last October they had once reached out and spoke with Umm Sayyaf, the wife of an ISIS member who helped keep their daughter captive, according to ABC News. "When we talked to Umm Sayyaf, we found we got more information out of her, not just us, the people backing us they got information from her that neither the Kurds or the US government had got in the two days that we were there," Carl told ABC. "It makes a big difference when you are talking to these people with a humanitarian attitude. We don't care what you did, what you've done we just want to know what you know about our daughter to bring her home." In their RNC remarks Thursday, which marked an overtly political turn, Marsha said that she and her husband believe Trump was committed to keeping the country safe "not with the power of the government, but with the passion of people like Kayla Americans who, even in the darkest days, always have more fight left inside of them. RELATED: Karen Pence Talks of 'Heroes' in RNC Speech in Support of Husband & Trump Matt Hinshaw/The Daily Courier/AP Kayla Mueller Trump accepted the GOP nomination in a speech later Thursday night. The Mueller's endorsement comes as the Trump administration aimed this week to paint the president as a strong leader both domestically and in foreign affairs, highlighting al-Baghdadi's killing along with the January killing of top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, who was the commander of Irans Quds Force. At the same time, Trump has faced criticism both for domestic issues such as the ongoing protests against racial injustice as well as his friendly attitude toward autocratic leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong-Un. Rhea Chakraborty, accused of abetting Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide by his family, has opened up on the various allegations on her, including misappropriating the late actor's wealth and 'controlling' him. Actor Rhea Chakraborty, who is accused of abetting Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide by his family, has opened up on her relationship with the late actor in interviews to several TV news channels. Chakraborty, along with her family members, is also accused of misappropriating Rajput's wealth by the actor's family but she dismissed the allegations in a TV interview. Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation, and Narcotics Bureau are investigating various charges of involvement against Chakraborty in the actor's death. On missing the late actor's funeral The actor said she was not on the list for his funeral as his family members "don't like me." Chakraborty said she wanted to attend the funeral but dropped the idea at the suggestion of her friends as the family did not want her there. The actor said her friends told her that "you will be ridiculed, you will be thrown out. You are already not in a sound mental state. Don't come here." Chakraborty said two of her friends told her to see his body in order to get closure. She said she saw Rajput's body for three-four seconds, and she "said sorry and touched his feet." She added that the 'sorry' was misconstrued by several media outlets. "Yes, I said 'Sorry babu'. When you see a dead person, what else will you say? I said sorry as he was no more. When you love someone and they die, you say sorry. Sorry that you aren't here. Sorry that a joke has been made out of your death," she clarified. On allegations of "controlling Rajput's life" Chakraborty rubbished the claims as "baseless" and said most of the staff were either hired by Rajput or his sister Priyanka. On Rajput's mental illness Rajput, she was told, used to get claustrophobic during flights and took medicines. She got to know of his disorder during their Europe trip. "We landed in Paris first, and he didn't come out of his room for the first three days. I wondered what the matter was. He was so excited that we will go to Paris so that no one recognises him. So that he could show me his real self which was his fun nature. That he could walk on the streets, something which he could not do in India. But he didn't come out of his room. He was much better when we went to Switzerland next. He was high on energy and he had started getting out, he was happy," she said. The actor said when they went to Italy, they stayed in a Gothic hotel that had "a weird dome-like structure and strange photos. Chakraborty talked about checking out, "but he didn't listen to me." "After that, his condition started getting worse little by little. He didn't want to come out of the room on the whole trip. I talked to him and he told me that he had an episode of depression in 2013. Then he told me everything, that he was better after meeting the psychiatrist. He used to get anxiety attacks many times. But he had started feeling more depressed and worried. So we had to cut our trip short. If your partner is not feeling well, what else will you do? You'll come back," she said. On her media trial Chakraborty said her media trial was a "witch hunt." "Loving someone has become the most wanted crime," she said, adding that she now just wanted to "take a deep breath" and have a normal day with her family where someone is not facing an anxiety attack. "This is a conspiracy to break me, my family. Kangana Ranaut ji said 'It was a systematic breakdown of a fragile mind', then what is this?" Referring to her 16 July post on Instagram where she had tagged Home Minister Amit Shah, requesting for a CBI inquiry, Chakraborty said she had cooperated with Mumbai Police, and is doing the same with the ED and the CBI. "Am I not allowed to prove my innocence?" Chakraborty asked, adding that stories were being fabricated to show her in an evil light. On charges of money laundering Chakraborty negated all claims of her allegedly siphoning off money from Rajput's account adding that she, on the contrary, returned a small sum of money back into his account. The money, Chakraborty claims was on account of Sushant paying for a hair and makeup session for her, which she later thought appropriate to transfer back. The actress said that a Mumbai property belonging to her is being portrayed as a financial liability for Sushant. She said she still pays the EMI for it, and has already submitted documents to the ED on the same. On the use of drugs Chakraborty vehemently denied using any drugs for recreational purposes, and added that Sushant was in the habit of taking cannabis regularly, and she was trying to curtail this desperately. She also added that she is ready to take any drug test to prove her innocence. On Sushant's #MeToo allegations Rhea added that Sushant was very badly affected by the sexual harassment allegations which were levelled against him by his Dil Bechara co-star Sanjana Sanghi. The fact that the actress took a considerable amount of time to open up and clarify the statements as false has already done the required damage, Rhea claimed. Sushant, according to Chakraborty, suffered owing to the false accusation, and would be extremely upset whenever this question was brought up in any interview. (With inputs from Press Trust of India) Catch Rhea Chakraborty's full interview here Tomball didnt even get wet from Hurricane Laura when it hit Texas and Louisiana Thursday morning, said Tomball Fire Chief Randy Parr. But the department considered it a good exercise to go through their planning for hurricanes. Parr said it had been quiet all night in Tomball, but they had been having daily meetings ahead of the hurricanefollowing along with weather service conference calls, tracking the forecast, and going through checklists to make sure they were prepared. But Parr said they started to feel some relief when they saw Tomball didnt look like it would be hit by the hurricane. 'There ain't no way to get to them': Storm victims who rode out Hurricane Laura asking for help Knowing that were on the clean side and not subject to the amount of wind that the east side of a storm would have, we were starting to breath a tad bit easier, Parr said. But at the same time, we had to be prudent and take the steps necessary to be prepared in case the thing wobbled back to the west. On Wednesday afternoon, Parr said they had decided at the meeting to continue monitoring the situation and keeping everything in place but keeping regular staffing levels. Should the hurricane have come closer to Tomball, Parr said they would have brought additional staff to the fire stations and opened their emergency operations center. We have done this now I cant tell you how many times, and especially for (City Manager) Rob (Hauck) and myself, weve got the system pretty well down, Parr said. We now have enough people that have worked through Harvey with us that the core group of people that manage the EOC and the incident are in place and its just teaching new folks and bringing additional folks in to expand the operation. On HoustonChronicle.com: Scars of Hurricane Laura evident as Louisiana residents assess storm damage For serious weather events, Parr said the department has a Humvee and engines that can drive through up to 3 feet of water before they run the risk of flooding the truck. One of their trucks actually did flood during Harvey and needed to have its engine replaced, he said. Should a hurricane hit Tomball, Parr said residents should have kits ready and stocked with food, water and other supplies, and to stay informed as to what is going on while the storm is happening. If you live in an area that has a propensity to have high water, then you might want to seek shelter someplace else, Parr said. Were fortunate here in Tomball that the only area that really is impacted is 249 and Holderrieth, and thats basically an uninhabited area. Hauck sent the Tomball City Council and mayor an update of what the city had done to prepare for the hurricane, which included activating the citys operations center and readying high-water and heavy equipment vehicles. Hauck also wrote that city generators had been tested and drainage ditches had been inspected and cleaned. Shelter locations had also been identified should they have been needed and shelter management teams were organized, and the citys planning section has prepared an incident action plan. We are prepared for the worst, and hoping for the best, Hauck wrote. paul.wedding@hcnonline.com Air quality took a turn for the worse Friday morning in parts of the Bay Area, which has been plagued by wildfire smoke for more than a week. The impact was especially severe in San Francisco, which registered unhealthy air quality levels as of 8 a.m. on the Bay Area Air Quality Management Districts map. The map also indicated unhealthy readings in the coastal region to the west and southwest of San Jose, where the CZU Lightning Complex fires continue to burn. Air quality levels were in the orange unhealthy for sensitive groups range in the mid-Peninsula area and in the East Bay. On the color-coded air quality index, the green range of 0-50 is good. The next level is yellow, or moderate, at 51-100. Orange, or unhealthy for sensitive groups, is 101-150, and the red level of 151-200 is unhealthy for everyone. The highest range is 301-500, considered hazardous a level the Bay Area reached during the worst of the recent wildfire crisis. The readings are related to PM2.5, or fine particulate matter pollution, which is found in wildfire smoke. BAAQMD The air quality in many parts of the region had improved noticeably on Wednesday and Thursday. According to air district spokesman Aaron Richardson, strong ocean breezes and increased humidity provided respite from wildfire smoke. But conditions can change quickly, as the downturn Friday showed. The North Bay and Santa Clara Valley areas suffered the most from poor air earlier in the week, and now the smoke from the CZU Complex Fires is trickling up throughout the Peninsula and San Francisco, Richardson said. As for the smoke situation beyond the weekend, its a bit too early to tell. There are definitely still fires that are active and theyre pretty significant, he said. A lot of their impacts will depend on the weather conditions into next week and its just too far off for us to determine that. 3 1 of 3 Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle Show More Show Less 3 of 3 And as for whether Bay Area residents will be startled by lightning sieges or thunder anytime soon: Its a one-word answer, said David King, meteorologist for the Bay Area office of the National Weather Service. No. Heat and dryness are expected to kick up a notch this weekend. Were going to see a little bit of a warming and drying trend, so youre going to see inland areas that are probably going to start touching the low 90s again, King said. The East Bay and southern portions of the North Bay are expected to be in the 80s, with isolated areas reaching the low 90s. On the Peninsula, high temperatures are likely to be in the mid-60s, warming to the mid-70s as the weekend progresses. San Francisco will hover around 70 degrees. Silicon Valley, into Santa Clara, will get into the low and mid 80s starting Friday, with Morgan Hill and Gilroy expected to reach the low 90s. But the heat isnt expected to be as oppressive as it was a week and a half ago. Were not talking about an extensive heat event, King said. The deep marine layer that made another inland push Thursday provided some humidity recovery. The moisture helps firefighters battle the huge wildland blazes in the region. But a more compressed marine layer which means less humidity relief at night is coming for the weekend. I know firefighters, they always look for more moisture, King said. Unfortunately the weathers going to kind of take that away from them. Starting Monday or Tuesday, the winds might shift, coming out of the north and northeast which means an increased likelihood of drier conditions. More air quality information resources: The Bay Area Air Quality Management District collects and posts searchable AQI readings from air monitors around the region. You can also sign up for air quality alerts and get information about health and safety. Airnow.gov, a partnership run by the EPA including federal, state and local air monitoring agencies, offers a one-stop source for air quality data, including interactive maps with local, national and world views. It also offers a Fire and Smoke Map with current fire conditions and air quality data including readings from the crowdsourced PurpleAir network. The Chronicles California Air Quality Map lets you zoom in to see readings in your area. It draws from the PurpleAir network and is updated every 10 minutes. This Chronicle guide explains different ways to look up the air quality in your microclimate. This explainer helps you assess when its OK to go outside if its smoky in the Bay Area, and what level of activities you can safely engage in. This explainer details the dos and dont of dealing with smoky air in your Bay Area home and car. Annie Vainshtein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @annievain Private hospitals have been suggested to refer critical coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)-run Covid Care Centres (CCUs) and also government hospitals in a bid to bring down the fatalities caused due to the raging viral outbreak in Mumbai. BMC authorities said that Covid-19 patients, who are not showing any signs of recovery, must be shifted to dedicated hospitals for the viral infection at the earliest. Mumbais case fatality rate (CFR) is 5.3%, as compared to Maharashtras at 3.2%. BMC, which is aiming to bring down the CFR to below 3%, has found out that Covid-19-related fatalities are higher in private healthcare facilities. The civic body has been conducting weekly meetings with top 10 hospitals that have been registering higher Covid-19-related death rates. BMC data showed that Covid-19-related deaths in private hospitals rose to over 40% in August, as compared to between 15% and 20% in June. Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner, health, BMC, said, We have suggested private hospital authorities to refer critical Covid-19 patients to our major government-run hospitals and CCCs. They have also been directed to seek the opinion of external experts such as deans of government-run hospitals or members from the Maharashtra task force for Covid-19 management. This initiative is being done under our Mission Save Lives strategy, where we want to bring down fatalities. Mission Save Lives, which was launched on June 30, is a nine-point strategy. The initiative aims to reduce Covid-19 fatalities, including video surveillance of each patient, mandatory audit of every death and giving bedpans to those who are critically ill. A former prison guard who smuggled drugs into jail in her underwear has been jailed for three years. Hannah Gaves, 27, was stopped and searched while on her way into Erlestoke Prison, Wiltshire. Cocaine was found concealed in her underwear and she was also in possession of black bags containing cannabis, five packets of tobacco and Rizzlas. A SIM card and tobacco were also discovered after authorities searched the cell of an inmate who Gaves was suspected of having inappropriate relations with, and smuggling drugs in on behalf of. At Salisbury Crown Court Hannah Gaves was today sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of 170 Gaves, from Gloucester, pleaded guilty to a string of drug offences today at Salisbury Crown Court. These included possession with intent to supply a Class A drug, possession with intent to supply a Class B drug and attempt to bring tobacco behind bars. She was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of 170. Erlestoke Prison near Devizes, where Gaves worked as a guard, had received intelligence that she was smuggling articles into the prison. The Category C men's prison houses inmates who cannot be trusted in an open prison but who are recognised as being unlikely to make any escape attempts. Detective Sergeant Garry Epps, from the Crime Targeting Team, said: 'There is simply no tolerance for the behaviour shown by Gaves in this case. 'The custodial sentence that has been given further highlights the severity of Gaves' actions and we hope acts as a deterrent to anyone who thinks they may be able to get away with anything similar. Gaves was also found in possession of black bags containing cannabis (pictured above) Erlestoke Prison near Devizes, where Gaves worked as a guard, had received intelligence that she was smuggling drugs (as seen above) into the prison 'There is no excuse for ever falling into such activities and we will always act strongly against anyone attempting to take drugs or any form of contraband into our prisons.' Local Inspector Chris Martin said: 'We will always act on intelligence given to us and not only patrol the parameters of the prison robustly but also the comings and goings inside the prison as well. 'This case highlights the ongoing partnership work between Wiltshire Police and staff at HMP Erlestoke to disrupt the illegal supply of drugs into the prison.' An advertising brochure for the Rosita Creek Ranch in Eagle Pass touted the more than 7,000-acre property with an asking price of about $14.5 million as a true sportsmans paradise. The ranch features four massive lakes that offer waterfowl hunting and fishing, and its home to some blackbuck antelope and other South Texas species. What really hooked the buyers, however, were the white-tailed trophy deer they were told roamed the property. The company and partnership that bought the ranch now say its not the deer hunting mecca they were led to believe. The deer did not exist on this ranch but on another piece of property, and the deer herd has been mismanaged and overharvested, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in state District Court in San Antonio. On ExpressNews.com: Is something squirrely going at San Antonio company that breeds exotic wildlife? Lufkin-based 2350 Senator Partners LLC and Gillespie Partners Ltd. have sued the seller, Corpus Christis Winn Exploration Co., and San Antonio real estate broker Stephen Stransky for fraud, violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and breach of contract over the sale. Van Huseman, a Corpus Christi lawyer representing Winn Exploration, disputed the allegations and noted the lawsuit was filed just days before a seven-figure note held by his client was due. They got what they paid for, Huseman said Friday. The Winns said what they were going to do. And now that the note comes due, (the buyers are) starting to try to figure out a way of getting out of it. So these claims, like Dracula, rise from the tomb. Chad Upham, a Boerne lawyer who represents Stransky, said his client denies any wrongdoing. These people got a great ranch, Upham said. Its a shame theyre not enjoying it. As far as were concerned, we sold them a great ranch. Among the owners principals is Richard Rick Levens, who got his start in real estate by taking foreclosure courses from an infomercial guru who Levens testified on behalf of during a 1998 fraud trial in Orlando, Fla., the Orlando Sentinel reported at the time. Levens, 52, is a former Atlanta Braves prospect. The Maverick County ranch features a 9,100-square-foot main lodge that overlooks a 250-acre lake. The property also has a 6,200-foot paved runway and a hangar. Marketing materials pitched the ranch as having the potential to be a great investment for future development given its proximity to Eagle Pass. The ranch has been part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Departments Managed Lands Deer Program, or MLDP, for years and has great whitetail deer, the materials added. The state launched the program in 1996 to encourage landowners to practice sound management and stewardship of wildlife habitat on private lands, said Alan Cain, the departments white-tailed deer leader. In exchange, landowners can take advantage of an extended deer hunting season and more liberal harvesting opportunities. More than 12,000 properties encompassing about 28.5 million acres across the state participate in the program, he said. SA Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox After closing on the ranch sale in August 2018, the buyers say they discovered its MLDP permit had lapsed. They also discovered the lack of trophy deer and that there had been multiple misrepresentations by (Winn Exploration and Stransky) about the size of the deer and the overall management of the property, the complaint alleges. The ranch had been benefiting from a hunting lease that generated $140,000 a year due to the MLDP, the suit adds. But after the MLDP lapsed, the hunters immediately canceled the lease. The owners say it will cost them about $10 million to recreate a deer herd on the property. They seek unspecified financial damages, including triple damages under the states Deceptive Trade Practices Act. After the owners sent letters complaining about the transaction, Huseman said, depositions of the parties were taken. Our perception was at the end of it that there was not a chance in a million of them pursing a claim of the sort that theyve been making, Huseman said. The owners never had a game survey done before they bought the ranch, he said. They bought this ranch, under the contract documents, as I recall, as is, which means the property was being bought in its current condition, Huseman said. The idea that if we show them a picture of a game survey of deer thats some place on the ranch, that somehow when they buy the ranch that deers still going to be alive after hunting season is just not credible. Scott Skelton, a Lufkin attorney for the ranch owners, didnt have a comment. Patrick Danner Patrick Danner covers banking, insurance, business litigation and bankruptcies. To read more from Patrick, become a subscriber. pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD US House Speaker said that she doesn't believe there should be any presidential debates between sitting President and 2020 Democratic presidential nominee "I don't think that there should be any debates," Pelosi said on Thursday during a press conference on Capitol Hill. "I do not think that the president of the United States has comported himself in a way that anybody has any association with truth, evidence, data and facts." "I wouldn't legitimize a conversation with him nor a debate in terms of the presidency of the United States," she added, Xinhua news agency reported. The top congressional Democrat instead proposed that the candidates take separate stages and answer questions about their policies in a "conversation with the American people" rather than "an exercise in skulduggery" but acknowledged that the Biden campaign "thinks in a different way about this." Andrew Bates, a spokesman for the Biden campaign, said that they "certainly agree with Speaker Pelosi on her views of the president's behaviour," "But just as she has powerfully confronted that behaviour in the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room, looks forward to doing the same on the debate stage," Bates added. Trump and his campaign have sought to cast doubt on Biden's mental fitness and pushed for more debates and for them to take place sooner. In a recent interview with ABC News, Biden, 77, said that he thinks "it's a legitimate question to ask anybody over 70 years old whether or not they're fit and whether they're ready." "But I just, only thing I can say to the American people, it's a legitimate question to ask anybody," he said. "Watch me." On Wednesday, Trump said he will request both Biden and himself take drug tests before the first presidential debate in September, suggesting without providing any evidence that drugs had improved the former vice president's debate performance against Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont in March during the Democratic primary. "We are going to call for a drug test," Trump said during an interview in the Oval Office with the Washington Examiner. "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 Commission on Presidential Debates has scheduled three debates between Biden and Trump and one between Vice President Mike Pence and Biden's running mate, Senator Kamala Harris of California, in coming two months. --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.) Illegal wildlife trading has become easy and profitable in the Singalila Ridge. Poaching and trafficking is increasing not only of pangolins and red pandas, but also of insects and medicinal plants. By Sangay Tamang Pangolins and red pandas are some of the most trafficked animals in the world. Both are distinctive mammals that are endemic to the eastern Himalayas, and both are threatened by a combination of geographic and socioeconomic factors fuelling illegal wildlife trafficking. This illegal trade is increasing at an alarming rate. In 1992, Singalila Wildlife Sanctuary (SNP), part of the eastern Himalayas in Darjeeling, West Bengal, was declared a national park. In 1994 SNP was declared a major wild habitat for red pandas. The park encompasses the Singalila Ridge, a mountain ridge that runs from West Bengal to Sikkim in the Himalayas. To the west is the fragile, open border with Nepal. Wildlife in trouble Official figures on the number of red pandas and pangolins are not available, as SNP authorities and the Darjeeling Wildlife Division are reluctant to make the information public. But, according to media reports, the number of wild red pandas across SNP and Neora Valley National Park in Kalimpong is 40-45. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the red panda as endangered, and India is estimated to have 5,000-6,000 red pandas in total. In 2015, an IUCN assessment said that global populations may have declined by 50 percent over the past 18 years, and that this decline would continue, and probably intensify, in the next 18. In 1994, Darjeeling Zoo started a red panda conservation breeding programme. By 2003, it had 22 red pandas and decided to release two zoo-born females into the wild. Two more females were released in 2014 and a further four pandas were supposed to be released in October 2019. Despite these efforts, the red panda population in the national park shows no signs of increasing. During my research in SNP, villagers told me that they had seen red pandas less often over the past 20 years than prior to that. In earlier times, they sometimes encountered red pandas in their neighbourhoods. Cross-border poaching activity has increased, with demand for the trafficked animals coming from the illicit pet trade and private resorts, and from use of its pelt to make hats worn during certain ceremonies in China. Furthermore, to generate revenue from tourism the government of West Bengal has financed roads and other infrastructure inside the park, resulting in the rapid influx of visitors and vehicles and pushing animals away. Ironically, the state blames local communities; the SNPs management plan describes local settlers in and around the park as a biggest anthropogenic threat to red pandas in the Singalila. Pangolin poaching Unlike red pandas, pangolins have not historically been at the centre of conservation efforts. India is home to the Indian pangolin, listed as endangered by IUCN, and the critically endangered Chinese pangolin. In the past, local people in SNP often found pangolins near their farms. They are regarded as a natural pest controller, as a single pangolin will eat up to 70 million insects like ants and termites in a year. My fieldwork revealed that in the past locals rarely hunted pangolins but poaching in recent times has increased manifold. Trafficked because of demand for their meat and scales, particularly from China, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), an advocacy organisation, reported in September 2019 that the equivalent of 110,182 pangolins had been confiscated by law enforcement that year so far, a 54 percent increase from the previous year. Wildlife consumption in the mountains For centuries, many communities in the Himalayas ate wild animals and birds, especially in mountainous areas. In some parts of eastern Nepal, there is a rich history of consuming pangolin meat as part of traditional medical and food practices, with the scales dried and shaped into rings worn by locals. This does not mean that Himalayan communities hunted animals without any restrictions: the activity was mostly confined to the winter. Because many wild animals breed in the spring, it was believed they should not be hunted then. Parents used to tell their children that if they hunt in the breeding period, they would be punished by nature and become ill. Before the establishment of the national park, the villagers in and around SNP believed that small-scale community hunting of wild animals and birds played a crucial role in maintaining the ecosystem. My own anthropological research suggests that this has some logic. First, encouraging children to hunt during winter gives them an activity in their long holiday, which normally starts in the first week of December and ends in late February or early March. Second, it is a way to control the expansion of wild species before the breeding period, so they do not come into conflict with humans. Third, disturbing the breeding season causes imbalance in the ecosystem that could create infectious diseases, hence hunting at this time is considered a sin. Counterproductive laws Small-scale community hunting in SNP vanished after restrictions on entering the forest and designated park area were brought in the wake of Indias 1972 Wildlife Protection Act. This impacted communities livelihoods in many ways, and may have encouraged people to leave villages for better opportunities. Those who stayed had to find alternative ways of earning money. Illegal wildlife trading has become easy and profitable in the Singalila Ridge. Poaching and trafficking is increasing not only of pangolins and red pandas, but also of insects and medicinal plants. There are two main reasons for this. First, the open border policy between Nepal and India eases illegal trading. The historic trade route to China through Tibet via Nepal accelerates this. Commenting on the illegal butterfly trade in the border area, Arjan Basu Roy, vice-president of Naturemates, an NGO based in Kolkata, told The New Indian Express, After collection the butterflies are sent either to Nepal or Myanmar where Indian laws dont apply. From there they can be transported out. Locals who cross the border on foot are never even questioned or searched so its almost impossible to detect. Second, wildlife protection laws prohibited development in the forest area, so job opportunities and livelihood security were scarce. Many young people were compelled to start collecting herbs and wildlife, as it was more lucrative than seasonal work. This lack of development was enforced by a repressive forest department, leading to a hostile relationship not only between the forest department and communities, but also between humans and nature. During my field research, some locals said that a few forest officials were involved in the illegal wildlife trade. However, officials from the Darjeeling Wildlife Division have denied such claims. Local people, at the bottom of this complex chain, often do not know who they are hunting for; some dont even know that what they are doing is illegal. Need for cross-border collaboration and new laws We need to rethink conservation beyond national boundaries, and develop strong transboundary collaboration. This entails a cross-border anti-trafficking network consisting of bureaucrats, local stakeholders, environmentalists, NGOs and communities. Red Panda Network, a US-based organisation, is involved in the conservation of red pandas in some parts of eastern Nepal through its paid Forest Guardian team and other local stakeholders, but cross-border collaboration between India and Nepal is lacking at multiple levels. I learnt from my fieldwork in SNP that aside from some awareness programmes organised by NGOs, Indian villagers have no organisational support in conserving wildlife habitat. One reason for this difference between the two countries is their forest and wildlife laws. Nepal, due to its history of community forestry, has been partially successful in including communities in conservation projects, while India still follows an exclusionary conservationist policy designed under colonial rule. To save endangered species like the red panda and pangolin, Indias forest and wildlife laws must be reformulated. Sangay Tamang is a PhD student in the department of humanities and social sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam. This article is based on his fieldwork conducted between December 2017 and December 2019 in Singalila National Park and its adjacent forest, where he researched the history of forestry, wildlife and community formation in the eastern Himalayan corridor. This article was amended on 25 August 2020 to make clear the Darjeeling Wildlife Division deny any claims that officials have been involved in poaching in the Singalila National Park. The Third Pole is a multilingual platform dedicated to promoting information and discussion about the Himalayan watershed and the rivers that originate there. This report was originally published on thethirdpole.net and has been reproduced here with permission. MADISON, Wis. - Rapper Kanye West filed a lawsuit Friday demanding election officials place him on Wisconsins presidential ballot in November. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Wests campaign filed the lawsuit in Brown County Circuit Court. The state Elections Commission decided last week that West missed the 5 p.m. deadline for filing his nomination signatures by anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes on Aug. 4. The lawsuit argues that the deadline did not expire until 5:01 p.m. and regardless of the timing, commission staffers still accepted the papers. The lawsuit went to allege that commission staff should have unlocked the buildings doors at 4:30 to accommodate late-arriving filers. The commissions building has been locked since the coronavirus pandemic took hold; Wests campaign workers had to call the commission shortly before 5 p.m. to get them to unlock the doors. Commission spokesman Reid Magney declined comment. West announced a presidential bid in July, saying hes seeking the nations highest office on a ticket he calls the Birthday Party. Democrats claim Republicans are pushing Wests candidacy in swing states to siphon Black votes from Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. The alleged murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin triggered the riots, looting and arson that have dominated the Summer months. That Floyd was murdered by the Minneapolis Police Department is an article of faith on the left and on many precincts of the right. But is it true? Floyds case became internationally famous because of cell phone video that showed him slowly becoming unconscious while a police officer knelt on his neck. Surely he was asphyxiated! That conclusion seemed inescapable, especially since, while lying on the street with officers restraining him, Floyd complained of being unable to breathe. I cant breathe became a Black Lives Matter battle cry. But video that came out later showed that Floyd had been complaining of inability to breathe when he was standing up and walking around, long before he was on the street. And it emerged that the toxicology report associated with his autopsy found that he had at least double the dose of fentanyl in his blood that is normally considered lethal, along with other drugs. And shortness of breath is notoriously a symptom of fentanyl poisoning. I wrote about all of that here. But now there is a new bombshell: on Tuesday, prosecutors who have charged Derek Chauvin with murder released a document that suggests that he had nothing to do with Floyds death, which in all likelihood resulted from a drug overdose. Not only that, prosecutors have known that fact for months. Former state and federal prosecutor George Parry has the story. It was linked earlier as a Pick, but I think deserves more attention: At 7:30 p.m. on May 31, 2020, prosecutors met online with Dr. Andrew Baker, Chief Medical Examiner of Hennepin County, to discuss Floyds toxicology report. The memo of that meeting is embedded at the link. So there they were, staring at the just-received and damning toxicology report that blew to smithereens the whole prosecution theory that the police had killed Floyd. To their undoubted dismay, Dr. Baker, the chief medical examiner, had to concede that at 11 ng/mL, Floyd had a fatal level of fentanyl under normal circumstances. He also conceded that the fentanyl overdose can cause pulmonary edema, a frothy fluid build-up in the lungs that was evidenced by the finding at autopsy that Floyds lungs weighed two to three times normal weight. This is consistent with Officer Kuengs observation at the scene that Floyd was foaming at the mouth and, as found at autopsy, that his lungs were diffusely congested and edematous. In other words, like a drowned man, Floyds lungs were filled with fluid. And that was the obvious and inescapable reason why Floyd kept shouting over and over again that he couldnt breathe even when he was upright and mobile. The memorandum ends with Dr. Bakers devastating conclusion that if Floyd had been found dead in his home (or anywhere else) and there were no other contributing factors he [Dr. Baker] would conclude that it was an overdose death. And yet the homicide prosecution against four Minneapolis Police Department officers continues. It is quite telling that this explosively exculpatory June 1 memorandum was not released by the prosecution until August 25, 2020. All of which prompts these questions: First, why did the prosecution wait three months to release this memorandum? Second, if the prosecution had released this information in a timely fashion, would that have helped to quell the anti-police outrage that has fueled the nationwide orgy of rioting and looting? Third, in light of Floyds toxicology results and the medical examiners assessment that Floyds fentanyl overdose caused him to essentially drown in his own bodily fluid, why havent the charges against all of the police defendants been dropped? I can answer the last question. If charges against Derek Chauvin and the other officers were dropped, rioting would break out not just in Minneapolis, but across the country. Broad swaths of the City of Minneapolis have already been burned to the ground, and that is probably nothing compared to what Black Lives Matter would do if the criminal justice system followed normal procedures. Derek Chauvin, at this point, is a man without a country, a man who probably cannot receive a fair trial anywhere in the United States. Certainly not in Hennepin County, where he has been charged. Sorry, Derek. The normal rules dont apply to you. Raisons dEtatreasons of statedictate that you spend the rest of your life in prison. Civic authorities are too frightened of rioters, or too sympathetic with their cause, for it to be otherwise. Germany has tightened the rules for those traveling to the Balearic Islands and will impose a quarantine on people arriving from high-risk areas, including Spain, unless a negative coronavirus test is presented, which must be carried out no more than five days before entering the country, according to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "Travel to regions of risk should be avoided as far as possible," said Mrs Merkel, who stressed that the issue had been discussed intensely" during her meeting with the countrys Lander leaders. The agreement with Regional Authorities also stipulates that those who don't comply with the quarantine requirement will be fined and that no compensation will be paid to people who are absent from work because of an unjustified trip. The new rule will be implemented from October. Since August all travellers arriving at German airports, railway stations or health centres have been offered a free Covid-19 test and only have to quarantine if the result is positive. The German Government has upheld its recommendation that all but essential travel or tourism in a total of 160 countries outside the EU be avoided. Countries within the European Union included on the list are Spain, except the Canary Islands; Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Croatia and Romania. The Principality of Andorra was also included in the list on Wednesday. Daily Infections Coronavirus infections have continued to rise in Germany in recent weeks. 1,507 new coronavirus infections were confirmed on Thursday, which is less than the 1,576 reported on Wednesday, according to the Robert Koch Institute, or RKI. Last Saturday, Germany reported 2,034, the highest figure since the end of April. 6,000 infections a day were reported between the end of March and the beginning of April. A total of 237,936 people have contracted the virus since the pandemic began, 211,900 have beaten the virus and 9,285 have died. There were 350 infections per day in June which increased to between 800 and 950 in July and 1,000 in August. School Term Between July and the beginning of August, students from ten Federal states returned to school, and pupils in Bavaria will go back to class in September. RKI says the return to school is not to blame for the increase in infections which it says is caused by family gatherings, religious events, parties and holidays abroad which account for 39% of all new infections. Consensual measures Chancellor Merkel has held regular meetings with Regional Leaders throughout the pandemic in order to adopt common lines of action, despite the fact that regional variations may be implemented. Germany's ban on large public events, which was due to be lifted at the end of October, has been extended until the end of the year and fines of at least 50 euros will be imposed on anyone who refuses to wear a face mask on public transport or in shops, but not on public roads. National Project Coordinator, Child Labour, Vientiane Organization: International Labour Organization (ILO) Country: Lao Peoples Democratic Republic City: Vientiane, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic Office: ILO Vientiane, Laos Closing date: Wednesday, 9 September 2020 Grade: NOB Vacancy no.: DC/VIENTIANE/NO/2020/02 Publication date: 27 August 2020 Application deadline (midnight Bangkok time): 9 September 2020 Job ID: 4238 Department: RO-Asia and the Pacific Organization Unit: CO-Bangkok Location: Vientiane Contract type: Fixed Term Contract duration: One year (with possibility of renewal) Under article 2, paragraph (e) of the Staff Regulations, the filling of vacancies in technical cooperation projects does not fall under Annex I of the Staff Regulations and is made by direct selection by the Director-General. In order to support the best informed process in the filling of the above-mentioned vacancy by direct selection, the ILO invites interested candidates to submit their application online by the above date. The following are eligible to apply: ILO Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 31 and 32 of Annex I of the Staff Regulations. External candidates* *The recruitment process for National Officer positions is subject to specific local recruitment and eligibility criteria. Technical cooperation appointments are not expected to lead to a career in the ILO and they do not carry any expectation of renewal or conversion to any other type of appointment in the Organization. A one-year fixed-term contract will be given . Extensions of technical cooperation contracts are subject to various elements including the following: availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance. Conditions of employment for external candidates: In conformity with existing ILO practice, the appointment of an external candidate will normally be made at the first step of this grade. The entry level salary for this position is US$27,013 yearly. Introduction Lao PDR is predominantly rural with multiple issues combining to create high levels of vulnerability. While relevant data is scarce, the results of the 2010 Labour Force and Child Labour Survey reveal that out of the child population of 1,767,109 children (857,962 girls) aged 5-17 years, 178,014 (96,368 girls) are in child labour. Amongst these are children under 14 years of age, those who work longer hours than stated in the labour law and those who work in hazardous condition prohibited by the labour law. In addition, youth employment faces issues of low productivity, unremunerated work concentrated in the agriculture sector and only one in every employed youth earns enough to escape poverty. The COVID-19 crisis has affected mostly those who were already socially and economically vulnerable. This includes workers in informal employment, migrants, women and children. While children are not the face of the crisis, it will have long-term impacts on their wellbeing, education and health. It will hit children particularly hard and the root causes of child labour - poverty, social marginalization, discrimination and the lack of quality education - are likely to be exacerbated. Globally, it is estimated that 42-66 million children could fall into extreme poverty as a result of the crisis this year, adding to the estimated 386 million children already in extreme poverty in 2019. The massive disruption to education and the lack of distance-learning solutions are expected to drive child labour numbers up. Households may resort to child labour in order to cope with job loss and health shocks associated with COVID-19, in particular if children are not at school. Children who are from marginalized minority groups, disabled, homeless, or from single or child-headed households, migrants, or disaster affected areas are more vulnerable and at risk of child labour. Girls in particular might be burdened by increased domestic chores and care responsibilities. The International Labour Organization seeks to recruit a Child Labour Project National Coordinator to support the implementation of the Strengthened implementation of National Plan of Action (NPA) to Eliminate Child Labour and Promote Decent Work for Youth in Lao PDR towards achieving SDG 7 project. The Child Labour Project National Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating activities of the project. He/she will contribute to developing, providing direct technical support to and monitoring the delivery of the activities envisaged in the projects work plan. The incumbent will promote ILO policies and principles in the related technical areas of the child labour, working conditions for youth. The position is located within the ILO Office in Vientiane Capital of Lao PDR. The Child Labour Project National Coordinator will work under direct supervision of the Director of the Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR. He/she will work in close coordination with the ILO Coordinator in Lao PDR. Overall technical supervision is provided by the ILO DWT in Bangkok, in particular, the Senior Specialist on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. He/she will also collaborate with other DWT Specialists and other related programmes/projects of the ILO Country Office in Lao PDR as required. Description of Duties 1. Ensure effective management (including planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation) of the projects activities in coordination with the ILO Coordinator in Lao PDR and in accordance with the policies, programme strategies, programming guidelines, administrative and financial procedures of the ILO and country/action programmes. 2. Prepare periodic and ad- hoc progress notes on the status of the project planning and implementation and establish coordination with other UN partner agencies; national partners and development partners in Lao PDR. 3. Review and analyse development plans and policies in Lao PDR, legislation, socio-economic data, reports and other information relevant to the implementation of the project activities. Provide written analysis of the findings to the ILO Country Office Director. 4. Work in close collaboration with the ILO Coordinator in Lao PDR to review and update the projects work plan (according to evolving needs and priorities) and support the mobilisation of additional resources for implementation of the projects activities. 5. Lead or assist, as required, in the preparation of briefs, background information, technical reports and periodic progress reports and statistical data on the overall activities of the project on behalf of the ILO. 6. Be responsible for the effective management and timely delivery of funds/budget assigned to the project, as well as in ensuring the effective coordination with other ILO programmes/projects. 7. Conduct research and provide technical inputs for country analyses, reports and publications related to child labour issues in Lao PDR, including translation when necessary. 8. Assist in the programming and monitoring of available resources, prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts by comparing and analysing the resource situation with planned activities. Identify problems and propose solutions. 9. Provide programming and administrative support and closely cooperate with other related projects and activities of the ILO, to identify opportunities for enhanced synergies and better outcomes. 10. Coordinate with and organise meetings and events with government officials, including high-level officials, as needed for the implementation of project activities. Coordinate and cooperate with the Project Advisory Committee as required. Follow-up with counterparts in the government, development agencies and other organizations to expedite implementation and meet targets. optional section (if needed) 11. Participate in the organisation and facilitation of conferences, seminars, workshops, trainings and consultative meetings. Speak on behalf of the ILO and promote ILO principles when attending these gatherings alone. 12. Provide technical assistance to national partners, particularly the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, trade unions and employer organisations, the tripartite focal points on child labour in the finalization and implementation of Lao PDR National Plan of Action to Eliminate Child Labour and Promote Decent Work for Youth 2020-2025/2030 and following up on the implementation of the recommendations from Committee on the Application of Standards. 13. Contribute to the development of training material, particularly by providing information and recommendations on the local context and challenges. Promote ILO principles and standards during this development. 14. Assist in collecting statistical data and projections related to child labour and youth employment from government agencies, research organisations and development partners. 15. Undertake missions independently or accompanying others. 16. Prepare terms of references for external collaborators, identify consultants, guide and assess their work. 17. Carry out other duties as may be assigned. Required qualifications Education First level university degree in social sciences, economics, law, development studies or a relevant field. A Masters degree would be an added advantage. Experience At least three years of professional experience at the national level in the area of project/programme management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation with a thematic emphasis on child labour, child protection, working conditions, and/or capacity development. Proven experience in working effectively with government agencies in charge of policy making and development partners. Familiarity with UN policies and procedures and experience working with officials of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Lao Federation of Trade Unions in Lao PDR is desirable. Languages Excellent command of English. Working knowledge of another official language of the Organization or Lao. Competencies Knowledge of the national social protection system (context and challenges) and of the mandate and structure of related institutions in Lao PDR. Tags capacity development child labour child protection development plans extreme poverty labour law monitoring and evaluation quality education results based management social sciences social welfare statistical data technical cooperation trade unions trainings translation wellbeing youth employment Ability to communicate well with the government, trade unions, employer organisations, civil society, academia and media on issues related to social protection. Good knowledge of programming and results-based management principles and concepts. Good knowledge of the programming cycle (planning, budgeting, administration, monitoring, reporting and evaluation). Knowledge of the ILOs financial rules and regulations would be an asset. Ability to interpret and work within applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures, and to maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders. Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non- discriminatory behaviour and attitudes. Ability to identify, analyse and solve problems effectively and efficiently. Ability to communicate clearly orally and in writing. Good drafting skills. Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines. Ability to work independently and take initiative and responsibility, while also being a team player. Proficiency in using Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, web browsers and database applications, and adaptability to new software apps and systems. Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy. Recruitment process Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit the ILO Jobs website ( https://jobs.ilo.org). The system provides instructions for online application procedures. Fraud warning The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants. The Duval County Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee (DCRFSC) denounces a Florida Health Department order, issued Tuesday, mandating censorship of COVID-19 data within Duval public schools. This information is a life-and-death matter for students, staff and parents who have been forced back into unsafe schools even as Florida continues to have over 3,500 new infections every day. The DCRFSC also condemns the bullying and intimidation tactics of Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, who last week demanded the firing of teachers who fail to report back to schools under Floridas reactionary right-to-work statutes. Our committee has been informed that Corcoran is personally pushing a vindictive policy across every school district, demanding investigations for professional misconduct and seeking to prosecute teachers to the fullest extent of the law. According to the Florida Education Association, teachers are barred from instigating strikes or even supporting them. Such penalties could range from firing and the revoking of certifications to fines and jail time. The Duval County Department of Health instructed schools they cannot publish school specific data related to COVID-19 without their permission. Accordingly, the districts dashboard of cases went static. The action was taken after 24 cases were reported in the schools in just the first three days of in-person instruction. This is a blatant attack on our rights to know the truth and to protect ourselves and our students. Governor DeSantis and other state officials have only one purpose: to hide the evidence of their crime, which is no less deadly than homicide. The danger to teachers, parents and educators cannot be overstated. Among the biggest lies peddled by the administration is that children are immune or relatively unscathed. Just in the last two weeks, more than 74,000 children in the US tested positive for the coronavirus, a 21 percent increase between August 6 and August 20. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, presently, there have been at least 442,785 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in this age group. Florida itself confirmed almost 9,000 new COVID-19 cases among children within 15 days of schools reopening earlier this month. During the same 15 days, the number of children hospitalized due to COVID-19 rose from 436 to 602, and one more child died from the virus, bringing the states total number of child deaths to eight. In demanding the immediate closure of schools, the DCRFSC is taking a stand for children, parents and the community as well as ourselves. The fact that the Department of Health wants to censor data coupled with a lack of rapid testing before reopening schools, means that the real number of cases and deaths among children is likely far higher. The CDC has bent to Wall Street pressure and modified its guidelines for testing for COVID-19 on Monday. Deaths to staff, parents and the wider community will continue to skyrocket if we dont take a stand. Our committee stands for Full transparency. We demand daily reporting to the community on results and COVID-positive cases. This is nonnegotiable. The suppression of information, attacks on the First Amendment rights and threats against the right of the working class to withhold its labor are measures of desperation. Corcoran, a spineless Trump acolyte, is channeling the growing fear of the ruling elite as social anger mounts. Educators and parents have rallied throughout the state against the deadly reopening of schools. The states largest-ever demonstrations occurred as some 10,000 Floridians marched against the police murder of George Floyd and mass unemployment and growing social inequality now combine to drive widespread opposition. Teachers want to be in their classrooms doing the job they love! There must be no penalty for safeguarding our health and that of our students and communities. The DCRFSC program calls for: No loss of income for educators who choose to stay home. Teachers will not lose their position at their school if they decide to remain virtual. Teachers shall be provided unlimited COVID-19 sick leave. This suppression of information on the pandemic has characterized the response of DeSantis, as it has the Trump administration. Notoriously, Rebekah Jones, a top Department of Health official, was fired by DeSantis in May after she refused to scrub the states COVID-19 data to diminish official cases. The health department now cites Florida Statute 381.0031, ludicrously claiming that disease reporting is confidential and should be only be made public when necessary to public health. Clearly this agency is a rubber stamp for the politics of Governor DeSantis and Florida billionaires. All scientific studies show that schools are inevitable vectors for widespread community transmission of the deadly disease. 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 have poor ventilation or do not require the use of masks or social distancing. All of these facts indicate that the only responsible plan is for the shutdown of all Florida schools, with full support to parents, students and staff until a safe return can be ensured. Our power is in the working class. We call on all educators, parents, and students in Duval County, across Florida, nationally and internationally who agree with these demands to join with us. There is a growing sentiment for a national strike to halt the homicidal reopening of schools across the United States. We wish to lend our strength to those around the country looking for mass action of the working class because our lives are at stake. We call on all workersmanufacturing, logistics, food processing, health care, public and private sectorin Duval County and nationally to support our struggle. We call on you to help to save lives. We need your support! All schools and nonessential businesses must close! All workers, regardless of industry, must unify with us to make this desperately needed measure a reality. 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! Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 28, 2020 15:28 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c412abc6 4 National Jambi,domestic-violence Free Jambi Police arrested on Friday a 24-year-old woman for allegedly pouring boiling water over her 51-year-old-mother. Jambi Police's head of women and children's unit Second Insp. Vani said the suspect, identified only as AF, told authorities that she was upset at her mother for not agreeing to her reuniting with her ex-husband. Read also: Police shoot man who allegedly tries to rape, open fire on his own mother The suspect claimed that her mother had been unhappy ever since she had started getting back with her ex-husband. "They argued about this matter a lot. AF refused to take her mother's advice, she was upset, so she assaulted her mother," Vani said. She said AF was boiling water to make tea while her mother was doing laundry when the incident happened. "Suddenly AF went to her mother and poured the boiling water over her face," Vani explained. AF's mother reported the assault to the Jambi Police. AF was charged under Article 44 of Law No. 23/2004 on the eradication of domestic violence. (nal) North Korea has given live ammunition to border guards and ordered them to shoot anyone who comes within 1 km of the border with China to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Radio Free Asia claimed Wednesday. The regime seems to be terrified of the virus to the point of refusing outside aid despite an imminent food shortage and devastation from recent floods. "Police in the city of Hoeryong issued an emergency notice from the Ministry of Social Security, saying they would kill anyone within 1 km of the North Korea-China border regardless of their reason for being there," RFA quoted a source in North Hamgyong Province as saying Wednesday. The order "will be in effect along the entire North Korea-China border until the coronavirus pandemic ends." The source said police are telling the public that "the enemy" is trying to "infiltrate" its borders with the virus. Meryl Streep's nephew, 31-year-old Charles Harrison Streep, was arrested this week. The Oscar winner's relative was allegedly involved in a road rage incident that took place in East Hampton, New York, on Monday that left an 18-year-old driver with a serious head trauma requiring emergency surgery, The Independent reported. After detectives tracked him down, Charles was arrested on Thursday and charged with with felony counts of second-degree assault and second-degree strangulation, the site claimed. He was arraigned and released on $5,000 bail, police stated in a press release. Family trouble: Meryl Streep's nephew, 31-year-old Charles Harrison Streep, was arrested this week. Here she is seen in September 2019 and Charles, right, in October 2019 Life on the coast: Here Charles, who goes by the name Charlie, is seen at an event The incident was serious as the victim needed emergency surgery after his head was injured. Charles, who goes by the name Charlie, is the son of Meryl's brother Dana Streep and his wife Mary. Meryl is one of the most respected actresses in Hollywood and is best known for her films Sophie's Choice, Out Of Africa, Heartburn, The Devil Wears Prada and Mama Mia! She has won three Academy Awards. Meryl's representative did not immediately return calls to DailyMail.com. The road rage attack allegedly occurred at around 11:30 am on Monday in the parking lot behind a Chase Bank on Main Street in the upscale, sleepy neighborhood of East Hampton on New York's Long Island, the site claimed. The East Hampton Village Police shared a press release about the incident. Where it went down: The road rage attack allegedly occurred at around 11:30 am on Monday in the parking lot behind a Chase Bank on Main Street The scene: East Hampton is an upscale, sleepy neighborhood of on New York's Long Island A closer look at the scene: There is a brick lined driveway out of the bank's drive-up teller that leads to a parking lot It was stated by law enforcement that the victim suffered 'serious head trauma.' Neither the attacker nor the victim were named on Monday, but it has now been claimed the attacker is Streep, according to the Independent. The victim is reportedly an 18-year-old who was driving a Ford sedan at the time of the assault, He is from an area called Springs, according to The Independent. Thumb's up: The college graduate is pictured on Facebook swimming next to a boat With friends in New York City last year: Streep, seen center, with Allison Bliven and Charlie Feid at BCNY's 71st Annual Fall Dance at The Pierre Hotel in October 2019 in New York City The site added description of the violent event. According to site, which spoke to Lieutenant Gregory Brown, the teen in the Ford turned into the Circle on Main Street which leads to the parking lot behind the Chase bank. Streep was reportedly driving an Audi convertible and got out of his car to allegedly attack the teenager. Family bond: Charles is the son of Meryl's brother Dana Streep and his wife Mary; here the actress is seen with her brother Dana in 2016 in NYC All together now: Meryl Streep in 1986 with her brother Dana, sister in law Mary and husband Don Gummer It was noted that Charles was allegedly charged with 'second-degree assault and second-degree strangulation' which means he seems to have not only hit the boy but he also must have tried to strangle him. The victim at first did not want medical treatment but then he asked for help, it was claimed by Brown, and he went home. But his condition reportedly grew worse at home and he asked for medical assistance. He was then taken to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, Brown said. 'By 2:30 p.m., he had been airlifted from Southampton to Stony Brook University Hospital, as he required surgery for the trauma,' the site reported. There were eye witnesses who then called the police when the incident happened, but when the officers arrived, there was no sign of the perpetrator. Good background: The nephew of Meryl seems to have had an ideal upbringing. He attended New Canaan High School in Connecticut and graduated in 2007 College: Then he went to University of Virginia where he played Lacrosse, according to the schools website Here he is seen in a photo from his college The police then tracked down Streep believing he was the aggressor, and arrested him on Thursday morning at a house on Pondview Lane in East Hampton, according to the site. He was then charged with felony counts of second-degree assault and second-degree strangulation. Charles was arraigned and released on $5,000 bail, police said. East Hampton is full of affluence and where Alec Baldwin, Robert Downey, Jr and Neil Patrick Harris have homes. The nephew of Meryl seems to have had an ideal upbringing. He attended New Canaan High School in Connecticut and graduated in 2007 then he went to University of Virginia where he played Lacrosse, according to the schools website. A lawyer for Charles Streep did not immediately return calls from DailyMail.com. A 'smart and friendly' teenager who was invited to meet Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for his volunteering efforts died after taking MDMA. Emre Huseyin, 15, was taken to hospital but could not be saved just five days before his 16th birthday. He appeared to be unwell at 4.30pm on February 1 and an ambulance was called 40 minutes later as he 'appeared worse'. But paramedics pronounced Emre, of Sheerness, Kent, dead shortly after 6pm. Emre Huseyin, (middle) from Sheerness in Kent, died from an MDMA overdose, a coroner has confirmed. He is pictured with Sineah Hubbard, left, and Lucy Brightman-Stokes, right, who were commended with Emre by Meghan and Harry during a ceremony at Wembley Arena Coroner Sonia Hayes said he died of 'fatal MDMA consumption and toxicity' as she opened an inquest into his death today at County Hall in Maidstone, Kent. Emre's heartbroken sister Ceren Huseyin identified him to Kent Police. Paying tribute to her younger brother, she said: 'He was a smart boy and getting on so well at school. He was friendly and loved going out with his friends. 'He will be sorely missed. We all loved him so very much. It is such a terrible loss. This was so unexpected. He had many plans. He was full of aspirations. 'He wanted to study psychology and business in the sixth form. 'He had such a big future ahead of him. He loved reading and drama and was in school plays.' The Duke and Duchess of Sussex met Emre's two fellow pupils Sinead Hubbard, far left, and Lucy Brightman-Stokes, second from left, backstage at Wembley Arena last year to thank them for the work they had done at the dementia cafe at their school, the Oasis Academy in Kent Emre, a pupil at the Oasis Academy (pictured), was described as smart and friendly by friends and family as tributes poured in to the 15-year-old in the wake of his death earlier this year Emre was born in Lewisham, South London, but the family moved to Sheppey five years ago to have a fresh start. Speaking to Kent Online, Ceren at the time of Emre's death added: 'We wanted to live somewhere where there wasn't so much crime.' Emre, who would have turned 16 on February 6, was a Year 11 pupil at the Oasis Academy where he helped run a dementia cafe. He was invited to meet Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after his volunteering featured in the NHS at 70 magazine. Tina Lee, the principal of Oasis Academy, said in a letter to parents at the time: 'I am writing to update you on a desperately sad incident for our school family. 'One of our Year 11 students passed away on Saturday. 'As an academy we have been in touch with their family to offer our support, and we are liaising with all the appropriate external agencies with their investigation into the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident. 'We have shared this news with all students, and have had specially trained staff on site to ensure that everyone who asked had the time and space to grieve.' She added: 'This is a sad and challenging time for all of us at the academy; thank you for your ongoing support.' Days after his death, floral tributes were still propped against the wall of Emre's home in Sheerness and friend held a candle-lit vigil on a field nearby Days after his death, floral tributes were still propped against the wall of Emre's home in Sheerness - where he lived with his father, sisters Ceren and Seren, 17, step-mother and two-year-old step-brother. He has two older brothers who live in Cyprus and Poland. His father, Yusuf Sakaryali, had been visiting another son in Cyprus when he was told the devastating news and flew back on Sunday. At evenings and weekends Emre would work at a local barber's shop to earn some pocket money. A second boy who was at a different address was also taken to hospital but was later discharged. Police were called shortly before 6pm as paramedics dealt with Emre. A 17-year-old boy from Sidcup, south east London, was charged with supplying the Class A drug MDMA in connection with Emre's death. The recent violence aims to derail the Iraqi protest movement ahead of the 2021 elections, analysts and activists say. On August 17, Iraqi activists Lodia Remon, Abbas Subhi and Fahd al-Zubaidi were heading to the mourning ceremony for fellow activist Tahseen Oussama, who was killed in the southern city of Basra three days earlier, when armed men attacked them. Remon was shot in the leg and Subhi in the chest. I survived by a miracle. I still cannot stand on my feet and until now I am in shock, Remon told Al Jazeera. Subhi, who required surgery, also survived. Two days later, Reham Yacoub, a close friend of Remon and a fellow activist, was shot dead in her car, sparking public anger and demonstrations in several Iraqi cities. The murder attempt and the death of close friends have taken a toll on Remon, who is a member of Basras small Christian community. I think that I have lost a large part of my dreams and my aspirations for the first time in my life. I feel I have lost my courage and fear has taken over. The psychological pain is so much worse than the physical pain, she said. Activists and protest organisers have been targeted this month in several other southern and central provinces, which have witnessed anti-government protests for more than a year. An estimated 700 protesters have been killed and dozens of activists and government critics murdered. In Basra, where the Iraqi protest movement emerged, the killings have created an atmosphere of fear, with a number of activists fleeing the city in recent days. Locals have accused Iranian-backed armed groups of carrying out the attacks. Activists and analysts Al Jazeera spoke to said the violence is aimed at preventing the protest movement from transforming into a political party, which could challenge the status quo in the 2021 parliamentary elections. Lodia Reham chants during a demonstration in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, on June 13, 2020 [File: AFP/Hussein Faleh] Birth of a movement The first protest that Basra activist Mohanad al-Khafajy went to was in 2012, just a year after the so-called Arab Spring uprisings toppled longtime rulers in Tunisia and Egypt and sparked hope of a democratic transformation in the region. The demands of the young people who took to the streets of the city were more modest: They wanted the constant electricity blackouts to stop. Years of instability and mismanagement had left oil-rich Basra with dilapidated infrastructure that cannot provide proper public services to its two million residents. Severe shortages of water and electricity have made its hot and humid summers particularly unbearable. After demonstrating throughout the summer of 2012, al-Khafajy and two dozen other young people decided to form a group to coordinate protest action. The group eventually came to be known as the Civilian Youth of Basra. Its main demand was the establishment of a non-sectarian system of government based on justice and rule of law. For al-Khafajy, the protests in Basra, which took place almost every year since 2012, as well as the political organising done by Civilian Youth of Basra and other groups and activists, laid the foundations of the 2019 movement for change in Iraq, which toppled the government of Adel Abdul Mahdi last November. The protest movement in Iraq started from Basra, where it developed a culture of protest and free expression which then spread to other provinces, al-Khafajy told Al Jazeera. In June 2019, amid scorching heat and a major water and electricity crises, thousands of people took to the streets in Basra again. After a short-lived lull at the end of the summer, in October, the protests reignited and spread across the southern and central provinces, as well as the capital, Baghdad. This was when Oussama became more active in the Civilian Youth of Basra, which he often hosted in the office of his internet company. After [the protest movement] threatened the interests of the corrupt and foreign-backed parties, it became a real danger that requires the use of brutal and violent methods to silence these voices, said al-Khafajy. Demonstrators hold national flags and posters of protesters who were killed during previous demonstrations, in Basra, Iraq on September 11, 2018 [File: AP/Nabil al-Jurani] Death threats According to al-Khafajy, Oussama was killed because of his membership and activities with Civilian Youth of Basra, which the political forces governing Iraq have started to see as a threat because of its effective grassroots organising and protest activity. Other members, including al-Khafajy, were also threatened. The group had intended to register a party and compete in the next election, but Oussamas murder put those plans on hold. Al-Khafajy told Al Jazeera he has left Iraq again after he and his family were followed by unknown men. This is not the first time Basra witnessed a string of assassinations of political activists. In 2018, when the city saw major protests against poor services, employment and corruption, several prominent figures were killed, including Jabbar Karam al-Bahadli, a human rights lawyer who defended detained demonstrators, and Suad al-Ali, a human rights activists who supported the protests. The same year, Remon, Yacoub, and other female activists who were active in womens groups and organised womens marches, faced a smear campaign by pro-Iranian media outlets and social media accounts, accusing them of being part of an American plot to destabilise Basra. As a result, they started receiving threats to their lives. I received many death threats in 2018. In 2020, I was also threatened on social media and through phone calls because of my continued participation in the protests and civil work, Remon told Al Jazeera. On August 20, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi visited Basra and met with Yacoubs family. He pledged those responsible for the attacks and murders would be arrested and punished. He dismissed the security chiefs in the city and sent in reinforcements of security forces. But according to Sarmad al-Taei, a Basra-based journalist, the measures taken by the government so far are unlikely to bring those responsible to justice. Al-Kadhimi continues to dismiss security chiefs and move around the Counterterrorism Forces, but this is not enough. He realises his power is limited and he has not yet undertaken any major action against the killers, he told Al Jazeera. Part of the reason for the lack of progress is because the government does not have full control of the security apparatus, which does not always carry out orders that come from Baghdad. Al-Taei said the government has repeatedly tried to release detained protesters, but is sometimes unable to because information on their whereabouts in certain prisons is purposefully withheld. In his opinion, the escalation in violence is an attempt to put down the protest movement, which has grown in both power and legitimacy. Shadow state Local activists, including al-Khafajy, said they believe pro-Iranian armed groups carried out the assassinations. These armed groups have also been accused of participating in violent crackdowns on protests in 2019 and 2020, alongside security forces. According to Haider Saeed, head of the research department at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, these fighters are part of what he calls a shadow state. These factions began as forces challenging the state, and during the [Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri] al-Maliki era, especially between 2012 and 2015 a moment of weakness for the state it resorted to them [to fight ISIL], said Saeed. Then an attempt was made to make them part of the state, that is, to give them an official cover. But in effect, they still work outside the will of the state. In the years after the US invasion in 2003, various Shia armed groups were formed in Iraq, some with a pro-Iranian agenda and others with a more nationalist slant. When the ISIL (ISIS) armed group took over large swaths of Iraqi territory in 2014, these groups, along with new armed groups created for the anti-ISIL war effort, were reorganised into an umbrella organisation called the Popular Mobilisation Units (PMU). After the end of the battle against ISIL, some of the pro-Iranian armed groups formed a political alliance, which came second in the 2018 parliamentary elections in Iraq. Although formally the PMU is part of the Iraqi security forces, attempts to integrate it fully have not been successful. During the 2019-2020 protests, its offices in multiple cities were attacked by protesters angry at armed fighters participating in the crackdown against them. Most recently, on August 22 in the southern city of Nasiriyah, demonstrators burned and tore down with a bulldozer the offices of pro-Iran groups and Shia parties after their sit-in in the city centre was attacked with a bomb. According to Saeed, there are two reasons for the recent attacks on protesters and activists. First, the shadow state and the state have entered a confrontation because [of actions by] al-Kadhimis government, so the assassinations are a challenge to the PM, he said. Second, with the government setting a date for early elections, it seems that these forces want to reduce the chances of the protest forces to organise and have a role in the vote. Currently, the protest movement is experiencing a lot of challenges, including the continuing attacks on its members and internal divisions, Saeed said. He sees the lull in demonstrating as an unannounced truce with al-Kadhimi in order to give him time to try to fulfil some of the protesters demands. However, there are already calls for new demonstrations on October 1 to mark the movements first anniversary. Both al-Khafajy and Remon said they believe while the protest movement has been weakened, it has not been defeated. My message to the Iraqi people is to stop being silent about injustice and corruption. Justice will triumph one day. A new generation is rising that cannot be silenced, said Remon. Follow Mariya Petkova on Twitter: @mkpetkova All losses were non-combat, including stepping on improvised explosive devices, suicides, the use of alcohol and drugs, and road accidents. The Ukrainian Joint Forces Operation Headquarters (JFO HQ) has disclosed the enemy death toll in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, since the start of the newly-agreed truce. Read also"DPR" institutes death penalty UN"According to the Joint Forces' intelligence data, the units of the Russian Federation's armed formations in Donbas continue to suffer losses of personnel. Since the beginning of a full and comprehensive ceasefire on July 27, the enemy's irreplaceable losses totaled 21 killed and 29 wounded," the JFO HQ wrote on Facebook on August 28, 2020. All losses were non-combat, including stepping on improvised explosive devices, suicides, the use of alcohol and drugs, and road accidents. In addition, there were desertions of personnel, it said. Background LAS VEGAS, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Capriotti's Sandwich Shop's ability to adapt continues to set the beloved brand apart from its competition. The fan-favorite sandwich concept recently announced the launch of its highly-anticipated ghost kitchens. Optimized for delivery, Capriotti's ghost kitchens expand the brand's reach, making its crave-worthy subs accessible to even more fans. The brand rounds-out impressive culinary rosters at both CloudKitchen in L.A. (the Koreatown neighborhood) and Pasadena's Kitchen United (55 S. Madison Ave.), where it joins the likes of brands such as Canter's Deli, Wow Bao and The Lost Cuban. Both Capriotti's ghost kitchens are open and ready to fulfill orders. Ghost kitchen facilities house multiple restaurant kitchens but may have an incognito appearance to the outside world, lending to the name ghost kitchen. These facilities feature the equipment, technology and supplies required to operate multiple restaurants in one building and are tailor-made for restaurants selling food online for delivery orders. While some ghost kitchens feature signage and shared dine-in seating, many operate without. Capriotti's ghost kitchen locations are new outposts, helping fulfill the growing demand for online ordering and delivery of Capriotti's. And, while Capriotti's first two ghost kitchens are corporately owned and operated, franchise interest is booming as the platform is both cost effective and designed to thrive in the age of both online ordering and third-party delivery. Capriotti's is introducing ghost kitchen opportunities to franchise partners in available markets as a way to expand their reach beyond traditional brick and mortar. This allows existing owners to expand the customer base by now being able to deliver to more high traffic areas. Strong partnerships with Door Dash, Postmates, Uber Eats, GrubHub and EZ Cater make Capriotti's even more accessible for regular third-party delivery users. "Ghost kitchens are a natural next step and have long been a part of our brand's strategic growth plans. Operating in these innovative new ghost kitchen facilities gives us the opportunity to bring our carefully curated menu to new communities, which is what it's all about," said CEO Ashley Morris. "There's a reason why Capriotti's has such a robust and loyal following, and we're excited for others to give us a try and see for themselves what the hype is all about." The news of entering into ghost kitchens comes on the heels of exceptional performance in Q2 of this year. Even amid a pandemic, Capriotti's is growing and has finalized 18 signed agreements five of them are with franchisees that will be operating ghost kitchens in a variety of urban markets. Los Angeles County residents have a lot of mouthwatering menu items to look forward to. In addition to introducing the world's first Impossible Cheesesteak sandwich earlier this year, the brand recently partnered with Snake River Farms to roll out an unparalleled sub line-up featuring tender Wagyu beef. Showcased on several new menu items the American Wagyu Roast Beef, Slaw Be Jo, Cheese Steak and Wagyu & Bleu Salad Wagyu beef is known for its marbled, rich flavor that practically melts in your mouth. Now, the beef that's coveted by award-winning chefs and served in top-rated steakhouses will be delivered directly to doorsteps for an affordable price. All shops including ghost kitchen locations are practicing extraordinary safety protocols including tightly-sealed packaging, strict social distancing as well as health and wellness protocols for both guests and team members. Fans can rest easy knowing that contactless delivery is available for all orders placed through order.capriottis.com, the CAPAddicts app and third-party delivery partners. With 100 locations across the nation, Capriotti's is most famous for its 40-year nightly tradition of slow-roasting whole, all-natural turkeys in-house and hand-pulling the meat off the bone each morning for the sub voted Greatest Sandwich in America, the Bobbie. Other fan favorites include the CAPastrami, made with grilled pastrami, and their beloved, award-winning cheese steaks. For more information about Capriotti's or to find a location near you, please visit https://www.capriottis.com/. About Capriotti's Sandwich Shop Founded in 1976, Capriotti's Sandwich Shop is an award-winning national franchised restaurant chain that remains true to its 40-year tradition of slow-roasting whole, all-natural turkeys in-house every day. Capriotti's cold, grilled and vegetarian subs, cheese steaks and salads are available at more than 100 locations across the United States. Capriotti's signature sub, The Bobbie, was voted "The Greatest Sandwich in America" by thousands of readers across the country, as reported by AOL.com. Capriotti's fans can also download the CAPAddicts Rewards app for iOS and Android, where they can earn and redeem rewards. Capriotti's plans to grow to over 500 locations by 2025, and was listed amongst the Fast Casual Magazine's "Movers and Shakers" for 2020. For more information, visit capriottis.com. Like Capriotti's on Facebook, follow on Twitter or Instagram. Contact: Marissa Pasillas, Fishman Public Relations, 815-721-3086, [email protected] SOURCE Capriotti's Sandwich Shop Related Links http://www.capriottis.com Greece has called for European Union sanctions on Turkey amid continuing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, ekathimerini reported. I am waiting with great interest for Josep Borrells announcement on the options for sanctions on Turkey, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said of the EUs foreign policy chief ahead of an informal meeting of the blocs foreign ministers in Berlin. We consider this an absolute necessity in order to achieve a de-escalation in the Mediterranean, he said. However, Germany is reportedly concerned that the imposition of sanctions on Turkey will undermine efforts to reach an understanding with Ankara. Many EU governments believe that pressure on Turkey will only strengthen its position. This makes it difficult to impose sanctions, the source said. Investors are in the market for higher yielding brick and mortar assets in the lower-for-longer interest rate environment. Early learning centres, service stations, convenience stores and bank branches remain on the top of the list, together with sites that have development potential. The Byron Bay Holiday Village 116-118 Jonson Street, Byron Bay, NSW is being offered for sale The government support offered to child care centres through the COVID-19 pandemic has underpinned the asset class, which has seen the creation of listed sector-specific real real estate investment trusts (REITs). Burgess Rawson, which specialises in the sales of these assets, says it has completed up to $1 billion in deals over the past decade. Most centres were sold in New South Wales and Victoria, followed by Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. The ACT, Tasmania and Northern Territory also had solid sales. Public school students in Huntsville, Madison County and Madison will be returning to the classroom next month, officials said today. All three systems had planned to do remote learning for the first nine weeks, which would have been up Oct. 23. But because of improving COVID-19 numbers in Madison County, the districts all announced Friday they would begin returning to the classroom about a month earlier than planned. Huntsville says its students will return by grade level starting the week of Sept. 14 with students pre-K through grade 8. Students in grades 9-12 will return the week of Sept. 21. They will return in a staggered schedule. See the announcement here. The hallmark of our plans surrounding a phased and staggered re-entry is the flexibility to adjust to the public health situation, said HCS Superintendent Christie Finley. Huntsville school officials said they made the decision to return students to school after witnessing improvements in the public health situation in North Alabama. Additionally, the decision was made in conjunction with local health and city officials. Huntsville said its virtual school students - those enrolled in the new Huntsville Visual Academy - will continue in their virtual education programs. Madison City Schools will also begin the return to school in phases after Labor Day, Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols said. Nichols explained in the video below. Madison Citys re-entry schedule is as follows: Elementary schools (Pre-K thru 5th grade) will start Tuesday, Sept. 8 on an A-B rotating schedule, divided by last name. The A group will attend Tuesday/Thursday and B group on Wednesday/Friday). Elementary will then go to a full 5-days-a-week schedule beginning Sept. 14 and so on. Middle schools (grades 6-8) will begin a two-week, A-B rotating schedule on Sept. 14, with Wednesdays being an all-virtual day where no students will be in school. The A group will meet Mondays/Thursdays and B group on Tuesdays/Fridays. The all-virtual Wednesdays will also allow time for a deep cleaning of the schools. Middle Schools will go to the 5-days-a-week schedule starting Sept. 28. High schools (9-12) will start an A-B rotation the week of Sept. 21 and continue the week of Sept. 28, with Wednesdays remaining an all-virtual day. Meeting days will be the same as middle schools: A group on Mondays/Thursdays and B on Tuesdays/Fridays. Following the fall break holiday of Oct. 5-9, Madison City Schools plan to have all school-based learners on the normal full week schedule. That depends on the COVID-19 status and Alabama Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control guidance and protocols. Madison County said Friday afternoon that county schools will also start Sept. 14 with a transition week. Students with last names from A-K will attend on campus Monday Sept. 14 and Tuesday Sept. 15 and attend remotely Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of that week. Students with last names from L-Z will attend remotely Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of that week and on campus Thursday and Friday. All Madison County students will start traditional full weeks on campus with normal hours Monday-Friday on Sept. 21. Remote instruction will continue for students that selected that option. (This story has been updated throughout the day with new information) BEREA, Ohio -- A 24-year-old Parma man whom police knew was wanted by the Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Office was arrested at about noon Aug. 22 after an officer spotted him in the passenger seat of a car on West Bagley Road. Police stopped the car in front of McDonalds on West Bagley. When they asked the man if he was carrying anything illegal, the man admitted having speed or methamphetamine in his shorts pocket. The man also said he had a firearm on the passenger-side floorboard of the car. Police found a loaded 9mm pistol wrapped in a hoodie and a marijuana cigar in the vehicle. The cars driver, who was the mans mother, had a marijuana vape pen in her purse. Police released the mans mother, 39, of Brook Park, because she seemed to have no knowledge that her son was carrying methamphetamine and a loaded pistol. After the man was arrested, he told police that he had been robbed at gunpoint at about 11:45 a.m. Aug. 12 outside a Front Street apartment where he was staying with a 47-year-old woman. The man said a 22-year-old Berea man arrived at the apartment to trade his pistol for the womans gaming laptop. The woman asked the Parma man to handle the trade. When the Parma man and Berea man stepped outside, supposedly to make the deal, a second Berea man, also 22, was waiting in the pickup truck belonging to the first Berea man. The second Berea man pulled a pistol from under his pant leg, pointed it at the Parma man and said, Im taking this computer. He said he would return the computer only after the first Berea man received money, presumably from the woman. The two Berea men then drove away. The Parma man assumed the woman owed money to the first Berea man. Read more from the News Sun. Twenty years ago, during the Republican convention that nominated George W. Bush in Philadelphia, the Republican Party made a concerted effort to talk to Latino voters all across the United States. The party had realized that Bush, who spoke some Spanish and grew up in Texas, could open the door to the countrys fastest-growing minority. Republican strategist Cesar Martinez Gomariz was part of the team that crafted Bushs message. We tried to make a real effort to appeal to Latinos from the very beginning of the convention, Martinez Gomariz told me recently. In 2012, Mitt Romney chose Hispanic Sen. Marco Rubio to deliver the conventions keynote speech for the same reason. Advertisement The Republican Party has changed since then. Last week, Democrats were criticized, including by me, for the lack of Latino speakers in the primetime slots of the partys convention. They deserved the flak. Still, compared with Donald Trumps Republican Party, the Democrats efforts to include Hispanics seem almost admirable. The Republican National Conventions failed attempt at Latino inclusion has shown the limits of Donald Trumps recent outreach efforts. 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. In July, Trump dedicated a full week to focus on Latinos. He invited Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to the White House for an official visit (Lopez Obrador reciprocated by publicly praising Trump). The president then hosted a summit of Latino leaders, where Robert Unanue, the fawning Goya Foods CEO, called Trumps presidency a blessing. That same week, Trump announced a plan to support Latino entrepreneurs. Trumps sudden love for all things Hispanic is no coincidence. Some polls have suggested that Trump could have an opening with Latino voters. One in particular showed Trump inching close to 35 percent support among Latino voters, 7 points above the 28 percent he got in 2016. If those numbers hold on Election Day, they could make a real difference in states like Arizona and Florida. Although some of these polls are controversial (specialized Latino pollsters have long criticized their methodology), the opportunity to appeal to Latinos could be there for Trumps taking. Advertisement Advertisement If it is, this weeks RNC did not help. On the first night of the convention, the only Latino who could truly speak to the immigrant experience was Maximo Alvarez. Born in Cuba, Alvarez is a controversial businessman. He also represents a very specific demographic. By comparing Joe Biden to Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, Alvarez was appealing not to Americas broad and diverse Hispanic communitywhom Trump intended to court during his recent Latino weekbut to a very narrow and politically valuable sliver of the Latino electorate: the one in Florida. If you watch the #RNC2020 and listen to the Latino speakers, you would think the only narrative our community has is fleeing Castros Cuba, journalist Julio Ricardo Varela tweeted after listening to another RNC speaker later in the week, Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then there is, of course, the presidents record. Despites Trumps cynical attempt to present himself as welcoming of immigrants by naturalizing five of them at the convention, his record on the issue is abysmal. His presidency has made life miserable for thousands of potential refugees and millions of undocumented immigrants already in the country, the majority of which are Hispanic. The administration has chosen to expose millions of essential farmworkers, many of them undocumented immigrants, to the effects of the coronavirus and the consequences of the subsequent economic crisis. Although Latinos care about a number of issues other than immigration, according to a recent Pew Research poll, 83% of Hispanics say it is a very or somewhat important U.S. immigration policy goal to establish a way for most immigrants in the country illegally to stay in the U.S. I didnt see anything at the RNC that would change their minds. Advertisement Advertisement For Latino Republicans, this narrow Hispanic strategy has been disappointing. Trumps grand Latino strategy is to put Goya products on his table, Martinez Gomariz, who is now part of the Lincoln Project, said. He was not surprised by Alvarezs effort to identify Biden with Castro. It is an attempt to secure two crucial voting blocs: first-generation Cuban Americans and newly naturalized Venezuelan Americans, who might be persuadable after witnessing Trumps tough stance on Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro. Trump is trying to frame Biden the way a bully does: by caricature, he said. The problem is he is the one who behaves like a Latin American strongman, like Maduro and Ortega. Advertisement Advertisement Trumps lack of moral imagination with Latino voters not only hurts his own election efforts, but it also contravenes his partys. Since Bush first tried in 2000, some Republicans have attempted to adjust the partys strategy to become more inclusive of the large Hispanic electorate. Various groups, like the Libre Initiative (funded in part by the Koch brothers), appealed to Hispanic entrepreneurship and conservative values. That, Martinez Gomariz insists, was the right path. Many Latino families are conservative. They are people of faith who also believe in the power of small-business ownership, he told me. In normal times, that would make them an ideal target for Republican proselytism. But not with Trump, whom Martinez Gomariz calls the least Republican of any Republican president weve ever had. By excluding the majority of Latinos from his partys convention (not to mention persecuting them for years), Trump might have sealed his fate with Americas fastest-growing minority. The Republican Partys standing with Hispanic voters might take much longer than any one term to recover. LAKE CHARLES, La. - Hurricane Laura carved a deadly, devastating path north from the Louisiana coast on Thursday, destroying some homes and businesses while sparing others, killing at least four residents, uprooting trees and overturning tractor-trailers, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power and dumping massive amounts of rain on the region. The storm had rapidly intensified before it made landfall early Thursday as a Category 4 storm, becoming one of the most powerful hurricanes to strike the Gulf Coast in decades. It came ashore at 1 a.m. near Cameron, La., about 35 miles east of the Texas border, packing 150 mph peak winds. Even as Laura weakened Thursday morning, it still unleashed hurricane-force winds as far inland as central Louisiana, ravaging vulnerable communities before being downgraded to a tropical storm in the afternoon. "We have sustained a tremendous amount of damage," Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, said at an afternoon news conference, even as he gave thanks that the state had been spared the worst-case scenario for which officials had braced. "We have thousands and thousands of our fellow citizens whose lives are upside down." President Donald Trump said during a visit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Thursday that he plans to tour areas hit by Laura this weekend. "We'll probably be going on Saturday or Sunday," said Trump, who added that he had considered postponing his Thursday night Republican National Convention speech at the White House but decided it wasn't necessary. "We'll be heading to Texas and Louisiana, and maybe an additional stop." Downtown Lake Charles, La., took one of the heaviest hits from Laura's brutal winds, which shredded trees, peeled off roofs, obliterated buildings and tossed lampposts into the streets. An industrial plant nearby that makes chlorine-based products caught fire, sending caustic smoke throughout the area and leading to a shelter-in-place order. "It was a very, very bad wind storm," said Tom Hoefer, communications director for Calcasieu Parish's emergency management office. The storm arrived in darkness, and the daylight on Thursday illuminated just how bad it was. Laura blew out windows in one of the only high-rises in Lake Charles, a city of 78,000, and the green glass scattered across surrounding streets. Power lines lay on the ground and streets remained impassable due to debris and flooding. On Ryan Street, a restaurant and bar hub, windows on many buildings had been shattered. Part of the roof peeled off a nearby casino. A large antenna at a local television station was crunched and mangled. "Wow, it's twisted like it's a piece of paper," said Lawanda Levy, 45, as she surveyed the damage. In the town of Sulphur, La., gas station canopies lay toppled or shredded. Tractor-trailers sat overturned both on the highway and in parking lots. Restaurants were missing their windows, and roof after roof had suffered serious damage. In Toomey, La., about 25 miles west of Lake Charles, industrial buildings lay in ruin. The westbound side of Interstate 10 was largely blocked by fallen trees. Mobile homes were heavily damaged or destroyed. "The roof was peeling off, the walls were starting to move and the chimney fell off the house," Vicky Trahan, who lives in a rural area about 40 miles north of Lake Charles, said of the harrowing hours when Laura barreled through. "It was the worst experience of my life." A 14-year-old girl was killed when a tree fell on her family's home during the storm, Edwards said Thursday, describing the storm's first reported fatality. The teenager was one of at least four deaths attributed to the hurricane, Edwards said, each caused by trees falling on residences. None were in extreme southwest Louisiana, where the hurricane came ashore. Instead, they were in Vernon, Jackson and Acadia parishes, all north or northeast of the area where Laura made landfall early Thursday. Edwards warned that more fatalities could surface during search and rescue efforts, which were continuing along the coast, as well as in communities farther north. Cameron, La., the community nearest to where Laura's eyewall hit the coast and a repeat hurricane victim in Louisiana's low-lying wetlands, remained almost entirely inaccessible late Thursday. Those in Laura's path faced more hazards than just its fierce winds and rain. Firefighters on Thursday were battling a dangerous chemical fire in Westlake, La., that sparked after Hurricane Laura slammed into the area. Authorities warned that the smoke could contain chlorine, nitric oxide and other toxins used in industrial and commercial disinfectants and for swimming pool maintenance. KIK Custom Products confirmed that the fire was burning at a Biolab plant that sits in an industrial park along I-10. Westlake, population 4,600, sits next to Lake Charles and is home to numerous petrochemical refineries and chemical plants. The state Department of Environmental Quality said air-quality monitors were stationed near the facility to determine the types of chemicals that were burning. The federal Environmental Protection Agency scrambled an airplane to monitor the situation from the air, said DEQ spokesman Gregory Langley. Officials shut down the interstate highway that lines the property and issued a shelter-in-place order for Sulphur, warning people to stay inside and to close their windows and doors. Even as Laura battered many communities, it spared others that had once been in its crosshairs. Forecasters had warned of the potential of a gigantic storm surge crushing coastal towns in Louisiana and Texas, but the storm ultimately tracked further east. Much of the heaviest storm surge pushed through wetlands in a largely unpopulated area of Louisiana. In Port Arthur, Texas, a low-lying city of 54,000 off the Gulf of Mexico, many residents had girded themselves for catastrophe. Some parked cars and trucks on overpasses or on jacks to lift them away from the flooding that can surge inland for miles. But the city awakened Thursday to relatively minor damage. Traffic lights were not working. Dead tree limbs, roof shingles and blown-over signs littered streets and driveways. A billboard on Memorial Boulevard tumbled to the ground. Three houses caught fire overnight, possibly due to electrical failures. But nobody was home, and there were no injuries, a fire official said. "That was a weak storm," said Port Arthur Fire Captain Michael Adaway. "I've been in this area my whole life, and that storm was nothing." Lenora Cade returned to the tan home with sea-green shutters she rebuilt after Hurricane Harvey destroyed it in 2017. That storm washed away most of the photos she had of her son, Keneefe, who had died in 2013 at 46 years old from a heart condition. Now 70, she said she had prayed she wouldn't have to endure another flood. "Thank God," Cade said as she returned home to her cats, Stevie and Footsie, after spending the night in a hotel for safety. "God spared us. He did." Jefferson County, which includes Port Arthur and nearby Beaumont along the Louisiana border, was among several in the region that had ordered thousands of people to evacuate ahead of the hurricane. But on Thursday, even as officials continued to assess the damage, they were able to exhale. "We appear to have dodged a bullet," said county spokeswoman Allison Getz, adding that nobody in Jefferson or neighboring Orange County had called overnight to report an emergency. "I don't know how we got so lucky." She said heavy winds downed trees, tilted utility poles and plucked shingles from roofs, "but nothing to the significance of the catastrophic level that we anticipated." Wind gusts never surpassed 85 mph in the coastal Texas communities. The most significant issue is that 75,000 people initially lost power in Jefferson County, Getz said, but by 8 a.m. local time, that number had fallen to 40,000. "We just got incredibly lucky," she said. "It's a good problem to have." Hurricane Laura was downgraded to Tropical Storm Laura by Thursday afternoon. By day's end, it had pushed north into Arkansas and is expected to sweep through the Tennessee Valley and the Mid-Atlantic from Friday into Saturday, bringing with it flash flooding and pockets of damaging winds. Tornado watches were in effect from central and southeast Arkansas southward through western Mississippi and southeast Louisiana. Forecasters said the storm is likely to generate some strong thunderstorms in both the Tennessee Valley and Mid-Atlantic, including some tornadoes, especially south and east of its track. But even as Laura leaves the Gulf Coast behind, those who encountered it will be wrestling with its aftermath for months. Trahan, who endured a frightening night as the storm lashed her farm, said she and her husband moved north from the Gulf of Mexico after Hurricane Rita in 2005 and Hurricane Ike in 2008 damaged their home. "We got ourselves a house on a hill to avoid all that," she said, taking in the damage to her family's house and barn. "I've got water dripping into rooms. The beds are soaked. We'll just have to salvage what we can." - - - Cusick reported from Sulphur, Lake Charles and Grand Lake, La.; Sacchetti reported from Beaumont and Port Arthur, Tex.; Iati reported from DeQuincy, La.; and Dennis reported from Washington. The Washington Post's Matthew Cappucci, Andrew Freedman, Nick Miroff, Steven Mufson, Darryl Fears, Felicia Sonmez and Jason Samenow contributed to this report. HELSINKI, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Wooden multi-storey apartment buildings in Linnanfaltti, close to the centre of Turku, Finland are being built with Kerto LVL-based elements. A residential building constructed from wooden elements can rise in less than half the time compared to a similar kind of concrete building. With Metsa Wood's Kerto LVL-based elements (laminated veneer lumber) buildings are fast, light and green to construct. Four multi-storey wooden residential buildings in Linnanfaltti are made of Kerto LVL-based wooden elements. Finnish wood element producer VVR Wood has done the structural planning and manufactured the elements at their factory in Heinola. The CEO Tero Vesanen believes that the world is at a turning point with wood construction. The use of prefabricated wooden elements has clear impacts on productivity. "As the construction work relocates from site to factory, the quality increases in dry conditions, work gets done more efficiently and waste is minimized," says Vesanen. Two of these three-storey and four-storey residential buildings are ready. The third is in the interior construction phase, and the construction of the fourth building has started. Altogether, there will be 128 cozy homes. Fast construction with wooden elements "A residential building constructed from Kerto LVL elements can rise in less than half the time compared to a similar kind of concrete building", says Vesanen and adds that wood elements are 4-5 times lighter than concrete elements. It took just seven weeks to build the structural constructions of the third, a four-storey apartment building in Linnanfaltti. "It took one week to build each floor. As the wooden elements are light, assembly has been done with a bridge crane, which is integrated to a weather protection cover," says Jari Granqvist, Foreman responsible for wooden residential construction at NCC, the constructor of the Linnanfaltti project. Linnanfaltti, homely wooden neighbourhood Linnanfaltti is situated very close to the city centre of Turku. Some 1,500 people will have homes there. City of Turku has enabled construction actors to experiment wood construction and build a new urban area. "The project has been successful, and visitors call the area pleasant. It is a distinctive area with colourful buildings, quarter courtyards and soon also public art," says Mika Rajala, Architect at the City of Turku. He leads the steering group of the project. Read more about Linnanfaltti case. Images: https://databank.metsagroup.com/l/22pB-WtL_BZF For more information, please contact: Viivi Kylama Marketing Manager, Metsa Wood Tel. +358-40-820-9850 viivi.kylama@metsagroup.com For press information in UK, please contact: Matt Trace Director, Defero Communications Tel. 07828663988 matt@deferouk.co.uk This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/metsa-wood/r/metsa-wood--fast-construction-of-wooden-residential-buildings-in-linnanfaltti,c3182393 The following files are available for download: " " Elon Musk is using the fortune he made from Internet businesses to invest in space exploration. Vince Bucci/ Getty Images One of the most interesting things about how Elon Musk works is the fact that he does work -- because, really, he doesn't have to. His ventures in the Internet world earned him a considerable fortune. By his early 30s, he was already worth about $200 million. But when people ask him why he hasn't retired -- or bought himself an island, for that matter -- he claims he'd simply get bored. Instead, Elon Musk decided to enter one of the riskiest, costliest, most unforgiving businesses there is: the space business. Unlike many of the other private attempts to enter space, Musk's rockets are built to enter Earth orbit or beyond, which is a bigger challenge than merely reaching suborbital heights (something SpaceShipOne accomplished). And although Musk has proven his business savvy through several successful ventures (he's linked to PayPal, for one), he's surprised everyone with his space aspirations. Not easily discouraged, he explained in one interview that people are too easily frightened by risk -- in fact, they all too often overestimate the risk involved [source: TIEcon]. Advertisement Musk continues to push the limits of expectation, and, as a result, was named the Inc. Magazine 2007 entrepreneur of the year [source: Chafkin]. Born in South Africa in 1971, the computer bug bit Musk at an early age. At a mere 12 years old, he wrote code for a video game that he sold to a computer magazine. When he was 17, he moved to Canada on his own and eventually ended up in the U.S. at the University of Pennsylvania where he earned degrees in physics and business. Afterwards, he was set up to begin a graduate program at Stanford in 1995. But he chose to drop out of the Stanford program before classes began. The Internet was emerging and business opportunities were too tantalizing for Musk to ignore. What did he do next? Find out how he raised his fortune on the next page. To say that Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's "WAP" song took over the internet by a storm is an understatement. It literally went viral and made history on music charts despite the lewd language disapproved by many. Cardi B's record-breaking song, which is short for the term "w*t as* p*ss*," once again went viral after it birthday a twerking dance trend on TikTok. The "WAP challenge" came after Guam-based choreographer, Brain Esperon created a special dance routine that would go along with the chorus part of "WAP." The dance trend became an instant online sensation, getting millions of views on the video-sharing app. TikTok stars like Addison Rae and Charli D'Amelio also took on the challenge and posted a high-kicking dance version with tons of twerking exhibition. Tons of TikTok users also joined the challenge, with some even dancing it in front of their special someone hoping to record their reactions. WAP on Women in Uniform A particular WAP challenge is recently gaining the internet's attention and sparked controversy as it involves two women in military uniform. In the clip uploaded by TikTok user @kamrynvinson01, who appears to be an active member of the Army, two ladies in uniform could be seen dancing to Cardi B's hit song. It looks like both ladies are inside a classroom or conference room while wearing their camouflage pants, green shirt, and sleek hair. The said clip was reposted on Twitter, which drew fire from the military community. Some users called out both female soldiers to have a "conduct unbecoming." Others also raised the debate on whether or not women should still be given a chance to join the military after somehow disrespecting the institution's uniform. "As an Army veteran, this is simultaneously disturbing, disgusting, and deplorable," one Twitter user wrote. "Conduct unbecoming ... this is disgraceful. Our fighting men and women should not be mimicking trash queen Cardi B when in uniform," another one added. A concerned Twitter user wrote: "Is this what our tax dollars going to?" one added. Talk show host, Jesse Lee Peterson also expressed his disappointment and reposted the TikTok clip saying: "Women have no business serving in the military." Meanwhile, others came in defense of the female soldiers and said: "They wrong cause they in uniform simple as that. If they won't in uniform, do you. But this go for these military dudes too. Only reason this viral cause they females." Cardi B's WAP Warning The TikTok military drama came after the 27-year-old rapper took to social media to warn fans about the dangers of joining the "WAP challenge," after she learned that some are getting hospitalized for performing such raunchy stunts. On August 18, Cardi took to Instagram and reposted a clip from TikTok user who was rushed to the hospital after gaining injury for attempting to do the WAP challenge. "Please guys be safe while doing the WAP WAP WAP," Cardi B wrote. In the video, a lady tried doing the iconic split-twerking move, but failed and rescued emergency medical technicians. READ MORE: Enola Holmes: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill Star In New Netflix Mystery-Adventure Film At 19, Sandy Saputra is big on TikTok Indonesia. Within a year, he's leapt from quiet, small-town life to star influencer status as more than 10.5 million followers lap up his toothy grin in dancing, pranking and lip-synching videos on the booming app. Sandy's success, becoming his family's main breadwinner as global brands like Coca Cola or Suntory pay to have their names on his light-hearted clips, comes as TikTok mushrooms across Southeast Asia. Data trackers show it's been downloaded hundreds of millions of times already in a region with a collective population of 630 million - half of them under 30. But it also comes as concerns over how secure user data is in the hands of its Chinese owner ByteDance summon big storm clouds elsewhere - TikTok has been banned in India and President Donald Trump has ordered ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations, triggering the resignation on Thursday of only recently installed CEO Kevin Mayer. Southeast Asia offers a clear view of the global strategy ByteDance is implementing to avoid crackdowns in other regions that influencers like Saputra now fear. The approach is to launch 'non-political' products fast, promising to governments in places like Vietnam that content will be tightly policed in accordance with local laws, according to interviews with a dozen current and former employees. Also read: Walmart joins Microsoft bid for TikTok's US operations The region is now key to the future of TikTok and ByteDance: The Chinese firm is already plugging TikTok as part of a suite of interconnected apps for live video streaming, messaging and music, tackling U.S. behemoths Facebook and Google head on as both pour billions into Southeast Asia. ByteDance declined to comment for this article, and it's unclear whether or how the prospective sale of operations in the United States and elsewhere might effect Southeast Asia. But in his base in Sukabumi, West Java province, Saputra is only too aware of risks. "Of course I do think about it ... It would be so disappointing if TikTok was erased from Indonesia," Saputra told Reuters, speaking before filming a sketch www.tiktok.com/@sandys.ss in a paddy field. "It wasn't planned out. I was an ordinary person, making videos like any other normal person, who didn't have an idea on how this would play out," said Saputra, now adding hundreds of thousands of TikTok followers every week. Also read: TikTok sues Trump administration over US ban, calls it an election ploy SISTER APPS In the meantime, TikTok is ploughing ahead testing 'creator' marketplaces across the region, championing influencers like Saputra, and negotiating data deals with telecoms firms to keep a lid on consumers' smartphone bills, according to interviews with current and former staffers. It's chasing small to medium-sized businesses as advertisers - nearly nine out of every 10 firms in Southeast Asia are classified as small - complete with how-to-advertise seminars, millions of dollars in advertising credits, and a self-service platform for businesses to make their own ads. Also read: TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer quits after Donald Trump threatens to ban app in US TikTok is piloting live-streaming commercial initiatives pioneered in China, Southeast Asia business marketing head Chew Wee Ng said in an interview with Reuters. Meanwhile ByteDance is heavily promoting sister apps like Singapore-headquartered business messaging service Lark and music streaming service Resso. "TikTok is really unique in that people expect to see advertisers and they want to co-create with brands," said Ng, a former Google executive based in Singapore. According to data from app analytics firm Sensor Tower, TikTok has had more than 360 millions downloads in Southeast Asia, nearly half of them in Indonesia, with 151% growth year-on-year for 2020. An internal ByteDance 2019 presentation reviewed by Reuters showed that last year TikTok had 43.5 million monthly active users in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, with the majority female, the biggest online consumers in the region. The app grew staggeringly fast in recent months, sources said, as lockdowns enforced across the region to tackle the coronavirus pandemic forced people to stay home. In Indonesia, Saputra said he's been acquiring 100,000 followers every three days. LOCAL MODERATORS With growth has come increased government scrutiny, but ByteDance has already had plenty of experience dealing with that. As on other business matters, ByteDance declined to comment on its handling of scrutiny. Indonesia presented one of its first major global policy challenges in 2018, after authorities briefly banned TikTok for posts they said contained "pornography, inappropriate content and blasphemy". Within 24 hours, the firm had dispatched senior executives to negotiate with Indonesia, promising to raise the age of its users and to hire a team of local moderators, according to sources and to the-then Indonesian communications minister. It would quickly copy this approach by installing moderators across its Southeast Asian markets in a bid to insure compliance with local laws. Also read: Unusual for US to get any cut from TikTok sale, says WH Economic Advisor Reuters reported in August that from 2018 until 2020, ByteDance censored content that it perceived as critical of the Chinese government on a news aggregator app in Indonesia known as BaBe at the behest of ByteDance's China headquarters. As of August 2020, most of the content guidelines have been localised for individual Southeast Asian countries. That has often meant strict censorship of local political content. In Thailand, where a youth protest movement is challenging the country's monarchy, some users told Reuters their pro-protest videos had been taken down. 'IN VIETNAM, CHINA IS POLITICAL' In Vietnam, TikTok has blocked most political content for years, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter who declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The company declined to comment. Hanoi has been in a long-running conflict with U.S. tech giants over demands to restrict any content deemed against the state and create local offices in Vietnam. Reuters reported in April that Facebook agreed to increase censorship of "anti-state" posts in Vietnam after its local servers were temporarily taken off-line. ByteDance, which unlike big U.S. tech players does have an office in the country, decided to pre-empt issues with the government by promising to make its app 'non-political'. Also read: Vietnamese tech firm sues TikTok, alleging copyright infringement Due to Vietnam's contentious relationship with China, ByteDance decided it would also ban content critical of Beijing, and anything related to tensions between the two governments. "In Vietnam, China is political," one source said. The approach has been effective. TikTok now counts Vietnam, a multi-billion dollar market for social media firms, as among its most profitable in Asia, according to sources with knowledge of the matter, while launching regular campaigns with authorities on safety and tourism. Back in West Java, Sandy Saputra aims to keep on flashing grins and goofing around on TikTok. "To me, this isn't a job," he said, before breaking away into another dance routine. "It's a hobby that makes money." The state Legislature voted Thursday to spend $30 million to reimburse New Jersey restaurants that lost money when Gov. Phil Murphy pulled the plug on the planned reopening of indoor dining this summer. Murphy announced indoor dining could resume July 2 at 25% capacity as part of the states second stage of its reopening during the pandemic. But the governor reversed course a few days ahead of the reopening, saying bar and restaurant crowds elsewhere in the U.S. were driving up coronavirus cases. Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick, R-Union, who sponsored the bill, said restaurants relied on Murphys reopening plan when they hired staff and purchased food and safety equipment, and the state ought to help them recoup their losses. There were many restaurants that spent a lot of money getting ready to reopen and unfortunately they were unable to open, he said in a statement. Hopefully, this will support our restaurant industry. This is a bipartisan effort to keep them afloat during this difficult period of time. The bill (S2704) would provide $30 million in loans or grants to restaurants harmed by the rescinded reopening, funded by the states federal CARES Act aid. Bramnick has said theres no estimate of how much money these businesses put out, but the $30 million is a good start. The Senate voted for the bill 38-0 and the Assembly 77-0. Restaurants reopened for outdoor dining in June, after months of takeout and delivery services only. Their owners have pleaded for even limited indoor dining, saying takeout and outdoor dining alone could not sustain their businesses. Indoor dining remains off limits, but Murphy said Wednesday he hopes permit some indoor dining at bars and restaurants by the middle of next month as coronavirus numbers continue to improve. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Even teleprompter could not take so many lies: Rahul's dig at PM Modis Davos speech 'Speak up for Student Safety': Congress protests against holding JEE, NEET exams India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Aug 28: As Congress launches its nationwide protest against the JEE, NEET exams being conducted amid Covid-19, leader Rahul Gandhi shared a video of the campaign titled 'Speak up for Student Safety' on Twitter. In a statement AICC general secretary K C 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. UGC final year exam: SC upholds exam but delay option available | Oneindia News 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. "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. Rahul Gandhi slams Centre over over COVID-19 vaccine 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. Four Southeast Texans died and a child was in serious condition Friday after three separate incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning involving improperly-placed generators used following power outages caused by Hurricane Laura. Six people thought to be homeless sought shelter in a Port Arthur pool hall, where they initially had a generator outside for power, according to Justice of the Peace Brad Burnett. They later moved the generator inside, causing the death of two Vietnamese men 53- and 60-years old and one unidentified person. Three others found alive but critical inside the pool hall were taken to a nearby hospital, Burnett said. Burnett ordered an autopsy on the three dead Port Arthur residents. A generator was found running inside the business, and officers responding to the scene were tested for poisoning due to high levels of carbon monoxide on arrival, according to Burnett. The six individuals allegedly approached the owner of the business to seek shelter before Hurricane Laura made landfall. The owner was not in the business when the storm hit, and was not able to be reached for comment by press time. While early information led investigators to believe the deceased were shrimpers, they later confirmed they were homeless, Burnett said. In a separate incident near 1 a.m. Friday, 17 Mid-County residents were brought to various local hospitals after extreme carbon monoxide exposure of 400 parts per million, Port Neches Assistant Fire Chief Mike Stegall told The Enterprise. Sixteen of those suffering exposure were released Friday in stable condition, while one child was flown to Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston. Their condition was unknown Friday evening. All 17 were in one residence, Port Neches fire officials said. In Beaumont, police found 61-year-old Alphonso Devon Williams dead in his N. 7th Street residence Friday. When officers arrived at about 3:51 p.m., they found Williams in an upstairs garage apartment with a generator in the garage below, the department said. An autopsy has been ordered, but his death is believed to have been caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. The exposure and loss of life comes as large amounts of Southeast Texas continue to be without electricity. Utility crews continue to work to restore damage caused by Thursday mornings storm. The National Weather Service has put out several alerts regarding the safe operation of generators. Portable back-up generators produce carbon monoxide an odorless, colorless gas that kills without warning. It claims the lives of hundreds of people every year and makes thousands of others ill, a NWS alert said. Tips from the service include never using a generator inside your home or garage, even if doors and windows are open; and only using generators outside more than 20 feet away from your home, doors and windows. An alert from Port Neches Fire Chief Paul Nelson went out Friday afternoon warning against using generators inside. Please ensure you are using generators safely, the recorded message said. We have had two incidents in Port Neches in the past 24 hours. Use generators outside; do not use inside your home. Burnett reiterated that, adding that generators can be useful or deadly. They can be your friend, or they can be your enemy, Burnett said. It's something that you don't realize it is happening to you. You can actually just go to go to sleep while it's happening and it's got you. I'd ask everyone, if you're using a generator, please be mindful of this. And if you know someone that's using a generator, please tell them what happened. I think that would save somebody right there. According to media in Louisiana, a family of five in Lake Charles died Friday of carbon monoxide poisoning, claiming the most lives to date in the aftermath of the storm. Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie extended the mandatory evacuation order Friday afternoon until Aug. 31 as all of the city remains without power. If you are somewhere else right now and I hope that you are in Port Arthur conditions are still not what you want them to be in terms of having power and having a lot of debris cleaned up and picked up, he said. Therefore, what Im asking you to do is try to remain where you are if you can. isaac.windes@hearstnp.com twitter.com/isaacdwindes Tour de France will get to Paris, says Ineos mastermind Brailsford Colombia's Egan Bernal (C) is Ineos' sole captain in a race the team expect to last three weeks Ineos chief Dave Brailsford said on the eve of the 2020 Tour de France he was confident the race would make it to Paris despite gloom over Covid-19. Brailsford's assessment comes a day after France put Nice, the start town for the 21-day jaunt around France on a Covid-19 red zone list and one of the competing teams Lotto reported the Tour caravan's first 'non-negative' PCR swab tests. Brailsford heaped praise on ASO, the organisers of a race originally slated to start in June but which embarks from Nice on Saturday. "ASO particularly deserve a lot of credit," he told a conference with the reduced Tour press corps. "They have been terrific." "They have been working really hard. We have worked closely with them on this for months and they really have done everything possible to make it work." he said. Brailsford dismissed the suggestion that he would try and get one of his team into the leader's yellow jersey as soon as possible in case the race was abandoned. "We don't know, nobody knows, but we have our strategy and it's based on three weeks, like every other Tour before," he said. "If there comes a point when it becomes too much of a risk for riders and teams, to society in general, then people need to take that on board as well," he said. "(The Tour) is important for sport and important for society, but equally we all need to be responsable in our approach," said the 46-year-old Briton. Brailsford said that prior to Covid-19 his team already operated a strategy he called 'zero days' aimed, in part, at reducing the possibility of riders catching an infectious illness. "We haven't shook hands for years, even fist bumping. No TV controls nothing. Its amazing to what extent you can minimise risk if you change your behaviour," he said. - Bernal the sole leader - Brailsford said his 2020 team had huge potential despite dropping Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas from the roster. Story continues "You can never look back," he said. "Now, I'm very excited about this young team with an experienced support cast." Brailsford, who conceived the strategy for seven Tour de France wins, expressed total belief in his 23-year-old captain Colombia's Egan Bernal will successfully defend the title to pull on the winner's yellow jersey in three weeks time. "Egan deserves the leadership. He's a brilliant rider, a huge talent," he said of Bernal, who won in 2019 as the youngest man in the peloton. "He's the sole leader and that is clear and simple." Much has been made of Ineos, bearing the name "Grenadiers" on their shirts, having a serious rival in the Dutch outfit Jumbo-Visma, but Brailsford said this missed the point. "The Tour is contested between the great riders rather than the big teams, he said. Bernal himself said he was ready to defend his title, and smiled when asked about his chief rival Slovenian Primoz Roglic. "He was the strongest in the build up, we'll have to be careful with him," he said. dmc/pb Dr Reddy's Labs share price fell in trade today despite the USFDA closing the warning letter for the pharma firm's three sites. The pharma share ended 1.43% or Rs 63 lower at Rs 4,374 today. The stock fell 1.76% intra day to Rs 4361 against previous close of Rs 4437 on BSE. The stock has fallen after 2 days of consecutive gain. The share trades higher than 50 day, 100 day and 200 day moving averages but lower than 5 day and 20 day moving averages It has gained 74% in one year and 52% since the beginning of this year. Total 0.44 lakh shares changed hands amounting to turnover of Rs 19.51 crore. Market cap of the pharma firm fell to Rs 72,721 crore. Sensex, Nifty close higher for 6th straight session, end 2.5% up this week The firm said US health regulator was satisfied and said the company has addressed issues against three sites which were under scrutiny. The three sites are API manufacturing facilities at Srikakulum, Andhra Pradesh and Miryalguda, Telengana, and Oncology formulation manufacturing facility at Duvadda, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh). In its exchange filing, Dr Reddy's said, "We have now been informed by USFDA that based on its evaluation, we have addressed the violations and deviations contained in the said warning Letter." On November 6, 2015, USFDA issued a warning letter for three sites of the company. Dr Reddy's Laboratories reported consolidated net profit of Rs 662.8 crore for the June quarter against net profit of Rs 456.1 crore in the corresponding period of 2018-19. Revenue rose to Rs 3,843.5 crore in Q1 compared with Rs 3,720.7 crore in the year-ago period. In another update, with effect from August 1, Erez Israeli would be elevated as CEO of the company. Current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Co-Chairman G V Prasad will continue as the co-chairman and managing director, and Israeli will report to him Meanwhile, extending gains for the sixth consecutive session, Sensex ended 353 points higher at 39,467 and Nifty rose 96 points to 11,655. Domestic pharmaceutical industry to grow at 8-11% CAGR in FY 2020-23: ICRA By PTI KOLKATA: In an embarrassment to West Bengal BJP unit, a senior leader and MLA who had joined the saffron party after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls rejoined TMC on Friday. Tushar Kanti Bhattacharya had won from Bishnupur seat in the 2016 assembly polls on a Congress ticket and joined TMC in July that year. He had, however, not quit his assembly seat. After BJP's spectacular performance in the Lok Sabha polls in 2019, when it won 18 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats, Bhattacharya joined BJP at its national headquarters in the presence of BJP national secretary and Bengal minder Kailash Vijayvargiya. However, within a year Bhattacharya is back in TMC. "I had no grudge against TMC. I was upset with the party on certain issues which have now been resolved. I am happy to return to the TMC." Bhattacharya said at the programme at Bishnupur in Bankura district where he rejoined TMC. BJP declined to attach much importance to Bhattacharya quitting the party. "He had joined BJP just on pen and paper. He was never into any party-related activities. His leaving the party hardly matters," BJP state general secretary Sayantan Basu said. Seven TMC MLAs and one each of Congress and CPI(M) have switched over to BJP since the results of Lok Sabha polls were announced in May and the saffron party wooed rival party leaders to bolster its strength in the run-up to the next assembly polls in the state, due in April-May 2021. Bhattacharya is the first of the nine MLAs to return to TMC. The development comes days after West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee gave a call to the party's disgruntled leaders to return to its fold and put up a united fight against BJP. Thousands of landlords in the UK are still attempting to stop benefit claimants renting out their properties despite a recent court ruling which found banning them unlawful. At a landmark county court hearing last month, a judge ruled that an attempt to prevent a woman in receipt of housing benefit from renting a house in York was in breach of the Equality Act 2010. However, around 75 per cent of the listings on the popular landlords website OpenRent still feature no DSS conditions, according to BBC analysis of 9,000 entries. The notorious no DSS phrases which refers to the now-defunct Department of Social Security has long been used to indicate owners wont let to people on state benefits. Polly Neate, chief executive of housing charity Shelter, said: OpenRent should ban landlords from advertising their properties as DSS not accepted and remind them of their legal duty not to discriminate. She added: We wont stop fighting DSS discrimination until its banished for good. Recommended Labour calls for end to benefits cap to avoid wave of evictions OpenRent said its policy remained that applicants should be made aware upfront of any conditions of renting a property. Website founder Adam Hyslop said some property owners had mortgage conditions which prevented them letting to benefit claimants. Were committed to solving root causes like these, however in the meantime our customers are overwhelmingly telling us we should not be pretending the problem doesnt exist, Mr Hyslop told the broadcaster. Hiding conditions of renting over which the landlord has no discretion only wastes time for all involved, and indeed makes the situation far worse for the very people Shelter is trying to help. One of thousands of OpenRent listings saying benefit claimants won't be accepted (OpenRent) In April this year property website Rightmove joined competitor Zoopla in banning no DSS from all its rental listings. Rightmove told its agents they should not impose blanket bans on tenants on housing benefit. The company also pointed out that several mortgage lenders had revised terms and conditions to make sure there was no restriction on letting to people on benefits. In July, York County Courts district judge Victoria Elizabeth Mark declared for the first time that rejecting tenancy applications because the applicant is in receipt of housing benefit was unlawfully indirectly discriminatory on the grounds of sex and disability, contrary to [] the Equality Act 2010. The case related to a single mother with two children, who had become homeless, who was refused access to a two-bedroom house in York by a letting agency because she received housing benefit. Rep. Kevin McCarthy speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill. On Thursday, the Central Valley Republican lauded President Trump at the RNC. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Californias most powerful Republican, lauded President Trump as a savior for the nation on Thursday, the final night of the GOPs national convention. "No one has done more to protect and advance [the United States] than President Trump," McCarthy said, arguing that Trump created strong trade deals, supported the military and strengthened the border. As Republicans, we are proud to stand with him and to work for you. Together we built the greatest economy the world has ever seen and we will do it again." McCarthy laced into Democratic nominee Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris his state's junior senator as supporting policies that would lead to socialism, poverty and government control. McCarthy, a prodigious fundraiser who has represented the Central Valley in Congress since 2007, was the chairman of the Republicans' four-day nominating convention. The post is recognition of McCarthy's being among Trumps earliest supporters in the 2016 presidential campaign and among his most vocal and loyal defenders. His future may be tied to the presidents success in November. Some Republican members of the House are questioning whether McCarthy prioritized Trumps reelection over the best interests of the GOP caucus. If Trump loses, McCarthy could face a challenge over his leadership role. Although McCarthys support for Trump does not represent Californias political leanings, it does reflect his district, which is centered in Bakersfield and includes large swaths of Kern and Tulare counties and a sliver of northern Los Angeles County. While Hillary Clinton won California by 30 percentage points in 2016, Trump won McCarthys district by 10 points. McCarthy has overwhelmingly won his congressional races. In the 2018 midterm election, he won 64.3% of the vote, McCarthys lowest margin of victory since he first ran for Congress in 2006. The 55-year-old previously served as a Kern Community College District trustee and a member of the California Assembly before running for Congress. Murder charges announced for Westwood's first and only recorded homicide WESTWOOD, Kan. - A 40-year-old man is facing charges in connection to the killing of David "Ray" Ninemire 17 years ago in Westwood. Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe announced Thursday that Eugene Keltner faces charges of first-degree murder in connection to the city's first and only recorded homicide since being incorporated in 1949. This tragic link deserves to be highlighted for a lot of reasons but mostly because it offers a glimpse of deadly crime hitting an entirely peaceful enclave.Take a look: Law school graduates in Florida were required to download software to take the bar exam virtually amid coronavirus -- and a number of them now say they encountered significant data breaches, including, in some cases, attempted hacks on bank accounts because of the software. A number of Florida students who planned to take the online bar exam in August 2020 claim there were attempts originating from Russia to gain access to sensitive accounts after they downloaded test software from ILG Technologies, and in some cases, they say their entire computers were wiped out after downloading the test administering software. "There are now accounts emerging of examinees receiving emails from websites claiming that their information was used to log in or that a login attempt was detected from another country, a number of students wrote in a letter. The letter, obtained by ABC News does not specify how many students signed on. Many of the Florida students who were set to take the bar said in an Aug. 10 letter sent to the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. Two days before the Florida bar exam was supposed to take place, on Aug. 20, the Florida Board of Bar Examiners cancelled it altogether, saying in a video that taking the exam online was not "technically feasible," but not going into details. "Our inability to offer the Bar examination in August was a failure. We apologize for that failure," Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady said in video released last week. "We acknowledge and accept the criticism that has been directed at the court and the Board of Bar Examiners." ILG Technologies is a Missouri-based company that specializes in administering both the online and in-person bar exam, with Illinois, Alabama and Texas among the states that use the software, according to the company's website. Their development office is based in Turkey, according to the website. "There is no evidence linking any security breach with ILG Software," a representative for ILG told ABC News. "We actually have had our software audited via third party software security firm, based in Miami, Florida and the report came back negative for any virus or malware." Story continues The Florida State Supreme Court has not responded to ABC News' request for comment. Students were required to download the software four days before the exam, and quickly, their letter states, issues started to occur. "Some have experienced a sudden influx of messages from foreign telephone numbers seeking Bitcoin, and many cannot access email accounts after their passwords were changed without their permission," the letter, which includes 28 pages detailing reported problems students faced, says. Shortly after signing up and downloading the software, one student, whose name was redacted for privacy, said they received a Gmail login attempt emanating from Russia.The letter also asserts that multiple students reported there were attempts to gain access to their Robinhood accounts, a platform for online investing. Some students said their bank accounts were accessed shortly after the software was downloaded. PHOTO: An undated stock photo depicts an unidentified person typing on a computer keyboard. (STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images) "Examinees understand that their information could have been accessed from anywhere, but the co-occurrence of the ILG software download and these login attempts is disturbing when coupled with the lack of accountability from ILG," the students continued. ILG's user agreement says they're not responsible for any lost data or software. Screenshots obtained by ABC News show apparent failures in the system's artificial intelligence verification program, which is supposed to use photos to verify an ID or other form of identification. Students said the system was accepting any photo as a form of identification: In one instance, a user submitted an image of a dog, and another, a glass of what appears to be orange juice. The system approved both of those images, according to the letter. Fourteen states and jurisdictions are set to take the bar in October, according to the National Conference of Bar Examiners, and students ABC News spoke with worry they will not be able to adequately and fairly take that October exam due to technical difficulties. Issues have been plaguing law graduates attempting to take the bar across the nation. In Michigan and Nevada, for instance, software programs -- not run by ILG -- crashed mid-exam. "I don't want to overly dramatize what happened but it caused a period of strong anxiety in the middle of a test day for myself and, I'm sure, for many other people," Kerry Martin, a University of Michigan law school graduate, told the Detroit News. "I can't guarantee you that the path forward will be flawless, but I can guarantee you that we have learned from this mistake and that it will not be repeated," Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Canady said in last week's video. Law school graduates in Florida say bar test software compromised computers originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A US Senator said he was attacked by an "angry mob" as he left the Republican National Convention. Rand Paul said he was accosted by more than 100 people near the White House on Thursday and had to be rescued by police. Videos circulating on social media show the senator and his wife Kelley walking down the street as crowds gathered around them. People can be seen shouting at the politician and shoving the police who were trying to protect the couple. The police could be heard asking the crowd to "back-off" as they escorted the senator to his hotel. It was not immediately clear as to what led to incident. Mr Paul wrote on Twitter after the alleged incident: "Just got attacked by an angry mob of over 100, one block away from the White House. Thank you to @DCPoliceDept for literally saving our lives from a crazed mob." Republican Senator Ted Cruz tweeted: "What happened to Rand & Kelley tonight (and numerous others exiting the RNC) was wrong. Rand Paul and his wife Kelley in a crowd of protesters on Thursday / REUTERS "The police protecting them were heroic, but this needs to stop. This is very close to escalating to serious violence." It comes as hundreds of anti-Trump protesters had gathered outside the White House on Thursday evening. Demonstrators rally to protest US President Donald Trump's acceptance of the Republican National Convention nomination / AFP via Getty Images The demonstrations coincided with Donald Trump's speech as he officially accepted the Republican Party's nomination for the 2020 presidential election. Attendees could hear the protesters sounding horns near the White House as he spoke. Black Lives Matter protests, which were sparked by the police killing of black man George Floyd in Minnesota in May, had begun to subside in recent weeks. But angry protests have erupted again after a white police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin fired seven bullets point blank into the back of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old black man, as he attempted to get into a car with his children inside. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 28) President Rodrigo Duterte will decide on who will be the next to lead the embattled Philippine Health Insurance Corporation by Monday, his former aide and now senator, Bong Go said. Go told reporters on Friday that the President already has someone in mind to replace ex-PhilHealth President Ricardo Morales who recently stepped down from his post upon Duterte's advice, due to health issues. "He will decide by Monday kung kanya na pong pipiliin itong taong ito," said Go, adding that he spoke to Duterte early morning. [Translation: He will decide by Monday if he will really appoint this person.] READ: Relieved ex-PhilHealth chief Morales assures resignation wont exempt him from any probe Currently, EVP and COO Arnel De Jesus sits at the head of the agency as officer-in-charge but lawmakers are uneasy since the official has his own medical concerns. De Jesus had earlier asked to skip congressional probes citing that he had undergone "emergency medical procedures." He also stepped out during a hearing because of an emergency. PhilHealth has been hounded by corruption issues of overpayments to hospitals and procurement of new equipment, among other allegations. Senators said they have gathered enough evidence to recommend the filing of complaints against the government corporation's officials. Response personnel prepare to enter a public housing tower, locked down in response to a COVID-19 outbreak, in Melbourne By Colin Packham SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's second most populous state - the epicentre of the country's latest COVID-19 outbreak - said on Friday it expects to soon report just double digit daily rises in new infections, as a stringent lockdown slows the spread of the virus. Victoria state said it has detected 113 new cases in the past 24 hours, unchanged from the previous day, and well below the one-day record of 725 cases reported in early August. Authorities said they expect cases numbers to fall below 100 as soon as the weekend, four weeks into a six-week hard lockdown of around 5 million people in the state capital, Melbourne. "Its not gotten below 100 (per day) yet, I do expect that to happen, if not over the weekend, then by next week," Victoria state Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton told reporters in Melbourne. "It is helpful from a psychological point of view." Other Australian states have closed their borders to Victoria, a measure that authorities believe has stopped a nationwide second wave. Still Australia's most populous state, New South Wales on Friday said it has found 13 new cases, the biggest one-day rise in cases since Aug 13. Queensland state was the only other state to report new infections, with three cases detected in the past 24 hours. Elsewhere the virus has been effectively eliminated. The country has now recorded nearly 25,500 COVID-19 infections, while the death toll rose to 584 after 12 people died in Victoria. In neighbouring New Zealand, where a cluster emerged earlier this month after more than 100 days without a community transmission, officials reported 12 new cases, seven of them people who have returned from overseas and already in quarantine. New Zealand now has just over 1,700 COVID-19 infections, while 22 people have died from the virus. (Reporting by Renju Jose and Colin Packham; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Lincoln Feast.) Days after being flogged for drugs offences at the notorious Changi prison in Singapore, former British public schoolboy Ye Ming Yuen lies face down in his cell, in excruciating pain. The open wounds from 24 strokes of a 4ft bamboo cane to his naked buttocks are so severe, they still ooze blood. All he has is a towel to stem the flow. Sitting is impossible. So horrific are his injuries that when a paralegal saw them this week, she almost fainted. Unable to sleep, Yuen prays to God to calm his fears of long-term physical damage. Bowel problems have plagued him since the caning. Today we can reveal the brutal effects of the judicial corporal punishment meted out to convicts in Singapore with an eye-witness account from Yuens human rights lawyer and his own words from prison. London-born former public schoolboy Ye Ming Yuen, 31, was flogged naked in Singapore for drugs offences The first thing Ming said when he came into the prison visiting room was see this and pulled his shorts down at the back and it just looked horrendous, says Ravi Madasamy, better known as M Ravi or Mr Ravi, who is contemplating legal action under international human rights law. All over his buttocks were multiple marks and deep lacerations. It was so shocking my female paralegal who was with me almost fainted. 'The wounds were so deep with blood, flesh and layers of the skin exposed. He didnt have any bandages, just a towel to put over the buttocks. He couldnt sit for too long so he was standing up. It was the first time I had seen raw injuries like this and it left me deeply affected, thinking, How can this be allowed to happen in a civilised country? Usually my clients come to me years later, complaining of long-term injuries, so I only see the scars, so this was really shocking, but Ming wants the world to know the brutal reality of this barbaric punishment. This month the Mail exclusively revealed that Yuen had been stripped and flogged over a frame just one week after a last-ditch appeal for clemency failed. Today, the 31-year-old is at the centre of a diplomatic row between Britain and Singapore over the caning, condemned by human rights campaigners as inhuman, degrading and indecent. A prison officer at Changi Prison in Singapore demonstrates the caning on a mannequin On top of a 20-year sentence, he was given the maximum number of strokes a male inmate can receive. Taken, without warning, from his cell to Changis notorious caning room after being declared medically fit enough by prison doctors to withstand the punishment, Yuen described to Mr Ravi his ordeal. Joined by a handful of other inmates, only he faced the maximum 24 strokes. Ordered to strip naked, he had to listen to the screams of other prisoners knowing he would receive two or three times as many strokes. When it was his turn, he was strapped to an A-frame trestle, with his naked buttocks exposed, as a series of experienced caners took turns to deliver the blows with a cane soaked in water to increase flexibility and strength. In Britain, Yuens offences might have resulted in 12 months in prison at most. Yuen was once a pupil at 41,000-a-year at the prestigious Westminster School in London Mr Ravi, who saw Yuen on Monday, says he is a shadow of the confident, academically gifted young man who once posed for photographs in dinner jacket and bow tie. Dressed in prison uniform of white T-shirt and brown shorts, the Briton, who was once a pupil at 41,000-a-year Westminster School, appears diminished, his spirit broken. Despite Yuen telling his family he felt no fear in a letter from prison, Mr Ravi says: It was very scary for Ming and he described to me how, when he was being caned, he was suddenly pushed and bent over a trestle. 'It must have been agonising but he told me he was able to withstand it by imagining they were being kinder to him than they could have been. Ravi Madasamy, better known as M Ravi or Mr Ravi, who is contemplating legal action under international human rights law Every six strokes, they gave him a break and then a new caner takes over because they use all their strength in just those six strokes. He told me, Im so relieved its over. Afterwards we were all lying down on a bench with blood oozing. They sprayed us with iodine and then a doctor came round giving us painkillers and antibiotics. Why cause all that pain and then offer painkillers? In his mind he thinks, You have damaged me, taken out your anger on me, and what do you achieve? The whole thing is meaningless when you have doctors wandering past asking What pain do you have? after the State caused all the damage. Mr Ravi adds: After the caning Ming couldnt sleep because, for the first two days, the blood was still coming out and he couldnt control his bowels. 'Some people have this bowel problem for a lifetime, so we are very concerned and ask, Is this ethical? The deep impact from the strokes and physical shock are known to affect the whole body, which according to Amnesty Internationals 2010 report A Blow To Humanity can result in loss of consciousness and muscle control, uncontrollable shaking, psychological trauma, loss of appetite, absence of sex drive and scars. Human rights lawyers say some, who have endured far fewer lashes than Yuen, complain of life-long debilitating spinal and kidney issues, despite the use of protective padding in these areas. The convicted drug dealer received the brutal punishment after he lost his final appeal against the sentence Some prisoners claim theyve been left with lasting erectile dysfunction. Indeed, all those who believe Yuen got everything he deserved and applaud Singapores tough, zero-tolerance stance on crime, might want to think how they would feel if it was their loved one lying in his prison cell right now. Before the caning, I could see that Ming was preparing himself, but there was also a lot of trepidation, says Mr Ravi. I have clients who are very stocky and strong and they dread just six canes. This guy has quite a small frame, and oh my God they gave him 24 strokes? Its horrible, cruel and barbaric. 'Ming is a misguided kid, not a hardcore, criminal drug trafficker and after the caning it was like speaking to someone who has been raped his dignity has been robbed. He didnt cry in front of me and tried to be stoic, but his sense of outrage at being physically violated reminded me of victims of violence. He adds: Before, he was always very chatty and cheery but now he seems detached from life, as if part of his personality is missing. He is very quiet, different. All his confidence has gone. Mr Ravi says he is very disappointed with the British Governments efforts on Yuens behalf, especially since it was the British Empire which introduced legally sanctioned corporal punishment in its former colony in the 19th century. Yuen (pictured at school) was a pupil at Dulwich Prep School in south London and then Westminster School The former foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to his credit spoke up last year, but since then there has been nothing, and the caning just went ahead, before I could even explain the judgment to him. They just came for him which is very cruel, says Mr Ravi, who explains clients often see him years after their caning complaining of health issues. The question they ask is, The state has a right to punish, but does it have the right to damage the kidneys? To damage the spine? Do they have the right to take away the chance to get married, have a kid and live a normal life? Singapore is a signatory to the UN Treaty which prohibits torture and caning has been described as torture by international jurisprudence, so our client has his rights under international law. A case may be filed against the Singapore State. Until his arrest in 2016, Yuen was a young man with a string of glittering GCSE exam grades and growing fame as a club DJ in his mothers native Singapore. He moved there aged 17 to live with relatives after his Chinese-born businessman father, Alex, who died in March from coronavirus aged 71, was made bankrupt and could not afford school fees. Yuen was looking for a fresh start after falling in with the wrong crowd in Britain and trouble over an alleged fake ID scam, sold to other pupils to buy alcohol and cigarettes. His family, unaware of his recreational drug use which started in his teens were proud of his success after he was voted Singapores best DJ, with his face appearing on billboards and magazine covers. But stopped and searched by police in a park four years ago, Yuen was found in possession of a small amount of drugs. He claimed they were for his own use, but admitted sharing them with wealthy expat friends and pleaded guilty to drug trafficking. While on bail awaiting sentence he was caught using again and given the maximum sentence for repeated drug trafficking. In 2007, it emerged that Yuen was wanted by Scotland Yard over an alleged forged driving licences scam His family and lawyer say he was unwell and after months of staying clean took drugs again he insists only for his own personal use in a moment of weakness. Two offences related to 69g and 60g of cannabis, while another involved 15g of crystal meth. Those caught in possession of more than 500g face the death penalty by hanging. Speaking before she became Home Secretary, Priti Patel condemned Yuens sentence as reprehensible, adding: This sounds like something from the Dark Ages. But not even an intervention by then Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt last year could call a halt to the caning, or reduce the strokes. Mings older sister Elysia, 32, who last week told the Mail she was amazed her brother withstood 24 strokes without passing out, has spent every day since desperate for news. This week, a censored letter arrived via prison email, parts of which Yuens two sisters and mother have decided to share publicly. His words brim with a burning sense of injustice not just for himself, but others who have also suffered or might in the future. And he sends this impassioned plea from his prison cell: I want the British public and international community to stand with me to put an end to caning. It was absolutely brutal, unnecessary, unjust and immoral. And I hope someone will be able to recognise the evil and do something about it. The aftermath isnt pleasant, and its left my patootie in a bit of a mess. Currently Im lying down on my stomach and have to intermittently wipe the sides of my legs as the blood keeps sweating from my cheeks. He adds: My only consideration is that I dont want to have been caned for nothing. Yuen known for his humour typically tries to make light of his ordeal by borrowing Frank Sinatras lyrics to his classic song My Way The record shows, I took the blows, and did it my way. He writes: I think I took it with a commendable equanimity. It was painful, but what is pain? Temporal matters dont really concern me much, although it hasnt changed how I feel about the whole thing. I feel a lot of relief that its finally over, but at the same time a bit disappointed that theres nothing left to fight. As for the sentence, I guess I dont have a choice but to accept it. Yuen moved to Singapore from Britain at the age of 17 to live with his mother's family after his father was made bankrupt Elysia, who says the family has for four years lived with the psychological torture of not knowing if or when the caning would be carried out, told the Mail: We were just happy to hear from Ming, despite the absolutely horrific ordeal. Scarred for life by each stroke from the 4ft lash Inmates flogged in Singapore are stripped naked and strapped to a wooden trestle. Then two officers take it in turns to inflict maximum pain with a 4ft rattan cane, about half an inch in diameter, by whipping them up to 24 times across their bare buttocks. After three strokes it is not uncommon for the prisoner to pass out. Yuen would have received little warning of yesterday's caning. He told the Mail last year he was living in a state of permanent fear. 'Of course, I'm scared,' he said. 'I've heard so many horror stories from inmates who have been caned, of scars left on them, of canes breaking during the punishment and having to be replaced and how, after every few strokes, the caner is replaced to ensure each stroke is the same intensity.' There was an outcry in 1994 when US student Michael Fay, then 19, was sentenced to six strokes of the cane in Singapore for vandalism. It was later reduced to four strokes following an appeal by then US president Bill Clinton. Fay is said to have shouted 'I'm dying' when the first stroke was delivered. Advertisement She adds: Ming appears upbeat, as he normally does, but I can only think this is his coping mechanism. I dont know how to put my feelings into words, thinking about what he must have suffered. Yuens family is now fighting for him to continue his sentence in a British prison, so they can visit him more regularly. Since his incarceration theyve only been able to visit Singapore once a year. Elysia has also taken to Facebook to express her heartbreak and announce that she wishes to campaign to abolish all forms of corporal punishment, including caning and the death penalty. Appealing for support, she ~writes: In the fight for our fundamental rights as humans not to be tortured and to bring my little brother home, I cannot remain silent or stand still in the background. Though Yuens family say that in no way, shape or form do they excuse his drugs crimes and respect Singapores laws, they feel his sentence was unduly harsh. Elysia continues: My brother is not a drug lord, he didnt have people running drugs for him. I strongly feel that the sentence of 20 years and 24 strokes of the cane was grossly disproportionate to the crime committed. Mr Ravi agrees: Someone who is convicted to life imprisonment in Singapore is entitled to ask after 20 years for release, so Mings sentence is actually life imprisonment. In his letter, Elysias brother writes that he is resigned to his fate and places his faith in God. In the end I dont think any of this matters, not that its not important to fight for what is right or that we should go about our lives apathetically, he says, adding, but my new mantra is very few things matter and nothing matters much at all. He ends by reverting to Frank Sinatra. So now the end is near, and I face the final curtain, he says. I bid you adieu and dont worry Im OK. After 24 strokes of the cane, Elysia fears, how can he ever really be OK again? A Worcester man has filed a lawsuit against two Massachusetts State Police troopers exactly three years after he suffered numerous injuries during a traffic stop, accusing the troopers of slamming him to the ground and arresting him with no just reason. The civil lawsuit from Jonathan Ayala, represented by attorney Hector Pineiro, was filed Friday in Suffolk Superior Court naming Massachusetts State Police troopers Matthew Dunne and Ryan Sceviour, as well as the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Ayala was pulled over on Interstate 290 in Worcester on Aug. 28, 2017, and Dunne, according to the lawsuit, slammed him to the pavement in the travel lane of a busy highway, kneeled him in the back and punched him in the head while cuffing his wrists so tightly as to draw blood, wrenched him up from the ground by the shoulder so hard as to cause injuries that required multiple surgeries, arrested him without cause and then with the help of another trooper who was on the scene tried to hide what he had done. The lawsuit has been filed now, Pineiro said, as Ayala continues to have medical expenses related to the incident. Ayala is potentially facing a third surgery related to those injuries, the attorney said. The lawsuit includes a long list of medical exams and procedures, and notes Ayala has incurred more than $58,000 in medical expenses. Pineiro in a phone interview said the lawsuit raises concerns about use of force in the field and underscores the need for booking tapes. There are no videos that show his clients injuries, said Pineiro, adding that he feels the injuries were the reason for the arrest. Before Dunne made the arrest, Ayala heard him on the phone with a police supervisor, saying, Sergeant, I got this kid roughed up in front of over 500 people, apparently referring to drivers on the highway, according to the lawsuit. Then, Dunne asked for advice on what charges for which Ayala could be arrested. Ayala was arrested on two minor charges, which were tossed out in Worcester District Court the next day, the suit reads. Pineiro said he is seeking to determine the identity of the superior Dunne spoke with and what the sergeant instructed Dunne to do during the phone call. Ayalas suit claims the troopers used excessive force, conspiracy in furtherance of the same and under state law for negligence, assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and malicious prosecution. The suit, which requests a jury trial and all compensatory damages recoverable. Both Dunne and Sceviour were on patrol the day of the incident from their assigned barracks in Holden. Dunne was monitoring traffic on I-290 west in Worcester, where at 4 p.m., cars were bumper-to-bumper. Thats when Dunne noticed Ayala driving in the center lane of the highway with a passenger. Dunne pulled Ayala over because the car did not have an inspection sticker, the suit reads. In Dunnes report and statement of facts filed in court, he indicated that he ran a routine check on the vehicle. But, the lawsuit contends that the check was anything but routine and was run because Ayalas ethnicity piqued Dunnes interest. The check on the vehicle indicated it had been registered on July 28, 2017, but had not been inspected. Ayala was not the owner of the car even though he was driving, the suit reads. Dunne pulled the car over in the westbound breakdown lane just before Exit 18. He walked up the car and asked Ayala for his license and registration. Ayala handed over his Florida license and told the trooper he did not own the car, according to the lawsuit. Ayala at the time lived in Florida but would visit Worcester in the summer months and also had a Massachusetts license. Demonstrating that the stop of the query was anything but routine Trooper Dunne also demanded that Ayalas passenger, Gonzalez, provide him with his identification, the suit reads. The passenger, also a Latino man, was required to provide Dunne with identification. Dunne in reports indicated he sought Gonzalezs identification because he was not wearing a seat belt, according to the lawsuit. Dunne called for backup after he discovered Ayala had a previous firearm-related charge, which was closed and dismissed. The trooper would have known the case was dismissed nolle prosequi, the lawsuit indicates. In a report, Dunne alleged that Ayalas license was suspended, however, neither Ayalas Florida nor Massachusetts license was suspended, according to the lawsuit. Dunne went to hand Ayala a citation for the inspection sticker and explain what Ayala needed to do to appeal the ticket. Then, Sceviour walked up to the passenger side of the car and Ayala saw that the trooper had his hand on his service weapon as if he was ready to draw it, the suit reads. As Trooper Sceviour looked on the floor behind the passenger compartment he yelled, gun, gun, and drew his weapon, the suit reads. Simultaneously, Trooper Dunne also drew and pointed his service weapon in Ayalas direction and yelled, where the f*** is the gun? Ayala tried to explain he did not have a gun, according to the suit. Thats when Dunne allegedly pulled Ayala from the car and slammed him onto the pavement of the highway. Ayala could not get up because his knee was injured and Dunne dragged him to the front of the cruiser by his right shoulder, according to the lawsuit. Ayala had injuries to his knee, right shoulder, right hip, right low-back and right wrist. He also bled and had cuts from the application of handcuffs, the lawsuit says. At the same time, according to the lawsuit, Sceviour put Gonzalez in handcuffs and placed him in the back of his cruiser. The troopers found a pellet gun under the front passenger seat. Ayalas phone was searched without a warrant and without his consent, according to the lawsuit. Dunne used an expletive and called Ayala an idiot, telling him that if he told the trooper there was a BB gun he would have let Ayala drive off, according to the lawsuit. Ayala asked for his handcuffs to be loosened because he could not feel his wrist and Dunne told him to shut the f*** up, the lawsuit reads. Thats when Ayala says he heard Dunne ask his sergeant what to do with Ayala. As Dunne took Ayala to the barracks, Ayala asked what he was being taken in for. Dunne told him hed advise him of the charges during booking, according to the lawsuit. The suit contends that there was no justification for the amount of force used, the search of Ayalas phone or the arrest. Dunne did not prepare a use of force report in connection with Ayalas arrest, the lawsuit claims. As Ayala was booked, Dunne had trouble getting the handcuff off his right hand because it had cut into Ayalas wrist, according to the suit. The next day, Ayala went to court on charges of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and no inspection sticker. When someone from the court called the Massachusetts Department of Motor Vehicles, the unlicensed driving charge was dismissed before Ayalas arraignment, the suit says. On the inspection sticker charge, Ayala was found not responsible, the suit reads. Ayala went to Saint Vincent Hospital on Aug. 31, 2017. He saw doctors for injuries related to the incident and has had surgery and exams, incurring more than $58,000 in medical expenses. Ayalas injuries have included a rotator cuff disorder, tears on his shoulder, an injury to the ulnar nerve and other diagnoses. He also has emotional injuries, the lawsuit says. A state police spokesman declined to comment on the case. The department generally does not comment on pending litigation. Sceviour previously sued the state police and Worcester District Attorney Joesph Early Jr. in connection with a scandal involving the arrest of a judges daughter in 2017, in which Sceviour was forced to scrub embarrassing details from the arrest report. The lawsuit claimed that Early directed a conspiracy that sought to unlawfully tamper with court documents, to violate Trooper Ryan Sceviours rights, and to defame him. State police and Early settled the lawsuit last year. - The move by the once giant supermarket to close down Tuskys Hakati branch came after the landlord threatened to auction its goods over failure to pay its dues - The latest setback followed closure of another two of its branches in Eldoret's Uganda Road and Nairobis Komarock Mall which also had outstanding rent arrears - The supermarket also found itself in the same position when auctioneers landed on its Kisumus United branch barely five days ago Debt-ridden retailer Tuskys has shut down one of its Nairobi CBD branches over rent arrears. The move by the once giant supermarket to close down Tuskys Hakati branch came after the landlord threatened to auction its goods over failure to pay its dues. READ ALSO: COVID-19: Kenya records zero deaths as 241 test positive Tuskys has sent home hundreds of staff as its financial woes deepens. Photo: Tuskys Supermarket. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Gloves off as Ledama takes on KEMSA board chairman Kembi Gitura: "Don't show me that smirk" The latest setback followed the closure of another two of its branches in Eldoret's Uganda Road and Nairobis Komarock Mall which also had outstanding rent arrears. The closure of the two branches came barely five days after the supermarket found itself in the same position when auctioneers landed on its Kisumus United branch. The branch was shut down over KSh 36 million rent arrears. Tuskys United branch in Kisumu city. Photo: The Star. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Flashy lawyer Donald Kipkorir acquires brand new multi-million Mercedes E300 The retailer recently signed a deal with a Mauritius based fund for the provision of a financing facility amounting to KSh 2 billion. The funding would help alleviate the current capital constraints that saw the retailer's shelves run empty as creditors threatened to withdraw. In a statement released on Tuesday, August 25, the retailer said the money would be released subject to fulfilling transaction condition precedents. Tuskys CEO Dan Githua speaking at a past event. Photo: Tuskys. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: DP Ruto apepea mpaka Mombasa kwa ziara ya siku mbili As previously communicated, we wish to reiterate our commitment to resolve the underlying working capital challenges quickly. This funding will provide the needed impetus to our overall capitalisation journey," said Tuskys chairman Bernard Kahianyu. Staff salaries unpaid Due to cash flow problems, staff at the supermarket have also not received their full July salaries forcing CEO Dan Githua to apologise. "The Tusker Mattresses Limited Management regrets for the delay of July 2020 salaries and wishes to clarify that it has no reason whatsoever of holding employees salaries. We further confirm that salaries for the month of July 2020 has been paid in part up to 50 per cent of the total, he said in a letter. Do you have an inspirational story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Tuko news Women are all over me, my wife should be saved and respectful -Stivo Simpleboy | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke It also illustrated how the coronavirus pandemic in Brazil, a country with a lengthy and notorious history of corruption, has been a bonanza for grifters and fraudsters. As states emptied their coffers to combat the gravest health crisis in national history, which has killed more than 118,000 Brazilians, officials across the country saw an opportunity to get rich, prosecutors allege. 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 MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 11: Voters wait in line at a polling s Voters wait in line at a polling station on August 11 in Minneapolis during the Minnesota state primary. Credit - Joshua LottThe Washington Post/ Getty Images Brian Corley, the supervisor of elections in Floridas Pasco County, realizes this is not a normal election year. Anxiety over mail voting, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the on-going national reckoning over systemic racism already create something of a tinderbox, and the countrys growing polarization may set the stage for the most high-stakes election yet. Its not hard to imagine, Corley says, a minor squabble over a face mask devolving into a confrontation between voters of different political persuasions. Even the perception of voter intimidation is the last thing we need, he says. Anything that lends itself towards a perception or outright voter intimidation is just not appropriate. A lot of the misinformation and perceived voter intimidation isnt just coming from dark corners of the Internet; its coming directly from the White House. President Donald Trump suggested, without evidence, that mail voting will lead to massive fraud, discredited physical ballot drop boxes, and promised to deploy law enforcement to polling places on Election Day. Were going to have everything. Were going to have sheriffs and were going to have law enforcement and were going to have hopefully U.S. attorneys and were going to have everybody, and attorney generals, Trump said on Fox News on Aug. 20. Federal law prohibits the use of troops at polls and the President has no authority over local law enforcement, according to Protect Democracy, a nonprofit that focuses on protecting democratic standards. Top Department of Homeland Security official, Chad Wolf, said that sending agents to polling locations was not the departments role. Several election officials told TIME they did not believe the President would actually attempt to order law enforcement to the polls, while others said their state laws would explicitly prohibit such federal action. Story continues But Sophia Lin Lakin, deputy director of the ACLUs Voting Rights Project, says none of these rumors need to turn out to be true for them to have the effect of intimidating voters. Take the Presidents promise to send law enforcement to polling places, for instance. Just the specter of it happeningmay deter individuals from going to the polls, she says. Its very understandable that voters may find literally just the statement that the President has made very concerning and troubling. Voters of color are often especially vulnerable to voter intimidation tactics. In 2018, false rumors that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers would be patrolling polling places would likely have had a greater affect on immigrant communities. Two years before that, white nationalists touted plans to show up, armed, at polling places to prevent voter fraud. Trumps promise to send law enforcement to polling places may disproportionately deter Black voters, who are most likely to have deadly or harmful encounters with police. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon says part of the challenge is defining what, exactly, voter intimidation looks like, since it can take multiple and subtle forms. It can be as simple as calling into question conventional and widely used methods of voting, so as to dissuade someone from voting in a particular way, he explains. Voting-access advocates say its difficult to gauge how widespread voter intimidation is, or to measure its impact, in part because the tactics are often so insidious. One problem is that voter intimidation efforts are often very public, cloaked in the perception of legitimacythe idea of protecting the election from fraud. Republicans have long insisted that they must closely monitor polls to prevent voter fraud that they have not been able to show exists. Even a voter fraud commission Trumps administration put in place was disbanded by 2018 after failing to identify any widespread voter fraud. Studies have also shown that election fraud is rare in the U.S. But such findings have not prevented President Trump from repeatedly suggesting otherwise. This year, it will be even easier to launch aggressive poll monitoring efforts. Two years ago, a federal consent decree that limited the Republican National Committees poll monitoring operations was allowed to reach an end. The decree had been in place since the 80s, following what a court found to be intimidation of minority voters by a National Ballot Security Task Force in New Jersey. This will be the first presidential election since the order was lifted in which the Republican party will not have to get their poll monitoring plans green lit in advance by a court, and Republican operatives have reportedly been touting expanded poll monitoring operations ahead of the fall election. While both parties use poll monitors, this year poses particular challenges because of social distances requirements necessitated by COVID-19. In Madison, Wisconsin, for example, Maribeth Witzel-Behl, the city clerk, says that some sites may need to limit the number of poll observers allowed. We need to make sure were able to keep the poll workers and the voters safe, keeping everybody six feet apart, and well require all of our observers to wear masks, and were going to only have so much space available for them, Witzel-Behl says. For now, election officials are focused on educating voters as best they can. The top-line message? Mail-in ballots are safe; drop boxes are secure; and you can have confidence in the results of an election. But that doesnt mean you should be sanguine about your vote. Election officials encourage voters to cast their ballots as early as possible, and to brace themselves for the possibility that the election results may not be known for days or weeks after Nov. 3. In the meantime, says Kristen Clarke, President of the National Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, voting-access advocates are on the look out for new and innovative ways to scare voters into staying home. Were watching vigilantly, she says. The so-called ISIS caliphate was destroyed in late 2017 when we supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the liberation of ISIS capital, Raqqa. Splintered, the caliphate was wiped off the map in March 2019 when the ISIS adherents lost the final holdout of Baghuz in Syria. There has been no valid military mission since. The longer we delay in withdrawing our troops from the region, the longer and greater will be our risk of eventually stumbling into an unnecessary war. This weeks clash with Russian troops is the latest incident, but far from the only one, that could have sparked a wider conflict. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 08:49:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SYDNEY, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- A four-year-old boy was among three people killed by falling trees on Thursday night as heavy storms lashed Australian state of Victoria. The boy suffered critical injuries after being hit by a falling tree in the outer suburbs of state capital city Melbourne. He was transferred to hospital but later died. Meanwhile, in separate incidents a man and a woman were killed when their vehicles were struck by falling branches. The woman was sitting in the passenger seat travelling on a highway when her vehicle collided with a falling tree, also injuring the male driver. Intense storms hammered parts of the state throughout the afternoon and into the evening, with authorities urging residents to remain at home. Over 2,000 calls were made to the State Emergency Service for assistance, with 85 percent of them regarding fallen trees and 10 percent regarding property damage. Heavy rain also led to the water supply for around 250,000 homes to become contaminated with non-disinfected water from an overflowing dam. Residents were instructed to boil their tap water before drinking it. Enditem As more and more schools and businesses around the country get the OK to reopen, college towns are moving in the opposite direction because of too much partying and too many COVID-19 infections among students. With more than 300 students at the University of Missouri testing positive for the coronavirus and an alarming 44% positivity rate for the surrounding county, the local health director Friday ordered bars to stop serving alcohol at 9 p.m. and close by 10 p.m. Earlier this week, Iowas governor ordered all bars shut down around Iowa University and Iowa State, while the mayor of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, did the same in the hometown of the states flagship university. What were seeing in our violations is theyre coming late at night, said Stephanie Browning, head of the health department for Columbia, Missouri. Big groups gathering. Theyre not wearing their masks, theyre not social distancing. In other developments: Centuria Industrial REIT, (CIP) the largest-listed Australian-focused fund, has expanded its portfolio with two more assets at a time when the warehouse and logistic sector is in high demand but with supply facing some headwinds. The fund paid $32.5 million for the two industrial assets which are fully let and have a weighted average lease expiry of eight years. Beacon Lightings purpose-built distribution facility in Derrimut, Victoria owned by Centuria Industrial REIT. CIP fund manager Jesse Curtis said the acquisitions add to the strategy of having assets that provide strong income streams a long time into the future. "We remain focused on increasing quality, scale and investor relevance as Australia's largest domestic pure play industrial REIT," Mr Curtis said. 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 By Laman Ismayilova The Land of Fire is filled with mind-blowing historical sites and wonders out there. With its ancient history, the country is of particular interest of archeologists. Over the past years, many sample of material culture have been discovered across the country. Ancient pitch graves have been discovered in Yardmili. Sample of material culture dating back to the antique were founded by Urakeran village's resident on his farmland. The leading scientific worker of Archeology and Ethnography Institute, philosophy doctor in history Jeyhun Eminli examined the territory, APA reported. Consequently, beginning from mid-August, the Yardymly-Lerik archeological expedition for Antique era of Archeology and Ethnography Institute of ANAS has started researches in Urakeran village. The excavations have been conducted on four different areas. As a result, massive pitcher graves were discovered during the excavations. Although the graves similar to the found big pitcher graves was also encountered previously in country's various parts, the structure of grave and the funeral customs revealed on this territory are completely different. The main feature of the 2000 years old pitcher graves is that the big pitcher is put in upright and a bit sloping position, while the part of the mummy close to the ground surface is covered with large lids. Researches will be continued until the middle of September. After inclusion of findings into the plan and completion of photo shooting, documentation and field works, the research work will be continued in desktop and laboratory conditions. Furthermore, samples of material culture will be handed over to the regions ethnography museum and the countrys leading museums. Moreover, neolithic settlement has been also discovered in Aghstafa. The ancient Neolithic settlement called "Chapishtepe" ("Chagritapa") and various stone tools and household items prove that the area was intensively inhabited 8,000 years ago, Azertag reported. The preliminary researched showed that people inhabited there in order to have access to river. Both in the Soviet period and in subsequent years, the area was studied as a Neolithic settlement in the western region. Archaeological excavations are underway in an area of 200 square meters. This area may be expanded in in the near future. Settled in the country's western part, Agstafa is home to many historical sights such as bronze age settlement Teyretepe in Ashagi Geychali village. Artifacts made of bronze from the beginning of Iron Age can be found in Dagkesemen village. Historical monuments like this are scattered across the whole region. The 19th century mosques placed in Girag Kesemen, Kolkhalfeli, Garahasanli, Dagkesemen are among such historical sites. The main river of the country, the Kura River, flows through the region. Garayazi Nature Reserve here is a must-see place for all travelers --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz In her Gallery 9 exhibition, The Boxer Is the Lover with the Flower Is the Naked Motif, George has created a series of wall hangings featuring dense clusters of brightly coloured threads attached to spindly bronze frames. These frames dont confine themselves to the edge of a picture, they snake around, like roots or branches, in seemingly random configurations. In other works she combines oil paint and embroidery on canvas, producing indefinable hybrids. Our take. Embroidery is known as a neat and careful occupation but Teelah George has taken the medium into another dimension. Although its not possible to be an abstract expressionist with a needle and thread, George has found a way of building up areas of colour in a very free manner. Its as close to drawing as sewing gets. George has drawn inspiration (and a big collection of thread) from travels in Germany, England, France and Northern Ireland. For the most part she avoids identifiable imagery, giving us glimpses of foreign skies and landscapes, fleeting memories of visits to art museums and cathedrals. She sees these works as samplers, using colour and form for poetic, expressive effect. The results can be surprisingly beautiful and tactile. Loading Georges travels have recently come to a halt after moving from Perth to Melbourne. Unable to get back across the Western Australia border, she now has plenty of time to perfect her embroidery technique in the studio. Can I afford it? There are two different sizes of work in this show. Smaller pieces such as Rust or Bruise (46cm x 40cm x 3cm), are selling for $3300. For larger works such as the one that provides the title of the exhibition, or Sky Piece (Berlin, Belfast, Paris, Perth) (180cm x 150cm, and featured above), the asking price is $20,000. This is entirely reasonable for an artist somewhere between emerging and established whose star is on the rise. Georges record price, so far, is $28,000 for a commission. Where can I have a squiz? Gallery 9, 9 Darley Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, until September 5; gallery9.com.au. San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced Friday that some businesses will be allowed to reopen for outdoor service beginning September 1. Specifically, the news regarding reopening affects some personal care businesses hair and nail salons as well as barbershops which have not been able to resume operations in any capacity since shelter-in-place orders were instated six months ago. The change to the health order also affects gyms, which may open outdoors to patrons on September 9. "When I think of the hundreds of businesses that have closed permanently or the hair or nail salons not able to open, when I think about the kids who are having challenges because they don't have parents or family members who can help them with distance learning we are seeing them fall further and further behind this is a struggle for all of us," Breed said. As of this week, the City of San Francisco is seeing around 75 new coronavirus cases per day every day. That number has been declining recently, but it is still higher than health officials have been hoping to see at this point. The city currently has recorded 9,212 cases of COVID-19, and 83 deaths related to the disease. Due to continued high case numbers, San Francisco is not yet allowing other personal care-related businesses, like facial services and tattoo shops, to reopen at this time. "The whole point of why we're able to do this [is that] people are able to wear a mask," Breed noted. San Francisco remains on the state watch list, although on Friday simultaneous to San Francisco's press conference Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled new, color-coded state watch list parameters. It's not yet clear if San Francisco will remain on the watch list under the new rules for long. San Francisco Department of Public Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax also gave an update on the city's efforts to nevertheless get removed from the list, noting that city-run testing sites have improved test turnaround to less than two days, and have upped the average daily number of tests processed to 3,700. Contact tracing efforts have also improved; the city is now able to reach about 81% of cases and 77% of known contacts, Dr. Colfax stated, though the city is still falling short of its 90% goal on both. "As we increase outdoor activities we must continue to wear our masks, socially distance and wash hands frequently. Our success is so dependent on each person doing their part," Colfax said. "Gradual reopening of outdoor services and children's activities will include travel throughout the city ... As people move around the city more and increase activity we must again be so careful. I ask, again: Wear a mask." Mayor Breed will announce the city's status regarding its place on the state's watch list, under its new criteria, next week. Edit: This article has been updated to reflect that outdoor gyms may open September 9, not September 1. MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here. The 6-foot rule is 'outdated': Researchers devise chart to gauge COVID risk How worried should the Bay Area be about a 'third spike' of COVID-19 in the fall? Rapid $5 coronavirus test doesn't need specialty equipment Will wildfire evacuations accelerate the spread of coronavirus in the Bay Area? Alameda County to allow outdoor hair, nail salons to open Alyssa Pereira is a culture editor at SFGate. Email: alyssa.pereira@sfgate.com | Twitter: @alyspereira BRANDON A man will spend the next month in jail and year under house arrest after accidentally killing his cousin while hunting at night, but a judge says the accused will have to spend the rest of his life living with the trauma of what happened that night. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/8/2020 (510 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. BRANDON A man will spend the next month in jail and year under house arrest after accidentally killing his cousin while hunting at night, but a judge says the accused will have to spend the rest of his life living with the trauma of what happened that night. Sheldon Wanbdiska, 40, was found guilty in February of careless use of a firearm in the shooting death of his 24-year-old cousin, Dylan Hapa, during a 2016 hunting incident. During his Court of Queens Bench trial in October 2019, he was found not guilty of criminal negligence causing death. Hapa was shot in the upper right leg after he and Wanbdiska got out of the truck they were spotlighting from to pursue a deer. The gun was at Wanbdiskas feet in the truck, and he said in a police statement he tucked the sawed-off rifle under his arm with the barrel pointed behind him while using a flashlight. He fumbled with the gun while reaching into his pocket to grab a shell and it went off as he tried to squeeze it with his arm to regain hold of it, hitting Hapa who was standing behind him in the process. Hapa died a few days later at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. Wanbdiska also pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm without a licence, possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition and unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle. During a June sentencing hearing, Crown attorney Sarah Murdoch asked the judge to sentence Wanbdiska to a year in jail and 18 months probation for careless use of a firearm, while defence lawyer Andrew Synyshyn suggested a three-year suspended sentence. Hapa's death has been crushing for his family. In victim impact statements, Hapa's mother says her sons death has been agony and she never knew this level of suffering existed. "There arent any words to express how I miss my Dylan," she said. "I have cried so many tears. I often cried until I couldnt breathe and I collapse from my grief and still I cry every day. I wake every morning and for a split second I dont remember he is gone, but then it hits me and it starts again, another day without him." While reading his decision on Thursday, Justice Scott Abel said Wanbdiska didnt take reasonable precautions for the safety of others. He didnt make sure the gun was unloaded and he carried in a dangerous way. "This case highlights the reality that is all too familiar for Indigenous people in Canada that a young Indigenous man has died for no apparent reason and that another Indigenous man is facing the possibility of incarceration in a system that has disproportionately incarcerated Indigenous people," he said. Abel added that Wanbdiskas remorse is "true and genuine" and he didnt set out to cause Hapas death. During his sentencing, Wanbdiska broke down in tears, apologizing to Hapas mother and father and wishing he could heal his family. The judge said the Wanbdiska is not a danger to the public and safety would not be put at risk by having him serve his sentence in the community. 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. "I am satisfied that this experience with these charges and having to live with the result of causing the death of Dylan Hapa sufficiently deters the accused from further criminal activity. In my view, the accused does not represent a danger to the safety of the community," he said. Despite this, Abel said the law does not allow him to order house arrest for part of his charges. He sentenced him to 30 days in jail for possessing a loaded and prohibited firearm with accessible ammunition and occupying a motor vehicle in which he knew there was a firearm. He also sentenced him to a year of house arrest for careless use of a firearm, followed by two years of probation and a lifetime ban from owning weapons. Abel said rehabilitation is a significant part of the sentence and sentenced him to 100 hours of community service. The community service must be around activities that promote or preserve Dakota culture or the community, activities that benefit members of the Indigenous community or that deter young people from engaging in crime, violence and drugs. dmay@brandonsun.com Twitter: @DrewMay_ Ghislaine Maxwell, longtime associate of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, speaks at a news conference on oceans and sustainable development at the United Nations in New York, June 25, 2013 in this screengrab taken from United Nations TV file footage. Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite charged with abetting Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of young girls, on Friday became the first federal jail inmate in New York City to receive an in-person lawyer visit since coronavirus restrictions took effect months ago, an attorney told CNBC. Maxwell, 58, got that visit in a Brooklyn jail even though many other inmates who have been held much longer there and in a Manhattan federal jail have been unable to receive visits from their own attorneys because of Covid-19 rules. "I know it's the first in-person visit," said Sean Hecker, an attorney involved in litigation over conditions and visits at the Metropolitan Detention Center, where the wealthy Maxwell has been held without bail in solitary confinement since early July. "It is outrageous that the first in-person visit would be granted to a well-heeled British socialite who the president of the United States stated that he wished well," said Hecker. "It only serves to confirm that our government doesn't understand that they operate two different systems of justice, one for the well-heeled and well-connected, and one for everyone else," he said. The Daily News first reported that Maxwell had received a visit from two of her attorneys Friday. The newspaper cited sources who said she was the first inmate in a federal jail in New York to get such a visit in months. Hecker said he independently learned of the visit and knows that it was the first to either federal jail in the city. Hecker is representing the Federal Defenders of New York, a nonprofit group of lawyers who defend indigent clients in federal criminal cases. The group has a pending lawsuit over conditions at MDC. Recent court filings show that there had been no in-person legal visits in the jail as of last week. The New Call of Macau to Europe: Via WeChat? Published August 28, 2020 by Lee R A trade war with China is spilling into Macau, at great cost to North American operators and including a close Trump ally. The Trump WeChat ban is pervading iGaming's most unsightly post-Covid site. WeChat Ban Justification The US President's ban on Chinese social messaging giant WeChat has been called due to undermining of national security. Personal Over Economics? The ripple effect from this personal vendetta is reaching all the way to battered Macau. That's because WeChat is vital to linking North American casino operators with players from mainland China. Big Names Stifled Now, Las Vegas casinos with major interests in Macau including Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts International and the Las Vegas Sands of Trump's buddy Sheldon Adelson could be taking big financial hits as a result of the applicability of the executive order to US citizens and corporations carrying out any transaction related to WeChat. Losing the Link to the Mainland With the edict is set to take effect in 45 days from last Thursday, a week ago, Macau-based lawyer and former Sands China legal advisor Carlos Lobo estimates that 95% of Macaus total gaming patrons are mainland Chinese, whom provide an estimated 90% of the island's gaming revenues. Lobo says without WeChat, North American organisation will be severely limited in their ability to communicate with any teams they traditionally put on the ground in China for recruiting and promotion. Vital Communications Tool Until now, the WeChat app had emerged as the key to remote sustainability in Macau by North American casinos because of the app's popular facilitation of outreach to China's mainland junkets and individual players in a landscape of legal prohibitions against gaming and advertisement. Crippling Competitiveness Macau-based consultancy firm IGamiX managing partner Ben Lee confirms that North American casinos have come to rely competitively on the WeChat social app: If they are deprived of this channel, in the absence of any other channel, they will be severely disadvantaged compared to their [non-US] peers. New Hope for Macau However, for once Macau may have some relief, with Lobo pointing out that other non-American operators unbound to Trump's blanket order are likely ready to step in and fill that void, citing European brands Melco, SJM Holdings and Galaxy. Outlook In Macau's case, North America's trade war with China looks like Europe's gain, and possibly a pipeline to fresh investment and even new visitors to this once proud and now struggling gaming mecca. Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we intend to prove it. Julie Roginsky, a Democrat, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers yet have remained friends throughout. Here, they discuss the weeks events with Tom Moran, editorial page editor of The Star-Ledger. Q. At their convention this week, with looting and burning in Kenosha in the background, Republicans warned of chaos and violence if Joe Biden wins this election and vowed that President Trump would bring law and order to the streets. Is that pitch going to work? Are those rioters giving Donald Trump new life? Roginsky: That argument might have worked if Donald Trump were the challenger. Unfortunately for him, hes the president and this chaos and violence is happening on his watch. If he cant bring law and order to the streets now, why should even his voters believe that he will do it after his re-election? DuHaime: Julie makes a good point that the civil unrest is happening on presidents watch, and that usually would hurt the incumbent. In 1968, LBJ didnt even run for re-election. Trump, though, is trying to make the discussion about crime and safety, not racial injustice. Peaceful protests will hurt Donald Trumps chances. Violence, looting and property damage will hurt Joe Biden. Thats because some elements of the party (not Biden himself) have called for defunding the police, which is wildly unpopular, even among Democratic voters. Q. Have either of you detected an agenda for a second Trump term during this convention? Does he need one? Roginsky: Trump doesnt need a substantive agenda because hes gotten this far just on promoting grievances and nostalgia for the halcyon days of white male domination uber alles . Its telling that the vast majority of the speakers at this convention are either family members or current and former staff members. Most rational Republicans want to stay away from this apocalyptic nightmare. DuHaime: His forward-looking agenda is that the economy will be great again, and the forgotten working class will be forgotten no more. Thats it. Aside from the excessive number of family members speaking, the convention has done a great job showing diversity in speakers - including Tim Scott, an African American U.S. Senator, Daniel Cameron, a young African American Attorney General, and Nikki Haley, a female Indian-American former governor and UN Ambassador. Perhaps more importantly, you have seen a female dairy farmer from Wisconsin, a logger from Minnesota, a lobsterman from Maine and a Democrat mayor from the blue collar Iron Range of northern Minnesota. These are examples of voters who voted for Obama but flipped to Trump in 2016. Q. A vicious hurricane hit the Gulf Coast while California burns, and still no one at the convention is talking about climate. Is it just me, or is that a bit bizarre? Roginsky: Climate change is a hoax, didnt you hear? Hurricanes and fires are not of interest to this president, because he cant rail against an act of God and providing real relief to the people hurt by natural disasters is beyond his capacity or interest. But mark my words: senators from Texas and Louisiana will soon be asking Congress for a bailout for their states from Hurricane Laura, since this administration depleted FEMA funding for emergency preparedness that could have mitigated the fallout from this storm. Im also old enough to remember when they opposed rapid relief for New Jersey earlier this year, when it was one of the first states hit hard by COVID, another natural disaster. DuHaime: I believe the speakers would do well to better acknowledge some of the major challenges we face in America - the COVID crisis, racial strife and anxiety, and yes, natural disasters. The president can play a leadership role in all three, and the federal government has the resources to help on all fronts if marshaled properly. Q. Gov. Phil Murphy took the advice of liberal economists who warned against spending cuts during a recession, presenting a budget that includes $4 billion in borrowing and little belt-tightening. Does that make sense? Roginsky: It makes perfect sense. Drastic cuts have historically only exacerbated recessions. But the devil is in the details for the governor. Politically, voters will give him a lot of leeway on this, provided that he doesnt ask one cohort to pay more so that another cohort doesnt have to make any sacrifices. DuHaime: Makes sense? Higher income taxes, higher business taxes, even higher fees on health insurance, all while borrowing billions do not make sense. Every year, the Democrats see a different problem, but solution always seems to be the same - higher taxes. Q. The budget has one big social initiative, the Baby Bond idea Sen. Cory Booker is pushing in Washington. It would give $1,000 to every newborn in families earning up to $130,000 a year, which could be used after age 18 for college, job-training or a home. Is that idea going to fly? Roginsky: Its a great idea but Im not sure its going to fly right now. The governor asked for and received emergency borrowing powers because of the unprecedented nature of the pandemic. He is asking for over $4 billion in new debt and over $1 billion in new taxes. The baby bonds plan is not pandemic-related and I dont know that there is broad appetite to have some people sacrifice more financially for a brand new spending initiative that doesnt affect them directly. To be successful, the governor is going to have to message this one very carefully. DuHaime: Give me a break. It is a terribly silly idea right now. Because it sounds nice, people are afraid to say it. We have the second-highest unemployment in America right now. The governor is proposing higher income taxes, higher business taxes, borrowing billions and cutting funding to hospitals, but lets give unborn children a thousand bucks in 2038? Give a thousand bucks to unemployed restaurant workers now instead. If you want to empower todays children for life in 20 years, lets not pander with borrowed money. Lets make difficult decisions now about improving our public education system, especially in our poorest communities. Q. The governor says he may allow gyms to open soon, and restaurants for indoor dining. I love gyms and white tablecloths, but Im not ready for that. Are you two? Is the public? Roginsky: Im kind of ticked off that I will soon no longer have an excuse to stay home and watch as my muscle mass disintegrates further into jello. But generally, yes, I do think people will return to restaurants at least. Ive spent quite a bit of time in western Massachusetts this summer, where indoor dining has been allowed for a few months, and indoor restaurants are typically about as full as social distancing measures allow them to be. As we get closer to cold and flu season, that behavior may change but for now, its a positive lifeline for these businesses. DuHaime: The governor is absolutely correct here. Gyms can operate safely with proper precautions. Gyms are often cavernous and have plenty of room for social distancing and air flow. Exercise is important for physical and mental health, and this will also help many people get safely back to work. I am hopeful we can move soon on indoor dining with proper distancing, expanding gathering limits and more so we continue to move in the right direction. Good job here to continue moving the state on the path to normalcy. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a The AJC Decatur Book Festival presented by Emory University is going virtual this year, with several events featuring an Emory presence. The online festival begins Friday, Sept. 4, with Emory professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown as the keynote speaker. Activities conclude Sunday, Oct. 4, with 2007 Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and former two-term U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey as the endnote speaker, discussing her new book, Memorial Road: A Daughters Memoir. Emorys Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library holds Tretheweys papers. The festivals main track spotlights several events with an Emory connection. Keynote with Jericho Brown in conversation with festival board president Mathwon Howard Friday, Sept. 4, 2:30 p.m. Brown, director of Emorys Creative Writing Program and Winship Distinguished Research Professor in Creative Writing, won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for The Tradition, a lyrical collection of poems that addresses the normalization of evil and celebrates those who have lived through it. Howard, who is now an associate vice president for development at Yale University, most recently served as Emorys senior associate vice president for development programs. Register for this online event. Rosemary Magee Creativity Conversation presents Flash Here and There Like Falling Stars: The Life and Work of Dr. Pellom McDaniels III film and discussion Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2 p.m. The Rose Library will host a virtual discussion about Pellom McDaniels III, who passed away earlier this year. The event will begin with the debut of Flash Here and There Like Falling Stars: The Life and Work of Dr. Pellom McDaniels III, a film about his life, contributions and work as curator of the Rose Librarys African American collections. Following the film, current and former members of the Emory community who worked closely with McDaniels and were deeply informed by his vision and generosity will discuss his legacy and impact on multiple communities. Rose Library director Jennifer King will moderate the discussion with Dwight Andrews, associate professor of music theory and African American music at Emory; Clint Fluker, assistant director of engagement and scholarship at the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library; and Randall Burkett, retired curator of African American collections at the Rose Library. Register for the online event. Pray with Your Whole Life: On Howard Thurman and Thomas Merton Thursday, Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m. Georgia theologian, author and Emory alumna Barbara Brown Taylor and author Sophfronia Scott will discuss their studies of Howard Thurman, Thomas Merton and prayer-centered life with Pastor Beth Waltemath of North Decatur Presbyterian Church. A former Candler School of Theology distinguished visiting professor, Taylor received a bachelor of arts degree in religion from Emory in 1973 before earning her master of divinity from Yale in 1976. She was named one of Emorys 175 Makers of History and won the prestigious Emory Medal in 1998. Register for this online event. Crime Fiction Down South Monday, Sept. 14, 6:30 p.m. Carl Suddler, Emory history professor and author of Presumed Criminal: Black Youth and the Justice System in Postwar New York, will moderate as award-winning novelists Tom Mullen, Attica Locke and S.A. Cosby discuss their hard-hitting crime novels set in Georgia, Texas and Virginia. Mullens novel Lightning Men explores race, law enforcement and justice in mid-century Atlanta. Lockes Heaven, My Home chronicles a Texas Rangers search for a missing child and grapples with American nostalgia and white supremacy. Cosbys My Darkest Prayer follows an unconventional investigator tracing the cause of a small-town ministers death. These authors will discuss what they love about crime fiction with Suddler and Emory graduate student Kareem Joseph. Register for this event. African American Poetry with Kevin Young Tuesday, Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m. Poet Kevin Young, who recently compiled and edited the anthology African American Poetry: 250 Years of Struggle and Song, will take part in a fascinating conversation about the range of voices in African American poetry, both in his own writings and as a scholar working on this anthology. Young, a former creative writing professor at Emory and former curator at the Rose Library who is now director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, recently placed his papers with the Rose Library. Register for this event. Endnote with Natasha Trethewey Sunday, Oct. 4, 4:30 p.m. Yolanda Cooper, dean and university librarian at Emory, will introduce the festivals endnote featuring poet and author Natasha Trethewey and interviewer Rosemary Magee discussing Tretheweys recent release, Memorial Drive: A Daughters Memoir. The book wrestles with the Souths history through the lens of her life and the life of her mother, who was murdered by Tretheweys former stepfather. Memorial Drive dives deep into a shared human experience of sudden loss and absence, but also into the enduring ripple effects of white racism and domestic abuse in the American South. Trethewey is a former professor at Emory who served as director of the Creative Writing Program. Her papers are in the Rose Library archives, where Magee was previously director. Register for this event. - Gitura and KEMSA CEO Johan Manjari appeared before the Senate committee on health to answers to quarries of misappropriation of COVID-19 funds - Gitura submitted to the committee that to the best of his knowledge and understanding, the KEMSA boss had done nothng wrong to warrnt suspension - The board chair also dismissed corruption allegations as mere sensational reports being propagated by the media without facts - The infuriated Narok SenatorLedam Ole Kina asked Gitura to stop taking the committee for granted and respond to questions being raised without flipflopping Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina has clashed with Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) board chairman Kembi Gitura during a heated Senate session. Gitura and KEMSA CEO Johan Manjari appeared before the Senate committee on health to answers to quarries of misappropriation of COVID-19 funds which has caused public uproar. READ ALSO: COVID-19: Kenya records zero death as 241 test positive Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina was angered by the answer provided by KEMSAboard chairman Kembi Gitura. Photo: Ledama Ole Kina. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Waziri Mkuu wa Japan Shinzo Abe ajiuzulu The two embattled state officers appeared before the committee on Friday, August 28, and were hard-pressed by senators to explain the glaring discrepancies in the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to fight coronavirus. During the proceedings, the outspoken Narok lawmaker lost his cool and called out the board's chairman for allegedly attempting to cover up the mess done by KEMSA directors. READ ALSO: Chelsea complete sensational signing of Brazilian defender Thiago Silva Gitura submitted to the committee that to the best of his knowledge and understanding, the KEMSA boss and his three other colleagues who are on suspension had not done anything wrong to warrant suspension. The former Murang'a senator said Manjari and his suspended after the Ethics and Anti Corruption (EACC) asked the board to do so in order to pave way for investigation. "Were it not for that letter from EACC asking us to suspend the three officers to allow for investigations we would not have done so because as far as I am concerned there is nothing wrong the KEMSA CEO did," said Gitura. KEMSA board chair Kembi Gitura. Photo: The Senate. Source: Facebook The board chair also dismissed corruption allegations as mere sensational reports being propagated by the media without facts. The sentiments by the ex-lawmaker angered a section of senators among the Ledama who doubles up as the vice-chair of the health committee. KEMSA CEO Jonah Manjari. Photo: KEMSA Source: Facebook The infuriated Narok Senator asked Gitura to stop taking the committee for granted and respond to questions being raised without flipflopping. "Don't take us as if we are foolish or stupid. We know what we are dealing with don't show me that smirk...When we ask you a question about direct procurement, please answer. This is a very emotive issue." fumed Ledama. Other senators who expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which Gitura was responding to questions include Samson Cherargei (Nandi) and Fred Outa (Kisumu). On his part, Manjari exonerated himself from any wrongdoing saying the accusation of inflating prices was unfounded since KEMSA made the order between March and April when the price of PPEs who high. "The market price as of March and April was really high because of supply and demand," said Manjari. Do you have an inspirational story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Tuko news I started my business with Ksh 1600, it's now worth Ksh 750,000 | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Recently, a movement known as QAnon has been gaining traction within the conservative circle. Many Christian leaders including prominent conservative evangelicals have denounced the movement. QAnon was started by an anonymous online figure around 2017 and claims that President Trump is in a war against a Satan-worshipping faction surrounded by A-list celebrities engaged in child sex abuse. This movement shrouded by conspiracy theories has been gathering a notable following within the evangelical and conservative community. Among them includes a Georgia congressional candidate and a U.S. Senate candidate from Oregon. The significance of the topic generated enough attention by the public to cause Vice President Mike Pence to address the issue in an interview with CBS in which he stated that he had no knowledge of QAnon and denounced the fact that he had to spend time on a major network to talk about an online conspiracy theory. Christian leaders such as President Albert Mohler Jr. of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary voiced their own opinions regarding the QAnon. Through his podcast, Mohler compared the group to Gnosticism which is a belief that a few privileged individuals are able to have access to inside information. According to him, ancient Gnostics believed that the access to secret knowledge was a key to salvation. Mohler continued to voice his criticism saying that Christianity has no relation to a secret truth. Rather, Christianity has everything to do with a public Gospel. Another notable figure, Pastor Joe Carter added onto the conversation stating that QAnonis a political cult and satanic movement. "The QAnon movement frequently engages in slander, which James calls demonic behavior (James 3:15-16). 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," Carter called for Christians to protect individuals who might fall to the movement QAnon and appealed to QAnon supporters to return to faith. It will take Melbourne months to map its way out of lockdown, according to an infection prevention researcher who warned Victoria would need to be hesitant when lifting restrictions. The state is starting to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel after it was struck by its second wave of coronavirus cases last month and thrusted into a Stage 4 lockdown, the harshest in the country since the start of the pandemic. With Premier Daniel Andrews not yet making the road map out of lockdown public just yet, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it would have to be transparent and likely location specific. But infection prevention researcher and nursing and midwifery associate professor at Monash University, Philip Russo, said with still over two weeks to go before the current lockdown ends, it is too premature to say restrictions will be eased on September 13. Restrictions in Melbourne could ease on September 13. Source: AAP In response to the Prime Ministers suggestions, Associate Professor Russo said looking at the past, locking down specific suburbs while opening up the rest of the state did not work. At the beginning of the second wave in July, Mr Andrews locked down 10 postcodes in Melbourne with residents only allowed to leave their home for four reasons for school or work, shopping for essentials, medical care, or to provide care to another person. But despite putting those measures in place, the virus rapidly spread throughout Melbourne, forcing the whole city into a strict Stage 4 lockdown. It could be argued that didnt quite work, but we will wait and see, Associate Professor Russo told Yahoo News Australia. How Stage 3 lockdown could look Associate Professor Russo said as restrictions eased, Melburnians were likely to have more freedom on a daily basis and would be allowed outside for more than just the hour currently allowed. They should also have the ability to socialise and may be looking at being allowed five people in their house, he said. Whatever restrictions are lifted, it needs to be very transparent and needs to be well-staged. Story continues We need to allow time to allow for adverse impacts. We should have very minor restrictions lifted and wait and see how that goes before we look at lifting more. It needs to happen carefully. Associate Professor Russo said the lockdown would not end overnight and expected it would take a number of months for most of the restrictions to ease. You more or less will need to wait the 14-day period after lifting a restriction to wait for any new infections to manifest, he said. It wouldnt be wise to do this rapidly, it could well take a number of months to lift the restrictions. The rules likely here to stay Associate Professor Russo predicted masks would be mandated in Victoria for some time and like all states, hand hygiene and social distancing will be paramount. He said the curfew, restricting Victorians from leaving their homes after 8pm, would likely be one of the first rules eased and predicted Melburnians would be allowed to visit family and friends. Victorias coronavirus cases continue to edge towards double-digits, with 113 new coronavirus cases reported on Friday for the second day in a row. The daily case number in Victoria has now been below 150 for the past five days. Epidemiologist at the University of Melbourne, Professor John Mathews, attempted to predict the number Victoria would need to hit before lifting its lockdown, and it still has a while to go. Professor Mathews said numbers would likely have to be as low as NSW, with it reporting just 13 new cases on Friday compared to Victoria. The simplest thing is to look at NSW. Theyre still under about 20 cases per day, and unless we get to at least that stage in Victoria, it would be hard to recommend stopping the lockdown, he said. Because the numbers are smaller, the contact tracing is more manageable and they can track the new cases and the context down pretty quickly. Weve all got to be really careful On Friday, Premier Daniel Andrews again gave no details about when the government would announce the new rules for the state. But he made it clear that there will be no immediate shift back to stage one or two rules. "The notion we would go from stage four to stage two or stage one, all those businesses would be open like a normal second half of the year, normal spring, we're not going to be able to do that," Mr Andrews said. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the state needed to be careful coming out of lockdown. Source: AAP "It will have to be gradual and steady because we've all got to be really careful to make sure nothing we do makes it more likely that we find ourselves back here at exactly this place. "We want to defeat the second wave and properly. "That means we can avoid a third wave or it's much more likely that we can then find that COVID-19 normal and have a longer term plan which gets us well into 2021, hopefully with a vaccine during next year, and then things are in a different place." 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. Voxox Powers Virtual PBX for Small Businesses in Nigeria UC cloud solutions provider Voxox recently partnered with Nigerian ISP Passage Telecom to provide a white-label cloud phone offering, the first of its kind in the region, to provide localized phone numbers and services to businesses in the area. Passage Telecom, which offers customers in Nigeria premium internet services, is now white labeling the Voxox Cloud Phone offering as Business Call Solutions. Company officials said the offering would make it easy for small businesses to obtain business phone numbers with unlimited extensions, advanced call routing, and virtual receptionists. A sleek mobile user interface or web-based interface is used to make and receive calls and manage activity as well as access features like call recording, device transfer, and voicemail transcription without the need for additional equipment or skills. The service is being hosted by Voxoxs U.S. and European data centers with local billing through a merchant gateway integration. It will also leverage the companys patent-pending breakthrough VoIP codec for crystal clear voice quality in low bandwidth conditions common in less developed areas of Nigeria. "Nigeria has 41.5 million SMEs and we are excited to partner with Passage Telecom to offer these businesses a simple, convenient and economical way to modernize their business phone communications," said Bryan Hertz, CEO, and co-founder of Voxox. The new offering comes at an especially critical time for businesses maintaining operations during a global pandemic. With remote workforces taking over, the ability to work from anywhere with ease is vital. The company also said it has plans to introduce TextMeIn from Voxox, for businesses. This text message marketing solution enables small businesses to prepare and launch bulk SMS campaigns to stay in touch with customers - even when working remotely. "Cloud Phone and it's integral TextMeIn Text Message Marketing platform enable the micro businesses to work from anywhere, which is a critical capability during the Covid-19 pandemic and the following new normal. We look forward to working with Passage Telecom to maximize further the impact of Cloud Phone in the Nigerian market," said Hertz. Please enable JavaScript to view the Edited by Maurice Nagle Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been in the US since March. They didn't keep a low profile, which was initially why they quit being senior royals of the British monarchy. It seems like the lives they have now are far different from being royals. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex purchased a $14 million mansion in Santa Barbara, planting their roots permanently in the US. However, news of their permanent residence purchase reached Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's unspoken enemy, President Donald Trump. According to Woman's Day, Trump is looking carefully at Prince Harry's status in the country now that he's an owner of a house. Questions of the 35-year-old's visa entering the US are left unanswered since landing in California, mid-March. Sources of Woman's Day suggest that the Duke may be relying on either a three-month or a six-month visitor visa, a visa where he needs to leave the US to renew. The gossip magazine claims that neither visa allows the visitor to show their "intent to stay" in the US, like getting a local job or purchasing a home. The dad of one-year-old Archie does have the choice to apply for a green card, which would give him a 10-year residency visa that takes so long to process. With Prince Harry's wife, Meghan can't seem to keep her mouth shut on how the US government is handling the coronavirus pandemic and the civil unrest. With the Duke also declaring that Trump has "blood on his hands" for the coal production support, the magazine has found out that his visa status is being questioned and closely monitored by Trump. "The president is a big fan of the royals, especially the Queen. But doesn't like Meghan and Harry," an insider from the White House told the publication. "I heard he knows about the California house purchase and threatened to look in on his visa status personally." The source added, "I'm sure nothing would please Trump more than deporting Harry - who is about as high profile a naysayer as you can get - if there is any chance to trip him up on his visa status." According to the grapevine, what added more to Trump's firm dislike of the former "Suits" star are the rumors that she will be supporting his rivals, the Democrats, for the upcoming November elections. "If Harry and Meghan are still getting their immigration ducks in a row, this is not a great time to be slagging off Trump publicly or aligning themselves with his enemies." Despite stepping away from his life as a senior royal, Prince Harry remains sixth-in-line to the throne, while Archie is the seventh. The Duke of Sussex has been presented with challenges since moving to California. Applying to become an American citizen would mean he will give up his royal titles, as the US Constitution doesn't recognize inherited titles and royalty. Aside from that, he would also have to pay taxes. Thanks to Meghan Markle, all hope is not lost if Prince Harry really wants to be an American citizen. As a spouse of a US citizen, the Duke is eligible to apply for permanent residency. READ MORE: Prince Harry Betrayal: The One Royal Member Duke Trusted That Leaked Blossoming Relationship to Meghan Markle New York, Aug 28 : US President Donald Trump has highlighted the removal of H1-B workers from an American public sector power conglomerate and restoring jobs to citizens as one of his accomplishments while officially accepting the Republican Party's nomination for a second term in office. His acceptance on Thursday night came during a speech from the White House South Lawn on the last day of the ongoing Republican National Convention (RNC). In his address, he mentioned the episode earlier this month while taking credit for bringing jobs back to the US and promising to redouble the efforts to build on it if re-elected. "When I learned that the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) had laid off hundreds of American workers and forced them to train their lower-paid foreign replacements, I promptly removed the chairman of the board and now those talented American workers have been rehired and are back providing power" to several states, he said. "They have their old jobs back and some are here with us this evening," he said while introducing them to the audience of about 1,500 gathered at the White House. As they received a standing ovation, he said: "You went through a lot." Trump, who repeatedly specified China as he spoke of bringing jobs back, did not mention which country the H1-B workers came from. But when Trump took the action earlier this month, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives, Steven Cohen, who brought up the issue said that one of the companies bringing in the H1-B workers was Capgemini, which "has half of its workforce, or 100,000 workers, in India alone". The mention of the H1-B workers at TVA and the focus on bringing back jobs to the US show an extension of his current policies if re-elected. He has temporarily halted the grant of H1-B visas given to professionals and highly qualified workers citing the high unemployment due to the Covid-19 pandemic and he has said that he plans to revamp the H1-B visa system to weed out those coming in for more routing jobs. Trump who has made job creation and preservation in the US a pillar of his agenda to especially appeal to workers in some of the states key to his election strategy who were hit hardest by the deindustrialisation of the US. The President mentioned what he called his "policy of pro-American immigration," but did not elaborate on it other than listing his action against illegal immigration like building a border fence and deporting gang members and criminals. "In perhaps no area did the Washington, D.C., special interest try harder to stop us than on my police of pro-American immigration. But I refused to back down and today America's borders are more secure than ever before," he said. Earlier this month he brought some of the TVA workers who were being replaced by H1-B workers and announced the firing of the undertaking's Chairman James Thompson and Director Richard Howorth. He said he would fire more board members if the laid-off workers were not re-hired. In his acceptance speech, Trump accused China of "stealing our jobs, ripping us off and robbing our country" with the connivance of the nation's elite. "We took the strongest, toughest-hitting action against China by far," he said. "We will make sure our jobs stay in this country." He accused his Democratic rival Joe Biden of contributing to the outsourcing and the export of American jobs and warned that if he were elected the US would revert to that. "Biden's agenda is 'Made in China', mine is 'Made in USA'," he said. His policy, he said was "building factories in America, not firing their employees and jobs deserting the US for other countries". (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis) -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed The pathogenic fungus Candida auris, which first surfaced in 2009, is proving challenging to control. It is resistant to many fungicides and not easy to diagnose. Researchers from Radboud university medical center, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital (CWZ) and international colleagues have discovered that the human immune system recognizes the fungus well. The study has been able to pin-point the fungus' Achilles heel for new, effective drugs. Meanwhile, the threat posed by this emerging public health pathogen should not be underestimated. In 2009, an unknown fungus was discovered in the infected ear of a seventy-year-old Japanese woman; this was called Candida auris. Where C. auris suddenly came from was not clear, but soon after that, different strains appeared all over the world. It turned out to be a persistent, difficult to control fungus, which was also usually resistant to fungicides. Last year, the New York Times published an alarming article about the growing problem. The authors cited the example of a man infected with C. auris who died after 90 days at Mount Sinai Hospital. The fungus, which in the meantime had settled in the mattress, curtains, walls, telephone, basically everywhere in the hospital room, could only be removed with a lot of effort. Only after special cleaning and removal of part of the ceiling and the tile floor did the hospital control the fungus. Reduced immunity "We started to investigate C. auris with international colleagues because there was virtually nothing known about this fungus," says Mariolina Bruno of Radboud university medical center's Department of Internal Medicine. The research results have now been published in Nature Microbiology. The study shows that the fungus is especially dangerous for people with compromised immunity. Bruno: "A well-functioning immune system recognizes the fungus clearly and can control it well." A careful study of the human immune response to the C auris infection demonstrated that specific components of the cell wall of the fungus play an essential role in this recognition. David Williams, East Tennessee State University: "These are unique structures that you do not encounter with other fungi. Those specific chemical structures stimulate the immune system enough to take action and clear the fungus." Resistant to fungicides The fact that C. auris is considered a serious and emerging infectious disease is mainly due to its resistance to many disinfectants and fungicides. People with an invasive C. auris fungal infection have thirty to sixty percent chance of dying, precisely because of the immunity of the fungus to many fungicides. Alistair Brown, University of Exeter: "Our research not only shows that these cell wall components are important for the detection by the immune system, but also that they are indispensable to the fungus. Drugs that selectively block the production and operation of these components are currently being investigated for safety and effectiveness. Perhaps one of these is the ideal candidate to tackle the fungus." Since these cell wall components are indispensable to C. auris, the risk of resistance to such a new drug is small. In order to develop resistance, the fungus must at least remain alive so that it can gradually adapt to the new drug. Diagnosis and monitoring Candida auris is related to the much better-known Candida albicans, which can cause vaginal fungal infections. In the study, C. albicans has therefore served as comparison material. Bruno: "On the one hand, we see that C auris evokes a better immunity reaction than C. albicans. On the other hand, C. auris appears less pathogenic, but once in the bloodstream, both fungi are usually life-threatening." What makes the problem even worse is that C auris is not so easy to identify. This makes it easy to confuse with other fungi, which can lead to a delay in treatment. Jacques Meis, a physician-microbiologist at the CWZ: "You should determine the fungi type on a molecular level, enabling you to immediately see which fungus you are dealing with, but not every laboratory has the facilities for that." Earlier this year, he and Paul Verweij (Radboud university medical center) called for the nation-wide monitoring of serious fungal infections to gain a better understanding of the burden of disease and mortality rates. Global warming? The question why C auris suddenly appeared in 2009 has still not been answered. The fungus was not found in stored patient material from previous years, so it seems to be a new or mutated fungus. Perhaps global warming plays a role, suggests American microbiologist Arturo Casadevall in TIME. Most fungi thrive at relatively low temperatures, but due to an increase in the average temperature, it is conceivable that a fungus breaks through its thermal restriction and can suddenly colonize the human body. "An interesting point of view," says Bruno, "but without further evidence, it is as yet highly speculative. Apart from the actual origin history or 'birth' of C. auris, the article in Nature Microbiology provides information on how the interaction between humans and the fungus C. auris occurs: how the fungus stimulates the immune system, what C. auris' pharmacological Achilles heel is and what the opportunities for immunotherapy are." ### The sanctions may be imposed after the relevant decision is made by the European Union. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said Ukraine will consider the issue of imposing sanctions against Belarus after the relevant decision is made by the European Union. "As for the EU sanctions, we have not yet seen the final approved sanctions measures taken by the European Union, but we have already joined the previous statement of the European Union on this matter, and this indicates that in general we share its policy, its approaches," he said during an online briefing on Friday. "Therefore, when we see the sanctions decisions of the European Union, we will also make our own decisions on this issue," Kuleba added. Read also Ukraine freezes all contacts with Belarus FM Kuleba Sanctions against Belarus Google honoured Alexandre Dumas by dedicating a doodle to him on August 28. Dumas was one of the most revered French authors of the 19th century, he produced a prolific body of work that continues to thrill readers around the world today. In the doodle, the search engine giant presented a visual representation of an abbreviated version of one of Dumas most famous novels, Le Comte de Monte Cristo (The Count of Monte Cristo) to mark the anniversary of the publication of its first installment. On this day in 1884, the Parisian newspaper Les Journal des Debats (The Journal of Debates) published the first installment of the novel. Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie was born in Villers-Cotterets, France in 1802. He would later assume the surname of his paternal grandmother Marie-Cesette Dumas, a woman of African descent and a slave in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti). As a child, Dumas was regaled with stories of his late fathers exploits as a general, elements of which later found their way into some of the writers most famous works. Before becoming a novelist, Dumas found success as a playwright when he moved to Paris in 1822. In the 1840s, he hit upon monumental success with his action-packed serialized novels, including Les Troi Mousquetaires (The Three Musketeers), which was published in 1844. Dumas works have made him one of the most popular French authors in the world and his books have been translated into over 100 languages. In the late 1980s, a long-lost Dumas novel was uncovered in Paris National Library of France. Titled Le Chevalier de Sainte-Hermine (The Last Cavalier), the book was finally published in 2005. Haiti - News : Zapping... BRH : Big fines at 2 banks At a press conference on Wednesday, Jean Baden Dubois, Governor of the BRH confirmed that two commercial commercial banks were sanctioned for non-compliance with the rules in force following checks by inspectors from the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH). They are the Unibank which will have to pay a penalty of 865.4 million Gourdes and Capital Bank 3.9 million Gourdes. Governor Dubois did not disclose the reasons for these sanctions, only stating that the reasons for these penalties were not the same for each bank. First anti-corruption alert box Thursday August 27, Me. Hans Ludwig Joseph the Director General of the Unit for Combating Corruption (ULCC), installed in the premises of the Court of First Instance (TPI) of Port-au-Prince, the first box of anti-corruption alert, in the presence of the dean of the TPI and the Government Commissioner. This approach is part of the implementation of the decree of September 8, 2004 which provides, at the behest of the ULCC, a permanent alert system allowing citizens to submit a message to denounce, inform and seize the Institution for any act or suspicion of corruption. Jamaica : Haitian issues and business opportunities Herns Meamours, the Haitian Consul in the Turks and Caicos Islands, met last week the Honorary Consul of Jamaica in Providenciales, Allan Eden-Hutchinson. The two diplomats discussed in particular certain problems related to the Haitian community of the jurisdiction and also economic opportunities between Haiti and Jamaica. Micro-finance institutions under the control of the BRH In the context of financial inclusion, Jean Baden Dubois confirmed that the Government had published a decree dated August 25 which stipulates that micro-finance institutions are now subject to the regulatory measures of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH). UEH : Monitoring Commission on Law Education Installation of the Monitoring Commission on the teaching of Law in Haiti. For Fritz Deshommes Rector of the State University of Haiti (UEH), based on the work of this commission, "students will enjoy better learning, evaluation and supervision conditions. The final dissertations will be better directed, better developed and the defenses carried out according to methods more in relation to the elementary academic requirements. [...] The result will be better-trained graduates, more confident in themselves and in their abilities..." Jeremie : Covid and Patronal Day On the occasion of the patronal feast of Saint-Louis-Roi-de-France in Jeremie, on August 25, the Central Office of the Ministry of Public Health with the Sanitary Directorate of Grand'Anse mobilized communication technicians and health officers in order to continue to educate the population on barrier gestures allowing them to limit the spread of Covid-19. HL/ HaitiLibre Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, on Friday, slammed Modi government for "drumbeating" India's improvement in World Bank indices over the years after the international financial institution halted further publication of its "Doing Business" report (on Thursday, August 27). The bank paused its release to probe data collection irregularities in data and methodology used in the annual ranking of countries' business and investment climates. Taking to Twitter, Ramesh criticised the government saying it chased "bogus ranking, while our MSMEs continued to languish". Mr.Modi was busy drumbeating India's improvement in World Bank indices. Now the Bank has paused further publication of these rankings due to irregularities in data & methodology. So much energy of this Govt was wasted chasing a bogus ranking,while our MSMEs continued to languish! pic.twitter.com/kDDesNWRAR Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 28, 2020 India had jumped to 63rd position, among 190 nations, in the World Bank's ease of doing business 2020 report released in October last year on the back of myriad economic reforms by the Modi government. The country also figured among the top 10 performers on the list for the third time in a row. Also Read: Atmanirbhar Bharat! PM Modi wants India to increase defence manufacturing The country climbed 23 places to the 77th position in 2018 on the back of reforms related to insolvency, taxation, and other areas. India was ranked 142nd among 190 nations when Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014. The World Bank had, on Thursday, August 27, announced that it is pausing the publication of the Doing Business report "as we conduct our assessment". The bank said in a statement that it would conduct a systematic review of data changes in the last five Doing Business reports, and independent auditors will probe data collection and review processes. The 'Doing Business' report has for long been a controversial one because it ranks countries based on indicators of how their government bureaucracies and regulations affect - and often limit - their attractiveness as destinations for business investment. It came under fire in early 2018 when the World Bank's then-chief economist, Paul Romer, said methodological changes to the report may have been biased against Chile's socialist president at the time, Michelle Bachelet. The report, published in 2017 dropped Chile to 55th from 34th in 2014, when Bachelet took office. Romer resigned over the controversy, in which he said in a Wall Street Journal interview that the report "conveyed the wrong impression" about Chile's business environment under Bachelet. The World Bank said on Thursday there were "a number of irregularities" reported regarding data changes to reports published in 2017 and 2019, but did not identify them. "The changes in the data were inconsistent with the Doing Business methodology," the bank said, adding that it would "correct the data of countries that were most affected by the irregularities." Also Read: Draft EIA 2020: 'Go' and 'No Go' environment rules for coal block allocation diluted, says Jairam Ramesh The most recent 'Doing Business' report, published in October 2019, showed that Middle East countries sharply improved their rankings, with Saudi Arabia climbing 30 places to rank 62nd and Jordan jumping 29 places to 75th. New Zealand was ranked highest for the fourth year in a row, followed by perennial high-rankers Singapore and Hong Kong. Latin American countries lagged in the latest Doing Business report, with debt-plagued Argentina falling seven places to 126th and Mexico falling six spots to 60th. Chile was ranked 59th, while the United States ranked sixth, just behind South Korea. The World Bank has paused publication of its "Doing Business" report as it investigates suspected data irregularities in some of its previous reports. The report ranks countries based on the business and investment climate. The World Bank, on August 27 said it had found some data irregularities in its Doing Business 2018 and Doing Business 2020 reports. "A number of irregularities have been reported regarding changes to the data in the Doing Business 2018 and Doing Business 2020 reports, published in October 2017 and 2019. The changes in the data were inconsistent with the Doing Business methodology," the World Bank Group said in a statement. The organisation said it was conducting "a systematic review and assessment of data changes that occurred subsequent to the institutional data review process for the last five Doing Business reports." The World Bank Group's independent auditors will probe the data collection and review processes, the statement added. In the Ease of Doing Business 2020 ranking, India occupied the 63rd position after jumping 14 places in the ranking. The Doing Business report 2020, published in October 2019, captured 294 regulatory reforms implemented between May 2018 and May 2019. According to the Doing Business 2020 report, the economies with the most significant improvement were Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Togo, Bahrain, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Kuwait, China, India and Nigeria. In 2018/19, these countries implemented one-fifth of all the reforms recorded across the globe. A child is among two dead after sectarian clashes erupted south of Beirut Thursday, the Lebanese news media reported. The firefight in the town of Khaldeh reportedly broke out between local Sunni tribes and supporters of the Shiite militant group Hezbollah in an area home to both Sunnis and Shiites. Officials told Reuters that supporters of the Iran-backed group hung religious banners commemorating Ashura, the day marking the martyrdom of Hussain ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad. In a statement, the Lebanese army also said the raising of the poster sparked the fighting and confirmed that the two killed in the hours-long gunfight were a 13-year-old Lebanese Sunni boy and a Syrian citizen. The rest of those involved are being pursued," the army said in a statement, adding that four have already been arrested, including two Syrians. United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jan Kubis, wrote that he was gravely concerned by the recent events. The last thing the tormented Lebanon needs is sectarian strife a sure way to disaster," he wrote on Twitter. Lebanese broadcaster MTV notes the Khaldeh clashes were the second deadly shootout in a week. On Saturday, three men were fatally shot in the village of Kaftoun in northern Lebanon. Lebanon is still reeling from this months devastating explosion at the Beirut port and the political and economic crisis that deepened in its wake. The government resigned days after the blast, which killed nearly 200 people, wounded thousands more and gutted the citys infrastructure. Thousands of protesters took to the streets blaming Lebanons now-caretaker government for corruption and negligence that led to the explosion. On Monday, members of parliament will start talks to choose a new prime minister. The next day, French President Emmanuel Macron will arrive in Lebanon to discuss implementing the political reforms needed to unlock further international assistance. China in Focus (Aug. 27): Chinas Vaccine Diplomacy Is on the Way Xinjiangs capital has already been in lockdown for 40 days. A local resident tells us the extent of the virus protection measures. Now, opening the front door is considered a crime. A new report says China plans to launch an ambitious policy for vaccine diplomacy. Its already announced collaborating with Pakistan and plans to vaccinate nearly half the worlds population. A U.S. Navy missile destroyer conducted operations near the Paracel Islands today. Thats after China reportedly fired four missiles near the disputed islands. Watch part two of our interview with a Chinese whistleblower. In the early stage of the outbreak, he helped the local Chinese government snap up the worlds masks. Now, hes accusing the regime of intentionally creating a global supply shortage. And Elon Musks SpaceX contract with NASA may be in jeopardy, as U.S. lawmakers question whether Teslas ties to China could jeopardize national security. Subscribe to our Youtube channel for more first-hand news from China. For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan, North Sumatra Fri, August 28, 2020 18:26 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c413a166 1 Business Gas,power-plant,South-Korea,sei-mangkei,North-Sumatra,Hanlim-Power-Corporation,PLN,electricity Free PT Hanlim Power Corporation, the local arm of a South Korean company, plans to build a 4,800 megawatt (MW) gas-fired power plant (PLTGU) in Batubara regency, North Sumatra, which is touted to be the largest in the province. The company signed a deal with North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi on Wednesday to expedite the issuance of land and administrative permits for the plant, which will power is the Sei Mangkei Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and Kuala Tanjung Industrial Zone. I understand we will face many challenges but seeing the governors enthusiasm, I decided to invest in North Sumatra, said Hanlim chairman Paul Han R Lee. This deal marks the first step to beginning construction. Construction will begin in January 2021 at the latest, Edy said. The plant will be built in three equal stages of 1,600 MW each and is slated for full-capacity operations before Edys term ends on Sept. 5, 2023. He noted that the plants power would be directly distributed to the two zones, a decision that circumvents the legally sanctioned distribution monopoly of electricity giant PLN. The state-owned firm has been unable to guarantee the distribution of the plants power as it had not finished its latest electricity procurement plan (RUPTL), Edy explained, adding that Hanlim would have moved the project to Vietnam unless development began soon. The North Sumatra governor expects the plants operations to attract 250 investors, which would, in turn, create more job opportunities for the locals. The province has 345,000 unemployed residents, according to latest available Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data in February. Indonesia is banking on several SEZs and industrial zones to stoke the growth of domestic industries, which has seen its share of gross domestic product (GDP) steadily decline over the past few decades. President Joko Jokowi Widodo in his annual speech on Aug. 14 reiterated his commitment to eliminating overlapping regulations and to building more industrial zones across Indonesia. The government is currently developing several industrial parks, such as the Batang industrial park in Central Java and one in Majalengka regency, West Java, to solve land acquisition issues usually faced by investors. It is planning to develop at least 27 industrial parks, according to the 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN). Most of them will be developed outside Java Island. (nor) For our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, learn more here. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Milwaukee: On November 3, James Nash is considering doing something for the first time in his adult life: not voting in a presidential election. The Milwaukee firefighter, who is black, is "definitely not a Trump supporter". But he is seriously underwhelmed by Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden. "I liked him as vice-president but as a president I'm not sure," Nash says while hanging out with friends at the Upper Cutz barber shop on the north side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin's biggest city. Friends James Nash and Boomac McDonald are unimpressed by Democratic nominee Joe Biden. Credit:Matthew Knott "He is tied to a lot of laws that have kept black people down," he says, referring to Biden's Senate record as as tough-on-crime legislator. Barber Boomac McDonald is even more adamant. "I ain't voting for nobody," he says as he clips a customer's hair. "They don't talk about nothing I want to hear." Fellow barber John Toney chimes in: "That's the story of our vote. We always have to settle for the lesser of two evils." The Republican Party used a good chunk of their national convention this week trying to tap into this sentiment of discontent by featuring several high-profile black speakers who attacked Biden over his record on race. Advertisement On Friday Trump used his acceptance speech for the GOP nomination to up the ante, portraying himself a once-in-a-generation champion of African Americans in the United States. "I have done more for the African-American community than any president since Abraham Lincoln, our first Republican president," Trump said. Donald Trump addresses the Republican National Convention from the White House. Credit:AP "I have done more in three years for the black community than Joe Biden has done in 47 yearsand when I'm re-elected, the best is yet to come!" Later he focussed on the violence on American streets. "Last year, over 1,000 African-Americans were murdered as result of violent crime in just four Democrat-run cities," he said. "The top 10 most dangerous cities in the country are run by Democrats, and have been for decades. Thousands more African-Americans are victims of violent crime in these communities Joe Biden and the left ignore these American victims. I never will." The soft African-American support two months out from election day is a disturbing sign for Democrats, who are counting on a big voter turnout among African Americans to help push them over the line in Wisconsin, one of a handful of states that will decide the election outcome. Advertisement The question is whether anger at Donald Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and his response to the Black Lives Matter movement will be enough to make up for the lack of excitement about the Democratic ticket. In recent days the state has become the latest flashpoint in the nation's reckoning on race relations after a white police officer in Kenosha, an hour's drive away from Milwaukee, shot black man Jacob Blake. A white teenager from Illinois, Kyle Rittenhouse, has been charged with murder after fatally shooting two people at the ensuing protests. Demonstrations in Kenosha, Wisconsin, turned ugly earlier this week after a police shooting. Credit:AP Upper Cutz sits inside an area University of Wisconsin history professor Marc Levine describes as "a neighbourhood of concentrated poverty, pervasive joblessness, plunging incomes, and mass incarceration". Many of the businesses on the north side are boarded up, and one in every four homes is vacant. Ninety-five percent of residents are black, reflecting Milwaukee's status as the most segregated metropolitan area in the US. Life was already tough here, and the coronavirus pandemic made it harder. Unemployment and evictions are up. After closing for a month when the pandemic hit, business at Upper Cutz is still way down since reopening. In the age of social distancing, the barber shop is no longer the lively social hub it used to be. Greg Lewis, a pastor at a black church in Milwaukee, knows first-hand how serious the virus is. When he was hospitalised earlier this year for COVID-19, the doctors told him: "If you don't do exactly what we're going to say, you're going to die." Pastor Greg Lewis has had first-hand experience of the cornonavirus. Credit:Gary Porter Advertisement Black people make up seven per cent of Wisconsin's population but account for 21 per cent of the state's 1112 coronavirus deaths - a disparity that reflects the higher prevalence of underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, among African Americans. Lewis is the Milwaukee president of Souls to the Polls, a faith-based group that works to boost voter turnout in the black community. He says there is a widespread lack of enthusiasm for Biden and running mate Kamala Harris, despite her historic status as the first black woman on a presidential ticket. Lewis says videos have been circulating of Biden's Senate speeches from the 1990s in which he warned of "predators on our streets" - widely interpreted as a reference to black men. "Then we have Kamala who was sending people to jail left and right in California, and most of them were people of colour," he says, referring to Harris's time as a prosecutor in California. "People in our community are kind of disgusted: can we support people like this?" Loading Lewis says black voters in Milwaukee are used to being taken for granted by Democratic politicians. In 2016 Clinton was so convinced she would win Wisconsin that she did not set foot in the state during the election campaign, a fact many voters here still remember. Trump defeated Clinton by 23,000 votes - a margin of just 0.8 per cent - making her the first Democratic nominee to lose the state since 1984. Advertisement Black voter turnout in Wisconsin plummeted by 18 percentage points between 2012 and 2016, a decline that proved disastrous for Democrats. If black turnout had remained at its 2012 level, Clinton would have won the state. The key for Democrats is not persuading black voters to support them - around nine in ten black voters do - but to ensure they show up to vote. "The 2016 election was a travesty, it was a horrible mistake," Lewis says. "We could have had the first woman president if the Democrats had just put a little more time and money into black communities." Polls show Biden is currently faring worse than Clinton's final performance with black voters. In particular, he is struggling to gain the support of younger black men. "I don't think Joe Biden excites people," Reggie Jackson, an African American historian from Milwaukee, says. "He's not a charismatic candidate." Speaking to black voters in Milwaukee, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age found a noticeable gender divide. Black women tended to be more excited by the prospect of Harris becoming the nation's first black female vice-president. And they were more motivated than men to do whatever it takes to force Trump out of office - even if they weren't enthused by the Democratic nominee. Milwaukee Credit:Gary Porter Shalonda Moore, who used to drive a school bus but is currently looking for work, says: "I'm not a huge fan of Biden." But she has put out an offer on Facebook and Instagram to drive anyone who needs a lift to a polling place. Advertisement Al Badr founder and district commander Shakoor Ahmed Parry, along with three other terrorists, was killed on Friday in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. Another terrorist has been captured alive. The J&K Police confirmed that terrorists have been killed in the encounter in Kiloora area of the district. The three other terrorists have been identified as Suhail Bhat, Zubair Nengroo and Shakir-ul-Jabbar. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes. There was no injury to civilians or loss of property during the said encounter. In 2018, Parry had escaped with four weapons of the SDPO Awantipora and formed Al Badr. Shakoor was self-styled commander of Al Badr and had recruited 10 more, most of them have been eliminated. Another is Suhail, who has been involved in killing and abduction of Khanmohs Sarpanch Nasir has been also killed. They were also involved in the abduction of TA soldier namely Shakir Manzoor Wagay resident of Shopian who has been reportedly killed. Two AK rifles and three pistols have been recovered. During the encounter Police and security forces while exhibiting extreme professionalism also arrested one active terrorist identified as Shoiab Ahmad Bhat resident of Awantipora. "Capturing one terrorist alive during an ongoing encounter will send a right message to the youth who are joining terrorism," said IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar. He is being questioned. The same group is involved in the abduction of Army jawan whose dead body has still not been found. No police personnel has been injured in the encounter in Kiloora area of Shopian district. "We will increase our operations from November in order to eliminate remaining terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir," he added. As per police records, Parray was made SPO in 2014 in Kulgam Police. On operational grounds, he was converted as a constable in the police department and was adjusted in Police District Awantipora. Later on, he was transferred district Anantnag, where he took away 4 rifles (weapons) from the other officials and joined the terrorist outfit. After joining the terrorist groups, he got active in the area and distributed the snatched weapons among his close associates. He was the main handler of proscribed terrorist outfit Al Badr and was involved in recruiting youth into terror ranks. The details of the cases in which the said terrorist remained involved are as under: FIR No 291/2012 U/S 148,149,307 436 A, 447,436 RPC of P/S Shopian, FIR No 21/2016 U/S 307 RPC 7/27 Arms Act of P/S Shopian, FIR No25/2016 U/S 364,307 RPC 7/25 Arms Act of P/S Shopian, FIR NO 08/2012 U/S 409,380,411 RPC 7/25 Arms Act of P/S Bijbehara and FIR NO 46/16 U/S 7/25 Arms Act of P/S Kulgam. All the killed terrorists had a long history of terror crime records. They were involved in planning and executing several terror attacks in the area including attacks on police and security establishments. A police official said that exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces happened in apple orchards of Kiloora village. On a specific input regarding presence of terrorists in village Kiloora area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and 178 BN Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the said area. During the search operation as the presence of terrorists got ascertained they were given an opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter. Keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from the inherent risk of contracting the infection, the dead bodies of the killed terrorists will be sent to Handwara for burial purposes after completion of all medico-legal formalities. The nearest family members of the killed terrorists will be allowed to participate in the last rites at Handwara. In this connection, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Imam-Sahib and investigation has been initiated. As the encounter began, taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Kashmir Zone Police had said, "Shopian Encounter Update: 02 unidentified terrorists killed. Operation going on. Further details emerging." IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar confirmed that in 2020 more than 150 terrorists have been killed in Kashmir, mostly in south Kashmir, including top 26 terrorist commanders of different terror organisations. 28.08.2020 LISTEN Robert Adana, a Sachet Water Supplier, has been arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defiling a 13-year- old girl at Kwabenya in Accra. Adana, 30, charged with defilement has pleaded not guilty. The court presided over by Mrs Christina Cann, admitted Adana to bail in the sum of GHC60,000 with three sureties, one of the sureties should be a public servant earning not less than GHC2,500 as net salary every month. The court ordered the prosecution to comply with full disclosures. The matter was adjourned to October 10 for the case management conference. Prosecuting Chief Inspector Kofi Atimbire said the complainant is a television repairer and he lives with his family including the victim at Kwabenya. Before the incident, the prosecution said the victim lived with her parents at Odorkor in Accra. Chief Inspector Atimbire said on August 12, this year, the victim visited her grandmother at Kwabenya pending the reopening of schools by the government. The Prosecution said on August 12, this year, at about 11:30 am, a witness in the case sent the victim to go and buy packs of sachet water. On her way, the prosecution said Adana met the victim saying she was pretty and he would marry him. Accused lured the victim a nearby bush behind her house and he has sex with the victim. The prosecution said the grandmother who was her way home spotted accused person's tricycle so when she got home, the grandmother asked her daughter-in-law to buy some from the accused. The Prosecution said the daughter-in-law informed the victim's grandmother (her in-law) that she had already sent the victim to buy some. The prosecution said the grandmother, who knew that victim, was not too familiar with the vicinity went out in search of the victim. Fortunately for her, the prosecution said the grandmother saw the victim emerged from the bush. When she was quizzed, she narrated her ordeal and a report was made at Madina DOVVSU. A medical report form was issued to the victim to seek medical attention and the accused was later arrested. ---GNA The first delegates conference of the National Catechists/Evangelists Union of the Evangelical Presbyterian church, Ghana opened at the Akatsi College of Education in the Akatsi South District of the Volta Region. The three-day conference, which was on the theme "Improving our gains as stewards through selflessness, integrity and effective stewardship," is being attended by over 70 delegates from the 15 Presbyteries of the church in the country. Catechist (Cat.) Sylvanus Yao Anku, President of the Union in his welcoming address called on Christians to exhibit integrity and selflessness in their daily lives to bring change and development in the country. "We can only build a strong and robust country if we exhibit the virtues of integrity and selflessness," he said. He appealed to political parties to conduct their campaigns devoid of insults and mudslinging so as not to throw the country into chaos before, during and after the upcoming general election. Mr Anku called on all, especially Politicians to be guided by the violence that allegedly happened in parts of the country during the recent voters registration exercise not to repeat itself adding "we are all Ghanaians." He appealed to Ghanaians to help protect the peace the country was enjoying and desist from all actions that would brew chaos and violence and called on the youth not to allow themselves to be used as tools of destruction by "politicians who are hungry for power and will do everything to achieve their parochial interests." Mr Anku appealed to his colleagues to be the wheel and engine that would bring the needed peace, tranquility and growth in their respective communities and the country as a whole. 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 BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.28 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Romania imported 117,000 tons of crude oil from Azerbaijan from January through April 2020, as compared 180,000 to tons for the same period of 2019, Eurostat told Trend. The country imported 92,000 tons of crude oil from Azerbaijan in February 2020 and 25,000 tons in April. This is while in 2019, Romania imported 90,000 tons in April and May each, 84,000 tons in November and 92,000 tons in December. Azerbaijan exported 2,023,202 tons of crude oil to EU countries in January 2020 and 2,112,208 tons in February 2020. 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 The complex election process in Belarus, taking into account all its stages, had significant shortcomings and did not meet the general standards adopted in this area, said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba. "This phrase about the recognition of the election results has already turned into some kind of fetish, although the issue is not only in a result of the election. The election result is the figures announced to us by the Central Election Commission. The question is much broader. Therefore, the question should be raised much broader. The question is how the elections were prepared, whether all candidates had equal access to campaigning opportunities, access to the media, whether there were independent media outlets that represented different points of view, how the voting took place. Therefore, the question must be posed much broader. And our position is very clear, it was expressed by the President of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in a separate statement, and the fact of joining the EU statement. We believe that the election process in a complex way, as I said, taking into account all its stages, had significant shortcomings and did not meet the general standards adopted in this area," Kuleba said at an online briefing on Friday. He added that this is why Ukraine supports the idea that "honestly and fairly organized new elections could answer many key questions in Belarus." The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), the countrys financial inclusion initiative that was launched six years ago, has more than 403.5 million accounts with total deposits in excess of Rs 1.30 lakh crore, the Union finance ministry said. The scheme, which has become the basis of direct transfer of cash subsidy to the poor, was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech on August 15, 2014, and was launched on August 28 that year. Today, six years ago, the PMJDY was launched with an ambitious aim of banking the unbanked. This initiative has been a game-changer, serving as the foundation for several poverty alleviation initiatives, benefitting crores of people, PM Modi tweeted on Friday. The government is planning to expand the scheme to provide insurance coverage to PMJDY account holders. Eligible PMJDY account holders will be sought to be covered under PMJJBY [Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana] and PMSBY [Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana]. Banks have already been communicated about the same, it said in a statement. The government is also planning to promote digital payments, including RuPay debit card usage, among PMJDY account holders through creation of acceptance infrastructure across the country and provide access of the account holders to micro-credit and micro investment facilities, it added. According to the statement, as on August 19, out of the total PMJDY account holders, 63.6% were in rural areas and 55.2% accounts belonged to women. Thanks to the PMJDY, the future of several families has become secure. A high proportion of beneficiaries are from rural areas and are women, the PM said in another tweet. Financial inclusion is a national priority of the government, as it is an enabler for inclusive growth, the finance ministry said. It is important as it provides an avenue to the poor for bringing their savings into the formal financial system, an avenue to remit money to their families in villages besides taking them out of the clutches of the usurious money lenders, it added. The PMJDY has been the foundation stone for the Modi governments people-centric economic initiatives. Whether it is direct benefit transfers (DBTs), coronavirus disease (Covid-19) financial assistance, PM-KISAN, increased wages under the MGNREGA [Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005], life and health insurance cover, the first step was to provide every adult with a bank account, which PMJDY has nearly completed, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. The PMJDY became an important instrument to expeditiously provide relief to the poor under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package that was announced on March 26. The package provided an amount of Rs 500 per month for three months to women PMJDY account holders. A total of Rs 30,705 crore have been credited in accounts of women PMJDY account holders during April-June, the statement said. Besides, about 80 million PMJDY account holders receive DBT from the government under various schemes. The scheme involves opening of basic savings bank deposit accounts with minimal paperwork. The process of account opening is simple with relaxed know-your-customer (KYC) norms. These accounts are zero balance and zero charge accounts. Account holders are issued indigenous debit cards with free accident insurance coverage of Rs 2 lakh. In August, about 86.3% (348.1 million) accounts were operative, the statement said. As per the guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), a PMJDY account is treated as inoperative, if there are no customer induced transactions in the account for over a period of two years. At present, these accounts have a deposit balance of Rs 1.31 lakh crore, with an average deposit of Rs 3,239 per account. The average deposit per account has increased 2.5 times, which indicates increased usage of accounts and inculcation of saving habit among the account holders, it said. The PMJDY account holders can also take help of Jan Dhan Darshak App, a mobile application, for locating banking touchpoints such as bank branches, automated teller machines (ATMs), Bank Mitras and post offices, it said. There are over eight lakh banking touchpoints, it added. Divakar Vijayasarathy, founder and managing partner at consulting firm DVS Advisors LLP, said by opening nearly 17 crore bank accounts in the very first year under PMJDY, the government had demonstrated its resolve, but it has to be taken forward. However, the job is only half done... Other schemes such as Bharatnet [rural broadband network] have to be parallely and vigorously implemented to achieve the optimum benefit. Increasing digital literacy, rural banking facilities and internet connectivity would be crucial in this regard, he said. A North Carolina 19-year-old teenager is accused of 'cultural vandalism' because of a massive contribution to the open website, Wikipedia, after writing articles using Scotland's Native Language that he is not familiar with. Reddit users explored the articles written and determined that its an inaccurate translation. Wikipedia is the world's biggest user-generated open platform for various information; however, it is deemed unsafe and unreliable. This fact is even more solidified with a new controversy that holds a 19-year-old responsible for providing massive inaccuracies spanning 27,000 published articles on the website. Reddit's u/Ultach posted a lengthy expose in r/Scotland that reveals a massive scandal that made its way into Wikipedia. For years, the articles have deceived people into thinking that it is a reliable source of information for Scotland's native language, Scots, and nobody bothered to check. The Redditor described the Scots language written by the teen to be "legendarily bad," which only shows that the Scots language used is wrong and misleading. Engadget determined the editor and contributor to be Wikipedia's AmaryllisGarder. u/Ultach determined that the alias, AmaryllisGarner, has contributed to 20,000 Wikipedia articles by 2018. The website's milestones stoped by 2018, but the contributor continued to post and edit content up until the present. The Scots author in Wikipedia made over 200,000 edits and is determined to establish the standard for the Scots native language that is followed by other authors in the site. ALSO READ: Facebook, Instagram Sue App Developers that Operate Bots for Fake Engagement, Collect User Data Reddit's Probe Redditor u/Ultach's expose says that he discovered the Wikipedia author's fraudulent acts because of the rising debate that puts the native language of Scots in a position that sees it as a fake language. People rely on Wikipedia to support their claims and uses AmaryllisGardner's contributions as reference. AmaryllisGardner's articles make up more than a third of the Scots language references on the website. The author also became the primary editor in most native languages' articles, correcting and proofreading other people's submissions. u/Ultach included a screenshot of the user profile of AmaryllisGardner to show proof that he is not "doxxing" or improperly accusing the person. English's Literal Translation into the Scots Language by the teen The Redditor investigated the Wikipedia author and saw that he averages nine articles a day and has been writing for the website for nearly a decade. The pieces that turned up on Wikipedia that the author contributed use standard English language with very few Scots vocabularies. The author would swap out English words for Scots and poorly does so. Some of the Scots even used are misspelled and possibly invented by the author. AmaryllisGardner's other entries even used online translations that proved inaccurate for the native language's usage. The Redditor's Message to AmaryllisGardner The Redditor was enraged by the fact that a foreigner wrongfully edited the native language and is considered an expert. AmaryllisGardner's actions are the most significant insult anyone did against the Scots language. The Redditor explicitly calls the person out for being the most disrespectful to the language in the entire history, commiting 'cultural vandalism' against the language. Despite u/Ultach's extensive probe and expose in the subject matter, the Redditor still wishes that the person be safe from harassment and that the post was not meant to embarrass. The Redditor even stated that this call-out is an opportunity for the American teen to learn the language to contribute and respect the native language, Scots, properly. ALSO READ: [VIRAL] Why TikTok's 'New Teacher Challenge' Is A Toxic Online Trend This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Alonzo 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. By Margaret Kimberley August 27, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - The Democratic Party has ended any debate or dispute about its true nature. It is a party representing neo-liberal interests and international gangsterism, just like their putative opposition, the Republican party. Even a cursory observation of the recent Democratic National Convention proves that this assessment is correct. There were paeans of love to the late warmonger John McCain and even an appearance from his widow. A special segment was set aside for Republicans like John Kasich whose speech was used in part to beat down progressives and make clear that Joe Biden wants nothing to do with them. Not to be outdone with Kasich and McCains ghost, war criminal Colin Powell was dragged out to put the bipartisan imperialist seal of approval on Biden. The convention was high on production value but skimpy on details. Speaker after speaker repeated that Donald Trump is a very bad, terrible, awful, pandemic denier who cozies up to dictators. They didnt say how they would undo his evil deeds or make life better for the average person in this country. The awful Biden slogan of Build Back Better is meaningless. That of course is why they use it. The slogan may as well be Hes Not Trump because that is all the Democrats had to say. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter War criminal Colin Powell was dragged out to put the bipartisan imperialist seal of approval on Biden. Of course the truth cant be hidden for long. Ted Kaufman was Bidens Senate chief of staff and successor after he became vice president. He now heads the Biden transition team. Kaufman told the Wall Street Journal that no one should expect increases in government spending should Biden win. When we get in, the pantry is going to be bare. When you see what Trumps done to the deficitforget about Covid-19, all the deficits that he built with the incredible tax cuts. So were going to be limited. Government spending is exactly what people in this country need to recover economically. Yet they are told to expect nothing of the sort. More austerity is coming our way regardless of the electoral outcome. The dust had hardly cleared when Rahm Emanuel , a former congressman, Barack Obamas chief of staff, and mayor of Chicago explained what was obvious to even the casual observer. The Democrats are repeating their failed 2016 strategy of wooing republicans. This is the year of the Biden Republican, said Emanuel. No one should expect increases in government spending should Biden win. No one knows that there are any Biden Republicans. The presence of Republicans at the convention and a handful of prominent people known colloquially as never Trumpers didnt help Hillary Clinton in 2016. New York Senator Charles Schumer can never live down his 2016 prediction. For every blue collar Democrat we will lose in western Pennsylvania we will pick up two, three moderate Republicans in the suburbs of Philadelphia and you can repeat that in Ohio and Illinois and Wisconsin. The Democrats are letting us know two things. One, they are de facto Republicans, and seek out Republican voters by espousing conservative policies. Two, they arent particularly concerned about losing. They hope to thread the needle and win by using a strategy proven to be a failure. But devotion to their donors and their interests outweigh everything else, including winning. Disappearing any expectation of progressive policies is a victory for them. The serious Democratic campaign took place earlier this year, when the party establishment took great pains to defeat Bernie Sanders. Black people were played by their misleaders into supporting the same neo-liberal policies that are destroying their lives. It was not difficult to do with a voting block that has whittled down its demands to just one, keeping Republicans out of office. Black primary voters were the marks in the con game, as the Democrats coalesced around Biden and Sanders agreed to play the role of dupe. Black people were played by their misleaders into supporting the same neo-liberal policies that are destroying their lives. Lest we forget, Barack Obama once declared himself to be a moderate Republican. Not that he needed to say it after repeatedly proclaiming his admiration for Ronald Reagan. There should be no surprise that his party now dispenses with any pretense. If Democrats choose to vote for Biden it should be with honesty and eyes wide open. There will be no holding feet to the fire, moving anyone left, or expecting Medicare for All or a minimum wage increase. A Republican will be inaugurated president in January 2021. No one should expect anything different. A Texel lamb has become the worlds most expensive sheep after being sold for nearly 368,000 at an auction in Scotland. The sheep, called Double Diamond, went for 350,000 guineas (367,500) on Thursday at the Scottish National Texel Sale in Lanark, Scotland. The bidding started at 10,500 before rising dramatically amid fierce competition between different consortiums. The final bid, which was made by a partnership of three buyers, set a new UK and world record price for a sheep, according to a statement on the Texel Sheep Societys website. Double Diamond, which was sold by Charlie Boden from Cheshire, is an embryo-bred lamb. A spokesperson for the Texel Sheep Society told The Independent: "An embryo bred lamb is a lamb which is the result of embryo transfer (a form of IVF) in livestock in which the female animal is artificially inseminated and then embryos collected from her six days later and implanted in to surrogate mothers." "It is done to maximise the genetic progress within a flock by maximising the number of progeny from the best animals," they added. The previous record price paid for a sheep was the 231,000 that was spent on an eight-month-old Texel tup in Lanark in August 2009. At the auction on Thursday, 19 sheep sold for more than 10,500 and the second most expensive sheep of the day fetched 65,000 guineas (68,250). Most farm livestock is still sold at auction in guineas, a unit of currency which is worth around 1.05. Originating from the island of Texel in the Netherlands, the Texel sheep breed is popular among British farmers because of the high quality of its meat. Elizabeth Potthast, and her husband, Andrei, are currently starring in the fifth season of "90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After." The couple has been planning to hold a second wedding in Moldova, but their plans have not gone smoothly due to the constant friction between Andrei and Elizabeths family. Over the last few weeks, Elizabeths father, Chuck, has expressed his suspicions over Andreis past. In a past episode, Chuck and his son landed in Moldova, and they declared that they would investigate Andreis upbringing and find out why he left his home country and immigrated to Ireland. However, it appears that Elizabeths family could be putting on an act. 90 Day Fiance fans recently learned that Chuck and his sons have a shady background. Chucks real estate business Over the weekend, some hawkeyed "90 Day Fiance" viewers investigated Chucks real estate business, and they found out that several tenants have lodged complaints against his company, CDC Capital Investments LLC. The tenants claimed that the company had rented out their apartments without disclosing that they were due for foreclosure. Many of the tenants complained that they were evicted without notice, and their efforts to contact Chucks company were unsuccessful. From the grievances lodged against the company, it appears that Chuck may have scammed several of his tenants, which has led many fans to question his self-righteous attitude towards Andrei. Andrei and Elizabeths father have clashed on several occasions ever since they appeared on "90 Day Fiance." Chuck has claimed that his son in law is lazy since he is yet to secure a job in the United States. He has even offered Andrei a job at his real estate company, but the Moldovan reality star has turned it down. However, after the latest revelation regarding Chucks company, "90 Day Fiance" viewers think that Andrei made the right decision. Discuss this news on Eunomia Despite their haughty attitude towards Andrei, some of Elizabeths family members have criminal pasts. Even though Andrei has so far rejected Chucks job offers, his wife recently put him on the spot for his decision to be a stay at home dad. Andreis current unemployed status In last Sundays episode, Elizabeth claimed that she was not happy with Andreis current unemployed status. While Andrei argued that they had talked about his decision to stay at home and watch their child, Elizabeth insisted that she had changed her mind, and she wanted him to find a decent job and help her with their bills. Their argument grew tenser after Elizabeth claimed that she did not want to go through with her wedding in Moldova. Andrei appeared shocked by the declaration, and it appears that the couple will have to sort out their differences before they can tie the knot. "90 Day Fiance" viewers should tune in to Sundays episode to find out whether the couple will go through with the wedding ceremony. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 16:57:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GAZA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Israeli warplanes launched on Friday morning airstrikes on Islamic Hamas movement's military facilities in the Gaza Strip in response to the firing of six projectiles into southern Israel, Palestinian and Israeli sources said. Hamas security sources told Xinhua that the Israeli warplanes targeted a training facility that belongs to al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the movement south of Gaza city, with no injury or damage reported. Meanwhile, an Israeli army spokesman said in a press statement that Israeli warplanes struck a Hamas training facility in southern Gaza in response to the firing of six projectiles into southern Israel early at dawn. The statement held Hamas movement, which rules the Gaza Strip, fully responsible for the projectiles' attack. Israeli Radio reported that the projectiles landed on unpopulated areas in southern Israel, causing no injury or damage. No one claimed responsibility for firing the projectiles from Gaza into southern Israel. A tit-for-tat escalation of tension has been going on in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Gaza militants since Aug. 6. Tension was started when unknown masked young men launched hundreds of incendiary balloons into Israel. In response to the launching of the balloons and projectiles into southern Israel, Israeli army warplanes and artillery have been attacking posts, sites, and military infrastructure of Hamas. Egyptian and Qatari mediation had so far failed to defuse the growing tension, where Hamas leaders insist that their condition to restore calm in Gaza is to lift an Israeli blockade that had been imposed on the Gaza Strip for 13 years. Fawzi Barhoum, the Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in a press statement that launching projectiles and arson balloons "is a direct response to the Israeli occupation's escalation against the Palestinians." "The Israeli occupation is fully responsible for the consequences of its escalation on the Gaza Strip, mainly keeping the siege imposed and attacking military posts and facilities amid the spread of coronavirus in Gaza," he said. Enditem WINNIPEG, MB, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Librestream, a global provider of augmented worker, remote collaboration and communications solutions is offering its support to organizations with operations in Louisiana and Texas impacted by Hurricane Laura. Librestream will provide current customers with additional Onsight software licenses at no charge for regions affected by Hurricane Laura. For new customers, Librestream will provide a Remote Expert Accelerator package at no charge. This accelerator package includes the Onsight software and services required to immediately deploy this remote expert capability to key personnel within 24 hours. There is no commitment to purchase of any kind. In addition, Librestream is also offering no charge, virtual training sessions. For new companies, please fast track the process by filling out your information online. "The widespread need to safely inspect, assess damage and rebuild in the aftermath of a natural disaster puts significant pressure on response teams," said John Bishop, president and chief executive officer of Librestream. "The ability to virtually leverage expertise using remote expert software with hands-free devices like the RealWear HMT-1 can have a significant impact on the safety and timeliness of response. We feel it is important to offer our services to companies struggling with Hurricane Laura as well as a global pandemic." Librestream is also offering special discounts on hardware solutions to new customers impacted by Hurricane Laura. These discounts will apply to: Onsight Cube-R: an industrial wearable captures live video, HD pictures, and thermal imaging for effective independent work, knowledge capture, and remote expert assistance, and Onsight Hub: a specialized audio/video capture solution that works with a wide range of video and audio devices such as non-destructive test (NDT) instruments including borescopes and ultrasound devices. In support of Librestream's offer, RealWear is making available its HMT-1 ruggedized head-mounted, wearable, Android-class tablet computer that frees a worker's hands for dangerous jobs, as follows: RealWear will donate a number of HMT-1 devices to healthcare organizations, municipalities, and first responders within the affected region. For new commercial customers who are based in high-impact zones based on zip codes, RealWear is offering devices at 25% off the list price for a limited time until September 30 for new customers. for new customers. These devices will be pre-configured and ready to seamlessly receive the free Librestream Onsight software via RealWear's Foresight cloud provisioning system. The popular hands-free device will include two head-mount options: a RealWear Workband and hard hat mounting clips. "We're working hand in hand with Librestream to get our purpose-built HMT-1 devices to the first responders and front-line workers in hard-hit municipalities," said Andrew Chrostowski, Chairman and CEO of RealWear. "Our HMT-1 with Librestream's remote collaboration software will empower and assist first line workers to quickly and safely assess damage, triage resources to most critical needs, and communicate safely with experts and medical personnel, even in difficult to reach places." Librestream's Onsight platform is deployed by hundreds of leading aviation, defense, manufacturing, energy and TIC services organizations around the world, enabling greater operational efficiency, reductions in carbon footprint and improved worker safety. Usage of the Onsight platform has increased over 500% since March of this year in light of COVID-19 when Librestream first offered a no charge Business Continuity package to organizations. Stork, a Fluor company that provides integrated operations, maintenance, modification, and asset integrity solutions, accelerated their digital transformation initiatives to deliver business continuity. In a recent interview, Stork shared how in the first two months of travel restrictions, Stork successfully completed over 100 remote digital inspections, supporting seven clients across 17 projects. These inspections were quicker, safer, and provide future scalability for clients. For existing customers of Librestream, please contact your account manager or Librestream directly at [email protected]. For new customers, please fast track the process by indicating your interest by filling out your information online. One of our Customer Development Representations will contact you immediately to initiate the onboarding. For RealWear's offers, contact [email protected]. Please include details of your situation. Librestream Press Kit: http://bit.ly/Librestream_PressKit About Librestream Librestream is the pioneer of augmented remote expert technology, a core capability within the Onsight augmented reality platform. Onsight, deployed in over 120 countries, is built for workers to collaborate virtually and access content from the world's toughest environments and for the most demanding enterprises. Onsight delivers measurable business outcomes including worker safety and productivity, cost savings, reduced emissions, asset uptime gains, and improved customer service delivery. The company has been honored with numerous awards including the R&D100, the Delegates Award at Hazardex 2020, and the Field Service WBR Innovation award. Visit Librestream at www.librestream.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitter. Contact: Michael Farino, Lightspeed PR, [email protected] SOURCE Librestream Related Links http://www.librestream.com The Daily Trusts South-south reporter, Eyo Charles, who was recently insulted by the former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, for asking a question during a press conference in Cross River, said he has forgiven Mr Fani-Kayode. Mr Charles, who likened the encounter to sacrificial suffering any Christian must face in life, also said Mr Fani-Kayode is doing the work of God. The ex-minister, who is currently in Akwa Ibom, has over the past few weeks toured some states including Cross River, where Mr Charles is based and Zamfara, to inspect some projects completed by the state governors. He has been criticised by many Nigerians, who wonder what authority empowers him to embark on inspection tours which are usually carried out by state officials. While in Cross River, the journalist had asked Mr Fani-Kayode who was bankrolling (sponsoring) his trips. An infuriated Mr Fani-Kayode reacted with insults, including calling the reporter stupid. Journalists were further shocked when the reporter apologised in the midst of the tirade and his colleagues did not intervene but rather condemned him for asking the question. Nigerians, including the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Media Trust (publishers of Daily Trust) and civil society outfits condemned the action of the ex-minister. Amnesty International also criticised the attack in a statement. Although Mr Fani-Kayode was initially defiant in a statement he released same day, saying he did not need to apologise, he later said he regretted the incident. In a subsequent statement issued by him after he met with his advisors, he withdrew the word stupid adding that he was misunderstood by Nigerians and that he held the media in high esteem. Two videos later emerged in the social media which showed Mr Fani-Kayode also insulting reporters in previous encounters. I have forgiven him Mr Charles, who is a member of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, said he has forgiven the ex-official. PREMIUM TIMES had earlier published his own side of the matter. In two posts he issued on his Facebook page on Friday, he said held no grudges against Mr Fani-Kayode. Eyo Charles, Nigerian journalist who was insulted by former aviation minster, Femi Fani-Kayode. [PHOTO CREDIT: Official Facebook page of Mr Charles] Didnt our Lord Jesus Christ suffer much more humiliation even to the point of death yet He forgave His tormentors and accusers. Who am I that I will not forgive my elder brother, Femi FaniKayode!. He is doing the work of God, Mr Charles wrote. In another post, he said: The scriptures say in all things, Give Glory To God! Nigerians still infuriated Bur Nigerians appear to have taken up the challenge to know the source of funding which has allowed the ex-minister take an expensive tour around the country. Mr Fani-Kayode, who is currently in Akwa-Ibom on another tour, received a torrent of comments from angry Nigerians after he posted his exit from Cross Rivers on his Facebook page. He said: Left Calabar, Cross Rivers state yesterday afternoon after having a wonderful time. Thanks to Governor Ben Ayade, his Government and the people of Cross Rivers state for showing my delegation and I so much love and warmth. Calabar is a beautiful place and the people are hardworking, resilient, kind and accommodating. They also know how to have fun and party and they have the best cooks and food in Nigeria! I felt as if I had lived there all my life even though this was my first visit. I am glad that I spent a few extra days there than originally planned in order to have a well deserved rest. Now my tour continues. God be with us all as we move from state to state. His arrival in Akwa-Ibom equally attracted caustic comments over the source of funding and reasons for the trips. His remarks in both posts attracted a barrage of comments, mostly uncomplimentary. Advertisements Ufedo Umaido: If you cannot tells us who is bankrolling you, just off your mic & calm down. That you spend your money on feeding, accommodation, fuelling and other logistics. Uzoma Chijoke: Who is bankrolling you? Abiodun Kolawole: Sir, you need to answer that simple question the journalist asked you because, i know that this your tour have skeleton. Tesi Owelor: Oga, whos bankrolling your nationwide tour? Messe Ebeirin: Hes rich enough to bankroll his tour That was what got him angry. Franca Okafor: Now that you have calmed down, can you go ahead and tell us who bankrolled the trip Tunde Owoeye: Just touring for no reason uhh? You better tell us who is bankrolling you Mr do you know whom I am? Flexi St Michael: When did FFK turned to the inspector? Abikoye Bosun: Mr ffk sir, our question still continue oo. Whos bankrolling ur tour? And of what purpose is your tour sef gangan. LolIsrael Sunday: What is the motive behind this tour? The European Union has agreed to impose sanctions on up to 20 senior Belarus officials suspected of election fraud and the crackdown on protesters and is likely to put President Alexander Lukashenko on its list at some point, the blocs foreign ministers said Friday. "We have general agreement on how the list will be structured and who will be, more or less, on the list," Czech Republic Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek said at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Berlin. However, the technicalities involved in legally finalizing the list won't be concluded for at least another week, The AP reported. Asked whether the Belarus president will be hit by a travel ban and asset freeze, Petricek said he believes that Lukashenko should be on the list. The question is whether in the first stage, or a later stage if there is no progress. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius agreed that Lukashenko should be on the list now, but he acknowledged that there may be tactical reasons to keep the Belarus leader off. Lithuania had tabled its own list of 118 officials. Some countries prefer a gradual approach that would ratchet up pressure by adding more names progressively if Lukashenko failed to enter into talks with the opposition. Greece and Cyprus are also believed to be demanding that sanctions be slapped on Turkey for what they say is its illegal energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean before the two countries agree to the measures against Belarus. Ukraine and Turkey have reached the level of partnership, which allows discussing the creation of a strategic alliance between the two countries in the defense industry. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Strategic Industries Oleh Urusky said this in an exclusive comment to Ukrinform following a meeting with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan on August 27. We have reached such a level of strategic partnership that now we can talk about a strategic alliance of our defense and industrial sectors and industries, which is directed not against third countries, but for the benefit and prospects of our peoples. We have all the prerequisites for this, we complement each other, Urusky said. According to him, this issue, among other important ones, was raised at the meeting of the Ukrainian delegation with the President of Turkey. As Ukrinform reported, at a meeting with Minister of Industry and Technology of Turkey Mustafa Varank, Ukraine and Turkey agreed to move to a new stage of cooperation in the defense sector, which will be focused on specific projects, in particular in aviation and shipbuilding. The Ukrainian delegation is on a three-day visit to Ankara and Istanbul. On August 26, Ukraine and Turkey signed a memorandum of cooperation between the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine and the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries of Turkey. ish BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 28 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 54 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. Armenian armed forces were using large-caliber machine guns. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Melania Trump's former friend says she thought the first lady was different than her husband Donald Trump before coming to a realization that 'a Trump is a Trump.' Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, whose memoir 'Melania & Me' comes out on September 1, told ABC News she had given Melania 'the benefit of the doubt' that she was 'different' from the president. 'I gave Melania the benefit of the doubt that - you know, she was my friend. She was different than Donald was,' Wolkoff said in an interview that will air Monday on 'Good Morning America.' And, now, Wolkoff says she realized: 'A Trump, is a Trump, is a Trump.' Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, whose memoir 'Melania & Me' comes out on September 1, talks to ABC News in an interview that will air Monday on 'Good Morning America' Wolkoff told 'GMA' that she thought Melania Trump was different from her husband Donald - the first couple are seen at the White House on Thursday night as the president accepted the Republican nomination for a second term Wolkoff's memoir traces her friendship with the first lady, going back to their days when Wolkoff worked for Vogue and the then-Melania Knauss was a struggling model dating a New York real estate mogul. The two women evolved into a friendship that included monthly lunch dates and New York society events. But that friendship crashed and burned, starting with Trump's election. Wolkoff will detail her side of the story about her dramatic and controversial exit from the East Wing, where she was a contract employee, in February 2018 amid questions about the money her firm had made from its work on President Trump's inauguration celebration. Additionally, the memoir will delve into Melania's relationship with her stepdaughter Ivanka Trump, confirming the longstanding rumors of friction between the two women. The book claims Melania Trump plotted to keep Ivanka Trump out of the photos of President Donald Trump taking the oath of office on Inauguration Day with her 'Operation Block Ivanka.' The first lady approved seating arrangements for the inauguration platform that would keep Ivanka Trump out of the camera shot during the moment her father was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. The plot is unveiled in an excerpt of Wolkoff's book published in New York Magazine earlier this week. Wolkoff writes that: 'Ivanka texted me a photo of Barack Obama's swearing-in, his hand on the Bible, Michelle, Malia, and Sasha standing to his left. She wrote, 'FYI regarding the swearing in. It is nice to have family with him for this special moment.'' But, instead, Wolkoff and the incoming first lady launched 'Operation Block Ivanka' to keep the first daughter out of the shot. The two women went to great lengths to thwart Ivanka. They took advantage of Wolkoff's position on the inauguration planning committee to gain advance information on how the day would play out in order to make their scheme work. Melania Trump plotted to block Ivanka Trump from being in photos of President Trump taking the oath of office on Inauguration Day, in what was dubbed 'Operation Block Ivanka' Melania Trump wanted an image like the one above - with her Trump and their son Barron A forthcoming memoir about first lady Melania Trump - seen above with President Trump on night three of the Republican National Convention - details her tense relationship with Ivanka Wolkoff, a former Met Gala planner and personal friend of Melania's, was tapped to help produce Inauguration Day and the events surrounding it. Using her position, she had an executive of her company, WIS Media Partners, take detailed notes on the inauguration platform at the U.S. Capitol building during one of the walk throughs that proceed such events. Walk throughs allow organizers and staff of the attendees to do a practice run of how the day will play out. It allows all the details of the day to be worked out: what time people arrive and in what order, where they will sit, and how the day will play out in precise order. Using the detailed sketch her employee drew up of the platform on the East Front of the Capitol, where Trump was sworn in with his family and VIP guests behind him, Melania and Wolkoff were able to work out where the cameras would be located on and how the chairs for the family should be positioned to get the images they wanted. 'Using his sketch, we were able to figure out whose face would be visible when Donald and Melania sat in their seats, and then when the family stood with Chief Justice John Roberts for Donald to take the oath of office,' Wolkoff wrote. 'If Ivanka was not on the aisle, her face would be hidden while she was seated. For the standing part, we put Barron between Donald and Melania.' Melania and Wolkoff then arranged for Donald Trump Jr., the president's oldest son, to be stand next to Melania instead of Ivanka, further keeping her out of the shot. Wolkoff blames 'exhaustion and stress' for some of the drama but also acknowledges the pettiness of it. 'Yes, Operation Block Ivanka was petty. Melania was in on this mission. But in our minds, Ivanka shouldn't have made herself the center of attention in her father's inauguration,' she wrote. A wide shot of the swearing-in on Inauguration Day shows Ivanka Trump positioned near the back of her siblings Ivanka Trump can be seen behind Melania Trump on the inaugural platform at the U.S. Capitol A rare shot of Ivanka and Melania together on Inauguration Day - this was taken at the viewing stand in front of the White House where the first family watched the inauguration parade go by She notes their Operation Block Ivanka was a result of the first daughter trying to control the schedule for inauguration day and make sure her family - husband Jared Kushner and their three children - had prominent positions on the big day. 'It was Donald's inauguration, not Ivanka's. But no one was brave enough to tell her that. Melania was not thrilled about Ivanka's steering the schedule and would not allow it. Neither was she happy to hear that Ivanka insisted on walking in the Pennsylvania Avenue parade with her children,' she noted. Wolkoff's book gives legitimacy to years of talk of a rivalry between Melania and Ivanka that has accumulated in an intense, competitive relationship between the two women. The two most prominent women in President Trump's life - his 50-year-old wife and his 38-year-old eldest daughter - have little overlap in the White House complex: Ivanka Trump, who serves as an adviser to her father, has an office in the West Wing. Melania Trump works out of the East Wing on the opposite side of the building. They have never hosted a joint initiative or event. And are rarely seen together at events. Mary Jordan's book 'The Art of Her Deal' portrayed a tense, at times combative, relationship between the two with Melania calling Ivanka 'Princess' and Ivanka referring to her stepmother as 'portrait.' Jordan's book also claimed Ivanka tried to have the First Lady's Office be renamed the First Family's Office, which the White House has denied. An administration official told DailyMail.com that Wolkoff was a 'disaster' in her role in the East Wing and 'took advantage' of the first lady. 'Stephanie was a complete disaster in her temporary role at the White House. She was erratic and dishonest, and was extremely mean to everyone. She threw the First Lady's name around a lot without her knowledge, making people fear Mrs. Trump for no reason,' the administration official said. 'I think the most disturbing aspect was her extreme paranoia. I recall one time she was convinced the wrong shade of paint had been applied to an office on purpose, as a way to show disrespect to the East Wing. The truth is that she only began to claim how close the two were once President Trump took office she took advantage of Mrs. Trump and was abusive to everyone around her,' the person said. Wolkoff confirms that Melania refers to her stepdaughter as 'Princess' and paints an unflattering portrait of Ivanka trying to amass power and prestige at her stepmother's expense. New York magazine's Olivia Nuzzi confirms in her piece that Wolkoff has tapes of conversations she had with the first lady. Nuzzi described what she heard: 'Melania's voice was familiar, but she sounded softer, not quite as guarded and steely as she does in public. She was reassuring Wolkoff that things would be okay, that she didn't do anything. It was a bit hard to follow, but it sounded like she cared. Like she was trying to be there for a friend.' She offers details about Ivanka such as this: 'I received an email from her office. 'I notice that Ivanka's car is not part of the family motorcade. Is there any way to add that?' It. Never. Ended.' Melania Trump was also reported to be annoyed Ivanka Trump wanted to walk with them in the inauguration parade Instead, the adult children marched further back: Eric Trump, Lara Trump, Ivanka Trump and Tiffany Trump Wolkoff, a Manhattan socialite, is a longtime event planner for some of the highest-profile fashion events in New York City. In addition to her work on the Met Gala - know as fashion's biggest night - she also orchestrated Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week's Lincoln Center expansion and has worked closely with legendary Vogue editor Anna Wintour. It was during her work at Vogue that she met Melania. The then-Melania Knauss was a model dating Trump and about to be launched into society at the Met Gala. Trump proposed to Melania at the 2004 event. Then-Vogue fashion director Andre Leon Talle traveled to Paris with her to help her pick out her wedding dress. 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 'Before her Vogue makeover, Melania was a very pretty young woman who seemed like she was playing fancy dress-up - more a brunette Marilyn Monroe than a Jackie O. After Melania's makeover, Andre Leon Talley's achievement, she was transcendent, high fashion, editorial worthy,' Wolkoff writes in her memoir. 'And the more time I spent with Melania, the more I genuinely liked her. Being with her was like having the sister I never had before - but a really confident, perfectly coiffed, ultimate older sister. In her world, nothing was a big deal, and everything was just as it should be. Just being with her made me feel good. She had her s*** together!,' she added. The two women became friends. In addition to her work on the inauguration, Wolkoff was one of Melania's first hires for her East Wing staff, where she had a contract position instead of being a fulltime government employee. Wolkoff recounts how, in January 2017, it was just her and Melania's then-chief of staff Lindsay Reynolds working in the vast suite of East Wing offices when Reynolds got notice that some of Kushner's staff were coming to look at office space on their turf. At the time of the incident, Melania Trump was still living in New York, where she was spending the first part of 2017 so Barron could finish out the school year. Turf wars are common in the White House under every administration where the cramped, crowded office space is at a premium. The East Wing, however, is usually the purview of the first lady's office and areas under her control, such as the office that coordinates White House tours. There are other auxiliary offices there, such as the military liaison office. But Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner were looking to move their people in. 'The West Wing wasn't big enough for the Kushners. They wanted the East Wing as well,' Wolkoff writes. 'I called Melania to tell her what was going on, and she said, 'This is ridiculous! You have to do something!',' she recounted. 'I dug into my bag; pulled out my red Sharpie and yellow Post-it notes; scribbled 'conference room,' 'chief of staff,' 'deputy of advance,' etc., on them; and slapped them on the office doors. By putting our mark on each office, Jared's people couldn't very well say, 'Well, if no one's using it we'll take it,'' Wolkoff wrote. A person who worked on the transition team denied that Ivanka and Kushner tried to take East Wing office space, telling DailyMail.com it didn't happen. She also describes a conspiracy to keep Melania Trump from hiring the full amount of staff a first lady needed, using the budget and staff vetting process 'like a weapon to prevent Melania from filling them.' She argues Ivanka enlisted then-chief of staff Reince Priebus, his deputy chief of staff Katie Walsh and influential staffer Hope Hicks to help her efforts. 'Ivanka was relentless and was determined to be the First Daughter Lady and to usurp office space out from under Melania; she wanted to be the only visible female Trump on the premises, and she was actively using her influence with Katie Walsh, Reince Priebus, and Hope Hicks to thwart our efforts,' Wolkoff says. 'Ivanka wasn't playing by the rules, but she never, ever, got in trouble,' she added. Stephanie Winston Wolkoff's memoir has tapes of Melania Trump speaking ill of Trumps; above Pamela Gross Finkelstein, Judith Giuliani, Melania Knauss Trump and Stephanie Winston Wolkoff attend a luncheon in New York together in 2006 David Wolkoff, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Melania Trump and Donald Trump at an event in New York in February 2008 - Wolkoff served as an informal, unpaid adviser to Melania in the East Wing until she left amid the controversy surrounding the inauguration Wolkoff's memoir, 'Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady,' is the first book to come from a former member of the first lady's inner circle. Melania Trump has been the subject of two biographies by journalist - CNN's Kate Bennett's 'Free Melania' and The Washington Post's Mary Jordan's 'The Art of Her Deal' - but Wolkoff was a longtime personal friend to the first lady. The two women had a falling out over Wolkoff's work for the inauguration and reports on how much money she was paid for the gig. Wolkoff left the East Wing in February 2018 after news reports showed that her firm, WIS Media Partners, received a $26 million payment for its work on the inaugural. The firm in turn spent $24 million on subcontractors, a person familiar with the inaugural planning told DailyMail.com at the time. The source said Wolkoff provided 'the whole look and feel the creative vision' for 18 or 20 inaugural events. Her personal take from Trump's inaugural committee was reported to be about $500,000 while the rest went to other producers working on the event. Melania Trump 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.' Wolkoff's book will address the financial controversy but it will also be about the loss of her friendship with the first lady. Additionally, the tapes she has of Melania Trump show the first lady trashing her husband Donald Trump and his adult children, with the harshest words coming for Ivanka, according to media reporter Yashar Ali, who first reported their existence. He did not have details of the statements Melania Trump allegedly made but noted they will be in Wolkoff's book. He added that Wolkoff taped the first lady without her knowledge. Ali tweeted: 'In her book, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff quotes the First Lady making disparaging remarks about Ivanka Trump and some of the president's other adult children. She even makes some negative remarks about her husband, President Trump.' Stephanie Grisham, Melania's current chief of staff, said she's never heard the first lady make any disparaging remarks about President Trump or the first family. 'No. I've never heard Mrs. Trump say anything disparaging about the family,' Grisham told MSNBC's Hallie Jackson on Tuesday. 'They're a close-knit family. She's talked about them many times publicly,' she added. Grisham was dismissive of the speculation that the first lady trash talked the family. '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,' she said. Grisham also noted if the first lady 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. Stephanie Winston Wolkoff came under investigation for her role in planning Donald Trump's 2016 presidential inauguration - she's seen with Melania Trump at a January 2017 dinner ahead of the inaugural 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 tag line in the book's description on Amazon.com. 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. Efforts to eradicate malaria could be hampered by climate change which could boost mosquito numbers and bring the disease to new areas, a study has found. Malaria is a climate-sensitive disease which thrives where it is wet and warm enough to provide the still surface waters needed to breed the mosquitoes that spread it. For more than two decades, experts have warned that the new patterns of temperature and rainfall induced by climate change could change malaria's range. Experts from Leeds now warn that malaria could remain longer in parts of Africa such as Botswana and Mozambique while lessening in areas like South Sudan. Africa faces the lion's share of the global malaria burden with the continent facing, for example, 93 per cent of the world's estimated 228 million cases in 2018. Efforts to eradicate malaria could be hampered by climate change which could boost mosquito numbers and bring the disease to new areas, a study has found (stock image) Experts from Leeds now warn that malaria could remain longer in parts of Africa such as Botswana and Mozambique while lessening in areas like South Sudan. Pictured, two models of predicted changes in malaria suitable months each year across Africa. Warmer colours represent an increase in the risk of mosquito populations and cooler colours a decrease '[Following] the huge efforts to eradicate malaria from parts of the world, the areas where we observe malaria today are only a part of the total area that would otherwise be suitable for malaria transmission,' said paper author Mark Smith. 'But if we are to project the impact of climate change on the geography of malaria transmission, we need to develop more sophisticated ways of representing that envelope of malaria suitability both today and in the future,' he added. 'Our approach aims to lay out the environmental risks of malaria more clearly, so that projections of climate change impacts can help inform public health interventions and support vulnerable communities.' 'But this is only a first step, there is a lot more we can do to embed state-of-the-art hydrological and flood models into estimates of malaria environmental suitability and, potentially, even early warning systems of local malaria epidemics.' Detailed mapping of the spread of malaria is vital for organising public health resources and aid efforts. In the past, scientists have estimated the annual spread and duration of the disease alongside making future predictions by looking at rainfall and temperature. But factors affecting how rainfall results in waters suitable for mosquito breeding are complex including, for example, consideration of how water is absorbed into soil and vegetation, as well as rates of runoff and evaporation. In their study, the researchers combined a malaria climatic suitability model with a continental-scale hydrological model that represents real-world processes of evaporation, infiltration and flow through rivers. 'This process-focused approach gives a more in-depth picture of malaria-friendly conditions across Africa,' said Dr Smith. Malaria is a climate-sensitive disease which thrives where it is wet and warm enough to provide the still surface waters needed to breed the mosquitoes, pictured, that spread it The researchers identified the areas around the Niger and rivers in Mali and Senegal as well as Somalia's Webi Juba and Webi Shabeelie rivers as being at risk of fostering malaria in the future, despite not being 'climatically suitable' at present. Pictured, the team in Tanzania By using future climate scenarios to predict conditions up to the end of the century, the team found a different pattern of future changes in malaria suitability compared to previous works. 'While the findings show only very minor future changes in the total area suitable for malaria transmission, the geographical location of many of those areas shifts substantially,' explained Dr Smith. 'When a hydrological model is used, aridity-driven decreases in suitability are no longer observed across southern Africa, particularly Botswana and Mozambique.' 'Conversely, projected decreases in malaria suitable areas across West Africa are more pronounced.' The largest change predicted by the team would occur in South Sudan which is expected to undergo substantial decreases in malaria suitability in the future. For two decades, experts have warned that the new patterns of temperature and rainfall induced by climate change could change the range of mosquitoes (pictured) and malaria The researchers identified the areas around the Niger and rivers in Mali and Senegal as well as Somalia's Webi Juba and Webi Shabeelie rivers as being at risk of fostering malaria in the future, despite not being 'climatically suitable' at present. While flowing water in such large rivers does not provide a suitable habitat for malaria-carrying mosquitoes, they can create small ponds and floodplains beside their course which form ideal larvae breeding grounds. According to the researchers, this is problematic, as human settlements tend to be concentrated close to rivers. 'The shrinking map of malaria in Africa over that last 20 years is primarily due to huge public health efforts underway to tackle this disease, not climate change,' said paper author and health expert Chris Thomas of the University of Lincoln. 'But malaria elimination is made much more difficult where the climate is highly suitable for transmission, so it is key to know where these areas are now and are projected to be in the future.' 'Linking physical geographic processes to the biology helps us get to grips with some of that complexity.' 'The exciting challenge now is to develop this approach at local scales.' The full findings of the study were published in the journal Nature Communications. M ore than 4,500 extra officers will be deployed on Londons streets over the bank holiday weekend to police a fresh wave of environmental protests and dozens of illegal raves to replace Notting Hill Carnival. The Extinction Rebellion group plans to target airports and block roads with rallies, marches and sit-ins as it renews its campaign of non-violent direct action which last year brought central London to a standstill. Anneka Sutcliffe, from XR Actions Circle, said a few thousand people had indicated they would join the protests, with marches starting from Tate Britain, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Cathedral and Smithfield Market to converge at a central location. Meanwhile, Met chiefs have urged people to stay away from the traditional carnival route and watch this years festivities online. Officers have intelligence that up to 80 unlicensed music events are being planned across the city. Commander Bas Javid urged revellers: Watch the celebration of Carnival from the comfort of your own home. We urge people not to come into the traditional area to celebrate. There are no events. Where there are large gatherings of people, officers will be deployed to interact with those gathered. The Metropolitan Police has responded to more than 1,000 unlicensed events since the end of June, with officers coming under attack at some in ugly scenes. Mr Javid added: Unlicensed music events are a blight on our communities and cause untold distress and fear, often attracting criminal behaviour and violence if you have any information about an unlicensed music event, contact us so we can respond quickly to close them down. We know people will want to be out celebrating the holiday, and we want them to so safely reminding Londoners of the restrictions which are in place to keep them safe. From today, anyone organising an unlicensed music event or any other unlawful gathering of 30 people or more could face fined of up to 10,000. Ken Marsh, chairman of the rank-and-file Met Police Federation, said: Officers dont want to be lambs to the slaughter this weekend and be attacked at unlicensed music events and other protests. We are ready to deal with anything put in front of us but I have great concerns it will get out of control. This weekend has all the ingredients to be very, very stressful. Europe and the U.S. have long disagreed over new tax arrangements for digital giants, but a deal on the issue is still possible in 2020, the Irish finance minister told CNBC Friday. Countries disagree on how to tax tech firms such as Amazon and Apple. While some in Europe believe these companies need to pay more in tax within the region, the United States has said the proposed plans discriminate against American firms. Chances of a deal took a fresh blow in June when the U.S. decided to pull out of talks at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, while threatening to impose trade tariffs on nations that decided to apply individual digital taxes on the tech companies. However, Paschal Donoghoe, Ireland's finance chief, said he believes that an imminent breakthrough is still a possibility. When asked if an agreement was still possible this year, he said: "I think it is possible. I think the rumours of the demise of the OECD process were somewhat overstated." His comments echo those made to CNBC in July, when he said: "I think we need to view what is happening inside the OECD at the moment as a pause." Ireland was one of the few European countries that voted against an EU-wide digital tax back in 2018, pushing instead for a broader agreement with other nations beyond the European level. Ireland is home to a number of large tech firms, which have headquarters in the country. ARCHIVED - Flu vaccination in Spain brought forward to first half of October The Minister for Health, Salvador Illa, said the campaign will start in the care homes of Spain On Thursday a meeting of the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System (CISNS) between the 17 autonomous regions of Spain and Ministry of Health agreed that the start of the flu vaccination campaign will begin consecutively in all of the autonomous communities and major cities in the first fortnight of October. Under normal circumstances this campaign begins at the end of October or beginning of November, but the Health Minister said on that "ideally" the campaign will begin in the first week of October. "The mode of transmission and the symptoms of the new coronavirus and the influenza virus are very similar. Therefore, due to a possible coexistence during this next 2020-2021 season of the circulation of both viruses, new objectives have been set with the purpose of protecting the most vulnerable and also trying to prevent the saturation of the health care system," the Minister said in his presentation of the 2020 campaign. This year the parameters have been amplified to try and protect the most vulnerable, and the 2020 campaign aims to achieve coverage of at least 75% in health personnel and those over 65; and 60% in pregnant women and people with risk conditions. The order in which the various population groups included within the vaccination programme will be vaccinated remains the same as was agreed by a previous meeting of the CISNS Public Health Commission held on May 5th; first of all, elderly people from the age of 65 upwards, and giving priority to those living in care homes and residences; followed by those under 65 years of age who are at high risk for complications from the flu; next will be those who could potentially transmit the flu to those who are at high risk of complications, including health and social health personnel, as well as family members; and finally, those who work in essential public services and others considered to have the potential to transmit the virus to at risk groups. Award-winning Ghanaian filmmaker, Kofi Asamoah, known widely as Kofas has come out to clarify comments he made regarding a video that had founder of Action Faith Chapel, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams wielding a sword. Speaking in an interview with Kwasi Aboagye on Peace FM and monitored by Nkonkonsa.com, the John And John director said his post about the Archbishop was in no way meant to disrespect or insult the revered man of God. According to him, his words were taken out of context to mean that he was calling the man of God stupid which was never the case. To him, the media houses that covered the story, twisted the import of the message he was trying to convey. The CEO of KOFAS Media stressed that he will never disrespect any man of God. According to him, Archbishop Duncan Williams was someone he knew personally and had worked with closely before so there was no way he could be disrespectful to him. Kofi added that aside from the fact that the man of God was one of the most influential religious leaders in the country, he (KOFAS) was a respecter of the elderly according to our culture. Kofi explained that he meant to say the actions of men of God should not be condemned no matter where they are coming from. Mr Asamoah went on to indicate that in the presence of current misrepresentation, he has taken the pains to pull down the said video. He also apologized to anyone who felt that his statement came across as an insult. Kofi Asamoah's case follows a video in which the General Overseer of Action Chapel, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams was seen wielding a sword in church while leading his congregation in a time of prayer. Post below- View this post on Instagram Kofi Asamoah blasts Archbishop Duncan Williams for using a sword in Church A post shared by Celebrities Buzz Ghana (@celebritiesbuzzgh) on Aug 28, 2020 at 4:14am PDT Source: Eugene Osafo-Nkansah/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 On DFA Sec. Locsin's Plan to Recommend Terminating PH Govt Contracts with Chinese Firms in SCS Reclamation Activities More at: https://pinglacson.net/2020/08/28/on-dfa-sec-locsins-plan-to-recommend-terminating-ph-govt-contracts-with-chinese-firms-in-scs-reclamation-activities/ Kudos to DFA Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin for putting the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman in his place. Banning us from sending our military aircraft into airspace near Panatag Shoal surely deserves a strong rebuke. I'm proud that our top foreign policy implementor did it. Indeed, it's long in coming by way of a statement from our DFA secretary. China's display of arrogance by accusing us of infringing on its sovereignty and security by sending military aircraft into airspace adjacent to Panatag Shoal/Bajo de Masinloc, urging the Philippines to immediately stop illegal provocations, tops it all. In his speech from the White House to the Republican National Convention Thursday night, President Donald Trump said that if Joe Biden wins the election in November, Democrats will make every city look like Democrat-run Portland, Oregon. If you heard that message from another city, you might be scared. What if your city did look like Portland? What would that mean? Should you be worried? Here are 10 things you may see in your city or town, if it begins to look like Portland. 1. Public, constantly flowing water fountains A Benson Bubbler water fountain pictured in Portland, Oregon in September, 2016.LC- Staff Dotted throughout the city are a scourge called Benson Bubblers -- water fountains that are almost always bubbling freshwater for all who want a drink. Beware, this free-water-for-all is also a favorite of pigeons, who, lets be honest, are already getting enough handouts. 2. Food carts on nearly every corner Derek Ingwood presents a foil rose. Portland staple Le Bistro Montage has reinvented itself as a food cart, now known as Montage ala Cart at the Hawthorne Asylum food carts in inner Southeast Portland. Sean Meagher/Staff In 2016 a Trump surrogate warned of taco trucks on every corner. In Portland, the reality is much worse. We have taco trucks aplenty, sure, but we also have barbecue trucks, barbecue taco trucks and trucks with nearly any cuisine you can imagine. Almost every neighborhood has a whole pod full of these monstrosities. It really makes you think. 3. A preponderance of roses and dahlias and even other flowers PORTLAND, OREGON - August 10, 2012 Dahlia breed: Scott's Caldera Katie Currid/The Oregonian LC-LC- Portlanders love to plant and tend to flowers. Of course there are the roses -- the city is nicknamed Rose City, after all. But people here also love to cultivate dahlias and sunflowers and other flowers, begging the question: what are they trying to prove? 4. Dedicated bikeways and a car-less bridge Trimet opened the new Portland-Milwaukie MAX Orange line on Sept. 12, 2015. With the opening go the line came the first official use of the new Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People. Randy L. Rasmussen/Staff LC- The OregonianLC- The Oregonian One major warning sign that your city is beginning to look like Portland is an emphasis on bike paths and a dismissal of the supremacy of the motor vehicle. We all know that the car should be the force that shapes all cities and while Portland is full of streets and highways and cars-only bridges, would you believe we have the audacity to have a bridge that doesnt allow cars on it all? First its one bridge without cars and next thing you know, communism. 5. Too many rivers Still dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, Oregonians gather in and around the Willamette River near the Hawthorne Bridge as temperatures reach 90 degrees for the first time of the year on May 28, 2020. Dave Killen / StaffThe Oregonian Do you want a city with not one but two major rivers? Of course you dont! Thats just too many rivers! 6. This guy Brian Kidd, the Portland man better known as his unicycle-riding bagpipe- playing alter-ego, the Unipiper, casts his Oregon primary ballot by placing it for pick up in his home mailbox. He rides around town on a unicycle playing the bagpipes in a Darth Vader mask. Thats his whole thing. Hes called The Unipiper and if you see one in your town, its over. 7. Donut wars Voodoo Doughnuts (Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian)LC- The Oregonian In Portland, you have to have an opinion about donuts. Sure, its cool if you practice whatever religion you want, or whatever type of yoga you want, but if you even mention to another person that you dont really have a favorite donut, consider yourself canceled. 8. A whole mountain and sometimes two PORTLAND, OREGON - Jan. 2, 2014 - As fog settled low over Happy Valley, a lenticular cloud obscured the summit of Mount Hood as the sunrise lit up the wispy clouds. (Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian)Thomas Boyd Every sunny day, Portlanders are subjected to the glaring eye of Mount Hood, staring down at them in judgment. That overly majestic mountain, coated in white, up against a blue sky, taunts the people below with its glory. And when some of them inevitably give in and drive their cars the hour or so to her top, the lakes are too pristine and there are far too many ski slopes to chose from. And dont even get us started on the drama of Mount St. Helens. You exploded dude! Get over yourself! 9. Polite transit riders A Trimet bus travels over the Hawthorne Bridge Friday April 10. 2020, amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak in Portland. Mark Graves/StaffMark Graves The surest sign that your city is a Portland-style hellhole is bus riders who insist on thanking the driver when they get off. There is nothing more Portland, and nothing more disturbing, than the hearty thank you directed at every driver, at every stop. Is Portland a kindness cult? Probably. 10. Rain, so much rain Walking the dog in Portland rain.Oregonian file photo What makes the flowers grow, the rivers run, the snow coat the mountain? Rain. Horrible, endless, wet rain. Pray that your city never gets another drop. The results might be too beautiful to stand. -- Lizzy Acker 503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. The Gov. Gretchen Whitmer administration is standing by Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington after the union representing 6,000 corrections officers in the state called for her removal in a letter sent Thursday. The letter says Washington exhibited failed leadership in addressing both staffing issues and the departments handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and the union will be submitting a Vote of No Confidence to the governor and legislature regarding her continued appointment. The Michigan Corrections Organization has long dealt with understaffing issues that have forced officers to work mandatory overtime and created unsafe situations, said the unions president, Byron Osborn, in an interview Thursday. We just feel that this administration has failed in addressing adequate recruitment and retention of corrections officers, Osborn said. It is Whitmer who appoints the department director. Washington has served in the role since 2015, when she was appointed by former Gov. Rick Snyder. Governor Whitmer supports Director Washingtons leadership, from providing job and skills training to prisoners, to protecting inmates and staff throughout the pandemic, said Whitmer Communications Director Zack Pohl in a statement. The governor also supports the hard work and sacrifices that MCO members and their families have made throughout this crisis, which is why she worked to secure hazard pay for all prison staff. The administration will continue working with MDOC and MCO leadership to ensure the safety of everyone in Michigans prison system as we manage through the COVID-19 pandemic. But officers dont feel supported, according to Osborn. He said they are often required to work mandatory overtime due to staffing shortages and are sometimes working 16-hour shifts multiple days each week, he said. Osborn said cuts to benefits like retiree health care have made it difficult to attract and retain talent. The governors office is absolutely aware of it. Every year, every budget, he said. Those concerns have been exacerbated by the departments response to the coronavirus pandemic as prisons have been hit with outbreaks. The letter says officers have felt unsupported due to involuntarily assigning officers to work at different locations, failing to accurately report prisoner disturbances and a lack of adequate personal protective equipment in some instances. Washington responded in a statement: The department is committed to protecting the health, safety, and wellbeing of people under our supervision - both in prison and in the community - and our staff, who are working hard every day. I stand by the important work this department has done throughout the pandemic to keep people safe, and we will keep working to ensure that our inmates and staff are protected during these challenging times, she said. MCO letter by MLive.com on Scribd Related stories: More than half of inmates at Muskegon prison positive for coronavirus Coronavirus outbreak at Muskegon prison increases to more than 150 inmates Coronavirus surges again in Michigan prisons, with biggest outbreak since spring Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 22:09:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- Chinese authorities has called for efforts to promote trade and investment facilitation and strive to make the Yangtze River Delta Region an important bridge between the international and domestic markets. -- More foreign enterprises are expanding their layouts in the region as China's epidemic prevention and control measures enter a new stage, saying "yes" to the country's improving business environment and economy. -- China's competitive advantages in the global supply chain are not just in cost and scale, but more in market potential, product quality and innovation capacity. SHANGHAI, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The year 2020 has not been easy for retailers as they deal with temporary business closures as well as declining customer traffic and sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet Uniqlo, a clothing brand under the Japan-based Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., opened 19 chain stores in China on a single day in mid-August, marking a further step into the Chinese market. "We opened eight new stores in June and 19 in August. We're entering six new cities, including Zhejiang's Tongxiang and Jiangsu's Danyang, which signals our confidence in the Chinese market and Chinese economy despite COVID-19," said Jalin Wu, chief marketing officer of Uniqlo Greater China. China is Uniqlo's biggest overseas market, and Uniqlo hopes to further explore the Chinese market by launching new apparel suitable for Chinese consumers, as well as exploring opportunities in more third-tier and lower-tier cities in China, she added. People shop at an Uniqlo's retail store in east China's Shanghai, Aug. 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) As China's epidemic prevention and control measures enter a new stage, more foreign enterprises are getting back to business by setting up new stores, new factories and new R&D centers in the Yangtze River Delta, China's economic hub, saying "yes" to the country's improving business environment and economy. Covering a 358,000-square km expanse, the Yangtze River Delta is one of the most populated and urbanized city clusters in China, contributing one-fourth of the country's gross domestic product. Chinese authorities has called for efforts to promote trade and investment facilitation and strive to make the delta region an important bridge between the international and domestic markets. NEW STORES, RECOVERING BUSINESSES "COVID-19 has had an impact on the customer flow in retail stores, but with strict epidemic prevention and control measures, consumer confidence has gradually recovered, and customer flow has increased," Jalin Wu said. Beginning in May, the sales of Uniqlo's retail stores in China have recovered to the level of the same period last year, and are expected to see year-on-year growth in July and August, she noted. Since the epidemic outbreak, Uniqlo's official website, mobile app, Tmall flagship store, WeChat mini-program and physical stores have formed an innovative retail loop that enables customers to order online and get their purchases through door-to-door delivery or pickup at brick-and-mortar outlets. The Japanese fashion retailer will attend the third China International Import Expo (CIIE), and Fast Retailing has reserved a 1,500-square-meter exhibition area. Uniqlo was among several foreign enterprises to open new stores in China's Yangtze River Delta. For French cosmetics giant L'Oreal, the economic recovery in China is a great boost to its global business as Europe is only gradually returning to normal after the huge blow from the coronavirus pandemic. The company's YSL Beauty chose Shanghai as the location for its first perfume-themed store anywhere in the world, opening to the public in early June. The new store not only debuts limited edition perfumes, but also provides an immersive experience to consumers. Visitors try lipsticks at a booth of L'Oreal at the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 6, 2019. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) Fabrice Megarbane, CEO of L'Oreal China, voiced his confidence in the company's development in China, noting that the cosmetics market is quickly recovering. Statistics from L'Oreal show that its sales on the Chinese mainland grew by 30 percent in the second quarter, recording a 17.5-percent growth in the first half of 2020. Megarbane said the company's headquarters, research and innovation center in Shanghai, as well as its Suzhou plant, resumed operation on Feb. 10 with strict protective measures in place. "It used to take hours to get to Suzhou from Shanghai, but now it's way under one hour," said Megarbane, adding that he is confident in the integration of the Yangtze River Delta, and the company benefits from such a strategy. NEW FACTORIES, STABILIZING INDUSTRIAL CHAIN "China is a stabilizer in the global supply chain," Megarbane said, noting that China's competitive advantages in the global supply chain are not just in cost and scale, but more in market potential, product quality and innovation capacity. This view was echoed by U.S. electric carmaker Tesla, which began accepting orders for made-in-China Model Y SUVs on its China official website earlier this week. The production of the pre-ordered cars will begin as early as next year. It has been less than eight months since the U.S. electric carmaker announced the launch of a project to manufacture Model Y vehicles in its Shanghai gigafactory, its first overseas plant outside the United States, in early January. Tesla's founder Elon Musk expressed gratitude for the hard work of the Chinese team during his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in July. Photo taken on Jan. 7, 2020 shows an inside view of Tesla Shanghai gigafactory in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) Tao Lin, vice president for external affairs at Tesla China, said the expansion of the Shanghai gigafactory is expected to be finished by year-end, and the mass production of made-in-China Model Ys will start in the first quarter of 2021. The smooth and quick recovery of production in China has injected confidence into foreign companies. Statistics showed that in the first half of this year, the actual amount of utilized foreign capital in Shanghai increased by 5.4 percent year on year, with 26 regional headquarters of multinationals newly set up in the city. After participating in the second CIIE last November, Israeli hi-tech company Watergen, which produces high-quality drinking water from air, has set up its China headquarters in Shanghai and started investing and building factories in the Yangtze River Delta region. "We are very optimistic about the prospects of the Chinese market," said Ivan Melnikov, Watergen's chief representative in China. The tech firm has already signed up for this year's CIIE. NEW R&D CENTERS, GLOBAL INNOVATION HUB In just five months, a salted egg yolk and cheese-flavored ice cream product has gone from nothing more than a bold idea to a bestseller in China. It was one of the innovative products developed by the Fonterra-ACC Shanghai Innovation Center, jointly set up by New Zealand-based multinational dairy cooperative Fonterra and food quality certification firm Anchor Center for R&D and Certification (ACC Shanghai). If the innovation process had taken place in R&D centers overseas, it would have been about three years before the product could enter the Chinese market, according to Paul Washer, chief financial officer of Fonterra for Greater China. The center was officially put into use in mid-August after several months of trial operation, a fresh move demonstrating Fonterra's confidence in the Chinese market and its long-term commitment to cultivating the market. "China is one of the fastest-changing food and beverage markets in the world. Only with higher innovation efficiency and faster production of new products can we better adapt to the Chinese market," Washer said. Aerial photo taken on Oct. 28, 2019 shows a night view of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the venue of the second China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) As an extension of Fonterra's research capabilities worldwide, the Shanghai facility is designed for product development, sensory assessments, consumer science, nutrition science and packaging, among other functions. "As one of the world's largest dairy companies, Fonterra is very optimistic about China's future," he added, noting that China is not only a consumer market, but also a critical source of innovation and an important part of the global industrial value chain. In the first half of this year, a total of 10 foreign-funded R&D centers were set up in Shanghai. Boehringer Ingelheim, the world's leading pharmaceutical company, announced in March this year it would set up its first overseas BI X digital lab in Shanghai. The company also launched an external innovation hub in Shanghai this July. "China has strategic importance to the company, and we have a long-term commitment to improving health outcomes and addressing unmet medical needs in China," said Felix Gutsche, chairman and CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim Greater China, adding that the company is investing 451 million euros in China over the next five years. Cao Lei, deputy director of the commission of commerce in the Shanghai Pudong New Area, said foreign enterprises have been investing in R&D centers despite the epidemic, which shows China's prominence in the global innovation landscape. (Reporting by Zhou Rui, Ma Yunfei) (Video reporter: Sun Qing, Ding Ting, Zhou Rui; video editor: Lin Lin) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during his press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo, Friday. / AFP-Yonhap As Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announces his plans to resign over health problems, attention turns to who could succeed the country's longest-ruling premier, with no consensus yet clear on a candidate. Here are some of the potential contenders: Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso / AFP-Yonhap Taro Aso, gaffe-prone finance minister In his dual role as finance minister and deputy prime minister, 79-year-old Taro Aso is a Liberal Democratic Party old-timer. A close Abe ally, Aso was prime minister from 2008-09 and has been deputy prime minister and finance minister since 2012. Aso stepped down as premier after his ruling LDP was booted from office in a historic defeat in 2009, and has long been rumored to nurse hopes of another chance at the top office. His long political career has been punctuated by repeated gaffes, including comments that the elderly should "hurry up and die" instead of costing the government money, and that Tokyo could learn from Nazi Germany when it comes to constitutional reform. But he has weathered the multiple furors over his comments, and leads a major faction in the LDP. He backed a massive stimulus program in the face of the 2008 global financial crisis, but later shifted to stressing the importance of reducing the country's snowballing debt. Japan's former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba / AFP -Yonhap Shigeru Ishiba, popular ex-defense minister Former defense minister Shigeru Ishiba is considered a military geek but is also a self-confessed fan of 1970s pop music. The 63-year-old former banker is the scion of a political family and seen as a strong orator with significant experience he entered parliament at just 29. Like Abe, Ishiba is a defense hawk who wants to strengthen the role of the country's Self-Defense Forces in the pacifist constitution, and he has even mused about whether Japan should reconsider its policy forbidding nuclear weapons on its soil. He has served in several cabinet posts and is a popular choice to succeed Abe among the public. Ishiba is less favored by his fellow ruling party lawmakers, partly because he once left the LDP. He was the sole challenger to Abe in the party's 2018 leadership contest and was heavily defeated. Japan's Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga / AFP-Yonhap MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the Tablighi Jamaat members are being given consular access and 'smooth repatriation' to their home countries New Delhi: As many as 1,095 look out circulars have been deleted and 630 foreign members of the Tablighi Jamaat have left India, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. On the issue of foreign Tablighi Jamaat members stuck in India for violating visa rules and pandemic restrictions, MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the ministry has been actively facilitating their consular access, deletion of LOCs and smooth repatriation to their respective countries. "We have kept the respective foreign embassies informed through the entire process," he said. "As of 24 August, 1,095 look out circulars (LOCs) were deleted and 630 foreign members of the Tablighi Jamaat have left India," he said at an online media briefing. These members of the Tablighi Jamaat were charged under the Foreigners Act for indulging in activities that were incompatible with their visa status, he said. Therefore, for such activities, appropriate category of visa has to be sought, Srivastava said. To a separate question on whether External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) foreign ministers' meeting in September, Srivastava said the minister has received an invitation for the meeting to be held in Moscow and a decision on his participation would be made known once it is taken. On whether the Kerala government had sought MEA's approval for signing an MoU with the UAE Red Crescent Authority - an NGO - for a project, Srivastava said no such approval had been taken. WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 28: 12-year-old Yolanda Renee King, the granddaughter of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., thrusts her fist as she speaks to the Image Source: Getty/ Chip Somodevilla On Aug. 28, 12-year-old Yolanda Renee King gave a moving speech at the March on Washington on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, the same spot where her grandfather Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his historic "I Have a Dream" speech exactly 57 years earlier in 1963. "Great challenges produce great generations. We have mastered the selfie and TikTok . . . Now we must master ourselves," King said during her speech. Despite her young age, King has made it a personal priority over the years to put social justice and equality first, using her voice as the descendant of one of America's most influential leaders to encourage positive reform. "Less than a year before he was assassinated, my grandfather predicted this very moment," she said. "He said that we were moving into a new phase of the struggle. The first phase was for civil rights, and the new phase is a struggle for genuine equality." King continued her speech by stressing the negative influences of climate change, racism, police brutality, and gun violence on society and the urgent need for change. "My generation has already taken to the streets - peacefully and with masks and social distancing - to protest racism," King continued. "And I want to ask the young people here to join me in pledging that we have only just begun to fight - and that we will be the generation that moves from me to we. We are going to be the generation that dismantles systemic racism once and for all, now and forever. We are going to be the generation that calls a halt to police brutality and gun violence once and for all, now and forever." This year's March on Washington, which was led by Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III, saw thousands of participants gather in front of the Lincoln Memorial. In addition to King, other speakers included the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, and Jacob Blake, who echoed King's pleas for social justice and racial equality. Watch King's powerful speech here. Four members of a small tribe in the remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands have tested positive for the coronavirus, an Indian health official said on Thursday. Dr Avijit Ray said the four are among the 37 members of the Great Andamanese tribe who live on Strait Island. Health workers went to the island last week to test the tribe members, he said. Dr Ray said the four apparently caught the virus during a recent visit to Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a federally administered Indian territory in the Bay of Bengal. They are being treated and are recovering well, he said. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a chain of islands with a population of about 400,000, have reported 2.944 coronavirus cases, including 41 deaths, mostly among non-tribal groups. Vulnerable tribes on the islands include the Sentinelese, Jarawa, Great Andamanese, Shompen and Onge. Dr Ray said health workers are trying to protect the tribes from the virus. We are keeping a close watch on the movements and testing some of the other tribes, he said. The Sentinelese and Jarawa, however, have remained isolated from mainstream society. Authorities protect the tribes by restricting travel in the areas where they live. In 2018, an American Christian missionary, John Allen Chau, was killed by Sentinelese with bows an arrows when he travelled illegally to North Sentinelese Island, where they live, and tried to proselytise them. AP Child pornography crimes are becoming an epidemic in Niagara, a local judge said Friday. Since my time in Niagara region, after spending 24 year as a judge in Toronto, I am dumbfounded by the sheer number of child pornography incidents in this region, Judge Harvey Brownstone said Friday. It is a blemish on the people of this region. It is a disgrace. The judge made the comments during Lloyd Littles sentencing hearing in an Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines. You descended into hell when you chose to access and possess this kind of awful, horrible, disgusting and vile content, he told the 34-year-old Welland man. I dont know how you live with yourself. Little was sentenced to 12 months behind bars on two charges of possession of child pornography. The Niagara Regional Police internet child exploitation unit launched an investigation in March 2019 after receiving information from the U.S.-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Police determined Little had uploaded child pornography to his Facebook account and made the material available to others. His collection included 347 videos and 74 images. ...347 videos represent 347 destroyed children, the judge told the defendant. Theres a very good reason why the vast majority of videos of child pornography have no sound, that is because the children are screaming at the top of their lungs because their insides are being ripped open, Brownstone added. The fact that anyone could be sexually aroused or derive any kind of pleasure from the brutal torturing of young children, toddlers, is absolutely mind boggling. In an unrelated case, a 38-year-old Thorold man was sentenced to five months behind bars on Thursday after being convicted of similar offences. On Wednesday, a Welland man received a 90-day sentence after he admitted he sent a mother of three children a series of text messages that met the legal definition of child pornography. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Igor Dodon, President of the Republic of Moldova. "Dear Mr. President, I cordially congratulate you on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Moldova, the Independence Day," the head of state said. "Our countries are bound together by the ties of friendship and cooperation. I am confident that based on these traditions of goodwill, the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Moldova will continue to develop and strengthen for the prosperity of our peoples and countries," the head of state wrote. "I avail myself of this opportunity to express the Azerbaijani people`s solidarity with the people of Moldova in tackling the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic," Azerbaijani president said. "I wish you the best of health and success, and the brotherly people of Moldova progress and prosperity," the letter said. Over 400 new coronavirus infections were reported in Korea on Wednesday, with the routes of transmission spreading from churches in the Seoul metropolitan area to sports facilities across the country and even family gatherings. In Seoul, 154 cases were detected on Wednesday alone, the most so far. The total in the capital from Aug.1 to 26 has now surpassed the number in the first seven months of this year at 1,784, compared to 1,602. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 16:48:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SUVA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said on Friday that the island nation should sit at the center of the region as the hub of travel, trade, ICT and development by 2050. Opening the Fiji National Consultation Workshop on 2050 Strategy of the Blue Pacific Continent in capital city Suva, Bainimarama said Fiji already has a 20-Year National Development Plan which lays out the strategic vision across every sector of the government. The document is the starting point in Fiji's journey towards 2050, he said, and this strategy will shape the development of the region in the next 30 years. He said every economy in the region must achieve net-zero global emissions -- zero excuses by 2050, and they must have built a resilient Pacific -- one that is adapted to the worsening climate impacts. "By 2050, our region's oceans must be secured by powerful protections that preserve their bounty and beauty for all time. By 2050, we must call home a continent connected by air, by sea and by technology," he said. Fiji can and should sit at the center, as the hub of travel, trade, ICT and development; and by that mid-century mark, the divide between the developed and developing nations in the region must have given way to a level playing field, one defined by equal outcomes and opportunity, he added. As for next year's Pacific Islands Forum to be hosted by Fiji, the prime minister said as leaders gather in the country, Fiji's leadership of this forum will determine the quality of regionalism that emerges from the ashes of this pandemic and this strategy will be at the heart of its ambition. Enditem Midland County recorded four new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the pandemic total to 317 cases, 90 probable cases and 11 deaths. The Central Michigan District Health Department announced Friday morning that a total of 134 cases (126 confirmed and eight probable) are now related to CMU students returning to the Mount Pleasant area. Health officials attribute the outbreak to large social gatherings and infections transmitted among roommates. Friday. Aug. 28 daily numbers Bay County: 12 cases were added, pandemic total stands at 720 cases, 83 probable cases and 41 deaths. Gladwin County: No cases were added; pandemic total stands at 68 cases, seven probable, two deaths. Isabella County: 31 cases were added; pandemic total stands at 394 cases, 45 probable, nine deaths. Saginaw County: 29 cases were added; pandemic total stands at 2,328 cases, 151 probable, 128 deaths and three probable deaths. The state on Friday added 741 new cases and six deaths. Overall, Michigan is at 100,699 cases and 6,446 deaths. Testing The state report shows as of Aug. 28, Midland County has performed 10,713 diagnostic tests and 757 serology (antibodies) tests, totaling 11,470 tests. Gladwin County is listed as having administered 4,166 diagnostic tests and 130 serology (antibodies) tests, totaling 4,296 tests. Midland County's seven-day rolling positivity rate on Aug. 24 was listed at 2.9%, and low risk of spread. Gladwin County was listed at 0.4% and low risk. The Saginaw region, which includes 12-counties including Midland, Gladwin, Bay and Saginaw counties, was listed at 3.7% 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. 26, 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. 26, 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. 27, the Midland County health department website lists 284 recovered cases and 29 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 56.1% of total Midland County cases, confirmed and probable, as of Aug. 27. Of Midland County's 403 confirmed and probable cases, 85 cases are in 0-19 age range; 79 in 20-29 age range; 61 in 30-39 age range; 60 in 40-49 age range; 57 in 50-59 age range; 25 in 60-69 age range; 20 in 70-79 age range, and 14 in 80+ age range, as of Aug. 27. Of Midland's 11 deaths, five have been female and six male. One was between the ages of 50-59; four were between ages of 70-79, and six were 80 years and older. As of Aug. 27, 82.1% of cases have fallen within the 48640 and 48642 (mostly Midland) zip codes. Next highest were 48657 (Sanford) with 6.5% of cases and 48618 (Coleman) with 5.7% of cases. Cases by race, as of Aug. 27: 86.2% were listed as caucasian; 2.6% as Black; 3.6% as Asian; 1% listed as two or more races; and 7% were unknown. MidMichigan Health statistics Patient census: MidMichigan Health system is listed as having 14 COVID-19 patients, including two patients in ICU, and 59.9% bed occupancy, as of Aug. 27. 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. San Francisco The race to buy TikTok took another turn Thursday when Walmart said it was teaming up with Microsoft on a potential bid for the popular Chinese-owned video app. The discussions are ongoing, and other suitors for TikTok are involved, said two people close to the deal talks, who were not authorized to speak publicly. It is unclear which companies will ultimately secure a deal, though TikTok will likely make a decision in the coming days, they said. In a statement, Walmart said, "We are confident that a Walmart and Microsoft partnership would meet both the expectations of U.S. TikTok users while satisfying the concerns of U.S. government regulators." TikTok declined to comment, and Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment. CNBC earlier reported Walmart's participation. TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese internet company ByteDance, has been under pressure from the Trump administration, which has become increasingly tough on China. White House officials have said that TikTok poses a national security threat because it could provide data about U.S. users to Beijing. This month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating that TikTok sell its U.S. operations by mid-September or cease transactions within the country. That has pushed ByteDance and TikTok to seek a buyer, in what could amount to a blockbuster deal. Microsoft has been talking with TikTok and ByteDance for weeks about a potential acquisition, people with knowledge of the talks have said. They initially discussed Microsoft taking just a minority stake in TikTok, before the scope of a deal ballooned. Since then, enterprise software maker Oracle, along with other bidders, have also joined the talks. Prices for a potential deal have ranged from $20 billion to $50 billion, the people with knowledge of the talks have said. But discussions are fluid, and the situation has been shifting quickly. Microsoft, with $137 billion in cash and a market value of more than $1.7 trillion, is far larger than other potential acquirers and has the deepest resources. Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, said in a note to investors that the participation of Walmart was likely "the final piece of the puzzle that ultimately cements Microsoft successfully acquiring TikTok's U.S. operations for likely $35 billion to $40 billion." Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Late Wednesday, Kevin Mayer, TikTok's chief executive, said he was resigning from the company because he had signed on for a global role. He alluded to how the app's global structure would likely change given all the political criticism. In a note to employees, he also indicated that a deal for TikTok might be close. "We expect to reach a resolution very soon," Mayer wrote. Zhang Yiming, ByteDance's chief executive, said in his own note that ByteDance and TikTok were moving swiftly to resolve its issues in the United States and India, where the app was banned in June. "I cannot get into details at this point, but I can assure you that we are developing solutions that will be in the interest of users, creators, partners and employees," Zhang said. Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse shot one of his victims five times including in the head, the criminal complaint reveals - but his attorney has claimed it was he who was 'attacked' and insisted he was acting in self-defense. Rittenhouse's attorney Lin Wood said the 17-year-old vigilante was 'attacked' with 'lethal force' and 'had the right to defend himself' when he shot dead two unarmed Black Lives Matter protesters and injured a third man in the streets of Kenosha Tuesday night, as new video reveals a different angle to one of the attacks. Footage has emerged online of the suspected killer shooting his third and only surviving victim Gaige Grosskreutz in the arm while the 26-year-old was carrying a handgun. This came moments after Rittenhouse is accused of fatally shooting Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, and Anthony Huber, 26, and calling a friend to tell them 'I've killed someone'. Rittenhouse is accused of riddling Rosenbaum with bullets, with the criminal complaint revealing he shot his victim a total of five times - in the right groin, back, left hand, left thigh and right side of his forehead. Huber's devastated girlfriend broke her silence over his 'murder' Friday, saying her 'heroic' boyfriend died trying to save the lives of her and other bystanders. Rittenhouse, a police-obsessed Donald Trump supporter, appeared before a judge briefly on a Zoom call on Friday. His extradition hearing has been pushed back another month. He will return to court on September 25. The teen is faced with murder charges while outrage builds nationwide over the different treatment by cops of the white armed teen compared to their treatment of black unarmed man Jacob Blake. Blake was shot seven times in the back by a white cop in front of his three young children Sunday afternoon, leaving the father-of-six paralyzed from the waist down. Kyle Rittenhouse's (pictured Tuesday night) attorney has claimed he was 'attacked' and was acting in self-defense when he shot dead two unarmed Black Lives Matter protesters and injured a third man in the streets of Kenosha Tuesday night, as new video reveals a different angle to one of the attacks A grab of Rittenhouse's extradition hearing on Friday morning. He did not show his face Rittenhouse faces five felony charges that include first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree reckless homicide, and a misdemeanor charge for possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor. His attorney, Lin Wood, claims the teenager was 'attacked' with 'lethal force' and had simply acted in self-defense. 'I think any average citizen would know self-defense when they see it,' Wood told Fox News. 'This young man was attacked. He was attacked with what was clearly lethal force. He had the right to defend himself.' Wood slammed the multiple felony charges brought against the suspected killer as 'false'. 'From my standpoint, it's important that the message be clear to other Americans who are attacked that there will be legal resources available in the event false charges are brought against them,' Wood told Associated Press. 'Americans should never be deterred from exercising their right of self-defense.' Another attorney for Rittenhouse John Pierce vowed to Fox News that the teen's legal team will prove self-defense and 'obtain justice for Kyle no matter how hard the fight or how long it takes.' New footage provides a fresh angle on the events surrounding the 17-year-old's alleged shooting spree. The video shows the vigilante shooting his third and only surviving victim Gaige Grosskreutz in the arm as the 26-year-old was carrying a handgun. This came moments after Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, and Anthony Huber, 26, and called a friend to say 'I've killed someone' Grosskreutz is armed with a handgun in his right hand and appears to come towards Rittenhouse. Rittenhouse opens fire at Grosskreutz at close range shooting him in the left arm. Wisconsin is an open carry state, meaning people aged 18 and over are legally allowed to carry a gun. Grosskreutz is over 18, Rittenhouse is not The video shows the moment Grosskreutz, 26, approached Rittenhouse as the 17-year-old was sat on the ground having tripped and fallen moments earlier. Grosskreutz, of West Allis, about 30 miles northwest of Kenosha, is armed with a handgun in his right hand and appears to come towards Rittenhouse. He does not appear to be pointing the gun at the 17-year-old but seems to reach with his unarmed hand to grab the child's weapon. Rittenhouse opens fire at Grosskreutz at close range shooting him in the arm and causing him to leap away as a man standing behind the victim holds his hands up in self defense at the 17-year-old. Wisconsin is an open carry state, meaning people aged 18 and over are legally allowed to carry a gun. For people under 18 it is illegal to own or carry a gun and is classed as a Class A misdemeanor. This means Grosskreutz, aged 26, was legally permitted to be carrying his handgun. Rittenhouse meanwhile is 17 and so was illegally carrying the AR-15 rifle he used to shoot Grosskreutz and the two other victims. The two men who were killed were Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, (left) and Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, (right) about 15 miles west of the city. Huber's devastated girlfriend broke her silence over his 'murder' Friday, saying her 'heroic' boyfriend died trying to save the lives of her and other protesters Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, pictured with his fiancee and a young daughter, died Tuesday evening Gaige Grosskreutz (left) - the suspected killer's third and only surviving victim is pictured in hospital recovering after the shooting. On right is his left arm where he was shot Grosskreutz pictured clutching his bloodied arm after Rittenhouse allegedly shot him at close range Tuesday night Grosskreutz getting medical attention after the shooting. Grosskreutz, aged 26, was legally permitted to be carrying his handgun. Rittenhouse meanwhile is 17 and so was illegally carrying the AR-15 rifle he used to shoot Grosskreutz and the two other victims At the time the footage was taken, Rittenhouse had already allegedly shot dead Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, and Huber, 26, of Silver Lake. Grosskreutz, who worked as a paramedic in Milwaukee and is currently studying outdoor education at a college in Wisconsin, was rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery and is now in a stable condition. Activist Bethany Crevensten said Grosskreutz, a social justice activist, was volunteering as a medic when he was shot and called him 'a hero.' Patti Wenzel, 55, who considers Grosskreutz to be 'like a son', told the Chicago Sun Times Grosskreutz had gone to the protest equipped with a medical bag - intending to provide help, if anybody needed it. 'Hes always been someone whod help out his friends and give them the shirt off his back if he has one,' she said. Wenzel said Grosskreutz is part of the Peoples Revolution Movement of Milwaukee, a social justice group. The deadly night unfolded when, at around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, Rittenhouse was walking down the streets near a car dealership holding 'a Smith & Wesson AR-15 style .223 rifle,' according to a criminal complaint released by prosecutors Thursday. The complaint states Rittenhouse clashed with people in the car lot. Rosenbaum, who was unarmed, threw a plastic bag at the gunman and attempted to take the weapon from him, the complaint states. The plastic bag missed Rittenhouse and he and Rosenbaum moved across the parking lot and appeared to be in close proximity to each other when the 17-year-old opened fire on the victim, according to the complaint. A journalist on the scene told investigators the victim was trying to get the suspect's gun off him. Rosenbaum was shot five times in the right groin and back - which fractured his pelvis and perforated his right lung and liver - his left hand, left thigh and right side of his forehead, according to the criminal complaint. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, has been charged with first degree intentional homicide following the shooting death of two protesters in Kenosha on Tuesday. Social media photos show the teen had a strong admiration for law enforcement and guns Much of Rittenhouse's Facebook is devoted to praising law enforcement, with references to Blue Lives Matter - the movement that supports police. He also previously participated in a youth public safety cadet program (pictured), according to social media As his victim lay dying on the ground, the suspect ran from the scene and made a call to a friend saying: 'I just killed somebody'. His friend received a call from him at 11:46 p.m. where he said he had shot someone, the complaint alleges. Rosenbaum was pronounced dead at 12:47 a.m. Wednesday. The gunman then ran down the street and was chased by several people shouting that he just shot someone before he tripped and fell, according to the complaint and video footage. While Rittenhouse was on the ground, a man with a skateboard - later identified as Huber - approached him, the complaint says. Huber, who was also unarmed, appears to be 'reaching for the defendant's gun with his left hand as the skateboard makes contact with the defendant's left shoulder', the complaint reads. As Huber allegedly tries to disarm the suspected killer, Rittenhouse shoots the victim in the chest. Huber staggers away before collapsing to the ground and dying. The victim's autopsy revealed he suffered a gunshot wound to his chest that perforated his heart, aorta, pulmonary artery and right lung. The complaint says Grosskreutz froze, ducked to the ground and took a step back when he saw Rittenhouse shoot Huber. He puts his hands in the air and then began to approach the suspect, the complaint says. Rittenhouse then shot him in the left arm at close range, the complaint says. Grosskreutz managed to flee the scene and called for a medic as the suspect walked away, the complaint reads. Jacob Blake (pictured) was shot seven times in the back by a cop in front of his three young children Sunday. Outrage is building over the cops' response to white teen Rittenhouse compared to black man Blake 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 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 TIMELINE OF JACOB BLAKE'S SHOOTING: Soon before 5 p.m. - A neighbor sees Blake barbecuing outside his apartment at 2805 40th St. 5:11 p.m. - Officers are called to the address to reports of 'family trouble' Dispatcher says a woman reported Blake 'isn't supposed to be there and he took the complainant's keys and is refusing to give them back' The dispatcher says there is an alert for Blake wanted at that address 5:12:07 p.m. - A cop tells the dispatcher he is close to the scene but has not yet arrived 5:13:47 p.m. - Dispatcher says the woman says Blake is trying to leave She tries to get a description of Blake's car from the woman but says the woman has become uncooperative A cop says he has arrived at the scene 5:14:28 p.m. - A second officer arrives 5:15:37 p.m. - Third cop asks for backup and three more squads are dispatched Footage shows Blake and two cops embroiled in a scuffle Blake walks round the front of his SUV tailed by cops and opens his car door Officer Sheskey grabs Blake's shirt and shoots him seven times in the back 5:15:50 p.m. - Cop reports 'shots fired' 5:18 p.m. - Dispatcher says sheriff's deputies are on their way and state patrol is being notified Advertisement Huber's heartbroken girlfriend has told how she watched her boyfriend being 'murdered' in the street by the 17-year-old as he risked his own life to protect her and other protesters demonstrating for racial justice. 'He pushed me out of the way, like he was telling me to run off, and I tried to grab him,' Hannah Gittings told CNN. 'I should have been there, but there was going to be no changing his mind.' Gittings described his actions as 'heroic' and blasted the 'kid' who 'snatched' away his life. 'He did not deserve to die,' she said of Huber. 'This kid just snatched any chance for him to have been able to live the life that he deserved to live.' The public is demanding answers from Kenosha police over their interactions with the gunman Tuesday night. Shocking video footage appears to show Rittenhouse casually walk past cops and leave the scene with his rifle slung over his shoulder and his hands in the air following his alleged shooting rampage. Members of the crowd yell at the cops to arrest him telling them he has shot people but the 17-year-old is able to leave the scene and is not arrested until the following day. Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth defended the actions of the officers saying the gunman likely slipped away because the scene was chaotic, with lots of radio traffic and people screaming, chanting and running - conditions he said can cause 'tunnel vision' among officers. Video taken before the shooting also shows police tossing bottled water from an armored vehicle and thanking civilians armed with long guns walking the streets. One of them appears to be Rittenhouse. Outrage is especially building as people draw comparisons between the treatment of the illegally armed 17-year-old who had allegedly shot dead two men and injured another and the treatment of Blake by cops. Blake was not armed with a gun when he was shot seven times in the back in front of his children two days earlier. Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes on Thursday decried how Rittenhouse, whom he described as a vigilante accountable to nobody, could walk away while police talked about finding a knife inside Blake's vehicle after he was shot in the back. He said the fact Rittenhouse and others came to Kenosha to take matters into their own hands 'was completely horrifying.' Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Illinois, about 15 miles from Kenosha, was taken into custody Wednesday in Illinois. He was assigned a public defender in Illinois for a hearing Friday on his transfer to Wisconsin. Under Wisconsin law, anyone 17 or older is treated as an adult in the criminal justice system. He will face a mandatory life sentence if convicted of first-degree intentional homicide. The shootings took place at a Black Lives Matter protest Tuesday night after demonstrations erupted in Kenosha following what marks the latest in a string of incidents where black men and women have been killed or seriously injured by cops across America. Officer Rusten Sheskey, a seven year veteran with the Kenosha Police Department, was identified as the cop who fired all seven shots into Blake's back. While Blake was shot seven times, Rittenhouse was allowed to walk from the scene and was not arrested until the next day after 'murdering' two Black father-of-six Blake, 29, was shot seven times in the back by a white Kenosha cop Sunday evening in front of his three young children. Officers had been responding to a 911 call from Blake's girlfriend reporting 'that her boyfriend was present and was not supposed to be on the premises.' Cops tried to subdue him with a taser before one opened fire shooting him seven times in the back in the doorway of his vehicle. On Wednesday, the Wisconsin Attorney General identified the cop that fired all seven shots as Officer Rusten Sheskey - a seven-year veteran of the force. Sheskey and all other cops involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave during the investigation. No charges have been brought against any of the officers. The AG said a knife was recovered from Blake's vehicle after the shooting and claim he was reaching for the knife or it fell from his hand when he was riddled with bullets by the cop. However it is unclear if Blake had the knife on him when he was talking to police and there has been no suggestion Blake threatened anyone with a knife. Blake's family said the 29-year-old has been left paralyzed. Ben Crump, the lawyer for Blake's family, said Tuesday that it would 'take a miracle' for Blake to walk again. He called for the arrest of Sheskey and for the others involved to lose their jobs. Blake's father told the Chicago Sun-Times on Thursday that he was upset to learn his son was handcuffed to the hospital bed. 'He can't go anywhere. Why do you have him cuffed to the bed?' said his father, also named Jacob Blake. Demonstrators sit in the street, in front of law enforcement during Jacob Blake protests on Tuesday denouncing the police shooting and racism Demonstrators raise their fist in the air, in front of law enforcement on Tuesday evening during a third night of protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin as the city declared a state of emergency curfew Protesters prepare to march against the police shooting of Blake Thursday 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 Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that all hospitalized patients in police custody are restrained unless undergoing medical procedures, and that it was working 'to ensure a safe and humane environment for Mr. Blake.' At a news conference, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers replied 'hell yes,' when asked if he was concerned about Blake being handcuffed. 'He paid a horrific price already,' the governor said. Thousands have taken to the streets demanding justice and calling for an end to police brutality and racism - reigniting demonstrations that have taken place since May following the 'murder' of George Floyd by a Minneapolis cop. The governor has authorized the deployment of 500 members of the National Guard to Kenosha, doubling the number of troops in the city of 100,000. Guard troops from Arizona, Michigan and Alabama were coming to Wisconsin to assist, Evers said Thursday. He did not say how many. In Washington, the Justice Department said it was sending in more than 200 federal agents from the FBI, US 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 Justice Department also announced that the US attorney's office and FBI would conduct a civil rights investigation into the shooting of Blake, in cooperation with Wisconsin state law enforcement agencies. HUNTINGTON, NY Following a request from the Huntington Town Board, the Long Island Power Authority agreed to provide an additional $3 million to the town as part of the proposed settlement for the Northport Power Plant tax assessment cases to help reduce the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on residents, town officials announced Friday. LIPAs offer to Huntington comes as the board continues to weigh arguments both for and against the proposed settlement. The board will vote on the settlement Thursday following a second public forum on the issue. Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci said LIPA agreed to the towns request for $3 million in additional payments of $1 million per year from 2021 to 2023. "While we were fortunate to be in a strong financial position when COVID-19 hit, the long-term impacts of this unprecedented economic crisis on our local economy and future government operations are not fully known," Lupinacci said. "LIPA has agreed to $3 million in additional payments to the Town for COVID-19 relief, which is an appropriate recognition of the impacts of this crisis and the economic challenges that all Town of Huntington residents will face in the near future." The Town of Huntington and LIPA have, for years, been embroiled in disagreement over taxes related to the Northport Power Plant. The power company wants the town to slash its $82 million property tax bill by 90 percent, saying the plant is over-assessed, Huntington Now reported. LIPA says the power plant is worth $198 million; not the town's $3.4 billion figure. "I am continuing to analyze this settlement, but any money that will go to the taxpayers is certainly a welcome development," Councilman Mark Cuthbertson said. Said Councilwoman Joan Cergol, "This $3 million concession to soften any financial impacts of COVID-19 is certainly worthy of consideration in helping to protect and preserve vital town services and programs that our residents depend on and deserve, especially during these, and continuing difficult times." Story continues The second public forum on the LIPA proposal will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday on Zoom. Public comment may be submitted ahead of the forum here. The forum will be livestreamed on Optimum 18, FIOS 38 and on the Huntington town website, where residents may sign up to speak. The special Town Board meeting, at which members will vote on LIPAs proposal, will be held at 8 p.m. Thursday or immediately after the public forum ends. Streaming services are the same. The settlement is expected to increase taxes throughout the town, but Northport School District residents would bear the brunt, Huntington Now reported. This article originally appeared on the Northport Patch Under California's brand-new coronavirus reopening plan, counties in the "red tier" can reopen schools, indoor personal care services, indoor dining, gyms, movie theaters and more. The red tier home to counties with four to seven daily new cases per 100,000 residents or test positivity between 5% and 8% is classified as "substantial" risk, and is the second-worst tier behind only purple (more than seven daily new cases per 100K or test positivity over 8%). Currently, San Francisco and Napa counties are in the red tier, while Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma counties are in the purple tier. Counties in the red tier can reopen much more of their economies than counties in the purple tier, so long as county officials do not implement stricter regulations of their own. Here's a rundown of the differences in restrictions that would apply to various sectors of interest: Schools Purple tier: Only elementary schools can apply for waivers to resume in-person learning. Red tier: All schools can resume in-person learning. Restaurants Purple tier: Outdoor dining only. Red tier: Indoor dining can resume at 25% capacity. Gyms Purple tier: Outdoor operations only. Red tier: Indoor operations can resume with 10% capacity. Movie theaters Purple tier: Outdoor drive-in theaters only. Red tier: Indoor theaters can reopen with 25% capacity. Personal care services Purple tier: Outdoor services only. Red tier: Indoor operations can resume with mask and sanitation requirements. Places of worship Purple tier: Outdoor services only. Red tier: Indoor services can resume with 25% capacity. Counties are assigned their tiers every Tuesday, and a county must remain in a tier for 21 consecutive days before moving to the next one. To move forward, a county must meet the next tier's criteria for 14 consecutive days. As it stands, Napa and San Francisco are listed in the red tier, while the other seven Bay Area counties in the purple tier. All of the Bay Area counties are under 8% test positivity, leaving the case threshold as the only hurdle that needs to be cleared. Below are the the case thresholds each of the seven counties must meet to get into the red tier, computed by using the most recent county population estimates from the United States Census Bureau. To get into the red tier, these counties must report a daily case total lower than the bold and italicized numbers below for 14 consecutive days, so watch your county's daily case dashboard closely to see if your county is consistently reporting under its magic number. Alameda State estimate for daily cases per 100,000 residents: 10.6 Raw number of daily cases that would equal seven per 100,000 residents: 117 Three most-recent daily case totals reported by Alameda County: 104, 141, 151 Contra Costa State estimate for daily cases per 100,000 residents: 10.8 Raw number of daily cases that would equal seven per 100,000 residents: 81 Three most-recent daily case totals reported by Contra Costa County: 133, 125, 74 Marin State estimate for daily cases per 100,000 residents: 5.9 Raw number of daily cases that would equal seven per 100,000 residents: 19 Three most-recent daily case totals reported by Marin County: 17, 6, 14 San Mateo State estimate for daily cases per 100,000 residents: 8.6 Raw number of daily cases that would equal seven per 100,000 residents: 54 Three most-recent daily case totals reported by San Mateo County: 67, 69, 70 Santa Clara State estimate for daily cases per 100,000 residents: 8.6 Raw number of daily cases that would equal seven per 100,000 residents: 135 Three most-recent daily case totals reported by Santa Clara County: 210, 218, 94 Solano State estimate for daily cases per 100,000 residents: 9.1 Raw number of daily cases that would equal seven per 100,000 residents: 32 Three most-recent daily case totals reported by Solano County: 16, 55, 20 Sonoma State estimate for daily cases per 100,000 residents: 15.9 Raw number of daily cases that would equal seven per 100,000 residents: 35 Three most-recent daily case totals reported by Sonoma County: 47, 71, 139 The California Department of Public Health stated that the case rates will not include prisoner cases, and will "include an adjustment factor for counties that are testing above the state average." Per the state, "The incidence is adjusted downwards in a graduated fashion, with a maximum adjustment at twice the state average testing rate." MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here. The 6-foot rule is 'outdated': Researchers devise chart to gauge COVID risk How worried should the Bay Area be about a 'third spike' of COVID-19 in the fall? Rapid $5 coronavirus test doesn't need specialty equipment Will wildfire evacuations accelerate the spread of coronavirus in the Bay Area? Alameda County to allow outdoor hair, nail salons to open Eric Ting is an SFGATE reporter. Email: eric.ting@sfgate.com | Twitter:@_ericting The flood of on-the-record confirmations in the Jerry Falwell Jr. pool boy saga has now connected two of the more obscure pieces of string in the scandal. Former presidential fixer Michael Cohen this week confirmed he had helped the evangelical leader with compromising photos allegedly held by a young Miami lawyer at odds with Falwell and his wife, Becki. On Thursday, that lawyer confirmed he changed his name in 2016 after Cohen waded into the legal dispute. Cohen has always been a famous player in the saga over the Falwells puzzling relationship with Giancarlo Granda, a 20-something former pool attendant at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach who went into business with the Virginia couple after they met him on vacation in 2012. Cohen is a former lawyer for President Donald Trump who turned on the former real estate mogul after going to jail on charges of lying to Congress. Last year, he was surreptitiously recorded recounting legal work for the Falwells trying to retrieve personal photographs related to the pool boy situation. At the time, it wasnt clear which of two young men from Miami with ties to the Falwells may have had the photos. One possibility was Granda. The other was Gordon Bello, a former Granda friend who claims he was the one who pitched the Falwells on a plan to buy a South Beach hostel as a way to jump into the Miami hospitality industry. On Wednesday, Cohen told CNN that he was pursuing photos held by Bello at the time, a University of Miami law student named Jesus Fernandez Jr. Bello, a former high school friend of Grandas, changed his name in 2016 in the midst of a lawsuit against the Falwells. While he said the new name stemmed from the dispute, on Thursday Bello said he opted to switch identities after Cohen got involved over the photos. Gordon Bello, photographed on Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, settled a lawsuit with Jerry Falwell Jr. over claims Bello was cut out of a 2013 real estate deal with Falwell and a former high school friend in South Beach. Bello said he changed his identity after Michael Cohen, once a lawyer for President Donald Trump, was briefly involved in the dispute. Bello, 29 and until recently a legislative aide at the Miami-Dade County Commission, declined an interview request. But asked by electronic message if any interaction with Mr. Cohen was part of the motivation with changing your name, Bello responded: Yes. Less than a year after changing his name, Bello passed the Florida Bar exam and became a lawyer. Story continues Cohens pursuit of racy Falwell photos in Miami in 2015 attracted extra attention because Falwell, then the president of Liberty University, endorsed Trump in early 2016. That gave Trump, a man on his third marriage with a sex life that made New York headlines, the support of one of the countrys top evangelical leaders. While Cohen told CNN he intervened for the Falwells on personal photos the couple didnt want published, he said the mission wasnt tied to him securing the Falwell endorsement for Trump. There is absolutely no connection between the photos and my personal request to the Falwells to assist the Trump campaign, Cohen said. Granda has not responded to requests for comment on Cohen or Bello. This week, he told Politico that Bello and his father, a Miami builder who was briefly a plaintiff in the suit, had obtained compromising photos of the Falwells. Granda quoted Becki Falwell saying of Cohen: Michael is well-connected in Miami. He will get this buried and will make those photos go away. Jerry Falwell this week told The Washington Post that Cohen helped him pursue photos someone had stolen from his phone. He said the photos were of the couple and werent fully nude. Bello sued the Falwells in 2015, demanding that he be paid a fair share of the proceeds from the Miami hostel the family purchased for $4.7 million in 2013. The Falwells made Granda a partner in the venture running the two-story property on the 800 block of Alton Road. Falwell settled the case for an undisclosed amount in 2019. The suit in Miami-Dade Circuit Court helped frame the Falwell drama. Its filings referred to Granda as a pool boy in questioning why the Falwells would go into business with the young man, who recently graduated with a degree in real estate from Georgetown University. In papers, Bello also said he had a personal relationship with Becki Falwell. Until recently, that phrase was the closest anyone in the saga had come to hinting at an intimate interaction with the Falwells. That changed dramatically on Sunday, when Jerry Falwell Jr. released a statement saying his wife had an affair with Granda. He accused Granda of trying to blackmail the couple over the relationship, saying he demanded money. The next day, Granda confirmed a longtime sexual relationship with Becki Falwell and said her husband would watch their encounters. The following day, Falwell resigned his position as president of Liberty University, the evangelical school his father had founded in Lynchburg, Virginia. While Granda, Falwell and now Cohen have gone public with their roles in the saga, Bello remained quiet. He declined to comment this week beyond a statement that read: Giancarlo is not telling the full truth. I hope he finds the courage to do so. New Delhi: Amid COVID 19 challenges, Indian Railways has taken a number of initiatives to boost Freight Operations and because of these initiatives, the freight loading in the month of August 2020 (till 27th August 2020) is 4.3% higher, compared to last year for the same month. In the month of August 2020 (till 27th August 2020) the total freight loading was 81.33 million tonnes which is higher than last year for the same month (77.97 million tonnes), according to the Ministry of Railways statement. Utilizing the COVID period as an opportunity, Indian Railways substantially increased the speed of Freight Trains. 72% increase in average speed of Freight Trains in the year 2020-21 as compared to last year, while 94% increase took place in the speed of Freight Trains in August 2020 compared to August 2019. It also took a series of initiatives in the tariff and non-tariff field. The latest Tariff Rationalisation measures taken by Indian Railways to boost Freight Operations: 1. 5% discount on loaded containers ( addition to 25% on empty ) for Containers from 03.08.2020. 2. Discount for Pond ash/ Moisturised ash Open wagon 40% for Power plants, Cement from 03.08.2020. 3. Revision in the classification of Industrial salt from 120 to 100A for Chemical Industry from 03.08.2020. 4. Stabling charges for private Container and Automobile trains waived off till 31st October 2020 for Containers and Automobile from 03.08.2020. Other key tariff rationalisation initiatives to boost freight operations: 1. Withdrawal of Busy Season charge - 15% for All sectors Except Coal, Iron ore, and containers from 1.10.2019. 2. Withdrawal of 5% surcharge of two-point/mini rakes for Cement, Iron, and steel, Food grains, Fertilizers, Bulk BOG from 1.10.2019. 3. Discount for Fly ash Bagged in open wagon -40% for Power plants, cement from 10.05.2020. 4. Alternate terminal scheme Rs 56,000 to Rs 80,000 per rake for all sectors from 27.06.2020. 5. Round trip Traffic (RTT) policy charging of lower class for all sectors from 01.07.2020. 6. Long lead concession 15 to 20% for coal, iron ore, and iron and steel from 01.07.2020. 7. Short lead concession 10 to 50 % for All sectors (except coal and iron ore ) from 01.07.2020. Latest non-tariff measures to boost Freight Operations: 1. Two-point unloading permitted for Automobile traffic for the Automobile sector from 05.08.2020. 2. Limit on the number of co-users in private siding removed for all sectors from 18.08.2020. 3. All private sidings/Good sheds/private freight terminals opened up for parcel traffic for parcels from 18.08.2020. 4. Reduced composition for indented parcels extended till 31.03.202 for parcels from 18.08.2020. 5. Extension of timetabled parcel expresses till 31.12.2020 for parcels from 19.06.2020. 6. Application fee for Greenfield PFT reduced from Rs 10 Lakh to Rs 20,000 and completely waived off for conversion of siding to Brownfield PFT for All Sectors from 24.08.2020. 7. 23 more two-point combinations opened for steel traffic for the steel sector from 25.08.2020. 8. Freight and parcel helpline through 13 for all sectors from 26.08.2020. 9. Distance restriction on mini rakes of 1500 km removed with a small surcharge for Cement, Iron, and steel, food grains, fertilizers, bulk BOG from 27.08.2020. Other key measures to boost freight operations are as follows: 1. Business Development Units (BDUs) set up Divisions, Zones, and Board level. 2. Restrictions on co-use of private sidings removed - 1,079 private sidings allowed to become private freight terminals effectively. 3. 405 Major good sheds being improved concrete surface, bright LED lighting, better roads, and labour facilities To enable three-shift operations. 4. Timetabled parcel trains. 5. Opening up of export traffic to Bangladesh for parcels, containers, and automobiles. 6. Kisan rail introduced from Devlali (Nashik) to Danapur (Patna) on 07.08.2020 multiple stoppages, multiple commodities, multiple parties now extended to Muzaffarpur. Link train from Kolhapur to Manmad also added. Now Bi-weekly from 24.08.2020. Total of four trips have been completed till now. (Newser) As more pieces of the puzzle behind Alexei Navalny's sickness come together, some good news out of Germany, where he's hospitalized. The doctors treating the 44-year-old Russian opposition leader say he's still on a ventilator and in a medically induced coma in the ICU after likely being poisoned, but he's slowly starting to improve, NBC News reports. "While his condition remains serious, there is no immediate danger to his life," a statement from Berlin's Charite hospital reads. "However, due to the severity of the patient's poisoning, it remains too early to gauge potential long-term effects." Navalny is being treated with the antidote atropine, which the Guardian notes was used to treat ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter when they were poisoned in 2018. The hospital adds it's been in touch with Navalny's wife. story continues below After Russian doctors said they didn't think Navalny had been poisoned and he was airlifted to Berlin, German doctors disputed that, saying they'd found cholinesterase inhibitorswhich are also found in certain chemical nerve agents and pesticidesin his system. Meanwhile, Navalny's best friend and chief aide, Leonid Volkov, tells CNN that he's long had nightmares that Navalny would be killed, or that "something very bad" would happen to him. And while he can't prove Vladimir Putin himself had anything to do with Navalny's suspected poisoning, he can't see how high-level state actors or agencies didn't play a role. "It was an attempt to kill, not to scare him off," Volkov says. Russia has denied any involvement, and on Thursday, prosecutors there said they have no plan right now to start a criminal investigation into what happened to the outspoken Kremlin critic. (Read more Alexei Navalny stories.) Thiruvananthapuram: President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday said patriotism should not result in blinkered approaches in interpreting history or a compromise with truth in order to justify an argument of choice. Inaugurating the 77th session of the Indian History Congress, he asked historians to be as objective as possible in their approach to history and said freedom to doubt, disagree and dispute intellectually must be protected as an essential pillar of one democracy. Advocating that reason and moderation should be the guide, Mukherjee said, It is natural to love ones country and see as much glory in its past as one can detect. But, patriotism should not result in blinkered approaches in interpreting history or a compromise with truth in order to justify an argument of choice. No society is perfect and history must be also seen as a guide on what went wrong and what were the contradictions, deficiencies and weaknesses of the past, he said. An objective pursuit of history, such as our best historians have attempted, requires an impartial mind of a judge and not the mind of an advocate, the President said. We must keep our eyes open for unfamiliar ideas and be ready to consider a range of different inferences or assumptions, he said. There has been an unfortunate tendency in the country from time-to-time to take umbrage at the expression of any view perceived to be hostile to our social or cultural institutions past or present, he said. Similarly, critical appraisals of heroes and national icons of the past have been met with hostility or sometimes even violence, he pointed out. Freedom to doubt, disagree and dispute intellectually must be protected as an essential pillar of democracy. Nothing should lie outside realm of discussion and argument and such freedom is vital for the progress in any field especially in a calling and a craft like history, he said. Asserting that the greatest strength of India is its pluralism and social, cultural, linguistic diversity, Mukherjee said, Our traditions have always celebrated the argumentative Indian and not the intolerant Indian. He also said there should not be any conflict or contradiction between the promotion of regional history and the pursuit of the countrys history as a whole. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that attempts were being made by vested interests to distort history to suit the present government at the Centre. Mukherjee released the first copy of the proceedings of the Congress by presenting it to the Chief Minister. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Advertisement President Donald Trump's speech to the Republican National Convention will feature 1,500 guests on the South Lawn of the White House with no social distancing, no mask mandate and only a few of them tested for COVID ahead of the week's grand finale. Row after row of white folding chairs were set up on the lawn, a bottle of water with a red elephant logo on the seats. The chairs are only inches apart. Most of the guests were not wearing masks. The president came out to check out the stage ahead of his acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination - the end of a week-long convention dedicated to the Trump presidency. He was seen doing a mic test as guests were starting to arrive. He bent down to speak to a few people in the crowd. Ivanka Trump arrives to give her speech introducing President Trump on the final night of the Republican National Convention President Donald Trump checks out the stage and does a mic test ahead of his acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination on Thursday Row after row of white folding chairs were set up on the South Lawn, with no social distancing Very few guests in the crowd of 1,500 were wearing face masks President Trump's speech is the grande finale of the convention Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani poses with a fan on the South Lawn Barron Trump followed by Charlotte Pence Bond arrive for the president's speech Trump campaign adviser Lara Trump, White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr and Tiffany Trup arrive for the president's speech Viktor Knavs and Amalija Knavs, parents of Melania Trump, arrive for the president's speech Most Republican members of Congress were invited to attend - although it's unclear how many will be present. First lady Melania Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and the adult children of the president are also expected to attend along with many high-ranking Republican officials. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said a 'number' of people at the invitation-only event would be tested, which he said was 'pretty safe' given the 'circumstances.' WHO WAS ON THE SOUTH LAWN TO WATCH DONALD TRUMP'S RNC SPEECH Melania Trump, first lady Mike Pence, vice president Karen Pence, second lady Ivanka Trump, president's daughter and senior adviser Lindsey Graham, South Carolina senator Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor and Trump's lawyer Rand Paul, Kentucky senator Kristi Noem, South Dakota governor Jim Jordan, Ohio representative Ronny Jackson, former White House physician and Texas congressional candidate Alex Azar, Health and Human Services secretary Chad Wolf, acting Department of Homeland Security secretary John Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Reince Priebus, former Trump White House chief of staff Sean Spicer, Trump's first press secretary Bernard Kerik, former NYPD commissioner who Trump pardoned Michael Lindell, MyPillow CEO Daryl Strawberry, retired MLB player Ralph Reed, former Christian Coalition director Mary Ann Mendoza, 'Angel mom' who was pulled from RNC speaker schedule for anti-Semitic tweet Corey Lewandowski, one-time Trump 2016 campaign manager Pat Cipollone, White House counsel Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to the President and wife of leading anti-Trump Republican George Conway Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council Rudy Giuliani, former New York mayor, and his girlfriend Dr. Maria Ryan Frank Luntz, Republican pollster Hope Hicks, senior advisor to the president Viktor and Amilja Knavs, Melania Trump's parents Ronna McDaniel, Republican National Committee chair Ryan Zinke, former Secretary of the Interior, quit amid ethics investigations Advertisement 'There are a number of folks that'll be tested. A number of folks that'll be encouraged to wear masks. And to that extent, I think it's a pretty safe environment given the circumstances,' he told reporters at the White House on Thursday evening. Asked whether that means some, but not all, attendees will be tested, Meadows replied: 'I didn't say that. ... I chose my words carefully.' Washington D.C. limits gatherings to 50 people but, because the White House is the property of the federal government, it is not subject to those restrictions. About five empty rows of chairs in the back were being removed as convention programming prepared to start. The evening began with a dual set of messages speakers who praised the intelligence and empathy of President Trump and those who attacked Democrats for going after people's personal liberties. And the evening closed with first daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump making remarks from the White House South Lawn before introducing her father as 'the People's President' as he ended the night. 'I recognize that my dad's communication style is not to everyone's taste. And I know his tweets can feel a bit unfiltered,' she said with a pause. 'But the results speak for themselves.' She talked of the admiration she's seen from working Americans for her father, 'to see these stoic machinists and steelworkers come to him with tears in their eyes and thank him for being the only person willing to go to the mat for them.' Ivanka called that a 'new and profound experience for him, and for me' despite the president having 'admired and befriended construction workers on countless jobsites,' a reference to her father's real estate tycoon past. Upon moving to Washington, D.C. in 2017, Ivanka said she found that politicians would 'silence their convictions and skip the hard fights' in order to survive. 'I couldn't believe that so many politicians actually prefer to complain about a problem, rather than fix it,' she said. 'I was shocked to see people leave major challenges unsolved, so they can blame the other side and campaign on the same issue in the next election.' The opening video of the final night of the convention, featuring a voice over by actor Jon Voight, railed against Democrats 'telling you what to wear.' The opening video of the night, featuring a voice over by actor Jon Voight, railed against Democrats 'telling you what to wear.' But Ja'Ron Smith, the highest-ranking African American in the White House staff, offered a different portrait than usually seen by people who follow the president on Twitter or watch his TV interviews, here he can come across as angry. Smith talked about the compassion he saw from President Trump in the wake of the death of black Americans Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and LeGend Taliferro. 'I have seen his true conscience. I just wish every American could see the deep empathy he showed to families whose loved ones were killed in senseless violence,' he said. It was a different point of view than the one most Americans saw of President Trump defending the use of the confederate flag and blasting Black Lives Matters' protesters for tearing down statutes with ties to the Confederacy. Dan Scavino, the deputy White House chief of staff and the only person with President Trump's Twitter password, talked about how Trump saw the potential in him when he was his golf caddy. 'He saw potential in me. A spark. The possibility that I could be more, do more, and achieve more than even I thought was possible,' Scavino said in his pre-taped remarks. 'We all just need somebody to believe in our capacity to do great things. Donald Trump believed in me when I was a teenage golf caddie and he was already one of the wealthiest, most famous people on the planet. He saw my potential, even when I couldn't,' he added. 'He sees greatness in our country, too. And in each of you. He believes the world you dream about at night can be yours,' he added. Most of the speeches of the night were focused on President Trump and his bid for a second term. But Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, the only black member of the president's Cabinet, started his speech by mentioning Jacob Blake, the black, 29-year-old father of four who was shot seven times in front of his children by police. 'Before I begin, I'd like to say that our hearts go out to the Blake family and the other families who have been impacted by the tragic events in Kenosha,' he said. Protests have sparked up around the city and there has been violence in the wake of Blake's shooting, which he survived but is in critical condition. President Trump has touted himself as the 'law and order' president and threatened to send in federal officials to Kenosha and other cities with Black Lives Matters demonstrations. Meanwhile, protests are taking place outside of the White House ahead of the president's speech. The sounds of blowing horns, playing music and making noise could be heard, according to reports from the South Lawn. The demonstrations were taking place on Black Lives Matter Plaza, a few blocks from the White House. Another large protest is planned for Friday outside of the White House in response to the majority of the Republican National Convention taking place in the city this week. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, the only black member of the president's Cabinet, started his speech by mentioning Jacob Blake Demonstrators march outside the White House during a rally to protest President Donald Trump's acceptance of the Republican National Convention nomination Hundreds of protesters followed Black Lives Plaza, which is a few blocks from the White House Protesters were in Washington D.C. Thursday night ahead of President Trump's speech and plan another demonstration for Friday night Police officers watch demonstrators outside of the White House on Thursday night Other speakers encouraged voters even Democratic ones to support President Trump this fall. Congressman Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, a Democrat who became a Republican during the impeachment process, praised President Trump's for welcoming him to the GOP. 'I met with President Trump and he made me feel more welcome in the Oval Office than Nancy Pelosi ever made me feel in her caucus and a few days later, I officially changed parties and became a Republican,' he said. 'Republicans, Independents, and even Democrats, they all know that in President Trump's America, we have a strong military, strong support for our police, strong support for our Veterans and Seniors,' he added. And Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, the highest-ranking Republican on Capitol Hill, complained Democrats wanted to tell people how many hamburgers they can eat. 'They want to tell you what kind of car you can drive. What sources of information are credible. And even how many hamburgers you can eat,' he said in his pre-taped remarks, given from his home state of Kentucky. Many in the audience at the White House did not wear masks but some wore 'Make America Great Again' caps President Trump leans over the stage to talk to supporters ahead of his speech Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky arrives at the White House for the president's speech Republican Senator Lindsey Graham arrives at the White House for the speech There were 1,500 guests invited included Trump family members, elected officials, supporters, first responders and friends MyPillow CEO Michael Lindell (R) poses for a photo on the South Lawn Hope Hicks, who serves as a counselor to President Trump, arrives for his speech The president's supporters walk to the White House for his speech Christopher Macchio sings from a balcony at the White House as guests arrive for the president's speech Ja'Ron Smith, the highest-ranking African American in the White House staff, talked about President Trump's compassion in his remarks White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Dan Scavino talked about how President Trump saw his potential back when he was his golf caddy Trump will use his Republican Convention nomination acceptance speech Thursday evening to rail against Joe Biden as 'extreme' and create a clear divide between the two party's vision for the next four years. 'At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas,' Trump is expected to say in excerpts from the speech obtained by Politico and published Thursday morning. 'We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years,' he will say. 'At the Democrat convention, you barely heard a word about their agenda. But that's not because they don't have one. It's because their agenda is the most extreme set of proposals ever put forward by a major party nominee.' Tim Murtaugh, the Trump campaign's director of communications, told reporters during a press call Thursday that the president will use his time focusing on failures of Biden because he says the media won't do it. 'The media generally has ignored or glossed over many of the criticisms of Joe Biden's record and what his plans for the future are should he get elected,' Murtaugh said. He added that Trump's speech will be 'tough' because Americans have 'tough choices in front of them and unless the president does it, the media will be tempted not to cover it.' The venue for the remarks was relocated several times with constantly shifting lockdown rules in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Law and order will be the focus of the president's speech, which was still being revised Wednesday night, but aides have signaled to the Associated Press that the contents will not be as dark as some of his other previous remarks mainly his 'American carnage' inaugural address. On Thursday evening, Trump is expected to offer himself as the last defense against the radical left threatening the American way as his recent stump speech has centered on anarchists overrunning city streets. The president's senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner said Trump will give a message of hope for the next four years while proposing solutions for issues currently facing Americans. 'Last week, what you heard, was a lot of complaints and a lot of rhetoric, a lot of people who were complaining about a lot of things in America without offering a lot of solutions,' Kushner said during an interview with CNBC's Squawk Box Thursday morning. 'Tonight, what you're going to hear from President Trump, is a very hopeful vision for America,' he said. 'He's obviously going to explain this is a serious election with serious consequences and he's going to explain what the consequences would be of making a change at this point,' Ivanaka Trump's husband said. In recent days, the president has framed the violent unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin in the wake of Jacob Blake's shooting as fallout from inept leadership in Democrat-run areas, and the inability of those individuals to control their cities. Incidentally, the mayor of Kenosha, John Antaramian, is a Democrat. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, the highest-ranking Republican on Capitol Hill, complained Democrats wanted to tell people how many hamburgers they can eat President Donald Trump is expected to rail against Joe Biden in his Republican nomination acceptance speech on the final night of the convention Thursday Trump's will speak on the South Lawn of the White House Thursday evening to close out the 2020 Republican National Convention in front of a live crowd of 1,500 people The president is expected to further distinguish himself as the law and order president and the last defense against the radical left threatening the American way as riots continue to ravage Wisconsin in the wake of Jacob Blake's shooting The looting, arson, murder, violence and general unrest sparked in Kenosha, Wisconsin after Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old father of three, was shot seven times by a white police officer. While he is currently paralyzed from the waist down, it is not clear if the paralysis is permanent As Black Lives Matter protests and riots ravaged the nation after George Floyd's death starting at the end of May and prevailing since then, Trump has further painted himself as the 'law and order' president. Trump announced Wednesday that he would send in the National Guard to Kenosha and criticized Wisconsin's Democratic Governor Tony Evers for not doing so even though he already deployed guard troops on Monday. Some Democrats are worried that the social unrest, looting, rioting and clashes in the battleground state and beyond are feeding Trump's argument that this is what life would look like under the so-called radical left. The Democratic Party is especially worried that the more violence suburban swing voters witness, the more their sympathy for the peaceful protesters will diminish. Initially, Trump was scheduled to make his speech from the original location of the Republican Convention in Charlotte, North Caroline. But after Democratic Governor Roy Cooper told organizers they could not give Trump his desired crowd for the speech, the president moved it to Jacksonville, Florida, where, at the time, lockdown orders were less restrictive. Once Florida went back into lockdown due to surges in cases, Trump was forced to scramble yet again to choose a new location for the speech. His decision for the White House has been slammed by critics who claim it is in violation of the Hatch Act. Trump has defended the move, claiming it is the cheapest and most convenient alternative and saying the Hatch Act does not apply to the president and his administration insists it's OK because it's his residence. SACRAMENTO California tenants who have been unable to pay rent because of the coronavirus pandemic would be shielded from eviction and those who miss payments going forward could stay in their homes for at least five months, under a legislative proposal introduced Friday. The plan would avert the possibility of eviction proceedings beginning next week against Californians who have stopped paying rent because the pandemic has cost them their jobs. But the Legislature has very little time to pass the measure before the end of its annual session Monday night, and there is no guarantee the bill will win the needed two-thirds approval. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who shepherded the negotiations, said at a news conference that he looked forward to signing the deal. We were able to accommodate each others points of view, he said. Not everybody pleased with every detail. Thats the nature of negotiation. The bill, AB3088 by Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, would convert any missed rent from March through August into civil debt, meaning it could not be used to evict a tenant. Landlords could pursue the money in small claims court starting March 1. Tenants facing financial hardships because of the pandemic would be expected to pay a quarter of their total rent between September and January, with the rest becoming civil debt. If they could not pay at least 25% of the rent for those five months by Jan. 31, their landlords would be allowed to file to evict them starting in February. Newsom, legislative leaders, landlord groups and tenant rights advocates have been haggling over the measure for weeks, trying to find a way to avoid mass evictions of the millions of Californians who are out of work while also ensuring that landlords are able to meet their own financial obligations. Some of the people involved in the negotiations described them as the most intense they had ever been involved in. Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle Chiu, who had sought a longer eviction moratorium covering more tenants, said it became clear that the choice was between this and nothing. He said the deal would tide people over for five months so lawmakers could work on a new solution next session. This is an imperfect and necessary solution to a colossal problem, he said. It pains me that this will not stop every eviction. The California Apartment Association, which represents owners and developers of rental properties, celebrated on its website that it had secured a less-burdensome alternative to Chius proposal. But several groups representing tenants immediately raised concerns that evicting anyone during a pandemic is unsafe and called on Newsom to suspend all evictions through the end of the year. The Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, which organized a protest outside Newsoms home Friday morning, said the governor was turning his back on renters. Newsom defended himself against complaints that the deal would not go far enough. I dont know that theres another state leaning in, doing more to protect tenants, than the state of California, he said. Mike Herald, director of policy advocacy for the Western Center on Law & Poverty, a legal aid organization that was involved in bill negotiations, said he would be watching in the coming weeks to make sure landlords dont look for ways to get around the law. He said the governor and Legislature must figure out a way to address the financial fallout of widespread nonpayment of rent next year. This staves off the worst of the potential crisis that could have come, but it does still leave off some very big issues, he said. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle The measure must pass both houses of the Legislature by a two-thirds vote before the end of session at midnight Monday in order to take effect next week, when a statewide eviction moratorium put in place by the court system expires. Eviction courts have been shut down for months in order to keep people home during the pandemic, but they are set to resume hearings again Wednesday. Under the bill, landlords could immediately pursue any case that does not involve a tenant who has been unable to pay because of a financial hardship related to the pandemic. Residents who have lost income due to the coronavirus would have 15 days to affirm that to their landlord under penalty of perjury. Those who make more than 130% of the median income in their area, if it is above $100,000, could be asked to show proof to their landlord an attempt to crack down on wealthier tenants who have engaged in solidarity rent strikes during the pandemic. Tenants who do not make this declaration to their landlord could be evicted for nonpayment starting Oct. 5. Landlords who break the law and try to evict protected tenants anyway would face a penalty of between $1,000 and $2,500. The resumption of eviction proceedings would not yet include a handful of counties that have adopted their own moratoriums that go further than the statewide freeze. Alameda County has extended its moratorium on residential evictions through at least the end of the year. San Franciscos order is set to expire at the end of September. With the state facing a multibillion-dollar budget deficit, the legislative deal does not include any direct financial relief for landlords, many of whom risk losing their own homes or rental properties without the income from tenants payments. The short-term approach of the bill is a hedge that there may be a new president and Congress next year willing to provide a federal bailout. Paul Chinn / The Chronicle A separate provision would temporarily extend some additional foreclosure rights to landlords who own no more than three rental properties, each containing four or fewer units. If any of their tenants are unable to pay rent because of the pandemic, those landlords would be protected under a state law that requires their mortgage servicers to contact them at least 30 days before foreclosure to explore alternatives. That right would expire in 2023. The California Rental Housing Association, another landlord group, complained that the bill would unfairly force small property owners to shoulder the financial burdens of missed rent payments. Asking them to go to the banks and beg for forbearance, that doesnt come across as the right solution to the problem, the groups president, Sid Lakireddy, said. But unless the federal government passes another coronavirus relief package or local officials use their existing aid to cover missed rent payments, this is the best deal available, said Debra Carlton, a lobbyist at the California Apartment Association who helped craft the bill. Nobodys going to be happy thats the sad part of this, she said. And theres no real good answers. Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff Workers build Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien, the first metro line in Ho Chi Minh City in April 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. Vietnam will make all efforts to register positive GDP growth this year despite adverse Covid-19 impacts, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said Friday. While the government is determined to ensure peoples health, it will also try to foster economic growth by providing support packages to businesses and residents, he said at a meeting. "We need to review and make appropriate adjustments to economic and social goals amid the new normal, such as GDP growth and GDP per capita," he said. Vietnams GDP growth in the second quarter fell to a 30-year low of 0.36 percent after the government imposed a nationwide social distancing campaign in April to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. As businesses resumed operations in May, the country was hit again by a second Covid-19 outbreak in late July with the central city of Da Nang as its epicenter. Although experts have warned that the economy could contract this year with the resurgence of the virus, Phuc stressed that growth must still be the target. Vietnam needs a suitable growth strategy for both the short and the long term as people adjust to life with the virus as the new normal, he said. He asked the Socio-Economic Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam to evaluate the impacts of the pandemic and suggest solutions to reboot the economy. Last year, GDP growth had hit 7.02 percent, the second highest growth figure in the last decade, after a record 7.08 percent in 2018. Ahead of the upcoming session of the parliament, we are starting a series of meetings with the representatives of the party's regional structures. Gagik Tsarukyanchairman of the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), MP, and business tycoonwrote about this on his Facebook page, and posted a video where he meets with the party's members in Kotayk Province. Addressing those present, Tsarukyan said: "(). Today there is no problem that has no solution; it is only necessary to master the problems and resolve them according to the capacity of our state. (). As of today, I am starting the meetings all over the republic with the PAP persons in charge." He stated that since many people do not work and are not able to pay the students' tuition fees due to the current state of emergency in Armeniabecause of the COVID-19 situation in the country, the state should take a step and subsidize them. The PAP leader noted that the surveys conducted by their youth organization have revealed that 90% of the society is against the changes in the education system in Armenia. "We will collect signatures, organize a big rally, too," he added, in particular. Gagik Tsarukyan pledged to also raise the issue of students who have not been accepted to any universities in Armenia despite scoring high marks in their university entrance exams. By James Rothenberg August 27, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Dyed-in-the-wool patriots know that the United States of America is Gods gift to the world. Policymakers have risen the story to doctrinal status. Its referred to as American Exceptionalism, and it basically means if we say it or do it, its ok. Its a nice thing to be backed up with this doctrine when you have ambitious plans for the rest of the world. And nobody else has it. Only the United States of America. In fact, the rest of the world cant even imagine having a doctrine like it, but it doesnt doubt that we act like we have it. Is there a plausible explanation for this widely asserted doctrine? In other words, taken seriously as an idea, what, in the American historical experience, as distinguished from that of other states, could account for this difference?* The argument in support begins with the countrys founding documents and the beautiful ideals expressed in them. Much effort has been put into the manufacture of a steady, upward national trajectory from these revolutionary ideals, thereby idealizing the present as well. The explanatory power in this case is limited in that it can only account for things that do not contradict the story it is attempting to prove. This is bound to be unsatisfying for anyone investigating the links from past to present who finds a great deal of contradiction. An opposing view to the utilitarian version that is sold to Americans can be argued from the same standpoint, that of American Exceptionalism, to yield a non-utilitarian version with historical relevance. What makes us exceptional, and what has it led to? The United States is the only western country where slavery was legal from the day it was founded. The U.S. republic was founded in 1776, with legal slavery. As just one alternate example, the French republic was founded in 1789, the same historical era as the U.S., but without legal slavery. After more than 200 years of evolution, the two states are quite different. In two areas of public policy, France has federal universal health care, a legal communist party, the Parti Communist Francaise, and a large, and at least until the 1990s, communist industrial union, the Confederation Generale du Travail.* As an example of how slavery, as a historical experience, may affect the evolution of a state, we can cite the absence of universal medical care in the United States.* In slavery, the slave is the property of the owner and the maintenance of the slave, as property, is the responsibility of the owner and, specifically, not the state. In the evolution of such a state away from slavery, where the slave evolves into an employee and the slave owner into an employer, the slave owners provision of medical care to slaves would naturally evolve into the employer providing medical care as a fringe benefit to employees. In such a state, evolved from slavery, it would be alien for the state to provide universal medical care to its citizens.* Another U.S. historical experience which can be traced to its evolution from slavery is the violent U.S. reaction to communism. The slave era analogue would be the slave owners violent reaction to the pre-Civil War abolition movement.* Going on, the slave owner had to be deeply suspicious of the slave because of the natural resistance toward being a captive. Escape was always a possibility. Group activity was especially suspicious as it might signal rebellion. Slaves either accepted their complete subordination to the master or were dealt harsh punishment. Since they were worth more alive than dead, beatings had to be administered with cost in mind. With the end of legal slavery, the legal control and punishment of the former slave population was passed onto local, state, and federal enforcement agencies. The evolution of this is an outsized criminal system (by far the worlds largest) notoriously known for incarcerating a strikingly large number of black prisoners. In a bizarre echo of the past, it is economically more sound to keep these prisoners alive than to execute them. The slavery experience was not one of shared economic interest. To a black under slavery, there was no economic interest outside of the tightly controlled owner/slave relationship. The owners economy was the slaves economy. Any question of economic interest belonged strictly to the owner. In transitioning from an owner/slave relationship to an employer/employee relationship, the employer takes on the role of the owner in regard to the economic interest of the employee. Is it inexplicable why so many people vote against their economic interest? Not if its seen as todays capitalists enjoying the same mastery over the economic system that former slave owners once enjoyed. The modern wage earner in the U.S. has been conditioned to accept the pay grade and to let economics run as a matter of course. Todays wage earner has no economic interestnot that they can see. By having chosen as a starting point the same year, 1776, but instead of building from a set of professed ideals incorporated in founding documents we build out from the corporeal reality of a slave nation, a different trajectory emerges and American Exceptionalism is turned on its head. What country would dare birth itself in language unsoothing to the ear? Better to watch what it does. And by choosing another year, 1945, a chance emerges. In that year, the United States again marks itself as the exception among nations in that it becomes the only country to ever drop atomic bombs on cities full of people. Hiroshima and Nagasaki provided the experimental proof of what the blasts initial heat output hotter than the surface of the sun could do to a city and its inhabitants, while the Soviet Union learned the lengths a country could go to when it no longer felt obliged to have a decent respect to the opinions of mankind. Winston Churchill was so moved by the weapons tangible display that he suggested dropping one on the Kremlin. How has this exceptional national experience affected the evolution of the United States in its foreign policy, and how does it differ from countries that have never dropped atomic bombs on cities? As a result of their defeat, Japan adopted a pacifist constitution and Germany enacted very liberal asylum laws. The United States went on to develop more atomic bombs. It is a matter of U.S. state policy to keep the nuclear threat alive in all disputes. No other nuclear capable state threatens their offensive use. As a result of its established military superiority, the United States expanded its base footprint. Today it has overseas military bases in every country that it commands, around 800 in 80 countries, comprising 90-95% of the worlds foreign military bases. Put another way, the U.S. total of overseas bases is 9-19 times more than all the rest of the worlds countries combined. The Soviet Union, the country that played the greatest role in the defeat of Nazi Germany, didnt make it into the 21st century. With no more rivals in sight, the United States pushed the NATO bloc steadily east toward Russia. Now, with a real chance at world domination, peaceful coexistence and cooperation was not an option. Throughout all the post WW2 years, the foreign invasions and interventions never ceased, from Korea and Vietnam to Iraq, Libya and Syria. The U.S. is no longer restrained by international laws and conventions or, for that matter, even U.S. law. Having put idealistic notions aside, the world is what the United States says it is. Indefinite detention is what it says it is. Torture is what it says it is. And planning, initiating, and waging a war of aggression against a sovereign nation is what it says it is. The Declaration of Independence held certain truths to be self-evident. Truth, as a concept, is an intellectual tool useful in winning arguments, and this is how it is used in the Declaration. As seen from the perspective of a state evolved from strict power concepts, truth is the weapon of the weak. This explains why purveyors of American Exceptionalism have no need to resort to it. (Note) *These five paragraphs are taken from a private communication with Otto Hinckelmann (otto5.com) that provided the concept for the essay. The authors contribution is one of embellishment. James Rothenberg writes on U.S. social and foreign policy. jrothenberg3@gmail.com Diplomats have assured Ukraine that Russia sanctions will remain in place until Ukraine regains control of its border in the east. The United States of America has called on the Russian Federation to withdraw its military and weapons from eastern Ukraine. The statement, released by the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine via Twitter, marks the sixth anniversary of the Ilovaisk tragedy. Read alsoRemains of Russian occupation victims exhumed from unmarked grave in Sloviansk"We solemnly remember those who sacrificed their lives in Ilovaisk six years ago this week while defending Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia must fully implement its Minsk commitments, withdraw its weapons and the forces it leads, support the disbanding of the armed formations operating in eastern Ukraine, and return control of Ukraine's internationally-recognized border to Ukraine," the statement says. "The United States will continue to maintain our related sanctions against Russia until it fully implements its Minsk commitments," diplomats wrote. Ilovaisk tragedy of 2014: background STRONGSVILLE, Ohio -- For 17 years, Cleveland Public Theatres annual fundraising extravaganza and Party of the Year, Pandemonium, transformed the CPT campus into a labyrinth of theater, dance, visual art and performance in every corner. The creative minds at CPT have dreamt up a different experience for 2020 -- Awakenings: A Virtual Gala, presented by WKYC Studios on Saturday, Sept. 12. This promises to be an experience that takes you inside the labyrinth -- from the comfort of your own home. CPT will shine a light on the abundant network of Greater Cleveland organizations and partners who awaken CPTs mission each and every day. At 7 p.m., tune into WKYC TV Channel 3 for a one-hour special: Awakenings, A Celebration of Cleveland Public Theatre. At 8 p.m., a 45-minute casual, virtual after-party kicks off to celebrate CPT and its PAN Awardee, Micki Byrnes, in celebration of her contributions to education, community building and the arts. The virtual After Party will be limited to 1,000 guests. Tickets are $1; suggested donations are $1 to $179. One ticket per email address. To purchase tickets, go to www.cptonline.org. Online sales for the After-Party will end Friday, Sept. 11. Proceeds will benefit CPTs groundbreaking artistic work and life-changing educational programs. CPTs programs empower youth and adults to cultivate their inner light, creating rousing and inspiring performances for the community. CPT is on a mission to stimulate creativity, innovation and rebirth on the west side of Cleveland. Virtual career fair: DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and RecruitMilitary will co-host the Ohio Veterans Virtual Career Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 3. The event is free to veterans, their spouses, active-duty military personnel and members of the National Guard and Reserve. In a time of great uncertainty, especially among our nations workforce, DAV and RecruitMilitary are committed to positioning veterans, active-duty service members, reservists, their spouses and partnering companies for success. Whether youre transitioning out of the military and looking for a new career or youve been out of the military and are looking for something new, its always a very daunting and stressful task, said DAV National Employment Director Jeff Hall. This mission is made much more difficult in the face of a national pandemic. However, its more important than ever to leave the door to opportunity open. Veterans are not the type to back down from adversity. We are here to help make it easier by moving all of our career fairs to virtual events through the end of May, Hall said. I want to also thank all of our employers who are staying in the fight and looking to hire. Employers who are actively seeking the unique talents of Americas veterans will be representing a range of industries, from construction to medical to administrative and logistics, with career opportunities from entry level to senior management. DAV benefits advocates are available during the event to answer questions and assist veterans who may have service-connected disabilities that could make them eligible for compensation through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Since the inception of DAVs employment initiative in 2014, there have been nearly 200,000 attendees and 150,000 job offers originating from DAV career fairs. Last year, to support employers, dispel myths and demonstrate the business case for employing Americas nearly 4 million veterans who have a service-connected disability, DAV developed The Veteran Advantage: DAV Guide to Hiring and Retaining Veterans with Disabilities. This guide offers best practices and helpful tools for employers and strives to inspire more organizations to consider the veteran talent pool. Hall, a combat-wounded Army veteran of the Persian Gulf War, is available to discuss trends in veteran and military spouse hiring, valuable employment-related resources and job opportunities in the Ohio area and nationwide. To arrange an interview, contact Hall at jhall@dav.org or by calling 859-442-2055. To register for the Ohio All Veterans Virtual Career Fair and access additional no-cost resources for veterans and their families, go to jobs.dav.org. Please stay tuned to dav.org/covid/ and its social networks for more information. New credit union: Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union, the largest faith-based, full-service credit union in Ohio, opened its new Strongsville branch location at 16488 Pearl Road on Aug. 24. Opening a branch in Strongsville has been a long-time goal for us to better serve our members, said Ohio Catholic FCU CEO/President Todd Turner. This location is central to our growing membership in the region, including towns like North Royalton, Berea and Brunswick. I think Strongsville residents will like having a faith-based credit union in their neighborhood that exists to serve their financial needs and not shareholders. The branch will offer focused banking services for both personal and business needs, including checking and savings accounts and a variety of loan options. Im proud to be leading our talented team in Strongsville. Well have a dedicated business banker here and a convenient night drop to make it easier for businesses to bank locally, said Brunswick resident and branch manager Mark Herge. Plus, well have loan officers onsite to help members personally with loans, ranging from vehicles to mortgages, Herge continued. While opening during the COVID-19 pandemic has presented some challenges, all the safety protocols implemented in Ohio Catholic FCUs other branches will be fully adopted in Strongsville. Weve taken measures to sanitize our lobby and give plenty of space for members who need to meet with us. Keeping employees and members safe has always been our first priority, Herge explained. Learn more at www.OhioCatholicFCU.com/Strongsville. Let the Strongsville community know what is going on with your organization, church, school, business or family. Email me at shirleymac48@att.net. Read more from the Sun Star Courier. Japanese Prime Minister held talks with head of the US Space Force on enhancing cooperation in various endeavors pertaining to outer space. Officials here said that Abe and US Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond on Thursday discussed solidifying cooperation between the US Space Force and the Air Self-Defence Force's Space Operations Squadron, Xinhua news agency reported. Japan's Space Operations Squadron, comprising just 20 personnel, is currently involved with ensuring that Japanese satellites are not damaged by space debris and meteorites, although the government plans to see its size and operational scope increase in the coming years. The pair also discussed plans by the United States to once again send astronauts to the Moon by 2024, officials said. Raymond's visit to is his first since the Space Force was created in December last year. Raymond also held talks with Japan's Defence Minister Taro Kono, as well as science and technology minister Naokazu Takemoto. --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.) Demonstrators protest in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 24, in reaction to the police shooting of Jacob Blake. (Getty Images) To the editor: After much thought and careful consideration, I have come upon a solution that will end the need for street demonstrations against police brutality. It is so amazingly simple that I'm shocked it has never been presented before now. ("Teen charged in Kenosha killings, Kyle Rittenhouse, praised police," Aug. 26) It is a plan so simple and direct in its application that it will assuage the fears of both sides of the political spectrum, save local governments millions of dollars, and improve relations between the police and the communities they are sworn to serve. I submit this as a Black man and a retired law enforcement officer with more than 30 years of service. Here is my plan: Stop killing unarmed people of color who have committed no crime. Allen Humphries, Indio .. To the editor: The political beliefs of the shooter as a motivation will be dismissed by the millions who share them and have not killed innocents in the streets. The real story is that the local sheriff in Kenosha, Wis., and Fox News host Tucker Carlson have offered explanations for these killings that legitimize the shooter's actions, if not specifically the deaths. Our president has suggested that violence against protesters is justified. Societies shift from democratic to authoritarian when civilians are allowed to become violent enforcers of the state's interests. Martina Steiner, Long Beach The Slogan No Lives Matter Until Black Lives Matter Commentary No Lives Matter Until Black Lives Matter. Thats an ominous-looking slogan seen on a sign in the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin. So far, three people have been shot during the rampaging, looting, arson, and rioting that followed the police shooting of Jacob Blake. A video of the shooting shows police shooting Blake multiple times in the back after he reached into his car. An earlier video shows Blake fighting with the police and refusing to comply with their demands that he submit to arrest. Literally nothing is known at this time about why the police took the action that they did. Did Blake threaten the police? Did he have a weapon? Why was he reaching into the car? We know now that there was a knife on the floor of the drivers side of the vehicle. Was Blake going for his knife? Is that why the police officer shot him? Were the police in fear for their lives? We simply dont know at this time, and we will not know the answer to those questions until an investigation has been completed. Every thinking person knows that to be the case. Heres what any responsible politician should have said immediately after the incident occurred: The shooting of Jacob Blake is a tragedy. At this time we do not know why the police shot Blake. The matter will be fully investigated, and we will then comment. Until the investigation takes place, it would be improper to speculate on the incident, or to make any further comment. We understand that people are upset, but we urge restraint. Peaceful protests will be respected, but unlawful behavior will not be tolerated. But thats not what was said. Instead, before any investigation had been done, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers denounced the excessive use of force by police and invoked the names of other black men shot during police encounters. And there was more along this completely irresponsible line. He said, 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. Even more disturbingly, heres what presidential candidate Joe Biden said: The nation wakes up yet again with grief and outrage that yet another Black American is a victim of excessive force. Thats what Biden said based on a video clip that tells, at most, 2 percent of the real story. Its true that Biden later denounced the violence that was taking place, and its also true that Evers later called for people to protest peacefully and safely and accepted the offers of help to quell the violence. However, it was the initial statements by both politicians that set the stage for the violence that occurred. Both politicians should have been completely neutral about fault, stressed the need to wait for the results of the investigation, urged calm, and made it clear from the outset that violence was completely unacceptable. Both initial statements failed to do that. Irresponsible grandstanding like this by political leaders is a virtual invitation to troublemakers to go out into the streets and destroy lives and property. Those cynical politicians knew exactly what they were doing. To further their own political agendas they were not only throwing all police officers under the bus, they were also placing the lives of every resident of Kenosha at risk. Their comments are the equivalent of shouting fire in a crowded building. In todays racially charged world, such comments are even more despicable. Opportunists in Kenosha and elsewherepredictablytook those completely reckless statements as permission to burn, pillage, and riot. Rioter, looters, and vigilantes on every side of the issuesome just out to cause troublecame out of the woodwork. Death and destruction are the sad result. Theres absolutely no excuse for political leaders furthering their political agendas at the expense of human lives and the destruction of cities. A looming election is definitely no excuse. When leaders show such appalling lack of judgement, its proof positive that they have no business pretending that theyre the leaders of people. Theyre not. Theyre unprincipled opportunists. They should be shown the door. Politicians of all stripes must learn not to fan the flames of division. Those flames are burning brightly enough as it is these days. Its just a fact that therell be more police shootings in the future. The shootings will involve people of all races, but because black men commit a disproportionate number of crimes, there will be a disproportionate number of police encounters with black men. Most of those shootings will turn out to be justified, but some will not. Only careful investigation and our justice systema justice system that has been honed over a few thousand yearscan be relied upon to make that determination. Mob justice based on video clips are a very poor substitute for justice. Whats not acceptable is for politicians to make political hay out of these awful incidents. Politicians must denounce violence and destruction and urge caution while the justice system does its job. They must avoid the temptation to play to their audience. A nation that explodes in flames every time something unpleasant occurs cannot last. This is particularly important at this volatile time. For example, it seems doubtful that the police involved in the deaths of both George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks will be convicted exactly as chargedor at all. Leaders must clearly inform people in advance that if acquittals are announced peaceful protests will not be hindered, but violence, property destruction, looting, and rioting will not be toleratedthat lawbreakers will be charged and vigorously prosecuted. And meanwhile, that slogan now making the roundsNo Lives Matter Until Black Lives Mattermust be clearly understood. The lawless people who use it are telling us in very clear terms that until they get what they want, they are prepared to do anything to get their way. The No Lives Matter are the lives they are prepared to dispense with. We must not let them succeed. And politicians courting that crowd are playing with fire. Unfortunately, that appears to be the bizarre strategy that the Democrats have chosen for themselves as the November election inches closer. They refuse absolutely to denounce Antifa and BLM violence for fear of losing votes. Governors, like Tony Evers, not only encourage the unrest, but refuse offers of help that could prevent death and destruction. To his credit, Evers has now accepted that help, but only after people died and his city burned. In the case of the Kenosha riots, the White House offered federal assistance to quell the violence. Evers initially refused the help. This is difficult to understand, but its consistent with similar refusals by Democrat mayors and governors in cities like Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Minneapolisall cities hit hard by violent rioting and looting. The refusals of federal help have not only cost billions of dollars in destruction, they have also taken many lives. This is putting politics ahead of saving lives. How voters will view all of this will be clear soon enough. Its probable that lawsuits will follow the election, and these politicians will be held to account. Brian Giesbrecht is a retired judge and a senior fellow with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. In a Thursday email to students, faculty and staff, university administrators said they were making adjustments to improve the testing process based on feedback over the last week. The administrators said they will stop test reminder emails, since some said they led to confusion, and that they were working on a tool to show which testing locations are the least busy and at what times. The onset of hotter weather has helped lift natural gas prices by nearly 75% since late June, when they hit their lowest level since 1995. With the commodity being the primary U.S. power plant fuel, firms in natural gas business have gained from the bump in cooling demand. Already on the back of a scorching June and July, and continued heat wave in August, natural gas has experienced a ramp up in air conditioning use. Riding on this positive momentum, prices ended the day at a nine-month high of $2.579 per MMBtu. Supportive Weather With the updated weather data revealing an ongoing bullish pattern extending into September particularly in west and southwest cooling loads should experience a consistent upward spike. The extension of summer heat has translated into the burning of more gas to feed higher electricity consumption for air conditioning. According to the EIA's latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, natural gas share of electricity generation would rise to 40% this year from 37% in 2019. Therefore, as Americans crank up their air conditioning to combat hotter-than-normal weather, companies in the natural gas industry stand to make more money. This should also significantly reduce the current inventory surplus that remains bloated due to a combination of weak consumption from a warmer-than-expected 2019-2020 winter, coronavirus-induced drop off in usage and a dip in volumes flowing to LNG export plants. As of Aug 21, natural gas stockpiles held in underground storage in the lower 48 states stands at 3.420 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) 580 Bcf (20.4%) above the 2019 levels at this time and 438 Bcf (14.7%) higher than the five-year average. While certain regions are likely to witness lower-than-normal temperatures on account of the Hurricane Laura-accompanied storm and rainfall, most of the country will see a continuation of this warming trend over the next few weeks. Consequently, the storage surplus is expected to shrink and push prices even higher. This bodes well for companies that develop and sell natural gas. Story continues Other Positives The novel coronavirus outbreak remains a big catalyst for balancing the natural gas market. Analysts believe that the brake in skyrocketing shale oil production growth tied to the crude price collapse will also limit associated gas output, thereby cutting the massive supply glut. As a proof of the impending supply drop, the EIA expects that the United States to churn out 88.7 billion cubic feet a day (Bcf/d) of dry natural gas this year, down from the 2019 average of 92.2 Bcf/d. The U.S. natural gas rig count, an indicator of future production, also points to the same. According to Baker Hughes BKR, the gas rig count continues to decline, recently falling to a record low of 68 from more than 160 a year ago. Finally, the steady improvement in shipments of LNG for export will facilitate the natural gas market. Volumes flowing to LNG export plants recently dropped to multi-month lows due to weak international demand. However, there has been a sustained increase in feed gas volumes over the past few weeks on the back of a better demand outlook. This is likely to translate into rising LNG shipments in August the first in six months and a bullish demand factor for U.S. natural gas prices. Focus on These Gas-Heavy Names Favorable weather forecasts across most of the lower 48 over the next few weeks are likely to spur natural gas demand for cooling, and therefore prices, at least for the near term. The upward trend should aid gas-weighted producers. We present five companies that investors should watch out for. SilverBow Resources, Inc. SBOW: A pure-play upstream operator in the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas, SilverBow Resources is a natural gas-focused E&P company. Over 30 days, the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 increase 23.5%. SilverBow controls 165,000 net acres in the Eagle Ford and 79% of its total output comprises natural gas. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Range Resources Corporation RRC: The company, carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), has a strong footing in the prolific Appalachian Basin. In the gas-rich resource, the upstream firm has huge inventories of low-risk drilling sites that are likely to provide production for several decades. About 70% of the companys total output is natural gas. Over 30 days, Range Resources has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 increase 73.9%. Gulfport Energy Corporation GPOR: The company's asset base primarily focused on natural gas is concentrated on the Utica Shale of Ohio and the SCOOP play in Oklahoma. Gulfport has a combined inventory in excess of 3,000 gross drilling locations in its two primary plays. Of Gulfports total output, nearly 90% comprises natural gas. Over 30 days, the #3 Ranked company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 increase 58.3%. Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation COG: Cabot is an independent gas exploration company with producing properties mainly in the continental United States. The company with a Zacks Rank of 3 owns 174,000 net acres in the dry gas window of the Marcellus play. Cabot beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the last four quarters, missed in one and reported in line in the other, delivering an earnings surprise of 14.83%, on average. All of Cabots production is natural gas. CNX Resources Corporation CNX: CNX Resources is a leading operator in the Appalachian basin the most prolific domestic gas basin with more than 1.1 million net acres. About 96% of the companys total output is natural gas. The 2020 Zacks Consensus Estimate for this Zacks Rank #3 company indicates 86.5% earnings per share growth over 2019. Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through Q2 2020, while the S&P 500 gained an impressive +44.0%, five of our strategies returned +50.9%, +93.8%, +122.2%, +153.0%, and even +156.8%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 Q2 2020, while the S&P averaged +5.5% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +51.7% per year. See their latest picks 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 Cabot Oil Gas Corporation (COG) : Free Stock Analysis Report CNX Resources Corporation. (CNX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Range Resources Corporation (RRC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Baker Hughes Company (BKR) : Free Stock Analysis Report SilverBow Resources Inc. (SBOW) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research ALBANY, Calif., Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Golden State Dermatology is pleased to announce Kathy Fang, M.D., Ph.D. and her team have joined Golden State Dermatology. Golden State Dermatology offers state-of-the-art dermatology, cosmetics, Mohs surgery for skin cancer, pathology, and plastic surgery. The group has rapidly grown over the last few years, adding eight new locations in 2019 and five to date in 2020. This most recent acquisition in Albany will offer medical and cosmetic dermatology treatments. The clinic is located at 6335 North Albany Street, Ste 201, Albany, CA. Dr. Fang devotes her practice to the diagnosis and treatment of patients of all ages and all skin conditions and to the improvement of skin health through cosmetic procedures and lasers. Dr. Fang received her medical degree with honors from Shanghai Second Medical University in China. She completed her residency training in Internal Medicine in Shanghai, and later at Alameda County Hospital in Oakland, CA, then completed her second residency training in Dermatology at UC Davis. Dr. Fang also received her PhD in molecular and cellular oncology from Rockefeller University, New York. "I'm already very pleased with my new partnership with Golden State Dermatology. With access to and support from GSD's operations and management teams, I can focus my efforts more solely on patient care, which is what I am most passionate about," shared Dr. Fang. In addition to various convenient locations throughout the Bay Area and Central Valley, Golden State Dermatology also accepts most forms of insurance. "We have grown tremendously over the last several years, and we are actively seeking to continue adding the most talented providers in California and beyond to our team," says Dr. Ed Becker, founder of Golden State Dermatology. To schedule an appointment at any location, patients can easily book through the Golden State Dermatology website: www.goldenstatedermatology.com, or by calling their closest clinic. GSD's Albany clinic can be reached at (510) 524-0224. About Golden State Dermatology In the midst of health care consolidation, Golden State Dermatology (GSD) was founded to maintain a relatively independent model of practice. GSD is physician owned and led and is rapidly growing with 20 locations and 50+ providers in the San Francisco Bay Area and California's Central Valley. There are plans to continue growing in these markets and across the Western United States. GSD is led by a team of board certified dermatologists with a mission to deliver the highest quality care and a great patient, provider, and staff experience. GSD's services include dermatology, cosmetics, Mohs surgery for skin cancer, pathology, and plastic surgery. SOURCE Golden State Dermatology Related Links https://goldenstatedermatology.com Early in the pandemic, coronavirus ravaged the northeast. Then, in the spring and early summer, the virus moved on to the southern and western region, with cities like Houston, Miami, Atlanta, and Los Angeles feeling the wrath. Experts have been noticing that after a peak of infections, deaths, and hospitalizations, some regions do the work to get the virus under control. The only issue? It seems as though they immediately start increasing in another. And, according to experts, the latest "rolling hotspot" region in the nation is the midwest. Reuters reports that on Thursday, several midwestern states recorded the biggest one-day increases in new infections since the pandemic started. Read on, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus. 1 Why Are There "Rolling Hotspots"? Coronavirus Drive Thru Testing at Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans, LA, USA According to experts, "rolling hotspots" have more to do with politics and how the pandemic is being handled within the government than anything else. "You have governors, with varying degrees of expertise and who have secretaries of health with varying degrees of expertise, that are developing state level policies some of them don't necessarily address issues in the same manner," Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told CNN. He referred to it as "a hodgepodge of policies that don't necessarily fit the task in many states." He also blamed the federal response for the tendency of one state repeating the same mistakes that were made previously by other states. 2 The Midwest Is Hot While numbers are going down in other parts of the country, the Midwest has experienced an increase during the month of August. According to CNN, the numbers for August were initially dropping, with the seven-day average of new cases per 100,000 people initially going down from 13.00 on August 5 to 12.87 on August 12. However, it started going up on August 19to 13.57. The percent change in daily new cases was also down 4% the first week with no change the second week. However, last week it spiked to 5%. "There's a warning sign Middle America right now is getting stuck," Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an interview with Journal of the American Medical Association. "We don't need to have a third wave in the heartland." Here are the states where the virus is currently "rolling" through: Story continues 3 Minnesota is a Hotspot Downtown of Minneapolis.Minnesota According to The Minnesota Department of Health, the state is experiencing another disturbing peak, recording its first consecutive days of double-digit coronavirus deaths since the third week of June. The number of total infections is also steadily rising, by 4% last week. The state reported 1,158 new cases on Thursday the highest daily number of new positive cases since Minnesota began tracking cases of the disease in March and 21,144 new tests. However the state explains that the numbers are likely high due to a two-week backlog of tests and results stemming from a single Minnesota lab. But Minnesota isn't the only state in the midwest where infections are on the rise. 4 North Dakota is a Hotspot Sunrise over Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota Cases rose 30% in North Dakota last week, with the state reporting a record 337 new cases on Thursday, according to the state's Department of Health. RELATED: Everything Dr. Fauci Has Said About Coronavirus 5 South Dakota is a Hotspot South Dakota Welcome sign A famous annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakotafully supported by the state's Republican governormay be the reason cases have been increasing in South Dakota. According to the state's health department, cases have increased 50% since the August 7 to 16 event, attended by 356,000 people from across the nation. According to The Associated Press, at least 100 coronavirus cases in eight states have been traced back to it so far. 6 Iowa is a Hotspot Downtown Des Moines Riverwalk Bridge At Night. Des Moines Iowa Last week infections spiked 7% in Iowa, with the state reporting 1,288 new cases on Thursday. 7 Illinois is a Hotspot According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, nearly 400 people with COVID-19 are hospitalized in intensive care units across the state with at least 150 on ventilators. It is "the highest number of people receiving critical care because of the coronavirus since late June, the department said. 8 Where You're Most Likely to Catch Coronavirus young woman wearing a hygiene protective mask over her face while walking at the crowded place As for yourself, do everything you can to prevent gettingand spreadingCOVID-19 in the first place: Wear a mask, get tested if you think you have coronavirus, avoid large gatherings, practice social distancing, wash your hands regularly, and to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don't miss these 37 Places You're Most Likely to Catch Coronavirus. Through the mediation of Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and by the decrees of President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian, active veteran of the victorious battles in Tavush Province of Armenia, Captain Ruben Sanamyan was awarded the title of National Hero (Order of the Homeland) during a solemn ceremony held at Sardarapat Memorial today. Through the mediation of the Prime Minister and by the decrees of the President of Armenia, out of the active role-players of the victorious battles that took place in Tavush Province, 16 servicemen have been awarded the First Degree of the Order of the Combat Cross, and 55 servicemen have been awarded the Second Degree of the Order of the Combat Cross. Among the attendees of the ceremony are the President of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), the Catholicos of All Armenians, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, members of the Security Council, government officials, army generals and other officials. During the battles in July, Captain Sanamyan skillfully led the personnel of the intelligence actions group, encouraged the servicemen, set tasks for them, organized suspension of the multiple attacks of the adversary in the direction of the Anvakh (Fearless) military post and made the adversary suffer significant casualties in terms of living force, arms and military equipment. According to the Ministry of Defense of Armenia, Sanamyan and the groups fighters carried out complicated and hazardous engineering works near the military post and procured valuable documents, weapons, ammunition, several technical means and other data through intelligence operations. As a commander, Captain Sanamyan precisely analyzed the adversarys operations, assessed the situation, predetermined the potential developments and kept the Anvakh military post impregnable through joint efforts with the personnel at the military post. Ruben Sanamyan was born in 1976 in the city of Dilijan of Tavush Province. From 1995 to 1997, he was a conscript at one of the military units of the Defense Army of Artsakh on the frontline, and in 2006, he became a contractual serviceman. He is married with two children. In 2012, he was awarded the second-class Order of the Combat Cross. By Akbar Mammadov The Balligaya massacre of 1992 is one of the series of massacres committed by the Armenian armed forces in Garadagli village of Khojavend region, Khojaly city, and Agdaban village of Kalbajar region in order to destroy the Azerbaijani population of Karabakh, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued today, on the 28th anniversary of the massacre. The ministry reminded that as a result of the massacre in Balligaya village of Azerbaijans Goranboy region, 24 Azerbaijani civilians, including 6 minors, as well as a 6-month-old baby and a 93-year-old woman were brutally killed. The bodies of some of the victims, most of them being children, women, and the elderly were burned. We strongly condemn Armenia's purposeful and ongoing policy based on genocide, a crime against humanity, racial discrimination and ethnic cleansing against the Azerbaijani people, and declare that, in order to achieve peace and reconciliation in the context of resolving the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, the ministrys statement reads. The ministry stressed the importance to put an end to impunity for all war crimes and crimes against humanity, including acts of ethnic cleansing and genocide perpetrated during the Armenian military aggression against the Republic of Azerbaijan, and to restore justice to the victims of those crimes. The ministry noted that the acts of war, as well as crimes against humanity and genocide acts committed by Armenia against the backdrop of the ongoing aggression against the Republic of Azerbaijan, are a gross violation of human rights and international humanitarian law. We remind that in addition to the responsibilities of the Republic of Armenia for its activities contrary to the international law, certain acts committed in the context of armed conflict are considered international criminal acts in accordance with the customs and treaty norms of international criminal law, and therefore the persons involved in commissioning of these acts, and those who associated with them and assisted them, are also individually responsible, the ministry said. Furthermore, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry reiterated Bakus commitment to take the necessary steps, using all opportunities and national mechanisms established by national legislation and international law, to provide an adequate legal assessment of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against its civilian population, and bring the perpetrators to justice. Azerbaijan and Armenia are locked in a conflict over Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh breakaway region, which along with seven adjacent regions was occupied by Armenian forces in a war in the early 1990s. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and around one million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France has been mediating the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict since the signing of the volatile cease-fire agreement in 1994. The Minsk Groups efforts have resulted in no progress and to this date, Armenia has failed to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) that demand the withdrawal of Armenian military forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The monthly number of people migrating into Tokyo and its vicinity in July was less than the number of those moving out of the area for the first time, as the capital became the center of a coronavirus resurgence in the country, government data showed Thursday. The outflow exceeded the inflow by 1,459 people in the capital and the prefectures of Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa, marking the first negative net migration since the government began compiling figures including foreigners in July 2013. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the number of people moving into the Tokyo metropolitan region dropped 16.1 percent from a year earlier to 29,103 in July. Those migrating from the area fell 5.7 percent to 30,562. John Watkins is the CEO of Trakm8 Holdings PLC (LON:TRAK), and in this article, we analyze the executive's compensation package with respect to the overall performance of the company. This analysis will also look to assess whether the CEO is appropriately paid, considering recent earnings growth and investor returns for Trakm8 Holdings. See our latest analysis for Trakm8 Holdings How Does Total Compensation For John Watkins Compare With Other Companies In The Industry? At the time of writing, our data shows that Trakm8 Holdings PLC has a market capitalization of UK9.1m, and reported total annual CEO compensation of UK289k for the year to March 2020. That is, the compensation was roughly the same as last year. Notably, the salary of UK289k is the entirety of the CEO compensation. In comparison with other companies in the industry with market capitalizations under UK152m, the reported median total CEO compensation was UK268k. So it looks like Trakm8 Holdings compensates John Watkins in line with the median for the industry. Furthermore, John Watkins directly owns UK1.4m worth of shares in the company, implying that they are deeply invested in the company's success. Component 2020 2019 Proportion (2020) Salary UK289k UK285k 100% Other - - - Total Compensation UK289k UK285k 100% Talking in terms of the industry, salary represented approximately 74% of total compensation out of all the companies we analyzed, while other remuneration made up 26% of the pie. Speaking on a company level, Trakm8 Holdings prefers to tread along a traditional path, disbursing all compensation through a salary. If salary is the major component in total compensation, it suggests that the CEO receives a higher fixed proportion of the total compensation, regardless of performance. Trakm8 Holdings PLC's Growth Over the last three years, Trakm8 Holdings PLC has shrunk its earnings per share by 89% per year. It achieved revenue growth of 2.1% over the last year. Story continues Overall this is not a very positive result for shareholders. The modest increase in revenue in the last year isn't enough to make us overlook the disappointing change in EPS. These factors suggest that the business performance wouldn't really justify a high pay packet for the CEO. We don't have analyst forecasts, but you could get a better understanding of its growth by checking out this more detailed historical graph of earnings, revenue and cash flow. Has Trakm8 Holdings PLC Been A Good Investment? Given the total shareholder loss of 79% over three years, many shareholders in Trakm8 Holdings PLC are probably rather dissatisfied, to say the least. This suggests it would be unwise for the company to pay the CEO too generously. In Summary... Trakm8 Holdings pays CEO compensation exclusively through a salary, with non-salary compensation completely ignored. As previously discussed, John is compensated close to the median for companies of its size, and which belong to the same industry. On the other hand, EPS growth and total shareholder return have been negative for the last three years. Considering overall performance, shareholders will likely hold off support for a raise until results improve. It is always advisable to analyse CEO pay, along with performing a thorough analysis of the company's key performance areas. In our study, we found 3 warning signs for Trakm8 Holdings you should be aware of, and 1 of them is potentially serious. Arguably, business quality is much more important than CEO compensation levels. So check out this free list of interesting companies that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com. The police chief in Kenosha, Wisconsin appeared to blame protesters breaking curfew for a shooting that left two people dead and one wounded by a 17-year-old right wing gunman. During a news conference on Wednesday, Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskins said the shooting may not have happened if protesters and the gunman had obeyed the city's 8pm curfew. "Everybody involved was out after the curfew," Mr Miskins said. "I'm not gonna make a great deal of it but the point is - the curfew's in place to protect. Had persons not been out involved in violation of that, perhaps the situation that unfolded would not have happened." The situation Mr MIskins is referring to is a shooting in which 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse travelled across state lines with an AR-15 to involve himself in the protests sparked by the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Rittenhouse was charged with murder for a single shooting which left one protester dead. Two other shootings - one that killed another protester and one that wounded another, have been attributed to Rittenhouse by witnesses at the scene, though charges have not been brought against Rittenhouse for those attacks. Mr Miskins insisted that the police were not responsible for the deaths of the two protesters in Kenosha. "This is not a police action. This not the action, I believe, of those who set out to do protests. It is the persons who were involved after the legal time, involved in illegal activity, that brought violence to this community," Mr Miskins said. Mr Miskins' words appear to share a blanket blame on both Rittenhouse and protesters who violated curfew for Rittenhouse's decision to shoot people. The protests began after police shot Mr Blake seven times in the back as he was trying to enter his vehicle. Police were responding to a domestic disturbance call when they encountered Mr Blake. Witnesses claim Mr Blake was trying to break up a fight. Video shows police having a confrontation with Mr Blake and following him with guns drawn as he was walking away from the scene. When Mr Blake tried to enter his SUV, an officer shot him several times in the back. Mr Blake's children were in the SUV at the time of the shooting. Mr Blake survived the shooting. His family said he will be at least temporarily paralysed from the waist down as a result of the shooting. Right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson appeared to defend Rittenhouse on his Fox News show on Wednesday night, blaming the city's inaction in suppressing the protests for Rittenhouse's actions. "How shocked are we that 17-year-olds with rifles decided they had to maintain order when no one else would?" Mr Carlson asked. Rittenhouse is a former police cadet and his social media was filled with "blue lives matter" and "back the blue" sentiments. "Back the Blue" is a call for regular citizens to defend the police, despite police generally having far more protective equipment and deadly arms than protesters at demonstrations. Rittenhouse attempted to join the Marine Corps in January but was disqualified from service, according to the Washington Post. A spokesperson for the Marine Corps declined to specify why he was disqualified, citing the service's privacy protocols. Top Republican party leaders Thursday night rallied behind President as they used the platform of to launch a blistering attack on his Democratic presidential challenger "The Democrats are urging you to vote for an obviously defective candidate. Biden has changed his principles so often, he no longer has any principles, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said in his address to the before Trump delivered his acceptance speech from the South Lawns of the White House. "He's a Trojan Horse with Bernie (Sanders), AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), (Nancy) Pelosi, Black Lives Matter and his party's entire Left Wing hidden inside his body just waiting to execute their pro-criminal, anti-police policies, said the former New York City Mayor. The whole unprecedented wave of lawlessness began with a truly just cause -- the unforgiveable police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020. Peaceful protests began all over the land. The condemnation of the killing was universal from President Trump to Democrat leaders, he said. It seemed for a a few brief shining moments' like Democrat and Republican leaders would come together with a unified proposal to reduce police misconduct. This possibility was very dangerous to the Left, Giuliani said. Biden and his fellow Democrats were widely criticized for not speaking up about the out-of-control violence plaguing Democrat cities in our country. Their silence was so deafening that it reveals an acceptance of this violence because they will accept anything they hope will defeat President Donald Trump, he said. However, they are making this election a choice between the Democrat policies soft on crime against the Republican program of law and order. It is clear that a vote for Biden and the Democrats creates the risk that you will bring this lawlessness to your city, town or suburb, Giuliani said. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy said and Kamala Harris think this election is about the government. They're wrong. It's about you, not us. Your family and your future, he said. Congressman Jeff Van Drew said that Biden is being told what to do by the radicals running the Democratic Party. the same radicals trying to install him as their puppet president, he said. Debbie Flood, the owner of a Wisconsin machine shop, alleged that Biden voted to normalize trade with China and helped pave the way for them to join the WTO, even though they were hurting American companies like hers. Our President understands that the best solutions unleash the innovation of American entrepreneurs and the creativity of American workers. doesn't know anything about business. Or about creating jobs, she said. He's spent 47 years in government. It is doubtful that he'll finally figure it out in year 48. He's pledged to raise our taxes and bring back excessive regulation, Flood said. US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson said that Trump is the most pro-life President in our country's history. He will continue to fight for those who cannot yet speak, he said. Our President, Donald J. Trump, believes in the people. He is one of us. He makes promises, and he keeps them. He is transparent, and we certainly know what he's thinking. He does not submit to political correctness or to its enforcers, the media. He is real, Carson said. Police Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch said, "You won't be safe in Joe Biden's America. You can have four more years of President Trump." Joe Biden won't stand up for America. will. So this November, let's stand with the president and vote to keep America great, Giuliani 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, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 28, 2020) - SKRR Exploration Inc. (TSXV: SKRR) (FSE: B04Q) ("SKRR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Brian Skanderbeg as a special advisor to the Board of Directors effective immediately. Mr. Ross McElroy, Chair of the Board, commented, "Brian's significant technical experience, especially in the Saskatchewan Gold Districts, will be an extremely valuable asset to the Board and management team as we advance our gold projects and pursue other mergers and acquisitions in Saskatchewan. Brian's commitment to SKRR is a strong endorsement of the management team and the potential that exists with our significant land position in Saskatchewan." Brian Skanderbeg, Special Advisor to the Board Mr. Skanderbeg is currently founding CEO of GFG Resources Inc., an Abitibi gold belt focused company and was most recently President and CEO of Claude Resources Inc. since November 2014 - which was acquired by Silver Standard Resources Inc. for $337 million. He previously worked for Goldcorp, Inco Ltd. and Helio Resource Corp., holding positions in both exploration and operations. Mr. Skanderbeg is also a director of Wesdome Mines Gold Ltd. He holds a B.Sc. from the University of Manitoba and an M.Sc. from Rhodes University, South Africa. He brings extensive experience in the exploration and evaluation of gold systems, operational management, cost and asset optimization and strategic analysis. In conjunction with the appointment of Mr. Skanderbeg, the Company granted him 250,000 stock options to purchase common shares of the Company which are exercisable for a period of five years at a price of $0.37per common share. About SKRR Exploration Inc.: SKRR is a Canadian-based precious metal explorer with properties in Saskatchewan - one of the world's highest ranked mining jurisdictions. The primary exploration focus is on the Trans-Hudson Corridor in Saskatchewan in search of world class precious metal deposits. The Trans-Hudson Orogen - although extremely well known in geological terms has been significantly under-explored in Saskatchewan. SKRR is committed to all stakeholders including shareholders, all its partners and the environment in which it operates. Story continues ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Sherman Dahl President & CEO Tel: 250-558-8340 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains "forwardlooking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements that address the advancement of the Company's gold projects and pursuing other mergers and acquisitions in Saskatchewan, other statements relating to the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its projects and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. 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, the ability to achieve its 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. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather conditions, equipment failures, failure to maintain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, decrease in the price of gold and other metals, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), increase in costs, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forwardlooking statements or forwardlooking information, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/62793 The COVID-19 crisis has increasingly highlighted shortcomings in Australia's National Broadband Network, Flinders University experts say. With access to high-speed broadband (HSB) and the internet via the NBN now central to people's livelihoods, education, healthcare delivery and even social connections, the Flinders University researchers say the "short-term politics of the 2013 federal election" led to decisions which caused an expensive rollout and current problems with the network. "Our research shows that the way Australia's NBN was implemented has meant that access to HSB is expensive compared to other countries," Flinders University Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity researcher Dr Matt Fisher says in a new paper. "This contributes to more than one million Australian households not having an internet connection at home." The paper, 'Implementing Policy On Next-generation Broadband Networks and Implications for Equity of Access To High Speed Broadband: a Case Study of Australia's NBN' published in Telecommunications Policy, examines NBN policy and implementation from 2008 to 2018 through Australian Government policy documents and interviews with experts. "We found that equity considerations competed with political and commercial imperatives during the rollout of the NBN," the Flinders Southgate researchers conclude. "This resulted in positive and negative consequences for equity of access to HSB, with a change in policy and implementation in 2013 bringing greater risks to equity of access." Dr Fisher says the NBN rollout also created differences in the quality of HSB services in different areas. "This is likely to mean that people already well-off will gain more health and social benefits from the NBN than those less well-off. "As work, education, employment, healthcare and other social services increasingly go online, the inequalities built into the NBN could add to health inequalities in Australia." ### The paper is part of research funded by the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Social Determinants of Health. Read the paper online - Implementing Policy On Next-generation Broadband Networks and Implications for Equity of Access To High Speed Broadband: a Case Study of Australia's NBN by M Fisher, T Freeman, F Baum, A Schram and S Friel has been published in Telecommunications Policy (Elsevier) DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2020.101911 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2020.101911 Volume 44, Issue 7, August 2020 With a price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 25.5x Just Life Group Limited (NZSE:JLG) may be sending bearish signals at the moment, given that almost half of all companies in New Zealand have P/E ratios under 23x and even P/E's lower than 12x are not unusual. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the elevated P/E. Recent times have been quite advantageous for Just Life Group as its earnings have been rising very briskly. It seems that many are expecting the strong earnings performance to beat most other companies over the coming period, which has increased investors willingness to pay up for the stock. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason. View our latest analysis for Just Life Group pe Although there are no analyst estimates available for Just Life Group, take a look at this free data-rich visualisation to see how the company stacks up on earnings, revenue and cash flow. What Are Growth Metrics Telling Us About The High P/E? In order to justify its P/E ratio, Just Life Group would need to produce impressive growth in excess of the market. Retrospectively, the last year delivered an exceptional 49% gain to the company's bottom line. The strong recent performance means it was also able to grow EPS by 43% in total over the last three years. Accordingly, shareholders would have probably welcomed those medium-term rates of earnings growth. Comparing that to the market, which is predicted to shrink 1.4% 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 can see why Just Life Group is trading at a high P/E compared to the market. Investors are willing to pay more for a stock they hope will buck the trend of the broader market going backwards. Nonetheless, with most other businesses facing an uphill battle, staying on its current earnings path is no certainty. Story continues What We Can Learn From Just Life Group's P/E? While the price-to-earnings ratio shouldn't be the defining factor in whether you buy a stock or not, it's quite a capable barometer of earnings expectations. As we suspected, our examination of Just Life Group revealed its growing earnings over the medium-term are contributing to its high P/E, given the market is set to shrink. Right now shareholders are comfortable with the P/E as they are quite confident earnings aren't under threat. Our only concern is whether its earnings trajectory can keep outperforming under these tough market conditions. Although, if the company's relative performance doesn't change it will continue to provide strong support to the share price. Before you take the next step, you should know about the 4 warning signs for Just Life Group that we have uncovered. Of course, you might also be able to find a better stock than Just Life Group. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that sit on P/E's below 20x and have grown earnings strongly. 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. Rudy Giuliani has delivered a barbed attack on Black Lives Matter protesters, in a speech in which the former New York mayor said only Donald Trump could make America safe. As a succession of speakers on the final night of the Republican National Convention sought to stir the fear of a spike in lawlessness if Democrats were elected, Mr Giuliani claimed he no longer recognised the city which he once ran. Today my city is in shock. Murders, shootings and violent crime are increasing at percentages unheard of in the past, he said, referring to a spike in shootings and other violent offences that officials have blamed on the pandemic. We are seeing the return of rioting and looting. During riots the Democrat mayor like others has often prevented the police from making arrests. Trump supporters gather at the White House ahead of an address by the president at the climax of the Republican National Convention (REUTERS) Mr Giuliani also laid into people who have been protesting for racial justice, accusing them of being selective about which victims to support. He also claimed that Joe Bidens agenda would be taken over by hardcore progressives if elected. Protesters rally against Trump ahead of RNC speech Biden has changed his principles so often, he no longer has any principles. He disavowed his authorship of the 1994 Crime Bill, he said. Hes a Trojan Horse with Bernie, AOC, Pelosi, Black Lives Matter and his partys entire left wing hidden inside his body just waiting to execute their pro-criminal, anti-police policies. The former mayors speech was widely attacked on social media and not for the first time, he was accused of race baiting. He also claimed that policies enacted by Mr Biden and Barack Obama to create more diversified communities had increased crime. It is clear that a vote for Biden and the Democrats creates the risk that you will bring this lawlessness to your city, town or suburb, he said. It can come to where you live. Vote for president Trump and he will fight to preserve your safety, and to protect the American way of life. 08/28/2020 By David Perry Students, faculty and researchers interested in the rich cultural and historical tapestry of Portuguese-Americans in the Merrimack Valley and beyond will soon have access to a digital archive chronicling generations of immigrants, thanks to a $300,000 grant received by the universitys Saab Center for Portuguese Studies. The grant, from the William M. Wood Foundation, is spread over three years. The archive will be known as the Greater Boston Portuguese-American Digital Archive (PADA). PADA will open a window to the history of a significant and underrepresented immigrant group, according to Frank Sousa, director of UMLs Saab Center for Portuguese Studies and supervisor of PADA. Sousa has assembled a team to work on the archive that includes Tony Sampas, UMLs archivist and special projects manager, and Gregory Gray Fitzsimons, a research associate at the Saab Center. In addition to the project director, the grant will fund the hiring of a project archivist, who will help gather, process and digitize the collection. Student interns will also be involved. PADA is modeled closely after the universitys Southeast Asian Digital Archive. We want to model the visual quality on the universitys Southeast Asian archive, which is a state-of-the-art example of digital history, says Fitzsimons 13, a historian who previously worked for the Lowell National Historical Park and earned his doctorate in education at UML. We have a chance here to put UMass Lowell on the map in the archival world for ethnic-oriented digital archives. In terms of Portuguese history, hardly anything has been written about the communities north of Boston, says Sousa. It just seems to me given the paucity of information on points north of Boston, this was the next logical project. Fitzsimons, the project director and principal grant writer for PADA, says he will delve into field work, gathering everything from oral histories to personal ephemera to church records to illustrate the impact and culture of the Portuguese in Lowell, Lawrence, Hudson and Gloucester, Massachusetts communities where clusters of Portuguese immigrants settled. He will begin with Lowell, working around the person-to-person restrictions posed by COVID-19. Im concerned that this needs to happen soon, says Fitzsimons. People are getting older and we need to get out there and do some collecting. But the Lowell Portuguese community is vibrant and the elders are very prideful of their culture. The information will be digitized, preserving in a single repository what now exists scattered in places from parish record books to family scrapbooks. The team will also draw upon the existing Portuguese collection at the universitys Center for Lowell History, a valuable resource for documenting local history and immigrants. Sousa notes there have been three periods of Portuguese immigration to New England: 1765-1870, related to whaling; 1880-1925, related to the cotton industry and 1958-1983, related to the apparel industry that replaced the cotton mills. Fishing was also important throughout the three phases, particularly in Gloucester, Provincetown and New Bedford, Mass. Telling the story of Portuguese history in New England and beyond is nothing new to Sousa, founding director of the Saab Center for Portuguese Studies and the founding coordinator of Portuguese studies at UMass Lowell. The treasure hunt cant begin soon enough for Fitzsimons. Field work is critical to the network within the Portuguese-American community, he says. Its a very important community partnership project. Were hoping to gather family papers and photographs, sound recordings, family home movies, items from Portuguese-American businesses, things from social clubs, parishes Its soup to nuts. Anyone with information on Portuguese artifacts or documents for the project can contact Gregory_Fitzsimons@uml.edu. When the white mob advanced, the murderous frenzy of their assault prompted the Black men to raise a flag of surrender, but the berserk marauders ignored it. They set fire to the courthouse roof and slaughtered almost every freedman who emerged from the flaming building to surrender. Those who remained inside were burned alive. The exact number of victims was never determined. The Colfax massacre was ghastly, and so was its aftermath. A young, white New York lawyer named J.R. Beckwith had recently been appointed U.S. attorney for Louisiana; he got the job of prosecuting the Colfax murders. Beckwiths 150 pages of indictments listed 32 counts and named 98 defendants. After six months, with no help from the federal government he represented, Beckwith had managed to arrest only seven of the defendants. The first trial, in March of 1874 in New Orleans, featured an eloquent and capable Beckwith doing battle against an all-star team of white-supremacist trial attorneys. It resulted in a hung jury. In the retrial a few months later, a federal jury found just three defendants guilty of conspiring to violate the civil rights of the victims. A U.S. Supreme Court justice, Joseph P. Bradley, who opposed the abolition of slavery and despised Reconstruction, had participated in the first days of the retrial as a second judge while riding circuit, as justices did in those days, then departed. But three weeks after the trial was over, he came back to New Orleans and overturned even the minimal conspiracy verdicts. The split decision sent the case, U.S. v. Cruikshank, to the Supreme Court. In March 1876, Bradley and his fellow Supreme Court justices decreed that he was correct in rescinding the convictions of William Cruikshank and the other white defendants, ruling that although the 14th Amendment gave the federal government authority to act against violations of civil rights by state governments, it did not apply to acts of racist violence by private citizens against other citizens. Furthermore, the court ludicrously declared, the prosecution failed to show that crimes against the murdered Black men were committed on account of their race or color. All 98 defendants escaped accountability, emboldening white supremacists across the land. The Cruikshank decision reinforced a grotesque judicial precedent that severely limited the power of the federal government to prosecute violent crimes against the formerly enslaved. Given free rein by the Supreme Court, white supremacists continued their coordinated campaign of terror against Black people, hastening the demise of Reconstruction. By 1877, every Southern state had been redeemed, and they would remain under the control of their white redeemers for decades. By eviscerating crucial protections of the 14th Amendment, the Cruikshank ruling ensured that the most basic constitutional rights of Black citizens would be denied well into the 20th century. The crabbed, inhumane logic of Cruikshank provided legal cover that allowed systemic racism to flourish and denied civil rights to millions of Americans, perpetuating what John Lewis called a soul-wrenching, existential struggle. A straight line can be drawn from Colfax and Cruikshank to the race riots in East St. Louis in 1917 and in Omaha, Chicago and other cities two years later; to the abhorrent crimes committed in the 1921 Tulsa race massacre; to the criminal brutality unleashed on African-Americans in Selma and Birmingham, Ala., in the 1960s; to the present-day instances of police and white nationalist violence in Ferguson, Mo., Charlottesville, Va., and now Kenosha, Wis.; to the shameful, plain-sight attempts to suppress the Black vote in the 2020 elections. Lest we forget that white supremacy and racial injustice are still endemic in America, we need to remember Colfax and the lasting harm it wrought. William Briggs is an emeritus professor of mathematics at the University of Colorado, Denver, and author of How America Got Its Guns: A History of Gun Violence in America. Jon Krakauer is the author of numerous books, including Into Thin Air and Missoula. 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. Among the multiple stops Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) made in his hometown of Plainview on Tuesday was a trip to the Plainview Chamber of Commerce to address a gathering of 12-15 local and state law enforcement officers from across his 29-county Congressional district. Jurisdictions from Seminole to Canyon, and Muleshoe to Plainview were represented. Arrington addressed several national issues facing local law enforcement entities, ranging from the death of George Floyd to the issues of protesters and rioting, to cities defunding local police departments. Arrington stated, in regard to the Floyd situation, he understands that bad things happen and that in many similar situations, police are forced to make split-second decisions in those situations. In your line of work, there are lots of people trying to second-guess, post facto, what happened and whether you did the right thing or not. Training has to be preeminent so that if you have split-second decisions, you land in a good place. But the way those who are second-guessing every move you make, regulating every move you make at some point youre not only going to put our neighborhoods and our families in jeopardy, you are going to jeopardize your very lives doing the jobs youre doing. Arrington cited increased retirement rates among law enforcement personnel and higher violent crime statistics among the nations 50 largest cities as a comparison to the situation to West Texas. The way I look at it, if we can make America look more like West Texas, it would be a more safe, strong and free America, he said. Arrington told the assembled that he has had to shift some of his focus in Congress from being Captain Rural America and focusing on food, fuel, and fire to becoming an expert on as quickly as I could on federal statutes regarding rioting and assaulting federal law enforcement officers.... You could go to prison for longer for defacing a national monument than for assaulting a police officer with a deadly weapon. And as we say in West Texas, That aint right. Weve got to hold people accountable and weve got to make sure to stop this chaos. He also re-affirmed his believe that the bad apples that occupy every barrel, including law enforcement, shouldnt have to be answered at the federal level. Those should also be left up to their local entities, he said. That could not be further from how this become the greatest most powerful, most prosperous and most generous nation in the history of the world, he said. Its because we believe in free and sovereign states and free people and a free society. Arrington advocated for cultivating a culture that honors those who are risking their lives every day for our security and freedom. Part of his strategy is to stave off bad legislation, find the things (Congress) should do and can do and do them. Condemn the bad cops that are doing bad things.... Take a stand, make a statement and do the right thing and increase the accountability there. Officers can help rectify the local backlash, he said, by getting out there and winning hearts and minds, doing what you guys do, getting out in the community to let your citizens know what youre doing every day, how difficult it is, how much you love them and their families and this community, and Ive got to bring the same message. The Congressman also addressed the growing trend of municipalities defunding the police. If you believe in the sovereignty of the states and the 10th Amendment, you cant just believe in it in the good times. Youve got to believe in it in all seasons, Arrington stated. And I do believe in local control. I do believe in 50 sovereign states and 50 experiments and 50 laboratories of innovation. I believe in it in regard to the Coronavirus case in deferring to the state and locals and I believe it in regard to policing. He also noted that he believes defunding should be under local control and not dictated by Washington. Arrington also took the opportunity to recognize and honor Plainview Police Chief Ken Coughlin for his 32 years of service in law Enforcement. Coughlin announced earlier this month that he will retire in September, after six years with the Plainview PD, and will move back to Wichita Falls. Arrington presented Coughlin with a certificate of appreciation and a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol building. The Lowe Art Museums latest exhibit is transporting viewers into the history of Cuban visual art with its 11 Intervisual Cubans. Curated by students who were enrolled in a course during the Spring 2020 semester called ArtLab @The Lowe, the display provides students with the unique opportunity to organize an exhibition annually based on a theme related to the expertise of that years instructor. This year, Lilian Manzor, associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences and founding director of the Cuban Theater Digital Archive, led the course. The students had the opportunity to select materials for this exhibit from the Lowe Art Museums, the Cuban Heritage Collections, and Havanas Center for the Study of Scenic Designs materials on modern and contemporary Cuban art and performing arts, Manzor explained. Intervisuality, that is, the process of interpreting images based on other related or contiguous images, was the concept used to guide their choices. Yulia Golubyatnikova, an art history major, was one of 9 students who participated in this unique course. During the virtual opening held on Aug. 27, Golubyatnikova said she learned a great deal about what it takes to put together a project of this type. A lot of time and effort goes into the preparation and research. Each of us had to choose and learn about one artist and present our findings to the class. It was quite interesting to see how different artists responded to their social and political environment, she said. According to Manzor, the study of Cuban culture has been fragmented since the revolution in 1959. Many visual and theater artists who left Cuba were erased from Cuban history on the island. Exile communities began to create their own history, severing themselves from anything produced inside Cuba. These multiple fractures present unique challenges because to truly understand Cuba, we should approach it as Greater Cuba, a Cuba that can encompass those who live on the island and its multiple diasporas. The 11 Intervisual Cubans exhibit addresses many of those gaps in art and theater histories, explained Manzor. Ileana Tolibia, a studio art major, said she was unaware of the depth and variety of resources available on this subject at the Cuban Heritage Collection. The Cuban Heritage Collection contains rare visual, audio, and textual sources that are crucial for understanding Cuban history, literature, and the arts, Tolibia pointed out. The CHC, which is consulted by artists and scholars from all around the world, taught me how to navigate the information and conduct my research properly. Amanda Moreno, archivist for the Cuban Heritage Collection, said it was a pleasure working with these students under the direction of Manzor and co-instructor Dainerys Machado Vento. We hosted the students where they were able to work hands on with artistic items from our theater collections and learn about the process of curating an exhibition using archival materials, she said. Originally, the course included a trip to Havana and Matanzas, and the exhibit was supposed to be housed physically at the Lowe, but because of COVID-19, the study trip was cancelled, and the exhibit had to be transitioned into a digital landscape. We all learned how to adjust to the circumstances and to work as a team despite all the difficulties, Golubyatnikova noted. For me personally, it was a new experience learning how to create a digital exhibit. I think its a great skill to have especially in our changing times. Stefanie Suarez, a Latin American studies major, also spoke at the virtual opening where she explained what gave her pride. Our hard work and research that we conducted allowed us to come together as a class and make meaningful connections between all the different works and artists, she said. In this exhibit, were not only showcasing a specific moment in Cuban history, we have actually been able to highlight an evolution in artistic expression and dive into the depth of those nuances, she added. A list of curators of the exhibition include: As many as 1,095 look out circulars have been deleted and 630 foreign members of the Tablighi Jamaat have left India, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. On the issue of foreign Tablighi Jamaat members stuck in India for violating visa rules and pandemic restrictions, MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the ministry has been actively facilitating their consular access, deletion of LOCs and smooth repatriation to their respective countries. We have kept the respective foreign embassies informed through the entire process," he said. As of August 24, 1,095 look out circulars (LOCs) were deleted and 630 foreign members of the Tablighi Jamaat have left India," he said at an online media briefing. These members of the Tablighi Jamaat were charged under the Foreigners Act for indulging in activities that were incompatible with their visa status, he said. Therefore, for such activities, appropriate category of visa has to be sought, Srivastava said. To a separate question on whether External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) foreign ministers meeting next month, Srivastava said the minister has received an invitation for the meeting to be held in Moscow and a decision on his participation would be made known once it is taken. On whether the Kerala government had sought MEAs approval for signing an MoU with the UAE Red Crescent Authority an NGO for a project, Srivastava said no such approval had been taken. Advertisement The attorneys representing Kenosha gunman Kyle Rittenhouse have announced they will be establishing a legal defense fund for the teen who is facing multiple charges for killing two protesters on Tuesday. The Kenosha County District Attorney's office on Thursday formally charged the 17-year-old from Illinois in the fatal shooting of two men and the wounding of a third during a night of Jacob Blake demonstrations in the city. The charges include one count of first-degree intentional homicide; one count of first-degree reckless homicide; one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide; two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. Rittenhouse would face a mandatory life sentence if convicted of first-degree intentional homicide, the most serious crime in Wisconsin. He was assigned a public defender in Illinois for a hearing Friday upon his extradition to Wisconsin, where anyone 17 or older is treated as an adult in the criminal justice system. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, has been charged with first degree intentional homicide following the shooting death of two protesters in Kenosha on Tuesday. Social media photos show the teen had a strong admiration for law enforcement and guns Attorney Lin Wood said the Fight Back Foundation will be collecting donations for Kyle Rittenhouse's defense Defense attorney Lin Wood on Thursday thanked all the 'freedom loving Americans' for their support of Rittenhouse, announcing they will be accepting donations through a foundation for their fight for 'justice.' 'We have connected with Kyle's family & help is on the way. Kyle will have excellent legal representation. We owe him a legal defense,' Wood said on Twitter. 'Many others will need your help in coming days. Stay strong. Continue to speak truth. Continue to demand justice under our Constitution. Continue to be fearless.' Wood previously represented 18-year-old Nicholas Sandmann, a student at Covington Catholic High School, who sued the Washington Post and CNN for portraying him as racist in their coverage of his stand-off with a Native American protester last year. Wood said the Fight Back Foundation, Inc, will be accepting donations online within the next six to 12 hours. Viral cellphone footage from Tuesday night's protests showed Rittenhouse being chased into a used car lot by someone before shots are heard and the person lies dead. The shooter then runs down the street where he is chased by several people shouting that he just shot someone. He stumbles after being approached by several more people and fires, killing another man and injuring a third. The two men who were killed have been identified as Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, and Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, about 15 miles west of the city. The wounded person, Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, of West Allis, about 30 miles northwest of Kenosha, was expected to survive, police said. The two men who were killed were Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, and Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, about 15 miles west of the city. The wounded person, Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, of West Allis, about 30 miles northwest of Kenosha, was expected to survive, police said. Cellphone videos from the scene in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Tuesday night show the teen 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 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 Wood has claimed the teenager was acting in self-defense. 'From my standpoint, it's important that the message be clear to other Americans who are attacked that there will be legal resources available in the event false charges are brought against them,' he said. 'Americans should never be deterred from exercising their right of self-defense.' Kenosha police faced questions about their interactions with the gunman on Tuesday night. 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 yelled for him to be arrested because he had shot people. As for how the gunman managed to slip away, Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth has 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. Video taken before the shooting shows police tossing bottled water from an armored vehicle and thanking civilians armed with long guns walking the streets. One of them appears to be the gunman. 'We appreciate you being here,' an officer was heard saying to the group over a loudspeaker. The sheriff later defended officers by saying, 'Our deputies would toss water to anybody.' The national and state chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday called for the resignation of Beth and Kenosha Police Chief Dan Miskinis over their handling of Blake's death and the subsequent protests. Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Illinois, about 15 miles from Kenosha, was taken into custody Wednesday in Illinois. REVEALED: Police-loving Kenosha gunman started a Facebook fundraiser for a charity called 'Humanizing the Badge' for his 16th birthday - but organization insists it has 'no direct affiliation' with the teen The teenage gunman charged with fatally shooting two protesters in Kenosha on Tuesday, had started a Facebook fundraiser for a police charity on his 16th birthday. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, launched a campaign for 'Humanizing the Badge', a nonprofit organization aimed at supporting law enforcement, in December 2018, according to old social media posts. The teenager asked friends to donate to the charity, which he said sought to 'forge stronger relationships between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.' The appeal was launched through Facebook's popular fundraiser feature that allows users to collect money for a charity of their choice in lieu of gifts on their birthday. Much of Rittenhouse's Facebook is devoted to praising law enforcement, with references to Blue Lives Matter - the movement that supports police. He also previously participated in a youth public safety cadet program (right), according to social media Humanizing the Badge released a lengthy statement on Thursday addressing the teenage gunman's links to the group Users can choose from a list of 750,000 nonprofits and set a target for the amount of money they want to raise. The post is one of several social media posts that have emerged in the wake of Rittenhouse's arrest revealing his admiration for law enforcement and police. The teenager was formally charged with first-degree intentional homicide and other offenses on Thursday for fatally shooting two protesters and injuring a third, while 'defending' Kenosha during a demonstration on Tuesday. Humanizing the Badge appeared to try to distance itself from Rittenhouse and the shooting in a statement shared on Facebook on Thursday. The charity said the fundraiser did not necessarily mean Rittenhouse had a direct affiliation with the group, adding that Facebook lets 'anyone' create a campaign on their page for any nonprofit. 'Our Board of Directors believes that it is essential to release this statement, neither in support of, nor condemnation of, anyone involved in the Kenosha situation, but more specifically to address the implied involvement of Kyle Rittenhouse with the Humanizing the Badge organization,' the organization said. 'There are 2 relevant facts regarding what has been reported: 1) it is a mischaracterization of the Facebook fundraiser process to state that Rittenhouse 'held a fundraiser' for Humanizing the Badge, which has left some people with the impression that he has some direct affiliation with our organization because he does not. Police-obsessed gunman, Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, charged with murder of two BLM protesters during Kenosha riots sat front row at a Trump MAGA rally at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa in January this year A TikTok account believed to belong to Rittenhouse shows he had attended a Trump rally in January this year. The account has since been suspended 'And 2) we have examined records dating back to January 1, 2020 and have found no evidence that Kyle Rittenhouse raised any money whatsoever that was donated to Humanizing the Badge.' The organization went on to say its intention is to support everyone's right to due process and that it does not state 'opinions and assumptions as fact.' 'We let the investigation proceed and the justice system do its difficult work. What will ultimately come out of this case remains to be seen,' the statement read. As news of Rittenhouse's arrest broke on Wednesday, Facebook removed the suspected gunman's account and blocked searches under his name. Much of the teen's Facebook page was devoted to praising law enforcement, with references to Blue Lives Matter, a movement that supports police. He was also seen holding an assault rifle in several photos. 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. In January this year, Rittenhouse also sat front row at a Trump rally at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa in January this year. A now-deleted TikTok account, believed to belong to the teen, also shows a video he took at the event. Tourism chief executives have called on state premiers to open borders. Source: The New Daily/Getty Chief executives in the tourism industry have called on state governments to open interstate borders in an open letter, saying their businesses may not be able to sustain some 660,000 jobs beyond Covid-19 should they remain closed. Flight Centre CEO Graham Turner, Intercontinental Hotels Group managing director Leanne Harwood and Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth are just three of a long list of executives imploring governments to lift restrictions. The events of recent weeks, in particular the ongoing changes to policies around borders and access to interstate travellers, have resulted in crippling uncertainty among tourism operators and would-be travellers alike, the letter states. Guests who had previously been prepared to postpone travel have now cancelled in light of the latest announcements on long term border closures. Fundamentally, we have seen these decisions erode confidence in the domestic tourism product and foresee serious, long-term damage to Australian tourism as a result. The letter stated this should have been the moment for the tourism industry to welcome a new domestic market, but instead border closures have been just another devastating setback. This is an industry that directly employs over 5 per cent of the nations workforce or around 660,000 Australians, with millions more indirectly employed in or reliant on the tourism industry, the letter stated. This effective shutdown of the industry affects tourism businesses such as hotels, airlines, tour operators, travel agencies and attractions, as well as a wide range of other businesses which supply tourism operators or who benefit from visitors spending, particularly in regional Australia. And when JobKeeper ends in March 2021, CEOs believe existing tourism businesses simply wont be around to employ Australians. Story continues When international borders reopen, it is likely that the tourism industry will be so diminished that we will not be able to accommodate the number of international visitors that Australia needs to bolster our economy. Business groups warn of crippling border effect This is the second open letter penned to state governments about the border rules, with around 30 business groups urging the Prime Minister to provide some clarity around border restrictions, or risk further damage to the economy. The business groups warned the piecemeal border closures are impacting families, destroying jobs and crippling the economic recovery. "A transparent and easily understood set of nationally consistent principles is urgently needed," the groups said. "This would allow states and territories to apply a uniform set of internal border controls in response to outbreaks or changes in conditions." Qantas CEO Alan Joyce also blamed border closures for the decimation of the aviation industry, saying a national framework on restrictions would boost domestic flying. "We're not saying, 'open the borders' blankly," Joyce said. "We're saying, 'Let's have the rules to say what would you have to see in order for those borders to be open.'" Qantas profits plunged 91 per cent in the financial year, with the airline losing nearly $2 billion after tax, and axing some 6,000 jobs. Jims Mowing founder Jim Penman also asked Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to step aside in an open letter slamming the states Stage Four restrictions. You are mismanaging the COVID crisis and sending Victoria into a spiral of deep despair, Penman said. Are you a millennial or Gen Z-er interested in joining a community where you can learn how to take control of your money? Join us at The Broke Millennials Club on Facebook! The EAM made the remarks while delivering the Presidential address at the 19th Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture. New Delhi: Lashing out at Pakistan without naming it, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that sustained pressure through international mechanisms to prevent the movement of funds for terror groups and their front agencies has compelled a state "complicit in aiding, abetting, training and directing terror groups and associated criminal syndicates to grudgingly acknowledge the presence of wanted terrorists and organised crime leaders on its territory". The EAM made the remarks while delivering the Presidential address at the 19th Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture. The obvious reference was to Pakistan, which had recently in effect admitted to the presence of terrorist and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim on its soil as part of its measures to free itself from the grey list of global anti-terror funding watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Jaishankar said, "All the while, states that have turned the production of terrorists into a primary export have attempted, by dint of bland denials, to paint themselves as victims of terror. But as we have seen last week, sustained pressure through international mechanisms to prevent the movement of funds for terror groups and their front agencies can work." Adding that several anti-terror mechanisms are in place to contend with terrorism after 9/11 and 26/11 attacks, Jaishankar said that the international community still lacks a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism due to clash of certain foundational principles. On the issue of economic self-reliance, the EAM said, "Like the rest of the world, India too has been severely tested by the pandemic. But there is confidence in our ability to transform the challenge into opportunity. Believe me, our country has enough cards to play if we have the confidence to play them." He also said that the world must revisit the very concept of globalisation, claiming that it had been allowed to be defined by the interests of a few, who visualised the process largely in financial, trade and travel terms. "The true challenges are terrorism, pandemics and climate change. Unfortunately, there are some who persuade themselves that they can draw the benefits while leaving the risks, threats, and challenges for others to deal with. This is predicated upon a false confidence that such problems can be localised in some regions of the planet, while others stay free from such contagion," he said. The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the University Grants Commissions (UGC) decision to have final year exams conducted by September 30. A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said that there was no infirmity in the July 6 circular that asked universities across the country to complete final year exams by the said deadline. It also maintained that states and universities will have to hold exams to promote students and confer degrees, and that internal assessments will not suffice the requirements of the UGC. About the decision taken by some states to not conduct exams by September 30, the bench held that although the states will be authorised to postpone exams under the Disaster Management Act, they will not be able to confer degrees on students without exams. The top court further said that states should approach the UGC with their problems and asking for suitable reliefs regarding the final year exams. The bench was adjudicating a clutch of petitions against the UGCs July 6 directive to the universities for holding the final year/semester exams by September 30. Student petitioners sought cancellation of exams in view of the soaring cases of COVID-19, and demanded they should be assessed on the basis of internal assessments and past performances. Four states and Union territories Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal and Odisha supported this in the top court and apprised the bench of their decision to cancel the exams. UGC and Centre, on their part, maintained that holding exams was in the best interest of students and that a SOP was in place to ensure safety of students at the examination centres. They also submitted that states have no power to cancel degree exams or devise their own way of assessing students since UGC was the only authority under the law to provide for standards and confer degrees. The bench was told that students degrees might not be recognised unless UGCs mandate is followed by all universities. The CBI team, currently in Mumbai to investigate Sushant Singh Rajput's death case, recorded the statement of Rhea Chakraborty's brother Showik for eight hours on Thursday. Actress Rhea Chakraborty, accused of abetting the suicide of filmstar Sushant Singh Rajput, reached the DRDO guest house in Mumbai on Friday morning for questioning by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), an official said. This is for the first time that Rhea Chakraborty (28) is being questioned by the CBI in the Sushant death case. She was summoned by the central agency to appear before its probe team on Friday around 10.30 am, the official said. Rhea Chakraborty, Rajput's girlfriend, left her residence around 10 am to reach the DRDO guest house in suburban Santacruz, where the probe team is stationed, he said. The CBI team, which is in the city since the last eight days to investigate the Sushant death case, on Thursday recorded the statement of her brother Showik Chakraborty. The recording of the statement lasted for more than eight hours. The CBI has so far questioned the late actor's flatmate Siddharth Pithani, cook Neeraj Singh and domestic help Deepesh Sawant, among others, as part of its probe in the high-profile case. Meanwhile, a petition filed in the Bombay High Court has sought a direction to news channels and others to "postpone" the "media trial" in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide, saying it could hamper the probe. The plea, filed on Wednesday, is yet to be taken up for hearing by the high court. Petitioners Nilesh Navlakha and two others demanded directions to news channels to limit their coverage of the case and the probe. The ongoing sensational reportage on the issue might hamper the probe being conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), it said. Since 14 June, the day Rajput allegedly committed suicide, "several prominent media channels have been conducting media trials" and "parallel proceedings", the petition said. TV channels and other media outlets have "proceeded to already convict" the accused named in the FIR, it said. Such parallel investigation goes against the Supreme Court's past rulings and basic principles of law, the petition said. The high court should ask the media to "postpone reporting....debates, discussions of any kind tantamount to media trial...that will directly or indirectly hamper the investigation in the case," the plea said. The petitioners have made several news channels party to the litigation. They had filed complaints with the Union government authorities against some TV channels, but were yet to get a response, the petitioners said. * In France, Yellow Vest protesters agitated for more benefits paid for by the wealthy, and the government of President Emmanuel Macron blamed capitalism for fueling inequality. Atop Spains coalition government, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his Spanish Socialist Workers Party want to fund more social spending with higher taxes on wealthy individuals. Elsewhere, some socialist movements are in decline. Germanys Social Democrats ended 2019 more unpopular than at any time in living memory. In the U.K., the opposition Labour Party was trounced at the polls in December under an avowed socialist who proposed re-nationalizing rail, energy and water companies. And Ecuador, once associated with authoritarian socialist regimes such as those in Venezuela and Nicaragua, is moving in a new direction under President Lenin Moreno, who unexpectedly steered the country to the right after taking office, spurring violent protests that forced him to move the government out of the capital temporarily. President Trump speaks from the South Lawn of the White House on Thursday, the final day of the Republican National Convention. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) In accepting the Republican nomination for a second term as president, Donald Trump sounded lofty themes of national unity and love for country while also offering a glowing and highly exaggerated account of his stewardship. He claimed, for example, that he had done more for African Americans than any president since Abraham Lincoln and promised to produce a coronavirus vaccine "before the end of the year or maybe even sooner. He also made characteristically reckless attacks on his Democratic opponent, suggesting that the election of Joe Biden would threaten the American way of life. "Despite all of our greatness as a nation, everything we have achieved is now endangered," Trump ominously warned. "This election will decide whether we save the American dream, or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny.... Your vote will decide whether we protect law-abiding Americans, or whether we give free rein to violent anarchists, agitators and criminals who threaten our citizens." His broadside against Biden was a reminder of how this president has trafficked in demagoguery and distortion throughout his time in office. It also undermined attempts by his party during its virtual convention to project a more optimistic and inclusive message that might peel away enough voters to secure the president's reelection. That sort of fear-mongering was a central theme of Trump's speech Thursday, and it echoed a recurring convention motif that a Democratic victory in November would bring about a dystopian nightmare of socialism, unchecked rioting and liberal thought police. The protests sparked by the deaths of George Floyd and other Black Americans at the hands of police were another recurring theme not because of the issues they raised, but because of the violence they have at times unleashed. For Trump and his allies, the issue isn't just law and order, it's the fear of a cultural reckoning. Story continues The convention's culture warriors included Mark and Patricia McCloskey, a white couple from St. Louis who pointed firearms at protesters marching past their home and face charges of felony unlawful use of a weapon. Echoing Trump's racially freighted rhetoric, Patricia McCloskey warned on Monday that Democrats would bring crime, lawlessness and low-quality apartments into thriving suburban neighborhoods. She added: No matter where you live, your family will not be safe in the radical Democrats America. The speakers' hyperbolic warnings occasionally bore some relationship to actual events. Some cities are, in fact, riven by violent protests. But the proceedings often felt like a festival of falsehoods and exaggerations not just about Democratic nominee Joe Biden, but also about the presidents character and record. The speakers largely ignored the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (no masks in sight!), the millions of jobless Americans and Trump's lack of a second-term agenda; instead, they sought to distract from his abrasive, blame-shifting and often inept leadership by declaring him a strong president who cares deeply about all Americans and who can single-handedly restore the economy to record-setting heights. That reality-challenged rhetoric reflected the personality cult that is the Trump presidency as well as today's GOP. The party didn't even bother to adopt a new platform, which would have required getting Republican leaders across the country to agree on principles and a plan for the next four years. Instead, it referred voters to its 2016 version while saying that it will continue to enthusiastically support the presidents America first agenda. The convention also reflected Trumps proclivity for blurring the distinction between his political interests and those of the nation, a blind spot that led to his impeachment after he attempted to have Ukraine, a nation desperately dependent on aid from the United States, to investigate Biden. It wasn't just that Trump used the White House as a backdrop for his acceptance speech. A naturalization ceremony for new citizens was woven into the convention's partisan programming, and Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo addressed the convention from Jerusalem, despite the tradition that the nation's top diplomat should abstain from partisan political activities. Yet the GOP also tried to project a more optimistic and inclusive message, one that might induce a requisite number of voters including suburban women troubled by Trumps callousness and casual bigotry to vote for the president without too many pangs of conscience. Numerous speakers of color were featured over the four days, along with multiple individuals testifying to Trump's concern for them as small-business people or individuals forgotten by Washington. First Lady Melania Trump acknowledged the hardships suffered by many Americans this year and reminded the audience that "we are all one community, comprised of many races, religions and ethnicities." Its doubtful how successful these kinder, gentler themes would have been in obscuring Trumps actual record of demagoguery, dishonesty and divisiveness. But the president's unfair attacks on his opponent made it clear what another Trump term would be like: More of the same, in terms of both belligerent policy and caustic bluster. He is what he is. A letter has been sent by TV Licensing to the "current occupier" of Kew Palace, despite the fact that no one has lived there for 200 years. King George III, who died in 1820, was the last resident of the house in west London. Rachel Mackay, the manager of historic royal palaces at Kew, posted a message on Twitter with a photograph of the letter, which was marked "Action Required Immediately". "Oh good, it's the time of year where I have to explain to the TV Licensing Authority why King George III hasn't paid his TV licence since 1820," she said in the tweet. The house, which is the smallest of all the royal palaces, is located in Richmond beside the River Thames. It was built in 1631 for a silk merchant called Samuel Fortrey and later served as one of King George II and Queen Caroline's residences. George III was kept by doctors in the palace complex when he suffered what was described as his first bout of "madness" in 1788. His mental illness grew worse in 1810 and a regency was declared the following year. Vowing to make America the manufacturing superpower of the world, US President Donald Trump has said that he would provide tax credits to companies that would bring back jobs from China. Trump, in his acceptance speech to the Republican National Convention which re-nominated him as the Republican Party's presidential candidate, said that his administration in the second term will create 10 million jobs in 10 months. Over the next four years, we will make America into the manufacturing superpower of the world. We will expand opportunity zones, bring home our medical supply chains, and we will end our reliance on China once and for all, Trump said on Thursday night. He promised to continue reducing taxes and regulations at levels not seen before. Just as I did in my first term, I will cut taxes even further for hardworking moms and dads, not raise them. We will also provide tax credits to bring jobs out of China back to America and we will impose tariffs on any company that leaves America to produce jobs overseas. We'll make sure our companies and jobs stay in our country, as I've already been doing. Joe Biden's agenda is Made in China. My agenda is Made in the USA, Trump said as he unveiled his economic vision for his second term. Trump, 74, who is seeking his re-election in the November presidential elections, is being challenged by Democratic nominee and former vice president Joe Biden. Biden has promised to abolish the production of American oil, coal, shale and natural gas laying waste to the economies of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Colorado and New Mexico. Millions of jobs will be lost and energy prices will soar, he said. These same policies led to crippling power outages in California just last week. How can Joe Biden claim to be an ally of the light' when his own party can't even keep the lights on? For America, nothing is impossible. Over the next four years, we will prove worthy of this magnificent legacy. We will reach stunning new heights. And we will show the world that for America, no dream is beyond our reach, Trump said. The president said that this election will decide whether we save the American dream, or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny. It will decide whether the US will rapidly create millions of high paying jobs, or whether crush industries and send millions of these jobs overseas, as has foolishly been done for many decades, Trump said. Your vote will decide whether we protect the law abiding Americans, or whether we give free reign to violent anarchists, agitators and criminals who threaten our citizens, he said. Trump said that he was voted to power four years ago, Washington insiders asked him not to stand up to China. They pleaded with me to let China continue stealing our jobs, ripping us off and robbing our country blind. But I kept my word to the American people. We took the toughest, boldest, strongest and hardest hitting action against China in American history. They said that it would be impossible to terminate and replace North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) but again, they were wrong. Earlier this year, I ended the NAFTA nightmare and signed the brand new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement into law. Now auto companies and others are building their plants and factories in America, not firing their employees and deserting us, said the president. Trump said that in the next four years, his administration will have strong borders, strike down terrorists who threaten people, and keep America out of endless and costly foreign wars. We will ensure equal justice for citizens of every race, religion, colour and creed. We will uphold your religious liberty, and defend your Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, he said. The US, under him, will greatly expand energy development, continuing to remain number one in the world, and keep America energy independent, he added. The US and China in the beginning of this year signed Phase-1 of a trade deal, ending a bitter two-year tariff war that had rattled the global economy. Trump has often accused China of stealing American jobs. 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. The Governance Research Bureau on Thursday cautioned the New Patriotic Party (NPP) against the belief that it will win the Western Region in the 2020 Election as it did in 2016. Rather, the Bureau said, the NPP should research into the factors that led to the loss of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Region and learn lessons from them because they found themselves in a similar situation as the NDC in 2016. This was contained in a statement jointly signed and issued in Accra by Dr Kwame Asah Asante and Dr Ezekiel Nortey, both resource persons from the Bureau. It said in the 2016 Presidential Election, the NPPs average votes of 482,000 in the Western Region, since 1992, shot up dramatically to 500,000, while that of the NDCs average vote of 520,000 dropped to 482,000. This, according to the statement, should be a source of concern to the NDC because their loss was a gain for the NPP, which overturned the tables by winning 16 out of the 26 constituencies in the Region, the same seats that were won by the NDC in 2012. It said the performance of the NPP in the Region in 2016 reflected its status as a swing region in which victory had alternated between the two parties. It recommended that the NDC should work to maintain their average performance of 520,000 votes or better it in addition to winning Shama, which was a swing constituency with huge votes. The statement urged the parties to work to maintain or improve their average performance in their strongholds and work hard to win the Shama seat. 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 Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Daniar Supriyadi and Gregorius Bimantoro (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 28 2020 We have been fighting the COVID-19 pandemic for almost seven months since the first positive case was announced on March 2. In strategizing healthcare during the pandemic, an initiative of enabling patients to virtually visit their physicians, instead of face-to-face, has been endorsed to push down the virus transmission. Such practice is essentially called telemedicine, which ranges from e-medical diagnosis to e-prescriptions. Many providers of telemedicine continually try to enhance their services in response to the new normal, and closely collaborate with the relevant authorities and stakeholders while engaging in co-regulation to make the most of telemedicine and e-health, which are thriving during this pandemic. 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 tight-knit community of Champaign, Illinois, has come together in support of its law enforcement after the towns police department headquarters was targeted by vandals. Over 300 people showed up at a demonstration, performing prayer and public speaking in defense of local officers. One of the organizers of the pro-police rally, Tim Voges, characterized the meeting as a show of support as well as a pledge to respect Champaign police. We need to show that the community supports our police, Voges told WCIA, knowing that theres some things that need to be worked on, but they are still our police and we need to respect them. On Aug. 13, under the guise of a peaceful protest, the vandals approached the property and used non-water-soluble paints, glue, and other materials to deface the building, sidewalk, and other public infrastructures, according to a press release. Champaign Police Department, Illinois (Screenshot/Google Maps) City cleanup crews spent the next morning removing the graffiti, which included racial slurs in violation of Champaigns Human Rights Ordinance and images that implied a threat to city employees. The City of Champaign supports peaceful protests and our residents rights to self-expression, local officials explained in the press release, however, the defacing of public property, like what occurred last night at the Champaign Police Department, will not be tolerated. The peaceful rally organized in response to the vandalism was held at Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana. The proceedings began with a prayer to unite the group in their common cause. Then a series of speakers took turns speaking. Then a group of over 300 lined up on Champaigns Race Street and waved American flags and held hand-painted signs with slogans like, Champaign County supports our police and God Bless America. A spate of similar rallies have popped up across the nation in response to anti-police rioting. Many count themselves among the growing Back the Blue movement, an ACT for America campaign to build community support for law enforcement officers, be they local, state, or military. The first week of August saw hundreds attending another Back the Blue demonstration in Raleigh, North Carolina. On Aug. 16, thousands of bikers and truckers rallied through Wayne County, New York, in support of state law enforcement, Breitbart reported. The New York rally included a convoy of 26 fire trucks and a number of prominent businesses who lent their names to the cause. Everybody just came together and its incredible, co-organizer Tracy Zornow told WROC. I cant believe the turnout we have here today. Its just kind of grown over the past month, added fellow co-organizer, Roberta Irwin. People from all over are tired of being quiet and they want an avenue to show they want to back the police officers. We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc Coronavirus hits isolated Indian island tribe Ten members of India's dwindling Great Andamanese tribe have tested positive for coronavirus, officials said Thursday, fuelling concerns about the safety of the group and other indigenous people in the remote archipelago. Some of the Great Andamanese tribe members travel to Port Blair, capital of India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where they have government jobs Six of the 10 have recovered and are in home quarantine, officials told AFP, while the rest are undergoing treatment at a local hospital. Just over 50 Great Andamanese people survive today and live on the tiny Strait Island where the Indian government looks after their food and shelter. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a chain in the Indian Ocean with a population of some 400,000, has reported 2,268 coronavirus cases so far with 37 deaths. Indian authorities sent a team of health officials to Strait Island on Sunday after six members of the tribe tested positive in the archipelago's capital Port Blair recently. Some of the tribe's members travel to Port Blair where they have government jobs. "The team tested 37 samples and four members of the Great Andamanese tribe were found to be positive. They are admitted in hospital," Avijit Ray, a senior health officer in charge of disease management in the Andamans, told AFP. Sanjiv Mittal, a senior government officer for tribal welfare, told AFP authorities were doing their best to keep all the members safe and healthy. - Extremely vulnerable - Anthropologists and activists for isolated tribal communities say more than 5,000 Great Andamanese lived in the islands when British settlers arrived in the 19th century. However, hundreds were killed in conflicts as they defended their territories from British invasion, and thousands more were wiped out in epidemics of measles, influenza and syphilis, according to Survival International. In recent days, concerns have grown for the safety of the Great Andamanese and other tribes, including the remote Jarawa and the Sentinelese people. Poachers continue to invade their territory despite strict government restrictions. Last week, eight fishermen were arrested for illegally entering the Jarawa's territory, local media reported. In 2018, a 26-year-old American missionary seeking to convert the nomadic hunter-gatherer tribe was killed after he secretly visited the North Sentinel island. His body was never retrieved. Outsiders are banned from visiting the island, to protect the Sentinelese way of life and avoid exposing them to infectious diseases. As one of the most isolated tribes in the world, the Sentinelese are extremely vulnerable to diseases from outsiders, especially during a global pandemic such as the coronavirus, experts say. "The Andaman authorities must act urgently to prevent the virus reaching more Great Andamanese and to prevent infection in the other tribes," said Sophie Grig, a senior researcher with Survival. "The waters around North Sentinel must be properly policed and no outsiders should enter the territories of any of the Andaman tribes without their consent." She added: "We've certainly seen in the US, in Brazil, in Peru, indigenous communities (being) disproportionately hit. In Brazil where there are more than a hundred uncontacted tribes still living, (the) fear of the disease is getting into those communities." The virus has already hit tribes in Brazil and Peru hard, including some of the isolated Amazon tribes. According to the Brazilian Indigenous Peoples' Association, 26,000 indigenous people have been infected and 690 have died during the country's pandemic. India is the third worst-hit country in the world behind the US and Brazil, with more than three million coronavirus cases. There, some 60,000 people have died from the infection so far. Most of us have a dubious perception of cops, and many find it rather unbelievable that the police can also work with patience and kindness when a situation demands it. Of course, a lot of it is based on unjustified stereotypes, but much of it also arises out of facts. However, regardless of which side of the scale you find yourself on, a recent incident involving the Kerala police has won over peoples hearts by tackling a school boys earnest complaint in the most compassionate way. Twitter/The News Minute So recently, class 6th student Pavan Nash from Ernakulam in Kerala found out that the gooseberry tree he had been tending to for the past 2 years had been cut off by some unknown person. Pavan was heartbroken and angry over the matter, and thats when his elder sister Pavithra, a class 10 student, along with their school teacher Harikumar urged him to contact Chiri, a Kerala Police initiative for children. After Pavithra alerted her teacher, she also rang up the SPC nodal officer at her school -- Lobelia HSS, Nayarambalam. Next, the complaint was taken up with the police and they decided to intervene. Twitter/caribbean news network Soon enough, the cops visited Pavan bearing saplings of gooseberry, guava, and sitafal as well as a CCTV surveillance system to help him keep an eye on them in the future. Obviously, Pavan was ecstatic. Since the news broke, people have been applauding the Kerala police for handling the situation so sensitively. A Kerala boy comes back home to find his gooseberry tree missing. He informs authorities. What happens next will make you smile. https://t.co/KV4tmnJn2a Dhanya Rajendran (@dhanyarajendran) August 28, 2020 Amidst all the negativity & this pandemic, this story is like a breath of fresh air. Rajiv B Menon. B as in Beethoven. (@crypticrajiv) August 28, 2020 Such a touching and heart warming story devisree (@sreesab) August 28, 2020 The Casino Association of New Jersey, Local 54, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, and city and state governments expect to phase out some of the industrys workers who are here on J-1 visas. They are also creating vocational training programs whose priority will be to prepare city and county residents for such jobs. Programs might start as soon as September and participants should start being ready to work by next spring. McDevitt said some might be hired before then because in certain areas casinos are short-staffed. Local jobs going to local residents helps strengthen the region in many ways. The degree of coordination and cooperation across the range of stakeholders is part of a trend that is helping revive Atlantic City. Theres every reason to think that the industry will return to growth after the pandemic ends, since it had 21 straight months of increases in total gaming revenue before the state closed the casinos. Meanwhile, the industry needs to be able to serve guests food indoors with the adaptations that have become the new pandemic norm around the country. Ota Benga was kidnapped from what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1904 and taken to the US to be exhibited. Journalist Pamela Newkirk, who has written extensively about the subject, looks at the attempts over the decades to cover up what happened to him. More than a century after it drew international headlines for exhibiting a young African man in the monkey house, the Bronx Zoo in New York has finally expressed regret. The Wildlife Conservation Society's apology for its 1906 exhibition of Ota Benga, a native of Congo, comes in the wake of global protests prompted by the videotaped police killing of George Floyd that again shone a bright light on racism in the United States. During a national moment of reckoning, Cristian Samper, the Wildlife Conservation Society's president and CEO, said it was important "to reflect on WCS's own history, and the persistence of racism in our institution". He vowed that the society, which runs the Bronx Zoo, would commit itself to full transparency about the episode which inspired breathless headlines across Europe and the United States from 9 September 1906 - a day after Ota Benga was first exhibited - until he was released from the zoo on 28 September 1906. But the belated apology follows years of stonewalling. 'He was a zoo employee' Instead of capitalising on the episode as a teachable moment, the Wildlife Conservation Society engaged in a century-long cover-up during which it actively perpetuated or failed to correct misleading stories about what had actually occurred. As early as 1906 a letter in the zoo archives reveals that officials, in the wake of growing criticism, discussed concocting a story that Ota Benga had actually been a zoo employee. Remarkably, for decades, the ruse worked. Who was Ota Benga? Captured in March 1904 by US trader Samuel Verner from what was then Belgian Congo. His age is not known, he may have been 12 or 13; Taken by ship to New Orleans to be shown later that year at World's Fair in St Louis with eight other young males; The fair continued into the winter months where the group was kept without adequate clothing or shelter; In September 1906 he was exhibited for 20 days in New York's Bronx Zoo, attracting huge crowds; Outrage from Christian ministers ended his incarceration and he was moved to New York's Howard Coloured Orphan Asylum run by African American Reverend James H Gordon; In January 1910 he went to live at the Lynchburg Theological Seminary and College for black students in Virginia; There he taught neighbourhood boys how to hunt and fish and told stories of his adventures back home; He later reportedly became depressed with his longing for home and in March 1916 shot himself with a gun he had hidden. He was thought to be aged around 25. https://cdn.ghanaweb.com/imagelib/pics/779/77908746.jpg In 1916, following Ota Benga's death, a New York Times article dismissed as urban legend tales of his exhibition. "It was this employment that gave rise to the unfounded report that he was being held in the park as one of the exhibits in the monkey cage," the article said. The account, of course, contradicted the numerous articles that a decade earlier had appeared in newspapers across the country and in Europe. The New York Times alone had published a dozen articles on the affair, the first under the 9 September 1906 headline: "Bushman Shares A Cage With Bronx Park Apes". Then, in 1974, William Bridges, the zoo's curator emeritus claimed that what actually occurred could not be known. In his book The Gathering of Animals, he rhetorically asked: "Was Ota Benga 'exhibited' - like some strange, rare animal?" a question that he, as the man who presided over the zoo archives, would know best how to answer. "That he was locked behind bars in a bare cage to be stared at during certain hours seems unlikely," he continued, patently ignoring mountains of evidence in the zoological society archives that reveal just that. An article about the exhibition, written by the zoo director, had in fact appeared in the zoological society's own publication. Nonetheless, Bridges wrote: "At this distance in time that is about all that can be said for sure, except that it was all done with the best of intentions, for Ota Benga was interesting to the New York public." 'Friendship between captor and captive' Compounding these deceptive narratives was a book published in 1992 and co-authored by the grandson of Samuel Verner, the man who went to Congo heavily armed to capture Ota Benga and others to exhibit at the 1904 St Louis World's Fair. The book was absurdly characterised as the story of friendship between Verner and Ota Benga. In at least one newspaper account since the book's publication, the younger Verner also claimed that Ota Benga - who had vigorously resisted his captivity - had enjoyed performing for New Yorkers. So for more than a century, the very institution and men who had so ruthlessly exploited Ota Benga, and their descendants, contaminated the historical record with untrue narratives that circulated around the world. Even now, Mr Samper has apologised for exhibiting Ota Benga for "several days", and not for the three weeks he was held captive in the monkey house. The zoo has now posted online digitised documents it holds of the episode, among them letters that detail the daily activities of Ota Benga and the men who caged him. Many of those letters are already cited in my book, Spectacle: The Astonishing Life of Ota Benga, published in 2015. In the five years since its publication, zoo officials had inexplicably refused to express regret or even respond to media inquiries. And while I had the opportunity to visit the primate house where Ota Benga was exhibited and housed, the building has since been shuttered to the public. 'Best room in the monkey house' Now, Mr Samper says: "We deeply regret that many people and generations have been hurt by these actions or by our failure previously to publicly condemn and denounce them." He also denounced founding members Madison Grant and Henry Fairfield Osborn, both ardent eugenicists who played a direct role in Ota Benga's exhibition. Grant went on to write The Passing of The Great Race, a book steeped in racist pseudo-science that was praised by Osborn and hailed by Adolf Hitler. Osborn went on to lead for 25 years the American Museum of Natural History where in 1921 he hosted the second International Eugenics Congress. Curiously, Mr Samper did not mention William Hornaday, the zoo's founding director who was also the nation's foremost zoologist and founding director of the National Zoo in Washington, DC. Hornaday had littered the cage housing Ota Benga with bones to suggest cannibalism and had brazenly boasted that Ota Benga had "the best room in the monkey house". Some feel the conservation society now needs to follow its incomplete apology with rigorous truth-telling befitting a leading educational institution. The episode offers the zoological society the opportunity to educate the public about the history of the conservation movement and its ties to eugenics. The Bronx Zoo's founding principles were among the most influential disseminators of specious racial inferiority theories that resonate still. One suggestion has been that the society might also consider naming its education centre for Ota Benga, whose tragic life and legacy is inextricably bound to the Bronx Zoo's. 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 PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---The printing of the final batches of the annual Hurricane Passes for the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season, have been delayed due to COVID-19 lockdown. Another delay was related to the quarantine and isolation of several members of the staff due to COVID-19. The processing and printing process were delayed by two-months, but every effort is being made to facilitate the aforementioned. Those who applied for a pass will be contacted by email with respect to when they could come to the department to collect their pass which would be from Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 1100am. There are two types of passes, the Disaster Pass and the Hurricane Pass. Hurricane passes are issued to essential business owners and workers of essential organizations who comply with the requirements. The Office of Disaster Management falls under the Ministry of General Affairs and handles the application process for the passes on behalf of the Prime Minister. The Hurricane Pass is valid for the 2020 and 2021 hurricane seasons and will remain the property of the Government of Sint Maarten. Applicants of passes are reminded that any abuse of the pass can mean the pass will be taken away and the person will not be eligible to request a pass in the future. The pass system is a mechanism to maintain public order during emergency situations. The Prime Minister assesses the damage in conjunction with Emergency Disaster Management entities of the Government after a disaster has occurred and can impose a curfew if the extent of the damage poses a threat to the safety and security of the community. A right to information (RTI) request filed by a Maharashtra-based student organisation has revealed that several city colleges are yet to reimburse refundable deposits to students who graduated between 2006 and 2017. According to information revealed by the RTI, three colleges are yet to refund almost Rs2.5 crore collectively to their students. The Ambedkar Students Association (ASA) released the RTI findings on Thursday, which show that Jai Hind, Mithibai and GN Khalsa colleges have reimbursed only a part of the refundable deposit. College heads, however, said that no student has ever been denied the refundable deposit. As per university rules, said principals, such deposits can be secured by students within a time limit, and beyond that, the money can be converted into a student welfare fund for the current students of the institute. We are a charitable trust and have to show our ledger books to the charity commissioner every year; we cant afford to not follow the rules. Not only have students not claimed the money within the stipulated time frame, but in many cases, our students have refused to claim the money and asked us to use the fund for the benefit of students in the college, said Ashok Wadia, principal of Jai Hind College. He added that never has there been a case of a student seeking refund of deposits being denied the same. As per documents shared by ASA, Jai Hind College has collected over Rs53 lakh in refundable deposit and has reimbursed Rs12.50 lakh over the years. Similarly, Matungas GN Khalsa College has collected over Rs1.39 crore between 2006 and 2017, and reimbursed around Rs22.6 lakh, while Vile Parles Mithibai College has collected Rs1.32 crore and refunded around Rs22.8 lakh to students. Crores of rupees have not been refunded over the years by these colleges, and we can only imagine what the status is of other affiliated colleges of the University of Mumbai. We have demanded that the state government look into this matter immediately, said a spokesperson for ASA. Principals of GN Khalsa and Mithibai College were unreachable for comment, despite several messages and calls by HT. SEPTA has implemented social distancing measures on the subways, with green stickers on the seats helping with spacing. The transit agency estimates it is losing $1 million a day because of the pandemic's impact on ridership. Read more SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards warned Pennsylvania legislators last week that draconian cuts in Regional Rail, subway, trolley, and bus service are inevitable without Harrisburgs help in devising permanent solutions to the authoritys money woes. Her testimony during a virtual House Transportation Committee meeting was not an occasion for the first such dire prediction; the authoritys doomsday response to a 2013 funding crunch included a strikingly similar route map of an eviscerated SEPTA with fewer lines, routes, and stations. And ever since SEPTA was established by the state in the 1960s, it has been underfunded in comparison with similar systems in Boston and Chicago and has regularly found itself trudging hat-in-hand to Harrisburg. The catastrophic drop in ridership and the squeeze in capital funding provided by Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls, both caused by the pandemic, are largely responsible for SEPTAs immediate operating and capital budget crises. According to Richards, average daily losses total $1 million. But the deeper issue is the chronic shortfall in political will largely caused by the historical disdain for Philadelphia in Harrisburg. This antipathy is neither universal among nor limited to Republicans. But for too long, elected officials from suburban and rural parts of Pennsylvania have failed to grasp the statewide economic importance not only of maintaining, but enhancing, reliable regional mass transportation systems in Philadelphia as well as in Pittsburgh and smaller cities. The role of efficient transit in the states economic competitiveness can only grow as the impact of climate change deepens in the coming decades. The 2013 funding crisis did lead to an innovative, but short-term, arrangement to support capital spending by SEPTA and other transit systems with turnpike toll revenue. Beyond the unpredictability of the already scheduled capital fund payments caused by the pandemic, theres the looming sunset of the arrangement itself on July 1, 2022. The shift makes it even more difficult to budget for much-needed capital projects in the coming decade. Among those envisioned is the replacement of two-thirds of the cars on the Regional Rail fleet, which is expected to cost $1.1 billion. READ MORE: SEPTA threatens to cut Regional Rail lines, pull back subway and trolleys in next decade if Harrisburg doesnt boost funds There are some encouraging developments. Legislation proposed by State Rep. Tim Hennessey, a Montgomery County Republican who chairs the House Transportation Committee, would enable counties statewide to levy and collect a transit funding tax to support local transit agencies. His proposal is similar to a recommendation made in 2019 by the Southeastern Partnership for Mobility, a public-private partnership that assessed the Philadelphia regions transit and transit funding needs. And a report by a House transportation infrastructure task force headed by State Rep. Martina White, a Philadelphia Republican, last year called for streamlining state funding and ending the diversion of money for transit infrastructure projects. These proposals and recommendations could prove to be sound mechanisms to sustain SEPTA. But structural change in the apportionment of seats on SEPTAs board also would help; collectively, the interests of the four suburban counties outweigh the interests of Philadelphia home to the majority of the systems riders. Richards presentation to the legislators may have been melodramatic. But it was necessary. And while similar warnings may have been heard before in Harrisburg, this one ought to be heeded. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 28) The local government of Cainta, Rizal has distributed the traditional Chinese medicine Lianhua Quingwen to coronavirus-hit individuals who are undergoing home quarantine as advised by consultant doctors in the municipality, Mayor Kit Nieto said Friday. Nieto said in a briefing that Lianhua Quingwen which was approved by the Philippines Food and Drug Administration, but not for COVID-19 treatment earlier this month is being prescribed under strict doctors advice. They (doctors) are mature enough to check on it and make sure that it is something that has efficacy and that is not detrimental to their [patients] health, Nieto added. According to the FDA, the prescriptive drug is approved as a traditionally used product [that] helps remove heat-toxin invasion of the lungs, including symptoms such as fever, aversion to cold, muscle soreness, stuffy and runny nose. Nieto said aside from the herbal medicine, they also gave other medicines as well as pulse oximeters to COVID-19 patients. A pulse oximeter is an electronic device that is said to be helpful in assessing patients with lung illnesses. The mayor noted that because of these measures, they were able to reduce the number of active cases to 198 from 203 in three days. Of the total number, 167 are currently on home quarantine. He said the infected individuals from Cainta who are going through quarantine at home are assigned to a doctor. Each physician manages and monitors the health condition of at least five COVID-19 patients, he added. He pointed out that initially, they have deployed 40 doctors, but that number increased to 42 as some physicians volunteered their services. With the number of doctors na nakatutok doon sa mga pasyente, lumaki 'yung probability namin na mas ma-manage lahat at matutukan at ma-declare alin doon 'yung mga recovered, Nieto said. [Translation: With the number of doctors monitoring the patients, the probability of managing all cases and declaring who among them have recovered got bigger.] As of Thursday, the number of coronavirus infections in the Rizal town is 775, with 545 recoveries and 32 deaths. The Awoamefia of Anlo, Torgbui Sri III has assured President Akufo-Addo of the Anlo State's support for his second term bid. Torgbui Sri expressed appreciation to the President for having demonstrated true love to the chiefs and people of Anlo through the creation of the Anloga District from the existing Keta Municipality among other things. He said this while giving his welcome address during the President's visit to the Anlo State said completed and ongoing projects such as the Lagoon Landing Site, Anloga, Bomingo Steel Bridge and the new Anloga District Assembly Complex being constructed were testaments to Nana Akufo-Addo's love for the area, thus, deserving of the people's support. "We assure you of our unflinching support in bringing development to our District and wish you God's protection, guidance, wisdom and all the best and success in your campaign for four more years." Torgbui Sri said though the people of Anloga District were grateful for the good works so far, it would be a great relief to the people if government could work to deliver before the end of 2020, the 20-kilometre Agortoe-Tregui- Bleamezado to Bekpo Road initiated by the previous government. He said "another road project demanding prompt attention is the Srogboe to Anyanui Road, which is in dire need of rehabilitation", as well as Alakple-Kome, Atito-Fiaxor, and Galo Sota- Bomingo roads. The Awoamefia also appealed to the President to consider constructing a sea defence wall at Fuveme near the Volta estuary to prevent "the sea from wiping them off the face of the earth." President Akufo-Addo and his entourage' visit to the Volta Region was aimed to among others, commissioning a 16-unit classroom block at Keta Senior High Technical School and the Keta Water Expansion project. ---GNA Plastic in Sri Lankan landfills has become a major killer of elephants Sri Lanka will ban the import of most plastic products in a bid to protect wild elephants and deer that die eating the waste, the environment minister announced Friday. Plastic in Sri Lankan landfills is a major killer of elephants, with autopsies showing kilos of it in the stomachs of animals who died after rummaging at dumps. Environment minister Mahinda Amaraweera told parliament legislation was being drafted to stop imports of plastic goods, including polythene, that end up in landfills. Officials said it would be introduced within months. "Plastics are doing untold damage to our wildlifeelephants, deer and other animals," Amaraweera told AFP shortly after his announcement. "We need to take immediate action to arrest this situation." Sri Lanka has already banned the manufacture or import of non-biodegradable plastic used for wrapping food and shopping bags since 2017. Endangered wild elephants are protected in Sri Lanka by law although clashes with farmers are claiming a heavy toll on both sides. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has given wildlife officials two years to implement a plan to reduce human-elephant conflict that has claimed the lives of 607 elephants and 184 people since last year. Amaraweera said the proposed import banthat covers mainly toys and household utensilswill be extended to local manufacturing, but did not give a timeline. Explore further Sri Lanka elephants face plastic danger foraging dumps for food 2020 AFP Beijing: A bronze statue of Indian doctor Dwarkanath Kotnis, who is revered in China for his contributions during the Chinese revolution headed by its founder Mao Zedong and the World War II, would be unveiled outside a medical school in North China next month, according to the official media here. Kotnis, who hailed from Sholapur in Maharashtra came to China in 1938 as part of a five-member team of doctors sent by the Indian National Congress to help the Chinese during World War II. He joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 1942 and died the same year at the age of 32. The bronze statue of Kotnis, known in China as Ke Dihua, would be formally unveiled at the medical school at Shijiazhuang in September, state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday. Kotnis' medical assistance during the difficult days of the Chinese revolution was praised by Chinese leader Mao Zedong. His status and memorials were also set in some of the Chinese cities in recognition of his services. He is married to Chinese national Guo Qinglan, who died in 2012. Apart from the school named after him as the Shijiazhuang Ke Dihua Medical Science Secondary Specialised School, there are memorials of Kotnis in both Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei province, and Tangxian county where he once worked. Late Chinese leader Mao Zedong was deeply affected by his death, the report said. Mao wrote in his eulogy that "the army has lost a helping hand, the nation has lost a friend. Let us always bear in mind his internationalist spirit". According to Liu Wenzhu, an official of the Shijiazhuang Ke Dihua Medical Science Secondary Specialised School, since the founding of the school in 1992 more than 45,000 medical professionals have graduated from it. Each of the new students and staff must swear in front of a stone statue of Kotnis that they would work like him, he said. Liu hopes that Kotnis will be remembered not only as a symbol inspiring medical students to work hard, but also an eternal bond between the people of China and India. "We are the world's two most populous countries ... We should always be friends, coexisting peacefully," he told Xinhua. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday interrogated Rhea Chakraborty, who is accused of abetting actor Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide, for over ten hours. Chakraborty left the DRDO guest house complex in Santacruz a little after 9 pm. She may be summoned again on August 29. Zee News has accessed the details of the interrogation and according to sources, Riya could not a direct answer to the questions of the CBI. The questions were, "did you break up with Sushant on June 8? If yes, what was the reason for the breakup?" To this, Rhea couldn't give a clear reply. The CBI further asked her that "Sushant tried to call you at around 2 pm on June 14. You did not see any SoS in it? You did not call back Sushant in the morning either?" The investigation agency also asked her, "after leaving home on June 8, why did you not make any attempt to take Sushant's condition by calling Sushant's sister Mitu or any of Sushant's staff for the next 1 week?" "When you could not be contacted on June 9, Sushant called your brother Showik and asked about your situation, if at that time he was very much worried about you and why did you not contact despite what Shovik told you?" With no clear answer, Rhea only said that all the allegations against her are baseless. "I am innocent. I do not know what happened to Sushant between June 8 and June 14. There was no transaction between Sushant and my company nor have I taken any money from Sushant. The evidence of how deep Sushant was in depression can be given to you by doctors who were treating Sushant." She further said, "Sushant was worried about my poor relationship with Sushant's family and especially Priyanka Singh. He tried to solve it but Priyanka did not listen. Once Sushant wanted Rani Di's help in this matter, his brother-in-law OP Singh scolded Sushant saying 'keep my wife (Rani Di) away from these issues of yours'. He never wanted to tell his father about these quarrels so that he does not get upset. He only expected help from Rani Di." "Sushant was supposed to get Rs 15 crore for a film, but due to the lockdown, neither the film could be completed nor the payment was received by Sushant, he was also worried about this," she added. She left the DRDO guest house for home after the questioning by the CBI but again left her house and arrived at the Santa Cruz Police Station. In the morning, Chakraborty had left her residence around 10 to reach the guest house where the Central Bureau of Investigation's team is stationed. Before her arrival, Rajput's flatmate Siddharth Pithani and manager Samual Miranda had reached the DRDO guest house. The CBI team, which is in the city for the last eight days to investigate the Sushant death case, had on August 27 recorded the statement of Rhea's brother Showik Chakraborty. The CBI has so far questioned Pithani, cook Neeraj Singh and domestic help Deepesh Sawant, among others, as part of its probe in the high-profile case. Earlier, before the CBI took over the probe, the Mumbai police had recorded Rhea Chakraborty's statement. The Supreme Court last week upheld the transfer of an FIR, lodged by Rajput's father in Patna against Rhea Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting his son's suicide and misappropriating his money, to the CBI. The 34-year-old actor was found hanging on June 14 in his flat in suburban Bandra. John James John James, Michigan GOP Senate candidate Bill Pugliano/Getty Images Companies owned by Michigan Republican Senate candidate John James have a history with tax liens in multiple states, while another got tax breaks for jobs it did not create, the Detroit Metro Times reports. James has worked at James Group International, which was founded by his father, since 2012 as its director of operations, and became its president in 2014. The company owns subsidiaries like Renaissance Global Logistics and Magnolia Automotive Services. In 2014, James Group International owed $10,439 in state taxes to Mississippi, according to a lien recorded in Madison County that was reviewed by Salon. The lien was released about three months later, according to records. The Indiana Department of Revenue also filed two tax liens against Magnolia Automotive Services, which is part of James Group International and is run by James' brother Lorron James, last year. One lien was for $6,451 and another was for $396, according to Indiana court records reviewed by Salon. Both liens have since been resolved. The James campaign told Salon that the $6,451 lien was produced due to a clerical error and was resolved, but provided no documentation to corroborate the claim. The campaign said the company did not receive a record of the second lien but would resolve it as necessary. James, whose campaign has gotten a sizable financial boost from the family of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, touted his family's company during a brief pre-taped appearance at the Republican National Convention this week when he shared his family's journey "from slave to share cropper, from mason to entrepreneur, to the door now of the U.S. Senate." James, who trails first-term incumbent Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., in most recent polls, has invoked his business career since his first national television interview with "Fox & Friends," where host Ainsley Earhardt described him as the possible "future of the GOP." Story continues "I got out of the military and I joined my family business, a small automotive logistics company in Detroit, and grew the company from $35 million to $137 million in revenue and added 100 jobs in Michigan and east of the Mississippi," James said at the time. The story of the Iraq War helicopter pilot-turned-entrepreneur drew the attention of President Donald Trump, who has twice endorsed James. "He will be a star," Trump declared. Another company with a history of tax liens, Motor City Express, has been reported by multiple news outlets as being part of James Group International, which the James campaign says is not the case. Salon reviewed tax liens filed against Motor City Express in Michigan's Wayne County for $6,732 in 2012 and in Indiana for $253 that same year. The James campaign said that the company was sold in 2011 but did not provide any documentation, nor was Salon able to find a publicly available record of a sale. Asked who owns the company now, campaign spokeswoman Abby Walls replied, "not John James." "John James' family business is a good community citizen that pays its taxes, works to provide good jobs with quality healthcare, and support our Michigan-made manufacturing," Walls said in a written statement. "Through the company, John and his family have been community leaders noted for their charitable and philanthropic work in the Detroit community. They did this while Sen. Gary Peters sat in Washington and voted to raise taxes 106 times. Michigan needs more business people with the hands-on knowledge and skills it will take to help our country recover, not more failing career politicians." The statement came after documents published by the Detroit Metro Times earlier this week showed that Renaissance Global Logistics, where James serves as chief executive officer, received $1.75 million in tax breaks from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) on the condition that the company create 108 new jobs prior to James becoming CEO. Instead, the company has lost more than 30 jobs after he took over, the outlet reported, adding that the "MEDC revoked its tax-exempt status after it failed to create the jobs it promised." The report added that it does not appear that there was a "clawback" clause that would have required the company to pay back the taxes. James became CEO of the company in 2015, the year of the jobs creation deadline. In February 2016, the MEDC warned that the company had 90 days to meet the condition or have its tax status revoked. The company sought an extension until the end of 2017, citing the auto industry's struggles. But the MEDC said in a 2017 memo that the company "failed to create one-hundred eight (108) new jobs by December 31, 2015 as required per the agreement." Crain's Detroit later reported that the company failed to create a singe job in Michigan during James' tenure between 2012 and 2017. The report appears to contradict claims made by James during his previous unsuccessful 2018 Senate bid. "Send a job creator to Washington who understands that working-Michiganders are looking for a fair hand up, not a free handout," he tweeted in 2017. The campaign did not comment on the report. Renaissance Global Logistics later received a Paycheck Protection Program loan worth between $1 million and $2 million, despite James' vilifying government "handouts" on the campaign trail. "We believe at West Point that you don't lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do, which is why I've gotten President Trump's endorsement," he told Fox News in 2018. "I've never taken a handout a day in my life." (Disclosure: Salon received a PPP loan to keep our staff and independent journalism at 100%.) Related Articles Banksy has funded a ship to rescues refugees who get into difficulty while trying to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea from north Africa. The vessel sailed from the Spanish port of Burriana, near Valencia, on August 18 and on Thursday the boat, named after 19th Century French anarchist Louise Michel, rescued 89 people including 14 women and four children. The ship, which has the word 'rescue' in pink on the side, is now looking for a safe port for the passengers to disembark in or a European coastguard boat to transfer them to. Activists with experience in search and rescue are crewing the boat which has also already helped with two other operations that rescued more than 100 people. It set off from Spain under a shroud of secrecy to make sure European authorities could not block the rescue boat. Banksy has financed the boat, the Louise Michel, which rescued 89 migrants in distress trying to reach Europe from north Africa The 102 foot long motor yacht used to be owned by the French customs authorities and is quicker than many of the other rescue ships used by NGOs in the Mediterranean, according to the Guardian. Banksy's has been involved in rescuing migrants at sea since last September, when he emailed German born activist Pia Klemp who has captained a number of NGO rescue ships. He wrote: 'Hello Pia, I've read about your story in the papers. You sound like a badass. 'I am an artist from the UK and I've made some work about the migrant crisis, obviously I can't keep the money. Could you use it to buy a new boat or something? Please let me know. Well done. Banksy.' A visitor takes photos of the works of art in the exhibition 'The World of Banksy' on August 25, 2020 in Barcelona At least 500 people are known to have died this year while crossing the Mediterranean Ms Klemp said that the artist's role is strictly financial backing, she told the Guardian: 'I don't see sea rescue as a humanitarian action, but as part of an anti-fascist fight 'Banksy won't pretend that he knows better than us how to run a ship, and we won't pretend to be artists.' At least 500 people are known to have died this year while crossing the Mediterranean but the true death toll is likely even higher. Forty five people, including five children, died on Wednesday after their boat's engine blew up off the Libyan coast according to the UN. A Florida man who spent the last 37 years in prison on a rape and murder charge was released Thursday, hours after officials revealed dramatic new evidence that proved his innocence. Robert DuBoise walked out of the Hardee Correctional Institution in Bowling Green, Florida, shortly after 2pm With him were his mother and sister. 'It's an overwhelming sense of relief,' Robert DuBoise told reporters outside the prison. 'I prayed to God every day and hoped for it.' The 56-year-old was serving a life sentence, having been convicted in 1983 for the murder of 19-year-old Barbara Grams. She had been raped and beaten while walking home from her job at a Tampa mall. DuBoise's conviction centered on one piece of evidence: an alleged bite mark on the victim's face. A jailhouse informant's testimony also helped convict him. On Thursday, a lawyer from the Innocence Project and a lawyer from the Hillsborough County Conviction Review Unit spoke during an online court hearing and addressed the false evidence that led to DuBoise's conviction. Experts proved the mark wasn't from a bite, and the jailhouse informant was not credible. Former inmate Robert DuBoise, 56, and Innocent Project Staff Attorney Susan Friedman meet reporters outside the Hardee County Correctional Institute after serving 37 years in prison, when officials discovered new evidence that proved his innocence yesterday, in Hardee County, Florida Robert DuBoise is released from prison, yesterday in Bowling Green, Fla. Robert DuBoise hugs his mother after being released from prison yesterday , in Bowling Green, Fla. Judge Christopher Nash ruled that DuBoise, who was serving his sentence in Hardee County, Florida, should be released immediately. DuBoise said he will have to learn many modern things, such as how to use a computer and how to shop at a Walmart. But he added he bears no ill will toward those involved in his long incarceration. 'If you keep hatred and bitterness in your heart, you don't have room for anything else,' he said. 'I'm just very grateful.' His mother, Myra DuBoise, said she prayed every day for this outcome. 'It's a wonderful gift from the lord,' she said. Harriet DuBoise, his sister, said it's great to be able to hug her brother again. 'I always had faith. I always saw him getting out,' she said. 'I never lost hope. Never.' Former inmate Robert DuBoise, 56, and Innocent Project Staff Attorney Susan Friedman meet reporters outside the Hardee County Correctional Institute after serving 37 years in prison, when officials discovered new evidence that proved his innocence yesterday, in Hardee County, Fla. DuBoise, wrongly convicted in 1983 for a murder in Tampa, Fla., was released yesterday after DNA evidence exonerated him Barbara Grams (pictured) was 19 when she was slain in Tampa in 1983. She had been raped and beaten while walking home from her job at a Tampa mall Teresa Hall, the supervising attorney for the conviction review unit - a team dedicated to reviewing potential wrongful convictions - said during an online court hearing that she spent months combing through 3,500 pages of documents in the case. She found that much of the physical evidence in the case had been destroyed. But she was able to track down rape kit evidence at the county medical examiner's office and process that for DNA. Within a week, that evidence excluded DuBoise. 'Robert knew the DNA would vindicate him,' said Susan Friedman, the Innocence Project lawyer. 'Even though he was told over a decade ago that the biological evidence was destroyed, he wouldn't give up.' The case has since been reopened and authorities have a suspect in Grams' rape and murder. Hall said the person 'does not pose a threat to public safety at this time.' The state and defense are handling the process in two steps. The hearing Thursday was to reduce DuBoise's sentence to equal the amount of time he already served behind bars. The judge also scheduled Sept. 14 to hear a motion to overturn DuBoise's entire conviction. 'He is kind, patient and deeply committed to his faith,' Friedman said. 'Today marks the first day that the system is starting to recognize what he has been saying or 37 years - that he is an innocent man, wrongfully convicted.' Officials launched an investigation Thursday into what they said was an erroneous, racist robocall aimed at discouraging voters in battleground states from casting their ballots by mail. The recorded message features a woman who says she works for "Project 1599," founded by the right-wing operatives Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, and falsely warns that personal information of those who vote by mail will be shared with police tracking down warrants and credit card companies collecting outstanding debt, according to recordings of the call reviewed by The Washington Post. Wohl and Burkman denied their involvement in the call, blaming "leftist pranksters." "Don't be finessed into giving your private information to the man," the recording says. "Stay safe and beware of vote-by-mail." It's not known how many people were targeted in Democratic-leaning Detroit, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Announcing the inquiry into the call's origin, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel rebutted the misinformation, warning residents that the recorded message may proceed more flagrant falsehoods directed at voters as the November election nears. "This is an unconscionable, indefensible, blatant attempt to lie to citizens about their right to vote," Benson wrote in a statement. "The call preys on voters' fear and mistrust of the criminal justice system - at a moment of historic reckoning and confrontation of systemic racism and the generational trauma that results - and twists it into a fabricated threat in order to discourage people from voting." Benson previously faced off with President Donald Trump when he threatened Michigan funding over her decision to send absentee ballot applications out of concern for the coronavirus pandemic depressing turnout. Trump has repeatedly questioned the accuracy of vote-by-mail, even though he applied for a 2020 absentee ballot in Florida. Wohl rebutted that the call was racist and said he and Burkman are "no fan" of mail-in voting. The phone number listed was Burkman's cellphone number. "No one in their right mind would give out their (cell) number on a robo (call)," Burkman told The Washington Post, adding that Benson alerting residents about the misinformation was self-promotion. He said he would file a defamation lawsuit against her. In response to a question about Burkman's legal threat, Benson's spokeswoman Tracy Wimmer said Burkman should take the real caller to court. She also referred The Post to her news release, which said that the source of the call is not yet known but that the caller claimed to be associated with Wohl and Burkman "two political operatives with a known reputation for spreading misinformation in an effort to gain notoriety." Famed for conspiracy theories and slapdash media briefings in Burkman's driveway, Wohl and Burkman have been booted from social media sites including Twitter for their outlandish claims, including a bogus sexual assault accusation against special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. Wohl previously recorded robocalls, according to the Daily Beast, which obtained a 2019 call from him, offering cash to Delaware and Pennsylvania residents with evidence of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden saying racial epithets. It's unclear how effective a spin campaign like this could be in the upcoming presidential election, according to Michael McDonald, a political scientist at the University of Florida, but chicanery to suppress minority enfranchisement is nothing new. "This has been a dirty trick that's been in the playbook for a long time," McDonald said. "We've seen misinformation and disinformation given to particularly minority communities and African American communities to try to suppress their vote." Trump narrowly won Michigan in 2016 due to low turnout in Detroit - whose population is 78.6% Black, according to census data. In Pennsylvania, Trump won by a slim margin but lost in the counties Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are in. Black residents make up 42% and 23% of those cities' populations respectively. Republican voters in those states and 11 others were called by Donald Trump Jr. this week with a contradicting message: Cast your ballots by mail. "President Trump is counting on you to make a plan to return your absentee ballot request. Voting absentee is a safe and secure way to guarantee your voice is heard," Trump Jr. said. Nancy Hart, a 59-year-old Pittsburg resident, laughed when she heard Wohl's name when she got the robocall Wednesday. She wondered if her number was targeted, as she writes for an African-American-focused community news blog. "It made me wonder if there was a reason if I specifically got it," she said. When Michelle Autry, a 51-year-old Philadelphia resident, was called Wednesday, she sent a message to the office of Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro out of concern for fraud. Misleading robocalls are illegal in Pennsylvania and Michigan and intimidating voters is a federal crime. Shapiro's office didn't immediately respond to The Post for comment. "It was gross," Autry said. "It was so obviously fake." Autry worried she was targeted because she was a Democrat. Due to health concerns, she still intends to vote by mail. Pakistans criticism of Saudi-led Muslim bloc OIC for its inaction on the Kashmir issue has threatened their ties. Islamabad, Pakistan Pakistan has reaffirmed the strength of its relations with Saudi Arabia this week after a diplomatic spat sparked by perceived inaction by the Gulf kingdom on the issue of Kashmir threatened to derail what has been one of the South Asian countrys strongest alliances in the region. Earlier this month, Pakistan accused the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a bloc of 57 Muslim-majority countries that is led by Saudi Arabia, of inaction over the Kashmir issue a key policy issue for Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and threatened to hold a rival meeting that would bypass the group. I am once again respectfully telling the OIC that a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers is our expectation, said Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a television news appearance on August 4. If you cannot convene it, then Ill be compelled to ask Prime Minister Imran Khan to call a meeting of the Islamic countries that are ready to stand with us on the issue of Kashmir and support the oppressed Kashmiris. Pakistan has been trying to drum up international support following New Delhis decision to strip Indian-administered Kashmir of its special status last August. The call was a shot across the bows, ostensibly challenging Saudi Arabian hegemony over leadership of the Muslim world, analysts say, and cut to the heart of the Gulf kingdoms foreign policy. It was extraordinary and unprecedented, says Cyril Almeida, senior fellow at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and a Pakistani journalist. No one had ever seen anything like it before [in the Pakistan-Saudi relationship]. In response, Saudi Arabia withdrew a $1bn interest-free loan it had extended to Pakistan in November 2018, when the country was in dire economic straits and required foreign reserves to avoid a possible sovereign default. The kingdom has also, so far, refused to renew a deferred oil payments scheme that was part of the same package, aimed at helping Pakistan ease its import bill. On August 17, Pakistans powerful Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa was dispatched to Saudi Arabia for talks that were downplayed by a military spokesperson as being routine and dealing with military-to-military matters. Days later, Pakistans foreign office issued a statement that was glowing in its praise of the OICs role on Kashmir, and on Monday, Foreign Minister Qureshi appeared to walk back the comments that initiated the rift. The OIC has passed many resolutions on Kashmir and there is no ambiguity in them, he told reporters in the Pakistani capital Islamabad. They are clear, they are assertive and they are in line with Pakistans position. I can say to you clearly today: on the issue of Kashmir, Saudi Arabia does not have any difference of opinion [with Pakistan]. So, what exactly happened? Very out of character Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have historically held very close ties, with the former dependent on the Gulf kingdoms oil supplies and financial largesse in times of economic strife. Last year, the two countries trade relationship totalled more than $1.7bn, of which 74 percent consisted of Pakistani oil imports from Saudi Arabia, as per Pakistani central bank data. In all, Pakistan imports roughly a quarter of its oil from Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is also home to more than 2.5 million Pakistani expatriate workers, whose remittances form a major portion of Pakistans incoming foreign reserves every year. Last month, Pakistanis resident in Saudi Arabia sent home more than $821m, roughly 30 percent of all remittances into the country, according to central bank data. The two countries have also had close military ties, with Pakistan providing troops and training to the kingdom at its request. The military partnership with Pakistan is important to Saudi Arabia, says Madiha Afzal, a foreign policy fellow at the US-based Brookings Institution. And Pakistans population brings a venue for Saudi religious soft power and influence Pakistan is the fifth largest country in the world, it is majority Sunni, and Saudi Arabia wants it squarely in its corner. Given the close ties, Afzal says Pakistani Foreign Minister Qureshis initial remarks were very out of character for Pakistan. Moreover, the threat to convene a meeting bypassing the OIC would directly undermine Saudi Arabias posture, and position, of leadership in the Muslim world. This is not the first time Pakistan has posited the possibility of an alternate bloc. In December, Malaysia hosted the Kuala Lumpur Summit, a group that rivalled the OIC and was initiated by Malaysia, Saudi rival Turkey and Pakistan. Pakistani Prime Minister Khan pulled out of attending the summit at the last minute, and in later remarks attributed his decision to Saudi objections to the group. Pakistan has also objected to growing ties between Saudi Arabia and India, Pakistans eastern neighbour, with whom it has fought three full-scale wars since both countries gained independence from the British in 1947. On a visit to Islamabad in 2019 Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) signed $20bn in projects with the South Asian country. A visit to New Delhi immediately after saw MBS say he expected to invest more than $100bn in Pakistans regional rival. Saudi-India bilateral trade stands at more than $30bn. In recent years, under MBS, a more pro-active Saudi Arabian foreign policy has seen countries such as Iran, Turkey and Qatar fall squarely in its crosshairs. But could Pakistan pivot away from its historic sponsor? 200819103415259 The issue really was challenging Saudi leadership of the Muslim world, says James Dorsey, a Singapore-based academic and journalist who has studied Pakistan-Saudi ties for decades. It would mean Pakistan hooking up with Turkey, Iran, Qatar and possibly Malaysia and Indonesia, three of which are Saudi rivals. That pivot, however, is unlikely to happen given current circumstances, says Dorsey. Pakistan needs energy supplies, finance and investment. The Saudis seem to have called finance and potentially energy into question given the lack of response to a Pakistani request for an extension of the delay in Saudi oil supplies, he says. Given Pakistans still tenuous economic prospects the economy shrunk by 0.38 percent in the last financial year, the first time it has done so in more than 60 years why pick the fight at all, then? It is a bit of a mystery, says Almeida, the journalist. Conventional wisdom since Qureshis outburst on local TV is that the foreign minister got carried away that he was likely tasked by the [Pakistani] military to diplomatically raise Pakistans concerns with Saudi Arabia, but delivered a message that in substance and tone was beyond the brief he was given. Delicately walk back Qureshis remarks this week, and an earlier Foreign Office (FO) statement, appeared at stark odds with those made earlier, and appear to signal a de-escalation in tensions, analysts have said. I think that [FO] statement, more than anything, suggests that Pakistan will not take the actions [the foreign minister] hinted at in his remarks, says Afzal. And it suggests that the Saudi reaction including on the [Pakistani army chiefs] trip has led Pakistan to delicately walk back Qureshis comments. Afzal says the Pakistani walk-back indicated that the country does not have the option of [turning away from Saudi Arabia] in any significant way. Dorsey believes the tensions will continue to simmer, albeit in private rather than public. Both sides likely will want to downplay the spat and prevent it from escalating, he says. But even if the Saudis back down, it will leave scars. For Almeida, Pakistan has developed other foreign allies to rely on in times of economic distress notably China, with whom it is building the $60bn China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) but the possibilities afforded by those relationships are not endless. The rise of China and the centrality of Pakistan to the Belt and Road Initiative has given Pakistan new strategic options, he says. China is believed to have provided emergency funds to Pakistan after the Saudis demanded a part of their loan back. [] While surely neither Pakistan nor Saudi would want a rupture in ties, Pakistan is not as dependent on Saudi assistance as it may once have been. Afzal says Saudi Arabia appeared to have drawn a clear line in the sand and pushed Pakistan back across it. Pakistans expectations from the OIC and Saudi Arabia on Kashmir have now been tempered, and realism has set in on that front for Islamabad, she says. This ties Pakistans hands a bit on the issue of Kashmirs autonomy. With that new boundary established, ties may soon resume at close to their previous tenor, she says. As long as Pakistan doesnt push Saudi Arabia where it doesnt want to be pushed (on Kashmir), the two countries can get past the spat. Asad Hashim is Al Jazeeras digital correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim. Alvin Owens, 52, a Kenosha, Wis., resident in front of his boarded-up barbershop and teen resource center, Rebel Barber Collective. (Jaweed Kaleem / Los Angeles Times) In this small city he has called home for 52 years, Alvin Owens stood in front of his boarded-up barbershop. Businesses not far away had been turned to ash. He never figured that kind of fire and rage would land here, but when police shot a Black man this week, all the unspoken things exploded, just as they have across America since the early days of summer. It's a moment that hits a man hard, makes him take stock of where he's from, even here on the banks of Lake Michigan, where one could once pretend, but not anymore, that the nation's problems involving race and policing reside in other, bigger places. "I'm angry. I'm sad. I want justice," said Owens, a Black activist who was tear-gassed as he marched against the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old now left paralyzed and handcuffed to a hospital bed after a white officer fired seven bullets into his back at point-blank range. "I'm shocked at my city. I'm hopeful. I want peace." Seven miles southwest, just past the Kenosha city line, Tim Pinter parked his GMC truck to block the entrance to his subdivision. He had come to his own reckoning. He stood guard in camouflage pants and a bulletproof vest, holding a semiautomatic rifle with his 17-year-old son by his side as his wife and other kids slept down the road. "I've shot a lot of guns before, but I've never sat outside my home with one," said Pinter, 47, a white construction worker who has lived here all his life. "I saw what's happened in Portland, in Minneapolis. I never thought it would come home to us." Kenosha, a former industrial town of 100,000, where shift work was an heirloom and unions thrived, is like much of America facing a political and moral crossroads. Daytime protests gave way to late-night riots and vigilantes carrying assault rifles. Fires have burned. The mayor is overburdened; the National Guard is in the streets. Racial tensions have sparked anew in a city once sought out as a relative haven from the segregation and crime of Milwaukee to the north and Chicago to the south. Story continues Now, as the nation watches, Kenosha has become the focal point not only of the latest chapter of the American debate over race, policing and protest but also of competing political narratives exposing divisions that have festered over four years and appear certain to resound into the future. Tim Pinter guards the entrance to his neighborhood with a semiautomatic rifle. (Jaweed Kaleem / Los Angeles Times) Weeks away from the election, President Trump has singled out Kenosha as he vows to impose "law and order" while his challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden, has demanded that "justice must and will be done" for Blake. Long a Democratic stronghold, Kenosha County flipped red by just 238 votes four years ago in this crucial swing state that Trump barely won. The pressures haven't been lost on city leaders and residents in this town unaccustomed to the spotlight, where police, residents and protesters alike said they were shaken and unprepared for the scope of the unrest this week. "I'm not good at this," Kenosha's mayor, John Antaramian, said this week in a public address. "This is not what I'm used to." The head of the local NAACP, Anthony Davis, spoke alongside the mayor this week, saying he was disappointed that "Blake being gunned down has turned him into a spectacle." Police Chief Daniel Miskinis lamented that his city, "once known for American Motors and the lakefront," was now "known for violence." The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into Sunday's police shooting of Blake, who was struck after officers attempted to arrest him on the street while responding to a report of a domestic dispute. One officer grabbed Blake's tank top, firing shots into his back as Blake tried to enter his SUV. Three officers are on administrative leave pending a state Justice Department investigation. Officials said Blake had a knife in his car but did not say if the officer knew that when opening fire. A lawyer for Blake, Benjamin Crump, has described police as "reckless" and said the family will sue. The shooting of Blake was followed by more bloodshed. Police arrested a 17-year-old, Kyle Rittenhouse, across the border in Illinois on charges of killing two people Tuesday night by an uptown gas station that he patrolled with an AR-15. Videos showed Rittenhouse, a self-styled vigilante, running from people chasing him. He is due in a Lake County, Ill., court Friday for an extradition hearing. Suddenly, Kenosha was on the map for out-of-towners with varying agendas. Kenosha police said Thursday that they arrested nine people headed toward the city in a minivan, bread truck and school bus with out-of-state plates. Police said they found "gas masks, protective vests, illegal fireworks and suspected controlled substances" in the vehicles. Garbage and dump trucks were burned Sunday near the Kenosha County Courthouse, where they had been set up to prevent damage to the building. (Associated Press) Those arrested face disorderly conduct charges. A Seattle-based group formed this year to feed protestors, Riot Kitchen, said its members who were getting fuel for their vehicles and generator were the ones arrested. The arrests came Wednesday evening, the first night this week without a major incident after a 7 p.m. curfew. Men like Owens and Pinter wonder when calm will come again, when the Guardsmen and women will depart the streets, the fence around the courthouse will be taken down and hauled away, and protesters with shields and gas masks will run no longer through the haze of tear gas. Owens, whose Regimen Barber Collective shop and teen resource center was supposed to open with a celebration Sunday for his birthday, now will host Blake's family for a "Justice for Jacob Blake" march that will leave from his property Saturday afternoon. The son of a Chrysler autoworker, he grew up as one of nine kids not far from his shop. He said he opened it to "give back to my community." It's down the street from a tiki cocktail lounge mere blocks from Sheridan Road, a main street that's rapidly gentrified with small businesses over the years, some now burned to the ground. Shops are now boarded up, and owners have painted over the wood with bright murals: "EquALLity," "#PrayForKenosha" and "vote for change." "This is a segregated city, and there's always been some tension and racism," he said of the town in a county where 74% of people are white, 7.4% are Black and 13.5% Latino. "This is that kind of place people will move to but then move out five years later, or the place where kids grow up, go to college and never come back. I wonder if more people will now want to leave." The factory where his dad worked, formerly American Motors Lakefront Assembly Plant, attracted thousands to the city and made it a union stronghold before shutting down in 2012. In recent years, newer non-union distribution centers, including Amazon and Uline, have tried to fill the gap that's still felt today. The promise to uplift places such as Kenosha, once part of the mighty industrial Midwest, has been key to Trump's campaign. On Thursday, Owens stood at a news conference as the mayor, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and local and national NAACP leaders admonished community members to vote, saying the president would further fan racial tensions if reelected. Back in Pleasant Prairie, the suburb popular with sheriff's deputies where Pinter guarded his street with an armed crowd that had tripled in size over the week, the construction company co-owner who had built several uptown shops said he felt grief for his city, and feared that he and neighbors were being lumped in with vigilantes uptown. "I feel for the Blake family, but I also don't want my city, businesses run by people who are my friends and clients, burned down. Let the investigation run its course," said Pinter, a Trump supporter who said he trusted the president more than his Democratic governor to take care of Kenosha. A resident of the area for 42 years, who grew up with a dad who was an engineer and a mom who was a teacher, he joined his two brothers who also came out to stand watch. "I have no intention to hurt anybody, and I think the shootings by that kid this week are horrible," said Pinter, who said he met with dozens of his neighbors this week, assigning shifts and deciding to communicate with walkie-talkies as they guarded their subdivision of single-family homes. Though police issued public warnings against armed militias and vigilante justice, open-carry was the law. "Behind the guns, we're just regular people," Pinter said, "who want to keep our families safe." Kelly Marie Tran attends the European premiere of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" on December 18, 2019. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Disney) Disney has recast the lead role in animation Raya and the Last Dragon, bringing in Star Wars actor Kelly Marie Tran to replace Cassie Steele. The movie is Disneys first film to be inspired by Southeast Asia, with the Vietnamese-American Tran becoming the first Southeast Asian Disney lead. The 31-year-old actor, who played Rose Tico in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, told EW she experienced a blissful feeling when recognising names and locations in the script. Read more: Pixar announces sea monster animation Luca Tran plays the titular chiefs daughter, who embarks on a quest to find the last dragon, which she believes can help save her kingdom. That water dragon, named Sisu, can transform into a human being and is voiced by The Farewell Golden Globe winner Awkwafina. 'Raya and the Last Dragon'. (Credit: Disney) Tran added: The best thing that I was able to do was trust in the process and trust those involved just knowing that this thing is bigger than us. Strangely enough, that's also one of the things in the movie, is Raya, to get through this journey, she needs to learn how to trust. Read more: Best animated shorts on Disney+ The star said that, much like with the title character in Moana, Raya is Disney trying to flip the narrative of what constitutes a princess. Tran described her as a really badass, gritty warrior who is more than capable of taking care of herself. Concept art released for 'Raya and the Last Dragon'. (Credit: Disney) Its Trans first major role since she found herself at the heart of controversy following her Star Wars debut in 2017s The Last Jedi. The star quit social media after being subject to abuse by racist trolls in the wake of her appearance in Rian Johnsons divisive movie. Read more: Tran reveals how she coped with internet trolls Her role again proved controversial in last years The Rise of Skywalker, with many complaining that the character was sidelined after playing such a prominent role in the previous movie. Writer Chris Terrio claimed that many of her scenes were due to be alongside Carrie Fishers General Leia, whose role had to be minimised as a result of Fishers death in 2016. Raya and the Last Dragon is due to be released in March 2021. Kathmandu, Aug 28 : Nepal reported 1,100 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours, a record high number of single-day infections in the Himalayan country. "With 1,111 new cases in the last 24 hours, the overall caseload has reached 35,529," Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population, told a press conference on Thursday. The previous single-day high was on August 18 with 1,016 cases, reports Xinhua news agency. Although Nepal had been witnessing a sharp decline in cases since July 3, the infections started to surge once again after the government ended the lockdown on July 22, allowing almost all economic and social activities to resume. "Now, the infection rate is growing rapidly day by day and it is estimated to grow further in the upcoming few days," said Gautam. "So, the government is increasing tests in the areas where there is more risk of infections." He said the country is facing more challenges due to the resurgence in the number of cases which have spread among the communities. In the initial months of outbreak, most of the cases were confined among the migrant Nepali workers who had returned home and were housed in several quarantine centers. The authorities have blamed the surge on people who were not following health protocols and going out without face masks. The capital Kathmandu has emerged as the new hotspot of the pandemic, with the Kathmandu Valley alone detecting 377 new cases on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Health Ministry also confirmed eight new Covid-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total toll to 183. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Buildings and homes are flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) One of the strongest hurricanes ever to strike the U.S., Laura barreled across Louisiana on Thursday, shearing off roofs and killing at least six people while carving a destructive path hundreds of miles inland. A full assessment of the damage wrought by the Category 4 system was likely to take days, and the threat of additional damage loomed as new tornado warnings were issued after dark in Arkansas and Mississippi even as the storm weakened into a depression. But despite a trail of demolished buildings, entire neighborhoods left in ruins and almost 900,000 homes and businesses without power, a sense of relief prevailed that Laura was not the annihilating menace forecasters had feared. "It is clear that we did not sustain and suffer the absolute, catastrophic damage that we thought was likely," Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said. "But we have sustained a tremendous amount of damage." He called Laura the most powerful hurricane to strike Louisiana, meaning it surpassed even Katrina, which was a Category 3 storm when it hit in 2005. The storm toppled trees and damaged structures as far north as central Arkansas. Laura's top wind speed of 150 mph (241 kph) put it among the strongest systems on record in the U.S. Not until 11 hours after landfall did Laura finally lose hurricane status as it plowed north and thrashed Arkansas, and even by Thursday evening, it remained a tropical storm with winds of 40 mph (65 kph). A chemical fire burns at a facility during the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) The storm crashed ashore in low-lying Louisiana and clobbered Lake Charles, an industrial and casino city of 80,000 people. On Broad Street, many buildings had partially collapsed. Windows were blown out, awnings ripped away and trees split in eerily misshapen ways. Police spotted a floating casino that came unmoored and hit a bridge. At the local airport, planes were overturned, some on top of each other. Part of a transmission tower toppled into the emptied-out studios of KPLC-TV, whose staff evacuated hours before landfall to broadcast from other locations. In front of the courthouse was a Confederate statue that local officials had voted to keep in place just days earlier. After Laura, it was toppled. "It looks like 1,000 tornadoes went through here. It's just destruction everywhere," said Brett Geymann, who rode out the storm with three family members in Moss Bluff, near Lake Charles. He described Laura passing over his house with the roar of a jet engine around 2 a.m. Benjamin Luna helps recover items from the children's wing of the First Pentecostal Church that was destroyed by Hurricane Laura, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Orange, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) "There are houses that are totally gone. They were there yesterday, but now gone," he said. Following Laura's passage, a massive plume of smoke visible for miles began rising from a chemical plant. Police said the leak was at a facility run by Biolab, which manufactures chemicals used in household cleaners such as Comet bleach scrub and chlorine powder for pools. Nearby residents were told to close their doors and windows and turn off air conditioners, and the fire smoldered into the night. State and federal aircraft headed into the skies over the coast to look for signs of any other industrial damage. The fatalities included a 14-year-old girl and a 68-year-old man who died when trees fell on their homes in Louisiana, as well as a 24-year-old man who died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator inside his residence. Another man drowned in a boat that sank during the storm, authorities said. A person surveys the damage Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, after Hurricane Laura went through the area near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) No deaths had been confirmed in Texas, which Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said would amount to "a miracle." Chevellce Dunn considered herself among the fortunate after a night spent huddling on a sofa with her son, daughter and four nieces and nephews as winds rocked their home in Orange, Texas. Left without power in sweltering heat, she didn't know when electricity might be restored. "It ain't going to be easy. As long as my kids are fine, I'm fine," Dunn said. President Donald Trump planned to visit the Gulf Coast this weekend to tour the damage. More than 580,000 coastal residents evacuated under the shadow of a coronavirus pandemic and calls for masks and social distancing to combat its spread. It was the largest evacuation order since the pandemic began and many people followed it, filling hotels and sleeping in cars. Although not everyone fled from the coast, officials credited those who did leave for minimizing the loss of life. A airplane hanger is destroyed Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, after Hurricane Laura went through the area near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Forecasters had warned that the storm surge of 15 to 20 feet would be "unsurvivable" and could push 40 miles inland. Edwards said the storm surge wound up in the range of 9 feet to 12 feetstill bad, but far from the worst forecast. He was hopeful damaged homes could quickly be made habitable. The priority, Edwards said, was search and rescue, followed by efforts to find hotel or motel rooms for those unable to stay in their homes. Officials in Texas and Louisiana have both sought to avoid traditional mass shelters for evacuees over fears of spreading COVID-19, and Edwards was concerned that the storm would inhibit coronavirus testing as schools and universities are reopening. Bucky Millet, 78, of Lake Arthur, Louisiana, considered evacuating but decided to ride out the storm with family due to concerns about the coronavirus. He said a small tornado blew the cover off the bed of his pickup and made him think the roof on his house was next. People survey the damage left in the wake of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Holly Beach, La. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Buildings and homes are flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Cameron, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Neftali Luna surveys damages to the children's wing of the First Pentecostal Church caused by Hurricane Laura, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Orange, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Elaine Rayburn sorts through her belongings at her home on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) A journalist photographs damage left in the wake of Hurricane Laura, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Holly Beach, La. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Benjamin Luna helps recover items from the children's wing of the First Pentecostal Church that was destroyed by Hurricane Laura, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Orange, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Louisiana National Guard helps people who sought shelter out of a vehicle on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Buildings and homes are damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Buildings and homes are damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Dozens of small fish are trapped inland after Hurricane Laura made landfall, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Holly Beach, La. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) People survey the damage to their neighborhood on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) "You'd hear a crack and a boom and everything shaking," he said. The force of Laura's winds blew out every window of the living room in the Lake Charles house where Bethany Agosto survived the storm with her sister and two others. They fled to a closet when the hurricane was at its worst. "It was like a jigsaw puzzle in this closet. We were on top of each other, just holding each other and crying," Agosto said. The storm was so powerful that it could regain strength after turning east and reaching the Atlantic Ocean, potentially threatening the densely populated Northeast. Laura hit 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. It was 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. Laura was tied with five other storms for fifth most powerful U.S. hurricane, behind the 1935's Labor Day storm, 1969's Camille, 1992's Andrew and 2004's Charley, Klotzbach said. Explore further Laura blasts Gulf Coast with wind, rain and wall of seawater 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. - John Struthers, a renowned professor from Scotland has dropped a 44-year-old photo showing himself and his Ghanaian wife, Christina Margaret Alexander - The professor compared the shot with a new photo the couple took together and admitted that he has aged significantly whilst his wife is still young - This lends credence to the 'Black don't crack' idea that suggests that Blacks remain uncracked forever Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in The Honorary Consul for Ethiopia in Scotland, Professor John Struthers, who has been married to a Ghanaian lady named Christina Margaret Alexander, has caused a stir online. In a post sighted by YEN.com.gh on the personal Twitter handle of the Scottish professor, he dropped a photo from 44 years ago that shows how 'Blacks don't crack'. Comparing the old photo with their latest shot together, John Struthers agrees that his Ghanaian wife still looks very young after 44 years, whilst he has aged quite significantly. READ ALSO: Meet the stunning Ghanaian lady who became youngest medical doctor at 22 See the post below: The professor's own words stated, "Much has happened during this time of course. I am much older looking but my wife still looks so young!" In the latest photo, Professor Struthers stood left of the shot dressed in full kilt complimented with African Kente bowtie and scarf. His wife of 44 years stood next to him wearing an African Kente blouse and skirt complete with a simple yet beautiful hairstyle. READ ALSO: 16-year-old JHS boy appointed by GFA as referee; becomes youngest in Ghana Renowned white professor drops 44-year-old photo showing his Ghanaian wife remains young Source: Twitter, @jjstruthersuk Source: UGC READ ALSO: Meet the SHS couple who are writing WASSCE with 7-month pregnancy In another interesting report by YEN.com.gh, Professor Rita Dickson, the 11th Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, has paid a heartwarming courtesy call on one of her predecessors. The report was sighted by YEN.com.gh on the official Twitter handle of Watsuptek KNUST, one of the most popular campus websites in the institution. Prof Rita Dickson, the eleventh Vice-Chancellor, paid the prominent visit to the 101-year-old second VC of KNUST, Dr. Emmanuel Evans-Anfom. Enjoy reading our stories? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news! Ghanaians speak up about Bawumia's promise about new cars for trotro drivers | #Yencomgh Share your stories and news by getting interactive on our Facebook page! Source: YEN.com.gh Some of the dogs have been returned to their owners and others have been adopted, but Brodanex said he has heard that a few of the dogs have since died. Brodanexs service dog, Trauma, who he named the business after, was taken in the seizure and held for six months, he said. The author, Ro Khanna, an Indian American congressman from California, opines: History teaches us that the Democratic Party has sometimes faced an issue so great that it alone should be the yardstick for measuring the wisdom of voting for or against the platform. This is one of those times. And Medicare for All is that issue. (congress.gov photo) A few weeks ago, Belarusian sound engineers Vladyslav Sokolovsky and Kirill Galanov were arrested for playing an iconic Soviet-era protest song at a pro-government rally in Minsk. Now, they are among around two dozen pro-opposition Belarusians who have sought refuge in neighbouring Lithuania -- along with opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. "I'm not even thinking about going back at the moment. It's not clear what is happening and it's dangerous," Sokolovsky, 30, told AFP. Sokolovsky was jailed for 10 days for his act of defiance on August 6 -- just before a presidential election that has led to unprecedented mass protests against President Alexander Lukashenko's 26-year rule. The musician remembers being held in solitary confinement, then in overcrowded cells, and deprived of a cot but he was spared the beatings handed out to other pro-democracy protesters. After being released, Sokolovsky was taken in for questioning again for several hours on August 21 at the interior ministry and was threatened with additional criminal charges. "The next day I made my way to Lithuania with the help of the embassy," he said, adding that Lithuania had originally offered assistance after he played the song "Peremen!" (Changes). The act turned the song, performed by Russian 1980s rock star Viktor Tsoi and his band Kino shortly before the fall of the Soviet Union, into an anthem and a rallying cry for protesters. A clip of the song has even been tweeted by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Lina Linkevicius with the words in English: "Belarus has awaken". - 'In safe environments' - Waves of repression in Belarus have turned Lithuania, an EU and NATO member, into a place of refuge for pro-democracy Belarusians. Since the crackdown in Belarus, Lithuania has eased coronavirus restrictions to allow in people from Belarus on "humanitarian grounds". Poland has also announced an easing of entry restrictions to let in fleeing Belarusians, as well as offering to treat anyone injured in the recent violent crackdown on mass protests. Story continues An interior ministry spokeswoman said Lithuania has accepted 22 Belarusian activists so far -- half of whom have requested political asylum. "All of them are in safe environments," the spokeswoman said, adding that another 14 activists have received permission to arrive in Lithuania but have not yet crossed the border. Lithuania's offer of shelter for protesters is part of a broader diplomatic effort to boost international support for protests in Belarus. These moves have angered Russia, which supports Lukashenko and has condemned Vilnius for what it calls an "undisguised interference in the affairs of this neighbouring state". Lithuania and Belarus have close historic ties, dating back to the 14th-century Grand Duchy of Lithuania, but have followed very different paths since the breakup of the Soviet Union. The Baltic states are firmly anchored in the West, having joined the European Union and NATO in 2004, but Belarus has turned into one of the world's most isolated states under Lukashenko. Belarusians like Sokolovsky may have little choice but to follow unfolding events from afar. "I'm a musician, I play the guitar. But at the moment I'm not up to it. I am trying to resolve remotely all my problems at home." vab/dt/pma/gle China has fired a barrage of medium-range missiles across considerable distances into the South China Sea, Beijings latest move to demonstrate its strategic dominance and sovereignty over the disputed waters, an American defense official said. The missile launches on Wednesday punctuated a series of military exercises that China has conducted this month at a time of rising tensions with the United States over its territorial claims in the South China Sea and its attempts to pressure Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy that Beijing claims as its own. Senior Col. Wu Qian, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, did not mention the missiles on Thursday but confirmed that China had carried out long-planned drills over an area that stretched from Qingdao in northeastern China to disputed islands in the South China Sea known as the Spratlys. The above exercises are not directed at any country, Wu said at a regularly scheduled briefing in Beijing. China had signaled its plans to test the missiles by declaring a travel exclusion zone in a part of the South China Sea this week. American forces in the region detected the launch of four missiles from the mainland to that area, the American defense official said. The Pentagon is now assessing the types of missiles involved. Among the medium-range missiles in Chinas growing arsenal are the DF-26 and the DF-21, which can attack moving targets at sea. The growing frequency of exercises and the new types of capabilities displayed demonstrate the progress China has achieved in its military modernization drive over the past two decades, said M. Taylor Fravel, an expert on the Chinese military who is the director of the Security Studies Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Tensions over the South China Sea and Taiwan have risen sharply in recent weeks as part of the broader deterioration of relations between China and the United States. The U.S. military has recently stepped up operations in the area, including the deployment of two aircraft carriers in July in the waters China claims. The State Department also declared last month that Chinas expansive maritime claims across most of the South China Sea were illegal, siding more clearly than ever before with other nations in the region, including Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The Trump administration further raised the stakes on Wednesday when the Commerce Department banned purchases from the United States by two dozen Chinese companies that played a role over the past decade in Chinas construction of an archipelago of artificial islands on coral reefs. The South China Morning Post reported on Wednesday that the Chinese military had fired medium range missiles. The tests also came a day after China accused the Americans of flying a U-2 spy plane over one of the exercises, calling it a naked provocation. The United States has been conducting its own biannual naval exercise off the coast of Hawaii this week, involving forces from 10 nations. Vice Admiral Scott D. Conn, the commander of the U.S. 3rd Fleet and leader of the exercise, said in a telephone conference call on Thursday that China had the right to carry out military drills within international laws and norms. Asked about the missile launches on Wednesday, he emphasized that the United States would not be deterred. In terms of launching ballistic missiles, the U.S. Navy has 38 ships underway today in the Indo-Pacific region, including in the South China Sea, he said. And we continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international laws allow us to demonstrate our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and reassure our allies and partners. Such exercises are nonetheless studied for insights into new military advances. Fravel noted that China had previously tested the DF-21, an anti-ship missile known as a carrier killer. If effective, it could put at risk operations like those conducted last month by the two U.S. carriers, the Ronald Reagan and the Nimitz. He said that it was not clear if the missiles were fired at fixed or moving targets, adding that the latter would be a better test of the overall system, to include identifying, tracking, and destroying a moving ship at sea. Steven Lee Myers and Keith Bradsher c.2020 The New York Times Company The profits of China's major industrial firms grew for a third straight month in July, suggesting that the country's economy is gradually gaining momentum with the help of effective government measures to control the COVID-19 outbreak and resume production. Analysts said the acceleration in profits in July was mainly due to government measures to boost resumption of work and production across the whole industrial chain at a faster pace, as well as a rebound in production and sales. They expected the rising demand will continue to boost industrial profit growth in the next few months. The National Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday that profits at China's major industrial firms rose 19.6 percent year-on-year to 589.51 billion yuan ($85.71 billion) in July, improving from 11.5 percent growth in June. Total industrial profits in the first seven months of this year fell 8.1 percent year-on-year to 3.1 trillion yuan, but easing from a 12.8 percent dive in the first half, NBS data showed. Profit growth in August was aided by significant recoveries in key sectors, including equipment and high-tech manufacturing as well as higher returns in business investment, said Zhu Hong, a senior NBS statistician. In July, profits in the equipment manufacturing sector jumped by 44.3 percent from a year earlier, with automotive manufacturing seeing a profit growth rate of 125.5 percent, according to Zhu. "The continuous recovery of industrial profits in July was mainly affected by the rebound in global commodity prices, the narrowing decline in industrial product prices and the government's proactive fiscal policies and active moves to lower costs for enterprises," said Wu Chaoming, deputy dean of the Chasing Institute of Chasing Securities. NBS data showed 32 out of 41 surveyed industries recorded growth in profits in July, nine more than in June. High-tech manufacturing recorded 36.5 percent growth in profits in July, 27.5 percentage points higher than in June. Wu said the high-tech manufacturing profit growth was fueled by the government's strong financial support, rising demand for new infrastructure during the year and residents' growing need for consumption upgrading. "I expect profits in high-tech manufacturing to keep rising in the future, with an accelerated pace in the replacement of old growth drivers with new ones. "While the rebound in production and sales and the lower costs will help boost profit growth, those factors will also be affected by the slow pace of recovery in consumption," Wu added. "Mounting global uncertainties may lead to increased capital market volatility, which will then affect business investment. I expect industrial profits will record positive but slower growth in the coming months." Business activity in China is significantly improving after a steep slump amid the coronavirus outbreak earlier this year, as the country has made considerable progress in containing the pandemic. Liu Chunsheng, an associate professor at the Beijing-based Central University of Finance and Economics, spoke highly of the Chinese government's effective measures to fight the pandemic, saying that these paved the way for the gradual and steady recovery in the economy. Citing JP Morgan's recent decision to boost its 2020 China growth forecast to 2.5 percent from 1.3 percent in April, he said China could be the only major economy to see growth this year. "The recovery in the Chinese economy will definitely give a strong boost to industrial profit growth," Liu said. "Currently, China is building a new model of development in which domestic economic networks play the primary role, and domestic and international economic networks complement each other. That will also boost demand and help increase profits." Liu called for increased fiscal and monetary support for consumption and infrastructure investment, saying the government also needs to make a big push to encourage the smooth flow of production factors, build a unified domestic market, create a more business-friendly market, further reduce taxes and fees for enterprises, and deepen reforms and opening-up. Zhou Maohua, an analyst at China Everbright Bank's financial market department, expected to see a continuous improvement in industrial profits. "The government's strong support for the real economy and the rising demand from both home and abroad will help boost the profit growth," Zhou said. Several dozen protesters, organized by Accountability for Dearborn, gathered Aug. 25 in front of the Dearborn Administrative Center, calling for accountability and anti-racist public safety measures from city officials. Speakers challenged the City Council and the Police Department to acknowledge the goals of the Black Lives Matter movement and to institute meaningful accountability measures. A flyer distributed by the group called for the reallocation of city resources to address the public health crisis the speakers said is exacerbated by systemic racism and police violence, and calls for the release of arrest demographic data from the Dearborn Police Department. The group also wants to give residents an opportunity to vote to amend the city charter with respect to minimum police staffing levels. One of the protest leaders, Byron Brooks, 25, of Detroit, said the group has reached out to several Dearborn officials to ask what they will do to institute policies which will back up their spoken opposition to local racism and violence. My personal opinion is there are a lot of officials that have been using these movements to tokenize for their own personal gain, but have not put anything in writing as far as equitable change, said Brooks, who goes by the name MoSoul. We are here to demand the City Council turn their air into action. He said he would like to see Dearborn become a more diverse and welcoming community. Sheela Law, 29, of Dearborn, who is part of the Accountability for Dearborn administration team, said their demonstrations are part of its ongoing work to bring the need for racial justice and change into the public eye. Racism is a public health issue, and is a real problem in American society, and all levels of government have a role to play in dismantling systems that they themselves have propped up, she said. The city of Dearborn is in a position of power that it refuses to hold itself accountable to, and we, as residents, are now being tasked with that responsibility. Law called for increased transparency from city officials with respect to the citys history, which she said perpetuates systemic racism in the community today. She also called for the city charters minimum staffing requirement of the Police Department to be put on the ballot, and said that, too often, fear is used to justify police funding. People have a reason to be afraid of poverty-driven crimes, but the police also have a huge role to play in being transparent about what they are doing, Law said. Protest organizer Leslie Windless, 32, of Dearborn Heights, said she hopes the protest will help open the lines of communication between members of Accountability for Dearborn and other activists who want the Dearborn City Council, mayor and police chief to make changes which will make Dearborn safer and more inclusive. I would like to see more training as it relates to dealing with people of color, and I would like to see accountability when people are murdered who dont have weapons on them, she said. I would like to see fairness overall, not just with the police, but with the City Council. Windless called for more diversity training for all city employees. I would like to see people explicitly say Black Lives Matter, and mean it, and stand behind it, without feeling like they need to apologize, she said. The most horrific racial experiences I have had have happened right here in Dearborn, at the college campus where I work. Windless is a financial aid associate and operations council chair at Henry Ford College. Amanda Chrysler, 24, of Dearborn said the group placed a FOIA request several months ago to obtain arrest and ticket data by race from the Dearborn Police Department. I think that if Dearborn really thinks that their police force doesnt have a problem, the data shouldnt be a problem, because it should show that there is no problem, she said. So, I am hoping to get the data released. Chrysler said the protesters also want justice for Kevin Matthews and Janet Wilson, two people of color who were killed by Dearborn police officers. Both of the police that pulled the trigger are still employed with the Dearborn police, she said. Jon Akkari, 28, of Dearborn said the protests were poised to call into the online Dearborn City Council meeting later that evening and use their three allocated minutes to speak on the issues for which Accountability for Dearborn hopes to raise public awareness. He said in addition to asking the council to amend the city charter, which requires a minimum staffing requirement for the Police Department, he wants city officials to increase transparency, as well. The last time we found data on Dearborn regarding arrests was in 2012, and at that time, what we saw was half of all arrests in the city were of African Americans, even though the city only has a 4 percent African American population, Akkari said. There is a FOIA requesting that data, pending for two months, and they are overdue on it, and they just keep avoiding their obligations under the law, and that is another demand of ours, to release that data. For more information about the group, go to accountabilityfordearborn.org, visit its Facebook page or send an email to acc4dearborn@gmail.com. Berlin, Germany -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/28/2020 -- Banks are a vital important part of not only the German economy but every country around the world. For depositing, investing and borrowing money, banks are used daily for small scale transactions and large corporate investments. Germany is no exception to this rule with the largest five banks in the country having combined assets totalling more than $4.4tn. The demand for corporate and investment banking professionals' hinges on these companies relying on the existence of banks to be successful. Germany is a fantastic place to be to begin or progress through a career in the financial services with a huge amount of possibility and opportunity not only in Berlin but also Hamburg, Frankfurt and Munich. Selby Jennings DE are looking for talented individuals to take on roles with enormous career potential. The firm's worldwide network gives them a global perspective on the banking industry as they are the preferred recruitment partner of choice to 70+ world-leading companies as part of the Phaidon International group. Selby Jennings's success is largely influenced by their immense finance sector expertise with a huge breadth of knowledge on financial services experience within Germany and with a network that extends to 60+ countries. Founded in 2004, Selby Jennings have invested a large amount of time into recruitment ensuring that professionals and companies are empowered by their hiring decisions. With on the ball consultants, quick reactions are key to ensuring the best hiring processes are taking place at all times. Selby Jennings have worked vigorously to challenge the recruitment market and gravitate towards the talent pool of financial services candidates by providing permanent, contract and multi-hire recruitment solutions across specialist sectors including risk management, compliance, investment management, quantitative analytics and financial technology. Smart, efficient consultants are the key to a successful hiring strategy and this is achieved through training and onboarding techniques which are developed throughout their time as employees at Selby Jennings. These onboarding techniques have been adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure social distancing measures are adhered to, this includes the use of virtual interviews and remote introductory processes, to ensure a safe working environment and a smooth transition for new starters is achieved, as this is a top priority for the firm. "During uncertain times, Selby Jennings offers reassurance. Crises come in many different forms financial crashes, oil gluts, and now a global pandemic", commented Luis Rolm, Global Marketing Director at Selby Jennings. He went on to say, "Yet, whatever the challenge, we remain steadfast in our service. We continue to offer guidance to clients in the finance sector and help them secure top talent." Careers in the finance industry are expected to grow by 10% by the year 2026. Despite the pandemic, the industry is going to continually grow while opening up new opportunities. Selby Jennings are distinctly aware and invested in upgrades in recruitment technology meaning they are prepared for the possibility of change and are open to the opportunities this may provide. The impressive reach across Germany and the globe has allowed Selby Jennings to hone in on the financial services recruitment sector and secure positions for talented professionals at the world's top finance companies. Roles within the investment banking sector include Investment Banking Associates, MD's and analyst roles to name just a few of the most sought after careers in the sectors. To find out more information about investment banking recruitment visit https://www.selbyjennings.de/disciplines/corporate-and-investment-banking. For any media enquiries please contact Gary Elliott at Iconic Digital 020 7100 0726. For all other enquiries please contact Selby Jennings: +49 30 72 62 11 444. For more information about Selby Jennings services, please go to https://www.selbyjennings.de. About Selby Jennings Selby Jennings knows that building the right team isn't easy. However, with the support of the right hiring partner, access to key networks and contacts, it's possible to reimagine the process of recruitment to make it more positive, satisfying and productive. China has escalated its previously announced exercise activities in the South China Sea by launching four medium-range missiles impacting the stretch between Hainan Island and the Paracel Islands, the Pentagon said Thursday. The Department of Defense is concerned about China's recent decision to conduct military exercises, including the firing of ballistic missiles, around the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on August 23-29, the Pentagon said in a statement. Conducting military exercises over disputed territory in the South China Sea is counterproductive to easing tensions and maintaining stability, the Pentagon said, adding that Chinese actions, including missile tests, further destabilise the sitution in the South China Sea. Such exercises also violate China's commitments under the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to avoid activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, and call into question its motivations with ongoing negotiations for a Code of Conduct between China and ASEAN, the Pentagon said. Also read: China holds another round of military drills in South China Sea This military exercise, the Pentagon said, is the latest in a long string of Chinese actions to assert unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea. Chinese actions stand in contrast to its pledge to not militarise the South China Sea and are in contrast to the US vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, in which all nations, large and small, are secure in their sovereignty, free from coercion, and able to pursue economic growth consistent with accepted international rules and norms. The Pentagon said that it alerted China in July that it would continue to monitor the situation with the expectation that China will reduce its militarisation and coercion of its neighbors in the South China Sea. China chose to escalate its exercise activities by firing ballistic missiles, it said and urged all parties to exercise restraint and not undertake military activities that could threaten freedom of navigation and aggravate disputes in the South China Sea. The Pentagon also announced to deploy Task Force Ellis, comprising US Marines and Sailors from I Marine Expeditionary Force, aboard the USS Comstock to the Indo-Pacific to conduct theater security cooperation activities through November 2020. Task Force Ellis is designed to provide a forward-deployed capability to respond to a variety of crises and contingencies throughout the region, to include supporting Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR) operations, it said. Also read: Alibaba Group puts investment plan on hold amid rising India-China tensions According to a media release, the Task Force also stands ready to conduct military-to-military training, subject matter expert exchanges, and key leader engagements. The Task Force is comprised approximately 120 US Marines and Sailors from 1st Marine Division, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I MEF Information Group, and 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. "Task Force Ellis is forward-deployed with a wide range of capabilities to highlight the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," the Pentagon said. Dr Helmut Marko has confirmed reports that teams will be able to pull out of Formula 1 at the end of each season. That is despite the fact that all ten teams signed up for the new 2021-2025 Concorde Agreement. However, as Mercedes momentarily dithered over signing up, it then emerged that break clauses at the end of each year would in fact be features of the new deal. "Negotiating with Bernie Ecclestone in the past was always good fun, but Liberty were scrupulously fair and we were in fact the first team to sign it in Barcelona," Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said. The annual break clause allowed Red Bull to sign up even though Honda is so far only committing to F1 until the end of 2021. "You can cancel it annually, as nothing is as certain as it used to be anymore," Red Bull's top Austrian official Marko told motorsport-total.com. "Honda's current contract with us ends in 2021, so it was crucial that the finances of the power source suppliers and the teams remain separate." Marko said Red Bull is also happy with the new income distribution model for the teams. "What we lose as Red Bull Racing, we roughly get back as Alpha Tauri," he explained. (GMM) SC directs states to reach out to 10,000 kids orphaned due to Covid-19, pay compensation 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 New AI-based test uses X-rays to detect Covid in a few minutes JEE Main 2020: NTA arranges for 10L masks, 6.6K litres of sanitiser India oi-Briti Roy Barman New Delhi, Aug 28: National Testing Agency (NTA), for the safety of students during JEE (Main) exam, has arranged for 10 lakh pairs of masks, 1,300 infrared thermometer guns, 6,600 litres of sanitiser, 6,600 sponges, 3,300 spray bottles and 3,300 cleaning staff. NTA will conduct the JEE (Main) at 660 test centres and is spending an additional Rs 13 crore to adhere to COVID-19 protocols. More invigilators have been roped in than previously planned as the number of test centres has gone up. The number of examination Centers has also been increased from 570 to 660. 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. The exams will be held in two shifts. The morning shift will be from 9 Am to 12 noon and the afternoon shift will be from 3 Pm to 6 PM. In between, the classrooms will be thoroughly sanitised. Meanwhile, Congress has launched its nationwide protest against the JEE, NEET exams being conducted amid Covid-19. NEET & JEE-MAIN: Education minister says that students want exams at any cost | Oneindia News Party leader Rahul Gandhi shared a video of the campaign titled 'Speak up for Student Safety' on Twitter. 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. Posing a set of questions, Surjewala asked who will "oversee that the guidelines and protocols do not remain an empty paper formality". For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 28, 2020, 12:40 [IST] Interview with Mumba Kalifungwa, CEO of ABSA Bank Uganda What is the current state of ABSA Uganda as well as the banking sector itself in the country? What has been the effect of the current COVID-19 health crisis? From a general banking sector perspective, one of the things that we have had to deal with is how we navigate the terrain as a consequence of the changed environment and the impact of the COVID health scare, not just for individual companies but for the nation as a whole. For ABSA itself, one of the challenges that we have had to address is how we can remain resilient in this time of the pandemic while we are faced with this unforeseen eventuality. Obviously, the starting point was for us to put into place resiliency plans for which I chair the discussions. Number one was to ensure the safety of our employees. We needed to come up with guidelines in terms of protocols on how our employees need to remain engaged with their line managers and also with the institution overall. For me, primarily, one of the greatest challenges I needed to manage was to ensure that we settle our employees and just give them a window of hope that this pandemic that has befallen us is a challenge that nobody could have foreseen, but we need to demonstrate as leadership that first and foremost, we care for our people and that we will hand hold them through the process so that they know that the institution is there to take care of their interests. Some of the things we did were ensuring that we provide them with third-party counseling services, we developed new plans in terms of how we as leaders communicate with the employees, and we put into place new plans in terms of how individuals could keep abreast of what was going on. We are not just looking at our employees, but the wider business as well as our customers. There were definitely challenges we have seen as a consequence of what has been happening. Naturally, there was a slowdown in the level of business activity from a transaction volume perspective and from a credit demand perspective as a consequence of the lockdown. In certain instances, some companies had to completely shut down their operations. Only companies that were designated as essential services were allowed to continue operating. As a consequence, that had an impact in terms of the slowdown in economic activity. The sector has also remained relatively subdued over the last quarter. The positive thing is that we are beginning to now see elements of recovery in both the economy and the banking sector. The Purchasing Managers Index, or PMI, is conducted by one of the banks in the sector and it speaks to various aspects of the supply chain such as new orders, new invoices, and demand in terms of activity. Ideally, if the economy is operating effectively, the PMI score should be over 50. At the onset of the pandemic, that score had fallen to around 21 or 21.6. But from about May, June, July as the lockdown was eased, we began to see an improvement in the level of economic activity and we began to see certain sectors opening up such as retail and wholesale trade, which are quite significant contributors to our overall business and the general banking environment. We began to see areas such as construction open up. From what we have seen over the last quarter, the recovery is quite positive. One of the things that has also happened during this period of lockdown, not only from an ABSA perspective but from a general banking sector perspective, speaks to the financial stress that companies and individuals have had to undergo and have been subjected to. Our Central Bank came up with certain credit relief measures whereby they gave guidelines to banks to avoid significant shocks to the system in terms of impairments or non-performing loans. The objective of putting these measures into place was to ensure that, as an entity or as an industry, we would cushion the effects of reduced economic activity on our clients as a consequence of the COVID pandemic. What that essentially meant was that we, as banks, needed to partner with the Central Bank and find these credit relief measures where you give customers relief in terms of capital and interest payments, defer them in line with the stress that they have experienced over a period of time, enter into agreements where we restructure the loans to ensure that we provide some sort of relief to the customers. That is one of the most significant things that we have had to grapple with over the last few months. Since April 1st, I took over ABSA Uganda as the virtual CEO. As such, we have had to find a working formula and technology has proved that if you put your mind to it and if you dare to think differently, you can actually effectively operate even in a virtual environment. So, keeping the business afloat, motivating the people, responding to the needs of our clients as a consequence of those pressures that we are seeing from a financial downturn perspective are some of the things that I have had to deal with over the last few months. We hope to continue to contribute to the growth of the economy in this challenging environment. What are your strengths? What I see as our strength as ABSA Bank Uganda, as an institution specifically, is our reach not only locally but internationally. ABSA Bank Uganda is part of the ABSA Group of companies with our headquarters based in South Africa with circa 40,000 employees. We are a pan-African bank and we have a presence in twelve African countries. We have representative offices operating out of London and New York which gives us an international presence and allows us to deal with multinationals and other international a partners. In terms of packaging and how we are positioned in the Ugandan economy, the advantages are that we are backed by a group that has strong capital and liquidity base. The product offering that we have is of international acclaim. Franchise in terms of distribution network and channels is quite vast. The technology platforms and digital solutions that we have are some of the things that are real competitive advantages for us. The significance of ABSA Uganda Ltd as an entity in terms of the Ugandan economy and the banking sector is that it is designated as a domestically significantly important bank. It is designated as such by the Regulator. That speaks to the impact that this bank has in terms of contributing to the national economy and the banking sector as a whole. Where are you the most present in the sector? As ABSA, what we try to do is to support sectors that influence the growth of the economy. Typically, we are in all critical sectors. Obviously, we have risk appetite for each sector. As an example, when you look at ABSA Bank Uganda, it is a retail and wholesale bank so we have a blend of business that is focused on servicing retail clients, large local corporates, global corporates, and other international organizations. We play in most industries of the economy and we do not operate in one particular market niche. We play in manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, construction, agriculture, telecoms, energy, etc. What are your projected results for the end of the year? We have a very strong balance sheet in excess of 3.4 trillion UGX. It is one of our major competitive advantages. From that balance sheet size, ABSA Uganda is number three in the market. We achieved that ranking status last year. We are already seven months into the year and like with any other institution, it is not over until it is over. Obviously, the positive thing from ABSAs perspective is that we will still predict to end the year profitably. We have had some challenges, as has every other financial institution, but we remain cautiously optimistic that we will finish with our heads above water. I am quite confident that despite the business challenges and the slowdown in activity in comparison to the previous year, we should still come out in the black, which is quite a positive outcome. Where we do see a potential downside is around the impact of potential increase in impairments in comparison to the previous year as a consequence of the effects of the pandemic and the financial stress that it has caused on the economy and various institutions and individuals. Obviously, the impact of the pandemic has been such that the growth rates that were initially projected for Uganda have had to be moderated by at least 50%. Uganda is a country where the growth rate of the economy has been averaging over 5% for in excess of a five-year period. This year, for the first time in five years, we will be posting a growth rate from a GDP perspective predicted to end at 3.1% for the 2019-2020 year. For the ensuing year, the current estimates are that we should expect the economy to grow by about 3 to 4%, which is quite positive relative to the global economy that the World Bank predicts will decline by 4.9% in 2020. There is agreement that the outlook has some downside risks which include the continued persistence of the pandemic and the lack of discovery of a vaccine in the short term. Also, with respect to disruption in the supply chain and international trade, there will be effects incurred. As long as borders and airspaces continue to be closed, the rate at which the economy recovers will also be impacted. What is positive about Uganda is the fact that the outlook is optimistic in the sense that we are expecting the economy to grow driven by key sectors such as Agriculter,Manufacturing and retail and Wholesale trade. We still see some positive growth coming through in the banking sector in terms of credit appetite and liquidity growing. The industry remains very well-capitalized based on the statistics we see from a Central Bank It shows that the industry has been resilient thus far and it is predicted that up to the end of the year in 2021, the sector should remain resilient and respond to the challenges that have been posed to it. The Central Bank remains quite instrumental in supporting the sector and our clients to ensure that we are able to weather the storm. We remain cautiously optimistic that the pandemic will pass eventually. One of the positive things that may come in the future is that a vaccine will be discovered and the curve will be flattened in terms of new infections. How will the transformation that you are implementing considering technology and going digital translate to your clients? For us at ABSA, when we look at the customer, we want whatever contact they have with us to be an experience. Our focus in providing these digital solutions is to improve on the experience and convenience of the customer. Over this last quarter of the financial year, we have witnessed a drive towards digital adoption because at some point, the number of branches that were operational during this health crisis had to be scaled down and the operating hours had to be scaled down. This increase in digital adoption provided convenience as well as positive customer experience. The cost to serve through a digital channel is also much cheaper for the client depending on the nature of their transaction. From our perspective, we will be providing a better and more convenient customer experience that is more cost-effective overall in terms of time spent to generate or complete transactions. Ideally, you can do transaction from the comfort of your own home, car, office, etc. It is a big opportunity to provide convenience for our customers. How can you move to find access to better and cheaper capital? Typically, one form of cheap capital is attracting cheap deposits. Some of the most expensive deposits that a bank can access are fixed deposits. Ideally, you would want to access cheap financing which responds to your penetration of the banking sector in terms of tapping from the unbanked population. That should be able to drive cheaper volumes in terms of cheaper sources of financing. Other sources at times would be through the capital markets in operations where you are listed entities. However, speaking from ABSAs perspective, right now, we are 100% owned by ABSA Group Ltd of South Africa. Group funding is also another source of funding. There are many options to find cheaper sources of financing. The primary one that a bank should target is one that comes through its own nationals in terms of the cheaper product settings in terms of the liabilities that a customer is holding. What are your current major projects for the year? 2020 is a significant year for ABSA Uganda. The major milestone that we have achieved this year is that we concluded our complete separation from Barclays PLC in June. Various platforms that were housed outside of the UK have now been migrated to other centers, such as in South Africa and around the world. We have become a completely independent international pan African bank. From a client perspective, we have continued to provide innovative solutions. Recently, we introduced a vertical card which is a first in the Ugandan market. Historically, in Africa, the debit cards and credit cards were in a horizontal format. We were the first to market this vertical debit and credit card. We recently introduced contactless debit card functionalities which is also a first in the market. In the last quarter, we have introduced innovative forex solutions where we have developed an app that is internet based and linked to your bank account that can enable you to perform forex transactions using a mobile banking application. We have also introduced free mobile and internet banking access which we have partnered with one of our major mobile network providers on. This functionality gives you access to our apps and our internet banking options or facilities using your mobile phone with what we call reverse billing. This is useful In case you may not have data in terms of phone credit to enable you to log onto the internet to access your internet banking account or your mobile banking account, but with that reverse billing functionality, it gives you an opportunity to be able to access our services even if you do not have data. We have an arrangement with a mobile network operator on how we pick up those costs as we look driving convenience for our customers. Project yourself to the medium term, three years time. What would you like to have achieved with ABSA Uganda and you within it? We have a very strong balance sheet in excess of 3.4 trillion UGX. It is one of our major competitive advantages. From that balance sheet size, ABSA Uganda is number three in the market. We achieved that ranking status last year. Our revenues are ranking at number five in the industry. Our profitability ranks at number four. From a vision point of view, what I would want to achieve is first, from a customer experience perspective, I would want ABSA Uganda to be the most competitive and best retail and wholesale bank within the Ugandan market. Secondly, I would want ABSA Uganda to increase our market share to be one of the top three banks on most key financial performance matrices in Uganda within the next three years. That is where we rightfully should be playing. I also want to ensure that I am able to build a bank that all our employees can be proud of from both the market perception as well as a solution-oriented perspective. We want to be known as the bank that provides solutions for our clients needs and whose employees are proud to work for the brand. FAIR USE POLICY This material (including media content) may not be published, broadcasted, rewritten, or redistributed. However, linking directly to the page (including the source, i.e. Marcopolis.net) is permitted and encouraged. Bristol-based anonymous street artist Banksy is reported funding a rescue boat for refugees attempting to reach Europe from Africa in the Mediterranean.The boat rescued 89 people, including 14 women and four children, at sea on Thursday, and the crew were seeking to transfer them to a European coastguard vessel or disembark them at a port. Named Louise Michel after a French feminist anarchist, the 30-metre long pink and white vessel is a former French Navy boat, featuring an artwork of a girl holding a heart-shaped lifebuoy in Banksys familiar stencilled style and the word RESCUE spray painted on it, and has been operational since last week. Crewed by European activists experienced in search and rescue, the boat had already participated in two other rescue operations involving a total of 105 people who were transferred to another vessel, Sea-Watch 4, the rescue group said on their website. Louise Michel rescue vessel, a former French patrol boat currently manned by activists and funded by the renowned artist Banksy, is seen in the Central Mediterranean sea, at 50 miles south from Lampedusa, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. (AP) The group said the vessel was captained and crewed by a team of rescue professionals drawn from across Europe. Banksy, whose involvement in the operation is limited to providing finance according to a Guardian report, has highlighted refugees and migration in his work. Also see | PHOTOS: British street artist Banksy funds refugee rescue boat The Bristol-born artist, who keeps his identity a secret, is known for his political or social-commentary graffiti that has popped up in cities around the world. Last year one of his paintings depicting primates sitting in Britains parliament sold for more than $12 million at auction. In 2015, he sent fixtures from his temporary Dismaland theme park in western England to an informal migrant camp in Calais, northern France, once home to thousands of migrants. Later the same year he created a mural of the late Apple founder Steve Jobs at the location. The Louise Michel, a migrants search and rescue ship operating in the Mediterranean sea and financed by British street artist Banksy, is seen at sea, August 22, 2020. Picture taken August 22, 2020. (HANDOUT via REUTERS) The artist also recently donated his artwork titled Mediterranean Sea View 2017 to auction company Sothebys. The artwork sold for a $2.9 million and the proceeds of the sale will be donated by Banksy to a hospital in Bethlehem in the West Bank. The triptych, originally installed in the lobby of Banksys Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem, references the European migrant crisis and has been painted in the style of the 19th century seascapes, over used canvases. Referring to one of the 21st centurys biggest crises, the painting shows abandoned lifejackets, oars and buoys washing ashore amid crashing waves, symbolising the migrant lives lost. He also painted walls in Paris with murals on the theme of migration in 2018. A PR agent who has worked for Banksy in the past did not respond to a request for comment by Reuters. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Vodafone customers' data connections have stopped working, they have complained. A host of users posted tweets indicating their mobile internet had stopped working. Tracking website Down Detector saw a surge in the number of people complaining that they were unable to get online. The network's outage map showed problems being reported right across the UK. Though reports were particularly prevalent around London, Bath, Cardiff, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow, it is likely that is just the result of where most people are trying to get online, and the issues seemed to be found everywhere. Vodafone's "Network Status checker" appeared to have gone offline at the same time as the outage, leaving customers unable to check whether they are affected by the problems in their area. Recommended Vodafone and other networks struggle amid huge surge in traffic The company asked affected users on Twitter to send their postcodes to check on the outage. It did not post publicly about the problems but was responding to those affected offering advice. Protections introduced last year mean that many internet companies including Vodafone have committed to automatically refund customers if they are hit by network outages for a prolonged period. Vodafone says it has more than 18 million users in the UK, most of whom use its mobile service, though it does offer home broadband and other products too. Jacob Blake, the man shot seven times in the back by Wisconsin police on Sunday, is currently handcuffed in bed, his father has said - despite being paralyzed and charged with no crime. Outrage spread quickly at the news, and people demanded Kenosha police remove the handcuffs. 'How the f**k do you handcuff Jacob Blake that you paralyzed to a hospital bed after you shot him in the back seven times?' tweeted Rashida Tlaib, congresswoman for the neighboring state of Michigan. Tony Evers, governor of Wisconsin, was asked if he's concerned about Blake being handcuffed. 'Hell yes,' he said. Scroll down for video Jacob Blake Sr said he was shocked to see his son being handcuffed to his hospital bed Jacob Blake, 29, has been left paralyzed from the waist down in Sunday's shooting Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by Officer Rusten Sheskey on Sunday Sheskey grabbed Blake's vest as he was getting into a car and shot him seven times in the back 'I would have no personal understanding why that would be necessary. 'I can't imagine why that's happening and I would hope that we would be able to find a better way to have him get better and recover.' Jacob Blake Sr told the Chicago Sun Times that he had just been to see his son in hospital. 'I hate it that he was laying in that bed with the handcuff onto the bed,' he said. 'He can't go anywhere. Why do you have him cuffed to the bed?' Blake also asked what he had been arrested for, and received no answer. The Blake family attorney, Benjamin Crump, said it would take a 'miracle' for Blake to recover use of his legs. 'The medical diagnosis right now is that he is paralyzed, because those bullets severed his spinal cord,' he said at a press conference on Tuesday. 'He will need a miracle to walk again. He is currently in surgery as we speak, to try and save his life. And return to some semblance of the man he once was.' Crump's legal partner, Patrick Salvi, confirmed that a bullet went through his spinal cord. He had bullets in his stomach, and had to have almost his entire colon removed. He had a bullet in the kidney, and in the arm. 'He has a long road to recovery,' said Mr Salvi. When Blake, 29, saw his father in the hospital Wednesday, he thought he was hallucinating because he could not believe what he was seeing, according to his father. 'I told him, 'You thought Daddy wasn't going to see my son?' his father said. 'He grabbed my hand, held it real tight and started weeping, telling me how much he loved me.' Though his son's eyes were swollen, the elder Jacob Blake said he 'looked and sounded like' his son, and he's alive. Seeing him in the hospital was like walking across a desert to find someone waiting with a glass of water, his father said. 'It was way more than fulfilling,' his father said. 'It was a feeling I can't describe.' Kenosha police did not respond to questions about why Blake was handcuffed. Vanita Gupta, former head of the civil rights division of the department of justice, tweeted: 'I have no words.' Renatto Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor, said: 'Jacob Blake was shot in the back multiple times and is paralyzed from the waist down. 'What possible justification could there be for handcuffing him to his hospital bed?' Wesley Lowery, correspondent for 60 Minutes, said he had just spoken to Blake's uncle, who was deeply distressed by the handcuffing of his nephew. 'One thing the family is particularly upset about the uncle just gave me a call to make sure I had noted this in our interview is that Jacob Blake, shot seven times and paralyzed, has been handcuffed to his hospital bed,' Lowery said. Tlaib, member of the 'squad' and congresswoman for neighboring Michigan, was outraged The former head of the civil rights division for the DoJ said: 'I have no words' Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotto asked: 'What possible justification' could there be 60 Minutes correspondent Wesley Lowery said that Blake's family was deeply upset Rusten Sheskey, the police officer who shot Blake in the back, is a seven-year veteran of the Kenosha Police Department. Sheskey, 31, has been put on administrative leave while Wisconsin officials investigate the confrontation caught on video. Sheskey, a member of the department's bicycle squad, long aspired to a law enforcement career and once described police work as 'a customer service job, and the public is our customer.' On Thursday officials announced that the National Guard will send troops from three additional states - Arizona, Alabama and Michigan - to Kenosha to assist with operations there. Rusten Sheskey, 31, shot Blake seven times in the back. He has been placed on leave Evers had already authorized the deployment of the Wisconsin National Guard to Kenosha, and declared a state of emergency Tuesday and enforced an overnight curfew lasting until Sunday. On Tuesday night protests at Blake's shooting descended into lethal violence in which two men, Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, and Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, were shot dead. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, was arrested on Wednesday at his home in Antioch, Illinois, accused of killing the protesters. In Washington, the Justice Department said it was 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 Justice Department also announced that the U.S. attorney's office and FBI would conduct a civil rights investigation into the shooting of Blake, in cooperation with Wisconsin state law enforcement agencies. Groups that had taken to Kenosha's streets with long guns were nowhere to be seen early Thursday following somber protests and no widespread unrest for the first night since the weekend police shooting of Jacob Blake. Marchers were solemn during Wednesday night's protests in the southeastern Wisconsin city between Milwaukee and Chicago following the chaos of the previous night. Your aircraft. With that possibly questionable decision, Sikorsky Lockheed Martins Ramsey Bentley turned over control of the companys next-generation military scout helicopter to an AL.com reporter in Huntsville. Fortunately, it was only a simulator, albeit a full-mission simulator. Fortunately, the reporters dubious claim of a few minutes earlier - No, I dont get seasick or motion sick - seemed to be holding true. The ground was right down there on the wraparound screens, but it was simulated ground. Extremely well-simulated ground. Maintaining control proved easy enough that, well, a journalist could do it. The room-sized simulator has been in Huntsville all August so Army leaders at Redstone Arsenal could get a feel for what the new Raider X helicopter can do. Redstone is home to the Armys Aviation and Missile Command, a global operation with 15,000 employees, a $3.7 billion budget and a portfolio of big jobs. In this case, the job is managing the Armys high-priority push for new helicopters. Or as its known in Army parlance, Future Vertical Lift capabilities. The new helicopters that emerge from this competition will gradually replace existing Kiowa and Black Hawk models. The Army says it wants new technology so its helicopters can dominate whats expected to be a very competitive challenging future airspace, Sikorsky Lockheed Martins Jay Macklin said. Instead of one rotor on top, the Raider X has two moving in opposite directions. Instead of one spinning back rotor with a blade parallel to the helicopter, it has a large, backward-facing propeller to move the helicopter forward. The company calls this its X2 Technology and says it means the Raider X will fly twice as fast and twice as far as todays Kiowa. Prototypes of both helicopters are in aerial testing now in Florida, Macklin said. Flying a helicopter is traditionally somewhat complicated. Levers on both sides of the seat and pedals for both feet roll the cabin left or right, raise or lower the front, and control the angle of the blades and forward speed. The new X2 Technology simplifies all of that enough that, well, a reporter could fly it while being sophisticated enough that Bentley could hold the nose almost straight down and fly a tight circle around a single simulated tree. This is different than any helicopter flying today, Macklin said. The speed it can achieve is unlike any out there. Not being qualified to confirm that, the reporter can say its definitely cool to simulate flying more than 200 miles per hour. Sikorsky Lockheed Martin is competing with Bell Helicopters for the Army contract. The decision on the smaller scout model will come in 2022, and the decision on the larger transport helicopter comes in late 2023 or 2024. Multiple fires are burning in Contra Costa County, Alameda County, Merced County, San Benito County, Santa Clara County, Stanislaus County and San Joaquin County. Cal Fire is referring to them collectively as the SCU Lightning Complex. "SCU" stands for Santa Clara Unit. Find official evacuation updates here and a map here. LATEST Aug. 28, 7:07 p.m. The SCU Lightning Complex Fire is now at 40% containment after growing less than 2,000 acres to 374,471 acres by Friday evening, according to Cal Fire. Aug. 28, 6:57 p.m. Evacuation warnings in two zones in Stanislaus County have been lifted Friday evening, according to a Cal Fire statement. In Zone 7B: North of Orestimba Road and Orestimba Creek in between Interstate 5 and the fire perimeter to the Stanislaus/San Joaquin County line South of the Stanislaus/San Joaquin County line in between I-5 and the fire perimeter to Orestimba Road and Orestimba Creek East of the fire perimeter to I-5 in between the Stanislaus/San Joaquin County line and Orestimba Creek West of I-5 in between the Stanislaus/San Joaquin County line and Orestimba Road In Zone 7C South of Orestimba Road and Orestimba Creek to the Stanislaus/Merced County line West of I-5 to the fire perimeter North of the Stanislaus/Merced County line to Orestimba Road and Orestimba Creek East of the fire perimeter to I-5 Aug. 28, 3:10 p.m. Cal Fire gave a brief update on the SCU Lightning Complex Fire Friday afternoon, focusing on recovery and repopulation. While crews continue to work on containment of the west side of the fire, Cal Fire is "going back to address some problems caused by suppression" elsewhere, Operations Section Chief Tim Ernst reported. Such issues might involve drainage problems, for example. Cal Fire does not yet have a window in which full containment is expected, but one officer reported it could be "within the next week or so." It's still not safe for ranchers and farmers to return to their property yet, added Alameda County Sheriff's Officer Ray Kelly. Aug. 28, 2 p.m. Cal Fire has lifted its evacuation warning on parts of Merced County (Zone 14). The lift affects residents in the following areas: North of Hwy 152 to I-5 to the Santa Clara County Line and Stanislaus County line West of the I-5 East of Santa Clara County line and Stanislaus County line to the Delta-Mendota South of the Stanislaus County line to Highway 152 Read more here. Aug. 28, 8:30 a.m. The SCU Lightning Complex Fire, which spans across seven counties in Northern California, grew several thousand acres through Thursday night to 372,971 acres by Friday morning. The added growth again makes SCU Lightning the second-largest wildfire in state history. The LNU Lightning Complex Fire to the north is similarly sized, at 371,249 acres. Since Thursday, the shape of the fire has been redefined as having two branches, Branch I and Branch II. Cal Fire reported favorable conditions in battling the blazes overnight. Humidity of 15-30% for higher altitudes and cooler temperatures on the lower terrain enabled crews to make progress with planned burn operations to control the boundary of the fire. On Friday, crews will execute those operations in the Branch II area; Cal Fire warns the public that they may observe large plumes of smoke during this effort. Crews continue to be concerned over dry overnight conditions, particularly on land above 2,000', "which can lead to rapid increases in fire behavior during the pre-dawn hours from fuels burning out or burning operations." The fire remains at 35% containment. It has to date destroyed 28 structures and 20 minor structures, with more than 20,000 still threatened. Nine additional structures are damaged. Cal Fire reports no additional injuries. 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 Alyssa Pereira is a culture editor at SFGate. Email: alyssa.pereira@sfgate.com | Twitter: @alyspereira Jim Gaffigan is well known for mostly family-friendly humor and standup routines about food, like Hot Pockets, but hes apparently had it with President Donald Trump. The comedian went off on Trump during the closing night of the Republican National Convention in a rare political rant. Look Trumpers I get it. As a kid I was a cubs fan and I know you stick by your team no matter what but hes a traitor and a con man who doesnt care about you. Deep down you know it. Im sure you enjoy pissing people off but you know Trump is a liar and a criminal, Gaffigan wrote in a series of tweets. By the way you cant be against Cancel Culture and tell people to stay out of politics. You know that time you did a job and didnt get paid? Thats trump and you know it... to those of you who think Im destroying my career wake up. if trump gets elected, the economy will never come back. Gaffigan also dropped several F-bombs, further breaking from his reputation as a clean comic while criticizing RNC speakers. F--- Lou Holtz. Biden is Catholic in name only? Compared to who? How many abortions did trump pay for? How many women has he raped? How many times did pull the s--- he did in Ukraine. Wake up. Hes a crook and a con man, Gaffigan tweeted. When another Twitter user named Karen said Gaffigan probably lost a lot of followers with his tweets and should stick to comedy, Gaffigan didnt seem worried. Hey f--- you Karen, Gaffigan tweeted. Gaffigan also objected to others accusing him of being a Hollywood liberal. The actor, writer and standup comedian lives in New York, but is a lifelong Catholic who grew up in a small Midwestern town in Indiana. Can we stop with this HOLLYWOOD s---, he wrote. Im not from Hollywood and Hollywood is just a town. Please say coastal elites (which Trump, Jared and Ivana are) Maybe people on the east and west coasts have different values from yours but they dont like liars and con men like trump. Gaffigan made it clear that he was speaking to Trump supporters in most of his tweets. Please dont buy that socialist crap either. Obviously Obama wasnt a socialist. This is all lies to scare you and you know it. Biden is not radical. Are you serious? he continued. Remember everything Trump accuses the Democrats of hes guilt[y] of. Dont let the socialist name calling distract you from the fact he is a fascist who has no belief in law. You know Trump just creates enemies. You know you cant trust him. You know he been incompetent during this crisis. You know all those people didnt need to die. Trump talks about the Space Program and you cant safely go to a movie. Wake up. Trump budding up with dictators is RADICAL. Trump having interfering with the justice department is RADICAL. Trump pandering to the police and army (I gave 3 raises) is RADICAL. I dont give a f--- if anyone thinks this is virtue signaling or whatever. We need to wake up. We need to call trump the con man and thief that he is." Look Trumpers I get it. As a kid I was a cubs fan and I know you stick by your team no matter what but he's a traitor and a con man who doesn't care about you. Deep down you know it. I'm sure you enjoy pissing people off but you know Trump is a liar and a criminal. Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) August 28, 2020 to those of you who think Im destroying my career wake up. if trump gets elected, the economy will never come back. Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) August 28, 2020 You know he lies. Constantly. Yet you dont care? What because he insults people that make you and me feel dumb? Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) August 28, 2020 Trump derangement syndrome is part of the con. Wake up. you know Fox News is biased and full of loons. it's how they gaslight and silence criticism. Do you think any of those congressional republicans really believe in Trump or do they fear him dont want to end up like Flake. Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) August 28, 2020 Trump literally ran Paul Ryan out of politics. Why? Paul Ryan knew Trump was poison. So does Romney. Trump is not a conservative or even a Republican. You know that. You know Barr is dirty. You know if Trump gets re-elected it's over. How many books have to be written? Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) August 28, 2020 Jim Gaffigan became a trending topic Thursday night and Friday morning as many social media users expressed surprise. Wow. The president made Jim Gaffigan, the chilliest dude, snap completely. roxane gay (@rgay) August 28, 2020 The night I became a huge Jim Gaffigan fan. https://t.co/t7cH9O8vah Christopher Moore (@TheAuthorGuy) August 28, 2020 Imagine the pressure building inside Jim Gaffigan for years. Ken Jennings (@KenJennings) August 28, 2020 2020 made Jim Gaffigan use the F word. When will this maddness end pic.twitter.com/iif5SYad62 Lost in Tweets (@dellakwal) August 28, 2020 "So, Craig, what will you remember most about Donald Trump's #RepublicanNationalConvention speech?" Jim Gaffigan telling Karen to f*ck off. Craig Rozniecki (@CraigRozniecki) August 28, 2020 What Do We Know About the Effectiveness of Higher Education? Commentary Everyone knows that the nations colleges and universities now commonly promote social justice, which essentially means radical left politics. But what we do know about how well they still do all the other things weve expected them to do? We invest much time and money in higher education. What are we now getting for all of that? At college, students ought to be taught how to think productively, to reason, and to write cogently. But already by 2011, that was no longer happening, according to a study done by Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa and published in their book, Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses. They found that an astounding proportion of students are progressing through higher education today without measurable gains in general skills. The skills theyre talking about are critical thinking, complex reasoning, and writing. These shocking results of 2011 will have become even worse by today, with older professors retiring and being consistently replaced by younger, more politicized ones, a process that still continues. Literacy, Employment, and Citizenship Well, then: Are graduates being adequately prepared for the workplace? Not at all, according to a study done in 2006 by four organizations (including The Conference Board) that looked at the matter from an employers point of view. The 400 employers surveyed considered college graduates to be deficient in writing in English and written communications, and leadership skills: The future U.S. workforce is hereand it is woefully unprepared for the demands of todays (and tomorrows) workplace. Again, the situation today will almost certainly be even worse than it was in 2006. How good are recent graduates at reading and comprehending complex books and documents? Not at all, according to a 2003 study done by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The NCES study showed a sharp decline over the prior decade in college graduates reading and comprehension: Only 31 percent of college graduates could now be counted as proficient in this respect, and even the majority (59 percent) of candidates for higher degrees were not proficientan astonishing figure. What about preparation for citizenship? Thats going miserably, too, according to a whole series of recent studies by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. A typical result was that 4 out of 5 seniors at 55 of the most-prestigious U.S. colleges and universities were astonishingly ignorant of American history, and knew nothing of even the basic principles of the U.S. Constitution. And in a 2018 survey, the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation found that 81 percent of under-45s failed a test based on the U.S. Citizenship test, while 74 percent of over-65s passed italthough the seniors had learned the material a long time ago. But surely, one might think, the campus obsession with diversity ought to mean that minorities are doing better? No, the reverse is true. African American students enter higher education with College Learning Assessment scores significantly lower than their white counterparts (about 1,000 as against 1,170), but Arum and Roksa found that the gap got much larger, not smaller, during their first two years of college. Instead of correcting a serious social problem that we badly need to fix, colleges make it worse. What about academias preparation of elementary and high school teachers for their essential roles? Yet again, thats a disaster. The independent reform organization Achieve found in 2005 that large majorities of college instructors are dissatisfied with the job public high schools are doing in preparing students for college when it comes to writing quality (62 percent) and their ability to read and comprehend complex materials (70 percent). The college instructors who complain of these deficiencies are, of course, the same people who train the high school teachers who are responsible for them. This is a catastrophic record. To be sure, STEM fields still function, but the recent push to conduct faculty recruitments giving politically correct attitudes to diversity a higher priority than technical competence makes one wonder how long that will last. One Success Is there anything that colleges and universities are good at? Yes, they do a splendid job of promoting radical politics. Recent Gallup polls find that almost exactly half of young adults (1839) now have a positive view of socialismanother astonishing result. The string of failures is related to this one success, because success in either one of the two areas means failure in the other. A first-rate college education means developing inquiring minds, analytical thinkers who look at all sides of an issue before reaching a conclusion. Radical politics needs the exact opposite: an unwavering commitment to an idea set in stone, with nothing allowed to erode that commitment. A cocoon of ignorance may be a fine way to protect an enthusiasm for socialism, but its a disaster for education. The buildings that house our major universities still look as imposing as ever, and the diplomas students receive look impressive, too. That helps to maintain the illusion that academia is just as it wasbut it isnt, because the defining feature of a university is its teaching faculty, and that has changed beyond all recognition. Open-minded explorers of ideas have largely been replaced by closed-minded political activists. Its not just that the right kind of people are missing: Their replacements are the last people we should want for higher education. The enormous sums of money that the nation devotes to higher education are being diverted to something completely different: The promotion of radical politics. In ordinary language, thats called embezzling. In any other area of life, wed not hesitate to withdraw funding thats being used for an unauthorized purpose. Its about time our society did just that. John M. Ellis is a distinguished professor emeritus at University of CaliforniaSanta Cruz, chair of the California Association of Scholars, and the author of several books, the most recent of which is The Breakdown of Higher Education: How It Happened, the Damage It Does, and What Can Be Done. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Shanghais Huangpu promotes foreign investment By:Zheng Qian, Fan Yicheng, Cao Jun | From:english.eastday.com | 2020-08-27 15:43 A promotional activity was held on August 26 in Shanghai to encourage foreign enterprises registering for the 2020 China International Import Expo (CIIE) to invest in the citys Huangpu district. (Gao Yun, party secretary of Huangpu District makes a speech at the promotional event.) Nearly 30 foreign trade institutions took part in the event, including the Mondragon Group, one of the top ten enterprises in Spain. Zou Fangyi, chief representative of the companys Shanghai representative office, said that the office was set up in Huangpu in 2000 and in consideration of the districts superior business environment, as well as convenient transportation and living facilities, it has established a procurement center and a corporate service company here. Moreover, a smart device company will be introduced by the end of this year. Zou emphasized that 6 affiliated enterprises of the group which are all industry leaders will take part in this years CIIE. (A cooperation agreement is signed between the Huangpu district government and the Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shanghai.) In terms of the CIIE, as expected, streams of foreign business people have come to Shanghai for business negotiation in the past two years, after gaining a deeper understanding of the city via the CIIE platform. Huangpu district, with a central location advantage and outstanding business environment, has been the top choice for them. Saputo Inc., a Montreal-based Canadian dairy company and a star exhibitor of the previous two CIIEs, is one of those that chose Huangpu as their base in China. It has seen a sales revenue of more than 500 million yuan since February. As for the district as a whole, in spite of the coronavirus epidemic, it has realized a contractual foreign investment of 796 million dollars and a paid-in foreign capital of 460 million dollars, proving strong economic resilience. (Reported by Fan Yicheng & Cao Jun; Translation by Zheng Qian) Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 23:03:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iran urged the international community to press Israel to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), Press TV reported on Friday. "The international community must force Tel Aviv to join the NPT and allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to access its nuclear facilities," deputy representative of Iran to the United Nations was quoted as saying. "The destructive role of the United States and Israel has prevented the realization of a Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Free Zone in the Middle East," Es'haq Al-e Habib said in an address to a virtual meeting on the anniversary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) on Thursday. Enditem Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Ortegas New Mexican Restaurant started 32 years ago on a whim. Rudy and Edna Ortega opened the establishment with no experience or even plans to own a restaurant. But when the couples son told them about a chance to move in to an empty restaurant space, they jumped at the opportunity. Even lacking experience, Ortegas not only survived, but over the past three decades the New Mexican restaurant at the corner of Wyoming and Comanche with the yellow awning and wood paneled walls has built a dedicated multi-generational following. Ortegas announced Monday on social media it will close permanently Sept. 12. News of the closure has been crushing to the restaurants loyal customer base. Weve had a lot of families that have called and they feel bad that were closing, Edna said. Heartfelt comments immediately flooded the Facebook post that announced the closure, and some customers have even dropped off small gifts. The Ortegas said the decision to close was tough. Rudy said the past few months of moving between dine-in and take-out made it difficult to sustain business and with he and his wife nearing their 80s, it was also time for them to retire. Its a little bittersweet, he said. Wed like to end it on a better note without the virus. Luckily, indoor dining at 25% capacity will be allowed for the foreseeable future, and the Ortegas are anticipating many customers wanting to drop by for a final meal. Now that were gonna be open for the next three weeks or whatever, Im sure theres going to be a lot of tears, Rudy said. He said it would be nice to find a buyer, but there are currently no plans for it to remain open under new ownership. Both Rudy and Edna said that over the years, they have watched their regulars families expand and grow up, and have formed deep friendships with those customers through table-side conversations. Much like a family home, Ortegas has played host to everything from wedding receptions to graduations, and of course, many birthdays. So many, many neat things have happened here, Rudy said. Bryan Hall, who has worked at the restaurant for 15 years, said Ortegas is truly a family restaurant and its the type of place where both staff and customers become members of the family. The thing about this place is once you get off the airplane when youre coming home, you come to Ortegas first and then you go home, because this is your home, Hall said. He said that there were even regulars who became daily fixtures in the restaurant. (With) some of our customers we even questioned if they had a kitchen because they were always here, Hall said. Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701) Today Mostly cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 29F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 11F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Australia's prime minister said Friday he was open to allowing an Australian white supremacist who killed 51 worshippers at two New Zealand mosques to serve his life sentence in his homeland, but stressed that the victims' wishes would be paramount. A transfer would buck international convention and require changes to the laws in both countries, but proponents of the idea have called for Australia to take responsibility for imprisoning Brenton Harrison Tarrant and take the costs off New Zealanders. Tarrant, 29, was sentenced on Thursday to life in prison without parole for the March 2019 attacks. He is the first person to be denied the possibility of parole in New Zealand and is given enhanced security in prison for his own safety. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said while New Zealand had made no official request, the Australian government was open to taking him back. New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is among the most vocal proponents of having the gunman jailed in Australia. "Well, he came from Australia, and the cost to New Zealand is massive," Peters told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Tarrant was a legal resident of New Zealand at the time of the massacre, and international practice is for criminals to serve time in the jurisdictions where their crimes were committed. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has shown little enthusiasm for the idea of a transfer, telling reporters that current laws don't allow it and that any decision should be driven by the wishes of survivors and family members. John Lennon's killer Mark David Chapman was again denied parole for the 11th time after being interviewed by the parole board on Aug. 19, according to correctional officials. Chapman, who is now 65 years old, is serving a 20 years-to-life prison sentence at Wende Correctional Facility, east of Buffalo, New York, after pleading guilty to a second-degree murder. Chapman shot and killed the former Beatle member on the night of Dec. 8, 1980. It was after Lennon autographed an album for him. Chapman previously said that he felt more shame as the years passed after the crime. "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 said during his parole in 2018. Chapman's next parole hearing was set for August 2022. Murder of Lennon Lennon's killing shocked the music world. Lennon was a British-born artist, who adopted home of New York City. Every generations grew up listening to his music. Lennon was 40 years old when he was killed. He had just emerged from a musical hiatus with the release of his "Double Fantasy" album when he went to a nighttime recording session on Dec. 8, 1980. When Lennon returned to his home on Manhattan's Upper West Side, Chapman was waiting for him and shot him four times in front of his wife, Yoko Ono. Chapman became eligible for parole since 2000. Ono then quickly opposed his release. Ono's attorney, Jonas Herbsman, said she submitted comments to the parole board. Chapman said at his previous parole interview in August 2018 that he is a changed man and a religious Christian. He said he would welcome freedom even though he did not deserve it. Chapman has been a porter and wheelchair repairman at the prison hospital. He was also occasionally visited by his wife, whom he married about 18 months before the murder. John Lennon's Killer Chapman was said to have been angry for Lennon's public statement, such as being more popular than Jesus, although he was a Beatles fan. Reports said that Chapman had contemplated killing other popular figures, like Ronald Reagan and Elizabeth Taylor, before Lennon's shooting happened. Chapman also remained at the scene reading a novel by J.D. Salinger, entitled "The Catcher in the Rye." He was reportedly fixated with the novel, years leading up to the murder. Chapman said during an interview with reporter Jim Gaines, "I really identified with him [protagonist Holden Caulfield] - is plight, his loneliness, his alienation from society." Chapman once admitted that killing Lennon was nothing personal. Through a parole document, he once said that there was no feeling towards his son or his wife or himself. He said that he was obsessed with one thing, and that was shooting Lennon to be somebody. The day before Chapman did the murder, James Taylor met him at a subway station. He was eventually arrested and was sentenced to prison time with mental health treatment. Check these out: 'The Beatles' Music Library Coming to Music Streaming Services Soon? John Lennon's Guitar is Up For Auction at $2.4 Million John Lennon Quotes: Pee-Themed Letters To Phil Spector Are Up for Sale (JNS) According to Israels Coronavirus Project coordinator, Ronni Gamzu, his main goal right now is to combat and contain the virus without implementing a full lockdown on the country. I am not sure we will succeed, but I am trying, he said. He made his remarks in a briefing to the foreign press this week. Gamzu, who in the past served as the Health Ministry director general, was appointed to the role in July by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Health Minister Yuli Edelstein. He told reporters at the briefing that despite the countrys high morbidity rate,... A Vietnamese man in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang stabbed his younger brother to death after a disagreement arose while the siblings were grabbing a few drinks this month, police said. Nguyen Ngoc Chau, 55, from Tien Giangs Go Cong Tay District, has been sent to a four-month detention and had legal proceedings launched against him by the provincial police department for the alleged murder, a source told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Thursday. According to a preliminary investigation, Chau and his 50-year-old brother attended a death anniversary ceremony at a neighbors house at around 9:00 am on August 13. At roughly 11:00 am the same day, they went for a drink together at the younger brothers house, where they began to pick a quarrel with each other. In the heat of the moment, Chau stabbed his brother in the left chest with a knife. The brother later succumbed to his injury. After the incident, Chau went to the local police station in Go Cong Tay District to surrender himself. An autopsy on the victim confirmed that he died of a single stab wound to the heart. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! 5 Arrested for Child Sex Trafficking in South Carolina: DOJ South Carolina prosecutors announced the arrests of several suspects who were allegedly involved in a child trafficking ring. U.S. Attorney Peter McCoy Jr. announced their arrests on Thursday. Gary Garland, Shannon Garland, Johnnie Wells, Michael Skelton, and Duwone Allen, who are all from Anderson, now face federal charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor and production of child pornography. The case involved two minor victims, McCoys office said. Two of the suspects are a husband and wife. Child sex trafficking is one of the most offensive and reprehensible crimes possible, said U.S. Attorney McCoy in a Department of Justice (DOJ) release. Sadly, many of the victims and offenders are hidden in plain sight. With support from our federal, state, and local partners, this office will find those who engage in all forms of human trafficking and bring them to justice. This includes those who patronize these victims. We will also continue to work with support groups here in our community to ensure these victims receive the services they need. Gary Garland and Shannon Garland in booking photos. (Anderson City Jail) According to the DOJ, the trafficking and other violations against the five defendants started in 2019 in South Carolina. Officials said the defendants would advertise and transport two minors in the case. Anderson County Sheriff Chad McBride told WSPA-TV that the investigation began in the spring. Somebody took notice of one of the children involved in the case, and there was some things about the child that they picked up on, he said. Thats kind of how conversations started. Gary Garland is facing more than two dozen charges including sexual exploitation of a minor, criminal sexual conduct with a minor, trafficking a victim under 18 years of age, dissemination of obscene materials, and giving drugs to a minor, said officials. The people involved in this case are just sick and demented, McBride said. Sex trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, and these cases are a top priority for HSI investigation, said Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Charlotte Ronnie Martinez in the release. HSI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to find and prosecute criminal traffickers while ensuring the victims of these terrible crimes are rescued and get the care they need. These are heinous allegations, and this case would not have been possible without the coordinated efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement departments, added U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Griffin Jr. Any crime against a child is horrific and the United States Marshals Service will utilize any and all available resources so we can bring these offenders to justice. Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, the heroes of the victorious battles in Tavush Province were awarded during a solemn ceremony held at Sardarapat Memorial. Before granting the high state awards to the servicemen of the Armed Forces of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan delivered a speech in which he particularly stated the following: We have gathered at Sardarapat Memorial (the symbol of the glorious victory that the Armenian people achieved against the Ottoman army) on a special occasion. For the first time in the history of the Republic of Armenia, 55 active servicemen of the Armed Forces have been awarded the second-class Order of the Combat Cross, and 16 servicemen have been awarded the first-class Order of the Combat Cross. The event is special in that 24 of the recipients are here today and I will have the honor of granting the orders to them, and the other recipients arent here because they are currently defending the borders and protecting the security of Armenia. This is not all. For the first time in the history of Armenia, an active serviceman of the Armed Forces will receive the title of National Hero of Armenia. After a short while, I will grant the Order of the Homeland to Captain Ruben Sanamyan, and tomorrow he will continue his service at his military unit. This is the most important feature of todays event. Throughout Armenias history, most of the first-class Orders of the Combat Cross have been awarded posthumously. All of the National Heroes of Armenia who have fought during the battle for liberation and have been associated with the Armed Forces have been awarded posthumously, and today is the first time in history when the national hero serviceman of Armenia, an officer, will receive the Order of the Combat Cross in person. This event attests to the fact that the acts of the heroes of the battle for the liberation of Artsakh, including Monte Melkonian, Tatul Krpeyan, Movses Gorgisyan, Jivan Abrahamyan, Yura Poghosyan and Vazgen Sargsyan live on and are not just a part of history. All of the award recipients are active veterans of the victorious battles that were led in Tavush Province in July of this year. The local battles became extremely significant in terms of psychology, politics and geopolitics, and now is an opportune moment to record the outcomes of the victorious battles for Armenia. The first outcome is that the victorious battles of July crushed the statements that the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan had been making over the past decade, stating that the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is only possible through the unilateral concessions of the Armenian side, and they proved that there is no military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Azerbaijan must inevitably adopt constructive approaches. For the past two years, the Armenian government has been stating that the use of force, threats and coercion against Armenia are not prospective, and the second outcome is that the battles proved that the Armenian governments statements are credible and that the governments evaluations of the military-political situation in the region and the ratio of force are precise. The third outcome is that, thanks to the large-scale reforms that have been taking place in the Armenian Army for the past two-and-a-half years, during the battles in July, Armenia proved that it is capable of ensuring military advantage through innovations in terms of tactics and strategy. Many might not know this, but during the battles in July, there was a unique situation where no serviceman was killed near the bordering military positions and there was only one injured serviceman. The fourth outcome is that the Armed Forces struck high technological weapons that people thought couldnt be struck. Few know that those arms were struck with Armenian weapons. The fifth outcome is that the battles in July showed Armenias capability of solving security challenges on its own. Several events that took place during the battles helped specify the scope of threats targeted not only at Armenia, but also the region, and they helped strengthen our confidence in our strategic allies and partners, and this further increases Armenias opportunity to play its role of guarantor of peace and stability in the region effectively. Through the victorious battles in July, Armenia has entered a new stage in history in which Armenias military-political weight and significance has grown in the region, but there are also more challenges and a higher sense of responsibility. And so, long live freedom, long live the Republic of Armenia, long live the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic), long live the Armenian Army and long live we and our children who are living in a free, victorious and happy Armenia. In a paper published in the journal Communications Biology, a team of U.S. paleontologists reports evidence of a hibernation-like condition in Lystrosaurus, an early relative of mammals that lived between 253 and 248 million years ago (Early Triassic epoch). The discovery was enabled by high-resolution of incremental growth marks preserved in the fossilized tusks of Lystrosaurus from Antarctica. Lystrosaurus is a type of dicynodont, a major group of primarily herbivorous vertebrates that were common during the Permian and Triassic periods. The ancient creature was between 1.8 and 2.4 meter (6-8 feet) in length, had no teeth, but bore a pair of tusks in the upper jaw. The fossilized remains of Lystrosaurus are known from China, Europe, India, South Africa and Antarctica and this geographic distribution was one of the early pieces of evidence used in support of the large supercontinent Pangea. The animals fossils have been found in burrow structures in South Africa and similar burrow trace fossils have been recovered from Antarctica, but not with Lystrosaurus inside them. Lystrosaurus arose before Earths largest mass extinction at the end of the Permian period which wiped out 70% of vertebrate species on land and somehow survived. The fact that Lystrosaurus survived the end-Permian mass extinction and had such a wide range in the early Triassic has made them a very well-studied group of animals for understanding survival and adaptation, said Burke Museums Professor Christian Sidor, co-author of the study. The Lystrosaurus fossils from the Fremouw Formation of Antarctica are the oldest evidence of a hibernation-like state in a vertebrate animal and indicate that torpor a general term for hibernation and similar states in which animals temporarily lower their metabolic rate to get through a tough season arose in vertebrates even before mammals and dinosaurs evolved. Animals that live at or near the poles have always had to cope with the more extreme environments present there, said lead author Dr. Megan Whitney, a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University. These preliminary findings indicate that entering into a hibernation-like state is not a relatively new type of adaptation. It is an ancient one. The Lystrosaurus tusks made the study possible because, like elephants, their tusks grew continuously throughout their lives. Taking cross-sections of the fossilized tusks revealed information about the animals metabolism, growth and stress or strain. The paleontologists compared cross-sections of tusks from six Antarctic Lystrosaurus to cross-sections of four Lystrosaurus from South Africa. The tusks from the two regions showed similar growth patterns, with layers of dentine deposited in concentric circles like tree rings. The Antarctic fossils, however, held an additional feature that was rare or absent in tusks farther north: closely-spaced, thick rings, which likely indicate periods of less deposition due to prolonged stress. The closest analog we can find to the stress marks that we observed in Antarctic Lystrosaurus tusks are stress marks in teeth associated with hibernation in certain modern animals, Dr. Whitney said. The researchers cannot definitively conclude that Lystrosaurus underwent true hibernation. The stress could have been caused by another hibernation-like form of torpor, such as a more short-term reduction in metabolism. Lystrosaurus in Antarctica likely needed some form of hibernation-like adaptation to cope with life near the South Pole, Dr. Whitney said. _____ M.R. Whitney & C.A. Sidor. 2020. Evidence of torpor in the tusks of Lystrosaurus from the Early Triassic of Antarctica. Commun Biol 3, 471; doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-01207-6 I will do anything to give back life to the orchestra. I dont want to seem like somebody that doesnt care about the health of the people. I dont want to be misunderstood. You are going through what we (in Italy) had months ago. That I understand. Of course, nobody wants to go to sink in the water, to die. The health is the first thing. Because when we have good health, then all the other things follow after. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 17:36:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HANOI, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Police of Vietnam's central highlands Dak Lak province have arrested a local man for trafficking 2.8 kg of drugs from Laos to the country, Vietnam News Agency reported on Friday. The 53-year-old man was caught red-handed transporting the illicit drugs in Cu M'Gar district on Wednesday night. He confessed that he is a drug addict and had traveled to Laos several times to buy drugs and bring back to Vietnam for both use and resale, the news agency reported, noting that further investigation is underway. According to Vietnamese law, those convicted of smuggling over 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kg of methamphetamine are punishable by death. Making or trading 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal drugs also faces death penalty. Enditem The Delhi government will increase the working hours of its dispensaries and clinics by two hours so that more Covid-19 tests can be carried out, state health minister Satyendar Jain said on Friday, giving details about how the administration plans to ramp up a process that the chief minister has described as crucial for the citys fight against the outbreak. The move was triggered by a consistent rise in the number of cases. The city added the most cases 1,840 in 48 days on Thursday. On Friday, this number was slightly lower at 1,808. Also Read: Maharashtra records over 14,000 Covid-19 cases for a third consecutive day After becoming the first major region to register a sustained fall in cases, the national capital has seen an uptick this month, prompting chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday where it was decided that the rate of testing will be doubled from current levels to nearly 40,000 a day in the next week. We have asked all our dispensaries and seed PUHC (Primary Urban Health Centre) to start testing patients between 9 am and 2 pm for five hours instead of three hours it was being done before. This is where the numbers would be scaled up mainly, Jain said on Friday. The administration has 265 dispensaries and clinics, in addition to major hospitals it runs. All Delhi government hospitals are also testing people for Covid-19 between 9 am and 2 pm. And, it will be free of cost. Anyone can get tested, even if they just suspect that they might have it. Apart from that, testing within the community through mobile vans, camps and in containment zones is happening in addition to this. We have said 40,000 if each of the fixed centres test 100 people a day, hospitals 200 people a day, and additional tests are done in the community the numbers are not difficult to achieve, said Jain. Also Read: Flouting Covid-19 norms in Metro may attract heavy fines once it reopens Shortly after Wednesdays announcement, government officials said the plan was to increase rapid antigen on-site tests and RT-PCR lab tests proportionally. The lab tests are considered more reliable, but take longer and cost more than the antigen tests. Antigen tests show results within 15-30 minutes, while the lab ones can take up to a day depending on the number of samples and machine capacity. The minister said the government had enough rapid antigen test kits and the approved laboratories have adequate RT-PCR kits to increase daily testing. On average, 18,361 samples were tested for Covid-19 in Delhi during the last seven days. The positivity rate the proportion of people who tests positive among those tested has also gone up through the month from an average of 5.7% during the last week of July to 8% during the last seven days. The plan to increase testing was briefly the subject of confrontation between the Delhi government and the Union home ministry (MHA). The health minister on Thursday wrote to MHA urging it not to interfere with the Kejriwal governments decision to double testing. The MHA later tweeted that the allegation was false and baseless, prompting Jain to reply in a tweet: I hope that the officers will comply with this msg from MHA. I am sure that the officers, who were reluctant to increase testing today, citing pressure from MHA, will immediately increase testing in Delhi. In a statement, the MHA said that only technical guidance was sought from an expert committee in the note by principal health secretary Vikram Dev Dutt, which was cited by senior government officials to allege pressure from MHA. A copy of the note accessed by HT says, Guidance may kindly be sought from the expert committee/ MHA on the following aspects: In light of the current Covid-19 situation and trajectory of cases in Delhi whether scaling up of testing numbers is to be done and if so, to what extent. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Vietnam has received huge support and respects in the international arena, said Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, who has assumed the position as head of the Vietnam Permanent Mission to the UN for two years. Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy (Photo: VNA) Addressing a virtual meeting on external affairs held on August 27 by the Vietnam Permanent Mission to the UN on the occasion of the Vietnamese diplomatic sectors 75th anniversary (August 28), Quy pointed to five main reasons for the countrys achievement. Firstly, he attributed to what Vietnam did in the two resistance wars against French colonialists and US imperialists. Secondly, Vietnam has successfully transformed from a country difficult in economy and fully dependent on foreign assistance to the one with continuously increasing GDP and increasingly improving peoples lives. Thirdly, Vietnam has behaved peacefully and properly toward powers and neighbouring countries. Fourthly, Vietnam remains faithful to its friends, especially those standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the country during difficult times. Fifthly, Vietnam has actively integrated into the international community and tried to comply with international law, stated Quy. Speaking at the event, Nguyen Thi Lien Hang, a professor of Vietnamese origin who is teaching at Columbia University, said that Vietnam's diplomatic work over the years has succeeded, clearly demonstrated through its intensive and extensive international integration, making friends with other countries, affirming its role in the international arena, and consolidating peace and stability. Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc affirmed that Vietnams diplomatic offices in the US have exerted efforts to boost Vietnams relations with its two important partners of the US and the UN as it is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council./.VNA Healthcare facilities under pressure and limited testing is obscuring the real extent of the pandemic, UN official says. The United Nations has raised concerns over the widespread transmission of the new coronavirus in war-torn Syria, where healthcare facilities are under increasing pressure and limited testing is obscuring the real extent of the pandemic. Syria has so far reported nearly 2,500 cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, including 98 deaths. However, Ramesh Rajasingham, the UNs deputy emergency relief coordinator, said reports of healthcare facilities filling up and increasing death notices and burials appear to indicate the actual number of cases in the country far exceed official figures confirmed by the government. Rajasingham told the UN Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday rising patient numbers are adding pressure to the fragile health system in Syria, now in its 10th year of war. Of the virus cases confirmed by the Syrian health ministry, Rajasingham said, the majority cannot be traced to a known source. Meanwhile, health workers still lack sufficient personal protective equipment and several facilities have suspended operations because of a lack of capacity and staff falling ill from COVID-19, he said. Tip of the iceberg Health officials reported the first case of coronavirus in Syria back in March. Germany and Belgium, which are in charge of Syrian humanitarian issues in the UNSC, said in a joint statement the spread of COVID-19 across the country is increasing exponentially. Testing capacities remain very low so most cases may go unnoticed, it said. Numbers we hear may only represent the tip of the iceberg. They also warned the destruction of health facilities and the shortage of health workers dramatically imperil any response. Germany and Belgium urged greater humanitarian access, sharply criticising demands by Syrian ally Russia that led to the closing of the al-Yaroubiya crossing from Iraq to northeast Syria in January, and last months closing of the Bab al-Salam crossing point from Turkey to northwest Syria. On Thursday, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) aid group also echoed demands to boost dwindling medical supplies amid rising cases. 200711181238241 The al-Yaroubiya entry point on the Iraqi border was shut after a UNSC vote under Russian pressure, causing an aid shortage to the Kurdish-run Syrian region. Syrias government backed by Russia sees cross-border aid distributed without its permission as a violation of its sovereignty. IRC President David Miliband said the suspension, renewed in July, has left millions bereft of essential medicine and health supplies in the midst of this outbreak. Kurdish authorities have announced 478 cases of COVID-19, including 28 deaths in the region, but the IRC said rates were likely higher because of low testing rates for the virus. Nine years of war have battered healthcare provision across Syria, but the situation in the northeast is particularly critical as Kurdish authorities have been left to cope with the coronavirus pandemic largely unaided. This has raised fears any outbreak could swiftly escalate into an epidemic gripping the entire Kurdish region. MUMBAI: Sushant Singh Rajput's sister Shweta Singh Kirti on Friday (August 28) severely criticised Rhea Chakraborty, an accused in the actor's death case, on social media over a television interview the latter gave the day before. Shweta's contention is that her late brother's girlfriend Rhea tarnished his image on national media with all that she said. "You have guts to come on National Media and tarnish the image of my pure brother after his death!! You think God is not watching for what you have done! I believe in God and I have faith, now I really want to see what he will do to you. #Godiswithus #JusticeForSushantSinghRajput," Shweta Singh Kirti posted from her unverified Twitter account. In a separate tweet, Shweta demanded that Rhea should be arrested for allegedly drugging Sushant without his consent and manipulating his mind. "I wish Bhai would have never met that girl at all!! Drugging someone without his consent and then convincing him that you are not well, taking him to the psychiatrists... what level of manipulation is this!! How will you ever redeem your soul!!! You are so done!! #ArrestRheaNow," Shweta tweeted. Shweta further took a dig at Rhea for allegedly claiming in the television interview that Sushant`s sisters did not care for their brother. "As Rhea mentioned in her interview, We didn`t love our brother!! Yeah right, that`s why I flew all the way from USA to India in Jan as soon as I got to know Bhai is visiting Chandigarh and is not keeping well. I had to stall my business and leave my kids behind! #Godiswithus," wrote Shweta attaching a copy of her flight`s e-ticket along with the tweet as evidence. In another tweet, Shweta alleged that even after flying down to India, she didn't get to meet her brother Sushant because by that time he had left Chandigarh due to continuous calls from Rhea. As per reports, Rhea had called Sushant almost 25-27 times in 48 hours while he was in Chandigarh. "The worst part was I didn't even get to meet him coz by the time I reached, Bhai had already left Chandigarh because of the constant pestering calls of Rhea and some work commitments. Family was always there standing rock solid for him!! #JusticeForSushantSinghRajput #Godiswithus." In a video that went viral on Thursday, Sushant's father KK Singh openly declared that actress Rhea Chakraborty had been administering poison to his son for long, and is his murderer. Sushant's death is being currently investigated by the CBI. After Mumbai Police, Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation are investigating varous angles in the actor's death. Students were welcomed with open arms on the first day of classes Monday, Aug. 24, at Needville Elementary School. Related: Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar discusses state's budget outlook Teachers were on hand to help students get out of cars as parents dropped off their youngsters to start the 2020-21 school year. The week was cut short, however, as classes were canceled Wednesday through Friday out of an abundance of caution with the arrival of Hurricane Laura on the Gulf Coast. While the region was spared the storm as it moved east toward Louisiana, students still managed to get a taste of what the school year will be like. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic that interrupted the end of the last school year, students, teachers and paraprofessionals all donned face masks or shields and made sure to keep their hands clean. Related: COVID-19 testing sites expand in Fort Bend County The return to class was the first time since March that students were allowed on campus. For more information about Needville ISD, go to www.needvilleisd.com. rkent@hcnonline.com The Alabama Supreme Court today denied former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbards request for a rehearing on six felony ethics convictions handed down by a jury in 2016. Attorney General Steve Marshall said the justices decision closes out Hubbards appeals in state court and that Hubbard is now required to report to jail to begin serving his four-year sentence. An attorney for Hubbard said they have advised him to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Todays decision was the latest setback for the 58-year-old from Auburn, who a decade ago led the Republicans historic takeover of the Legislature, making him one of Alabamas most powerful politicians. Hubbard was convicted of using his elected office to enrich himself through consulting contracts. The former speaker has denied wrongdoing and said the business activities that prosecutors said were crimes were separate from his public position. Some of the key developments in the rise and fall of Hubbard: November 2010: Voters elect Republicans to majority status in the Alabama House and Senate, ending 136 years of Democratic control. Hubbard, first elected to the House in 1998, helped orchestrate the victory as state Republican Party chair. December 2010: The new, GOP-led Legislature meets in a special session and passes bills aimed at strengthening Alabamas ethics laws, following through on a campaign promise. Hubbard, who presided over the session as the newly elected speaker, would be convicted six years later under the more restrictive laws. July 2013: Lee County Circuit Judge Jacob Walker signs an order to empanel a special grand jury. The purpose is not disclosed. Attorney General Luther Strange recuses himself from the investigation and appoints former St. Clair County District Attorney Van Davis to oversee it. October 2014: The special grand jury indicts Hubbard on 23 felony ethics charges, alleging that he used of his office for personal gain to land consulting contracts and investment help with a failing printing company. Hubbard says hes done nothing wrong and calls the investigation a political witch hunt. November 2014: Lee County voters elected Hubbard to a fifth four-year term. January 2015: The Alabama House of Representatives overwhelmingly elects Hubbard to a new term as speaker despite the indictment. May, June 2016: Hubbard goes on trial in Lee County Circuit Court. Special Prosecutions Division Chief Matt Hart of the attorney generals office gives opening arguments for the prosecution, while former Attorney General Bill Baxley argues for Hubbard. In days that followed, the jury would hear testimony from people with clout in Alabama politics, including lobbyists, business executives, and former Gov. Bob Riley, Hubbards close friend and mentor. Hubbard would also take the stand for three days. June 2016: The jury convicts Hubbard on 12 felony ethics counts and acquits him on 11 others. He is automatically removed from the speakers office and the Legislature. July 2016: Lee County Circuit Judge Jacob Walker sentences Hubbard to four years in prison, 16 years probation, and orders him to pay $210,000 in fines. He is allowed to remain free on bond for his appeals. August 2018: The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals upholds 11 of the 12 counts against Hubbard. In the opinion, the court also urges the Legislature to clarify parts of the ethics law. Hubbards defense team had argued, in part, that the law was overly broad as applied in Hubbards case. April 2020: The Alabama Supreme Court affirms six charges against Hubbard and overturns five others. August 2020: The Alabama Supreme Court denies Hubbards request for a rehearing, ending his appeals in state court. The day after Vice President Mike Pence was the headline speaker at the Republican National Convention, a Wisconsin college announced on Thursday that it had decided not to have him deliver its commencement address this weekend. The college, Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, said in a statement that after further review with careful consideration of the escalating events in Kenosha, it had decided that Mr. Pence should not speak to graduates on Aug. 29. It said that the Rev. Mark Jeske of St. Marcus Lutheran Church had agreed to speak in his place. After the police shooting of a Black man in Kenosha on Sunday, days of unrest have drawn anti-racism protesters and armed civilians who supported the police, and led to a shooting that killed two people. Having Mr. Pence come to campus, especially after his law-and-order speech at the convention Wednesday night, could have drawn protests and demonstrations to campus. The college made its announcement after some students and alumni signed an online letter criticizing the administrations invitation of a Vice President of an incredibly divisive and controversial ticket to speak in a swing state months before an election. A portrait of the late Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs sits atop the jerseys on the pitcher's mound at Angel Stadium on July 12, 2019. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Federal prosecutors and attorneys for ex-Angels employee Eric Kay asked a judge Friday to push back the deadline for Kays indictment, indicating a possible plea bargain. Kay, a longtime member of the Angels media relations department, was charged earlier this month in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth with distributing fentanyl in connection with the overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Both parties believe that with additional time in which to gather information about the defendant and the circumstances surrounding the events leading to the pending case, a plea agreement may be reached, thus negating the need for an indictment, the joint motion said, or the parties might be in a better position to move forward with the case in the most efficient manner. Michael Molfetta, Kays Newport Beach attorney, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Kay was arrested in Fort Worth on Aug. 7 and made his first appearance in front of U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton the same day. The federal Speedy Trial Act requires an indictment to be returned within 30 days of the defendants arrest, which in Kays case would be Sept. 6. The latest motion seeks to extend that date to Sept. 24. The judge granted the motion Friday afternoon. Its much easier to negotiate before an indictment, said Craig Mordock, a veteran criminal defense attorney in New Orleans who is experienced in federal cases. Once that indictment is handed down, that sort of becomes gospel to the prosecutors. The affidavit in support of the criminal complaint against Kay alleged he had a history of narcotic transactions with Skaggs and that Kay distributed these pills to [Skaggs] and others in their place of employment and while they were working. Skaggs died in his hotel room July 1, 2019, in Southlake, Texas, before the Angels were scheduled to play the Texas Rangers. A toxicology report found fentanyl and oxycodone in his system. Investigators discovered a counterfeit oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl in Skaggs room. The affidavit accused Kay of visiting Skaggs room in response to a request from Skaggs for pills late at night June 30. Story continues It was later determined that but for the fentanyl in [Skaggs] system, [he] would not have died, the affidavit said. According to court records, Kay hasnt entered a plea. In a statement on the day of Kays arrest, Molfetta said his client will patiently wait for his opportunity to make his story known. If convicted on current charges, Kay faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. After Kays arrest, Erin Nealy Cox, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas, said the investigation into the matter is open and active. Times staff writer Mike DiGiovanna contributed to this report. SAGINAW, MI Michigan State Police troopers in Saginaw have recovered a vehicle stolen from several states away, as well as two stolen guns. About 10:50 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27, troopers attempted to stop a vehicle in the area of 20th and Hammel streets for multiple motor vehicle code violations. When troopers activated their emergency lights, however, the driver of the vehicle sped away. At this point, troopers did not know the vehicle was stolen and therefore did not initiate a pursuit, in compliance with the departments pursuit policy. Troopers were able to share the vehicles last-known direction. A fellow MSP patrol vehicle was just around the corner and located the suspect vehicle pulling into a driveway in the 2400 block of Hammel Street. Troopers again tried contacting the driver who fled on foot this time. After a short pursuit, troopers arrested the driver in the 2400 block of Phoenix Street. Investigation revealed the vehicle, a 2019 Jeep Latitude, was reported stolen from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Troopers also found two handguns believed to be stolen in the Jeep, said MSP Sgt. Joseph Rowley. The Jeeps driver, a 24-year-old Saginaw man, was lodged on multiple felony charges. His name and the charges are being withheld pending arraignment. Read more: Saginaw man left stolen gun in stores candy aisle, prosecutors allege 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 Journalist Mohamed Abdi Hussien (Araye), who was critically injured in the powerful car bomb blast and attack that targeted Elite hotel on 16 August 2020, received $2000 medical assistance from the Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ) on behalf of Free Press Unlimited Emergency Response. Araye sustained variety of shrapnel wounds from the suicide bombing that also claimed the lives of more than 15 civilians. FESOJ and a delegation including media directors from Universal TV, SNTV, Dalsan TV, CSO reps and MP Abdi Shire visited the journalist at the Erdogan Hospital in Mogadishu where he was hospitalized. Alshabaab militant group claimed responsibility for the attack. Free Press Unlimited and FESOJ stands in solidarity with Araye, we pray for his quick recovery and we hope the FPU cash assistance received can help settle his medical bills. Mohamed Moalimuu, Secretary General of the Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ). Abdirahim Isse Addow, the director of labor and human resources at the Ministry of Information of Federal Government of Somalia also thanked the Free Press Unlimited for providing immediate assistance to injured journalists to help cover medical expenses, at a time when they're in dire need. Over the last decade, FPU has continued to provide a variety of emergency support to more than a dozen journalists affected by Somalia ongoing conflict. Reporters Respond is an emergency fund for journalists directly in need for help. It is an assistance aimed at helping independent reporters get back to work in order to guarantee reliable reporting. Watch video below: Subscriber content preview OLYMPIA (AP) Washington state continues to see a decrease in both new and total weekly claims for unemployment benefits. The number of new claims for unemployment benefits in Washington last week 18,389 was down 16.2% from the previous week. . . . Senior US State Department official Jonathan Moore will head to Austria and Slovenia on Thursday for talks with officials from the United Nations, OSCE and local government officials, the US State Department said in a press release on Thursday WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th August, 2020) Senior US State Department official Jonathan Moore will head to Austria and Slovenia on Thursday for talks with officials from the United Nations, OSCE and local government officials, the US State Department said in a press release on Thursday. "Today Jonathan Moore,the Department of State's Senior Official in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, will travel to Vienna, Austria, where he will engage in a series of meetings with Austrian officials and representatives from the United Nations and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe," the release said. After his visit to Austria, Moore will head to Slovenia to meet with the country's officials and take part in the Bled Strategic Forum, the release said. His remarks to the gathering in Slovania will focus on US advocacy for research integrity and pandemic global preparedness and responses, as well as efforts to fight conservation crimes, the State Department said. LONDONDERRY, N.H. - Fresh off accepting the Republican Partys nomination, President Donald Trump said Friday he was the only thing standing between democracy and the mob, as he lashed out at protesters who accosted his supporters as they left the White House the night before. Sowing fear about the implications of a Joe Biden victory to battleground state voters, Trump held a rally in New Hampshire on Friday evening. Looking to close his Democratic rivals lead with just over two months until Election Day, Trump was launching an aggressive travel schedule and continuing to flout coronavirus guidelines. Trump opened his rally with a rant against demonstrators who confronted those leaving his convention speech on the South Lawn. Some guests at the political event, including Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, needed to be escorted by police officers to safety upon leaving the White House grounds. They walked out to a bunch of thugs, Trump said, criticizing District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser for not doing more to protect his supporters. Unhinged, manic rage. You ought to see last night in Washington, it was a disgrace. It marked his latest attempt to frame the general election as a dire choice between two futures for the nation a theme he was expected to amplify on the campaign trail. Trump said he directed White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to study how to call in the National Guard to the nations capital. Trump previously ordered federal troops to the District in May amid protests over the killing of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police. Were not supposed to go in unless we call it an insurrection, and thats a big statement, Trump said. But you know what were going to do. ... Were going to have to look at it because were not going to let that happen to people that go to the White House to celebrate our country. Trump said the protesters were anarchists, adding: Theyre just looking for trouble. Has nothing to do with George Floyd. Has nothing to do with anything. They dont even know who George Floyd is. The agitators will go from rioting in the streets to running the halls of government, he added, saying voters needed to support him to save democracy from the mob. No one will be safe in Bidens America, he added. Speaking in New Hampshire, a state he lost in 2016 by fewer than 2,000 votes and is a top pickup opportunity for him in 2020, Trump repeated unfounded allegations that thousands of voters were bused into the state from neighbouring Massachusetts four years ago. Trump also launched a new attack on Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris, speculating on the possibility that she could assume the presidency from the 78-year-old Biden. You know I want to see the first woman president also, but I dont want to see a woman president get into that position the way shed do it, and shes not competent, Trump said. Shes not competent. He suggested his own daughter, White House senior adviser Ivanka Trump, as a more suitable occupant for the Oval Office. Trump departed the White House by motorcade Friday, requiring it to weave through District of Columbia streets packed with demonstrators participating in a commemoration of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The motorcade made it to Joint Base Andrews without incident. Isolated groups of protesters on street corners made their presence felt through gestures directed at the motorcade. While the coronavirus kills 1,000 Americans each day, Trump defied his own administrations pandemic guidelines on Thursday to speak for more than an hour to a tightly packed, largely mask-less crowd. In New Hampshire, a campaign advisory said masks for attendees are required in accordance with Republican Gov. Chris Sununus executive orders, and would be provided. Similar indoor-outdoor rallies at aircraft hangars in recent weeks have seen limited compliance with face covering mandates. The event format has become the Trump campaigns go-to amid the pandemic. Before Trump arrived, many in the crowd did not put their masks back on after singing the national anthem. They later booed when a campaign staffer called on them to do so. This is a peaceful protest, read official signs handed out by the Trump campaign, echoing a rationale Trump has used to violate local ordinances and contrast his political events with racial justice protests sweeping the nation. Eric Gravel, 39, of Burlington, Vermont, who waited in line at a food truck before Trump spoke, wore a T-shirt that read COVID-19. Just tested positive for FRAUD. He was not wearing a mask. Theyll tell me to put one on. I wont, he said. I believe its a disease but I believe it is used by a control mechanism to enslave society, he said. By liberals, a woman in front of him interjected. Trump is anxious for a return to normal activities and complained on the way to New Hampshire about the state of the college football season. In the Big Ten conference, coaches and medical personnel are working on multiple plans for staging a football season including one that would have the league kicking off during the Thanksgiving weekend. The conference is filled with teams from battleground states that will prove critical in the upcoming election. No, I want Big Ten, and all other football, back - NOW, Trump tweeted. The Dems dont want football back, for political reasons, but are trying to blame me and the Republicans. Another LIE, but this is what we are up against! Trumps pace of travel is expected to pick up to a near-daily pace. Biden, who has largely weathered the pandemic from his Delaware home, announced Thursday that he will soon resume limited campaign travel. Trump mocked Bidens announcement, saying, Today it was announced that Joe Biden is coming out of the basement, speculating it was because the poll numbers have totally swung. Trump last attempted to visit New Hampshire six weeks ago, when he called off a trip on the eve of a scheduled campaign rally citing the threat from a tropical storm but also as his campaign worried that attendance would be sparse amid a nationwide surge in virus cases. That rally was to have been Trumps first since his embarrassing return to the campaign trail in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in June, where he spoke to a half-empty arena and an anticipated overflow crowd never materialized. - Associated Press staff writer Holly Ramer contributed to this report. Freking reported from Washington. Later in the day, Mathewson, an assault-style rifle visibly strapped around his chest, posted a 15-second clip of civilians gathered near the courthouse. That night, police say a civilian with an assault-style weapon shot and killed two men and wounded another as armed vigilantes patrolled the streets during yet another violent night of protests following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. The victims and survivor of the Kenosha attack, allegedly carried out by a teenager, are survived by friends and family. Marchers were reportedly solemn on Wednesday night during ongoing protests over the August 23 shooting of Jacob Blake a Black man paralysed from the waist down after he was shot seven times by police in front of his three children in Kenosha, Wisconsin in the United States. Protests in the city the previous night had turned chaotic when two demonstrators were killed and a third was wounded in a shooting incident. Police have arrested and charged Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, with murder in connection with the shooting. Footage of the incident captured on mobile phone cameras has been posted online. This is what we know about the victims. The two lives lost Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, was known as a talented skateboarder and class clown, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. This is #AnthonyHuber, one of the victims from last nights shootings. His loved one tells us he was a super talented skater and shared this video with us. Theyre honoring his memory by asking everyone to please come to Basik skate park to pay respects. #SkateForHuber #Kenosha pic.twitter.com/a5WGWGQJhL Pari Cruz (@paricruz) August 26, 2020 He was shot while attacking the shooter with his skateboard in order to save another person from being shot, according to unconfirmed social media posts. Huber is survived by his partner Hannah Gittings and a daughter, according to a GoFundMe fundraiser organised for her benefit. The initiative had raised over $91,000 as of Thursday afternoon. His final act says more about him than any words could. The rest of the world is watching the USA in horror hopefully this innocent death can finally stir some positive action, and Anthonys family (and many others) get justice, one donator named Alice Nicholl wrote. The second victim was Joseph Rosenbaum, a 36-year-old originally from Waco, Texas who had moved to Kenosha in the past year to be close to his daughter, his sister told the Chicago Sun-Times. It quoted her saying Rosenbaum who is survived by a fiance as well as his daughter was a compassionate father and she wanted him to be remembered as the goofy and crazy man who he was. May you forever be with the angels and rest easy bro. I love you! his sister wrote on Facebook, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. A Kenosha County Sheriffs Department vehicle arrives on the scene during a fourth night of unrest in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake by police officers, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the US [Matt Marton/EFE-EPA] By Thursday afternoon, a fundraiser organised in Rosenbaums name by his friend Adriana Garcia had raised a little over $5,000 of its $25,000 goal. The money will be used solely for funeral services, according to the GoFundMe page. The Chicago Sun-Times said Rosenbaums sister discouraged contributions saying it was not needed because funeral expenses were covered. The survivor Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, reportedly from West Allis, Wisconsin, was shot in the arm during the protests. The wound was reportedly severe, but he is expected to survive. Online video shows a man appearing to be Grosskreutz holding a handgun. Grosskreutz had been volunteering as a medic in the Black Lives Matter protests over the summer, WTMJ-TV Milwaukee reported. Grosskreutz, who was also volunteering in Kenosha the night he was shot in the arm, received medical aid on the scene and was taken to a local hospital, where he was recuperating on Thursday. A fundraiser for Grosskreutz has also been organised. It says he will need multiple surgeries to save his arm. The GoFundMe campaign had raised over $8,000 of its $50,000 goal as of Thursday afternoon. It says the money will be used to help pay for medical costs. The last few weeks have witnessed a landmark development in Arab-Israeli relations upon which all fair-minded Jews can finally agree. I am of course referring to the agreement reached on Aug. 13, 2020, between the government of Israel and the government of the United Arab Emirates to establish diplomatic normalization with and recognition of the Jewish state. The anticipated peace treaty and ancillary agreements covering cooperation and collaboration in the fields of medicine, security, transportation and trade are not yet formalized as of this writing, but are expected to be signed in Was... BOSTON, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Creatio (formerly bpm'online), a global software company that provides a leading low-code platform for process management and CRM, today announced it has been recognized as one of the best software companies to work for in 2020 according to Glassdoor. Creatio ranks as one of the highest rated software companies to work for based on the percent of employees who would recommend the company to a friend. The list was compiled via an analysis of Glassdoor rankings of Software Magazine's 2020 Software 100 List and selected enterprise software companies. The results were published on Forbes. According to the findings of the research, over 95% of the employees working for Creatio would recommend the company to a friend looking for work in 2020. An impressive 97% of employees approve of Creatio's CEO with an average of 83% of all employees working for enterprise software companies approve of their CEO today, up from 76% in 2018. Creatio has a culture of productivity, responsibility, respect and loyalty. It fosters the growth mindset and sees challenges as opportunities. The company values teamwork, diversity and positivity. "Being recognized as one of the best software companies to work for in 2020 is an honor. I'm happy to work with a team of creative, inspiring, and hard-working professionals, and it's an immense pleasure to see that they are happy to work at Creatio," said Katherine Kostereva, CEO and Managing Partner at Creatio. About Creatio Creatio (formerly bpm'online) is a global software company providing a leading low-code platform for process management and CRM. The company has been highly recognized as a market leader by key industry analysts. Its intelligent products accelerate sales, marketing, service and operations for mid-size and large enterprises. Together with hundreds of partners Creatio operates in 110 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit www.creatio.com. Media Contact: Vera Mayuk 617.765.7997 [email protected] SOURCE Creatio William Jackson Harper is nominated for Outstanding Actor in a comedy series for his role in NBCs The Good Place William Jackson Harper is a man of many talents. The 40-year-old actor whose TV work recently earned him an Emmy nomination is also a star of the stage and big screen and it turns out, hes a pretty dedicated dog dad. Harper is nominated for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Chidi Anagonye on NBCs The Good Place. While news of his nomination was a welcome surprise, he received it at a pretty inconvenient time for him and his pup. NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA JUNE 07: William Jackson Harper attends the FYC event for NBCs The Good Place at Saban Media Center on June 07, 2019 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images) I was actually just getting up to try to do my little workout before we had our appointment with this animal communicator, a.k.a. dog psychic, he exclusively tells theGrio. My publicist, Michael called me and told me I was nominated and it was like, Wow! What? and then I called my mom and she was like Wow, what? and there was a whole bunch of that, like a solid half hour. And then we got on the phone with the dog psychic. So it was bananas. It was a strange, off-the-wall morning. Read More: Watchmen nabs 26 Emmy nominations, plus full list of nominees Harper explains that his canine companion just hadnt been acting like himself, so he and his girlfriend enlisted the help of a dog psychic. Hes been spending a lot of time in his crate and just sleeping and thats not how he behaves. Hes a very energetic, very curious guy, he shares. So we actually had this animal communicator reach through the ether to communicate with him over the phone and she said that he had some neck problems and he also had an ear infection. And she encouraged us to go to the vet and they confirmed that thats what was going on with him. BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Keegan-Michael Key, William Jackson Harper, DArcy Carden and Sterling K. Brown attend The Hollywood Reporter The actor admits his time in quarantine may have had something to do with his ability to notice the red flags in his pet. Were just sitting at home, staring at our little dog all day long. like Thats what we do. Thats whats happening now, he said. Story continues But Harper has been doing more than just sitting around in recent months. He hit the streets of Los Angeles to protest alongside the thousands of others who demanded to be heard after the tragic death of George Floyd. There are people that have been on the front lines of actually dealing with this every single day for years. And so for me, the thing that I know to do is to put my body into space. And thats all I did, he explains. I just hit the streets and protested like so many other people did. I just felt like I couldnt sit back and just watch it all unfold on CNN. This is my life were talking about. This is the lives of my family and my friends that were talking about that are just being devalued. BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 08: (L-R) Kristen Bell and William Jackson Harper of The Good Place speak during the NBC segment of the 2019 Summer TCA Press Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on August 08, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images) Harper maintains it was necessary for him to get involved. If Im not going to take my own side in a fight then what am I even doing? And so for me, its really just been a matter of going and being present and listening to the people that have been doing the work every single day. Theyre really important voices to listen to, especially in this moment, he continues. Harper is currently in production on Barry Jenkins Amazon limited series The Underground Railroad set to premiere in 2021. Earlier this year, he completed production on the indie film We Broke Up opposite Aya Cash. Read More: Tyler Perry to receive Governors Award at 2020 Emmys When it comes to his Emmy nod and the record-braking number of Black creatives nominated this year, Harper says he doesnt know what to expect. I dont really have a good barometer for how things are going to go when it comes to these awards and things. It has not been something that Ive actively participated in and I havent had any sort of success before, honestly, he says. Awards are not the reason why I got into acting. I would like to be recognized, but thats not the point. I mean, of course its very nice and Im totally honored, but its just not the point, he says. Harper also lauds the representation in the nominees. I did notice theres a lot of Black nominees this year and I think its correct. I feel like a lot of artists of color are often ignored in this forum, he enthuses. And so seeing how many artists of color in particular Black artists are nominated, there is a long way to go, but I think that I will take the victory of having Black representation this year. It is a step in the right direction. While hes honored to be nominated alongside such amazing actors, its clear Harper may actually be rooting for some of his competitors. BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Aldis Hodge, Sterling K. Brown and William Jackson Harper attend The Hollywood Reporter Especially in my category, all of the actors that Im, competing against I think theyre all brilliant. Sterling K. Brown and Kenan Thompson these are guys that Ive seen doing amazing work year after year after year. Kenan Thompson has been the glue for me on SNL for a long time, he adds. And the consistency of how he shows up in that show; it just feels it feels correct to give him recognition for that. And I feel like he should have more of it, honestly. Im so excited because theres just so many artists that Ive been admiring for a long time getting recognition that I think they absolutely deserve, he says. He also divulges a moment of brutal honesty. I think I was just trying to do my job and not get fired, he admits. The other project hes rooting for is HBOs groundbreaking series, Watchmen. I love that show. I loved it with my whole damn heart. I thought it was just. I thought it was just an expertly done show. And seeing the nominations that they got, the way that it shook people awake about the racial history in this country and putting it in a work of fiction, but actually having, you know, a kernel of an actual event of a true thing that happened sort of kick off this this entire world that we go into, he says. He continues about his appreciation for the project. I thought that was just brilliant. And what was really eye-opening to me was how many people just did not know about the Tulsa race massacre, he says. I mean, obviously, I have a vested interest in learning about these sort of things, so of course I had come across it, but I was surprised that so many people my age had heard nothing about it and the fact that it was brought into their homes and brought into their consciousness, I think its the sort of work of art that helps us to be a little bit more honest with ourselves about who we are as a country and as a people. And I think thats important and I think that show did it very, very well. Im just over the moon that people were recognizing it. I think thats very fair and that makes me very happy. Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now! The post William Jackson Harper on his Emmy nom and protesting for social justice appeared first on TheGrio. Ahmednagar : , Aug 28 (IANS) Veteran anti-corruption crusader Kisan Baburao Hazare, more popular as Anna Hazare, on Friday spurned Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Adesh Gupta's recent invitation to join him in a protest against the Aam Aadmi Party government. Given the current circumstances, the senior leader from Maharashtra candidly admitted that no party in the country can give a bright future to the people or resolve their problems and hence, "my coming to Delhi will not make any difference". In a stinging letter to Gupta, Hazare said that he was pained to read the BJP chief's invite asking him to launch an agitation against the AAP regime in the capital, on the lines of a similar crusade for Lokpal in 2011. "The BJP has been in power since six years... You represent the youth which is the power of the nation... What could be more unfortunate than the fact that a party which claims to be the one with the biggest membership in the world has to call an 83-year-old man like me who lives in a 10x12 feet room, with no money, property or power," Hazare wrote. He pointed out that now the BJP government at the Centre controls everything in Delhi (state) like the CBI, ED, state police, etc, and the Prime Minister even claims that he has taken strong steps to uproot corruption. "If that is so, then why can't your government take steps against the Delhi regime if it has indulged in corrupt activities? Or, are you just making tall claims," Hazare asked pointedly. The octogenarian activist said that he had undertaken 20 hunger strike agitations in over 22 years of his war against graft, in public and national interest without bothering about which party was being targeted. "In 2011, when I undertook the agitation, people were fed up of corruption and took to the streets all over the country in support... In 2014, your party showed dreams of a 'corruption-free' India and came to power, but peoples' life has not improved," penned Hazare in a no-holds barred tone. Expressing disappointment at how all parties are involved in the same vicious circle of 'chasing money-for-power and power-for-money', Anna said there will be no change in the country and people will not get any succour from their sufferings till the system changes. Hazare advised that it is very easy for any party to target the other party which is in power, but there is a need now for all parties to make a "self-introspection and admit their own shortcomings". Top Republican leaders have hailed President Donald Trump's record in handling the economy, restoring the law and order and confronting China head-on to urge Americans to re-elect him in the November presidential elections. The last night of the Republican National Convention on Thursday saw the top congressional Republicans like House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy vouching for Trump's re-election against his Democratic Party rival and former vice president Joe Biden. Republicans are proud to stand with him and work for you. Together we built the greatest economy the world has ever seen and we'll do it again. We confronted China head-on Tore up bad trade deals and made better ones, McCarthy said. McCarthy said that the Trump Administration has taken out the world's top terrorists. Achieved energy independence. Defended the sanctity of life. And restored law and order at the border, he said. Daniel Scavino, currently serving as the White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Director of Social Media, said that the president cannot be beaten. He's got a fighting spirit like so many of you do and winning for America is what he does. They call it chaos, President Trump calls it change, he said. Just think about what we achieved together with President Trump. The strongest economy in history. The lowest unemployment rate for almost all demographic groups -- Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, women, and so many more, Scavino said. Debbie Flood, president of architectural hardware and castings manufacturer Melron Corp, said that under the Trump administration businesses have enjoyed a thriving economy stimulated by Trump's pro-business and pro-worker policies. Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas said that the Democratic presidential candidate Biden coddled socialist dictators in Cuba and Venezuela, while President Trump fights against communism in America's backyard and around the world. And on the Communist Party of China, there is no comparison. Joe Biden aided and abetted China's rise for fifty years with terrible trade deals that closed our factories and laid off our workers. President Trump stands up to China's cheating and stealing, and lying, he alleged. Joe Biden allowed Chinese fentanyl to flood across our southern border. President Trump sanctioned Chinese drug dealers for poisoning our kids, he said. But China's not giving up in fact, they're rooting for Joe Biden. America's other enemies won't give up either. But Joe Biden would be as wrong and weak over the next four years as he has been for the last fifty, Cotton said. Speaking on behalf of 50,000 active and retired New York City police officers, Police Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch, if Americans are going to turn the tide and restore law and order, they cannot fall into the left's trap. Wherever Democrats are in power, the radical left is getting exactly what they want. And our country is suffering for it, he said. I have been a New York City police officer for 36 years. I've never seen our streets go this bad so quickly. I've never heard from so many cops, from every corner of the country, who are saying the same thing: Our hands are tied. Something has to change, Lynch said. If we are going to turn the tide and restore law and order, we cannot fall into the left's trap. There is nobody who hates bad cops more than good cops, but that doesn't matter to the radical left. To them, we're all bad, because we are all blue, he said. An embankment section in Tran Van Thoi District of Ca Mau Province in early August, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Trung Dung. With its coastal embankment threatened by collapse, Ca Mau Province is seeking urgent solutions to save residential areas and farmland. The province entered a state of emergency Thursday to respond to any damage occurring as a three kilometer (1.86 miles) coastal embankment along its western coast nears the point of collapse due to wave impact. Authorities have identified four sections as "especially threatened," measuring 610 and 315 m each in U Minh District, and 1,900 m and 500 m each in Tran Van Thoi District. "Those sections receive no forest protection. During extreme weather spells, waves would break directly against the embankment, putting it at great risk," To Quoc Nam, deputy director of the provinces Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said. He confirmed the department is looking into investment projects to help counter the situation. Authorities in both affected districts further plan to evacuate families should conditions deteriorate. The three-kilometer sea barrier helps prevent salinity from intruding into a residential area of 26,000 families and farmland of 90,000 ha (222,400 acres). Ca Mau, the southernmost province of Vietnam, has a total coastline of over 250 km. Since 2007, erosion has caused it to lose some 9,000 ha of protective forest. Earlier this month, under the impact of storm Sinlaku, many sections of the embankment along Ca Maus western coast suffered serious erosion. In December last year, a combined 105 km (65 miles) of riverbank and coastal areas were eroded in Ca Mau. The Mekong Delta province has 46 riverine and six coastal areas termed "severe" erosion hotspots, its agriculture department warned last year. Local authorities said climate change, which leads to complex and unpredictable natural calamities, has been worsening erosion in recent years. The province has yet to formulate a long-term response to the threat, and has merely put up warning signs across threatened localities. In the past 10 years, Vietnam has spent VND16.1 trillion ($694 million) on anti-erosion projects in the Mekong Delta, allocating VND4.04 trillion ($174 million) in 2018 and 2019 alone. Across the delta, there are 564 riverine and coastal erosion hubs measuring a total 834 km. Several aspirants took to social media on Thursday to convey to the ministry that travelling to examination centres and lodging amid restrictions are the biggest challenges, and not social distancing at test centres The Centre on Thursday indicated it was unwilling to reconsider its decision to hold the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) and the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) despite raging criticism from the Opposition and protests from a section of students. Even though no official confirmation was relayed, a section of the media quoted Ministry of Education Secretary as saying that the government will not rethink its decision to go ahead with the exam. Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank also appeared to defend the government's move in several interactions with the media, without hinting at the possibility of reaching out to students protesting the move. Pokhriyal insisted that the 'silent majority' was with the government as he said that he has received several emails from students and their parents insisting that the government should not let their preparations go to waste. "Every day, I get innumerable mails from the silent majority. 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. They have been seriously preparing for the exams since January and the past two years," he told the Hindustan Times on Wednesday. The minister, on Thursday, also referred to the number of downloads of the admit cards to deduce that the 'majority of students' actually want to appear for the exam. "National Testing Agency (NTA) officials told me that over 7 lakh candidates have downloaded JEE-Main admit cards while over 10 lakh aspirants have downloaded NEET admit cards. This shows that students want the exams be held at any cost," Pokhriyal said. He also said that the government has added more centres for the student's convenience and to prevent overcrowding at centres. JEE exam centres have been increased to 660 from 570 while there are now 3,842 NEET centres, up from 2,546, the minister said, adding that 99 percent students have been allotted the centre of their choice. The National Testing Agency, responsible for conducting the exams, has also laid out a litany of guidelines to ensure that proper health norms are followed at exam centres, However, these measures appear to address only part of the problem that the protesting students have raised. The centres even after the addition of fresh ones in wake of coronavirus lie in roughly 150 cities across India, whereas the country has over 760 districts and hundreds other towns and villages. As students vociferously oppose the government's move, many of them point out that it is not the fear of coronavirus, but the practical difficulties of arranging transport and stay that is forcing them to seek postponement of exams. Education website Career 360 compiled responses from its readers, and those demanding the postponement of the two exams say that the COVID-19 pandemic and the flood situation in various parts of the country has created unforeseen problems for them. Hence, getting a centre of their choice doesn't really solve the problem of transport and stay. A coronavirus survivor wrote: "Im one of the NEET aspirants writing to you who had COVID-19 and recovered. I am in full support of either postponing or cancelling these exams because after having survived this virus, I want the parents and students to be safe. I want to let them know that this is real, its scary and its deadly. I would never want to sit in an exam that would decide my future having known how this disease almost took my life. I do understand the consequences of not conducting these exams, but nothing, nothing matters more than life especially when you could be putting more than one life at risk." Another reader from Bihar narrates the ordeal faced by students who either live in states with rivers still under spate, or were recently hit by floods: "I live in Bihar and the flood condition is worsening day by day. Electricity problem is the main issue for us. NEET is not an easy exam to prepare for. I used to study for 14 to 15 hours which has now reduced to two to three hours and it's not sufficient. Same is for other states which are affected by floods." Student's reactions poured out on Twitter as well, where several journalists also reported on problems faced by the candidates. A News18 journalist cited the example of a student who has to appear for two exams and he has been allotted centres in different districts for both. The JEE aspirant's first exam for B.Tech ends at 6.30 pm on Day 1 and the next exam starts at 7.40 am the next day. "After sitting in 1st exam for 5 hours with mask, I would have to travel 3 hours overnight to give 2nd exam," the student is quoted as saying. Another student tweeted tagging Pokhriyal saying that the public transport has not yet resumed in his area and he does not have access to private vehicle to reach the exam centre. Even if he has been granted the centre of his choice, he says he has no means to reach there because of the prevailing situation. A student from Jammu and Kashmir tweeted a video showing the flooding in her area and asked the government if she is expected to swim to the centre which is 82 kilometres from her home. I'm from J&K and last night whole area near my house got flooded. How am i gonna go to the exam centre now? I can't swim and my exam centre is 82kms away.#PostponeJEENEET_Today#postponeNEETandJEE#PostponeJEE_NEETinCOVID#AntiStudentNarendraModi#StudentLivesMatter#NEET#JEEpic.twitter.com/KN5bMXciVr Nancy Sharma (@NeetuBa39240540) August 27, 2020 A student also refuted Pokhriyal's claim that the number of downloads of admit card is an indicator of the number of students supporting the exam. The student wrote on Twitter: "The actual reason to download admit cards is to see our centres & it's distance. As Edu. Min., he should at least know that we can't see our centres until and unless we download them. It doesn't mean we want it. After seeing the distance, we want to postpone it in this situation (sic)." Another journalist with The Hindu highlighted the problems faced by women candidates residing in rural areas. The journalist posted messages from a student from rural West Bengal who said that places like Murshidabad and Malda are still inundated while public transport has not resumed yet. The student also pointed out the fact that in order to take the exam at a centre 250 kilometres away from her home, she will have to reach a day before the exam, and also arrange for accommodation, which are unaffordable for her family. Another candidate from rural Uttar Pradesh told the journalist that her parents are reluctant to let women travel alone in these times when transport is sparse. Many girls from rural areas might end up dropping out of the exam because it was impossible for them to reach to the nearest centre, the candidate said. Students also pointed out that the limited number of buses and trains mean overcrowding in public transport which puts candidates at risk of the infection even if the government manages to maintain social distancing and sanitation norms at the test centres. Around 8.58 lakh candidates have registered for JEE (Main) and 15.97 lakh students have registered for NEET. These exams have already been deferred twice in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The JEE (Main) was originally scheduled to be held from 7-11 April, but was postponed to 18-23 July; NEET-UG was originally scheduled for 3 May, but was pushed to 26 July. They were postponed again and are now scheduled in September. While the NEET is scheduled to be held on 13 September, engineering entrance exam JEE (Main) has been planned from 1 to 6 September. With inputs from PTI "The legacy application that we had before took about three years to build and was about 10 times the cost of what we were able to do in six months with VMware's support," Krolikowski said. "Traditionally with DoD software programs it takes a very, very, very long time to develop and then by the time something is delivered it may not be operationally relevant to the warfighter anymore," explained Krolikowski, the senior materiel leader for Space C2 at the Space and Missile Systems Center, a component of the U.S. Space Force. U.S. Air Force Col. Jennifer Krolikowski, who currently leads efforts to further develop Kobayashi Maru's capabilities, spoke to CNBC exclusively about how the service branch is utilizing its relationships with the private tech sector. The U.S. Space Force, in partnership with VMware , fast-tracked the development of several tech applications for the service's space software package. The cloud-based software package, affectionately dubbed Kobayashi Maru ( a "Star Trek" reference ), was developed by Palo Alto-based Palantir Systems and is used by both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force to track and monitor objects in space. WASHINGTON With the help of Silicon Valley, the nation's youngest military branch is already proving that it can do business quicker than its more established sister services. President Donald Trump first floated the Space Force idea as a part of his national security strategy on March 13, 2018. "Space is a war-fighting domain, just like the land, air, and sea," Trump told an audience of service members at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. "We may even have a Space Force, develop another one, Space Force. We have the Air Force, we'll have the Space Force." Three months later, Trump directed the Pentagon to immediately begin the creation of the new branch. In January, Trump unveiled the Space Force logo, which closely resembles that of Star Trek's fictional Starfleet. And earlier this year, 86 cadets graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy and commissioned for the first time into the U.S. Space Force. Krolikowski, who holds several advanced engineering degrees, said one of her main goals is to setup Kobayashi Maru for the Space Force in a way that allows for the software to continually evolve. One way the service has been able to do this is by identifying and partnering with tech industry leaders on specific needs. "The way DoD has previously built software is that we would hire one contractor that would kind of do the whole project. They would be responsible for applications, platforms and infrastructure," she explained, adding that the approach wasn't always efficient or effective. "If we break apart those elements we can get the best people working on each of those particular layers and that's where we brought in VMware, because if we had to build this ourselves or work with a firm that didn't have that level of expertise, we would still be working on it," Krolikowski said. VMware's Edward Hieatt, senior vice president of Services and Support, said the firm's successful partnership with the youngest service branch is due to collaboration. "We teach customers like Space Force how to modernize their existing applications and infrastructure, and build new, modern applications for themselves; we don't simply do it for them. That's powerful because it enables Space Force Airmen to be self-sufficient and leverage modern software and infrastructure to more rapidly achieve mission outcomes," Hieatt told CNBC. "It used to take eight to 10 years to acquire, develop, accredit, and deploy usable software. We teach airmen and soldiers to do that in months," he added. Federal minister Michael Sukkar plotted to block the political career of state MP James Newbury before it even began and was briefed multiple times about a suspected branch-stacking operation, according to fresh leaks of his private messages and emails. Meanwhile, a leaked tape of former party powerbroker Marcus Bastiaan records him deriding controversial state Liberal MP Tim Smith and Mr Newbury as "buffoons" and talking of a secret plot to remove close ally Michael Kroger as Liberal president. Michael Sukkar. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The emergence of more emails to and from Mr Sukkar's private parliamentary address has also revealed further evidence suggesting the minister was part of a scheme to use taxpayer-funded electorate officers to recruit party members. A Finance Department inquiry was ordered into the scandal after revelations in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes, but the fresh leaks raise questions over whether it will seek emails and messages in its probe. A 27-year-old Houston man told authorities he fatally shot his grandfather on Wednesday in order to protect his family from the incoming storm, court records show. Bryant Davis faces a murder charge in connection with the shooting death of his grandfather, 65-year-old Clyde Ross, at his mothers Baytown residence, according to the Harris County Sheriffs Office. Deputies responded around 10:30 a.m. to a reported shooting at the home in the 5400 block of Cilantro Lane, the sheriff's office reported. Officials found Ross unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and transported him to Memorial Hermann Baytown where he died. Davis greeted his grandfather and grandmother with hugs that morning in the driveway of his mothers residence where the couple came to visit their daughter, a prosecutor said during an early Thursday morning court hearing. Ross was about to sit down in a recliner when Davis drew a black 9 mm handgun and shot him four or five times, the prosecutor said Davis told authorities. Ross wife, who was in the room and gave a similar version of the shooting, fled the residence with Davis mother, who had been washing dishes but heard at least one gunshot. Davis, who was detained at the scene by police, told authorities that he hid the firearm in a plastic tote under a pile of clothing, the prosecutor said. Police found the gun as described in a tote in an upstairs bedroom. Davis told police he shot his grandfather as a way to protect his family from the incoming storm, according to the prosecution. On Wednesday, Hurricane Laura was approaching the Gulf coast with eastern Harris County, where the shooting occurred, in its potential path. Its unclear if that is the storm to which Davis was referring. The accused killer, a married father of two, has no criminal history, court records show. He is currently unemployed but previously worked at FedEx. The court ordered a mental health evaluation for Davis, who was booked Wednesday into a Harris County jail where he is held on $40,000 bond. DALLAS, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Alternet Systems, Inc. (USOTC: ALYI) today confirmed the company's funding partner, RevoltTOKEN (www.revolttoken.com) will present a comprehensive update next Wednesday, September 2, 2020 on the $100 million transaction intended to fund ALYI's electric mobility business. RevoltTOKEN has just secured the last key component necessary to proceed with the funding transaction. In addition to featuring the key component now in place, the presentation will include an overall update on progress toward the launch of the RevoltTOKEN initial cryptocurrency offering (ICO). Based on both individual investor and institutional investor response, the presentation will specifically include an overview on how the $100 million funding target could well be exceeded. ALYI has entered into a comprehensive funding agreement with RevoltTOKEN that includes an existing $25 million first tranche investment commitment at $0.05 per share. ALYI has initiated a $2.5 million draw down on the first $25 million to begin construction on a 100-acre facility in Africa. Overall, RevoltTOKEN intends to invest $100 million in ALYI in conjunction with an independent initial cryptocurrency offering (ICO). RevoltTOKEN has already partitioned a cryptocurrency on the Ethereum Blockchain in advance of the planned ICO. Yesterday, ALYI announced that it expects a new fleet order for its ReVolt Electric Motorcycle to double the company's current production outlook. Earlier this month the company announced entering into discussions regarding additional fleet orders. Management now expects to sign an order resulting from those discussions by the end of September. ALYI currently has already entered into an initial $20 million electric motorcycle order and an additional letter of intent for a $30 million contract. Both agreements cover six-year durations resulting in an overall $300 million revenue opportunity for ALYI. The new order expected to be signed next month would edge ALYI toward a $500 million revenue opportunity. Over two years ago, ALYI piloted an electric motorcycle that in its first rendition was a BMW R71 clone retrofitted with an electric motor. The BMW R71 is a breathtaking iconic image popularized through decades of frequent Hollywood screen appearances in addition to the real engineering breakthroughs that maintain the bike's relevance. Still drawing on the BMW R71 original design and look, after several design iterations, the ReVolt Electric Motorcycle today is an innovation feat. When ALYI unveils the production version of the ReVolt Electric Motorcycle, it will be an industry changing event. The ReVolt Electric Motorcycle is a connected, state of the art electric motorcycle, ergonomically optimized for its target market while still maintaining an iconic look. ALYI expects to be in production later this year. For more information and to stay up to date on ALYI's latest developments, please visit: http://www.alternetsystemsinc.com Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies' contracts, the companies' liquidity position, the companies' ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur. Alternet Systems, Inc. Contact: Randell Torno [email protected] +1-800-713-029 SOURCE Alternet Systems, Inc. Related Links http://www.alternetsystemsinc.com The two Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officers involved in the shooting of Jacob Blake during an attempted arrest were identified Friday by the state's Department of Justice. The state DOJ had previously identified the officer who shot Blake, a Black man, seven times in the back as Rusten Sheskey, a seven-year veteran of the police department. In an updated press release on Friday, the department identified the other two officers as Vincent Arenas and Brittany Meronek, who joined the Kenosha Police Department in February 2019 and January 2020, respectively. Officers were called to a home Sunday in Kenosha, about 40 miles southeast of Milwaukee, after a woman reported that her boyfriend was at the home when he wasn't supposed to be there. The officers tried to arrest Blake, the DOJ said. Police have not responded to NBC News inquiries on whether Blake was the subject of the womans complaint. "After the initial attempt to arrest Mr. Blake, Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey deployed a taser to attempt to stop Mr. Blake," the release stated. "When that attempt failed, Kenosha Police Officer Vincent Arenas also deployed his taser, however that taser was also not successful in stopping Mr. Blake." Image: Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey. (Wisconsin Department of Justice / AP) "Mr. Blake walked around his vehicle, opened the drivers side door, and leaned forward. While holding onto Mr. Blakes shirt, Officer Rusten Sheskey fired his service weapon 7 times. Officer Sheskey fired the weapon into Mr. Blakes back. No other officer fired their weapon." Blake was taken to the hospital, where he remains. The family's attorney, Patrick Salvi, said Blake is now paralyzed from the waist down. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said in an interview Friday on "Good Morning America" that officers Sheskey and Arenas used their tasers to try and stop Blake. "The officers were attempting to effectuate an arrest and they used their tasers in the course of that process because they were trying to stop Mr. Blake," he said. "But those tasers didn't work and Mr. Blake was ultimately shot." Story continues The DOJ said in its press release that Blake "admitted that he had a knife in his possession" and that investigators recovered a knife from the driver's side floorboard of his car. No other weapons were found in the vehicle, the agency said. It is not clear whether Blake was carrying the knife at the time he was shot. Benjamin Crump, another lawyer for Blake's family, said Blake was "helping to de-escalate a domestic incident" when the officer shot him from behind as Blake was walking away. Image: Kenosha Police Officer Vincent Arenas. (Wisconsin Department of Justice / AP) The DOJ press release does not state Meronek's role in the attempted arrest, and the Kenosha Police Department did not immediately return a request for comment Friday. Attempts to reach the officers were not successful. All three officers have been placed on administrative leave, Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis said at a news conference Wednesday. Kenosha police officers do not wear body cameras because the department does not have them, according to the DOJ's release. But the shooting was captured on cellphone video and widely shared on social media, sparking protests in the city. During a protest late Tuesday night, two people were shot and killed and a third person suffered non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers increased the National Guard presence this week as protests continued. Maj. Gen. Paul Knapp said at a news conference Friday that over 1,000 troops are currently in the city and they will remain for "as long as we're needed." During protests earlier in the week, demonstrators set fire to areas near the city's courthouse, leaving portions of an adjacent street charred. Buildings in the downtown area were seen boarded up, with some including written messages on the plywood in support of Black Lives Matter. The sheriff's department remains blocked off with concrete barricades and a layer of more than eight-foot-tall steel gates. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, of Antioch, Illinois, was arrested Wednesday in his hometown in connection to the shooting at Tuesday's protest. He faces a slew of charges in connection with the shootings, including two counts of first-degree intentional homicide. An extradition hearing for Rittenhouse was held Friday morning but a judge approved a delay in the proceedings for another 30 days to allow the family to seek a private attorney. Attorney John Pierce, who says he is representing Rittenhouse, said in a statement Thursday, "This was classic self-defense and we are going to prove it. We will obtain justice for Kyle no matter how hard the fight or how long it takes." Pierce told Reuters that he hopes to raise money for Rittenhouse's defense through the #FightBack Foundation, a non-profit he formed with L. Lin Wood, an Atlanta-based attorney who is representing Covington Catholic High School student Nicholas Sandmann. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 19:46:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GUANGZHOU, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. warship trespassing into China's territorial waters has been warned off, a military spokesperson confirmed, vowing that the Chinese military would continue its resolute efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. Senior Colonel Li Huamin, spokesperson for the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army, made the comments late Thursday in response to the trespassing of the guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin into the waters off the Xisha Islands. "The command's naval and air forces tracked, verified, and identified the warship, and warned it off," Li said. "Ignoring the rules of international law, the U.S. side has repeatedly provoked troubles in the South China Sea, exercising navigational hegemony under the pretext of 'freedom of navigation'," said Li, adding that such moves severely undermine China's sovereignty and security interests, and the navigational order in the South China Sea. Li urged the U.S. side to stop provocations, strictly manage the actions of its naval and air forces, and restrain its frontline troops so as not to trigger unexpected incidents. Noting that China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands and reefs in the South China Sea and their adjacent waters, Li said the Southern Theater Command will always remain on high alert, resolutely safeguard China's national sovereignty and security, and firmly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. Enditem The number of people hospitalized because of assaults over the weekend reduced significantly following restrictions on late-night alcohol sales, new research from the University of Otago shows. Following the introduction of regulations in 2013, which saw all bars and clubs close at 4am and no takeaway alcohol sales after 11pm, the number of assault-related hospitalisations reduced by 11 percent. Lead author of the study, Professor Emerita Jennie Connor from the University of Otago, says the decline was the largest among 15 to 29-year-olds, who made up more than half of those hospitalized, at 18 percent. The research, published in the international scientific journal Addiction, is part of a larger University of Otago project to evaluate the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand. The new law, which came into force in December 2013, abolished 24-hour alcohol licenses and set maximum trading hours for all alcohol outlets. Now pubs, bars and clubs with an appropriate license can be open between 8am and 4am and bottle shops and supermarkets can sell alcohol between 7am and 11pm. As well as hospitalisations, the study looked at data from the New Zealand Police on the number of night-time assaults coming to Police attention. That analysis also showed a substantial reduction in assaults at the time the hours changed. "The findings were heartening and were consistent with both reduced numbers of assaults and reduced severity of injuries, due to lower levels of intoxication late at night," Professor Connor says. "More than 90 percent of alcohol outlets were not affected by the changes, as they were already operating within the maximum hours. Those that were compelled to close earlier had been disproportionately contributing to alcohol-related assaults." Professor Kypros Kypri from the University of Newcastle, Australia, who co-authored the paper says most of the previous research in this area concerned the effects of extending opening hours, finding that assault and other harms increased. "There have been few studies of restrictions in hours or on the effects of such changes at a national level." Professor Connor would like late night alcohol sales to be further curtailed. "There is a range of harms other than violence that are caused by late night heavy drinking including unintentional injuries and involvement in crime, and there are considerable social impacts," she says. "New Zealand's alcohol regulations are still very permissive and further reductions could provide many benefits with little downside. California is an example of 2am closing being compatible with a vibrant nightlife." The article is published in Addiction. Explore further Reducing the alcohol minimum purchasing age increased assaults of young males More information: Jennie Connor et al. Changes in the incidence of assault after restrictions on latenight alcohol sales in New Zealand: evaluation of a natural experiment using hospitalization and police data, Addiction (2020). Journal information: Addiction Jennie Connor et al. Changes in the incidence of assault after restrictions on latenight alcohol sales in New Zealand: evaluation of a natural experiment using hospitalization and police data,(2020). DOI: 10.1111/add.15206 Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh during a special commemorative session of the Punjab Assembly organised to mark the 550th Prakash Purb (birth anniversary) of the first Sikh master Guru Nanak Dev, in Chandigarh on Nov 6, 2019. (Photo Image Source: IANS News Chandigarh, July 6 (IANS) After Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ruled out relaxation in the 14-day home quarantine for domestic travellers, the process of e-registration for all those wishing to travel to the state has been made mandatory from Monday Image Source: IANS News Chandigarh, Aug 28 : The Punjab assembly on Friday passed seven bills with a voice vote during a specially convened one-day session amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Chaired by Speaker Rana K.P. Singh, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and his Cabinet colleagues attended the session that ended before lunch. The legislations passed by the assembly include setting up Sri Guru Teg Bahadur University of Law at Tarn Taran to commemorate the 400th birth anniversary of the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur. It also approved the Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Amendment Bill of 2020. Presenting the bill, Higher Education Minister Tript Rajinder Bajwa said the legislation would pave the way for extending the period of parole in situations of disasters, epidemics and extreme emergencies. The rationale behind bringing the legislation was to enable the Jail Department to take measures to decongest jails, besides ensuring that the jails remain Covid-19 free as readmitting the inmates released on parole or interim bail would expose other inmates to the risk of contracting Covid-19. It passed the Punjab Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Second Amendment) Bill of 2020. Presenting the bill, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal said in view of the serious negative impact of the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic on the resources of the state, the government of India has decided to provide relaxation in borrowing limits by setting an additional borrowing limit of up to 2 per cent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for 2020-2021 subject to implementation of specific state-level reforms. He said the motive was to strengthen the state resources. The state has also been allowed an additional borrowing of 2 per cent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) i.e. Rs 12,130 crore in 2020-21 over and above its net borrowing ceiling, which is three per cent of the GSDP. However, the relaxation in borrowing limits is partly unconditional to the extent of 0.5 per cent and the remaining 1.5 per cent is conditional. FLINT, MI -- Flint bar The Loft might close its doors after 2021, co-owner Rodney Ott said. The decision to possibly close was not because of COVID-19, Ott, 47, emphasized Friday, Aug. 28. As he approaches age 50, Ott said it is time to make a career change. In the last few months of isolation, he said he has reflected on his past two decades in Flint. While he loved his time here, he said he and his wife Jesi Michelle, who co-owns the bar, want to explore new places and opportunities. Its just one of those things where you have to give yourself a timeline because if you dont time just passes you by, Ott said. The Flint native graduated from the University of Miami and came back to Flint nearly two decades ago. He bought the bar in 2003 and has managed and bartended the venue since. Now, he said his current lifestyle is a younger mans game. He said he and his wife would like to explore new ventures in new areas. Hes considered returning to Miami. Michelle said shed love to move to Denver. However, both said they are open to many different opportunities. No plans are set in stone, Ott said. He said he would like to be open when COVID-19 concerns lessen. If that doesnt happen next year, he said he might stay another year. Something could change, he said. I cant just close up. The Lofts been here for two decades and thats the thing, that wouldnt be fair to the people who supported me all these years to one day say Hey, Im all done. Thank you, bye. Giving people 18 months, theres closure there. Before leaving, Ott said he would like to hold some kind of Loft Palooza event to celebrate the bars time in Flint. After announcing on Facebook that he was considering shutting down the bar, Ott said he already received 10 inquiries about the space. That was not his intent in making the post, however. Eighteen month is a long time, Ott said. I dont have any plan. Im not going to rush any decision. When I made that post it was just to say Hey, this ride is coming to an end. Its just coming to an end for me. Read more: Flint entrepreneurs launch app for modern-day treasure hunt with chance to win $5,000 Funeral home owner wants to turn Flint-area gay bar into jazz club Flint gets $220,000 grant to fight blight Local Eats: Award-winning Flint food truck came from decades of work perfecting BBQ Local Eats: Tetas Grill serves up Lebanese cuisine with vegan options Announcement: Moody's reviews New England Institute of Technology's LOC-backed Revenue Bonds Series 2008 in connection with issuance of additional debt Global Credit Research - 28 Aug 2020 New York, August 28, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's"), at the request of the New England Institute of Technology (the Institution), has reviewed the Rhode Island Health and Educational Building Corporation Higher Education Facility Revenue Refunding Bonds, New England Institute of Technology Issue, Series 2008 in connection with the Institution's issuance of Alternate Debt as defined pursuant to the Loan and Trust Agreement dated as of July 1, 2008. The issuance of the Alternate Debt, will not have an adverse effect on the credit quality of the Series 2008 Bonds and therefore will not, in and of itself and as of this time, result in a reduction or withdrawal of Moody's current rating on the Series 2008 Bonds. However, Moody's opinion addresses only the credit impact associated with the issuance of Alternate Debt, and Moody's is not expressing any opinion as to whether the Alternate Debt has, or could have, other non-credit related effects that may have a detrimental impact on the interests of bond holders and/or counterparties. 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. Michael J. Loughlin Vice President - Senior Analyst Public 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 Joann Hempel VP - Senior Credit Officer Public Finance Group JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Story continues 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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Chinas foreign ministry spokesman warned the U.S. authorities that Chinese consumers could ban or boycott Apple products if WeChat is banned in the United States. The statement comes after the US President Donald Trump announced a ban from next month for TikTok and WeChat accusing them of threatening national security. Reuters Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian tweeted today, saying, "If WeChat is banned, then there will be no reason why Chinese shall keep iPhone and apple products. The recent tension between the countries arose due to the ongoing trade war between the two countries. The US has also been at spar with China for their activities in the South China Sea, Hong Kong and claiming the country for covering up information on the COVID-19 pandemic. unsplash WeChat is a popular messaging app used by users in China for making payments, e-commerce, sending money and communicating with others on the app. In fact, the app is one of the most popular digital payments app in the country that can be used for buying lunch or paying for taxi rides. The app is also used for reading news, accessing Government resources and for business purposes. For WeChat users, an iPhone without the app is effectively useless as millions of Chinese users rely on the service for daily activities. Due to Trumps ban, if Apple cannot have the popular app on their platforms, it could result in lower sales in the country and around the world. To put things into perspective, WeChat has more than 1.2 billion active users. Reuters Zhao said earlier this week, "Many Chinese people are saying they may stop using iPhones if WeChat is banned in the US", and accused the US of "systematic economic bullying of non-US companies" by targeting the Chinese app. Trumps executive order will prevent WeChat from doing any business with American companies and also end all operations in the United States. The United States will not be the first country to ban these apps as India banned 59 apps that are of Chinese origin for national security and privacy reasons. Fort Miley/VA Medical Center by Christopher VerPlanck In 2002, the Department of Veterans Affairs commissioned the firm of Page & Turnbull to do a historical and architectural assessment of the San Francisco VA Medical Center at Fort Miley. The author of the report, Christopher VerPlanck, has kindly give us permission to publish excerpts. Read also Mr. VerPlanck's excellent article on the Social and Architectural History of the Richmond District. The San Francisco VA Medical Center occupies a twenty-nine-acre campus in the northwest corner of San Francisco, California, between Point Lobos and the Golden Gate. The campus enjoys dramatic views of the Golden Gate Bridge to the east, the Marin Headlands to the north, the Pacific to the west and the San Francisco's Richmond District to the south. When it was completed in 1934, the San Francisco VA Medical Center consisted of twenty-one concrete buildings designed in the "Mayan Deco" style. These were clustered in the northern and eastern sections of the lushly landscaped campus in order to lessen the impact of the adjacent neighborhood, as well as to provide space for patient convalescence and recreation. Several major building campaigns during the past forty years have dramatically altered the semi-pastoral character of the campus by adding over a dozen non-contributing buildings. SITE HISTORY Prehistoric Period The Point Lobos/Lands End district of San Francisco has witnessed a considerable amount of history prior to the construction of the VA Medical Center. Archeological sites have been discovered to the west of the campus, near the Sutro Baths ruins, providing evidence for the existence of seasonal Native American settlements within a mile of the VA Medical Center campus. The area now comprising Point Lobos was located within the boundaries of the lands controlled by the Ramaytush tribelet, a subgroup of the Ohlone tribe. Although they did not have any permanent villages in the area, they used the coastal area around Point Lobos for seasonal camps inhabited during shellfish gathering expeditions. These remains, located within the Point Lobos Archeological Sites National Register district, consist primarily of shell middens. No cultural resources associated with the Native American period have been discovered on the VA Medical Center campus. This is perhaps not surprising considering that seasonal shellfish encampments were typically located close to the shore. Mexican and Early American Periods During the late Mexican and early American periods Point Lobos belonged to a man named Francisco Guerrero. He had been granted this vast rancho by the last Mexican governor of California, Pio Pico. In 1850, shortly after California achieved statehood, President Millard Fillmore set Point Lobos aside for military use due to its strategic location on the western approach to the Golden Gate. Nevertheless, within a year Fillmore rescinded this appropriation and the land reverted to the ownership of Guerrero. For almost two decades the land remained unoccupied and unused with the exception of a semaphore signaling station, which appeared on contemporary maps as early as 1853. After spotting a ship, the staff of the signaling station at Point Lobos would telegraph an advance warning to their counterparts at the semaphore station on top of Telegraph Hill. The staff of the latter facility would then sound the horn to give San Franciscans advance warning of the impending arrival of a ship through the Golden Gate. Golden Gate Cemetery Believing that the close proximity of cemeteries to residential districts was unhealthful, San Francisco authorities began searching for remote tracts of land in which to bury the city's dead in the 1860s. In 1868 the city purchased 200 acres of land at Point Lobos, including the site of the future VA Medical Center, for $127,465. This tract was designated a municipal cemetery. For the next quarter century Golden Gate Cemetery provided a place for poor and working class San Franciscans to bury their dead. Many of the city's ethnic groups laid claim to various sections of the cemetery. Golden Gate Cemetery also had a "potters field" where the city would bury its indigent citizens. It is unknown whether any remains survive beneath the present-day VA Medical Center. According to contemporary sources, when the cemetery was converted into a military installation the remains were all carefully exhumed and reinterred in Colma. Fort Miley In 1890 the U.S. Army began to systematically modernize and reconstruct its outdated coastal defenses. Known as the Endicott Period, this system entailed the construction of networks of coastal batteries at the approaches to important harbors and coastal cities. These networks of coastal defense facilities were designed to thwart potential seaborne invasions by ensuring that the field of fire would saturate every square foot of sea approaching a critical seaport or harbor. For San Francisco Bay, the Army Corps of Engineers planned coastal batteries for Point Lobos, the Marin Headlands, Alcatraz, Fort Mason and other strategic points around the Golden Gate. In January 1893, the U.S. Army paid the City and County of San Francisco $75,000 for fifty-four acres of strategically situated Golden Gate Cemetery land overlooking the approaches to the Golden Gate. Construction did not begin right away, however. According to contemporary newspaper articles all of the graves first had to be exhumed and reinterred elsewhere. Construction of the Reservation at Point Lobos, as it was originally called, did not begin until 1897. The first buildings constructed included a half-dozen wood-frame barracks, storage buildings, an officers' club, and administrative buildings. Most important were the batteries themselves. Fort Miley would eventually include several distinct clusters of fortifications, including Batteries Chester, LaRhett, Livingston, and Anton Springer. In 1900 the post was renamed Fort Miley in honor of Lieutenant Colonel John D. Miley. Miley, who had recently been killed in the Philippines, had been largely responsible for the actual planning of San Francisco's network of coastal batteries. In 1902 Fort Miley was officially completed and garrisoned as a subpost of the nearby Presidio of San Francisco. In 1932, twenty-nine acres of Fort Miley were acquired by the Veterans Administration for the construction of a new veterans medical center. Two years later most of Fort Miley, except for the batteries, was demolished. Approximately ten barracks buildings, a mess hall, officer's club, stables and miscellaneous storage facilities were torn down to make way for the hospital and subsidiary buildings. The batteries at Fort Miley continued to operate until 1937 when plans were made to decommission what was left of the installation when it was realized that air power had rendered coastal batteries obsolete. Nevertheless, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 led to the reactivation of Fort Miley. New anti-aircraft guns were added and the post was garrisoned until 1943. Page One: Site History - Fort Miley Page Two: San Francisco VA Medical Center Page Three: Chronology/Selected Bibliography Contribute your own stories about western neighborhoods places! During her speech on the final night of the Republican Nation Convention, Ivanka Trump, daughter of President Donald Trump, painted a picture of a father who refuses to quit in the face of adversity. She started her speech referring to her father as "the people's president." She told stories of the president fighting to get better trade deals, seeking to contrast him with politicians unwilling to do anything, though she did not name particular legislators. To the Times: For two months, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, our own Sen.r Pat Toomey, and their Republican colleagues took no action on the HEROES Act and offered no counter proposal until July 27. The HEALS Act that McConnell finally introduced fails to provide any assistance to state and local governments and would take $400 per week away from unemployed workers. Sen. Toomey has stated that hes unsure he will support it not because it wouldnt do enough to help Pennsylvanians, but because its too generous. I work for a local college and have been out of work since the end of May. I was told by the college that we could file for unemployment, since we work year-round, not the usual 9 months a year. To date, I have received nothing. At least I have a job to go back to at the end of the month (hopefully). How are people supposed to survive when their jobs are gone and things are shutting down again? Republicans dont care about people, they only care about their reelection. They think people wont look for work if they are getting more to stay home. They are losing their benefits, not just wages. Most workers want to work. There is no dignity in staying home. Its time the Senate wakes up and passes a reasonable aid package so people can stay in their homes. We will have a horrific homeless problem if this continues. Rosemarie Ritter, Woodlyn TYLER, Texas - The goal of the rally was to oppose the deployment of federal agents to quell protests in American cities - and to register new Democratic voters in the heart of conservative East Texas. But it had hardly begun when hundreds of conservative counterprotesters and supporters of President Donald Trump, many with assault rifles slung over their shoulders, swarmed the town square and began pushing and shoving and yelling obscenities. One man punched Democrat Nancy Nichols in the chest, she said, and three others pinned her husband against Tyler's war memorial. Other armed men were positioned around the edges of the square in military-style defensive formation, their hands clutching their rifles. "They were yelling, Democrats are f---ing idiots and Democrats are demons," recalled Nichols, 65. "It makes me feel angry that this is allowed and that our police are allowing this kind of hate-filled atmosphere to take over." The scuffling, which injured a top aide for Democratic congressional candidate Hank Gilbert, is part of a wave of politically tinged violence across the nation in recent weeks after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, rattling communities facing a mix of partisanship and guns ahead of the 2020 election. In a spate of exchanges that have spanned from Kalamazoo, Mich., and Bloomington, Ind., to Chicago and Portland, Ore., people on both sides of the United States' political and cultural divide have been filmed exchanging punches, beating one another with sticks and flagpoles, or standing face-to-face with weapons, often with police appearing to be little more than observers. On Tuesday night, the violence took an even more ominous turn when a 17-year-old whose Facebook account showed support for the pro-police "Back the Blue" countermovement allegedly shot and killed two people during the unrest in Kenosha, Wis., where police shot a Black man Sunday. "We are sort of at the stage of polarization where there are more and more people who are seeking confrontation, where they are not simply satisfied with disagreeing with the other side or yelling at the other side, but they want to confront," said Mark Pitcavage, a historian and senior research fellow at the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism. "We are not just a polarized society - we are increasingly a confrontational society now." Some of the violence has been linked to pro-gun groups and far-right extremist organizations, though even some previously staid political activists have embraced weapons and face-to-face encounters as they navigate this year's bitter political divisions. On Monday in central Pennsylvania, a man marching from Wisconsin to the District of Columbia for this week's anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington was shot and wounded. Protesters have also been shot, in some cases fatally, in Albuquerque, N.M.; Austin, Texas; Louisville, Ky.; and Portland in recent weeks. The aggressive actions of some protest groups, including weeks of fires and vandalism in Portland and elsewhere, have led to a pushback. A group of people berated customers at D.C. restaurants this week who refused to raise their fist in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, though the confrontations were nonviolent. But conflicts occasionally have become physical, including when a driver was beaten unconscious after encountering a protest in Portland this month. He survived with serious injuries. In some places, police have been on the defensive as left-leaning activists, politicians and faith leaders have accused them of not protecting them, while cozying up to conservatives. Some police leaders say they are struggling to stay ahead of the country's coarsening divide, which they say is being fueled by rampant misinformation on social media designed to stoke tension. "It seems like we as a country have moved right past the discussion phase of things and now we just are at the stage of conflict, being at odds, distrust and disbelief," said Lance Arnold, the police chief in Weatherford, Texas. "This is not who we are, and it's almost like we are living in a different time and a different place." A series of disturbances in northeastern Texas began July 25 in the western Dallas-Fort Worth exurb of Weatherford, when heavily armed counterprotesters, including members of several far-right Texas-based groups, clashed with demonstrators seeking removal of a Confederate statue from the grounds of the Parker County Courthouse. The next day, brawls erupted at Gilbert's campaign event in Tyler, about 100 miles west of Dallas. A week later, police were called to break up a gathering of hundreds of motorists, many flying Trump and Confederate flags, who descended on a Black church in Dallas that displays a two-story Black Lives Matter sign. In all three events, participants on all sides said the chaos has left them concerned that America's democracy is teetering uncomfortably, rattling their confidence that either the law or neighborly goodwill can prevent even worse confrontations in the weeks ahead. "This isn't a politician's fight - this is a people's fight," said Martin Holsome, who sits on the Rusk, Texas, Town Council and is aligned with several armed Texas groups. "What we have seen over the past six months to a year has conditioned us for what is going to happen, and you can either condition yourself to be prepared for it or you can condition yourself to be subject to it." One new group, Take America Back Texas, has been at the center of efforts to challenge left-wing protesters in Tyler and Weatherford. Leader Brian Phebus, 38, said its membership has surged to 10,000 over the past 2 1/2 months, and he vowed that members will keep showing up at protests and other events where they fear there could be violence. Group member Wendi Rees, a conservative, White suburban mother in Tyler, said: "We believe our country is being taken from us. Our constitutional rights, our Second Amendment rights, our First Amendment are all being threatened. So people like me, we have had enough, and we are not going to sit back it let it happen anymore." The country's hostile political climate has challenged local police departments, especially in small towns unaccustomed to dealing with protests and large crowds of people who hold opposing political views. Police agencies face accusations that they are not doing enough to protect social-justice and anti-brutality protesters. Tony Crawford, a leader of the Parker County Progressives, said he frequently communicated with the police chief in the days leading up to the July 25 protest in Weatherford, trying to ensure that police would protect demonstrators. But when rumors spread on social media that "busloads" of residents from Dallas and Fort Worth would be coming to the town to tear down the Confederate monument, hundreds of predominantly White conservative counterprotesters and members of armed conservative groups gathered at the site, many heavily armed. Clashes erupted, with videos showing counterprotesters charging into Crawford's group. Crawford, who is Black, began frantically texting Arnold, asking why more police were not on hand to keep the two sides separated. "We are surrounded by guns and people talking about shooting us loudly," Crawford wrote to Arnold, the police chief, according to a log of his text messages. "We are briefing now," Arnold wrote back. "We'll have units up there in a few." But Crawford and other anti-Confederate demonstrators said police protection never arrived, even as counterprotesters threw water bottles, spit on them and chased protesters back to their vehicles. "Y'all abandoned us chief," Crawford texted a few hours later. "You let us get dragged and attacked while you did nothing." In an interview, Arnold said that city and county law enforcement agencies did not have enough manpower to properly police the event. He attributed that to poor communication among police agencies that day as well as limited intelligence on how many counterprotesters were planning to show up. Arnold said the event also highlights the struggle that police departments throughout the country now face amid the supercharged emotions surrounding political and cultural debates. He has identified several heavily armed counterprotesters and far-right groups that he believes had members involved in recent conflicts in Weatherford, including the Oath Keepers and the Texas Freedom Fighters. Arnold said the numbers of counterprotesters are being swelled by "a bunch of ordinary individuals" who are now physically engaging protesters and activists whose politics they do not agree with. Large crowds are being mobilized online after inflammatory and often false information is posted online by what Arnold described as "fake social media accounts." "They are accounts that have been created within the last month or so, do not have a picture or other identifiers that you could use to believe they are more legitimate accounts," Arnold. The social media posts are quickly spread, including by self-described militias and more-mainstream conservative groups, and they often give the impression that a specific community faces imminent danger or the potential for violence, Arnold said. They often use images from past protests or riots in other cities combined with phrases such as, "This is happening in Weatherford right now," he said. Other social memes falsely claimed that police were asking residents to "come assist us," Arnold added. "It's extremely worrisome, because it creates a level of fear," Arnold said, adding that he is working with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the FBI to identify who is creating the misinformation. "And it creates an environment that is rife for violence between various groups." For some conservatives, the images of looting and violence in American cities after Floyd's death have became a rallying cry. Those scenes prompted Phebus, an Air Force veteran, to help start Take America Back Texas in June, because he believes armed civilians are needed to support law enforcement and protect local property owners from civil disturbances. Phebus said the group now has members in most of Texas's 254 counties, all of whom stand ready to deploy. "If anything goes on, anywhere in Texas we can pop up," said Phebus, adding, "When we show up, [violence] usually doesn't happen, because of the presence of guns." Rees, 50, serves as the group's leader in Smith County, which includes Tyler, a city named after the only U.S. president to have served in the Confederacy. A Christian missionary and longtime antiabortion activist, Rees said she became involved in Take America Back Texas after seeing viral videos of the protests that erupted nationwide this summer. She said she believes groups such as Black Lives Matter and antifa protesters plan to one day take over cities such as Tyler, undermining the conservative values that she home-schooled to her four children. In particular, Rees seethed with fear and anger after she saw a video clip of protesters in Seattle suggesting that homeowners should give up their properties. She also accuses the news media of having a double standard by mentioning the race of police officers involved in deadly shootings, while appearing to downplay it in other crimes, including the death of Cannon Hinnant, a White 5-year-old boy in North Carolina who was allegedly killed by his Black neighbor. So when Rees heard about Gilbert's rally in Tyler, she mobilized Take America Back Texas members to show up wearing patriotic clothing, or blue shirts in support of law enforcement. She also wrapped orange tape around their arms and torsos, thinking that would make it easier for police to identify the "patriots," as Rees and Phebus refer to themselves and others in their groups. But Rees said more than 100 other counterprotesters not affiliated with her group also showed up, including supporters of Gilbert's opponent, Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas. Others have self-identified as members of Texas militia groups. Jimmy Toler, the chief of the Tyler Police Department, also suspects some members of the Aryan Brotherhood, a white-supremacist group, took part. As the counterprotesters swarmed the square, some local Democratic leaders who showed up to support Gilbert said they were scared to get out of their vehicles. Others said the sight of so many armed people gave them flashbacks to a war zone or the square's dark history of racial injustice, including public lynchings that persisted here into the 1900s. "There were these guys with long-arm weapons that were standing up on top of things, guarding things, much like when we had guard duty overseas," said Shirley McKeller, a Black retired Army nurse who served in Iraq. "I had to sit there and collect myself. . . . I am accustomed of seeing lots and lots of weapons, but to see them on the square in downtown Tyler, it was devastating to me." As Gilbert tried to begin his campaign remarks, counterprotesters blew air horns while shouting and jeering over him, he said. Another counterprotester then pulled the plug on Gilbert's sound system midspeech. Then the shoving and punching began. "I was circled by five different people, and they were telling me, 'You need to get out of here,' " said Ryan Miller, 21, who works for Gilbert's campaign. "I looked over at one of my friends and said, 'Help.' As soon as I did that, I was immediately punched in the face several times. . . . And then I turned around and saw someone take a swing at my mom." Another man, wearing a Trump hat, was filmed with his hands around the neck of a Democratic supporter. Rees said her group's members were not responsible for the violence, but she conceded that more needs to be done to keep opposing sides separated at political rallies and protests. "I think what is happening at these rallies is you have people that are so angry . . . because of what is shown on the news," Rees said, referring to images of unrest across the country. "So they think they can show up, get their violence out and knock the crap out of somebody and not have accountability." Toler said officers initially held back from the town square because they did not want to "escalate the situation," a tactic that he said they began utilizing when Black Lives Matter protests first erupted in the town in late May. "We want to give people a little room to breathe so we don't become the target and we don't escalate the situation," said Toler, adding that Tyler police moved to break up the rally once the violence began. Tyler police have since filed assault charges against three individuals who showed up to protest Gilbert, including a prominent local businessman and his daughter. Increasingly, both Arnold and Toler said, police are having a difficult time determining whether individuals who show up at counterprotests are there to peacefully assemble or to cause problems. And with so many people showing up armed, including growing numbers of left-wing social-justice activists, police are warning people that they need to understand the risks associated with modern-day protests and political activity. "We want everyone to exercise their right to express themselves," Toler said. "But you have got to understand there are other individuals out there that have other interests and have other motives." Holsome, the town councilman who is aligned with the Texas Freedom Fighters and the Oath Keepers, showed up at Gilbert's Tyler event armed with his AR-15 and 45-caliber pistol, with six or so other guns stored away in his logging truck that he parked nearby. Holsome, who is biracial and identifies as White and Black, said he believes Black Lives Matter protesters have been infiltrated by anarchists who are a determined to destabilize small towns in Texas. He also worries that liberals are planning to unfairly steal the election away from Trump. When Holsome shows up at events, he said, he is continually on guard for any potential hazard that could require him to use his weapons. "A frozen water bottle will bust your head wide open. A brick will kill you. A two-by-four that is being thrown 20 yards away can kill you," said Holsome, 41, who has attended up to six protest events a month this summer. "If I feel like my life is in imminent danger, I am going to use force." Pitcavage, from the Anti-Defamation League, said that sentiment is why he fears that the coming months could prove to be especially dangerous as the stress of the pandemic collides with an acrimonious presidential election. "The fields are fertile for people to come out of the woodwork and show up to these sorts of things," Pitcavage said. Despite that danger, Nichols, the Democrat who said she was punched at the Gilbert rally, vows to keep showing up at events - with her voting registration forms. "But when I go to rallies now," she said, "if I see the presence of these goons, I will immediately call the police, the constables, the sheriff, the county judge and anyone else I can think of to make sure there is protection there for everyone," Nichols said. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews refused to heed warnings from top intelligence and security officials in regards to their concern about the controversial Belt and Road Deal with China. The state 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. It has since emerged that both Prime Minister Scott Morrison and several national security chiefs made multiple attempts to brief Mr Andrews on their concerns on China, The Australian reports. The prime minister sent Mr Andrews a letter in June saying the federal government had concerns over the deal, and the Victorian premier failed to attend a classified briefing on July 31. Daniel Andrews (pictured in China's Tiananmen Square) refused to heed warnings from top intelligence and security officials about the controversial Belt and Road Deal with China Victoria's Belt and Road deal will also be examined if the new laws pass (pictured, Premier Daniel Andrews and Chinese ambassador Jingye Cheng) Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke about rumoured tensions with Premier Daniel Andrews in a tense interview on Friday Premier Andrews said he made the agreement to increase Chinese participation in Victorian building projects, manufacturing and trade in order to boost jobs. But the non-legally binding sign-on to China's Belt and Road initiative has prompted concerns about foreign influence. The federal government claims the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, the Australian Signals Directorate and the Office of National Intelligence director made many offers to the Andrews government in the past month. The briefings are believed to have been on the threat assessment on China, espionage and foreign interference as well as cyber threats. 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 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 They also included security assessments of deals with China but not the specific Victorian Belt and Road deal. Mr Andrews had been offered briefings multiple times about the issue since July, reports said, but claims he was unaware there had been concerns until recently. The Victorian premier stood by the controversial deal during his coronavirus press conference on Thursday and insists the deal is about boosting jobs and investment. Speaking about Mr Morrison's comments, the premier quipped: 'If the prime minister has time to be doing those things, that's fine for him. 'I don't - I am exclusively focused on fighting this virus and then making sure we have the strongest economy that we can possibly have on the other side of this.' The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (pictured) is an example of a project being financed by China under the country's Belt and Road Initiative 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 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 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. A proposed new law announced on Wednesday could see the deal scrapped. The coalition is pursuing legislation to review and scrap state, territory, local council and public university deals with other nations. It would also allow the foreign minister to nip major agreements in the bud after states and territories notify an intention to negotiate with another country. 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'. 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 Minister Wang Xining (pictured) poses for a photo at the National Press Club in Canberra The prime minister wants new laws to stop states and territories signing deals with foreign powers that go against Australia's national interest 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. 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. Sydney's partnership with the Chinese city of Guangzhou will also come under scrutiny. Pictured: Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore welcomes Guangzhou Vice Mayor Mr Wang Dong Mike Pompeo, U.S. secretary of state, speaks during the Republican National Convention from Israel, August 25, 2020 The Democrat-led House Foreign Affairs Committee announced Friday that it will launch proceedings to hold Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in contempt. The contempt resolution against Pompeo, President Donald Trump's second secretary of State, is being drafted in response to the Cabinet official's "ongoing refusal to comply" with a congressional subpoena and "his transparently political misuse of Department resources," the committee said. Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., said in a release that Pompeo "has demonstrated alarming disregard for the laws and rules governing his own conduct and for the tools the constitution provides to prevent government corruption." "He seems to think the office he holds, the Department he runs, the personnel he oversees, and the taxpayer dollars that pay for all of it are there for his personal and political benefit," Engel said. Engel cited Pompeo's alleged refusal to fully cooperate with the impeachment inquiry into Trump, as well as the top diplomat's speech to the Republican National Convention this week, which was recorded in Jerusalem. That speech is under investigation by the Foreign Affairs subpanel on oversight, led by Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas. The chairman also slammed Pompeo's refusal to turn over documents to Democrats that the State Department had already given to a Republican-led Senate committee investigating allegations related to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. "I want no part of it. Under no circumstances will I amplify [Russia President Vladimir] Putin's debunked conspiracy theories or lend them credence. And I won't stand by and see the Committee or the House treated with such disdain by anyone," Engel said. In a statement Friday afternoon, a State Department spokesperson blasted the House panel's announcement as "political theatrics" and "an unfortunate waste of taxpayer resources." "We have previously offered to provide copies of these documents to Chairman Engel, with the only condition being that he send a letter explaining what foreign policy issue he is investigating that requires these documents. Once this letter is received, the Department will produce the documents," the spokesperson said. Democrats have been quick to criticize the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee's commitment to investigating allegations related to Biden's son Hunter, who sat on the board of Ukrainian gas company Burisma Holdings while his father was vice president. Joe Biden, while serving as Barack Obama's veep, pressured Ukraine's government to fire one of its prosecutors because of concerns that the prosecutor was not doing enough to fight corruption. His stance was in line with that of European governments concerned about corruption in Ukraine. But Trump and his allies have accused the ex-vice president of acting out of concern that the prosecutor was investigating Burisma. Engel, as well as Biden's campaign, have called the Senate's probe a politically motivated "smear." Hunter Biden and his connection to Burisma played a major role in the impeachment proceedings against Trump. The president was impeached in the House in December on articles of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. He was later acquitted by the Republican-majority Senate. -- CNBC's Amanda Macias contributed to this report. Sydney's coronavirus cluster has grown by another six people, as New South Wales records 13 new COVID-19 cases. Of the new cases announced on Friday, one is a returned traveller who is in hotel quarantine. Four were locally acquired with their source still under investigation. Two are close contacts of previously reported cases who have not been linked to known clusters. The Sydney CBD cluster linked to the gym at City Tattersalls club is now sitting at 14. NSW Health has urged for anyone who attended the City Tattersalls gym between 8am and 2pm on August 19, 21, 23 or 24 to get tested and isolate at home for 14 days. The club has again been closed for cleaning. Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said it is still unknown how the virus got into the City Tattersalls club. Sydney's coronavirus cluster has grown by another six people, as New South Wales records 13 new COVID-19 cases (Pictured: Commuters in masks walk at Central Station) The Sydney CBD cluster linked to the gym at City Tattersalls club is now sitting at 14 (Pictured: Cleaners at the club) Dr Chant said she was hopeful the outbreak can be contained but everyone must come forward for testing. She said gyms were a high risk environments for spreading disease due to heavy breathing. 'We are working with the gym to understand how transmission occurred' and will update guidance if needed', Dr Chant said. As the number of unknown cases continues to climb, Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned residents to remain on high alert. 'Every week we are detecting unknown sources, even though it's in relatively low numbers, but every week those numbers accumulate,' she said on Friday. 'As the weather warms up and as spring is upon us we just want to make sure that everybody thinks about their movement outdoors and is COVID-safe. We appreciate that a lot of the places people normally flock to will be very busy on the weekend.' A Sydney high school and a Catholic primary school have also been closed for cleaning after a staff member and a student were diagnosed with coronavirus. Sydney's coronavirus cluster has grown by another six people, as New South Wales records 13 new COVID-19 cases Ryde Secondary College in Sydney's north-west will be closed after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 St Gertrude's Primary School in Smithfield in Sydney's west has also closed its doors on Friday due to a confirmed COVID-19 infection The NSW Education Department confirmed Ryde Secondary College, in the city's northwest, closed after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. Staff and around 1000 students at the co-educational school have been asked to stay home while the contact tracing process begins and the school is deep cleaned. 'All staff and students are asked to self-isolate while contact tracing occurs,' the department said on Friday. St Gertrude's in Sydney's west is also closed on Friday after a student was diagnosed. Pedestrians wearing face masks walk around the eastern side of Circular Quay on August 23 A medical worker administers a test for COVID-19 in Sydney on August 12. Six patients are being treated in intensive care across New South Wales A spokeswoman said the school had around 650 students from Kindergarten to Year 6, and 50 staff who have been advised to isolate at home and monitor for symptoms. Riverstone High School, Wyndham College and Schofields Public School will reopen on Friday. Meanwhile, COVID-19 has closed a swathe of venues in Sydney's north from Manly to the Central Coast. NSW Health's Jeremy McAnulty issued alerts for several locations across Sydney, including; The Matterhorn in Turramurra, Parish of Holy Name in Wahroonga, Liquorland in Marrickville, Eat Fuh in Marrickville and Metro Petroleum in Hurlstone Park. There are six COVID-19 patients in NSW in intensive care, with four ventilated. French Foreign Affair Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian speaks during a news conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beirut PARIS (Reuters) - France's foreign minister said on Thursday that Lebanon risked disappearing due to the inaction of its political elite who needed to quickly implement a new government to implement crucial reforms for the country. "The international community will not sign a blank cheque if the they (Lebanese authorities) don't put in place the reforms. They must do it quickly... because the risk today is the disappearance of Lebanon," Jean-Yves Le Drian told RTL radio. France has been leading diplomatic efforts for almost two years to persuade Lebanon to push through reforms and secure foreign aid needed to offset a financial meltdown. In the immediate aftermath of the Aug. 4 blast that destroyed whole neighbourhoods, killed more than 180 people and made 250,000 homeless, President Emmanuel Macron rushed to Beirut hoping to use the leverage of international reconstruction aid to persuade Lebanon's factions to choose a new administration led by individuals untainted by corruption and backed by foreign donors. However, progress has been slow with some diplomats increasingly frustrated over the situation. Macron will return to Beirut on Sept. 1. "It's for the Lebanese authorities to assume their responsibilities. They are trained and competent, but they have made a consensus among themselves for inaction and that's no longer possible. The president told them that when he went on Aug. 6 and will repeat it when he is in Beirut on Tuesday," Le Drian said. (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Jane Merriman and Toby Chopra) The non-alcoholic beverage industry has witnessed growth recently due to higher levels of disposable income, increasing young-adult demographic, and increased demand for premium non-alcoholic beverages. Additionally, the non-alcoholic ready-to-drink market has grown immensely over recent years. However, dynamic market trends and high competition are posing challenges for non-alcoholic beverage industry players. Infiniti's market intelligence solutions help companies understand market trends, customer behavior, competitors' strategic initiatives, and the market landscape. In the client engagement discussed below, Infiniti's market intelligence experts helped a non-alcoholic beverage industry player generate sales, and improve revenue substantially. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200828005203/en/ Market Intelligence Solutions for a Non-Alcoholic Beverage Industry Player: Business Outcomes (Graphic: Business Wire) To gain in-depth insights into the dynamic potential market landscape of the non-alcoholic beverages industry, request a free proposal "The hyper-competitive and dynamic nature of the non-alcoholic beverage industry necessitates companies to keep pace with changing market trends and consumer behavior. As such, companies are partnering with Infiniti Research to gain comprehensive insights into the current market landscape, customer behavior, and competitive landscape for better planning and decision-making," says a non-alcoholic beverage industry expert at Infiniti Research. Business Challenge: The client, a leader in the European non-alcoholic beverage industrywitnessed stagnant growth for three consecutive years, and loss of market share to competitors. The client wanted to capitalize on profitable market opportunities to gain a competitive edge, keep up with regional market developments, and evolving customer needs. Therefore, the non-alcoholic beverage industry player sought to leverage Infiniti's expertise in offering custom market intelligence solutions. During the ten-week engagement, the client also wanted to understand popular trends, undertake strategies to protect margins, and invest in product development. Our Approach: Infiniti's experts developed a four-phase market intelligence solution to assist the non-alcoholic beverage industry client. The approach included the following: Trend analysis to help the client keep pace with current trends in the market Customer intelligence study to understand factors that influence customer behavior Competitive intelligence study to help the client stay on top competitors' strategic initiatives Product research engagement to help the client analyze the complete product development lifecycle Business Outcome: With Infiniti's market intelligence solution, the non-alcoholic beverage industry client gained a comprehensive understanding of evolving customer needs and spending patterns in the market. Also, by increasing investment in product development and focus on the non-alcoholic ready-to-drink category, the client enhanced profit margins and sales. The client was also able to make better strategic decisions before their competitors. By leveraging Infiniti's market intelligence solutions, the non-alcoholic beverage industry client was also able to: Successfully launched a new health drink Generated over 3 million in revenue Increased revenue by 57% Speak to our experts to learn more about the rapidly evolving NARTD market and devise tailored strategies to stay ahead of the competition. About Infiniti Research Established in 2003, Infiniti Research is a leading market intelligence company providing smart solutions to address your business challenges. Infiniti Research studies markets in more than 100 countries to help analyze competitive activity, see beyond market disruptions, and develop intelligent business strategies. To know more, visit: https://www.infinitiresearch.com/about-us View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200828005203/en/ Contacts: Infiniti Research Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 844 778 0600 UK: +44 203 893 3400 https://www.infinitiresearch.com/contact-us India can be the business hub to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of ensuring affordable and clean energy for all, UN chief Antonio Guterres said on Friday, expressing confidence that the Indian government's decision to raise its target of renewable energy capacity will attract more international investors. The Secretary-General underlined that like all countries, India is at a crossroad and yet despite the significant challenges the country faces in bringing shared prosperity to its population, it has in many ways embraced clean technology and a sustainable energy future. India can be the business hub to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7, Guterres said as he virtually delivered the 19th Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) on Friday. Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar delivered the Presidential address. SDG 7 entails ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. The advantages of India's renewable energy resources are plain to see. They are low cost, protected from volatile commodities markets, and offer three times the job potential of fossil fuel power plants, Guterres said, adding that they can improve air quality at a time when the world's cities are literally choking. Guterres applauded India's decision to take forward the International Solar Alliance in the form of One Sun, One World, One Grid. "And I commend India's plans for a World Solar Bank that will mobilise USD 1 trillion of investments in solar projects over the coming decade, Guterres said at the memorial lecture organised in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for connecting solar energy supply across borders giving the mantra of 'One World One Sun One Grid'. Under the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) programme, India envisages to have an inter-connected power transmission grid across nations for the supply of clean energy. The vision behind the OSOWOG mantra is 'The Sun Never Sets' and is a constant at some geographical location, globally, at any given point of time. Guterres described India's 37 gigawatts of installed solar electricity as only the beginning, saying he is inspired by the Indian government's decision to raise its target of renewable energy capacity from the initial 2015 goal of 175 gigawatts to 500 gigawatts by 2030. Also Read I have no doubt this decision will attract more and more international investors, such as the sovereign wealth funds and pension funds like the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec or the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, he said. Guterres described India as a pioneer in driving innovation for access to electricity and on clean cooking and called on the country and all its innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders to spearhead the global search for a solution to solar cooking at the household level. Recalling the launch of the Leadership Group for Industry Transition by India and Sweden at the Climate Action Summit last year, Guterres said this partnership of key public and private sector stakeholders is committed to achieving net zero emissions by mid-century in sectors that collectively account for 30 per cent of global emissions. Lauding companies such as Dalmia Cement and Mahindra for driving innovation, he added that there is a need for many more to join them. Guterres also highlighted that India, with its vast size and ecological diversity, is already experiencing many of the worst impacts of climate change. Referring to the recent floods in the country, he said the natural disaster has upended the lives of millions of people. Climate change hits the most vulnerable hardest, undermining the remarkable progress of economies like India in bringing millions out of poverty, he said. Guterres pointed out that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change special report on the 1.5-degree goal of the Paris Agreement reveals that if this temperature limit is breached, India will face the brunt of the climate crisis. The country will endure more intense heatwaves, floods and droughts, increased water stress and reduced food production, all undermining progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, Guterres said underscoring that the challenge is urgent and clear. In order to limit temperature increase to 1.5 degrees, global emissions need to be halved by 2030 and the world will need to be carbon neutral before 2050. Asserting that these goals are still achievable, Guterres underscored that as governments mobilise trillions of dollars to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, their decisions will have climate consequences for decades. "These choices can either propel climate action forward, or set us back years, which science says we cannot afford, he said. The UN chief urged governments to take six climate-positive actions to recover better from the pandemic - invest in green jobs, do not bail out polluting industries, end fossil-fuel subsidies, take climate risks into account in all financial and policy decisions, work together and most importantly ensuring that no one is left behind. BUCKS COUNTY >> A Pennsylvania Lottery retailer in Bucks County sold a Powerball with Power Play ticket worth $2 million for the Wednesday, January 19 drawing. The ticket matched five of the five white balls drawn, 11-15-43-55-61, but not the red Powerball 10 to win $2 million, less applicable withholding. Without the $1 Power Play option, the ticket would have... " " American experience during the Korean War suggested a role for a lightweight, low-cost ground-support and attack aircraft. Hence, the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, with a relatively small size that was dictated by the Navy's need for a swift, carrier-based attack plane. See more military jets pictures. m Known as "Heinemann's Hot Rod" in affectionate tribute to its chief designer, the great Ed Heinemann, the tiny but potent Douglas A-4 Skyhawk remained in continuous production for 25 years, longer than any other warplane. It was one of the primary U.S. Navy and Marine weapons during the Vietnam War, and was used with great effect by other nations, most especially by Israel. Advertisement Military Jets Image Gallery Heinemann believed in "simplifying and adding lightness" when it came to aircraft design. He had startled the Navy when he proposed a new attack plane that weighed only one-half the gross weight of the Navy specification. Using a delta-wing design with conventional tail surfaces, Heinemann was able to create a lightweight attack fighter that combined speed, range, and firepower into a tiny package. The prototype Douglas A-4 Skyhawk first flew on June 22, 1954, and had a trouble-free test period, during which it set a new world's speed record for the 500-kilometer, closed-circuit course of 695 miles per hour. This was at a time when the Navy's primary attack plane, the excellent Douglas Skyraider, topped out at 321 mph. The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was a marvelous combat plane: tough and able to take punishment. More than 29 variants of the Skyhawk were used by the United States Navy and Marines, and it received further modifications while serving with foreign countries. It was especially effective for Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Oddly enough, some of the A-4's most important service came in two noncombat arenas. First, it served as the official aircraft of the Blue Angels, the Navy aerial demonstration team, where its aerobatic ability was legendary. Then it operated in the Navy's Top Gun program as an "enemy" fighter because its small size, maneuverability, and speed made it a good stand-in for the Soviet MiG-21 in mock combat. In peace and in war, there was no substitute for the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. For more information on airplanes, check out: Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Specifications Wingspan: 27 ft. 6 in. Length: 42 ft. 10-3/4 in. Height: 15 ft. 2 in. Empty Weight: 9,853 lbs Gross Weight: 24,500 lbs Top Speed: 675 mph Service Ceiling: 47,900 ft. Range: 700 miles Engine/Thrust: One Pratt & Whitney J52 turbojet/8,500 lbs Crew: 1 Armament: Two 20-mm cannons Ordnance: Up to 8,200 lbs Read More Brown, at a news conference Thursday in City Hall to announce the limitations on the use of no-knock search warrants, described the Breonna Taylor case as "an incredibly tragic situation, a situation that we never want to see occur in this community." The mayor said he has heard from residents and lawmakers in the Common Council who requested a change in policy to ensure it never happens. Under Brown's direction, when the Buffalo Police Department is the law enforcement agency responsible for executing a search warrant, it will no longer request permission for a no-knock search warrant from a judge, unless there is a clear and present danger to the safety of the community or an officer. Otherwise, Brown said, the aim is to "... give people in the residence time to be able to reasonably come to the door, open the door and respond to the police," which apparently did not happen in the Louisville case. Deputy Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia acknowledged that his department will have less control when other law enforcement agencies take the lead in an investigation. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 28 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: Subsidiary companies of Kazakhstan Engineering National Company have signed agreements worth 6 billion tenges ($14.6 million), Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstan Engineering. The agreements were signed within the framework of the Army-2020 international military-technical forum attended by a Kazakh delegation. In particular, the Tynys plant signed contracts with Russian Aviahelp JSC and NARP JSC for the purchase of aviation components. Agreements were reached to increase the supply of components for KA-226 helicopters. Kazan Helicopter Plant confirmed the participation of Tynys JSC in the development of a heating system for an ANSAT-type helicopter. Russian RSK MiG company said it is ready to provide design documentation to Tynys JSC to localize components and assemblies during the overhaul of MiG aircraft in Kazakhstan. India and Iran are interested in the supply of aviation components from the Tynys plant. Kazakh Semey Engineering has signed contracts with the tank giant of Russia - NPK Uralvagonzavod JSC. The parties also agreed to continue work on the project to modernize the T-72B tank to the T-72B3 level. Issues related to the creation of a Service Center for servicing the optics of armored vehicles were discussed with Shvabe JSC. As part of the digitalization and implementation of Industry 4.0 elements, a technical assignment was signed for the adaptation of the GRAFIT hardware and software complex for the automation of repair production management at Semey Engineering JSC with Project-Tekhnika CSR JSC. Semey Engineering JSC and NPO High-Precision Complexes JSC signed a program of demonstration tests of the upgraded BMP-2 with the Berezhok fighting compartment for further approval by the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan. Kazakh Machine-building plant named after CM. Kirov signed a contract with Rosoboronexport for the refurbishment of products for 2021-2022. Also, Kazakhstan Aviation Industry LLP and 558 ARP JSC signed an additional agreement for the repair of Su-25 aircraft. --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh Does the August share price for Boom Logistics Limited (ASX:BOL) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example! Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Boom Logistics The method We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) AU$7.61m AU$6.45m AU$5.80m AU$5.44m AU$5.23m AU$5.13m AU$5.09m AU$5.11m AU$5.15m AU$5.21m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -22.75% Est @ -15.25% Est @ -10% Est @ -6.32% Est @ -3.75% Est @ -1.94% Est @ -0.68% Est @ 0.2% Est @ 0.82% Est @ 1.25% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 11% AU$6.8 AU$5.2 AU$4.2 AU$3.5 AU$3.0 AU$2.7 AU$2.4 AU$2.2 AU$1.9 AU$1.8 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$33m Story continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.3%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 11%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2030 (1 + g) (r g) = AU$5.2m (1 + 2.3%) (11% 2.3%) = AU$58m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$58m ( 1 + 11%)10= AU$20m The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is AU$53m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$0.1, the company appears about fair value at a 20% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf The assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Boom Logistics as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 11%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.522. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Moving On: Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Boom Logistics, we've compiled three relevant aspects you should further examine: Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Boom Logistics you should know about. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! Other Environmentally-Friendly Companies: Concerned about the environment and think consumers will buy eco-friendly products more and more? Browse through our interactive list of companies that are thinking about a greener future to discover some stocks you may not have thought of! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Australian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com. The World Bank has put on hold the publication of its Doing Business Report, which carries the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Rankings, over alleged irregularities in the underlying data., the Bank said in a statement. The effective suspension of the publication of the rankings has been announced in the wake of a number of reported irregularities regarding changes to data in the 2018 and 2020 reports published in October 2017 and October 2019. In a statement on Thursday, the Bank said it was conducting a systematic review and assessment of data changes that occurred subsequent to the institutional data review process for the last five Doing Business reports. We have asked the World Bank Groups independent Internal Audit function to perform an audit of the processes for data collection and review for Doing Business and the controls to safeguard data integrity, it added. The culmination of this process will be followed by a retrospective correction in the rankings, the statement said. The Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank has been briefed on the situation as have the authorities of the countries that were most affected by the data irregularities. The Union ministries of finance and commerce did not respond to email queries on the effective suspension of the rankings. But officials from the two ministries, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the Bank may have briefly paused the publication but not ended it, and a review would make it more robust and credible. They added this would neither halt nor deter Indias commitment towards Ease of Doing Business. In fact, India has gone a step further in striving to achieve Ease of Living, the officials said. For example, just see reforms in tax administration. The Prime Minister recently unveiled faceless assessment system in the income-tax matters to curb corruption and released, for the first time, a taxpayers charter. Next month, faceless appeal system will be introduced. All these are part of ongoing reform aimed at Ease of Living for the common man, which will also benefit businesses, said one of the officials on condition of anonymity. A second official said wide-ranging reforms have been introduced for the Ease of Business keeping both agriculture and industry in mind. Farmers have been unshackled now so that they can sell their produce to lucrative markets. The commerce and industry ministry is considering introducing a technology-based single-window system soon that would ensure expeditious multiple regulatory approvals at both the Central and state levels from one point. Reforms are ongoing and not dependent on the ranking of the Ease of Doing Business. The policy regime in India places a lot of importance on the rankings. After assuming power in 2014, the Narendra Modi government set a target for India to be among top 50 countries in the rankings. In 2014, India was ranked 142nd. It jumped to the 63rd position among 190 countries in May 2019. The rankings are based on a countrys performance on 10 indicators: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency. This is not the first time the rankings are courting controversy. In 2018, Paul Romer, the then chief economist of the World Bank, quit after criticising the rankings in an interview with The Wall Street Journal for having conveyed the wrong information about the business environment in Chile. According to a Reuters story, Romer told the newspaper the decline resulted from methodological changes, rather than a deterioration of Chiles business environment, and may have been the result of the World Bank staffs political motivations. In his book, The Rise and Fall of Nations: The Rules of Change in Post-Crisis World, Ruchir Sharma, the chief global strategist and head of the emerging markets equity team at Morgan Stanley, criticised these rankings, saying they were vulnerable to political manipulation and marketing. More than a few countries have started hiring consultants to help them raise their rankings... In 2012, President Vladimir Putin set a goal of raising Russias rank for ease of doing business from 120 to top 20 within six years, and he soon saw results. By 2015, Russia was ranked at 51, more than thirty places ahead of China, and sixty places ahead of Brazil and India. That raised a question: If it was so easy to do business in Russia, why wasnt anyone doing business there? he wrote Other scholars have also criticised these rankings. A 2016 Indian Institute of Management Bangalore working paper by Vivek Moorthy and A Arul Jason argued the rankings cannot capture the true cost of doing business in countries with a large unorganised sector. Another 2019 paper by Sabyasachi Kar and others argued the fundamental premise of the rankings, that rules are the be all and end all of Ease of Doing Business in a country, might not be true. Where state is weak, Mali militants broker talks between rival clans FILE PHOTO: A general view shows the damage at the site of an attack on the Dogon village of Sobane Da By Aaron Ross DAKAR (Reuters) - A few weeks before military officers overthrew Mali's government in a bloodless coup, a series of meetings in the remote centre of the country underscored how much the state's grip on power had loosened. Video of one gathering in the rural commune of Sangha shows leaders from the rival Dogon and Fulani communities, whose militias have slaughtered hundreds of civilians in tit-for-tat attacks this year, sitting down together and making peace. Also surprising were the mediators: fighters from al Qaeda's Mali affiliate, who can be seen squatting in the shade with rifles and ammunition belts, many of their faces obscured by turbans and dark sunglasses. Until recently, members of the al Qaeda-linked Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) - Mali's most powerful militant group - had sided with the semi-nomadic Fulani herdsmen when they clashed with the Dogon people over land and resources. But flush with new recruits and weapons captured from overwhelmed state forces, the jihadists have turned to mediation in a bid to further entrench their local control, said Idrissa Sankare, a former member of parliament from the area. "They want to have a territorial presence," he said. "If the population is with them, they won't denounce them to the army." In the sparsely populated, semi-arid lands northeast of the capital Bamako plagued by violence and insecurity, some local people welcome the intervention, which began in July. Whether it is enough to end ethnic bloodshed altogether remains to be seen. Dozens of attacks by Dogon and Fulani militias killed more than 350 people in the first half of the year, and attacks by Islamist extremists killed dozens more, the United Nations' human rights office in Mali said this month. It is the kind of violence that former colonial power France wanted to squash when its military intervened in northern Mali in 2013. Since then al Qaeda-linked fighters have expanded into central Mali and neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso. Story continues Mali's army has been pulling out of some hotspots - part of what commanders describe as a new "operational posture" in the face of Islamist attacks - and civil administrators lack the resources to provide basic services, two officials from the central Mali region of Mopti said. Western and regional officials fear the overthrow of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita last week could further strengthen the militants' hand. After a previous coup in 2012, al Qaeda-linked insurgents took advantage of a power vacuum to seize Mali's desert north and start advancing on the capital Bamako. NO STATE PRESENCE There were no state representatives at the July 27 talks in Sangha, said a local official, who spoke on condition of anonymity for safety reasons. The official verified the authenticity of the video, which Reuters has seen. In it, a village leader warmly welcomes Dogon farmers and Fulani herders, even though their longstanding rivalry over land and resources has escalated dramatically in recent years, fuelled by what the United Nations says is deliberate incitement by Islamist militants aimed at boosting recruitment. "I salute you and ask God to bless this meeting," says the leader, a Dogon, drawing his hands together as he sits in the dirt opposite the militants. "The people of Sangha have called for reconciliation in the name of our blood bonds so that we can find peace again." JNIM has not publicly commented on the meetings and any role in reconciling rival ethnic groups. Spokesmen for the presidency and the army did not respond to requests for comment on the jihadists' recent intervention in rural Mali before the military takeover. A spokesman for the new junta said officers were not immediately available to answer questions about them. The meeting last month was one of several that al Qaeda-linked fighters have organised since late July in Mopti, leading to deals between rival groups that have allowed people from dozens of villages to return to fields and markets without fear of attack, four local officials told Reuters. The militants' role is a reminder that, in spite of the French-backed military campaign that initially inflicted heavy casualties on groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, their influence is growing. "People are tired. There's no state," said the official who had knowledge of the Sangha meeting. "I prefer a bad negotiation, a bad agreement, over heading to our deaths." 'TIRED OF WAR' Informal talks between community leaders and JNIM about exploring the idea of reconciling warring clans began several months ago, the local officials said. The militants told villagers their problem was with the government, not civilians, according to the officials. Feeling defenceless, villagers embraced the peace offering. Videos from Sangha and other meetings - some mediated by the jihadists, others not - show Fulani and Dogon men shaking hands, laughing and praying together. Local officials confirmed the authenticity of the videos. "Everyone is tired of this war," said Marcelin Guenguere, who was a senior member of the Dogon militia Dan Na Ambassagou before being elected to parliament in April. "We think that dialogue alone is the solution." Rida Lyammouri, a senior fellow at the Policy Center for the New South in Morocco, said the jihadists could be looking to bolster their negotiating position after the government said it was prepared to enter talks with JNIM. He also said JNIM had fought a series of battles with fighters from Islamic State, which also has an affiliate in the region, since last year, reflecting a falling out between two groups that had largely avoided confrontation until then. Islamic State, which has imposed a brutal interpretation of Sharia in areas it controls, sees JNIM as too moderate, Lyammouri added. According to local officials, JNIM militants have not imposed the kind of draconian religious justice, such as cutting off the hands of suspected thieves, that gained al Qaeda fighters notoriety during their 2012 occupation of northern Mali. Sankare, the former member of parliament, said some militants had initially pressured people to stop listening to music and drinking alcohol, but their strategy appeared to have changed. "It seems they received instructions from their leadership to go preach the Sharia in the mosques and villages without coercion," he said. (Additional reporting by Tiemoko Diallo in Bamako; Editing by Alexandra Zavis and Mike Collett-White) The coronavirus health crisis has not stopped the Geneva Lake Women's Association from educating children about safety issues. Members of the association have decided to conduct their Safety Town program virtually this year. The program, which usually is held during a week in June at a local school, includes informational classes and hands-on activities to educate children about traffic, fire, strangers, water safety, bicycles and remembering important phone numbers. The classes typically are conducted by teachers, firefighters and other public safety professionals. Denise Schnurr, chairperson for the association's Safety Town committee, said because of the threat of spreading the coronavirus, the group decided to offer the program online this year. "Numerous parents asked us if we were going to offer it this year," Schnurr said. "And that's when we thought about doing it virtually." The virtual Safety Town program can be accessed for free through the group's website, glwa.net. It includes bullet-point information about each topic, links to different resources, educational videos and coloring activities. "It covers all the safety concerns that kids will encounter," Schnurr said. "It runs the gamut of things that could be hazardous to kids." Jenell Mroz, secretary for the women's association board of directors, helped to develop the online program. Mroz said parents not have to register to use the program. They can just click on any topic they want to discuss with their children. "We didn't want to make parents sign up, because we didn't want to make it too complicated for them," she said. "We wanted then to be able to use it as they needed it." Mroz said it took her about 16 hours to put together the virtual program. "It was a labor of love," she said. Schnurr said the in-person Safety Town program usually is geared towards kindergarten-age students. But with the virtual program, older children can access it as well. "Anyone can enjoy it," Schnurr said. "It can be for younger kids and older kids. You're going to learn something." The Safety Town program has been offered in the Lake Geneva region for about 40 years. Mroz said members of the Lake Geneva Jaycees conducted the program initially before it was taken over by the women's association. "The virtual program is very new, but the program has been around for a long time," she said. "It is really a community effort." The in-person program has been held at Lake Geneva Middle School the past few years, but was scheduled to move this year to Eastview Elementary School. Schnurr said, as part of the program, children attend three-hour sessions for five days during a week in June and learn about different safety topics. She said the children participate in different safety-related activities, play games, watch movies, work on craft projects and attend safety programs. Central-Denison pre-kindergarten teacher Cyndi Nelson, who has taught for the Safety Program for five years, said the program allows students to learn about safety while participating in enjoyable activities. "They sing song, participate in different safety activities," Nelson said. "It's an amazing opportunity for them." Nelson said several high school-age students serve as mentors and work with the younger children throughout the program. The cost to attend the in-person program usually is $35 per child. About 80 children participated last year. Mroz said the women's association hopes to offer the program in-person again next year. "Our hope is next year we can be back to where we need to be," she said. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Essence's WeR@Home security and home management solutions allows residents to fully monitor their homes from a mobile app HERZLIYA, Israel, Aug. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Essence Group , the leading global security solutions provider, has announced a new partnership with Portuguese smart access supplier, Chaviarte . The partnership will bring Essence's entire home management platform to Portugal, offering a complete home management user experience using the most advanced connected technologies. The partnership marks an expansion for Essence into Portugal for its WeR@Home security and home management platform. Essence's WeR@Home solution and Chaviarte's existing security hardware integrate seamlessly using Z-Wave. The end-to-end connected platform will bring smart home functionality to Chaviarte's core business door lock and entry systems, providing users with full visibility and remote control over their homes. Essence is the number one provider of wireless alarm systems in Europe, providing its advanced technology to some of the world's largest security monitoring brands. Essence's expansion into the Portuguese market comes as global forecasts predict a recovery for the smart home market in 2021, following the downturn caused by COVID-19. Essence's partnership with Chaviarte will give its customers a seamless user experience and the ability to control a host of automated smart home functions and to ensure the security and safety of loved ones. Chaviarte's customer base will be able to leverage the Internet of Things with voice commands and additional exciting features. WeR@Home boasts a range of key features, including automated smart scenarios, indoor and outdoor cameras, and window and door sensors. The platform will be available from Chaviarte's 50 stores, as well as through their new online platform . This hybrid retail-online sales channel will increase the breadth of distribution to a large portion of the country. Dr Haim Amir, CEO of Essence Group, said: "This exciting partnership marks Essence's first expansion into the Portuguese smart home market. By augmenting Chaviarte's existing door lock and entry system solution through the WeR@Home platform, we aim to provide users with one of the most advanced smart home security systems available on the market. Ricardo Jardim, CEO, Chaviarte, said: "Essence's WeR@Home solution was a very easy choice because of Essence's distinctive know-how, quality in service and technologically innovative products and for being perfectly aligned with our view of a what an integrated, safe and smart security/living IoT solution should be." Images are available on request. Media contacts: The PR Office E: essence@theproffice.com T: +44 (0)7825 663416 About Essence Essence is a global provider of IoT connected-living and cybersecurity solutions for communication, security and healthcare service providers, serving households and small-medium businesses. Leveraging 25 years of experience and innovation with a global presence and 50 million devices deployed worldwide, Essence is committed to developing and supporting solutions that enhance partners' businesses and enable people to live fuller, better lives. SOURCE Essence Group In this screenshot from the RNCs livestream of the 2020 Republican National Convention, Patrick Lynch, President of the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York, addresses the virtual convention on Aug. 27, 2020. (Photo Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty Images) NYPD Union Chief: You Wont Be Safe in Joe Bidens America Patrick Lynch, the head of the Police Benevolent Associationthe largest police union in New York Citywarned that Democratic officials have surrendered our streets and institutions in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests. But Lynch said that its not merely incompetence or a side-effect, saying that Democrats endgame is to dismantle police departments and the justice system. The radical left doesnt really want better policing, he said. They dont really care about making the justice system fairer. What they want is no policing. What they want is a justice system that stops working altogether. Lynchs remarks continued a theme that Democratic officials and their policies have allowed violence and civil unrest to flourish in the wake of George Floyds death in May. Meanwhile, Biden would serve as a vehicle for far-left politicians to take control of the federal government, creating a nationwide law-enforcement crisis, he said. The message is: police officers are the enemy. The message is: criminals have the right to resist arrest. The message is: if you victimize a vulnerable person, the justice system will not hold you accountable. The criminals have heard that message, and they are taking full advantage, Lynch said. Other speakers on Thursday included Ben Carson, Ivanka Trump, Rudy Giuliani, UFC president Dana White, and others. (ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) City officials opted this week to delay a decision to expand or let expire St. Josephs current mask order aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19. In mid-July, Mayor Bill McMurray issued an emergency ordinance requiring individuals to wear face coverings or masks in retail spaces of 10,000 feet or more. The ordinance is set to expire on September 11. Some city council members had expressed a desire to expand the current order to apply citywide when 6-feet of distance is not feasible between individuals. The call has intensified over the last week as cases in Buchanan County and hospitalizations trend upward. On Thursday, the city health officials reported 1,334 people have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began. Up by more than two dozen cases since Wednesday. This is getting out of control and those are the actual numbers, Councilman Kent ODell said. Gary Clapp, a professor at Missouri Western State University who assists the council with COVID-19 data, said the 21 people currently hospitalized and the recent spike in cases is concerning. We have a pretty significant uptick in numbers and that actually sends us from a community-spread standpoint under our friends from the Harvard Group into the orange level, Clapp said. The Global Health Institute at Harvard has created a guide to help policymakers measure and respond to the coronavirus in their community. According to the guide, Orange means accelerated community spread. Waiting another week, I think will only exacerbate the numbers, Clapp said. We can wait and we can watch them and Ill keep plotting them for you but they are going in the wrong direction. The City Council voted, 5-4, at its meeting Thursday night to keep the ordinance as is and reevaluate when it expires in two weeks. Some of the City Council doubting the science behind wearing masks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends all Americans wear a face mask when leaving the house to prevent droplets that could carry the coronavirus from traveling into the air. Councilman P.J. Kovac said he spoke with a family that wore masks, gloves, did everything right, and still got the virus. He then asked the group why the science didnt work in the one anecdotal case. After a back-and-forth between council members, the Missouri Western Professor was asked for the consensus among public health experts. He said masks have been shown to reduce spread for both the person wearing the face-covering and for the individuals around the wearer. The bottom line is they help but they are not perfect, Clapp said. They are going to reduce but they are not going to stop (it) completely. At least seven residents spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting. Only one person spoke in favor of expanding the mask mandate. Some speakers said they doubted the science of wearing masks, others spouted conspiracies or recounted anecdotal stories. After hearing the public opinions, a split city council decided to wait until their next meeting to pick up the topic again. The Busia Institute for Rural and Democratic Development (BIRDD) has lauded the decision by the Akufo-Addo administration to introduce policies that seems to promote rural industrialization. Commemorating the 42nd anniversary of the passing of Dr. K. A. Busia, the institute in a statement said policies such as one-village, one-dam and planting for food and jobs are in line with the vision and ideals of Ghanas former Prime Minister of the Second Republic. It is sad that the usurpers cut short the numerous plans of Busia that aimed at catapulting the country to a higher pedestal. Thankfully, more than four decades after the passing of Busia, his idea of rural industrialisation is being pursued vigorously by the Akufo-Addo government through policies like One Village One Dam, Planting for and Jobs and One District One Factory amongst others. The Busia Institute wishes to encourage the government to remain focus on these human-centred policies that have the potential of bringing about the democratic welfare society that Busia envisioned for Ghana. We wish to request every Ghanaian everywhere also to support the government in any way possible to succeed for the greater good not only of the present generation but also those to come later, the statement added. According to the Busia Institute, The key plank of the Busia administration was rural development, a policy that was anchored on his vision of industrialising the rural areas of Ghana for holistic national development. Amongst the notable programmes within the rural development programme was agriculture. The administration aimed at ensuring food security for Ghana and to use agro-processing as a vehicle for ensuring Ghana's balance of payment deficit. According to the statement signed by Anane Agyei, Executive Director of the institute, had Busia not been ousted, his legacy would have been more prominent in the country since he had bright plans in all sectors of the country. Had Busia completed at least the first term of his administration, Ghana would have galloped in development as the few interventions of the Progress Party Government proved to be successful and essential in various spheres of life including education, health, water and sanitation, agriculture and good governance. Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia was Ghana's Prime Minister during the Second Republic (1969 1972). He died in exile in London, United Kingdom, on 28 August 1978 following the ousting of his government on 13 January 1972, by a group of individuals led by Ignatius Kutu Acheampong. citinewsroom Subscriber content preview SEATTLE The popular restaurant Central Smoke Bar & Smokery, at 1305 E. Jefferson St., closed in January before the pandemic struck. Now the longtime property owner has filed plans to redevelop with a five-story, 56-unit apartment building. Architect MNMuM Studio, run by Peter Secan, prepared the early plan. . . . LONDON, August 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week, the Commonwealth of Dominica announced its participation in the CARICOM Travel Bubble. During the launch, which took place at Jungle Bay, the Director of Tourism and Deputy Coordinator for the reopening of borders, Colin Piper, revealed that this would place Dominica as an attractive destination for regional travellers. The bubble comprises of eight other islands: Anguilla, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, St Lucia, Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda. Dominica is also welcoming international visitors as of August 7th. However, these visitors will be subject to tests and a travel screening questionnaire. Additionally, the President of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association announced that the island is now welcoming guests. Two hotels have also been issued a COVID certificate approval including Secret Bay and the Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski both of which are approved under Dominica's Citizenship by Investment Programme. According to Piper, this travel bubble will enable travellers from nations that have effectively tackled the spread of the COVID-19 virus to visit Dominica easier: "So of importance is that the pre-arrival requirement to undertake the PCR Test within 72 hours is absent and thus allow travelers from the CARICOM Travel Bubble greater ability and flexibility in making plans to book a trip. So, we anticipate that with this newfound freedom, Dominica will once again become an attractive destination for travelers within the CARICOM Travel Bubble," he said. In recent years, Dominica has become a popular destination for eco-tourism and internationally renowned for its commitment to achieving climate resilience. This was pledged by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit following Hurricane Maria and supported by Dominica's Citizenship by Investment Programme. The Programme has supported the funding of several eco-resorts, the construction of a geothermal plant and providing weather-resistant and affordable housing for citizens. Introduced in 1993, the CBI Programme enables foreign investors and their families to acquire second citizenship once donating to the government fund or investing in pre-approved real estate options. Investors who opt for the real estate route have a variety of international brands to choose from including Hilton, the Marriott and Kempinski, alongside other boutique eco-resorts. Once successfully undergoing the necessary due diligence checks, investors gain access to benefits ranging from visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to approximately 140 destinations, alternative business opportunities and the ability to pass citizenship down. CONTACTS: [email protected], www.csglobalpartners.com SOURCE CS Global Partners Controversial Nigerian politician and former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode arrived Uyo, Akwa Ibom, on Wednesday, for the continuation of his private tour of projects embarked upon by state governments in the South-South. But he may be having it difficult talking to the press about his tour of Akwa Ibom, as journalists in the state have taken a decision to boycott any activity that Mr Fani-Kayode is involved in as retaliation for his recent verbal attack against a Daily Trust reporter, Eyo Charles, in Calabar, Cross River state. Mr Fani-Kayode, during the press briefing which was held in a private hotel and moderated by Governor Ben Ayades spokesperson, Christian Ita, told Mr Charles he was stupid for asking him who was bankrolling his tour. In line with the disposition of the national leadership of our great Union, the State Council has directed that no journalist should attend a media parley with Femi Fani-Kayode or any of his activity at any location in Akwa Ibom State, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, said in a statement, Friday morning. The NUJ is not part of the visit. The statement was signed by the NUJ Chairman, Amos Etuk, and the Secretary, Dominic Akpan. Mr Etuk told PREMIUM TIMES that journalists in the state did not need Mr Fani-Kayode to tell them about Governor Udom Emmanuels performance. We already know the governors performance and we are satisfied with it, he said. Abasifreke Effiong, the managing editor of the Dune newspaper, Uyo, said journalists in Nigeria must stand up for one another against people who are out to insult them and denigrate the profession. Whatever action NUJ in Akwa Ibom State takes in relation to FFKs visit to the state will go a long way in defining our self-worth as professionals and (will) shape the way other members of the public will deal with us going forward, Mr Effiong added. Meanwhile, the NUJ in Cross River State has blacklisted the Cross River state government over the Fani-Kayode incident. The union, which also blacklisted Mr Fani-Kayode, took the decision after an emergency congress on Thursday. A communique issued after the union congress, said the press briefing where Mr Fani-Kayode attacked the Daily Trust reporter was an illegal one by the Cross River government. The communique was signed by the NUJ Chairman in Cross River state, Victor Ndu; the State Secretary of NUJ, Oka Ibor; and the Chairman of the Communique Drafting Committee, Richard Ndome. The union said it was sending a letter to media organisations, asking them to pull their reporters out of the Government House, Calabar, and also for them to stop covering the activities of the state government until the issue is resolved. READ ALSO: Congress restates its total support for and stand with the Daily Trust correspondent, Eyo Charles on the question that resulted to the unprovoked outburst (from Fani-Kayode). Congress also directs the State Council to issue warning letters to members who attended the press conference and did not do anything to protect their colleague after which each of them is to individually write an apology letter through the State Council to the National Leadership of the Union with a firm promise never to violate the rules and regulations guiding the journalism practice. Congress hereby resolve that henceforth all press briefings by any individual(s), public or private organisations must be held at the NUJ Press Centre, unless as may be directed by the State Council, the communique said. Toronto, Aug 28 : Researchers are preparing to launch clinical trials of a drug used to cure a deadly disease caused by coronavirus in cats that they expect will be effective as a treatment for humans against Covid-19. "In just two months, our results have shown that the drug is effective at inhibiting viral replication in cells with SARS-CoV-2," said a study researcher Joanne Lemieux from the University of Alberta (UA) in Canada." "This drug is likely to work in humans so we're encouraged that it will be an effective antiviral treatment for Covid-19 patients," Lemieux added. The drug is a protease inhibitor that interferes with the virus's ability to replicate, thus ending an infection, the study published in the journal Nature Communications reported. Proteases were key to many body functions and were common targets for drugs to treat everything from high blood pressure to cancer and HIV. First studied by UA's John Vederas and Michael James following the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the protease inhibitor was further developed by veterinary researchers who showed it cured a disease that is fatal in cats. The researchers explained that Vederas synthesized the compounds and researcher Lorne Tyrrell tested them against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in test tubes and human cell lines. The research team then revealed the crystal structure of the drug as it binds with the protein. "We determined the three-dimensional shape of the protease with the drug in the active site pocket showing the mechanism of inhibition. This allows us to develop even more effective drugs," Lemieux said. She will continue to test modifications of the inhibitor to make it a better fit inside the virus, Lemieux added. But she said the current drug shows enough antiviral action against SARS-CoV-2 to proceed immediately to clinical trials. "Typically for a drug to go into clinical trials, it has to be confirmed in the lab and then tested in animal models," Lemieux said. "Because this drug has already been used to treat cats with coronavirus and it's effective with little to no toxicity, it's already passed those stages and this allows us to move forward," she added. The researchers have established a collaboration with Anivive Life Sciences, a veterinary medicine company that is developing the drug for cats to produce the quality and quantity of drug needed for human clinical trials. The team said it will likely be tested in Alberta in combination with other promising antivirals such as remdesivir. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Austria's producer prices declined further in July, figures from Statistics Austria showed on Friday. The producer price index declined 2.1 percent year-on-year in July, same as seen in June. The decline in producer prices was mainly driven by a fall in energy prices and intermediate goods by 7.2 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, prices for capital goods rose 0.7 percent in July and those for consumer goods increased 0.9 percent. On a monthly basis, producer prices rose 0.1 percent in July, following a 0.2 percent increase in the preceding month. 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. (JNS) California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law on Monday to require an ethnic-studies course requirement for matriculation from California State University, starting with the 2021-22 school year. Spearheaded by the AMCHA Initiative, 90 education, civil-rights and religious groups had called on Newsom to veto the bill, AB-1460. The organizations noted an important distinction between the broad field of ethnic studies with its goal of understanding and celebrating the contributions of the state and countrys diversity and the narrow field of Critical Ethnic Studi... A senior leader of regional National Conference (NC) Mian Altaf Friday snubbed BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav by disallowing him to visit his residence for a meeting. Altaf, a veteran Gujjar leader, in a statement claimed that a local BJP leader Khalid Jehangir called him and told that Madhav will come to his residence for a meeting. I told him (Jehangir) Thanks, but there is no need to come to my residence as I have nothing to do with them (BJP), he said in a statement. The NC leader alleged that the BJP may stage a drama to harm him and later blame militants. Now, I want to convey it to my people besides who advised Mr Ram Madhav through that may be from the government side or BJP or any other side (they) want to stage any drama and then harm me and blame militants. People understand these things, Altaf, also a former cabinet minister, added. Despite repeated attempts, Khalid Jehangir was not available for the comment. Madhav, who arrived in Srinagar on Thursday, has met senior J&K Apni Party members and Peoples Democratic Party founding member Muzzaffar Hussain Baig, besides deliberating on the current political scenario in the Valley with his own party colleagues. The visit comes at a time when four main regional parties of J&K and two national parties last week issued a statement, reiterating their commitment to 4 August 2019 Gupkar Declaration, which binds its signatories to put up a joint fight to restore Article 370 in the erstwhile state. WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump granted a full pardon on Friday to Alice Marie Johnson, a Tennessee woman who received a life sentence for a first-time drug offence and whose cause was taken up by the celebrity Kim Kardashian West. Trump, who commuted Johnson`s sentence in 2018 after she had served more than 20 years in prison, signed the pardon during a meeting with Johnson in the Oval Office. "We`re taking Alice Johnson from a commutation to a full pardon," Trump said. "Alice has done an incredible job since she`s been out, recommending other people" who may deserve clemency or a pardon. Johnson, who spoke at the Republican National Convention this week about her initial commutation, wiped away tears after Trump`s announcement. Kardashian West personally lobbied Trump about Johnson`s case. CHICAGO, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today donated $10.6 million to a group of 20 nonprofits working to address racial equity and social justice in the United States. The funding package is part of the company's previously announced multi-year commitment that includes a mix of local and national-level grants aimed at increasing the number of minority and underserved students pursuing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and diversifying the aerospace talent pipeline. Grant money also will fund programs that work to address criminal justice reform and health care gaps in underserved and minority communities. "At Boeing, we acknowledge the toll that systemic racism and social injustice have had on people of color, particularly Black communities here in the United States," said David Calhoun, Boeing president and CEO. "As we work internally to confront these issues, we also remain focused on addressing the causes and impacts of racism and social inequality in the communities where our employees live and work. With today's financial commitment to this group of nonprofit partners, we are hopeful that together, we can begin to make real advances in our ongoing pursuit of equality." Today's announcement builds on Boeing's history of partnering with organizations that improve access for and address inequities in communities of color. Over the past five years, Boeing has invested more than $120 million to support underserved communities including racial equity and social justice programs in those communities across the United States. Boeing plans to make additional announcements related to its racial equity and social justice investment strategy in the future. Nonprofits receiving grant funding include: Contact Jason Capeheart Boeing Communications Office: +1 312-544-2568 [email protected] SOURCE Boeing During its virtual Member/Community Appreciation celebration Ideal gave away $6,750 to 25 lucky winners, & donated another $3,000 to local area food shelves in the communities the credit union serves. We were able to keep everyone safe, give away some cash and most importantly give back to our local communities. I would like to thank everyone involved for making this virtual celebration a tremendous success. - Ideal CU President/CEO Brian Sherrick With safety in mind, Ideal Credit Union turned its annual Member/Community Appreciation event into a two-week virtual celebration that increased participation and enabled attendees to follow along online and on social media. Ideal saw an 89% increase in adult registrants from 35 states and a 52% increase in youth registrants from 7 states enroll online for chance to win cash prizes. Ideal gave away ten $500 grand prizes, five $250 grand prizes and ten $50 Bucky Bear youth prizes. Overall, Ideal gave away $6,750 to 25 lucky winners, and donated another $3,000 to local area food shelves in the communities the credit union serves. The virtual events ran from August 11 August 20 and started with a video welcome from each respective Ideal CU branch manager. At 12:00 Noon, Ideal made a donation via Facebook Live to representatives from five local area food shelves. At 12:30 pm, branch managers announced the cash prize winners for that days event on Facebook and shared the videos on Ideal CUs website. Ideal saw a 5.50% increase in Facebook likes during the virtual event. Website traffic also increased on the event landing page. One of the lucky $500 cash prizes winners was Meagan Peterson, who was watching the Hugo event on August 11 via Facebook Live and immediately shared her excitement on the social media channel about being selected. She plans to use the winnings toward a down payment on a house. A week later, Meagans mom Susan Peterson was selected at random as a $250 winner during the August 19 Woodbury celebration. Susan plans to put her winnings toward a family vacation next year. Brian Nickell, another $500 cash prize winner from the Hugo event will spend part of his winnings on new tires for his Tahoe. The rest will go toward a trip to Hawaii. Michael McHenry, who won $500 at the August 19 Woodbury event, shared that he is currently unemployed due to COVID and planned to use the money to take his wife to dinner. Eunice Bliss, a $500 cash prize winner from the August 20 Stillwater event, shared that she chose Ideal because she was tired of dealing with banks and high fees. She will put the money toward a trip she is planning for Thanksgiving. Lucky $50 Bucky Bear youth winners included Olivia T., Brendan O., Aleah J., Calista C., Zachary S. and Rowan C. With the pandemic creating greater demand for food assistance in our local communities, the Ideal Community Foundation continued its regular support of local area food shelves during the virtual event by donating $3,000 to help restock the shelves. Recipients included the Hugo Good Neighbors Food Shelf in Hugo, The Open Door in Eagan, the North St. Paul Area Food Shelf in North St. Paul, the Christian Cupboard in Woodbury, Valley Outreach in Stillwater and Neighbors, Inc., in Inver Grove Heights. Since 2014, the Ideal CU Community Foundation has donated over $16,500 to local area food shelves during these annual events. We really enjoy our annual Community Events and didnt want to cancel or postpone the celebration, so we got creative in how we transitioned the events to a virtual format without missing any of the fun said Ideal CU President/CEO Brian Sherrick. We were able to keep everyone safe, give away some cash and most importantly give back to our local communities. I would like to thank everyone involved for making this virtual celebration a tremendous success. For a full recap of the celebration and to view the fun daily videos visit http://www.idealcu.com/virtualevents. Founded in 1926, Ideal Credit Union is a member owned financial institution that is dedicated to providing financial services driven by a sincere and personal interest in the needs of our employees, members and community. Ideal CU offers a complete range of services, including a full suite of digital banking products, savings, checking, loans, mortgage products, business services, investment services and more. Offices are located in Eagan, Hugo, Inver Grove Heights, North St. Paul, Stillwater and Woodbury. Visit idealcu.com for details and directions. A pair of $12,000 filly and mare paces headlined the card at Plainridge Park on a rainy Thursday afternoon and both events provided very close finishes. The first was an aged upper level conditioned race that went to Firstup, who shipped in from Yonkers. Dontustopbelievn N (Mitchell Cushing) took the lead to the quarter, but Firstup (Shawn Gray) came first up and grabbed the top in front of the stands. The leader paced along unchallenged until the five-eights pole where Thats Incredible (Jay Randall) pulled alongside and traded strides with Firstup to the three-quarters. Gray hit the gas in the last turn and started to get separation between himself and the field. Down the lane, Firstup was under a reclined line drive from Gray and held off a late charge from a fast closing Hilaria (Mike Stevenson) to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.1, which was a new seasonal mark. Firstup ($7.00) is owned by the Jesmeral Stable and is trained by Sheena McElhiney. The next was a condition event for four-year-olds and under that went to After The Lovin on the strength of a late stretch drive. After The Lovin (Ron Cushing) left hard from post five and took the lead before Rockin Ellie (Bruce Ranger) became the master of fractions at the quarter. At the conclusion of a second quarter breather, Rockin Ellie was joined by Royalty Again (Drew Monti) who came alongside and prompted a brisk :27.4 third panel. At the top of the stretch Hereslooknatyou N (Mitchell Cushing) joined the fray three deep and After The Lovin came off the pylons to contend. All four were then a length apart across the track before After The Lovin shot through like a bullet and got the nod at the wire in 1:53.4, which was a new lifetime mark. After The Lovin ($8.20) is owned by Christina Del Pozzo and is trained by Bryant Sears. Mitchell Cushing and Nick Graffam both posted driving doubles along with trainer Mike Girouard, who also scored two wins. Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday with post time at 4 p.m. (Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts) Reorganization Expected to Reduce Debt by Approximately $74 million, Net and Position the Company for Future Growth HOUSTON, Aug. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SAExploration Holdings, Inc. (SAE or the Company) (OTC Pink: SAEX) announced today that it and certain of its subsidiaries have entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement (the RSA) with holders of 100% of the advances under its credit facility, holders of approximately 82.4% of the advances under its senior loan facility and holders of 100% of its outstanding 6.0% Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2023 (the Convertible Notes). The parties to the RSA also hold in the aggregate approximately 67.4% of the outstanding equity interests of the Company (including outstanding warrants, but excluding outstanding the Convertible Notes) on a fully diluted basis. To implement the RSA and position SAE for future growth, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries have voluntarily filed petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (the Bankruptcy Court). During the restructuring process, the Company expects to maintain global business as usual. The Company has filed customary motions that will allow it to maintain employee wages and benefits as well as meet vendor agreements and pay expenses. The Company will continue to be led by the current executive management team. After several months of careful consideration of how best to navigate the uncertainty of the global economy due to the coronavirus pandemic, along with the decreased demand for oil, our debt levels, and the difficulties associated with monetizing Alaskan tax credits, SAEs Board of Directors and management, along with our advisors, concluded that the best path forward for SAE and its stakeholders is to seek Chapter 11 protection, said Mike Faust, SAEs CEO. Our industry has been hit hard. However, the good news is, we expect to operate seamlessly during the restructuring, retain employees and pay our expenses. Our management team should remain in place. Once we emerge from Chapter 11, we expect to be well positioned for growth and to continue meeting the needs of our customers. Story continues The proposed plan of reorganization (the Plan) would eliminate approximately $74 million, net in debt from the Companys balance sheet. The Plan contemplates (i) the entry into a new first lien exit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $15.0 million with lenders under the existing credit facility, senior loan facility and Convertible Notes, (ii) the refinancing of the existing credit facility with a new second lien exit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $20.5 million with the existing lenders, and (iii) the elimination of $89.0 million of principal plus accrued interest with respect to the existing senior loan facility and the Convertible Notes, in exchange for new common stock to be issued by the reorganized Company, subject to dilution by (x) new common stock to be issued to the lenders under the new first lien exit facility that will represent 95% of the outstanding new common stock to be issued by the reorganized Company, and (y) new common stock to be issued to the parties backstopping the new first lien exit facility that will represent 2.5% of the outstanding new common stock to be issued by the reorganized Company. The new common stock to be issued by the reorganized Company will be subject to further dilution by new common stock to be issued by the reorganized Company in connection with a management incentive plan. The Company has requested that the Bankruptcy Court (i) approve commencement of solicitation on the Plan by September 16, 2020; (ii) set October 19, 2020 as the date that votes on the Plan must be received by Epiq Corporate Restructuring, LLC, the Companys voting agent, unless the deadline is extended; and (iii) set September 8, 2020 as the record date for voting. Subject to Bankruptcy Court approval of the Plan and the satisfaction of certain conditions to the Plan and related transactions, the Company has proposed to consummate the Plan and emerge from chapter 11 before the end of November 2020. There can be no assurances that the Plan will be approved or confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court by that time, or at all. Additional information, including court filings and other documents related to the reorganization proceedings, is available on a website administered by the Companys claims agent, Epiq Corporate Restructuring, LLC, at https://dm.epiq11.com/SAExploration. More detailed information on the restructuring can be found in the RSA, Plan and Disclosure Statement, which are included with the Form 8-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Porter Hedges LLP is acting as legal counsel and Imperial Capital, LLC is acting as financial advisor to the Company in connection with its restructuring efforts. About SAExploration Holdings, Inc. SAE is an international oilfield services company offering a full range of vertically-integrated seismic data acquisition, data processing and interpretation, and logistical support services throughout North America, South America, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. In addition to the acquisition of 2D, 3D, time-lapse 4D and multi-component seismic data on land, in transition zones and offshore in depths reaching 3,000 meters, SAE offers a full suite of data processing and interpretation services utilizing its proprietary, patent-protected software, and also provides in-house logistical support services, such as program design, planning and permitting, camp services and infrastructure, surveying, drilling, environmental assessment and reclamation, and community relations. SAE operates crews around the world, performing major projects for its blue-chip customer base, which includes major integrated oil companies, national oil companies and large independent oil and gas exploration companies. With its global headquarters in Houston, Texas, SAE supports its operations through a multi-national presence in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Malaysia, and Singapore. For more information, please visit SAEs website at www.saexploration.com. The information in SAEs website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this press release or incorporated in filings SAE makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward Looking Statements Except for statements of historical fact, the matters discussed herein are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the applicable U.S. federal securities laws. The words may, possible, estimates, expects, believes and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the possible impact of the matters summarized in this press release, may or may not be realized, and differences between estimated results and those actually realized may be material. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks relating to known and unknown uncertainties, including: SAEs ability to obtain Bankruptcy Court approval with respect to motions or other requests made to the Bankruptcy Court in the Chapter 11 case, including maintaining strategic control as debtor-in-possession; the ability of SAE and its subsidiaries to negotiate, develop, confirm and consummate a plan of reorganization; the effects of SAEs bankruptcy filing on SAE and on the interests of various constituents; Bankruptcy Court rulings in the Chapter 11 case in general; the length of time that SAE will operate under Chapter 11 protection and the continued availability of operating capital during the pendency of the proceedings; risks associated with third party motions in the Chapter 11 case, which may interfere with SAEs ability to confirm and consummate a plan of reorganization; the potential adverse effects of the Chapter 11 proceedings on SAEs liquidity or results of operations; increased advisory costs to execute SAEs reorganization; the impact of the Chapter 11 case on SAEs ability to access the public capital markets; substantial doubt about SAEs ability to continue as a going concern as of June 30, 2020; the impact of the COVID19 coronavirus pandemic on SAEs business, financial condition and results of operations; fluctuations in the levels of exploration and development activity in the oil and natural gas industry; delays, reductions or cancellations of project awards and SAEs ability to realize revenue projected in its backlog; the impact of the restatement of SAEs previously issued consolidated financial statements; the identified material weaknesses in SAEs internal control over financial reporting and SAEs ability to remediate those material weaknesses; the outcome of the investigations by the SEC, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Alaska Department of Revenue (the DOR), with respect to the circumstances giving rise to the restatement of our previously issued consolidated financial statements, which could include sanctions or other actions against SAE and its officers and directors, civil lawsuits, and penalties; the outcome of SAEs internal investigation of the circumstances giving rise to the restatement of our previously issued consolidated financial statements; developments with respect to the Alaskan oil and natural gas tax credit system that continue to affect SAEs ability to timely monetize tax credits, including litigation over the constitutionality of the legislation allowing Alaska to sell bonds to purchase tax credit certificates and Alaska budget constraints driven primarily by oil prices; the possible impact on payments received from the State of Alaska regarding tax credits that have been issued; costs and outcomes of pending and future litigation; the time and expense required to respond to the SEC, DOJ and DOR investigations and for SAE to complete its internal investigation, which expenses have been and are likely to continue to be material and are likely to have a material adverse impact on SAEs cash balance, cash flow and liquidity; and other risks described more fully in SAEs filings with the SEC that relate to matters not covered in this press release. Each of these risks, and the known and unknown consequences of these risks, could have a material negative impact on SAE, its business and prospects. As of the date of this press release, SAE cannot make any assurances regarding the impact or outcome of these risks. Forward-looking statements reflect the views of SAE as of the date hereof. SAE does not undertake to revise these statements to reflect subsequent developments, other than in compliance with U.S. federal securities laws and SAEs determination that any such revised disclosure is necessary or advisable to do. Media Contact: Sarah Marshall sarah@sarahleemarshall.com 512-699-8208 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Friday he is stepping down due to worsening health, bringing an early end to his stint as the longest-serving government leader of the world's third-largest economy. The 65-year-old Abe told reporters during a televised press conference that his health started declining around the middle of last month. The prime minister, who suffers from chronic ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease, said he was resigning because he did not want his illness to result in any policy mistakes. "I needed to fight against the disease and be treated, and I was not really in a perfect state in terms of the health condition," Abe said, according to a translation. "I would like to send my apologies to the people of Japan." Abe said he would fulfill his duties as prime minister until the next leader is appointed. His current term was not due to end until September 2021. The announcement came after state broadcaster NHK reported that he was about to stand down. Japan's Nikkei 225 index closed 1.4% lower on Friday, while the yen strengthened against the dollar, trading at 105.8. The prime minister's departure will kickstart a leadership race in the governing Liberal Democratic Party, with the winner to be formally elected in parliament and to serve for the rest of Abe's term. Some of Abe's possible successors include Suga Yoshihide, 71, the current chief Cabinet secretary, and Finance Minister Aso Taro, 79. Abe's protege, Kishida Fumio, 63, and his longtime rival Ishiba Shigeru, 63, are described as "underdogs" to succeed the prime minister, according to Scott Seaman, Asia director at risk consultancy Eurasia Group. Coronavirus testing takes place at a drive-through site in Victorville. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) The pandemic is far from over. Contrary to the impression left by many speakers at the Republican National Convention, it is still raging in the United States, with more than 40,000 new coronavirus infections and nearly 1,000 deaths per day. The U.S. death toll surpassed 180,000 on Thursday, higher than any other nation's. For months, America's efforts at controlling the spread of the coronavirus have lagged behind those of all other major wealthy developed countries, including Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Spain. The United States makes up 4% of the world's population, but 22% of its COVID-19 fatalities. Yet at the Republican convention, speakers have avoided, minimized or distorted the pandemic's epic and ongoing disruption of Americans' lives. Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, talked about it Tuesday as if it were gone. It was awful," he said. "Health and economic impacts were tragic. Hardship and heartbreak were everywhere." Ignoring President Trump's weeks of early assurances that the virus was under control and would disappear on its own when in fact it was quietly spreading to millions of Americans, Kudlow went on: "But presidential leadership came swiftly and effectively with an extraordinary rescue for health and safety to successfully fight the COVID virus. On Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence mocked Trump's Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, for saying last week that "no miracle is coming." "What Joe doesn't seem to understand is that America is a nation of miracles," Pence said shortly before joining Trump in personally greeting a front row of audience members standing shoulder-to-shoulder without masks. In his White House convention speech Thursday night, Trump skipped the raw numbers of sick and dead Americans, saying critics were overlooking his administration's "largest national mobilization since World War II" for effective treatments and a vaccine. Story continues "Unfortunately, from the beginning, our opponents have shown themselves capable of nothing but a partisan ability to criticize," he said. Republicans' dismissal of the steady rise in illness and death comes as Biden is putting the pandemic at the center of his campaign to unseat Trump. On Thursday, California Sen. Kamala Harris, Biden's running mate, accused the president of incompetence and "reckless disregard" for Americans' lives. "The tragedy in all of this is that it didnt have to be this bad," she said. "Just look around. Its not like this in the rest of the world. More than 38,000 Americans are hospitalized with COVID-19 this week the same level as in early April when the pandemic was first spiraling out of control in New York City, Detroit, New Orleans and other cities. Some countries that recovered from devastating outbreaks early in the pandemic most notably Spain have struggled to keep the virus from returning in force. But none of the world's biggest wealthy nations have matched the sustained failure of the United States to contain the virus, health data show. Neha Nanda, an epidemiologist at USC's Keck School of Medicine, said one of the main reasons is America's wide disparities in state-by-state approaches to requiring masks and enforcing social distancing by closing bars, restaurants and other venues where the virus can easily spread. It was totally disjointed, she said. Nationwide measures could have produced the kind of success that New York and other parts of the Northeast have had in recovering from early outbreaks that killed tens of thousands, she said. Instead, Arizona, Texas, Florida and other states took a more lax approach, only to be hammered this summer with deadly outbreaks that forced governors to roll back their reopenings. Its like a shoal of fish," Nanda said. "That predator is going to eat you up if you dont swim together. The states with the most cases per 1 million people are now Mississippi, Alabama, Kansas and South Dakota, according to the Covid Tracking Project, an independent pandemic data source. Florida Man Arrested in Killing of Brothers, 12 and 14: Sheriff A Florida sheriff confirmed that an arrest was made in the slayings of 12-year-old and 14-year-old brothers this week. Mark Wilson, the sick monster responsible for Tayten and Roberts brutal murder, was arrested last night, Putnam County Sheriff Gator DeLoach said in a Facebook post. Officials told news outlets that the mother of Tayten Baker, 14, and Robert Baker, 12, woke up Wednesday and found the two boys dead at their home in Melrose. Mark Wilson, 30, was identified as the suspect, DeLoach said. Unfortunately, Robert and Tayten were the ones who suffered whatever was going through Wilsons twisted agenda, he said. As a parent, the murders of Robert and Tayten are an unimaginable loss to a family. I cant begin to understand the anguish their parents are suffering. DeLoach said that Wilson has an extensive criminal history involving drugs and property crimes, adding that he has no violent crimes on his record, reported FirstCoastNews. Wilsons motive in the slayings is not clear, Deloach said. Mark Wilson (Putnam County Sheriffs Office) The Putnam County Sheriffs Office told WOKV that the boys father is a truck driver and wasnt home at the time. This case is an example of how two horrific murders can be solved in a matter of 48 hours by working together, State Attorney R.J. Larizza said. He added: I can tell you that the defendant, he attacked these kids without mercy. According to reports, the mother of the boys allowed Wilson and his girlfriend, her sister, to live on a shed on their property. The Baker family did a lot to help Wilson. Unfortunately, it resulted in the death of Rober and Tayten, DeLoach said, reported Fox news. Were grieving, along with the family. Authorities said Wilson used a knife and hammer in the slayings. Beauty bloggers make up for a major chunk of the blogging industry and for good reason; thanks to them, amateurs like me know a lot more about makeup than I ever did. Also, it is not just the usual everyday makeup that graces our screens but these bloggers and vloggers have gone all out to create truly amazing looks. Like Divya Premchand, a 20-year-old content creator from Dubai who has an eccentric approach to her makeup. The beauty blogger absolutely loves to create looks from popular actors to princesses to food, and her Instagram page has proof. What makes her work stand out is how gorgeously she tries to recreate the essence of Indian snacks through makeup. From a bag of Lay's Magic Masala to Nestle Maggi, she has done it all. It adds a desi touch to her makeup and also reminds us how makeup is an artform and should be considered as one especially if one understands the immense effort that goes into the process. Once done, the end result is totally worth all the effort. Also read: Time To Get Eco-Conscious With Your Beauty Regime Divya contours her face and designs her whole look based on the snack's packaging. It is something that will make you think about how creative people can be. The NRI content creator told Mid-day, "The response has been overwhelming. It's lovely when people get in touch with me and share nostalgia. I wanted to focus on snacks that hit home. When you are living away from India, it's difficult to find them on the shelves, barring a few Indian stores. Replicating the theme on the packaging alongside shooting takes two to three hours". Also read: Love Getting Clicked? Take Cues From These Fashion Bloggers And Celebrities Who Captured Their Real Selves Like A Boss Instagram What do you think of Divya's make-up? Let us know in the comments. This file photo taken on April 21, 2017 shows an aerial shot of a reef in the disputed Spratly islands. / AFP The sepulchral gloom suddenly starts to lift as I walk along Gracechurch Street. From round the corner comes a strange, exciting sound seldom heard in the City of London in recent months: laughter, raised voices, the clinking of glasses. I turn into Leadenhall Market and there it is an after-work pub crowd spilling out on to the pavement in full cry. 'It's our first day back in and I'm loving it. We're all just buzzing to be back,' says recruitment consultant Summer Pound, 23. Her colleague Myles Witchard, 31, agrees. 'I know people will say they are working just as well at home. All I can say is this has been my first day back at my desk and I've just had the best day's results in months.' They are among a group of six colleagues who have joined other drinkers at the New Moon pub to celebrate the return. A worker wearing a face covering, puts away chairs as they prepare to close a Pret-a-Manger store in London on August 12 in London A pedestrian wears walks past shuttered shop fronts on an empty shopping street in London on August 12 And whereas the first day back in the office at the end of August might once have brought on that back-to-school sinking feeling, it's the very opposite this time. 'It just feels great to be seeing people face-to-face again,' says Summer, who lives in Surrey. 'I did wonder how I'd feel about the commute. But once I was on the train, it was fine.' And therein lies the challenge confronting the Government and the entire British economy: how do you get a nervous workforce to take that initial leap of faith? No one likes to say it, let alone admit it. But the greatest obstacle to economic revival right now, quite simply, is fear itself. Like swimmers standing on the edge of a cold-water pool or a patient taking the first post-operative steps into the outside world Britain needs to brace itself and get on with it. Millions of white-collar workers still cling to the narrative that 'we're just as efficient working at home'. An empty tube carriage rides along the Northern line in London, on August 14 as commuters work from home It may be true in some cases. However, in many others, it is code for two unspoken truths: 'I am worried about a stranger coughing' and 'I dislike commuting.' It is understandable. But we have to accept that time is up. This week, the head of the employers' federation, the CBI, warned of 'ghost towns' in once-bustling urban centres. Writing in the Mail, Dame Carolyn Fairbairn argued that thousands of local businesses from sandwich bars to dry cleaners are at risk from the stay-at-home mentality. To which the pyjama-clad Coronaphobes retort: 'Why must we trek in to the metropolis just to prop up some greedy rail franchise and keep Pret A Manger afloat?' However, Dame Carolyn made other crucial points. Without some sort of return to office life, younger staff are never going to improve, learn and progress. Furthermore, we are in danger of creating a schism between the stay-at-homes and the no-choicers. Those who work in retail or factories or transport or (as of next week) education, do not have the option of working from a deckchair. Some may be overweight or at the older end of the spectrum. They may have family members with underlying health issues. But what else can they do? And over time, this could become a deeply corrosive divide. Writing in the Mail, Dame Carolyn Fairbairn (pictured) argued that thousands of local businesses from sandwich bars to dry cleaners are at risk from the stay-at-home mentality. To which the pyjama-clad Coronaphobes retort: 'Why must we trek in to the metropolis just to prop up some greedy rail franchise and keep Pret A Manger afloat?' And that is why the Government has to be clear and forceful. As the former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith warned this week, Britain is 'in the foothills of economic Armageddon'. His fellow senior Tory, Sir Graham Brady, was in no doubt: 'We have to stop the mixed messaging and send out a clear signal that it is safe to go back to work.' That means leading by example. And right now, the state is doing nothing of the sort. The vast ministries around Whitehall lie virtually empty while public servants for whom wage cuts and furlough schemes are an alien concept insist they are 'delivering' from their sofas. If they won't take the plunge, why should anyone else? We don't need all of them back all of the time, of course. But there has to be a balance, for Heaven's sake. It is telling that some of the places which have shown the greatest propensity to get back to work are in so called 'red wall' areas, those former Labour heartlands which have turned their back on decades of socialism and now vote Tory. New mobile phone data suggests that Mansfield in Nottinghamshire is the keenest with 40 per cent of people back at their desks. And the worst of the lot? Unsurprisingly, it is London where just 13 per cent are in the office. The residential suburbs might be showing signs of life. Yet in the two main white-collar hubs Westminster for the public sector and the City plus Canary Wharf for commerce it's still just tumbleweed. As a result, Britain now languishes behind most of Europe when it comes to going back to work. I have spent this week wondering why. We all have our anecdotal evidence. Passing through Gatwick Airport recently, I was struck by how few people were willing to touch a trolley. I have met Londoners who will travel by black cab, because there is a screen between front and back, but not in a minicab. Passing through Gatwick Airport (pictured) recently, I was struck by how few people were willing to touch a trolley. I have met Londoners who will travel by black cab, because there is a screen between front and back, but not in a minicab The Suffolk-based writer, Olinda Adeane, has been observing the behavioural shifts in just one corner of East Anglia. Aside from the flood of urban runaways snapping up every new property on the market, she knows of two villagers who have been putting their own homes in quarantine. Each time the cleaning lady visits one house, the owner decamps to the friend's house for three days and vice versa until the risk of lingering virus has passed. The village shop, meanwhile, is doing a roaring trade despite a 'no entry' policy. Locals come to a long table protruding from the door, shout out their shopping list and then wait for their groceries to be pushed down the table with a broom handle like gambling chips in a casino. 'People are much happier doing this than going to Asda,' says Olinda. Individually, these snapshots of mild paranoia are rather amusing. Collectively, they paint a picture of a nation which has simply got to get a grip. We hear a great deal about herd immunity but we are also witnessing classic herd behaviour. Dr Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, professor of business psychology at University College, London and New York's Columbia University, suggests that Britain is particularly susceptible. He points to the way in which homogeneous British high streets tend to be overrun by the same chains and the same brands, more so than many other Western societies. 'Britain has a healthy tradition of being sceptical about what it is buying. It's a trust issue. 'So people find a certain level of comfort in shops like John Lewis and Marks & Spencer. They feel more comfortable. And they find comfort in doing what most other people are doing.' He believes that as some people start going back to work, others may start to feel disadvantaged by working from home. 'If you have a business saying 'you can work wherever you want' but you have a micro-managing boss who is in the office, then people may feel pressure to come in.' Perhaps, though, we could do with a little more of that right now. While there is nothing more tiresome than presenteeism people being in the office for the sake of it things have now drifted too far the other way. It certainly feels like that during my latest tour of the City of London. The place is dead, locked in an eternal Sunday morning. In Leadenhall Market, Europe's oldest covered market, I chat to a group of business owners who have gathered at Andrea Oriani's M Bar after another dismal day. Optometrist Hayley Wainer runs Hawkes and Wainer, a practice founded by her father. 'We used to open first thing to look after customers who wanted an eye test on their way in to work,' she says. 'These days, we might not start until 10.15. There's no rush hour and no passing trade.' Hayley has worked in the City all her professional life. She is proud to be a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers, one of the 110 guilds which have been part of City of London life through fire, pestilence and war. They bounced back after the Great Plague of 1665 and again after the Great Fire a year later. But can they survive a prolonged bout of 21st century coronaphobia? Britain now faces a pivotal few days as we attempt to overcome the gravest threat to our national prosperity since the war: a loss of nerve. The schools seem on course to go back. But the grown-ups? When the body can no longer compensate the gradual failure of the liver caused by liver cirrhosis, there is a high risk of acute decompensated liver cirrhosis. In some patients this develops quickly into an often deadly acute-on-chronic liver failure, in which other organs such as the kidneys or brain fail. A study by an international team of researchers headed by Professor Jonel Trebicka from the Frankfurt University Hospital and funded by the foundation EF Clif, has discovered which patients are particularly at risk. With their findings, the scientists have laid the foundation for the development of preventive therapy to prevent acute-on-chronic liver failure. The liver has many functions: it stores nutrients and vitamins, produces dextrose, coagulation factors and hormones, and breaks down toxins, drugs and alcohol. Chronic alcohol abuse, viruses or other diseases can damage the liver and lead to chronic liver disease. Without treatment, chronic liver disease leads to liver cirrhosis in the final stages, in which liver tissue turns into connective tissue, making the liver increasingly unable to carry out its functions. The result: the blood's clotting ability is impaired, toxic metabolic products are fortified, the liver is not adequately supplied with blood and blood pressure rises in the portal veins that supply the liver. The body tries to compensate for the reduced liver function. For example, new veins develop as alternative circulation from the oesophagus, stomach and intestines which expand into varicose veins. When the disease progresses to the point that this kind of compensation is no longer possible - physicians speak of acute decompensated liver cirrhosis - the situation becomes life-threatening: tissue fluid (ascites) collects in the abdominal cavity, leading to bacterial infections and internal bleeding, for example in the oesophagus. Difficulty concentrating, mood swings and sleepiness are signs of a poisoning of the brain (hepatic encephalopathy) that can result in a hepatic coma. A European clinical study headed by Professor Jonel Trebicka, and carried out under the umbrella of the European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure, has for the first time identified three clinical course variations in patients admitted to the hospital with acute decompensated cirrhosis. 1.The first clinical course is characterised by high blood inflammation values, indicating inflammatory reactions throughout the body. Within three months after admission to the hospital, a number of body organs fail: the acute decompensation becomes "acute-on-chronic liver failure" (ACLF). The physicians therefore call this variation Pre-ACLF. More than half of patients die from it; only a third survive after a year. 2.Patients with the second clinical course do not develop ACLF and have moderate inflammation values. They suffer, however, from significant hypertension in the portal vein. Approximately 20 percent die within the following three months, another 15 percent over the course of the following year. The physicians named this variation "instable decompensated liver cirrhosis". 3.The patients with the third clinical course exhibit neither high inflammation values nor frequent complications. They do not develop ACLF in the first three months. Within a year, however, one in ten dies. The physicians call this variation "stable decompensated liver cirrhosis." We are now working intensively on the development of new diagnostic options, especially for the group of pre-ACLF patients, in order to identify this group before admission to the hospital so that preventive measures can be implemented early on. The development of preventive therapies for the often deadly ACLF is one of our most important research goals in this context." Professor Jonel Trebicka, lead investigator, gastroenterologist and hepatologist at Medical Clinic I of University Hospital Frankfurt Study co-author Professor Stefan Zeuzem, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Director of Medical Clinic I at Frankfurt University Hospital explains: "Liver diseases are one of the main focal points of Medical Clinic I and we offer numerous specialised outpatient departments for patients with acute and chronic liver diseases. So on the one hand we were able to observe patients for the study. On the other hand, the research findings on improving ACLF prevention and therapies will rapidly benefit all of our patients." The research findings are part of a European-wide study called PREDICT. The study observes the clinical course of acute decompensated liver cirrhosis in order to find early indications for the development of acute-on-chronic liver failures (ACLF). The study was funded by the European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure. 136 scientists from 47 centres and institutions in 14 European countries are participating in PREDICT. Agra, Aug 28 : The week-long Sero-Survey in Agra, which was to begin from August 26, has now been postponed indefinitely. This decision was taken on Thursday at a high level meeting in Lucknow. No official explanation has been given, but reliable sources said the priority right now was to contain the infection spread, as there had been a surge in numbers of Covid-19 patients. Indian Medical Association (IMA) secretary of the Agra branch Dr. Sanjay Chaturvedi said, "We do not know the actual reasons, but probably there is pressure on trained manpower and doctors who need to attend to patients." The Sero-Surveys were to be conducted in 11 districts of Uttar Pradesh to gauge the extent of the spread and the community immunity against Covid-19. Lucknow's King George Medical University was assigned the responsibility to moderate the surveys. Meanwhile, the total number of Covid-19 cases in Agra was 2,673, including 107 deaths. Out of this 2,242 have recovered. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Amid border tension with China, India is reportedly trying to fade out Chinese tech from its telecom industry. The Narendra Modi government has asked telecom firms in India to avoid using equipment from Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE in the future, according to a source-based report published in Financial Times on Aug. 25. There hasnt been any formal communication on the matter from the government yet, and Quartz could not independently verify the story. But industry experts are not surprised at the possibility of a blanket ban on Huawei in India. After all, the company is already facing a similar plight in the US, the UK and Australia over alleged links with the Chinese government. However, there are concerns about the survival of the Indian telecom industry without Chinese equipment at a time when most companies in the sector are reeling under heavy losses. Losing giants like Huawei and ZTE may not be a viable choice despite national security interests, said Sonam Chandwani, managing partner at Mumbai-based law firm KS Legal & Associate. Why Indian firms need Huawei Indias telecom sector is heavily dependent on both Huawei and ZTE mainly because they are more economical compared to other options. Huawei gets most of its revenue in India from the 4G network equipment segment, where two of the countrys largest telecom firms, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, are its clients. The two companies together hold a 55% share of the Indian wireless telecom market. ZTE, on the other hand, counts state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) among its clients. Around 40% of BSNLs 3G network is built by ZTE. The two Chinese companies have been at the centre of Indias 5G ambitions. In 2018, Bharti Airtel along with Huawei conducted Indias first 5G network trial. Earlier this year, Vodafone Idea announced a partnership with Huawei, ZTE, Ericsson, and Nokia for its 5G trial. Story continues Huawei, with its low prices, domestic investments, and long-term repayment schemes, made a mark in the telecom sector. The Indian telecom industry needs players like Huawei to bail it out of the present status quo, Chandwani of KS Legal said. Stiff competition from Reliance Jio, owned by Indias richest man Mukesh Ambani, has been taking a toll on Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea. For the quarter ended June 30, Vodafone-Idea posted a loss of Rs25,460 crore ($3.9 billion), while Bharti Airtels loss was at Rs15,933 crore ($2.4 billion). In addition, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea have massive outstanding dues to the government in lieu of adjusted gross revenue (AGR), which is bound to worsen their financial health. AGR is a fee-sharing mechanism between the government and telecom companies that was adopted in 1999. However, for over a decade, the two sides were locked in a legal battle over whether or not the non-telecom revenue of a company would be included in AGR. In 2019, Indias supreme court agreed to the governments definition of AGR, which exposed telecom firms to a demand of more than Rs1 lakh crore. As of now, Reliance Jio, which was launched only in 2016, had paid Rs195 crore worth AGR dues. For the older telecom firms, the burden is larger. The telecom department has calculated Vodafone Ideas dues at Rs58,254 crore and Airtels at Rs43,000 crore. Both the companies have asked Indias apex court to provide at least 15 years to clear the dues. Some believe that Indian telecom firms, except Reliance Jio, may be inching towards crushing debt and possible bankruptcy. And any pressure to move away from Chinese suppliers will only make things worse. Switching to other options will be a challenge, especially financially, as networks are already facing problems due to AGR dues. This will impact Airtel and Vodafone more than Jio, said Ankit Malhotra, an analyst at Hong Kong-based Counterpoint Research. Besides working with telecoms, Huawei also sells mobile devices in India under two brands: Huawei for the premium segment and Honor for the budget shoppers. In 2018, Honor was among the fastest-growing brand in India but its market share was limited to around 3%. There are a host of brands that can easily replace Huawei if its smartphones are banned in India but in other segments, that might be tricky to do. Can Huawei and ZTE be replaced? Besides the Chinese players, other options for telecom network equipment in India are South Koreas Samsung, Swedens Ericsson, and Finlands Nokia. These companies are already active in India but shifting completely to them may lead to an increase in procurement cost and reduce competitiveness in 5G space, said Malhotra of Counterpoint. Moreover, some say that Huawei is superior in quality over all its rivals. Huawei, over the last 10 or 12 years, has become extremely good with their products to a point where I can safely today say their products at least in 3G, 4G that we have experienced is significantly superior to Ericsson and Nokia without a doubt. And I use all three of them, Sunil Mittal, an Indian telecom industry veteran and chairman of Bharti Airtel, had said in 2019. A ban on Chinese equipment will, however, benefit one Indian telecom firm disproportionately: Ambanis Reliance Jio. In July this year, Ambani had announced that Jio Platforms, a subsidiary of his flagship firm Reliance Industries, had developed a homegrown 5G solution, which will be ready for field deployment next year. This makes Jio the first Indian telecom firm to have 5G capabilities. While other firms will be struggling with finances and an additional cost of replacing the infrastructure, Jio will enjoy the cost-benefit of its in-house solution, Malhotra said. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: SAGINAW, MI -- Supporters in an important Michigan swing county celebrated Donald Trumps acceptance of the Republican presidential nomination Thursday with a roadside party. Trumps supporters -- some of whom did not identify as Republicans -- gathered along one of the major streets in Saginaw to wave signs, jam out to politically-themed parody songs and eat a well-cooked hotdog courtesy of Jim Conger, a retired GM worker. Thursdays event was attended by several retired autoworkers and people tied to the manufacturing industry, who said Trumps focus on blue-collar jobs earned their support for a second term. Voters in Saginaw County were critical to Trumps surprise win in Michigan four years ago. The county is among a dozen that Trump flipped in 2016 after they previously voted for the Obama-Biden ticket twice, and Trump was the first Republican to win Saginaw County since 1984. Pamela Mueller is a retired GM worker who made the trip south from Bay County, which also flipped for Trump after a 32-year history of voting for Democrats. Mueller said she hasnt identified as a Republican until recently, but had been hoping Trump would run for president long before his 2016 campaign. Hes a get it done man, Mueller said. Plain and simple: I love Trump. Mueller and her husband Rod last saw Trump in 2015, when he drew a sell-out crowd of more than 2,000 people to the Birch Run Expo Center in Saginaw. The coronavirus has cut short the presidents ability to hold large rallies in Michigan this year, but organizers of Thursdays grassroots event said theyre more than happy to keep the energy up for him. Read more: Vice President Mike Pence to visit Traverse City Friday after Republican National Convention Debra Ell, director of the Mid-Michigan Trump Republicans, said her organization has played a key role in building on Trumps base since 2016. She said many Democratic voters were propelled toward Trump due to his message on trade and their aversion to Hillary Clinton. Michigan has always been blue, so it was like how do we reach out to these Democrats? Well, we had the gift of Hillary in 2016, Ell said. Union voters would come in and say theres no way in hell Im going to vote for Hillary Clinton. Trump did earn more Saginaw County votes than Mitt Romney in 2012, but Democratic votes there dropped by 9,985 from 2012-16. Trump won Michigan by only 10,704 votes, a narrow margin that makes swing counties critical to the presidents hopes of winning the state again in 2020. During a Wednesday Trump campaign event in Saginaw, a field organizer told residents outside the countys Republican Party headquarters that Saginaw is a must-win county for the president. U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, was also there to drum up support for Trump. He said hes seen more enthusiasm than at this point in 2016, particularly because Trump made good on his campaign promise to renegotiate a North American free trade deal with Canada and Mexico. Democratic nominee Joe Biden is also keeping a focus on autoworkers in Michigan. The campaign is leaning on Michigan surrogates to highlight his work during the 2009 auto bailout. Biden sat down with a member of the United Auto Workers union and other middle-class workers during a segment of the Democratic National Convention last week. I tell you what, the future of autoworkers in America, and I really believe this, can be as bright as it was back in the late 40s, 50s, Biden said last week. Simple reason, its an iconic industry, its an American industry. We made it. We made it. Rick Riebschleger, a Republican candidate for Saginaw County sheriff, said Bidens work during the auto bailout doesnt impress him. The only fresh air weve had for decades is President Trump, Riebschleger said. The Democrats are like balled tires. It doesnt matter how many times you put them on your tire or where -- they wont help you in the snowstorm. Thats not to say Saginaw is solely home to Trump voters. Demonstrators attracted a fair number of boos and middle fingers as well as honks of support from passersby. One driver blared the Nipsey Hussle song F*** Donald Trump, which elicited a mild reaction from the crowd. Ell acknowledged Biden doesnt inspire the same negative feelings as Clinton but also said Republicans dont trust Biden to govern as a moderate. She said the Democratic Party of John F. Kennedys era -- which stood up for the little guy -- is gone. The Republican Party isnt the same either, Ell said. Its now Trumps party. Ell said Trumps rise to the head of the GOP has caused some internal resistance. Several Republicans spoke at last weeks Democratic National Convention against Trump, and former Michigan Republican Party director Jeff Timmer is part of a big-dollar effort to help Biden. They dont realize we are the party; its not a thing, its not an entity, Ell said. Its the heart of the people, and our heart is with Trump. READ MORE ON MLIVE: Why Michigan Trump supporters are sticking with the president in 2020 Kamala Harris highlights voter suppression in virtual meeting with Michigan Black women Michigan Trump campaign teases positive vision for Republican National Convention Bidens socially distant campaign feels strong in Michigan after Democratic Party rebuilt itself to beat Trump Biden campaign aims to blame Trump for economic impact of COVID-19 in Michigan In must-win Michigan, Trump campaign takes fight door to door as polls show Biden with strong lead That company, the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), was sanctioned Wednesday by the State and Commerce departments, along with five subsidiaries and 18 other Chinese entities. U.S. firms and individuals are now banned from working with these companies, and their executives are banned from getting U.S. visas. But these companies can still raise billions from U.S. capital markets, with the help of Wall Street firms that are funneling them cash with complete disregard for the risks to U.S. investors. Dailen Rios said her family took every precaution, but coronavirus hit them. She, her husband and a nephew tested positive for COVID-19, but she was especially worried about her son because he suffers from asthma. Alejandro Gonzalez, 18, came down with symptoms Aug. 11 or 12, his mother said. He had a bad headache, body aches, cough and diarrhea. Thank God he didnt have to go to the hospital, said Rios. She and her family, who are from Cuba, have been in Houston five years. Her son is in a group that appears to be getting infected by the novel coronavirus more frequently. Data emerging about two groups coming down with COVID-19 has led Dr. Paul Klotman, the president of Baylor College of Medicine, to be concerned about Hispanic teens. COVID-19 is continuing to infect a younger population, with recent data suggesting more Houston-area teenagers are testing positive for the disease. At the same time, COVID-19 cases among Hispanics of all ages increased 14 percent. The knowledge and perception of COVID-19 has evolved dramatically over the course of this year. Initially, COVID-19 was thought to predominantly affect an older population. As cases became more evenly distributed across age groups, reports began to show how it disproportionately affected people of color. And now, data are suggesting an uptick in cases among children and teenagers. In data for the nine-county Houston area, COVID-19 cases among all people under 20 years old increased 34 percent between April 30 and early August. Most of those cases were in people 15 to 20 years old, said Klotman, citing information that he said came from Eric Boerwinkle, dean of the University of Texas School of Public Health (Boerwinkle declined to provide the raw data, saying it came from Harris County and the Texas Medical Center and that he did not have permission to share it). But the trend of young people getting COVID-19 isnt just happening in Houston. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Childrens Hospital Association, new child cases increased 21 percent (adding 74,160 cases) between Aug. 6 and Aug. 20. More than 442,000 children have tested positive for the disease since the pandemic began, though mortality remains low. In the 45 states (and New York City) that reported mortality by age, no more than 0.7 percent of children with COVID-19 have died since the pandemic began. In Houston and Harris County, there have been more than 8,798 confirmed cases among those 10 to 19 years old. Three people have died, according to a Harris County Public Health and Houston Health Department dashboard. With teenagers seeing the biggest percentage increase for age and Hispanics seeing the largest increase for race and ethnicity, public health specialists say the trend of more Hispanic teens coming down with COVID-19 has emerged. Klotman of Baylor said there might be gatherings of young Latinos where the disease is spreading. If it was just families, you think itd be all age groups, he said. More movement, more cases Nationwide, children who are hospitalized are more likely to be Hispanic or Black. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of 526 children hospitalized between March 1 and July 25 (for whom race and ethnicity were reported), 46 percent were Hispanic, 30 percent were Black and 14 percent were white. This is a virus that were still learning about. It affects many different parts of the body: blood vessels, lung, kidney, brain, said Dr. Rob Phillips, chief physician executive at Houston Methodist. People can respond to it differently. And what were seeing is that there are certainly some young people who will have very serious consequences from this, including death. In a paper published online with the JAMA medical journal Houston Methodist noted the second COVID-19 surge had an overall younger age demographic admitted to its eight Houston-area hospitals. During the first surge, which the paper identified as March 13 to May 15, Houston Methodist noted that 27 percent of its COVID-19 patients were 50 or younger. During the second surge, May 16 to July 7, that demographic increased to 35 percent of patients. We had a definite shift from the first surge where we had a lot more people who were over the age of 60, and now it got much more evenly distributed, Phillips said. He speculated that during the first surge Houstonians were more locked down and not leaving their homes. But the older demographic was still vulnerable and therefore admitted to the hospital. During the second surge, he said younger people may have ventured out more while the older demographics opted to stay home. The JAMA paper also reported an increase in Hispanics being hospitalized. During the first surge, 26 percent of COVID-19 patients in Houston Methodist hospitals were Hispanic. That increased to 43 percent during the second surge. The virus does not spare any community, Phillips said. And for reasons which I dont think we really completely understand, the Hispanic community now is having a higher rate. Its possible that theyre in jobs in which they are not as able as others to social distance. Messaging the community Porfirio Villarreal, public information officer for the Houston Health Department, also noted that more Hispanics could have essential worker jobs in retail, food service or construction. These are jobs they cant do from home. They might also have two jobs, and they may live in dense apartment complexes that make social distancing difficult. Chronic illness and pre-existing conditions might contribute, too. Rios said her family took stringent measures to try to avoid getting sick, but she and her husband both have to work outside the home in jobs with contact with others and believe they must have caught it somehow at work. We are waiting to get negative tests so we can go back to work, she said. She said shes grateful they could get free testing and none of them had to go to the hospital. Villarreal said the health department began noticing the greater impact of COVID-19 on Hispanics in May, and it launched the Todos Juntos. Mejor. (Better Together) educational campaign on July 6 - three weeks before launching the broader, English-language Better Together campaign. Through its Spanish-language campaign, the department hired a marketing firm to develop a toolkit for community leaders, increase COVID-19 health segments in local Spanish news media outlets and distribute key prevention messages using social media advertising and local Hispanic social media influencers. It also emphasized that the city-affiliated COVID-19 testing sites would be free. They would not require health insurance, and they would not ask about immigration status. The most important thing we will ask when you go get tested is the phone number, Villarreal said. The phone number will allow for people to receive their test results. At the county, state Rep. Armando Walle, the Harris County COVID-19 Recovery Czar, said efforts to reach Hispanic communities have included passing out masks and information at popular flea markets, setting up COVID-19 testing sites at churches and hiring a bilingual staff to go into communities and talk to people. He sits on phone calls with health care experts and, like Klotman with Baylor, has heard public health experts mention an uptick in Hispanic teenagers (and even pre-teens) who have contracted COVID-19. We need to get the message to them, Klotman said. Theyre a real important part of the community. They can help us by being careful: mask wearing, keeping groups down to less than 10, not having big social events. Todd Ackerman contributed to this report. andrea.leinfelder@chron.com twitter.com/a_leinfelder Berlin, Aug 28 : German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the minister presidents of the federal states have agreed on tighter Covid-19 measures to counter the latest trend of rising daily infection numbers. "We want to keep our healthcare system strong during the pandemic because it benefits (not just) everyone, but also the economy and public life," Xinhua news agency quoted Merkel as saying at a press conference in Berlin on Thursday. In the future, a fine of at least 50 euros ($59) would be imposed for violations of face mask rules, for example, in shops and public transport. The compulsory use of masks was "by far the mildest means" of containing the pandemic, said Markus Soeder, minister president of Bavaria, at the press conference. "If there is a growing incidence of infection, it is not justifiable to allow any form of events," Soeder added. Germany's federal and state governments also agreed to stop free coronavirus tests for those entering from non-risk areas from the end of the summer vacations in mid-September. Returnees from risk areas could only end the required coronavirus quarantine with a negative test taken five days after their return. This regulation is to apply from October 1 if possible. "We will endeavour to have the broadest possible test capacities. "The federal and state governments strongly appeal to all travel returnees to comply with the quarantine obligation," said Merkel, adding that a breach of the quarantine would result in significant fines. Travellers to known COVID-19 risk areas would have a certain amount of personal responsibility, said Soeder. "It is our task to protect the reasonable from the unreasonable." German media reported on Thursday that private parties at home would be limited to 25 participants. However, the federal and state governments failed to agree on a nationwide upper limit for the number of participants at celebrations with family and friends. As of Friday Germany's overall coronavirus caseload stood at 240,571 with 9,359 deaths. NEW YORK, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- [email protected], the stereotype-defying, generation-crossing rock group composed of two dozen spirited senior citizens ranging in age from 77-92, will be releasing a brand-new single this Friday, August 28th. The Massachusetts-based rock group, subject of the smash Fox Searchlight documentary [email protected], will release "A Change Is Gonna Come," a cover of the Sam Cooke classic, featuring Chicago Children's Choir. The song is one of seventeen unforgettable tracks featured on the group's upcoming album Miss You, which will be released on October 2, 2020. Bob Cilman, director of the [email protected] Chorus, performs live on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at the Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton, Massachusetts (Julian Parker-Burns). John Rinehart, 85, of the [email protected] Chorus performs "A Change is Gonna Come" live on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at the Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton, Massachusetts (Julian Parker-Burns). Pre-Save Miss You HERE With their first album since 2012, [email protected] puts its unique stamp on songs from legendary artists such as Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, NWA, and Pearl Jam. On October 3, fans worldwide can join [email protected] for a virtual album release event and benefit concert that will feature performances, music video debuts, celebrity guest appearances, and more! As an ensemble of senior citizens performing classic and contemporary hits, [email protected] has been celebrated worldwide as a truly inspirational force, especially during these challenging times. Their energy and charisma show fans that it's possible to grow old without growing boring. Unwilling to be shut away in nursing homes, [email protected] had been touring the world since 1982, performing sold out concerts, and singing unexpected interpretations of popular music from The Clash, Jimi Hendrix, Sonic Youth, and Coldplay. Unfortunately, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected [email protected]'s ability to tour, perform or rehearse together in person. With an average age of 85, its members are among the most at risk from COVID-19, and therefore this will be one of the last groups to perform in public due to the high risk of infection. One member is recovering from a 14-day hospitalization after contracting COVID-19. Undeterred, [email protected] refocused its energy in 2020 under the "new normal." What began with an audio conference call in March, and a Zoom rehearsal a week later, blossomed into twice weekly virtual rehearsals and online collaborations with the renowned Chicago Children's Choir and the Barton Hills Elementary Chorus from Austin, Texas, best known for their unique interpretations of Grateful Dead songs. The two choruses joined forces remotely to sing Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water." This has all set the stage for the release of their fresh new album, Miss You, which will arrive on October 2. Miss You track listing: 1. Miss You (The Rolling Stones) 2. With A Little Help From My Friends (The Beatles / Joe Cocker version) 3. Dance To The Music (Sly & The Family Stone) 4. Gymnopedie (Erik Satie / Psychedelic Furs) 5. Women Of The World (Ivor Cutler) 6. Kiss (Prince) 7. Watching The River Flow (Bob Dylan) 8. A Change Is Gonna Come (Sam Cooke) 9. Splendid Isolation (Warren Zevon) 10. For What It's Worth (Buffalo Springfield) 11. Express Yourself (Charles Wright & NWA) 12. I Still Got It (Lee Fields) 13. Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town (Pearl Jam) 14. Volver Volver (Vicente Fernandez / Los Lobos version) 15. Let's Dance (David Bowie) 16. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man (Aretha Franklin) 17. Because I Love You (Stevie B) ABOUT [email protected] What started out in 1982 at a Western Massachusetts elderly housing project to joyfully pass the time - instead of passing your time - has developed into the stereotype-defying, generation-crossing musical extravaganza better known as The [email protected] Chorus. Featured in the 2018 E*Trade Super Bowl ad and stars of the hit Fox Searchlight documentary [email protected], this group of spirited seniors, ranging in age from their 70s to their 90s, has toured from Northampton to New Zealand, Europe to Japan, proving "it's possible to grow old without growing boring" (The Dartmouth). Young at Heart Chorus, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created in 1982 by Bob Cilman and Judith B. Sharpe. Its advisory board includes former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, Tim Kingsbury of Arcade Fire, Jefferson Airplane founding member Jorma Kaukonen, and Nancy Utley, Chairwoman of Fox Searchlight Pictures. To preview [email protected]'s new album Miss You, CLICK HERE For publicity material, including bio, artwork, music and video, CLICK HERE To preview [email protected]'s music library, CLICK HERE CONNECT WITH [email protected]: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | iTUNES | SPOTIFY | PANDORA For media inquiries contact: James Finn Business As Usual, LLC PH: 917-951-6699 [email protected] Richard Parker RKP PH: 212-245-1349 [email protected] SOURCE [email protected] Chorus I cant even cash my check because I cant go into (the bank), said Orlando Vinson, who has lived in the neighborhood most of his life. Were struggling out here. Half of us dont have cars, half of us have to walk or catch the bus. Were messed up while (arsonists and looters) are living their lives happily and get to talk about, Oh, we went to Kenosha and burned down their stores. A Muslim woman of Indian descent who spied for Britain during World War Two is being honoured on Friday with a plaque marking her former home in London, more than 75 years after she was executed in Germany. Noor Inayat Khan is the first woman of Indian origin to be given a blue plaque under the 150-year-old scheme to commemorate notable figures from Britains past. A plaque marking the family home in central London that she left aged 29 to become the first female undercover radio operator sent into Nazi-occupied France will be unveiled by her biographer Shrabani Basu in a virtual ceremony on Friday. When Noor Inayat Khan left this house on her last mission, she would never have dreamed that one day she would become a symbol of bravery. She was an unlikely spy, Basu said in a statement ahead of the ceremony. As a Sufi she believed in non-violence and religious harmony. Yet when her adopted country needed her, she unhesitatingly gave her life in the fight against Fascism. Khan was captured and eventually executed at Dachau concentration camp in 1944, and was posthumously awarded the George Cross, one of Britains highest honours, for acts of the greatest heroism. In 2012, following a long campaign by Basu to keep her memory alive, a statue of Khan was put up in London. Khan was born in Russia to an American mother and an Indian father of royal descent, and educated in Paris, fleeing France for London at the start of World War Two. After she returned to France as a secret agent in 1943, the German Gestapo made mass arrests in the resistance groups she was working with, putting her in danger of exposure, and she was offered the chance to go back to Britain. But she refused to leave her post and when she was captured, gave nothing away to her interrogators, not even revealing her real name. Her final word before she was executed was said to have been Liberte, or Freedom. Khans plaque is the first to be unveiled since the scheme was paused during the coronavirus pandemic, and comes at a time of intense debate over statues and other forms of commemoration after the Black Lives Matter movement. Anna Eavis, curatorial director at English Heritage, which runs the scheme, said she was particularly pleased to be restarting it with a tribute to Khan. Shes important for reflecting Londons ethnic diversity, and of course shes also important because she represents the changing role of women in the 20th century in particular, Eavis told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. That sort of role would have been unthinkable 100 years before. So I think the blue plaque scheme is a very important way of giving visibility of those changes for women. Just 14% of the more than 950 blue plaques in London celebrate women and in 2016 English Heritage launched a plaques for women campaign, aiming to redress the balance. Later this year it will unveil plaques to the artist Barbara Hepworth and to Christine Granville, who also served as a secret agent in World War Two. (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 But will this strategy work? Emotions often drive politics more than intellect or raw facts. As a sentiment frequently attributed to Maya Angelou goes, people may forget what you said, but theyll never forget how you made them feel. As Richard Nixon and other self-avowed law-and-order politicians know, fear of crime makes people feel bad enough to push other issues aside and vote for whomever they think will make them feel safer. Rioters and looters took to the streets of Kenosha on Monday night, setting fires while vandalizing and stealing from multiple businesses throughout the area. Rioters set fire to several buildings, including those in the uptown and downtown areas, Kenosha police said. Residents at the scene of one fire near 13th Avenue and 60th Street said that included the Community Corrections Building at 1212 60th St. A Kenosha County Sheriff's squad was parked in the west bound lane underneath the viaduct while an armed officer stood guard in the eastbound lane to prevent foot travel or motorists from going through. Around the city other areas were burning in the second night of looting and rioting since the shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday. Trucks and street lights were targets, as well as businesses. National Guard troops assisted law enforcement including Kenosha Police, Kenosha County Sheriff's and Pleasant Prairie Police departments among others. Although a curfew went into effect from 8 p.m. Monday, it didn't deter them from causing destruction throughout the area. A kindergarten orientation Zoom meeting was attacked by hackers, exposing parents and children alike to pornography and racial slurs, according to a report from WBRE. Hazleton Area School District Superintendent Brian Uplinger told the station that the hack was done on a meeting held for McAdoo-Kelayers Elementary School families. According to the report, up to 30 people including children were in the meeting where porn and many inappropriate comments, including racial slurs were seen. Uplinger told the station that he called families to apologize and that state police are investigating the hack. No state police reports on the case were available on Thursday. The hack cames as schools and businesses around the country have encountered hacking situations in their meetings that are being held remotely in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In Lake Oswego, Oregon, a family-friendly trivia night held by the city library was Zoombombed with child pornography in April. Zoombomed has become the term for when Zoom meetings are hacked. A school in Lumberton Township, New Jersey had a similar incident in April, with child pornography and racist language shown to a middle school session. Zoom recently was hit with criticism after the site, which is being heavily relied on for group classes while schools are starting remotely, went dead for about two-and-a-half hours. Read more. on PennLive: Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 28) The implementing rules and regulations of the Anti-Terrorism Act will be completed way earlier than the deadline, officials said in the wake of the suspected suicide bombings that rocked Jolo, Sulu. We will have it much earlier than the 90 days deadline, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said in a text message to CNN Philippines on Friday. The IRR had always been treated as urgent and extremely necessary. Esperon is the vice-chairperson of the Anti-Terrorism Council, an executive body tasked with crafting the IRR, along with the Department of Justice. They have until October 16 to do so, 90 days after the law took effect on July 18. Senator Panfilo Ping Lacson in a separate statement said the measure can be used in going after the mastermind and conspirators in the deadly blasts that killed 15 people and wounded over 70 others in Sulu province early this week. Authorities are convinced it was a suicide attack carried out by two widows of slain Abu Sayyaf militants. "The provision in the law has a feature that planning, training, facilitation, recruitment, can now be punished It's just that our security forces do not know what the guidelines are. That will be included in the IRR, Lacson said. [Translation: The law has provisions that the planning, training, facilitation, recruitment can already be penalized. However, security forces do not have the guidelines yet, which will come from the IRR.] Lacson said he got information that the Department of Justice and the Anti-Terrorism Council have decided to fast-track the IRR during a meeting on Thursday. He said he understands why they are being careful in laying out the highly-awaited rules, considering that the Anti-Terrorism Act is the most challenged law at the Supreme Court, with 30 petitions seeking to junk it. Among the hotly-contested provisions is Section 29, which allows the warrantless arrest and detention without charges of suspected terrorists for up to 24 days. Petitioners said this measure violates the three-day period prescribed in the Constitution for pre-trial detention. They also questioned the Anti-Terrorism Council's powers encroaching on judges exclusive authority to issue warrants. Solicitor General Jose Calida, the government's top lawyer, earlier stood by the validity of the measure and asked the high court to dismiss the petitions. The Supreme Court targets to hold oral arguments, where justices will hear the side of the government and petitioners, on the third week of September. The University of Cambridge on Wednesday confirmed plans to begin trials of a potential new vaccine not only against Covid-19 but all coronaviruses that may spill over from animals to humans in the future. The new vaccine candidate, DIOS-CoVax2, uses banks of genetic sequences of all known coronaviruses, including those from bats, believed to be the natural hosts of many relatives of human coronaviruses. A vaccine that clears all trials can then be delivered pain-free without a needle into the skin through a spring-powered jet injection. Click here for full Covid-19 coverage Our approach involves 3D computer modelling of the SARS-CoV-2 [Covid-19] virus structure. It uses information on the virus itself as well as its relatives SARS, MERS and other coronaviruses carried by animals that threaten to spill-over to humans again to cause future human epidemics, said Professor Jonathan Heeney, head of the Laboratory of Viral Zoonotics at the University of Cambridge, and founder of DIOSynVax a Cambridge spin-out company. 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. Ultimately we aim to make a vaccine that will not only protect from SARS-CoV-2, but also other related coronaviruses that may spill over from animals to humans, he said. Prof Heeney said his teams strategy involves targeting those domains of the virus structure that are absolutely critical for docking with a cell, while avoiding the parts that could make things worse. What we end up with is a mimic, a synthetic part of the virus minus those non-essential elements that could trigger a bad immune response, he added. His team have developed libraries of computer-generated antigen structures encoded by synthetic genes that can train the human immune system to target key regions of the virus and to produce beneficial anti-viral responses. These immune responses include neutralising antibodies, which block virus infection, and T-cells, which remove virus-infected cells. This so-called laser-specific computer generated approach is able to help avoid the adverse hyper-inflammatory immune responses that can be triggered by recognition of the wrong parts on the coronavirus surface. Most research groups have used established approaches to vaccine development because of the urgent need to tackle the pandemic. We all hope the current clinical trials have a positive outcome, but even successful vaccines are likely to have their limitations they may be unsuitable for vulnerable people, and we do not know how long their effects will last for, for example, said Dr Rebecca Kinsley, Chief Operating Officer of DIOSynVax and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge. Our approach using synthetic DNA to deliver custom designed, immune selected vaccine antigens is revolutionary and is ideal for complex viruses such as coronavirus. If successful, it will result in a vaccine that should be safe for widespread use and that can be manufactured and distributed at low cost, she said. DIOS-CoVax2, which hopes to go into human trials by later this year, is the latest vaccine candidate to be backed by the UK government with 1.9 million pounds in funding as part of a collaboration between DIOSynVax, which is contributing an additional 400,000 pounds to the trial, the University of Cambridge and the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. The team say their proposed new vaccine can be freeze-dried as a powder and is therefore heat stable, meaning that it does not need to be cold-stored. This makes transport and storage much more straightforward, particularly important in low and middle income countries, and it can be delivered through PharmaJet Tropis intradermal Needle-free Injection System, which delivers the vaccine in less than a 1/10th of a second jet injection. Professor Saul Faust, Director of the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility, said: It is especially exciting that the clinical trial will test giving the vaccine through peoples skin using a device without any needles as together with stable DNA vaccine technology this could be a major breakthrough in being able to give a future vaccine to huge numbers of people across the world. The news comes as the University of Oxford revealed that its trials of a potential vaccine against Covid-19 being developed with AstraZeneca could be put before regulators this year if scientists are able to gather enough data. The Oxford vaccine, as it is commonly known, showed early promise in the first human trial when it produced an immune response, underlining its position as one of the leading candidates in the race to help vaccinate humans against the deadly novel coronavirus. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 19:12:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on Aug. 27, 2020 shows screens displaying U.S. President Donald Trump delivering his acceptance speech during the 2020 Republican National Convention. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) --- Trump, 74, was a businessman and television celebrity before entering politics. He won the 2016 U.S. presidential election as a Republican by defeating then Democratic presidential nominee and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. --- Biden, 77, was U.S. vice president from 2009 to 2017 after serving 36 years as U.S. senator for state of Delaware. This is the third time Biden has run for president. WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump accepted the Republican Party's nomination for reelection on Thursday night and is seeking to draw contrast between himself and his Democratic rival Joe Biden. "This is the most important election in the history of our country," Trump said in a speech from the White House South Lawn to a crowd of more than 1,000 people. "There has never been such a difference between two parties, or two individuals, in ideology, philosophy, or vision than there is right now." Trump went after Biden from economy to foreign policy, trying to paint the 77-year-old moderate political veteran as beholden to the "radical left." The president notably hammered a "law and order" message, a major theme of his reelection bid, as he warned against an America under the Biden presidency. "The most dangerous aspect of the Biden platform is the attack on public safety," Trump said. "Make no mistake, if you give power to Joe Biden, the radical left will defund police departments all across America ... No one will be safe in Biden's America." Biden, whose campaign has made racial justice a pillar, has said that he supports police reform but not the movement to "defund the police" in response to a nationwide reckoning over what activists have described as police brutality and systemic racism after George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May. Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States on Aug. 20, 2020 shows screens displaying images of former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaking in a video feed of the 2020 Democratic National Convention. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Floyd's death sparked weeks-long protests and social unrest across the United States. Public anger has been reignited in the wake of the Aug. 23 police shooting of 29-year-old African American Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which has led to consecutive days of protests and violence at times in the city. In Washington, protesters gathered near the White House with the intention of disrupting Trump's outdoor speech, with the Secret Service beefing up security around the presidential residence. Trump didn't address the shooting or the issue of racism in his acceptance speech. Instead, he touted job numbers for African Americans, doubled down his support of law enforcement agencies, and blamed the unrest in cities like Kenosha, Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago, and New York, on Democrats. "There is violence and danger in the streets of many Democrat-run cities throughout America. This problem could easily be fixed if they wanted to. We must always have law and order," he said. "All federal crimes are being investigated, prosecuted, and punished to the fullest extent of the law. Kate Bedingfield, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign, rebuked Trump's remarks in a statement, saying that "In Donald Trump's America, safety is pitted against justice, Americans are pitted against one another, and the violence that Trump warns of plays out on the streets of communities across our country -- stoked by his own words and actions." Biden said earlier on Thursday that he thinks Trump is "rooting for more violence, not less." "He views this as a political benefit to him," said the former vice president. "And he's clear about that. And what's he doing, he's pouring more gasoline on the fire." Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on Aug. 27, 2020 shows screens displaying U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. first lady Melania Trump arriving on stage for the 2020 Republican National Convention. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Making his case for reelection clear, Trump also touted what he believes were accomplishments of his first term, made promises for the next four years, and tried to reshape the narrative of his administration's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. "In recent months, our nation, and the entire planet, has been struck by a new and powerful invisible enemy," he said. "We are meeting this challenge. We are delivering lifesaving therapies, and will produce a vaccine before the end of the year, or maybe even sooner! We will defeat the virus, end the pandemic, and emerge stronger than ever before." The United States passed the grim milestone of 180,000 coronavirus deaths on Thursday, with nearly 5.9 million cases -- more than anywhere else in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University. Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe the United States is handling the pandemic worse than other countries, according to an NPR/Ipsos poll released earlier this month. Biden's running mate, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris of California, hit Trump on his response to the public health crisis in a speech on Thursday afternoon. Images of U.S. Senator Kamala Harris speaking in a video feed of the 2020 Democratic National Convention are displayed on screens in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on Aug. 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) "It's relentless. You can't stop it with a tweet. You can't create a distraction and hope it'll go away. It doesn't go away. By its nature, a pandemic is unforgiving," Harris said. "If you get it wrong at the beginning, the consequences are catastrophic. It's very hard to catch up ... President Trump got it wrong in the beginning." The finale of the 2020 Republican National Convention, under the theme "Land of Greatness" on Thursday night, also featured speeches from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, former New York City mayor and Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, and the president's daughter and senior adviser Ivanka Trump. Trump, 74, was a businessman and television celebrity before entering politics. He won the 2016 U.S. presidential election as a Republican by defeating then Democratic presidential nominee and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Biden, 77, was U.S. vice president from 2009 to 2017 after serving 36 years as U.S. senator for state of Delaware. This is the third time Biden has run for president. According to the RealClearPolitics polling average, Biden leads Trump by 7.1 percentage points nationally. However, Trump has repeatedly dismissed polls showing him falling behind as "fake." Trump will hold a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire on Friday in the hope of building momentum for his campaign after the White House acceptance speech. Biden said on Thursday he will begin traveling to battleground states after Labor Day, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. The Commission on Presidential Debates has scheduled three debates between Trump and Biden and one between Vice President Mike Pence and Harris in the next two months. The 2020 U.S. presidential election will take place on Nov. 3. Tintern Woods have become the go-to place for people looking to get out of the confines of their homes into nature, as highlighted by figures released by Coillte this week. The figures reveal that there was a large increase in visitor numbers to Tintern Abbey recreation forest, with 42,525 visitors enjoying the shaded woodland walks and forest's wending trails between June and August. This was a significant increase on visitor numbers in April and May, during the height of Covid-19 travel restrictions. During March and April, when Covid restrictions were at their most limiting, Coillte saw a large drop in visitor numbers as non-essential travel was restricted. However, since travel restrictions were lifted on June 19, visitors have begun returning to Coillte's forests across Ireland. Coillte is Ireland's leading provider of outdoor recreation activities in Ireland with more than 3,000 kilometres of trails, 260 recreation sites and 12 forest parks across the country. Coillte Chief Executive Imelda Hurley said: 'Since restrictions were eased and people could move more than five kilometres from their homes, we, unsurprisingly, saw an immediate large increase in visitor numbers. In fact, there was a significant increase in visitor numbers in one of Coillte's Wexford forests since lockdown restrictions were eased in June, Tintern Abbey recreation forest. This continued, steady increase is heartening for all of those who cherish our amenities. 'Access to nature is very important for the body, mind and spirit and that is why we work hard to maintain our tracks, parks and outdoor recreational facilities across Wexford. 'As we approach the end of August, and people take time to enjoy our forests, we ask that visitors continue to adhere to the social distancing rule of two metres when meeting others outside of their household, as well as the other guidelines on outdoor gatherings announced by the government.' Sheppards anger highlights how Australias shopping centres are shaping up as ground zero for a seismic, and potentially lasting, shift in the local retail sector. Retailers, pushed to breaking point by the coronavirus pandemic, are staring down their powerful landlords. Neither wants to flinch first in the stand-off over rental payments, and both sides have plenty to lose. Consumers forced to steer clear of stores may never return, while Australia's glittering shopping malls run the risk of turning into empty husks. Shopping centres such as Vicinity Centres' Chadstone have seen shoppers stay away during the lockdowns. Credit:Joe Armao Its a fight thats been brewing well before COVID-19 thinned out the shoppers. If anything, the pandemic has just brought the long-running tensions up to the surface. For retailers, the body blow from the pandemic is an opportunity to rewrite the rule book on unjustifiably high property rents and fix decades of perceived inequality between them and their landlords. Meanwhile, landlords, whose vast property empires are being hit by the double whammy of COVID-19 and online shopping, fear a future where once-dependable, income-generating flagship malls are under siege. Its a tsunami. Theres going to be empty shops everywhere. Peter Sheppard, retailer Sheppard's not the only one complaining. Big retailers, such as Mosaic Brands and Solomon Lew's Premier Investments, are also upping the ante on a long campaign for a similar rent revision - moving from fixed rents to paying a percentage of sales turnover. Countering the retailers' threats, legal letters are being sent by determined landlords to their most stubborn tenants, with Scentre the first to make good on its stance, locking Mosaic out of 130 stores nationally after the two were unable to reach an amicable agreement. Loading This week, Mosaic hit back, with the Noni B, Rivers, Millers and Katies owner telling landlords it would close as many as 500 stores across its network as the company reels from a $212 million loss. Rent relief a long shot But Scentre boss Peter Allen is adamant the group will not rework its traditional fixed rent lease structure, which for years has underpinned the stable income stream of real estate trusts. Reflecting the retail pain, Scentre this week reported a half-year $3.61 billion loss, weighed down by a $4.08 billion write-off on the value of its property portfolio. As far as Allen is concerned, retailers have an "obligation" to pay rent and, rather than squeezing them, landlords have provided $1.6 billion of support for retailers during the pandemic. "Australian banks have not been forced to abate or write off debt. This is whats being asked of us. Weve got to protect our security holders interests, he said. The tough-talking boss of the $10.7 billion ASX-listed behemoth is staunchly opposed to the idea of tying rents to sales turnover, likening the idea to Scentre Group asking banking giant JP Morgan to pay a percentage of profits just because they lease a large office above Westfield Sydney. CEO of Scentre, Peter Allen, seeks to defend the annuity-style rental income for his trust's security holders. Credit: Louise Kennerley "That makes no sense," he said. "I dont know where the mindset comes from that a level of sales is a function of rent. Retailers pay rent out of profit, they dont pay rent out of sales." Scentre's hard line is paying off. Among its peers, it paid the least in rent waivers to tenants and clawed back the most payments during the pandemic. "We didnt go out and collect JobKeeper," says Allen, in a veiled reference to Lew's Premier Investments and other retailers who have reported higher profit figures after claiming millions in wage subsidies. Premier has said its earnings will rise 11 per cent this year to around $185 million, despite temporarily closing 900 of its fashion outlets and sending 7000 workers home during the pandemic, thanks to JobKeeper, a boom in online sales, and a refusal to pay rent. But Premier's tactics also grate with fellow retailers, not just landlords. "The biggest thing that stuffed it up is that Solly comes out and says theyve increased their profit. That of course really irks them [landlords]," Mr Sheppard said. I dont know where the mindset comes from that a level of sales is a function of rent. Retailers pay rent out of profit, they dont pay rent out of sales. Scentre CEO Peter Allen Mosaic's chairman Richard Facioni also doesn't hold back. "When you've got retailers out there collecting JobKeeper and using the money to pay dividends, and recording profit increases while still negotiating hard on rent, it does make it harder for the rest of us." Despite the escalating tensions, Lew and the other retailers are fighting a losing war over rents, Jefferies analyst Sholto Maconochie says. "I dont think percentage rents will replace fixed rents, but there could be variations or nuances," he said. Some retailers have been successful in negotiating percentage rent, with struggling department store Myer, also closely linked to the Lew empire, said to have hashed out a deal with proprietors which could see it pay as little as 6 per cent of sales. The real estate sector, for years the bedrock of reliable stable returns for mum and dad investors, is not going give up without a fight. Malls under siege However, unfortunately for landlords and tenants, the bitter stoush over rent is just one plank of several accelerating structural shifts across the retail sector. Bricks and mortar stores now face supercharged consumers made all the more comfortable with shopping from home by the pandemic. Mosaic's store closures are just a foretaste of what's to come. The country's second-largest landlord Vicinity claims 95 per cent of stores are open and trading, but real occupancy across the country is likely lower and set to fall further, say analysts, who expect a spike in voluntary administrations and a further reduction in store sizes as the pandemic continues. Vicinity CEO Grant Kelley says he's "optimistic" about a swift recovery of business in his centres. Credit:Eamon Gallagher The triple threat of ongoing hostilities between retailers and mall owners, a runaway pandemic and shift to online could see dead shopping centres emerging in Australia, a trend devastating retail owners in the US, analytics firm TM Insights chief customer officer Nathan Bingham said. "We saw in the US, once you start boarding up shops a dangerous spiral can begin where a fall in foot traffic leads to the overall demise of the centres viability for all tenants," he said. Large flagship malls will escape the brunt, but smaller regional malls are vulnerable. Loading Empty malls with shuttered stores are not on Vicinity chief executive Grant Kelley's radar. "I think there are a number of structural advantages which shopping centres have here versus the US," he says. American malls are double the size per head of population and not anchored by foot-traffic-boosting supermarkets and fresh food stores like Australian centres are, he said. But even some of those key big-box tenants are rethinking their retail needs, with Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci saying this week growth in the companys Big W chain will come from online, not new stores. Across the stock exchange, some two-thirds of real estate investment trusts are trading at discounts - steeply so in Scentres case, which suggests investors see more pain to come. But Mr Kelley is "optimistic" about a swift recovery. "Outside of Victoria and NSW, theres essentially been remarkably little coronavirus risk for a number of months. Weve seen customer visitations return close to pre-COVID levels," he said. Even after announcing hundreds of store closures, Mosaic chief Scott Evans agrees it's too early to call the end of Australias malls. But he argues shopping centres are in dire need of "realignment". "Its very obvious that more spend will go online, and shopping centres will be subdued for a substantial period, or maybe forever." "Its inevitable. Its been coming for the last ten years. This is just a revolution in a short period of time." Stanford GSB Dean Jonathan Levin on the impact of the pandemic on Stanford, its MBA students and the future of business education Stanford GSB Dean Jonathan Levin on the impact of the pandemic on Stanford, its MBA students and the future of business education On Sept. 1, Jonathan Levin will have been dean of Stanford Graduate School of Business for four full years. During one evening this week, the 47-year-old economist sat down for a lengthy and illuminating podcast interview with a recent alum of the school, Benjamin Kohlmann, an engagement manager at McKinsey & Co. Kohlmann earned his MBA from Stanford three years ago in 2017, having arrived on campus a year before Levins deanship began. He enrolled at the school after a successful military career, having flown 32 combat missions and making more than 300 landings on U.S. carriers. The interview with Levin, on Kohlmanns Random Walk podcast series, ranges wide and deep on a vast variety of topics from the most important trends to impact business education in recent years to the value of going back to school during a period of massive world change. Levin also addressed how the shift to online learning is likely to have a long-lasting impact on higher education, what the school is doing to deal with racial inequity, and how MBA students reimagined the critical co-curricular part of the MBA experience when Stanford shifted learning online in the spring. The interview with Dean Jonathan Levin occurred as part of a podcast series called A Random Walk with Ben Kohlmann Among other things, Levin set up a task force last spring to ponder the long-term impact of the pandemic called the Beyond COVID Task Force. Among its observations is that a virtual environment permits a temporal extension of both learning and relationship building because, as Levin observes, it is easier to stay connected with people either before or after they leave the physical environment of the campus. One example: Stanford began engaging with this falls incoming MBA cohort eight weeks before orientation. So Levin plans to make significant investments in using technology for lifelong learning to help alumni stay connected to Stanford long after they graduate. Story continues WORRY FOR STUDENTS STARTING 100% ONLINE While Stanford will start the fall quarter mostly online, with only a couple of in-person, outdoor classes, the majority of MBA students will at least be on campus. I worry for students who are at schools that are starting 100% remote and the students have no physical togetherness, he says. How will they meet people? How will they form friendships? Its going to be a big, big challenge for everyone. Levin made clear that he strongly believes in the continued value of the two-year, residential MBA experience which he suggests is more like an educational telescope compared to a Ph.D. which Levin describes as more of a microscope. Someone who does a Ph.D. is being handed this incredibly powerful microscope to just zoom in on some specific set of knowledge, he says. In my case, it was economics. In an MBA program like Stanfords, its like giving someone an incredibly powerful telescope. You are just opening their aperture to see all these possibilities and giving them the skills to go in so many directions. That value is not going away. Its not going to go away if we do it online for a year or a quarter, either. Its just a powerful value proposition. The interview comes at an unprecedented time of uncertainty in both the world, the U.S., and in higher education. At a recent town hall with students, Levin explains, the anxiety and concern among students were tangible. They just want to know how is this going to work? he says. We are all going into a new world of going to school during a pandemic. They want to understand how we will keep them safe and how they will get to know their classmates and the faculty. What they would love is certainty. How long will this last? Its just like everyone. That is something that is impossible to deliver right now, unfortunately, so that makes for a tough situation for everyone. What follows is an edited transcript of the interview: Kohlmann: Stanford made a pretty big decision on the 24th to change from a hybrid model to an almost remote model. Can you walk us through that decision-making process? Levin: Weve been thinking about the fall quarter since the middle of the spring and had a task force that was set up of students, staff, and faculty that was planning the whole academic experience for the fall. We knew we were going to bring our students back to campus even though a lot of undergraduate institutions are not bringing their students back at all. We had them on campus all through the spring in a way that was quite safe and worked out very well. Having been through a quarter of entirely online education in the spring, it was clear that the students and faculty really missed being together and being with each other in person. We wanted to do everything we could to accommodate that while understanding that the first priority had to be the health and safe of the community. We spent a lot of the last couple of months trying to develop methods for hybrid learning, with half the students in the classroom and half online, with a rotation system. And in August, California came out with their higher education guidelines and the rules in California right now are in order to have indoor instruction your county has to be not on the state watch list. Our countySanta Clara has been on the watch list since July. So we are not allowed to do in-person, indoor instruction. So we are going to start the quarter with virtual instruction and a few outdoor classes and then there will be opportunities for outdoor office hours and interactions. Hopefully, well come off and do more of a hybrid model. Stanford also made the decision a few weeks ago not to bring undergraduate students back to campus. So one of the things that will happen on the campus for the fall quarter is that it will be a much sparser environment. There will be relatively few students and a lot of people working at home. And we have put in place testing protocols for students, staff and faculty. It is going to be an academic year like nothing anyone has ever faced before. Our students are just starting to arrive And well have to do everything we can to keep people safe and still have a great educational experience which is the goal. Kohlmann: How did you structure the organization to figure out what to do in the school year? Every institution of higher education and also K-through-12 education as well is grappling with the same questions of how do you run an educational institution? What is ingrained in the way we do things is the idea of getting a group of students on campus, getting a group of faculty there, and putting them in close proximity. And a lot of the magic happens that way. When we set out to think about this one of the things we wanted to think about it was to what extent could we have that important interaction and marry that with health and safety. That is what everyone is wrestling with. We have an incredibly talented set of students. They are great problem solvers. We wanted to have a lot of student involvement. Weve had two student leaders on our task force have done an extraordinary job of bringing in student input. Weve had a group of faculty who have been terrific. There has been a lot of faculty innovation in teaching with the move to virtual. And all the staff to do our facilities and our teaching and learning support. That was the group we put together led by two of our senior associate deans. They met weekly for months and did a lot of consultation with the health care experts at Stanford who have been phenomenal. That was basically the process that we ran. And weve had to be incredibly adaptive because of the shifting state and county guidelines. Obviously, we have to operate within those rules. The county has been a very good partner for Stanford. We have pretty strict rules here but it has worked well from a health standpoint. I WATCHED A GOOGLE SHEET POPULATE IN REAL TIME AS PROFS INDICATED THEIR ABILITY TO GO ONLINE Kohlmann: One of the narratives in the media is the divergence between how students want to engage on campus and how faculty want to engage on campus. How have you balanced the needs of students and faculty in making this decision? Levin: There is a lot of heterogeneity in peoples risk tolerance and their comfort to go out and engage in public. You drive around parts of California and you see people behave in very different ways with different comfort levels for being out and interacting. Some of that breaks down on age. In general, students are at much lower risk and are naturally more comfortable. But not all of them by the way. Some of the students are concerned and rightly so because they have health conditions or respiratory conditions. Some are really, really anxious and you have to be sensitive to that. And for our faculty, there is a lot of variation. We told our faculty what the students would like but we also told them we wouldnt force them to do anything they are not comfortable with. Some of our faculty do want to teach virtually because it is a safer environment, and some of them really want to get back to interact with students. They love that part of their job. They want to be in the mix and be with the students and weve tried to accommodate people as best we can, subject to state and county rules which are making our decisions for us. Kohlmann: Walk us through when you were seeing the numbers of COVID cases rise in March and you had to make the decision to go online. It was on our radar screen. We were thinking about the pandemic and then in March when we started to get cases locally, we made a decision at Stanford to go online and we basically made it on a Friday night and everyone was online Monday morning. It was crazy but it was sort of amazing to see peoples adaptability. On Saturday morning, we put up a Google sheet with all the classes and we asked all the faculty how would they get online and what would they do and could they do it? how would they do it. I watched the Google sheet populate in real-time. I just sat there and watched our faculty who came on and one said, Ive done a lot of online teaching. Im experienced. No problem. Another person came on and said, I have never used Zoom but on Monday morning I will know how to do it. Ive got this. Everyone uniformly just said, I can handle this. I can do it, I can figure it out. And sure enough, they did. It was pretty inspiring to see that happen. All credit to our faculty and staff for their support and to our students for being incredibly adaptable in making a transition like that. Stanford GSB Dean Jon Levin when an in-person event was canceled due to the pandemic and he had to host the session online from campus WE ARE IN THIS PERIOD OF EXTRAORDINARY FORCED INNOVATION Kohlmann: What have you seen in the innovation sphere that faculty have done to make the classes interactive and to deliver the same content as they did previously? Levin: One of the bright spots of this experience which was apparent early on was that even though this has been an incredible disruption to business schools and higher education and a huge disappointment for students who look forward to so many in-person interactions. There is no getting around that disappointment and this setback. But at the same time, it has been an incredible experiment. And all of us, everywhere in the world, has seen the power of the technology to bring people together online. Now we are in this period of extraordinary forced innovation where we just have to figure things out to make them work. When the pandemic ends, some of our faculty want to go back to doing what they did before in-person with students. And for some, it is a revelation. There are things you can do with technology that are different and in some cases better. We use Zoom as our platform and heres a shoutout to them for saving us and the Zoom founder is a Stanford GSB alum. What many of the faculty do is use breakout rooms. We know from 30 years of research in education that active learning, where people are talking and interacting, is better than sitting there and listening to someone talk. Its actually hard to break people into small groups of four and another group of four in a physical classroom. But you can do that online and that is a great thing. Another one is chat. When I was teaching, I never let students use computers in the classroom. It was too much competition. I couldnt compete with Facebook and their email account and YouTube and what have you. So they couldnt have their screens. I never wanted that. But now you see that in meetings and classrooms having people on chat is fantastic. People talk in class who otherwise would have been quiet. It brings out lots more voices and lots more people who answer each others questions. it is actually a great way to engage in a multi-modality. Another one is speakers. We bring a lot of guest speakers to classes. Its a hallmark of the classes. If you want to bring someone in from the East Coast they have to fly across the country. They have to spend the whole day and they have to fly back. Its a big deal. You want to bring them in on Zoom, they can come in and its 30 minutes out of their day. Its sensational. Well find ways to actually improve our normal way of teaching when the pandemic ends. There are going to be many opportunities that come out of this experience because everyone is innovating and experimenting at the same time. I was just on a call with a group of our alumni earlier today for an hour and there were people from four continents on the call. How would we have gotten that group together before? We would have had to make plans a year in advance to fly everyone to Stanford to have a meeting like that and now you can send them an invite a couple of days in advance and people take the hour and get online. What a great way to get everyone connected. We had a planning task force for the fall that was set up to think about near term problems. And the other group we set up in the spring was a group to think long-term about the effects of the pandemic. We called it the Beyond Covid Task Force. It is still running and it is a group of alumni and faculty. And they have been thinking about what opportunities have been created by the acceleration of online. If you think about the potential for online education or virtual learning, you get a geographic expansion. That we understood well. And you get a scale extension. You can do online education for larger numbers than in-person education. The other observation they made is that you can have a temporal extension because it is easier to stay connected with people either before or after they leave the physical environment of the campus. For example, this year with our incoming students, we started engaging with them and having meetings eight weeks before orientation which normally we wait for orientation. This has implications for lifelong learning to help people stay connected to a school after they graduate. There is so much greater opportunity if everyone is used to using a virtual environment. They can be connected wherever they live and wherever they go. I think that is something we will make significant investments in having seen this potential. That has been an interesting learning about what is going to be possible in education. TEAM POSITIVITY CONTAGION CREATED MORE THAN 200 VIRTUAL EVENTS FOR STUDENTS Stanford MBA & McKinsey Engagement Manager Benjamin Kohlmann Kohlmann: The thing about business school that is unique is the classmates and the benefit of having 407 other Stanford students who are from across the world and the benefits you get from the collision of minds and experiences outside the classroom. How are you innovating to create that similar environment? Levin: In the spring, we had a group of students who knew each other already. When they were forced to go online, there were incredible constraints on what they are able to do in terms of being together. They were incredibly inventive. We had a group of students who called themselves Team Positivity Contagion. In true Stanford fashion, they printed t-shirts and they organized 200 to 300 virtual events during the quarter and invited alumni and speakers. It was amazing and really impressive in terms of community building and togetherness..Of course, that is a lesson of the pandemic as well. We are in this all together. What is going to be harder is how will people form new relationships online. One nice thing for us about having students on campus is that students will be able to engage on campus outside. I worry for students who are at schools that are starting 100% remote and the students have no physical togetherness. How will they meet people? How will they form friendships? Its going to be a big, big challenge for everyone. Kohlmann: I know you had a student town hall last week. Were there any key themes the students were talking about for the coming quarter? Levin: They just want to know how is this going to work? We are all going into a new world of going to school during a pandemic. They want to understand how we will keep them safe and how they will get to know their classmates and the faculty. What they would love is certainty. How long will this last? Its just like everyone. That is something that is impossible to deliver right now unfortunately so that makes for a tough situation for everyone. Kohlmann: Even before COVID, we were seeing some of the lower end of the business school market slowly transitioning out? How do you see the economics of the inflow of tuition dollars impacting the business school marketplace and what will be the long-term effect of that? Levin: If we go back before COVID, there were at least two very big trends in business education. One has been a decline in the popularity of two-year residential MBA programs, and you have even seen some schools stopping their two-year residential MBA programs. The second big trend is actually going in the opposite direction. It has been a massive expansion in the overall demand for business education: The demand for lifelong professional learning, demand for online education and more flexible and shorter programs, and undergraduate business education has grown significantly. So there has been a shift in how people want to learn professional skills and make them successful at work and then maintain and refresh those skills over time. At Stanford, we have seen a little bit of both these things. We have seen very strongly the demand for continuing programs and online programs. The online part has accelerated with COVID and the in-person part is shut down right now. The classic two-year residential MBA still has incredible value. Where does the value come from? It comes from many things. It comes from getting a set of skills and building a set of relationships. It fundamentally comes being in an environment for two years that just opens up your aperture on the world. You just see more possibilities. The metaphor I like for this is one that contrasts my own education, a Ph.D., with an MBA. Someone who does a Ph.D. is being handed this incredibly powerful microscope to just zoom in on some specific set of knowledge. In my case, it was economics. In an MBA program like Stanfords, its like giving someone an incredibly powerful telescope. You are just opening their aperture to see all these possibilities and giving them the skills to go in so many directions. That value is not going away. Its not going to go away if we do it online for a year or a quarter, either. Its just a powerful value proposition. I feel confident in that value but certainly, the overall market is softening. Stanford Graduate School of Business THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO MORE ONLINE IS GOING TO BE VERY POWERFUL Kohlmann: What are you thinking about in terms of how to expand the Stanford presence and educational value in a post-COVID world? Levin: I think there are going to be changes in in-person education. We are going to use technology in more sophisticated ways. I hope we will take the best things that are happening now and the best things that happened before and find a way to marry them. The opportunity to do more online is going to be very powerful. Right now we are in the phase of doing a lot of experimentation. Normally, in the summer we would have thousands of professionals who come to Stanford to take one-, two- and six-week courses. They are wonderful programs and the participants are terrific. We cant do any of them now but we are trying to run many virtual programs and learning an incredible amount. It is the opportunity to do education where it fits professionals schedules and adapts to their work life. As more people get used to that and we improve at it, its going to be a great thing for lifelong education. Weve been thinking the moment was coming for lifelong education for 20 years. Its always a couple of years in the future and that may be true. But at least at this moment, the moment has arrived and it is really exciting. I will give you one data point. We run a one-year, online program where you take the core curriculum instead of elective classes and we had our largest cohort in the spring. And in the fall, its very possible that it will be 50% larger than the spring cohort just because there are more people who are interested and more people who have the time available and more people who are comfortable getting online. Kohlmann: Whats the sense of MBA applicants for 2021? Levin: For this coming year, people have to make the decision to apply in the middle of a pandemic. This could cut different ways. When the economy turns down and there are fewer opportunities, its a natural time to go back to school. Everything is constrained right now. The work world is constrained. Education is constrained. You could make the case its a good time to go back to school. Its a good time to invest in yourself when the set of opportunities are less and will maybe be better when school finishes. At a time when there is incredible change in the world, being at a place like Stanford is a great place to be at a time of profound change. You have all these people who are interested to think through what is going on. How will the world change? What will be different? What will the new opportunities be? It gives you a chance to reflect and figure all that out before you launch off in a new direction or continue the direction you want to take. Kohlmann: How are you thinking about the difficulties international students are having right now? Levin: Its been a very difficult time for international students in the United States, both for students who want to come to the U.S. and for students who are here and thinking about jobs. Travel restrictions, visa restrictions move very quickly. I think its a very challenging situation. We will have students who will defer and some who start this fall and werent able to get visas before the quarter starts. So they will start remotely and then they will come when they can. We will do everything we can to support those students. That is an unfortunate thing. One of the great things about being at a place like Stanford GSB is that you are surrounded by people from all over the world. You put that mix together and that is just tremendously powerful. Having that disrupted is really disappointed. I hope we will get back to a situation to welcome people from around the world. WHEN THE JOB MARKET TIGHTENED, ALUMNI CREATED 300 JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS Kohlmann: Another challenge you faced this summer was jobs. I got an email back in April asking for help to build slots for students. How did that work? Levin: The job market was tough and the internship market was tough. I wrote to alumni in April because we felt we needed to create 150 internship and full-time job opportunities. The response of our alumni was just unbelievable. Our alumni ended up creating something like 300 job opportunities. So that was incredible. Look, you get a crisis and one thing you want to see is the community you are part of come together and people help each other. That was just a great example of that. Kohlmann: In 2016, when I was an MBA2 here, you were thrown right into the fire. There was a challenging situation as we transitioned deans. The stuff in Ferguson was happening and so there was a lot of conversation on campus about racial strife. And obviously, in the midst of COVID, we had the killing of George Floyd in June which caused a whole slew of challenges on top of COVID. What is Stanford doing on the diversity front? Levin: When you were a student at the GSB that social issues and social inequity was top of mind. We had the Ferguson situation which was incredibly traumatic and then issues around immigration. And this year, if the pandemic has been anything, it has just laid bare the inequities in our society around education, health and race. We saw that so clearly this spring. The police violence and the Black Lives Matter protest and we are seeing it right now in Kenosha. When I started in this role what I have come to appreciate much more is the importance for institutions like Stanford to play an active role in helping the country move forward when you have a crisis. WHAT COULD THE SCHOOL DO TO HELP THE WHOLE COUNTRY MOVE FORWARD ON RACIAL INEQUALITY When we had the George Flood killing and the other episodes of police violence in the spring, it just triggered so many discussions on our campus among the students, the faculty, the staff, and the alumni about what was going on. But also what could the school do to help not just our community but help the whole country move forward to understand what happened. To think about solutions, to think about what would be constructive and how can we move to a situation where we have less racism against Blacks in this country and more equity, more opportunity, and more racial justice. That arrived right in the middle of COVID, and we spent a lot of time talking to people about it. In the middle of the summer, we came out with a racial equity action plan with a set of goals and aspirations to increase the representation of Blacks on the campus and have a more inclusive environment on campus and contribute to broader society beyond the campus We put that out and now we are trying to execute on it. Weve got some exciting things on that front that Im proud of. Kohlmann: What are some of the tangible actions you want to take? Levin: Ill mention a couple. Some of them have to do with the experience at the school. For example, we do teaching often with case studies and guest speakers, and often the folks who are represented in those case studies or who come to speak come through peoples networks and those networks often tend to look like them. So we are making more of an effort to broaden the set of people who come in front of our students. Stanford University announced this summer a very ambitious faculty search to try to bring in faculty who have an interest on the impact of race in America. I hope that will help the whole university build strength in that area. And we are going to do something on the financial aid front that I hope will be important for us. Many of our students receive financial aid to help them come to the GSB. It is one of the things that help us build a class that is as rich and broad in backgrounds and experiences. We do financial aid based on an individuals income, assets and circumstances. We are going to introduce another set of financial aid that is based on family backgrounds to reflect the circumstances from where people came from. We think that ought to have some impact in terms of racial equity because one of the well-known facts about wealth distribution in our society is that there is a very big racial disparity in intergenerational wealth. We will go at that problem and the general problem of wealth inequality in this country that disadvantages a lot of people from the start of their lives. DONT MISS: MEET STANFORDS MBA CLASS OF 2021 or STANFORD GSB WILL NOW START THE FALL QUARTER MOSTLY ONLINE The post Stanford GSB Dean Jon Levin On MBAs, COVID, Racial Injustice & The Future appeared first on Poets&Quants. John Mahama greeting Otumfuo Osei Tutu II 28.08.2020 LISTEN Former President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday turned his visit to Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to introduce his running mate, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, into a launch pad to attack his successor, President Akufo-Addo. When he was addressing the Asantehene at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, he accused the President and his New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration of neglecting Asanteman to the dismay of the gathering. According to Mr. Mahama, his erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) government commenced what he claimed to be wonderful and landmark projects for Asanteman, but the region had woefully been neglected since the NPP won power. To buttress his claim, he readily pointed at the modern Kejetia Market, works on the first phase of the Kumasi Airport, some roads he called 'cocoa roads' among others he said his government executed in the region. The NDC government, led by me, did a lot of projects and also transformed Asanteman, but nothing seems to be working for the region now in terms of development ever since the NDC lost power in 2016, Mr. Mahama claimed. Asanteman 'Concern' The 2020 NDC presidential candidate claimed that Asanteman was currently retarding in development because the NPP administration lacked the wherewithal to lead the region into proper growth. For instance, he said small-scale mining, which provided jobs for some of the youth in Asanteman, had virtually been collapsed by the 'insensitive' NPP government, thereby heightening abject poverty in the Ashanti Region. According to him, the NPP has allowed partisan politics to enter the small-scale mining sector, as only those that have strong links with the NPP were being allowed to operate in that sector. Seized Excavators The NPP government has seized concession and excavators of some players in the small-scale mining sector and given them to their members and that is in bad taste, Mr. Mahama alleged in the presence of Otumfuo. He assured the Asantehene that if the NDC won the December 7 polls, all the anomalies in the small-scale mining sector would be rectified in order to restore decency and total progress in that crucial sector. The NDC stands for social justice, so my government will make sure that all whose excavators and concessions, issued by the Minerals Commission, which have been seized and given to NPP members, would have them back, he declared. Mr. Mahama said the country's natural resources, especially gold, should benefit everybody, and it should be devoid of religious, tribal or political affiliation. Besides, he lambasted the NPP for not doing enough to boost small-scale mining. He said his NDC government would lawfully regulate small-scale mining by introducing corporative mining with mining safety officers, regularly visiting the mining sites to make sure that the environment was not destroyed in anyway. Bizarrely, when he had a few days to leave power after being defeated massively in the 2016 general election, Mr. Mahama granted a huge bauxite concession worth billions of dollars in the region to his brother's company. However, he said his next administration would value the environment; therefore, it would make sure the miners pay a fee to reclaim the mined areas, saying the gold we have in Ghana should benefit all of us. He then switched to plea for votes and urged the electorate to vote massively for the NDC on December 7. He said the electorate, especially those in the Ashanti Region, which is the stronghold of the NPP, needed the NDC in political office so that they (NDC) would implement what he claimed to be better and pragmatic policies and return the region and the country to the path of prosperity. Otumfuo's Response The Asantehene, in his response, admonished ex-President Mahama to first identify the mistakes that led to his massive defeat in 2016 and correct them, especially as he seeks the votes of the electorate on December 7. According to Otumfuo, the NDC flagbearer should be able to point out his own faults to the public and preach about what he would do differently this time as he seeks a comeback. Besides, the Asantehene admonished Mr. Mahama and his NDC campaign team to campaign on what they achieved when they were in government and sell the policies they would introduce to improve the country. ---Daily Guide McLeodganj Shutters will soon be down on a nostalgia shop in this Himachal Pradesh tourist resort with a Parsi business family finally disposing off a 160-year old prime British-era property that is expected to give way to an ultra-luxurious commercial outlet. Set up in 1860, the Nowrojee and Sons General Store is the last iconic private landmark in the once-peaceful abode of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama with the mighty Dhauladhar ranges in the backdrop. Old-timers fondly recall this prominent colonial landmark in the quaint uphill town known for attracting a steady stream of Tibet enthusiasts, Buddhist scholars, backpackers and even Hollywood stars. Before Independence, the grand wooden store used to take care of the daily requirements of the British officers and their families. RELATED NEWS 751 Unmarked Graves Found at Another Former Indigenous School in Canada The store in the heart of the town has seen five generations of the Nowrojees. The late Nauzer Nowrojee, a friend of the Dalai Lama, looked after the store-cum-residence set up by his great-grandfather for over 60 years. The eldest of five brothers, Nauzer, was born in 1915 in Karachi and died here at the age of 85 here. After his death, his bachelor brother Jimmy looked after the business. With disposing of this prime heritage, very soon we will lose the old world charm that still showcases antique glass jars, lanterns and classic old advertisement hoardings," says octogenarian Naresh Sood, who goes nostalgic for his long association with the Nowrojees. The shop once used to take care of the daily requirements of the British officers and their families. It sold a variety of goods from bakery items to tobacco to toiletries and liquor to even arms and ammunition. After the death of Nauzer and Jimmy, the shop was handed over to a local caretaker who sells only newspapers, magazines and confectionery. The shop, the store is synonymous with McLeodganj, even withstood the devastating Kangra earthquake of 1905, recall locals. They said due to inadequate repairs, lack of financial resources of the owners and limited understanding of heritage preservation, the building is in a dilapidated state for nearly three decades. The Gothic-style of architecture store has been purchased by a local businessman who intends to bulldoze the building to make way for an ultra-luxurious hotel. Another eyesore is set to take its place," says another local Tashi Dawa, who is settled here since early 1960s. I wish the government should take over the building like British-era Bantony Estate in Shimla that was also decaying for many years. Such an iconic place could boost the tourism," he said. Dawa, whose parents had great relation with the senior Nowrojees, recalled that he used to visit the store to drink soda. His son Tenzin said he used to peep into its adark room of antiques. Justifying the decision to sell the heritage, Nauzers youngest son Parvez Nowrojee said a caretaker was running the shop for almost a decade. Of course, it has been a tough decision for the family to dispose the property," he said. He is currently here along with his elder brother Nowrojees, who owns a tea business in West Bengal. The family also sold the British machinery to manufacture the aerated drinks to a junk dealer. One of the oldest antiques in the stores possession is Petromax 835 Special, a German-made hanging wick lamp. Boxes of imported cigarette brands like Passing Show Craven A Virginia Cigarette, Number Ten Virginia of James Carlton Ltd, London, and Cavander Ltd of Godfrey Philips Ltd, London, are showcased in the store. These brands were quite popular among the British at that time. A box of Cuticura Soap is also displayed. The US-made soap was advertised for curing sensitive skin and for skin purification. Vinolia white rose soap of Vinolia Co Ltd of London and Calverts carbolic medical soap of F.C. Calvert and Co Ltd of Manchester, England, can be seen as well. There are other relics from the past-small posters of German-made Sun brand wick lamps, Blue Bird toffees, shoelaces of Warrior and the Majestic porpoise boot laces of England. A large number of wine and liquor bottles with their soiled labels and antique glass jars are also lying in the shop. McLeodganj was a civilian settlement outside the British garrison of Dharamsala. It was known as the Ghost town after the British left India. More than 70 years after the British left, this town still attracts their descendants who are eager to explore their roots. (Newser) Black Lives Matter activists are holding their first Black National Convention on Friday, a virtual event that will adopt a political agenda calling for slavery reparations, universal basic income, environmental justice, and legislation that entirely re-imagines criminal justice reform. The gathering follows Democratic and Republican party conventions that laid out starkly different visions for America. And it comes on the same day as a commemoration of the 1963 March on Washington, where the families of a growing list of police and vigilante violence victims will appear with civil rights leaders. The livestream broadcast will include policy proposals on such issues as voter suppression, reproductive rights, inequality in public education, housing insecurity, and inter-communal violence, according to its agenda, the AP reports. story continues below "These are absolutely public policies that the Democratic Party, state and local officials, or anyone who is looking to serve Black people can take up now," said Jessica Byrd, who leads the Electoral Justice Project of the Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of more than 150 groups organizing the event. In 2016, the coalition released its "Vision for Black Lives" policy platform, which included early proposals for defunding police. The new agenda revamps much of that original platform with specific proposals that could lead to an eventual abolition of the criminal justice system as it exists today. The nearly four-hour event, livestreaming on the website BlackNovember.org, will features speakers including Patrisse Cullors of the Black Lives Matter Global Network; Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement; Raquel Willis, a writer and transgender rights activist; and Eddie Glaude, of the Center for African American Studies at Princeton University. (Read more Black Lives Matter stories.) This July 2020 photo released by RR Auction shows a bloodstained telegram and lock of hair from former President Abraham Lincoln, to be auctioned Sept. 12, 2020, by the Boston-based auction firm. The lock of hair was removed during Lincoln's postmortem examination in April 1865 after he was fatally shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theatre in Washington. (Nikki Brickett/RR Auction via AP) This is one macabre auction: A lock of Abraham Lincoln's hair, wrapped in a bloodstained telegram about his 1865 assassination, is up for sale. Boston-based RR Auction said bidding has opened online for the items ahead of a live auction scheduled for Sept. 12 in New Hampshire. The auction house set the minimum bid at $10,000 but expects the lock and telegram to fetch $75,000 or more, spokesman Mike Graff said. Measuring roughly 2 inches (5 centimeters) long, the bushy lock of hair was removed during Lincoln's postmortem examination after he was fatally shot at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., by John Wilkes Booth. It was given to Dr. Lyman Beecher Todd, a Kentucky postmaster and a cousin of Mary Todd Lincoln, the 16th president's widow, Graff said. The physician was present when Lincoln's body was examined, he added. The hair is mounted on an official War Department telegram sent to Dr. Todd by George Kinnear, his assistant in the Lexington, Kentucky, post office. The telegram was received in Washington at 11 p.m. on April 14, 1865. A caption typed by Todd's son reads: "The above telegram arrived in Washington a few minutes after Abraham Lincoln was shot. Next day, at the postmortem, when a lock of hair, clipped from near the President's left temple, was given to Dr. Toddfinding no other paper in his pockethe wrapped the lock, stained with blood or brain fluid, in this telegram and hastily wrote on it in pencil: 'Hair of A. Lincoln.'" Dr. Todd gave a slightly different account later in life, writing in 1895three decades after the assassination, and seven years before his own deaththat he clipped the lock of hair himself. In Lincoln-era papers kept at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania, he wrote in an account of the autopsy: "When all was over, General Hardin entered, and handed me a pair of scissors, requesting me to cut a few locks of hair for Mrs. Lincoln. I carefully cut and delivered them to General Hardin, and then secured one for myself which I have preserved as a sacred relic." This July 2020 photo released by RR Auction shows a lock of hair from former President Abraham Lincoln, to be auctioned Sept. 12, 2020, by the Boston-based auction firm. The lock of hair was removed during Lincoln's postmortem examination in April 1865 after he was fatally shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theatre in Washington. (Nikki Brickett/RR Auction via AP) Could scientists clone Lincoln from the lock? Forget about it. Hair follicles rarely contain viable DNA, the genetic material that maps human beings. RR Auction said it vouches for the authenticity of the lock and telegram, in part based on a 1945 letter written by Dr. Todd's son, James Todd. The letter says the clipping of hair "has remained entirely in the custody of our family since that time." It last was sold in 1999, the auction house said. Bobby Livingston, executive vice president of RR Auction, disputes the notion that the offeringsparticularly the lockare a little on the dark side. "It's not macabre. It's a fascinating artifact from a horrible tragedy," he told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "Collecting locks of hair was common after someone passed away. It's such a piece of history. The assassination of President Lincoln was obviously such a shock." Historians say the telegram itself is significant because it disproved a conspiracy theory that then-Secretary of War Edwin Stanton plotted to kill Lincoln because of their personal and political differences. At the time, some claimed that Stanton ordered military communications to be disrupted, allowing Booth to briefly elude his captors. The time stamp on the dispatch shows that military telegraph lines were, in fact, functioning on the night Lincoln was assassinated. The telegram "is evidence to disprove the misinformation and conspiracy theories in the Lincoln assassination," Graff said. Explore further Questions raised about US museum's Abraham Lincoln hat 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. MONTREAL, Aug. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Elixxer Ltd. (TSX-V: ELXR) (OTC-QB: ELIXF) (FRA: 2LQA) ("Elixxer" or the "Company") announces that it has entered into a loan agreement with AIP Convertible Private Debt Fund L.P. (the "Lender") for a secured loan in the principal amount of CAD$4,000,000 (the "Loan"). The Loan will have a term of 24 months and will bear interest at the rate of 17% per annum. The Loan will be secured by a general security agreement on all of the present and after-acquired property of the Company. On closing, the Company will pay to the Lender (i) a facility fee of CAD$200,000; (ii) a closing fee of CAD$250,000; and (ii) a monitoring fee of CAD$75,000, in respect of the Loan. Upon approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"), the Lender shall also receive a bonus of 46,333,333 common shares (the "Bonus Shares") of the Company at a deemed issue price of CAD$0.015 per share, representing 20% of the net amount of the Loan. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Loan for working capital purposes and to pursue future investments. The Corporation also announces a proposed non-brokered private placement with a strategic investor in the amount of US$400,000 (USD/CAD exchange rate 1.307 for CAD $522,800) for 34,853,333 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of CAD$0.015 per Unit (the "Private Placement"). Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant will be exercisable for a period of 60 months from the date of issuance at an exercise price of CAD$0.05 each. No commission or finder's fee will be paid in connection with the Private Placement. The Units will be issued pursuant to an exemption from the prospectus requirements of applicable securities legislation, and all securities will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance. The proceeds of the Private Placement will be used by the Company for general working capital purposes. Closing of the Private Placement is subject to approval of the TSXV and to customary closing conditions. Mazen Haddad, Elixxer CEO, stated, "We are very pleased to be working with AIP. This financing is intended to allow Elixxer to execute on our acquisition strategy which will target growth companies with revenues and cashflows." About Elixxer Ltd.) Elixxer is a Canadian public company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V: ELXR) and the US OTC-QB exchange (OTCQB: ELIXF). Through its partners, Elixxer presently has significant interests in Australia, Jamaica, Switzerland, Italy and Canada. For further information please contact: Mazen Haddad, CEO: mazen@elixxer.com Caution Regarding Press Releases Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to Elixxer and its operations, strategy, investments, financial performance and condition. These statements can generally be identified by use of forward-looking words such as "may", "will", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intends", "believe" or "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The actual results and performance of Elixxer could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Some important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, among other things, general economic and market factors, competition, government regulation and the factors described under "Risk Factors and Risk Management" in Elixxer's most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). The cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to Elixxer and persons acting on its behalf. Unless otherwise stated, all forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Elixxer has no obligation to update such statements, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. By PTI LONDON: The UK premiere of a play based on a series of letters describing the real-life experiences of an Indian husband and his Pakistani wife are among the highlights of a first-of-its-kind virtual Urdu festival being hosted in Britain. 'Mian Biwi Aur Wagah' will be showcased next week at Jashn-e-Rekhta (JeR) UK, the world's largest Urdu language literary event held annually in Delhi since 2016 which has taken on a digital avatar for the UK in light of the coronavirus lockdown. "It is indeed a great honour that an institution like Rekhta recognised our efforts for the love of Urdu," said Amna Khaishgi, team leader of Goonj, the theatre group behind the play co-written by Dubai-based Ehtesham Shahid, who also portrays the main lead of Mian. Reflecting on the irony of a play on letter-writing having to make use of a digital platform, Shahid said: "It's a sign of things to come, but the human need to express oneself cannot be fulfilled through just one medium, and letters can still create magic if one is willing to pick up pen and paper. It's a matter of time before we will re-discover the joy of something as intimate as writing letters." All the performers of the play, referred to as MBW for short, have written their own scripts and verses. "Team MBW reflects the vision of Rekhta where language, art, and literature transcend borders. The simplicity of letters in the play form layers that resonate with the audience," said Rekhta Foundation founder Sanjiv Saraf. Jashn-e-Rekhta UK, organised by the Rekhta Foundation UK over two days on September 5 and 6, is pitching itself as a unique "immersive experience" that will bring together exclusive sessions and digital archive of art forms, including poetry (mushaira), literature, storytelling (Dastangoi), ghazals, Sufi music, qawwali, dance and drama. "Urdu's uniqueness lies in the way it brings together Arabic, Farsi and other Indian dialects. As one of the most elegant languages, Urdu is able to express love in all its manifestations, divine and earthly, using the most beautiful symbolism. No matter who speaks it, magic is always felt. JeR UK gives us the opportunity to experience this magic through musical performances, discourses, dance and theatre," added Saraf. Among the other highlights include 'Cinema' and 'Kal Aur Aaj', during which famed poets and lyricists Javed Akhtar and Manoj Muntashir will be in conversation about films, lyrics and Urdu poetry. India-based filmmaker Tanuja Chandra, UK-based writer-filmmaker Nasreen Munni Kabir and Pakistani actor Sania Saeed will discuss the contribution of Urdu to the world of cinema and television in the 'Cinema Aur TV Ki Zubaan' session and lyricist Gulzar will be talking about his love for Urdu in 'Ye Kaisa Ishq Hai Urdu Zabaan Ka'. Tanuja Chandra said: "While on the one hand, gatherings of large crowds, especially those belonging to our subcontinental diaspora are heady and fun, what's been great about virtual events this year, is that people from all over the world have watched and participated in them." Rekhta Foundation UK, as a registered UK charity, has been set up to preserve and promote the languages, literature and culture of South Asia with a particular focus on Urdu. "Rekhta.org, the world's largest repository of Urdu literature, is followed by nearly 226,000 people in the UK, including 211,000 in England and 84,000 followers in the city of London alone," it says, in reference to the popularity of the language in Britain. Alongside the specially curated sessions for the UK, the festival next week will also offer a chance for audiences to explore some of the most popular events from JeR India's archives of past events. Researchers have identified the first case of an American patient who was reinfected with the novel coronavirus. According to the report, the unnamed 25-year-old man, from Reno, Nevada, tested positive in April after showing mild illness. He got sick again in late May and developed more severe COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Forty-eight days after his first positive test, he received a second one. 'This study likely represents a clear example of reinfection...reinfections are possible - which we already knew, because immunity is never 100 percent,' Dr Kristian Anderson, professor of immunology and microbiology at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California told Reuters. Health experts are concerned that a future vaccine may not be very effective if reinfection is possible over such a short amount of time. Researchers say the first known case of US coronavirus is a 25-year-old man from Reno, Nevada, who first tested positive in April after developing a mild illness and then later fell ill in May. Pictured: A member of the medical staff treats a patient in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at the United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, July 28 He had to be hospitalized and tested positive on June 5, marking 48 days after his first positive test. Pictured: A scientist at the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory running tests Lab tests determined the strains of the virus from each illness were slightly different , indicating a true reinfection (above) During the first illness, the individual had symptoms including a sore throat, nausea, headache and diarrhea, according to the pre-print study. He tested positive on April 18. His symptoms resolved by April 28 and he received two negative tests on May 9. Just a few weeks later, on May 31, the man reported symptoms including all the symptoms he had before as well as a fever and feeling dizzy. Five days later, the patient's condition worsened so much that he was hospitalized, and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Bloodwork run by hospital staff showed that the man had antibodies against the virus. Researchers say the man was neither immunocompromised nor was he taking immunosuppressant drugs. A team at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory said they were able to show through sophisticated testing that the virus associated with each instance of the Reno man's infection represented genetically different strains. Because the genetic make-up of the strains are different enough, this represents a true reinfection. Researchers worked with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office Forensic Sciences Unit to determine that the samples were from the same patient. They emphasized that reinfection with the virus is probably rare, but said the findings imply that initial exposure to the virus may not result in full immunity for everyone. 'We don't know at what frequency reinfections occur and how that might change over time,' Anderson said. 'Before we have broader studies illuminating these questions, we can't conclude what a single case of reinfection means for longevity and robustness of COVID-19 immunity and relevance for a future vaccine.' Mark Pandori, director of the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory, said: 'It is just one finding, but it shows that a person can possibly become infected with SARS-CoV-2 a second time. 'If reinfection is possible on such a short timeline, there may be implications for the efficacy of vaccines developed to fight the disease. It may also have implications for herd immunity.' Cases of presumed reinfection have cropped up in other parts of the world, but questions have arisen about testing accuracy. Earlier this week, University of Hong Kong researchers reported details of a 33-year-old man who had recovered in April from a severe case of COVID-19 and was diagnosed four months later with a different strain of the virus. Additionally, two European patients, one in Belgium and one in the Netherlands, were reported to have been reinfected with the virus. However, unlike the American man, the other patients developed mild cases of the virus during their second time with the infection. 'You'd expect the second time around people to have much milder or ideally no symptoms,' Dr Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, told NBC News. This is because the immune system should recognize the virus and be able to respond much more strongly than it did the first time around. Jha says the case of the Hong Kong patient is 'completely consistent with that.' Pandori urged caution considering the many unknowns that still surround our knowledge about the immune responses to COVID-19. 'After one recovers from COVID-19, we still do not know how much immunity is built up, how long it may last, or how well antibodies play a role in protection against a reinfection,' he said in statement. 'If you've had it, you can't necessarily be considered invulnerable to the infection" a second time. Depiction of a gut bacteria attached to cellulose fibers through adhesion proteins on the bacterial surface. Cohesin (yellow) and Dockerin (green) assemble into a protein complex in two possible configurations, referred to as dual binding modes. The complex is activated by mechanical tension, which strengthens it and facilitates bacterial adhesion to fibers under shear flow. Credit: University of Basel, Department of Chemistry Researchers have revealed a new molecular mechanism by which bacteria adhere to cellulose fibers in the human gut. Thanks to two different binding modes, they can withstand the shear forces in the body. Scientists of the University of Basel and ETH Zurich published their results in the journal Nature Communications. Cellulose is a major building block of plant cell walls, consisting of molecules linked together into solid fibers. For humans, cellulose is indigestible, and the majority of gut bacteria lack the enzymes required to break down cellulose. However, recently genetic material from the cellulose-degrading bacterium R. champanellensis was detected in human gut samples. Bacterial colonization of the intestine is essential for human physiology, and understanding how gut bacteria adhere to cellulose broadens our knowledge of the microbiome and its relationship to human health. The bacterium under investigation uses an intricate network of scaffold proteins and enzymes on the outer cell wall, referred to as a cellulosome network, to attach to and degrade cellulose fibers. These cellulosome networks are held together by families of interacting proteins. Of particular interest is the cohesin-dockerin interaction responsible for anchoring the cellulosome network to the cell wall. This interaction needs to withstand shear forces in the body to adhere to fiber. This vital feature motivated the researchers to investigate in more detail how the anchoring complex responds to mechanical forces. By using a combination of single-molecule atomic force microscopy, single-molecule fluorescence and molecular dynamics simulations, Professor Michael Nash from the University of Basel and ETH Zurich along with collaborators from LMU Munich and Auburn University studied how the complex resists external force. Two binding modes allow bacteria to stick to surfaces under flow They were able to show that the complex exhibits a rare behavior called dual binding mode, where the proteins form a complex in two distinct ways. The researchers found that the two binding modes have very different mechanical properties, with one breaking at low forces of around 200 piconewtons and the other exhibiting a much higher stability breaking only at 600 piconewtons of force. Further analysis showed that the protein complex displays a behavior called a "catch bond," meaning that the protein interaction becomes stronger as force is ramped up. The dynamics of this interaction are believed to allow the bacteria to adhere to cellulose under shear stress and release the complex in response to new substrates or to explore new environments. "We clearly observe the dual binding modes, but can only speculate on their biological significance. We think the bacteria might control the binding mode preference by modifying the proteins. This would allow switching from a low to high adhesion state depending on the environment," Professor Nash explains. By shedding light on this natural adhesion mechanism, these findings set the stage for the development of artificial molecular mechanisms that exhibit similar behavior but bind to disease targets. Such materials could have applications in bio-based medical superglues or shear-enhanced binding of therapeutic nanoparticles inside the body. "For now, we are excited to return to the laboratory and see what sticks," says Nash. Explore further Breaking down stubborn cellulose in timelapse More information: Zhaowei Liu et al. High force catch bond mechanism of bacterial adhesion in the human gut, Nature Communications (2020). Journal information: Nature Communications Zhaowei Liu et al. High force catch bond mechanism of bacterial adhesion in the human gut,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18063-x If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) YouTube star Landon Clifford struggled with his mental health, was hooked on various prescription drugs and hanged himself in his garage, his heartbroken wife has revealed. Landon Clifford, 19, ran a YouTube channel with his wife Camryn, 19, where they went as Cam&Fam and had more than 1.35million subscribers. Camryn announced that Landon passed away on August 18 after suffering a brain injury, without providing further details. On Thursday Camryn released a new emotional YouTube video explaining how he died and that her husband was privately struggling with anxiety and depression and had ADHD since he was child. She said on August 13 he hanged himself in the garage of their home and she cut him down with a knife and called police. He spent six days in a coma in the hospital and was declared brain dead on August 18. Camryn Clifford, the wife of YouTube star Landon Clifford, 19, revealed he suffered with his mental health, was hooked on various medications and hanged himself in their garage on August 13. After six days in a coma he was declared brain dead on August 18 Landon and Camryn, both 19, ran a popular YouTube channel Cam&Fam where they boasted more than 1.35million subscribers Camryn said that Landon fell into a depression after they welcomed their second Delilah Rose Clifford in May. The couple share two daughters - Collette Briar Clifford, two, and Delilah, three months. 'He has had mental health issues for as long as I have known him. He suffered from anxiety and depression. He has ADHD which he has had since he was a little boy, so his whole life he's always just kind of struggled with his emotions and just the way his brain was wired,' Camryn said. Camryn said Landon went to see a psychiatrist to help with his panic attacks, depression and trouble focusing and he was given three medications. But he fell into a dangerous cycle where he took ADHD medication in the morning and anti-anxiety medication, meant only for panic attacks, to calm down at night. 'It was kind of a lethal mixture of these two very strong, heavy drugs, both very addicting and he just kind of fell into a hole,' Camryn revealed. She said Landon was privately struggling with anxiety, depression and had ADHD since he was a child and got caught in a 'vicious cycle' of taking medication Camryn shared this photo resting a hand on Landon as he was in the hospital in a coma 'He needed the uppers to get up in the morning and downers to slow down at night. And the more downers he took at night the more uppers he needed to get up... So it was a very, very vicious cycle and he just kept taking more and more and needed more for his body to feel his effects,' she added. She said she wasnt aware he was abusing medication and though the two felt a short bliss following the birth of Delilah the reality of looking after two kids 'hit us hard'. They took a break and stayed separately with their families to work on their mental health and for Landon to ease off drugs. She said after going home to his family in Dallas he told his psychiatrist he was addicted to his medications and only stayed on anti-depressants. 'It really seemed like things were looking up and we were getting back into our normal routine,' she said. On August 13 Landon apologized to Camryn for giving her a hard time. He said he was going to take a bath and Camryn later found him unresponsive in the garage. She called police and he was rushed to the hospital The couple welcomed their second daughter, Delilah Rose Clifford, in May But on August 13, Camryn said she sensed something off with Landon. Camryn went out with a friend and when she got home they had dinner and went through their typical night time routine, but she could tell something was wrong with Landon. 'He said that he was sorry for everything he put me through. It was really hard on me when I was pregnant and he was heavy in his addiction and he really just wasnt himself at that time. He was just apologizing to me for everything. I could tell he was putting a lot of blame on himself,' Camryn said. 'I told him that I loved him and that I forgave him and things are different now and were on a new path. I gave him a hug and a kiss and told him that I love him and that its okay,' she added. Landon said he was going to take a bath, which he does every night before bed. About 30 minutes later she started to hear her first daughter Collette start to wake up and fuss. Concerned Camryn went to the bathroom to check on Landon and found it empty, the bathtub apparently unused. She went into her kids' rooms and didnt find him there. 'Then I went to the garage and when I opened the garage I saw that he had hanged himself,' she said. 'He didnt look alive. He was very pale and I was in so much shock and it took me a second to realize that it was actually happening,' she added. She ran to the kitchen to get a knife to cut him down and called 911. She said she checked him for a pulse and couldnt find one. EMT workers were able to get Landons pulse back. Carmyn and Landon married June 2019 and share two daughters Collette Briar Clifford, two, and Delilah, three months 'Today we celebrate his life,' Camryn said in a Saturday post, posing with friends and family He spent days in a hospital in a coma and was declared brain dead on August 18. Camryn said he was a registered organ donor. 'He always put others above himself. Even in death, he was caring about people,' she said. Camryn said she saw comforting signs even as she said goodbye to Landon. He was in room 22 and was announced brain dead at 2:22 a number special to the couple as they got married on June 22. Camryn said Landon did not leave a note. 'I know Landon. I know he was not thinking rationally. He's a very impulsive person. He always has been and he does things without thinking and I think he felt guilty about how everything has gone for the past year and I think he just felt like a burden and like we'd be better off without him, which is so far from the truth and I wish he would have known that,' Camryn said. 'I am heartbroken. Collette is confused. There is no way that we're better off without him,' she added. Camryn said shes opening up about his tragic death to urge other people going through similar suffering to get help. 'If he knew everything that would follow after he did what he did, he wouldn't have. That's why I am here to tell his story because there are so many people out there who need to hear about what comes after,' she said. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) The Trump administration is intensifying its murderous efforts to cover up the spread of the coronavirus pandemic through the suppression of testing for the virus, under conditions in which COVID-19 is already raging out of control in the United States. On Monday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) modified its testing guidelines, dropping its earlier recommendation that those who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 but who do not yet show symptoms should get tested. The guidelines now state that those who have been exposed and are asymptomatic do not necessarily need a test, except if they are vulnerable, or if a health care provider or state or local health official recommends itwhich fewer will now do. The change to the CDC guidelines was made under significant political pressure from the White House, overriding concerns by the administrations own public health advisors. Conspiratorial methods were employed. The decision was made while Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease expert, was under general anesthesia for surgery last week. Admiral Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for health and the US testing tsar, had previously falsely claimed in comments to the press that Fauci had signed off on the decision. In his typically understated fashion, Fauci criticized the new guidelines, telling CNN, I am concerned about the interpretation of these recommendations and worried it will give people the incorrect assumption asymptomatic spread is not of great concern. In fact, it is. The change in testing guidelines will fuel the further spread of the pandemic throughout workplaces, homes and communities, causing untold numbers of unnecessary deaths and leaving many more irreparably harmed. By the CDCs own best estimate, 50 percent of the coronavirus transmission occurs before symptoms appear, with an upper-end estimate as high as 70 percent. The decision has been roundly condemned by scientists, public health organizations and infectious disease experts. This change in policy will kill, Allison Galvani, director at the Center for Infectious Disease Modeling and Analysis at Yale School of Medicine, put it the most bluntly in a tweet Tuesday. The politically motivated sabotage of the CDCs public health guidance comes as testing in the US has already declined significantly from its high point near the end of July, from a seven-day daily average of 820,978 on July 29 to 693,794 on August 27, according to the COVID Tracking Project. Trump and his media supporters, with their accumulated stupidity and callousness, attempted to present the surge in new cases over the summer as the result of increased testing. The president has repeatedly stated his desire to reduce testing, telling a rally in June, I said to my people: Slow the testing down, please. Administration spokesmen sought to play off the comment as a joke, but Trump belied these claims, saying later, I dont kid. The disastrous response to the pandemic has already resulted in a horrific toll in human life and suffering, now set to worsen substantially amidst the drive to reduce testing. Over six million have tested positive for COVID-19 in the United States, and nearly 185,000 have died. The ignorant psychopath occupying the White House has made clear his indifference to the mass death gripping America, stating infamously, It is what it is. But the brutal and homicidal policy pursued by Trump is not the outcome simply or primarily of his own diseased personality. Rather, it is driven by the class interests of the ruling corporate and financial aristocracy, to which Trump gives the most ruthless expression. Across countless workplaces, working people are confronted with a deadly conspiracy to cover up the spread of COVID-19. As a lengthy article in Bloomberg Businessweek Thursday explained, In the past few months, US businesses have been on a silencing spree. The companies accused by workers of attempting to muzzle any discussion of COVID-19 cases include top names among Americas corporate giants: Amazon, Target, Smithfield Foods, General Electric, Delta Airlines, McDonalds, Cargill and others. Hundreds of US employers across a wide range of industries have told workers not to share information about Covid-19 cases or even raise concerns about the virus, or have retaliated against workers for doing those things, according to workplace complaints filed with the NLRB and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Workers have found no restitution or redress of their grievances through these state institutions, however, which represent the same corporate interests defended ruthlessly by the Trump administration. As the article notes, OSHA has issued citations against just two companies out of thousands of complaints filed related to COVID-19. As for the NLRB (National Labor Relations Board), a worker at the restaurant chain The Cheesecake Factory who filed a complaint with it said, It doesnt feel like it has a lot of teeth. Im not convinced it will ultimately change their behavior, or any other companys. Not mentioned in the corporate weekly Bloomberg Businessweek, but exposed in numerous interviews with autoworkers, teachers and other workers on the World Socialist Web Site, is the role of the trade unions in enforcing these corporate gag orders. From the United Auto Workers to the American Federation of Teachers, the unions have used the same fraudulent arguments, falsely invoking privacy laws in an attempt to prevent workers from sharing information and getting a real picture of the spread of the pandemic in their workplaces. At the same time, they have served as company PR reps, touting illusory safety measures that have been all but discarded. Top Democratic Party politicians, for their part, have responded to the CDCs change by falsely posturing as champions of a scientifically informed response to the pandemic. But the Democrats, a party of Wall Street and the military-intelligence apparatus, have worked at the local, state and federal level to pursue the same basic class policy as Trump: to enrich the financial aristocracy, including voting virtually unanimously to pass the CARES Act and transfer trillions of dollars to the super-rich at the expense of the working class. While voicing insincere and hollow criticisms of Trumps response to the pandemic, they are just as complicit in engineering the premature reopening of businesses and schools, driving workers and their children back into death traps in order to ensure that profits continue to be pumped out. These conditions have set the stage for an eruption of opposition in the working class of historic proportions. Already, autoworkers and teachers have begun to establish new democratic organizations, rank-and-file safety committees independent of the unions. These committees are raising demands that correspond to the scientific response necessary to secure public health, including the disclosure by employers of the true spread of COVID-19 in workplaces; full income protection for unemployed, furloughed and quarantined workers; regular, freely provided testing; and an end to the victimization of those who blow the whistle on unsafe conditions. These committees must be established and their demands taken up at workplaces throughout the US and beyond, forming a vast network of rank-and-file workers organizations that take as their starting point what workers need, not what the ruling class and its representatives claim can be afforded. F our new arrests have been made after a father abducted his three young sons at knifepoint from their south London foster home. An urgent manhunt is under way for Imran Safi, 26, who is said to have snatched his sons Bilal, six, Mohammed Ebrar, five, and three-year-old Mohammed Yaseen Safi, last Thursday. Safi is suspected of threatening the brothers foster carer with a knife and using force to take the youngsters, who have not been seen since. Four men aged between 21 and 41 were arrested at a property in Ilford, east London, on Friday morning on suspicion of involvement in the abduction, Scotland Yard said. They are believed to be known to the suspect and have been taken to a south London police station for questioning. Police are searching for Imran Safi / Metropolitan Police Eight people relatives and friends of Safi have already been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the abduction and were bailed to a later date. It is understood that the boys were shortly due to be formally adopted by a new family, which detectives believe could be a motive for the abduction. The three boys were playing in the garden of Coulsdon House in Croydon while their foster carer was inside at around 6pm on August 20. The foster mother heard footsteps and became aware of Safi, who she said was armed with a knife and threatened her before forcibly taking the boys and driving off. More than 100 officers are searching for the children and it is not yet known if their father, who is an Afghan national and has links to Pakistan, has travelled overseas. Police are searching for the three boys and their father / Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Dave Stringer, of the Metropolitan Police, said: Whilst this development has brought us one step closer to finding Imran and the three children, we still need more information from the public to help us locate them. Since we appealed for help yesterday afternoon, we have received just over 30 calls from members of the public to our control room and via Crimestoppers. These calls are now being followed up by my officers who continue to work all hours of the day to bring these children home safely. I would really urge anyone from the Croydon, and now Ilford, area to think long and hard about if they saw these children, or their father, the evening of Thursday, 20 August and possibly the morning of Friday, 21 August. "We are continuing to appeal for anyone who may have seen a red Nissan Qashqai registration PK13 WFO in the Croydon area, particularly Coulsdon Road, on the afternoon of Thursday, 20 August to get in touch." Loading.... Anyone who believes they have seen Imran Safi and his children since August 20 are is asked to contact police through the investigation control room on 07942599374. A 15-year-old boy, thought to be one of the youngest people charged with terror offences in the UK, is to stand trial next month after pleading not guilty to preparing acts of terrorism. The child, who cannot be identified because of his age, is accused of trying to make bombs containing shrapnel in an Islamic terror plot. The teenager, who converted to Islam this year, is alleged to have developed an extremist jihadist mind-set. The boy, from Eastleigh in Hampshire, appeared via video-link from a youth detention centre in the Midlands during a 40-minute hearing at Leicester Crown Court (pictured) on Friday He was arrested by Hampshire Police on June 12 and charged with preparation of terrorist acts contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 in connection with Islamist terrorism, Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) said at the time of his detention. The boy, from Eastleigh in Hampshire, appeared via video-link from a youth detention centre in the Midlands during a 40-minute hearing at Leicester Crown Court on Friday. He entered a not guilty plea to a charge of preparing acts of terrorism. Remanding the youngster into custody, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb listed a trial back at the crown court in Leicester on September 28. Flint resident Dale McGhee, left, and Flint resident Lorietta Small each vote on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020 at Eisenhower Elementary School in Flint. It's primary election day, with voters throughout Genesee County determining which candidates will advance to the November general election. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | Mlive.com House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington on Aug. 27, 2020. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo) Pelosi: Democrats Will Release Trumps Tax Returns if Biden Wins Democrats will release President Donald Trumps tax returns if the Republican loses in November, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said. Pelosi was asked about voters being frustrated with House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.), who has been unsuccessful in efforts to get Trumps returns. Pelosi endorsed Neal in his primary battle before saying the chairman has been completely strong and toughminded on this. We are at the mercy of the courts, at the mercy of the courts. But he has been very strong [and] he has gone forward. He could not do anything more, she told reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. And, in fact, when we win this election, and we have a new president of the United States in January, and we have a new secretary of the Treasury, and Richie Neal asks for the presidents returns, then the world will see what the president has been hiding all of this time. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (L) speaks with Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, prior to testifying on the presidents FY2020 budget proposal on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 14, 2019. (Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images) Neal last year asked the Internal Revenue Service for Trumps tax returns, a request the Trump administration denied. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin acted properly in the matter, his departments inspector general said. Neal filed a lawsuit that is still being settled in the courts. A separate effort to get Trumps tax returns from the Manhattan district attorneys office is on hold for now. Neal, 71, faces a challenge from the left in the Sept. 1 primary. Alex Morse, the 31-year-old mayor of Holyoke, is vying to unseat him. During a debate last week, Morse said Neal would rather work with [Trump] than hold him accountable, claiming Neal sat on the push for Trumps returns. Congressman Neal dropped the ball, he said. Neal challenged Morse, saying his efforts would ultimately be successful. The victory will reverberate throughout American history, he said. A 19-year-old woman was allegedly raped for 11 days by her neighbour at his friends accommodation, police said on Friday. The matter came to fore after the woman escaped from the house and narrated the incident to her parents, who approached the police. The accused has been identified as Somnath of Jiven Nagar. In her complaint to the police, the woman stated that Somnath lived alone in a rented accommodation near her house. He is married and has four children, who live in Bihar. She alleged that on August 14, Somnath, who she was friendly with, promised to marry her and took her to his friends house, saying they will first live together for a month. There, he raped her for 11 days till she fled from the house on August 25 and returned home. Sub-inspector Kiranpreet Kaur of Focal Point police said the accused was a labourer. He has been booked for rape under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code. A hunt was on for his arrest, she added. Paul Buckowski GUILDERLAND The Best Buy at Crossgates Mall in Guilderland has closed, though the company has not explained why. Shoppers reported the store's closure Thursday. A recorded message that plays when you call the store confirms the closure but says nothing about a reopening date. Government has explained the reason behind basing Agyapa Royalties Limited in Jersey of the Channel Islands which is a known tax haven. Government says it adopted such a decision to ensure that it was not paying more tax on mining royalties than it needed to. Government registered the company in Jersey because it was the most tax-efficient avenue to use, Charles Adu Boahen, a Deputy Finance Minister, said at a press conference on Thursday evening. We need to domicile an entity in a jurisdiction that will provide the ability for the royalties not to be taxed again If we had decided to transfer the royalties in Agyapa that was domiciled in Ghana, we would have ended up in a situation where we would be paying tax twice, he explained. The Government through the Minerals Income Investment Fund set up Agyapa Royalties Limited to monetize Ghanas gold royalties. In exchange, the company plans to raise between $500 million and $750 million for the Government on the Ghana and London Stock exchanges to invest in developmental projects. This arrangement has however faced criticism from opposition political parties, Civil Society Organisations and other observers who have called for the arrangement to be suspended. Jersey is a known destination for incorporating companies that want to be listed on the London Stock Exchange, as the government did with Agyapa Royalties. It is also one of the top tax havens, attracting business people and other super-wealthy individuals who keep money in offshore accounts for tax avoidance purposes. Mr Adu Boahen, however, downplayed concerns that the government may be engaging in an untoward venture with the deal. Like all things in life, you can use it for a good purpose or you can decide to use it for bad. It all depends on your thinking, the Deputy Minister remarked at the press conference. We worked very closely with Jersey and the Prime Minister's office in London with regards to getting the clearance to make sure that we could use Jersey as the place for incorporation, he noted further. ---citinewsroom Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said he was "surprised" to learn that Japan's prime minister, Shinzo Abe, intends to step down because of a chronic health problem that has resurfaced. Abe announced on Friday that he was resigning from his post due to health reasons. Speaking to reporters in Vienna, Kurz said he was planning to talk to Abe "whom I know personally." Kurz also was optimistic that life might return to normal sooner rather than later in Austria, speaking on the latest pandemic situation in the country. He said that it was very likely that the coronavirus crisis would not last as long as many experts had originally predicted. "Ongoing research into vaccine development, treatment methods and drugs, but also faster test methods mean that this should be possible," he said. Below is the full text of Donald Trump's speech at the Republican National Convention at the White House on Aug. 27, 2020. Friends, delegates, and distinguished guests: I stand before you tonight honored by your support; proud of the extraordinary progress we have made together over the last four years; and brimming with confidence in the bright future we will build for America over the NEXT four years! As we begin this evening, our thoughts are with the wonderful people who have just come through the wrath of Hurricane Laura. We are working closely with state and local officials in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi, sparing no effort to save lives. While the hurricane was fierce, one of the strongest to make landfall in 150 years, the casualties and damage were far less than thought possible only 24 hours ago. This is due to the great work of FEMA, law enforcement, and the individual states. I will be going this weekend. We are one national family, and we will always protect, love and care for each other. Here tonight are the people who have made my journey possible, and filled my life with so much joy. For her incredible service to our nation and its children, I want to thank our magnificent First Lady. I also want to thank my amazing daughter Ivanka for that introduction, and to all of my children and grandchildren I love you more than words can express. I know my brother Robert is looking down on us right now from Heaven. He was a great brother and was very proud of the job we are doing. Let us also take a moment to show our profound appreciation for a man who has always fought by our side, and stood up for our values a man of deep faith and steadfast conviction: Vice President Mike Pence. Mike is joined by his beloved wife, a teacher and military mom, Karen Pence. My fellow Americans, tonight, with a heart full of gratitude and boundless optimism, I profoundly accept this nomination for President of the United States. Story continues The Republican Party, the party of Abraham Lincoln, goes forward united, determined, and ready to welcome millions of Democrats, Independents, and anyone who believes in the GREATNESS of America and the righteous heart of the American People. In a new term as President, we will again build the greatest economy in history quickly returning to full employment, soaring incomes, and RECORD prosperity! We will DEFEND AMERICA against all threats, and protect America against all dangers. We will LEAD AMERICA into new frontiers of ambition and discovery, and we will reach for new heights of national achievement. We will rekindle new faith in our values, new pride in our history, and a new spirit of unity that can ONLY be realized through love for our country. Because we understand that America is NOT a land cloaked in darkness, America is the torch that enlightens the entire world. Gathered here at our beautiful and majestic White House known all over the world as the People's House we cannot help but marvel at the miracle that is our Great American Story. This has been the home of larger-than-life figures like Teddy Roosevelt and Andrew Jackson who rallied Americans to bold visions of a bigger and brighter future. Within these walls lived tenacious generals like Presidents Grant and Eisenhower who led our soldiers in the cause of freedom. From these grounds, Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark on a daring expedition to cross a wild and uncharted continent. In the depths of a bloody Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln looked out these very windows upon a half-completed Washington Monument and asked God, in His Providence, to save our union. Two weeks after Pearl Harbor, Franklin Delano Roosevelt welcomed Winston Churchill, and just inside, they set our people on a course to victory in the Second World War. In recent months, our nation, and the entire planet, has been struck by a new and powerful invisible enemy. Like those brave Americans before us, we are meeting this challenge. We are delivering lifesaving therapies, and will produce a vaccine BEFORE the end of the year, or maybe even sooner! We will defeat THE VIRUS, end the pandemic, and emerge stronger than ever before. What united generations past was an unshakable confidence in America's destiny, and an unbreakable faith in the American People. They knew that our country is blessed by God, and has a special purpose in this world. It is that conviction that inspired the formation of our union, our westward expansion, the abolition of slavery, the passage of civil rights, the space program, and the overthrow of fascism, tyranny and communism. This towering American spirit has prevailed over every challenge, and lifted us to the summit of human endeavor. And yet, despite all of our greatness as a nation, everything we have achieved is now endangered. This is the most important election in the history of our country. At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas. This election will decide whether we SAVE the American Dream, or whether we allow a socialist agenda to DEMOLISH our cherished destiny. It will decide whether we rapidly create millions of high paying jobs, or whether we crush our industries and send millions of these jobs overseas, as has foolishly been done for many decades. Your vote will decide whether we protect law-abiding Americans, or whether we give free rein to violent anarchists, agitators, and criminals who threaten our citizens. And this election will decide whether we will defend the American Way of Life, or whether we allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it. At the Democrat National Convention, Joe Biden and his party repeatedly assailed America as a land of racial, economic, and social injustice. So tonight, I ask you a very simple question: How can the Democrat Party ask to lead our country when it spends so much time tearing down our country? In the left's backward view, they do not see America as the most free, just, and exceptional nation on earth. Instead, they see a wicked nation that must be punished for its sins. Our opponents say that redemption for YOU can only come from giving power to THEM. This is a tired anthem spoken by every repressive movement throughout history. But in this country, we don't look to career politicians for salvation. In America, we don't turn to government to restore our souls we put our faith in Almighty God. Joe Biden is not the savior of America's soul he is the destroyer of America's Jobs, and if given the chance, he will be the destroyer of American Greatness. For 47 years, Joe Biden took the donations of blue collar workers, gave them hugs and even kisses, and told them he felt their pain and then he flew back to Washington and voted to ship their jobs to China and many other distant lands. Joe Biden spent his entire career outsourcing the dreams of American Workers, offshoring their jobs, opening their borders, and sending their sons and daughters to fight in endless foreign wars. Four years ago, I ran for President because I could not watch this betrayal of our country any longer. I could not sit by as career politicians let other countries take advantage of us on trade, borders, foreign policy and national defense. Our NATO partners, as an example, were far behind in their defense payments. But at my strong urging, they agreed to up their payments to $130 billion more a year. This will ultimately go to $400 billion. Secretary General Stoltenberg, who heads NATO, was amazed, and said that President Trump did what no one else was able to do. From the moment I left my former life behind, and a good life it was, I have done nothing but fight for YOU. I did what our political establishment never expected and could never forgive, breaking the cardinal rule of Washington Politics. I KEPT MY PROMISES. Together, we have ended the rule of the failed political class and they are desperate to get their power back by any means necessary. They are angry at me because instead of putting THEM FIRST, I put AMERICA FIRST! Days after taking office, we shocked the Washington Establishment and withdrew from the last Administration's job-killing Trans Pacific Partnership. I then immediately approved the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines, ended the unfair and very costly Paris Climate Accord, and secured, for the first time, American Energy Independence. We passed record-setting tax and regulation cuts, at a rate nobody had ever seen before. Within three short years, we built the strongest economy in the history of the world. Washington insiders asked me NOT to stand up to China they pleaded with me to let China continue stealing our jobs, ripping us off, and robbing our country blind. But I kept my word to the American People. We took the toughest, boldest, strongest, and hardest hitting action against China in American History. They said that it would be impossible to terminate and replace NAFTA but again, they were wrong. Earlier this year, I ended the NAFTA nightmare and signed the brand new U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement into law. And right now, auto companies and others are building their plants and factories in America, not firing their employees and deserting us. In perhaps no area did the Washington special interests try harder to stop us than on my policy of pro-American immigration. But I refused to back down and today America's borders are more secure than EVER before. We ENDED catch-and-release, stopped asylum fraud, took down human traffickers who prey on women and children, and we have deported 20,000 gang members and 500,000 criminal aliens. We have already built 300 miles of border wall and we are adding 10 new miles every single week. The Wall will soon be complete, and it is working beyond our wildest expectations. We are joined this evening by members of the Border Patrol Union, representing our country's courageous border agents. Thank you very much for being here. Brave, brave people. You see our country loves our law enforcement. They really do. Love and respect. When I learned that the Tennessee Valley Authority laid off hundreds of American Workers and forced them to train their lower-paid foreign replacements, I promptly removed the Chairman of the Board. And now, those talented American Workers have been RE-HIRED and are back providing power to Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Virginia. They have their old jobs back, and some are here with us this evening. Please stand. You went through a lot. Please stand. Thank you. Last month, I took on Big Pharma. Do you think that's easy? It's not. And I signed orders that will massively lower the cost of your prescription drugs, and to give critically ill patients access to lifesaving cures, we passed the decades long-awaited RIGHT TO TRY legislation. We also passed VA Accountability and VA Choice. Our great veterans, we're taking care of our veterans. 91% approval rating this month, the VA, given by our veterans. First time anything like that's ever happened. By the end of my first term, we will have approved more than 300 federal judges, including two great new Supreme Court Justices. To bring prosperity to our forgotten inner cities, we worked hard to pass historic criminal justice reform, prison reform, opportunity zones, the long-term funding of historically black colleges and universities, and, before the China Virus came in, produced the best unemployment numbers for African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Asian-Americans ever recorded. I have done more for the African-American community than any president since Abraham Lincoln, our first Republican president. I have done more in three years for the black community than Joe Biden has done in 47 yearsand when I'm reelected, the best is yet to come! When I took office, the Middle East was in total chaos. ISIS was rampaging, Iran was on the rise, and the war in Afghanistan had no end in sight. I withdrew from the terrible, one-sided Iran Nuclear Deal. Unlike many presidents before me, I kept my promise, recognized Israel's true capital and moved our Embassy to Jerusalem. But not only did we talk about it as a future site, we got it built. Rather than spending $1 billion on a new building as planned, we took an already owned existing building in a better location, and opened it at a cost of less than $500,000. We also recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and this month we achieved the first Middle East peace deal in 25 years. Thank you to UAE, thank you to Israel. In addition, we obliterated 100 percent of the ISIS Caliphate, and killed its founder and leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Then, in a separate operation, we eliminated the world's number one terrorist, Qasem Soleimani. Unlike previous administrations, I have kept America OUT of new wars and our troops are coming home. We have spent nearly $2.5 trillion on completely rebuilding our military, which was very badly depleted when I took office. This includes three separate pay raises for our great warriors. We also launched the Space Force, the first new branch of the United States military since the Air Force was created almost 75 years ago. We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years. Biden's record is a shameful roll call of the most catastrophic betrayals and blunders in our lifetime. He has spent his entire career on the wrong side of history. Biden voted for the NAFTA disaster, the single worst trade deal ever enacted; he supported China's entry into the World Trade Organization, one of the greatest economic disasters of all time. After those Biden calamities, the United States lost 1 in 4 manufacturing jobs. The laid off workers in Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and many other states didn't want Joe Biden's hollow words of empathy, they wanted their jobs back! As Vice President, he supported the Trans Pacific Partnership which would have been a death sentence for the U.S. Auto Industry; he backed the horrendous South Korea trade deal, which took many jobs from our country. He repeatedly supported mass amnesty for illegal immigrants. He voted FOR the Iraq War; he opposed the mission to take out Osama bin Laden; he opposed killing Soleimani; he oversaw the rise of ISIS, and cheered the rise of China as "a positive development" for America and the world. That's why China supports Joe Biden and desperately wants him to win. China would own our country if Joe Biden got elected. Unlike Biden, I will hold them fully accountable for the tragedy they caused. MORE: Trump steps up using White House as RNC backdrop despite ethical, legal concerns In recent months, our nation, and the rest of the world, has been hit with a once-in-a-century pandemic that China allowed to spread around the globe. We are grateful to be joined tonight by several of our incredible nurses and first responders please stand and accept our profound thanks. Many Americans have sadly lost friends and cherished loved ones to this horrible disease. As one nation, we mourn, we grieve, and we hold in our hearts forever the memories of all of those lives so tragically taken. In their honor, we will unite. In their memory, we will overcome. When the China Virus hit, we launched the largest national mobilization since World War II. Invoking the Defense Production Act, we produced the world's largest supply of ventilators. Not a single American who has needed a ventilator has been denied a ventilator. We shipped hundreds of millions of masks, gloves and gowns to our front line healthcare workers. To protect our nation's seniors, we rushed supplies, testing kits, and personnel to nursing homes and long term care facilities. The Army Corps of Engineers built field hospitals, and the Navy deployed our great hospital ships. We developed, from scratch, the largest and most advanced testing system in the world. America has tested more than every country in Europe put together, and more than every nation in the Western Hemisphere COMBINED. We have conducted 40 million more tests than the next closest nation. We developed a wide array of effective treatments, including a powerful anti-body treatment known as Convalescent Plasma that will save thousands of lives. Thanks to advances we have pioneered, the fatality rate has been reduced by 80 percent since April. The United States has among the lowest case fatality rates of any major country in the world. The European Union's case fatality rate is nearly three times higher than ours. But you don't hear about that. They don't write about that. They don't want you to know about that. Altogether, the nations of Europe have experienced a 30 percent greater increase in excess mortality than the United States. We enacted the largest package of financial relief in American history. Thanks to our Paycheck Protection Program, we have saved or supported more than 50 million American jobs. As a result, we have seen the smallest economic contraction of any major western nation, and we are recovering much faster. Over the past three months, we have gained over 9 million jobs and that's a record in the history of our country. PHOTO: President Donald Trump delivers his acceptance speech for the Republican Party nomination for reelection during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the White House on Aug. 27, 2020, in Washington. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) Unfortunately, from the beginning, our opponents have shown themselves capable of nothing but a partisan ability to criticize. When I took bold action to issue a travel ban on China, Joe Biden called it hysterical and xenophobic and then I introduced a ban in Europe very early again. If we had listened to Joe, hundreds of thousands more Americans would have died. Instead of following the science, Joe Biden wants to inflict a painful shutdown on the entire country. His shutdown would inflict unthinkable and lasting harm on our nation's children, families, and citizens of all backgrounds. The cost of the Biden shutdown would be measured in increased drug overdoses, depression, alcohol addiction, suicides, heart attacks, economic devastation and much more. Joe Biden's plan is not a solution to the virus, but rather a surrender. My Administration has a different approach. To save as many lives as possible, we are focusing on the science, the facts and the data. We are aggressively sheltering those at highest risk especially the elderly while allowing lower-risk Americans to safely return to work and school. Most importantly, we are marshalling America's scientific genius to produce a vaccine in RECORD TIME. Under Operation Warp Speed, we have three different vaccines in the final stage of trials right now, years ahead of what has been achieved before. We are producing them in advance, so that hundreds of millions of doses will be quickly available. We will have a safe and effective vaccine this year, and together we will crush the virus. At the Democrat convention, you barely heard a word about their agenda. But that's not because they don't have one. It's because their agenda is the most extreme set of proposals ever put forward by a major party nominee. Joe Biden may claim he is an "ally of the Light," but when it comes to his agenda, Biden wants to keep us completely in the dark. He doesn't have a clue. He has pledged a $4 trillion tax hike on almost all American families, which will totally collapse our rapidly improving economy and once again record stock markets that we have right now will also collapse. On the other hand, just as I did in my first term, I will cut taxes even further for hardworking moms and dads. I will not raise taxes. I will cut them and very substantially. We will also provide tax credits to bring jobs out of China BACK to America and we will impose tariffs on any company that leaves America to produce jobs overseas. We'll make sure our companies and jobs stay in our country, as I've already been doing. Joe Biden's agenda is Made in China. My agenda is MADE IN THE USA. Biden has promised to abolish the production of American oil, coal, shale, and natural gas laying waste to the economies of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico. Millions of jobs will be lost, and energy prices will soar. These same policies led to crippling power outages in California just last week. How can Joe Biden claim to be an "ally of the Light" when his own party can't even keep the lights on? Joe Biden's campaign has even published a 110-page policy platform co-authored with Far-Left Senator crazy Bernie Sanders. The Biden-Bernie Manifesto calls for suspending ALL removals of illegal aliens, implementing nationwide Catch-and-Release; and providing illegal aliens with free taxpayer-funded lawyers. Everybody gets a lawyer. Come on over to our country. Everybody has a lawyer. We have a lawyer for you. That's what we need is more lawyers. Joe Biden recently raised his hand on the debate stage and promised to give away YOUR healthcare dollars to illegal immigrants. He also supports deadly Sanctuary Cities that protect criminal aliens. He promised to end national security travel bans from Jihadist nations, and he pledged to increase refugee admissions by 700 percent. This is inthe manifesto. The Biden Plan would eliminate America's borders in the middle of a global pandemic. And he's even talking about taking the wall down? How about that? Biden also vowed to oppose School Choice and close down Charter Schools, ripping away the ladder of opportunity for Black and Hispanic children. In a second term, I will EXPAND charter schools and provide SCHOOL CHOICE to every family in America. And we will always treat our teachers with the tremendous respect they deserve. Joe Biden claims he has empathy for the vulnerable yet the party he leads supports the extreme late-term abortion of defenseless babies right up to the moment of BIRTH. Democrat leaders talk about moral decency, but they have no problem with stopping a baby's beating heart in the 9th month of pregnancy. Democrat politicians refuse to protect innocent life, and then they lecture us about morality and saving America's soul? Tonight, we proudly declare that all children, born and unborn, have a GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO LIFE. During the Democrat Convention, the words "Under God" were removed from the Pledge of Allegiance not once, but twice. We will never do that. The fact is, this is where they are coming from. If the left gains power, they will demolish the suburbs, confiscate your guns, and appoint justices who will wipe away your Second Amendment and other Constitutional freedoms. Biden is a Trojan horse for socialism. If Joe Biden doesn't have the strength to stand up to wild-eyed Marxists like Bernie Sanders and his fellow radicals and there are many, many. We see them all the time. Then how is he ever going to stand up FOR you? He is not. The most dangerous aspect of the Biden Platform is the attack on public safety. The Biden-Bernie Manifesto calls for Abolishing cash bail, immediately releasing 400,000 criminals onto your streets and into your neighborhoods. When asked if he supports cutting police funding, Joe Biden replied, "Yes, absolutely." When Congresswoman Ilhan Omar called the Minneapolis police department a cancer that is "rotten to the root," Biden wouldn't disavow her support and reject her endorsement he proudly displayed it on his website. He displayed it in big letters. Make no mistake, if you give power to Joe Biden, the radical left will Defund Police Departments all across America. They will pass federal legislation to reduce law enforcement nationwide. They will make every city look like Democrat-run Portland, Oregon. No one will be safe in Biden's America. My administration will always stand with the men and women of law enforcement. Every day, police officers risk their lives to keep us safe, and every year, many sacrifice their lives in the line of duty. One of these incredible Americans was Detective Miosotis Familia. She was part of a team of American Heroes called the NYPD or New York's Finest who I was very, very proud to get their endorsement just the other day. Great people. Great, great people. If they were allowed to do their job, you have no crime in New York. Rudy Giuliani knows that better than anybody. Thank you, Rudy. Three years ago on Fourth of July weekend, Detective Familia was on duty in her vehicle when she was ambushed just after midnight and murdered by a monster who hated her purely for wearing the badge. Detective Familia was a single mom she'd recently asked for the night shift so she could spend more time with her kids. Two years ago, I stood in front of the U.S. Capitol alongside those children, and held their Grandmother's hand as they mourned their terrible loss and we honored Detective Familia's extraordinary life. Detective Familia's three children are with us this evening. Genesis, Peter, and Delilah, we are so grateful to have you here tonight. I promise you that we will treasure your mom in our memories forever. We must remember that the overwhelming majority of police officers in this country are noble, courageous and honorable. We have to give law enforcement, our police, back their power. They are afraid to act. They are afraid to lose their pension. They are afraid to lose their jobs, and by being afraid they are not able to do their jobs. And those who suffer most are the great people who they want so desperately to protect. When there is police misconduct, the justice system must hold wrongdoers fully and completely accountable, and it will. But what we can never have in America and must never allow is MOB RULE. 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. There is violence and danger in the streets of many Democrat-run cities throughout America. This problem could easily be fixed if they wanted to. We must always have law and order. All federal crimes are being investigated, prosecuted, and punished to the fullest extent of the law. When the anarchists started ripping down our statues and monuments, I signed an order, ten years in prison, and it was a miracle, it all stopped. No more statues. They said that's just too long as they looked at a statue, I think we'll rip it down. Then they said ten years in prison, I think that's too long. Let's go home. During their convention, Joe Biden and his supporters remained completely silent about the rioters and criminals spreading mayhem in contract-run cities. They never even mentioned it during their entire convention. Never once mentioned. Now they're starting to mention it because their poll numbers are going down like a rock in water. It's too late, Joe. In the face of left-wing anarchy and mayhem in Minneapolis, Chicago and other cities, Joe Biden's campaign did not condemn it. They donated to it. At least 13 members of Joe Biden's campaign staff donated to a fund to bail out vandals, arsonists, anarchists, looters and rioters from jail. MORE: Trump steamrolls norms with White House convention speech, raising ethics concerns Here tonight is the grieving family of retired police Captain David Dorn, a 38-year veteran of the St. Louis Police Department. In June, Captain Dorn was shot and killed as he tried to protect a store from rioters and looters. We are honored to be joined tonight by his wife Ann and beloved family members: Brian and Kielen. To each of you: we will never forget the heroic legacy of Captain David Dorn. As long as I am President, I will defend the absolute right of every American citizen to live in security, dignity, and peace. If the Democrat Party wants to stand with anarchists, agitators, rioters, looters, and flag-burners, that is up to them, but I, as your President, will not be a part of it. The Republican Party will remain the voice of the patriotic heroes who keep America Safe. Last year, over 1,000 African-Americans were murdered as result of violent crime in just four Democrat-run cities. The top 10 most dangerous cities in the country are run by Democrats, and have been for decades. Thousands more African-Americans are victims of violent crime in these communities Joe Biden and the left ignore these American Victims. I NEVER WILL. If the Radical Left takes power, they will apply their disastrous policies to every city, town, and suburb in America. Just imagine if the so-called peaceful demonstrators in the streets were in charge of every lever of power in the U.S. Government. Liberal politicians claim to be concerned about the strength of American institutions. But who, exactly, is attacking them? Who is hiring the radical professors, judges, and prosecutors? Who is trying to abolish immigration enforcement, and establish speech codes designed to muzzle dissent? In every case, the attacks on American institutions are being waged by the radical left. Always Remember: they are coming after ME, because I am fighting for YOU. We must reclaim our independence from the left's repressive mandates. Americans are exhausted trying to keep up with the latest list of approved words and phrases, and the ever-more restrictive political decrees. Many things have a different name now, and the rules are constantly changing. The goal of cancel culture is to make decent Americans live in fear of being fired, expelled, shamed, humiliated, and driven from society as we know it. The far-left wants to coerce you into saying what you know to be FALSE, and scare you out of saying what you know to be TRUE. But on November 3rd, you can send them a thundering message they will never forget! Joe Biden is weak. He takes his marching orders from liberal hypocrites who drive their cities into the ground while fleeing far from the scene of the wreckage. These same liberals want to eliminate school choice, while they enroll their children in the finest private schools in the land. They want to open our borders while living in walled-off compounds and communities. They want to defund the police, while they have armed guards for themselves. This November, we must turn the page FOREVER on this failed political class. The fact is, I'm here, and they're not and that's because of YOU. Together, we will write the next chapter of the Great American Story. Over the next four years, we will make America into the Manufacturing Superpower of the World. We will expand Opportunity Zones, bring home our medical supply chains, and we will end our reliance on China once and for all. We will continue to reduce taxes and regulations at levels not seen before. We will create 10 million jobs in the next 10 months. We will hire MORE police, increase penalties for assaults on law enforcement, and surge federal prosecutors into high-crime communities. We will BAN deadly Sanctuary Cities, and ensure that federal healthcare is protected for American Citizens not illegal aliens. We will have strong borders, strike down terrorists who threaten our people, and keep America OUT of endless and costly foreign wars. We will appoint prosecutors, judges, and justices who believe in enforcing the LAW not their own political agenda. We will ensure equal justice for citizens of every race, religion, color and creed. We will uphold your religious liberty, and defend your Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. We will protect Medicare and Social Security. We will always, and very strongly, protect patients with pre-existing conditions, and that is a pledge from the entire Republican Party. We will END surprise medical billing, require price transparency, and further reduce the cost of prescription drugs and health insurance premiums. We will greatly expand energy development, continuing to remain number one in the world, and keep America Energy Independent. We will win the race to 5G, and build the world's best cyber and missile defense. We will fully restore patriotic education to our schools, and always protect free speech on college campuses. We will launch a new age of American Ambition in Space. America will land the first WOMAN on the moon and the United States will be the first nation to plant its beautiful flag on Mars. This is the unifying national agenda that will bring our country TOGETHER. So tonight, I say again to all Americans: This is the most important election in the history of our country. There has never been such a difference between two parties, or two individuals, in ideology, philosophy, or vision than there is right now. Our opponents believe that America is a depraved nation. We want our sons and daughters to know the truth: America is the greatest and most exceptional nation in the history of the world! Our country wasn't built by cancel culture, speech codes, and soul-crushing conformity. We are NOT a nation of timid spirits. We are a nation of fierce, proud, and independent American Patriots. We are a nation of pilgrims, pioneers, adventurers, explorers and trailblazers who refused to be tied down, held back, or reined in. Americans have steel in their spines, grit in their souls, and fire in their hearts. There is no one like us on earth. I want every child in America to know that you are part of the most exciting and incredible adventure in human history. No matter where your family comes from, no matter your background, in America, ANYONE CAN RISE. With hard work, devotion, and drive, you can reach any goal and achieve every ambition. Our American Ancestors sailed across the perilous ocean to build a new life on a new continent. They braved the freezing winters, crossed the raging rivers, scaled the rocky peaks, trekked the dangerous forests, and worked from dawn till dusk. These pioneers didn't have money, they didn't have fame but they had each other. They loved their families, they loved their country, and they loved their God! When opportunity beckoned, they picked up their Bibles, packed up their belongings, climbed into covered wagons, and set out West for the next adventure. Ranchers and miners, cowboys and sheriffs, farmers and settlers they pressed on past the Mississippi to stake a claim in the Wild Frontier. Legends were born Wyatt Earp, Annie Oakley, Davy Crockett, and Buffalo Bill. Americans built their beautiful homesteads on the Open Range. Soon they had churches and communities, then towns, and with time, great centers of industry and commerce. That is who they were. Americans build the future, we don't tear down the past! We are the nation that won a revolution, toppled tyranny and fascism, and delivered millions into freedom. We laid down the railroads, built the great ships, raised up the skyscrapers, revolutionized industry, and sparked a new age of scientific discovery. We set the trends in art and music, radio and film, sport and literature and we did it all with style, confidence and flair. Because THAT is who we are. Whenever our way of life was threatened, our heroes answered the call. From Yorktown to Gettysburg, from Normandy to Iwo Jima, American Patriots raced into cannon blasts, bullets and bayonets to rescue American Liberty. But America didn't stop there. We looked into the sky and kept pressing onward. We built a 6 million pound rocket, and launched it thousands of miles into space. We did it so that two brave patriots could stand tall and salute our wondrous American flag planted on the face of the Moon. For America, nothing is impossible. Over the next four years, we will prove worthy of this magnificent legacy. We will reach stunning new heights. And we will show the world that, for America, no dream is beyond our reach. Together, we are unstoppable. Together, we are unbeatable. Because together, we are the proud CITIZENS of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. And on November 3rd, we will make America safer, we will make America stronger, we will make America prouder, and we will make America GREATER than ever before! Thank you, God Bless You. God Bless America GOODNIGHT! FULL TEXT: Donald Trump's 2020 Republican National Convention speech originally appeared on abcnews.go.com That's all for tonight's blog. Another week, another drubbing for the diabolical Broncos. It's hard to know where to look for Brisbane fans. That was as bad a performance as they have dished up all season. There is no Anthony Seibold to blame now. Both Kevin Walters and Paul Green must have watched that match in horror. There is so much work to be done to rebuild one of the NRL's great clubs, who are now an absolute basket case. Thanks for tuning in. See you all this time next week. President Akufo-Addo yesterday cut the sod for the commencement of works on the Keta Water Expansion project in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region. When completed, the project is expected to supply potable water to over 400,000 people in three areas Keta Municipality, Anloga District and South Tongu District. Some of the beneficiary communities include Agordome, Sogakope, Keta, Anloga and surrounding areas, including places like Kpodze, Kpotame, Vume, Tefle, Sokpoe, Dabala Junction, Tregui, Badadzi, Havedzi, Adzeto, Tegbi, Hovi-Aferdome, Kedzi, and Nukpesekope. Cutting the sod in the Anlo State, President Akufo-Addo said it is one of the major promises he made in 2016, which was 'water for all people' irrespective of location. He said the funding for the water project had been secured and everything would be done to ensure the completion of the project to bring relief to the people. He announced that with the recent completion of feasibility studies on the Keta Harbour, actual construction would start next year, adding that to make that possible, an Executive Instrument had been signed for demarcation of lands for the harbour enclave. The Awomefia of the Anlo State, Torgbui Sri III, assured the President of the unflinching support of the people as regards the development of Anlo and the entire region. He expressed gratitude to the President for the creation of the Anloga District, saying the people are solidly behind you for accelerated growth and development of the district. He gave an assurance that his appointment, as sole mediator in the Bimbilla chieftaincy dispute, would yield fruitful results and commended the President for the successful management of the Covid-19 pandemic, including the provision of free water and subsidized power. Torgbui Sri appealed to the President to construct the 20-km road at Agortoe-Tregui-Bleamedzado-Bekpo, as well as the Alakple and Bomigo roads, which are in a deplorable state and also a Sea Defence at Woveme. The 97.18 million credit facility agreement between the government and the Deutsche Bank, with support from the Italian Export Credit Agency, was approved by Parliament in March for the project. The project is expected to, among others, have an intake facility with a capacity of 9.3 million gallons per day, a 7.7 million gallons conventional water treatment plant and a 62-kilometre (km) transmission pipeline from Agordome to Keta through Anloga. It will also have a booster station and storage tanks, a rehabilitated and extended distribution network with approximately 80 km of pipes, the supply of 8,000 domestic metres and spare parts, as well as the rehabilitation of the existing water treatment plant to a new capacity of 78,200m3 per day. ---Daily Guide Representatives of the criminal world, including citizens of Azerbaijan had gathered in one of the halls in Moscow to pay tribute to criminal authority Nadir Salifov (also known as Lotu Guli) killed in Turkey, DailyStorm reports. Russian police officers barged into the hall during the ceremony commemorating Lotu Guli, interrupted the ceremony, laid the apprehended on the floor and started an interrogation. In the video posted on the Internet, one of the apprehended declared that the participants of the ceremony had come to pay tribute to Nadir Salifov and that they were all relatives of the latter. As reported earlier, post-Soviet criminal authority Nadir Salifov (Lotu Guli) was killed by Turkish security officer Khagan Zeynalov after receiving a firearm injury in the back of his neck. The shooter, who tried to escape, was apprehended by Turkish police officers. The funeral of the thief in law was held in Turkey, and his relatives and close ones were attending the ceremony. The Alabama Supreme Court today denied a request by former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard for a rehearing in his ethics case, marking the end of his appeals in state court, according to Attorney General Steve Marshall. The attorney generals office said that under state law Hubbard now has 15 days to report to the Lee County sheriffs office to begin the process of serving his sentence. He has been out on bond pending his appeal since he received a four-year sentence in 2016. The long road to justice is finally nearing its end for former Speaker Mike Hubbard, Marshall said in a statement. Today, the Alabama Supreme Court effectively reaffirmed its April 10 ruling upholding six counts of Mr. Hubbards conviction of violating Alabamas ethics law. The court denied Mr. Hubbards application for rehearing and issued a certificate of judgment requiring the former speaker to report to begin serving his prison sentence. According to Alabama criminal statutes, Mr. Hubbards State appeals now have been exhausted and all that remains is for him to report to the Lee County Sheriffs Office to be processed and turned over to the Alabama Department of Corrections. Mr. Hubbard can no longer avoid being held accountable for his flagrant violations of Alabamas ethics law. Related: 6-year saga: Timeline of Mike Hubbards ethics case. Joel Dillard, one of Hubbards attorneys, said the defense team has advised Hubbard to file a federal court appeal. The next step for review of the remaining counts against Mike, that were not reversed by the Alabama appellate courts, is review by the United States Supreme Court, Dillard said. We have recommended this to Mike, and are optimistic that a full measure of appellate relief can be obtained in this manner. In April, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled on Hubbards appeal, upholding six of the felony ethics charges against the former speaker, who was found guilty by a Lee County jury in 2016. The justices overturned five other convictions. This morning, the court announced the decision to deny the request for a rehearing. It was a 6-1 decision. Chief Justice Tom Parker and associate justices Michael Bolin, Tommy Bryan, Brad Mendheim, Sarah Stewart, and Kelli Wise concurred in the decision. Associate Justice Will Sellers dissented. Associate justices Jay Mitchell and Greg Shaw recused. Lee County Circuit Judge Jacob Walker sentenced Hubbard to four years in prison and 16 years on probation in July 2016. Hubbard has remained free on bond during his appeal. Hubbard, 58, was one of Alabamas most powerful politicians when the convictions removed him from the speakers office four years ago. Prosecutors said he used his public office to enrich himself, partly through consulting contracts. Hubbard has maintained his innocence since his indictment in 2014 and said the transactions that led to the charges were normal business activities not related to his public office. He testified for three days during his 2016 trial. The six convictions involved consulting contracts with three companies that paid Hubbard a total of $525,000 while he was speaker, from 2012 to 2014. Hubbard is a former state Republican Party chair who led a statewide GOP campaign that won majorities in the Legislature in 2010, ending 136 years of Democratic control of the State House. Hubbards colleagues picked him as speaker and he presided over a special session to strengthen the states ethics laws that would later come into play during his criminal case. As weve previously stated, this case was not just a trial of former Speaker Hubbards misconduct, but also a test of our ethics law, Attorney General Marshall said. Hubbard campaigned in 2010 on the message that Alabama sorely needed a stronger ethics law. Our ethics laws must be strengthened and protected in order to prevent a repeat of such cavalier violations in the future. This story will be updated. Since its Islamic revolution in 1979, Iran's foreign policy motto has been "neither East nor West," based on first Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's warning to avoid dependence on outsiders. Under the pressure of U.S. measures aimed at crippling its economy, however, Iran has grown ever closer to America's principal rival, China, and vice versa. The two are said to be contemplating a 25-year strategic partnership. 1. Why now? The roots of a stronger alliance were planted in 2016, when Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited Iran a year after it agreed to limits on its nuclear program in exchange for a lifting of related sanctions by world powers including China. In 2018, President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the agreement, arguing he could get a better deal out of Iran. The U.S. began reimposing old sanctions and adding new ones, contributing to an economic contraction in Iran that the International Monetary Fund projects will reach 6% this year. Iranian officials initially looked to Europe to deliver the trade and investment benefits they'd expected from the nuclear deal, but European entities for the most part have balked, unwilling to risk violating U.S. secondary sanctions. China, on the other hand, is the only country that's continued to purchase Iranian crude, and it is dangling the prospect of investments across Iran's economy. 2. What's in it for China? With the world's second largest economy, China is keen to ensure steady supplies of oil. China's biggest supplier is Saudi Arabia, but Iranian crude diversifies China's sources. It's not clear what details, if any, have been finalized between Iran and China in their agreement. But the publication Petroleum Economist reported that China will be able to buy Iranian oil, gas and petrochemical products at considerable discounts, with payments delayed by as long as two years, using currencies other than U.S. dollars, which helps get around U.S. sanctions. 3. What's the background to their relationship? China became a major buyer of Iranian crude oil in the 1990s. As its economy grew in the 2000s, China's investment in and broader commercial ties with Iran expanded, too. When the European Union sanctioned Iran's oil industry in 2012, China replaced the EU as the largest buyer of Iranian crude. By 2018, Iran-China trade had more than doubled from its 2006 level. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's government has often professed a desire to attract European expertise, but since the U.S. quit the nuclear deal, Iran's hard-line politicians have become increasingly hostile to the idea of closer ties with European countries and have often called for expanded relations with China and Russia instead. For its part, China, driven in part by its trade war with the U.S., has become more vocal in its criticisms of U.S. policy toward Iran and more defensive of the nuclear deal. 4. What does the partnership entail? In June, Iranian news agencies aligned with the country's hard-liners reported that the agreement -- purported copies of which had been circulating on messaging apps -- would lock Iran into years of contracts in a deal worth $400 billion without any parliamentary oversight. After a backlash on social media ensued, the government tried to downplay the plans. Officials repeatedly denied that the deal would be worth $400 billion, and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif insisted there was no formal contract between the two countries. Ali Aghamohammadi, economic adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, did say in an interview with state TV July 3 that the partnership covers "all the sectors that come under our economic plans: oil, gas, research and development, advanced technologies, like 5G." 5. Why was there a backlash in Iran? Reports of the partnership sparked fears it would leave Iran financially dependent on China for decades. The heavy toll of covid-19 in Iran has provoked scrutiny of relations with China: Officials said the disease arrived in the country via Iranian merchants traveling from China, and flights continued between the two countries despite an official ban. In a rare rebuke of the government, conservative politician Ali Motahari, a former lawmaker, tweeted on April 6, "Our struggle with the U.S. wasn't supposed to result in our dependence on China!" after a spat on Twitter between China's ambassador to Iran and a health ministry official angered him and many other Iranians. 6. What are the larger implications of the partnership? The alliance is in part a result of the weakening of U.S. influence around the world, especially the Middle East, and could accelerate that trend. It supports China's massive Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at reviving and extending the ancient Silk Road trading routes via networks of upgraded or new railways, ports, pipelines, power grids and highways. A broader Chinese footprint in Iran may make it harder for European companies to regain their share of markets there in a future less restricted by U.S. sanctions. Former president Pranab Mukherjee is under intensive care and is being treated for a lung infection and renal dysfunction, the Indian Armys Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi said in a medical bulletin on Friday. He continues to be in a deep coma and on ventilator support. He is haemodynamically stable, the hospital said. A patient is haemodynamically stable when the blood circulation parameters such as blood pressure, heart and pulse rate are stable and normal. The 84-year-old leader was admitted to the hospital on August 10 and underwent critical brain surgery to remove a clot after he suffered a fall at his home a day before. He has also tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Mukherjees daughter and son - Congress leaders Sharmistha Mukherjee and Abhijit Mukherjee - regularly tweet updates on their fathers health. They have also rubbished speculation and fake news about his health. Abhijit Mukherjee had earlier said his father was showing positive signs of improvement. However, on August 19, his condition declined as he developed a lung infection. On August 20, his respiratory parameters had shown a slight improvement but he continued to remain on ventilator support. Soon after the news of his hospitalisation, wishes poured in from various quarters for his early recovery and a number of leaders sent their wishes on Twitter. While President Ram Nath Kovind spoke with Sharmistha Mukherjee and enquired about his health, defence minister Rajnath Singh had visited the hospital. Special prayers were organised in Mukherjees ancestral village in West Bengals Birbhum district after he was hospitalised. Mukherjee was the 13th President of India from 2012 to 2017. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna - Indias highest civilian award - last August. Covid-19 Update 44 The Move to Level Two Level two will allow more staff and students to return to campus. Faculties will invite carefully selected cohorts of students to return. Dear Members of the Wits Community We have reached level 2 of the national lockdown and although infection rates are declining, the virus is still circulating. Please continue to observe all COVID-19 protocols (social distancing, wear a mask, no large gatherings and sanitise or wash your hands regularly and properly). This week, Dr Blade Nzimande, the Minister of Higher Education and Training in a speech stipulated that universities are allowed to bring back up to two thirds of staff and students to campuses. In light of this announcement, the Senior Executive Team has agreed to allow more students and staff to return, as per the Universitys phased reopening plan. Implications for Students In keeping with the new regulations and to ensure that we comply with the health and safety protocols set out in the amended Disaster Management Act and Regulations, some faculties will invite carefully selected cohorts of students to return to campus, to participate in a combination of contact and online teaching and learning programmes. Please check your student emails regularly for communication from your faculty. Should you not be invited to return to campus, please continue with online learning from home. The resumption of some services will commence in a phased in manner, in line with the Universitys return to campus plans. Students who are unable to study from home for various reasons may be brought back to residences on social justice grounds. The Dean of Student Affairs is managing this process carefully, as only two thirds of Wits residences are allowed to be occupied, with the requisite social distancing and other protocols in place. Applications from students who applied to return are being carefully considered given the limited number of beds available and in compliance with health and safety protocols. Invitations to return will be issued during the course of next week. Implications for Staff Employees, in consultation with their line managers, will continue to work from home where appropriate, and will return to campus if they are requested to do so by their line manager. Updated Term Dates The latest 2020 term dates and 2021 term dates have been published. 2020 Term Dates Activity Date Number of weekdays Third and Fourth Teaching Blocks (including Faculty specific requirements which may mean curriculum covered in shorter or more extended period / mid-term break / field trips /study break / boot camps and labs)* 13 Jul-23 Oct 77 Days Study Break / Extended teaching period in Science / Field trips / Boot camps 26 Oct-30 Oct 5 Days Assessment period 1 ** Assessment period 1 Science only 02 Nov-27 Nov 09 Nov-27 Nov 20 Days 15 Days Vacation 16 Dec * Academic calendar may be extended to allow for faculty specific additional teaching period as well as academic support for those cohorts of students identified by faculties so that they are eligible to be assessed in assessment period 2 ** Sit down and online assessments (to be determined by faculty) 2021 Term Dates (including conclusion of 2020 academic calendar) The complete 2021 Almanac will be published in the coming weeks. Activity Date Number of weekdays Assessment period 2 (will include supplementary and deferred assessments) 11-25 Jan 11 Days New and returning postgraduate student registration and orientation 15-19 Feb 5 Days Term starts for new and returning postgraduate students 22 Feb Returning undergraduate students registration 22-27 Feb 6 Days Welcome Day 28 Feb First year online and one-stop-shop registration and orientation 01 -05 Mar 5 Days Term starts for undergraduate returning and first year students 08 Mar Notes: The Faculty of Health Sciences term dates differ from those of the University and they may commence with lectures as early as the first working day in January. Consult the Universitys website for more detailed information about dates of registration for different cohorts of students. Number of COVID-19 infections Two staff members and ten students reported testing positive for COVID-19 during the past week. These include staff members who are working from home. Affected staff members and students are self-isolating in line with government directives and University protocols. of infections 21 28 August 2020 22 June 28 August Staff 2 98 Students 10 177 The data provided in the table is based on the number of infections reported to the OHSE Office and the Campus Health and Wellness Centre. It is with sadness that we announce the passing of two staff members this week Ms Gugulethu Khumalo, an employee in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, and Ms Simangele Betty Nzima from the Services Department. Ms Khumalo joined Wits in 2019 and assumed responsibility for all faculty-related academic administration for the School of Mining Engineering. She was well-known for her methodical approach to her work and her excellent organisational skills. Her integrity earned her the trust of her colleagues in a very short time and they recall how easily she integrated into the Wits environment. Prior to joining Wits, she worked at the University of Johannesburg in various positions. Ms Nzima served Wits since 2014 and worked at the Wits Junction Residence Complex for almost six years until her untimely death. She was passionate about her duties and often assumed a motherly role as she cared for her colleagues and students. She enjoyed working as part of a team, was high-spirited and joyful, and enjoyed listening to ballads and gospel music. She is survived by her three sons and her extended family. We extend our condolences to the family and friends of these colleagues. May they rest in peace. SENIOR EXECUTIVE TEAM 28 AUGUST 2020 UPDATE: Mayor rescinds $2,500 bill sent to N.J. teen who held Black Lives Matter protest When Emily Gil learned of the lack of affordable housing in Englewood Cliffs and the fact she believes Black residents are priced out of her Bergen County hometown she felt an urgent need to enact change. The 18-year-old, who graduated from Bergen County Technical School in June, organized a small, peaceful Black Lives Matter protest last month, she says. Englewood Cliffs has dodged affordable housing requirements for 40-plus years, Gil told NJ Advance Media. I find that unacceptable. Four days after the July 25 rally, Gil received a hefty bill for police overtime. Please promptly forward your payment to the borough in the amount of $2,499.26 for the police overtime caused by your protest, Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario M. Kranjac wrote in a letter. The letter provided to NJ Advance Media states that since Gil had refused to meet with officials ahead of the protest, the borough was left scrambling to provide security. Your lack of notification left the borough with little time to prepare for your protest so that the police department and department of public works could ensure that everyone would be safe, the letter states. Gil explained that borough officials had requested she meet with them in person but she declined due to concerns over the coronavirus. She offered to meet with them on Zoom instead but they didnt accept, she said. They kept pushing (an in-person meeting) and then they stopped responding to me, she said. Gil said only 30 to 40 people attended the rally, caused no disturbances and picked up their own trash. In an email, Gil complained about the overtime bill to Englewood Cliffs Police Chief William Henkelman. Henkelman wrote back that he had notified the borough of the extensive preparation required and the additional staffing that was needed, including overtime expenses. Gil said Friday she emailed the mayor about the legitimacy of the bill more than two weeks ago and that he has not responded. Kranjac told NJ Advance Media on Friday to say that the protesters First Amendment Rights to freedom of speech and to peaceably assemble were fully honored by the borough. Ms. Gil is misinformed when she links our affordable housing issues with her protest, and she is wrong when she writes that I voted against affordable housing, the mayor said. Everyone is welcome in Englewood Cliffs. The mayor said the bill was sent to Gil to cover the expense of providing security. As with any privately-sponsored event that takes place in the borough requiring police safety, an invoice was sent to the organizer for police overtime since it would be unfair to require our residents to financially support a private event, Kranjac said. Henkelman did not immediately respond Friday morning to requests for comment. Despite Kranjacs comments, Gil said she has reason to believe that it was because of my pro-affordable housing stance that Mr. Kranjac handled the situation this way. Englewood Cliffs is trying to intimidate and silence people who are standing up for Black Lives Matter and the implementation of affordable housing, she said. Emily Gil, 18, said she organized the Black Lives Matter rally in Englewood Cliffs over concerns about affordable housing issues in the borough.Courtesy of Emily Gil 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. BEIJING:A medical team on Wednesday departed from east China's Anhui Province to aid the anti-epidemic fight in South Sudan and the Republic of Guinea. The team consists of eight experts in the fields of infectious disease prevention and treatment, respiratory disease treatment, intensive care and nursing. They will stay in the two countries for about 20 days to help fight COVID-19, Xinhua news agency reported. "We will bring China's anti-epidemic experiences to local communities, and share our prevention and treatment plans combining the use of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine to help them combat the epidemic, " said Tong Jiabing, a respiratory physician of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine. The eighth batch of Chinese doctors to conduct a one-year medical assistance mission in South Sudan also set off from Anhui the same day. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Lord & Taylor is an iconic name in the department store business, its brand once synonymous with luxury. But its heydays are now firmly in the past as the company announced Thursday the closing of its 38 remaining stores. While we are still entertaining various opportunities, we believe it is prudent to simultaneously put the remainder of the stores into liquidation to maximize value of inventory for the estate while pursuing options for the Companys brands, Ed Kremer, the retailers chief restructuring officer, said in a release. Earlier this month, the company filed for bankruptcy and announced it was searching for a buyer. While that process plays out, going-out-of-business sales are now active at all Lord & Taylor stores and online at lordandtaylor.com. Shoppers can find discounts between 20-40% on most merchandise, including brands such as Vince Camuto, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Adidas and more. Even store fixtures, furniture and equipment are being sold. Lord & Taylor once had a location in Columbus, but the closest store to Cleveland now is 175 miles away in Novi, Michigan. Lord & Taylor was founded in 1826 as a seller of dry goods. It is credited as the first department store chain in the U.S. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Six months into the pandemic, there is talk of reexamining the 6 feet social distancing guideline. The BMJ released a report on Tuesday arguing 6 feet is only a minimum for safe social distancing. Instead of one official distance, researchers suggested a graded recommendation depending on factors including whether someone is singing versus talking or interacting indoors or outdoors. Dr. Emily Landon, executive medical director of infection prevention and control at the University of Chicago Medicine, said the paper could be a helpful resource. "I think this is a great chart that sort of gives you an understanding of why we have to keep the 6 feet (rule)," Landon said. She explained that COVID-19 is a virus spread through droplets, which don't usually travel past 6 feet. Although it is detected in aerosols, like coughing or sneezing, it's still unclear how much transmission is driven by those methods. Researchers created a chart within the report by which people can gauge the level of risk for indoor or outdoor gatherings, and whether someone is wearing a mask. Landon said the report could be helpful for people to calculate risk factors, like how many people are in a room and how far away we stand from one another. Dr. Michael Lin is an infectious disease specialist at Rush University Medical Center. He said the chart may not be easy for regular people to follow, since it's already difficult to get people to stick to masks, distancing and hand-washing. "I think it's well meaning but overly complicated and in public health, there's a real imperative to be clear on communication," Lin said. Lin also said distance is only one aspect of transmission. How long you're with someone is another factor. Passing by someone on the sidewalk is much different than standing and talking. "Because these types of encounters are brief and they're outdoors, I think the risk is negligible," Lin said. Standing outside at 6 feet apart with masks should be fine, Landon said, but inside is a different story. If you plan on eating in a restaurant, for example, she said 8 feet might be better than 6 feet since it means a number of people interacting in a small space. "Think about it as 10 people having a book club in your living room versus 10 people having a book club in a gymnasium," Landon said. Inside, Landon said, part of the concern is proper ventilation. Outside, there's an unlimited amount of fresh air so the virus can't become trapped. Indoors, without the introduction of new air, there may be an increased risk. In hospitals, ventilation systems exchange air at least six times in an hour. In regular buildings, like restaurants or libraries, there may be fewer air exchanges. Plus, turning up the heat or AC can make it difficult for common ventilation systems to filter air. Landon said indoors, both proper distance and wearing a mask are imperative. "When you're inside, it needs to be mask and distance so there's enough air to dilute any droplets that get out from around the mask, and the other people's masks around you," Landon said. Overall, both Lin and Landon said the 6 feet apart rule is still a decent guideline, plus wearing a mask whether you're inside or outside. The researchers of The BMJ report also noted that physical distance is only one factor and must be taken into consideration along with proper hygiene and masks. According to Landon, your arm span is the same as your height. She said to reach out and see if you can touch the other person. "If you're close enough that you could both reach out your arms and touch each other, you're too close," Landon said. Lin also said it's important not to relax on the guidelines. "I think it's so important not to become complacent with prevention. If we really do it to a high level, it absolutely makes a difference," Lin said. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2020 Chicago Tribune Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Taipei/New Delhi, Aug 28 : China on Friday threatened to conduct a "military mission" anytime from now till September 4 in the north of the Taiwan strait, provoking Taipei to warn Beijing against any attempt to annex the democratic island nation. Global Times, the mouthpiece of the Xi Jinping government, said that China's Maritime Safety Administration had announced that it was going to conduct a "military mission from Friday to September 4 in the Bohai strait and northern Yellow Sea". The Global Times also claimed that China had "expelled" and destroyed the US spy plane U-2, which flew in the Chinese-designated "no-fly zone" on Tuesday when China was conducting a live-fire naval drill in the Bohai Sea off its north coast. Ridiculing the US, the Global Times in a sarcastic piece wrote: "China's military museum invited US pilots to visit the U-2 wreckage following their recent trespassing into China's no-fly zone, which is applauded by Chinese netizens. Some said that it is ok if the US wants to provide more exhibits." Taking strong offence to the Chinese threats, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday vowed to defend the island with a "solid" air force while unveiling the island's US-backed maintenance centre for a fleet of upgraded F-16 fighters. "It takes solid defence capability, not bowing and cringing, to defend the sovereignty of the Republic of China and maintain regional peace and stability," Tsai said at an event in the central city of Taichung. The tensions in the region have escalated after China fired one intermediate-range ballistic missile, DF-26B, from the Qinghai Province and another medium-range ballistic missile, DF-21D, from Zhejiang Province on Wednesday into the South China Sea. However, US media reports said that China had fired four medium-range ballistic missiles during a series of military exercises this week. In response to the increased militarisation of the South China Sea, the US on Wednesday imposed an unprecedented visa ban on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime, People's Liberation Army and their businesses. Incidentally, the US is working with Taiwan to restructure global supply chains, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Brent Christensen said. "The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the risks of over-reliance on one country or supplier for critical materials, such as medical supplies and pharmaceuticals, and for industries that are of strategic importance to shared economies," Christensen said. Washington, he said, aims to diversify and bring supply chains closer to the end users, and ensure that countries like China do not hold supply chains hostage for political purposes. On Wednesday, Chinese company Huawei lost a significant lawsuit over technology licensing in a landmark case in the Supreme Court of the UK. Huawei was accused of infringing intellectual property belonging to the US company Unwired Planet, which had acquired patents covering wireless connectivity from Ericsson. In 2017, a high court in the UK had ordered the Chinese company to pay a global licence fee for infringing two UK patents. Huawei had appealed against the verdict in the Supreme Court, arguing that it should only pay license fees for the technology in the UK and not on its global sales. The apex court dismissed Huawei's appeal on Wednesday, at a time when Huawei is already under fire for its alleged links to the Chinese government. It has been banned by the UK government from supplying new kit for UK's 5G mobile phone networks from next year, in view of national security concerns. The front-runner to be the next Agriculture Minister, Charlie McConalogue, has been the subject of a data protection complaint. A constituent of the Fianna Fail junior minister complained to the Data Protection Commission (DPC) over a text message where the Donegal politician sought his "No 1 vote". Gerard Moyne from Inishowen - who has been involved in campaigns against illegal dumping in the area - received the message from Mr McConalogue on February 7, the evening before the general election. Mr Moyne took issue with the text message as he claims he was previously blocked by Fianna Fail social media accounts for asking questions about the dumping issue. He complained to the DPC that this was an unsolicited text message. Correspondence from a DPC investigations officer in July says Mr McConalogue told them he had Mr Moyne's number as he had previously made representations on his behalf. Mr Moyne disputes this, maintaining that he did not provide his number at the time of the representations. Mr McConalogue told the DPC that he removed the complainant's phone number from his records upon receipt of Mr Moyne's reply to the February 7 message. The letter suggests that Mr McConalogue could be issued with a warning. However, the investigation has yet to conclude. A DPC spokesperson said the commission could not comment on an ongoing case. Mr McConalogue said: "I have replied very comprehensively to the DPC's correspondence on this and await their response." Mr Moyne said he would like an apology from Mr McConalogue. He said all politicians should undertake not to hold their constituents' data for political purposes without explicit approval. Mr McConalogue was Fianna Fail's agriculture spokesman in the last Dail. He is widely seen as in pole position to take over from Dara Calleary. Spanish schoolchildren aged six and over must wear masks to class, the government announced on Thursday, unveiling a plan to reopen schools just days before the start of the new academic year. With Spain registering the highest prevalence of the coronavirus in western Europe and diagnosing thousands of new cases every day, there had been speculation the new term might be postponed in the worst-affected areas. But health minister Salvador Illa said that, while closing down schools could be necessary if multiple cases of the virus were detected across different classrooms, that would be the last resort. It would have to be studied on a case by case basis. This is not black and white, he said at a joint news conference with the ministers for education and regional policy. Since Spain came out of a strict lockdown at the end of June, transmission of the virus has rebounded fast. The health ministry diagnosed 3,594 new infections on Wednesday and has logged nearly 83,000 in the past two weeks. Nearly 29,000 people have died since the onset of the pandemic. Asked whether concerned parents would have the right to keep their children at home, education minister Isabel Celaa said schools were safer than other places. It is mandatory to go to class. For anyone who is afraid, I must say that we have been working since day one for a safe environment, she said, acknowledging there was no place with zero risk. Besides mask use, children must keep a distance of 1.5 metres from each other, while primary school students will be assigned to small groups to take all classes and break times. Prior to the announcement, Spains 17 regions had prepared their own back-to-school plans, all featuring variations of mask wearing, hygiene measures and reduced class sizes. Teachers, students and parents have criticised the central government for waiting until the last minute to announce the nationwide rules. (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 WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) People around the world looked on in awe at the spectacular satellite images of an undersea volcano erupting in a giant mushroom cloud in the Pacific. Many wondered why the blast was so big, how the resulting tsunami traveled so far, and what will happen next. Sinn Feins Martina Anderson (right) with deputy leader Michelle ONeill at the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland after handing in her nomination papers to run in the European elections. Sinn Fein MLA Martina Anderson has apologised for claiming a compensation scheme for those injured in the Troubles was mainly for those who fought Britains dirty war. The comment sparked anger and hurt among the victims community, many of whom have been campaigning for years to secure the payments which have been repeatedly delayed due to political rows over who should qualify. Ms Anderson deleted her original tweet amid a furious backlash. Statement in relation to Martina Anderson pension comments: pic.twitter.com/8IjHspcgqA Michelle ONeill (@moneillsf) August 26, 2020 Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill said she contacted Ms Anderson over the tweet, told her it was ill considered and would cause hurt and offence to victims. I told her she should delete the tweet, she added. The original tweet claimed the compensation scheme would discriminate, criminalise and exclude those with paramilitary convictions. It claimed the payments would mostly go to those involved in collusion and British troops for instance, paratroopers involved in shootings in Ballymurphy in west Belfast in 1971 and on Bloody Sunday in 1972 adding they were mainly for those who fought Britains dirty war in Ireland. Jennifer McNern, who lost lost both legs in an IRA bomb attack on the Abercorn Restaurant in 1972, said victims have campaigned for more than a decade for people who have been injured through no fault of their own. If you see the people who are applying for this pension they are blind, they are paralysed and they are amputees, she told the BBC. That is the people who will avail of this pension when it opens. Expand Close Belfast bomb victim Jennifer McNern (centre) (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Belfast bomb victim Jennifer McNern (centre) (Liam McBurney/PA) On Wednesday the Sinn Fein MLA issued an apology for the tweet. She posted that she apologised unreservedly for the hurt and offence caused by my tweet to people who suffered serious harm during the conflict here. My comments were clumsy, were not directed at them and it was never my intention to cause them any hurt, Ms Anderson wrote. All victims of the conflict deserve acknowledgement of their pain and loss, and I support them in their efforts to get their pension. Ms ONeill welcomed the apology. Martina has since apologised. Let me restate that all victims deserve acknowledgement of their loss and pain and both I and we in Sinn Fein support them in their efforts to get what they are entitled to, she said. Martina may well have apologised for her last insulting tweet regarding the Victims Pension Scheme..... But this Sinn Fein #misinformation remains and in doing so creates confusion, anger and hurt. https://t.co/8PX9uXcBnV Doug Beattie (@BeattieDoug) August 26, 2020 Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie acknowledged the apology but pressed for Sinn Fein to make their views on the matter known. Martina may well have apologised for her last insulting tweet regarding the Victims Pension Scheme.. But this Sinn Fein #misinformation remains and in doing so creates confusion, anger and hurt, he wrote on Twitter. The row comes as Sinn Fein remains at odds with other parties over who should qualify for compensation payments for the injured, with the republican party arguing former terrorists should not be excluded. Most people across 14 wealthy countries surveyed by Pew tend to think their country has handled the pandemic well and in Denmark and Australia that view is near-universal. The flipside: There are two exceptions to the generally positive outlook: the U.S. and U.K. Americans were also by far the most likely to say the pandemic has divided their country (77%), rather than uniting it (18%). Even in hard-hit countries like Italy and Belgium, which has the world's highest population-adjusted death rate, views are generally positive. Despite their controversial no-lockdown approach, Swedes also tend to think their country has performed well. They're also among the most likely to believe it has united their country (58%). Responses are overwhelmingly positive in South Korea and Germany, which have been widely praised for their strong responses to the virus. Danes (72%) and Canadians (66%) are most likely to say the pandemic has been unifying. Between the lines: The polling was conducted throughout the summer, when most of these countries but not the U.S. had either bounced back from large initial outbreaks, or managed to avoid them. What to watch: Several European countries have seen sharp spikes in cases in recent weeks. Spain now has the highest infection rate in Europe. France isn't far behind, while Italy recorded its highest single-day case total since May on Thursday. Death rates across Europe remain far lower than those seen in recent weeks in the U.S. and Latin America. While cases in the U.S. are ticking downward, America still accounted for 18% of all new cases recorded worldwide over the last week, as well as 18% of deaths. Go deeper: U.S. far behind other rich countries in coronavirus response Civic Chamber member urges Russians digital rights to be protected from Western companies RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 12:32 28/08/2020 MOSCOW, August 28 (RAPSI) The digital sovereignty of Russia needs to be protected since the policies pursued by Western IT giants as to moderation of content pose risks to users, according to First Deputy Chair of Russias Civic Chamber Commission on Development of the Information Community Alexander Malkevich. Such companies as Google and Facebook, contrary to all their declarations about protection of the freedom of speech, actively intervene in activities of media outlets and bloggers they see as undesirable ones by removing the content they publish or block their channels, the civic activist alleges. Malkevich believes that Western corporations arbitrary interpret Russian legislation and fail to comply with it; therefore, it is needed to develop an adequate legislative response, he said addressing the roundtable organized to discuss a threat Western high tech giants pose to the sovereignty of the state. It is needed that representative offices of Western platforms with a certain number of Russian users were established in Russia, the civic activists added citing an answer of Google to a letter of the Presidential Human Rights Council, in which, he said, the corporation implied that it was not in its competence to deal with any issues and problems. Western corporations, according to Malkevich, are in Russia only to earn money and it is unacceptable to let them cash in on Russian citizens, whose rights they do not respect and on which they infringe on. Russia needs to pursue a most protectionist policy with respect to national startups to become alternative platforms for Russian resources in order to give them state protection and ensure that they have opportunities to exercise the right to the freedom of speech. Lawmakers In Iran Abuse Their Power To Receive Free Housing And Cars Radio Farda August 27, 2020 A former lawmaker in Iran says some legislators in the current parliament "exert pressure" to use government-owned cars and properties for free while receiving money for these expenses through their supplemental pay. Speaking to the state-run Young Journalist Club (YJC) news website on Wednesday, August 26, Mohammad Javad Jamali Nobandegani said, "such expenses are fully paid to the MPs through their supplemental pay checks." The supplemental pay covers their publicity expenses, leasing a car, buying gasoline, running an office, paying the staff, water and electricity bills, and procuring stationery, Jamali Nobandegani disclosed. However, in addition to receiving free cars from the local government in their constituencies, some legislators have "even exerted pressure on government departments and universities," and occupied state-owned properties to avoid paying rent, he said. Jamali Nobandegani added that it is impossible to investigate the issue since the properties belong to the government. Still, using facilities owned by the executive branch for non-executive purposes is against the law and Sharia, he said. The details concerning the MPs' supplemental pay has been disclosed at a time when their basic salary has almost doubled to 110 million rials (about $2700 based on the official exchange rate) per month since 2017. Earlier, on July 7, a hardliner member of the parliament Hossein Jalali disclosed that his first paycheck amounted to 2.31 billion rials or $55,000, an astronomical figure for individual income in Iran. Furthermore, a former lawmaker and member of the Legal and Judicial Committee, Mohammad Dehqan, told the Fararu website that lawmakers could also apply for no-interest loans of 1.5 billion rials. Immediately after, Dehqan and Jalai's disclosures, several Twitter users compared the two- million-rial monthly housing benefits of workers with the lawmakers' two-billion rial subsidy. However, the parliament says the payment to lawmakers is a one-off payment as a security deposit for renting residences in the capital. Social media users have also criticized the high payments because most lawmakers belong to the hardliner camp and claim to be defenders of the poor and the underprivileged. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/lawmakers- in-iran-abuse-their-power-to-receive-free- housing-and-cars/30805078.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 While researchers have long been examining whether science and religion are at odds with each other through a Christian lens, a new survey investigates the relationship between these issues with a small group of Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists. For this qualitative analysis, the Pew Research Center conducted 72 in-depth interviews with Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists in Malaysia and Singapore, with all participants saying that their religion was "very" or "somewhat" important to their lives. These discussions provide insight into the different ways that people in each group described their perspectives on the relationship between science and religion. For instance, the Muslims interviewed tended to speak of an overlap between their religion and science, often pointing out the fact that the Quran contains many elements of science, while "acknowledging some areas of friction." While many Hindus similarly state that their religion contains elements of science, they take a different tack than Muslim respondents and describe science and religion as overlapping spheres. Hinduism has often identified concepts that were later illuminated by science, such as the antimicrobial properties of copper or the health benefits of turmeric. Meanwhile, Buddhist interviewees generally describe religion and science as two separate and unrelated spheres, which "cannot be in conflict, because they are different or parallel realms." Despite these differences, interviewees from all three groups raised concerns about scientific research that interferes with nature in some way or that causes harm to animals. When asked about potential areas of scientific research that should be off limits from a religious perspective, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist respondents talked about the need to consider animal welfare in scientific methods such as cloning and gene editing. "Views of gene editing and cloning were more wide-ranging, with no particular patterns associated with the religious affiliation of the interviewees," researchers of the Pew Research Center commented. They also noted that not all aspects of science are seen through a religious lens, with Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist interviewees all describing government investment in science as "a way to encourage economic development while also improving the lives of everyday people." Sofia Richie was a summer siren on Thursday. The 22-year-old model was snapped in her native Malibu donning a light ensemble of a cream white top, cutoff denim shorts and black and red Nike trainers on an outing in the luxe beach city in Southern California. The 5ft6 socialite wore sunglasses and carried a black purse, observing California statutes with a leopard skin print face mask on her face amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The latest: Sofia Richie, 22, was snapped in her native Malibu donning a light ensemble of a cream white top, cutoff denim shorts and black and red Nike trainers on an outing in the luxe beach city in Southern California The daughter of Lionel Richie and fashion designer Diane Alexander had her dark brown locks pulled back with a hair clip and wore gold hoop earrings as she stepped out on the sunny day. Richie is back in town after celebrating turning 22 with family and friends in a late summer getaway to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. On Thursday, she shared glamorous shots of her time in a luxury villa in the resort she stayed at, posting an assortment of images from the vacation with her 6.4 million followers on Instagram. Richie, who parted ways with on-again, off-again beau Scott Disick, 37, earlier this summer, is thriving since the split after about three years with one another, a source told US. Return: Richie is back in town after celebrating turning 22 with family and friends in a late summer getaway to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Fashionista: The 5ft6 socialite wore sunglasses and carried a black purse, observing California statutes with a leopard skin print face mask on her face amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic 'Her friends and family have been surrounding her with so much love and support, especially for her birthday, so that's been a nice distraction for her,' a source told the outlet. Since the split, Sofia has spent time with her dad Lionel, sister Nicole, mother Miles and pals, according to the outlet. 'She had such a nice dinner celebration with her family and now she's having the best trip with her friends,' an insider told the publication. 'She is not thinking about Scott at all right now.' Luxe life: Sofia shared glamorous shots of her time in a luxury villa in the resort she stayed at Coming out of our caste-mentality is a freedom, but most of us fear this freedom, especially those who benefit by it. Pariyerum Perumal provides us the courage to emerge from this fear. Historically, Indian cinema exploited the labour of Dalits in its making, whilst erasing or appropriating their stories. This was not an accidental practice. When their stories were told on screen, it would be by savarnas who also played their characters with patriarchal, sexist and casteist undertones. The scenario has slowly changed, and the identity of Dalit characters in cinema directed by a Dalit (and a few non-Dalit) filmmakers has become explicit, transcending boundaries of caste and class. These filmmakers have helped shape visual storytelling that combines justice with aesthetics. Justice with aesthetics was rarely present in cinema made by savarnas, or it was seldom honest. Dalit-Bahujan filmmakers have filled this gap, while creating a new wave of cinema that is more appealing to a Dalit-Bahujan audience. In this series, we examine 10 Indian films that count not only among the finest cinema the country has produced, but are also intertwined with justice, politics, and aesthetic. *** Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up. On reading James Baldwin for the first time a few years ago, I realised that in love at least in inter-caste love romance is the least widespread element. I understood why Baldwin, as a Black man, was saying what he was. The idea of love as battle and war has been romantically injected into the minds of caste-Indians by mainstream Bollywood cinema; most times, with a very poor understanding of what love means in the caste-society of which these movies are part and parcel. Baldwin sees love as a way of shedding the social, cultural and psychological prejudices we uphold, against a person we are in love with. Pariyerum Perumal (2018) directed by Mari Selvaraj, is a cult movie in this sense. It is not only a symbol of resistance against caste; it is more profound that this: it is a symbol of mature love. Because love is the greatest and the only meaningful resistance in caste society. Coming out of our caste-mentality is a freedom, but most of us fear this freedom, especially those who benefit by it. Pariyerum Perumal provides us the courage to emerge from this fear. *** Pariyerum Perumal aka Pariyan (played by Kathir) is a Dalit living in a village a segregated settlement near Tirunelveli. Hes clever and works hard at his studies. He knows his world. As the movie begins, we witness him with his pet dog Karuppi. Karuppi is Pariyans constant companion. Imagine the world of a Dalit man, in which rejection and humiliation are common, where he is despised by his fellow humans in a caste-society. But animals do not discriminate. So it is not difficult to understand just what Karuppi means to Pariyan. In a heinous assault, some upper cast hooligans tie Karuppi to the railway tracks where he is crushed by an oncoming train. Pariyan somehow overcomes his grief over Karuppis loss and makes his way into law college, a place that represents his dreams, to be like Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Here, he faces difficulties in understanding the teachers instructions, imparted in English. English in the life of a brilliant Dalit student becomes more than a language. It becomes a cultural tool by which those from dominant castes mock him. Several of his classmates do not understand English, yet Pariyan is the only one mocked and hated by his teachers for flagging the issue. *** Pariyans honesty catches the attention of Jothi Mahalakshmi or Jo (played by Anandhi) who belongs to the dominant feudal caste. Pariyan tells Jo his problem, and she offers to help. As they English, they talk, laugh, share moments and stories from the past, and it leads to a feeling of love within them. It is as organic as the earth begetting trees, or bees being attracted to flowers. When Jo invites only Pariyan to her sisters wedding, her father becomes suspicious. He makes inquiries about Pariyan and finds out he is a Dalit. At the wedding, Jos father sends her away from the venue on some pretext and corners he just-arrived Pariyan. You both study together, does that make you equal? he asks Pariyan. The Constitution of India made Jo and Pariyan equal, as human beings capable of loving whoever they want. But Jos feudal, dominant caste father refuses to uphold constitutional values. For him, caste-norms are everything. He has Pariyan beaten up by some thugs and relatives; they urinate on him. Pariyan is in shock. The incident leaves Pariyan in a dilemma. He tries to use alcohol to get over it, but it doesnt help. He cannot tell Jo what has happened because that would make her father a villain in her eyes. At the same time, Pariyan is dealing with an issue concerning his own father, who works as a drag queen. When his father visits his college and is humiliated and partly disrobed by the upper caste students, Pariyans feelings are deeply wounded. But Jo stands by him through it all. *** Jo is like a flower in Pariyans difficult life. But her father hires a henchman to kill Pariyan, who fails to carry out the murder. Pariyan is also attacked by Jos relatives and her father. He fights back, but spares Jos father, telling the older man that if Jo were to know about his violent intentions and actions, she would never forgive him. Even at the height of his righteous rage, Pariyan does not lose hope and behaves like a visionary. He displays a maturity and sensibility heroes in Indian cinema rarely possess. Perhaps he knows that for the society Dr Ambedkar envisioned, it is necessary to kill caste, not castiests. Jos father meets Pariyan in college. They sit in the canteen, while Jo brings white tea (with milk) for her father and black tea for Pariyan. They drink tea together. Jos father tells him, We can see [about the future]. We do not know what will happen, to which Pariyan replies, As long as you remain the same and expect me to remain a dog, nothing will change. Jo, her father, and Pariyan begin to walk away. The frame focuses on the empty cups of white and black tea: the beginning of a dialogue towards the annihilation of caste. *** The movie ends with hope, directing us to a possible bloodless revolution the dream of Dr Ambedkar. While audiences across India, numbering in the millions, pay money to watch movies which provide them an escape from the truth, Pariyerum Perumal introduces us to the beauty of truth and the necessity of an anti-caste way of life. * Yogesh Maitreya is a poet, translator and founder of Panther's Paw Publication, an anti-caste publishing house. He is pursuing a PhD at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nina A. Loasana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 28, 2020 08:13 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4108337 1 National Education-and-Culture-Ministry,Nadiem-Makarim,school-reopening,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-cluster,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim has denied that the emergence of new COVID-19 clusters at schools is a result of schools reopening. He claimed that many teachers tested positive for COVID-19 even before the reopening. "A lot of teachers still come to school even though they conduct online teaching. Prior to school reopening, they got tested and many came back positive," he said on Thursday during a hearing with House of Representatives Commission X, which oversees education. Nadiem said in many cases, school clusters appeared when the students were engaged in remote learning. "The clusters emerged not because of [our] relaxation policy but due to infections prior to the reopening," he said. Read also: COVID-19 crisis opportunity for education reform in Indonesia Nadiem said the final decision on reopening schools did not lie with the Education and Culture Ministry but with regional administrations. However, he said, the ministry would work hard to ensure students could go back to schools as soon and as safely as possible. "Schools that were found to be new COVID-19 clusters would be closed immediately and they would go back to online learning," he said. Previously Nadiem had fended off criticism over the government's decision to allow the reopening of more schools amid the pandemic, defending the policy as a difficult but necessary trade-off to maintain students' spirit of learning in a time of crisis. You can consider [the decision] bold in some aspects, but on the other hand, you can also see that were a little late, Nadiem told The Jakarta Post on August 12. The United Federation of Indonesian Teachers (FSGI) reported at least nine new school clusters emerging all across the country with 54 teachers and 138 students testing positive for COVID-19. Read also: Decision to reopen more schools draws ire from teachers The FSGI urged the government to do more to protect teachers, school administrators and students during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that several teachers and school administrators had died of the illness. According to the FSGI, at least 20 teachers and two school administrators have died of COVID-19. Reopening schools will be risky without proper preparation, FSGI deputy secretary-general Fahriza Marta said recently. NEW YORK, Aug. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft ("Deutsche Bank" or the "Bank") (NYSE: DB) 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-08978, is on behalf of all investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Deutsche Bank securities between November 7, 2017, and July 6, 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 Bank and certain of its top officials. If you are a shareholder who purchased Deutsche Bank securities during the Class Period, you have until September 14, 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] Deutsche Bank was founded in 1870 and is headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The Bank provides investment, financial, and related products and services to private individuals, corporate entities, and institutional clients worldwide. Deutsche Bank has been the subject of scandal, investigation and regulatory enforcement for years because of anti-money laundering ("AML") compliance failures and deficiencies in its disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, causing it to have one of the lowest gradings offered by the U.S. Federal Reserve ("Federal Reserve"). The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Deutsche Bank had failed to remediate deficiencies related to AML, its disclosure controls, procedures, and internal control over financial reporting, and its U.S. operations' troubled condition; (ii) as a result, the Bank failed to properly monitor customers that the Bank itself deemed to be high risk, including, among others, the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein ("Epstein") and two correspondent banks, Danske Estonia and FBME Bank, which were both the subjects of prior scandals involving financial misconduct; (iii) the foregoing, once revealed, was foreseeably likely to have a material negative impact on the Bank's financial results and reputation; and (iv) as a result, the Bank's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On May 13, 2020, media outlets reported that the Federal Reserve had sharply criticized Deutsche Bank's U.S. operations in an internal audit. The audit reportedly found that Deutsche Bank had failed to address multiple concerns identified years earlier, including concerns related to the Bank's AML and other control procedures. On this news, the value of Deutsche Bank's ordinary shares fell $0.31 per share, or 4.49%, to close at $6.60 per share on May 13, 2020. Then, on July 7, 2020, the Federal Reserve's criticism of Deutsche Bank's failure to address its AML and other issues was reaffirmed when the New York State Department of Financial Services fined the Bank $150 million for neglecting to flag numerous questionable transactions from accounts associated with Epstein and with two correspondent banks, Danske Estonia and FBME Bank, both of which were the subjects of prior scandals involving financial misconduct. On this news, the value of Deutsche Bank's ordinary shares fell $0.13 per share, or 1.31%, to close at $9.82 per share on July 7, 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 http://www.pomerantzlaw.com 1 of 2 Amazing! New bus trip will take you from Delhi to London in 70 days Adventures Overland, an expedition company, has introduced a bus trip that will ferry passengers from Delhi to London. Around 20 passengers can travel from Delhi to London in the modified luxury bus and it will cross 18 countries over a period of 70 days. In between the journey, passengers can hop off the bus to explore several locations including the pagodas of Myanmar, the Great Wall of China and other cities. The idea of introducing Bus To London came from a solo drive from London to Delhi that Tushar Agarwal did in 2010. Adventures Overland was founded by entrepreneurs Tushar Agarwal and Sanjay Madan. "It is an absolutely fantastic journey," Tushar told. Read More... Police in Kenosha placed Jacob Blake in handcuffs because of a previous warrant filed against him The handcuffs that were shackled to Jacob Blake, even as he lies paralyzed in a hospital bed, have been removed and deputies have left his room. Blake, 29, has been a patient at Froedtert Hospital since being shot by Kenosha police Officer Rusten Sheskey last weekend. Despite his critical injuries, his movements remained restricted until noon on Friday, Kenosha News reported. Jacob Blake (Credit: Facebook) Read More: Debunking the internet lies about Jacob Blake following Kenosha shooting Police stated that the handcuffs were necessary due to a previous warrant against Blake and that it was standard policy. As of five minutes ago, the cuffs have been removed from Mr. Blake and the deputies have left his room, Patrick Cafferty announced today. Cafferty is the attorney for Blake on a domestic violence-related charge from a July filing. The subsequent warrant necessitated Milwaukee County deputies to be posted outside of his room, though they have now left. No one directed that he be detained as a result of the incident where he was injured. At this point there are no charges filed (related to the incident Sunday) and there are no warrants outstanding for that incident, Cafferty said. (Credit: Facebook) Blakes family shared with the media earlier this week that he was shackled to his bed and how it seemed unnecessary given his condition. Read More: Jacob Blake handcuffed to hospital bed despite being paralyzed Why do they have that cold steel on my sons ankle? Jacob Blake Sr. asked on CNN. He cant get up, he couldnt get up if he wanted to. Jacob Blake Sr. says his grandsons want their father because he was a part of their life every day. He's a person; he's a human being. He's not an animal. He's a human, but my son has not been afforded the rights of a human. He's not been treated like a human. pic.twitter.com/78HVlteivS CNN (@CNN) August 28, 2020 Cafferty further explained that resolving the matter of the warrant was made more difficult because the Kenosha County Courthouse has been closed following the protests surrounding Blakes shooting. Story continues He has since paid the $500 bond and had a conversation with District Attorney Michael Graveley over Blakes circumstances. Attorney Gravely cooperated with me to have the warrant vacated and the cuffs removed and have the deputy leave, Cafferty said. They were all very professional in the removal of the cuffs and the removal of the deputies. They were extremely prompt in responding to my requests and cooperated very quickly. The handcuffs were not the only source of frustration for Blakes loved ones, as there were limitations placed on when they could see him. There had been two restrictions on access to him, Cafferty said. One layer was the rules that the hospital ordinarily has in place for people in his condition. But the second layer had been the presence of the sheriffs department. Now the family is free to be with him as the hospital allows. Blakes shooting is now under investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now! The post Jacob Blakes handcuffs removed in hospital after outcry appeared first on TheGrio. Strong interaction between plasmonic nanoparticles and free-space light induced the evanescently confined modes on the nanoparticle surfaces, which holds great promise in plasmonic nanophotonic technologies. Plasmonic nanoparticle with the capability of generating energetic charges makes it being widely exploited in the field of photocatalysis, providing a new paradigm for conversion renewable sunlight to useful fuels and high-value chemicals. Plasmon metal nanoparticles/semiconductors with Schottky barrier at interface are well-received photocatalysts that can achieve charge spatial separation to prolong the lifetime of separating charge for matching the timescale of surface chemical reactions. The key question in the plasmonic photocatalysis is how plasmonic charges can be effectively separated to improve charge density at catalytic sites, which is critical to multi-hole/electron-driven redox reactions, such as water oxidation. In natural photosynthesis, hundreds of functional pigments are distributed surrounding a reaction center of photosystem II to continuously supply photogenerated charges by increasing the light absorption flux. However, due to the lack of microscopic details of charge accumulation sites in artificial photosynthesis, there is less report for mimicking natural photosynthesis to extract sufficient hot holes in plasmonic photocatalysts for efficient oxygen evolution. In a new research article published in the Beijing-based National Science Review, inspired by natural photosynthesis, Can Li and Fengtao Fan research group from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, present an elegant approach to simultaneously address the critical problems of light harvesting and charge density at catalytic sites of plasmonic photocatalyst. The group constructed Au nanoparticle dimers on TiO2 as optical antenna, and found charge accumulation at nanocavity of Au dimers/TiO2 photocatalyst mediated by surface plasmon resonance coupling. Combining experimentally measured surface photovoltage with theoretical calculations, the local density of hot hole was demonstrated to be related to the square of local near-field intensity. Using four-electron involved water oxidation reaction as a probe reaction, the performance of Au dimer/TiO2 photoanode can be improved by one order of magnitude compared to Au NPs/TiO2 photoanode. The current work presents a previously unrecognized effect on charge accumulation at catalytic sites of plasmonic photocatalysts. Furthermore, it should encourage others to explore the significance of plasmonic hot spot to generate more charges - not only for photodetections, but also for photocatalysis associated with multiple charges transfer processes. ### This research received funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences Interdisciplinary Innovation Team, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics Innovation Foundation, and the Strategic Priority Research Program and Equipment Development Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. See the article: Yuying Gao, Feng Cheng, Weina Fang, Xiaoguo Liu, Shengyang Wang, Wei Nie, Ruotian Chen, Sheng Ye, Jian Zhu, Hongyu An, Chunhai Fan, Fengtao Fan, and Can Li Probing of coupling effect induced plasmonic charge accumulation for water oxidation Natl Sci Rev https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwaa151 The National Science Review is the first comprehensive scholarly journal released in English in China that is aimed at linking the country's rapidly advancing community of scientists with the global frontiers of science and technology. The journal also aims to shine a worldwide spotlight on scientific research advances across China. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk insists her health services are acting compassionately following the death of an unborn baby in a NSW hospital. A woman living in Ballina in northern NSW needed urgent surgery for one of her twins last week, who were at 24 weeks' gestation. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says her health authorities act with compassion, following the death of a baby in a NSW hospital. The womans father, Allan Watt, who also lives in Ballina, said it would have taken too long to jump through the hoops to enter Queensland, and so his daughter had to be sent to Sydney instead. She had to wait 16 hours for an aeroplane at Lismore and they flew her to Sydney where she had an operation within hours of arriving Mr Watt told 4BC radio on Friday morning. Much has been written about the historic nature of Chrystia Freelands appointment as Finance Minister and with good reason. She is the first woman to serve in the job at the federal level. And she takes the helm at finance during a moment of singular and dramatic importance in our countrys history. The economic and fiscal turmoil created by the COVID-19 pandemic is both a crisis and an opportunity. Freelands task will be to pull the country out of its economic tailspin, get control of the massive deficit that has been required to see Canadians through the pandemic and, in a phrase that the Trudeau government has borrowed from US presidential candidate Joe Biden, build back better with a greener, fairer economy that produces new jobs and new prosperity especially for marginalized Canadians. All in all, a tall order. And an historic challenge by any measure. But Freeland is in a unique position because of her background, her global network, and her new portfolio to make not just Canadian, but global history. And to have a decisive, positive impact that will improve lives around the world. To get a sense of just how historic an impact it could be, lets go back more than 75 years, to another effort to build back better not just from a global economic calamity, but from an unprecedented cataclysm that left at least 70 million dead, and much of the world in ashes. In July 1944, just as the Second World War was entering its final stage, top government finance officials from 44 allied nations, including the governments-in-exile of nations occupied by the Axis, met at an isolated resort hotel in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, and hammered out what would be the financial architecture of the postwar world. The Bretton Woods architects understood the economic chaos and privation that helped lead to the war and designed a system that helped foster greater economic stability and more sustained prosperity. Their principal creations were the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank still in place today. But the world they were created to serve no longer exists. Globalization and technology have transformed it. Some of those changes have been positive lifting populations out of dire poverty, improving the quality of life for billions. But not all. International corruption has been turbocharged by globalization. To the point that the World Economic Forum estimates that corrupt funds largely stolen from the citizens, public institutions and natural resources of developing countries make up at least five per cent of the global GDP. Corruption makes countries ungovernable particularly the poorest and least developed. And it makes it impossible to effectively resolve all the most daunting challenges of our time: climate change, failed states, pandemics, terrorism, regional conflicts, natural disasters, refugee crises and human trafficking. Last months devastating Beirut explosion was the result of decades of theft and misrule by Lebanons governing class. A major reason for the rampant spread of COVID-19 in Latin America has been the diversion of health resources by corrupt officials. From the razing of Amazon rain forests to the growth of ISIS, corruption fuels the threat and inhibits the solution. And lest we think that the corruption crisis is somebody elses problem not ours in developed countries like Canada think again. The global threats it propels imperil our societies too. And then there is the role that the developed world, including Canada, plays in perpetuating and deepening the problem. When kleptocrats strip their countrys wealth they send it to tax havens around the world not just places like Switzerland or Caribbean countries, but places like the U.K. city of London and the US states of Delaware and Nevada it doesnt stay in those havens. As the British journalist Oliver Bullough documented in his book Moneyland, the tax havens are essentially used to launder the stolen wealth so that the thieves can live in places they really want to live like Western Europe, the US and, yes, Canada. The Toronto Star played a role in illustrating the scale and reach of global corruption as part of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists that exposed the Panama Papers in 2016. A global problem of this scale and magnitude requires a global response. The American economist James Henry, among others, has proposed a regime of innovative international taxes to drive these transactions out into the sunlight. And thats where Chrystia Freeland comes in. She has a deep understanding of the problem. You might even say she wrote the book on it. Two of them, in fact: Sale of the Century (2000) chronicles the oligarch asset stripping of post-Soviet Russia, Plutocrats (2012) about the super-rich and their contempt for the rules. Freeland also has a proven track record of effective, focused negotiation skills that resulted in Canadian wins such as the renegotiated NAFTA and the CETA (Canada-Europe Free Trade Agreement). She is iron- willed, and knows how to use alternating toughness and charm to drive toward a result. Finally, through both her careers as an international journalist and as senior minister of a G-7 nation, she has amassed an unsurpassed global Rolodex. Combine those with Canadas unique position as a middle power that is also a G-7 nation, and the ability of Freeland to initiate and impel a new Bretton Woods this one focused on united global action to stem corruption and they add up to an exciting opportunity. Corruption is an impulse as old as humanity itself. And its globalization has been decades in the making. It wont be defeated easily. Moreover, as long as the leading world economy remains under the leadership of Donald Trump, change just cant begin to happen. But if building back better is to be more than just another alliterative slogan, the conversation needs to begin now. And there is no better person to kick it off than Chrystia Freeland. Yulia Gokcedag, 35, and her seven-year-old son Timur were found dead at their London home after being reported missing the previous day. (Google Maps) A woman and her seven-year-old son have been found dead at their London home after being reported missing the previous day. Yulia Gokcedag, 35, and her son, Timur, were found at their flat on the Isle of Dogs in London in the early hours of August 13. Timur had drowned, while his mother was found hanging, a post mortem revealed. Police have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with their deaths, but an internal investigation is underway as Yulia and her son had been reported missing. Scotland Yard said officers went to the flat in Lockesfield Place, Isle of Dogs, at around 3.20am on August 13 following concerns for the welfare of the occupants. An internal investigation is underway because Yulia had been reported missing. (Reuters) A spokesman said: Officers forced entry to the property and found Yulia and her son Timur unresponsive. Both were pronounced dead at the scene and an investigation was launched by the Met's Specialist Crime Command. Post mortem examinations determined the cause of death for Yulia to have been hanging and Timurs cause of death was drowning. Detectives investigating are not seeking any other persons in connection with the deaths. Read more: Homeowner pleads for lorries to be banned from village after house hit eight times in a year The spokesman added: As is routine, the Mets Directorate of Professional Standards was informed. A referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) who referred it back to the local professional standards unit who are currently investigating. Inquests into the deaths of both Yulia and Timur are due to take place later this year. OBU was named one of the best colleges and universities in the western United States by the Princeton Review for the 16th consecutive year. Pictured: Virtus, a sculpture featuring three running Bison, adorns a popular intersection on the OBU campus in Shawnee. OBU photo by Heather Hamilton. Princeton Review Ranks OBU Best in the West for the 16th Year in a Row August 25, 2020 For the 16th consecutive year, The Princeton Review recognized OBU as one of the best colleges and universities in the western United States. OBU was one of 127 institutions listed in the Best in the West section on the educational research firms website feature, 2021 Best Colleges: Region by Region. Nationally renowned universities and colleges are recognized each year, in five different zones: Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, West and International. This year 655 colleges were recognized as being academically outstanding schools. OBU is one of 127 schools that were named on the Best in the West list for academic excellence and one of only seven schools named in the state of Oklahoma. The Princeton Reviews 85-question survey asks students about their professors, administrators, school services, campus culture and other facets of life at their schools. The companys methodology for the ranking lists uses a five-point Likert scale to convert qualitative student assessments into quantitative data for school-to-school comparisons. The Princeton Review does not rank the colleges in its lists hierarchically and the rankings are based off of student opinion rather than the organizations views. OBU President Dr. Heath A. Thomas is thrilled about this continuing recognition for the University. Once again, Princeton Review has recognized OBU as one of the best colleges and universities in the nation. This ranking reminds us of the academic excellence of Bison Hill, along with the life-changing experience that comes with being a student at OBU. I am grateful to our students, faculty and staff, as they work together to make OBU the premier university in which to live and to learn. I am grateful for our alumni and supporters, who make this transformational education possible. And I am grateful for OBUs mission, which empowers us to equip students to think critically and live faithfully so they may become the next generation of future shapers in every square inch of Gods creation. At OBU, we boldly live on-mission to impact the world for God and for good. Comments about the school, taken from the student surveys, are featured on the universitys profile page, which gives insight into the campus life at OBU. One Spanish major stated, OBU has a fantastic education curriculum. It incorporates faith and learning, which is applicable to our everyday lives. The same student continued, OBU is a Christian university that focuses on the liberal arts so that students are exposed to many different areas of study in order to succeed in a diverse world. Students describe their professors as engaging., encouraging and happy to help students. The Princeton Review is a leading tutoring, test prep and college admission services company. Every year, it helps millions of college- and graduate school-bound students achieve their education and career goals through online and in-person courses delivered by a network of more than 4,000 teachers and tutors, online resources and its more than 150 print and digital books published by Penguin Random House. View OBU's profile on the Princeton Review website. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 00:06:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JUBA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Medical experts sent by the Chinese government to South Sudan had advised the east African country to strengthen the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. At the conclusion of their nine-day mission to South Sudan, the Chinese medics produced a report, which provided an in-depth analysis of South Sudan's coronavirus situation. The report released in Juba on Thursday reveals that South Sudan's COVID-19 response has deficiencies in the areas of emergency command system, community investigation, epidemic monitoring, infection prevention, clinical treatment, laboratory testing, health education, among others. The report also finds that there is lack of public attention to the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report recommends the government to undertake reforms in the area of testing, control, treatment, epidemiological investigation and awareness creation. The report also calls for strengthening of treatment and management of COVID-19 patients and asymptomatic cases by setting up centralized isolation and treatment centers across South Sudan. It further recommends enforcement of strict preventive measures in public spaces like schools and religious institutions before the government could lift a four-month ban on social gatherings. South Sudan only admits critically ill coronavirus patients at the Infectious Disease Unit (IDU) as asymptomatic patients are allowed to self-isolate in their homes. Liang Chaozhao, head of the Chinese medical expert team, said the report was compiled following days of extensive face-to-face interactions with South Sudanese government officials, humanitarian organizations and South Sudanese health experts. The Chinese medics also visited public places such as health facilities, markets and the Juba International Airport to assess control and prevention measures put in place by authorities. "South Sudan needs to raise the awareness of epidemic prevention and control to fully realize the long-term nature of prevention and control new pneumonia and implement external defense," Liang said. Speaking at the launch of the report, spokesperson of South Sudan's Ministry of Health Thou Loi, said the findings and recommendations of the Chinese medical experts would enhance the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. "We are doing a lot with the Chinese and we will be looking forward to doing more with the Chinese in the health sector and areas of international public concern," Loi said. Loi said the South Sudanese medics will continue to engage their Chinese counterparts whenever they need assistance and experience sharing. "We will be looking forward to more interactions with the Chinese medical experts so that we develop a resilient health sector for the people of South Sudan," Loi added. The eight-member team from China's Anhui Province arrived in South Sudan on Aug. 19 and they stayed until Aug. 27. The team consisted of experts in the medical fields including laboratory technology, infection, intensive care, public health, and nursing. During their nine-day mission, the Chinese medics shared knowledge and experience with senior South Sudanese government officials, local health experts, medical institutions and also trained South Sudanese medical staff on COVID-19 response. South Sudan confirmed its first COVID-19 case on April 5. The total number has since risen to 2,519, with 47 deaths and 1,294 recoveries as of Thursday. Enditem 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. EU diplomatic chief Josep Borell said the bloc wanted to give 'a serious chance to dialogue' but was steadfast in its support for member states Greece and Cyprus in the crisis, which has raised fears of a military standoff The EU on Friday warned Turkey it could face fresh sanctions -- including tough economic measures -- unless progress is made in reducing soaring tensions with Greece and Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean. EU diplomatic chief Josep Borell said the bloc wanted to give "a serious chance to dialogue" but was steadfast in its support for member states Greece and Cyprus in the crisis, which has raised fears of a military standoff. A dispute over maritime borders and gas drilling rights has reignited the long-running rivalry between Athens and Ankara, with the two neighbours staging rival naval drills. EU foreign ministers meeting for talks in Berlin agreed to a request from Cyprus to sanction more individuals for their role in Turkey's exploratory drilling in waters claimed by the island. Borrell urged Ankara to "abstain from unilateral actions" as a basic condition to allow dialogue -- which Germany is trying to broker -- to advance. "We agreed that in the absence of progress in engaging Turkey we could develop a list of further restrictive measures that could be discussed at the European Council on September 24 and 25," Borrell said after the talks. Asked what these measures might entail, Borrell said sanctions could be extended to ships or other assets involved in the drilling, as well as prohibting the use of EU ports and supplies and restricting "economic and financial infastructure related with this activity". Wide-ranging sanctions against whole sectors of the Turkish economy could also be considered, he said, but indicated these might only come into play if more targeted measures against the drilling were not effective. Search Keywords: Short link: Fans are currently on edge waiting for the highly anticipated season two trailer for his Star Wars spin-off series The Mandalorian to premiere online. And Pedro Pascal looked every bit the leading man on Wednesday afternoon as he took a dip in the ocean with actress pal Elizabeth Reaser, 45, in Malibu. The 45-year-old Chilean-American actor soaked up the sun shirtless, while in a pair of patterned swim trunks. Shirtless stud: Pedro Pascal looked every bit the leading man on Wednesday afternoon as he took a dip in the ocean in Malibu Elizabeth looked undeniably beautiful as she emerged from the water with visibly wet hair and a makeup-free face. The Twilight Saga star donned a black pin-up style one piece swimsuit that featured a subtle sweetheart neckline and high legs. Pascal and Reaser looked more than happy to be in one another's company as they made their way in and out of the refreshing ocean water. Elizabeth has been friends with Pedro for years, with the Mandalorian star having publicly applauded her performance in the 2018 Netflix mini series The Haunting of Hill House on Instagram at the time of its premiere. In good company: The 45-year-old Wonder Woman 1984 star was joined by actress pal Elizabeth Reaser, 45, during his beach day Chilling: Pascal and Reaser looked more than happy to be in one another's company as they made their way in and out of the refreshing ocean water Though Pedro looked nothing but relaxed on Wednesday, devout Star Wars/The Mandalorian fans have been on the edge of their seats waiting for the series' season two trailer to drop. In the series, which debuted on Disney+ in 2019, Pedro plays the title character, who is described in the official synopsis as 'a lone gunfighter' that 'makes his way through the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic.' Though there is no set date for the trailer's premiere, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy recently opened up about filming the series' second season in an interview with The Wrap. Kennedy revealed that the Disney+ show's production 'wrapped up five days before' Hollywood was shutdown by the novel coronavirus in March. Supportive pal: Elizabeth has been friends with Pedro for years, with the Mandalorian star having publicly applauded her performance in the 2018 Netflix mini series The Haunting of Hill House on Instagram at the time of its premiere The Mandalorian: Though Pedro looked nothing but relaxed on Wednesday, devout Star Wars/The Mandalorian fans have been on the edge of their seats waiting for the series' season two trailer to drop; Pedro pictured in 2019 Although filming was able to be completed, she said that a decent amount of the series' post-production had to be done remotely. 'Even though we wondered to what extent people could work remotely, our IT department and ILM had everybody up and running within a week, working from home and continuing to work in the cutting room and on visual effects shots,' she explained. 'It was pretty staggering how quickly they got everybody up and running.' The Mandalorian season two is expected to debut on the streaming platform sometime sometime in October, according to Disney's CEO Bob Chapek who spoke to CNBC in May. Pulled it off: Though there is no set date for series' season two trailer premiere, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy recently opened up about filming the series' second season in an interview with The Wrap; Pascal pictured in The Mandalorian in 2019 Wonder Woman 1984: Aside from having a hit show, Pedro recently appeared alongside his Wonder Woman 1984 co-stars Gal Gadot, 35, Chris Pine, 39, and Kristen Wiig, 47, for a panel discussion on Saturday at the DC FanDome event that also featured the director Patty Jenkins, 49; Pedro pictured on the poster for Wonder Woman 1984 Aside from having a hit show, Pedro recently appeared alongside his Wonder Woman 1984 co-stars Gal Gadot, 35, Chris Pine, 39, and Kristen Wiig, 47, for a panel discussion at the DC FanDome event that also featured the director Patty Jenkins, 49. During the panel, the cast debuted a brand new trailer for the DC Universe film and discussed their love for the film's iconic character. In the film, Pascal plays the role of super villain Maxwell Lord who will, undoubtedly, face off against the lasso-wielding heroine. Wonder Woman 1984 will premiere in theaters on October 2. Imagine if the Ministry of Education in Ontario didnt mandate a minimum number of staff to look after children in daycares. Would one early childhood educator ever be expected to care for 30 toddlers in a single shift? What about 60 toddlers? We dont run our daycares understaffed with these ratios, even when someone calls in sick. Legislation doesnt allow it. In comparison, staffing regulations in Ontario nursing homes have been woefully inept for decades, even prior to COVID-19. As per the minimum requirement, facilities need no more than one registered nurse on site, regardless of the number of people living in the home. Existing regulations also do not mandate a minimum ratio of personal support workers (PSWs) to nursing home residents. As a result, many nursing homes have long been understaffed. A nurse may be looking after 30 residents in the day, and around 60 residents overnight. PSW shortages are at a crisis point, where one PSW may be caring for 10 to 15 residents during the day and up to 30 residents overnight. To make matters worse, most PSWs are hired as casual and part-time employees, earn little more than minimum wage, and need to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. Not being hired full-time also means not receiving benefits or sick leave, and creates a system which devalues care primarily provided by women. So when COVID-19 ravaged through nursing homes, many of these essential front-line workers chose to leave. Who could blame them? They were stressed, stretched, and poorly compensated at the outset. Then, to add insult to injury, few homes provided front-line workers appropriate access to masks and other personal protective equipment to ensure their safety and that of the residents. In July, the Ontario Health Coalition released data showing 95 per cent of health workers in nursing homes still reported staffing shortages. Undoubtedly, these shortages continue to dangerously compromise the care of our seniors. In most cases, front-line workers cant ensure basic care is provided, such as bathing, feeding and changing. Opportunities to provide emotional support to seniors are non-existent despite an epidemic of loneliness and depression created by COVID-19. The above tragedy is compounded by the fact that family members, who helped fill in crucial gaps in care prior to the pandemic, remain blocked from regular access. These circumstances leave residents doubly vulnerable. Insufficient front-line staff, and no family around to help and advocate. So here we are, with a second wave of COVID-19 feared to arrive in the fall. And the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care has done little to address these critical staffing problems. To ensure vulnerable seniors receive the essential care they need, the Ontario government must act immediately on the following urgent priorities: First, front-line workers need improved pay and sick leave. The temporary pandemic pay increased the hourly wages of front-line workers in nursing homes by $4 per hour, but ended Aug. 13. That top-up needs to become permanent to increase the number of people willing to do front-line work. Health workers should also not lose income if they are themselves unwell and need time off. That comes from providing them sick leave which will undoubtedly prevent the spread of COVID-19. Second, because of consistent understaffing, the province continues to allow workers from temporary employment agencies to work in multiple homes. Many nursing home operators are incentivized to hire those temporary workers to save on the cost of employment benefits. The use of temporary workers needs to stop to prevent the spread of COVID-19 between nursing homes, both for the safety of workers and seniors. Third, the government needs to urgently establish and enforce minimum staffing levels. Staff must be skilled to care for seniors who often have multiple serious medical conditions. Homes will also need a reserve workforce to help manage future COVID-19 outbreaks. The government must require homes to be transparent about staffing levels, and step in immediately if concerns arise. So long as systemic understaffing continues, nursing home seniors remain vulnerable to neglect and abandonment. The military report released in May a report created after Canadian Armed Forces personnel were sent to help in five Ontario nursing homes highlighted the dangers to seniors from staffing shortages during the first wave, where understaffing led to tragic outcomes. Its high time for the government to act now to protect the vulnerable. MINSK, Belarus Belarus authoritarian leader accused NATO on Friday of hatching aggressive plans and threatened neighbors Lithuania and Poland with counter-sanctions as he sought to shore up his 26-year rule amid weeks of demonstrations against his reelection in a vote the opposition says was rigged. President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the 9.5-million nation in Eastern Europe with an iron fist since 1994, blamed the West for fomenting demonstrations in Belarus in hopes of turning it into a bridgehead against Russia. They want to topple this government and replace it with another one that would ask a foreign country to send troops in support, he said. They want our market to sell their products. NATO has rejected previous such claims by Lukashenko. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said this week that the Belarusian leader tries to conjure up the image of outside forces threatening Belarus as an excuse for his crackdown on the opposition, which has seen hundreds of protesters beaten by police. In addition, the idea that Belarus ailing Soviet-style economy would be seen as a beacon for exporters seems to defy current economic realities. Protests have been fueled by growing weariness about Lukashenkos rule, his cavalier dismissal of the coronavirus pandemic and a bruising economic fallout from the outbreak in a country where living standards were already sinking. The 65-year-old Belarusian leader threatened to retaliate against neighbors Poland and Lithuania, which pushed strongly for the European Unions sanctions against his government. Lithuania also hosted the main opposition challenger in the vote, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who moved there after the vote, pressured by Belarusian authorities. Lukashenko said Belarus would strike back by halting imports via Lithuanian ports and force its western neighbors to use longer routes via the Baltics and the Black Sea in their trade with Russia and China. Lets us see who will get scared first, we will show them sanctions, he said. I have ordered the government to divert all trade flows away from Lithuanian ports. They have grown spoiled, and now we will show them their place. He added that they were doing transit via us, but now they will need to go over the Baltics or the Black Sea to trade with Russia. Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis responded in a Facebook statement, saying that if Lukashenko fulfills his threat it will mostly hurt Belarus and its people. Lukashenko has repeatedly sought to cast the protests that are demanding his resignation as part of a Western plot against Russia, in a bid to secure Moscows support. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Thursday that he stands ready to send police into Belarus if protests there turn violent but sees no such need yet. The wave of protests that came after election officials declared Lukashenko had won a sixth term in a landslide in the Aug. 9 presidential election has cast an unprecedented challenge to his rule. Both the European Union and the United States have said the vote was neither free nor fair. A fierce crackdown on peaceful demonstrators in the days after the vote left nearly 7,000 people detained, hundreds injured by police rubber bullets, stun grenades and beatings and at least three protesters dead, sparking massive outrage and forcing the authorities to back off. Police stopped interfering with the demonstrations for the next two weeks, but again began dispersing rallies over the past days, albeit without violence. On Friday evening, hundreds of women formed a human chain in a protest demonstration in the capitals Independence Square, Police detained some journalists and protesters, though many journalists were released with an hour; the Viasna human rights center said dozens of people were detained in all. Viasna said 267 people, including scores of journalists, were detained the previous evening when police broke up a rally of about 1,500 people on the square. Some were released pending their appearance in court on charges of taking part in an unsanctioned rally. The Interior Ministry said 114 detainees were in custody on Friday. The EU has agreed to impose sanctions on up to 20 senior Belarus officials suspected of election fraud and the crackdown on protesters and is likely to put Lukashenko on its list at some point, the blocs foreign ministers said Friday at a meeting in Berlin. In Vienna, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe offered to mediate between the two sides in Belarus, with chairman Edi Rama pledging not to interfere in internal affairs but at the same time stressing that the human rights abuses must end. Lukashenko has rejected mediation offers from the West, dismissing protesters as Western puppets. His main election challenger has fled the country for her safety. On Friday, hundreds of opposition supporters again formed chains of solidarity across Minsk as the protests entered their 20th day. A peaceful protest is stronger than clubs and fear, said 30-year-old demonstrator Maxim Zhurkov. The opposition is bracing for another big rally in Minsk on Sunday. Demonstrations around the capitals main square peaked to about 200,000 over the past two Sundays, the biggest protests the country has ever seen. ___ Associated Press writers Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow, Lorne Cook in Brussels and David Rising in Berlin contributed. ___ Follow APs coverage of Belarus at https://www.apnews.com/Belarus BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.28 Trend: The sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Armenian armed forces attempted to commit a provocation in the direction of Azerbaijans Goranboy district on August 23, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend on August 28. As a result of the decisive actions of the units of the Azerbaijani armed forces, the provocation was prevented and the group's commander, First Lieutenant Gurgen Alaverdyan of Armenian Armed Forces was detained. According to the ministry, the detainee admitted that he, together with a group of Armenian military servicemen, intended to attack the positions of the Azerbaijani army to inflict damage to the personnel and military infrastructure of Azerbaijani Armed Forces. As the ministry said, the reconnaissance and sabotage actions of the group commanded by Gurgen Alaverdyan during the intensification of intelligence operations of the Armenian armed forces in various areas of the line of contact, including the widespread use of unmanned aerial vehicles, indicate that the military-political leadership of Armenia is conducting another military provocation on the line of contact. The ministry noted that the actions also should be perceived as intentional aggravation of the military situation. The groundless and absurd accusations against Azerbaijan, voiced by Armenia in a state of hysteria and panic, after the uncovering of this malicious plan, is an attempt to divert the attention of the international community and the Armenian society from its unsuccessful policy of military escapade, the ministry said. We categorically reject statements of Armenian side with groundless accusations against Azerbaijan about the violation of international humanitarian law and Armenophobia. Concernig the detained Gurgen Alaverdyan, the Azerbaijani side acted under the requirements of international humanitarian law, pointed out the ministry. In this regard, it is worth recalling that Armenia, which accuses Azerbaijan with claims of violation of international humanitarian law, is a country that for about 30 years has been continuing aggressive policy towards Azerbaijan, accompanied by military actions and crimes against humanity, including genocide and ethnic cleansing, the ministry also noted. As a result of Armenia's aggression against Azerbaijan, 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed, 50,000 became disabled, about a million civilians were forcibly expelled from their native lands, 5,364 people disappeared, were taken prisoner, hostage, and were subjected to torture and abuse. The fate of nearly 4,000 of them is still unknown, reminded the ministry. Currently Armenia is holding our compatriots - civilians Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev, who were tortured and illegally deprived of their freedom, as hostages, the ministry said. As the ministry stressed, the leadership of Armenia, which in the context of the detention of an officer of the armed forces of this country recalls humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, shouldnt forget that it has stubbornly opposed Azerbaijans initiative to exchange prisoners and hostages on the principle of "all for all", supported by the international community, including the co-chairing countries the OSCE Minsk Group. It should be noted that Armenia, putting forward ridiculous claims against Azerbaijan, which does not put fundamental human values and fundamental principles of international humanitarian law into anything, didnt hesitate to use the bodies of the dead as objects of political and material gain, the ministry further said. Being a country that applied a "pricing table" to the bodies of the dead per their professions or military ranks, has long lost the moral right to speak about humanism, tolerance and universal values, the ministry stated. "The accusations against Azerbaijan in the context of humanism and humanitarian law voiced by the current leadership of Armenia, which openly refused to apologize for the grave war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Azerbaijan and its civilian population by the previous military-political leadership of Armenia, are blatant hypocrisy, pointed out the ministry. Armenia, accusing Azerbaijan of undermining a favorable environment for peace, is making an unsuccessful attempt to avoid responsibility for the military provocation on the state border in the direction of Tovuz [district] on July 12-16 this year, the ministry added. It also unsuccessfully attempts to use the situation that arose after it, through provocative statements by the leadership of this country, increasing tensions on the line of contact and undermining attempts to settle the conflict, the ministry said. The international community understands that the military-political leadership of Armenia bears direct responsibility for the purposeful escalation of the conflict in the direction of Tovuz and that the country's attempt to make use of the situation over Gurgen Alaverdyan is doomed to fail, the ministry also added. The Azerbaijani side once again resolutely rejects the groundless accusations of Armenia against our country regarding violation of humanitarian law and "Armenophobia", calling on the international community to take effective steps to keep Armenia from trying to escalate an already difficult situation in the region," concluded the ministry. With volunteers on the ground, both U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, and his primary challenger, Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse, have entered the final days of their campaigns. Mail-in voting has been going on and this week communities around the region hosted early voting. The primary is Tuesday, Sept. 1. There is no Republican candidate, so the winner is sure to win a two-year term as the regions representative in Congress. Its a busy campaign weekend for other races, too, with the statewide Democratic primary of incumbent U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and his challenger, U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III. Republican Senate candidate Kevin OConnor, who will face Shiva Ayyadurai, held a slate of events in Western Massachusetts Friday. Neal attended events in Springfield Thursday celebrating the beginning of a $51 million renovation of the Court Square Hotel property at 15-31 Elm St. in Springfield. The project is financed in part with tax credits Neal championed in his role as chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee. Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito were there too. Baker, one of the most popular governors in the country, endorsed Neal Thursday, crossing party lines. Friday, Morse called that endorsement an act of desperation by Neal. 8/27/2020 -Springfield- Congressman Richard Neal speaks as officials formally launched the $51 million Elm Street Redevelopent and Preservation Economic Project in Court Square. (Don Treeger / The Republican) Neal plans Saturday to attend two funerals, according to his campaign. One for former Springfield Mayor William C. Sullivan, for whom Neal worked as an aide. The second funeral is for John Allan LaChapelle. He was the father of Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChappelle. The Neal campaign is continuing with phone banking, standouts and events, according to a spokeswoman. Morse showed off his Morsemobile van Friday, promising to meet with voters across the district. In a combative Friday morning press conference, Morse said hes running against what he called the Springfield machine that includes Neal, a former Springfield mayor who was first elected to Congress in 1988. Im running against Richard Neal. Im running against Charlie Kingston. Im running against Dom Sarno, Im running against Ray Jordan, Morse said. I mean were running against the boss politics of Springfield. Jordan is a former state representative and once the Massachusetts Democratic Partys longest-serving vice chair. Kingston, 79, is a longtime political consultant and campaign adviser. Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarnos name came up after Morse responded to questions about the 2014 beating of a 12-year-old boy by Holyoke police by reciting a litany of complaints against the Springfield Police Department. Morse has declined to talk in specifics about the Holyoke beating, citing a $65,000 settlement the city of Holyoke paid in the case. Morse, who was also critical of The Republican for its coverage of the race, said he feels his campaign is stronger now than it has been at any point due to a recent flush of fundraising. But he still hasnt caught up to Neal. As of the most recent Federal Election Commission numbers, Morse has raised $1.3 million and Neal $3.76 million. A Rio Ranchoan active in the community is filling the state House of Representatives seat vacated by Tim Lewis. The Republican Sandoval County Central Committee in early August elected Joshua Hernandez as the unopposed candidate to replace Lewis on the ballot. Im really looking forward to being able to carry on and help our community as best I can, Hernandez said. I really just want to be a voice for not just District 60, but for all of Rio Rancho. He added that he looked forward to working with the areas other legislators. Lewis, also a Rio Rancho resident, represented District 60 for 10 years before withdrawing his candidacy in July. He said he wanted to spend more time with his family and didnt believe he should make politics a career. Republican Party of Sandoval County Chairman Daniel Stoddard said Lewis suggested Hernandez as his replacement. I believe hell do a wonderful job, Stoddard said of Hernandez. He said Hernandez is young, hard-working and engaged with the party and county. The other person vying for the party nomination was former Sandoval County Commissioner Glenn Walters. Lewis had no opposition in the primary or general election. He is finishing his current term, which lasts until the end of this year. Under New Mexico law, no other party can enter the race after the primary election. An Albuquerque native, Hernandez moved to Rio Rancho about 10 years ago. He works for Agenda, a public affairs and strategic communications firm in Albuquerque. He said his first priorities as a representative will be small-business support, public safety and education, although he expects the list to grow. With COVID, I think that our small businesses in New Mexico need help, he said. Hundreds of them have closed already, and were not out of the pandemic. So Im sure there will be more victims. Hernandez said hes seen how hard his parents work to provide for the family with their small business, and COVID-19 has made it harder. He wants to help the businesses already in the state and bring in more, even though that will be difficult because of the pandemic. Education is always a priority, Hernandez also said. New Mexicans are tired of ranking near the bottom in that area, he said. Im a huge supporter of law enforcement, he continued. He said police and other first responders need the resources and tools to keep communities safe. For more information about Hernandez, visit HernandezNM.com. UPDATE: Police said Elaine Brubaker was found around 5 p.m. Friday. Lancaster County authorities are searching for a 75-year-old woman they said left her home Thursday and could be in danger because of health concerns. Elaine S. Brubaker was last seen Thursday evening at her Warwick Township home on May Road, according to Northern Lancaster County Regional police. Her family believes she left home by choice, but never returned. The 75-year-old has health concerns which put her in danger, police said. Brubaker is 5 feet, 5 inches tall; about 200 pounds with blue eyes and grayish brown hair. She walks with a cane. She could be traveling in a 2012 Ford Fusion with Pennsylvania registration EBZ-2193. Anyone with information on Brubakers whereabouts is asked to contact Northern Lancaster County Regional police at 717-733-0965. READ MORE: We need people to come forth: New dads unsolved killing in Harrisburg frustrates family Census enters final month on shortened time frame, raising worries about accuracy Armed and dangerous suspect wanted after Pa. woman shot multiple times and killed in her backyard: cops JOIN THE CONVERSATION Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be registered Torstar account holder. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free) Sign In Register (Newser) Commissioner Stephen Hahn fired the Food and Drug Administration's spokeswoman on Friday, after a bungled announcement of a blood plasma treatment for COVID-19. Emily Miller had been on the job 11 days, the New York Times reports. The contract of a public relations consultant, who had urged Hahn to correct the record on his exaggerations of the treatment's benefits, also was canceled. Officials said Wayne Pines was not dropped because of his suggestion. Hahn had made the statements in a White House appearance with President Trump last weekend. "If a federal official doesnt say something right, and chooses to clarify and say that the criticism is justified, that's refreshing," Pines said, referring to what Hahn did. story continues below Miller helped prepare Hahn for the White House announcement, per CNN, but it's not clear if that's why she was fired. She previously worked for the White House personnel office and the conservative cable outfit One America News Network. In her brief tenure, a press release called the treatment "another achievement" in the Trump administration's "fight against the pandemic"a nearly unprecedented tone for the nonpartisan FDA. She also did not take down a tweet with the misleading claim that Hahn walked back, per the Daily Beast. When Miller was hired, Media Matters reported her history of providing false information about the pandemic. On May 30, as the pandemic deepened, she tweeted, "Remember coronavirus?" (Read more FDA stories.) The rights group calls on the govt to investigate the alleged human rights violations committed by the police. Police in Delhi were complicit and an active participant in the February violence in which 53 people, mostly Muslims, were killed, according to an investigation by Amnesty International India. The Delhi police personnel were complicit and an active participant in the violence that took place in Delhi in February 2020, yet in the last six months not a single investigation has been opened into the human rights violations committed by the Delhi police, the rights group said in a statement on Friday. Amnesty said it spoke to riot survivors, witnesses, human rights activists and retired police officers and analysed several user-generated videos for the investigation that reveals a disturbing pattern of grave human rights violations committed by the Delhi police during the riots. The rights group called on the Indian government to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the alleged human rights violations committed by the police in what was the worst religious violence seen by the capital in decades. The Delhi police reports to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and it is shocking that there has been no attempt by the MHA to hold the Delhi police accountable till now, Avinash Kumar, executive director of Amnesty International India, said in a statement. Deadly violence broke out in February after weeks-long peaceful sit-in protests by Muslims in northeast Delhi against a controversial new citizenship law were targeted by Hindu nationalist mobs. More than 500 people were also injured, according to the government. The police were accused of either supporting the mobs or looking the other way as the capital burned. State-sponsored impunity Other violations included excessive force on protesters, torture in custody and dismantling of protest sites, the Amnesty investigation revealed. The police and the government have denied the accusations. This ongoing state-sponsored impunity sends the message that the law enforcement officials can commit grave human rights violations and evade accountability. That they are a law unto themselves, Kumar, the Amnesty International India head, said. The Delhi Police has yet to respond to Amnestys request for a comment on the investigation. The investigation corroborates numerous media reports of police bias against Muslims. The UK-based rights group launched the investigative briefing into the riots, documenting the timeline of the alleged police brutality and analysing the role of political leaders who made hateful speeches in the build-up to the violence. Mostly Muslims and less than a dozen Hindus were killed between February 23-29, with many of the dead said to have died of bullet wounds. In addition to street battles, there was also immense destruction of public and private property, with homes, shops and mosques set ablaze. Delhi has witnessed two major communal violence incidents across a period of four decades the 2020 riots and the 1984 Sikh massacre, Amnesty said. A common link between both the incidents is the human rights violations committed by the Delhi police. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed last December, sparking nationwide peaceful protests largely led by Muslims. The law eases the path for non-Muslims from neighbouring Muslim-majority nations to gain citizenship. The UN has termed the law fundamentally discriminatory. (Alliance News) - Bigblu Broadband PLC said Friday its interim loss widened as revenue fell on a reduction in customer numbers due to the Covid-19 pandemic causing installation delays. For the six months to the end of May, the Bicester-based broadband services provider reported a pretax loss of GBP6.8 million, widened from GBP397,000 the year before, on revenue that declined by 14% to GBP25.8 million from GBP30.5 million. The overall revenue drop was a result of delays in installations due to Covid-19-related restrictions and fluctuating foreign exchange rates within the period. In addition, the total number of customers dropped to 115,000 for the period from 119,000 the same period the year before. The average revenue per user however, rose to GBP38.9 per month from GBP35.3 the prior year, reflecting a change in network policy by BigBlu to offer better packages to customers with increased revenue from services, installations and network support. "Like many businesses, so far 2020 has been a very eventful year for the company. The focus during the period was very much on putting the company on an even stronger footing to execute our strategy while increasing value for shareholders. The period started with the Company refinancing its debt facilities with the funding designed to supplement our increasingly cash generative business model. While the onset of Covid-19 presented us with a number of challenges, trading during the period highlighted the resilience of our operations and scope for continued organic growth," said Chief Executive Officer Andrew Walwyn. In early August, Bigblu announced that it would sell UK and European satellite broadband operations to Eutelsat SA for up to GBP39.3 million. The company said the disposal provides the company with the opportunity to crystallise an attractive return on invested capital and reduce net debt. "Given the underlying dynamic across the UK and European satellite operations, we were very pleased to announce last month the agreement in principle for Eutelsat to purchase our UK and European Satellite business. The purchase is a major step in the history of the company coming off the back of five years of successfully executing our strategy of becoming a leading provider of last mile rural broadband solutions in a number of European territories," Walwyn added. Shares in Bigblu Broadband were down 4.6% at 94.00 pence on Friday in London. By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. The father of a Navy SEAL who died in battle days after President Donald Trump took office has condemned the president in a new political ad, saying that Americans should not trust the president with their lives or those of their children. William Owens' son, Chief Petty Officer William "Ryan" Owens, became the first person to die in combat during the Trump presidency following a Jan. 29, 2017, raid in Yemen. The younger Owens, 36, was shot in a counterattack by al-Qaida militants as he and other members of an elite military team entered a remote village in Yemen's Bayda governate. "Just five days into his presidency, Trump ordered Ryan's SEAL team into Yemen, not in the situation room with all the intelligence assembled, but sitting across a dinner table from Steve Bannon," Owens said, referring to former White House adviser and campaign strategist Bannon, in the 84-second online ad, which was paid for by a PAC linked to the progressive veterans' group VoteVets. "There was no vital interest at play, just Donald Trump playing big man going to war," Owens said. The ill-fated raid came under scrutiny not just because of the SEAL's death but also because of the way it came together. Officials said that Trump and the White House short-circuited the typical process for approving such high-risk operations, with Trump granting authorization for the operation at a dinner meeting with military leaders and other senior administration officials. A number of Yemeni civilians also were killed in the operation. "Donald Trump demeaned my son's sacrifice to play to the crowd," Owens continued, appearing to refer to Trump's remarks about his son's death during the 2017 State of the Union a month later. In an emotionally charged scene, the president highlighted Ryan Owens' widow, Carryn, who cried as she stood next to first daughter Ivanka Trump in the balcony during the televised address. William Owens previously has criticized Trump and the decision-making surrounding the operation in Yemen. The ad also showed a clip of late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., saying the operation, contrary to Trump's depiction, had not been a success. The raid, in which U.S. troops were joined by counterparts from the United Arab Emirates, also resulted in injuries to other service members and the destruction of a damaged MV-22, a $75 million aircraft. Trump later appeared to blame military leaders for the problems with the operation, saying that generals had "lost Ryan." Owens also referred to Trump's skepticism about recent reports that Russia may have paid bounties to the Taliban on American service members' lives in Afghanistan. He cited the high number of Americans who have died during the coronavirus pandemic. "They and Ryan have one thing in common: it didn't have to be but for Donald Trump," he said. "Don't trust Donald Trump with your kid's life or your own." Scott O'Grady, co-chairman of Veterans for Trump, disagreed with Owens, calling the president a "stalwart leader and supporter of our nation's military and veterans." Under the leadership of Trump's Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, "these national heroes were always a second thought," O'Grady said in a statement. Pakistan Attempts Balance Ties With China, US By Ayaz Gul August 27, 2020 Pakistan's government has long said it is trying to maintain good relations with both China and the United States, despite rising tensions between Beijing and Washington. But Prime Minister Imran Khan was blunt in one of his recent public statements about where the two relationships are heading. "Pakistan's future is tied to China. We should be clear on this that our country's [economic] development has now been intertwined with China," Khan said in a wide-ranging interview aired by a local news channel last week. "We are fortunate that we have a friend that stood by us through thick and thin. None of our other friends have stood by us like China politically supported and defended us on all fronts," Khan told Dunya TV. Since the start of the war in Afghanistan, the United States has been the largest source of foreign aid for Islamabad, providing billions of dollars in military and civilian assistance as part of the broader effort to defeat the Afghan Taliban. But from the beginning, there was also tension over whether Pakistan was helping or hurting the war effort. Two things have changed in recent years: Washington signed a peace agreement with the Taliban in February, signaling an end to U.S. involvement in the conflict. At the same time, China dramatically expanded its outreach and investment in Pakistan. Now many are asking what those two developments mean for Islamabad's future foreign relations. Chinese funds, Pakistani development China has historically maintained close defense and security relations with Pakistan, and in recent years has encouraged joint manufacturing of various military-related hardware, including the JF-17 multipurpose combat aircraft. Over the past five years, China expanded its economic outreach with Pakistan as the country became an anchor in its global Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), part of an ambitious plan to forge new trade routes through Central and South Asia. The estimated nearly $30 billion in investments under the BRI-linked bilateral cooperation known as a China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC, have improved Pakistani roads and ports and have addressed the country's energy crisis. Washington is critical of CPEC-related investments, saying Chinese companies building the infrastructure often reap most of the economic benefits, leaving foreign countries in a so-called "debt trap." China and Pakistan reject the U.S. criticism of the projects. Khan has meanwhile reached out to President Donald Trump's administration to try to reset his country's often tumultuous relations with the U.S. The two leaders have held three face-to-face meetings since their inaugural White House interaction in July 2019. Moeed Yusuf, an aide to the Pakistani prime minister on national security, insisted his country has no favorites in the growing U.S.-China rivalry. He said he sees both countries as partners in promoting regional prosperity. "We are not in the business of picking sides. From our prospective, the U.S. is a critical strategic partner. We depend on the U.S. a lot, the U.S. depends on us a lot," Yusuf told an online debate this month arranged by the Atlantic Council think tank. "We ultimately want to see ourselves as the melting pot and specifically the economic melting pot for the region," Yusuf said. Pakistan once acted as a bridge for Beijing and Washington in the 1970s during secret U.S.-China talks that resulted in their rapprochement. Yusuf insisted that Pakistan today remains "still very aptly poised" to play the role of "a neutral actor" to help defuse the tensions between the two big powers. Michael Kugelman, the deputy South Asia program director at the Wilson Center, noted the U.S.-Pakistan relationship has "enjoyed a smooth period" amid cooperation on the Afghan peace process. However, Kugelman cautioned the Washington-Beijing rivalry posed a challenge to Pakistan's efforts to pursue a workable relationship with the U.S. while maintaining its "iron alliance" with its giant neighbor China. "Pakistan will likely find itself under increased U.S. pressure to scale back its economic ties with China. Islamabad has no interest in doing so, and its close relationship with Beijing amplifies the limits to deepening its partnership with Washington," said Kugelman. Both Washington and Beijing appeared to be wooing Pakistan to their side as the country celebrated its independence from British colonial rule 73 years ago this month. U.S. Ambassador Paul Jones said in a video message on the occasion that America was "proud to partner with Pakistan because when Pakistan thrives, the world is a better and safer place." Song Tao, the head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said in a video meeting with Pakistani politicians last week that "we can give up gold but not our friendship with Pakistan." Trump administration builds on US ties The Trump administration has boosted cooperation with Islamabad to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to suspending debt repayments and supporting emergency International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance to help Pakistan deal with the health crisis and the ensuing economic challenges. "The administration sees the U.S.-Pakistan relationship as one with real potential. We appreciate Pakistan's steps to advance the Afghan peace process," a State Department spokesperson told VOA. "We also look forward to strengthening our bilateral partnership by expanding U.S.-Pakistan trade and working together to protect fundamental freedoms in the years to come." Islamabad's alleged ties to militant groups accused of operating out of Pakistan against Afghanistan and India have been and remain a major irritant in bilateral relations with Washington. Khan's government denies the charges Pakistan secretly aids the militants, citing the military's crackdown against extremist groups in the country and enactment of "unprecedented" legislative steps in recent weeks against terrorism financing and money laundering. A lack of action to strengthen national financial systems to counter the crimes prompted the Paris-based global Financial Action Task Force (FATF) two years ago to place Pakistan on its so-called "gray list" of countries not doing enough to fight terror funding and money laundering. Reset US-Pakistan ties Khan and his aides acknowledge improved ties with Washington has won crucial U.S. support for Pakistan to improve its credentials with FATF and to avoid being moved to the agency's blacklist of nations. U.S. officials say that the Trump administration has also made clear that fulfilling the relationship's potential requires progress on joint efforts to bring stability to the region and on Pakistan's "sustained and irreversible" action against militant groups that use its territory. When asked whether Pakistan's growing BRI-linked cooperation with China poses a challenge to bilateral ties with Islamabad, the State Department spokesperson said Washington welcomes any investment and trade that promotes sustainable, fair and responsible development and growth. "Unfortunately, PRC [People's Republic of China] 'investments' often consist of opaque loans made by PRC state-owned banks disbursed to PRC contractors," said the U.S. official. "The United States offers a positive alternative our transparent, private sector-driven model comes with a proven track record for delivering sustainable growth, reducing poverty, and fostering technological innovation," the official said. While responding to consistent U.S. criticism of the bilateral collaboration under CPEC, the Chinese ambassador in Islamabad last week strongly defended the project, saying the "mutually beneficial" undertaking is "open and transparent." Ambassador Yao Jing in an interview with official Pakistani TV again rebuked the "debt trap" allegations as U.S. propaganda against the project and vowed that "if Pakistan is in difficulty we will never pressurize our most trusted friend to repay the loans." Khan said in his TV interview that his government intends to further expand bilateral relations with China during President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan due later this year. Pakistani and Chinese officials say Xi's visit will witness the launching of new projects under CPEC. They include a $6.8 billion program to upgrade Pakistan's main railway line of about 1,900 kilometers, known as Main Line 1 (ML1). Cindy Saine contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Delhi, Aug 28 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been proactively pursuing with the police in Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Haryana, Gujarat and Delhi the actions of a gang operating in these states to cheat and harass people by issuing notices to banks and traders in the guise of the financial probe agency. The agency is in touch with other state police forces on whether any such crime in their area has come to their notice so that innocent people can be saved from the predations of these criminals. In a written communication to the Director Generals of all state police forces the ED has asked them to be alert about the activities of such gangs. As per the ED investigation, the gang members issued fake notices to the banks with instructions to freeze the bank accounts of innocent traders and individuals. Similarly, the gang also issued fake summons and letters to traders and individuals asking them to appear in the office of the ED. After conducting initial verifications, the ED with the help of the authorities concerned issued clarifications to the banks with a directive to file police complaints about such fake letters. The ED also issued similar clarifications to individuals about the fake letters and summons. The ED began its probe following several complaints received in the recent past. It came to the notice of the agency that fake letters in the name of the ED were sent to various banks and certain individuals in Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Haryana, Gujarat and Delhi by such unscrupulous elements. Based on specific inputs, the ED last week alerted the Crime Branch of Delhi Police which managed to arrest five such culprits belonging to the gang earlier this week and produced them before a Delhi court on Thursday. "The arrested gang members are aged between 24 to 35 years and belong to Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR). They are involved in various cases of extortion and cheating. The gang has targeted traders and other persons by impersonating as ED officials," the agency said. Those accused are currently in Delhi Police's custody. The ED received a complaint about these criminals from a Maharashtra based individual alleging that a man has approached him with a fake notice from the ED and demanded money for settlement of a purported case with the ED. The complaint was forwarded by the ED to Delhi Police, and after a swift investigation the culprits involved in the racket were apprehended by Delhi Police, the ED said. The ED has also complained to the Director General of Police, Karnataka, to apprehend other persons involved in similar criminal activities. (Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@ians.in) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The Iran-linked Charming Kitten APT group leveraged on WhatsApp and LinkedIn to carry out phishing attacks, researchers warn. Clearsky security researchers revealed that Iran-linked Charming Kitten APT group is using WhatsApp and LinkedIn to conduct spear-phishing attacks. Iran-linked Charming Kitten group, (aka APT35, Phosphorus, Newscaster, and Ajax Security Team) made the headlines in 2014 when experts at iSight issued a report describing the most elaborate net-based spying campaign organized by Iranian hackers using social media. Microsoft has been tracking the threat actors at least since 2013, but experts believe that the cyberespionage group has been active since at least 2011 targeting journalists and activists in the Middle East, as well as organizations in the United States, and entities in the U.K., Israel, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. Now, security researchers from Clearsky reported details about a new phishing campaign in which the threat actors impersonate journalists from DeutscheWelle and the Jewish Journal. The state-sponsored hackers are employing both email and WhatsApp to trick victims into clicking on a malicious link. Experts also observed the attackers using fake LinkedIn profiles to establish a first contact with the victims. In the past few months, the Charming Kitten cyberespionage group has expanded its targets list, adding the Bahai community2 , high-ranking American civil servants and officials (including ambassadors and former employees of the US State Department), and COVID-19 related organizations (such as Gilead3 and WHO4 ). In a recent attack, the hackers targeted Israeli scholars and US government employees. The hackers used a personalized link for each victim and also attempted to send them a ZIP file. Below the timeline of the attackers that involved fake profiles from Deutsche Welle and Jewish Journal in the past three years: Clearsky alerted Deutsche Welle about the impersonation and the watering hole in their website. A Deutsche Welle representative confirmed that the reporter which Charming Kitten impersonated, did not send any emails to the victim nor any other academic researcher in Israel in the past few weeks. reads the analysis published by the experts. Note that part of Deutsche Wellereporters are originally from Iran a fact that helps Charming Kitten to hide the accent of their operators during a phone call. It should be noted that this attack vector is unique to Charming Kitten, but it has not the only attack vector that has been used in recent months by this threat actor. Experts pointed out that the attackers used a well-developed LinkedIn account in this campaign while they showed willingness to speak to the victim on the phone, over WhatsApp, using a legitimate German phone number. This TTP is uncommon and jeopardizes the fake identity of the attackers (unlike emails for example). However, if the attackers have successfully passed the phone call obstacle, they can gain more trust from the victim, compared to an email message. continues the report. The Charming Kitten attackers targeted Israeli researchers from Haifa and Tel Aviv Universities asking them to participate in an online webinar/meeting about Iran and other subjects of interest for the target (e.g. recent discourse between Iran and the US). The Charming Kitten attackers implore the victim to respond repeatedly for ten days, and they are prepared to engage in a direct phone call with them to cajole the victim into activating their account with the site Akademie DW(used as their phishing page). D The hackers sent messages to the targets repeatedly for ten days, asking them to availability for a direct phone call, and attempting to lure them into activating their account on the site Akademie DW (their phishing page). If the victim is not willing to share their personal phone number, the attacker will send him a message from the fake LinkedIn account. This message will contain a promise that the webinar is secured by Google, as they sent to the victim on the tenth day, Clearsky concludes. Pierluigi Paganini (SecurityAffairs hacking, LinkedIn) In reading the New York State travel advisory, I am reminded of one of my favorite scenes from a Woody Allen movie, this one from Bananas. Having ascended to power, the dictatorial rebel leader Esposito announces his new rules for San Marcos: From this day on, the official language of San Marcos will be Swedish. ... In addition to that, all citizens will be required to change their underwear every half-hour. Underwear will be worn on the outside so we can check. Furthermore, all children under 16 years old are now...16 years old! Woody's character Fielding Mellish cracks, "What's the Spanish word for straitjacket?" The Spanish word is camisa de fuerza. The Swedish word is tvangstroja. In any language, Gov. Andrew Cuomo surely needs one. It is bad enough that he is running the state by executive order. Worse is that the orders are nuts. If Woody Allen were to make a comic version of 1984, he could model "Big Brother" on Andrew Cuomo. Last week, I flew into Buffalo. It was my first flight this year into New York, a state in which I have owned a summer cottage for the last 30 years. Coming from Missouri, a state on New York's travel advisory, I had to fill out a two-sided form promising that I would quarantine in place for 14 days. As if. Missouri has had about 25 COVID-19 deaths per 100,00 people. New York has had about 165. In the western part of Missouri where I live, the rate is considerably lower. No matter. By some perverse calculation, my return to New York threatened to put the state's residents at some elevated risk. To visit my own cottage, I had to promise not to be in public or otherwise leave the quarters that they have identified as "suitable." These "quarters" how quaint had to have "separate bathroom facilities for each individual or family group." More than that, I had to have "access to a sink with soap and water, and paper towels." Esposito would have been hard pressed to imagine rules this absurd and unenforceable: "Food must be delivered to the individual's quarters"; "Garbage must be bagged and left outside by the door of each of the quarters"; "Individuals should self-monitor for fever and other symptoms of COVID-19 daily." Big Brother Andy promises that "enforcement teams" will be stationed to "greet disembarking passengers to request proof of completion of the State Department of Health traveler form." He isn't kidding. My flight had no more than 20 people on board, but two officials were waiting at 9:00 P.M. on a Sunday night to collect our letters of transit. The penalty for leaving the airport without completing the form is a $2,000 fine and a mandatory quarantine. Knowing this, I filled mine out. I wrote on it, "Under protest, self-destructive, wasteful, oppressive." My flight to Denver a week earlier was nearly full, but no one who did not have to come was coming to New York. The state is broke and broken. Yet it can still afford to create this Byzantine bureaucracy and impose it on those who are compelled to visit, even hang on those who drive to New York. Decrees Big Brother: "Travelers coming to New York from designated states through other means of transport, including trains and cars, must fill out the form online." I know a conscientious fellow who did just that. Health authorities contact him every day to check on his progress. My friend was given a choice of call or text. He chose text. At the beginning, he was asked if he needed any help with food or medicine. I asked my friend whether the State delivered pizza. He chose not to inquire. He was afraid they might. The tourist destinations in the mountain states are thriving. Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks is reportedly doing twice its annual business. New York State is withering. Not since Saddam taunted the U.S. into invading Iraq has the world seen so self-destructive a case of narcissism. Pay no attention to New York's national dominance in COVID deaths. Nursing homes? What nursing homes? I am convinced that Cuomo imposed the travel advisory to creates the illusion that he has so heroically purged his state of COVID that red-state refugees can only screw things up. I suspect his forthcoming book American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic will assure at least the media that this is so. (And who writes a book during a crisis?) Come what may, Cuomo has an assured place in history. He will be the first head of a state to enact a costly, self-defeating law that absolutely no one will follow and, quite likely, no one will be punished for not following. San Marcos can use a man like that. Jack Cashill's new book, Unmasking Obama: The Fight to Tell the True Story of a Failed Presidency, is now widely available. Also see www.Cashill.com. Image: Pat Arnow via Flickr. Most homeless youth in Los Angeles are Latino, according to data released by Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority on Thursday. The agency reported that 42.1% of the homeless youth in Los Angeles were Latino, 38.2% were Black, 14.6% were white and other ethnicities made up the rest. Latino people make up a big portion of the Los Angeles population as well, at 48.5%. Meanwhile, white people make up 26.3% of the county and Black people make up just 7.9%. LAHSA Executive Director Heidi Marston said that compared to the overall homeless population, there was a profile for the younger people without homes. They are more likely to be women, Black, Latino or identify as LGBT, said an NBC Los Angles report. Marston added that these groups are less like to have a substance abuse issue or mental health illness. Upward Trend to Los Angeles Homeless Youth In general, there is an upward trend to Los Angeles' homeless youth population. From 4,021 in 2019, the reported homeless youth population in the county rose to 4,775 this year. His accounts for an increase of more than 18.5%, a Los Angeles Daily News report said. The count was conducted between January 22 and January 31. The agency pegged the age for homeless youth at people 24 years old or younger. Fox LA noted that most of the youth that LAHSA counted were in the transitional age, between 18 and 24 years old. Marston found it "unacceptable" that many are falling homeless in the county despite their efforts to serve them. "The key to preventing young people from reaching the point where they require our services is to continue the work on bringing together the different systems that touch their lives," she said. The places she believed needed development were the foster system and probation to workforce development. Most Come from Foster Systems LAHSA found that most of the homeless youth in the county come from the foster system. "A high percentage of youth were involved with foster care and justice systems before becoming homeless," Marston said. With this information, Marston is thinking of fostering stronger partnerships with foster care systems. Marston added that the agency is also making efforts to expand its host program for people to provide temporary housing for the youth. She said the agency is currently working with some housing representatives at 21 local Los Angeles area community colleges. These were areas noted to have a large number of student housing insecurity. Marston wanted to make sure that agencies are highly involved with the homeless youth, noting that the existing system is already built on such a foundation. Other Reasons for Youth Homelessness According to the agency's survey, 61% of the young homeless said they are homeless due to problems with money and 44% of them said their social network had deteriorated. LAHSA also reported that 7.7% of them were pushed to their situation due to domestic violence, with most of them being women. LAHSA said it is expecting more young people to become homeless due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. But they added that they have been giving permanent supportive housing to more people compared to past years. Check these out! Only 18% of Moderna COVID Vaccine Trial Participants are Latino, Black, Indigenous People Experts Worried About New CDC Testing Guidelines, 'Change in Policy Will Kill' US Immigration Agency Drops Furlough for 13,000 Workers The planes are flying again, but are there enough passengers in them? The crisis travel, or travel to beat the crisis through Vande Bharat Mission, is now past its peak. Recent flights between India and Britain have seen many empty seats and as Air India must see it, too many. And now suddenly there are very many more flights and seats on offer. Vistara flew Delhi-London on Friday under the new air bubble scheme between the two countries that will continue until October 23. SpiceJet is due to begin from September 1, Virgin Atlantic is starting flights from September 2. These add to the Air India and British Airways flights already on their way. The next few weeks will be a critical indicator of how much these services will be used. The indication will be for the airlines, of course, but beyond that for tourism. Family travel and the movement of students and business people keep flights between India and Britain usually busy. But air travel needs more than that to thrive. The new flights are now taking off in the face of a high rise in coronavirus cases in India and over recent days a spurt in cases also in Britain and across much of Europe. The questions that clouded travel earlier this year have begun to rise again. The aviation business is watching this air bubble to see if it can grow, or be renewed into a second bubble. And whether it will bring with it a tourist season at all. Ever popular Kerala has faced some resurgence in cases after its earlier successes. This is about the time of the year when tourists begin to make their winter bookings. Travel plans for India seem down at the moment. Also, the other way round. Indian tourism to the UK is at a low. Britain could see a loss of more than 20 billion pounds in visitor spending this year, going by market estimates. London, particularly central London, is a ghost city these days despite the lifting of the lockdown. Outbreaks across the country are limiting travel; certainly they are inhibiting long-term planning. Estimates from the World Travel and Tourism Council show global travel will be down 78% this year. Recovery from near zero is still looking weak. Despite government agreements and their take-up, airlines could be looking at the wrong kind of air bubbles. London-Delhi Bus This one on the ground is the bigger bubble yet, but a company is proposing to start a London-Delhi bus service from next May. The company Adventures Overland plans to launch it subject, of course, to all clearances for the service and for passengers. And, subject to passengers who find they are not in a hurry. The trip is expected to take 70 days, passing through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and China through to Russia, several Central Asian Republic countries and then into eastern Europe and Belgium before crossing over to London. The estimated ticket price, about Rs 15 lakh per seat, including travel, hotels, food and snacks en route the lot. The distance covered, about 20,000km. The exceptionally brave could book a round trip. Driving between India and Britain has been a popular adventure. The route has changed with time, inevitably. The old route through Iran and Pakistan has been abandoned for the eastern one. Before anyone thinks a bus may not be comfortable, think of the three girls who rode on motorcycles from Surat to London last year. A third had to return after losing her passport en route. The two Biking Queens of Surat, as they are called, who continued on had their motorcycles stolen in Belgium. They continued on replacement bikes. They took slightly longer than the bus intends to 90 days through 25 countries. They took time to promote the cause of environment along the way. Their ride makes the bus journey appear something of an overland cruise. Not a cruise on which anyone should pick up a quarrel with a fellow passenger, or any of the crew. But other problems need to be dealt with before that one might come up. We must remember that these are exceptionally hard times. The majority of these people are without work. They have their little homes, and can manage to get enough to eat and scrape by. If they are thrown out bag and baggage, they will have nowhere to go. Hamilton alderman John Sherring, supporting Cootes Paradise squatters during the Great Depression. The ragged tents are spread out on the sidewalk at the corner of York and Bay beneath the flashing FirstOntario Centre sign that towers above. There are maybe a dozen makeshift homes outside the arena, stretching east toward the Hamilton Public Library in front of street level billboards for the Hamilton Bulldogs. Its a scene, in the midst of the pandemic, that shows how marginalized people are struggling. And its not the only encampment in the city. There are others beside rail trails and in parks with scores of other people living in enclosures made of nylon, polyester or canvas. Tom Cooper, the director of Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction, says it brings to mind the so-called Shacktown in Hamilton, an enclave of squatters living in ramshackle boathouses in Cootes Paradise during the Great Depression. Shacks are more durable than tents, but many of the issues were the same. Then, like now, people in difficult circumstances were trying to find their way by living on the edge of society. Then, like now, the city tried to move them into more traditional housing, away from conditions that were seen to be unhealthy, unsafe and an eyesore. Today we have a similar situation as before. We have a major economic upheaval 90 years later and people out of desperation are finding themselves in very similar circumstances as the Great Depression, says Cooper. In recent years we have seen huge spikes in rental costs. For people who have to rely on affordable housing, it often just isnt there. So people are looking to have some kind of alternative shelter. When desperation hits them, people look for other alternatives. Sharon Crowe, staff lawyer at the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic, says, They are living on the fringes. They are the most marginalized people. They dont always do well with a lot of rules and restricted conditions. Crowe has been involved in a legal challenge to prevent the City of Hamilton from clearing away homeless people living in public spaces. As it stands now, a Superior Court injunction prevents the city from shutting down tent encampments until early September when the issue will be explored further. The move comes after tents were cleared earlier this summer at locations including Jackie Washington Rotary Park and the former John A. Macdonald Secondary School downtown. Crowe feels the squatters should be left alone because, among other reasons, there is some justification to the view that living in a tent is safer for some than a multi-unit accepted shelter during a pandemic. An affordable housing shortage and a struggling economy are problems compounded by the anxiety about contracting COVID-19 in a communal living environment, she says. McMaster University history professor Ken Cruikshank, has written about Hamiltons Shacktown and also sees similarities between then and now. You do hear echoes. I dont know if the people who lived there (in Cootes Paradise) would think of themselves in the same category as people who are homeless but I suspect they are close to being in the same category, he says. A big driver of the public debate at the time was the unsightly appearance of the tattered buildings and a push to spruce up the citys image. In an article co-authored by Cruikshank with Nancy Bouchier, called The War on the Squatters, 1920-1940, the writers wrote: For city planners and urban reformers the boathouse colony was a problem. It stood in the way of their plans to transform Hamilton into an aesthetically-pleasing, and therefore a moral and orderly, city beautiful. Their cultural vision had no room for the tar-paper homes of working-class people and they determined that the houses must go. There were fears of disease and fire and many saw the community of more than 100 boathouses and shacks as a retreat for the immorally inclined where gambling, prostitution, and other crimes flourished amongst dangerous transients and outlaws beyond the authority of the city, the article says. But with the worsening Depression through the early 1930s, the city faced opposition. The Depression gave them (the Shacktown residents) a bit of leverage because the city didnt want to be seen as pushing them out when times are tough, says Cruikshank. Residents themselves dug in along with assistance from sympathetic civic leaders such as alderman Sherring and controller Nora Frances Henderson who said beautification goes a little too far when we have to turn people out of their homes in these hard times. But the drive to turn Cootes Paradise into a park and a more pleasant vista for a rejuvenated western entrance to the city was unstoppable. A fire that led to the death of two children and burned down six boathouses underscored inherent dangers of a community detached from city services. In stages the shacks were removed through the 1930s, with a few last holdouts being demolished in the 1950s. It left only memories of a unique community and a reference point to help understand the plight of the homeless in the decades to come. The Bombay high court on Friday granted permission for a Muharram procession in the city with stringent restrictions in place in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. A bench of Justices S J Kathawalla and Madhav Jamdar gave permission after the Maharashtra government granted hearing to a local Shia Muslim organisation that had petitioned the court seeking permission for a symbolic procession for Muharram amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The state government and the petitioner, All India Idaara-E-Tahafuz-E-Hussainiyat, reached an agreement and informed the court of the same on Friday, following which, the court granted permission for the procession. As per the court's order, members of the Shia Muslim community will be permitted to carry out the procession on August 30, between 4.30 pm and 5.30 pm on one pre-determined route only by trucks and not on foot. A maximum of five persons will be allowed on a truck and only five will be permitted walk with the 'Tazia' symbol for the last 100 meters on the selected route, the order stated. The five participants of the procession will have to give their home addresses to the Mumbai police beforehand, the court said. The court also directed the state government to impose all necessary restrictions, including Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) if required, to control crowds and manage the procession. In its plea filed through advocates Rajendra Shirodkar, and Shehzad and Asif Naqvi, the petitioner organisation had said each year, between the 7th and 10th day of Muharram, the Shia community in Mumbai carries out a procession holding 'Alam' and 'Tazia' symbols from Mohammed Ali Road to the graveyard on Reay Road in the city. The petitioner urged the court to grant permission to carry out the procession this year as well, albeit with a limited number of people and with necessary precautions such as masks and social distancing in place. The petitioner had come to the HC after the state government issued two government resolutions earlier this month prohibiting mourning processions and asking everyone to mark Muharram at home in light of the pandemic. The organisation had argued that if the state government had permitted Ganesh idol immersions with health safeguards, it must also permit the Muharram mourning procession. The bench on Thursday had directed the state disaster management department to give the petitioner a hearing and said if the organisation was asking for something similar to what was allowed for Ganpati festival then the state could not deny it permission, as it would amount to "discrimination". As per Friday's order, the procession will be carried out from Bhendi Bazaar to the Shia cemetery in Byculla in the city. LaFayette, N.Y. The Onondaga Nation School wont open for in-person instruction until Nov. 16, LaFayette district officials announced today. The decision to start school with remote learning was made after district representatives met with the Onondaga Nation Council of Chiefs, Clanmothers and Faithkeepers, the district said in a letter to the community. The school has about 110 students. Onondaga Nation classrooms with remain closed for the first 10 weeks of school and students will distance learn. The districts other schools - Grimshaw Elementary, the Big Picture School and the junior-senior high school - will open for in-person instruction Sept. 8, the day after Labor Day. The council is very concerned about the impact COVID-19 could have on the Onondaga Nation community,' the letter said. The Onondaga Nation has no reported cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday, according to Onondaga County Covid-19 dashboard. The nation, home to about 500 people, is the only community in the county to have no cases; cases have been reported in every town in the county. However, many students live in homes with extended families who are at a higher risk category for COVID-19, and the Nation also is concerned about its elders, the districts online statement said. LaFayette district officials are respecting the councils wishes. Onondaga Nation school staff can work from home, follow their school schedule and be prepared to offer live instruction during school hours. Students from the Onondaga Nation who attend Grimshaw Elementary, LaFayette Big Picture School, and LaFayette Jr/Sr High School will continue to have the option of attending school either online or in person. The school, located on the Onondaga Nation, is exclusively for the children from the nation. The pre-kindergarten to eighth-grade school is part of the LaFayette school district under a contract with New York state, which pays for the school. The school follows the state Education Departments curriculum and also teaches Onondaga language and culture. 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. KABUL -- Najiba, who goes by one name only, is an Afghan widow who begs to survive after being displaced in her own country. The middle-aged woman says she and her seven children had no choice but to flee their village in eastern Afghanistan last year after an airstrike killed her husband, Karimullah. She now lives on donations from strangers and family in the capital, Kabul. After my husband was killed, we had to leave because of continued fighting, she told Radio Free Afghanistan. The government hasn't helped us in any way. All we want is to receive the help we desperately need. We are living in a difficult situation. Najiba had lived in Deh Bala, a rural mountainous district in the eastern province of Nangahar, where hundreds of thousands have repeatedly been forced to flee their homes by the emergence of the ultra-radical Islamic State (IS) militants in 2015. The jihadist group has engaged in horrendous atrocities against civilians, and their presence has attracted operations by Afghan and international forces. The Taliban have also fought against IS in Nangarhar. Sayed Arif, 60, a farmer in the neighboring district of Achin, has braved repeated displacement during the past five years. He now lives in Jalalabad, Nangarhars provincial capital, but has not received any assistance. I cant find work, and our problems and needs increase every day, he told Radio Free Afghanistan. I want the government and aid organizations to pay attention to our misery. Arif and Najiba are among some 4 million Afghans the United Nations estimates have been displaced by fighting and natural disasters inside their country since 2012. For nearly four decades, Afghans have been one of the largest refugee groups globally, but in recent years internal displacement has turned into a top humanitarian issue for the country of 35 million people. As the Afghan government and the Taliban are expected to begin important peace talks soon, tens of thousands of Afghans continue to be displaced. Just this month, more than 50,000 civilians were displaced by fighting between the Afghan security forces and insurgents in the northeastern province of Kunduz. Conflict continues to be the main driver of internal displacement in Afghanistan, said Parvathy Ramaswami, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan. The combination of decades of conflict with repeated displacement, poverty, and now COVID-19 has eroded peoples ability to cope and increased humanitarian needs across the country. The UN estimates that so far this year more than 122,000 people were displaced by conflict across Afghanistan while natural disasters have forced another 55,000 to flee their homes. The largest number of displaced are concentrated in the north, northeast, and eastern parts of the country. In addition, almost half a million undocumented Afghans have returned to their country. Most came from neighboring Iran. Many are still living in overcrowded and underserviced informal settlements, Ramaswami said of the displaced. For people on the move, we are particularly concerned about the risk of spreading COVID-19 due to population movements as compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures is not possible for the majority of displaced families. She says humanitarian aid agencies have helped more than 2 million displaced people gain access to water, sanitation, and hygiene aid. In addition, they have helped Afghan authorities spread information about COVID-19 to some 5 million Afghans while also helping authorities cope with ongoing floods in the country. Abdul Basit Ansari, an adviser to the Afghan Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations, says last year Kabul categorized more than 250,000 individuals as internally displaced. He says the Afghan authorities are working with international aid organizations on the issue. However, he told Radio Free Afghanistan that their efforts have barely made a dent in the massive displacement problem Afghanistan faces. The UN has received only a third of the more than $1 billion in funding it has sought for humanitarian needs in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, many Afghans continue to suffer in displacement. Gul Jan, a mother of four, is among the thousands displaced by fighting in the northern province of Faryab this month. As she cooks rice inside a makeshift kitchen in a dilapidated mud house in the provincial capital, Maimana, her two young sons run barefoot around the courtyard. One of her elder sons has become a heroin addict while the other disappeared amid fighting in the rural district of Pashtun Kot. Our life is very hard, and every day is a challenge, she told Radio Free Afghanistan. Alas, there could be peace, but we dont see it coming. Millions of Afghans are now closely watching whether the Afghan government and the Taliban will strike a bargain over their countrys political future, which could end more than four decades of war in the country. We remain hopeful that the intra-Afghan talks scheduled to start soon will result in sustainable peace and a better future for all people in Afghanistan, Ramaswami said. Radio Free Afghanistan correspondents Rahmatullah Afghan and Mohammad Ekram Karam contributed reporting from Kabul and Maimana, Afghanistan. In spite of Covid concerns and the opportunity to bid online, horsemen thronged the Champions Center in Springfield, OH Aug. 25, to view and purchase horses in person. The sale was strong throughout all categories and consistent with last summers best sale in 64 years. Three-year-old Indiana Sires Stakes winning Nassau Desire topped the sale with a $32,000 bid from Brandon Bartley of OH. The Real Desire gelding was consigned by Burke Racing Stable. Bartley also signed the ticket for $22,000 for the Ohio Fair Stakes winning two-year-old pacer, Pans Pro. Another Indiana bred, Rons EOM, was sale runner up at $25,000. Purchased by No Recall Stable of Ohio, the upper class conditioned pacer was consigned by Vicki Givens of Delaware. Vicki and Wayne Givens came to Springfield determined to replenish their racing stable. They went home with two promising Indiana bred three-year-olds in Life Is A Highway for $24,000 and Candys Image for $22,000, both consigned by Simmons Stable. The Givens also picked up the conditioned trotter Teddy Brosevelt from Tim Betts for $21,000, along with two more green pacers that fit the Delaware conditions. A couple of young mares were purchased for their fine bloodlines rather than their racing lines. Kotas Swan, a $232,846 stakes winning daughter of Swan For All, went to Cool Winds Farm in Ohio on a $21,000 bid, and the three-year-old pacing filly, Off To Win, out of the dam of Funknwaffles p,5,1:49.2f ($959,194) and Poker Hat p,5,1:49.4f ($916,790) was purchased by Jonas Schwartz of Indiana for $17,000. Ohio-breds topped the 118 catalogued yearlings. Long Hilltop, a Long Tom colt out of the double $300,000 producer Angel Touch went to Jack Wray of Ontario for $19,000. The handsome dark colt was consigned by Marlin Yoder. Next was Rose Run Xtatic, a striking black son of And Away We Go out of the NY Sires Stakes winning Incredible Fortuna that was purchased by Mike Polhamus of OH for $18,000. Also hammered down for $18,000 was the beautiful black Fineartnrosa consigned by Trotting Tradition. The daughter of The Panderosa and Fine Art Mindale p,2,1:54.1; 4,1:52.3f was purchased by Matt Rowe of OH. We were pleased that 17 of the horses sold via Proxibid, along with a lot that were under bidders, said Blooded Horse Sale Manager Jerry Haws. Nonetheless, it inspires people to physically see and touch the horses, and experience the excitement of being in the hunt at the sale. Most of the time that translates into onsite bidders prevailing over the internet competition. Visit bloodedhorse.com for full sale results and to enter horses for the Fall Blooded Horse Sale Nov. 17-19. (Blooded Horse Sale) Bigg Boss 14 has been hitting the headlines since a long time. There have been many speculations about the theme of the show. It is also being said that many popular contestants have been approached for the show. As per the latest report, Disha Vakani aka Dayaben from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has been approached to be a part of the controversial reality show. According to Tellychakkar report, the actress was offered a whooping amount to participate, but it is still not known if Disha will accept the offer or not. However, as per Spotboye report, the actress has not been approached for the show. Meanwhile, another report suggested that a team of doctors visited the sets to make sure that all precautionary measures are being taken. According to the buzz, the contestants of the show will be kept in quarantine for a few days in different hotels of Mumbai before they enter the house. It is also said that the contestants will also have to undergo COVID-19 test and if they clear (test negative), they will enter the Bigg Boss house. Recently, there were also reports that although the set is ready, the show has been postponed. Apparently, the show was supposed to star in September 2020, but now, it might begin from October 4. As per reports, Nia Sharma, Jasmin Bhasin, Aly Goni, Eijaz Khan, Naina Singh and Pavitra Punia have been approached for the show. It is also being said that Jennifer Winget and Pearl V Puri, who were offered huge amounts have declined the show. The channel had apparently offered a good deal to Naamkaran actor Zain Imam, but he had also declined the offer. Also Read: Bigg Boss 14: Zain Imam Rejects The Show; Pearl V Puri Offered Rs 5 Crore To Participate! Also Read: Bigg Boss 14 Postponed For A Month? Contestants To Be Quarantined Before Entering The House! EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said the bloc is steadfast in its support for member states Greece and Cyprus over the eastern Mediterranean The EU on Friday warned Turkey it could face fresh sanctions -- including tough economic measures -- unless progress is made in reducing soaring tensions with Greece and Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean. EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said the bloc wanted to give "a serious chance to dialogue" but was steadfast in its support for member states Greece and Cyprus in the crisis, which has raised fears of a military standoff. A dispute over maritime borders and gas drilling rights has reignited the long-running rivalry between Athens and Ankara, with the two neighbours staging rival naval drills. EU foreign ministers meeting for talks in Berlin agreed to a request from Cyprus to sanction more individuals for their role in Turkey's exploratory drilling in waters claimed by the island. Borrell urged Ankara to "abstain from unilateral actions" as a basic condition to allow dialogue -- which Germany is trying to broker -- to advance. "We agreed that in the absence of progress in engaging Turkey we could develop a list of further restrictive measures that could be discussed at the European Council on September 24 and 25," Borrell said after the talks. Asked what these measures might entail, Borrell said sanctions could be extended to ships or other assets involved in the drilling, as well as prohibiting the use of EU ports and supplies and restricting "economic and financial infrastructure related with this activity". Wide-ranging sanctions against whole sectors of the Turkish economy could also be considered, he said, but indicated these might only come into play if more targeted measures against the drilling were not effective. Athens welcomed Friday's developments. "I think the Greek side has got what it could -- that is, possible sanctions if Turkey does not choose de-escalation and does not return to dialogue," Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias told Greek media. "I hope that Turkey will come to its senses, stop the provocations, stop the arbitrary actions and stop violating international law." Story continues But there was anger from Turkey, which said the EU's "unconditional" support for what it called Greece and Cyprus's "maximalist" positions ignored Ankara's legitimate claims and was itself a source of tension. "As Turkey each time emphasises dialogue and diplomacy, the EU's recourse to the language of sanctions will not help solve the resolution of existing problems and will in fact push our country's determination further," Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement. "If the EU wants to find a solution in the eastern Mediterranean, they should act without bias and should be an honest mediator." The crisis splits members of the NATO alliance and in a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg stressed "dialogue and de-escalation", a tweet said. The Turkish presidency said Erdogan told Stolteberg that "NATO should fulfill its responsibility against unilateral steps that disregard international law and harms regional peace." burs-arp/ach Davos Man may have just missed the opportunity to retire gracefully. The globetrotting executive's favourite Alpine talking shop has been postponed until mid 2021, with organisers settling for a smaller-scale digital alternative in the usual January slot. They are right to say there is an urgent need for the world to reset after the social and economic ravages of a pandemic. Whether the World Economic Forum is the right venue to draw that path to recovery is more questionable. Dusk falls in Davos: The annual gathering of the world's rich and powerful in the Swiss ski resort hasn't changed the world, despite its lofty mission statement. Credit:Bloomberg If nothing else, 2020 has shown just how much society needs to listen to new voices. It's also the Davos crowd's consistent ability to be overtaken on the main issues of the day that suggests the need for a different kind of assembly. Budniks first job after earning her Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, was with professional services giant KPMG, where she worked as a retirement actuary. After a few years, she moved over to Towers Perrin (which would later merge with Watson Wyatt Worldwide to become Towers Watson in 2010), where Budnik got to work with some large accounts and she started moving up the ranks as a retirement actuary. When Towers Perrin merged with Watson Wyatt Worldwide in 2010, I took it as an opportunity to really broaden my expertise, said Budnik. So, I took a risk and got out of my comfort zone, leaving my key practice area to join the client management group, where I spent about five years doing broad client management across all aspects of HR and finance. That was Budniks first career broadening move of many. As a technical actuary by nature, but working in a client services role, she soon decided she needed to get broader business experience. So, Budnik signed up for night school, earning an MBA from Northwesterns Kellogg School of Management in December 2013, with majors in finance, business strategy and management. She noted: I was doing that with two small kids at home. Luckily, I have a very supportive husband who helped me through. Read next: How AmRisc bucked the women in insurance trend When Towers Watson merged with Willis Group to create Willis Towers Watson in 2016, Budnik once again made the most of the opportunity. She commented: When we merged with Willis Group, thats when the brokerage piece came in. When you sit in the client management function, you dont have to be the expert, but you do have to learn about all the different lines of business, so that really helped broaden my whole perspective. From there, Budnik made use of her actuarial background and her broad expertise, and she started moving into different regional roles within Willis Towers Watson. She became a sales leader in charge of a big team in the Midwest, and then she joined a special project aimed at improving the support and connectivity for Willis Towers Watsons global clients. I worked on that global project for about a year and a half, and it was great because it gave me lots of exposure to leadership, she said. Then, a role came up to be the head of retirement for the Global Services & Solutions unit. I applied for that job with the mindset that I had nothing to lose. I had applied for other jobs before that, and I didnt get them - you just have to learn from that. Youre not always going to succeed, and if youre not willing to take a risk or not willing to fail, then youre never going to move ahead because youll never get out of your comfort zone. Read more: Agent of change Jerald L. Tillman Budniks no fear attitude paid off. She got the global job and has since spent the past year and half leading a team focused on broad strategy for global defined benefit and defined contribution consulting, actuarial and governance services, spanning local and cross-border plans. Its been a journey, she told Insurance Business. One thing I will say is that early on in my career, I sat in the same practice area for the first 15-years. I really didnt look outside of that, and in hindsight, that was probably a mistake. I probably should have been broadening my expertise and learning about other areas earlier on in my career. Thats always the advice I like to give. When I look at where I am now, I took an interesting path to get there, but I bunched it all up in the last 10-years of my career versus the first 15. In regard to women reaching leadership positions, Budnik said that even if youre not in the leadership seat, women should always feel empowered to lead or to make a difference. She added: Dont wait to be tapped or wait for someone to say its OK just go for it. If you have an opportunity, raise your hand and demonstrate your capability. Learn more from Budnik and other inspiring insurance leaders by attending Women in Insurance Chicago a live, virtual event on Thursday, September 03, from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm CDT. Click here to register. If you cant make the Chicago event, why not join us at Women in Insurance New York on Wednesday, September 09? Click here for more info. Adapted from What Can a Body Do? How We Meet the Built World by Sara Hendren published on August 18, 2020 by Riverhead, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright 2020 Sara Hendren. For the last couple of years, Ive been visiting Steve Saling in Chelsea, Massachusetts, where he lives in a residence he designed for himself and a couple dozen other people, a mix of stunning smart home technology and human care that he created to arrive in time for his bodys big changes. Steve got a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in his late 30s. Hes 51 now. More than a dozen years into his condition, he has said repeatedly that his life is worth livingand that technology, in the absence of medicine, is the cure. Maybe that sounds like one more instance of overhyped claims for Silicon ValleyI would have thought so upon first hearingbut, over time, I came to understand what he meant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the architecture of the life that Steve created, I saw a kind of anticipatory designto repurpose a term of Buckminster Fullers. At Saling House, the residence that bears Steves name, there are impressive digital devices that act, in one sense, as treatment: a whole array of ingenious software and hardware made to maximize his independence even as his body gradually changes. The sheer novelty of the engineering is impressive. But more impressive by far are the ideas packed into all his designed gear and services for life with little mobilityideas about help, about needfulness. About assistance itself in every life. On my afternoons with him, my perspective and my vocabulary about giving and receiving help changed. Steve taught me to think differently about the plain fact of human needfulness and its role in a desirable life. Advertisement Advertisement Saling House is part of the Leonard Florence Center for Living. From its lobby, theres a set of extra-large elevators, the kind a full-size motorized wheelchair can enter and exit, for taking visitors up to the residence floors. On the days Steve met me downstairs, he directed his wheelchairs movements by the padded switches that extend from its headrest to frame his temples; he moved his head very slightly to the left or right to make the commands. These motions, along with some muscle movement in his face, are the only mobility he has now. Steve always greeted me with a combination of his subtle smile, his blinks and light nods, and his wordsIts good to see you, Saraexpressed in the voice of an automated texttospeech device on his chair. He then summoned the elevator himself, taking us up to the third floor, where he lives in a series of rooms that look and feel like a home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a cheery yellow facade that frames the entrance at Saling Housean interior wall painted to look like the exterior of a suburban home, with real wood shutters around a window next to the entrance, a couple of potted plants, and a welcome sign that bears the houses name. Two sets of oversize doors open to the interior, each pair sending one door swinging in and one swinging out for the widest possible berth. Steve and I crossed into a shared common area just inside the main entrance, where the furniture is like that of many living rooms in single-family homes. The chairs and furniture, the colors of the wallsall of these are choices that have been made to mimic the hues of nature: warm yellows and soft blues and greens. The decor, including a fireplace, framed artwork, and club chairs, follows the logic of what lots of people instinctively do when they furnish their own spaces: choosing lamps and furnishings whose simple curves mirror those of the body, the visual language that says Come and relax, not, as in most hospitals and clinics, Beware the machines. The space is so homelike that you might miss the extraordinary sophistication of the technology thats everywhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steve has the boyish affect of someone much younger and the chinlength brown hair that hes had all of his adult life. He has the expressive eyes of someone whose other facial muscles are now slowed almost to a stop; the eyes do much of the emotional work for him, and theyre good at it. Steve operated the elevator, opened all the doors for me, sent texts to other residents, and lowered and raised the blinds, all powered by wheelchair commands. All of the temperature controls, the music and media equipment, and much else at Saling House is controllable by software thats available, to Steve and to the other residents, via screen interfaces. All the residents of Saling House have either ALS or multiple sclerosis and need adaptive equipment; most use wheelchairs. On each chair, theres a tablet that functions as central command, manipulable by hands or softended sticks moved by their mouths, or, in Steves case, by the tiniest cursor youve likely ever seen. On Steves eyeglasses, rounded classic gold frames, the cursor sits right in the center at the bridge of his nose. Its like a flat round stud earring, easy to miss. His head movements direct its connection to the tablet in front of him, and thats how he drives all the infrastructure. Its the master key to this residence made for bodies like his. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On our visits, Steve and I would settle into the living room, or at the long table where meals are shared, or in his suite, where his walls, painted in jewel tones, are covered with images of himself in years past, hiking and climbing, and in the present, doing adaptive scuba diving with a team around him for spotting and tech support. I would ask him questions, notebook in hand, about his daily life, about the history of Saling House as an architecture project, about his plans for the future. He would type the answers, using the cursor. On that tablet screen, imagine a floating vertical line of the alphabet rising from the bottom of the screens edge, repeating itself over and over as it travels up the monitor. Its a river of letters, endlessly repeated, hovering and sliding in a liquid manner, like cells under a microscope. Steves cursor motion catches a desired letter as it floats up to the center, separating it from the fastmoving line. A text prediction algorithm jumps in to guess the likely word hes going for, making shortcuts and lacing together sentences based on common phrases and his history of communications. But to watch the whole thing is like a trippy crossword puzzle for the uninitiated; its taken a studied integration of body and machine for Steve to make it work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At certain points in our backandforth, Steve would hit play and the computerautomated voice both spoke and displayed the words to me on the reverse side of his monitor. And in the interim, business as usual would continue: A building maintenance worker interrupted us to check with Steve about a decision on the water heater; he blinked his assent and returned to typing, pausing to greet nurses or other residents when they passed. This is Steves daily life in his altered body, and hes careful to assure the world that some things havent changed. Theres a button mounted on the back of his headrest that instructs strangers to speak to him as they would anyone else. In the center it reads ALS has stolen my body, not my mind. And framing the edges are the words I am living with ALS. Its a fact and a declarative statementnot coping with, not managing, not even suffering from, but living with this condition and every new thing it brings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steve was a practicing landscape architect when he started experiencing some neuropathy and a loss of motor control that got him worried. After a series of doctor visits, he got an official diagnosis in late 2006. In the early days, while part of his attention was devoted to medical research and pharmacological claims for cures, he also set about doing the work he knew wellthe work of design. He was able to mentally fastforward and consider the harder questions; he started planning a place where he could live when he could no longer stand, or speak, or eat unassisted. Steve took it upon himself to research and imagine the look and operations of a space that could anticipate his future body. If he would lose nearly all movement, he told himself, then he would look to designhis background and trainingto make a desirable life possible. Steve partnered with Barry Berman, a leader in nursing home care. As part of the Green House Project, a network of clinicians and caregiving executives who are creating (or restoring) highquality environments and services for older adults, Berman understood immediately the importance of the idea. The two worked together to find the philanthropic funding, the architects, and the software engineers to bring Steves vision to life. Those years of planning were difficult; smart home appliances had yet to come to the mainstream market. But Saling House opened its doors in 2010; in 2016, a second residence followed. Advertisement Advertisement Its not just the software thats remarkable. The architectural choices are ingenious, too. The kitchen is openstyle, with the stovetop and surfaces at wheelchair height, with a big island attached, as in a home environment, but with careful accessible choices like stovetop knobs mounted on the side of the cooktop, rather than on the surface. There are two large dining tables nearby, one just a couple of inches higher than the other to accommodate different styles of wheelchairs. And just off the living room, connected by a screen door, is a patio and garden area, a small openair oasis up on this third floor of the building. The design features of this landscape may be the most ingenious of all: where the patio ends, theres a patch of green lawn, bordered by flowering plants, but the lawn isnt just grass. Its paved underneath with an invisible bed of recycled plastic, making it strong enough to hold up under the grippy traction of motorized chair tires without getting stuck or tearing it to shreds. Its fitting that Steve thought of this detail, as a landscape architect. Even the sod has been considered with wheelchair use in mind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many people with advanced ALS live their lives in chambers that are the anonymous and clinical habitation of hospital rooms: antiseptic, devoid of any homelike atmosphere, organized solely around medical management. Steve didnt want that future, but a dozen years prior to our meeting, no alternative existed. He pursued a prototype that would make for a desirable life in his changing body, and this is what I spent time with him trying to understand. If you got a diagnosis for which theres no cure, and you knew it would take all of your motor control but not your mind, or your ambitions, or your interestshow would you design for a new body, an evolving new life that you never expected, a life thats still to come, out in front of you? Where would design be useful, when no cure is available? How would you want to wake up every day? Steve is integrated with his machines in an elegant way, if people can see it as such, and to watch him in action is to marvel at the environment that hes constructed for himself: a livable residence, animated by machines. Until medicine proves otherwise, technology is the answer, hes said repeatedly in interviews. Its a slogan for the whole house, hung on a handmade sign near the front door. Call it anticipatory design, yes, and also a means of independence. Advertisement Advertisement But to marvel at the technology alone would be to miss the mixed ecology of care that comes from human assistance, tooand from the radical acceptance of a life with assistance and dependence in it that carries lessons for us all. Steve and his housemates must make relationships with daily caregivers and must also decide to opt in or opt out of two kinds of machines that make their dependence more pronounced and consequential: Once he could no longer chew and swallow, Steve opted into using a feeding tube that gives him the nutrients he needs without the act of eating. And eventually, he will have to decide whether to use a ventilator to outsource the act of breathing. Some residents choose to depend on these machines, and some dont. These decisions strain the edges of even the most expansive ideas of independence. Perhaps thats why ALS in a meaningful life is so underimagined: Most conversations about the condition center on the means of a compassionate death, the ethics of assisted suicide, the autonomy of choices for the end. Those are important debates, too, but Steve taught me to see the life available in ALS. I learned to see these technological choices for Steve as variations on independence, evidence of creative, adaptive selfdetermination. But I saw in him, too, that dependenceneedfulnessis also the state of the human. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is a fact that humans all have a period of extended dependency at the beginning of life and during recurrent periods, such as when they are injured or ill or too frail to fend for themselves, writes philosopher Eva Feder Kittay. Some prefer to speak of interdependence, she continues, but we cannot acknowledge our interdependency without first recognizing our dependency. [I]n some ways we are simply dependent and unable to respond to the others needsit is part of our species typicality to be vulnerable to disability, to have periods of dependency, and to be responsible to care for dependent individuals. And indeed, anyone who has thought much about aging, for example, is sooner or later forced to grapple with the question of independent living, including questions about residential design. As we age, and if we have choices, will we want a house in a familiar community or a more fully serviced retirement center? A set of steps outside as a tradeoff for having a dwelling all on one floor, or an apartment building with an elevator? A room in a house of your own, perhaps with a dog for security, or a shared home with family that trades privacy for peace of mind? In many cultures of the world, of course, aging parents live in the homes of their children in accordance with tradition; to live separately would be unthinkable. In more transient societies, where people move for jobs or related economic reasons, the aging of a parent or grandparent has a ripple effect on the rest of the family. Regardless of the specific physical circumstances, the explicit or implicit debate among families confronting aging is so often about what can be done independently, by which many nondisabled people mean by themselves. Whether to stay in or leave their own homes, above all, but also smaller but weighty decisions, such as whether to travel alone or accompanied, whether or not to drive, in the daytime or eveningthese choices carry big emotional weight, because acting by ourselves often stands for a set of assumptions about competence, functionality, and selfworth. Its the way most design for older adultsmost people, periodgets framed: products and environments for independence as selfsufficiency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Kittay insists on an acknowledgment of basic dependency as a fact of human life that can be just as richly imagined as independence. There are both closures and openings to this state of affairs: When we recognize that dependency is an aspect of what it is to be the sorts of beings we are, [then] we, as a society, can begin to confront our fear and loathing of dependency and with it, of disability. When we acknowledge how dependence on another saves us from isolation and provides the connections to another that [make] life worthwhile, we can start the process of embracing needed dependencies. Kittay is a scholar, but shes not writing purely in the abstract; she is also the mother of an adult daughter, Sesha, who has complex cognitive and physical disabilities that will always require significant assistive care, so she has experienced these gifts firsthand: Advertisement I have received from my daughter Sesha a knowledge of, as [philosopher Alasdair] MacIntyre puts it, the virtues of acknowledged dependency, and of the extraordinary possibilities inherent in relationships of care toward one who reciprocates, but not in the same coin; one who cannot be independent, but makes a gift of her joy and her love. Advertisement Advertisement Redefining independence, in the technologically mediated life of a man like Steve, helps nondisabled people to reconsider their own tacitly held ideas about asking for help. But redefined dependenceas an ordinary fact of our lives that might also, in part, be salutary? This is its own profound lesson. Dependence creates relationships of necessary carecare that may be undertaken by individuals, families, local communities and municipal organizations, churches and mosques and temples, states or nations, or all of those in some mix. Kittay has understood from her own experience of acute dependency that her daughters situation is distinctive, but its also, in the perspective of any human life span, utterly common. People do not spring up from the soil like mushrooms, Kittay writes. People need to be cared for and nurtured throughout their lives by other people. In her relationship with Sesha, Kittay describes a mutuality more mysterious than transactional. Reciprocity that is not in the same coin forms an attachment that might look, from outside, asymmetrical: one party giving and the other receiving. But dwelling together, offering and accepting forms of help, is never a mechanical, zerosum exchange. Advertisement Advertisement Dependency and the care it requires may be the most distilled definition of disability and also the most universal. Some scholars, like Sharon Snyder, Brenda Jo Brueggemann, and Rosemarie Garland-Thomson, claim that disability may well be the fundamental aspect of human embodiment. The fundamental aspect? What a notionthat the universalizing experience of disability, states of dimensional dependence from our infancy through the end of life, might be the central fact of having a body, or rather being a body. Its an idea that could alter ones very sense of self, if we let it. And yet, these scholars note, nondisabled people perpetually go to great intellectual and emotional lengths to distance their own bodies from the experience of disability in others: The disabled body is imagined not as the universal consequence of living an embodied life, but rather as an alien condition. Steves condition registers as deeply alien indeed to many people. There are philanthropic donors whose gifts, combined with Medicaid funding, make Saling House possible but who have never personally been on site to visit. They cant bear to see the people living thereto be in a room where bodily need is so vividly apparent. Advertisement Steve, howeverwithout any romanticism about itis the truest cyborg, surely, I know. He is integrated, bodytomachine and back: the body plus its many tools and devices, with its independence, its interdependence, and its dependence all made plainly, unavoidably visible. Two things can be true of his experience at once, and Steve taught me both: that he and everyone else would immediately, resoundingly rejoice in a medical cure for ALS. And that a life worth living, a life with both independence and dependence meted out in its material and immaterial goods, might also be built. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. DUBLIN, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Automated Optical Inspection Systems Market By Type, By Technology, By Vertical, By Region, Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2020 - 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Automated Optical Inspection Systems Market is expected to reach $1.7 billion by 2026, rising at a market growth of 20.4% CAGR during the forecast period. Major factors driving the growth of the industry include growing demand for consumer products, rising demand for high-quality electronic parts, demand for better efficiency by electronics manufacturing (EMS) firms, and increasing demand for AOI systems in automotive electronics. Automated optical inspection is a significant tool used in the manufacture and testing of PCBs. High technology adoption in the consumer electronics industry is driving the development of the global demand for automated optical inspection systems. The major strategies followed by the market participants are Partnerships and Product Launches. Based on the Analysis presented in the Cardinal matrix; Nordson Corporation and Omron Corporation are the forerunners in the Automated Optical Inspection Systems Market. Companies such as CyberOptics Corporation, Koh Young Technology, Inc., Saki Corporation, and MIRTEC Co., Ltd., Test Research, Inc., Viscom AG, Gopel Electronics GmbH, and Daiichi Jitsugyo Co., Ltd. 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 Omron Corporation, Viscom AG, Test Research, Inc., Nordson Corporation, Koh Young Technology, Inc., CyberOptics Corporation, Daiichi Jitsugyo Co., Ltd. (Daiichi Jitsugyo Asia Pte. Ltd.), Gopel Electronic GmbH, MIRTEC Co., Ltd., Saki Corporation. Partnerships, Collaborations and Agreements Jul-2020: Saki Corporation signed partnership agreement with Fuji America. The partnership was aimed to incorporate Saki's 3D automated optical inspection (AOI) and 3D solder paste inspection (SPI) systems into Fuji's Smart Factory SMT line at its Vernon Hills, IL facility. Saki's inspection and measurement systems is expected to be used to ensure that the printed circuit boards produced at Fuji adhere to the highest standards of quality and reliability. Jun-2020: MIRTEC came into partnership with Virtex, a technology company. Following the partnership, MIRTEC provided its MV-6 OMNI to Virtex. MV-6 OMNI is ideal for 3D Inspection Solutions to meet the stringent quality requirements of VIRTEX's high-reliability customers. Mar-2020: MIRTEC announced its collaboration with Bosch, an engineering and technology company. Under this collaboration, Bosch selected MIRTEC's 3D AOI Technology as the best solution to meet their ongoing quality initiatives. Jan-2020: Koh Young collaborated with Custom Interconnect Ltd. following which the latter company installed two Koh Young Zenith 2 3D Automatic Optical Inspection (AOI) systems. The Koh Young system, with its eight-light projectors, benefits from fully 3D light metrology offering CIL the most accurate measurement. Product Launches and Product Expansions Jun-2020: Gopel Electronic introduced two new automatic optical inspection systems. The series consists of the stand-alone system Basic line 3D XE and the inline system Advanced line 3D XE. Both systems can be used as full 3D solder paste inspection systems (SPI). Therefore, configuration as an inspection island offers a highly efficient and flexible production environment. May-2020: Nordson EFD, a Nordson company unveiled the OptiSure Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) software and confocal laser as add-ons to its existing vision-guided dispensing robots. OptiSure AOI add-ons provide optical assurance of fluid deposit accuracy and integrate seamlessly with Nordson EFD's proprietary DispenseMotion software. Mar-2020: CyberOptics launched the Multi-Reflection Suppression (MRS)-enabled 3D MX3000 Final Vision Inspection (FVI) system for memory modules. The system extended its memory module inspection system portfolio from 2D to 3D3D MX3000 memory module inspection system. The system enabled highly accurate, dual-sided final vision inspection, and doubles productivity. Mar-2020: Test Research, Inc. (TRI) introduced the high-resolution TR7700QE-S 3D AOI for the Semiconductor and Packaging Industry. The TR7700QE-S provides high accuracy and repeatability. 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 Automated Optical Inspection Systems Market, by Type 1.4.2 Global Automated Optical Inspection Systems Market, by Technology 1.4.3 Global Automated Optical Inspection Systems Market, by Vertical 1.4.4 Global Automated Optical Inspection Systems Market, by Geography 1.5 Methodology for the Research Chapter 2. Market Overview 2.1 Introduction 2.1.1 Overview 2.1.2 Executive Summary 2.1.3 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 Business Unit Expansions 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: (Partnerships, Collaborations, and Agreements: 2016, Mar - 2020, Jul) Leading Players Chapter 4. Global Automated Optical Inspection Systems Market by Type 4.1 Global Automated Optical Inspection Systems 2D AOI Market by Region 4.2 Global Automated Optical Inspection Systems 3D AOI Market by Region Chapter 5. Global Automated Optical Inspection Systems Market by Vertical 5.1 Global Automated Optical Inspection Systems IT & Telecom Market by Region 5.2 Global Automated Optical Inspection Systems Electronics Market by Region 5.3 Global Automated Optical Inspection Systems Healthcare & Social Assistance Market by Region 5.4 Global Automated Optical Inspection Systems Automotive Market by Region 5.5 Global Automated Optical Inspection Systems Aerospace & Defense Market by Region 5.6 Global Other Vertical Automated Optical Inspection Systems Market by Region Chapter 6. Global Automated Optical Inspection Systems Market by Technology 6.1 Global Inline Automated Optical Inspection Systems Market by Region 6.2 Global Offline Automated Optical Inspection Systems Market by Region Chapter 7. Global Automated Optical Inspection Systems Market by Region 7.1 North America Automated Optical Inspection Systems Market 7.2 Europe Automated Optical Inspection Systems Market 7.3 Asia-Pacific Automated Optical Inspection Systems Market 7.4 LAMEA Automated Optical Inspection Systems Market Chapter 8. Company Profiles 8.1 Omron Corporation 8.2 Viscom AG 8.3 Test Research Inc. 8.4 Nordson Corporation 8.5 Koh young Technology Inc. 8.6 CyberOptics Corporation 8.7 Daiichi Jitsugyo Co. Ltd. (Daiichi Jitsugyo Asia Pte. Ltd.) 8.8 Gopel Electronic GmbH 8.9 MIRTEC Co. Ltd. 8.10 Saki Corporation For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ug35mz 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 New Delhi: Bollywood Badshah Shah Rukh Khan's daughter Suhana Khan is a popular star kid on social media. There are various fan pages dedicated to her as curiosity around her movie debut is high amongst followers. Suhana, on her Instagram handle, dropped a few pictures of her quarantine filming experience which captures her various moods. Take a look: SRK and Gauri Khan's darling daughter headed to New York University last year where she is studying acting. She completed her graduation from Ardingly College in England. Speculation of her making her starry entry into movie business has always been around and now that she is studying acting as a course, looks like very soon the pretty girl will be making her big-screen debut. She has acted in several plays and also in a short movie. - By Alberto Abaterusso Outlook for gold and silver prices Gold and silver were down over the past couple of days as a result of what the Federal Reserve said last week about its committee not seeing any need to set up a specific control program to keep bond yields depressed. The yellow metal lost 4.2% from last week's highest price to trade at $1,923.85 an ounce on the London bullion market and $1,932.60 an ounce on the Comex, at close on Thursday. The grey metal dipped about 3.75% to close at $27.245 an ounce on the London bullion market and $27.025 an ounce on the Comex on Thursday. Thanks to the tailwind from several favorable factors, however, gold and silver skyrocketed on both markets, hitting record highs many times in August, which allowed investors to achieve impressive returns. Year to date, gold is up about 25%, while silver gained approximately 51%. The precious metals are expected to rebound from the recent corrections to continue to uptrend in the upcoming months as their fundamentals remain strong. While the supply side may suffer from the temporary closure of operations due to restrictions imposed by governments worldwide to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the demand is growing as increased volatility spurs investors toward safe haven assets. Gold and silver operators Therefore, with gold and silver expected to move higher, investors should increase their positions in strong performers. For the upcoming period, I recommend Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE:GOLD), Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (NYSE:WPM) and Silvercorp Metals Inc. (SVM), whose share prices have risen 54%, 73% and 36% so far this year, benefitting from strong operating activities. Barrick Gold The Canadian gold giant closed at $28.58 per share on Thursday for a market capitalization of $50.7 billion. Story continues A Trio of Precious Metals Stocks for the Next Gold and Silver Bull Markets The share price is not cheap as it is above the 150- and 75-day simple moving average lines, and about 30% above the midpoint of the 52-week range of $12.65 to $31.22. However, it is not expensive either as the enterprise value-earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ratio of 5.83 stands below the industry median of 10.71 and the price-book ratio of 2.23 is on par with the industry median. Furthermore, a 14-day relative strength index of 50 indicates there is still room for further upside as the stock has yet to reach overbought levels. Barrick Gold is topping the industry in terms of a higher trailing 12-month Ebitda margin rate (90.6% compared to the industry median of 22.5%) thanks to a portfolio of strong mining activities it holds in North America, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. When investors purchase shares of Barrick, they should be aware that, although unique from both a quantitative and qualitative standpoint, the assets base of the company, which also includes six world class deposits, implies taking some risks related to the hosting countries. Nearly 20% of the total output of attributable gold derives from production in Argentina, Papua New Guinea and Mali, three countries that for various reasons pose a threat to operating activities. Barrick mines gold and copper from its mineral reserves, which account for 64 million ounces of gold and total 10 billion pounds of copper, located in Canada, Nevada, the Dominican Republic, South America, Papua New Guinea, West and Southern-Central Africa,and Saudi Arabia. Looking ahead to full-year 2020, the mining company expects to dig up 4.6 million to 5 million ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost of $920 to $970 per ounce of metal sold, and mine 440 million to 500 million pounds of copper at an AISC of $2.20 to $2.50. In the second quarter, Barrick posted adjusted earnings of 23 cents per share, topping estimates by 5 cents, on revenue of $3.06 billion (up 49% year over year) thanks to a 31% rise in the realized gold price to $1,725 per ounce and a 24% jump in the copper production to 120 million pounds. The production of gold fell 15.1%, mainly due to restrictions related to the coronavirus. Wall Street recommends an overweight rating, which means the share price is projected to outperform the industry with an average target price of $33.18 per share. Wheaton Precious Metals The Canadian gold and silver streaming company traded at $51.41 per share at close on Thursday, determining a market capitalization of $23.01 billion. A Trio of Precious Metals Stocks for the Next Gold and Silver Bull Markets The stock is not trading cheaply as the share price is 34.3% over the midpoint of the 52-week range of $18.66 to $57.89 and above the 150-, 75- and 35-day SMA lines. Also, the enterprise value-Ebitda ratio of 36.19 and the price-book value of 4.14 stand higher than the industry medians of 10.67 and 2.22. However, a 14-day relative strength index of 50 indicates that the share price can still go higher. The streamer is benefitting from high profitable operating activities as the trailing 12-month Ebitda margin is 67%, compared to the industry median of 22.5%. Although the streaming agreements of Wheaton refer to assets residing in friendly mining jurisdictions, a fraction of total production is exposed to a considerable risk of loss as some of the operating mines are located in regions that are characterized by intense seismic activity. Three operating mines in Peru and one in Mexico, which together account for 5% of total production of gold and 30% of total production of silver, fall within the Ring of Fire, which is a path extending for total 20,854.8 miles along the Pacific Ocean, producing 85% of the world's seismic activity. The other streaming agreements are for assets located in North America, the Republic of Guyana, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, Greece and Finland. The company has lowered its full-year output guidance at a range of 655,000 to 685,000 ounces of gold equivalent, while reaffirming its long-term production forecast of 750,000 ounces of gold equivalent to produce every year over the next four years. In the second quarter, Wheaton Precious Metals recorded pro-forma earnings of 22 cents per share, beating estimates by 3 cents, on revenue of nearly $248 million (up 31% year over year) thanks to higher metal prices and a 5.5% sales volume jump to 156,200 ounces of gold equivalent. Furthermore, the cash operating margin rate advanced by 35% year over year to $1,170 per ounce of gold equivalent sold despite the temporary closure of some operating activities due to Covid-19. Wall Street recommends an overweight rating with an average target price of $55.11 per share. Silvercorp Metals The Canadian silver, lead and zinc mining company closed at a price of $7.7 per share on Thursday, for a market capitalization of $1.34 billion. A Trio of Precious Metals Stocks for the Next Gold and Silver Bull Markets The share price is not cheap as it stands 54% above the midpoint of the 52-week range of $1.5 to $8.49, and significantly over the 150-, 75- and 35-day SMA lines. Moreover, the enterprise value-Ebitda ratio of 14.46 is higher than the industry median of 10.71, and the price-book ratio of 3.28 stands above the industry median of 2.23. Despite these valuations, the share price can still grow a lot as indicated by a 14-day relative strength index of 56, which means that the stock is far from approaching overbought levels. Its Chinese assets, where the miner is producing the metals in concentrates, are operating profitably as the trailing 12-month Ebitda margin rate yields 52.5% versus the industry median of 22.5%. Investors should know that 10% of the total silver, 15% of total lead and 70% of total zinc sold are extracted from mine sites in the Guangdong province, which, given its geographic position, is exposed to natural events such as floods and landslides due to monsoon rains. In general, China is still considered a tough place for American companies to do business, which enhances the country risk to the maximum level. For fiscal 2021, which will end on March 31, 2021, the company is targeting to mine between 6.2 million and 6.5 million ounces of silver, between 66.1 million and 68.5 million pounds of lead and between 24.5 million and 24.7 million pounds of zinc. The AISC per ounce sold is expected to fluctuate in the $122.6 to $135.5 per ton range. Silvercorp posted earnings of 9 cents per share, topping expectations by 5 cents, on a 2.5% year-over-year increase in revenue to $46.7 million, benefitting from more silver sold (up 1% to 1.9 million ounces), gold (up 10% to 1,100 ounces) and lead (up 17% to 20.9 million pounds) and higher precious metals prices. The 5% decline in the total sales volume of zinc to 7 million pounds was, therefore, more than offset by the above improvements. The operating cash flow rose 51% to approximately $30 million. Wall Street recommends an overweight rating with an average target price of $7.01 per share. 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. CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat on Thursday said the dismissal of a hate speech case against BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma was an unfair judicial process resulting in excusing those who make hate speeches even where there is prima facie evidence against them. A Delhi court had on Wednesday dismissed the petition filed by Karat seeking lodging of FIRs against the BJP leaders for their alleged hate speeches in relation to anti-CAA protest at Shaheen Bagh on the grounds that no previous sanction was obtained by the complainants from competent authority to prosecute the respondents for the offences alleged in the complaint since both of them are Lok Sabha MPs. This is an unfair judicial process which has resulted in excusing those who make hate speeches even where there is prima facie evidence, the CPI(M) leader said in a statement. She also questioned the grounds on which her petition was dismissed. Now that HC asked the magistrate to dispose off the application, at this stage to rule that prior sanction even to direct registration of an FIR is required under Section 196 of CrPC is most surprising the statement added. Karat had mentioned in her plea that at the Rithala rally here, Thakur, the Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, had on January 27 egged on the crowd to raise an incendiary slogan shoot the traitors after lashing out at anti-CAA protesters. In the application, she had mentioned that Verma had on January 28 allegedly made incendiary comments against the anti-CAA protesters in Shaheen Bagh. An apologetic Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced he will step down after a record seven years and eight months as leader citing ill-health after a recurrence of ulcerative colitis. Abe announced his resignation in a news conference on Friday, in which he addressed his health after two recent hospital visits. The 65-year-old said he wanted to avoid causing problems to the government because of his worsening condition. I have decided to step down from the post of the prime minister, Abe said, saying he was suffering from the same condition that ended his first term in office. I cannot be prime minister if I cannot make the best decisions for the people. Abe has battled ulcerative colitis for years and two recent hospital visits within a week had fanned questions on whether he could stay in the job until the end of his term as ruling party leader, and hence, premier, in September 2021. I would like to sincerely apologise to the people of Japan for leaving my post with one year left in my term of office, and amid the coronavirus woes, while various policies are still in the process of being implemented, said Abe, bowing deeply. Governing party officials had said Abes health is fine but the hospital visits, one lasting more than seven and a half hours, had fuelled rumours about his ability to handle the job with another year before his term expired. A lack of information had created a vacuum that people have been happy to fill with speculation, Tobias Harris, author of The Iconoclast: Shinzo Abe and the New Japan, a biography of Abe to be published in November, told Al Jazeera. On Monday, Abe marked his 2,799th consecutive day in office since bouncing back to leadership in late 2012 for a second term in office and became Japans longest-serving leader, beating a record set by his great-uncle Eisaku Sato half a century ago. But his popularity has fallen to about 30 percent in recent opinion polls over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and scandals among governing party members. Fridays bombshell development kicks off a leadership contest in the worlds third-largest economy. Abe said he would not comment on his potential successors, but said the next leader should continue to work on fighting the coronavirus. Abe built his administration around his plan to revive the economy with his Abenomics policy of spending and monetary easing. He has also beefed up Japans military spending and expanded the role of its armed forces even as his dream of revising the countrys pacifist constitution has failed to make headway. The resignation will trigger a leadership race in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) most likely in two or three weeks and the winner must be formally elected in parliament. The new party leader will hold the post for the rest of Abes term. Whoever wins the party poll is likely to keep Abes reflationary Abenomics policies as Japan struggles with the impact of the novel coronavirus, but may have trouble emulating the political longevity that may be Abes biggest legacy. The broad picture remains in tact. In terms of economic and fiscal policy, the focus remains very much on reflation, said Jesper Koll, senior adviser to asset manager WisdomTree Investments. COVID-19 measures Abe has been struggling with ulcerative colitis since he was a teenager. Returning from the last hospital visit on Monday, he said he wanted to take care of his health and do his utmost at his job. Speculation that he would step down was initially dismissed by allies in his governing Liberal Democratic Party, including by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, who said he meets Abe twice a day and has not seen any change in his health. He added Abes comments on Monday that he would continue to do his best in the job explains it all. Abe is in his second stint as prime minister. He resigned abruptly from his previous term in 2007 because of his illness, which he has been able to keep in check with medicine that was not previously available. The condition is said to be aggravated by stress. Jeff Kingston from Temple University in Tokyo said Abes legacy will be rather limited. He will be remembered for the longest-serving prime minister, but having been in power for so long with a super-majority in the Diet [parliament], he hasnt really achieved all that much. And so maybe he has given stability and Japan has been governed reasonably well. But in terms of the ambitious agenda of Abenomics he really has achieved very little, Kingstom told Al Jazeera. He said he would decrease inflation, that hasnt happened. He said were going to raise wages, that hasnt happened. Households are not feeling the love, and so generally speaking Abenomics is often criticised for being welfare for the wealthy. 'Because of the COVID-19 pandemic situation today, the revenues of the states have gone down, the GST money is not coming and all the states combined have lost more than Rs 365,000 crore in revenue.' 'To make it worse, the Government of India is not compensating us for the shortfall, which it must as per its Constitutional obligations.' Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy speaks exclusively with Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com about the Union government's refusal to make the repayment of GST compensation to the states. "The Government of India is not compensating us for the shortfall, which it must as per its Constitutional obligations," says Narayanasamy, who is also the Union territory's finance minister and represented Puducherry at the 41st GST Council meeting held on Thursday, August 27. What was the outcome of the GST Council meeting? The finance minister gave two options to the states. One is that the states have to borrow directly and the other one is the Government of India will facilitate the borrowing from the Reserve Bank of India. Most of the finance ministers have said they will come back to her after a week (with their views on the finance minister's proposal). Most of the finance ministers were of the opinion that the Government of India must borrow on behalf of the states and give it to us. It (the GST compensation structure to the states) is the Government of India's baby and it is a commitment given by the Government of India, therefore they should now fulfill it and make for the shortfall in revenues to the states. The state governments are not obliged to do it (borrow to make up for the revenue shortfall). Isn't the Government of India under no obligation to borrow the money on behalf of the states? It is not an obligation, but the Government of India has to pay the compensation if the compensation the states get is not sufficient and if there is any revenue shortfall. Therefore, the Government of India should borrow and then give it to us. Why aren't the states in a position to borrow? How is the fiscal situation in Puducherry? Because of the dire fiscal situation during the pandemic, all the states have reached their maximum borrowing limits (of 3 per cent of their gross state domestic product; the finance minister has offered to relax the FRBM borrowing limit to 4 per cent). All of us have mostly reached our borrowing limits mandated under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2005 (under the provisions of this Act, states are permitted to borrow maximum of 3 per cent of their gross state domestic product). In this situation, states have to seek the Government of India's permission for increasing this limit so that they can borrow more directly from the market. But not many states are happy about the two options given by the Union finance minister. Is Puducherry going to seek this permission to enhance its borrowing limit to 4 per cent of its fiscal deficit? That is the second option in which the Government of India will stand guarantee for the states' market borrowings and the compensation shortfall to states when it is paid by the Union government will be repaid (by the states) in the sixth or seventh year. But there is rethinking on it (this option) now. Let all the states apply their minds on this issue and then we will see. We will be meeting again after a week and let the finance minister know our opinion about the two options given by her. What is the revenue shortfall for Puducherry? We are entitled to about Rs 700 crore (Rs 7 billion). From April 1, 2020 till this day we have not got any GST share from the Union government. What was Puducherry's suggestion to the finance minister about resolving the issue of shortfall in GST compensation to the states? That the Government of India should borrow and give money to the states. They have to give the sovereign guarantee without which the states won't be in any position to borrow money from the markets. What was the reaction of other finance ministers from different states to the FM's proposal? Even Karnataka was not too keen about the two options and the state's representative (Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai represented Karnataka at the GST Council meeting held virtually) suggested that the state's share of GST compensation should be immediately paid to Karnataka (Karnataka is seeking a compensation of Rs 13,764 crore/Rs 137.64 billion for the four months beginning April to August 2020). Majority of the states have come around this view. Even Gujarat (that has the BJP government in power, along with Karnataka, said the same). What happens in the next seven days before the next GST Council meeting is scheduled? We will think over the two options and put forth our views about how best this can be worked out. What are the problems in the GST compensation as it is as it exists today? Because of the COVID-19 pandemic situation today, the revenues of the states have gone down, the GST money is not coming and all the states combined have lost more than Rs 365,000 crore in revenue. To make it worse, the Government of India is not compensating us for the shortfall, which it must as per its Constitutional obligations. Same is the situation with 14 per cent compensation of GST moneys due to the states. It is the commitment that the Government of India must fulfill, but it is not doing so unfortunately. The Union government is going back on its commitment. The current GST structure puts the consuming states at an advantage and producing states at a disadvantage. That is why we have demanded that the GST regime should be revisited. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, had a bilateral meeting with his Italian counterpart, Luigi di Maio, on the sidelines of the informal meeting in the Gymnich format of the foreign ministers of EU member-states, which is taking place in Berlin, the two agreeing to prepare for a future joint government sitting, which will take place in 2021, a release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), sent on Friday to AGERPRES, shows. The head of Romanian diplomacy emphasized the very good level of the bilateral relationship, of Consolidated Strategic Partnership, with basis on the historical relations between the two countries, as well as the strong human and economic ties that bind, currently, Romania and Italy, host country for the largest Romanian diaspora. The two dignitaries discussed about bilateral cooperation during the coronavirus pandemic, characterized by solidarity and mutual support, and pleaded for the continuation of cooperation in the same spirit, in order to minimize the impact of the health crisis on the citizens and economies of both countries. Furthermore, the Romanian Foreign Ministry invited his Italian counterpart to conduct a visit to Romania. The Established Players CeraVe: LOreals Active Cosmetics business is one of its fastest growing, and within the portfolio, CeraVe stands out as a key performer. Acquired in 2017 as part of a $1.3 billion deal with Valeant Pharmaceuticals (AcneFree and Ambi were also part of the package), CeraVe is having a strong year: At a time when all eyes are on hand health, it leads the mass market in the hand and body lotion segment, posting a 34 percent increase year-to-date, according to data from IRI. Sales are equally as strong in the facial categories, where CeraVe facial cleansers have jumped 57 percent (edging out cult favorite Cetaphil) and moisturizers have grown 49 percent, moving ahead of perennial leader Neutrogena to nab the top spot in the category. Dove: Dove has always led the way when it comes to being purpose-driven, and during the first half of 2020, its leadership position shone through. Already an ardent supporter of racial justice last years Crown Campaign helped effect legislation in California, New York and New Jersey barring race-based hair discrimination (Virginia, Colorado and Washington have since joined on) the brand extended its community outreach and involvement in the wake of the coronavirus crisis and the Black Lives Matter moment even more. The impact of that was seen in Unilevers first-half results: Despite challenging market conditions, Dove remained resilient, with mid-single-digit growth. E.l.f.: Talk about going from meh to wow. Just a few years ago, E.l.f. was struggling and sales were declining. But a team that recognized the power of TikTok early on created an OMG moment, creating a campaign on the platform that garnered more than 4.4 billion views, which translated into a double-digit sales increase and catapulted the brand to cult status for Gen Z. The brand, now a top-five mass player, according to Nielsen, ended its fiscal year on a high note, posting a 6 percent increase in sales and announcing a partnership with superstar Alicia Keys for a new beauty brand. Story continues Estee Lauder: The grand dame of beauty is as relevant as ever, particularly as consumers flock to known and trusted brands during the coronavirus crisis. Driven by hero products like Advanced Night Repair and a quick pivot to digital strategies, Lauder has posted double-digit gains in a global market wracked with uncertainty. The brand was also actively involved in community efforts, both as part of parent company Estee Lauder Cos. Inc. efforts and on its own accord, donating 2 million surgical masks to frontline workers in New York City. Kiehls: Since its inception as a pharmacy back in 1851 in New York City, Kiehls has always been known for its service. Fast forward 100-plus years, and that philosophy helped it become one of the most nimble brands to navigate the early days of the pandemic. As stores closed, the brand quickly pivoted to online consultations, resulting in conversion rates about 10 points higher than the normal chat. Also one of the first mainstream brands to reformulate its hero products to be clean, Kiehls continued its issue advocacy and adapted to the times as with its virtual dance party to celebrate Pride Month. Lancome: With top-five positioning in the cornerstone categories of prestige beauty makeup, skin care and fragrance the powerhouse prestige brand epitomizes French savoir-faire globally. After opening a flagship on Paris Avenue des Champs-Elysees late last year harnessing technology to create a truly customized experience for consumers, the brand pivoted quickly during the pandemic, creating virtual experience second to none. Along with sister brand LOreal Paris, Lancome took the top two positions in Tmalls June 18 shopping day promotion, while its skin-care division helped boost sales in the challenged North American market. LOreal Paris: With size comes responsibility, something LOreal Paris new president, Delphine Viguier, has demonstrated she understands. As the Black Lives Matter movement gained momentum, LOreal announced its support early, but was called out by transgender model Munroe Bergdorf, who was fired as a brand spokesperson after speaking publicly about racism after a white supremacy demonstration in 2017. Viguer reached out to Bergdorf, admitting regret at how the situation was handled and naming her to a role on the DEI Board that LOreal established in the U.K. That call to action is echoed in everything from LOreals product lineup, where skin-care sales have soared, to its message of personal empowerment. MAC: MACs credo has always been all ages, all races, all welcome, and that message is more resonant now than ever. The OG indie brand, now owned by the Estee Lauder Cos., has one of the most diverse teams of any brand in the company, and also one of the biggest hearts. Last year it hit more than $500 million in donations to AIDS-related causes as part of its Viva Glam campaign, and this year it was an early responder to the COVID-19 crisis as well. At a time when the makeup market overall is challenged, MAC the top makeup brand in the U.S., according to The NPD Group is reinventing its go-to-market methods under global creative director Drew Elliott and global chief marketing officer Ukonwa Ojo, launching everything from small-batch drops to collabs with the likes of Teyana Taylor. Nest Fragrances: During quarantine, the home category was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise challenged fragrance market, and leading the way with a strong performance was Nest Fragrances, according to data from NPD. The brand has spent the last few years diversifying into personal care as well as home products, all the while driving its core candle category. Lit indeed. OGX: Despite tough competition, OGX has held on to the top spot in mass market shampoo and conditioner sales for the 12 months ending June 14, according to data from IRI. The brand, which Johnson & Johnson acquired in 2016 for a reported $3.3 billion, has continued to operate with the agility of an indie, quickly adapting to prevailing ingredient and social media trends (see Mermaid Moisture, developed in conjunction with influencer Kandee Johnson) while driving its hero stockkeeping units simultaneously. Olay: From ingredients like retinol to issues such as sustainability, Olay has positioned itself at the forefront of premium mass skin care. Last year, it was the first major player to introduce refillable pods for its Regenerist Whips franchise, and mobilized quickly to help frontline workers during COVID-19, creating and donating 1,000 special skin-care kits and formulating a Hand Healing Serum that proved so effective it will be commercialized later this year. Sally Hansen: Coty-owned Sally Hansen may be one of the heritage brands of the nail industry, but it has a habit of disrupting the category and bringing meaningful innovation to the mass market. Nail has been a bright spot in mass market color cosmetics up almost 25 percent year-to-date for the period ending June 14, according to data from IRI. Driving that growth the DIY trend, as well as launches like Good.Kind.Pure, Sally Hansens plant-based, vegan, 16-free nail polish line that launched earlier this year. Shea Moisture: Shea Moisture founder Richelieu Dennis pioneered the concept of community commerce, and the brand, now owned by Unilever, continues to push hard on purpose. Prior to the acceleration of the Black Lives Matter movement this year, the brand launched a $1 million fund to support entrepreneurs of color, and after, it committed another $100,000 to activists working toward social change. Parent-company Sundial Brands is one of the few beauty giants with a Black female ceo Cara Sabin. And the products continue to fly off the shelves: According to data from IRI, Shea Moistures hair conditioner business has increased 20 percent year-to-date, more than double the category growth and almost triple that of category leader OGX. Tom Ford Beauty: Tom Ford is looking to become the first big designer mega beauty brand of the 21st century and a pandemic isnt going to stop him. The brand has risen 40 ranks in the past five years, and is today the 25th largest beauty brand globally. Now a full-fledged beauty house with fragrance, makeup and skin care, Ford is looking to lead the way in redefining a luxury beauty experience for the modern age. Vital Proteins: Supplements are one of the fastest-growing categories in the $4.2 trillion wellness category, and Vital Proteins, a pioneer in collagen-based ingestibles, has led the way in connecting inner health and outer beauty. Its dominance hasnt gone unnoticed by the investor community, either. In a time when wellness companies are top of mind for the M&A set, Vital Proteins was one of the first to be snapped up, with Nestle Health Science agreeing to buy a majority stake in the firm. The Independent Spirits Amika: From its inception, Brooklyn-based Amika has incorporated todays key values into its brand ethos clean, cruelty-free formulas, a focus on sustainable packaging, and products that dont segregate by race, gender or hair type all wrapped up in bright, eye-catching designs. The brand has also proven itself adept at straddling the professional and retail sectors distribution includes salons and Sephora and is not only in NPDs top 10 list of best-selling prestige hair-care brands, but also one of the top three fastest growing. Beautycounter: The coronavirus has accelerated the concern among consumers about what goes in and on their bodies, leading to a resurgence of clean beauty. Category pioneer Beautycounter is well positioned to capitalize on the interest, with a diversified retail base and a leadership position when it comes to advocating for a more regulated cosmetics industry landscape. Founder Gregg Renfrew is one of the most visible people on Capitol Hill advocating for cosmetics reform. Still, the brand has been called out on social media for racist practices in its corporate culture, with leadership admitting its missteps and a commitment to increase diversity in key positions. Briogeo: Founder Nancy Twine pioneered the skinfication of hair and was an early mover in superfoods when she created Briogeo in 2013. The VMG-backed brand, a darling at Sephora, has been steadily expanding into other areas of wellness, too such as ingestibles. Briogeo continues to capitalize on its strength in hair, too, launching an enviable number of products that go on to be heroes both online and off. Charlotte Tilbury: Is there any brand other than Charlotte Tilbury that could score a billion-dollar deal in the midst of a global pandemic? The line as electric as its namesake founder signed a deal with Puig in June, in a deal pegged at 1.2 billion pounds. No wonder the price was so high. The makeup and skin-care brand was the top market share gainer in the prestige makeup market in the U.S. for year to date 2020, according to NPD, and also a favorite among influencers, racking up almost $100 in EMV according to Tribe Dynamics. Deciem/The Ordinary: Deciems The Ordinary is the top market share gainer in the prestige skin-care market, year to date, according to NPD. Considering the category, the competition and the circumstances that is quite a feat. Credit an agile culture, one that was able to pivot quickly when stores closed due to the coronavirus, with Deciem becoming one of the first brands to transition to virtual consultations online and drive an e-commerce explosion. Diptyque: Candles have burned bright during the coronavirus crisis, and Paris-based Diptyque continues to soar as a leader in the home fragrance category. The brand is growing at more than 25 percent annually, driven by international expansion as well as new categories, like skin care. Its hero products are also benefiting Baies is a cross-generational bestseller that retailers expect to continue its strength into the upcoming holiday selling season. Drunk Elephant: A pioneer in the clean beauty movement and now part of the Shiseido empire, Drunk Elephant has gone from category challenger to the platonic ideal of a modern brand. Sales passed the $100 million mark last year, and the momentum continues, from entries into hot new categories (hair) to geographies (China). Look for that to escalate as Shiseido taps into its global expertise to drive the brand to even greater heights. Fenty Beauty: Over the last few years, superstar Rihanna has proved shes one of the most successful musicians turned entrepreneurs. Her first venture, Fenty Beauty, launched in 2017, set a new standard for diversity and inclusivity with its 40-shade range of foundations a direction that both new and established brands have followed. Next came lingerie, then fashion and now, skin-care. Now more than ever, Fenty is a force to be reckoned with. Glossier: Glossiers response to the coronavirus crisis and BLM embodied what makes it so resonant with Millennials. Throughout COVID-19, it was transparent in its communications, whether announcing its payment plan for employees or furlough structure; it responded equally as quickly to the BLM movement, donating $1 million to organizations fighting racial injustice and in grants to Black-owned businesses. And in terms of products Glossier has been at the forefront of skin care as makeup. The juggernaut shows no signs of slowing. Huda Beauty: Huda and Mona Kattan are building a brand for the ages. Ranked the worlds most in-demand brand for the first quarter of 2020 by Cosmetify, Huda has almost twice as many social media followers than any other brand and is the most mentioned brand on Instagram, with 24 million hashtags for the first quarter alone. No wonder its fans are legions: Hudas employee base is among the most reflective of the overall population of any brand, with 13 percent Black employees, above the industry average and in line with the adult American population. The Mane Choice: Former nurse Courtney Adeleye founded her brand, The Mane Choice, with $500 and a vision that is as relevant today as it was then. All-natural products that enable women to embrace their textured hair, rather than grapple with myriad chemical processes to try to tame it. Since launching, Adeleye has created product lines for every major mass retailer, from Target to Sally Beauty, selling in more than 60,000 doors. As Adeleye has grown, she has also given back, setting up the Generational Advantage Fund to help other female entrepreneurs build successful companies. Shes also focused on the next generation with the Senior Success Mentorship, a program designed to mentor Black women ages 16 to 19. Milk Makeup: A favorite of Gen Z and Millennials alike, the New York-based brand is riding high thanks to its Kush franchise of hemp-based products, its Instagram-friendly ethos and and innovative products (hello sticks) that are perfectly in step with what its user base is looking for. Milk continues to expand its community of influencers, up 16 percent year-over-year, according to data from Tribe Dynamics, and it also had one of the five highest EMV-driving hashtags for the first half of the year with #StudioFam. Moon Juice: Brand founder Amanda Chantal Bacon is a marketing genius (her Sex Dust became an instant classic), who has cemented her place at the forefront of the wellness industry by understanding what Millennials are truly looking for in a new-age beauty brand. Shes consistently on the cutting edge of whats next. No wonder customers and competitors would gladly follow her to the moon and back. Olaplex: The hottest product in the hottest category. Prestige hair is booming, and much of the growth is being driven by Olaplex, the top market share gainer for the first half of the year in hair care, according to data from NPD. The business, which was acquired by private equity firm Advent International in a deal valued at $1 billion, also quickly pivoted to provide relief for salon owners, donating $150,000 to professionals in need and setting up an affiliate program that generated close to $400,000 in commissions. Tatcha: Founded by Vicky Tsia a decade ago, Tatcha has cracked the top 10 in beautys most competitive category, ranking ninth in prestige skin care for the first half of the year, according to data from NPD. From product formulations to promotions hello Animal Crossing founder Vicky Tsai has her finger on the pulse of what drives women to buy. No wonder Unilever bought the brand for an estimated $500 million. The Emerging Powerhouses Augustinus Bader: With a well-connected cofounder on the one hand, and a brilliant scientist who applied his groundbreaking stem cell technology on the other, its little wonder that Augustinus Bader has reached cult status in record time. The brand is building on its initial success, with a well-timed cadence of launches, from a collab with Victoria Beckham Beauty to a body cream to hand sanitizer, 60,000 bottles of which were donated to frontline workers. The strategy is working: Since launch, Bader has been growing at about 200 percent, a rate which has dropped slightly about 20 percent but still outpacing the industry overall. DP Hue: Even before the coronavirus crisis, DP Hue was on fire, with an ever-growing roster of hero products and an innovative DTC model that aided salon owners. During the pandemic, the brand moved quickly to answer the call for effective at-home hair color options, serving both consumers and its community by upping the commission on sales it offered to stylists. Dr Barbara Sturm: Barbara Sturm has built one of the fastest-growing brands in skin care by being consistently ahead of the curve, in everything from science to social media. In an age of hero products, her brand is full of them. At a time when brands are being criticized for not addressing the needs of diverse consumers, Sturm was one of the first to create products targeting pigmented skin. Golde: Started in Brooklyn in 2017 by Trinity Mouzon Wofford and her business partner and fiance Issey Kobori, the all-natural superfood-slash- skin-care brand. From the beginning, Woffords vision was to make wellness more accessible, and the brand is sold today in about 120 stores, including Sephora, Urban Outfitters and Goop. Its growth in the first half of the year has been significant, too. In the month of June alone, Golde exceeded its entire revenue for 2019, and the brand went from 20,000 Instagram followers to more than 80,000 in just a few weeks. Heretic: Clean fragrance pioneer (and Gwyneth Paltrow pal) Douglas Little is a little naughty and a lot creative. (Who else would create a candle called This Smells Like My Vagina?) But hes also translated buzz into business, and looks set to expand his clean beauty brand into new areas, including color, sooner rather later. Juvias Place: Ulta execs rave about Juvias place and why not it ticks all of the boxes: highly pigmented shades, clean formulations and a passionate founder who has tapped into the vibrancy of Africa to create a clear positioning for her brand. Sales are growing and so is its social media presence. Tribe Dynamics reports the brand outperformed the top 10 color brands for the first half of 2020, with its Shade Stick foundations proving especially popular with influencers. Kosas: Despite a very tough makeup market, Kosas is surging. The clean makeup brand founded by Sheena Yaitanes is as popular with celebs such as Paltrow and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and its Tinted Face Oil was one of the most popular products on social media, according to Tribe Dynamics. The brand, a pioneer of the makeup-as-skin-care movement, has just launched its first actual skin care product: Chemistry Deodorant, an AHA-based serum format. Consider it a cult in the making. Mented: Harvard business school graduates KJ Miller and Amanda Johnson bonded over their inability to find the perfect nude lipstick. They decided to create it themselves. Turns out they werent alone in their quest. Mented (short for pigmented), the line they launched in 2017, has been a hit with consumers, too, branching out from lipstick into a full-fledged color cosmetics line sold online, at Macys and on QVC and HSN. Sales are said to be soaring. Florence by Mills: Millie Bobby Brown launched her beauty brand last year at the tender age of 15 with the conviction that she knew what her fellow Gen Zers are looking for when it comes to self care. From Snapchat filters to Swimming Under the Eyes Gel Pads, she nailed it, parlaying her popularity into a thriving beauty brand thats a bona fide hit with its target demo. My Black Is Beautiful: Procter & Gamble brought its My Black Is Beautiful to life with a product line introduced last June. Even before the Black Lives Matter movement gained critical mass following the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, P&G was committed to diversifying the brands in its portfolio. This launch enables it to continue its work with purpose-driven brands, while also operating with the agility of an indie as it looks to incubate and bring to market more brands. Peace Out: From pimple patches to retail superstar, this young indie brand has quadrupled retail sales in three short years, and will surpass the $20 million mark this year. A key player in a hot category acne the brand has also just launched its first non-patch product. Scotch Porter: Founder Calvin Quallis launched his brand after he noticed a dearth of products for Black mens beards. Hes since expanded into a full-fledged grooming line, all the while growing and maintaining market share in the competitive facial market and parlaying the coronavirus-beard trend into solid growth. Shani Darden: Where Darden goes, others follow. The aesthetician for many of Hollywoods most famous faces, shes an equally good formulator, adeptly building on the popularity of her cult favorite Retinol Reform to drive one of the fastest growing skin-care brands in the market. Sol de Janeiro: Bottoms up! The body-care powerhouse that taps into the spirit (and ingredients) of Brazil has quickly branched out from its signature Bum Bum Cream into hair care, fragrance, sun and shower. In this age of self-care, who couldnt use a smile in their daily routine? Summer Fridays: Slow and steady wins the race. Rather than a frenetic launch calendar to capitalize on their avid follower base, influencers Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores Ireland have methodically built their beauty-based lifestyle brand one launch at a time. Retail sales are said to be in the $20 million range not bad for a brand with six skus a figure sure to increase with recently named ceo, John Heffner (formerly known as Drybar) on board. Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Barely three months to the US presidential elections, the US President Donald Trump, has challenged Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, to drug tests before their first electoral debate next month. Biden, 77, and Mr Trump, 74, will have three debates before the 3 November election.The three presidential debates will take place in Cleveland, Ohio, on 29 September; in Miami, Florida, on 15 October; and Nashville, Tennessee, on 22 October. Back in 2016, Trump suggested his then-Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, had been "getting pumped up" before their debates and challenged her to take a drug test ahead of their final live TV encounter. On Wednesday August 26, Trump made a similar claim, arguing that Mr Biden's debating ability had improved in the final Democratic primaries debate against Bernie Sanders. Mr Trump said the former US vice-president "wasn't even coherent" during some of the 11 live TV debates he competed in earlier but by the time of the last debate on 15 March, he performed better against Senator Bernie Sanders. Speaking to the Washington Examiner on Thursday August 27, Trump said; "I don't know how he [Mr Biden] could have been so incompetent in his debate performances and then all of a sudden be OK against Bernie." He added: "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." Mr Trump said of the debates: "Well, it is a prizefight. It's no different from the gladiators, except we have to use our brain and our mouth. And our body to stand. I want all standing - they want to sit down." Trump offered no evidence his rival might be on drugs other than to say: "I'm pretty good at this stuff." 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 17-year-old Illinois resident arrested in connection with the fatal shooting at a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, sparked by the police shooting of Jacob Blake now faces two charges of homicide. Kyle Rittenhouse, of Antioch, was arrested in his hometown Wednesday on a charge of first-degree intentional homicide. Multiple additional charges were filed against the teenager Thursday afternoon by Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley, including another count of first-degree intentional homicide, as well as first-degree reckless homicide, and attempted first-degree intentional homicide, according to Wisconsin court records. He is also facing two charges of reckless endangerment, which are also felony counts, and a misdemeanor count of possession of a dangerous weapon under the age of 18. The Kenosha County District Attorney's office was closed Thursday afternoon and did not immediately respond to request for comment from NBC News. Rittenhouse is being held in the Lake County Judicial System as he awaits extradition to Wisconsin, the Village of Antioch Police Department said in a Facebook post on Thursday. Online court records show that a hearing is scheduled for Friday morning. Attorney information was not listed for Rittenhouse and calls to family members were not immediately returned. That same day, Blake's parents are to attend a march in Washington, D.C. against police brutality. A 26-year-old from Silver Lake and a 36-year-old from Kenosha were killed in the protests just before midnight Tuesday. A third person, 26, from West Allis, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities have not released the names of the victims. During a press conference on Thursday, Kenosha officials said that protests in the city following Tuesday's shooting have been peaceful. "Since Wednesday, the entire atmosphere of Kenosha has changed dramatically as far as the people who live here. The crowds last night were small, it was a few hundred people and they walked peacefully through Kenosha," Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth said. "I think the people that were here last night were Kenosha's people. ... A huge part of me thinks that a lot of our issues start when different people with different agendas come here to Kenosha." Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes described Rittenhouse as an "outside agitator" who "came in from Illinois with a long rifle and was able to just walk the streets, freely, like that's something normal we should just come to expect." "We shouldn't accept it," he added at a Thursday press conference. "Because what do you think is going to happen if you have an agitated man with a long gun walking down the streets thinking that he's some sort of peacekeeper?" Part of the chaos from earlier this week was captured on cellphone video, showing a man sitting in the middle of a street appearing to aim a gun at people who are running. The video was posted on Twitter and verified by NBC News. One person appears to try to grab the weapon before a shot is fired and the person falls to the ground a few feet away from the shooter. The sound of gunfire can be heard in another video captured by a reporter for NBC affiliate WTMJ of Milwaukee. That video shows what looks like law enforcement vehicles outside a gas station. People are seen running as shots ring out. The videos do not show what happened before the gunfire, and NBC News has not confirmed whether the incident is the same shooting described by police, which Rittenhouse was arrested over. The protests in the city, about 40 miles southeast of Milwaukee, were sparked by the police shooting of Blake, 29, on Sunday. A video of the incident was widely shared on social media. Blake was shot seven times by an officer at close range, and he is now paralyzed from the waist down, family attorney Patrick Salvi said. Doctors do not know whether the condition is permanent. Blake's parents are expected to attend a rally Friday in Washington, organized by the National Action Network (of which Rev. Al Sharpton, an MSNBC host, is president) and the NAACP, attorney Benjamin Crump said during an appearance Thursday on CNN. Crump, who is co-counsel for the family, said they will address matters related to the shooting. "I'm sure his mother's gonna be calling for us to heal this country and also to examine our hearts as she so eloquently said when we were in Kenosha, Wisconsin," he said on CNN. "And his father, I'm sure is going to be saying that this is a problem and we have to speak truth to power." The rally, dubbed "Get Your Knee Off Our Necks," will advocate "for comprehensive police accountability reform, the Census, and mobilizing voters for the November elections," according to the National Action Network website. Sharpton announced the rally which will be held on the 57th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech at a memorial for George Floyd, a Black man who died in Minneapolis police custody. Tragic Nora Quoirin was approached by a stranger at a Malaysian airport the day before she disappeared from a holiday resort, an inquest has heard. The 15-year-old French-Irish schoolgirl, whose mother Meabh is from Belfast, went missing from her family's cottage at the Dusun eco-resort in southern Negeri Sembilan state on August 4 last year. Her body was found on August 13 beside a stream in a palm oil estate about 2.5km away. The teenager's funeral took place at St Brigid's Church in south Belfast, where she was baptised. Yesterday, an inquest heard how her dad Sebastien had left Nora and her two younger siblings unaccompanied for less than five minutes at Kuala Lumpur international airport. Mr Quoirin, who arrived in Malaysia on August 3 after flying from London with the children, had gone to meet their mother, who had flown in from Singapore following a business trip. A police officer told the inquest Mr Quoirin and the children had waited at the airport for Mrs Quoirin to arrive. When their father moved just 30 steps away to meet his wife at the arrival gate, Nora and her younger siblings, aged 12 and eight, were left alone briefly and subsequently approached by an unknown male. Assistant Superintendent Chong Mee Chyi said that after Nora went missing, a family friend had received anonymous WhatsApp messages, saying they had been followed from the airport and that Nora was still alive. Police seized CCTV footage from the airport to check if there had been any "criminal element". "The siblings were left unattended for less than five minutes, and another camera captured the father welcoming the mother at the arrival gate a short distance away," the police officer told the inquest. Ignored "Another camera showed an unidentified individual walking up to the children, spending a couple of seconds with them. "We investigated and the children told us the man whom they did not know said 'Hello' and wanted to know where they were from. "He left after the children ignored him, as they were constantly trained not to entertain strangers." The inquest also heard the tracking dog used in the search operation on the first day Nora was reported missing failed to detect any traces of the teenager because of health problems. Sergeant Poo Kong San, from the Detective Dog Unit of the Negri Sembilan police, said the dog's ill-health may have affected its sense of smell. Earlier in the inquest, Negeri Sembilan police chief Mohamad Mat Yusop said the investigation showed no criminal element. He said there was no indication Nora was abducted and no ransom demand. The inquest also previously heard that police believe Nora got out of a window, which had a faulty lock, and wandered off. Asst Supt Chong Mee Chyi said that when the family checked in they had contacted management when they realised the window could not be closed securely. Ms Chong said the family told her the resort took no action to repair it. The officer earlier told the inquest that when she met the family the day after Nora was reported missing, her mother kept repeating: "I believe that my daughter is abducted." Nora was born with holoprosencephaly, a disorder that affects brain development. Her family have always insisted it was unlikely that the teenager would have wandered off alone. Hikers discovered Nora's body at the edge of a stream. The court heard she had starved to death. A Seattle-based nonprofit group that serves food to protesters said several of its members were still in police custody in Kenosha, Wisconsin, after police officers sprang from unmarked cars and arrested them ahead of Wednesday nights demonstrations in the city. The arrests were recorded by a bystander and shared widely on social media, renewing concerns that unidentified officers could be shielded in crackdowns on demonstrators. The organisation, known as Riot Kitchen, was a fixture at protests in Seattle this summer. Footage of the incident showed officers rushing out of black SUVs and surrounding a silver Toyota minivan belonging to the nonprofit near a Speedway gas station. One officer aimed a gun at the van while another bashed through the passenger-side window. Officers could be seen pulling two people out of the vehicle and handcuffing them. Off-camera, officers arrested a half-dozen other members, Riot Kitchen board member Jennifer Scheurle told The Washington Post. It was not initially clear which agencies the officers came from. In the video, some appeared in plainclothes while others wore vests with police and gang unit printed on them. At one point in the footage, an officer wearing an olive green uniform and a US Marshals Service vest could be seen approaching the area. The Kenosha Police Department later acknowledged that its officers led the operation, saying in a statement posted to Twitter on Thursday evening that they started tracking the group after receiving a tip about suspicious vehicles meeting on the edge of town. Assisted by US marshals, they followed the group to a gas station in the northern part of Kenosha. There they watched the occupants fill up multiple fuel cans, according to the statement. Suspecting that the occupants of these vehicles were preparing for criminal activity related to the unrest, officers attempted to make contact and investigate, police said. The statement added that the officers identified themselves and were wearing appropriate identification. Police said they recovered helmets, gas masks, protective vests, illegal fireworks and suspected controlled substances from the vehicles. Nine people were arrested on disorderly conduct charges. Police did not immediately release their names. Ms Scheurle, the Riot Kitchen board member, said the group was putting gas in the organisations bus and food truck when officers stormed them. She said it was pure craziness to suggest they were using the gas for criminal activity. Its two giant vehicles and generators, Ms Scheurle said. We dont have guns, we dont have weapons. Were there to feed people. Thats it. A Marshals Service spokeswoman in Washington, DC, said Kenosha police called the agency to assist but that no marshals participated in the arrests. The Kenosha Police Department and the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department did not immediately respond to multiple requests for comment on Thursday. Ms Scheurle, who is based in Seattle, described the Riot Kitchen members who were arrested as friends who helped run the group. She said three were released Thursday but others were still in jail. She and other Riot Kitchen leaders didnt know where they were or who had taken them into custody until Thursday afternoon, she said. Riot Kitchen was founded amid the racial justice protests in the Pacific Northwest earlier in the summer to provide free meals to activists taking part in the demonstrations, as well as people experiencing homelessness. Members passed out water, sandwiches and other dishes during protests in Seattle and Portland. A GoFundMe drive raised more than $44,000 to pay for the groups food truck. According to Ms Scheurle, some of the members were driving in a caravan to DC when they decided to make a detour to Kenosha and join the demonstrations over the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Officer Rusten Sheskey shot the 29-year-old black man seven times in the back while trying to arrest him, leaving him paralysed from the waist down and sparking another wave of protests and riots against police violence and systemic racism. Ms Scheurle said she lost contact with the group on Wednesday afternoon and started to worry. After checking police reports in the area, she noticed a social media users video of the arrests. The footage was viewed more than 800,000 times on Twitter. Recommended Talks take place to resume NBA season after second days of protests The tactic used in the arrests bore some similarities to tactics law enforcement agencies have deployed against activists in other cities where racial justice protests and riots have unfolded in recent months. President Donald Trump has dispatched federal officers to suppress actions in cities around the country, prompting outcry from officials who accuse the administration of using secret police to crush lawful demonstrations. In Portland, federal officers in generic military garb have rolled up in unmarked vehicles and grabbed demonstrators suspected of wrongdoing. In DC, protesters confronted unidentified law enforcement with no tags or affiliation who were later revealed to be police from the Bureau of Prisons. City police have also faced criticism for such tactics. In New York last month, Mayor Bill de Blasio scolded the citys police force after plainclothes officers driving an unmarked van arrested a protester, in an incident that went viral on social media. The Washington Post Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 16:32:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- China's success in controlling COVID-19 means the economy is in a steady revival mode. The following facts and figures indicate how the country is forging ahead in resuming work and production: -- Profits of China's major industrial firms maintained steady recovery in July despite uncertainties due to the grim and complex domestic and international environment, official data showed Thursday. Last month, profits totaled 589.5 billion yuan (about 85.57 billion U.S. dollars), increasing by 19.6 percent year on year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The growth widened 8.1 percentage points from that in June. -- China achieved over half of its annual housing renovation target for rundown urban areas in the first seven months of this year, official data showed Thursday. During the January-July period, the country started renovation of 22,200 old urban residential communities, accounting for 56.4 percent of its annual target, according to the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. More than 4.42 million households will benefit from the renovation projects that have been started, accounting for 62.7 percent of the government's annual target, the ministry said. -- Premier Li Keqiang has underlined the country's social assistance work to ensure the well-being of those in need. Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in an instruction to a meeting held in Beijing Thursday about improving the country's social assistance system. Noting that social assistance is an institutional arrangement to help those most in need, Li urged authorities to put themselves in the shoes of those in difficulties, and help them get through the tough times. -- Hu Chunhua, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Thursday stressed achieving the goal of stabilizing employment for poor laborers. Hu, also head of the State Council's leading group on poverty alleviation and development, made the remarks during a symposium held in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. He called for greater efforts to further strengthen coordination between east and west China in poverty alleviation, and fully implement pro-employment policies with priority given to poor laborers. Enditem In todays COVID-19-charged atmosphere it is easy for everyone to have an opinion on whether or not Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is doing a good job by the citizens of New Mexico. The impact on families and our economy have been astounding and continue to worsen as news of reinfection and limited, if any, herd immunity is making the headlines. In Gallup, we believe the governor has done an excellent job to ensure our communitys safety and ability to recover from the almost 6% infection rate in McKinley County. Lujan Grisham has responded quickly to the spread of coronavirus in Gallup. Former Mayor Jackie McKinney and I believed asking the governor to invoke the Riot Act and limit access to Gallup was the right thing to do, not for just the residents of Gallup, but to reduce transmission of the virus in the at-risk reservation communities surrounding Gallup. The governor responded quickly, cooperated with city officials and management and was available throughout, not only the lockdown which lasted from May 1-10 but before and after to discuss mitigation measures with the city. Her initiation of procedure, dedication to the residents of Gallup and McKinley County, availability to listen to our needs and immediate follow-through were key in substantially reducing the spread of COVID-19 throughout our area of the state. She made the important decision to deploy the New Mexico National Guard to help our citizens. Gallup was singled out for a step-down hospital, built at Miyamura High School, by the Army Corps of Engineers. The National Guard worked closely with the local emergency response agencies to collaborate with essential businesses to help monitor and enforce the public health orders aimed at reducing the infection rate. They ensured occupancy rates were met, social distancing was enforced and masks were worn. These key mitigation efforts are what helped Gallup reach its substantially lower infection rate in the weeks that followed. One of our priorities is to ensure the health and welfare of individuals in our community who suffer from alcohol and substance abuse, and the governor made it her priority to work together on the policies and procedures related to COVID-19 cases in our vulnerable population. The Department of Health worked with us to prevent continued health risks. We appreciate its willingness to issue a public health order for isolation/quarantine in the instance that one is necessary in our homeless population. Officials have been at the table for every discussion on how to transition our detox facility from only COVID-positive to a split facility in order to better serve the entire population that needs treatment for alcohol and substance-abuse issues. The governor has continually made one thing clear: decisions are made based on facts, and solutions are data-driven. These decisions and solutions are taking into account up-to-date recommendations from national science laboratories and the CDC. We appreciate that our governor relies on science at a heightened time in American politics. For Gallup, we want the science to lead the way so that we can continue to reduce the spread and work together toward a future in which business recovery and growth can begin. Gallup has suffered much. We are a small community, surrounded by the Navajo Nation, which has been tremendously hard hit by the pandemic. We dont know what our business recovery will look like, but we do know that the governor is advocating for federal resources to be directed to New Mexico. Our state is her priority, and our small community can only continue to get stronger in its fight against the pandemic and the terrible economic downturn. We know the governor is doing her best for Gallup, and we believe her choices have been a model of collaboration. When government entities work together, it means we can do great things. (Natural News) Following reports of rioting and looting in Minneapolis, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz declared a state of emergency in the city on Aug. 27 and deployed both Minnesota State Patrol and Minnesota National Guard troops to assist law enforcement in restoring order. Minneapolis has been the center of Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality ever since the killing of George Floyd on May 25. According to the citys Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey, he requested assistance from the governor to help resolve the peace and order situation, adding that the unrest was more than the citys police could handle. In addition, Frey also asked the Minnesota National Guard for help. In response to the mayors request, Walz sent 150 State Patrol troopers and deployed the National Guard to assist. The State Patrol confirmed the governors order, saying that troopers will assist the Minneapolis Police Department in dispersing crowds to prevent looting and arresting any violators. By the night of Aug. 27, order had been restored due to the combined efforts of local police, law enforcement, State Troopers and the National Guard. An 8 p.m. curfew has since been put into place in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Thirty people were arrested in Minneapolis within the first hour of the curfew with one illegal firearm seized, according to police spokesperson John Elder. Meanwhile, St. Paul reported no arrests made late Thursday. Incident that triggered riots was actually a suicide, not homicide The riots stemmed from an alleged homicide on August 26 involving a black victim who was supposedly shot by police. Police authorities, however, have said that the perpetrator shot and killed himself while being approached by police and that the officers did not use any weapons. Minneapolis PD Chief Medaria Arradondo told reporters that false rumors about the suspects death at the hands of police were spread on social media. This prompted authorities to release video footage from city cameras proving that it was a suicide. Arradondo also requested help from Nekima Levy Armstrong, an attorney and civil rights activist in the city, to circulate the video footage of the suspects death. Armstrong wasted no time by showing people the footage from her phone and posting on social media that it was clearly a suicide. She added that things would have gotten worse if there was no footage, which was necessary to quell the misinformation surrounding the incident, even though it was distressing to look at. Mayor Frey agreed with Armstrong on releasing the video. In an Aug. 27 press conference, he said that the communitys distrust towards law enforcement made it a necessity to make the video public despite its disturbing nature. He further added that the video footage was released within 90 minutes after the incident happened. Nevertheless, the current unrest in Minneapolis mirrored the riots that happened in the city a few months ago after Black Lives Matter protests were held in light of George Floyds death at the hands of local police. Some of these demonstrations devolved into chaos and unrest that some mayors requested assistance from the state governor to deploy additional manpower. In Chicago, a group of aldermen wrote a letter to Republican Gov. J.B. Pritzker requesting the declaration of a state of emergency and the deployment of the Illinois National Guard to help law enforcement quell rioting and unrest. Democratic City Mayor Lori Lightfoot, however, expressed her opposition to deploying the National Guard there. More news about the unrest and violence that come with Black Lives Matter protests can be found at Rioting.news. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com StarTribune.com WSJ.com ChicagoTribune.com The two sides agreed to continue effectively implementing the ASEAN-Korea Action Plan, promote cooperation in preventing and mitigating the impact of COVID-19, boost economic recovery, and enhance cooperation in priority areas such as marine, trade, investment, connectivity, micro, small and medium enterprise development, energy and food security, cultural exchanges, people-to-people exchanges, natural disaster prevention, and climate change adaptation. ASEAN member states consider the RoK a long-standing and close partner of the bloc and have recognised its cooperation and active support for efforts building the ASEAN Community. They also welcomed the RoK doubling its financial contribution to the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund from US$7 million to US$14 million, and thanked the country for donating US$1 million to the ASEAN Fund in response to COVID-19, presenting a package of medical equipment and supplies worth US$5 million, providing postgraduate scholarships worth US$8 million to ASEAN countries, and making available US$6 million for implementing people-to-people exchanges. The RoK, meanwhile, affirmed it will beef up cooperation with ASEAN through the US$10-million COVID-19 rapid response programme as well as strengthen coordination with the bloc in studying and developing vaccines and medicines. It also pledged to support ASEAN in developing its digital economy and overcoming the economic impact of the pandemic. In regard to the regional and international situation, the two sides agreed to work closely in promoting dialogue, building trust, and contributing to maintaining peace, security, and stability in the region. They urged stakeholders to resume dialogue, fully implement resolutions from the UN Security Council and agreements, promote cooperation, and maintain peace, stability, and denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula. The RoK supports ASEANs stance on and emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, respecting international law, and addressing any disputes via peaceful means and international law. Representing Vietnam which is the Chair of ASEAN 2020, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung, who is also head of SOM ASEAN Vietnam, highlighted ASEANs efforts and solidarity in a cohesive and responsive spirit to overcome the difficulties posed by the global pandemic. He spoke highly of the RoKs role in coordinating with China and Japan to successfully host the special ASEAN Plus 3 Summit on COVID-19 response. The diplomat called on the RoK to actively support the ASEAN Fund for COVID-19 response and the ASEAN regional emergency medical material reserve. He affirmed that ASEAN will continue promoting relations with its partners, including the RoK, in a spirit of mutual trust and respect, win-win cooperation, and respect for law, and will join hands to maintain peace, security, centrality, and stability in Southeast Asia. The 10 ASEAN member countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. S.W. LaBounty offers a personal view of the Outside Lands. Join him as he walks the streets that were sand dunes. Camp Merritt How the Richmond district welcomed the Army in the Summer of 1898 (December 2006) Parkmerced 1941's community of tomorrow (June 2006) The Parkside's Beginning Part of the Sunset district, or not? (July 2005) The Richmond Recovery Surviving the 1906 disaster (April 2005) The Burned Cross The Poole family in Ingleside Terraces (March 2004) A Boxer's Death An Ocean View tragedy (January 2004) Brooks Park Ode How a home became an inspirational Merced Heights park (December 2003) The House of Mystery The roadhouse that became Tait's-at-the-Beach (August 2003) Imagination Country The dream-like world of Forest Hill (April 2003) Parkside and the Graft Trials Parkside's development and Abraham Ruef (February 2003) Carville's Last Remnant In search of the Carville survivors (December 2002) Carville The streetcar suburb of the outer Sunset (November 2002) Shaken Up Earthquake Refugee shacks countdown (September 2002) Run Out of Town Rail Service in the Richmond district (May 2002) Twenty-Five Cents of Heaven Musee Mecanique holds on (April 2002) Ocean View Redux The real estate venture that's finally paying off (February 2002) Fog and Light Mile Rocks lighthouse was an engineering marvel. (January 2002) Abbey Patio The search for a native manzanita uncovers the displaced remains of a medieval abbey. (November 2001) Windmill Walk The windmills in Golden Gate Park (September 2001) Dearly Departed The former cemeteries of the Richmond district (July 2001) Mountain Lake Where the Spanish started San Francisco... with some help (March 2001) Six Million Gallons San Francisco once had the world's largest outdoor swimming pool (February 2001) Birth of a Garage Would you rather house a family of five, or two SUVs? (January 2001) The Great Race Four horses, 20,000 people, and over $150,000 at stake - this happened near Lake Merced? (December 2000) Willie Mays on Miraloma Drive A cold welcome to the western neighborhoods (August 2000) Guns and Golf The Broderick-Terry Duel (July 2000) Palaces of the Past The Richmond's movie house history (March 2000) Doelger City The man who turned sand into gold (November 1999) Urbano's Racetrack You can still run the backstretch at Ingleside Racetrack (September 1999) Contribute your own stories! Geary Boulevard at 43rd Avenue in 1917. (San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department) By Senior Colonel Wu Qian, Director General of the Information Office of China's Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), answers reporters' questions at a regular press conference on August 27, 2020. (Photo: mod.gov.cn) (The following English text of the press conference is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.) Question: Recently, President Xi Jinping listened to reports on the Chinese military's participation in flood prevention and disaster relief and delivered an important speech during his inspection tour in Anhui Province. What is the latest situation concerned with the military's participation in flood control and disaster relief? Answer: President Xi pointed out that relevant military units must work with local governments to strengthen research and analysis of the flood situation, and to dispatch troops scientifically and accurately. The task force must maintain a good condition, investigate hidden dangers in a timely manner and effectively organize emergency rescue and disaster relief, so as to protect people's lives and property and help restore production and daily life. The military shall strictly educate and manage the troops, actively fulfill the purpose of the armed forces, and establish a good image of the military as an force of strength and discipline. The military resolutely implements the decisions of the CPC Central Committee, the Central Military Commission (CMC) and President Xi, acts upon orders and commits themselves to the fight against the flood. It has made positive contributions to winning the fight against floods. As of late August, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) and the People's Armed Police Force (PAPF) has dispatched a total of 1.31 million person-times, organized 380 thousand person-times of militiamen, participated in 5,673 rescue operations, assisted local governments in transferring 270 thousand people, solved over 3,900 piping situations, reinforced 970 kilometers of levees, and reopened roads of 570 kilometers. I also want to share a story. It happened in Shexian County, Anhui Province last month. The national college entrance examination was postponed due to heavy rain for a day. The officers and soldiers who had just completed the rescue mission on embankment rushed to support the exam without any break. They held umbrellas to provide the students with a 30-meter-long corridor in the rain and set up temporary medical service stations to treat the sick. A student named Fang Cheng was unable to go to the examination room to take the exam on his own due to an ankle fracture. The servicemen just took turns to carry him on their backs for 1.3 kilometers to the exam site on time. Thanks to their support, none of the more than 2,000 students in Shexian County missed the exam due to the disaster. Serving the people wholeheartedly is the purpose and responsibility of the PLA. No matter what kind of hardship they may face, the military will resolutely obey the Party's command and will always be a great wall of steel to protect the interests of the people. Question: According to media reports, the International Army Games (IAG) 2020 kicked off on August 23. Please brief us on the engagement of Chinese military in the event. Answer: This year, China has sent more than 260 officers and soldiers of the PLA Army and Air Force to participate in six competitions, namely the "Tank Biathlon", "Safe Environment", "Masters of Armored Vehicles ", "Army Scout Masters", "Open Waters" and "Airborne Platoon". On arriving in Russia, the participating detachments from the Chinese military immediately began to launch adaptive training to get familiar with equipment performance and competition venues and quickly contacted with the Russian side to ensure implementation of epidemic prevention and control measures. With these preparation efforts, the Chinese participants maintained a good condition. As of now, the Chinese military detachments have exhibited their real capabilities. The participants of the Chinese military will firmly stick to the orientation of real combat and training, strengthen exchanges and mutual learning with foreign counterparts, and strive to display their conduct and capabilities in the competitions. Question: According to the previously announced timetable for the reform on military policies and institutions, the Chinese military will complete the main policy reform by 2020 and the supporting policy and institution reforms in various fields by 2022. Please brief us on the progress of the current reform. Answer: Under the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC, and under the overall guidance of the CMC leading group for deepening reform on national defense and the armed forces, we have established a dedicated work team with experts as the main body, who will focus on consolidating and expanding the military reform achievements, fully boost reform effectiveness, and follow the principle of systematic planning, forward-looking design, innovative development and overall remodeling. The team will improve the reform organization and implementation work system, create a reform project general ledger and task list to comprehensively cover the entire field of organizational review and evaluation, and timely coordinate with party and government agencies on major issues, to push forward the promulgation of the release of military laws and regulations as well as supporting policies and institutions. At present, 58 policies and institutions have been released. The Law on the People's Armed Police Force has been implemented, and the Regulation on Party Building of the Armed Forces has been issued. Furthermore, other major policies and institutions in the fields of joint operations, military training, logistics and equipment are also being drafted. China has scheduled to build a socialist system of military policies and institutions with Chinese characteristics by the end of 2020. Question: Earlier this month, the defense leaders of China and the United States had another telephone conversation after five months to exchange views on a series of issues of common concern. The media noticed that the US Secretary of Defense had previously expressed his hope to visit China this year. Please comment on the current China-US military relationship and brief us on China's considerations on high-level exchanges between the two militaries in the next stage. Answer: The current China-US relations are facing an extremely severe and complicated situation since the establishment of diplomatic relations. For a period of time, the US has continued to make provocation against China, seriously undermining China's sovereignty and security, and damaging relations between the two countries and their armed forces. China will neither do the same nor allow the US to mess about. China has taken strong measures to firmly defend its national sovereignty, security, and development interests. He who does not have a long-term plan is not up to short term jobs. He who does not have the whole picture in mind cannot design a part. We hope that the US will sincerely take a strategic vision, viewing China's development with an open and rational mind, and getting out of the quagmire of anxiety. At present, it is important for the Chinese and US militaries to maintain communication. The two sides should work together towards the same goal and step up crisis communication to effectively prevent risks, and promote and maintain the overall stability of the relationship between the two militaries. Regarding the high-level exchanges between the two militaries, the two defense authorities have maintained communication and coordination. It is hoped that the US will take practical measures to create a positive and favorable atmosphere for its visit. Question: According to media reports, the US military has recently taken actions frequently in areas surrounding China. The US military aircraft have frequently approached the coast of the Chinese mainland for reconnaissance, and the US warships have carried out targeted military exercises in waters of the South China Sea and the East China Sea. These actions are becoming more and more provocative against China. What's your comment, please? Answer: Recently, the US has increased its efforts to pressurize and provoke China. The Chinese stance is clear in this regard: we hold objection to these actions but no fear of them. With a coming presidential election, some US politicians have tried their best to damage the relationship between the two countries and militaries for their own interest and even attempted to start accidents or military conflicts. Such actions put the lives of on-site troops of both sides at risk, not to mention the fundamental interests of the two peoples. It goes against the will of peoples in the world longing for peace and will have no support at all. China loves peace, but wont be scared to fight. The Chinese military will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and resolutely safeguard world and regional peace and stability. The Chinese side urges the US side to see the reality, remain rational, stop provocative behaviors, and make efforts to push the relations between the two countries and the two armed forces back on the right track. Question: The US and the Taiwan authorities have been interacting frequently this month. The US Secretary of Health and Human Services arrived in Taiwan for certain activities, the USS Mustin (DDG 89) passed through the Taiwan Strait, and US military aircraft increased the frequency of provocative activities in waters around. What's your comment, please? Answer: Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. China resolutely opposes any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist actions and any form of official exchanges and military ties between the US and the Taiwan region. This position is clear. Recently, the PLA Eastern Theater Command has deployed troops from multiple military services and arms and organized real-combat exercises along the Taiwan Strait, targeting external interference and a small group of "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and their separatist activities. China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. QuestionMedia in Taiwan reported that the US Department of Defense recently announced a 10-year military sales order with a total value of US $62 billion, possibly including a sale deal of 66 F-16V Viper fighter jets to Taiwan. What's your comment? Answer: China firmly opposes the US arms sale to Taiwan. The arms sale has been a major issue harming the relations between the two countries and militaries, and undermining regional peace and stability. On this issue, China's position is clear. After the US announced the sale of 66 F-16V Viper fighter jets to Taiwan last year, China immediately stated its firm opposition. If the US insists on executing the new round of arms sales to Taiwan, China will take all necessary measures to resolutely counteract. Question: According to media reports, the US will give priority to the deployment of medium-range missiles in Japan after the withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF). The US Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control, Ambassador Marshall Billingslea recently stated that the US is studying the possibility of deploying medium- and short-range land-based missiles in Asian countries. What's your comment? Answer: The Ministry of National Defense has previously stated its firm opposition. If the US side insists on going in the wrong direction, China will respond resolutely. Question: According to media reports, the 16th Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent to Darfur, Sudan, has departed for the mission area recently. Please brief us on the relevant situation. Answer: A total of 110 troops of the first group of China's 16th peacekeeping engineering unit to Darfur, Sudan, set off for the peacekeeping mission area on August 11. They have finished a 14-day quarantine organized by the United Nations and the rotation is underway. According to the plan, 115 troops of the second group will depart for the mission area at the end of August. Since July, the Chinese peacekeeping forces to Mali, Lebanon, and Sudan have been under rotation successively. This is the first time for the Chinese military to rotate peacekeeping forces since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which reflects Chinas firm support for UN peacekeeping operations. In their training, the troops selected for peacekeeping missions have focused on strengthening pandemic prevention and control drills, and improving their ability in handling emergencies, demonstrating excellent professionalism. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Chinas participation in UN peacekeeping operations. Over the past 30 years, the Chinese military has participated in 25 UN peacekeeping operations and has dispatched more than 40,000 peacekeepers, bringing confidence and hope to the people in conflict-affected areas, and having become a key factor and key force in UN peacekeeping operations. The Chinese military will faithfully implement President Xis vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and actively fulfill international responsibilities as a military of a major country. It will continue to make new and greater contributions to safeguarding world peace as a protector of peace and messenger of friendship. Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), answers reporters' questions at a regular press conference on August 27, 2020. (Photo: mod.gov.cn) Question: According to media reports, China has recently conducted several military activities in the Yellow Sea and the South China Sea. Could you please confirm and comment? Answer: According to the annual military training arrangements, the Chinese military recently organized routine military exercises in the sea and air spaces to the southeast of Qingdao and west of Lveshun, and of Nansha Islands and surrounding areas, Xisha Islands and areas to the North of Xisha. The exercises mentioned above are not targeted at any country. Question: We noticed that military academies have basically finished this years admission. Please brief us on the general situation in 2020. Answer: In this years admission, the military schools have comprehensively implemented the principle of openness, fairness and equality, strictly carried out relevant policies and plans, actively adapted to the reform of national college entrance exam (gaokao) system, and complied with the overall situation of epidemic prevention and control of the nation and the military, with the Sunshine Admission Program being thoroughly implemented and the annual admission tasks achieved. In 2020, 27 military schools have enrolled about 12,000 high school graduates, reaching 99.7% of the plan. Among them, 95% are admitted by their first-choice applications; 99.1% score higher than the admission line of first-batch universities or the provincial control line of independent admission; 88.9% are Youth League members, 5.3% are CPC members and 16% are merit students, students in leadership roles, or municipal or higher-level contest winners. Thirty-three military schools have met 99.4% of their plan for the admission of soldiers, with 86.1% of the cadet recruits being college students or graduates and nearly 80% from combat or combat support positions. The PLA Navys pilot recruitment has reached a new high both in quality and efficiency, with all recruits scoring 49 points higher on average in gaokao than the admission line of first-batch universities. The number of pilots for carrier-borne fighter jets accounts for 49% of the total. Question: Japanese media reported that Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono expressed strong concern over Chinas activities in the East China Sea and the South China Sea earlier this month. He mentioned that Chinese vessels have patrolled in waters of Diaoyu Islands for over 100 days. According to him, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces will join hands with the Japan Coast Guard and act firmly when necessary. China will pay a high cost for the attempt to unilaterally change the status quo in the South China Sea by force. Whats your comment, please? Answer: The Diaoyu Islands have been Chinese territory since ancient times. Chinas patrolling and law enforcement activities in that area are reasonable and legitimate and brook no interference. If Japan takes any action that escalates the situation, it will have to bear all the consequences. As a country outside of the South China Sea, Japan has no right to make irresponsible remarks on the issue. Question: We noticed that China and India have recently made diplomatic communications on multiple levels to ease the tension in the border area. Please brief us on the current situation in the China-India border area and comment on the relationship between the two militaries. Answer: China and India have held several rounds of talks through military and diplomatic channels since the Galwan Valley clash. Due to their active efforts, progress has been made in disengaging the frontline troops of both sides. The two sides agreed to follow the important consensus reached by the leaders of both countries and other relevant agreements, continue military and diplomatic dialogues, ease the tension in the border area, properly handle the remaining issues, and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border area. China and India are important neighbors. Maintaining peace and stability in the border area is not only conducive to their respective development, but also to regional and world peace and stability. We hope India can work with China towards the same goal, bearing in mind the big picture of bilateral ties and putting the border issue in an appropriate position in this big picture, avoid misjudgment, prevent differences becoming disputes, and take concrete steps to bring the bilateral relations back to the right track. Question: According to some reports, Iranian Defense Minister Amir Khatami stated in Moscow on August 22 that Iran, Russia, and China are all intended to hold another joint naval exercise in the Gulf of Oman. What's your comment? Answer: The Chinese military has maintained exchanges with Iranian and Russian militaries, and has played an active role in safeguarding regional peace and stability. Question: Foreign media reported that Chinas first Type-075 amphibious assault ship has recently conducted its maiden sea trial. Could you please confirm that? Answer: Yes. The first Type075 amphibious assault ship of the PLA Navy has finished its first-stage sea trial. Independently developed by China, it has strong capabilities of performing amphibious operations and diverse tasks. The 75th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World's Anti-Fascist War is about to come in a week. Seventy-five years ago, after 14 years of arduous struggle, the Chinese people achieved victory on the main battlefield of the World's Anti-Fascist War in the East at the expense of huge national sacrifices and made significant contributions to the victory of the World's Anti-Fascist War. The Chinese military will, as always, firmly pursues a defensive defense policy and a military strategy of active defense, firmly defends national sovereignty, security and development interests and contributes to the forces for peace in the world with the growth of its own strength. It also aims to make new and greater contributions to realizing the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation and building a strong military, and safeguarding world peace and stability. The quarterly finds material and photos from the archives of one of the oldest newspapers in the Arab world and makes them accessible to an audience that is curious about the early decades of the 20th century Zeinab Abdel-Razik, editor of Diwan Al-Ahram quarterly, says that her publication has been getting stories from the past to help make sense of the events of present times. Diwan Al-Ahram (literally meaning the registrar of Al-Ahram), which is a decade old, finds material and photos from the archives of one of the oldest newspapers in the Arab world and makes them accessible to an audience that is curious about the early decades of the 20th century. The launch took place under the head of Al-Ahrams libraries and archives at the time, Bahiya Halawa, who noticed the growing demand from several of Al-Ahrams publication for old photos and articles for re-publication. However, ten years down the road, the magazine has developed a purpose well beyond the elementary wish to satisfy the nostalgia of readers, providing a fuller picture of things that are happening today or a fuller narrative of things that happened in the past. It was the dean of Arab literature, Taha Hussein, who once said that Al-Ahram is the registrar of Egypts contemporary life; I think this is what we have in mind when we produce this magazine four times a year, because what we want to do is tell the full story -- and we try to explain how the stories of today started yesterday, Abdel-Razik said. Alternatively, she added, the interest is in shedding light on a previously unseen element of some stories of the past. On our tenth anniversary I think we could easily credit Diwan with having revealed a lot of things; some of them relate to stories that continue to unfold around us and some relate more to unknown aspects of stories or people of the past, she said. For the January 2019 issue, Abdel-Razik was keen to dedicate a full issue to celebrating the centenary of the 1919 Revolution, with some exclusive cuttings from coverage of the time, and of the centenary of prominent novelist and journalist Ihsan Abdel-Quddous. Going beyond sharing some previously unpublished articles and a unique set of archival photos that she got from the dossiers of Al-Ahram and from family albums, Abdel-Razik accessed and published a set of letters that Abdel-Quddous had sent to prominent literary and political figures at the time, sharing thoughts on some concerning cultural and political developments during the crucial period of the 1940s and 1950s. In an earlier issue which celebrated the memory of iconic Egyptian film star Hind Rostom, Abdel-Razik accessed and published a rare interview that Rostom had conducted over 50 years ago with none other than Abbas El-Akkad, a prominent writer and critic who was known for a certain reserved attitude towards women. For the issues of April and July, that came as the world was facing up to the pandemic of COVID-19, Abdel-Razik dug out accounts on the management of the pandemic of the last century -- the Spanish flu. For the next issue in October, Diwan will remain faithful to a standard practice in the Egyptian press and media for close to 50 years by celebrating the memory of the 1973 war. However, to avoid falling in the trap of deja vu, the publication is opting to run previously unpublished memoires and testimonies of the war, which has already been so talked about so much for half a century. I think it would be fair to say that we go the extra mile to avoid using photos that people have seen before or material that does not have a new take, and I think this relates to our realisation that we are not here just to feed the appetite for loving things past but to explain those things and to contextualise them, she said. While the archives of Al-Ahram continue to offer inspiration to the editorial team of Diwan, the team often goes to other archives for material and photos. This includes the archives of other old newspapers and magazines, the archives of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, those of some state establishments, and the private collections of families and friends of public figures. Unfortunately, Abdel-Razik said, the limited archiving skills of some institutions has led to the waste of a wealth of material. So by printing this material today we are, in a sense, giving it a new lease on life, she argued. I think that one of the purposes that we have in mind at Diwan is to remind people of the value and need of digging in the archives and to tell them that when we do so we can always find something new and interesting; Archives are a very significant part of any nations history and present, she said. And, in the definition of Diwan, archives are not just about documents and photos that are filed or collected, but also about the nations treasures in art and culture. When we say we are trying to reflect on contemporary life in Egypt we cannot overlook art and cinema, for example, she said. To look at the rich history of art and cinema in Egypt, Abdel-Razik has a set of regular prominent artists and historians as commentators. Ultimately when we take it as one of our missions to shed light on the history of incredible talents that this country has had for years, she said. Diwans readers, according to its editor, are mostly interested researchers. However, ultimately Diwans targeted audience, especially as it moves into its 11th year, includes young Egyptian men and women. I think we can offer them an in-depth look at the history of their country, which might help them decipher or at least better understand so many things that are happening today, Abdel-Razik said. As part of its commitment to offering its readers as many diverse perspectives as possible, Ahram Online will publish a translated article from Diwan Al-Ahram every month, starting in October. Search Keywords: Short link: New Phone Scam Has Callers Posing as COVID-19 Contact Tracers A new phone scam in the U.S. is taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to access credit card and bank account information from victims. The frightening grift involves callers who pose as COVID-19 contact tracers, telling victims they are calling from a local health department to alert them that they have been in contact with a person who has the coronavirus. Callers then ask for payment and financial information, something public health officials warn a legitimate contact tracer would never do. That is absolutely not part of the process, Crystal Watson, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told The Philadelphia Inquirer. No one should give bank information or credit card information. Legitimate contact tracing is being employed in regions throughout the world, and has been credited with helping countries like New Zealand and Taiwan contain the coronavirus. The process involves a tracer from a local health department contacting patients who test positive for the virus, as well as people the patient came into contact with to alert them of possible exposure to COVID-19. Those exposed are urged to quarantine to avoid further spread of the virus. The FTC (News - Alert), Department of Health and Human Services, Better Business Bureau and state and local health officials have all issued warnings about contact tracing scams not affiliated with real health departments. The scams generally involve phone calls, texts and emails designed to glean personal information including financial data from unsuspecting people. Watson said a legitimate contact tracing call would seek to confirm the address and birth date of a person, but would never ask for financial information. The caller would also offer help to people who need to quarantine by providing resources like food and medicine delivery or in some instances, a separate space in which to safely quarantine. The FTC has warned people not to click on links contained in messages from so-called contact tracers, and to never give away social security numbers. The agency also said legitimate contact tracers in most regions do not ask for immigration or financial status. They also warned that the names of COVID patients are never disclosed by legitimate contact tracers. Scammers prefer to prey on individuals who may be more trusting, are alone, or may respond out of confusion or fear, said Robert Torres, Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging. Its important that they stay alert about any contact from anyone identifying themselves as a contact tracer and do not provide personal information until they are sure the individual and information are legitimateEdited by Maurice Nagle Steps you can take to protect your business cash flow and tackle financial uncertainty head-on. As business leaders around the world grapple with how to manage their teams, workflows, and accounts amid the pandemic, many are unsure which steps to take for the best. COVID-19 has put businesses in immensely difficult positions, and managers across all industries are struggling to protect their cash flows. Unfortunately, this uncertainty can have a huge impact on managers, employees, and businesses. Thats why, at a time like this, its vital to spend time preparing for potential cash flow issues. Here, Scott Dylan shares his proven cash flow tips so that you can protect your business during the COVID-19 crisis. Scott Dylan is an acclaimed investor who specialises in private equity and distressed M&A. Scott is also the founder and key partner of Fresh Thinking Group (FTG), an independent capital investment agency that offers capital injections, research and development and business guidance for healthy companies looking to grow, distressed companies in need of support, and start-ups looking to expand quickly. The Importance of Cash Flow Cash flow is the lifeblood of business. In fact, in the short term, its often more important for small businesses to focus on sustaining solid cash flow than on making a profit. However, maintaining a healthy cash flow can be particularly difficult during this unpredictable time. Many businesses arent used to managing cash flow during a crisis and have found that reliable clients are no longer able to pay for services/products on time or at all. Scott Dylan To manage your cash flow effectively, you need to forecast your expected costs and income for upcoming months. Youll also need to consider how you will manage your cash flow if you dont receive expected payments. Cash flow is never certain and can stop at any time, which is why preparation is vital. Here are Scott Dylans four methods for effectively managing your cash flow and protecting your business. 1) Create a Cash Flow Forecast When businesses dont forecast potential financial difficulties and plot advance solutions, they often find themselves dealing with challenging cash flow situations later. You can avoid these difficulties by creating a cash flow forecast to identify any potential pinch-points where you may need to cut back on costs or implement new strategies. You can begin forecasting by assessing your business current cash flow and conducting a close analysis of your bank statements and invoices. In future, you can use information from these documents to create month-on-month and year-on-year comparisons. Forecasting will allow you to identify seasonal trends and strategise your business systems effectively. As you develop your forecasting protocols, youll: Understand more variants that can impact forecasting. Be able to examine your business from sales, finance, and procurement points of view. Allow yourself and your team the time that you need to overcome anticipated cash flow matters. When forecasting, it can be helpful to think about sensitivity analysis you can plot solutions for the future by taking time to consider how your business would be affected by certain scenarios. Its important to prepare for the worst, just in case. As part of your forecasting strategy, think about what would happen to your business in the following situations. You dont receive a big payment on an expected date. You dont receive a large order that you were expecting. A projects costs escalate to account for additional hours, materials, or staff. Planning solutions for these situations helps you to identify which issues you should be most cautious of. Its important to consider as many potential scenarios as possible. Thinking about your answers to these kinds of questions early gives you time to plan solutions in case similar issues arise in future. 2) Delegate Cash Flow Duties Delegating cash flow tasks to a dedicated individual can save financial trouble later down the line. This person needs to understand the business cash flow so that they can monitor the companys finances and assess issues as they arise. Delegating a cash flow role to one team member also helps to streamline processes and avoid communication mishaps. 3) Keep up to Date with Government Support The financial landscape can evolve even faster than usual during a crisis, so its important to stay up to date with economic developments. As businesses start to resume their operations, the government is announcing frequent changes to the funding available for small businesses. Ensure that you consider all available options to identify the best support for your business during this difficult time. 4) Update Your Bank Your bank will likely need to know about any major changes to your income and outgoings, and keeping them in the loop avoids any surprises for both of you. Your bank can also be an excellent source of support during a crisis; they should be able to offer guidance and help to relieve pressure on your business. For example, your bank may be able to curb your interest payments and/or offer loans. Managing Your Cash Flow While many factors are out of your control when it comes to your business cash flow, well-thought-out preparation is the best method of protection. As a leader, you need to know how your business can best navigate uncertainty to maintain longevity. You can adopt these cash flow tips to keep your finances running as smoothly as possible, no matter what. For more business tips and guidance, visit Scott Dylans blog at https://scottdylan.com/blog, where he shares his expertise on successful acquisitions, mental health in the workplace, and collaborative business practice. About Fresh Thinking Group If your business is experiencing cash flow problems, Fresh Thinking Group is well-positioned to offer financial support and business guidance. With offices in Manchester, London, and Leeds, Fresh Thinking Group has enabled hundreds of companies to flourish in their markets and achieve impressive returns on investment. Fresh Thinking Group operates throughout Europe in a range of sectors, having acquired businesses in digital, technology, e-commerce, and logistics markets. Fresh Thinking Group also funds various subsidiaries, including Orb Group, Inc & Co Group, and Inc & Co Property Group, each of which holds additional subsidiaries. Fresh Thinking Groups founder Scott Dylan is widely recognised for the business transformations that he has coordinated. He guides firms throughout their transformation journeys, enriching each with cutting-edge technology, unrivalled financial knowledge, and high-level software support. Learn more about Scott Dylan and Fresh Thinking Group at https://freshthinking.group. European businesses are preparing to join Vietnamese public procurement on the back of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). Nicolas Audier, chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), talked about future trends in this market. 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. VIR Bich Thuy EVFTA obligations can brew up coffee success Bolstered by the growing demand in the EU, Vietnams coffee industry has a major opportunity to capture a bigger market share on the European continent. A senior cop has slammed Victoria's 'tin foil hat-wearing brigade' for planning an anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne. A 76-year-old man was arrested and charged with incitement after police executed a search warrant at his Windsor home on Friday morning. The man was allegedly planning a 'Freedom Day' rally to be held at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance on September 5. He was released on strict bail conditions requiring him to stop inciting protests and will face court at a later date, where he could fined up to $20,000. A 76-year-old man was arrested and charged with incitement for allegedly planning a 'Freedom Day' rally (Pictured) in Melbourne on September 5. The anti-lockdown movement has gone national with protests planned in other state capital cities like Sydney and Brisbane Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said the protest carried a serious risk of undoing the hard work of the vast majority of Victorians. 'The tin foil hat-wearing brigade are alive and well in our community,' he told reporters on Friday. 'They're taking every opportunity to leverage the current situation to serve their own ridiculous notions about so-called sovereign citizens, about constitutional issues and about how 5G is going to kill your grandkids. 'It's bats*** crazy nonsense.' Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius (pictured) slammed the 'tin foil hat-wearing brigade' who are planning to protest the Stage 4 lockdown Mr Cornelius explained the rally was set up to protest the Melbourne Stage 4 restrictions among other things. 'Participating in this proposed protest would be a serious and blatant breach of the chief health officer's directions and it jeopardises the health of the entire community,' he said. While Victoria Police are working hard to shut down the Freedom Day rally in Melbourne, there are other planned protests in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Adelaide and Hobart. Facebook group Freedom Day has 4,200 members but has an ambitious goal of gathering 500,000 protesters across the country for rallies on September 5. It comes as police deal with a daily protest in suburban Melbourne. Hundreds of people have been gathering in and around Dandenong's George Andrews Reserve since Monday. Two people were arrested at Thursday's assembly, with a total 17 fines issued. Since Monday, police have made nine arrests and handed out 48 fines at the Dandenong protest. Mr Cornelius says people are trying to play the 'innocent card' when approached by police and wasting their resources. 'That's why this behaviour is so selfish,' he said. The protest is also illegal under Melbourne's current Stage 4 lockdown and the assistant commissioner is vowing to stamp it out. By Express News Service BELAGAVI: A rift between Kannada and Marathi activists in Belagavi over the installation of the statue of Krantiveer Sangolli Rayanna at Peeranwadi has snowballed into a major controversy. A group of Kannada activists hurriedly installed the statue after midnight on Friday hours after District Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi and Deputy Commissioner M G Hiremath had assured them that the government will find a suitable spot for it at Peeranwadi. Tension prevailed in Peeranwadi on Friday morning as several people from pro-Marathi groups gathered, objecting to the installation of Rayanna's statue. For a long time, the spot where Rayanna's statue is installed has been known as Shivaji Chowk and a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is located nearby. Pro-Marathi groups in Peeranwadi were against having the statue of Rayanna in their area. However, pro-Kannada activists had attempted to install the statue of Rayanna a week ago but failed in their attempt with the police preventing them. Later, Kannada activists from across the state launched a protest march on Friday afternoon in front of the Suvarna Vidhan Soudha. When the protesters were heading towards DC office via B S Yediyurappa Road, Jarkiholi and Hiremath met them and assured that they would find a suitable spot for Rayanna's statue within a few days and ensure that it is installed there. On their assurance, the protest was called off on Friday afternoon. In the meantime, a group of Kannada activists took a statue of Rayanna to Peeranwadi after midnight and installed it at the controversial site. When the news of the installation of statue spread in Belagavi, several pro-Marathi activists also brought a statue of Shivaji and attempted to install it at the same spot. A team of police prevented them from installing the statue. Even as the police were trying to pacify the mob at Peeranwadi, a group of people hurled stones allegedly on some persons who were moving on a bike holding pro-Kannada flags. Belagavi police commissioner K Tyagarajan has said that measures would be taken to resolve the issue over the statue by holding discussions with the Deputy Commissioner and other officials concerned. He said the police had to resort to a mild lathi-charge to control the two groups which gathered at the same spot at Peeranwadi. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Seema Latkar said attempts were on to hold talks with the Marathi groups to resolve the issue smoothly. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the nations longest serving premier, said on Friday he is resigning due to health reasons. Here is what some internatinoal leaders and businesspeople are saying about Abe: Taiwan President Tsai ing-wen Prime Minister Abe was always friendly to Taiwan, whether on policy or the rights and interests of Taiwans people he was extremely positive. We value his friendly feelings towards Taiwan and hope he is healthy. South Korea Presidential Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok We regret the sudden resignation announcement of Prime Minister Abe, who has left many meaningful achievements as Japans longest-serving prime minister, and has also especially played a large role for development in South Korea and Japans bilateral relations. We wish the prime minister a quick recovery. Our government will continue cooperation with the new prime minister and the new cabinet for improved ties with Japan. Kwong Tae-shin, vice chairman of the federation of Korean industries, a South Korea business lobby group President Moon Jae-in and Abe do not have good personal relationship, which contributed to adverse bilateral ties. When a new leader takes office in Japan, he can give momentum to improving bilateral relations. The two countries acknowledge that unnecessary diplomatic and trade conflicts would not help each other at a time when Covid -19 further adds difficulty to trade and business activities globally. Marcus Schurmann, CEO, German chamber of commerce and industry in Japan He did a lot of good with regards just to the fact that he was one of the key promoters for multilateralism and free trade and did a lot to move to Japan back onto the world stage. Japan recovered the visibility and recognition the third-largest economy in the world deserves. We have FTAs and he also tackled a lot of difficult problems. Just thinking about relations with China, relations also with Russia, and also the difficult relationship with the U.S. at least since Trump came into power. I do not want to say he failed, but at least what is an unsolved problem is the relationship was Korea. I think thats the kind of problem which his successor has to work on. He succeeded in bringing the Olympics to Tokyo. I think this is also a major achievement we should not forget. Vice President Mike Pences appearance at a college in Wisconsin has been cancelled in light of ongoing unrest in the nearby city Kenosha following the shooting of Jacob Blake. Wisconsin Lutheran College announced in a statement on Thursday that "further review with careful consideration of the escalating events in Kenosha," has led the private college to "present a different speaker". The vice president was scheduled to deliver the commencement speech at the ceremony on Saturday. Kenosha, which is about 40 miles away from the private college, has faced three nights of violence and damage that followed peaceful protests over the shooting of Mr Blake. On Wednesday it was announced that a white teenager had been arrested after two people were shot to death on the third night of the protests. Mr Pence will be replaced by Reverend Mark Jeske of St Marcus Lutheran Church, the college announced in the statement. Pence's press secretary Devin O'Malley confirmed to CNN that the vice president would not be attending. Vice President Pence understands and supports Wisconsin Lutheran College's decision to prioritise the safety and well-being of their students, and wishes the students well as they celebrate the accomplishment of graduating from college and as they embark on their next journey, Mr O'Malley told the outlet. The decision also follows criticism from students and alumni over the vice president's scheduled appearance, with over 270 members of the college community signing an open letter posted online objecting to the visit prior to the unrest. The letter argued that the invitation of Mr Pence politicised the ceremony insisting "controversial political figures need to stay out of our academic celebrations." Recommended Mike Pence mocked for spin on Trump election slogan with obvious flaw "The mere invitation of a Vice President of an incredibly divisive and controversial ticket to speak in a swing state months before an election is ignorant and deceptive," the letter accuses. Mr Pence made reference to the civil unrest in Kenosha during his Republican nomination acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, condemning the violence. Let me be clear: the violence must stop whether in Minneapolis, Portland, or Kenosha, Mr Pence said. Too many heroes have died defending our freedoms to see Americans strike each other down. We will have law and order on the streets of this country for every American of every race and creed and colour. Digital divide Haves and have nots (TNS) Yolanda Ames and her boys live in a crowded apartment on a dead end street in East Charlotte's Grier Heights.Wires that could bring the world and her boys' classrooms into her home zigzag between poles across her neighborhood.But that world comes at too steep a cost for Ames. On a muggy afternoon this month, she had about $25 in her bank account, a vague notion of what she could make for dinner, and an overdue light bill."It's just hard, and I can't get help," she said.Ames is the head of one of 45,000 households in Charlotte without a subscription to broadband Internet. Unlike rural swaths of the state, the city is rich in infrastructure and competition from service providers. Across North Carolina, about 20% of homes have no Internet subscription, but in neighborhoods like Ames', that number is more than doubled. Here, where the majority of residents are people of color who live in poverty, an Internet subscription has been a luxury, not a necessity.The pandemic brought this Internet divide into stark focus. Schools rushed to migrate learning from classroom to living room with little control over how some students would keep up. They doled out iPads and laptops and devices that could provide some data through cellular services.For families like Ames', it isn't enough.A letter came one day this spring that let Ames know her middle son, Ty'reese Johnson, was falling behind. He'd stopped completing much of his school work, Ames said, recalling the gist of the letter. She worried he wouldn't advance to freshman year.Ames knows not having the Internet is setting her kids behind, but she doesn't know how to swing another bill. It's been two years since she could afford to pay for the Internet. Even if she could manage the monthly cost, an overdue balance and a setup fee would need to be paid.Ames doesn't mince words."My kids are being punished," she said.Across the state, hundreds of thousands of children and teens returned to school this month without leaving their homes.For some, though, learning means seeking refuge in community centers, fast food restaurants or library parking lots.The state's digital divide is no secret. It's become an emergency, though, as the pandemic forced nearly every school in the state to rely on computers and the Internet to teach children.In rural communities, Internet providers haven't installed the lines needed to connect to high-speed service. More than 75,000 students fall in those holes, state Department of Public Instruction officials estimate.The urban problem looks far different. Internet providers have laid the infrastructure, but the average monthly cost of $60 is too steep for some. Research shows that people of color are less likely to have Internet access than their white counterparts.State public instruction leaders estimate that about 290,000 students live in homes without a subscription to Internet service. And roughly 70,000 live in a home without access to a computer."It's detrimental to our children's education," Eric Davis, chairman of the state Board of Education, said of these access issues. "It behooves us to beat the virus and get kids back to school, behooves us to provide reliable Internet to all kids."Pat Millen has been grappling with the issue since 2013, when his then 12-year-old daughter alerted him that her teachers built assignments around the assumption that all of her classmates had computers and the Internet at home."Some kids don't, and that's not fair," Millen remembers his daughter noting.Millen took her challenge to the daughter's principal at Davidson Elementary. He asked if there was a digital divide."It turns out that every school has one," Millen said.They got busy. The school assessed how many students needed laptops, and Millen partnered with local businesses to provide them. The organization, called Eliminate the Digital Divide or E2D for short, has since expanded to serve over 145 schools in Mecklenburg County.Millen said the digital divide has not deepened since the pandemic but it has made it an emergency."We're all just more aware of what that disparity represents. Not having a computer right now has never been a worse situation because of all the teaching and learning that has to happen," he said. "The need isn't greater. The stakes are higher."Despite their work, Millen estimates thousands of students in Charlotte still need access to the Internet. Most, he said, are students of color.Charlotte-Mecklenberg Schools declined to make anyone available for this report.For some schools in Charlotte, the pandemic was an alarm bell.Kelly Lalli, a fourth and fifth grade math and literacy teacher at Cotswold Elementary, said the school got busy providing technology and Internet access to students. She said school administrators were keenly aware of the acute needs in the community the school serves.In 2017, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools merged Cotswold with Billingsville to try to reverse resegregation. The two schools previously served different demographics Billingsville students were mostly Black and came from the low-income Grier Heights community, where Ames lives. Cotswold students were mostly white.School faculty distributed Chromebooks and Internet hotspots to students in the spring, and Lalli said they were able to reach nearly all families.But parents say efforts vary school by school, teacher by teacher.Takeshia Reed-Davis' five children all go to different schools. Between them, they have three school-issued laptops and two school-issued iPads. Months into the pandemic, though, only one of the laptops still worked properly. By the end of the school year, her three older children shared it.As the new school year approached, Reed-Davis fretted. Her Internet connection is spotty and she braced for more months managing five children absorbed in dozens of different subjects.She braced for a more dire circumstance. Reed-Davis lost her job during the pandemic and she has been waiting for unemployment benefits to arrive. Without that help, she worries she won't be able to keep her Internet subscription."I'm just trying to do the best I can," she said. "I feel like if I wasn't the type of person who has faith in God, I would be going crazy."The lines between the haves and have nots are as thin as a highway in Charlotte.Majority black neighborhoods in the city's "crescent," an arc surrounding the area north of Uptown, are the ones with the highest rates of no Internet subscription. And families in the city's "wedge," which encompasses neighborhoods like Sedgefield and Myers Park, where many white families reside, generally have Internet subscriptions."This is digital redlining," said J'Tanya Adams, the former regional director of EveryoneOn, a nonprofit that works to close the digital divide in the city. "You're left behind. That's arrested development is what that's called."Adams worries there is little the school system can do to equalize the situation until the pandemic eases."I hate to sound like a broken record, but these kids won't be getting an education until you go back to school," Adams said. "And before COVID, we already had an education gap."Adams said internet access should be treated like a utility instead of a luxury.Ames never imagined a moment in which her sons and grandson would need to log on to devices to learn literature and social studies and science.The timing could not have been worse. Ames is recovering from cancer and has no full-time job. Before the pandemic, she cobbled together enough money from styling hair for neighbors or watching their kids, but her compromised immunity has made such hustles too dangerous.A push and pull of emotions washed over Ames one afternoon this month. She felt overwhelmed. She felt angry. Mostly, though, she felt inadequate.She knows Ty'reese needed help she couldn't provide. She wasn't even sure how to turn on the computer the school lent him."Blame it on me," Ames said. "I didn't have the income to get him where he needed to be."Ty'reese's school tried to help. They lent him a wireless hotspot, a cellular device that can be used to log on to the internet.He lost it. Then, another one. When he managed to hold on to one long enough, he ran down the data playing games, watching YouTube videos and chatting with friends.Eventually, Ty'reese began seeking refuge at nearby Grier Heights Community Center, which formerly housed Billingsville School. By then, though, he'd already fallen behind on his school work, prompting the letter of warning to his mother.Ty'reese knows he bears some of the blame for his performance last year. He admits he stopped doing his school work. Virtual learning, he said, was a struggle."It's kind of harder to process things," he said.Ty'reese began freshman year at Myers Park High School last week. He vowed to not take any chances this school year.He reported to Grier Heights Community Center early in the morning on the first day of school. He joined a few dozen other neighborhood kids who use the center's internet access to log on to their online classrooms. In Grier Heights, only half of residents have internet in their homes.Ty'reese sat at a table with another student, eyebrows furrowed as he stared at a computer screen. He waved over Tijua Robinson, the center's executive director, to troubleshoot a technical issue.He said he would rather be in a real classroom with teachers who can talk him through a problem.But he knows he has to stay focused this year. He knows what's at stake. He wants to go to law school one day.At 14, though, he already thinks the odds are stacked against boys like him."It's harder growing up being Black," he said. Jean Louise Herholdt, 28, was interviewed by detectives and charged with one count of murder on Friday afternoon A father was allegedly stabbed in the back by his wife while his children were in the next room. Jean Louise Herholdt, 28, has been charged with murder over the death of her husband Sean Murray, 32, at their home in Brisbane. She allegedly stabbed the father-of-three in the back with a 30cm kitchen knife in the property at Murrumba Downs on Wednesday morning. Mr Murray died on the side of the road outside his house from stab wounds despite the best efforts of paramedics. A third party is said to have closed the door to the bedroom to stop the children witnessing the row, the Courier Mail reported. Police allege that Ms Herholdt (left) stabbed her partner (right) in the back with a 30 centimetre kitchen knife Sean Murray, who worked at Lenard's Chicken, has two young daughters and a son. Pictured on his wedding day with wife Jean who has been charged with his murder Herholdt, who works as a nurse, was hospitalised after the incident before charged by police. She did not apply for bail after appearing at the Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on Friday. She was remanded in custody until her next court appearance in October. Neighbours reported overhearing an alarming dispute before police arrived at the scene on Wednesday. A woman was heard screaming 'not my baby, not my baby.' Sean Murray and Jean Louise Herholdt shared a series of happy photographs to their social media pages Denise Denton said she was outside when she heard a woman screaming, before police and paramedics swarmed the suburban street 20 minutes later. 'I didn't realise it was going to be this,' Ms Denton told the Courier Mail. Sean Murray, who worked at Lenard's Chicken, has two young daughters and a son. 'There were police cars everywhere and that's when I thought it's something worse.' Other alleged reports from nearby residents suggest the couple were known for regular verbal arguments. *For 24-hour domestic violence support call the national hotline 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or MensLine on 1800 600 636. Father-of-three Sean Murray, 32, died despite the efforts of paramedics. Pictured with his wife Louise, who has been charged with his murder 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, 313,536, 33% contained Walbridge Fire (merged with Stewarts): Sonoma County, west of Healdsburg, 55,353 acres, 25% contained Meyers Fire: Sonoma County, north of Jenner, 2,360 acres, 98% contained --- The LNU Lightning Complex in the North Bay saw moderate growth overnight and into Friday evening with no additional containment reported. The group of fires grew from 369,935 acres Thursday night to 372,344 acres Friday evening. Containment remains at 35%, according to Cal Fire's status report. The fire has destroyed 1,080 structures and damaged 272. Some 30,500 structures are threatened. The LNU Complex wildfire cluster was sparked by lightning strikes amid a rash of thunderstorms on Aug. 17. Many fires have since merged into three primary blazes Hennessey, Walbridge and Meyers which have torn through a parched landscape and incinerated homes across Sonoma, Napa, Lake, Solano and Yolo counties. The Hennessey Fire that started in Napa County is currently the most active, growing 311,222 to 313,536 in the last 24 hours. Containment remains 33%. Crews are focused on an area in Lake County burning between Middletown and Calistoga. "It's the highest priority because it's the last small section of line we have to close off," said Chris Waters, Cal Fire operations section chief, at the Friday morning press briefing. The northeastern tip of the Hennessey Fire took a turn toward Cache Creek and the Capay Valley on Wednesday, crossing Highway 16 into Colusa County. "The fire crossed the road and has moved up the hillside," said Waters. "The fire is hung-up in Colusa County right above Highway 16 and we have crews trying to cut that off." The 55,353-acre Walbridge Fire is 25% contained and burning in a "tough place to work," west of Healdsburg and north of Guerneville in Sonoma County. Heavy redwood fuels and lots of structures make firefighting efforts difficult. "We have engines, hand crews, dozers, and every other resource we can find here to finish connecting the dots," Waters said. "It's going to take a significant commitment to get that cleaned up," Waters added. Cal Fire Deputy Incident Commander Ron Myers said at a Thursday night community meeting, "The good news is that fire has not moved in five days. That's making us feel really good about the progress that's been completed there." More than 1,000 personnel - out of the 2,670 assigned to the LNU Lightning Complex - are assigned to the Walbridge Fire, Meyers said. The 2,360-acre Meyers Fire north of Jenner in Sonoma County is "all done," Waters said Friday. Repopulation is underway here. Firefighters have made notable progress this week, with evacuation orders that had applied to thousands of people being lifted around the complex of fires. (You can find the latest evacuation information on the Cal Fire Twitter feed.) At the peak of the fires in Sonoma County, for example, about 42,000 people had either been ordered to evacuate or warned that they might be. Thursday evening about 2,100 people remained under evacuation orders and 1,500 were in warning zones, Godley said. Late Thursday afternoon, most residents of Guerneville, the Russian River community that had been in the fire's sights since it started, were allowed to return to their homes. Around the breadth of the Hennessey Fire, Waters said on Friday "a lot of repopulation efforts will be taking place and trying to get folks back home." Bay City News contributed to this story. MORE WILDFIRE COVERAGE: Map: See where wildfires are burning in Bay Area Big Sur wildfire burns in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Why PurpleAir and AirNow show different AQI scores during wildfires 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. Bengaluru, Aug 28 : The state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) cancelled its Young Scientists programme (Yuvika 2020) for this year due to the surging coronavirus cases across the country, an official said on Friday. "Though the Yuvika programme was scheduled to be held from May 11-22 for school students of Classes 8-9, we deferred by six months due to the coronavirus spread since mid-March. With the pandemic continuing, we have decided to cancel it for this year," the official told IANS here. Launched with much fanfare in 2019 to instill scientific temper and impart knowledge about the country's space applications and technologies to the young students, the 12-day programme involves visit by about 100 selected students to ISRO's four operational centres across the country for exposure. Three students from each state in the country are selected for the programme and are taken to Vikram Sarabhai space centre in Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), U.R. Rao satellite centre in Bengaluru (Karnataka), Space Applications centre in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) and the North Eastern space centre at Shillong in Meghalaya on familiarization trip and interaction with the space scientists. "Of the 368 eligible students, 113 were shortlisted for the programme in March before the national lockdown was enforced on March 25 and extended. Due to uncertainty over the continuation of the pandemic, the trip has been cancelled," said the official. As part of its outreach programme, ISRO had set up space technology cells, incubation centres and regional academic centres for educating the students in space science. According to ISRO chairman K. Sivan, the Yuva Vigyani Karyakram (Yuvika) has been pioneered to inspire young minds for taking up space science as a career subject and become space scientists. "Science and technology are essential for the development of any country and play a major role in improving the quality of life, besides our safety and security," said Sivan told the first batch of Yuvika students in May 2019. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text ST. LOUIS A section of the Mississippi River reversed course on Thursday. As Hurricane Laura roared ashore in Louisiana, making landfall as one of the most powerful ever to hit the state, its winds tore apart buildings and devastated communities. The storm surge that followed flooded miles of coastline. It even forced the water of the mighty Mississippi to run uphill. The whole river gets pushed, said Lisa Parker, the chief of public affairs for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley Division. The surge can go 50 miles inland in the river systems. The storm will cut underneath St. Louis some time Friday afternoon, much of its verve long gone. A cold front, unrelated to the storm, will send the region cooler temperatures, with highs in the low 80s and showers throughout next week. And the Mississippi River corridors shipping industry often vulnerable to hurricanes, even 750 miles to the north was not expected to sustain significant damages or slowdowns in activity. Such occurrences are not uncommon during and after hurricanes. Barges queue up waiting for safe conditions to return to the rivers navigation channels, or for river terminals to reopen. On Thursday, some here braced for such waits again. But they never arrived, and by days end, most thought that business on the river would largely continue as usual. They dodged a pretty big bullet on the Mississippi. Actually, a very big bullet, said Ken Eriksen, a Memphis-based senior vice president of the agribusiness group at IHS Markit. He explained that that outlook could be very different if the storm had come ashore slightly farther east and tracked along the river near New Orleans, where lots of critical infrastructure is rooted. Still, there may be some ripple effects felt here. Tim Power, the CEO and president of St. Louis-based SCF, a river transportation and logistics business, said there could be a little bit of delay for shipping operations out of the region. But he said hiccups shouldnt have any impact on agricultural exports shipped south, through New Orleans. Others, like Eriksen, said that operators of southbound barges from St. Louis were going to keep them moving, given their two-week travel time to New Orleans a sizable window for the storm to pass through and for business to resume at port terminals downstream where activity might have been paused. Disruptions were also minimized, he said, by the hurricanes timing. This pre-harvest window represents the annual low period for the downriver shipment of agricultural commodities such as corn and soybeans out of the Midwest. But fertilizer and salt headed north from Louisiana, more directly in the path of the storm, would likely face some delays, Eriksen said. I think for St. Louis there could be a delay on some traffic moving up to arrive, said Eriksen. Officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, too, said they did not expect any queues of barge traffic to develop around St. Louis as a result of the storm. Some of that may be because we dont know the full extent of the storms toll, said Sue Casseau, a public affairs specialist for the corps St. Louis District. That doesnt mean were not concerned, and were not watching. 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. When it comes to celebrating and professing ones love, it appears that Valentines Day is not the only time to do so. In China, theres a massive occasion called Chinese Valentines Day or Qixi Festival that sees lovebirds dedicating sweet messages to each other throughout the day. While not as commonly celebrated in Singapore, the Chinese traditional festival that falls on the 7th day of the 7th Chinese lunar month, is not very much different from what couples typically do on Valentines Day, by giving flowers, chocolates, and other presents to their sweethearts. In the case of celebrity couple Joanne Peh and Qi Yuwu who were unable to spend the day together (due to the actors work commitments in JB), they made sure to let each other know of their thoughts. Taking to their respective social media pages on 25 August, the couple dedicated their love and appreciation for each other in the form of throwback photos from their past vacations. Joannes post reads: With you, Im fearless. Happy Qixi. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joanne Peh (@joannepeh) on Aug 24, 2020 at 7:23pm PDT Yuwu on the other hand, wrote: Happy Qixi to the ends of the Earth! In a separate comment not too long later, the 43-year-old who is born in Guangzhou, China, also wished everyone happiness and thanked them for liking the shows that he has acted in. Image source: Instagram/qiyuwu Yes, the lovebirds might be separated by the causeway, but the heart knows the way to each other. Joanne previously shared in a separate post (22 Aug) that Yuwu had customised a T-shirt for her as a birthday gift since they could not head out during the circuit breaker earlier this year. The last date we had was on our balcony on my birthday, wrote Joanne whose birthday was on 25 April. | Image source: Instagram/joannepeh Story continues The 37-year-old wrote: He found an old T-shirt of mine, some vintage trimmings I got off a thrift store and sewed it secretly one afternoon on the pretext that he was reading his scripts and didnt want to be disturbed. Usually I know when hes up to something, but this time, it caught me completely by surprise. ALSO READ: How a Strong Romantic Relationship Aids Cancer Recovery: A Loving Couple Share Their Story Love in the Time of The Pandemic: 6 Activities for Your Date Nights at Home Joanne Peh shares travel tips after family holiday nightmare The post Joanne Pehs Sweet Chinese Valentines Day Message To Husband Qi Yuwu appeared first on theAsianparent - Your Guide to Pregnancy, Baby & Raising Kids. By Azernews By Akbar Mammadov Azerbaijans Foreign Affairs Ministry has said that Armenias recent sabotage attempt on the line of contact shows that Yerevan is pursuing military adventure on the line of contact and seeks to aggravate the situation. The ministry made the remarks while commenting on Armenian provocation in the direction of Azerbaijans Goranboy district at about 05:45 on August 23 when the commander of the Armenian sabotage group, according to the initial interrogation, First Lieutenant Gurgin Alberyan was taken prisoner. At a time when the Armenian armed forces are intensifying reconnaissance measures in various parts of the frontline, including the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, the reconnaissance and sabotage activities carried out under the leadership of Gurgen Aleverdyan show that the Armenian military-political leadership is pursuing another military adventure on the frontline, the ministry said in a statement issued on Agusut 28. Furthermore, the ministry said that The Azerbaijani side has treated the captured Gurgen Alaverdiyan in accordance with the requirements of humanitarian law, adding that Armenias attempts to prove otherwise is a baseless allegation. The ministry reminded Armenias cross-border aggression in the direction of Azerbaijans Tovuz district last month that killed 12 Azerbaijani servicemen and a civilian. The world community understands that the Armenian military-political leadership clearly bears responsibility for the deliberate escalation of the situation in the direction of Tovuz. Armenias attempt to use the situation around the country's prisoner of war Gurgen Aleverdyan in order to divert the attention, is doomed to failure. Commenting on the Armenian FMs claims that Azerbaijan violated humanitarian law with regards to Aleverdyan, the ministry reminded that Armenia has committed crimes against humanity, including an act of military aggression accompanied by genocide and ethnic cleansing, for almost 30 years. As a result of the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed, 50,000 were become to be disabled, about one million civilians were forcibly expelled from their homes, 5,364 were missing, taken prisoner and hostage and subjected to severe torture and humiliation by Armenia. The fate of about 4,000 of these people is still unknown, the ministry added. The foreign ministry also touched upon the two Azerbaijani civilians Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev who were taken hostage by the Armenian armed forces while trying to visit their ancestral homes in the occupied Kalbajar region on July 11, 2014. Currently holding our compatriots, civilians Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev hostage, Armenia has tortured and illegally imprisoned them. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry also said that the Armenian authorities have repeatedly objected against Azerbaijan's proposal to exchange prisoners and hostages of both sides with the principle of "all for all", supported by the international community, including the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. Armenia has made the bodies of those killed in the conflict the object of political and material gain, has applied a "price list" to corpses in accordance with their profession or military rank, disregarding the most basic values of humanity and the most fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, the ministry added. The ministry reminded that the Armenian authorities have refused to apologize for the grave war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Azerbaijan and its civilians by the previous military-political leadership. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aequus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX-V: AQS, OTCQB: AQSZF) (Aequus or the Company), a specialty pharmaceutical company with a focus on developing, advancing and promoting differentiated products, today reported financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2020 (Q2 2020) and six months ended June 30, 2020 (YTD 2020) and associated Company developments. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are in Canadian currency. Q2 2020 was an exceptional quarter for Aequus, with the second highest revenues achieved in a quarter to date, despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 global pandemic, said Doug Janzen, CEO and Chairman of Aequus Pharmaceuticals. While revenues continue to show strong growth over the same period last year we are even more pleased to see the results of our cost control efforts in response to temporary COVID-19 field and operational restrictions, reducing net losses for the quarter to $222,248, a 67% decrease compared to a $678,003 net loss in the same period in 2019. We successfully closed a financing with significant insider participation this month and I am very excited about our capital position to launch new products this fall and enter into new strategic partnerships. As we move into the second half of the year, we find ourselves well poised for a successful launch of the Evolve dry eye product line, said Anne Stevens, COO and Director of Aequus. We couldnt be happier to have our recently announced new head of commercial, Grant Larsen, motivating the team and leading the way to find creative and innovative ways to build our business in the ophthalmic space. Grant was previously CEO of Eye Recommend, one of the largest optometry focused buying groups in Canada with approximately $180M in eye care related purchases in 2019 and we are excited about the knowledge, experience and relationships that he brings to the table. Second Quarter 2020 Financial Highlights Aequus reported its second highest revenue quarter to date, with $542,992 in promotional services revenue during Q2 2020 compared to revenue of $397,263 generated during the same period in 2019. During YTD 2020 Aequus achieved $1,122,442 in revenues compared to $726,259 generated during the six months ended June 30, 2019 (YTD 2019) an increase of 55% driven by increased market share of its promoted ophthalmic and transplant products. Net losses decreased by 67% in Q2 2020 compared to the same period last year, with the Q2 2020 net loss of $222,248 versus a $678,003 loss in the three months ended June 30, 2019 (Q2 2019). The loss for YTD 2020 was $628,063 which is 55% lower than the $1,408,218 loss YTD 2019 primarily due to a combination of an increase in revenue, some structural long term cost savings and a temporary decrease in COVID related cost containment efforts. Highlights from the quarter are as follows: Sales and marketing costs for Q2 2020 were $270,296 compared to $451,185 in Q2 2019, a decrease of $180,889 or 40%. This decrease was mainly driven by a reduction in working hours, sales activities and related expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic impacts in Q2 2020. Changes to contracts related to the sales management team also contributed to the decrease in costs in Q2 2020. Non-cash expenses for depreciation and amortization, and share-based payments for Q2 2020 were $43,888 and $33,789, respectively, compared to $47,400 and $15,362, respectively, in Q2 2019. The Company incurred research and development (R&D) expenses of $13,740 in Q2 2020 compared to $52,493 in Q2 2019. The Company incurred R&D expenses of $28,057 in YTD 2020 compared to $121,571 in YTD 2019. There was no consulting cost in Q2 2020, and YTD 2020 compared to Q2 2019 and YTD 2019 as the Company has continued to focus efforts on growing commercial revenues. General and administration (G&A) expenses were $481,608 in Q2 2020 compared to $575,841 in Q2 2019, a decrease of $94,233. This decrease was mainly driven by a drop in project costs related to the marketing and branding work at the corporate level compared to Q2 2019. Further costs reductions stems from a drop in workforce and related working hours due to the COVID-19 impact in Q2 2020. Events subsequent to June 30, 2020 Aequus is in a strong cash position following the subsequent financing on August 6, 2020, where the Company closed a public offering and issued 31,250,000 Units at a price of $0.08 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $2,500,000. Each Unit is comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company and one-half of one common share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole common share purchase warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of C$0.12 per Common Share until expiry on August 6, 2023. The Warrants include an acceleration provision, exercisable at the Company's option, if the Company's daily volume weighted average share price is greater than C$0.20 for ten consecutive trading days. ABOUT AEQUUS PHARMACEUTICALS INC. Aequus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX-V: AQS , OTCQB: AQSZF ) is a growing specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing high quality, differentiated products. Aequus has grown its sales and marketing efforts to include several commercial products in ophthalmology and transplant. Aequus plans to build on its Canadian commercial platform through the launch of additional products that are either created internally or brought in through an acquisition or license; remaining focused on highly specialized therapeutic areas. For further information, please visit www.aequuspharma.ca . FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT DISCLAIMER This release may contain forward-looking statements or forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities legislation that may not be based on historical fact, including, without limitation, statements containing the words believe, may, plan, will, estimate, continue, anticipate, intend, expect, potential and similar expressions. Forward- looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as the factors we believe are appropriate. Forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements relating to: the implementation of our business model and strategic plans; revenue growth trends into the future; expected timing for product launch; the Companys expected revenues; the continued revenue growth of its products; given our current run rate we expect to offset that step down in the following quarters; the regulatory approval of the Evolve line of products expected in 2020; a regulatory audit of Medicoms manufacturing facility required by Health Canada to be completed in 2020; ongoing discussions with potential partners to further grow our product portfolio. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Aequus, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In making the forward looking statements included in this release, the Company has made various material assumptions, including, but not limited to: obtaining positive results of clinical trials; obtaining regulatory approvals; general business and economic conditions; the Companys ability to successfully out license or sell its current products and in-license and develop new products; the assumption that the Companys current good relationships with its manufacturer and other third parties will be maintained; the availability of financing on reasonable terms; the Companys ability to attract and retain skilled staff; market competition; the products and technology offered by the Companys competitors; and the Companys ability to protect patents and proprietary rights. In evaluating forward looking statements, current and prospective shareholders should specifically consider various factors set out herein and under the heading Risk Factors in the Companys Annual Information Form dated April 28, 2020, a copy of which is available on Aequus profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com, and as otherwise disclosed from time to time on Aequus SEDAR profile. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties, or a risk that is not currently known to us materialize, or should assumptions underlying those forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and we do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are inherently uncertain. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward looking statements. VistitanTM: Trademark owned or used under license by Sandoz Canada Inc. CONTACT INFORMATION Aequus Investor Relations Email: investors@aequuspharma.ca Phone: 604-336-7906 Gaza, Aug 28 : Israeli warplanes on Friday struck military facilities of the Islamic Hamas movement in Gaza in response to the firing of six projectiles into southern Israel. Hamas security sources told Xinhua news agency that the Israeli warplanes targeted a training facility that belonged to al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, south of Gaza city, with no injury or damage reported. Meanwhile, an Israeli army spokesman also confirmed the strikes on the facility and held Hamas movement, which rules the Gaza Strip, fully responsible for the projectiles' attack. Israeli Radio reported that the projectiles landed on unpopulated areas in southern Israel, causing no injury or damage. No one claimed responsibility for firing the projectiles from Gaza into southern Israel. A tit-for-tat escalation of tension has been going on in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Gaza militants since August 6. Tension was started when unknown masked young men launched hundreds of incendiary balloons into Israel. In response, Israeli army warplanes and artillery have been attacking posts, sites, and military infrastructure of Hamas. Egyptian and Qatari mediation had so far failed to defuse the growing tension, where Hamas leaders insist that their condition to restore calm in Gaza is to lift an Israeli blockade that had been imposed on the Gaza Strip for 13 years. Fawzi Barhoum, the Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in a press statement that launching projectiles and arson balloons "is a direct response to the Israeli occupation's escalation against the Palestinians". "The Israeli occupation is fully responsible for the consequences of its escalation on the Gaza Strip, mainly keeping the siege imposed and attacking military posts and facilities amid the spread of coronavirus in Gaza," he said. Food worker Aubrey Hawn, right, hands bags of food to Nicholas and Brenton Morello at Frontier Elementary School in D-20 last month. The district distributed breakfasts and lunches at a variety of locations last week since the district, like all others in the Pikes Peak region, closed down due to the COVID-19 virus. Slate has relationships with various online retailers. If you buy something through our links, Slate may earn an affiliate commission. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. All prices were up to date at the time of publication. In the long, hot, and most heinous summer of 2020, you cling to whatever scraps of awesomeness you can find. Bill & Ted Face the Music, a 31-years-later sequel to the 1989 sleeper hit Bill & Teds Excellent Adventure and its 1991 follow-up, Bill & Teds Bogus Journey (and available Friday on video on demand), may be as pure an example as exists of the concept of the fan service movie, but as a member of the precise demographic whose engine it aims to tune, I wont be heard complaining. Like the first two movies, this new chapter is goofy and scattershot, hanging a barely coherent sci-fi story on the sturdy peg of the audiences abiding affection for its irresistible leads. But that affection has ripened and deepened with time, along with the real-life friendships of both the actors who play them and the screenwriters of all three movies, Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sign up for the Slate Culture newsletter The best of movies, TV, books, music, and more, delivered to your inbox three times a week. 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. As characters, William S. Preston, Esq. (Alex Winter) and Ted Theodore Logan (Keanu Reeves) share DNA with the slightly older Jeff Spicoli, Sean Penns perpetually stoned surfer in the 1982 teen classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and the slightly younger Beavis and Butt-head, the brainless MTV buddies animated by Mike Judge in the 1990s. And as it happens, the night after the first movies premiere in February 1989, Saturday Night Live introduced a new pair of similarly dimwitted characters: Dana Carvey and Mike Myers as Wayne and Garth, hosts of the vapid public access show Waynes World. The influence in both directions was probably unintentionalas Winter said in a recent and charming interview, I think the zeitgeist barfed all this stuff up at the same timebut in the pantheon of Gen X airheads, Bill and Ted occupy a unique place. Their verbal and gestural lingothe air-guitar windmills, the division of the universe into twin poles of excellence and bogosity, the shared utterances of the cosmic interjection whoahas persisted into the next generation and become part of our common language. To talk about Bill and Ted is to quote Bill and Ted, which is to say, to become them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thirty-one years after they first traveled through time together to kidnap historical figures for their high school history final, Bill and Ted are still living in San Dimas, California, still married to the princess babes they rescued from 15th century England, still rocking out daily in their neighboring suburban garages, and still serenely untroubled by anything so bogus as mental exertion. They have at last learned to play the ax-shaped guitars gifted to them by Rufus (George Carlin) at the end of the first movie: Indeed, theyve become virtuosos on a plethora of instruments, from bagpipe to theremin. But in the decades since their band, the Wyld Stallyns, enjoyed a brief blaze of glory in the early 90s, Bill and Ted have failed to fulfill the destiny prophesied by Carlins time-traveling guru: that they would one day write a song that would save the world and bring peace to all humanity. They are instead reduced to playing open mics at underpopulated hotel bars and boring wedding guests with such prog anthems as That Which Binds Us Through Time: The Chemical, Physical, and Biological Nature of Love; an Exploration of the Meaning of Meaning, Part 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To talk about Bill and Ted is to quote Bill and Ted, which is to say, to become them. Bill and Ted have also become dads and, in a sign of their enduring friendship, have named their daughters, now in their early 20s, after each other. Wilhelmina Billie Logan (Brigette Lundy-Paine) and Theodora Thea Preston (Samara Weaving), having grown up in the shadow of their almost-famous fathers, have adopted both their dude-laced speech patterns and obsession with righteous tunes of all kindsnot just the guitar-shredding rock n roll of their dads generation but jazz, hip-hop, and what in the Wyld Stallyns heyday used to be known as world music. (The actors playing the daughters dont get a lot to do, but Weaving in particular has nailed Teds signature walk, a long-armed loping bounce, and his placidly vacant grin.) The girls musical knowledge will serve them well in an agreeable if underwhelming subplot that has them traveling through time to gather an all-star band of transhistorical music greatsJimi Hendrix, Louis Armstrong, Mozartto sit in on the universe-saving song that they remain convinced their dads are fated to write. Advertisement Advertisement The problem is that, even after being urgently summoned to the year 2720 by a messenger from the future (Kristen Schaal) who appears on their cul-de-sac one day in an egg-shaped pod, Bill and Ted have not as of yet written that song, and after three decades of cheerful mediocrity, they no longer know if they have it in them. Informed by Rufus imperious widow (Holland Taylor) that they have only 78 minutes to compose the ultimate banger, the friends have no choice but to climb back into the phone boothshaped time machine that took them on their first two journeys, travel into a future in which theyve already written the song, and bring it back to the present day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The overlapping time loops and concentric logic holes that ensue would challenge even Bruce Willis character in Looper to illustrate them with diner straws. In some future realities, Bill and Ted are pretentious English-accented rock stars; in others, theyre divorced alcoholics gone to seed. In no possible universe do the pair appear to have gotten around to writing the magic song, even when they venture, Dante-like, into the underworld, where theyre joined by the Grim Reaper (played once more by Bogus Journey scene-stealer William Sadler) and a pathetically insecure robot named Dennis (Anthony Carrigan). Ill leave the plot summary there, except to say that, though the movie deliberately frames the musical result of all this time-hopping as underachieving, the universe-saving song has a bouncy hook Ive been humming throughout the writing of this review. But like its predecessors, Bill & Ted Face the Music is less about the destination than the bodaciousness of the journey. Whether theyre callow teens in the Valley or nonagenarians lying side by side in an old folks home, Bill and Ted belong together, eternally bonded by their Zen-like stupidity and the tireless joy they take in living, being excellent to each other, and partying on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its way, this closing chapter of the Bill & Ted trilogy is an allegory for the status of Gen Xers in the dystopic landscape of 2020. Theyfor some of us, weare now middle-aged slackers still waiting for our one grand moment of apotheosis, convinced the song we were put on Earth to write is yet to come even as the culture around us moves on. There are moments in the first two films that now play as dated and cringey (though many fewer such moments than in, say, your average John Hughes film): For example, a scene in Excellent Adventure when Bill and Ted share an impulsive hug then abruptly break apart, each calling the other a fag. Similarly, for all its efforts to be more inclusive by adding in a pair of younger female buddies, Face the Music makes a few tin-eared gestures at representationmost egregiously when, in the history-spanning supergroup brought together by Bill and Teds daughters, the drummer is a Black woman from prehistoric times. I suppose making the caveperson character a white man would have been problematic in its own way, but the sight of a woman of color wearing animal skins while drumming with a bone raises a specter of condescension and exoticism the writers cant have intended. Advertisement Advertisement Still, missteps and all, this movies heart remains in the right place. Its stars, who first met in the process of auditioning for Excellent Adventure, have been close friends ever since, and their shared sense of humor and love for the characters shines through even in the weaker moments. Reeves in particular never makes a comic misstep; hes funny less for the lines he speaks than for his thoroughgoing physical incarnation of a character whos at least 50 percent Golden Retriever, ready to greet every new challenge with the same guileless enthusiasm, his default expression a dopey smile. And while Winterwho in the intervening decades has mostly left acting behind for a directing careermay not have Reeves gift for physical comedy, he deftly delivers a few of the movies best lines, including an exasperated tell-off of Dennis the clingy robot that I had to rewind several times so I could laugh at it some more. In one early scene Billie, reassuring her dad that hes still got it, tells him his theremin playing is most luminous. Its an assessment of the whole franchise that sympathetic viewersand really, do Bill and Ted have any other kind?are likely to share. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a movement for the safety of students, urging people to raise their voice against Centres decision to hold the Joint Entrance Exams (JEE) and National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) next month. Congress and several opposition parties have cited the coronavirus pandemic and floods in various parts of the country to demand that the examinations must be deferred, even as the Centre has made it clear the exams will be held as per schedule with due precautions. Unite your voice with lakhs of suffering students. #SpeakUpForStudentSafety from 10am onwards. Lets make the Govt listen to the students, Gandhi tweeted. The former Congress president also tagged a video about the peoples movement, talking about the issues students are going to face if the entrance exams for admission to engineering and medical colleges across the country are held. The government is putting the students health at risk by conducting the NEET, JEE exams amid pandemic. Students have been stressed out. During such time, the Congress stands with the students and we are speaking up for their safety, according to the voiceover in the video. The JEE Main and NEET-UG will be conducted in September as scheduled, officials of the ministry of education said on Tuesday, amid a growing chorus for postponing the crucial tests in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. While the JEE Main is scheduled from September 1-6, NEET is planned on September 13. Around 8.58 lakh candidates have registered for JEE-Main and 15.97 lakh have registered for NEET. Several other opposition leaders, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik and DMK president MK Stalin have demanded that the exams be postponed. Banerjee and Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh have even called for approaching the Supreme Court in the matter. The government, on its part, has said that more than 1.7 million candidates have already downloaded their admit cards for JEE and NEET, which shows students want the exams to be conducted. National Testing Agency (NTA) officials told me that over seven lakh candidates have downloaded the JEE-Main admit cards while over 10 lakh aspirants have downloaded the NEET admit cards. This shows that the students want the exams to be held at any cost, Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said on Thursday. We have received mails from students and parents who are in favour of holding the exams, as they have been preparing for the exams for at least two to three years. The Supreme Court too opined that a full academic year cannot be wasted. After two deferments, the exam dates have been finalised, he added. The exams have been deferred twice in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The JEE-Mains was originally scheduled to be held from April 7 to April 11, but was postponed to July 18-23. The NEET-UG was originally scheduled for May 3 but was pushed to July 26. The Supreme Court last week dismissed a plea seeking postponement of the two exams amid a spurt in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country, saying a precious academic year of students cannot be wasted and that life has to go on. NTA has said it will increase the number of examination centres, put in an alternative seating plan with fewer candidates per room and staggered entry and exit for safely conducting NEET and JEE in September. (With agency inputs) TRUSSVILLE, Ala., Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SPOC Automation welcomes Dennis Martin as its new Mid-Continent Sales Manager. After a career in the oil and gas industry that has spanned more than 25 years, with stints in Southern California and the Bakken, as well as work that has taken him to regions around the world, Dennis has made a name for himself based on what he says is his most important skillthat of listening. "When it comes to my customers," he says, "my goal has always been not to necessarily sell them anything, but to become a project partner with them. My goal is to help my customers achieve their goals." "It's that kind of integrity that we look for in people who work with us," says Ted Wilke, SPOC vice president. "And Dennis brings an abundance of that with him, as well as so much moreexperience, intelligence, and an understanding of the oil and gas business generally, as well as automation, specifically." Having grown up in Kansas and attended Wichita State University, Dennis now lives just north of Dallas. "SPOC," he says, "is a company that I believe in, and I'm looking forward to helping spread the word to even more people about the industry-leading products and service they offer." About SPOC Automation SPOC Automation is a U.S.-based innovation company specializing in automation technology for the oil & gas industry. SPOC manufactures products to automate processes in the upstream and midstream markets, specifically for artificial lift, water management, and compression applications. For more information about SPOC Automation, call 205.661.3642 or visit spocautomation.com . CONTACT: Tina Willis Account Executive (205) 730-2316 [email protected] SOURCE SPOC Automation Related Links https://spocautomation.com As their first or second weeks of classes ended Friday, at least 250 students and staff on the campuses of six Pennsylvania universities had tested positive for the coronavirus. Temple University reported 10 cases on Monday, the first day of classes; by Friday, the tally had reached 58, all but six of them on-campus students. Some students and faculty protested the reopening on Monday; most classes are being held remotely or using a hybrid model. About 9,000 students are circulating on campus, a third of the usual number. By Friday, Villanova University had reported 13 cases, St. Josephs University had confirmed 12, and Pennsylvania State University had reported 31. Both Penn State and Temple did more than 5,000 tests in the first week, according to the schools. The percentage remains quite low of people who tested positive, said Temple spokesperson Ray Betzner. The Philadelphia Public Health Department is actively working with the university to respond to this increase, a city spokesperson said Friday. Bloomsburg University, which began classes on Aug. 17 and earlier this week reverted to almost all remote instruction due to an outbreak, has logged 118 cases among students and one employee. The University of Pittsburgh, which began classes Monday, reported 22 cases by Friday. READ MORE: Bloomsburg University reverts to largely remote instruction after 90 coronavirus cases are reported They were among the thousands of college students nationwide who have been sickened since returning to campuses that are trying to enforce protocols like social distancing even as students move into dorms, attend classes, and throw parties. Officials in Newark, Del., tried to address the issue earlier this week by passing an emergency ordinance restricting private gatherings to 12 people indoors and 20 people outdoors, hoping to put a damper on parties among the University of Delaware students who are returning to off-campus housing, the Wilmington News Journal reported. But one professor at Kutztown University encouraged students to gather at a local bar and infect each other then apologized on Friday. I think the sooner you guys get it, the better. None of you are going to die from this, and we need to have everyone immune, business professor Victor J. Massad told students on Monday in a video teleconference obtained by The Inquirer. And so the sooner that people are immune, the better. The comments drew criticism, including from the schools teachers union. The Berks County university had reported only one student, who lives on campus, infected with the virus by Friday. This is clearly not the position of the university, and rest assured, the issue has been addressed, a Kutztown University spokesperson said in an email, adding the school could not release more details because it was a personnel matter. In an email to The Inquirer, Massad apologized and encouraged all students to follow the universitys coronavirus protocols. I was being rhetorical and flippant when I made the comments, I am embarrassed and ashamed of myself to have made them, Massad said. It was a complete lapse of professional judgment on my part. Founded as a dry goods store in 1826, Lord & Taylor has struggled for years as more people shop online and in other stores. But the pandemic has changed the way people shop and accelerated the shift to online shopping, mostly to the benefit of big retailers like Amazon, Target and Walmart. President Donald Trump made attacks on China an organizing principle of his Republican convention speech Thursday accusing the country of allowing the coronavirus to spread around the world and claiming Joe Biden would be beholden to the rising power. Trump repeatedly referenced the 'China virus' when talking about the disease, laced references to China throughout his hour-long address at the White House, and blasted Biden for supporting trade legislation that he characterized as a giveaway of American jobs. Many people consider the term a slur. 'In recent months, our nation, and the rest of the world, has been hit with a once-in-a-century pandemic that China allowed to spread around the globe,' Trump said, in one of several references to the pandemic in Thursday's programming. President Donald Trump repeatedly brought up China in his GOP convention speech, referencing the 'China virus' and claimed Joe Biden's agenda is 'Made in China' 'When the China Virus hit, we launched the largest national mobilization since World War II,' Trump said, touting his handling of the pandemic as have a skein of convention speakers, even as the number of infected Americans approached 6 million. He told 1,500 cheering supporters at the White House: 'We will go right after China. We will not rely on them one bit.' Trump claimed that Biden's 'agenda is Made in China,' adding: 'My agenda is Made in the USA.' Underlining the focus on the issue, the word 'China' appeared 15 times in his remarks. Trump brought up China 15 times in his speech Fireworks light up the sky around the Washington Monument after President Donald Trump delivered his acceptance speech at the White House to the 2020 Republican National Convention, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020 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 advancing integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Aug. 20, 2020. Trump attacked Biden for backing China's entry into the World Trade Organization Trump accused Biden of having voted 'to ship [American] jobs to China' Trump intoned: 'He oversaw the rise of ISIS, and cheered the rise of China as "a positive development" for America and the world. That's why China supports Joe Biden and desperately wants him to win,' Trump said. 'I can tell you that upon very good information,' Trump appeared to ad-lib. Biden did make the comment, at a summit in 2011 at the White House opening 'U.S.-China Strategic & Economic Dialogue.' It was part of an administration effort to find areas cooperation with China, even as the emerging power an the U.S. faced off on areas of trade, espionage, and regional power plays, and try to prod it more into the community of major powers. 'As a young member of a Foreign Relations Committee, I wrote and I said and I believed then what I believe now: That a rising China is a positive, positive development, not only for China but for America and the world writ large,' Biden said. Trump's reference to China wanting a Biden win is drawn from a recent U.S. intelligence assessment. The assessment stated: 'We assess that China prefers that President Trump whom Beijing sees as unpredictable does not win reelection. The same intel statement said Russia was actively working to 'denigrate' Biden. 'China would own our country if Joe Biden got elected,' Trump claimed. Trump's China pitch was reinforced by an earlier speech by ultra loyalist Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who said in his convention speech China was 'rooting for Joe Biden. Trump called Biden's 47-year record a 'shameful roll call of the most catastrophic betrayals and blunders in our lifetime.' He touted his support for NAFTA, and bringing China into the World Trade Organization, which he called a disaster. At one point, Trump tied his China theme to incidents of Biden touching or people people in public who later said it made them feel uncomfortable. 'For 47 years, Joe Biden took the donations of blue collar workers, gave them hugs and even kisses, and told them he felt their pain and then he flew back to Washington and voted to ship their jobs to China and many other distant lands,' Trump said, trying to take the shine off some of the Biden empathy built up at his own convention. 'Joe Biden spent his entire career outsourcing the dreams of American Workers, offshoring their jobs, opening their borders, and sending their sons and daughters to fight in endless foreign wars,' he said. Biden hit back with a series of tweets, including one on the coronavirus. 'From the moment COVID-19 emerged, President Trump downplayed the threat it posed, refused to listen to the experts, and failed to take action to contain its spread. Now, were paying the price,' he wrote. Trump also blasted China during the 2016 presidential campaign. then maneuvered the U.S. into a prolonged trade war. The U.S. and China ultimately agreed to a 'Phase One' deal where China agreed to buy billions in U.S. ag products. A 38-year-old in the southern province of Tay Ninh brought a live cobra nearly 3km long with him, wrapped around his arm, to the General Hospital of Tay Ninh Provinces emergency ward. browser not support iframe. According to the patients family, the man tried to snatch the cobra, hoping to sell the animal to have money to pay school fees for his kids. He was bitten by the snake in the thigh area. The hospital doctors said this was the first time they had seen a big live snake with a patient. "The whole staff and patients at the Emergency Ward were in a panic," doctor Tran Lam Ngoc Thanh of Tay Ninh Provinces General Hospital told VietNamNet. Upon entering the hospital, the man was awake and the snake was alive. At the time, the man had to hold the snakehead tightly to prevent it from biting him. The snake was wrapped tightly around the mans arm. Doctors used tape to tie up the snake's mouth and the victim released the snake into a bag. It was a king cobra of about 2.5m long and 4.6kg in weight. The man was brought to a hospital with a big snake wrapped around his arm. Photo: T.A. Some 30 minutes after being treated by doctors, the man turned pale and had difficulty breathing so he was transmitted to Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for treatment. According to the latest news, the wound caused by the snake bite is necrotic, so the patient will need a skin transplant when his condition becomes more stable. Doctor Nguyen Ly Minh Duy from the Emergency Recovery Ward of Cho Ray Hospital told VietNamNet that the man needed a ventilator and he also suffered kidney damage. Lien Anh Snake village struggling big losses due to Covid-19 Snake breeders in a village in the northern province of Phu Tho have recorded heavy losses because of the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. A Gold Star father whose son was the first U.S. service member to die in combat under the Trump administration is urging people not to vote for President Trump this November, saying he cannot be trusted "with your kid's life or your own." Bill Owens' son, Chief Petty Officer William "Ryan" Owens, was killed in January 2017, just days after Trump's inauguration. A 36-year-old married father of three, he was shot by al Qaeda militants during a raid in Yemen, a mission that later came under intense scrutiny. In an ad for VoteVets released Thursday, Owens said Trump didn't order this raid "in the Situation Room with all the intelligence assembled, but sitting across a dinner table from Steve Bannon. There was no vital interest at play, just Donald Trump playing big man going to war." Since his son's death, Trump has "assailed our country's core values," Owens said, before accusing Trump of kneecapping the U.S. Postal Service to undermine voting and defending Russian President Vladimir Putin amid reports Russia put bounties on the heads of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Now, at least 180,000 people have died of coronavirus in the U.S., and Owens said that "200,000 Americans will have died before we vote. They and Ryan have one thing in common it didn't have to be, but for Donald Trump. If you hear one thing, let it be this: Don't trust Donald Trump with your kid's life or your own." More stories from theweek.com 5 more scathingly funny cartoons about the Republican National Convention Air travel in the coronavirus era Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez may have a lot to do with Joe Kennedy's primary struggles Following some days chaos as a result of a disputed land that has hit Dome Faase near Obom in Accra, a Non-Governmental Organization Citizen Eye Ghana (CITEG) has condemned the recent mob attacks on two uniformed soldiers on duty. CITEG has described the attack as barbaric and inhuman after calling on authorities to deal with perpetrators. Our gallant security forces especially the police and the military are our friends and it is the responsibility of we the citizens or civilians to make their work more effective and efficient by providing them with the relevant information to aid their work eschew of physical assault or brutalities. The statement reads Some residents of Dome Faase near Obom in the Greater Accra Region have been accused of assaulting two soldiers over a piece of land in the area. The soldiers clashed with the residents while protecting the property for the Mponuahene of Akyem Apedwa who they claim is the owner. According to the spokesman for the residents, there have been rumours of armed land guards working with military personnel to terrorize their communities. But CITEG in their statement wants an immediate investigation into the allegation to prevent future occurrence. We are hereby called on the president, being a commander-in-chief to immediately launch a commission of enquiry to investigate the main triggers of such an ordeal act and find a long-lasting solution to them because we cannot sit as a country to allow some miscreants to overrun our security forces. The groups founder, Mr. Alex Kweku Tetteh said Read the below full statement CITIZEN EYE GHANA CONDEMNS THE ATTACKS ON UNIFORMED SECURITY PERSONNEL The Citizen Eye Ghana (CITEG) is condemning the series of attacks against uniformed security personnel in the country and also calling on all stakeholders to put hands on deck to bring such barbaric acts to a halt. Our gallant security forces especially the police and the military are our friends and it is the responsibility of we the citizens or civilians to make their work more effective and efficient by providing them with the relevant information to aid their work eschew of physical assault or brutalities. Some residents of Dome Faase near Obom in the Greater Accra Region have been accused of assaulting two soldiers over a piece of land in the area and the soldiers clashed with the residents while protecting the property for the Mponuahene of Akyem Apedwa who they claim is the owner. As a civil society organization, we cannot keep mute whilst witnessing these unnecessary attacks on our indefatigable security persons who protect lives, properties, and our territorial borders of this country. We are hereby called on the president, being a commander-in-chief to immediately launch a commission of enquiry to investigate the main triggers of such an ordeal act and find a long-lasting solution to them because we cannot sit as a country to allow some miscreants to overrun our security forces. We also encourage the general public to collaborate, compromise, and assist them regardless of being invited or arrested by any of the security officers since we are a country of rule of law and must allow ourselves to be ruled by the law but not war. We must also remind ourselves of the lynching of a young military officer, Major Mahama on 29th May 2017 at Denkyira Obuasi in the central region and several others of which there must be sober reflections on such incidences and come together as one people to say NO to such brutalities on our security personnel. We call on immediate investigations into what happened in Dome Faase to unveil all perpetrators to face the law in order serve as a deterrent to others and congratulate the IGP, CDS, Minister of Defense Nitiwul, Minister for Interior Ambrose Berry, National Security Minister Kan Dapaah, Deputy Minister of the interior, Bryan Acheampong, Captain Coder, Lord Commey and their men for ensuring the safety and protection of the citizenry. LONG LIVE CITEG!!! LONG LIVE GHANA!!! Thank you Email: [email protected] YOUTUBE: CITEG TV TWITTER:@CITEGTV FACEBOOK: CITIZENEYE GHANA INSTAGRAM: CITIZENEYE_GH Trinity College Dublin today announced the launch of its annual Book of Kells Creative Competition for 2020, which invites artists and writers of all ages to submit a work inspired by the famed book. This year, contestants are invited to share art and writing that evokes the theme of colours in the Book of Kells. There are entry categories for adults and school-aged children at both primary and second level, with winners receiving an individual cash prize as well as a cash prize for their arts club or school. Winners will also be honoured at the annual Book of Kells Creative Competition awards ceremony held in Trinity College Dublin and will also receive a VIP trip to the Book of Kells. Whats more, the Book of Kells exhibition has reopened following a period of closure, meaning would-be entrants can once again visit the famous book and discover its beautiful colours up close and personal. This years judging panel includes notable bookworms Sharon Ni Bheolain of RTE News and and Rick OShea, RTE radio presenter and founder of Irelands largest book club. The pair will be joined by Dr Rachel Moss, Head of the art history and architecture at Trinity. Speaking at the launch, Sharon Ni Bheolain said, It is an honour to be a part of this unique competition for the third year running. 2019 saw individuals from all walks of life and all corners of the globe share their artistic rendering of this most celebrated manuscript. I was truly bowled over by the vision, imagination, application and enthusiasm on display and look forward to seeing exciting and innovative interpretations of this years theme. Radio personality Rick OShea added, The Book of Kells holds a special place in Irelands collective imagination, and rightly so. This year we are looking for people to use their creativity to celebrate the magic and enduring charm of Irelands most famous book. For more information and to enter please visit www.bookofkells.ie/competition. The competition closing date is October 30th 2020, UK's Home Secretary Priti Patel grants approval to use next-generation TASER device for increasing officer efficiency and community safety LONDON, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Axon , the global leader in connected law enforcement technologies and its United Kingdom subsidiary, Axon Public Safety UK, today announced the approval for police forces in the United Kingdom (UK) to purchase and deploy its latest TASER Conducted Energy Device (CED). The TASER 7 is Axon's most effective less-lethal weapon to date and was built to equip officers with the power to de-escalate dangerous situations. Following the approval to deploy the TASER 7 by the UK's Home Secretary Priti Patel, police forces can begin training on the TASER 7 before the end of the year. To learn more visit: https://uk.axon.com/taser-7-launch/ . The TASER 7 is Axon's first truly connected CED with services that are completely integrated into Axon Evidence (Axon's digital evidence management solution). These capabilities include wireless device management, self-reporting and general visibility into the health of the device or a full fleet of CEDs. The TASER 7 also provides enhanced reliability by offering optimized close-quarter and stand-off cartridges. "We're excited to watch the adoption of this innovative device across the UK," says Axon UK Country Manager, Mike Ashby-Clarke. "We built this tool with community and officer safety in mind. With high-tech features such as automated usage logs and device management, officers will be able to spend less time physically managing their CED and can instead focus on what matters - protecting the public." The TASER 7 features dramatically improved effectiveness, including adaptive cross connect and improved spiral probe design, and is fully integrated with Axon Evidence. Other features will allow officers to: De-escalate with confidence: Officers will have the confidence to de-escalate dangerous situations with the most effective CED ever. New Rapid Arc technology outperforms previous CEDs with a refined pulse output designed to be safe and more effective. In addition, spiral darts fly straighter and faster towards a daylight green laser with nearly double the kinetic energy to compress loose and hanging clothing. Officers will have the confidence to de-escalate dangerous situations with the most effective CED ever. New Rapid Arc technology outperforms previous CEDs with a refined pulse output designed to be safe and more effective. In addition, spiral darts fly straighter and faster towards a daylight green laser with nearly double the kinetic energy to compress loose and hanging clothing. Connect to save time: Rechargeable batteries and inventory management automation will tap the power of the Axon network and improve workflows - including the same "dock and walk" process currently used for Axon Body cameras - so officers can spend more time policing. Rechargeable batteries and inventory management automation will tap the power of the Axon network and improve workflows - including the same "dock and walk" process currently used for Axon Body cameras - so officers can spend more time policing. Focus on communities: As part of the TASER 7 program, Axon developed Virtual Reality Empathy Training to help strengthen a police officer's power to de-escalate. While not yet rolled out in the UK, Axon is actively engaging with UK police services on how best to implement this training in the future. This VR training complements the existing national College of Policing curriculum for which Axon helps drive content and courses. The TASER 7 is now available for purchase in four countries, including Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the US. About Axon Axon is the global leader in connected public safety technologies. We are a mission-driven company whose overarching goal is to protect life. Our vision is a world where bullets are obsolete, where social conflict is dramatically reduced, where everyone has access to a fair and effective justice system and where racial equity, diversity and inclusion is centered in all of our work. Axon is also a leading provider of body cameras for US law enforcement, providing more transparency and accountability to communities than ever before. You may learn about our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts by reading our ESG disclosure at investor.axon.com . We work hard for those who put themselves in harm's way for all of us. To date, more than 237,000 lives and countless dollars have been saved with the Axon network of devices, apps and people. Learn more at www.axon.com or by calling (800) 978-2737 . Axon is a global company with headquarters in Scottsdale, Ariz. and global software engineering hub in Seattle, Wash., as well as additional offices in Australia, Canada, Finland, Vietnam, the UK and the Netherlands. Facebook is a trademark of Facebook, Inc., Twitter is a trademark of Twitter, Inc. Axon, Axon Evidence, Axon Body, TASER 7 and the Delta Logo are trademarks of Axon Enterprise, Inc., some of which are registered in the United Kingdom, the United States, and other countries. For more information, visit https://www.axon.com/legal . All rights reserved. Follow Axon here: Axon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/axon_uk Axon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Axon.ProtectLife/ Note to Investors Please visit http://investor.axon.com , https://www.axon.com/press , www.twitter.com/axon_us and https://www.facebook.com/Axon.ProtectLife/ where Axon discloses information about the company, its financial information and its business. CONTACT: Carley Partridge Axon PR and Comms Manager Press@axon.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1244976/TASER_7.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/231466/axon_logo.jpg Arson, Apparent Surveillance Send Chilling Message to Ukraine's Investigative Journalists By Jessica Jerreat August 27, 2020 Grainy surveillance video shows a person walking toward a car belonging to Ukrainian investigative news team Schemes moments before the vehicle ignites. Police on Wednesday arrested two suspects in connection with the August 17 fire in Brovary, a city near the capital, Kyiv, and continue to investigate, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov announced on Twitter. The arson was apparently the second attack this month on Schemes, part of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Ukrainian service that produces a weekly TV program in partnership with Ukraine's public broadcaster Pershiy Canal. On August 7, Mykhailo Tkach, a reporter with Schemes, said he found some drilled holes in his kitchen ceiling that he said he thought had been made during attempts to wiretap his apartment. RFE/RL and VOA are both independent outlets funded by the U.S. Agency for Global Media. 'Annoying' to officials Tkach posted images on Facebook of one of the holes in the ceiling of his top-floor apartment. In the post, Tkach said he had been warned by sources that his "journalistic activities are annoying high-level officials." Journalists at Schemes said on social media that they thought the arson and alleged attempt to wiretap Tkach's home were carried out in retaliation for their reporting. The vehicle set on fire was used by Schemes in its reporting and investigations into allegations of high-level corruption. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on law enforcement to find the attackers quickly. He added that journalists, including his critics, should be protected. An Interior Ministry spokesperson told RFE/RL's Radio Svoboda that police were looking for at least two other suspects in connection with the arson. In the alleged wiretap incident, police carried out a basic search but left without securing the scene, Natalie Sedletska, editor in chief of Schemes, said in a Facebook post. The post added that to prevent evidence from being damaged or tampered with, members of the news team kept vigil until police could return. Ukraine's national police did not reply to VOA's email requesting updates in the two investigations. Schemes showed video of the holes to independent experts who agreed they were evidence of an attempt to install a recording device. The experts differed on whether the device had been installed and later removed, or whether these marks were signs of preparation. In a statement, RFE/RL's acting president, Daisy Sindelar, said she was distressed by the attacks. "We are relieved that no one was hurt but concerned that this incident appears aimed at intimidating RFE/RL's reporters and contributing to a threatening environment for journalists across Ukraine," Sindelar said, and she called for a speedy investigation. Other incidents Schemes journalists have been targeted previously. They have been attacked, harassed and followed, and they have had personal information shared online. Local and international journalism rights groups said they thought the latest attack was an attempt to silence investigative outlets. Scott Griffen, deputy director of the International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of journalists, said investigative journalists are at risk of physical attack and intimidation through legal pressure. "The attacks and surveillance witnessed by Schemes are reflective of a wider environment in which journalists are not sufficiently protected," he said. Describing the incidents as "blatant acts of intimidation" aimed at watchdog journalism, Griffen told VOA via email, "Unfortunately, all too often these kinds of attacks go unpunished in Ukraine, resulting in a lingering climate of impunity for attacks on the press." The Ukrainian journalism coalition, Media for Conscious Choice, also condemned the attack in a statement, saying it was "unacceptable to monitor and interrogate journalists," especially those reporting on high-level government corruption. Ukraine Media Leaders Sound Alarm on Oligarchical Control at Virtual VOA Town Hall Journalists, media experts say Kyiv's improved global media ratings don't tell whole story Attacks and pressure on journalists, particularly those investigating endemic corruption in Ukraine, is common, U.S. based research group Freedom House said. The nonprofit, which ranks Ukraine only "partly free" on its Freedom in the World Index, noted a failure by police to investigate and bring to justice those who attack or kill reporters. A fatal attack on an investigative journalist in the city of Cherkasy last year remains unsolved. Vadym Komarov, a reporter for a local publication, died from head injuries a few weeks after being found unconscious on a street. He was attacked the day after announcing on social media that he planned to publish an article on local graft, IPI reported. The press freedom group said impunity in these cases sends a signal to attackers that they will get away with their actions, which further endangers reporter safety. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address As someone who was lucky enough to know Gay, this is a very special honor for me. Gay meant so much to me, as she did to so many in CDT and across the world. I will treasure this recognition for the rest of my life. The Annual Gay G. Cox Award for Excellence in Collaborative Law has been presented to Denton Collaborative Attorney Camille Milner. The award was announced at the Collaborative Law Conference in Austin and is normally presented at the State Bars Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar in August each year. The Covid-19 Pandemic forced that seminar online this year. Camille Milner is being honored for her contributions to the Collaborative Divorce movement in Texas. Milner was given the award for her leadership role in Collaborative Divorce Texas and for her commitment to growing the collaborative movement. The annual recipient of this award is a member of Collaborative Divorce Texas who: is substantially involved in collaborative practice devotes themselves fully to any task undertaken often going above and beyond the call of duty exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism and ethics is passionately committed to transforming the conflict resolution process Milner served as the president of Collaborative Divorce Texas from 2016-17. She has trained hundreds of Collaborative Professionals across the state. She is has served as the editor of the Collaborative Roadmap newsletter for CDT and is the co-author of the book Build the Brand and Get More Collaborative Cases! Camille said, As someone who was lucky enough to know Gay, this is a very special honor for me. Gay tirelessly worked to promote the Collaborative Process through developing research programs on the international level, forms for our state organizations members, trained Collaborative professionals throughout the world, and worked in the trenches of Collaborative cases, helping us to promote it through giving clients satisfying experiences in what, for most people who go through litigation, is a heart-breaking and horrific experience in divorce. Gay meant so much to me, as she did to so many in CDT and across the world. I will treasure this recognition for the rest of my life. The award is named for the late Gay G. Cox, who was an instrumental pioneer in Collaborative Divorce in Texas. Past recipients include Norma Trusch from Houston, Harry Tindall also from Houston, Linda Solomon from Dallas, Jennifer Tull from Austin, Kevin Fuller from Dallas, Jack Emmott from Houston, and Kris Algert from Austin. Camille Milner is a graduate of the University of North Texas and The University of Texas School of Law. She is board certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She is also a Master Credentialed Collaborative Professional. She has practiced law in Denton, Cooke, Wise, Collin, Dallas and Tarrant Counties since 1984. Schoolies celebrations will be without beach parties, concerts or large gatherings of students, as authorities confirm the end-of-year event will look very different at hotspots in the Gold Coast or Byron Bay. But graduating year 12s are still encouraged to holiday with small groups of friends at the beachside destinations - just don't put on parties and abide by public health guidelines. Last years schoolies event drew more than 18,000 young people to Surfers Paradise. Credit:Nathan Richter While neither Byron Bay nor Gold Coast councils organise official events, young people and event planners have been warned that any parties will be shut down under public health orders. Byron Bay mayor Simon Richardson confirmed schoolies in the northern NSW tourist town - emerging as the most viable schoolies option for Sydney students due to travel restrictions - would not be serviced with typical amenities this year. Traditional leaders in Dome Faase are expected to meet the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Ishmael Ashitey, to devise a roadmap towards restoring calm in the area. The Omankrado for the Obom Domeabra community, Nii Addo made this known on Eyewitness News on Thursday, August 27, 2020. He said the meeting will be held today, Friday, August 28. We are meeting with our Greater Accra Regional Minister and others to find a way forward. We are planning what to tell them on Friday, Nii Addo said. He pointed out that the military personnel deployed to the town had left after retrieving their rifles that were seized by residents. As I spoke, everybody listened to me and by the grace of God, they retrieved all their rifles. The coalition of Ga communities had alleged that the Mponuahene of Akyem Apadwa and the Akyem Traditional Council in the Eastern Region were taking their farmlands from them hence the resistance that led to the chaos on Tuesday, August 25, 2020. Hundreds of fear-stricken residents fled after claiming they were being harassed by military officers. Some residents told Citi News that military personnel deployed to the area moved from one house to the other, demanding to see the men in the house. They also claimed that the military personnel ransacked their rooms. The residents say they will only return if the military personnel are withdrawn. ---citinewsroom US sanctions on firms over S.China Sea to have little impact, show its exhausted tricks: experts Global Times By GT staff reporters Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/27 20:38:40 Recent US sanctions on two dozen Chinese companies and certain individuals involved in infrastructure construction in the South China Sea are "illegal" and "hegemonic," which won't deter China from pursuing its legitimate territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the sea, observers said. While the US ramps up efforts to play the South China Sea card to contain China, some politicians in the region, including the Philippines and Vietnam, are dancing to the US' tune, attempting to fish in disputed waters. Chinese experts warned that regional peace can only be reached through negotiations between relevant countries and without a non-claimant country messing things up. This is the first time for the US to use the "Entity List" to sanction China on the South China Sea issue, following similar moves over Hong Kong and Xinjiang-related matters. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Thursday said it is completely legitimate and reasonable to carry out infrastructure construction on China's own land. The illegal sanctions made by the US are based on its own hegemonic logic and power politics to rudely interfere in other countries' internal affairs. China will take necessary measures to ensure the lawful rights of Chinese companies overseas, Zhao said, calling on the US to mind its own business and stop interfering with others. The US Commerce Department previously announced the addition of 24 Chinese firms to the Entity List for helping the Chinese government "reclaim and militarize disputed outposts in the South China Sea," while the US State Department also said on Wednesday that it would impose visa restrictions on Chinese individuals involved in the construction. Experts described it as another "symbolic" move aimed at fanning anti-China sentiment in certain quarters of the US ahead of the heated presidential election, but that won't deter China from pursuing its legitimate territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. The sanctions show that the US is launching an all-round crackdown on China, be it on the diplomatic, military or public opinion front. But it also means that its tricks have been exhausted, as restrictions imposed on the Chinese companies involved in the South China Sea will have a very little impact on them, Chinese experts said. The newly released sanctions may be another tactic of the Trump administration to play the "China card" to gain support within the US, as the general election approaches. "Neither international society nor Americans are paying close attention to the South China Sea region. The new move is just 'testing the waters' to see if targeting the region will gain more votes," Chen Xiangmiao, an assistant research fellow at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times. The US has always been hyping China's construction on islands and reefs in the region, so the sanctions are not surprising to some Chinese experts, as Washington has ratcheted up its crackdown on China on trade, so-called human rights and other issues. The latest Entity List will restrict exports of US goods to the Chinese firms. The China Communications Construction Company, one of the sanctioned companies, shrugged off the sanctions, saying in a notice on Thursday that the company's dredging business does not carry out any business in the US, and its core equipment does not use American technology. The company said it focuses on dredging waterways in China, land dredging and environmental protection dredging in China, and its overseas business accounts for a relatively small proportion. The push to move away from a US-centric road map, and the pursuit of legal actions are among the countermeasures being considered to ensure the survival of the affected Chinese businesses, said Bai Ming, deputy director of the international market research institute at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, a think tank under the Ministry of Commerce. A greater focus on the domestic market, continued commitments to the Belt and Road Initiative, and a push for breakthroughs in core technologies would be the key for China to build an indigenous innovation wall against the US-led crackdown on Chinese businesses and technologies, Bai said. However, as the US ramps up efforts to play its cards on South China Sea issues and incite regional tensions, some politicians in the region are trying to dance to the tune of the US for their own purposes, regardless of the stable and peaceful situation. Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin was quoted by South China Morning Post on Wednesday as saying that Manila will invoke its defense agreement with the US if China attacks Philippine naval vessels in the South China Sea. The Global Times sent an interview request to the Philippine Foreign Ministry to confirm the news, but received no reply as of press time on Thursday. Chen said that Locsin made the "groundless" hypothesis to cater to domestic nationalists and pro-American forces, as nationalist sentiments raised by former president Benigno Aquino III still linger in the Philippines. Under the Duterte administration, the Philippines is working together with China to deal with their disputes through peaceful negotiations. However, some Philippine politicians hope that the US could offer them support to play tough on China, which is unrealistic, experts said. Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang also released a statement on Wednesday, claiming that China's repeated military exercises in the South China Sea violate Vietnam's sovereignty and "complicated negotiations for a Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea between China and ASEAN," Reuters reported. "Vietnam's sovereignty claim over the Xisha Islands is illegitimate. As a known destroyer on the consultation of Code of Conduct (COC), Vietnam has deliberately delayed COC negotiations," said Cao Qun, a research fellow at the Center for Maritime Security and Cooperation of the China Institute of International Studies. Some Vietnamese politicians are working with the US to play the South China Sea card, and try to shift the blame on China for affecting regional peace. But far-sighted leaders in the region agree that stability can only be realized by talks among relevant countries and without a non-claimant nation messing things up, experts said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two Toronto publishing houses are working together in a unique way to ensure a smooth transition to new ownership. Independent publishing house ECW Press, a publisher of adult books, and Annick Press, a publisher of children's and YA titles, have announced a new partnership that will see them begin closely collaborating on January 1, 2021. Over a period of five years, majority ownership of Annick Press will gradually move from Annick publisher Rick Wilks to ECW co-publisher David Caron. The companies will continue to operate as separate and distinct entities, and both Wilks and Caron expressed interest in the companies sharing best practices and exploring ways to innovate. In an FAQ statement, the companies said acquisitions, editorial, design, marketing, branding, finances, and distribution will all remain separate. In areas where they may cooperate, the companies cited as examples the work that ECW does on audiobooks and corporate publishing could help Annick, while the work that Annick does on institutional marketing could help ECW. My goal is to preserve our legacy of publishing compelling, poignant, and deeply satisfying books for children and youth," said Wilks in his statement. "ECW is the ideal partner to ensure that Annick, with its talented staff, can look forward to many more years of publishing excellence. I believe that this move will anchor our companies at the forefront of innovation and creativity within Canadian publishing. My plan is to remain at Annick, albeit in a somewhat reduced capacity, through the transition years. Caron noted that Annick's children's books "have made a lasting impact on me, my two kids, and many others." Pointing to newer titles such as Michael McCrearys Funny, You Dont Look Autistic, Caron said he relishes "taking on the responsibility to build on that foundation, guide the evolution of Annick, and help its staff, authors, and illustrators to have the same effect on new readers. I am committed to keeping Annick Press fiercely independent and to being deeply involved in steering the continuity of Annick into the next generation. A crowd of about two dozen waved signs to support postal service workers in downtown Kelso on Thursday amid a national election season fraught with debate over voting security and mail ballots. Retired Rainier teacher Abbey Courtney, who lives in Kelso, said she organized the demonstration with three of her friends to support the beleaguered Postal Service. While many demonstrators decried recent changes at the USPS under President Donald Trumps administration, Courtney stressed that the demonstration was not at all political. All we really want to do is just tell the postal workers that we are on their side, and we really, really want to do everything we can to make sure theyre successful, Courtney, 77, said. We just want to say thank you. Demonstrators, many of them retired USPS employees, held signs reading We Trust Our Postal Workers and Protect the USPS. Since current Postmaster General Louis DeJoy took over in May, the USPS has announced several cost-cutting operational measures such as eliminating overtime for mail carriers and removing postal boxes. The USPS has suspended many of those changes until after the 2020 election after concern grew that the moves could jeopardize the November election. Linda Curry, a retired Longview mail carrier who lives in Kelso, called those changes wrong and criticized DeJoys leadership at Thursdays demonstration in Kelso. (DeJoy) has no training in the postal service at all, and I think hes only speaking on behalf of what Trump wants, Curry, 77, said. It feels very political. It doesnt make any sense. The postal service is a service, like the military. Were not here to be making money. Curry said she wants people to be aware of the hard work postal workers do both nationally and in particular at the local Kelso office. She herself is working part-time sorting ballots at the county elections office. Sid Stoffels, who lives in Cathlamet, is a retired mail carrier and clerk. With experience working at three different Post Offices, he said he wanted to provide a message against untruths hes heard about the postal service. Its not about politics, but the issue has become political, he said. To be perfectly honest, the President is promoting those untruths, Stoffels, 73, said: We need to balance those out. Thats why Im here. It never even crossed (his) mind in Stoffels 30 years at the USPS that the integrity of an election or ballot was ever at risk from postal workers. With any organization as large as the Post Office, youre going to have a bad apple here or there, Stoffels said. But overall, thats not the culture. President Donald Trump has cast doubt on the security of universal mail-in voting, on which nine states including Washington and Oregon rely for their elections. But on Wednesday, he clarified to The Washington Examiner that his concerns were with elections offices, not the postal service. The problem is when they dump all these [ballots] in front of a few people who are counting them, and theyre going to count them wrong, Trump claimed in that interview. The post office is not to blame. On Sunday, the President also raised concerns over the security of drop box ballots like the kind Washington uses. Trump tweeted: Some states use drop boxes for the collection of Universal Mail-In Ballots. So who is going to collect the Ballots, and what might be done to them prior to tabulation? A Rigged Election? So bad for our Country. Only Absentee Ballots acceptable! Washingtons top elections official, Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman, told Seattle news outlet Crosscut on Monday that she knows of no incidents where ballot drop boxes or the ballots inside have been tampered with. Washingtons experience is that they are very secure, Wyman said. We havent had any issues with lost ballots or fraud and our voters love them. I dont share the presidents concerns about ballot drop box fraud. Cowlitz County Auditor Carolyn Fundingsland concurred and said Cowlitz County is more prepared than ever to keep the election process secure and efficient. Cowlitz County elections staff empty the drop boxes, Fundingsland said, not volunteers or members of any political party. If a ballot box is ever tampered with, the elections office has procedures to alert voters and issue new ballots in case their ballots are compromised. More than 75 percent of voters already use the drop boxes to return ballots, Fundingsland added. They are very secure, Fundingsland said. Im going to mirror Kim Wymans words. Im very confident in the fail-safes we have. Voter fraud defined as instances where someone successfully casts more than one ballot in an election is rare. In the 2016 general election, Cowlitz County elections found two people who had voted both in Cowlitz County and another jurisdiction, and two who admitted to voting for dead relatives. (That comes out to a fraudulent vote rate of 0.0084%.) It was the first time incidents of voter fraud had been recommended for prosecution in county history, Fundingsland said. In 2018, there were two such cases of fraudulent voting discovered, Fundingsland said. Those who do try to vote multiple times in the county have all but their first ballot rejected and theyre sent a naughty letter from the elections office warning them about their attempts, Fundingsland said. Fundingsland said shes also seen a rumor that the Post Office can see which party a voter belongs to by their ballots bar code. Thats totally untrue (and) unfounded, she said. Cowlitz County has been voting by mail for 15 years with no incident, Fundingsland said. If youre concerned at all, contact us. Were here to help. Nobody should be afraid that their ballot wont count. Helen Sanjume, a retired letter carrier who lives in Toledo, came out to the demonstration in Kelso Thursday. She said postal workers plain wouldnt have time to interfere with ballots, let alone the inclination. We take our work seriously, Sanjume said. We know what were doing. ... The Postal Service was set up to unite the Country. The coronavirus, a contentious presidential election, concerns from Republicans and Democrats over election security and upheaval at the USPS may set the stage for an unorthodox election night this Nov. 3. According to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, the number of voters who voted early, absentee or by mail more than doubled from 24.9 million in 2004 to 57.2 million in 2016. The November election is likely to see a record amount of mail-in voting as voters try to avoid congregating in large numbers. Combined, those factors mean its possible the winner of the presidential election may not be clear on election night as states scramble to collect ballots. Every state makes its own election rules, but there are generally three ways to vote: In-person on election day, in-person at an early polling location, or through the mail. In general, absentee voting refers to states where voters must proactively request (and sometimes justify) mail-in ballots. Vote-by-mail or universal mail voting states are those, like Washington and Oregon, that simply mail a ballot to every registered voter ahead of the election. Cowlitz County voters can send their ballots in through the mail, ballot drop boxes in Longview, Kelso, Kalama, Castle Rock, Woodland and Ryderwood, or by taking them directly to the elections office in Kelso. Local election officials had predicted record turnout for this election even before the eruptions of COVID-19 and protest movements across the nation, Fundingsland said. The August primary racked up the highest turnout for a primary since the early 1960s, she said. While she cant speculate, Fundingsland said she expects the county to see close to 90% voter turnout this election. History has proven that races and issues drive turnout, Fundingsland said. Im going to add COVID-19 to that list. Love 6 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 0 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. Glencore will likely sell its entire 73.1% stake in Zambias Mopani Copper Mines to the governments mining investment arm ZCCM-IH rather than becoming a minority stakeholder, two sources with direct knowledge told Reuters. Zambia and Swiss-based Glencore are at cross purposes over Mopani, Zambian Mines Minister Richard Musukwa had said on Tuesday when he announced ZCCM-IH aims to increase its shareholding in Mopani to 51% or even more, from 10% currently. Glencores plans to put Mopani on care and maintenance prompted the Zambian government to threaten in April to revoke the firms mining licences. Two sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations said Glencore is looking to exit the asset entirely. As of now, we are discussing a potential sale of their stake in Mopani, said one of the sources. A Glencore spokesman declined to comment. First Quantum, which owns 16.9% of Mopani, did not respond to a request for comment. The move by ZCCM-IH to take control of Mopani is part of its strategy shift away from minority stakes and towards running mines as an operator. Glencore wrote off the value of Mopani by $1.144 billion in its half-year earnings report earlier this month, saying the estimated recoverable value was $704 million, including tax receivables. Mopanis total liabilities exceeded its total assets by $2.562 billion in 2019, the company reported in a financial statement, indicating a material uncertainty in relation to the going concern assumption. Mopani produced 51,275 tonnes of finished copper in 2019 including purchased materials - accounting for 13.9% of Glencores African copper output and 3.7% of its overall copper output. Glencore, which reported a first-half loss due to the impact of the pandemic, will not reap the benefits of billions spent on expansion projects over the last three years if it sells to ZCCM-IH but investors see this as a way for the miner to cut its losses. Mopani has been a big headache for Glencore, the mine has never delivered anything for shareholders, a Glencore shareholder, who asked not to be identified, said, citing numerous accidents and operational issues. Cash Constraints A major hurdle to clinching the deal is Zambias lack of funds to pay for the stake and fund the mines running costs, sources say. Glencores stake in Mopani is worth $514.6 million, according to its own valuation. Mopanis 2019 financial statement shows operating expenses of $931 million. Zambias total foreign exchange reserves stood at $1.43 billion at the end of June, equivalent to just 2.3 months of import cover, according to the central bank. ZCCM-IHs cash and term deposits together amounted to 828.9 million Zambian kwacha ($43 million) by March 31 2019, according to the latest financial statements on its website. A ZCCM-IH spokeswoman did not reply to Reuters questions about how it would finance the stake purchase. Nigeria has warned Ghana over what it describes as harassment of its citizens in the country. According to the Nigerian Government, it has been documenting acts of hostilities against Nigeria and Nigerians in Ghana. As a result, the Federal Government of Nigeria in a statement dated August 28 and signed by its Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said Nigeria will no longer tolerate harassment of its citizens in Ghana. Nigerian business people continue to be targeted by their Ghanaian counterparts in Accra and Kumasi. In some instances, members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) have forcibly shut down Nigerian-owned retail shops in Kumasi and Accra. In the statement, the Nigerian Government expressed deep concern by what it described as the incessant harassment of its citizens in Ghana and the progressive acts of hostility towards the country by Ghanaian authorities, and will no longer tolerate such. The statement said the Nigerian Government is urgently considering a number of options aimed at ameliorating the situation. The Federal Government has been documenting the acts of hostility towards Nigeria and Nigerians by the Ghanaian authorities, it said. These, it said, include Seizure of the Nigerian Missions property located at No. 10, Barnes Road, Accra, which the Nigerian Government has used as diplomatic premises for almost 50 years. This action is a serious breach of the Vienna Convention. Demolition of the Nigerian Missions property located at No. 19/21 Julius Nyerere Street, East Ridge, Accra, another serious breach of the Vienna Convention. Aggressive and incessant deportation of Nigerians from Ghana. Between Jan. 2018 and Feb. 2019, 825 Nigerians were deported from Ghana. Closure of shops belonging to Nigerians. Over 300 Nigerians shops were locked for four months in Kumasi in 2018; over 600 Nigerian shops were locked in 2019 and, currently, over 250 Nigerians shops have been locked, it stated. It also mentioned: Residency Permit requirements, for which the Ghana Immigration Service has placed huge fees, far higher than the fees charged by the Nigerian Immigration Service. These include the compulsory Non-citizen ID card (US$120, and US$60 for yearly renewal); Medical examinations, including for Covid-19 which is newly-introduced (about US$120), and payment for residency permit (US$400 compared to the N7,000 being paid by Ghanaians for residency card in Nigeria) Outrageous stipulations in the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act. When the Act was initially promulgated in 1994, a foreigner is required to invest at least US$300,000 by way of equity capital and also employ 10 Ghanaians. This Act has now been amended twice, with the 2018 GIPC Act raising the minimum capital base for foreign-owned businesses to US$1m. Though targeted at foreigners, it seems GIPCs definition of foreigners is Nigerians. The GIPC Act also negates the ECOWAS Protocol. Media war against Nigerians in Ghana. The negative reportage of issues concerning Nigerians resident in Ghana by the Ghanaian media is fuelling an emerging xenophobic attitude towards Nigerian traders and Nigerians in general. The immediate fallout is the incessant harassment and arrest of Nigerian traders and closure of their shops. Harsh and openly-biased judicial trial and pronouncement of indiscriminately-long jail terms for convicted Nigerians. There are currently over 200 Nigerians in the Nsawam Maximum prison in Ghana alone. The Federal Government will like to put on record the fact that even though over 1 million Ghanaians are resident in Nigeria, they are not being subjected to the kind of hostility being meted out to Nigerians in Ghana, it noted. Also, Even though the main reason given for the seizure of Federal Government property at No. 10, Barnes Road in Accra is the non-renewal of lease after expiration, the Ghanaian authorities did not give Nigeria the right of first refusal or the notice to renew the lease. By contrast, the lease on some of the properties occupied by the Ghanaian Mission in Nigeria has long expired, yet such properties have not been seized. Nigeria has time after time demonstrated its fidelity to the long cordial relations with Ghana. But indications, especially in recent times, are that Nigerias stance is now being taken for granted and its citizens being made targets of harassment and objects of ridicule. This will no longer be tolerated under any guise. In the meantime, the Federal Government wishes to appeal to its citizens resident in Ghana to remain law abiding and avoid engaging in self help, despite their ordeal. ---Daily Guide Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the President and Flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said he would not relax until he wooed Volta Region and its people to his side. The President wants the Volta Region, which has always been the stronghold of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) founded by a son of the land, former President Jerry John Rawlings, to start voting massively for his party. Addressing the Chiefs of South Tongu to cut sod for the about 85 million Keta Water Supply rehabilitation and expansion project at Agordome, the President said he was aware of the regions loyalty to the NDC and that he was determined to win it over for the NPP. Im like the suitor who is bent on marrying a beautiful woman and Ill keep on knocking at the door until it is open to me. This, President Akufo-Addo said he would pursue by relentlessly working to see to the pressing needs of the people including; the water project, which he cut sod for, to provide water to some 400,000 people of communities in the Keta Municipality, Anloga and South Tongu Districts. He said his government was on a journey to spread development projects equitably in the country with Volta having its share noting, plans were underway for the rehabilitation of the Sogakope-Gbenuakope Road known as the Hospitality Lane serving big names like Villa Cisneros and Holy Trinity SPA & Health Farm. The President mentioned other plans for the region such as the dredging of the Keta Lagoon and the Keta Harbour to open up the southern Volta for accelerated development and urged the citizenry to give four more for Nana to do more for you. The Presidents one day visit to the region on Thursday took him to Anloga, earlier, where he met with the Awoamefia of Anlo State and his retinue of chiefs from Akatsi North, Akatsi South and Anloga Districts, Ketu North, Ketu South and Keta Municipalities. There, he touted his achievements like the creation of the Anloga District, the ongoing construction of the new Assembly Complex and GETFund projects in Anloga, and Keta Districts to justify his second bid and called on people to ignore claims he and the NPP had an ethnic agenda against the region saying, history will not forgive me should that be true. Nana Akufo-Addo disclosed the region was and would remain an integral part of both the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition (current NPP) for providing shelter to their forebears, when it was needed the most and Ghana for the composition of the National Anthem and the patriotic song Miade nyigba lorlor la by Mr Philip Gbeho and Mr Ephraim Amu respectively 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 Sister station WISN is learning more about the two men killed during Tuesday night's protest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Police said 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Illinois, shot three people, killing two of them: Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, and Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake. Huber was a well-known and well-liked skater. Many of his friends and girlfriend went Basik Skatepark to remember him. "We're walking down Sheridan, bang, bang, hear gunshots go off," Hubers girlfriend Hannah Gittings said. Cellphone video shows protesters chasing down a person carrying a long gun, who then falls to the ground and fires. "He ran up on somebody with an assault rifle, like he was just gonna tackle dude to the ground," Gittings said. Gittings said Huber tried to stop the gunman using his skateboard. "He came at dude, dude rolled on the ground, and had a perfect vantage point to just put one in him, and he did," Gittings said. Police arrested Rittenhouse on Wednesday morning at his home. He was charged Thursday with one count of first-degree intentional homicide, one count of first-degree reckless homicide, one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment and possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18. Gittings said her boyfriend died trying to save others. "If those three hadn't run up on that dude, he would have opened fire into the crowd. Who knows what he would have done. He already killed someone," Gittings said. The third man was shot is from West Allis, he with a group of protesters from Milwaukee, was actually their medic in the group, but caught a bullet in his right arm. He is in stable condition. New Delhi, Aug 28 : Upping the ante against the Centre, hundreds of Delhi Congress workers on Friday staged a protest outside the Ministry of Education demanding postponing NEET and JEE exams. Delhi Congress unit workers led by city unit chief Chaudhary Anil Kumar assembled near Shastri Bhawan here, which houses the Education ministry and raised slogans against the Narendra Modi government. However, they were detained by the Delhi Police and taken to Mandir Marg police station. Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter and wrote, "NEET-JEE aspirants' safety should not be compromised due to the failures of the government. Government must listen to all stakeholders and arrive at a consensus." Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also took to Twitter and wrote, "The govt cannot ignore the voices of the students appearing for NEET, JEE exams and those of their concerned parents. They are the future of our country. With the rising scale of the pandemic, is it fair to expose them to infection in this manner? At least some things should be beyond politics." In the morning Rahul Gandhi also appealed to the people to join the nationwide protest for students' safety. "Unite your voice with lakhs of suffering students. Speak up for student safety from 10 a.m. onwards. Let's make the government listen to the students," he tweeted. The Congress is protesting across the country demanding postponing of NEET, JEE exams scheduled in the month of September amid the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Meanwhile, NSUI workers are sitting on a protest outside Shastri Bhawan for the last three days demanding postponing the exams. Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal visited the NSUI workers in solidarity. "Visited NSUI protest at Shasthri Bhavan to show my solidarity. The BJP government must listen to the voice of students who are concerned about safety and transportation during Covid-19. The government must listen to them before making a decision on JEE and NEET exams," Venugopal tweeted. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Venezuelan security forces and authorities under President Nicolas Maduro have used the coronavirus as an excuse to crack down on dissenting voices on social media and even in private messages, Human Rights Watch reported Friday. The New York-based rights group said Venezuelan authorities have targeted dozens of journalists, healthcare workers, human rights lawyers and political opponents critical of the government's response to the pandemic. Some critics have been physically abused to levels bordering on torture, the group said in a report listing 162 such cases from March through June. Human Rights Watch says it verified several complaints through interviews with alleged victims, while also citing reports by Venezuelan media and human rights advocates. In Venezuela today, you can't even share a private message criticising the Maduro government via WhatsApp without fear of being prosecuted, said Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. The state of emergency has emboldened security forces and armed pro-government groups that already have a record of torture and extrajudicial killings to crack down even more harshly on Venezuelans, Mr Vivanco said. Venezuela's Ministry of Communications did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment. Authorities loyal to Mr Maduro often dismiss critics of its human rights record as outside interests led by the United States interfering in the nation's internal affairs. Venezuela was in an economic and political crisis before the pandemic. Mr Maduro has come under heightened international pressure to step down since early 2019, when US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido mounted a challenge, claiming the socialist leader illegitimately clings to power following a fraudulent election. Mr Maduro's government instituted emergency measures in mid-March shortly after Venezuela's first coronavirus cases were diagnosed, closing many businesses, limiting travel inside the country and grounding commercial air travel. Officials so far have reported roughly 350 coronavirus deaths and 42,000 illnesses, but medical workers and government critics say that is an undercount due to the lack of testing. Human Rights Watch said Mr Maduro's government often evokes an overly broad anti-hate law approved in 2017 as an instrument for its crackdown, which is enforced by a judicial system lacking independence from Mr Maduro. The group cited the case of Ivan Virguez, a 65-year-old human rights lawyer arrested in mid-April after a Facebook post critical of how migrants returning to Venezuela were held in quarantine centres. Over the two days he was in custody, police handcuffed him for two hours under the sun to a metal tube two feet off the ground, Human Rights Watch said, adding that he was denied a bathroom for 26 hours. Mr Virguez was charged with public disturbance, contempt, defamation of authorities and instigation of rebellion. He remains under house arrest, allowed to leave his home only for medical visits, Human Rights Watch says. Hospital worker Andrea Sayago in April sent colleagues a warning on the WhatsApp messaging service of their first coronavirus cases. Photos of test results she sent ended up on social media and hospital administrators forced her to resign, saying her message constituted terrorism, the human rights group reported. Venezuela's intelligence police later questioned her for several hours, and she's been charged with misuse of privileged information and put under house arrest pending trial, Human Rights Watch said. Recommended Inside the operation to overthrew Maduro that Venezuela thwarted Security forces in March entered the home of Darvinson Rojas, a 25-year-old freelance journalist and activist, without a search warrant, claiming an anonymous tip reporting a coronavirus case. Human Rights Watch said Mr Rojas tweeted a tally of coronavirus cases collected from various official sources, which gave a total number of cases higher than the ones authorities reported. The organisation said authorities roughed up Mr Rojas' family members, seized his cellphone and computer and detained him for nearly two weeks. He's charged with inciting hatred for publishing false information aimed at destabilise the government. AP Five Uttar Pradesh policemen were suspended on Friday for failing to gather information about an alleged operative from Balrampur district who was arrested in last week, officials said. Mohammad Mustakim Khan, alias Abu Yusuf Khan, from Badhiyaa Bhaisaahi village in Uttar Pradesh's Balrampur district, was arrested in on August 21. "The then inspector Anil Yadav, sub-inspector Shashibhushan Pandey, beat constables Ramesh Kumar, Pankaj Kumar and local intelligence unit beat incharge Anil have been suspended for their failure to collect information on Khan,"SP Devranjan Verma said. They have been suspended after a probe prima facie found them guilty of not collecting information about Khan at the local level, he said. The suspected operative was found in possession with two pressure cooker IEDs which were ready and just needed to be activated with a timer, the Police had said after his arrest. Delhi Police officials said he had planned to strike in the capital on August 15, but could not do so due to heavy security arrangements. (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.) MINSK: Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, facing a nearly three-week popular uprising since a disputed election, threatened on Friday to cut off European transit routes across his country if sanctions are imposed. Speaking during a dairy factory visit in the countrys east, Lukashenko said he would block European neighbours from shipping goods to Russia over Belarusian territory, and divert exports now shipped through ports in EU member Lithuania. They got fat and forgot what Belarus is. And thought we could be frightened off with rockets and tanks," Belta state news agency quoted him as saying. Well lets see who is afraid of whom. Well show them what sanctions are." Goods from landlocked Belarus account for almost a third of Lithuanias rail traffic and port volume. Belarus is also a major overland route for European goods bound for Russia, and carries pipelines used to ship Russian oil to Europe. Lukashenko denies opposition accusations that he rigged an Aug. 9 election to prolong his 26-year rule. Thousands of people have taken to the streets to demand he step down. He says the protesters are funded by the West, and accuses NATO of massing forces on Belarusian frontiers, which the alliance denies. Lukashenko said he had ordered half the army to enter combat preparedness, and had agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin that their troops could unite in the event of a threat from the West. If they (NATO troops) dont hold still, its necessary to use a joint grouping of armed forces, the basis of which is the Belarusian army," Lukashenko said. The Russians must support us and follow us." Belarus is Russias closest ex-Soviet ally and its territory is an integral part of Moscows European defence strategy. Nevertheless, Lukashenko is seen in Moscow as a truculent friend, and the Kremlin must decide whether to stick with him. In the biggest sign yet of Russias willingness to intervene to prop up Lukashenko, Putin said on Thursday the Kremlin had set up a reserve police force" at Lukashenkos request, although it would be deployed only if necessary. Speaking on Friday about the Russian force, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she hoped such troops are not deployed". The West has so far acted cautiously, balancing its sympathy for a nascent Belarusian pro-democracy movement with its concern over provoking intervention from Russia. European Union foreign ministers on Thursday discussed sanctions against a list of up to 20 officials in Belarus to pressure Lukashenko into holding new elections. Merkel told reporters she had tried to speak to Lukashenko by phone but he had declined. She said freedom of expression and the right to protest have to be fought for there. The people must be allowed to do that themselves without interference from outside from anywhere." 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 Ankur Sinha, an engineering student of a government engineering college in the Communist Party of India (CPI-) (Maoist)-hit Bastar district in Chhattisgarh, has developed a mobile application Guhaar for the local administration through which the tribals will be able to directly lodge their complaints or get any help in their dialects such as Halbi and Gondi. Also read: Cyber police stations to be set up in each range headquarters of Chhattisgarh The complaints can be lodged via a short message service (SMS) or a voice message in their own dialects that will be registered with the district authorities following a translation. Over 500 complaints, primarily in Hindi, have been filed and resolved by the Bastar district administration to date. Commonplace problems include an apathetic public distribution system (PDS), water woes, errors in caste and birth certificates. Social issues like ill-treatment of ageing parents also find a mention among the complaints with the district authorities. The app allows a complainant to update the complaint and the person can also give ratings whether h/she is satisfied with the grievance redressal mechanism. Last year, my team members and I had met the district administration. We had held talks on Guhaar that seeks to redress complaints. The basic concept is to redress the issues that might have escaped the state governments attention or have been unattended for long, said Sinha. Sinha said that Guhaar would be offered in multiple languages and dialects soon. At present, the app provides support in Hindi and English. But come September, it will be offered in Gondi and Halbi dialects for which we taken help from the experts, he added. Guhaar is a blockchain-based app, where all the complaints are immutable and traceable. Every complaint carries a fingerprint. Complaints can be lodged via a smartphone and a feature phone. Soon, a WhatsApp feature will be introduced. Guhaar also has an additional feature of recording a voice message along with the complainants photograph in a bid to put a face to a name, Sinha said. The district administration is all praise for the app. We are trying to bridge the communication gap between the local tribals and the district administration, thanks to this app. We plan to aggregate all complaints in one place shortly, said Rajat Bansal, district collector (DC), Bastar. Guhaar is a strong public grievance redressal system launched by the district administration. It empowers local tribals to file a complaint, which is now at their fingertip, said Abinash Misra , a probationary Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer posted in Bastar district. Misra waxed eloquent about Guhaars ability to fix accountability on state government officials. Guhaar takes a dispassionate view as far as accountability is concerned. Each complaint will be forwarded to the respective state government department, where officials need to resolve it in a timely manner. The district collector will monitor the grievances on a weekly basis. Pendency will attract a penalty and its modalities are in the works, said Misra. Shubhrashu Chaudhary, an activist and writer, who is also working on this project by providing transcripts of local dialects, said Guhaar in its current avatar helps only the privileged few. We are trying to make it more inclusive. Work is in progress for a two-way linkage with the Bultoo app, where people living on the wrong side of the digital divide can also participate. We want to ensure that they can report the complaints in their own dialects such as Gondi and Halbi. We are also using songs in local dialects in a bid to break the vicious cycle of hopelessness, the main ingredient of violence and violent ideology in the region, said Chaudhary, who has developed the Bultoo app that is inspired by bluetooth, a wireless technology. . SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON - Gas made up 45 percent of U.S. power generation on July 27, with coal at 24 percent, nuclear at 17 - The previous record stood at 45.4 Bcf, set on August 6, 2019. Gas power burn surpassed that previous record on seven days last month. - On July 27, U.S. natural gas used in the power sector hit a record high at 47.2 billion cubic feet. Gas-fired power generation reached 316 GW, also a record high. - The trades have trapped oil prices within a narrow range. It feels like we have two tectonic plates building up energy, Marwan Younes, chief investment officer of Massar Capital Management, told the WSJ. The day it gives way will be a fairly eventful day. - Implied volatility has declined from a peak of 345 percent on April 21 (when oil prices went negative) to just under 30 percent by late August. - The OPEC+ cuts have stabilized the physical market, and money managers have placed bets on options that pay off with lower volatility. According to the Wall Street Journal, so-called strangles have suppressed implied volatility. - For two months, the oil market has been incredibly boring. Brent futures have not moved more than $1 per barrel in either direction over a single day for seven consecutive weeks. 1. Oil volatility collapses - For two months, the oil market has been incredibly boring. Brent futures have not moved more than $1 per barrel in either direction over a single day for seven consecutive weeks. - The OPEC+ cuts have stabilized the physical market, and money managers have placed bets on options that pay off with lower volatility. According to the Wall Street Journal, so-called strangles have suppressed implied volatility. - Implied volatility has declined from a peak of 345 percent on April 21 (when oil prices went negative) to just under 30 percent by late August. - The trades have trapped oil prices within a narrow range. It feels like we have two tectonic plates building up energy, Marwan Younes, chief investment officer of Massar Capital Management, told the WSJ. The day it gives way will be a fairly eventful day. 2. Natural gas power burn hit record in July - On July 27, U.S. natural gas used in the power sector hit a record high at 47.2 billion cubic feet. Gas-fired power generation reached 316 GW, also a record high. - The previous record stood at 45.4 Bcf, set on August 6, 2019. Gas power burn surpassed that previous record on seven days last month. - High temperatures and low prices stoked demand. Also new gas-fired power plants added capacity. - Gas made up 45 percent of U.S. power generation on July 27, with coal at 24 percent, nuclear at 17 percent and renewables at 12 percent. 3. Exxon ejected from Dow as energy declines ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) is set to be removed from the Dow Jones Industrial Average, a company that was once the most valuable in the world. - Exxon was worth $415 billion in 2013, and is now under $170 billion. - The demise is emblematic of the energy sectors poor performance on the whole. Energy now only makes up less than 2.5 percent of the S&P 500, down from over 12 percent as recently as 2011. - The energy sector has declined by 40 percent this year even as the S&P 500 is up more than 7 percent. Exxons shares are down more than 40 percent. - This year, the company reported two consecutive quarterly losses for the first time in two decades. 4. Nickel hits nine-month high - Nickel prices shot above $15,000 per ton for the first time since November 2019. - A likely factor is the decline of nickel stocks in China, according to Bloomberg. Nickel stocks fell to their lowest level in two years. - But the steep drop in nickel inventories does not tell the whole story. In our view, the fall in stocks is due to the mineral ore export ban that has been in force in Indonesia since the start of the year and to corona-related production outages in the Philippines, Commerzbank wrote in a note. - The bank does not see concerns about a shortage as justifiable. According to data from the customs authorities, China imported 16.7 million tons of nickel ore and concentrate in the first half year nearly 20% less than a year earlier. - Commerzbank said there could actually be a surplus of around 150,000 tons for the year due to weak global demand. In our opinion, nickel is too expensive from a short-term perspective. 5. OPEC+ has room to run - OPEC+ could have room to increase production in 2021, according to a new analysis from Standard Chartered. - The investment bank estimates that the call on OPEC increased by 2.2 mb/d in August to 25.1 mb/d, which would actually be above the groups estimate production levels. - The call on OPEC may also rise above the 2021 production target as soon as September. - By the second half of 2021, the call on OPEC could be as much as 5 mb/d above planned production levels. - There is still the matter of inventory surplus, but OPEC+ has room to erase the overhang and also add some production back. On our projections, OPEC and its partners in OPEC+ could both remove the overhang by end-2021 and produce an extra 770mb (2.1mb/d) in 2021 beyond current targets, Standard Chartered said. 6. Carbon prices skyrocket - Carbon prices in Europe have shot up close to a record high of 30 euros per ton, despite a weak economy. - As the FT notes, the carbon market is attracting a growing number of traders, which are eyeing the medium- and long-term, not short-term economic weakness. The European Union has charted a course for lower carbon emissions, which will put upward pressure on carbon prices over time. - But as investors pile into the carbon market, they are pushing up prices of the tradable credits. By 2022 the EU carbon price could easily reach 40, Florian Rothenberg at commodities consultancy ICIS, told the FT. But if financial investors and speculators believe this the price could easily reach much higher. - Famed hedge fund manager Pierre Andurand, who made 150 percent profit for investors in the first five months of 2020 by shorting oil prices, is now stepping up bets on carbon. - Were comfortable over a five-year horizon that the price has to go up thats pretty much a guarantee, Andurand told the FT. As long as the EU maintains this commitment to fighting climate change and utilizing the carbon market, were confident prices will rise. 7. E&P hedging on track for oil, up for gas. But at lower prices - Roughly 19 percent of oil production from E&Ps is hedged for 2021, according to Goldman Sachs. For natural gas, hedging has reached 34 percent, up from a five-year average of 25 percent. - That puts 2021 hedging in line with average levels seasonally for liquids and above-average levels seasonally for gas, Goldman said. - Current hedging is at an average of $44.36 per barrel WTI, and $2.73/MMBtu for gas. - Those prices are in line with strip prices, but for crude, the hedging price drops to new lows. In fact, the average hedged price has declined steadily over time. - For 2020, hedging is at its highest level in at least five years at 67 percent. Donald Trump alluded to allegations that Joe Biden is sometimes 'handsy' and physically inappropriate with women as he issued several insults against the Democratic nominee during his Republican Convention acceptance speech Thursday evening. 'For 47 years, Joe Biden took the donations of blue collar workers, gave them hugs and even kisses ' Trump then paused mid-sentence as the 1,500-person audience laughed and cheered. Trump concluded his thought with: ' and told them he felt their pain.' 'And then he flew back to Washington and voted to ship their jobs to China and many other distant lands,' he accused. 'Joe Biden spent his entire career outsourcing the dreams of American Workers, offshoring their jobs, opening their borders, and sending their sons and daughters to fight in endless foreign wars.' President Donald Trump took a jab at allegations against Joe Biden's 'handsiness' during his speech accepting the Republican presidential nomination from the White House on Thursday evening 'For 47 years, Joe Biden took the donations of blue collar workers, gave them hugs and even kisses ' Trump then paused mid-sentence as the 1,500-person audience laughed and cheered Trump's joke was well received among with his South Lawn crowd of ultra-loyalists, administration and campaign aides, advisers and staffers and his family Biden has come under fire for several awkward and too-close-for-comfort physical interactions with women oftentimes captured on camera The president added: 'Joe Biden is not the savior of America's soul he is the destroyer of America's Jobs, and if given the chance, he will be the destroyer of American Greatness.' Trump's joke landed strong with his South Lawn crowd of ultra-loyalists, administration and campaign aides, advisers and staffers and his family sitting at the right of the stage. The 77-year-old Democratic candidate has come under fire for being too touchy-feely with women. Many accusations against Biden stem from awkward photographs, including one in 2015 when he is shown grabbing the shoulders of Stephanie Carter from behind and whispering in her ear as her husband Ash Carter was delivering his Secretary of Defense acceptance speech. Other photos show him awkwardly groping Amie Parnes, a reporter with The Hill, during a 2013 holiday party. And another image captured the then-vice president getting so close with a woman during a 2012 campaign stop in Ohio that his forehead touched the side of her head. But the most serious accusations came in March 2019, when Nevada lawmaker Lucy Flores revealed in New York Magazine that Biden grabbed her by the shoulders and kissed her hair during a campaign event in Las Vegas in 2014 she was 35 at the time. 'I felt him get closer to me from behind. He leaned further in and inhaled my hair' then 'proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back of my head,' Flores wrote. Biden critics pounced on the revelations and the hashtag 'Creepy Joe' quickly began trending on Twitter. Trump has often dubbed Biden as 'Creepy Joe' in Twitter attacks he has also called his Democratic rival 'Sleepy Joe.' Parents face major childcare problems even after schools reopen next week because many are operating reduced hours. Some are closing at lunchtime one day a week to deep-clean classrooms while others are finishing early because breaks are being cut short. A shorter school day will present difficulties for thousands of working parents who want to return to offices and factories, in a blow to the Government's new campaign to get the nation back to work and save ghost town high streets. Parents face childcare problems as many schools are reopening with reduced opening hours next week. Pictured, pupils return to Manor High School, Leicestershire A shorter school day will present difficulties for thousands of working parents, in a blow to the Government's new campaign to get the nation back to work Most schools have had to scrap breakfast clubs or limit them to children of key workers to avoid different year groups mixing, while after-school activities are heavily restricted. Almost all primary schools are staggering start and home times for separate year groups to reduce the risk of pupils or parents getting coronavirus, meaning longer school runs for families with more than one child. One working mother, Rachel Ritter from Newport in Wales, has told how she has had to reduce her hours working for a children's charity and take a 20 per cent pay cut because there are no longer breakfast or after-school clubs for her two children. She said: 'A vast majority of working parents are affected by this and are an important part of the economy. It's a real problem.' Last night Rob Halfon, chairman of the Commons education committee, said: 'It's a very anxious time for parents, and they need to go back to work. 'There has to be crystal clear guidance from the Government because parents deserve nothing less. The Government have to be very clear about what hours they expect schools to open and whether or not the normal activities should be continuing.' Next week will see schools across England reopen their doors to all pupils for the first time since March 20. Some schools (pictured, Aark Charter Academy in Portsmouth) are closing at lunchtime one weekday to deep-clean classroom, while others are finishing early with breaks being cut short Most schools have scrapped breakfast clubs or limit them to children of key workers to avoid different year groups mixing. Pictured, The Charles Dickens Primary School in London Boris Johnson has said there is a 'moral duty' to start lessons again, in the face of continued claims from teaching unions that it may be unsafe, and has made a direct appeal to parents to let their children go back to class. At least two academy chains Star Academies and Inspiration Trust will run Saturday schools to help pupils catch up after almost six months without proper lessons. But research by the Daily Mail has found many areas where pupils will be coming home from school earlier than before. Lyng Primary in West Bromwich has told parents: 'Up until October half term, school will be closed to all children on a Friday afternoon after lunch and registration, in line with some other Sandwell schools.' Parents facing 5-hour waits to buy uniforms There were huge queues outside school uniform shops yesterday as parents braved the downpours to prepare their children to return to the classroom. Social distancing limits on the number of customers who could enter at the same time saw waits of up to five hours. Hewitts uniform shop in Croydon, south London, warned parents that if they were not in a queue two hours before closing time, they might not make it inside that day. One mother said: 'I went to the shop four times. Some people had been waiting in queues for four or five hours. It's ridiculous.' Owner Martin Hewitt had to hire a security firm to marshal the queue. He said: 'If I could think of any way to serve all these customers I would. Some are saying we should open 24 hours but the staff are exhausted.' Advertisement The school said it will help 'reduce the movement of staff between classes' and 'ensure school is cleaned thoroughly before the weekend ready for children to return the following week'. Mesty Croft Academy in Wednesbury, also in the West Midlands, is closing at 1pm on Fridays. Its head teacher Lucy Bray said the 'difficult decision' will allow extra time for deep-cleaning as well as lesson planning. The school said it would create some free childcare places for parents who have 'work commitments, where alternative childcare cannot be arranged'. Regents Park Community Primary School in Birmingham is ending at midday on Wednesdays to allow deep-cleaning of the site. Ark Byron Primary Academy in Acton, West London, is finishing classes an hour early on Fridays for the first few weeks of autumn term at least, and there will be no after-school club initially either. Burrowmoor Primary School in Cambridgeshire is letting its seven 'bubbles' leave the site in 15-minute intervals, meaning that some parents will be left waiting half an hour for siblings. Last night a spokesman for the Department for Education said: 'Schools can consider staggered starts to keep groups apart as they arrive and leave school, or keeping the length of the day the same but starting and finishing later to avoid rush hour. 'These measures should not, however, reduce the amount of overall teaching time.' The Government also released new guidance for schools yesterday, spelling out that closures due to virus spikes would be 'an absolute last resort'. It says councils and public health chiefs will take 'all other possible measures' before shutting schools again. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: 'Our primary focus remains supporting all schools to welcome back all pupils for the start of term and we thank teachers and staff for their hard work in preparations. 'We hope that we won't have to implement the guidance set out today because the local lockdown measures we have introduced so far are working. Changes to school attendance will only ever be an absolute last resort.' File image: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government and Centre sparred over ramping up COVID-19 testing as the Capital is witnessing another spike in daily infections. The war of words began after Delhis Health Minister Satyendra Jain wrote a letter on August 27 to Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, alleging pressure on officials of his department by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to not increase the frequency of COVID-19 tests in the Capital. Some officials (of Delhi government) have told us that the Home Ministry is putting pressure on them to not increase testing in Delhi. I wonder why is this illegal and anti-constitutional pressure being put on Delhi government officials. Delhi government is increasing the number of tests and Centre should not interfere, Jain said in the letter in Hindi. The letter came a day after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that his government would double the testing numbers from 20,000 each day to 40,000 a day given the spike in the number of infections reported. On August 27, Delhi reported 1,840 fresh COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day spike in the capital since July 10. As many as 21,061 tests were conducted on August 27. A total of 1,67,604 people have been infected so far of which 1,50,027 have recovered. The letter stated, considering the rise in infections in the last few days, senior officials of Delhi government had decided on August 26 to ramp up testing in the Capital as part of a strategy to fight the pandemic. Delhi model has been successful in fighting the disease, so why are the officials being intimidated to not conduct more tests? the letter said. Several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders joined the chorus criticising Centre for interfering in Delhi governments work. This is totally unfair to stop Delhi government from working, AAP leader Raghav Chadha said in a press conference. Union Home Ministry responded on Twitter and rubbished the charges as false and baseless The allegation raised in the letter of the Health Minister of Delhi Govt dated August 27, 2020, which is addressed to Union Home Secretary, to the effect that MHA is putting pressure on Delhi Govt officers not to increase testing in Delhi is false and baseless, a Ministry spokesperson said in a tweet. The Ministry said it was after the intervention of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah that the daily tests in Delhi, averaging around 4,000 till mid-June, increased to around 18,000-20,000 per day in a calibrated manner. The marked improvement in the COVID-19 situation in Delhi has been possible due to this enhanced testing and other containment measures, the spokesperson said. Jain responded hoping that officers will comply with this message from MHA. I am happy that after my letter the MHA has clarified. I am hopeful that testing will be doubled soon, Jain told a news agency on August 28. Many BJP leaders criticised Jain for the charges seeking an apology. Satyendar Jain, please name the officials who told you that Home Ministry was putting pressure on them. Otherwise apologise, BJP National Secretary, RP Singh said. Frances Fitzgerald is emerging as a likely candidate to be one of Ireland's nominated pair of possible commissioners to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Proposing the current MEP would crucially avoid a Dail by-election if she were to be picked by Ms von der Leyen. It would also set up a straight choice between two ex-tanaisti if Simon Coveney's name were also to go forward, as expected. The current Tanaiste, Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar, appeared to rule himself out yesterday. Read More Mr Coveney is understood to want the job, but Ms von der Leyen has asked the Irish Government to put forward both a man and a woman. When Ms von der Leyen was first establishing her college of commissioners, Ireland was asked for both male and female candidates, but now-departed commissioner Phil Hogan's name was the only one put forward. The Government now has no choice but to comply with the renewed request from Ms von der Leyen. By the same token, the three-party coalition cannot be seen to offer a female candidate who would appear to have been pre-selected as "doomed to fail" in comparison with Mr Coveney. While Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness has been mentioned, the fact remains that she has no experience in the national parliament, never mind government. On the other hand, it is understood Ms Fitzgerald would be delighted to join the nomination ticket - and her candidature ticks several boxes. Not only would it avoid a by-election - a key consideration for a shaky coalition with a slim majority - but it would also have the outcome of allowing Mark Durkan to become an MEP. A former leader of the SDLP, Mr Durkan is Ms Fitzgerald's automatic substitute under the list system, having been an unsuccessful Fine Gael candidate for Dublin in the last European elections. Taoiseach Micheal Martin, meanwhile, has always sought to promote the voice of moderate Northern nationalists and his party is practically twinned with the SDLP - although talks of a potential merger have cooled. If Mr Coveney were to win elevation, the Government would be virtually certain to lose the seat to a left-wing Opposition candidate, shrinking its chances of lasting its full five-year term. The nomination of Ms Fitzgerald to one of the two slots would burnish Leo Varadkar's leadership among his party, having promised to vindicate her after she was forced to resign as Minister for Justice - ironically, at the behest of Fianna Fail. A subsequent judicial probe by Peter Charlton, however, found no reason to believe that Ms Fitzgerald had any case to answer in the circumstances to do with a Garda whistleblower. Allowing her name to go forward would heal matters for Mr Martin. Nominations for a successor to Mr Hogan are to be discussed by the Taoiseach, Mr Varadkar and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan as early as today. Mr Varadkar was last night asked whether he wanted the job. He replied: "My intention is to continue to lead my party, to work hard in my job as Tanaiste and minister, and to become Taoiseach again in 2022." Pressed further, he replied: "That's my answer." A spokesperson for Mr Coveney said he was busy taking part in an EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting by video link. "His entire focus has been on that and, like thousands of families, getting the kids back into school," they added. Justice Minister Helen McEntee - a former European Affairs Minister - has also been mentioned as a possible nominee. Kim Kardashian's highly anticipated makeup collection with childhood BFF Allison Statter for KKW Beauty drops tomorrow at noon. And on the most recent episode of the Fat Mascara podcast, the longtime besties shared memorable moments from their decades-long friendship and how it led to their collaboration. At one point in the interview, Kardashian, 39, had what she deemed a 'full circle moment' as she recalled watching an episode of the hit reality series The Real World with Allison at the age of 10. Opening up: On the most recent episode of the Fat Mascara podcast, Kim Kardashian and her childhood BFF Allison Statter shared memorable moments from their decades-long friendship and how it led to their collaboration According to Kim, she and Allison were sitting in front of the TV at Allison's childhood home in Malibu 'and it was like 1989 and [they] saw The Real World.' 'And I said "that's it! that's what I wanna do! I want to be on reality show" and then I said "when we are 18 let's make a video and see if we can make it."' She said that a then 10-year-old Allison insisted on 'being [her] manager' and that they came up with this 'whole plan' to bring Kim's reality TV dreams to life. 'And it's so funny because [The Real World] producers are now the producers of [Keeping Up With The Kardashians], which is so full circle. All these years later,' revealed Kim, whose own reality show launched in 2007. Where it all began: At one point in the interview, Kardashian, 39, had what she deemed a 'full circle moment' as she recalled watching an episode of the hit reality series The Real World with Allison at the age of 10; Kim pictured on Instagram on Friday The memory proved especially important to Kim, but not as important as the bond she has fostered between herself, Allison, and their core-group of friends that they refer to as 'Lifers.' 'Lifers. It's a group of seven of us. We've all been best friends since pre-school,' Kim explained, before briefly bouncing off a few ideas for 'girls day activities' with Allison. 'We all grew up together, literally, Kim and I have known each other since Kim was in the womb. I don't remember my life without Kim in it,' said Allison. She explained that now that all seven of the 'lifers' have kids and are all 'turning forty this year,' and that they are 'closer than [they have] ever been.' Podcast hosts Jessica Matlin and Jennifer Goldstein were curious to know how Kim, Allison, and the rest of their 'Lifers' have managed to maintain their friendship for so long, despite all of them having unusually busy lives. Can't imagine: 'We all grew up together, literally, Kim and I have known each other since Kim was in the womb. I don't remember my life without Kim in it,' said Allison Coming soon: Kim Kardashian's highly anticipated makeup collection with childhood BFF Allison Statter for KKW Beauty drops tomorrow at noon 'In life, we kind of made the choice to make time for each other,' said Kim. 'We are beyond besties, It's kind of like family.' She added that the group works so hard to set aside time to hang out and catch up because it is something they all see as an 'escape' from the stresses of their normal lives. 'It's our escape. We have been with each other through babies. We have used each other's baby nurses and baby clothes and hand-me-downs...' said Kim, before trailing off. When asked to provide tips to listeners on how to properly foster friendships in adulthood, Kim said that one '[has] to make [friendships] a priority.' 'You have to understand that we may not see each other all the time, but we really take the time to do those family dinners, girls dinners, girls trips.' How do they do it? Podcast hosts Jessica Matlin and Jennifer Goldstein were curious to know how Kim, Allison, and the rest of their 'Lifers' have managed to maintain their friendship for so long, despite all of them having unusually busy lives Allison spoke candidly and used Kim's undeterred dedication to maintaining, not just their friendship, but her friendship with every single member of the 'Lifers' as a prime example. 'Someone like Kim who is in our inner circle who is so busy and everyone's lives are busy, but to see what she juggles and to see what she does and she, literally, still has time to show up for us,' expressed Allison. Getting back to makeup, Kim and Allison had fun revealing what 'beauty or fashion trend they would love the other to try.' Allison said although 'Kim is a chameleon and tries everything,' the makeup mogul 'hates' the shoe brand Crocs - which happens to be Allison's go-to. Dedicated: Allison spoke candidly and used Kim's undeterred dedication to maintaining, not just their friendship, but her friendship with every single member of the 'Lifers' as a prime example 'So, I'd love Kim to wear a pair of Crocs one day and understand the comfort of the Croc.' When the podcast hosts asked if Kim would be willing to slip her feet into a pair of Crocs, she used the opportunity to plug her husband Kanye West's Yeezy brand 'foam runners,' which happen to highly resemble the controversial comfort shoe. She added: 'I wasn't into [Crocs] then and I won't be into them anytime soon.' Kim eagerly wants to see Allison get out of her comfort zone and rock what she described as 'a 90s look.' The lifelong friends had a total blast early in the podcast episode discussing their earliest 'makeup obsessions.' Long time coming: The KKW x Allison collection for KKW Beauty is something Kim and Allison 'have been working on for a year' Nostalgia: The B.F.F.A.E Eyeshadow Palette, which grabbed the podcast hosts' attention, is covered in never-before-scene photos of Kim and Allison through the years 'I was obsessed with lipstick. I remember always loving all brown-y tones,' Kim recalled. 'I was just obsessed with a dark lip.' Kim said that in a past interview she told a story about how she and fellow socialite Nicole Richie snatched a Revlon brand lipstick from a Rite Aid store when they were just 10-years-old 'We were, like, ten, so we didn't know it was wrong, obviously. We were kids,' she explained. After mentioning the innocent incident in the old interview, Kim claimed that Revlon sent her 'a care package of one-hundred lipsticks' that included a note that said: 'Now you don't have to steal it.' 'It was really funny,' said the KKW Beauty founder. 'Just a lipstick and a lip liner was always my thing.' Important: When asked 'how' they came up with the idea to make the palette's packaging a collage of their greatest memories, Kim said it was important to them that 'the consumer to see [their] lifelong friendship' The KKW x Allison collection for KKW Beauty is something Kim and Allison 'have been working on for a year.' Kim added: 'Yeah, we have been working on it for a really long time.' The collection - described on the official website as 'essentials for the everyday woman on the go' - is made up of six pieces, the B.F.F.A.E Eyeshadow Palette, the Ladera Face Palette, the Tower Lane Face Palette, the London Lip Crayon, Palm Springs Lip Crayon, and - Allison's favorite - the P.P.S. Gloss. Each product name, from the eyeshadows to the lip gloss, have some sort of significance to Kim and Allison's friendship. The B.F.F.A.E Eyeshadow Palette, which grabbed the podcast hosts' attention, is covered in never-before-scene photos of Kim and Allison through the years. Collection: The collection - described on the official website as 'essentials for the everyday woman on the go' - is made up of six pieces, the B.F.F.A.E Eyeshadow Palette, the Ladera Face Palette, the Tower Lane Face Palette, the London Lip Crayon, Palm Springs Lip Crayon, and - Allison's favorite - the P.P.S. Gloss Lipstick obsessed: 'I was obsessed with lipstick. I remember always loving all brown-y tones,' Kim recalled. 'I was just obsessed with a dark lip' When asked 'how' they came up with the idea to make the palette's packaging a collage of their greatest memories, Kim said it was important to them that 'the consumer to see [their] lifelong friendship.' 'We have been friends our whole lives. Not just as adult.' Near the nearly one-hour interview's close, Kim revealed what 'dream guest' she would invite to a dinner party. At first, the mother-of-four chose Marilyn Monroe, but she backtracked on her answer. 'I would probably pick Jackie O. I love her. I would just want to know everything. There is so much I wanna know.' Allison chose Princess Diana as her dream guest, adding: 'Jackie, Marilyn, and Prince Diana. We would have the best time.' A request by IDEA Public Schools to significantly expand its Texas footprint is facing heightened scrutiny from state education officials, who are seeking more information on the network's administrative, governance and financial practices following a spate of negative headlines tied to its spending. In a letter sent two weeks ago to leaders of the states largest charter school operator, Texas Education Agency officials requested responses to about 15 questions that stem from criticism leveled against the organization in the past few years. The letter notes that IDEA engaged in spending that some might consider questionable, including the use of a private jet for executive travel, and had administrative missteps that may be indicative of inadequate institutional and financial oversight. The state scrutiny comes in response to IDEAs request to boost its enrollment cap from 63,200 students to 97,985, which would be the largest increase in Texas history, and add 27 campuses throughout the state. IDEA served about 49,500 students at 92 campuses last school year. The network opened its first four campuses in Greater Houston this month. State educational officials have aided IDEAs rapid expansion over the past decade, approving seven enrollment cap increases sought by the charter network. The approvals typically came through in April or May. This year, however, IDEAs enrollment cap request remains in limbo. Thirteen charter operators that sought cap increases this year received verdicts from the state as of mid-August, while IDEA and one other network still await responses. With a proposed expansion of this scale, the agency will require the charter holder to demonstrate that a comprehensive portfolio of institutional and financial controls, policies, practices and procedures are in place to ensure funds are appropriately spent, TEA officials wrote in their five-page letter to IDEA leaders. TEA officials have not said when they will issue a decision on IDEAs request. IDEA CEO and Superintendent JoAnn Gama on Friday said the organization found the states questions fair and understandable. IDEA responded to TEA officials Monday with a 13-page letter, outlining dozens of changes made in recent months. Whether were asking for 35 or 35,000 (new students), I think IDEAs academic results and the work of our teachers and students we serve really supports our request to open more schools, Gama said. On HoustonChronicle.com: Following backlash, IDEA charter schools promises reform Gama and former CEO Tom Torkelson founded IDEA about 20 years ago in the Rio Grande Valley, implementing a highly structured, results-focused system aimed at getting students from lower-income families into and through college. The network has produced remarkable academic results, with 99 percent of students graduating from high school and more than 90 percent enrolling in college, both first in the state among large districts with similar demographics. Students in lower grades also outperform their peers on state standardized tests. While the most ardent charter school opponents long have criticized IDEAs approach arguing, in part, that its rigorous academic standards screen out students with greater academic and behavioral needs the network largely avoided widespread backlash amid its rapid growth. Then, in December 2019, the Houston Chronicle reported on IDEAs plans to sign an 8-year lease for a private jet, at a cost of nearly $15 million. The spotlight triggered scrutiny of the organization and several more reports on IDEAs spending practices, including its use of luxury boxes at San Antonios AT&T Center. Torkelson, a pillar of the state and national charter school movement, resigned in May and received a $900,000 payout as part of a separation agreement. TEA officials noted these expenditures in its letter to IDEA this month. The agency also highlighted a 2019 federal report that criticized IDEAs use of a fraction of its grant funds, the organizations failure on several occasions to meet reporting deadlines for grant money and its debt of about $130,000 to the state retirement system due to a technical error. On HoustonChronicle.com: IDEA arrived in Houston with high acceptance rates and plenty of skeptics In response, IDEA officials said the organization has brought on management and governance consultants, instituted about 30 policy changes and added more board oversight to spending decisions, among other improvements. Gama, who took over as CEO following Torkelsons resignation, said IDEAs culture has shifted in recent months to place more emphasis on public accountability. Unlike traditional public schools, IDEAs governing board is unelected. Ive made it really clear to my team going forward that every expenditure we make has to relate to student success and stand up to public scrutiny, Gama said. A denial of IDEAs expansion request could have a dramatic impact on Texas families, public school districts and the charter network. IDEA reported a waitlist of nearly 40,000 students in 2019-2020, illustrating the demand for its services. If those families remain in traditional public schools, districts such as Houston ISD would keep more funding tied to student enrollment. A delay in expansion also would hurt IDEAs bottom line. In anticipation of a smooth enrollment cap approval process, the network bought properties and started construction on campuses that were expected to open in August 2021. We have paused half of those projects, just in case all or none of these expansion amendment requests are approved, and the other half were moving really slowly on, Gama said. IDEA can afford a one-year delay on those properties, but itll make things really tight, Gama said. A delay also would require reworking parts of IDEAs federal expansion grants, which have totaled $267 million over the past five years. jacob.carpenter@chron.com At this point, I think Ive eaten my way through the menu several times. Observations: The fried pickles, all crunch and tang, benefit from the same nubby jacket as the fried chicken a single spear is appetizer enough for me and the thin-cut pork chops shored up with mashed potatoes channel a kinder, gentler era. I challenge you to find a better, cheaper crab cake than the gently spicy prize tucked into Dindyals $14 sandwich. Entrees come with a choice of two sides and you cant go wrong with any of them. Its a treat to see such a small kitchen bother making its own steak fries, dusted with paprika, and vegetarians will welcome collard greens that get their flavor not from pork but from onions and garlic. Theres no getting bored here, not when Dindyal throws into the mix jerk chicken, a frequent special whipped up on a grill parked outside, or jazzes up his dusky gold shrimp curry coconut milk emboldened with ginger and turmeric with clams, fish, maybe a lobster tail. Happy hours seem to be going the way of community seating. The Hitching Post powers on with deals on Monday starting at 4 p.m., when beers go for $4 and burgers, good ones, cost $6. PHOENIX Arizona is sending more than 150 members of the state National Guard to Wisconsin to help after widespread unrest over police shooting Jacob Blake, a Black man, on Sunday. The Guard has activated members of its 850th Military Police Battalion to help law enforcement in Kenosha, Gov. Doug Duceys office confirmed Thursday. They are expected to arrive Friday. Arizona is one of three states sending Guard units to Wisconsin after Gov. Tony Evers requested assistance. In the United States, we hold sacred the First Amendment rights of citizens to protest and assemble peacefully, as well as the safety and security of all of our citizens, Ducey said in a statement. He noted that the Guard was called out in Arizona to help with security following protests over the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Floyd, a Black man, died after a white officer pressed a knee to his neck. We support public safety, everywhere and we stand ready to support Wisconsin now in their time of need, Ducey said. Kenosha saw peaceful and solemn protests Wednesday night for the first time since the weekend police shooting of Blake. That wasnt the case Tuesday night, when two demonstrators were fatally shot and a third was wounded. A 17-year-old from Illinois was arrested in the shootings. The attack late Tuesday and the shooting by police Sunday of Blake, a 29-year-old Black father of six who was left paralyzed from the waist down, made Kenosha the latest focal point in the fight against racial injustice that has gripped the country since Floyds death. Evers declared a state of emergency Tuesday, and President Donald Trump announced federal law enforcement officers and National Guard troops were being sent to the state to quell the unrest. Browse key industry insights spread across 150 pages with 102 market data tables and 68 figures & charts from the report, 5G Chipset Market, By IC Type (Radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), Application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), Cellular Integrated circuit (Cellular IC), Millimeter wave integrated circuit (mmwave IC)), By Product (Devices, Consumer Premises Equipment, Network Infrastructure Equipment), By Operational Frequency (Sub-6 GHz, Between 26 and 39 GHz, and Above 39 GHz), By End-User Industry (Automotive & Transportation, Energy & Utilities, Healthcare, Retail, Building Automation, Industrial Automation, Consumer Electronics, Public Safety & Surveillance and others) - Market Size & Forecasting (2016-2028) in-depth analysis along with the table of contents (ToC). Pune, India, Aug. 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global 5G Chipset Market is valued at USD 2.12 Billion in 2020 and is anticipated to grow with a CAGR of 56.2% during the forecast period from 2020 to 2028. The major factors that are contributing to the growth of the market include an increasing demand for wide network coverage and high-speed Internet, along with low latency and power-efficient networking devices. Also, the growing demand for mobile data services and government support for the development of network infrastructure are driving the growth of the 5G chipset market. 5G technology has spanned across various markets, from smart cities and connected cars to the internet of things (IoT) and smartphones. The high adoption of 5G technology across these markets has created significant demand for the 5G ready chipset. Major chipset manufacturers have already started manufacturing 5G ready chipsets and platforms. Download Sample Report with Detailed COVID-19 Impact Analysis at: https://www.quincemarketinsights.com/request-sample-64011 The key telecom companies including Verizon Communications, Huawei Technologies, Nokia corporation, ZTE corporation, AT&T, Inc., and China Telecom Corporation Limited are making considerable investments for the deployment of 5G network infrastructure, which will further provide high-speed connectivity to end-users. Such developments in 5G network infrastructure have boosted the adoption of 5G chipset-enabled devices worldwide, which will drive the growth of the 5G chipset market during the forecast period. However, the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak has delayed 5G launch and has limited the development of 5G infrastructure, which is expected to hamper the growth of the 5G chipset market. Story continues The ASIC type of IC are the preferred type of ICs in the global 5G chipset market. Major players in the market are making significant investments for the development of ASIC chipsets to gain competitive advantage in the market. For instance, Samsung Electronics in 2017 has launched ASIC chipsets that are required for 5G modems. This chipset has applications in building 5G-enabled radio base stations and home routers. Global 5G Chipset Market, by IC Type In terms of IC type, the application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) segment is holding a major share in the global 5G chipset market in 2020 and is anticipated to remain the largest segment during the forecast period. Major players in the market are investing for developing ASIC chipsets to gain a competitive advantage in the market. For instance, Samsung Electronics in 2017 has launched ASIC chipsets required for 5G modems. This chipset has applications in building 5G-enabled radio base stations and home routers. Global 5G Chipset Market, by Product In terms of product, the network infrastructure equipment segment of the 5G chipset market is leading the global market in 2020 due to the increasing adoption of 5G chipsets in the development and expansion of 5G network infrastructure equipment. Also, the devices segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR due to the growing use of 5G chipsets in various devices, mainly in smartphones and other handheld devices. Free Enquiry Before Purchase This Report @ https://www.quincemarketinsights.com/enquiry-before-buying/enquiry-before-buying-64011 Global 5G Chipset Market, by Operational Frequency In terms of operational frequency, the sub-6 GHz segment of 5G Chipset market has captured the largest share in 2020, as this frequency is used to deliver 5G services across a wide area and to provide broad coverage. This type of frequency supports 5G services in suburban, urban, and rural areas, and it also provides 5G services in IoT services. Global 5G Chipset Market, by End-User Industry In terms of the end-user industry, the consumer electronics segment has captured the largest market share in 2020 due to the higher implementation of 5G chipsets across consumer electronics applications. Global 5G Chipset Market, by Region: In terms of region, the Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest growing region in the global 5G Chipset market during the forecast period. The major contributing factors are growing research and development activities and investments related to 5G in countries such as India, China, Japan, and South Korea. Additionally, the major market players such as Huawei Technologies, ZTE corporation, Nokia Corporation and others are investing a significant amount for initiating the field trials with major mobile service carriers such as China Unicom, China Mobile, and SoftBank. This will further provide lucrative growth opportunities for the 5G chipset market during the forecast period. Some Major Findings of 5G Chipset Market Report Include: Global 5G Chipset market trend & forecasts analysis along with a country-specific market analysis for up to 25 countries In-depth global 5G Chipset market analysis by IC type, product, operational frequency, end-user industry and regions with an analysis of trend-based insights and factors Profiles of the major market players operating in the global 5G Chipset market, which include Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., Broadcom, Intel Corporation, Nokia Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Mediatek Inc., Xilinx Inc., Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., Qorvo, Infineon Technologies AG, IBM Corporation, Integrated Device Technology, API Technologies Corp, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and others. Competitive benchmarking, product offering details, and growth strategies adopted by the leading market players, along with their major investments in the last five years. Key impact factor analysis across regions that includes Covid-19 impact analysis, along with the drivers, restrains, opportunities, and challenges that are prevailing in the global 5G Chipset market. Impact analysis of COVID-19 on the 5G Chipset market. Browse key industry insights spread across 150 pages with 102 market data tables and 68 figures & charts from the report, 5G Chipset Market, By IC Type (Radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), Application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), Cellular Integrated circuit (Cellular IC), Millimeter wave integrated circuit (mmwave IC)), By Product (Devices, Consumer Premises Equipment, Network Infrastructure Equipment), By Operational Frequency (Sub-6 GHz, Between 26 and 39 GHz, and Above 39 GHz), By End-User Industry (Automotive & Transportation, Energy & Utilities, Healthcare, Retail, Building Automation, Industrial Automation, Consumer Electronics, Public Safety & Surveillance and others), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America) - Market Size & Forecasting (2016-2028) in-depth analysis along with the table of contents (ToC). Buy Now Full Report @ https://www.quincemarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/5g-chipset-market/single_user_license Browse Related Reports: Heterogeneous Networks Market, By Products (Small Cells, DAS, C-RAN, Carrier Wi-Fi), By Services (Design & Consulting, RF Planning, Integration, Testing, Training), By Deployment (Greenfield, Brownfield), By Vertical (Consumer & Residential, Commercial & Office Buildings, Utilities Energy, Oil & Gas, Public Safety & Security, Transportation & Logistics, Academia & Education, Travel & Hospitality), By Region (North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Rest of the World) Market Size & Forecasting to 2028 https://www.quincemarketinsights.com/industry-analysis/heterogeneous-networks-market/63278 Artificial Intelligence in Chipset Market, By Chipset Type (CPU, GPU, FPGA, ASIC, Others), By Workload Domain(Training, Inference), By Computing Technology (Cloud AI Computing, Edge AI Computing), By Vertical (Healthcare, Manufacturing, Automotive, Retail & E-Commerce, Marketing, Consumer Electronics, BFSI, Other), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, And South America) Market Size & Forecasting To 2028 https://www.quincemarketinsights.com/industry-analysis/artificial-intelligence-chip-market/63650 LoRaWAN Market, By Application (Asset Tracking, Smart Metering, Smart Parking and Others), By End-Use Industry (Electronics, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Utilities, and Others), By Hardware (Connectivity Modules, End-Point Sensors, Network Gateways, and Others), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America) : Global Trend and Forecast to 2028 https://www.quincemarketinsights.com/industry-analysis/lorawan-market/68263 About Us Quince Market Insights is a global market research and consulting company publishing syndicate studies as well as consulting assignments pertaining to markets that promise high growth opportunities in strategic future. We are dedicated team of analysts with strong base in technical expertise as well as thorough understanding of the market dynamics. Some of key areas expertise includes chemicals, advanced materials, construction, mining, food & agriculture, automotive, machines & equipment, and others. We analyze emerging trends in relatively nascent markets that promise high growth opportunities in future. We focus towards precision research practices that provide accurate market estimations and forecasts. This helps our clients to make proper estimations with regards to demand analysis, regional growth, major competitors, and dynamics of the market. CONTACT: Ajay D Quince Market Insights Pune India Phone: US +1 208 405 2835 UK +44 1444 39 0986 APAC +91 706 672 4848 Email: sales@quincemarketinsights.com Web: www.quincemarketinsights.com Perhaps it was easier for a local school board to simply say they do not want to open and to say they have developed no plans to safely reopen or to bring any children back in for any in-classroom instruction for the rest of the calendar year, Hogan said, meeting with reporters Thursday afternoon. Kate Winslet is back in the acting scene, and everybody's excited about her upcoming movie "Ammonite" with Saoirse Ronan. "Ammonite" is a real-life story that sees paleontologist Mary Anning, who is tasked to care for a depressed housewife Charlotte Murchison, played by Ronan. The two had initial conflict and tension at first, but later on, they fell in love. As part of the movie, Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan put their acting to the test as they're involved in one particularly explicit sex scene. According to the 44-year-old Oscar winner, she feels empowered about appearing nude on the film and her same-sex love scene with Ronan. "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 aren't having the courage to do that." She further told The Hollywood Reporter, "I was just excited to say, 'This is what it is, peeps. This is how I am now, and it's very much, not the body I had 20 years ago." Speaking of the sex scene, Winslet detailed, "It's definitely not like eating a sandwich." "I think Saoirse and I, we just felt really safe. Francis (director) was naturally very nervous." The "Titanic" superstar reportedly made the most passionate sex scene choreography with Ronan. "'Listen, let us work it out,'" she reportedly told Francis Lee. "'We'll start here. We'll do this with the kissing, boobs, and you go down there, then you do this, then you climb up here.'" Winslet detailed how they marked out the beats of the scene. Because of their choreography, the mom-of-three became so proud she has ever felt doing a love scene in the movie. She also felt the least self-conscious doing the scene despite her aging body. Winslet claimed she took extra steps to make sure her portrayal of the character was authentic, making sure she didn't lose weight. She revealed to have changed up to her exercise because there's some sort of weightiness on the real Anning's body. Ronan, 26, further claimed that her co-star's performances on the film are "incredibly human," adding that they knew each other casually before finally starring in "Ammonite" together. Describing Kate Winslet, Ronan revealed how she thinks she's skilled and "someone you always feel you identify with, and I think that says a lot about the kind of person she is." Kate Winslet is proud to be part of the movie as the two women were pioneers in their fields while putting a spotlight on their unpopular love story. "It's a story about women speaking up, speaking out." She added, "I think uncovering stories where women were repressed in such a systematic way is highlighting how history has covered up those successes." In March, the British star joined her co-stars in "Contagion" for PSAs encouraging people to take precautions, including washing their hands to limit the coronavirus's spread. In the movie, Kate Winslet played an American epidemiologist tasked to deal with a fast-killing influenza virus that was spreading worldwide. Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan's "Ammonite" has a scheduled release for November 13. READ MORE: Unfair! Bella Thorne Cashing in on Adult Entertainment Workers' Efforts The Investigation and Security Agency under the Ministry of Public Security on Friday launched legal proceedings against and arrested Hanoi chairman Nguyen Duc Chung for an investigation into a case of appropriating documents containing state secrets. The Supreme Peoples Procuracy also approved a search warrant for Chungs workplace and his residence in Trung Liet Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi. Chungs prosecution and detention were linked to a case of appropriating documents containing state secrets. He is also being investigated for his responsibility in relation to the so-called Nhat Cuong case, referring to a technology firm and mobile phone vendor in the Vietnamese capital, and a case involving violations of regulations on the management and use of state assets in Hanoi, according to To An Xo, spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security. On August 11, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed a decision to suspend the Hanoi chairman Chung from work for 90 days over his responsibility in the cases. Chung was born in northern Hai Duong Province on August 3, 1967. He has been chairing the Peoples Committee of Hanoi since December 4, 2015 after more than a decade of rising through the ranks in the municipal Department of Police, of which he was named director in September 2012. He was elected as deputy secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee in November 2015. The Politburo has also suspended him from this title. Authorities search the residence of Nguyen Duc Chung, chairman of the People's Committee of Hanoi, August 28, 2020. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre Previously, Chungs chauffeur and two other suspects had been arrested for appropriating documents containing state secrets, in relation to the Nhat Cuong case. Legal proceedings have been launched against more than 20 defendants in the Nhat Cuong case so far. Nhat Cuongs general director, Bui Quang Huy, is facing accusations of heading a ring that smuggled a huge amount of electronic equipment and concealed revenue to the tune of trillions of Vietnamese dong. (VND1 trillion = US$43 million) Huy has also been charged with violating accounting regulations, resulting in serious consequences and money laundering. He has fled Vietnam and been wanted internationally since May 2019. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! EIB EUR 30 million EIB backing to accelerate tuberculosis vaccine development in Africa Tuberculosis is the worlds leading infectious disease killer Successful development of a new tuberculosis vaccine will help reduce the disease burden on African countries and in particular in infants in high-risk HIV+ population European Investment Bank (EIB) provides 30 million loan to Vakzine Projekt Management, German subsidiary of Serum Institute of India (SIIPL) to develop improved tuberculosis vaccine. Financing will be used by Vakzine Projekt Management to perform phase-III clinical trials of the vaccine with the ultimate goal to provide an affordable and available substitute of BCG The European Investment Bank (EIB) today agreed a 30 million loan with Vakzine Projekt Management GmbH, the German subsidiary of Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., the worlds largest vaccine manufacturer. The agreement, initiated by kENUP Foundation, will support research and development of a new vaccine to prevent tuberculosis in infants in particular in high-risk HIV+ populations. The EIB loan is supported by the dedicated Impact Financing Envelope. The financing structure consists of a contingent loan where the repayment is due only if market authorization is achieved. If the trials do not reach the primary endpoint, the loan is written off. We are very pleased to get European Investment Bank funding for such an important trial for tuberculosis and upcoming HIV trials. With this support, I am confident that we will be able to help eliminate these dreadful diseases. Going forward such support from Institutions like the EIB will play a key role in tackling major diseases which have killed millions of people in developed and developing world. said Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla, Chairman & Managing Director, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. The World Health Organization declared tuberculosis a global emergency even surpassing HIV as the leading cause of infection-related death. The BCG vaccine is the only tuberculosis vaccine currently available and is the standard of care for primary tuberculosis prevention for infants. Our goal is to replace BCG with VPM1002, which is safer, better tolerated and hopefully more effective, as prime vaccine in newborn infants. An achievement like this could be the long-desired turning point in global TB containment for almost 100 years. Dr. Leander Grode, CEO of Vakzine Projekt Management GmbH. "Tuberculosis is one of the top ten causes of death worldwide, causing literally millions of victims in recent years. said EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle. Although the world is currently mostly preoccupied with Covid-19, TB and HIV have not gone away, yet they are treatable or even preventable. Thanks to EIB support the late-stage research into an improved TB vaccine can save a lot of lives, especially children, as well as novel treatment for HIV. These developments could have a significant impact on health worldwide, and especially in Africa. Accelerating development of more effective tuberculosis vaccine and treatment Vaccine research and development for the project will be carried out by Vakzine Projekt Management in Germany and clinical trials scaled up in several high-burden sub-Saharan countries. The vaccine will be also tested in high-risk, HIV-exposed groups to enable more effective treatment in Africa. The 30 million EIB loan signed today will finance the late stage (phase III) clinical trial of a new and improved vaccine protecting against Tuberculosis in infants, which is also partly financed by the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP). Addressing the impact of tuberculosis across Africa With 26% of new cases on the African continent, and two countries in the top six of most impacted countries, these developments could have a major health impact on the local population. Next to this, the parties expect to sign a further 15m loan in the near future in support of R&D investment into a portfolio of new drugs for the prevention and treatment of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Tuberculosis is the most common illness among people living with HIV, including among those taking antiretroviral treatment, and it is the major cause of HIV-related deaths. Sub-Saharan Africa bears the brunt of the dual epidemic, accounting for 84% of all deaths from HIV-associated tuberculosis in 2018. In particular, research backed by the EIB help to ensure a higher level of protection, improve safety and accelerate large scale production of a novel TB vaccine for immunisation of infants than BCG. Affordability and availability of the vaccine is the primary goal of the initiative. Additionally, VPM1002 may potentially have positive effects on COVID-19 infections. A study is currently testing whether it can protect from COVID-19, following research on mice, which showed it can protect against other viral lung infections. Every year, nearly 1,5 million people die from tuberculosis, a disease which according to the WHO is treatable and preventable, and which is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent worldwide. Strengthening EIB support for high-impact public health investment in Africa The EIB is financing projects across Africa to ensuring that public health efforts can reduce the spread of COVID-19 and better face existing and future health challenges is a global priority. The EIB is working closely with the World Health Organisation and the global vaccine alliance GAVI to strengthen primary health care cross Africa, including scaling up financing to better protect medical supply chains, improve basic hygiene and safeguard front-line medical workers. The European Investment Banks technical and financial teams in nine African cities help to ensure that technical, environmental, social and financial expertise is shared with project promoters, financial partners and the private sector. Last year, the European Investment Bank (EIB) provided 3 billion of new financing that supported 10.7 billion of transformational investments across Africa. This included more than EUR 1.8 billion for private sector investment across the continent. In the Rio Grande Valley, where farmers and communities rely heavily on river water for irrigation and drinking, late summer has brought concern and uncertainty. Because of low water storage levels upstream at Falcon Lake and Amistad Reservoir, water allocations for some downstream users have been reduced. The Valley irrigates an estimated half-million acres of cropland, and some of the farmers who plant corn, cotton, sorghum and vegetables are already feeling the pinch. We are running very low on water in this district. For the past three months, people have had to go out and purchase water from other districts that have excess water, said James Wells, manager of Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 5, in Progreso. Wells, who also farms crops near San Benito, said there is little mystery about the water shortage. He blames Mexico, which is running way behind on water deliveries to the U.S. that are required in a binational water treaty. Were going into the end of the year. People will have to refinance. The bankers will ask, Do you have plenty of water? Wells said. If Mexico doesnt turn it loose or we dont get a storm, the farmer is going to have to go out and buy water somewhere. So thats an additional cost hell have to tell his banker about. Mike Fisher As of Thursday, Amistad Reservoir was 56.3 percent full and Falcon Lake was down to 26.7 percent of its capacity. Both depend primarily on water from Mexico. Under the terms of the 1944 Water Treaty, Mexico must deliver 1.75 million acre-feet of water every five years to the U.S. through the Conchos River and other tributaries to the Rio Grande. Thats enough to cover 1.75 million acres, or 2,734 square miles, with a foot of water. The U.S. in turn, must provide 1.5 million acre-feet of water each year from the Colorado River to Mexican users on the Pacific Coast. The treaty gives Mexico some leeway on when it releases water, to account for drought years. The last installment on the full amount is due Oct. 24. Because Mexico missed the deadline five years ago, it is not allowed to roll over the water debt again. JERRY LARA /San Antonio Express-News In July, Jayne Harkins, the U.S. commissioner of the International Boundary and Water Commission, publicly scolded Mexico for being 416,829 acre-feet short of its five-year obligation. They need to increase their water releases to the United States immediately, she said. Mexico has delivered some irrigation water since then, but it still owes the U.S. about 372,000 acre-feet. We believe there is sufficient water in the Mexican portion of the Rio Grande basin for them to fulfill their obligation, said Sally Spener, the IBWCs foreign affairs officer. The great uncertainty of course, is that we are in the middle of hurricane season and there has not been a lot of rainfall in certain parts of the Mexican Basin, but that could change overnight, she said. If a large late-summer hurricane were to dump vast amounts of rain on northern Mexico or parts of Texas, the two storage reservoirs on the Rio Grande could quickly fill up to conservation levels, and Mexicos water debt would be erased. That possibility apparently plays a significant role in Mexicos annual calculations on when to meet its water treaty obligations, Spener said. We do not believe that hoping for a hurricane is an appropriate plan for treaty compliance. We have emphasized that they need to have a plan that does not rely on a huge tropical weather system, she said. Other domestic pressures also may be complicating Mexicos releases from reservoirs in Chihuahua state. On at least three occasions since March, Mexican farmers and political activists have resorted to violence to stymie federal efforts to force water releases. JERRY LARA /San Antonio Express-News They have blocked roads, burned pickups and hijacked federal security vehicles, forcing Chihuahua Gov. Javier Corral in March to ask the federal government to halt the water releases. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he believes there is enough water for everyone and has vowed to fulfill the treaty obligation. In late July, demonstrators in the town of Delicias, near one of the storage dams, burned vehicles as well as a government office and highway tollbooths to protest water payments. This time, the Mexican president blamed opposition political figures for fanning the protest, and the state opened a criminal investigation into the vandalism and violence. The water deliveries, however, remain stalled. Mexico has been late with water deliveries before. Two decades ago, Valley farmers faced wilting crops and imminent ruin because of an intense drought as Mexico fell 1.5 million acre-feet behind in water deliveries. The crisis led researchers at the University of Texas at Austin to examine satellite images taken of northern Mexico that showed adequate water in state reservoirs, contrary to Mexican claims of shortages. The information infuriated Texas officials, who appealed to the State Department for help. The 1944 Water Treaty does not include sanctions for noncompliance, so nothing was done. In Mercedes, Randy Winston manages a large water district that supplies irrigation to farmers and drinking water to several cities, including Mercedes, Weslaco and Edcouch in the Valley. We have 52,000 acres of irrigated farmland, and we provide drinking water for more than 100,000 people, he said. Winston said the municipal customers, who use about 22,000 acre-feet a year, get priority over the farmers, who use far more water but are the first to be cut back. Some farmers in his district have already exhausted their allocations. JERRY LARA /San Antonio Express-News We dont have much water at all. Weve been going off of our reserves from last year. We may need to buy some push water to keep our municipalities supplied, he said. He does not see a ready solution, short of a big hurricane suddenly dumping a lot of water way upstream on the Rio Grande. This is a worrisome time. We do not and cannot know when Mexico might release the water. If it doesnt happen, well be in deeper trouble. It will not only affect this year, but 2021 as well, he said. Ivanka Trump, President Donald Trump's daughter and adviser, introduces her father and first lady Melania Trump. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images First lady Melania Trump briefly greeted Ivanka Trump, the first daughter and a White House senior adviser, before President Donald Trump's speech at the Republican National Convention on Thursday. An excerpt published earlier Thursday from a forthcoming book by Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Melania's former best friend, detailed the icy relationship between Melania and Ivanka. Wolkoff, who played a major role in the president's inauguration, described an effort from the first lady to diminish Ivanka's role in the ceremonies, called "Operation Block Ivanka." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. First lady Melania Trump briefly greeted Ivanka Trump at the Republican National Convention on the White House's South Lawn on Thursday night. Video: How Republican conventions speeches have changed, from Reagan to Trump Ivanka, President Donald Trump's eldest daughter and a senior White House adviser, had just introduced her father before his speech formally accepting the Republican presidential nomination. An excerpt published earlier on Thursday from a book by Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Melania's former best friend, detailed an effort by the first lady called "Operation Block Ivanka" at the president's inauguration. Wolkoff drew on secretly recorded tapes and years of friendship with Melania to write a book about their tumultuous relationship called "Melania and Me: My Years as Confidant, Advisor, and Friend to the First Lady," set to be published next week. Read the original article on Business Insider The Canadian Press OTTAWA The federal government is being forced to retire one of the Canadian Coast Guards important science vessels, dealing a blow to the countrys ocean research capabilities for at least the next few years. The Canadian Coast Guard announced Wednesday that age had finally caught up to the 59-year-old CCGS Hudson, and the ocean research science vessel is being decommissioned even though a replacement will not be ready until at least 2025. The difficult decision came after one of the ship's m MEDIA >> Two women affiliated with the Wheels of Soul motorcycle club have been charged with the illegal purchase and transfer of firearms following an investigation into a report of a gunshot victim in Folcroft, Police Chief Bill Bair and District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced Thursday. There are 1,500 gun deaths in Pennsylvania per year, and this epidemic is fueled in part by straw purchasing, said Stollsteimer in a release. A straw purchase is when one individual purchases a firearm for someone who is legally prohibited from buying one. It is important for all Delaware County residents to know that straw purchasing is a serious crime with serious consequences and puts us all in danger. Folcroft Police Officer Tom Kesser responded to a report of a gunshot victim on the first block of King Avenue July 25, according to the release. The victim was identified as borough resident Gaynell Noel-Warren, 31. Noel-Warren allegedly got into an altercation with another woman and drew a gun, only to shoot herself in the foot, according to the release. A search warrant was obtained, and a gun case was allegedly recovered from Noel-Warrens residence. The gun case had a serial number which was traced to a gun purchased by Leslie Ford, 26, of Philadelphia, in May 2020 from Targetmaster Gun Store in Chadds Ford, according to the release. Further investigation revealed that the gun had been reported stolen out of Philadelphia on June 26, the release states. Ford allegedly admitted in an interview that she completed the paperwork to purchase the gun and then gave it to Noel-Warren for $100. Noel-Warren is a convicted felon who is prohibited from purchasing and possessing a firearm, according to the release. The release notes both women are affiliated with the Wheels of Soul motorcycle club, which is considered an outlaw motorcycle club by law enforcement. Ford is charged with the illegal transfer of firearms and providing false information. Noel-Warren is charged with illegal possession of a firearm and reckless endangerment. Both women are also charged with multiple conspiracy counts. I want to commend the excellent work of the Officer Kesser and the Folcroft Police Department, as well as the contributions of Detective Dave Tyler of the Criminal Investigations Division, said Stollsteimer. This case also required support from the Philadelphia Police Department, which was much appreciated. The defendants were preliminarily arraigned Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge Robert M. DAgostino and remanded to the county prison in Concord in lieu of 10% of $75,000 bail. Neither was able to post bail and they were transferred to the county prison in Concord. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3 before Magisterial District Judge Wendy Roberts. A Sekondi High Court in the Western Region has commenced full trial of the two Nigerians who kidnapped and allegedly killed four girls from the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, thereby sparking national outrage. On Wednesday, three prosecution witnesses were called to testify before the court. The first prosecution witness, led in evidence by the Chief State Attorney, Patience Klinogo, was Alexander Koranchie, father of one of the victims, Priscilla Koranchie. Mr. Koranchie gave a harrowing account, including how his daughter would sometimes cry on phone used by the kidnappers to contact him for ransom. He told the court, presided over by Justice Richard Adjei-Frimpong, that Priscilla Mantebea Koranchie, 15, was a first-year student of Sekondi College and that she was kidnapped on December 21, 2018. He said on that fateful day, the daughter told him she was going to collect something from somebody. The father indicated that later in the day, he received a phone call from someone whose accent depicted that of a Nigerian telling him that they had kidnapped his daughter. Mr. Koranchie said the suspect then demanded various sums of money from him, with a pledge to release his daughter. He said he quickly reported the case to the police even though the suspect warned him not to do so if he wanted to see his daughter alive. He disclosed that though he paid a ransom of about GH1,000 to the suspect through mobile money, he failed to release Priscilla. He indicated that the police later managed to arrest the suspect, Samuel Udoetuk Wills. He pointed out that he realized the suspect lived around the same vicinity at where he (Mr. Koranchie) resided at the Kansaworodo-West Fijai area. The dress of my daughter was also found at where the suspect was arrested, he told the court. He said the police later retrieved some skeletal remains in a cesspit at Kansaworodo, a suburb of Takoradi, believed to be that of the missing girls. He said, subsequently, DNA tests were conducted by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service on the skeletal remains which confirmed that the remains were that of the girls, including his daughter. Cross-Examination During cross-examination, Mark Bosia, counsel for the accused, asked the witness what unique feature was with the accent of the person who called him on phone for him to conclude that it was a foreign one. The witness said he was able to detect a Nigerian accent and insisted that the person who called him for the ransom was Samuel Wills. The lawyer also asked whether he (the witness) knew John Oji, the second accused person, and the witness answered in the negative. Counsel then asked how long Mr. Koranchie spoke with the suspect on phone and the witness said it was a little over an hour and that his daughter cried for help. Counsel also asked whether the victim mentioned the name of the suspect during his conversation with his daughter on the kidnapper's phone and he answers in the negative. Counsel further wanted to know whether the victim was the only one who had that type of dress he (witness) claimed belonged to the daughter and Mr. Koranchie insisted that his daughter was wearing that dress on that fateful day. Sitting continues on Tuesday, September 1. ---Daily Guide The young black woman stood just a few blocks from the White House, where Donald Trump was holed up, and spoke into a bullhorn as a crowd of white and black faces hung on her every word. "We have to vote. We have no choice. Even if we have to go to the voting box wearing three masks and two pairs of socks, y'all," she said, stamping one foot on the cracked pavement of 17th Street, NW. "Amen," an older black woman cried out, wiping her forehead on a hot and muggy day in the District of Columbia. "It's not an option, y'all," the woman with the bullhorn continued. "Every vote counts." About half a block away, a young white woman posed for a picture taken by a black woman about her age holding a homemade sign, made from cardboard and a black marker, that read: "Black Lives Matter." A group of black men and women endured a blistering morning sun about an hour earlier at the intersection of Constitution Avenue, NW and 17th Street, NW, singing and chanting. "Whose streets? Our streets!" they said over and over. As they paused in between chants, a man who identified himself only as David hoisted a black flag with large white block letters bearing the same slogan as the white woman an hour later. Asked how long he could hold his arm up with the flag, he responded: "As long as I have to. We need change." Most waiting in a line to enter the National Mall cheered as he spoke. But not all. "Enough is enough!" a middle-aged black woman nearby yelled, throwing down a full water bottle, its contents spilling into the empty street. She added loudly as her friend led her away: "Stop killing us!" A large group marched by few minutes later. They were under the direction of a man with his own bullhorn, who cued up chant after chant. "Hey, hey! Ho, ho! Donald Trump has got to go!" "No justice. No peace. No racist police!" Those moments caught the spirit of Friday's rally and march in Washington, which had, all at once, the energy of a mass protest, a political rally, a large church service and a festival of like-minded people pursuing the same cause. "We are in unprecedented, uncertain times. The state of our movement, it is strong. And another world is possible," Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, a Massachusetts Democrat, told march participants from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where Mr King delivered his "I have a dream speech" nearly six decades ago. But her next statement contradicted Washington's ongoing era of legislative gridlock, which has only been intensified by a period of tribal partisanship that has been further intensified by Mr Trump's conservative based-focused presidency and Democrats' visceral reaction to it. "It is possible to legislate justice and accountability," she said even though no major legislation targeting racial inequality is moving in either chamber of Congress. "It is possible to write budgets that actually value black lives. If it feels unfamiliar, it's because it's never been done in America." 'Not to fear us' Another Democratic House member, Budget Committee member Sheila Jackson-Lee of Texas, suggested that panel could help produce the change being sought by the thousands assembled in Washington: "Today we stop the insufficient funds and we put the money in the bank because we have to heal this nation," adding this plea for white America: "We ask American not to fear us." The lawmakers' statements were more aspiration than reality but black and white people interviewed on the streets around the Mall on Friday said that is just what they want. "I hope that after today, this helps bring actual change. We talk about it, some of us talk about. Politicians talk about it. But we never really move past those conversations. We don't enact any real change," said Ron Hartley of Dallas. Americans of all colours have taken to the streets of many US cities since George Floyd was killed under the knee of a white police officer on May 25. But just last weekend, new protests, sometimes violent and deadly, came after Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by a white police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Mr Blake, a black man, was moving away from the officer at the time. (Local police say he admitted to having a knife, and he was trying to get into an automobile while ignoring the officer's orders to stop.) Philonise Floyd, George Floyd's brother, spoke just before the march began, admitting he was "overwhelmed with all the people that are here right now." He said he was marching for his brother and "anyone else who lost their lives to evil," declaring all the participants will bring about "change ... because we demand it." Jacob Blake Sr spoke strongly into the microphone in front of the statue of President Abraham Lincoln and led the crowd in a chant of his brother's name. He said there is a justice system for whites and another for blacks. "The black system ain't doing so well. Every black person in the United States is going to stand up," he said. "We're tired. I'm tired of ... seeing these young black and brown people suffer. ... I truly did not want to come and see y'all today for these reasons." Mr Hartley, like others interviewed on Friday, says Mr Blake's paralysis and gunshot wounds show a country that still has deep racial and social shortcomings. "There's been an awakening, but there hasn't been any change," he said. "If there had been any change, that young man (Blake) wouldn't have been shot over the weekend." 'Structural change' Notably, a handful of march participants, interviewed separately, used the same term when asked what they hoped Friday's event would help produce: "Structural change." Maya Barry of the Arab American Institute noted it had been 168 days since Breonna Taylor was shot dead in her home by police. Ms Taylor was not armed. Tamika Palmer, Ms Taylor's mother, addressed march participants and declared "we are at a point we can get that change," but added: "We have to vote." Ms Palmer grew emotional as the crowd chanted her daughter's name. Kenya Young, a black woman, told The Independent earlier that she wants "justice to be served." "But it's not justice if it's just those cops going to prison," she said. "We need policy change and we need police to stop killing black people or anyone who is unarmed." She and Debra King, who were standing together and wearing masks in a line to enter the official program after being temperature-checked amid the Covid-19 pandemic, both said part of the policy change they want are new police training programs. "We need cultural sensitivity training for the police, and we need cops in black communities that look like us," Ms King, an older woman. "If the officer thinks someone looks like my son or daughter, they're probably going to treat them different. And they're not going to shoot them." Ms Young said she hopes Friday's event will "jumpstart" some change. But, so far, "I don't really see any movement towards change." Like most others interviewed, the duo said they intend to vote for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, California Senator Kamala Harris. They see the White House's current occupant as fanning the flames of racial inequality. "The president never acknowledged any of these injustices last night," Ms King said, referring to Mr Trump's 2020 GOP nomination-acceptance speech less than a mile away at the White House. "If the head of the United States doesn't talk about it, it's easy for people who support him to not even think about it." Mr Trump and other Republicans opted against speaking at the Republican National Convention about black deaths while interacting with police; instead, they hailed law enforcement and warned a Democratic-held White House would automatically bring "anarchists" and "mobs" free to burn large cities and suburbs alike.) 'Lip service' But it's not just Mr Trump who deserves blame for the recent sting of black deaths at the hands of police officers, multiple march participants said. "Other presidents did nothing but give it lip service. But now, President Trump has publicised that there are good people who are racists," Ms Young said. "But other presidents never did anything to get that structural change." She hopes Mr Biden and Ms Harris will feel pressure from events like Friday's march and the major protests from earlier this summer to push for major policing and societal changes, saying she feels "more motivated to vote." The man who called himself David, his "Black Lives Matter" flag still high in the air, expressed optimism the Democratic ticket would seek changes, if they can defeat Mr Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in November. "They'll have to. They'll have to," he said. "With everything that's going on, they're gonna feel that pressure. ... Democrats haven't done that much, at least not lately, but something has to change." No one interviewed, nor the speakers who addressed the crowd, predicted one election would bring all the change they say is needed. Some acknowledged hurdles abound and progress has been made. One man, however, said it has been too slow-moving. "Come on, man. We've been doing this since the 1960s," said a white man who called himself Mark from New Jersey. "I'm 60 years old. This has been going on all my life. The country needs to wake up." Martin Luther King III warned the crowd "there are no permanent victories" for blacks in America's troubled racial experience. He said the black felt hope for greater change when Barack Obama was elected the first black US president in 2008 only, 12 years later, to feel "in peril again." Still, Congresswoman Pressley vowed: "We will march on." Minutes before the massive throng began marching to his father's memorial on the Tidal Basin, Mr King let the crowd know marching is only one part of their mission, saying on the steps of the memorial that honours the president who freed all black slaves: "We must raise our voices and cast our ballots." Angela Merkel said she would 'make essentially the same decisions' when a journalist questioned whether she regrets opening the German border to migrants in 2015. She told the annual summer press conference in Berlin: 'When people are standing at the German-Austrian border or the Hungarian-Austrian border, they have to be treated like human beings.' More than one million people applied for asylum in Germany for the first time in 2015-2016 during a pivotal moment in Merkel's now 15-year tenure. Angela Merkel told the annual summer press conference in Berlin she would make 'essentially the same decisions' as she did about migration in 2015 Migrants and refugees queue at the compound outside the Berlin Office of Health and Social Affairs as they wait for their registration in 2015 At first Merkel seemed to have public opinion on her side taking smiling selfies with the new arrivals and coining the now legendary phrase 'We can do this!' But the debate around migration became deeply divisive, eating into public trust in Merkel and even leading to a far-right party - the AfD - gaining a meaningful presence in parliament for the first time since the Nazi regime. Headline-grabbing events, such as mass sexual assaults committed against women in Cologne on New Year's Eve 2015/2016 and a Berlin Christmas market attack in December 2016, also led to a rise in anger directed at migrants. However Merkel on Friday pointed to successes in integrating refugees into the job market and German society. Her controversial pact with Turkey gave the country aid and the promise of visa-free travel in Europe in exchange for Turkey's agreement to stop migration and to accept migrants back from Greece. 'Nevertheless, the subject will continue to be of concern to us and will remain so in the years to come,' she said. 'The subject of migration... is not finished. It will be a constant theme for the 21st century.' Last year 1,345,943 foreigners migrated to Germany, almost half of the amount that migrated to Germany in 2015 (2,016,241), according to The Federal Statistical Office. Of those foreigners 165,938 applied for refugee status the majority of which were from war-torn Syria (41,094). The Asylum Information Database reported that of those 165,938 applications, 54,034 were rejected and 45,053 were granted refugee status. Numbers in 2015 were staggeringly higher with 362,153 applications for refugee status, 77,782 rejections and 81,547 successes. Syrian migrants also made up the majority of these applications in 2015 with asylum seekers from Albania, Kosovo and Serbia making up the next highest numbers. These three countries differed last year when Iraq, Turkey and Afghanistan had the most applicants after Syria. Vietnam reports more Covid-19 reinfection cases Two more Covid-19 patients in Vietnam have tested positive for Covid-19 again following their recovery, one in the northern province of Ninh Binh and the other from the central city of Danang. Patient 543 from Ninh Binh was treated at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi after returning from Equatorial Guinea. Following their recovery, he was discharged from hospital and sent to be quarantined at a local hospital. He had a positive Covid-19 test result after the 14-day isolation process. He is now in stable health and being medically monitored at Nho Quan Districts General Hospital. This was the second Covid-19 reinfection case in Ninh Binh so far. Meanwhile, on Friday morning, Danang reported the first recovered Covid-19 patient tested positive for Covid-19 again. The case is Patient 424, a nurse from Danang Hospital, She was moved to Danang Lung and Respiratory Diseases Hospital for Covid-19 treatment on July 26 and released from hospital on August 10. She isolated herself at home afterwards. On August 24, she had retested positive. The spreadsheet report automatically updates when any new Google Alert email notifications come in, giving anyone the ability to understand news trends. For example, people can monitor web mentions about their name, industry, competitors, jobs, stocks, and more. The following information is organized in the spreadsheet report: Date & Time of keyword mention Your Google Alerts keyword (which means there can be many Google Alerts keywords) Content publisher Summary of the content Link to the content Link to Share on Facebook Link to Share on Twitter Link to flag the Google Alert as irrelevant to Google Column for personal notes We asked cloudHQ's CEO, Senad Dizdar, why he decided to make this product free of charge. He replied, "I use Google Alerts all the time. I need to keep myself aware of what competitors are doing, and I want to see when there's a Google Search result for cloudHQ, too. Because Google Alerts are free, it only makes sense that providing this report is also free. We want our customers to feel like they are empowered to take control of their online reputation." While the Google Alerts feature for Export Emails to Google Sheets is free, there are 5 other features in the product line that have a monthly subscription pricing model. Targeted to small-to-medium sized businesses, those 5 other features are: Backup email messages from a Gmail Label Extract information from the body of email messages (Ie. Order number, price, units, etc.) Extract all email addresses in an inbox to create an email list builder Track all email responses to an email campaign or cold email outreach Find all bounced email addresses cloudHQ has over 70 free email management Chrome extensions , and continues to build innovative email solutions for the SMB market. SOURCE cloudHQ Related Links https://cloudhq.net A retired Pakistan army officer incurs army chief General Bajwa's wrath, reveals Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency. IMAGE: Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa with Prime Minister Imran Khan. Photograph: Kind courtesy @OfficialDGISPR/Twitter Colonel Inamur Rahim (retd), the well known Pakistani lawyer who has been fighting against disappearance cases of conscience objectors, revealed for the first time on recently abducted journalist Matiullah Jan's televsiion channel, why he was abducted by unknown agencies in December 2019 and kept under detention for 37 days without any charges. During detention, he was asked to file reference cases against independent-minded judges of the higher judiciary, like Gulzar Ahmed (currently Pakistan's chief justice) and Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, as a condition for his release. Colonel Rahim was resentful why such treatment was handed out to him by the senior coterie of Pakistan army generals, many of whom had even been his students during his ten years as an instructor at the Pakistan military academy in Kakul, disregarding also the fact that his son is currently a serving officer in the army, in the rank of major. While in detention, he was blindfolded and taken to a dungeon type army detention centre near Islamabad and deliberately subjected to air-conditioners in the December cold, so much so that his health started deteriorating after two or three days. Thereafter, he was shifted to another detention facility, this time inside army headquarters. Some time before he was detained, in May 2019, Colonel Rahim had been called in for an 'informal iftaari' discussion during Ramzan, with some army officers, ostensibly of the Judges Advocate General branch, who told him that the army leadership ('the Boss') was unhappy with Justice Gulzar Ahmed, because of his recent court order to demolish an army marriage hall in Karachi, which was being illegally built on government land. This order was not carried out and the judge took umbrage. Colonel Rahim was asked to help frame a reference to curb the judge's independent inclination. When he professed his reluctance, he was asked if he would be willing to at least file a reference against Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, who was being 'difficult'. Colonel Rahim counseled restraint against such a step as Justice Isa was the only judge in Pakistan's supreme court from Balochistan. He enjoyed a sterling reputation of honesty and Colonel Rahim felt, such a step could fan Baloch dissidence. In December, Colonel Rahim had been engaged in consultations with an ex-serviceman's forum and the Islamabad bar council on the issue of the army chief's extension. He had also met Chief Justice Khosa then, sometime around December 17, just before Justice Khosa's 'earth-shaking' verdict on General Bajwa's tenure. Colonel Rahim believes he was picked up for this long incarceration within a few days of these activities, to teach him a lesson. The disclosure of this incident now on Matiullah Jan's television channel flags the rather ineffective quest for judicial independence in Pakistan. It also provides a silver lining that dissent of this nature can still find expression on an independent television channel. How long such intrepid journalism will last is quite another matter. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com ACROSS AMERICA For nearly three months, 29-year-old Houston mom Kenia Madrigal stared down real fear as she tucked her four children in for the evening in a small SUV that had become the familys home. How could she possibly keep them safe from the coronavirus, which hurtled them into crisis when she lost first her job and then the mobile home she had been renting for two years? How could she keep them safe from unseen dangers the nighttime brings? How could she shield them from the emotional wounds homelessness inflicts? As coronavirus eviction moratoriums and other protections expire, a substantial number of the 100,800,000 Americans living in rental households could be caught in a catastrophic housing crisis, forced into the same hard choices Madrigal made when she moved her family and many of their belongings into her SUV. A new report from the bipartisan, nonprofit Aspen Institute says that as various state and federal protections end, anywhere from 30 million to 40 million Americans could be evicted from rental housing by the end of 2020. No state will be untouched, the report warns, and people of color are vulnerable to eviction at much higher rates than white Americans a confounding systemic issue whose reckoning has come. Multiple other studies have looked at the effect of coronavirus-related job losses on renters ability to pay. They all come to the same dire conclusion: Without government help, millions of renters could be forced from their homes by years end. The Aspen Institutes deep dive into the burgeoning crisis shows that before the pandemic, one in four Americans were already spending 70 percent of their monthly income on rent. I felt very lonely and scared, Madrigal says of the days and nights her family spent living in their SUV. You have to go day by day. You never know what the next night will bring, or the next day. When the weather is 100, where can I take them? Before the pandemic, Madrigal was among four in 10 Americans living paycheck to paycheck. They were among the most affected as the economy shed 22.2 million jobs when businesses were shuttered under stay-at-home orders. Story continues Their bills didnt end. They still havent. I still have a car payment and gas, and the money comes and goes real quick, she says. I was getting child support from my kids dad, but he isnt working and is going to court for murder, and I dont want him around my children. The Aspen Institute estimates anywhere from 2.6 million to 3.8 million Texans 31 percent to 48 percent of the states population could be kicked out of their homes because they cant pay the rent. Evictions of renters could exceed 40 percent in 28 states. More than 50 percent of renters could be evicted in Illinois, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas. In Mississippi and Louisiana, eviction rates could be as high as 58 percent and 56 percent of renters, respectively. Madrigal is among a fortunate very few. She says that thanks to the charity of strangers, shell be able to provide her kids a safe home, something they know can never be taken from them, and set up virtual classrooms. A co-worker at Madrigals new job making salads for a restaurant chain put together a GoFundMe campaign that so far has raised more than $72,000. Kenia Madrigal and her four children lived on Houston streets in her small SUV after she lost her job to the coronavirus crisis. (Photo courtesy of Kenia Madrigal) Some 1,300 miles northeast of Madrigals new beginning in Houston sits Detroit. There, entire neighborhoods teeter on the precipice of yet another housing and mortgage crisis, says Rachael Baker, an organizer with the activist group Detroit Renter City. Dominoes Are Falling Detroit, among the hardest hit by the Great Recession and plunged into a historic bankruptcy, is still reeling from the 2008-09 financial crisis. The struggles of Detroiters are emblematic of renters in cities across the country, where community housing is a carefully assembled row of dominoes. One falls, and other services follow in waves, according to housing advocates who say theres little doubt the eviction crisis will push more people into homelessness. An ongoing University of Michigan study that found more than four in 10 Detroit workers were jobless at the end of June paints a bleak picture of life and death during the coronavirus crisis. Among the other findings: Nearly half of out-of-work Detroiters have children under 18 living in their households, and they reported paying more for food and buying more of it to make up for meals their kids lost access to under school programs. More than a quarter arent able to pay their rent; nearly half are skipping car, student loan and other payments; and more than half of unemployed workers didnt expect to be called back to their jobs anytime soon. About 44 percent of those out of work expect to be evicted, have their utilities shut off or file for bankruptcy protections against creditors. Nearly half of Black Detroiters who make up about 80 percent of the citys population and one-third of Latino Detroiters said they lost their jobs due to the pandemic, compared with just over one-fifth of white Detroiters. A Matter Of Life And Death Although business activity is up, especially in the downtown area, poverty and other systemic issues continue to hold Detroit back, Detroit Free Press business journalist John Gallagher wrote late last year in an analysis of the citys recovery. This time around, coupled with the public health crisis, eviction is a matter of life and death, Baker says, punching out every word of her urgent warning with a passion for Detroiters who cant seem to catch a break. Its more of a priority for people to pay their rent than to stay alive, laments Baker, who says the Trump administration and Congress have done an outstandingly terrible job in their response to the looming eviction crisis. Eviction is a life-or-death scenario, she says, repeating her dire prediction of widespread homelessness without federal action. Its not just inconvenience when theres a pandemic going on. Before the pandemic, more than 36 percent of Detroiters lived in poverty. The pre-pandemic unemployment rate was 9.8 percent, compared with the national average of 3.8 percent. Baker says Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing nearly double-digit unemployment gives a rosy assessment compared to the real-life situation on the ground. Those statistics are based on people who are actively seeking work, and many have given up, she says. The University of Michigan and The Aspen Institute studies both conclude the feared evictions will hit minority populations harder than white Americans. New Orleans resident Natasha Blunt lost her job as a banquet porter and then fell thousands of dollars behind in her rent. (AP Photo/Dorthy Ray) Nationally, 61 percent of Hispanic Americans and 44 percent of Black Americans said they or someone in their household had lost their job when the first wave of unemployment hit in April. Also at risk for homelessness, according to the report, are people living with disabilities, who historically have a hard time finding a job; LGBTQ people, who experience homelessness at a rate disproportionate to the general population; and undocumented immigrants, who dont qualify for unemployment pay and didnt receive a stimulus check. Courts Dockets Are Full Baker is steeling herself for a brutal fall. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmers eviction moratorium expired in mid-July, but Detroit city officials gave renters a reprieve until mid-August. That has expired now, too. Courts are seeing a crush of eviction hearings, but coronavirus restrictions are making it nearly impossible in some cases for tenants to stand up and be heard by a judge. Thats one of the Catch-22 situations at play in Michigan and other states. Courts arent entirely unsympathetic to low-wage Detroiters unable to keep up on their rent payments after they lost their jobs to the pandemic, but they have to show up in 36th District Court, which still isnt holding in-person hearings, Baker says. Tenants are expected to attend over the phone and internet, when for months and months, people have been living on less and have had to make decisions about keeping their phones and internet, she says. Until the court opens up again, hearings are likely inaccessible. Baker doesnt think judges will grant wholesale forgiveness of rent in arrears, in part because landlords are still reeling under the Great Recession. At the least, though, she hopes judges will expunge eviction court proceedings from tenants records a gesture that could put them over one of the hurdles to finding housing. Madrigal knows how hard it is for people with a court strike against them to find housing, even once theyre back at work. Even when she found a new job in Houston, her eviction court papers followed her, making her quest for housing difficult. She and her family camped out in the car until a friend offered a temporary roof over their heads. Coming up with first and last months rent and a security deposit isnt easy, Madrigal says. You have to have the money, they run a background check and have to see that you can pay the rent. One of the protections still in place in Michigan is an eviction diversion program available to landlords giving them the flexibility to forgive late fees and up to 10 percent of rent in arrears. Baker expects the $50 million pot of money to run out quickly, and says it's only a pittance of the $2 billion the Michigan National Low Income Tenants Association estimates is needed to bail out the lowest-income tenants in the state. 'Horrific Potential For Homelessness' In Detroit, shelters are already full. Some evicted tenants will likely end up on the streets. Others may move in with relatives living in federally subsidized housing. That not only increases the risk of the spread of the coronavirus to vulnerable populations, but also puts those folks on the opposite side of rules that limit occupancy. Those are among the issues that keep Ted Phillips awake at night. For more than three decades, his job as the executive director of the United Community Housing Coalition is to keep Detroit area residents in their homes and off the streets. He wakes up at 2 oclock, 3 oclock and 4 oclock in the morning. Like Baker, hes not sure at all that advocacy efforts will be enough to halt some 31,000 eviction cases currently before the 36th District Court in Detroit. In normal years, about a third of those cases would end with county deputies rolling dumpsters to the curb as tenants are forcibly removed from their homes. This year, Phillips says, its anyones guess how many people the converging health and economic crises will make homeless. Its terrible at any time, Phillips says. Theres still massive poverty, there was still large unemployment even before everything hit. Theres horrific potential for homelessness, and a lot of people are trying every day to make it not happen. And the reality is, we had a horrible problem with decent and affordable low-income housing before the pandemic. The agency Phillips heads is staffed to provide lawyers for people faced with losing their homes, but finding those people is another matter in the time of the coronavirus. One hundred and five of them dont have phone numbers. The mail is moving so slow its difficult. Door-to-door knocking isnt the safest. Some community folks are knocking on doors and doing a little, but were not even at the point that we can have clients in our office, he says. Theres a whole rack of issues. Landlords Are Hurting, Too The looming crisis isnt just a threat to renters. Evictions hurt landlords, too. Property owners who lack the credit or financial ability to make rent payments in arrears could default on their mortgages, fall short on their property tax payments and let their properties fall into disrepair disrupting the affordable housing market, destabilizing communities across the United States and potentially triggering another mortgage crisis. But doing nothing and allowing tenants to fall into homelessness cant be the answer, say tenants rights groups holding demonstrations across the country. At least 30 states offer no eviction protection for tenants, and federal protections expired last month. Demonstrators participate in a Resist Evictions rally at Brooklyn Housing Court. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) The two major political parties are far apart on emergency relief for Americans thrown into economic uncertainty and outright catastrophe. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky sent senators home for the summer recess without approving an aid package that would have included housing support for renters. Negotiations have resumed on a new aid package, but its unclear if evictions will be even a small part of the talks. After the Senate adjourned, President Donald Trump issued a series of executive orders that offer some relief to renters and landlords. Former vice president and 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is critical of both Trump and McConnell, saying Congress should approve the same emergency housing support and other assistance that would be provided in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Doing so, Biden says, puts the country in a much stronger position to handle the strain the virus is putting on millions of Americans and our entire economy. People Need To Be Heard Baker of Detroit Renter City says a piecemeal approach to the looming crisis by individual states isnt the answer. I look at this as an enormous lost opportunity to make sure that people arent suffering, she says. To be honest, I think there is some intentionality around it to specifically punish people who are poor and to prioritize property ownership. If you are a homeowner with a federally or bank-backed mortgage, youre able to negotiate. But tenants are expected to come up with three or four months worth of rent. Baker sees an opportunity to mete housing justice in the very policies she sees as punitive to the people she and other housing activists rally behind. Theres no solution except to make sure people arent evicted and thrown into homelessness when there are no jobs for them to go to, she says. Some form of rent forgiveness the landlords, not the tenants, can apply for would be a good path forward. Baker acknowledges the holistic approach she advocates is expensive, but insists money can be found in the Pentagon, Homeland Security and other budgets steeling the country against outside threats. The mortgages have to be forgiven so the rent can be forgiven for the sake of keeping people in their homes for the sake of avoiding a massive rental and mortgage crisis, she says. There absolutely needs to be more funds to put into help people cover their rent, says Phillips of Detroits United Community Housing Coalition. He also favors a multi-pronged approach that helps landlords owed rent pay their mortgages while prioritizing tenants just barely getting by very often seniors without a long work history, moms with kids who have timed out of public assistance and can quickly find themselves a few thousand dollars in debt with no income coming in, he says. The Department of Housing and Urban Development, which administers subsidized housing programs, should also be part of the solution, Phillips says. We need to do all of that, in addition to just doing things to get this damned thing under control so we can go back to being normal, Phillips says. In Houston, Kenia Madrigal still cant quite believe the kindness, support and love of complete strangers that opened a portal for her family to bounce back from homelessness. She also knows crowdfunding campaigns alone cant solve the eviction crisis. People need to be heard, Madrigal says. People need help. As theyre going through this, whether they have children or not, especially in a pandemic, the president and the government need to hear them and not throw them out in the streets. Kenia Madrigals four children, ages 1 to 11 years, were homeless for 2-1/2 months after she lost her job. (Photo courtesy of Kenia Madrigal) This article originally appeared on the Across America Patch While local control and freedom are great soundbites to cover for inaction, most Oklahoma communities dont have the public health infrastructure available to advise community leaders on how to best respond to a pandemic of this nature, she said. The state of Oklahoma does, which is why we need a state mask order. The color-coded COVID-19 alert system developed by the state is less effective than the one used by the CDC, she said. Throughout this pandemic, we have seen, unfortunately, a pattern of deception and misleading the public, she said. Charlie Hannema, a Stitt spokesman, said Virgin was attempting to politicize the pandemic by calling for a new task force in a news conference before talking to the Governors Office. The Governors Solution Task Force, which consists of medical doctors, state and local public health officials and other dedicated public servants, has been meeting constantly since March, he said. The misguided comments today are disrespectful to the dozens of state and local employees who have been working tirelessly for months to protect the health and lives of Oklahomans and coordinate the states comprehensive response to this virus. Parents will still be reported to the child and family agency Tusla if their children miss more than 20 days of school, despite being urged to keep them at home if they show coronavirus symptoms. Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said that if parents were in any doubt, children should "be kept at home". However, the Department of Education has confirmed it is still obliged by law to tell Tusla when a child has missed more than 20 days in the school year. A spokesperson said it would "take into account the requirement for students who feel unwell with symptoms consistent with Covid-19 or who have been informed to self-isolate, not to attend school". Read More In the context of Covid-19 and the situations which may arise, Tusla said it would "work with schools, students and their parents to support them as required". Under the Education Welfare Act, schools are legally required to inform the relevant authorities about high absenteeism levels. There are fears rates of absenteeism may be higher in the 2020/2021 academic year as a result of the Covid crisis. The Government's roadmap to reopening schools stated no teacher, child or parent should attend an educational setting if they, or anyone in their household, has Covid-19 symptoms. In updated advice issued this week, the Department of Education said it was OK to send children to school if they were sneezing or had a runny nose. Parents should, however, keep children at home if their temperature was above 38C. "Most of the time, you do not need to phone your GP if a runny nose or sneezing are your child's only symptoms. Talk to your pharmacist instead," the advice said. However, Dr Glynn told the Dail coronavirus committee that a GP should be contacted if a parent had any concerns, even if that resulted in an upsurge in demand at GP surgeries when schools returned. The child should not be sent back to school until parents and guardians had "clarity and confidence" they could safely do so, he said. 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 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 don't ask a cardiologist, 'If I get a heart attack next week, what's the plan?' It depends on the type of heart attack and co-morbidities. You can't say what's going to happen in any given setting. You just don't know," Dr Nolan said. Rhea Chakraborty has been summoned by CBI today for questioning. Rhea and her lawyer Satish Maneshinde have prepared documents including medical files, chats file and bank account details. CBI is expected to grill Chakraborty for hours on end just like her brother Showik Chakraborty who was questioned by the agency on Thursday. She has been accused by Sushant Singh Rajput's family of mentally harassing him, taking his money, and abetting his suicide. CBI started its probe after the Supreme Court order last week. CBI investigation is based on an FIR filed by the Chhichhore actor's family in Bihar that names Rhea Chakraborty, her parents, and brother Showik Chakraborty. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput death case: CBI squad reaches Mumbai; here's the plan of action In an exclusive interview to India Today on August 27, Rhea Chakraborty told that she had known about Rajput's mental illness during a Europe trip in 2019. She further stated that she was not living off the late actor's money and it was Sushant who loved living a luxurious life. Chakraborty also said that Rajput was fine during their stay in Switzerland. The couple stayed at a gothic hotel during their Italy visit. She said that she didn't want to stay in that hotel but Sushant insisted otherwise. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput case: 'Got to know about his mental illness during Europe trip', says Rhea Chakraborty The actress' father and brother have been questioned by the agency. Apart from Rhea Chakraborty's family, the CBI questioned Bollywood actor's cook Neeraj for three hours on August 21. Sushant Singh Rajput's flatmate Siddharth Pitani has been questioned for seven days. CBI recreated the scene of crime at the late actor's Bandra flat last week. CBI officers arrived with forensic experts to recreate the sequence of events that led to Rajput's death. Actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput death case: CBI to recreate death scene at late actor's Bandra flat By Spooky on August 28th, 2020 Category: Art Oleg Shepelenko, a talented tattoo artist from Rostov-on-Don, Russia, has been getting international recognition thanks to his insanely detailed portrait tattoos. The self-taught artist who works out of the Lucky Style Tattoo Shop knew he had a talent for art when he began painting in school, but never got any formal training. He got into tattoos naturally, and used YouTube tutorials as inspiration, trying to imitate masters of the art and developing his own techniques along the way. Developing an interest in hyper-realism, Shepelenko channeled his entire ambition into producing photo-realistic portrait tattoos, and is now considered one of the top hyper-realist tattoo artists in the world. Photo: Oleg Shepelenko/Instagram Not being able to describe any particular thoughts or emotions that run through his head whilst working intently on a piece, he simply says, I cannot describe. This I must feel,' World Famous Tattoo Ink reports. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on May 12, 2020 at 3:41pm PDT View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Mar 1, 2020 at 4:06am PST View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Jan 13, 2019 at 2:41am PST View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Nov 14, 2018 at 11:55pm PST View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Oct 20, 2018 at 11:48am PDT View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Apr 16, 2018 at 12:55am PDT View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Mar 26, 2018 at 2:44am PDT View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Aug 13, 2017 at 12:51am PDT View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Feb 21, 2017 at 8:56am PST View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Aug 18, 2016 at 3:55pm PDT View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Mar 15, 2016 at 6:50am PDT View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Jan 22, 2015 at 12:04am PST View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Apr 27, 2020 at 9:15pm PDT View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oleg Shepelenko (@olegtattoo) on Mar 18, 2020 at 11:18pm PDT For more ultra-realistic tattooed portraits, also check out the inked masterpieces of Karol Rybakowski and the black and white tattoos of French tattoo artist Eliot Kohek. Parents across Central New York this month had to make a decision many found difficult: Do we send our children back to school or keep them home this fall during the coronavirus pandemic? Most parents - 79 percent - told school districts they plan to send their kids to school on the days the districts allow in-school classes, according to a survey of Onondaga County districts by Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. Thats roughly 52,000 students. That means 21 percent of the parents are keeping their children home to learn online, the districts reported. Thats about 14,000 students learning from home. Syracuse City School District, the largest district with just under 20,000 students, had the most parents planning to keep their children home, 52 percent, the district reported. In the suburbs, the percentage of parents sending their children to school ranged from about 63 percent in East Syracuse Minoa to 90 percent in Skaneateles. Outside Onondaga County, Central Square reported 91 percent of students will attend school, Cazenovia reported 83 percent will attend. Parents were asked by school districts to choose in-person learning (for all or some school days) or full-time online learning with the understanding that those who choose to stay remote cant change until after a specified time period. The results help districts figure out staffing, classroom space, desk placement and distance learning plans. For East Syracuse Minoa, where more parents indicated they would send their kids to schools than initially indicated, it means all middle and high-school students will have to attend on a hybrid schedule. That means for now two days a week of school. In Syracuse, 75% of teachers and staff told the district they did not want to return to in-person instruction because of concerns about safety. Syracuse city schools have delayed in-person learning until Oct. 5. 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 Yet how many of us were blind to his crimes these past five years? Im as guilty as anyone for not being at all suspicious of good ol Mayor Joe, the Whiting native who embodied all that was good about his charming little city and its unique amenities the lakefront WhoaZone, the Mascot Hall of Fame, downtown revitalization, and of course the annual Pierogi Festival. Each summer, Stahura beamed with pride at his citys nationally-known event and its wacky parade, nurturing a sense of inclusion for all visitors. A woman was shot multiple times by a man with a rifle while she was sitting on a backyard swing in Clearfield County on Thursday. UPDATE: Pa. man wanted for shooting, killing woman on backyard swing is arrested; victim IDd The suspect who eyewitness say shot and killed the woman is identified by police in Lawrence Township as 36-year-old Anthony Boone. Police say he is to be considered armed and dangerous. WJAC-TV and WeAreCentralPa report that neighbors and witnesses heard a conversation or dispute between the victim and Boone on Thursday. BREAKING: Security guard at Pa. Wawa shot as social distancing argument turns violent: report According to witnesses, Boone parked his car on the street behind the womans home on Legion Road in Hyde, Pa., and then shot the victim multiple times with a rifle while she was on a swing just after 3:00 p.m. Thursday. Witnesses also saw Boone leaving the scene with a dog, Clearfield County District Attorney Ryan Sayers told the media. The identity of the victim was not immediately released. Boone is described as being 6 feet 2 inches tall and was last seen wearing a black muscle t-shirt with blue jeans and a black hat. The vehicle he was driving is a 2002 Subaru Forester with a possible license plate of JTC-5813. He was last seen with a dog. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or 814-765-1533. READ MORE: Pa. woman accused of breaking into apartment, stealing puppy, then throwing dog from moving car: cops Shots fired outside Pa. hotel where Milwaukee protest group is staying 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 The police officer in charge of investigating the death of a 15-year-old girl found in Hong Kong waters last year has admitted the force might have overlooked some security footage showing her final hours at her school campus the day she disappeared. Detective Constable Lee Ho-kit told the Coroners Court on Friday he and his colleagues did not check all CCTV video taken from the Hong Kong Design Institute, where Chan Yin-lam was enrolled. The teen went missing on September 19 last year and her body was found off the waters of Tseung Kwan O three days later. A 30-minute compilation of footage, played in court on Friday, showed Chan spent 70 minutes wandering the school premises before leaving barefoot at 7pm. She went to a nearby housing estate and took a 10-minute taxi ride to a construction site near the sea, the court also heard. Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China. The Hong Kong Design Institute in Tseung Kwan O, where the teen was enrolled. Photo: Paul Yeung Lee, who put the footage together, testified it did not show all of the teens behaviour at the campus during the period as parts deemed irrelevant to the investigation were left out. His team was unable to review all of the approximately 300 hours of footage taken from school cameras due to time constraints, he said, adding officers were only concerned whether she had any accidents that day. The officer concluded she left the school safely that night. Some footage offered no assistance to our investigation, he said. If [Chan] had come into any trouble, she wouldnt have walked out of the campus. The inquest, which began on Monday, heard Chan started a year-long degree programme at the institute on September 16 and reportedly enjoyed campus life. But a classmate earlier testified about the teens odd behaviour on the final day they were together at school. Chan was said to have packed her belongings at home overnight, cleared out her school locker, and refused to go home right away. She sent cryptic messages to her friends before contact suddenly stopped. Story continues Leung Po-yi (left), administration officer at the Hong Kong Design Institute. Photo: Dickson Lee Security footage played in court showed Chan returning to the campus on September 19 at around 5.50pm, after having earlier left at around 1.30pm with friends. The video shows Chan looking around smiling, pressing lift buttons without entering the elevators, and moving a warning sign on a footbridge for no apparent reason. Leung Po-yi, the schools administrative officer, said Chans belongings were turned in later that night, which included her identity card, student ID, a mobile phone and an Octopus stored value card. They were found by two people on a campus bench. According to police, the Octopus card belonged to Lai Mei-ling, who lost it one year before the teens death and did not know her. She declined to testify, saying she had suffered no loss. Taxi driver Chow Tai-lai told the court he drove Chan Yin-lam to the seaside the night she disappeared. Photo: Dickson Lee The footage shows Chan leaving the campus, walking through a shopping centre next to Tiu Keng Leng MTR station and appearing at a nearby housing estate. Cameras lose track of her at this point. According to taxi driver Chow Tai-lai, she asked him to drive her to a construction site next to Lohas Park station, a few hundred metres from a promenade along the water. The girls destination surprised him, he said, but he drove her anyway, believing she lived nearby and knew some short cut. Chow forgot about the encounter but recalled it one month later when learning of her death from the news and contacted police. Lee, the officer, said his team followed up on the drivers tip and investigated the area where Chan got out of the taxi but could not locate any relevant surveillance footage. Magistrate Ko Wai-hung told the five-member jury there was no proof the teen took her life by jumping into the sea that night. He said the court could only deduce how the girl died based on circumstantial evidence. The inquest continues on Monday. This article Police did not examine all security camera footage tracking Hong Kong teen at campus before she disappeared, officer admits first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. KENOSHA, Wis. Jacob Blake, a Black man who was shot by a white police officer here on Sunday, is no longer in police custody or shackled to his hospital bed, his lawyer said Friday. The lawyer, Patrick Salvi Jr., said that after communicating with the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department, Blake's legal team was able to have an outstanding warrant against him vacated. The warrant was from an incident in July, Salvi said. One of Blake's feet had been shackled to the bed since at least Wednesday per sheriff department policy, Salvi said. Blake is paralyzed from the waist down as a result of the shooting, according to his lawyer and his father, also named Jacob Blake. Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis said at a news conference Friday that the warrant was related to an alleged sexual assault. The sheriff's department did not respond to a request for further comment on Blake's shackling and removal. A lawyer for the family, Benjamin Crump, said Friday that charges are still pending and "should never have happened." Salvi told NBC News that Blake "did not commit the offenses that he was accused of." The lawyer also said that doctors have told Blake's family that the pain he is experiencing, like his paralysis, will be long term. Jacob Blake (Facebook) "The injury that he sustained not only a traumatic spinal cord injury which creates just unbearable nerve-related pain he also had five or six other bullets into his body other than the two that made contact with his spine," Salvi said. "So between his abdominal injury, his arm injury and his spine, he can barely move a millimeter without being in excruciating pain," he said. Blake may have been shot eight times, not seven as authorities have said, according to Salvi. The Wisconsin Department of Justice, which is investigating the shooting, did not respond to a request for comment. The department had previously reported that one officer, Rusten Sheskey, had fired a Taser in a failed attempt to stop Blake, but on Friday it said in a press release that Officer Vincent Arenas discharged his Taser before Sheskey shot Blake seven times in the back. A third officer, Brittany Meronek was also present, the department said. All three officers have been placed on administrative leave. Story continues Sheskey is a seven-year veteran of the department, and Arenas joined in February 2019 and Meronek in January. The shooting incident began Sunday when officers were called to a home in Kenosha, about 40 miles southeast of Milwaukee, after a woman reported that her boyfriend was at the home when he wasn't supposed to be. Police have not responded to multiple inquiries on whether Blake was the subject of the womans complaint. The state DOJ said in its press release that Blake "admitted that he had a knife in his possession" and that investigators recovered a knife from the driver's side floorboard of his car after the shooting. Blake's lawyer called that into question Friday. He said Blake is heavily sedated and the hospital, like others around the country, is restricting visitors to one person a day because of the coronavirus pandemic. Many of Blake's family members have not seen him because of this policy. His mother spent Monday with him, he was in surgery nearly all day Tuesday and was visited by his father on Wednesday, Salvi said. On Thursday, Salvi visited Blake twice. He said he does not know when police would have had an opportunity to speak with Blake since the shooting. No other weapons were found in the vehicle, the state DOJ said. It is not clear whether Blake was carrying the knife at the time he was shot. The shooting was captured on cellphone video and widely shared on social media, sparking protests in Kenosha and elsewhere in the country. "It's important to remember that these are charges at this time, these are allegations," Salvi said. "There's been no conviction. Powerful white men have been accused of crimes and given the benefit of the doubt from the same folks leaping to conclusions and vilifying this young Black man." Janell Ross reported from Kenosha, and Janelle Griffith from New York. Passengers who refuse to wear face masks on flights can be put on no-fly list as per the recent announcement by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). "Flyers who refuse to wear face masks during a flight can be put on no-fly list," a senior DGCA official said. The period for which a flyer will be barred from flying shall depend on the cabin crew's assessment report. There will be exceptions like if a passenger takes the mask off for eating or drinking or for any other issue. Passengers, who willingly refuse to wear masks and put others' lives in jeopardy will invite strict action like being placed on the no-fly list. Wearing a face mask is one of the many precautions recommended by doctors and governments to curb the spread of novel coronavirus. Also read: Airlines can now serve meals to passengers; resume in-flight entertainment According to the DGCA, no order has been passed in this regard as the airlines and cabin crew members are empowered under the existing DGCA rules. As per DGCA rules, an airline can put any unruly passenger on its no-fly list after internal discussions and other airlines may follow suit as well. India resumed domestic flight operations from May 25 after a two month ban under the COVID-19 induced lockdown. Special international flights are being operated under the Vande Bharat Mission to evacuate stranded Indian citizens from abroad. Also read: UDAN 4.0: 78 new routes approved; bonanza for North East BELGRADE - Bosnia-Herzegovina deported 27 migrants back to Serbia after Sarajevo authorities said the migrants were illegally staying in Bosnian territory. Serbian media said the migrants were 14 citizens from Pakistan, seven from Bangladesh, three from Afghanistan and three from Turkey. Bosnia-Herzegovina has been dealing for months with a strong increase in the migrant flow along the Balkan Route. In the country's northwest, there are currently as many as 10,000 migrants trying to cross the border into Croatia and continue towards Western Europe. This situation has caused strong discontent in the local population, which has staged protests over the growing security risks tied to thefts, violence, and intimidation on the part of migrants. - Anti-fraud firm, Upstream, found the malicious code on 53,000 Tecno handsets sold in Ethiopia, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana and South Africa - The malware known as Triada was found on at least 200, 000 Android phones in Africa. - The malicious software has the capacity to install a code known as xHelper which then finds subscription services and submits fraudulent requests on behalf of users without their knowledge - If the automated request goes through, it consumes the pre-paid airtime of unsuspecting subscribers - Tecno Mobile, however, dismissed the finding saying it was an old problem which it fixed two years ago Details have emerged linking a giant Chinese mobile firm, Techno, to the selling of thousands of smartphones with malware to African countries. A mobile phone with malware software is specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorised access to a system. READ ALSO: Aisha Jumwa goes missing after DPP approved her prosecution over misappropriation of KSh 19M CDF funds Chinese Tecno mobile phone manufacturer sold thousands of smartphones with malware to Africa Source: UGC READ ALSO: Kiungo wa kati wa Manchester United Paul Pogba apatikana na virusi vya corona According to BBC, an Anti-fraud firm Upstream found the malicious code on 53,000 Tecno handsets sold in Ethiopia, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana and South Africa. The investigating firm said the supplier of the phones was targetting "the most vulnerable" during the distribution process. "The fact that the malware arrives pre-installed on handsets that are bought in their millions by typically low-income households tells you everything you need to know about what the industry is currently up against," said Geoffrey Cleaves, head of Upstream's Secure-D platform as quoted by BBC. READ ALSO: William Ruto hints at ditching Jubilee if he's locked out as candidate: "We have options" Chinese Tecno Y2 Mobile phone. Photo: Mwangaza electronics. Source: UGC Airtime consumption Upstream unraveled the malware, Triada, found on the Android phones, had the capacity to install a malicious code known as xHelper which then finds subscription services and submits fraudulent requests on behalf of users without the user's knowledge. If the automated request goes through, it consumes the pre-paid airtime of unsuspecting subscribers. The firm noted the malware was found on more than 200,000 Tecno smartphones sold in African countries. Tecno Mobile, however, dismissed the finding saying it was an old problem which it fixed two years ago. "Every single software installed on each device runs through a series of rigorous security checks, such as our own security scan platform," said the company. Fake mobile phones The issue of dumping fake mobile in Africa has been in the public domain for several years with China being at the centre of the accusations. In 2018, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) banned the importation of mobile phones that could not offer a battery life of at least eight hours talk time or lacked a physical manual in guidelines aimed at curbing fake gadgets. The regulator further restricted the importation of mobile phones to licensed telecommunications vendors who were tasked to ensure the handsets' battery could last for a minimum of 24 hours when not in use. The vendors were also required to provide at least a one-year warranty and after-sales support of a further two years for each device sold. In 2012, the authority, then known as the Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK), switched off fake mobile phones to protect consumers from substandard phones, safeguard mobile payment systems and prevent crime. Majority of the handsets which were switched off were from Chine and other Asian countries. It was estimated that more than one million Kenyans were affected by the clampdown. Do you have an inspirational story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Tuko news I started my business with Ksh 1600, it's now worth Ksh 750,000 | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Reuters Telephone links between Tonga and the wider world began to be reconnected on Wednesday, though restoring full internet connectivity is likely to take a month or more according to the owner of the archipelago's sole subsea communications cable. Telecom operator Digicel said late on Wednesday it had managed to restore international calling capability, though Reuters was not immediately able to reach numbers in Tonga. Full network services will not be available until the undersea cable is fixed, Digicel said. San Francisco, Aug 28 : Elon Musk thanked his hardworking team at Tesla as the electric car makers market cap reached $420 billion which is equal to the next top five carmakers combined together. Musk took to Twitter, thanking the Tesla engineers and other workers. "Thanks to a smart and hardworking team at Tesla. These sure are wild times..." Tesla even surpassed Johnson & Johnson in terms of market cap. There are only seven companies in the S&P 500 index worth more, including Visa at $447 billion and Apple at $2.16 trillion, reports Barrons.com. About two months ago, the EV maker was at $200 billion. It first hit $100 billion in January. With factories in the US and Shanghai, China, and another under construction in Berlin, Germany, Tesla has said that it will "comfortably" reach 500,000 electric vehicle deliveries in 2020. Although this is less than 5 per cent of Toyota and Volkswagen sales, the company now accounts for 41 per cent of the value of the world's top 12 carmakers. Tesla earlier reported profits for the fourth straight quarter, making $6 billion in revenue and $104 million in net income in its June quarter even as the Covid-19 pandemic shut its factories. The Palo Alto-based company said it delivered 90,650 vehicles in the June quarter. It achieved the feat despite its Fremont, California based factory was out of action owing to Covid-19 lockdown for most part of the quarter. Tesla delivered 80,050 Model 3s and Model Ys in the quarter and 10,600 of its Model S luxury sedan and Model X SUVs. "In the second quarter, we produced over 82,000 vehicles and delivered approximately 90,650 vehicles," Tesla said in a statement. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The Punjab and Haryana high court has said that gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, if needed by any agency, can only be quizzed at the Central Jail in Rajasthans Bharatpur, where he is lodged. The high court order came on the plea of the gangster, who had expressed fear that he might also face the same fate as UPs dreaded gangster Vikas Dubey, who was killed in an encounter recently. He had sought security cover and his transfer on production warrant in handcuffs only. The gangster had alleged threat to his life from the police of Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan and even the superintendent of the Central Jail, Bharatpur. However, he had said that for now, he was seeking protection only in the case of Haryana. With several FIRs registered against him in Haryana and Rajasthan, the petitioner is now apprehensive that when he is taken for interrogation in the context of the FIR registered in July in Sirsa, he may be eliminated altogether, his lawyer had told the court. Bishnoi has nearly two dozen FIRs registered against him, including attempt to murder, extortion, snatching, carjacking and cases under the Arms Act in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. The high court bench of justice Amol Rattan Singh, while seeking response from Haryana by September 18, asked the state as to why, especially in the situation of current pandemic, he cannot be interrogated at Bharatpur. Till then, if needed to be quizzed, he be quizzed there only, the bench said. News21 More than 1,600 incarcerated children across the country have tested positive for COVID-19 as of mid-August, leaving experts and youth advocates raising questions whether authorities are prepared to handle this and future public health crises. Joshua Rovner, a lead researcher for the Sentencing Project, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy center, is tracking the number of reported positive COVID-19 cases in the juvenile justice system. He said many more cases are likely unreported. I really want to emphasize that these are only the cases we know about due to testing and reporting, Rovner said in an email to News21. The actual totals are definitely higher than these. According to data compiled by the Sentencing Project, cases have been found in 33 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. No one in the United States was sufficiently prepared, said Robert Morris, chairman of the board of directors for the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. Quadnesha Selph video chats with her son, Quasim Selph, who has tested positive for COVID-19 at the New Jersey Training School, where he has been incarcerated for five years. Its stressful. Its hard. Its sad, she says. Its just a terrible roller coaster ride. Photo courtesy of Quadnesha Selph Quadnesha Selph waits every Sunday for a call from her 19-year-old son, Quasim Selph, who has been incarcerated for the past five years at the New Jersey Training School in Monroe Township. But one Sunday in May came and went without hearing from him. She learned her son was in medical isolation and later tested positive for COVID-19. Quasim, who has asthma, had been sick for about a week. I have a right to know as a parent whats going on with my son. I should have been notified, Quadnesha Selph said. But they didnt do it. In an email to News21, Lisa Coryell, spokesperson for the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission, said the states practice is to conduct outreach to parents when a young person is tested for COVID and again when the results are received; outreach to parents upon receipt of results occurs the same day. In most states, juvenile detention administrators follow recommendations from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by reducing family visitation, screening staff and visitors and requiring the use of face masks. As the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 continues to spread, most states are changing procedures to try to slow the spread behind bars, where social distancing and frequent hand-washing is difficult. Some states have decreased the number of youth admitted into detention centers, while others have increased in-home detentions. In response to growing cases of COVID-19, the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections in March mandated face masks, separated incoming youth from the rest of the population for 14 days and suspended in-person visitation, which were replaced by video calls, department spokesperson Kate Howard said in an email. Medical professionals screened each individual upon arrival at Adobe Mountain School in north Phoenix, the only secure care facility operated by the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections, Howard said. ADJC has been affected by health issues in the past, including the H1N1 outbreak in 2009-2010, she said. However, the impact of COVID-19 is unique. Our response to COVID-19 has evolved and continues to evolve as we learn more about this disease and its spread. This spring, Arizona was the site of the nations largest COVID-19 outbreak at a child detention and rehabilitation center, according to the Sentencing Project. Yavapai County Community Health Services confirmed the Mingus Mountain Academy in Prescott Valley had 92 cases among its detainees. The controversy over isolating children To flatten the curve of infections, children showing symptoms are being placed in quarantine, which advocates and families find troubling. The CDC guidelines recommend placing those with symptoms similar to the coronavirus in medical isolation for 14 days. This has left thousands of children confined to single cells or locked down in dormitory-style units that typically arent equipped for quarantining, said Karen Lindell, senior attorney at Juvenile Law Center in Pennsylvania. Young people are being placed in essentially solitary confinement in order in some cases to avoid the spread of the virus, Lindell said. But yet the impact on them is going to be the same as if they were placed there for punitive purposes. Medical isolation is different from solitary confinement in that children who are quarantined still have access to daily outdoor time, recreational activities, schooling and communication with their loved ones. Rovner, with the Sentencing Project, and other advocates say misuse of medical isolation could largely contribute to underreporting of symptoms by children who fear theyll be confined. Quasim Selph was isolated for a week at the New Jersey Training School before testing positive, his mother said, and he remained in quarantine for an additional two weeks. You locking a kid down for 23 hours a day only one hour out, Quadnesha Selph said. That messes with their mind frame. Coryell, the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission spokesperson, said juveniles in medical isolation are offered time outside their rooms, extra ways to entertain themselves, such as more phone calls, games and books, and can interact with others. Youth who test positive for COVID-19 are not isolated alone for 23 hours of the day, she said. Arjanae Avula poses with her brother, Waheed Richardson, who served two years at three different facilities, most recently at Virginias Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center. Avula says there were multiple times when the facility said he was going to be released before he was actually let out in May. Photo courtesy of Arjanae Avula At Virginias Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center, Waheed Richardson, 18, was put in a cell by himself for 14 days, even though he had not tested positive for COVID-19, said his sister, Arjanae Avula. He told her it felt like punishment rather than protection. Our quarantine was based on specific guidance from the Virginia Department of Health to protect the health of residents by ensuring social distancing, Greg Davy, public information officer of the Department of Juvenile Justice, said in an email. He said a campus-wide quarantine lasting more than two weeks was issued on April 5 after the first positive test result at Bon Air. Avula said her family found out about the positive cases from a social media post rather than juvenile authorities. I was scrolling on social media and I had found out there had been an outbreak in the facility that my brother was at, she said. Davy said updates for parents are consistently posted on the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justices website, multiple letters were sent out and a virtual meeting was held for parents to ask questions. A notice was posted on the website the day after the first positive test result. Even before the pandemic, Avula said, communication between Bon Air and the family was not good, but it got worse after. She said she would call, only to be told, Well get someone to call you back or her call would be forwarded to someone who wasnt in the office. Avula said not enough was done to help children detained there, and she worries about her brothers mental health because of his two weeks in isolation. Arjanae Avula, pictured in Virginia, says she mainly worried about her brothers mental health while he was incarcerated. I felt scared, but it was mostly uneasy, she says. I couldnt function during the day. I just kept thinking, like I wonder, Is my brother OK. I wonder, Is my brother depressed? Portrait taken remotely by Gabriela Szymanowska / News21 In a Louisiana lawsuit filed in May by the Juvenile Law Center, childrens advocates claim a lack of medical oversight, infrequent access to COVID-19 testing, phone calls, family visitation, recreational and learning materials indicates that conditions inside all four state run facilities amount to punitive isolation rather than treatment. As a result of the stresses of the pandemic, especially in the early phases, we didnt have much information. The kids didnt know how long they were going to be in this dorm lockdown, Rachel Gassert, policy director of Louisiana Center for Childrens Rights said in late July. They still dont actually know when theyre going to be able to see their family again. Since the lockdown was lifted June 4, detainees and staff members in two Louisiana facilities have tested positive for the virus, leading to new lockdowns. As juvenile facilities resume in-person instruction, vocational training and other services, advocates say theyre confident cases will increase and lead to yet new lockdowns. A federal judge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, denied requests by child advocates to order the states Office of Juvenile Justice to release children on furlough because of COVID-19 in the states juvenile lockups. Since June, detention centers have resumed in-class instruction and vocational training, but Rachel Gassert, a policy director for Louisiana Center for Childrens Rights, says, Its impossible to say whether OJJ would have done those things if the lawsuit hadnt been filed. From riots to brawls to escapes, Gassert said, conditions inside Louisiana juvenile facilities create issues beyond the threat of coronavirus. There were a number of serious incidents that resulted in a lot more kids being placed in solitary confinement for punishment, she said. In an email to News21, The Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice said they are working closely with their medical provider and the public health department to provide the most appropriate treatment for each youth. The department has established quarantine and isolation guidelines for those exposed to the virus, according to the email. Elizabeth Touchet-Morgan, spokesperson for the juvenile justice office, said what advocates and local media called lockdowns were simply a quarantine by dormitory. Youth movement was limited to their own living areas for their health and safety. Before the pandemic Before COVID-19 took root across most of the nation, detention centers had drawn criticism for using solitary confinement and other practices that health experts say damage children in lasting ways. The pandemic exacerbated long standing issues within the system. Children who enter the justice system already are more susceptible to such illnesses as sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis, due in part to higher at-risk behaviors involving violence, substance abuse and sexual activity, according to a 2011 report by the Committee on Adolescence of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The report said inadequate health care before children enter the system leads to such undiagnosed illnesses as high blood pressure and diabetes. To help incarcerated youth, the report suggests that detention facilities screen for infectious diseases from unprotected sexual activity, provide comprehensive preventive services and have on-site medical professionals to treat for mental health issues. Thats particularly true when you look at young people who have underlying health conditions like asthma or kidney disease or diabetes, Lindell said. And these are the kids that are disproportionately in the juvenile justice system, and so we have a vulnerable population there. Quasim Selphs asthma, experts say, puts him more at-risk for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Once, his mother said, he had to wait four minutes to get his asthma treatment while nurses checked the temperatures of other children at the center to see if they could be infected. To Quadnesha, these four minutes meant everything. Quadnesha Selph made shirts to advocate for her son, Quasim Selph, who tested positive for COVID-19 in a New Jersey detention center. The back of the shirt says, Im human treat me as such and includes many hashtags. If I could sue them, I would, she says of the centers operators. Photo courtesy of Quadnesha Selph Moving forward Although the pandemic has exposed underlying problems in the juvenile health care system, it has reduced the number of children admitted to detention facilities something the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore has advocated for over 30 years. In detention facilities the foundation surveyed in March and April, the number of children detained before their court hearings had dropped 52%, according to its report Leading With Race: To Reimagine Youth Justice. The reduction, it said, equaled one that took place in a 13-year period from 2005 to 2017, according to the report. The Casey position has been that, more often than not, (children) dont actually need to be in secure detention until their court hearings, said Tanya Washington, the groups senior associate. The Casey foundation and other advocacy groups hope the number of detained juveniles will continue to drop as policies implemented during the pandemic are examined. Admissions to juvenile detention centers can stay low if leaders continue to scrutinize detention decisions and to review if not reconsider every policy that leans toward confinement, Washington said. Unless youth pose an immediate and substantial risk to public safety, the default response should be alternatives to out-of-home placements, including placement at home with terms and conditions. Morris, with the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, a nonprofit working to improve standards in correctional facilities, said some youth are placed in detention to receive medical and mental health care services he hopes will be provided in the community rather than the justice system. There is nothing in modern times that anyone who is alive today can come near recognizing as something thats similar, Morris said of COVID-19. The most recent comparison Morris could make was the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic that killed about 675,000 Americans and 50 million people around the world. Systems that have well-run health care are likely to be more resilient to the risk of COVID coming in, Morris said, speaking for himself and not on behalf of the commission. However, if you are in a very hot, hot spot (for the virus), that can even overwhelm the best health care systems. States like Utah, which had a limited number of youth confined in their 11 state-run facilities because of earlier reforms, were among the least affected. As of mid-August, nine detainees had tested positive for the coronavirus out of 130 youth, said Brett Peterson, director of the states Division of Juvenile Justice Services. The department also allowed 80 youth to serve out their sentences at home, Peterson said, adding that it is the first time the state has more kids serving at home than in facilities. We can safely supervise these kids in the community, he said. For those still detained, the department added more in-person visitation for youth and increased the number of video calls between youth and family members. While we have to keep youth safe during a pandemic, we also have to look at kind of the whole person their mental health, their physical health, and so thats why we have to balance these things, Peterson said. The Utah Department of Juvenile Justice Services requires staff to fill out a screening form at the Split Mountain Youth Center in Vernal to identify COVID-19 symptoms. Photo by David Green, Courtesy of Jackie Chamberlain/Utah Division of Juvenile Justice Services Peterson attributes Utahs success to the reforms, already having infectious disease protocols in place and an ongoing investment in a robust telehealth program. But moving forward, he said, if theres a future pandemic, the nation needs to further examine how its imprisoning children. For juvenile justice specifically, I think this constant conversation of why or when do we place kids into locked settings is the question we need to always keep asking, Peterson said. But Gassert and other advocates arent sure how the pandemic will change the juvenile justice system. As for (Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice) facilities, I would assume its more of the same: testing only symptomatic children, locking down dorms and quarantining youth if theres a positive test among youth or staff, and continuing to suspend visitation and furloughs, she said. However, that is just an assumption based on what theyve said and done thus far. In an email sent to News21, officials from the Office of Juvenile Justice said facilities are continuing to practice social distancing and quarantine guidelines as they resume normal operations. In addition, transports from the facility have been limited to essential trips and personal protection equipment has been distributed throughout the facilities. Lindell, with the Juvenile Law Center, said detention centers, like school districts, operate differently from city to city and facility to facility. Everything from visitation to education programming is very much in flux, she said, adding that youth prisons are incompatible with containing disease outbreaks. The best way to prepare for a future pandemic is to end our reliance on youth prisons and other institutional placements for youth, and instead invest resources in family- and community-based supports, Lindell said. The pandemic has shown that congregate care facilities have structural features that make containing a disease outbreak next to impossible. Even though experts are hopeful that lessons from COVID-19 will foster reforms within the system, Quadnesha Selph and other parents are worried about their children right now. At the end of the day, these are kids, she said. Look at it as if it was your child. This report is part of Kids Imprisoned , a project produced by the Carnegie-Knight News21 initiative, a national investigative reporting project by top college journalism students and recent graduates from across the country. It is headquartered at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. Join the Conversation COLOGNE, Germany The U.S. Air Force is sending six B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers to fly over each of NATOs 30 members on Friday, a gesture meant to signal the alliances unity. Four bombers, taking off from Royal Air Force Fairford in the United Kingdom, will pass over NATOs European members, according to a statement by U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany. Two B-52s departing from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, are scheduled to fly over the United States and Canada. This single-day mission, titled Allied Sky, is intended to demonstrate NATO solidarity, enhance readiness and provide training opportunities aimed at enhancing interoperability for all participating aircrews from the U.S. and NATO allies, the European Command statement read. Aircraft from 20 alliance members are scheduled to provide aerial refueling and other support throughout the day, it added. Officials described the mission as a variation of the U.S. militarys routine Bomber Task Force flights. Sending nuclear-capable bombers airborne amid global crises is a key tool in the Pentagons deterrence calculus. For US Air Force pilots, the toughest training flights are going virtual Current would-be hot spots include various points along NATOs eastern flank such as the Baltics and the High North where countries fear Russian forces are probing defenses. In addition, the popular uprising in Belarus against the countrys Moscow-backed, autocratic president, Alexander Lukashenko, has the potential to spill into neighboring Poland or the Baltic states, all of which are NATO members. U.S. security commitments to the NATO alliance remain ironclad, Gen. Tod Wolters, the head of European Command, was quoted as saying in the statement. Todays bomber task force mission is another example of how the alliance sustains readiness, improves interoperability and demonstrates our ability to deliver on commitments from across the Atlantic. In recent years, the U.S. military has repeatedly upheld the promise of NATOs mutual defense clause, even as President Donald Trump has strained the alliances political dimension during his tenure. New Delhi, Aug 28 : The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the authorities to treat the petition seeking a stay on the streaming of Netflix movie 'Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl for allegedly portraying a negative image of the Indian Air Force (IAF), as a representation. "We hereby direct the concerned respondent authorities to decide the representation of the petitioner in accordance with law, rules, regulations and government policies applicable to the facts of the case," said a division bench of the court presided by Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan. The court's direction came after the counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that he would be satisfied if the government bodies are directed by the court to consider his representation. The court was hearing a petition filed by NGO Justice for Rights Foundation through advocate Amit Kumar Sharma. The petition seeks directions of the court to the filmmakers to modify or delete the objectionable dialogues and scenes in the movie 'Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl', which allegedly portrays the prestigious Indian Air Force (IAF) in "undue poor light". "In the garb of creative and artistic freedom the production house of the film 'Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl' has portrayed the Indian Air Force in an undue negative light. Some scenes and dialogues in the movie are factually incorrect, misleading and portray an inappropriate work culture to glorify the screen character of former Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena," the plea said. The petitioner further states that several male officers have been projected as misogynists to suit the film's false narrative. "The false and negative portrayal of the Indian Air Force is an abuse of freedom of expression which ought to be censured. Before the release of the movie 'Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl', the IAF had requested Dharma Productions to modify or delete the objectionable scenes that portray the IAF in a negative light," the plea said. The plea states that as per the initial understanding, Dharma Productions had promised to "represent Indian Air Force with authenticity and to make all efforts to ensure that the film helps inspire the next generation of IAF officers". "The production house did not modify or delete the scenes objected to by the Indian Air Force, they just simply inserted a disclaimer. A mere disclaimer would not be sufficient and adequate to prevent the presentation of incorrect facts about the Indian Air Force," it said. The petitioner has further claimed that the gender discrimination which has been portrayed in the movie is "incorrect, false and misleading". "Over and above, it is not factually corroborated. The glorious and prestigious Indian Air Force has ensured that the organisation is gender neutral and has always provided an equal opportunity to both male and female personnel," the plea said. "It is a well-known fact that the Indian Air Force (IAF) has the largest number of women officers serving actively. The Indian Air Force was the first to open all its branches to women officers, including combat roles in 2015," the plea said further. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global used cooking oil (UCO) market size is anticipated to reach USD 773.5 Million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 3.6% during the forecast period, according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research. The Report Used Cooking Oil Market Share, Size, Trends, & Industry Analysis Report [By Source (Restaurants and Other Food Outlets, Household, Food Manufacturers, Caterers, Others) By Application (Biodiesel, Oleo Chemicals, Animal Feed, Others), By Regions]: Segments & Forecast, 2019 2026 provides a thorough and detailed analysis with an overview of present trends and future insights. In 2018, the biodiesel segment accounted for the highest share in this market in terms of revenue. Europe is expected to be the leading contributor to the market revenue in 2018. Get sample copy of this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/used-cooking-oil-uco-market/request-for-sample Increasing urbanization and industrialization coupled with growing demand for biofuels majorly drives the UCO market growth. The increasing population, and rising awareness regarding use of renewable resources further support the growth of this market. 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The rising environmental concerns, and favorable government regulations is generating numerous opportunities for the used cooking oil industry in the region. Increasing demand for biodiesel, and growing awareness regarding animal health also boosts market growth in Europe. The well-known companies profiled in the UCO market report include Greenergy International Ltd, Baker Commodities Inc., Darling Ingredients, Proper Oils, Uptown Biodiesel Limited, Argent Energy, Devon Biofuels, Brocklesby Ltd, Biomotive Fuel Ltd., and Lywood Consulting. These companies are consistently launching new products to enhance their offerings in the global used cooking oil industry. With the advancement of technologies, companies are innovating and introducing new customized solutions to cater the growing needs of the customers. Leading companies are also acquiring other companies, and enhancing their product offerings to improve their market reach. 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Browse for full research summary: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/used-cooking-oil-uco-market Polaris Market Research has segmented the global used cooking oil (UCO) market on the basis of Source, Applications and Region: Used Cooking Oil Source Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 2026) Restaurants and Other Food Outlets Household Food Manufacturers Caterers Others Used Cooking Oil Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 2026) Bio-diesel Oleochemicals Animal feed Others Used Cooking Oil Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 2026) North America o U.S. o Canada Europe o Germany o UK o France o Italy Asia-Pacific o China o India o Japan o Singapore o Australia Latin America o Brazil o Mexico Middle East and Africa Avail discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/used-cooking-oil-uco-market/request-for-discount-pricing About Polaris Market Research Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities. Adept with a highly competent, experienced and extremely qualified team of experts comprising SMEs, analysts and consultants, we at Polaris endeavor to deliver value-added business solutions to our customers. Contact Us: Polaris Market Research Phone: 1-646-568-9980 Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com Web: www.polarismarketresearch.com Extremely unlikely that they will find anything A helicopter scan for radioactivity at SFs former bases had limited value. The city relied on it anyway. Extremely unlikely that they will find anything A helicopter scan for radioactivity at SFs former bases had limited value. The city relied on it anyway. For years, San Francisco has faced tough questions about the safety of two former naval bases that were poisoned with radioactive substances and now are being developed into two of the citys largest housing projects. In response, the city Public Health Department has repeatedly given the same answer, telling people theres nothing to worry about. Proof, it said, was delivered from the sky. At least 10 times in the last eight years, in hearings and documents and emails, the department has touted a helicopter search for radioactive hot spots performed in 2012 as evidence that the bases are safe. The helicopter, equipped with a radiation scanner, flew above the former bases: the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard on the citys southeast waterfront, and Treasure Island at the midspan of the Bay Bridge. The aerial scan detected nothing out of the ordinary. But the department understood from the beginning that the helicopter was unlikely to find radioactive hazards because it was not as sensitive as ground-level scans and soil tests, a Chronicle investigation has found. In 2012, before the helicopter scan was performed, Amy Brownell, San Franciscos key health expert at Hunters Point and Treasure Island, told two city development officials that the helicopter would probably fail to locate hazards at both sites, according to an email obtained by this newspaper through a public records request. In the email, Brownell wrote that the helicopters limitations were among several reasons to request a flyover of the former bases. Extremely unlikely that they will find anything, Brownell wrote on Aug. 19, 2012, because they are just doing a gamma survey at 300 feet the instruments and lab tests that Navy does on the surface at HPS (Hunters Point Shipyard) are much more sensitive. A key concern at the two former bases has been the soil: Navy activities left radioactive isotopes sprinkled through the dirt and dust, and even a small speck of some radioactive substances can cause cancer if inhaled or ingested. In addition, the Navy used parts of both sites as radioactive waste dumps, burying thousands of small objects that emit low-level gamma radiation. The gamma rays travel through the ground and buildings, so a person living on top of such an object could absorb a dangerous dose over time. The helicopter, operated by the U.S. Department of Energy, was designed to fly 300 feet above the ground and quickly scan wide areas for radiation during nuclear emergencies, according to federal descriptions of the aircraft. It was meant to measure the extent of radiation leakage after a power plant meltdown or to search for dirty bombs. It wasnt built for the more subtle work of spotting patches of poisoned soil or small, buried radioactive objects, and it wasnt normally used for that purpose. In summer 2012, the U.S. government announced it would fly the helicopter above some parts of the Bay Area as part of a research project to study background radiation levels. The flight, ordered by the Department of Homeland Security, wasnt part of any environmental or cleanup project and, originally, the government did not intend to fly above Hunters Point and Treasure Island. But Brownell had a suggestion: What if San Francisco asked the federal government to make a last-minute change and include those two troublesome sites in the helicopters search? In the August 2012 email in which she said the survey was extremely unlikely to find anything, Brownell suggested a clean bill of health from the helicopter would help the citys efforts to develop the old military bases for housing. Officials had been pushing for years to take control of Navy-owned land at the sites. If they dont find anything, Brownell wrote, it will be another layer of evidence to add to all our other information that provides assurance that the property transfers are safe. Brownell, an environmental engineer in the citys health department, went on in the email to say that if the helicopter did locate any anomalies, technicians with the Navy and the state could follow up and investigate. Two days after she sent the email, the city officially requested that the federal government include Hunters Point and Treasure Island in the helicopters search area as special areas of interest, records show. The federal government agreed, and the scan was completed over a five-day period in late August, covering 69 square miles of the Bay Area, including the former naval bases. The helicopter found no radioactive anomalies at Hunters Point or Treasure Island. And in the years since, despite acknowledging the helicopters limitations in private, Brownell and the health department have promoted the helicopters results to speed the real estate development of Hunters Point and Treasure Island, according to documents obtained by The Chronicle. At times, Brownell presented the results of the helicopter survey as one piece of evidence among many, a data point she said added weight to the citys confidence that Hunters Point and Treasure Island were safe. Other times, though, she said definitively that the results showed the areas were safe. The city has used the findings to dismiss questions about contamination, to argue against new searches for radioactive waste and to persuade elected officials, regulators and residents that Hunters Point and Treasure Island have been properly vetted, records show. The health department did so in testimony before the Board of Supervisors, in a meeting with residents, in memos listing talking points, and in emails to prospective home buyers and city consultants. Brownell did not respond to multiple requests for comment. A health department spokeswoman, Rachael Kagan, said Brownell had accurately described the scan to the public. The Department of Public Health accurately referenced the aerial survey, Kagan said in an email. It has been mentioned to the community on occasion as an additional piece of information gathered through the course of many federal and state agencies study of the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. Department spokesman Brent Andrew said in an email that the aerial scan was not the only tool used to evaluate site safety and that our communication with the community has always been based on findings validated by multiple parties. Told of The Chronicles findings, nuclear experts, a San Francisco supervisor and a former Treasure Island resident said they were alarmed by the health departments messaging, which was often delivered by Brownell. They said it is essential that public health professionals explain science accurately and level with people about risks. It seems pretty clear that shes telling the public one thing and saying something else behind closed doors, said Supervisor Matt Haney, whose district includes Treasure Island, after reviewing Brownells 2012 email and other public documents gathered by The Chronicle. He said the health department officials should never tailor their message or results to sell the project. Gabrielle Hecht, a professor of nuclear security at Stanford University and a historian of the nuclear age, said, I think its irresponsible. Brownell is basically following a classic playbook around issues of toxicity, radiation and contamination, which is to invoke a study that isnt designed to find the contamination, then use it to say that there is no contamination. Housing on old naval land During the Cold War, ships that had been contaminated by atomic bomb tests docked at the bases and tainted the land with substances that can last for thousands of years and emit radiation that can damage human cells, increasing the risk of cancer. The Navy and other agencies have spent decades trying to remove that contamination, while scouring the ground with radiation detectors and declaring some areas to be safe. Hundreds of people now live in new condos on a hilltop portion of the shipyard and on Treasure Island. Regulatory agencies have said that both housing areas are safe for residents and pose no immediate health threats. The Navy, however, is still searching for possible contamination in Treasure Islands housing area, and much of Hunters Point remains a federal Superfund site. Meanwhile, the city is working with developers to add thousands of new homes at both sites in the hope that these megaprojects will relieve San Franciscos severe housing crunch. Because radiation is invisible, the only way to find it is with machines. Normally, when the Navy and other agencies search for radioactive hazards at Hunters Point and Treasure Island, they use ground-level scans and take soil samples. A tool like the helicopter scanner doesnt come close in terms of sensitivity, according to nuclear experts. David Kappelman, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency health physicist, told a colleague in 2016 that the helicopter equipment does not locate small discrete areas [of elevated radiation] or buried material with clean fill on top very well, according to an email obtained by The Chronicle. Two years later, Kurt Jackson, a radiation expert with the California Department of Public Health, echoed that conclusion, saying in an email to a supervisor that the helicopter is not capable of seeing small radium-tainted objects or anything close to that level in a single source. Brownell also acknowledged the helicopters lack of sensitivity in her August 2012 email. But in public comments after the flyover was performed, she did not mention that view or her role in requesting the flyover of Hunters Point and Treasure Island. Instead, speaking to multiple audiences, she took a different tone, describing the helicopter as a powerful tool. On Sept. 18, 2012, just weeks after the flyover, the Navy held a community meeting on Treasure Island about the status of the cleanup there. Tensions were high: Cleanup workers had found radioactive objects scattered through parts of the housing area that were supposed to be clean, forcing the Navy to admit that contamination might be more widespread than officials had thought. Several residents spoke at the meeting, saying they worried about the health of their families and didnt believe the Navy and the city were telling the truth about the extent of contamination. Brownell also spoke and mentioned the helicopter. She suggested residents could trust the aerial survey and the negative results it produced because it was done by Homeland Security, an agency with no relationship to the development project. The helicopter survey was totally independent, Brownell told the residents, according to a transcript of the meeting. They did a survey in a helicopter with radiation detectors at about 300 feet, and they literally flew back and forth from across Treasure Island and several other spots in San Francisco. Theyre doing it as part of a research project to understand background levels. She added that the survey results were part of our weighted evidence that there are no concerns on this Island, because there were no concerns found and no anomalies or anything that they didnt know about ... a completely different agency said that, yes, weve scanned the island, and theres not any problem. In the audience that day was Kathryn Lundgren, who lived on Treasure Island with her family from 2005 to 2016 and attended the meeting with two of her three children. Lundgren said they were 12 and 14 at the time and that she had been taking them to the doctor for rashes, hair loss and persistent fevers. She said one of them was later diagnosed with a thyroid problem. Lundgren feared their ailments were linked to contamination. Im devastated, Lundgren said after learning from Chronicle reporters about Brownells earlier email. This is like a slap in the face. We came to this meeting as a group of trusting people to be told the truth. In 2012 and early 2013, records show, Brownell continued to use the helicopter to dismiss concerns, even as other public officials worried about risks to residents on Treasure Island and suggested the island be scanned more carefully. On Oct. 15, 2012, Treasure Island residents packed into a Board of Supervisors hearing and asked that all of the islands residential areas be tested. Then-Supervisors Jane Kim and David Campos said it was a reasonable demand. It is something that if I lived there, that I would like to see my government do, Campos said, to applause from the residents. I would rather err on the side of doing more than less. Brownell, who testified at the hearing, responded, We can certainly explore that idea. But the day after the hearing, Brownell used the helicopter survey to argue against more testing in an email to a city redevelopment official. Before we ask CDPH (the California Department of Public Health) to scan more lets talk, she wrote. I think we can use the aerial survey to help out with this issue. In emails over the next several months, Brownell continued to make the case that the helicopter scan supports conclusions that the whole island is safe. In a March 2013 email to a city redevelopment official and a city consultant, she said, Im convinced that we can be assured that there is nothing of concern for the population as a whole on TI [Treasure Island] ... the aerial survey gives us that assurance. That month, however, technicians with the state health department collected soil samples at five locations in the islands common areas where radiation measurements were significantly elevated. At one of these spots, they unearthed an octagonal disc found at a shallow depth in the soil about 20 feet from a bus stop. The object emitted enough radiation to cause radiation burns, hair loss and possible ulceration if held against the skin for an hour, according to a 2013 state report. After that finding and other earlier discoveries of contamination, the Navy decided that the islands large housing area known as Site 12 was radiologically impacted and must be investigated. Since then, Navy contractors have found more than 700 radioactive objects in Site 12, most in old landfills and some near occupied homes, parks and playgrounds. Most were contaminated with radium-226, an isotope linked to blood disorders and a range of cancers. Not surprisingly, given its limitations, the helicopter study had failed to identify all 700-plus objects. City downplays fraud Around this time, across the Bay Bridge to the west, the effort to clean up Hunters Point was descending into scandal. Starting around 2011, former employees and subcontractors of Tetra Tech EC, the Navys main cleanup firm at the shipyard, made a series of startling claims to regulators and journalists. The whistle-blowers said Tetra Tech EC was faking radiation measurements to make potentially tainted areas seem clean because the Navy wanted to finish the project quickly, and the firm wanted to satisfy the military to keep getting contracts. The Navy itself had noticed strange patterns in Tetra Tech ECs data. The company denied any misconduct and said it performed all work correctly, blaming any problems on a few rogue employees. But questions persisted about the integrity of the data, plunging the Hunters Point cleanup and future real estate development into uncertainty. At the same time, the health department argued the data issues were minor and that the project should stay on track and it used the helicopter survey to help make the case. The Chronicle submitted a public records request to the department for documents mentioning the helicopter survey. Among those provided to the newspaper was a talking-points memo titled How do we know the Shipyard is safe? The memo says the aerial survey is a piece of evidence that confirms safety. Also provided were 11 pages that appeared to be notes for a public presentation about the Hunters Point shipyard. The document says the helicopter provides a picture that it is safe. The health department did not respond to questions about how the presentation notes or the memo were used. Over the next several years, state and federal agencies looked into the whistle-blowers allegations and concluded that some of the big ones were true. The U.S. Department of Justice successfully prosecuted two Tetra Tech EC cleanup supervisors for faking radiation measurements. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Navy decided to retest the shipyard, although the Navy complained about the price and said the scandal could cost more than half a billion in taxpayer dollars. This amount of money would buy a new Littoral Combat ship, a Navy official wrote in a court filing. Meanwhile, for the first time, whistle-blowers publicly raised questions about the safety of Parcel A, the shipyards hilltop housing area. In 2018, two former cleanup workers told The Chronicle and other media outlets they had found radioactive contamination on the parcel and along its border. The news slowed home sales at the shipyard. But as potential buyers considered backing out, Brownell stepped in to reassure them, again using the helicopter survey to say the land was safe. One couple, a husband and wife, put a deposit on a $900,000 shipyard condo in April 2018. The husband, who asked to be identified only by his first name, Ron, said he and his wife had been saving for years to buy a new home in the Bay Area. The shipyard was one of the few places they liked that they could afford. When they saw news coverage of problems with the cleanup, Ron got in touch with his representative at Lennar Corp., the company marketing the condos. The Lennar employee suggested he call Brownell. Ron said he and Brownell spoke by phone, and that Rons wife sent her a series of follow-up questions by email asking for evidence that Parcel A was clean. On April 30, 2018, Brownell replied, telling Rons wife that the hilltop area had been thoroughly vetted. Brownell mentioned the helicopter, saying it had scanned the entire shipyard with sophisticated radiation detection instruments and found nothing of concern. She attached a PDF of the helicopters results. She then forwarded her response and the PDF to 14 other people, including city redevelopment officials, consultants and representatives of shipyard developer FivePoint. At the top of the forwarded email, she wrote, Some information I sent to an inquiring home buyer about why Parcel A is safe. Weeks later, on May 14, 2018, Brownell spoke at a Board of Supervisors hearing filled with residents concerned about contamination at the shipyard and Treasure Island. Once again, she trumpeted the helicopter survey. There were no anomalies found, Brownell told the supervisors. Nothing out of the ordinary found on the entire Hunters Point Shipyard. Supervisor Ahsha Safai seemed dubious. That sounds like its done from a satellite, he said, asking for clarification. The aerial survey is done from helicopters, Brownell replied. They attach very, very sensitive radiological equipment on helicopters, and they do a low-flying pass over the areas. At the time they were doing a background survey and they can detect very, very, very low levels, and they can tell you whether theres background [radiation] or whether there is any anomalies on the surface. Only after the supervisor pressed her on the helicopters precision did Brownell give a more nuanced answer, acknowledging that the aerial method wasnt as accurate as taking soil samples and testing them in a lab. Jason Fagone and Cynthia Dizikes are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jfagone@sfchronicle.com, cdizikes@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JFagone, @CDizikes Dallas, Texas, Aug. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Transdermal Drug Delivery System Market Size 2020, By Test (Transdermal Patches, Transdermal Semisolids) Application (Pain Management, Hormonal Applications, Central Nervous System Disorders, Cardiovascular Diseases, Other Applications) Region and Forecast 2021 to 2028 study provides an elaborative view of historic, present and forecasted market estimates. Request a pdf sample at https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/1595 Adroit Market Research report on global catheter stabilization devices market gives a holistic view of the market from 2018 to 2028, which includes factors such as market drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges. The market has been studied for historic years from 2018 to 2019, with the base year of estimation as 2020 and forecast from 2021 to 2028. 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If yes, then get in touch with us at https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/contacts/discount/1595 The global transdermal drug delivery system market is categorized based on type and application. By type, transdermal patch is set to grow at a highest pace due to increased bioavailability. Application wise, the pain management segment is projected to account for the largest market share owing to its raising application in cancer pain management. In 2020, North America was the largest market for transdermal drug delivery system owing to rising prevalence of targeted diseases. Moreover, Asia Pacific is projected to grow at a highest pace during the forecast period. Key players of the global transdermal drug delivery system market include Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical, Novartis, Mylan, UCB, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Endo International, 3M Company and Purdue Pharma among others. Direct purchase the report at https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/researchreport/purchase/1595 Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Research Methodology 3. Market Outlook 4. Transdermal Drug Delivery System Market by Type, 2018-2028 (USD Million) 5. Transdermal Drug Delivery System Market by Application, 2018-2028 (USD Million) 6. Transdermal Drug Delivery System Market by Region 2018-2028 (USD Million) 7. Competitive Landscape 8. Company Profiles 9. Appendix Access research repository of Upcoming Reports @ https://adroitmarketresearch.com/upcoming.html About Us: Adroit Market Research is a global business analytics and consulting company incorporated in 2018. Our target audience is a wide range of corporations, manufacturing companies, product/technology development institutions and industry associations that require understanding of a markets size, key trends, participants and future outlook of an industry. We intend to become our clients knowledge partner and provide them with valuable market insights to help create opportunities that increase their revenues. We follow a code Explore, Learn and Transform. At our core, we are curious people who love to identify and understand industry patterns, create an insightful study around our findings and churn out money-making roadmaps. Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle Following a week of adverse weather forecasts, Houston has once again issued a heat advisory that will likely extend through the weekend. Houstonians can expect temperatures to edge toward triple-digits Friday, with the actual feel somewhere between 105 and 110 degrees by early afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. By the start of next week, tropical moisture should bring some rain and cooler weather pockets to the area. A Greggs depot in Leeds has been forced to shut after a coronavirus outbreak. The distribution centre for the bakery giant in Bramley has temporarily closed for a deep clean after an undisclosed number of staff tested positive for Covid-19. A Greggs spokeswoman told the Standard less than 20 staff have been infected, but testing and tracing is ongoing so the figure could rise. Roger Whiteside, Greggs CEO, said the firm had taken immediate action. Those who are self-isolating will receive sick pay, Greggs said. Lucy Jackson, Leeds City Councils deputy director of Public Health, said: A number of staff recently tested positive for COVID-19 at Greggs distribution depot in Leeds. Following further testing, more staff have been identified as being positive. This highlights why further testing and contact tracing is so important which Greggs is proactively undertaking. She added: We are satisfied the necessary steps are being taken quickly to minimise any further spread of infection. Multiple factories across the UK have seen outbreaks in recent weeks. Banham Poultry chicken factory in Norfolk became the latest to partially shut on Wednesday after 75 employees tested positive and 350 families were forced to self-isolate. Fionet is a first-of-its-kind mobile testing platform for organizations to manage and track on-site COVID-19 testing Fionet Devices, usable by non-expert personnel, enables lab-grade diagnostic testing in clinics, pharmacies, workplaces, airports, nursing homes and other community-based locations Simultaneously, Fionet Cloud relays real-time data for remote oversight of frontline testing activities and results Fionet is compatible with rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) from multiple suppliers, enabling agile testing programs and reducing supply chain constraints for RDTs Proven in the field with 1 million cases in 12 countries for other high-consequence pandemics, including malaria, HIV, dengue, ebola and others Documented impact in scientific and medical journals demonstrating diagnostic accuracy of 99.5% 1 equivalent to that of laboratory technologists, while reducing testing errors and cost inefficiencies equivalent to that of laboratory technologists, while reducing testing errors and cost inefficiencies Proved to be an essential tool for both performing [rapid diagnostic tests] in the field and for monitoring from remote locations.2 TORONTO, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Relay Medical Corp. (Relay or the Company) (CSE: RELA, OTC: RYMDF, Frankfurt: EIY2), and Fio Corporation (Fio) announce the commencement of operations of the Fionet Rapid Response Group (FRR) to bring a new COVID-19 mobile testing and tracking platform to market. FRR is now in negotiation for trial deployments with several potential partners. Relay and Fio previously announced a joint venture on August 19, 2020 to rapidly launch and deploy a new COVID-19 testing, data collection and reporting solution. The JV operates under the name Fionet Rapid Response Group and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Community-based testing and real-time tracking is indispensable for combating pandemics like COVID-19. Fionet has already made this happen in the most challenging epidemic regions on the planet and we are now preparing for imminent deployment of our platform with several partners to combat COVID-19 at home and abroad, said Dr Michael Greenberg, CEO of Fionet Rapid Response Group. Fionet is a mobile testing and tracking platform specifically developed for controlled, rapid response to pandemics. The platform combines handheld devices linked to online AI-powered cloud, automating frontline testing and capturing test results for tracking. Fionets rugged, mobile devices are compatible with multiple third-party antigen and antibody COVID-19 rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), which creates sourcing flexibility for RDTs which are of limited supply and continuously evolving. Fionet also connects with molecular testing devices such as PCRs. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/abb3635d-6461-4211-bc08-156b57247c87 Fios cloud-platform delivers real-time, actionable intelligence for supervisors and public health officials to manage responses and resources to new levels of precision and promptness. Data and insights are delivered to dashboards, IT systems and public health databases for rapid, secure and data-informed responses. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ff268b54-709f-4b8f-9d53-7358cbdcb5b7 Flexible and customizable, Fionet enables diagnostic testing in any community-based setting to support a variety of return-to-work use-cases. Testing can be expanded beyond the few overburdened medical centres to small clinics, pharmacies, workplaces, airports, nursing homes, schools, etc. and performed at hospital-grade accuracy, in higher volume, faster-speed, and by less-skilled frontline workers. Fionet has proven, positive impact on 1 million patients with infectious diseases in over a dozen countries and 4 continents. Fio successfully managed testing programs for high-consequence diseases such as malaria, HIV, dengue and ebola in partnership with world-class organizations including World Health Organization, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ministry of Health of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Republic of Kenya Ministry of Health. The many transformational benefits delivered by Fionet have been validated and documented in several dozen scientific and medical journals. Fionet has successfully reduced testing errors by 23%, achieves 99.5%1 diagnostic accuracy rate compared to expert lab techs, and provides significant economic efficiencies, said Yoav Raiter, CEO, Relay Medical Corp. 1 Noble et al. Continuous quality monitoring in the field: an evaluation of the performance of the Fio Deki Reader for rapid HIV testing in South Africa. BMC Infectious Diseases (2020) 20:320 2 Mulvaney SP, et al. Rapid design and fielding of four diagnostic technologies in Sierra Leone, Thailand, Peru, and Australia: Successes and challenges faced introducing these biosensors. Sensing and Bio-Sensing Research 20 (2018) 2233. **The Companies are not making any express or implied claims that its product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain the COVID-19 (or SARS-2 Coronavirus) at this time. About Fio Corporation Fio Corporation, privately held and headquartered in Toronto, developed and markets the worlds first integrated guidance & tracking IT platform for decentralized healthcare settings, a new category of solution that raises healthcare quality and lowers healthcare costs. The platform enables average healthcare workers in clinics to deliver a new level of quality-controlled diagnostic testing and case management. Simultaneously, as an automated by-product of its clinical use, the platform captures and provides unprecedented frontline data to remote supervisors and stakeholders, enabling real-time remote tracking, insight distribution, and intervention. Fio operates globally in partnership with local distribution, service, and support organizations and also partners with other companies that license its technologies. Website: www.fio.com About Relay Medical Corp. Relay Medical is a MedTech innovation Company headquartered in Toronto, Canada focused on the development of novel technologies in the diagnostics and AI data science sectors. Website: www.relaymedical.com Contact: W. Clark Kent President Relay Medical Corp. Office. 647-872-9982 ext. 2 TF. 1-844-247-6633 ext. 2 investor.relations@relaymedical.com Bernhard Langer EU Investor Relations Office. +49 (0) 177 774 2314 Email: blanger@relaymedical.com Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement China has suspended beef imports from a fifth abattoir in Queensland after Scott Morrison threatened to tear up Victoria's Belt and Road deal with Beijing. China's customs authority claims it found the banned drug chloramphenicol in beef from the family-owned business John Dee Warwick. It has ordered Australia to investigate the company and provide feedback within 45 days. China has suspended beef imports from a fifth abattoir in Queensland after Scott Morrison threatened to tear up Victoria's Belt and Road deal with Beijing (stock image) A translated statement read: 'In order to ensure the safety of imported meat products, customs has officially notified Australia to suspend the export of the company to China, and requires Australia to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the relevant company within 45 days and provide feedback to the Chinese side.' Four Queensland abattoirs have already had their products temporarily banned from China amid political and economic tensions between Canberra and Beijing. On Thursday Scott Morrison announced he wants new laws to stop states and territories signing deals with foreign powers that go against Australia's foreign policy and damage the national interest. The foreign minister will be given 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 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. 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 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. US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets multirole fighters prepare to take off from the flight deck of USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) aircraft carrier on Oct. 16, 2019, as it sails in the South China Sea on its way to Singapore. (Catherine Lai/AFP via Getty Images) Pentagon Warns China Over Ballistic Missile Launches in South China Sea as Tensions Escalate The Pentagon said Beijing has further destabilized the situation in the South China Sea, after it test-launched ballistic missiles during military exercises in the contested waters. Conducting military exercises over disputed territory in the South China Sea is counterproductive to easing tensions and maintaining stability, the Pentagon said in a statement issued on Aug. 27. The Pentagon statement said Beijing fired these missiles around the Paracel Islands, a disputed archipelago in the region, while conducting exercises, but did not specify which date, how many had been fired, or the types of missiles. Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) is conducting exercises in the South China Sea from Aug. 23 to 29. This military exercise is the latest in a long string of PRC [Peoples Republic of China] actions to assert unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea, the Pentagon said. On Thursday, the U.S. Navy stated on Twitter that its guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin conducted routine operations in the waters near the Paracel Islands to ensure a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. The Chinese regime has amped up its aggression in the region as the United States has simultaneously sought to counter its threats. Islands, reefs, and rocks in the strategic waterway are claimed by a number of countries, including Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Beijing has used the nine-dash line to proclaim sovereignty over 90 percent of the South China Sea, despite a United Nations legal judgment in 2016 that refuted Beijings claims. In recent years, Beijing has sought to bolster its claims by building military outposts on artificial islands and reefs in the region. It has also deployed coast guard ships and Chinese fishing boats to intimidate foreign vessels, block access to waterways, and seize shoals and reefs. On July 13, the United States formally rejected Beijings claims in the South China Sea, as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the claims were completely unlawful and that China was conducting a campaign of bullying to control the area. This week, the U.S. Commerce Department placed 24 Chinese state-owned companies on a trade blacklist, citing their involvement in militarizing the South China Sea. The State Department also announced that it will impose visa restrictions on Chinese citizens responsible for such endeavors. Some China experts said that though Beijing is acting tough, it likely will not want to engage in a true conflict with the United States. Chinese Missiles On Thursday, Japanese media NHK reported that China fired four ballistic missiles toward the South China Sea on Wednesday, citing unnamed U.S. military sources. NHK stated the missiles fell between Chinas island province of Hainan and Paracel Islands. Meanwhile, South China Morning Post, citing an unnamed source close to the Chinese military, said Beijing fired two missiles, a DF-26B missile and a DF-21D missile, on Wednesday. According to the Pentagons 2019 annual report to Congress, the DF-26, a nuclear and conventional capable ballistic missile, has a range of about 4,000 km (2,485 miles), and the DF-21D, an anti-ship ballistic missile, can exceed a range of 1,500 km (932 miles). Pentagon official Alan R. Shaffer previously said at a military conference in March 2019 that the DF-26 can reach Guam, a U.S. territory in the Pacific and a major resupply station for U.S. forces. Chinese officials have kept mum about the missile launches. Asked about the Pentagons statement during a daily briefing on Friday afternoon, Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian did not comment on the launches but accused the United States of being the destroyer and troublemaker of stability in the South China Sea. The day prior, Wu Qian, spokesperson for Chinas Ministry of National Defense, said at a press conference that the exercises are not directed at any country but made no mention of the missile launches. Military Exercises Concurrently, Beijing is conducting military drills in three other waterways near China: the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, and the East China Sea. Wu Qian also addressed at a Thursday press conference the PLAs military exercises in Taiwan earlier this month and the guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin passing through the Taiwan straits last week. We continually organized the combat drills in the Taiwan straits targeting foreign forces, targeting the Taiwan independence separatist forces, Wu claimed. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory despite it being a self-ruled island with its own democratically-elected government, military, and currency. The United States has continually sailed its military vessels near Taiwan, in addition to selling arms, to assist the island in defending against Beijings military provocations. In the past, the Chinese regime has used similar language to accuse the United States of supporting a split between the mainland and Taiwan. On Aug. 10, Chinas hawkish state-run media Global Times ran an editorial that said the U.S. was using Taiwan as its pawn to contain the Chinese mainland. On Aug. 13, Global Times published an article saying that Chinas military drills in the Taiwan straits were aimed at deterring the provocative and dangerous connection between the island [Taiwan] and the U.S. The article quoted a Chinese analyst, who warned that if the U.S. and Taiwan secessionists go further, the PLA could take more countermeasures, including live-fire missile drills east of Taiwan island and near Guam. US Plane This week, the Chinese regime also accused the United States of trespassing its no-fly zone when a U-2 reconnaissance plane flew over combat drills in the Bohai Sea. Wu called the U-2 flight a provocative action during an Aug. 25 press conference. The U.S. Pacific Air Forces, in a statement to CNN, stated the U-2 flight was conducted in the Indo-Pacific area of operations and within the accepted international rules and regulations governing aircraft flights. Taiwanese lawmaker Wang Ting-yu said in a video posted on his Facebook page on Thursday that he believed Chinas decision to fire ballistic missiles was to hit back at the United States for the reconnaissance plane flyover. State-run newspaper Peoples Daily also reported that a U.S. P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft entered the South China Sea via the Bashi Channela waterway between the Philippines and Taiwanon Thursday. The day prior, a RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft had entered the South China Sea via the same channel. And on Tuesday, a Challenger 650 reconnaissance aircraft also passed through the same area, according to Chinese officials. U.S.-based China affairs commentator Tang Jingyuan said despite Beijings recent show of muscle and rhetoric, the Chinese regime is not prepared for war. In a phone interview, Tang analyzed that Beijing chose not to send out fighters to intercept the U.S. reconnaissance aircrafts that flew over the Bohai Sea and South China Sea. In addition, Chinese state-run media did not prominently publish reports about these incidents, suggesting that Beijing did not want to make a big splash about the actions. Reactions Several nations voiced concerns over Chinas actions. According to Japanese newspaper Mainichi, Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, in response to a question about Chinas missile launches at a press conference on Thursday, stated: Our country is strongly opposed to whatever act that heightens tensions in the South China Sea. Taiwan, which sees China as a hostile neighbor that threatens the islands sovereignty, has for years expressed concerns about Chinas military activities in the region. On Thursday, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, speaking at a virtual forum held by the think tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute, expressed concerns about accidental conflicts in the region. We expect and hope that Beijing will continue to exercise restraint, consistent with their obligations as a major regional power, Tsai said. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) took to her Twitter account to call for more action to counter Beijing. We will continue to conduct multilateral exercises and freedom of navigation operations in the Indo-Pacific waters & will not be intimidated by Chinas growing aggression, Blackburn said. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) issued a statement applauding the Trump administrations move to sanction Chinese companies and individuals involved in South China Sea aggressions. It is crucial that U.S. investors and businesses are aware that PRC companies involved in the militarization of the South China Sea maintain a presence in our capital markets, Risch stated. This article has been updated to clarify Wu Qians comments regarding drills in the Taiwan straits. Frank Fang journalist Follow Frank Fang is a Taiwan-based journalist. He covers news in China and Taiwan. He holds a master's degree in materials science from Tsinghua University in Taiwan. When Julia Wattacheril, a transplant hepatologist, was redeployed to the ICU triage at her hospital in New York City this spring, she faced pure disaster management at peak. In the first 26 minutes of her first shift, she had three rapid responses (acutely unstable patients before a cardiac arrest), two arrests, and one death. The hardships are many, Wattacheril says. Some of the difficulties health care providers face include acute exacerbations of what we experience daily: chaotic work environments, being underresourced, dealing with medical consequences of social injustice, and others. But the most painful hardships, says Wattacheril, came from lack of human connection, as medical professionals walked down eerily silent hallways where it was hard to tell who was whom, given required personal protective equipment (PPE), she said. We had no time to think, no time to learn, no time to prepare, no time to discuss. As a Christian bearing witness to ongoing suffering in the hospital, Wattacheril finds that her faith is her bedrock. Through anchoring Scriptures, a rich prayer life, a community of friends struggling together, and lots of meaningful music, I have a means toward understanding suffering as a path towards greater compassion and empathy. Wattacherils story reflects a common question: In a world turned upside down by COVID-19, how does our faith sustain us, even when suffering continues? The New Testament talks repeatedly about the idea of enduring in the face of suffering (Gal. 6:9; Rom. 5:34; 2 Cor. 4:1618). Endurance could also be called spiritual fortitude, a subject that researchers are studying to examine how our faith interacts with suffering. Psychologist Jamie Aten, the director of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College, collaborated on the first empirical scale of spiritual fortitude, which is defined as a character trait enabling people to endure and make redemptive meaning from adversity through their sacred connections with God, others, and themselves. Aten believes that we will likely be experiencing long-term impacts from COVID-19, with delayed economic hits, as well as physical stresses and traumas for those effected by the actual virus. Christina Wright, a mother of four in North Texas, experienced the daunting challenge of having her family catch COVID-19 early, when even less was known about it. She spent days writhing in bed with intense body aches, and her husband, David, had a fever for weeks, along with headaches, chills, a cough, and congestion. Their situation was unique because they were the first in their Texas county to contract it. They would soon find themselves watching briefings and press conferences about themselvesan experience that was startling and unnerving as comments made online about them were everything from supportive, to inappropriate, negative, and even disturbing. She feared that her family would also become a target for unstable and hateful people who were assaulting others, including Asian Americans, whom they perceived as a threat of spreading COVID-19. For the Wrights, their faith was an important support as they faced the unknowns of COVID-19 together as a family. Their situation, while fearful and difficult, showed Wright how God is always active in my life, and that my strength to endure comes from the [Holy] Spirit. Through this and other experiences, she has found that the gospel resides within suffering. Like Wattacheril, Wright and her husband found that their faith was a vital part of both enduring and understanding their suffering, even before the suffering has lifted. Article continues below These personal experiences demonstrate how faith can supply us with strength when facing suffering, and why Aten believes churches can and should lead in helping communities understand why faith helps us not only endure but find life despite suffering. As we live out our faith out in 2020 and face many challenges, we have the opportunity, according to Aten, Wright, and Wattacheril, to offer both practical and spiritual aid, especially to those most vulnerable. This is the time to really take care of one another, Wright explained. She experienced not only a deepening faith, but also a clearer view of how important communities are in extending a helping hand to those in need. While the stresses of 2020 have affected everyone, there are some who are more vulnerable in multiple ways. Collectively, we face devastation from the growing number of deaths from COVID-19 and long-term complications for those who recovered from COVID-19. Those who are older or who have certain medical conditions are more vulnerable. Front line responders are at risk for traumatic stress, increased risk of COVID-19, suicide, and financial loss. Unemployment rates have grown to record-setting numbers, with around 40 million people jobless. Many small businesses have had to close their doors permanently. Meanwhile, racial minority groups have the compound stresses of being at more risk both economically and physically during this time, potentially receiving inadequate medical care (realities that Wattacherfil says are the most worrisome aspects of the pandemic). Aten also highlighted the stress racism and prejudice has brought to some minority groups, including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, who continue to face surging reports of xenophobic and racist incidents; African Americans, dealing with long-term discrimination; and immigrants, who are not as likely to seek help after disasters, according to his research soon to be published. While no one can predict the future, what we do know is that this will be a lengthy recovery process, and church communities should be mindful of those who are especially vulnerable. One resource for the church is Spiritual First Aid, an organization that, according to Aten and his colleague, theologian Kent Annan, gives basic helping skills and interventions that help address common disaster needs. Many churches have been actively involved in helping people practically during the pandemic. Leaders are advocating for vulnerable groups, including immigrants, and grappling with how to fight systemic racism. With so much potential long-term suffering and turmoil, spiritual fortitude is one tool in helping us find life amid the various forms of pain we face. While resiliencyour ability to bounce backis important, Aten proposes we need other ways of talking about difficult experiences. This is where spiritual fortitude comes in. We can think of spiritual fortitude as our ability to endure long-term suffering, Aten says. I think that is very applicable to talking about COVID-19. We found that its actually different scientifically than resilience or grit. Grit, Aten said, could be described as pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps and pushing our way forward, while resiliency is our ability to adapt and to overcome. But eventually I think what we are going to see, and I think especially the church can really lead in this area, is helping our culture find the narrative of fortitude. Aten pointed out that having fortitude has been important in church history, and Scripture emphasizes it as well. The master in Matthew 25 didnt say, Well done, my good and faithful servant (vv. 21, 23) because he had won the race. Rather, it was that [he] finished the race. Its more of a message of endurance, Aten says. He is quick to point out that we need all threegrit, resiliency, and spiritual fortitude when facing suffering. But whats unique about spiritual fortitude is that, unlike resiliency, which helps us get back to life after a trauma, spiritual fortitude helps us have the ability to find life even amidst the adversity. Article continues below Many are finding that their faith has increased despiteor because ofthe pandemic. According to a recent Pew Research Survey, one-quarter of US adults say their faith has become stronger because of the coronavirus pandemic, while only 2 percent felt that their faith had weakened. When you break down the numbers by denominations, the research found that 42 percent of evangelicals and 22 percent of mainline Protestants reported feeling that their faith had grown. The biggest percentage of Christians who felt their faith had strengthened belonged to those who attended historically black Protestant churches. A full 56 percent found that their faith had increased, despite the various pressures and stresses they were exposed to. Black Christians have long grown in their Christian faith despite ongoing suffering. They may lead the way for others in demonstrating how faith, according to the research of Aten and his colleagues, can grow in the process of adjusting to, and thriving, in the midst of adversity, suffering, and trauma. For Wattacheril, as she continues to face the ongoing pandemic, this translates into something much more than a sentimental salve and pat on the head. Faith is far more powerful than pleasantries and charitable thoughts to bide the time until the trauma ends. She explains, It is a deep wellspring that not only provides comfort and meaning, but also fire and a powerful fuel for the work that it takes to limit the trauma for self and others. This illustrates what Romans 15:5 reminds us: It is God who gives endurance and encouragement to us through our faith, so that we can have the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had. As faith grows even in the face of ongoing suffering, we find that we better fulfill the commandment to Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength and to Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these (Mark 12:3031). Kimi Harris is a writer, mother, and wife of a pastor. She and her husband serve in the Midwest. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 15:14:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Deputy Executive Administrator of Gasabo District Regis Mudaheranwa (R) presents a certificate of recognition to political counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda Xing Yuchun on the handover ceremony of donations from the embassy in Kigali, capital city of Rwanda, on Aug. 27, 2020. The Chinese Embassy in Rwanda on Thursday donated around 18 tons of necessities here to 300 teachers and their families to help in the fight against COVID-19. The donations, including an assortment of food supplies such as rice and cooking oil, were handed over by the embassy to the government of Gasabo District, where the beneficiaries live. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua) KIGALI, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Rwanda on Thursday donated around 18 tons of necessities here to 300 teachers and their families to help in the fight against COVID-19. The donations, including an assortment of food supplies such as rice and cooking oil, were handed over by the embassy to the government of Gasabo District, where the beneficiaries live. Over the years, the Chinese embassy in Rwanda has supported the social and economic development of Rwanda, and special attention is paid to education and local communities, political counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda Xing Yuchun said at the handover ceremony. The embassy cooperates with central and local governments and non-governmental organizations in Rwanda, as well as the Rwanda-China Alumni Organization, to provide assistance to teachers, students, young people and local communities, she said. The embassy hopes the latest donation will help improve the lives of those affected by the pandemic, the diplomat added. Deputy Executive Administrator of Gasabo District Regis Mudaheranwa thanked the embassy for caring about the teachers affected by the pandemic and for its continued support of Rwanda while the central African nation is fighting COVID-19. China is a very important partner not only for the district, but also for the entire nation, he said, envisaging strengthened relations between the district and the Chinese side. Over the last several months, funds and medical supplies donated by all walks of life in China have arrived in Rwanda one after another to assist the country's battle with the novel coronavirus. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 15:58:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TOKYO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to step down from his post as the nation's leader owing to the same health issue which forced him to relinquish his role as prime minister during his first stint as leader beginning 2006, he indicated Friday. The Japanese premier, who became the nation's longest-serving leader with the most consecutive days in office at 2,799 on Aug. 24 when he revisited a Tokyo hospital for the second time in a week, was quoted on Friday as saying that he needed treatment for chronic ulcerative colitis, an intestinal disease. Abe was also quoted with regards to his health and his decision to resign that it had become hard to make "sound judgements due to illness." Scheduled to give a press conference on the matter later in the day, Abe is believed to have already announced his resignation at a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) meeting earlier in the day. The Japanese leader has been quoted as saying that his resignation is meant to have a limited impact on the ruling party and he will continue in his role until a successor is chosen. This is to avoid a political vacuum at a time when the nation is grappling with curbing the spread of COVID-19 especially in the country's large urban areas, such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kanagawa. On the matter of potential successors, local media reports have said that ex-Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida has expressed his eagerness to replace Abe as prime minister. Abe on Friday also informed the leader of the LDP's junior coalition partner Komeito, Natsuo Yamaguchi, of his decision to step down. Yamaguchi was quoted as saying he was surprised at the news of Abe's plans to resign as it came completely out of the blue. He said Komeito executives plan to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the unexpected news on Friday. Rumors about the Japanese premier's deteriorating health have been swirling and amplified by his two trips to a Tokyo hospital within a week. Abe's first admission to hospital on Aug. 17 for what was described at the time by as a "health checkup" that lasted more than seven hours stoked concerns about his health. On Aug. 24, Abe revisited the Keio University Hospital in Tokyo again to receive the results of the checkup and undergo more tests, with the second visit lasting four hours. This is the second time Abe will step down from the top post due to health issues stemming from intestinal disease. Abe, 65, during his first tenure as prime minister, which started in late September 2006, abruptly stepped down from his post in September 2007 due to the chronic ulcerative colitis. After a landslide victory in the lower house in 2012, he returned to serve as the nation's premier and his seven-year tenure has made him Japan's longest-ever serving leader. Abe, prior to his current health condition, was set to spend one more year at the helm. Abe's presidentship of the main ruling LDP was set to run out in September 2021. Prior to the rumors mounting in public and political spheres, a weekly magazine reported that Abe vomited blood at his office on July 6, sparking initial concerns about the premier's ill health. Enditem Jamie Dimon revjohnson47@gmail.com > Date: Fri, Aug 7, 2020 at 2:20 AM Subject: FROM JPMORGAN CHASE & Co.(Your outstanding payment $10,000,000.00) To: From:Date: Fri, Aug 7, 2020 at 2:20 AMSubject: FROM JPMORGAN CHASE & Co.(Your outstanding payment $10,000,000.00)To: From the Desk Of: Manager: Mr.Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase Bank New York 270 Park Ave. New York City This is to bring to your kind notice that your outstanding payment of $10,000,000.00 which has been with our central paying office from United Nations has been signed and Approved for payment after series of meeting with our board of directors,also bear in mind that We want to conclude all payment before the 4th quarter of 2020 runs out for you to receive your Fund. Therefore, to enable us achieve our goal to release your Fund to you, you are advice to reconfirm to us the below information to enable us conclude this transaction with you. Your Full Name: Your Complete Address: Direct Tele: Number: Mobile Number: Occupation Nationality. Finally, Response Should be Made Immediately before it will be too late for you. Waiting for your immediate response. Thanks for your Co-operation. Manager: Mr.Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase Bank New York 270 Park Ave. New York City, Office mail Address: Website:- Tel: 914 206 3167 From the Desk Of:Manager: Mr.Jamie Dimon,JP Morgan Chase Bank New York270 Park Ave. New York CityThis is to bring to your kind notice that your outstanding payment of$10,000,000.00 which has been with our central paying office fromUnited Nations has been signed and Approved for payment after seriesof meeting with our board of directors,also bear in mind that We wantto conclude all payment before the 4th quarter of 2020 runs out foryou to receive your Fund.Therefore, to enable us achieve our goal to release your Fund to you,you are advice to reconfirm to us the below information to enable usconclude this transaction with you.Your Full Name:Your Complete Address:Direct Tele: Number:Mobile Number:OccupationNationality.Finally, Response Should be Made Immediately before it will be too late for you.Waiting for your immediate response.Thanks for your Co-operation.Manager: Mr.Jamie Dimon,JP Morgan Chase Bank New York270 Park Ave. New York City,Office mail Address:Website:- www.jpmorganchase.com Tel: 914 206 3167 On Tue, Aug 25, 2020 at 12:05 PM, Jamie Dimon < jamiedimon97@aol.com > wrote: From the Desk Of: Manager: Mr.Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase Bank New York 270 Park Ave. New York City Attn:- Note that it's your Fund $10MILLION (TEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) we are talking about today. Note that after series of meeting with the board of directors We have decided to conclude all the payment before the 4 th quarter of 2020 runs out,we the management wants to let you know that we cannot wait because such a lengthy time is impossible and unhealthy for this transaction. Furthermore, we will commence action in getting an investor that will finance this transaction with any amount we need to its completion. For us the management to start the process, we need your guarantee and 100% assurance that once the investor starts financing this transaction by crediting the amount needed in your account, you will comply and have the money send back to us the bank. Waiting for your response before the process will commence. Manager: Mr.Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase Bank New York 270 Park Ave. New York City, Office mail Address: Website:- www.jpmorganchase.com Tel: 914 206 3167 From: "Jamie Dimon" < jamiedimon97@aol.com > Cc: Sent: Tue, Aug 25, 2020 at 12:56 PM Subject: FROM JPMORGAN CHASE & Co. (Below Information is needed urgently) From the Desk Of: Manager: Mr.Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase Bank New York 270 Park Ave. New York City Attn:- Note that your email response was well noted. Note that we requesting a lot of money from the investor which will help us to obtain Anti-terrorist Certificate and Certificate of Authorization on your behalf to back up your funds before the transfer of your funds will take place. Furthermore, bear in mind that these two documents will cost a lot of money before we can obtain it from the authority that is in charge, we are not asking you to pay any money, so we took this measure by requesting amount that would be enough to get these two Certificate obtain on your behalf to back up your funds $10million free from any Government Authorities or Agency both outside or inside USA. Therefore, since you stated that I guarantee, and give you 100% assurance once the investor start financing this transaction by crediting the amount needed in my account, I will comply, and send the money back to you the bank. Therefore, since you have guarantee us with 100% assurance that once the investor starts financing this transaction by crediting any amount needed in your account, you will comply and have the money send back to us the bank. On this this note, to enable the investor to start crediting the needed amount into your account, the below information will be forward to us so that we will send it to the investor for them to starts financing this transaction by crediting any amount needed in your account. Therefore, below is the requesting information needed to effect the crediting of the amount needed into your bank account. Full Name: Direct phone number: Account Number: Account Type: Routing Number: Home Address: SSN: DOB: Bank Address: Account Username: Bank Name: Account Password: Finally I would like to hear from you as soon as possible with the needed details, so that we can complete this process immediately. Waiting for your response. Manager: Mr.Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase Bank New York 270 Park Ave. New York City, Office mail Address: Website:- www.jpmorganchase.com Tel: 914 206 3167 From: "CEO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK" < patricetalon084@gmail.com > To: Cc: Sent: Wed, Aug 26, 2020 at 1:37 PM Subject: CEO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK FROM THE DESK OF: JAMIE DIMON C.E.O 270 PARK AVENUE, 39TH FLOOR NEW YORK, 5017 JP MORGAN CHASE BANK NEW YORK. REF: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION OF US$10.500, 000.00 GOOD MORNING TO YOU THIS YOUR BONUS. DURING THE JOINT MEETING HELD BY THE EUROPEAN UNION (E.U.) WITH ECOWAS COMMISSION (CEDEAO) INCLUDING WITH UNITED NATIONS (U.N.) AD-HOC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ON LOTTERY WINNINGS, CONTRACT AND INHERITANCE FUND PAYMENT; WE DISCOVERED WITH DISMAY THAT YOUR PAYMENT HAS BEEN UNNECESSARILY DELAYED BY THE AFRICA BENIN REPUBLIC CORRUPT OFFICIALS WHO HAVE BEEN USING YOUR PAYMENT TRANSACTION AS AN AVENUE TO EXTORT BOGUS FEES FROM YOU. TO FORESTALL THIS, YOUR FULL PAYMENT OF US$10,500,000.00 (TEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) HAS BEEN IRREVOCABLY RELEASED TO YOU IN THE FORM OF ATM MASTER CARD AND THIS WILL ENABLE YOU HAVE INSTANT ACCESS OF YOUR FUND. THIS INCLUDES EVERY FOREIGN CONTRACTOR THAT MAY HAVE NOT RECEIVED HIS OR HER CONTRACT SUM AND PEOPLE THAT HAD AN UNFINISHED TRANSACTION, PEOPLE WHO HAVE INHERITANCE TO CLAIM OR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSES THAT FAILED DUE TO INABILITY OF GOVERNMENT IN SOME PART OF WORLD. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INFORM YOU THAT ATM MASTER CARD NUMBER: 5318 9001 8747 8735 HAVE BEEN APPROVED IN YOUR FAVOR, THE ATM CARD VALUE IS $10,500,000 USD (TEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND, USD ONLY) YOU ARE ADVISED THAT A MAXIMUM WITHDRAWAL VALUE OF $10,000.00 USD IS PERMITTED ON WITHDRAWAL PER DAY AND ARE DULY INTER SWITCH SO YOU CAN MAKE WITHDRAWAL AT ANY ATM LOCATE CENTER OF YOUR CHOICE AROUND THE WORLD. NOW YOUR NEW PAYMENT, US GOVERNMENT APPROVAL NO; UN5685P, WHITE HOUSE APPROVED NO:WH44CV, REFERENCE NO.-35460021, ALLOCATION NO: 674632 PASSWORD NO: 339331,PIN CODE NO: 55674 AND YOUR CERTIFICATE OF MERIT PAYMENT NO: 103, RELEASED CODE NO: 0763; IMMEDIATE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK TELEX CONFIRMATION NO: -1114433;SECRET CODE NO: XXTN013, HAVING RECEIVED THESE VITAL PAYMENT NUMBER, THEREFORE YOU ARE QUALIFIED NOW TO RECEIVED AND CONFIRM YOUR ATM CARD WITH OUR DELIVERY DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE NEXT 48HRS. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE COST OF YOUR ATM CARD COURIER FEE AS STIPULATED BY THE AUDITORS, THE AUDITORS DECLINED REVERSE DELIVERY PAYMENT, (NO MORE C.O.D FOR INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS) THAT IF A REVERSE DELIVERY PAYMENT IS MADE, AND SOMETHING GOES WRONG, THAT WE/YOU CANNOT SUE THE DELIVERY COMPANY TO RECOVER THE FULL VALUE OF THE FUND AS STIPULATED IN THE ATM CARD SINCE PAYMENT FOR DELIVERY WAS NOT MADE AT POINT OF MAILING, SO FOR THIS REASONS, WE HAD COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE AUDITORS THAT YOU SHALL BE THE ONE TO TAKE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DELIVERY FEE OF YOUR $10,500,000USD ATM CARD TO YOUR ADDRESS AS REVERSE PAYMENT IS RULED OUT. YOUR $10.500, 000.00 USD ATM CARD WILL ONLY COST YOU THE COST OF DELIVERING YOUR ATM CARD WHICH INVOLVES ONLY $50USD (24HRS DELIVERY). BASED ON THE ABOVE REASONS, WE HAVE CONCLUDED DELIVERY ARRANGEMENT WITH A FEDEX COURIER AGENT BENIN REPUBLIC, IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE DEVELOPMENT; YOU ARE REQUESTED TO IMMEDIATELY PAY THE DELIVERY COST THROUGH THE AGENT GIVEN PAYMENT INSTRUCTION BELOW. YOUR ATM CARD WILL DELIVER TO YOU AS SOON AS THE $75COURIER FEE IS PAID WITHIN 24HRS. URGENTLY SEND THE ABOVE PAYMENT VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER OR MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER TO THE ACCOUNT INFORMATION STATED BELOW, ALSO FORWARD YOUR CORRECT DELIVERY ADDRESS WHERE YOU WANT THE ATM CARD TO DELIVER AS THE UNITED NATIONS WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MISTAKE IN DELIVERING YOUR $10,500,000.00 USD ATM CARD PAYMENT TO YOU. SO YOU ARE ADVISED TO URGENTLY SEND THE $75USD COURIER FEE TODAY SO THAT THE COURIER COMPANY WILL PROCEED ON THE DELIVERY OF YOUR ATM CARD IMMEDIATELY. IF YOUR DELIVERY FEE IS RECEIVED TODAY, YOUR $10,500,000 USD ATM CARD WILL LEAVE TO YOUR DESTINATION FIRST THING TOMORROW MORNING AND WILL GET TO YOU WITHIN 24HRS; THIS MEANS THAT IF YOU SEND THE $75DELIVERY FEE TODAY, YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR $10,500,000 USD ATM CARD TOMORROW SINCE IT IS AN OVERNIGHT / 24HRS DELIVERY. SEND THE $75TO THE ORIGINATED THROUGH RIA OR STEAM WALLET CARD WITH THIS INFORMATION: RECEIVER'S NAME:ELIZY UGOCHI ADDRESS: COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC TEXT QUESTION: GOD WITH? TEXT ANSWER: US SENDER COUNTRY. SENDER NAME. . AFTER PAYING THE FEE, SEND ME THE PAYMENT SLIP CONFIRMATION OF THE TRANSACTION FOR RECORD KEEPING. MTCN#:. . . . . . SENDER'S NAME. . . . SENDER'S ADDRESS. . . . SENDER'S TELEPHONE. . . PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION. YOURS FAITHFULLY, MR.ROBERT JUSTIN. CEO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK From: "Jamie Dimon" < jamiedimon97@aol.com > Cc: Sent: Thu, Aug 27, 2020 at 6:39 AM Subject: FROM JPMORGAN CHASE & Co.(We wait to receive your email response) From the Desk Of: Manager: Mr.Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase Bank New York 270 Park Ave. New York City Attn:- Does it mean that you are no more interested of making the claim of your outstanding fund of yours which have successful channel to transfer into your bank account up till this moment have you decided to remain silent after I have personally taken an Oath for you to secure this fund. Note that it's your Fund $10MILLION (TEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) we are talking about today. Note that We have decided to conclude all the payment before the 4th quarter of 2020 runs out for you to receive your Fund. Therefore, after much deliberation on this matter with Board directors of the bank, a unanimous decision was reached in which the management board of the bank to allow you to send the least allowable fee of $370 that will enable us to get waiver Certificate to waive all the required fee, then release your funds to your account. On this note, I want to guarantee as well as to assure you one more time that this $370 for Waiver Certificate is the last/final fee to be paid or to be asked from you. In fact, no more fee or any more demand will be made by us or be asked from you once we get Waiver Certificate to waive all the required fee. This is life time opportunity in which I believe you would not afford to miss it. Let it be known to you that this is the best option we believe we can use to assist you over this matter to complete your fund payment with us. Waiting for your response. Yours Faithfully, Manager: Mr.Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase Bank New York 270 Park Ave. New York City, Office mail Address: Website:- www.jpmorganchase.com Tel: 914 206 3167 If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more.... OTTAWA A snap election this fall would be suboptimal for voters, who would face longer lines with increased wait times and the prospect of delayed results caused by a surge of mail-in ballots, says Elections Canadas deputy chief electoral officer. Without up to another seven months to get ready, the agency will have to face the challenge of staging a federal election during the COVID-19 pandemic without all the preparations it wants, Michel Roussel told the Star in a phone interview Thursday. But Elections Canada could still pull it off if the writ drops earlier, he said. We are prepared to deliver an election in very difficult circumstances, if that were to be called at the end of September or this fall, Roussel said. However, it would probably be suboptimal from the standpoint of the voters experience, he acknowledged. The convenience, the accessibility, the quality of the voting experience would not be what theyre used to. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau put his minority Liberal government on the line when he prorogued Parliament on Aug. 18, a move that also froze investigations by opposition MPs into the conflict-of-interest controversy involving Torontos WE Charity empire. Trudeau justified the move as necessary to allow his government to draft plans for Canadas recovery from the pandemic in a throne speech scheduled for Sept. 23. That gives the main opposition parties in the House of Commons a chance to topple the Liberals in a confidence vote, possibly triggering an election but only if all three of them band together to do so. Roussel called that possibility the elephant in the room as Elections Canada refines its plans to run a national election for 27 million eligible voters across the country. On Thursday, the agency released details on how it plans to stage a general election in the shadow of a second wave of coronavirus infections. As Roussel explained, the priority for a snap election would be to focus on the health and safety of poll workers and voters. This would be done through the implementation of physical distancing protocols at polling stations, with fewer workers than during a typical election. The agency also plans to stock polling stations with masks and single-use pencils, and establish virtual training for staff to limit person-to-person contact. Elections Canada also wants to suspend its vote on campus services, noting that most colleges and universities are primarily delivering programs online. These changes would lead to longer lineups and wait times at polling stations with fewer election workers to shepherd voters through, Roussel said. The agency would also like to see changes to the Canada Elections Act that would allow a two-day voting period over a weekend, instead of having a single election day on a Monday. It would also like to give more time for long-term-care residents to vote by allowing polling staff to craft specialized voting plans for each facility, and allow mail-in ballots to be accepted until the day after the two-day weekend voting period. And since as many as 5 million people would then be expected to mail in their ballots, compared to a typical number of a few hundred thousand, Roussel said it is very unlikely that all votes would be counted in a single evening, meaning that some final results would not be available until a few days after election night. But those changes will only be possible if the Liberal government survives the looming confidence vote and Parliament has time to change the law before the next election. And upgrades to the mail-in ballot system that Elections Canada is working on including by allowing people to register online by uploading documents wont be ready until early next year, Roussel said. Thats not there in the fall of 2020, which means Canadians who want to vote by mail will have to call their returning officer or fax ... This will be an old system that will be in place, he said, adding that like any Canadians, we are concerned with turnout if there is an election during the pandemic this fall. Then there is the risk of the virus itself. Although its never happened, Elections Canada can recommend that elections be cancelled or delayed in certain ridings if it is not operationally feasible to hold a vote there, Roussel said. That could happen during the pandemic, if health authorities advise that the virus makes it unsafe to set up centres of congregation like polling stations. It is therefore possible that ridings experiencing surges of infections might not participate in the general election at the same time as the rest of the country, Roussel said. For all these reasons, Roussel said that, even though theyre ready to go, it would be better to have more time to get ready for a pandemic election. Its not going to be done overnight. Its going to take, two, three, four, five, six, seven months at the most to introduce a full suite of measures and make them operational, he said. For Daniel Blaikie, a New Democratic Party MP from Manitoba, this all makes the argument against holding an election in the coming weeks. In June, Blaikie wrote a letter to other parties calling for them to work together on election preparedness. None had responded as of Thursday, he said, but he still hopes for collaboration between the government and the opposition and to avoid a snap election this fall. Of all the things to get right in a democratic country, your elections are foremost on the list, he said. Weve got to find a way to get this right. S Kumaresan By Express News Service CHENNAI: H Vasanthakumar, one of the eight Congress MPs from Tamil Nadu, succumbed to complications caused by COVID-19 in Chennai on Friday evening. The 70-year-old is the first MP to have lost his life due to the virus. Vasanthakumar, a well-known businessman, represented the Kanniyakumari constituency and was one of the five working presidents of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee. He was also the state president of the partys traders wing. His body will be placed at Sathyamoorthi Bhavan, the Congress headquarters in Chennai, at 10 am on Saturday to allow the public to pay tribute to the MP. Corporation officials said the MP had tested negative for COVID shortly before his death and hence COVID burial procedures would not apply in the case. Congress flags will be flown at half-mast and all events will be cancelled for a week, the party said. Vasanthakumar was born on April 14, 1950, in Agastheewaram in Kanyakumari district. His father, Harikrishna Perumal was a freedom fighter and several of his relatives were Congress members. Vasanthakumars elder brother Kumari Ananthan is a senior Congress leader while his niece Tamilisai Soundarajan is Telangana Governor and former president of the State BJP. An ardent follower of late Chief Minister and Congressman K Kamaraj, Vasanthakumar started off as a Congress worker before being elevated to various district and state level postings. He did his BA at the S.T.Hindu College in Nagercoil and MA (in Tamil) at the Madurai Kamaraj University before moving to Chennai. Vasanthakumar was best known for his company, Vasanth & Co, a retail chain selling electronics and home appliances that he founded in 1978, after working as a salesman in the VGP group for 13 years. Vasanth & Co, an iconic brand in its own right, now has 86 branches across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and even Bengaluru. In 2008, he launched Vasanth TV. With the companys logo and advertisements featuring his smiling visage, Vasanthakumar was instantly recognisable across the State as a successful businessman and philanthropist. Nineties kids, in particular, recall with fondness his appearances on the popular Doordarshan cooking show, Saapida Vaanga, which was sponsored by his company. His first foray in electoral politics was in 2006 when he contested in the Assembly elections and won from the Nanguneri constituency on a Congress ticket. The victory was significant for the party, coming after a gap of three decades. He won again from the constituency in the 2016 Assembly polls but gave up the seat to contest in the 2019 Parliamentary elections from Kanniyakumari, facing off against former union minister and BJP leader Pon Radhakrishnan to whom he'd lost in 2014. He defeated Radhakrishnan by a margin of 2.5 lakh votes. Incidentally, Kumari Ananthan too was elected MP from the erstwhile Nagercoil constituency in 1977. As an MP, Vasanthakumar worked tirelessly for his constituency and since the pandemic struck the State in March had been working on creating awareness about the virus among the masses. Days before he was admitted to the hospital with Covid-19, he tweeted on August 7 that he had offered Kabasura Kudineer to members of the public at Padmanabhapuram, Thakkalai, Thiruvattar and would be doing so in other places as well. He is believed to have contracted the infection during one such public engagement. The late MP is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter. While Kumari Ananthan broke into sobs during a phone-in interview with a news channel, his daughter Tamilisai issued a statement noting that despite working in different political movements they remained bound by familial love. Condolences pour in As news of his demise spread, condolences poured in from across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his condolence message on Twitter, said he was saddened by the MPs demise and noted his success in business and social service efforts. During my interactions with him, I always saw his passion towards Tamil Nadus progress, Modi said. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, mourning Vasanthakumars loss, praised his philanthropy. He reached a height in his life by starting out as a salesman. He worked for education and economical upliftment of the poor and downtrodden people, Palaniswami said. DMK president MK Stalin described Vasanthakumar as an example of perseverance. I spoke with him some days ago when he was at the hospital and enquired about his health and I was hoping he will get well soon. But, Corona snatched him away from us, Stalin said. Describing Vasanthakumars death as an unfathomable loss, Governor Banwarilal Purohit, in a statement, recalled him as a successful businessman, politician, and born fighter who spent his lifetime working for the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu. Radhakrishnan, who contested against him in 2014 and 2019, offered prayers for his soul, noting that he had known Vasanthakumar from when he was a student. He was very staunch in his ideological beliefs. Victory or defeat, we remained good friends, he said. Staunch Congressman, always ready to help Vasanthakumars demise comes as a huge blow to the Congress party with leaders across the country expressing grief. Congress scion Rahul Gandhi said the loss came as a shock His commitment to the Congress ideology of serving the people will remain in our hearts forever, he said, while the All India Congress Committee recalled Vasanthakumar as a staunch Congressman, a true leader of the people and a beloved MP. He will be sorely missed by all members of the Congress party & his followers. Our prayers are with his family in this time of grief, the AICC said in a statement. State Congress president KS Alagiri said that Vasanthakumar freely spent from his own pocket to help people and undertake welfare projects. He always extended a helping hand to the poor and needy of his constituency and party cadres across the State. This is a big loss to the party, cadres and the constituency, he said. Congress Lok Sabha MP A Chellakumar, told The New Indian Express that Vasanthakumar thought constantly about the welfare of his constituency. When Parliament was in session he was often the first person to arrive and last person to leave the House, he said. Every day he would hand over some representation, related to his constituency, to ministers and authorities. He never missed a chance to raise his voice in the Parliament for the welfare of his constituency, he said. Senior Congress leader and fellow Lok Sabha MP Su Thirunavukkarasar recalled Vasanthakumar as a man with a ready smile and will to help others. He died due to his efforts to assist people during the Covid-19 pandemic, he said. MDMK general secretary Vaiko, TMC president GK Vasan, PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss also condoled his death. Big blow to retail trade The Tamil Nadu business community mourned the loss of Vasanthakumar, describing his meteoric rise from a humble salesman to running a business empire as an example to the youth. VGP group chairman, VGP Santhosham, recalled how Vasanthakumar had worked for the group for 13 years before starting his own business. Vasanthakumar is an example to today's youth of how hardwork and dedication can help one reach greater heights, he said, describing him as a down-to-earth man of dedication and verve. I was worried when he was admitted to hospital but he said he will be back soon. Now, this tragedy has happened, Santhosham said. Tamil Chamber of Commerce president Chozha Naachiar said Vasanthakumars demise came as a big blow to retail trade. "He was a field worker in both business and politics and he has contributed a lot to his constituency," said Naachiar. Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peramaippu State president AM Vikramaraja said his death was also a blow to traders in the State. "He is irreplaceable. He was responsible for providing jobs to thousands of workers," Vikramaraja said. (With inputs from M Abdul Rabi in Nagercoil, Vinodh Arulappan in Madurai and C Shivakumar in Chennai) World leaders wished Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a rapid recovery and praised his contributions to bilateral relations during his years as Japans longest-serving leader. Abe announced Friday that he is stepping down because of a health problem. He is expected to stay on until a new governing party leader is elected and formally approved by the parliament. ___ UNITED STATES: President Donald Trump said he was surprised by Abes stepping down and paid his highest respect to ... a very, a great friend of mine. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said, We had a great relationship. And I just feel very bad for him. Because it must be very severe. Look, for him to leave -- he loves his country so much and for him to leave, I just cant imagine what it is. Hes a great gentleman and so Im just paying my highest respect. ___ UNITED NATIONS: U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spokesman said he wishes Abe a full recovery and salutes the prime ministers distinguished career ... and his consistent and constructive engagement with the U.N. to address global challenges. The U.N. chief had a very productive relationship with prime minister Abe, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, pointing to their close work on a number of issues especially universal health care initiatives. ___ SOUTH KOREA: South Korean President Moon Jae-ins office said Abe dedicated many years to the development of bilateral relations and achieved various meaningful accomplishments as Japans longest-serving prime minister. It said Seoul will continue to work with Tokyos next prime minister and Cabinet to promote friendship and co-operation between the countries. Relations between South Korea and Japan sank last year to their lowest point in decades as they feuded over trade issues, wartime history and military co-operation. ___ GERMANY: Longtime German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who worked with Abe during both of his spells in office, sent him a message saying he was always a constructive and reliable partner in our common commitment to multilateralism, free trade, peaceful conflict resolution and rules-based order. For the future, I wish you a swift and complete recovery and personal well-being, she wrote. ___ AUSTRALIA: Prime Minister Scott Morrison paid tribute to Shinzo Abe as Australias true friend and said that he would like to thank Abe for his enduring commitment to Australia-Japan relations over a long and successful career. Morrison said Australia and Japan shared a vision for an open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. Prime Minister Abe is a man of integrity and wisdom, Morrison said. He has been the senior statesman in our region and across the globe, a strong promoter of open trade and an outstanding international diplomat for Japan. ___ INDIA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed Abe on Twitter, saying said he was pained to hear about your ill health, my dear friend. Modi wrote: In recent years, with your wise leadership and personal commitment, the India-Japan partnership has become deeper and stronger than ever before. I wish and pray for your speedy recovery. ___ TAIWAN: Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said Abe has always been very friendly to Taiwan. He has always been very positive, no matter it be his policies or his feelings toward Taiwanese people. We cherish the friendship he has for Taiwan. We also wish him good health. ___ CHINA: Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian declined to comment directly on Abes health, saying it was Japans internal affair. However, he added that China and Japan are close neighbours. We are willing to work with Japan to jointly press ahead with continuous improvement and development of China-Japan relations. ___ BRITAIN: Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab paid tribute to the great things that Abe has achieved, and said he leaves a strengthened U.K.-Japanese friendship, which we look forward to continuing in the years ahead. I wish him well for the future. ___ PHILIPPINES: Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. described Abe as Japans greatest postwar PM (prime minister) in a tweet. He said Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Abe had a frank relationship. Watching President Duterte and PM Abe talking was like watching two old friends, no holds barred, talking frankly and freely of the true lay of the land and what can and cannot be done, Locsin said. ___ INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: IOC President Thomas Bach credited Abe with the return of the Olympics to Japan after the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics and 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. All the Japanese athletes and the athletes of the entire world are very grateful to him, Bach said. The Olympics were to be held in Tokyo this year, but they were postponed a year because of the coronavirus. John Coates of the Australian Olympic Committee and chair of the Tokyo 2020 Coordination Commission, said in a statement Saturday that Abe stepping down was disappointing news from a professional and personal perspective. My interactions with him have always been very positive and constructive. I certainly hope he can successfully overcome the current challenges he faces away from political office. I very much look forward to PM Abe joining us for the Opening Ceremony on 23 July 2021 in the new National Stadium that he was instrumental in delivering. His support has been enormous. ___ Associated Press writers around the world contributed to this report. For many veterans, heading into the outdoors is the perfect balance for the chaos of life. A parade of studies support the mental health benefits of getting outside and seeking a little solitude, whether that be through hunting and fishing or adventuring through mountains or canyonlands. Camping, hiking and other such outdoor activities are also great ways to stay active while maintaining your social distance. So it should be no surprise to anyone that there are a lot of U.S. military veterans who love each of those activities and have designed the means of conquering them. Those veterans are a hardy, handy bunch and their creations are available to anyone who wants to rock the outdoors the way they do. Here are some of our favorites. 1. The Java Can How are you gonna have a pumpkin spice latte out in the field without the means to grind and brew some coffee beans? The Java Can, founded by current Special Forces soldier Daisson Hickel, has you covered. (the Java Can) In a compact ammo can, the Java Can carries double-walled cups, a burr grinder, a camp stove, milk frother and more. Just bring fuel for the fire and beans for the water. There's even a slimmed-down version to give you just the jolt you need in the morning, without the latte. 2. Woobie Brothers Apparel Woobie Hoodie Fall is when the weather is the most uncooperative. It always seems like wearing a jacket makes you hot, but you'd be too cold without it. Good thing the U.S. military already developed the perfect clothing technology for the occasion. It's perfectly warm in the cold and never too hot in the warmth. (Woobie Brothers Apparel) If only you could carry your woobie -- what some of us call the issued poncho liner -- with you wherever you go. Well, now you can. Woobie Brothers Apparel makes hoodies from woobies and whether you prefer multicam or MARPAT, Woobie Brothers makes a hoodie for you. Related: Why the Woobie is the Greatest Military Invention Ever Fielded Best of all, every purchase from the Woobie Brothers helps fight veteran homelessness. 3. Badger Flashlights The Gatorade bottle trick isn't going to cut it when you're camping in an 8-person tent with your in-laws. When you absolutely must wander about in the woods in the dark, you're gonna want a flashlight that is going to work. The BX-1500 (Badger Flashlights) Badger Flashlights, founded by Marine Corps veteran Mike Etheridge, presents the BX-1500. It's a tactical flashlight with a rechargeable power cell, made from aircraft-grade aluminum and comes with a 5-year guarantee. You can charge your badger with a USB plug -- a charge it will hold for two years. That's the light you want to have while you're stumbling around in the dark on your way to defile a small part of a national park. 4. Ammo Can X Speaker "Bart" and "Spike," two veterans with a taste for tinkering and craftsmanship, were really disappointed with a bluetooth speaker purchase, so they decided to do better. The result is the Ammo Can X Ammo Can Speaker. This hand-built portable bluetooth speaker offers an aux cable connection in case you don't have a bluetooth device. It also features a really cool military-style control panel and can hold a charge for more than 20 hours. If you're out at a campsite or just hanging by a beach somewhere and your phone runs out of power, the Ammo Can X can also charge another two devices at the same time. (Ammo Audio) Best of all, Bart and Spike are audiophiles themselves, and the two 4-inch speakers punch way above their weight class. The speakers provide an incredible sound using a proprietary amp design that will ensure everyone knows how much you love Taylor Swift. 5. ITS Tactical Wood-Burning Stove-Cookpot Combo While no one knows how to survive in the wild better than the fine folks at ITS Tactical, the biggest threat you'll likely face is hunger. Nothing fits the bill better than something that is not only compact, but comes as a combination that stores easily. The Wood-Burning Stove-Cookpot combination doesn't come in an ammo can, but it is made of titanium and comes with a long-handled spork. If you need more than this hat trick of outdoor culinary catalysts, you can also buy an outdoor fire starter to get dinner going. (ITS Tactical/Twitter) If it turns out the biggest threat you have to face is something more aggressive than hunger, ITS Tactical's full name is Imminent Threat Solutions and it was founded by Navy SEAL Bryan Black. The store over there will have something to help you survive. Think ahead. 6. Willie's Honey Moonshine Ennis, Montana-based Willie Blazer left the Army after 14 years in 2006, spending time with the 19th Special Forces Unit in Afghanistan toward the end of his career. Just a few short years later, he and his wife are distilling more than a dozen unique spirits, including moonshine, which is close to Blazer's North Carolina roots. At 70 proof, WIllie's Honey Moonshine is enough to warm your insides on a brisk day without rotting your guts. It's also distilled with fresh grains and real honey for a rich, complex flavor that will more than fit the mood. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook. Want to Know More About Veteran Jobs? Be sure to get the latest news about post-military careers as well as critical info about veteran jobs and all the benefits of service. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox. Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati, joining local female politicians who have been complaining for months about online abuse, says hes tired of critics who post hurtful and harmful comments on social media. Diodati posted a two-minute video to his Facebook page Wednesday about social media etiquette. Unfortunately, social media is still ground for some hurtful and harmful behaviour, Diodati said from his city hall office. At the end of the day, were all human beings and it is OK to disagree, but it is not OK to disrespect. He said over recent months, it has been tense trying to navigate the pandemic. During that time, Ive been called everything from disgraceful, asshat, f---ing liar, misogynist, this guy is nuts, full of s--t, idiot, douchebag, reckless and corrupt, not a leader, a ducking donkey, a mini Trump, laughing stock and a complete joke, said Diodati reading from a list. Were better than that, and words have meaning. He said he realizes he was elected to be a leader and is passionate about being out front and taking it on the chin. But hate on my pages has to stop, and it will stop. Recently, St. Catharines city Coun. Karrie Porter outlined harassment she had been facing by an online troll. When Porter shared her concerns in a Facebook post, St. Catharines regional Coun. Laura Ip and St. Catharines city Coun. Lori Littleton were quick to show their support and share some of their own experiences, whether it be harassment on social media, email or phone calls. Diodati said while politicians recognize theyre open to criticism, they should not have to accept disrespect and hate. He said that goes for everyone not just politicians adding theres a segment of the population that suffers from mental-health issues and that words matter. This is absolutely not limited to political people but I figured Im going to use my platform to take a stand. Ip, who has been a target of misogynistic online attacks on several occasions during this term of council, said she doesnt believe most elected officials are looking for special treatment or for constituents to be extra nice to them, but rather ask for civility. She said while men in politics do have to deal with social media abuse, theres a very significant difference between the comments directed towards her, Porter, Littleton and other women in politics and what is directed at men. The comments that come my way are maybe even that much more extreme because my children are people of colour, Im a single woman theres a number of other factors that play into that, said Ip. But all of the comments that we get are always very personal in nature, and they stop just short of threats, they stop just short of something that we could involve the police in. What I have been experiencing has been near daily since getting elected. Porter said incivility seems to have become progressively worse during the pandemic. Some people have become more kind and more neighbourly and then other people are quick to anger, and theres a lot of frustration, she said. Porter said politicians dont want to ban people or delete comments from their social media accounts, but you have to draw the line somewhere and I think there needs to be a push back and people need to be accountable for the comments they make. The criticism is always welcome and encouraged and it should be in a democracy. But we have to draw a line somewhere and we have to keep talking about what that line is. Diodati said hes creating a social media neutral zone. This will be a safe space for those around us. And, no, Im not trying to be a suck, or avoiding criticism. In fact, I encourage constructive criticism. But enough is enough. In an interview, Diodati said he will no longer allow people to post hurtful, hateful, vengeful and venomous comments on his social media pages. If other people want to allow it on theirs, thats their business. But Im saying publicly, upfront, think before you hit the send button because I will delete your comments and I will block you. Diodati said that doesnt mean he will delete comments that voice opposition to him, as long as the criticism is constructive. As the data-collection portion of the 2020 U.S. Census enters the home stretch, there have been some concerns about how accurate it will be. A shortened timeline for data collection, spurred by a coronavirus-related schedule shakeup -- not to mention the contagious virus itself making some uneasy about answering knocks on their doors -- have prompted these accuracy concerns. Shelton Police Department / SHELTON A town man has been charged in connection with a robbery at the Wells Fargo bank branch on Coran Avenue Thursday, according to police. Detective Richard Bango issued a call to the public after officers were sent to the branch at 320 Coram Ave. about 12:50 p.m. for help finding a suspect in the robbery. As many as 3.5 lakh students had appeared for the secondary examination this year while, a total of 2.25 lakh students had given the Class 12 exams The Board of Secondary Education Haryana (BSEH) is going to distribute the certificates for Haryana Board of School Education (HBSE) Class 10 and 12 Result 2020 on 1 and 2 September, 2020. The board has announced the dates on its official site at bseh.org.in, stating that along with regular certificates, the compartment and migration certificates will be also sent to every district education officer by the board. Principals of respective schools can collect the documents thereafter. Based on the stipulated timing, head of schools can receive the certificates by visiting the education officers between 11 am and 5 pm on 1 September and between 9 am and 4 pm on 2 September, reported Hindustan Times. According to the official notice, if a principal is unable to collect the certificates by themselves, teachers on behalf of the heads will be allowed to collect the certificates. But they need to carry the requisite authorisation letter for the same. The Haryana education board will be distributing the certificates following the government directives properly, reported NDTV. Those who miss out on collection within the scheduled date can collect the certificates directly from the office of the HBSE. Haryana Board declared the result of HBSE Class 10 and HBSE Class 12 in July 2020. While as many as 3.5 lakh students had appeared for the secondary examination, a total of 2.25 lakh students had given the higher secondary exams this year. Class 12 results had shown an impressive 80.34 per cent pass percentage and a student named Manisha (Humanities) had topped the Class 12 board exams in Haryana by scoring 499 out of 500. Bhavna Yadav became the highest scorer in the Science stream with 496 marks out of 500 and a student Pushpa was the topper in the Commerce stream. She had scored 498 marks out of 500. Aug 27 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Wednesday China has repeatedly fallen short of promises to abide by international laws and said Beijing wants to project its power globally. Esper, speaking at an event in Hawaii, also accused China of hampering the global efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Writing by Se Young Lee; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman) AUSTIN, TX In what has been, let's just say a memorably untraditional year what with the backdrop of the coronavirus, Christmas couldn't come soon enough for the spreading of holiday cheer and goodwill. Residents at Buckner Villas thought so too, recently preparing to send out nearly 800 holiday stockings to deployed service members. Teaming up with Operation Support Our Troops America, residents of the senior living center this week will send out 769 stockings to members of the military during the pandemic as a part of the Holiday Stocking program. The resident-crafted stockings and handwritten Christmas letters will soon arrive at the organizations headquarters in Illinois where they will be sorted and shipped to service men and women around the world ahead of the holidays, officials said. Operation Support Our Troops America is a nonprofit organization that works to boost morale and bring comfort to those that are serving the country in all branches of the military. The organization has a goal to show troops that the American people have not forgotten them, and do so through year-round donation collection, various holiday care package events and more. A Buckner Villas resident proudly shows off her handiwork headed to bring a smile to a deployed military member in the coming days. Photo courtesy of Buckner Villas. This is the fifth year Buckner Villas has participated in the program. Materials to make the stockings were donated from across five different states thanks to 2019's successful donation, Buckner Villas officials said. The stockings were sent to Operation Support Our Troops to be filled with items such as candy, snacks and hand warmers by other charities around the country, officials added. News and social media coverage centered on last years stocking donation by Buckner Villas residents generated national attention. As a result, officials said craft supplies and materials were donated to the senior living community from across Texas and five additional states. Those materials were used to create the 2020 stockings without the need for the purchase of any additional items, according to Buckner Villas officials. Story continues The stockings that were created by residents will be filled with items such as candy and snacks by other organizations across the nation to be distributed among troops currently deployed around the globe, serving during the pandemic. One resident said when her husband and nephew served, they said mail meant a lot to them, so she loves taking a part in showing troops how much she appreciates them. My husband served in Vietnam, and my nephew served in Iraq and Afghanistan, Buckner Villas resident Kay Gonzalez said in a prepared statement. They both shared with me how much mail meant to them when they were away from home. The least I can do is to help make the Christmas stockings and write letters to the military to let them know how much we love and appreciate them. Holiday care packages were given an added personal touch with notes from residents at Buckner Villas. Photo provided by Buckner Villas. Janet Burnett, life enrichment director at Buckner Villas, said she is proud of the work the residents put into the stockings, and that she was happy to see the residents enjoying socializing again: Playing a part in Operation Support Our Troops donation programs is important to many of our residents. The support they show for the military and hard work they put into the stockings each year is inspiring. I am proud of our residents for playing a part in the mission to increase morale and show the military that we are thinking of them. Making the stockings was a blessing during the unprecedented times we are living in right now. I was just happy to see some of our residents in the same room, just enjoying each others company. To mitigate risks for residents, Buckner paused in-person social gatherings in senior living communities and moved some daily activities such as exercise classes to virtual means, officials noted. In May, Buckner distributed surveys to its six senior living communities in Texas asking residents questions about what activities they miss participating in, how they felt about current precautions and more. The survey results indicated that 54 percent of residents wanted their group activities to resume. Diligently donning a protective mask, a Buckner Villas resident smiles with her eyes as she proudly displays her truck-themed holiday stocking. Photo provided by Buckner Villas. Making the stockings also provided residents a safe opportunity to gather and socialize all while supporting the troops amid a respiratory illness scourge that has struck older residents disproportionately. Residents were allowed to gather with proper social distancing measures and face coverings to make the stockings for Operation Support Our Troops., officials said. What's more, officials added, Buckner staff ensured proper social distancing measures outlined by the CDC were implemented during the creation of the stockings, and material brought in went through all proper sanitation before it was given to residents to create. Another Buckner Villas resident altered her daily routine to help create holiday stockings for deployed service members. Photo provided by Buckner Villas. This article originally appeared on the Austin Patch The Domeabra Obom Youth Association (DOYA) has called for the immediate arrest of the Mponuahene of Akyem Apadwa for allegedly causing the clash recently experienced in Dome Faase. According to the group, the attempt by the chief to illegally claim lands not belonging to him using the military to intimidate others and cause confusion, saw residents fleeing the area. Speaking at a press conference president of DOYA, Emmanuel Nii Okai Armah said a full-scale investigation must be conducted by the security agencies. Hundreds of fear-stricken residents in the area on Wednesday fled following the crash that left a number of people, including two military personnel, injured. The incident led to the deployment of more military personnel to the town. The coalition of Ga communities had alleged that the Mponuahene of Akyem Apadwa and the Akyem Traditional Council in the Eastern Region were taking their farmlands from them hence the resistance that led to the chaos on Tuesday, August 25, 2020. Emmanuel Nii Okai Armah, the president of the youth group in Domeabra Obom accused the government of backing the Nkonuahene of Akyim Apadwa to forment trouble in the area. Mponuahene has the support of government to engage in this roundly condemnable conduct. Domeabra Obom constituency was peaceful until he decided to ride at the back of coercive apparatus of State to harass constituents. Read the full statement from the youth group below: DOMEABRA OBOM YOUTH ASSOCIATION (DOYA) CONDEMNS THE USE OF MILITARY MEN FOR LANDGUARD DUTIES IN THE CONSTITUENCY AND CALLS FOR THE IMMEDIATE ARREST OF MPONUAHENE OF AKYIM APADWA We are compelled to come out to set the records straight under extremely difficult circumstances. Majority of Ghanaians, if not all, have read reports on the brutalities being meted out to innocent residents of Domeabra Obom constituency by armed uniformed men believed to be operatives of the Ghana Armed Forces. Unfortunately, media reports on the issues have, sorry to say, been laden with half-truth, and in some cases, outright fabrications. What was a clear case of unwarranted meddling in land disputes by persons regaled in Military informs, has been turned into attacks on the military because two hoodlums who have no justification to invade Domefaase to provide landguard duties to a private citizen was unfortunately assaulted in what could be described as an ensuing melee. It is on record, and this is undisputed, that any time Domeabra Obom attracted headlines of news tabloids, it was for all the refreshing reasons. However, since the inception of the Akufo Addo government, the constituency is gradually taking a cloak of Chameleon-hued words where our hitherto pleasant stories are being mixed with unpleasant news. One of such happenings, which we can confidently conclude that, it has the unwavering support of the State, is the ongoing beatings and violation rights of unsuspecting people in the various villages in the constituencies. Some of you may say we have overstretched our hand to draw the government into a land dispute between two rival tribes. This thinking cannot stand the test of logical reasoning when the facts on the ground are pieced together. And we will share some with you which will tune your minds to fall on our conclusion. Historically, the present day Domeabra Obom Constituency, which was part of Ga West Constituency, was part of the total land size of Greater Accra region. At no point in time, not even when there was no proper documentation in pre-colonial days, was it suggested, not even remotely, that the land covering Domeabra Obom constituency is part of Eastern region under the authority of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council. Beyond oral history, official documentations point to the fact that it is part of Greater Accra, and the various Ga families are allodial holders. When the constituency was first created in 2004 under President John Agyekum Kufuor, Obom remained its administrate capital but it was added to Weija Gbawe and Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro (all created in 2012 with Weija Gbawe standing as a municipality on its own now) constituency to constitute Ga South Municipal Assembly in Greater Accra. When all these things happened, no chief from Akyem Abuakwa Tradition Council laid claim to the land or protested that they own the land. The Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council started laying claims to the land when their tribesman, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo was elected President on December 7, 2016. Seeing that a widow has opened for them to use State power to claim what does not belong to them because their tribesman is now President, the Mponuahene of Akyim Apadwa Nana Baffour Sarpong Okumakum, a subject of the Okyehene, started making claims that the whole constituency is an Akyem land and not Ga land. To make matters worse, he forcefully, without court order, pulling down buildings, destroying farmlands and other livelihood properties through sand and gravel winning and gravel in the Domefaase and Fankyinekor, all villages in the constituency. It is said to mention that all these illegal acts were supervised by supposed National Security Operatives and uniformed armed military men. While all these illegal acts were brought to the attention of the Municipal Chief Executive for Ga South, Joseph Nyarni Stevens, who is an immediate past NPP constituency Chairman for Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro, and the Presiding Member for the same Assembly, Mohammed Abdul Wahab, who is also NPP constituency Organizer for Domeabra Obom and immediate past Assembly Member for Obom Electoral Area, little was done about it to forestall trouble. In fact, the MCE, as head of Municipal Security Committee, plaid little or no role in calling his Partys inspired chief to order. A brief description of the constituency will help this discourse. Domeabra Obom constituency has 13 Electoral Areas. Its shares boundary with Nsawam Adoagyiri, Upper West Akim, Awutu Senya East and West, Amasaman and Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro. Out of the 13 Electoral areas, the Mponuahene is laying claims to 12 Electoral Areas. According to him, Jei Krodua Electoral Area, which is part of 13 Electoral Areas, constitute the boundary with they the Akyems and Central Region. To him, Jei Krodua too is not part of Greater Accra but Central region. It is worthy to note that, chiefs in Central region have never laid claim to Jei Krodua as part of their land. The Mponuahene had for some time now being using landguards and heavily built and armed men dressed in military uniforms to terrorize people, particularly in the Paanor and Kofi Kwei Electoral Areas. Matters came to a head when the chiefs of the various villages and the youth decided to confront the issue by organizing a press conference to address the issues which MUSEC had failed them. This press conference was called this week. At the press conference, journalists requested to see the site the Mponuahene is winning the sand under supposed military protection the destruction caused to properties. The Chief, the MP and youth decided to lead the youth there. Upon getting to the site, the Mponuahene instructed the military men to beat the chiefs and the youth. It is important to stress the point that the youth were not armed. They did not provoke the military men before they started beating them. In the course of the confrontation, two military men suspected to members of the NPPs invincible forces but dressed in military uniform were unfortunately assaulted at Domefaase. It is again important to state that, the Mponuahene and his hoodlums mostly drove to the site in cars that had NPP flags handing in them. In fact, this was what prompted the chiefs to call the NPP Parliamentary Candidate, Philip Doe to a meeting to talk to his Party big shots to stop harassing them. He agreed to do that within two or three days only to return and tell the chiefs to go to court. A number of reports were lodged at the Police station relating to the harassment but in all instances, the Police said the Mponuahene and his men were acting on orders from above The Mponuahene indeed, could only be acting on orders from above especially when he always had heavily armed military men following him and providing landguard duties at his behest. Account of one of the supposed soldiers, Asare Addo, who was arrested is very revealing. We were deployed to the area by our big men. We were called to come and assist them [on the request of] the Mponua Hene of Akyim Apadwa Nana Baffour Sarpong Okumakum, to assist them to secure the land. Who are these big men that the soldier said instructed them to provide the landguard duties on request of the Mponuahene? Could it be the Commander in Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, President Akufo Addo who himself is an Akyem? Or Could it be the Chief of Defense Staff, Lt Col Obed Boamah Akwa of the Chairman of MUSEC? If they are not the big men who ordered the military men to provide landguard duties to the Mponuahene, then who are the big men?. We demand answers to these questions because the military command has come out to say the assaulted soldiers and their colleagues were not on official duties. If they were not on official duties, who took them there and what is the military command doing to that person? Again we want to if a private citizen can now request military protection to guard a disputed land? Despite these glaring misbehavior of the Mponuahene and the military, they are walking free. Instead, the military command has deployed their men to the constituency to beat innocent people. Women and children are now displaced as result of these action. Yesterday, it took the timely intervention of the Municipal Director of Educations to save some teachers who were arrested by the military as suspect. A number of innocent people have been beaten and over hundred people have been rounded up by the military at locations where the incident did not take place. Old ladies and children were held hostage at Obom by the soldiers without food and water for more than 12 hours. In all these, the crude posturing of government officials and NPP Executives is baffling. The MCE, as head of MUSEC, instead of calling for the arrest of the Mponuahene for taking the law into his lands, he is rather condemning the chiefs and youth who had no option than to defend themselves. While the NPP candidate and his constituency executives are feigning ignorance of the condemnable behavior of the Mponuahene, the Deputy Minister of Defence, Maj Derick Oduro was incensed by the fact that the armed military men could not kill hundreds of the chiefs and people of the 20 communities that trooped the site. The Presiding Member, Wahab, has evacuated his family from Obom, leaving other inhabitants. Clearly, Mponuahene has the support of government to engage in this roundly condemnable conduct. Domeabra Obom constituency was peaceful until he decided to ride at the back of coercive apparatus of State to harass constituents. We condemn the attacks on the innocent constituents and demand that the Military high command recall their men from the area. Also, the innocent people arrested should be released forthwith. We also demand the immediate arrest of the Mponuahene and his assigns if indeed they do not have the tacit backing of the State. We stand with the chiefs of Domeabra Obom constituency in this NPP government inspired provocations and attacks on them. Emmanuel Nii Okai Armah President of DOYA ----citinewsroom Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 28) Residents who returned to Negros Occidental contributed to the sudden increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the province, the Department of Health said on Friday. Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH confirmed the claim of local officials that the COVID-19 cases in the province only increased in the past weeks following the return of locally-stranded individuals. "Noong tiningnan namin ang data, we verified na 'yun talagang mga umuwi papunta sa kanilang areas, 'yun talaga ang nakapagpa-increase ng kaso nila," she said in a media forum. [When we looked at the data, we verified that the return of the residents really caused the increase in cases.] The provincial government on Wednesday said that 47.57% of the confirmed COVID-19 cases there are returning residents, while 31.9% are local cases. There are 1,956 COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental as of August 25. The provincial government said it will hold mass testing starting today until August 31. Symptomatic patients and their close contacts in the cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay and Silay, as well as in the municipality of Murcia, will undergo swab tests. In an interview with CNN Philippines Friday night, Negros Occidental Governor Bong Lacson reported 2,724 people who went through swab testing for COVID-19. Lacson said the provincial government is targeting to 10,000 people for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing, but he said reaching 70 percent of the figure is enough. If your barangay is identified as an area for testing, please cooperate and have yourself tested because this is for your own good. It is possible that many Negrenses are positive and just roaming around, Lacson appealed to the people. The DOH is monitoring the situation in the province to check the facilities and the status of the local governments COVID-19 response. CNN Philippines' digital producer David Tristan Yumol contributed to this report. Byzantine specifics in Illinois law restrict where and how standalone birthing centers can be operated. The law approves 10 total birthing centers in the state and specifies four should be in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry or Will counties. One of these four must be owned or operated by a hospital, and one should be owned or operated by a federally qualified health center. The Berwyn location is owned and operated by a health center; if the two additional birthing centers open as planned the locations proposed in Burr Ridge and North Center, which will be privately operated the remaining slot for a fourth birthing center within these counties should be owned and operated by a hospital. Hong Kong, Aug 28 : Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has described herself as an administrator who does not understand politics, saying she could not have predicted the 2019 turmoil that erupted from the now-shelved extradition bill, it was reported on Friday. The bill was sparked by the case of Chan Tong-kai, a Hongkonger wanted in Taiwan on suspicion of murdering his girlfriend in Taipei in February 2018, reports the South China Morning Post (SCMP) newspaper. Since there was no extradition agreement between the two places, Hong Kong could not send Chan back to Taiwan. The case was cited as a major reason for pushing forward legislation that would have allowed suspects to be sent to jurisdictions Hong Kong lacked an extradition agreement with, including mainland China. It was eventually shelved in September 2019, but the protests against it evolved into months of social unrest, and violent clashes between radicals and police. "I really did not expect it, because I don't consider myself to be a person who understands politics very well, I am an administrator," Lam said during a conversation with Phoenix Satellite Television, when asked if she ever expected Hong Kong politics to be so complex in her role as Chief Executive. "But as of now, Hong Kong needs to have good governance, which is inseparable from politics." Lam also said that it was her duty to uphold the "one country, two systems" principle under which Hong Kong is governed, and added her family trusted her 100 per cent because "they know what I'm doing is right". Since Beijing imposed its national security law on Hong Kong on June 30, international pressure has mounted on Lam. But while critics have said that the controversial law, which is aimed at punishing acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security, could be used to suppress dissent and undermine freedoms in the city, Lam has insisted the new law had restored calm. "It brought back the Hong Kong we were once familiar with," she was quoted as saying in the interview by the SCMP newspaper. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Indranee Rajah speaking to a patron at the Tiong Bahru Food Centre on Sunday (29 September). (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore) SINGAPORE Minister in the Prime Ministers Office Indranee Rajah has been appointed Leader of the House for the 14th Parliament, said the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) on Thursday (20 August). Rajah, 57, succeeds Grace Fu, who was Leader from October 2015 until June 2020, when Parliament was dissolved for the 2020 General Election. She is also Second Minister for Finance and National Development. The Leader of the House arranges government business and Parliaments legislative programme, and proposes appropriate actions to be taken on any procedural matter that arises in Parliament. He or she also moves procedural motions relating to the business of the House during sittings, such as to extend the times of sittings beyond the usual time as set out in the Standing Orders. Zaqy Mohamad, Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Defence, will be Deputy Leader, succeeding National Development Minister Desmond Lee. PMO added that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong intends to nominate Tan Chuan-Jin to continue in the role of Speaker, a post Tan has held since September 2017. The Speaker will be formally elected next Monday, before the 14th Parliament opens. In a Facebook post on Thursday, Tan pledged, If chosen, I will continue to be fair and impartial, and firm, in discharging my responsibilities and upholding the honour and integrity of our Parliament. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related stories: Expect sharper debate with more opposition in Parliament, PM Lee Hsien Loong tells PAP MPs No need to vote opposition as NCMP scheme ensures their voice in Parliament: Indranee Rajah 'Not appropriate' to answer parliamentary query on POFMA orders issued over Ho Ching's salary: Indranee Rajah A passenger was taken off a Ryanair flight at a London airport after receiving a text saying he tested positive for coronavirus. The passenger, who has not been identified, and his travel companion were on a flight to Pisa, Italy, from London Stansted airport on Wednesday when he received the text message before departure. Ryanair said in a statement that they were both seated for only 10 minutes before they were taken off the plane and taken to an isolation area at the airport. The flight to Pisa went ahead after a delay of one hour and 20 minutes while seats and overhead cabins were disinfected. Ryanair said in its statement: Since this passenger and his companion had complied fully with Ryanair health regulations, they were both wearing masks at all times at Stansted Airport and for the very short period less than 10 mins they were seated on the aircraft prior to departure. There was little if any risk of Covid-19 transmission to other passengers or crew members as all of whom were also wearing face masks at all times. The aircraft departed for Pisa following a delay of one hour and 20 mins to allow for the empty seats and overhead cabin bins to be disinfected to comply with all UK health authority guidance. Ryanair apologises to all passengers for this short delay. A spokesman from Stansted Airport said: We were made aware of the passenger by the airline and members of the airports fire service attended the aircraft and escorted the passenger and travel partner to an isolation area, where they were put in contact with Public Health England who then oversaw the passengers onward journey. 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. Seeing celebrities in international labels has been an industry norm for a while now, but the times are here to change. The ongoing pandemic has brought on many realisations, the key one being to look inwards within the country to fulfil ones needs. Leading this thought process from the front, young & dynamic actor from south Allu Sirish got multiple Indian brands onboard to promote the use of India made products which are world-class as any global label would be. Organic India, Green Snack Company, Bombay Shaving, Ustraa, Pulp and Cover it Up have come on-board for the first tranche of the campaign. The campaign is set to be rolled out in multiple phases. Sirish, in the first phase, has brought these brands together to encourage his followers to give them a try. By using them himself in his daily needs and sharing the same on his social media handles, the actor aims to set an example for his fan bases to follow suit. The superstar has also curated a gorgeous hamper of these indigenous products which has to be sent to his celebrity friends and colleagues, scaling the campaign much higher. "Bombay Shaving Company is a made in India brand and our mission has been to make Indian men not only look good but feel good as well. We were delighted to see Allu Sirish amplifying our voice and going local while being vocal about it. It is important, more so now than ever, to support and endorse Indian brands that provide high-quality products. We will continue to create an enriching grooming experience for our customers so that they could continue to support us and take pride in being local." Said the spokesperson of the company. Jasmine Kaur, Co-founder, Green Snack Co. added, "At Green Snack Co., we've led the healthy snacking revolution from the front by creating products of the highest quality and integrity for the Indian consumer using only locally sourced ingredients. We take pride in the fact that our products easily match or exceed the quality of any international brand, as do many other indian brands across categories, thus dismissing the myth that Indian brands cannot be as good as their international counterparts. I believe this fantastic initiative taken by Allu Sirish to promote Indian brands, is most needed and one whose time has come, especially now, when every Indian brand needs all the support it can get, and we believe that there's no support like purchasing the product. So 'Be Indian, Buy Indian'!" Representative of Organic India further added, "At the heart of ORGANIC INDIA is our commitment to be a living embodiment of love and consciousness in action. Our product is one link in a chain of connectedness between Mother Nature, our farmers and consumers. Our products are made in India and reach millions of customers worldwide. ORGANIC INDIA promotes Healthy Conscious Living by offering 100% organic, vegetarian products, including organic green tea, infusions, ghee, apple cider vinegar, oils, pulses, health supplements, detox programs, quinoa and more. We thank and support Mr. Allu Sirish towards his great initiative for #GoLocalBeVocal." I made a conscious decision a few weeks ago to use more India made products. On speaking to people I realised this idea resonated with a lot of people, but they have a stigma when endorsing something that's India made. I feel we needed to break this perception. That's when I decided I'll use the voice and mediums I have to encourage people to buy local and even proudly flaunt their local samaan with pride. And that's how this idea of "Go Local, Be Vocal" started. I am thankful to my friends from the acting community for supporting me in this initiative. signs off Sirish. Hunter3077 BHPian Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Vizag/All Over Posts: 95 Thanked: 1,152 Times Indian Army : Of Religion & Buddies Madrassi hai, pata nahi kya kya changes ho jayega training mei", one of them mumbled in a forlorn tone. Being a South Indian myself, I wondered why this particular emphasis on the Officers regional base was to be discussed. I soon forgot about it, caught up with the hectic routine of the academy. One day, while being seated in the academy, I saw a smartly turned out Sikh Colonel striding on to the stage to address the cadets. I shot a quick question to my neighbour, "Who's he?" I got a response in return, "Colonel Training". "No way, the Colonel Training is a Madrassi, not a Sikh officer," I said in all my confident and smug tone. "Yes, you fool. He is a Madrassi - he belongs to the Madras Regiment". My smugness made a quick exit and I learned a lesson that day. An officer's religion is that of his men. Period. That day, and the 18 years that have followed, I saw not one reason to believe otherwise. Religious beliefs in the Army have fierce rooting. Men kill and die on the war cries of Gods and Goddesses. It is what keeps them bonded, glued and motivated. It is what makes them believe that they are being looked after. In this overall scheme of things, a leader's role is nothing less than the link between the deity and the man on the ground. A 'Bihari' may well be a Coorgi from Karnataka and a 'JAT' may be a Mallu from Kerala. It is the Regiment that matters, not the origins. Terms like 'Pahadi', 'Pandit', 'Tambi' are terms that are used with pride and dignity, not otherwise. As a young Gun Position Officer, when for the first time, we were poised for live firing in the Rajasthan Ranges, I stood with all others for the Aarti that is performed before the Guns would start firing. In all the ensuing chants of 'Om Jai Jagadish Hare,' I remained mum, not once uttering a single line of the hymn. After the Aarti ended and the Pandit offered the Prasaad, I again refused to partake of it. Later, when the men dispersed to get ready for the firing, our Second in Command (2ic) got hold of me and questioned me as to why I did not participate in the Aarti wholeheartedly. I told him that I was a non-believer and did not intend taking part in the religious act. He looked at me long and hard, and with all his restraint, he told me that it doesn't matter one bit whether I believed or not, it is a parade and I will bloody well sing the bhajan and consume the Prasaad. I mumbled a defiant acceptance but only later realised that it does matter whether one participates or not. The man who believes, cannot be discouraged by a leader who doesn't. It is a Parade and it is supposed to be done with all sincerity. The 2ic, by the way, was a Christian. As a Captain with 3 years of service, I was posted in Drass and for a long time, I was the convoy commander between Drass and Sonamarg. Those who have negotiated the Zozi La would recollect the prominent Captain's Mor where Captain HC Vadera of the MADRAS Sappers gave up his life during a road widening work in 1954. The Captain's Memorial is a permanent pit stop for every vehicle that crosses the Pass. It is considered an ill omen if one passes the point without paying obeisance. It didn't matter if I believed or not. As the Convoy Commander, I had to believe; there was no option or choice. There are similar cases of Harbhajan Baba, Jaswant Memorial and many more in every nook and corner of the country. These are the things that matter to the simple military man/woman. One cannot ignore these in the larger interest. For a large part of my unit life, my buddy was a guy called Mohammad Jabir, fondly called as Javed at home. He was fiercely religious and followed all religious procedures diligently. He was a young recruit and had certain inhibitions in being a 'buddy'. I did not ask him to do anything that he wasn't comfortable doing. In a short time, we developed a unique bond which was based on mutual respect. He used to do tasks for me out of his interest without any external prodding. Not only that, but he was also a good professional soldier who knew his tasks on the Gun well and took a keen interest in Unit activities in addition to being a fantastic Boxer and sportsman. Every day with Javed was learning. He was a storehouse of knowledge. My Father coined the term Hanuman for him. He was like that. No task was impossible and nothing was less than 100%. He was part of the family. Need I mention that not once did it occur to us that as per the social norms, we were at two extreme ends of the spectrum? A South Indian Brahmin family and a North Indian Muslim. There simply is no place for religious biases or prejudices in the Indian Army. There was an occasion when we were posted in Delhi and were allotted a spanking new flat as accommodation. I was tired of staying in the guestroom and was keen on shifting into the house immediately. My wife was then out of the station and not likely to get back any time sooner. Initially, Javed tried to delay the shifting by giving reasons that the house was being handed over slowly. Thereafter he started giving flimsy reasons amounting to much more delay. When I finally confronted him on what was happening, he gave me a sheepish answer that we were waiting for the auspicious day to shift into the new house! My wife and Javed were in constant discussion on this so-called auspicious time. Eventually, it did happen and he completed the ritual by boiling milk in a new pot until it boiled over the sides to symbolize an abundance of prosperity and food to bless the new home as per the Hindu rituals. Only then was I allowed to set foot into the house! Javed was with me through thick and thin. He was there when I picked up my little one in my arms; he was there when we had a marriage in the family and he was also there alongside me, bearing the the mortal remains of my Father and when I lit the funeral pyre while I was emotionally drained and was down and out. Religion cannot superimpose itself on humanity or the soldierly bonhomie. Never. Most common sights that one would encounter in a Fauzi religious ceremonies would be that of a Sikh/Muslim/Christian Commanding officer or Subedar Major performing the regimental Hawan and Aarti on religious occasion; people of all faith come together in devotion under a common roof called Sarv Dharm Sthal; singing their hearts out in Aarti or Ardaas. These are not some special sights. These are some of the most common ones which do not even need a second glance or be mentioned especially since the fabric of the Indian Army is so interwoven with acceptance of all religions and beliefs. There is simply no room for bias or favouritism. Photo Credit - Swapnil It is very important to follow religious practices and beliefs in the army. Simply because a Soldier needs to repose his faith in a Superior Being. It is that belief in the Almighty that assures him that no harm will come his or his Paltan's way. It is that hope which consoles him that even if something were to happen to him, his family will be taken care of. And it is the same belief that gives him confidence of victory in the battle field, however impossible the odds are. It is essential that the hope and belief remain unadulterated and regular gatherings in the Sarv Dharm Sthal be organised to keep the flame of their faith burning. A notable dialogue of the Protagonist from the Hindi Movie 'PK' goes thus - "Till the time I believed in the existence of God, I had hope of finding my Remote. The day I concluded that there is no God, I lost my hope". Succinct and precise. An officer has a massive responsibility. As was evident in my earlier examples, dealing with a multitude of faiths and beliefs, it is a sensitive and delicate balance that has to be ensured. Years of peaceful coexistence preclude any undesirable situation from erupting but as an officer, this balance must be maintained at all costs. The boat should not be rocked, least of all by an officer himself. I have realized that what works best for every individual is to keep their strong beliefs to themselves and not give them air. Each individual has the freedom to practice their religion but being part of an organization like the Armed forces, individual choices mustn't clutter the environment. At no cost should personal preferences come in the way of discharging official responsibilities. If the men under us are different colours and flavours, we are the Blender. And on that note, Heave Ho! When I was a first termer in NDA (not the political one; this is the far more prestigious National Defence Academy), I overheard two Drill Ustaad speaking to each other about the new Colonel Training of the academy. "", one of them mumbled in a forlorn tone. Being a South Indian myself, I wondered why this particular emphasis on the Officers regional base was to be discussed. I soon forgot about it, caught up with the hectic routine of the academy. One day, while being seated in the academy, I saw a smartly turned out Sikh Colonel striding on to the stage to address the cadets. I shot a quick question to my neighbour, "Who's he?" I got a response in return, "Colonel Training". "No way, the Colonel Training is a, not aofficer," I said in all my confident and smug tone. "Yes, you fool. He is a- he belongs to the Madras Regiment". My smugness made a quick exit and I learned a lesson that day. An officer's religion is that of his men. Period.That day, and the 18 years that have followed, I saw not one reason to believe otherwise. Religious beliefs in the Army have fierce rooting. Men kill and die on the war cries of Gods and Goddesses. It is what keeps them bonded, glued and motivated. It is what makes them believe that they are being looked after. In this overall scheme of things, a leader's role is nothing less than the link between the deity and the man on the ground. A '' may well be afrom Karnataka and a '' may be afrom Kerala. It is the Regiment that matters, not the origins. Terms like '' are terms that are used with pride and dignity, not otherwise.As a young Gun Position Officer, when for the first time, we were poised for live firing in the Rajasthan Ranges, I stood with all others for thethat is performed before the Guns would start firing. In all the ensuing chants of ',' I remained mum, not once uttering a single line of the hymn. After theended and theoffered the, I again refused to partake of it. Later, when the men dispersed to get ready for the firing, our Second in Command (2ic) got hold of me and questioned me as to why I did not participate in thewholeheartedly. I told him that I was a non-believer and did not intend taking part in the religious act. He looked at me long and hard, and with all his restraint, he told me that it doesn't matter one bit whether I believed or not, it is a parade and I will bloody well sing theand consume the. I mumbled a defiant acceptance but only later realised that it does matter whether one participates or not. The man who believes, cannot be discouraged by a leader who doesn't. It is a Parade and it is supposed to be done with all sincerity. The 2ic, by the way, was a Christian.As a Captain with 3 years of service, I was posted in Drass and for a long time, I was the convoy commander between Drass and Sonamarg. Those who have negotiated the Zozi La would recollect the prominentwhere Captain HC Vadera of the MADRAS Sappers gave up his life during a road widening work in 1954. The Captain's Memorial is a permanent pit stop for every vehicle that crosses the Pass. It is considered an ill omen if one passes the point without paying obeisance. It didn't matter if I believed or not. As the Convoy Commander, I had to believe; there was no option or choice. There are similar cases ofand many more in every nook and corner of the country. These are the things that matter to the simple military man/woman. One cannot ignore these in the larger interest.For a large part of my unit life, my buddy was a guy called Mohammad Jabir, fondly called as Javed at home. He was fiercely religious and followed all religious procedures diligently. He was a young recruit and had certain inhibitions in being a 'buddy'. I did not ask him to do anything that he wasn't comfortable doing. In a short time, we developed a unique bond which was based on mutual respect. He used to do tasks for me out of his interest without any external prodding. Not only that, but he was also a good professional soldier who knew his tasks on the Gun well and took a keen interest in Unit activities in addition to being a fantastic Boxer and sportsman. Every day with Javed was learning. He was a storehouse of knowledge. My Father coined the term for him. He was like that. No task was impossible and nothing was less than 100%. He was part of the family. Need I mention that not once did it occur to us that as per the social norms, we were at two extreme ends of the spectrum? A South Indian Brahmin family and a North Indian Muslim. There simply is no place for religious biases or prejudices in the Indian Army.There was an occasion when we were posted in Delhi and were allotted a spanking new flat as accommodation. I was tired of staying in the guestroom and was keen on shifting into the house immediately. My wife was then out of the station and not likely to get back any time sooner. Initially, Javed tried to delay the shifting by giving reasons that the house was being handed over slowly. Thereafter he started giving flimsy reasons amounting to much more delay. When I finally confronted him on what was happening, he gave me a sheepish answer that we were waiting for the auspicious day to shift into the new house! My wife and Javed were in constant discussion on this so-called auspicious time. Eventually, it did happen and he completed the ritual by boiling milk in a new pot until it boiled over the sides to symbolize an abundance of prosperity and food to bless the new home as per the Hindu rituals. Only then was I allowed to set foot into the house!Javed was with me through thick and thin. He was there when I picked up my little one in my arms; he was there when we had a marriage in the family and he was also there alongside me, bearing the the mortal remains of my Father and when I lit the funeral pyre while I was emotionally drained and was down and out. Religion cannot superimpose itself on humanity or the soldierly bonhomie. Never.Most common sights that one would encounter in areligious ceremonies would be that of a Sikh/Muslim/Christian Commanding officer or Subedar Major performing the regimentalandon religious occasion; people of all faith come together in devotion under a common roof called; singing their hearts out inor. These are not some special sights. These are some of the most common ones which do not even need a second glance or be mentioned especially since the fabric of the Indian Army is so interwoven with acceptance of all religions and beliefs. There is simply no room for bias or favouritism.It is very important to follow religious practices and beliefs in the army. Simply because a Soldier needs to repose his faith in a Superior Being. It is that belief in the Almighty that assures him that no harm will come his or hisway. It is that hope which consoles him that even if something were to happen to him, his family will be taken care of. And it is the same belief that gives him confidence of victory in the battle field, however impossible the odds are. It is essential that the hope and belief remain unadulterated and regular gatherings in thebe organised to keep the flame of their faith burning. A notable dialogue of the Protagonist from the Hindi Movie 'PK' goes thus - "Till the time I believed in the existence of God, I had hope of finding my Remote. The day I concluded that there is no God, I lost my hope". Succinct and precise.An officer has a massive responsibility. As was evident in my earlier examples, dealing with a multitude of faiths and beliefs, it is a sensitive and delicate balance that has to be ensured. Years of peaceful coexistence preclude any undesirable situation from erupting but as an officer, this balance must be maintained at all costs. The boat should not be rocked, least of all by an officer himself. I have realized that what works best for every individual is to keep their strong beliefs to themselves and not give them air. Each individual has the freedom to practice their religion but being part of an organization like the Armed forces, individual choices mustn't clutter the environment. At no cost should personal preferences come in the way of discharging official responsibilities. If the men under us are different colours and flavours, we are the Blender. And on that note, Heave Ho! By Francesco Guarascio BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission has made a 336 million euro ($396 million) downpayment to British drug maker AstraZeneca to secure at least 300 million doses of its potential COVID-19 vaccine, a spokesman said on Thursday. The deal covers development, liability and other costs faced by the vaccine maker. The EU has also secured an option to buy 100 million additional doses of the vaccine under development. The 27 EU states could buy it at a later stage, should the vaccine prove successful. The overall price they will pay to acquire the doses has not been revealed, but under an earlier deal struck in June with AstraZeneca by Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands, all members of the EU, AstraZeneca agreed to sell 300 million doses for 750 million euros ($843 million). The EU deal completed the preliminary accord reached with the drug maker by the four countries, the Commission said in a statement. "We cannot indicate at this stage the specific pricing per dose. However, a significant part of the overall costs are funded by a contribution from the overall ESI funding for vaccines," the commission spokesman said, referring to the 336 million euros paid through the bloc's so-called emergency support instrument. It is the first contract signed by the EU with a maker of potential COVID-19 vaccines. AstraZeneca has already agreed the supply of 300 million shots of the same vaccine to the United States for $1.2 billion, and of up to 30 million doses to Britain for 65.5 million pounds ($86.5 million). Brussels has previously said it is also in advanced talks with Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi, Moderna and CureVac for their potential vaccines. EU officials told Reuters in July the bloc was also talking with Pfizer and BionTech for the shot they are developing together. The contract with AstraZeneca follows an advance purchase agreement signed by Brussels with the company earlier in August. Story continues Part of the money the EU pays for supply deals covers legal risks faced by vaccine makers if their shots have unexpected side effects. These risks are increased by the hastened process to develop a vaccine in the race against the COVID-19 pandemic. "In order to compensate for such high risks taken by manufacturers, the Advanced Purchase Agreements provide for member states to indemnify the manufacturer for liabilities incurred under certain conditions," the commission said. "Liability still remains with the companies," it added. This issue has been one of the stumbling blocs in talks with other vaccine makers, official told Reuters, as companies prefer to have a broader shield. (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio; Additional reporting by Josephine Mason; Editing by David Holmes and Kirsten Donovan) Barry said in one of the tapes that the person who took the test was named Joe Shapiro. Trump knew a person with that name at Penn, but his widow and sister told The Post that he would have never taken a test for Trump, and they said he didnt know Trump until he attended Penn, so the timing was not right. Mary Trump has said it was a different Shapiro, but that person has not come forward or been identified. Experts say consumers antibodies may reveal important information about their infections A new study conducted by researchers from Stanford Medicine explored one way to identify the severity of COVID-19 cases. According to their work, analyzing patients antibodies shortly after the onset of symptoms may indicate whether their case will be mild or severe. Weve identified an early biomarker of risk for progression to severe symptoms, said researcher Dr. Taia Wang. And we found that antibodies elicited by an mRNA vaccine in this case, Pfizers differ ... The Union of Okada Riders of the Greater Accra Region has set the record straight over Ex-President John Mahamas promise to legalize the commercial use of motorcycles, known as okada should he win the Presidency. Mohammed Gambila, President Of Okada Riders, in a statement was bewildered by the sudden U-turn by the former President. We dont have a short memory as Ghanaians that it was during the tenure of the NDC administration under the leadership of Ex-President John Mahama that cabinet sent the regulations, 2012(LI 2180) to parliamentWhat has really changed for John Dramani Mahama to make a U-turn to make a promise to ensure legalization OKADA Business. This legislative the instrument was passed in 2012 to make the commercial operation of motorbike illegal, the statement further read. Read full statement below: BY THE UNION OF OKADA RIDERS OF THE GREATER ACCRA REGION SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT ON THE LEGALIZATION OF OKADA BUSINESS AS A LEGACY We wish to present to you true reflection of the strong will of the New Patriotic Party to ensure the legalization of OKADA Business. We are very much amazed at the audacity of the Presidential Candidate of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama for his recent pledge to ensure the legalization of OKADA Transport Business to the extent that the NDC campaign machinery is considering capturing in their 2020 manifesto. This idea does not only amount to plagiarism, but deception designed to desperately become President of the Republic of Ghana. We dont have short memory as Ghanaians that it was during the tenure of the NDC administration under the leadership of Ex-President John Mahama, that cabinet sent the regulations, 2012(LI 2180) to parliament. Road Traffic Regulations, 2012. Regulation 128, Prohibition of use of motorcycle or tricycle for commercial purpose* 1. The licensing Authority shall not register a motorcycle or tricycle to carry a fare-paying passenger. 2. A person shall not use or permit a motorcycle or tricycle over which that person exercises control to be used for commercial purposes except for courier and delivery services. 3. A person shall not ride on a motorcycle or tricycle as a fare-paying passenger. This legislative the instrument was passed in 2012 to make the commercial operation of motorbike illegal. What has really changed for John Dramani Mahama to make a U-turn to make a promise to ensure legalization OKADA Business. It was the NPP Government after assuming the mantle of running the affairs of state paved way for the OKADA Business to run for it was discovered that the OKADA Business was good to ensure the boosting of the economy. Hon. Moses Abor, The Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer of the Ruling NPP started engaging Road Safety Commission to ensure proper orientation on the use of the motorcycles in accordance with road safety regulations. He ensured that we formed a union to coordinate our activities. The business has brought hope to the youth as several of us can make ends meet out of this business transaction. It has also reduced social vices as several of our members who are mainly youth are benefitting. We really thank you for your attention. 4more4nana 4more to do more, God bless the New Patriotic Party, God bless Mother Ghana. Signed by MOHAMMED GAMBILA (PRESIDENT OF OKADA RIDERS, GAR) Contact:0244965133 Issued by: RANDOLPH OSEI BUABENG (SEC. & PRO FOR OKADA RIDERS, GAR) Contact: 0244375849 Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The UN Security Council is voting on a resolution that would extend the mandate of the mission in southern for a year but reduce its troop ceiling from 15,000 to 13,000 in response to US pressure. The French-drafted resolution also makes another concession to the Trump administration and its close ally Israel. It calls on the Lebanese government to facilitate prompt and full access to sites requested by UN peacekeepers for investigation, including tunnels crossing the UN-drawn Blue Line between and Israel. The draft urges freedom of movement for UNIFIL and unimpeded access to all parts of the Blue Line, and condemns in the strongest terms all attempts to restrict UN troop movements and attacks on mission personnel. The resolution, if approved, would give the United States a symbolic victory, but it would also almost certainly be welcomed by many countries that view UNIFIL as critical to maintaining peace in the volatile region and strongly support its current mandate which is largely maintained. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote to the council on July 29 recommending a 12-month renewal of UNIFIL's mandate, stressing the importance of maintaining high troop strength. While the resolution's adoption would reduce the troop ceiling from 15,000 to 13,000, it would not require any cuts in the current peacekeeping force. That's because UNIFIL's current strength is about 10,250 troops, well below the ceiling. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 15 members of the council are voting on the resolution by email. Voting began on Thursday afternoon and ends Friday afternoon. The Security Council president, Indonesia's UN Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, said results will be announced Friday evening. UNIFIL was created to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern after a 1978 invasion. The mission was expanded after a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah militants so that peacekeepers could deploy along the Lebanon-Israel border to help Lebanese troops extend their authority into their country's south for the first time in decades. Israel has repeatedly accused Hezbollah, which is backed by its greatest foe Iran, of impeding the peacekeepers from carrying out their mandate, a view strongly backed by the Trump administration. In 2019, Israel destroyed a series of what it said were attack tunnels, dug under the border by Hezbollah. The militant group battled Israel to a stalemate in a month-long war in 2006. Israel's former ambassador Danny Danon said in May that Israel would insist that peacekeepers have access to all sites, that they have freedom of movement and that any time they are being blocked the Security Council must be immediately informed. US Ambassador Kelly Craft tweeted at the time that UNIFIL has been prevented from fulfilling its mandate and Hezbollah has been able to arm itself and expand operations, putting the Lebanese people at risk. She said the Security Council must either pursue serious change to empower UNIFIL or realign its staffing and resources with tasks it can actually accomplish. The resolution being voted on recognizes that UNIFIL has successfully implemented its mandate since 2006 and has allowed for maintaining peace and security since then, and therefore the Security Council would authorise the reduction of the troop ceiling from 15,000 to 13,000. The draft resolution states that the force strength can be increased in the future in the event of a degraded security situation. According to UNIFIL, it currently has about 10,250 troops including more than 9,400 ground troops and over 850 naval personnel assigned to its Maritime Task Force. In addition, the mission has about 900 civilian staff, both and national. The draft resolution would affirm the Security Council's strong continuing commitment to the existing UNIFIL mandate. And it would reaffirm the necessity that Lebanon's armed forces deploy in southern Lebanon and its territorial water at an accelerated pace to implement a key mandate provision. The draft asks UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to present the first elements of a plan to improve UNIFIL's efficiency and effectiveness within 60 days. On another US and Israeli issue, the resolution would reiterate the council's call for the rapid finalisation of investigations into all attacks against UNIFIL in order to bring the perpetrators to justice. And it would request the secretary-general to report to the Council, within a reasonable time frame, when such incidents occur. (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 father who beheaded his 14-year-old daughter while she slept in an honour killing that shocked Iran has been jailed for just nine years. Romina Ashrafi was decapitated at her family home in the county of Talesh, Gilan, on May 21 earlier this year. Her death sparked widespread outrage with media condemning the 'institutionalised violence' in the Islamic republic. Her father, who remains unnamed, has today been jailed for nine years despite Romina's mother, Rana Dashti, demanding the death penalty. Romina Ashrafi (pictured) was decapitated at her family home in the county of Talesh, Gilan, on May 21 earlier this year 'Despite the judicial authorities' insistence on a "special handling" of the case, the verdict has terrified me and my family,' Dashti told ILNA. 'I don't want my husband to return to our village ever again,' she said, calling for the verdict to be reviewed and changed to 'execution'. Dashti, who lived with the man for 15 years, added that she now fears for the life of the rest of her family. According to ILNA, Iran's penal code does not lay down the death penalty for a father in cases of filicide and the court can only sentence the accused to fines and jail time. Her death sparked widespread outrage with media condemning the 'institutionalised violence' in the Islamic republic Romina had reportedly run away after the father refused to give permission for her to marry a man 15 years her senior. But she was detained by authorities and taken home despite having pleaded with a judge that she feared for her life if returned. The man she wanted to marry, Bahman Khavari, 34, has also been sentenced to two years in prison. Gadkari launches 45 highway projects in Madhya Pradesh worth Rs11,427 cr Union minister for road transport, highways and MSMEs Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 45 highway projects in Madhya Pradesh in a virtual function through video conference on Tuesday. These projects for inauguration and foundation laying carry a road length of 1,361 km, involving construction value of Rs11,427 crore, paving the way for development of MP. These roads will enhance connectivity, convenience and economic growth in and around the state. Movement of people and goods to and from the state will also improve substantially, especially with the neighbouring states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh etc. Better roads lead to savings in time and fuel and as well lower emission of pollutants. Further, these project will decongest roads and the enroute towns contributing to improved road experience. Speaking on the occasion, Gadkari said, the NH length in the state now stands at 13,248 km at present, which was barely 5,186 km in 2014. He said, Rs1,25,000 crore worth of development works are underway in Madhya Pradesh. As much as 60 to 70 per cent works have been completed on approx. Rs30,000 crore worth road works in the state. He said several of these roads are important for providing connectivity to the tourist spots and backward areas of the state. The minister announced that by the year 2023, development works worth Rs50,000 crore are targeted for completion. The minister further informed that work has already started on the 1,260 km eight lane access controlled Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, of which 244 km 8-lane length will be constructed in Madhya Pradesh at a cost of Rs8,214 crore. He said, the work has already been awarded for the MP section of this Expressway, which will pass through Ramganj Mandi, Garoth, Jawra and Ratlam areas of Malwa region, and Thandla (Jhabua). He said, a 173-km-long 4-lane road will be made to provide connectivity to the Malwa region from the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. This will pass through Indore, Dewas, Ujjain, Agar to Garoth, and the works will be awarded by December this year. Gadkari announced Rs700 crore grant from Central Road Fund (CRF) for Madhya Pradesh to be utilised in the road sector. Inviting proposals from the state, he said Rs350 crore worth of proposals may include the proposals from MPs of Madhya Pradesh for road works in their constituency. Gadkari asked the CM to quickly grant state government permission for mining, as it has direct bearing on the speed of expressway construction. He also requested the CM to urgently distribute the land acquisition money to farmers, which the NHAI has already sent to the state government. He also sought faster forest and project clearances in public interest. Gadkari also highlighted the role of MSME sector in improving the employment and economic scenario in Madhya Pradesh. Citing the recent expansion in the definition of MSME units, he exhorted the state government to utilise the opportunity and explore export potential of handicrafts, handloom, etc which can provide employment to large number of people. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan complemented the union minister for his vision and willingness to undertake important road projects and assured full cooperation of the state machinery. He requested Gadkari to take up three ambitious road projects of Madhya Pradesh Narmada Expressway, Chambal Expressway (also called Atal Progressway and the Ram Vangaman Path. He said, he will very soon submit detailed reports on these projects to the centre. A Georgia man tricked officials at Del Rios school district into wiring him more than $2 million, federal prosecutors say. A federal indictment accused Donald Ray Lockard, 66, of fooling the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District into switching bank accounts into which it transferred money to make payments on its bond debt. The indictment, issued last month, charged Lockard with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and three counts of wire fraud. Both are felony offenses and if convicted, Lockard could receive up to 20 years in prison for each count. Lockard pleaded not guilty when he appeared before a federal judge in Del Rio on Thursday, according to court records. He remains free on bond, federal prosecutors said in a news release. In emails to the school districts comptroller, Lockard posed as a representative of the bank to which the district makes its bond payments, according to the indictment. He emailed the comptroller in August of last year and again in February, when the district makes its biannual payments, instructing the district to send the money to a new account that he controlled, the document states. The district made three payments on Feb. 12 totaling more than $2 million, and Lockard spread the money to other accounts, the indictment says. Portions of it were withdrawn in cash, it states. Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox In a statement Friday, the school district provided a different explanation, saying its technology network system was attacked by malware and thats how the funds were transferred to the fraudulant account. The district has filed a claim and is hopeful for a recovery of a majority of the monies stolen, it said. Unfortunately, fraudulent schemes like this have become common with other organizations and school districts targeted across the State and nation. We are extremely grateful for the prompt action taken by FBI investigators, and law enforcement agencies that collaborated with the FBI. District officials realized on Feb. 18 that the payments were made to a fraudulant account and contacted law enforcement, according to a Feb. 20 statement issued by Superintendent Carlos Rios. The payments were intended for the districts debt service and were electronically transferred, Rios said. District officials planned to review systems and implement additional safegaurds as a result, he said at the time. A Florida man was convicted this year in a similar scheme that robbed Crowley ISD, in North Texas, of about $2 million. Nealy Cox, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, said last year that spear-phishing email attacks had become common. That case was eventually tried in Florida where a jury sentenced Donald Howard Conkright to more than five years in prison. The indictment for Lockard says he worked with co-conspirators but the U.S. Attorneys Office has not annouced any other charges in the case. Lockard and his wife filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2016, the indictment notes. Krista Torralva covers several school districts and public universities in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Krista, become a subscriber. Krista.Torralva@express-news.net | Twitter: @KMTorralva Holiday Inn Phuket reopens in Patong, ready for guests PHUKET: The Holiday Inn Resort Phuket reopens today (Aug 28), with a focus on ensuring guests wellbeing as the island prepares to start receiving foreign travellers under the governments Safe and Sealed policy. tourismCOVID-19health By The Phuket News Friday 28 August 2020, 11:40AM The Holiday Inn Resort Phuket, a mainstay of Patongs tourism landscape for more than 30 years, reopens today (Aug 28). Photo: Holiday Inn Resort Phuket The resort, which has been a mainstay of Patongs tourism landscape for more than 30 years, has implemented science-led protocols and service measures to ensure a safe, secure stay, said a release announcing the reopening. Holiday Inn Resort Phuket looks forward to welcoming back guests to a wonderful vacation experience with peace of mind. In preparation of the reopening, Holiday Inn Resort Phuket enhances the guest experience with new cleaning protocols and service standards. A partnership with industry-leading experts Cleveland Clinic, Ecolab and Diversey has led the Resort to integrate the global IHG Clean Promise. This includes deep cleaning with hospital-grade disinfectants, contactless processes, sanitisation of high touch point areas and social distancing policies throughout the entire hotel, the release explained. In addition, Holiday Inn Resort Phuket has also been awarded the Safety and Health Administration (SHA) certification by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) for its comprehensive guidelines, the release added. The certification confers that Holiday Inn Resort Phuket has met the health and safety standards the SHA programme requires, which ranges from hygiene of the workplace and its facilities, guestrooms, meeting rooms, public areas, restaurants, staff hygiene and guest safety protocols. While we have adopted new protocols, our team is committed more than ever to deliver the same warm, welcoming service and personalised care, says Bart Callens, General Manager of Holiday Inn Resort Phuket. We see it as an opportunity to provide a place for guests to relax and reconnect with loved ones in a safe, carefree setting. The release also marked the reopening of the resorts Busakorn Wing, which underwent major refurbishment in a US$$4.6 million (about B143.545 million) renovation of the resort that was completed in December last year. With the re-opening of the newly refurbished Busakorn Wing we offer a fabulous resort within a resort experience, where tropical sophistication meets traditional Thai luxury. Offering a fresh guest experience for our new and returning guests, the beautifully appointed Studio Rooms and Villas combine heritage-inspired decor but with Modern Thai elegance, the release said. As a We Travel Together participating resort, guests will receive up to 40% savings and complimentary breakfast, it added. The resorts all-day dining restaurant Charm Thai features a revitalised menu that includes a new Phuket Speciality menu. Sams Steaks and Grill will re-open every Friday and Saturday night from Sept 4. Take advantage of the new Sams Staycation offer. If you spend over 5,000 baht per couple in Sams, you can stay that night for free, including complimentary breakfast for two the next day in the newly renovated Busakorn Studio rooms, the release noted. Guests can find our special re-opening offers here: https://phuket.holidayinnresorts.com/specialoffers/inside/23 https://phuket.holidayinnresorts.com/specialoffers/inside/26 Chinese internet-technology company ByteDance said it is moving fast to address issues related to its video-sharing platform TikTok's ban in India and the US, amidst reports of its CEO Kevin Mayer resigning due to "changes in the political environment". Mayer has resigned in just four months of becoming the chief executive officer of the Chinese video-sharing application. He was prompted by a series of changes in the company's structure "as a result of the (US President Donald) Trump administration's action to push for a sell-off to the U.S," according to a letter from Mayer to TikTok employees on Thursday, state-run CGTN-TV reported. "I have decided to leave the company," Mayer said, explaining that "as the political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural changes will (be) require... and as we expect to reach a resolution very soon." In reply to Mayer's letter, Chairman of ByteDance Zhang Yiming said, "I fully understand the resulting outcome that we land upon due to the political circumstances... (it) could have a significant impact on his job in any scenario, but particularly given his global role while he's based in the U.S." Zhang said the company is moving quickly to find resolutions to the issues it faces globally, particularly in the US and India. "I can assure you that we are developing solutions that will be in the interest of users, creators, partners, and employees," he said. Bytedance is in talks with technology giant Microsoft to buy its US operations. India has banned 106 applications with Chinese links, including TikTok and UC Browser, in June, saying they were prejudicial to sovereignty, integrity and security of the country. US President Donald Trump on August 6 had issued an executive order banning American transactions with ByteDance. A week later, Trump signed another executive order, extending the deal time to 90 days. TikTok filed a lawsuit on Monday against the executive order. Why did the chicken cross the road? To cause a serious car crash! The driver veered off the street to avoid the bird before his vehicle plunged down an embankment and slammed into a house in the South African town of Verulam, near Durban. The 41-year-old motorist originally told police he had been trying to avoid hitting a child who ran across the road but then later said it may have been a dog or a chicken. A 41-year-old driver crashed his Ford Focus into a house in the South African town Verulam, near Durban, 'to avoid hitting a chicken' He said he lost control of his car, drove through the property's outside wall and went straight into the house. Although the white Ford Focus was wrecked no one who was in the house during the crash was injured, local media News24 reported. The driver and his 19-year-old passenger had moderate injuries which were treated on the scene before they were taken to hospital in an ambulance. The man first said he was trying to avoid hitting a child but later changed it to 'a dog or a chicken' The annual cost to the economy of road accidents on South African roads is estimated to be over R164-billion (just over 7 billion), according to a 2018 World Health Organisation report on road safety. The report estimated that in 2016 there were 14,507 road fatalities, ranking it as a country with one of the highest road death rates. In December the country's road fatalities is usually higher than both the whole of Africa's averages and the world's averages for the same month. In that month South Africa has a higher road death toll than most of the countries surveyed have annually. Black power advocate Kwame Ture (formerly known as Stokely Carmichael) once said, There are answers to the right questions. In that spirit, consider the question seven-year-old Marissa of Montpelier, Vermont, one of Americas whitest states, asked weeks into a worldwide protest to end excessive force against black people: I thought the police were supposed to keep us safe. I thought we were supposed to call them when we needed help. Now I'm wondering, who do we call when the police are being unsafe? What should we do when powerful institutions misuse their power? The question strikes not only at the heart of American law enforcement, but at the heart of American institutions nationwidefrom police stations to schoolhouses to houses of worship. Who do we call when institutions entrusted to care for the most vulnerable cater instead to the racially powerful while ignoring demands for justice from the racially marginalized? Unfortunately for Marissa from Montpelier, the answer from a former Philadelphia police chief proved inadequate: Well, first, you let a grown up know what's going on so they can take action, because we don't need police officers doing things like some that youve seen on some of the videos that have been shown recently police officers are there to help dont hesitate to let a grown up know so people like me, that used to be a police chief, can take action and do what we need to do to make sure that we only have police officers that are there to serve and protect people, not to harm people. The chiefs tone confirmed a serious misconception when it comes to addressing racism. Too many Americans believe racism results from a few bad individuals who lack empathy for others and a collective failure to build relationships by speaking up. To end racism, from this perspective, we must feel our shared humanity with those who are racially different and build relationships to help them. Empathy and relationships are valuable, but this solution misses the core concern of Marissas question. Racism is not a failure of relationship as much as an abuse of institutional power. Marissas question implied that since police are endowed with the power of the state, only a power equal to, or greater than, the state can challenge them when they misuse it. The police chiefs instruction to let a grown up know whats going on so they can take action missed the point of her question. Her question implied that the grownups she knew were powerless to stop incidents like what we witnessed in Minneapolis. How could she believe otherwise when the police abusing George Floyd wouldnt cease even after becoming aware that cameras were recording them? Furthermore, how could Marissa trust that a request for police to take action against other officers would be effective, given that not one of the four officers involved in Floyds death did anything to stop it? Or after seeing the viral video of Kenosha, Wisconsin, police shooting Jacob Blake seven times in the back? Many white Christians insist that better relationships can solve racism in America, that racism is a matter of the heart rather than institutional power. These white Christians will say, We arent called to transform institutions. We cant eliminate racism by legislating it away. We must engage in evangelistic efforts to change hearts and minds. Only then can reconciliation happen. But none of these answers recognizes the societal power imbalances between black and white Christians, imbalances that lead white people to view black people as needing white charity. And never do white Christians ask black Christians: Do black Christians want reconciliation? Article continues below From a black perspective, racism is not so much interpersonal as institutional. White Christians want to eliminate racial tension while black people want to eradicate the inequality. So-called racial reconciliation is primarily a white Christian attempt to remedy the tension in American race relations. But from a black perspective, racism is not so much interpersonal as institutional. White Christians want to eliminate the tension between them and black Christians, while black people want to eradicate the inequality and experience the freedom to live as full citizens of this nation. White Christians will quote Martin Luther King Jr. out of context and appeal to his dream of colorblindness, life in a nation where [children] will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. White Christians revel in the dream that one day little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. Meanwhile, black folks keep the context for Kings dream by noting how his famous words were delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. King began with the words, the Negro still is not free, and ended with preaching the soaring line Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last! The focus on relationships to the exclusion of freedom as the goal of racial justice in America is an egregious omission. Relationships are an inadequate response to the indignities black and brown people experience as a consequence of living with this nations metaphorical knees on their necks. If relationships are inadequate, then what must be done to ensure that this nation, in all of its institutions, fulfills its promise that all people are created equal and endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? White Americans must begin recognizing the right questions about how to rectify the pervasive imbalances in economic, political, and institutional power between racial groups in America. Recognition requires advocating for restitution, which, scripturally speaking, includes repentance from the sin of racism and compensation for harms suffered, with interest (Lev. 6:17; Ex. 22:131; Num. 5:67; Luke 19:110). There can be no true liberty if white Americans refuse to recognize the harms caused by racist policies and practicesand the ways their communities have benefitted from them. Without restitution for debts incurred by those harms, attempts to reconcile communities only sanctify racial inequities. Thats because no reform of the structures that caused the harm occurs. Communities only cease to participate in unjust behaviors that they acknowledge as unjust. A community that refuses to make restitution for harm done will never be a community of liberty and justice for all. And because liberty and justice are as much the currency of churches as are grace and faith, churches are as responsible for making restitution as secular institutions. White Christians can begin taking responsibility as congregations and denominations by following Kwame Tures advice to ask the right questions: How have we benefitted from the racial status quo in America? What structures have we intentionally, or unintentionally, created to uphold racial power inequities? What actions could we take to make restitution? By addressing the right questions of institutional power, white churches can join in prayers, rallies, and marches with communities throughout the world protesting racism in America. In so doing, they can move beyond relational answers to racial inequality and into the work of recognition and restitution. David Evans is associate professor of history and intercultural studies at Eastern Mennonite University. A BULAWAYO soldier followed his estranged wife to her family home where he allegedly stabbed her seven times using a kitchen knife and ripped her stomach open after she refused to return to their matrimonial home. Gugulethu Ndlovu (29) of Nkulumane suburb and stationed at the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) 1.2 Infantry Battalion in Hwange, had a long-standing domestic feud with his wife Nompilo Moyo whom he accused of infidelity resulting in the woman abandoning their matrimonial home. She moved back to her parents home at Kumbudzi Village under Chief Mathe area in Gwanda District. Ndlovu followed the deceased to her home intending to negotiate with her so that she could return to their matrimonial home. However, when Moyo declined to move back to her matrimonial home in Bulawayo, an altercation ensued resulting in Ndlovu indiscriminately stabbing her seven times and she died on the spot. Soon after committing the offence, Ndlovu went to the ZNA barracks in Mbalabala where he handed himself over to the military police leading to his arrest. This emerged when Ndlovu, through his lawyers Malinga and Mpofu Legal Practitioners, filed an application for bail pending trial at the Bulawayo High Court, citing the State as a respondent. In his bail statement, Ndlovu said there was no legal basis warranting his continued detention, arguing that the State case was weak. He also dismissed the States assertion that if released on bail he was likely to abscond given the gravity of the alleged offence. The applicant has a strong defence to the allegations levelled against him. He is not a flight risk and there is no tangible evidence for the contention that he will escape or interfere with State witnesses if released on bail, said Ndlovus lawyers. Applicant is a serving member of the Zimbabwe National Army, which on its own is a disciplined organisation with a capacity to monitor his movement such that it will not be easy for him to escape if released on bail. Ndlovu offered to pay $10 000 bail and report twice a week at Nkulumane Police Station. He also offered to continue residing at his given address as well as not interfering with State witnesses as part of the bail conditions. The State, which was represented by Mr Kudakwashe Jaravaza opposed the application, arguing that there was not guarantee that if released on bail Ndlovu would not abscond. In casu, it should be noted that the applicant faces a serious offence. It is clear that the seriousness of the charge is a factor that the court should pay regard to, for it is clear that once an accused person is faced with a lengthy imprisonment, the possibility of abscondment is very high, he said. Mr Jaravaza said the fact that Ndlovu fled the scene after committing the offence, was in itself a pointer that he has inclination to abscond. It should be noted that the murder itself was committed in a callous manner. The applicant stabbed the deceased seven times and fled from the scene. The State case is strong such that a lengthy custodial sentence is likely, even death sentence is a likelihood, he said. According to State papers it was stated that on June 24 this year, Ndlovu travelled from Hwange to Kumbudzi Village following his wife who had abandoned their matrimonial home and moved back to her family home. Moyos departure from her matrimonial home followed a spate of misunderstandings with Ndlovu who accused her of infidelity. The purpose of Ndlovus visit to Kumbudzi Village was to negotiate with his wife and in-laws so that Moyo could return to their matrimonial home. However, it was stated that upon arrival at his in-laws home, the deceased refused to welcome him leading to an altercation and Moyo attacked the deceased. He allegedly pushed her to the ground after overpowering her before he stabbed her seven times in the process ripping open the stomach. If the home was fixable, and its value was appraised to be higher than the cost of rehabilitation, Road Home would theoretically pay for the work. But the Federal Emergency Management Agency (which had say over how the money was doled out) and the Urban Land Institute (which recommended various reconstruction mandates to FEMA) required that properties on low-lying ground (like my grandmother's) be elevated between three and six feet. Never mind that African Americans had settled these neighborhoods in the first place because they were more flood-prone and less desirable. Black homeowners were getting less for their homes, and having to do more work, simply because of where they lived. With tensions in the South China Sea rising with Beijing's continuous territorial claims and the United States pitching in, China has fired several medium-range missiles across several areas of the region, which shows its aggression in asserting its dominance in the disputed waters. Barrage of powerful missiles The barrage of destructive missiles was launched on Wednesday is part of multiple military exercises that China has conducted in the territory for the past month. It also comes amid increasing disputes with the United States and the country's move to pressure Taiwan, which Beijing claims part of its own despite its self-governing island democracy. According to The New York Times, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, did not verify that missile launches were conducted on Thursday. However, the official revealed that China had operated drills in an area between Qingdao in northeastern China and the Spratlys, disputed islands in the South China Sea. During a regularly scheduled briefing held in Beijing, Colonel Wu said that China's exercises were not directed at any other country or government. This week, China set up a travel exclusion zone in a small portion of the South China Sea, signaling its plans to conduct missile testings in the area. One United States defense official said that American forces stationed in the region detected four missiles mainland China fired to the area. Also Read: United States Sanctions 24 Chinese Firms Connected to Territorial Disputes in South China Sea The Pentagon is currently assessing the types of missiles that were fired and discovered: medium-range missiles, the DF-26 and the DF-21, which are part of China's rapidly growing arsenal and are capable of targeting vessels moving across the sea. An expert on the Chinese military, M. Taylor Fravel, director of the Security Studies Program at MIT, said that China has continued to develop its military modernization drive for the past two decades. Fravel noted that Beijing's progress could be seen with its growing frequency of military exercises and new capabilities it has come to wield. Growing aggression The US defense chief, Mark Esper, said that China has continuously failed to comply with its promises of following international laws. The official noted that Beijing seems to be asserting its aggression and dominance in Southeast Asia, as reported by Aljazeera. On Tuesday, a US U-2 spy plane allegedly flew into a Chinese-designated no-fly zone without Beijing's permission. The country's military was conducting a live-fire naval drill in the Bohai Sea. Chinese ambassador to the United Kingdom, Liu Xiaoming, wrote in a social media post that the United States' move severely disrupted China's regular exercises and training activities. Foreign ministry spokesman of China, Zhao Lijian, said the flight of the spy plane over Chinese waters was a sign of provocative actions by the American government and urged US officials to cease their actions immediately. On Thursday, Wu said that China's military would not allow itself to be controlled by the United States, nor will it allow American forces to stir trouble in the South China Sea's disputed waters. Related Article: United States Officials Reveal No Signs of Foreign Interference in Mail-In Voting @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Students in socially disadvantaged areas say their mental health was negatively affected by school closures, with many reporting lower levels of well-being in 2020. A new survey found that four second-level pupils out of five felt their workload increased while studying at home, which led to increased stress. Students said a lack of interaction with peers and reduced feedback from teachers during lockdown also had a negative impact. More than 1,000 students took part in the survey by the School of Education at Trinity College Dublin. Only one-third agreed with the predictive-grading scheme for the Leaving Cert. Meanwhile, many parents whose children are due to sit the Leaving Certificate in 2021 also say the closure of schools during lockdown had a negative impact on their children's learning. A survey by the Central Statistics Office on the social impact of the Covid-19 pandemic shows two-thirds of parents reported that closures had a major or moderate impact on their child's learning. One-third said it had a mild impact. More than one-third of parents of secondary-school students are worried their child has fallen behind. As schools reopen across the country, the findings of the survey highlights how parents fear their children's social development was also negatively affected. More than half of parents of students in senior cycle believe enforced school closures had a severe impact on their social development. The survey also found that nearly 17pc of women, compared with 4pc of men, fear they will have to give up work if primary schools close again. Half of employed parents said their work pattern would be negatively affected by schools having to close again. As the search for a Covid-19 vaccine continues, 66pc of parents revealed they would avail of a vaccine for their children. The Houston region has always be plagued by major rain storms a fact the Meyerland community takes very seriously after dealing with the devastating effects of flooding over the past half decade. Although Houston escaped the impacts of Hurricane Laura, Meyerland residents knew not to let their guard down. According to the Meyerland Community Improvement Association, neighborhood leaders and the homeowner resilience has had the greatest impact on flood mitigation in the area. PHOTOS: Looking back at Harvey 3 years later As Hurricane Laura was gaining strength in the Gulf of Mexico, Meyerland homeowners were quick to secure their property and instinctively checked on their neighbors. It takes a village, and it takes all of us, said Houston City Councilmember Abbie Kamin. Flood mitigation and prevention cannot be successfully done without residents. Weve had residents go out and clear their drains before major storms. We have residents checking on neighbors to make sure theyre okay. According to Kamin, greater Meyerland residents have been tested more than anyone should in a lifetime, but they continue to do everything right in partnership with the city. Kamin is the chair of Houstons Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee and saw firsthand how the city and residents prepared for Hurricane Laura. According to Kamin, the response was strong and decisive. Kamins office reached out to civic clubs, civic neighborhoods, neighborhood leaders and others to provide consistent updates. They also worked with different city departments to make sure any city or county related construction was secured, scaffolding was removed, high water rescue vehicles were set in place around the city before the storm made landfall and to make sure all city agencies work together. For Meyerland residents, as well as any homeowners who live along Houstons bayous, preparations before rain storms have become personal, said Amy Hoechstetter, the General Manager of the MCIA. Do you know where your documents are? In the event you lose power, do you know where youre going to go? Where youre going to stay? How are you securing your property? How are you going to look after your family? said Hoechstetter. SaysHou: Get smart opinions on big topics sent directly to your inbox As a result of the painful years for Meyerland residents, these questions become second nature to area homeowners, she said. Fortunately, the city and county are also working on long term solutions to a long standing issue. Flooding in neighborhoods adjacent to Brays Bayou has been a problem since 1843. The first major flooding along Brays Bayou left bridges leading into the city underwater. It took until 1985 for the US Army Corps of Engineers to start studying Brays Bayou and come up with a plan for flood mitigation. What resulted was Project Brays, which, as of 2020, is nearing completion. However, residents have historically expressed discontent with the plans speed and some residents questioned if the 2015 flood should have even happened. I think looking back, we can sort of judge some of the actions or inaction of the city, county, and federal efforts in order to do what they needed to do, said Vice President of the Meyerland Community Improvement Association, Eddy De Los Santos. They have now since done it. Project Brays, a 20 year flood mitigation initiative, has included about 75 relief projects across a 31 mile stretch. The projects will also bring greenspace amenities to the area as it comes to completion next year. However, Project Brays is not a magic bullet for Meyerland flooding, Kamin said. Project Brays will help a lot, and its not a fix-all for everything, said Kamin. There are still areas of Meyerland that could flood. There are still homes that need to be elevated. Theres no one size fits all to flooding in Houston. More from Ryan Nickerson: West U set to install automatic license plate readers at every entrance The flooding problem has been exacerbated in the last five years, residents said. Every Meyerland homeowner knows about the recent three-years, three floods phenomenon that started with the 2015 Memorial Day flood, continued with the 2016 Tax Day flood, and finished with Hurricane Harvey, dropped trillions of gallons of water on the Houston area in 2017. When 2015 hit, we were really caught off guard, said Hoechstetter. The anticipation of devastation was considerably less than what the actual devastation was. Through all of the trepidation for Meyerland homeowners, the concurrent flooding became exponentially heartbreaking when residents felt powerless to protect their homes, Santos said. Although a sizable amount of Meyerland residents and business owners had enough of the flooding and decided to pack up and leave after 2017, many residents elected to stay and rebuild their community without waiting on flood mitigation efforts to materialize. People arent leaving. People arent vacating in mass in fact, theyre doubling down, said Hoechstetter. Theyre not leaving, theyre coming back. Because thats the community thats here. Thats the community that we support, and were not leaving. ryan.nickerson@hcnonline.com Australias prime minister said Friday he was open to allowing an Australian who slaughtered 51 worshipers at two New Zealand mosques to serve his life sentence in his homeland, but the victims wishes were paramount in any decision. Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 29, was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to the Christchurch massacre in March last year. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said while no official request had been made by New Zealand authorities for Australia to take Tarrant back, the Australian government was open to such a proposal. Im pleased that that terrorist will never be released anywhere ever again, Morrison said. Well have an open discussion and look at the issues around this. Most of all, were concerned about what the views of the families would be for those affected, and we want to do the right thing by them, he added. New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is among the most vocal proponents for Australia taking responsibility for imprisoning Tarrant and taking the cost off New Zealanders. Tarrant is the first person to be denied a possibility of parole in New Zealand, and he has to be kept under enhanced security for his own safety. Peters said lawmakers could only consider making a request to Australia since Tarrant was sentenced. Also read: I looked him in the eyes: Pakistan family watches mosque shooter face justice in New Zealand Given this unprecedented circumstance and all the regard to the cost of looking after the victims in our country who survived and their families and also the 50 million New Zealand dollar plus ($33 million) downstream in real terms of providing safety for this terrorist, then the sound, reasonable, logical thing to do would be to ask Australia to step up, Winston told Nine Network television. Winston said sending Tarrant back could require the parliaments of both countries to pass special laws because the near-neighbors do not have a legal framework for prisoner transfers. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said he would take legal advice on whether Tarrant might become eligible for parole if he entered Australias prison system. Wed have to look at what happened in terms of parole or the way in which our legal system would work here, Dutton said. First priority is to keep him in jail for the rest of his life, and well work very closely with New Zealand on any request that they provide, Dutton added. New Zealand has criticized Dutton for deporting increasing numbers of New Zealander criminals once they have been released from Australian prisons, accusing the minister of exporting Australias problems. Some criminals have lived in Australia since childhood and have no family or social networks in their homeland. The New Zealand government argues that Australia should take responsibility for them turning to crime. A housing rights and anti-eviction protest takes place in Valley Village in May. Because of the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Californians have lost the income needed to pay rent. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) California tenants facing financial hardship because of the COVID-19 pandemic would be protected from eviction through January as long as they pay 25% of their rent during that period, under a proposal announced Friday by state officials. The plan, which faces the high hurdle of having to get a two-thirds vote in each house of the Legislature by Monday night, was seen as a compromise with landlord groups that oppose a pending bill that would have kept tenants from being evicted if they did not pay any rent as late as April. This will not be the ultimate solution to addressing COVID-19 evictions, but will tide us over for the next five months," said Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco), who wrote the bill opposed by landlords. "This gives us the time to reconsider our options next legislative session and potentially work with a new federal administration on economic relief for struggling tenants and property owners. The new measure, which Chiu supports in lieu of his stalled bill, would allow landlords who own one to four units to ask their lenders for forbearance on mortgage payments through January. We did land on an agreement on evictions, and I am very pleased to announce that, Gov. Gavin Newsom said during a news conference Friday. We were able to accommodate each others points of view. Not everybody is pleased with every detail. Thats the nature of negotiations, but we did get an eviction deal done and I look forward to signing it very, very shortly. Democratic lawmakers said the proposal is the best they can do given that a moratorium on California courts processing evictions expires on Monday, the same day the Legislature is required to adjourn for the year. Tenant rights advocates say they are disappointed that the bill does not prevent all evictions. Its better than the absolute nightmare that we are facing with evictions, but there are going to be a lot of challenges, said Shanti Singh, a spokeswoman for Tenants Together. The biggest concern is: Do we think we are going to be out of this crisis by Feb. 1? Absolutely not. Are people going to magically get all of their jobs back and be able to have money to pay rent on Feb. 1? I dont think so. Story continues Francisco Duenas, executive director of the group Housing Now, said he prefers AB 1436, the other bill by Chiu offering more generous tenant protection. We are continuing to push for that, plus a ban on evictions through the end of the pandemic," he said. A group advocating for tenants planned a protest outside the governors house near Sacramento on Friday, warning that the failure to prevent evictions will put people on the streets. The action was organized by the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment Action. Asked on Friday about complaints from tenant advocates that the bill does not go far enough, Newsom said the deal will help millions of people. I dont know that there is another state leaning in doing more to protect tenants than the state of California, Newsom said. The prospects of literally millions of people being evicted or at least subject to eviction substantially was mitigated because of this effort. Landlords say the proposed COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act of 2020 is better for property owners than the previously introduced legislation. The proposed measure provides a stopgap, said Debra Carlton, executive vice president of the California Apartment Assn. It requires that tenants impacted by COVID-19 start paying at least some of their rent," she said. "This is a more sensible approach than AB 1436 ... that would encourage tenants to withhold rent, even if theyve suffered no financial hardships from the pandemic. Under the new AB 3088, to qualify for the eviction protections, tenants would be required to file declarations with their landlords that they are suffering financial hardship because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The landlords also won a concession in the new bill that would not prevent evictions for other causes, such as cases in which renters have become nuisances to neighbors. Carlton said the ultimate solution would be for the federal government to provide financial assistance to coronavirus-impacted renters so they can pay their rent. Otherwise, renters will be hard-pressed to pay the rent thats accumulated, and housing providers will go out of business, Carlton said. Under the compromise proposal, tenants cant be evicted for nonpayment of rent this year from March to Sept. 1. They can continue to avoid eviction if they pay at least a quarter of their rent starting Sept. 1 and until Jan. 31, 2021, after which full rent would have to be paid. Tenants could not be evicted after January for failing to pay full rent for the previous months, but the protections would not extend to situations in which tenants fail to pay rent for February. The unpaid rent both the amount owed since March and the portion unpaid through the fall and early winter would be treated as consumer debt, recoverable by a landlord only through small-claims court. Millions of Californians have lost jobs and income since many businesses were closed in March and residents were told to stay home to slow the spread of COVID-19. The state last week paid unemployment benefits to 4.9 million Californians who have lost jobs or income. In late March, Newsom issued an executive order briefly banning all renter evictions. The state Judicial Council later issued a moratorium on courts processing evictions and this month extended it until Sept. 1. But legislation to extend the moratorium beyond that time ran into trouble after it drew opposition from landlord groups. Last week, legislators sidelined a measure by state Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) that would have created a process for preventing evictions for three years as long as a landlord and tenant reach an agreement on forgiving rent in exchange for the landlord receiving a tax credit part of a California economic recovery plan crafted by Senate Democrats in May. Chiu's bill was held in committee last week to allow negotiations with the governor and representatives for landlords and tenants. That bill would have prevented evictions until 90 days after Newsom lifts the COVID-19 emergency or April 1, 2021, whichever comes first. It would give renters a year to come up with unpaid rent. The measure also proposed that owners of up to four rental units would be able to request up to a year of forbearance on their mortgages, while owners of larger buildings would get six months. Assembly Bill 1436 was opposed by groups including the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Rental Housing Assn., a group representing 20,000 landlords. Opponents warned that Chiu's measure would be challenged in court because landlords unable to collect rent could lose their properties to foreclosure if they were unable to pay maintenance expenses and mortgages. Chiu had proposed requiring banks to provide forbearance of mortgage payments in situations in which rent was not being paid, but opponents said that is a power reserved for the federal government, not the state. We recognize that renters that have been adversely affected by COVID-19 and the governments response to the pandemic need assistance, Jack Schwartz, the associations legislative chairman, said during a recent hearing on the bill. However, these bills will lead to more harm throughout the rental housing industry and Californias economy. The bill was co-written by state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), who said it balanced protections for landlords and tenants. We are experiencing an economic and health crisis, Jackson said. These calls for help are real, they are immediate, they are justifiable, and we cant ignore them. State Sen. Andreas Borgeas (R-Modesto) said Chiu's bill does not set strict enough standards or require documentation to prove a tenant is suffering financially before halting the payment of rent. He also said it does not sufficiently help those who own five or more rental units and could reduce efforts to expand affordable housing by providing a disincentive for investors, creating significant long-term housing problems in California. Some cities are also scrambling to head off an eviction crisis. In March, the Los Angeles City Council approved a measure that temporarily bars landlords from removing tenants who have lost income due to the pandemic, and gives affected renters a year after the expiration of the coronavirus-related state of emergency to repay past due rent. But landlords can still file eviction cases, and renters would have to prove they qualify for relief at trial, worrying tenant activists who note that the vast majority of renters are not represented by lawyers in court. Earlier this week, City Council President Nury Martinez announced a plan for a $10-million legal defense fund for low-income Angelenos facing eviction once the courts resume processing cases on Sept. 1. She expects the City Council to vote on approving the measure as soon as next week. These are people who are struggling to stay above water many are immigrants, Latinos, Black, and low-income residents who have been hardest hit by COVID-19, Martinez said in a statement. People have lost family members, are sick themselves or lost their jobs. They desperately need our help. Times staff writer Liam Dillon contributed to this report. For the record: 11:59 AM, Aug. 29, 2020: In an earlier version of this article, Sen. Hannah Beth Jackson was identified as residing in San Francisco. She is from Santa Barbara. New Delhi, Aug 28 : Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Friday confirmed that Russian hackers tried to break into the network of electric car-makers Nevada factory in the US. Earlier this week, the US authorities arrested and charged a Russian national for trying to recruit a Tesla employee to install malware on the company's network for $1 million. Several media organisations reported that the attack targeted Tesla which operates a mega-factory near Reno, Nevada, reports ZDNet. "Much appreciated. This was a serious attack," Musk replied to his followers on Twitter. According to court documents, a 27-year-old Russian named Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov reached out to one of Tesla's employees via WhatsApp. The two had previously met four years ago. Kriuchkov revealed to the Tesla employee that he was working with a Russian-based hacker group and "proposed the employee to install a piece of custom-built malware on Tesla's internal network". "The plan was to steal sensitive Tesla files and then threaten to release the data unless Tesla paid a huge ransom demand". The FBI arrested Kriuchkov earlier this week who, if found guilty, can face up to five years in prison, the report said. Several Musk followers asked him to reward the Tesla employee who did not fall for $1 million. "Give that boy a bonus!" said one follower. Another wrote to Musk: "Someone should give him some stock options, helps promote a team atmosphere". -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text GRANITE CITY Officers went looking for, and found, evidence of gun crimes but also found evidence of child pornography and sex assault, a prosecutor said Friday. Details of the cases against Bryan C. Barton, 37, of Granite City, became public when a judge conducted a hearing on suppressing the evidence. Barton was charged in April 2019 with unlawful possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and a count of forgery. Assistant Madison County States Attorney Kathleen Nolan said police searched a shed on the Granite City property of a female of Bartons acquainted after the property owner gave permission. The charges allege officers found a handgun, part from a similar handgun and a computer in the shed. The unlawful possession charges claim Barton possessed the handgun and a rifle after having been convicted of possession of a controlled substance in Missouri in 2014. The forgery charge alleges he possessed altered currency. Bail in that case was set at $100,000. On June 5, 2019, a judge authorized a warrant for a search of the computer. In that computer, authorities found evidence of Barton spying on a nude 16-year-old girl. The charge alleges he illegally placed a recording device in a bathroom. That evidence lead to two Class 1 felony charges against Barton of criminal sexual assault of the teen. The charges arepunishable by prison terms of four to 15 years. Bail on those charges is set at $100,000. Before the sex assault charges were filed, Barton was facing up to 10 years in prison in connection with the weapons allegations. The most recent hearing was on a motion to suppress the evidence found in the shed, which would also suppress the evidence found the computer. Assistant Public Defender Daniel Harrow argued that permission to search, in this particular case, did not give rise to a legal search and therefore the evidence was illegally obtained. He argued the woman who owned the property said she did not have access to the shed, so her permission was not sufficient to allow the search. Nolan argued that, just because the woman did not have access to the shed did not mean it was not her property and that she did not have the authority to allow permission to search. Circuit Judge Richard Tognarelli said he would take the motion and the arguments under advisement. Barton has a criminal record dating to 2000 when he was convicted in Missouri of two counts of burglary. He also has convictions in Missouri for burglary, probation violation or delivery of contraband in a correctional facility and distribution of a controlled substance. He also has pending charge out of St. Louis County of making a terrorist threat and delivery or production of a controlled substance. Advertisement The young granddaughter of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave an impassioned speech that vowed her generation will 'fulfill my grandfather's dream', as the families of black men and women killed by law enforcement demanded justice as they spoke before 50,000 people at the March on Washington's 57th anniversary. Yolanda Renee King, 12, provided hope as she declared younger Americans will end the struggles of their grandparents' pasts. 'We will be the generation that moves from We to Me,' said Yolanda. 'We are going to be the generation that dismantles systematic racism once and for all, now and forever. We are going to be the generation that puts a halt to police brutality and gun violence. We stand and march for love and we will fulfill my grandfathers dream.' Rev. Al Sharpton, whose civil rights organization, the National Action Network, planned Friday's event, said the objective of the march is to show the urgency for federal policing reforms, to decry racial violence, and to demand voting rights protections ahead of the November general election. The event was also dubbed the 'Commitment March: Get Your Knees Off Our Necks' in reference to the death of George Floyd, 46, who was killed when a white cop knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in Minneapolis in May sparking global protests. Relatives of families of victims including Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner joined civil rights activists and the family of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. nearly six decades after he gave his historic 'I Have a Dream' address. They descended upon the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to protest racial inequality, police brutality and call for criminal justice reform amid nationwide protests that have continued for three months. The march comes after another shooting by a white police officer of a black man - 29-year-old Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday, which has sparked days of protests and violence that left two dead. He was shot by police seven times and remains in hospital. Scroll down for video Around 50,000 Americans descended upon the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. for the March on Washington event on Friday People gather at the Lincoln Memorial during the 'Get Your Knee Off Our Necks' march in support of racial justice that took place in Washington D.C. on Friday Yolanda Renee King (center), the 12-year-old granddaughter of Rev. Martin Luther King, spoke before thousands at the March on Washington event Tamika Palmer (center), the mother of slain black woman Breonna Taylor, demanded justice and social reform while speaking at the March on Washington event on Friday Rev. Al Sharpton (center) and Martin Luther King III (right) marched with several other Americans in Washington D.C. for March on Washington, also dubbed 'Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks' Rally attendees will advocate against racial inequality, police brutality and call for criminal justice reform on the 57th anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King's historic 'I Have a Dream' address he made at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 The event was organized by Rev. Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III and the families of black Americans killed by law enforcement Pictured: Marvin Alonzo Greer (left) and Cheyney Mcnight (right) gather at Lincoln Memorial to attend the March on Washington Slide me Pictured: a view of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom crowd in 1963 (left) and the Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks in 2020 Yolanda added that the swath of issues facing Americans, including the coronavirus pandemic and police brutality, have helped foster a new generation of leaders. 'I didnt know what would hit us in 2020: a pandemic that shut our schools and put our young lives on hold, more killings of unarmed black people by police, a tax on our right to vote, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression that we learned about in school and more extreme weather than weve ever seen before,' she said. 'But great challenges produce great leaders. We have mastered the selfie and Tik Tok. Now, we must master ourselves.' 'We will not dress up this genocide and call it police brutality': Jacob Blake's sister demands justice for her brother as his attorney says 'it's the last season of the police's How To Get Away With Murder' at March on Washington The sister and father of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old father who was shot seven times in the back, spoke out during the March on Washington event on Friday. Letetra Widman, his sister, said: 'We will not pretend. We will not be your docile slave. We will not be a foot stool to oppression,' she said. 'Most of all, we will not dress up this genocide and call it police brutality. We will only pledge allegiance to the truth. 'Black America, I hold you accountable. You must stand, you must fight, but not was violence and chaos. Learn to love yourself black people. Unify.' Jacob Blake Sr., the man's father, said: We're going to hold court on systematic racism - guilty!' 'Racism against Trayvon Martin - we find them guilty! Racism against George Floyd - we find them guilty! Racism against Jacob Blake...guilty! And we're not taking it anymore.' B'Ivory LaMarr, the attorney for the Blake family, added: 'We're tried of playing games. 2020 is they year America will be put on timeout. Today, I just want to let you know is the last season of the police version of 'How to Get Away With Murder. 'We know your playbook. We know your plays,' he continued. 'Step one: claim that you were in fear and find an object so you can justify that you were in fear of a black or brown person. 'Step Two: assassinate that black person and step three: assassinate his character.' Advertisement Yolanda then recalled the word's of her grandfather and his predictions in the fight for racial equality. 'Less than a year before he was assassinated, my grandfather predicted this very moment. He said we were moving into a new phase of the struggle. The first phase was civil rights, the second phase is genuine equality. 'Genuine equality is the reason why people all across the world, from New Zealand to New Jersey. He said we must not forget the days of Montgomery, we must not forget the sit-ins. 'We must not forget the freedom rides, the Birmingham movement and Selma. Papa King, we wont! Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, wore a face mask at the march which read '8:46' - the amount of time white cop Derek Chauvin had knelt on George's neck before he died. The massive crowd chanted 'George Floyd' as Philonise approached the podium. 'I wish George was here to see this right now,' said Philonese, who broke down in tears and was overcome with emotions. 'That's who I'm marching for. I'm marching for George, for Breonna, for Ahmaud, for Jacob, for Pamela Turner, for Michael Brown, Trayvon [Martin] and anyone else who lost their lives to.' Philonese echoed the sentiments of current civil rights activists who noted that change is at America's doorstep and now is the time to take it. 'It's never been more clear that change is happening right now, because we demand it!' he said. 'I have to advocate for everyone because right now Jacob Blake was shot seven times with his kids [nearby]...that's painful.' Breonna Taylor's mother Tamaika Palmer also spoke to the crowd. As Palmer approached the microphone, the massive crowd began chanting 'Breonna' as Sharpton prompted the crowd to 'say her name.' 'What we need is change,' said Palmer, 'and we're at a point where we can get that change but we have to stand together. We have to vote'. On March 13, 26-year-old EMT Breonna was shot dead inside her apartment on Springfield Avenue during a no-knock search warrant at her home. She and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were asleep when three plains clothes officers burst into the apartment around 1am. Louisville police have claimed that they identified themselves before entering the property using a battering ram, but Breonna's family and neighbor's dispute this. They said police never identified themselves during the incident and that Walker, who was legally allowed to have a firearm, opened fire at officers because he believed they were getting robbed. Officers fired back at the couple and shot Breonna eight times. The warrant to search her home was in connection with a suspect who did not live there and no drugs were found. Martin Luther King III (right) is joined by his daughter Yolanda Renee King (center) and Rep. Alexander Green (left) as they talk with reporters during the "Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" March on Washington Yolanda, pictured with Martin Luther King III: 'Genuine equality is the reason why people all across the world, from New Zealand to New Jersey. He said we must not forget the days of Montgomery, we must not forget the sit-ins' Rev. Al Sharpton, whose National Action Network organized the "Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" March on Washington in support of racial justice, looks out at the rally and march from the top of the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington On August 28, 1963, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (center) gave his historic 'I Have a Dream' address to thousands of Americans during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom Tamika Palmer (center): 'What we need is change and we're at a point where we can get that change but we have to stand together. We have to vote.' Friday's March on Washington rally was also dubbed the 'Get Your Knee Off Our Necks' March, in reference to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and others who have died at the hands of black Americans Philonise Floyd (center), the brother of slain black man George Floyd, became overwhelmed with emotion and broke down i tears while speaking in front of the large crowd Pictured: Three attendees at the March on Washington event on Friday hold up posters of George Floyd, a black American man who was killed while in police custody earlier this year in Minneapolis, Minnesota Letetra Widman(center): 'We will not pretend. We will not be your docile slave. We will not be a foot stool to oppression. Most of all, we will not dress up this genocide and call it police brutality. We will only pledge allegiance to the truth' Pictured: This combination of pictures created on August 28, 2020 shows demonstrators attending the "Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" protest against racism and police brutality According to Letetra Widman, the shooting of her brother Jacob Blake goes beyond simply police brutality and she suggested a historic trend against minorities in America. The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was a massive protest that brought around 250,000 Americans to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. The August 28, 1963, demonstration was meant to draw national attention to the ongoing struggles of black Americans that ranged from racism to economic discrimination. It also came in the wake of a series of violent, brutal attacks on civil rights activists in Birmingham, Alabama. A. Phillip Randolph, an elder statesman of the civil rights movement, had planned to hold a march for jobs, while Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference were organizing one for freedom. The two groups would eventually merge and hold one of the most prominent American demonstrations to date. There, King would deliver his historic I Have a Dream Speech that would still be celebrated five decades after for its call for racial equality. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal, King said in part of the address. I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. ' Advertisement 'We will not pretend. We will not be your docile slave. We will not be a foot stool to oppression,' she said. 'Most of all, we will not dress up this genocide and call it police brutality. We will only pledge allegiance to the truth. 'Black America, I hold you accountable. You must stand, you must fight, but not was violence and chaos. Learn to love yourself black people. Unify.' Blake, a 29-year-old father of six, was with his children on August 23 when he was shot seven times in the back by Officer Rusten Shesky in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Police arrived to the 2800 block of 40th Street in Kenosha after Blake's girlfriend 'reported that her boyfriend was present and was not supposed to be on the premises.' Officers tried to subdue him with a taser before opening fire, authorities said. During an investigation Blake admitted to police that he had a knife and authorities recovered it from the driver's side floorboard of car after opening fire. No other weapons were found at the scene. Outrage over Blake's case continued to grow this week after it was revealed he is now paralyzed from the waist down and was handcuffed to his hospital bed by law enforcement. Jacob Blake Sr. took to the podium after his daughter and said 'We're going to hold court on systematic racism - guilty!' 'Racism against Trayvon Martin - we find them guilty! Racism against George Floyd - we find them guilty! Racism against Jacob Blake...guilty! And we're not taking it anymore.' B'Ivory LaMarr, the attorney for the Blake family, doubled down on his clients stance and said 'we're tired of talking.' 'We're tried of playing games. 2020 is they year America will be put on timeout. Today, I just want to let you know is the last season of the police version of 'How to Get Away With Murder,' said LaMarr, referencing the popular television show. 'We know your playbook. We know your plays,' he continued. 'Step one: claim that you were in fear and find an object so you can justify that you were in fear of a black or brown person. 'Step Two: assassinate that black person and step three: assassinate his character.' Jacob Blake Sr. (center): 'Racism against Trayvon Martin - we find them guilty! Racism against George Floyd - we find them guilty! Racism against Jacob Blake...guilty! And we're not taking it anymore' Slide me Nearly six decades after the first March on Washington event on August 28, 1963, around 50,000 people gathered outside the Lincoln Memorial to once again protests racial and economic inequality Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, recorded a video address to rally attendees that both commemorated the work down by past civil rights leaders. 'I was born into an activist family with my parentspushing me in a stroller through Bay Area streets marching for justice in the years following the March on Washington,' she said. 'This moment is a reminder that we must always honor the sacrifices of the leaders who made that march happen. From the names we know, like Randolph, Farmer, Young and King, to everyone who worked behind the scenes that sacrificed quietly, but profoundly.' Harris added that she believed those same civil rights leaders and supporters would share the anger of millions of Americans, but would turn that anger 'into fuel.' 'I have to believe if they were with us today, they would share our anger, frustration,' she said, 'as we continue to see black men and women slain in our streets that were left behind by an economy and justice system that have too often denied black people our dignity and rights. 'They would turn it into fuel. They would lace up their shoes, link arms and march alongside us.' Kamala Harris (pictured), the democratic candidate for vice president, paid tribute to past civil rights activists in a pre-recorded speech on Friday Korey Wise, one of the exonerated Central Park Five raises his fist as he listens to speakers at the March on Washington rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial Pictured: A band from New York and Philadelphia area plays as they march at Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House in Washington, to join other marchers during the March on Washington Harris also took time to pay tribute to Rep. John Lewis, who died earlier this month after years of service in Congress and activism. Following the commemorative rally that will include remarks from civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents several of the victims families, participants marched to the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial in West Potomac Park, next to the National Mall. A number of Congress members also gave remarks, including Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who recalled the civil rights supporters who paved the way for current demonstrations. 'The truth of the matter is, because of them, we are black with a capital B. We are the manifestation of the movement, we are a symbol of social, political and cultural progress,' she said. 'We are in unprecedented and uncertain times. We are challenged by the state of the nation and the crisis we face. But the state of our movement is strong. It is possible.' The daughter of Marqueese Alston, who was shot and killed by Washington's Metropolitan Police on June 12, 2018, hugs her grandmother Kenithia Alston, standing with other families on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial Martin Luther King III (pictured), who helped organize the event with Rev. Al Sharpton, arrived for a TV interview near the Lincoln Memorial before the start of 'Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks' in Washington, DC, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (pictured): 'Yes, it is possible to write budgets that benefit black lives. If that sounds unfamiliar, thats because its never been done in America' Alyanna Camacho (left) waits with Laura Navarrete (center) and Brianna Barrett (right) next to signs of George Floyd that Camacho made while on their way to the march on Friday Pressley: 'Today I am thinking of the ancestors. Not just the ones recorded in out history books, but the ones omitted from out history books. The justice seekers, the freedom riders, the organizers the community builders, every loved one who packed a brown bag lunch, led a freedom song, risked their lives and livelihood' Slide me Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his historic 'I Have a Dream' address 57 years ago and on Friday, his granddaughter Yolanda Renee King and his son, Martin Luther King III, spoke out She added: 'Today I am thinking of the ancestors. Not just the ones recorded in out history books, but the ones omitted from out history books. The justice seekers, the freedom riders, the organizers the community builders, every loved one who packed a brown bag lunch, led a freedom song, risked their lives and livelihood.' Pressley briefly touched on the topic of reforming legislation, which she noted has 'never' been created for the benefit of black American lives. 'Yes, it is possible to write budgets that benefit black lives. If that sounds unfamiliar, thats because its never been done in America,' she said, before adding, 'We will meet the moment.' Rep. Adriano Espaillat took a step further and called for sweeping reform to law enforcement and criminal justice. 'Lets get rid of the chokehold. Lets get rid of the knee,' he declared. Priscilla Duerrero from Boston, currently living in Washington, D.C., attends the March on Washington with a sign reading 'racism is a pandemic' Activists attend the 'Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks' march at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on Friday for the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington 'Lets do away with the death penalty. Lets do away with solitary confinement. Lets do away with mandatory minimums.' Turnout in Washington will be lighter than initially intended due to city-imposed coronavirus pandemic restrictions that limit out-of-state visitors to the nations capital. To that end, the National Action Network organized a handful of satellite march events in South Carolina, Florida and Nevada, among others. People filtering into the designated rally area in front of Lincoln Memorial were asked to undergo temperature checks and seating was separated by six feet in accordance with CDC public health guidelines. Washington D.C. had recorded more than 13,000 cases and 605, which is dwarfed when compared to the 5.8million cases that have inundated the United States. Pictured: 'Demonstrators with 'Black Lives Matter' banners begin to gather at the Lincoln Memorial for the 'Get Your Knee Off Our Necks' rally and March on Washington 2020 in support of racial justice in Washington' Nationwide anti-racism and Black Lives Matter protests took the United States by storm in May after the death of George Floyd, an unarmed father-of-five, was captured on cell phone footage and shared to social media Pictured: 'At the site of today's March on Washington at the Lincoln Memorial, Dionne Smith holds a photo of her son James Rivera Lille who was shot 48 times by three Stockton, California police officers on July 22, 2010 a day before his 17th birthday' Pictured: Megan Dogans of Denver, arrives to attend the March on Washington on Friday with a sign reading,' We Demand Effective Police Reform Laws Now!' Seating for the March on Washington, or Get Your Knees Off Our Necks March, was placed six feet apart and socially distanced to abide by CDC COVID-19 guidelines While participants march in Washington, Sharpton has called for those in other states to march on their U.S. senators offices and demand their support of federal policing reforms. Sharpton said protesters should also demand reinvigorated U.S. voter protections, in memory of the late Congressman John Lewis who, until his death on July 17, was the last living speaker at the original march. In June, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act, which would ban police use of stranglehold maneuvers and end qualified immunity for officers, among other reforms. In July, following Lewis death, Democratic senators reintroduced legislation that would restore a provision of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965 gutted by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013. The law previously required states with a history of voter suppression to seek federal clearance before changing voting regulations. Both measures are awaiting action in the Republican-controlled Senate. 'Were demanding that that be enacted,' King said. 'The senators wont even take action on it. That gives us an opportunity to say, `OK, we gave you guys a chance, we as the people, as black people, as white people, as Latinos and Hispanics and were going to vote you out.' Regina (pictured) performs the song 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' as she appears with singer and songwriter George Clinton as demonstrators gather at the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington on Friday Demonstrators get a temperature check during the 'Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks' protest against racism and police brutality, at the Lincoln Memorial on Friday Pictured: a person attending the March on Washington rally held a sign reading,' Skin color is not reasonable suspicion! Police brutality sows the seeds of discontent!' Kenithia Alston (far right), mother of Marquise Alston, speaks at the March on Washington while joining with 11 other mothers who lost their children to police killings Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (left)giving his I Have a Dream speech to huge crowd gathered for the Mall in Washington DC during the March on Washington for Jobs & Freedom Pictured: Tsa-Qhura Hudson waits near the Lincoln Memorial for the start of 'Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks Thousands of demonstrators gather at the Lincoln Memorial for the 'Get Your Knee Off Our Necks' Commitment March Pictured: a woman donned a 'I can't breathe' face mask and a clear face cover while attending the March on Washington March organized by civil rights leaders on Friday Members of the cast of Bravo's 'Married to Medicine' attend the 2020 March on Washington, officially known as the 'Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off our Necks,' at the Lincoln Memorial Pictured: People marching during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom political rally in Washington, DC on August 28, 1963 He added: 'There are a number of senators who need to go because they dont have the capacity or have not demonstrated they have a capacity to understand what needs to happen in the community.' Thursday evening, the NAACP began commemorating the March on Washington with a virtual event that featured remarks from voting rights activist Stacey Abrams and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and Academy Award-winning actor Mahershala Ali. 'Thanks to the activism of countless young people, the movement for justice goes on,' Pelosi said. 'We must keep up the fight and, as John Lewis would say, `find a way to get in the way.'' Later in the evening, the Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of more than 150 black-led organizations that make up the broader Black Lives Matter movement, will hold its virtual Black National Convention. The convention will coincide with the unveiling of a new black political agenda intended to build on the success of this summers protests. The platform will deepen calls for defunding police departments in favor of investments to healthcare, education, housing and other social services in black communities, organizers said. 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. If news about U.S. Postal Service delays and heated political rhetoric around voting by mail has you anxious about the November election, you're not alone. But there are important differences in how California runs elections that may ease some of those fears. Let us explain. CALIFORNIA IS MAILING EVERY ACTIVE REGISTERED VOTER A BALLOT FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. IS THAT A BIG DEAL? It's significant. But it's just accelerating a process that's already underway. The state -- the most populous in the nation -- has been moving to a primarily mail-in election for years now. In the March primary, 72% of California voters used a mail-in ballot. And to be clear: ballots are sent not by the state, but by each county's election officials: 17 California counties had already adopted a system of sending every voter a ballot and operating fewer, consolidated in-person "vote centers" that are open for 11 days. HOW ARE LOCAL ELECTIONS OFFICIALS GEARING UP? For Los Angeles and many other counties, this will be new. They'll likely be dealing with a much higher volume of mail-in ballots. Neal Kelley, Registrar of Voters for Orange County, says he's upgraded equipment to process a much larger volume of ballots. "When COVID really exploded, I just sat back in my chair and I thought, Okay, what happens tomorrow, if we have to have a 100% vote by mail election?" Kelley said. Orange County recently installed a second automated sorter for mail-in ballots and doubled the number of scan stations. Orange County Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley before the March 2020 primary election. (Libby Denkmann for LAist) "If today we had to do a 100% mail ballot election, we could do that," Kelley said. It takes more time to process mail-in ballots because each envelope has to be opened, the barcode must be scanned, and the signature checked against the one in the voter file. These days, much of that is done by machines and algorithms. Los Angeles, Ventura, San Diego and Riverside counties use an automated system to sort, scan and verify voter signatures on mail-in ballots. Orange County requires a human verification step during the signature check. County registrars are currently working to finalize their voting lists. Ballots will be sent to all active, registered voters starting Oct. 5. WHO COUNTS AS AN "ACTIVE" VOTER? Each county has different criteria. There's no statewide standard for removing people from voter rolls. Inactive voters in Los Angeles County who do not respond to a notice to confirm their address, and remain inactive for two federal elections following the notice, have their records canceled. "If an inactive voter appears at a Vote Center, or contacts our office to vote in the November 2020 General Election, they can register or activate their registration through Conditional Voter Registration," said Mike Sanchez, spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's office. In Orange County, Neal Kelley says voters will be counted "inactive" if they sat out the 2016 and 2018 federal elections. (We've reached out to Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino and Santa Barbara counties to get their inactive voter criteria, and will report back as soon as that information is verified.) Counties don't send election materials to inactive voters, and political parties don't generally contact them with mailers. The best way to ensure your status is "active" is to check with your county's registrar to make sure your voter registration information is updated. [Want to check your voter status in L.A. County? Click here. Orange County, here. Find a list of other registrars on the Secretary of State's website here.] Confirm your address is current -- and add an email address to your file. That helps registrars contact you with updates or important information about your ballot. California is preparing for the November 3, 2020 General Election: Every registered voter will be mailed a ballot Safe in-person voting opportunities Statewide vote-by-mail ballot trackinghttps://t.co/s59zolpEwB CA SOS Vote (@CASOSvote) June 4, 2020 WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH VOTER FRAUD? President Trump and conservative watchdog groups have attacked universal vote-by-mail. They claim California will send out hundreds of thousands of ballots to people who aren't eligible, and this will lead to fraud. Here are the facts: Registrars don't send ballots out to everyone just because they live in California, as President Trump falsely tweeted. You have to be registered and eligible to vote. And election officials say they regularly review their voter files to remove inactive voters -- generally people who have died or moved. They get death records from the Department of Public Health, and change-of-address information from the DMV and unemployment offices. But some people fall through the cracks. There are more than 20 million registered voters in California. Ballots do get sent to folks who have changed addresses, or are deceased. Last month, a man in Norwalk was charged with using his dead mother's ballots to vote in three elections. This is a serious crime -- if convicted, he could go to prison for up to three years. But experts tell us voter fraud is extremely rare. In one study, researchers at Stanford, University of Pennsylvania and Harvard found the prevalence of "double voting" -- or fraudulently voting twice in the same election -- to be .02%, and they said even that was likely overestimating the frequency because of measurement errors. The Washington Post analyzed all-mail elections in Colorado, Washington and Oregon and found less than 400 cases of fraud reported out of 14.6 million ballots cast in 2016 and '18. And despite the expansion of mail-in voting in recent years, there is zero evidence of systematic voter fraud in California -- the kind that could swing an election, like we saw in North Carolina in 2018, where a Republican consultant was charged with paying operatives to collect unsealed, incomplete mail-in ballots to use them to help a GOP candidate win. That case resulted in a new election in the district. It's also important to point out that President Trump has claimed mail-in voting helps Democrats at the polls. But that's not supported by evidence -- Stanford researchers have found the partisan effect is actually neutral. A conservative group was recently successful in a lawsuit that forced Los Angeles County to contact up to 1.5 million inactive voters to check their status. That case was settled in Jan. 2019 -- with no mention of voter fraud. Brigid LaBonge, the daughter of a mail carrier, helped to organize Saturday's protest outside the post office in Atwater Village. (Josie Huang/LAist) WILL MAIL DELAYS MEAN BALLOTS WON'T BE COUNTED? After he was appointed in June, the new Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, began instituting cost-cutting measures such as limiting overtime for postal workers and instructing mail carriers to leave mail undelivered when they reach the end of their shifts. President Trump said on Fox Business Network recently that he opposes a $25 billion U.S. Postal Service funding bill supported by Democrats because it would allow expanded mail-in voting. Last month, USPS sent letters to 46 states warning that mail-in ballots could arrive late to election officials because of service delays. That set off alarm bells among Democrats. California's Xavier Becerra was among the attorneys general lining up to sue over the problems. But in California, the danger to election administration is minimal. Mail-in ballots are counted here as long as they are postmarked on or before Election Day. And, anticipating problems because of COVID-19, the state legislature already extended the deadline for ballots to arrive at county registrar offices to 17 days. Issues could crop up for a relatively small number of California voters who may receive their mail-in ballots late if they register shortly before the Nov. 3 election. Last week, the Postmaster General backed off most of the controversial policy changes. DeJoy affirmed that the USPS can handle any volume of election mail coming its way. California Secretary of State Alex Padilla says he still doesn't entirely trust the Trump Administration to follow through, however, so he's monitoring service disruptions that could hurt voting. HOW CAN I MAKE SURE TO GET MY BALLOT IN THE MAIL IN TIME? Double check your registration now. We can't say it enough. One clue: have you received any mail so far this year from your county elections office? The Los Angeles County Registrar has sent out material to let voters know they'll be receiving a ballot this year, whether they signed up as a mail-in voter or not. And ballots can be requested in 18 foreign languages. The library at California State University, Northridge hosts a ballot drop-off box. (Andrew Cullen for LAist) After Oct. 5, start looking for that ballot to show up in the mail. If you don't see it in a week-to-10 days, contact your registrar's office. [NOTE: October 19 is the last day to register online for the general election. This is the fastest way to register and update your voter information. If you miss this deadline, you can still register at any polling place or vote center statewide all the way up to and including Election Day.] L.A. County will also mail sample ballots 30-40 days before the election. You should receive yours around the same time, or slightly before, your official ballot. The sample ballot can also be accessed online. As a last-resort, remember that in California, you can register and vote same day, up to and including Election Day. If you decide to vote in-person after all, in Voter's Choice Act counties such as O.C. and Los Angeles, you don't need to turn in your unused mail-in ballot. It will be voided by the e-pollbook system. Other counties will require you to vote provisionally if you go in last-minute, without your mail-in ballot. But the vast majority of provisional ballots are counted after an extra verification step. And mailing back your ballot isn't the only way to cast your vote. Registrars provide secure drop boxes at vote centers and at various other locations in L.A. and Orange Counties. It's a handy option that lets you fill out your ballot in the comfort and safety of your home, and it cuts out the worry about anything getting lost in the mail. WILL MY MAIL-IN BALLOT BE COUNTED? You've mailed your ballot in, or dropped it in a drop-box. But your job isn't done. Mail-in ballots do get rejected -- and there are a few main reasons: The signature on the ballot envelope doesn't match the signature on file at the Registrar's office The voter forgot to sign the ballot envelope The ballot arrives too late to be counted, or it was sent too late (it's postmarked after Election Day) In a study of three counties, the California Voter Foundation found an average of 1.7 percent of vote-by-mail ballots have been rejected since 2010 -- and younger voters were more likely to have their ballots rejected. In the March 3rd primary, about 1.5% were rejected, representing more than 100,000 ballots. In California you have a chance to "cure" your ballot if it's flagged for a signature mismatch. That means your county registrar has to alert you to the problem. And for peace of mind, there's a handy online Ballot Tracker service from the California Secretary of State's office. The "Where's My Ballot" feature will tell you if your ballot has arrived at your county election office and whether it's been counted. You can even get text message alerts. A voter chooses a language on the new L.A. County ballot marking devices during a mock election at Salazar Park in East L.A. on Sept. 28, 2019. (Al Kamalizad for LAist) WHAT IF I STILL PREFER TO VOTE IN-PERSON? If you lose your mail-in ballot, you need language help or disability accommodations, or you just feel better using the machine and knowing your vote has been accepted -- there will still be many in-person voting options in your county. In fact, the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder is actively soliciting ideas for large venues, including outdoor spaces, to use as vote centers in November. The Pomona Fairplex and Dodger Stadium have already been announced as polling places. In Orange County, the Honda Center will serve as a vote center, and there will even be drive-through voting available. In Voter's Choice Act counties such as O.C. and Los Angeles, in-person voting is available for 11 days, including Election Day. And L.A. County Supervisors want the county to focus on beefing up capacity for the final 4-5 days of voting this time around. The March primary saw voters waiting for hours in lines downtown and at L.A.-area college campuses, and part of the problem was that a lot of people waited until Election Day instead of taking advantage of the early voting days. IS VOTING IN-PERSON SAFE? Long lines at some vote centers during the March primary certainly looked like coronavirus "super spreader" events waiting to happen. But the expansion of vote-by-mail will help. There will also be a lot of precautions at the in-person voting sites: Sanitizing all surfaces before and after use, physical distancing, and faceguards and masks for all election employees. Masks will also be required for voters -- and they'll be provided to people who don't have them. L.A. County vote center worker Steven Toro wears a mask and gloves to welcome voters in Palmdale. In May, county elections workers operated outdoor in-person voting with coronavirus safety precautions for the CA-25 special election. (Libby Denkmann for LAist) ELECTION RESULTS ALWAYS TAKE A WHILE IN CALIFORNIA. WILL THIS YEAR BE ANY DIFFERENT? Since counties will start mailing ballots on Oct. 5, the first votes may begin arriving back at registrars' offices soon after. New this year: California registrars will be able to start processing mail-in ballots as soon as they're received. (In prior years, election officials had to wait until 10 business days before the election.) That will help move the process along. But most ballots will inevitably come in closer to Election Day, and that means results could take a while. Elections officials say the real challenge this November will be setting expectations: we may not know the outcome for many races for a few days, or weeks. That's a feature, not a bug, of California elections. The state allows people to register or change political parties on Election Day, and contacts voters to cure mail-in ballot errors. All of that slows down the counting. Registrars tell us their first priority is accuracy, not speed. WE LOVE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS Contributed photo ANSONIA Although the citys United Illuminating customers were mostly spared in terms of power outages during Thursdays storm, thousands of UI customers in Ansonia are expected to lose power Thursday night for a planned outage, police said. The move is necessary, according to police, because of a downed tree on a transmission line at the UI substation in Ansonia. U.S. assists in rescuing migrants stranded in Mediterranean Migrants stranded in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya were rescued after U.S. military personnel heard their distress signal, July 21. By U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs , United States Africa Command Stuttgart, Germany Jul 28, 2020 Migrants stranded in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya were rescued after U.S. military personnel heard their distress signal, July 21. A U.S. Africa Command unit conducting surveillance off the coast of North Africa picked up a distress signal from an inflatable vessel with 131 passengers aboard that was deflating in the sea approximately 80 kilometers northwest of Misrata, Libya. After receiving the distress signal via radio, U.S. Air Forces Africa responded to the distress beacon and coordinated with Libyan and Maltese naval authorities for rescue aid. "Our routine surveillance along the North Africa Coast gave us an opportunity to lend a helping hand," said U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, AFRICOM. "U.S. forces have a long-standing tradition of helping mariners in distress and providing humanitarian assistance." On July 23, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency reported the Libyan Coast Guard rescued all 131 passengers from the distressed migrant vessel and brought them to safety. "This rescue operation, with coordination and assistance from U.S. European Command, was a team effort on behalf of people in distress. This rescue highlights the level of cooperation we've developed not only with our partners in Africa, but more broadly in the region," said Ambassador Andrew Young, deputy to the commander for civilian-military engagement, AFRICOM. U.S. Africa Command uses a whole-of-government approach that includes an emphasis on interagency and multi-national cooperation to facilitate humanitarian aid in order to promote security, stability, and prosperity in Africa. "U.S. leadership helped achieve unity of effort," said Townsend. "International partnership remains important to addressing mutual challenges. In this case, collective contributions helped save lives." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nine licensed premises in Northern Ireland have been issued with prohibition notices by police for breaches of coronavirus regulations (Niall Carson/PA) Nine licensed premises in Northern Ireland have been issued with prohibition notices by police for breaches of coronavirus regulations. The notices were issued to premises in Counties Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone since restaurants and bars which sell food were permitted to reopen following lockdown on July 3. A PSNI spokesman said the premises which have received notices include one in Coleraine on July 8, one in Bangor on July 12, one in Moy on August 7, one in Banbridge on August 21, two in Rosslea on August 21 and 22, one in Tempo on August 22, and two in Irvinestown on August 23 and 24. Disappointing to learn that five pubs had to be served prohibition notices in Fermanagh. Regulations are there for a reason. No one is above the rules. Important to adhere for the public health and safety of everyone. Thank you to the PSNI for your action. Arlene Foster #ProudofNI. (@ArleneFosterUK) August 28, 2020 First Minister Arlene Foster expressed her disappointment at the move. Disappointing to learn that five pubs had to be served prohibition notices in Fermanagh, she tweeted. Regulations are there for a reason. No one is above the rules. Important to adhere for the public health and safety of everyone. Thank you to the PSNI for your action. Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said officers are engaging with licensees over their responsibilities under the coronavirus regulations. We, as a service, are guided by the Licensing (NI) Order 1996 and the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) Regulations NI 2020 to ensure laws are upheld and people are kept safe, he said. We have been, and we will continue to work with licensees across Northern Ireland to ensure our community can socialise in a safe environment. Expand Close Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd (David Young/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd (David Young/PA) Where we receive complaints, we will engage with licensees around potential breaches of both the Licensing (NI) Order 1996 and the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) Regulations NI 2020. Where appropriate, advice and guidance will be provided to ensure the continued safe and peaceful enjoyment of services. Our approach has always been engage, explain, encourage and enforcement, with any emphasises on enforcement being fully considered with all our partners. On Thursday, Stormont Health Minister Robin Swann said he would be asking his Executive colleagues to prioritise stronger legislation to deal with this issue. I am concerned that some licensed premises are flouting the guidelines, guidelines that have been put in place to protect both customers and staff, he said. I am hearing worrying reports from concerned members of the public and from the industry itself and our ongoing liaison with police. I will therefore be asking executive colleagues to prioritise stronger legislation to deal with this issue. Mr Swann added that the majority of licensed premises and other businesses are complying with the regulations. Expand Close Health Minister Robin Swann during the daily media broadcast at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, in Belfast (PressEye/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Health Minister Robin Swann during the daily media broadcast at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, in Belfast (PressEye/PA) Earlier this week it was announced that wet pubs, theatres and private members clubs could not reopen as planned due to the rise in cases of the virus. Meanwhile the latest weekly update from the Northern Ireland Statistical and Research Agency (Nisra) on Friday revealed that the total number of Covid-19 related deaths in the region to August 21 was 871. The new total included three deaths with Covid-19 in the week commencing August 15. Of the total number of deaths, 460 (52.8%) took place in hospital, 351 (40.3%) in care homes, eight (0.9%) in hospices and 52 (6%) at residential addresses or other locations. The 359 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 81 separate establishments. The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health to August 21 was 559. These figures are based on patients having previously tested positive for the virus, whereas the Nisra figures are based on the information entered on death certificates, completed by medical professionals. They may or may not have previously tested positive for the virus. Russia arrests serviceman for passing state secrets to Ukraine Iran Press TV Thursday, 27 August 2020 9:48 AM The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has arrested a serviceman in the province of Siberia for passing state secrets to Ukraine. The FSB said in a statement on Thursday that it had arrested the serviceman, from Russia's Strategic Missile Forces, in the Siberian city of Barnaul for spying for the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Defense Ministry. FSB footage carried by Russian news agencies showed the suspect being detained as walked out of a grocery store. The intelligence agency did not specify what kind of information had been passed, but said a criminal case had been opened for state treason. The suspect could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Relations between Russia and Ukraine have severely strained since 2014, when Crimea, a peninsula on the northern coast of the Black Sea and then a Ukrainian territory, joined Russia following a referendum in which more than 90 percent of participants voted in favor of the move. Crimea's population is largely ethnically Russian. Since that same year, an armed conflict has also been underway between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russia forces in an area in eastern Ukraine known as the Donbass. Kiev and its Western allies accuse Moscow of having a hand in the crisis. Moscow denies the allegations. In late July, the FSB arrested another serviceman, from Russia's Black Sea Fleet, in the Crimean city of Sevastopol over suspected espionage for Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dear Cathy, Can you comment on the pack mentality of dogs? Is it reasonable to leave a dog outside all the time, tied to a kennel? Doesnt this deprive the dog of its pack? Thanks for your column. I find it helpful as well as well-written and interesting whatever the content. JHL Dear JHL, Leaving a dog out in the backyard all the time or even worse, tied up in the yard all day or night, leaves him deprived of the interactions and experiences that contribute to his overall well-being. Dogs are highly social creatures and love being with their packs, which includes their human families. Being a pack animal means agreeing to a set of rules or expectations established by the pack leader, i.e. their human family. Those rules might include no jumping on the couch, staying calm on a leash and sitting when asked. Expectations may include things like being fed daily, knowing their owner will be home the same time every day, or receiving attention, grooming or affection on a regular basis. Once dogs understand the rules and know the patterns and behaviors of the people and animals in their households, they generally thrive on that routine, which leads to more confident, less anxious, and more resilient dogs overall. These dogs are well-socialized and learn appropriate behaviors through positive interaction with people every day. A dog becomes a family dog when it lives in close connection with his family. Dogs left outside all the time are often referred to as resident dogs rather than family dogs because they live on the property but not in the home. These dogs are socially isolated and, therefore, can become highly anxious, unpredictable and sometimes even aggressive if someone steps into their space. Resident dogs are more likely to bite than a family dog. Dogs need human companionship, which means living mostly inside the home with their pack. The more time a dog spends with his family, whether that is one person or a family of four, the happier and better adjusted it will be. Can you provide a home to a box turtle or tortoise? I recently spoke with Krista McDonald, executive director of the Central Texas Tortoise Rescue in San Marcos. She said they have a growing list of people waiting to surrender their tortoises and box turtles. Sadly, because of their long lifespans, tortoises and box turtles can outlive their keepers abilities to care for them. And sometimes unforeseen circumstances like the COVID-19 pandemic change peoples living situations, and they surrender their pet to the rescue group. If you can offer a home to a tortoise or box turtle, please visit their website at texastortoiserescue.com and fill out an adoption form to be contacted about it. Send your pet questions, tips, and stories to cathy@petpundit.com. You can read the Animals Matter blog at http://blog.mysanantonio.com/animals and follow her at @cathymrosenthal. YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to resign due to deteriorating health, TASS reports citing the Japanese public television. It noted that the head of government had already made a decision. Abe is expected to announce it at a special news conference, which will be held at 17:00 local time on Friday. After the resignation, if it really takes place, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party will have to endorse a candidate for prime minister in parliament. Currently, the party and its allies have a majority in both houses of the national parliament, which will make it possible for them to obtain parliamentary approval without any obstacles from the opposition. Earlier this month, Shinzo Abe set a record for the longest tenure as head of government in the history of Japan. He has chaired the Cabinet for a total of 2,799 consecutively since the start of his second term as prime minister in December 2012. The Pentagon plans to reduce its current troop presence in Iraq by about one-third as President Donald Trump heads for November's vote on his reelection amid a campaign promise to end US military involvement in conflicts abroad, the Wall Street Journal reported today, citing anonymous US officials. The reductions are scheduled to take place over the next two to three months, the report said. Trump is likely to publicly mention the troop reduction soon. A spokesperson for the US-led coalition did not immediately return a request for comment. Why it matters: Any US drawdown is ultimately a political decision, military officials say, but it is also a sign that the international military coalitions mission to defeat the Islamic State (IS) is entering its final phase. A reduction to 3,500 troops would be a significant decrease from the estimated 5,000 troops in Iraq. The commander of US forces in the Middle East, Gen. Kenneth Frank McKenzie, said last month he believes the United States can help maintain stability in Iraq with fewer troops in the country. Trump has ordered a drawdown in Iraq that can take place as quickly as possible while still maintaining policy objectives, US officials have said. Trump has also ordered troop levels in Afghanistan to be cut ahead of November. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said earlier this month that number will go from some 8,600 to below 5,000 troops in Afghanistan. That plan comes despite reports by US military officials that the Taliban is not living up to expectations under a peace agreement reached with the United States in February. The president has long expressed his desire to end US involvement in endless war, although US troops in Iraq no longer accompany Iraqi troops on counter-IS ground operations. The coalition consolidated its basing in Iraq earlier this year and has shifted to focusing on mentoring Iraqi military commanders at a central location in Baghdad. Whats next: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week that US troops would come out of Iraq as soon as we complete the mission. Though IS sleeper cells remain in a number of areas in Iraq, US military officials continue to express confidence the group cannot take and hold territory. Were going to be leaving, and hopefully were going to be leaving a country that can defend itself, Trump said after meeting Iraqs Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi last week. Iraqs government has also struggled to establish control over a variety of Iran-linked militias in the country. US forces are not authorized to engage those militias, except in self-defense. US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq David Copley told Al-Monitor during a telephone briefing this week that Iraqs domestic security sector reforms are basically unrelated to any sort of US troop presence there. Still, a troop reduction is likely to reduce Washingtons leverage against Irans influence in Iraq, which the Trump administration is now looking to compensate for with soft power. Though tensions have eased with Iran, McKenzie said last month that he draws no confidence from periods of quiet, and that he believes Iran still hopes to expel US forces from Iraq. In neighboring Syria, a major US drawdown last year has led to more aggressive provocations by Russian and Syrian regime troops. Know More: Ali Mamouri lays out the full context surrounding Baghdad and Washington officials recent strategic dialogue over the future of the US-Iraq relationship. After Maharashtra, analysts expect more states like Karnataka and Haryana to slash stamp duty rates. However, analysts, do caution that its still a long road to recovery for the realty sector. The cut in stamp duty rates on apartments in Maharashtra from the current 5 per cent to 2 per cent till December 2020-end and retaining them at 3 per cent between January 2021 and March 2021 will benefit players like Oberoi Realty and Godrej Properties most, say analysts, who do caution that its still a long road to recovery for the realty sector. After Maharashtra, analysts expect more states slash stamp duty rates. According to Jefferies, the state governments to watch out for will be Karnataka (Bengaluru) and Haryana (Gurugram). Amongst our coverage, the highest Maharashtra state exposure in residential business is for Oberoi (100 per cent), followed by Godrej Properties (around 50 per cent), which are direct beneficiaries. "However, as other state governments potentially act, other developers in our coverage viz., DLF, Sobha, and Prestige could benefit as well, says Abhinav Sinha, an analyst with Jefferies. At the bourses, the Nifty Realty index has underperformed the benchmark Nifty50 by a wide margin from a one-year and year-to-date (YTD) horizon. Though the recovery from the March 23 low has been encouraging, analysts expect the performance to remain polarised going ahead, with those companies with strong balance-sheets and pricing power doing well. On Thursday, the Nifty Realty index was the top sectoral gainer, rallying 6.4 per cent, with DLF, Prestige Estates, Oberoi Realty, and Sunteck Realty gaining 6.9 per cent to 9.5 per cent. The temporary reduction in stamp duty will likely help support sales of Mumbai-centric players like Oberoi Realty, Godrej Properties, and Sunteck Realty among our coverage universe. "Oberoi Realty will also benefit from the completion of several of its larger projects that will eliminate the incidence of goods and services tax (GST), wrote Murtuza Arsiwalla and Samrat Verma of Kotak Institutional Equities in an August 27 note. Hit hard Even before the Covid-19 pandemic dealt a body blow, with construction activity coming to a complete halt during lockdown, the sector had been grappling with high inventory and sluggish sales. According to a Knight Frank report, sales of residential units across Mumbai, Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad dropped 54 per cent in the first half of calendar year 2020 (CY20) to a decadal low of 59,538 units, compared to 129,285 units in the year-ago period. The impact of lockdown was even more pronounced in the AprilJune 2020 period (Q2CY20). Housing sales and new launches, according to Anuj Puri, chairman, Anarock Property Consultants, plummeted 81 per cent year-on-year in the top seven Indian cities - from 68,600 units in Q2CY19 to just 12,720 units in Q2CY20. With regard to inventory levels, Hyderabad and Pune remained the best markets in June, with 22-23 months of inventory, followed by Chennai and Bengaluru at 37-38 months. NCR remains the worst real estate market, with 71 months of inventory; inventory levels in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Kolkata were 40 months and 44 months, respectively, wrote Parvez Akhtar Qazi and Akash Damani of Edelweiss Securities in an August 25 note. For G Chokkalingam, founder and chief investment officer at Equinomics Research & Advisory, an uptick in realty counters should be utilised to exit. The demand will taper off and the prices of residential units will correct as a result of the pandemic that has caused severe economic distress and led to paycuts and job losses. "People will spend mostly on essentials and may postpone buying houses/investing in property, he cautions. Chandigarh, Aug 28 : Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar admitted to Medanta in Gurugram on August 25 after testing positive for coronavirus is making satisfactory progress, the government said on Friday. In a medical bulletin issued by the hospital, Medical Superintendent A.K. Dubey informed that Manohar Lal underwent some blood and CT scans. He said a multidisciplinary team of doctors from AIIMS, New Delhi; PGIMS, Rohtak, Virender Yadav, Civil Surgeon, Gurugram, and Sushila Kataria and team reviewed his condition, line of treatment and progress made. He said that overall the Chief Minister is comfortable and relaxed. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-27 23:47:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, conducts a field inspection in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province, Aug. 23, 2020. Headed by Li Zhanshu, an inspection team conducted a law enforcement inspection on soil pollution prevention and control in Jiangsu and Shandong provinces from Sunday to Wednesday. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Li Zhanshu has stressed efforts to promote the effective implementation of the law on soil pollution prevention and control in all areas. Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, made the comments during a law enforcement inspection in Jiangsu and Shandong provinces from Sunday to Wednesday. During a meeting with experts, Li called for efforts to focus on pollution prevention, as the treatment and purification of polluted soil are difficult, time-consuming and costly. Strong measures are required to prevent worsening pollution, and new pollution must be stopped, Li noted, stressing more efforts to make plans to protect unpolluted soil. While presiding over a symposium, Li said soil pollution should be prevented in accordance with the law. He was briefed on the current situation and heard suggestions from lawmakers at the symposium. The Trump administrations appointment of a Vietnamese refugee to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement sparked anger among Asian American advocates, many of whom condemned the move as hypocritical. Tony Pham, whose family fled Saigon in 1975, previously served as the agencys principal legal adviser. He was tapped on Tuesday to succeed Matt Albence as the new acting director. Image: Tony Pham (ice.gov) During the Trump years, deportations of Southeast Asians have grown at an alarming rate. Phams nomination comes at a particularly fraught time for a group already reeling from the health and economic fallout of the pandemic. Earlier this month, ICE removed 30 Vietnamese Americans, including some refugees thought to be protected under a 2008 agreement between the U.S. and Vietnam. Trump appointing a refugee as the head of an agency that consistently violates the rights of refugees is a tactic commonly used to divide our communities, Tracy La, the executive director of the California-based organization VietRISE, told NBC Asian America. ICE did not respond to NBC Asian America's request for comment. In an official statement, La added: For Pham to have been a Vietnamese refugee does not mean that he will lead ICE and treat immigrants and refugees with dignity and honor the human rights that they deserve. For other advocates, Phams long career in law enforcement is a serious cause for concern. Prior to joining the Department of Homeland Security, he worked as a prosecutor in Richmond, Virginia, and as a superintendent at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail. Given that hes already worked for ICE within this administration, and this administration has aggressively ramped up targeting of Southeast Asian refugee communities, we dont feel optimistic that there will be a change in how ICE is run, said Phi Nguyen, the litigation director at Asian Americans Advancing JusticeAtlanta, or AAAJ. The way in which Pham frames his migration story also perpetuates the good immigrant versus bad immigrant narrative, experts said. Pham and his family became citizens a decade after resettling in the U.S. In an email to ICE attorneys, he stressed that hed taken the lawful path to citizenship. Story continues Roughly 15,000 Southeast Asians face final removal orders 80 percent of which are linked to underlying criminal convictions, according to a report from AAAJ. Among refugees at risk of deportation, Nguyen said, some are worried that Pham might adopt an even tougher approach to enforcement to distance himself, as an immigrant who had done things the right way, from undocumented immigrants and those who lost their legal status because of a conviction. Even those who arent incarcerated or deported but have deportation orders have to live in constant fear, she said. They can never fully feel safe in their homes. Phams emphasis on having followed the lawful track to citizenship diminishes the harshness of the nations immigration policies and the extraordinary hardships some families have endured, according to Katrina Dizon Mariategue, the acting executive director at the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center. For some immigrants who come and make it, there's a tendency to pull the ladder away from others to come and make it, she said, adding that her own family became undocumented some years after arriving in the U.S. due to limited options to obtaining residency status. Its sad and disheartening. Just as important, she continued, a rhetoric that implies that Asian Americans with legal status are more deserving of rights prohibits the community from critically examining existing immigration laws who created them and who theyre made for. For us, she said, its about pushing boundaries about not only whats legal but whats truly just in this moment. Some national organizations, like OCAAsian Pacific American Advocates, are cautiously hopeful that Pham might help soften Trumps hard-line stance on deportations by ending mandatory detention and forced removals. AAPI representation in our government is important in order to uplift the needs of our community and ensure the well being of AAPIs through policies and legislation, Roland Hwang, the organizations vice president of public affairs, said in an official statement. We hope Mr. Pham will remember his refugee roots, and Vietnamese American immigrant community, to counteract the Trump administration's anti-immigrant agenda. But a wide coalition of immigration activists have argued that ICE, as a fundamentally racist institution that upholds white supremacy, is beyond reform. ICE is a morally bankrupt agency thats charged with enforcing rules that are inhumane, Nguyen said, adding that it perpetuates a cycle of displacement and family separations with which many refugees are already familiar. Pham does have discretion to make things a bit better. But at the end of day, its a system that needs to be completely abolished. The Republican National Convention concluded yesterday, and although it was thin on actual policy, I was surprised to see that the makeup of the speakers definitely looked representative of America. With notable featured speeches from Tim Scott, Nikki Haley, Jeanette Nunez, and Myron Lizer, the Republican Party looked impressively diverse.* But along with the falsehoods repeated onstage, this too is a deception. Donald Trumps political career has been defined by his racism since his birtherism campaign against Barack Obama in 2010. As presidential hopeful or actual president, hes accused a Hispanic American judge of being incapable of impartiality because of his Mexican heritage, encouraged his fans to chant send her back to taunt the first hijab-wearing congresswoman in American history, and continues to refer to the novel coronavirus as the China virus. But this years RNC seemed designed to aggressively push against his reputation for racism by showcasing many speakers of color vouching for Trump, as they painted the president and his party as the real progressives on race. 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. Heres the issue: The speakers at the RNC were not representative of the actual leadership of the Republican Party. Forty of the 53 sitting Republican senators are white men. Ten of them are white women. Only one is Black. (The other two are Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.) And it gets worse in the House. Of the 51 Black representatives, only one is Republican, and hes retiring soon. And yes, that trends with Trumps inner circle, where 88 percent of his initial Cabinet members were white. This reflects Republican voters preferences. A recent PRRI survey found that most Republicans find diversity mostly negative. And its representative of Trumps electorate, who are easily differentiated along racial lines. In his 2016 Electoral College victory, Trump pulled only 6 percent of Black votersclose to none of them Black women. Surprising to none, his support was strongest among white men. So whom is the Republican Party trying to convince with its excellent show of diversity onstage? Advertisement Advertisement Likely its own members. In a recent poll, NBC found that voters are concerned about the idea of racism, but are split on its causes and solutions. The Republican Party is likely aware that Trumps overt racism might hurt him in the general election. By putting Black and brown speakers at the forefront of their convention, theyre trying to give voters reason to believe its all hype. The strategy here seems to use the extremely small roster of Black and brown Republicans to shoot down those lobs before they land. Of course, this administrations policieslike family separation at the border, the abandoning of hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, Trumps trademark Muslim ban, and the stoking of violent white supremacist dogmahave often disproportionately affected Black and brown people. But here, the Republican Party is using Black and brown speakers to put just enough distance between Trump and those actions, and to give prospective voters enough room for a miraculous cognitive dissonance. Even if some voters are sober to the fact that many of Trumps statements are racist, they can now instead choose to believe that theres more to him than they previously thought. Heres some evidence that those bad statements may not reflect his personal character, right? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Democratic Party can exhaust itself slamming Trump and his party for overt racism, and it has. But the GOPs extremely diverse convention gives the Trump administration a whole new look. How could Republicans be the party responsible for separating mothers from their children at the border when Kayleigh McEnany promises Trump cares about women? It seems already impossible for Trump to make up ground with Black votersBiden has a commanding lead, 83 percent to Trumps 8. But there could be another motivation, which is to do what Trump does bestown the libs. Even with the lies and lack of effort to explain how the GOP is going to solve the multiple ongoing crises hurting America right now, the diversity sideshow was one of the hardest things to watch at this convention. Donald Trump has spent so much of his time on the stump energizing his base by demonizing outsiders. The people hes villainized undoubtedly see through the pageantry of, say, facilitating an Oath of Allegiance and making newly minted Americans of immigrants from countries he once called a shithole. But this gives cover to white voters who want to support Trump while avoiding the idea that hes racist. This week, the Republican Party metaphorically introduced undecided voters to its one Black friend, as cover to help people forget the GOP or Trumps actual record with Black and brown people. RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - As waves of schools and businesses around the country are cleared to reopen, college towns are moving toward renewed shutdowns because of too many parties and too many COVID-19 infections among students. With more than 300 students at the University of Missouri testing positive for the coronavirus and an alarming 44% positivity rate for the surrounding county, the local health director Friday ordered bars to stop serving alcohol at 9 p.m. and close by 10 p.m. Iowas governor has ordered all bars shut down around The University of Iowa and Iowa State, while the mayor of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, did the same in the hometown of the states flagship university. "What were seeing in our violations is theyre coming late at night," said Stephanie Browning, head of the health department for Columbia, Missouri. "Big groups gathering. Theyre not wearing their masks, theyre not social distancing." In Utah, the city council in Provo overrode a mayoral veto to pass a mask mandate, which includes a $500 fine for organizing large mask-less gatherings, days before students return to Brigham Young University from around the country. But the council was nevertheless worried that college students sharing dorms, bathrooms and showers could become "super-spreaders" and bring the virus off campus, council chair George Handley said. FILE - In this Aug. 21, 2020, file photo, Georgia College and State University freshmen Ashlynn Anglin, right, and Meghan Murphy, second from right, wear face masks as they talk while walking through the campus in Milledgeville, Ga. As more and more schools and businesses around the country get the OK to reopen, some college towns are moving in the opposite direction because of too much partying and too many COVID-19 infections among students. (Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File) "Were already seeing whats happened across the country at other universities," he said. But a recent warehouse party organized by a BYU students promotional company called Young/Dumb also raised concern when pictures of hundreds of revelers without masks surfaced online. BYU, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has its own rules requiring masks on campus. Requirements for indoor public spaces in town will help people stay healthy and businesses stay open, Handley said. "This is actually about preserving our way of life, its not about destroying it - contrary to what some people say," Handley said. The outbreaks since students began returning to campus in the past few weeks have heightened tensions between colleges and their towns and led to recriminations between local politicians and university officials. Meanwhile, California announced a four-tiered, color-coded plan Friday for gradually reopening businesses after abandoning a reopening attempt earlier this summer. It requires counties to meet certain benchmarks showing progress in controlling the virus. In Arizona, another deadly hot spot this summer, a drop in transmission numbers allowed the Phoenix and Tucson areas to reopen gyms and some bars. The U.S. has recorded over 180,000 deaths from the coronavirus and 5.9 million confirmed infections. Worldwide, the death toll is put at more than 830,000, with at least 24.5 million cases. Drugmaker Gilead Sciences said Friday that U.S. regulators are now allowing use of experimental antiviral drug remdesivir for all patients hospitalized with COVID-19. It said the Food and Drug Administration has expanded its emergency use authorization, which lets doctors administer the IV drug during the pandemic. Until now, that was limited to patients with severe COVID-19. Remdesivir previously was shown to shorten treatment by about four days for hospitalized patients with severe disease, compared with those getting standard supportive care. Surging infection numbers around the U.S. have been blamed in part on young people ignoring mask and social distancing requirements. In Iowa's Story County, home to Iowa State, 74% of new cases over the past seven days were among people ages 19 to 24, Gov. Kim Reynolds said Thursday. In the same time period, 69% of new cases in Johnson County, the home of the University of Iowa, were in that age group. "It is increasing the virus activity in the community, and its spilling over to other segments of the population," Reynolds said. Fueled in part by clusters where college students are returning to classes, Kansas has had its highest seven-day increase in coronavirus cases. Gov. Laura Kelly said outbreaks on college campuses and fraternities and sororities are at least a factor in the surge. "We cannot continue to go down this path," she told reporters Friday. The University of Alabama has recorded over 1,000 cases on campus since the fall semester began last week. In closing the town's bars Monday for the next two weeks, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said that an unchecked spread of the virus threatens both the health care system and the local economy if students have to be sent home for the semester for remote learning. Three of North Carolinas largest public universities have abruptly halted in-person undergraduate instruction and directed students to move out of the dorms after hundreds tested positive following their return to campus. More than 800 have been infected at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and over 670 at North Carolina State. Leaders at UNC-Chapel Hill, which has shifted to online classes, wrote an open letter Thursday to the mayor outlining steps the university is taking to curb off-campus parties. "We recognize the very real problems with the behaviors of some of our fraternities and sororities," the letter said. Oyeronke Popoola, a 17-year-old freshman at UNC-Chapel Hill who moved out of her dorm, said that administrators, not students, deserve most of the blame for the virus-related problems after they ushered students back to campus. "They shouldve put everything online from the beginning, but they wanted the money," she said. And she said fraternities and sororities weren't the only ones at fault among the students: "I feel like Greek life gets a lot of blame, which is understandable, but there are other students who were meeting without masks." The problems did not change the thinking of other schools around the country. The University of Virginia announced Friday that it is moving ahead with plans to offer in-person instruction for the fall semester, after delaying the start of classes for two weeks to assess the spread of COVID-19. "We know some will be delighted to hear this news and others will be disappointed," a university statement said. "To be frank, it was a very difficult decision, made in the face of much uncertainty, and with full awareness that future events may force us to change course." ___ Salter reported from O'Fallon, Missouri, Whitehurst from Salt Lake City. Associated Press journalists from around the world contributed. Matthew Newkirk and Thomas Jamison play video games in Newkirk's dorm room on the University of Missouri campus, Aug. 18, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. As waves of schools and businesses around the country are cleared to reopen, college towns are moving toward renewed shutdowns because of too many parties and too many COVID-19 infections among students. (Owen Ziliak/Missourian via AP) FILE - In this Aug. 18, 2020, file photo, Miranda Darwin, from Raleigh and a freshman at UNC-Chapel Hill, center, gets help from her brother, Sam, and her mother Stacy while moving out of her room at Hinton James residence hall in Chapel Hill, N.C. As more and more schools and businesses around the country get the OK to reopen, some college towns are moving in the opposite direction because of too much partying and too many COVID-19 infections among students. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP, File) Ellie DeBeer prepares for a call with Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority on the University of Missouri campus, Aug. 19, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. COVID-19 forced sorority recruitment to be held online. (Owen Ziliak/Missourian via AP) Incoming freshmen run through the University of Missouri columns on Aug. 19, 2020, for the Tiger Walk, in Columbia, Mo. As waves of schools and businesses around the country are cleared to reopen, college towns are moving toward renewed shutdowns because of too many parties and too many COVID-19 infections among students. (Owen Ziliak/Missourian via AP) KeShon Russell recounts COVID-19 safety measures in place Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, in North Hall on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia, Mo. Russell, resident assistant, said they have been going through a lot of training to ensure they understand the expectations for student conduct and interaction. (Leanne Tippett Mosby/Missourian via AP) FILE - In this Aug. 18, 2020, file photo, a student works outside Ehrighaus dormitory on campus at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. As more and more schools and businesses around the country get the OK to reopen, some college towns are moving in the opposite direction because of too much partying and too many COVID-19 infections among students. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File) 28.08.2020 LISTEN Child marriage is a growing concern for the rights of the child particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Ghana for that matter. The United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) defines it as "a formal marriage or informal union of children before under the age 18".1 However, in the Ghanaian context, child marriage has been perceived from the formal perspective for decades. This conceptualization of child marriage is deep rooted in the cultural norms and practices such as the Dipo Rites and Bragro which ushered children (i.e., girls less than 18 years) who had begun menstruating into forced womanhood. Hence, after such practices, it was culturally lawful for the girl to be taken up as a wife. Besides these practices, the issue of betrothal also facilitated child marriage in Ghana for years. However, in contemporary times, the dynamics has changed. Currently, child marriage in Ghana may be defined more appropriately as the informal union of children before under the age 18. This may sound weird but that is the pattern in child marriage now. This new definition of child marriage in Ghana can be primarily attributed to high prevalence of teenage pregnancy. In Ghana, the legal age for consent to sex is 16 years yet legal age for marriage remains at 18 years. So the question is that within that two-year window, what do we expect from children? Such inconsistencies all create an enabling environment for teenage pregnancy to thrive, hence, resulting in child marriages. Particularly in coastal communities in Ghana, the trend has been that when the girl gets pregnant, she is forced to go and live with the expectant father and his family. Hence, the informal union between the girl and the boy. This cohabitation can go on for a long time, and eventually, there will be repeated pregnancies. Subsequently, the two people will begin to see themselves as husband and wife. Besides teenage pregnancy being a precursor to this child marriage, other factors such as cultural and religious beliefs serve as driving forces that lead to this outcome. In Ghana, parents are uncomfortable to educate their children about their sexuality. Most parents are of the view that engaging children in such discussions will expose them to the practice. Hence, it is better to keep mute and assume that their children are not sexually active. Such hypocrisy leads to children relying significantly on information from their peers and social media. This information is usually positive or negative and since this period is a one characterized by storm and stress, children are pushed by their curiosity to engage in sexual activities which in most cases are without protection. Religious groups have spiritualized sexual and reproductive health issues; making it appear as though it were some sort of demon. Subsequently, children are unable to confide in pastors, priests and Imams about their changing sexual desires. Hence, they are deprived of timely and accurate information from parents, society and religious leaders. So children make uninformed decisions which leads to adolescent pregnancy and consequently child marriage. Child marriage or early marriage has serious implications on the health and social development of the child. UNICEF reports that 1 in 5 girls aged 20-24 years are married before the age of 18.1 In our society where a lot of girls are likely to drop out of school upon getting pregnant due to shame and stigma from society, child can affect their educational capacity. Also, child marriages have the tendency to exacerbate gender inequalities because in most cases, the girl will be dependent on the boy for daily upkeep, thereby being subject to the dictates of the boy which may include that the girl must not return to school. Such power play in child marriages perpetuates more gender inequalities. All of these can be addressed when the country and its citizens become more open to strategies such as comprehensive sexuality education that is targeted empowering both boys and girls to know more about their sexual and reproductive health, in order to make informed decisions such as abstinence among those who are not sexually active, as well as the use of condoms and other contraceptives among the sexually active. Also, it is important for government to invest heavily in the implementation of national policies on the right of the child and adolescent reproductive health and rights in order to facilitate the reduction of the incidence of child marriages. Also, it is about time parents become involved in the upbringing and sexual socialization of their children in order to build their capacity to make informed choices. Again, religious groups like the church should reorient themselves, undo the years of misconception and myths that they have told their young congregants. Knowing that the main precursor of child marriage is teenage pregnancy, all stakeholders must make conscious efforts to educate the children and sensitize them about the consequences of getting pregnant. Reference Bhumi Pednekar has shared a picture from her upcoming film Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare. It shows her as a paying guest at a rented accommodation. Sharing the still on Instagram, Bhumi wrote, Kajal aka Kitty,she is a dreamer... searching for her Chamakte Sitare Coming Soon ! Bhumi is seen in a blue jeans and colourful top, checking out her new rented room, which she shares with other girls. Directed by Alankrita Shrivastava of Made in Heaven fame, Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare also stars Konkana Sen Sharma as the other female lead. Konkona also took to Twitter to introduce her character from the film. Sharing a film still featuring her, she wrote, What does it feel like to live a perfect life in your own messed up bubble? Dolly should know a thing or two about that. Our new film Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitaare. Coming Soon on @NetflixIndia. What does it feel like to live a perfect life in your own messed up bubble? Dolly should know a thing or two about that. Our new film Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitaare. Coming Soon on @NetflixIndia pic.twitter.com/dFEYkH5XMR Konkona Sensharma (@konkonas) August 28, 2020 The film is about two cousins (Konkona and Bhumi), who, through their love-hate relationship, help each other to find freedom. Actors Vikrant Massey, Kubbra Sait and Amol Parashar also have pivotal roles in the movie. The film is headed for a release on Netflix in September. Also read: Sonu Sood to help students reach exam centres if JEE, NEET arent postponed: No one should miss exam due to resources Produced by Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor, the film had its world premiere last year at the Busan International Film Festival and was also part of Glasgow Film Festivals Womens Day line-up. It was scheduled to be the opening film at the UK Asia Film Festival but due to Covid-19, the screening got cancelled. The makers of Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare were eyeing a theatrical release in May this year but had to opt for a digital release as cinema halls across the country stay close due to coronavirus pandemic. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 14-year-old girl was killed when a tree fell on her familys home during the storm, Edwards (D) said Thursday, describing the storms first reported fatality. The teenager was one of at least four deaths attributed to the hurricane, Edwards said, each caused by trees falling on residences. None were in extreme southwest Louisiana, where the hurricane came ashore. Instead, they were in Vernon, Jackson and Acadia parishes, all north or northeast of the area where Laura made landfall early Thursday. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Critics of the Trump administrations sanctions campaign against Iran have long argued that the Islamic Republic is impervious to pressure. This claim never had a strong foundation: After all, extreme duress prolonged diplomatic isolation, coupled with crippling economic sanctions forced Tehrans theocrats to begin negotiations that led to the 2015 nuclear deal with the world powers. More proof, if it were needed, of Irans susceptibility to pressure came this week, when the regime pledged to expand its cooperation with inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency. This announcement came soon after the United Nations nuclear watchdog rebuked Iran for failing to provide access to two sites where previous nuclear activity is thought to have taken place. On Wednesday, during a visit to Tehran by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, the regime said it had agreed to give inspectors access to the two sites. A joint statement didnt say when the inspections would take place, but that dates for access have been agreed. The statement allows Iran to claim that it was voluntarily providing access to the sites. Grossi seems inclined to draw a curtain of charity over some of Irans more dubious behavior during previous inspections: In October, Tehran bizarrely claimed an IAEA inspector had tried to smuggle explosives into the enrichment facility in Natanz. But Grossi retains the right to yank the curtain back. The joint statement is laden with caveats: In this present context, based on analysis of available information, the IAEA doesnt have further questions for Iran, or further requests for access. Speaking with journalists in Vienna on his return from Tehran, Grossi said he could imagine making fresh demands if presented with more information of suspicious activity. That information could come from the inspections, or from revelations by foreign intelligence agencies those of the U.S. and Israel prominent among them that pay close attention to the Iranian nuclear program. Story continues President Hassan Rouhani asserted that the agreement with the IAEA showed Iran is ready as ever to work closely with the agency in the framework of safeguards. This interpretation is directed at the UN Security Council, where the Trump administration is persisting with a doomed effort to reimpose the pre-2015 international sanctions. Rouhani is hoping that the nuclear deals other signatories will use Tehrans cooperation with the IAEA to strengthen their argument against the so-called snapback. Alert observers will recognize that the cooperation was coerced. Grossi himself pointed out that the announcement was the result of dogged, systematic dialogue, which is diplomatese for hardball. The Trump administration will no doubt interpret this outcome as an argument for keeping the regime in Tehran in an economic and diplomatic straitjacket. If, as expected, efforts to snapback international sanctions come to naught, the U.S. will likely tighten its own sanctions, designed to punish companies and individuals seeking to do business with Iran. Long before the coronavirus pandemic, American sanctions had hobbled the Iranian economy; the Covid-19 crisis has greatly sharpened the pain. The official death toll is nearing 20,000, but the real number is thought to be three times as high. Not even a stock market bubble can conceal the gloom. Saeed Laylaz, a prominent Tehran economist who had claimed, less than a year ago, that the Iranian economy was stabilizing, now concedes that the country has not come under this much pressure since the 13th-century Mongol invasion. Even the regimes prized nuclear program has shown itself vulnerable to sabotage witness the blast last month at Natanz. Grossi and his inspectors would undoubtedly like a closer look there. The regime will do its best to spin the new deal with the IAEA as a case for cutting Iran some slack. But theres no concealing the reality that the Islamic Republic buckles under pressure. 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. Russian President Vladimir Putin is counting on an increase in the pace of road construction in Russia, said he in an interview on Thursday with workers who were building the Tavrida highway in Crimea. "I hope that it will not be maintained, I hope that it will be more than it is now," President Putin said, while answering a question from one of the workers whether the current pace of road construction in the country will remain in place. President Putin noted that "the plans are to increase the pace of road construction." "You know, that the road workers know this: where there is a road, there is life, there is an economy, "social aspects" develop. But if there is no road - there is nothing," TASS cited him as saying. According to the President, one of the priority tasks of the state is the development of roads and railways, ports and airports. At the end of this conversation, President Putin was offered to give an official start to traffic flow on new sections of the Tavrida highway. "Yes, of course, with pleasure," President Putin replied. After that, several Kamaz trucks drove along the highway, launching the use of the road. Phil Hogan is in line for a golden handshake of as much as 300,000 after his resignation as a European commissioner over the 'Golfgate' controversy. Under the "transitional allowance" for ex-commissioners, Mr Hogan is entitled to monthly payments funded by European taxpayers for a maximum of two years. Mr Hogan's former gross annual salary stood at just under 273,000 before his departure due to the storm surrounding his attendance at last week's infamous Oireachtas Golf Society dinner in Galway. His presence at the dinner and travel in Ireland - including a visit to locked-down Co Kildare en route to the golf outing - sparked public outrage and calls from Government and opposition politicians for Mr Hogan to resign. He tendered his resignation from the powerful trade brief to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday night. Read More Due to his almost six years as a commissioner - the first five in the agriculture portfolio during the Jean-Claude Juncker administration - Mr Hogan is set to get monthly payments of 55pc of his former salary. If he gets the full transitional allowance payments for the full two years available to him, the sums will total 300,000 before tax. Last night, Mr Hogan did not respond to attempts to contact him for comment on the lucrative payments for which he is in line. The European Commission said it would never provide information on individuals' salaries, pensions or entitlements as it represented personal data. However, an Irish Independent analysis of publicly available documents outlining remuneration for senior EU officials shows the gross monthly payments to Mr Hogan could be as much as 12,500. A commission spokesperson said the allowance was designed to bridge the period in which ex-commissioners are barred from freely choosing a new job due to "strict ethical rules" with which former senior EU officials must comply. Conflict There is a two-year "cooling- off" period during which former commissioners must inform the commission before taking a new job. Such requests can be refused to avoid conflicts of interest. The allowance is capped so if a former commissioner takes a new job, the new role's salary - added together with the allowance - cannot exceed the remuneration they had as a member of the commission. Ms von der Leyen yesterday commented on Mr Hogan's departure as commissioner saying she was grateful for his "tireless and successful work". She said she had discussed his movements in Ireland with him in light of the public health guidelines in Ireland. Ms von der Leyen said: "In the current circumstances, as Europe fights to reduce the spread of the coronavirus and Europeans make sacrifices and accept painful restrictions, I expect the members of the [commission] to be particularly vigilant about compliance with applicable national or regional rules or recommendations." When Mr Hogan resigned, he said it had been increasingly clear to him that the controversy over his visit to Ireland was becoming a "distraction" from his work and would "undermine" it in the key months ahead. He said he did not break the law but "should have been more rigorous in my adherence to the Covid guidelines". Mr Hogan reiterated his "heartfelt apology" to the Irish people "for the mistakes I made during my visit". Ranchi, Aug 28 : A hotel in Ranchi was booked for allegedly offering a room to Tej Pratap, former Bihar Health Minister and son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, by violating the government's order during the Covid-19 pandemic, officials said on Thursday. According to police, an FIR was lodged against the Hotel Capital Residency owner and manager. According to the government order, during Unlock 3 hotels, religious places and gyms are not permitted to operate in Jharkhand. Police said Tej Pratap Yadav reached here at 2.30 a.m. on Thursday to meet his father. He stayed at Capital Residency in Ranchi. His meeting with Lalu Yadav lasted for nearly two and a half hours. The Ranchi district administration and police raided the hotel and found evidence of Pratap's stay there. The BJP has demanded action against Tej Pratap and came down heavily on the state government for allowing the meeting with Lalu Yadav by violating the norms. "FIR should be lodged against Tej Pratap for violating the guidelines for the coronavirus. He came in a large convoy and went to RIMS causing trouble for the patients. Pratap stayed at the hotel which is also a violation of the guidelines. The state government is allowing Lalu Yadav to hold meetings despite being a prisoner" said Rabi Bhatt, a BJP leader. The Delhi high court on Friday stayed the proposed broadcast of a show titled Bindas Bol by Sudarshan News after former and current students of Jamia Milia Islamia, filed a plea seeking a ban on the telecast. This came even as the Supreme Court on Friday declined to impose a pre-broadcast ban on the channel from airing the programme. The show concerned Muslims entering civil services, which the channel allegedly likened to infiltration and Jihad. The plea alleged the show was an attempt to defame, attack and incite hatred against Jamia Milia Islamia, its alumni and the Muslim community at large. The HC stayed the broadcast until September 7. Justice Navin Chawla also issued a notice to the ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B) on the plea filed through advocate Shadan Farasat contending that the trailer of the show has openly engaged in hate speech. Appearing for the I&B ministry, advocate Anurag Alhuwalia, the central governments standing counsel, accepted the notice, following which the matter was posted for hearing on September 7. The petition said the proposed broadcast along with the trailer violates the programme code set out under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, read with the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994. The proposed broadcast and trailer also constitute hate speech and criminal defamation and is an offence under Sections 153A (1), 153B(1), 295A and 499 of the Indian Penal Code, the plea read. After the order was passed, the show that was supposed to be telecast was not aired. Instead, Suresh Chavanke, Suresh Chavanke, editor and CMD, Sudarshan News, conducted another show where he accused Jamia Milia Islamia students and alumni of using the court to get the show stopped. He said the order was passed when he was not present, and will urge the court to allow him to broadcast the show on the next date. I am doing the show but I will not discuss the issues the court has restrained me from talking about. I ask the people of Jamia to face me directly rather than going to the court, he said on Fridays show. SC declines stay An apex court bench headed by justice DY Chandrachud said the court has to be cautious in imposing a prior restraint on publication or the airing of views and cannot prevent airing of a programme based on an unverified transcript of a 49-second clip. At this stage, we have desisted from imposing a pre-broadcast interlocutory injunction on the basis of an unverified transcript of a forty nine second clip. The court has to be circumspect in imposing a prior restraint on publication or the airing of views. We note that under statutory provisions, competent authorities are vested with powers to ensure compliance with law, including provisions of the criminal law intended to ensure social harmony and the peaceful coexistence of all communities, the bench which also comprised justice KM Joseph said. The top court issued notice to central government, Press Council of India, Sudarshan News and News Broadcasters Association and posted the case for further consideration in September. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Israel has listed an El Al flight taking off Monday for Abu Dhabi, which would be Israel's first commercial passenger flight to the United Arab Emirates after the two countries agreed to a U.S.-brokered deal to normalize relations. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/8/2020 (510 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE - In this April 21, 2013, file photo, Israeli El Al planes are parked at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, Israel. Israel has listed an El Al flight taking off Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, for Abu Dhabi, which would be Israel's first commercial passenger flight to the United Arab Emirates after the two countries agreed to a U.S.-brokered deal to normalize relations. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit, File) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Israel has listed an El Al flight taking off Monday for Abu Dhabi, which would be Israel's first commercial passenger flight to the United Arab Emirates after the two countries agreed to a U.S.-brokered deal to normalize relations. The confirmation of the flight comes as the latest concrete sign of a deal that saw Israel agree to halt plans to annex land sought by the Palestinians. It also brought into the open a long-standing relationship between Israel and the UAE that both countries hope now will benefit their economies and strengthen their ties to the U.S. amid tensions with Iran. The website of the Israel Airports Authority listed the flight on Friday. It said the flight would be numbered LY971, a nod to the UAEs international calling code number. A return flight to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport on Tuesday will be numbered LY972, Israels international calling code. Emirati officials and the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The flight was not immediately bookable on the website of El Al, Israel's flag carrier. 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. However, U.S. officials earlier said the anticipated first flight will include American officials led by President Donald Trumps senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner. Other U.S. officials on board will include national security adviser Robert OBrien, Mideast envoy Avi Berkowitz and envoy for Iran Brian Hook. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier announced that his national security adviser, Meir Ben-Shabbat, will lead Israels delegation. A number of Israeli government ministries will also send representatives, including the directors of the foreign and defence ministries and the national aviation authority, he said. Private jets earlier flew between the two nations as their officials conducted covert talks. In May and June, Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways flew cargo freighters to Ben Gurion carrying aid for the Palestinians to combat the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Israel and the UAE agreed to normalize relations Aug. 13. By Aug. 16, telephone calls began ringing between the nations, marking the first concrete step of the U.S.-brokered diplomatic accord. The historic deal delivered a key foreign policy victory to Trump as he seeks reelection, and reflected a changing Middle East in which shared concerns about archenemy Iran have largely overtaken traditional Arab support for the Palestinians. Palestinians maintain it puts a just resolution to the Middle East conflict even farther out of reach. JOHANNESBURG (AP) The number of dead dolphins that have washed ashore on the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius after an oil spill has risen to 39, the government said Friday, ahead of protests this weekend against authorities handling of the disaster at sea. Three whales also were found dead Friday, an environmental expert said. It's not yet clear what caused the dolphins deaths, but alarmed environmentalists have called for an investigation. The dolphins began washing up this week, several days after some 1,000 tons of fuel spilled from a Japanese ship that ran aground on a coral reef then split apart under the pounding surf. The countrys fisheries minister, Sudheer Maudhoo, told reporters that some dead dolphins had injuries but he denied reports that oil had been found inside them and called their deaths a sad coincidence. Experts were still studying the corpses. Other dolphins may have died out at sea, environmental consultant and former lawmaker Sunil Dowarkasing said Friday. We expect that a lot more have been killed during these few days, he said, adding that three whales also died. It was not clear what kind of whales they were. Dowarkasing believes the dolphins either died from the fuel or were poisoned by toxic materials on the ship, which was sunk offshore after the vessel split in two. Most of the remaining 3,000 tons of fuel had been pumped off the ship by then. Residents of Mauritius plan to march in the capital, Port Louis, on Saturday after weeks of demanding why the government didnt act more quickly when the ship, the MV Wakashio, ran aground on July 25. It began leaking fuel Aug. 6 into the Mahebourg Lagoon, fouling a protected wetlands area and a small island that was a bird and wildlife sanctuary. Thousands of civilian volunteers worked for days to try to minimize the damage, creating makeshift oil barriers by stuffing fabric bags with sugar cane leaves and empty plastic bottles to keep them afloat. Environmental workers carefully ferried dozens of baby tortoises and rare plants to shore, plucking some trapped seabirds out of the goo. Story continues The nation of some 1.3 million people relies heavily on tourism and already had been hit hard by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which has limited international travel. Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth earlier blamed bad weather for the slow response to the ship's grounding, but Dowarkasing said no one believes in official reports. The Wakashio was supposed to stay at least 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Mauritius and it's not yet clear why the ship strayed miles off course. The ships captain and first officer have been charged with endangering safe navigation. Ship owner Nagashiki Shipping is investigating and has sent experts to Mauritius. The Mauritius government is seeking compensation from the company. ___ Follow all AP stories about pollution and climate change at https://apnews.com/Climate. WINCHESTER A resolution urging Winchester residents to wear a mask, especially indoors, unanimously passed Monday during a special meeting of Winchester City Council. The council also unanimously approved moving forward with drafting an ordinance to allow fines to be assessed for people who violate a quarantine order from Scott County Health Department. Mayor Rex McIntire said Mondays resolution is a statement urging and requesting citizens to wear their masks when they are out in public with other people, especially when they enter stores and businesses. McIntire said he doesnt expect residents to keep their masks on in restaurants and bar because it would be an issue when eating or drinking. A city ordinance requiring mask-wearing would be difficult to enforce, McIntire said. The resolution is just to show respect for others and courtesy for others, McIntire said. Winchester schools were forced to close and revert to remote learning on Monday after a positive case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the district. Schools will be closed to in-person learning for at least two weeks. The ordinance fining quarantine violators originates from reports from Scott County Health Department that some people did not quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19. McIntire said ignoring a quarantine instruction disturbs him more than mask-wearing. That right there is just blatant disrespect for other people, McIntire said. City Attorney John Paul Coonrod was asked to write up an ordinance allowing the city to arrest or cite violators of a quarantine order, and McIntire said the city is planning on imposing a stiff fine on violators. The ordinance is expected to come to a vote Wednesday. Scott County Health Department Administrator Steve Shireman agreed that something needs to be done to ensure compliance with a quarantine order, McIntire said. Shireman told McIntire that he would like to see a fine of at least $200. McIntire said the request to wear masks is unrelated to the states mask mandate. With Scott being the last county in the state to confirm a positive case of COVID-19, McIntire fears the stretch of no positive cases lulled residents into an unrealistic sense of safety, he said. Cases in the county have grown within the past several weeks and the Illinois Department of Public Health was reporting 44 total cases in the county as of Thursday. The health of Winchesters citizens especially its most vulnerable populations and the economic damage of a regression into stricter COVID-19 restrictions are McIntires two main concerns, he said. The city is exploring whether violators of quarantine orders can be handled through the citys municipal court. McIntire said one issue would be knowing who has tested positive. Enforcement of social distancing and the use of masks have become charged topics across the U.S. Several Winchester residents were hesitant to comment on the record about mask-wearing because of the sensitivity of the topic. Weldon Fearneyhough, who lives east of the city, said he doesnt believe masks are effective in preventing the spread of the virus. He is not concerned about catching the virus, he said. Im 92 years old and it dont scare me one bit, Fearneyhough said. In early June, when Adamu Chan, a forty-one-year-old poet, dictated his verse over the phone from San Quentin, the coronavirus had already begun to spread through the prison. By the end of that month, San Quentin, which stands imposingly on the northern rim of the San Francisco Bay, became the second-largest hot spot for covid-19 in the United States. Chan was afraid. His unit remained relatively unaffected, but his friendsmy community, he saidin other areas of the prison were rapidly coming down with the disease. To date, twenty-two people have died. Chan read his poem, Secret Ocean, to Anastasia Sotiropoulos, his artistic partner on the outside, in successive fifteen-minute phone calls, interrupted by automated screening messages. The final versionsparse and emotionally intense, evoking isolation and longingappeared in July, in a special issue of the Prison Renaissance Zine Project: Incarceratedly Yours, covid-19 Issue. It ends, I see your footprints in the sand and anticipate our union. The Prison Renaissance Zine Project, a collaboration between the incarcerated artists of the Prison Renaissance collective and students at Stanford University, has been publishing since 2017. A summer issue wasnt planned this year, until the virus began to explode inside prisons across the country; the group scrambled to produce an artistic response to the crisis. San Quentin has long had a thriving journalistic community, but in late March, fearing a surge in cases, administrators began a series of strict lockdowns, which closed the media centera vital hub for the San Quentin News, the prisons award-winning paper, as well as the zine makers. Journalists on the outside were barred, too; San Quentin became a black box. Chan and his colleagues, moved by a sense of reportorial responsibility, decided to work on the zine from their cells. I feel strongly about my duty to speak out, because I know some people arent in the place where they can do that, Chan said. He meant people with life sentences; hes in for twenty years. Your voice can get silenced and snuffed out here. Before the pandemic, incarcerated artists for the zine project often met with their partners in person. Vince Payne, a PhD student in chemistry, would make the two-hour drive north from Stanfords campus, across the Golden Gate Bridge, to visit his artistic partner, Bruce Fowler, in San Quentins visitation area. Lately, since the two have been unable to see each other in personand, for Fowler, even a trip to the phone can be impossibletheyve resorted to sending letters back and forth. To design the zines cover, Payne used a screenprint Fowler had sent him by mail before the pandemic; they revised it over the phone when they could and through letters when that was the only option available. The final product shows a woman in red reclining in front of San Quentins fortresslike walls. It reads, in script that flows over a red sun, welcome to california: home of the pandemic of incarceration. (Fowler also made a sculpture, which was photographed for the zine: a small figurine of a man with bloodshot eyes wearing a gaudy yellow hazmat suit.) Another artist, Orlando Smith, contributed a vivid and disturbing multi-panel graphic story about life in San Quentin during the pandemic. San Quentin has the highest growing number of elderly prisoners in the nation, he wrote. Fear and psychological impact of the covid-19 pandemic weighs heavy on the population. Those words hover above a depiction of older men of various races, dressed in prison blues, their faces rendered in remarkable detail. The men look fearful, tired, and close to resignation; its a haunting image. The rest of the comic follows Smith throughout his daythe text is an internal monologue narrating the apathy of the guards and the austerity of the conditions. I wanted to inform the world that Californias prisons are ill-prepared to deal with any fast spreading disease, he writes in the last panel. Chan wonders if that problemthe failure of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to confront the pandemichas factored into the way officials have stifled reporting. A lot of us are really involved in media, he said. We consider ourselves journalists. I think the fact that the worst outbreak in the state has happened here is really a nightmare for the Department of Corrections; theres so much visibility in this particular prison. Hes concerned, too, about the way outsiders might perceive the events on the ground. In the spring, Chan had hoped to participate in a symposium with invited guests from the New York Times, The Guardian, and other news outlets on how to sensitively cover imprisoned populations, but the event was canceled because of the coronavirus. Later, he followed mainstream pandemic coverage with some dismay (for instance, the San Francisco Chronicle ran a dehumanizing headline, Condemned rapist, murderer of child dies in San Quentin). The zine offers some media criticism; Smiths cartoon spotlights the overly broad use of the word lockdown when applied to anyone not literally behind bars. For Chan, the zine was an opportunity to cover the pandemic on his own termswhich meant, in part, experiencing a sense of connection to the artists and writers from whom hed been separated while confined to a new unit, away from his original cohort. A lot of people dont realize theres a community here, he said. His poem was about missing his people not only on the outside, but on the inside as well. The poem is also about being separated from my colleagues and my friends. RELATED: The hotline that helps detained immigrants share their stories EDITORS NOTE: This piece has been updated to accurately reflect the conditions of Chans parole. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jack Herrera is an independent reporter covering immigration, refugees, Latinx issues, and human rights. His work has appeared in Politico Magazine, The Nation, and elsewhere. Based in San Francisco, he is an Ida B. Wells Fellow with Type Investigations. Toronto police are raising alarms over a rash of gun violence over the last month in the Eglinton East area after two people were injured late Thursday night. The latest shooting happened at about 9:30 p.m. outside a pub/restaurant near Danforth Road and Savarin Street, just north of Eglinton Avenue East, police said. The two victims, a teenager and a man, were found a few blocks away from each other when police arrived and rushed to hospital with serious injuries. Both suffered serious injuries but are expected to survive. Three teens from Toronto were arrested. A shotgun and a semi-automatic handgun were seized after an eight-kilometre police chase which ended near Neilson Avenue and Highway 401 after the driver of a white SUV lost control and crashed. The suspects showed no regard for human safety, said Supt. Dave Rydzik, unit commander of 43 Division, adding that there were many people at the intersection where the shooting took place. Rydzik said eight shootings have taken place the last month within a one-km radius of Thursday nights gunfire. Fortunately, many of those shootings only resulted in property damage, with nobody shot. The increased violence prompted an increased police presence in the area which led to the quick arrest after the latest shooting. Our officers heard the shots before the call went out, Rydzik told reporters, and added later that police were there so quickly, they saw the suspect vehicle leaving the scene. Rydzik said there was nothing to indicate that there is a turf war in the neighbourhood. But with eight shootings, not including the one Thursday night, something is going on and police wont leave any stone unturned in their investigation, Rydzik said. Rydzik praised the co-operation from the community as police investigate the violence. He said the violence in the area is personal to him as he grew up and started his career not too far from the shootings. The youths have each been charged with 12 to 14 charges including attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons-related charges. What makes a child under the age of 18 want to pick up a gun. Its extremely concerning where they think that someone under that age find it necessary to pick it up and possess and use it, said Rydzik. Rydzik said it was too early to indicate whether the shootings were connected to the death near the same intersection of John Wheeler, 45, who was gunned down on Aug. 12 while waiting for a ride to work. Meanwhile, another shooting took place in another part of Toronto on Thursday night. Just before 11:40 p.m. a gunman in a car opened fire at a man in another vehicle near Keele St. and the 401 Highway. The man was struck and taken to hospital with a serious injury. With files from Miriam Lafontaine Raneem Alozzi is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @r_alozzi Chen Guangcheng, a Chinese human rights activist, brought to the United States by the Obama administration, gave a speech at the Republican National Convention on August 26, where he praised President Donald Trump. Who is Chen Guangcheng The Chinese human rights activist is known for his work fighting against forced abortions under the "one child" policy in China. He faced harassment for years before he fled to the US Embassy in Beijing for refuge back in 2012. After a month of negotiations, Chen was permitted to leave China, and he flew to the US, where he has lived ever since and started a new life. While Chen expressed gratitude, he often criticized the Obama administration and the Democrats, with critics accusing him of espousing views and conspiracy theories. Also Read: Melania Trump Shines as She Takes on a Positive Talk About Trump Before his speech at the RNC, he tweeted a video of a Trump supporter defacing a Black Lives Matter display in New York, with the caption "freedom." Chen attacked the "policy of appeasement of former administrations," including Obama and Biden. He also said that they allowed the CCP to infiltrate and corrode different aspects of the global community. However, during his speech, he did not mention Obama. Chen instead praised President Trump for leading the fight to stop China's aggression and called on Americans to support, vote, and fight for President Trump "for the sake of the world." Tough on China America's relations with Beijing have soured under President Trump, who has made being tough on China one of the key planks of his reelection campaign, as reported by New York Post. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also praised President Trump in his speech on August 25. He stated that Trump pulled back the curtain on the predatory aggression of the Chinese Communist Party. According to the Pew Research Center, bother Democrats and Republicans see China much more negatively than in the past, with 83% of Republicans surveyed saying that they have an unfavorable view of China. According to Pew, while Republicans have never fully trusted China, Democrats in recent years have become suspicious too, with 68% of Democrats surveyed stated that they view China unfavorably. A lot of the Chinese dissidents living in the United States are vocal about their support of Trump's "tough on China" stance, as reported by The Guardian. Chen is closely linked to Bob Fu, a conservative Christian pastor who called himself "God's doube agent." Fu has met with Pompeo and Vice President Mike Pence and praised President Trump on social media. Fu assisted in Chen's departure from China and was also involved in Chen getting positions at the Witherspoon Institute, a conservative think tank based in New Jersey and Catholic University in Washington. However, not all Chinese dissidents agree with Chen and Fu. Teng Biao, a human rights lawyer who represented Chen in the past, tweeted on August 26 that for Chinese human rights defenders, "there is zero logical consistency to supporting Trump." Biao stated that he is good friends with Chen, but he completely opposes what he is doing. Biao posted on his Twitter account that he would never support a person who told a dictator to "keep building the concentration camps in Xinjiang and who labeled Tiananmen democracy movements and Hong Kong protests as riots, referencing the comments allegedly made by President Trump. Related Article: TikTok CEO Resigns Following President Trump's Threat to Ban App @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Natural News) Mainstream news outlet CNN was heavily criticized on Wednesday after it aired a segment with a chyron claiming that the rioting in Kenosha was nothing more than a fiery but mostly peaceful protest even though, during that same news segment, they were broadcasting footage of the city on fire. CNN National correspondent Omar Jimenez was in Kenosha, Wisconsin reporting on the current situation there when he decided to place himself in front of a building, that was engulfed in flames. While this happened, CNN put up a chyron that read: Fiery but mostly peaceful protests after police shooting. What may be worse is that Jimenez even acknowledged that there was a building on fire right behind him during his segment, and that it was just one of multiple locations in Kenosha that were on fire, and yet CNN didnt even bother to change their headline. What youre seeing behind me is one of multiple locations that have been burning in Kenosha, Wisconsin, over the course of the night, a second night since Jacob Blake was seen shot in the back seven times and what you are seeing now, these images, come in stark contrast to what he saw over the course of the daytime hours in Kenosha, and into the early evening, which were largely peaceful demonstrations in the face of law enforcement. It wasnt until night fell that things began to get a little bit more contentious The fact that American mainstream media is trying their hardest to downplay the severity of the rioting and civil unrest in the country is nothing new. Listen to this episode of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and find out more about how the mainstream media, such as CNN, is complicit in the radical left-wing domestic terrorism that is causing the destruction of lives and property in dozens of cities in the country. Conservatives online make fun of CNN Following this broadcast, many people began ridiculing CNN on social media. Eric Trump, businessman, philanthropist and son of President Donald Trump, called CNN a total embarrassment to our country. Nick Short, digital media manager for conservative think tank Claremont Institute and its in-house online publication the American Mind, said that the employees of CNN were denying objective reality. Politics reporter for the New York Post Jon Levine posted that CNN was trying to make people ignore the destruction going on behind Jimenez by joking that there was nothing to see here. Conservative British activist Calvin Robinson said that, at first, he thought the chyron was fake, but when he found out it was real he said that mainstream media is a parody of itself. Conservative podcaster Buck Sexton said that it was impossible to dunk on CNN harder than it dunks on itself. Benny Johnson, chief creative officer for conservative nonprofit organization Turning Point USA, joked that fire is very peaceful. Hot Airs Allahpundit had a more nuanced take on the matter when he said that this wasnt just CNN attempting to get on the good side of the American left. He believed that something this ridiculous would cause more damage, especially from people who identify with centrists and people on the American right, than it would bring in praise from liberals and progressive. This is CNNs copy team demonstrating that its unable to conceptualize whats happening in Kenosha as anything but good on balance, he said. Mainstream media has long history of lying about the riots Unfortunately, this is not the first time that mainstream news outlets will be lying about the state of the riots and it probably wont be the last. On Monday, August 24, Jimenez was the reporter for CNNs Situation Room when the chyron, for a brief moment, accurately described the state of affairs in Kenosha. It read 8PM curfew ordered after violent protests over police shooting of unarmed Black man in Wisconsin. The headline was changed moments later to take out the word violent. This kind of reporting is also not limited to CNN. Liberal news company MSNBC has also been caught lying about the nature of the demonstrations in their coverage. In late May, when the engineered rioting first erupted in Minneapolis, Minnesota, reporter Ali Velshi was caught on camera describing the events as peaceful while standing in front of a burning building. MSNBCs chyron at the time even said: Police station and other buildings burning in Minneapolis. MSNBC's Ali Velshi now has competition for the most ridiculous riot "reporting." Back in May, Velshi said, "I want to be clear on how I characterize this. This is mostly a protest. It is not generally speaking unruly but fires have been started."pic.twitter.com/6K72kHHno1 Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) August 27, 2020 I want to be clear in how I characterize this, Velshi said. This is mostly a protest. It is not, generally speaking, unruly but fires have been started. Steve Guest, the rapid response director of the Republican Party, even pointed out that Velshis coverage is no longer the most ridiculous riot reporting and that it has been outdone thanks to Jimenez and CNNs chyron. Mainstream media will continue lying about the actual nature of the rioting and civil unrest. Fortunately, there are alternative media sources that continue trying to hold them to account. Check out one of the websites that fact checks mainstream news at MediaFactWatch.com. Sources include: Breitbart.com TheHill.com Twitter.com WashingtonTimes.com Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of India's biggest business house Reliance Industries Ltd, not only signed big billion deals but also indulged in a big start-up buying spree in the past three years, putting at least 23 companies in his cart. These firms work across varied fields -- from content production houses to music app to cable networks to online medicine space. The year 2017 In 2017, RIL acquired 25 per cent stake in Balaji Telefilms, one of the largest content production houses in Asia and the Middle East, which delivers Hindi and regional content for Rs 413 crore. The deal gave RIL access to Balaji Telefilms' content for use by Reliance Jio to give it an edge over the rivals. RIL raked in 7 deals in 2018 Seven companies came on board with the RIL subsidiaries in 2018, including motion picture company Eros International (5 per cent stake for $48.75 million); apparel company Genesis Luxury Fashion (5.3 per cent stake for Rs 35.39 crore); music app Saavn streaming app ($100 million for partial stake); edtech start-up Embibe (73 per cent for $180 million); apparel firm Future 101 Design (12.5 per cent for Rs 9.5 crore); cable networks Den Networks and Hathway (58.92 per cent and 51.34 per cent, respectively); and US-based telecom solution provider Radisys Corp (100 per cent stake). 9 start-ups joined RIL in 2019 The year 2019 brought maximum of nine start-ups in the Reliance fold. RIL-controlled Reliance Industrial Investment and Holdings (RIIHL) bought majority stakes in two companies - logistics firm Grab A Grub Services and software company C-Square Info Solutions - for over Rs 146 crore in March 2019. Language technology solutions company Reverie also entered a strategic partnership with RIL by selling a majority stake for Rs 190 crore in April 2019. British toymaker Hamleys Global Holdings sold 100 per cent stake to RIL subsidiary Reliance Brands for GBP 67.96 million in July 2019. In the same month, Reliance Jio acquired AI-firm Haptik for Rs 700 crore. Reliance acquired 80-85 per cent of deep-tech start-up Tesseract in August 2019 for Rs 10.25 crore. The company also bought a further 2.5 per cent stake in Future 101 that year, increasing its shareholding to 17.5 per cent. Other start-ups that attracted RIL investment in that year included e-commerce start-up Fynd (87.6 per cent for Rs 295.25 crore); SaaS solutions company NowFloats (85 per cent stake for Rs 141.63 crore); robotics and AI solutions firm Asteria Aerospace (51 per cent for Rs 23.12 crore). RIL grabs stakes in 2 start-ups in 2020 In 2020, despite the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc for businesses across the world, the RIL continues to grab stakes in ambitious start-ups. The company has acquired five firms so far this year, with e-pharmacy start-up Netmeds being the most recent one. Besides, the RIL increased its shareholding in Saavn to 94.4 per cent in February; bought 37.7 per cent stake in Alok Industries Limited under the insolvency process for Rs 250 crore; acquired 100 per of Kannan Departmental Store for Rs 152.5 crore; grabbed 17.37 per cent stake in passenger transit services tech firm SkyTran Inc; and acquired majority stake Netmeds for Rs 620 crore on August 18. Bigger deals on the way At least four other investment deals are in the pipeline this year, with the mega-merger deals with Future Retail and investment in now banned Chinese social media giant TikTok India being the prominent ones. Kishore Biyani-led Future Enterprises board could give the final approval for the sale of the group's retail business to Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Retail on August 29. The Reliance Retail-Future Group all-cash deal is supposed to be worth Rs 29,000-Rs 30,000 crore. Amid controversy around Chinese social media giant TikTok, its owner ByteDance is seeking investment from RIL to financially back its India business. Both the companies started discussions in July and the final decision is yet to be taken. Milkbasket, which earlier held discussions with Amazon and Bigbasket, is also negotiating its valuation and talks with RIL are at an advanced stage. RIL is planning to acquire online furniture brand Urban Ladder, talks with whom are at an advanced stage. Deals galore RIL has inked multi-billion deals for its core businesses in the past two years. The company sold around 33 per cent stake in Mukesh Ambani's crown jewel, Jio Platforms Ltd to global tech giants, including the likes of Facebook and Google. The conglomerate is also in talks with oil giant Saudi Aramco, the world's biggest company in terms of market capitalisation, for a possible 20 per cent stake sale in its petrochemical business for Rs 1.14 lakh crore. Ambani is also working on the sale of 49 per cent stake in Jio-BP fuel retailing business to British oil giant BP plc for Rs 7,000 crore. Also read: Reinventing Reliance Also read: The companies Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries plans to buy in days ahead Also read: Mukesh Ambani's RIL in talks with parent ByteDance to acquire TikTok in India Also read: Reliance-Future Retail deal: Why Kishore Biyani is forced to sell his business to Mukesh Ambani Bengaluru, Aug 28 : Former Karnataka minister and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) legislator H.D. Revanna has tested positive for coronavirus, an official said on Friday. "Revanna has been admitted to a private hospital here for treatment after he tested Covid positive," a party official told IANS. Revanna, 62, is the second son of JD-S supremo and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and elder brother of former Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. "Revanna has tested positive for coronavirus. I pray he recovers and gets back to serve people," tweeted state Health Minister B.R. Sriramulu in Kannada. Revanna is a fifth time legislator from the Holenarsipur assembly segment in Hassan district. "Though Revanna had tested negative earlier when four of his security persons contracted the virus, he took the test on Thursday after he displayed symptoms of the virus," the official said. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President D.K. Shivakumar had tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday and is under treatment at a private hospital in the city's northewest suburb. Scores of politicians, including state Chief Minister B.S Yediyurappa, opposition Congress leader Siddaramaiah, state cabinet ministers S.T. Somashekar, Anand Singh and C.T. Ravi, Lok Sabha members, MLAs and MLCs have tested positive and recovered from the infection during the last two months. BETHALTO Two canceled convention plans didnt leave a Madison County man any less excited about the upcoming election. Madison County Tom McRae was selected as a delegate for President Donald Trump at this years Republican National Convention initially planned for Charlotte, North Carolina. When the party moved the convention to Jacksonville, Florida, McRae changed his plans as well and prepared for a Florida trip. Eventually, the pandemic concerns prompted the party to hold the convention onine last week, Aug. 24-27. Although Im disappointed that I wasnt able to cast my vote in person for President Trump at the national convention, I was thrilled to be able to vote for him by proxy, said McRae, who also is running for Madison County Circuit Clerk in the Nov. 3 election. Ive taken a lot of difficult votes during my tenure as a Wood River Township Trustee and now a county board member, he said, adding his ballot this week was the easiest vote Ive ever taken. 27.08.2020 LISTEN Turning something that was born out of passion into a profit-making venture is not an everyday story in Africa. That is why it is always uplifting to share stories of young Africans using their talent to influence their career. In Ghana, one of such persons who has advanced in using his creative ability to earn his keep is Bright Hodzor, popularly known as the Celebrity Painter. This young man's talent has pushed him to do the extraordinary. He does not only recognise this gift of making the most astonishing interior and exterior wall paintings as a talent but also as a business. With a view to that, he started Kaprisky Creations Ghana which he uses as an entity to provide jobs for other young people under his tutorship. For the past 15 years, with a speciality in interior and exterior paintings, Bright has built a sterling career for himself accumulating high-earned clients such as Cocobod, Action Chapel International, Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Madina, Top Kid International School at East Legon, Akosombo International School, Quality Insurance Company headquarters, Wilmar, Bosch Ghana, Trassaco and Manet Estate among many others Aside from the institutions he had worked with in Ghana, Bright is widely recognised by the artistic displays he has across the city of Accra including the Frytol paintings on one of the biggest markets in Ghana, Kaneshie Market. Outside Ghana, his works have caught the attention of international clients across West Africa earing him several opportunities to register his unravelling works in Nigeria and Togo. Bright is convinced that the challenges that come with his talent and creativity are his sources of inspiration. He further acknowledges the recommendation and comments from his clients as a push to do more and to do better Bright who hails from Leklebu Duga in the Volta Region is a Senior High School leaver from Kinbu. After completion, he could not access enough support to start his university education. In the course of finding something to do keep himself from starving, Bright began painting for friends and family for little or no pay. A cliche of a story but still a reality in Africa today. It was at this time, that his talent bloomed and the business idea dropped in his mind. He started to share his works on social media and it caught fire and spread. In the next decade, Bright wants to take his craft across the world. After the depth of experience he has gathered and creativity he has been able to share with the world through his journey, he believes it is time to start working with more international brands beyond Africa. For creatives in Ghana who want opportunities to be given to showcase their talents, he also admonishes them to learn how to monetize what they do. He believes that investment in oneself and addition of value to one's skills can provide more opportunities to increase revenue as well as go a long way to curb the rate of youth unemployment in Ghana, and by extension, the continent of Africa. As a result, the Celebrity Painter does not miss a good opportunity to speak at conferences, seminars, webinars and workshops organised for young entrepreneurs. As a way of contributing to curbing the unemployment issues in Ghana, Bright wishes to work with Governmental or Non-Governmental Organisations to mobilise and train young people who are interested in his craft in every district in Ghana. This, he believes would help them gain experiences with which they can start their own business. His company Kaprisky Creations Ghana is located at Madina New Road and can be found as @thecelebritypainter on all social media platforms. Written by: Prince Akpah New Delhi: The Narendra Modi-led government had in 2015 agreed to go in for 36 Rafales in a direct deal with France, and by the end of 2016 Indian defence was able to test the inter-continental nuclear capable missile Agni V. India augmented its naval strike capabilities by inducting the indigenously developed nuclear submarine Arihant. Indian Army's artillery firepower was boosted by the purchase of M777 Howitzers from US. Here is the list of major defence deals made by the armed forces in 2016: 1) Inter-continental nuclear capable missile Agni V Even though the Defence Ministry was not directly involved, investigating agencies carried out raids against a number of defence middlemen while cases were registered against some staying abroad in connection with alleged corruption. Another big development that came towards the end of 2016 was the successful fourth test of the indigenously developed inter-continental nuclear capable missile Agni V that has a range to cover entire China. The missile is now ready for user trials and eventual induction into the Strategic Forces Command. 2) 36 Rafales: The file for a medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) was first moved in 2000. The Narendra Modi-led government had in 2015 agreed to go in for 36 Rafales in a direct deal with France while terminating the original tender for 126 MMRCA. The aircraft, equipped with latest weapons including the 150 KM range beyond visual range missile 'Meteor', can even carry nuclear bombs, will add to the strategic assets of the country. 3) Indigenously developed Submarine Arihant: Another big move was the induction of the indigenously developed nuclear submarine Arihant. The government has still not officially announced the induction. The understanding between India and Russia to lease a second nuclear sub marine was another important strategic move. The terms and conditions are still being worked out. The Inter-Governmental Agreement on the purchase of S400 Triumf air defence system is also a big development eventhough the nitty gritty are yet to be worked out. 4) Light Combat Aircraft Tejas: The decision to finally induct the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas was also a big move. India and Russia restarted talks on the fifth generation fighter aircraft programme after a hiatus of about a year. 5) M777 light weight Howitzers: The contract for the purchase of M777 light weight how itzers was also welcomed by the army which will deploy mostof them along the borders with China. The M777 was the first artillery deal cleared by the Indian government since the Bofors scandal of late 1980s. To ensure better deployment of these guns, the ministry also struck a deal for 15 heavy lift Chinook helicopters. 6) Apache attack helicopters: Giving the IAF yet another fillip to its strength, 2016 saw signing of a deal with the US for 22 Apache attack helicopters. The signing of the much-debated logistics agreement withthe US was also an important development. The UPA government had refused to sign it but Parrikarwent along after the US rewrote the agreement as per India'sconditions. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Non-Governmental Organization Citizen Eye Ghana (CITEG) has strongly condemned the recent attack on two uniformed soldiers on duty at Dome Faase near Obom in the Greater Accra Region. CITEG in a statement copied to Peacfmonline.com described the attack as barbaric and inhuman after calling on authorities to deal with perpetrators. Our gallant security forces especially the police and the military are our friends and it is the responsibility of we the citizens or civilians to make their work more effective and efficient by providing them with the relevant information to aid their work eschew of physical assault or brutalities. The statement reads Some residents of Dome Faase near Obom in the Greater Accra Region have been accused of assaulting two soldiers over a piece of land in the area. The soldiers clashed with the residents while protecting the property for the Mponuahene of Akyem Apedwa who they claim is the owner. According to the spokesman for the residents, there have been rumours of armed land guards working with military personnel to terrorize their communities. But CITEG in their statement wants an immediate investigation into the allegation to prevent future occurrence. We are hereby called on the president, being a commander-in-chief to immediately launch a commission of enquiry to investigate the main triggers of such an ordeal act and find a long-lasting solution to them because we cannot sit as a country to allow some miscreants to overrun our security forces. The groups founder, Mr. Alex Kweku Tetteh said Read the below full statement CITIZEN EYE GHANA CONDEMNS THE ATTACKS ON UNIFORMED SECURITY PERSONNEL The Citizen Eye Ghana (CITEG) is condemning the series of attacks against uniformed security personnel in the country and also calling on all stakeholders to put hands on deck to bring such barbaric acts to a halt. Our gallant security forces especially the police and the military are our friends and it is the responsibility of we the citizens or civilians to make their work more effective and efficient by providing them with the relevant information to aid their work eschew of physical assault or brutalities. Some residents of Dome Faase near Obom in the Greater Accra Region have been accused of assaulting two soldiers over a piece of land in the area and the soldiers clashed with the residents while protecting the property for the Mponuahene of Akyem Apedwa who they claim is the owner. As a civil society organization, we cannot keep mute whilst witnessing these unnecessary attacks on our indefatigable security persons who protect lives, properties, and our territorial borders of this country. We are hereby called on the president, being a commander-in-chief to immediately launch a commission of enquiry to investigate the main triggers of such an ordeal act and find a long-lasting solution to them because we cannot sit as a country to allow some miscreants to overrun our security forces. We also encourage the general public to collaborate, compromise, and assist them regardless of being invited or arrested by any of the security officers since we are a country of rule of law and must allow ourselves to be ruled by the law but not war. We must also remind ourselves of the lynching of a young military officer, Major Mahama on 29th May 2017 at Denkyira Obuasi in the central region and several others of which there must be sober reflections on such incidences and come together as one people to say NO to such brutalities on our security personnel. We call on immediate investigations into what happened in Dome Faase to unveil all perpetrators to face the law in order serve as a deterrent to others and congratulate the IGP, CDS, Minister of Defense Nitiwul, Minister for Interior Ambrose Berry, National Security Minister Kan Dapaah, Deputy Minister of the interior, Bryan Acheampong, Captain Coder, Lord Commey and their men for ensuring the safety and protection of the citizenry. LONG LIVE CITEG!!! LONG LIVE GHANA!!! Thank you Email: [email protected] YOUTUBE: CITEG TV TWITTER:@CITEGTV FACEBOOK: CITIZENEYE GHANA INSTAGRAM: CITIZENEYE_GH 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 The government has been forced to put barriers, fences and other protective measures around hotels housing asylum seekers following a spate of raids by extremist groups. Far-right activists have been filming and harassing migrants in hotels providing accommodation for the Home Office during the coronavirus pandemic. Hotels being paid to provide shelter to homeless people under separate government contracts have also been warned that precautions may need to be implemented after one was mistakenly targeted by Britain First. The Independent understands that the Home Office is offering premises housing asylum seekers assistance with physical security, such as barriers and hoardings, if they have concerns or have been visited by protesters. Police have been called to several similar incidents, but no arrests have yet been made, and the government has not issued any blanket guidance. A Home Office spokesperson said: Any violence or abuse directed towards asylum seekers is completely unacceptable. We take the wellbeing of asylum seekers extremely seriously and we are taking all necessary and legal steps to protect the people in our care. All incidents at our accommodation providers are reported to the Home Office immediately, and we then work with the provider to put in additional measures if required. Britain First, whose leader Paul Golding was convicted of a terror offence earlier this year, has not told its supporters of an incident where they mistakenly targeted a hotel housing homeless people in London last weekend. An email sent out by the Greater London Authoritys (GLA) rough sleeping team on Tuesday said members of the group had turned up at a Covid Protect hotel. They attempted to gain entry and demanded to know if the facility was housing asylum seekers, it added, saying that police were called. The GLA is working rapidly to determine if suitable precautions may need to be implemented in GLA-procured hotels. Britain First members pelted with rocks after hassling migrants A spokesperson for the mayor of London said work was under way to prevent homeless people being targeted mistakenly or otherwise by right-wing groups. He added: Harassing migrants or asylum seekers who are being legally accommodated in hotels is despicable, and goes against all the values we hold as an open, welcoming city. It came after Golding and other activists filmed themselves shouting at asylum seekers about homeless veterans on our streets after managing to enter at least two hotels. During the most recent incident, in Warrington, Britain First members marched through corridors banging on bedroom doors and demanding peoples nationalities. Weve managed to enter legally and weve already found several migrants, Golding told the camera, before filming vulnerable people including women and families with young children. Security guards intervened shortly afterwards, urging asylum seekers to return to their rooms as staff called the police. A spokesperson for Cheshire Police said officers were investigating reports of a potential breach of the peace shortly after 7pm on Tuesday. Officers attended the premises and on arrival the group had left the site, a statement added. No complaints were made by anyone present at the hotel and enquiries into the matter are ongoing. Police have been called to several incidents involving Britain First in recent weeks, where activists have followed and harassed asylum seekers, but have made no arrests. Following an incident in London last weekend, Britain First boasted that: The police arrived again but did nothing as Britain First was acting completely within the law. Far right and anti-fascists clash in Dover, January, 2016 Show all 6 1 /6 Far right and anti-fascists clash in Dover, January, 2016 Far right and anti-fascists clash in Dover, January, 2016 Dover Police separate anti-fascists and right-wing protesters PA Far right and anti-fascists clash in Dover, January, 2016 Dover Right-wing protesters and anti-fascist demonstrators clash PA Far right and anti-fascists clash in Dover, January, 2016 Dover Anti-fascists break through police lines PA Far right and anti-fascists clash in Dover, January, 2016 Dover Far-right protesters march on the streets of Dover PA Far right and anti-fascists clash in Dover, January, 2016 Dover Diane Abbott MP speaks to anti-fascists in Dover PA Far right and anti-fascists clash in Dover, January, 2016 Dover Police hold back far-right demonstrators PA Several other groups and activists are carrying out similar stunts, including the anti-Islam For Britain party founded by failed Ukip leadership candidate Anne Marie Waters. English Defence League (EDL) founder Tommy Robinson has been promoting videos by a blogger who calls himself Active Patriot and has been filming both hotels and migrants arriving in Dover. Extremists have been circulating lists of hotels to investigate on social media after Nigel Farage drew attention to the issue with a series of videos in July. They have also been swamping websites with negative reviews of hotels that have taken up contracts with the Home Office, urging people not to stay there when they reopen. Joe Mulhall, a senior researcher at counter-extremism group Hope Not Hate, said the trend was part of a very long history of far-right groups and individuals across Europe attacking accommodation for migrants. There is a zeal to it this summer because of the increase in boats and hotels being used, he told The Independent. Its become a cause celebre. It unites a number of different strands who are active on the far right now. Sweden, Germany and Greece are among the countries that have seen violent attacks on migrant accommodation, including numerous arson attacks, since the start of the Mediterranean refugee crisis in 2014. No significant violence has been reported during recent incidents in Britain, although a man was arrested for allegedly attacking a migrant on a Kent beach on 16 August. Lisa Doyle, director of advocacy at the Refugee Council, called for steps to be taken to ensure asylum seekers are not subjected to intimidation and harassment. The trend of targeting hotels has emerged after a rising number of boat crossings over the English Channel (PA) People seeking asylum have fled persecution and violence, and have come to the UK in search of safety and protection, she added. The UK should be a safe and welcoming place for them. The Home Office said the government has a legal obligation to provide destitute asylum seekers with temporary accommodation and support while their applications are being considered. It has been necessary to temporarily house a proportion of asylum seekers in hotels to make sure they are able to follow social distancing guidelines, a statement added. As well as ensuring that people could comply with the health guidance in place at the time, this avoided placing pressure on local authorities, who were also procuring hotel accommodation for UK rough sleepers. A NSW judge has considered the meaning of the "zipper-mouth face" emoji in a defamation battle between two Sydney lawyers, in what appears to be an Australian first. Zali Burrows, whose famous clients have included former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer, is suing Adam Houda for defamation in the NSW District Court over two Twitter posts. He is vigorously defending the claim. Zali Burrows appearing on the SBS program Insight. In a preliminary judgment on Thursday, Judge Judith Gibson said "one of the main changes to online writing style has been the introduction of two new-age hieroglyphic-style languages: emoticons and emoji." "An 'emoticon' is a portmanteau term (from 'emotional icon') for pictures made from punctuation marks, letters and numbers to create an image displaying a sentiment," she said. A mother-of-two is lucky to be alive after she drove down a busy Brisbane motorway at 80km/h while more than four times the legal limit. Kerrie Dunstan, 47, was caught driving on the wrong side of the Gateway Motorway with a blood alcohol limit of 0.214 on January 11. Police released footage of the horrifying incident on Friday as part of Queensland Road Safety Week, the Courier Mail reported. Kerrie Dunstan (pictured), 47, was caught driving on the wrong side of the Gateway Motorway with a blood alcohol limit of 0.214 on January 11 Dunstan (in green car), can be seen entering the motorway at the Wynnum Road exit In the shocking footage Dunstan can be seen entering the motorway at the Wynnum Road exit before speeding down the motorway at 80km/h against the traffic. Other cars are forced to swerve out of Dunstan's way in order to avoid a head-on collision. This continued for two kilometres. Members of the public were eventually able to stop Dunstan and help her out of her vehicle. The clip was released to show the dangers of drink and drug driving after 93 Queenslanders lost their lives in road traffic accidents in 2019. Dunstan pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and driving under the influence on June 23 at Wynnum Magistrates Court. Police released footage of the horrifying incident on Friday as part of Queensland Road Safety Week Senior Constable Duncan Blackburn showed the video to the court during proceedings. Dunstan's lawyer, Lily Berkeley, said she was remorseful and her alcoholism was caused by a troubled past. Magistrate Leanne Scoines sentenced Dunstan to six months in prison, which has been suspended for 12 months. She was disqualified from driving for two years and fined $600 for other charges. BOSTON, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NewStore , the essential omnichannel store solution, today announced Goorin Bros is running its high-end hat business on the NewStore Omnichannel Platform. The premium headwear company is unlocking a shopping experience for its loyal, repeat customers that matches its remarkable and reputable hats. The platform enables today's critical retail functions including contactless payment, store fulfillment, and endless aisle. Goorin Bros is a 125-year-old, family-owned retailer that has constantly had to adapt to different retail cycles, evolving shopping patterns and new competition. Today's retail landscape is as fierce and dramatic as the company has seen. The next season of the brand features an omnichannel customer experience with efficient operations across its direct-to-consumer store network. Having an omnichannel cloud underpinning the business enables complete connectivity between sales channels. It also empowers store associates to provide personalized service all from easy-to-use iPhone applications. "My family business, now in its 125th year, has survived multiple recessions, the Great Depression, World Wars and is now dealing with another pandemic. Our ability to continually survive and thrive comes from avoiding status quo, and challenging my organization to innovate its culture, product, and technology; in order to stay relevant and exciting," said Ben Goorin, fourth generation hatter and CEO at Goorin Bros. "I've known for some time that the changing headwinds of retail would require an effective omnichannel solution. The customer must be at the center of the organization, as a vertically integrated retailer, we need to meet the needs and expectations of our customers across our channels seamlessly. While we've had a limited omnichannel solution in the past, NewStore now allows us to fully realize the vision we've always had for Goorin Bros. We've merged our online and physical stores, ushering in Goorin 2.0 -- the unified brand experience our customers now demand and expect. It would not have been possible to pivot so quickly without a flexible platform. NewStore has features and functionality aligned with the future of retail. The urgency has only become more critical with the current pandemic; we need to be wherever our customer is, providing convenience and flexibility." Goorin and its customers are benefitting from the value of an end-to-end omnichannel platform. Omni order management makes it possible to buy from anywhere and ship from anywhere, including fulfillment options such as buy online pickup in-store (BOPIS), ship from store, and more. It also allows for more efficient inventory management from a mobile point of service with endless aisle, mobile checkout, and clienteling, resulting in higher transaction sizes across channels. "Goorin Bros has demonstrated an ability to uphold relevance through 125 years in business. Its willingness to change and adapt is why it has been so successful. Today, the brand recognizes omnichannel as a strategic imperative," said Stephan Schambach, Founder and CEO, NewStore. "We're honored to help a legacy brand move beyond legacy systems. Together we've simplified everything from checkout to store fulfillment and inventory, managed simply on iPhone apps." About NewStore NewStore is the essential omnichannel store solution for enterprise retailers. The company delivers Omnichannel-as-a-Service with the first platform combining mobile POS, an omnichannel order broker, native clienteling and inventory management. Store operations from endless aisle to mobile checkout to fulfillment are executed on intuitive iPhone apps, creating a joyful shopping experience for the consumer and associate alike. NewStore customers include ANINE BING, Burton Snowboards, Decathlon, GANNI, Goorin Bros, Outdoor Voices, and UNTUCKit. It is backed by General Catalyst, Activant Capital, and Salesforce Ventures. Learn more at www.newstore.com . SOURCE NewStore, Inc. Related Links http://www.newstore.com Celebrity publicist Max Markson is under investigation by the health regulator for promoting a quantum physics based medical device that he claims prevents the transmission of the COVID-19 virus and stops its advance in infected patients. Promotional material for the $1995 plasma medicine device claims that it prevented deterioration in the health of infected patients at a hospital in Wuhan, China the epicentre of the global pandemic as well as protected passengers during a disastrous cruiseship outbreak. Celebrity publicist Max Markson Credit:Ellis Parinder The device was registered with the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration in 2010 as a therapeutic air ionizer with an intended purpose to reduce the severity and frequency of colds and flu ... support and assist in immune system recovery [and] assists breathing by reducing airborne pathogens and dust. But the TGA has not registered any products as preventive treatments or cures for COVID-19, with the regulator instead staging a recent crackdown on health and wellness businesses making those kinds of claims about the virus. It confirmed this week the matter was under investigation. Shawn Gabriel, a single father of two in Parma, Ohio, has learned what it means to struggle since he lost his construction job in March. His landlord sent him an eviction notice after he was a few days late on August rent. Gabriel keeps looking for work, but for now his family is living off of $189 a week that he gets in unemployment benefits, which is not enough to cover his $950 rent, let alone food, electric, Internet access and other expenses. But the bulk of his frustration has been reserved for one place: Congress, whose members left town this month after letting the $600-a-week unemployment bonus that millions of people like Gabriel have been relying on expire. "Most of them are rich. They don't struggle. They get paid," Gabriel said. "I think they should have come to an agreement." Gabriel scrambled to scratch together his rent as well as the $35 late fee his landlord tacked on, but he is worried about September. "I think this guy will try to get rid of me," he said about his landlord. Similar stories are playing out nationwide. Millions of desperate Americans, many of whom have never relied on emergency government assistance before, are flabbergasted and furious, believing they have been cut loose by a Washington political structure that doesn't care about their predicament during the pandemic. The stock market has snapped back, but the labor market remains in really bad shape. On Thursday, the Labor Department said another 1 million Americans filed jobless claims last week. About 27 million Americans are now receiving some form of unemployment aid. The Washington Post spoke to 20 people who have lost their livelihoods in recent months, and all said they felt immense pressure to stay afloat without the extra $600, which expired at the end of July. Every person interviewed said they were furious at Washington policymakers for letting such a critical benefit lapse amid the nation's worst economic crisis in a century. Often the anger was directed at Republicans, who control the White House and the Senate, although a few credited President Donald Trump for at least trying to take action on his own. Many described increasingly desperate situations, as they cut back on basic expenses such as food, certain medicines and cable TV. This led many to stand in line at food banks, apply for food stamps or rely on unemployment insurance, many for the first time. "To watch these people who never have to worry about a dollar in their lives, go on vacation for a month without even thinking about the fact that people are going to be homeless and dead at the end of it, because they want to take their vacation, it's crushing," Madeleine Olson, 27, a Michigan resident who lost her job in March, said about members of Congress. Olson had worked as a contractor doing data entry for energy companies before she lost her job. "I don't even know if they realize in Washington what's going on, because they don't see it," she said. Lawmakers didn't necessarily go on vacation, as Olson put it, but they did leave Washington without reaching a deal. The average weekly payment is just over $300 now, although many people receive far less. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said Wednesday that he hasn't spoken with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., or Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in about two weeks. Gabriel, the dad in Ohio, voted for Trump in 2016. He is not a huge fan of Democrats, but he said he mostly faults Republicans for the mess he's in with such a small amount of unemployment aid. "I blame (Senate Majority Leader) Mitch McConnell the most," he said. "At least (Pelosi) was trying four months ago." Democrats passed a bill in May to extend the $600-a-week payments, which expired in July, through the end of the year. But Republicans proposed reducing the amount to $200 out of concerns that some jobless people were receiving so much in government aid that it was dissuading them from working again, a claim that several studies have rebutted. In a sign of growing pain, serious mortgage delinquencies have surged to a 10-year high, and evictions are predicted to skyrocket in the coming weeks as people such as Gabriel struggle to pay September rent. Congress has not renewed the federal eviction moratorium that expired in late July, either. Jessica Williamson has spent the last few days trying to get a loan on her car so she can pay rent. She still owes $100 for August. Another $800 is due shortly for September. She gets frustrated when she hears people say unemployed Americans would rather sit at home than work. Williamson did go back to her job in July as a bartender at a casino on Mississippi's Gulf Coast. But business is not the same, with fewer customers meaning smaller tips and less hours to work than she needs to get by. A single mom, she and her two kids are living off about $350 a week - half from her job and another half from unemployment. Unable to pay all her bills, she has been hit with late fees on rent and utilities this month, which only puts her further behind. "Congress doesn't understand. I don't think they'll ever understand," Williamson said. "They don't have to worry about living paycheck to paycheck." Gregg Pupecki, 48, of Middlesex County, Mass., was one of several people who used the word "disgusting" to describe how he felt about Congress leaving town as the unemployment benefits lapsed. He is another 2016 Trump voter who says he will probably go the other way this election after losing faith in the president during the pandemic. "His lack of leadership on the coronavirus was dismal," said Pupecki, who lost his job as a manager of a marina in May. "He basically let the whole country down." Pupecki was one of the many people The Post talked to who said they had little faith that the executive action that Trump signed earlier in the month would result in more benefits in their pockets. Five states - Arizona, Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas - are paying out the money Trump promised. The federal government has said that the order will allow people to receive an extra $300 a week in federal funding for a few weeks, from a disaster relief fund managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). But the funding, which may support only three weeks of aid, has raised complicated logistical questions. "It's great to sign a piece of paper, but no money is reaching anybody," Pupecki said. "The whole thing was a dog-and-pony show." Trump's program also requires states to jump through bureaucratic hoops because the money is coming from FEMA. Thirty-two states have been approved for the program so far. There's also another catch: Trump's executive memo said unemployed workers must receive at least $100 a week from their state to qualify for the $300 federal payment, leaving out many people in the most vulnerable financial circumstances. "When I figured out that executive order wasn't going to mean squat for me, I cried," said Stephanie Hightower, an out-of-work home caregiver in Indiana who is receiving $75 a week in unemployment. A Trump supporter in the past, Hightower is undecided now. Many of her friends posted on Facebook that she should be just fine now with the president's move, but Hightower has had to explain that she won't benefit at all. Greg Garret, 33, of Hammond, Ind., who was laid off from his job as a lead technician with a ventilation and HVAC company in March, had a slightly different perspective. He said he was fed up with both the Democrats and the Republicans, and not very happy with the way Trump has handled the coronavirus pandemic. But Trump's executive order seemed like the only attempt to help him right now, Garret said, even though he was philosophically opposed to using the measure as a policymaking tool, he said. "I care about putting food in my son's stomach," he said. "So, you know, I guess I could say I appreciate Trump doing that. Whether that actually happens or not is a different story. And realistically, I need money today, not three weeks or four weeks or six weeks from now." Garret said he and his family have been stretched in ways they never expected in recent months. They applied for food stamps and unemployment insurance for the first time, learning that they could receive only one of them at a time. Now that the $600 benefit has ended, Garret and his wife, a stay-at-home mother to their 6-year-old son, are not sure they'll be able to get by on the $149 per week he receives from the state. "What we've been doing, especially these last three, four weeks, is basically look at every line item. To the point where we're like, you know, 'Do we shut off the internet to the house?' " he said. "We keep trying to be like, 'Oh, you know, it will get better.' My wife, she's gotten to the point where she's just sick of it. It seems like no one cares on the political side." Spiking food prices have made their financial outlook worse. Many would like to return to work, but the nation has only about 5.9 million job openings for 28 million people receiving unemployment payments, Labor Department data show. Many parents are also having to make the gut-wrenching choice between work or caring for children, as many schools remain virtual this fall. Hightower, the mom in Indiana, kept working in March and April because her in laws agreed to watch the kids. Then her father-in-law was diagnosed with cancer and it became too risky for the children to be near him. Hightower felt she had no choice but to quit her job in May. Her husband is a long-haul truck driver. "I was hoping and praying I would get to go back to that job. But then schools closed and stayed closed," Hightower said. "Bills are piling up. I have a couple of credit cards. They're way past their amount." Others expressed skepticism about the president's executive order, pointing to Trump's track record of misleading and false statements. "I don't believe a word that man says," said Lynn Wheatley, who lost her work as an event planner in March. Wheatley, of Tulsa, and her retired husband are living on about $190 from the state in unemployment insurance a week and his Social Security payments, and trying not to use up too much of their savings. Mary Ann Foster, 63, whose massage business in Longmont, Colo., closed early in the pandemic, said she, too, was skeptical about the order. She and her husband have been surviving on her unemployment payments, which are now about $200 a week, and they are dipping into savings to cover the $1,500 a month they pay for health care, property taxes and other expenses. "If it ever happens, it'll only be for three weeks," she said. "It's a lot of work for a little relief and no larger picture coordination." - - - The Washington Post's Tony Romm contributed to this report. Six men are due to appear at the Old Bailey accused of being part of a people-smuggling ring linked to the deaths of 39 migrants in the back of a container. The bodies of the Vietnamese nationals were discovered on an industrial estate in Grays, Essex, shortly after the container arrived in Purfleet on a ferry in the early hours of October 23 last year. Among the men, women and children were 10 teenagers, two of them 15-year-old boys. An inquest heard that their medical cause of death was asphyxia and hyperthermia a lack of oxygen and overheating in an enclosed space. Eamonn Harrison, 23, of Mayobridge, Co Down, Northern Ireland, is alleged to have driven the lorry trailer to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge before it sailed to Purfleet in England. Harrison, who was extradited from the Republic of Ireland, is charged with 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Irish haulier Ronan Hughes, 40, Co Armagh in Northern Ireland, was also extradited on the same charges. Read More Asylum seeker dies in Monaghan direct provision centre It is alleged he played a leading role in the operation, with his trailers and drivers used to transport migrants. They are expected to appear at the Old Bailey along with Gheorghe Nica, 43, of Langdon Hills, Basildon, Essex, who is also alleged to have been a key player. Nica has previously denied 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Valentin Calota, 37, of Birmingham, Christopher Kennedy, 23, of Co Armagh, Northern Ireland, and Gazmir Nuzi, 42, Barclay Road, Tottenham, north London, have denied being part of a people-smuggling operation, which it is alleged made two previous successful runs from the continent. An eight-week trial has been fixed to start at the Old Bailey on October 5. On April 8, lorry driver Maurice Robinson, 25, of Craigavon in Northern Ireland, who discovered the bodies after transporting the container from Purfleet to an alleged pick-up point in Grays, Essex, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to 39 counts of manslaughter. He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration of non-European Union citizens between May 1 2018 and October 24 2019 and acquiring criminal property, but denied a further charge of transferring criminal property. China Launches 4 Missiles into South China Sea By Carla Babb August 27, 2020 Beijing has fired missiles into the disputed waters of the South China Sea, escalating U.S.-China tensions amid U.S. sanctions aimed at punishing companies that helped bolster China's continued militarization of the region. A U.S. defense official told VOA on Thursday the People's Liberation Army (PLA) launched four medium-range ballistic missiles from mainland China into an area of the South China Sea between Hainan Island and the Paracel Islands. The missile launches on Wednesday came amid recent Chinese military exercises, which unilaterally closed off large areas of the sea contested by several claimants. Vietnam has protested the exercises. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the recent Chinese military exercise "speaks volumes" about how the PLA views areas protected as free for passage under international law. Navy Capt. John Gay, a spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said the United States currently has 38 ships in the Indo-Pacific region and will continue to monitor activities, including the most recent Chinese military exercises. The Pentagon issued a statement of concern Thursday, saying China's actions "stand in contrast to its pledge to not militarize the South China Sea and are in contrast to the United States' vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, in which all nations, large and small, are secure in their sovereignty, free from coercion, and able to pursue economic growth consistent with accepted international rules and norms." "The PRC [People's Republic of China] chose to escalate its exercise activities by firing ballistic missiles. We urge all parties to exercise restraint and not undertake military activities that could threaten freedom of navigation and aggravate disputes in the South China Sea," the Pentagon added. Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian told news media Thursday the U.S. has "continued to provoke tensions and undermine China's sovereignty and security." He added that current diplomatic relations between the two countries have been "severely damaged." China has made expansive claims over the South China Sea, basing military weapons and aircraft on artificial islands built atop reefs to bolster its territorial claims, which overlap with the territorial claims of other nations. The United States frequently conducts freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea to dispute Beijing's claims and promote free passage through international waters that carry about half the world's merchant fleet tonnage, worth trillions of dollars each year. U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper early Thursday warned that the world's "free and open" system forged in the wake of World War II was under attack by what he called China's "rule-breaking behavior" in the Indo-Pacific region. Esper spoke in Hawaii, home to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, ahead of travel to Guam and Palau to take part in ceremonies marking the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Esper called the Indo-Pacific region the "epicenter" of great power competition, vowing not to "cede an inch" to countries that threaten international freedoms, in an apparent dig at China. On Wednesday, the U.S. imposed sanctions on 24 Chinese companies and several people who allegedly participated in building and militarizing disputed artificial islands in the South China Sea. The move is widely viewed as pushback against what the U.S. sees as an intensifying Chinese campaign to dominate the resource-rich sea and bully smaller nations in the region. The U.S. Commerce Department said in a statement the companies played a "role in helping the Chinese military" with the construction project, while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a separate announcement that Washington was placing visa restrictions on individuals "responsible" or "complicit" in the project. "Since 2013, the PRC (People's Republic of China) has used its state-owned enterprises to dredge and reclaim more than 3,000 acres (1,214 hectares) on disputed features in the South China Sea, destabilizing the region, trampling on the sovereign rights of its neighbors, and causing untold environmental devastation," Pompeo said. VOA's Nike Ching contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In an incident that poses the stark danger of an escalating confrontation between the worlds two major nuclear powers, the Pentagon has reported that four US troops were injured in a collision between their armored vehicle and a Russian patrol in Syria this week. Moscow and Washington have traded charges, each blaming the other for the incident, which unfolded on Tuesday morning outside of the Syrian town of Al-Malikiyah located near Syrias northeastern triple border with Turkey and Iraq. US and Russian armored vehicles in Syria. [Credit: Russian MoD] US National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot issued a statement Thursday charging that a Russian armored vehicle had struck a US Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle. Accusing Russian forces of having committed unsafe and unprofessional actions in violation of de-confliction protocols worked out between Washington and Moscow in December 2019, Ullyot added threateningly that US forces always retain the inherent right and obligation to defend themselves from hostile acts. The Pentagon reported that four American soldiers had suffered mild concussion-like symptoms as a result of the collision. For its part, the Russian military charged that the incident was the fault of the US military, the outcome of an apparent provocation. A Russian Defense Ministry statement released following a telephone conversation between the chief of the Russian militarys General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, and his US counterpart, Gen. Mark Milley, said that the incident stemmed from an attempt to block the Russian patrol. It added that the patrol and its route had been cleared beforehand between the two sides. Videos of the incident taken from a Russian armored vehicle appears to show the US vehicles attempting to intercept the column as it moved across an open field. The Russian convoy was accompanied by an MI-8 attack helicopter, which hovered over the American armored vehicles. The incident is by no means the first posing the threat of a direct confrontation between US and Russian troops in northeastern Syria. Last month, Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, the deputy commander of US forces in Iraq and Syria, told reporters at the Pentagon that American and Russian forces were coming into contact almost every day. He acknowledged that Moscow and Washington are pursuing their own interests in the country, and those interests arent quite aligned. Indeed, Washington has been involved in military operations inside Syria since 2011, when the CIA armed and funded Islamist militias as a proxy ground force in a war for regime change aimed at toppling the government of President Bashar al-Assad and installing a pliant American puppet in Damascus. Beginning in 2014, it launched a direct US military intervention in Syriausing the Kurdish YPG militia as a proxy ground forceunder the pretext of combatting the Islamic State (ISIS), a mutation of the very same Islamist militias that it had previously supported. For its part, Russia began providing key strategic air support in defense of the Assad government against ISIS and US-backed Al Qaeda-linked militias in 2015. Tensions and the threat of direct confrontation have only escalated since US President Donald Trump announced that he was withdrawing US forces from Syria and greenlighted a Turkish invasion in October 2019 aimed at driving Washingtons erstwhile Kurdish allies from the Syrian-Kurdish border. Faced with a firestorm of opposition from within the US military and intelligence apparatus to a total pullout, Trump shifted to what he proclaimed was a policy to keep the oil, with US troops redeployed to the oil producing areas of the northern Syrian governorates of Deir ez-Zor and Al-Hasakah. Trump reiterated this policy in a barely coherent statement at the White House last week, when he declared, As you know, in Syria were down to almost nothing, except we kept the oil we left, but we kept the oil. At the end of last month, it was revealed that the Trump administration has backed a deal ostensibly struck between a newly created US oil company, Delta Crescent Energy LLC, and the Pentagons Kurdish proxies. The company, headed by a right-wing Republican former ambassador and an ex-Delta Force officer and Fox News contributor, is supposed to begin exploiting and selling Syrias oil in direct violation of the Geneva Conventions, which bars occupying powers from exploiting the resources of the occupied for their own benefit. This is only the latest war crime committed by US imperialism in Syria since it launched its regime change operation, which has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands and turned millions into refugees. It is maintaining a regime of unilateral sanctions tantamount to a state of war, condemning the vast majority of Syrias population to poverty and sabotaging the response to the spreading coronavirus pandemic. With the move to begin directly exploiting Syrias oil, while actively denying access to the Syrian government, which desperately needs the resources for reconstruction, the Pentagon appears to have escalated its presence in the war-torn country, sending convoys across the border from Iraq with weaponry and heavy equipment. Russia has also accused Washington and its Kurdish allies of reanimating the remnants of ISIS in order to turn them against the Syrian government and its allies, including Iran and Russia. The Russian news agency Sputnik quoted an unnamed spokesman for Russian forces in Syria who said that there has been a recent outbreak of terrorist attacks, which Moscow attributes to former captured ISIS fighters who have been released by Washingtons Kurdish proxies under an amnesty program. The armed actions of these elements benefit the United States, the spokesman said, serving to both disrupt the process of socio-economic reconstruction of Syria and justify [US] presence in the countrys east. It should be added that this resurgence of terror attacks provides a counterweight to the growth of popular opposition among Arab tribes in the northeast to the domination of US force and their Kurdish proxies. Russian military investigative units are apparently focusing on this connection between the Pentagon and former ISIS fighters in their investigation of the August 18 killing of Russian Maj. Gen. Vyacheslav Gladkikh, who lost his life to an improvised explosive device while passing near a US-controlled Syrian oil field. Amid the mounting and dangerous US-Russian tensions, Trumps ostensible political opposition in the Democratic Partyincluding the phalanx of former US military and intelligence operatives who have rallied behind its presidential candidate Joe Bidenis attacking his administration from the right, accusing it of being insufficiently aggressive against Russian forces in Syria. Senator Tammy Duckworth, who used her speech to the Democratic convention last week to brand Trump the coward-in-chief, demanded that the US president speak out against Vladimir Putin and demand answers as to why his troops are harassing and injuring our troops in Syria. Senator Steny Hoyer, the Democratic House Majority Leader, issued a statement declaring that The news today of an encounter between U.S. and Russian forces in Syria underscore the dangers of this Administrations lack of a strategy to protect our troops, support our allies, and promote an end to the conflict there that secures our interests We must not allow Russia to secure effective control over Syria and threaten the stability of that part of the world. Brett McGurk, the former Special Presidential Envoy for Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, who has become a foreign policy surrogate for Biden, tweeted on Wednesday, Russian military forces are ramming and injuring US troops in Syria. No competent [commander in chief] would leave our troops in this position. The threat of an eruption of US militarism, not only in Syria, but in Eastern Europe, the South China Sea, the Persian Gulf and elsewhere, is growing steadily, not only unhindered but inflamed by the global coronavirus pandemic. Any one of these hot spots can provide the spark for a global conflagration. The hysterical response of the Democrats to the collision between US and Russian armored vehicles in northeastern Syria makes it clear that the advent of a Biden administration will only intensify this threat. The struggle against a new world war, together with the fight against the pandemic, the defense of jobs and social rights and defeating the threat of dictatorship, cannot be advanced one inch by means of an electoral strategy in support of Biden and the Democrats. Rather, it requires a strategy based on the class struggle and guided by a revolutionary socialist and internationalist program. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The lawyer who brought a class action lawsuit against the state before Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave the green light for gyms to reopen amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is threatening to sue New York City and Mayor Bill de Blasio if the city doesnt allow boutique fitness studio classes to resume on Wednesday, Sept. 2. While Cuomo said gyms across the state could reopen Aug, 24, he said that local elected officials -- in New York Citys case thats de Blasio -- may choose to delay the reopening of gyms and fitness centers until Sept. 2. The whole purpose of the Electoral College is that everyone in the United States has a say in who becomes president, not just the population centers. According to "Why was the Electoral College Created?" at History.com, the Electoral College was a compromise among the delegates at the 1787 Constitutional Convention. One group wanted Congress to elect the president, and one group wanted the popular vote to elect the president. As the delegates had just concluded a hard fought battle to become self-governing, they were very much against a strong central government. The Electoral College has served us well for over 200 years, and I say now is the time for states to implement it for presidential and statewide elections, too. Currently, population centers in many states New York, Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and California, just to name a few can sway the vote for one presidential or statewide candidate (governor, senator), giving that state to that candidate even though the other candidate won the majority of the counties in that state. By implementing the Electoral College down to the state level, each county would get a vote or point. The candidate who wins the majority of the points would then win the state, just as they do in the national Electoral College. There are various ways a tie could be broken, but the point is that with this system, every voter in the state would count. In some states, the population centers are so populated that they have more people in them than the rest of the state, and that state ends up being controlled by those population centers. I would especially like to see this implemented in my state of Texas before Austin, Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth get too populated. Politicians at the state and national levels may not like this solution because it would force them to campaign in more areas of the state in order to get the vote. But that is a discussion for another day. Taking the Electoral College down to the state level for all presidential and statewide elections, like the national Electoral College, would give all voters across the state a voice. Image: Publc Domain Smartphone users in China have taken, in a big way, to buying things while they watch people hawk the products think QVC and late-night television infomercials reinvented for the mobile age. Chinese e-commerce platforms have for years been adding livestreaming to their apps, and video apps have been adding shopping functions. In all, $140 billion in merchandise could be sold in China this year via livestreaming, more than double last years amount, according to estimates by the research firm Bernstein. The sheer size of the Chinese consumer market has created a vast field for retail experiments of other kinds as well. One of the countrys newest e-commerce giants, Pinduoduo, has turned internet shopping into something more like a surreal video game. For Pinduoduos fans, the process of stumbling across strange new products, at ludicrously low prices, is a big part of the experience. Actually receiving those products is almost secondary. Currently, nearly 570 million people use Pinduoduos app every month. Douyin started out by allowing video creators to post links to their stores on Chinas largest online bazaar, Alibabas Taobao platform. Eventually, it allowed users to set up storefronts within the Douyin app itself, and now it is more aggressively pushing creators to sell through those native stores instead of on outside sites. For most Chinese consumers, Douyin is not about to replace Taobao and other full-fledged shopping sites entirely. The design of the app means the products that sell best are cheap impulse buys, said Fabian Bern, the head of Many, a marketing company that works with creators on Douyin and TikTok. Youre scrolling very quick through content, Mr. Bern said, which means that few people on the app are going to buy, say, a pricey wristwatch. You will think twice about it, then basically the video is gone already. Extinction Rebellion activists have stuck tens of thousands of learning labels on petrol pumps across the UK as the environmental activist group gears up for a bank holiday of disruptive direct action to highlight the threat of the climate crisis. The group have brought their distinctive style of protest - often focussed around mass participation and highly visual stunts - to the nation and the world over the last two years to call for political accountability and action over environmental concerns. Now Doctors for Extinction Rebellion, an offshoot of the group made up of healthcare workers, has attached graphic labels - some reminiscent of those used on cigarette packets - to petrol stations in a bid to warn the public over the damages of emissions and air pollution. Some of the more than 20,000 stickers printed out by the group include references to the Covid-19 coronavirus, stating air pollution may increase your risk, while others play on the governments maligned mid-lockdown slogan Stay alert, control the virus, save lives - replacing the phrase with a call to control pollution. Highlighting the action protestors gathered with out -of-service ambulances and a sign reading harmful products need health warnings in a petrol station in the London borough of Newham, home to the highest levels of particulate pollution in the country. The stunt took place just a short distance from Canning Town station, where Extinction Rebellion protestors caused controversy last year after stopping commuters from one of the nation's most deprived boroughs travelling during the morning rush hour. Co-Founder of the Doctors for Extinction Rebellion group Dr Chris Newman, a GP in Tottenham said: It is our duty as health professionals to warn the public that continued fossil fuel use is wrecking our life support systems. We no longer have time to ask for permission. As a group we will continue to do what the science and our duty of care asks of us, and we urge our government to do the same. If we must break the law to do our duty, then we will do so. Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 Show all 22 1 /22 Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 PA Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 PA Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 PA Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 REUTERS Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 PA Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 REUTERS Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 PA Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 REUTERS/Henry Nicholls Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 REUTERS Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 REUTERS Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 REUTERS Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 REUTERS Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 PA Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 PA Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 REUTERS Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 PA Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 PA Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 PA Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 REUTERS Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 REUTERS Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 REUTERS Extinction Rebellion block roads at London Fashion Week, February 2020 REUTERS It comes amid calls for petrol pumps to be fitted with warning labels to provide better accountability and clearer indicators of the damage of fossil fuels to the planets. In a letter published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) in March, former regional director of public health for the south east of England Mike Gill and colleagues wrote that warning labels at points of purchase of fossil energy or services dependent on large amounts of fossil fuel, for example at petrol stations, on energy bills, and on airline tickets would serve as a low cost, scalable intervention to facilitate change in individuals and societys views and behaviour. Eco-labels - similar to energy efficiency ratings used on household appliances and boilers - are set to be rolled out in Sweden by October next year, while the US city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, has followed suit with similar legislation. Coca-Cola announced Friday plans to cut thousands of jobs and reduce the number of its business units due to declining beverages sales amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Coke said the companys structural changes will result in voluntary and in-voluntary employee cuts. A total of 4,000 employees in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico will be offered a voluntary separation program buyout. A similar buyout program will be offered to international employees as well, the company said. The overall global severance programs are expected to cost anywhere from $350 million to $550 million, a news release said. Coke did not specify how many jobs would be lost in total. In addition, the company said its 17 business units operating in four geographical segments will downsize to nine, operating in the same geographical segments. Coke says the moves will allow the company to focus in on its five global categories including its main Coca-Cola line and emerging products such as plant-based drinks. According to CNN, Coca-Colas saw sales drop 28% to 7.2 billion in its second quarter, which ended on June 26. The Coca-Cola Company offers over 500 brands in more than 200 countries and territories. Related Content: The Wisconsin city, just 10 miles north of the border, has been dealing with protest in the wake of the shooting of a Black man by a Kenosha police officer. As demonstrations swelled and some turned violent, Kenosha police asked the Lake County Sheriffs Office for aid. That request, though, had to be rejected due to liability issues raised by the idea of sending sworn Illinois police officers into Wisconsin to keep the peace. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Legislation introduced Thursday in the City Council would put more responsibility on the owners of private streets, and force them to adhere to city and state regulations. The bill, brought by City Council Minority Leader Steven Matteo (D-Mid-Island) at the request of Borough President James Oddo, would effectively end the creation of new private streets on Staten Island, according to a media release from the borough presidents office. Staten Island has stumbled through the last 50 years trying to address growth spurts, continuing quality of life issues, ownership and traffic disputes, and a distinction between roads that are privately owned and those that we actually can perform public street improvements on, Oddo said. It is never too late to preserve the quality of life for those continuing to call Staten Island their home. The bill, which is also sponsored by Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore), would make private street owners responsible for snow removal and for street maintenance as dictated by the city Department of Transportation, except in situations where the city was responsible for the damage. Through language in the legislation, new private streets would essentially be open to the public with easement, ingress and egress requirements, and beholden to the jurisdiction of several city agencies. Owners will also need to obtain approval from the city Buildings Department to build a new private street, and all private streets will need permits from necessary agencies for things like water mains, hydrants, utilities and street signage. The bills introduced today aim to address long-standing issues regarding private streets, Matteo said. I look forward to working with all stakeholders with the goal of creating a clearer and ultimately better process for street construction which will help ensure all roads in our borough are built to proper standards and regularly maintained. City Hall did not respond to a request for comment as to whether it would support the legislation. Private streets have long been an issue for Staten Island politicians with roads falling into disrepair and remaining unplowed during major snowstorms. Theyve also been a focal point of Oddos push against perceived overdevelopment on Staten Island. Most recently, the company planning to develop the land at the former Mount Manresa was denied in late February its application for a waiver to General City Law 36, which regulates whether new construction can front unmapped streets. Oddo, a longtime opponent of the project, used his discretion as borough president to give the private streets names related to greed, like Cupidity Drive and Avidita Place. UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- More than a dozen John Carroll University students clustered in a front yard on Warrensville Center Road, drinking and talking on a warm still-summer Tuesday evening. Some of the students said they wear masks to the store and gym. But around their circle of friends, outdoors, they dont feel the need. (Natural News) A Black driver in South Carolina attempted to commit a mass shooting after he fired at a group of people who were rallying in support of President Donald Trump on Monday, August 24. The incident occurred around 6:50 p.m. at an overpass on Interstate 77 in Fort Mill. The Black man, identified as Marquise Damarius Asomani, 23, of Charlotte, North Carolina which is just several miles to the north of Fort Mill is now in police custody. According to witnesses, Asomani, who was driving a red car during the incident, screamed profanities at a crowd of around 30 people who were waving Trump banners and American flags. The witnesses also stated that there were at least two other cars who were yelling similar obscenities. These circled around to continue harassing the demonstrators at least twice before Asomani extended his arm through the window while holding what appeared to be a handgun, according to Maj. Bryan Zachary of the Fort Mill Police Department, and opened fire. Fort Mill police say someone drove up I-77 last night and fired a gun at supporters of President Trump. They were waving flags from the Sutton Road overpass. Police say a Charlotte man is in custody this morning, pending charges. No one was hurt. More info soon. Greg Suskin (@GSuskinWSOC9) August 25, 2020 Everybody was cutting up and having fun and laughing and everybody on the interstate was blowing their horns and waving, said Angie Freeman, who participated in the rally. Freeman, along with several members of her family, was in a parade of cars waving banners in support of Trump at the time. We had all the windows down because we had all the flags out the windows, and it was very loud and it was four or five shots. (Related: Kenosha rioters wield rifles against Sheriffs Dept. vehicle in latest escalation that shows Leftists are actively trying to spark CIVIL WAR.) You could tell that they slowed down and I just heard, like, Da da da, you know, just three rapid shots what definitely sounded like gunfire, said Shawna Winter, another Trump supporter and witness of the incident. It was ridiculous, said Matthew Ostrowski, another Trump supporter who participated in the demonstration. There were kids everywhere. Watch this episode of Brighteon Conversations as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, has a fascinating interview with NC Scout, who warns Mike about how Americas streets are going to run red with blood immediately following this the election. This may come in the form of foreign invaders occupying the country, or groups rising up and fighting in a Second American Civil War. Criminal quickly caught, Trump supporters shaken but undeterred by incident Fortunately, an officer from the South Carolina Highway Patrol was in the area during the incident and heard the shots. As soon as the officer got to the scene, the demonstrators pointed him towards the vehicle. He followed it for a while but lost it after it exited the highway. The car was found later, hastily abandoned behind a closed business at an intersection just off the interstate. As the state police conducted their investigations, they spotted a man who matched the description of the shooter in another car. They stopped the vehicle and found that it had three other occupants. They questioned the passengers, which led to the arrest of Asomani. The three other people in the vehicle were detained, but two of them were arrested without charges while another remains in police custody. New from Fort Mill Police. Marquise Asomani, 23, of Charlotte faces 9 new charges. Police say he's the man who fired a gun at I-77 and Sutton Road last night where a crowd of supporters of President Trump had gathered. His bond was just set at $75,000. pic.twitter.com/SVeYlnaAIJ Greg Suskin (@GSuskinWSOC9) August 25, 2020 Fortunately, none of the pro-Trump demonstrators reported any injuries, and while they were disturbed by the incident, many of them have said that it has not scared them from participating in future rallies for the president. I think its sad honestly that were showing support for the president and you have to be nervous about somebody coming and doing this, said Lindsey Portugal, a member of the committee that organized the rally. I mean, thats just discouraging. If anything, this incident energizes me more, said Ostrowski. Its done the same for many, many people. I think its a shame that we cant show our support for our president, said Winter. But this is not gonna stop me from supporting him, and its not gonna stop me from flying my American flag again. Asomani has been charged with one count of unlawful carrying of a pistol, one count of pointing and presenting firearms at a person, one count of possession of a firearm during a violent crime and six counts of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. He is currently being detained at the York County Detention Center. His bond has been set at $75,000. Unfortunately, left-wing domestic terrorists initiating acts of mass violence against conservatives and Trump supporters is nothing new. Stay updated on the latest criminal acts committed by leftist radicals by reading the articles at AltLeft.news. Sources include: BigLeaguePolitics.com WBTV.com WJCL.com WSOCTV.com President of the Republic, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has admitted that his government has not completed the developmental projects he promised Ghanaians, however, his they have positioned the country on the right path. He noted that his government cannot be accused of discrimination against anyone or region while sharing the national cake. Speaking at Keta, on Thursday, August 27, 2020, at a durbar held in his honour by the Awoamefia of the Anlo State, Togbui Sri III, President Akufo-Addo said We have not completed our development journey, but, surely, we are on the right path, and no one can accuse this government of discrimination in the distribution of the national cake, President Akufo-Addo noted. I dare say this area (Anloga) has done quite well under this Government. After years of demanding, an Anloga District has been created, and a new Assembly Complex is being constructed. There are numerous GETFund projects scattered all over Anloga, and Keta SHSs is one which I am due to commission today. Important to me are two TVET projects in the Anloga district alone, one of which I shall be inspecting at Atorkor, he stressed. Listing other projects, the people of Keta in the Volta Region will receive in the coming weeks, he mentioned the Keta landing beach project, the 85 million facility for the Keta Water Supply rehabilitation and expansion project, and the Keta Harbour Project. The Keta landing beach project will commence in September 2020. President Akufo-Addo also squashed claims that the Volta region was singled out for any special military operation in the run-up to the conduct of the voter registration exercise. He stated categorically that there was no political or ethnic agenda against Voltarians. 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 New Delhi, Aug 28 : A motorcyle rider was dragged several metres, first on the bonnet of a car and later under its wheels, in a case of road rage at Pankha Road in west Delhi early ob Friday, police said. On enquiry, it was revealed that a minor accident between a Bullet motorcycle and a car took place on Najafgarh Road, Vikaspuri. Thereafter, the Bullet rider along with the pillion rider confronted the occupants of the car. Standing in front of the car, they asked them to get down. "The car driver and co-passenger didn't come out from the car and went ahead to hit the Bullet rider with the car. The Bullet rider was thrown on the bonnet of the car and held on the wiper as he was stuck to the bonnet," said a senior police officer. The victim cried out for help but the car driver didn't stop and headed towards Pankha Road, Janakpuri. The victim slipped and fell from the car near Gold Gym, Pankha Road, Janakpuri and in the process, got stuck under the car. He was dragged for about 100-150 metres until the car driver was stopped by some persons near C-1, Janakpuri. The driver of the car fled from the scene while the passenger was apprehended. The victim - Chetan, a resident of Pankha Road, Uttam Nagar, was rushed to DDU Hospital from where he was referred to the Safdarjung Hospital. Both the accused - Durgesh Tiwari and Karan Sethi, residents of Uttam Nagar - have been arrested. - Nguyen Van Chien worships seven gods and his faith bars him from cutting whatever he was born with - He believes if he cuts or washes his hair, he might drop and die - The 92-year-old man revealed he does not comb his hair and only ties it in an orange turban to look presentable Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in - His son also shares his beliefs and fears that if he touches his hair, he might die too Nguyen Van Chien, a 92-year-old man from Vietnam might have taken the no shave challenge a bit too far. The elderly guy said his faith does not allow him to cut whatever he was born with and has therefore never seen the inside of a barbershop for 80 years. READ ALSO: 16-year-old JHS boy appointed by GFA as referee; becomes youngest in Ghana According to Van, he also has not washed his dreadlocks for those eight decades over the fear of losing his life. The nonagenarian told Reuters he coils his hair and ties it up using a scarf whenever he wants to look neat and presentable. The 92-year-old added that he cannot dare use a comb to straighten, detangle or style his tresses because it goes against his seven gods and nine powers. READ ALSO: 76-year-old Pentecost elder resurrects 4 days after being declared dead by doctors in Central Region "I believe if I cut my hair I will die. I dare not change anything, not even combing it," Van said. The Vietnamese national revealed back when he was in school, management asked him to cut off his hair and since that went against his faith, he left and never looked back. At some point in his life, Van had nice thick hair that had a fine black colour. He would comb it whenever he needed to look presentable. READ ALSO: Meet the stunning Ghanaian lady who became the youngest medical doctor at 22 years However, things changed when he believed he was called to serve the purpose of his deity. The mans son also subscribes to the same faith and said he once witnessed a man die after attempting to use a string to reattach his hair. Meanwhile, Ella Musangi, Jowie's new flame has been praised by her baby daddy as a kind and upright woman. Ella Musangi's first husband David. Photo: David bin Salem Source: Original David bin Salem said he is not opposed to Jowie referring to himself as his daughter's second father. He acknowledged that the ex-remandee was officially his little girl's stepdad by virtue of marrying Ella. They are married so that does not change the status of things but remember, upon marriage, the stepdad has a right to be called the childs father, the dad said. Enjoy reading our stories? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news! Ghanaians speak up about Bawumia's promise about new cars for trotro drivers | #Yencomgh Share your stories and news by getting interactive on our Facebook page! Source: YEN.com.gh >>> High school students begin graduation exams >>> University enrolment regulations for 2020 declared The results include the scores of more than 860,000 students who took the first phase of the exam on August 9-10. The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has provided the exams results to mass media agencies to enable test takers to search for their results freely on electronic newspapers. After learning their scores, students who have the desire for an exam review can submit their applications from August 27 to September 5 at their high schools. Free exam takers can submit their review applications at the departments of education and training of their respective districts and towns. Within 15 days from the deadline for review applications, the exam councils will notify the review results to the applicants. According to the 2020 university admission regulations, each candidate can only adjust the registration for admission once in one of the two methods: online or by registration form. Candidates who wish to review exam subjects will adjust their admission registration aspiration after the review results are released. Candidates can register to adjust their aspirations online from September 9 until 5pm on September 16, while adjustments through registration forms will be made between September 9 and 5pm on September 18. * The Hanoi Department of Education and Training has announced three web addresses for local students to look up their exam results, at http://tracuu.hanoi.edu.vn, http://hanoiedu.vn/, and http://hanoiedu.vn/diemthi. * The second phase of the 2020 National High School Graduation Exam will take place on September 3 and 4 at 11 exam councils, with the participation of more than 26,000 students, mostly in the coronavirus epicentre in central Vietnam, along with others quarantined for having close contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases. As many as 265 officials and lecturers of higher education institutions will be deployed to perform tasks during the exam. By Trend The OSCE-Uzbekistan relationship has improved to historically high levels in the past few years, OSCE Project Co-Ordinator in Uzbekistan, Ambassador John MacGregor told Trend in an interview. As he said, relationship has improved helped by high level visits to Tashkent and Samarkand especially in 2019, including the highest level Chairperson-in-Office and other top officials such as the Secretary General, and 20 OSCE Ambassadors who were permanent representatives of their States to the OSCE in Vienna. At the same time, senior Uzbekistan Government officials have fully represented Uzbekistan at OSCE bodies, including at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Ministerial Council, and Permanent Council. It is noteworthy that Deputy Foreign Minister Sherzod Asadov had received the highly prestigious appointment as Chairman of the OSCEs Economic and Environmental Committee during his final year as Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative to the OSCE in Vienna, said MacGregor. He stressed that the excellent relationship has allowed for excellent co-operation and collaboration on joint Uzbekistan-OSCE projects across many areas of government and society. Just to mention a few, those have included Justice reform, combating corruption, dealing with transnational threats such as illicit drugs, cyber threats, terrorism, and trafficking in persons, developing a new Electoral Code, promoting Young Women in Tech, support to improving digitalization of the economy and improving open data ecosystems, said MacGregor. According to John MacGregor, a common theme of the projects is that they are consistent with national priorities and with OSCE commitments, and they are all benefit the people of Uzbekistan. Finally, it is important to note that, in Uzbekistan, the OSCE projects are carried out by a dedicated team of 35 national staff, many of whom have more than 15 years of experience with the OSCE. In fact, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan has the smallest number of international staff, only four, of any OSCE field operation, MacGregor pointed out. This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here. MANILA Archbishop Oscar Cruz, an outspoken senior leader of the Philippine Catholic Church who railed against illegal gambling and challenged politicians with stinging commentaries, died on Aug. 26 at a hospital in metropolitan Manila. He was 85. The cause was complications of the coronavirus, the church said. Archbishop Cruz, a former president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines a powerful institution in this predominantly Catholic country used his influence to direct attention to social ills. Francis Pangilinan, a member of the Filipino Senate, described the archbishop as an activist who fought against corruption and other wrongs of society, not just from the pulpit but on the streets with the people. The ill-fated raid came under scrutiny not just because of the SEALs death but also because of the way it came together. Officials said that Trump and the White House short-circuited the typical process for approving such high-risk operations, with Trump granting authorization for the operation at a dinner meeting with military leaders and other senior administration officials. ST. LOUIS Former St. Louis Alderman Larry Arnowitz was sentenced Friday to a year in federal prison and six months of house arrest after he admitted misusing $21,180 in campaign funds for his home mortgage and other personal expenses. Arnowitz, 66, pleaded guilty to a mail fraud charge at a combined plea and sentencing hearing held by videoconference in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. He admitted defrauding donors to the Friends of Larry Arnowitz campaign committee from June 2015 to December 2019 by misleading them about the use of their money. He also admitted making cash withdrawals from his campaign account that he used for personal expenses, and using $5,000 to pay his personal mortgage. Arnowitz also took cash and at least one check from fundraising events, rather than depositing them in his campaign account and filed false campaign finance reports, Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith said in court. Arnowitz misused a total of about $21,180, Goldsmith said. Goldsmith said in a court filing that Arnowitz used his campaign account like his personal piggy bank. Your honor, I accept the responsibility for what Ive done. I want to get everybody paid back and move on and take care of my wife, Arnowitz said, his voice breaking. He has agreed to forfeit about $4,000 in his campaign account and will have to repay the rest of the loss. Arnowitz faced 12-18 months in prison under recommended federal sentencing guidelines. Defense lawyer Patrick Conroy asked for house arrest during the hearing and in a sentencing memo, saying Arnowitz had no prior convictions and his age and medical history put him at risk of contracting COVID-19 in prison. He also said his client was ashamed for having disgraced himself with this silly scheme. Goldsmith pointed out that Arnowitz lied to donors about the use of their money, falsified financial reports and initially lied to FBI agents investigating the case about what the money had been used for. He also said Arnowitz told investigators that the matter should be handled by the Missouri Ethics Commission with a small fine. Goldsmith said Arnowitz owed city residents his trust, having earned his livelihood from taxpayers for almost 45 years. Goldsmith said Arnowitz was employed in a number of patronage positions for decades before his election. U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark said the sentence was based on criminal conduct that consisted of many transactions lasting years and that defrauded a total 125 donors. He also questioned how much longer the scheme would have lasted if Arnowitz had not been caught. Arnowitz, D-12th Ward, was first elected in 2011. He was indicted Feb. 27 and resigned in March. Vicky Grass, 67, won a special election for Arnowitzs seat in June. Grass was formerly director of the city firefighters pension system. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Daniel Keane, who was granted bail, has not indicated a plea A man has been sent for trial accused of producing a metal rod and assaulting and robbing a taxi driver on a Dublin street. Daniel Keane (32) had a book of evidence served on him when he appeared before Dublin District Court. Judge Paula Murphy sent him forward for trial to the next sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Mr Keane, of Seagrave Park, Ratoath, Co Meath, is charged with producing a metal rod in a manner likely to intimidate another in the course of a dispute, robbing a taxi driver and assaulting him at St Anthony's Crescent, Crumlin, last December 7. A state solicitor said a book of evidence was ready and the DPP was consenting to the accused being returned for trial. Bail was extended, in the accused's own bond, with no cash lodgement required. There were no garda objections. Alibi Judge Murphy gave the accused the formal notice that he had 14 days to provide any alibi details to the prosecution. She ordered the prosecution to furnish the defence with copies of the accused's garda interview video. The judge also granted free legal aid after an application by defence solicitor Michael O'Connor, who said Mr Keane's financial circumstances had not changed since his last court appearance. The accused was remanded on bail to appear in the circuit court on October 16. He has not yet entered pleas to the charges. On his first appearance last year, Garda Martin Singh said Mr Keane made no reply to the robbery charge after caution. The further charges were subsequently brought. Under bail conditions, Mr Keane is to have no contact, directly or indirectly with the alleged victim. Syracuse, N.Y. -- Kristin Palazzoli has a pottery shed in her yard. She added it as part of her back-to-school plan for her 13-year-old son, David Tyrel. Her friend, who is a doctor and a mom of three boys in the same school district, is also part of that plan. Palazzoli and Virginia Nelson formed a pod with another family in the Fayetteville-Manlius School District. Palazzoli will handle the art. Nelson, an anesthesiologist, will provide science help. The other family has math covered. They are among 150 Central New York families Palazzoli has matched together. They are all entries on a vast spreadsheet she created to help parents muddle through coronavirus pandemic schooling while keeping the risk of coronavirus exposure low. Some parents are looking at pods as a way to share child-care coverage on non-school days in districts with hybrid schedules. Others plan to meet in pods every day while using their districts virtual schooling option. Tutors are offering to create subject or project-specific pods. And some families are hiring tutors or teachers to run the pods all day. Like so many pandemic solutions, this one has risen up out of a need that never existed before. School-aged kids were in school all day. Now, thousands are home three days a week. Parents who work need help for when their kids are home and they are not. And parents who can work from home or have small children already home need help, too. After months and months at home with each other, kids are sick of their moms and dads telling them what to do; anyone else may be more help with math at this point. Learning pods are being employed across the region and the nation in different ways. Copod.com is a national pod matching site that helps parents find other parents who want to work together in their zip code. Alice Locatelli, a Chicago-based IT specialist and mother, designed the site to help friends trying to find pandemic schooling solutions. More than 1,000 families across the nation have used the dating-like free website to get matched up with other families. Most people really just want to not repeat the spring. Lets just do a little better, Locatelli said. Her site is free and has been used by parents as well as school districts looking for creative solutions. But some worry pods will only further widen the education gap that has been exposed by the coronavirus. Some pods hire tutors and nannies. In big cities, high-end private companies are offering pod tutors for six-figure price-tags. In Central New York, most of the pods are simply parents trying to build insurance that the next six months are not as chaotic as the spring when students, teachers and parents were suddenly thrust into distance learning with no preparation. In Palazzolis personal pod, she and the other families havent decided yet whether theyll share teaching duties on the off days during the districts hybrid schedule, or save it for when the district ends up shutting down because of an exposure, which Palazzoli considers inevitable. She ended up being the pod-matcher by accident: She and other moms were talking on Facebook about what they were going to do when school started back up and what they were planning to do if it shuts down again. Not everyone agreed on what they needed a pod for, but everyone was certain they didnt want to go it alone, again, like they did in the spring. In the inevitability that we get shut down, how do we plan ahead? Palazzoli said. She created a new Facebook group: East Side Moms Microschools and offered to match up anyone who needed with other families. More than 150 have asked for her help. Palazzoli tries to match age, school district and ideas about risk exposure. She also tries to put parents with different career backgrounds together. Two doctor moms, for instance, might be encouraged to split up and spread their science knowledge around. When she floated this idea by me, I said, Can I be in your pod? said Nelson, Palazzolis friend. The anesthesiologist has three boys in eight, ninth and eleventh grade at F-M. The end of last year was difficult, trying to juggle work and keep the kids on task, said Nelson, who works at a hospital and has a private clinic. I feel like we were only partially successful. Jennifer and Bill Reed and their daughters, Sawyer and Sophia. The family formed a learning pod with two other families to help with the school load. Jennifer Reed still isnt sure whether her daughters Sophia and Sawyer will go to school in-person for some of the week or learn completely online. But either way, she and two other families have formed a pod that will help create routine during the non-school days. The girls are going into third and fifth grade in the East Syracuse Minoa District. Palazzoli helped Reed set up a pod with two other families who are cautious, too, about how much exposure their family has to unknown Covid-19 risk. We dont hidey hole away, Reed said, but theyre cautious and worried about families who may not take the virus risk as seriously. A pod seemed like the best option to give her girls some social interaction while still protecting them. The other two families in her pod have kids that her girls already play with and who plan to follow the school curriculum. Reed has several occupations that are all flexible: graphic designer, photographer and nurse, so she can help out more when one of the other parents has to work. Parents helping other parents out seems a perfect solution for the chaos of pandemic schooling. But in New York, government regulations drop pods into a gray area. Amanda Burt thought she had the answer to her schooling and child-care problem. The educator and two other families had planned to hire a recent college graduate they knew with a teaching degree to watch and educate their kids while they were at all at work. The families decided to pay her as much as shed make a substitute in their district, splitting it between the three families. But Burt quickly found out that her idea was not exactly legal. Anyone who provides care to three or more unrelated children for more than two hours a day needs to be licensed by New York State. Burt has three kids, so splitting that teacher with even one family would mean she was breaking the law. I couldnt have a good conscience about asking her to do something thats illegal, Burt said. Shes called local and state representatives, and Gov. Andrew Cuomos office, telling them families need a child-care waiver so they can help each other. The state regulations are meant to ensure that kids are safe at day care, after-school programs and camps. No one had dreamed up how to regulate pandemic schooling pods because no one needed to. Beth Henderson has gotten dozens of calls in the past few weeks from people trying to figure out what they can and cant do. Were telling parents to make decisions in the best interest of your child, said Henderson, who works for Child Care Solutions. The Onondaga County agency contracts with the state Office for Children and Family Services to inspect and license child-care facilities. Its (the agencys) last goal to close programs that are working for people, Henderson said. That was the message Burt got when she asked the state about her pod plan: Its not exactly legal, but you should be okay. Burt, though, worried that the young woman she planned to hire, who expects to be a teacher in the coming years, could get in serious trouble. So for now, Burts pod will not happen. And she has no real solution for how to care for her three girls, ages 7-11, while she and her husband are at work. We need a waiver from the governor, she said. Theresa Stowell thought she had found her perfect solution, too, when she found out not everyone worries about Covid-19 exposure the way her family does. The Baldwinsville mom and her husband decided it would be best for their son, Liam, to do first grade online. Im in the camp that schools are almost impossible to keep safe, Stowell said. But her son missed playing with other kids so much. So she decided to bring her neighbor into her bubble. Liam already played with the kids and they needed child care, too. The families decided theyd share a nanny or sitter and split the cost. We were happy to find that magical unicorn next door, Stowell said. The two families thought theyd found someone perfect for the job, too, but she wasnt willing to limit her other jobs, which Stowell worried would raise familys risk for coronavirus exposure. They are still looking for help. Chelsea Lembo. Shes a tutor who is setting up several different services, including for pods. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com Some only need part-time help. Thats the gap Chelsea Lembo is hoping to fill. The former teacher, certified in elementary education, is offering tutoring for families and pods, and projects designed to be done by pods. She will meet with individual kids or pods online or in-person, but hopes most of the in-person work is outdoor projects that focus on learning about science and nature. Lembo said she plans to offer both help for students who are struggling with pandemic learning and enrichment for students and families that feel like they are missing out. Shell sell her services in packages that run can be used over time. For example, a four-hour tutoring package would be about $200. Melissa Gardiner, a musician and mother who has been working from home, said shes looking at every option to keep her 9-year-old son interested in learning. In normal times, he would be a fourth-grader at Syracuse Latin School. But hell be learning at home until at least October because the city district decided to start the fall classes online. He craves time with kids his own age and Gardiner needs help keeping him busy. Shes thinking about creating a group with some children in her extended family and hiring Lembo to do some outdoor projects. She wants to limit his screen time because so much of his schoolwork will be done on a screen. But really, shes just hoping the fall is better than the spring. Were just taking it one day at a time, like everyone else, she said. Are you a parent or teacher who wants to tell your back-to-school story? Marnie Eisenstadt wants to talk to you: email | Twitter| Facebook | 315-470-2246 thanked his hardworking team at as the electric car makers market cap reached $420 billion which is equal to the next top five carmakers combined together. Musk took to Twitter, thanking the engineers and other workers. "Thanks to a smart and hardworking team at These sure are wild times " Tesla even surpassed Johnson & Johnson in terms of market cap. There are only seven in the S&P 500 index worth more, including Visa at $447 billion and Apple at $2.16 trillion, reports Barrons.com. About two months ago, the EV maker was at $200 billion. It first hit $100 billion in January. With factories in the US and Shanghai, China, and another under construction in Berlin, Germany, Tesla has said that it will "comfortably" reach 500,000 electric vehicle deliveries in 2020. Although this is less than 5 per cent of Toyota and Volkswagen sales, the company now accounts for 41 per cent of the value of the world's top 12 carmakers. Tesla earlier reported profits for the fourth straight quarter, making $6 billion in revenue and $104 million in net income in its June quarter even as the Covid-19 pandemic shut its factories. The Palo Alto-based company said it delivered 90,650 vehicles in the June quarter. It achieved the feat despite its Fremont, California based factory was out of action owing to Covid-19 lockdown for most part of the quarter. Tesla delivered 80,050 Model 3s and Model Ys in the quarter and 10,600 of its Model S luxury sedan and Model X SUVs. "In the second quarter, we produced over 82,000 vehicles and delivered approximately 90,650 vehicles," Tesla said in a statement. --IANS wh/na (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) - Nguyen Van Chien worships seven gods and his faith bars him from cutting whatever he was born with - He believes if he cuts or washes his hair, he might drop and die - The 92-year-old man revealed he does not comb his hair and only ties it in an orange turban to look presentable - His son also shares his beliefs and fears that if he touches his hair, he might die too Nguyen Van Chien, a 92-year-old man from Vietnam might have taken the no shave challenge a bit too far. The elderly guy said his faith does not allow him to cut whatever he was born with and has therefore never seen the inside of a barbershop for 80 years. READ ALSO: Jerusalema: SA hitsong racks up 100m views on YouTube READ ALSO: Ella's baby daddy says he's fine with daughter referring to Jowie Irungu as dad According to Van, he also has not washed his dreadlocks for those eight decades over the fear of losing his life. The nonagenarian told Reuters he coils his hair and ties it up using a scarf whenever he wants to look neat and presentable. The 92-year-old added that he cannot dare use a comb to straighten, detangle or style his tresses because it goes against his seven gods and nine powers. READ ALSO: 5 tasteful photos of Migori governor's hot daughter Rosalie Okoth READ ALSO: Lionel Messi: Barcelona fans want Argentine star to remain at Camp Nou "I believe if I cut my hair I will die. I dare not change anything, not even combing it," Van said. The Vietnamese national revealed back when he was in school, management asked him to cut off his hair and since that went against his faith, he left and never looked back. At some point in his life, Van had nice thick hair that had a fine black colour. He would comb it whenever he needed to look presentable. READ ALSO: Kujipanga: DP Ruto akutana na aliyekuwa mwandani wa rais mstaafu Moi However, things changed when he believed he was called to serve the purpose of his deity. The mans son also subscribes to the same faith and said he once witnessed a man die after attempting to use a string to reattach his hair. Meanwhile, Ella Musangi, Jowie's new flame has been praised by her baby daddy as a kind and upright woman. Ella Musangi's first husband David. Photo: David bin Salem Source: Original David bin Salem said he is not opposed to Jowie referring to himself as his daughter's second father. He acknowledged that the ex-remandee was officially his little girl's stepdad by virtue of marrying Ella. They are married so that does not change the status of things but remember, upon marriage, the stepdad has a right to be called the childs father, the dad said. 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 started my business with Ksh 1600, it's now worth Ksh 750,000 | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke This article first appeared on the Boston Business Journals website. The original location of Annas Taqueria, the popular quick-service Mexican food chain, has closed. The store, located on Beacon Street in Brookline, first opened in 1995. It is incredibly sad to close our original Annas Taqueria location where weve made memories with so many of you, but we hope youll continue to order your favorites from our Harvard Street shop just a few blocks away, and from our other locations throughout the Boston area, said a note posted on the door and circulated on social media. Were grateful for a great relationship with our landlord at 1412 Beacon St., and cant wait to see what business moves into this space; we wish them the same success and experience that we had here, said the note, which was signed The Annas Taqueria Team. The chain has other locations in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville and Newton. Most of them remain open, with the exception of the ones at MITs Stratton Center in Cambridge and Bostons Prudential Center. Annas Taqueria looks forward to reopening both spots when it makes sense financially, the company said in a statement. According to the statement, the closure of the chains original location is not due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the result of its lease ending in December 2020. While this was an incredibly difficult decision to come to, it is one weve been thinking about for a long time now, Betsy Kamio, the owner of Annas Taqueria, said in a statement. The Brookline community has embraced Annas for 25 years, and while we know this locations closure will come as a disappointment to some, we are grateful to have our Harvard Street store just seven blocks away. The company is consolidating services at its seven other Greater Boston locations, in part due to the rise in food delivery apps, the company said in its statement. The late Mike Kamio started Annas Taqueria in the Brookline location. An early adopter of sustainable food industry practices, such as converting the companys trucks to run on vegetable oil, he died suddenly in February 2019. The two most important qualities for a restaurant owner to have are persistence and a rapport with his or her neighbors, he said in 2011. Youre not just a store, youre part of a community, he said. The northern quoll, one of Australia's most adorable and endangered native carnivores, appears to be adapted to dramatically different landscapes - which may be key to the species' survival. University of Queensland PhD candidate Pietro Viacava co-led a study that found similarities between northern quoll skulls across a 5000 kilometre range, which has raised hopes scientists will be able to cross-breed isolated populations. Northern quolls are in danger - a lot has been thrown at them. They've been victims of a devastating cane toad invasion, increases in bushfires and habitat fragmentation, all while facing stiff competition from other carnivores such as dingoes and cats. The problem we are facing with conserving the northern quoll is that there may be too little genetic diversity in these handful of remaining populations, scattered across Australia. Pietro Viacava, Study Co-Lead and PhD Candidate, University of Queensland "If we cross-bred them, we might run the risk that they wouldn't be ideally suited to these diverse environments. "Their skulls, for example, might not be properly adapted to eat local prey, as it differs across Australia. "Luckily, this doesn't seem to be the case - these quolls seem to be incredibly versatile." The research team used a technique known as 'geometric morphometrics' to characterise skull shape variation in museum specimens of northern quolls. They looked for shape differences between populations, or whether environmental conditions coincided with changes in skull shape. Dr Vera Weisbecker from the Flinders University College of Science and Engineering supervised the study, and said the results appeared to be a win for northern quoll conservation. "Quoll skull shapes were mostly similar across their entire range, although the shapes did vary with the size of the animals," Dr Weisbecker said. "This means, for example, that a quoll skull from Pilbara region in WA looked nearly the same as a similar-sized one from south-eastern Queensland, 5000 kilometres apart. "Although other parts of the animal's body and genetic factors need to be considered, we will most likely be able to breed animals from different populations for conservation without losing adaptations to feeding." However, there is also a much less positive potential explanation for the results. "Scientists have long suspected that marsupial mammals - such as quolls, kangaroos and koalas - are seriously limited in the degree to which they can adapt their skull and skeleton," Dr Weisbecker said. "This is because newborn marsupials require a specifically shaped snout to be able to latch onto the mother's teat. "In that case, what we see may actually be a serious limitation on the ability of quolls to adapt, rather than the much more hopeful multipurpose solution we propose." To further explore this possibility, the team is now looking at how closely related species of antechinus - smaller quoll relatives - differ in skull shape. Senator Lamar Alexander said on Friday that Tennessee could receive up to 1 million new rapid COVID tests during October. He said, The Trump Administration has announced that during the next three months the federal government will help make available 150 million new Abbott COVID-19 antigen diagnostic tests costing $5 each that deliver rapid results in 15 minutes. This could mean as many as one million additional tests just during October for use in Tennessee hospitals, doctors offices and other health care settings to help schools, colleges, child care centers and workplaces continue to safely reopen. Until there are more treatments and a vaccine, such a large number of cheap and reliable rapid tests is one of the biggest steps yet toward giving Americans more confidence to go back to school, back to work and out to eat." The Pentagon is dramatically cutting the number of troops stationed in Iraq, according to US officials. The Wall Street Journal reports that the American military presence in the country will fall by one third to approximately 3,500 troops over the next two or three months. It is expected that President Donald Trump will promote the move as evidence that he is fulfilling a promise to wind down US involvement overseas in what he calls endless wars. The withdrawal would bring the number of US military personnel in Iraq to the approximate level it was in 2015 near the start of the fight against Islamic State. Any reduction in forces would be a careful balancing act to prevent a repeat of 2011 when a withdrawal led to a security vacuum allowing the rise of Islamic State across much of the northern part of the country. Neither the US nor Iraq wants to see a repeat of that, and the Iraqi government is keenly aware of the existence of sleeper sells and small groups of fighters active in the country and in neighbouring Syria. The Pentagon is pulled between two objectives reducing its presence in the Middle East, while maintaining a pressure on Iran; and shifting its focus towards building a stronger presence in Asia to counter China. The president is keen to show progress in bringing American troops home. Those returning from Iraq would add to previous reductions in Afghanistan and at permanent bases in Germany. A communique issued by the US and Iraq last week indicated that troop cuts were on the horizon when it noted that the mission in Iraq had shifted from combatting Islamic State to training Iraqi forces, which requires fewer personnel. There are currently 5,200 US troops stationed across the country. January's missile strike on the al-Asad airbase by Iran began a new mission phase focussed on hardening US positions against attacks and withdrawing from a number of Iraqi bases. NATO and coalition troops from other countries will remain in the country to train Iraqi troops. US troops have been stationed in Iraq since the 2003 invasion. August 28, 2020 Philips introduces Affiniti CVx and Release 7.0 of EPIQ CVx with breakthrough interventional and productivity features to support cardiology departments managing everyday challenges Philips debuts impactful solutions in cardiology at ESC 2020 (Aug 29 - Sept 1) Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, announced today the latest addition to its portfolio of dedicated cardiovascular ultrasound solutions - Affiniti CVx - [1] for increased productivity. The system aims to support cardiology departments in delivering better care to more patients with increased efficiency and throughput. With increasing patient volumes due to higher cardiac disease burden, clinicians are being asked to do more in less time and with fewer resources. The new Affiniti CVx enables a tailored workflow for cardiologists by integrating with a common platform that was first introduced with EPIQ CVx, the Philips premium cardiology ultrasound system. Affiniti CVx includes a familiar configurable UI, many popular automated tools and the sharing of transducers, now including TEE transducers, across the Affiniti CVx and EPIQ CVx systems. Affiniti CVx will also feature AutoStrain technology, which has been shown to reduce strain analysis time by 70%. Together, these features will enable cardiology departments to standardize their ultrasound fleet for easier management, simplify cross-platform clinician training and reduce the total cost of ownership. At ESC 2020, Philips debuts its new Affiniti CVx and release 7.0 for EPIQ CVx cardiovascular ultrasound solutions, which include improvements to enhance confidence in diagnosis and procedures, as well as improve the user experience. "The COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgent need for nimble, user-friendly cardiac ultrasound solutions that can keep patients and healthcare providers safe while also generating the data needed to make confident decisions. With Release 7.0 of EPIQ CVx and Affiniti CVx, we've sharpened our focus on improving the cardiology experience by increasing the integration of our platforms to meet this demand," said Dr. Alexandra Goncalves, MD, MMSc, PhD, Cardiologist and Medical Officer for Cardiology and Personal Health at Philips. "Taken together, these releases help cardiology teams work faster and with greater precision and efficiency so that they can deliver the best possible heart care." Visit www.philips.com/affiniti-cvx for more information on Affiniti CVx, including a complete list of specifications. Increasing confidence with the EPIQ CVx Clinicians are needing to diagnose, plan treatments, monitor or follow up with patients more frequently. Philips EPIQ CVx provides a suite of features that can significantly reduce the time spent per patient, whether in the echo lab, at the patient bedside, or during procedures. Release 7.0 for EPIQ CVx and EPIQ CVxi continues Philips leadership in interventional echocardiography and will provide new ways to better appreciate morphology, to size devices, and reduce the overall procedure time. Industry-first dedicated tools such as 3D Auto LAA enable faster measurements of the left atrial appendage (LAA) from 3D increasing procedure efficiency. Cardiac TrueVue Color and Cardiac TrueVue Glass expand on the current Cardiac TrueVue photo realistic rendering by enhancing the visualization of flow, jet origin and morphology increasing clinician confidence. Updates to the AutoStrain technology are among many additional new features to improve diagnostic confidence. AutoStrain updates will enhance confidence and efficiency in strain measurements while creating a 70% time saving in the acquisition and processing of images. These capabilities build on automated tools for strain and right heart measurements released in 2019, which have proven especially valuable in monitoring heart health in COVID-19 patients. Philips at ESC The ESC Congress 2020 will be held virtually from August 29 to September 2. Visit Philips Live! at ESC 2020 to learn more about events that Philips is hosting at ESC, schedule a live meeting or demonstration with a Philips team member, watch videos of cases, and register for the Philips ESC symposium on pushing the boundaries of cardiac visualization with an innovative echo toolkit. For more information about the symposium and other events, as well as general information about Philips' presence at the ESC, visit www.philips.com/esc . [1] Affiniti CVx has not yet received a CE mark and will not be marketed, put into service or otherwise made available in the EU until CE mark is received. For further information, please contact: Hans Driessen Philips Global Press Office Tel. : +31 6 10610417 Email : hans.driessen@philips.com About Royal Philips Royal Philips. Attachment LONDON/ROME (Reuters) - British street artist Banksy is funding a boat crewed by volunteers to rescue refugees in the Mediterranean attempting to reach Europe from Africa. The boat, named Louise Michel after a French feminist anarchist, has been operational since last week. On Thursday it rescued 89 people, including 14 women and four children, from a rubber boat in distress, the group said on its website. The 89 migrants are still onboard the boat and waiting for a safe port to disembark. A former French Navy boat daubed in pink and white, the 30-metre long Louise Michel was bought with proceeds from the sale of Banksy artwork, the group said. The side of the vessel's cabin features an artwork of a girl holding a heart-shaped life buoy in his familiar stencilled style. The group said the vessel was captained and crewed by a team of rescue professionals drawn from across Europe. A PR agent who works for Banksy declined to comment. Banksy, a Bristol-born artist who keeps his identity a secret, is known for his political or social-commentary graffiti that has popped up in cities around the world. Last year one of his paintings depicting primates sitting in Britain's parliament sold for more than $12 million at auction. Banksy has highlighted the plight of refugees and migrants in past works. In 2018, he painted walls in Paris with murals on the theme of migration, and in 2015, he sent fixtures from his temporary "Dismaland" theme park in western England to an informal migrant camp in Calais, northern France. Later the same year he created a mural of the late Apple founder Steve Jobs at the location. (Reporting by Paul Sandle in London and Angelo Amante in Rome; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky and Frances Kerry) Fridays announced furloughs cap off a wave of layoffs and buyouts this week sweeping an array of US industries. MGM Resorts is laying off 18,000 people as an unchecked coronavirus pandemic leaves economic scars across a broad swath of industries in the United States, particularly those that rely on healthy crowds of people. The layoffs at MGM, which amount to about a quarter of its US staff of about 70,000, caps a wave of job cuts and buyouts this week across a broad array of industries. Economists warn that sizable layoffs will continue and any recovery is likely to falter as long as the virus rages and Congress does not come up with additional financial aid for the unemployed, as well as desperate state and local governments. We think recovery in the job market will be slow, Nancy Vanden Houten, lead economist at Oxford Economics, said. Ultimately, the recovery in the economy and the job market will depend on a medical solution to the coronavirus. In the near term, we think the lack of further federal support poses serious downside risks to the outlook. MGM furloughed 62,000 of its 70,000 employees when casinos in Nevada were forced to close on March 17. Many of them opened again in early June, but mandated capacity controls are in place. MGM, with properties in Mississippi, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York and overseas in Macao, has brought back workers, but with 50 percent capacity limits, fewer workers are needed. Two properties, one in New York and another in Las Vegas, are still closed. MGM said federal law requires the company to send layoff notices to employees that have been furloughed for six months. The company said on Friday that it will rehire workers when it can. Economists are unsure how many American jobs are being lost, permanently. Earlier on Friday, Coca-Cola said it was offering buyouts to 4,000 employees ahead of pending layoffs. Half of Coca-Colas sales come from stadiums, movie theatres and other places where people gather in large numbers venues that have been closed during the coronavirus pandemic. Revenue tumbled 28 percent in the Atlanta companys most recent quarter. United and American airlines, beset by plunging air travel, said they will cut thousands of jobs unless Washington provides more financial aid. Tech company Salesforce said this week it is cutting 1,000 jobs. Bed Bath & Beyond cut 2,800 positions. Those numbers represent only a fraction of the job losses besetting the US economy. Since late March, claims for unemployment benefits have exceeded one million in every week but one. On Thursday, the Labor Department reported another million Americans applied for unemployment benefits. More than 14.5 million are collecting traditional jobless benefits up from 1.7 million a year ago with no end in sight. Employers cut more than 22 million jobs in March and April as the outbreak brought normal business to a screeching halt. As economies slowly reopened, the economy generated more than nine million jobs in May, June and July. But that is still a huge shortfall in jobs. The steady drip of job losses may have already begun to play out in other crucial parts of the economy. Consumer confidence has tumbled to its lowest level since 2014, the Conference Board, a business research group, reported this week. Consumer spending makes up about 70 percent of the economic activity in the US, and is watched closely. The springtime layoffs were expected to be temporary. The workers seemed likely to be brought back once the health crisis eased. But Heidi Shierholz, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute, is worried that the recent wave of layoffs at big companies signals something more permanent. Were still in a terrible hole, Shierholz said. The fact that jobs growth is slowing is devastating. Former Iranian prison official Hamid Noury, on trial for war crimes before a court in the Swedish capital Stockholm, has since last summer been confronted with the testimony of witnesses. He denies any involvement in the mass executions of regime opponents in 1988 and denounces lies. Facing him some of those who survived death row. By Lena Bjurstrom, in Stockholm ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 26th Aug, 2020) The Education Affairs Office, EAO, at the Crown Prince Court in Abu Dhabi today launched "Teaching in the United Arab Emirates: 10 Lessons from TALIS" a new book that provides teachers in the UAE with practical guidance as they support the nations youth and prepare them for the world. Published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, the book builds on discussions from Qudwa 2019, a teachers forum organised by the EAO, where teachers, school leaders and decision-makers focused on how to build future-ready schools and develop the right global competencies among students. Identified through analysis of UAE data from the OECDs Teaching and Learning International Survey, TALIS, in 2018, these competencies will help students thrive in a globally competitive marketplace and increasingly complex society, ensuring that the UAEs youth receive high quality education, in-line with the governments objective to move towards a more knowledge-based and diversified economy. "During Qudwa 2019, the feedback we received from teachers and school leaders in the UAE was that teaching for global competence requires an update in teaching methods and a shift in mindset, to create a positive, everlasting change in our education system," said Alanood Al Kaabi, Education Programs Manager at the Education Affairs Office. "This book aims to support the UAE in its efforts to enhance the quality of its education system and strengthen the contribution of education and skills to the nation's socio-economic development." "By taking inspiration from education systems all over the world, this book reflects one of the fundamentals of a global outlook and of the UAE: valuing diversity. The diversity of our schools and our nation is a significant strength as we move into a complex, global future, and using this strength to stimulate curiosity and integrate the diverse perspectives of our community will be key to our teaching systems," she added. "Governments around the world are developing policies and initiatives to attract and retain the highest-quality teachers to the profession, and the United Arab Emirates has been at the forefront of this trend. Qudwa 2019 put teachers at the heart of the discussion about creating future-ready schools in the UAE. This reflects a national commitment to place teachers and teaching at the centre of the nation's education policies," Andreas Schleicher, Director of the OECD Directorate for Education and Skills, said. The 88-page book has been published in both English and Arabic and was developed for teachers and school leaders in the UAE following an in-depth analysis of TALIS 2018 data. It provides ten lessons for UAE educators on key areas to improve the quality of teaching in Emirati schools. Each section provides lessons, an introduction to the subject and a review of relevant academic research. The second section presents the data from TALIS 2018, explaining the current context in the UAE and in other participating countries. The final section provides practical resources for teachers including lesson plans, links to tools for the classroom and professional development and case studies from around the world to develop best practice. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As the fall and the winter seasons approach, a surge in coronavirus fatalities and cases are possible, an official from the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Thursday during a press conference in Denmark. Dr. Hans Henri Kluge, the WHO regional director for Europe, said that a recent increase in the number of cases among the younger age groups could represent a threat as young people will be in more close contact with the elder population. We have been seeing an increase in incidents in the younger age groups and the message has been consistently no one is invincible, said Kluge. We dont want to do unnecessary predictions, but it is definitely one of the options that at one point there will be more hospitalizations and an uptick in mortality. Kluge warned that while it might be that younger people indeed are not going to die from COVID-19, the virus is a tornado with a long tail and its a multi-organ disease, so the virus is really attacking the lungs but also the heart and other organs. The key message is: We know what has to be done so lets implement what needs to be done, the doctor added. For Kluge that means an increase in testing and contact tracing and for the people to follow the basic public health measures because ultimately its us who are to determine the course of the pandemic. Though Europe has seen a recent increase in cases, the situation is no where close to February, when multiple countries around the region declared a state of emergency and underwent national lockdowns. In February, we were caught by the speed and the devastation and the default option was to lock down and reboot, Kluge said. Now we are much more sophisticated in our knowledge of what works. It will be vital to monitor three factors as we approach the winter season, he said: The opening of the schools, the flu season and mortality rate in older people. Vigilance is the key word, Kluge said. Although we do not comment on the outcome of hearings, I assure you that we will respond to violations with the seriousness they deserve, he said, adding that his purpose was not to cast blame in pointing out social gatherings but to make the community aware of the consequences of its actions. Vietnams e-government has taken a big step forwards. The smart urban operation center and the reporting and data analysis system have been implemented on a trial basis and brought initial results. A UN report on e-government development in August 2017 July 2019 showed that Vietnam ranked 86th among 193 surveyed countries, a two-grade increase compared with the previous ranking. Vietnam ranks 24th out of 47 Asian countries in the e-government development level. In Southeast Asia, Vietnam ranks 6th among 11 countries. Vietnams general index is 0.6667, higher than the average index of the world and the region. Vietnam is among the countries at a high e-government development level. Regarding component indicators, Vietnam has seen great improvement in the telecommunication infrastructure index with a 31-grade promotion, improvement in human capital index with a 3-grade promotion. However, it has fallen by 22 grades in online service index. Vietnam ranks 24th out of 47 Asian countries in the e-government development level. In Southeast Asia, Vietnam ranks 6th among 11 countries. Vietnam was praised for its e-participation index (70th out of 193 countries) with the great efforts of taxation agencies in implementing tax e-declaration, e-payment and e-customs. With a 97th ranking in local online services and open data index, Vietnam is among the average countries. According to the Authority of Information Technology Application, the report doesnt fully reflect Vietnams great efforts in the period from August 2019 to now. MIC wants Vietnam to jump 10 grades in the e-government ranking for the next period. Five ministries are leading in the overall IT application index, including the Ministries of Finance, Industry and Trade, Information and Communications, Health and the State Bank of Vietnam. The five leading provinces in IT application index include Thua ThienHue, Da Nang, Binh Duong, Quang Ninh and HCM City. As of July 2020, 21 ministries, ministry-level agencies and government agencies and 55 central cities/provinces, or 82.61 percent of total, had LGSP (Local Government Service Platform). From early 2019 to the end of July 2020, 4.4 million transactions were carried out through NGSP (National Government Service Platform), which means 7,600 transactions a day. MIC estimates that the operation of NGSP helps save VND30.5 trillion for every administrative procedure. For birth certificate services and health insurance granting to children aged below six, NGSP helps save VND48.8 billion. At present, the rate of e-document exchange between state agencies nationwide is 88.53 percent. The average fourth-level online public service rate in the country is 15.91 percent. Nine ministries and agencies under the government, and 11 provinces and cities, have fourth-level online public services at over 30 percent. The rate is 100 percent for MIC and MOH. Regarding network safety and security, by July 2020, 44 percent of ministries, branches and localities have deployed 4-layer protection. The National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) has connected 38 SOCs (Security Operations Center). Trong Dat Chip-based ID cards proposed to improve compatibility with e-Government Major General To Van Hue, head of the Department for Administrative Management of Social Order under the Ministry of Public Security told local media about the ministrys plans to introduce chip-based identity cards. Survivors guilt is a fact of life along the Gulf Coast, but so is denial. Our hearts ache for those in Hurricane Lauras path even as we breathe a sigh of relief that Houston dodged a bullet. Even as we move on as if the danger is truly passed. Louisiana reported widespread destruction and four deaths as of late Thursday. Throughout the region, more than 880,000 people were without power. Toppled live oaks tangled with power lines in Lake Charles, where houses were reduced to piles of debris and a chemical plant caught fire. The pain, as we know all too well, will continue long after TV news crews leave. Long after the next storm forms in the Gulf. Our near-miss with Laura occurred three years after Harvey. Experts say peoples urgency to take action after a catastrophe fades after just one year. A sense of normalcy takes hold. A comforting blanket of false security. Houston is a little different. Our blanket is crisis itself, which happens with such regularity its become normal. Its become acceptable. Six chemical disasters rocked our city in one year. Imelda nearly matched Harveys previously unimagined rain totals in parts of Texas. Add the national crisis of coronavirus and economic fallout and it all blends together. Thats how Barrie Scardino Bradley seemed to feel in Beaumont on Wednesday when she made a driving tour before hunkering down. Downtown, it was hard to know how many buildings were just abandoned because of the economic downturn, or had businesses closed for Laura, she said in an interview. Its not that we dont know what needs to be done to safeguard our future. There have been academic reports, press conferences with fancy video presentations, news investigations and countless editorials in this newspaper. Getting it done is something else. Without the natural urgency that comes after a fresh bout with loss and destruction, were left with nothing more than vigilance to keep the priorities alive. We need it yesterday, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said this week of a coastal barrier. And hes right. Heres a list of top priorities and where they stand: Storm surge protection and large-scale detention? Nothing beyond plans. A storm surge up the Houston Ship Channel could soak the region in a toxic stew as floating shipping containers hammer chemical storage tanks. County Judge Lina Hidalgo released a statement calling for members of Congress to do everything in their power to fund a coastal barrier for Galveston Bay, now. Time is running out. This editorial board has backed the coastal spine known as the Ike Dike. The Army Corps of Engineers has revised its $23-31 billion proposal after pushback from coastal residents. The Galveston Bay Park Plan, according to a joint press release from the Army Corps and Rice Universitys SSPEED Center, would be a compatible line of defense. What about a third detention basin or restoring the prairie? No clear progress on those fronts, either. Better drainage? Voters approved a $2.5 billion bond to improve flood mitigation that could leverage matching federal funds. According to county figures, 141 of the more than 181 flood bond projects are already approved, though when they will be completed remains unclear. Environmental attorney Jim Blackburn laments, The thinking is, we just have to do what we were doing in the past but a lot more of it. Three funded city-led projects Inwood Forest Regional Detention, Lake Houston Gate Structure and the North Canal Diversion Channel stand out for collaboration, size and multiple benefits. Moving people out of the floodplain? Harris County has relocated or bought out 431 homes from families. A new, recently launched buyout program includes eight additional areas, mostly in low-income areas with non-white majorities. Over 680 more housing units are expected to be acquired and approximately 2,000 people relocated. Stronger rules for development and enforcement? Houston adopted a new standard after Harvey, requiring the base level of buildings two feet above what was the 500-year floodplain. Harris County adopted a similar standard. The county attorney is now authorized to go after violators without approval from commissioners court. Safe Housing? Many Harvey survivors have moved back home, and for some, at least theres a remodeled kitchen after so much pain. But a survey by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston found 1 in 5 of residents in Brazoria, Fort Bend, Harris and Montgomery counties live in some type of temporary housing, whether crowding in with family or renting while a home awaits repairs. Some Houstonians are still living with mold and doing their dishes in the bathtub. The legal battle between the Texas General Land Office and the city of Houston with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the background showcases the dysfunction behind a frustratingly small number of repaired houses since the January 2019 approval of the citys plan. While they fight, thousands of Houstonians wait for help years overdue. Thats unacceptable. Federal disaster recovery money has been found to favor those with more wealth. Houston and Harris County must break the mold. If we cant bring everyone along, all of us will be vulnerable to whatever the next disaster is. The close call with Hurricane Laura sent doomsday scenarios racing through all our minds. Hold on to that fear a little longer. And use it for good. What happened three years ago can happen again. And the moment we forget that is the moment it will. The food ministry on Friday said it is considering extending the implementation of ration card portability under the 'One Nation-One Ration Card' initiative beyond March 2021. This was discussed at a meeting of an empowered committee on public distribution system (PDS) reforms, chaired by Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey. The meeting was for review and approval of extension of the Integrated Management of PDS (IM-PDS), under which the 'One Nation-One Ration Card' plan is being implemented. IM-PDS is a portal that provides the technological platform for the inter-state portability of Under the 'One Nation-One Ration Card' initiative, eligible beneficiaries would be able to avail their entitled foodgrains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) from any fair price shop in the country using the same ration card. "With a view to ensuring that work done under the IM-PDS is continued and further strengthened, it is being considered for extension beyond March 2021," the ministry said in a statement. During the proposed extended period of IM-PDS, funding requirements of states and UTs would also be met, it added. Currently, 24 states and Union territories are integrated with IM-PDS for the 'One Nation-One Ration Card' (ONORC) initiative. Besides, the committee also reviewed the progress of fair price shop automation, Aadhaar generation/seeding and development of mobile application aimed to help migrant NFSA beneficiaries to register themselves and take the full benefit of ration card portability. The ministry is also planning to implement a national helpline number in various states and UTs to help the migrant beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) availing portability under the ONORC, the statement added. Top officials from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), National Informatics Centre (NIC) and food secretaries of four states and representatives from the IT ministry and state-owned FCI were present in the empowered committee meeting. Meanwhile, the food secretary held a meeting with the Food Corporation of India's (FCI) chairman and managing director and Central Warehousing Corporation MD and senior officer of the department to commemorate the 'Poshan Maah' organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The Poshan Maah is observed every year in September. As part of this, the food ministry, through its state-owned firms, has decided to organise activities as suggested by the women and child development ministry in various parts of the country to sensitise the target groups on the merits of nutritional security. (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.) Seoul, Aug 28 : South Korea and the US on Friday wrapped up their two-week summertime combined military exercise staged in a scaled-back manner due to the Covid-19 pandemic, officials said. The computer-simulated Combined Command Post Training (CCPT) began on August 18 as the first major exercise between the two countries this year after they called off their annual springtime exercise due to the global health crisis, reports Yonhap News Agency. The first part of the exercise, which ran until August 22, focused on how to defend the South against an invasion by North Korea, and the second part from Monday to Friday was based on a scenario of launching a counter-attack in response, according to the officials. The exercise was pushed back two days behind schedule, after a South Korean Army officer who was supposed to take part in the exercise tested positive for the coronavirus. This time, North Korea has not made any official responses to the combined exercise, though it has long lashed out at the joint program, claiming that it is a rehearsal for Pyongyang's invasion. No additional major combine exercises are scheduled for this year between Seoul and Washington, except for small-scale ones between or among units, the officials added. New Jersey Rep, Jeff Van Drew, who switched to the Republican Party after opposing President Donald Trumps impeachment, blasted his former political party Thursday in a speech at the GOP convention, claiming Democrats are pushing a socialist agenda and Joe Biden is a puppet of the far left. The party had moved from liberal to radical, said Van Drew, R-2nd Dist. When the Democrats tried to order me around, I was ready, willing and able to say I had enough with their radical socialist agenda. He claimed the Squad, the four progressive congresswoman of color led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, had taken over the Democratic Party and Biden would do their bidding. Joe Biden is being told what to do by the radicals running my former party, the same radicals trying to install him as their puppet president, Van Drew said. He said the Democrats had moved away from the beliefs he thought he shared with the party. The Democratic Party had been less accepting of American tradition, less believing in American exceptionalism, less supportive of traditional faith and family, he said. This was not the party I knew. Van Drew had no problem with that agenda when he was a Democrat, however. He sided with his party against a majority of Republicans 83% of the time and was a fairly reliable Democratic vote, according to Congressional Quarterly. On the eight highest-profile House bills in the 116th Congress, Van Drew voted yes along with almost every other member of the Democratic caucus. He even joined every other House Democrat in July 2019 and rebuked Trump for his racist comments that have legitimized and increased fear and hatred of new Americans and people of color. The lawmaker joined the GOP after becoming one of only two House Democrats to vote against both articles of impeachment against the president. He said he had been threatened with the loss of party support for re-election because of that position. Im from South Jersey and you better come at me with more than loud words and empty threats, Van Drew said. I met with President Trump and he made me feel more comfortable and welcome in the Oval Office than Nancy Pelosi ever made me feel in her caucus. A few days later I officially changed parties. His appearance at the convention was another reward for his party switch. Trump also fulfilled a promise and staged a boisterous political rally in Wildwood in January, at which time he praised Van Drew as a courageous leader. Now as a Republican, Van Drew often goes his own way. Just last weekend, he broke with the president and the House GOP leadership and was one of only 26 Republicans to support legislation providing $25 billion in funding for the U.S. Postal Service and rolling back service cuts blamed for delays in mail delivery. Van Drew has voted with Trump only 22% of the time since coming to Washington in 2019, according to Nate Silvers FiveThirtyEight. Thats less than any other House Republican, though hes the only one who spent the first 12 months of the current Congress as a Democrat. Still, his new Trump ties have made his congressional race more competitive, according to both the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections, two Washington-based publications that track House contests. Both rate him as no more than a 50-50 shot to defeat Democratic nominee Amy Kennedy, a member of the iconic Democratic family. The House Democrats political arm, which backed Van Drew over more progressive challengers two years ago, have made him a top target for defeat this fall. Jefferson Van Drews record makes one thing clear: he isnt really interested in fighting for folks in South Jersey, instead hes fighting for his own political future, relevancy, and fame and is willing to abandon his community to advance his personal agenda, said Christine Bennett, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Kennedy launched an online ad Thursday attacking Van Drews switch. My message to the people of South Jersey is dont be fooled, Kennedy said in a statement after Van Drews speech. The truth is that Jeff has changed. He made the choice to abandon the people of South Jersey to serve his own political career instead of the families he was elected to represent. And Gov. Phil Murphy sent out a tweet raising money for her. Tonight Jeff Van Drew gets his payback for abandoning our party and our values and joining the GOP, with a prime speaking role at the RNC. It's never been more clear that South Jersey needs @AmyKennedy715 in Congress. You can support her campaign here: https://t.co/gqo60HBqBR Phil Murphy (@PhilMurphyNJ) August 27, 2020 Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. But Orwell's sinister Spanish Soviet surveillance found its way into 1984 in more ways than even the author knew. For the spymaster who had tasked Crook with reporting on Orwell's every move was Hugh O'Donnell, codename: O'Brien. That's right; a decade before the publication of 1984, Orwell was hounded by a zealous spymaster with the exact same name as his novel's like-minded villain. And there was no way he could've known he was accidentally paying homage to his personal Soviet snoop. This information only came to light in the 2003 Orwell biography by historian (and Starbucks co-founder) Gordon Bowker, who got the info from still-classified KGB documents. Continue Reading Below Advertisement But wait! Like any ridiculously convoluted spy story, there's a little twist on the twist. Orwell geeks will know that he likely named O'Brien as a reference to his later boss, Brendan Bracker. He was the Irish-born head of Britain's Ministry of Information, the government's secretive propaganda wing, which had a Gestapo-like reputation for spying on their own people. So if there was anyone who might've dug deep enough to find the coincidental codename of Orwell's spy, it was the intended target of that literary burn. This means there's a chance that Bracker may have been the only person to have ever had a good chuckle while reading 1984. For more weird tangents and literary conspiracy theories, do follow Cedric on Twitter. Top Image: Wikimedia Commons / MGM Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes on Friday to social reformer Mahatma Ayyankali, saying his work towards social reforms and empowering the downtrodden will always inspire. "India remains indebted to greats like Mahatma Ayyankali. His work towards social reform and empowering the downtrodden will always inspire. Remembering him on his Jayanti. A few years ago, had attended a programme to mark his Jayanti. Here is my speech..., " he said in a tweet. The prime minister posted a link to the speech he had delivered at an event in 2014 to commemorate Mahatma Ayyankali. The social reformer was born on August 28, 1863 in present day Kerala. Also read: Atma Nirbhar Bharat: India should develop digital games inspired by its culture, folk tales, says PM Modi Also read: Why Modi govt's Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan would fail Raising their voice one more time against the constant decline of Congress, senior leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Kapil Sibal on Thursday said the party must hold elections to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and key organisational posts of state chiefs lest it continues to sit in the Opposition for the next 50 years. Azad, who was one of the signatories to the letter sent to party chief Sonia Gandhi asking her for sweeping changes in Congress, said, For the last many decades, we do not have elected bodies in the party. Maybe we should have pushed for it 10-15 yrs ago. Now we are losing elections after elections, and if we have to come back we need to strengthen our party by holding elections. If my party wants to be in opposition for the next 50 years, then there is no need for elections within the party, he told news agency ANI. A party veteran from Sanjay Gandhi days, Azad is the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha and his term ends in February 2021. He also led the party successfully in the 2002 Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking to ANI, Azad said that those opposing CWC elections are afraid of losing their positions as they got their posts via appointment cards. Those office-bearers or state unit presidents or block district presidents who attack our proposal know that they will be nowhere when elections happen. Whoever is genuinely invested in the Congress will welcome the letter. I have said that State, district and block president of the party should be elected by the party workers, he said. "An election has the benefit that when you fight elections, at least your party is 51 per cent behind you. Right now, the person who becomes president might not even have one per cent support. If CWC members are elected then they cannot be removed. So what is the problem, Ghulam Nabi Azad told ANI. Sibal, in an interview to Hindustan Times, said, If people have access to the letter, they will know it is not an attempt to belittle anyone, including the Gandhi family. In fact, we have appreciated the services rendered by the leadership thus far. The Congress party is at a historic low and the election results of 2014 and 2019 reflect that, Sibal added. The letter written to Sonia Gandhi by 23 Congress, leaders including MPs and former ministers, called for sweeping reforms, fair internal elections, collective decision-making and a full-time party chief. News 18 had earlier reported that during the CWC meeting on Monday, senior leaders took on the letter writers, including Azad, asking them what their real intention was in writing the note. They were asked as to why they couldnt discuss this at party meetings. When they replied that meetings were not held, immediately a list of the number of meetings called by Sonia Gandhi was read out. However, Sonia Gandhi reportedly reached out to Azad after the meeting and assured him that his concerns will be addressed. Queensland's top health official says the sheer number of people applying for medical exemptions to enter her state is 'unsustainable', following the death of an unborn twin in NSW. Dr Jeannette Young says a large volume of requests were coming from Victorians looking to escape lockdown, which was delaying the process further. Her comments come after she granted an exemption to a Ballina woman pregnant with twins who required emergency surgery on Thursday, but it came only after the expectant mother had waited 16 hours and then flown to Sydney. The woman's father Alan Watt said one of her twins had become anaemic during surgery and died at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. 'She was the healthy bub and unfortunately she was the one who passed away yesterday,' he sobbed on the phone to 4BC radio. He hasn't spoken with his daughter or her husband, but his wife is staying with the couple, who have had to rent an apartment in across the road from the hospital. Dr Jeannette Young (pictured) says a large volume of requests were coming from Victorians in lockdown looking for an escape, which was delaying the process further A heavily pregnant mother in NSW who was turned away from the Queensland border has lost one of her unborn twins (stock image) 'It's busted our family apart, I'm up here, her sisters and brothers are in Queensland and they're in Sydney,' Mr Watt told 4BC radio on Friday. Dr Young said emergency cases do not need to apply for COVID-19 exemptions and ambulances or helicopters won't be stopped from crossing the border. She said very few people have been granted other medical exemptions to enter, but she admits it's taking her too long to process genuine applicants among the flood of requests received. 'I believe I am a compassionate person but at this point in time we are working through the process. All of these exemptions come to me and I work through them,' Dr Young said. 'That's not sustainable because we are getting so many requests now, we are getting very large numbers of requests, particularly from Victorians who want to come up to Queensland because they don't want to remain in lockdown.' The chief health officer said she has had to rigorously question whether each interstate medical exemption applicant could not get the same heath care in their own state. 'I actually genuinely believe, and we do this in Queensland, that whenever possible you should get care close to where you live,' she said. Motorists are seen approaching a checkpoint at Coolangatta on the Queensland-New South Wales border earlier this month Motorists are stopped at a checkpoint at Coolangatta on the Queensland-New South Wales border earlier this month 'You shouldn't be travelling for hours to get care, so this applies to people who live in NSW.' Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said her 'compassionate state' was open for all Australians needing emergency medical care, but said she wasn't involved in assessing individual medical exemption applications. 'This is an absolutely tragedy about this young baby, I mean there's a woman who's grieving at the moment and many people know what that feels like,' the premier said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the case was 'terribly distressing' and called for more compassion from states that were implementing hard borders. 'It's important they're done with humanity, it's important they're done with compassion, it's important they're done with common sense and not only at looking at risk on one side of the ledger,' he said. 'Any Australian, wherever they are, who needs medical treatment should be able to access it, particularly in an emergency in any Australian hospital in any state they're in.' Ivanka Trump, daughter of U.S. President Donald Trump and White House senior adviser, addresses attendees as Trump prepares to deliver his acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination on the South Lawn of the White House August 27, 2020 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images President Donald Trump's eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, showered her father and his administration with praise in a speech on Thursday during the final night of the Republican National Convention. "To the hardworking men and women across america and here tonight, you are the reason my father fights with all his heart and all his might," Ivanka said. The president's daughter offered a more humanizing picture of the president than any other convention speaker was able to deliver. "I love you for being real, and I respect you for being effective," she said, addressing her father directly. "Washington has not changed Donald Trump, Donald Trump has changed Washington." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. President Donald Trump's eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, showered her father and his administration with praise in an impassioned and optimistic speech on Thursday during the final night of the Republican National Convention. "To the hardworking men and women across america and here tonight, you are the reason my father fights with all his heart and all his might, you are the reason he ran for president in the first place, and you are the reason he's going to keep fighting for four more years," she said. Chants of "four more years" broke out. The president's daughter offered a more humanizing picture of the president than any other convention speaker was able to deliver. She mentioned both personal anecdotes involving the president's grandchildren, and insight into Trump's governing style behind closed doors. "I love you for being real, and I respect you for being effective," Ivanka said, addressing her father directly. "Washington has not changed Donald Trump, Donald Trump has changed Washington." During her time in the White House, Ivanka has focused her efforts on job training and family-centered efforts, including child care and paid family leave. She helped shepherd a child tax credit into the 2017 Republican tax reform legislation, which otherwise heavily benefited corporations and the wealthiest Americans. Story continues "Four years ago, I told you my father would focus on making child care affordable and accessible," Ivanka said on Thursday night. "As part of Republican tax cuts, in 2019 alone, our child tax credit put over $2,000 into the pockets of 40 million American families." Ivanka has played an influential and controversial role in the White House, serving as a top West Wing adviser to the president an unprecedented position for the daughter of a US president. Her husband, Jared Kushner, has also long served as one of the president's closest and most trusted advisers, taking leadership on a vast array of issues, including Middle East peace efforts and criminal justice reform. The president has regularly praised his daughter and son-in-law's work in the administration and exaggerated Ivanka's achievements. In one such example, he's repeatedly falsely claimed that Ivanka created 15 million jobs. In reality, Ivanka has secured non-binding pledges from private companies to offer job training to about 15 million potential workers. While federal employees are barred from engaging in political activities, including campaigning, under the Hatch Act, Ivanka's office told the Associated Press that she had been approved to speak at the convention in her personal capacity as Trump's daughter. The Republican convention has been rife with apparent federal ethics law violations. Among the most prominent were a speech by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a naturalized ceremony staged for the convention and presided over by the acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf. Ivanka's speech comes as alleged tensions between herself and first lady Melania Trump are exposed in a forthcoming book by the first lady's former close friend, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff. In an excerpt from the book published by New York Magazine on Wednesday, Wolkoff writes that Melania repeatedly sought to minimize her stepdaughter's role in the presidential inauguration and in the White House. Read the original article on Business Insider Donald Trump attacked Democratic rival and touted own coronavirus-affected record in office in bid for second term. United States President Donald Trump formally accepted his renomination for president and blasted his rival, Democratic nominee Joe Biden in a lengthy speech as he rounded out the Republican National Convention. Speakers during the week painted a picture of Trump as inclusive of women, family, immigrants and Black Americans at a time of deep political division within the nation. The convention was being held as protests and violence shook Kenosha, Wisconsin in the wake of a police shooting of a Black man. A 17-year-old white teenager has been charged with murder after two other people were shot dead and another seriously wounded during the protests. Here are the latest updates: 03:40 GMT Fireworks display Trumps 70-minute speech in front of some 2,000 largely mask-less supporters, was capped with Trump 2020 spelled out in fireworks with the Washington monument as a backdrop. The fireworks continued as the crowd cheered and music including a rendition of Leonard Cohens Hallelujah was playing. A live Opera band then performed music from La Boheme. Fireworks display during the final event of the Republican National Convention on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, US [Kevin Lamarque/Reuters] 03:20 GMT Trump addresses Kenosha Trump addressed the violence in Kenosha, Wisconsin, a 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, prompting the Milwaukee Bucks an NBA team from Wisconsin to boycott a play-off game. 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. Kenosha, Wisconsin, a lakeside city has been rocked by civil unrest since Sunday, when police shot Jacob Blake, 29, in the back at close range [Brandon Bell/Getty Images/AFP] In the strongest possible terms, the Republican Party condemns the rioting, looting, arson and violence we have seen in Democrat-run cities all like Kenosha, Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago, and New York and many others Democrat-run, Trump said. If the Democrat Party wants to stand with anarchists, agitators, rioters, looters and flag burners, that is up to them, he added, but I, as your president, will not be a part of it. The Republican Party will remain the voice of the patriotic heroes who keep America safe and salute the American flag. Read more on whats happening in Kenosha here. 03:15 GMT Trump addresses key swing states Trump sprinkled into his convention speech mentions of swing states he needs to win in November, framing them as states Democratic nominee Joe Biden has betrayed. Castigating Biden as an enemy of the car industry, Trump is chiding Biden for supporting, among other trade deals, the North American Free Trade Agreement, which was responsible for US manufacturing jobs being sent to Mexico and overseas. Trump claimed that laid-off workers in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, among other states, didnt want Joe Bidens hollow words of empathy, they wanted their jobs back. He promised to create 10 million jobs in 10 months. Trump won Michigan and Pennsylvania, carried by Democrats for the previous six elections. Trump also carried Ohio in 2016, and would probably need to win it again to be re-elected. 03:15 GMT Trump on immigration Trump addressed another of his core topics: immigration. And again attacked Biden. Joe Biden recently raised his hand on the debate stage and promised to give away your healthcare dollars to illegal immigrants, he claimed. Trump delivers his acceptance speech as the 2020 Republican presidential nominee during the final event of the Republican National Convention [Carlos Barria/Reuters] He also supports deadly Sanctuary Cities that protect criminal aliens, he continued, He promised to end national security travel bans from Jihadist nations, and he pledged to increase refugee admissions by 700 percent, The Biden Plan would eliminate Americas borders in the middle of a global pandemic, he added. 03:00 GMT Trump appeals to evangelicals Trump said his rival, Democratic nominee Joe Biden is not the savior of Americas soul, and if given the chance, he will be the destroyer of American greatness. Trump said that Americans dont look to career politicians for salvation but instead put our faith in Almighty God. In June, Trump said I hope its true when asked about an evangelical claim that he had been appointed by God. Last August, Trump declared himself the chosen one, but later said he was joking. Evangelical Christians are among Trumps staunchest supporters. 02:50 GMT Trump attacks Joe Biden Trump attacked Democratic rival Joe Biden and asserted that a Biden victory would only worsen the crises besieging the country. At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas, Trump said. 02:45 GMT Trump addresses hurricane Trump mentioned Hurricane Laura, which recently lashed the Gulf Coast, killing at least half a dozen people. Trump said his thoughts are with the wonderful people who have just come through the wrath of Hurricane Laura. Laura came ashore early on Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane and caused widespread damage around Lake Charles, an industrial and casino city of 80,000 people. The storm left entire neighbourhoods in ruins and almost 900,000 homes and businesses without power. Laura is the most powerful storm to hit the US this year. Trump said he would visit the area this weekend. President Donald Trump speaking from the South Lawn of the White House on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention, in Washington, DC [AP Photo/Alex Brandon] 02:35 GMT Trump paints stark choice Trump painted a stark choice in the Novembers vote. This is the most important election in the history of our country. At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas. This election will decide whether we save the American Dream, or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny, he said. 02:30 GMT Trump to take the stage 02:15 GMT Trump changed Washington, Ivanka says Ivanka Trump says Washington hates her father because he has called out its hypocrisy. Instead of letting Washington change him, she says Trump changed Washington, and she says the US needs four more years of leadership from the warrior in the White House. White House Senior Adviser Ivanka Trump introducing her father US President Donald Trump ahead of delivering his acceptance speech at the 2020 Republican National Convention [Carlos Barria/Reuters] Introducing her father on the Republican National Conventions final night, Ivanka Trump also took a swipe at Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, whom she calls another empty vessel who will do whatever the media and the fringe of his party demands. She said she loves him for being real and respects him for being effective. 02:00 GMT Grim portrait of violence in America Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York painted a grim portrait of violence in America saying that a vote for Democrat Joe Biden is a vote for soft on crime policies and risks a continuation of the wave of lawlessness that he says is ravaging the country. Former US Vice President Joe Biden accepting the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination during a speech delivered for the largely virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware [Kevin Lamarque/Reuters] He says the riots in American cities give you a good view of what life would be like in a Biden administration, though the current violence is happening during Trumps administration. He says Trump is the one candidate who can be trusted to preserve the American way of life. 01:30 GMT Widow gives heartfelt tribute Ann Dorn, the widow of Dave Dorn, a retired St Louis police officer and security guard who was killed by looters during protests in June, gave a heartfelt tribute to her late husband. Looters were ransacking the shop. They shot and killed Dave in cold blood and livestreamed the execution and his last moments on earth, Dorn recalled. How did we get to this point where so many young people are so callous and indifferent towards human life? This isnt a video game where you can commit mayhem and then hit reset, she said. Two men have been charged in Dorns death. 01:05 GMT Undying support Jeff Van Drew a New Jersey congressman who switched from Democrat to Republican says he deserted his former party when it moved from liberal to radical. He said that Democratic nominee Joe Biden is not in control of his own candidacy and is being told what to do by the radicals running my former party. Van Drew broke with his party and voted against impeaching President Donald Trump. Last year, he switched parties to become a Republican, and promising Trump his undying support. 01:00 GMT Invisible enemy we didnt ask for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is talking more about the coronavirus pandemic than many of the speakers at the convention, but calling it an invisible enemy that we didnt ask for. He credits President Donald Trump for having unleashed a Marshall Plan for Main Street, referring to the coronavirus relief package for unemployed Americans and businesses. The coronavirus disease has infected over 5.8 million Americans and killed more than 180,000 people, the highest tally in the world. [Henry Ford Health System via AFP] But like many other speakers he referred to the pandemic as an unforeseen tragedy that has killed 180,000 Americans, not the virus that first swept across Europe and that Trump at first played down before assembling a White House task force. 00:55 GMT Republican National Convention opens with a prayer The Reverend Franklin Graham, one of President Trumps most prominent evangelical supporters, opened the fourth and final night of the Republican National Convention with a prayer for Trump and his family, asking God to unite our hearts to be one nation. Graham, the elder son of the Reverend Billy Graham, who built an evangelical empire and was for decades a spiritual adviser to presidents of both political parties before his death in 2018 is a fierce defender of Trump and his agenda. Our country is facing trouble, Graham said in his prayer, referencing tens of thousands in the path of a deadly storm. The pandemic, he said, has gripped millions of hearts with fear. Were divided. We have witnessed injustice. Anger and despair have flowed into the streets. We need your help. We need to hear your voice at this crucial hour. 00:50 GMT White House South Lawn, face masks not required The White House South Lawn had never provided the setting for a national political convention before but President Donald Trump is accepting the Republican presidential nomination there. Jumbo screens blared Trump Pence and white folding chairs were laid out close together for the 1,500 expected guests, not the recommended 6 feet apart. Supporters of US President Donald Trumps re-election campaign stand in a crowd expected to number more than 1500 people packing the South Lawn of the White House to attend the presidents acceptance speech [Kevin Lamarque/Reuters] Face masks are not required for the event, where Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump are set to speak, and many guests will not be tested for the coronavirus. The White House says those who will be in close proximity to Trump will be tested. 22:00 GMT Trumps big night President Donald Trump is expected to stand on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC tonight to accept his partys nomination for president, presenting himself as the last barrier protecting an American way of life under siege from radical forces. Trump is expected to paint an optimistic vision of the USs future if he were to win another term, including an eventual triumph over the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 180,000 people, left millions unemployed and rewritten many rules of society. US President Donald Trump speaking during the largely virtual 2020 Republican National Convention broadcast from Washington, US [2020 Republican National Convention/Handout via Reuters] We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years, Trump was expected to say, according to speech excerpts confirmed by his campaign. At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies or two agendas. The Democratic agenda, the speech excerpts claimed, is the most extreme set of proposals ever put forward by a major party nominee. 21:30 GMT Recap of Mike Pence speech Pence said the US needs four more years of Trump in the White House, and blasted Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. When you consider their agenda, its clear: Joe Biden would be nothing more than a Trojan horse for a radical left, Pence claimed. The choice in this election has never been clearer and the stakes have never been higher. US Vice President Mike Pence delivers his acceptance speech as the 2020 Republican vice presidential nominee during an event of the 2020 Republican National Convention held at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, US [Jonathan Ernst/Reuters] He also stuck to the theme of law and order, echoed by most speakers throughout the night. Joe Biden says America is systemically racist. And that law enforcement in America has a quote, implicit bias against minorities. And when asked whether hed support cutting funding to law enforcement, and he replied, Yes, absolutely.' The hard truth is you wont be safe in Joe Bidens America. Read more here. Actor Gurmeet Choudhary, who is currently shooting for a horror film, The Wife in Jaipur, suffered a back injury on the set on Friday. The injury happened during the shoot of an action sequence. According to a source close to the film production unit, Gurmeet was strapped to a cable for the stunt. He slipped and fell on a chair, injuring his lower back. Action scenes can be dangerous, and we take adequate measures to reduce all risks, but this was just a freak accident that you cannot really account for. Gurmeet was strapped to a cable and he just slipped. His lower back is injured and he is in quite a bit of pain," the source added. Medics were immediately called and the actor was given painkillers, the source added. The Wife is billed as an urban-horror film, co-starring Sayani Datta. West African heads of state, who are meeting on Friday, are likely to tell the junta that overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita that a transition to democratic rule should only last 12 months, according to an internal report from regional mediators seen by the Reuters news agency. The report by envoys from the West African group Ecowas says that President Keita should appoint a civilian to head the transition, Reuters reports. The Ecowas team, led by Nigerias former President Goodluck Jonathan, held talks earlier this week with the junta but there was no agreement. The military leaders had initially talked about a transition period lasting three years. Reuters also quotes the Ecowas report as saying that Mr Keita stepped down voluntarily "for the peace and reconciliation of Mali". 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 Mumbai, Aug 28 : Sushant Singh Rajput's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty for the first time on Friday appeared before the CBI's Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the death of the Bollywood actor. The Central Bureau of Investigation team after examining several other accused in the case has prepared a list of questions that it seeks answers from Rhea. A CBI source said the list contains more than 20 questions. The federal agency that registered the case against the actress, and her family among several others on August 6, will ask Rhea how she came in contact with the late actor; when they started dating; how was her relation with Sushant. The source said that the CBI will ask her what happened during the Europe trip; when she took Sushant for treatment and also to the healer; why she avoided the calls from Sushant's father when he asked for details of his treatment. Rhea would also be asked why she left Sushant on June 8, and why she ignored his messages and blocked his number. She will be also queried about why she changed the staff at the residence of the 34-year-old actor, who was found dead in his Bandra flat in Mumbai on June 14. She will also have to answer how she got the pins of the debit cards and internet banking of Sushant. The CBI will also be asking Rhea about when she came to know about the death of Sushant; who gave her the information; whether she visited Sushant's flat; when she visited Cooper hospital how she managed to see the body. The source said that the agency will also ask her about the alleged chats referring to drugs. The SIT arrived in Mumbai from Delhi along with the forensic team after the Supreme Court ordered for a federal agency probe. The CBI has so far questioned Rhea's brother Showik, flatmate Pithani, personal staff Neeraj Singh and Dipesh Sawant among others. The CBI registered the case against Rhea, her brother Showik, father Indrajit, mother Sandhya, Sushant's ex-manager Shruti Modi, house manager Samuel Miranda and unknown others after the case was transferred from the Bihar Police, who had registered the first FIR in the case on July 25 on a complaint by the deceased's father. Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Seeking another four years in the White House, US President Donald Trump has slammed Democratic rival Joe Bidens record as a shameful roll call of the most catastrophic betrayals and said his victory will endanger the nation and destroy the American greatness. Speaking from the South Lawn of the White House, Trump, 74, said that no one will be safe under a Biden administration. Launching a blistering attack on his November challenger, Trump said: Joe Biden is not the saviour of Americas soul. He is the destroyer of Americas jobs, and if given the chance, he will be the destroyer of American greatness. Bidens record is a shameful roll call of the most catastrophic betrayals and blunders in our lifetime. He has spent his entire career on the wrong side of history, Trump said in his acceptance speech after the Republican Party re-nominated him as its presidential candidate. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are being challenged by Biden and his Indian-origin running mate Senator Kamala Harris in the November 3 election. Biden voted for the NAFTA disaster, the single worst trade deal ever enacted; he supported Chinas entry into the World Trade Organisation, one of the greatest economic disasters of all time. After those Biden calamities, the United States lost 1 in 4 manufacturing jobs, Trump alleged. During the 2016 campaign, Trump had pledged to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Trump later replaced it with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Trump said that despite all of the American greatness as a nation, everything that the US has achieved is now endangered. This is the most important election in the history of our country. At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas, he said. This election will decide whether we save the American dream, or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny. It will decide whether we rapidly create millions of high paying jobs, or whether we crush our industries and send millions of these jobs overseas, as has foolishly been done for many decades, he said. Trump told Americans that their vote will decide whether they protect law-abiding Americans, or whether they give free rein to violent anarchists, agitators, and criminals who threaten the citizens. And this election will decide whether we will defend the American way of life, or whether we allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it, he said. Referring to the last weeks Democrat National Convention, Trump said that Biden and his party repeatedly assailed America as a land of racial, economic, and social injustice. So tonight, I ask you a very simple question: How can the Democrat Party ask to lead our country when it spends so much time tearing down our country? he asked. In the lefts backward view, they do not see America as the most free, just, and exceptional nation on earth. Instead, they see a wicked nation that must be punished for its sins. Our opponents say that redemption for you can only come from giving power to them. This is a tired anthem spoken by every repressive movement throughout history, he said. Trump alleged that for 47 years, Biden took the donations of blue-collar workers, gave them hugs and even kisses, and told them he felt their pain and then he flew back to Washington and voted to ship their jobs to China and many other distant lands. Joe Biden spent his entire career outsourcing the dreams of American Workers, offshoring their jobs, opening their borders, and sending their sons and daughters to fight in endless foreign wars, he alleged. Four years ago, I ran for President because I could not watch this betrayal of our country any longer. I could not sit by as career politicians let other countries take advantage of us on trade, borders, foreign policy and national defence, he said. Trump alleged that as vice president Biden supported the Trans Pacific Partnership which would have been a death sentence for the US auto industry. He repeatedly supported mass amnesty for illegal immigrants. He voted for the Iraq War; he opposed the mission to take out Osama bin Laden; he opposed killing (Qasem) Soleimani; he oversaw the rise of ISIS, and cheered the rise of China as a positive development for America and the world. Thats why China supports Joe Biden and desperately wants him to win, he said. China would own our country if Joe Biden got elected. Unlike Biden, I will hold them fully accountable for the tragedy they caused, Trump said. He called Biden a Trojan horse for socialism. Make no mistake, if you give power to Joe Biden, the radical left will defund Police Departments all across America. They will pass federal legislation to reduce law enforcement nationwide. They will make every city look like Democrat-run Portland, Oregon. No one will be safe in Bidens America, he said, referring to violent protests there. On November 3, he urged his countrymen to send the Democrats led by Biden a thundering message they will never forget! Joe Biden is weak. He takes his marching orders from liberal hypocrites who drive their cities into the ground while fleeing far from the scene of the wreckage. Catholic Bishop Gerardo Alminaza sprinkles holy water on the casket of slain Philippine activist Zara Alvarez during the funeral mass for the human rights worker in the central Philippine island of Negros, Aug. 26. 2020. Ten days after the murder of an activist in the Philippines, more than 60 human rights groups this week urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to investigate the alleged extrajudicial killings of thousands of drug suspects and human rights activists since 2016. The groups, including more than 30 from the Philippines, said that only an independent international investigation could hold violators accountable for the more than 8,000 people allegedly killed by police and security personnel. Since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in June 2016, the human rights situation in the Philippines has undergone a dramatic decline, the groups said in their Aug. 27 letter to the council. They urged member countries to take action as soon as next months 45th session meeting. [A]ctively work towards the adoption of a resolution establishing an independent international investigative mechanism on extrajudicial executions and other human rights violations committed in the Philippines since 2016, with a view to contributing to accountability, the letter said. Philippine officials did not immediately respond to a BenarNews request for comment on the letter. Laila Matar, deputy director for the United Nations office in Geneva of Human Rights Watch, one of the letters signatories, described the effort of the rights groups as a remarkable show of solidarity that members of the U.N. Human Rights Council should not ignore. The extrajudicial killings and other severe rights abuses in the Philippines continue unabated, and the groups endorsing this letter are saying enough is enough, Matar said. The groups sent the letter to the UNHRC a day after the burial of Zara Alvarez, a human rights worker whose killing in the central Philippine island of Negros on Aug. 17 triggered outrage at home and abroad. She was the 89th civilian killed on the island where stark social inequities have propelled the communist New Peoples Army to establish a stronghold. Agnes Callamard, a U.N. special rapporteur, expressed horror over the killing. My heart cries out for Zara Alvarez, for her family, her friends, her colleagues, the people she served, Callamard tweeted on Tuesday. What will it take for these killings to stop? How much more sorrow, grief, pain can the people endure? ... Enough. Alvarezs wasnt the only killing this month. On Aug. 10, Randall Echanis, an agrarian reform advocate and peace consultant for the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), was killed in his rented home in Metro Manila. Human rights activists alleged that Alvarez and Echanis may have been killed by state security forces, but presidential spokesman Harry Roque last week rejected their concerns. We denounce any form of violence perpetuated against citizens, including activists. We are a nation of laws and violence has no place in any civilized society, Roque said. To get justice for Alvarez, Echanis and the thousands of others similarly killed extrajudicially, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, in its June report on the Philippines, also stressed the need for an independent, impartial and effective investigations into the killings. Frequent and persistent attacks While the government has consistently denied national and international accusations of human rights abuses and killings in the context of the war on drugs in the Philippines, the rights groups in their letter to the U.N. council said they are all too common. Extrajudicial executions committed in the context of the war on drugs continue to take place with total impunity, the groups said, citing official figures placing the death toll at 8,663 people killed, with other estimates, including from the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, of more than triple that number. Meanwhile, the U.N. High Commissioner verified the killings of 208 human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists, including 30 women, between January 2015 and December 2019, the groups said. Attacks against human rights defenders and critics of the government including activists, journalists, church leaders, trade union leaders, indigenous and peasant leaders and individuals who are members of groups affiliated with the political left are frequent and persistent, they wrote in the letter to UNHRC. They said that there is virtually no accountability in the Philippines for unlawful killings allegedly committed by police and their associates for such killings. And when international organizations spotlight the killings, Duterte works overtime to get the issue off their agendas and even takes steps like withdrawing from these organizations, they said. For instance, when the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court opened a probe into the drug war killings, Duterte pulled the country out of the body. When U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet delivered her report on the Philippines in June, the government again outright denied its role in extrajudicial killings. The Duterte administration is once again pulling out all the stops to get the Philippines out of the spotlight and off the agenda of the Human Rights Council, said Matar, the Human Rights Watch official in Geneva. States should not buy into Manilas misleading campaign and instead demand accountability through a strong resolution that recognizes that the human rights situation in the Philippines has not improved and ens On the night of March 11, 1972, thousands of Black Americans from around the country Democrats, Republicans, socialists and nationalists alike packed into a high school gymnasium in Gary, Ind., for the first National Black Political Convention. The room brimmed with tension, as the high ideals of Black separatists were set to clash with the pragmatism of elected officials. A congressman was booed and jeered at. The NAACP denounced the convention for excluding white people. Shirley Chisholm, the first Black major-party presidential candidate, boycotted the event because the conveners couldnt decide whether to endorse her campaign. Then the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a close ally of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., took the stage. The assassinations of King and Malcolm X in the previous decade had delivered a tragic blow to the civil rights movement, and Jackson had come to Gary hoping to unify the community with a bold call. I dont want to be the gray shadow of a white elephant or the gray shadow of a white donkey, he said at the convention. I am a Black man, and I want a Black party. The aspiration of an independent Black political party never came to pass, but Jackson and other leaders galvanized the thousands of activists in Gary to put forth a platform meant to address the racial inequities of the day. Tensions among different political factions would weaken the assembly over time, but historians and organizers credit the convention with helping to achieve an almost threefold increase in the number of Black elected officials in this country over the following decade. Now, 48 years later, a group of Black Lives Matter organizers is looking to the Gary convention as a model for how they can take the energy and ideas of their protest movement into the halls of political power. On August 28, the Movement for Black Lives a coalition of organizations founded in 2014 in response to the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. aims to engage tens of thousands of Black voters in an online Black National Convention of its own. The Black Lives Matter movement has resisted coalescing around a single leader or a hierarchy. Instead, organizers see the convention as an acknowledgment that protest is but one way to push for police and other reforms, and that electoral politics needs to play a role as well. While a handful of Black Lives Matter activists have ascended to political office, the United States still has only three Black senators and zero Black governors, despite the gains after 1972. Story continues The event is designed to pay tribute to that raucous 1972 convention, and organizers have been in touch with attendees and others affiliated with the earlier convention. But this time, the event comes in the middle of an election year that once again has exposed the worst of Americas racial fault lines: Black Americans have found themselves having to choose between sheltering from Covid-19, which is killing them at a rate 2 times higher than white Americans, and taking to the streets to protest the police brutality that kills them at three times the rate of their white counterparts. Video footage this week showing a police officer shooting Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old from Kenosha, Wis., was the latest horror the country witnessed. Bobby Seale and Jesse Jackson at the National Black Political Convention There is no better time because were in the thick of it, says Rukia Lumumba, who co-leads the Movement for Black Lives Electoral Justice Project, which is overseeing the conference. Were not all going to be on the same page about [how to achieve] our freedom, but thats our North Star. And yet, the fact that the Gary delegates made many of the same demands that Black Lives Matter organizers are making today untrammeled voting rights, a reduction in the military budget, the abolition of the death penalty, an end to police violence goes to show that theres no guarantee of success. Looking back, Jackson now says his call for an independent Black party would be too divisive in the current political moment, and that todays Black organizers are wise to shy away from it. Weve evolved into a rainbow coalition multiethnic, multicultural, he says. An independent party would be limiting. The Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks from the floor of the 1972 National Black Political Convention. While applauding the new conventions aspirations, participants in and scholars of its 1972 predecessor also offered a cautionary note in recent interviews. They warned that social media can be an effective educational and organizing tool one they never had access to but that online attention should not be mistaken for political change. They emphasized the importance of unity, which they werent always able to maintain themselves. Perhaps most important, they argued that in order to achieve lasting change, organizers will need to understand the benefits of coordinating with other marginalized groups to elect more Black officials into the political system, while also working from the outside to hold those in power to account. Thats one lesson the Black Lives Matter activists seem to be taking from 1972 so far. Electoral politics is not something that we can neglect, Lumumba says. Unless we continue to experiment with governing, we will never see ourselves being free. The tradition of Black political conventions in the United States, historian William Pretzer told me over Zoom on a recent afternoon, goes back at least to meetings in the 1830s about the abolition of slavery. Then, as now, a more fundamental schism undergirded the debate: Should Black Americans make inroads within the system to enact change, or should they work to dismantle the status quo and assert their power by any means necessary? Especially after the assassinations of King and Malcolm X, this question became unavoidable, and some activists had the sense that they could not find the answer in a two-party system that remained overwhelmingly white. While they continued the protests because the end of segregation, of Jim Crow didnt mean equality obviously, it became pretty clear that the tradition of direct action [and] local protests wasnt going to have the impact that was needed, says Pretzer, who is a curator at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. So, in early 1971, several leaders of the civil rights movement notably Jackson, Imamu Amiri Baraka, Rep. Charles Diggs (D-Mich.), Coretta Scott King and Betty Shabazz decided to hold a convention to create a national platform for Black activism in the 70s. They partnered with Gary Mayor Richard Hatcher one of the first Black mayors of a large U.S. city and secured a local high school gymnasium to host the three-day affair. Diggs, representing the nascent Congressional Black Caucus, issued a news release in November 1971 announcing the convention, and a commission converged in Washington to draft a Black political agenda that would be debated at the convention and published afterward. An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people delegates selected by local organizations from Oregon to North Carolina traveled to Gary in March 1972. Many of them road-tripped and stayed at friends homes in Gary or in neighboring Chicago. It wasnt held in a high-rise hotel where people spent the night, says Leonard Moore, a professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of an account of the Gary convention. It was very much a grassroots effort, and that was intentional because they wanted to make sure the convention was accessible to everyone. The proceedings were meant to invite debate among the attendees. As speakers shuttled through the main stage, delegates who fit into the gym had stacks of writing pads taking copious notes on everything that happened, Ben Chavis, a leader from North Carolina, said in a 1989 interview for the television series Eyes on the Prize, which chronicled much of the civil rights movement. During intermissions, the delegations from the different states got together outside to decide their stances on the political items of the day. The Rev. Jesse Jackson talks to the media at the convention as Gary Mayor Richard G. Hatcher and writer-activist Amiri Baraka look on. Tensions inevitably broke out on a couple of occasions. The first instance of pandemonium arrived at the very beginning of the convention, when Diggs misread the crowd and gaveled down before everyone could submit their nominations for the person who would preside over the days proceedings. People were not looking for some Roberts Rule of Order to rule the day, Chavis recalled. We wanted an open convention, not a repressed convention. Coleman Young, who would go on to become the mayor of Detroit, almost caused the entire delegation of Michigan to walk out at one point because he disagreed with the leadership over a vote. After a weekend of discussions that spanned the condemnation of Israel as an apartheid state to the philosophical writings of Frantz Fanon, speeches by civil rights leaders and even musical performances, the convention adjourned with a Gary Declaration that outlined the political principles participants were committing themselves to for the rest of the decade. The declarations main message was that Black Americans needed to assert their self-determination and set their own independent agenda, rather than pining for representation from one of the major parties. Both parties have betrayed us whenever their interests conflicted with ours (which was most of the time), and whenever our forces were unorganized and dependent, quiescent and compliant, the declaration read. White politics seeks not to serve but to dominate and manipulate. On May 19, the conventions steering committee published a 68-page national Black political agenda, which included items such as calls for Black representation in Congress proportionate to the U.S. Black population, a halving of the defense and space budgets, and a government-guaranteed $6,500 income for four-person households. The conventions planners also set up a National Black Political Assembly, a loose body of leaders tasked with finalizing and implementing the agenda agreed upon at Gary. Within months, though, unity in that body dissipated. The CBC splintered from Black nationalists over differing positions on Israels involvement in Palestine, and it became apparent that without support from elected officials, Black nationalists didnt have anything practical or tangible to offer, Moore says. Other Black elected officials came to the realization that operating outside the party apparatus would make it difficult to deliver wins for their constituencies. Subsequent conventions took place in 1974 in Little Rock, Ark., and 1976 in Cincinnati, but they were significantly less advertised and poorly attended. Still, others point to a more long-lasting success: Over the next decade, the number of Black elected officials in all levels of government almost tripled, with a significant increase at the local level, according to Pretzer, who credits the 1972 convention with contributing to that. Haki Madhubuti, who was an Illinois delegate at the convention and founded Third World Press Foundation, the largest independent Black-owned press in the United States, points to the conventions workshops, which trained delegates in organizing, history and political theory. On the last day of the convention, I was feeling like I had been at a revival, Chavis recalled in the 1989 interview. The Gary Convention gave us all the step forward that was needed to prop us up and give us the renewed energy that we needed to go back home and to continue those struggles that we were all involved in. Although the leaders of the Movement for Black Lives convention began their planning last summer, spurred by the upcoming election year, the events of the past several months upended everything. As the coronavirus pandemic struck, the Detroit convention center they had hoped to secure as a venue became a makeshift hospital. The virus disparate effects on Black Americans and the months of national protest spurred by George Floyds death, however, also made it clear to organizers that the convention was necessary: We felt responsibility before, but now theres a mandate, says Jessica Byrd, a co-lead of the Electoral Justice Project and a founder of the Movement for Black Lives. (The convention is not affiliated with the Get Your Knee Off Our Necks March on Washington organized by Rev. Al Sharpton and planned for earlier the same day.) For Byrd, grief is something that unites the current generation of activists with the Gary generation. Some of the key headlines from that time were, Were tired of stepping over dead bodies. And so are we, she says. Our people are really dying: Theyre dying in hospitals. Theyre dying alone in their homes from coronavirus. And theyre also dying on 30-second camera clips at the hands of police officers. Like the movement elders from Gary did, the Black National Convention leaders have already hosted a preconvention meeting with more than 500 activists from 22 states, who joined Zoom calls over two days in early August to ratify a Black national agenda that the group will devote itself to implementing over the next few years, regardless of who wins the White House in November. That agenda, which Lumumba says will be unveiled at the convention, includes items such as reparations for the descendants of slaves, abolishing the police, reducing military funding, affordable, government-subsidized housing, universal health care and more equitable access to land and food. Although many Democrats have advocated for some of the movements policy goals, Lumumba says the organizers dont see themselves, or their causes, as well-represented in either party. Each activist who attended the preconvention drafting meeting will be charged with working to implement these policy goals at whatever level they can whether lobbying their local school board or lawmakers, or launching their own candidacies; the Movement for Black Lives intends to provide organizing tactics and political connections. Beyond marching on City Hall, Lumumba says, she hopes participants will become City Hall. The all-online, one-day convention will consist of three to four hours of speeches by Black elected officials, intellectuals and leaders of the movement. As of Thursday, organizers projected that more than 100,000 people would view the convention, which is free and open to the public, but they are trying to make sure their website can sustain their original goal of 4 million watchers. The virtual convention by necessity wont be as interactive as the in-person 1972 event. It will, however, be more diverse: The movement today includes many more women and members of the LGBTQ community, including Byrd. Angelica Ross, a Black trans actress, was selected as one of the conventions hosts. And the BNC co-leads Byrd, Lumumba and Kayla Reed, a racial justice organizer from St. Louis are making the event accessible to disabled Americans by hiring sign language interpreters, among other measures. Those who were involved in the civil rights movement in 1972 told me that after the livestream ends, it will be essential for the current movement to avoid infighting and to make sure those elected to office stick to the agenda articulated by the convention. Wendell Paris, who organized for voting rights in the South and still had to pay a poll tax to vote after the passage of the Voting Rights Act, spoke to the delegates in a virtual panel and emphasized the importance of coalition-building with people of goodwill, regardless of their color. He now advocates a less divisive approach than what Jackson pushed that evening in 1972: In politics, there are no permanent enemies, and there are no permanent friends, Paris said in an interview. Madhubuti wants the activists to acquaint themselves with the history of slavery as much as with the history of American colonization and Indigenous plunder. To that end, the organizers will need to ensure that workshops and trainings are ongoing after the convention is over, he says: You cannot organize effectively unless you can train people, unless you can educate people, unless you can employ people, unless you can protect people. Today, he says, social media makes that kind of education easier. We were lucky to have damn telephones in our homes! he says, while also pointing to the widespread dissemination of footage of injustices being perpetrated against Black Americans by the police. But other veterans warned that online enthusiasm can create the illusion of policy victories. Two thousand likes does not equal change, says Howard Fuller, a retired professor of education who was a delegate from North Carolina at the Gary convention. And what about the fact that, for the first time in history, a Black woman has a real chance of being elected vice president? For the veterans of the movement, its the culmination of a long path: Here is a Black woman who got involved in local politics as a district attorney, state attorney general and then U.S. senator. She makes us proud, Jackson told me. But, to some younger organizers, Harris history as a prosecutor and aversion to the police abolition stance indicates that their Black political agenda will take more than just representation or one liberal White House to achieve. Thats why they see accountability as another core tenet. The prosecutor doesnt abolish the police and neither does the president, really, Reed says. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on August 28, 2020 2020/08/28 Associated Press: First, according to Japanese media, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will soon announce his resignation due to health reasons. What is China's comment? The second question is about Xinjiang's epidemic prevention and control. Some Xinjiang residents reported that they were quarantined for longer than usual. Why has the Xinjiang government taken such strict measures? Zhao Lijian: On your first question, we have noted relevant reports. This is an internal matter of Japan and we have no comment on it. China and Japan are close neighbors. China is ready to work with Japan to continue to improve and develop bilateral relations. On your second question, this is not a diplomatic issue. With regard to the specific prevention and control measures taken in Xinjiang, relevant authorities already released information, which have also been covered by the media. You may ask them if you are interested. But I can tell you that back in July, after clusters of cases were reported in Xinjiang, China's relevant departments and the government of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, in line with the principle of putting people and life first, have taken effective prevention and control measures in time. Patients of all ethnic groups have received all medical treatment as needed, and concrete efforts have been made to ensure the safety and health of people of all ethnic groups. Their needs have been best attended to and they returned with their understanding, support and cooperation. At present, the epidemic situation in Xinjiang has greatly improved and the positive momentum is further strengthening. Macau Monthly: The US Defense Department said on August 27 that the Chinese military firing ballistic missiles to the South China Sea threatens regional peace and security. What is your comment? Zhao Lijian: Relevant training activities near the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea are routine arrangements conducted by the Chinese military off China's coast. They are not targeted at any country and have nothing to do with the South China Sea disputes. There is no basis or reason for the relevant party to make that accusation. I would like to point out that for quite some time, the US has frequently dispatched in large numbers advanced warships, fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft all the way to the South China Sea to project its power and engage in military provocations, undermining China's sovereignty and security interests as well as the normal order of navigation in the South China Sea. The US has become the saboteur and troublemaker of peace and stability in the South China Sea. The international community bears witness to these all. The US side should stop stirring up trouble and causing discord in the South China Sea and play a constructive role in safeguarding regional peace and stability. Reuters: China has suspended beef import from an Australian beef producer called John Dee Warwick. What's the foreign ministry's comment on this? Zhao Lijian: The relevant department has issued a notice on the specific case. You can check on that. Bloomberg: President Trump just delivered a speech at the Republican convention. He said among other things that China would own America if Joe Biden got elected, but if he himself was re-elected, America would no longer rely on China, and American businesses would leave China. Does the ministry have any comment on this? Zhao Lijian: We have no comment on the US presidential election, which is an internal affair. At the same time, we urge the US not to make an issue out of China in its election. Regarding what he said about China, I'd like to reiterate China's consistent and clear policy towards the US. We believe both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. We are committed to develop a bilateral relationship featuring no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. At the same time, we are firmly determined to defend national sovereignty, security and development interests. We urge the US to look at China and bilateral relations in an objective and rational light, work with us towards the same goal, manage differences, promote cooperation and bring China-US relations back onto the right track of coordination, cooperation and stability. As to the so-called relocation of production capacity you mentioned, it is political manipulation that puts partisan and personal interests above US national interests. It's neither viable nor realistic. In the globalized era, the perverse practice of going against the voluntary will of the vast business community, forcibly scrapping existing cooperation between countries, and coercing companies with regard to their normal investment and operation runs counter to the law of market economy and will eventually lead to self-harm. Such unpopular moves have been and will continue to be rejected and resisted by visionary people in China and the US. Shenzhen TV: The RCEP Ministerial Meeting was held via videolink on August 27. Can you give us details about the meeting? Zhao Lijian: The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministerial Meeting was held via videolink on August 27. A Joint Media Statement was issued after the meeting. It underscores the significant role that the RCEP Agreement could play in post-pandemic recovery efforts as well as in contributing to the growth and stability of the regional and global economy. It notes that the signing of the RCEP Agreement would enhance business confidence, contribute to trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific, strengthen the regional economic architecture and maintain the stability of the regional and global industrial and supply chains, as well as demonstrate the region's support for an open, inclusive, and rules-based multilateral trading system. The Ministers were pleased with the significant progress made towards finalizing the RCEP Agreement for signing this year as planned. China will continue supporting ASEAN centrality, working with all parties for the signing of the RCEP Agreement within this year, and playing an important role in maintaining stable regional and global economic development. AFP: The American Institute in Taiwan today released a photo of a Taiwanese fighter jet refueling midair from an American Air Force tanker. I wonder if you have any comment? Zhao Lijian: I haven't read reports on that. Our position is consistent and clear: we firmly oppose military ties and cooperation between the US and the Taiwan region. We urge the US to fully recognize the highly sensitive nature of the Taiwan question, strictly observe the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, properly handle Taiwan-related matters and stop sending erroneous signals to "Taiwan independence" separatists. TASS News Agency: On August 26, Kazakhstan's First President Nazarbayev suggested that Russia, China, the United States and the European Union participate in a quadrilateral summit where one of the main topics on the agenda should be the development of a multilateral agreement on a phased reduction in nuclear weapons. I wonder if China has any comment on this? Zhao Lijian: We appreciate the efforts by Kazakhstan and its First President Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev towards the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons. China stands consistently for the comprehensive prohibition and complete elimination of nuclear weapons. We hold that nuclear disarmament should follow the principle of maintaining global strategic stability and undiminished security for all and proceed in a pragmatic manner. Countries with the largest nuclear arsenal shoulder special and primary responsibilities in nuclear disarmament. Currently the international nuclear arms control system is faced with grave challenges. The US should act in a responsible attitude and respond to Russia's positive call for New START extension, and on that basis, further drastically reduce its nuclear stockpile to create conditions for other countries' participation in nuclear disarmament talks. North America's largest hemp CBD company is recognized for its rigorous standards for social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability BOULDER, Colo., Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - (TSX: CWEB) (OTCQX: CWBHF) Charlotte's Web Holdings, Inc. ("Charlotte's Web" or the "Company"), the hemp CBD market leader, today announces it has earned B Lab's B Corporation certification to further expand the ways in which the Company can fulfill its mission of benefitting the planet and all who live upon it. The Charlotte's Web family is honored to now join the B Corp community of more than 3,500 other B Corps in 150 industries and 74 countries around the world. Certified B Corporations (also referred to as B Corps) are for-profit companies that use the power of business to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. B Corps are required to consider the impact of their decisions on all stakeholders: customers, workers, communities, and the environment. These requirements are aligned with Charlotte's Web's socially conscious founding principles, and formalizes its commitment to environmental, social, and governance issues for stakeholders. In connection with the certification process, and as approved by the shareholders of the Company at the August 2019 annual general and special meeting, the Company has converted to a "benefit company" in accordance with the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). Since 2006, more than 60,000 companies globally have participated in the B Impact Assessment, but only 3,499 have been certified B Corp to date, which is indicative of the rigorous standards set by B Lab in order to become a certified B Corp. "Becoming a certified B Corp was important to Charlotte's Web as it aligns with our vision for conducting our business, from seed to shelf, to benefit the greater good in society, our environment, for our employees and our communities," said Deanie Elsner, Charlotte's Web's CEO. "This was a comprehensive, precise and illuminating process, teaching us where we are strong and where we can focus for continuing improvement." Founded in 2006, the B Corp community works toward reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities, and the creation of high-quality jobs with dignity and purpose. The formal certification process uses credible, comprehensive, transparent, and independent standards of social and environmental performance. "It's exciting to have such a pioneering company like Charlotte's Web join our B Corp Community," said Lindsey Wilson, B Lab's Business Development Manager, "This recognition formally acknowledges all the good work Charlotte's Web has been doing with regenerative and organic agriculture and its impressive history of support of community sectors in need." "We welcome Charlotte's Web to our global community of positive change makers, each a for-profit company, using the power of more conscious decision-making to serve the greater good for the planet and its people," said Kim Coupounas, B Corp's Global Ambassador. For more information on Charlotte's Web B Corp Certification: www.charlottesweb.com/bcorp To see our official "It's Our 'B' Day Postcard: www.charlottesweb.com/b-corp-bday-postcard About B Corporations Certified B Corporations are for-profit companies that use the power of business to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. They meet the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. To date, there are more than 3,400 B Corps in 150 industries and 74 countries around the world. About B Lab B Lab is a nonprofit that serves a global movement of people using business as a force for good. Their initiatives include B Corp Certification, administration of the B Impact Management programs, and advocacy for governance structures like the benefit corporation. B Lab's vision is of an inclusive and sustainable economy that creates a shared prosperity for all. About Charlotte's Web Holdings, Inc. Charlotte's Web Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Boulder, Colo., is the market leader in the production and distribution of innovative hemp-derived cannabidiol ("CBD") wellness products. The Company was founded by the Stanley Brothers with a mission to unleash the healing powers of botanicals with compassion and science, benefitting the planet and all who live upon it. The Company's premium quality products start with proprietary hemp genetics that are 100-percent American farm grown and responsibly manufactured into hemp-derived CBD extracts naturally containing a full spectrum of phytocannabinoids, including CBD, terpenes, flavonoids and other beneficial hemp compounds. Charlotte's Web product categories include CBD Oil tinctures (liquid products), CBD capsules , CBD topicals , as well as CBD pet products . Charlotte's Web hemp-derived CBD extracts are sold through select distributors, more than 21,000 brick and mortar retailers, and online through the Company's website at www.CharlottesWeb.com . The rate the Company pays for agricultural products reflects a fair and sustainable rate driving higher quality yield, encouraging regenerative farming practices, and supporting U.S. farming communities. Charlotte's Web Holdings, Inc. is a socially and environmentally conscious company and is committed to using business as a force for good and a catalyst for innovation. The Company weighs sound business decisions with consideration for how its efforts affect its employees, customers, the environment, and diverse communities, while maximizing profits and strengthening its brands which include Charlotte's Web, CBD Medic, CBD Clinic, and Harmony Hemp. The Company's management believes that its socially oriented actions have a positive impact on the Company, its employees and its shareholders. Forward-Looking Information Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking information"). In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "is positioned", "estimates", "intends", "assumes", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management's current expectations, estimates and projections regarding the future of our business, future plans, strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this news release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. SOURCE Charlotte's Web Holdings, Inc. Related Links https://www.charlottesweb.com/ London: The head of the World Health Organisation says the team investigating the origins of the coronavirus pandemic will travel to Wuhan, the stated epicentre of the disease's outbreak, after it was reported two investigators travelled only to Beijing. More than 827,000 people have died from COVID-19 since it emerged in Wuhan late last year, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally. Shoppers in Wuhan, China. Credit:Bloomberg While China has virtually brought the virus to a standstill through lockdowns and testing drives, other countries are still struggling to contain the virus. The United States has recorded more than 180,000 deaths, while Australia, New Zealand, Africa, South America and parts of Europe are still either fighting initial outbreaks or dealing with second waves. The Financial Times reported that a preliminary team of investigators only travelled to Beijing to begin the probe, which Australia successfully pushed for at the World Health Assembly in May. India: Shrimp exports drop 23% in July on lower supply by V Sajeev Kumar August 28,2020 | Source: The Hindu Business Line Indias shrimp exports registered a 23 per cent drop in dollar terms and 16 per cent in rupee terms year-on-year in July, mainly due to lower supply. Though shipments to the US continue to dominate, exports to the country declined by 14 per cent, said Equirus Securities in its latest report on the aquaculture sector. The exports to China tanked to 5 per cent, as sales plummeted 80 per cent. The report attributed the reason for lower exports to reduced supply of farmed shrimp following the completion of the first crop as well as the delay in second crop. Labour issues in some of the seafood processing companies are also a contributing factor for lower exports, as it affected the capacity utlisation of these units. According to the report, the subdued demand in China has led to a multifold increase in exports to countries such as Israel, Italy, Korea, Vietnam and the UK. To reduce the dependence on China, the Equirus report pointed out that Indian exporters have started exporting to new geographies such as Israel, Italy, and South Korea etc. However, sources in the seafood export sector told BusinessLine that the Chinese market has been slow in the recent period reportedly because of the cash crunch. Moreover, the decision of US-based seafood companies to shift their base to Vietnam and Indonesia on account of the US-China standoff also led to a drop in procurement from countries like India. Covid impact On the subdued demand in the US market, the sources pointed out it is now sourcing only small size shrimps for household requirements. The Covid lockdown and closing down of way-side eateries and restaurants has impacted purchase of big premium-sized shrimps in the US. The demand for this particular variety of shrimps has come down in the European and Japanese markets as well, forcing exporters to reach out to newer markets such as West Asia. Although Africa is a good market, the lockdown has reduced the purchasing power of people. The sector is now facing a raw material shortage in many seafood processing factories in Kerala and the West Coast, as they mainly depend on sea catch. Though the authorities have lifted the annual trawling ban, the restrictions on fishing activities due to Covid and the resultant closing down of fishing harbours hampered the operations of many processing units. Coupled with this is the labour shortage in fishing boats as the crew is mainly from Tamil Nadu. The Covid restrictions hindered their free movement from Tamil Nadu to Kerala, the sources added. In this episode of Corporate Buzz podcast, Moneycontrol's corporate bureau chief Prince Thomas discusses the top business news of the week with host Keerthana Tiwari. He shares insights into the outcome of the 41st GST council meeting on August 28 and its likely implications and sheds light on the government's revised rules for airlines under Unlock 4.0, Kishore Biyani's fundraising plans for the Future Group, among other things. The discussion also covers Tiktok CEO Kevin Mayer's unexpected resignation this week and Ali Baba group's decision to halt its India expansion plans due to the ongoing India-China tensions. The Spanish Health Ministry reported on Thursday that 9,658 new coronavirus cases had been detected by the regions. This is the largest spike in infections that Spain has seen since it entered a second wave of the virus, and confirms the upward trend of Covid-19 transmission, which has been rising since the beginning of August. The news came on the same day that Spains 17 regions and the Health and Education ministries met to establish protocols for how to safely reopen schools in September. According to Fernando Simon, the director of the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts, students will be able to return to class even if there is community transmission of the virus in Spain. Community transmission does not mean that schools cannot reopen Fernando Simon, director of the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts After sternly warning last week that citizens should have no doubts that things are not going well, Simon offered a more temperate message at Thursdays press conference. He highlighted that although some regions are seeing a noticeable rise in cases (for instance those along the Mediterranean coast) or are continuing to report very high infection numbers (mainly in Madrid), in other regions, such as Aragon, Catalonia, Basque Country and Navarre, the trend is stabilizing or even falling. Simon also underscored that the fatality [rate] is very low, around 0.4% of all cases. The health official attributed this to the fact that Spains diagnostic capability continues to increase. For instance, last Monday traditionally the day when fewer tests are carried out 70,000 PCR tests were done in Spain, more than double the 30,000 that were conducted on the same day a one month ago. Simon added that the countrys health system has not yet been overwhelmed by the rise in Covid-19 infections. While primary healthcare centers may be facing more strain in some parts of the country, due to the volume of tests and suspected cases, they were not facing excessive pressure, he said. According to Simon, the situation in hospitals is relatively calm, although 5% of hospital beds across the country are occupied by coronavirus patients. On Thursday, the ministry reported that 6,036 people had been hospitalized with Covid-19, a rise of 133 upon Wednesdays figure. Of this number, 715 are in intensive care, up 18 from the day before. It is not possible to see whether hospital occupancy in each region and across Spain has risen or fallen with respect to Wednesdays figures, as the Health Ministry did not include the decimal points in the percentages of this data point. Simon did not expand more on the latest figures, except to say they were similar to those from previous days, meaning they showed a significant upward trend. The 14-day cumulative incidence of the virus has risen to 183 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, up seven from Wednesday and 41 from last week. The number of cases with symptoms beginning in the previous 14 days, a data point that had been stable and even on a downward trend, rose on Thursday and set a new record: 21,659. Back to school Simon made clear at the government press conference that reopening schools in September was a priority. We have to be very clear that the goal is to open schools as long as it is feasible and with on-site teaching, he said. When asked about whether the high contagion rates in the Madrid region would affect the return to school, Simon replied: It is true that Madrid has a rise in transmission that is much higher than other regions, but not in all. But it is [also] true that not every region is in the same situation and community transmission does not mean that schools cannot reopen. We have to assess the situation at every point [but] the main objective is to open them. Simon also had a clear message for parents reluctant about allowing their children to return to school. Children cannot only get infected in school. It could also happen in the park, when they see their cousins, when their father is infected at work and spreads it to the family. We have to understand that children cannot be bubble children, he said. The health official explained that while elderly people and those with other health conditions have a very high risk of death from Covid-19, the virus only has a mild impact on youngsters. According to Simon, the hospitalization and fatality rate for children under the age of 10 is 1.1% and 0%, respectively. Its true that there could be contagions at school, but we have to assess the risks and benefits of going [to school]. I believe that right now the risks, with the measures that are being proposed, are very low. That doesnt mean that there wont be an outbreak [...] but the likelihood is very low, said Simon. English version by Melissa Kitson. It was anything but a typical summer of day camps for the Niagara YMCAs. In a non-COVID year, the local YMCAs run 13 bustling sites with 1,000 young campers enjoying some summer fun. This year, the footprint of the camps was much smaller but more important than ever. When COVID hit, we had to make the difficult decision to cancel the traditional day camps, said the YMCAs Erin Graybiel. We knew we couldnt serve the same number of children we have in the past. That model wasnt going to work. Graybiel said the YMCA decided to focus on serving a smaller group of children who are at-risk or in vulnerable situations. The result was the Adventure Club. The club is a day camp serving 40 kids a week at two sites in two different communities. The camps concluded for the summer on Aug. 27 without any campers or counsellors falling victim to the virus. The success was a product of careful planning and due diligence that included staggered starts and a temporal thermometer checks at the sign-in table, Graybiel said. Graybiel said the YMCA began the effort by canvassing community groups and agencies like the United Way and the RAFT to determine where the service gaps were. They also consulted the Niagara Region to ensure they could meet all the health and safety guidelines and regulations. Brock University professor of child and youth studies Rebecca Raby is working on a longitudinal study of the pandemic effects on children. Rabys research team of six graduate students conducted bi-weekly interviews with about 30 children from various backgrounds about their experiences at home during the pandemic. She said the results show some kids are suffering more than others. We are finding this is playing out differently with different children, Raby said. It depends on how old they are, where they live, and their family situation. Some families and some kids are getting hit hard if they have one parent isolating, or if they have a single parent, or if they are living in very small spaces. Some are more prone to anxiety or have disabilities and have benefited from supports they arent getting. There are lots of challenges. One of the foundational goals was fully fund the camp so there were no costs to pass on to the families. Graybiel said the YMCA accessed government summer employment funding with the United Way, Niagara Region, and FACS chipping in. Expenses were an issue. The Adventure Club needed lower staff ratios and more staff on-site as well as additional training, equipment and cleaning supplies. A typical day for Adventure Clubbers saw 40 campers, divided into eight cohorts with two counsellors per group, at Burgoyne Woods in St. Catharines and Firemans Park in Niagara Falls. The kids participated in activities chosen with social distance in mind from hiking, archery, and outdoor discovery to games, sports, and crafts. They were all provided with their own sets of pencil crayons and crafting supply kits. They had individual pool noodles cut in half. The noodles eliminated the need for direct contact in games like tag. We wanted to allow the kids to be kids and get out of the home and have some fun and play. A lot of kids hadnt been able to go out and play. We wanted them to feel safe and develop friendships and relationships. Every day included some work on an all-about-me journal. Its been a huge success from our point of view. We had 312 registrations over the last five weeks. The feedback we received from families was overwhelmingly positive, and they wanted to know if we had space left so that they could come back for another week. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category New Delhi: Amid the ongoing conflict with China, the Department of Military Affairs has hastened the process of restructuring the armed forces as the new air defence command under the Indian Air Force (IAF) may come up at Prayagraj around the second week of October this year. "The work has been hastened to prepare the structure of the command under an Air Force officer. Efforts are being made to put everything together and announce the creation of the air defence command at Prayagraj around the Air Force Day on October 8 this year," government sources told ANI. The air defence command is proposed to be set up alongside the Central Command Headquarters of the IAF which controls important airbases including Agra, Gwalior and Bareilly. The aim of the command is to combine the resources of the three services under one command and activate it to protect the air space of the country. A study in this regard was done by the IAF`s Vice Chief Air Marshal HS Arora which has also suggested the structure of the proposed command comprising assets of all the three services. The Department of Military Affairs under Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat has been given the mandate to create joint military commands along with theatre commands. The CDS is also working on the creation of the combined maritime command which would come up either at Kochi in Kerala or Karwar in Karnataka. Each service has its individual air defence set-up. The air defence command would integrate the air defence assets of the Army, Air Force and Navy and jointly provide air defence cover to the country. The CDS has also made it clear to the armed forces that he would not create any additional post at a three-star level for manning any of the new commands and the new formations would be raised from the existing resources only. Meanwhile, for protecting the air space of the country, a proposal for the acquisition of two new PHALCON Airborne Early Warning ad Control Systems from Israel and Russia has reached the Cabinet Committee on Security and may be taken up for clearance soon. To ensure a wide-ranging consultation process for the countrys fifth science, technology and innovation policy (STIP 2020), the union science minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday inaugurated an interactive session with thought leaders and a web portal seeking inputs from people. The minister urged the stakeholders and the people of the country as well as those living abroad to participate in the process of developing the bottom-up policy to support the rapidly changing science, technology and innovation ecosystem. The entire science, technology and innovation ecosystem has undergone rapid transformation in terms of relevance, scope, and scale in the recent years. These must be captured into a policy to develop a long development trajectory and vision for the country. Moreover, Covid-19 has introduced some new learning and added dimensions to the STI system, he said. With the Prime Minister calling for an Atmanirbhar Bharat, the minister said that there was a greater need to focus on the development of indigenous technologies and encourage grassroots level innovation. For the last six years, the departments of sciences have been working on enhancing the quality and relevance of science and technology, translating the science to innovation that will reach the society, connecting the whole ecosystem academia, industry, start-ups, and aligning science to national priorities. Currently, Covid-19 and other areas such as water, energy, waste processing are challenges of the future. STIP 2020 will be an overarching policy to guide this, said Prof Ashutosh Sharma, secretary, department of science and technology in the first in conversation with series. The STIP 2020 will follow the core principles of being decentralised, evidence-informed, bottom-up, experts-driven, and inclusive. Indias first science policy came in 1958 that focussed on promoting a scientific temperament in the country, the second one in 1983 came when India was denied technologies after Pokhran and aimed at making the country technologically self-reliant, the third came in 2003 and for the first time focussed on connecting science and technology to the society. The fourth policy came in 2013 during the international decade of innovation, said Dr Akhilesh Gupta, head of the STIP secretariat. Although the last two had some bottoms up approach and wider consultations, the 2020 policy will be completely decentralised and focus on the five core principles or the pillars, he said. The STIP 2020 formulation policy has been divided into four interlinked tracks. Track-I involves extended public and expert consultation and creates a repository of voices; Track-II will focus on experts-driven thematic group consultations for evidence-informed recommendations. For this, 21 thematic groups with over 150 experts have already been constituted. Track-III connects ministries, departments, and States/UTs to create regional ecosystems and action plans. Track-IV will integrate inputs from all the tracks and engage stakeholders at national and global levels. In the new policy, people will need to contribute. It has to be people centric look around us and discuss with people how to best use science and tech to find solutions to their problems. Even a layman can sometimes give the best of solutions. The policy will help us in blending research and development with indigenous thinking. There are already so many things delivered within labs but in the journey from labs to industry and to the people at affordable prices there are bottlenecks, said Harsh Vardhan. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A live five-inch worm has been taken out of a Chinese mans brain after the parasite remained inside his body for 17 years, according to reports. The 23-year-old said he started suffering numbness in his hands and feet since the age of six. He finally went to a hospital after losing sensation in the right half of his upper body. Doctors suggested the patients infection was a result of consuming raw or half-cooked exotic meat, such as frogs or snakes. A live five-inch worm has been taken out of a Chinese mans brain after the parasite is said to have remained inside his body for 17 years. The X-ray shows the tapeworm in the man's head The Chinese man, known by his surname Chen, is slowly recovering after doctors successfully removed the live worm (pictured), which measured about 12 centimetres (five inches) The incident was brought to light after surgeons successfully removed the tapeworm from the mans brain on Tuesday at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wuchang University in the eastern Chinese province Jiangsu. The patient, known by his surname Chen, told doctors that he started experiencing numbness in his hands and feet 17 years ago. He also had headaches and nauseas occasionally. As his parents always had difficulty moving their limbs, Mr Chen ignored the symptoms and never went to a hospital, believing they were genetic problems, a medic told Jiangsu Television. The Chinese man eventually sought medical attention in 2015 after he lost sensation in the right half of his upper body. The incident was brought to light after surgeons successfully removed the tapeworm from the mans brain on Tuesday at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wuchang University in Jiangsu Half of my upper body was completely numb, Mr Chen said to Pear Video. I couldnt feel my hand and couldnt lift it. After conducting a CT scan, doctors found the twisted parasite inside the patients brain. Mr Chen was diagnosed with sparganosis mansoni, a rare parasitic disease. Although medics are still determining the exact cause of Mr Chens condition, they say his infection is mainly a result of drinking contaminated water or consuming undercooked wild animal meat, such as frogs or snakes. Once the worm enters the humans body, it would cause severe infection, a medic told reporters. The parasite would eat the brain and damage its function, which causes numbness in hands and feet or affect ones intellectual. When Mr Chen was first diagnosed at the age of 18, the surgeons had decided to delay the removal surgery because the location of the parasite was not suitable for operation. He had been receiving conservative management until recently when he was scheduled to undergo the procedure on August 25. The man is slowly recovering after doctors successfully removed the live worm which measured about 12 centimetres (five inches). It is estimated to have stayed in Mr Chen's brain for 17 years as the man first developed symptoms aged six, said Chinese media. In April, a 23-year-old Chinese woman also had a live six-inch worm removed from her brain after doctors linked the parasite to the eating of raw wild animal meat. The patient, known by her alias Xiao Yi, went to a local clinic in Jiangsu province of eastern China in January after having continuous headaches. The doctors performed brain surgery on the woman after she tested positive for being infected with parasites. WATERLOO REGION The annual ToastyToes Waterloo Region campaign is asking for donations of funds rather than socks this fall given pandemic precautions. At the end of the day, its still putting socks on the feet of people who need them. Were just doing it in a different way, said Sharon Gilroy-Dreher, who started the initiative in 2013. Since then, more than 126,000 pairs have been donated and then distributed by agencies that support people who are homeless or at risk. Last year, 40,500 pairs of socks were collected. But gathering all the donated socks means many people coming to one spot, which isnt advisable with public-health measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. This year, people are asked to instead donate to the ToastyToes fund set up in partnership with the Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation, which also means donations are now eligible for tax receipts. The kickoff is Oct. 10 and this year the campaign will run for two months instead of one. I really hope that we can still be successful because the folks need the socks. They really do, Gilroy-Dreher said. Every pair we collect matters to a person. People can also support ToastyToes by buying a special shirt or hat from Kitcheners Civilian Screen Printing, starting Oct. 1 at https://stores.inksoft.com/toastytoeswr with a portion of the proceeds donated to the fund. Gilroy-Dreher is excited yet also a bit wary about having to go digital knowing how buying socks is part of many peoples fall routine. But she has faith people will continue to support the worthy cause. This community has wrapped their arms around this for years, she said. Donate at kwcf.ca/toastytoes or find out more about this years ToastyToes or how to host a virtual group campaign by emailing ToastyToesWR@gmail.com. Regime officers continue to die and be killed, with frequently very few details about the circumstances revealed by the regime reports Shaam News Network. Over the past few days, pro-regime pages mourned a number of officers and Shabiha who were killed in differing citcumstances, most of which are mysterious, and which has become frequent in what appears to be liquidation operations taking place within the regimes intelligence branches and its military parts. It has been happening in different areas of the country, with the killing of officers now being announced without disclosing further information about the incident. Most incidents were recorded as due to health reasons, according to the same sources. The Shaam News Network announced the death of an official in the Military Security branch in Aleppo, called Maher Ali al-Taqash. Pages affiliated with the intelligence praised his role as one of the most prominent figures who participated in what they said were security operations assigned to him by the anti-terrorism department. The cause of death was not disclosed. Two officers who hold the military rank of first lieutenant, Muhammad Hussein al-Hassan, from the Quneitra countryside, and Tamer Haj Ibrahim passed away under mysterious circumstances, while pro-regime pages circulated photos of them during their service with the regime army. Pro-regime pages mourned the passing of a member who belonged to the committees led by the National Defense Forces (NDF). His name is Nemer Hassan Ghanem, who hails from the city of Baniyas, after what they said was a painful incident, without revealing other details about the incident. An officer with the rank of lieutenant, named Salim Seitan Nasr, was killed at the age of 34. Pro-regime sources claimed that he died as a result of a severe heart attack while performing what they said was national service, at the Mezzeh Military Airport in Damascus. He is originally from the town of Orman in the countryside of Suweida. The regimes pages acknowledged the death of an officer with the rank of first lieutenant by the name of Maher Nabil Jarewa, who hailed from the countryside of Jableh. He was killed by the revolutionary factions on one of the fronts in the Idleb countryside, according to what has been reported by the pages that deliberately conceals the extent of the losses they have suffered, and selectively disclose information of officers, as per usual. Local observatories in the liberated north indicated that a group of regime-affiliated militias had died in a minefield along the Tanjara axis in the al-Ghab plain area in the western Hama countryside, during a failed infiltration attempt, which resulted in a number of casualties. Moreover, it has become customary for the regimes pages not to disclose deaths in what they label as reconciliations. A large number of people have passed without being mentioned by the regimes pages, at a time when pictures of the dead from pro-regime villages are published. While all numbers are approximations, the Assad regime continues to neglect to disclose them. The regimes militias has been suffering heavy losses amidst the escalating assassination operations, which intensify with every attempt made on the battlefronts by the rebel factions in the liberated north. 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. (Newser) Emily Gil's social conscience could cost her $2,500. The New Jersey 18-year-old organized a small protest last month over the scarcity of affordable housing in her hometown, NJ.com reports. Black people especially are shut out, she said. "Englewood Cliffs has dodged affordable housing requirements for 40-plus years," Gil said. "I find that unacceptable." Her rally drew 30 people or so, she said, who picked up their own trash afterward. The demonstration was peaceful. Days later, she received a letter from the mayor. "Please promptly forward your payment to the borough in the amount of $2,499.26 for the police overtime caused by your protest," Mario Kranjac wrote. Gil said she objected to the bill in an email but hasn't received a response. story continues below City officials said the problem is that Gil wouldn't meet with them before the demonstration, per NJ.com, which left them insufficient time to plan security. Gil said they wanted to meet in person, which she didn't want to do because of the coronavirus, and officials wouldn't accept a Zoom session. Kranjac argued her premise about affordable housing, which he said he supports. "Everyone is welcome in Englewood Cliffs," the mayor said. Gil said "it was because of my pro-affordable housing stance that Mr. Kranjac handled the situation this way," while the mayor said it's standard to charge for security provided by police. "It would be unfair to require our residents to financially support a private event," he said. (Read more Black Lives Matter stories.) Then-President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with Ronald Lauder, President of the World Jewish Congress, after a meeting on December 28, 2016 at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. President Donald Trump has known billionaire Ronald Lauder for close to 50 years. Yet, even as the president is down in the polls, the heir of Estee Lauder Companies has been virtually silent on whether he will assist Trump in his reelection effort this year. Lauder, who has a net worth of just under $5 billion, according to Forbes, hasn't given any money to help Trump's bid since last summer. He gave $200,000 to the Trump Victory joint fundraising committee in August 2019, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Since then, Lauder has recorded no contributions to either the president's campaign, his joint fundraising committees, the Republican National Committee or the pro-Trump super PAC America First Action. A single donor is allowed to give almost $600,000 to Trump Victory. Fundraisers and friends of the president's have yet to hear from Lauder on whether he plans to give larger contributions to Trump's reelection, according to people familiar with the matter, who declined to be named as these conversations were deemed private. Eric Soufer, a spokesman for Lauder, told CNBC that the businessman is currently focused on assisting schools in Europe that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. "Since the onset of the pandemic, Mr. Lauder has been focused on rescuing the 35 schools he founded in Eastern Europe, among others, and covering the full tuition for families that have been devastated by the current economic and public health crisis," Soufer said on Friday. The statement did not mention Trump. It was about Lauder's spending on the issues he's focusing on, which includes his fight against anti-Semitism. Representatives for the Trump campaign and RNC did not respond to requests for comment. While Lauder has historically not written large checks to Trump-related entities, he has spent more in previous cycles backing Republican groups that often align with the president's agenda. Records show that he did not contribute to Trump's initial run for president in 2016. Still, Lauder has stood with the president on a variety of issues and has the resources that would allow him to be a key asset to Trump's reelection. In 2018, he put out a statement praising Trump's "incredible insight and intelligence." In 2017, when Trump spoke in front of the World Jewish Congress, an organization Lauder leads, the president called him a friend. "I want to thank Ronald Lauder, not only for his many years of friendship and he truly has been my good friend, he even predicted early that I was going to win the presidency but also for his leadership of this organization. He has done a fantastic job," Trump said at the time. Trump trails rival Joe Biden by more than 7 percentage points in the Real Clear Politics national polling average. However, his fundraising operation has remained strong. In July, Trump's campaign raised $165 million in conjunction with the RNC. Biden, along with the Democratic National Committee, brought in $140 million over that same time period. Trump went into August with $300 million on hand, compared with Biden's $294 million. Lauder's ties to Trump have come under fire from Estee Lauder employees. Recently, more than 100 employees sent a letter to the company's chairman, William Lauder, asking for the removal of Ronald Lauder from the board. The letter arrived during the nationwide protests for George Floyd, an unarmed black man who was killed by Minneapolis police officers. Lauder has since publicly defended his history in fighting against anti-Semitism and racism. In addition to being president of the World Jewish Congress, which represents Jewish communities and organizations in over 100 countries, he also founded and pledged $25 million to the Anti-Semitism Accountability Project, or ASAP, which focuses on holding lawmakers accountable for what Lauder deems anti-Semitic views. Lauder has said he is expanding his anti-Semitism campaign to include causes fighting racial injustice. ASAP added an online portal at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in order for people to report hate crimes and for the group to "track trends of COVID-inspired discrimination across the country." Trump has been criticized for comments that, at times, appear to target minorities. He called protesters in Minneapolis "thugs" and has repeatedly disparaged undocumented immigrants. Lauder has spent more in prior cycles backing Republican groups than he has in 2020. While the organizations he supported are not intended to directly help Trump, they are for causes that are linked to the president's party. In 2018, he was the top donor to a super PAC called National Horizons. He contributed at least $1.6 million to the PAC, which spent almost 60% of its donations on media attacks that were mostly either against Democrats or in support of Republicans running for House and Senate seats, according to data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Those targeted by the PAC include Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Reps. Colin Allred, D-Texas, and Anthony Brindisi, D-N.Y., and former Democratic Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke of Texas. The group's website criticizes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. "In a campaign where unions and other liberal special interests are turning the spigot wide open with campaign cash and organizational muscle, groups like National Horizon are the best weapon to defeat the Left," the website says. In 2016, Lauder gave $700,000 to National Horizon and spent over $66,000 on the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Every day we are inspired and humbled by our customers. They teach us every day, they challenge us to make our solution better and THEY use our crop intelligence platform to transform agriculture towards a better future EVERY DAY. We accept this honor on behalf of our awesome customers! Inc. magazine today revealed that IntelinAir is No. 714 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. Every day we are inspired and humbled by our customers. They teach us every day, they challenge us to make our solution better and THEY use our crop intelligence platform to transform agriculture towards a better future EVERY DAY. We accept this honor on behalf of our awesome customers! says Al Eisaian, CEO and Co-Founder of IntelinAir, Inc. 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. ### IntelinAir, Inc., is leading efforts to bring cutting-edge artificial intelligence and world-class machine learning to agriculture to enhance farming practices and increase productivity, profitability and farming efficiency. The companys flagship crop intelligence system, AgMRI is revolutionizing the way farmers and their trusted advisors manage their acres to the row by delivering measurable, reliable crop intelligence. For more information go to http://www.intelinair.com. More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Methodology The 2020 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2019. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2016. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2016 is $100,000; the minimum for 2019 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. About Inc. Media The 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| 2020-08-28 13:36:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- China's Mars probe Tianwen-1 has traveled around 100 million km as of 10:08 a.m. Friday, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA). The Mars probe is in stable condition and its multiple payloads have finished self-checks. It has traveled in orbit for 36 days and is 10.75 million km away from Earth. The Mars probe was sent into the Earth-Mars transfer orbit by a Long March-5 rocket on July 23. It is expected to travel 470 million km before arriving on Mars, and will be about 195 million km away from Earth by then, according to a source from the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the CNSA. So far, the Mars probe has captured an image of Earth and the moon and conducted its first orbital correction. Starting from 10:20 p.m. on Aug. 19, multiple payloads on the Mars probe, including the Mars magnetometer, Mars mineralogy spectrometer and high-resolution camera, have completed self-checks. The scientific data of the payloads were transmitted to the ground smoothly, confirming that they are in normal condition. Multiple flight control tasks were also carried out normally. The probe will conduct deep-space maneuvers and several orbital corrections, and carry out orbiting, landing and roving missions when it approaches the Mars orbit, according to the CNSA. Enditem 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. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) and Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide greet each other by elbow bump before talks in Oslo, Norway, Aug. 27, 2020. (NTB/Handout via Xinhua) OSLO, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Facing the impact of COVID-19 and the global economic downturn, China will not shut its door but will instead open it wider to the outside world, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Thursday. This is a clear message from Chinese President Xi Jinping, who delivered a very important speech recently on China's economic development and opening up, he added. Wang made the remarks during a joint press conference with Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide later on Thursday. Responding to the question as to whether China's opening up policy will be affected by the current situation, where the pandemic has caused deep recession of the world economy and rising unilateralism and protectionism, Wang said that it has been proved by China's reform and opening up for more than 40 years that openness brings progress, while isolation leads to backwardness. "Over the past 40 years, through opening up, China has developed together with the world, and at the same time has been repaying the world," he said. Aerial photo taken on Aug. 5, 2020 shows the Chengdu International Railway Port in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) China has over fulfilled its commitments to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and reduced the average tariff rate to 7.5 percent, which exceeds that of all the other major developing countries and approaches the level of developed countries, he added. He also pointed out that China, for two consecutive years, has been one of the world's economies making the biggest improvement in business environment. Over the past 40 years, China's opening up has brought enormous business opportunities and development dividends to countries including Norway, and made an important and irreplaceable contribution to the global economic growth, he added. "Today, with the impact of the pandemic, China and the world are facing a new situation and entering a new stage of development," he said. Xi, when delivering the speech on China's economic development and opening up, said that China will promote a dual-cycle development pattern, Wang said, adding that this means the country's growth will rely on both domestic and international economic cycles, with the domestic cycle being the mainstay. Aerial photo taken on July 14, 2020 shows the container terminal of Jingtang Port District under Tangshan Port in Tangshan City, north China's Hebei Province. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) Xi also said that China will raise the level of opening up in an all-round way and build higher-level new institutions of the open economy, Wang noted. Through deeper reforms, lower tariffs, shorter negative lists, more convenient market access, more transparent market rules and a more attractive business environment, China will link its domestic market, the world's largest one, with the global market more closely, promote a virtuous cycle of mutual development which will be larger, more efficient and more dynamic, and create wider development space and more opportunities for China itself and other countries around the world, he said. In the new round of China's opening up, China welcomes the active participation of European countries including Norway, he added. He called on both parties to provide a strong and lasting impetus for their respective development and the global economic recovery by enhancing opening up and cooperation in such fields as trade, investment and industry. A 30-year-old doctor is being hailed as a real "COVID warrior" after he drove an ambulance to ferry a critically ill elderly coronavirus patient to a hospital from a care centre in Pune. Dr Ranjeet Nikam said since the driver of the ambulance suddenly fell ill and there was no one to replace him immediately, he decided to step in along with another doctor, Rajendra Rajpurohit, to ensure the patient gets urgent medical attention. Nikam took control of the wheel and drove the 71-year-old patient in the ambulance to a hospital after his oxygen saturation level dipped at the COVID care centre where he was undergoing treatment. The patient was under Nikam's watch at the COVID care centre set up in the Marketyard area. "The incident took place around 2 am on Monday. I was at the COVID care centre when I received a call that an elderly patient's oxygen saturation level has gone down. "After consultation with senior doctors, it was decided to shift him to a bigger hospital," said Nikam. He said the centre has its own ambulance van but its driver had fallen sick just a few hours ago and he was under medication and on saline at the facility. "It was not appropriate to ask him to drive the van in that condition. So we called '108' emergency ambulance service but the call did not get connected. "We also made calls to another driver but he was also not reachable," Nikam said. The doctor said since patient's condition was worsening, he decided to drive the ambulance himself. "I along with one more doctor (Rajpurohit) got into the ambulance van and drove out of the care centre. We went to a couple of hospitals but could not get an ICU bed for the patient. "Finally, a bed was available at a private hospital where the patient was admitted," he added. Nikam, a BHMS doctor who has his own clinic in the Parvati area, said the condition of the patient was now stable. "We have a forum called Metro Medical Foundation through which I along with some other doctors provide service at the COVID care centre in Marketyard," he said. The elderly patient's son, who was also admitted to the care centre, was all praise for Nikam and Rajpurohit whom he termed as true "COVID warriors". He said the two doctors did not waste time in attending to his father and taking him to hospital in the ambulance. "Dr Nikam and Dr Rajpurohit, who was accompanying him, not only drove the ambulance, but also took efforts to find a bed for my father. They finally admitted him to one of the hospitals and saved his life," he said. He said his father is now stable. Mohali: A special investigation team (SIT), led by superintendent of police (SP) Harmandeep Singh Hans, raided the residences of former director general of police (DGP) Sumedh Singh Saini in Chandigarh and Mohali early on Friday to arrest him in connection with the murder of Balwant Singh Multani, a Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Corporation (CITCO) employee in 1991. The raids were conducted at Sainis residences in Sector 20, Chandigarh, and his farmhouse in Mohali but the SIT returned empty-handed. When we arrived to issue summons to him at his residence in Sector 20 on August 21, he was not there. The summons were pasted outside the residence. We raided his residences on Friday morning, but he was not there again. We are hopeful of arresting him soon, an SIT member said, requesting anonymity. Saini faces arrest for murdering Multani after the SIT added Section 302 (murder) of the IPC to the first information report against him after two co-accused turned approvers. Around 10am, the court of additional district and sessions judge (ADJ) Rajnish Garg granted stay on the arrest till the final orders are pronounced in the case involving the disappearance and subsequent murder of Multani. The next date of hearing has been fixed for September 1. Sainis counsel APS Deol said: In the orders on Thursday, the court missed the extension of the stay of arrest. Today, we approached the court, following which it granted stay on arrest till the final orders in the case are pronounced. On Thursday, the court reserved its orders on Sainis anticipatory bail petition for August 29 for staying his arrest. The judge has not passed any orders on the interim stay on the arrest of the ex-DGP. Special public prosecutor Sartej Singh Narula said this meant that Saini could be arrested, as the stay on his arrest ended on August 27. In previous orders, Garg had ordered the SIT to give three-day notice to Saini, after adding murder sections to the FIR. The three-day notice ended at 6pm on August 24 and before that Saini had filed an application seeking anticipatory bail. Multani was allegedly picked up by two officials in 1991 after a terrorist attack on Saini, in which four policemen deputed in his security were killed. The police later claimed that Multani had escaped from its custody in Qadian, Gurdaspur. Former DSP Baldev Singh, Satvir Singh, a former inspector, Har Sahai Sharma, Anokh Singh, a former sub inspector, besides Jagir and Kuldip Singh were named in the case. The United Kingdoms Supreme Court on Wednesday unanimously dismissed appeals by Chinas 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 Unwireds license 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 an international patent framework agreed by the mobile industry. The Supreme Court said on Wednesday it had unanimously dismissed both appeals. Conversants 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) Topics Tech Representative image Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices is ramping up production of auto-disable syringes to 1 billion a year, in order to meet the massive demand for the COVID-19 vaccine. The company will raise production of auto-disable syringes to an annual capacity of 1 billion in the first half of 2021 from the existing 700 million, according to a Mint report. The company, which currently has 50 million syringes in stock, is preparing a stockpile of around 140 million by the end of 2020, the report said. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story. "We have received orders from UNICEF to increase our supply of immunisation AD syringes to the organisation to around 300 million," Hindustan Syringes managing director Rajiv Nath said, as quoted by Mint. 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 can be ready with 100 million of these syringes for COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2020 if the government places a request. "We are waiting on the Indian government to start creating a stockpile of syringes as being done by other countries," Nath said. India, a country of over 1.3 billion people, has so far recorded over 33.8 lakh (3.38 million) cases of the novel coronavirus. Experimental COVID-19 vaccines from Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech and Zydus Cadila are currently undergoing human trials in India. When the blistering Texas heat starts to intensify, expect snake sightings to be on the rise. Police in Manor, Texas made a surprising find when they stumbled upon a 3.5 foot diamondback rattlesnake and its 16 babies curled up in a work area at Sunstate Equipment on Highway 290 in Manor. UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS: Storm chasers capture the intense moments of Laura's landfall Manor police shared a video of the diamondback and her babies on Facebook. This 3.5 foot Western Diamond Back rattle snake was found with her 16 babies (photos in comment) in a work area at the Sunstate Equipment Company on 290 here in Manor. These snakes should never be handled and should be reported to Animal Control for removal. Posted by Manor Police Department on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 "These snakes should never be handled and should be reported to Animal Control for removal," Manor PD stated in the post. If you spot one of these venomous snakes, Texas Parks and Wildlife advises that you should leave it alone. In Texas, there are four kinds of venomous snakes--coral snakes, copperheads, cottonmouths and rattlesnakes, "Watch where you step; put your hands or sit down," Texas Parks and Wildlife advised. "Venomous snakes live or near the ground...Snakes avoid your huge body, but will definitely bite if stepped on or feel trapped." Several people commented on Facebook about how the police handled the situation and what to do if you spot one of these. "Thanks for not destroying them. All snakes are good," Bryan Wells posted. "Another fact if you pay attention in the video it's important to know that when using tongs you do not have to squeeze the snake hard. It's more like a light grip guiding their body weight to the bucket as close to their mid body as you get." Manor Aco Padhaisky posted. "Thanks so much for protecting them!" Taylor Nadeau posted. alison.medley@chron.com New Zealand called in its spy agency and activated security crisis plans to help defend the stock exchange from overseas attack, after hackers disrupted the market for a fourth straight day. "We as a government are treating this very seriously," Finance Minister Grant Robertson said Friday, adding agencies would coordinate to deal with the threat. "There are limits to what I can say today about the action the government is taking behind the scenes due to significant security considerations." The NZ$204 billion ($135 billion) stock market has been the target of distributed-denial-of-service attacks that have overwhelmed its website and forced trading halts since Tuesday. The national security plan is typically triggered when a crisis threatens New Zealand's interests or international reputation. Authorities haven't commented on the suspected source of the attacks, which flood a network with Internet traffic and disrupt services, other than saying they originate from offshore. Security intelligence company Akamai warned earlier this week that extortionists claiming to be the Russian-linked hacking group Fancy Bear have recently been sending ransom letters to companies in finance, travel and e-commerce in the Asia Pacific, U.S. and U.K. demanding payments to stop attacks. New Zealand stock exchange operator NZX is among the companies targeted, the ZDNet website reported, citing an unidentified source in the DDoS mitigation field. Justice Minister Andrew Little, who oversees the intelligence services, said it would take some time to establish the origin of the attacks. They are more likely the result of criminal activity than being state sponsored, he said. "We are aware that there have been DDoS attacks in other parts of the world in the finance sector," he said in an interview, adding the government had consulted with its Five Eyes intelligence partners. The stock exchange failed to open at 10 a.m. Friday morning despite assurances from NZX that it would. Trading finally began three hours later at 1 p.m. The market lost an hour of trading on Tuesday, three on Wednesday and almost six hours yesterday from the repeat attacks. Despite the disruption, the market closed at an all-time high Friday. Little said it was surprising the NZX "appears to have such a vulnerable website and IT architecture." "I think now they've reflected on that and a plan is now in place for long term remediation," he said. "My expectation is that they will step up their IT infrastructure and architecture and make sure they are positioned to resist this type of activity in the future." Steps have been taken to stabilize the website, and work will continue over the weekend, he added. NZX Chief Executive Officer Mark Peterson said the exchange had been the target of an "ongoing sophisticated and severe" attack and that it was working with Internet provider Spark, government agencies and cyber-security experts in New Zealand and overseas to address the issue. The disruptions have frustrated investors who were unable to trade amid a busy company earnings season. The outages are "hugely disruptive for everyone," said Michael Midgley, chief executive officer of the New Zealand Shareholders' Association. "Our main concern, aside from any attempted incursion, is that it is potentially damaging to information flows. In the covid world the audience is keenly watching to see how reported data relates to forecasts." In November, government cyber security agency CERT NZ said it had received reports of extortion emails targeting companies within the financial sector in New Zealand. It said the emails claimed to be from a Russian group called "Fancy Bear/Cozy Bear" and demanded a ransom to avoid denial-of-service attacks. CERT has declined to comment on this week's attacks. Fancy Bear is another name for the Russian hacking group APT28, which has been linked to attacks against the U.S. Democratic Party, the White House and NATO. Security experts have also linked it to attacks on European government institutions and private companies and say its primary mission is to gather intelligence in support of the Russian government. The group sending ransom emails is highly unlikely to be the real Fancy Bear, but is using its name to gain notoriety, according to Yihao Lim, a cyber threat intelligence analyst at Mandiant Threat Intelligence in Singapore. "It's plausible that they are cyber gangs calling themselves Fancy Bear involved in this incident," he said. Amarinder Singh goes into self quarantine for 7 days India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Aug 28: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday has decided to go into 7-day self-quarantine, as per government protocol and the advice of his doctors, after two MLAs who met him in the Vidhan Sabha tested positive for COVID19. Meanwhile at least 30 lawmakers were also tested positiv for coronavirus ahead of the Punjab Legislative Assembly session. However, seven of them have recovered. But a majority of the legislators may not attend the one-day Monsoon session of the Assembly on Friday as they are home quarantined. Rajnath Singh to formally induct Rafales into IAF on September 10 The Ministry of Civil Aviation allowed airlines to serve pre-packed snacks, meals and beverages on domestic flights and hot meals on international flights. This service was suspended even after domestic flights resumed operations on May 25. IPL 2020: CSK bowler and staff members test positive for Covid-19 | Oneindia News India's coronavirus tally rose to 33,87,500 after 77,266 new infections were reported in 24 hours. The country's toll went up by 1,057 to 61,529. An owner of a burgled Third Ward vegan restaurant tracked down a man suspected of the break-in and shot him in the leg, according to police. The break-in at Green Seed Vegan, 4320 Almeda Road, was reported around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police said the owners had a really good description of the suspect from surveillance footage and officers set off to find him. B oris Johnson will launch a major push to reduce the number of people working from home amid fears that cities are becoming 'ghost towns'. By rolling out a series of television and newspaper messages next week, the Government hopes to get Brits back into offices in town and city centres. It comes after Carolyn Fairbairn, the director-general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), warned that City centres risk becoming permanent "ghost towns" if staff do not return to the workplace. But she also added that any push the Government makes should involve a "hybrid" approach that does not force people to return. Speaking to Times Radio on Thursday, Dame Carolyn said: This is not about compulsion. I couldnt say that more strongly. A man wearing a protective face mask walks along London Bridge / REUTERS This is about creating the opportunity and the confidence to get to a hybrid that gets the best of both worlds. Were certainly not there yet. Number 10 should condemn this briefing and categorically rule out any such campaign. Meanwhile, Labour has already criticised the plans as being unconscionable. 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 Shadow business minister Lucy Powell said: It beggars belief that the Government are threatening people like this during a pandemic. "Forcing people to choose between their health and their job is unconscionable. Our offices are at risk of dying. And we would regret that very much if we allowed that to happen. A Government spokesperson said: We are working closely with employers across the country to help them make workplaces Covid secure and give people confidence to go back to work during the coronavirus pandemic. Next week we will showcase the benefits of returning safely to work and raise awareness of companies getting this right. Well also provide practical steps businesses are taking to ensure offices are Covid secure as well as alternative ways of travelling to work. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) began questioning actor Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik Chakraborty on Friday in the case of Sushant Singh Rajputs death. Rajputs flatmate and creative manager Siddharth Pithani, cook Neeraj Singh and domestic help Keshav Bachner, too, were questioned for the fourth consecutive day at the DRDO guest house in Santacruz (East) on Friday. Meanwhile, Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials issued summons to a Goa-based hotelier, Gaurav Arya, and have called him for questioning on Monday in a parallel probe into allegations of money laundering related to the Rajput case. Arya runs Hotel Tamarind and Cafe Cotinga in Goa. ED officials visited Hotel Tamarind at Anjuna, a coastal village in north Goa, but found the property shut. They stuck a notice on the door of the hotel, which, according to officials, has been shut since lockdown restrictions were enforced in March to contain the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak. The notice stated that Arya must meet Rajiv Kumar, assistant director, ED, at 11am on Monday in connection with a case filed under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Arya has also been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and is being investigated by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). The NCB had on Wednesday registered a first information report (FIR) against Rhea, Showik, talent manager Jaya Saha, Rajputs former manager Shruti Modi and Arya under sections 20, 22, 27 and 29 of the NDPS Act. Aryas name cropped up in Rheas WhatsApp conversations related to drugs. ED officials, however, refused to divulge details of whether there were any financial transactions between Arya and Rajput, or Chakraborty. On Thursday, the ED questioned Saha and also summoned Rheas father, Indrajeet Chakraborty, to access his familys bank lockers in the Vakola branch of Axis Bank. Rajput, 34, was found dead in his Bandra flat on June 14. The post-mortem report concluded he died by suicide. After a two-week quiet, a controversy erupted over the death, as a Bihar police team constituted to probe the case on a complaint by the actors family alleged it got no cooperation from its Mumbai counterparts. The probe was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the Supreme Court. Chakraborty, who has been questioned multiple times by the agencies, has denied all allegations levelled against her. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra unit of the Congress demanded an investigation into an alleged nexus between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and filmmaker Sandeep Ssingh in connection with Rajputs death. The BJP hit back questioning why the Maharashtra police overlooked the drug dealing angle to the case and whether they were trying to shield some political leaders from the ruling Congress, Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alliance. When HT called Singh for a comment, his phone was switched off, and he had not responded to a message till the time of going to press. Attorneys Bijan Esfandiari, Nicole K. H. Maldonado, Michael L. Baum, co-counsel Robert F. Kennedy, Jr and local counsel Christopher E. Hultquist of Hultquist Law in Providence, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island on behalf of Ms. Balasco, who alleges her vaccine injuries were so severe and debilitating, she was physically unable to attend most of high school. The case number is 1:20-cv 00364. Apparently, Merck failed to properly test Gardasil before the HPV vaccine was fast-tracked and then administered to millions of young girls and boys throughout the world. Furthermore, Merck knew or had reason to know that its vaccine was not even effective but did not warm the medical community nor the public. The company wrongfully concealed information and further made false statements concerning the safety and efficacy of Gardasil. Why This Is Important: This is important because its not an isolated incident. Injuries as a result of HPV vaccination have happened quite a bit, and that includes deaths. The HPV vaccine has constantly come under the scrutiny of published peer-reviewed science by a number of independent researchers. For example, a study published in Clinical Rheumatology exposes how vaccine manufacturers used phoney placebos in clinical trials to conceal a wide range of devastating risks associated with HPV vaccines. Instead of using genuine inert placebos and comparing health impacts over a number of years, as is required for most new drug approvals, Merck and GlaxoSmithKline spiked their placebos with a neurotoxic aluminum adjuvant and cut observation periods to a matter of months. Mary Holland, Mary Holland, J.D., who recently retired as the directer of the NYU School of Law actually published a book about this type activity by big pharma. The book is called The HPV Vaccine On Trial: Seeking Justice For A Generation Betrayed. Again, there are multiple examples of HPV vaccine injuries, which is why Japan, for example, stopped recommending it. Sacrificial Virgins is one of multiple films to tackle an issue that continues to largely go unacknowledged and it provides more examples. Jennifer Robi is a 24-year-old former athlete and scholar who has been confined to a wheelchair since receiving her third Gardasil vaccines at age sixteen. She suffers continual uncontrolled neuro/muscular contractions (jerking) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and many other symptoms of systemic autoimmune dysregulation. You can read more about that story here. A new study published in The Royal Society of Medicine is one of multiple studies over the years that has emerged questioning the efficacy of the HPV vaccine. The researchers conducted an appraisal of published phase 2 and 3 efficacy trials in relation to the prevention of cervical cancer and their analysis showed the trials themselves generated significant uncertainties undermining claims of efficacy in the data they used. The researchers emphasized that it is still uncertain whether human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination prevents cervical cancer as trials were not designed to detect this outcome, which takes decades to develop. The researchers point out that the trials used to test the vaccine may have overestimated the efficacy of the vaccine.The authors point out that it was even questionable whether or not the vaccine prevents pre-cancerous lesions, let alone cancer. You can read more about this specific story here. In fact, there is evidence suggesting that cervical cancer rates have increased since the introduction of the vaccine, and we already know that if a woman has been exposed to an HPV infection before the vaccine, their chances of developing cancer from the vaccine increase by nearly 50 percent. I also recently wrote about The mother and father of Christopher Bunch, at the time a 14 year old boy, who claim that he died as a direct result of the HPV vaccine. The family recently received a letter back from Merck, the manufacturer of the vaccines. You can read more about that story here. Another one weve written about is Colton Barrett, who took his own life after being unable to cope with his Gardasil vaccine injuries. You can read more about that and watch an interview with him here. A study published in 2013 in Current Pharmaceutical Design carried out a review of HPV vaccine pre- and post-licensure trials to assess the evidence of their effectiveness and safety. They found that: HPV vaccine clinical trials design, and data interpretation of both efficacy and safety outcomes, were largely inadequate. Additionally, we note evidence of selective reporting of results from clinical trials (i.e., exclusion of vaccine efficacy figures related to study subgroups in which efficacy might be lower or even negative from peer-reviewed publications). Given this, the widespread optimism regarding HPV vaccines long-term benefits appears to rest on a number of unproven assumptions (or such which are at odds with factual evidence) and significant misinterpretation of available data. For example, the claim that HPV vaccination will result in approximately 70% reduction of cervical cancers is made despite the fact that the clinical trials data have not demonstrated to date that the vaccines have actually prevented a single case of cervical cancer (let alone cervical cancer death), nor that the current overly optimistic surrogate marker-based extrapolations are justified. Likewise, the notion that HPV vaccines have an impressive safety profile is only supported by highly flawed design of safety trials and is contrary to accumulating evidence from vaccine safety surveillance databases and case reports which continue to link HPV vaccination to serious adverse outcomes (including death and permanent disabilities). We thus conclude that further reduction of cervical cancers might be best achieved by optimizing cervical screening (which carries no such risks) and targeting other factors of the disease rather than by the reliance on vaccines with questionable efficacy and safety profiles. Childrens Health Defense explains: Julias symptoms after receiving Gardasil, are far from unique. According to data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), more than 64,000 case reports of adverse events have been reported after individuals received the Gardasil vaccine. Experts estimate that only one percent of vaccine adverse events are actually reported. According to the complaint, Gardasil now has more reported injuries than any other vaccine, and the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program has paid out millions of dollars in damages for Gardasil-induced injuries and deaths. Gardasil is also the most expensive vaccine on the market; two doses of Gardasil 9 presently cost about $450, plus the cost of two office visits. In 2018, Merck made $2.2 billion from Gardasil sales in the U.S. alone. In 2019, Merck made $3.7 billion in worldwide Gardasil revenue. Then we have the issue of aluminum, which the HPV vaccine has much of. Many people claim that the amount of aluminum we take in from other sources is greater than the aluminum in vaccines, but fail to realize that the aluminum we take into our body from vaccines may not exit our body. Professor Christopher Shaw from the University of British Columbia in Canada explains that injected aluminum doesnt come into the same methods of excretion as the aluminum we take in from food, for example. When we inject aluminum, it stays in the body, it may cross the blood brain barrier, enter into cells and various organs in the body. When you inject aluminum, it goes into a different compartment of your body. It doesnt come into that same mechanism of excretion. So, and of course it cant because thats the whole idea of aluminum adjuvants, aluminum adjuvants are meant to stick around and allow that antigen to be presented over and over and over again persistently, otherwise you wouldnt put an adjuvant in in the first place. It cant be inert, because if it were inert it couldnt do the things it does. It cant be excreted because again it couldnt provide that prolonged exposure of the antigen to your immune system. Dr. Christopher Shaw Canadian neuroscientist and professor of ophthalmology at the University of British Columbia (source) In 2018, shaw published a paper in the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry that found almost 100 percent of the intramuscularly injected aluminum in mice as vaccine adjuvants was absorbed into the systemic circulation and traveled to different sites in the body such as the brain, the joints, and the spleen where it accumulated and was retained for years post-vaccination. (source) A group of scientists from multiple countries recently published a paper in the Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology titled The role of aluminum adjuvants in vaccines raises issues that deserve independent, rigorous and honest science. In their publication, they provide evidence for their position that the safety of aluminium-based vaccine adjuvants, like that of any environmental factor presenting a risk of neurotoxicity and to which the young child is exposed, must be seriously evaluated without further delay, particularly at a time when the CDC is announcing a still increasing prevalence of autism spectrum disorders, of 1 child in 54 in the USA. A study published in 2015 emphasized that: Evidence that aluminum-coated particles phagocytozed in the injected muscle and its draining lymph nodes can disseminate within phagocytes throughout the body and slowly accumulate in the brain further suggests that alum safety should be evaluated in the long term. You can read more specifically about aluminum, here. The Takeaway: At the end of the day its quite clear that vaccines are not a one size fits all product, this is why evident by the fact that nearly $4 billion has been paid out to families of vaccine injured children via the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (NCVIA). As astronomical as the monetary awards are, theyre even more alarming considering that only an estimated 1% of vaccine injuries are even reported to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS). If the numbers from VAERS are correct only 1% of vaccine injuries are reported and only 1/3 of the petitions are compensated then up to 99% of vaccine injuries go unreported and the families of the vast majority of people injured by vaccines are picking up the costs, once again, for vaccine makers flawed products. According to a MedAlerts search of the FDA Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database, as of 2/5/19, the cumulative raw count of adverse events from measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines alone was: 93,929 adverse events, 1,810 disabilities, 6,902 hospitalizations, and 463 deaths. These are liability free products that are being mandated on us. Should freedom of choice not always remain when it comes to substances we put into our own body? Are unvaccinated children and people really a threat to vaccinated ones? These are important questions to ask and answer. Perhaps what we are being told and marketed heavily with is not always true. DEAR ABBY: My husband and I are trying to have children. He was raised Catholic, but is now agnostic. I'm also agnostic. My deeply religious fatherin-law insists that our future children be baptized Catholic. I'm against it because I think it should be a person's right to choose which faith, if any, to follow when they are ready. I also think it would be hypocritical to go through a baptismal ceremony, with godparents and vows to raise our child a certain way when we have no intention of doing it. My husband thinks it would be best to baptize our future children to "keep the peace," because his father will never forgive us if we don't. I think it's our children, our lives, our ethics. Which of us is right? Out in the open DEAR OUT: You are, but I don't envy what's ahead for you. If you knuckle under to your father-in-law, it won't stop. You will be expected to follow through with a Catholic upbringing First Communion, Catholic schools, church attendance "for the children" and everything that comes with it. You and your husband should bite the bullet, be upfront with his dad before you become pregnant and make plain how you plan to raise your children. If you aren't, raising them in a way you don't want could put a strain on your marriage. This should be your and your husband's decision to make and no one else's, and I don't recommend deviating from it. DEAR ABBY: I have been married for four years, and all this time we have lived in separate houses. Now my husband is finally moving in with me. While I'm excited and it's going to be a significant financial benefit for both of us, I'm experiencing mixed emotions and a lot of anxiety about it. He's an awesome man who treats me great. This is a second marriage for both of us. Any advice would be appreciated. Making the leap in Florida DEAR MAKING: Under the circumstances, your feelings are normal. This will be a big change for both of you. This is why it's important to talk about your feelings and expectations in advance, which might ease your stress. Being able to communicate honestly with each other is extremely important and will serve you well in the future. With this move you are opening up a new chapter in your lives, and I wish you many years of happiness together. DEAR ABBY: Five years ago, when my wife and I were 35 years old, she agreed to be on a team with me and compete in some "adventure races." It was great fun. We had team T-shirts, trained together and were excited about our results. It brought us closer and created a real sense of camaraderie, adventure and mutual support into our marriage. During one race a bull broke into the race grounds and chased us. Shortly thereafter, my wife quit the team and, sadly, many of the ancillary benefits declined as well. She will no longer be on a team with me. What should I do? Benched in Georgia DEAR BENCHED: Because this is an activity you enjoy, you should keep going. Because your wife has chosen to retire from adventure racing, you should recruit another partner or find some other activity you both could enjoy together. (And that's no bull.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France Fri, August 28, 2020 09:15 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c410e312 2 Sports Thiago-Silva,PSG,soccer,soccer-club,footballer Free Paris Saint-Germain paid a fond tribute to departing captain Thiago Silva on Thursday, calling him "one of the greats" ahead of a reported move to Premier League side Chelsea. "Thiago, thank you for eight years of unforgettable memories, leadership and commitment. You are one of the greats and your legendary status at PSG will live forever," PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said in a club statement. "My very best wishes to you and your family for your new adventures, you will always be part of our family and our history, Merci Captain." Silva, 35, underwent a medical in London on Thursday and is expected to sign a two-year deal with Chelsea, according to reports in Britain. The Brazil center-back enjoyed eight trophy-laden years with the French champions, winning the Ligue 1 title seven times and five French Cups while making 315 appearances for PSG. Silva could become the latest signing for Chelsea in a busy close season that has seen the arrivals of Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell and Malang Sarr. The Blues are also interested in Bayer Leverkusen rising star Kai Havertz. What just happened? Tesla very nearly found itself at the mercy of a ransomware attack that would have cost it millions of dollars. The FBI claims that a Russian citizen was part of a group who attempted to plant malware in the system of a Nevada company since identified as the EV firm. They also attempted to rope a Tesla employee into the plot, but the worker ended up helping the authorities. Earlier this week, the US Department of Justice announced charges against Russian national Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov. Court documents state that the 27-year-old contacted a Tesla employee, a Russian-speaking immigrant who hed previously met in 2016, via WhatsApp. Kriuchkov claimed he was traveling to the US for a vacation, and the two arranged to meet in Reno. The pair met on several occasions, during which Kriuchkov revealed that he was working with a Russian-based hacking group. He explained that they had created a piece of malware designed specifically for Tesla at a cost of $250,000 and wanted the employee to introduce it to the companys internal network. Much appreciated. This was a serious attack. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 27, 2020 Kriuchkov said the gang would launch a DDoS attack to disguise the malwares data exfiltration and promised the employee $500,000 for his part, which they negotiated up to $1 million. Unbeknown to Kriuchkov, the employee had informed Tesla of the plan, which in turn involved the FBI. The agency began a sting operation involving the worker wearing a wire and sharing text messages with Kriuchkov as they negotiated the deal. Kriuchkov was arrested as he tried to leave the US via Los Angeles and charged on Monday. He faces up to five years behind bars if found guilty. While the Nevada company wasnt named in the original documents, Elon Musk has confirmed it was Tesla. Additionally, the FBI obtained information about other attacks previously carried out by the group. It didnt confirm the companies targeted, but its thought the ransomware attack on CWT Group in July, which saw it pay $4.5 million to hackers, was the Russian gang's work. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has cut the sod for the commencement of works on a Keta Water Expansion Project to provide potable water to over 400,000 people in three districts in the Volta Region. The 85 million Euro project financed by the Deutsche Bank, will see the rehabilitation of the existing water treatment plant at Agordome in the Central Tongu District, and the construction of a 7.7 million gallon conventional treatment water facility. A 62-kilometre transmission pipeline would be constructed through Anloga to Keta, and also a booster station and storage reservoirs. About 100 km of distribution networks would be constructed in addition to the rehabilitation of existing ones, and 8,000 domestic meters will be supplied to serve communities in Keta, Anloga, and the Tongu districts. President Akufo Addo noted that the long overdue project would affect economic growth along the fast growing seaboard, and said his government was not relenting on efforts to provide water for all Ghanaians, regardless who they were." With water, investors would take advantage of the IDIF and other policy initiatives to create employment for the youth and stimulate the growth of the local economy, he said. The President said some key road networks in the districts were awarded for construction, adding that funds were being sought to dredge the Keta Lagoon. Madam Cecilia Dapaah, Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources said the government in its pursuit of the water sustainability goals of the SDGs, was closing the gap between demand and supply through steady water infrastructure investment. She said the efforts had among others, resulted in zero recorded cases of cholera since 2017, and also helped over 5,000 communities end open defecation. Israeli infrastructure company, Lesico would undertake the project in the space of two years. Togbui Kwawu Adzowe VII, the Awudada of Agave Traditional Area, commended the government for the intervention, and lamented the long quest for potable water by communities living along water resources. 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 Actor Rhea Chakraborty has admitted that she had a tiff with Sushant Singh Rajput in January, after which he had asked her to leave. A similar incident happened on June 8, when Rhea said Sushant told her to leave his house, where she had been staying during quarantine. He died on June 14. In an interview to NDTV, Rhea said, Honestly, even in January 2020, he had asked me to leave. His explanation was he was moving to Pawna. Sushant had a farmhouse in Pawna, and had told several people about wanting to move there, and away from Mumbai. Rhea said that during the lockdown, Sushant became fixated with the idea of moving to Coorg, and started telling Rhea to move out of his house. She said that she was hurt by this, and after much insistence on Sushants part, left his house on June 8, but only after making sure that his sister was there to take care of him. This time as well I thought he will call me back, Rhea continued. He messaged but did not ask me to come back. I was upset. So I blocked him. I was completely broken. He texted my brother but there was no message of wanting me back. It was rare. He would always want me back. Then his sister was there with him. I thought they will be comfortable without me. I felt may be he did not want me. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajputs sister slams Rhea Chakraborty for saying actors relationship with family was strained: Dare anyone ever doubt it for a moment In January, Sushant visited his sister in Chandigarh. His sister Shweta has said this was when he sent his family an SOS. But he returned to Mumbai just two days later. Shweta in a series of tweets said that Rhea had been calling him incessantly during this time. By the time I reached, Bhai had already left Chandigarh because of the constant pestering calls of Rhea and some work commitments. Family was always there standing rock solid for him!! Shweta had tweeted. Rhea, meanwhile, has said that she wasnt even aware that Sushant was coming back. I was not isolating Sushant from his family. He went to Chandigarh to meet his sisters family. They met him in Bandra and sat smiling in a cafe. Why did his brother-in-law message a cop asking him whack me? Why did you let him come back from Chandigarh if you think I was isolating him? she asked. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Stacey Solomon, shown here hosting a lunch for mothers in 2019, has always been outspoken about the challenges of motherhood. (Getty Images) Stacey Solomon has opened up about how shes learning to love her body and the extra skin shes been left with after losing weight, in a relatable post about motherhood. In a photo of herself with her one-year-old son, Rex, the TV host can be seen smiling while showing off her stomach in in the mirror. Solomon, 30, starts the caption by stating: I love my body. It is changing all of the time so it takes some getting used to now and again... But thank Goodness it does change because if it didnt I wouldnt have that smile to wake up to every morning or those big brothers of his either. Solomon shares her youngest son, Rex, with partner, Joe Swash, 38, and she has two other children, Leighton, eight, and Zachary, 12, from previous relationships. Read more: Perrie Edwards personal trainer reveals how she got her body confidence back Solomon put a call out for women to share their body confidence posts with her, and hundreds of people took up the challenge. She said that seeing the posts reminded me of how much I miss being nice to myself. She admitted to finding it challenging to love her body recently and added: Ive lost weight recently for some reason and I didnt lose my skin with it. So Ive not been very nice to myself about it which isnt like me at all. Your posts have reminded me that I am beautiful and every BODY is different and thats what makes them special. Read more: Lizzo shares stern message to body shamers In many countries, bouncing back after having a baby is seen as a slow process, with people in Mexico describing stretch marks as love lines. In the UK, a culture of putting pressure on new mums to speedily bounce back to their pre-baby weight can leave women feeling inadequate. Solomon added: You are the only you and that is perfect IMO. Cellulite is pretty, Stretch marks are glitter, extra skin extra so its got to be good right? Feel like Ive got a special offer on skin. Story continues Hundreds of thousands of people liked her post, with her celebrity BFF, Mrs Hinch commenting: Just Beautiful. I dream to have the confidence to do this one day. Sending you a big hug bub xx All I can really see when I look at this is the love and happiness Rex looks up to you with, another person commented. To which Solomon replied: This comment made me cry. Well done, Stacey, we could all do with a little bit of body positivity in our lives right now. Police in North Yorkshire have made headlines after claiming a 13-year-old girl's birthday party devolved into an "all-night techno rave". Already bizarre without considering Coronavirus concerns, a report by Yorkshire Live says the event started out as your average birthday, but after the children left, the adult organisers turned the part into an 'out of control' rave that lasted through the night and could be heard kilometres away. Councillor Keane Duncan, head of the Ryedale District Council, slammed the party, saying "this was, in effect, a rave involving 10 to 20 people near Tara Park. It was a 13-year-old's birthday that has gotten out of control." "We are talking about music blasting so loud it caused major disturbance to thousands of residents within a five mile radius of Malton. Many were left unable to sleep on Saturday night and it then started again on Sunday afternoon." "Police had turned up and given advice but it was not followed," Duncan added. "In the end, police had to issue a dispersal order after warnings were ignored. As a council we take this very seriously. Officers are working with police to ensure this doesnt happen again and that those responsible are dealt with." Hopefully the 13-year-old had a good time. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 17:09:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- India's main opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday urged people to raise their voice against the government's decision to hold entrance exams amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The exams include medical (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test or NEET) and engineering (Joint Entrance Exams or JEE) courses. The former Congress party president also tagged a video about people's movement, talking about the issues students are going to face if the entrance exams are held. "The government is putting the students' health at risk by conducting the NEET, JEE exams amid pandemic. Students have been stressed out. During such time, the Congress stands with the students and we are speaking up for their safety," according to the voiceover in the video. The Congress party and several opposition parties have urged the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to defer examinations, citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and floods in various parts of the country. The federal government, however, announced that the exams would be held as per schedule. While the JEE Main is scheduled for Sept. 1-6, NEET is planned on Sept. 13. Around 858,000 candidates have registered for JEE-Main and over 1.5 million have registered for NEET. The exams have been deferred twice in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. Meanwhile, the Congress party Friday staged nationwide protests seeking postponement of NEET and JEE examinations. Protests took place in Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and many other states, reports said. Reports said six states, including West Bengal, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Punjab, have filed a petition requesting the Supreme Court to review its order and defer the two exams. India's health ministry on Friday recorded 77,266 cases of COVID-19 during the past 24 hours, marking the biggest single-day rise in the country. India is the third worst-hit country due to COVID-19 pandemic with 3,387,500 cases and death toll reaching to 61,529. Enditem (Natural News) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is the latest Democratic politician telling the partys presidential nominee Joe Biden not to debate President Donald Trump, claiming that doing so would be an exercise in skulduggery. In an August 27 news conference, Pelosi advised Biden not to dignify or legitimize any debate or conversation with Trump, claiming that the president had not conducted himself in a manner associated with truth, evidence, data and facts. In addition, Pelosi also pointed to Trumps behavior during the 2016 debates standing behind his rival Hilary Clinton while it was her turn to speak calling it disgraceful. (Related: Pelosi declares Republicans to be enemies of the state.) I think that hell probably act in a way that is beneath the dignity of the presidency but I think he will also belittle what the debates are supposed to be about, Pelosi said. Instead of a face-to-face debate between the two candidates, Pelosi proposed that both candidates have a conversation with the American people on their own stage and answer each others arguments individually. Biden, who previously served as vice president under former President Barack Obama, was nominated as the Democratic Partys presidential candidate in August. He picked California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. Harris will face current Vice President Mike Pence. Meanwhile, the Republican Party nominated Trump to run for a second presidential term with Pence as his running mate. Biden insists on debating Trump Aside from Pelosi, other Democrats have also discouraged Biden from debating Trump. They raised concerns that the president would repeat lies he said during his earlier debate with Hillary Clinton four years ago. Whatever you do, dont debate Trump, warned former Press Secretary Joe Lockhart. Some of Bidens supporters have expressed their worries about his ability to remain focused during the 90-minute debate. In a July interview with Chris Wallace of Fox News, Trump claimed that his Democrat rival cant put two sentences together and was mentally shot. The president further remarked that Biden doesnt know hes alive and was not competent to be president. In addition, Trump also challenged Biden to take a drug test alongside him before they meet on stage. The president noted the sudden improvement in the way the Democrat nominee debated against Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders which he believed was the result of drug use. Shortly after Pelosi made her remarks, however, Biden insisted that he would debate Trump on stage. Biden added that he himself would serve as the fact-checker during the debate, claiming that the incumbent president had a somewhat pathological tendency not to tell the truth. Biden said in a previous statement last July that he could hardly wait to debate Trump. Four presidential debates are scheduled before the November polls, the first on September 29, followed by a second one on October 15 leading up to the final debate on October 22. Meanwhile, a vice presidential debate is scheduled to happen on October 7. However, some of the venues where the debates were supposed to happen have withdrawn hosting due to concerns about the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic. Earlier in June, the University of Michigan backed out of hosting a debate scheduled for the month prompting a move to a later date. The University of Notre Dame also backed out of hosting the September 29 debate, which resulted in a different venue being chosen. Read more stories about Donald Trumps campaign in the November 2020 elections at Trump.news. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com MarketWatch.com VOANews.com 1 WSJ.com Newsweek.com FoxNews.com WashingtonExaminer.com VOANews.com 2 NBCNews.com California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday a new $1.4 billion COVID-19 testing contract to address the test result delays and supply shortages in California. On average, California is testing about 100,000 people daily. Results from these COVID-19 testing take about a week. The California governor said that the new contract promises to ramp up the number of tests to 250,000 per day. Newsom added that the results will only take one to two days, under the requirement written into the new contract with Massachusetts-based PerkinElmer. "Once you get past a couple days, testing results lose meaning in significance to mitigate spread of disease in terms of contact tracing, quarantining and isolating," Newsom was quoted in a report. Newsom said that what is significant with this partnership is that the state of California is demanding results back in 24 hour, the latest 48 hours. Newsom said they have provision under that contract to guarantee that turnaround time. California COVID-19 Testing Around 94 percent of California counties reported that testing results took more than two days, as of mid-August. The Desert Sun survey showed that 58 percent of reported results take as long as a week. Several counties, including Sierra and Santa Barbara counties, have reported delays in COVID-19 testing results for as long as two weeks. The state has paid about $100 per test, and sometimes up to $200, for more than 10 million tests so far, Newsom said. The new COVID-19 testing contract has the cost that will hit between $30 and $48, with the price becoming lower as California do more COVID-19 testing per day. To start off this new COVID-19 testing contract, California will find a new laboratory for PerkinElmer to work from. The construction will take eight to 10 weeks to complete. Additional test will not be rolled out until later this fall. California officials hope to start processing thousand of new COVID-19 testing by November, which is time for flu season. Newsom predicts an increase in COVID-19 testing demand this time, with full capacity reached by March. The initial contract will cost California $100 million, with the option to grow to $1.4 billion. PerkinElmer has partnered with California for the past 30 years to provide newborn genetic tests. These tests are required for every newborn in California. There are also additional provisions under this new COVID-19 testing contract. These include technology changes as rapid-result COVID-19 tests become more widely available. The new COVID-19 testing contract also require the company to provide testing kits and necessary supplies, as well as allowed toward pooled testing if needed. The COVID-19 testing contract also requires a potential upgrade to include flu tests. The California governor said that supply chains across the country have slowed as demand for COVID-19 testing increase. Newsom added that flu season will only worsen the problem. "So we are building our own laboratory capabilities right here on California soil with a stable supply chain to fight the disease, lower the prices of testing for everyone and protect Californians most at risk from COVID-19," Newsom was quoted in a report. Check these out: CDC Wants Sewage Systems Across the Country Tested for COVID-19 COVID-19 Home Testing Kit Using Smartphones Awaits Government Approval How To Avoid COVID-19 Testing Scams Elon Musk confirmed on Twitter Thursday that his Tesla Nevada factory was the target of an alleged attempted cyberattack by a Russian national in recent weeks. A Russian man was arrested and accused of trying to recruit an employee of a Nevada company to put malware on the company's computer network, extract data and extort ransom money from the company, federal officials announced this week. However, the targeted company had not been identified in court documents filed Sunday. The FBI's criminal investigation details multiple meetings between the Russian and company employee in the Reno area in recent weeks. Following a report by Teslarati.com Thursday detailing how a Tesla employee reportedly turned down $1 million to work with the FBI and help thwart the alleged malware attack Elon Musk tweeted "Much appreciated. This was a serious attack." Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks before unveiling the Model Y at the company's design studio Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Hawthorne, Calif. The Model Y may be Tesla's most important product yet as it attempts to expand into the mainstream and generate enough cash to repay massive debts that threaten to topple the Palo Alto, California, company. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Election 2020: More companies pledge to give their workers time to vote Changes at Coca-Cola: Company says layoffs, buyouts imminent as part of restructuring Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov, 27, appeared in federal court in Los Angeles Monday and has been charged with one count of conspiracy to intentionally cause damage to a protected computer, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich of the District of Nevada and FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse. A court complaint filed by the Nevada U.S. Attorney's Office Sunday details the allegations against Kriuchkov. On July 16, Kriuchkov contacted an employee of a Nevada company, later identified by Musk as Tesla, after getting the phone number through a mutual acquaintance, and said he would be traveling through the area and would like to meet up. Kriuchkov flew into New York July 28 using his Russian passport and a tourist visa, which was issued in October 2019. Two days later, he flew from New York to San Francisco, according to the court complaint. On July 31, he drove a rental car to Nevada and checked into a Sparks hotel on Nichols Boulevard. Story continues More: Tesla tries to assure workers there's no big virus outbreak He then visited with the unnamed company employee at his home several times, and they also toured the area, including South Lake Tahoe and Emerald Pools, according to the complaint. During these trips, Kriuchkov declined to be in any photos but offered to pay for the excursions, claiming he won money gambling, the employee told federal agents. The FBI recruited the employee as a confidential informant after the employee reported Kriuchkov's proposed activity to his company's security office. After coming back from Lake Tahoe, Kriuchkov told the company employee he would like to meet with him alone so they could discuss "business," and they met up at a Reno restaurant that night. The pair then went to a nearby bar and drank heavily with Kriuchkov paying, the complaint details. Kriuchkov reportedly then told the man that he worked for a "group" that does "special projects," paying employees of companies to introduce malware, which would attack the computer system in two ways. First, it would appear to be an external attack that would get the attention of company security, hiding the second attack which extracts data. The "group" then would threaten the company to make data public if a large ransom isn't paid, according to the complaint. Kriuchkov allegedly said the "group" would eventually pay the employee $1 million to introduce the malware, to be delivered in cash or Bitcoin. Kriuchkov met up with the employee multiple times in August, including at a Reno gas station parking lot and a Reno restaurant, as the FBI conducted surveillance of the meetings. Kriuchkov gave the employee a burner phone as well as instructions on how to use it to help facilitate the Bitcoin transfer, according to the complaint. After being contacted by the FBI, Kriuchkov drove overnight from Reno to Los Angeles and asked an acquaintance to buy him an airline ticket to leave the country. He was arrested in Los Angeles on Aug. 22 and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alexander F. MacKinnon in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, who ordered Kriuchkov detained pending trial. Kriuchkov faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. As Nevadas economy diversifies and evolves into a center for technological innovation, our office will continue to prioritize protecting trade secrets and other confidential information belonging to U.S. businesses, said Trutanich in a prepared statement. Working with our law enforcement partners, we are committed to holding accountable anyone who plots to use malicious cyber tactics to harm American consumers and companies. The investigation was led by the FBIs Las Vegas Field Office with assistance by the FBIs Los Angeles Field Office; the FBIs Sacramento Field Office; the Washoe County Sheriffs Office; and the Criminal Divisions Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Section. In this matter, the FBI was once again able to intervene before any damage could occur, said Rouse in a prepared statement. We will continue to aggressively pursue any person or entity that attempts to inflict damage to American business or enterprise, no matter who or where. Complaint-Egor Kriuchkov 3-... by Reno Gazette Journal Chelcey Adami is the visuals and breaking news editor at the Reno Gazette Journal. She can be reached at cadami@gannett.com and 831-277-8763. To support local journalism like this, please subscribe. This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: Elon Musk: Tesla Nevada Gigafactory target of Russian hacking attempt To mark the 25th anniversary of Irish comedy Father Ted, the Irish post service, An Post, has released a collection of stamps. Each of the four limited edition stamps is printed with a memorable line from the show. Fans can choose from Thats mad, Ted, Will you have a cup of tea, Father?, That money was just resting in my account and That would be an ecumenical matter. In the background is a retro wallpaper pattern which matches a room from the house where Father Ted, Father Dougal, Father Jack and Mrs Doyle lived in the show, set on the fictional Craggy Island. The specially designed stamp booklet of five stamps costs 5.70 and has been designed by Dublins Detail Design Studio. It is available at post offices nationwide in Ireland, along with other Father Ted collectables. An Post's website jokes that four of the stamps cover postage in Ireland "including Craggy Island", while one high tarif stamp can be used for worldwide postage. Speaking about the special edition stamps, Pauline McLynn, who played Mrs Doyle, told the Guardian: I dont think until today it has sunk in what a huge thing it is, what an honour. How many people do you know can say I was once on a stamp? Father Ted aired on Channel 4 for three years, between 1995 - 1998, but remains a cult favourite which is still popular today In a survey commissioned by An Post, 20 per cent of respondents said they quoted lines from the show on a daily basis. The three etched-in-stone rules of the coronavirus pandemic are: 1) wear a mask, 2) wash your hands frequently and 3) keep at least 6 feet from others. Now British researchers say No. 3 needs some tweaking. A new paper published Monday in The BMJ, the peer-reviewed UK medical journal, finds that the 2-meter (6-foot) safe physical-distancing rule is "an oversimplification based on outdated science." Nicholas R. Jones of the University of Oxford and his fellow researchers from the University of Oxford, St. Thomas Hospital in London and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology concluded that the current rigid distancing guideline ignores the physics of respiratory emissions in which droplets of all sizes are concentrated in a gas cloud that can cover several meters in a few seconds. Instead, they proposed a more nuanced model assessing the risk of viral transmission as it relates to the four Cs (close, closed, crowded, continuous) and whether or not face coverings are worn. The model assumes everyone is asymptomatic (or presymptomatic). BMJ The chart (broken into two sections here to make it easier to read) does not replace the 2-meter rule but shows graded recommendations that better reflect the multiple factors that combine to determine risk, the studys authors wrote. Where the risk is great, such as a crowded bar or night club, distancing should be extended beyond 2 meters. The model is not perfect. Risk levels do not factor in an individuals susceptibility to infection, the amount of virus shedding from an infected person, indoor airflow patterns or the proximity of a healthy individual to an infected one. The authors acknowledged that more research into these variables is needed, as well as a study of the duration of exposures indoors and how it relates to occupancy levels. BMJ The 2-meter guideline has been around for a long time. In 1897, German bacteriologist Carl Flugge demonstrated that pathogens contained in large droplets expelled from the respiratory tract could spread disease. Flugge recommended a 1- to 2-meter safe distance, which over the years became entrenched scientific belief. But a recent Swiss study demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 can be spread by aerosols over distances of at least 8 meters (26 feet). The BMJ paper cited evidence that distribution of viral particles is affected by numerous factors, including air flow, and that activities such as singing, shouting, coughing and sneezing can propel pathogens to distances greater than 2 meters. Physical distancing should be seen as only one part of a wider public health approach to containing the covid-19 pandemic, the authors wrote. It needs to be implemented alongside combined strategies of people-air-surface-space management, including hand hygiene, cleaning, occupancy and indoor space and air managements, and appropriate protective equipment, such as masks, for the setting. PMC/National Library of Medicine via Wikipedia Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate ICT giant, Huawei has set precedence in many technology avenues, and its smartphone line is fast building profound market dominance. The tech giant enjoys millions of end-users in its vast ecosystem globally. And with a burgeoning Ghanaian market, the manufacturer is selling some of the best handsets in a sky-high demand environment. Are you wondering about the most recent Huawei phones and prices in Ghana in 2020? From their midrange to flagships, Huawei never disappoints with the best features on any smartphone in the market. Indeed, there is always something for the most tech-savvy, high-profile, and luxury-seeking consumer as well as the clueless client looking for a simple handset. Image: gettyimages.com Source: Getty Images What features do you fancy on a smartphone? Huawei smartphones in Ghana would probably satisfy your desires and give you other added features to compliment your regular usage. Given the firm's rapid rise in the smartphone arena, they have mastered the art of creating feature-rich gadgets that meet consumer needs. Their creativity has allowed them to become one of the biggest brands with a big fan-base in Ghana and all over Africa. The audacious firm's strategic moves have seen them populate the Ghanaian market with several phone models. An insight into the latest Huawei phones in Ghana and their prices would be an ideal starting point to shopping for the best. Huawei: the firm behind the brand Whats Huaweis story? How did they manage to gain a considerable market share all over the world, only comparable to Apple and Samsung, the other two giant technology companies? The company was founded in 1987 and is a leading provider of information and communications technology infrastructure and smart devices. Huawei has a great commitment to bringing technology to every person, home, and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world. Therefore, their smartphone production is geared towards the fulfilment of this objective. Ghana is amongst the most important markets for the brand in Africa, whereby they sell its vast range of phones. Huawei has established three lines of business in the country, including public sector operations, the private sector, and new products segment. The new products segment is where they supply smartphones and other devices. READ ALSO: Samsung A10 price in Ghana, specs and review Huawei phones and prices in Ghana Whether you are looking for Huawei waterproof phones or something basic to keep your going, you are probably working with a budget. Nobody wants to get ripped off, buying a budget smartphone for an inflated price. That is why the price range for these latest, and great smartphones from Huawei is very important. 1. Huawei Nova 7i Image: consumer.huawei.com Source: UGC If you have been looking for one of the richest Huawei phones to go all-in with the brand, you have found your model. The hardware and software are so sophisticated that it easily dwarfs other phone brands of the same price range. The smartphone has an impressive, classy finish and is attractive enough for those looking to flex off in style. And no, you do not get a mediocre camera with simple features, but a 48 MP main camera with 120 degrees, Ultra-Wide-Angle Lens with AI depth perception. Is it not amazing having such a phenomenal camera in your hands? Hence, if you were wondering, Which phone has the best camera quality?" there you have it. A phone worth considering not only for its impressive hardware and software features but for the awesome camera. And what is the price for this well-packaged handset? You can get the 128 GB variant online at an average price of GHC 1,576. 2. Huawei Y7P Image: consumer.huawei.com Source: UGC Cool design, fantastic and responsive UI (User Interface), fabulous display are just some of the worthy definitions of this great handset. If you want to buy a Huawei phone in Ghana, you better go for this as it will fulfil all the technological desires you are looking for in a smartphone. This is a midrange device, one of the best for the under GHS 1,000 range. What do you get when you purchase this phone? Some of the most significant is the triple-camera set up, high resolution and HDR mode. Also, the phone comes with a Punch Full View display and a super-fast processor. You can access the smartphone at an average price of GHC 959 in Ghana from most stores. As with most Huawei phones, it had a pre-order period that has since elapsed. Such a window allows people to buy Huawei phone in Ghana at an affordable price. READ ALSO: Infinix note 4 price in Ghana, specs and review 3. Huawei Y8p Image: consumer.huawei.com Source: UGC Although this is not amongst the cheap Huawei phones in Ghana, it wouldn't distort you financially to get this amazing handset. It currently goes for GHC 1,250 in most Ghanaians stores, and you would probably get a better deal if you made more advanced research. One of the most outstanding features about the phone is its 90.17% screen to body ratio and ultra-clear resolution. With 6GB RAM and 128GB ROM, the phone is super-fast, and can easily handle the most complicated multitasking scenarios. 4. Huawei P30 Pro dual-SIM Image: pinterest.com, @ilcovaneck Source: UGC This phone is another addition to Huawei's "P" series, and it stands out with its octa-core powered processor. The technology packed on this phone gives Huawei smartphones in Ghana a great reputation for incredible features. The Huawei P30 with an OLED capacitive touchscreen goes for GHC4,000, which is a bit off for most consumers. However, considering the features included in the handset, the price is worth it all the way. 5. Huawei P40 Image: pinterest.com, @AIVAnet Source: UGC Revolutionize your experience of speed and power, is Huaweis official slogan for this impressive smartphone. Indeed, the phone lives up to expectation in numerous ways. With its innovative design and amazing technology, the P40 gives an experience like no other. How much is Huawei P40 in Ghana? The phone's average price from the numerous retailers in Ghana GHC 6,000. Whatever you have been looking for in a smartphone is probably on this model with its upgraded hardware and software components. READ ALSO: Infinix Hot S4 price in Ghana, specifications, and review 6. Huawei P9 Image: pinterest.com, Android Headlines Source: UGC Simplicity and usability are what makes this model stand out. You have probably encountered other Huawei smartphones in Ghana, but this rare gem will impress you with its fantastic features. How much will it cost you to own this one? With only GHC 859, you can have your hands on this handset and start enjoying the groundbreaking dual-lens and premium, elegant and stylish design. 7. Huawei Nova 5T Image: pinterest.com, @What Mobile Specs Source: UGC If you are looking for Huawei phones and prices in Ghana, then the Huawei Nova 5T might interest you. You will be impressed by the phones 48MP and five AI cameras that will capture every moment in rich colour and the best resolution. Not only that, but the refined finish and amazing texture also give a stylish appearance. The phone has so many features that make the GHC 1,749 price range perfectly fitting. It is a handset for anyone looking to go for the extremes. 8. Huawei Y7 Prime Image: pinterest.com, @Samir M Banbouk Source: UGC If you just wanted something not so expensive yet fulfils your everyday needs out of a smartphone, the Huawei Y7 Prime is for you. At GHC 700, it is not among the most considerable cheap Huawei phones in Ghana, but it makes a great contender. Start shopping with a list of the most recent Huawei phones in Ghana and prices to make an informed decision. Know what you can get in your budget range before hitting either an online or physical store. This way, you will not be confused by the store attendant or some detailed and hard-to-comprehend feature listing on an online store catalogue. READ ALSO: Tecno Spark 4 price in Ghana, specs, and review Yen.com.gh on July 31 featured a story on Huaweis growing market dominance. Even though they have been experiencing sanctions in the US, the technology company surpassed Samsung to take the first spot in the past quarter. The data collected by Canalys; an industry tracker, showed that Huawei managed to grow its local market, dominating over 70% of overall sales. This is a first in over nine years of Samsung and Apple's dominance of the market. READ ALSO: itel S15 price in Ghana, features and full review Samsung A20 price in Ghana, specs and review, availability iPhone 11 Pro Max price in Ghana, specs, review, availability Source: YEN.com.gh The daughter of a Cumberland County woman who vanished more than eight years ago testified Friday morning that she lied to police and an FBI agent who were investigating her mothers disappearance. Defense attorney George Matangos elicited that admission while questioning Valeria Kulbova during the third day of the homicide trial of her stepfather, Hap Seiders. Under Matangos cross-examination, Kulbova conceded she lied when she told investigators in April 2012 that she had not seen her mother, Rabihan Seiders, remove valuable gold coins from a safe at the couples Silver Spring Township home following an August 2011 domestic violence incident. Nor did she tell them her mother had placed the coins in a safe deposit box in Philadelphia that she opened under her name at her moms requests, Kulbova said. Matangos asked Kulbova why she lied. After a pause, she replied, My mother. She told me not to tell anyone. So, you just kept lying over and over again? Matangos continued. Yes, Kulbova said. Chief Deputy District Attorney Courtney Hair LaRue is contending that Hap Seiders, 66, killed his 53-year-old wife in late March 2012 and incinerated her body in the fireplace of the couples home on Willow Mill Park Road. Matangos is questioning whether Rabihan Seiders is actually dead. He has posed the possibility that she fled, possibly overseas, with $3 million worth of property owned by her husband, a currency dealer. Kulbova, who testified for the prosecution on Thursday, said Friday that she is now living in the town of Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, her native country in central Asia. She said she makes her living as a self-employed musical events organizer and by running her own brewing company. When Matangos pressed her with questions about her April 2012 interview with investigators, Kulbova said, I dont remember every question. I dont remember every detail. It was very traumatizing for me. She said her mother was very jealous and suspected her husband of having affairs. Just like Hap was, she said. Kulbova said she wasnt working in 2011 and 2012. Her mom paid her rent for a Philadelphia apartment and would finance her purchases of designer clothes and purses, she said. After nearly an hour of questioning by Matangos, Kulbova suddenly blurted out, I cared for this man (Hap Seiders) because my mom loved himI still care about him. Then, she broke down in tears, prompting Judge Jessica E. Brewbaker to call a recess so Kulbova could compose herself. Later, LaRue asked Kulbova to explain that statement. I know she loved him very much, Kulbova said. Hes still family because my mom loved him...Im going to feel that way forever. Subscriber content preview PARIS (AP) On top of the virus and the sinking economy, France's government has a new problem to worry about: defending women's freedom to sunbathe topless. After police asked bare-breasted bathers to cover up on a Mediterranean beach last week, uproar ensued and bubbled up all the way to the French interior minister in Paris. . . . Aussie Elizabeth Debicki has been attached to an upcoming drama around WWII spy Nancy Wake. Code Name Helene will tell the epic real-life story of New Zealand-born journalist Nancy Wake who became a ferociously brave spy and one of the most powerful leaders of the French Resistance. The series will be told in interweaving timelines following each of the four code names used by Nancy during World War II. The series will be produced by Frances Vendome Group and Anonymous Contentv (True Detective, The Revenant), based on New York Times bestselling author Ariel Lawhons World War II spy thriller. A broadcaster is yet to be announced. Nancy Wake was an astonishing New Zealand-born, Australian-bred woman of incredible courage, ingenuity and wit. Her heroic actions during WWII are, in my opinion, too little known, said Debicki. As an Australian, I am delighted to come on board this production as both actress and executive producer to tell her utterly unique story. Debicki (The Night Manager, The Kettering Incident, The Great Gatsby) was recently cast as Princess Diana in Seasons 5 and 6 of The Crown. Nancy Wake was previously a 1987 miniseries starring Noni Hazlehurst. Source: Variety Colleges and universities cannot award degrees to students without conducting final-year or final-term examinations, the Supreme Court said on Friday, upholding a decision by the University Grants Commission (UGC) that called for completing the evaluation process across the country by September 30. At the same time, the court made it clear that states were empowered to take decisions under the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005, to postpone final-year or final-semester exams beyond the September-end deadline. It allowed states to approach UGC for new dates that have to be communicated to them at the earliest. The ruling by a three-judge bench headed by justice Ashok Bhushan is significant because it appears to have established finality as far as holding exams for final-year and final-term students are concerned. A large section of students protested UGCs July 6 order mandating the exams online, offline or by using a combination of both and states such as Delhi and Maharashtra announced scrapping them in view of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic and the health risks it poses. The court was hearing seven petitions against the UGCs decision to hold exams and three pleas seeking compliance by states with the UGC move. The guidelines dated July 6, 2020, as well as Standard Operating Procedures for conduct of examinations circulated by UGC vide letter dated July 8, 2020, clearly shows deep concern with the health of all stakeholders, i.e., students as well as the exam functionaries. Challenge to the guidelines on the ground of it being violative of (right to life under) Article 21 is repelled, the court said, referring to safety guidelines advocating social distancing during the conduct of physical exams. The bench, also comprising justices R Subash Reddy and MR Shah, said decisions by some states under the Disaster Management Act will prevail over the deadline set by UGC since the legislation empowers states to take measures for prevention and mitigation of disaster. The Disaster Management Act has been enforced across the country in the wake of the pandemic. It empowers the Union government and states governments to frames policies, formulate plans, and take measures for prevention and mitigation of disasters, including relaxations and restrictions on businesses and activities. No state shall permit health of its subject to be compromised that is why overriding power has been given to the State Disaster Management Authority and the State Government (under the Disaster Management Act) with regard to any inconsistency with any other law for the time being in force, the court said. But that did not mean states could go to the extent of promoting final-year students on the basis of previous performances and internal assessment while not holding final year exams, the three-judge bench said. The prayer to quash the guidelines dated July 6, 2020, issued by UGC is refused, the judgment read. Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank welcomed the order. Lets us keep politics away from education but make politics more educated, he tweeted. Alakh Alok Srivastava, the counsel for one of the petitioners who argued against holding examinations, said the court left it to the states to decide the course of action. The Supreme Court has recorded most of my legal submissions... States have also been authorised to postpone the exams. I will sincerely request state governments to go for online and home-based final year exams, he told HT. Supreme Court lawyer Haris Beeran said the ruling acknowledged that the power of states under the Disaster Management Act will prevail over UGC guidelines as far as the date of holding examinations was concerned. The court has balanced it with the UGCs powers by saying that states cannot go beyond their jurisdiction and do away with exams altogether and replace it with internal assessment, Beeran told HT. The Delhi government did not comment on the matter. Maharashtra higher and technical education minister Uday Samant said his government respected the verdict and will decide about holding examinations after consultations with vice-chancellors of universities. We will study the verdict in detail and then take appropriate actions, he said. We need to give priority to students health as well. In the current situation, students should not catch any infection if exams are conducted, he added. UGCs order on holding final-term exams across about 900 universities in the country triggered a storm with a section of students demanding the scrapping of examinations in view of the pandemic. In the top court, multiple petitioners also argued that online exams will not be feasible for many who do not have access to high-speed internet. Petitioners urged the court to declare results based on students past performance or internal assessment. But UGC argued that degrees cannot be conferred without examinations; that it alone was empowered to take a call on whether or not the exams can take place or should be cancelled; that the decision to conduct exams was in the interest of a large number of students; and that not holding the exams will badly impact the academic future of students. The higher education regulator first published guidelines on April 29 for holding exams in the time of Covid-19. The guidelines based on a report by an expert committee headed by RC Kuhad, the chairperson of the Central University of Haryana mandated the exams be held by July. In June, UGC requested the expert committee to revisit the guidelines in view of the evolving pandemic situation. Finally, the fresh guidelines were issued on July 6. While schools and colleges have been closed since March-end, the Union government has allowed colleges and universities to open for the conduct of final-year examinations. A degree which is obtained after passing the required exam is acceptable globally. The Supreme Court order has also made this aspect clear, Kuhad said on the Supreme Court order. In the court, students were represented by senior lawyers such as Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Shyam Divan and Jaideep Gupta as well as advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta represented UGC while additional solicitor general SV Raju put forth the case of the Centre. Senior advocate PS Narasimha supported the Centre by representing a bunch of students in favour of holding the examinations. It is a fair decision of the Supreme Court because it is concerned about the credibility of assessment done by the universities for the award of degrees. In the absence of this credibility, the degree loses its value, said educationist and former UGC member Inder Mohan Kapahy. (with inputs from Amandeep Shukla in Delhi) NEET, JEE mains 2020: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy along with other party members on Friday staged a protest here against conducting NEET and JEE Exams amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Congress party has staged a protest to put forth the demand of postponing NEET and JEE exams. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government in Delhi and KCR government in Telangana must not risk the lives and health of the candidates in Hyderabad. This is quite risky for the students. We are protesting for students safety. We demand that these exams should be postponed, Reddy said while speaking to ANI. The agitated protesters were sloganeering and holding placards written Postpone NEET-JEE Exams, No Exams in Pandemic and Exams in COVID-19 is a suicide on it. A heavy police force was also deployed at the protest site to avoid any sort of untoward incident. Democrats including the governors of California and New York as well as Speaker Nancy Pelosi have accused the C.D.C. of bowing to political pressure from President Trump, who wants to minimize the number of cases of infection. Administration officials say the guidelines were the product of a vigorous debate in the White House coronavirus task force. In his statement, Dr. Redfield sought to explain: Testing is meant to drive actions and achieve specific public health objectives. Everyone who needs a Covid-19 test can get a test. Everyone who wants a test does not necessarily need a test; the key is to engage the needed public health community in the decision with the appropriate follow-up action. The clarification does not change the new guidelines, which remain on the C.D.C.s website. But it is unusual. Public health experts say clear, consistent communications are essential to fighting an infectious disease outbreak, and in interviews several said that statements from the C.D.C. and Dr. Redfield had fallen far short of that goal. What we need from the C.D.C. is clear, specific, directive guidance, said Dr. Leana Wen, a former health commissioner of Baltimore. It shouldnt be a Rorschach blot that were looking at, and everybodys getting a different response by looking at the same guidance. Dr. Wen said she was concerned about the effect of the rule on insurance coverage for testing. Insurers have been chafing against the mandate to pay for all tests without requiring a co-payment from patients. Gregg Gonsalves, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Medicine, said the new guidance suggested the administration was not going to support asymptomatic testing with new money or allow Medicaid to pay for it. A tour Wednesday of a United States Postal Service emphasized to Congressman Henry Cuellar not only the need for more resources but also the need for an entire new office for south Laredo. Laredo has three USPS offices with the main location on Saunders Street along with a location downtown and another on Del Mar Boulevard which serves north Laredo. In my opinion, the south of Laredo has grown a lot, yet there is no post office center for the people in the south as they are counted as being a rural area and are part of the county, which also services the people of Rio Bravo and El Cenizo, Cuellar said. I want to work with local officials in order to make sure that area of the city has a center. The benefits of a new office according to Cuellar include better serving the community while providing postal workers with better control of sorting and delivering in south Laredo. He said the new office is something he will push for if the $25 billion Delivery for America Act passes. The bottom line is that we will fight for a post office in south Laredo because right now they are considered a rural area, he said. However, we need a post office in that part of Laredo as it is growing very fast. Although the congressman said there is no data to indicate what resources are needed for south Laredo, he is working with several local and state officials to conduct that research. However, Texas State Association of Letter Carriers district representative Luis Alfonso Palacios pointed said the need for the area is obvious even without data. Right now, they are all working here as they go to El Cenizo and Rio Bravo all the way over there from here, Palacios said. Therefore, we need a Zone 46 section over there, which would be good because for postal workers it would be much closer for them, less travel time and a lot closer to bring faster service. The idea was also supported by Ignacio Flores, the president of the United Carriers Association in Laredo. Having another post office in the south would greatly facilitate for the people here in Laredo not just in the south but also help us carriers have more flexibility with the overburdened amount of work that we have right now, Flores said. Despite what the officials consider an obvious need, the data is needed for the project to become a reality. Once we get the data, we can then support it which I think we will once we know better and then fight to get it done, Cuellar said. This is a higher thing that Im going to work on and work with south Laredo officials to push for something that could serve everything from south Laredo to Rio Bravo and El Cenizo. jorge.vela@lmtonline.com New Delhi: Steel major Tata Steel Special Economic Zone Ltd has sought more time from the government for setting up a multi-product SEZ in Odisha. The company's proposal will be taken up in the meeting of the Board of Approval (BoA), headed by Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia, on January 6 here, an official said. Formal approval to the developer was granted on June 18, 2007, over an area of 1,173 hectare. The developer has already been granted seven extensions, validity period of which was up to December 17 this year. It has "requested for further extension so as to implement the project. The request of the developer is accordingly placed before BoA for its consideration," the official added. Besides, the board will consider other proposals including G P Realtors and Mittal Infratech which have sought more time to implement their projects. G P Realtors Pvt Ltd has proposed to set up sector specific SEZ for electronic hardware and IT/ITES in Haryana. Mittal Infratech too wants to set up IT/ITES zone in that state. SEZs are export hubs of the country. Exports from special economic zones logged a marginal growth of 0.77 per cent to Rs 4.67 lakh crore in 2015-16. The exports from such 204 zones were Rs 4.63 lakh crore in 2014-15. According to the Commerce Ministry's data, as on March 31, these zones have attracted investments worth Rs 3.76 lakh crore and have generated employment for 15.91 lakh people. A nightly penguin parade live-streamed from a deserted Australian park has become an online lockdown hit, with hundreds of thousands tuning in to watch the cute creatures waddle back to their burrows from the sea. Before the pandemic, going to watch the penguin colonies on Phillip Island, about two hours drive from Melbourne, was a major tourist draw. But with the region under lockdown after a resurgence in coronavirus cases, the islands conservation park launched Live Penguin TV" on Facebook and YouTube attracting a first-night audience of nearly 800,000 on Tuesday, it said. The island is home to the smallest species of penguin, fittingly called the Little Penguin and also known as the Fairy Penguin, and the live stream showed them frolicking together in the water and toddling back to dry land. This has given us something to look forward to in isolation, thanks so much," commented one Facebook user on Wednesdays edition of the evening spectacle. The live sessions, which are about an hour long, will continue even after virus restrictions are lifted in the state of Victoria, the park said, for anyone who cannot go to the island. We have seen pictures posted on social media of entire families watching the parade on their computers and devices," said Catherine Basterfield, chief executive of Phillip Island Nature Parks. It is great to be able to put smiles on faces during these challenging times." There were about 771,000 viewers on Tuesday, according to the park. Virus cases are slowly dwindling in Victoria, with the state reporting 149 new infections on Wednesday. Australia has confirmed more than 25,200 cases in a population of 25 million, with 549 deaths. The railway passengers association for commuters from Kalyan, Kasara and Karjat areas has raised objections over the levying of fines on 12 employees of the central post office in Kardi who travelled to Kalyan and Thane on Thursday on special trains meant for railway staff. In the complaint to the officials of Central Railway (CR) on Friday, the association raised concerns over the inadequate transportation for essential services employees travelling from Khardi, Vasind and stations beyond Titwala. As per the association, 12 employees who worked from the post office belong to essential services. They were caught by the ticket checker and stopped for two hours at Kalyan station before being fined 400 each for the journey. Shyam Ubale, general secretary, of the association, said, The railways started the trains for those in the essential services from June 15. Some trains halt along the Kasara and Karjat routes. There are no halts at Khardi and Vasind stations. Many essential services employees from the rural parts, who work as Class 3 and 4 employees, are struggling each day to reach their workplaces. We had requested the authorities to start some trains before too, but the demand was not met. The association expressed that it is unfair to impose a fine on these employees as they too are corona warriors. They boarded the railway staff special train because they wanted to reach their workplace. But they were made to pay the fine, which is not acceptable, said Ubale. The association has put forward the demand to halt the trains for essential services to all the stations between the Kalyan-Kasara-Karjat stations and also to increase the frequency of the trains. Shivaji Sutar, chief public relations officer of CR, said, On the request of the state government, we operate sufficient suburban trains for essential services staff, as identified by the state. Boarding emergency railway vehicles, which are strictly for railway staffs is not permitted for others to travel and is also punishable under railway act. As per the railway records, from June to August, 46 commuters were caught for ticketless travelling on the Kalyan- Kasara-Karjat route and fined Rs15,370 collectively. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The flight was arranged by Vietnamese authorities, the Vietnamese representative agencies in the two regions, the national flag carrier Vietnamese Airlines, and relevant agencies of over 20 host nations involved. Passengers included children under 18, students who finished learning courses, the elderly, pregnant women, stranded tourists, and workers with expired visas or labour contracts. The Vietnamese Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany, sent staff to assist the citizens in handling boarding procedures at the Frankfurt Airport where all of them gathered to fly home. Upon landing at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, those on board received health check-ups and were sent to concentrated quarantine facilities. More flights are set to be conducted in the time ahead to repatriate Vietnamese citizens with disadvantaged circumstances, depending on their need and quarantine capacity at home. Noor Blumer, the prominent Canberra lawyer who says former High Court judge Dyson Heydon groped and tried to forcibly kiss her at a law ball in 2013, says victims of harassment fear being labelled "dobbers", or that they will be sued for defamation. "Australians are raised not to be 'dobbers'; it's 'un Australian'," she told the Australian Women Lawyers conference in an online speech on Friday. Noor Blumer says she was concerned for her alleged harasser. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Before telling her story to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age in June this year, Ms Blumer asked herself, "Did I want to forever be known as that woman that was groped under the dinner table at a public dinner?" She was also concerned for her alleged harasser. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Aug. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Steelcase announced it has achieved carbon neutrality for its own operations. The company also announced new 2030 goals that have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. Building upon this momentum, Steelcase has established a goal to become carbon negative by 2030. In 2020, Steelcase reported the achievement of a greater than 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the previous ten years. The urgency of climate change inspired the company to expand upon its existing renewable energy commitments with the purchase of carbon offsets. While Steelcase was able to reach carbon neutral (net zero) for its own operations by removing as much carbon as it emits, the company recognizes true climate action means reducing emissions in line with science. Consistent with its legacy of sustainability, Steelcase is now taking its commitment further with a goal to become carbon negative by 2030 by markedly reducing emissions across its own operations with targets in line with climate science. What does Steelcase plan to do to achieve its carbon goals by 2030? Over the next decade, the company will focus on ambitiously reducing emissions at a rate needed to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. By 2030, becoming carbon negative, also referred to as climate positive, means Steelcase would remove more carbon than it emits, through a combination of absolute reductions and investing in renewable energy. Additional actions are expected to include financing carbon offset initiatives and support for external emission reductions with social benefits. To advance a low carbon economy, Steelcase has set science-based targets aligned with a 1.5C climate scenario. This means the company expects to reduce absolute emissions from its own operations by 50% by 2030 and cut indirect emissions from business travel and waste generated in operations. Since most of its emissions are considered indirect or scope 3 emissions, Steelcase plans to engage with suppliers to set their own science-based targets by 2025. By aggressively cutting greenhouse gas emissions at this rate, the company is aligned with the most ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement. Steelcase is proud to lead our industry in addressing this critical global issue, said Jim Keane, President and CEO, Steelcase. We continue to see the destructive effects of climate change that touch the lives of people in communities around the world and are pleased to be taking immediate steps in the right direction. Over the next decade, Steelcase plans to apply the following principles to execute its strategy: Prioritize the absolute reduction of emissions with a range of approaches, including: invest in energy efficiency opportunities identified through a series of audits performed at its top emitting facilities supplement energy efficiency projects via direct renewable energy supply in key markets where available explore onsite renewable energy and reduce emissions associated with business travel, its supply chain, logistics and waste generated in operations Advocate for climate and energy policy Empower its employees and suppliers to champion the effort of transitioning to a low carbon economy The company plans to publish its progress in future Steelcase Impact Reports. Reported emissions are expected to be verified by a third-party starting this year. Building on a foundation to advance lasting change This announcement underscores the companys ongoing commitment to sustainability by bringing lasting value to its customers, employees, shareholders, partners, communities, and the environment. Through innovative products and solutions, Steelcase is committed to unlocking human promise and promoting the advancement of strong and resilient communities. Steelcase expects to continue to build on its strong foundation by working to use less, conserve more, source more responsible materials and grow more sustainably, in order to leave a positive legacy and support a regenerative economy. For more information about this initiative or sustainability at Steelcase, please visit the sustainability page on Steelcase.com. Forward-looking Statements From time to time, in written and oral statements, the company discusses its expectations regarding future events and its plans and objectives for future operations. These forward-looking statements discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future trends, plans, events, results of operations or financial condition, or state other information relating to us, based on current beliefs of management as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the company. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "targets," or other similar words, phrases or expressions. Although we believe these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they are based upon a number of assumptions concerning future conditions, any or all of which may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary from the company's expectations because of factors such as, but not limited to, competitive and general economic conditions domestically and internationally; acts of terrorism, war, governmental action, natural disasters, pandemics and other Force Majeure events; the COVID-19 pandemic and the actions taken by various governments and third parties to combat the pandemic; changes in the legal and regulatory environment; changes in raw material, commodity and other input costs; currency fluctuations; changes in customer demand; and the other risks and contingencies detailed in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Steelcase undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Steelcase Inc. For over 108 years, Steelcase Inc. has helped create great experiences for the worlds leading organizations, across industries. We demonstrate this through our family of brands including Steelcase, Coalesse, Designtex, Turnstone, Smith System, Orangebox and AMQ. Together, they offer a comprehensive portfolio of architecture, furniture and technology products and services designed to unlock human promise and support social, economic, and environmental sustainability. We are globally accessible through a network of channels, including over 800 Steelcase dealer locations. Steelcase is a global, industry-leading, and publicly traded company with fiscal 2020 revenue of $3.7 billion. Contact: Katie Woodruff Katie.woodruf@steelcase.com 616.915.8505 POZZALLO, Italy As the summer vacation season draws to a close in Italy, a flare-up of Covid-19 cases is fueling a surge in anti-immigrant sentiment, even though the government says that migrants are just a small part of the problem. Sicilys president, Nello Musumeci, ordered the closure of all migrant centers on the island last weekend, saying it was impossible to prevent the spread of the illness at the facilities. And although a court blocked him, saying that he did not have the authority to close them, his order underlined the challenges Italy faces as right-wing politicians seek to rekindle a polarizing debate about immigration in a country hit hard by the pandemic. In Pozzallo, a town in southern Sicily that has the highest rate of infection among newly arrived migrants, Roberto Ammatuna, the center-left mayor, has found himself trying to balance fears of a coronavirus influx with an obligation to rescue migrants in distress at sea. Our citizens need to feel safe and protected, because we are here in the front lines of Europe, he said in an interview in his office overlooking the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. No one wants migrants who are sick with Covid, but, he said, we cant stop rescuing people at sea. Geneva, Aug 28 : Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), said that the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of millions of people. "For many people, the lack of social interaction caused by the pandemic has had a profound effect on their mental health," Tedros said at a virtual press briefing from Geneva on Thursday. The WHO chief said that people in long-term facilities such as care homes and psychiatric institutions are at an increased risk of infection, Xinhua news agency reported. He added that mental health professionals have themselves been infected with the virus, and some mental health facilities have been closed to be converted into treatment facilities for people with Covid-19. He recalled that mental health was already "a neglected health issue" globally before the pandemic, with close to one billion people living with a mental disorder. Yet relatively few people have access to quality mental health services. "In low- and middle-income countries, more than 75 per cent of people with mental, neurological and substance use disorders receive no treatment for their condition at all," Tedros noted. He declared that for this year's World Mental Health Day, which falls on October 10, the WHO, together with its partner organizations, United for Global Mental Health and the World Federation for Mental Health, would call for a massive scale-up in investments in mental health. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Public safety alert: Curfew east of Interstate 94. Its been all week, first starting at 8 p.m, now through Sunday at 7 p.m. Businesses are boarded up, restaurants are closed and nothing is open in Kenosha after curfew. A COVID-19 lockdown? Not now. This is a curfew to protect us from thugs and rioters here after the shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha police took over the national spotlight. We the citizens and taxpayers are all staying in obeying orders. But we watch on social media video after video of people in the streets, roaming freely, congregating and dispersing. Early in the week they set fires, destroyed property and ran rampant through Kenosha. They dealt Uptown Kenosha a staggering blow. By midweek they were armed and the streets were like the Wild West. A Tuesday night shooting left two dead and a 17-year-old Illinois teen with an AR-15 charged in a late night shooting. Late night? There was a curfew at 8 p.m. Gov. Tony Evers dragged his feet in sending the Wisconsin National Guard, as we wrote yesterday, and law enforcement likely did not have the numbers to enforce the curfew. But they should now. And if they dont Evers must send more immediately. On Wednesday city and county officials said they would make arrests of anybody out after curfew. They reported that 36 people were arrested overnight; in all 56 people have been arrested. Yet people were out, just like the night before, while residents and taxpayers stayed in. Lets be clear. We are not talking about peaceful protests, like Kenosha has had for weeks. They can be held before 7 p.m. and everyone can go home at curfew. But anything past 7 p.m. should not take place. Its time to enforce the curfew, arrest, and get these people off the streets. Some of them likely are visiting Kenosha for the first time. Local officials put in the curfew. They must demand the resources needed to enforce it. Inaction is forcing a private militia into the streets. Mobilize and arrest. Enforce the 7 p.m curfew. And free Kenosha of being held hostage by these people. Local leaders must show results. Otherwise, lift the curfew on citizens and businesses. Kenosha and Kenoshans deserve this from state and local elected officials. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 7 Washington, Aug 28 : At least four people were killed after the Category 4 hurricane Laura lashed the southern US states of Louisiana and Texas, leaving behind a trail of massive destruction. Among the victims was a 14-year-old girl who was killed when a tree fell on her house, Xinhua news agency quoted Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards as saying on Thursday. He warned that the number of casualties would grow as thousands of local, state and federal officials were conducting search and rescue operations, surveying damage and restoring water and power. Spared the worst case of flooding and storm surge, Louisiana has caused "tremendous damage" from winds caused by the storm. Besides, more than 600,000 homes and businesses were without power and it was not clear how long power would be out. Louisiana Department of Health also said at least 67 water systems are "inoperable", meaning more than 200,000 people are potentially having trouble accessing clean water. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott on Thursday flew above the affected region with the US Coast Guard to conduct a full survey of the damage. Abbott said Orange city in East Texas was hit hard by the storm. "You saw more rooftops ripped off," he said, adding: "You saw big pieces of steel framing wrapped around some trees. You saw some roads that were still inundated under water." Laura made landfall in Louisiana's Cameron Parish as a Category 4 hurricane around 1 a.m. Thursday, making it the most powerful hurricane to hit Louisiana in 150 years. It brought winds of a maximum speed of 240 km per hour and heavy rainfall. Laura has weakened to a tropical storm, bringing heavy rains and tropical storm force winds over parts of the state of Arkansas, the National Hurricane Center said. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Would-be beach-goers have had to wait in long queues to access Nerja's most popular beaches, waiting in some cases for over an hour to get a spot during the busiest parts of the summer. Waits have been especially long at the iconic Calahonda beach, next to the Balcon de Europa, as well as El Salon, Carabeo and Torrecilla as capacity control limitations are applied in order to comply with coronavirus distancing measures. The father of the Barrera family, who were visiting the area from Barcelona, told SUR, "We don't mind having to wait a few minutes to get onto the beach. It's perfect that they are controlling the numbers." However, a town hall spokesperson said it was "impossible" to control the capacity of larger beaches like Burriana as there "aren't enough lifeguards to patrol the whole length of the beach." The queues come after Nerja town hall introduced fines for 'beach-hoggers'; people who reserve space by leaving items such as sunshades and chairs early in the morning. Subcommittees of the Worcester School Committee will take up items from a list of demands sent to the committee and district administration from Racism-free WPS, an Instagram account launched earlier this summer to share stories about prejudice and inequality in the district. The account allows students, parents, employees and graduates to anonymously share stories about experiences in the Worcester Public Schools. There are hundreds of posts on the page with stories about staff and students using racial slurs, as well as sexual harassment, among other issues. Earlier this month, the Instagram account sent a list of demands to the committee and administration, asking for police-free schools; restorative justice for disciplined students; an inclusive dress policy; mandatory health and consent classes; cultural competency training for faculty/staff; mental health competency training for faculty/staff; ethnic studies curriculum; diversity counselors; and environmental action and transparency. Before members of the public and a few people involved with the account began speaking to the committee about the agenda item, School Committee member John Monfredo said he wanted the conversation to be held until next week. Monfredo said that because the petition from Racism Free WPS did not include names of people involved, he felt the discussion should be postponed because it is the intent of the committee to discuss matters when people identify themselves. Mayor Joseph Petty, the chairman of the school committee, said people involved would identify themselves when addressing the committee Thursday. People who called in to the meeting largely said they were in support of the list of demands from the Instagram account. Michelle Lirange, who said she is an educator in the district, told committee members that she found the account saddening. I think as an educator, you know, these are things that we really need to take seriously and consider because I can just hear the sadness in a lot of the students as they post and as an educator, it just is something that is weighing on me, Lirange said. One person called in and said she saw a comment online indicating that someone had submitted a fake story to the Instagram account. Daniel DiMassa told the committee that the notion that the claims are unsubstantiated discredits students who are coming forward to share their stories. With hundreds of posts on the page, it would take a small army of students working full time to submit that many fake testimonials, DiMassa said. I think this is really a problem in our schools and it has to be taken seriously, DiMassa added. Molly Roach, a Worcester Public Schools graduate who is one of about 15 people running the Instagram account, told the committee that she recalled her health class including unscientific information, especially as it relates to sexual health. She said she wants to see mandatory health and consent classes. Knowing that Worcester, and Massachusetts in general, has a very high teen pregnancy rate and STI rate, Worcester being higher than the average, especially in minority students, I think its very important that students are getting medically accurate sexual health education and consent because, as we can see from the Instagram page, sexual assault is happening in our schools, sometimes from our teachers, so if we had adequate consent training you might better know how to handle that, Roach said. Members of the committee unanimously voted to send the Instagram accounts recommendations to subcommittees. Related Content: As a teacher, I hate hearing this phrase. I also have not enjoyed the 34 stitches my body has endured this yearanother story for another time perhaps. When the truth of a matter has been exposed by other people who no longer accept the certain behaviours of others, the cry of snitches get stitches becomes and begins an undercurrent of intimidation. Students I deal with who wish to promote their cause, justify their own behaviours, consolidate their power and their willingness to want to do and continue whatever they want to do, are usually the first to pronounce this phrase. This happens when discipline, consequences or justice is served on an unsuspecting perpetrator- What? How did THEY know? Who dobbed? This place is full of gossips. Snitches get stitches. There is a marked difference between a child or teenager dobbing or tattling on someone and the person who genuinely wants to stop injustice, stop someone continuing to harm themselves or others. As an individual it may be to stop the pressure, the pain and the hurt being caused to them personally. Dobbing or tattling is usually motivated by one person taking pleasure in someone elses suffering. This is designed to create an atmosphere at home, school or workplace of opposition and conflict. People who revel in creating this atmosphere are committed to getting others in trouble and ultimately will increase the wedge of distrust in their relationships, disrupting the harmony at home, school or a workplace. These dobbers will often be the first to claim being picked on or bullied. As a father and a teacher of secondary students, they can often be the hardest to parent or teach. The more strategies you give to the parties involved (and there are many), the more restorative justice practices you employ (and this takes time) and the changes in the tone of voice you use (and mine can go from peacefully calm to frustratingly loud and grating very quickly), the less progress you feel you are making to a harmonious world. Isaiah in the Bible tells us, Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and please the widow's cause, (Isaiah chapter 1 verse 17). Bringing justice to a wrongdoer is far different to dobbing on someone. Calling out the haters Mitch Robinson, Brisbane Lions AFL player, recently took to task people abusing him for his performance. The constant barrage of comments players can get on their ability or inability to kick a goal or handpass a ball, amounts to bullying. Do we allow people to have to cop this, because dobbing is wrong? Instead of letting the online trolls have their say, Robinson called them out. He dobbed on them. He did not let them get their way. He slammed idiot fans harassing players on social media over betting losses. Robinson took to Twitter himself to have a crack at fans whingeing over lost multi-bets in the wake of GWS Giants captain Callan Ward sharing death threats that were posted on his Instagram page. It has just got to stop. If youre getting death threats like Ive been getting, theres some players couldnt handle that, Ward said on radio station 3AW. Not one AFL player gives a flying **** how we cost you a $100 multi, its $5 bet you idiot, Robinson wrote on Twitter. If youre struggling with that amount please dont punt in the first place. Death threats & hope you do your ACL next game, I dare say we wont pay you out either, Robinson articulated. Helping and healing the hurt I have spent time with students who have felt the same way. There are many students who fear the repercussions for speaking up, for appearing as the dobber and the snitch. At times, it is much easier to shut up rather than put up an accusation. Theres nothing you or anyone one can do Mr Modlin. I cant take it anymore, but I will just keep my mouth shut, it is much easier this way. Many give into peer pressure in the hope whatever is going on, will stop. This leaves a student despondent, downcast, fake and for some I have encountered, suicidal, anxious and depressed. They wear a mask of happiness, laugh in the face of pain and are willing to remain a victim, robbed of their potential to shine. They allow other people to talk to them the way they want to talk, pressure them into lifestyle choices they do not want to make and reinforce the inevitable cone of silence, you better not speak up and as long as we have each others backs, THEY will NEVER find out environment. Often these students may lie to the ones they never would lie to, their closest friends and parents, to safeguard their own reputation. Can it change? My experience tells me, it does not have to be this way. Surrounding these people with love and a listening ear is an amazing way to turn this around. It takes time and as a teacher AND a parent, we must take the time to become vulnerable and transparent ourselves. A culture where the light is promoted will often result in the darkness exposed. In the Bible, the writer John eloquently recites this type of culture: This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God (John chapter 3 verses 19-21). I have seen groups of students, and even my own family, develop and cultivate this culture. It is not without pain (and a few tears), but the positive is promoted and wins. There have been plenty of times in my teenage and adult life I have turned a blind eye to an act of injustice. It is to my shame. I have also stood up for the weak, the vulnerable and the hurt. It fills me with pride and I know God is real when this occurs. Many of my students and my sons will hear me simply say, OWN IT! CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL! My sons have had to learn hard lessons when they have committed an act of injustice either at home or at school. Many students I have counselled have often had to put their own hand up first, take responsibility for their actions, confess to their crimes before I even begin to deal with the pain caused to them. Walking humbly with God, granting mercy and loving justice may actually be worth the stitches in the end. A scientist in Scotland stumbled over a 166-million-year-old dinosaur bone while running along the shore to meet her research team. Dr Elsa Panciroli made the serendipitous discovery on the Isle of Eigg. The limb bone is thought to belong to a stegosaurian dinosaur, such as stegosaurus. It is the first time such a fossil has been discovered in Scotland outside of Skye. Dr Panciroli, research affiliate at National Museums Scotland, said: I was running along the shore on my way back to meet the rest of the team and I ran right over it. It wasnt clear exactly what kind of animal it belonged to at the time, but there was no doubt it was a dinosaur bone. She said that in 200 years of searching the area no-one has found a dinosaur before, so this is quite special. She added: This is a hugely significant find. Globally, Middle Jurassic fossils are rare and until now the only dinosaur fossils found in Scotland were on the Isle of Skye. JURASSIC DISCOVERY KLAXON A 166 million-year-old dinosaur bone has been found on the isle of Eigg! Dr Panciroli (@gsciencelady) made the discovery on the Hebridean island. The find has since been identified as belonging to a stegosaurian dinosaur like Stegosaurus pic.twitter.com/ri5nnLyqAb National Museums Scotland (@NtlMuseumsScot) August 26, 2020 This bone is 166 million years old and provides us with evidence that stegosaurs were living in Scotland at this time. The bone dates to the Middle Jurassic period and is just over half a metre long. It was found in a boulder on the foreshore. Though it had been badly damaged by the waves, enough remained for a team of palaeontologists to study. The bone was extracted and taken to a laboratory to be removed from the rock, where it was found to be part of the hind limb of a stegosaur. It dates to the same period as similar fossils found on Skye. The Isle of Eigg is already known for its Jurassic fossils, particularly marine reptiles and fish, first discovered by 19th-century geologist Hugh Miller. Dr Steve Brusatte, of the University of Edinburgh, co-authored a paper on the find. He said: Elsas discovery of this bone is really remarkable. Nobody, not even Hugh Miller himself, had found dinosaur bones on Eigg before. This fossil is additional evidence that plate-backed stegosaurs used to roam Scotland, which corroborates footprints from the Isle of Skye that we identified as being made by a stegosaur. The bone is now in the collections of National Museums Scotland in Edinburgh. The fieldwork on the Isle of Eigg was funded by the National Geographic Society with the permission of The Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust. The full paper is published in Earth And Environmental Transactions Of The Royal Society Of Edinburgh. Back in May, Dr. Scott Halperin was feeling optimistic about Canadas first set of clinical trials for a potential coronavirus vaccine. Today, Halperin is disappointed and frustrated, as Chinas reluctance to approve the shipment of the candidate vaccine to Canada has set the search for a usable vaccine in this country back months. The trials had been set to take place at the Canadian Centre for Vaccinology (CCfV) at Dalhousie University in Halifax, where Halperin is the director. The candidate vaccine could have been the first available for use in Canada, and one of the first few available worldwide. The company Halperin had been collaborating with, CanSino Biologics, Inc., based in Tianjin, China, had already begun clinical trials on the candidate vaccine, with promising results, shortening the trial process for CCfV. When the trials were announced in May, messages came flooding in to the centre from people across Canada eager to volunteer as subjects. With all Health Canada approvals in place, CCfV only needed samples to begin its work. But at a time of strained diplomatic relations between Canada and China, the latter has thus far withheld approval for CanSino to ship those samples. And with vaccine research moving at a breakneck pace, the National Research Council (NRC) which had a partnership with CanSino to develop the vaccine has decided to cut bait and move on to more likely candidates. That means the availability of a first coronavirus vaccine has been delayed by several months, Halperin said Thursday. Thats frustrating, obviously, because we were doing the study for a purpose, which was to accelerate the availability of a vaccine in Canada, said Halperin. (The) CanSino vaccine is one of the ones thats further along in terms of its readiness, so it would have been one of the first vaccines that could have been available for use in Canada. Now, said Halperin, the time has passed where that clinical study would be relevant. Even if the samples were shipped tomorrow, other trials in other countries will provide the needed data before CCfV would be able to finish its studies. What has also been lost is a chance for the Canadian government to get an inside track on production of one of the earliest coronavirus vaccines. The study was being done for two reasons, said Halperin. One was to provide some additional information that would inform the Phase 3 studies. The second reason was in order to provide data, which would allow NRC to begin manufacturing of the vaccine if it turned out to be safe and effective manufacturing the vaccine in Canada for Canadian use. But, he said, given that theres no timeline for when, if ever, Chinese officials will allow CanSino to ship vaccine candidates to Canada, NRC had to re-prioritize dedicating its manufacturing capacities to more promising vaccine candidates from other manufacturers. NRC has moved on. So that study wont go forward, said Halperin. For its part, NRC appears puzzled at the Chinese change of heart. In a statement, the NRC said that when the agreement for vaccine testing and production was first reached with CanSino, the Chinese company had it reviewed by its collaborators in the Chinese government the Beijing Institute of Technology and the Ministry of Science and Technology before signing. Subsequent to signing, the Government of China introduced process changes regarding shipping vaccines to other countries. The process is not clear to the NRC, but CanSino does not have the authority to ship the vaccine at this time, said NRC in the statement. The NRC will now turn its primary focus to working with two other promising vaccine candidates. One, VBI Vaccines, is based in Massachusetts, with research operations in Ottawa. The other is based in the University of Saskatchewans Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre. Canada-China relations have been severely strained after China imprisoned two Canadian men, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, in apparent retaliation for the RCMP arresting Chinese tech executive Meng Wanzhou on an American extradition warrant in December 2018. To Laszlo Radvanyi, the president and scientific director of the publicly funded Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, warned about tensions last month. This should have been flagged as an obstacle when contemplating doing this program. Were not on the best of terms with the Chinese government, said Radvanyi. At the time, Radvanyi had signed a letter health-care professionals wrote to Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains, urging him to consider funding to the tune of $35 million vaccine development by Providence Therapeutics of Toronto. Radvanyi has collaborated with Providence on vaccine treatments for cancer. But Canadas Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne downplayed suggestions the vaccine partnership failed because of ongoing political tensions between the two countries. I don't necessarily think so, Champagne told reporters Thursday. I can only speak for the Canadian side. I would not necessarily link whether that particular opportunity is linked to anything else. At the CCfV, meanwhile, much of the work done for its cancelled clinical trial has gone to waste trials have to be constructed and approved specifically for each vaccine candidate. There are more vaccine candidates in the pipeline that are being studied, said Halperin, and any one of them could be part of the coronavirus solution. Its disappointing, but its not catastrophic, he said. We never put all our eggs in one basket because, we as a centre, also know that we need multiple vaccines. We want to work with as many companies as possible, because we know there needs to be multiple solutions. So its not a catastrophic, but thats not to say its not frustrating, that were losing access to one of the earlier potentially earlier effective vaccines. With files from The Canadian Press SM Steve McKinley is a Halifax-based reporter for the Star. Reach him via email: stevemckinley@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @smckinley1 Read more about: The goal of this weeks Republican convention wasnt always clear. At times, it presented President Trump as a champion of immigrants, a promoter of racial justice and a defender of women in ways that obviously conflicted with his entire time as a public figure. Trumps campaign doesnt really think it can reinvent him in the minds of most voters at this stage, does it? No, it doesnt. But it doesnt have to, either. And there was indeed a method to the through-the-looking-glass messages that the convention was offering this week. Trumps record on diversity and national unity on race, immigration and gender is a problem for him. It makes him anathema to many progressives, who would never vote for him, of course. But it also weighs on some swing voters and disaffected Republicans who havent yet made up their minds, polls suggest. This group includes people who voted for Trump in 2016 and flipped to the Democrats in the 2018 midterms. It includes people who didnt used to express concern about racism but have begun doing so in recent months. It includes whites and a significant number of Latinos, among others. Communications team member of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Kwasi Poku Bosompem has called on political parties to stop the politicization of the countrys long-term National Development Plan. He called on the parties to join forces to build Ghana irrespective of which government is in power. According to him politicians should prioritize the needs of the people over their political agenda. It is time we all come together to say we have only one Ghana and will help build it better. He also urged the citizens to put up a good attitude towards the development plan for the country. As a good citizen of this country, we need to be very naturalistic . . . what is wrong is wrong and we should be bold to condemn wrongdoings by us, the politicians. If it is good and will benefit a lot of people too, we should say it and stop politicizing good and innovative programmes by our opponents, he said on UTV's Late News programme He recounted how former President John Agyekum Kufours affordable houses were left in the bush to rot under the Mills/Mahama regime. Governance is a continuous process, therefore not a bad idea to continue previous government's project instead of starting a new or fresh program. For instance, during former President Kufours regime, he started with affordable houses which were about 75% completed but it was left in the bush to rot by late Professor Atta Mills administration and replaced with 5,000 unit affordable housing project in 2012 . . . when we run a country like that, it proves we are not serving the people but rather satisfying our own political agenda. We, the Politicians, should have it at the back of our minds that, as leaders, we care to serve the people. So, if John Mahamas abandoned projects are continued by NPP government, I dont see anything wrong with it. I think the time has come for us all to drop our political colours and build a one Ghana, he said. 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 Mukesh Ranjan By Express News Service RANCHI: An FIR has been lodged against RJD chief Lalu Yadavs elder son and former Bihar Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav for violating lockdown rules on Friday at Chutia Police Station in Ranchi. Tej Pratap, who was in Ranchi to meet his father on Thursday, has been charged with entering Jharkhand without giving proper information to the State authorities. RJD chief is currently lodged at the official residence of RIMS director inside the campus of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi after being convicted in several cases fodder scam. Tej Pratap is said to have reached Ranchi on Wednesday evening with a huge a convoy of around 60 vehicles and stayed at Capitol Residency Hotel in Ranchi along with his aides, given the fact that the state government is yet to give permission for opening of hotels in Jharkhand. According to police, Tej Pratap has been charged with entering and leaving the state without informing the authorities. ALSO READ | Ailing Lalu shifted to RIMS directors bungalow to keep Covid-19 away FIR has been lodged under various sections of the Disaster Management Act for violating lockdown rules. He came here and went out of the State without giving proper information to the state authorities, said Officer-in-charge (OC) of Chutia Police Station Ravi Thakur. The FIR has been lodged by Circle Officer (Town) Prakash Kumar, he added. According to OC, the FIR has been lodged under Sections 128, 269, 270, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. Earlier on Thursday, the owner and the manager of Hotel Capitol Residency were booked for violating the guidelines issued by the State Government and offering rooms to Tej Pratap and his aides. Looking at the surge of COVID-19 cases, the State Government has passed an order on July 17 making it mandatory for everyone to provide their personal details by filling up an online form before entering Jharkhand either by rail, road, or air. It further said that he or she will also have to stay in home quarantine for 14 days while observing all the guidelines issued in this regard after entering into the State borders. The media is full of stories of people deciding to pack up and move thanks to the pandemic (some folks are even leaving America entirely). If you're a woman entrepreneur and you are thinking of joining them, where should you go? A new ranking of cities based on their friendliness to female business owners aims to help you decide. The report from business loan comparison site Fundera crunches numbers on the percentage of local business owners who are women, the percentage of the female workforce that is self-employed, the size of the earnings gap between entrepreneurs of different genders, housing costs, taxes, the education level of the workforce, and local job growth to come up with metro areas women entrepreneurs should consider. Fundera founder Jared Hecht cautioned that the data was gathered before the pandemic in an email to Inc.com. But while it's hard to know exactly how Covid-19 may change the rankings, he's seeing hopeful signs the impact won't be negative across the board, at least in the long term. "One positive thing we are seeing is that overall business applications are up dramatically-- 68.9 percent year on year--according to the U.S. Census Bureau," he wrote. "Whether folks have been laid off, or they're finally turning the side hustle into a full-fledged business, it's clear that entrepreneurship is top of mind right now." However the pandemic shakes out in the longer term, the results as they stand now are good news for the South and West and bad news for expensive coastal states like California and New York. Though, as you'll see from the complete list below, one rainy West Coast city stands out as especially friendly for female entrepreneurs: 1. Seattle As the home base of tech behemoths like Microsoft and Amazon, it's no surprise Seattle offers women entrepreneurs an excellent group of peers and potential employees. "Of the city's self-employed business owners, 43.8 percent are women, and the earnings gap between men and women business owners is just 6 percent," notes Fundera, adding that a zero percent state income tax rate partially offsets the city's high housing costs. 2. Las Vegas This metro area appears on Fundera's list as "Paradise, Nevada," but that's just the census designation for the famous strip of casinos that most of us picture when we think of Vegas. Whatever you call the place, it's a great location to be a woman running a business. "Women business owners earn nearly twice as much as men business owners do in Paradise, and housing costs as a percentage of those earnings are just 17.5 percent--by far the lowest in the top 15," claims Fundera. 3. Orlando I'm a little dubious that Orlando deserves to be called "the Paris of eastern-central Florida," as Fundera styles the city, but Orlando definitely earns its slot on this list. "Women business owners earn more than men on average here, earning 106.3 percent of what their male peers do, and the city has low costs of living," explains Fundera. 4. St. Petersburg, Florida Looking for another alternative in the Sunshine State? How about St. Petersburg, which, like Orlando, has no state tax and low housing costs. Its earnings gap is just 10 percent. 5. Gilbert, Arizona The first of three Arizona cities to make the list, Gilbert earns its slot in large part because of just how many women in the city are already entrepreneurs.The percentage of women employed in their own business is 4.7 percent, which ties for second in the top 15, according to Fundera. 6. Scottsdale, Arizona Scottsdale has an even larger percentage of women working for themselves --7.5 percent--but it trails Gilbert because these female entrepreneurs make just 55.9 percent of what their male peers earn on average. 7. Durham, North Carolina "Part of North Carolina's Research Triangle, Durham lands at number seven on our list thanks to a large percentage of self-employed women business owners, relatively low housing costs, and job growth numbers (before the pandemic)," notes Fundera. There are still relatively few women-owned businesses in the city, however, but with such good fundamentals that may soon change. 8. Portland, Oregon Portland looked strong in most of the metrics Fundera considered, but it "does have a higher income tax rate than many of our other top cities, and the earnings gap (over 20 percent) leaves something to be desired," the report states. 9. St. Paul The good news in St. Paul is that "women business owners earn 116 percent of what men do" on average. The bad news? Relatively high income tax rates. 10. Anchorage If cold weather doesn't phase you, you might want to consider Anchorage, which "boasts well-above-average marks for the percentage of self-employed business owners who are women, and the percentage of women employed in their own business," according to Fundera. 11. Houston Houston earned its place through its super strong pre-pandemic job growth, but "it remains to be seen whether the city's strong economic numbers will continue in the years to come," Fundera cautions. 12. Boise, Idaho "The capital of Idaho lands here thanks to solid scores on metrics like earnings gap, residents with bachelor's degrees, and housing costs," says Fundera. 13. Lubbock, Texas When you think of an entrepreneurial hot spot, Lubbock is probably not the first city that pops to mind, but Fundera notes it has a "a surprising earnings gap percentage--women entrepreneurs outearn men by over 13 percent, on average." Keep in mind that only 1.8 percent of Lubbock's women are employed in their own business, though. 14. New Orleans On the plus side, "over 43 percent of the city's business owners are women, and 3.2 percent of the city's women are employed in their own business." On the negative, male entrepreneurs outearn female ones here by 30 percent. 15. Chandler, Arizona Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed via Twitter that an employee helped thwart a planned cyberattack at his Gigafactory in Nevada. "Much appreciated. This was a serious attack," Musk tweeted Thursday in response to a Teslarati report on the attempted malware hack. PHOTO: Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk in Shanghai, China, Jan. 7, 2020. (Aly Song/Reuters) Teslarati, a news site dedicated to updates from the electric car maker, first reported that a Gigafactory Nevada worker turned down a $1 million bribe to inserting malware on the carmaker's networks. Instead, the unnamed worker helped authorities thwart the planned cybersecurity attack. Much appreciated. This was a serious attack. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 27, 2020 Teslarati referenced the recent arrest of Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov, a Russian citizen who was accused of conspiring to commit a cyber crime, by the Department of Justice. The DOJ redacted the name of the company Kriuchkov allegedly attempted to infiltrate in its statement on his arrest, but Musk's tweet Thursday publicly linked Tesla to the dramatic case. MORE: Tesla's California plant gets approval to reopen even as sheriff's office receives 200 complaints In a statement earlier this week, the DOJ said Kriuchkov was arrested for his "role in a conspiracy to recruit an employee of a company to introduce malicious software into the companys computer network, extract data from the network, and extort ransom money from the company." Kriuchkov, who entered the U.S. on a tourist visa, was charged with one count of conspiracy to intentionally cause damage to a protected computer. The DOJ said he allegedly contacted and met with an employee of the company he was attempting to infiltrate numerous times and promised to pay the employee, who was not named, $1 million after the malware was introduced. It is not immediately clear if Kriuchkov has obtained an attorney. Tesla did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment on the incident. Elon Musk confirms thwarted cyberattack at Nevada Gigafactory originally appeared on abcnews.go.com 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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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodities Future Trading Commission (CFTC) have both charged a Maryland-based Ponzi scheme for allegedly defrauding over 1,000 investors to the tune of over $27 million. The defendants allegedly told participants their funds would be used by licensed traders for foreign exchange and cryptocurrency trading. Over the course of the past three years, the defendants convinced investors to contribute to the so-called "1st Million Pool," which they said would be held in trust or escrow and then used to trade in foreign exchange markets and bitcoin. The SEC claims they promised "risk-free" returns between 6% and 42%. The CFTC says the defendants promised pool participants returns of up to 30% per month from the company's trading. The CFTC further alleges that the defendants used at least $7 million from these funds for personal luxuries and at least $18 million to continue the scheme itself. Further, the SEC alleges that the defendants "often targeted vulnerable African immigrants and exploited their common ancestry and religious affiliations." One defendant, Dennis Jali, allegedly posed as a pastor and self-made millionaire to lure investors, holding meetings in a rented office space, according to the SEC's statement. Maryland's U.S. Attorney is also filing criminal charges related to the allegations. Jali fled the U.S. last year, but was arrested in South Africa on federal charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, securities fraud and money laundering. The Department of Justice is attempting to bring Jali to the U.S. to face the charges, according to the Maryland's U.S. Attorney Office. 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. This is the first time GridLiance has been included on the Middle Market 50 list. From 2017 to 2019, GridLiance closed on several acquisitions and expanded its footprint beyond Oklahoma to include Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky and Nevada. The company owns and operates hundreds of miles of transmission lines and related substation infrastructure with operations in the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), Southwest Power Pool (SPP) and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) regions. "This recognition reflects GridLiance's ability to aggressively pursue growth opportunities and our commitment to addressing the unique needs of electric cooperatives and municipal utilities," said GridLiance President and CEO Calvin Crowder. "I am proud of our dynamic team's success in executing our long-term strategic plan to invest in and improve the reliability of the electric grid." The Middle Market 50 list is an annual research project that ranks companies based on a formula that includes a revenue growth percentage over a three-year period as well as other factors. The 50 companies will be honored and their rankings revealed on Wednesday, September 9, during a virtual event. About GridLiance GridLiance is an independent electric transmission utility holding company. GridLiance collaborates with rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, joint action agencies and others to plan for the future of the grid, invest in necessary electric infrastructure and implement strategies to improve system reliability and resiliency and reduce overall costs to customers. Based in Dallas, GridLiance operates more than 700 miles of transmission lines and related substation facilities in Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada and Oklahoma. GridLiance is a portfolio company of Blackstone Energy Partners, an affiliate of Blackstone (NYSE: BX), a leading energy infrastructure investor. For more information about GridLiance, visit gridliance.com. SOURCE GridLiance Related Links http://www.gridliance.com/ Alice Johnson, the former inmate who reality TV star Kim Kardashian pushed President Donald Trump to free, spoke during the final night of the Republican Nation Convention. 'When President Trump heard about me - about the injustice of my story - he saw me as a person. He had compassion. And he acted,' Johnson said. Johnson had been convicted in 1996 for involvement in a Memphis cocaine trafficking scheme, which came with a life sentence, seen by Kardashian and other criminal justice reform advocates as much too tough for a non-violent offender. Alice Johnson, the former inmate who reality TV star Kim Kardashian pressured President Donald Trump to free, spoke before the Republican National Convention Thursday night Alice Johnson said President Trump 'saw me as a person. He had compassion. And he acted,' during her RNC address at the Andrew W. Mellon auditorium in Washington, D.C. President Trump commuted Alice Johnson's life sentence in June 6 and six months later signed the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill Kim Kardashian's (left) first trip to the Trump White House came in May 2018, with President Trump (right) commuting the sentence of Alice Johnson days later Kardashian first came to the White House in May 2018 to tell Trump Johnson's story. White House adviser and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner was on board. The president commuted Johnson's sentence on June 6. She was a guest of Trump at his 2019 State of the Union address. And she continues to tout Trump's work passing the First Step Act, a landmark, bipartisan criminal justice reform bill in late 2018. 'I was once told that the only way I would ever be reunited with my family would be as a corpse,' Johnson said on the RNC stage. 'But by the grace of God and the compassion of President Donald John Trump, I stand before you tonight. And I assure you, Im not a ghost! I am alive, I am well, and most importantly, I am free.' Johnson said that sentencing should be 'fair and just' and argued that hers wasn't. She said she made the best of her 21 years behind bars. 'While in prison, I became a playwright, a mentor, a certified hospice volunteer, an ordained minister, and received the Special Olympics Event Coordinator of the year award for my work with disabled women,' she said. 'Because the only thing worse than unjustly imprisoning my body, is trying to imprison my mind.' 'My transformation was described as extraordinary. Truth is, there are thousands of people just like me who deserve the opportunity to come home.' She added that her Christian faith kept hope alive. 'When I was released on June 6, 2018, I ran across that road and hugged my grandchildren for the first time. Ill never forget that feeling!' she said. 'Free in body thanks to President Trump. But free in mind thanks to the almighty God,' Johnson said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 28 Trend: Salome Zourabichvili, President of Georgia sent a congratulatory letter toMehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. "Your Excellency, dear Mehriban, It is my pleasure to congratulate you, on behalf of the people of Georgia and on my own, on your birthday," the letter said. "This day is an opportunity to reflect on the work you have done over the years to bring our two countries together. Our meeting last year during my visit to Azerbaijan opened the doors to our cooperation in the years to come," Georgian president wrote. "Azerbaijan and Georgia are two nations that are bound by ancient friendship, centuries of common struggle, and common interests as neighborly countries. Our partnership is one based on honesty," Zourabichvili wrote. "It saddens me to know that you are celebrating your birthday while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage on across the world. But as we have come to learn and as I discussed with President Aliyev last April, it is through our solidarity, through international cooperation that the global community will defeat this virus. Let me use this opportunity to once more reiterate my most sincere condolences to those who died from this invisible enemy in Azerbaijan," the letter read. "And yet, I remain convinced that through this very same international solidarity, the world will come out of the current crisis with more unity and stronger than before. Once this pandemic subsides, I look forward to welcoming you to Georgia," the letter said. "Madame First Vice-President, on your birthday, let me convey to you and to your family my hopes for health, strength, and prosperity," Zourabichvili wrote. Fox News host Tucker Carlson drew the ire of Twitter users on Wednesday when he spoke of the deadly violence that erupted the previous night in Kenosha, Wis., where police have accused a white teen of intentional homicide. The 17-year-old from a nearby town in Illinois was arrested Wednesday after two people were shot to death during Tuesday night's protests in Kenosha over the police shooting earlier this week of a Black man, Jacob Blake. "People in charge, from the governor of Wisconsin on down, refused to enforce the law," Carlson said. "How shocked are we that 17-year-olds with rifles decided they had to maintain order when no one else would?" Carlson was among a number of conservative critics and politicians who criticized Democratic Gov. Tony Evers for not increasing the deployment of National Guard troops to help keep the peace after several businesses were burned and looted on Sunday and Monday after dark. "Kenosha has devolved into anarchy; the authorities in charge of the city abandoned it," the host of Tucker Carlson Tonight said. "They stood back and watched Kenosha burn." Critics have pointed out that video footage appears to show the armed 17-year-old walking unimpeded past a number of police officers and vehicles, raising the question whether an increased presence of police and troops in numbers would have stopped vigilante violence. In the wake of protests that have broken out across the U.S. over police shooting of Black Americans after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Carlson has frequently made the violence that has been seen in demonstrations in Minneapolis, Portland and New York City a focal point of his show. Carlson has also taken criticism this summer for inflammatory comments about Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Purple Heart recipient who is in a wheelchair after her helicopter was shot down in Iraq in 2004. As well, his show's head writer was forced out in July after it was learned he made racist posts on an online forum under a pseudonym. Story continues Carlson's comments from Wednesday night's show about Kenosha led to a trending hashtag on Twitter calling for his firing. Robert Reich, a former Bill Clinton administration member, called on Fox's executives as well as advertisers to take action or be "complicit in Tucker Carlson's racist, murderous rants." 'Oh, hell no': Sheriff says vigilantes not helpful Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth said Wednesday militia members or armed vigilantes had been patrolling the city's streets in recent nights and asked about being deputized. "Yesterday, I had a person call me and say, `Why don't you deputize citizens who have guns to come out and patrol the city of Kenosha, and I am like, 'Oh, hell no.'" He said once he deputizes someone "they are a liability to me and the county." Brendan Gutenschwager/Reuters Ray Roberts, a 38-year-old Black Kenosha resident and Army veteran, said men from "rural areas got in big trucks loaded up with guns and flags and got into town." "You would see them driving into town after curfew and cops not stopping them," Roberts said. Meanwhile, Facebook confirmed Wednesday that it took down a page called Kenosha Guard for violating its policy against militia organizations. The company said it also is in the process of removing other accounts and material tied to the shootings that violate its policies, such as for glorifying violence, and it is in contact with local and federal law enforcement on the matter. Facebook later said it removed the suspected shooter's accounts from Facebook and Instagram. David Goldman/The Associated PRess The company said it had not found evidence on Facebook that suggests the suspected shooter followed the Kenosha Guard Page or was invited on its Event Page to go to the protests. "However, the Kenosha Guard Page and their Event Page violated our new policy addressing militia organizations and have been removed on that basis," the company said in a statement. Multiple threads on Facebook and Reddit urged militias and other armed people to head to the protests, researchers at the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab said in a blog post Wednesday. The researchers said that 13 hours before the shootings, the Kenosha Guard Facebook page "actively solicited armed individuals to protect neighbourhoods that evening." "At 10:44 a.m. local time, the administrator of the 'Kenosha Guard' page asked if any members were willing to 'take up arms and defend out (sic) City tonight from the evil thugs,'" the researchers said. "They continued, 'Nondoubt (sic) they are currently planning on the next part of the City to burn tonight!"' The ability for social media platforms to react to fluid events of public violence has been brought into question before, including with the New Zealand mosque shooter, a white supremacist who was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for killing 51 people. In the case of the Kenosha shooting suspect, controversial former San Francisco Giants player Aubrey Huff on Wednesday night went further than Carlson, characterizing him as "a national treasure" on Twitter. LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced that Todd Diapola, CEO and Founder of InMarket, is a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020 Awards in Greater Los Angeles . Now in its 34th year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program honors entrepreneurial business leaders whose ambitions deliver innovation, growth and prosperity as they build and sustain successful businesses that transform our world. Todd's selection, by a panel of independent judges, was based upon his leadership in guiding InMarket to success over the past decade, in addition to his philanthropic endeavors. The honor builds upon InMarket's accelerating momentum, which has included record organic revenue growth; the acquisition of location innovator Thinknear ; and the additions of Tood Morris, CEO of Label Insight and former Catalina Marketing Global President, and Dave Zinman , Global President of Deputy and former COO of Drawbridge to its board of directors. With accelerated growth and retention driven by client success, InMarket continues to strengthen its position as a dominant player in closed-loop consumer activation and intelligence, while adding world class talent. "We started InMarket 10 years ago with a simple vision to make marketing more data-driven and accountable," said Todd Dipaola. "As we've grown, we have stuck to that vision and enhanced it by pushing into real-time, adding scale and expanding to omnichannel. Along the way, we're supporting worthy causes where we can uniquely contribute our talents. I am proud of what we've accomplished and excited for what the future holds." Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive award programs for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. The nominees are evaluated based on six criteria, including overcoming adversity; financial performance; societal impact and commitment to building a values-based company; innovation; and talent management. Award winners will be announced through a virtual gala October 8, 2020 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. Since its launch, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries around the world. Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored by SAP America and the Kauffman Foundation. In Greater Los Angeles, local sponsors include Platinum sponsor: Marsh; Gold sponsors: Avitas Wealth Management and Tangram; Silver sponsor: Cresa; and PR sponsor: Olmstead Williams Communications. For additional information about the Entrepreneur Of The Year Greater Los Angeles program, please visit www.ey.com/us/eoy/greaterla . Join the conversation on social media using #EOYGLA and #EOYUS . About InMarket InMarket is the leader in consumer location intelligence and real-time activation for thousands of major brands. Since 2010, InMarket has helped its partners to better understand who their customers are, why they make decisions and where to most effectively reach them. Through InMarket's location-based advertising suite, brands activate real-time digital advertising in the moments that matter, generating powerful results that outperform traditional digital advertising. InMarket, awarded Best Mobile Marketing Platform at the 2019 Digiday Awards, has offices in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Bentonville, Chicago, New York and San Francisco. For more information, visit www.inmarket.com . About Entrepreneur Of The Year Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. Winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year title. ey.com/us/eoy About EY Private As Advisors to the ambitious, EY Private professionals possess the experience and passion to support private businesses and their owners in unlocking the full potential of their ambitions. EY Private teams offer distinct insights born from the long EY history of working with business owners and entrepreneurs. These teams support the full spectrum of private enterprises including private capital managers and investors and the portfolio businesses they fund, business owners, family businesses, family offices and entrepreneurs. Visit ey.com/private About EY EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, strategy, transaction and consulting services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com . News Release Dave Heinzinger Haymaker Group [email protected] SOURCE InMarket Related Links https://inmarket.com More than one-third of Essex Center nursing home residents, and about a third of the staff, are sick with coronavirus. That leaves about 57 staff to care for the 86 residents, 33 of whom are sick. The number of staff who caught the virus is unusual, said Centers Health Care Regional Administrator Grace Pfordresher. Were rather shocked at how many employees have it, frankly, she said in a live video press conference Thursday afternoon. We have been through this (at other nursing homes) and have not seen this many employees test positives. She added that the workers have been wearing masks and other protective gear for months now and that she had no explanation for how the virus spread among them. But Essex County Department of Health Director Linda Beers said workers likely shed their masks when they were off-duty. We know many staff people become friends outside of work, she said, adding that in other industries, clusters have popped up because tight-knit groups get together after work. If they meet outside of work and dont follow precautions, and one person is positive, that spread is easy to do, she said. We have to follow these precautions outside of work. Thats the largest takeaway. Pfordresher asked for community support for the workers at Essex Center in Elizabethtown. Working at a nursing home is not easy in good times. Now we have a COVID outbreak and its scary. They go home at night worried about spreading this to their families, she said. Its risky business. If we could just get the community to rally around them and support them, that would be great. Also on Thursday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced new rules to try to control outbreaks on college campuses. If 100 college students, or 5% of the student body, test positive for coronavirus, the college must cancel in-person classes for 14 days, he said in a conference call. State officials developed the threshold as after seeing coronavirus clusters at colleges in other states. We should anticipate clusters. When you have large concentrations of people, you see clusters, Cuomo said. We expect it, we want to be prepared for it. The new rule applies to all colleges and universities in the state. After 14 days of remote learning, the state Department of Health will reassess the situation and decide whether in-person classes can resume, he said. Students who live at the college can remain on campus during virtual learning. Thursdays statistics: Warren County reported no new cases and no new recoveries. Two people are still mildly ill and no one is hospitalized. Washington County reported one person tested positive, for a total of 254 confirmed cases and no new recoveries. Three people are sick, and none are hospitalized. Saratoga County reported four people tested positive, for a total of 864 confirmed cases. Thirteen people recovered, for a total of 813 recoveries. There are 34 people still sick, and one is hospitalized. In the northern Saratoga County towns, one Hadley resident, one Moreau resident and one Wilton resident are sick. Essex County reported that six of the 22 close contacts of Essex Center employees tested positive. About a third of the close contacts agreed to be tested Wednesday. Now that six have tested positive, the Department of Health will track their close contacts and quarantine them. In addition, one more Essex Center employee tested positive, as well as one other community member. There have been a total of 81 cases in the Essex Center. Of those cases, four residents have died and five staff members have recovered. The rest are still sick. The Capital Region reported a total of 50 new cases Wednesday, the most recent day for which data was available. That was a positive test rate of 1.1%. The majority of the cases were in Schenectady County, with 20 cases and a positive test rate of 2.5%, and Albany County, with 18 cases and a positive test rate of 1.4%. Epidemiologists want the positive test rate to be below 1% to keep the virus under control. Statewide, 791 people tested positive Wednesday, the most recent day for which data was available. That was a 0.95% positive test rate. There were 490 people hospitalized with coronavirus, and four people died of it. Locally, Saratoga Hospital reported one coronavirus patient and Glens Falls Hospital did not report. You can reach Kathleen Moore at 742-3247 or kmoore@poststar.com. Follow her on Twitter @ByKathleenMoore or at her blog on www.poststar.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. Actor Kangana Ranaut has reacted to Rhea Chakrabortys interview and her claims that Sushant Singh Rajput was suffering from depression and had a fear of flying. Sushant died on June 14. Kangana retweeted a video montage of the late actor enjoying a motorised paragliding session and driving a jeep. Sharing it, she wrote: Fact #Sushant had no fear of flying who came up with this tacky script? Mahesh Bhatt or Javed Akhtar ? Fact #Sushant had no fear of flying who came up with this tacky script? Mahesh Bhatt or Javed Akhtar ? https://t.co/cSguoR5Bb4 Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) August 27, 2020 She followed it up with another tweet, in which she retweeted actor Ankita Lokhandes response Rheas claim that Sushant had experienced depression in 2013. Sharing Ankitas tweet, Kangana wrote: Fact #Sushant had no history of mental illness before dating Rhea last year, this mental illness plot point was introduced in a goth hotel post genius plot twist of air sickness on a trip to Europe, who is the lame script writer? Also Watch | Sushant knew some dirty secrets, was killed: Kangana Ranaut on drugs angle Fact #Sushant had no history of mental illness before dating Rhea last year, this mental illness plot point was introduced in a goth hotel post genius plot twist of air sickness on a trip to Europe, who is the lame script writer? https://t.co/v2gu3BmEWk Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) August 27, 2020 Earlier, commenting on the same interview, Kangana had written: Only 2 things to take away from #RheaChakrobarty interview,first she said Movie mafia discredited and harassed him also planted organised smear campaigns which broke his mind,2nd she did not say that after that vultures like her and Mahesh Bhatt killed him again. Only 2 things to take away from #RheaChakrobarty interview,first she said Movie mafia discredited and harassed him also planted organised smear campaigns which broke his mind,2nd she did not say that after that vultures like her and Mahesh Bhatt killed him again #ShameOnAajTak Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) August 27, 2020 Kangana has been commenting on the death of Sushant Singh Rajput from the very beginning. She recently offered to work with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) after a drugs angle was introduced into the case, but wanted protection from the central government, an idea seconded by Sushants US-based sister Shweta. Also read: Kangana Ranaut says Sushant Singh Rajput was killed as he knew some dirty secrets, his sister Shweta demands security for her Kangana had tweeted: I am more than willing to help @narcoticsbureau but I need protection from the centre government, I have not only risked my career but also my life, it is quiet evident Sushanth knew some dirty secrets thats why he has been killed. Shweta had later tweeted: Requesting @PMOIndia @narendramodi to look into providing security for Kangana @KanganaTeam so that she can help with the investigation of @narcoticsbureau. Sushant had died on June 14 in Mumbai. After a verdict by the Supreme Court of India, the Central Bureau of Investigation had taken over the probe. The Enforcement Directorate is also looking into any financial irregularities that might have happened. Earlier, Sushants father KK Singh had filed an FIR in Patna accusing Rhea of abetment to suicide and siphoning off funds. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON More tech news includes Samsung announcing plans of launching Galaxy Z Fold 2 on September 1 and Google Duo getting Android TV soon. It was an eventful day in the world of tech. On one hand, Samsung Galaxy Note 20 went on sale in India today. On the other hand, YouTube began testing PiP mode in its iOS-based app. In addition to that Infinix launched the Infinix Zero 8. So, here is everything that made headlines in tech today: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series goes on sale in India Samsung launched the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra smartphones went on sale in India today. These smartphones will be available across leading retail stores, Samsung Opera House, Samsung.com and e-commerce platforms across India starting August 28. YouTube starts testing PiP mode in iOS app YouTube has started testing picture-in-picture mode in its iOS-based app. This feature has been present on iPad ever since Apple rolled out iOS 9 and now it is being tested in iOS 14. It is currently being tested in beta mode. Android TV to get Google Duo soon Google is planning to bring its video chat app Google Duo to Android TV. Google has said that the beta version of Google Duo for Android TV is going to be released in the coming weeks. Samsung to launch Galaxy Z Fold 2 on September 1 Samsung will host Unpacked Event Part 2 on September 1. At its upcoming event, which will be held a month after the company hosted its Galaxy Unpacked event wherein it launched its Galaxy Note 20 series smartphones, Samsung will launch the Galaxy Z Fold 2 smartphone. Infinix Zero 8 launched Infinix launched the Infinix Zero 8 smartphone in Indonesia wherein it costs IDR 3,799,000. It is expected to launch in India soon. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe speaks during a meeting of Canada's premiers in Saskatoon on July 10, 2019. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press) Saskatchewan to Build Canadas First Rare Earth Processing Plant Saskatchewan has announced that it will build a facility that puts the province at the forefront of an emerging sector of the mining industry in Canada. The province said Thursday it will fund $31 million to build a rare earth element (REE) processing facility in Saskatchewan, the first-of-its kind in Canada. The plant will be owned and operated by the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), Canadas second-largest research and technology organization. Rare earth elements are going to play a major role in powering the 21st century, Premier Scott Moe said at a news conference. Theyre used in products such as electric vehicles, renewable power generation, and many of the technologies that are critical to our now modern way of life. According to the governments website, China is currently the largest producer of REE in the world, accounting for over 70 percent of global annual production, estimated at 120,000 tonnes for 2018. Canada has one of the worlds largest reserves of rare earth elements, estimated at around 12 percent of global reserves, with substantial resource here in Saskatchewan, Moe said. Yet rare earths are largely untapped in our nation. Global demand for REEs is expected to increase significantly in the next 10 years as demand for all forms of electronics increases. SRC president and CEO Mike Crabtree believes that the new plant will benefit Canada in several ways. This Facility will allow for an environmentally sustainable, reliable, and strategic supply of REEs to be produced outside of China, Crabtree said. Moe said the new facility will position Saskatchewan as a leading developer and export producer of high quality, globally competitive, environmentally sustainable rare earth elements. Minister of Trade and Export Development Jeremy Harrison is also optimistic of the benefits the new facility will bring to the province. Saskatchewan has a globally recognized mining industry, workforce and culture with local companies already beginning to explore REE deposits both in Saskatchewan, and in surrounding provinces and territories, Harrison said at the news conference. This facility will allow the REE industry to grow and create both immediate and long-term jobs. Construction of the new facility is expected to start this fall and be fully operational in late 2022. Fans and followers of Dhanush were evidently anxious a few days back as they trended the hashtag #WeWantJTOnTheatres, requesting the makers of Jagame Thandhiram to not release the film on any OTT platforms. Soon after the hashtag went viral, the producer of the film S Sashikanth assured the fans that the film will only be releasing in theatres, and also added that the entire team is awaiting to see Dhanush on big-screen. Well, going in-depth on the reason behind the decision, let us tell you that more than 80% of Jagame Thandhiram has been reportedly shot in London, thanks to the storyline that demanded an abroad shoot. It is to be noted that films which have more than 30% of its shoot schedules in London are usually given a 10% royalty by the government on its complete budget during the release in theatres. So if Dhanush's film skips the theatrical run, the makers will have to unhand the royalty which will eventually turn into a loss for the film. A number of OTT platforms had approached the makers of the film for buying the streaming rights, but looks like the team was not impressed with the amount offered, which is also one of the reasons for skipping the OTT release. Recent grapevine also suggests that Dhanush has taken a step, and has asked the producers to take a call on the release as per their wish. Well, keeping all these aside, fans are highly thrilled with the producer's recent confirmation regarding the release of the film, and are gearing up to welcome their favourite actor on the big screen. On a related note, Jagame Thandhiram directed by Karthik Subbaraj was slated to release on May 1, 2020, but was later postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Touted to be a gangster drama set in London, the movie has been backed by Y NOT Studios. The action-thriller will feature Game of Thrones actor James Cosmo, Kalaiyarasan, Joju George, Aishwarya Lekshmi and Sanchana Natarajan. Dhanush's Jagame Thandhiram Will Not Get A Direct-To-OTT Release, Confirms Producer Dhanush Fans Request Makers To Release Jagame Thandhiram In Theatres; Trend #WeWantJTOnTheatres National Project Coordinator - Sustainable Enterprises, Maputo Organization: International Labour Organization (ILO) Country: Mozambique City: Maputo, Mozambique Office: ILO Maputo, Mozambique Closing date: Tuesday, 15 September 2020 OPEN TO MOZAMBICIANS ONLY Grade: NOB Vacancy no.: DC/MAPUTO/NO/2020/08 Publication date: 25 August 2020 Application deadline ( midnight Zambian local time): 15 September 2020 Job ID: 4056 Department: RO-Africa Organization Unit: CO-Lusaka Location: Maputo Contract type: Short Term Contract duration: 6 months with possibility of extension Under article 2, paragraph (e) of the Staff Regulations, the filling of vacancies in technical cooperation projects does not fall under Annex I of the Staff Regulations and is made by direct selection by the Director-General. In order to support the best informed process in the filling of the above-mentioned vacancy by direct selection, the ILO invites interested candidates to submit their application online by the above date. The following are eligible to apply: ILO Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 31 and 32 of Annex I of the Staff Regulations. External candidates* *The recruitment process for National Officer positions is subject to specific local recruitment and eligibility criteria. Technical cooperation appointments are not expected to lead to a career in the ILO and they do not carry any expectation of renewal or conversion to any other type of appointment in the Organization. A short-term contract will be given . Extensions of technical cooperation contracts are subject to various elements including the following: availability of funds, continuing need of the functions and satisfactory conduct and performance. Conditions of employment for external candidates: In conformity with existing ILO practice, the appointment of an external candidate will normally be made at the first step of this grade. The entry level salary for this position is US $ 39, 138 (US Dollars) yearly. Introduction MozTrabalha is a 5-year development cooperation project supported by the Government of Sweden that aims at supporting ILO constituents in creating more and better jobs for all Mozambicans. The project has two components, one aiming to effect changes at the policy level and another one aiming to support enterprise and job creation in certain provinces and sectors selected as part of a consultative process. The COVID-19 pandemic is now having a profound impact across the world including in Mozambique and it has therefore also influenced the objectives and operations of the MozTrabalha project. Measures to curb the spread of the virus, such as preventing work and enterprises activities in public areas, have severely affected Mozambiques economy, which is largely informal with 92.7% of all enterprises being informal micro and small enterprises (MSEs) according to the latest enterprise census (2014-2015). ILO data suggest that 98.4% of Mozambican women and 92.7% of men are in informal employment, mostly in agriculture and informal self-employment, in commerce, handicraft and retail. The informal economy accounts for about a third (31%) of GDP. Over and above the health and socio-economic impacts, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the deep inequality that exists in the country in terms of access to basic infrastructure, including decent housing, water and sanitation, health services and access roads, etc., which in turn has put immense pressure on the national disaster-response capacity. MozTrabalha has been implementing interventions in the horticulture and construction materials value chains applying a market system development (MSD) approach with a focus on promoting sustainable enterprises. The project has now received an additional allocation from the Government of Sweden to address the impact of COVID-19 on the informal economy. The additional funding will be used to support informal enterprises and workers in mitigating the impact of COVID-19 with access to credit and technical training and by making work places safer. The International Labour Organization (ILO) seeks to recruit a National Project Coordinator (NPC) to support the timely and effective delivery of the enterprise component. The NPC will coordinate the implementation of the enterprise work stream of the MozTrabalha project that aims at mitigating the negative effects of COVID-19 for especially informal economy enterprises and for workers. The NPC will be based in the ILOs project office in Maputo, with travel to the Sofala and Inhambane Provinces. Reporting lines Under the overall responsibility of the ILO Lusaka Country Director for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique - the NPC will report to the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) under the MozTrabalha Project in Maputo and, on a daily basis, work in close consultation and coordination with the international expert on sustainable enterprises. In addition, coordination will also take place with other project staff and national partners involved in the coordination and implementation of employment-intensive public employment programmes. The NPC will also receive support and technical backstopping from the Senior Specialist on Sustainable Enterprises at Decent Work Team in Pretoria and when required from ENTERPRISES, Geneva. Description of Duties 1. Support the Technical Officer on Sustainable Enterprises in the timely implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the intervention under the Enterprise component, including provision of technical inputs in line with the ILO policy, rules and regulations and according to the final project document and work plan. 2. Identify problems and propose solutions and gender-responsive action and follow-up in the area of sustainable enterprise development and informal economy to expedite implementation and meet targets. 3. Organize training programmes and events with innovative methodologies (webinar, online training, IT tools) to improve the capacity of micro enterprises and informal workers. 4. Ensure the delivery of quality technical inputs and outputs in the area of access to credit, occupational safety and health (OSH) and enterprise development with a particular focus on COVID-19 mitigation measures on informal economy enterprises and workers. 5. Maintain close cooperation and coordination with government, employers and workers organizations in the planning and implementation of activities under the project and with other ILO projects and development partners active in the area. 6. Establish and develop knowledge management system covering technical activities under the project including other economic and social issues of relevance to the project. 7. Represent the ILO and the project in various activities and fora when requested, under the guidance of the CTA and ILO Director. 8. Develop and maintain good relations with backstopping ILO specialists at the ILO Decent Work Team in Pretoria, other colleagues in the field and HQ on specific technical areas requiring comprehensive and collaborative interventions. 9. Periodically report, monitor and facilitate the evaluation of the projects components according to the projects document and work plan. Prepare required technical progress reports and ad hoc reports on the status of project planning and implementation for submission to the ILO and the donor. 10. Ensure high-level communications to increase the projects visibility at the national and international levels. 11. Other related duties as assigned. Required qualifications Education First level university degree in business management, economics, social sciences, or related field and strong knowledge on development issues particularly in the area of access to credit and informal economy in Mozambique. Experience At least three years of experience in the enterprise development area in project management, supervision, administration or implementation of development projects including grants to enterprises. Experience in working with ILO, other UN agency or Government agencies. Experience in projects with an interface in gender responsive and/or public health would be an asset. Technical requirements: Good knowledge of labour economics as well as economic developments, poverty reduction, and social policies. Knowledge of the policy making process. Languages Good command of English and good working knowledge of written and spoken Portuguese Competencies Good knowledge about social, economic development, including labor and employment, trends in the country Ability to maintain good working relationships with all project stakeholders. Ability to establish and maintain systems within project operations. Demonstrated ability to manage technical co-operation projects of international organizations. Tags business management collective bargaining computer software development projects economic development employers organizations enterprise development freedom of association health services housing inequality interpersonal relations knowledge management labour economics monitoring and evaluation occupational safety portuguese poverty reduction project management small enterprises social sciences technical cooperation technical training training programmes value chain water and sanitation Ability to understand and effectively work with Government, workers and employers organizations, non-government organizations and UN agencies. Ability to conduct action oriented research and write analytical technical report in English. Ability to conduct policy discussion and high-level political processes. Good communication skills, both written and verbal, to successfully advocate for and mobilize action to promote freedom of association and right to collective bargaining principles. Clear commitment to mainstream gender into project activities. Ability to lead and work in a team and good interpersonal relations. Ability to train and guide personnel. Ability to work under time pressure and meet deadlines. Ability to work in diversified environments. Proficient in basic computer software (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe Reader) and ability to use other software packages required by the Office Ability to work independently with a minimum of supervision. ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED. Assessed candidates who will be considered as appointable but not selected for this position can also be offered to be assigned on another temporary position at the same or at a lower grade provided that said candidates possesses the minimum qualifications for this position. Recruitment process Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit the ILO Jobs website. The system provides instructions for online application procedures. Fraud warning The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants. Tragic Nora Quoirin was approached by a stranger at a Malaysian airport the day before she vanished from a holiday resort and was later found dead in a rainforest, an inquest has heard. The 15-year-old French-Irish schoolgirl, whose mum Meabh is from Belfast, disappeared from her family's cottage at the Dusun eco-resort in southern Negeri Sembilan state on August 4 last year, sparking a massive search operation. Her lifeless, naked body was discovered on August 13 beside a stream in a palm oil estate about 2.5kms (1.6 miles) from the resort. Her funeral took place at St Brigid's Church in south Belfast, where she was baptised. On Thursday an inquest heard how her French dad Sebastien had left Nora and her two younger siblings unaccompanied for less than five minutes at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Mr Quoirin, who arrived in Malaysia first on August 3 after flying in from London with the three children, had gone to meet their mum Meabh, who had flown in separately from Singapore following a business trip. A female police officer told the inquest how Mr Quoirin and the children had waited at the airport for Mrs Quoirin to arrive. When her dad moved just 30 steps away to meet Meabh at the arrival gate, Nora and her younger siblings, aged 12 and eight, were left alone briefly and subsequently approached by an unknown male. Assistant Superintendent Chong Mee Chyi told how, after Nora went missing, a family friend had received anonymous WhatsApp messages, saying they had been followed from the airport and Nora was still alive. Police seized CCTV footage from the airport to check to see if there had been any "criminal element", according to The Mirror. "The siblings were left unattended for less than five minutes and another camera captured the father welcoming the mother at the arrival gate a short distance away," the female police officer told the inquest. "Another camera showed an unidentified individual walking up to the children spending a couple of seconds with them. "We investigated and the children told us the man whom they did not know said 'hello' and wanted to know where they were from. "He left after the children ignored him, as they were constantly trained not to entertain strangers." The inquest also heard that the tracking dog used in the search and rescue operation on the first day Nora was reported missing had failed to smell any traces of the teenager due to health problems. Sergeant Poo Kong San from the Detective Dog Unit (K9) of the Negri Sembilan police contingent headquarters, the fifth witness in the inquest proceedings to determine the cause of death, also said that the German Shepherd dog's ill health at that time may have affected its sense of smell. At the proceedings, the court was also told by the witness that the K9 dog used at that time was four-years-old and suffered from back pain due to age and was only used for one day on August 4, 2019. Expand Close Negeri Sembilan State Police Chief Mohamad Mat Yusop / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Negeri Sembilan State Police Chief Mohamad Mat Yusop Earlier in the inquest, Negeri Sembilan police chief Mohamad Mat Yusop, the first witness, said the investigation showed no criminal element, adding that there was no indication Nora was abducted and no ransom demand. The inquest also previously heard that police believe Nora got out of a window, which had a faulty lock, and wandered off. Ass Supt Chong Mee Chyi said when the family checked in they contacted the management when they realised the window could not be closed securely. Ms Chong said the family told her the resort took no action to fix the window. The officer earlier told the inquest that when she first met the family the day after Nora was reported missing, her mother kept repeating "I believe that my daughter is abducted". The family has always insisted it was highly unlikely Nora - who was born with holoprosencephaly, a disorder which affects brain development - would have gone off alone. Hikers eventually found her body on August 13 at the edge of a stream at the foothills of Mount Berembun some five kilometres away. The court heard she had starved to death. The inquest will continue on September 1. President Zelensky and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, exchanged views on the developments in Belarus. Ukraine and the EU have common approaches to the settlement of the internal political crisis in Belarus, the press service of the President's Office reported following a phone conversation between President Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Zelensky and von der Leyen have exchanged views on the developments in Belarus, the report reads. Read alsoUkraine's MFA explains fundamental difference between Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine, protests in Belarus"The interlocutors noted common approaches of Ukraine and the EU toward the internal political crisis settlement in Belarus," the report says. Belarus elections and crackdown on protests: EU, Ukraine reaction Presidential elections were held in Belarus on August 9. The Central Election Commission said over 80% of voters supported incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko, while his main rival, a political novice Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, gained just over 10%. Read alsoUkraine freezes all contacts with Belarus FM KulebaThousands of Belarusians who believe the vote count was rigged took to the streets to protest election results. Security officials violently slammed on protesters, detaining thousands, beating and injuring many in captivity. On August 19, leaders of EU member states agreed to impose sanctions on Belarus in response to falsified vote count and the use of violence against protesters. They have not recognized the presidential election results. Ukraine has joined the EU declaration on Belarus. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Ukraine in no way intends to interfere in Belarus' internal affairs, while remaining ready to assist in settlement efforts. With a 29.75 score, Nguyen Trung Hai from Hai Phong, has gained the highest score among A-group students at the high school finals. Hai, a chemistry major at Tran Phu High School for the Gifted, got 10/10 for chemistry and mathematics, and 9.75 score for physics. Nguyen Trung Hai A-group tests include mathematics, physics and chemistry tests. The results of the tests are used to apply for majors related to natural sciences, technology and economics. This means that Hai made only one mistake in the three tests. The result of 29.75 score was not a surprise to him because he knows he gave the right answers to most of the questions after leaving the exam room. It is great. However, coming first among A-group students I never considered, he said. Modest about his achievements, Hai said this years exam questions were easier than last year. He said after solving all other questions, he spent 40 minutes just to deal with the last question on the math test and he finally found the answer in the last minutes. Modest about his achievements, Hai said this years exam questions were easier than last year. He said after solving all other questions, he spent 40 minutes just to deal with the last question on the math test and he finally found the answer in the last minutes. Hai also got high scores for other exam subjects, including 7.5 for biology, 8 for foreign language and 6.75 for literature. Prior to that, Hai got the highest score (9.73) at the aptitude test organized by the Hanoi University of Science and Technology which gathered 5,000 examinees. Nguyen Thi Doan, his mother, was very happy hearing about her sons achievements. I am excited about his exam results. I still cannot believe that he was first at the exam, she said. Hai did not say anything to his mother after finishing the math test. After he finished the chemistry test, he said that he was just not sure about one question in physics. Asked about his learning method, Hai said he always concentrates in class and tries to understand the lessons there. He also read more documents on internet to better understand the issues. To prepare for the high school finals, I had to learn from 8 pm to 1-2 am every day, he said. However, on some days just before the exams, I went to bed earlier to ensure the best health conditions for the exams." Hai is a member of many groups of students who exchange knowledge and experiences on internet. Therere many ways to improve your knowledge, not just through books, he explained. The students of the groups are from different cities/provinces throughout the country." Hai will apply to be a computer science major at the Hanoi University of Science and Technology. VNN will introduce other students who placed first in their groups of exams in following stories. Le Huyen Students satisfied about Education Ministry's high school finals rescheduling The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has adjusted the academic year schedule, delaying the high school finals to late July. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson defended President Trump against accusations of racism at the Republican National Convention on Thursday. Why it matters: Carson, the only Black member of Trump's Cabinet, has become a loyal ally and defender of the president since running against him in the 2016 Republican primary. The big picture: Joe Biden accused Trump in July of being the first racist to be elected to the White House the first time the Democratic nominee had directly made the attack, per the Washington Post. Biden made the accusation amid a cultural and political reckoning against systematic racism, driven by Black Lives Matter protests against the killing of George Floyd and against police brutality. Several figures in the Trump administration have said that they do not believe systemic racism exists in the U.S., despite historic discrimination against Black Americans in the job market, the housing market and the disproportionate impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on racial minorities. What he's saying: "President Trump does not dabble in identity politics. He wants everyone to succeed and believes in the adage, 'a rising tide lifts all boats.' Many on the other side love to incite division by claiming that President Trump is a racist. They could not be more wrong." "One of the first things he did as president was bring the Office of Historically Black Colleges and Universities into the White House so that it could get proper attention and financial support. Before the pandemic, African American unemployment was at an all-time low." "President Trump accomplished prison reform. He created incentives to encourage investors to become involved with economically-deprived areas of America." "What is racist is the fact that African Americans have the highest abortion rate. President Trump is the most pro-life President in our country's history. He will continue to fight for those who cannot yet speak." Of note: Carson began his speech by acknowledging the emotional toll currently faced by the family of Jacob Blake, who was shot several times in the back by police officers while walking to his car, per the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Singapore small businesses most satisfied with government-led COVID-19 relief measures among their ASEAN peers Small businesses want more government initiatives to build digital infrastructure such as national business databases and networks Small businesses in Singapore are the most satisfied within ASEAN with the relief measures provided by their government to cushion the impact of COVID-19 according to a recent survey conducted by United Overseas Bank (UOB), Accenture and Dun & Bradstreet. Close to three in four (72 per cent) Singapore-based firms surveyed expressed this sentiment, higher than the ASEAN average of 58 per cent. The survey was conducted among 1,000 small businesses with annual turnover of $20 million and below before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the third quarter of 2019 and May 2020 respectively. Small businesses across five ASEAN markets Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam were surveyed. small businesses image: UOB Across the region, Vietnamese small businesses (68 per cent) were the second most satisfied with their governments relief measures, followed by those in Malaysia (61 per cent), Thailand (47 per cent) and Indonesia (45 per cent). Given that one in two small businesses across ASEAN are facing cash flow challenges (48 per cent) as a result of the pandemic, the majority of respondents indicated a preference for cash flow-related support from their governments. In Singapore, small businesses felt that wage assistance was the most important government measure (48 per cent) to help them tide over the COVID-19 situation. Next on their list was support for business transformation initiatives (44 per cent) followed by loan assistance (36 per cent). Within ASEAN, small businesses preferred measures that deferred the payment of income tax (50 per cent) and provided loan (46 per cent) and wage assistance (36 per cent). Mr Lawrence Loh, Head of Group Business Banking, UOB, said that as small businesses tap cash flow focused relief measures to ease their immediate challenges, other forms of government assistance could be used to help them emerge stronger post-COVID-19. Story continues In supporting our small business clients, we found that many of them are not only concerned with immediate challenges but also with exploring enterprising ways to protect the long term viability of their business. To help our small business clients achieve their goals, we have been working closely with them, drawing on the Banks entrepreneurial roots to help them determine how best to use the funds from the relief measures to improve their resilience, Mr Loh said. A small business that has been able to enhance its business model through UOBs funding support is SCT Auto Services Pte Ltd. The Singaporean company, which offers vehicle repair services, used funds from a Temporary Bridging Loan provided by the Bank to take up the UOB BizSmart solution to digitalise its operations. By implementing the solution, the company has reduced the time taken to complete administrative tasks such as their human resource processes by 50 per cent and can now generate real-time insights to improve its business operations. This in turn has enabled the company to make business decisions with more certainty and agility. To date, more than 31,000 small businesses in ASEAN have signed up for UOB BizSmart to digitalise their operations. Mr Marcus Soh, Business Development Manager at SCT Auto Services Pte Ltd said, Like many other companies, we were also affected by COVID-19 with sales dropping by more than 30 per cent. We decided to use the time we had to digitalise our operations through the UOB BizSmart solution as this would not only give us the ability to manage our processes remotely, but also helps us improve our efficiency. The Bank also helped us to understand the government grants that we could apply for when taking up the solution, enabling us to take up the solution without causing a strain on our cash flow. Small businesses want more digital infrastructure to support their innovation efforts To support their efforts to strengthen their capabilities, particularly in the area of digitalisation, small businesses in Singapore said more investment in digital infrastructure to support innovation (71 per cent) is vital. Examples of digital infrastructure include national business databases for electronic know-your customer processes and nation-wide networks for electronic invoicing processes. The need for more digital infrastructure was also ranked as the top area of support needed among small businesses across ASEAN (77 per cent). Other government initiatives that Singapore-based small businesses said would help in the current business environment include funding support (63 per cent) and more education and training programmes to upskill employees, especially older workers (62 per cent). Ms Audrey Chia, Chief Executive Officer, Dun & Bradstreet Singapore said, While majority of the current government support measures are aimed at helping businesses with their immediate cash flow challenges amid COVID-19, the desire for non-cash flow support by small businesses across ASEAN highlights the increasing importance that they place in adapting to the new normal. Firms that use technology to strengthen their capabilities and resiliency will be able to seize business opportunities as they arise, whether during or post-COVID-19. Mr Divyesh Vithlani, who leads Accentures financial services practice in Southeast Asia, said, Small businesses in the region are dealing with many challenges right now and it is very encouraging to see many of them looking beyond the immediate difficulties and focusing on how best to revamp and future proof their operations. Financial services firms with the right digital tools and next-generation services will play a key role in the broader economic recovery in Southeast Asia, particularly as they streamline different government relief programs and partner with SMEs to help them navigate the current instability. The ASEAN SME Transformation Study 2020 aims to help ASEAN small businesses understand how they can transform their businesses to adapt to the changes ahead and to participate in the regions longterm growth. The post Small businesses most satisfied with COVID-19 relief measures appeared first on iCompareLoan Resources. WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senator from California and 2020 Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris ripped into sitting President Donald Trump on Thursday to rebuke the 2020 Republican National Convention (RNC). "The Republican convention is designed for one purpose -- to soothe Donald Trump's ego. To make him feel good. But here's the thing, he's the president of the United States. And it's not supposed to be about him," Harris said in a speech in Washington, D.C. "It's supposed to be about the health, and the safety, and the well-being of the American people," she said. "And on that measure, Donald Trump has failed." Harris railed on Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected more than 5.85 million people and killed 180,000 in the United States. "It's relentless. You can't stop it with a tweet. You can't create a distraction and hope it'll go away. It doesn't go away. By its nature, a pandemic is unforgiving," she said. "If you get it wrong at the beginning, the consequences are catastrophic. It's very hard to catch up...President Trump got it wrong in the beginning." Harris also addressed the Aug. 23 police shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which has triggered consecutive days of protests that have grown chaotic and violent at times. "The shots fired at Mr. Blake pierced the soul of our nation. It's sickening to watch. It's all too familiar. And it must end," she said. "The reality is that the life of a Black person in America has never been treated as fully human and we have yet to fulfill that promise of equal justice under law." Harris noted that she and former U.S. Vice President and 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has spoken with the Blake family, while expressing support for peaceful protests against racial injustice and police brutality. The remarks came hours before Trump is slated to accept the Republican Party's nomination for reelection in a speech from the White House South Lawn. Trump will "unload on" Biden and go after him on "everything from the economy to trade," according to Politico, citing people familiar with the address. Trump is also expected to address the shooting of Blake, which came some three months after George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His death sparked weeks-long protests and social unrest across the United States and has led to a nationwide reckoning over police brutality and systemic racism. The White House has beefed up security for Trump's speech as protesters are expected to gather around the presidential residence on Thursday night. The finale of the 2020 RNC, under the theme "Land of Greatness," will also feature virtual speeches from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, former New York City mayor and Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, and the president's daughter and senior adviser Ivanka Trump. Dad was always for public service, she said, adding,We always had enough food in the house. My mother used every penny, she baked all of our bread, she did all of our cooking, and my job, as I got to be a teenager, was to pick the lettuce for supper and get it ready for the meal. Education researchers from China give their views on what the current crisis could do to international higher education The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected our daily lives and put individuals, institutions, and societies to the test in several regards. The new policies adopted by governments to contain the pandemic, and the economic and psychological impact it has had on people, have caused significant changes in higher education systems. The international travel restrictions, growing fear and anxiety, increasing prejudices, and burden of economic slowdowns, among other factors, could become obstacles for international students willing to attend university abroad. However, the present situation is highly dynamic, and predicting the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on international university education is difficult. In the latest issue of the East China Normal University (ECNU) Review of Education, four education researchers provide their unique perspectives on how the pandemic will affect international student mobility (ISM) and identity. In the first article, Dr Jiao Guo from ECNU, China, focuses on how Chinese students and their families are reacting to the pandemic. She recognizes that many Chinese families are understandably stressed not only because of the health risk that COVID-19 poses, but also by the anti-Chinese sentiment that has sadly become more noticeable in many Western countries. Dr Guo argues, however, that the effect of the current crisis on Chinese student applications to universities abroad will vary. Based on an emotion-moderated sunk cost theory, a concept borrowed from the fields of economics and business decision-making, she speculates that some Chinese families will remain on course towards a university education overseas, perhaps with a destination change or a delay of a year or two. She says, "These are families with children who have nearly finished their K-12 education in international Chinese schools, who feel that they have already invested too much time, money, and effort into their children's education to change plans. On the other hand, working class families with children in public schools should be more inclined to opt for local education in one of China's universities." In the second article, Dr Hantian Wu from Zhejiang University, China, analyzes the prospects for ISM from a historical perspective. He argues that internationalized higher education systems will have to re-predict their development trends and that studying how previous global crises affected the education sector is a plausible strategy for doing so. He goes over several medieval and premodern crises, including the Black Death and the Spanish flu outbreak of 1918, to prove that higher education systems are remarkably resilient. For instance, Chinese student inflow into western countries increased considerably in the immediate aftermath of the Spanish flu. Modern history also seems to be consistent with this trend, as observed, for example, post the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. Nonetheless, Dr Wu cautions against taking historical events as conclusive evidence: "Discussions about recurring issues in modern history may be convincing, but they also should not be regarded as persuasive evidence for proving that history repeats itself. Still, it seems appropriate to conclude that a single sudden crisis can hardly bring fundamental changes to the overall trend of student mobility." In the third article, Dr Jie Zheng from ECNU holds forth that the current pandemic might change how students and policy makers view neoliberal globalization. Dr Zheng argues that the optimism surrounding globalization has been a driving factor for the explosive growth of ISM in the past few years. "In the past two decades, we have been proud of our 'global village' and global vision. We have enjoyed a deterritorialization of social life and free mobility worldwide. Indeed, imagination has been transformed by the media and those narratives of possible lives and fantasies might have stimulated people's desire for movement," she states. The ongoing pandemic challenges this neoliberal logic of "free trade, free market, free mobility." The focus, she concludes, has inevitably shifted to developing online education systems that could, in the future, open doors to possibilities for a more inclusive and environmentally sustainable society. But such a society will also depend on the global citizen that emerges from the pandemic. In the fourth article, Dr Tao Wang from ECNU argues that the breakdown of neoliberal globalization and the dual stigmatization of the Chinese student, both by Chinese nationalists and by nationalists of several other countries, had made the cosmopolitan identity complex. Yet, he remains optimistic. He says, "I predict that a new generation of 'glocal' citizens will emerge who can navigate smoothly between their local and global identities, understanding global challenges, respecting cultural diversity, and participating in cross-cultural communication. These citizens will bring about the beginning of a shared positive global future." The COVID-19 pandemic is certainly changing the education landscape for good. But what the new landscape will look like when the dust settles, remains to be seen. Perhaps these new perspectives will prove useful to individuals and organizations who must take action and, willingly or unwillingly, shape the future. ### Reference Authors: (1) Hantian Wu, (2) Jiao Guo, (3) Jie Zheng, (4) Tao Wang Titles of original papers: (1) Higher Education Development and Student Mobility During Crises: From a Comparative and Historical Perspective, (2) Tendency of Student Mobility During Crises: The Sunk Cost Theory Moderated by Emotions and Family Decisions on Studying Overseas, (3) International Student Mobility in Crises: Globalization and Foucault's Rhetoric Question, (4) The COVID-19 Crisis and Cross-Cultural Experience of China's International Students: A Possible Generation of Glocalized Citizens? Journal: ECNU Review of Education DOIs: (1) 10.1177/2096531120923662, (2) 10.1177/2096531120923664, (3) 10.1177/2096531120924048, (4) 10.1177/2096531120931519 Affiliations: (1) College of Education, Zhejiang University (2) East China Normal University (3) East China Normal University (4) East China Normal University About ECNU Review of Education ECNU Review of Education (ROE) is an international and open access scholarly journal initiated by the East China Normal University (ECNU) in Shanghai of China. This peer-reviewed journal aims to publish impactful research and innovative articles related to current educational issues in China and abroad. The journal encourages articles using interdisciplinary perspectives and embracing contextual sensitivity. The journal seeks to build a global community of scholars interested in advancing knowledge, generating big ideas, inducing deep changes, and bringing about real impact in education. About the authors About Dr Hantian Wu Dr Hantian Wu earned his doctoral degree from the University of Toronto, Canada. He then went on went on to conduct postdoctoral research at East China Normal University in Shanghai. He is currently a Professor and doctoral supervisor at the College of Education in Zhejiang University, China. His research focuses on comparative higher education, higher education internationalization, higher education development in emerging economies, and academic knowledge production. About Dr Jiao Guo Dr Jiao Guo has had an eventful career, having founded an organization dedicated to promoting innovation in education, been a part of Teach for China, and served as Academic Director of MyCOS Institute in Beijing in China. She earned her PhD in Education from Harvard University and is currently a Research Associate Professor at East China Normal University in Shanghai. About Dr Jie Zheng Dr Jie Zheng earned her PhD in Educational studies from McGill University, Canada, in 2017. Since then she has gone on to take part in several research projects in the field of education worldwide. Today she has over 25 publications to her name and is part of the community of the East China Normal University in Shanghai. About Dr Tao Wang Dr Tao Wang received his PhD in multicultural education from the University of Washington in 2015, and soon after joined East China Normal University as faculty. He is currently Associate Professor at the Institute of Curriculum and Instruction there. With interests in multicultural education, equity, and curriculum studies; global migration, citizenship, and cultural identification; and rural migrants and social integration, Dr Wang has over 30 publications to his credit. Chandigarh lifts weekend lockdown Chandigarh: Chandigarh Administration on Friday removed weekend lockdown and now, shops and markets will remain open on Saturdays and Sundays. Chandigarh Administration Advertisement Earlier, UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore had ordered the closure of all shops and establishments (except essential shops and services) on Saturdays and Sundays in the city until further orders. UT Adviser Manoj Parida said there would be no ban on the movement of people or goods on weekends and curfew in the city would continue to remain in effect from 10 pm to 5 am. Coronavirus Advertisement The decision was taken after the UT witnessed a sharp rise in the number of coronavirus cases. Meanwhile, the city on Thursday reported two deaths due to Covid-19 and the highest single-day spike of 188 cases. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Alya Nurbaiti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 28, 2020 09:29 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c410eb37 1 National Indonesia-2045,workforce,skilled-workers,pre-employment-card,kartu-prakerja,Moeldoko,stunting,danone Free Multiple stakeholders have agreed that collaboration to provide reliable vocational training to produce a skilled workforce is needed more than ever if Indonesia wants to reach its goal of becoming a developed country with an annual income of Rp 320 million (US$21,813) per capita in 2045. As the unemployment rate for graduates of vocational high schools is most alarming, at 8.63 percent according to Statistics Indonesia last year, sociologist from Gadjah Mada University Tadjuddin Noer Effendi cited Germanys dual vocational education and training (DVET) system as a prime example that Indonesia should follow. We have a lot of training centers but how many of them are of good quality? The private sector must collaborate with the government, the university and schools, put students into training in companies under the supervision of seasoned mentors, Tadjuddin told The Jakarta Post on Thursday during the Posts webinar series Jakpost Upclose: Human Capital Development and Indonesias 2045 vision. Tadjuddin also stressed the importance of systematic reform in vocational training so that people with a low level of education or those who work in the informal sector could also develop skills. An inability to properly identify training needs and a lack of information about the benefits of training, he said, were among the constraints to skills development among people with a low level of education Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) vice chairman Anton J. Supit said that there was still reluctance or little awareness among businesspeople in the country about taking part in vocational programs. Not many people consider how important human capital is. They always think that training people is costly. In fact, the DVET would increase productivity and competitiveness, said Anton, adding that Germany even included its DVET as part of its economic strategy. Moreover, in many regions in Indonesia outside the capital Jakarta, Anton said, people were still not aware that international competitiveness among the Indonesian workforce was lacking. Therefore, efforts and more discussion at the local government level is also needed, he said. Despite the current lack of competitiveness, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko told the Post in an interview broadcast on Thursday that he believed Indonesia's demographic dividend could become a strength if managed properly. Indonesia must become a new force in Asia. To get there, the government will create a design to manage national talent. These people are the core movers of Indonesia, he said. In the meantime, the government is now trying to increase productivity among the working-age population. Also speaking in the webinar, executive director of the preemployment card program Denni Puspa Purbasari said the governments program had so far involved 14.9 million participants, with the majority of the participants reporting skills upgrades. Ninety-three percent of participants say training taught them new ways or strategies for work, as well as entrepreneurship, she said, adding that the program had been well targeted as 90 percent of participants were unemployed and 85 percent were from the 18-35 age group. She further asserted the importance of thinking about the preemployment card as a product instead of a program. We tend to think of a program as a government activity in spending its budget. But its more than that. With the preemployment card, consumers can rate training sessions and I believe continuous improvement [in training quality] will take place, she said. In addition to training for working age groups, childrens health is another important aspect of boosting human capital, according to Connie Ang, CEO of Danone Specialized Nutrition Indonesia. Stunting is one of the key nutritional concerns in Indonesia, with approximately one in three children under 5 being stunted, either as a result of not getting enough food or eating too much of the wrong food. Connie said nutrition had a significant impact on a childs health and development, both physically and mentally, as well as on general intelligence. Its very important to pay attention to not only the quantity but also the quality of food, especially during this pandemic when, because of the economic crisis, many families have started to compromise on nutrition, she said. The government has indeed prioritized the importance of nutritional intake in reducing the stunting rate, Moeldoko said. The prevalence of stunting in Indonesia has reduced, though it remains high, from 30.8 percent in the 2018 Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) report to 27.67 percent in 2019. As the LNU Lightning Complex fires raged toward Fairfield last week, Ashleigh Armstrong and her boyfriend gathered up their cat, clothes and her bar exam textbooks to evacuate to a hotel in Napa. They would have sought refuge at a family members house in previous years, but this time is different. Armstrongs high-risk health condition meant that potential exposure to the coronavirus from a family member was out of the question. So instead they checked into a hotel, believing it would make it easier to keep their distance from other people. Especially with the bar exam looming, my partner and I are very nervous about getting infected, she said. Thousands of evacuees have made similar choices the past few weeks. On just one recent night Tuesday the Red Cross helped more than 1,700 evacuees find housing across 66 hotels, according to Jennifer Adrio, the Northern California Coastal Region CEO for the Red Cross. If the pandemic werent here, many would have been housed in shelters instead. For the beleaguered hotel industry, the rush of business has been a surprising boon. Rooms that have been empty for months since travel collapsed are springing to life, with discounts and adjusted pet rules. And its not just evacuees firefighters, PG&E electricity crews and other first responders are also filling up some hotels. This is usually one of our busiest times of the year, said Kamal Naran, general manager of the Aqua Breeze Inn in Santa Cruz, which is hosting evacuees at a steep discount. Now the hotel is a different kind of busy, and the biggest challenge may be the uncertainty surrounding how long each guest is staying, he added. Because evacuees are housed at a large number of hotels instead of a handful of shelters, coordinating response and recovery is much more challenging, Adrio said. While the Red Cross and other agencies can usually help people access the resources they need (like FEMA disaster assistance) at shelters, this time volunteers have to fan out to find everyone. Although the Red Cross is sending more people to hotels due to the need for distancing, about 1,200 people still spent Tuesday night at the organizations evacuation shelters. The organization had prepared for the situation unprecedented mass evacuations in the middle of a pandemic and trained between 400 and 500 regional volunteers. We knew this was coming, Adrio said. Beach Street Inn in Santa Cruz has been close to full with evacuees, even as some evacuation orders have eased so that some people can return to their homes. Because the hotel is offering discounts and most of its tourist guests have left, the inn might not actually make much money from the new business, according to Laura Waltz, the general manager. Its been a challenging year for our industry, Waltz said. Its been tough for months, and so being able to help people in a time of need, it felt really good. Paul Chinn / The Chronicle Last week, Santa Cruz County officials asked all visitors and tourists who had recently begun to flock back to leave hotels and motels to create space for evacuees. Hotels should not be trying to capitalize financially on the surge in evacuee business, said Naran, of the Aqua Breeze Inn. Thats not what this is about. The discounts at hotels vary, but some are charging evacuees $75 per day and flexible checkout dates and times. The Beach Street Inn also changed its no-pets policy for evacuees. Dogs now bark at each other from different rooms, and one guest brought a red-tailed hawk and an owl that have frightened seagulls nesting on the hotel roof, according to Waltz. Thats been a challenge for us, and its different, she said. But we want all these people to feel like they can at least take a breath. People who lost homes in places like Boulder Creek and Bonny Doon are contemplating long stays, Waltz said. Because the Beach Street Inn offers some rooms and suites with kitchens, she has fielded inquiries from people asking to stay for up to three months, which would be an adjustment from the inns usual practice. In San Francisco, the need for evacuee housing allowed some hotels to reopen for the first time since March. Health orders in the city have forbidden most hotels from reopening for nonessential purposes. Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California Hotel Emblem in Union Square, San Francisco Marriott Marquis and San Francisco Proper are among the hotels that offered or are still offering discounted rates for evacuees. Another is the Handlery, a three-star hotel in Union Square, which reopened to offer evacuees steeply discounted rates beginning Aug. 20 and has now filled about 20 rooms, according to Jon Handlery, the hotel president and general manager. The Handlery provides the discount not just for people who are displaced, but also for those hoping to get out of their homes to avoid the sometimes extremely unhealthy air quality, he said. Air quality in San Francisco is often better than in locations closer to the fires. Most hotels have adapted strict cleaning regimens and mask requirements, and some have plexiglass barriers at the front desks. A new San Francisco ordinance requires daily intensive room cleanings that are the strictest rules in the country, though hotel groups have sued the city over the requirements, which they say endangers cleaning workers by increasing their potential coronavirus exposure. The Handlery has so few guests that each room can be left unattended for three days after the guests have left, which should help prevent the virus from surviving in the air and on surfaces, Handlery said. For guests, fear of the virus is still top of mind, even as they worry about their homes and possessions. While the hotel had hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes aplenty, and enforced the mask requirements, it's still a concern until we know for sure whether we were exposed, said Armstrong, who has returned home after her hotel stay in Napa. Anna Kramer is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: anna.kramer@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @anna_c_kramer Hamilton police have charged a man with voyeurism after receiving a number of complaints from residents in the Hunter Estates Park area of Stoney Creek. Neighbours reported a trespasser on private properties peeking into unobstructed windows late at night, police say. Police say a 43-year-old man was charged with two counts of voyeurism. Police believe there may be other victims, and are asking anyone who may have witnessed similar behaviour to report it to police. Anyone with information that may help with the investigation is asked to contact police at 905-546-2907. Vietnam confirmed two more COVID-19 cases on August 28 evening, including one in the central city of Da Nang and one imported case, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. Vietnam confirmed two more COVID-19 cases on August 28 evening, including one in the central city of Da Nang and one imported case, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. The 29-year-old female patient in Bac Son Tra district, Da Nang, had close contact with Patient 1,036 and was found positive to SARS-CoV-2 on August 27. Meanwhile, the 23-year-old man in Hanoi arrived at Van Don airport in Quang Ninh on flight VN5062 from Russia on August 11. He was put under quarantine in Hai Duong province upon his arrival, during which he shared a room with Patient 1,034. On August 25, he completed his quarantine period and came to a rented room on Hang Bai street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. Two days later, he was tested positive for the virus by the Hanoi Centre for Disease Control. As of August 28 evening, Vietnam recorded 1,038 COVID-19 infection cases, 689 of them are locally-transmitted. The number of new cases related to Da Nang has amounted to 547 since July 25. As many as 69,485 people who had close contacts with patients or entered from pandemic-hit areas are being quarantined, including 1,466 in hospitals, 18,200 at other establishments and 49,819 at their homes. Also according to the committee, 20 patients treated at Hoa Vang medical centre were given the all-clear of the virus the same day, together with three others at Da Nang Lung Hospital, one at the Ho Chi Minh Hospital for Tropical Diseases, one at Long Dien districts medical centre in Ba Ria Vung Tau and another at Hoa Lu districts medical centre in Ninh Binh, raising the total number of recovery cases to 663. Among patients under treatment at medical establishment, 46 tested negative for the virus once, 48 others twice and 29 three times. Vietnam has so far recorded 30 deaths related to the disease. Amid the complicated developments of the pandemic, the Health Ministry suggested residents download Bluezone app to receive infection risk warnings. VNA The Democrats and Republicans approached their virus-era conventions in different ways. The Democrats opted for a dark, barren, and claustrophobic convention, bounded by the size of a computer monitor. The Republicans chose a magnificent convention, one with a sense of spaciousness and color. After three dynamic days, it was hard to know if they could keep that momentum for the fourth day but they did. On Thursday, Republicans again used the vast and splendid Andrew Mellon auditorium as a backdrop for many of the speeches. And then, for Ivanka's and the president's addresses, the setting moved to the White House's South Lawn. Behind the speakers was the beauty of the White House; behind the audience was the symbolism of the Washington monument. It was a wonderful culmination to a powerful convention conducted under challenging circumstances. Before I even get to the substance of the speeches, compare how Biden and Trump appeared: Trump's setting was open, brilliant, and powerful. Biden's looked like a high school student council election. It's true that Trump benefited from the symbolism of the White House, but the Democrats could easily have found an equally beautiful and powerfully symbolic site...if they'd wanted to. They didn't even try, both because their goal was to make the point that America is a grim and dark place and because Joe would have been overwhelmed if taken off that high school auditorium stage. The politicians who spoke House minority leader Kevin McCarthy, Sen. Mitch McConnell, Sen. Tom Cotton, Mayor Rudy Guiliani, and Rep. Jeff Van Drew all gave excellent speeches supporting Trump and his agenda and casting shade on Biden. Giuliani, especially, walloped the Democrats on crime. Rep. Drew's speech was memorable because he was elected as a Democrat and crossed the aisle after the impeachment to become a Republican. Drew gave the 2020 version of Reagan's famous statement that he didn't leave the Democrat party; the Democrat party left him. Once again, the Republicans went out of their way to welcome American blacks into the fold, something they should have been doing every election since the Civil War. Trump's deputy assistant Ja'Ron Smith spoke about how Trump is genuinely dedicated to uplifting all Americans. Stacia Brightmon talked about a jobs program that benefited her, saying that if you want to work, Trump is doing his best to help. Another black speaker was Alice Johnson, who was sentenced to life in prison for her part in a cocaine-trafficking organization. It was a sophisticated business that netted her a life sentence without parole. Johnson, however, was an exemplary prisoner for 22 years, and Trump listened when Kim Kardashian lobbied for her to be pardoned. Johnson is now a minister and fierce Trump-supporter. One of the most interesting segments came from four residents of public housing in New York. Their gratitude to Trump and intense dislike of de Blasio were both fascinating: "I think it's wrong that Democrats put illegal immigrants before Black Americans." WATCH: #RNC2020 video shows NYC public housing residents slamming Mayor Bill de Blasio as "disgraceful," criticizing Democrats' housing policies, and praising President @realDonaldTrump. pic.twitter.com/nCoV7NaCgk The Hill (@thehill) August 28, 2020 There was also a great video showcasing Democrats who changed their minds: One of the hardest things to do is challenge your own beliefs.#RNC2020 pic.twitter.com/PYKb7nNnfL Team Trump (Text VOTE to 88022) (@TeamTrump) August 28, 2020 The most powerful statements came from Ann Dorn, the widow of St. Louis Police Capt. David Dorn (ret.), whom rioters killed in June, and from Carla and Marsha Mueller, whose daughter, Kayla Mueller, died at ISIS's hands. Dorn talked about a generation of people marauding on the streets, without conscience or decency. It was heartbreaking: Absolutely gut-wrenching moment from David Dorn's wife, Ann: "Looters were ransacking the shop. They shot and killed David in cold blood, and then live-streamed his execution and last moments on Earth... I relive that horror in my mind every day." I'll never forget this speech. pic.twitter.com/C1e6eO6U2O Kelb Hull (@CalebJHull) August 28, 2020 Democrats recognized how damaging that speech was for them and promptly attacked Ann for appearing in a Republican venue when her husband was not a Republican. It was a cheap, tacky response. The Muellers are still angry at the Obama administration, which was more concerned about Guantanamo prisoners than it was about rescuing their daughter. That Trump killed al-Baghdadi gave them some small degree of closure: "God gave us Kayla, and she gave herself to the world." In heartbreaking testimonial, parents of Kayla Mueller, humanitarian worker captured and killed by ISIS, honor their daughter, praise Pres. Trump, and call on Americans to "stay strong like Kayla." https://t.co/EyJzJDolZ4 pic.twitter.com/WcxGfb4PrR ABC News (@ABC) August 28, 2020 The penultimate speech was from Ivanka, celebrating her father as both a great man and a great president. It was nice but didn't blow me away. And then came Donald Trump himself. He spoke for over an hour, and it was vintage Trump. His speech ran through his staggeringly long list of accomplishments, Bidens 47-year-long record of failure, and Trump's exciting plans for the future. There were some wonderful one-liners, some obviously scripted, some seeming to be Trump's own throw-aways: These are some of his more memorable statements: "They say that redemption for you can only come from giving power to them." "How can the Democrats ask to lead our country when all they do is tear down our country?" When speaking of Joe Biden's crocodile tears for the workers whose jobs he outsourced, Trump said Biden gave them "hugs and even kisses." "Joe Biden is not the savior of American souls; he is the destroyer of American jobs, a destroyer of American greatness." "I say very modestly that I have done more for the African-American community than any president since Abraham Lincoln. I have done more in three years for the black community than Joe Biden has done in 47 years." "Joe Biden's plan is not a solution to the virus; rather, it's a surrender to the virus." "How can Joe Biden claim to be an ally of the light if he can't even keep the lights on?" "They're coming after me because I am fighting for you. And it's been going on from before I even got elected." "Joe Biden is weak." Trump's speech goes beyond summary. You have to watch it. And that high note I mentioned? First, there was a stunning fireworks display: The Democrat fireworks did not compare well: And then there was opera and a "God Bless America" singalong: After four days of a visually gorgeous convention that spoke to every American, it's small wonder that variations on #TrumpLandslide2000 are trending on Twitter. Mumbai, Aug 28 : Actor Gurmeet Choudhary, who is currently shooting for a horror film, The Wife In Jaipur, suffered a back injury on the set on Friday. The injury happened during the shoot of an action sequence. According to a source close to the film production unit, Gurmeet was strapped to a cable for the stunt. He slipped and fell on a chair, injuring his lower back. "Action scenes can be dangerous, and we take adequate measures to reduce all risks, but this was just a freak accident that you cannot really account for. Gurmeet was strapped to a cable and he just slipped. His lower back is injured and he is in quite a bit of pain," the source added. Medics were immediately called and the actor was given painkillers, the source added. "The Wife In Jaipur" is billed as an urban-horror film, co-starring Sayani Dutta. Opioid related deaths in the United States have been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and experts say and its only going to get worse according to their estimates. NPR reported that "new data from around the U.S. confirms that drug overdoses are spiking during the coronavirus pandemic, rising by roughly 18 percent." Morning Consult describes addiction as a 'disease of isolation' and because of everything the country is facing--social distancing, natural disasters, unemployment strife, and economic and political stress, the opioid crisis can be that much more fatal. The American Medical Association reported more than 40 states have reported increases in opioid-related mortality." The Department of State Health Services says that opioid use is still the primary driver of overdose deaths in Texas. Dallas Morning News also reported that opioid relapses are on the rise as COVID-19 interrupts drug addiction recovery in Dallas. "In the Dallas area, the pandemic is resulting in an increased number of people in recovery who are relapsing," local clinicians said. Dr. Paul Christo, the Associate Professor in the Division of Pain Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in a press release, "The worst fear is that because of social isolation, and people are not being found or treated immediately." "The number of fatalities from opioid-related overdoses could be nearly 30 percent higher than reported due to missing information or incomplete death records," Christo continued. Related: The current state of America is leading to a mental health crisis Because the pandemic and other national crises are adding an extra layer of stress, how do we combat the opioid epidemic? Dr. Christo says that "COVID 19 impacted the drug supply chain by closing borders on some regions, and it led to the higher death rate. He added that drugs become more challenging to get, and the potency of overdose goes up. It also impacts the price, everything goes up, and in that sense, it becomes more deadly each day." The AMA suggested that governors and state legislatures take action by enforcing rules and guidelines, use of telemedicine, support harm reduction strategies and remove existing barriers for patients with pain. Electric moped sharing company Revel on Thursday said it was returning to the streets of New York City with a new safety protocol, a month after it voluntarily suspended operations in the city following a string of deadly crashes. Revel said it has struck an agreement with the city to resume service under enhanced safety protocols and increased accountability to weed out unruly drivers. All New York Revel users beginning on Thursday will have to complete a 21-question safety training and watch an instructional video. The company will also require riders to take a selfie wearing a helmet, during which phones camera rolls will be locked so that users cannot reuse an old picture. Company representatives review the images, but Revel is working on a machine learning tool to automatically verify helmet use, a spokeswoman said. During the coronavirus pandemic, the moped service became a popular commuting option among New Yorkers wary of using public transportation. But the company recorded 330 crashes with injuries in the first seven months of 2020, according to New York Citys Department of Transportation. At least two riders died. Revel operates some 3,000 mopeds in New York City. They are available throughout the Brooklyn and Queens boroughs and parts of Manhattan and the Bronx. Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said in a statement the city was pleased with Revels new safety measures. The City will closely monitor Revels operations during this relaunch and, going forward, plans to work with all interested stakeholders to promulgate rules to govern the operation of shared moped services in New York City, Trottenberg said. Venture capital-backed Revel said the training and helmet-wearing protocol will also be required for users in Oakland, California, Washington, D.C. and Austin, Texas, even though Texas state law does not require helmet use. Service in Miami, Florida, remains temporarily suspended. (Reporting by Tina Bellon in New York; Editing by David Gregorio) Topics New York JACKSON, MI From a Jackson building owner discovering a mysterious room long forgotten by previous owners, to a 16-year-old boy being shot and killed outside the city, a lot has been going on in the Jackson area. Here are some headlines you might have missed this week. Mysterious underground room puzzles owners of historic Jackson building The maintenance team at Jacksons Commercial Exchange Building radioed Sharon Buchte to come to the parking lot right away. She rushed, concerned that someone was hurt. But what crew members and Buchte, operations manager, found outside the building at 2301 E. Michigan Avenue on July 31 was no disaster or emergency. It was a mystery that began when a 7,000-pound excavator sank into the ground, revealing a set of underground rooms. Police identify teen fatally shot in Jackson County Police have released the name of the teenager who was fatally shot Tuesday morning in Blackman Township. Lataveon Cosey, 16, of Blackman Township, was shot around 8:20 a.m., Aug. 25 near the intersection of Hallett Street and Longfellow Avenue. Cosey was taken to Henry Ford Allegiance Health where he died from his injuries. Freak car crash into Jackson funeral home prompts renovation plans A car crashing into the front of the Charles J. Burden & Son Funeral Home was a freak accident that eventually brought opportunity. The incident this spring ended safely for everyone involved -- except the front door of the funeral home at 1806 E. Michigan Ave. -- which was badly damaged, Funeral Director Christopher Dean said. But, in that damage, Dean said, was an opportunity to renovate the facility thats been a community staple since its opening in 1949. So, workers packed up and began operating out of Patience Montgomery Funeral Home on First Street while the work was being done. Man and woman face sexual assault charges in case involving a minor Two Jackson County residents were arrested and arraigned for criminal sexual conduct in a case involving a minor. Jeremie Hankerd, 20, and Rosemary Carroll, 18, both of Summit Township, were arrested July 31 and arraigned Aug. 1, a news release from Michigan State Police on Monday, Aug. 24 said. Hankerd is charged with one felony count each of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, accosting a minor for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime. Carroll is charged with one felony count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Man stabbed multiple times in Jackson, suspect arrested and charged, police say A man was stabbed multiple times early Saturday in Jackson, police said. The 59-year-old Jackson man was found with stab wounds in his upper torso around 12:40 a.m., Aug. 22, at a home in the 1000 block of Williams Street. He was taken to Henry Ford Allegiance Health and later released from the hospital. Construction on Laurence Avenue coming up in September Drivers will soon see construction crews on Laurence Avenue in Blackman Township. Road construction is set to begin on Laurence Avenue near the Jackson County Airport on Tuesday, Sept. 8. About a half-mile stretch from West Michigan Avenue to West Argyle Street is being repaired. Suspect eludes capture after crashing stolen car into front porch of home, police say A fleeing suspect eluded capture early Tuesday after leading officers on a brief chase in a stolen car and crashing, police said. Police were called shortly after midnight Aug. 25, to the Bell Ford Dealership, 4510 U.S. 223 in Adrian, for a report of a white Lincoln that had been stolen off the lot. A deputy spotted the vehicle and attempted to stop it near the intersection of S. Main and Beecher streets in Adrian, but the vehicle took off, leading to a brief pursuit. Fire destroys home of elderly Jackson County couple A house fire displaced two elderly Concord Township homeowners Wednesday afternoon. Flames were showing at the residence in the 15000 block of Erie Road when Concord Fire Department crews responded to the fire at around 12:30 p.m., Chief Llyod Mosher said. The elderly man and woman who owned the house were outside of the home when crews arrived, and no one was injured, Mosher said. The American Red Cross was called in to assist the couple. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 28, 2020 / Kontrol Energy Corp. (CSE:KNR)(OTCQB:KNRLF)(FSE:1K8) ("Kontrol" or "Company") is pleased to announce that it will release its Q2 2020 financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2020, on Monday, August 31st, 2020. The call will be hosted by Kontrol Energy's CEO, Paul Ghezzi and Chief Financial Officer, Claudio Del Vasto. Event Details: Title: Kontrol Energy Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results Event Date: Monday, August 31, 2020 - 4:30PM Eastern Time Event Duration: 60 Minutes Event Link: Webcast URL https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2402/37011 Participant Number: Toll Free: 877-407-0782 International: 201-689-8567 About Kontrol Energy Kontrol Energy Corp. (CSE: KNR) (OTCQB: KNRLF) (FSE: 1K8) is a leader in the energy efficiency sector through IoT, Cloud and SaaS technology. With a disciplined mergers and acquisition strategy, combined with organic growth, Kontrol Energy Corp. provides market-based energy solutions to our customers designed to reduce their overall cost of energy while providing a corresponding reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Additional information about Kontrol Energy Corp. can be found on its website at www.kontrolenergy.com and by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. For further information, contact: Paul Ghezzi, Chief Executive Officer paul@kontrolenergy.com or admin@kontrolenergy.com Kontrol Energy Corp. 180 Jardin Drive, Unit 9, Vaughan, ON L4K 1X8 Tel: 905.766.0400, Toll free: 1.844.566.8123 Neither IIROC nor any stock exchange or other securities regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Information Certain information included in this press release, including information relating to future financial or operating performance and other statements that express the expectations of management or estimates of future performance constitute "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding possible future acquisitions and/or investments in operating businesses and/or technologies, accelerated organic growth, Adjusted EBITDA, expansion of smart energy technologies into US markets, strategic partnerships to expand into North American Markets, acceleration of recurring SaaS revenues, the provision of solutions to customers and Greenhouse Gas emissions reductions, proposed financial savings and sustainable energy benefits and energy monitoring. Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief are based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. Such assumptions include, without limitation, that suitable businesses and technologies for acquisition and/or investment will be available, that such acquisitions and or investment transactions will be concluded, that sufficient capital will be available to the Company, that technology will be as effective as anticipated, that organic growth will occur, and others. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, lack of acquisition and investment opportunities or that such opportunities may not be concluded on reasonable terms, or at all, that sufficient capital and financing cannot be obtained on reasonable terms, or at all, that technologies will not prove as effective as expected that customers and potential customers will not be as accepting of the Company's product and service offering as expected, and government and regulatory factors impacting the energy conservation industry. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as at the date hereof and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements or any forward-looking statements contained in any other documents whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities law. SOURCE: Kontrol Energy Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603872/Kontrol-Energy-Schedules-Q2-2020-Financial-Results-Release-and-Conference-Call BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.28 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Portugal imported 220,149 tons of crude oil from Azerbaijan from January through April 2020, as compared to 418,000 tons for the same period of 2019, Eurostat told Trend. The country imported 138,550 tons of crude oil from Azerbaijan in February 2020 and 81,599 tons in April. This is while in 2019, Portugal imported 139,000 tons in January, 139,000 tons in March, 140,000 tons in April, 278,000 tons in May, 139,000 tons in June, 140,000 tons in July, 139,000 tons in August, and 138,000 tons in December. Azerbaijan exported 2,023,202 tons of crude oil to EU countries in January 2020 and 2,112,208 tons in February 2020. 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 MGM Resorts is laying off 18,000 people as an unchecked pandemic leaves economic scars across a broad swath of U.S. industries, particularly those that rely on healthy crowds of people. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/8/2020 (510 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Video slot machines are seen at the MGM Grand Detroit casino, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, in Detroit. Detroit's three casinos will start reopening Wednesday under new governor-mandated capacity restrictions, months after closing for the coronavirus pandemic. MotorCity Casino Hotel and the Greektown Casino-Hotel. opened Wednesday. MGM Grand Detroit will open for invite-only VIP customers Wednesday and Thursday, and at 10 a.m. Friday for the general public. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) MGM Resorts is laying off 18,000 people as an unchecked pandemic leaves economic scars across a broad swath of U.S. industries, particularly those that rely on healthy crowds of people. The layoffs at MGM, which amount to about a quarter of its U.S staff of about 70,000, caps a wave of job cuts and buyouts this week across a broad array of industries. Economists warn that sizable layoffs will continue and any recovery is likely to falter as long as the virus rages and Congress doesnt come up with additional financial aid for the unemployed, as well as desperate state and local governments. We think recovery in the job market will be slow, Nancy Vanden Houten, lead economist at Oxford Economics said. Ultimately, the recovery in the economy and the job market will depend on a medical solution to the coronavirus. In the near term, we think the lack of further federal support poses serious downside risks to the outlook. MGM furloughed 62,000 of its 70,000 employees when casinos in Nevada were forced to close on March 17. Many of them opened again in early June, but mandated capacity controls are in place. FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2015, file photo, a man rides his bike past the MGM Grand hotel and casino in Las Vegas. MGM Resorts plans to lay off 18,000 workers as the casino company struggles with the fallout from the pandemic. The Las Vegas-based parent of the Bellagio said in a letter to employees that furloughed employees will keep health benefits until Sept. 30, 2020 according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. (AP Photo/John Locher, File) MGM, with properties in Mississippi, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York and overseas in Macao, has brought back workers, but with 50% capacity limits, fewer workers are needed. Two properties, one in New York and one in Las Vegas, are still closed. MGM said that federal law requires the company to send layoff notices to employees that have been furloughed for six months. The company said Friday that it will rehire workers when it can. Economists are unsure how many American jobs are being lost, permanently. Earlier on Friday, Coca-Cola said it was offering buyouts to 4,000 employees ahead of pending layoffs. Half of Coca-Colas sales come from stadiums, movie theatres and other places where people gather in large numbers venues that have been closed during the coronavirus pandemic. Revenue tumbled 28% in the Atlanta companys most recent quarter. United and American airlines, beset by plunging air travel, said they will cut thousands of jobs unless Washington provides more financial aid. Tech company Salesforce said this week that it's cutting 1,000 jobs. Bed Bath & Beyond cut 2,800 positions. Those numbers represent only a fraction of the job losses besetting the U.S. economy. Since late March, claims for unemployment benefits have exceeded 1 million in every week but one. On Thursday, the Labor Department reported another million Americans applied for unemployment benefits. More than 14.5 million are collecting traditional jobless benefits -- up from 1.7 million a year ago with no end in sight. 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. Employers cut more than 22 million jobs in March and April as the outbreak brought normal business to a screeching halt. As economies slowly reopened, the economy generated than 9 million jobs in May, June and July. But that still a huge shortfall in jobs. The steady drip of job losses may have already begun to play out in other crucial parts of the economy. Consumer confidence has tumbled to its lowest level since 2014, the Conference Board, a business research group, reported this week. Consumer spending makes up about 70% of the economic activity in the U.S., and is watched closely. The springtime layoffs were expected to be temporary. The workers seemed likely be brought back once the health crisis eased. But Heidi Sheirholz, economist at the Economic Policy Institute, is worried that the recent wave of layoffs at big companies signals something more permanent. Were still in a terrible hole, Shierholz said. The fact that jobs growth is slowing is devastating. Pompeo Says Reports of Over 300 Chinese Vessels Near Galapagos 'Deeply Troubling' Sputnik News 15:41 GMT 27.08.2020(updated 15:51 GMT 27.08.2020) WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday that the United States finds reports of several hundred Chinese vessels near the Galapagos Islands disabling tracking systems and leaving marine debris to be very concerning. "Reports of 300+ Chinese vessels near the Galapagos disabling tracking systems, changing ship names, and leaving marine debris are deeply troubling," Pompeo said via Twitter. The Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry said at the beginning of August that China has agreed to observe a temporary fishing moratorium off the coast of the Galapagos Islands. The Chinese authorities have expressed willingness for vessels to be subject to checks by Ecuadorian officials and bilateral consultations will continue over the coming weeks and months as Beijing has said it stands fully opposed to all illegal fishing, the Foreign Ministry said. Foreign Minister Luis Gallegos had warned in late July that Ecuador was ready to take action to protect the country's marine rights following media reports that several Chinese vessels were spotted off the coast of the Galapagos Islands. A fleet of some 260 Chinese vessels was identified near the Galapagos Islands, although the ships are believed to have remained in international waters, Ecuador's El Universo reported. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address There are over 6,000 Alpine ibexes in the Swiss canton of Wallis A Swiss region that has faced heavy criticism for allowing wealthy foreigners to pay large sums to shoot protected Alpine ibexes, a species of wild goat, for trophies decided Friday to end the practice. The southern Swiss canton of Wallis, the only one to allow the trophy hunting, said in a statement that as of next year, foreigners would no longer be granted permits to hunt ibexes. The canton stressed that its Alpine ibex population was growing healthily and said there was still a need for responsible regulation through hunting. But it said that from 2021, "ibex regulation will only be carried out by hunters residing in the canton of Wallis or those who hold a Wallis hunting license." The canton has for years quietly allowed trophy hunters to shoot aging male ibexes already destined for elimination. But a documentary aired by public broadcaster RTS last year brought the trophy hunt to the attention of the broader public, sparking a heated debate across Switzerland about the practice and its potential impact on the viability of the species. Outraged citizens launched a petition demanding the "disgraceful" hunt be halted, gathering some 75,000 signatures in a matter of months. The entire Swiss ibex population was wiped out at the end of the 19th century, but since they were reintroduced from neighboring Italy, the population in the country has grown to around 17,000. Wallis counted 6,030 ibexes at the end of 2019nearly double the roughly 3,500 in the canton 15 years earlier. The canton allows several hundred animals to be culled each year, with the maximum quota this year standing at 544 animals. Animals across all age groups and of both sexes can be listed for culling, but males over the age of 11 are typically offered to trophy hunters, at a price. The cost depends on the length of the horns, with the longest specimens, measuring around 1.10 meters, reportedly raking in up to $20,000 for a pair. The canton has pocketed hundreds of thousands of dollars in income from this hunt annually. For 2020, authorities have granted hunting permits for up to 45 large males over the age of 11, including 25 to foreign hunters. While the canton will lose income once the foreign trophy hunters are gone, it pointed out Friday that the shift would lead to a reduction in workload for game rangers, who had been tasked with supervising and accompanying foreigners holding one-day hunting permits. This, it said, would allow the region to save on personnel resources, meaning there would be no need to hike hunting license prices for Wallis residents, which had been one of the main sticking points in the debate. Explore further Trophy hunt of protected Alpine ibex sparks Swiss debate 2020 AFP (Natural News) The Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is not some freak of nature virus that evolutionarily gained the ability to transfer from bats to humans all on its own. According to Professor Giuseppe Tritto, an internationally known expert in biotechnology and nanotechnology, this only could have happened with some kind of genetic engineering. The president of the World Academy of Biomedical Sciences and Technology (WABT), which was founded as part of UNESCO back in 1997, Tritto knows a thing or two about viruses. And he is convinced that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) was probably engineered at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinas only level-four biosafety lab. In his book Cina COVID 19: La Chimera che ha cambiato il Mondo, which translates in English as China COVID 19: The chimera that changed the world, Tritto explains why he believes the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is behind the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), leaving little doubt that this viral chimera was artificially created as a bioweapon. He also traces the Wuhan labs connections to France and the United States, demonstrating how both countries have financially supported it in its bioengineering endeavors. While neither American nor French virologists are necessarily responsible for the current outcome, they did play in role in getting us all here, whether they realized it or not. Unfortunately, it does not stop at just the virus. Those behind its continued spread and the governments reaction to it have much worse plans in store for the world, mainly the extermination of humanity. Listen below to The Health Ranger Report to learn more: Reverse genetics in vaccine development could be what spawned COVID-19 Based on his understanding of how reverse genetics is often used to create viral strains with reduced pathogenicity for the purpose of vaccine development, Tritto says that the same process can be used to create viral strains with increased pathogenicity. We already know from the Dr. Shi Zhengli saga that this is what the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) had been working on just prior to the release of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). Dr. Shi had also sought help from the French government in building the P4 high-containment lab where the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is said to have escaped. In manipulating HIV genomes, Dr. Shi was able to utilize a gene insertion method known as reverse genetics system 2 to combine an ordinary coronavirus strain found in horseshoe bats with an HIV segment, making it more infectious. Prof. Ralph S. Baric from the University of North Carolina also contributed to this research, thanks to several major financial grants he received from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is run by none other than Fauci. Fauci was a big proponent of gain of function research, and when this was prohibited at Barics lab because it was considered to be too dangerous, the research was shifted to China, writes Steven Mosher for LifeSiteNews. As for a future vaccine, there is next to no chance that any of them will work, according to Tritto. This is largely due to the fact that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) keeps mutating into new, novel strains that strain-specific vaccines will not have the ability to target. The other problem is that the CCP is currently withholding the original genetic code for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) from the rest of the world, which means no further advancements in targeting its specific blueprints can be achieved. In other words, China continues to lie, and people continue to die, Mosher adds, pinning the blame for this crisis directly on China. The latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is available at Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: LifeSiteNews.com NaturalNews.com The nation's oldest university is being probed over its Confucius Institute, with the case looming as a key test for the federal government's foreign influence transparency scheme and the status of the China-funded culture centres in Australia. The University of Sydney has provided documents to the government after being issued with an official notice about its Chinese government culture and language centre. The institute is one of 13 at Australian universities and the first to face targeted scrutiny under the foreign influence measures that came into force last year. University of Sydney has provided documents to the Attorney-General's Department under the foreign influence scheme. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer The request for information, issued by the secretary of the Attorney-General's Department, is the first step the government can take against an entity it believes is relevant to the scheme. If it is deemed that it should register, the entity can be issued with a compulsory transparency notice and face severe penalties for failure to comply. "In response to a notice received under the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act, we recently provided the Attorney Generals Department with a range of documents it had requested in relation to the Confucius Institute," a spokeswoman for the University of Sydney said. Pipeline 28 August 2020 In 2024, Centara Hotel Mandalay will open as part of a mixed-use project which will also include a shopping mall, office and casino. The 200-room hotel will feature three restaurants, meeting facilities, fitness centre with swimming pool, and guest recreational facilities. Centara has signed management deals with six hotels this year so far outside of Thailand, including the three Myanmar properties, as well as one in Oman, and two in Vietnam. The latest signings add 337 keys to the group's portfolio now totalling 17,154 keys across 81 properties. Since embarking on its journey of international expansion in 2009 with a debut overseas property in the Maldives, Centara has continued to strengthen its international presence. Almost 50 percent of Centara properties are now outside Thailand, the group's country of origin, as they continue to grow into a truly global hospitality group. Friday, August 28th, 2020 (12:01 am) - Score 1,434 The CEO of Rural ISP County Broadband, Lloyd Felton, has called on the UK Government to put more resources and training opportunities into the engineering industry in order to help tackle the shortage of skilled full fibre engineers, which are needed in order to keep the roll-out of gigabit-capable broadband moving. At present a lot of network operators are in the process of building new Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based broadband networks (Summary of Full Fibre Progress), which has put an industry-wide strain on existing contractors (i.e. not enough skilled civil engineers to meet demand in a timely fashion). Similarly, County Broadband supported by a 46m investment from Aviva plans to extend their own fibre network across 20,000 premises in the rural East of England (Essex, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire etc.) by the end of 2020. As part of that theyve already grown their workforce by 500% in the last year alone and its a similar story at other operators. The Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA), which represents various alternative broadband ISPs and network builders, recently echoed these concerns by calling for urgent investment toward training and apprenticeships in the telecoms sector to help skill-up new engineers (here). Lloyd Felton, CEO of County Broadband, said: Recent events have highlighted just how important next generation broadband access is going to be. The government has rightly placed a high priority on broadband provision, including awarding key-worker status to network engineers. We are proud to have completed the delivery of our new Hyperfast networks in rural Essex benefiting thousands of residents and businesses during such a difficult and challenging time and have many more local networks in build and nearing completion. Upgrading the regions digital infrastructure will play a central role in boosting the economic recovery and this requires a shovel-ready pipeline of engineers, IT technicians and other skilled industry specialists. Subsequently, we need a firm commitment from the government to direct enough resources and training opportunities into the engineering industry, and whilst we pledge to play our role to help identify and train future-ready local talent, we will continue to work with and support INCA in ensuring the rapidly-evolving industry gets the funding assurances we need. The comment comes after a new Opinium survey by County Broadband, which was conducted during May 2020 with 1,000 adults living in rural England and 1,000 in urban areas, found that nine in ten residents relied on broadband to work from home while 68% spent more than four hours a day online. The seat-sharing talks for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections slated to be held on schedule in October and November, despite the raging coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak are yet to begin. Both the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Grand Alliance (GA) appear have adopted a wait-and-watch approach even though poll preparations are in progress. The NDA has announced that it would go to polls under the leadership of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, but recent developments show that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might have to perform a balancing act to satisfy the ego of its two allies at the Centre the Janata Dal (U), or JD (U), and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). The ruling JD (U) is strengthening itself by inducting several party hoppers and more are likely to join ahead of the upcoming polls. Jitan Ram Manjhi, former Bihar CM and the chief of Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular (HAM-S) had last week quit the GA and joined the NDA. Majhis inclusion in the NDA fold appears to have increased the prospects of the ruling coalitions chances in the elections for the 243-member Bihar assembly. But LJP president Chirag Paswan has been a thorn in CM Kumars flesh for quite a while now. He has been relentlessly attacking Kumar and simultaneously praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a calibrated poll strategy. Though Paswan may not quit the NDA, he also does not want to compromise with his growing aspirations in his native state, Bihar. He is trying to stake a claim for a higher number of seats, which the JD(U) is opposed to. In 2015, when the JD (U) was not in the NDA, the LJP had contested 42 seats but could win only two. The party wants to contest in as many seats this time around as well while citing 100% winning rate in last years parliamentary polls. The JD (U) has steered clear of the seat-sharing arrangement with the LJP. The JD (U) wants the BJP to handle the vexed issue as the party maintains that it does not have an alliance with the LJP in Bihar. The BJP has been giving a measured response to the ongoing war of attrition between the JD (U) and the LJP. However, the JD (U) has frequently expressed its displeasure over Paswans relentless attacks. The nomination of 12 seats to the Bihar Legislative Council from the Governors quota is also in limbo. The stalemate, according to BJP and JD (U) insiders, is due to the indecision over the LJP. The sticking point has been whether to give a seat to the LJP over which there is a disagreement between the BJP and the JD (U). In this season of pre-poll ferment, six sitting legislators of the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have defected to the JD (U). BJP state president Sanjay Jaiswal is trying to put up a united front amid the widespread defections and party hopping. We will work toegther on our traditional seats, as we have a strong force of committed party workers, he said. Most of the RJD turncoat lawmakers had won big in 2015 assembly polls. For instance, Chandrika Rai had defeated LJPs Chotelal Rai from Parsa assembly seat five years ago. In 2010, Chotelal Rai was in the JD (U) and had defeated RJDs Chandrika Rai to end his five-time consecutive winning streak. Similarly, Dr Faraz Fatmi of the RJD had won the Keoti assembly seat in Darbhanga district after defeating his nearest BJP rival Ashok Kumar Yadav. Now, Faraz, the son of four-time Darbhanga Member of Parliament, MAA Fatmi, has followed his father to join the JD (U). The defection has queered the pitch for the BJP candidate, who had won the seat thrice prior to 2015 after defeating the RJD candidate. Jay Vardhan Yadav alias Bachcha Yadav, the grandson of Sher-e-Bihar Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav, had also won the Paliganj seat in 2015 defeating BJPs Ram Janm Sharma. BJPs Usha Vidyarthi had won the seat in 2010 and is said to be again planning to stake her claim. Five-time MLA from Gaighat in Muzaffarpur Maheshwar Prasad has also switched to the JD (U). Last time, he had defeated BJPs Veena Devi by a margin of 3,500 votes. Veena Devi had won the seat in 2010, while Yadav had defeated the JD (U) candidate in 2005. The switchover of Prema Choudhary, a three-time RJD MLA from Patepur in Vaishali, to JD (U) will create a similar trouble. Choudhary had defeated BJPs Mahendra Baitha in 2010. It has been a Baitha vs Choudhary show in Patepur since 1995. Dr Ashok Kumar alias Kushwaha won twice on a RJD ticket from Sasaram. He had defeated the BJP candidate Jawahar Prasad in 2015. While in 2010, Prasad had defeated Kushwaha. Sources said Bihar could witness another round of party hopping , as aspiring candidates look for winning seats and combinations. One of the names doing the rounds is that of Hilsa RJD MLA Shakti Singh Yadav. He could switch over to the JD (U). RJD veteran Raghuvansh Peasad Singh is also upset with the partys move to induct Rama Singh. However, his next move is still not clear. JD (U) minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav has attributed the defections to CM Kumars pull as a charismatic leader in state politics. Shaibal Gupta, member secretary of Patna-based Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI), said there would be some prickly issues over seat adjustments within the NDA due to recent inductions in the JD(U) on assembly constituencies traditionally fought by the BJP and LJP. But the BJP is a disciplined party and it will try to settle these issues amicably, he added. NK Choudhary, former head, department of economics, Patna University (PU), said the pressure on the BJP would be to satisfy all its NDA constituents. That is the art of politics. The JD (U) is doing its own brand of politics through growing bonhomie with Manjhi in a bid to cut the LJP to size. However, the LJP will not compromise its presence in the Union Cabinet and national politics. The LJP is indulging in pressure politics, which is quite natural. Ultimately, it will require deft handling by the BJP and JD (U) may have to make some compromises, he added. . SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) Thursday announced the delivery of 11,400 bamboo plants to Rwanda as part of efforts to assist the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), an official source said here A nine-year-old black boy has said he is now 'terrified' of cops after North Carolina officers pulled their guns on him and his two friends when they were playing tag outside their apartment complex. Zakarryya Cornelius, 9, was playing a game with Jaylin Harris, 15, and an unidentified friend, 11, at the Rochelle Manor Apartments complex in Durham when the three black boys were allegedly confronted by five cops pointing their firearms at them and yelling at them to 'get on the ground'. The officers handcuffed Jaylin before Zakarryya's distraught mom Makeba Hoffler ran over to stop the incident. The incident comes as tensions continue to build between law enforcement and black communities across America following a series of incidents where cops have 'murdered' or seriously injured black men and women. Zakarryya Cornelius, 9, (left) has said he is now 'terrified' of cops after North Carolina officers pulled their guns on him and his two friends - Jaylin Harris, 15, and an unidentified boy, 11 when they were playing tag outside their apartment complex The terrifying ordeal unfolded when Jaylin, Zakarryya and their friend were playing tag outside the complex where they live last Friday. The boys told WRAL.com they went round a corner and were confronted by the group of officers pointing their guns at them. 'As soon as we come around the corner, we walk into five cops pointing guns at us saying, "Freeze!" and "Get on the ground!"' Jaylin said. 'So, we were just thinking, like, what did we do? We didn't even do anything wrong.' Jaylin said the cops patted him down and put him in handcuffs, while continuing to point their guns at the three boys. He said he pleaded with the officers to tell him what was going on. 'I asked them, "Why am I getting arrested? What's going on?"' he told the outlet. 'They didn't say anything. They didn't tell me anything. They didn't say, "Sorry for the inconvenience." They just kept going about their day.' He added: 'I didn't make any wrong movements at that time or anything like that - just outside playing tag and walked into guns pointed at me.' Zakarryya Cornelius, 9, (left) was playing a game with Jaylin Harris, 15, (right) and the other boy at the Rochelle Manor Apartments complex in Durham when the three black boys were allegedly confronted by five cops pointing their firearms at them The boys told WRAL.com they are now 'terrified' of cops after the ordeal. The incident comes as tensions continue to build between law enforcement and black communities across America following a series of recent incidents where cops have 'murdered' or seriously injured black men and women At this point, Zakarryya's mom saw what was happening and ran over, she told WRAL.com. She said she was carrying a three-year-old in her arms at the time. 'Even as I proceeded to run toward the officer screaming, "they are kids," their guns were still drawn,' Hoffler said. '"I'm going to die tonight,"' she said she thought. 'That's what I was thinking because, like I said, I was not going to bury my son, and I was not going to bury none of these kids.' She voiced concerns that the outcome could have been even worse if the terrified children had acted differently. 'What if these kids would have kept running because they were so scared?' the concerned mom told the outlet. 'The officers would've shot. Our babies would've been at Duke Hospital.' None of the children were arrested or charged with a crime. Shocking smartphone footage captures the aftermath of the incident, with 15-year-old Jaylin cuffed and surrounded by officers (in the white shirt) Durham Police claimed Jaylin matched the description of a suspect seen with a gun and selling drugs at the apartments earlier that day Shocking smartphone footage captures the aftermath of the incident, with 15-year-old Jaylin cuffed and surrounded by officers. The young boys said the ordeal has left them terrified of cops. 'I was just terrified,' nine-year-old Zakarryya told WRAL.com. 'Every time I see them, I feel like I got to get on the ground.' Jaylin told how he feared for his life and is now seeking therapy following the incident. 'I'm like, "I hope I don't die today,"' he said of the moments guns were pointed at him. 'Every time I go outside or something, I got to turn around or look over my shoulder. 'Is there police over there, or am I going to have to do the same thing over again?' Hoffler said the incident was damaging to relations between cops and the community. Zakarryya's distraught mom Makeba Hoffler ran over to stop the incident. The boys' families slammed the force saying a meeting with the department Wednesday to resolve the situation ended in disappointment when officials would not apologize or confirm a similar traumatic incident would happen to the little boys again Police Chief C.J. Davis said in a statement Thursday: 'Durham officers responded to this location several times earlier in the day for weapons related calls' 'I told my kids not to hate cops. Now, how can I explain to them not to hate the same people that put a gun to them?' she said. Durham Police claimed Jaylin matched the description of a suspect seen with a gun and selling drugs at the apartments earlier that day. Police Chief C.J. Davis said in a statement Thursday: 'Durham officers responded to this location several times earlier in the day for weapons related calls.' 'The Durham Police Department remains fully committed to working with the residents of Rochelle Manor Apartments, as well as our entire community, in maintaining safety.' She said: 'We are equally sensitive of the need to promote trust and positive interactions between our officers and children. 'We remain steadfast in our desire to continue to have these important conversations so that we can ensure all members of our community receive the service they expect and deserve.' The boys' families slammed the force saying a meeting with the department Wednesday to resolve the situation ended in disappointment when officials would not apologize or confirm a similar traumatic incident would happen to the little boys again. 'It was a waste of time because the same way they had the guns on the kids' heads and didn't care, that's the same way they was looking at that table and didn't care,' Hoffler said. She added: 'These are good kids. They're babies. 'There's no justification. There's nothing that they can say or do to make this all right.' DailyMail.com has reached out to Davis' office for comment over the incident and asking if the cops were wearing bodycameras at the time. Tensions are building nationwide between law enforcement and black communities after multiple black men and women have died in police custody in recent months. Anti-racism protests ramped up three months ago after a white cop 'murdered' unarmed black man George Floyd on Memorial Day by kneeling on his neck for almost nine minutes. Just weeks after Floyd's death, Rayshard Brooks was shot dead outside a Wendy's drive-thru in Atlanta while he was running away from cops. On Sunday, unarmed black man Jacob Blake as shot in the back eight times and left paralyzed by Wisconsin police while his three young sons watched on. Pottawattamie County saw its 14-day COVID-19 positive rate increase slightly on Thursday, up to 8%. The county was at 7.5% on Wednesday. At 3 p.m. Thursday, the state coronavirus website reported 1,560 positive cases, up from 1,533 the day before. There have been 17,304 tests in the county, 1,280 recoveries and 34 deaths. In Iowa Regional Medical Coordination Center region four which includes Pottawattamie, Mills, Harrison, Cass, Crawford, Shelby, Fremont, Montgomery, Page, Adams, Audubon and Taylor Counties there were six hospitalized COVID-19 patients, a decrease of two from Wednesday, with four in intensive care, according to coronavirus.iowa.gov. The site listed 156 available inpatient beds, 15 available ICU beds and 59 available ventilators. There was one COVID-19 patient on a ventilator. Statewide, the Associated Press reported Thursday its tracking indicated Iowa recorded 1,475 new confirmed cases over 24 hours, surpassing the April 25 high total of 1,284. During that 24-hour period, there were 18 more deaths, the AP said. The state listed 1,082 deaths at 3 p.m. Thursday. The state reported 45,422 recoveries. Information about COVID-19 Symptoms in people who have been exposed to coronavirus can include fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. The symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Most people experience mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks. Older adults and people with existing health problems are among those particularly susceptible to more severe illness, including pneumonia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend the use of masks when out in public. Make sure it covers the mouth and nose. Face shields are an option as well, as they cover the eyes. Public health officials recommend: Stay home as much as possible. Self-monitor for symptoms. Call your physician if symptoms appear. Wash hands frequently with soap and water. Clean and disinfect frequently-touched objects and surfaces. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper arm/elbow. COVID-19 testing is available in Pottawattamie County via two TestIowa locations: All Care Health Center, 902 S. Sixth St., and Western Historic Trails Center, 3434 Richard Downing Ave. To get tested, residents must complete the online assessment at testiowa.com to schedule an appointment. For those struggling with mental health during the pandemic, yourlifeiowa.org has several resources, including a hotline at 855-581-8111 and a text-friendly line at 855-895-8398. The University of Nebraska Medical Center has a COVID-19 screening app 1-Check COVID. 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. BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks were mixed in cautious trade on Friday as weak economic data as well as surging coronavirus cases in countries like Spain, France and Italy rekindled anxiety about the outlook for world growth. A survey showed that German consumer confidence is set to weaken in September following three months of improvement as income expectations deteriorated. Market researcher GfK said its forward-looking consumer confidence index for September dropped to -1.8 from -0.2 in August, which was revised from -0.3. Economists had expected a positive reading of 1.2. French household consumption rose 0.5 percent in July from the previous month, slowing from a surge of 10.3 percent in June, the INSEE stats agency said in a second release. French GDP sank 13.8 percent in the second quarter after already contracting 5.9 percent in the previous three months, the INSEE said, confirming an initial reading. New data revealed British business confidence improved for the third consecutive month, but remained far below the long-term historical average. Overall business confidence was up eight percentage points to -14 percent, according to the Lloyds Bank Business Barometer. On the positive side, Eurozone's economic sentiment indicator rose to 87.7 in August from 82.4 in July, confirming the gradual rebound from May. The pan European Stoxx 600 slipped 0.2 percent to 370.03 after declining 0.6 percent in the previous session. The German DAX dropped 0.2 percent, while France's CAC 40 index was little changed in lackluster trade. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 was up 0.1 percent, giving up early gains. Technology and healthcare stocks paced the declines while banks were moving higher, tracking a rise in Treasury yields after the U.S. Federal Reserve unveiled its new policy framework. Norwegian Air plunged 6 percent after the budget carrier warned it needed another rescue package to meet its financial obligations next year. Greggs lost 2.2 percent after the company confirmed an outbreak of coronavirus at its bakery distribution centre in Leeds. Shares of Tandem Group declined 1.3 percent, giving up early gains. The developer and retailer of sports, leisure and mobility equipment said it expects higher first-half results benefited by strong demand for bicycles and outdoor products. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de The Cabinet decided to propose legislation to be considered when the Dail resumes on Wednesday (Brian Lawless/PA) Gardai will receive tough new powers to shut pubs which break Irelands coronavirus rules, the Government said. Fines of up to 2,500 euros or a maximum of six months in prison will be the sanction if bars infringing social distancing regulations refuse to close for a day. Closure orders could be issued by a district court resulting in a pub being shut for up to 30 days. Justice minister Helen McEntee said: We see that the cases are starting to increase. This will give gardai an ability to stop things in their tracks before they get out of hand. She said a graduated approach would be adopted. I think the more severe penalties possible may not be applied, she added. There are no immediate plans to reopen drink-only hostelries and substantial meals will still have to be served. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar announced a 15 million euro support package for the hospitality sector enduring a prolonged wait to raise shutters. He said the vast majority of pubs had complied with the rules. Gardai have expressed frustration at not being able to enforce the coronavirus regulations in the past. The proposed new measures will give a superintendent the power, in an extreme situation, to close an infringing business or in a less urgent scenario to go to a district court and ask that the bar be shut for a period of time. Ms McEntee said: What we have seen in the last number of weeks over the summer is an increase in those not complying. A total of 105 breaches were recorded. The minister added a small number of premises were repeatedly in breach of the rules. Some 90% of recent outbreaks have been in private homes, the department of health has said. The Cabinet decided not to make rules limiting the number gathering at houses to six criminally enforceable. Ms McEntee said: It was felt that this would be an extreme measure, particularly around entering someones home. Expand Close Dr Ronan Glynn said an additional eight people had been admitted to hospital in the last 24 hours (Julien Behal/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dr Ronan Glynn said an additional eight people had been admitted to hospital in the last 24 hours (Julien Behal/PA) The Cabinet agreed to publish draft legislation on Monday to be considered when the Dail resumes on Wednesday. Another 127 new cases of Covid-19 and no further deaths have been reported by the Department of Health. Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said: While the number of people in critical care remains stable, we have seen an additional eight people hospitalised in the last 24 hours. If cases continue to rise, we will see an inevitable increase in the number of people hospitalised. We all have a role to play in preventing that from happening. Concerns surrounding the health of Abe, who turns 66 next month, have been simmering since this summer Tokyo: Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed his intention to step down due to his declining health, according to reports Friday by NHK and other Japanese media. The Prime Ministers Office said the report could not be immediately confirmed, but that Abe was believed to be meeting top ruling officials at the party headquarters. The Liberal Democratic Party spokesman did not answer the phone. Concerns about Abes chronic health issues, simmering since earlier this summer, intensified this month when he visited a Tokyo hospital two weeks in a row for unspecified health checkups. Abe, whose term ends in September 2021, is expected to stay on until a new party leader is elected and formally approved by the parliament. He had abruptly resigned from his first stint in office in 2007 due to his health, which was fueling concerns about his recent condition. Abe on Monday became Japans longest serving prime minister by consecutive days in office, eclipsing the record of Eisaku Sato, his great-uncle, who served 2,798 days from 1964 to 1972. But his second hospital visit Monday eclipsed festivity for his record and has accelerated speculation and political maneuvering toward a post-Abe regime. Abe has acknowledged having ulcerative colitis since he was a teenager and has said the condition was controlled with treatment. He has not made clear if it is related to his recent health issues or hospital visits. After his recent hospital visits were reported, top officials from Abes Cabinet and the ruling party said Abe was overworked and badly needed rest. His health concerns added to speculation that Abes days in office are numbered, when his support ratings are already at their lowest levels due to his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and its severe impact on the economy, on top of a slew of political scandals. Shigeru Ishiba, a 63-year-old hawkish former defense minister and Abes arch-rival, is a favorite next leader in media surveys, though he is less popular within the ruling party. A low-key former foreign minister Fumio Kishida, defence minister Taro Kono, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, and economic revitalisation minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is in charge of coronavirus measures, are widely speculated in Japanese media as his potential successors. The end of his scandal-laden first stint as prime minister was the beginning of six years of annual leadership change, remembered as an era of revolving door politics that lacked stability and long-term policies. When he returned to office in 2012, Abe vowed to revitalise the nation and get its economy out of its deflationary doldrums with his Abenomics formula, which combines fiscal stimulus, monetary easing and structural reforms. A federal judge in Alexandria on Friday rejected the federal government's motion to postpone the civil trial of the lawsuit filed by the family of Bijan Ghaisar, allowing it to proceed in November even though the two officers who fatally shot Ghaisar in 2017 likely will not testify. The ruling by Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton is the latest in legal victories for Ghaisar's family in civil court, even as no criminal charges have been filed against Officers Lucas Vinyard and Alejandro Amaya, who fired 10 shots into Ghaisar's Jeep Grand Cherokee as he slowly drove away from them at a traffic stop. After two years, federal prosecutors declined to file civil rights charges against the officers, and though Fairfax County prosecutor Steve Descano has said he is investigating the case, he has given no time frame for a decision on when or if he will file state charges against them. The specter of a criminal prosecution caused Vinyard, 38, and Amaya, 40, to invoke their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination repeatedly during depositions in the civil case earlier in August, court records show. But the Ghaisars' lawyers said that the officers likely would never testify because a new Justice Department regime might revisit the case if President Donald Trump is not reelected, or Fairfax may decide later to prosecute a case with no statute of limitations. The Justice Department declined to meet with the Ghaisar family during its two-year investigation of the killing; then according to the family broke a promise to meet with them before announcing its decision; and has refused to cooperate with the Fairfax probe. But the judges in the civil cases against the officers and the Park Police, first filed in 2018, have been more agreeable. A magistrate judge in 2019 ordered the government to release the officers' names, which the Park Police and FBI had long withheld, and then in March ordered the Justice Department to turn over its investigative files to the Ghaisars' lawyers, which the government wanted to release gradually over months. Now, the government wanted to postpone the trial because its chief witnesses, Amaya and Vinyard, wouldn't testify and couldn't be compelled to answer questions. A video recorded by a camera in a Fairfax police lieutenant's cruiser captured three traffic stops in which Ghaisar stopped, Amaya and Vinyard ran at him with guns drawn, and Ghaisar drove off. During the third stop, the video shows, Amaya and Vinyard both fired their guns at the unarmed man, a 25-year-old Northern Virginia native with no criminal record. Ghaisar had left the scene of a fender bender in Alexandria minutes earlier, with no injuries or damage to the cars, but it's not clear if the officers knew that Ghaisar was the victim in that collision. "The video recording only goes so far," Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis C. Barghaan Jr. argued to Hilton. "It may not tell the whole story. It is no replacement for what was in the officers' heads at the time in question. We are at the point where the prejudice to the United States is no longer speculative, it is real." Hilton responded, "You have no control over Fairfax County. They may be investigating this case for the next 10 years." Descano's office declined to comment Thursday on the status of their investigation. Thomas G. Connolly, one of the Ghaisars' lawyers, said in court that even if Fairfax indicted the officers immediately, the criminal case would take at least a year or more. He said the government has indicated it would remove a state case to federal court, argue for the immunity of federal officers from state prosecution under the supremacy clause, and whichever side lost would appeal that ruling before a trial began. Connolly also said the government has an expert prepared to testify that Amaya and Vinyard would have been justified in shooting Ghaisar from the first traffic stop, "that Bijan deserved everything he got. That's why they find themselves in the situation they're in now . . . They have defended the conduct of the police officers to its core . . . These officers would never testify at a trial in this case even if Steve Descano's office declined prosecution tomorrow." Connolly pointed to Ghaisar's parents, sister and brother-in-law in the front row of the courtroom and asked Hilton, "Are we heeding the inscription on the front of this building? 'Justice delayed, justice denied.' " He noted that both sides had been ordered to settle the case, but the government refused to negotiate while the issue of a stay in the case was pending. A lawsuit against the two officers was dismissed by the judge, at the Ghaisars' request, in the past week, but the case against the government, as the entity overseeing the Park Police, continued. "A stay might be appropriate if there was some information," the judge said, "if there was any kind of explanation of what's going on, or a time frame for a decision. In this situation I have really nothing to go on. There's no indication there's any urgency on the part of Fairfax County to do anything, or if they're going to do anything. From what I can see, they're just as likely to do nothing as something . . . I just don't have any justification to issue a stay. There's no indication of any action. For that reason, a stay is denied." The civil trial would be decided by a judge, not a jury, in the Alexandria federal courthouse. Amaya and Vinyard have not spoken publicly about the case, and their lawyers, Kobie Flowers and David Schertler, did not respond to requests for comment Friday. The officers have been on paid administrative duty since April 2018. But the officers apparently have provided their version of events to federal authorities, after the FBI took over the investigation from the Park Police soon after the shooting. According to a deposition of Amaya taken earlier in August, and filed in court by the government to demonstrate his refusal to answer questions from the Ghaisars, Vinyard gave a statement to the FBI in 2019 and Amaya provided a "proffer" of his version of events to federal prosecutors in the past year. Those statements have not been made public. But the substance of their statements may become public next month when the Ghaisars' lawyers file their motion for summary judgment, in which a plaintiff asks a judge to decide the case before a trial happens. In Amaya's deposition, attorney Roy L. Austin Jr. asked the officer if it was true that he and Vinyard rode home together after the shooting, if it was true that the officers have worked together and discussed the case, and if it was true that Amaya believed Ghaisar to be "an Arab," "a Muslim" and "foreign" before the officers shot him. Amaya invoked the Fifth Amendment in declining to answer each time. "Every question that we asked in that deposition," Austin said Friday after the hearing, "was based on evidence that we have received and that we have a good faith basis to believe is true." He declined to elaborate. The Ghaisars responded to Hilton's ruling Friday, saying, "After years of federal stonewalling, the family is incredibly grateful that the court is allowing the case to move forward and they look forward to chance now, for themselves and the public, to fully learn what has happened and to receive justice for the murder of their son and brother." By David Milliken and Paul Sandle LONDON (Reuters) - Britain reported its biggest daily increase in coronavirus cases since June 12 on Thursday, although for now infection rates remain well below those in Spain, France and other parts of Europe suffering a second wave of the disease. The government said 1,522 people received a laboratory-confirmed positive COVID-19 test result on Thursday, up from 1,048 on Wednesday, and announced a tightening of restrictions on some overseas travel. Britain has suffered Europe's highest death toll from the disease, due largely to a failure to control its spread in the early stages of the pandemic. A further 12 people were reported dead on Thursday, taking the death toll on the British government's preferred measure - which counts people who died no more than 28 days after their first positive test result - to 41,477. Britain had not recently seen the same increase in cases as in many other parts of western Europe, where lockdown restrictions began to be lifted earlier. However Thursday's daily new case total is now the highest since before non-essential shops reopened to the public in England on June 15, and restaurants and pubs resumed operations on July 4. France reported 5,429 new daily cases on Wednesday, prompting its government to order the mandatory wearing of face masks across Paris from Friday, and Spain reported 3,781 cases on Thursday. Some 6,115 new people tested positive for COVID-19 in England in the week to Aug. 19, down 8% on the week before and the first decrease since the start of July, figures from the government's test and trace operation showed on Thursday. Deaths from all causes in England in the week to Aug. 23 showed no statistically significant excess compared with previous years, according to public health data. The government has offered incentives for people to dine in restaurants through August, in a bid to boost economic growth, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants more workers to return to offices when English schools reopen next week. Story continues Watch video below By contrast, the number of countries British people can travel to without having to quarantine has steadily fallen. Transport minister Grant Shapps announced on Thursday that anyone arriving in England from Switzerland, the Czech Republic or Jamaica after 0300 GMT on Saturday would need to quarantine themselves for 14 days. Spain, France, the United States and the Netherlands are other major travel destinations that are already affected. (Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Kate Holton and Sarah Young) 12 items in this article 7 items on sale! Photo: ABC This time of year tends to leave my kids feeling bittersweet and my husband and me ecstatic. But 2020s back to school will be different. As a NYC parent of a rising 7th grader and 9th grader, I face a year with my kids in different schools, in different boroughs, with different schedules and different needs. And though the expectation (right now) is for some balance of remote and in-person learning, we know that can change at any minute. With students, teachers, and parents all grappling with COVID-19-related uncertainty, and schools around the world still deciding how much learning will be remote or in-person, finding the right tech and tools to help kids succeed during this school year is even more confusing than usual. The one constant we can be sure of is that technology will be more important than ever this year. Here are just a few suggestions from my experience as a longtime tech writer and parent to help keep kids engaged, organized, and active in these strangest of times. The best back-to-school laptops HP Chromebook 14-Inch AMD A4-Series $338 The most basic and least-expensive option is a Chromebook, which is simply a laptop that runs on the Google Chrome operating system. These laptops are accessible for younger kids because their work lives on the Google cloud instead of a hard drive, which means they will not have to worry about losing work in progress or misplacing files (something that has triggered a few historic meltdowns in our household). And because all you have to do is sign in with your Google account and type, even the youngest set get a feeling of independence. Strategist writer Jordan Bowman likes the HP Chromebook 14 AMD A4-Series Chromebook because its lightweight and inexpensive, and the 14-inch screen is a good size for long-distance learning. $338 at Adorama Buy Apple MacBook Air 13-inch $965 If you have a kid in high school or college, the ultraportable MacBook Air is a solid choice. The newest 13-inch version comes with the more comfortable, backlit Magic Keyboard (a huge improvement over Apples recent and terrible butterfly keyboards), plenty of hard drive space and processor speed, and a battery that lasts all day. And, until September 29, if you buy through Apple it comes bundled with a free pair of AirPods, which also set off a mini battle between my boys until my husband ended the chaos by claiming them for himself. $965 at Best Buy Buy $965 at Amazon Buy Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 $1,345 now 7% off $1,249 Its more expensive, but this versatile, Windows-based laptop has a 13.5-inch, super high-resolution touchscreen, and its unique, detachable clamshell design also lets you use it as a tablet. I also like the 3:2 aspect ratio, as opposed to the more common 16:9, which makes the screen more like a square than a rectangle and ends up feeling less smushed and cramped. If you ask my boys, the best feature is the powerful graphics engine, which lets them connect their remotes and play Xbox anytime, anywhere just as soon as theyre done with their schoolwork, of course. $1,249 at Amazon Buy $1,600 at Best Buy Buy Samsung C27F398 27 Curved LED Monitor $230 now 13% off $200 Sometimes my kids want a larger viewing experience for online video classes and conferences. Thats why we like to keep at least one monitor in the house to connect to our laptops. The larger format is especially nice for their live classes, allowing them to better see both their teacher and their classmates. A bigger screen also works nicely for creative projects. This budget monitor is immersive, thanks to the slight curve, and strikingly slim and light, making it easy to move from room-to-room. $200 at Amazon Buy $180 at Samsung Buy The best back-to-school phones and tablets Google Pixel 4A $350 $350 Of all the screens they have, my kids would probably have the hardest time going without their smartphones. During quarantine, phones were lifelines to their friends and the world and though Im still a stickler for parental controls and limits (Im looking at you, TikTok), allowing them time to connect is essential. The affordable 4a is the perfect smartphone for the younger set, with a 5.8-inch OLED display, a first-class camera, respectable stereo speakers and a battery that can last up to 24 hours all for under $400. $350 at Best Buy Buy Amazon Kindle Kids Edition $110 $110 As a voracious reader, I switched to an e-reader many years ago especially once I realized Id run out of space to store more books in my Brooklyn apartment. Now that my kids are reading novels, they have come to appreciate, and covet, my lightweight, Kindle Oasis. Thankfully, the Kindle Kids Edition got them what they needed and kept my Oasis out of their hands. This child-friendly 10th-generation Kindle is WiFi-enabled and comes with a magnetic cover, a years subscription of Amazons FreeTime Unlimited with parental controls (giving them unlimited access to included books, as well as games, apps and videos on other devices) and my favorite feature, a two-year unlimited warranty. It also has Bluetooth, so they can listen to Audible audiobooks on any paired speaker. We use the Libby app to borrow digital titles from our local library, which is a simple, worry-free way for the kids to try new things they couldnt find in the Freetime library. One bummer for my older son is that Manga doesnt translate well to e-readers, so he still has to buy those separately. Editors note: Although Amazon wont have stock until sometime in October, Best Buys Kindles are available to ship today. $110 at Amazon Buy $110 at Best Buy Buy Apple iPad Air From $570 $599 now 5% off From $570 Weighing less than a pound, with a massive 10.5-inch Retina display and the same A12 processor as the iPad Pro, the iPad Air is the most sought-after device in our house. It even has a headphone jack, which is a luxury in this Bluetooth-dominated world. The kids use it to lie on the couch and watch YouTube or play games, but also to catch up on math with Khan Academy or their French with Duolingo. When creativity hits, they can edit skateboarding videos on VSCO, sketch and paint original designs with Procreate, design 3D models with Shapr, or even make their own music on GarageBand. From $570 at Amazon Buy From $599 at Apple Buy The best back-to-school accessories Canon Pixma G6020 Mega Tank All-in-One Printer $249 After getting tired of constantly having to buy new ink cartridges for our printer, even though they clearly hadnt run out, we upgraded to the Mega Tank. This mid-volume printer, scanner and copier has ink tanks that are easily refilled with mess-free ink bottles. An extra bonus is the huge main tray, which holds up to 350 sheets of paper. Editors note: Although Amazon wont have stock until mid-October, Adoramas printeres are available to ship today. $249 at Adorama Buy $352 at Amazon Buy Fitbit Versa 2 $219 This fall, with no idea how much of their school will actually be in person, were counting on the Fitbit Versa 2 to help keep the boys activity levels up. The sleek design keeps it from looking cheap, it comes with a selection of customizable watch faces, and the breakdown of fitness metrics is clear and concise. The biggest asset for our kids is the Fitbit Coach app, which gives them access to personalized video workouts. After downloading it onto the watch, they can set a daily goal and choose from a hearty selection of workouts, from 7 to 60 minutes long. This not only got them motivated, but also gave them the freedom to workout anytime, anywhere. We ponied up the $40 annual fee for Premium membership, but the free basic program gives you one workout a week. $219 at Amazon Buy $200 at Best Buy Buy Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones $349 Nothing teaches you the value of peace and quiet quite like sharing an apartment with three other people who are home all day. We love these wireless headphones because they are well padded, lightweight and have Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant built in. And, depending on what the boys are working on, they can choose the level of noise cancelling they want or need. Hip hop and math equations usually means were totally tuned out, though when they use it as a headset for gaming, we expressly force them to lower it so our shrill parent voices can still shine through. Theyre also great for watching movies, TV, and videos and even taking Zoom calls. $349 at Amazon Buy $299 at Best Buy Buy Humanscale Nova Task Light $450 $450 One of my biggest parent pet peeves is when kids try to read or do work without the proper light. The Nova lamp provides a glare-free, neutral light that can be dimmed with a touch. So, when I catch them lying in bed reading a book or magazine with the lights out and shades closed (no, I dont know why they do this, and if anyone figures it out, please let me know), all I have to do is tap their lamp. $450 at Wayfair Buy $419 at Crate and Barrel Buy get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Terms & Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Iranian efforts to export oil in spite of sanctions have often been successful. That changed in 2020 when HawkEye 360, a new ship tracking service made it much more difficult for ships to conceal their smuggling activities. Since 2015 a growing array of sensors and software to track ships at sea, especially ships that dont want to be tracked, have been developed. One of these new sensors appeared in 2019 when HawkEye 360 launched its own array of radar tracking satellites. This enables tracking ships via the signals their navigation radars produce. These can be spotted by a satellite. Other electronic signals can also be tracked, like those used by large ships to communicate with the port they are headed for to unload their cargo. Iran and North Korea are two nations that have the most tankers and cargo ships that regularly avoid being tracked. Many other ships belong to smugglers who also seek to move without being tracked and sometimes work for Iran, North Korea or anyone else requiring their service. HawkEye 360 customers include shipping companies, maritime police, managers of major ports and coast guards. Shipping companies want additional ways to track their ships while coast guards now have an affordable and powerful tool to monitor their offshore waters for smugglers and poachers. Iran has long been the largest (in number of ships) smuggler and ss recently as mid-2019, Iranian leaders openly boasted of selling its oil to foreign customers despite the 2017 sanctions. At the time of that boast, Iran was getting a million BPD (barrels per day) out to export customers. In contrast, before the sanctions, Iran exported two million BPD. A month later (July 2019) exports had been reduced to 365,000 BPD and in August it was a record low 160,000 BPD and that did not change much in September. What the Iranians dont do is issue press releases about how well sanction enforcement efforts have been at reducing those illegal exports to record lows. In July 2020 Iranian oil exports fell to 101,000 BPD. Because of that overall production fell to 1.9 million BPD, mostly for internal use. Without sanctions Iran ships 2.5 million BPD and produces up to 3.7 million BPD. For the first seven months of 2020 exports averaged 223,000 BPD. Iran has had to produce oil it cannot sell or use to avoid shutting down many oil fields. That has led to Iran storing over 120 million barrels ashore and on tankers offshore. There is no more room to store unsold oil and Iran has to start shutting down oil production facilities, which is expensive to do and even more expensive to restart. Worse, it puts a lot of Iranians out of work. There have been conflicting expert estimates about how much oil Iran is getting past the sanctions. In early 2020 most estimates put the January exports at about half a million BPD while the high-end estimates were a million BPD. The reality turned out to be on the low side. Since late 2019 the decline in Iranian oil sales has been spectacular. Oil shipments were, in early 2018, 2.4 million BPD but that fell to 1.5 million BPD in November 2019 and a million BPD or less in early 2019. This decline is not disputed. What is less clear is how successful Iranian smuggling efforts have been. Tracking services like HawkEye 360 have become a major problem for Iran and other smugglers. HawkEye 360 monitors just about every electronic signal coming from a ship, and uses a software system that does predictive analysis to get a good idea of where a ship is no matter how little it uses its electronics. Turning off navigation radar most of the time and keeping electronic communications to a minimum apparently doesnt work against HawkEye 360. Moreover, going completely dark (no electronic signals) is dangerous. Even on the high seas the navigation radar is essential for spotting other ships in bad weather. Monitoring AIS (Automated Identification System) signals from other ships does not guarantee avoiding collisions in bad weather. Going completely dark means staying away from coastal areas most of time and this is more expensive because you have to spend more time at sea to reach your destination. Whichever way Iran wants to describe it the current situation is worse than it was before the sanctions were lifted in 2015. That is because the Americans have adapted to past oil embargo scams while Iran and its outlaw customers have been unable to adapt quickly enough. The lifting of sanctions in early 2016 was good to Iran. In 2016 oil exports increased to two million BPD, a level not seen since 2012. Overall oil production increased to 3.8 million BPD. Exports in general quickly doubled from 2015 levels. Iran made plans to quickly achieve annual GDP growth of eight percent. That was all cancelled in May 2017 as the U.S. announced revival of sanctions. At that point oil production was 4.5 million BPD but it rapidly declined because regular oil customers reduced or cancelled orders. Most Iranian oil was exported and by late 2017 that export income was rapidly disappearing. Even China and India, two major customers who said they would defy the sanctions, cut orders because sanctions increased shipping costs and also increased the risk of Iran going to war. Sanctions mean the cost of insurance rises and fewer shipping companies are willing to provide tankers that move sanctioned oil. A bad situation got worse in January2020 because of the coronavirus outbreak in China. This disrupted economic activity in many parts of China. The reduced the need for oil and China already has several large tankers stuck off their coast waiting for permission to unload. Until that is done, the oil producer does not get paid. The economic recession inside Iran got worse and anti-government demonstrations increased. Suddenly more Iranians were talking about the good old days of the 1970s. The Iranian religious dictatorship leaders dont like to dwell on the fact that before they took over after the 1979 revolution oil production was over 6 million BPD and closing in on seven million. The clerics have mismanaged the economy for over thirty years now and that is one reason they can no longer blame foreigners for all the problems. Even the failure of the oil smuggling effort was partly the fault of the Iranian government. For example, one major investment in their oil smuggling operations was the expansion of the Iranian fleet of tankers. Iran had learned that lesson during the 1980s Iraq war in which both nations attacked tankers moving their oil exports. This meant tankers could not get insurance and Iran had to rely on their own tankers. Since the 1990s Iran expanded its tanker fleet so that it could handle all its oil exports and ignore the insurance companies. By 2019 Iran had 54 large tankers with a total capacity of 102 million barrels. That was enough to handle normal exports of two million barrels a day to customers in Asia and Europe. Now the sanctions enforcement efforts have reduced that fleet to more of a liability than an asset. This was done by documenting Iranian violation of the terms by which it has its tankers operate using foreign registration. This is a common practice for all merchant ships but to be a legally recognized registrar nation there must be a minimum of rules that must be followed. Otherwise, insurance companies wont deal with outlaw ships and many ports will not allow such outlaw tankers to enter. That, plus a shortage of cash means that Iran cannot get its aging tankers refurbished or repaired at more efficient foreign dockyards. Iran itself cannot refurbish most of their own tankers, as these ships are too large for Iranian shipyards to handle. Some repairs can be made but obtaining some large engine or hull components is difficult and often impossible because of the sanctions. Time is not on Irans side. Iran has proved resourceful in the past when it came to finding new ways to smuggle oil, but the Americans now have decades of experience dealing with Iranian ploys and it has become more difficult to come up with new ideas, given that so many of the most effective sanction evasion methods have been neutralized or made much more difficult and expensive to use. Then along came HawkEye 360, which used some of the tracking techniques American intel agencies used to locate Iranian tankers. The intel agency techniques were no secret and HawkEye 360 simply took advantage of commercial satellite technology and developed their own tracking software. There was a huge commercial market for this degree of tracking and it was only a matter of time before something like HawkEye 360 came along. Details of these Iranian schemes and American countermeasures are generally kept out of the news. Not just because the Iranian methods were usually illegal, but also because the U.S. and its allies didnt want Iran to know the full extent of the new countermeasures. That veil of secrecy eventually fails because so many nations are involved and the details eventually get into trade journals and then the mass media. Some of the scams involve using foreign tankers taking on oil from an Iranian port. This is suspicious and means that tanker is now under surveillance. If that tanker then ghosted or ran dark by turning off its AIS, laws are broken. AIS allows ship owners and their customers, as well as any nearby vessels, to track the progress of large ships. Messing with AIS means a non-Iranian tanker carrying Iranian oil is an outlaw and probably illegally smuggling Iran oil to somewhere. This scrutiny of tanker activity has forced Iran to be more resourceful. Thats because more and more nations and international trade groups, not to mention insurance companies, will not deal with the Iranians or anyone who does. Iran has also become aware that American surveillance of economic activity in the oil business is more thorough and robust than anticipated. For example, while few nations will openly cooperate with American sanction enforcement efforts, so as not to offend Iran or Iranian allies like China, many nations cooperate unofficially. Now the Iranians spend more time worrying about what their sanction enforcement adversaries are up to because, since 2017, the Iranians have found themselves the ones on the receiving end of unexpected developments. Some of the new smuggling countermeasures include monitoring the nations that provide ship registry services while maritime insurance companies have their own array of regulations regarding who can have access to insurance coverage and who cannot. This is about more than shipowners being covered against accidents at sea or in port. Ships without proper coverage, especially for vessels carrying dangerous cargo like petroleum and natural gas, cannot enter many major ports or the territorial waters of most nations if they do not have the proper insurance. By mid-2019 Iran found it more difficult to conceal what its 61 tankers and dozens of cargo ships were doing which meant more shipping companies and nations refused to do business with Iran. For a while, Iran tried to rely on Chinese tankers using Iranian techniques. For example, the U.S. caught a Chinese tanker in the Indian Ocean using ghosting and, while its AIS was off, changed its ship registration to hide delivery of Iranian oil to a banned customer. Now the Americans are threatening to seize Chinese tankers if China does not enforce the terms of the Iranian sanctions. Relations with China took a major turn for the worse when Iran staged a UAV attack on a Saudi oil export facility in September 2019 and unconvincingly tried to make it look like the work of Iran backed Shia rebels in Yemen. This disrupted Saudi oil exports for several weeks and that angered the Chinese. The largest oil importer in the world is China and most of that oil comes from the Persian Gulf. China said nothing publicly but canceled a multi-billion-dollar oil and gas field development project it had planned for Iran. Several other forms of Chinese cooperation with Iran were also suspended or cancelled. China moved the oil/gas development investments to Iraq. Another smuggling technique, which is more expensive, is to illegally move oil to Iraq by truck. This activity is more difficult to monitor because there are many inland locations where the large (often-tractor trailer) tanker trucks can take on cargo and many roads that cross the border. There the Iranian oil becomes Iraqi oil and tanker ships can load Iraqi oil and deliver it anywhere. This form of smuggling is very expensive because your average tanker truck carries only 5,000 gallons, which is 120 barrels. Its relatively easy, using photo-satellites, UAVs and local informants, to monitor the six ports equipped to load or unload oil tankers. Three of these ports are high capacity and capable of loading the supertankers that move most oil by sea. One of the three smaller terminals is on the Caspian Sea and could be used to smuggle oil via other nations but that does not appear to be happening. Monitoring all the road crossings from Iran to Iraq for tanker traffic is more expensive but can be done. That was how Iran was caught illegally smuggling oil to Syria. That was a desperate move but Syria itself is constantly monitored for the many items is cannot bring in legally because of sanctions against Syria. Another major change in the oil business since the 1980s is that there are more suppliers because of fracking in North America and elsewhere. Because of fracking there has been a world oil glut since 2010. The OPEC oil cartel has restricted production to try and drive the oil price up but that only worked for a while and only partially. Even before Iranian oil sanctions were revived the oil price was declining again. There are plenty of oil producers willing and able to replace Iranian exports. Illegal Iranian oil exports are sold at a lower price because of the risk (financial costs if caught) and that also contributes to keeping oil prices low. If scrutiny is too intense the smugglers find they cannot reach many customers. Since mid-2019 Iran has been threatening to close the entrance to the Persian Gulf (the Strait of Hormuz) and the Red Sea entrance as well. The Hormuz threats were a bluff because Iran would be hurt more than anyone else in the short term as well as going forward. A more immediate problem was Iran losing the cloak of secrecy that had long kept its smuggling methods out of the news. But if the oil smuggling does appear to be stymied for a long period Iran may well try desperate measures. That is also dangerous because Iran has an Arab minority, whose homeland is where most of the Iranian oil production is. There has been sabotage there by angry Arabs in the past and now those accidents appear to be happening again. A covert war against Iranian oil facilities is not inconceivable. That would do long term damage to Iranian oil facilities which are already in bad shape because so much maintenance has been delayed for years because of sanctions. North Korea and maritime smugglers in general have had a bad year because of covid19 and HawkEye 360. While the virus will pass, as they usually do, tracking services only get more efficient and capable of detecting new Iranian smuggling techniques. Earlier this week, the world was dealing head-on with what was believed to be the world's first documented case of coronavirus reinfection in Hong Kong. Now, less than a week later, researchers in the United States are reporting their first documented case of a patient who got COVID, recovered and then got it again. Scientists say that although reinfection is likely possible, it's also extremely rare. This is the first documented reinfection among nearly 6 million COVID-19 cases to date. Nevertheless, the first documented reinfection is notable in how quickly the patient seemed to be reinfected after his initial recovery. MORE: 1st documented COVID-19 reinfection isn't surprising, but may offer important clues about virus, experts say "Having had it doesnt mean you cant get it again, thats what this shows," Dr. Mark Pandori, director of the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory and co-author of the study, said in an interview with ABC's "World News Tonight." "It tells us possibly things we still dont know about this virus ... or that there is a danger that even if youve had it that your immune system may not protect you from a significant illness next time." The case report, which has not yet been peer-reviewed and is currently only available as a pre-print, tells the story of a 25-year-old man in Nevada. In late March, he developed some of the classic signs of COVID-19: sore throat, cough, diarrhea, headache and nausea. After testing positive on April 18, he began to gradually feel better, and the virus appeared to leave his system, seemingly verified with two consecutive negative tests in May. But only a few weeks later, he started to feel ill again, testing positive for COVID-19 once again in June. This time, he was admitted to the hospital with serious symptoms. PHOTO: Dr. Mark Pandori, director of the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory, says a 25-year-old man in the state has tested positive for COVID for a second time. (UNR Med photo by Brin Reynolds) At first, the researchers wondered if the virus had been hiding in his body the whole time -- mutating, changing and eventually developing into something that caused him to get sick with COVID-19 a second time. But they ultimately rejected this theory, saying that the two viruses were so different that it would have been nearly impossible for the virus to change that quickly inside his body. The only explanation was that he had been infected by a slightly different version of the coronavirus. Story continues "Theres no invulnerability here," Pandori told ABC News. "Whether youve had this infection before or whether perhaps in the future vaccinated, there wont be such a thing as invulnerability." MORE: Controversial coronavirus drug hydroxychloroquine administered at 2 nursing homes, senators say The finding could affect how the world attempts to limit the spread of the coronavirus while eagerly awaiting an effective vaccine. Experts have long expected that humans would have some kind of immunity after getting infected with the coronavirus, but no one is sure just how long that immunity will last. These new reinfections provide important new data as experts rush to figure that out. Dr. Akiko Iwasaki, Waldemar Von Zedtwitz professor in the Department of Immunobiology at Yale University, wrote on Twitter that this patient's case was different from the Hong Kong patient because his prior infection didn't seem to help him fight off the virus. PHOTO: Dr. Mark Pandori, director of the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory, says a 25-year-old man in the state has tested positive for COVID for a second time. (UNR Med photo by Brin Reynolds) "This time, unlike the case in Hong Kong, the immune system did not protect this person from reinfection or disease," her tweet read. However, scientists interviewed by ABC News say these isolated case reports can't be applied to the average person. It's still unclear if this 25-year-old man had any underlying conditions that might have put him at risk for more severe illness. What remains to be seen is how common reinfection events like this are and whether they will continue in the months ahead. Nate Wood, M.D., is an internal medicine/primary care resident at Yale New Haven Hospital and a contributor to the ABC News Medical Unit. Nevada lab confirms 1st coronavirus reinfection in the US originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Police detain a protester at a small-scale rally against COVID-19 restrictions in Melbourne on Aug. 9, 2020. (William West via Getty Images) Victoria Police Arrest Four People At Melbourne Protest Against CCP Virus Lockdown Victorian police arrested four people and issued nine fines during a south Melbourne protest against CCP virus restrictions on Aug. 26. Hundreds of people marched through Dandenong suburbs for the second time in as many days, against the Victorian governments stage four lockdown imposed to combat the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus. Residents in greater Melbourne have been told to travel no more than five kilometres (3.1 miles) from their homes unless its for work, masks are now mandatory everywhere in public, and people are only allowed outside their homes for one hour to exercise. Following a stand-off with police at the George Andrews Reserve, four men were arrested for failing to provide identification and breaching the chief health officers directions; a police report emailed to The Epoch Times stated. Two of the men arrested face additional charges. A 19-year-old Dandenong man was charged with use of threatening words, and a 28-year-old was charged with assaulting and resisting police, the police report read. During a press conference on Aug. 27 with Dandenong representative Gabrielle Williams, when asked to respond to the protestors actions, Premier Dan Andrews said they were not lawful or safe. Protests are not something that should be happening, no matter what the purpose is or no matter what the reason is, said Andrews I just dont think thats in anybodys interest. That will mean it takes longer for us to get past the second wave, itll put at risk a lot of the gains that weve made, and I think everyone should be focused on that, Andrews said. Williams, who is in regular contact with the Dandenong community, said she was concerned about peoples safety. As we all know, stage four restrictions are hard. You know a lot of people are frustrated; we all know theyre difficult. But the best way to keep all of us safe, particularly the most vulnerable in our community is if we all follow the advice of the chief health officer, Williams said. She said the protests had led her to ensure people in the community are getting the support and information they require to stay safe. The protest at the George Andrews Reserve came after police issued nine fines on Aug. 26 and 11 the day before. Since Aug. 17, Victoria Police have issued over 1,700 fines for violating the Chief Health Officer directions, a third of these have been for breaking the 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. Fifteen percent have been issued for not wearing a face covering. Victoria police currently have powers to issue an on-the-spot fine of $1,652 (US$1,185) for breaking social distancing orders. Since Aug. 4 the government increased it to $4,957 as part of a wider crackdown on citizens breaching stage four restrictions. A mass protest against the governments stage four restrictions are scheduled on Sept. 5 in central Melbourne and other major cities across Australia. A Freedom Day rally has been set up on Facebook, hosted by 500,000 people to end the Victorian lockdown. According to the social media events page, over 2,000 people have responded. A previous version of the event attracted over 41,000 interests before Facebook censored it. A previous protest at the Victorian parliament house by Freedom Day took place of Aug. 8 but attracted less than 50 people and most of those who did, were detained or asked to move on. On Sept. 1 Premier Daniel Andrews will take a proposal to extend the state of emergency powers to the Victoria legislative council. The bill will reach its six-month maximum limit on Sept 14; the same day stage four restrictions are scheduled to lift. The decisive four votes will fall upon upper-house crossbenchers. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Multiple individuals hacked into a Zoom meeting with parents at New Dorp High School making anti-Semitic slurs, an NYPD spokeswoman said. At around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, four unidentified individuals entered the Zoom meeting and made anti-Semitic remarks and threats against the school, according to police. These alleged acts are disturbing and hateful they have no place in our school communities, Nathaniel Styer, deputy press secretary with the Department of Education, said in a statement to the Advance/SILive.com We work with technology companies and educators to ensure platforms are safe and we will assist the school in making sure future community meetings are secure. The incident was under investigation, he said. The individuals threatened to shoot up the school, a law enforcement source told the Advance/SILive.com. Police sources told the New York Post that the hackers posted large swastikas and sexually-explicit images. Principal Deirdre DeAngelis, who was doing a presentation to about 290 parents, described the incident as a Zoom bomb and the things that were said as nasty and inappropriate. The incident resurfaced privacy concerns about Zoom after the DOE decided to stop using the platform for remote learning back in April, the Advance/SILive.com previously reported. In May, the department eventually re-introduced the video conference platform for remote learning while the schools were closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Head of the headquarters for the management of operations against coronavirus in Tehran Alireza Zali announced that coronavirus-related restrictions will be extended for another week in Tehran, Trend reports citing IRNA. Zali said only 1/3 of employees will be present in their jobs next week and the rest can work from home. He said that 515 new coronavirus-infected cases were hospitalized over the past 24 hours. He added on Wednesday eight percent of the walk-ins needed hospitalizations and that 480 people received outpatient services. Zali said that the condition of the infection in Tehran has still no tangible change and that Tehran is a red zone in this aspect. Iran's Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Wednesday that 153 more Iranians had died from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) bringing the total deaths to 20,125. Sima Sadat Lari said that, with the 153 new victims, the countrys total COVID-19 deaths mounted to 20,125. she added 2,444 new cases of infection with the COVID-19 were found over the past 24 hours, some 1,132 of whom have been hospitalized. Patna, Aug 28 : Four-time MP and Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) chief Pappu Yadav has slammed the Nitish Kumar government for not creating job opportunities for labourers returning to Bihar following the Covid-19 lockdown. "The labourers returned to their native places after walking for thousands of kilometers. They were unable to get jobs here in Bihar due to callous approach of the Nitish Kumar government. They were living hand to mouth after their savings ended. The Nitish government should have some shame as employers in other states are offering six months' advance salary and air tickets to labourers," Pappu Yadav said. "At present, half of Bihar is affected by floods and every person is affected by the coronavirus pandemic. They badly need jobs to earn their livelihood but Nitish Kumar is unable to create jobs," he said. "The Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government has given jobs to teachers under MNREGA scheme but Bihar government has not given a single job under it," he alleged. Yadav claimed himself to be a leader of backward castes who supports the ideology of Dalit leaders like Jitan Ram Manjhi, Chirag Paswan and Meira Kumar. Since the Bihar election will be contested between National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan), Yadav hinted he may join an alliance depending on seats offered. "We have asked our leaders to prepare for Assembly polls in 150 seats. Besides, we will also give tickets in remaining 93 seats," Yadav said. Yadav is known as a strongman in north Bihar. He won the parliamentary election four times in 1991, 1996, 1999 and 2004 from several constituencies in Bihar. He is a native of Purnia located on Indo-Nepal border. His wife Ranjeeta Ranjan is also a parliamentarian. One hundred years after the birth of the infamous Evelyn Dick, it looks certain that she has taken her darkest secrets to the grave. The notorious Hamiltonianfrom the 1940s, who was at the centre of one of Canadas most sensational murder trials, was paroled from prison in 1958 and somehow managed to stay out of public view ever since. Scores of reporters, biographers and curiosity seekers have tried to find out what happened to her, but she was able to lay low with a new identity that was a carefully guarded secret. With her 100th birthday on Oct. 13, she most likely has died. But when, where and how? And what about the mysteries surrounding the March, 1946 Torso murder of her husband John Dick, whose dismembered body was found near Albion Falls? How was she involved? And what exactly happened with the death of her baby Peter David White, whose body was discovered encased in cement in a suitcase? Evelyn was sentenced to hang for killing her husband but her conviction was overturned and she was acquitted at a second trial because of some clever legal defence work. Yet she was found guilty of killing her child, an infant she had previously claimed had been put up for adoption. She served 11 years for that crime. The latest effort to find answers involves a Toronto production company called Big Coat Media that is known for its popular home improvement show Love it or List It. Crime is the focus of a new podcast division of the company that has released three instalments of a nine-part podcast series called Where Are You Mrs. Dick? I was among those interviewed for the series, talking about stories I have written about the case for The Spectator. Catherine Fogarty, the president and executive producer of Big Coat, hired a researcher and archivist to trace through government records to try to find out what happened to Dick after she was released. But like so many before, they found the road was blocked at every turn. I was hopeful that with Evelyn turning 100 this year that it would lead to the release of some archive records. But they still will not release them, says Fogarty. There are two major obstacles: Upon her release from Kingston Penitentiary for Women, Dick was given a new identity and records about the name change are kept secret. Moreover, she would have likely changed her name a second time if she remarried, complicating the trail even further. Her government file remains sealed after she was granted a Royal Prerogative of Mercy in 1985, a special pardon that is awarded in exceptional cases of substantial injustice or undue hardship which would not seem to apply in Evelyn Dicks case. Many believe she had friends in high places who helped her receive the pardon as part of a wider strategy to muzzle stories she might tell relating to her notorious black book of prominent people with whom she had sex. Fogarty says the researcher was able to collect correspondence from a parole board official about a parolee named Betty who had been relocated to Winnipeg around the time of Evelyns release. Fogarty believes Betty was really Evelyn and the official went to great lengths to re-establish her with a new identity. Author Brian Vallee in his 2001 book, Torso Murder: The Untold Story of Evelyn Dick said he believed she married a wealthy man after her release and moved to the West Coast. Closer to home, there have been numerous rumours of her living in various locations in Southwestern Ontario including London where she was reported to have been a local United Church parishioner for a period of time in the 1960s. But in every case, no one has been able to present definitive proof or come forward with documentary evidence of Evelyns death. This is highly unusual for an infamous or famous person. Lots of people try to keep a low profile. But virtually no one goes off to the great beyond without leaving a few basic details behind. When someone dies, it almost always comes out somehow. Even the mystery of Jimmy Hoffas longtime disappearance was eventually revealed. The only comparable case I can think of actually involves another Hamiltonian the legendary bootlegger Rocco Perri. He complained about a headache one day in April 1944 and went for a walk. He was never seen again, either alive or dead. I remember my late friend Margaret Houghton, who worked for many years as an archivist in the Local History and Archives section of the library, used to say the Evelyn Dick file was the most popular one in the collection. (Although Rocco Perri was high on the list as well.) Song by Mark McNeil about the infamous femme fatale Evelyn Dick and the 1946 Torso Murder in Hamilton, Ontario. There is something enduring about the Evelyn Dick story that continues to attract attention. Perhaps its because she was involved in the two ultimate transgressions a wife and a mother could possibly commit. Nothing could be farther from tolerated behaviour than brutally murdering a spouse and baby and savagely disposing of the bodies. The fact that she was beautiful and promiscuous and no one knows exactly what happened with the killings or where she ended up makes it a subject of endless speculation. TV tip World-renowned architect and former Hamiltonian Raymond Moriyama, 90, will be the subject of a documentary premiere on TVO Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 9 p.m. Magical Imperfection The Life and Architecture of Raymond Moriyama tells the story of the brilliant architect who, as a boy during the Second World War, was cruelly sent to an internment camp in Western Canada with his family because of his Japanese heritage. After the war, they settled in Hamilton and he attended Westdale High School before moving on to the University of Toronto. Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Kenyan authorities have embarked on the immediate evacuation of 53 nationals stranded in Beirut, Lebanon, after an economic crisis which has turned into a humanitarian crisis in the Middle East nation Authorities are particularly concerned about the virus' spread in camps on five Aegean islands The Greek government said Friday it would extend a lockdown imposed on migrants living in camps on its Aegean islands and eastern frontier until September 15 as coronavirus cases mount. Lockdown was first ordered in the camps on March 21. Authorities are particularly concerned about the virus' spread in camps on five Aegean islands. The facilities were designed to hold fewer than 6,100 people, but at present 24,000 are crammed into them in unsanitary conditions. Athens decided to extend the lockdown "to prevent coronavirus cases from appearing and spreading," the migration ministry said. But charities have repeatedly condemned the government for continuing to keep asylum seekers in accommodation that makes keeping up hygiene measures extremely difficult. New arrivals on the islands are currently being quarantined in separate buildings to limit the risk of contaminating entire camps. Lockdown at first led to slowing numbers of arrivals, but they have inched back up over the summer. On the night of Thursday to Friday, the Greek coastguard rescued a sailing ship off the island of Rhodes that was transporting 55 people. On Wednesday, harbour police picked up 96 people whose ship had got into difficulty off the island of Halki, and the search has carried on into a third day for a 35-year-old man and his four-year-old son lost as the ship sank. With just 254 deaths from Covid-19, Greece has suffered less from the virus than other European countries, and so far no-one has died of the disease in a migrant camp. Search Keywords: Short link: The Democratic challenger to Representative Brian Mast (R., Fla.) wondered if it was open season on Trump administration officials in a June social media post. The race between Mast and Pam Keith for Floridas 18th district is now considered a toss up by the Niskanen Center. The district has swung Republican since 2016, however Keith represents a first major challenge to Masts tenure. Mast is a veteran of the Afghanistan War, where he lost both legs after a bomb exploded under him. Keith is herself a former judge in the Navy, and is an African American who has voiced support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairwoman Cheri Bustos has said of Keith, Pam has never backed down from fighting for whats right. Shes running for Congress to put an end to the petty partisanship that gets in the way of delivering results for Floridians. However, Keith is not one of the candidates listed as part of the organizations Red to Blue campaign to flip Republican-held districts. With a competitive election on the horizon, focus has shifted to both candidates social media history. Keith was the subject of a profile in the Washington Post on Friday which did not mention her more controversial posts. GOP: Yeah hes dead. But its not a big deal because he was a bad guy. Is that REALLY the new rule they want? Killing is OK if its a bad guy? Is it now open season on: Flynn Manafort Stone Gates Cohen TRUMP Barr Kavanaugh Lewandowski Bolton Pompeo Papadopolous Parscale Pam Keith (@PamKeithFL) June 10, 2020 Another post from July 28 reads, Stop telling me that EVERY Trump supporter is not racist. YES THEY ARE! The word for someone who stands with, supports, votes for justifies, disseminates and Co-signs on an avowed racist is. RACIST! Story continues At the same time, Mast has dealt with fallout from Facebook posts in 2009 and 2011 in which he joked about rape. In one post, Mast commented on a photo of his current campaign manager Rocco LeDonni, taken while LeDonni was in South Africa. im so proud of you i hope you hook up with at least fifteen 15 year olds over there . its legel there right, Mast wrote. Mast apologized for the statements after they were discovered by the Florida Sun Sentinel. 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, Mast said in a statement on Tuesday. I am sorry about that part of who I was, and I strive every day to be a better example for my kids. Editors Note: This article has been updated to reflect that, while Keith was praised by DCCC chairwoman Cheris Bustos, she was not listed on the organizations official endorsement page. More from National Review Bankrupt department store chain Lord + Taylor said this week that it will close all 38 of its stores an announcement that signals the end of its standalone establishment in Stamford, after announcing earlier this month shutdowns that included its stores in Danbury, Trumbull and Farmington. Lord + Taylors departure would vacate the approximately 157,000-square-foot building at 110 High Ridge Road in Stamford, where it is the sole occupant. About four years ago, it completed a nearly two-year renovation of the property. A message left Friday for Thomas Madden, Stamfords economic development director, was not immediately returned. When Lord + Taylor filed, with parent company Le Tote, for bankruptcy at the beginning of the month, it had announced that it would close 19 stores, including three of its four Connecticut establishments at the Danbury Fair, Westfield Trumbull and Westfarms malls. At the same time, it had indicated that it would keep open its other 19 locations, including Stamford, as it pursued a going concern buyer. But Lord + Taylor subsequently decided to hold going-out-of-business sales at all of its stores. Deep discounts and departmental promotions would be enacted throughout the sales in stores and online, according to company officials. Lord + Taylor also plans to sell in-store fixtures, furniture and equipment. While we are still entertaining various opportunities, we believe it is prudent to simultaneously put the remainder of the stores into liquidation to maximize value of inventory for the estate while pursuing options for the company's brands, Ed Kremer, the company's chief restructuring officer said in a statement this week. The company said it would continually update stores status and hours of operation at https://locations.lordandtaylor.com. In its latest closing announcement, the company did not specify the number of resulting job losses. The demise of a business founded in 1826 does not come as a surprise after reports in recent months that it had been weighing liquidation sales as soon as its stores reopened from temporary closings sparked by the coronavirus crisis. Its travails contributed to Hudsons Bay Co.s decision last year to sell the business to Le Tote, which is a rental-clothing company. In January 2019, it shuttered its flagship store in Manhattan, ending a 104-year run for the midtown establishment. The property was sold for $850 million to co-working firm WeWork and partner Rhone Capital. About a year and half ago, however, Lord + Taylor officials were still sanguine about suburban locations such as Stamford. At this point, we believe that Stamford represents, quite frankly, the bread and butter of who Lord + Taylor is, then-Lord + Taylor President Vanessa LeFebvre said in an interview last year. A freestanding store is where we can have a more intimate relationship with our customers. But COVID-19 dashed hopes of a turnaround for Lord + Taylor and many other retail companies. Tailored Brands, which owns Mens Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank, filed for bankruptcy on the same day as Lord + Taylor. Last month, Brooks Brothers, the 200-year-old company that has dressed nearly every U.S. president, filed for bankruptcy. Other recent bankruptcies include J. Crew, J.C. Penney, Neiman Marcus, Stage Stores and Ascena Retail Group, which owns brands including Ann Taylor, Justice and Lane Bryant. pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed grief over the ill health of his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and wished for his speedy recovery. "Pained to hear about your ill health, my dear friend @AbeShinzo. In recent years, with your wise leadership and personal commitment, the India-Japan partnership has become deeper and stronger than ever before. I wish and pray for your speedy recovery," the Prime Minister tweeted. Pained to hear about your ill health, my dear friend @AbeShinzo. In recent years, with your wise leadership and personal commitment, the India-Japan partnership has become deeper and stronger than ever before. I wish and pray for your speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/JjziLay2gD Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 28, 2020 Earlier on Friday, Abe Shinzo resigned from his post citing his poor health as a major issue. After his resignation, the 65-year-old Japanese Prime Minister said in a press conference, "I cannot be the Prime Minister if I cannot make the best decisions for the people. I have decided to step down from my post." It has been learnt that Abe has been battling with ulcerative colitis for years. Abe's two recent hospital visits within a week have fanned questions on whether he could stay in the job until the end of his term as the ruling party leader in September 2021. Setting up of a birthing room for a patient with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 undergoing labor and delivery. A negative pressure room is preferred with limited number of providers in the room to limit exposure. Additional personnel may be outside the room and be available if extensive neonatal resuscitation is needed. (PAPR: powered air-purifying respirator.) Credit: Satyan Lakshminrusimha Childbirth is an emotional event, filled with both excitement and apprehension. But when the mother-to-be tests positive for COVID-19, or is suspected of having the virus, the stakes get higher. Keeping mom, baby and the health care team as safe as possible adds another layer of concern for everyone involved. Taking steps to minimize risks becomes a priority. In a paper published online this past spring in the American Journal of Perinatology, a University at Buffalo faculty member and international co-authors have outlined the best approaches for handling the delivery of newborns in these cases. The paper, titled "Neonatal Resuscitation and Post-resuscitation Care of Infants Born to Mothers with Suspected or Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Infection," has attracted international attention. Since publication, it has been cited at least 38 times, notably in the European Resuscitation Council COVID-19 guidelines executive summary. Praveen Chandrasekharan, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB, authored the paper with colleagues from California, Italy and Spain. The paper includes easy-to-follow infographics created at the University of California Davis Children's Hospital. Chandrasekharan discusses the research with his co-authors in a podcast. A video abstract of the article is also available. Chandrasekharan is a neonatologist with UBMD Pediatrics who focuses on neonatal resuscitation and practices at Oishei Children's Hospital. He has received grants for previous research from the National Institutes for Health, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Resuscitation Program and the ZOLL Foundation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is unclear if pregnant women are at increased risk of contracting COVID-19 or if they are more at risk for developing severe illness if they do contract it. In addition, it remains uncertain whether a COVID-positive woman can transmit the disease to her unborn baby. Risks to the infant and health care providers In any event, resuscitating a baby born to a mom suspected of, or positive for, COVID-19 poses risks to both the infant and health care providers. But early on in the pandemic, there was limited literature to direct neonatal teams to the best protocols to use in the delivery room. "The importance of using personal protective equipment when resuscitating a newborn in the delivery room, and the concept of shared decision-making, are the most crucial aspects explained in our article," Chandrasekharan said. "Both parents and physicians must have an understanding of the situation and take adequate precautions to prevent transmission of the disease to both newborn and health care providers." The options outlined in the article have been used to develop guidelines in different institutions; they have had an impact around the world. The paper makes four key points: The risk of transmission remains unclear. Transmission from family members and providers to neonates is possible. Optimal personal protective equipment (airborne vs. droplet/contact precautions) for providers is crucial to prevent transmission. Parents should be engaged in shared decision-making, with options for rooming in, skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding. "It is imperative to reduce rising fears and optimize strategies to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to neonates and healthcare workers," the paper states. The authors consulted with neonatologists from around the world, including China, Australia, New Zealand, India, Spain and Italy. "Based on input and feedback from different institutions, we developed three approaches, with options for management to select based on available resources," Chandrasekharan said. Three levels of care The approaches to caring for at-risk neonates before birth, during delivery and after discharge include options that are stringent, moderate and more relaxed. Keeping the mother masked, ensuring there is proper personal protective equipment for health care workers and transporting the newborn in a covered isolette are elements of all three options. The three approaches "provide flexibility and allow perinatal health care providers and parents to determine the best option based on the assessment of risks and benefits, available personnel, space, caseloads and resources," the paper states. The paper urges pre-delivery preparation involving in-depth assessment of the mother's health and the age of the fetus at the time of COVID-19 exposure and at delivery. Each approach offers specific guidance on various aspects of pre-, mid- and post-delivery care, including visitor policy during delivery; the location where neonatal resuscitation takes place; timing of cord clamping; skin-to-skin contact; placement of the infant after birth; COVID-19 testing of the infant; nutritional support; the visitation policy for the baby; discharge plan; and follow-up plans. The paper also includes suggested protocols for caring for babies who develop early onset (within the first week) or late onset (within the first three weeks) COVID-19 themselves. The paper notes that ideally each medical facility would have a dedicated team of health care providers to take care of COVID-positive or possible mothers-to-be. It encourages medical centers to arrange for additional delivery rooms and personnel, and to conduct simulated COVID-19-related deliveries to understand logistics, workflow, use of safety equipment and transition from delivery room to nursery or neonatal intensive care unit. While all of the cited precautions follow CDC guidelines that existed at the time of publication, the authors acknowledge that information about the novel coronavirus is constantly being updated; therefore, the best practices continue to evolve. Chandrasekharan said the biggest challenges for caring for these patients will occur when mom and newborn are sent home because of the fluctuating rates of community transmission. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: Praveen Chandrasekharan et al. Neonatal Resuscitation and Postresuscitation Care of Infants Born to Mothers with Suspected or Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Infection, American Journal of Perinatology (2020). Praveen Chandrasekharan et al. Neonatal Resuscitation and Postresuscitation Care of Infants Born to Mothers with Suspected or Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Infection,(2020). DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1709688 STORY LINK Pound to Euro (GBP/EUR) Exchange Rate Steady as German Confidence Shrinks for September GBP/EUR Exchange Rate Rangebound as Corona-Related Restrictions Drag on Single Currency Pound (GBP) Rangebound as UK is Told it is Safe to Return to Workplaces GBP/EUR Forecast: Could Brexit Progress Buoy Sterling Next Week? Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues: The Pound to Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate held steady this morning, with the pairing currently trading around 1.115.The Euro (EUR) struggled to gain on Sterling following this mornings release of the latest German GfK consumer confidence gauge for September, which fell below forecasts from -0.2 to -1.8. As a result, EUR investors have become worried for the Eurozones largest economy.Rolf Buerkl, GfK Consumer Expert, commented on the report:Rising infection rates and the fear of a tightening of corona-related restrictions are causing uncertainty and therefore depressing the mood.Whether this is only a temporary slowdown depends above all on how the rate of infections develops and the measures to be taken by politicians.Meanwhile, news of face masks becoming mandatory outside in Paris has also weighed on confidence in the single currency. According to public health figures released last night, 6,111 new Covid-19 cases have been reported in the last 24-hours.Consequently, EUR investors are remaining cautious as France the Eurozones second-largest economy continues to struggle with the coronavirus pandemic.The Pound (GBP) remained subdued this morning despite the UK being told that it is now safe to return to workplaces by the UKs Transport Minister, Grant Shapps.Mr Shapps told Sky News:What were saying to people is it is now safe to go back to work and your employer should have made arrangements which are appropriate to make sure that it is coronavirus-safe to work and you will see some changes if you havent been in for a bit as a result.The vast majority of employers just want to get their businesses back up and running, they want to do the right thing, and many will have found that actually home working can work for some of their employees.Meanwhile, Brexit remains an issue for UK markets despite reassurances from David Frost, the UKs Chief Negotiator, that the Government was pushing for a September UK-EU withdrawal agreement.Nevertheless, the EU has taken an increasingly cold-blooded approach, according to Michel Barnier, the EUs Chief Negotiator. As a result, GBP investors are remaining cautious as we head into the weekend.GBP investors will be looking ahead to this afternoons speech from Andrew Bailey, the Bank of Englands (BoE) Governor. Any dovish comments about the British economys performance past and future would prove Pound-negative.Euro (EUR) investors will be looking ahead to Mondays release of the flash Germany harmonised index of consumer prices for August. Any significant improvement could buoy the single currency as investors become more hopeful of a recovery for the Eurozones powerhouse economy.Pound (GBP) traders will be looking ahead to Tuesdays release of the UKs final Markit manufacturing PMI for August. If this beats forecasts, however, and rises from 55.3, then we could see Sterling head higher.The GBP/EUR exchange rate will continue to be influenced by Brexit developments next week. Any further comments from the Government on a possible September post-Brexit trade agreement would prove Pound-positive. International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements. TAGS: Euro Forecasts Euro Pound Forecasts Pound Euro Forecasts Morgan Margulies, 20, is a rising junior at Columbia University who will be doing his online classes this year from a house in Santa Cruz, Calif., with nine friends from other colleges, including state schools. I am a first generation, low-income student and this is my cheapest option, he said. For a lot of people at Columbia, money is not an issue. Theyre moving into places and they invited me and told me the rent, but it was not a realistic thing I could do. Some students are using the remote year to indulge cottagecore-like fantasies, renting out farmhouses or living on an orchard. Others, who normally attend more suburban schools, are moving to places like New York City and Chicago to get a taste of city life. Annie Rauwerda, 20, a rising junior at the University of Michigan, will be completing her studies remotely this fall from Brooklyn. Warren Deng, 21, a senior at the University of California, Berkeley, is moving to Las Vegas with a group of classmates. And then there are the students taking their collab houses on the road, renting R.V.s or hopping from house to house. We didnt want to stay home for another four or five months, so we came up with a plan to go around the country to different places and stay in Airbnbs and do remote learning and classes from those places, said Pallav Chaturvedi, 19, a sophomore at U.C. Berkeley who will be traveling with five other students. Were going to be staying in Olympia, Wash., then Newport, Ore., a coastal town. Then we might go to Boise, Idaho. Its still coming out to be cheaper than our lease given how expensive Berkeley leases are. College towns of other colleges are also a destination. Myrha Qadir, 21, and four other Princeton students rented a large house in Chapel Hill, N.C., for the fall. They briefly considered somewhere more scenic like by the beach or mountains, she said, but landed on Chapel Hill partly because they wanted to be in a college town, even if it wasnt their own. Its a five-bedroom house, right on Chapel Hills campus, said Ms. Qadir. So well get a college feel. Well be around the college scene but it wont be our school. Or whats left of the college scene. On Aug. 17, a week after classes had started at the University of North Carolinas Chapel Hill campus, 177 students had tested positive for the coronavirus and the school was forced to shift to remote classes. By the end of last week, there were over 1,500 cases among students there. We feel a lot better now that theyve sent everyone back home, said Ms. Qadir. More than 30 students from China who attend American universities plan to create a college collab courtyard in Beijing. Wendi Yan, 21, a rising sophomore at Princeton, is organizing the group. The students, from colleges including University of Pennsylvania, U.C. San Diego, Brown, Duke, Stanford and Middlebury, are planning to live in several apartments that face each other so they can somewhat recreate the American college experience remotely and study and socialize together. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Quang Son talks on the results of the recently concluded third meeting of the six Mekong-Lancang countries in Hanoi on how to minimise the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the virtual third Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Leaders Meeting on August 24 (Photo: VNA) What were the major achievements of the Mekong-Lancang Co-operation Leaders recent online meeting? The conference was an occasion for the six Mekong-Lancang member countries to review their mid-term co-operation in the five-year period from 2018 to 2022. The meeting was held in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic which has seriously affected worldwide economic development, particularly the Mekong-Lancang member countries. The meeting was an occasion for the leaders from the six Mekong-Lancang members to discuss major issues or problems in the region and come up with measures to solve their common challenges. After their discussions, particularly the implementation of the Mekong-Lancang co-operation in the five-year plan (2018-2022), the participants all expressed their appreciation for the implementation of the three major columns; i.e. the co-operation in the fields of politics; economics; and culture exchanges among the member countries. All the members have co-operated closely and shared their experiences in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants at the meeting spent quite a lot of time to review the implementation of the co-operation plan in the last two years, particularly the implementation of more than 300 technical co-operation projects in the fields of trade, investment, tourism, agriculture and water resources management. During the meeting, all the participants agreed to tighten their co-operation in the three main fields, such as politics, economics sustainable development and culture and society. They also agreed to tighten their co-operation in the health care field to respond to the pandemic. All the Mekong member countries have highly appreciated China for continuing importing agro-products from the countries sharing the Mekong River and Chinas proposal to create a special fund for the Mekong-Lancang Co-operation in their current fight against COVID-19 and other future health issues. Participants at the meeting also discussed their co-operation in the management of the Mekong water resources and sustainable usage of the resources from 2019 to 2020. They also agreed to tighten their co-operation in all activities on climate change, safety for hydraulic dams, household water safety, flood control and drought for the benefits of all countries sharing the Mekong River. What initiatives did Vietnam propose at the conference? Vietnam has done its best to show the participants that it is a reliable partner in the international community. Vietnam has been a reliable member country in the Mekong-Lancang co-operation since its establishment. During the meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and other senior leaders from other countries discussed issues that will have serious impacts on the sustainable development of the region and measures to overcome them. In his address, Prime Minister Phuc made a three-point proposal on the future co-operation among the six countries along the Mekong River, namely Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, as follows: - All member countries should co-ordinate closely to limit the negative impacts of the COVID-19 - Sharing information and experiences in the fight against COVID-19 meeting the principle of transparency and accountability, and particularly co-operating in the production of a vaccine against COVID-19 - Co-operation and sustainable use of water from the Mekong River from the upper reach in China to the lower basin in Vietnam to avoid negative impacts from flood and drought in the first six months of 2020. VNS - Oba of Benin said he will invite candidates in the Edo governorship election for a peace pact - The first-class monarch said the peace pact would enable the candidates to talk to their followers to eschew violence before - Oba Ewuare II also recommended a single term system to douse the political tensions in the nations politics PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed! Ahead of the governorship election in Edo state, the Oba of Benin has said he would invite all the participating candidates to his palace to sign a peace pact. Vanguard reports that the monarch said this on Thursday, August 27, when he played host to the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Professor Mahmud Yakubu. Oba Ewuare II said the peace pact would enable the candidates to talk to their followers to eschew violence. He said the politicians must learn to emulate Nigeria's immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan, who accepted the outcome of the 2015 presidential election which eventually saw Muhammadu Buhari emerge the nations president. Edo 2020: Oba of Benin to invite Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu, other gov candidates for peace pact. Photo credit: INEC Source: UGC The Oba said the palace has always remained neutral in the states politics but has regards and concerns for the candidate who has respect for the traditional institution, create jobs for the people so that can put foods on their families tables and respect the masses. He recommended a single term system to douse the political tensions in the nations politics. In his remarks, the INEC chairman said they were at the palace to seek his blessings ahead of the election. Top candidates in the election are the PDP candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki, and Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the APC. PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news update Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported Ize-Iyamu and the deputy governor of Edo state, Philip Shaibu, traded blame over gunshots fired during a rally at Jattu in Edo North Senatorial District. Ize-Iyamu who spoke through the chairman of Edo APC Media Campaign Council, Prince John Mayaki, accused Shaibu of mobilising the thugs behind the violence. The APC governorship candidate alleged that the thugs occupied venue of the partys rally in Jattu, scaring residents and other supporters of APC with gunshots. In other news, a Federal High Court in Abuja has declined a request by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) for an order freezing accounts of the Edo government over its alleged refusal to pay the outstanding salaries and entitlements of court workers in the state. JUSUN had also prayed the court to order confiscation of what was due to Edo state from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). Read more on the Edo election here. We'll isolate Wike in an isolation center - Ganduje | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng Ambrose Cowboy Anderson fought in the grueling Battle of Iwo Jima, survived, and returned to his country. But little had changed since hed gone off to fight and risk his life in World War II. He was a Marine, yes, but as a Black man, he felt he was more likely to be admonished for his service than honored. Everything was still segregated and not equal, he says even the way troops were welcomed back. Before he turned 95 Friday he expressed how his life has intersected with the countrys struggle for racial equality. Such as the time President Franklin D. Roosevelt said people with his skin color could, indeed, fight for their country, but then they ended up in worse training camps. And the time he arrived at Montford Point on Camp Lejeune as an 18-year-old, along with 20,000 other Black recruits, who learned that in Jacksonville, N.C., they were not going to be treated like the white newcomers in the Marine Corps. At basic training, you ran everywhere you went, he remembers, because it was believed that Black people could not serve as Marines, so the historic group of soon-to-be fighters got up from their bunks before dawn and wouldnt touch it again until late in the night. He doesnt discuss many details from Iwo Jima, the Pacific island considered integral to the ultimate Japanese defeat. He knows more than 6,000 Americans were killed. Twenty-thousand Japanese soldiers were killed. So he leaves it at that. When Black soldiers came back home, they realized the G.I. Bill was built in a manner that excluded them from mortgage support, business loans and college tuition. He struggled to find a job. There were reports of white people beating Black soldiers in uniform. Anderson was hired as a truck mechanic, and as he performed his new job, the countrys law enforcement was still targeting Black Americans with fire hoses as they marched for equality. Anderson told the Times Union in an earlier interview that he earned the name Cowboy as a kid playing cops and robbers in Gloversville, where he became a football standout. His father worked for the city and his mother died when he was 11. These days, he still sees people marching. And, he says, he sees all this trouble his country is having with the killing of Black people. I dont care for it, he says. And after a long pause, I dont like it at all. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Earlier story: Pioneering Marine feels renewed pride In 2011, Anderson was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the nations highest civilian award given by Congress. On Friday, state Sen. James Tedisco was to present him with the Liberty Medal. He was to be honored with a parade outside his Gloversville home on Friday by well-wishers. On the Facebook page of Iwo Jima Survivors of New Yorks Capital Region, there is a post asking people to wish Anderson a happy 95th birthday. One comment is from a Black Marine who uploaded a photo of himself on the shores of Iwo Jima, dressed in his camouflage uniform. He begins the message by wishing the man who paved the way for him a happy birthday. As a young Devil Dog, he writes, it was an Honor and a Privilege to even step foot on the grounds of Iwo Jima. The organization plans to print the photo and message and give it to Anderson. Dublin, Aug. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "String Inverter Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2020-2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global string inverter market is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 15% during the forecast period of 2020-2025. Factors such as increasing deployment of solar projects, on account of the supportive government initiatives, and the declining price of solar photovoltaic components are expected to drive the market. Governments across the world have incorporated various policies to implement renewable energy as a source of alternative energy. However, the lack of financing options to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in the residential sector in underdeveloped and developing economies is expected to hinder the string inverter market growth during the forecasting period. Key Highlights The utility segment is likely to witness significant growth during the forecast period, owing to the increase in solar power projects in various countries across the globe to develop a sustainable and affordable energy source. With the targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the coming years, countries across the globe are adopting various targets to mitigate climate change. For instance, California is one of the prominent states in the United States, that has targeted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 40% by 2030. Moreover, it is estimated that by 2030, the global demand for electricity would be nearly 36 thousand terra watts hours. The increasing demands for electricity clubbed with the targets for GHG emissions are expected to promulgate the increase in renewable energy facilities like solar PV, which is likely to create an opportunity for the string inverter companies to expand its business in the near future. Asia-Pacific is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period, with the majority of the demand coming from China, Japan, and India. Story continues Market Trends Utility Segment Likely to Witness Significant Growth Utility-Scale solar photovoltaic installations are massive projects that cover multiple acres of land that are used to generate electricity, solely for distribution purpose. The string inverters are used to convert the generated direct current (DC) by the solar panels into alternating current (AC). The utility-scale solar facilities generate electricity through several technologies that include concentrating photovoltaics (CPT), concentrating solar power (CSP), and photovoltaics (PV). Among all, photovoltaic is the most widely implemented technology, on which string inverters are getting used. In2019, global solar PV installed capacity was nearly 580.2 gigawatts (GW) and is expected to increase during the forecast period on account various initiatives taken by the countries to have a sustainable and cheaper form of energy source. Utility segment string inverters are primarily three-phase, have a power rating of more than 80kW, and have unique properties to withstand extreme climatic conditions. For instance, the solar park project in Tatvan town of Turkey is one of the recent utility solar projects, that installed nearly 40 string inverters. The installed capacity of the park is around 5 megawatts and was commissioned in 2019. With increasing demand, investment for solar utility projects are growing over the years. Countries like China and the United States are among the top countries that are concentrating on having a large number of utility projects in the upcoming years. Such steps in the utility sector are likely to have a large installation of string inverter and thus would help to dominate the market during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific to Witness Significant Growth Asia-Pacific is dominating the region with the highest installed capacity of solar PV and string inverters. In 2019, the region has nearly 330 gigawatts (GW) of solar PV installed capacity, with China, Japan, and India as the major countries. China is the major country in the region with approximately 205 GW of solar PV installations in 2019. It is expected that the country is planning to double its installation capacity by 2025, which is likely to expand the string inverter market during the forecast period. Tengger Desert Solar Park and Longyangxia Dam Solar Park of China, Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park, and Kamuthi Solar Power Station of India are the few key projects in the region that have installed string inverters. As per the National Energy Administration (NEA), China has allocated three billion yuan of subsidiaries for solar projects during the year 2019. Out of the total, nearly 750 million yuan is expected to allocate to the rooftop solar power projects. Subsidiaries allocated is expected to install more solar PV facilities, which is likely to boost the string inverter installations during the upcoming years. Competitive Landscape The string inverter market is moderately fragmented. Some of the key players in the market include KACO New Energy GmbH, Delta Energy Systems GmbH, ABB Ltd, Sungrow Power Supply Co Ltd, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, Chint Power Systems Co Ltd, Ningbo Ginlong Technologies Co Ltd, Fronius International GmbH, SMA Solar Technology AG, and Eaton Corporation. Key Topics Covered 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Scope of the Study 1.2 Market Definition 1.3 Study Assumptions 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4 MARKET OVERVIEW 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Market Size and Demand Forecast USD billion, till 2025 4.3 Recent Trends and Developments 4.4 Government Policies and Regulations 4.5 Market Dynamics 4.5.1 Drivers 4.5.2 Restraints 4.6 Supply Chain Analysis 4.7 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 5 MARKET SEGMENTATION 5.1 Phase 5.1.1 Single Phase 5.1.2 Three Phase 5.2 Power Rating 5.2.1 Up to 10kW 5.2.2 11kW to 40kW 5.2.3 41kW to 80kW 5.2.4 Above 80kW 5.3 End-user 5.3.1 Residential 5.3.2 Commercial & Industrial 5.3.3 Utility 5.4 Geography 5.4.1 North America 5.4.2 Asia-Pacific 5.4.3 Europe 5.4.4 South America 5.4.5 Middle-East and Africa 6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE 6.1 Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Agreements 6.2 Strategies Adopted by Leading Players 6.3 Company Profiles 6.3.1 KACO New Energy GmbH 6.3.2 Delta Energy Systems GmbH 6.3.3 ABB Ltd. 6.3.4 Sungrow Power Supply Co. Ltd. 6.3.5 Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. 6.3.6 Chint Power Systems Co. Ltd. 6.3.7 Ningbo Ginlong Technologies Co. Ltd. 6.3.8 Fronius International GmbH 6.3.9 SMA Solar Technology AG 6.3.10 Eaton Corporation PLC 7 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ehm79w 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 Zoom, the video conference app, has emerged as a saviour during the lockdown. How else would you take part in work meetings and online classes? It is particularly useful because you can keep the front camera on your laptops and desktops turned off if youre not dressed appropriately enough for a work meeting, or may be youre just not feeling it. But turns out, thats the ONE thing people keep forgetting. In yet another case of a Zoom meeting gone awry, a government official in the Philippines was caught having sex with his secretary during a regular virtual session, the media reported. According to a report in the Sun on Thursday, the incident came to light as the official, Captain Jesus Estil of the Fatima Dos village council in the province of Cavite, appeared to be unaware that his camera was on. Footage shows that the person had sex in a far corner of the room while the meeting was on. Before engaging in the actual act, Estil approached the device in what appeared to be an attempt to turn off the camera. The call that took place on August 26 was reportedly part of a regular council meeting. Unaware that the camera was on, Estil and the woman continued to engage in sexual intercourse, while other participants continued with the council meeting. Estil rejoined the call after the act. But a staff member who attended the call recorded the scene and the video eventually became public, which led some villagers to file a petition to oust the official for the misconduct. The video, which had gone viral, also became the point of discussion on local news channels: The pair reportedly asked for forgiveness, but the countrys Department of Interior and Local Government appears to have made up its mind to relieve Estil from his duty. This is not simple misconduct, but grave misconduct," DILG Barangay Affairs Summons and Complains Chief Richard Geronimo was quoted as saying by The Sun. Earlier, a similar incident was reported from Brazil when a pair was caught having sex during a Zoom meeting of the Rio de Janeiro city council. While city leaders met to discuss on school meals, one of the politicians was spotted having sex in the background. (With IANS inputs) Mr Samuel Addai Agyekum, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sekyere Kumawu has reiterated the government's commitment to ensure equitable distribution of national resources. He said the massive development projects currently going on in the district were for the benefit of all, irrespective of their political affiliations. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Effiduase, Mr Agyekum, said, the district assemblys commitment to operate an open door administration and inclusive governance at the local level to pursue socio-economic infrastructural development in all communities was unquestionable. He said since his assumption of office in 2017, he had integrated all the relevant stakeholders in the area such as traditional leaders, religious bodies, civil society groups, trade associations, among others, in the development and implementation of the various projects and programmes in the district. This, according to him, had helped ensure transparency, accountability and the successful implementation of the projects for the benefit of the people. Touching on infrastructural development on education, the DCE said a 12-unit classroom block and the resurfacing of the road network of the Bankoman Senior High School, was completed. A girls dormitory together with a solar powered water system and sanitary facilities, had also been completed for the Dadease Agricultural senior high school. Again, renovation works on the Dadease Salvation Army KG Block, construction of a six-unit classroom block for Sekyere primary school as well as six-unit classroom block for Tweneboah Koduah SHS, were completed. Mr Agyekum, said the completion of the Dadease Health Centre, Special Ward for the Kumawu Polyclinic as well as Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound at Wonoo, toilet and mechanized boreholes at Oyoko, were some of the health, water, sanitation and hygiene interventions that were successfully completed in the area. Our focus as a district is not only to sustain these gains, but to ensure that we contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals especially in the rural communities devoid of partisan politics and corruption, he told the GNA. Mr Agyekum said the District Assembly had also in the last three years, established a Circuit Court at Kumawu, two Warehouses at Wonoo, Machines Manufacturing and Resource Center at Kumawu, Fire Station at Kumawu, District Assembly block, which is ongoing, among others. A new Police Station structure at Bodomase, new CHPS compound at Abontanso and a structure for branch operation of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) at Kumawu, are the key plans by the Assembly to be initiated before this year ends, he stated. The DCE said a total of 3,000 seedlings of Pawpaw and 250,000 cashew seedlings have been distributed free of charge under the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) to interested farmers, who were currently cultivating about 6,000 hectares of land. Additionally, seeds of vegetables such as pepper, lettuce and tomatoes have been freely distributed to farmers, under the planting for food and job initiative in the district. The assembly was also in discussion with the rice farmers in the district to establish ultra-modern rice milling centre to facilitate the processing and value-addition to guarantee sustained and improved income for farmers. Mr Agyekum, said the achievements could not have been possible without the strategic engagement and active involvement of all relevant stakeholders on non-partisan basis. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A third teenager convicted over the killing of PC Andrew Harper who was dragged to his death behind a car has lodged an appeal against his sentence. The driver Henry Long, 19, lodged an application days after his co-accused, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 18, also sought permission to challenge their 13 year jail terms and their convictions. The officer's mother Debbie Adlam, said the legal bid was 'another kick in the stomach' for her family, while his widow, Lissie Harper, said it was 'upsetting'. Long, 19, was acquitted of murder but admitted manslaughter after Pc Harper, a Thames Valley Police traffic officer, was caught in a crane strap attached to the back of a car driven by Long. The prison sentences given to all three have already been referred to the Court of Appeal by the Attorney General for judges to decide whether they were too lenient. Pc Harper's widow is campaigning for Harper's Law, which would mean those who kill emergency workers are jailed for life. The Daily Mail revealed Long and the other two accused Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers received more than 465,000 in legal aid. Henry Long, 19, was acquitted or murder but admitted manslaughter after PC Harper, a Thames Valley Police traffic officer, was caught in a crane strap attached to the back of a car driven by Long Lawyers for Long were paid 169,175 while Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole had separate legal teams who were paid 131,696 and 164,898 respectively a total of just under 465,769. Commenting on Long's appeal, she said: 'This update comes as no surprise to me following news that two of them are also seeking leave to appeal against their conviction. 'None of Andrew's killers have shown any remorse. So this is just carrying on the way that they are and have been throughout the past year. It is upsetting - but just helps to drive my determination with my campaign calling for Harper's Law.' Mrs Harper and her 28-year-old husband had been married for just four weeks when he and a Thames Valley Police colleague responded to a late-night burglary in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in August last year. Lissie Harper (right) and her 28-year-old husband Pc Andrew Harper (left) had been married for just four weeks when he and a Thames Valley Police colleague responded to a late-night burglary in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in August last year More than 500,000 people have now signed an online petition supporting her campaign and she is due to meet Home Secretary Priti Patel next month for talks. Speaking to the Mail about the legal aid, she said: 'Not only did we not get justice for Andrew, we now know the cost of that injustice.' Mrs Harper, 29, said: 'It saddens me but does not surprise me that so much public money has been and continues to be spent on defending the indefensible. 'This just doesn't seem right or fair. Andrew was my whole life. I have had to sit in a courtroom and witness the people who chose to take my husband's life show no remorse.' Jessie Cole (left) and Albert Bowers (right) have also lodged applications seeking permission to challenge their convictions and their 13-year prison sentences Supported by the Police Federation of England and Wales, which represents more than 120,000 rank-and-file officers, Harper's Law would see anyone convicted of killing an emergency services worker given a life sentence Speaking today, Mrs Adlam said: 'My family and I totally respect anyone's right to appeal against their sentence. We live in a fair society. 'However, this news, coming as it does on the very last day that he had to put in his appeal, is simply another kick in the stomach that leaves us all feeling awful. 'We will recover from this as we have to do but my thoughts today are absolutely with my heroic son who gave his life trying to protect others and those responsible for his loss will not live rent free in my head.' The Harper's law campaign is being backed by the Police Federation of England and Wales, which represents thousands of officers up to the rank of chief inspector. Albert Bowers (left) and Jessie Cole (right) have lodged applications with the Court of Appeal seeking permission to challenge their convictions and their 13-year sentences Pc Harper's father has backed the campaign and said he is proud of his son's widow Lissie for launching it. Phil Harper, 55, said a new law is needed to impose tougher sentences on criminals who target the people who are 'the backbone of this country'. Earlier this week Debbie Adlam said it was 'another slap in the face' to hear her son's 'remorseless' killers were adding to her family's pain by planning to write a book behind bars. She said on Lorraine: 'To me it just shows the total lack of remorse, we've not seen any remorse anyway but it just further adds to that and the pain we're suffering as a family.' It has been reported that Cole and Bowers are planning on writing a book in prison about their crimes. They have reportedly commissioned someone else in prison to write it as it is claimed neither of them can read or write. Washington, Aug 28 : US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she doesn't believe there should be any presidential debates between sitting President Donald Trump and 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. "I don't think that there should be any debates," Pelosi said on Thursday during a press conference on Capitol Hill. "I do not think that the president of the United States has comported himself in a way that anybody has any association with truth, evidence, data and facts." "I wouldn't legitimize a conversation with him nor a debate in terms of the presidency of the United States," she added, Xinhua news agency reported. The top congressional Democrat instead proposed that the candidates take separate stages and answer questions about their policies in a "conversation with the American people" rather than "an exercise in skulduggery" but acknowledged that the Biden campaign "thinks in a different way about this." Andrew Bates, a spokesman for the Biden campaign, said that they "certainly agree with Speaker Pelosi on her views of the president's behaviour," "But just as she has powerfully confronted that behaviour in the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room, Joe Biden looks forward to doing the same on the debate stage," Bates added. Trump and his campaign have sought to cast doubt on Biden's mental fitness and pushed for more debates and for them to take place sooner. In a recent interview with ABC News, Biden, 77, said that he thinks "it's a legitimate question to ask anybody over 70 years old whether or not they're fit and whether they're ready." "But I just, only thing I can say to the American people, it's a legitimate question to ask anybody," he said. "Watch me." On Wednesday, Trump said he will request both Biden and himself take drug tests before the first presidential debate in September, suggesting without providing any evidence that drugs had improved the former vice president's debate performance against Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont in March during the Democratic primary. "We are going to call for a drug test," Trump said during an interview in the Oval Office with the Washington Examiner. "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 Commission on Presidential Debates has scheduled three debates between Biden and Trump and one between Vice President Mike Pence and Biden's running mate, Senator Kamala Harris of California, in coming two months. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The Uttar Pradesh government has confirmed that it will not grant permission for holding religious or public programmes till September 30 keeping in mind the coronavirus pandemic. According to additional chief secretary, home, Awanish Kumar Awasthi, on Thursday, chief minister Yogi Adityanth, in a meeting with the senior officers, said the district magistrates should not give permission for religious or public programmes till September 30. Awasthi said that the state government had also instructed officials to ensure that the restrictions including closure of markets on Saturday and Sunday are strictly implemented. The administration has also asked for carrying out an intensive cleanliness, sanitization and fogging drive in all the districts during the weekly closure of the markets. The drive was important in attempts to break the coronavirus infection chain in the state, Awasthi said. Also Read: Cannot discriminate against Shia Muslims: Bombay high court directs state to allow Muharram rituals Awasthi added that the state police had collected Rs 70 crore in penalty from people who flouted the rules and restrictions in place to contain the pandemic since end of March, when a nationwide lockdown was first clamped. The police have also seized 69,765 vehicles and registered FIR against 2.5 lakh people under section 188, he said. The number of containment zones in the state had increased to 15, 471 and the health teams had surveyed 14.35 lakh houses and 82.35 lakh people. 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. The Wisconsin Department of Justice on Wednesday identified the officer who shot Jacob Blake as Officer Rusten Sheskey. Hours later, the Department of Justice announced that the shooting, which led to three nights of violence in the state, is now under a federal civil rights investigation. The state's DOJ said in a press release that officers from the Kenosha Police Department were dispatched to the area on Sunday after a caller reported that her boyfriend, who was not supposed to be on the premises, was present. The release did not specify what role Blake played in the original incident, but family attorney Benjamin Crump said he was attempting to break up a domestic dispute. Officers attempted to arrest Blake during the incident and used a Taser in an unsuccessful attempt to subdue him, the DOJ said. As depicted in a video of the interaction that quickly went viral on social media, Blake walked to his SUV and opened the driver's side door. Sheskey, 31, grabbed Blake's shirt and fired his service weapon seven times into Blake's back, the release said. The release noted that no other officer fired their weapon, and that none of the officers were wearing body cameras because the department does not have any. All of the officers involved in the incident have been suspended. Sheskey has worked with the department for seven years, the release said. It did not elaborate on his record within the department. In August 2019, the Kenosha News interviewed Sheskey about his role a member of the Kenosha Police Department's bike unit. Sheskey told the news outlet he viewed his work as "a huge responsibility, and I really like trying to help the people." Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey / Credit: Kenosha News The news release about the shooting said that "during the investigation following the initial incident," Blake "admitted that he had a knife in his possession." The release did not specify what type of knife, when Blake allegedly informed officers that he had a knife, or in what context. Story continues "[Department of Criminal Investigation] agents recovered a knife from the driver's side floorboard of Mr. Blake's vehicle," the release added. "A search of the vehicle located no additional weapons." The Wisconsin DOJ's Department of Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation into Blake's shooting, with help from the FBI, the Wisconsin State Patrol and the Kenosha County Sheriff's Office. The release said that it expects to provide a full report to the prosecutor within 30 days. Blake remains in the hospital in stable but serious condition. Attorneys for his family said Tuesday that he is now paralyzed, and that bullets tore through his spinal cord, left holes in his stomach, caused damage to his kidney and liver and required that "nearly his entire colon and small intestine" be removed. Blake's shooting sparked protests throughout Wisconsin that began on Sunday night and have carried on throughout the week. Those protests turned deadly on Tuesday night, when two people were killed and another was wounded. A 17-year-old accused of the killings was arrested Wednesday in Illinois. New details in Jacob Blake police shooting emerge in first law enforcement press conferences Hurricane Laura makes landfall as Category 4 storm, bringing heavy winds and flooding Millions brace for impact as Hurricane Laura becomes Category 4 storm Ms. Dehghani-Tafti last fall defeated a longtime incumbent with a campaign promising criminal justice reform. Since her election, judges have overstepped their role to block her. Now she has filed a petition with the Virginia Supreme Court seeking relief from a sweeping and unprecedented order that undermines the discretion prosecutors normally have in making decisions about criminal cases. The order from the four judges who sit on the Circuit Court for Arlington County Chief Judge William T. Newman Jr. and Judges Daniel S. Fiore II, Louise M. DiMatteo and Judith L. Wheat was issued two months after Ms. Dehghani-Tafti took office and requires detailed, written justification for all decisions to dismiss, charge and settle cases. The judges framed the order as needed for efficient administration of justice and the courts ability to consider issues, but there were no such requirements previously, and the standing order appears to be unique in Virginia as well as the rest of the country. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Friday a new framework for individual counties to reopen, outlining the possibility of non-essential indoor businesses and schools to return depending on the coronavirus' spread in the area. The state will adopt a four-tiered approach to reopening where counties can move between the different levels depending on a county's positivity rate, or the percentage of tests that are positive, and their case rate. Each tier minimal, moderate, substantial and widespread allows for more or less non-essential indoor businesses to reopen with modifications. The governor said 38 counties, or roughly 87% of the state's population, will begin on the "widespread" tier, which orders most non-essential indoor business operations to remain closed. Counties on the widespread tier have a positivity rate above 8% and more than seven daily new cases per 100,000 people. The new framework moves away from what California previously called its "monitoring list," which was a list of counties with stricter rules on its businesses depending on a number of factors, including Covid-19 hospitalizations. Newsom said the new framework is "much more simple" as the state tries to rebound from a surge of cases over the summer after it tried reopening in May. The Golden State governor ordered all bars and all dine-in restaurants, movie theaters, museums and other indoor businesses across the state to close on July 13 as cases climbed. According to the new framework, a county has wait 21 days before it's allowed to move between tiers. Counties are only allowed to move one tier at a time and have to meet the qualifications for the next tier for two straight weeks. "We're going to be more stubborn this time and have a mandatory wait time between moves. We didn't do that last time, and that's a significant distinction between what we've learned from the past and what we're now advancing in this more stringent but we believe more steady approach," Newsom said. The new framework also will institute an "emergency brake" if hospitalizations grow and threaten the state's capacity to treat patients, Newsom said. Schools will only be allowed to reopen for in-person instruction if a county is able to move out of the widespread tier, though they would still be required to wait two weeks before discussing whether to return students, California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said. California's hospitals have reported a decline in Covid-19 patients after reaching a peak of more than 7,100 people in late July, according to data presented by Newsom at a press briefing. According to the data, there were just over 4,200 people hospitalized with Covid-19 as of Thursday. As of Friday, California has reported an average of 5,650 daily new infections based on a seven-day average, a decline of more than 27% compared with the week prior, according to a CNBC analysis of data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Suh Wook President Moon Jae-in has nominated Army Chief of Staff Gen. Suh Wook as new defense minister, Cheong Wa Dae announced Friday. If appointed after a National Assembly confirmation hearing, Suh would replace Jeong Kyeong-doo. If so, he would become the first defense chief with an Army background under the Moon administration. Moon's first defense minister was a retired Navy admiral, Song Young-moo, and Jeong is a former fighter pilot who served as Air Force chief. Cheong Wa Dae cited Suh's adequate experience in both field maneuvers and military operation as well as his expertise on the combined operations of South Korea and the United States, which are longtime allies. On the basis of more than 30 years of experience in the military, Suh is expected to contribute to maintaining a firm defense posture, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok said. He is also the right figure to make the military strong and trusted by the people by pushing for such core policy tasks as the transfer of wartime operational control from the U.S. and defense reform, Kang added. Born in Gwangju, 270 kilometers south of Seoul, in 1963, Suh graduated from Korea Military Academy in 1985. He served at the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command from 2011 to 2014. He then served as commanding general of the First Corps and chief director of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). Moon had been widely expected to carry out a Cabinet shake-up this month to affect at least two ministers, having already replaced several of his senior secretaries recently. The pick of only one new minister nominee, called by media here a "one-point Cabinet reshuffle," came presumably in consideration of the government's all-out fight against the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in South Korea. For instance, the president is unlikely to change his health minister at least until the coronavirus situation is brought under control, observers said. (Yonhap) They arrived in New Orleans just before sunset on Thursday after the most harrowing night of their lives. The charter bus from Lake Charles, filled with evacuees from Hurricane Laura, pulled up in front of the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel on Canal Street. Out came a stream of people carrying suitcases, blankets, water cases and diapers supplies they threw together after surviving the storm. Most seemed to be in a daze. The storm lasted from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Latasha Watts, 36, said. A Lake Charles resident, she didnt have the money to leave, so she decided to ride it out. It was a decision she said shed never make again. As she was hunkered down in her apartment, Laura's brutal winds shattered the windows and rattled the door so hard they thought it might blow open or collapse. +75 'Nothing like this': How Hurricane Laura's devastation has stunned Lake Charles residents LAKE CHARLESLonnie LaGrange spent his 38th birthday hunkered down in a Lake Charles churchs recreation center as Hurricane Laura tore throug The sound was unbearable. I thought I was going to fall through the floor, she said. Her sister, Whitney Fontenot, also stayed for the storm in her apartment. The 32-year-old waited out Rita 15 years ago, so she thought she could stick this one out, too. I wouldnt do it again if they paid me, Fontenot said. Fontenot and Watts are among evacuees staying in the 1,705 hotel rooms the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services has set aside for people with damaged homes, most of them from Lake Charles. Officials have not yet estimated when it will be safe for residents to return, but at least 67 water systems have been damaged by the storm and 600,000 were without power, the Governor said on Thursday. Most of the evacuees in New Orleans hotels, including the Sheraton, Marriott and Hilton Riverside, left before the storm. Theyre not sure whether theyll have homes to go back to, piecing together what information they can get from social media and from what they find out from the few who stayed behind. Reatha Thomas is finding it hard to think about all she has lost and the hard days to come. Its a lot, the 51-year-old mom of four repeated a few times as she stood under the eaves of the Hilton Riverside as rain fell in New Orleans on Thursday afternoon. Thomas has lived in Lake Charles all her life, so this isnt the first time she evacuated. She stayed with relatives in Shreveport during Rita. But this time she had car trouble. So on Wednesday, she took the state up on its offer of a van that could accommodate her 28-year-old son, who has cerebral palsy. Before she left, she grabbed the shakes he eats for meals and the processor she uses to puree his food, because he cant chew. But she only has a few days of supplies. Coronavirus, job loss, now hurricanes New Orleans residents face 'despair fatigue' Amy Trail has lived in New Orleans for 20 years. When she was furloughed at her job as a piano bar musician back in March, it felt like it doe The hotel is at 100% capacity with evacuees and Xavier University students, who are staying there as part of the universitys social distancing measures. The state is using hotels for evacuees instead of more traditional shelters because of the coronavirus. Thomas said the room is comfortable, but it can be loud, startling her son. He doesnt take well to strange places, she said, her voice so thin it could barely be heard through her mask. He has problems eating, sleeping. Get hurricane updates in your inbox Sign up for updates on storm forecasts, tracks and more. e-mail address * Sign Up Normally a skilled nurse and a personal care aide help Thomas take care of her son. She doesnt know how shell be able to keep up with moving him from his wheelchair to bed and bathing him. Even when she is able to go back, she doesnt expect to find anything. She lives in a trailer on Gulf Highway, an area she said floods during a normal rainstorm. Ive seen a couple pictures. Buildings, businesses just gone. Taiyonna Thomas held her sleeping one-year-old close to her chest. She arrived in New Orleans from Lake Charles on Tuesday. The bus was packed full except for the first four seats, she said. People smoked in the bathroom during the five-hour drive. No one wore masks. She doesnt know yet how much of her familys house is damaged, but she assumes the worst. When I looked on Facebook, the whole neighborhood was done. The stores were flooded, the roofs were blown off, Thomas said. She was five when the family evacuated to Little Rock, Ark. for Rita. They stayed for two or three months. She remembers when New Orleans residents evacuated to Lake Charles for Katrina before that. Thats crazy how times change, she said. Now were in New Orleans because we had a hurricane in Lake Charles. The whole city of New Orleans came to Lake Charles 15 years ago. I never would have thought this. As the storm came through, she watched a Wendys sign blow clear off on a live feed. Thats when she realized how serious it would be. "So many people stayed," said Thompson. "Im just trying to figure out if theyre dead or alive right now, but they dont have any power or service, so I couldnt get in touch with anybody." +8 Trump plans Louisiana trip to survey Hurricane Laura impact, his 7th visit as president As southwest Louisiana begins to pick up the pieces in the wake of Hurricane Laura, it can soon expect a visit from President Donald Trump. Peggy Thomas-Thierry, 54, was holding it together until she thought of her dog, Oreo. She had to leave him behind because her sons car was packed full of people, including a newborn baby. Now youre going to make me cry, Thierry said, wiping away tears. She thought the hurricane might change course or weaken. A lot of people said it could shift, she said. When it didnt, her son picked her up and they trekked to Baton Rouge with Laura on their tail. Hotels were full, so they came to New Orleans. +15 Powerful Hurricane Laura delivers damage across the state; last-minute shift reduces storm surge Hurricane Laura, the most powerful storm ever to make landfall in Louisiana, left a broad path of destruction across much of the western porti She left in such a rush that she only brought a few needles for her insulin pen, which she takes every evening for diabetes. She has about a weeks worth of insulin with her. She said she's dealing with anxiety and depression and worried shell run out of medicine while the stress keeps piling on. A neighbor might check on her house and dog, but she doesnt know what will be there. She heard about someone accepting mobile payments to fly a drone over houses, but she couldnt afford it. I didnt think it would be this long, she said.If its gone, its gone, she said, her voice cracking. The apex court said if any states feel they can't conduct the final year college examinations, they must approach the UGC for new dates New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday said that states and universities cannot promote students without holding final year exams by 30 September. Upholding the UGC decision to hold final year exams, a bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said if any state feels they can't conduct exams by that date, they must approach the UGC for new dates to hold the exam. Yuva Sena, the youth wing of the Shiv Sena, is one of the petitioners in the apex court and has questioned the UGC's directive to hold examinations amid the coronavirus pandemic. The UGC had earlier said that the 6 July guidelines are based on recommendations of experts and have been made after due deliberation and it is wrong to claim that it will not be possible to conduct the final examinations in terms of the guidelines. Assailing the decisions of some states like Maharashtra and Delhi to cancel final year examinations, the UGC had said that such decisions directly affect standards of higher education and will be an encroachment on the legislative field of coordinating and determining the standards of higher education that is exclusively reserved for Parliament under Schedule VII of the Constitution. 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 United States on Thursday accused China of further destabilizing the situation in the South China Sea after it test-fired ballistic missiles near the disputed Paracel Islands, in what an analyst called an apparent demonstration of Chinas ability to hit ships in the open ocean. The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported that missiles fired by the Peoples Liberation Army Rocket Force on Wednesday included a DF-21D, often referred to as a carrier-killer missile for its assumed role in sinking enemy aircraft carriers, like those operated by the United States Navy. In its statement on Thursday, the U.S. Department of Defense said it was concerned about the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) recent decision to conduct military exercises, including the firing of ballistic missiles, around the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on August 23-29. The Paracels are disputed between China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. This military exercise is the latest in a long string of PRC actions to assert unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea. The PRCs actions stand in contrast to its pledge to not militarize the South China Sea and are in contrast to the United States' vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, the statement said. The Pentagon did not specify which type of missiles had been fired during the drills one of at least three military exercises that the Chinese military is running this week, after months of rising tensions between the U.S. and China. The South China Morning Post said a DF-21D and a DF-26B missile were fired from two separate locations in China, citing an unnamed source close to the Chinese military. However, a U.S. defense official claimed there were actually four medium-range ballistic missiles fired into the South China Sea. According to a Bulletin of Atomic Scientists report on Chinas missile forces, the DF-21D is a medium-range ballistic missile, but the DF-26B is not it is an intermediate-range ballistic missile. Ankit Panda, a nuclear strategy and arms control expert at the Carnegie Endowment on International Peace in Washington, D.C., said China was apparently demonstrating its ability to hit ships out in the open ocean with its missiles. He called it a fairly rare test and noted that Chinas military only started practicing this capability last year. We dont know if they aimed to strike at a stationary or moving target, but the latter in particular would be quite significant, Panda said. Theres a lot of hubbub about these so-called carrier-killer missiles, but getting a missile -- especially a conventional on -- to hit a ship hundreds of kilometers away with any precision is very difficult. We dont know whether this is something China is looking to now test in the field. Previous testing of this kind took place on land, he said. The first hint a missile test was imminent was a NOTAM a notice prohibiting flight over a certain area for safety reasons issued Tuesday that specified an area in the waters between the Paracels and Chinas southernmost Hainan province. The notice also coincided with a notification from the Hainan Maritime Safety Administration prohibiting ships from entering the area as well. While the U.S. sternly criticized China, Beijing made its own complaint over a U.S. warship, the USS Mustin, performing a freedom of navigation exercise through the Paracel Islands on Thursday. Col. Li Huamin, a spokesperson for Chinas Southern Theater Command, said in a statement that the U.S. has repeatedly provoked troubles in the South China Sea and exercised navigational hegemony in the name of freedom of navigation. This has seriously damaged China's sovereignty and security interests and seriously undermined the international navigational order in the South China Sea. Chinas current military exercises are not restricted to the South China Sea. There are concurrent drills in the Yellow and Bohai Seas, in Chinas north. On Tuesday, independent researcher Duan Dang posted a picture of a missile being launched from a point in the Yellow Sea as part of these exercises to his social media account. Panda at Carnegie believes the image shows a submarine-launched cruise missile. On Aug 25, 2020,Twitter user Duan Dang posted a picture of this missile being launched as part of Chinas military exercise in the area to his social media account. Ankit Panda believes the image shows a submarine-launched cruise missile and called it a fairly remarkable satellite capture. Duan Dang Additionally, Chinas Ministry of Defense claimed it was also planning a military exercise somewhere in the Spratly Islands, a sprawling archipelago of rocks and reefs in the southern half of the South China Sea. China will organize routine military exercises at Nansha Islands and the surrounding area, Col. Wu Qian told reporters at a press conference Thursday. He added that the exercises were not directed against any country. Nansha is Chinas word for the Spratlys. Five governments have maritime or territorial claims in that area: Vietnam, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei. Its unclear when these exercises will take place, or if theyre already underway. Satellite imagery shows scant signs of military activity in the Spratly region, save for a convoy of 22 vehicles on the move at Subi Reef, which could possibly be part of the preparations for an exercise involving one of Chinas three largest military bases in the area. Aside from Subi Reef, those bases include Fiery Cross Reef, and Mischief Reef. A snapshot of a few cars in the convoy at Subi Reef, next to its airstrip, on of 22 cars on the artificial island in the South China Sea, Aug 27, 2020. Credit: Planet Labs Inc A handful of what appear to be warships were at Mischief Reef on Wednesday morning, according to satellite imagery. However, Chinas navy frequently stops at the massive artificial island as they move elsewhere in the region. Chinas military drills have drawn some concern in the region. Vietnam on Wednesday criticized previous naval exercises China held in the Paracels, and demanded China halt its activity. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said Chinas action complicates the situation in what Vietnam calls the East Sea. She said it was unfavorable for the long-running negotiations between China and Southeast Asia on establishing a Code of Conduct to maintain peace and stability in those waters. Taiwans President Tsai Ing-Wen said she was paying attention to potential hotspots of conflict in the South and East China Seas. There continue to be significant concerns over the potential for accidents, given increased military activity in the region. Therefore, we believe it would be important for all parties to maintain open lines of communications to prevent misinterpretations or miscalculations, she told the Australian Strategic Policy Institute on Thursday in response to a question concerning the risk of conflict breaking out in Asia. China, which is governed by the Communist Party of China, regards self-governing, democratic Taiwan as a renegade province. Taiwan occupies Pratas Island, an atoll in the South China Sea near where Chinas military is exercising northeast of the Paracels and south of Guangdong province. A 65 year old Iranian-Assyrian Christian, Shamiram Issavi her 66 year old husband, Victor Bet-Tamraz have fled their homeland of Iran hours before reporting to their prison sentence. The couple was charged for participating in an "unlawful and unauthorized gathering" and acting "against national security by organizing and conducting house churches," when they were in fact holding a Christmas celebration at home with three other church members. Victor was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his participation in "house-churches." Shamiran was sentenced to 5 years in prison for "participating in foreign seminars" and "acting against Iranian national security. Victor and Shamiram's son, Ramiel, was charged with "acting against national security" and "organizing and creating house churches." Victor's appeal was rejected and 3 week later, Shamiram's appeal also got rejected and was summoned to Evin Prison also known as "Iran's torture factory" to start their sentences. Shamiram and Victor's daughter, Dabrina, who currently resides in Switzerland shared with Article18 that her parents are currently "safe and well." The couple have a combined sum of 15 years of prison sentence and Dabrina worries for her senior parents' health and safety as her father, Victor, is turning 66 next month and her mother Shamiram turns 65 in December. "We continue to pray and hope for their sentences to be dropped." Dabrina shared. "We pray for justice both for my parents and for all the believers suffering in prisons." Such invasive and brutal persecution towards Christians is what drove the couple to make a difficult decision of fleeing their homeland. Christians are not allowed to freely gather and worship and to flee to another country to worship is not easy for Iranian refugees because they are often ostracized for their unstable resident status. The senior couples are planning to overturn the unjust prison sentences abroad. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Giulia Paravicini (Reuters) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Fri, August 28, 2020 10:30 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4116a62 2 Environment Mauritius,dolphin,animals,oil-spill Free Dead dolphins that washed up in Mauritius near the site of an oil spill have so far been found to have wounds on their bodies but no trace of oil, preliminary autopsy results released on Thursday said. Environmentalists are urgently seeking an explanation for the mysterious deaths of 27 dolphins which washed ashore on Wednesday and Thursday, to determine whether they were killed by the spill. Scientists fear the toxic spill could hurt wildlife for many years on islands that depend on tourism. So far, veteranarians have examined only two of the dolphins. Authorities say autopsies will be performed on the rest. "The preliminary results show that the animals did not have trace of hydrocarbon in their respiratory system, nor in their skin, throat or stomach," the report said. Both of the dolphins examined so far bore signs of injuries, it said. Read also: 17 dead dolphins wash up on Mauritius beach near oil spill site The Japanese-owned MV Wakashio, a bulk carrier, ran aground on July 25 and began to spill oil about a week later. The ship was scuttled on Monday. The autopsy on the first two was conducted by the government-run Albion Fisheries Research Centre. "The autopsy will be carried out on all other dolphins," said Jasvin Sok Appadu from the fisheries ministry. Local environmental group Eco-Sud called for the full autopsy results to be released publicly. International environmental pressure group Greenpeace called on the government of Mauritius to launch an inquiry to determine whether the deaths were linked to the oil spill. New research has found that nine out of 10 people in the UK who have worked from home during the coronavirus lockdown want to continue doing so. It comes as the government plans to launch a campaign to reassure the public that the workplace is safe and help people avoid crowded public transport to get them back into the office. The report, titled Homeworking in the UK: before and during the 2020 lockdown, is the first to analyse survey data focused on working from home during the pandemic. Before the start of the pandemic, just six per cent of employees in the UK worked from home. That rose to 43 per cent in April, with results indicating that productivity mostly remained stable compared with the six months before. Academics at Cardiff University and the University of Southampton, who produced the report, found that 88 per cent of employees who worked from home during lockdown would like to continue doing so in some capacity. And 47 per cent said they want to work from home often or all the time. Forty-one per cent of people said they got as much work done at home as they did six months earlier when most people were working in their offices. More than a quarter (29 per cent) said they got more done at home, while 30 per cent said their productivity had fallen. The shift to working from home mostly affected those who are highest paid, better qualified and higher skilled, and those living in London and the south east. Professor Alan Felstead, based at Cardiff University and the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods (WISERD), said the results pointed to a major shift from the traditional workplace. What is particularly striking is that many of those who have worked at home during lockdown would like to continue to work in this way, even when social distancing rules do not require them to, he said. These people are among the most productive, so preventing them from choosing how they work in the future does not make economic sense. Giving employees flexibility on where they work could be extremely beneficial for companies as they attempt to recover from the impact of Covid-10. But ministers believe there is a limit to working from home. The government is set to launch a major media campaign next week to encourage employees to return to the office, amid fears towns and city centres are on the verge of becoming deserted as commuters stay at home. Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, told Sky News on Friday: I think theres a limit, just in human terms, to remote working. And there are things where you just need to spark off each other and get together in order to make progress. So I think common sense will prevail between employers and employees. But Labour has warned that the campaign is risky, and should be reconsidered. Recommended Labour attacks government for urging return to offices during pandemic Labour's shadow business minister Lucy Powell said: "It beggars belief that the Government are threatening people like this during a pandemic. Forcing people to choose between their health and their job is unconscionable. "Number 10 should condemn this briefing and categorically rule out any such campaign." Only 17 per cent of workers in UK cities returned to their workplaces by early August, according to data from the Centre for Cities. The organisation noted that if people continue to work from home for at least some of the week, many shops and restaurants in city centres that rely on office workers will struggle if weekday sales shrink. Mr Shapps said: Our central message is pretty straightforward: we are saying to people it is now safe to return to work. Company that uses fish skin to heal human wounds and damaged tissue continues its rapid growth The Icelandic Growth Consortium today named Kerecis the country's fastest growing company. For the past four years Kerecis has either been the fastest or the second-fastest-growing company in Iceland. Kerecis is pioneering the use of fish skin and fatty acids for tissue protection and regeneration. The award acknowledges that Kerecis showed the fastest revenue growth year-to-year compared to the other nominated companies. It confirms that Kerecis spends more than 10 percent of its revenue on research and development, and that its founders still retain a significant stake in the company. "The main reason that we were once again named Iceland's fastest growing company is the rapid adoption of our medical fish skin in the U.S. market. We are excited that our products are preventing amputations and reducing human suffering," said G. Fertram Sigurjonsson, founder and CEO of Kerecis. "Kerecis is the only company that has made it to the top of this list four times," said Sigurdur Hannesson, Director General of the Federation of Icelandic Industries. "The Icelandic Growth Consortium Award is important because it acknowledges innovation, which is key to driving the future growth of the Icelandic economy. Kerecis' continued success is a testament to its innovative products as well as to an ambitions sales and marketing strategy. Other companies can learn from its journey." Kerecis was named Iceland's fastest growing company in 2017, and second-fastest in 2018 and 2019. Kerecis develops products from fish skin and fatty acids that protect and regenerate human wounds and heal damaged tissue. Because there is no risk of a viral-disease transfer from Atlantic cod to humans, the fish skin needs only mild processing for medical use and maintains its natural structure and elements, including Omega3 fatty acids. The Kerecis fatty-acid-based products protect the body against bacterial and viral infections. The fish skin used in Kerecis' products derives from wild and sustainable fish stock caught in pristine Icelandic waters and processed with 100 percent renewable energy in the town of Isafjordur, close to the Arctic Circle. About the Icelandic Growth Consortium The Icelandic Growth Consortium consists of the Federation of Icelandic Industries, Iceland Startups, University of Reykjavik and the Icelandic Research Institute. About Kerecis Kerecis is pioneering the use of fish skin and fatty acids in the globally expanding cellular-therapy and regenerative-medicine market. The Kerecis fatty-acid-rich fish skin protects the body's tissues and enables it to regenerate tissues. The Kerecis sprayable topical and oral formulations protect the body from bacterial and viral infections. The Kerecis products, which are based on fish skin and fatty acids, are currently being used to protect and regenerate tissue in diabetic and trauma wounds, and for infection control. The company's mission is to extend human life by supporting the body's ability to regenerate tissues. Its vision is to become the world leader in tissue protection and regeneration by sustainably harnessing nature's own remedies. For more information, visit www.kerecis.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200828005033/en/ Contacts: Kay Paumier Communications Plus kay@communicationsplus.net 408-370-1243 By PTI NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court Friday dismissed a plea by Mehul Choksi, an accused in the nearly USD 2 billion PNB scam, to conduct pre-screening of Netflix documentary, 'Bad Boy Billionaires'. Justice Navin Chawla, after hearing the matter for over two hours, declined to grant relief to Choksi saying a writ petition for enforcement of a private right cannot be maintainable. The court said his remedy lies in a civil suit and granted him the liberty to raise the issue in a civil suit. ALSO READ | Nirav Modi UK extradition judgment to be delivered after December 1 Choksi, the promoter of Gitanjali Gems, and his nephew Nirav Modi are accused in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case. Choksi left the country last year and was granted citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda. The documentary, Bad Boy Billionaires', which is scheduled to be released in India on September 2, is described on Netflix platform as, "This investigative docuseries explores the greed, fraud and corruption that built up - and ultimately brought down - India's most infamous tycoons". The plea was pre-screening of the documentary was vehemently opposed by Netflix. Would I love to see it? Sure. I want to read it all. I was getting ready to read 60 pages this afternoon. I wanted to see what it is that all this is about, she said. But perhaps this is not over. Well see. Ramco Systems hit an upper circuit of 5% at Rs 270.55, rising for ninth consecutive trading session. Shares of Ramco Systems have jumped 48% in nine trading days from its previous closing low of Rs 182.9 on 17 August 2020. The stock was locked in an upper circuit seven times in last nine trading days. The counter hit a 52-week high of Rs 270.55 in intraday trade today. The stock is up 322% from its 52-week low of Rs 64.1 on 21 May 2020. HDFC Mutual Fund acquired 1.57 lakh shares (0.51% stake) of Ramco Systems at Rs 240 per share on Wednesday (26 August 2020) on the NSE. The software company on 25 August 2020 announced that it signed a multi-million dollar agreement with a leading utilities and infrastructure group with diversified businesses in Malaysia for delivering group-wide digital transformation across ports and logistics operations. Ramco Systems is a enterprise software, offering cloud and mobile-based enterprise software in the area of HCM and Global Payroll, ERP and M&E MRO for Aviation. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Newser) It was one of those cold-case breaks that have become common these days: Thanks to a DNA match, police arrested a suspect last year in the murder of two young women in Virginia Beach in 1973. The families of Janice Pietropola and Lynn Seethaler, two 19-year-olds from suburban Pittsburgh who were vacationing in a rented cottage, thought they'd finally see justice. But as the Virginian-Pilot reports, it now appears that Ernest Broadnax, 82, will never face trial because doctors have diagnosed him with dementia. One of his public defenders says he won't improve, and prosecutors say there's not much they can do. story continues below "There is no justice in this for Janice," Judy Poklemba, Janice's younger sister. "And that just kills us. It absolutely kills us." It's not clear what will happen next with Broadnax, who remains in the Virginia Beach Correctional Center after his arrest in Queens, NY. It's possible he'll end up in a state psychiatric hospital. The brutal murdersPietropola was also rapedprompted one of the largest investigations in Virginia Beach history before the trail went cold. Pietropola's brother Michael (who's skeptical of the diagnosis) hopes that cold cases will start being a bigger priority in the court system, given that families often wait decades for an arrest. (Read more cold cases stories.) Bloom, 43, and Perry, 35, announced the news of their daughter Daisy Doves birth through Unicef on Thursday, as they are both goodwill ambassadors of the charity. Sharing a black and white photo showing them holding the newborns tiny hand on Unicefs social media platforms and their own accounts, the couple said that they were floating with love and wonder after the safe and healthy arrival of [their] daughter. Australian model Kerr, 37, was among the celebrities to congratulate the pair on Instagram. Im so happy for you guys, she wrote below Perrys post, adding: Cant wait to meet her. Bloom and Kerr married in 2010 and welcomed their son Flynn, now nine, the following year. They split up in 2013 and Kerr later married Snapchat co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel in 2016. Kerr and Bloom were married for three years / Getty Images The couple share two young sons, two-year-old Hart and 10-month-old Myles. Perry and Bloom announced their engagement last year but had to postpone their wedding plans due to the coronavirus pandemic. In their birth announcement, Perry and Bloom told followers that they were the lucky ones as not everyone can have a birthing experience as peaceful as ours. Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom - In pictures 1 /17 Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom - In pictures Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom attend the premiere of Carnival Row on August 21, 2019 Getty Images Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom in 2019 Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom in Japan in 2019 Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom facetimeing in 2019 Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom show off Katy's engagement ring in 2019 Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom and their pup on a ski holiday Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom in 2019 SplashNews.com Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom attend the premiere of Carnival Row on August 21, 2019 Getty Images Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom attend the Monte-Carlo Gala for the Global Ocean on September 26, 2018 Getty Images @katyperry @katyperry Orlando Bloom Orlando Bloom "Communities around the world are still experiencing a shortage of healthcare workers and every eleven seconds a pregnant woman or newborn dies, mostly from preventable causes, they added, explaining that they had set up a donations page in their daughters name to help raise funds for new mothers and their babies. Perry released her new album Smile on Friday, and joked that she was about to deliver a second child. ITS HERE! ITS REALLY HERE! she wrote in an excited Instagram post. I finally got back my smile! Hope this record puts one on your face. #SMILE IS OUT EVERYWHERE NOW! LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH ENJOY (sent from my hospital bed lol). She also shared a picture of a woman throwing a baby to a man and wrote in the caption: me after feeding all day handing Daisy off to daddy bout to deliver this 2nd child. With additional reporting by Press Association New Delhi, Aug 28 : The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed a petition filed by PNB scam accused diamond merchant Mehul Choksi against Netflix's upcoming web series "Bad Boy Billionaires: India" seeking postponement of the release date . A single judge bench of the high court presided by Justice Navin Chawla while dismissing the petition granted liberty to Choksi to seek appropriate legal remedy. "The remedy of the petitioner would be in a civil suit as what is being alleged by the petitioner is infringement of his private right. In view of the abuse submissions, the present petition is dismissed leaving it open to the petitioner to seek appropriate legal remedy," the judge said. The petition filed by Choksi through advocate Vijay Aggarwal seeks the court's direction to the OTT platform to not release the episode/portion of the Documentary "Bad BoyA Billionaires - India" insofar as it relates to Choksi or is prejudicial to his rights or mentions him during the pendency of investigations and/or trials against him. During the course of hearing, advocate Vijay Aggarwal while opposing the argument of Netflix that it isn't governed by the Indian laws and can't be regulated, said, "If you're doing business in India, you should respect the Constitution of India or else we will ban you like Chinese apps." Aggarwal further submitted: "Till the time Union of India won't do anything, I will continue to come to my Lords. They are making crores of money from us but we are not regulating them. Uber came to India, it was not being regulated, one rape incident happened and they were regulated." Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul appearing for the OTT platform told the court that Choksi has just come over an apprehension and the trailer of the upcoming docu series has no mention of him. He also questioned as to whether a filmmaker now be required to take a pre censorship from proclaimed offenders before releasing a movie or a book. Responding to the prayer in the petition regarding the pre screening of the upcoming venture, Kaul said, "Can an apprehension be the basis of pre screening." Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan who was also representing the OTT platform said Choksi knew about this docu series since 2018. "He does not deliberately make the production house a party, so that the suppression can be done quietly," Dayan said while adding that the current writ petition is filed just to bypass a civil suit. Rebutting to the said arguments and objecting to his client being called a "fugitive", Aggarwal said, "They have section 14 for declaring a fugitive. But, with utmost respect, my client is not a fugitive; there is a stay on the proceedings. They called me fugitive 10 times, they are misinforming the court." The plea had also sought direction to Netflix to conduct a pre-screening of the Documentary for the court and the counsels for the Petitioner. Appearing for the petitioner, Aggarwal argued that he is not seeking a stay on the documentary but he is seeking that he be shown the preview so that he can agitate. On the previous date of hearing, Aggarwal had said, "My Lords, the matter is under investigation and the said documentary will prejudice the rights of the accused (petitioner)." On the other hand, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul appearing for Netflix opposed the said petition on the grounds of maintainability saying that the documentary has a two minute piece where mentions of Choksi has been made. Choksi in his petition stated that he became aware of the Documentary's imminent release on August 24 when he saw the trailer and started receiving phone calls from various persons across the world, including from Delhi, asking him whether he was part of the Documentary and to solicit his comments for the same. "Thereafter, the Petitioner discovered that one of the persons seen speaking in the trailer was one Mr. Pavan C. Lall who had written a book titled "Flawed: The Rise and Fall of India's Diamond Mogul Nirav Modi" where also the Petitioner's name had been comingled with Nirav Modi's," said the plea. The plea states that with the release of this documentary there is a real and substantial threat of prejudice to the fairness of the trial and to the rights of the Petitioner (Choksi) under Articles 21. "A trial by media is always detrimental to the case of the Petitioner and is totally contrary to the trite rule that an accused person is innocent until proven guilty by a court of law," the plea read. Choksi further stated that the release of the Documentary would cause severe impact on the his reputation as well as create a widespread perception of guilt notwithstanding the fact that no competent court has found him guilty. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed As protests against police violence and white supremacy swept away dozens of long-standing memorials to the Confederacy this summer, a 105-year-old monument on the courthouse lawn in Lake Charles, Louisiana, remained standing. Until Hurricane Laura tore the statue atop it down. It is a blessing, a small blessing, in a very devastating situation, said Davante Lewis, who grew up in Lake Charles and supported the monuments removal. The debate over what to do about the Souths Defenders Memorial Monument, which depicted a Confederate soldier on a marble pedestal, had been the hottest thing in the city in recent months, Lewis said Thursday, until residents turned their attention to preparing for one of the strongest hurricanes ever to hit the region. The monument was the object of anger and protests after the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by the police in Minneapolis. The political decision over its fate largely broke down along racial lines, although Lake Charles mayor, Nic Hunter, a Republican who is white, had expressed support for removing it. But two weeks ago, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, an elected body that acts like a county board of commissioners and has jurisdiction over the courthouse property, voted 10-5 at a special meeting to keep it. The jury members received 945 written responses from the public in support of the monument, according to The Lafayette Daily Advertiser, and 67 that wanted it gone. I view it as military, and its just the way I was brought up, to show respect to any statues or monuments, said Ashton Richard, a police jury member who is white and voted to keep the memorial. After the vote, protesters said the fight was not over; they started an economic boycott of any business or church affiliated with the jury members who had voted in the monuments favor. If the city would have done what many of us asked it to do, that statue could be in a museum, it could be well kept together and not be damaged, Lewis said. But unfortunately, they took other opportunities to keep it in the bright light of day, and Mother Nature had another plan. Hurricane Lauras powerful winds tied for the strongest ever to strike Louisiana appeared to have ripped the bronze statue of the soldier from its pedestal and left it lying next to the base of the monument on Thursday morning among a pile of broken tree limbs. Officials said they did not know what will happen to it now. Today is about making sure everyone is safe and secure, said Mike Smith, a police jury member who voted for removal. Smith is one of four Black men, along with Lewis father, Eddie Lewis Jr., on the 15-member police jury. It represents all of Calcasieu Parish, whose residents are 68% white and 24% Black. But Lake Charles population is about 50% African American. The vote on whether to remove the statue split mostly along racial lines, with just one white member voting to remove it. You have older white men making these decisions, said Cary Chavis, a Black man and former teacher who helped lead the protests. When we go in front of the police jury and say, We want this done, they dont have to do this because they dont look like us. The statue has come down several times before including in a 1918 storm, just three years after it was erected but has always been restored. In 1995 it was blown off and repaired, despite protests from some local residents, including a district judge, who turned their backs as the soldier was returned to the pedestal. Chavis said he hoped that would not be the case this time around. Thats what Im hoping for that as we put Lake Charles back together, he said, we put it back together not with images of systemic racism or white supremacy on public grounds. KITCHENER The Somali Canadian Association of Waterloo Region met with Waterloo Regional Police Services Thursday. Nearly 50 people attended, with community members voicing their concerns about over-policing and police brutality against the Somali community. The event comes in the wake of the arrest of Abdisalam Omer, a Somali-Canadian who was beaten during his arrest by WRPS officers in early July at Victoria Street S. and Westmount Road. Sitting in chairs spaced two metres apart in the Victoria Hills Community Centre gym, community members listened to police answer questions they had submitted in advance to Faduma Musse, president of the Somali association. The event was co-moderated by Musse and Ciann Wilson, professor at Wilfrid Laurier University. Police attendees at the Somali meeting included Larkin, Supt. John Goodman and deputy chiefs Shirley Hilton and Mark Crowell, as well as officers on the forces equity team. The centre was chosen for its significance. Police drove to the Victoria Hills centre after stopping Omer for a headlight issue. Bashir Mohammed, one of the attendees that evening, was not satisfied with police responses to questions about the arrest. They did the best they could, but unfortunately it wasnt a clear answer for us to evaluate what happened in the incident with Mr. Omer, Mohammed said. Goodman said police escalated the arrest due to indication of a weapon and violence. Police can be heard on video captured the night of the arrest saying Omer had a gun. No gun was found. Larkin said that he couldnt answer questions about Omers case, as he is bound by a legislative framework and other thresholds under the Ontario Police Service Act. He said WRPS have been working with correctional services to provide support for Omer. Interpretation services was one of many actionable items Musse said she wanted to support Omer. Larkin also acknowledged the pain and trauma of watching the violent arrest that was caught on cellphones and closed-circuit television cameras. Waterloo Regional Police Services have asked Peel Regional Police and an expert on police use of force in Alberta to review the case. The Peel service is under investigation in the police shootings of Ejaz Choudry and DAndre Campbell. Both men were shot dead by Peel police who responded to mental health crisis calls. Waterloo residents who know Omer, who has mental health challenges, say he should not have posed a threat to officers. Weve been asked to do many things in the community that we are not equipped to do, Larkin conceded. Larkin also said that he is in favour of discussing the allocation of funds to support mental health services, and that it will require a larger systems discussion. Sagal Muse, a Somali-Canadian woman at the meeting, was not satisfied with what police said they would commit to. Everybodys here for different reasons, but at the end of the day, for me, I was here to hear more actionable, tangible items that could come out of this conversation and thats something that I did not hear. Theres more work that needs to be done ... in order for us to get where we would like to be, Musse said. After police left, the community members debriefed. Musse said the consensus among most attendees was that the meeting was a success. Mohammed said he thought the police answers about systemic anti-Black racism were made in a professional or political way that wasnt clear. Some attendees said they disliked the corporate language used by police. They came prepared, and we expected them to do that, Musse said. She emphasized this was not inherently negative. Zack Ahmed said he was concerned about the investigation into police involved in Omers arrest. The fact that its another police authority thats investigating an existing police authority, that in itself, a lot of community members have issues with that, Ahmed said. How is one police body investigating another police body? We need community involvement in the case of Abdisalam and we need transparency. Musse said at the outset of the meeting that one key objective was to centre community voices on our collective path to healing. We hope that part of the healing process is to get justice for Abdisalam, Ahmed said. As long as Abdisalam doesnt receive justice, I dont think there will be healing. Sagal Muse said that, based on what she heard tonight, they might heal after many, many, many more conversations that need to be had. Srinagar, Aug 28 : The Jammu and Kashmir administration has advised people in the valley not to panic but to be cautious in the wake of increased water levels in rivers caused by incessant rains over the last two days. An official statement said the general public is being informed that due to continuous rains over the last two days the water level in the Jhelum river and its tributaries has increased. At Sangam, the level is now coming down and is at 15.95 ft at present as against the danger level of 21 feet. While the gauge level at Ram Munshibagh is presently 15.77 ft against the danger level of 18 ft, the level of Ram Munshibagh, Srinagar is likely to increase as the peak discharge from South Kashmir will reach Srinagar and move further towards the north. As per the statement issued by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, the weather forecast is favourable and the water levels are expected to come down. The statement said that in case of any emergency the people should contact the Irrigation and Flood Control Department and the district administration. About 40 young people took to the streets of downtown Tulsa on Thursday evening to demand justice for Jacob Blake. The 29-year-old Black man was shot seven times in the back by a Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer during a domestic disturbance call on Sunday. The shooting itself happened more than 700 miles from Tulsa, but attendees said its circumstances hit home. "Everyone here is a leader," Matthew Williams of Tulsa said to those gathered at the Center of the Universe, a landmark at 1 S. Boston Ave. Speaking with a megaphone, Williams commended those who came to the masked, socially distanced Tulsa Anti-Racist Action event in person. Sharing right-minded posts on social media sometimes just isn't enough, he said. Williams, 32, was one of several speakers who took a turn before the group. Their causes cast a wide net but centered on Black people who have been killed or injured by police, like Blake, who likely will not walk again, his family's attorney told reporters Tuesday. Devin Williams, a 34-year-old activist from Bartlesville, encouraged those gathered to vote to have their voice heard. One man has been charged with murder and another with accessory after the fact over the death of a high-ranking motorcycle gang member earlier this year. Bandidos chapter president in the Central West Shane De Britt, 60, was found dead via a gunshot wound to the head inside his homestead on a property at Eurimbla, 70 kilometres north-west of Orange in the states Central West, in mid-January. President of the Bandidos Central West Shane De Britt. The State Crime Commands Homicide Squad, assisted by the Criminal Groups Squad and Orana Mid-Western Police District detectives, commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the mans death under Strike Force Kerrison. On Friday morning, two men aged 58 and 39 were arrested at a rural property near Stuart Town, south of Wellington. Four people at the Republican National Convention's events in Charlotte, N.C., have tested positive for Covid-19, the authorities in Mecklenburg County announced Friday. Though the convention's Charlotte programming was drastically scaled back because of coronavirus concerns, two attendees and two members of support staff tested positive for the virus. Health officials for Mecklenburg County, which contains Charlotte, said 792 Covid-19 tests were conducted on staff and attendees at the convention. Michael Ahrens, the Republican National Committees communications director, said in a statement to POLITICO that the affected attendees and support staff tested positive on arrival at the convention and were sent home. They had tested negative before arriving at the convention, Ahrens said. The RNC had diligent safety protocols in place, including testing all attendees before arriving in Charlotte, and again upon arrival," Ahrens said. The location for the convention shifted around the South in the lead-up to the convention amid safety concerns about having thousands of cheering supporters in close proximity during the pandemic. Initially slated for Charlotte, the convention location was moved to Jacksonville, Fla., in June after North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said a Charlotte rally would need to be downsized to accommodate coronavirus guidelines. Those plans were canceled in July with President Donald Trump acknowledging, "it's just not the right time" to hold a "big, crowded convention. The convention ended up being split between Charlotte and Washington, with several speakers participating remotely. Convention organizers said there were regular temperature checks and wellness questionnaires, as well as mask and social distancing requirements. Attendees were instructed to wear a safety fob to monitor their health. But during the Trump's final address Thursday night to accept the party's nomination, attendees were closely packed together with little space for social distancing on the White House South Lawn. Few attendees could be seen wearing masks during Trump's address. Physicians at Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem report promising early results of a clinical study in which they are treating Covid-19 patients with immunoglobulin derived from the plasma of recovered patients found to have high levels of antibodies. The serum is prepared by Rehovot-based biopharmaceutical company Kamada. Three patients have already received the serum and are doing well, according to Dr. Yaron Ilan, chief of internal medicine at Hadassah University Medical Center. "The first patient demonstrated a rapid clinical benefit and went home after previously being in... Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 21:11:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe leaves after a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 28, 2020. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a press conference Friday that he would step down from his post due to health concerns. (Franck Robichon/Pool via Xinhua) TOKYO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a press conference Friday that he would step down from his post due to health concerns, bringing an end to his record tenure of nearly eight years. However, the prime minister said that he planned to continue his political career and would run in the next general election to be held by the fall of 2021. "As I am no longer in a condition to respond confidently to the mandate of the people, I have decided I should not stay in the prime minister's post," he said at a nationally televised press conference, apologizing to the Japanese people for stepping down at this time. His resignation was meant to avoid his health issue from creating leadership vacuum, Abe said, adding that now was the only time he could resign amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Abe said that his health condition worsened and he began feeling severe fatigue in July, adding that he lost confidence in his ability to serve Japanese people. While the race for Japan's next leader is already intensifying, Abe said he would remain in office until his successor is chosen by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) but he stopped short of naming his preferred successor. According to local media reports, the LDP will decide next Tuesday on how to hold a leadership election, with parliamentarians and representatives of local chapters likely casting ballots. The prime minister revealed that test results in June showed his ulcerative colitis, an intestinal disease that led his first one-year stint to end abruptly in 2007, was beginning to resurface. He said he had been able to keep the illness under control for nearly eight years into his tenure but now he would receive new treatment and required prolonged care. The politician also expressed regret towards many of his unrealized political ambitions at the press conference. It was "gut-wrenching" to have to leave his post while still trying to guide the Japanese economy out of deflation, sign a peace treaty with Russia, and amend the Constitution, he said. Abe's decision to quit came as a surprise to many, including his close aides. "I was taken aback," Tomomi Inada, one of the aides, has said, noting the announcement was all too sudden and unexpected. Although Abe will leave office before seeing the Tokyo Olympics slated to be staged next summer, he said Japan has the responsibility to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics. Abe also said that the downtrend in COVID-19 cases prompted him to resign, adding that he thought now was the right time to step down because the spread of COVID-19 has slowed. At a government meeting on Friday, the prime minister said that Japan aimed to secure COVID-19 vaccinations for all citizens by the first half of 2021. He also said he has been able to compile new measures against the virus, including expanding testing capacity to 200,000 a day. Speculations about the Japanese premier's deteriorating health have been swirling of late and amplified by two trips to a Tokyo hospital within a week. Abe's first admission to hospital on Aug. 17 for what was described as a "health check up" that lasted more than seven hours stoked concerns about his health. On Aug. 24, Abe revisited the Keio University Hospital in Tokyo for four hours to receive the results of the checkup and have more tests. On the same day, he became Japan's longest-serving leader with the most consecutive days in office, surpassing the previous record of 2,798 days held by his uncle Eisaku Sato. Enditem They have existed in Australia for almost 60 years with the lofty ambition of promoting world peace. But now, under proposed new federal government laws, sister city relationships are set to be reviewed by a new unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to ensure they are consistent with Australias national interest. John Blaxland, the head of the Australian National University's Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, said while affiliations between local councils and overseas cities might look innocuous, they could be used to glean information that works against Australia's interests. Professor John Blaxland says local councils need to think about the information they are divulging through sister city relationships Credit:Jamila Toderas "Local councils need to do some hard-nosed thinking about how the information that has been accessed through these arrangements might be used against us," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 21:17:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Video: U.S. President Donald Trump has accepted the Republican Party's nomination for reelection, in a speech from the White House South Lawn on the night of Aug. 27, 2020. (Xinhua) --- Trump, 74, was a businessman and television celebrity before entering politics. He won the 2016 U.S. presidential election as a Republican by defeating then Democratic presidential nominee and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. --- Biden, 77, was U.S. vice president from 2009 to 2017 after serving 36 years as U.S. senator for state of Delaware. This is the third time Biden has run for president. Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on Aug. 27, 2020 shows screens displaying U.S. President Donald Trump delivering his acceptance speech during the 2020 Republican National Convention. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump accepted the Republican Party's nomination for reelection on Thursday night and is seeking to draw contrast between himself and his Democratic rival Joe Biden. "This is the most important election in the history of our country," Trump said in a speech from the White House South Lawn to a crowd of more than 1,000 people. "There has never been such a difference between two parties, or two individuals, in ideology, philosophy, or vision than there is right now." Trump went after Biden from economy to foreign policy, trying to paint the 77-year-old moderate political veteran as beholden to the "radical left." The president notably hammered a "law and order" message, a major theme of his reelection bid, as he warned against an America under the Biden presidency. "The most dangerous aspect of the Biden platform is the attack on public safety," Trump said. "Make no mistake, if you give power to Joe Biden, the radical left will defund police departments all across America ... No one will be safe in Biden's America." Biden, whose campaign has made racial justice a pillar, has said that he supports police reform but not the movement to "defund the police" in response to a nationwide reckoning over what activists have described as police brutality and systemic racism after George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May. Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States on Aug. 20, 2020 shows screens displaying images of former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaking in a video feed of the 2020 Democratic National Convention. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Floyd's death sparked weeks-long protests and social unrest across the United States. Public anger has been reignited in the wake of the Aug. 23 police shooting of 29-year-old African American Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which has led to consecutive days of protests and violence at times in the city. In Washington, protesters gathered near the White House with the intention of disrupting Trump's outdoor speech, with the Secret Service beefing up security around the presidential residence. Trump didn't address the shooting or the issue of racism in his acceptance speech. Instead, he touted job numbers for African Americans, doubled down his support of law enforcement agencies, and blamed the unrest in cities like Kenosha, Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago, and New York, on Democrats. "There is violence and danger in the streets of many Democrat-run cities throughout America. This problem could easily be fixed if they wanted to. We must always have law and order," he said. "All federal crimes are being investigated, prosecuted, and punished to the fullest extent of the law. Kate Bedingfield, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign, rebuked Trump's remarks in a statement, saying that "In Donald Trump's America, safety is pitted against justice, Americans are pitted against one another, and the violence that Trump warns of plays out on the streets of communities across our country -- stoked by his own words and actions." Biden said earlier on Thursday that he thinks Trump is "rooting for more violence, not less." "He views this as a political benefit to him," said the former vice president. "And he's clear about that. And what's he doing, he's pouring more gasoline on the fire." Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on Aug. 27, 2020 shows screens displaying U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. first lady Melania Trump arriving on stage for the 2020 Republican National Convention. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Making his case for reelection clear, Trump also touted what he believes were accomplishments of his first term, made promises for the next four years, and tried to reshape the narrative of his administration's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. "In recent months, our nation, and the entire planet, has been struck by a new and powerful invisible enemy," he said. "We are meeting this challenge. We are delivering lifesaving therapies, and will produce a vaccine before the end of the year, or maybe even sooner! We will defeat the virus, end the pandemic, and emerge stronger than ever before." The United States passed the grim milestone of 180,000 coronavirus deaths on Thursday, with nearly 5.9 million cases -- more than anywhere else in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University. Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe the United States is handling the pandemic worse than other countries, according to an NPR/Ipsos poll released earlier this month. Biden's running mate, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris of California, hit Trump on his response to the public health crisis in a speech on Thursday afternoon. Images of U.S. Senator Kamala Harris speaking in a video feed of the 2020 Democratic National Convention are displayed on screens in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on Aug. 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) "It's relentless. You can't stop it with a tweet. You can't create a distraction and hope it'll go away. It doesn't go away. By its nature, a pandemic is unforgiving," Harris said. "If you get it wrong at the beginning, the consequences are catastrophic. It's very hard to catch up ... President Trump got it wrong in the beginning." The finale of the 2020 Republican National Convention, under the theme "Land of Greatness" on Thursday night, also featured speeches from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, former New York City mayor and Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, and the president's daughter and senior adviser Ivanka Trump. Trump, 74, was a businessman and television celebrity before entering politics. He won the 2016 U.S. presidential election as a Republican by defeating then Democratic presidential nominee and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Biden, 77, was U.S. vice president from 2009 to 2017 after serving 36 years as U.S. senator for state of Delaware. This is the third time Biden has run for president. According to the RealClearPolitics polling average, Biden leads Trump by 7.1 percentage points nationally. However, Trump has repeatedly dismissed polls showing him falling behind as "fake." Trump will hold a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire on Friday in the hope of building momentum for his campaign after the White House acceptance speech. Biden said on Thursday he will begin traveling to battleground states after Labor Day, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. The Commission on Presidential Debates has scheduled three debates between Trump and Biden and one between Vice President Mike Pence and Harris in the next two months. The 2020 U.S. presidential election will take place on Nov. 3. Fairy Penguins a Positive Distraction From CCP Virus Lockdowns The Phillip Island Nature Parks live streaming of Australias famous Penguin Parade has been an international success with an estimated one million viewers from across the world tuning in to watch the penguins waddling home from the ocean to their burrows. Screened every night since Aug. 25, it is believed to be the worlds first nightly live stream of a natural wildlife event at a regular time, with expert commentary provided. Phillip Island Nature Parks Chief Executive Catherine Basterfield said that the penguins have been missing the nightly crowds who had previously come to view their journey home. The Little Penguins have missed having the crowds watching them every night, so Im sure they will put on a good show for the cameras, Basterfield said on the Phillip Island Nature Parks website. The Live Penguin TV allows audiences to experience up to 3,000 little penguins emerge from the Bass Strait and waddle up the beach back to their homes. Environment Minister Lily DAmbrosio was also welcoming of the daily display of natural wildlife to lounge rooms around the world. I have no doubt the live streaming will delight those whove never seen these little penguins in action and encourage even more people to visit Australias most popular wildlife attraction when its safe to do so, DAmbrosio said. Phillip Island Nature Parks rangers are also providing live expert commentary on the parade. Translations into different languages for overseas audiences are also in the works. The event has proven to be a much-needed distraction from lockdowns to curb the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus. Maor Castillo commented under Thursdays live stream that he was an Australian stuck in Spain watching the Penguin Parade with his two kids. Another commenter said that they were watching whilst on their break from driving trains in the Midlands in the UK. Given the younger audiences, Philip Island told the Epoch Times that they have also taken measures to make sure that those watching are safe. Our YouTube platform has its own protections in place for children, a spokesperson said. However, they did note that comments on the Facebook live stream would be up to the parents to monitor. To watch the show from 6 p.m., viewers can go to the Phillip Island Facebook page or they can visit Phillip Island Nature Parks Youtube Channel. The judge declined to grant relief to Mehul Choksi, saying a writ petition for enforcement of a private right cannot be maintainable. The Delhi High Court Friday dismissed a plea by Mehul Choksi, an accused in the nearly $2 billion PNB scam, to conduct pre-screening of Netflix documentary, Bad Boy Billionaires. Justice Navin Chawla, after hearing the matter for over two hours, declined to grant relief to Choksi saying a writ petition for enforcement of a private right cannot be maintainable. The court said his remedy lies in a civil suit and granted him the liberty to raise the issue in civil court. Choksi, the promoter of Gitanjali Gems, and his nephew Nirav Modi are accused in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case. Choksi left the country last year and was granted citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda. The documentary, Bad Boy Billionaires, which is scheduled to be released in India on 2 September, is described on Netflix platform as, This investigative docuseries explores the greed, fraud and corruption that built up - and ultimately brought down - Indias most infamous tycoons. It takes a look at controversial cases of infamous businessmen Vijay Mallya (of the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines), fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, Sahara Group's Subrata Roy and Satyam Computers CEO Byrraju Ramalinga Raju. Advocate Vijay Aggarwal, representing Choksi, had sought postponement of the documentarys release. He said Choksi saw the trailer and has been receiving phone calls from across the world asking him whether he was part of the documentary and seeking comments. Thereafter, the petitioner (Choksi) discovered that one of the persons seen speaking in the trailer was one Mr Pavan C Lall who had written a book titled Flawed: The Rise and Fall of Indias Diamond Mogul Nirav Modi where also the petitioners name had been commingled with Nirav Modis, the plea said. The plea was pre-screening of the documentary was vehemently opposed by Netflix. (With inputs from Press Trust of India) SILVER SPRING, Md.: Three Maryland men presenting themselves as pastors targeted church members and other investors in a Ponzi scheme that defrauded victims out of more than $28 million, according to a federal indictment unsealed Friday. Instead of providing customers with high rates of return and helping with charitable religious causes, the three men used the money to pay off other investors and to fund lavish lifestyles that included luxury cars, private jets and family vacations, Justice Department prosecutors said. The July 27 indictment against Dennis Mbongeni Jali, 35; John Erasmus Frimpong, 40; and 61-year-old Arley Ray Johnson includes charges of wire fraud, securities fraud and money laundering. Federal regulators say the men fraudulently raised millions of dollars from approximately 1,200 investors, many of them African immigrants. The indictment identifies nine of the victims as residents of Maryland, Indiana or Texas and says they included nurses, an accountant, an engineer and a car dealership manager. Jali was the owner and CEO of a Largo, Maryland-based company called 1st Million Dollars, which had satellite offices in Florida and elsewhere. Frimpong served as the companys chief marketing officer. Johnson was its chief operating officer. Jali, Frimpong and Johnson attended church functions to recruit investors and tried to portray themselves as religious men more interested in the philanthropic financial freedom of others than personal financial gain, the indictment says. The three men presented themselves as pastors and told prospective investors that 1st Millions work was in furtherance of Gods mission in that it helped churches and their members achieve personal wealth and financial freedom, it adds. The defendants persuaded numerous victims to pay them in wire transfers, checks and cash under the false pretense that their money would be invested in the foreign exchange and cryptocurrency markets, U.S. Attorney Robert Hurs office said in a news release. Their company offered contracts that guaranteed investors monthly rates of return ranging from 6% to 35% of their initial investments regardless of market volatility, according to the indictment. Frimpong, a native of Ghana who isnt a U.S. citizen, was arrested Friday at his Upper Marlboro home. He later pleaded not guilty to all 10 counts he faces. A federal magistrate judge ordered him to remain in custody pending a detention hearing Wednesday. Frimpongs attorney didnt immediately respond to a phone call and email seeking comment. Johnson, of Bowie, is expected to surrender to authorities on Monday, according to a spokeswoman for Hurs office. Sarah Hall, an attorney for Johnson, declined to comment. Jali, formerly of Upper Marlboro, fled the U.S. in May 2019 but has been arrested in South Africa, Hurs office said. Office spokeswoman Marcia Murphy said Jali doesnt have an attorney here yet. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission also filed related civil actions against the defendants Friday. 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 teenager has been charged over the fatal shooting of two people amid protests against a police shooting that left a black man with spinal injuries. Demonstrations began in Kenosha, a city in the US state of Wisconsin, after Jacob Blake was shot in the back by an officer. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, allegedly went to Kenosha from nearby Antioch, Illinois and went on a shooting rampage. He faces charges of first-degree intentional homicide, one count of first-degree reckless homicide, one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. 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 Kenosha police have faced questions about their interactions with the gunman on Tuesday night. According to witness accounts and video footage, police apparently let Rittenhouse walk past them and leave the scene with a rifle over his shoulder and his hands in the air. Members of the crowd are said to have yelled for him to be arrested because he had shot people. Jacob Blake's mother calls for violence to end He would face a mandatory life sentence if convicted of first-degree intentional homicide, the most serious crime in Wisconsin. Kenosha has become the latest focal point in the fight against racial injustice that has gripped the country since the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. The Wisconsin Justice Department said Rusten Sheskey, a seven-year veteran of the Kenosha Police Department, shot Mr Blake after officers first unsuccessfully used a Taser. Mr Blake, 29, was shot in the back seven times as he leaned into his vehicle, three of his children seated inside. Kenosha police have said little about what happened other than that they were responding to a domestic dispute. Liu Yifei in "Mulan" / Courtesy of Walt Disney Co. Korea By Kwak Yeon-soo Many major film releases have been pushed back again due to a resurgence of COVID-19 in Korea. The country has reported three-digit figures on new infection cases for the past 15 days, with the latest new infection case number released on Friday reaching 371. The government raised the social distancing guidelines to Level 2 on Sunday, and is cautiously reviewing the situation to raise them to Level 3. Level 2 bans indoor gatherings of more than 50 and outdoor gatherings of more than 100, in comparison with Level 3 that bans gatherings of 10 people or more except for essential meetings for business and state affairs. The release of "Mulan" has been delayed to Sept. 17 from Sept. 10. Originally scheduled to hit the screens in March, the live-action remake of the 1998 animated film has been delayed four times. "Given the country's COVID-19 situation, we have decided to delay the release of Mulan. We ask for everyone's understanding," distributor Walt Disney Co. Korea said in a news release. The film tells a story of legendary Chinese warrior Hua Mulan a fearless female warrior who disguises herself as a man to join the army in place of her ailing father. Walt Disney Korea also announced delaying the release of "The King's Man" from September to the first half of next year. "The New Mutants," a film spun out of the "X-Men" franchise, was originally set to premiere on Sept. 3 but has been pushed back to Sept. 10. Domestic films also shifted their original opening schedules for this fall. Song Joong-ki, center, and Kim Tae-ri, left, in "Space Sweepers" / Courtesy of Merry Christmas Katie Price (PA) Katie Price has announced she is taking a break from the spotlight after breaking both her feet. The star, 42, broke both ankles and both feet during a holiday in Turkey earlier this summer and is now taking a step back to give herself time to heal from the painful injury. A message on her Instagram account said: Katie is taking some time out of the media spotlight. Read more: Katie Price hits back at claims she faked her broken feet Her family and Dr's have told Katie that she must rest in order to heal. Katie wants to thank everyone for their ongoing support and will be back when she feels ready. Many fans posted messages of support following the news. Good for you, rest and don't listen to any b******* out there, get better and come back stronger, said one fan. Wishing you a speedy recovery! said another. Youll be back to your best in no time, said another. Others assured the star that she had made the right decision. Read more: Katie Price's daughter tells of heartbreak as puppy dies Price broke both ankles and both feet when she leapt over a wall during a holiday in Turkey with her children Princess and Junior and her new beau Carl Woods. At the time she told her followers on social media that she wouldn't be able to walk for up to six months. Going into detail in a video posted to her YouTube channel, she said that the injury was the most painful thing ever. Like when I was trying to put the cast on, I was screaming in pain, she added. They said I wont be able to walk for three to six months. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-29 00:01:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NICOSIA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Bank of Cyprus posted an after-tax loss of 100 million euros (118.9 million U.S. dollars) for the second quarter (Q2) of 2020, mostly due to provisioning for non-performing loans, the commercial bank said on Friday. The bank said the during the first half of 2020 its non-performing loans were reduced by 1.3 billion euros mainly through the sale of non-performing (red) loans to investment funds. Non-performing loans owned by Cypriot banks are the legacy of the 2013 bailout of the country's economy by the Eurogroup and the International Monetary Fund, which included a resolution of the banking system. The Bank of Cyprus itself was forced to seize 47.5 percent of deposits, mostly owned by Russians, to recapitalize in the world's first so-called bail-in. The bank said that the ratio of non-performing loans had been reduced to 22 percent of the total loan portfolio and coverage was maintained at 56 percent. It added that it had maintained a good capital and strong liquidity position, with total capital ratio standing at 17.9 percent and the Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio at 14.4 percent. New loans in Q2 of this year totaled 238 million euros, a 47 percent drop in relation to the first quarter, which the bank said was due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown from mid-March to the beginning of June. But the bank said that it already saw nascent signs of economic recovery after the lifting of the lockdown. It also said that the bank was making progress in digital transformation, with 83 percent of its total transactions already being performed through mobile devices or online. Bank of Cyprus Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Panicos Nicolaou said the institution remains committed to further de-risking and will continue to accelerate the reduction of non-performing loans through additional sales. Nicolaou added that this will be done after the lifting of the moratorium set by the government to help businesses and households through the coronavirus crisis. Enditem A bench led by Justice RD Dhanuka rejected an appeal filed by Bharadwaj in June this year Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday refused to grant bail to lawyer and activist Sudha Bharadwaj, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Koregaon Bhima case being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). A bench led by Justice RD Dhanuka rejected an appeal filed by Bharadwaj in June this year, whereby she had challenged a special court's order that denied her bail on health grounds. Bharadwaj, 58, had approached the HC seeking bail, saying that she suffered from chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. She had said these comorbidities put her at a higher risk of contracting coronavirus while at the Byculla women's prison where an inmate had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier. The court, however, noted the submissions made by the NIA and the Maharashtra government that the prison authorities were taking all precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and that they were providing necessary medical care to Bharadwaj for her comorbidities. NIA counsel, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, also told the court that if at any time, Bharadwaj's condition needed further treatment or if she was required to be admitted to a hospital, even a private one, the state would provide for the same. He pointed out that poet-activist Varavara Rao, a co- accused in the case, had been admitted to the state-run JJ Hospital and then shifted to the private Nanavati Hospital in the city for treatment of COVID-19 and other ailments. "In our view, no case is made out for grant of bail. This appeal is devoid of merits," the HC said while dismissing Bharadwaj's plea. On August 21, pursuant to an HC order, the state government had submitted a report stating that Bharadwaj had been examined in the prison by a medical officer and that her health condition was found to be "stable and satisfactory". The state report stated that Bharadwaj's vital health parameters were stable. It stated that she had been suffering from mild depression too, and had complained of body ache. The state said that Bharadwaj had been given medication for dizziness and had been advised to continue medicines for her chronic conditions. Bharadwaj's counsel Ragini Ahuja, however, pointed out that the report of August 21 did not mention that Bharadwaj suffered from hypertension or from a heart condition. She pointed out that previous report of the state had said that Bharadwaj suffered from ischemia, a heart condition. Ahuja claimed the latest medical report therefore, was inconsistent and perhaps "bogus". The bench, however, said the present report probably only dealt with Bharadwaj's vital parameters vis-a-vis COVID- 19. It said, "In our view there is no substance in the appellant's submissions on inconsistencies in the medical report." Bharadwaj has been lodged in the Byculla women's prison here since September 2018 following her arrest in the case. The case pertains to the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune district on December 31, 2017. It is alleged that speeches made by some activists at the conclave led to violence near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial on outskirts of Pune city the next day. SC directs states to reach out to 10,000 kids orphaned due to Covid-19, pay compensation 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 New AI-based test uses X-rays to detect Covid in a few minutes HD Revanna tests positive for COVID-19 India oi-Madhuri Adnal Bengaluru, Aug 28: Former Karnataka minister and JDS leader H D Revanna has tested positive for coronavirus and admitted to a hospital here, party sources said on Friday. Praying for his recovery, Health Minister B Sriramulu in a tweet said, "H D Revanna has tested positive for coronavirus. I pray that he recovers and gets back to serve people." Health ministry recommends COVID tests for all tuberculosis patients According to JD(S) sources, four policemen in his security had earlier contracted the virus. Subsequently, he too underwent a test but was found negative. Recently, the son of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda had displayed the symptoms. IPL 2020: CSK bowler and staff members test positive for Covid-19 | Oneindia News After tests, he was found to be infected by the pathogen. Many leaders in Karnataka including Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, three of his ministers, Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar were also infected by the virus. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 28, 2020, 17:27 [IST] The former cabinet minister Chris Grayling has resigned from parliaments Intelligence and Security Committee just weeks after failing to seize its chairmanship. The ex-transport secretary was the favoured choice of Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings to head the cross-party group, but was thwarted last month after opposition MPs combined to install Julian Lewis instead. Mr Lewis, a longstanding Tory MP and acknowledged expert on security matters, was stripped of the Conservative whip for working with Labour and other opposition MPs for his own advantage. The affair was a humiliation for the prime minister and for Mr Grayling, who was widely regarded as a Downing Street stooge being put forward to run a committee which has previously prided itself on its independence and non-partisan approach. There was no immediate response from Mr Grayling to a request from The Independent for a statement. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 18 January 2022 Surfers enter the sea as the sun rises over Tynemouth on the North East coast PA UK news in pictures 17 January 2022 Bonhams Danny McIlwraith holds a Nigerian polycrome carved wood mask during a photocall for the sale of the Jim Lennon Collection at Bonhams in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 16 January 2022 The moon rises above the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, Hampshire PA UK news in pictures 15 January 2022 Demonstrators outside Downing Street during a Kill The Bill protest against The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in London PA UK news in pictures 14 January 2022 Ecologist Emma Smart (left) and retired GP Dr Diana Warner outside HMP Bronzefield, in Surrey, following their release from the prison where Emma undertook a 26-day hunger strike during her incarceration. Ms Smart was sentenced in November, along with other members of Insulate Britain, to serve four months for breaking a High Court injunction by taking part in a blockade at junction 25 of the M25 motorway during the morning rush hour on 8 October last year PA UK news in pictures 13 January 2022 A TV presenter holds a copy of a newspaper outside 10 Downing Streetafter the Prime Minister apologised for attending a gathering of colleagues in the Number Ten garden in May 2020, while the UK was in strict lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic Getty UK news in pictures 12 January 2022 Fitness guru Derrick Evans after receiving an MBE during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 11 January 2022 A couple walk underneath an umbrella during wet weather on Westminster Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 10 January 2022 A jogger passes the Covid Memorial Wall in London AP UK news in pictures 9 January 2021 The sun rises over horses at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 8 January 2022 Riders compete during the Veterans Men's race at the UK Cyclo-Cross National Championships 2022 in Ardingly, south of London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 7 January 2022 A dog looks out of a car window at the wintry conditions in Killeshin, Co. Laois PA UK news in pictures 6 January 2022 People walk through frost and mist alongside a frozen lake during sunrise in Bushy Park, London REUTERS UK news in pictures 5 January 2022 A skier jumps on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines to the north of Weardale in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 4 January 2022 Freshly-fallen snow covers houses in Corbridge, near Hexham in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 3 January 2022 Dean Morrison, 13, receives his Covid-19 vaccine from student nurse Anthony McLaughlin during a vaccination clinic at the Glasgow Central Mosque PA UK news in pictures 2 January 2022 Konastantinos Tsimikas of Liverpool with Chelseas Mason Mount during the Premier League match at Stamfrod Bridge Liverpool FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 January 2022 New Years Eve Lasers, drones and fireworks illuminate the sky in front of the Royal Naval College in Greenwich shortly after midnight in London EPA UK news in pictures 31 December 2021 Competitors in fancy dress run across the Pennine tops near Haworth, West Yorkshire, in the annual Auld Lang Syne Fell race which attracts hundreds of runners every year PA UK news in pictures 30 December 2021 Sunrise at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 29 December 2021 The Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, looks at Becket, a six month old red-billed chough as he visits Wildwood Wildlife Park in Kent on the anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket PA UK news in pictures 28 December 2021 Troops of the Household Cavalry are seen reflected in a puddle during the changing of the Queens Life Guard, on Horse Guards Parade, in central London PA UK news in pictures 27 December 2021 A pedestrian walks past a winter sale sign outside a John Lewis store on Oxford street in London Getty UK news in pictures 26 December 2021 Riders take their bikes through the snow near Castleside, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 25 December 2021 Patrick Corkery wears a santa hat and beard as waves crash over him at Forty Foot near Dublin during a Christmas Day dip PA UK news in pictures 24 December 2021 People stand inside Kings Cross Station on Christmas Eve in London Reuters UK news in pictures 23 December 2021 Christmas shoppers fill the car park at Fosse Shopping Park in Leicester PA UK news in pictures 22 December 2021 The sun rises behind the stones as people gather for the winter solstice at Stonehenge. Getty UK news in pictures 21 December 2021 People take part in a winter solstice swim at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh to mark the solstice and to witness the dawn after the longest night of the year PA UK news in pictures 20 December 2021 An auction employee displays poultry to buyers and sellers attending the Christmas Poultry Sale at York Auction Centre in Murton PA UK news in pictures 19 December 2021 Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 December 2021 Freight lorries queuing at the port of Dover in Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 December 2021 Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, bursts 'Boris' bubble' held by colleague Tim Farron, as she celebrates following her victory in the North Shropshire by-election PA UK news in pictures 16 December 2021 Brussels sprouts are harvested by workers as they prepare for the busy Christmas period near Boston in Lincolnshire PA UK news in pictures 15 December 2021 Lewis Hamilton is made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 14 December 2021 The Royal Liver Buildings surrounded by early morning fog in Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 13 December 2021 People queue outside a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster Getty Images UK news in pictures 12 December 2021 People take part in the Big Leeds Santa Dash in Roundhay Park, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 11 December 2021 People arrive at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Elland Road in Leeds, PA UK news in pictures 10 December 2021 Stella Moris speaks to the media after the US Government won its High Court bid to overturn a judges decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange PA UK news in pictures 9 December 2021 Camels are lead around Salisbury Cathedral during a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Service PA UK news in pictures 8 December 2021 Margaret Keenan and Nurse May Parsons, a year after Margaret was the first person in the UK to receive the Pfizer vaccine PA UK news in pictures 7 December 2021 Snowfall in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire as Storm Barra hits the UK with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow PA UK news in pictures 6 December 2021 A person tries to avoid sea spray on New Brighton promenade in Wallasey as the UK readies for the arrival of Storm Barra Getty UK news in pictures 5 December 2021 People release balloons during a tribute to six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside Emma Tustin's former address in Solihull, West Midlands, where he was murdered by his stepmother PA UK news in pictures 4 December 2021 People walk through a Christmas market in Trafalgar Square Reuters UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 2 December 2021 Duchess of Cambridge inspects a Faberge egg at the Victoria and Albert Museum Getty UK news in pictures 1 December 2021 Meerkats at London Zoo with an advent calendar PA UK news in pictures 30 November 2021 Workers put the finishing touches to the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree ahead of the lighting ceremony later in the week PA A statement from the committee said: The Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP has, in accordance with the Justice and Security Act, written to the Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament tendering his resignation from the committee. The chairman has sent a reply. The ISC is a committee of MPs and peers which oversees the activities of the security and intelligence agencies MI5 and MI6 and the governments GCHQ eavesdropping centre, and often includes some of Westminsters most senior parliamentarians, including those with long experience of security matters. Unusually for a Westminster committee, its members who are given access to high-level state secrets as part of their monitoring role are nominated by the prime minister and report to No 10, rather than to parliament. The appointment of a new committee chairperson was delayed for eight months by Mr Johnson after the December general election, in an apparent effort to put off the publication of a report on Russian attempts to influence UK politics. The PM was accused of preventing the publication of the report ahead of the election by withholding clearance for months following its completion in the spring of last year. Critics claimed that his choice of the Epsom and Ewell MP whose mishaps as transport and justice secretary won him the nickname failing Grayling was intended to spare him the embarrassment of future reports of this kind. With a Tory majority of one, Mr Grayling was thought to be a shoo-in for the chair, who is elected by members. But in a shock move on the day of the poll, Mr Lewis won the support of Labour and SNP members to secure the job in a 5-4 vote. A new Conservative member is now expected to be appointed to bring the committee back up to its regular size. The ISC is currently continuing inquiries begun by its predecessors before the election into national security issues relating to China; right-wing terrorism; the threat from Northern Ireland-related terrorism; and GCHQ procurement. Eli Vlaisavljevich, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering and mechanics at Virginia Tech, received a Trailblazer Award from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health to research possible treatments for metastatic breast cancer. The aim of the project is to develop a novel, noninvasive method that combines nanoparticles with ultrasound to selectively target and kill cancerous cells in the breast tissue. Vlaisavljevich is leading the research, in collaboration with Jenny Munson, an associate professor of biomedical engineering and mechanics in the College of Engineering and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, and Irving Coy Allen, an associate professor of biomedical sciences and pathobiology at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 650,000 people receive chemotherapy in the United States each year. Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses chemicals to kill cells in the body. The powerful chemicals used often result in harsh side effects. The novel approach proposed in this study nanoparticle-mediated histotripsy (NMH) is noninvasive, which would improve the serious, harsh side effects patients experience in alternative methods, such as chemotherapy or surgery. Histotripsy is a technique that uses focused ultrasound beams to ablate or destroy the cancerous cells. This technique is the main focus of Vlaisavljevichs lab, the Therapeutic Ultrasound and Noninvasive Therapies Laboratory. The main focus in my lab is developing histotripsy, a noninvasive tumor ablation method, which has recently been used in human patients to treat cancer, Vlaisavljevich said. It has shown promising results for the noninvasive treatment of solid tumors. We are excited to expand on the potential of histotripsy by using nanoparticle-mediated histotripsy to target and treat quickly-spreading tumors that couldnt be treated with only a local ablation. Histotripsy is a term coined by engineers to describe the technology that uses the method of cavitation: histo means tissue, and tripsy means breakdown. The high-pressure ultrasound pulses in histotripsy create bubble clouds in the tumor, which rapidly expand and collapse, to disintegrate the targeted cells and tissue. Creation of these bubble clouds is called cavitation. In Vlaisavljevich's previous research on histotripsy in the context of treating cancer, the results have indicated histotripsy provides high precision and real-time imaging guidance, which translates to fewer mistakes the cancerous cells are identified, targeted, and destroyed. This method has shown significant promise for the noninvasive treatment of tumors. However, conventional histotripsy still requires the ability to image the tumors prior to treatment. In metastatic breast cancer, the tumors are not always identified and able to be imaged prior to treatment, especially for patients with late stages of the disease. To account for this, the researchers propose to engineer acoustically-active nanocones cone-shaped structures that reduce the pressure required to apply histotripsy. By injecting these nanocones into the body and functionalizing such that they selectively attach to breast cancer cells, this approach will allow histotripsy to be selectively generated only in regions containing the cancerous cells. The nanocones will help target the cancer cells, destroying only the cancerous tissue. We have collaborated on other projects with success, said Coy. This is a new approach, though, and we are really optimistic about the outcomes. We are really excited to be doing this. After engineering the nanocones, researchers will test the in vitro feasibility of these structures for targeting and selectively ablating breast cancer cells in a tissue-engineered 3D breast cancer model developed in Munsons lab, The Onco-Engineering Lab, before moving on to small animal studies in partnership with Allens lab, The Allen Laboratory. We use 3D tissue engineering to try to replicate an in vivo microenvironment, or the patients microenvironment, Munson said. Whats important in these models and why we need the 3D is to see how fluid moves through cells and tissues. With these models, were able to mimic that fluid flow and see what is likely to occur in the body. Graduate and undergraduate students will also be participating in this multidisciplinary project, gaining hands-on knowledge through conduction of vitro and in vivo tests in breast cancer models. These models will demonstrate the fluid flow, selective binding, and ablation of cancer cells. It is expected that the project will answer the key questions needed to demonstrate the feasibility of using nanoparticle-mediated histotripsy for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, providing a key first step toward the development of this method for use in clinics, and ultimately as a cancer treatment. The researchers also expect that this method will work for patients who arent candidates for surgical removal of cancerous tumors. If successful, my hope is that this work will lay the foundation for a new cancer therapy for patients with both early and late stage disease, Vlaisavljevich said. This method could be capable of significantly improving the standard of care for cancer patients by increasing our targeting specificity and treating tumors too small to detect by imaging. While our initial work is focusing on using nanoparticle-mediated histotripsy for the treatment of breast cancer, our long-term goal is to develop this as a platform technology that can treat other aggressive cancers such as metastatic brain and pancreatic cancers as well. View a short profile video of the Vlaisavljevich Lab here and of the Munson Lab here. The couple first met in 2014 at a Santa Barbara coffee shop, then called the French Press and now named Dune Coffee. At the time, Mr. Elia had a recording studio in the basement of the shop for his work as a music producer and DJ. He would often read the newspaper over coffee before heading downstairs. Ms. Picciuto was pursuing a masters degree in global studies, with a focus on spiritual tourism, from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and regularly used the coffee shop as a place to study. She noticed that Mr. Elia was always sitting at the corner table in the back, and one day, asked him about a book he was reading. From there, they began what became a ritual of meeting there for small talk before moving on to their respective projects. For two and half years, they were simply cappuccino buddies. So much of our friendship was just showing up in the morning, Mr. Elia said. In the next six months, their relationship began to change. Ms. Picciuto would find reasons to hang out with Mr. Elia outside the coffee shop. One trick, she said, was to order a bottle of wine at a local wine bar, then text Mr. Elia to join her since she couldnt drink it all. Mr. Elia started to feel jealous when Ms. Picciuto talked about dates with other men or how she joined Bumble, the dating app. Their friends noticed that they would grocery shop together but claim they werent interested in dating. Ms. Picciuto even told a friend that she wanted Mr. Elia to be her future co-parent. There is no one way to do life, and we make a good team, she said of wanting to have children with him. I just felt like he could be the one to be my co-parent. Mr. Elia made the first serious move on July 7, 2017, a date they now refer to as when he spoke the unspeakable. Ms. Picciuto was set to travel to the Indonesian island of Bali for three months for a project related to her masters program. Mr. Elia, who by then had strong romantic feelings, said he needed to know about them as a couple so he could make plans for the future; he was debating whether to move to Los Angeles. Ms. Picciuto admits she was terrified as she valued the intimacy and closeness of their friendship, and she wanted him as a co-parent. Would romance ruin all that? The two decided to go for it. Shopian: Security forces carry out cordon and search operations after three terrorists of the proscribed terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen were gunned down in an encounter in Kashmir's Shopian district on Jan 20, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News Srinagar, Aug 28 : A gunfight broke out between terrorists and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Friday, police said. "Encounter has started at Kiloora area of Shopian. Police and security forces are on the job," a police officer said. The encounter began after a joint team of the police and the army cordoned off the area on basis of specific information about terrorists there. As security forces neared the spot where the terrorists were hiding, they came under a heavy fire and retaliated. Ukraine hopes the decision regarding Vitaliy will be fair and impartial. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said a court in Italy on September 29 will start considering the appeal in the case of Ukrainian national Vitaliy Markiv, who is challenging a 24-year sentence for his role six years ago while serving in the Ukrainian National Guard that involved the deaths of an Italian photojournalist and his Russian interpreter. "A hearing in the case of our National Guard soldier Markiv will take place on September 29. This is a very dramatic process. We consider the accusations brought against Vitaliy to be unfounded," he said during an online briefing on Friday. "We certainly respect the Italian justice system, but we very clearly express our hope the decision regarding Vitaliy will be fair and impartial, devoid of any emotions and incorrect interpretation of the facts," he said. According to the foreign minister, Ukraine is working with the Italian side on this issue, and the consuls provide constant support to Markiv during the trial. "I turned to the international human rights organizations to invite them to monitor this trial to prevent possible violations or incorrect interpretations of the facts related to this case, as well as recording possible facts of pressure on the court to confirm the conviction," he said. "I hope the international human rights activists will hear our appeal, join this case and, finally, we will have an objective verdict that will give Vitaliy the freedom he deserves," Kuleba said. Read alsoUkraine's envoy urges Italian media to objectively cover Markiv caseThe minister reiterated the case was under the control of the president of Ukraine, as well as the Interior Ministry and Interior Minister Arsen Avakov were actively involved in protecting Markiv. Markiv case The 2020 White Book on information and communications technology (ICT) of Vietnam is scheduled to be issued by December 20. IT workers at the Mekong Innovation Technology Park in Tien Giang province (Photo: VNA) At a meeting in Hanoi on August 26, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Phan Tam requested relevant units of this ministry to ensure compilation quality and progress so that the document will be published before December 20. In the White Book, the first section is set to provide an overview of the ICT development in Vietnam and the world during the year, the message by the Minister of Information and Communications, along with the highlights and ranking of the countrys ICT sector in the world. It will also include articles on the importance of the national digital transformation programme to national socio-economic development, as well as orientations for IT and telecommunication development. The second section will feature data about the top 20 localities in IT revenue, the number of their IT businesses and workers, and the top 20 IT enterprises in terms of revenue, workforce and contribution to the State budget. The last section will be reserved for introducing ICT agencies and organisations. Besides, the 2020 White Book will also be added with the assessment of main outcomes of the implementation of Vietnams IT industry development programme for 2015-2019, an overview of the national digital transformation programme, and statistics about foreign investment in the IT sector./. VNA SACRAMENTO California will ban the sale of flavored tobacco in retail stores, including flavored e-cigarettes that many blame for a sharp rise in vaping among youths. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Friday to outlaw the sale of fruit-, menthol- and mint-flavor cigarettes and vaping cartridges, effective Jan. 1. The governor acted hours after the state Senate voted unanimously to give final approval to SB793 by Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo. Hill said the vast majority of youths who use tobacco are hooked by kid-friendly products, with flavors such as cotton candy and bubblegum. Menthol cigarettes, sweet cigars, candy vapes and other flavored tobacco products serve one purpose: to mask the harshness of tobacco and get users hooked to a dangerous lifelong addiction, Hill said in a statement. Newsom earlier said he would take deep pride and personal privilege in signing the bill, especially as a father of four young children. The governor has supported a new vaping tax and launched efforts to curb youth vaping. Hills bill does not apply to online sales of tobacco products, which often cross state lines, with sellers not headquartered in California. The measure also would not prohibit the personal possession of flavored tobacco. Retail stores that violate the ban would have to pay $250 per violation, though it is unclear whether that would mean a $250 penalty per product sold or per transaction. The bill was opposed by tobacco-industry groups and lobbyists, including the Vapor Technology Association. They urged vape users to ask Newsom to veto the bill, arguing that e-cigarettes help smokers quit. As Californias economy continues to face COVID-related challenges, the last thing its state leaders should be doing is driving people back to cigarettes, shuttering small businesses and slashing jobs, Tony Abboud, executive director of the Vapor Technology Association, said in a statement. Hill carried a similar bill last year, but shelved the measure after he said amendments gutted its intent by exempting tobacco products patented before 2000. He reintroduced the measure this year without that broad exemption. The bill had the support of 29 co-authors, including state Sens. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and Steve Glazer, D-Orinda. Other supporters included the American Lung Association and American Heart Association. Hills final bill was amended to exempt the sale of flavored premium cigars and loose-leaf pipe tobacco. Premium cigars are also exempt if sold in cigar lounges and consumed only on the premises. Hookah retailers are also exempt. Federal data show that 5 million U.S. high school and middle school students vaped in 2019, a significant increase from 3.6 million in 2018, and that sweet and fruity flavors are popular among youths. The California Legislature today sent an unmistakable message to big tobacco that our childrens health is more important than a deadly industrys profits, Lindsey Freitas, advocacy director for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said in a statement. Chronicle staff writer Catherine Ho contributed to this report. Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner Myanmar & COVID-19 Myanmar to Jail Illegal Returnees Amid COVID-19 Surge Migrants who illegally entered Kawthaung in July. / FED Kawthaung Yangon Myanmars Tanintharyi regional government says legal action will be taken against those who illegally return to its border town Kawthaung from Thailand and Malaysia as well as those who transport or harbor them. Legal action will be taken under the Communicable Diseases Law and Immigration Act, said regional immigration and human resources minister U Kyaw Min. The regional government issued an order on Aug. 14, requiring returnees to enter Kawthaung through four official gates. The regional government has detained 70 people who illegally entered Kawthaung from Thailand and Malaysia so far this month. As far as I know, 70 people have been detained and they are being questioned. The Communicable Disease Law will be applied to those who returned illegally before Aug. 14. Both laws will be applied against them after we made the official announcement on Aug. 14, the minister told The Irrawaddy. Migrant workers have been returning from Thailand and Malaysia with many losing their jobs because of COVID-19. According to returning migrants, they have to pay 2,000 to 2,500 Thai baht (86,000-107,000 kyats) to middlemen for transport from Thailand to the Kawthaung border. Migrants from Malaysia are charged 2,000 to 25,000 ringgit (640,000 million to 8 million kyats) to return via Thailand to Kawthaung. The illegal returnees traveled either by road or water and arrived at the nearest border town, Kawthaung, the southernmost point in Myanmar. The regional government said it will keep the illegal returnees in quarantine for 21 days and then take nasal swabs before initiating legal proceedings against them. Ko Moe Wai, in charge of the Migrant Education Center in Kawthaung, said: When they returned, quarantine centers were full and could not accept them. So they contacted middlemen and entered illegally. Kawthaung residents have expressed concerns because of a recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Myanmar and the fact that a new strain of virus appears to be more contagious. The illegal returnees face three months to three years in prison under the Immigration Act and one month in prison for failure to report to the health authorities. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko You may also like these stories: Myanmars Rakhine State Under Partial Lockdown Amid COVID-19 Surge Myanmar Sets Out Re-entry Rules for Foreign Staff Myanmar Reports 100 New COVID-19 Cases Overnight in Countrys Largest Jump So Far Monty Waldin, who both hosts the show and participated as one of 5StarWines Judges If you know Monty, you will probably already know how excited he gets when talking about wine - especially when biodynamic viticulture is the focus - and he may or may not get all fan-boy in a couple of interviews with trophy-winning producers. Host of the Italian Wine Podcast, Monty Waldin, chats with the wineries that have been recognized for producing the highest scoring wines in the blind wine tasting 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls, based out of Verona, Italy, and featuring judges connected, virtually, from around the world. The tasting took place in May 2020 and the first of the podcast interviews, featuring Valentina Abbona of Marchesi di Barolo Winery, aired August 26, 2020. One producer, Elio Pisoni, of Pisoni Fratelli Winery, mentions: Since we got this prize from 5Star Wines, the sales on the internet have increased, actually, so we are selling on our e-commerce website. This special, limited series of interviews will continue to air Tuesdays and Wednesdays on Italian Wine Podcast channels through mid-September, 2020. Find the Italian Wine Podcast on Soundcloud, iTunes, Spotify, and more. 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls is a yearly wine selection that involves wine experts from all over the world that blind taste thousands of international wines. The final product of the event is a guide featuring the best wines and wineries of the year. This guide is often useful as a marketing tool and assists participants in creating business connections. The 2020 edition of 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls will be one to remember as, due to the spread of Covid-19, the entire event was converted into an Agile Edition. Instead of judges traveling to Verona to taste wines, the wines themselves traveled to the judges. Remote judges participated in the blind tasting via video conference, while an event team, including senior judges, coordinated from the home base in Verona. This brand new exclusive interview series, from the Italian Wine Podcast, stands out as Monty Waldin both hosts the show and participated as one of the event Judges. This means Monty actually likely blind tasted and scored some of the wines of these trophy-winning producers. Monty was a natural fit as one of the senior event judges as a leading expert in organic and biodynamic wines. Montys influence has probably also helped to grow the prominence of the Wine Without Walls section of the event and resultant book over the years (Wine Without Walls exclusively features organic and biodynamic wines and wineries). If you know Monty, you will probably already know how excited he gets when talking about wine - especially when biodynamic viticulture is the focus - and he may or may not get all fan-boy in a couple of interviews with trophy-winning producers. In one episode, Marco Cervellera, from Winery of the Year Fattoria la Vialla, opened up about how they fully embrace biodynamic principles in all of their operations: they try to use waste products from some of their processes as primary resources for other processes, they avoid plastic altogethereven down to employees coffee mugsand theyre transitioning their fleet to electric vehicles. It is truly inspiring to listen to these realities in the wine world making this segment a must-listen. This limited series of interviews featuring 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls trophy-winning producers stands out as a reflection of exceptional times. Interviewees speak on current topics such as producing wine through a global pandemic and they share both the good and the bad from the past six months. For some, having numerical feedback from skilled tasters in the form of number scores is critical in order to access markets. Listen in to Montys interviews to learn more. Tune in to the Italian Wine Podcast on your favorite streaming platform and get to know the best wines and wineries of the year! About: Italian Wine Podcast: Cin Cin with Italian Wine People! is a podcast project dedicated exclusively to the Italian wine world. Wine writer Monty Waldin uncovers the unique Italian winemaking tradition in conversation with some of its key protagonists. Italian Wine Podcast aims to inform, educate, and entertain listeners regarding Italian wine. Italian Wine Podcast is available on SoundCloud, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, XimalayaFM (for China), and on the official website. Listeners interested in providing feedback about the show are encouraged to access a demographic survey on the podcast website. Donations to the show are welcomed and help fund a portion of the shows equipment, production, and publication costs. To advertise on the show, please request a prospectus and/or customized advertising plan from info@italianwinepodcast.com. AIDA Cruises Will Resume Cruise Operations with Fall and Winter Voyages Germany's leading cruise line will begin Canary Island cruises in November, Western Mediterranean and Orient cruises in mid-December and extends pause until November ROSTOCK, Germany, Aug. 28, 2020 -- AIDA Cruises, the leading cruise line in Germany and a part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), today announced that it will offer cruises this fall and winter that combine the fascination of a cruise trip with an unforgettable holiday experience to several popular destinations. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the conditions are currently not in place in Germany's neighbouring European countries, especially in the north with Norway and Denmark or the Baltic states. For many distant destinations outside of Europe, the Federal Republic of Germany has issued a travel warning or the respective countries have prohibited calls of cruise ships until 2021. As a result, the company has cancelled its previously announced cruises for September and has updated its fall and winter 2020-2021 program to provide its guests and sales partners additional time to plan and book vacations for a safe and enjoyable return to cruise holidays. As the first ship from the AIDA fleet to begin sailing, AIDAmar will set course on Nov. 1, 2020, for seven-day voyages to the Canary Islands, a popular destination with German vacationers. AIDAperla will follow on Nov. 7, 2020, and will take over the travel program originally planned for AIDAnova. AIDAmar's voyages will start and end in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. For voyages with AIDAperla, in addition to Las Palmas, AIDA Cruises will offer a second departure port with Santa Cruz de Tenerife. In the Western Mediterranean, AIDA Cruises will resume sailing operations with AIDAstella on Dec. 12, 2020, where the ship will cast off from Palma, Mallorca, on seven-day cruises to some of the most beautiful cities in the Western Mediterranean. The treasures of the Orient take center stage during the seven-day AIDAprima cruises that will be offered starting Dec. 11, 2020, from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and from Dec. 15, 2020, from Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). "Even though it is currently not possible for cruise ships to call at Norway, which is so important for our voyages to the north, we are confident that the first AIDA ships from Germany will be able to travel to Northern Europe again at the beginning of 2021," says Felix Eichhorn, president of AIDA Cruises. AIDA Cruises is in close contact with the responsible authorities and airlines in order to prepare for the restart of its voyages in November and December. Supported by the theme "With certainty the most beautiful vacation," the company provides information about the enhanced protection measures against COVID-19 at www.aida.de/sichererurlaub. All AIDA cruises take place in compliance with the requirements of the respective international and national health authorities as well as the enhanced health and hygiene standards of AIDA Cruises. The renowned independent testing company SGS Institut Fresenius and the classification society DNV-GL have reviewed and confirmed the enhanced health and hygiene standards and the processes of preventive measures that AIDA Cruises will implement for the restart of cruise operations. All AIDA cruises can be booked at travel agencies, with the AIDA customer center at the phone number 0381/202 707 07, or online at www.aida.de. Due to the current pandemic, events of the last few weeks in Germany and the associated travel restrictions in neighboring European countries, especially in Northern European countries such as Norway and Denmark, as well as the Baltic states, AIDA Cruises has come to the conclusion that, despite its careful preparations, the conditions for a safe and responsible restart are not yet in place. AIDA Cruises unfortunately has to extend its pause in operation and all short voyages with AIDAblu from Kiel, the voyages with AIDAperla with departure dates of Sept. 12, 19 and 26 from Hamburg, as well as all voyages up to and including Oct. 31, 2020, will be cancelled. In addition, all other voyages planned for the fall and winter season for 2020 and 2021 in the Western Mediterranean, the Azores, Cape Verde Islands and Northern Europe will not take place. AIDA Cruises also very much regrets cancelling all long-distance cruises of the fall and winter season for 2020 and 2021 in the following destinations: Caribbean (including transit cruises) with AIDAdiva, AIDAluna and AIDAperla Southern Africa (including transit cruises) with AIDAmira Southeast Asia (including transit cruises) with AIDAbella and AIDAvita Indian Ocean (including transit cruises) with AIDAblu Orient with AIDAprima up to and including the voyage on Dec. 8, 2020\ All guests whose voyage cannot take place will be informed immediately. Full details of the extension of the pause in operations as well as FAQs can be found on this website: www.aida.de/reisehinweis. CONTACT: AIDA Cruises Media Contact: Hansjorg Kunze, presse@aida.de; Issuer: AIDA Cruises, Am Strande 3d I 18055 Rostock, Tel.: +49 (0) 381 / 444-0, Fax: + 49 (0) 381 / 444-88 88, www.aida.de; Communication: Hansjorg Kunze, Vice President Communication & Sustainability, Tel.: +49 (0) 381 / 444-80 20, Fax: + 49 (0) 381 / 444-80 25, presse@aida.de Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on August 27, 2020 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Xinhua News Agency: The US State Department and Commerce Department imposed sanctions on Chinese companies and citizens "responsible for, or complicit in, either the large-scale reclamation, construction, or militarization of disputed outposts in the South China Sea". What is your response? Zhao Lijian: China's construction activities on its own territory are entirely within its sovereignty and have nothing to do with militarization. The participation of Chinese companies and individuals in domestic construction activities is legitimate, lawful and beyond reproach. It is unjustified for the US to impose sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals for their involvement in relevant construction activities in their own country. The move by the US side grossly interferes in China's internal affairs and violates international law and basic norms governing international relations. It is hegemonistic logic and power politics that are at play here. China is firmly opposed to this. We urge the US to correct its mistake and immediately stop meddling in China's internal affairs. China will take firm measures to safeguard Chinese businesses and citizens' lawful interests. Kyodo News: According to the South China Morning Post, the PLA test fired missiles on August 26. Can you confirm this? Zhao Lijian: I don't have anything on this and refer you to the competent authority. Reuters: The US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said during a visit to Hawaii on Wednesday that China has not lived up to its promises to abide by international law, rules and norms in regard to its military activities. He added that the US has a responsibility to lead in the Pacific and won't cede an inch to other countries. What's the ministry's comment on this? Zhao Lijian: The US politician's remarks on China are completely groundless. China firmly upholds the international system with the United Nations at its core and an international order based on international law, including a series of international conventions signed within the UN framework. China actively advocates a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation, develops all-round friendship and cooperation with other countries, and establishes a global network of partnerships. China is committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind. It advocates an international order that features fairness and justice and calls for global cooperation through extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits and for upholding justice while pursuing shared interests. It has all along worked to safeguard the norms governing international relations, the multilateral system and stability of the international order. The United States, however, always applies international law in a selective way. It has withdrawn from more than ten international treaties and organizations, severely undermining international fairness and justice, as well as peace, stability and development in the world. China Daily: On August 26, Iran and the IAEA issued a joint statement. The two sides reached an agreement on the resolution of the safeguards implementation issues specified by the IAEA, and Iran is voluntarily providing the IAEA with access to two locations. Does China have any comment? Zhao Lijian: China welcomes and applauds that the IAEA and Iran reached an agreement on the resolution of the safeguards implementation issues after friendly consultations. We hope the two sides will continue working toward the same direction and faithfully implement this agreement. We also call on all relevant sides to make constructive efforts in this regard. Facts have shown time and again that unilateral bullying only exacerbates confrontation, while differences can only be narrowed through equal-footed dialogue. It is proved to be so on the safeguards implementation issues, and it is the same with other matters related to the Iranian nuclear issue. Under the current circumstances, all pertinent countries should keep to the right direction, staunchly uphold the authority and efficacy of the JCPOA and the UNSCR 2231, and work for the political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue. NHK: Speaker of the upper house of the Czech Parliament will visit Taiwan soon and meet with President Tsai Ing-wen. Do you have any comment? Zhao Lijian: First I need to correct you on one point. We only recognize the person you mentioned as the leader of the Taiwan region. China firmly opposes any form of official exchanges between countries having diplomatic ties with China and the Taiwan region of China. This position is consistent and clear. Despite China's solemn representation and Czech's mainstream public opinion and official stance on the one-China policy, this politician, in pursuit of self-interest, insisted on making this so-called "visit" to the Taiwan region, which constitutes a deliberate sabotage of the political basis for bilateral relations. China condemns such despicable behavior and urges the Czech side to abide by the one-China principle and correctly and prudently handle Taiwan-related issues. The Paper: On August 26, the American Chamber (AmCham) in Shanghai said nearly 90% of the respondents to a survey it conducted of firms subject to US jurisdiction this week expected negative impact on operations stemming from Washington's planned ban on Chinese messaging app WeChat. AmCham Shanghai said over a third of respondents to its survey said the WeChat ban could lead to a loss of global revenue. What is your comment? Zhao Lijian: I have taken note of the survey results. Many Chinese people are saying they may stop using iPhone if WeChat is banned in the US. Under the guise of "national security", some US politicians have abused state power to unjustifiably suppress non-US companies. Such bandit action has done harm to the rights and interests of consumers and businesses in the US and other countries, and it is bound to be opposed and resisted by the international community. I would like to stress that some US politicians hunting down WeChat and non-US companies is in essence an attempt to pin an ideological label on them and is organized and systematic economic bullying of non-US companies that take the lead in a certain field. This is a denial of the principle of market economy and fair competition that the US has always flaunted. It tramples on international rules and undermines the exchanges and cooperation in science, technology and innovation among countries riding the tide of globalization. In their eyes, the so-called "Internet liberalization" is nothing but the "Americanization of the Internet". The term "national security" is simply a byword for "American double standards". The international community has long been acutely aware of the actions of some US politicians who put the normal operation of the Internet at risk by putting their own political interests above market principles and international rules. China News Service: In his speech via videolink to the Republican National Congress on August 25, US Secretary of State Pompeo said that President Trump "has pulled back the curtain on the predatory aggression of the CPC...held China accountable for covering up the China virus and allowing it to spread around the world". He will not rest until justice is done. What is China's comment on this? Zhao Lijian: "Until justice is done", really? As a person who arbitrarily smears other countries, lies and steals with a stubborn Cold-War and zero-sum game mindset, is he in any way qualified to talk about "justice"? Every time Pompeo opens his mouth, the international community sees with greater clarity who is peddling lies, disinformation and Cold-War mentality and who is upholding world peace, global development and international order. Every time Pompeo opens his mouth, the Chinese people support the Communist Party of China more and love the motherland more. The CPC and the Chinese people are always there for each other. No one can cut off the flesh and blood ties between the COC and the Chinese people. And no one can break the CPC without breaking the Chinese people! I have something to say to Pompeo: Your arrogance and prejudice, your lies and rumors are more than enough. Show your respect for facts and truth, otherwise you will find yourself spurned by everyone. Reuters: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has proposed new legislation that would give the Australian federal government the authority to regulate all agreements the state and territory governments make with foreign governments. If the proposal passes, a controversial Belt and Road trade agreement with the Australian state of Victoria and the Chinese government will almost certainly be scrapped. What's the ministry's comment on this? Zhao Lijian: I have noted relevant reports. I must point out that the Belt and Road Initiative offers a platform for economic cooperation, follows the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and upholds the values of openness, inclusiveness and transparency. It has delivered tangible benefits to peoples along the route. The successful practices between China and the Victoria State on BRI cooperation have greatly improved the well-being of the two peoples. We hope that the Australian side will view China-Australia cooperation and BRI in an objective and rational way, place no man-made hurdles for normal exchanges and cooperation and work for, not against, mutual trust and mutual benefit between the two sides. Shenzhen TV: Jacob Blake, an African-American man, was shot by the police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Demonstrations over the shooting have swept many cities and towns in the US. At least one person was killed and two were wounded during the protests in the city of Kenosha. Eleven were arrested by the police. Wisconsin has declared a state of emergency. I wonder what is China's comment on this? Zhao Lijian: Similar incidents that recently took place in the US have caught wider attention from the international community. In June, the UN Human Rights Council held an urgent debate and adopted a resolution that strongly condemned the killing of George Floyd on May 25 and called on the US to take measures to protect the human rights and basic freedoms of African descendants. We hope the US can heed the call for equality and justice from ethnic minorities in the country and the international community's concerns over its human rights conditions, take the severe racial discrimination issue seriously and address it properly. Reuters: China's maritime police reported on their Weibo account last night that over ten people were arrested on a boat for attempting to leave China illegally. Can the ministry provide any clarity on this? Zhao Lijian: I'm not aware of it and refer you to competent authorities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address RoadVantage wins 4th consecutive Diamond Dealers' Choice Award in 2020. We want to thank the dealers across the country who voted for RoadVantage! Its a deeply gratifying honor to be recognized as their #1 choice for F&I products for the fourth year running, and also their #1 choice for F&I product training. RoadVantage has once again been voted the #1-rated F&I provider in 2020, winning two Diamond Dealers Choice Awards in the F&I Products and F&I Product Training categories. This marks the fourth consecutive year the company has been selected by dealerships nationwide to receive this distinguished industry honor for best F&I Products, and the sixth year in a row for RoadVantage to win a top-tier award in this category. RoadVantage was also recognized this year by winning their first ever Diamond Award for F&I Product Training, after winning Gold in 2018 and Platinum in 2019 for this category. We want to thank the dealers across the country who voted for RoadVantage! Its a deeply gratifying honor to be recognized as their #1 choice for F&I products for the fourth year running, and also their #1 choice for F&I product training, said Garret Lacour, RoadVantage CEO. We credit our Agent Partners and our RoadVantage team members for all they do to provide the best customer service possible every day. RoadVantage has won awards for six years in a row in the F&I Products category with a Gold Dealers Choice Award in 2015, a Platinum Dealers Choice Award in 2016, and Diamond Dealers Choice Awards in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Elected exclusively by automotive dealers and dealership personnel, the Dealers Choice Awards recognize the industrys best product and service providers. To win an award, a company must be among the topmost scores in each category. Providers are rated in four areas: the product/service provided, customer support and service, overall value, and whether the dealer would recommend the provider. We are gratified that our teams dedication to providing a better customer experience has earned us two Diamond Awards this year, including our fourth in a row for best F&I products, said Randy Ross, RoadVantage President of Sales. We are thrilled that dealers are seeing the value of providing the highest levels of service possible to todays demanding and educated consumer. Our Agents and our entire team deserve the credit. See more about the RoadVantage Dealers Choice Award here: http://roadvantage.com/2020-double-diamond-award-winner/ See the announcement article in F&I and Showroom: https://www.fi-magazine.com/362669/winners-of-2020-dealers-choice-awards-announced About RoadVantage Fueled by innovation, led by industry veterans, and powered by passion to create an exceptional customer experience, RoadVantage is the #1-rated F&I provider in the industry. With a team that leverages technology and a streamlined approach, RoadVantage is setting new standards for performance, with exclusionary programs providing the most comprehensive coverages available anywhere in the industry today. RoadVantages industry leading service levels result in 98% of claims approved in seven minutes or less, and 99% of claims paid within 1 hour of receipt of the signed invoice. RoadVantage offers a full portfolio of mechanical VSC and ancillary products through certified agents and is headquartered in Austin, TX with regional offices in Boston, MA; Dallas, TX; Phoenix, AZ; St. Augustine, FL, and Richmond, VA. For more information, visit http://www.roadvantage.com. Regulatory News: Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) ("PSH") today announced that it has purchased, through PSH's agent, Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies"), the following number of PSH's Public Shares of no par value (ISIN Code: GG00BPFJTF46) (the "Shares"): Trading Venue: London Stock Exchange Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 28 August 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 21,891 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 2,040 pence 27.21 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 2,015 pence 26.88 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 2,030 pence 27.08 USD Ticker: PSHD Date of Purchase: 28 August 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 15,648 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 27.05 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 27.05 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 27.05 USD Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 28 August 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 24,216 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 27.10 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 26.90 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 27.05 USD PSH will hold these Public Shares in Treasury. The net asset value per Public Share related to this buyback is 38.62 USD 29.38 GBP which was calculated as of 25 August 2020 (the "Relevant NAV"). After giving effect to the above buyback, PSH has 193,021,155 Public Shares outstanding, or 199,051,755 Public Shares calculated on a fully diluted basis (assuming that all Management Shares had been converted into Public Shares at the Relevant NAV). Excluded from the shares outstanding are 17,935,595 Public Shares held in Treasury. The prices per Public Share were calculated by Jefferies. The number of PSH Management Shares and the one special voting share (held by PS Holdings Independent Voting Company Limited) have not been affected. About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies. Category: (PSH:ShareRepurchases) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200828005315/en/ Contacts: Media Camarco Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS. On the occasion of the Emirati Womens Day, an online discussion titled Womens Empowerment in the UAE was held with the participation of Emirati and Armenian women diplomats and politicians. The discussion has been organized by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Armenia. During the discussion President of the Armenian Young Womens Association Lilit Asatryan said the role of an Armenian woman has undergone changes throughout the history, and during the years of the First Republic of Armenia an Armenian woman had an opportunity of both electing and being elected. The parliament of the First Republic of Armenia has had 4 female MPs in 1918-1920. Over 100 years ago the Armenian woman not only had an opportunity to elect, but also to be elected. Probably you all know, but I would like to state that the first woman Ambassador in the world has also been an Armenian, she said. You always need to ask a question to yourself: who if not me? Who can solve this or that problem, if not me? Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan The Indian Air Force (IAF) will formally induct Rafale fighters at the Ambala air base on September 10 in presence of defence minister Rajnath Singh, officials familiar with the matter said on Friday. India has also invited Singhs French counterpart, Florence Parly, to attend the ceremony, they added. Five Rafale fighters of the 36 ordered arrived at the airbase on July 29, ending IAFs wait for new fighter jets to sharpen its combat potential. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria and other senior air force officers were present when the jets arrived, but a formal induction ceremony was reserved for another day. The arrival of the jets coincided with the ongoing India-China border tensions in Ladakh. Shortly after they landed last month, the defence minister said the fighters would enhance the IAFs capabilities and deter any threat to the country. He said those who want to threaten Indias territorial integrity should be worried about the new capability. Singh, who had travelled to France last year to formally receive the first fighter jet, showered praises on the multi-role aircraft for its capabilities, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the decision to buy 36 fighter jets. The Rafale fighters will significantly enhance IAFs offensive capabilities and be a game changer with their advanced weaponry, high-tech sensors, superior radar for detection and tracking of targets and ability to carry an impressive payload, experts say. The jet is capable of carrying out a variety of missions ground and sea attack, air defence and air superiority, reconnaissance and nuclear strike deterrence. I would like to add, if it is anyone who should be worried about or critical about this new capability of the Indian Air Force, it should be those who want to threaten our territorial integrity, Rajnath had tweeted and posted in a video of the Rafale jets landing at the Ambala base. They are part of the IAFs 17 Squadron also known as the Golden Arrows. The aircrew that brought them to India was headed by Group Captain Harkirat Singh, a decorated fighter pilot, who is the commanding officer of the squadron. The aircraft covered a distance of nearly 8,500 km from France to India. The first stage of the flight covered a distance of 5,800 km from Merignac to Al Dhafra (UAE). The second covered over 2,700 km from Al Dhafra to Ambala. The new fighters are the first imported jets to be inducted into the IAF in 23 years after the Russian Sukhoi-30 jets entered service in June 1997. The IAF ordered 36 Rafale jets from France as part of a government-to-government deal worth ~59,000 crore in September 2016. They have been specially tailored for IAF. The Rafale weaponry includes Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missiles, Mica multi-mission air-to-air missiles and Scalp deep-strike cruise missiles. The weapons allow fighter pilots to attack air and ground targets from standoff ranges and fill a significant capability gap. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON 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. Democrat Joe Biden is the victor in the convention speech ratings war, edging out President Donald Trump's Thursday night appearance by an average of 800,000 viewers, according to Nielsen numbers. The early number had shown a wider difference of two million early Friday afternoon, but the finalized number narrowed the gap slightly to 800,000. The New York Times reported that Nielsen put Trump on 23.8 million to Biden's 24.6 million for the Democratic National Convention speech the Thursday before. The number is calculated for nine cable and broadcast networks. It does not include those who watch online. Democratic nominee Joe Biden's (left) acceptance speech last week performed higher in the initial television ratings than President Donald Trump's (right) Thursday night address to the Republican National Convention On Friday morning, Trump had preemptively commented about the ratings, suggesting that they would be 'Great.' He later didn't take questions from reporters in the Oval Office Members of Biden's communications team relished the news that the Democrat had won the ratings war Trump had tried to pre-empt the bad news. 'Great Ratings & Reviews Last Night. Thank you!' he tweeted Friday morning, a little before 10 a.m. Overall, the virtual DNC beat out the mostly virtual RNC in ratings over the four nights. Biden's communications team relished the news. Spokesman TJ Ducklo tagged another Biden spokesman, Andrew Bates, to ask him a question Friday afternoon. 'I always forget, does @RealDonaldTrump care about his television ratings? Or is that not something he cares about?' Ducklo asked Bates via Twitter. 'Like, do you think it'll trigger him that Joe Biden's speech got way bigger ratings than his did?' Later Ducklo added, 'Turns out Americans arent really into the dark and dystopian view of the country that Donald Trump is presiding over as president,' linking to another tweet showcasing the ratings. Trump briefly engaged with reporters Friday afternoon in the White House, but didn't take questions. He brought the press pool into the Oval Office to announce that he was pardoning Alice Johnson, a criminal justice reform advocate who was aided by Kim Kardashian, and spoke during Thursday night's RNC, before Trump. By the time Trump issued Johnson's surprise pardon, the ratings had come out. Besides both candidates ending their conventions with fireworks, the two political rivals stylistically gave very different speeches. Biden's was in a darkened room, with only a handful of reporters watching quietly, as he stared into a camera and delivered a 25-minute address in his adopted hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. Trump's, on the other hand, was before an audience of 1,500 supporters - who weren't following proper social distancing protocols to slow the spread of COVID-19. The president went on for 70 minutes and dropped Biden's name 41 times. While Biden lambasted Trump's time in office, he never mentioned his name once. Iran agrees to give IAEA access to 2 requested locations People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:44, August 27, 2020 Iran agrees to give UN nuclear watchdog access to two specified locations for inspections of "possible" nuclear activities. TEHRAN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has agreed to grant the inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Organization (IAEA) with an access to two 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 to settle these issues," the statement was cited as reading by official IRNA news agency. "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 AEOI, the inspections will be made at two locations, near Shahreza in central Isfahan Province and near capital Tehran. The UN nuclear watchdog had demanded inspections for "possible" nuclear activities in the two locations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 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. PATNA: The Supreme Court on Friday (August 28) dismissed a petition seeking to defer the Bihar assembly elections till the state is free of the novel coronavirus stating that the ongoing pandemic cannot be a ground for postponement of polls. The Election Commission of India will consider everything, a bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan was quoted by PTI. The bench, also comprising Justices R S Reddy and M R Shah, said it is a premature petition as no notification for the assembly polls has been issued till now. Petitioner Avinash Thakur had sought a direction to the Chief Election Commissioner to postpone the polls due to the COVID-19 pandemic on the ground that the Representation of the People Act provides for the deferment of polls in extraordinary situations. "How can we ask the Election Commission of India (ECI) to not hold elections? COVID cannot be a valid ground for postponement of elections," the bench stated. The petitioner's counsel said the RP Act provides for the deferment of polls due to an extraordinary situation. To this the bench said it is for the ECI to decide and the court cannot direct the poll panel to not hold elections. The petitioner's counsel also argued that elections are not paramount but human life is, and even MLAs and common people are suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The bench said it cannot pass orders for the deferment of polls and the ECI will take into account every situation. It said no writ can be applied like this and dismissed the PIL. The Deputy National Communications Director for the Convention Peoples Party [CPP], Benjamin Nsiah, has urged President Akufo-Addo to reduce the number of ministers serving under his government to save Ghanas economy. The current administration now has over 110 ministers, at least 20 ministers more than its predecessors appointed. According to him, the over 110 ministers set a negative record for a country infamous for its oversized ministerial teams. Benjamin Nsiah in his view believes the Nana-Addo over-sized government is adversely affecting the fight against corruption in the country. It is deeply worrying to observe that President Akufo-Addo cannot seem to help himself. Despite widespread public outrage over his penchant for an elephantine-sized government; the number of Presidential Staffers has increased from 28 in 2018 to 36 in 2019. Also, the list of junior political appointees has shot up from 254 in 2018 to 270 in 2019, Benjamin Nsiah told Kwaku Owusu Adjei on Pae Mu Ka on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7 Perhaps we should be asking President Akufo-Addo to help us better understand exactly what he meant by protecting the public purse, he added The Akufo-Addo administration which has about 125 ministers has come under serious criticism of being an over-sized government in the history of Ghana. This, according to some critics is having a negative toll on the countrys budget. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement related to the 28th anniversary of the Balligaya massacre. "Today marks 28 years since the massacre committed by the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia against peaceful Azerbaijanis in the village of Balligaya, Goranboy region of the Republic of Azerbaijan. As a result of the massacre in Balligaya on August 28, 1992, 24 Azerbaijani civilians including 6 minors, as well as a 6-month-old baby and a 93-year-old woman were brutally killed, the statement reads. The ministry added that bodies of some of the victims, most of them being children, women, and the elderly were burned. As a result of the massacre, 3 minors lost both parents. "The Balligaya massacre is one of the series of massacres committed by the Armenian armed forces in Garadagli village of Khojavend region, Khojaly city, and Agdaban village of Kalbajar region in order to destroy the Azerbaijani population of Karabakh," the statement further says. United Nations, Aug 28 : India can lead the world's transformation to clean energy and become a "global superpower" in the war on climate change, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday. "India can become a true global superpower in the fight against climate change, if it speeds up its shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy," he said in TERI's Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture that he delivered virtually from New York due to Covid-19 restrictions. The main focus of his message to India was to stop developing electricity generation plants using fossil fuel, especially coal, and switch to clean renewable sources in order to fight global warming and pollution and simultaneously reap economic benefits. Charting a global role for India, he said: "India can be the business hub to achievea the UN Sustainable Development goal of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030. "India is a pioneer when it comes to driving innovation for access to electricity and on clean cooking. I call on India and all its innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders to spearhead the global search for a solution to solar cooking at the household level." He praised New Delhi's initiatives to help bring solar energy around the world. "I applaud India's decision to take forward the International Solar Alliance in the form of 'One Sun, One World, One Grid'. "And I commend India's plans for a World Solar Bank that will mobilize $1 trillion of investments in solar projects over the coming decade." Darbari Seth, in whose honour the annual lecture is organised by TERI which he co-founded, "was a climate action pioneer". Guterres said. "India has all the ingredients for exerting the leadership at home and abroad envisioned by Darbari Seth. The drivers are poverty alleviation and universal energy access - two of India's top priorities. Scaling up clean energy, particularly solar, is the recipe for solving both." The world is facing the twin crises of Covid-19 and climate change with the danger that more people are being pushed back into poverty, Guterres said. The solution to both the problems as the world recovers from the pandemic is to channel investments to renewable energy, clean transport and energy efficiency, he said. "India is already pushing ahead in this direction," the UN chief said, giving examples of the nations efforts. He welcomed the Indian government's decision to raise its target of renewable energy capacity from the initial 2015 goal of 175 gigawatts to 500 gigawatts by 2030. In the short term, he said: "I was inspired to learn that during the pandemic, IndiaaAs proportion of renewable energy rose from 17 per cent to 24 per cent while coal-fired power declined from 76 per cent to 66 per cent." That trajectory should continue, he said. Guterres made the economic argument for investing in renewable energy comparing its falling cost compared to fossil fuel-fired plants. "In India, 50 per cent of coal will be uncompetitive in 2022, reaching 85 per cent by 2025a and it "makes no sense" to invest in "coal business going up in smoke," he said. As India switches to prioritising renewable energy, he said it will attract more and more international investors, such as the sovereign wealth funds and pension funds like the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec or the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. Guterres referred to the Leadership Group for Industry Transition India and Sweden launched last year at the Climate Action Summit at the UN in New York. It brings together the public and private sector organisations in areas that account for 30 per cent of global emissions of greenhouse gases to make a commitment to achieving net zero emissions by mid-century. He said, "companies such as Dalmia Cement and Mahindra are driving innovation. But we need many more to join them". (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The Renaissance Foundation, established by Renaissance Life & Health Insurance Company of America, has announced it will donate $50,000 to the Feeding America COVID-19 Response Fund. The COVID-19 crisis has upended the health, lives and livelihoods of millions of people with devastating effects, said Robert P. Mulligan, president and CEO of Renaissance. Feeding America food banks are responding with extraordinary efforts to help ensure no one goes hungry during the pandemic, and we are proud to be among those supporting their work. G o out with friends for dinner on Saturday to our favourite little French restaurant in Georgetown, Chez Billy Sud. Its the first time Ive been back there since lockdown, and all the seating is outdoors on their lovely pale-yellow painted terrace, complete with enamel French street signs. When the bill comes I am told that for ease of transactions and to minimise amount of handing things backwards and forwards, the extras have been included 18 per cent service (steep, but normal for America), and seven per cent PPE. I now wish I had drunk the hand sanitiser as a digestif. I mean, vraiment! How do I say youre havin a laugh in French? Pennsylvania is a key swing state, and polls suggest Joe Biden is well ahead. But our search for Trump defectors along the Lehigh River is not going well. My impression is that those who loved him in 2016 still do. However, we meet the former mayor of Bangor, Duane Miller, who voted for Trump last time and now says hes a spoilt brat. When I remind him of his earlier support, he laughs and says: Dont tell anyone that. Thats the problem, the polls underestimated Trumps support four years ago. A lot of people arent telling this time either. It is the eve of the Republican convention and we are afforded another glimpse into the inner workings of the Trump family. Now show me a family anywhere without dysfunction, but this one? Donald Trumps niece, Mary (daughter of his long deceased alcoholic brother) has written a memoir about how awful he is. Uncle Donald is so cross there is a threat of litigation. So as insurance, Mary secretly records his sister Maryanne Trump Barry, a retired federal court judge. He has no principles. None. None, says Barry, 83. His goddamned tweet and lying, oh my God. Im talking too freely, but you know. The change of stories. The lack of preparation. The lying. Holy s**t. You might imagine this causes earthquake-style aftershocks. It barely produces a so what shrug. AFP via Getty Images I am watching the speech of Trump hyper-partisan Pam Bondi. The former attorney general for Florida is putting her laces through Joe Biden and his predilection for nepotism. CNN has put on the bottom of the screen who the next speakers are. Tonight, Tiffany Trump, ahead Eric Trump, later Melania Trump. Wheres my eye-roll emoji? AFP via Getty Images One person not appearing at the Republican convention is Jerry Falwell Jr, evangelical leader and Trump supporter. He is the head of a Christian college with a strict code of conduct. Hes caught up in a sex scandal that involves his wife, himself and a hotel pool boy. Not helping his cause is a photo of him on a yacht with his arm round a young woman, his trousers undone and an alcoholic drink in hand. On Monday it was reported hed resigned in disgrace; he then said he hadnt. By Tuesday its confirmed hes gone. Trumps speech ended last night with a fireworks display at the Washington monument. Today the forces of law and order are bracing for a different sort of pyrotechnics. A Black Lives Matter protest is coming through the capital. Our office, along with hundreds of others, is boarded up. The White House has become even more of a fortress. The whole place feels dismally sad. Jon Sopel is BBC North America Editor The oil industry has dueling problems right now, with the longer-term COVID impact rivaling a massive hurricane for attention. Before we get - China is losing influence in South Sudans oil patch. The newly independent country has said it will allow CNPCs contract to operate several oilfields to expire, at which point the oilfields will be taken over by state-run Nile Petroleum in order to keep more oil revenues at home. The transition wouldnt be until 2027, when CNPCs contract expires, which is a lifetime in chaotic South Sudan and anything could happen in the interim, including the move being used as leverage for a better deal from the Chinese. - Four Americans have been indicted for selling Iranian oil to China in violation of sanctions between May 2019 and February 2020 in a scheme that involved shell companies, forgery, and the bribing of Chinese officials. - Tensions between India and China continue to escalate, now bleeding over into the refinery business after Indian lawmakers passed legislation restricting imports of crude oil from China. Earlier this month, the authorities halted the chartering of any Chinese-owned or flagged tankers to haul oil and fuel. - ISIS is believed to have been behind a major attack on Syrias energy infrastructure earlier this week that caused a nationwide blackout following an explosion at the Arab Gas Pipeline. Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict - ISIS is believed to have been behind a major attack on Syrias energy infrastructure earlier this week that caused a nationwide blackout following an explosion at the Arab Gas Pipeline. - Tensions between India and China continue to escalate, now bleeding over into the refinery business after Indian lawmakers passed legislation restricting imports of crude oil from China. Earlier this month, the authorities halted the chartering of any Chinese-owned or flagged tankers to haul oil and fuel. - Four Americans have been indicted for selling Iranian oil to China in violation of sanctions between May 2019 and February 2020 in a scheme that involved shell companies, forgery, and the bribing of Chinese officials. - China is losing influence in South Sudans oil patch. The newly independent country has said it will allow CNPCs contract to operate several oilfields to expire, at which point the oilfields will be taken over by state-run Nile Petroleum in order to keep more oil revenues at home. The transition wouldnt be until 2027, when CNPCs contract expires, which is a lifetime in chaotic South Sudan and anything could happen in the interim, including the move being used as leverage for a better deal from the Chinese. COVID Market Update The oil industry has dueling problems right now, with the longer-term COVID impact rivaling a massive hurricane for attention. Before we get into our COVID-related market briefing, heres a quite hurricane update: The oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico had braced earlier in the week for Laura, evacuating 299 offshore platforms and 11 drilling rigs on Wednesday. By Thursday, 297 production platforms had been evacuated, which is nearly half of all 643 manned platforms in the GoM. Personnel were also evacuated from 10 of the 12 non-dynamically positioned rigs in this area, and 8 of the 16 dynamically positioned rigs were moved out of the storms path. This leaves 1.559 million barrels of oil shut in (84.3%) and 1.628 mmcfd of gas shut in. Just a handful of the refineries shuttered include Motivas Port Arthur refinery, Exxons Beaumont, Totals Port Arthur, Valeros Port Arthur, Phillips 66 Lake Charles, Chevrons Pasadena, and Citgos Lake Charles. Overall, more than 2.0 million barrels of refining capacity had been shut in. By Friday morning, oil prices dipped as it became evident no significant damage had been sustained. Some refiners, such as BP, even began the process of restarting. - Equinor has announced job cuts of around 20% in Britain, Canada, and the US, and will also be cutting contractors by half as it struggles to maintain profitability amid low oil prices. Equinor also said it would not drill new unconventional wells in the US for the rest of 2020. This mostly will impact the Bakken and Marcellus. As of the end of last year, Equinor had about 20,000 employees. - Exxon, once the most valuable company in the world, has now been booted from the Dow index. To some, the oil giants removal can be attributed to more than just low oil prices. It could be a far scarier indication that there simply isnt the confidence there anymore that oil demand will rebound enough for Exxon to regain its status. - Things are looking grim for Alberta. In its first-quarter fiscal update for 2020-2021, Alberta pegged its debt burden nearly $100 billion, with a projected deficit of $24.2 billion for 2020-21. This figure is $16.8 billion higher than estimated than the budget for 2020. The reason for this decline? The sharp drop in oil revenue. - PetroChina posted a $4.4 billion loss for H1 2020, compared to a hefty profit a year earlier. Despite the loss, PetroChina has pledged to invest in geothermal, hydrogen, solar, and wind power to the tune of 3-5 billion yuan annually. The firm ultimately pledged to have net-zero emissions by 2050. - Iraq is cutting its exports this month, so far to 2.63 million bpd. This is 0.04 million bpd down from last months figures. This downward trajectory for its oil exports is noteworthy given that Iraq and Nigeria are OPECs biggest laggards when it comes to production quota compliance, and Saudi Arabia et al have had a difficult time getting Iraq to comply. This export figure will still not bring Iraq into full compliance with production, which would require Iraq to cut an additional 0.4 million bpd. - Australias Oil Searchs planned $20-billion expansion of the Papua New Guinea LNG project will be delayed by approximately two years, due to the pandemic. Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions - The US Bureau of Land Management held its first oil and gas lease sales since March this week--one on Wednesday and one on Thursday. Wednesdays auction for New Mexico tracts of around 2,800 total acres produced lackluster results with most swaths selling in the hundreds instead of thousands of dollars-range per acre. Thursdays much larger auction--of 45,000 acres total was also in New Mexico, with one of the 93 parcels in Texas--was also a disappointment. The two-day average price was $169 per acre. That is compared to the $1,368 per acre back in February. - Kinder Morgan has put its final production units at the Elba Liquefaction facility in Georgia online, with total capacity now at 2.5 million mt/year. Elba has a 20-year contract with its only client, Shell. - Brazils Petrobras started its largest sale to date in Rio Grande do Norte offering a total of 26 fields with the aim of divesting non-core assets to raise cash. The Clara Camarao Refinery in the same state is also included in the sale. The refinery has the capacity to process 39,600 bpd. - Italian Eni has agreed to acquire wind and solar projects in the US as part of the strategy of increasing its investments in renewables. Eni will acquire a stake in Building Energy Holdings US LLC (BEHUS), the U.S. affiliate of London-based renewable energy company Building Energy SpA. The holding company operates 62MW in wind and solar projects in the U.S. and has up to 160MW in wind projects in the pipeline. - More good news for EVs as Californian authorities greenlighted a $437 million electric vehicle infrastructure program that will add about 38,000 new charging stations in the next four years. Regulations and Legislation - The Trump Administration has announced it intends to hold an oil and gas lease sale in California before the end of 2020--the first such auction in seven years. The BLM this week published an environmental review for seven parcels across 4,300 acres. California has repeatedly challenged the federal government over its drilling auctions in the state. Two lawsuits were filed this week against the Trump Administration over the BLMs plan to open up part of the ANWR to oil and gas exploration after the administration approved the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program earlier this month. Russia and Turkey may fill in the diplomatic vacuum on Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, former OSCE MG Co-Chair Matthew Bryza said in his article for the Atlantic Council. His article runs as follows: Last month, Armenia and Azerbaijan had their second most serious flareup in fighting since their 1994 ceasefire during their war over Nagorno Karabakh. These latest clashes may have unleashed a dangerous new geopolitical dynamic: heavy weapons fire near strategic transportation assets, military posturing between Russia and Turkey, and lack of an appropriate mediation mechanism. In the absence of US or EU leadership, it may be up to Turkey and Russia to redirect Azerbaijan and Armenia away from the battlefield and toward the negotiating table. Who shot first on July 12 remains unclear. Both sides agree a pair of Azerbaijani soldiers were riding that night in a jeep along the two countries un-demarcated international border. Yerevan claims its troops warned the two Azerbaijani soldiers to retreat and Azerbaijan responded with artillery fire; Baku claims Armenian artillery fired unprovoked. Ultimately, fifteen Azerbaijani soldiers, including a general, were killed, along with one civilian in Tovuz Province. Four troops and one civilian perished across the border in Armenias Tavush Province. The location of these latest clashes is significant. Tovuz is far from Nagorno Karabakh, which, along with its seven surrounding regions, is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but occupied by Armenia. Frustrated by Armenias non-compliance with four United Nations Security Council resolutions demanding Armenia withdraw immediately, Baku has threatened to liberate these territories by force. But Tovuz is different. It is one of the last places Baku would want to see fighting because it lies directly on strategic transportation lines that are essential to Azerbaijans independence, economic vitality, and strategic significance. These are the: Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Supsa oil pipelines, delivering primarily Azerbaijani crude oil to Mediterranean and Black Sea ports (respectively); South Caucasus natural gas pipeline, a key element of the EUs Southern Corridor that will soon pump Azerbaijani gas to the EU via Georgia and Turkey; Azerbaijan-Georgia highway, part of Europes second-longest road project, the E60, which connects Frances Atlantic coast to Kyrgyzstan-China border; Kars-Tbilisi railroad, providing similar strategic connectivity; and Fiberoptic cables linking Europe with Central Asia and beyond. This infrastructure is also strategically important to the United States and NATO. Washington has promoted these oil/gas pipelines for twenty-five years to help its European allies reduce their dependence on Russia, while also avoiding Iran. Meanwhile, the road and rail lines and airspace above comprise a crucial US logistics channel into Afghanistan, enabling one-third of all non-lethal supplies to NATO troops at the height of the Afghan war. And by providing alternatives to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, these transit links can also help the countries of Central Asia and the South Caucasus maintain their own financial independence. Russia, of course, opposes these routes, seeking to maximize flows of energy, goods, and data via its own networks. Tehran, meanwhile, is expanding its trade corridor into Armenia and onward to post-Soviet and European markets thanks to Armenias membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (led by Russia) and its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU. Iran has also reportedly been delivering fuel to Nagorno-Karabakh via Armenia, while Irans airspace was essential for Russias delivery of weapons to Armenia following its clash with Azerbaijan in July. Azerbaijans shelling of Armenias sovereign territory in Tavush, even if in self-defense, provides a justification for Yerevan to request military assistance from the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military alliance that includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Armenias leaders have long tried to leverage the CSTO against Azerbaijan. They were unable to do so during larger military clashes in April 2016 because that conflict occurred on Azerbaijani territory (near Nagorno-Karabakh). At that time, then-Secretary General of the CSTO Nikolai Bordyuzha explained that the CSTO could assist Armenia only if an attack occurred on Armenias internationally recognized territory. Last months fighting, in contrast, occurred partially on Armenias sovereign territory, which provided Yerevan an opportunity to request an emergency session of the CSTO. Yerevan quickly withdrew its request, however, as an evenhanded CSTO statement on July 14 criticized the violation of the ceasefire agreed by the leaderships of [both] Armenia and Azerbaijan. Russia nevertheless responded unilaterally, launching its own snap combat drills in Armenia during July 17-20, drawing on its 102rd military base in Gyumri, Armenia. Turkey also responded firmly. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan noted on July 14 that Turkey will never hesitate to stand against any attack on the rights and lands of Azerbaijan, with which it has deep-rooted friendly ties and brotherly relations, and condemning what he termed Armenias reckless and systematic attacks on Azerbaijan. Turkeys Defense Minister Hulusi Akar then warned on July 16 that Armenia will be brought to account for its attack on Azerbaijan. Large-scale Turkish-Azerbaijani military exercises followed during July 29-August 10. While Turkey and Russia square off in the South Caucasus just as they are in Syria and Libya, neither seeks further escalation. Russia was fought to a standstill by NATOs second largest military in Syria last February and Libya in May. Turkey, meanwhile, has historically preferred to deter rather than confront Russias military adventurism, while preserving the countries strong economic relations. The existing international mediation mechanism to contain conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, however, does not seem fit-for-purpose. The Minsk Group of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has mediated between Azerbaijan and Armenia since 1992. It is co-chaired by the United States, Russia, and France. (I was the US co-chair during 2006-2009). The groups mandate, however, limits its focus to Nagorno-Karabakh and its seven surrounding Azerbaijani regions rather than to Armenian territory. Even if its mandate were broadened, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev both seem to have given up for now on the Minsk Group. Pashinyan affirmed during an August 14 BBC TV interview that he had abandoned the basic principles of a Nagorno-Karabakh settlement negotiated by the Minsk Group to which his predecessor informally agreed in January 2009. Aliyev, meanwhile, cited meaningless negotiations with Armenia when he fired his respected and veteran Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on July 16. This occurred against the backdrop of tens of thousands of protestors in Baku demanding a revenge attack against Armenia for what they viewed as a military provocation in Tovuz. It may therefore fall to Ankara and Moscow to fill a diplomatic vacuum and convince their respective allies to return to the negotiating table. Despite sharp differences with Russia and Turkey on many fronts, the United States and its European allies would be wise to encourage and shape such a forum. The alternative could be a mutual escalation of emotions and military tension between Azerbaijan and Armenia. While neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan could sustain a full-scale war, even a more limited armed conflict could knock out strategic assets on which NATO and the EU depend. The only beneficiaries would be Russia, Iran, and perhaps China and its Belt and Road Initiative. Matthew Bryza: Russia and Turkey may fill in the diplomatic vacuum on Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict Last month, Armenia and Azerbaijan had their second most serious flareup in fighting Russia and Turkey may fill in the diplomatic vacuum on Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, former OSCE MG Co-Chair Matthew Bryza said in his article for the Atlantic Council. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/russia-and-turkey-may-fill-in-the-diplomatic-vacuum-on-armenia-azerbaijan-conflict/ His article runs as follows: Last month, Armenia and Azerbaijan had their second most serious flareup in fighting since their 1994 ceasefire during their war over Nagorno Karabakh. These latest clashes may have unleashed a dangerous new geopolitical dynamic: heavy weapons fire near strategic transportation assets, military posturing between Russia and Turkey, and lack of an appropriate mediation mechanism. In the absence of US or EU leadership, it may be up to Turkey and Russia to redirect Azerbaijan and Armenia away from the battlefield and toward the negotiating table. Who shot first on July 12 remains unclear. Both sides agree a pair of Azerbaijani soldiers were riding that night in a jeep along the two countries un-demarcated international border. Yerevan claims its troops warned the two Azerbaijani soldiers to retreat and Azerbaijan responded with artillery fire; Baku claims Armenian artillery fired unprovoked. Ultimately, fifteen Azerbaijani soldiers, including a general, were killed, along with one civilian in Tovuz Province. Four troops and one civilian perished across the border in Armenias Tavush Province. The location of these latest clashes is significant. Tovuz is far from Nagorno Karabakh, which, along with its seven surrounding regions, is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but occupied by Armenia. Frustrated by Armenias non-compliance with four United Nations Security Council resolutions demanding Armenia withdraw immediately, Baku has threatened to liberate these territories by force. But Tovuz is different. It is one of the last places Baku would want to see fighting because it lies directly on strategic transportation lines that are essential to Azerbaijans independence, economic vitality, and strategic significance. These are the: Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Supsa oil pipelines, delivering primarily Azerbaijani crude oil to Mediterranean and Black Sea ports (respectively); South Caucasus natural gas pipeline, a key element of the EUs Southern Corridor that will soon pump Azerbaijani gas to the EU via Georgia and Turkey; Azerbaijan-Georgia highway, part of Europes second-longest road project, the E60, which connects Frances Atlantic coast to Kyrgyzstan-China border; Kars-Tbilisi railroad, providing similar strategic connectivity; and Fiberoptic cables linking Europe with Central Asia and beyond. This infrastructure is also strategically important to the United States and NATO. Washington has promoted these oil/gas pipelines for twenty-five years to help its European allies reduce their dependence on Russia, while also avoiding Iran. Meanwhile, the road and rail lines and airspace above comprise a crucial US logistics channel into Afghanistan, enabling one-third of all non-lethal supplies to NATO troops at the height of the Afghan war. And by providing alternatives to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, these transit links can also help the countries of Central Asia and the South Caucasus maintain their own financial independence. Russia, of course, opposes these routes, seeking to maximize flows of energy, goods, and data via its own networks. Tehran, meanwhile, is expanding its trade corridor into Armenia and onward to post-Soviet and European markets thanks to Armenias membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (led by Russia) and its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU. Iran has also reportedly been delivering fuel to Nagorno-Karabakh via Armenia, while Irans airspace was essential for Russias delivery of weapons to Armenia following its clash with Azerbaijan in July. Azerbaijans shelling of Armenias sovereign territory in Tavush, even if in self-defense, provides a justification for Yerevan to request military assistance from the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military alliance that includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Armenias leaders have long tried to leverage the CSTO against Azerbaijan. They were unable to do so during larger military clashes in April 2016 because that conflict occurred on Azerbaijani territory (near Nagorno-Karabakh). At that time, then-Secretary General of the CSTO Nikolai Bordyuzha explained that the CSTO could assist Armenia only if an attack occurred on Armenias internationally recognized territory. Last months fighting, in contrast, occurred partially on Armenias sovereign territory, which provided Yerevan an opportunity to request an emergency session of the CSTO. Yerevan quickly withdrew its request, however, as an evenhanded CSTO statement on July 14 criticized the violation of the ceasefire agreed by the leaderships of [both] Armenia and Azerbaijan. Russia nevertheless responded unilaterally, launching its own snap combat drills in Armenia during July 17-20, drawing on its 102rd military base in Gyumri, Armenia. Turkey also responded firmly. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan noted on July 14 that Turkey will never hesitate to stand against any attack on the rights and lands of Azerbaijan, with which it has deep-rooted friendly ties and brotherly relations, and condemning what he termed Armenias reckless and systematic attacks on Azerbaijan. Turkeys Defense Minister Hulusi Akar then warned on July 16 that Armenia will be brought to account for its attack on Azerbaijan. Large-scale Turkish-Azerbaijani military exercises followed during July 29-August 10. While Turkey and Russia square off in the South Caucasus just as they are in Syria and Libya, neither seeks further escalation. Russia was fought to a standstill by NATOs second largest military in Syria last February and Libya in May. Turkey, meanwhile, has historically preferred to deter rather than confront Russias military adventurism, while preserving the countries strong economic relations. The existing international mediation mechanism to contain conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, however, does not seem fit-for-purpose. The Minsk Group of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has mediated between Azerbaijan and Armenia since 1992. It is co-chaired by the United States, Russia, and France. (I was the US co-chair during 2006-2009). The groups mandate, however, limits its focus to Nagorno-Karabakh and its seven surrounding Azerbaijani regions rather than to Armenian territory. Even if its mandate were broadened, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev both seem to have given up for now on the Minsk Group. Pashinyan affirmed during an August 14 BBC TV interview that he had abandoned the basic principles of a Nagorno-Karabakh settlement negotiated by the Minsk Group to which his predecessor informally agreed in January 2009. Aliyev, meanwhile, cited meaningless negotiations with Armenia when he fired his respected and veteran Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on July 16. This occurred against the backdrop of tens of thousands of protestors in Baku demanding a revenge attack against Armenia for what they viewed as a military provocation in Tovuz. It may therefore fall to Ankara and Moscow to fill a diplomatic vacuum and convince their respective allies to return to the negotiating table. Despite sharp differences with Russia and Turkey on many fronts, the United States and its European allies would be wise to encourage and shape such a forum. The alternative could be a mutual escalation of emotions and military tension between Azerbaijan and Armenia. While neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan could sustain a full-scale war, even a more limited armed conflict could knock out strategic assets on which NATO and the EU depend. The only beneficiaries would be Russia, Iran, and perhaps China and its Belt and Road Initiative. Some college students will spend this semester in their childhood bedrooms. Others are taking their chances on campuses. Then, theres a third option: Rent a giant house with friends and take remote classes from a far-flung locale. Its an adventure, its potentially cheaper than living in a college town and its more fun than Zooming from your parents basement. Taylor Lorenz, a Times technology reporter, described it as off-off-off campus housing, inspired in part by social media influencers who have formed collab houses across Los Angeles. Two groups of students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will spend the semester in Hawaii. At least seven groups of friends rented large houses in the greater Salt Lake City area. And more than 30 Chinese students who attend American universities plan to live in adjoining properties in Beijing. In normal unrestricted times Fr Gerard (Gerry) Comiskey of Doonkelly would have celebrated his 40th anniversary of ordination in a crowded church. Local people and friends among the clergy in the Diocese of Kilmore would have been happy among the prayerful throng. But recently on Sunday afternoon, August 16, Fr Gerry, with siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews, chose the spiritual aura of a Newtownmanor woodland grove with what was possibly an ancient Mass rock. Here in a townland called Carrickanurroo, situated in a Coillte walkway near Lough Gill, Fr Gerry solemnly and joyfully celebrated 40 years of priestly ordination. The symbolical resonance motivated his choice. During penal times in the 18th century there were severe restrictions on the celebration of Mass. Groups of people furtively assembled at Mass rocks in remote woodland and hillside locations for religious events led by priests who wandered incognito around the countryside. Today the Covid-19 crisis worldwide is severely restricting secular and religious events. In his anniversary homily Gerry, as he is affectionately known in the Diocese of Kilmore, reminded the invited congregation that today the Covid-19 restrictions on attendance at religious services, including funerals and weddings, presents a different form of psychological and social challenge to Christians and others in Ireland and the wider world. It is important to keep God in our hearts in these tough times, he emphasised. Prayers were offered in memory of all who have been tragically affected by the Covid-19 virus everywhere. Fr Paul Casey concelebrated and congratulated Gerard on behalf of Dromahair parish and on behalf of clergy in the Diocese of Kilmore. From a well known farming family, Gerard has three brothers and three sisters. His brother Michael Comiskey served in the Senate some years ago. Another brother, Kevin Comiskey, is active in the Leitrim Hillfarmers Association in the Leitrim IFA. Afterwards the family enjoyed an outdoor party. During the evening several members of the Newtownmanor community drove past the house, their vehicles festooned with balloons, waving and tooting horns in honour of the happy occasion. Information from Garreth Byrne of Dromahair. EDWARDSVILLE Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has selected Dr. Morris Taylor as its vice chancellor for administration (VCA) following a national search. Pending approval by the SIU Board of Trustees, Taylor officially assumes his new responsibilities on Oct. 1. The VCA is responsible for support functions of SIUE, including planning and budgeting, human resources, financial affairs, administrative services, facilities management and public safety. I am thrilled that Dr. Taylor has agreed to serve as vice chancellor for administration, said SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook. He has devoted himself to SIUE for more than two decades and brings a unique skill set to the position. In particular, his police experience, abilities in coalition building and understanding of SIUE will allow him to hit the ground running. I also want to thank outgoing VCA Rich Walker for his more than three decades of service to SIUE. The VCA Office will continue to provide essential support to the University. I also wish to thank the search committee chaired by Provost Denise Cobb for its outstanding work during the search process. I am extremely appreciative of the efforts of both the search committee and university leadership for their highly professional and rigorous assessments of my qualifications throughout the entire selection process, said Taylor, a St. Louis native. My vision for this office will focus on ensuring the effective, efficient, equitable, and safe operation of the entire University for those functions for which I am responsible. This includes ensuring equity with respect to diversity and inclusion. Taylor understands he is entering a leadership position during a challenging time. Given the uncertainty associated with COVID-19, public safety will be a top priority juxtaposed with being a good steward of scarce University resources during these uncertain and dynamic times, he said. An associate professor in the SIUE Department of Public Administration and Policy Analysis which he has chaired since 2014, Taylor has been an SIUE faculty member since 1997 and brings 22 years of experience in higher education to the position. At SIUE, he has taught courses in public management, policy analysis, public law, program evaluation, ethics, homeland security and public safety. He is an editor for the Journal of Public Management and Social Policy. During his SIUE tenure, Taylor has been extensively involved in campus leadership. He has served as the chair of various committees, including the Planning and Budgeting Council (UPBC), Faculty Senate Rules and Procedures Committee, College of Arts and Sciences Academic Policies and Curriculum Committee and the Thesis Committee. He has also served on the chancellors University Leadership Team, Enrollment Management Council, Extended Chancellors Council, University Quality Council, Provosts Space Committee, Teaching Excellence Award Committee, Graduate Council Program Committee and Graduate Studies and Research Committee. Prior to joining SIUE, Taylor was an administrator with the Social Security Administration in St. Louis. He was a police officer for both St. Louis City and St. Louis County during the 1970s. He was also a senior attorney negotiator for the State Farm Insurance Cos. From 2004-2005, he served as the Ira Glasser Racial Justice Fellow for the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri. Taylor believes his public safety experience will be particularly beneficial to the campus community. Having served in two large urban police departments as a patrol officer, I am keenly aware of the need for ensuring public safety, he said. That experience is supported further by my professional activities on various public service organizations focusing on public safety, which will serve me well to help ensure a safe campus. Taylors public and community service include being a member of the United States Attorneys Hate Crime Task Force for Eastern Missouri, the board of directors for St. Louis Area Regional Response System (STARRS), the Southwestern Illinois City Manager Association (SWICMA), the ACLU of Eastern Missouri and a variety of other public policy-focused organizations. As a member of the Board of Directors for the St. Louis Regional Response System (STARRS) for more than 15 years, my knowledge and experience planning for terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and pandemics will enable me to address any emergent issues, Taylor said. Plus, my experience working in and with four different unions, both private and governmental public combined with my understanding of equitable negotiation practices, should be beneficial in this role. Taylor earned a bachelors in liberal studies from Saint Louis University (SLU) in 1985 with a specialization in organizational development. He earned a masters in public administration from SIUE in 1992 and a doctorate in public policy analysis with a specialization in social jurisprudence from SLU in 2000. Taylor succeeds Rich Walker, who is retiring at the end of September. They will have the opportunity to work together for two weeks during the transition. Given VCA Walkers 34 years of higher education experience and his demonstrated ability to work under very challenging conditions, I expect this will help make for a smooth transition, Taylor said. I am looking forward to working with Rich and gaining valuable insights into the operation of the VCA Office. DALLAS, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A-MAX Auto Insurance is proud to host a Back-to-School event at each of its Texas locations on Saturday, September 12, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST where they will be handing out 10,000 bags of school supplies to families. With nearly 200 locations throughout Texas, the purpose is to give back to local communities where their customers and employees reside, during these unprecedented times. "So many families are going through hard times right now, and we want to show we care," said Jayson Cheves, Head of Sales at A-MAX. "Some kids are going back to school in person and others are doing it virtually. Regardless, we want to help out the families that we protect and insure." Not only is A-MAX Auto Insurance the industry leader in providing low cost insurance, but what sets A-MAX apart from other companies are their core values. This includes their MAXRespect Initiative, which is a pledge to respect customers and surrounding communities by focusing on drivers, workers, families, students, and the environment. "MAXRespect was founded on the need to give back and help to bring our offices closer to the communities they are a part of," said Amyn Rajan, Executive Vice-President of Strategy & Innovation at A-MAX. "At the end of the day, our family of employees go home to their loved ones, sometimes right down the street from where they work, and our pledge is to not only enrich their lives, but those of all the families that make up their communities." A-MAX has locations throughout the state, including in Dallas, Fort Worth and the metroplex, Houston and surrounding area, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Waco, Rio Grande Valley, and more. A-MAX acts as an independent insurance agency, which gives the ability to shop for the best prices and coverage options from multiple insurance carriers for auto, renters, homeowners, and more. For more information or a FREE quote, call 800-921-AMAX or visit amaxinsurance.com/findoffice to find a location near you. Media Contact: Troy Hall / Vice-President of Marketing 972-884-4100 / [email protected] SOURCE A-MAX Auto Insurance Related Links http://amaxinsurance.com Russia blames US for tense confrontation in Syria Iran Press TV Thursday, 27 August 2020 10:30 AM Moscow has blamed Washington for a tense confrontation in Syria after the US reported injuries among its troops in a "collision" with a Russian vehicle, saying the incident happened when the US military tried to hinder a Russian patrol there. According to the US National Security Council (NSC), a Russian vehicle struck a US mine-resistant all-terrain vehicle on Tuesday morning, "causing injuries to the vehicle's crew." According to the NSC, the incident took place near a location it described as "Dayrick", a possible reference to Derik, near the Turkish and Iraqi borders. Russia's Defense Ministry released a statement on Thursday, saying that it had warned the US-led coalition forces in advance that a column of its military police would pass through. "In spite of this, in breach of the existing agreements, the US troops attempted to block the Russian patrol" it said, adding that Russian military police took the "necessary measures" to end the incident and carry on their mission. Moscow said the chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, gave "full explanations" in a phone call with General Mark Milley, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. According to Politico, which first reported the incident, citing a draft military statement, four American soldiers were diagnosed with mild concussion. AP quoted an American official as saying that that the incident happened deep inside the de-confliction zone in eastern Syria. As US troops pulled out of bases near the Turkish border, Russian troops moved in and now control a US-built airstrip in the region. Multiple videos that surfaced on social media show US 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 US forces attempting to block the Russian forces' path until they veer off into a field. Then, a US Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle (MRAP) appears to collide with a Russian vehicle as Russian helicopters fly overhead. Russia has been helping Syrian forces in the ongoing battle against terrorists across the conflict-plagued Arab country. The Russian military's assistance began in September 2015 at the official request of the Syrian government. The United States also deployed troops and equipment to Syria in 2014, but without any authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate. The US military deployed forces and equipment to the Syrian provinces of Hasakah and Dayr al-Zawr following President Donald Trump's October 19 decision to keep hundreds of US troops in Syria to 'secure' the country's oilfields which Syrian troops have yet to retake from militants. Over the past few months, local residents, in coordination with government forces, have prevented US forces from passing through their communities in Hasakah province. Syria, which has not authorized American military presence in its territory, has condemned the US, saying it is "plundering" the country's oil. Russia says Washington's attempts to control Syria's oilfields are "illegal" and amount to "robbery." Damascus is in great need of its major oil deposits in order to address its energy needs and rebuild the country amid crippling Western sanctions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address - The body of Mercy Baguma was discovered at her house with her son crying next to her according to Positive Action in Housing - The organisation said she died from extreme poverty and the baby was malnourished and weakened with starvation - The PAIH director told press Mercy had also lost her job and entirely depended on her close friends for financial upkeep during the period Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Authorities in the UK are investigating the death of a woman who was found dead in a flat in Glasgow on Saturday, August 22. The body of Mercy Baguma who originally came from Uganda was discovered at her house with her son crying next to her according to Positive Action in Housing (PAIH). READ ALSO: Ghanaians jam on Twitter as official Kumerica 'anthem' by Shatta Wale hits social media The 34-year-old died from extreme poverty and the baby was malnourished and weakened with starvation indicating they had gone for days without food, The Independent reported. The charity organisation said the deceased woman had reached out to them claiming refugee status as she had lost her job and her leave to remain in the UK had also expired. READ ALSO: Man uses spoons to create great artworks, photos show them READ ALSO: Man who hasn't cut, washed hair in 80 years thinks he'll die if he trims it Robina Qureshi, the PAIH director, told the press Mercy had also lost her job and entirely depended on her close friends for financial upkeep during the period. The last communication Mercy had with the organisation happened on August 18 when they heard from her before going mute. Had she lived she would have been a high priority for a crisis payment from our emergency relief fund. The question remains, why are mothers and babies being left to go hungry in this city, and why is it being left to charities and volunteers to pick up the pieces?" he posed. Her friends begun a funds drive to cater for burial expenses as well for the one-year-old baby's future financial needs. "We are raising money to give her a proper send off and something for her son .Please consider helping out her loved ones through this difficult time as they navigate this tragedy and move forward in life without her," said Bridget, one of the organisers. Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana expressed her disappointment saying the death exposed anti-migrant policies. "Mercy Baguma was an asylum seeker in the UK. Denied work because of her migration status, she died in extreme poverty next to her malnourished baby boy. This is where anti-migrant policy leads. We should build a society rooted in compassion and solidarity, not division and hate," she argued. 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 Belarusian police kettled and arrested hundreds of protesters and detained dozens of journalists in an apparent show of force after Alexander Lukashenko was emboldened by Vladimir Putins earlier public promise of military support. Warnings were delivered over loudspeakers overlooking the Minsk's Independence Square before the mass arrests began on Thursday evening. Then, shortly after 7.20pm local time (4.20pm GMT), police who had been waiting nearby in vans sprang into action. Protesters who felt they had a chance ran, while the rest were locked in a kettle. Women and children were released almost immediately, but most stayed behind in solidarity. The men began to be detained at around 7.30pm, pushed onto green police trucks in their dozens. The Independent witnessed more than 200 arrests in total. Women who remained on the square chanted in support of the men, with cries of disgrace and tribunal in reference to a hope Mr Lukashenkos forces will eventually have their day in court. From across the road, another group joined in, but it was not long before they too fell prey to police. Dozens scattered as they realised what was happening. The arrests on Independence Square followed similar scenes at another earlier protest around the corner on Freedom Square. There, two dozen journalists including a BBC crew were rounded up by authorities before the demonstration even began ostensibly for document checks. Steve Rosenberg, the BBCs Moscow correspondent, said the were held for held at a police station for two hours in a clear attempt to interfere with coverage of events. For nearly three weeks, Mr Lukashenko has clung on to power in the face of unprecedented public pressure. The protests against his rule began almost as soon as he rigged the 9 August election. But they have been driven more by the outrage that followed: the three days of rubber bullets, tear gas and torture in detention. In the face of huge public anger, Mr Lukshenskos men retreated and largely hid their teeth. That now seems to be changing. Whether or not Mr Putin will follow through on his promise to back up Mr Lukashenko with a law enforcement reserve should instability or violence in Belarus supposedly demand it, the Russian presidents public statement has given Mr Lukashenko confidence. Women remained in Independence Square to protest after the men were arrested (Getty Images) What seems less clear is the effect it has had on the resolve of protesters. At 8.20pm local time (5.20pm GMT), at a moment when the arrests were over and the detainees on their way to unknown destinations, the hundred or so women protesters who remained joined arms and marched off the square in unison. Long live Belarus! they chanted. CLEVELAND (AP) FirstEnergy Corp. was once blamed for its part in triggering North America's largest blackout nearly 20 years ago. Now, the multistate power company is again facing intense scrutiny this time for its role in an alleged $60 million bribery scheme that has ensnared one of Ohios most powerful politicians. While FirstEnergy and its executives have denied wrongdoing and have not been criminally charged, federal investigators say the company secretly funneled millions to secure a $1 billion legislative bailout for two unprofitable Ohio nuclear plants then operated by an independently controlled subsidiary called FirstEnergy Solutions. Officials from the Akron-based corporation, including CEO Chuck Jones, have long insisted FirstEnergy Corp. had no financial stake in rescuing the plants because they were operated by FirstEnergy Solutions. Yet nearly all of the money used to fund the scheme, authorities said, came from the corporation itself. Critics say the bailout bill, known as HB6, helped smooth the way for FirstEnergy to officially shift ownership of the nuclear plants and two coal-burning power plants to its creditors in federal bankruptcy court in February. Shedding the plants allowed the corporation to focus on its profitable business of powering 6 million customers in Ohio and other states. Ashley Brown, executive director of the Harvard Electricity Policy Group at Harvard Universitys John F. Kennedy School of Government and a member of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio from 1983 to 1993, said the bailout legislation clearly benefited FirstEnergy Corp. I think theres no question that FirstEnergy was acting in its own self-interest, Brown said. Ordinarily, there's nothing particularly wrong with that. But HB6 skewed everything. COMPANY A After its bailout-driven success, FirstEnergy's fortunes took an unwelcome turn July 21. Thats when federal authorities released a criminal complaint detailing how Company A a clear reference to FirstEnergy spent $60 million to get a well-known Republican named Larry Householder selected as Ohio's House speaker, finance his bailout passage efforts and prevent Ohioans from having their say about the legislation at the polls. Story continues FirstEnergys stock price plummeted nearly 35% within two days and has yet to rebound. Independent board members have called for an internal investigation and shareholders have filed at least four potential class-action lawsuits alleging FirstEnergys executives committed fraud and concealed an illicit campaign to secure the bailout. The companys most senior executives, including its CEO defendant Jones, were directly involved in and oversaw these efforts, placing the company and its shareholders at extreme risk of legal, reputational and financial harm, one lawsuit said. FirstEnergy said in a statement this week that it backed the bailout because the corporation has a stake in Ohios economic success, the stability of its electric grid, and maintaining reliable energy sources. The plan to separate from the nuclear plants and complete the bankruptcy process did not depend on securing the bailout, the company said. U.S. Attorney David DeVillers was asked about FirstEnergy during a July 21 news conference in Columbus. Individuals that work for Company A and Company A in and of itself, we're going to continue to investigate this, and were going to investigate it wherever it leads and whoever it is and whoever they work for, DeVillers responded. The corporation funneled $38 million to a dark money group to finance a dirty tricks campaign that prevented bailout opponents from gathering enough signatures to place a referendum on the ballot, federal authorities alleged. FirstEnergy also benefited from a last-minute change to the bailout legislation that essentially allowed the utility to charge retail customers more for lost revenue, a sweetener that Jones said made roughly one-third of the company's business recession proof. While the utility said the add-on would stabilize rates for customers, an analysis released by the Ohio Manufacturers Association estimated FirstEnergy could reap $355 million in unearned revenue through 2024. Federal investigators said the add-on likely came as a result of the successful influence campaign waged by Householder and his four associates, all of whom were indicted on federal racketeering charges last month. The associates have pleaded not guilty, while Householder has been given more time to find a new attorney. CORNERED JUNKYARD DOG FirstEnergy began looking six years ago for ways to subsidize the Perry and Davis-Besse nuclear plants in northern Ohio as they struggled to compete with cheaper natural gas power generation. The companys top priority was to save the plants, Jones told investors in 2017. That same year, one state lawmaker backing FirstEnergys attempts to get financial help told energy conference attendees that the company was in substantial financial trouble." The company created the mess by taking on too much debt when it invested in coal and nuclear plants, said Ohio State University economist Ned Hill, a vocal critic of the bailout. FirstEnergy acted like a cornered junkyard dog to keep the plants from shuttering, he said. But with state and federal officials reluctant to help, the FirstEnergy Solutions subsidiary announced in March 2018 that it would close the plants in 2021. The subsidiary filed for bankruptcy three days later, saying it had $7.2 billion in assets and $3.1 billion in debt as of Dec. 31, 2016. By that time, according to federal authorities, the bribery scheme had already been set in motion. Two months after Householder flew on a company plane to President Donald Trumps inauguration in January 2017, FirstEnergy wired $250,000 into the bank account of Generation Now a dark money group created to promote social welfare under a provision of federal tax law that shields its funding sources or spending. Authorities say Householder controlled Generation Now as part of the alleged scheme. Of the $60 million eventually funneled by FirstEnergy to Generation Now through the end of 2019, $42 million came from an entity called FirstEnergy Services that is overseen by Jones and his corporate team, the criminal complaint said. HARDLY STRANGERS Jones and Householder themselves were hardly strangers, the complaint said, with the two men having 84 telephone contacts between February 2017 and July 2019 many at key points during the alleged scheme, including 30 calls while the bailout bill was pending. Jonathan Entin, a law professor emeritus at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, said there is no way for FirstEnergy to spin this. They cannot credibly say theyre completely innocent bystanders even if they did not break the law, Entin said. It's really hard to believe they were completely ignorant of what was happening. During a conference call with investors late last month, Jones said he was confident that he and the company did nothing wrong. Two months before Householder unveiled his bailout plan in early 2019, Jones sent a letter to state lawmakers emphasizing that his company and FirstEnergy Solutions were separate. His letter also said his corporation would not financially benefit from any legislation helping the plants he asserted were vital to Ohio. The bailout legislation became law last October, the day after the anti-bailout referendum effort failed. By February of this year, FirstEnergy appeared to have gotten what it wanted: FirstEnergy Solutions had emerged from bankruptcy as a new privately held company called Energy Harbor. FirstEnergy Corp. was out of the power generation business and was now a regulated electric transmission company, feeding power to 6 million customers in six states. And it was good, at least initially, for FirstEnergys bottom line, its shareholders, and the FirstEnergy leadership team. The company, in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing early this year, said Jones total compensation in 2019 was nearly $21 million, including a $1.6 million performance-based salary bonus for that year and $18 million in performance-based stock units for a three-year period ending in 2019. Now, 17 summers after a tree branch touched a high-voltage line and a computer malfunction at FirstEnergy unraveled into a massive blackout in the U.S. northeast and Canada, the company again finds itself on the defensive. If it turns out what FirstEnergy went over the line, the question is who will be held responsible, Entin said. Will it be individuals? Or will it be the company? ___ Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. 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. Microsoft had emerged as the top contender to buy the company, announcing in a blog post earlier this month that it was in talks to buy TikToks business in the US, New Zealand, Australia and Canada. Oracle and Microsoft have submitted bids to Chinas ByteDance to buy the US operations of its TikTok app in a deal that could come within the week, according to people familiar with the deliberations. Microsofts bid includes a partnership with Walmart, which confirmed its participation on Thursday. Competing offers have been made in what augurs the closing process of a deal, although it will take longer for final details to be worked out, one person said, requesting anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the negotiations. TikTok and Microsoft declined to comment. Oracle didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Walmart confirmed in an email that it is in partnership with Microsoft in its pursuit of TikTok, a move to bolster the retailers third-party marketplace and nascent advertising arm. The White House has been pushing for a sale of TikToks US operations due to concerns over its ties to China and its implications for national security. Microsoft had emerged as the top contender to buy the company, announcing in a blog post earlier this month that it was in talks to buy TikToks business in the US, New Zealand, Australia and Canada. Shortly afterward, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order with a mid-September deadline for TikTok to be sold to an American company or prohibit US people and companies from doing business with TikTok. The announcement set off a flurry of interest from other companies. A later order required ByteDance to sell TikToks US assets within 90 days. Its not clear whether other parties have entered the process or plan to bid. The departure Wednesday of TikTok Chief Executive Kevin Mayer, after only three months at the company, suggests a deal is imminent. As we expect to reach a resolution very soon, it is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company, he wrote in a note to employees. Trump economic adviser Peter Navarro, who has come out against a potential sale to Microsoft and advocated banning TikTok completely, has been at odds with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who wants the app sold, according to a person familiar with the deliberations within the White House. A Treasury spokeswoman declined to comment. Mnuchin has since come around to support a TikTok purchase by Oracle, this person said, declining to be named because they werent authorized to speak publicly on the matter. Oracle has proposed a deal of $20 billion in cash and stock, according to a report in Hollywood publication The Wrap. Oracles offer would be made up of $10 billion in cash and $10 billion in Oracle stock plus 50% of annual TikTok profit would flow back to ByteDance for two years, one unidentified person told The Wrap. Analysts and bankers have pegged the value of TikToks US business anywhere from $20 billion to $50 billion, a wide range that reflects the complexity involved in separating TikToks American and global businesses, in determining a reliable number of users, and how revenue breaks out just for the markets at stake in the deal. Early summer days of 2020 in Vienna sow marking the anniversary of Nuremberg Trials with the conference From the Victory Day to Corona Disarray: 75 years of Europes Collective Security and Human Rights System Legacy of Antifascism for the Common Pan-European Future. This was the first public and probably the largest conference in Europe past the early spring lockdown. It gathered numerous speakers and audience physically in the venue while many others attended online. The conference was organised by four partners; the International Institute IFIMES, Media Platform Modern Diplomacy, Academic Journal European Perspectives, and Action Platform Culture for Peace, with a support of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna that hosted the event in a prestigious historical setting. Media partners were diplomatic magazines of several countries, and the academic partners included over 25 universities from all 5 continents, numerous institutes and 2 international organisations. A day-long event was also Live-streamed, that enabled audiences from Chile to Far East and from Canada to Australia to be engaged with panellists in the plenary and via zoom. (the entire conference proceedings are available: https://www.facebook.com/DiplomaticAcademyVienna ) Among 20-some speakers from Canada to Australia, talking in three events panels were top scholars and practitioners. The event was opened by the welcome address of the former President of Austria, Dr Heinz Fischer who currently serves as a co-chair of the Ban Ki-Moon Centre for Global Citizens. The following lines are a brief reference on Presidents highly anticipated and absorbing key-note address prepared exclusively for this conference. President Dr. Heinz Fisher with his co-chair, Ban Ki-moon. The last few months have roughly hit the world and especially the European continent. As countries chose to close their borders in order to control the spread of the coronavirus, this decision might endanger cooperations efficiency. In a very thought-provoking speech, tinted with personal thoughts and experiences, Dr. Heinz Fischer, former President of the Republic of Austria, demonstrated how cooperation has always succeeded to find its place through harder periods of history and unveiled his expectations for the future. In the first part of his speech, former President Fischer went through marking events of World War II (WW2). The abovementioned explained how the April 1944 battle in Vienna was unavoidable but also how incredible the destruction has been. Indeed, during this period, more than tens of thousands of people were killed. President Fischer underlined the fact that the end of the war, translated by the military defeat of the German Wehrmacht, has been a long-awaited moment but that, already by the end of April, before the end of the war, a new government was built, and the declaration of independence was published. According to him, this new chapter carried a lot of hope for the ones who had suffered from the war. Former President Fischer pointed out how this new chapter brought many novelties in terms of cooperation. Among them, in June 1945, was the creation of the United Nations (UN), the most important institution of international cooperation to this day. This initiative showed the will of the international community to move toward relations based on cooperation. A few years later, in November 1948, was also published the well-known Human Rights Declaration which focused mainly on human dignity. Fischer believes that even if, still nowadays, there is still work to do in terms of putting those words efficiently into practice, we can say that wars and history have been teaching the world great lessons; the 75 years since WW2 demonstrated positive changes. Still going through striking episodes of history, Fischer noted that, in Europe, the idea of cooperation, more specifically economic cooperation, started to be omnipresent and strongly supported by great European figures. Yet, according to Fischer, it was hard to imagine such a thing in a context where tensions between East and West were still very present, so present that they led to a war; the famous Cold War. Nonetheless, the former President indicated that the war didnt stop cooperations growth on the Western side where the Treaty of Rome was accepted between six European countries. This marked the beginning of European community. Fischer continued by voicing how the death of Stalin, in March 1953, allowed a wind of change on the Russian side. In fact, when Khrushchev took power, some reforms were made and Western countries realized that it was now possible to easily negotiate with Russia since Khrushchev was more flexible than Stalin. In October 1955, the Russian soldiers and all other occupation soldiers left Austria. Fischer indicated that it was the moment where Austria was finally officially a free and independent country. However, according to him, this wasnt exactly the case yet in Germany where the situation was more complicated and where antagonism was growing. Built in 1965, The Berlin Wall became the symbol of the division of East and West. On the one side NATO was founded as a military alliance, and on the other side, the Warsaw Treaty. Fischer underlined that the arms race was dangerous and expensive for both sides. So, in the 1970s, the idea of peaceful coexistence was growing and finally resulted in the signature of the Helsinki Treaty in 1975. Former President observed that it was a step in the direction of reducing the political tensions. On the other hand, after the death of Mao in 1976, Fischer noted that China obtained a leading position in the global economy and global power. A little more than a decade later, the world assisted to the collapsing of several communist regimes in Eastern Europe starting by the fall of the Berlin Wall. Then came the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The economic cooperation in Europe started to expand. According to former President Fischer, the expansion of NATO to the borders of Russia was considered, for some, not so-clever as political tensions started to grow again. With President Trump, Xi Jinping, the Brexit and coronavirus, the year 2020 brings whole new perspectives and questions. Ban Ki-moon Centre co-chair, Fischer stressed the importance for the world to keep being successful on the fields of cooperation, disarmament, actions against the damage of our climate and democracy and democratization. Fortunately, the former President was very optimist for the future and emphasized on the positive changes that the sustainable development goals of the UN, supported by all of its members, foreshadow for the near future. About the Author Audrey Beaulieu of the University of Ottawa (Globalization and International Development Department), specialised in public and private International law, international development and global politics. Erin is the managing editor at The Red & Black, where she has covered Greek life, student culture and local business. She is a junior journalism and English major, and also has bylines in Matador Network, Apartment Therapy and Down South House & Home. Follow ERIN KENNEY 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 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 28, 2020 / BlueBird Battery Metals Inc. (TSXV:BATT)(OTC PINK:BBBMF) (the "Company" or "BlueBird") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement (the "Option Agreement") whereby it will acquire a 100% interest in the Baxter Spring Property, Nevada (the "Property"), from Liberty Gold Corp. (TSX: LGD) ("Liberty") and Liberty's wholly-owned subsidiary, Pilot Gold (USA) Inc. Prior to completion of the Option Agreement, the Company will complete a company name change, common share consolidation and, concurrently with closing of the option agreement, the Company will complete a $2,000,000 private placement (the "Placement") the completion of which is a precondition to closing. The Property Baxter Spring is an intermediate-stage gold exploration project in Nye County, Nevada. The Property consists of 132 unpatented federal lode claims covering 2569 acres (1040 hectares) and is 100% owned by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty, with no royalties or other encumbrances. Highlights include: Widespread surface gold anomalies in rocks and soils. Drill tested gold mineralization with 128 historical RC and core holes, and a number of previously identified, untested targets. Historically, only shallow drill tested, with potential to find additional mineralization at depth. Located within a regional N-S trending belt of mineralization that includes Northumberland (3.5 Moz Au) Round Mountain (15 Moz Au), Manhattan (1.5 Moz Au) and Goldfield (5 Moz Au).* Low sulphidation epithermal gold veins with bonanza grades (3.1 m grading 240 g/t Au in drill holes BS-8) and stockwork overprinting calcareous sedimentary rocks that could host a bulk-tonnage gold target (69.0 m grading 0.71 g/t Au in drill hole BSC-1). Mineralization is oxidized. Several drill tested gold mineralized zones are open for expansion and several soil and/or rock anomalies have not yet been drill tested. Located primarily on BLM-administered land and lower priority targets located on US Forest Service (USFS)-administered land. Excellent road access and nearby power and other amenities. Peter Dickie, President and CEO of BlueBird, commented, "We are excited by the prospects of this historically explored property. Baxter Spring in an intermediate-stage exploration project with impressive historic results. It sits in one of the world's most mining-friendly, stable jurisdictions, and is an ideal candidate for modern exploration techniques. The long-term prospects of the gold sector are very strong and, as a result, we could not ignore the possibilities of this project. Entering into this agreement, with the related financing and the inclusion of a significant, highly respected shareholder, will allow us to commence an aggressive, initial exploration program at Baxter Spring." Option Agreement BlueBird may acquire 100% of the Property, subject to a 2% NSR retained by Liberty, in consideration for payment of US$500,000 and the issuance of shares equal to 19.5% of the outstanding shares of the Company (after completion of the Placement and the consolidation described below). The shares to be issued to Liberty will be subject to a voluntary one year hold period. Provided that Liberty holds at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the Company, they have the right to maintain their equity position through participation and top-up rights and retain the right to appoint one director of the Company. Liberty also has a back-in right to acquire a 35% interest in the Property within three years upon payment of the sum of US$1,000,000 to the Company. Name Change and Share Consolidation The Company advises that, prior to completion of the Placement and pursuant to resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company, the Company will consolidate its common shares on a 2 to 1 basis, such that for every 2 common shares currently held, the holder will receive 1 post-consolidated common share (the "Consolidation"). Also pursuant to the Board resolutions, the Company will change its name to "Huntsman Exploration Inc." and will trade under the new symbol "HMAN", or such other name and trading symbol acceptable to the TSX Venture Exchange. There are currently 67,065,288 common shares issued and outstanding. Upon completion of the Consolidation, there will be approximately 33,532,644 common shares issued and outstanding. The exact number of post-consolidated shares will vary depending on the treatment of fractional shares, which will occur when each shareholder's holdings in the Company are consolidated. The Company will not issue any fractional common shares as a result of the Consolidation. Instead, all fractional shares resulting from the Consolidation will be rounded down to the nearest whole number. Private Placement In connection with the Option Agreement, the Company announces a "part and parcel" private placement of 10,000,000 units at $0.20 per post consolidation unit for total gross proceeds of $2,000,000 (the "Placement"). Each unit will consist of one post-consolidated common share and one transferable share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"), each Warrant exercisable into one additional post-consolidated common share for a period of three years from the date of issue at a price of $0.35 per share. Finders' fees may be payable in whole or on part on the Placement, subject to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. Proceeds of the Placement will be used for Property acquisition costs, exploration on the Property, with $500,000 reserved for general working capital. All securities issued under the Placement will be subject to hold periods expiring four months and one day from the date of issue. The above transactions are subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company also advises that it has cancelled its private placement announced June 10, 2020. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Neil McCallum and is a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101. * The historical mineral resource estimates listed above either use categories that are not compliant with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and cannot be compared to NI 43-101 categories, or are not current estimates as prescribed by NI 43-101, and therefore should not be relied upon. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the estimates as current resources, and the mineral resources on neighbouring properties are not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the Baxter Spring Property On Behalf of the Board of BlueBird Battery Metals Inc. Peter Dickie President and Chief Executive Officer For more information, please contact 1-855-584-0160 or info@bluebirdbatterymetals.com. Neither TSX Venture Exchange, the Toronto Stock Exchange nor their Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information This press release may contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Certain forward looking information should also be considered future-oriented financial information ("FOFI") as that term is defined in NI 51-102. The purpose of disclosing FOFI is to provide a general overview of management's expectations regarding the anticipated results of operations and capital expenditures and readers are cautioned that FOFI may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, without limitation, discussion of the purchase of a 100% interest in the Baxter Spring Property; the completion of, receipt of regulatory approvals for the name change, Consolidation, and the terms of and use of proceeds of the Placement. Although the Company believes that such information as set out in this press release is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations and estimates will prove to be correct. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the Company may be unable to obtain the regulatory approvals required for the name change, Consolidation, Placement or the purchase of a 100% interest in the Baxter Spring Property, or such transactions may not be successfully completed; the Company may be unsuccessful in marketing the Placement; the Company or Liberty may be unable to satisfy the closing conditions to the purchase of the 100% interest in the Baxter Spring Property; the state of the financial markets for the Company's common shares; the state of the market for gold or other minerals that may be produced generally; and the Company's ability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies and other risks associated with the exploration and development of mineral properties. The reader is referred to the Company's public filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects which may be accessed through the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. SOURCE: BlueBird Battery Metals Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603714/BlueBird-Announces-Signing-of-Option-Agreement-on-the-Baxter-Spring-Gold-Project-in-Nevada-Name-Change-Share-Consolidation-and-2-Million-Financing Iraqi President Salih calls on Turkey to stop cross-border incursions, respect sovereignty Iran Press TV Thursday, 27 August 2020 1:59 PM Iraqi President Barham Salih has called on Turkey to stop its ongoing operation in the country's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region against hideouts of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group, saying the cross-border offensive is violating Iraq's sovereignty. Speaking in a meeting with visiting French Defense Minister Florence Parly in Baghdad on Thursday, Salih stressed the need for an end to the Turkish military aggression on the Iraqi soil, saying Ankara's actions are in violation of the Iraqi sovereignty as well as international law and undermine good neighborly relations. The Iraqi president then called for concerted international efforts in the fight against terrorism, and stronger cooperation and coordination to combat all forms of extremism. Parly, for her part, voiced France's support for the stability and sovereignty of Iraq. The French defense minister added that her country is ready to provide training, munitions as well as logistical support to Iraqi security forces. The two officials also discussed ways for further development of Iraq-France bilateral relations, and expansion of cooperation in all fields, especially security and military capabilities. They exchanged viewpoints on the latest regional and international developments as well. Turkish min.: We have no problem with our Iraqi brethren Separately on Thursday, Turkey's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar stated that Turkish forces will continue their military operations in northern Iraq. "We're going to destroy the [terrorist] threat there; that's our goal," Akar said in an exclusive interview with the official Anadolu news agency. "Our struggle within this framework will continue until the last terrorist is neutralized. There is no retreat. This is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's instruction. We will save our nation that has suffered from this calamity (PKK) for more than 40 years. This is our wish," the Turkish defense chief emphasized. "Apart from that, we do not have a problem with our Iraqi brothers. We are already discussing the operations with the Iraqi administration and the efforts to neutralize terrorists there," he added. The Turkish military started its ground campaign, dubbed Claw-Tiger Operation, against PKK positions in northern Iraq on July 17. Claw-Eagle Operation, the air campaign, had begun two days earlier. Turkish ground and air forces frequently carry out operations against PKK positions in the country as well as in northern Iraq and neighboring Syria. A shaky ceasefire between the PKK and the Turkish government collapsed in July 2015. Attacks on Turkish security forces have soared ever since. More than 40,000 people have been killed during the three-decade conflict between Turkey and the autonomy-seeking militant group. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DANBURY A caregiver is facing a felony charge following a police investigation into an elderly abuse complaint. Michael Opoku, 56, of West Hartford, was arrested Tuesday and charged with intentional cruelty to persons after police say he neglected to help an abused elderly man in his care. Officers were called to a Danbury residence July 10, to speak with an elderly male who said one of his caregivers had assaulted him. The elderly male has debilitating medical conditions, which require him to have an aide 24 hours a day. As one of his care providers was on duty, he repeatedly assaulted the elderly male, causing several injuries, Detective Lt. Mark Williams said. After the assault, the elderly man was left to care for himself, Williams said. Opoku is not accused of committing the assault, but of becoming aware of the elderly mans injuries and doing nothing to care for him or summon medical care, according to police. Not only did Opoku fail to seek help for the man, police said, but he was found sleeping when officers responded to the elderly mans call and had no idea that the elderly victim had walked to a neighbors house to ask for assistance. Williams said a warrant is being sought for the caregiver who allegedly assaulted the elderly man. Opoku was released after posting 10 percent of a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at state Superior Court in Danbury on Sept. 29. Bidens challenge is to continue to broaden his coalition so that it negates the new voters Trump is able to excavate from the depths of his aggrieved base. Every decision the Biden campaign makes needs to be understood through that prism. If Trumps rage and rants against establishment elites prompt more of his voters to come to the polls this year, Biden will need a strong result from what I call the Metropolitan majority: voters in cities and suburbs. And while Democrats may be able to pull some additional support out of constituencies that generally support our candidates, Biden will need to win additional suburban and college-educated female votes, as well. NEW YORK: Oil prices inched lower on Friday as Hurricane Laura passed the heart of the U.S. oil industry in Louisiana and Texas without causing any widespread damage and companies were beginning to restart operations. Brent crude futures for October, set to expire on Friday, were down 11 cents to $44.98 a barrel by 11:01 a.m. ET (1501 GMT.) U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 18 cents to $42.86 a barrel. Both benchmarks were on track for weekly gains of about 1.3%, with WTI headed for a fourth straight weekly rise. The benchmarks hit five-month highs earlier in the week as U.S. producers cut crude output ahead of Laura at a rate close to the level of 2005s Hurricane Katrina. The oil trade has been featured by strong advances at the start of the week as a sizable amount of storm premium was pumped into the market ahead of Hurricane Laura, followed by a major erasure of hurricane premium following the storms arrival as limited impact on offshore crude production or refinery activity was indicated," said Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates. Indeed the market has been stuck in an unusually long spell of low volatility, analyst Eugen Weinberg at Commerzbank said, in contrast with stock markets. It didnt even react to a weaker dollar. Theres no impulse in either direction. It has seldom had so little volatility for such a long period, especially given the dynamic situation on the demand and supply sides," Weinberg said. Laura, since downgraded to a tropical depression, hit Louisiana early on Thursday with winds of 150 miles per hour (240 km per hour). The storm killed at least six people, damaged buildings, felled trees and cur power was cut to hundreds of thousands people in Louisiana and Texas, but refineries were spared from feared massive flooding. Oil producers had shut 1.56 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude output, or 83% of the Gulf of Mexicos production, while nine refineries had shut around 2.9 million bpd of capacity, or 15% of U.S. processing capacity, ahead of the hurricane. Valero Energy Corp began restarting its 335,000 bpd Port Arthur, Texas, refinery on Friday, while Exxon Mobil was preparing to restart its 370,000 bpd Beaumont, Texas, refinery. However, repairs to Citgo Petroleums 418,000-bpd Lake Charles, Louisiana, plant that was on the storms path could take four to six weeks, according to Mizuho Securities. The company did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Late on Thursday, the Port of Houston, the top U.S. crude oil export hub accounting for about 600,000 bpd of shipments, was in the process of reopening to commercial shipping. Further ahead, demand expectations continue to be bearish. The contango between Brent crude for nearby delivery and six-months ahead remained near its widest since late May with the front-month contract more than $2 cheaper. Aside from Saudi Arabia, everyone else is clear that global oil demand wont return to 2019 (levels) until at least 2022. The latest monthly estimate from the IEA/EIA/OPEC triumvirate suggests consumption will not recover to pre-pandemic levels next year," PVM Oil Associates said in a daily note. Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor Lion Dairy Products - Pura, Farmers Union, and Dare on May 25, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) Collapse of Chinese Bid for Australian Dairy Firm Due to Strategic Risks, Expert Says Treasurer Josh Frydenbergs reluctance to approve the controversial sale of Australias Lion Dairy to China Mengniu Dairy is due to concerns about the strategic risks attached to Beijing-backed ownership, according to one expert. Salvatore Babones, an associate professor at the University of Sydney, told The Epoch Times on Aug. 26 that even though Lion Dairy is owned by major Japanese beverage firm, Kirin Holdings. The prospect of a significant Australian business falling under Chinese ownership was a major concern. Although Lion Dairy is already foreign-owned, its Japanese owners have always run it as an Australian company, Babones said. The concern with Chinese ownership is that Chinese companies have often run their foreign subsidiaries for the benefit of their Chinese operations. For example, in case of a food shortage, Mengniu might redirect Lions output to China, disrupting the Australian market, he added. For Mengniu, Lion is not just a financial investment, but a strategic investment, and that is a problem, he continued. Mengniu has been shrouded in controversy over its connection with the 2008 contaminated milk powder scandal and substituting ingredients in its products. On Aug. 25, Kirin Holdings confirmed in an investor update (pdf) that the $600 million sale was unlikely to receive approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB), which was the last hurdle before the deal could be finalised. Given this approval has not been secured to date and is unlikely to be forthcoming at this time, regrettably, the parties have agreed to terminate the Agreement, Kirin said in the statement. Frydenberg released a statement on the same day, saying the decision was in line with his preliminary view to Mengniu Dairy that the proposed acquisition would be contrary to the national interest. On June 5, Frydenberg, along with Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced new laws tightening the foreign investment regime in Australia, giving the treasurer far-reaching powers to veto potential deals. Frydenberg noted: The world over, governments are seeing foreign investment being used for strategic objectives, and not purely commercial ones. Mengniu Dairy is 31 percent owned by China National Oils, Foodstuffs and Cereal Corp., a state-owned entity and Chinas largest importer and exporter of food. International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach (C), Coca-Cola President and CEO James Quincey (L) and China Mengniu Dairy CEO and Executive Director Jeffrey Minfang give a press conference during the 134th Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the SwissTech Convention Centre in Lausanne, on June 24, 2019. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) Bianca Jennings, a partner at Piper Alderman and foreign investment specialist, told The Epoch Times on Aug. 26, that the new law places the national security as a primary consideration, other factors considered include local competition, Australian government policy, and the character of the investor. The extent of Mengnius existing investments in Australia would have been an important consideration for the government, Jennings said. Last year, Mengniu acquired Bellamys Organic for $1.5 billion, a deal the treasurer did approve. However, in 2020, the Beijing-Canberra relationship has dramatically changed. The new foreign investment regime introduced by Frydenberg places greater scrutiny over such deals and closes gaps in the law. For example, under the previous law, the FIRB would only review foreign investment deals if the business is valued over $275 million. Bellamys Organic Infant Formula on retailer shelves in Australia. (The Epoch Times) By way of example, this means that a foreign investor could acquire a company that is the sole supplier of critical technology to the Australian Defence Force without the need for the transaction to be screened by FIRB, simply because the companys valuation is less than $275 million, Jennings said. The new law gives the government and FIRB authority to review acquisitions regardless of value. Jennings noted however that this would increase complexity for foreign companies to invest in Australia. Foreign investors seem to understand the need for the national security test; however, early feedback suggests that many foreign investors are of the view that the national security test needs to be defined with greater certainty, she said. It will be difficult for the government to find the right balance in this context, given the need to allow for the evolving nature of national security risks, she added. TSUKUBA, Japan, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA), a unit of the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), welcomed Honorary Professor Hideo Hosono of Tokyo Institute of Technology as a NIMS Distinguished Fellow and the leader of the Electro-Active Materials Team. (Photo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105739/202008183234/_prw_PI1fl_es00fXV1.jpg) Prof. Hosono, the world-renowned researcher, is famous for creating amorphous oxide semiconductor IGZO-TFTs and room temperature-stable electrides, and discovering iron-based superconductors. He discusses his life and work in an interview. Q: You have done important work in a variety of fields. What's your secret? "I don't have any secrets. I've just been focusing on what I want to do without restrictions on the technical or academic field. For example, chemistry and physics as two separate disciplines have little meaning in materials science. My main interest is in functional materials utilizing electrons in solids. In the case of semiconductors, I study the movement of electrons under an electric field, and superconductors are similar--you manipulate electrons in catalysis to react with molecules on a surface. "My PhD thesis was on line shape analysis of electron spin resonance spectra in glass--rather fundamental work. After that, I did joint work in the material sciences department at Nagoya Institute of Technology, where I worked with ceramics, especially photoactive glasses and protonic conduction in glass. I did ion implantation into SiO2 glass for a year at Vanderbilt University in the U.S. as well as research at Oak Ridge National Lab, in Tennessee. "I returned to Japan, to Tokyo Tech, and changed my research topic from photoactive glasses to oxide semiconductors. The most visible result of my work at that time was the proposal of transparent amorphous oxide semiconductors for thin film transistors, leading to the IGZO TFT, which is now used in high-resolution LCD panels such as tablets and OLEDs for TV screens. When I started this research in 1993, there was almost no work being done in the field. But now, 25 years later, oxide semiconductors are the world standard for TFTs for flat-panel displays and beyond. It was during this work on oxide semiconductors that we discovered iron-based superconductors." SOURCE International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) (TNS) Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is warning Detroit voters of a "racially charged" and false robocall that appears to be discouraging mail-in voting ahead of the November election.The recording tells voters that their personal information will be part of a public database that will then be used by police to track down people with warrants or debt, according to a recording Benson posted Thursday to Twitter."The CDC is even pushing to give preference for mail in voting to track people for mandatory vaccines," the recording said, referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Don't be (inaudible) into giving your private information to the man. Stay safe, and beware of vote by mail."The recording alleges the call was made on behalf of Project 1599, a project spearheaded by conservative social media personality Jacob Wohl and GOP lobbyist Jack Burkman. The actual source of the call remains unknown, but Wohl and Burkman have a "known reputation for spreading misinformation in an effort to gain notoriety," Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. Wohl denied involvement when contacted byon Thursday and said he and Burkman,while "not fans of mail-in voting," were "puzzled" by the call.Project 1599, Wohl and Burkman's effort to vet presidential candidates, has sent out press releases before, Wohl said, but "we've never done robocalls.""People pull pranks all the time," he said. "We figure it's probably some internet prankster if we had to speculate, but, of course, it's too soon to know for sure."Wohl said he and Burkman began noticing something was wrong when Burkman's cellphone number, which he believes was used to make the robocalls, began receiving multiple calls in recent days.When reporters began contacting him Thursday, he and Burkman began looking into the matter, Wohl said. Neither has been contacted by Benson or Nessel but would cooperate with any resulting investigation, he said."Were doing what we can," Wohl said. "It's very hard to figure these things out.Burkman did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.It was not immediately clear how many people received the robocall, which the state was alerted to by WWJ radio (950 AM).Benson blasted the recording, arguing that it preyed "on voters' fear and mistrust of the criminal justice system and twists it into a fabricated threat in order to discourage people from voting."Voting by mail, Benson said, is secure, safe and "does not expose personal information any more than simply registering to vote."Benson and Nessel will attempt to dispel the falsehoods in the record and "seek justice on behalf of every voter who was targeted & harmed by this vicious attempt at voter suppression," the secretary of state wrote on Twitter.They asked that people who receive the call contact Nessel's office through mi.gov/robocall or Benson's office atNessel's robocall team would need the phone number and carrier of the person who received the call, the caller ID for the robocall, the date and time of the call and a recording of the call.This robocall is fraught with scare tactics designed to intimidate Black voters and we are already working hard to find the bad actors behind this effort," Nessel said in a statement. Israel has not only planned to annex West Bank territories of Palestine blatantly violating the international rules, but also it carries on its vile plan of annexing West Bank territories with full support from Washington.But the international community remains fiercely opposed to the unilateral move. by Anwar A. Khan Israel is still illegally annexing more of West Bank belongs to Palestine. It represents a violation of international law. But Israel should pull back from illegally annexing much of the West Bank, otherwise it will fail to deliver justice for Palestinians. Even this arrogant posture of Israel hasprovoked an international outcry. Let us now look back a trifle. In 1947, the United Nations (UN) adopted a Partition Plan for Palestine recommending the creation of independent Arab and Jewish states and an internationalised Jerusalem. The plan was accepted by the Jewish Agency, and rejected by Arab leaders. The following year, the Jewish Agency declared the independence of the State of Israel, and the subsequent 1948 ArabIsraeli War saw Israel's establishment over most of the former Mandate territory, while the West Bank and Gaza were held by neighboring Arab states. Israel has since fought several wars with Arab countries, and since the Six-Day War in June 1967 held occupied territories including the West Bank, Golan Heights and the Gaza Strip (still considered occupied after the 2005 disengagement, although some legal experts dispute this claim). It fully extended its laws to the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem, and partially to the West Bank via pipelining into Israeli settlements. Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories is internationally considered to be the world's longest military occupation in modern times. Efforts to resolve the IsraeliPalestinian conflict have not resulted in a final peace agreement, while Israel has signed peace treaties with both Egypt and Jordan. In its Basic Laws, Israel defines itself as a Jewish and democratic state and the nation state of the Jewish people. The country has a parliamentary system, proportional representation, and universal suffrage. The prime minister is head of government and the Knesset is the legislature. With a population of around 9 million as of 2019, Israel is a developed country and an OECD member. It has the world's 31st-largest economy by nominal GDP, and is the most developed country currently in conflict. It has the highest standard of living in the Middle East, and ranks among the world's top countries by percentage of citizens with military training, percentage of citizens holding a tertiary education degree, research and development spending by GDP percentage, women's safety, life expectancy, innovativeness, and happiness. The future of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip has been the focus of talks and negotiation for decades. There are various ways to approach this issue; a one-state solution and a two-state solution have been proposed. The one-state solution proposes the creation of a fully democratic state of Israel and the integration of all the people within its borders into one country. Integration of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank into the Jewish State of Israel is part of this plan; in other words, Take the walls down and create one state. Many Palestinians support the one-state solution, but most of the Jewish population does not. Family size is much larger in the Palestinian side, so it would be only a matter of time before the Jewish population would be a minority population and would not have full political control with a democratic government. To have the Jewish State of Israel, the Jewish population needs to keep its status as the majority. In a two-state solution, Palestinians would have their own nation-state, which would include the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The rest of former Palestine would be included in the Jewish State of Israel. The two-nation concept i.e. Israel and a Palestinian state has been proposed and supported by a number of foreign governments. Implementation of a two-state solution is, of course, not without its own inherent problems. At the present time, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are subjects forcefully under the Jewish State of Israel without full political or economic autonomy. The two-state solution would buy more time for the Jewish population with smaller families to retain power as a majority political voting bloc. Parties to the negotiations have acknowledged that the most likely solution is to create an Israel state bordering Palestinian. However, it is not clear how to make this happen. Palestine is now divided between the Jewish State of Israel (with 7.3 million people) on one side and the Palestinians (with 4.0 million people) in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on the other side. About 75 percent of Israels population of 7.3 million people are Jewish, and about 25 percent are Arab. Travel between Israel and the Palestinian areas is heavily restricted and tightly controlled. A high concrete and barbed wire barrier separates the two sides for much of the border. The West Bank provides fresh water used on the Israeli side for agriculture and industrial processes. The industries also employ Palestinians and support them economically. Jewish people from various parts of the world continue to migrate to Israel, and the Israeli government continues to build housing settlements to accommodate them illegally in the places belong to Palestine. Since the West Bank region is under the Israeli national jurisdiction, many of the new housing settlements have been built in the West Bankblatantly violating the international laws. The Palestinians who live there strongly oppose the settlements. In 1977, only about five thousand Jews lived in the West Bank settlements. As of 2010 there were more than two hundred thousand. The Palestinians argue that if they were to have their own nation-state, then the Jewish settlements would be in their country and would have to be either resettled or absorbed. Israel responds by indicating that the two-state solution is indefensible because the Jewish settlements in the West Bank cannot be protected if the West Bank is separated from Israel. The issues in Israel are generally complicated. After a series of wars and considerable negotiations, the central problems remain: Jews and Palestinians both want the same land, both groups want Jerusalem (originally belong to Palestine) to be their capital city, and neither group can find a compromise. Support for the Jewish State of Israel has primarily come from the United States and from Jewish groups external to Israel. There are more Jews in the United States than there are in Israel, and the US Jewish lobby is powerful. Israel has been the top recipient of US foreign aid for most of the years since 1948. Through charitable donations, US groups provide Israel additional billions of dollars annually. Foreign aid has given the Jewish population in Israel a standard of living that is higher than the standard of living of many European countries. In the past decade, most of the PLOs operating budget has come from external sources. Arab neighbours provide millions of dollars annually. Iran has provided aid to the Palestinian cause in support of fellow Muslims against the Jewish State of Israel. The PLO has received the bulk of its funding from the European Union. Russia has also provided millions of dollars in aid. The Gaza Strip is one of the most densely populated regions on Earth, and it is located in a desert. There are few jobs and no real methods of gaining wealth. Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip or the West Bank need to rely on outside support to survive. These are small areas with lots of people. The West Bank is only about thirty miles wide by seventy-five miles long, yet more than 2.5 million people call it home. The Gaza Strip is a desert region about six miles wide by twenty-three miles long and is home to more than 1.5 million people. In 2010, family size in the West Bank was about 3.2, and in the Gaza Strip, it was about 5.0. Unemployment rates averaged about 40 percent in the Gaza Strip and over 20 percent in the West Bank. Underemployment is also a major issue in that there may be few employment opportunities for professionals with specialised skills or a university degree in a specific field of interest. In 2006, both Israel and the PLO held democratic elections for their leaders. In 2006, a candidate from the Hamas party won the election for the leadership of the PLO, which concerned many of the PLOs external financial supporters. The Israeli government characterises Hamas as a terrorist organization, though Israel itself is a terrorist state which is well known across the world. Hamas has advocated for suicide bombers to blow themselves up on populated Jewish streets. The Jewish State of Israel has been fighting a low-level war against Palestinian resistance groups, such as, Hamas since 1948. In 2008, the leaders of the Fatah party, which are more prominent in the West Bank region, took matters to the PLO Central Council, which chose Mahmoud Abbas as president of the State of Palestine. The problems between Israel and Palestinians are far from settled. The region has plenty of interconnected concerns. The biggest supporter of Israel, the United States, invaded Iraq in 2003, an invasion that raised the concern level of Islamic groups in the Middle East, including the Islamic leaders that control the government of Iran. Israel has nuclear weapons, and Iran has worked at developing nuclear weapons. US involvement in the region has heightened tensions between Iran and Israel. Oil revenues are driving the economies of most of the Arab countries that support the Palestinians. Oil is an important export of the region, with the United States as a major market. The difficulties between Israel and the Palestinians continue to fuel the conflict between Islamic fundamentalists and Islamic reformers. Some Islamic groups have accepted Israels status as a country and others have not. The Israel-Palestinian problem drives the geopolitics of the Middle East. The US war in Iraq has complicated the situation. The situation in Palestine is predicted to continue long after the problems in Iraq have stabilised. When Palestine was divided by the UNone-sidedly onlyto create the State of Israel, the region of Jordan received more than a million Palestinian refugees from the West Bank and Israel. Refugees make up a large portion of the more than six million people who live in Jordan today; about a half million refugees from the US war in Iraq are included in that total. Israel has not only planned to annex West Bank territories of Palestine blatantly violating the international rules, but also it carries on its vile plan of annexing West Bank territories with full support from Washington.But the international community remains fiercely opposed to the unilateral move. Palestinian leader Abbas has slammed Trump's peace plan at UN. The Palestinian state envisioned by the Trump-backed peace plan looks like "Swiss cheese," Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said, decrying the initiative at the UN and saying it sides with Israel on nearly all issues. The only way it can be achieved is for both sides to return to the negotiating table. That must be goal for both Israel and Palestine. Annexation would only take the two countries further away from achieving peace for both the nations. -The End The writer is an independent political observer based in Dhaka, Bangladesh who writes on politics, political and human-centred figures, current and international affairs. Manhattan Dist. Atty. Cyrus Vance Jr. has been fighting to get President Trump's tax returns. (Richard Drew / Associated Press ) President Trump faces incoming fire from three different directions in his native New York, and his odds of escaping unscathed look long. Weve known for a while about the Manhattan district attorneys dogged pursuit of the presidents tax records. That odyssey is poised to end soon and probably successfully for the D.A., at least in terms of obtaining the records. Then last week, the U.S. attorneys office for the Southern District of New York indicted erstwhile Trump guru Stephen K. Bannon on criminal charges. If Bannon cooperates with authorities, he might well have vivid stories to tell about Trump and his circle. And on Monday, New York Atty. Gen. Letitia James filed a motion revealing that her office too is on Trumps trail. The motion disclosed a long-standing civil investigation into whether the Trump Organization improperly inflated its assets to get loans and obtain tax benefits, a practice that former Trump attorney Michael Cohen told Congress was routine. There are some serious legal risks to Trump from each of these investigations, but they're pressing only if he isn't reelected. (We know the feds have a rule against indicting a sitting president, and the state probably lacks constitutional power to do so.) Should election day result in a loss, it may jeopardize his fortune and even his liberty. Start with the case being pursued by Manhattan Dist. Atty. Cyrus Vance Jr. He has subpoenaed Trumps tax returns from his accountants. The filings in the case make it clear that Vance thinks the returns could shed light on a variety of criminal financial misdeeds, including the possibly fraudulent treatment of alleged hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. The Supreme Court rejected Trumps argument in Vance's case that the president cannot even be investigated and returned the case to the trial court. Last week, that court rejected the balance of Trumps arguments against complying with the subpoenas, calling the reasoning unprecedented and perilous to the rule of law. Story continues Next, the U.S. Court of Appeals will hear Trumps motion for a stay Sept. 1. . Look for it to deny the stay in short order, and for the Supreme Court to rebuff Trumps attempt to take up the case again; it no longer concerns any interesting or unusual principles of law. All of this back and forth could put eight years of Trumps tax records records he many years ago promised he would absolutely release if he ran for office into Vances possession. Because a grand jury is involved, the records will remain shielded from public view, but in the event they contain evidence of a crime, including by Trump, Vance seems eager to pull the trigger on charges. Meanwhile, down the street at the U.S. attorneys office of the Southern District of New York, Steve Bannons goose may soon be cooked. Bannon, 66, has been charged with defrauding donors who gave millions to a private effort to help Trump construct his big, beautiful border wall. Were a jury to find him guilty, Bannon would be looking at the possibility of a hefty recommended sentence of, depending on a judges call, no less than five years and more likely 10 or more. Bannons best opportunity to dramatically reduce that potential sentence is to cooperate now with authorities, and speaking as a former prosecutor, what they would want is evidence of crimes committed by members of the Trump circle. Bannon is to some degree on the record about how he might react if his loyalty was put to the test. Ill cover myself on the downside, he told author Michael Wolff in the book "Siege: Trump Under Fire." And indicating what a dangerous witness he could be for the president, Wolff quotes Bannon as saying that Trump is not the billionaire he said he was, just another scumbag." When the book came out, Trump responded with "Bannon ... has lost his mind." But the White House must view Bannons arrest with consternation. Finally, James investigation into the civil matter of the Trump Organizations business dealings could also develop into criminal charges ultimately brought by her office, Vance or the feds that touch the president or those close to him. And civil charges alone could have serious financial implications for the Trump Organization and the presidents personal fortune. With a grand jury and multiple prosecutors hovering, how would Trump react if Joe Biden wins on Nov. 3? Contesting the elections result might be one way out of the legal systems grasp but thats a topic for another column. What about decreeing a wide-ranging pardon for himself and others threatened by the New York investigations? Trump has already shown his willingness to use the pardon power in ways most presidents would abjure (including the TV-style White House reveal pardon during the Republican Convention this week). There is no reason to think a sudden lightning strike of propriety would keep Trump from using the power of office for his personal protection. A pardon could preempt federal prosecution, but it would not stand in the way of James and Vance in New York. Last year, New York changed its double jeopardy law. Before the change, state prosecutors couldnt go after conduct that had already been pardoned at the federal level. A narrowly targeted revision, pushed through by James, closed a loophole, in her words, and provided leeway for criminal indictments specifically on charges pardoned by a president. In a statement, James called the change a necessary check on presidential power today and for all presidents to come. Trump has proved himself a prolific escape artist during his presidency, using delay, subterfuge and political muscle to push back against any number of potentially mortal lies, gaffes and legal threats. But his very success has inspired many powerful actors to want to hold him, finally, to account after he leaves office. Its up to you, New York, New York. @HarryLitman Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala has requested the Centre to pay the state's compensation of Rs 5,840 crore at the earliest that has been pendingfor the past four months, according to an official statement issued on Friday. While participating in the 41st Council on Thursday through video-conferencing, the deputy chief minister requested the Centre to provide maximum financial support to Haryana, as the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the economy of the state. He demanded that the loss of revenue should be compensated to the states even after the period of 5 years of GST, in 2022. Chautala said is a leading state in terms of manufacturing and exports. He added that before the goods and services tax (GST) regime, "the state used to get maximum revenue in the form of tax on products". The revenue collection across the state has been adversely affected after the implementation of the system, he said. The states where products are being sold are getting more benefits of GST, the deputy CM added. The revenue of the state has also been affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he further said during the meeting. Chautala drew the attention of the GST Council towards the provisions of the constitutional amendments wherein Parliament is entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the payment of compensation to the states. "Parliament should come forward regarding this matter," he said, as per the statement. He also underlined that the Council must focus on raising the revenues as a long-term solution to the problem of revenues deficit. Dushyant Chautala, a Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader, also requested the GST Council to hold a meeting of the Council where participants are present, "so that the representatives of all the states can present their views in a better and effective manner". While has a BJP-JJP coalition government, amid a chorus by non-NDA ruled states for compensation of GST revenue shortfall, the Centre on Thursday told states that the estimated deficit of Rs 2.35 lakh crore this financial year can be bridged by borrowing. The Centre also made a distinction between revenue lost due to the implementation of the GST and the economic slowdown arising out of the COVID-19 crisis. The government said its legal obligation is only to compensate states for losses arising out of the GST roll-out. (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 Hut Group has unveiled plans for a blockbuster 4.5billion float. In what will easily be London's biggest listing of the year, the online shopping company hopes to raise 920m by issuing new shares when it joins the stock market in mid-September. Existing shareholders will also sell some of their holdings, with 20 per cent of the business set to be floated overall. At the same time, the listing is expected to set up boss Matthew Moulding for a potential 700m payout potentially one of the biggest paydays in British corporate history. The Hut Group is one of Britain's biggest online retailers, owning brands such as cosmetics seller Lookfantastic (pictured) He will secure the bonus if the company's market capitalisation rises to 7.25billion within two years. The entrepreneur is a former Phones4U executive who has rubbed shoulders with Boris Johnson and Barack Obama. Yesterday the 48-year-old said: 'Our intention to float THG on the London Stock Exchange reflects the achievements of the past but also our strong belief in the significant potential for The Hut Group in the future.' The Hut Group is one of Britain's biggest online retailers, boasting annual revenues of 1.1billion and owning brands such as nutrition supplement Myprotein, moisturiser Espa and cosmetics seller Lookfantastic. It describes itself as 'vertically integrated', meaning it handles almost all levels of its business in house, from website design to product development and distribution. The company's three divisions are beauty, nutrition and 'Ingenuity', with the final one referring to the ecommerce technology it licenses to rivals including Boots, Nestle and Johnson & Johnson. Insiders believe Ingenuity will prove to be one of the firm's most lucrative lines of business and liken its model to online supermarket Ocado, which provides internet shopping logistics to Marks & Spencer and other grocers globally. 'The brands we own today give us leading strategic positions in prestige beauty and nutrition,' Moulding added. 'Ingenuity powers not just our brands but those of many by Lucy White other leading consumer brand owners around the world, creating a highly resilient, vertically-integrated business with significant growth opportunities.' The company's float will seek to cash in on demand for tech stocks, which have boomed this year even as the coronavirus crisis has ravaged the global economy. CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson added: 'The technology is proven, and the business is used by big consumer brands as a logistics and infrastructure provider.' However, The Hut Group's decision to opt for a 'standard' London listing rather than a premium one means that it will not be eligible for a place on the FTSE 100 index, despite its mooted value being high enough. Well connected: Matthew Moulding with Boris Johnson (left) and Barack Obama The Manchester-based company's governance arrangements are also expected to raise eyebrows among some investors. Moulding's position as executive chairman is frowned upon under City rules which say the chairman should be an independent figure and separate from the chief executive and his insistence on a 'founder's share' to block takeovers is unusual. But Neil Wilson, chief analyst at Markets.com, said: 'After a considerable ramp in tech valuations this year, this looks like a well-timed move, at least on the part of the founder who is due a bumper 700m payout should all go well and still remain very much in control.' He added that the deal also looked like 'another banker buffet', with four of the same banks from Aston Martin's listing Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, HSBC and Numis in addition to Citigroup, Barclays and Jefferies taking part. Aston Martin has seen its market cap plunge from 4.3billion since its listing to just 1billion, prompting claims it was wildly overvalued. Wilson added: 'Let's hope THG enjoys a better time on the public markets than Aston.' The Hut Group's rise reflects the growing shift towards internet shopping in recent years. It was founded in 2004 by Moulding and business partner John Gallemore using savings of 500,000. The pair built it from a small operation selling CDs and DVDs from the Channel Islands using a now-closed tax loophole into a huge player in ecommerce, although the company has remained little - known until now. Its listing is expected to be the biggest London float since 2013, according to Reuters. The pandemic largely halted new listings earlier in the year when markets recorded sharp falls as investors avoided risk. The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners has asked the ruling New Patriotic Party to review its proposed 2020 manifesto to detail its plans for the sector. According to the association, the party has paid too scanty an attention to the sector and needs to provide a more detailed plan of what it intends to do for players in the sector. A statement issued by the General Secretary, Godwin Armah said the association hoped the party did not trivialiase issues of the sector given that it contributes no less than 48 percent of all gold mined in the country. The Association after carefully reviewing the NPPs manifesto wishes to indicate that we are extremely shocked that the party would capture the sector in a hurry in its proposed manifesto. We are therefore calling on the Party to come out with a document outlining and detailing its intentions for the sector, having since 2017 reformed the sector from its informal nature to a more formalized sector. The Association requests of the party, a policy on the sector to know the partys next steps towards the fight against illegal mining, which war it waged in its first term in office. The Association wishes to observe that while it regrets the seeming oversight, we believe it is not too late to revisit the issue and to advertise your intentions for the sector. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Sydney Spector, an assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Hawaii, and Brock Glover, a Defense Department contractor, began dating a month after meeting through mutual friends in July 2013 in Honolulu. At the time, Mr. Glover, 33, who served 10 years as an active duty officer in the Army, was stationed at Schofield Barracks, and Ms. Spector, 36, was clerking for U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor. After one year of dating, the couples time in Honolulu came to an end, but their lives together were only just beginning. We never talked about breaking up or anything like that, said Ms. Spector, who was raised in Toms River, N.J. She graduated from Columbia and received a law degree from Emory. Chandigarh: Fifty-two members of the Punjab assembly attended the day-long monsoon session amid the Covid-19 pandemic on Friday that saw chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh moving a resolution against the Centres farm ordinances in the absence of BJP ally Shiromani Akali Dal. The truncated session began with obituary references at 11am and was adjourned for an hour after paying tributes to 28 personalities, including the Galwan bravehearts and former member of Parliament Gurdas Singh Badal. The assembly was convened amid the pandemic to fulfil the constitutional obligation of meeting within six months of the last session. SAD members skipped the meet due to the Covid-19 protocol after 30 state MLAs tested positive. Aam Aadmi Party legislators, however, chose to attend the session in personal protective equipment (PPE) gear. While 42 Congress legislators attended the session, six AAP MLAs, and two each from the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Lok Insaf Party were present in the House. Three AAP legislators, including leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema, were not allowed in the House despite showing their Covid negative reports. The House was adjourned sine die at 2.10pm. AKALIS MISSED SESSION DELIBERATELY: CM Moving the resolution against the Centress farm ordinances, the chief minister said that the SAD should have attended the session. They deliberately missed it as they knew this resolution will be passed in the assembly, he said. Barring the BJP members, all MLAs unanimously supported the resolution. Murder of democracy by Cong govt. Now police force posted outside SAD MLAs houses to prevent them from attending 1 hr assembly session. Such kind of oppression seen for first even though SAD announced it will act responsibly. We appeal to Governor, Pb to intervene & restore order, Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia said in a tweet. CLINICAL ESTABLISHMENT BILL PASSED The Punjab Clinical Establishment Bill, the Guru Teg Bahadur Bill and the Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Amendment Bill were passed The AAP raised the issue of the post-matric scholarship scam with Master Baldev Singh asking Speaker Rana KP Singh to suspend cabinet minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot. Lok Insaf Party member Simarjeet Singh Bains also raised the issue and praised additional chief secretary Kirpa Shankar Saroj for submitting a report against the minister. Aam Aadmi Party leaders Harpal Singh Cheema, Sarabjit Kaur Manuke and Meet Hayer showing their Covid negative test reports outside the assembly on Friday. (Ravi Kumar/HT Photo) COVID PROTOCOL AND ADVICE Earlier, AAP MLAs, including leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema, Aman Arora, Meet Hayer and Sarabjit Kaur Manuke, reached the assembly wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) kits. Cheema, Hayer, Manuke and Baldev Singh held a protest outside the assembly, alleging that despite their negative coronavirus test reports, they were not being allowed to attend the session. On Thursday, the chief minister and Speaker had appealed to all legislators, who had come in contact with COVID-positive MLAs, to avoid attending the day-long assembly session. Of the 30 MLAs who have tested positive so far, 20 are from the Congress, six from SAD and four from AAP, including a party rebel. Of them, seven have recovered. However, the AAP legislators, whose three colleagues tested positive this week, decided to attend the session, ignoring their advice. Barring those who have tested positive, the other nine party MLAs will attend the session. Besides coronavirus, there are other issues such as Scheduled Caste (SC) scholarships, illicit liquor, the Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal and sand mafia that need to be raised. We took the decision at a virtual meeting, Cheema said. Budhram and Manjit Singh Bilaspur, who have tested positive, had attended the AAP legislature party meeting three days ago in which seven other members were present. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) legislature group, on the other hand, decided not to attend the session as its MLAs had come in contact with their colleague Gurpartap Singh Wadala, who later tested positive. SAD legislature party leader Sharanjit Singh Dhillon said the party was following Vidhan Sabha rules and Covid-19 guidelines. The decision was taken at a meeting of the legislature party on Friday morning. The Speaker had given the advice after a group of AAP MLAs met him and the SAD legislature party leader wrote to him. According to the Covid-19 protocol, all contacts of positive persons have to quarantine themselves for 14 days. PROTESTS OUTSIDE THE HOUSE Lok Insaaf Party members Simarjeet Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains protested against the Scheduled Caste scholarship scam outside Punjab Bhawan. Both demanded the dismissal of social welfare minister Dharamsot. Though the SAD MLAs stayed away, youth Akali activists, led by state chief Parambans Banti Romana, were detained by Chandigarh Police for protesting outside the Vidhan Sabha. By Glen Ford August 27, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Biden is an unreconstructed racist and warmonger who has been in the forefront of austerity, and Harris is a party hack and mass Black incarcerator who became a prosecutor with police union endorsement. Bidens acceptance speech put forward not one word that hinted at programmatic change on racial matters. The corporate Democrats are once again running as the Not-Trump Party, the second consecutive election in which they have succeeded in suppressing every issue except the fitness for office of one very wretched man. The only way a party wholly-owned by oligarchs can deflect attention from its own culpability in dragooning its constituents into a Race to the Bottom amid never ending war, is to set up a straw man to be knocked down, leaving the machinery of racial capitalism and armed-to-the-teeth imperialism intact -- Hillary Clintons gambit in 2016. She lost, but the oligarchy did just fine under the Orange Menace, as stocks and profits skyrocketed. In the interim, however, popular demands for relief from the duopolys bipartisan regime of austerity and war escalated, and a Black-led movement took to the streets in unprecedented numbers. Chinas economy, which had already eclipsed the United States in purchasing power parity , continued to roar ahead, as Beijing countered U.S. military encirclement with the most ambitious multinational infrastructure project in world history: the Belt and Road initiative, formerly the New Silk Road. Popular demands for relief from the duopolys bipartisan regime of austerity and war escalated, and a Black-led movement took to the streets in unprecedented numbers. With the bulk of the U.S. ruling class and their servants in the national security apparatus now aligned with Democrats, Trump was made the scapegoat for both Black anger at institutional racial oppression and for imperial decline. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter Black Democratic elected officials played their assigned role, waving American flags as they pretended that only Trump stood in the way of racial healing in a nation born of native genocide and Black enslavement. Recent history was quickly rewritten, positing the rise of Trump as the demon who taunted Blacks into resurrecting a grassroots movement that had been dormant for two generations, when in fact the Black Lives Matter phenomenon arose to demolish a bipartisan Mass Black Incarceration regime under his predecessor, the First Black President. Having strangled the anti-austerity (but loyal imperialist) internal challenge from Bernie Sanders, the oligarch-aligned Democrats and their media chose Joe Biden as front man: a political hack with impeccable corporate credentials and an architect of the New Jim Crow and white northern massive resistance to Black urban intrusion. His Black female running mate is a pure product of the corporate Democratic machine, who launched her electoral career with the endorsement of police unions. But neither of them is Trump, and thats all that matters. Trump was made the scapegoat for both Black anger at institutional racial oppression and for imperial decline. With Biden, the white working class champion carrying the corporate torch, there will be no talk of baskets of deplorables because he is a certified denizen of the basket. Rather, Biden promised in his acceptance speech to choose a different path, and together, take this chance to heal, to be reborn, to unite. A path of hope and light. Trump is darkness, the Democrats are light ad nauseum for 3,000-plus meaningless words. Biden acknowledges that the U.S. responded to the Covid-19 epidemic with the worst performance of any nation on Earth. But it was all the fault of the unmasked man, Trump. The methodical privatization and shrinkage of the public health system, a thoroughly bipartisan policy, had nothing to do with mass death. The austerity regime, of which Biden is a founding member, which apportions health care based on race and class, is blameless. There can be no true national health care system absent a single payer program, but Biden vowed to veto Medicare for all if it ever crosses his presidential desk. Biden joins Trump in scapegoating China for the coronavirus, promising we will never again be at the mercy of China and other foreign countries in order to protect our own people. Yet, he is the light. There can be no true national health care system absent a single payer program, but Biden vowed to veto Medicare for all. Biden assures us that his economic plan is all about jobs, dignity, respect, and community -- a claim that flies in the face of his history as budget-slasher. As journalist Branko Marcetic writes, Biden is uniquely susceptible to budget-cutting dogma. He quickly became a fiscal hawk after entering the Senate in 1972, introducing the Federal Spending Control Act five years later to potentially put all federal spending programs on the chopping block, and musing that Reagans 1980 victory was 'more consistent with the budgetary thrust that a guy like me ... has been going for.' In his speech, Biden called Social Security a a sacred obligation, a sacred promise made. But, again citing Marcetic, Biden has proposed to means-test Social Security and, from the 1980s on has called for and introduced legislation aimed at slashing federal spending, including by cutting Medicare and Social Security. Vice-President Biden was point man for Barack Obamas partially consummated Grand Bargain with Republicans, during which the administration offered four trillion dollars in cuts, mostly to social programs, including Social Security a program that Obama put on the cutting table, along with Medicaid and all other entitlements at the very beginning of his presidency. Biden has always been a soldier for austerity, a war against the poor. Why should anyone believe he has reversed course in his old age? Biden was point man for Barack Obamas partially consummated Grand Bargain with Republicans. Biden is an unreconstructed racist, as is proven every time he makes a remark even remotely related to race. His acceptance speech put forward not one word that hinted at programmatic change on racial matters. However, he did mention the name of George Floyds daughter, and seemed to think that John Lewis ghost will cause us all to see the light. But Russia shall be consigned to darkness, along with Trump. Biden repeated the wholly unsubstantiated and historically bizarre charge that Moscow put bounties on the heads of American soldiers in Afghanistan, despite Russias longtime and invaluable assistance to maintain the U.S. presence in that country. War. Austerity and White Supremacy are all that Biden/Harris offer but without Trump. If thats enough for you, then say Hallelujah -- and then tighten your belts and pass the ammunition. Mental health is one of the most neglected areas of public health. Close to 1 billion people are living with a mental disorder, 3 million people die every year from the harmful use of alcohol and one person dies every 40 seconds by suicide. And now, billions of people around the world have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is having a further impact on people's mental health. Yet, relatively few people around the world have access to quality mental health services. In low- and middle-income countries, more than 75% of people with mental, neurological and substance use disorders receive no treatment for their condition at all. Furthermore, stigma, discrimination, punitive legislation and human rights abuses are still widespread. The limited access to quality, affordable mental health care in the world before the pandemic, and particularly in humanitarian emergencies and conflict settings, has been further diminished due to COVID-19 as the pandemic has disrupted health services around the world. Primary causes have been infection and the risk of infection in long-stay facilities such as care homes and psychiatric institutions; barriers to meeting people face-to-face; mental health staff being infected with the virus; and the closing of mental health facilities to convert them into care facilities for people with COVID-19. Move for mental health: Let's invest That's why, for this year's World Mental Health Day, WHO, together with partner organizations, United for Global Mental Health and the World Federation for Mental Health, is calling for a massive scale-up in investment in mental health. To encourage public action around the world, a World Mental Health Day campaign, Move for mental health: let's invest will kick off in September. World Mental Health Day is an opportunity for the world to come together and begin redressing the historic neglect of mental health." Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization "We are already seeing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on people's mental well-being, and this is just the beginning. Unless we make serious commitments to scale up investment in mental health right now, the health, social and economic consequences will be far-reaching." During the past few months, the World Health Organization has issued, in collaboration with partners, guidance and advice on mental health for health workers and other frontline workers, managers of health facilities, and people of all ages whose lives have changed considerably as a result of the pandemic. With the disruption in health services, countries are finding innovative ways to provide mental health care, and initiatives to strengthen psychosocial support have sprung up. Yet, because of the scale of the problem, the vast majority of mental health needs remain unaddressed. The response is hampered by chronic under-investment in mental health promotion, prevention and care for many years before the pandemic. Countries spend just 2% of their health budgets on mental health Countries spend on average only 2% of their health budgets on mental health. Despite some increases in recent years, international development assistance for mental health has never exceeded 1% of all development assistance for health. This is despite the fact that for every US$ 1 invested in scaled-up treatment for common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, there is a return of US$ 5 in improved health and productivity. World Mental Health Day: An opportunity to commit The World Mental Health Day campaign will offer opportunities, primarily online given the continuing pandemic, for all of us to do something life-affirming: as individuals, to take concrete actions in support of our own mental health, and to support friends and family who are struggling; as employers, to take steps towards putting in place employee wellness programmes; as governments, to commit to establishing or scaling-up mental health services; and as journalists, to explain what more can and must be done to make mental health care a reality for everyone. "It is nearly 30 years since the first World Mental Health Day was launched by the World Federation for Mental Health," said Dr Ingrid Daniels, President of the World Federation for Mental Health. "During that time, we have seen an increasing openness to talk about mental health in many countries of the world. But now we must turn words into actions. We need to see concerted efforts being made to build mental health systems that are appropriate and relevant for today's and tomorrow's - world. "With so many people lacking access to good quality, appropriate mental health services, investment is needed now more than ever," said Elisha London, Founder and CEO of United for Global Mental Health. "Everyone, everywhere can participate in this year's campaign. Whether you have struggled with your own mental health, know someone who has been affected, are a mental health expert, or if you simply believe that investing in mental health is the right thing to do, move for mental health, and help make mental health care and support accessible for everyone." Key events United for Global Mental Health: The 24-hour march for mental health On 9 October, people from around the world will be encouraged to participate in a virtual march. A 24-hour livestream will feature people with lived experience, mental health leaders and influencers from the civil society groups already active in 19 countries through the Speak Your Mind campaign. In addition, global partner organizations that are leading and coordinating work on mental health are organizing hour-long sessions on specific themes, including mental health and young people, mental health and older people, and mental health and the LGBTQ+ community. Confirmed partners include Human Rights Watch and Alzheimer's Disease International. The March will help increase awareness of mental health issues, break down stigma and bring about policy change. Members of the public will be urged to "add their voice" and join the March using online filters to be released in the lead-up to the event. WHO: The big event for mental health On World Mental Health Day, 10 October, the World Health Organization will, for the first time ever, host a global online advocacy Event on mental health. At this event - the Big Event for Mental Health - WHO will showcase the work that its staff are doing around the world to reduce mental illness and the harmful use of alcohol and drugs. World leaders and mental health experts will join the WHO Director-General to talk about their commitment to mental health and what more must be done. World-renowned musicians who have spoken out about the importance of mental health will talk about their motivation and perform. Sportsmen and women whose lives have been affected by mental ill health will share their experiences and how they have dealt with conditions such as depression and anxiety. During the Event, a Special Prize for a mental health film, a newly-created category of WHO's inaugural Health for All Film Festival, will be awarded. World Federation for Mental Health: education and awareness raising The Federation's campaign kicks off on 1 September, with the Federation's President launching the 2020 World Mental Health Day Campaign Educational Material "Mental Health for All: Greater Investment - Greater Access" under the Royal Patronage of HRH Princess Iman Afzan Al-Sultan Abdullah of Malaysia. This includes a Call to Action 2020 from Pamela Y. Collins and Deepa Rao, and will be followed by 45 days of awareness-raising activities led by the Federation's youth section, including a global online discussion forum and art exhibition. Photo: The Canadian Press Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Howard Njoo, Deputy Chief Public Health Officer, hold a press conference in Ottawa on Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Canada's chief public health officer says families should expect to see cases of COVID-19 in schools as children head back to class in the coming weeks. Dr. Theresa Tam says it is important that each school have a plan and that everyone knows what to do when there's an outbreak of the novel coronavirus. At a media briefing in Ottawa today, she says it is normal to feel stressed about the fact many students are returning to classrooms. But she emphasizes that planning and awareness can help ease anxiety. Tam says while Canada generally has quite low levels of COVID-19, it doesn't mean families won't have lots of questions about being back in a classroom. She says parents face difficult decisions and that carefully weighing the risks and benefits is of paramount importance. It found that in both situations, people often acted ahead of the government measures or recommendations. In the pre-war and the pre-lockdown periods, there was a lessening of initial anxiety around the respective threats, according to the study. Despite war already being declared, surveys indicated the majority of people were not taking air-raid precautions. Lessons can be learnt from how people responded both to the Blitz itself and to the protective measures and public messaging that were issued by the government at the time And despite reports of the virus in China, large public events in the UK such as the Cheltenham Races continued to take place. A key similarity between the two situations at this point was the failure to learn from comparable events overseas, the study suggests. Study author Professor Edgar Jones, from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, said: Although the term unprecedented has been used frequently to describe the Covid-19 pandemic, the situation has significant parallels with previous threats to the public, particularly the Blitz of the Second World War. Advertisement Lessons can be learnt from how people responded both to the Blitz itself and to the protective measures and public messaging that were issued by the government at the time. Documents from five departments of government for the period of 1938 to 1945 and documents released by scientific advisory groups during the current pandemic were analysed. The study drew comparisons between the response of the British public and the government in the two situations and identified a number of similarities. During the Blitz, the government did not predict the majority of people would prefer to shelter in their own homes rather than the safer external underground deep shelters that had been provided. The paper in the Lancet Psychiatry journal states that a similar reluctance to leave home has been observed after the easing of the current lockdown described as a form of deep-shelter mentality. In the Second World War, people preferred to shelter in their homes because there is a deep psychological sense of being protected at home Evidence from the Blitz provides insight into how powerful this mentality is in times of threat, since the government had to adapt its shelter policy by abandoning the external deep shelters and instead provide internal steel cages to allow people to shelter safely at home, the study said. Prof Jones said: In both the current pandemic and the Blitz, people often acted ahead of the government measures or recommendations. Advertisement If politicians want to introduce a policy, theyve got to listen to the public and give them a sense of engagement. In the Second World War, people preferred to shelter in their homes because there is a deep psychological sense of being protected at home. Similarly in the Covid-19 pandemic, when lockdown was introduced it wasnt difficult for people to stay at home because of this sense of safety gained from being at home. The study also provides a comparison between the threat of a second wave of coronavirus and the arrival of the V1 and V2 rockets during the summer of 1944. In the Second World War, people had already experienced a major assault but were then expected to prepare for another. In the case of the V1 rockets, the government did not release information on the nature of the rockets. It's crucial to get people to buy into protecting the community and not just themselves When they did publish information and publicise protection measures, adaptation by the people followed quickly as many had already developed a form of coping strategy in the previous air raids, the research found. This highlights the importance of transparency and clarity in communication of risk and threat if there is a second wave of Covid-19, according to the research. Prof Jones said: Lessons can be learnt from communication around both the V1 and V2 rockets and from the failure of the stay alert campaign in the current pandemic to maintain public trust. Clear explanations are needed for any measures going forward based on candid and objective news and, once this is provided, people who have developed coping strategies and resilience can adapt more readily. The study also drew a parallel between the protective measures of blackout in the Second World War and social distancing, as both measures relied on everyone taking part in order for them to be effective. It found that in both situations, the approach of everyone being in it together proved successful. Its crucial to get people to buy into protecting the community and not just themselves, said Prof Jones. Vaping companies took advantage of the coronavirus pandemic by offering products that were in short supply, a new study suggests. Researchers found ads in which customers could get a free roll of toilet paper, face masks or a bottle of hand sanitizer with a purchase of e-cigarettes or vape liquids. Others companies urged the public to follow the advice of health experts by staying home, and using a vape while they were at it. Some even created healthcare-themed promotions, encouraging consumers to disinfect their e-cigarettes and to not share them with friends or family, the team, from Stanford University, in California, found. Vaping companies took advantage of the coronavirus crisis by rolling out pandemic-themed advertisements (file image) Some companies offered essential products with eligible purchases such as hand sanitizer (left) or a free roll of toilet paper (right) Hand sanitizer often was distributed in the same bottles as flavored e-liquids (pictured), which increased the risk of the alcohol product accidentally being vaped 'While we thought we'd seen it all, we never imagined that we'd see tobacco companies exploiting a global pandemic for marketing purposes,' co-author Dr Robert Jackler, an otologist-neurotologist at Stanford, told CNN exclusively. 'What really surprised us was how many different ways they did it, and how many companies and brands engaged in the practice.' For the study, published the journal Tobacco Control, the team looked at ads from 21 e-cigarette brands and 41 online vaping stores. Researchers collected more than 300 e-cigarette promotional images related to the COVID-19 pandemic. There were several different methods that companies and stores used to target customers, and the first was offering gifts of essential supplies. As toilet paper, hand sanitizer and masks became scarce, many began offering them as free gifts with a eligible purchase. 'Free hand sanitiser with every order,' reads an advertisement from Podsalt, a UK-based vaping company. SCS Vape, a store based in Victoria, Texas, put out a promotion for toilet paper which read: 'Free roll with $10 purchase (while supplies last).' In the case of Vintage Vapor, an online vape shop, it offered essential supplies such masks and sanitizer for purchase on its website. Researchers says the hand sanitizer from different companies was often distributed in the same bottles flavored e-liquid were packaged. 'They offer their hand sanitizer in the same little bottle,' Jackler told CNN. 'You can very easily accidentally think that that's for use in vaping. You pour 70 percent alcohol in the vaporizer, breathe it in, can do some serious harm to your lungs.' British American Tobacco started an Instagram campaign for its heated tobacco product Glo, selling themed face masks with the message #todayiwill followed by stay home (left) or 'go out' with a photo of a Glo store (right) Other companies offered discounts, which were themed around the pandemic. with promotional codes such as ''staysafe' (left). Advertisements also included safety messaging, such as discouraing consumers to share e-cigarettes with others (right) British American Tobacco started a social media campaign for its heated tobacco product Glo, selling themed face masks with the message #todayiwill followed by stay home.' In other posst on Instagram, BAT posted #todayiwill followed by 'go out featuring an image of a Glo store. Another way to attract customers was by offering discounts, which were themed around the pandemic. For example, Loon e-cigarettes, based out of Minnesota, offered 20 percent off an entire purchase if one used the promotional code Staysafe Another company, California-based BLVK Unicorn offered 30 percent of purchases to all doctors, nurses and medical staff for making sacrifices every day to maintain normalcy.' Companies also tried to encourage people to clean and disinfect their vapes and that sharing Is not caring' when it came to sharing e-cigarettes. Jackler told CNN that while there are "sensible public health warnings" the ads also 'cross the line over to promoting vaping as a healthy thing to do, a safe thing to do and something that [the company] would encourage you to do during the pandemic.' BALTIMORE (RNS) Vice President Mike Pence closed out his speech before the Republican National Convention on Wednesday evening (Aug. 26) with a mashup of Bible references, into which he inserted American symbols and ideals. Speaking before a crowd at Fort McHenry National Monument in Baltimore, Pence, a self-described born-again, evangelical Catholic known for infusing his political rhetoric with religious language, sprinkled his address with references to God and prayer. But Pence, who accepted his partys nomination for vice president during the speech, sparked outcry in some Christian circles as he closed out his remarks when he combined at least two Bible verses and replaced references to Jesus with patriotic imagery. Let Religion News Service explain. So What Did Pence Say? Heres the full quote from Pences speech that has people talking: Lets run the race marked out for us. Lets fix our eyes on Old Glory and all she represents. Lets fix our eyes on this land of heroes and let their courage inspire. And lets fix our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith and freedom and never forget that where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom and that means freedom always wins. That Seems Vaguely Familiar That may be because Pence references two different Bible verses in his remarks. One is 2 Corinthians 3:17, which according to the New International Version translation reads, Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. The other is Hebrews 12:1-2, the version of which he quoted most closely resembling the translation in the Berean Study Bible, with some notable changes. That passage reads: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. What Did He Change? First, Pence substituted Old Glory for Jesus. He took a similar approach in the next line, inserting an additional line: Lets fix our eyes on this land of heroes and let their courage inspire, before returning to the biblical text. He also described Jesus (or Old Glory, as the case may be) as the author and perfecter of our faith and freedom, adding the words and freedom, which do not appear in the Hebrews passage. The inserted lines appeared to be references to the context Pence chose for his speech: The vice president delivered his address from Fort McHenry, where an 1814 battle inspired the national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, and he was speaking on the third night of the RNC, when the theme was Land of Heroes. Why Are People Upset about It? Some of President Donald Trumps evangelical advisers lauded the speech, such as Texas Pastor Jack Graham, who tweeted: We can bend our knee to Christ in faith and stand for our flag in freedom. Thank you (Vice President Pence). But many others took issue with his remarks, noting that Pences fusion of God and country appears to be a nod toward Christian nationalism, which asserts the United States is or should be a Christian nation. Political analysts say the idea has been invoked repeatedly by Trump during his 2016 campaign for president and throughout his first term, and has resonated with many conservative Christians who make up his base. Its also an idea much older than this presidency: Mashups of religion and national identity have cropped up throughout U.S. history, although experts argue that it has emerged with particular fervor under Trump. Many other Christians and people of faith, however, strongly oppose Christian nationalism. In 2019, a group of Christians published a letter condemning Christian nationalism and calling it a persistent threat to both our religious communities and our democracy. As Christians, we must speak in one voice condemning Christian nationalism as a distortion of the gospel of Jesus and a threat to American democracy, the letter read. A number of Christian leaders publicly criticized Pences replacement of Jesus with the American flag in his speech, describing it as a form of idolatry and as blasphemous. Glad Pence seems to know Scripture; grieved & appalled hed believe substituting Old Glory for Jesus wasnt blasphemous and equating the freedom Paul was referring to with civil liberties, tweeted Greg Jao, senior assistant to the president of InterVarsity, an evangelical Christian organization. This is Babylon. This is idolatry, tweeted Brian Zahnd, pastor of Word of Life Church. Photo credit: Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla/Staff A No Trespassing sign stands in front the federal prison complex in Terre Haute, Ind., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. A judge in Washington is halting for now the governments planned Friday execution at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana of Keith Dwayne Nelson who was convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering at 10-year-old Kansas girl. (Michael Conroy/AP Photo, File) US Executes Fifth Federal Prisoner Convicted of Killing 10-Year-Old Girl Keith Nelson, a convicted murderer who killed a girl in 1999, was executed on Friday afternoon, becoming the fifth federal inmate to be executed in 2020. According to The Associated Press, a prison official asked Nelson if he had any last words, there was only silence. Nelson didnt make a sound or respond in any way. After about 15 seconds, the official began the execution procedure after Nelson didnt respond. The 45-year-old was pronounced dead about nine minutes later after he was administered a lethal injection of pentobarbital. His time of death was 4:32 p.m. EDT, and he was executed at the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana. Nelson, who was convicted of raping and murdering 10-year-old Pamela Butler in Kansas in 1999, was one of more than a dozen inmates on federal death row in Terre Haute who sued the Justice Department over its lethal injection protocol, which was announced in 2019, replacing the old three-drug protocol last used in 2003. He is now the fourth of those plaintiffs to have since been executed by the Justice Department after the U.S. Supreme Court swiftly dismissed earlier injunctions issued by Chutkan delaying the executions to allow the litigation to proceed. The guard tower flanks the sign at the entrance to the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Ind., on Dec. 10, 2019. (Michael Conroy/File/AP Photo) His attorneys, Dale Baich and Jen Moreno, said in a statement this week that they tried to secure a stay of execution in the case, claiming that Nelson had ineffective legal counsel as well as an alleged violation of the Food, Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The execution of Keith Nelson did not make the world a safer place. Over the years, we have come to know Keith as someone who was different than the person who committed the horrible crime to which he admitted and pled guilty to in 2001, they told UPI. Chutkan ruled on Thursday that the federal government must have a prescription for the drug that it plans to use during the lethal injection process, agreeing that using the drug without a prescription violates the Food, Drugs and Cosmetics Act. U.S. Attorney General William Barr resumed federal executions following a 17-year-long hiatus. In July, the executions started again, and the first four were Daniel Lewis Lee on July 14, Wesley Purkey on July 16, Dustin Honken on July 17, and Lezmond Mitchell earlier this week. During his trial, Nelsons attorneys argued that he suffered from a number of issues such as severe organic brain damage, mental illness, and abuse as a child. Reuters contributed to this report. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz had until midnight on Aug. 24 to reach a compromise on state budget. Failure to reach one would mean that the Knesset would be dispersed and new elections announced. At last moment, the two partners and rivals indeed reached a compromise, staving off the deadline for another four months. But the compromise is bad news for the premier. If Gantz takes over from Netanyahu in November 2021 as per their coalition agreement, it would be due to this compromise. Gantz prospects of becoming prime minister have just grown. Netanyahus vulnerability to external events, particularly US President Donald Trumps reelection, has also increased. Netanyahus prayers for a Trump victory in November have likely become more fervent since Monday. A possible victory by Democratic contender Joe Biden would leave him dependent on his centrist partners Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi to convince Israelis that Israels relationship with the next US administration would remain as good as it has been since Trump took office. The latest crisis of the Netanyahu-Gantz government, which is just over three months old, broke out over Gantz refusal to support a 2020 budget, in violation of his deal with Netanyahu that stipulated passage of a two-year budget for 2020-2021. The argument was not really over the budget, considering Israel has not had a parliament-approved budget since the end of 2018. It was about the job switch. The supposedly ironclad coalition agreement includes a loophole that allows Netanyahu to remain in office even if the government is dismantled and new elections are scheduled: failure to approve the state budget. When the agreement was inked in April, Gantz was certain that a two-year budget was imminent, blocking Netanyahus escape from the job rotation arrangement. A political neophyte, Gantz likely did not dream that Netanyahu would immediately renege on the pledge. The move leaves Netanyahu with one exit from a handover to Gantz. All he has to do is refuse to pass a one-year budget in 2021, triggering the automatic disbanding of the Knesset, leaving him in power and dragging Israel into its fourth elections in two years. But this week, Netanyahus rival stood firm and stared him down. Gantz, with Ashkenazis encouragement, likely decided he had little to lose. Netanyahu clearly did not intend to make good on the rotation deal in any case, and it was time to confront him. Gantz announced that he would address the nation at 8 p.m. and kept everyone in the dark about what he planned to say. He and Ashkenazi threw caution to the wind and calling Netanyahus bluff. Like the biblical hero Samson, Gantz was willing to bring the temple crashing down on the Philistines and himself. Netanyahu panicked. His euphoria over the Aug. 13 normalization agreement with the United Arab Emirates notwithstanding, he knew elections are risky. An Aug. 20 Maariv poll gave his party 29 Knesset seats. Another published Aug. 27 showed the trend continuing, with the Likud getting only 28 seats, tying Netanyahus his right-wing ultra-Orthodox bloc with that of the center-left. The worst news for Netanyahu was that right-wing Yamina leader and former Defense Minister Naftali Bennett is surging in the polls and, according to various indications including his own remarks, has apparently decided to seek the premiership himself rather than endorsing Netanyahu like he did after the previous three elections. Bennett likely knows his prospects of victory are slim, but figures he will get sufficient votes to forge new advantageous alignments. This is where Netanyahu is vulnerable. The 2013 alliance Bennett forged with Yair Lapid, chair of the centrist Yesh Atid, forced Netanyahu to invite them both into his government coalition. If he loses Bennetts support now, after already losing the backing of Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Liberman, Netanyahu is finished. On Monday evening, just before 8 p.m., Netanyahu recorded a last-minute video announcing that the Likud would vote in favor of a compromise with Blue and White proposed by Knesset member Zvi Hauser delaying the budget approval deadline by 120 days. If Gantz was going to upset the applecart, Netanyahu would have to go along with a compromise. It was a Pyrrhic victory. All he did was to preserve his escape hatch from the rotation deal with Gantz until the end of December. Gantz, the laid back political rookie Netanyahu has been abusing from the get-go, won. He did not give in to Netanyahu on the issue of senior appointments (Netanyahu wants a say on picking the next police commissioner, state attorney and attorney general, even though he is standing trial on corruption charges), nor did he agree to Netanyahus demand for a one-year budget. Right now, Netanyahu and Gantz appear tied, but ultimately, it could turn out to be a major Gantz victory, because according to all indications, Netanyahus position four months from now will not improve. The pandemic shows no signs of abating, the economy does not seem to be recovering and the coming winter could exacerbate both crises. The evidentiary phase of Netanyahus criminal trial begins in January, placing him in court for long hours three times a week. Then there are the November US elections. A Trump reelection could considerably improve Netanyahus mood and inclination to gamble with the White House solidly behind him. If Biden is elected, Netanyahu will need a miracle. The loss of his White House asset would substantially weaken Netanyahu and leave Gantz and Ashkenazi to preserve the ties between Jerusalem and Washington. A December election gamble appears riskier to Netanyahu than it would be now, so delaying the crisis could end up crowning Gantz prime minister next year. If Netanyahu gives in and the Knesset approves a two-year budget in December, as expected, the door would slam on his loophole out of the job switch. Under the coalition agreement, if the government falls apart for any reason other than the budget approval, Gantz automatically becomes head of a transitional government until new elections are held. He may be inexperienced and reluctant to engage in political fights, but the former military chief is a lucky underdog who usually gets where he wants to go. Prepare for December. ANN ARBOR, MI From a photo of a student party at the University of Michigan going viral, to the Ann Arbor City Council enacting an emergency ordinance to address student gathering concerns, a lot has been going on in the Ann Arbor area. Here are some headlines you might have missed this week. Students shown partying in photo were following proper guidelines, University of Michigan officials say 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 the residents Tuesday, Aug. 25, noting they are believed to all be members of the same household. Citing concerns about UM student gatherings, Ann Arbor enacts emergency ordinance University of Michigan students are back in Ann Arbor. And so are the beer pong tables, red plastic cups and social gatherings inside and outside houses near campus. With concerns about the potential for another surge in COVID-19 cases locally, City Council took action Monday night, Aug. 24, to enact an emergency ordinance to make clear the citys rules and expectations regarding face masks and restrictions on social gatherings amid the pandemic. As students arrive in Ann Arbor, health officials prepare for potential coronavirus spread An increasing number of University of Michigan students are coming to Ann Arbor daily and health officials are preparing for the possibility of increased community spread of the coronavirus. Washtenaw County Health Department spokeswoman Susan Ringler-Cerniglia said socializing is a primary source of infection for students, just as it has been for local residents this summer. Ann Arbor man finds stranger sleeping in bed while moving into new apartment An Ann Arbor man moving into a new apartment was surprised to come home early Friday morning and find someone already sleeping in his bed. Police were called at about 3:14 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21, to an apartment if the 300 block of E. William Street near downtown Ann Arbor for a reported home invasion. Learning pods have arrived in Michigan. Heres why theyre causing controversy Lena and Jesse Kauffman believed drastic measures were needed when Ann Arbor Public Schools announced it would start the year with remote learning only due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. They came up with three different solutions for their three children. Black student alleges racially hostile environment at Ann Arbor high school in civil rights complaint A Black high school student has filed a complaint with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights alleging she and other Black students face a racially hostile environment at Ann Arbors Pioneer High School. The complaint was filed in conjunction with a 14-page letter describing in detail the alleged racism the student and other Black students have faced at the school, and how it has interfered with their education. Another complaint was filed by a Pioneer student with the U.S. Department of Education alleging a teachers violations of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. They fill our sidewalks with hate speech, Ann Arbor rabbi says in response to court ruling While a federal judge has concluded protests outside an Ann Arbor synagogue amount to free speech, Rabbi Nadav Caine argues its still hate speech. It may well be that the court has made a correct decision according to the law, but the proceedings show that the protesters are liars and charlatans, said the rabbi at the Beth Israel Congregation on Washtenaw Avenue, which has been targeted by weekly anti-Israel protests for over 16 years. Ann Arbor bans tubing at popular Argo Cascades on Huron River due to COVID-19 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. University of Michigan using modified letter grading system for fall, winter semesters University of Michigan students will be given letter grades for classes in the 2020-21 school year, with a few modifications due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. All undergraduate courses will use a modified version of traditional grading in which regular A-C grades are maintained, but students earning Ds, Es or Fs will receive No Record COVID (NRC), according to a letter from UM Provost Susan M. Collins. University of Michigan president apologizes for reinforcing stereotypes after comparing HIV testing to coronavirus testing University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel apologized earlier this week for comments made during a faculty town hall in which he compared todays COVID-19 pandemic to the HIV epidemic of the 1980s. Schlissel said during the town hall that testing can give a false sense of security, and that happened in the HIV epidemic when people got a negative test, and they presented it to their sex partners and spread the disease nonetheless. The comment drew criticism from leaders of UMs Queer Advocacy Coalition who said it further stigmatizes individuals who live with HIV, are receiving treatment for their diagnosis and are living responsible lives with their partners. Mother suffering with cancer inspired sons to open cannabis dispensary Ryan and Cory Nemeth searched for a medicinal alternative to help their mother, who was suffering from lung cancer. After undergoing radiation and chemotherapy, they found cannabis was an option that helped her. We saw amazing results, Ryan Nemeth said, citing pain reduction and overall happiness. We started juicing with herwe did smoothies with marijuana. Registered sex offender arrested after allegedly assaulting 11-year-old boy, police say A registered sex offender, accused of molesting an 11-year-old boy less than a year after being discharged from prison, was arrested in Livingston County. Robert Keith Sohn, 41, of Howell, was arraigned Aug. 18 in Livingston County 53rd District Count on one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to the Livingston County Sheriffs Office. Sohn, a lifetime registered sex offender, was denied bond. BrewDog is world's first carbon negative international beer business. The worlds largest craft brewer, BrewDog, announced today that it has taken the unprecedented step to become carbon negative, and that it will remove twice as much carbon from the air than it emits every single year. These moves make BrewDog the first carbon-negative international beer brand in the world, as it sets out to fight climate change and have a positive impact on the planet. The move is founded in BrewDogs belief that carbon neutral is no longer enough, and that businesses should be having a positive impact on the planet. To this end, BrewDog is unveiling a climate action program and sustainability report that outlines $39M of green investments across its business. As part of these efforts, BrewDog has also purchased 2,050 acres of Scottish Highlands just north of Loch Lomond, to create the BrewDog Forest, and plans to plant one million trees over the next few years beginning in early 2021. The brewer also plans to create a sustainable campsite on the land, that will host sustainability retreats and workshops for the general public, in addition to inviting its 130,000 Equity Punks investors to help with tree planting. Sustainability projects planned for BrewDog USA include solar panels to power the Columbus, Ohio brewery and headquarters; hop farm and apple orchard added to the brewery campus; wastewater treatment plant; anaerobic digestor; and electric delivery vehicles. Over the past few months, BrewDog has been working closely with lead scientific advisor Professor Mike Berners-Lee and his team at Small World Consulting. Berners-Lee is one of the worlds leading experts in carbon foot-printing and sustainability and has led the process of calculating BrewDogs carbon footprint and been pivotal in the design of its carbon removal plan. The partnership has helped to direct over $39M of investment into green infrastructure to support the business in reducing carbon emissions. In order to double remove all of its carbon until it is able to begin planting the BrewDog Forest, the brewer will be working with offset partners on a series of projects. Each organization has the highest standard of accreditation and has been vetted by Berners-Lee and his team with each project deemed beneficial to biodiversity and local communities. James Watt, Co-founder of BrewDog commented, Our Carbon. Our Problem. So, we are going to fix it ourselves. Huge change is needed right now, and we want to be a catalyst for that change in our industry and beyond. We fully acknowledge that we are a long way from perfect. However, we are determined to rapidly and fundamentally change everything as we work hard to ensure we have a positive impact on the planet. Mike Berners Lee, Founder of Small World Consulting continued, After decades of inaction, we have a full-on climate crisis on our hands. The scale and speed of the change we now need is enormous, and cuts right across politics, business and every corner of society. The good news is that if we are smart about our transition, we can make our lives better at the same time as making them more sustainable. With the actions laid out in this report, BrewDog is giving some of the leadership the world so badly needs. Green infrastructure projects currently underway at BrewDog Ellon (Scotland) include: Brewery and UK bars are now wind powered Spent grain is turned into green gas to power the brewery An onsite anaerobic digestor is being built to turn wastewater into clean water and produce food-grade CO2 to carbonate beers Investments are being made in the electrification of the vehicle fleet Local brewing sites across the UK, EU, USA and Australia have significantly reduced the miles beer is traveling to reach consumers For the full report outlining how BrewDog has calculated its carbon footprint please click here. For more news and information on BrewDog head to @brewdogusa on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. END About BrewDog: Since 2007 BrewDog has been on a mission to make other people as passionate about great craft beer as we are. From the Headliner series, which includes bold, uncompromising pack leaders like the flagship Punk IPA, to the Amplified range (beer, but turned up to 11), BrewDog brews beer that blows peoples minds and has kick-started a revolution. Co-founders James Watt and Martin Dickie shook up the business world in 2010 with the launch of pioneering crowdfunding initiative Equity for Punks, an initiative that has seen the company raise 73m over six rounds, with their latest round open until April 2020. The funds and the community of Equity Punk shareholders (135,000) has enabled the Scottish craft brewery to scale up without selling out. With over 102 bars across the globe, export into 60 countries, and a brewery in Ohio that launched in 2017, BrewDog continues to take the craft beer revolution stratospheric, while continuing to push the boundaries, invest in people, put the beer first, and champion other small breweries in its venues. Media Contact: For more information, please contact: fmbrewdogs@fahlgren.com On August 15, more than 70 people gathered at the Paide Opinion Festival in the Equal Treatment Area, a stage coordinated by the Estonian Human Rights Centre, to listen to three refugees who were granted asylum in Estonia. They spoke with moderator Kari Kasper from UNHCR on the topic, Where do I belong? Although the participantsCelal from Turkey and sisters Shorok and Kamar from Syriahave only lived in Estonia for one year and two and a half years respectively, the discussion was held in Estonian. In fact, they all agreed that speaking Estonian is the most important factor for living in the country. Sharing stories about coming to Estonia Celal, who worked as a computer teacher in Turkey but now works in a cafe in Estonia, began by telling the story of arriving in his new home last winter: I told the landlord at Christmas that I wanted to buy gifts for all our neighbors and get to know them. He said: Dont do that! You live in Estonia! But I did! I bought Christmas presents for all the neighbors and knocked on their doors, and said, Hello! Im your new neighbor. Please come visit us! At first they looked at me like, What do you want? But I didnt want anything! I just wanted to talk, to communicate. And then they came to visit us and we went to visit them.Shorok, who is 18 and attending 12th grade in Tallinn, spoke about her large family arriving in Estonia: There was a war in Syria, thats why we left. We lived in Turkey for three years, and then we came to Estonia. I studied Estonian for about eight months, and I got to a level B1 . I have a good, peaceful life here. Estonians are mostly friendly, but not everyone. They are a bit closed off, some dont want to get acquainted right away. But those I have met have been very, very friendly! . Shoroks 19-year-old sister, Kamar, is also in 12th grade, although both of them have graduated already from high school in Turkey, where they also learned Turkish. When I graduate from Tallinn Adult Gymnasium, I will go to the University of Tartu, Kamar said. I dont know what I want to study yet, but I want to go to university. Kamar continued, When I came to live in Tallinn, I didnt know the city very well. I remember once I wanted to see a doctor, but I didnt know where to go. I couldnt speak Estonian as well as I do now, but I asked someone if he knew where the hospital was. He said, Yeah, of course I know. He took me by the hand, and brought me to the hospital. Im so glad there are such nice people here; it is so good to live in Estonia. Estonia is great! Speaking Estonian is a top priority What does it take to start feeling like part of a community? First, the newcomers had to find their own ways to get by in Estonian. Celal said: I work in a cafe and when customers come in, I ask, Do you have a minute? Yes? What should I know about living in Estonia? What are the rules? And how can I learn Estonian? And then I say: If you talk to me, Ill give you a coffee and a small piece of baklava for free! They help me and give me some advice about living here. Shorok also thinks that speaking Estonian is key. If you dont speak the language, she says, you cant go to school or go out with friends. I think that language is the most important thing, and then comes school, friends, family. Her sister Kamar agreed: The Estonian language is a necessity, because if someone cant speak, she doesnt understand what people want, and she doesnt know what she wants. She just lives. But can she talk? Can she communicate? Can she work? I think my teachers helped me the most here, theyre the most important. Im very grateful to them, theyre very nice people. They explain slowly when I dont understand something, and they try to explain things differently. Celal also recalled meeting the Minister of Social Affairs: Once we met with the young Minister, Tanel Kiik. And I told him we need an apartment, but why dont Estonians rent to us? He used to work as a broker, and told me I needed more time, Estonians usually dont want to rent to foreigners. I said, ut I speak Estonian! And he said, If you speak to them, its easier. And he was right. If I speak Estonian, all the doors will open. I belong where I find freedom The conversation opened up to the audience, who had a number of questions for the Celal, Shorok and Kamar. Someone asked what constitutes having refugee status, and why people are forced to flee places where there is no war. Kari Kasper from UNHCR explained that refugees can indeed be fugitives due to war or other national conflicts, but they can also flee because of persecution. Each case is individual. Shorok added that Estonia is a big country, and refugees dont want to take peoples space. We just want to live in peace, she says. No one wants to be a refugee, but its our life. Our country is at war, thats why we left. If our country gets better, well go back. Who wouldnt want to be in their own country, to live in their own home? But who wants a war? Nobody. I dont think everyone knows what we went through. But I want to say that we survived very bad things. Thats why we left. Celal agreed: Thats right. Being a refugee is not easy, really. For example, I studied for about 16 years to become a teacher. But I only worked as a teacher in Turkey for two years. It was my dream. So why did I come here? I had a good life; I had a house, I had a car, but I had no freedom. Right now were talking about where we belong. I belong where I find freedom. That is why I now belong in Estonia, because there is no freedom in Turkey at the moment. About 17,000 women are in prison. And they are usually teachers. Why? Theyre just asking questions. They want a better life. Of course, we miss home. I have a mother in Turkey, I miss her and she misses me and my baby. Thats not easy. Another member of the audience asked how Estonians could better help refugees, to which Kamar answered: Estonians, lets be friends! Kristofer Robin Kirsiste, Arvamusfestival Kristofer Robin Kirsiste, Arvamusfestival Kristofer Robin Kirsiste, Arvamusfestival 80 million refugees, 80 million stories There are currently almost 80 million refugees in the world, each with a personal story. For example, three months after Shorok and Kamars family were interviewed in Turkey, they were told that Estonia had chosen them for resettlement. They were shocked: it was the first time theyd heard of the country. We looked on the internet to see where it was, they said. Who lives there? What is the capital? What language do they speak? Estonia displaced a total of 66 people from Turkey, but participation in the program has now ended. UNHCR believes that resettlement is an important opportunity, especially for the most vulnerable refugees, and we call on Estonia to participate in the program again, said Kari Kasper. Finally, the refugees talked about their plans for the future. Celal wants to start speaking Estonian like a native and work as a teacher again. Shorok wants to study dentistry at the University of Tartu. The last question came in via Facebook: How much do you feel like a refugee? Will you be a refugee forever? Celal answered, It is difficult to be a refugee. Of course, I only want to be a resident of Estonia. We are all humans. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter (Alliance News) - Moody's Investors Service has said it continues to review for downgrade London Stock Exchange Group PLC's long-term ratings, with the most likely outcome a one-notch downgrade. The ratings, currently A3, were put on review for downgrade in early August last year, following the stock exchange operator agreeing to buy financial marketplace data firm Refinitiv for USD27 billion. Moody's noted LSEG plans to issue USD13.5 billion in new debt to refinance or repay all of Refinitiv's existing debt obligations when the acquisition closes. In its interim results, issued late July, LSEG said it is making progress with its Refinitiv acquisition, after getting the green light from US regulators. But LSEG said it is in talks to potentially sell its Borsa Italiana arm, as the European Commission probe into the takeover continues. Chief Executive Officer David Schwimmer said the company's aim of getting the acquisition over the line was progressing well, "securing a number of regulatory approvals and engaging constructively with authorities on remaining approvals". The company added, however: "In the context of the European Commission's phase II review, London Stock Exchange Group confirms that it has commenced exploratory discussions which may result in a sale of LSEG's interest in MTS or potentially the Borsa Italiana group as a whole." MTS is a government bond trading platform and Borsa Italiana operates the Milan stock exchange. Moody's said its review for downgrade is focused on LSEG's plans for the acquisition and integration of Refinitiv, including evaluating the business combination's cash flows and profitability, and the robustness of LSEG's delevering plans. LSEG expects to close the transaction by the end of 2020 or early in 2021, after the regulatory review process has been completed. Moody's said that since the long-term ratings are under review for downgrade, there is "currently no upward pressure" on LSEG's or LSE's ratings. "In the longer-term, LSEG's and LSE's ratings could be upgraded should strong evidence develop that the Refinitiv acquisition is being successfully integrated according to LSEG's plan. A key consideration for a ratings' upgrade under such circumstances would be assessing LSEG's appetite for any further significant debt-funded transactions," said Moody's. Moody's, however, said the "most likely" outcome of its review would be a one-notch downgrade of LSEG's long-term ratings to Baa1 from A3. "The downgrade could occur even if the proposed transaction does not materialise, based on LSEG's indicated appetite for pursuing such a transaction, but this assessment would be based on the facts and circumstances as they develop," Moody's added. The credit ratings agency continued: "Other factors that would drive downward rating pressure include a material operational or risk control failure, changes in regulatory requirements that would worsen LSEG's financial position through increased capital or liquidity needs at its central counterparty clearing activities, and an extremely adverse outcome related to Brexit. LSEG's Prime-2 commercial paper ratings could be downgraded should its long-term ratings be downgraded to Baa3 or lower." By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. A haulier has today admitted the manslaughter of 39 migrants who were found dead in the back of a lorry container. The bodies of the Vietnamese nationals were discovered in the container at an Essex industrial estate on October 23 last year, during an attempt to smuggle them into the UK. The victims, including ten teenagers, had been brought into the country on a ferry that arrived in Purfleet that day, and died of a lack of oxygen and overheating. At the Old Bailey this afternoon, haulier Ronan Hughes, 40, from Co Armargh in Northern Ireland, pleaded guilty to 39 charges of manslaughter as well as a charge of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. A second defendant, Eamonn Harrison, 23, of Mayobridge, Co Down, Northern Ireland, today denied the manslaughter charges as well as involvement in the people smuggling plot. In April, Maurice Mo Robinson, 25, also admitted the 39 manslaughter charges, involvement in people smuggling, and a charge of acquiring criminal property, while denying a second money laundering count. Robinson, from Craigavon in Northern Ireland, was the driver of the lorry in Britain who discovered the bodies after transporting the container from Purfleet to an alleged pick-up point in Grays, Essex. Harrison is said to have been the driver who took the lorry trailer to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge before it sailed to England. Both he and Hughes were extradited to the UK from Ireland to face the charges. Also this afternoon, Gazmir Nuzi, 42, from Tottenham, admitted being part of a previous people-smuggling operation, having met a lorry and picked up his nephew who was inside. Gheorghe Nica, 43, of Langdon Hills, Basildon, Essex, who has already denied 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration is due to appear in court later this afternoon, as well as Valentin Calota, 37, of Birmingham and Christopher Kennedy, 23, of Co Armagh, Northern Ireland, who denied being part of a people-smuggling operation. An apparent shift in thinking at the Food and Drug Administration could clear the way for more home coronavirus tests, according to Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA chief under President Donald Trump. Gottlieb told CNBC on Friday that a barrier to bringing rapid, home tests for Covid-19 to the market has been an FDA requirement that results must be reported to local health officials. "But FDA seems to have backed off that mandate," Gottlieb said in a "Squawk Box" interview. "What they said on a call last week with stakeholders is, as long as the test is reliable and accurate, the FDA is not going to use the requirement to have to report the test result to a public health authority as a way to keep the product off the market, as an absolute condition." The Department of Health and Human Services referred CNBC's request for comment on Gottlieb's interview to the FDA, which did not immediately provide a statement. Some of the at-home diagnostic tests for Covid-19 that are currently on the market, such as one from LabCorp, allow people to take their own nasal swab sample. However, the sample has to be sent back to one of the company's labs where it is processed. The company said it takes one to two days from the time the sample is received to return results. The possibility for rapid Covid-19 tests that can be done at home without reporting results to local health authorities would give people faster results so they themselves could take all the necessary precautions to keep from spreading it further, Gottlieb said. "That ultimately is going to get more testing into the hands of consumers, which in the near term isn't a bad thing. I think in the long run we want these results to be reported," Gottlieb said. "But I think in the near term we want as many people to get tested as possible and get a result if they're positive so they can know they're positive and take the proper steps." If the home test results aren't reported to local health authorities, that could skew local, state and U.S. testing results. It's unclear how that would affect local efforts to trace cases and identify new trouble spots. President Donald Trump has previously criticized the amount of testing for Covid-19 in the U.S., saying the only reason the country has the most confirmed cases of any nation in the world is because it does more testing. "If we tested half as much, those numbers would be down," Trump said in a July interview on Fox News. Many medical experts have rejected Trump's assessment of coronavirus testing, with some describing it as misleading. The World Health Organization and several state health agencies say they need as much information on the outbreak as possible to head off new clusters of cases. In late July, the FDA posted new guidance for test manufacturers of home Covid-19 tests. The agency advised test makers to report results to health authorities, recommending several ways to send the data, including a mobile app or website "where reporting is easily facilitated." "FDA is open to alternative approaches to reporting that ensure appropriate reporting," the document reads. Some medical experts say the FDA requirements for bringing home tests to the market have been too cumbersome, deterring companies from developing products that could improve the country's coronavirus response. "In their guidance for how these tests could look, they essentially put an unreasonable bar to meet. And that has scared off all of the companies that could potentially be making these from actually even putting in an application for a lot of these tests," Dr. Michael Mina, a professor of epidemiology at Harvard's School of Public Health, told CNBC earlier this week. Gottlieb offered an example of how reporting results for a home test could work, saying it could produce a read out that is "not interpretable until you flash your phone at it and take a picture." "Then it gives you the answer whether you're positive or not and at the same time uploads the picture to a server so the results get reported," he said. But the goal of rapid, at-home tests is that they would be relatively cheap and therefore accessible to broad sections of the U.S. That widespread availability is a trade-off compared with lab-based nasal swab tests that are considered to be the most accurate on the market. A rapid home test that relies on photo technology or other workarounds to ensure results get reported is likely to be more complex and more costly, Gottlieb said. "You're starting to get away from a $5 test and you're looking at a $15 test." "There's going to be manufacturers that come to market with these kinds of technologies that do require reporting, but I think you might first see some manufacturers try to come to the market with technologies where they don't require reporting if the FDA doesn't mandate it," he said. Gottlieb's comments Friday follow news earlier this week that Abbott Laboratories had secured emergency approval from the FDA for a 15-minute coronavirus test that sells for $5. The U.S. government secured a deal for at least 150 million of those tests, with hopes to deploy them to nursing homes, schools or other high-risk populations. "Right now, the government seems to have cornered the market on these tests ... so there might not be a lot of supply in the marketplace for businesses to procure them," Gottlieb said of Abbott's new offering. But Gottlieb said he expects to see more tests that are similar coming onto the market soon, explaining that "typically when FDA approves or authorizes something like this, they do it in waves." "So you see multiple products from the same genre come onto the market pretty much at the same time," he said. "I think this allows testing to get into different kinds of settings and effectively democratize testing, move it into the workplace." CNBC's Will Feuer contributed to this report. Landlords and renters are facing a looming meltdown, experts warn, after the Government extended its ban on tenant evictions until 20 September. In a last minute U-turn over plans for repossession cases to be heard in the courts from 23 August, the Government last week also introduced a minimum six-month notice period for landlords seeking to evict tenants. Now a group representing landlords across the UK claims these measures could mean some landlords see losses of up to 20,800 over the next two years. The National Residential Landlords Association has written to the Prime Minister begging him to consider the damage this policy is wreaking on the private rented sector and landlords' ability to keep offering accommodation to renters. Around one in every 12 renters is behind on their rental payments, according to MakeUrMove The letter says: 'The vast majority - 94 per cent - of private landlords are individuals, renting out just one or two properties. 'They are not property tycoons with deep pockets able to subsidise rents indefinitely, but are ordinary people who rely on this income to pay their living expenses. 'Government's failure to provide any direct financial support for the sector during the pandemic means that many landlords will be forced to seek money claims against renters building arrears. This would leave tenants' credit scores in tatters.' The NRLA argues that the only route out of 'the mess of the Government's own making' is for interest-free, government-guaranteed hardship loans to be made available to tenants to pay off Covid-related arrears. These have been introduced in Wales and, argues the NRLA, would 'sustain tenancies and remove any risk of eviction as furlough is removed'. NRLA pleads: Landlords need help too In a letter to the Prime Minister, the NRLA has said: - The Government is asking landlords to subsidise struggling renters and rewarding those who are wilfully refusing to pay their rent. - It is also causing continuing hardship to communities and families suffering anti-social behaviour and domestic violence perpetrated by tenants. - The government has now said that repossession cases on the grounds of rent arrears will not be treated as a priority until tenants have built over a year's worth of rent debts. - Added to this is the six months' notice that landlords now have to give. - Where the case is disputed, even before the pandemic, courts were taking an average of nearly six months to deal with cases, with the backlog this is now likely to be longer. - Taking the English Housing Survey average weekly rent in the private sector of 200, this means a potential lost income for a landlord of up to two years amounting to 20,800. Ben Beadle, NRLA chief executive, says: 'The overwhelming majority of landlords have been working constructively with their tenants to sustain tenancies where rent arrears have built as a direct result of the pandemic. 'The Government's actions are a kick in the teeth for all these landlords who have done the right thing. 'Ministers must use the next four weeks to come up with a credible plan that pays off rent arrears built due to the pandemic and gets the courts hearing cases again. 'Stopping landlords from legally ending failed and disruptive tenancies is not a solution. The government must act to cover the costs of providing homes, they cannot expect landlords to foot the bill for their failure to support households.' Kicking the can down the road Separate analysis of the state of the private rented sector suggests that around one in every 12 renters is behind on their rental payments - either with permission from their landlord or without. Data supplied to This is Money by rental platform MakeUrMove points to a sharp rise in the number of households in arrears on their rent. According to the platform's analysis of their own data, the combination of arrears and permitted arrears now make up around 8 per cent of tenancies. Before the coronavirus pandemic struck, unauthorised arrears of more than 21 days were less than 1 one per cent of all tenancies in the UK, according to MakeUrMove. In the six months since lockdown started, this has doubled to 2 per cent. Of these, more than half were already in significant arrears, says Alexandra Morris, managing director of the firm, which lists properties for rent and puts landlords and tenants in touch. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick extended the ban on tenant evictions until 20 September 'For example, one tenant hasn't paid rent since December 2019 and is showing no desire to resolve the situation, particularly now given the increased difficulty for the landlord to regain possession,' says Morris. 'The can is most definitely being kicked [down the road by government]. Sensible tenants are helping themselves already by finding alternative property which is more aligned with their current and likely future circumstances. Rental arrears in numbers Statistics from YouGov polling carried out for Shelter in June 2020, show: By end of June 2020, an estimated 227,000 adult private renters, 3 per cent, had fallen into arrears since the start of the pandemic 174,000 private tenants have already been threatened with eviction by their landlord or letting agent This accounts for 6 per cent who've had some contact or 2 per cent of private tenants overall. Without the ban, anyone who accrues rent arrears of eight weeks or more can be automatically evicted under the current court system This is in addition to the risk of being subjected to a Section 21 'no fault' eviction 'The issue is for those hoping it goes away as the government's measures do not address this.' Not all those in the sector are against the government's action to delay rental repossessions for another month, however. Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, says government has 'recognised the very real danger that tens of thousands of renters are in'. 'It is right for the government not to lift the ban when it risks exposing people to eviction and the threat of homelessness with no means of defence,' she adds. But even Shelter is calling on government to use this short window of time 'wisely' to put proper safeguards in place for renters. Neate says: 'People are still falling behind on their rent 230,000 private tenants since March - leaving them vulnerable when the ban does end. And we all know even more economic storm clouds are gathering. 'A bullet may have been dodged with this extension, but as soon as Parliament returns, it must give judges extra powers to stop renters being evicted because of 'Covid-arrears'. Facing eviction this Christmas, is not a present anybody wants.' The District Councils Network, which represents some local authorities, has estimated that 500,000 people could be at risk of eviction. Chris Sykes: 'Buy-to-let arrears are now believed to be a huge problem across the UK' Landlords cannot carry the can forever The government's actions last week delayed the inevitable for thousands of tenants, but without addressing the shortfall in rental payments to landlords who rely on them to pay mortgage debts, this help will ultimately achieve little. Chris Sykes, of mortgage broker Private Finance, says buy-to-let arrears is now 'believed to be a huge problem across the UK and only set to be made worse following the end of the furlough scheme in October'. He adds: 'This could be catastrophic and could lead to landlords being unable to make their mortgage payments and potentially, in a worst case scenario and if unable to get any assistance, either having to sell or lose their property.' The reality facing many, mostly independent and small-time landlords, is harsh. They have bills to pay, mortgages, insurance, leaseholder changes, ground rents, safety obligations and maintenance, among many more financial commitments. MakeUrMove data suggests that one in 10 landlords is a tenant themselves, meaning they also have rents to pay. 'More than half of landlords also have jobs and are facing the same insecurity as tenants in terms of knowing whether that income will continue, says Morris. 'The combination of all of this, with owning a property and not receiving rent or having any power to change the situation, is an infringement of a landlord's rights. It'll likely have a significant impact on their mental wellbeing as well as the financial impact. 'While it's important that tenants are supported by the government, the government also needs to support landlords and be clear that this does not give tenants the green light for ignoring their contractual obligations.' Bob Young, chief executive of specialist buy-to-let mortgage lender Fleet Mortgages, warns that longer term, the damage could be much worse. 'The government is shifting housing non-payment of rent to landlords with no recourse,' he says. 'If left unabated it will reduce the size of the private rental sector just as happened when the 1974 Rent Acts was introduced. If landlords are unable to regain access of their properties where non-payment occurs it will cause huge public discontent as people will have nowhere to live.' The Delhi high court on Friday dismissed a plea by Mehul Choksi, an accused in the nearly USD 2 billion PNB scam, to conduct pre-screening of Netflix documentary Bad Boy Billionaires. Justice Navin Chawla, after hearing the matter for over two hours, declined to grant relief to Choksi saying a writ petition for enforcement of a private right cannot be maintainable. The court said his remedy lies in a civil suit and granted him the liberty to raise the issue in a civil suit. Choksi, the promoter of Gitanjali Gems, and his nephew Nirav Modi are accused in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case. Choksi left the country last year and was granted citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda. The documentary Bad Boy Billionaires, which is scheduled to be released in India on September 2, is described on Netflix platform as This investigative docuseries explores the greed, fraud and corruption that built up -- and ultimately brought down -- India's most infamous tycoons. The plea for pre-screening of the documentary was vehemently opposed by Netflix. Photograph: PTI Photo. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 15:24:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WELLINGTON, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX) resumed trading on Friday afternoon as its website was restored from the cyber attacks that had caused the website down in four consecutive days. The NZX confirmed that the NZX Main Board, NZX Debt Market and Fonterra Shareholders' Market resumed trading at 1:00 p.m. Friday afternoon in a memorandum. The NZX website went down on Friday morning before being restored briefly at about 10:30 a.m. but collapsed again minutes later. The NZX said it had been working with its network service provider Spark, and national and international cyber security partners, including the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), to address the cyber-attack issue. New Zealand Finance Minister Grant Robertson said on Friday the government is directing the GCSB to assist the NZX, which is part of New Zealand's overall economic infrastructure. "We recognise that it is important that the government works with private companies like them when they are faced with issues like the cyber attack they are currently experiencing," said Robertson. However, Robertson said he was not aware of any ransom demands as reported by the media. It is understood that the NZX website was under cyber attack. The type of attack was known as a distributed denial of service attack (DDoS), which overwhelms the online service rendering it inoperable. On Tuesday, the NZX website was hit by the similar cyber attack which forced it to halt trading. The site went down again on Wednesday and Thursday for the same reason. Enditem (Natural News) Lin Wood, the famed attorney who successfully represented Covington Catholics Nick Sandmann in multiple lawsuits against the media, graciously and heroically offered to help Kyle Rittenhouse for free on Thursday morning after GoFundMe suspended his legal defense fund. (Article by Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com) Rittenhouse is disturbingly being charged with first-degree murder for defending himself against a registered sex offender involved in sex crimes with a minor and two other violent assailants with criminal records that attacked him during the riots on Tuesday night in Kenosha, Wisconsin. After witnessing Democrat congresswoman Ayanna Pressley smear Rittenhouse as a white supremacist domestic terrorist, Lin Wood tweeted: Ayanna Pressley just got condemned to the World of the Blocked. She is no Elvis. And I am not a criminal defense lawyer but I am going to see what I can do tomorrow to help Kyle Rittenhouse. If a private defense lawyer steps up to defend him, please notify me of his or her name. Ayanna Pressley just got condemned to the World of the Blocked. She is no Elvis. And I am not a criminal defense lawyer but I am going to see what I can do tomorrow to help Kyle Rittenhouse. If a private defense lawyer steps up to defend him, please notify me of his or her name. https://t.co/I6IVnKZ6JT Lin Wood (@LLinWood) August 27, 2020 If there is something I can do, Kyle will not need to pay me, Lin Wood said in a follow-up tweet after seeing a campaign to help Rittenhouse had collected some $50,000 on Fundly. God has blessed me with enough & enough is always enough. These charges must be dismissed as video clearly shows justified acts of self-defense. When dismissed, accusers should be held accountable & they should pay. If there is something I can do, Kyle will not need to pay me. God has blessed me with enough & enough is always enough. These charges must be dismissed as video clearly shows justified acts of self-defense. When dismissed, accusers should be held accountable & they should pay. https://t.co/QKG3b1frwD Lin Wood (@LLinWood) August 27, 2020 Fundly also shut down Rittenhouses legal defense fund seemingly just minutes later. I will be speaking with Attorney John Pierce later today about Kyle Rittenhouse, Lin Wood said in another tweet. John has taken lead in helping form #FightBack Foundation Enough is enough. I will be speaking with Attorney John Pierce later today about Kyle Rittenhouse. John has taken lead in helping form #FightBack Foundation. To help or provide information about Kyle, please contact John Pierce at [email protected] or @CaliKidJMP. Enough is enough. Lin Wood (@LLinWood) August 27, 2020 I hear you. I am ready. ALL need to be on the ready. I will do what I can but we must ALL do whatever we can to #FightBack. This is going to get worse before it gets better. We are ALL in this together. Pray for Kyle Rittenhouse. Pray for our country. https://t.co/wTCHUgQcSR Lin Wood (@LLinWood) August 27, 2020 In touch with some great people in effort to get Kyle Rittenhouse competent defense counsel, Lin Wood said in another follow-up tweet. Michelle Malkin is an American hero. The line in the sand has been crossed, Lin Wood said. If Kyle cannot defend himself under the circumstances shown in videos, we are all at risk. Think about it. In touch with some great people in effort to get Kyle Rittenhouse competent defense counsel. @michellemalkin is an American hero. The line in the sand has been crossed. If Kyle cannot defend himself under the circumstances shown in videos, we are all at risk. Think about it. Lin Wood (@LLinWood) August 27, 2020 God bless this American hero! UPDATE: Lin Wood was able to get in contact with Kyles family on Thursday and has joined together with John Pierce of the law firm Pierce Bainbridge to form his legal defense team. Kyle will have excellent legal representation, Lin Wood said. Michelle Malkin @michellemalkin is also assisting so please DM Michelle also. This young man needs & deserves courageous legal counsel who will fight for him. John is ready to do so & others will join him. The fight is for Kyle and for ALL Freedom Loving Americans.#FightBack Lin Wood (@LLinWood) August 27, 2020 Please RETWEET. Kyle Rittenhouse deserves & needs counsel ASAP. @michellemalkin is also working diligently to ascertain how Kyle or his family can be reached. Please send all helpful & relevant information to John & Michelle.#FightBack https://t.co/jh4bVoZvjP Lin Wood (@LLinWood) August 27, 2020 (1) Thanks to ALL Freedom Loving Americans who responded to requests for contact information on Kyle Rittenhouse. We have connected with Kyles family & help is on the way. Kyle will have excellent legal representation. We owe him a legal defense. Lin Wood (@LLinWood) August 27, 2020 (3) Most important of all, continue to pray for your fellow citizens. Pray for our President. Pray for our country. And always, always, always #FightBack. We will not go quietly in the night. We are Americans. Lin Lin Wood (@LLinWood) August 27, 2020 The #FightBack Foundation legal team is heading out to meet with Kyle & his family. Several great local & national lawyers have joined team led by John Pierce @CaliKidJMP. Michelle Malkin @michellemalkin is also hard at work. True Patriots. Thanks you for outpouring of support. Lin Wood (@LLinWood) August 27, 2020 Lin Wood called for all donations to be made to the #FightBack Foundation, Inc., a Texas 501(c)(4) Foundation whose website will be up in just a few hours! Donations for defense of Kyle Rittenhouse should be made to #FightBack Foundation, Inc., a Texas 501(c)(4) Foundation. Please be wary of any other efforts to raise money for Kyles defense. Website for #FightBack Foundation will be online within 6-12 hours for donations & info. Lin Wood (@LLinWood) August 27, 2020 UPDATE II: The official legal defense fund for Kyle Rittenhouse is NOW LIVE at FightBack.Law! Website is live at https://t.co/Panl7ik0zM. Everyone spread the word and please contribute. #FightBack #USA John Pierce (@CaliKidJMP) August 27, 2020 Read more at: InformationLiberation.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Laurie Goering (Reuters) London, United Kingdom Fri, August 28, 2020 19:08 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c413aa02 2 Environment Extinction-Rebellion,climate,climate-crisis,climate-activists,activism,environment Free After a pandemic hiatus, Extinction Rebellion plans to resume large-scale street protests next week in a bid to push for more rapid action on increasingly evident climate threats. With heat records broken, and wildfires, hurricanes and floods wreaking havoc from India to the United States, "we know humanity itself is at very, very grave risk," said Clare Farrell, a co-founder of the climate activist group. But huge behavioral changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic - and trillions of dollars in government spending in response - also indicate the viability of fast and large-scale action on serious global threats, she said. "Its shown us things can change very rapidly when people realize there is an existential threat to human life," she said in an online briefing on Thursday. Activists said a series of smaller regional protests - many around airports, an important source of planet-heating emissions - will kick off this Friday in Britain, followed by marches in London, Manchester and Cardiff starting next Tuesday. The protests are expected to draw fewer participants than previous actions, as organizers try to adhere to government social distancing guidelines. "Obviously were expecting lower numbers than in October because of COVID and because were encouraging social distancing," said Anneka Sutcliffe, a protest organizer, referring to the group's last major protests. She said she expected "thousands" of activists to take part. Planned action in May was cancelled amid the virus outbreak. But an easing of restrictions - schools, restaurants and offices are re-opening - has created space to resume, she said. Read also: Bond star Naomie Harris backs new Extinction Rebellion climate change film Paul Stephens, a police liaison for Extinction Rebellion, said restrictions on gatherings of 30 or more people mean the group risks heavy fines - though it says demonstrations should be exempt. Extinction Rebellion organizers said a UK citizen's assembly called early this year to advise on how to meet Britain's 2050 net-zero emissions goal had been a positive step in involving people in decision-making on climate change. The group, reflecting the country's demographic diversity, is set to deliver recommendations to government next month. But activists said it fell short as participants could not question whether the 2050 goal was sufficiently ambitious. Extinction Rebellion activists say an emergency response and mass move away from polluting industries and behaviors is needed to avert a looming climate cataclysm. Chidi Obihara, a finance expert with the group, took aim at British government stimulus spending, saying cash to airlines and other polluters had not mandated a cut in emissions, as in other countries. Extinction Rebellion organizers said the group - criticized for its largely white, middle-class support - had spent time in lockdown building ties with other activist movements. With a new global push for racial justice under the 'Black Lives Matter' banner, climate activists are now "joining this much bigger story of rebellion against this toxic system", said Alejandra Piazzolla, an activist originally from Colombia. Climate activists have supported racial justice protests in recent months, she said, and while Extinction Rebellion "has faced a lot of challenges about how they relate to other communities .... we're all learning and growing". The distinct scent of a fall election is in the air. With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau proroguing Parliament to get his Liberal ducks in a row after another scandal-filled summer and the Conservatives embracing a shiny new leader, Erin O'Toole, an election is inevitable. We all knew, or at least should have known, that the Liberals minority government would not last a full term. That is often the case with minority governments. They usually only survive for around a year and a half. Trudeau's own father suffered the same fate back in 1974 when his minority government was defeated in a motion of no confidence. He managed to rebound from his defeated minority government with a much stronger majority. The Stephen Harper Conservatives made it through two minority governments before coming back with a majority in 2011. Every party will face difficult challenges during the next election. It is certainly a difficult time. We are facing some of the worst economic challenges since the great depression during a global pandemic that has cost us hundreds of billions of dollars in debt and thousands of jobs. The Liberals and Conservatives will face significant hurdles regarding optics. Between the Liberals scandal-filled reign over the last five years and the Conservatives having a history of unfavourable ideologies within their ranks, it will be difficult for either party to leave the past in the past and move our nation forward. Trudeau's term has been less than graceful to say the least. There is the breach of ethics regarding SNC-Lavalin, the holiday at Aga Khan's private island, the trip to India where he played Mr. Dressup, his aggressive nature in the House of Commons when he elbowed a female member of Parliament in her chest, the insensitive Thank you for your donation comment to an Indigenous protester, the emergence of his disgraceful display of brown-/blackface. Now we have the scandal relating to the Canada Student Service Grant program, chosen to be administered by the WE Charity, which has financial ties to some of Trudeaus family. Then there is his government's entire handling of COVID-19. Have they done enough? How comfortable are Canadians with having Trudeau lead us further down this narrow road? Erin O'Toole does not have a lengthy history of scandals dragging him down but will face plenty of his own challenges within the Conservative campaign. After the last election I said that Canada was more divided than ever. We saw the resurgence of the Bloc Quebecois within Quebec. Western Canada had clearly felt alienated to the point where Wexit Canada became a reality with the founding of an official party this past January. A divided nation is certainly not the legacy Trudeau would want to leave behind and it is not an issue that anyone will enjoy solving. This division across our great nation does not benefit the Conservatives either who are divided within themselves to an extent between progressive values and outdated ideologies. Wexit Canada threatens to split a good portion of Conservative votes as well. O'Toole will have to unite his own party before he does so with Canada as a whole. He may be the right leader for the Conservative party, but will he be the right leader for Canada? Finding the message that truly resonates with Canadians while uniting our divided nation will be key. Finding the balance between fiscal stability, supporting those who need it most and keeping Canadians safe from a variety of threats including COVID-19 will not be easy. No matter which party forms our next federal government, Canadians will need a leader who can heal our wounds, stand up for our values and support us as we struggle collectively moving forward. This will not be a time for faulty ethics and divisive narratives. Robert Adana, a Sachet Water Supplier, has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defiling a 13-year- old girl at Kwabenya in Accra. Adana, 30, charged with defilement has pleaded not guilty. The court presided over by Mrs Christina Cann, admitted Adana to bail in the sum of GHC60,000 with three sureties, one of the sureties should be a public servant earning not less than GHC2,500 as net salary every month. The court ordered the prosecution to comply with full disclosures. The matter was adjourned to October 10 for the case management conference. Prosecuting Chief Inspector Kofi Atimbire said the complainant is a television repairer and he lives with his family including the victim at Kwabenya. Before the incident, the prosecution said the victim lived with her parents at Odorkor in Accra. Chief Inspector Atimbire said on August 12, this year, the victim visited her grandmother at Kwabenya pending the reopening of schools by the government. The Prosecution said on August 12, this year, at about 11:30 am, a witness in the case sent the victim to go and buy packs of sachet water. On her way, the prosecution said Adana met the victim saying she was pretty and he would marry him. Accused lured the victim a nearby bush behind her house and he has sex with the victim. The prosecution said the grandmother who was her way home spotted accused persons tricycle so when she got home, the grandmother asked her daughter-in-law to buy some from the accused. The Prosecution said the daughter-in-law informed the victims grandmother (her in-law) that she had already sent the victim to buy some. The prosecution said the grandmother, who knew that victim, was not too familiar with the vicinity went out in search of the victim. Fortunately for her, the prosecution said the grandmother saw the victim emerged from the bush. When she was quizzed, she narrated her ordeal and a report was made at Madina DOVVSU. A medical report form was issued to the victim to seek medical attention and the accused was later arrested. 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 Mumbai, Aug 28 : Filmmaker Hansal Mehta has come out in support of Mahesh Bhatt, saying that he will be watching Sadak 2. "I will be watching #Sadak2 tonight. Bhatt saab has been a mentor even before I met him. Saraansh and Arth are among the main reasons I chose to become a director," he tweeted. On August 16, it was reported that "Sadak 2" trailer was the third most disliked video in the world and the most disliked YouTube video in India. Released on August 12, the trailer of "Sadak 2" was trolled by many netizens as it was seen by people as a shining example of Bollywood nepotism -- a topic which became the talk of the town after actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death on June 14. Bhatt's movie stars his daughters Pooja and Alia Bhatt along with Sanjay Dutt and Aditya Roy Kapur, youngest brother of producer Siddharth Roy Kapur. In July, the Nepometer, an app created by Sushant's family, had rated "Sadak 2" as 98 per cent nepotistic. Fans of the late Bollywood actor have been actively campaigning on social media for the past few weeks urging everyone to boycott "Sadak 2". -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Demonstrators participate in a housing rights and anti-eviction protest in Valley Village on May 5. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) To the editor: I agree with columnist Erika D. Smith about the desperate need to prevent more renters in California from being evicted, but she omitted one very important fact for Angelenos: The Judicial Council of California's vote to end its emergency rules on eviction on Sept. 1 does not impact the city's COVID-19 tenant protection ordinances. Earlier this spring, the Los Angeles City Council adopted ordinances that prevent landlords from evicting tenants during the local emergency period if loss of income is attributed to COVID-19, as long as the tenant notifies the landlord in writing each month. Our ordinance also prohibits "no fault" evictions. This and other protections will be in place after Sept. 1. The city of Los Angeles has enacted some of the strongest renter protections in the state, and they will remain in place until the local emergency order is lifted. The state can and should take action too. In fact, the last bill standing in Sacramento, Assembly Bill 1436, introduced by Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco), is modeled after action taken by the Los Angeles City Council. In the meantime, we will continue exploring all options at the city level while we push for comprehensive relief at the state and federal level. Mitch O'Farrell, Los Angeles The writer is a member of the Los Angeles City Council. .. To the editor: For the record, landlords like me, a senior living on rental income, have gotten absolutely nothing out of state's temporary moratorium on evictions, so why is it time "choose the renters"? Is it the supermarket's duty to feed people for free during the pandemic? Of course not, and it should not be the landlord's duty to house the needy for free either. It is the role of government and not private property owners to take care of citizens who have had their income affected by COVID-19. Meanwhile, the city of Los Angeles' protections are so loosely written that they have enabled the hustlers and cheats among us to simply stop paying rent regardless of their situation. Richard Klug, Los Angeles U.S. Border Patrol agents and Laredo Police Department officers discovered a stash house on Juarez Avenue, authorities said. Late Thursday, agents, Laredo police officers and Homeland Security Investigations set up surveillance at a residence in the 2900 block of Juarez Avenue for possible human smuggling activity. Officers said they intercepted an individual who was observed traversing the property through a hole in the fence. Authorities said the individual was determined to be a Mexican citizen illegally in the United States. Officers then conducted a welfare check at the residence. Authorities then found 20 people inside the home. All were determined to be immigrants who had crossed the border illegally. The investigation continues. Over the past ten days, Laredo Sector agents and our partners have encountered and arrested 229 aliens in 12 stash houses within the City of Laredo. As the number of illegal aliens testing positive for COVID-19 increases, these stash houses represent an increasingly significant threat to our agents, to public health, and to our health care system and our health care professionals, Laredo Sector Chief Patrol Agent Matthew J. Hudak said in a statement. 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. As Connecticut is again recovering from another severe storm that brought strong winds and heavy rain Thursday, Gov. Ned Lamont has declared a state of emergency. This powerful storm that moved so quickly into our state yesterday evening caused severe damage in certain communities and left thousands without power, just a couple of weeks following similar damage from Tropical Storm Isaias, Lamont said. I remain in consistent communication with town leaders and utility officials so that we can move resources to where they are most needed at this time. Thousands of people remain without power Friday morning and the National Guard has been called in to assist with recovery from the storms. The National Weather Service office in New York is sending a team to survey storm damage which occurred on Thursday. The team will be assessing the damage in New Haven County, particularly the towns of Guilford, North Branford, Branford, East Haven, North Haven, Bethany, Hamden and Waterbury. On Thursday night, Gov. Ned Lamont approved the deployment of 100 personnel from the National Guard Response Force and search-and-rescue teams to East Haven, Branford and North Haven. With sunny skies, light winds and no rain, Fridays weather will not be an issue with storm cleanup. The NWS said wind gusts of more than 50 mph were recorded in Branford and Westbrook on Thursday. Danbury and Oxfords highest gust was 41 mph during the peak of the storm around 4 p.m. The storms also brought some much needed rainfall to parts of Connecticut. The following are rainfall totals from the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network: Clinton, 1.50 inches; Wallingford, 1.24 inches; Meriden, 1.16 inches; Niantic, .95 of an inch; Monroe, Essex and Seymour, .90 of an inch; Ridgefield, .85 of an inch; Southbury, .75 of an inch; Middlefield, .73 of an inch; Westport, .68 of an inch; Trumbull, .52 of an inch; Norwalk and Darien, .29 of an inch; and Winsted, .26 of an inch. On Thursday, U.S. Drought Monitor said abnormally dry and drought conditions have increased across Connecticut. Nearly 25 percent of the state - Hartford County and northern Tolland and Windham counties have a severe drought. With the exception of the panhandle from Westport to Greenwich, Fairfield County has no dry or drought conditions. More rain is in the forecast. Late Friday night, showers and thunderstorms could flair up as a low pressure system begins to draw some tropical moisture from the remnants of Laura. Widespread rain with an inch or more possible is expected all day Saturday. Strong to severe thunderstorms are also possible Saturday night. No strong winds are associated with the remnants of Laura, the NWS said. Sunday will be the pick of the weekend with sunny skies and temperatures in the low 80s. Two Houston County inmates seek early release from the Alabama from the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) next week. Otis Lenard Whitt is currently serving a 45-year prison sentence after being convicted in 1999 on a charge of second-degree rape, distribution of a controlled substance, second-degree escape, and criminal possession of a forged instrument in Houston County. In 2016, Whitt was paroled, but later violated his parole and was returned to prison. Whitt was first convicted in 1996 on a charge of possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to three years in prison, but was released after serving just half of his sentence. He was also convicted in 1998 for a possession of a controlled substance. In 2001 he was convicted on a charge of distribution of a controlled substance, and in 2018 he was convicted on a charge of possession and receipt of a controlled substance. According to the ADOC, Whitt has served 22 years and seven months of his sentence. His parole hearing is scheduled for Sept. 1. Douglas Dwayne Farmer is currently serving a life sentence after being convicted of 17 crimes across the Wiregrass area, including 11 third-degree burglaries -- 10 in Houston County and one in Dale County in 1992. (CNN) - India topped the United States' record of coronavirus cases reported in a 24-hour period for two days in a row. India recorded 85,687 new cases on Aug. 26 and 77,266 new cases on Aug. 27, both surpassing the United States' highest number of new cases, which was reported on July 16, when the US reported 77,255 new cases, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU) data. India has been focusing on ramping up testing to identify and treat potential cases of coronavirus. As of Friday, India has conducted more than 39 million tests, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research. The Union Health Ministry on Thursday urged states to further ramp up testing, ensuring a minimum of 140 tests per million in all districts and to make public information on the availability of beds, ambulances, and more, so vulnerable patients can receive timely care, according to a statement from India's press information bureau. The total number of cases of coronavirus in the country stand at 3,387,500 with 61,529 deaths and 2,583,948 recoveries as of Friday, according to the Indian Ministry of Health. This story was first published on CNN.com, "India sets global record for number of new COVID-19 cases reported in a day" The Belarusian president says the West hopes of turning his country into a bridgehead against Russia. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has accused NATO of hatching aggressive plans and threatened neighbours Lithuania and Poland with counter-sanctions. Lukashenko, who has ruled the 9.5-million nation in Eastern Europe with an iron fist since 1994, blamed the West for fomenting demonstrations in Belarus in hopes of turning it into a bridgehead against Russia. They want to topple this government and replace it with another one that would ask a foreign country to send troops in support, he said on Friday. They want our market to sell their products. NATO has rejected previous such claims by Lukashenko. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said this week that Lukashenko tries to conjure up the image of outside forces threatening Belarus as an excuse for his crackdown on the opposition, which has seen hundreds of protesters beaten by police. In addition, the idea that Belaruss ailing Soviet-style economy would be seen as a beacon for exporters seems to defy current economic realities. Protests have been fuelled by growing weariness about Lukashenkos rule, his cavalier dismissal of the coronavirus pandemic and a bruising economic fallout from the outbreak in a country where living standards were already sinking. Threats against Poland, Lithuania The 65-year-old Belarusian leader threatened to retaliate against neighbours Poland and Lithuania, which pushed strongly for the European Unions sanctions against his government. Lithuania also hosted the main opposition challenger in the vote, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who moved there after the vote, pressured by Belarusian authorities. Lukashenko said Belarus would strike back by halting imports via Lithuanian ports and force its western neighbours to use longer routes via the Baltics and the Black Sea in their trade with Russia and China. Let us see who will get scared first, we will show them sanctions, he said. I have ordered the government to divert all trade flows away from Lithuanian ports. They have grown spoiled, and now we will show them their place. They were doing transit via us, but now they will need to go over the Baltics or the Black Sea to trade with Russia, Lukashenko said. Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis responded in a Facebook statement, saying if Lukashenko fulfils his threat it will mostly hurt Belarus and its people. Lukashenko has repeatedly sought to cast the protests that are demanding his resignation as part of a Western plot against Russia, in a bid to secure Moscows support. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Thursday that he stands ready to send police into Belarus if protests there turn violent but sees no such need yet. Anti-government protests The wave of protests that came after election officials declared Lukashenko had won a sixth term in a landslide in the August 9 presidential election has cast an unprecedented challenge to his rule. On Friday, hundreds of opposition supporters again formed chains of solidarity across Minsk as the protests entered their 20th day. A peaceful protest is stronger than clubs and fear, said 30-year-old demonstrator Maxim Zhurkov. We feel that we are the majority, and that means that a breakthrough will come. The opposition is bracing for another big rally in Minsk on Sunday. Demonstrations around the capitals main square peaked to about 200,000 over the past two Sundays, the biggest protests the country has ever seen. Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse already is turning into a nightmare for the progressives who immediately demonized him. The seventeen-year-old boy who traveled to Kenosha with his semi-automatic rifle to defend property from mob destruction appeared at first to be a perfect example of what novelist Tom Wolfe called "The Great White Defendant" in his satirical novel, The Bonfire of the Vanities. Kyle's white (strike one); he carried a semi-automatic "assault rifle" (strike two); he loves the police (strike three); and even worse, he shot three people demonstrating against allegedly racist cops (by burning and looting businesses of people innocent of anything other than owning a business). Those committed to the narrative OF cops hunting down innocent blacks, AKA "systemic racism," knew in their bones that he had to be a "white supremacist" and said so right away. Squad member Ayanna Presley: A 17 year old white supremacist domestic terrorist drove across state lines, armed with an AR 15. He shot and killed 2 people who had assembled to affirm the value, dignity, and worth of Black lives. Fix your damn headlines. Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) August 27, 2020 Although I am no constitutional scholar, this statement on Twitter probably does not fall under the Article 1, section 6 grant of immunity for statements in speech or debate. She was not alone in taking to Twitter with a poisonous racialist label: I wonder why a deranged white nationalist Trump supporter would show up to a protest with a rifle and start shooting people. https://t.co/gL1zpgj8J2 Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 26, 2020 An entity with far deeper pockets BET used the expression "white supremacist" in its headline: For the record, there is no evidence at all that Kyle Rittenhouse is in any way affiliated with any group espousing white nationalism or white supremacy, nor is there anything on the record that he has said or written indicating such a political stance. For reasons it did not explain but likely related to these labels, GoFundMe removed accounts set up to fund a legal defense for Rittenhouse. GoFundMe said the campaigns were taken down for violating its terms of service but did not specify further. Its terms prohibit "activity that GoFundMe may deem in its sole discretion to be unacceptable." Meanwhile, GoFundMe hosts an account for the family of Anthony Huber, who was shot and killed, and another for his "significant other." But young Rittenhouse will not be without support as he fights the six felony counts on which he has been indicted. The U.K. Daily Mail: The attorneys representing Kenosha gunman Kyle Rittenhouse have announced they will be establishing a legal defense fund for the teen who is facing multiple charges for killing two protesters on Tuesday. The Kenosha County District Attorney's office on Thursday formally charged the 17-year-old from Illinois in the fatal shooting of two men and the wounding of a third during a night of Jacob Blake demonstrations in the city. The charges include one count of first-degree intentional homicide; one count of first-degree reckless homicide; one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide; two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. For a review of what the evidence so far shows, see "What really happened with those Kenosha shootings." It appears that in each of the three cases where he used his rifle, he was defending himself. See also these tweets from Andy Ngo with graphic evidence of the danger Rittenhouse faced. Lin Wood, the super-lawyer who has won settlements for Nick Sandmann, stepped up with an offer to defend Rittenhouse after GoFundMe denied him the opportunity to raise money, and now there is a place where donations can be made. But Wood's specialty is not criminal law; it is defamation cases, and the odds are good that he has ample scope for raising a lot of money for Rittenhouse. The wheels of justice turn very slowly, so we will have to wait some time for verdicts in the criminal proceedings against Rittenhouse, if they continue to be pressed. But I expect that Lin Wood already is gathering evidence for libel lawsuits over the hasty and ill advised labeling of Rittenhouse as a white supremacist and white nationalist. A mother-of-two who fraudulently claimed almost $100,000 in Centrelink benefits over five years has been spared immediate prison time. Allison Dalton this week pleaded guilty to obtaining a financial advantage by deception after pocketing $92,839 in additional Centrelink benefits between December 2012 and March 2018 while she was a part-time disability support worker at the Department of Health and Human Services. Allison Dalton this week pleaded guilty to pocketing $92,839 in additional Centrelink benefits between December 2012 and March 2018. Credit:Erin Jonasson The ill-gotten money was obtained on top of benefits she was already receiving and continued despite being notified of irregularities by both her accountant and the Human Services department. County Court judge Patricia Riddell said Daltons partner had organised that her Centrelink money be deposited into his account, that he would often gamble portions of it away and he was not actively involved in parenting their two daughters. This is the map that shows how many coronavirus deaths there have been in your postcode area since March. The map, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Friday, shows the number of COVID-19 deaths in each area in England and Wales between 1 March and 31 July that were registered by 15 August. It also provides a stark nationwide picture of how the death toll peaked in April, before gradually falling in the following months. The ONS has said the map will not be updated in future, with the death rate now at low numbers. Twelve UK coronavirus deaths were reported by the Department of Health on Thursday, compared to a peak of 1,166 on 21 April. To see the figures in your area on the ONS website, click on the image below: Figures from the same ONS release show that of the 336 local authority areas in England and Wales, 71 had no coronavirus-related deaths in July. A further 239 recorded fewer than 10 deaths involving COVID-19. Meanwhile, four areas of Kent were among the five local authority areas with the highest coronavirus mortality rates in England in July. Ashford had a rate of 16.2 deaths per 100,000 people though this was down from 36.5 in June, when it was also recorded as having the highest rate. Gravesham had a rate of 13.5, Dartford at 11.8 and Folkestone and Hythe at 8.9. Leicesters rate was 10. The government later announced coronavirus lockdown restrictions will be lifted in parts of Greater Manchester, Lancashire and west Yorkshire after the number of new infections fell. The Department of Health said positive progress means that from 2 September, two households can mix again in areas including Bolton, Stockport, Trafford, Hyndburn and Burnley. The move will also impact parts of Bradford excluding Bradford city and Keighley town, parts of Calderdale excluding Halifax, and parts of Kirklees excluding Dewsbury and Batley. Story continues Coronavirus: what happened today Click here to sign up to the latest news and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter Several years ago, inside a Toronto motel room being used as a shelter for homeless families, Yonge Street Mission caseworker Marcia Shelton became frustrated with a social worker from a Toronto child protection agency. The worker had come to check on a woman and her children three under the age of 10, including an infant and, by Sheltons telling, was concerned about aspects of their room. The radiator was awfully close to the bed, she recalls the worker noting. I pushed back and said, How are you holding her accountable for the radiator? Go talk to the city, Shelton said. She feared there was a real risk that the womans children would be taken into care and the family separated because of their living setup. Theres that piece of her housing that was out of her control that they were holding against her, said Shelton. While inadequate housing isnt grounds on its own to consider a child in need of protection under Ontarios Child and Family Services Act, it can still play a role in the process. Social service and child protection workers say some housing situations present clear risks to a childs safety, and therefore must be taken into consideration things like fire hazards. But some other issues are more subjective, and can veer into a grey area where parents face scrutiny for issues beyond their control. Several current and former agency staff members say that the issue is compounded by Torontos lack of decent, affordable housing. The city maintains a list of social housing applicants given priority because they have at least one child in the care of a protective agency due to inadequate housing. As of early August, there were 22 families on the list, though experts say that is likely just the tip of the iceberg. I think thats an undercount, said Ann Fitzpatrick, who recently retired after more than three decades with the Childrens Aid Society of Toronto. During that time, Fitzpatrick co-authored research on the way housing issues could affect a child being brought into care or delay their return to their families. Examining cases from 2000, her research team found that housing was a factor in a child entering care in one out of five cases. Housing problems were found to have delayed a childs return in 11.5 per cent of the files. While child protection workers may not always say housing was a factor in admission, I think that housing is a big factor, said Fitzpatrick. In her research, housing typically came up during a risk assessment of a childs environment. Thats where social workers might look at factors such as a lack of windows, unsafe screens, pests, mould, ventilation or fire hazards. Those could be valid safety concerns, Fitzpatrick acknowledged, but the problem is that those assessments relied on subjective decisions. Social workers could bring their own biases into their assessment of what was or wasnt acceptable. Theres a lot of grey area in between, around the environment, Fitzpatrick said. Its kind of a case-by-case thing, and really, social workers, theyre not trained to be housing experts. The mother Marcia Shelton was assisting at the shelter motel said her family was just trying to make do with what they had at the time. It was a terrible feeling, said the mother in a recent phone interview. The Star is not identifying her because of her familys involvement with the child protection system. Their file with the protection agency was closed only after they moved into permanent housing. When Fitzpatrick started at the Childrens Aid Society in the 1980s, a child would never be returned from care into a shelter. That isnt the case anymore, with the way Torontos housing market has tightened, she said. Part of the reality right now is that there isnt a lot of decent affordable housing for people who have the level of income of people on social assistance or the Ontario Disability Support Program, she said. Four of the child protection agencies that operate in Toronto told the Star they do whatever is possible to keep children with their parents. Mahesh Prajapat, chief operating officer of the Childrens Aid Society of Toronto, said the agency was trying to operate more around a belief that families shouldnt lose children for reasons beyond their control. For now, though, he conceded that housing issues could absolutely factor into a child being taken into care in Toronto or delay a childs return after other issues are resolved. Lawyer Tammy Law is seeing that up close. Shes working on a case involving a father looking for housing in Toronto, so that his child who was taken into care for a separate reason can live with him again. Currently, the father is on Ontario Works and living in what Law described as essentially a boarding house, with a landlord who opposes the child moving in. Childrens aid seemed to be doing everything it could to help the father find a new place, Law said whether that meant providing resources or help with first months rent. But Torontos steep market rents and years-long social housing wait list have left the father struggling to find a solution before a court date in September. He has professionals around him trying to help. But its taken so much resources and time just to get this in place, when really, if we just had adequate housing in the city that was affordable for people, this wouldnt happen, Law said. To Ontarios former child advocate, any child kept in care because of housing issues is a reason to sound alarms. Its not a child protection issue, said Irwin Elman. The fact that families can be torn apart and we know the damage that does to individuals its unethical. It doesnt make sense financially because of the amount of money its going to cost to support, in any way, the young people whove been through that process, let alone the parents whove been through that process. Court records for one case in recent years shows foster care for a child costing $120 a day. Time spent in care can also impact childrens academic potential, future employment prospects and health compared to their peers, and heighten risk of future homelessness or falling victim to human trafficking, the Childrens Aid Society of Toronto acknowledged. Native Child and Family Services Toronto said its gone so far as to put families in tents at a campground to avoid housing-related apprehensions, stressing that they refuse to let that happen. The Catholic Childrens Aid Society said whether it brings a child into care depends on several factors, including access to safe housing, but noted that it wasnt a sole reason to do so unless there was no housing available or the home posed a substantial risk, such as a fire hazard. Other factors may be involved that would create a need for a child to come into care these include, but are not limited to, mental health issues, addictions like gambling, hoarding, reasons that a family could potentially lose their home, said spokesperson Jennifer Martin. There is no doubt that housing is an issue for many families in Toronto, including for child welfare recipients. Jewish Family and Child Service, in an email, said that while housing often affected health determinants like a persons physical and mental well-being, it wasnt on its own a child protection matter. If a family were facing potential or actual homelessness, it would try to connect them with support, and assist the family in finding stability while being able to parent their children effectively and safely, spokesperson Hannah Wasserman said. Still, cases are cropping up, Shelton told the Star. She noted one she was aware of, in which child services wanted a child to have his own room, but his mother was on a limited income that made that goal extremely unlikely. The challenges of housing that should not be one of the criteria that parents are measured on, because of the fact that its out of their control, she said. When you have limited income, it minimizes your options of housing. And some fear the economic impacts of COVID-19 may only make matters worse. We have a housing crisis in Toronto. Its not uncommon to large Canadian cities where the most vulnerable struggle to find places to live, said Jeffrey Schiffer, Native Child and Familys executive director. If there are 22 families on that list now, how many are there going to be in six months? Correction Aug. 28, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version that misstated Ann Fitzpatricks surname in some subsequent references. Steve Derrick has been painting medical workers around the world since April and has created more than 120 portraits so far. Read more Medical workers around the world have posted photos on social media from the front lines: mask marks etched onto their skin, dark circles under their eyes, and pained expressions on their faces. While the perils of the pandemic have taken a universal toll, health-care workers have been facing the virus head-on. Steve Derrick was moved by the images they were posting and decided to document this critical period in history, while also thanking the front-line workers. He decided to paint them and send them the portraits to let them know that others do notice and care. Although Derrick, 54, works full time as a video game developer, he spends his spare time at an easel, stroking colors onto a canvas until he forms the exhausted faces of front-line workers around the world none of whom hes met in person. When the pandemic hit, Derrick was holed up at his home in Clifton Park, N.Y., restless and lonely. Though he continued to work remotely, he felt unmotivated and unhappy, he said, wishing there were more he could do to help heal the ailing world around him. In early April, Derrick stumbled upon an Instagram account called @frontlinehealthheroes_ which chronicles the experiences of health-care workers during the pandemic, depicting their harrowing tales. I was completely moved by health-care workers and what theyre dealing with, Derrick said, adding that reading their stories made his own pandemic-induced isolation feel inconsequential. After scrolling through the stories and images, Derrick settled on one an Italian health-care worker, whose goggles and mask had left prominent bruises on her face. He gathered his tools palette, paintbrushes, acrylics, and canvas and started painting. The finished piece embodies the fear, fatigue, and strength he saw in the strangers face. After completing his first painting, Derrick immediately moved on to the second, then the third, and the fourth. His pile of pandemic portraits quickly grew. He started directly contacting medical workers he found on social media, asking whether he could paint their portraits and mail them the finished product, free of charge. They enthusiastically accepted. Derrick contacted Meredith Borzotta, 42, a nurse in Philadelphia, who posted a powerful photo on Instagram on a particularly troubling day when she listened to a daughter say goodbye to her mother over the phone. Listening to the love in the daughters voice was the most beautiful and heartbreaking experience. I could not hold back the tears, she wrote in the post. I silently promised that I would care for this woman as if she was my own mother. I am so sorry we cant save everyone. I am so sorry for the families left behind in the wake of this. I am so sorry that some people continue to believe that this is just a flu. I am so sorry that I cant do more. Borzotta said she was humbled when Derrick contacted her and asked to re-create that moment and delighted when she finally received the painting, which she said was clearly made with immense care. He included every detail, Borzotta said. He even got the clip on my shirt. Leah White, 35, also received a painting. I was completely surprised when he contacted me, said White, who has been an intensive care nurse for nearly 13 years. At the beginning of April, she traveled from Houston to work at a hospital in Brooklyn, where cases of the novel coronavirus were mounting. It was like nothing I had ever seen before, White said. They were so understaffed, and these patients were very, very sick. But for White, Derricks gift served as a light in an otherwise devastating time in her life. The portrait is beautiful, said White. I will always keep it close to my heart. Eventually, the roles were reversed, and medical workers, their family members, and even their patients began asking Derrick for portraits. I started getting requests from Italy, the U.K., and Spain, Derrick said. The interesting thing is, the requests followed the pandemic peaks. There were also a lot from New York, and now Texas, Arizona, Florida, and Brazil. Numan Rashid, 43, a pulmonologist at Saratoga Hospital, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., had heard about Derricks paintings through his colleagues, some of whom had received portraits. When Derrick offered to paint Rashid, he was honored, he said. It was truly amazing, Rashid said. I gave it to my mom. It was a big deal for her to see a painting of her son. Rebekah Maciorowski, 26, became one of Derricks subjects, too. The nurse from Denver tested positive for the novel coronavirus in early June after transferring to a New York hospital to work. Maciorowski, who developed the illness COVID-19, said she still has a chronic cough and other residual symptoms of the virus. When she received her portrait from Derrick, there were tears, she said. Its the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. Once a professional artist, Derrick a father of four ultimately traded his passion for a more stable career many years ago, although he never gave up art. He dabbled in drawing as a hobby and typically did not show his work to others, he said. But now, sharing his art with health-care workers has become his greatest source of joy. Since the end of April, Derrick has painted more than 120 portraits of health-care workers, with more than 200 left on his list. Other artists from around the world have also been using portraiture as a means of honoring essential workers. In Britain, one artist started painting NHS [National Health Service] workers portraits free, and hundreds of other artists began to do the same. At the beginning of lockdown, I felt rather disillusioned and couldnt see much point in doing my usual work, said Andrew Dibben, an artist based in England, who has completed nine paintings. A similar trend has emerged in Canada. A pair of local artists started #FrontlineFacesNL, and I thought what a great way to say thank you to these people, said Heather Coughlan, an artist in eastern Canada, who contributed to the initiative. While Derricks goal is to honor health-care workers, his paintings have also brought perspective to others beyond the medical community, as his work is being showcased virtually at a gallery in Albany, N.Y. For Derrick, forming a bond with front-line workers and understanding their experiences has been the most rewarding aspect of his portrait project. Their stories are just incredible, he said. Hearing them is what has kept me going. ALBANY In an April 28 memo, state budget Director Robert Mujica, in response to the state's dire financial condition, ordered state agencies and public authorities to cease all hiring except for jobs integral to protecting public health and safety. In the four months since, there has been a strict hiring freeze within the ranks of New Yorks government. But that hasn't stopped Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos office from making a number of hires involving employees with a background in politics, not pandemics or public safety. In recent weeks, the governors office scooped up three political operatives who had worked on unsuccessful 2020 Democratic presidential campaigns, one of whom had previously worked at a political consulting firm with close ties to Cuomo. And one of the new, taxpayer-funded jobs is for the explicit purpose of promoting Cuomos accomplishments, according to the job posting for the position. Over the summer, Cuomos office placed the job advertisement on LinkedIn, the professional networking website. The new state employee, according to the Cuomo ad, would be responsible for devising strategies to successfully communicate the accomplishments of New York state to the public. In August, Cuomo announced the hiring of Stephen Silverman, who previously worked as a consultant for the Clinton Foundation, where he focused on amplifying the achievements of former President Bill Clinton. Silverman also advised Michael Bloombergs unsuccessful 2020 presidential campaign. Silvermans title in Cuomos office is senior communications advisor for speechwriting and strategic messaging, the position for which Cuomos office had been advertising. LinkedIn Also this summer, ahead of Cuomo's primetime speech at the Democratic National Convention, his office advertised on LinkedIn for a new speechwriter, an accomplished wordsmith to join our speechwriting team. Its not clear if the hiring was made: No hiring of a speechwriter is reflected in state agency payroll records, and the Cuomo administration declined to say if someone had been appointed to the position. Mujicas directive in April stated that his Division of Budget office would only grant waiver applications submitted by agencies allowing them to make new hires if the budget office deemed the positions essential to protect health and safety. Division of Budget spokesman Freeman Klopott asserted that the consultants hired by Cuomo fit that criteria. "Especially now, government needs to function and there is no question to anyone paying attention during this pandemic that the public health response, clear communication to New Yorkers writ large and to potentially vulnerable communities specifically has been crucial and these backfilled hires didnt increase costs, Klopott said. To date, since the federal government has failed to provide relief, New York state has spent $4 billion less than last year by using cash spending controls and overall belt tightening the hiring freeze remains in place and we evaluate any exceptions on a case-by-case basis." E.J. McMahon, research director at the fiscally conservative Empire Center for Public Policy, said the Division of Budget, charged with deciding whether Executive Chamber waiver applications were granted, has little independence from Cuomos office. This is a case of the governor just doing what he wants, McMahon said. The message is, Do as we say, not as we do. A look at Cuomo's new hires Stephen Silverman is senior communications advisor for speechwriting and strategic messaging for Cuomo's office. Previously, Silverman worked as a consultant for the Clinton Foundation, where he focused on "amplifying the achievements" of former President Bill Clinton. Silverman also advised Michael Bloomberg's unsuccessful 2020 presidential campaign. Laura Montross, $117,000, is Cuomo's new deputy communications director for policy and issue advocacy. Montross is listed in payroll records as a $117,000-a-year administrative assistant. Most recently, Montross worked as a director of women's outreach for Bloomberg's 2020 Democratic presidential campaign. Before that, Montross worked for three years as a principal at Kivvit, the political consulting firm founded by a close Cuomo advisor, Maggie Moran, who served as Cuomo's 2018 campaign manager. Marquita Sanders is Cuomo's new assistant secretary for scheduling and operations. In that role, Sanders is being paid $170,000 a year, according to payroll records, with her title "deputy secretary to the governor." Sanders most recently worked for New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker's unsuccessful presidential campaign, where she was director of scheduling. Before that she worked in the Obama administration. Matthew McMorrow is Cuomo's statewide director of LGBTQ affairs. McMorrow works in Cuomo's office, according to his LinkedIn profile, but his $115,000-a-year salary is being paid by the Department of State, where he is listed in payroll records as a citizens services representative. See More Collapse While the Cuomo hirings are only a blip in the states projected $64 billion deficit over the next four years, they come at a time when Cuomo is requiring sacrifice from other offices and agencies. He has delayed raises for an estimated 80,000 state workers, and layoffs or furloughs could be necessary. The state is also expected to make deep cuts in payments to cash-starved local governments and schools. RELATED: New York defers raises to state employees amid fiscal stress of pandemic Nonprofits aiding New Yorks most vulnerable have seen state grants delayed or canceled, threatening the organizations existence. The Cuomo administration caused a furor by nixing a $55 million printing and mailing contract that had employed 50 people with disabilities in Albany, calling the move a cost-saving measure. On Aug. 7, Cuomo announced many of the new Executive Chamber hirings in a press release, stating that the employees would bring a wealth of knowledge that will help New York build back better than before. Several of the hires had duties directly related to New Yorks response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Others seem farther afield. Laura Montross is Cuomos new deputy communications director for policy and issue advocacy. She is listed in payroll records as a $117,000-a-year administrative assistant. Most recently, Montross worked as a director of womens outreach for Bloombergs 2020 Democratic presidential campaign. Before that, Montross worked for three years as a principal at Kivvit, the political consulting firm founded by a close Cuomo advisor, Maggie Moran, who served as Cuomos 2018 campaign manager. The firm's leadership also includes managing director Rich Bamberger, Cuomos former communications director. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Marquita Sanders most recently worked for New Jersey Sen. Cory Bookers unsuccessful presidential campaign, where she was director of scheduling and the advance work necessary to prepare for political events. Before that she worked in the Obama administration. Sanders is now Cuomos new assistant secretary for scheduling and operations. In that role, Sanders is being paid $170,000-a-year, according to payroll records, with her title deputy secretary to the governor. Klopott said that Sanders is in charge of scheduling for Cuomo, and replacing a long-time staffer, and fulfilling a critical need. After Cuomos communications Director Dani Lever recently left for a job at Facebook, Cuomos senior deputy communications director, Peter Ajemian, was promoted in August to fill Levers position. Yet according to Mujicas memo, promotions are also barred under the strict hiring freeze, unless specifically exempted by a waiver from the Division of Budget. To grant such a waiver submitted by a state agency or office, the Division of Budget must deem the position essential to protecting the public health and safety or find that it ensures the generation of state revenue, according to Mujicas memo. While not publicly announced by Cuomo, back in May, the administration hired Matthew McMorrow as his statewide director of LGBTQ affairs. McMorrow works in Cuomos office, according to his LinkedIn profile, but his $115,000-a-year salary is being paid by the Department of State, where he is listed in payroll records as a citizens services representative. Klopott, the Division of Budget spokesman, said the responsibilities of the recently filled positions had been held by employees that had left the administration. The combined salaries are spending neutral, he contends. Klopott declined to provide the Times Union with copies of waiver requests Cuomos office had submitted to the Division of Budget, which would outline the administration's justifications for each hire. Klopott said the waivers needed to be requested through the state's Freedom of Information Law, since the records involve personnel matters. There is no such exemption for those types of records under the state's Freedom of Information Law and no provision of that law is directed specifically at "personnel" records. Cuomos practice of hiring Executive Chamber employees, but paying them on the budget lines of state agencies, is familiar. So is his hiring of operatives from losing Democratic presidential campaigns. In 2017, Cuomo announced the hiring or promotion of 27 people, nearly half of whom were veterans of Hillary Clintons losing 2016 presidential campaign or the Obama administration. Most of the hires worked in the Executive Chamber, but were paid on the budget lines of various public authorities and agencies, a practice that has allowed Cuomo and prior governors to obscure the true size and cost of the governors staff. After the Times Union reported on the hiring practices, the FBI began investigating. No charges have resulted from the long-running inquiry. Among the people Cuomo hired that year were two high-paid speechwriters, one of whom was placed on the payroll of an obscure agency and the other assigned to the payroll of a public authority. By Ben Blanchard (Reuters) - The United States and China traded jibes as military tensions grow between the world's two largest economies, with the U.S. defense chief vowing not to "cede an inch" in the Pacific and China saying Washington was risking soldiers' lives. Both are at loggerheads over issues from technology and human rights to Chinese military activities in the disputed South China Sea, with each accusing the other of deliberately provocative behavior. In the latest U.S. move against China ahead of November's presidential election, Washington on Wednesday blacklisted 24 Chinese companies and targeted individuals over construction and military actions in the busy South China Sea waterway. On Thursday, a U.S. Navy warship carried out a routine operation near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, something frequently criticized by Beijing as threatening its sovereignty. In Hawaii, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) wanted Beijing to project power globally via its military. "To advance the CCP's agenda, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) continues to pursue an aggressive modernization plan to achieve a world class military by the middle of the century," Esper said. "This will undoubtedly involve the PLA's provocative behavior in the South and East China Seas, and anywhere else the Chinese government has deemed critical to its interests." However, Esper said the United States wanted to "hopefully continue to work with the People's Republic of China to get them back on a trajectory that is more aligned with the international rules based order." Speaking before a regional tour, Esper described the Indo-Pacific as the epicenter of a "great power competition with China." He added, "We're not going to cede this region, an inch of ground if you will, to another country, any other country that thinks their form of government, their views on human rights, their views on sovereignty, their views on freedom of the press, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, all those things, that somehow that's better than what many of us share." Story continues President Donald Trump's administration has repeatedly bashed China over issues including its handling of the coronavirus, a common theme during this week's Republican National Convention. In Beijing, China's Defense Ministry shot back at "certain U.S. politicians" it said were damaging Sino-U.S. military ties in the run-up to the November election for their own selfish gain, even seeking to create military clashes. "This kind of behavior puts the lives of frontline officers and soldiers on both sides at risk," spokesman Wu Qian told reporters at a monthly briefing on Thursday. China is not scared of "provocation and pressure" from the United States, and will resolutely defend itself and not allow the United States to cause trouble, he added. "We hope the U.S. side will truly adopt a strategic vision, view China's development with an open and rational attitude, and leave behind the quagmire of anxiety and entanglement." The tension has sparked fears of accidental conflict. A U.S. defense official told Reuters on Wednesday that China had launched four medium-range ballistic missiles that hit the South China Sea between Hainan Island and the Paracel Islands. On Thursday, the Pentagon said it was concerned about China's recent military exercises, including the firing of the missiles. "Conducting military exercises over disputed territory in the South China Sea is counterproductive to easing tensions and maintaining stability," the Pentagon said in a statement. It added that the U.S. military had told Chinese authorities in July that it would continue to monitor the situation with "the expectation that the PRC (People's Republic of China) will reduce its militarization and coercion of its neighbors in the South China Sea." (Reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Additional reporting by Cate Cadell, Yew Lun Tian in Beijing and Idrees Ali in Washington; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Rosalba O'Brien) India once again reiterated on Thursday that China should not alter the status quo unilaterally at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Ladakh sector, adding that complete disengagement requires re-deployment of troops by each side towards their regular posts on their respective sides of the LAC and can be done only through mutually agreed reciprocal actions. New Delhi however indicated that it had faith that the issue could be resolved through diplomacy, referring to a recent utterance by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar that all Sino-Indian stand-offs in the past decade were resolved through diplomacy. It may be recalled that EAM Jaishankar had recently stated that the current crisis in Sino-Indian relations is surely the most serious situation after 1962 and that the quantum of forces currently deployed by both sides at the LAC is also unprecedented. This comes amid continued Chinese military intransigence in withdrawing to the positions of April this year in the Ladakh sector. It may also be recalled that India has also mobilised a significant number of troops with heavy weaponry near the borders with China in response to the Chinese military build-up. India is also clear that it will not agree to any unilateral change of the LAC by China. On Thursday in response to a query at his weekly briefing, MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, I would also refer you to the recent interview of External Affairs Minister wherein referring to various past border incidents he had noted that what was common was that all borders situations were resolved through diplomacy. EAM had further noted that 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. The MEA Spokesperson added, As I had conveyed earlier, complete disengagement requires re-deployment of troops by each side towards their regular posts on their respective sides of the LAC. It is natural that this can be done only through mutually agreed reciprocal actions. Thus it is important to bear in mind that achieving this requires agreed actions by both sides. He further said, As you know last week, the 18th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) took place. During the meeting the two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the existing situation in the India-China border areas. Both sides have reaffirmed that the two sides will continue to sincerely work towards complete disengagement of the troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector in accordance with the agreements reached between the two Foreign Ministers and the two Special Representatives (SRs) during their conversation on 5th July. He also said, In this context, in the last meeting of the WMCC the two sides have agreed to resolve the outstanding issues in an expeditious manner and in accordance with the existing agreements and protocols. Both sides also agree that full restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas would be essential for the overall development of bilateral relations. The two sides had also agreed to continue their engagements both through diplomatic and military channels. Sen. Rand Paul was confronted by protesters early Friday morning after leaving the Republican National Convention at the White House. "Just got attacked by an angry mob of over 100, one block away from the White House. Thank you to @DCPoliceDept for literally saving our lives from a crazed mob," the Kentucky Republican tweeted early Friday. Paul later added that he felt his life was in danger and would have wound up in the hospital or dead had police not intervened. Videos on social media showed protesters circling around Paul and his wife, Kelley, after they left President Donald Trump's keynote speech. Protesters shouted at the Pauls, crowding the couple on the street. Protesters demanded the Kentucky senator acknowledge the death of Breonna Taylor, who was killed by police executing a no-knock warrant in her Louisville, Ky., home. Her death is one of several police-involved killings that have sparked protests nationwide against racial injustice in law enforcement. Paul, perhaps the Senate's most libertarian-leaning lawmaker, introduced legislation in June to ban no-knock search warrants and named it after Taylor a point he emphatically pushed during a Friday morning interview on Fox & Friends. "You couldn't reason with this mob, but I'm actually the author of the Breonna Taylor law to end no-knock raids. So the irony is lost on these idiots they are trying to kill the person who is actually trying to get rid of no-knock raids," Paul said. D.C. Metropolitan Police officers formed a circle around the senator and his wife and escorted them to their hotel Friday morning. During his Fox & Friends interview, Paul said he and his wife were unharmed. Paul's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Paul hypothesized the protesters were compensated and flown in to instigate a violent riot, but didn't offer any suggestions on who might have paid them or evidence to support his assertion. That protesters are paid to cause disruption is a common talking point among some conservative figures for which there is no substantive evidence. Such claims have been regularly challenged by fact-checkers. Story continues "You just think, Oh, these are some normal hoodlums from a big city. I promise you that at least some of the members and the people who attacked us were not from D.C. They flew here on a plane," he said. "They've all got fresh, new clothes." Paul also used the incident to go after Democratic candidates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Trump and his allies have repeatedly used unrest in cities across the country as a political point, contesting that only the president can protect America with his brand of law and order. Paul said Harris and Biden have failed to condemn violence in protests and that "this mob is their voters." "We can't have Joe Biden rule the country and have no police," Paul said. "I mean, we can't walk down the street in D.C. Safely now. That's how bad it is." When asked whether he felt Republicans would need extra security to walk around Washington, Paul said "probably, yes," and that he doesn't feel at home in the city. "I want to live the life of a normal person," the senator said. In fact, Biden released a video Wednesday condemning police violence and denouncing rioting and looting. Harris, a former prosecutor, pushed for due process for the police officer who shot an unarmed black man in the back in Kenosha, Wis. Biden has rejected calls to defund police departments, saying "most cops are good." Trump made his keynote RNC speech Thursday night from the White House's South Lawn, where few crowd members wore masks and chairs were not set up to accommodate social distancing. Blocks away, protesters gathered near an entry to the White House grounds, blasting music, blaring sirens and sounding blow horns to try to cover up the president's speech. Protesters, including families, young adults and seniors, danced to go-go music and chanted in unison. As Trump started speaking, protesters engaged in more heated confrontations with Secret Service agents and D.C. police officers. Large groups of police, many on bikes, camped in the blocks near the White House, blocking off streets several blocks away from the grounds. Paul spoke at the convention on Tuesday, where he called the New York real estate mogul-turned-president "down to earth" and said he was "proud" of the Trump presidency. Getty Images Rudy Giuliani speaking Thursday at the Republican National Convention. Rudy Giuliani appeared on a larger-than-normal stage on Thursday night to play a familiar role: defending Donald Trump, decrying lawlessness in New York City specifically and supporting police. It was a standard, if impassioned, Republican National Convention speech with an energy that sometimes approached the enthusiasm of Kimberly Guifloyle earlier in the week. "Dont let Democrats do to America what they have done to New York," said the former New York City mayor and Republican presidential candidate, who is Trump's personal attorney. "Again the Democrats are urging you to vote for an obviously defective candidate. Biden has changed his principles so often, he no longer has any principles. Hes a Trojan horse." Giuliani, 76, went on to note the "unforgivable police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis" but said that the laudable national demonstrations had in his words been "hijacked" by activists with Black Lives Matter and antifa, both of whom are familiar conservative targets though there is no evidence the protests are being co-opted on a mass scale. Giuliani spoke in hyperbolic terms of "continuous riots" and said, "All five of the top cities for homicides, like the top cities for rioting and looting, are governed by 'progressive' Democrats using the 'progressive Democrat' approach to crime, which is to do nothing substantive to reduce it." RELATED: Ivanka Insists Americans Don't See the Real Trump 'I Want to Tell You About the Leader I Know' Contrary to this, many of the protests have been peaceful though some have spasmed into violence and destruction, which has been widely criticized by politicians from both parties. Giuliani, however, underlined his close relationship with the president in enthusiastically describing him and only him as the politician for this moment. Story continues "President Trump with his boundless love of our country and all our people, his disciplined work ethic, his exceptional ability to inspire and his deep understanding of our system of government is the man we can trust to preserve and even improve our way of life," Giuliani said. In a more emotional turn, he reflected on the deaths of some young Black people such as LeGend Taliferro, saying Republicans supported an end to violence that in his view had been overlooked: "All black lives matter. ... All lives matter to us." Voice rising to an exclamation, Giuliani concluded: "Mr. President, make our nation safe again!" Another round of layoffs swept through Wyoming coal country this week, with 80 more coal miners losing their jobs. The owner of the Antelope coal mine just outside Wright confirmed Friday it had laid off 80 hourly workers who had previously been furloughed in May. Navajo Transitional Energy Company, the nations third-largest coal firm, said the decision came in response to depressed demand for coal and the persistence of a global recession. As we continue to evaluate markets amidst the coronavirus and economic recovery, we do not anticipate an increase in orders from our Antelope mine through the end of the year, NTEC spokeswoman Catie Kerns said. Based on this information, we have moved the previous furloughed employees to a laid-off status. While we regret the hardship this causes, we want to be transparent with our employees and give them every opportunity to move forward and do what is best for them and their families. We will monitor conditions and rehire as the opportunity arises. The company did not immediately respond to an inquiry regarding the status of severance or health care for the workers. The recent workforce reduction adds to the deluge of layoff and furlough announcements that have crashed with frightening frequency through coal communities since March. This spring, coal operators laid off or furloughed over 600 miners throughout the Powder River Basin, the countrys epicenter for coal production. Back in April, 57 employees working at the Antelope mine were laid off by NTEC. One month later, 93 hourly workers were furloughed and eight salaried employees were laid off. Of these 93 hourly workers furloughed in May, the company said some had retired or found other employment. The 80 furloughed workers that remained, waiting to return to work, recently received notice that the status of their employment had changed and they no longer had a job. NTEC also laid off 73 Spring Creek mine employees on April 23. But on July 27, the employer said it had rehired the workers at the Spring Creek mine, just north of Wyomings border, citing rosier forecasts for electrical demand. Furloughed workers at the Antelope mine were not as fortunate. Overall employment and production in Wyomings coal industry have declined steadily since their peak in 2015, according to data from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration. Utility companies have gradually turned to less expensive natural gas or renewable energy sources to supply electricity to customers. Demand for coal continued to plunge in the early months of 2020 with output during the second quarter setting a new two-decade low, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. This month, the federal data agency released a report predicting coal production could fall by 29% to around 502 million short tons in 2020. Market conditions are dreadful, Travis Deti, executive director of the Wyoming Mining Association, told lawmakers this week. The COVID-19 pandemic has simply exacerbated them. Unfortunately, we dont see a short-term end in sight. The Antelope mine employed 543 workers as of the end of June, according to the latest data collected by the Mining Safety and Health Administration. Workers there produced 4.4 million tons of coal during the second quarter of 2020, about 10 million tons less than the same period last year. Follow the latest on Wyomings energy industry @camillereports Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 3 Angry 1 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. DUBLIN, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Metal Forming Market for Automotive by Technique (Roll, Stretch, Stamping, Deep Drawing, Hydroforming), Type (Hot, warm and Cold), Application (BIW, Chassis, Closure), Material (Steel, Aluminum, Magnesium), Vehicle (ICE & Electric) - Global Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global metal forming market for automotive is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.2% from 2020 to 2025, to reach USD 202.23 billion by 2025 from USD 172.56 billion in 2018. The key companies profiled in the study are Magna (Canada), Benteler (Germany), Tower International (UK), Toyota Boshoku (Japan), Aisin Seiki (Japan), Kirchhoff (US), CIE Automotive (Spain), Mills Products (US), VNT Automotive (Austria), Superform Aluminum (US), and Hirotec (Japan). Global vehicle production and growing commercial vehicle demand to fuel the metal forming market for automotive The market is projected to rise owing to key reasons such as increasing vehicle production and growing demand for commercial vehicles. On the other hand, the major factor hindering the growth of the metal forming market is the high capital cost of forming equipment. The hydroforming market is projected to show the fastest growth by forming a technique segment Hydroforming is one of the most advanced forming techniques used in the automotive industry. It is generally used to manufacture hollow tube structures such as manifolds, exhaust cones, and a few suspension components. As hydroforming is comparatively expensive, it is mostly used by premium car manufacturers. Due to the increasing market share of premium car manufacturers, hydroforming is expected to grow at the fastest rate. It is an advanced technique and requires a high setup cost as well as high operating costs, because of which it is expected to have a significant market in Europe and North America. Cold forming is estimated to be the largest market by forming type and is projected to maintain its position in the forecast period Cold forming is one of the most conventional manufacturing processes in which components are formed using different types of forming techniques at room temperature and do not require any additional handling and carrying. The cold-forming process is simpler than the hot forming process and does not require any additional setup cost. Hence, the overall cost of cold forming is low as compared to hot forming. Because of the advantages such as cost and low production time, cold forming is the major preference of OEMs across the globe. Asia Oceania and North America are estimated to drive the metal forming market for automotive The Asia Oceania region is projected to lead the metal forming market for automotive during the forecast period owing to the large-scale vehicle production compared to other regions. According to OICA (Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles), Asia Oceania contributed about 50-55% of the global vehicle production in 2019. Vehicle production in Asia Oceania has grown substantially in the last 10 years. This increase in production comes from small and mid-sized cars in China and India as these two countries have the largest population and are price-sensitive markets. With the increase in the production of vehicles, the demand for metal forming for automotive grew at a significant rate in Asia Oceania. This growth may have been derailed in 2020 owing to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, as per estimates, the Asia Oceania will witness growth in the forecast period owing to the successful containment of the virus in countries such as China, Japan, and South Korea. North America is expected to be the fastest-growing metal forming market for automotive. The North American region comprises countries with significant vehicle production such as Canada, Mexico, and the US. The US is the major contributor, i.e., it contributed around 65% of the overall vehicle production in North America in 2019. The North American metal forming market is dominated by key players such as the Tower International (US), Magna (Canada), and Kirchhoff Automotive (US). Report Coverage The report covers the metal forming market for automotive. It is broadly segmented by region (Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, South America, and the Middle East and Africa), Technique type (Roll forming, Stretch forming, Stamping, Deep drawing, Hydroforming, and Others), Forming types (Cold forming, Warm forming, and Hot forming), Material Type (Steel, Magnesium, and Aluminum), Application type (BIW, Chassis, and Closures), Vehicle Type (Passenger car, LCV, Truck, and Bus), and Electric & Hybrid vehicle type (BEV, PHEV, and FCEV). Key Topics Covered 1 Introduction 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Premium Insights 4.1 Attractive Opportunities in Metal Forming Market for Automotive 4.2 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Forming Type 4.3 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Technique 4.4 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Material 4.5 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Application 4.6 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Vehicle Type 4.7 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Electric & Hybrid Vehicle 5 Market Overview 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Market Dynamics 5.2.1 Drivers 5.2.1.1 Rising Global Vehicle Production and Growing Commercial Vehicle Demand 5.2.1.2 Stringent Emission and Fuel Economy Regulations for Lightweight Materials 5.2.2 Restraints 5.2.2.1 Increasing Usage of Composites in Automotive Applications 5.2.3 Opportunity 5.2.3.1 Growing Sales of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles 5.2.3.2 Increasing Adoption of Hydroforming Techniques 5.2.4 Challenges 5.2.4.1 High Capital Investments for New Entrants to Set Up Metal Forming Process 5.3 Ecosystem Analysis 5.4 COVID-19 Impact on Metal Forming Market 6 Technological Overview 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Advantages of Metal Forming Techniques Over Other Techniques 6.3 Types of Forming Techniques 6.3.1 Roll Forming 6.3.2 Stretch Forming 6.3.3 Deep Drawing 6.3.4 Stamping 6.3.5 Hot Forming 6.3.6 Hydroforming 6.4 Hydroforming: The Future of Automotive Forming 6.4.1 Advantages of Hydroforming 6.5 Additive Manufacturing 6.5.1 Advantages of Additive Manufacturing 6.5.2 Disadvantages of Additive Manufacturing 7 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Technique 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Roll Forming 7.3 Stretch Forming 7.4 Deep Drawing 7.5 Stamping 7.6 Hydroforming 7.7 Others 8 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Forming Type 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Cold Forming 8.3 Hot Forming 8.4 Warm Forming 9 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Application 9.1 Introduction 9.2 BIW 9.3 Chassis 9.4 Closures 9.5 Others 10 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Material 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Steel 10.3 Aluminum 10.4 Magnesium 10.5 Others 11 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Vehicle Type 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Passenger Cars 11.3 Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) 11.4 Trucks 11.5 Buses 12 Metal Forming Market for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles, by Vehicle Type 12.1 Introduction 12.2 BEV 12.3 PHEV 12.4 FCEV 13 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Region 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Asia Oceania 13.3 Europe 13.4 North America 13.5 South America 13.6 Middle East & Africa 14 Competitive Landscape 14.1 Overview 14.2 Metal Forming Market for Automotive: Market Ranking Analysis 14.3 Competitive Leadership Mapping 14.3.1 Stars 14.3.2 Emerging Leaders 14.3.3 Pervasive Companies 14.3.4 Emerging Companies 14.4 Competitive Scenario 14.4.1 Expansions 14.4.2 Supply Contracts 14.4.3 New Product Launches/Developments 14.4.4 Partnerships/Joint Ventures 15 Company Profiles 15.1 Introduction 15.2 Benteler 15.3 Tower International 15.4 Magna International 15.5 Toyota Boshoku Corporation 15.6 Aisin Seiki 15.7 Kirchhoff 15.8 CIE Automotive 15.9 Mills Products 15.10 VNT Automotive 15.11 Superform Aluminium 15.12 Hirotec 15.13 Client Requirement 15.13.1 PWO 15.13.2 Ernst Umformtechnik 15.13.3 Hornlein 15.13.4 Hubert Stuken GmbH & Co. KG (Starken) 15.13.5 Stewart EFI 15.13.6 Truelove & Maclean (Acquired by SFS Group AG) 15.13.7 Metal Flow 15.13.8 Transfer Tool 15.14 Additional Companies 15.14.1 North America 15.14.1.1 Vari-Form 15.14.1.2 LTC Roll 15.14.1.3 Martinrea International Inc. 15.14.1.4 Multimatic 15.14.2 Asia Oceania 15.14.2.1 Kaizen Metal Forming 15.14.2.2 AES Automotive 15.14.2.3 JBM Auto 15.14.2.4 MIM 15.14.3 Europe 15.14.3.1 Craemer 15.14.3.2 Voestalpine 15.14.3.3 Gestamp Automocion 15.14.3.4 Quintus Technologies For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/w7tbhm 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 WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- New research suggests that children can shed SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, even if they never develop symptoms or for long after symptoms have cleared. But many questions remain about the significance of the pediatric population as vectors for this sometimes deadly disease, according to an invited commentary by Children's National Hospital doctors that accompanies this new study published online Aug. 28, 2020 in JAMA Pediatrics. The commissioned editorial, written by Roberta L. DeBiasi, M.D., M.S., chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, and Meghan Delaney, D.O., M.P.H., chief of the Division of Pathology and Lab Medicine, provides important insight on the role children might play in the spread of COVID-19 as communities continue to develop public health strategies to reign in this disease. The study that sparked this commentary focused on 91 pediatric patients followed at 22 hospitals throughout South Korea. "Unlike in the American health system, those who test positive for COVID-19 in South Korea stay at the hospital until they clear their infections even if they aren't symptomatic," explains Dr. DeBiasi. The patients here were identified for testing through contact tracing or developing symptoms. About 22% never developed symptoms, 20% were initially asymptomatic but developed symptoms later, and 58% were symptomatic at their initial test. Over the course of the study, the hospitals where these children stayed continued to test them every three days on average, providing a picture of how long viral shedding continues over time. The study's findings show that the duration of symptoms varied widely, from three days to nearly three weeks. There was also a significant spread in how long children continued to shed virus and could be potentially infectious. While the virus was detectable for an average of about two-and-a-half weeks in the entire group, a significant portion of the children about a fifth of the asymptomatic patients and about half of the symptomatic ones were still shedding virus at the three week mark. Drs. DeBiasi and Delaney write in their commentary that the study makes several important points that add to the knowledge base about COVID-19 in children. One of these is the large number of asymptomatic patients about a fifth of the group followed in this study. Another is that children, a group widely thought to develop mostly mild disease that quickly passes, can retain symptoms for weeks. A third and important point, they say, is the duration of viral shedding. Even asymptomatic children continued to shed virus for a long time after initial testing, making them potential key vectors. However, the commentary authors say, despite these important findings, the study raises several questions. One concerns the link between testing and transmission. A qualitative "positive" or "negative" on testing platforms may not necessarily reflect infectivity, with some positives reflecting bits of genetic material that may not be able to make someone sick or negatives reflecting low levels of virus that may still be infectious. Testing reliability may be further limited by the testers themselves, with sampling along different portions of the respiratory tract or even by different staff members leading to different laboratory results. It's also unknown whether asymptomatic individuals are shedding different quantities of virus than those with symptoms, a drawback of the qualitative testing performed by most labs. Further, testing only for active virus instead of antibodies ignores the vast number of individuals who may have had and cleared an asymptomatic or mild infection, an important factor for understanding herd immunity. Lastly, Drs. DeBiasi and Delaney point out, the study only tested for viral shedding from the respiratory tract even though multiple studies have detected the virus in other bodily fluids, including stool. It's unknown what role these other sources might play in the spread of this disease. Drs. DeBiasi and Delaney note that each of these findings and additional questions could affect public health efforts continually being developed and refined to bring COVID-19 under control in the U.S. and around the world. Children's National has added their own research to these efforts, with ongoing studies to assess how SARS-CoV-2 infections proceed in children, including how antibodies develop both at the individual and population level. "Each of these pieces of information that we, our collaborators and other scientists around the world are working to gather," says Dr. DeBiasi, "is critical for developing policies that will slow the rate of viral transmission in our community." About Children's National Hospital Children's National Hospital, based in Washington, D.C., celebrates 150 years of pediatric care, research and commitment to community. Volunteers opened the hospital in 1870 with 12 beds for children displaced after the Civil War. Today, 150 years stronger, it is among the nation's top 10 children's hospitals. It is ranked No. 1 for newborn care for the fourth straight year and ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. Children's National is transforming pediatric medicine for all children. In 2020, construction will be complete on the Children's National Research & Innovation Campus, the first in the nation dedicated to pediatric research. Children's National has been designated twice as a Magnet hospital, demonstrating the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty outpatient centers in the D.C., metropolitan area, including the Maryland and Northern Virginia suburbs. Children's National is home to the Children's National Research Institute and Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation and is the nation's seventh-highest NIH-funded children's hospital. It is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels. For more information, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter . SOURCE Childrens National Hospital Korea Shipbuilding Offshore Engineering Co., South Korea's biggest shipbuilder, said Friday it has received a $70 million order for two product carriers from shippers in Asia and Europe. Korea Shipbuilding plans to deliver the two product carriers to unidentified shippers in Asia and Europe in the second half of 2021, the company said in a statement. The petrochemical product carriers will be built in the shipyards of Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in Ulsan, about 410 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and Hyundai Vietnam Shipbuilding in Vietnam, respectively, it said. Korea Shipbuilding has three shipbuilding affiliates Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Hyundai Mipo Dockyard and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Co. under its wing. Hyundai Vietnam Shipbuilding, formerly known as Hyundai Vinashin Shipyard, is a 65:35 joint venture set up between Korea Shipbuilding and Vietnam's Vinashin Group. With the product carrier deal taken into account, Korea Shipbuilding has obtained orders for a total of 59 ships valued at $4.07 billion won so far this year. (Yonhap) The Shiv Sena on Friday said that the situation in Ladakh is as severe as it was in 1962, referring to the Indo-China war which took place in that year. In an editorial in mouthpiece Saamana, the party said that a feel-good atmosphere was created in the country saying that Chinese troops have retreated in the Galwan valley but the guns are still pointed at each other. It added that the Chinese actions or intentions have not changed. The editorial cited External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars recent interview to a news portal stating that the situation on the border is surely the most serious situation after 1962. The editorial said that the army is stationed from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh along the China border. The army is fully prepared. The Army chief visited all the border areas. The Prime Minister too visited Ladakh and boosted the morale of the jawans. Also read: Donald Trump says India 2nd largest country to conduct Covid-19 tests after US In an editorial titled, The reality of Ladakh, it said, the Chinese dragons actions there have not stopped, nor have their intentions changed. The Chinese and Indian Army may be holding discussions, but the guns of the two countries are stacked on each other along the Ladakh border. India is saying that China withdrew from Ladakh, while China is saying that India too should move from finger four to its border first, which is naturally unacceptable to India. the editorial added. ALSO WATCH | Chinese ambassador on Galwan clash, border tension & India-China ties The editorial asserted that the Indian Army will not allow a repeat of was happened in 1962. Todays India is not that of 1962. It is much more powerful than that. Despite acknowledging this, Chinese infiltration and land-grabbing activities have not reduced. Indian Army will not allow the repeat of the history of 1962. The situation in Ladakh currently is as severe as that of 1962. We cannot deny that, it said. The Ghana Education Service has issued a stern warning to teachers, caterers and all person involved in the distribution of free meals to final year Junior High Schools students not to politicise it. Professor Opoku Amankwa, the Director-General of the GES disclosed on Neat FM that his outfit has taken notice of the unfortunate incident and will investigate them. Professor Opoku-Amankwa warned teachers and anyone engaged in the distribution of food to the students not to attach partisan politics with an initiative that set out to serve every Ghanaian final year student. He explained that if any teacher is found culpable, he or she will face the full rigours of the GES laws. He remarked reports from across the country indicate that the gesture by the government has been successful. Its a partnership between the GES and the School Feeding secretariat and from what we have seen so far, it has been a successful exercise. However, there are a few instances that weve had to intervene. We have asked the politicians not to campaign with the presidents initiative." 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 India, one of the largest contributors of soldiers to UN peacekeeping operations, has co-sponsored a Security Council resolution that calls for "full, effective and meaningful participation" of women personnel in peacekeeping operations. India's Permanent Mission to the UN, in a tweet on Friday, said "India is proud to co-sponsor" the resolution which was put forth by Indonesia. "We are proud to co-sponsor the UN Security Council Resolution on women in peacekeeping that calls for full, effective and meaningful participation of women in peacekeeping operations," the Indian mission said. "In line with the priorities we (India) have set for ourselves, during our tenure in the Security Council beginning 2021, India will continue to push for greater involvement of women in all areas, the Indian mission said. In June, India was elected non-permanent member of the Security Council for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2021. It will serve as the president of the powerful 15-nation UN body for the month of August, 2021. India will preside over the Council again for a month in 2022. India has a long tradition of being associated with UN Peacekeeping since its inception. The country made history in 2007 when she deployed the first all-women Police Unit in the UN Mission in Liberia. India is the fifth largest contributor of uniformed personnel to the UN Peacekeeping Forces. It currently contributes more than 5,400 military and police personnel to the UN peacekeeping operations in Abyei, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, the Middle East, Sudan, South Sudan and Western Sahara as well as one expert to the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia. The Government is drawing up new rules to fast-track any coronavirus vaccine by giving it emergency approval, when one is eventually found to be safe and protect patients from the life-threatening disease. A change to current laws could allow the UK to sidestep the European Medicines Agency's red tape and get a jab rolled-out faster, without waiting for approval from the EU. And the Government is also training up an army of medical workers to be able to give out the jabs in order to speed up the process. This could include pharmacists, midwives, paramedics, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and even vets. The workforce is set to be trained by October. The race to find a vaccine for Covid-19 is hurtling ahead, with scientists around the world designing and trialling dozens of candidates in the hope that one will work and spell an end to the pandemic. One of the most promising has been developed in the UK by researchers at Oxford University and is already in large-scale human trials to test its effectiveness. Donald Trump is reportedly considering fast-tracking it for use in the US before the election this November, even though scientists haven't proven it works. When one is eventually found to be effective and safe, officials will scramble to get it to as many people as possible to avoid another devastating wave of deaths like the one Britain suffered this spring, when 40,000 infected patients died. A jab is not expected to be found until 2021 but Number 10 is drawing up emergency plans now in case of a scientific breakthrough before Christmas, officials said. The UK Government is training up an army of medical workers to be able to give out coronavirus jabs in order to speed up the process when a working one is found (stock image) Deputy chief medical officer for England, Dr Jonathan Van Tam, said today: 'We are making progress in developing Covid-19 vaccines which we hope will be important in saving lives, protecting healthcare workers and returning to normal in future. 'If we develop effective vaccines, it's important we make them available to patients as quickly as possible but only once strict safety standards have been met. VACCINES 'REDUCE DEATHS IN HEART FAILURE PATIENTS' Vaccines against chest infections like the flu and pneumonia reduce death rates among heart failure patients, according to a study revealed today. Heart failure affects around 920,000 people in the UK and 6.5million in the US and makes the heart unable to properly pump blood around the body. The condition itself can cause fluid to build up in the lungs, making breathing difficult, and it can be worsened by pneumonia and flu, which are much more dangerous for heart failure patients than healthy adults. A University of Connecticut study of 2.9million heart failure patients found that deaths in hospitals were significantly among patients who had had the flu vaccine. 1.3 per cent of those patients died during the study period, compared to 3.6 per cent of patients who didn't have the jab. Patients vaccinated against pneumonia also had significantly lower death rates than those who weren't - 1.2 per cent compared to 3.6 per cent. Dr Karthik Gonuguntla, who led the study, said: 'Pneumonia and flu vaccines are vital to preventing these respiratory infections and protecting patients with heart failure. 'Although many people have rejected common and safe vaccines before Covid-19, I am optimistic that the pandemic has changed perceptions about the role of immunisations in safeguarding our health.' The findings of the study were presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress this week. Advertisement 'The proposals consulted on today suggest ways to improve access and ensure as many people are protected from Covid-19 and flu as possible without sacrificing the absolute need to ensure that any vaccine used is both safe and effective.' The new rules being drafted will not shortcut the path a vaccine must take before it is approved for human use, and rigorous clinical trials must still be completed. It is intended, instead, to speed up the approval process by giving the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) the power to issue a 'temporary authorisation' without waiting for the jab to be fully licensed by Europe. Rules during the Brexit transition period - which doesn't end until 2021 - mean any new medicine for coronavirus must be licensed by the European Medicines Agency. But the new rule - for which officials are holding a three-week consultation - would mean that if scientists prove their vaccine works and is safe, the MHRA could approve it and get it used in Britain before it's licensed by the European Union. This will not cut short safety trials or any of the scientific work but will mean less paperwork has to be done before the jab can be used. Dr Christian Schneider, a director of standards in the MHRA, said: 'Whilst the existing licensing system or a new UK one from next year, is the preferred and expected route to supply any vaccine, these new measures will strengthen the regulatory regime and our ability to protect public health.' The rules are being drafted now in case a working vaccine is found before the end of the year, while the Brexit transition period is still going. Drug manufacturers are so hopeful that their jabs will work that they are already manufacturing millions of them without knowing whether they will be used. As well as speeding up the process of getting it from labs to patients, the British Government is planning to speed up the vaccination programme once it starts. It will do this by training huge numbers of staff to give out the vaccines so there can be a constant flow of jabs being administered. More doctors and nurses will be given the relevant training and health workers in other parts of the NHS may also be trained up. Student doctors and nurses, and staff such as midwives, paramedics and physiotherapists could be among the newly trained staff. There are around 1.1million people working in the NHS and officials say 'no options are off the table' in who they could train up. Everyone who is included in the programme will go through a 'robust training programme', the Department of Health said. Ministers are also reported to be considering drive-through vaccine clinics which work in a similar way to the regional coronavirus testing centres. People could be able to drive to centres specially set up - possibly in GP surgery car parks, for example - and get the vaccine without having to go into a clinic or hospital. This could make the process faster and make social distancing easier. The car park plan was drawn up for flu vaccinations in the coming months, The Times reported, but it's possible that it could be used for a Covid-19 jab in future. To the Times: I realize that the book, A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus by Washington Irving is largely viewed to be fanciful, sentimental, and billed as a fictionalized biographical account of the admiral. As a romantic historian, however, and a teacher, I am a lover of any accounts of historic events, reserving the obligation to synthesize all the information into a cohesive, likely rendition that I can live with. When it comes to centuries-old historical events, primary sources are more difficult to come by. Accurate reporting thereafter diminishes as a probability, commensurately. I have successfully endeavored to unearth those references to brutalities visited upon indigenous peoples in the Americas by Europeans, particularly the Conquistadores, and have been both horrified and brought to tears on many occasions throughout my studies. As painful as that has been, I have also admitted to myself that it was Columbus who legitimized the record of European appearance in the Western Hemisphere (legitimate in that Viking and other claims have not been matters of certifiable documentation, but rather speculation on the grounds that artifacts have been collected to lend some credence to such pronouncements) via written record. That is the difference between verbal claims and unsupportable pronouncements and what all honest brokers of historical truths ultimately rely upon to the satisfaction of their consciences: documentation. That is what civilizes legitimizes, and certifies history. I am certain, after extensive review, that, given the paucity of potential crew members available, save for those condemned to life sentences in prison and those on whatever version of death row may have existed half a millennium ago, Ferdinand and Isabella sent Columbus on an errand that was largely left up to him to fulfill. These criminals, having literally nothing left to lose, welcomed the conditions of their freedom, whether they be their potential deaths from falling off the sides of the earth, boiling to death at the equator, or being wrecked and devoured by stories-high sea creatures, such were the myths attendant to the descriptions of an accompaniment with whom many claimed was a mad man, anyway. If one uses their imagination, even if one almost lacks an imagination entirely, one can scarcely determine a voyage where this variety of crew wouldnt soon be plotting the mutiny and throwing overboard of the admiral if land had not been sighted by some arbitrarily determined calendar date. The Arawaks and others were met with unspeakable aggressions by these former inmates upon the presentation of gold trinkets as gifts to the new visitors. Except for the cannibalistic Caribes, the natives of the islands landed by Columbus and the two other captains, the Pinzon brothers, couldnt have been prepared for what awaited them by the Spanish, not the single Italian. I posit that Columbus was a dyed-in-the-wool scientific navigator who devoted his life to maritime theory. He may or may not have desired to make good on his promise to the sovereigns of Spain, whod underwritten his exploratory voyage, by returning with recompense for their financial investment in the journey. But Columbus, in my mind, couldnt possibly have had in mind what happened after he arrived at the hands of these unwieldy cutthroats. Blame him for all of it if it makes you feel good, but shaking your fist at the heavens accomplishes nothing. No one says a word in the condemnation of Cortez, Pizarro, even De Soto and others sailing under the colors of Spain. Perhaps it is racist to hold Spanish speaking peoples responsible for the abject decimation of the Aztecs, Incas, Mayans, and natives of the southern United States, as Hispanics today align themselves with people of color who are part of the array of those in opposition to all things Caucasian, regardless of the fact that the European continent birthed them all. The same holds true for the Columbian crew of Spanish marauders brought to Hispaniola, Haiti, and sundry other Caribbean islands. Washington Irvings first volume of the book of note here was the subject of oral presentation to my students a few years ago as I read it aloud to them over a span of several weeks. It is beautifully written, never wanting in terms of magnificently appointed description, rivaling masterpieces by such inspired adventurous stalwarts as Robert Louis Stevenson, Herman Melville, Jules Verne, Alexandre Dumas, or Jonathan Swift. Although its dubious legitimacy has never been in dispute, I recommend it to the intellectually honest among us, those less given to opinionated backbiting with those with whom they disagree on a wholly emotional level. Such back-and-forth sallies between and among us lead nowhere, save to further distance ourselves from one another. Although the book, once you bring to light what you are reading (if you share the news that this is what you are reading), is almost wholly unknown to the undereducated, may be met with derision and ridicule as a valid source of anything, I find it to be a surprisingly extensively researched, worthwhile history, given the huge number of primary and secondary history sources cited in its extensive bibliography. There are no scholars today who have the capacity and are willing to devote their lives to research with as much love and fidelity to their subjects as Irving, of this I am totally convinced. I only know that the enrichment of ones life requires that they care enough about themselves to pursue what is true, and that requires a suspension of their own prejudices and emotional extremes. What I see in the newspaper is quarrelsome dogma, verbal slugfests, and vain bids to get the last word. Instead, we should all strive to seek the truth, be willing to make concessions to one another, that maybe there is a third avenue that merits travel. You dont have to be Italian to appreciate Italians and grant them their due. You have to have honesty, integrity, and humility to grant anyone their just due. Otherwise, you are no better in character and quality than those you claim to abhor. You may actually possess the same despicable attributes, harbor the same predilections in your breasts, and have a lot more in common with those who tagged along with the admiral than youd dare to look in the mirror to behold, digest, and conclude. Joseph Previty, Aston Boris Johnson's Britain and the Donald Trump administration in the US have handled the Covid-19 pandemic the worst, according to a study. Just 46 per cent of Britons and 47 per cent of Americans think their government has coped well with the coronavirus. In comparison, 95 per cent of people in Denmark believe their country's politicians have performed well under the pressure of the crisis. Sweden, which opted against a lockdown, also scored well, with 71 per cent of residents praising their government's controversial approach. The figures come from Pew Research Center, a Washington DC-based think tank, which interviewed more than 14,000 adults in 14 economically advanced countries. Those who voted for the government in were more likely to give a positive rating of their leader's handling, compared to those who didn't. And countries where economies had crashed were more likely to hold a negative opinion, including the UK which has officially entered a recession because of the economy-crippling lockdown measures. In every country polled other than the UK and US, most people said their government had done well with just 27 per cent saying their country has handled it poorly. Denmark is at the top of the league, with 95 per cent. The majority of people in the UK (54 per cent) were not pleased with the government's handling of the crisis even worse than the US (52 per cent) Experts conducted telephone interviews between June 10 and August 3 with people in the US, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the UK, Australia, Japan and South Korea. Residents were asked whether they thought their government had done a good job in response to Covid-19, which has so far infected more than 20million people in almost every corner of the globe. IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME BRITAIN HAS SCORED BADLY Research by The Economist Intelligence Unit also found Britain ranked near the bottom in a damning global league table that compares how countries have tackled the Covid-19 pandemic. Only Belgium fared worse, according to a review of testing, healthcare and death rates that gave 21 OECD member nations a score out of four. The UK (2.22) was on par with Italy and Spain. Sweden, which controversially bucked the trend and opted against imposing a lockdown, scored higher (2.56). Analysts behind the report claimed the low scores recorded for both Spain and Italy were 'understandable', given they were the first in Europe to be hit. But analysts claimed it was 'harder to explain' the UK's poor score, saying the 'global connectivity' of London may have played a role in the death toll. The team wrote: 'The country had a slower build-up of cases than other European countries and more time to prepare. 'In addition, Britains centralised public healthcare system provided the government with crucial data as to who was most at risk.' The team suggested an 'insufficiently fast and co-ordinated response' as well as the 'initial lack of testing capacity' for the UK's poor response. And they claimed Number 10's controversial decision to suspend track and trace in early March 'may help to explain why the UK became an outlier'. New Zealand fared the best (3.67). The US whose performance was 'not as poor' as the death figures suggest came mid-table (3.11), the report revealed. Advertisement In every country polled other than the UK and US, more than half of people said their government has done well. Just 27 per cent said their country has handled it poorly. Denmark came top of the table (95 per cent), followed by Australia (94 per cent), Canada (89 per cent) and Germany (88 per cent) But in the UK, the majority (54 per cent) were not pleased with Number 10's handling of the crisis even worse than the US (52 per cent). The survey found almost six in ten US adults said cases could have been considerably lower had President Donald Trump taken a more cooperative approach, following his decision to cut ties with the World Health Organisation. This rose to seven in ten in the UK, with Europeans broadly thinking there had been missed opportunities to coordinate the initial response while cases dramatically rose in Italy, Spain and the UK. Data showed attitudes toward how countries dealt with the coronavirus epidemic are heavily influenced by their political leniency. The UK and US had high levels of political polarization on views of the government's handling of this crisis. A majority of right-leaning Britons (55 per cent) gave a positive rating to the way Mr Johnson's Conservative government has dealt with the crisis. But just 26 per cent on the left were of the same opinion, the study led by research associate Kat Devlin found. Similarly, 76 per cent of Republicans and independents who lean to the Republican Party say the Trump administration has done a good job. Just a quarter of Democrats and Democratic leaners agree. Professor John Curtice, a British political scientist the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, said that the phenomenon is well understood by social scientists. He told CNN: 'Generally speaking, it doesn't matter what you're asking: the government in power is more likely to be seen well by people who voted for it than people who didn't.' People in countries who think their nation is economically stable were also more likely to say their country had done a good job of dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN TO GET BRITONS BACK TO WORK Boris Johnson will launch a major drive to persuade more Britons to return to their workplaces as remote workers were warned they could be more at risk of being sacked. The Government is increasingly concerned that continued working from home will deal a hammer blow to struggling town and city centres. The Prime Minister is expected to step up his efforts next week to get more people back to their normal routines by reassuring the public that 'the workplace is a safe place'. The prospect of a new campaign to encourage commuters to return to their offices will be welcomed by Tory MPs who today warned that businesses in urban centres are facing 'devastating consequences' if things do not go back to normal. But Labour has accused ministers of 'threatening' workers and of 'forcing' them to make an 'unconscionable' choice between their health and their job after a Government source said people who continue working from home could be the first to go if firms restructure. Meanwhile, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps today said he believed there is a limit 'in human terms' to remote working as he argued people will want to return to workplaces to see their colleagues. He also insisted that public transport services will be increased if trains and buses get too busy when more workers resume their commutes. Chancellor Rishi Sunak is said to be worried of further job losses among businesses that depend on office workers, such as sandwich shops, pubs and gyms - along with the cost of running nearly empty buses and trains. A Government source told The Telegraph: 'People need to understand that working from home is not the benign option it seems. 'We need workers to be alert to what decisions their bosses may take in the weeks ahead. If they are only seeing workers once a fortnight then that could prove problematic for some employees in the future. 'We want employees to be careful what working arrangements they accept. Suddenly the word 'restructure' is bandied about and people who have been working from home find themselves in the most vulnerable position.' Labour's shadow minister for business Lucy Powell said: 'It beggars belief that the Government are threatening people like this during a pandemic. 'Forcing people to choose between their health and their job is unconscionable. 'Number 10 should condemn this briefing and categorically rule out any such campaign.' Advertisement Some 69 per cent of people in the UK with a positive view of the economy think the British government had done a good job. But only 40 per cent of those with concerns for the economy say the same. The UK economy suffered its biggest slump on record during lockdown, pushing the country into official recession earlier this month. The economy shrank 20.4 per cent, compared with the first three months of the year as a result of the mass closure of shops, restaurants and car dealerships. It's a worse outcome than Germany, France and Italy, and double the 10.6 per cent fall recorded in the US, the Office for National Statistics said. Among Americans with a more optimistic view of the economy, 78 per cent reported that they approve of the way the US government has dealt with the virus. But those who think the American economy is currently in poor shape are less than half as likely to give the government response a positive rating. It compares to Denmark and Australia where more than 90 per cent of people in either category took a positive stance on the government's response. The respondents were also asked if they felt their country had been united as a result of the pandemic. Fewer than two in 10 people (18 per cent) in the US said the country is more united now after suffering the worst Covid-19 outbreak almost 6million cases and 183,000 deaths. It comes amid tensions in the lead up to the presidential election on November 3 and ongoing Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of police brutality. The US, where a patchwork of coronavirus restrictions are in place across each state, scored a full 21 percentage points below the next lowest-ranking countries. Germany and France had the second and third lowest score for feelings of unity, where 39 per cent of respondents said their country was more united than before Covid-19. Denmark, once again, ranked top. Seven in 10 people said their country had become more united as a result of the pandemic. There was little consensus in the UK, which was split down the middle 46 per cent of respondents on each side. The remaining eight per cent did not answer. The majority of participants, a median of 59 per cent, said coronavirus cases could have been lower had leaders globally worked together. In countries with relatively good Covid-19 outcomes, respondents did not think the number of coronavirus cases would have been reduced by international cooperation. Some 78 per cent of people in Denmark, which has reported 17,000 cases, think cases would not have been reduced by international cooperation, and more than half (56 per cent) in Germany, where 240,561 cases but less than 10,000 deaths have been reported. Among other findings in the survey were that women in every country are more likely than men to say their lives have changed because of the crisis. In Sweden, more than seven out of 10 people (71 per cent) said their lives had changed a great deal as a result of the outbreak. Artists are invited to enter into the 2021 Molly Morpeth Canaday Award. The competition is one of New Zealand's longest running and most vibrant national contemporary art awards. This annual non-acquisitive award is dedicated to excellence across contemporary and traditional painting and drawing genres. The award has developed over 30 years and sits credibly within the New Zealand arts community. A high standard of work is selected to form the exhibition from nationwide entries by three pre-selection judges working independently. The 2021 Molly Morpeth Canaday Award Painting and Drawing has more than $20,000 in prize money for emerging and established New Zealand artists. Kirstin Carlins winning entry in 2017 Through the Trees. Supplied image. For participants, the award offers professional development opportunities to artists by showcasing their practice to peers, collectors, critics, museum curators, the media and the community at large. The Major Award winner will take away $10,000, while the Akel Award Runner Up will receive $4,000. A third Prize $3,000 will be presented by Jacqui Hughes and Arts Whakatane, and a prize of $2,500 will go to the winner of the Craigs Investment Partners Youth Award. The award exhibition is presented by exhibition partners Whakatane District Council and Arts Whakatane and will be shown at Te Koputu a te whanga a Toi - Whakatane Library and Exhibition Centre. Entries for the award opened on August 21 and will close at midnight on November 22 2020. Sinovac Biotech Ltd's coronavirus vaccine candidate CoronaVac was approved in July for emergency use as part of a programme in China to vaccinate high-risk groups such as medical staff, a person familiar with the matter said. China National Biotec Group (CNBG), a unit of state-owned pharmaceutical giant China National Pharmaceutical (Sinopharm), also said it had obtained emergency use approval for a coronavirus vaccine candidate in social media platform WeChat on Sunday. CNBG, which has two vaccine candidates in phase 3 clinical trials, did not say which of its vaccines had ... My final show @abcnews Time to say farewell #abccuts Thanks to the very talented people Ive worked with and thanks for watching pic.twitter.com/1FTjO1HYHv Andrew Geoghegan (@AusAndrewG) August 27, 2020 Another longtime ABC presenter has signed off after 18 years with the broadcaster. Andrew Geoghegan this morning farewelled viewers on the ABC News channel, another to depart due to ABC redundancies. That is ABC News for now -and for me, its farewell, he said. This has been a year of upheaval and the pandemic has only accelerated the hollowing out of the media industry and journalism in particular. Newsrooms across the country are losing vast amounts of experience and that doesnt bode well for a strong and independent media sector -one needs to be well-funded. So please keep watching, listening and reading trusted news sources because quality journalism depends on your support. Geoghegan has worked on The 7.30 Report, Lateline, Inside Business and ABC Radio programs AM, PM and The World Today. As a foreign correspondent in Asia, Africa and the UK, he covered some of the worlds major news events, and in Australia he has worked at every commercial television network and SBS. He has also worked as a journalist in Europe and Asia covering some of the worlds major news events and hosted a television finance program for Bloomberg Television. Thanks to all the teams here Ive worked with over past two decades and thanks to my beautiful wife and kids. And thanks for your support. It has been an absolute pleasure to bring you the news from here and around the world. Im Andrew Geoghegan, thanks for watching, he said. Syria may be on the verge of another escalation in violence. Friction is increasing in the east, where on Aug. 25 a Russian vehicle hit an American vehicle on patrol, injuring four US soldiers. Meanwhile, in the northwest, there is a gathering storm around Idlib, where Russian-backed Syrian forces may be threatening another, perhaps final, assault on the enclave run by the terrorist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (Liberation of the Levant) and other armed opposition groups, as Sultan al-Kanj reports. All this comes as US-Turkish relations remain poor. The only thing that seems to keep ties from going into the abyss is the personal connection between US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, although you couldnt tell by Erdogans comments this week. The tangled eastern front The Aug. 25 incident, after which the Pentagon accused Moscow of breaching the US-Russia deconfliction agreement, occurred as the Syrian eastern front becomes increasing crowded and volatile. US troops skirmished with Syrian troops near Deir ez-Zor and Qamishli earlier this month. One Syrian soldier was killed. The northeast includes the Turkish military occupation zone. Turkish military and armed proxy forces invaded northeast Syria in October 2019 to create a security belt or safe zone against the perceived threat from Syrian Kurdish groups there. Those groups happen to have been vital US partners against the Islamic State. Erdogan has also entertained the fantastical notion that a significant number of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees in Turkey could be relocated in this area. This week, Turkey and its Syrian proxy forces yet again cut off drinking water to the Hasakah region, as Amberin Zaman reports. Neither the United States nor Russia has the diplomatic weight at this point to keep the east from boiling over. US diplomatic levers are with the mostly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which Turkey claims is a cover for the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara sees as linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Both the United States and Turkey have designated the PKK a terrorist group. Kirill Semenov explains the risks for Russia 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, Semenov writes. 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. It gets even more complicated. Russia and Syria have their own military agreements with the SDF following the Turkish invasion. The US decision to stay in the region to secure Syrian oil undercuts Moscows flagging efforts to reconcile the SDF with Syrian President Bashar al-Assads government. The presence of 600 US troops in Syria empowers the SDF to take a tougher line with Damascus. Meanwhile, according to Semenov, Russia is seeking to expand its influence by reconciling tribal leaders with Damascus to undercut the SDFs influence. The risk of inadvertent clashes is high. There are US, Russian, Russian-Turkish and US-SDF patrol routes, in addition to Syrian, Syrian opposition and Iranian forces in the area, as well as Islamic State dead enders. Check out this map of patrol routes from the Institute for the Study of War and you will wonder how the skirmishes have been kept limited so far. Russias decision point on Iran And that brings us to Iran which, according to Semenov, is seeking to expand its ground game in the area via the Syrian military. The United States is hoping to leverage Russia against Iran. This approach has merit, but is easier said than done. Anton Mardasov explains here how Moscow is facing a decision point regarding potential arms sales to Tehran, given the lifting of the longstanding UN arms embargo on Iran. Erdogan accuses US of "sick mentality" Considering that the United States has adopted an adversarial posture with Iran, Syria and Russia, the first stop for US policy in Syria now should be Turkey, a NATO ally. Should be. Instead, Syria remains a source of friction in US-Turkey relations, as Washington has been unable to thread the needle on its desire to improve ties with Ankara and manage its partnership with the SDF. For example, Turkey has blocked the participation of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the political affiliate of the YPG, in the Syrian opposition. The Syrian Constitutional Committee convened this week in Geneva, a standout diplomatic achievement for UN Syria envoy Geir Pedersen, but Turkey is still not allowing representatives from the PYD, which holds sway and territory in the country. James Jeffrey, the US special representative for Syria engagement and also special envoy to the global coalition to defeat the Islamic State, was in Turkey this week to discuss Syria. While some of the public statements coming out of the meetings will signal some common ground, especially in opposition to Assad and joint support for the non-Kurdish Syrian opposition, the overall state of relations remains low. Erdogan said Aug. 24 that the US approach to Turkey conveyed a "sick mentality." By "collaborating with the PKK/YPG terrorist organization, they took up a position against our country. He described US policy toward Turkey as a "disgrace to democracy" and referred to "fascist plans" by US politicians toward his country. Erdogan here is not showing much nuance, or much appreciation for Trump greenlighting the Turkish invasion of Syria, which he did in a call with Erdogan in October 2019. On Aug. 25, the day after Erdogans remarks, the State Department strongly objected to his meeting with Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas political bureau, as Elizabeth Hagedorn reports. The Turkish Foreign Ministry rejected the US statement as "impertinent," adding that a country which openly supports the PKK, that features on their list of terrorist organizations and hosts the ringleader of the FETO [Fethullah Gulen, who Erdogan blames for the coup attempt in Turkey in 2016] has no right whatsoever to say anything to third countries on this subject. The frustration for US policymakers, who often, and rightly, underscore the many seeming contradictions and differences among the so-called Astana Group in Syria Turkey, Russia and Iran is how the three nonetheless routinely come together to strategize and issue statements on Syria. The Astana three banged out a joint statement last week that included opposition to the illegal seizure and transfer of oil revenues in Syria, referring to the US oil company deal with the SDF. Top-down diplomacy All thats keeping the US-Turkish relationship from dropping over a cliff, it seems, is Trump and Erdogans personal connection, but even that may have taken a hit this week. Trump has been talking up his relationship with Erdogan, but his Turkish counterpart may not have been listening. During a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi at the White House on Aug. 20, Trump offered his good offices to help de-escalate Iraq-Turkey tensions over Turkish attacks on the PKK in Iraq, saying he has a very, very good relationship with Turkey and with President Erdogan. A senior State Department official implied the United States has since engaged, saying, We are talking to all parties about this at a high level. Although Trump called Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Aug. 27 to de-escalate tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, Turkey nonetheless decided to proceed with live-fire naval exercises. Cengiz Candar writes that Erdogans moves in the eastern Mediterranean against Greece are designed to fire up his nationalist base and have the consequence, intentional or not, of causing one of the deepest rifts within NATO in some time. Semih Idiz adds that Erdogans coercive diplomacy leads Turkey to storm from crisis to crisis. There is, in the end, no substitute for a meeting of the minds among Trump, Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Syria. The Syrian eastern front is unstable, and no longer in Idlibs shadow as a potential fault line for conflict. Trumps political future depends on whether his convention begins to move the electorate back in his direction. The well-packaged program aimed some of the speeches at the presidents most fervent supporters, those who voted for him in 2016 and like-minded Americans who did not but whose votes this year could be vital. But just as important for Trumps reelection hopes are those Americans who do not already know how they will vote in the November election and might be looking for a reason to support Trump, even with misgivings. Demagogue: The Life and Long Shadow of Senator Joe McCarthy By Larry Tye Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 597 pp. $36 - - - In the 75 years since World War II, two imposing demagogues have scarred American public life. One was Joseph R. McCarthy, the subject of Larry Tye's new book. The highest title McCarthy achieved was junior senator from Wisconsin, but his trail of havoc and personal destruction qualifies him as one of the most despicable political villains of the 20th century. The second, of course, was President Donald Trump. As Tye points out repeatedly in "Demagogue: The Life and Long Shadow of Senator Joe McCarthy," the two men have a great deal in common, starting with a gift for fabulation - making stuff up. Another thing McCarthy and Trump shared was a base of fervent supporters. I was intrigued to discover that similar percentages of American voters stuck with both these demagogues no matter how bad their reputations became. In 1954, soon after the Army-McCarthy hearings that humiliated the senator and a 67-to-22 Senate vote to condemn or censure him, Gallup found that 34% of voters still approved of McCarthy. In mid-July of this year, after more than 120,000 American deaths from covid-19, an economic collapse and months of bad publicity for his mishandling of the pandemic, a Washington Post-ABC poll found that 38% approved of "the way Trump is handling the coronavirus outbreak" and 39% approved of his overall performance as president. Tye was obviously delighted to discover this quotation from George Gallup, the pollster, describing McCarthy's devoted supporters in unflattering terms: "Even if it were known that McCarthy had killed five innocent children, they would probably still go along with him." Was Trump familiar with Gallup's comment when he said during the 2016 campaign, "I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters"? Probably not - Trump has never shown any sign of reading American history. This looks more like a pure coincidence. But Trump would envy McCarthy's popularity, which - while it lasted, about five years - was higher than Trump's has ever been. The senator assembled what Richard Rovere of the New Yorker called "a coalition of the aggrieved." Polling was much rarer in the early '50s than it is today, but what polls there were showed that McCarthy, before his fall in 1954, had the support of half the country. Even Dwight D. Eisenhower, an enormously popular president, was afraid to take on McCarthy directly, even after he slimed Gen. George C. Marshall, Ike's beloved mentor. One reason for this was the popularity of the anti-communist cause that McCarthy used to try to promote himself into national stardom. McCarthy was actually a latecomer to the anti-communist crusade, which the House Un-American Activities Committee had initiated before World War II. By the time he joined the crusaders in February 1950, at the beginning of his fourth year in the Senate, it was old news. But McCarthy hit on a way to revive it. He had accepted an invitation to speak to the annual Lincoln Day dinner organized by the Republican ladies of Wheeling, W.Va. On the spur of the moment, Tye tells us, with little preparation or reflection, McCarthy decided to speak on the threat posed by communists working inside the State Department. He had some notes on the subject in his briefcase, alongside notes for a talk on national housing policy - "a snoozer," according to Tye. The speech McCarthy gave was the first to include the oft-ridiculed phrase "I have here in my hand," which became a McCarthy favorite. On this occasion what he claimed to have in hand was a list of 205 "members of the Communist Party . . . who are still working and shaping policy in the State Department." McCarthy's personal secretary in 1950 was a woman named Mary Brinkley Driscoll. She refused to talk openly about her boss to her famous brother, the broadcaster David Brinkley, until after the senator died in 1957. David Brinkley recorded their first candid conversation about McCarthy in his memoirs: "I asked Mary: 'What did he have in his hand [in Wheeling]? . . . Did he have two hundred and five names?' Mary: 'No.' David: 'Where did he get that number?' Mary: 'He made it up.' When he saw the headlines his talk was generating, [she went on,] McCarthy 'was nearly insane with excitement. He clutched the newspapers and ran around the Senate office shouting, 'I've got it. I've got it!' 'He thought he had the issue he needed to make him into a great political figure and to guarantee his Senate seat forever.' " McCarthy "learned early that there was no worse a penalty for a big lie than for a little one, but that only the big ones drew a crowd, so he told whoppers," Tye writes. This is a frustrating, fascinating book. Tye is an inelegant writer and a great reporter. He has relentlessly vacuumed up facts from a rich variety of source materials, some of them never before examined. But his narrative skills are limited, so his book often feels like the result of emptying his notebooks. Tye tells us a lot, but too often he walks away from the biggest mysteries of McCarthy's life and work with what feels like a defeated shrug, not an explanation. So we never get remotely satisfying conclusions about why McCarthy did what he did in his brief, meteoric career. (He was dead at age 48, a decade after becoming a senator.) In this long book the author's most substantial attempt to explain what lay behind McCarthy's compulsive lying and demagogic behavior is that he suffered from what a law school friend described as a "fantastic" inferiority complex "at the core of [his] personality." But Tye's efforts to illuminate that complex seem superficial. Class resentment seems to have been one important demon. Another was sensitivity about growing up in a farm family with parents who never lost their Irish brogues. McCarthy had a first-class mind and sped through high school, college and law school, but he had no intellectual interests. Tye quotes one of his oldest friends: "I don't think he ever read a book cover to cover." But the childhood Tye fleetingly describes was apparently a happy one. McCarthy's father was no Fred Trump, and his six siblings seem to have loved and admired Joe. Tye calls him "the most talented and good-looking" of the brood, whom his siblings saw "as a standout, even a prodigy." On the other hand, McCarthy had a drinking problem from an early age, and by the time he came to Washington in 1947, he was an alcoholic. The senator carried a flask of booze in his briefcase and drank heavily through the workday. Tye tells us about the drinking, but makes scant effort to explain its origins or its impact on the man or his work. His reporting shows that McCarthy must have been drunk for much of the time he was terrorizing Washington. The medical records that Tye uncovered from Bethesda Naval Hospital, where McCarthy was often treated and where he died, reveal that the drinking killed him. The best chapter in Tye's book describes how Republicans from Eisenhower to local precinct officials in Wisconsin and nearly every GOP member of the Senate "enabled" McCarthy's corrupt crusade against communists in government. The account Tye provides is eerily reminiscent of today's Republicans, whom we are watching in real time as they destroy their party's future by enabling Trump's version of demagoguery. Another strong chapter describes the human toll that McCarthy inflicted - the ruined careers and lives that he carelessly sacrificed to his compulsive need for public attention. Thousands of people were affected; some committed suicide. But Washingtonians old enough to remember the McCarthy years (this reviewer is one) will be disappointed by Tye's failure to capture the atmosphere the senator created in the nation's capital, which included fear and loathing but also courage and principle. The McCarthy years were a proud time in the history of this newspaper, whose news columns, editorials and especially its editorial cartoons by the genius Herblock held McCarthy to account day after day. It was Herblock who turned McCarthy into a noun when he coined the term "McCarthyism" in March 1950. Weirdly, one character in the book connects the McCarthy era - nearly seven decades ago - to the present day: Roy Cohn. McCarthy relied heavily on the young lawyer from New York, who was just 27 when he became chief counsel to the Senate subcommittee on investigations when McCarthy assumed its chairmanship in January 1953. Cohn terrorized many of the people the senator decided needed to be investigated. Later, Cohn became a Trump family lawyer in New York and a role model for Donald Trump. Cohn was a nasty piece of work who apparently convinced Trump of the benefits of stubborn refusal ever to cooperate with any enemy or competitor who got in his way. For years Trump and Cohn were close, but when the lawyer fell victim to AIDS, Trump dropped him. After finishing this book, one wonders if McCarthy would have done the same. - - - Kaiser is a former managing editor of The Washington Post. A clear indicator of the falling participation of women in the workforce came in the form of a report published this week in The Indian Express, according to which the rate of participation of women under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) is at an eight-year low. In terms of person-days, the participation of women in NRGES is the lowest since 2013-14, from when the number of person-days of women were seen to be steadily increasing. The latest data is significant because it proves what many labour experts and those working on gender-based issues have been saying all along that Covid-19 is pushing women out of the formal and informal economies, reversing the progress made by them over the past few decades. A comprehensive survey-based report released by the non-governmental organisation ActionAid this month showed the extent to which women have withdrawn from various informal industries and sectors that have traditionally been dominated by them. The report listed five sectors domestic work, weeding work, agricultural labour, waste work and beedi making which had seen drastic reduction in the number of female workers. The survey found 85 per cent of the domestic workers had lost their jobs during Covid-19, nearly 90 per cent of female agricultural labourers reported losing their jobs, 85 per cent of weeding workers had no work, 69 per cent of waste workers reported not working at all during the pandemic, and 60 per cent of women employed in the beedi-rolling trade were out of work. RELATED NEWS US Jobless Claims Tick Up to 7,45,000 as Layoffs Remain High Despite Improved Economy Overwhelming proportions of women in all segments reported having to dip into their savings to sustain their families and having to borrow money to survive, while getting minimal state support. A mix of factors local shutdowns, lack of protective gear, fear of police action and threat of contracting the disease meant that men replaced women in many of these segments. Rahul Suresh Sapkal, an assistant professor at Centre for Labour Studies, School of Management and Labour Studies, TISS, who has been part of ActionAids earlier labour reports, said that it wasnt as if the right of women to work had officially been abrogated. But whats happened because of lockdowns and migration of labour to their home states is that now theyre not being allowed to return for work, or are not feeling the return journey quite safe. Slowly were seeing men replace womens jobs to a great extent in the informal economy. In other cases, many sectors that were dominated by women have still not opened, Sapkal said. He gave the example of schools where women are employed primarily as caregivers, which havent opened for the past many months. Employment opportunities in the workplaces have also gone down while at the same time safe travelling options arent available to them. So, among the migrant labourers who are returning, we are seeing an overwhelming proportion of men, Sapkal said. He added that workplaces, including construction sites, having placed the condition of labourers having to mandatorily undergo 14-day quarantine at their own expense, is also a factor thats seeing a gradual decline in female participation. Since labourers have to undergo the quarantine at their own expense, they are cramming into small spaces, taking huge risks to avoid paying exorbitant rents, which is a risk that women migrant labourers cannot take, Sapkal added. Talking about the state of female workers, the ActionAid report states, Since their enrolment in welfare schemes is so low, women are unlikely to be able to support and sustain their households, unless the government makes a special effort to include them in relief packages and welfare schemes. Unimaginative and status quoist approaches will continue sidelining them. The report gives the instance of the PM Kisan scheme, the first instalment of which was, the report says, front-loaded and transferred to the farmers enrolled under the relief package. But the scheme is only applicable to small and marginal farmers who own up to two hectares of land. Most women farmers do not own land and work as agricultural labourers or tenant farmers and are therefore, outside the remit of the scheme. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Geert De Clercq (Reuters) Paris, France Fri, August 28, 2020 14:08 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4125bc2 2 Environment France,Songbird,bird,animals Free France has suspended the glue-trapping of songbirds this year but stopped short of abolishing the controversial practice which is criticized as barbaric by bird lovers and banned under European Union regulations. President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement on Thursday that, following a meeting with environment minister Barbara Pompili and hunting federation president Willy Schraen, the quota for hunting thrushes and blackbirds with glue traps will be set to zero this year. France is the only country to still allow the catching of birds with glue traps - and other "traditional" methods such as snares and nets - despite a 1979 European Union ban. Under a 1989 decree allowing glue trapping as long as it is "selective, controlled and in limited quantity", France has allowed the practice every year despite protests by bird protection organizations, who say that glue traps cause severe stress and that protected species are also caught in them. "This is a good result, because until now every year an exception was made allowing the hunt. But they are not banning the practice, only suspending it," France Bird Protection Association president Yves Verilhac told Reuters. The association says glue trapping is a "cruel and odious" practice from a bygone era and that France should join other EU nations in outlawing it completely. Read also: Tropical songbirds stop breeding to survive drought Verilhac said Macron was merely responding to a July 4 European Union injunction and the threat of EU legal action against France. The Elysee palace statement said France was awaiting a response from the European Court of Justice about legal issues involving glue trapping. Hunting federation chief Schraen said on BFM televison that there was no reason to ban glue trapping and that his association would fight the decision in court. "There are just a few thousand hunters in the south of France and they have been doing this for decades. It has no impact on bird numbers" he said. He said that no protected species were being caught this way and that the suspension was a purely political decision. "I defend these rural values, which must continue," he said. Topics : France Songbird bird animals Upping the ante against the Centre, hundreds of Delhi Congress workers on Friday staged a protest outside the Ministry of Education demanding postponing NEET and JEE exams. Delhi Congress unit workers led by city unit chief Chaudhary Anil Kumar assembled near Shastri Bhawan here, which houses the Education ministry and raised slogans against the Narendra Modi government. However, they were detained by the Delhi Police and taken to Mandir Marg police station. Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter and wrote, "NEET-JEE aspirants' safety should not be compromised due to the failures of the government. Government must listen to all stakeholders and arrive at a consensus." Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also took to Twitter and wrote, "The govt cannot ignore the voices of the students appearing for NEET, JEE exams and those of their concerned parents. They are the future of our country. With the rising scale of the pandemic, is it fair to expose them to infection in this manner? At least some things should be beyond politics." In the morning Rahul Gandhi also appealed to the people to join the nationwide protest for students' safety. "Unite your voice with lakhs of suffering students. Speak up for student safety from 10 a.m. onwards. Let's make the government listen to the students," he tweeted. The Congress is protesting across the country demanding postponing of NEET, JEE exams scheduled in the month of September amid the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Meanwhile, NSUI workers are sitting on a protest outside Shastri Bhawan for the last three days demanding postponing the exams. Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal visited the NSUI workers in solidarity. "Visited NSUI protest at Shasthri Bhavan to show my solidarity. The BJP government must listen to the voice of students who are concerned about safety and transportation during Covid-19. The government must listen to them before making a decision on JEE and NEET exams," Venugopal tweeted. We all fall victim to those frustrating days when nothing seems to be going our way. But if you think you're having a bad time, these pictures may bring reassurance that it could always be worse. Shareably has rounded up a selection of hilarious viral photographs of people from around the world who've suffered unexpected misfortune. One of the images shows a scooter stuck in cement, while another captures a phone being taken by what appears to be a crocodile. We all fall victim to those frustrating days when nothing seems to be going our way. But if you think you're having a bad day, these pictures may bring reassurance that it could always be worse. Pictured, a scooter, at an undisclosed location, stuck in cement Shareably has rounded up a selection of hilarious viral photographs of people from around the world, who've suffered unexpected misfortune. One of the images shows a phone being taken by what appears to be a crocodile in the US (pictured) Brute strength! One man's day got a lot worse when he fell through the ceiling. The location in this photograph is unknown Not a great start to the day! One American person was left with a face full of water after picking the wrong position to sit in Bad day at the office! One anonymous employee shared his distress after realising he'd placed odd shoes onto his feet Not tan-tastic! One woman, at an undisclosed location, was stunned to discover the items she'd had resting on her legs left behind odd tanlines One person shared their shock online after their car door suddenly split in two. The location of the vehicle is unknown Not so happy birthday: This woman, thought to be based in the US, appeared devastated when watching her cake fall from her plate Time for a takeaway? A pan glass lid shattered and ruined what appeared to be a perfectly good meal in this amusing snap. It's unclear where the image was taken Not a laughing matter: It looks like this painter and decorator, thought to be British, might be trapped on this roof for a while This woman, believed to be British, appeared to be unaware that she had sat down on a bench with 'wet paint' signs in front of it Fair and equitable public policy is critical for securing and maintaining economic self-sufficiency for women, minorities, and other underserved communities. The Womens Business Development Center (WBDC) launched their new civic engagement initiative, Raising Up the Vote, on August 26th, the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. The campaign kicked off with a three-part virtual event sponsored by Target which discussed the intersection of gender and racial equality. As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment, we still have more work to do to ensure that voices of all women, especially women of color, and all diverse community members are heard and represented, said Emilia DiMenco, President and CEO of the Womens Business Development Center. Fair and equitable public policy is critical for securing and maintaining economic self-sufficiency for women, minorities, and other underserved communities. The Intersection of Gender & Racial Equality virtual event included a conversation with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D Ill.) moderated by Melody Spann Cooper, Chairman of Midway Broadcasting Corporation. This was followed by two expert-packed panels discussing a variety of topics from the history of voting rights and the importance of economic self-sufficiency to examining how white women and other allies can offer support to women of color. A recording of the no-cost webinar will be available online to those who missed the virtual event. From flying helicopters overseas to passing bills in the Senate, Ive spent my entire life in male-dominated fields, but Ive learned the good that arises from bringing different perspectives into the conversation, said Senator Duckworth. It was an honor to join Womens Business Development Center to celebrate 100 years of the 19th Amendment and discuss the legislative priorities that impact the lives of women of color. Its so much more than just equal pay, paid family leave, and childcare healthcare is a womans issue, the economy is a womans issue and national security is a womans issue. Raising Up the Vote is a terrifically powerful initiative. I am honored to be a part of this movement and participate in the launch event alongside such influential and inspirational women and men, said Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Wis.-04), who was a panelist during the August 26th discussion. It is essential that all women come together and empower one another to engage in the upcoming democratic election, as well as the elections that follow. "As citizens of the United States, we all have a responsibility to participate in the democratic process of voting and ensure that our voices are represented in the public policy arena, added DiMenco. We greatly appreciate Senator Duckworth's and Congresswoman Moores leadership and support for this important initiative." Raising Up the Vote will continue to facilitate conversations among influential women and men in business and government through other virtual events, weekly podcasts, and interactive discussions on gender and racial diversity on the WBDCs social channels. The WBDC will launch their podcast series, Make Your Mark, on September 21, and will cover topics ranging from wealth creation for women to equity in education. Former United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Cargill Vice President of North America Government Relations Kathryn Graves Unger, University of Minnesota President Joan T.A. Gabel, and Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation Senior Vice President of Community Impact Pahoua Yang Hoffman will be a few of the podcast guests. With the Raising Up the Vote initiative, the Womens Business Development Center is bringing together a diverse and powerful group of women and men to have important conversations regarding race and civil engagement, said Gabel. From elected officials to business owners, these discussions are necessary for us all to have as we reflect on the past and prepare for a future where women continue to break down the barriers set before them. ### The Womens Business Development Center The Womens Business Development Center (WBDC) is a 501(c)(3) nationally recognized leader in the field of womens economic development. The organization was founded in 1986 to provide programs and services to support and accelerate womens business ownership and strengthen the impact of women on the economy by creating jobs, fueling economic growth, and building strong communities. Learn more at http://www.wbdc.org. Raising Up the Vote Launched in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, Raising Up the Vote is an initiative from the Womens Business Development Center focused on driving a future of fair and equitable public policy by encouraging women, minorities, and all underrepresented groups to be involved within the public policy arena. Join the WBDC in raising up the vote by attending events, listening to our podcast series, and contributing to our social media conversations. Learn more at http://www.wbdc.org/raising-up-the-vote-movement. 5 Shares Share We all knew this pandemic was going to change how we practiced medicine, but I, personally, was not prepared for how much it would challenge the work-life balance that I have spent years carefully maneuvering. Female physicians are often hesitant to express individual needs for fear of being viewed as weak. Im finding freedom in removing the stigma of weakness and shame from my own concept of vulnerability. It can unite and connect us, giving us strength and empowerment in a time when so much seems beyond our control. Erica Gillette is a family physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, Vulnerability gives us strength in a time when so much seems beyond our control. Did you enjoy todays episode? Please click here to leave a review for The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out! Do you know someone who might enjoy this episode? Share this episode to anyone who wants to hear health care stories filled with information, insight, and inspiration. Hosted by Kevin Pho, MD, The Podcast by KevinMD shares the stories of the many who intersect with our health care system but are rarely heard from. At a time when the fear of Covid-19 is still forcing people to stay back home, the majority of trains heading towards metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai, besides cities in Gujarat, are running packed. Railway officials call it a possible reverse migration that has left the majority of Mumbai and Delhi bound trains with no room. The rush is so much that northeastern railways (NER), Lucknow division, which is currently plying six pairs of trains, including two pairs for Delhi and four for Mumbai, has urged the Railway Board to increase the number of trains on these routes. In the present Unlock phase, six pairs of special trains are operating from our division. Of them, two pairs are Delhi bound and four pairs, including the prestigious Pushpak, are Mumbai bound, said Monica Agnihotri, divisional railway manager (DRM), Lucknow division, NER. As per some senior officials of the NER, around 18,750 passengers board these trains daily from Lucknow and other cities of the division on an average. Also read: 6 non-BJP states file review petition in Supreme Court for NEET, JEE postponement As per the current scenario, all four Mumbai-bound trains, including 02541 Gorakhpur-Mumbai LTT, Pushpak Express, Gorakhpur Bandra Terminus Avadh Covid-19 Special and Kushi Nagar Express, have long waiting list. Similarly, two Delhi-bound trains of NERs Lucknow division too have a long waiting list. Both Delhi and Mumbai bound trains of the NER, Lucknow division, have witnessed a formidable rise in the occupancy rate in the last three months. In June, the passenger occupancy rate in all six trains, including Pushpak, originating from Lucknow was 89 percent. However, in July and August, the occupancy rate in all the trains touched the 100-percent mark, a senior official said. Following the high occupancy rate in the trains going towards Mumbai, the division has moved a proposal to the Railway Board, seeking more trains on the particular route in order to cater to the rise in the number of passengers, said DRM, Lucknow division. At the same time, we are strictly ensuring that the Covid-19 protocol is followed and social distancing is maintained, she added. Other than the NER, a similar trend is observed in the 5 pairs of trains being operated by the Northern Railway from its Lucknow division. Of them, two each are bound for Delhi and Mumbai while one is for Gujarat. These include Delhi-bound Gomti express special, Ahemdabad-bound Sabarmati special, Mumbai-bound Kamayani express special, Mumbai-bound Mahanagri special train and Delhi-bound Mahanama express. The officials, however, said barring June, when the passenger occupancy rate was low, the occupancy rate in trains was 100 percent in July and August. Moreover, some railway officials call it a reverse migration of labourers and workers that is leaving no room in trains. It was expected. The migrants who returned during lockdown are now going back to their workplaces which is causing rush in trains, a railway official said. One Irshad Alam of Siddharthnagar, on his way to Surat in Gujarat by Muzaffarpur Bandra terminus Avadh Covid-19 special train, said, Nothing like spending time with family and working in our own hometown. But due to fewer job opportunities here, we are forced to migrate for work. I think I may end up getting jobless if I dont go back. Besides him, there were several other migrants who claimed they were moving back to their workplace. I returned from Shramik special train on May 19. Since then, I was sitting idle. Hence I decided to head back to work. In Gujarat, the working conditions are good and so is the remunerationRs 400 per day along with accommodation, said another worker Raghuraj Singh from Devari village in Kasganj district. He said he worked at a brick kiln in Gujarat. On being asked what wage was offered to a worker at his native place, he said it was quite low without further elaborating. During a massive drive launched during the lockdown, the UP government had brought back over 20 lakh migrants from across the country. Announcement: Moody's: Emerson's acquisition of OSI is credit negative; no effect on ratings Global Credit Research - 27 Aug 2020 New York, August 27, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service says that Emerson Electric Company ("Emerson") announced on August 27, 2020 that it had entered into an agreement to purchase Open Systems International, Inc (OSI) for $1.6 billion in cash. OSI is a grid automation software solution provider for utilities, which Emerson intends to integrate into its Automated Solutions segment. Moody's views the planned transaction as credit negative because of the size of the purchase price relative to expected earnings contributions, as well as Emerson's plan to fund the acquisition with additional debt and use of its cash balances. Even so, the development does not affect Emerson's ratings or outlook (A2 stable) at this time. The company expects the transaction to close early in its fiscal year ending September 2021. For additional information, research subscribers are directed to the associated issuer comment for Emerson which can be found on Moody's website at www.moodys.com. Emerson Electric Company produces products and systems which address a wide range of industrial, commercial and consumer markets. The company is organized in two business segments: Automation Solutions, which includes its process management and industrial automation businesses, and Commercial and Residential Solutions, which comprises Emerson's Climate Technologies and Tools & Home Products businesses. Total revenue for the LTM period ended June 30, 2020 was $17.2 billion. 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. 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. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Story continues 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. AND/OR ITS CREDIT RATINGS AFFILIATES ARE MOODY'S CURRENT OPINIONS OF THE RELATIVE FUTURE CREDIT RISK OF ENTITIES, CREDIT COMMITMENTS, OR DEBT OR DEBT-LIKE SECURITIES, AND MATERIALS, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY MOODY'S (COLLECTIVELY, "PUBLICATIONS") MAY INCLUDE SUCH CURRENT OPINIONS. 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Actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan, is all set to return to front the fourth season of Bigg Boss Tamil. Haasan, who has been hosting the previous three editions of the popular reality show, announced yet another season on Thursday. A teaser has been unveiled by the makers, where Haasan speaks about how the show will be forwarded in times of COVID-19. In the teaser video, he reflects how the pandemic has taken a toll on the livelihood of millions of people for the past five months. The disease is dangerous. Of course, we have to be safe. But we cant continue to remain in the house. We will follow the safety guidelines of WHO. Lets get back to work, he was heard saying in the teaser in Tamil. The creators of Bigg Boss Tamil Season 4 in order to take precautions against COVID, have quarantined all the selected contestants before allowing them inside the house, where they will remain locked up for nearly 100 days. The weekend episodes of the show are to take place sans a live audience. The premiere date of Bigg Boss Tamil Season 4 is yet to be announced. Bigg Boss Tamil season 4 announcement came after Salman Khans Bigg Boss 14 and Nagarjunas Bigg Boss Telugu 4 announcement. BB Tamil 4 is expected to roll by the end of September-beginning of October. Russian and US patrols have collided in Syria, amid a rise in tension between the two countries writes Asharq Al-Awsat. Moscow on Thursday accused the US military of trying to hinder a Russian patrol in Syria after Washington said US troops had been injured in a collision with a Russian vehicle. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian militarys General Staff, told his US counterpart in a phone call that Russia had warned the US-led international coalition in Syria about the movements of the Russian patrol, Russias defense ministry said in a statement. Washington has said the incident violated safety protocols agreed with Moscow. Videos of the confrontation that were shared on Twitter, apparently taken by bystanders and the Russians themselves, appear to show the Russian troop carriers and helicopters trying to box the US vehicles in and then force them from the area, near Dayrick. Vehicles appear to bump each other, and at one point possibly at the beginning of the confrontation one of the helicopters hovers very low over the halted Americans, blasting them with prop wash. The White House National Security Council said in a statement that a Russian vehicle struck a US mine-resistant ATV, causing injuries to the vehicles crew. National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot said the US vehicles were a security patrol of the anti-ISIS coalition. He said the patrol departed the area to de-escalate the situation. Unsafe and unprofessional actions like this represent a breach of de-confliction protocols, committed to by the United States and Russia in December 2019, said Ullyot. The coalition and the United States do not seek escalation with any national military forces, but US forces always retain the inherent right and obligation to defend themselves from hostile acts. US and Russian troops frequently interact in Syria, but confrontations have been rare. 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. China Resumes Reporting Oil Imports From Iran In July Dalga Khatinoglu August 27, 2020 The latest Chinese Customs' data show the country imported about 120,000 barrels of oil per day from Iran in July, worth a total of $134 million, after showing zero imports in June. This figure corresponds with information provided to Radio Farda by Kpler, a data intelligence company providing transparency solutions in commodity markets. Based on the same data, two oil tankers, Snow and Stream, with 1.6 million barrels and 2.1 million crude oil, arrived in China last July and delivered their cargo. According to China's General Administration of Customs' (GAC) statistics published on its official website on Wednesday, August 26, the country imported a total of 2.2 million tons, or 77,000 barrels of oil per day, from Iran in the first seven months of the year. Before the reimposition of U.S. sanctions, China's average daily crude oil from Iran was nine-fold that figure. However, Kpler told Radio Farda for the first time in July that the Indian tanker Giessel had delivered Iranian oil to China on June 13 as disguised as "Indonesian oil". Later, the international tanker tracking company, TankerTrackers.com, confirmed the revelation, adding that 1.6 million barrels of Iranian oil had been smuggled to China by Giessel. So far, sixteen oil tankers have secretly delivered Iranian crude to the markets, via clandestine ship-to-ship transfers in the middle of oceans, TankerTrackers reported. Earlier, Kpler had told Radio Farda that Iran delivered 60,000 barrels of crude per day to Malaysia in the first five months of the year. Still, the Malaysian customs statistics show that it did not buy any oil from Iran. Therefore, since Malaysian oil exports to China doubled in the first half of this year compared with the period before the U.S. sanctions on Iran, and reached about 260,000 barrels per day, it is highly likely that the Iranian oil it received landed in China. Whether these revelations prompted China to start officially reporting oil imports from Iran in July again, cannot be proven. Reuters had also reported earlier that Venezuela was using the same ruse to sell its oil to China as "Malaysian crude" to circumvent U.S. sanctions. Furthermore, NBC reported on Wednesday, August 26, "Four oil tankers have been stripped of their flags following an NBC News investigation into allegations they secretly transported Iranian oil in defiance of crippling U.S. sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump." According to data from TankerTrackers the four ships all made covert visits to Iranian waters this year, where they collectively picked up millions of barrels of oil. The trips were part of what TankerTrackers describes as an intricate "ballet" performed by Iranian and foreign vessels, in which ships manipulate their tracking data to hide their involvement in defying U.S. sanctions. A July 31 report from NBC News featured fifteen ships, including four the Giessel, the Ekaterina, the Lerax, and the Amfitriti sailing under the flag of the Caribbean island state of St. Kitts & Nevis. Five days after the report was broadcast, the St. Kitts & Nevis Ship Registry decided it would no longer allow the tankers to fly under its flag. However, China's customs data show that its oil imports from Iran in the first seven months of the year dropped by 82% compared with the same period last year. In the meantime, China's oil imports from the U.S. almost doubled in July. The average daily U.S. oil shipments to China in the first seven months of the year also show a growth of 31%. China's oil imports from Russia, Iraq and Saudi Arabia substantially increased in the first seven months of this year. Beijing's oil purchases from Malaysia and Oman also grew by 45 percent and 22 percent, respectively. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/china- resumes-reporting-oil-imports-from- iran-in-july/30805213.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 politician has choked back tears after the Australian Capital Territory became the second state or territory to ban gay conversion therapy. The Sexuality and Gender Identity Conversion Practices Bill was passed in the ACT Legislative Assembly on Thursday afternoon, and is expected to come into force early next year. Anyone found to be using the controversial therapy to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity will be slapped with either a hefty $24,000 fine or 12-month jail sentence, the ABC reported. ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay broke down in the assembly as he recalled devastating stories about gay conversion. 'I have led congregations and communities of faith where people have sought refuge after being subjected to conversion therapies that have been done in the name of the church and even at times in the name of God,' he said. 'Madam Speaker, these are not my stories to tell. But I can assure members that they are painful and they are traumatic.' The ACT has become the second Australian state or territory to ban gay conversion therapy - a practice used to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity (stock) ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay (pictured) choked back tears in parliament when the bill was passed The Sexuality and Gender Identity Conversion Practices Bill was passed by the ACT Legislative Assembly on Thursday afternoon (pictured, parade goers at Sydney's 2020 Mardi Gras) Queensland became the first Australian state to ban gay conversion therapy on August 20. Doctors, counsellors and psychologists could now face up to 18 months in a Queensland prison if found guilty of using aversion therapy, hypnotherapy or psychoanalysis as part of conversion therapy. Some people have undergone a host of bizarre and extreme practices to change their sexual orientation, including exorcism, hugging and even electric shock therapy. 'Behavioural management' is also used, as is giving patients nausea-inducing drugs while showing them a picture of someone of the same sex. Some practitioners also use counselling or 'repression techniques' to encourage a person to keep their feelings about sex or identity private. Queensland became the first Australian state to ban gay conversion therapy on August 20 Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles (pictured) told parliament being LGBTIQ did not require medical treatment as it was not an affliction or disease State Health Minister Steven Miles told parliament being LGBTIQ did not require medical treatment, as it was not an affliction or disease. He said conversion therapy was 'highly destructive and unethical'. 'No treatment or practice can change a person's sexual attraction or experience of gender,' Mr Miles said, according to a report by SBS. He has previously called practice 'immoral' and said it has 'long been discredited by the medical sector', in November 2019. 'I strongly oppose any suggestion that being LGBTIQ is a disorder that requires medical treatment,' he said at the time. 'This is an appalling practice that has no place in modern society, let alone Queensland's health system. 'It does nothing but cause harm and devastation to vulnerable members of the community who need and deserve our support and respect.' Queensland's decision follows Israel taking a step toward implementing an outright ban in July and several countries - including Malta, Brazil and Germany - partially or fully outlawing gay conversion therapy. Pictured: The rainbow flag being waved in a crowd Queensland Council LGBTI Health president Peter Black said the ban sent a clear message to Queenslanders that conversion therapy was 'harmful in all contexts'. 'People should be nurtured and protected so they can live and love without fear of abuse, ridicule or exclusion,' he said in November. He said having 'penalties for this dangerous and discredited practice' was important. 'There continues to be a need for education and further research on the harms of conversion therapies, as well as support for survivors of conversion therapies,' he said. Supporting hands make heart sign and wave in front of a rainbow flag flying on the sidelines of a gay pride parade But Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Change Efforts (SOGICE) Survivors and Brave Network, two advocacy groups led by conversion survivor self-advocates, said they were 'extremely concerned' about the ability of the Queensland government's legislation 'to prevent the harm currently seen among recent survivors'. 'Overwhelmingly, the bulk of harm occurs over time in informal settings (such as pastoral care in faith communities), and not in therapeutic contexts,' the statement read. 'This harm is driven by false and misleading claims made to people over a long period of time. Because of this, legislation aimed solely at health service providers using 'therapy' is not going to solve the problem. 'Health professionals are only very rarely involved in conversion practices in 2020, and therefore must not be the sole focus of any legislation or response.' The La Trobe University and the Human Rights Law Centre found conversion therapy 'pervasive' in Australian faith communities in a report in 2018. It included at least ten Australian and New Zealand organisations offering the practice. SPRINGFIELD Exelon Corporation on Thursday announced plans to close two Illinois nuclear power plants next year in a decision the company claims is independent of legislative energy policy negotiations. But, in a news release announcing the closures, Exelons CEO said the company will continue our dialogue with policymakers on ways to prevent these closures. The announcement comes one week after the governors office laid out guidelines for negotiation of energy legislation that include accountability measures for the states utility companies. We agree with Gov. Pritzker that policy reform is urgently needed to address the climate crisis and advance Illinois clean energy economy, and we support the objectives of the governors recent energy principles, Christopher Crane, president and CEO of Exelon, said in a news release Thursday. Thats separate from todays announcement to retire these two zero-carbon nuclear plants, which was not a decision made lightly and is one that has been in the works for some time. The plants tentatively slated for closure include Dresden Generating Station in the Grundy County city of Morris and Byron Generating Station just outside of the Ogle County city of Byron. Exelon is the parent company of Commonwealth Edison, the largest utility in the state which serves approximately 3.8 million ratepayers in northern Illinois. In July, ComEd admitted in a court document to from 2011 until 2019 seeking to influence and reward a high-ranking public official identified as Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for favorable action on legislation. A spokesperson for Gov. J.B. Pritzker was critical of the companys news release in an email statement Thursday. First, lets remember that Exelon already receives a ratepayer-funded subsidy of $235 million dollars per year to run nuclear plants in Illinois, Jordan Abudayyeh, Pritzkers press secretary, said in an email. While they couch their messaging in their desire for a clean energy future, their primary purpose is to dramatically increase those subsidies on behalf of their shareholders. Abudayyeh was referring to revenue generated through Zero Emission Credits, or ZECs, approved through the Future Energy Jobs Act, or FEJA, in 2016. Prior to the passage of that legislation in 2016, Exelon issued a news release stating it would move forward to shut down the Clinton and Quad Cities nuclear plants, which both remain open after receiving the ZECs made possible by FEJA beginning in 2017. The 2016 release said those plants lost a combined $800 million in the past seven years, despite being two of Exelon's best-performing plants. Exelons news release Thursday said the closure of the uneconomic Byron and Dresden plants is necessary because they face revenue shortfalls in the hundreds of millions. We recognize this comes as many of our communities are still recovering from the economic and public health impacts of the pandemic, and we will continue our dialogue with policymakers on ways to prevent these closures, Crane said. To that end, we have opened our books to policymakers and will continue to do so for any lawmaker who wishes to judge the plants profitability. The governors office has said when it comes to subsidies such as ZECs, companies such as Exelon will have to show their math and show the ratepayers of Illinois why they need a benefit. We have seen these threats before, and this time Exelons threats will need to be backed up by a thorough and transparent review of their finances including why the profits of the company as a whole cannot cover alleged operating losses at a few plants, Abudayyeh said. The administration looks forward to working with lawmakers and stakeholders to pass legislation centered on consumers and the climate that creates and retains good paying, union jobs in communities across the state. The Dresden plant is licensed to operate for another 10 years, while Byron is licensed for 20, according to Exelon. Together, the plants employ more than 1,500 full-time employees and 2,000 supplemental workers during refueling outages. They pay nearly $63 million in taxes annually and supply 30 percent of Illinois carbon-free energy, according to the news release. While the company said the closure was separate from Pritzkers recently-announced energy guidelines, the news release specifically referenced a policy difference between Exelon and the administration. That difference pertains to a Fixed Resource Requirement, or FRR, proposal, which seeks to pull the state from the multi-state capacity auctions conducted by the federally-regulated PJM regional transmission organization. Capacity procurement is not the purchase of energy production, but the guarantee that a company will be able to produce a given amount of energy years into the future. Proponents of an FRR say if the state is given authority to conduct capacity auctions, it can set fixed requirements for the purchase of renewable and zero-carbon energy sources. The governors office disagrees with the FRR proposal and prefers a market-based program that incorporates the social cost of carbon. The proposed FRR has been the centerpiece of current energy discussions, but the first step in that FRR is to annually pay each of Exelons nuclear plants an amount equal to three times the current taxpayer subsidy that two Exelon plants already receive without any strings attached and without Exelon showing us their math as to why this is necessary, according to the governors energy guidelines. In its news release, however, Exelon cited declining energy prices and market rules that allow fossil fuel plants to underbid clean resources in the PJM capacity auction as driving forces of closures. Exelon said a recent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission decision affecting the minimum offering price an energy generator can bid for PJM capacity auctions exacerbates the need for change. It also suggested it was considering further closures. As a result of these market rules, Exelon Generations LaSalle and Braidwood nuclear stations in Illinois, each of which house two nuclear units and together employ more than 1,500 skilled workers, are also at high risk for premature closure, according to the news release. Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, released a statement Thursday saying he would explore options for keeping nuclear plants open Independent market monitors believe these plants can be profitable, he said in a written statement. I intend to look into legislative options including requiring these plants be put up for sale before they can be shuttered. We owe it to these workers and communities to see if someone else can successfully run these assets. State Sen. Michael Hastings, a Frankfort Democrat, said the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee he chairs has been committed to working on legislation and consumer assistance since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and we remain committed to working with the men and women of organized labor and all stakeholders to find solutions to secure the future of clean energy in Illinois. Rep. David Allen Welter, R-Morris, said disappointment in the closure announcement does not even begin to scratch the surface of my frustration. Exelons plan to retire Dresden Station is a direct result of Gov. Pritzker and Speaker Madigans failure to bring comprehensive energy legislation up for a vote at any point during the last two years, he said in an email statement. An Exelon spokesperson said there is a short window during which these decisions could be reversed if a policy solution is implemented. However, we must move forward with the required regulatory notifications and take other necessary steps to prepare the plants for early retirement. The further we get down that path, the more expensive and difficult it will be to reverse course, the spokesperson added. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 By Ayya Lmahamad The new academic year will start in Azerbaijan on September 15 despite COVID-19, Education Minister Emin Amrullayev said during a presser on August 27. The classes in educational institutions will be resumed under specific conditions. Primary school pupils attending 1-4 classes will go to school from September 15 and the classes will be held 2-3 days per week. Pupils in large classes will be divided into several groups and each group will go to classes two or three times a week. Pupils of the fifth to ninth grades will go to school starting from October 1 while attending online classes from September 1 till October 1. As for the senior classes, they will go to school from October 15 and till that time study remotely. The classes for all pupils might be resumed in full as of November 2 if the epidemiological situation shows positive dynamics. Moreover, it is planned to start preschool groups again with classes held 2 times a week from October 1. As to higher educational institutions, university students will continue studying on online basis. However, 1st year students of Bachelor programs will go to the universities for orientation as of October 1. In addition, the education process will start at the full-time base for some specialties such as medicine, engineering and so on, as of October 15. The work of the higher educational institutions will be re-evaluated as of November 2 depending on the epidemiological situation in the country. As to wearing masks that is mandated by the Azerbaijani law, Minister Amrullayev said that this will be regulated by parents. According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, the wearing of masks by children under 12 years will be regulated by parents. Therefore, during the period of resuming education in schools, the decision to wear masks will be left to parents. The Ministry will only give its recommendations. The minister did not rule out that wearing of masks will be mandatory for teachers. Azerbaijan shut down kindergartens, schools and universities across the country since March 3 as part of the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. From the beginning of the closure of education institutions, Azerbaijan introduced online lessons for school and university students and today all educational institutions in the country offer online classes. Apart from this, a number of online projects have been initiated to help homeschooling. The country introduced nationwide quarantine regime on March 24. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Nine European start-ups, including a company focused on energy management in buildings, are to receive funding of 4 million euros ($4.76 million) from an organization supported by the European Union. German firm Dabbel will get 320,000 euros from EIT Climate-KIC, which is backed by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology, an EU body. The company has developed technology that uses artificial intelligence to take control of building systems related to heating, ventilation, air conditioning known as HVAC and shading. According to the company, its tech can help to cut a "building's HVAC energy consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 40%." Another business to receive funding which is intended to help recipients recover from issues brought about by the coronavirus pandemic is France-based Everimpact, which will also receive 320,000 euros. Its "climate monitoring platform" harnesses a range of data from traffic, satellites, buildings, sensors and internet of things devices. This information is then used to provide clients which include businesses and cities with information related to greenhouse gas emissions. In a statement issued Friday, Kirsten Dunlop, CEO of EIT Climate-KIC, said its team had chosen ventures that would, "significantly contribute to building back better maximizing the opportunity to accelerate decarbonisation and introduce sustainable solutions and ventures that can achieve significant milestones in crisis prevention and resilience given the likelihood of further shocks." The use of technology to monitor metrics such as energy consumption within buildings is not a new idea. At the smaller end of the scale, smart meters can be installed in private homes to monitor people's energy consumption in real time, enabling them to adjust their behavior and, in theory, save money. Major firms are also getting in on the act. Back in April, Finland's state-owned research center VTT announced the launch of the "KEKO" project, which aims to use data to boost the productivity and sustainability of buildings. Founding members of the scheme include Nokia and elevator and escalator firm KONE. The effect of buildings on the environment is significant. According to a report from the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, International Energy Agency and the UN Environment Programme, building construction and operations were, globally, responsible for 36% of final energy use in 2018. Published last December, the Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction also stated that, worldwide, the sector accounted for 39% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in 2018. Jonathan Tims lost his 22-year-old father to gun violence when he was a year old. The pain from that tragedy stuck with Tims and his entire family. When Tims became a father himself a year ago, he wanted to be there every step of the way. He looked forward to watching his son grow up. But someone took that all away on June 16 when they fatally shot Tims, 24, at Evergreen and Kittatinny streets in Harrisburg. Jonathan struggled his entire life knowing a gunman took his father, said Tims sister, Samirah Scantling. He never got the chance to experience life with his dad. ... He wanted different for his son and now the same thing has happened to him and his son will grow up wishing he had a father. Tims was not believed to be the intended target of the shooting, according to investigators, Scantling said. She said she knew her brother was never involved in gangs or anything like that. Instead, Tims discovered a knack for mechanics and a love for motorcycles and dirt bikes at a young age, Scantling said. That passion continued through his adult life. His young son already had associated the sound of motorcycles with Tims. He hears a motorcycle and hes looking for his dad, Scantling said. He looks out the window every morning, looking for his daddy. Tims also has a daughter who is due any day. He was excited about bringing a girl into the family. He loved his family, he loved his friends. He had love for everybody, she said. Jonathan Tims Jr. with his family, shortly after the birth of his son. Photo provided by Samirah Scantling Tims killing remains unsolved, more than two months after the shooting. The lack of progress has frustrated relatives and prompted his family to plan a rally at 2 p.m. Saturday to draw attention to the open case. Few details have been released by police about the circumstances surrounding Tims death. Scantling and the rest of Tims family hope that the rally will encourage people to come forward with information and help them achieve justice. According to Scantling, Tims was with a group of four or five people in the area of Kittatinny and Evergreen streets the evening of June 16, lighting fireworks. Around 10:25 p.m., Tims and a teenage girl were shot, according to police. The girl survived, but Tims did not. Scantling said she was asleep in her New Jersey home when their eldest sister called her from the hospital, informing her of the shooting. Scantling said she was on the phone when the medical staff came out to tell his family that he did not make it. Jonathan Tims Jr. and his son. Photo provided by Samirah Scantling To Scantling, she lost someone who was going to always be there for her, standing by her side. When she was in her early 20s, and living in Harrisburg, Scantlings mother and three other siblings moved to Lebanon. Scantling wasnt going to go with, since she was determined to move out of state. Tims insisted on staying with her at their old Hall Manor apartment. He was maybe 15-16 at the time, Scantling said. She recalled him saying, Im not leaving you out here by yourself. Im going to stay with you until you leave. He stayed with her until she was ready to move out by herself. Although that time was a struggle, he was like Im staying out here with you, Scantling said. Family was a pillar in Tims life, a dedication he wouldnt have given up for anything. Another pillar was his love of dirt bikes and motorcycles: Vehicles that he loved to operate as much as he loved to inspect their inner workings. When he was 11 years old, Tims figured out how to add a motor to his simple compact folding scooter. He told family and friends he wanted a future working with motorbikes. He found a passion in doing that, Scantling said. He was really good at doing those types of things. Since losing her brother, Scantling and her family have been frustrated by the communitys silence. It makes me so mad because I know there are people that know stuff, Scantling said. She said she has seen some people claiming to be Tims friends but who wont share what they know, not even the others in the group that he was with the night he was killed. We just feel like there are people who know, Scantling said. She and her family previously lived in Harrisburg, but have since moved away to other municipalities or states with few ties to the city. They are planning to drive back to the city for the rally Saturday. You should speak up and say what you know, Scantling said. Scantling hopes Tims friends will hear the message from the rally. She also believes there are people in the area who might have seen something or know something, even if they didnt see the shooting. Its the littlest things, she said. We need people to come forth and stop being afraid to talk. She asks for this on behalf of her family and Tims young children, who were robbed of their father. Tims mother, his girlfriend and all his siblings will be at the rally on Saturday, carrying posters and marching around the area where Tims was shot. My mother is heartbroken. None of us can really function, Scantling said. Well, were functioning, but its taking a big toll on the family. For everyone to claim to be his friend but not come forward; Its like mind-blowing. Justice is all Tims family wants. They hope their message touches the hearts of those who might have information. We just feel like the case needs justice. Somebody really needs to be brought in and take responsibility for what they did, Scantling said. The rally will be held in the area of Kittatinny and Evergreen streets beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday. Rally for Jonathan Tims Jr. poster Read more on PennLive: 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. (Photo : NASA) Space Launch System Rocket The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will soon broadcast a booster test for their Space Launch System's 'Most Powerful Rocket Ever Built' on Wednesday, September 2. NASA looks forward to sharing its beloved rocket that will premiere on NASA Television and its website. The event will also bring in the media members for its teleconference to relay details and answer the questions about the rocket and launch. Space Launch System (SLS) is optimistic about showcasing its 'most powerful rocket ever built' on Wednesday, September 2, 2:40 PM Eastern Time. The Flight Support Booster-1 will be tested after NASA and Northrop Grumman's latest build and qualification test firings of the five-segment rocket motor built. Flight boosters are the two extra additions to a rocket ship, and in this case, NASA's Space Launch System rocket will soon support the three Artemis missions set to begin in 2024. The launch-booster tests next week will happen at the Northrop Grumman facilities in Promontory, Utah. This test would ensure the booster rockets' functions and even determine materials, processes, and improvements that the booster still needs in preparation for its future of in-depth space explorations. ALSO READ: Three Rocket Launches This Week in Florida -How to Watch Live? Space Launch System and FSB-1 The Space Launch System is NASA's most ambitious rocket system ever made. NASA boasts SLS as the most powerful ever and claims that it will push earlier rockets' limitations to explore more of the Solar System than ever before. SLS has the capability of launching four astronauts up in the cosmos together with their Orion spacecraft that will be used to navigate and bring them farther and deeper into space. FSB-1 will be fitted in SLS rockets to boost and support its flight towards the sky to exit Earth's atmosphere. Booster rockets are essential for the extra push a rocket needs to propel itself up. The heavy SLS rocket will be aided by the pair of Flight Support Booster-1s, who will sustain its launch despite its heavy cargo. Each of the five segments of the booster rocket weighs 300,000 pounds; combined, it can produce a whopping 3.6 billion lbs of maximum thrust. The FSB-1 pair will provide 75 percent of the SLS' total thrust capacity. Artemis Lunar Missions This rocket booster will be a part of NASA's Artemis missions that will conduct lunar missions and soon explore deeper regions in the Solar System. Artemis is Apollo's Twin Sister in Greek Mythology, and NASA describes that this mission mirrors that of the myth. Artemis is humanity's return to the Moon several years after NASA's last moon mission. NASA's Artemis missions will also bring the first woman to the Moon, along with the next man who will walk the lunar surface. The last mission to bring a man to the Moon is NASA's Apollo 17 that concluded last December of 1972. The mission promises an even more in-depth exploration of the Moon, which will be possible with the new feats in technology and devices. NASA is looking forward to a "sustainable exploration" with Artemis that will span towards the end of the 2020 decade. Artemis Missions will don a new line of space-designed suits to support astronauts on their quest to explore Earth's biggest natural satellite. Apart from this, Artemis will also see new Lunar Landers and spacecraft, Orion, to aid them on their journey. This Lunar mission is a step closer to sending more devices and astronauts on heavenly bodies, particularly the Red Planet, Mars. ALSO READ: Study Shows Bacteria Colonies Can Survive in Space For 3 Years Proving a Controversial Theory on Life Origins This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Alonzo 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Melania Trump and her daughter Ivanka were caught in an awkward moment on Thursday night at the Republican National Convention (RNC), just a day after a published book extract detailed an alleged tense relationship between the two women. While introducing Donald Trump to deliver his nomination speech, the first ladys facial expression could be seen dramatically changing after Ivanka, who had also taken to the stage to welcome her father, enters the stage. It came just 24 hours after a former confidant of the first lady detailed what she claims is a tense relationship between the first lady and her daughter in a new book. Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, who is said to have been close to Ms Trump for several years before she entered the White House, alleges in Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady that the first lady attempted to block Ivanka from appearing in photos of her fathers swearing-in at his January 2017 inauguration. We were all exhausted and stressed out. Yes, Operation Block Ivanka was petty, Ms Wolkoff wrote in an extract published in New York magazine on Wednesday. Melania was in on this mission. But in our minds, Ivanka shouldnt have made herself the center of attention in her fathers inauguration. According to Ms Wolkoff, there was an ongoing power struggle between the two women in the White House. She alleges that Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, who both work for the president, looked for ways to control Melania and attempted to commandeer office space from the East Wing. Ivanka was relentless and was determined to be the first daughter lady and to usurp office space out from under Melania; she wanted to be the only visible female Trump on the premises, Ms Wolkoff wrote. But a source reportedly close to Ivanka hit back: The idea that she was trying to take over the East Wing, I know its been written a million times, that doesnt make it any more true. A White official sought to question Ms Wolkoffs character, saying she had inflated her relationship with the first lady. The official added that Ms Wolkoff often behaved in a manner that annoyed Ms Trump. Ms Wolkoff, who worked as a director of special events for Vogue magazine, reportedly met Ms Trump on the New York social scene. She was one of Ms Trumps first hires in the East Wing and also had a short stint as an unpaid special government employee, and helped with the presidents inauguration. But that working relationship was short-lived. A firm set up by Ms Wolkoff was paid around $26m (19m) for its work on the presidents inauguration, a sum that reportedly upset the Trump family. Ms Wolkoff later left the White House. Ms Wolkoff was last year subpoenaed over her role in the inauguration amid claims of excessive spending. Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady has been scheduled for release on 1 September. The Independent has approached the White House for comment. CLEVELAND, Ohio Three people, including a member of the Heartless Felons, are accused of fatally shooting a North Royalton man in what police called a drug-related shooting. Jovan Foster-Gant, 26, Tiffany Greene, 27, and Alton Holloway, 26, are all charged with aggravated murder. Police arrested Foster-Gant and Greene on Thursday. Both are being held in the Cuyahoga County Jail on $500,000 bond after their first court appearance on Friday. Holloway is not in police custody. Foster-Gant, also known as Man-Man, is a member of the Heartless Felons, according to court records. The trio is accused of killing John Dobrovic, 32. The shooting happened Tuesday on West 106th Street near Madison Avenue in the citys Cudell neighborhood. Cleveland police said Dobrovic encountered a group and that the shooting was drug-related, but did not release any additional details. Court records identify Holloway as the shooter and say Foster-Gant and Greene participated in the slaying. Police were initially called to the area because they believed Dobrovic suffered a drug overdose. Officers found him in the street with a gunshot to his side. Foster-Gant was released from prison on March 3 after serving a 14-month sentence for selling cocaine and fentanyl. He has also been convicted of burglary three times. Greene was convicted in 2019 of assault and carrying a concealed weapon and was sentenced to 50 days in jail. Holloway has several prior convictions since 2004, including for possessing a weapon with a felony record, identification fraud, assault, theft, receiving stolen property, promoting prostitution and drug trafficking. Read more from cleveland.com: Man accused of shouting racial slurs, threatening man with knife in Clevelands Ohio City, police say Cleveland woman accused of fatally stabbing boyfriend after a decades-long, abusive relationship Man shot to death while sitting in car in Clevelands Glenville neighborhood SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 28, 2020 / The law firm of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP reminds investors of the upcoming deadline to move for appointment as lead plaintiff in the class action litigation on behalf of investors who purchased the common stock of FirstEnergy Corp. ("FirstEnergy" or the "Company") (NYSE:FE) between February 21, 2017 and July 21, 2020, inclusive (the "Class Period"). If you purchased the common stock of FirstEnergy during the Class Period, you may move the Court for appointment as lead plaintiff by no later than September 28, 2020. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your share of any recovery in the actions will not be affected by your decision of whether to seek appointment as lead plaintiff. You may retain Lieff Cabraser, or other attorneys, as your counsel in the action. FirstEnergy investors who wish to learn more about the litigation and how to seek appointment as lead plaintiff should click here or contact Sharon M. Lee of Lieff Cabraser toll-free at 1-800-541-7358. Background on the FirstEnergy Securities Class Litigation FirstEnergy, headquartered in Akron, Ohio, is an electric utility company. The action alleges that, during the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding FirstEnergy's internal controls, business practices and prospects. In particular, defendants boasted of FirstEnergy's legislative "solutions" to difficulties with its nuclear facilities, but failed to disclose that those "solutions" revolved around an illicit campaign to influence state lawmakers to support legislation favoring the Company. For nearly three years, FirstEnergy and its affiliates channeled more than $60 million to state politicians and lobbyists, including Ohio Speaker Larry Householder, to ensure the passage of Ohio House Bill 6 ("HB 6"), which provided a $1.3 billion ratepayer-funded bailout of FirstEnergy's failing nuclear facilities. Defendants also falsely stated that they were in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations throughout the Class Period, when in reality they were exposing the Company and its investors to undisclosed risks of legal, financial, and reputational damage. Story continues On July 21, 2020, federal agents announced the arrest of Speaker Householder and four other persons, including a lobbyist for FirstEnergy, in connection with a $60 million racketeering and bribery scheme. The criminal complaint and affidavit described an alleged pay-to-play scheme in which FirstEnergy influenced the legislative process in order to guarantee the passage of HB 6, including by defending the bill against a citizens ballot initiative to overturn the bill. Prosecutors described the case as the "largest bribery, money-laundering scheme" in Ohio history. On this news, the price of FirstEnergy stock fell $7.01 per share, or almost 17%, from its closing price of $41.26 on July 20, 2020, to close at $34.25 on July 21, 2020, on heavy trading volume. On July 22, 2020, Cleveland.com published an article providing additional details regarding the Company's illicit actions in connection with the scheme. On this news, the price of FirstEnergy stock dropped an additional $7.16, or 20.9% from its closing price of $34.25 per share on July 21, 2020, to close at $27.09 on July 22, 2020, on extremely heavy trading volume. About Lieff Cabraser Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, with offices in San Francisco, New York, and Nashville, is a nationally recognized law firm committed to advancing the rights of investors and promoting corporate responsibility. The National Law Journal has recognized Lieff Cabraser as one of the nation's top plaintiffs' law firms for fourteen years. In compiling the list, the National Law Journal examines recent verdicts and settlements and looked for firms "representing the best qualities of the plaintiffs' bar and that demonstrated unusual dedication and creativity." Law360 has selected Lieff Cabraser as one of the Top 50 law firms nationwide for litigation, highlighting our firm's "laser focus" and noting that our firm routinely finds itself "facing off against some of the largest and strongest defense law firms in the world." Benchmark Litigation has named Lieff Cabraser one of the "Top 10 Plaintiffs' Firms in America." For more information about Lieff Cabraser and the firm's representation of investors, please visit https://www.lieffcabraser.com/. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. Source/Contact for Media Inquiries Only Sharon M. Lee Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP Telephone: 1-800-541-7358 SOURCE: Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/603069/FE-SHAREHOLDERS-September-28-2020-Filing-Deadline-in-Class-Action--Contact-Lieff-Cabraser A professor at the University of Pennsylvania has renewed a request to investigate how President Donald Trump was admitted to the school in 1966, citing what he called "new evidence" on secretly recorded tapes in which Trump's sister says a friend took his entrance exam. The professor, Eric W. Orts, is one of six faculty members who asked Penn's provost earlier this summer to launch an investigation into how Trump transferred into the school. He noted that the president's niece, Mary Trump, wrote in her book published in July that the president paid someone to take his SATs. The provost, Wendell E. Pritchett, replied to Orts on July 20 that "we certainly share your concerns about these allegations and the integrity of our admissions process. However, as you suggest in your message, we have determined that this situation occurred too far in the past to make a useful or probative factual inquiry possible. If new evidence surfaces to substantiate the claim in the future, we will continue to be open to investigating it." Orts, a professor of legal studies and business ethics at the Wharton School, said he contacted Pritchett after The Washington Post on Saturday published a story that included audio of conversations Mary Trump recorded in 2018 and 2019 with Maryanne Trump Barry, the president's sister. In one tape, Barry said she did her brother's homework for him and that "I drove him around New York City to try to get him into college." She said Donald Trump "went to Fordham for one year [actually two years] and then he got into University of Pennsylvania because he had somebody take the exams." In their initial letter, the six professors wrote that "failing to investigate an allegation of fraud at such a level broadcasts to prospective students and the world at large that the playing field is not equal, that our degrees can be bought, and that subsequent fame, wealth, and political status will excuse past misconduct." The school's rejection of the July request was reported by the Daily Pennsylvanian, a student-run publication. After The Post published the recording online last weekend, Orts said he emailed Pritchett that the audio constituted the kind of "new evidence" that the provost said was needed to launch an investigation. Orts said he had not heard back from Pritchett. The provost and his spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. Orts is a registered Democrat but said he is seeking the investigation on moral, not political, grounds. He provided the text of Pritchett's email to The Post, and he said he wrote the follow-up request individually, not with the group that asked for the initial investigation. Barry said in one of the tapes that the person who took the test was named Joe Shapiro. Trump knew a person with that name at Penn, but his widow and sister told The Post that he would have never taken a test for Trump, and they said he didn't know Trump until he attended Penn, so the timing was not right. Mary Trump has said it was a different Shapiro, but that person has not come forward or been identified. The White House declined to comment for this article. Before the existence of the tapes was known, White House spokeswoman Sarah Matthews said the allegation that someone took the SATs for Trump was "completely false." Trump, responding on Saturday to The Post's report about the tapes, said "Who cares?" and did not dispute their authenticity. Barry has not responded to requests for comment. Starting in 1964, Trump went to Fordham in New York City for his freshman and sophomore years and then transferred in 1966 to Penn's undergraduate Wharton School of Finance. Trump has said that he was admitted to the "the hardest school to get into, the best school in the world," calling it "super genius stuff." Trump has contrasted his own intellect with that of others and made an issue of releasing transcripts, saying in 2011 that he questioned how President Barack Obama got into Columbia University and Harvard Law School and challenged him to substantiate how he was admitted. "How does a bad student go to Columbia and then to Harvard?" Trump asked in a 2011 Associated Press interview. "I'm thinking about it, I'm certainly looking into it. Let him show his records." Trump has not released his own records, and an investigation by The Post last year found that his claim that Wharton was the hardest school to enter was not substantiated. The Post reported last year that the Penn admissions official who interviewed Trump was a close friend of Fred Trump Jr., the brother of Donald Trump and father of Mary Trump. That former official, James Nolan, said that it wasn't difficult to get into Penn at that time, with more than half of applicants granted admission and an even higher percentage of transfer students. By comparison, the admission rate last year to Penn was 7.7%. "It was not very difficult," Nolan said last year about Trump's admission in 1966, adding: "I certainly was not struck by any sense that I'm sitting before a genius. Certainly not a super genius." In an interview Thursday, Nolan said Penn did require that an applicant submit SAT scores in order to be considered for admission. Typically, Nolan said, a transfer student would have taken the SAT to get into the initial school and those scores would then be submitted to Penn. A Fordham spokesman said the school required SATs for entrance at the time Trump attended. The spokesman declined to comment when asked whether the school would investigate Trump's application. Nolan said that, given the taped conversations with Trump's sister, there may be enough information for the school to launch an inquiry at Penn. It does not matter if the SATs were taken to gain entrance to Fordham, he said, because the same scores would have been required to be submitted to Penn. "The allegation was made," Nolan said. "If indeed he falsified his application - even though it is [54] years ago - his admission should be withdrawn and therefore his degree would be null and void." Nolan said the school could try to determine if Trump's admission records are stored in its archives. Such information is not publicly available because of privacy laws. Even if the records are found, it could be difficult to determine if someone else took the test for Trump. Nolan, while stressing that he had no knowledge if someone else took Trump's test, said it would have been easier decades ago for someone to take a test for another person. He said that he sometimes proctored SAT exams at the time, and he recalled that students submitted a paper stating who they were, but doesn't recall such information being checked as rigorously as it is today. - - - The Washington Post's Alice Crites contributed to this report. Some residents of Dome Faase, where military personnel were deployed following a brutal assault on two soldiers, say they are afraid to return home although the heavy deployment have been withdrawn. The military personnel were deployed in the town in the Obom Domeabra Constituency of the Greater Accra Region on Monday, August 24, 2020, to retrieve weapons seized by the residents from the soldiers. The two soldiers clashed with about 30 residents of Dome Faase over a disputed land. The soldiers were nearly lynched by the angry mob. Following from that, hundreds of residents fled the small town on Tuesday and Wednesday after the soldiers were deployed to the area. GhanaWeb sources say the military personnel have since withdrawn after two military weapons seized from the soldiers by the angry mob were retrieved. Also, some of the persons who brutally assaulted the soldiers have been arrested. However, a resident told Citi News that he has been told a few military personnel are in the town monitoring activities.He vowedto only return to the town when all the soldiers are recalled. We have heard that the soldiers were at the Obom side. The place was calm. Only one or two military personnel were at that place monitoring things, he said. I wanted to go back this weekend, but my parents are refusing, and I am a teacher. So I wouldnt dare do that Maybe next week [I will return] but certainly not this week, he said. The Omankrado for the Obom Domeabra community, Nii Addo, who also left the community on Tuesday says he is likely to return to the town later on Thursday to help calm tensions. I left before soldiers came there so as an elder of the community, I had to be safe, so I could help people out, so we can solve this matter. That is why I am not in the community now, he is quoted in a Citi News report. According the report, Nii Addo also maintains that his community is on the right side of the disputed land. The land belongs to us. It has been our property for 200 years so it belongs to us. They [the Akyem] are claiming it but it is for us. 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 Air Canada (TSX:AC) stock is trading near its three-year low after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted air travel and grounded planes. The Canadian government has extended the U.S.-Canada border restriction to only essential flying till September 21. Because of these travel restrictions, AC has been operating at just 10-20% of its capacity since March. Hence, its stock failed to recover after the March sell-off and is hovering between $14 and $20. AC has been calling on the government to ease border restrictions and the 14-day self-isolation requirement. But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stuck to the strict restrictions to ensure the safety of the people. Air Canada calls on the Canadian government to ease border restrictions AC depends on international travel for 70% of its revenue. But the border restrictions have forced it to cancel flights and ground planes. According to the U.S. Department of Transportations July 2020 Air Travel Consumer Report, AC had the second-highest refund complaints (1,705) after United Airlines (3,215) in May. The rising number of refund complaints has made passengers reluctant to book flights through AC. AC is burning $15-$17 million cash every month just to stay operational when the air travel demand returns. It is slowing its cash burn by reducing its fleet size by one-third, halving its workforce, and cutting several travel routes. The airline has already lost $2.8 billion in the first half. Although it has accumulated $9.1 billion in liquidity position to sustain these losses, some of that amount will be due in a year. AC is growing increasingly desperate every day. In its latest attempt to convince the government to adopt a more science-based approach to border restrictions, AC plans to begin COVID-19 tests of passengers arriving in Toronto on September 7. It has collaborated with Cleveland Clinic Canada, BlueDot, and Spartan Bioscience to explore rapid COVID-19 testing procedures at the airport. With no vaccine in place, testing is the best way to resume air travel and ease border restrictions while mitigating the risk of the second wave. Story continues Can the cash-burning Air Canada make you rich? International travel is gradually returning. Last week, AC resumed some flights to India. However, the airline is still burning cash. In its heyday, it spent 90% of its revenue on operating expenses. Now with 90% of its revenue slashed, it will continue to burn cash even after its planes take the international skies. In 2002 to 2003, AC grounded 60% of to capacity to Asia because of the SARS epidemic. It took the airline a bankruptcy (April 2003) and 10 years to report its first profit. In November 2006, AC stock made a comeback on the Toronto Stock Exchange after its bankruptcy. But the stock rallied only when the airline made its first profit in 2013. In 2013 alone, AC stock surged fourfold. Those who jumped into the stock rally in 2013 made equally good profits than those who held the stock during its low. If you had invested $10,000 in AC in 2013, your money would have grown to more than $200,000 before the pandemic. There is no doubt that AC has the potential to make you rich but it will take seven to 10 years. A 10-year wait Warren Buffett said, Buy that stock in which you want to stay invested for 10 years. So why didnt he give airline stocks a 10-year time frame to recover? Because these 10 years include a huge risk of bankruptcy and little to no growth. Looking at ACs current fundamentals and the market environment, the airline can delay bankruptcy for three years. But if international travel does no show significant growth, bankruptcy could be in the cards. Fitch has already downgraded ACs long-term rating to BB-. Investor corner If AC successfully averts bankruptcy in the next three years, it could return to profit in six or seven years. These 10 years involve a lot of uncertainty. In these 10 years, you will lose out on the opportunity to double or even triple your money with a quality growth stock that generates a 15-20% average annual return. Rather than staying invested in AC for a decade in hopes of recovery, you can invest when it shows signs of growth. This way, you can enjoy the multiple fold growth without losing out on existing opportunities. The post Can Air Canada (TSX:AC) Stock Make You Rich in 10 Years? appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. More reading Fool contributor Puja Tayal has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2020 US President Donald Trump speaks from the South Lawn of the White House on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention. (AP) Washington: Seeking another four years in the White House, US President Donald Trump has slammed Democratic rival Joe Biden's record as a "shameful roll call of the most catastrophic betrayals" and said his victory will endanger the nation and destroy the American greatness. Speaking from the South Lawn of the White House, Trump, 74, said that no one will be safe under a Biden administration. Launching a blistering attack on his November challenger, Trump said: "Joe Biden is not the saviour of America's soul." "He is the destroyer of America's jobs, and if given the chance, he will be the destroyer of American greatness." "Biden's record is a shameful roll call of the most catastrophic betrayals and blunders in our lifetime. He has spent his entire career on the wrong side of history," Trump said in his acceptance speech after the Republican Party re-nominated him as its presidential candidate. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are being challenged by Biden and his Indian-origin running mate Senator Kamala Harris in the November 3 election. "Biden voted for the NAFTA disaster, the single worst trade deal ever enacted; he supported China's entry into the World Trade Organisation, one of the greatest economic disasters of all time. After those Biden calamities, the United States lost 1 in 4 manufacturing jobs," Trump alleged. During the 2016 campaign, Trump had pledged to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Trump later replaced it with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Trump said that despite all of the American greatness as a nation, everything that the US has achieved is now endangered. "This is the most important election in the history of our country. At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas," he said. "This election will decide whether we save the American dream, or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny. It will decide whether we rapidly create millions of high paying jobs, or whether we crush our industries and send millions of these jobs overseas, as has foolishly been done for many decades," he said. Trump told Americans that their vote will decide whether they protect law-abiding Americans, or whether they give free rein to violent anarchists, agitators, and criminals who threaten the citizens. "And this election will decide whether we will defend the American way of life, or whether we allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it," he said. Referring to the last week's Democrat National Convention, Trump said that Biden and his party repeatedly assailed America as a land of racial, economic, and social injustice. "So tonight, I ask you a very simple question: How can the Democrat Party ask to lead our country when it spends so much time tearing down our country?" he asked. "In the left's backward view, they do not see America as the most free, just, and exceptional nation on earth. Instead, they see a wicked nation that must be punished for its sins. Our opponents say that redemption for you can only come from giving power to them. This is a tired anthem spoken by every repressive movement throughout history," he said. Trump alleged that for 47 years, Biden took the donations of blue-collar workers, gave them hugs and even kisses, and told them he felt their pain and then he flew back to Washington and voted to ship their jobs to China and many other distant lands. "Joe Biden spent his entire career outsourcing the dreams of American Workers, offshoring their jobs, opening their borders, and sending their sons and daughters to fight in endless foreign wars," he alleged. "Four years ago, I ran for President because I could not watch this betrayal of our country any longer. I could not sit by as career politicians let other countries take advantage of us on trade, borders, foreign policy and national defence," he said. Trump alleged that as vice president Biden supported the Trans Pacific Partnership which would have been a death sentence for the US auto industry. "He repeatedly supported mass amnesty for illegal immigrants. He voted for the Iraq War; he opposed the mission to take out Osama bin Laden; he opposed killing (Qasem) Soleimani; he oversaw the rise of ISIS, and cheered the rise of China as "a positive development" for America and the world. That's why China supports Joe Biden and desperately wants him to win," he said. "China would own our country if Joe Biden got elected. Unlike Biden, I will hold them fully accountable for the tragedy they caused," Trump said. He called Biden a Trojan horse for socialism. "Make no mistake, if you give power to Joe Biden, the radical left will defund Police Departments all across America. They will pass federal legislation to reduce law enforcement nationwide. They will make every city look like Democrat-run Portland, Oregon. No one will be safe in Biden's America," he said, referring to violent protests there. On November 3, he urged his countrymen to send the Democrats led by Biden a thundering message they will never forget! "Joe Biden is weak". "He takes his marching orders from liberal hypocrites who drive their cities into the ground while fleeing far from the scene of the wreckage." Actor Kangana Ranauts upcoming film, Tejas, is all set to go on floors by the end of this year, producers announced Friday morning. Kangana essays the role of an Indian Air Force pilot in the film, with Sarvesh Mewara as the director. Tejas is being produced by the makers of Vicky Kaushals Uri: The Surgical Strike. Tejas is an exhilarating story where I have the privilege of playing an air force pilot. I am honoured to be a part of a film that celebrates these brave men & women in uniform who make immense sacrifices in the line of duty everyday. Our film celebrates the armed forces and its heroes ... Excited to take this journey with Sarvesh and Ronnie, Kangana said in a statement. We were in the midst of prep when the world was hit by this unfortunate pandemic. Im pleased to announce that we are resuming work and will commence shoot later this year. Uri: The Surgical Strike, celebrated the courage of the Indian Army and Tejas is our dedication to the brave fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force. The idea of developing a story around a woman fighter pilot was born in-house by Salona Bains Joshi, the Associate Producer on the project, and I backed it instantly. With Kangana as the lead, I hope our film inspires many more women to join the Indian Air Force, Ronnie said. Sharing the announcement, Kangana tweeted, #Tejas to take-off this December! Proud to be part of this exhilarating story that is an ode to our brave airforce pilots! Jai Hind Flag of India #FridaysWithRSVP. My film is a reflection of the current sentiment in our country. We celebrate our armed forces and I hope to further evoke a spirit of patriotism and nationalism through my story telling. Kangana is a strong woman with a voice that resonates with the youth of this nation and I cannot wait to begin shooting with Kangana, director Sarvesh added Tejas is the story of a daring and fierce fighter pilot, played by Kangana Ranaut. The Indian Air Force was the first of the countrys defence forces to induct women into combat roles in 2016. The film takes inspiration from this landmark event. Earlier, Ronnie had clarified that Tejas is not a sequel to Uri The Surgical Strike. We wanted to make a film on the army so Uri happened. Tejas is not a sequel to Uri, because that was a true story and this isnt. But it is on the same lines and on the same scale, he had said. Also read: Aashram review: Bobby Deols show has a bark thats worse than its bite Earlier seen in Ashwini Iyer Tiwarys Panga alongside Richa Chadha, Kangana also has Thalaivi and was supposed to begin filming in July. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON His success with his personal wealth allowed him to steer the foundations he is a part of to change their investment portfolios. One, the Lemelson Foundation, was started by his father, Jerome, an inventor who had more than 500 patents. Now, 75 percent of its endowment is in impact investments. I made the case with my family that as a foundation, we have an obligation to lead, he said. But Mr. Lemelson also supported his argument with solid returns. Increasingly, it will become obvious that well-managed investment portfolios dont give up anything at all, he said. Even in the face of data, the sector faces headwinds. Just last year, Daniel and Sheryl Tishman, whose wealth comes from the familys real estate companies, sought to put the $100 million that seeded their NorthLight Foundation into impact investments, but they encountered pushback from managers. One manager they interviewed said that what they were trying to do was not possible, said Kate Sinding Daly, executive director of the foundation, which focuses on the environment. Thats an old-school view, she said. Figuring out how to execute on their investment thesis was challenging. For example, the foundation had all its money in impact investments but was still switching among different assets in that sector, Ms. Daly said. The environmental stuff was easy, she said. Its the issues around human rights, gender issues, arms, military investments and all that stuff. Thats a difficulty that other investors are going to run into. Excluding oil companies remains a straightforward choice. Investing in ways that promote an idea or a thesis like equity is more complex. And its not always easy for the advisers to do it well, either. Phillip Dupaul says he thinks the "COVID scare" is exaggerated. But he was pretty unnerved on Monday when the other inmates in his holding cell at the Cascade County Detention Center began laughing, loudly, at the irony when he told them a judge threw him in jail for not wearing a mask. The inmates told him they had all been exposed to one inmate who had the virus. Hours later, Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter would announce a 55-person outbreak at the jail. Dupaul, 60, refused to wear a mask when he arrived at a Great Falls motel conference center for jury duty on Monday and was ordered to jail. At the same time Dupaul was being booked into the facility, county law enforcement was learning the extent of the outbreak the worst of any detention center in the state. Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter on Friday issued a press release criticizing the judge for ordering Dupaul to jail while the facility was suffering an outbreak, but did not mention in the statement that jail officials placed Dupaul in general population, rather than in isolation. Dupaul, meanwhile, argues the judge did not have the authority to jail him and said law enforcement was "wrong" to put him in jail with those who may have been infected. Reached by phone on Friday, Dupaul said he had a "scratchy throat," but hoped it was only the air quality during wildfire season. Dupaul also told the Missoulian he believed Gov. Steve Bullock's mask mandate issued in July expired in 30 days. In fact, the mask directive states clearly in its language that it expires at the end of the state of emergency. A spokeswoman with the governor's office said Friday Montana's state of emergency is tied to the national emergency, and will end once the national emergency does. Calls to Slaughter's office were not immediately returned Friday, nor were calls to Missoula District Court Judge John Larson, who held Dupaul in contempt of court for refusing to wear a mask. Dupaul had shown up for jury duty that morning but refused to a wear a mask because he said it hampers his ability to breathe. Judge Larson, presiding over the trial as a substitute for a local judge, gave him three options: wear a mask, wear a shield, or be held in contempt of court and spend 24 hours in jail. "The judge started saying that this wasn't for my safety, it's for everyone's safety," Dupaul said in a phone interview on Friday. "I said that's fine, but I couldn't wear a mask and I told him it was hard for me to breathe. I said he didn't have the authority to make me do it, and he seemed to get agitated at that point and said he would put me in jail for 24 hours to think about it." Officials at the Cascade County Detention Center had announced on Aug. 21, three days earlier, that an inmate had tested positive for the coronavirus. Dupaul said he was booked into jail at 9:15 a.m., and at that point knew only of the one confirmed case. By the end of the day, Cascade County Sheriff Slaughter revealed the jail had tallied 55 cases, 53 inmates and two staff members. Dupaul, at the time, was holed up in the same area with roughly 40 people, he said. "Inmates are always curious at what the new guy is being detained for, and I told them, 'For not wearing a mask,'" Dupaul said. "The whole cell block started laughing, loudly, and they said 'Don't they know that we have all been infected. We have all been in contact with that guy.'" None of the inmates in his block were wearing masks, Dupaul said. When Dupaul was released 24 hours later, his wife picked up him. His work entails cleaning properties for elderly folk who aren't physically able to do it themselves. "What do I do now?" Dupaul said. "I can't go into peoples' homes." Cascade County's criminal justice arena has been brewing its own COVID-19-related hostility since the onset of the pandemic. State prison officials sued a District Court judge there in April when the judge ordered state inmates be transferred out of the overcrowded jail and to state facilities, challenging the prison's own decision to halt inmate transfers between facilities to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. The Montana Supreme Court ruled in favor of the prison officials, and Cascade County judges worked to reduce the population where they could. Slaughter was public about his intent not to jail people over mask use, or lack of it. In the Friday release, Slaughter described the mask order as "highly contentious and debatable" and said he had worked with the local judiciary to ensure no one would be sent to jail for refusing to wear a mask in a court setting. "What I failed to anticipate was that an out-of-town judge from Missoula would not respect my concerns or the values of the people in Cascade County," Slaughter, elected sheriff in 2018, said in the press release. "Judge Larson is not accountable to the citizens of Cascade County, he felt he could do whatever he wanted. Judge Larson sentenced Phillip to jail for contempt of court because he refused to wear a mask, potentially exposing him to COVID at the Cascade County Detention Center." He apologized in the release to Dupaul, and said Dupaul had "shown grace" and accepted the apology. "I am truly sorry for what happened to Phillip Dupaul under my watch," Slaughter said in the release. "This was not justice of any kind; this was a judge who used very poor judgement in our community." Dupaul confirmed he had spoken with the sheriff, and told the Missoulian he took the sheriff at his word in saying he didn't know Dupaul was being held in general population, rather than isolation, while jail officials were becoming aware of a major outbreak in the facility. Still, Dupaul repeatedly used the word "negligence" in describing the judge's and local law enforcement's handling of his mask refusal. Cascade County Attorney Josh Racki told the Great Falls Tribune on Friday that Title III in Montana Code Annotated gives the judge power to completely control the court room, and to hold those who dispute the judge in contempt of court. "As far as the deputies, they were very professional with me," Dupaul said. "They were simply following procedure of what they were supposed to do. But they put me in a position where I could be infected, and that's wrong. They could have left me in the booking area, and I would have sat out my sentence there. But to put me into a Petri dish that's what it was, a Petri dish of active COVID cases, that was negligent that was wrong." Dupaul refutes any personal responsibility. He said he hasn't worn a mask since the beginning of the pandemic, but said he's kept his distance from high-risk people since COVID-19 hit Montana. He also does not have a specific medical condition that would warrant exemption from the mask mandate, he told the Missoulian, but does feel that the mask hinders his breathing. "I think that's enough of a circumstance," he said. Still, Dupaul makes one point clear: he was ordered to jail for 24 hours. What he got instead, by extension of that stint in the jail, was a two-week sentence; he's holding himself under a 14-day quarantine. 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. Utz Quality Foods gained market share as consumers stockpiled its pretzels and potato chips for quarantine snacks at the start of coronavirus lockdowns, helped by its direct-store delivery model. "Our path from manufacturing to putting it on the shelf is very fast. It can literally happen in 24 to 48 hours, depending on the geography," said CEO Dylan Lissette, the son-in-law of the founders' grandson. The company's pro forma net sales grew 11% to $242 million during the quarter ended June 28 and it grabbed market share from competitors. It also benefited from lower exposure to food service outlets, like restaurants and university dining halls, and convenience stores. Like PepsiCo and other snack companies, Utz had to rethink some of the products it's making during the pandemic, like variety packs that would require workers to be closer together in factories. In the coming months, it plans to spend more on advertising and marketing to help it retain its new customers. Utz, which has been family owned for 99 years, is the latest company to go public this year through a deal with a special purpose acquisition company, joining the likes of Virgin Galactic and DraftKings. A SPAC, as they are commonly called, has no assets but use the proceeds from an initial public offering, combined with bank financing, to buy and take privately held consumer companies public. The soon-to-be formed Utz Brands will begin trading Monday on the New York Stock Exchange with the ticker "UTZ." Lissette said that Utz started talking with Collier Creek Holdings, which has ties to investment firm CC Capital, in July of last year about a merger. "As we looked at the landscape and understood that we really wanted to not just be a company that dotted along. We wanted to be a growth company, a national company. We want to compete against the largest CPG competitors in the salted snack industry," Lissette said. Utz's merger with Collier Creek, which is trading for about $15.85 a share, is expected to close on Friday. Collier Creek co-founder Roger Deromedi, who formerly served as chairman of Pinnacle Foods and CEO of Kraft Foods, will become chairman of the company. "What I liked about the combination with Collier it was really about taking a proven playbook, not just business strategies but also governance strategies," Lissette said. Proceeds from the deal will go toward paying down Utz's debt. Last year, it bought rival pretzel-maker Snyder of Berlin from Conagra Brands. After the merger with Collier Creek closes, the Rice and Lissette family will retain its 90% stake in Utz, which will represent more than 50% of the company. A City analyst and her seven-year-old son were found dead by police who forced their way into their home near Canary Wharf. Officers found Yulia Gokcedag, 35, hanged and Timur, seven, drowned at the first-floor flat in a private complex off Lockesfield Place on the Isle of Dogs. The pair had been reported missing the day before police broke into the apartment at 3.20am on August 13. Mrs Gokcedag, who worked for Moodys Investors Service, had lived in the gated community for several years. The tragedy is being treated as a suspected murder-suicide and detectives from the Mets Specialist Crime Command are not seeking anyone else in connection with the deaths. The mother, pictured, and son were found by officers who had been alerted to concerns about their welfare A neighbour said today: I am horrified at this. I just cant believe this has happened here. Its beyond comprehension. Another said: I knew them, its terrible I cant put it into words. According to her social media profiles, Mrs Gokcedag had been a data analyst for Moodys since March last year, having previously worked in a branch of Barclays and in marketing for an investment bank. She moved to London after studying finance in Moscow and took an academic English course at the London School of Economics, saying she is experienced in working with high net worth clients in corporate banking and hedge funds. According to her social media profiles, Mrs Gokcedag had been a data analyst for Moodys since March last year She got married in a glittering ceremony in her native Russia and proudly shared pictures on Facebook of Timur when he was born in 2013. Scotland Yard said an inquest has been scheduled at Poplar Coroners Court in December. A spokesman said: Officers forced entry to the property and found Yulia and her son Timur unresponsive. Both were pronounced dead at the scene and an investigation was launched. Post mortem examinations determined the cause of death for Yulia to have been hanging and Timurs cause of death was drowning. The Mets Directorate of Professional Standards was informed. A referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, who referred it back to the local professional standards unit who are currently investigating. The deaths come just days after the ex-wife of a celebrity photographer appeared at the Old Bailey accused of murdering their 10-year-old disabled son, after allegedly struggling with his care needs during lockdown. Olga Freeman, 40, is accused of killing her son Dylan at their home in Acton, west London, on August 16 while the boys father, Dean Freeman, was in Spain. Moodys were contacted for comment. :: Anyone seeking help can call Samaritans free on 116 123 or visit Samaritans.org Los Angeles: Travellers may need to convince a computer that they are speaking the truth during future airport security checks, as a new lie-detecting kiosk enters the scene which can spot changes in physiology and behaviour during interviews with fliers. The Automated Virtual Agent for Truth Assessments in Real Time (AVATAR) is currently being tested to help border security agents determine whether travellers coming into Canada may have undisclosed motives for entering the country. "AVATAR is a kiosk, much like an airport check-in or grocery store self-checkout kiosk," said Professor Aaron Elkins from San Diego State University in the US."However, this kiosk has a face on the screen that asks questions of travellers and can detect changes in physiology and behaviour during the interview." The system can detect changes in the eyes, voice, gestures and posture to determine potential risk. It can even tell when you are curling your toes," said Elkins. Passengers would step up to the kiosk and be asked a series of questions such as, "Do you have fruits or vegetables in your luggage?" or "Are you carrying any weapons with you?" Eye-detection software and motion and pressure sensors would monitor the passengers as they answer the questions, looking for tell-tale physiological signs of lying or discomfort. The kiosk would also ask a series of innocuous questions to establish baseline measurements so people are just nervous about flying, for example, would not be unduly singled out. Once the kiosk detected deception, they would flag those passengers for further scrutiny from human agents. Elkins began working on AVATAR when he was a PhD student at the University of Arizona. As the deception detection project grew more advanced and more sensors were added, more data about the interviewee was analysed. "We've come to realise that this can be used not just for border security, but also for law enforcement, job interviews and other human resources applications as well," Elkins said." We continue to make improvements, such as analysing the collected data using Big Data analysis techniques that make AVATAR a potentially valuable tool across many industries," he said. Elkins is looking for a government agency willing to utilise the technology in a real-world application. "AVATAR has been tested in labs, in airports and at border crossing stations," Elkins noted."The system is fully ready for implementation to help stem the flow of contraband, thwart fleeing criminals, and detect potential terrorists and many other applications in the effort to secure international borders," he said. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. A controversial proposal by a Norwegian engineering company to fabricate 10-kilometre pipelines and tow them through Ningaloo Marine Park for use at the offshore oil rigs has been put on hold. It is the second win for environmental groups in Exmouth in less than 48 hours after the federal government withdrew Shark Bay and Ningaloo Reef from its 2020 acreage release, which would have opened up the waters of the heritage-listed areas to oil and gas exploration. Ningaloo Reef is a biodiversity hotspot. Credit:Alex Kydd On Friday Environment Minister Stephen Dawson announced Subsea 7's plans to operate the pipeline facility at Learmonth, south of Exmouth, would be deferred until an impact study was completed by the Environmental Protection Authority. "The Exmouth Gulf is under increasing pressure from a range of activities and users and this is an opportunity to better understand the potential impacts before any significant development gets under way," Mr Dawson said. Police on Thursday gunned-down two persons suspected to be car snatchers at Asamankese in the Eastern Region during a gun battle. The deceased, who had not been identified, were said to have snatched a Nissan Murano vehicle at gunpoint in Accra in the early hours of Thursday and travelled to Asamankese. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Effia Tenge, Head of Public Affairs Unit, Accra Regional Police Command, said this in a press release made available to the Ghana News Agency in Accra. She said the two sustained gun-shot wounds in a shot-out with the police, which resulted in their deaths. She said the police had, however, arrested Erasmus Somuah Sekyie, their accomplice, and was assisting in investigations. DSP Tenge said the Nissan Murano had been retrieved and the bodies had been deposited at the Police Hospital Mortuary awaiting autopsy. The Command further warns all armed criminals that the police will not relent on its efforts in combating violent crimes in the country, she added. ---GNA By John Jannarone When chronically underperforming media company Leaf Group Ltd. announced a strategic review to consider selling all or part of itself in April 2019, certain buyers were licking their chops. But in the end, dinner was never served. According to a potential strategic buyer, the company broke many normal rules of conduct in a sale process, effectively ruling out the possibility of doing a deal of any kind. The would-be bidder had expressed interest in some of Leafs assets prior to the review process, but when the apparent opportunity to conduct due diligence came about, Leaf Group declined to disclose detailed financial information about individual divisions. There was, in theory, an opportunity to make a bid, but the company gave the person just one weeks notice of a final deadline. There werent any chances to meet senior management to discuss details or access to a so-called data room, which normally serves to provide potential buyers with critical information that isnt given to the public, the person said. CorpGov separately interviewed multiple technology, media and telecom (TMT) bankers not involved with Leaf Group who said a review process normally involves a letter announcing a deadline of many weeks if not months in advance. Potential buyers need time not only to examine the business, but arrange financing to back their offers. The review ended in May of this year, when the company said it had assessed an exhaustive range of alternatives but determined its current business strategy as an independent company is the best path forward. That announcement came just two days after the companys annual shareholder meeting, leaving frustrated shareholders with little formal recourse until 2021. Leaf Groups senior management, particularly CEO Sean Moriarty, is at loggerheads with an unusually large group of unhappy shareholders accounting for more-than 40% of the outstanding shares. The group has made valid points about the companys underperformance, including the fact that the stock price has been roughly cut in half since Mr. Moriarty took the helm in 2014. Leaf Group didnt respond to a request for comment while a spokesman for the shareholder group declined to comment. Story continues A second person close to the company said Mr. Moriarty has shown a lack of interest in selling parts of the business in the past. The person said a bid for certain assets was presented to Mr. Moriarty earlier in his tenure and prior to the recent review, but it vanished without any indication of serious consideration. It is common for media-industry companies to have controlling shareholders such as John Malone with Liberty Media or the Murdoch Family with Fox and News Corp. assets. The second person said that Mr. Moriarty appeared to operate similarly to such media moguls, even though he owns a small stake in the business. There are other signs of corporate governance concerns at Leaf Group. Since April, four directors have resigned from the board, including Lanny Baker, who oversaw the strategic review process. And, as the investor group points out, both members of the compensation committee worked with Mr. Moriarty at Ticketmaster. Such close connections understandably raise eyebrows at a company that has underperformed the market and peers so dramatically. Even a cursory look at the companys financials suggests the company is undervalued. Leaf had only about $11 million of debt as of June 30 and the company trades at just 0.5 times 2021 estimated revenue, according to Sentieo, an AI-based research platform. Some of Leafs businesses have thrived during the pandemic. Society6 Group, for instance, saw revenue rise to $36 million in the June quarter from $16 million a year earlier. That division alone, assuming a $200 million run rate and a multiple of two times sales, could conservatively be worth $400 million. The entire company has a market capitalization of just $120 million. Mr. Moriarty has had ample time to execute on the companys strategy as an independent business. Barring a miraculous and sudden recovery at Leaf, it may soon be time for him to make like a tree. Contact: John Jannarone, Editor-in-Chief www.CorpGov.com Editor@CorpGov.com Twitter: @CorpGovernor The wealthy family of a privately educated Ugandan refugee who was found dead in a flat in Glasgow beside her malnourished baby have told MailOnline of their shock at her death. Mercy Baguma, 34, whose father was a Ugandan politician, was found by police in Govan on Saturday after friends raised the alarm. Her hungry baby boy was crying beside her body. According to schoolfriends in Uganda, she had struggled with alcohol addiction and depression over many years, affecting her health. She suffered from liver problems and a kidney condition. In a eulogy, her sister, Hajirah Nakendo, wrote: 'Often we forget that those who are the happiest in life also hide their pain the best. As happy as she seemed, she was no exception.' And her brother, Eric, told MailOnline of his astonishment at claims that his sister had become destitute. 'We have money,' he said. 'We are not poor. If she needed something, all she had to do was ask.' After growing up in privilege, Ms Baguma decided to make the move to Britain to find 'greener pastures' after she found it difficult to find a good job, her brother said. She had been in Scotland for 14 years. Details of her life emerged as Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon blamed Ms Baguma's death on Britain's asylum system, calling it 'broken' and 'deeply inhumane'. The Ugandan had lost her job in Scotland after her leave to remain expired, and was no longer allowed to work. Scroll down for video Mercy Baguma, also known as Ruby, was found dead by police in Govan on Saturday Ms Baguma, right, and her father, former MP Abdu Balingilira Nakendo, left, who collapsed when he heard news of her death Privately-educated Ms Baguma suffered from pre-existing kidney and liver conditions, according to her family and friends Ms Baguma had been in Scotland for 14 years prior to her death Ms Baguma, also known as Masitula Nakendo, wrote a tragic final Facebook post making a birthday appeal for donations to the Prevention of Young Suicide charity, which runs HopelineUK. In June, a charity called African Challenge Scotland released a video of Ms Baguma thanking its volunteers for delivering Ugandan food to her door. A lawyer who is an old school friend of Ms Baguma told MailOnline: 'Mercy, very sadly, had been struggling with an addiction to alcohol over the years.' In her eulogy, the asylum seeker's sister, also a lawyer, wrote: 'I remind myself that she no longer has to endure the pain of this world. We all must find peace knowing that she is still a light in our hearts.' She added: 'What if she would have come back home to Uganda...... the land of freedom, maybe things would be different.' Speaking at the family home in Ntinda, an upmarket suburb of Kampala popular with the country's elite, Ms Baguma's brother, Eric Muhangi, said that the asylum seeker was in poor health. 'She had underlying conditions and we were worried about her,' he told MailOnline. 'But she was determined to go to Britain. In Uganda, she went through all the levels of education and she was devastated when she couldn't get a good job. 'She didn't want to stay in Uganda, earning peanuts. She wanted to earn pounds, which actually mean something. She went to Britain seeking greener pastures.' Ms Baguma was one of 14 siblings. Another brother, Kizire Nakendo, is currently running for office at the Ugandan parliament. Her father, former MP Abdu Balingilira Nakendo, who suffers from high blood pressure, was rushed to hospital after collapsing when he received news of the death of his daughter. Her mother, Rehema Omularo, died 30 years ago. The family, which owns several properties in the Ugandan capital Kampala, lives adjacent to an enclave known as 'Ministers' Village', due to its popularity with Ugandan politicians, army chiefs and business leaders. An upmarket shopping mall called Capital Shoppers City, protected by armed guards, is nearby. Her family lives in Ntinda, an upmarket suburb of Kampala popular with the country's elite The family lives adjacent to an enclave known as 'Ministers' Village', due to its popularity with Ugandan politicians, army chiefs and business leaders Ms Baguma's father, the former MP Abdu Balingilira Nakendo, left, and her brother, Eric Muhangi, right Ms Baguma's brother, Kizire Nakendo, is running for office in the Ugandan parliament 'None of us can believe that she died in such circumstances,' Ms Baguma's brother Eric said. 'We have money. We are not poor. If she needed something, all she had to do was ask. It is wrong for British politicians and media to say she was penniless. 'She went to a good school that not all Ugandans can afford. She had everything she needed. We are shocked. Why did she not ask us for help?' Ms Baguma, also known as Ruby, attended exclusive, fee-paying private schools that are popular with Uganda's upper classes. Her father was elected to the Ugandan parliament in 2006 as an independent MP. But he was thrown out two years later when it emerged that he had forged his academic grades to qualify for election. The father of her baby, understood by MailOnline to be a Nigerian asylum seeker, is looking after their child. According to Mr Muhangi, the couple had been separated for 'a long time'. 'The family had never met him,' he said. 'Mercy had been in Scotland for 14 years.' Her family is returning to their ancestral village in eastern Uganda to hold a vigil for Ms Baguma tomorrow. The asylum seeker lost her job after her limited leave to remain expired and she was no longer allowed to work. She was reportedly relying on food from friends and charitable organisations. Her body was discovered by police on August 22. She was last heard from four days earlier, when she spoke to friends. A week earlier, on August 11, she got in touch with charity Positive Action for Housing, to seek help and would have been deemed high priority for support. No cause of death has yet been established. Ms Baguma came from a wealthy family in Uganda which owns several properties in Kampala The Ugandan asylum seeker suffered from alcoholism and depression, friends said Ms Baguma, left, and her mother, right, who according to family died 'some years ago'. The asylum seeker lost her job after her limited leave to remain expired and she was no longer allowed to work. She was reportedly relying on food from friends and charitable organisations In her eulogy, Ms Baguma's sister wrote: 'Words cannot describe how much she will be missed. I feel like we still had so much left to teach one another, and so many more inside jokes to create. 'I had always thought Id be able to had always thought Id be able to see her grow into the beautiful woman that she was meant to be. I know there is something that she found to love in every one of us. 'We must remind ourselves that when we look for her, we can look to the stars at night and we can look into the eyes and hearts of everyone here and find a little piece of her. In that sense she will live on forever.' Speaking at First Minister's Questions yesterday, Nicola Sturgeon said: '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. '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.' She added: '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.' Ms Sturgeon said that the Scottish government had raised concerns about the asylum system with Westminster in the past. '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,' she said. A Home Office spokesman said: 'This is a tragic situation and our condolences go to Ms Baguma's 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 Baguma's case.' You've probably seen the news footage of the studios in heaps of rubble over-run by rats. You've seen the photos of Tom Cruise begging for change on the corner of Hollywood and Vine, and Meryl Streep lined up for a crust of bread at the soup kitchen. Who could fail to be moved by the image of George Clooney standing at a freeway off-ramp holding the cardboard sign: "Will Act For Food." Don't worry if you missed all that, because the 'Enquirer' conjures up a vision of Hollywood crumbling into the sea, as if the stars are all homeless and starving, reporting: "COVID puts movie biz & stars' careers on life support." "Tom Cruise Endless Delays," the 'Enquirer' states, evidently unaware that he's back filming stunts for 'Mission Impossible' in the UK. Doesn't the 'Enquirer' know that a host of movies are back in production? "Acclaimed actors are delivering pizzas," the report continues. Yes, it's true that 'Stranger Things' child star Gaten Matarazzo is delivering pizzas this summer, but it's to help out at his family's New Jersey pizza parlor, and not because the 17-year-old is broke or needs the tips. Don't expect to see George Clooney delivering your pizza any time soon. The 'Globe' devotes its cover to a character assassination: "Tucker Carlson TV's Most Hated Host!" No argument here, but what's notable is the tabloids' complete turn-around from the Trump-worshipping, Fox-adulating empire it was only two years ago. Carlson takes the crown of "TV's Most Hated Host" from recent title-holder Ellen DeGeneres, and 2018's champion Megyn Kelly. Tom Cruise still appears to retain his title as The Most Hated Man in Hollywood, however. At least that gives Tucker Carlson something to aim for. The British Royals continue to be blank canvases on which the tabloids can paint their wildest imaginings, though it will be hard to top this week's 'Globe' story: "Meghan & Harry Sell Souls to 'Lucifer!'" No hyperbole here. Just good old-fashioned reporting, shoe leather and grit. For selling their souls you might expect Harry and Meghan to make a decent bargain, forcing the Devil's hand to grant them untold wealth, Hollywood fame, and perhaps wrangling it so that their son Archie somehow inherits the British throne. But no apparently they "sold their souls" for a house: their new estate in Montecito, California. Worse yet, apparently Harry and Meghan paid $14.6 million for the home. Don't they understand the first thing about selling your soul? You're not supposed to pay Beelzebub until you die. But that's not how the 'Globe' sees it. "Meghan & Harry $14.6m Deal With The Devil!" screams the report of their buying their home from Russian oligarch Sergey Grishin, whose ex-wife accuses him of abuse, which he denies. Perhaps Harry and Meghan need new business managers who can negotiate a better deal with the devil for their souls. 'Us' magazine devotes its cover to the Duchess of Cambridge: "Kate's Modern Monarchy. Almost 70 years after Elizabeth's coronation, her fearless successor is taking charge and changing the Royals forever!" Has 'Us' mag even heard of Prince Charles, or his wife Camilla? Do they imagine Kate will take over as Queen when Elizabeth II dies? Do they think that Queen Kate would have the same powers, authority and majesty as Queen Elizabeth? Don't they realize that the power of the monarchy will rest in King Charles III, and then King William V or whatever names they ultimately choose to anoint themselves with and that Kate will be the Queen of ribbon-cutting and baby-kissing? Equally disconnected from reality is the 'Globe' story: "Harry & Meghan Ruin Meg Ryan's Peace & Quiet!" Meg Ryan has a home in Montecito and is allegedly upset that Harry and Meghan may bring unwanted paparazzi and tourist chaos to the community. But Ryan isn't quoted saying a word against the royals, and an unnamed insider claims only that Ryan moved to the town "to get away from it all." Moreover, Ryan's home isn't even anywhere near Harry and Meghan's new estate. It's just the 'Globe' clutching at straws. At least the 'Globe' shows that it can write a balanced, fair and dispassionate story once in a while, with its report on Harry and Meghan offering proposals for a new project to various Hollywood studios: "Pitch Perfect? Sussexes Hawk A Hush-Hush H'wood Deal!" The story explains: "Demanding Meghan is trying to secretly worm her way back into Tinseltown as a producer and wants to bring henpecked hubby Prince Harry along for the ride, sources snitch." It doesn't get more impartial than that at the 'Globe,' which clearly hasn't the faintest idea what the couple are pitching to studios. Every unmarried woman over the age of 40 is a man-hungry Cougar, the tabloids seem to believe. "Sarah Palin is on the prowl for a new man" claim unnamed sources who tell the 'Enquirer' that the former Republican vice presidential candidate is on a "Manhunt!" "Love-hungry" former supermodel Christie Brinkley "is on the prowl for a new man," reports the 'Globe,' explaining: "Dateless Christie Turns Cougar!" Sounds like projection to me. It wouldn't be the tabloids without Elvis Presley, and this week the 'Globe' informs us: "Elvis Didn't Have to Die! Autopsy PROVES surgery could've saved the King!" No, it doesn't prove anything of the sort. It's not as if the 'Globe' has secretly exhumed Presley and performed a new autopsy. They're looking at the same autopsy results that were thoroughly examined when he died in 1977, and have been reviewed and dissected a thousand times since then. Presley died of a heart attack with a slew of drugs in his system. The 'Globe' says that he had an enlarged colon that could have been treated with surgery. This may well be true (miracles happen) but the enlarged colon didn't kill him. Regardless, Elvis's private physician Dr George Nichopoulous claims that Presley's colon could have been treated. Yes, that's the same doctor who lost his medical license for over-prescribing meds, and whose ability to offer revelatory insights does not appear to have been curtailed by his own death in 2016. Perhaps the 'Globe' interviewed him using a Ouija board? Elvis's ex-wife also comes in for the tabloid treatment this week, as the 'Enquirer' reports: "Shattered Priscilla Flees Hollywood for Graceland!" Priscilla Presley, who certainly was devastated by the recent suicide death of her grandson, is reportedly selling her long-time Beverly Hills home, but that doesn't mean she's moving to Graceland, where she stays part of the year anyway. Priscilla owns numerous homes she sold another Los Angeles home just last year and is more likely to buy a new California home than move full-time into a Graceland over-run by tourists. It wouldn't be the tabloids without warring exes Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt either, and this week doesn't disappoint. "Angie & Brad Fight Battle of Britain!" reports the 'Globe.' No, Brad hasn't taken to the skies in a Spitfire and Angie isn't blitz-bombing London. The 'Globe' claims that Jolie wants to move with the kids to England, and Pitt wants the kids to stay in the US. It's all tabloid bluster since it's been widely acknowledged that Jolie knows she can't move the kids overseas full-time without Pitt's permission until the brood are all over the age of 18. The 'Enquirer' reports: "Angie Explodes as Brad and Jen Reunite! Furious he's with ex during their custody fight." But Brad Pitt is not "with" his first ex-wife Jennifer Aniston and why would Jolie even care? It's worth noting the extensive coverage the tabloids give this week to actress Lori Loughlin being sentenced to two months imprisonment for her part in the college cheating scandal. "Case Closed." reports 'Us' mag, devoting one lonely paragraph to the story: a far cry from the cover story they gave her when predicting she could be jailed for 60 years. "Lori Loughlin 'Terrified' to Spend 2 Months in Prison," reports 'People' magazine. I bet she's glad it's not 60 years, then. 'People' mag devotes its cover to "The Bella Twins Double Baby Joy!" Could. Not. Care. Less. Thankfully we have the crack investigative squad at 'Us' mag to tell us that Melissa Gorga wore it best (Though Cara Santana, Kristen Taekman and Tracy Tutor must be firing the stylists who put them all into the same outfits, and Cara Santana is probably more upset that most since the clothes were from her own Cara Santana Collection), that 'The Karate Kid' alumni Ralph Macchio's first job was earning $1-an-hour in "my dad's laundromat," and that the stars are just like us: they shop for groceries, drink coffee, pump gas and do at-home spa treatments. Earth-shattering information. Life will never be the same again. Onwards and downwards . . . The aviation sector is going through its toughest time. The passenger traffic is down, airlines across the board are registering huge losses, and the relentless march of the pandemic has ensured that passengers avoid travelling through air. On the other side of the pandemic, analysts see things are going to be totally different. How? Even though the past few months have seen dramatic drop in air traffic, market leader IndiGo has further consolidated its position by grabbing more market share. IndiGo's market share has grown (to 60.4 per cent in July) even as all other major carriers have reported loss in market share. How did that happen? That's because when others were struggling to manage their finances, IndiGo, which was already financially strong, focussed on aggressively relaunching operations (from May 25) following the government's nod. Despite a sharp drop in its cash reserves in the June 2020 quarter, IndiGo is still sitting on total cash reserves of Rs 18,449.8 crore. The second-largest airline Spicejet, which has about one-fourth of IndiGo's market share, had cash reserves of paltry Rs 40.2 crore as on March 2020. To put this number in context, SpiceJet quarterly fuel expenses are more than three times its cash reserves. Also read: COVID-19 pandemic: DGCA to put passengers with no masks on no-fly list "SpiceJet's standby letter of credit facility remained unpaid for more than 30 days as of end-June 2020...another carrier GoAir has been asked by the Airports Authority of India to clear its unpaid dues and pay upfront for utilising airport services. The weak liquidity position of some Indian airlines is likely to force them to curtail operations and allow stronger rivals to enhance their presence in the domestic aviation sector. A higher market share, apart from cost-cutting measures, will allow airlines such as IndiGo to improve their performance after a sharp drop in earnings in the June quarter, even though overall travel demand is unlikely to rebound quickly," Fitch Ratings said in a recent note. Almost all analysts believe that SpiceJet and GoAir are in a downward spiral. "SpiceJet was in urgent need of capital infusion even prior to COVID-19, and the present crisis has only accentuated the liquidity crunch. SpiceJet continues to aggressively cut costs, re-negotiate contract terms and defer payments. However, there are material uncertainties on its ability to continue deferring its obligations and unwind them...," said a July 31 report by Centrum Broking. Also read: Airlines can now serve meals to passengers; resume in-flight entertainment Even though the situation of Tata Group airlines - Vistara and AirAsia India - is equally precarious, the group seems to be throwing its weight behind the aviation ventures. For instance, AirAsia India, which is 51 per cent owned by Tata Sons, has reportedly decided to raise Rs 300 crore by issuing optionally convertible redeemable debentures. Tata Sons has also reportedly infused fresh equity into its FSC (full-service carrier) Vistara recently in addition to investing Rs 500 crore around June. Then, the reports of Tata Group's interest in buying the national carrier Air India (whose bidding is closing on August 31), and even buying out the stake of its 49 per cent partner (Malaysian carrier AirAsia Berhad) in AirAsia India point out to the long-term vision of the group in the sector. Also read: IndiGo flew over 800 international charter flights in last 3 months to repatriate 1.5 lakh passengers Fresh investments by the Tata Group in its two carriers have come at a time when the domestic industry is facing strong headwinds. As per aviation consultancy firm CAPA, the domestic industry needs a capital infusion of $5 billion (Rs 36,705 crore) to stay afloat as its losses are likely to be between $6 billion (Rs 44,046 crore) and $6.5 billion (Rs 47,717 crore) in FY21. It has estimated that SpiceJet could raise $250-300 million through a series of steps. Following the initial fervour, the air passenger demand refuses to pick up due to a variety of reasons, including fear of contracting while travelling, inconsistency in state governments' policies, inability of airlines to stimulate demand, and the general economic slump. The Cyberabad police in Hyderabad took a retired soldier into custody for opening fire twice in the air after an altercation with a group of youth who were partying in his apartment block ahead of Ganesh immersion ceremony late Thursday night. Police said the incident happened at a residential apartment Hyder Shah Kote area under Narsingi police station in the citys outskirts. The accused was identified as Naga Malleshwar Rao (50). Narsingi police inspector Gangadhar told reporters that a group of around 40 youth associated with a broadband service company, whose office was in the same apartment block had installed a Lord Ganesh idol in the premises. They were planning to immerse the Ganesh idol on Thursday night. Before that, they organised a party in the premises. They were reportedly drinking alcohol and dancing to loud music. Though some residents in the housing society objected to it, the youth told them that they would disperse soon. But when the party continued with loud music till late in the night, Malleshwara Rao rushed to them and shouted at them for disturbing everybody. This led to an argument between him and the youth. After some time, some of the youth went to Raos flat and entered into an altercation. The furious retired jawan pulled out his weapon and fired two rounds in the air. One of the bullets reportedly went past the ear of one of the youth. All the employees of the company fled the spot, the police said. On receiving a complaint from the apartment residents, a police patrol rushed to the spot, detained Rao and seized his weapon. The police also cordoned off the area where the firing took place and searched for clues. We have registered a case under Arms Act. We have also booked a case against the youth for violating Covid-19 norms. Further investigation is on, the police inspector said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD Prince George's County Public Schools reasserted its decision to start classes virtually to slow the spread of coronavirus. The reaffirmation came hours after Gov. Larry Hogan urged schools to move toward some type of in-person learning. "PGCPS is committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of all students and educators," Board of Education Chair Alvin Thornton said Thursday evening on Facebook. "We have listened to parents and our community in making decisions that prioritize our students needs." Online classes start on Monday. Distance learning will continue until at least the end of January. The county will reevaluate in December with the hopes of offering a hybrid option starting in February. "There is broad and overwhelming agreement that finding a way to begin safely returning children to classrooms must be a top priority," Hogan said at a Thursday press conference. "There is no substitute for in-person instruction." All school districts had to submit their plans for the upcoming school year to the Maryland State Department of Education by Aug. 14. Eight jurisdictions submitted reopening plans that prohibited all in-person instruction, Hogan said. "This is simply not acceptable," Hogan said. "It is not the right thing for our Maryland children." Though Hogan encourages schools to get back to the classroom, he will not require them to. Schools that choose to reopen must maintain social distancing and enforce a universal mask policy. State officials recommend that counties track their positivity rate and new infections per capita to determine whether they can safely reopen. They say jurisdictions should aim to keep their seven-day positivity rate below 5 percent. They also advise districts to shoot for a weekly average of less than five new coronavirus cases-per-day per 100,000 people. When a region meets both of those metrics, it is probably safe to partially reopen schools, health officials say. Story continues Prince George's County's most recent data clock the positivity rate at 4.57 percent, which is 1.27 percent higher than the statewide clip. The jurisdiction fell under the 5 percent benchmark for the first time on Aug. 19. The local positivity rate topped out at 41.98 percent on May 2. While the county meets the percent positive guideline, it does not meet the new infections per capita benchmark. Between Aug. 16 and Aug. 22, which is the last full week on record, Prince George's County averaged 11.44 new cases-per-day per 100,000 people. The county has the most coronavirus infections in the state, with 25,817. The virus has killed 762 county residents. Prince George's coronavirus-related hospitalizations have plateaued as of late. The virus had 57 Prince George's County residents in the hospital during the last recorded week. Hospitalizations hit a recent low of 45 in the week of July 5. Since then, they have fluctuated between 49 and 57. Fewer than 69 coronavirus patients have been in the hospital at a time since the week of June 21. More than 240 people were hospitalized in Prince George's County on the pandemic's peak during the week of May 3. "At this time, we have no plans to change course in reopening PGCPS," Thornton said. "We will work with the County Executive, local health officials and the CEO to assess when it is safe for our students and employees to resume in-person learning." Patch Editor Elizabeth Janney contributed reporting to this article. RELATED: Have a story idea? Please contact me at jacob.baumgart@patch.com with any pitches, tips or questions. Follow me on Twitter @JacobBaumgart and on Facebook @JacobBaumgartJournalist to stay up-to-date with the latest Anne Arundel County and Prince George's County news. This article originally appeared on the Bowie Patch Friends, delegates, and distinguished guests: I stand before you tonight honored by your support; proud of the extraordinary progress we have made together over the last four years; and brimming with confidence in the bright future we will build for America over the NEXT four years! As we begin this evening, our thoughts are with the wonderful people who have just come through the wrath of Hurricane Laura. We are working closely with state and local officials in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi, sparing no effort to save lives. While the hurricane was fierce, one of the strongest to make landfall in 150 years, the casualties and damage were far less than thought possible only 24 hours ago. This is due to the great work of FEMA, law enforcement, and the individual states. I will be going this weekend. We are one national family, and we will always protect, love and care for each other. Here tonight are the people who have made my journey possible, and filled my life with so much joy. For her incredible service to our nation and its children, I want to thank our magnificent First Lady. I also want to thank my amazing daughter Ivanka for that introduction, and to all of my children and grandchildren I love you more than words can express. I know my brother Robert is looking down on us right now from Heaven. He was a great brother and was very proud of the job we are doing. Let us also take a moment to show our profound appreciation for a man who has always fought by our side, and stood up for our values a man of deep faith and steadfast conviction: Vice President Mike Pence. Mike is joined by his beloved wife, a teacher and military mom, Karen Pence. My fellow Americans, tonight, with a heart full of gratitude and boundless optimism, I proudly accept this nomination for President of the United States. The Republican Party, the party of Abraham Lincoln, goes forward united, determined, and ready to welcome millions of Democrats, Independents, and anyone who believes in the GREATNESS of America and the righteous heart of the American People. In a new term as President, we will again build the greatest economy in history quickly returning to full employment, soaring incomes, and RECORD prosperity! We will DEFEND AMERICA against all threats, and protect America against all dangers. We will LEAD AMERICA into new frontiers of ambition and discovery, and we will reach for new heights of national achievement. We will rekindle new faith in our values, new pride in our history, and a new spirit of unity that can ONLY be realized through love for our country. Because we understand that America is NOT a land cloaked in darkness, America is the torch that enlightens the entire world. Gathered here at our beautiful and majestic White House known all over the world as the People's House we cannot help but marvel at the miracle that is our Great American Story. This has been the home of larger-than-life figures like Teddy Roosevelt and Andrew Jackson who rallied Americans to bold visions of a bigger and brighter future. Within these walls lived tenacious generals like Presidents Grant and Eisenhower who led our soldiers in the cause of freedom. From these grounds, Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark on a daring expedition to cross a wild and uncharted continent. In the depths of a bloody Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln looked out these very windows upon a half-completed Washington Monument and asked God, in His Providence, to save our union. Two weeks after Pearl Harbor, Franklin Delano Roosevelt welcomed Winston Churchill, and just inside, they set our people on a course to victory in the Second World War. In recent months, our nation, and the entire planet, has been struck by a new and powerful invisible enemy. Like those brave Americans before us, we are meeting this challenge. We are delivering lifesaving therapies, and will produce a vaccine BEFORE the end of the year, or maybe even sooner! We will defeat THE VIRUS, end the pandemic, and emerge stronger than ever before. What united generations past was an unshakable confidence in America's destiny, and an unbreakable faith in the American People. They knew that our country is blessed by God, and has a special purpose in this world. It is that conviction that inspired the formation of our union, our westward expansion, the abolition of slavery, the passage of civil rights, the space program, and the overthrow of fascism, tyranny and communism. This towering American spirit has prevailed over every challenge, and lifted us to the summit of human endeavor. And yet, despite all of our greatness as a nation, everything we have achieved is now endangered. This is the most important election in the history of our country. At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas. This election will decide whether we SAVE the American Dream, or whether we allow a socialist agenda to DEMOLISH our cherished destiny. It will decide whether we rapidly create millions of high paying jobs, or whether we crush our industries and send millions of these jobs overseas, as has foolishly been done for many decades. Your vote will decide whether we protect law abiding Americans, or whether we give free reign to violent anarchists, agitators, and criminals who threaten our citizens. And this election will decide whether we will defend the American Way of Life, or whether we allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it. At the Democrat National Convention, Joe Biden and his party repeatedly assailed America as a land of racial, economic, and social injustice. So tonight, I ask you a very simple question: How can the Democrat Party ask to lead our country when it spends so much time tearing down our country? In the lefts backward view, they do not see America as the most free, just, and exceptional nation on earth. Instead, they see a wicked nation that must be punished for its sins. Our opponents say that redemption for YOU can only come from giving power to THEM. This is a tired anthem spoken by every repressive movement throughout history. But in this country, we don't look to career politicians for salvation. In America, we don't turn to government to restore our souls we put our faith in Almighty God. Joe Biden is not the savior of America's soul he is the destroyer of America's Jobs, and if given the chance, he will be the destroyer of American Greatness. For 47 years, Joe Biden took the donations of blue collar workers, gave them hugs and even kisses, and told them he felt their pain and then he flew back to Washington and voted to ship their jobs to China and many other distant lands. Joe Biden spent his entire career outsourcing the dreams of American Workers, offshoring their jobs, opening their borders, and sending their sons and daughters to fight in endless foreign wars. Four years ago, I ran for President because I could not watch this betrayal of our country any longer. I could not sit by as career politicians let other countries take advantage of us on trade, borders, foreign policy and national defense. Our NATO partners, as an example, were far behind in their defense payments. But at my strong urging, they agreed to pay $130 billion more a year. This will ultimately go to $400 billion. Secretary General Stoltenberg, who heads NATO, was amazed, and said that President Trump did what no one else was able to do. From the moment I left my former life behind, and a good life it was, I have done nothing but fight for YOU. I did what our political establishment never expected and could never forgive, breaking the cardinal rule of Washington Politics. I KEPT MY PROMISES. Together, we have ended the rule of the failed political class and they are desperate to get their power back by any means necessary. They are angry at me because instead of putting THEM FIRST, I put AMERICA FIRST! Days after taking office, we shocked the Washington Establishment and withdrew from the last Administration's job-killing Trans Pacific Partnership. I then approved the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines, ended the unfair and costly Paris Climate Accord, and secured, for the first time, American Energy Independence. We passed record-setting tax and regulation cuts, at a rate nobody had ever seen before. Within three short years, we built the strongest economy in the history of the world. Washington insiders asked me NOT to stand up to China they pleaded with me to let China continue stealing our jobs, ripping us off, and robbing our country blind. But I kept my word to the American People. We took the toughest, boldest, strongest, and hardest hitting action against China in American History. They said that it would be impossible to terminate and replace NAFTA but again, they were wrong. Earlier this year, I ended the NAFTA nightmare and signed the brand new U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement into law. Now auto companies and others are building their plants and factories in America, not firing their employees and deserting us. In perhaps no area did the Washington special interests try harder to stop us than on my policy of pro-American immigration. But I refused to back down and today America's borders are more secure than EVER before. We ENDED catch-and-release, stopped asylum fraud, took down human traffickers who prey on women and children, and we have deported 20,000 Gang Members and 500,000 Criminal Aliens. We have already built 300 miles of Border Wall and we are adding 10 new miles every single week. The Wall will soon be complete, and it is working beyond our wildest expectations. We are joined this evening by members of the Border Patrol union, representing our country's courageous border agents. Thank you all. When I learned that the Tennessee Valley Authority laid off hundreds of American Workers and forced them to train their lower-paid foreign replacements, I promptly removed the Chairman of the Board. And now, those talented American Workers have been RE-HIRED and are back providing power to Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Virginia. They have their old jobs back, and some are here with us this evening. Please stand. Last month, I took on Big Pharma and signed orders that will massively lower the cost of your prescription drugs, and to give critically ill patients access to lifesaving cures, we passed the decades long-awaited RIGHT TO TRY legislation. We also passed VA Accountability and VA Choice. By the end of my first term, we will have approved more than 300 federal judges, including two great new Supreme Court Justices. To bring prosperity to our forgotten inner cities, we worked hard to pass historic criminal justice reform, prison reform, opportunity zones, the long-term funding of historically black colleges and universities, and, before the China Virus came in, produced the best unemployment numbers for African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Asian-Americans ever recorded. I have done more for the African-American community than any president since Abraham Lincoln, our first Republican president. I have done more in three years for the black community than Joe Biden has done in 47 yearsand when Im reelected, the best is yet to come! When I took office, the Middle East was in total chaos. ISIS was rampaging, Iran was on the rise, and the war in Afghanistan had no end in sight. I withdrew from the terrible, one-sided Iran Nuclear Deal. Unlike many presidents before me, I kept my promise, recognized Israel's true capital and moved our Embassy to Jerusalem. But not only did we talk about it as a future site, we got it built. Rather than spending $1 billion on a new building as planned, we took an already owned existing building in a better location, and opened it at a cost of less than $500,000. We also recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and this month we achieved the first Middle East peace deal in 25 years. In addition, we obliterated 100 percent of the ISIS Caliphate, and killed its founder and leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Then, in a separate operation, we eliminated the world's number one terrorist, Qasem Soleimani. Unlike previous administrations, I have kept America OUT of new wars and our troops are coming home. We have spent nearly $2.5 trillion on completely rebuilding our military, which was very badly depleted when I took office. This includes three separate pay raises for our great warriors. We also launched the Space Force, the first new branch of the United States military since the Air Force was created almost 75 years ago. We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years. Bidens record is a shameful roll call of the most catastrophic betrayals and blunders in our lifetime. He has spent his entire career on the wrong side of history. Biden voted for the NAFTA disaster, the single worst trade deal ever enacted; he supported China's entry into the World Trade Organization, one of the greatest economic disasters of all time. After those Biden calamities, the United States lost 1 in 4 manufacturing jobs. The laid off workers in Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and many other states didn't want Joe Biden's hollow words of empathy, they wanted their jobs back! As Vice President, he supported the Trans Pacific Partnership which would have been a death sentence for the U.S. Auto Industry; he backed the horrendous South Korea trade deal, which took many jobs from our country. He repeatedly supported mass amnesty for illegal immigrants. He voted FOR the Iraq War; he opposed the mission to take out Osama bin Laden; he opposed killing Soleimani; he oversaw the rise of ISIS, and cheered the rise of China as "a positive development" for America and the world. That's why China supports Joe Biden and desperately wants him to win. China would own our country if Joe Biden got elected. Unlike Biden, I will hold them fully accountable for the tragedy they caused. In recent months, our nation, and the rest of the world, has been hit with a once-in-a-century pandemic that China allowed to spread around the globe. We are grateful to be joined tonight by several of our incredible nurses and first responders please stand and accept our profound thanks. Many Americans have sadly lost friends and cherished loved ones to this horrible disease. As one nation, we mourn, we grieve, and we hold in our hearts forever the memories of all of those lives so tragically taken. In their honor, we will unite. In their memory, we will overcome. When the China Virus hit, we launched the largest national mobilization since World War II. Invoking the Defense Production Act, we produced the world's largest supply of ventilators. Not a single American who has needed a ventilator has been denied a ventilator. We shipped hundreds of millions of masks, gloves and gowns to our front line healthcare workers. To protect our nations seniors, we rushed supplies, testing kits, and personnel to nursing homes and long term care facilities. The Army Corps of Engineers built field hospitals, and the Navy deployed our great hospital ships. We developed, from scratch, the largest and most advanced testing system in the world. America has tested more than every country in Europe put together, and more than every nation in the Western Hemisphere COMBINED. We have conducted 40 million more tests than the next closest nation. We developed a wide array of effective treatments, including a powerful anti-body treatment known as Convalescent Plasma that will save thousands of lives. Thanks to advances we have pioneered, the fatality rate has been reduced by 80 percent since April. The United States has among the lowest case fatality rates of any major country in the world. The European Union's case fatality rate is nearly three times higher than ours. Altogether, the nations of Europe have experienced a 30 percent greater increase in excess mortality than the United States. We enacted the largest package of financial relief in American history. Thanks to our Paycheck Protection Program, we have saved or supported more than 50 million American jobs. As a result, we have seen the smallest economic contraction of any major western nation, and we are recovering much faster. Over the past three months, we have gained over 9 million jobs, a new record. Unfortunately, from the beginning, our opponents have shown themselves capable of nothing but a partisan ability to criticize. When I took bold action to issue a travel ban on China, Joe Biden called it hysterical and xenophobic. If we had listened to Joe, hundreds of thousands more Americans would have died. Instead of following the science, Joe Biden wants to inflict a painful shutdown on the entire country. His shutdown would inflict unthinkable and lasting harm on our nation's children, families, and citizens of all backgrounds. The cost of the Biden shutdown would be measured in increased drug overdoses, depression, alcohol addiction, suicides, heart attacks, economic devastation and more. Joe Biden's plan is not a solution to the virus, but rather a surrender. My Administration has a different approach. To save as many lives as possible, we are focusing on the science, the facts and the data. We are aggressively sheltering those at highest risk especially the elderly while allowing lower-risk Americans to safely return to work and school. Most importantly, we are marshalling America's scientific genius to produce a vaccine in RECORD TIME. Under Operation Warp Speed, we have three different vaccines in the final stage of trials right now, years ahead of what has been achieved before. We are producing them in advance, so that hundreds of millions of doses will be quickly available. We will have a safe and effective vaccine this year, and together we will crush the virus. At the Democrat convention, you barely heard a word about their agenda. But that's not because they don't have one. It's because their agenda is the most extreme set of proposals ever put forward by a major party nominee. Joe Biden may claim he is an "ally of the Light," but when it comes to his agenda, Biden wants to keep you completely in the dark. He has pledged a $4 trillion tax hike on almost all American families, which will totally collapse our rapidly improving economy and once again record stock markets. On the other hand, just as I did in my first term, I will cut taxes even further for hardworking moms and dads, not raise them. We will also provide tax credits to bring jobs out of China BACK to America and we will impose tariffs on any company that leaves America to produce jobs overseas. We'll make sure our companies and jobs stay in our country, as I've already been doing. Joe Biden's agenda is Made in China. My agenda is MADE IN THE USA. Biden has promised to abolish the production of American oil, coal, shale, and natural gas laying waste to the economies of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico. Millions of jobs will be lost, and energy prices will soar. These same policies led to crippling power outages in California just last week. How can Joe Biden claim to be an "ally of the Light" when his own party can't even keep the lights on? Joe Biden's campaign has even published a 110-page policy platform co-authored with Far-Left Senator Bernie Sanders. The Biden-Bernie Manifesto calls for suspending ALL removals of illegal aliens, implementing nationwide Catch-and-Release; and providing illegal aliens with free taxpayer-funded lawyers. Joe Biden recently raised his hand on the debate stage and promised to give away YOUR healthcare dollars to illegal immigrants. He also supports deadly Sanctuary Cities that protect criminal aliens. He promised to end national security travel bans from Jihadist nations, and he pledged to increase refugee admissions by 700 percent. The Biden Plan would eliminate America's borders in the middle of a global pandemic. Biden also vowed to oppose School Choice and close down Charter Schools, ripping away the ladder of opportunity for Black and Hispanic children. In a second term, I will EXPAND charter schools and provide SCHOOL CHOICE to every family in America. And we will always treat our teachers with the tremendous respect they deserve. Joe Biden claims he has empathy for the vulnerable yet the party he leads supports the extreme late-term abortion of defenseless babies right up to the moment of BIRTH. Democrat leaders talk about moral decency, but they have no problem with stopping a baby's beating heart in the 9th month of pregnancy. Democrat politicians refuse to protect innocent life, and then they lecture us about morality and saving America's soul? Tonight, we proudly declare that all children, born and unborn, have a GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO LIFE. During the Democrat Convention, the words "Under God" were removed from the Pledge of Allegiance not once, but twice. The fact is, this is where they are coming from. If the left gains power, they will demolish the suburbs, confiscate your guns, and appoint justices who will wipe away your Second Amendment and other Constitutional freedoms. Biden is a Trojan horse for socialism. If Joe Biden doesn't have the strength to stand up to wild-eyed Marxists like Bernie Sanders and his fellow radicals, then how is he ever going to stand up FOR you? The most dangerous aspect of the Biden Platform is the attack on public safety. The Biden-Bernie Manifesto calls for Abolishing cash bail, immediately releasing 400,000 criminals onto your streets and into your neighborhoods. When asked if he supports cutting police funding, Joe Biden replied, "Yes, absolutely." When Congresswoman Ilhan Omar called the Minneapolis police department a cancer that is "rotten to the root," Biden wouldn't disavow her support and reject her endorsement he proudly displayed it on his website. Make no mistake, if you give power to Joe Biden, the radical left will Defund Police Departments all across America. They will pass federal legislation to reduce law enforcement nationwide. They will make every city look like Democrat-run Portland, Oregon. No one will be safe in Biden's America. My administration will always stand with the men and women of law enforcement. Every day, police officers risk their lives to keep us safe, and every year, many sacrifice their lives in the line of duty. One of these incredible Americans was Detective Miosotis Familia. She was part of a team of American Heroes called the NYPD or New York's Finest. Three years ago on Fourth of July weekend, Detective Familia was on duty in her vehicle when she was ambushed just after midnight and murdered by a monster who hated her purely for wearing the badge. Detective Familia was a single mom she'd recently asked for the night shift so she could spend more time with her kids. Two years ago, I stood in front of the U.S. Capitol alongside those children, and held their Grandmother's hand as they mourned their terrible loss and we honored Detective Familia's extraordinary life. Detective Familia's three children are with us this evening. Genesis, Peter, and Delilah, we are so grateful to have you here tonight. I promise you that we will treasure your mom in our memories forever. We must remember that the overwhelming majority of police officers in this country are noble, courageous and honorable. We have to give law enforcement, our police, back their power. They are afraid to act. They are afraid to lose their pension. They are afraid to lose their jobs, and by being afraid they are not able to do their jobs. And those who suffer most are the great people who they want so desperately to protect. When there is police misconduct, the justice system must hold wrongdoers fully and completely accountable, and it will. But what we can never have in America and must never allow is MOB RULE. 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. There is violence and danger in the streets of many Democrat-run cities throughout America. This problem could easily be fixed if they wanted to. We must always have law and order. All federal crimes are being investigated, prosecuted, and punished to the fullest extent of the law. When the anarchists started ripping down our statues and monuments, I signed an order, ten years in prison, and it all stopped. During their convention, Joe Biden and his supporters remained completely silent about the rioters and criminals spreading mayhem in Democrat-Run Cities. In the face of left-wing anarchy and mayhem in Minneapolis, Chicago, and other cities, Joe Biden's campaign did not condemn it they DONATED to it. At least 13 members of Joe Biden's campaign staff donated to a fund to bail out vandals, arsonists, looters, and rioters from jail. Here tonight is the grieving family of retired police Captain David Dorn, a 38-year veteran of the St. Louis Police Department. In June, Captain Dorn was shot and killed as he tried to protect a store from rioters and looters. We are honored to be joined tonight by his wife Ann and beloved family members: Brian and Kielen. To each of you: we will never forget the heroic legacy of Captain David Dorn. As long as I am President, I will defend the absolute right of every American citizen to live in security, dignity, and peace. If the Democrat Party wants to stand with anarchists, agitators, rioters, looters, and flag-burners, that is up to them, but I, as your President, will not be a part of it. The Republican Party will remain the voice of the patriotic heroes who keep America Safe. Last year, over 1,000 African-Americans were murdered as result of violent crime in just four Democrat-run cities. The top 10 most dangerous cities in the country are run by Democrats, and have been for decades. Thousands more African-Americans are victims of violent crime in these communities Joe Biden and the left ignore these American Victims. I NEVER WILL. If the Radical Left takes power, they will apply their disastrous policies to every city, town, and suburb in America. Just imagine if the so-called peaceful demonstrators in the streets were in charge of every lever of power in the U.S. Government. Liberal politicians claim to be concerned about the strength of American institutions. But who, exactly, is attacking them? Who is hiring the radical professors, judges, and prosecutors? Who is trying to abolish immigration enforcement, and establish speech codes designed to muzzle dissent? In every case, the attacks on American institutions are being waged by the radical left. Always Remember: they are coming after ME, because I am fighting for YOU. We must reclaim our independence from the lefts repressive mandates. Americans are exhausted trying to keep up with the latest list of approved words and phrases, and the ever-more restrictive political decrees. Many things have a different name now, and the rules are constantly changing. The goal of cancel culture is to make decent Americans live in fear of being fired, expelled, shamed, humiliated, and driven from society as we know it. The far-left wants to coerce you into saying what you know to be FALSE, and scare you out of saying what you know to be TRUE. But on November 3rd, you can send them a thundering message they will never forget! Joe Biden is weak. He takes his marching orders from liberal hypocrites who drive their cities into the ground while fleeing far from the scene of the wreckage. These same liberals want to eliminate school choice, while they enroll their children in the finest private schools in the land. They want to open our borders while living in walled-off compounds and communities. They want to defund the police, while they have armed guards for themselves. This November, we must turn the page FOREVER on this failed political class. The fact is, I'm here, and they're not and that's because of YOU. Together, we will write the next chapter of the Great American Story. Over the next four years, we will make America into the Manufacturing Superpower of the World. We will expand Opportunity Zones, bring home our medical supply chains, and we will end our reliance on China once and for all. We will continue to reduce taxes and regulations at levels not seen before. We will create 10 million jobs in the next 10 months. We will hire MORE police, increase penalties for assaults on law enforcement, and surge federal prosecutors into high-crime communities. We will BAN deadly Sanctuary Cities, and ensure that federal healthcare is protected for American Citizens not illegal aliens. We will have strong borders, strike down terrorists who threaten our people, and keep America OUT of endless and costly foreign wars. We will appoint prosecutors, judges, and justices who believe in enforcing the LAW not their own political agenda. We will ensure equal justice for citizens of every race, religion, color and creed. We will uphold your religious liberty, and defend your Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. We will protect Medicare and Social Security. We will always, and very strongly, protect patients with pre-existing conditions, and that is a pledge from the entire Republican Party. We will END surprise medical billing, require price transparency, and further reduce the cost of prescription drugs and health insurance premiums. We will greatly expand energy development, continuing to remain number one in the world, and keep America Energy Independent. We will win the race to 5G, and build the world's best cyber and missile defense. We will fully restore patriotic education to our schools, and always protect free speech on college campuses. We will launch a new age of American Ambition in Space. America will land the first WOMAN on the moon and the United States will be the first nation to plant its flag on Mars. This is the unifying national agenda that will bring our country TOGETHER. So tonight, I say again to all Americans: This is the most important election in the history of our country. There has never been such a difference between two parties, or two individuals, in ideology, philosophy, or vision than there is right now. Our opponents believe that America is a depraved nation. We want our sons and daughters to know the truth: America is the greatest and most exceptional nation in the history of the world! Our country wasnt built by cancel culture, speech codes, and soul-crushing conformity. We are NOT a nation of timid spirits. We are a nation of fierce, proud, and independent American Patriots. We are a nation of pilgrims, pioneers, adventurers, explorers and trailblazers who refused to be tied down, held back, or reined in. Americans have steel in their spines, grit in their souls, and fire in their hearts. There is no one like us on earth. I want every child in America to know that you are part of the most exciting and incredible adventure in human history. No matter where your family comes from, no matter your background, in America, ANYONE CAN RISE. With hard work, devotion, and drive, you can reach any goal and achieve every ambition. Our American Ancestors sailed across the perilous ocean to build a new life on a new continent. They braved the freezing winters, crossed the raging rivers, scaled the rocky peaks, trekked the dangerous forests, and worked from dawn till dusk. These pioneers didnt have money, they didnt have fame but they had each other. They loved their families, they loved their country, and they loved their God! When opportunity beckoned, they picked up their Bibles, packed up their belongings, climbed into covered wagons, and set out West for the next adventure. Ranchers and miners, cowboys and sheriffs, farmers and settlers they pressed on past the Mississippi to stake a claim in the Wild Frontier. Legends were born Wyatt Earp, Annie Oakley, Davy Crockett, and Buffalo Bill. Americans built their beautiful homesteads on the Open Range. Soon they had churches and communities, then towns, and with time, great centers of industry and commerce. That is who they were. Americans build the future, we dont tear down the past! We are the nation that won a revolution, toppled tyranny and fascism, and delivered millions into freedom. We laid down the railroads, built the great ships, raised up the skyscrapers, revolutionized industry, and sparked a new age of scientific discovery. We set the trends in art and music, radio and film, sport and literature and we did it all with style, confidence and flair. Because THAT is who we are. Whenever our way of life was threatened, our heroes answered the call. From Yorktown to Gettysburg, from Normandy to Iwo Jima, American Patriots raced into cannon blasts, bullets and bayonets to rescue American Liberty. But America didnt stop there. We looked into the sky and kept pressing onward. We built a 6 million pound rocket, and launched it thousands of miles into space. We did it so that two brave patriots could stand tall and salute our wondrous American flag planted on the face of the Moon. For America, nothing is impossible. Over the next four years, we will prove worthy of this magnificent legacy. We will reach stunning new heights. And we will show the world that, for America, no dream is beyond our reach. Together, we are unstoppable. Together, we are unbeatable. Because together, we are the proud CITIZENS of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. And on November 3rd, we will make America safer, we will make America stronger, we will make America prouder, and we will make America GREATER than ever before! Thank you, God Bless You. God Bless America GOODNIGHT! Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 15:21:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Turkish prosecutors on Friday issued detention warrants for 69 suspects at two separate investigations over their alleged links to a network believed to be behind a coup attempt in 2016. Police launched simultaneous operations in 13 provinces across the country to catch 59 suspects upon the order of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in Izmir, the NTV broadcaster reported. It said so far 26 of them have been detained. At a separate investigation directed by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in the western province of Balikesir, 10 petty officers were detained, according to the broadcaster. All those targeted in operations have alleged connections with the network headed by the U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, NTV added. The Turkish government blames Gulen and his network for masterminding the coup bid in July 2016, in which 250 people were killed, and has been pushing for his extradition. Enditem Singapore: From the high balcony of a Singapore public housing block, an environment official steadies his mosquito launcher, the latest contraption authorities have devised to combat a record outbreak of the tropical disease dengue. With the click of a button and whirr of a fan, a hatch opens and 150 lab-reared male mosquitoes are sent flying, off in search of a female companion with whom they can mate but not reproduce. The dengue virus, which in rare cases can be fatal, is carried and spread to humans by infected mosquitoes. But Singapore`s specially bred mosquitoes carry a bacteria that prevents eggs from hatching, and "compete with the wild type," leading to "a gradual reduction of the mosquito population," said Ng Lee Ching, the official heading the Wolbachia project, named after the bacteria. Some areas with high mosquito populations have seen up to 90% declines using this technique, she added. Singapore - a tiny Southeast Asian island nation of 5.7 million people - has recorded more than 26,000 dengue cases this year, surpassing the previous annual record of around 22,000 in 2013 with four months still remaining. Twenty people have died of the disease this year, which can cause extreme fever that leads to internal bleeding and shock. By comparison, only 27 people have died of the coronavirus in the city-state out of more than 56,000 infections. A new strain of the disease, combined with unseasonably wet weather and coronavirus lockdowns that left construction sites and other mosquito breeding grounds undisturbed, are all seen as factors behind the dengue outbreak. That has put the onus on traditional deterrents like fogging, fining people for flouting anti-mosquito regulations like leaving plant pots full of stagnant water, and deploying novel techniques such as the Wolbachia project. In government laboratories, scientists breed the bacteria-carrying mosquitoes in rows of pallets - separating the male pupae for release in the worst-hit dengue areas. Wolbachia mosquitoes can`t transmit diseases such as dengue, and only female mosquitoes bite humans. When male Wolbachia mosquitoes mate with females that don`t carry the bacteria, none of the resultant eggs will hatch. The strategy has been successful in Australia but some experts say it might have its limits in dense urban areas such as Singapore. "You`ve got to flood the island with these mosquitoes, and people get annoyed," said Paul Tambyah, senior consultant at Singapore`s National University Hospital. "They`re not going to grab the mosquito and examine and see whether it`s a male or female. They`re going to swipe them away, and that kind of defeats the purpose," he said. Over 110 people, young and old, all of whom were masked, gathered at the Manitoba Legislative Building Thursday evening to call for a revamp of the province's back-to-school plan. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/8/2020 (510 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Over 110 people, young and old, all of whom were masked, gathered at the Manitoba Legislative Building Thursday evening to call for a revamp of the province's back-to-school plan. Safe September MB, an activist group that began earlier this month, held a rally to raise awareness for changes they'd like made before kids re-enter classrooms. The non-partisan group wants smaller class sizes, ensured two-metre distancing within classrooms, the option for students to access public school learning remotely, and improved ventilation in schools, among other requests. Teachers, parents, recent high school graduates and an occupational hygienist spoke at the event. The federal government has offered Manitoba $85.4 million in funding to reopen schools safely. However, it's unclear how the money will be spent. "I think that it's great we're seeing more funding. We're interested to see where it goes," said Krystal Payne, one of Safe September MB's organizers. JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS All of the protestors that gathered outside of the Legislative building were masked and ranged in age from young to old. Payne has an eight-year-old daughter who's been medically advised to not go to school this fall. That's because Payne and her daughter live with Payne's father, who's at high risk of complications if he catches COVID-19. Payne sent a doctor's note to her daughter's school division but hasn't heard if her child will be eligible for distance learning. Payne said she's lucky she can homeschool her daughter, though she'd prefer instruction from a trained teacher. She said other families are not able to homeschool their kids, but theyre at risk by sending their kids to class. Apollo Miao, who graduated from Maples Collegiate in June, spoke at the rally to say he agrees with Safe September MB's requests. Miao's sister will start Grade 10 at the large high school, and Miao and his family worry an outbreak in class could lead to mass numbers of people getting the novel coronavirus. "I don't think there's been enough precautions," he said. A spokesperson for Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen pointed to the province's Safe Schools funding announcement on Monday as a sign that the government prioritizes safety in classrooms. JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Protestors then marched down Broadway to Vimy Ridge park. "Our government believes that the health and safety of Manitoba students is the highest priority as we prepare for a return to school," the spokesperson wrote in an email. "That's why on Monday we announced $100 million in Safe Schools funding. The province will continue to work closely with school divisions to identify their specific needs and how best to address them so that we can deliver a safe, healthy learning environment for students and staff." Lauren Hope, the MC at Thursday's rally, gave Minister Goertzen an "F" on the back-to-school plan. 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. Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont attended the rally. He had three requests for the government: give school divisions the option of postponing their start date, allow students to access public school education remotely, and have some type of pay for parents and kids that need to self-isolate and stay home. "There's a huge amount of planning that's been left too late by the province," Lamont said. Manitoba unveiled a back-to-school plan in July. Students in kindergarten through Grade 8 are expected to return to classrooms full-time beginning Sept. 8. High schoolers will have blended learning if the school can't accommodate physical distancing. Only students who are immunocompromised will be able to access public school-run distance learning; students who need to self-isolate will receive at-home work from teachers. Safe September MB posted a petition online outlining their requests for a changed plan. It's gotten over 16,000 signatures in two weeks. gabrielle.piche@freepress.mb.ca Paks terror policy allowed JeM deposit Pulwama attack money in 2 of its largest banks India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 28: The chargesheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the Pulwama attack says that the money which was used for the attack was credited in the Meezan Bank in Peshwar, Pakistan. Meezan on its website says it is a premier Islamic bank which 800 branches across Pakistan. It further says that it has the widest range of Halal Banking products and an internationally renowned Shariah Board. This bank is the 8th largest in Pakistan and the first and largest Islamic Bank in the country. It is the only Islamic Bank with an AA credit rating in the Islamic banking industry in Pakistan. While Pakistan tries to get out of the grey list at the Financial Action Task Force, it would have plenty to answer about its role in terror funding. The Jaish-e-Mohammad being able to park money in a valid bank for an act of terror on Indian soil itself raises doubts about Pakistan's sincerity in fighting terror. An Intelligence Bureau official says that this only shows Pakistan's seriousness in fighting terror. The very fact that the JeM was able to deposit money in recognised banks only shows that the country has been brazen about the whole issue and has deliberately not tracked any money trail. Also Read: The officer also says that the very fact that the JeM was planning another attack after Pulwama only shows that the outfit is completely blessed by the establishment. It was only after the Balakot strike did they decide to hold back, the IB officer also noted. In its chargesheet, the NIA had said that Rs 10 lakh had been received by prime accused, Mohammad Umar Farooq, nephew of the JeM chief, Maulana Masood Azhar for carrying out the attack. The NIA learnt that Rs 10 lakh in Pakistan currency was credited into the three accounts of Farooq, who is the main accused in the case. The money was credited in the Meezan Bank in Pakistan days before the attack. With India ready to cite this instance of how Pakistan is allowing terrorists to park money in recognised banks in the country, Pakistan will have tough questions to answer during the September 27 meet of the FATF. The FATF would review Pakistan's delivery on the 27 point action plan to curb terror funding, following which a final decision on whether it stays in the grey list or is moved to the black list will be taken in October. Further during the probe, the NIA also learnt that money was also deposited into Umar's account in the Allied Bank in Khyber Agency. This is the fifth largest commercial bank in Pakistan and is a subsidiary of the Ibrahim Group. The bank is one of the largest in Pakistan and has over 1,350 websites. The NIA chargesheet says that the money was deposited in the account by the top leadership of the JeM between January and February 2019. A major part of the money, around Rs 2.80 lakh was used to procure 200 kilograms of explosives that included ammonium nitrate. 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 also said. Shakir Bashir had collected the explosives and stocked it at his home. Further, the terrorists spent Rs 2.5 lakh to purchase and modify the car that was used in the attack. The car was parked at the home of Bashir. A part of the money was also spent to purchase containers to fabricate the IEDs, the NIA also 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. Flight rules: Banned from flying if you remove mask & more news | Oneindia News "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 said. Course Materials Ivy Tech CC Providing Students Free Access to Textbooks Through Cengage Indiana's Ivy Tech Community College has partnered with Cengage to provide all its students numbering 90,000 across the state with textbooks and digital course materials through Cengage Unlimited. The institution is using funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide the materials at no cost to students. Starting on the first day of class, students will be able to access their Cengage course materials through Ivy Tech's learning management system; they will also have the option to rent up to four free hardcopy textbooks (subject to a limited shipping cost). In addition, Cengage is providing academic services and professional development to administrators and faculty to facilitate hybrid and online teaching, the company said in a news announcement. "Ivy Tech faculty have always embraced innovative strategies such as online learning and eight-week courses. Our partnership with Cengage is another example of that innovation as it is providing enhanced faculty academic freedom in choice of course materials, while simultaneously reducing the financial burden and time burden for students to get course materials. This is yet another way that our faculty continue to meet students where they are and support their success in any way possible," said Kara Monroe, senior vice president and provost at Ivy Tech, in a statement. "Research suggests that more than a quarter of community college students don't purchase books, typically, because they have other more pressing financial needs as many are low income, working in low wage jobs, and shouldering family responsibilities. And those statistics were pre-COVID," commented Ivy Tech President Sue Ellspermann. "We are pleased to partner with Cengage in offering free course materials across the college helping reduce the financial strain on tens of thousands of Ivy Tech students." Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesBy WILL STEAKIN, JUSTIN GOMEZ and TERRANCE SMITH, ABC News (WASHINGTON) -- Speaking in front of the White House on the South Lawn, flanked by large Trump Pence 2020 campaign signs, President Donald Trump accepted the Republican nomination for president. "I profoundly accept this nomination for President of the United States," Trump said, though his prepared remarks had him saying "proudly." Trump delivered a 70-minute speech, second-longest in the history of conventions behind only his 2016 speech, targeting former Vice President Joe Biden in some of his harshest and misleading terms yet. He painted the election as an existential choice between lawlessness and law and order, while capping off four days of a convention centered around re-framing the history of not only the last few months but the president's first term in office. The president delivered what at times felt like a Frankenstein speech, fluctuating between what seemed in the style of a State of the Union address and then what you'd hear at a standard Trump rally. During his speech, Trump was at times speaking over screaming sirens and protesters just outside the White House calling for racial justice, a piece of reality creeping into a speech at times designed to use the unrest in the streets of Trump's America against Biden. With perhaps his most captive American audience yet this election cycle, Trump continued to falsely paint Biden as a candidate who would defund the police, raise taxes for all Americans, and reject science to push for a national lockdown to halt the pandemic -- all claims that go against what the former vice president has repeatedly said publicly. After Biden didn't mention the president once by name in his acceptance speech, Trump mentioned his rival over 40 times by name. "If you give power to Joe Biden, the radical left will Defund Police Departments all across America," the president said. "They will make every city look like Democrat-run Portland, Oregon. No one will be safe in Biden's America," Trump said, as an effort to try and pin mass unrest breaking out under his own presidency to Biden, who hasn't been in office in nearly four years. But Biden has repeatedly stated that he does not support defunding the police, including telling ABC News' Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts last week, "I don't want to defund police departments. I think they need more help, they need more assistance, but that, look, there are unethical senators, there are unethical presidents, there are unethical doctors, unethical lawyers, unethical prosecutors, there are unethical cops. They should be rooted out." And as protesters outside the White House called for racial justice, Trump did not mention any of the Black Americans by name who've been killed by police over the year -- including Jacob Blake -- that has sparked the historic demonstrations across the country. Instead, Trump discussed multiple members of law enforcement who had been killed in the line of duty, a clear effort to lean into his law and order posture. In another example of the president trying to reframe the reality of the moment gripping the nation, Trump looked to re-write the history of his administration's coronavirus response, which experts have said resulted in a devastatingly botched response to the worst pandemic in a century, painting the crisis in unrealistic rosy terms despite the country having well over five million cases and nearly 180,00 Americans dead. "To save as many lives as possible we are focusing on the science, the facts and the data," Trump said, despite having spent months downplaying the virus' threat and pushing wildly unproven treatments like injecting disinfectant as treatment. The president, who recently said "it is what it is" when asked about American deaths from COVID-19, did at one point offer a rare personal and consoling message regarding the virus that's ravaged the country, saying, "Many Americans, including me, have sadly lost friends and cherished loved ones to this horrible disease." "As one nation, we mourn, we grieve and we hold in our hearts forever the memories of all of those lives that have been so tragically taken, so unnecessary. In their honor, we will unite in their memory. We will overcome," he said. At one point the president tried to argue that his administration was "aggressively sheltering those at highest risk, especially the elderly," even while directly speaking in front of a massive crowd on the White House South Lawn that had numerous older attendees packed closely together who are at a higher risk to the virus due to their age. Trump, who has faced criticism over not being able to effectively lay out his second-term agenda, told the American people, "In a new term as president, we will again build the greatest economy in history, quickly returning to full employment, soaring incomes and record prosperity." "We will rekindle new faith in our values, new pride in our history, and a new spirit of unity that can only be realized through love for our great country. Because we understand that America is not a land cloaked in darkness, America is the torch that enlightens the entire world," Trump said. Toward the end of his remarks, the president turned and basked in the glow of the White House made up like a massive MAGA rally and said to his supporters, "The fact is I'm here. What's the name of that building? But I'll say it differently. The fact is we're here, and they're not." Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. 28.08.2020 LISTEN The Minority in Parliament has expressed worry over the stance by government on the transhipment of fish at sea popularly known as 'Saiko' in the country. According to the minority, there are conflicting positions by President Akufo Addo and the sector ministry, endangering close to 10 million population that depends on fish for daily livelihood. "The Saiko business is seriously depleting our resources thereby exposing the close to 10 million Ghanaian population that depend on our fishery for livelihood to penury, the Minority noted. President Akufo-Addo in a recent address pledged governments strong commitment to ending Saiko. However, the sector Minister Hon Afoley Quaye in an earlier statement at a ceremony held in Apam said, There is a practice in this country called 'Saiko', it is not the intention of the NPP to spoil the ongoing business and that there are rumours that the fisheries ministry has banned the practice but it is untrue. These contradictory statements, according to the minority, has fuelled the act of illegal activities on Ghanaian seas, and that government must be truthful to Ghanaians on 'Saiko' business. In a release signed by Minority Spokesperson on Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, MP for Asunafo South said, the supreme interest of Ghanaians, we in the minority of Ghanas parliament seek clarity on the true position of government on Saiko as conflicting positions have been assumed by the government on different platforms. The statement added that the indecisive position by government has left Ghanaian vessels at the mercy of Nigerian Sea Pirates. It added that the transponders in the Vessel Monitoring Systems are not working since November 2019, and based on that fishers had to resort to suppliers for information. Under the NPP, the transponder in the Vessel Monitoring Systems are not working since November 2019 and fishers needed to rely on the suppliers for information, as results Ghanaian vessels are at the mercy of Nigerian pirates at sea. Again, the enforcement unit based at Takoradi and Tema Community 2 are dysfunctional and staff demotivated. "Under the NDC government in 2010, the LI 1968, Fisheries Commission Regulation 2010 was passed. The law debars activities of pair trawlers, fishing with light, transhipment and use of obnoxious chemicals in fishing." According to the release, the NDC as part of measures to ensure effectiveness, Marine Police were established to help in fighting fisheries infractions and ensuring prosecution and the establishment of enforcement unit at Tema and Community 2 and Takoradi under the Monitoring Control Surveillance Enforcement Unit (MCS FEU). It stressed that Vehicle Monitoring System (VMS) and Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) were installed under the West Africa Regional Fisheries Management Project (WARFP), but are not working under the Akufo Addo led government. LOS ANGELES (RNS) Its been tradition for Annmarie Juarezs children to receive their sacraments of First Communion at St. Frances X Cabrini Church in San Bernardino County, where dozens of their family members gather for the celebrations. This year, amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, things were a little different for her fourth and youngest son. Juarezs 9-year-old performed his First Communion in early August outside the church. He wore a mask and stood at a distance from the 10 or so others underneath a tarp embellished with white balloons. Only immediate family members were allowed to attend. In our family its not about the building. Its about the spiritual part of it and the fact that when he was receiving Communion, he was receiving Jesus, Juarez said. That could have happened in the parking lot. It could have happened anywhere. If we were forced to do it outside in front of the church, that didnt change the meaning of it for us in any way, Juarez added. ___ This content is written and produced by Religion News Service and distributed by The Associated Press. RNS and AP partner on some religion news content. RNS is solely responsible for this story. ___ Catholic churches in California have been resuming baptism, First Communion and Mass services outdoors after a series of COVID-19 closures shut down indoor church services in most of the state. California churches were allowed to reopen late May with attendance limitations, but along with businesses and other public indoor spaces, were once again shuttered mid-July as COVID-19 cases surged across the state. Across the United States, parishes celebrations of sacraments and rites have been greatly impacted by the coronavirus, according to a survey of bishops conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University. More than half of dioceses reported their celebrations of the following were very much affected: confirmations (81%), First Communions (78%), other sacramental preparation (64%), marriages (59%), baptisms (57%) and funerals (54%). The surveys findings, which were released in July, included responses from a total of 116 bishops and represent a 60% response rate. Dioceses responded during different periods of COVID-19 lockdown orders. The report, Ministry in the Midst of Pandemic: A Survey of Bishops, also found, in response to the pandemic, bishops issued directives to address the celebration of sacraments, to suspend public Masses, and for parishes to comply with state and local government orders. For the Rev. Arturo Corral, the early months of the pandemic caused a backlog of about 600 baptisms at Our Lady Queen of Angels. Known as La Placita church, the downtown Los Angeles parish is famous for celebrating baptisms, Corral said. The people who normally come for baptisms, theyd come with the whole family, Corral said. Now, only the parents and godparents are allowed for the outdoor baptism Masses. Corral said the outdoor celebrations have been happening since around late July. The church baptizes an estimated 200 children during six or seven outdoor Saturday services every week. Their patio isnt big enough for larger socially distanced groups. Corral recalled being in the plaza outside the church one particular weekend, when the parish was closed, and seeing a family with their child who was clad in a white baptism suit. Corral was curious and asked why the boy was clothed in the full baptism suit at a time when the church wasnt open and able to offer the sacraments. He learned the boy was dressed in his christening suit because the family wasnt sure the outfit would fit him by the time services resumed. They wanted to make the most of the purchase and spend the day out with family. To Corral, this was a reminder of how COVID-19 has affected the traditions and economic situation of his parishioners. Corral said the pandemic has emboldened his faith. We sustain faith because we see other people believing, Corral said. At Christ the King Roman Catholic Church in Los Angeles, the Rev. Juan Ochoa said COVID-19 restrictions have forced us to reconsider, to let go of superficial things and to focus on what really matters. Ochoa described Christ the King as a beautiful church that, with its stained glass windows and Byzantine architecture, would often serve as a picturesque backdrop for parishioners taking photos after First Communion or baptism Mass services. Now, he said, Most people have been telling me the most important thing is that my children are receiving the sacraments, Ochoa said. Since around mid-July, Christ the King has been hosting outdoor Mass from its parking lot and under a tent decorated with flowers and curtains. Parishioners gather around an altar and sit on folding chairs. Ochoa said it was difficult not having an answer when parishioners would ask him when they would be able to receive their sacraments. The feeling with the unknown is very difficult for us, Ochoa said. Ochoa sometimes fears people will become accustomed to living a life without the sacraments. But he also recognizes that before COVID-19, some people were going to Mass just out of habit or because they saw it as a thing to check off on Sundays. Its not so much, Im going to Mass because of a religious conviction, he said. He sees a silver lining. This is a great opportunity for the church to go back to the basics, Ochoa said. Church, he said, whether inside or outside, is where the faithful can encounter God. Its where Im able to connect with my fellow Catholics. For some families, choosing to hold off celebrating their First Communion until next year has been a decision theyve had to make. Thats the case for Eric Carpenter and his 8-year-old son, Evan. Evan was about two months away from taking his First Communion, but that changed when their parish, St. Mels Catholic Church in Norco, shut its doors for public Masses in March. Hed been attending weekly Spanish-language catechism classes for nearly two years. The family was attending weekly Mass to bond as a family, but also for their son to get his card stamped each week. Now, they seek other alternatives for Mass, either online or on TV. In late May, the church gave students the option to complete the sacrament during a small Mass with about 10 students and their immediate families, or wait until next year. They chose to wait. Knowing his grandparents live with us and are in high-risk health category, we all thought it would be the safest option, Carpenter said. It turned out the dates he could have signed up for were cancelled because of the resurgence of coronavirus cases. Carpenter said the family has reflected on the meaning of church during this time. It has given us a good chance to talk about how church is more than the physical location and that we can still be close to God even without entering the building, he said. Carpenters daughter had her First Communion two years ago, and now, he said his son is looking forward to completing it next year and maybe having a small party like his sister and her friends. In this case, science indicated to us the safest thing was to wait, Carpenter said. Well wait until it feels safe again, Carpenter said. Hopefully that will be by next spring. By Express News Service The 42nd edition of the prestigious Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF) will hold the world premiere of 1956, Central Travancore, the new Malayalam film written and directed by Don Palathara. The festival, which was originally supposed to happen in April, was postponed due to the pandemic. It will now run from October 1st to 8th. The film will be premiering at the non-competitive section of the film festival, which is one of the oldest film festivals in the world accredited by FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations). In an introduction to the film, Kirill Razlagov, the programming director of MIFF, mentions that the black-and-white 1956, Madhyathiruvithamkoor by the refined Don Palathara reminds us of the deeprooted spiritual connections between India and Russia. 1956, Central Travancore tells the story of two brothers Kora and Onan who are early migrants to Idukki. The film progresses through the journey of these men who are very dissimilar but united by a common purpose. To depict the time and space of the story, the film employs not only the cinematic techniques that convey the psyche of the people from that period but also the music, arts, belief systems, stories and lifestyles. Assif Yogi and Jain Andrews play the central characters of Kora and Onan, respectively. The film was produced by Abhilash Kumar, under the banner of Artbeats Studios. He has previously co-written several popular films such as 22 Female Kottayam, Da Thadiya, and Gangster. Jesna Ashim is the executive producer. The film also features Kani Kusruti, Shaun Romy and Krishnan Balakrishnan. The camera is handled by Dubai-based cinematographer Alex Joseph, and the location sound-recording done by the state award-winning team of Sandeep Madhavam and Jiji Joseph. While the editing was done by Don Palathara himself, the music was composed and organised by Basil C J. It was shot mostly in the forests of Kerala and Tamilnadu along with some other locations in Idukki. Dons previous critically acclaimed films, Shavam and Vith, were also shot in black and white. Previously, Adoor Gopalakrishnans Swayamvaram and Venus Munnariyippu had the honour of being screened at MIFF. Even though the cast and crew would not be able to attend the festival due to the pandemic, the festival will be holding a virtual interaction with the director after the physical screening. The film was earlier selected to the Recommends section of the NFDC Film Bazaar that happened in December 2019. While a lot of people get on social media to talk trash, Philadelphia sanitation worker Terrill Haigler created his Instagram account @_yafavtrashman to talk about trash. Since May, Haigler has used his platform to help city residents better understand why trash pickup has been delayed amid the coronavirus pandemic, and has raised more than $32,000 to buy additional personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies for his sanitation colleagues. It makes me feel really humble, and it makes me feel really honored, Haigler, 30, of North Philadelphia, said of his success. But it also gives me fuel for the bigger fight, which is getting a bill passed that deems sanitation workers essential in the country and helping them acquire hazard pay. In the month since The Inquirer first profiled Haigler, the Instagram account where he shares photos and live videos updating residents on trash pickup and giving them insights into the daily life of a city trash collector has grown from 4,400 followers to more than 19,800. Haigler has been profiled so much in the media, including on ABCs World News Tonight With David Muir, that he now gets recognized on his trash route, and has got a business manager, Ariana Queenan of Write Here. Write Now. LLC, handling most of his media and partnership requests. I didnt do it for me. I didnt do it for the clout, Haigler said. I did it because I genuinely care about my coworkers and their safety. Just like me, they have a family to go home to. Businesses from Mission Taqueria to Honest Tea have donated food and beverages to Haigler and his colleagues. The Philly PPE Store on Passyunk Avenue donated 500 masks to his campaign, and Advantage Industrial Supply Inc. on East Tioga Street donated 10 cases of large bottles of hand sanitizer and 10 cases of disinfectant aerosol spray. For Haigler, though, the best part of the unexpected success of his Instagram account is seeing how the public is following his tips to help make trash pickup easier, and his suggestions on ways they can show their gratitude to the citys sanitation workers. The morale is totally up, and with the support of the public and the public putting the trash out in an easier way to pick up, weve actually been catching up tremendously, Haigler said. Thats because everyone took ownership and responsibility. More than 2,000 people purchased Ya Fav Trashman T-shirts through Haiglers month-long fundraising campaign for PPE equipment and cleaning supplies for his colleagues. With the $32,000 raised, he hopes to be able to buy at least two masks, gloves, and cleaning supplies for all 1,200 of the citys sanitation workers. But Haiglers not done yet. He plans to roll out a line of merchandise in October to raise more funds, and he wants to lobby for hazard pay for sanitation workers, and push for technological advancements in equipment and uniforms for the industry. I want to use my platform to really revolutionize sanitation. It didnt start off as that, but as the platform grows, the goals have to grow, he said. I have to push for a sanitation worker 50 years from now to be able to do their job safely and feel like theyre essential. LAKEWOOD, Colo., Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 1976, William Howard Taft University has been a leader in distance education, offering Master's and Doctorate degrees in business and education. This month, we added a Master of Public Administration (MPA) program. Our Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is perfect for professionals working in government and nonprofit organizations to expand their knowledge and skills to help develop public policy and provide solid leadership to enact change. No matter your cause, earning an MPA can help grow your confidence in how to bring about real change. From understanding how public policy works to managing a budget and leading an organization, the education you'll receive in our program will help you along the way. Whether you work in law enforcement, politics, health care, or government services, our Master of Public Administration (MPA) program can help you make the difference you're passionate about. Many facets of society are changing right now and you can be part of it through an online MPA program. Find more information about our new MPA program here or apply here. Additional information about Taft University, all of our degree programs, or application procedures and requirements can be found on our website at www.Taft.edu or by contacting Ni and Megan in Admissions at 877-894-TAFT (8238) or [email protected]. About The Taft University System: For over four decades William Howard Taft University (www.taft.edu) and Taft Law School have offered distance learning graduate degree programs in business, education, taxation, and law to students throughout the world. Taft University System is institutionally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The DEAC is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency. Contact: Ni & Megan 303-867-1155 246365[email protected] SOURCE Taft University Facing a moment fraught with national crises, President Donald Trump accepted his party's renomination on a massive White House South Lawn stage Thursday night, breaking with tradition by using the executive mansion as a political backdrop and defying pandemic guidelines to address a tightly packed, largely maskless crowd. As troubles churned outside the gates, Trump painted an optimistic vision of America's future, including an eventual triumph over the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 175,000 people, left millions unemployed and rewritten the rules of society. But that brighter horizon can only be secured, Trump asserted, if he defeats Joe Biden, against whom he unleashed blistering attacks meant to erase the Democrat's lead in the polls. "We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years," Trump said. "At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies or two agendas." Presenting himself as the last barrier protecting an American way of life under siege from radical forces, Trump declared the Democratic agenda as "the most extreme set of proposals ever put forward by a major party nominee." Also read: US elections 2020: Trump, fellow Republicans paint grim portrait of America under Joe Biden As his speech brought the scaled-back Republican National Convention to a close, Trump risked inflaming a divided nation reeling from a series of calamities, including the pandemic, a major hurricane that slammed into the Gulf Coast and nights of racial unrest and violence after Jacob Blake, a Black man, was shot by a white Wisconsin police officer. He was introduced by his daughter Ivanka, an influential White House adviser, who portrayed the famously bombastic Trump as someone who empathizes with those who have suffered through the pandemic. "I've been with my father and seen the pain in his eyes when he receives updates on the lives that have been stolen by this plague," she said. The president spoke from a setting that was both familiar and controversial. Despite tradition and regulation to not use the White House for purely political events,a huge stage was set up outside the executive mansion, dwarfing the trappings for some of the most important moments of past presidencies. The speaker's stand was flanked by dozens of American flags and two big video screens. Also read: Elected US President because Barack Obama did 'such a bad job': Donald Trump Trying to run as an insurgent as well as incumbent, Trump rarely includes calls for unity, even in a time of national uncertainty. He has repeatedly, if not always effectively, tried to portray Biden - who is considered a moderate Democrat - as a tool of the radical left, fringe forces he has claimed don't love their country. The Republicans claim that the violence that has erupted in Kenosha and some other American cities is to be blamed on Democratic governors and mayors. Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday said that Americans wouldn't be safe in "Joe Biden's America." That drew a stern rebuke from his predecessor in the post. "The problem we have right now is that we are in Donald Trump's America," said Biden on MSNBC. "He views this as a political benefit to him, he is rooting for more violence not less. He is pouring gasoline on the fire." Both parties are watching with uncertainty the developments in Wisconsin and cities across the nation with Republicans leaning hard on support for law and order - with no words offered for Black victims of police violence - while falsely claiming that Biden has not condemned the lawlessness. Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal attorney and New York City's former mayor, declared that Democrats' "silence was so deafening that it reveals an acceptance of this violence because they will accept anything they hope will defeat President Donald Trump." Though some of the speakers, unlike on previous nights, offered notes of sympathy to the families of Black men killed by police, Giuliani also took aim at the Black Lives Matter movement, suggesting that it, along with ANTIFA, was part of the extremist voices pushing Biden to "execute their pro-criminal, anti-police policies" and had "hijacked the protests into vicious, brutal riots." Along with Biden, running mate Kamala Harris offered counter-programming for Trump's prime-time speech. She delivered a speech a half mile from the White House, declaring, "Donald Trump has failed at the most basic and important job of a president of the United States: He failed to protect the American people, plain and simple." Also read: Trump has shown reckless disregard for wellbeing of American people: Kamala Harris Some demonstrations took to Washington's streets Thursday night, ahead of a march planned for the next day. New fencing set up along the White House perimeter was to keep the protesters at bay, but some of their shouts and car horns were clearly audible on the South Lawn where more than 1,500 people gathered. Those chants, coming from masked faces intruded on another illusion that the Republicans have spent a week trying to create: that the pandemic is largely a thing of the past. The rows of chairs on the lawn were tightly packed, inches apart. Protective masks were not required, and COVID-19 tests were not to be administered to everyone. But Trump, who has defended his handling of the pandemic, touted an expansion of rapid coronavirus testing. The White House announced Thursday that it had struck a $750 million deal to acquire 150 million tests from Abbott Laboratories to be deployed in nursing homes, schools and other areas with populations at high risk. Also read: Americans have to 'make this China virus go away' and it's happening: Donald Trump Most of the convention has been aimed at former Trump supporters or nonvoters, and has tried to drive up negative impressions of Biden so that some of his possible backers stay home. Many of the messages were aimed squarely at seniors and suburban women. Among the more emotional moments: testimony from Alice Marie Johnson, who was granted clemency from her life sentence on nonviolent drug charges, and from Carl and Marsha Mueller, whose daughter Kayla was killed while being held in Syria by Islamic State militants during the Obama administration. "Kayla should be here," said Carl Mueller. "If Donald Trump was president when Kayla was captured, she would be here today." Four years ago, Trump declared in his acceptance speech that "I alone can fix" the nation's woes, but he has found himself asking voters for another term at the nadir of his presidency, amid a devastating pandemic, crushing unemployment and real uncertainties about schools and businesses reopening. Another one million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, in numbers released Thursday. And the U.S. economy shrank at an alarming annual rate of 31.7% during the April-June quarter as it struggled under the weight of the viral pandemic. It was sharpest quarterly drop on record. The Supreme Court has said that final year university exams will be conducted as per the rules of University Grants Commission (UGC). SC has also said that states cannot promote students without holding exams. A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan pronounced the judgement on the student plea against UGC. This means that all final year university exams will have to be conducted. However, the apex court said that of any state government or union territory cannot conduct exams by the September 30 UGC deadline, then they can individually approach the UGC to postpone it. "State disaster management authority (SDMA) can postpone exams overriding UGC guidelines. However, SDMA cannot direct institutes to pass students based on previous performance," said the SC. It added that states/UTs cannot pass students without exams as directed by UGC but have the right to approach the body seeking a postponement of the deadline. SC said in its judgement that the July 6 guidelines mandating final year exams showed deep concern about the health of all stakeholders including students and exam functionaries. The apex court also added that is the statutory duty of all universities to adopt UGC guidelines. SC explained that the UGC guidelines take into account the prevailing pandemic across the country. Reacting to the SC judgement, education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said that he welcomes this decision. "Let us keep politics away from education and make our politics more educated," said Nishank in a social media post. On July 20, more than a dozen students had moved the apex court against this UGC decision. The petitioners want that the final year candidates be assessed based on the performance in the previous semesters. Track this LIVE blog for all the latest updates on UGC Guidelines On August 18, SC had reserved its order in the students' plea against the University Grants Commission's decision to make final-year exams compulsory. This plea is against UGC's July 7 decision asking institutes to conduct final year exams by September 30. SC had asked all the parties to give a note on their submissions within the next three days. The hearing concluded on August 18. State governments like those of Maharashtra, Odisha, Delhi and West Bengal had challenged the decision of the UGC to make it mandatory to conduct exams by September 30. On June 26, the Maharashtra government had announced that there will be no final year examinations conducted for professional and non -professional courses in Maharashtra. The decision was taken in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, with Maharashtra reporting the highest number of cases. However, UGC opposed this move saying that the state governments cannot decide to cancel examinations for final-year students. The body had also said that students cannot get their final degree without writing exams. Also Read: What is the plea in SC against UGC all about? On July 7, UGC said the end-term examination for all final year UGC students would have to be mandatorily held by the end of September 2020 in offline (pen & paper), online or blended mode. This was opposed by several state governments like that of Maharashtra, West Bengal as also by final-year university students. SG Tushar Mehta said in the July 27 hearing that out of 818 universities in India, 209 have already completed the examinations while 394 are in the process of completing the examinations. He added that 35 universities have not reached final year exams. On July 30, UGC had informed the SC that if students are unable to appear for the examinations by September 30, he/she will be given an opportunity to appear at a specially conducted exam at a later date. Among other exams, several state governments and students want JEE Main 2020 and NEET 2020 that are scheduled for September 2020 to also be postponed. However, on August 17, the Supreme Court dismissed pleas to direct NTA to postpone JEE Main and NEET due to the coronavirus pandemic. Yemen is already reeling from diseases, famine and a war that has been raging since March 2015. And now cities are collapsing because of heavy rainfall. The poor infrastructure in the country's historic cities can not deal with the torrential rain and floods, causing another disaster. Several historic monuments and buildings in the UNESCO-listed Old City of Sanaa have already collapsed. Many of the mud houses and multistory tower buildings in Sanaas historic neighborhoods, which have been inhabited for 2,500 years, have partially collapsed due to the exceptional heavy rainfall. Sanaas Old City was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986, with its 103 mosques, 14 bathhouses and over 6,000 houses dating from before the 11th century. Similarly, the historic city of Shibam Hadramout, in eastern Yemen, as well as the historic city of Zabid, in the west, both on UNESCOs list, face a threat to their heritage for the same reason. What is happening could be a natural disaster, but the internationally recognized government and the Houthis are also to be blamed. They have long engaged in a conflict neglecting the countrys infrastructure, which has worsened the consequences of the heavy rainfall, putting Yemens historic heritage and cities at risk of obliteration. For the first time in three decades, the heavy rainfall in Yemen have caused the flooding of giant dams, such as the Marib Dam, east of Sanaa, which has a capacity of 400 million cubic meters, threatening the oldest and largest archaeological area in the country. The recent severe floods also caused the collapse of the Rownah Dam, east of Sanaa, with a capacity of 252,000 cubic meters. Despite the severity of the situation following the floods, the internationally recognized government only issued an urgent appeal to UNESCO and other heritage organizations to save Sanaas Old City, mainly blaming the Houthis for the collapse of buildings. Mohammed Jumeh, Yemens permanent delegate to UNESCO, told Al-Monitor, Two hundred archaelogical buildings in Old Sanaa have been totally or partially damaged by the torrential rain; the same has happened in the historic city of Shibam Hadramout. The latter is known as the city of tower buildings made of mud and is referred to as the "Manhattan of the Desert." He added, Sanaa is under the Houthis control. The government plays an indirect role in the city through coordination with UNESCO and international supporters. We hope that the UNESCO Emergency Fund will provide urgent support, as well as our ongoing communications with the European Union regarding restoration projects with the support of UNESCO. On Aug. 11, UNESCO announced the launch of a campaign to mobilize international funding and expertise in order to protect Yemen's cultural heritage. Aqil Nassari, vice president of the Houthi-controlled General Organization for the Preservation of Historic Cities in Yemen, told Al-Monitor, I hold the international community and the UN Security Council fully responsible for lacking serious determination to stop the aggression against Yemen, resolve the political crisis and lift the siege. This resulted in the deterioration of the infrastructure of all Yemeni cities, especially the historic ones. He said, UNESCOs ongoing support and interest contributed to saving and restoring 40 buildings in Sanaas Old City. Work is also underway in the cities of Zabid and Shibam Hadramout on several projects funded by UNESCO through the Social Fund for Development. Nassari explained that Old Sanaa is the most affected historic city in the country, with four buildings completely destroyed and 11 buildings partially collapsed. In addition, 253 roofs sustained light to heavy damage. The citys old town wall was also heavily damaged, he noted. He added, In the city of Shibam Hadramout, 208 buildings were affected, while 40 houses in the city of Zabid were severely damaged. Rainfall continues to pose a major threat to the country's historic cities, especially given the lack of specific measures taken on the ground by the relevant authorities. This is compounded by the fact that some dams and water barriers are on the verge of collapsing due to the heavy rainfall and severe floods. Duaa al-Wasii, head of the Bilgish Organization for Development, Tourism and Heritage, a civil society organization in Yemen, told Al-Monitor, If the rain continues like this, Sanaas Old City may suffer great losses, which could affect more than half of the city. She said, The heavy rainfall has revealed the extent of neglect and indifference to historic buildings be it on the part of the official authorities plagued with corruption, or the Yemenis themselves who do not seem to want to work to maintain and protect their ancient homes." Yemens old cities made the country into a open-air museum, and had this rich cultural heritage been properly preserved over the years, Yemen would have not needed any of its oil, gas and other minerals tourism revenues would have greatly contributed to the state budget. Undoubtedly, the parties to the conflict in Yemen bear the bulk of the responsibility of this disaster that threatens Yemens history and heritage. However, the Saudi-led coalition, which has been leading a war in Yemen since 2015, and its international and regional backers, are also to be blamed for this catastrophe. Star Student Epitomizes Myanmar Discrimination Against Rohingya Minority 2020-08-27 -- For Myanmar high school students, passing their matriculation exam with distinction is a near guarantee of getting into a university, even if not the school of their choice. But that hasn't been the case for Muhammad Ayaz, a Rohingya Muslim high school student from Buthidaung town in western Myanmar's volatile Rakhine state, who passed his matriculation exam this year, earning distinctions in all six subject areas tested. The 15-year-old aspires to go to medical school and become a doctor so he can treat people of all races and religions in the Buddhist-majority country with 135 ethnic groups. "I want to attend the University of Medicine," Muhammad Ayaz told RFA's Myanmar Service. "When I become a doctor, I want to treat people of all races in Myanmar, especially people from Rakhine state," he said. Students in Myanmar graduate from high school after 10 years of education when they are 15, unlike in Western countries where graduates complete 12 years of school and are usually three years older. A recent change in years of schooling that took effect this year means that Myanmar students now will have to complete 12 years of study. Those like Muhammad Ayaz who are on a science track learn six subjects Burmese, English, biology, mathematics, chemistry, and physics. Those who pass individual tests on these subjects during the matriculation exam with a score of 80 percent or higher receive distinction. Of the nearly 49,200 high school students in Rakhine state who sat for the exam during the 2019-2020 academic year, more than 12,300, or 27.7 percent, passed. But only 20 of them, including Muhammad Ayaz, passed with six distinctions. About 700 high school students in Buthidaung, including Muslims, ethnic Rakhines and others, passed the exam this year, according to Rohinyga lawyers and activists in Buthidaung town and the state capital Sittwe. But the overall number of those who sat for the exam dropped from about 1,000 test takers in 2019 due to the various roadblocks they face that prevent them from pursuing higher education, they said. It is impossible to know the number of students who continued their studies but later dropped out because of communication problems in Rakhine and an ongoing armed conflict in the region, they added. No recognition Among the more than 350 Muslim students who passed the matriculation exam this year were over 75 from Sittwe, about 30 from the towns of Minbya and Mrauk-U, and about 240 from the Maungdaw-Buthidaung area combined, said Soe Ting, a Rohingya activist and Buthidaung local. But only students like Muhammad Ayaz with high total scores on the exam can be considered for entry to one of three medical universities two in the commercial hub Yangon and one in the central Myanmar city of Mandalay. The prospects for higher education for Muslim students In Rakhine who are top scorers remain dim, however, because of their lack of citizenship and travel restrictions. "Every year I hear about Rohingya students who pass the matriculation exam with five or six distinctions, but I've never heard of any successive governments giving them any kind of recognition," said Nickey Diamond, a rights activist with Fortify Rights. Few students from Rakhine state's 3.2 million people attend college, let alone go to medical school. Rakhine is one of the poorest states in Myanmar, with a poverty rate of 78 percent nearly double the national rate of 37.54 percent according to an August 2017 report by an advisory commission on Rakhine state headed by late United Nations chief Kofi Annan. A stagnant, underdeveloped economy, poor social services, and a dearth of livelihoods beyond farming, fishing, and running small family-owned businesses limit the opportunities for young people with a college degree. The state also has been a hotbed of ethnic and religious tension for decades. A wave of sectarian violence between ethnic Rakhines and Rohingyas in June 2012 left more than 200 people dead and displaced about 120,000 others, most of them Rohingyas who later were housed in displaced camps to prevent further clashes. Following the riots in Sittwe and in other towns, authorities restricted many Muslim students from attending colleges in the state. Three years ago, Myanmar forces led a brutal crackdown on Rohingya communities in the state's northern Maungdaw, Buthidaung, and Rathedaung townships, leaving thousands dead and prompting more than 740,000 others to flee to neighboring Bangladesh. The hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who did not flee and still live in Rakhine state remain subject to ongoing persecution and discrimination, as they are considered illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and are denied Myanmar citizenship. Buthidaung town, where Muhammad Ayaz and his family live, remained relatively safe amid the 2017 military "clearance operations" that targeted mainly Rohingya villages in rural areas. But a lack of citizenship and travel restrictions imposed by the government may prevent the teenager from realizing his dream of becoming a doctor. The current 1982 Citizenship Law, which does not include the Rohingya among Myanmar's official ethnic groups, established three categories of citizens: full, associate, and naturalized. It permits a government-controlled central body with broad powers to determine specific citizenship issues, such as what kinds of rights each category of citizens may or may not have. Because the Rohingya are not considered a national ethnic group, they are ineligible for full citizenship, rendering them stateless. Associate citizens are those who acquired citizenship through the 1948 Union Citizenship Law, which conferred equal rights on all citizens. This type of citizenship can be granted to those who applied for citizenship under the 1948 law and to their children. Naturalized citizens are those who lived in the country before Jan. 4, 1948 and applied for citizenship after 1982. Few Rohingya possess the necessary documents that show conclusive evidence of entry and residence in Myanmar prior to Jan. 4, 1948, or can demonstrate the necessary bloodlines as required by the current law. 'Whatever card they gave us' Muhammad Ayaz doesn't hold a National Registration Card (NRC) that would allow him to advance his education at the university level, said his older brother, Muhammad Reyas. Instead, he has a National Verification Card (NVC), an official ID that identifies him as a resident, not a citizen. Muhammad Ayaz's father also has an NVC, although his mother holds an NRC. "We had to take whatever card the immigration officials gave us, [but] what we want are national ID cards just like other ethnic groups have," Muhammad Reyas said. Even though one of his parents holds an NRC, Muhammad Ayaz still cannot become a citizen and obtain one of the coveted cards himself. Students who are not citizens, or those who are foreigners, have not been allowed to pursue degrees in Myanmar's medical schools since the 1960s. The matriculation exam guidebook issued by the Ministry of Education says both parents of students who want to attend one of the medical universities should have national ID cards. But Aye Lwin, a Muslim community leader who once sat on a government advisory commission on resolving the religious and ethnic divisions in Rakhine state, pointed out that university admission handbooks say otherwise. "In university admission handbooks, colleges for professional careers such as engineering or medicine say they admit students in all citizenship categories, regardless of whether they have full, naturalized, or associated citizenship," he told RFA. "In reality, it does not happen," he added. "The existing laws and regulations don't apply to the people on the ground. The rules and regulations are made on an unofficial basis within the departments that handle applications." Ko Lay Win, director general of Department of Basic Education under Myanmar's Education Ministry, said students with NVC cards are allowed to attend college but first need approval from the Department of Higher Education. RFA was unable to reach officials at the Department of Higher Education for comment. No guarantee of security Even if Muhammad Ayaz received such approval from the department, Myanmar's travel restrictions on Muslims from northern Rakhine state would pose another obstacle. "In addition to the citizenship problem, they need travel permits to go to Yangon or any other parts of the country," said Nickey Diamond. "If they don't have travel permits from the government, they cannot attend colleges in mainland Myanmar." Rohingyas and other Muslims from the area cannot leave the state, even for educational purposes or to obtain medical treatment, unless they have permission from authorities. If Muslim students do receive permission, they are usually limited to studying at Sittwe University or Taunggoke Degree College in the Rakhine town of Taungup. In reality, however, most opt not to go to these cities, where they would face other restrictions and racial tensions, so they end their formal education after grade 10. "For Muslims who go to college, the government doesn't give any guarantees for their security," Rohingya activist Soe Ting said. "In Buthidaung and Maungdaw, some students passed the matriculation exam with distinctions, but they will face many problems if they attend college." Maung Tin Aung, an education officer from Buthidaung township, said that students who pass the exam with several distinctions will be allowed to attend medical colleges and other professional institutes. Others who passed, but not with honors, can take distance-learning courses from teachers at Rakhine colleges who periodically travel to Buthidaung and Maungdaw to meet with students in their classes, he said. Distance-learning students are limited, however, to taking courses only in two subjects Burmese and history. As for Muhammad Ayaz, his family said he has no alternate plan if he can't attend medical school. Reported by Soe San Aung for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Copyright 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rohan Verma, CEO, MapMyIndia They know how to pick their battles. When Google Maps made inroads into India after its launch in February 2005, MapMyIndia (MMI) owners Rakesh and Rashmi Verma had a choice: to concentrate on the enterprise segment or take on the tech giant and burn cash with a 50-50 chance of success. The Vermas, who founded the digital mapping product company in 1992, chose the enterprise segment, and rest, as they say, is a thriving business. Today, MapMyIndia has a 90 percent share in the automotive space and counts top automakers such as BMW, Tata, Honda and Toyota as its clients. It also works with startups such as ride-hailing firm Ola, digital payments major PhonePe and cycle-sharing platform Yulu as well as government organisations like the Central Board of Direct Taxes for their mapping product. The battle won and sealed, MapMyIndia is gearing up for another fight, a big fight this time. It is looking to challenge Google on its turfthe consumer segment. Rakesh Verma has no regrets going to the enterprises side first. "The only time I would have regretted was if we did not get into the consumer space at all," he says. Perhaps they could have got in a little earlier but they are entering the space prepared and are committed to making it work, he says. ALSO READ: MapMyIndia replaces Google Maps on Huawei and Honor devices Move vs Google Maps The decision coincides with the governments push for self-reliance (Atmanirbhar) and calls for vocal for local following the coronavirus outbreak that disrupted supply chains and souring ties with China. Recently, MapMyIndias Move app won the governments Atmanirbhar app challenge in the navigation category. The contest was aimed at encouraging domestic companies after India banned around 59 Chinese applications. The Vermas know that the Indianness tag or the Atmanirbhar call can get them so far. It is not an easy task but the company has a lot going for it too, CEO Rohan Verma, who is the son of Rakesh and Rashmi Verma, told Moneycontrol. The home advantage Its clients and industry experts attest to MMIs rich experience and accuracy but it will count for little in the consumer segment. Move is an upstart so in a space that Google has virtually lorded over for 15 years, with the backing of its parents search engine capabilities, an immeasurable amount of data and very deep pockets. Over the last couple of years, Move has had around three million downloads compared to more than 300 million-odd Android users, who get Google Maps pre-installed. The gap is huge. Rohan agrees but also points to gains the company has made. During the last six to nine months, we have turned a corner. Due to COVID-19, there has been a lot of stress on updated data on maps. We have managed to do that well, said Rohan, who joined the company at 19 in 2004 to start MapmyIndia.com. A graduate of Stanford and London Business School, Rohan made the CEO in April 2019. The Move app has a coronavirus dashboard that gives district-wise COVID-19 updates, information about coronavirus centres, labs and containment zones. The app also allows users to report bad traffic and roads, which get reflected in real-time. And this is what the consumer segment will look like. Navigation will remain primary but consumers used to Google Maps will want Move to give them more information, which could be on traffic, local kirana stores, chemists or, pubs and more. It is in rural areas where MMI is way ahead of Google Maps. Google Maps is excellent in big cities but the same cant be said of rural India, a Bengaluru-based developer, who has worked with car aggregators in the mapping space, says on condition of anonymity. The company has mapped 6.5 million km, covering the length and breadth of the country, and that is why it works well, says Rakesh Verma. He would knowthey have driven to each corner of the country over the last 25 years. So when Rakesh says, We know India better than everyone, he means it. They have gone strong on partnerships as well. If you had asked me two years back if MapMyIndia has a chance in the consumer segment, my answer would be no, says Sanchit Vir Gogia, founder, Greyhound Research, a tech consultancy firm. Over the last two years, the company has come a long way in forming partnerships and expanding its developer ecosystem through its application programming interface (API), similar to what Google has done but at a smaller scale, he says. The hyperlocal nature of data and its accuracy has served the company well. Our technology choice was driven by data richness and service availability which MapMyIndia offers, Sameer Nigam, the co-founder of Walmart-backed PhonePe, says. Another factor that works in its favour is the focus on the quality of curated data for businesses and rural India, he says. A top executive at a unicorn which uses MMI says the company competed with Google and was not keen on partnering with it for APIs. An API is a piece of software that helps two or more apps to talk to each other. It is like a messenger that takes the message, delivers it to the app you want to interact with and gets back a response. A lot of data is exchanged in this conversation that is why companies are careful when it comes to APIs. Strong partnership ecosystem As refreshing the concept of partnering with an Indian company is, the ecosystem is equally important. And here, Google is the clear winner. I am repeating here but Google Maps did spend 15 years in the consumer space. They have Alphabet Inc backing them. This headstart in a space like digital maps is a lot, a Bengaluru-based engineer, who works in the space, said on condition of anonymity. This headstart means tons of data that is of great value for developers to build maps, use them for visualisation purposes or by car aggregators for routing. Maps also reveal customer behaviour, which is mined by companies for ad revenues. Google Maps earns close to $4.3 billion per year, with $3.5 billion from ads and $0.8 billion from APIs and partnerships with companies like Uber and Lyft for integrating its map into their application, Kamil Franek, a technology analyst, has said in his blog. It gives Google additional data on real-time traffic and hence more ad revenue. Google is yet to respond to Moneycontrols queries on its market dominance, competition and revenues from India, one of its largest markets. Google's dominance The tech giant is facing increased scrutiny and backlash for collecting user data and privacy breach. It has also been accused of search bias and abusing its dominance as a search engine. Will it help MMI grow? These concerns would have to be addressed but taking on Google will call for a lot more. MapMyIndia is not looking at ads as a potential revenue stream and it will take time for the company to scale in the consumer space. Also, the Vermas say ads are not a part of their revenue model and privacy is important. While privacy is an issue, it will not make a lot of difference, says an expert. I estimate that people who choose MMI for privacy and accuracy would be in a minority, the expert says, requesting not to be identified. Nobody wants a monopoly and companies will want a good alternative to Google, say experts. So, should the government step in? Any startup should be able to enter a market, compete fairly with incumbents and win based on value created for its consumers, PhonePes Nigam said. Government intervention is typically needed when someone is creating artificial entry barriers, or when a platform is abusing its dominant distribution advantage, Nigam said. That is not the case, at least for now. Building a sustainable business MMI has built a sustainable business over two decades and has given good returns to investors. It is profitable and has cash reserves to build its consumer-map business. Building this war chest was one of the reasons the company took time to enter the consumer space, says Rakesh Verma. MMIs revenue comes from licensing map products, its services and solutions such as GPS tracker. According to data provided by Tracxn, the companys revenue for the year ended March 31, 2019 was Rs 162 crore, against Rs 161 crore in the previous year. Profit for the same period stood at Rs 39 crore and Rs 35 crore, respectively. Between 2015 and 2017, revenue grew from Rs 115 crore to Rs 140 crore. The last the company raised funds was in 2015, from Flipkart, when it was valued at Rs 1,600 crore. The deal gave an exit to older venture capital funds like Lightbox and Nexus Venture Partners. The company counts Qualcomm and Zenrin, a Japanese map publisher, as its other investors. For a company so focused on sustainability, where will the revenue come from? Move was already bringing in revenue, says Rakesh Verma. It complements the companys GPS device that consumers can buy off the shelves for their four and two-wheelers. The device cost between 3,000 and 6,000. APIs and partnerships are the other revenue streams but Google leads these spaces. MMI needs more data and it can be done by extending partnerships to last-mile connectivity, allowing on share real-time traffic data, Gogia says. The company, so far, has not been able to nail it, experts say. While companies may use MMI, drivers and delivery staff are more comfortable with Google Maps, a force of habit that is hard to change. A lot of work needs to be done here, Gogia says. MMI needs to give users good reasons to dump Google for Move. It can turn to local language support, a better solution to traffic issues or use of intuitive tech to tell a user if the neighbourhood kirana is open or if it is crowded. Google does some of it but there is a lot more that can be done. If MapMyIndia can crack these, Google is in for a tough fight. Should you jump into dividend stocks right now? This is a question we are often asking ourselves, and there isnt a straight forward answer. Most of us arent stock market experts, so the uncertainty of the markets can have an effect on us. But when our portfolio includes some dividend stocks, we know for sure that we wont lose out entirely, even if the markets go swooning tomorrow. Im not saying that will happen. In fact, tech giants continue to keep the markets buoyant and the general level of enthusiasm is spilling over into many other sectors. Also, broader indicators from manufacturing, housing and retail are showing a positive trend. Then you have Abbotts recently-approved portable antigen rapid Covid test that should further pump up the economy. But the thing is, the exact impact of all these indicators are big unknowns and the recovery appears mostly to be priced in at the moment. Moreover, the next two quarters arent likely to bring the big surprises we saw in June, since most analysts are done adjusting estimates. Add to that the fact that we have elections coming up, which typically adds volatility and uncertainty to the mix. So these things can make you a bit nervous. So you may be considering dividend stocks. First thing to keep in mind (if youre looking for dividends) is the yield. Thats what you get by dividing the annual dividend paid by the share price. So if youre overpaying, the yield will be low. It follows that dividend yields are relatively low in strong bull markets because share prices are on the rise. The second thing to keep in mind is the growth rate of the company. A company generally pays dividend out of its earnings and retains a portion to invest in growth. So if a company has a very high payout rate, it probably means its a slower growing company. This could be perfectly okay for a more mature player, but could signal problems if its a relatively young company. Because it could mean that the company sees limited growth opportunity or doesnt have the necessary competence to pursue the growth thats available. Story continues Take Zacks #2 (Buy)-ranked The Western Union Company WU for example, which has a 3.77% dividend yield. The company is part of the attractive Zacks-classified Financial Transaction Services industry and its Value Score A and Growth Score B seem to indicate that its a good pick. But what I like even more is its long-term growth (LTG) rate of 25.77%. Compare that with #2 ranked Hoegh LNG Partners LP HMLP, which has a dividend yield of 16.87% but LTG of just 5.24%. It also operates in the Zacks-classified Transportation Shipping industry, which is in the bottom 20% of 250+ Zacks-classified industries. And sure enough, although it has a Value Score A, its Growth Score is D. This obviously isnt as good a choice. Then, consider Lenovo Group Ltd. LNVGY, which has a dividend yield of 8.26% and an LTG of 13.54%. Its current metrics are also good: A Zacks #2 rank with Value Score A and Growth Score A. It operates in the Computer - Mini computers industry (the top 8% of Zacks-classified industries). I also like Federated Hermes, Inc. FHI, with its Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) rank, Value Score A, Growth Score B, dividend yield 4.46% and LTG 9.92%. #2 ranked Ternium S.A. TX with its dividend yield of 6.96% and LTG of 8.82% follows. The Value Score A is attractive but the Growth Score C could have been better. Still, it operates in the Steel Producers industry (top 27%), so things could improve from here on. Similar is the case with #2 ranked Sun Life Financial Inc. SLF, which operates in the attractive Insurance - Life Insurance industry (top 31%). It has a Value Score A, Growth Score C, dividend yield of 3.84% and LTG of 9.0%. Final Thoughts Investing in stocks is a personal decision, dependent on your investment goals. Its hard for anyone to say with certainty which ideas will work for you. But the idea is to assess the principles and apply them to your own individual situation. Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through Q2 2020, while the S&P 500 gained an impressive +44.0%, five of our strategies returned +50.9%, +93.8%, +122.2%, +153.0%, and even +156.8%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 Q2 2020, while the S&P averaged +5.5% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +51.7% per year. See their latest picks 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 The Western Union Company (WU) : Free Stock Analysis Report Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) : Free Stock Analysis Report Ternium S.A. (TX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Lenovo Group Ltd. (LNVGY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hoegh LNG Partners LP (HMLP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Federated Hermes, Inc. (FHI) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Polar bear kills man in Arctic Svalbard The campsite near Longyearbyen where the polar bear attack took place A polar bear has killed a Dutch man on Norway's Arctic Svalbard archipelago, local officials said Friday, the sixth fatal attack in almost 50 years in the region. According to experts, the shrinking icecap has reduced the polar bears' preferred seal hunting grounds, pushing them to approach populated areas in their search for food. The incident took place overnight in a camping area near Svalbard's main town of Longyearbyen, located 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) from the North Pole. The 38-year-old victim was found seriously injured in his tent and died shortly afterwards, the local governor's office said in a statement. He had been working at the campsite, according to the local Svalbardposte newspaper. Other people at the scene shot at the bear, which was later found dead in the parking lot of the local airport. In Svalbard, which is also known as Spitzberg, people are advised to carry a weapon when outside urban areas. "The bears generally stay away from humans. We are not at the top of their menu, as they prefer to feed on seals," Jon Aars, a researcher at the Norwegian Polar Institute, told AFP. "But they are also opportunistic animals, and if they are hungry and are desperate enough, we can become their prey," he added. According to a 2015 tally, the archipelago is home to about 1,000 polar bears, a protected species since 1973. Around 300 of them live year-round in the archipelago, with some concentrated in the west of the territory near human settlements. The area was free of polar bears while it was still legal to hunt them. The campsite worker's death was "a tragic event," Svalbard's deputy governor Soelvi Elvedah said in a statement. "But this is also a strong reminder that we are in polar bear country and must take the precautions to defend ourselves." Five deadly attacks on people had previously been recorded since 1971. The most recent previous fatality occurred in 2011 when a bear attacked a group of British campers on a school trip. Story continues A 17-year-old student was killed and four others were injured before the animal was killed. Last month the Svalbard archipelago recorded its highest temperature for over 40 years, 21.2 degrees Celsius (70.2 Fahrenheit), almost equal to the all-time record, Sweden's meteorological institute reported. According to scientific studies, global warming in the Arctic is happening twice as fast as the rest of the planet. phy/pvh/tgb The death toll attributed to former Hurricane Laura rose to 15 Friday as Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards asked the federal government for immediate financial assistance. Of the deaths, 10 were in Louisiana and five in Texas. Some of the deaths were thought to be from carbon monoxide poisoning from generators, officials said. Edwards formally asked President Donald Trump to declare a federal disaster for 23 parishes in the state, which would free up Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance. President Donald Trump approved the request for a disaster declaration. Trump plans to travel to Louisiana and Texas on Saturday, the White House said. Image: Hurricane Laura Makes Landfall On US Gulf Coast (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) Hurricane Laura is the fifth strongest storm to make landfall in the United States in recorded history and the first in memory to maintain major hurricane strength as it traveled through Louisiana, bringing catastrophic destruction to many parishes, Edwards said in a statement. He said at a news conference that Laura was "the strongest storm to ever hit Louisiana." Edwards said five people in his state died from carbon monoxide poisoning from gas-powered emergency generators, four from trees falling on homes and one who drowned while using a boat. In Texas, a Sabine County man was killed when a tree hit a mobile home, and three people died in Port Arthur, possibly from carbon monoxide poisoning, authorities said. Police in Beaumont, Texas, which is north of Port Arthur, said they were investigating the death of a 61-year-old man found Friday as a suspected generator-related death, and urged people to put generators in a safe location. An autopsy has been scheduled. Eighty-two water systems across Louisiana were incapacitated by the storm, Edwards said. Laura struck the coast of Louisiana near the Texas border as a Category 4 hurricane early Thursday with sustained winds of 150 miles per hour. An estimated 8,000 homes were possibly destroyed in the two states, and more than 14,000 people sought shelter from the Red Cross and other agencies, the Red Cross said. Edwards said more than 3,000 people in Louisiana found shelter in hotels. Story continues As of early Friday evening 485,192 utility customers were without power in Louisiana; in Texas that figure was 106,801. Speaking on NBC's "TODAY," FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor called Laura a storm "unlike no other." "What we see so far is wind driven damaged structures and buildings, lots of power down, lots of trees down," he said. "So, this would be a process to open up access so we can get restoration crews back in on the streets." Sheriff Tony Mancuso of the hard-hit Calcasieu Parish in Louisiana said at a news conference Friday damage to his community was "catastrophic." "It's very dangerous out here," he said. "Were all hot and sweaty and dont have services we would normally have. People need to be patient. Catastrophic damage because of the stormdangerous road conditions that are not safe." A storm surge as high as 20 feet that was forecast for coastal areas of Louisiana near the Texas border did not materialize. The U.S. Coast Guard Friday afternoon closed its Hurricane Laura Area Command Information Center. "I dont know how by the grace of god the water didnt reach the intensity it was supposed to because that wouldve been a lot more catastrophic," Mancuso said. Laura, which has since weakened to a tropical depression, was about 110 miles east-northeast of Paducah, Kentucky, at 11 p.m. ET, the National Hurricane Center said. Flash flood watches were in effect for parts of Tennessee, northeast Mississippi and northwestern Alabama Friday night, according to the National Weather Service. The remnants of Laura were headed east at about 24 mph and were expected to bring heavy rain and gusty winds Friday night through Saturday to the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, according to the weather service. This week, Swara Bhaskers Flesh created quite a noise on internet. Netizens found her cop crusader character, Radha Nautiyal, much intimidating. If you enjoyed Eros Nows web series, here are some more films and web shows with badass female cops taking lead. Fargo (Season 3) Premise: Fargo is an American anthology crime drama television series. So far three seasons have come and each one maintains its own self-contained narrative with different characters and settings, albeit in a connected shared universe. The third season follows the lives of a couple who, after an unsuccessful robbery, get involved in a double murder case. Carrie Coon as Gloria Burgle, a dedicated police officer, is trying to solve the case. What Works: The pilot episode, The Law of Vacant Places, is a winner in writing, direction and acting. Where to Watch: Netflix Delhi Crime Premise: Delhi Crime is based on true events of Delhi gang-rape case in 2012. Set in the aftermath of the crime, the show follows the story of DCP Vartika Chaturvedi, who is tasked to track down the culprits. What Works: With a nuanced performance, Shefali Shah humanises Vartika while maintaining a cops feisty nature. Where to Watch: Netflix Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey Premise: A follow up to Suicide Squad, it takes the audience to the time when Joker and Harley Quinn break up and the latter is out in the city of Gotham unprotected. In the backdrop of villainous Black Mask/ Roman Sionis confronting Quinn, Gotham City Police Departments Renee Montoya is trying to find clues about serial murders in the city. What Works: Rosie Perez as the cynical detective is fierce and applauding. Also, Margot Robbie is a treat to watch. Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video Drishyam Premise: A remake of the 2013 Malayalam film of the same name, it stars Tabu as a cop. The narrative is built around the disappearance of a policewomans son. What Works: This spot-on crime thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat. Watch it to find what happened on October 2. Where to Watch: Voot Soni Premise: Soni chronicles the life of a woman police officer and her superintendent in Delhi Police. They have to address the growing crisis of violent crimes against women. With everyday struggles, they suffer significant professional and personal setbacks. What Works: It attempts to take the viewers to give a glimpse of what happens in a sincere police officers life. Where to Watch: Netflix The U.S. Embassy said the ambassadors self-isolation would save New Zealand money and allow him to do his job remotely, which he couldnt have done otherwise. The embassy said the household staff at the ambassadors residence near Wellington will remain on leave until the couple complete their isolation. Through the mediation of Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and by the decrees of President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian, commander of the Third Army Corps, Major General Grigory Khachaturov, under whose leadership the subdivisions of the Armenian army brilliantly completed all the tasks of the army during battles, was awarded the first-class Order of the Combat Cross during a ceremony held at Sardarapat Memorial today. Through the mediation of the Prime Minister and by the decrees of the President of Armenia, out of the active role-players of the victorious battles that took place in Tavush Province, 16 servicemen have been awarded the first-class Order of the Combat Cross, and 55 servicemen have been awarded the second-class Order of the Combat Cross. Among the attendees of the ceremony are the President of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), the Catholicos of All Armenians, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, members of the Security Council, government officials, army generals and other officials. Grigory Khachaturov is the son of Colonel-General, military figure of Armenia and former Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Yuri Khachaturov. In August of this year, the operation for improvement of the military posts in the Chinari sector bordering Tavush Province was carried out under the command of Colonel Grigory Khachaturov, who is the commander of the military subdivisions of the Third Army Corps of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia and former chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Interior Ministry of the Government of National Accord (GNA) on Thursday announced the arrest of a suspect in the shooting of demonstrators who were protesting in the Martyrs Square in Tripoli against corruption and the deterioration of living conditions of the population The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says Plateau South, where a senatorial by-election is scheduled to hold on October 31, has a total of 671,209 registered voters. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Halilu Pai, disclosed this while speaking on the commissions preparations for the by-election. Mr Pai said that the zone comprised six local government areas: Langtang North, Langtang South, Mikang, Shendam, Quan Pan and Wase. Our records have it that the total number of registered voters in these six local government areas is 671, 209. And the total number of Registration Areas (RAs) is 68 and we have 712 polling units. This is important for you to know and some of you even know better than INEC, particularly those that have been participating in elections. We will give you more information as we receive them from the national headquarters, he said. He said the elections would be conducted with strict adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols. INECs state director of training, Tyokyaa Abary, said that wearing face masks at polling units and all election locations was mandatory. Mr Abary stated that any voter showing symptoms of COVID-19 such as high temperature, coughing and sneezing would be requested to leave the queue or voting area. He explained that such persons would be attended to by designated officials. He advised the people to avoid unnecessary touching of surfaces or leaning on walls and other surfaces at polling units. Similarly, during the election training periods, so many innovations in-line with COVID-19 pandemic protocols have been introduced. The methodology for the election training will combine face-to-face and electronic approaches. Where the former is used, the requisite COVID-19 prevention protocols will strictly apply, the director stressed. He also said that training resources such as manuals and DVDs for the election officials would be shared with trainees prior to the training to reduce face-to-face contact. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that stakeholders that attended the meeting included heads of security agencies and leaders of political parties. Others were members of civil society organisations and the media. (NAN) BRIDGEPORT A former city school official claims she was illegally fired after being injured in an alleged altercation with a school board member. Dr. Christiana Otuwa filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the city, Superintendent of Schools Michael Testani and the Board of Education in state Superior Court on Thursday. She is seeking reinstatement, and unspecified monetary damages for lost wages, employment benefits and emotional distress. I dont see any justification for this lawsuit, Testani said. She had been hired by my predecessor on a year-to-year contract and when I came in I decided to restructure my cabinet with my own people and thats all there was to it. At times, personnel matters like this arise. It remains a consistent policy for the city to withhold from commenting on these types of incidents that are pending litigation, said Rowena White, spokesperson for Mayor Joe Ganims office. Attempts to reach Otuwa, who lives in New Haven, were not successful. Her lawyer declined to comment. Otuwa was hired as an assistant superintendent of schools in August 2017 at a yearly salary of $155,000. She formerly was a deputy superintendent in Rochester, N.Y. According to her lawsuit, she claims that on May 22, 2019, she was injured following a school board meeting when then-board member Maria Pereira allegedly forcefully grabbed a packet of paper out of Otuwas hand. Pereira was charged with breach of peace as a result of Otuwas police complaint. However, Pereira denied Otuwas claim and the charge against Pereira was later dismissed by a judge after prosecutors chose not to pursue the case. Otuwa claims in the lawsuit that she suffered injuries to her right knee and right hand and subsequently submitted a workers compensation claim. On June 4, 2019, her doctor restricted Otuwa from working through July 8, 2019, the suit states, and she was approved medical leave by the Board of Education. Shortly after she returned to work, the lawsuit states that members of the school board and its employees engaged in a pattern of retaliatory conduct against Otuwa because she had exercised her rights under the states Workers Compensation Act. On July 19, 2019, the suit states that Testani, as acting superintendent, informed Otuwa that her position had been eliminated and the duties were instead transferred to a new job title: executive director. Otuwa argues in her suit that the defendants violated Connecticut law which prohibits retaliation and discrimination against an employee for exercising her rights under workers compensation. Pereira, now a member of the city council, disagrees with the premise of the lawsuit. I dont believe then-acting superintendent Michael Testani terminated Dr. Otuwa in retaliation of her workers compensation claim, Pereira said. While serving as the director of adult education, Testani told police he witnessed the incident and didnt believe it was accidental, according to Pereiras arrest warrant affidavit. In June 2019, the school board named Testani the districts acting superintendent, and eventually dropped the acting from his job title in January 2020. Shortly after being appointed acting superintendent in July 2019, Testani streamlined the city schools office. However, at the time it was noted that while other officials were given new titles, Otuwa was left out of the mix without explanation. NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 365 Connect, a leading provider of award-winning digital marketing, leasing, and resident service platforms for the multifamily housing industry, announced today that the company has received two NYX Marcom Awards from the International Awards Associate for its industry-first, ADA-certified platform. These prestigious awards recognize 365 Connect's dedication to digital inclusion across the rental housing industry and beyond. The International Awards Associate (IAA) is an international group of award-winning design and communications professionals that hosts multiple award programs, including the NYX Marcom Awards, Vega Digital Awards, and MUSE Creative Awards. The NYX Marcom Awards acknowledges the achievements of marketing professionals from more than 32 countries and encourages the industry to embody the three pillars of the creative: creativity, artistry, and determination. "We believe that outstanding creativity allows these professionals to truly contribute to history," said Kenjo Ong, CEO of International Awards Associate. "This win by 365 Connect is a testament to their unbridled talent. An NYX Marcom Award has never just been about the title. It is an affirmation surrounding the hard work of these individuals, and our organization will continue to honor the type of expertise that transcends normalcy." Entries are evaluated by a panel of multidisciplinary professionals from all over the world that are noted experts in their field. Submissions go through a blind judging process, where their qualities and concepts are assessed based upon their creative fundamentals and project execution. Winners, who best meet the competition criteria, are selected during the culmination of the judging phase. 365 Connect CEO, Kerry W. Kirby, responded, "We're truly honored to receive two NYX Marcom Awards and are excited to have our efforts acknowledged on an international level. As our world is evolving into an increasingly digital society, physical spaces have become more dependent on technology to interact with prospective and current customers. Our focus is to make online services accessible to everyone, no matter what assistive technology they may use. These awards emphasize our team's unwavering commitment to delivering compliant solutions to the widest possible online audience." With an array of coveted technology awards, 365 Connect continues to revolutionize how apartment communities market, lease, and deliver services with a dynamic platform built on modern-cloud architecture and flexible infrastructure. The platform consumes, integrates, and displays data, in order to streamline operations without sacrificing a seamless user experience. Today, many of the nation's most respected multifamily housing operators utilize 365 Connect to unify processes and create efficient workflows. ABOUT 365 CONNECT: 365 Connect is a leading provider of award-winning digital marketing, leasing, and resident service platforms for the multifamily housing industry. Founded in 2003 with an unwavering commitment to transforming the rental real estate market, 365 Connect delivers a fully-integrated suite of comprehensive solutions designed to accelerate conversions, simplify transactions, and elevate services. 365 Connect allows its clients infinite expansion, robust integrations, and the ability to revolutionize user experiences. Explore: www.365connect.com Related Images 365-connect.jpg 365 CONNECT 365 Connect is a leading provider of award-winning digital marketing, leasing, and resident service platforms for the multifamily housing industry. Related Links Like Us On Facebook Follow Us On Twitter SOURCE 365 Connect Key stakeholders in the December 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections have been urged to take extra precautions to ensure a peaceful election. Some incidents that occurred during the voters registration exercise tell us that although we are currently having the COVID-19 pandemic, pockets of violence could easily spring up during the general elections, Mr Kwesi Jonah, stated in Accra on Thursday. Mr Jonah, who is a Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at a training workshop for political parties, on the use of the Virtual Public Space or Social Media, for the 2020 Elections. He noted that now more than ever, social media played a crucial role in national peace-building, especially during a major election. Mr. Jonah noted that with the tendency for fake news, information with a high tendency to create chaos and false propaganda would increase during elections. He said there was the need for key stakeholders such as journalists, bloggers, the security agencies, politicians and the public, to be well educated on how to detect false information. He said there was also the need for well-meaning groups and individuals such as Civil Society Organisations to intensify their peace building efforts through educating the public on the need to determine the veracity of information on social media, as well as the right way of seeking redress, if the need should arise. Mr Jonah urged the security agencies, especially the police, to strive towards earning the trust and respect of the populace, by maintaining high standards of professionalism, in handling electoral disputes. He said for the sake of national unity and peace, it was very important that the police were seen to be impartial, concerned, responsive and professional. He noted that if the public trust the police to be equally fair to all, irrespective of ones political leaning, that would greatly contribute towards ensuring a successful election. Mr Jonah also said it was crucial for the National Election Security Task Force to be well resourced to deal effectively with election disputes, to prevent unnecessary escalation of such disputes. Mr Kwami Ahiabenu, Tech Innovations Expert, said it was important for the public, especially active players in the political arena to know that putting out information on social media had to be done in accordance with the law. He said it was important for people to be well educated on the fact that putting out information on social media in a manner that violated the laws of the country, made one liable to prosecution. Mr Ahiabenu, a key facilitator at the workshop, said whatever was done on social media therefore had to be in absolute consonance with the laws of the land. He said there was a strong need for the media to work in consonance with the police, towards ensuring that social media did not become a source of national unrest during the election. Mr Ahiabenu noted that social media was a double edged sword that could do both harm and good, depending on how it is used. He said there was, therefore, the need to ensure that while using it as a tool for national growth, its potential to sow national discord was completely curtailed. The workshop was organized by IDEG, in collaboration with the Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The emphasis of the government is to have a modern, effective and sensitive security architecture that can inspire a sense of safety among all sections of the society, Prime Minister said on Friday. He said this in a message on the 50th raising day of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD). The prime minister's message was read during a webinar event held at the Union home ministry in North Block here that was attended by Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy and Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla. The BPRD was raised this day in 1970 and it works as a policing think tank under the ministry. "Over the last 50 years, BPRD has been unwavering in its commitment in the service of the nation. "Our emphasis is on a modern, effective and sensitive security architecture that inspires a sense of safety among all sections of the society," the prime minister was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the home ministry. "The requirement to keep pace with the fast advancement of technology has never been more before to ensure an efficient instrument for maintenance of serenity and security," he said. "The focus needs to be on innovation and research to optimally utilise technology and human resources. It is vital to continue updating areas of skilling, research and training to further the outreach and capabilities of the police force with citizen-centric and citizen-friendly approach," Modi was quoted as saying. Home Minister Amit Shah also wished the organisation. "Greetings to Bureau of Police Research and Development on its Golden Jubilee Anniversary. BPR&D has played a vital role in strengthening India's internal security through research & development. I salute BPR&D's continuous quest for a robust & modern police system in the country," Shah said on Twitter. Reddy later addressed BPRD officials over an online conference or webinar link. "New thinking and emerging technologies and making police forces capable for the security of the nation is an important aspect of a new and Atmanirbhar Bharat", he said. Reddy said to keep pace with the changing time, there is a need to speed up law and order infrastructure in the country and this cannot be achieved without research and development. He also remotely inaugurated a central detective training institute of the BPRD located at Jaipur, launched the website of student police cadets scheme and released a commemorative postal stamp of the organisation. (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.) WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump shows up for his children when they go to Disney World, gives hope to addicts and once called a colleague after a major surgery. He welcomes immigrants through naturalization ceremonies and uses his pardon power for people like suffragists and a reformed bank robber. He heads a Republican Party with prominent support from African American leaders, even a veteran of the 1960s civil rights movement, a party that celebrates the removal of the Confederate flag - "a divisive symbol," one speaker said. Grievance is, Vice President Mike Pence said Wednesday night, less important to Trump than gratitude. This was the script that Trump's advisers wrote and delivered with remarkable repetition over more than 10 hours of broadcast time at the Republican National Convention this week - a naked appeal to college-educated, minority and independent voters who have been alienated from the president after three years of pugilism, name calling and norm breaking from the Oval Office. The Trump that the country has long become accustomed to - often fiery on Twitter, combative in person, obsessed with his brand, eager to fan the flames of division and often angry about perceived injustices committed against him - was demoted to a secondary role for much of the week, as his surrogates cast him in a different light, often aided by misleading depictions. If Trump arrived at his Cleveland convention in 2016 as a disrupter who promised to shake up the political establishment, he returned to the convention stage four years later trying to embody a new national revival while rejecting Democrat Joe Biden's charge that he had "cloaked America in darkness." His political vulnerabilities - including harsh language against immigrants, frequent dishonesty and his penchant for pardoning friends and advisers who run afoul of the law - were airbrushed into assets. The hard edges of Trumpism were still given voice in his final speech, where he declared that Democrats want to stand "with anarchists, agitators, rioters, looters and flag burners," even though the opposing party's leadership has repeatedly denounced protest violence. Members of the Trump family also repeatedly described Democrats as abiding violent mobs, resulting in a bifurcated and sometimes contradictory message that is not certain to have the desired effect. But many aides and allies, who have been frustrated by Trump's narrow focus on exciting his base, said they were pleasantly surprised by the proceedings. "The convention message is much more pleasurable, broader, a sweeter touch than Donald Trump on a typical day-to-day basis," said Ari Fleischer, a former White House press secretary to George W. Bush who co-wrote a 2013 report calling on the Republican Party to expand its tent. "It has really been heartening." Trump's own advisers, who were worried about putting together a largely virtual program in just six weeks, also have expressed relief. "We wanted to offer a warm invitation to independents, Democrats and Republicans alike to come support President Trump," Trump campaign strategist Jason Miller said. "We wanted to show a more accurate representation of who helped to elect President Trump the first time and our growing base of supporters heading into the fall's election." Convention planners described reviewing a lot of polling beforehand and deciding to have the programming focus substantially on giving voice to Americans who had benefited from Trump's presidency. The process of selecting speakers - the lobsterman from Maine, the Minnesota logger - was time-consuming, with multiple false starts, according to people involved in convention planning. At the heart of it was a desire to offer skeptical voters a reason to give Trump a second look and to convince them the president is better than they believe, particularly suburban women weary of his behavior and upset with his handling of the coronavirus response. The goal was to defend Trump's handling of the pandemic and focus heavily on policies that might persuade wobbly voters that even if they don't like the president's rough edges, he is worth the vote. The orchestration of the event was handled by a group of former Trump aides and GOP consultants, according to a person involved, including consultant Boyd Wagner and former White House aides Tony Sayegh, Adam Kennedy, Cliff Sims and Steven Cheung. The road map they followed is easy to find: Among voters in a July Washington Post-ABC News Poll who said they were certain to vote, Biden held an 11 point lead over Trump when voters were asked who better represented their personal values, a 10 point lead for better understanding their problems, and a 13 point lead in having a better idea of what the United States should represent. Those Biden advantages have become barriers to Trump's winning over voters who otherwise might support a Republican candidate in November. "We believe we are dealing with a lot of voters who want to find a reason to vote for us, and we've got to give them that reason," a senior administration official said last week, like others, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Whether it worked won't be known until new polls are released in a couple of weeks, said Republican pollster Whit Ayres, who agreed that many of the most high-profile speeches, including the one delivered by first lady Melania Trump on Tuesday, have the potential of expanding the coalition. The problem, he said, was that the positive visions were often subsumed by the more aggressive messages. Other critics noted that the convention could have focused more on the coronavirus response, which Trump's advisers see as his greatest political albatross. "They have been overwhelmed by most of the other speeches that have been designed to gin up the base," Ayres said. "But hope springs eternal." Trump aides, particularly son-in-law Jared Kushner, have long argued they can secure more of the African American vote than previous Republicans have, and there was a deliberate effort to show Black supporters of the president during the week. They also hoped that demonstration might pay benefits among moderate White voters worried about Trump's racial views. Among the speakers Thursday was Ja'Ron Smith, the White House's top Black aide, who has worked on criminal justice issues, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Secretary Ben Carson and Alice Johnson, a Black woman whom Trump pardoned, freeing her from federal imprisonment for a drug conviction. The convention organizers recruited Clarence Henderson, an activist who participated in lunch counter protests nearly 60 years ago, who declared that Trump was continuing a struggle "that embraces the spirit of the civil rights movement of the '60s." Other speakers flipped the script on some of the president's own positions. He has long been a defender of continuing to allow institutions and others to fly the Confederate flag, for example. "When people proudly have their Confederate flags, they're not talking about racism," he said in a July interview with Fox News. "It represents the South." But he gave prime speaking slots Monday to two non-White Republican politicians from South Carolina, former governor Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott, who were instrumental in removing the flag from the state's capitol. Haley retold the story of her decision to remove the "divisive symbol" as a proud moment for the country and one, she said, that Republicans and Democrats had agreed on, gliding past Trump's own views. In a recent interview, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., had offered a reason for such outreach. "Trump has some problems in the suburbs, even in South Carolina," Graham said. To help sell the new pitch, Trump has stayed largely mum throughout the proceedings, a discipline that kept more focus on his convention rebranding. While he complained publicly about the Democrats having too many scripted events during their convention, he allowed the overwhelming majority of his convention to be taped, which gave the organizers maximum control of the message. There were discussions on Wednesday night about whether Trump should move forward with his address Thursday, given that Hurricane Laura was bearing down on the Gulf Coast, but advisers eventually decided to add a visit to FEMA headquarters to his agenda and keep the speech on the schedule. His more provocative side went dormant after Monday, when he addressed Republican National Committee members in North Carolina. There he joked that he would seek "12 more years" in office, criticized Fox News for denying him coverage, argued that Air Force One has more televisions "than any plane in history" and said the only way Democrats could win in November is if the election were "rigged." Even some White House officials were disappointed with the performance, these officials said. Since then, his tweets have focused on more mundane matters: convention promotion, hurricane preparedness and his calls for more federal and National Guard resources to be deployed in Kenosha, Wis., to deal with violent protests. Advisers say there is no certainty that Trump will stick to the new script for long. Trump also did as advised at the 2016 convention. But immediately afterward, he held a news conference in which he revived a false suggestion that the father of Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, was involved in John F. Kennedy's assassination. It was based on a speculative story in the National Enquirer, which he described as worthy of the Pulitzer Prize. Plainview Rotarians got together for their first face-to-face meeting since March 10 this past Tuesday. The meeting was well attended, and a Zoom meeting was arranged for those who were not yet comfortable with returning to the public format. The program was presented by club member Ted Baker who is in charge of the annual Running Water Draw Arts and Crafts Festival. The event is the primary fundraiser for the organization and provides the money for the clubs local community service activities. A corrupt detective turned supergrass whose claims against Scotland Yard led to the second Stephen Lawrence inquiry is being probed for perjury. Neil Putnam is being investigated by the National Crime Agency, which is believed to be preparing evidence for prosecutors. But friends of the whistleblower, who revealed the first look into the 1993 murder was tainted, claim police have turned on him to bring the scandal to a close. Earlier this month Scotland Yard closed its investigation into Stephen's killing, 27 years after he died in a racially-motivated attack. The 18-year-old was murdered by a group of racists while waiting for a bus in Eltham, South East London, in April 1993. Five men were named by the Daily Mail as his killers in February 1997, but it was not until January 2012 that two of the group were convicted of murder. Gary Dobson and David Norris were jailed for life at the Old Bailey after a trial that hinged on tiny traces of forensic evidence found years after the crime. Two of the three remaining former suspects, brothers Neil and Jamie Acourt, have since served jail time for drug dealing, while Luke Knight has remained free. Neil Putnam (pictured) is being investigated by the National Crime Agency, which is believed to be preparing evidence for prosecutors Stephen Lawrence, 18, was killed by a group of racists in Eltham, South East London, in 1993 Five men were named by the Daily Mail as his killers in February 1997, but it was not until January 2012 that two of the group were convicted of murder The original probe failed to convict the culprits and the campaign for justice by Stephen's parents led to a public inquiry which branded the Met institutionally racist. Putnam had claimed another officer on the case had confessed to being paid by Norris's father Clifford, according to the Times. He said in 1998 he told anti-corruption detectives, who were secretly keeping him up to date with the Macpherson inquiry, of the admission. But his claims were not fully given to the inquiry, which found the Met to be 'institutionally racist' and said there were systemic failures in the probe. Putnam gave an interview on TV in 2006, which the Met and police watchdog probed but found no evidence. But leaked police papers in 2012 gave light to his claims about former detective sergeant John Davidson. A source from the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed Putnam had made allegations about Mr Davidson to anti-corruption police in 1998, which brought about the inquiry into police corruption. Gary Dobson (left) and David Norris (right) were jailed for life at the Old Bailey in January 2012 after a trial that hinged on tiny traces of forensic evidence found years after the crime Pictured is David Norris (at the rear), Luke Knight (left), Neil Acourt (second left, partially obscured), and Jamie Acourt (throwing a punch) leaving a Public Inquiry into police handling of the case of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, in south London June 30, 1998 The campaign for justice by Stephen's parents Baroness Lawrence (left) and her former husband Neville (right) led to a public inquiry which branded the police institutionally racist Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick (pictured on April 7) said she is 'sad that we have been unable to secure further convictions for Stephen, his family and friends' What happened to the five men named by the Daily Mail as Stephen Lawrence's killers? GARY DOBSON (convicted) Gary Dobson was a teenage gang member turned drug supplier already behind bars for dealing cannabis by the time he faced trial over the Stephen Lawrence murder. A teenage racist, he had been caught on film making hate-filled remarks about black people. He was arrested and charged with Stephen's murder while he was in custody in 2010. His previous acquittal for Stephen's murder was quashed by the Court of Appeal, allowing him to be tried for a second time. He was forced to admit his racist views in 1994, when he was secretly recorded making vile comments to his friends on a camera planted in the skirting board of his council flat. Two years earlier in November 1992, Kevin London, then a 16-year-old black youth, was confronted by a gang of white youths and claimed Dobson threatened him with a knife, although no full report was made to the police. DAVID NORRIS (convicted) David Norris is a convicted racist and son of infamous south London gangster Clifford Norris. He was well known on the streets of Eltham by the time Stephen was killed and had had brushes with the law. Within 24 hours of Stephen's murder he was named as a member of a knife-wielding gang in two anonymous notes left for police and by an informant who spoke to detectives. A year earlier Norris had been charged with wounding after allegedly taking part in an attack on two brothers during which one was stabbed with a knife. The charge was dropped in January 1993, three months before Stephen's murder. Then on March 18 he was accused of stabbing 20 year-old Stacey Benefield with a miniature sword during an scuffle in Kidbrooke, south London. But Norris was cleared of involvement after a trial amid allegations there was contact between a juror and a minder connected to Norris. NEIL ACOURT (not convicted) Knife-obsessed thug who has never provided a satisfactory alibi for his movements on the night of Stephen's murder. He claims he was at home all night but police do not believe his story. His name was linked to Stephen's murder by a series of informants in the days following the killing. When officers raided his home just a few minutes from the murder scene, they found a terrifying arsenal of knives. It was routine for him to carry blades while out and about in Eltham in the mid 1990s. In 2001, he was convicted of possessing an offensive weapon, a baton, which he claimed he needed for protection from revenge attacks. The next year he and David Norris were jailed for 18 months for a racist attack on an off-duty black detective. JAMIE ACOURT (not convicted) Along with his elder brother, revelled in the notoriety of being the other half of Eltham's version of the Krays. He too had an unhealthy obsession in knives. Like his brother, he was also named by police informants as being one of the murderers. His account of the evening when Stephen died does not match his brother's story. In a TV interview, he said he could not remember hearing of Stephen's death until he saw it on TV the next day. Yet Neil said in the same programme that someone came to the door to inform him of a local stabbing. Of great interest to the police is the fact that Gary Dobson has admitted going to the Acourts' home about an hour after Stephen's murder, supposedly to borrow a Bob Marley CD. Police believe that they met to get their stories straight. Detectives have been unable to gather forensic evidence linking him to the murder and he was not positively identified by witnesses. LUKE KNIGHT (not convicted) Luke Knight has always maintained his innocence while police suspect a 'sixth man' might have been part of the gang Although police informants suggested he was one of the gang, he has always maintained his innocence. Along with Neil Acourt, he was charged with murder in 1993 but the case was dropped within weeks because of doubts over the evidence. He was formally acquitted of murder at the 1996 private prosecution. He was not in the dock with Norris and Dobson because of lack of credible identification evidence, no confession and no forensics linking him to the murder. Because of double jeopardy laws, police would need a major breakthrough to snare him. Advertisement During a major review by Mark Ellison QC, the barrister said in 2014 there were 'reasonable grounds' to suggest Mr Davidson's relationship with Clifford amounted to corruption. He said Scotland Yard had reason to believe the detective could have been corrupt, but the evidence was not handed to the Macpherson inquiry in full. His review also said Putnam's claims were not properly looked into, which led to an NCA investigation for the Independent Office for Police Conduct. But last summer the watchdog said there was 'no indication of corruption on the part of Mr Davidson relating to the original Stephen Lawrence murder investigation'. Last month the NCA released a letter stating that a 'separate matter' had arisen and instead Putnam was being probed. His friends claimed to the Times top brass at the police were turning on Putnam to put the Lawrence scandal to bed. Sources also told the newspaper the Met destroyed documents and police could not find 'material evidence' of corruption, making any prosecution difficult. Putnam grassed on fellow detectives after he was arrested in an anti-corruption investigation in 1998. Five officers were jailed for drug corruption thanks to his testimony, while two were acquitted after a 2011 retrial. As a hostile witness Putnam confirmed under oath for the first time about Mr Davidson's alleged confession. An NCA spokesman told the Times it would 'not be appropriate at this stage to discuss who has been interviewed and in what capacity'. Stephen's father said he was 'disappointed but not surprised' that the investigation into his son's murder had been shelved by police. Neville Lawrence revealed he 'will always live with the hope that someone might come forward with evidence which will allow us to achieve full justice for Stephen'. In a statement earlier this month, Neville said: 'I had hoped that the conviction of two of the killers in 2012 would lead to new evidence coming to light and a prosecution of the other suspects. 'This has unfortunately not happened and, over the last few years, I have had to come to terms with the reality that some of the killers of Stephen may never be brought to justice for what they did. 'Stephen died 27 years ago in a senseless murder by racists. The tragedy of this for us was compounded by the initial police response and investigation which were tainted by racism and incompetence. 'The police failures meant that we as a family had to fight a system as well as deal with the grief of losing our son. 'With the announcement that the investigation has become inactive, I am conscious that the case can never be closed for me. 'I will always live with the hope that someone might come forward with evidence which will allow us to achieve full justice for Stephen - by bringing about the prosecution of the others responsible for his murder. 'I do not regret our fight for justice, although the burden has at times felt too heavy for a family to bear. In fact, I am immensely proud of everything that has been achieved along the way. 'Without the campaign we wouldn't have been where we are today. I particularly note the support I have received over the years from families who have suffered what I have, especially the family of Richard Adams, who provided me with support in my darkest hours. 'This experience has compelled me to try and provide this support to others struck by the tragedy of losing a child.' Stephen's mother Baroness Doreen Lawrence said: 'I am truly disappointed that those others who were equally responsible for my son's racist killing may not be brought to justice. 'I am very sad that a line has now been drawn into the investigation and that it is now in an 'inactive' phase. 'Despite this, I would still urge anyone who has any information that could help me get all of Stephen's killers convicted, to come forward. 'It is never too late to give a mother justice for the murder of her son. Whilst the Metropolitan Police have given up, I never will.' When the force announced two years ago it was mothballing the probe and it was unlikely to progress without new information, Baroness Lawrence said she wanted it closed. But Neville said he hoped the family could get 'total justice' and he would never give up. Scotland Yard Commissioner Cressida Dick said: 'This was an appalling racist murder and I am sad that we have been unable to secure further convictions for Stephen, his family and friends. 'I, and the senior investigator in charge of the case, Chris Le Pere, have met with Baroness Lawrence and Mr Lawrence and fully explained the work the team have been doing, and why we are now at this stage. 'The investigation has now moved to an 'inactive' phase, but I have given Stephen's family the assurance that we will continue to deal with any new information that comes to light. Stephen Lawrence: A timeline of the case that exposed racism at the heart of the Met Police April 22, 1993: Stephen Lawrence, just 18 years old, was stabbed to death in an unprovoked racist attack in Eltham, South East London. While on his way home from a dance just after 10pm, Stephen and his friend Duwayne Brooks missed their bus and, after waiting uneasily at the bus-stop for a few minutes, decided to walk. As Stephen and Duwayne reached a nearby roundabout on Well Hall Road, a gang of white youths on the other pavement started hurling foul and racist language at them. One came at them with a weapon, and the others followed. Duwayne turned to run but Stephen stood his ground. Stephen fell in a flurry of blows and kicks. As the gang left, Duwayne ran back to his friend who initially seemed only dazed. Then he collapsed. Duwayne tried frantically to flag down passers-by and cars for help. When an ambulance and police finally arrived, officers appeared to disbelieve his story from the first Duwayne thought his friend must have been struck with an iron bar, when in fact he had been stabbed. On April 22, 1993, Stephen Lawrence, just 18 years old, was stabbed to death in an unprovoked racist attack in Eltham, South East London Stephen died of blood loss before reaching hospital. May-June, 1993: Neil Acourt, Jamie Acourt, Gary Dobson, Luke Knight and David Norris were arrested in connection with his murder, but by July the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had formally discontinued the prosecution. December 1993: Southwark coroner Sir Montague Levine halts an inquest into Mr Lawrence's death after the family's barrister, Michael Mansfield QC, says there is new evidence in the case. April 1994: The CPS says the new evidence is insufficient to support murder charges. September 1994: The Lawrence family then starts a private prosecution against Neil Acourt, Mr Knight and Dobson. December 1994: Secret video evidence is filmed showing Dobson and Norris making obscene racist remarks. April 1996: The private prosecution against Neil Acourt, Mr Knight and Dobson begins at the Old Bailey but collapses after identification evidence is ruled inadmissible. The three are acquitted. February 1997: An inquest jury found that Stephen was 'unlawfully killed by five white youths'. The next day The Daily Mail runs a front page story accusing the five with the headline 'MURDERERS'. Prime Minister Tony Blair, Cherie Blair, and Neville and Doreen Lawrence are pictured in 1999 Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre describes the momentous decision to run that front page: 'I remember the last day of the inquest very, very vividly. I remember him [Sir Paul Condon, the then Met Police commissioner] saying that he bet his life the five suspects were as guilty as sin the tragedy was the police couldn't get the evidence necessary, the CPS wouldn't back them in a prosecution, but he was absolutely certain they were guilty. 'One sensed the palpable frustration. That night, the nine o'clock news showed the suspects and the arrogance with which they insisted on the privilege of silence. These guys were taking the p*ss out of British justice. 'At that moment I picked up a layout pad and I wrote down the word 'MURDERERS' in huge type and underlined it.' December 1997: A Police Complaints Authority report on the original police investigation of Stephen's murder identifies 'significant weaknesses, omissions and lost opportunities'. February 1999: The Macpherson Report finds the police guilty of mistakes and 'institutional racism.' It also suggested a rethink of the principle of 'double jeopardy' laws. April 1999: The five men arrested in 1993 deny involvement in the murder in a television interview. September 2002: Norris and Neil Acourt were jailed for 18 months for a racist attack on off-duty black policeman Gareth Reid. May 2004: The CPS announced there was 'insufficient evidence' to prosecute anyone for the murder of Stephen Lawrence. April 2005: The double jeopardy legal principle was scrapped for certain offences when there is new evidence. May 18, 2011: The Court of Appeal agreed that Dobson's 1996 acquittal for the murder can be quashed. November 14, 2011: The trial of Dobson and Norris for Stephen's murder begins at the Old Bailey. January 3, 2012: Dobson and Norris are found guilty of murder. March 6, 2013: A major review by Mark Ellison QC finds that a Metropolitan Police 'spy' was working within the 'Lawrence family camp' during the course of the judicial inquiry into matters arising from his death. March 12, 2015: Then-home secretary Theresa May launches an inquiry into undercover policing following the report of the Ellison Inquiry. October 16, 2015: The National Crime Agency announces that the Metropolitan Police are being investigated for alleged corruption over their initial handling of the murder probe. April 11, 2018: Scotland Yard admits it has no new lines of inquiry in the investigation into Stephen's murder. August 11, 2020: Police announce there are no further lines of inquiry in the murder probe, and closes the investigation into the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence after 27 years. Advertisement 'The investigation into Stephen's murder will also be periodically reviewed for any further investigative opportunities which may arise, for example with advances in technology.' She added the force has told Duwayne Brooks, who was with Stephen on the night he was killed, about their decision. Knight, shirtless and wearing pink shorts, declined to comment when approached by a reporter at his parents' terraced house on an estate in Eltham earlier this month. He slammed the door when asked how he felt about the Lawrence case being moved to an 'inactive phase' and someone was then heard shouting 'f*** off you c***' from the house. The original investigation into Stephen's death was hampered by incompetence, racism and claims of police corruption surrounding Norris's father Clifford and his links to the criminal underworld. In April 1994 the Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence to bring a prosecution, and in September that year Mr Lawrence's parents unsuccessfully attempted their own private prosecution against Dobson, Knight and Neil Acourt. Five years later the Macpherson report, produced after a public inquiry into the case, found the Metropolitan Police guilty of institutional racism and made a series of recommendations on changes to policing and wider public policy. Today there are still ongoing inquiries linked to the case, including an investigation by the National Crime Agency and the Independent Office for Police Conduct into alleged corruption. The case will also inform part of the public inquiry into undercover policing that is due to start next year, after it was revealed in 2013 that a police mole infiltrated a campaign group supporting the Lawrence family's fight for justice. Commissioner Dick said: 'We were able to secure two convictions following a determined investigation in 2012 but it is well known that other suspects were also involved in the events which unfolded that night and it is deeply frustrating that we have been unable to bring them to justice. 'As a result of ceaseless campaigning for justice by Stephen's parents, profound changes have happened in policing, the law and wider society. 'I pay tribute to them for their courage and achievements. And my thoughts are with them and all Stephen's loved ones.' Stephen was stabbed to death in an unprovoked racist attack by a gang of white youths 27 years ago in April 1993. In the weeks after, the two Acourts, Dobson, Knight and Norris were arrested in connection with his murder. In July 1993, committal proceedings were scheduled for Neil Acourt and Knight but the Crown Prosecution Service formally discontinued the prosecution following a meeting with the senior investigating officer. Then in December that year, the Southwark coroner Sir Montague Levine halted an inquest into Stephen's death after the family's barrister, Michael Mansfield QC, said there was 'dramatic' new evidence in the case. But in April 1994, the CPS said the new evidence was insufficient to support murder charges. Five months later, the Lawrence family began a private prosecution against Neil Acourt, Knight and Dobson. This began in April 1996 at the Old Bailey but collapsed after identification evidence was ruled inadmissible - and the three were acquitted. An inquest in February 1997 found that Stephen was 'unlawfully killed by five white youths', while in December that year a Police Complaints Authority report on the original police investigation identified 'significant weaknesses, omissions and lost opportunities'. The Macpherson Report in February 1999 found the police guilty of mistakes and 'institutional racism' and made a series of recommendations on changes to policing and wider public policy. It also suggested a rethink of the principle of 'double jeopardy', to allow the retrial of acquitted defendants in exceptional circumstances if new evidence emerged of their guilt. In April that year, the five men arrested in 1993 denied involvement in the murder in a television interview. Then, in September 2002, Norris and Neil Acourt were jailed for 18 months for a racist attack on off-duty black policeman Gareth Reid. By May 2004, the CPS announced there was 'insufficient evidence' to prosecute anyone for the murder. But in the following year, the double jeopardy legal principle, preventing suspects being tried twice for the same crime, was scrapped for certain offences when there is new evidence. And in November 2007, police confirmed they were investigating new forensic evidence in the case. By May 2011, the Court of Appeal agreed that Dobson's 1996 acquittal for the murder could be quashed in the face of new forensic evidence. It could then be reported for the first time that Dobson and Norris would face trial, and this began at the Old Bailey in November 2011. They were found guilty the following January. Then, in March 2013, a major review by Mark Ellison QC found that a Metropolitan Police 'spy' was working within the 'Lawrence family camp' during the course of the judicial inquiry into matters arising from his death. Two years later the then-home secretary Theresa May launched an inquiry into undercover policing following the report of the Ellison Inquiry. And in October 2015, the National Crime Agency announced that the Metropolitan Police were being investigated for alleged corruption over their initial handling of the murder probe. One year later the Independent Police Complaints Commission found that former police boss Richard Walton, who controversially met an undercover officer during the Lawrence inquiry, would have faced disciplinary proceedings if he had not been allowed to retire. It was alleged that Mr Walton 'obtained information pertaining to the Lawrence family and their supporters, potentially undermining the inquiry and public confidence'. Then in September 2016, Scotland Yard announced it had received 'significant information' after a fresh appeal. Detectives were attempting to identify a woman whose DNA was on a bag strap found at the murder scene and a separate possible witness. But by April 2018, Scotland Yard admitted it has no new lines of inquiry in the investigation into Stephen's murder. And in July 2019, former detective sergeant John Davidson, who was accused of corruption in the original inquiry into Stephen's death, was cleared by the police watchdog. The public health orders put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Wyoming will remain in place through at least Sept. 15. The Wyoming Department of Health on Thursday extended the orders without making changes. The decision leaves in effect a series of restrictions pertaining to restaurants, bars, personal care services like salons and performance spaces. They also require students to wear masks if they cant maintain 6 feet of separation and place limits on the size of both indoor and outdoor gatherings. The state has extended its existing health orders several times this summer. Gov. Mark Gordon said he had hoped to eliminate the restrictions earlier this summer, but a surge in cases that began in June prevented that from happening, he told reporters last month. That surge peaked just before August, then fell for nearly two weeks before rising once again. The state has been averaging 35 confirmed cases per day over the past 14 days, compared with an average of 27 cases per day from July 30 to Aug. 12. As of Thursday, Wyoming had recorded 3,166 confirmed cases and 556 probable cases. Thirty-seven people have died, including 11 in August the highest number of fatalities in a month since the pandemic emerged here in March. In Torrington, several parts of Eastern Wyoming Colleges campus have been temporarily closed for deep cleaning after a visitor to campus later tested positive for the novel coronavirus. According to a message posted to the colleges website Thursday, several cosmetology and cosmetology-adjacent facilities will be closed for deep cleaning and will be reopened 24 hours after that process is complete. A student who was accompanied by the visitor has been exposed, and the college is working on contacting those who were in proximity to that student, spokeswoman Tami Afdahl said in an email. EWC does require that all students, employees and visitors wear masks in all EWC facilities, she wrote. The visitor was accompanying a student while the student was on campus preparing for the start of the semester. Our semester began on Monday, August 24th. The colleges incident is the latest school-related incident in Wyoming as students of all levels return to school. Last week, a Torrington High School student tested positive for the virus after attending school, within days of classes beginning again there. Of Goshen Countys 47 confirmed cases, 27.7% have come in the last 10 days the second highest percentage in the state. Additionally, a Worland elementary school had its reopening delayed after two staff members tested positive and 10 more were placed in quarantine. Dozens of students and staff members at the University of Wyoming have tested positive, though the vast majority live off campus; classes there will begin in-person for some students at the beginning of September. Meanwhile, Fremont County health officials Thursday said that about 45 coronavirus cases there are tied to three church-related outbreaks. One of the outbreaks, which took place in July and August, is still being investigated. County officials said earlier this week that they knew of two outbreaks tied to churches in the county and that one of the outbreaks resulted in 10-30 cases. Fremont County spokesman Michael Jones didnt know how many cases were involved in the second outbreak. Were definitely hitting some spikes and its all these social gatherings, Jones said then. You hate to say churches, but it is family and social gatherings where people are inside and let their guard down. The county has confirmed more cases of the coronavirus than any other: 528 95 of which remain active. Thirteen of the states 37 coronavirus deaths have been attributed to Fremont County, which has had more confirmed cases over the past 10 days (55) than any other Wyoming county. However, 2.89% of tests in the county have come back positive over the last two weeks, which is down from 4.21% the previous two weeks. One coronavirus patient is currently hospitalized in the county. That number statewide, now at 13, has decreased by seven since Monday. Fremont County public health officials encouraged people within groups to maintain 6 feet of separation, wear masks and sanitize well. With administration set to give recommendations for Wood Buffalo's flood mitigation strategy next month, residents in Fort McMurray's Longboat Landing are in a rush to convince the municipality to buy out the neighbourhood. Longboat Landing is a collection of condominium complexes on the south end of downtown. There are 260 homes in the area, with a population of 720, according to the municipality. None of the properties were built above the flood zone, and all were impacted by the recent April flood. The municipality is currently recommending the neighbourhood be protected with berms, which would cost $8.6 million to build. But many in the community are requesting a full buyout, which would cost an estimated $97.5 million. Rick Hulbert, 43, has owned his apartment-style condo in the Heritage Landing complex for four years. Hulbert said his building lost flood coverage in 2019. The April flood caused about $200,000 of damage to the building's parkade and elevator. The building's condo board is trying to apply for Disaster Recovery Program funding to help cover the cost. "Before we moved in here we did all our due diligence," said Hulbert. Before buying he talked to neighbours, realtors and his lawyer. Hulbert said he knew they were near a river, but no one warned him the building was on a flood plain. Submitted by Victoria Ganace "If there's a flood next week, I'm going to lose everything," said Hulbert. "And if I get the buyout I'm still going to have a significant debt." He said the apartment is valued at about half of the $285,000 he paid for it. He doesn't trust that the berm would be enough to protect the condos, he said, because when the flood in April happened most of the damage to his building was caused by the sewer backing up into the parkade, not by overland flooding. Bryce Kumka, senior account executive with Rogers Insurance, said his company is the broker for all but one building in Longboat Landing. Story continues He said he does not anticipate that it would be difficult to get fire insurance coverage for the buildings but flooding would be a different issue. "As far as the availability of coverage from a flooding incident [it] may be challenging," said Kumka. He said the addition of berms would give condo corporations a better chance to get coverage, because that would mitigate some of the risk. Kumka pointed to 2013 flood in Calgary, where he said similar damage was done but most flooding coverage now is available. Submitted by Brooke Byrne Kumka estimates there was about $10 million in insured damage in Longboat Landing due to the April flood. "It doesn't make a lot of economic sense to do a large scale buyout when the protection is cheaper to install," said Kumka. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo administration is expected to make updated recommendations for flood mitigation on Sept. 15. That update will include responses from residents gathered at open houses, on Facebook, and through written submissions. In an email to CBC, a municipal spokesperson said when insurance costs for condos rose in November, the mayor sent a letter to the federal and provincial governments asking for an investigation into the cost of insurance. Submitted by Brooke Byrne During the recent town meetings, the spokesperson said, insurance company representatives said finishing flood mitigation project would positively impact coverage. A Melbourne doctor who had been accused of the rape and sexual assault of a former patient at the Hotel Esplanade in St Kilda has had his charges struck out. The doctor, who cannot be named for legal reasons, watched a remote hearing at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday as prosecutor Ashleigh Harrold applied for all charges to be withdrawn. Ms Harrold did not say why the charges were to be withdrawn. Deputy chief magistrate Susan Wakeling struck out the charges and ordered Victoria Police to pay the doctor's legal costs. Police charged the doctor in May on summons with two counts of rape and three of sexual assault following a 14-month investigation by the Bayside sexual offences and child abuse investigation team. Detectives seized CCTV footage as part of their investigation. Police had alleged the incident occurred in a cubicle for disabled patrons on March 29 last year. 1. The comment section is for discussion. Opinions are welcome. Personal attacks, trolling, name-calling and/ or bigotry will not be tolerated. 2. Posts containing links may be moderated. This blog does not accept paid advertisements and will not entertain free ones either. 3. Kindly stay on topic. Say what you think and refrain from telling others what they think. 4. Violators will be warned, deleted, and/ or banned at sole discretion of the moderator. Tamil Nadu: Adyar river shows signs of recovery after years of state investment August 28,2020 | Source: The Wire The long suffering residents of Chennai have been living with two dead rivers, the Adyar and the Cooum, flowing through the heart of their city. These two rivers meander sluggishly through the city carrying sewage and dangerous pollutants. Besides these two rivers, there is the third one the Kosasthalaiyar, which flows in the northern end of the city and not as polluted as the other two. These three rivers flow east towards the Bay of Bengal. A river is considered dead when it is incapable of sustaining any form of life fish or aquatic plants, in it. This happens when the pollution level in the river is so high that all the oxygen in the water is depleted. The fresh water flowing through the Adyar and Cooum rivers are blocked upstream of the city and diverted to storage reservoirs for the city. The rivers also have sand bars blocking their mouth into the sea, thereby obstructing even the tidal flushing action from the sea. The Tamil Nadu government has been working for a long time to restore the three rivers and several other water bodies in Chennai. Large sums of money have been allotted for this purpose but the progress has been slow. In the recent years, the government created a trust to coordinate a more concerted effort in cleaning the water bodies in the city. A trust for restoring the rivers and waterways The Chennai River Restoration Trust (CRRT) coordinates the work between various government departments, such as the Public Works Department (PWD), the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (Chennai Metro Water), Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB) and some NGOs who are involved in this project. To facilitate the activities of the trust, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) under the Companies Act, called Adyar Poonga, was formed. In 2019, the government allocated Rs 23.70 billion and Rs 13.70 billion this year for restoring and cleaning water bodies in Tamil Nadu. The government expressed its concern over the amount of raw sewage flowing through the river and allocated this amount mainly to clean the drains which empty into the river. However, the enormity of the problem is often difficult to comprehend. Over the past three decades, the Adyar has been used as a dumping site not only for building debris but for municipal as well as industrial waste. During the massive Chennai floods of 2015 the river was flushed clean. But once the flood waters subsided it got polluted again. A river, estuary and creek The Adyar starts its 42 km journey at Adhanur and winds its way through Thiruneermalai, Tambaram, Manapakkam, Alandur, Saidapet and finally empties itself out into the Bay of Bengal between San Thome beach in the north and Elliots beach in Chennai city. What makes the Adyar riverine ecosystem unique is that there is an estuary and a creek. The Adyar estuary region stretches from Thiru Vi Ka Bridge to the river mouth and the creek from the San Thome Causeway to the river mouth spread over 358 acres. The Adyar creek is a backwater estuary at the mouth of the river formed by a sandbar at the mouth of the river and runs along the coast. It starts near the Chettinad Palace and stretches north; surrounding Quibble Island. Early on, the authorities realised that cleaning efforts by well-intentioned citizens would be of no use as the problem was too deep and a scientific approach was needed. In 2006, the Tamil Nadu government took cognisance of the problem and set up the Adyar Poonga Trust to protect and restore the three rivers, the Buckingham Canal and other water bodies in the city. The trust was later renamed as CRRT. Moving people One of the first issues which had to be undertaken in restoring the river was rehousing human settlements along the banks, according to an official source who wished to remain anonymous. A CRRT official added that 47 human settlement areas were identified along the Adayar River banks. Of the settlements that have been identified and located, 10 of them were beyond the project area and another 10 settlements were not affected by the project. So, one of the first tasks undertaken by the CRRT along with the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB) was the resettlement and rehabilitation of the people living along the river banks. Of the 47 slums identified, 27 were within the project area from where families were to be resettled. There were 9,539 project affected families who were part of the resettlement and rehabilitation plan and have been shifted to tenements newly constructed by the TNSCB. The irony of Adyar is that it is not just the poor and marginalised who live and play by the river. Once the river passes under the Kotturpuram Bridge the landscape of the river changes and those living on its banks are the rich and affluent. On the banks of the Adyar is one of the oldest boat clubs in India the Madras Boat Club. This river is one of the few in the country that is used for rowing. National and international competitions are held on these sluggish waters. Revi Thomas, a veteran rower, says, Thirty years ago when we rowed out from Madras Boat Club to the Broken Bridge the water was clear and the surrounding wetlands were conducive to bird life. We could see large flocks of birds near the river. Sadly, now we see nothing. Plugging sewage outfalls Krishna Mohan Ramachandran, chief resilience officer, Chennai city (the Chennai chapter of 100 Resilient Cities programme, supported by the Rockefeller Foundation), said the pollution in the river increases once it enters Chennai near Porur. According to media reports, the fiscal outlay of Rs 23.70 billion in the state budget was primarily targeted at plugging and mitigating sewage flow into the Adyar, Cooum and the Buckingham Canals. An official source said that 67 sewage outfalls into the Adyar river were identified. To plug these outfalls, it was necessary to lay interception and diversion pipelines and this task is being undertaken by the Chennai Metro Water. The project will reach completion in 2022, according to CRRT. The CRRT is also planning to set up four modular sewage treatment plants (STPs). According to the tender document, the contract of the STPs was awarded in February this year at a cost of Rs 126.2 million. Ramachandran added that one of the other steps taken by the CRRT was to demarcate the land which belonged to the river; which in some areas was 30 metres along the river banks and in others 50 metres. To this purpose the GCC began fencing the river in 2018. This fence is also a deterrent to dumping garbage into the river. It is estimated that the GCC will spend Rs 22 crore to complete fencing along the river from Thiru Vi Ka bridge to Meenambakkam. The foundation and pillars are made of concrete with treated iron grills in between which will allow the flood waters to flow in between. Adyar creek According to an official at the CRRT, the initial restoration activities were undertaken in 58 acres of the Adyar Creek. The creek was used as a place for disposal of municipal solid waste, construction debris and sewage, which led to the severe degradation of surface and groundwater quality and destruction of habitats of avian fauna, reptiles and fishes. The creek was infested with Prosopis juliflora bushes, mosquitoes and bad odour which kept local people away. The official said that in order to rehabilitate the coastal ecosystem of Adyar Creek, a slew of restoration works have started in the degraded areas. Desilting and removal of accumulated solid waste were taken up and the same were used to create mounds within the creek to enable plantation, reduce noise pollution and bring tranquillity to the restored wetland system. Sewage outfalls into the creek were identified and plugged. A total of 143,818 saplings from 173 species of Coromandel coastal vegetation including mangroves and mangrove associated plants were systematically planted in order to restore the wetland ecosystem. A glimmer of hope, finally Today, there is some hope in sight as the restoration work undertaken bears fruit. These measures resulted in a substantial increase in the water spread of the creek from 5% to 59%, the CRRT official said. Planting of indigenous species resulted in a sizable increase in biodiversity of the creek due to the creation of habitat islands and edges with coastal vegetation which serve as a habitat for terrestrial animals and nesting birds. The work done on the restoration has yielded some results. According to a policy note tabled in Tamil Nadu assembly for the year 2019-20, the faunal diversity of the Adyar Creek has gone up. The report said as many 8 species of molluscs, 13 crabs, 170 insects, 12 fishes, 10 amphibians, 19 reptiles, 120 birds and 16 mammals have been recorded. In the estuary 57,000 mangrove and 35,000 terrestrial saplings have been planted after the removal of invasive species, debris and plastic waste. The CRRT official said that besides being a 58-acre lung space within the heart of Chennai city, the Adyar Ecopark today functions as a hub for imparting environmental education to the community at large, and students in particular. But it has not been smooth sailing. The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal considered imposing a fine of Rs 10 million towards damages for the repeated failure of the State in its duties in preventing pollution in the Adyar River, the Cooum River and the Buckingham Canal. But, a senior official of the Tamil Nadu government said that this is not an easy project. It is complex, as it involves so many governmental departments, so many entities and finally, so many people. Hence it would take time maybe four or five years even to finally restore the river. Governmental spending to restore the Adyar had begun in 1990s, and projects were initiated over multiple time periods. Though there is a glimmer of hope in the recent years, there is more to be achieved before the city dwellers can start seeing the river as a usable water body rather than a drain. Authorities say a man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of two northeast Florida boys. Mark Wilson Jr. was arrested late Thursday. According to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, the mother of 12-year-old Robert Baker and 14-year-old Tayten Baker found their bodies when she woke up on Wednesday morning. A younger sibling was not harmed. Investigators say Mark Wilson Jr., is well known to the Baker family. He is awaiting his first appearance in court for the charges. The boys' father is a long-distance trucker and wasn't home at the time. State Attorney R.J. Larizza said during a Friday morning news conference that Wilson attacked those two kids without mercy. Sheriff H.D. Gator" DeLoach says investigators found the murder weapons a knife and hammer. The family had moved to the area 16 days ago. Representative Image The World Bank has paused publication of its "Doing Business" report as it investigates suspected data irregularities in some of the previous reports. The report ranks countries based on the business and investment climate. The World Bank, on August 27 said it had found some data irregularities in the Doing Business 2018 and Doing Business 2020 reports. "A number of irregularities have been reported regarding changes to the data in the Doing Business 2018 and Doing Business 2020 reports, published in October 2017 and 2019. The changes in the data were inconsistent with the Doing Business methodology," The World Bank Group said in a statement. The organisation said it was conducting "a systematic review and assessment of data changes that occurred subsequent to the institutional data review process for the last five Doing Business reports". The World Bank Group's independent auditors will probe the data collection and review processes, the statement added. In the Ease of Doing Business 2020 ranking, India occupied the 63rd position after jumping 14 places in the ranking. The Doing Business report 2020, published in October 2019, captured 294 regulatory reforms implemented between May 2018 and May 2019. According to the Doing Business 2020, the economies with the most significant improvement were Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Togo, Bahrain, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Kuwait, China, India and Nigeria. In 2018/19, these countries implemented one-fifth of all the reforms recorded across the globe. WASHINGTON: Fresh from accepting the Republican nomination with a sweeping attack on Democratic rival Joe Biden, President Donald Trump travels to New Hampshire on Friday to bring his re-election argument to a state he hopes to flip to his column in November. His Republican Partys slimmed-down, four-day convention ended on Thursday night with a fireworks display over Washingtons National Mall and a searing speech by Trump criticizing Biden and outlining an agenda for four more years in office. At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas," Trump told a crowd on the White House South Lawn. This election will decide whether we save the American dream, or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny," Trump said. Biden fired back on Twitter: When Donald Trump says tonight you wont be safe in Joe Bidens America, look around and ask yourself: How safe do you feel in Donald Trumps America?" The president has emphasized law and order" as a key campaign theme amid protests over racial injustice around the country, while also suggesting falsely that his policies have been more helpful to Black Americans than any president since Abraham Lincoln. On Friday he issued a full pardon to Alice Johnson, a Black woman who received a life sentence for a first-time drug offense and whose cause was taken up by the celebrity Kim Kardashian West. Johnson addressed the Republican convention on Thursday night about Trumps earlier commutation of her sentence. Trump will revisit those themes in New Hampshire, which he lost narrowly to Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016. He is trailing Biden, the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee and former vice president, in opinion polls in the state and nationwide ahead of the Nov. 3 election. The president, who has criticized Biden for campaigning mostly from his Delaware home because of the coronavirus pandemic, intends to travel extensively in the coming months to boost momentum for his re-election bid. Trump, to his chagrin, has not been holding his signature large rallies for most of the virus outbreak. A June rally at an indoor arena in Tulsa, Oklahoma, fizzled thanks to a crowd that was well below capacity. The area experienced an uptick in coronavirus cases weeks after the event. Trump had vowed to return to New Hampshire after he canceled a rally planned there in July over concerns about a tropical storm off the East Coast. His speech on Friday, scheduled for 6 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT), will be held in a hangar in Manchester, and participants will be required to wear masks, the campaign said. BIDEN CAMPAIGN TRAVEL Biden expects his in-person campaign travel to pick up after Labor Day on Sept. 7, telling lawyers at an online fundraising event on Thursday he was considering traveling to battleground states including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Arizona. Were going to get out and meet people where it matters, not at irresponsible rallies or staged for TV to boost egos, but real peoples communities, in real local businesses, in their lives," Biden said. Im going to keep everyone safe. Trump and his allies spent their convention arguing that he would restore law and order" to the country following protests over racial injustice and would revive an economy that has been ravaged by the coronavirus outbreak. Some 21.6 million Americans watched Trumps keynote speech at the convention on Thursday night, according to preliminary ratings data on Friday that suggested a lower TV audience for Trump than Biden. Trump, a former reality television star, cares deeply about ratings. Democrats this week continued blasting the president for his handling of the pandemic. Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris said during a speech on Thursday in Washington that the reality of the struggles America was facing during the pandemic were completely absent from the Republican convention. She vowed that a Biden-Harris administration would establish a national plan to tackle the health and economic crises, something Democrats say Trump has failed to do. 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 O ne of the co-founders of climate change activist group Extinction Rebellion has been accused of a plot to target a string of trade unions, including the professional body for doctors. Roger Hallam, 54, was among five people charged this week with an alleged conspiracy to cause criminal damage between August 13 and his arrest on Monday. According to charges at Highbury Corner magistrates court, the group are accused of plotting to target buildings belonging to Unite, Unison, and the British Medical Association. Diana Warner, 61, Ferhat Ulusu, 42, Holly Brentall, 28, and Steven Nunn, 56, have been charged alongside Hallam, with all five remanded in custody until a hearing next month. Activists gather on Westminster Bridge in 2019 / AFP via Getty Images The criminal charges come ahead of a planned weekend of action around the country by Extinction Rebellion, followed by an uprising in London next week. Demonstrations have already begun in Bristol with a blockage of the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge. Two teenagers pictured locked together and blocking the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol / PA The British Medical Association is the professional body that represents doctors, and has its headquarters in Tavistock Square, in Bloomsbury. The five defendants are accused of plotting to destroy exterior walls and windows belonging to the unions. Hallam, of Wandsworth, Warner, from Bristol, Ulusu, from Hackney, Brentall, of Haringey, and Nunn, of Telford were all remanded in custody this week until a plea hearing at Wood Green crown court on September 22. Bookseller Eason is facing a legal action from the landlord of its landmark Shop Street branch in Galway, little more than a year after agreeing to sell the property for 7.5m in a so called sale-and-lease-back. The case is understood to be an escalation of a rent dispute linked to the devastating effect on retailers including Eason of being forced to shut for three months at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. That loss of income is hammering even long-established players like Eason, one of Ireland's biggest indigenous retailers. Eason has a 200-year history and employs more than 1,000 staff across divisions that include retail, wholesaling and distribution of books, newspapers and stationery. It has increasingly also pushed into online sales. In July, Eason announced that it will not reopen its seven shops in Northern Ireland, which had been closed during the lockdown, but shops in the Republic have been reopening on a phased basis since June. The Shop Street branch reopened in mid June and is trading. Sources confirmed the dispute with a French investor who bought Eason's biggest Galway outlet relates to rents. The Galway lease is understood to be secured by a parent guarantee, meaning the landlord has a claim against the Eason group if the Shop Street branch were to fall into arrears. Public details of the legal action against Eason do not say why it is being taken, other than to note the action is for summary judgement - meaning it has been taken over money owed. A spokesperson for Eason said the company would not comment on the legal action. "As a matter of policy we do not comment on our commercial arrangements with any third party. However, every action Eason has taken since the start of the current pandemic - which led to the temporary closure of all our stores - has been designed to ensure the survival of the business and protect as many jobs as possible." Eason agreed to sell the huge, historic Shop Street property last year and leased it back under a 25-year agreement at a rent of 525,000 a year, according to a sales brochure prepared ahead of the deal by agents Bannon. The sales literature said the lease is backed by a guarantee from Eason Operations Ltd for 10 years, although any payment in relation to this will be limited to two years' rent. The shop is understood to have fetched 7.5m, slightly less than the 8m it was on the market for, but giving investors a fairly rich annual yield of around 7pc. The filing to the High Court shows Winace Ltd, a company registered in Dublin last year, has initiated action against two entities: Eason Ltd and Eason Operations Ltd. Winace is understood to be the Irish vehicle of the French investors who bought the property. Its directors are listed as Mansour Khalife and Miranda Khabiri, both with addresses in France. Winance also has a mortgage with Bank of Ireland secured on 33 Shop Street, according to documents it has filed with the Companies Office. The shop at the centre of the dispute is a landmark property in the heart of what is usually Galway City's busiest shopping district and extends to 1,042.9 sq m over three floors, making it one of the city's biggest and, in most years, busiest shops. The sale of 33 Shop Street was just one of a string of similar property disposals by Eason that raised around 100m for the bookseller but mean it is now a tenant paying rent in shops it had previously owned, in many cases for generations. Those sales included the O'Connell Street branch in Dublin and big city centre shops in Cork and Limerick. Sale and lease-backs are used by companies to release capital tied up in property assets. Accounts for 2019 show Eason made a profit of almost 4m on disposals that year. Like other bookshops across the country it was closed for much of the first half of the year, as a result of the Covid pandemic. Even as restrictions have eased, traditional bricks-and-mortar retailers of all kinds, bar a few exceptions like grocery and DIY outlets, are continuing to suffer from dramatically reduced footfall as shoppers stay away, or fear to linger, in shopping districts. Five days after being shot in the back by Kenosha police, Jacob Blake is in the hospital paralyzed from the waist down and, according to his family, handcuffed to his hospital bed. I hate it that he was laying in that bed with the handcuff onto the bed, Blakes father said Thursday after visiting his son in the hospital. He cant go anywhere. Why do you have him cuffed to the bed? Blakes father said his son is under arrest, though the family is still uncertain what charges, if any, the 29-year-old might face. This is an insult to injury, Blakes uncle told CNN about the use of handcuffs. Advertisement When asked about why Blake was being held in cuffs while recovering from being shot multiple times in the back by local police, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said he couldnt imagine why cuffs were necessary. I would have no personal understanding why that would be necessary, Evers said during a press conference. I would hope that we would be able to find a more, a better way to help him in recovering. That seems counterintuitive. It seems to be bad medicine. 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. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said protests in Kenosha remained peaceful Thursday night, with some arrests made of people out after curfew. At a news briefing on Thursday, local law enforcement officials praised the demonstrations held the night before, describing them as much calmer than the chaos on Kenoshas streets earlier in the week, the Washington Post reports. Both police and the self-described militia members who were ever-present Tuesday mostly stayed away from protesters Wednesday night. By midnight Thursday, the Journal Sentinel reports, there were just 50 demonstrators remaining, a day after 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse was arrested and charged with homicide after shooting and killing two protesters. Just hours before the demonstrations began Thursday evening, local authorities named seven-year police veteran Rusten Sheskey as the officer who shot Blake in the back. Bottom line: Microsoft is joining forces with retail giant Walmart in its bid to acquire TikToks US business arm from Chinese tech company ByteDance. The move could put increased pressure on others vying for the asset, like Oracle, but could also complicate the sales process. CNBC was first to report on the partnership, which the publication said was confirmed by a Walmart spokesperson. Axios suggests Walmart could help turn TikTok into more of an e-commerce app for users and creators. ByteDance apparently does something similar with another app in China, the publication noted. The news comes shortly after TikTok CEO and ByteDance COO Kevin Mayer resigned from both positions after just a couple of months at the helm. Mayer had left a job at The Walt Disney Company for the roles. Oracle, the database and cloud specialist based out of California, has also emerged as a frontrunner for TikTok in recent weeks. Its plausible that Walmart also reached out to Oracle on a partnership but thats mostly speculation at this hour. Walmart as a partner could represent a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, the company has plenty of resources and e-commerce know-how. Conversely, Walmart already has a significant footprint in China which could make gaining regulatory approval a bit more complicated. ByteDance could make its decision regarding the fate of TikTok in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand as early as next week. Image credit: BigTunaOnline, Jonathan Weiss Kilkennys laser and skincare specialists, Mint Medispa has received a massive boost as it receives All Star accreditation in 2020. Mint Medispa by Pembroke Kilkenny, located in the heart of the city has been honoured with a prestigious award proving that All-stars are not just for the GAA in Kilkenny. The Business All-Stars is a national recognition programme which shines a spotlight on the very best businesses in Ireland, the Business All-Stars celebrates a business success and entrepreneurship in a way that positions a business, a product or service as best in class all of which builds more trust, more authority and credibility. To date over 300 Irish companies have received Business All-Star Accreditation from the foundation and have joined TRIBE The Register of Irish Business Excellence. Mint Medispa is passionate about client care and serious about skin. The Mint team are highly knowledgeable and provides the highest quality services which delivers incredible results. Lucie Dowling, Business and HR Manager, Pembroke Kilkenny said, We are thrilled the hard work and dedication of our team has been recognised, In the Medispa industry trust is everything for the client, Mint has developed a team that customers trust and confide in but not only do our customers trust in one therapist, they believe in the team and their professionalism. The three rounds of judging, encouraged us as a team to engage with each other and highlight our core values. The medispas commitment to providing the highest level of expertisein microneedling, customised facials, hydrodermabrasion and many other specialised treatments including the exclusive Bio Penta facial technology, convinced the judges that Mint was worthy of the All Star status. The past number of years has seen Mint receive many awards. This year alone, the Medispa was a nominee in the 2020 HR Awards nominated for Best Employee Engagement Strategy and also received an award for RSVP Best Medispa award 2019. Its parent company, Pembroke Kilkenny has also recently received Tripadvisor s highest honour, Travellers Choice Best of the Best Winner in the Best Romance category in Ireland, and in the top 1% of hotels globally. Kieran Ring, Deputy Chair, Adjudiaction Board- All Star Awards said, "Mint by Pembroke Kilkenny have successfully navigated three rounds of auditing which proved their performance, trust and customer-centricity. The auditing process has left us in no doubt as to Mint by Pembroke Kilkennys suitability for Business All-Star accreditation and their inclusion in The Register of Irish Business Excellence (TRIBE)." Mint Medispa at Pembroke Kilkenny are following government guidelines and all therapists have completed the Dermalogica Clean Touch Certification programme for both client and therapist safety. If customers would like the spa feeling from their own home, Mint have also introduced an at home facial kit. For more information see www.mintkilkenny.com Jason P. Jones, Esq., LL.M. has joined Morris Law Group in South Florida as an Associate Attorney. I advise U.S. and international individuals, families, businesspeople, and investors in U.S. and international tax and estate planning matters, including pre-immigration planning and U.S. real estate and portfolio investment planning, structuring and implementation. Morris Law Group, https://law-morris.com, a leading estate planning and wealth preservation law firm headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla. with three other offices in South Florida, announces that Jason P. Jones, Esq., LL.M., Attorney at Law, has joined the firm as a new Associate Attorney. Mr. Jones comes to Morris Law Group after gaining experience at three major international law firms in Miami, and specializes in both domestic and international estate and tax planning. In addition, Mr. Jones is fluent in Spanish and is available for consultations with Spanish-speaking clients either by telephone, video conference or in person at the Morris Law Group offices. Mr. Jones concentrates his practice in the areas of international taxation, trusts, and estate planning. "I advise U.S. and international individuals, families, businesspeople, and investors in U.S. and international tax and estate planning matters, including pre-immigration planning and U.S. real estate and portfolio investment planning, structuring and implementation," said Mr. Jones. He also advises U.S. and international clients regarding wills and trusts and has extensive experience in forming and overseeing complex international trust structures. He further advises clients on U.S. fiscal information reporting, Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), Common Reporting Standard (CRS), and withholding tax compliance. In addition to working with clients, Mr. Jones is a writer for and contributor to Morris Law Groups newsletter, extensive blog and videos on Morris Law Group's YouTube video channel. Originally from Virginia, Mr. Jones received his Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va., his Juris Doctor from Tulane University Law School in New Orleans, La., and his LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in Gainesville, Fla. He was admitted to The Florida Bar in 2013 and is a member of The Florida Bar Tax Section. Prior to joining Morris Law Group, Mr. Jones worked as an Associate Attorney in the Miami offices of several prestigious international law firms, concentrating in the areas of cross-border tax and estate planning. He worked extensively with clients in both the United States and Latin America. Mr. Jones and the entire Morris Law Group team of professional attorneys are available for consultations at the clients convenience, either in person, by telephone or by video conference. For more information or to schedule a consultation in English or Spanish, please contact Morris Law Group, visit http://www.law-morris.com, email Info@Law-Morris.com or call (561) 750-3850. About Morris Law Group, Wealth Preservation Attorneys Morris Law Group, a South Florida estate planning law firm with four conveniently located offices, provides personalized, discreet services to help protect their clients wealth now and in the future. The Morris Law Group team of knowledgeable and qualified attorneys and legal professionals has more than 150 years of combined experience in managing complex estate planning, tax planning, trust and estate administration, and business structuring and succession planning for clients. An AV Preeminent-rated law firm by Martindale Hubbell, Morris Law Group is adept at translating these complex estate planning strategies into easy-to-understand, jargon-free language, so clients can make informed decisions about their Wealth Preservation Solutions. Consultations are now being held in both English and Spanish. Contact Morris Law Group, visit http://www.law-morris.com, email Info@Law-Morris.com or call (561) 750-3850 for more information today. ### Log on if you are already subscribed or Subscribe... Twenty Saudi soldiers arrived this week at a U.S. military base close to an oilfield in northeastern Syria, according to Iranian media, which cite a report from a Lebanon-based Arabic-language TV channel. At the end of last year, Saudi troops were also reportedly stationed near Syrias largest oilfield, Al-Omar in the oil-rich Deir Ezzor region, in what was thought to be Saudi protection for experts of Saudi oil giant Saudi Aramco. According to the report of the Arabic service of Turkish news agency Anadolu at the time, the arrival of the Saudi soldiers at Syrias biggest oilfield coincided with the arrival of around 30 trucks carrying drilling and digging machinery. Incidents and altercations between the superpowers backing different sides in the Syrian conflict continue. Just this week, U.S. soldiers were injured in a skirmish with Russian troops, two U.S. officials told The New York Times, noting that the injuries were the result of a collision between vehicles, not gunfire. After a surprise announcement of pulling the U.S. troops out of Syria in October last year, U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States would protect Syrian oil fields from ISIS. President Trump claimed that the U.S. had taken control of the oil in the Middle East, tweeting that The U.S. has secured the Oil, & the ISIS Fighters are double secured by Kurds & Turkey. The President did not elaborate on what he meant by securing the oil, but speculations about the Presidents statement assume he was referring to the U.S. special forces that have beenand will continue to bein control of oil and gas fields in Deir Ezzor, Syrias oil region. President Trump has vowed to protect Syrian oil fields from ISIS, and the United States may leave 500 troops in northeastern Syria and send in battle tanks and other equipment with the purpose to help the Kurds in the area to protect oil fields that used to be controlled by Islamic State during its so-called caliphate in parts of Iraq and Syria. By Josh Owens for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Within minutes, Ross was taken into custody. Police followed as Vazquez hopped fences and ran through backyards and ultimately entered a strangers home in the 300 block of North 34th Street. When he came out onto the back porch, officers arrested him. Bliemeister said that police found a Smith & Wesson .45-caliber handgun near the porch and that ballistic testing would be done to determine if it was the gun used to shoot the officer. According to court records filed Thursday, the gun had been reported stolen July 12 from one of Ross relatives. As our officer continues to fight for his life, we are overwhelmed by the support from our community, Lincoln police said on social media Thursday morning. The candlelight vigil and prayer services around the city were felt by all of us in the LPD family. Thank you for holding us up and, once again, demonstrating how great #LNK is. Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said that the shooting was a stark reminder of just how dangerous officers jobs can be and that our community is not immune to violent crime. They put their lives on the line, and our grateful community stands behind them, she said. DGAP-News: Ringmetall Aktiengesellschaft / Key word(s): AGM/EGM/Dividend The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Ringmetall holds its first virtual Annual General Meeting - Nearly unchanged share of capital represented compared to previous years - Dividend distribution of 6 cents per share approved Munich, 28 August 2020 - Ringmetall AG (ISIN: DE0006001902), a leading international specialist supplier in the packaging industry, today held its 23rd Annual General Meeting as the first virtual general meeting of Ringmetall AG against the background of the current pandemic legislation. Despite the new format, shareholder participation was at a similarly high level as in the previous year. Of the company's share capital of EUR 29,069,040.00, 64.64 percent were registered to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM 2019: 66.85 percent). "We are pleased that this new format of a virtual Annual General Meeting is also so largly popular with our shareholders," explains Christoph Petri, Spokesman of the Management Board of Ringmetall AG. "We have providently introduced a corresponding amendment to the Articles of Association so that we can at least offer a similar format in parallel next year and perhaps reach even more of our shareholders". Furthermore, an unchanged high dividend distribution compared to the previous year was resolved for the past fiscal year. "Even if the effects of COVID-19 are not passing by the Ringmetall Group without traces, we are currently coming through this global crisis well", continues Management Board member Christoph Petri. "It was therefore important for us to send this as a sign to our investors and to pay an unchanged high dividend of 6 cents per share." During the general debate, the Management Board responded in detail to the questions submitted by shareholders in advance about the course of the past fiscal year, the current course of business and expectations for the upcoming months. The items on the agenda were once again approved almost unanimously in accordance with the proposal of the administration: Agenda item 2 99.99 percent Agenda item 3 76.72 percent Agenda item 4 98.23 percent Agenda item 5 99.02 percent Agenda item 6 99.99 percent Agenda item 7 99.99 percent Further information on the Ringmetall Group and its affiliated subsidiaries can be found at www.ringmetall.de. Contact: Ingo Middelmenne Investor Relations Ringmetall AG Phone: +49 (0 )89 45 220 98 12 Mobile: +49 (0 )174 90 911 90 Email: middelmenne@ringmetall.de About the Ringmetall Group Ringmetall is an internationally leading specialist supplier in the packaging industry. The Industrial Packaging division offers high-security closure systems and inliners for industrial drums for the chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical and food processing industries. The Industrial Handling division develops application-optimized vehicle attachments for the handling and transport of packaging units. In addition to the corporate headquarters in Munich, Ringmetall is represented by worldwide production and sales branches in Germany, Great Britain, Spain, Italy, Turkey, the Netherlands as well as China and the USA. Worldwide, Ringmetall generates revenues of more than EUR 120 million per year. 28.08.2020 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 Weve canvassed the neighborhood, Freund told the dispatcher. I went to the local park, the local gas station where we sometimes take him to buy treats. I spoke to the assistant principal over there at the school where the park is and they havent seen him or any other child. A Chinese mother from Siziwang banner, Ulanqab, north Chinas Inner Mongolia autonomous region, will be going to college along with her son this year, after they both took Chinas college entrance exam, the gaokao. Narina, who is 43 years old, scored 404 in the exam, well above the minimum score of 344 required for admission to the second batch of universities for undergraduate education in Inner Mongolia for liberal arts students who were taught in Mongolian. She was eventually admitted to the tourism management program of one of the first batch of universities for undergraduate education at the Inner Mongolia University of Finance and Economics, as the region lowered the minimum score for admission on August 19 to recruit more students for these universities. Narinas son, a science student, scored 520, the highest out of all the science students taught in Mongolian in the city of Ulanqab. But many have asked why Narina would take the gaokao when she is already in her forties. In 1997, when she was a grade three high school student, Narina gave up the opportunity to sit the gaokao, as her mother suffered a serious leg disease and was no longer able to take care of herself. After leaving school, she had to take care of her mother at home while also tending to their cattle and sheep. In 2001, Chinas Ministry of Education lifted the restrictions on the maximum age and marital status of candidates for gaokao. In 2011, as the system became more flexible, anyone with a high school graduation certificate or equivalent education level could apply to sit the gaokao. Feeling excited about this change, she bought learning materials and prepared herself for the exam. However, as her daughter was still in kindergarten and her husband would have to take care of all the housework and production by himself if she spent all her time studying, she let the opportunity go once again. This year, she finally took the exam and realized her dream of going to college. I knew my son would take the gaokao this year, so I decided to take it together with him. When I told my family about my decision, they were all very supportive. My son prepared the materials for me. I also took classes in Hohhot for the exam, Narina recalled, saying that she enjoyed the feeling of the old days when she was preparing for gaokao. Some might say, Youre a herdswoman, why do you need to go to college? Well, I think herdsmen also need to enhance our strengths and keep up with the times. Becoming a college student has always been my dream. Even if I cant find a suitable job after graduation, I think its still worth it because I will be a real college graduate, she said joyfully. The head of a New York City police union has called on Mayor Bill de Blasio to 'give 8 million people a gift' and quit by sundown Friday because he has 'ruined' the Big Apple. Sergeants Benevolent Association President Ed Mullins laid into the Democrat mayor on Twitter Friday telling him it would 'save the city' if he resigned from his post. 'We need to hear you RESIGNED as Mayor of NYC,' Mullins tweeted. 'We are WAITING. Only a few hours left until sundown. Give 8 million people a gift & quit. You ruined NYC, Save the City and step down.' His comments come after de Blasio axed $1 billion from the NYPD budget while crime rates in the city soar with shootings up 87 percent so far in 2020 compared to the same time last year. Sergeants Benevolent Association President Ed Mullins (left) has called on Mayor Bill de Blasio (right) to 'give 8 million people a gift' and quit by sundown Friday because he has 'ruined' the Big Apple Mullins called on de Blasio to quit in response to the mayor's tweet earlier Friday where he slammed the Republican National Convention for spreading 'lies about the greatest city in the world' and launched an attack on Donald Trump. 'What did we need to hear this week? Plans to fight COVID-19 and get Americans back to work. What did we hear? Lies about the greatest city in the world and one of the most diverse places on Earth,' de Blasio tweeted. 'Because @realDonaldTrump is afraid of diversity. He's afraid of true greatness.' Mayoral press secretary Bill Neidhardt leaped to de Blasio's defense following Mullins social media comments and said he does not speak for the people of New York. 'Ed Mullins and RNC speaker Pat Lynch do not represent the views of most New Yorkers, let alone rank-and-file,' Neidhardt tweeted. 'They're a disgrace to the labor movement. Their embrace of a racist President shows how ill-equipped they are to serve a diverse city and a majority-minority force.' Police union chief Mullins laid into the Democrat mayor on Twitter Friday telling him it would 'save the city' if he resigned from his post His comments come in response to the mayor's tweet earlier Friday where he slammed the Republican National Convention for spreading 'lies about the greatest city in the world' and launched an attack on Donald Trump NYC VIOLENCE SO FAR IN 2020 COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME IN 2019: Shooting victims +87% Shooting incidents +95% Murders +35% Burglary +43% Grand larceny auto +60% Rape -25% Robbery -0.7% Felony assault -3.7% Advertisement De Blasio came under fire from a number of speakers at the RNC's closing night Thursday as Trump tried to claw in votes from New Yorkers ahead of the November election. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani - who served as one of Trump's lawyers during his impeachment trial - said de Blasio 'prevented the police from making arrests.' Guiliani has long credited his own policies for New York's turnaround from a high crime city to a major drop-off in the 90s, however critics point out crime was already in decline before he took office. The NYPD's Police Benevolent Association president Pat Lynch also laid into de Blasio at the RNC and decried that the city is headed for 'disaster'. 'We are staring down the barrel of a public safety disaster. More than 1,000 people have been shot in New York City so far this year, almost 300 have been killed,' he said in his prerecorded segment. 'These are not just numbers, these are real people'. The PBA - which represents around 24,000 NYPD officers and is the largest law enforcement union in the state - publicly endorsed Trump earlier this month, marking the first time in at least three decades that the union has endorsed a presidential candidate. SBA's Mullins and de Blasio have also locked horns several times in the past, with the mayor last month branding Mullins a 'liar' after Mullins criticized his handling of protests in the city. Back in February, Mullins declared 'war' on de Blasio and blamed him for anti-cop sentiment after cops were shot in an attack in the Bronx. De Blasio came under fire from a number of speakers at the RNC's closing night Thursday including Pat Lynch, President of the NYPD's Police Benevolent Association union Fears are mounting that the Big Apple is headed back to the dark days of the 70s and 80s when crime and poverty was rife as the city has been rocked by a spate of violence in recent months and large swathes of the richest residents - who vacated the city when it became the global virus epicenter back in March - have fled for good. Meanwhile, widespread business closures, a lack of employment opportunities and support services shuttered for months during the city's coronavirus lockdown has forced more New Yorkers onto the streets and homeless encampments have now been set up on all corners of Manhattan. Violent crime has become a daily occurrence, with stark NYPD citywide data revealing shootings have increased 87 percent so far this year compared to the same timeframe in 2019. A staggering 280 people have been murdered in the city between the start of the year and August 23, up by 35 percent from the 208 murders by the same time last year. Burglaries are up 43 percent and car theft up 60 percent. In the three-day period from last Friday until Sunday, there were eight homicides. During the same period last year, there was just one. In one shocking incident, an innocent bystander was shot in broad daylight in Brooklyn while he walked to a store with his wife to buy toothpaste. New York cops investigate the scene of a shooting in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn last month Last week, an innocent bystander was shot in broad daylight in Brooklyn while he walked with his wife to buy toothpaste from a nearby store. Doctors fear he will never walk again after the bullet struck his spine However, the NYPD data also reveals that overall crime has fallen by 2.4 percent year to date. To tackle the surge in crime, the NYPD is upping weekend patrols citywide. All uniformed officers below the rank of captain who normally have the weekend off will be deployed to the streets of the five boroughs beginning Monday, The Wall Street Journal reported. An NYPD memo announcing the new policy attributed the change to the combination of increased violence, ongoing protests, COVID-19 restrictions and reduction to overtime funding at the department. De Blasio has insisted the city is bringing the crime wave under control and described the spike in shootings and murders as 'a temporary reality caused by a perfect storm of temporary problems'. In June, the mayor cut $1 billion from the NYPD's $6 billion budget as calls to defund the police grew from Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of the Memorial Day 'murder' of black man George Floyd in Minneapolis. Shocking footage circulated on social media of NYPD cops violently attacking protesters gathered to demand an end to police brutality and racism. In one video in early June a police cruiser was seen deliberately ramming into a group of protesters in Brooklyn. Another showed a cop pulling his handgun and pointing it at peaceful protesters in Manhattan. Outdoor dining has become somewhat of a respite for many Americans after months quarantined at home. But as fall quickly approaches, the question arises of how restaurants will function during the colder months if indoor seating is still off the table. For its answer, Chicago is looking to the public. When states and counties began lifting restrictions on people being out in public in May, businesses quickly adapted. Some eateries developed clever ideas to enforce social distancing while many cities blocked off sidewalks and streets to allow room for diners to safely sit. In places where indoor dining rooms remain closed as the weather starts to shift, there is increasing urgency for further adaptation. On Tuesday, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the City of Chicago Winter Dining Challenge, which encourages folks to think of safe, viable ideas for eating out in frigid temperatures with a solid cash prize of $5,000. "Chicago winters have a reputation," Lightfoot tweeted. "We're asking Chicagoans to share their ideas for innovative winter outdoor dining solutions that adhere to COVID-19 protocols so we can support our favorite local restaurants while keeping Chicagoans healthy." Chicago winters have a reputation. We're asking Chicagoans to share their ideas for innovative winter outdoor dining solutions that adhere to COVID-19 protocols so we can support our favorite local restaurants while keeping Chicagoans healthy. https://t.co/9F1h4kfHmC Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) August 25, 2020 Residents and non-residents who want to participate in the contest can submit their suggestions online. The city, who partnered with BMO Harris Bank, the Illinois Restaurant Association and California-based design firm IDEO to launch the contest, will award three $5,000 cash prizes for the best ideas. According to the press release, entries will be judged by a panel of local restaurants and community members in each of the following categories: "outdoor, standalone structures," "indoor-adjacent spaces" and "cultural shifts making winter dining more appealing." Story continues To be considered, concepts must include a summary of the solution, user research, technical descriptions and prototypes like sketches or models, along with other required materials. Ideas to "stimulate safe outdoor dining" must consider not only the needs of the customer but also the staff, delivery partners, janitorial staff and construction workers. Entries will be accepted through 11:30 p.m. on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7. Thus far, folks have come with a range of proposals available for public viewing, from ice bars to Swiss-style fondue chalets that can be built and taken down in a day. A few rather creative ideas involved the use of old phone booths and city buses. With heaters of course. pic.twitter.com/6zPiuBZBdC Christina Ketchum (@tinaandgary) August 25, 2020 But before you submit that genius idea, keep in mind that feasible concepts will only work to prevent the spread of COVID-19 if there is adequate air flow. On Aug. 13, a Michelin-starred restaurant in San Francisco was ordered to take down its outdoor igloo dining concept for that reason. "The key to outdoor dining is the free flow of air," Dr. Anne Rimoin, professor of epidemiology at UCLA told TODAY Food about the plastic enclosures. "Its not clear to me that these domes will keep people in them safe nor the servers who would have to enter the domes to serve the people inside them, who would be dining presumably without masks on, with poor airflow. Given the current setup, it seems that these domes might end up promoting transmission instead of preventing it." Colorado cake artist Jack Phillips shares his own beliefs to the art community. Phillips is known for being assigned to make a rainbow-themed cake for the LGBTQ organization. However, Phillips believes that he can express his own opinion and deny to make the cake for them due to his beliefs. He believe artists can freely express whatever they want no matter what others in the community or in the halls of government feel or if they disagree with the expression. According to the report, the local attorney purposely called Jack Phillips cake shop to request a custom pink and blue cake that would celebrate a gender transition. The same attorney contacted him again a few months later to request a cake depicting Satan smoking marijuana. Jack Philips states the messages aren't expressible and continues to encourage many artists that nobody should be forced to create or express a message he or she disagrees with. Philips wishes to see Artistic Freedom as a creative professional as he sends out a message to all believers and artists that their own thoughts are valued the most. "More than 25 years as a cake artist, I've kept a simple policy: I serve everyone, but I cannot create cakes that express every message or celebrate every event." "As is true for many creative professionals, there are some messages I cannot express through my custom art no matter who asks for them because doing so would violate my core beliefs." "While the views behind such decisions may vary depending on the artist, the principle protecting them is the same: Every person has the right to peacefully live and work consistent with his or her deepest beliefs." According to Jack Phillips, a fellow cake artist, April Anderson agrees with his motion. April received an online order for a cake that expressed a message she doesn't agree with. The cake was ordered by a lesbian who was celebrating same-sex marriage. Jack Phillips stated "April has the freedom to choose the messages she will express through her custom cakes, and no government official should be able to force her to go against her conscience." Phillips went onto say "I've faced the situation that April faced, and I came to the same conclusion: I couldn't create a cake that expressed a message that went against my beliefs. So I politely declined the request, while explaining that I would be happy to sell or create other items for the customer." Democratic nominee Joe Biden tweeted through President Donald Trump's Republican National Convention speech pushing back on Trump's claims that Democrats are responsible for the current social unrest. 'Remember: every example of violence Donald Trump decries has happened on his watch. Under his leadership. During his presidency,' Biden said. For weeks, Trump has tried to weigh Biden down with the fact that Democrats are in charge of cities that are seeing some of the worst violence and destruction, which started in the aftermath of George Floyd's Memorial Day death, but continued this week in Wisconsin after the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Joe Biden used Twitter to clap back at some of the comments President Donald Trump made in his Republican National Convention speech Thursday night Joe Biden tweeted during President Donald Trump's Republican National Convention speech, pointing out that the violence that Trump decried was happening 'under his leadership. During his presidency.' Biden also pointed out that he had tweeted about Trump's lack of preparedness for a pandemic back in October 2019. Thursday night he wrote: 'Leadership requires foresight' He tweeted again about President Trump's handling of the virus, with Biden accusing Trump of 'downplay[ing] the threat it posed' President Trump tried to sink Joe Biden by tying him to the Democrat-led cities that have seen racial violence since late May 'If the Democrat Party wants to stand with anarchists, agitators, rioters, looters, and flag-burners, that is up to them, but I, as your President, will not be a part of it,' Trump said Thursday night. 'The Republican Party will remain the voice of the patriotic heroes who keep America Safe.' Earlier Thursday, Biden had accused Trump of 'rooting for more violence.' The Democratic nominee had pointed to comments made by outgoing counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway who said on Fox News 'the more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns, the better it is for the very clear choice on who's best for public safety and law and order.' 'The problem that we have right now is that we're in Donald Trump's America,' Biden said. The Biden campaign also revealed that it had purchased the URL KeepAmericaGreat.com - a Trump campaign slogan - in order to roll out an anti-Trump website In other tweets during Trump's convention speech, Biden criticized the president's response to the coronavirus pandemic. In one, he highlighted a tweet he had written in October 2019, pointing out, 'We are not prepared for a pandemic.' 'Trump has rolled back progress President Obama and I made to strengthen global health security. We need leadership that builds public trust, focuses on real threats, and mobilizes the world to stop outbreaks before they reach our shores,' Biden wrote then. Tonight he topped that message with: 'Leadership requires foresight.' 'From the moment COVID-19 emerged, President Trump downplayed the threat it posed, refused to listen to the experts, and failed to take action to contain its spread,' Biden also tweeted. 'Now we're paying the price.' The Biden campaign also rolled out a new website in the run-up to Trump's speech - www.KeepAmericaGreat.com - which is a Trump 2020 campaign slogan. The website highlights policy areas and where Trump's promises were 'broken.' 'Donald Trump promised to be the greatest jobs president God ever created,' Biden tweeted, linking to the website. 'Instead, tens of millions of Americans are out of work and we're facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.' Tokyo, Aug 28 : Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has planned to step down "because of health issues", state-media reported on Friday. According to a report in NHK, Japan's national broadcaster, Abe, 65, is scheduled to hold a news conference at 5 p.m. to provide further details of his decision. The development comes after rumours about the premier's deteriorating health were amplified by his two trips to the Keio University Hospital in Tokyo within a week. Abe's first admission to the hospital on August 17 for what was described at the time as a "health check-up" that lasted for more than seven hours. On Monday, Abe revisited the hospital to receive the results of the check-up and underwent more tests, lasting four hours, reports Xinhua news agency. Also that day, he became Japan's longest-serving leader with the most consecutive days in office at 2,799. If confirmed, this will be the second time that the Prime Minister will step down from his post over a medical issue. He resigned in 2007 because of an inflammatory bowel disease, after only serving a year in office, NHK reported. He returned to the top job in 2012 after a landslide election win in the Lower House. Abe, prior to his health condition, was set to spend one more year at the helm. Meanwhile with the premier set to resign, the race to find his replacement is intensifying, The Japan Times said in a report. On Friday, before news of Abe's resignation broke, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai told TV programme that Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga is a strong candidate to succeed Abe. "He has great capabilities," said Nikai. "He has the ability to endure in the post." But Nikai also added that LDP policy chief Fumio Kishida and former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba were also possible contenders. In a Kyodo survey conducted over the weekend, 23.3 per cent said Ishiba should become the next Prime Minister, while 11 per cent said Abe should stay on. Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi followed with 8.4 per cent, Defence Minister Taro Kono was at 7.9 per cent and Kishida was at 2.8 per cent. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed In the fight against the dangerous return to schools under unsafe conditions, students in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) have taken an important step to protect their classmates, teachers and their families. At the School Centre in Dortmunds Hacheney district, they founded an action committee on Sunday to link students and teachers together to take action against the school reopening and ensure safe teaching conditions. The two founding members, Berdan and Jan, spoke to the World Socialist Web Site about the founding of the committee and the situation in Dortmund schools. Both see the committee primarily as a response to the ruthless policy of reopening schools. When Berdan came back from vacation two weeks ago, he immediately saw that the reopening of schools was putting all those involved in danger. I thought to myself, We cant go on like this! I must do something! He had been aware that as an individual he could not change the situation. I then looked for like-minded people and started talking to my friends. I immediately agreed with some of them. I also talked to Jan and it was clear to us that something had to be done, he says. I had already searched the Internet for information and found the SGPs [Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei, Socialist Equality Party] call to Stop school reopenings, which I could agree with in every respect. Then I read other articles, including the American SEP resolution on the issue at the WSWS, and discussed the material with my friends. On Sunday, we decided to form the committee. Pupils crowd together at the School Centre in Dortmund-Hacheney On Monday, they started to put up posters and distribute leaflets at their school, calling on classmates and teachers to oppose the reopening of the school and participate in the committee. They also put up the poster for the IYSSEs online event on the topic next Sunday. Right on the first day, our campaign attracted a lot of attention. Especially the posters and the headline Stop the school reopenings! Prepare for a general strike! have led to some discussions with classmates, many of whom have said that they see things the same way, Jan reports on her experiences on Monday. So far, the committee has five members. Berdan and Jan are in contact with other interested classmates, also at other Dortmund schools, and teachers. Some of them immediately said that they wanted to join in. Others are still reluctant, but have said that they support us, said Berdan. The two attend different vocational schools within the Hacheney School Centre, where many prospective nurses go to school, some of whom would be on the front line in health care facilities. They themselves take their school-leaving exams there with a focus on health. They founded the committee not only out of concern for the health of their classmates and teachers, but also because of their families. Students crowd into a packed subway Both Jan and Berdan have relatives who were in the risk group. My mother has lung disease, explains Berdan. Her work as a cleaner is hard enough for her anyway, then her lungsI dont want her to get infected with the coronavirus. Jan adds, I also want to protect my family, there are also cases of risk, and at the same time, of course, I want classes to be organised in such a way that we dont miss anything and, above all, that we dont put ourselves in danger. So far, the committee has made two central demands. The first is that lessons should only take place online or in small, fixed learning groups that are physically separated and safely housed. However, the second demand is that face-to-face instruction in small groups should only take place at all if the transportation companies increase the use of buses and trains to such an extent that safe travel is possible. Jan and Berdan are most worried about the situation in public transport. Here, 6,000 to 7,000 students arrive daily and only very few of them have their own car. Some teachers are also using public transport. We all start at about the same time in the morning. The situation on the buses and trains is catastrophic. People cannot keep their distance. Jan took a photo that leaves no doubt that buses and trains are becoming breeding grounds for the virus. Her description makes it clear that a rapid spread of the virus among students and teachers is practically pre-programmed even in the current regular operation of schools and is only a matter of time. According to the rules and regulations, things are not running here as they should, says Jan, I myself can observe at least five rule violations per day. When collecting worksheets, for example, teachers and students regularly get close to each other. Often, social distancing here cannot be maintained at all. Moreover, Berdan reports that it is not possible to ventilate the building properly because of defective or locked windows. In old classrooms, where we still were until recently, sometimes only one or two windows opened. Some classrooms are completely blocked off, which makes everything even tighter, Berdan continues. This fits the overall picture. Der Spiegel recently reported on a study that examined 363 classrooms in NRW. It found around half of classrooms would have to be closed because, after just one class with the windows closed, there was so much carbon dioxide (CO2)and thus potentially dangerous aerosolsin the room that they would have to be classified as unhygienic under current occupational safety regulations. Berdan and Jan also described how coronavirus cases at schools were handled in a completely irresponsible manner. Jan said, If someone is suspected of being infected, there is a quick test. If the test is negative, people are sent back to class. If the test is positive, those people are quarantined, but only they. This contradicts all scientific recommendations because students may have become infected in the days before the test of the positive student and spread the virus in the classroom, on trains and at home. The reports of Jan and Berdan coincide with conditions described by school principals in NRW, who recently commented on the desperate situation in their schools in a letter to NRW state Premier Armin Laschet. In their letter, the principals complain that the regulation from the Education Ministry completely ignored the reality at schools. The public, however, was led to believe that the MSB [Ministry for School and Education] works responsibly, with foresight and prudence. Berdan and Jan reported that they had also spoken with teachers. One of my teachers told me about her situation. I found it incredible, Berdan explained. Before the Easter vacations, she belonged to a risk group and was sent home accordingly. She had had surgery and then suffered from an immune deficiency. She also lives in a house with her parents, also a risk group. In the meantime, the rules have been changed so that she is no longer in the risk group and has to go to school. She told me what she thought. The rules would simply be changed to keep the number of teachers who are not allowed to attend classes as small as possible. The states concern is about training new workers, she says, and this should not be interrupted. Old people wouldnt matter anyway, because they could no longer serve the economy. In the end, Jan and Berdan made an appeal to teachers, students and parents to take part in the fight against school reopenings and get in touch with them. From a moral point of view, what is happening in schools at the moment is quite reprehensible, Berdan said. More schools and also companies and factories should form action committees to prevent worse things from happening. Jan added, Our committee is open to anyone who agrees that the reopening of schools, as it is happening now, must be stopped. The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei and its youth organisation, the IYSSE, are holding an online event next Sunday to discuss the creation of action committees against the reopening of schools to which all are invited. These murderous policies can only be stopped by the independent mobilisation of all workers in a nationwide general strike, the statement announcing the meeting says. The event will also be attended by representatives of the SGPs international sister parties, who are also fighting to build action committees in their countries and help workers network internationally on the basis of a socialist perspective. Lucy Kennedy says she will be worried when her children head back to school but is excited to get a bit of peace TV presenter Lucy Kennedy has said she's worried about her children going back to school during the pandemic. Speaking to the Herald, the TV and radio star opened up about her "apprehension" over son Jack (10) and Holly (9) going back to school. "I'm slightly apprehensive. I trust the school, I trust the system, I trust me as a parent having educated as best as I can," said Lucy. "I trust them that hopefully they're going to remember. But there is, at the back of my mind, a concern that there will be a lockdown and that schools will close down. "I'd be lying if I said I was completely celebrating, I am excited to get a bit of peace, as much as I adore them, but then again, when they're gone I will just worry." Heart She also revealed that one of her all-time favourite celebrities on her show Living with Lucy is Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae. "I'm doing it 10 years and it's where my heart lies. There's that lovely comfort for me as well because I'm so comfy in that role and I'm so used to it," she said. "I just loved Michael Healy-Rae, he basically took the absolute mick out of me, that I kept applying my make-up and I had no interest in what he was saying about politics. "We were the odd couple but it just worked. It was nice to see him with his wife and, like everybody, he's just like us. He's definitely one of my favourites." She said that she also had a great time filming with the late Brendan Grace, which took place while she was pregnant with her youngest child, Jessica (3). "I was pregnant and he had arthritis, the two of us just waddled through Killaloe. I have the most amazing memories. The Irish celebs have the same silly sense of humour and a connection," she said. Filming on the new show Lodging with Lucy began in recent weeks and the Covid-friendly version of Living with Lucy will see her act as 'lady of the house' at a mansion in the Meath countryside as different guests stay. "We had to continue with it because it is a brand people trust," Lucy said. "We had all regulations in place and I would spend hours talking to somebody on a couch and forget everything - but I would be jolted back to reality when I look at the cameraman and he's wearing a mask. "Social distancing is at the back of everyone's mind. We're trying to make a show in these tricky times without a reminder of the tricky times, without shoving it down everyone's throat. "There's a lot more planning and we have to be very vigilant." Teased The crew has filmed several episodes of Lodging with Lucy and she teased that one of the celebrities is Paul McGrath. "You don't need to go to someone's house to get to know them," she said of the show's new set-up. Lucy added that she is a "huggy person" usually, but there's obviously no hugs in the current situation. "I do relax, but I am painfully aware of the current situation." Having worked all through lockdown, Lucy added she was very lucky to continue her Nova radio show from her kitchen table, and she also managed to write her second children's book. "I've been so proactive, it's a fluke," she said. Police have announced they are not looking for anyone else after a mother and her seven-year-old son were found dead at their home in London. Yulia Gokcedag, 35, and her seven-year-old son Timur had been reported missing to the Metropolitan Police on 12 August. After concerns about their welfare, officers forced their way into the pairs home on the Isle of Dogs, East London, in the early hours of the morning of 13 August. Both were found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the address and a post mortem has now revealed Timur drowned while his mother died from hanging. An investigation by the Met Polices specialist crime command was launched, but detectives now say they are not investigating any other people in connection with the deaths. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 14 January 2022 Ecologist Emma Smart (left) and retired GP Dr Diana Warner outside HMP Bronzefield, in Surrey, following their release from the prison where Emma undertook a 26-day hunger strike during her incarceration. Ms Smart was sentenced in November, along with other members of Insulate Britain, to serve four months for breaking a High Court injunction by taking part in a blockade at junction 25 of the M25 motorway during the morning rush hour on 8 October last year PA UK news in pictures 13 January 2022 A TV presenter holds a copy of a newspaper outside 10 Downing Streetafter the Prime Minister apologised for attending a gathering of colleagues in the Number Ten garden in May 2020, while the UK was in strict lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic Getty UK news in pictures 12 January 2022 Fitness guru Derrick Evans after receiving an MBE during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 11 January 2022 A couple walk underneath an umbrella during wet weather on Westminster Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 10 January 2022 A jogger passes the Covid Memorial Wall in London AP UK news in pictures 9 January 2021 The sun rises over horses at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 8 January 2022 Riders compete during the Veterans Men's race at the UK Cyclo-Cross National Championships 2022 in Ardingly, south of London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 7 January 2022 A dog looks out of a car window at the wintry conditions in Killeshin, Co. Laois PA UK news in pictures 6 January 2022 People walk through frost and mist alongside a frozen lake during sunrise in Bushy Park, London REUTERS UK news in pictures 5 January 2022 A skier jumps on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines to the north of Weardale in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 4 January 2022 Freshly-fallen snow covers houses in Corbridge, near Hexham in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 3 January 2022 Dean Morrison, 13, receives his Covid-19 vaccine from student nurse Anthony McLaughlin during a vaccination clinic at the Glasgow Central Mosque PA UK news in pictures 2 January 2022 Konastantinos Tsimikas of Liverpool with Chelseas Mason Mount during the Premier League match at Stamfrod Bridge Liverpool FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 January 2022 New Years Eve Lasers, drones and fireworks illuminate the sky in front of the Royal Naval College in Greenwich shortly after midnight in London EPA UK news in pictures 31 December 2021 Competitors in fancy dress run across the Pennine tops near Haworth, West Yorkshire, in the annual Auld Lang Syne Fell race which attracts hundreds of runners every year PA UK news in pictures 30 December 2021 Sunrise at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 29 December 2021 The Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, looks at Becket, a six month old red-billed chough as he visits Wildwood Wildlife Park in Kent on the anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket PA UK news in pictures 28 December 2021 Troops of the Household Cavalry are seen reflected in a puddle during the changing of the Queens Life Guard, on Horse Guards Parade, in central London PA UK news in pictures 27 December 2021 A pedestrian walks past a winter sale sign outside a John Lewis store on Oxford street in London Getty UK news in pictures 26 December 2021 Riders take their bikes through the snow near Castleside, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 25 December 2021 Patrick Corkery wears a santa hat and beard as waves crash over him at Forty Foot near Dublin during a Christmas Day dip PA UK news in pictures 24 December 2021 People stand inside Kings Cross Station on Christmas Eve in London Reuters UK news in pictures 23 December 2021 Christmas shoppers fill the car park at Fosse Shopping Park in Leicester PA UK news in pictures 22 December 2021 The sun rises behind the stones as people gather for the winter solstice at Stonehenge. Getty UK news in pictures 21 December 2021 People take part in a winter solstice swim at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh to mark the solstice and to witness the dawn after the longest night of the year PA UK news in pictures 20 December 2021 An auction employee displays poultry to buyers and sellers attending the Christmas Poultry Sale at York Auction Centre in Murton PA UK news in pictures 19 December 2021 Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 December 2021 Freight lorries queuing at the port of Dover in Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 December 2021 Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, bursts 'Boris' bubble' held by colleague Tim Farron, as she celebrates following her victory in the North Shropshire by-election PA UK news in pictures 16 December 2021 Brussels sprouts are harvested by workers as they prepare for the busy Christmas period near Boston in Lincolnshire PA UK news in pictures 15 December 2021 Lewis Hamilton is made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 14 December 2021 The Royal Liver Buildings surrounded by early morning fog in Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 13 December 2021 People queue outside a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster Getty Images UK news in pictures 12 December 2021 People take part in the Big Leeds Santa Dash in Roundhay Park, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 11 December 2021 People arrive at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Elland Road in Leeds, PA UK news in pictures 10 December 2021 Stella Moris speaks to the media after the US Government won its High Court bid to overturn a judges decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange PA UK news in pictures 9 December 2021 Camels are lead around Salisbury Cathedral during a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Service PA UK news in pictures 8 December 2021 Margaret Keenan and Nurse May Parsons, a year after Margaret was the first person in the UK to receive the Pfizer vaccine PA UK news in pictures 7 December 2021 Snowfall in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire as Storm Barra hits the UK with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow PA UK news in pictures 6 December 2021 A person tries to avoid sea spray on New Brighton promenade in Wallasey as the UK readies for the arrival of Storm Barra Getty UK news in pictures 5 December 2021 People release balloons during a tribute to six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside Emma Tustin's former address in Solihull, West Midlands, where he was murdered by his stepmother PA UK news in pictures 4 December 2021 People walk through a Christmas market in Trafalgar Square Reuters UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 2 December 2021 Duchess of Cambridge inspects a Faberge egg at the Victoria and Albert Museum Getty UK news in pictures 1 December 2021 Meerkats at London Zoo with an advent calendar PA UK news in pictures 30 November 2021 Workers put the finishing touches to the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree ahead of the lighting ceremony later in the week PA UK news in pictures 29 November 2021 Home Secretary Priti Patel is greeted by a police dog at a special memorial service for Met Police Sergeant Matiu Ratana Getty UK news in pictures 28 November 2021 Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City battles for possession with Aaron Cresswell of West Ham United during a match at the Etihad during snow Manchester City/Getty 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 26 November 2021 A killer whale (orca in the fjord of Skjervoy, northern Norway AFP/Getty An inquest into both deaths will be held at Poplars Coroners Court on 16 December. In a statement, the Met Police said their directorate of professional standards was informed of the incident, which is routine practice. A referral was then made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, but they have subsequently referred it back to the local professional standards unit who are currently investigating. Retail giant Walmart has partnered with Microsoft in a bid to acquire TikTok in the US. "We are confident that a Walmart and Microsoft partnership would meet both the expectations of US TikTok users while satisfying the concerns of US government regulators," Walmart said in a statement. Apart from Microsoft and Walmart, Oracle has also submitted bids in a deal that could come within the week, sources told Bloomberg. Walmart would also own a stake in a newly spun off TikTok business, alongside Microsoft, the people said. Walmart in an emailed statement told Bloomberg that the move could help grow its third-party online marketplace unit along with its nascent advertising arm, two areas that Chief Executive Officer Doug McMillon has said he'd like to expand. The two companies already work together, as Walmart uses Microsoft's Azure cloud platform across the entire company for a wider use of cloud and artificial intelligence. Walmart said TikTok's integrated e-commerce and advertising capabilities in other markets "is a clear benefit to creators and users in those markets." As per reports, TikTok's parent company ByteDance is nearing a deal to sell TikTok's North American, Australian and New Zealand operations which could be worth $25 billion to $30 billion. Walmart was earlier in talks with Softbank for a partnership but it did not materialise since Walmart does not have a cloud technology component. Microsoft has been in talks with Byte Dance for weeks. In an earlier statement, the company had said that it plans to finalise the deal with TikTok's parent company, Bytedance by September 15. US president Donald Trump has rendered an executive order that essentially bans TikTok if it fails to sell its operations to a US firm. The move was brought in last month when Trump referred to TikTok and WeChat as significant threats to national security. Kevin Mayer stepped down as TikToK CEO on Thursday in the backdrop of the current political environment in the US. "Against this backdrop, and as we expect to reach a resolution very soon, it is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company. I understand that the role that I signed up for including running TikTok globally will look very different as a result of the US administration's action to push for a sell-off of the US business," Mayer wrote in a letter to his employees obtained by FT. Haiti - Diaspora : MHAVE working to facilitate the customs clearance process Thursday morning Louis Gonzague E. Day the Minister of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE) received in his offices, Paul Junior Duchatelier, one of the Representative of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MAST), responsible for facilitating the links between compatriots living abroad and the services of MAST. The two men for whom it was the first meeting, discussed in particular the process of registering Haitian associations and organizations of the diaspora for the purposes of legal recognition. Duchatelier promised on behalf of the Ministry of Social Affairs a frank collaboration to respond quickly to the requests of the diaspora requiring services from his Ministry through the MHAVE. An hour later Minister Day received Tenni Giscard Ruben Thelsma, the Representative of the General Directorate of Customs and Public Relations Manager at the AGD to ensure a link between the complaints relating to customs addressed to MHAVE. It was a question of facilitating the process of customs clearance of the personal effects of our compatriots who return to the country within the framework of the "Definitive Return" program (Moving / Customs clearance) and of the public relations service of the AGD which has 3 sections : a user call center (Complaints); a section of Haitians living abroad and a production section (Annual AGD calendar, Official Bulletin, planning meeting to raise public awareness about customs and its services, etc...) Regarding the call center designed to provide precise information and solve the problems of AGD users, the Minister proposed a partnership providing for a twinning between the telephone lines of the AGD which does not yet have direct lines on the abroad and the Ministry which also has its call center with 8 lines including 5 international lines. Minister Day is convinced that this partnership would facilitate better cohesion between the two institutions by broadening the framework for receiving calls from our compatriots abroad who could go through the "MHAVE at the listening" call center. This proposal of the Minister also aims to protect our compatriots requiring customs clearance services, who are too often victims of ill-intentioned people who tax them at a high price, without guarantee of issuance of permits or administrative monitoring... HL/ HaitiLibre Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 28, 2020 15:49 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c412e1ec 4 City sextortion,drug-convict,extortion,crime,criminal-charge,ITE-Law,WhatsApp Free A man identified as 26-year-old IP allegedly posed as a policeman and blackmailed three women, threatening to distribute their sex video that he secretly recorded. East Jakarta Police chief Comr. Arie Ardian said IP was already a drug convict serving his sentence in Bagansiapiapi prison in Rokan Hilir regency, Riau. Arie said IP had initially contacted a married woman through Facebook in June 2019, claiming he was a divorced officer at the Gresik Police in East Java. The two continued to converse through WhatsApp. After a few days of communicating, the victim was asked to have phone sex through video calls, Arie told tempo.co on Friday. The victim agreed and IP, who never showed his face, allegedly recorded the video call. He then reportedly blackmailed the victim, threatening to send the footage to her husband if she did not give him money. Read also: Meeting dates on Facebook? Beware of 'sextortion The victim gave him Rp 16.8 million (US$1.154) between July 1 and 7, but after she could no longer afford to pay him off, she allegedly told her husband about the extortion and filed a report to the East Jakarta Police. In total, the police said IP had collected more than Rp 19 million from blackmailing three different women with similar methods. Cooperating with the Baganisapiapi prison, the police then transferred him to Cipinang prison in East Jakarta for questioning regarding the alleged blackmail. We will then give the dossier to the East Jakarta Prosecutors Office, Aerie said. IP was charged under Article 29 of the 2008 pornography law, which prohibits the distribution of pornography and carries a maximum sentence of 12 years imprisonment, and Article 27 of the 2016 Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE), which bans the distribution of content deemed immoral and carries a maximum punishment of six years imprisonment. (mfp) One thing was clear on Wednesday night during The Woodlands Township Board of Directors meeting the accomplishments and contributions of long-time township President and General Manager Don Norrell are appreciated, cherished and his legacy of leadership was inspirational to many in the community and inside the offices on Technology Forest Boulevard. Related: Woodlands general manager Norrell delays retirement due to COVID-19 crisis Norrell took part in his final meeting Wednesday night of his long and stories career in the township. After more than 14 years of leading The Woodlands on the administrative side, he will retire on Sept. 5 and begin the next phase of his life, during which he said he intends to spend more time with his extended family in Texas, Wisconsin and other areas of the country. During Wednesdays meeting, a short video montage was played featuring key staff members many from the townships executive leadership team and others who praised Norrell and simply said, thank you. Board chairman Gordy Bunch read a proclamation honoring Norrell and his years of service harking back to the mid-2000s when he was working with the former The Woodlands Community Service Corp. for three years. Norrell will remain as a mentor until June 30, 2020, as a part-time, paid consultant to assist his replacement, Jeff Jones, who begins work on Aug. 31. Jones comes to The Woodlands from the Dallas suburb of Mesquite and based on what was said about Norrell on Wednesday, he has big shoes to fill in his new job. Lauded for leadership Nelda Luce Blair, a former township director who worked extensive, was the first to call into public comment and praise Norrells leadership in wisdom. Blair recited a list of issues shed worked especially closely on with him, saying she despite her skepticism at the time, Norrells words of wisdom and insight had led to great outcomes for the community. It was during Hurricane Ike, she said, when the duo truly first bonded. Blair said part of The Woodlands uniqueness was in large part due to Norrells leadership over the years. Our deepest gratitude for your diligence and resilience. All the best, Blair said. Another former board member and community icon, Claude Hunter, also called in and thanked Norrell for his time serving the community. I certainly want to thank Don Norrell for his service, and the team he has assembled. It is outstanding, Hunter said, adding he and other officials knew that Norrell would be a good hire. Norrell was joined by his wife, Vicki, in his Zoom profile window during the meeting. They both thanked the community and passed on how fondly their familiar had bonded with the people and life in the township. Bunch joked that he had to fight with Norrells main assistant and township guru Karen Dempsey to allow a tribute video to even be made, referring to Norrells well-known penchant for turning the focus away from himself. Bunch also noted no taxpayer funds were used. The date of Aug. 26 was also proclaimed as Don Norrell Day in The Woodlands. Norrell welcomed the accolades and well wishes, saying he and hia extended family loved The Woodlands. We loved The Woodlands and all the people there, Norrell said of his early days residing in the township. I really appreciate the proclamation and all the comments. It has been my honor to serve over the years. To be honest, when I came (here), I expected a five-year life cycle (as general manager). Township tenure Norrells time in The Woodlands dates back more than 15 years. He was set to retire on April 30, but after the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic hit, he delayed sailing off into the sunset not once, but twice, to help the township navigate the uinknowns brought on by the virus and resulting government-mandated shutdowns and protocols. Related: Woodlands Township president and general manager Norrell to retire in 2020 In an announcement about his impending departure in May 2019, Norrell said he was appreciative of the opportunity to lead the community. My decision to retire as president and general manager in 2020 will allow me to spend more time with my wife, children and grandchildren, Norrell was quoted as saying in the press release. The time I have spent with The Woodlands Township has been the best years of my career. I have truly enjoyed working with an exceptional Board of Directors, a very talented and dedicated group of employees and being able to work in one of the most unique and beautiful communities in the nation. It has been my pleasure to serve the board and The Woodlands community and I look forward to another productive year as well as the opportunity to continue a part-time consulting relationship with the Township to assist with transition and incorporation planning following my retirement as president and general manager. He first came to the township in 2003, working with the former The Woodlands Community Service Corp. for three years. Prior to joining The Woodlands as general manager and president in 2006, Norrell had worked for decades in municipal administration and city government, with jobs in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and Irving, Texas. On Wednesday, Norrell was his usual humble self in accepting the thank you messages and praise heaped on him. All of the Board of Directors have been exceptional in their own way, he said of the seven-member elected board that governs the community. Weve had just a great executive management team. I will not miss the hurricanes! I have loved The Woodlands. jeff.forward@chron.com The site was the jointly developed by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB), and the Swiss Sustainable Tourism Programme (SSTP). Through the website, visitors will find articles on responsible tourism, Vietnamese culture and customs, as well as tourism destinations across the country. A list of Vietnams recognised sustainable tourism products and services along with sustainable tour operators are also available at the site. According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the site aims to support sustainable tourism companies as well as tourists interested in this type of tourism in finding useful information in order to prepare in advance for their trips to Vietnam when international tourism activities are resumed. In addition, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has recently launched the page Virtual Vietnam at www.vietnam.travel/virtual-vietnam to provide visitors with virtual travel experience, Vietnamese food recipes, and videos on various fascinating topics. After five-hour-long deliberations to resolve the Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation issue on which the central and state governments had reached an impasse, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave states two options under which they could borrow from the market to make up for the estimated deficit of Rs 2.35 lakh crore in FY21, created due to the economic losses caused by COVID-19. Out of this deficit amount, about Rs 97,000 crore could be attributed to the implementation of the GST, while the rest is on account of the slowdown inflicted by the pandemic. Under the first option, the Centre in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will provide a special window to states to borrow Rs 97,000 crore at a reasonable rate of interest and this money can then be repaid after five years from the collection of cess. The second option before the states is to borrow the entire GST compensation gap of Rs 2.35 lakh crore in FY21 in consultation with the RBI. The states have been given seven days to decide which option they want. The Central government is legally bound to compensate states from the compensation cess that is collected. "The attempt of Centre to introduce a distinction in revenue shortfall as due to implementation of GST and as that caused by COVID and that latter doesnt deserve to be compensated fully is not constitutionally valid. Constitution makes no such distinction," Finance Minister of Kerala Thomas Issac said after the Council meeting. Issac said that in both the options provided for GST compensation, states would have to sacrifice a part of compensation. "In the first option only 0.5 percent additional borrowing is permitted for the pending dues of Rs 1.65 lakh (crore). Full compensation is the constitutional right of states." The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management committee had suggested bringing down the general government debt-to-GDP ratio to 60 percent by 2023. The calculation included 40 percent for the central debt and 20 percent for states' debt. Though accepted, the government pushed the deadline to 2024-25. The COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent clampdown on economic activities would now require states and the Centre to spend more to spur growth. This would increase the debt-to- GDP ratios of both the Centre and the states, which could be further spiked if any added liabilities come up. The states are now concerned that if the debt to meet the compensation gap is put on the balance sheet of states, it would limit their borrowing capacities in future. "If this money goes into the states' balance sheet, what will happen to state finances till the time the money is returned. Because then the interest amount will sit in the states' budget," said Devendra Pant, chief economist, India Ratings & Research. According to Isaac's calculations, "Total GST shortfall for 2020-21 is Rs 3 lakh crore. Cess collection is Rs 0.7 lakh crore. Gap is Rs 2.3 lakh crore. The Centre to borrow Rs 1.65 lakh crore. States to borrow Rs 1.65 lakh crore for which states' FD (fiscal deficit) ceiling has to be raised by 25 percent. But promised raise is only 17 percent. Thus states will lose 0.5 lakh crore." Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has said that the government's refusal to pay GST compensation to states is the biggest betrayal in the history of federalism in India. "Under GST, central govt was liable to give compensation for 5 years, they have refused to do so. States are feeling cheated," Sisodia said. By Charles Boyer, Kenneth Clayton and Joshua Rodriguez A crisis is brewing in New Jersey that will severely impact communities of color and other disenfranchised groups for the next decade or longer if it is not immediately addressed. Earlier this month, the Trump Administration announced its intention to end data collection for the decennial census on Sept. 30, even though the Census Bureau has requested a month longer to ensure people are accurately counted due to the COVID-19 crisis. The federal government is constitutionally required to conduct an actual enumeration of all people in the United States, regardless of citizenship, age or origin. Census numbers dictate all manner of public life, from how many congressional seats each state is allotted to federal funding for schools, transportation, healthcare and other critical needs to how legislative districts are drawn. Under normal circumstances, this data collection is onerous and laborious. In 2010, nearly 22% of New Jerseyans did not self-respond to the Census, requiring that Census enumerators go door-to-door to collect their information. This year, the self-response rate is already lower than it was 10 years ago and 20 years ago, respectively. In the midst of a national pandemic, the process to get a complete count would have been even more difficult even if the Trump administration had not prematurely decided to end the count. Enumerators who would have otherwise knocked on doors in traditionally hard-to-reach communities have not been able to complete their work because the COVID-19 crisis has made recruitment and personal contact nearly impossible. This year, there has been a silent, additional barrier for hard-to-reach communities: For the first time in history, the Federal Government is attempting to count most households online, meaning those who cannot afford or do not have access to the internet are placed at a disadvantage. We represent many of those in these hard-to-reach communities, which tend to include people of color, immigrants, low-income folks and other disenfranchised groups. We only need to look at our own churches and the communities we serve to understand the crisis. In Paterson, fewer than half of the residents have responded to the Census. In nearby Wayne, a much more affluent town, more than 75% have already responded. In Woodbury, the response rate is fully 16% lower than in next-door Washington Township. And in Jersey City, now the second-largest city in the state, where nearly half the people have failed to respond to the Census. Even within Jersey City the discrepancies are laid bare: The Census tract with the high rises along the waterfront is at 70%. Meanwhile, a few blocks away, in the less affluent Communipaw section of town, response rates are half of that, at 35%. Jersey City Census response These three examples, and many more like them, underscore the severity of the problem. If the Census fails to count communities like ours, we are the ones who suffer. Our children will get less money for education. Our residents will get less funding for transportation needs. Businesses that look at Census numbers to determine where to locate will go elsewhere, leading to fewer jobs in our neighborhoods. In light of this, it is inexcusable for the U.S. Census Bureau to prematurely end the count and it appears to be a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise communities of color like ours. This is why we ask the Murphy administration and Attorney General Gurbir Grewal to explore legal options immediately that would compel the Trump administration to continue counting our residents. There are several things both the governor and the attorney general can do right now to prevent this travesty. Gov. Phil Murphy is the chair of the Democratic Governors Association and can rally his fellow governors on both sides of the aisle to file a lawsuit that would force the administration to continue the count. He can convene a meeting of the New Jersey congressional delegation to focus on this crisis and look for legislative remedies. The attorney general can speak to his counterparts in other states to explore legal options or simply file a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of New Jersey and its millions of uncounted residents. Make no mistake: an undercount precipitated by a lethal pandemic and political malfeasance will hurt every single New Jerseyan but it will disenfranchise those we serve the most. At a time when our country is in the midst of civil unrest to bring much-needed attention to the inequalities in our society, our leaders cannot stand idly by while our communities are harmed for a decade or longer. The time for talk has long passed. We know what we are up against. It is time for our leaders to take urgent action. Rev. Charles Boyer is the pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Woodbury and the founder of Salvation and Social Justice. Rev. Kenneth Clayton is the senior pastor of the St. Luke Baptist Church in Paterson. Bishop Joshua Rodriguez is the founder and senior pastor of the Cityline Church in Jersey City. 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. As Hurricane Laura moves away from Louisiana, residents in the Lake Charles area are emerging from storm shelters and returning from other cities to survey the damage and clean up the wreckage. People from Houston are also headed east to help, as many feel lucky to have dodged the powerful storm. Here's a look at aerial photos of Lake Charles on Tuesday morning. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 04:09:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NICOSIA, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission (EC) signed its first deal to buy COVID-19 vaccines from pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides said on Thursday. She told state television after signing the agreement at the EC premises in Nicosia with AstraZeneca that the deal makes it possible for EU countries to purchase up to 300 million vaccines. According to the press release of the European Commission, through the contract, all EU members will be able to purchase 300 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, with an option for further 100 million doses, to be distributed on a population-based pro-rata basis. AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford joined forces to develop and distribute the university's potential recombinant adenovirus vaccine aimed at preventing COVID-19 infection, the EC said. AstraZeneca's vaccine candidate is already in large-scale Phase II/III Clinical Trials. According to the European Commission, it has concluded successful exploratory talks with four other pharmaceutical companies. Kyriakides said the EC is engaged in discussion with some more. "The negotiations have resulted in the signing of the first agreement by which we make good our promise to safeguard a diversified vaccine portfolio for the protection of the public health of our citizens," she added. Enditem Jaimi Chisholm/Getty Images En espanol | So you want to be a Spike Lee completist? And why not? When it comes to engaging the Black and therefore deeply American experience, the Brooklyn-born director is among the most relevant filmmakers of the 20th century. The Library of Congress measure for inclusion in the National Film Registry is that a film has historical, cultural, aesthetic significance; that it be worthy of preservation. In December, Lee's She's Gotta Have It joined Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X and 4 Little Girls (his documentary about the domestic terrorist bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala.), on the registry. Those are titles irrefutably touted on top 10 lists of his work. Others Inside Man, 25th Hour and Jungle Fever are routinely ranked high. All exemplify Lee's deft generosity with actors: new (Tisha Campbell in School Daze), established (Denzel Washington in He Got Game) or seemingly revealed for the first time (Samuel L. Jackson in Jungle Fever). He's been on an artistic roll recently with BlacKkKlansman (the screenplay garnered him his first Oscar) and Da 5 Bloods on Netflix. American Utopia, his documenting of the Broadway musical that David Byrne brought to such timely life, is due out in October. Before that, here are five Lee films streaming now to add to your watchlist. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 16:03:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Security fences are set up outside the White House as U.S. President Donald Trump plans to deliver his Republican National Convention (RNC) acceptance speech at the White House, in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Aug. 27, 2020. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) The Secret Service had beefed up security around the presidential residence as protesters gathered outside the White House with the intention of disrupting Trump's outdoor speech delivered before a crowd of more than 1,000 people. WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has accepted the Republican Party's nomination for reelection, in a speech from the White House South Lawn on Thursday night. "My fellow Americans, tonight, with a heart full of gratitude and boundless optimism, I proudly accept this nomination for President of the United States," Trump said in remarks closing the 2020 Republican National Convention (RNC). Protesters gathered outside the White House with the intention of disrupting Trump's outdoor speech delivered before a crowd of more than 1,000 people. The Secret Service had beefed up security around the presidential residence. Security fences are set up outside the White House as U.S. President Donald Trump plans to deliver his Republican National Convention (RNC) acceptance speech at the White House, in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Aug. 27, 2020. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) Trump, 74, was a businessman and television celebrity before entering politics. He won the 2016 U.S. presidential election as a Republican by defeating then Democratic presidential nominee and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton. This year, he will face off with former U.S. Vice President and 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. According to the RealClearPolitics polling average, Biden leads Trump by 7.1 percentage points nationally. However, Trump has repeatedly dismissed polls showing him falling behind as "fake." On Thursday night, Trump made the case why he should be reelected, touted what he believes are accomplishments of his first term, defended his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and sought to draw contrast between himself and Biden. "This is the most important election in the history of our country," Trump said. "There has never been such a difference between two parties, or two individuals, in ideology, philosophy, or vision than there is right now." Demonstrators take part in a "Black Lives Matter" protest commemorating Juneteenth in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, June 19, 2020. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) The remarks came amid rekindled anger over police brutality and racism in the wake of the Aug. 23 police shooting of 29-year-old African American Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which has triggered consecutive days of protests there that have erupted into chaos and violence at times. Trump didn't mention the shooting in his acceptance speech but went on stressing a "law and order" message, a major theme of his reelection bid, in order to appeal to his voters, while painting a doom-and-gloom picture of what the country would look like with a Biden White House. "No one will be safe in Biden's America," he claimed. "There is violence and danger in the streets of many Democrat-run cities throughout America ... We must always have law and order." Biden, in an interview with MSNBC earlier on Thursday, accused Trump of "rooting for more violence, not less." Protesters set the Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct building on fire in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States, on May 28, 2020. (Photo by Ben Hovland/Xinhua) "He views this as a political benefit to him," Biden said when asked about demonstrations in Kenosha, Wisconsin. "And he's clear about that. And what's he doing, he's pouring more gasoline on the fire." On Thursday afternoon, Biden's running mate, U.S. Senator from California Kamala Harris, hit Trump on his response to the coronavirus pandemic after the country passed the grim milestone of 180,000 coronavirus deaths and nearly 5.9 million cases -- more than anywhere else in the world. "It's relentless. You can't stop it with a tweet. You can't create a distraction and hope it'll go away. It doesn't go away. By its nature, a pandemic is unforgiving," she said. "If you get it wrong at the beginning, the consequences are catastrophic. It's very hard to catch up ... President Trump got it wrong in the beginning." The finale of the 2020 RNC, under the theme "Land of Greatness," also featured speeches from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, former New York City mayor and Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, and the president's daughter and senior adviser Ivanka Trump. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 09:59:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LUANDA, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Huawei Angola expects to complete a technology park worth 60 million U.S. dollars by December 2021, the Chinese telecom company said here Thursday. The announcement was made by Chu Xiaoxin, representative of Huawei in Angola, after a meeting with Angolan Vice President Bornito de Sousa. Chu said that the technology park, under construction in Talatona district in the capital, will comprise three centers for training Angolan engineers, innovating new technologies and exchanging advanced technological experience. He said that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Huawei considers the Angolan market as one of the most important in Africa. Last week, Huawei signed a memorandum of understanding with the Angolan Ministry of Foreign Affairs about talent training in information and communication technologies. In November 2017, the Chinese company launched the "Huawei academia" program at the Catholic University of Angola with the purpose of helping students start a career and get prepared for the job market. Enditem Alexander Titus braved the remote Emigrant Wilderness to catch wild trout at Huckleberry Lake. Here is the St. Helena angler with a nice fly-caught rainbow. As I read about this region, it is easy to see that fishing is just a part of a High Sierra adventure. Add climbing, trekking tracking, mountaineering and wilderness camping at the lakes 7,700-foot elevation for a full understanding. I read Lee Haskins blog at bit.ly/3jjiTen. I think you will like it, too. Its A Stinko Time to be on the water around here. Sitting in a boat all day in the dangerously thick smoke is not a good idea. Add lightning storms and rogue winds, and Im staying home till its over. We had to cancel a two-day Clear Lake bass trip with pro guide Bob Myskey because of threatening conditions here at home, as well as too many road closures. Bob reported that the lake was covered in smoke. As you know, Clear Lake sits in a huge bowl, so that smoke can stay there a long time. Well be back next month. I guess if you gotta go, the salt is your best bet. Dave Hurleys Weekend Wrap Hot Sheet told us that party boats are making the transition to rock fish in anticipation of the salmon move back through the Delta and upstream to that very river spot where they were born to spawn. Dont get itchy and run over to the Delta to fish for king salmon. While the river water temperature is high during the early part of the run, they are on a fast track to colder water and wont stop overnight in those deep holes where we catch them every year. My longtime river guide, Kevin Brock (800-995-5543), is looking forward to some big salmon in the Sac and Feather. He likes the end of September/early October as best times. We limited out on the Feather both days with Kevin last year, my 25th straight year on the river with him. Our big thrill came years ago on the Feather when he put me onto a 45-pound king salmon. Better call him now to book some trips. Meanwhile... back in the salt, Captain Rick Powers out of Bodega Bay Sport Fishing accented the rockfish story with Sunday limits all around on big rockfish plus 24 limits of ling cod to 19 pounds. He told the Hot Sheet passengers were walking off of the boat with 70/80-pound sacks of monster rockfish consisting of vermilions, coppers and canaries. He went on to say that the weather was outstanding with no wind and that the air had been clear. Bay action Keith Frasier at San Rafaels Loch Lomond Bait and Tackle said that the halibut bite was pretty consistent with good number of them in the bay. Plenty were in the 17- to 18-pound class. Over In The Delta... heavy smoke impacted breathability and visibility. With only a trickle of salmon on a fast run to the cooler waters upstream, West Bank striper trolling has improved, but that action occurs during only a small window at the change of tides. Its time to get out your black bass gear. Listen to this report from the Hot Sheet on the FLW Toyota Delta Series bass tournament last week: Local bass star Ish Monroe of Oakdale aced the three-day event with a total of 65 pounds, 13 ounces, topped by his big fish of over 7 pounds. That came on a River2Sea Phat Mat Daddy Frog. That is an average of 22 pounds a day. Divided by five bass, it equals 4.4 pounds per fish. And for your Bankies, there is a solid bluegill bite reported west of Stockton off of Eight Mile Road. Bring a drop-shot rig tipped with red worms, minicrawlers, or jumbo red worms. New Romeos Bait and Tackle in Freeport can provide these before you head out. Its In The Genes... for sure. Tyler Brown, back in Wakefield, R.I. is my first cousin, twice removed. He just sent me a photo of the 600-pound swordfish he caught off of Block Island, just a few miles off of the southern Rhode Island coastline. Thats the new family big fish record. It swamps my 225-pound sturgeon catch in Oregon a few years ago. Just to round out the day, Tyler boated a couple of Atlantic tuna, too. Im fond of Tyler, a recent high school graduate who is just beginning his first classes at Electricians School. By the way, Block Island swordfish are famous all over the East for their size and flavor. Top restaurants there specify Block Island on their menus. I can remember as a kid going to see the swordfish tournament weigh-ins each one bigger than the previous one. Every once in a while, we would see a grander a thousand-pound monster hung upon the hook. Email Bill Ryan at acorn_3@comcast.net. Email Bill Ryan at acorn_3@comcast.net. After opening up the second location of his nationally lauded Papas Burgers in June on San Antonios near North Side, owner Robert Walker is branching out into the taco world. Walker is in the process of developing his newest concept, Papas Sarten (pan), and plans to open the doors this fall. Papas Sarten is located just a few doors away from the Papas Burgers location on San Pedro near Oblate. His idea is to have a lineup of breakfast and lunch tacos that are cooked fresh, made to order, in front of the eyes of customers. When we were kids, grandma always had a pot of beans, some bacon grease and a cast iron pan on the stove, Walker said. She would always ask if we were hungry, and if we were, she was ready to cook us up something. Thats the idea behind the restaurant. Everything will be made after the order. Another element to Papas Sarten is that Walker said that his tacos will have the option of having any of three house salsas cooked with the tacos, although customers can still get them on the side. Coffee will also be a major element to Papas Sarten, and Walker wants his patrons to donate their coffee mugs for him to use. We want to replicate that feel of grandmas house in every way possible, Walker said. On ExpressNews.com: Chucks Food Shack: How to make a DIY pork trompo al pastor at home on the grill or oven Papas Sarten occupies the former space of La Siberia Taqueria, which has been unoccupied for nearly a year. Once open, Walker said that business hours would likely be between 6:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Papas Burgers has been the recipient of several national burger accolades. The El Caliente Burger, which comes with a 1/3 pound beef patty, pepper jack cheese, sliced jalapenos, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, onions and pickles was named the best burger in Texas by Eat This, Not That! And in 2018, Money Magazine did a report that cited Papas as the fourth-best burger restaurant in the nation. Papas Sarten, 6900 San Pedro Ave., Suite 113. Expected opening: fall 2020. Chuck Blount is a food writer and columnist covering all things grilled and smoked in the San Antonio area. Find his Chuck's Food Shack columns on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.comTo read more from Chuck, become a subscriber. cblount@express-news.net | Twitter: @chuck_blount | Instagram: @bbqdiver Over the past year, as part of a national land use policy, the Shandong provincial government has been carrying out large-scale forced house demolitions in rural areas throughout the province, provoking defiant protests by farmers. Many residents have been driven out of their homes and forced into new rural communities in nearby areas. These are supposed to be communities planned by the government, bringing the residents of several villages together. But, as shown in some widely-circulated photos and videos, many villagers have not been resettled before their homes were demolished, forcing them to build makeshift temporary houses. Although the focus of this current confrontation is Shandong Province, it flows from rural land planning instructions issued by the Chinese government in May 2019. Two months later, the Shandong administration proposed large-scale village mergers, with plans to demolish about 14,000 villages by the end of 2020 in the first phase. Supposedly, the purpose is to promote urbanisation and improve the rural living environment. In reality, by moving villagers into existing towns or newly-built housing with a smaller footprint, the debt-laden government frees up land that it can then sell. Shandong has long been regarded as one of Chinas main agricultural regions. According to official statistics in 2019, nearly 40 percent of its population was in rural areas. In a government report this May, the level of urbanisation was 8 percentage points lower than that of neighbouring Jiangsu Province and 10 percentage points lower than that of Guangdong Province. The Shandong provincial government says this is a disgrace that must be changed. In reality, regional urbanisation data is often regarded as an important evaluation item for the promotion of officials. According to reports, after the villagers homes were demolished, they had to pay large sums of money before moving into their new buildings, and faced more expensive living costs. As revealed in an article in China News Weekly on June 10, many local governments implemented demolition first, then resettlement policies, causing villagers to lose their homes. When a reporter asked some displaced residents who had circulated photos and videos, when they could move into a newly-built community, no one in the village knew the exact answer. Villagers who refused to sign agreements were subjected to intimidation. Often, villagers opposed to forced demolitions were beaten. In one video, a woman showed her house after its demolition. The furniture and household items were violently thrown out of the house, and covered in mud. She cried and said: This is my home, not a dump. On June 21, an article titled The Real Situation of Village Merger in Shandong was published in the South Review, triggering public concern. Li Shang, a resident of Lijia Village, Linyi, which was demolished last October, said the resettlement buildings were four kilometres away from the village, and did not provide decent living conditions. Moreover, because the compensation for demolition was very small, villagers had to pay fees to move into the new buildings. Many villagers had refused to move. Li Shangs parents had stayed behind at his home, but faced harassment such as the digging up of their fields, artificial destruction of crops, power and water cuts, and the smashing of windows and doors. Unable to tolerate this intimidation, Li Shangs parents moved out on June 11 to join their son, who was working in the city. At noon on June 13, Li Shangs house was demolished without any notice. Li Shang had reported this to the police, called for help, and petitioned, but to no avail. Yuan Zhen, in Yuanjia Village, suffered even more threatening treatment. In mid-April, at a suddenly-convened village meeting, the residents were told that the village would be demolished. Subsequently, a propaganda group of more than 100 government personnel entered the village, seeking to force the villagers to sign agreements to demolition, without even saying where and when a new community would be built. Yuan Zhens family and 23 others opposed the signing. On May 30, government officials came to her house again and started smashing the door. With her two children crying with fright, Yuan Zhen was forced to open the door but was immediately taken into a car by six government officials. They confiscated her mobile phone and drove around for a while to prevent anyone from following the car, then took her to a government office, where officials spoke to her for 16 hours. The officials said village merger was a national policy and opposition to demolition would affect her marriage and her childrens school and work, as well as their marriage. Yuan Zhens family had immediately called the police but when they arrived at the government office, the officials asked her to sign a certificate and said: This is not illegal detention, but political work. When Yuan Zhen asked the officials where and when a new community would be built, she was told residents could move in during August. Yuan Zhen retorted that the village next door had been demolished two years earlier for the construction of a reservoir, and the villagers still had not been properly resettled. In the end, Yuan Zhen still refused to sign a demolition agreement, but felt powerless in the face of the governments harsh rhetoric and intense political work. On June 27, confronted by continued protests by farmers, sparking wider criticisms, the government suspended the relevant policies, but did not stop the program. Liu Jiayi, the Shandong Province chief executive, told reporters: We will stop the demolition in areas with more controversy, but not all of themit depends mainly on the willingness of the villagers. Such a statement often means the suspension of demolition only so that political work can continue until villagers agree to demolition. Many villagers said that in areas with serious protests, demolition was suspended, but the demolition debris had not been cleared, so villagers could not return to live. On July 2, an article titled How should Shandong restart the merger of villages appeared in Faren news, an official publication, again indicating that the program is continuing. Some media outlets have questioned the legality of forced demolitions and reported suspicions that local governments were using the land policies to increase their fiscal revenue. On June 10, in China News Weekly s report on the village merger program in Donge County, an official said the local government had a cooperative relationship with the Shandong Land Development Group because it could obtain higher prices when trading land. For example, in the demolition of a certain village, if 150 units of construction land are obtained, it means that after subtracting the 30 units required for resettlement, at least 120 units of land can be traded with the company to obtain huge profits. In other words, land obtained by demolishing farmers houses is being sold to developers to increase government income. As a result of the economic downturn in recent years, the Shandong provincial government and local governments all have huge debts, making the transfer of land to profiteers quite common. Dezhou City, one Shandongs main cities, for example, had a ratio of government debt to general public budget revenue as high as 300 percent at the end of 2017. This is a national crisis. As early as 2015, a report showed that the debt ratio of more than 100 municipal-level administrative units and over 400 county-level administrative units nationwide exceeded 100 percent, and warned of government bankruptcies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a large number of migrant workers have lost their jobs and returned to the countryside, so more serious social conflicts may occur. The houses kept by migrant workers in rural areas were treated as vacant houses and subject to demolition and confiscation. The resistance of peasants to the forced demolition of their villages is just one indication of the mounting social tensions being produced by the worsening social and economic crisis in China. Armenia isnt bringing the Lebanese-Armenians to the country. They are the ones who are coming. If Armenia brought them, repatriation would be at the state level. This is what High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of Armenia Zareh Sinanyan told reporters in parliament today. Currently, there are some Lebanese-Armenians who prefer to come and settle in their historic homeland, he said. When told that there was a time when Syrian-Armenians also came to Armenia, but left Armenia for Europe, Sinanyan said the following: Of course, the practice of the Syrian-Armenians was rather problematic. Armenia suffered losses since the government wasnt prepared, but even in the best cases, for instance, in the case of Israel, not all the Jews who left for Israel after the collapse of the former USSR stayed in Israel, and many of them left for Canada, the US and other countries. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 23:28:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenya Airways said on Friday it recorded a loss before tax of 14.4 billion shillings (about 133 million U.S. dollars) in the first six months to June 30. Allan Kilavuka, CEO of Kenya Airways, told a virtual investor briefing that the six months have been extremely challenging for the airline because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has severely impacted the aviation industry. "It has been a tough year when we have faced unprecedented challenges. The situation continues to be difficult even as we gradually resume our operations, mainly due to the depressed demand for air travel, with recovery to 2019 levels expected to take between three to four years," Kilavuka said. "The scale of this challenge requires substantial change so we are in a competitive and resilient position to address the impact of COVID-19, withstand any longer-term reductions in customer demand and any economic shocks or events that could affect the airline," he added. The national flag carrier resumed domestic flights on July 15 and international flights on Aug. 1 after four months of suspended operations. Kilavuka observed that the airline recorded 1.1 million passengers for the first six months compared to 2.4 million passengers transported over the same period last year. Michael Joseph, Kenya Airways chairman, said that the global economic and geopolitical context remains uncertain due to the pandemic with many airlines having grounded their aircraft while others have instituted other drastic measures to survive. Joseph said that the opportunity for Kenya Airways is to recalibrate and reset business to adapt and thrive in this new and unexpected reality moving forward. Enditem F irst Lady Melania Trump has attracted widespread attention over her facial expressions while greeting Ivanka Trump at the Republican National Convention. Ivanka, an influential White House adviser, introduced her father and incumbent US President Donald Trump during a speech at the event on Thursday. Mr Trump later formally accepted his partys nomination to take on Democrat challenger Joe Biden in the US' November election as he brought the four-day convention to a close. But it was the seemingly frosty exchange between Melania and Ivanka which piqued social media users' interest and prompted the creation of an array of memes. Here are some of the ones doing the rounds... 1) You work on commission? 2) The only good part 3) Getting along just fine 4) Careless whisper? 5) So weird The conclusion of the Republican convention came as the US continues to gear up towards the November 3 presidential election. Loading.... Mr Trump, 74, said on Thursday that "at no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies or two agendas". Line of Duty writer Jed Mercurio sparked debate on Twitter after suggesting flight attendants not forcing people to wear face coverings on a British Airways plane were 'to blame' if production of seris 6 of the hit show gets shut down. Taking to social media yesterday afternoon, the Mercurio, 54, expressed his outrage that cabin crew would not challenge two maskless people in the row behind him when he was flying to Belfast. He said a British Airways staff member told him the organisation does not require proof of medical exemption for not wearing a mask and as a result do 'they dont challenge non-compliance as anyone can claim exemption.' Line of Duty writer Jed Mercurio took to Twitter to share his experiences on his British Airways flight to Belfast yesterday. He said flight attendants who do not challenge people not wearing mask will be 'to blame' if there is a second lockdown Mercurio said two passengers sat on the row behind him were not wearing masks and when he asked airline staff they said they were not obligated to force people to wear them The script writer was on a flight to Belfast where he was planning to self-isolate before resuming filming of hit series Line of Duty. He said: 'So Im on a @British_Airways flight to Belfast to self-isolate before resuming filming of #LineOfDuty and the two passengers in the row behind arent wearing masks and the flight attendant wont challenge them. If we have to shut down again, you know who to blame.' To further explain the situation he added: 'Some comments re medical exemption. BA staff were unaware if these passengers were exempt because none had asked at the gate or during boarding. 'The flight attendant advised that, since BA dont require proof, they dont challenge non-compliance as anyone can claim exemption.' In response to his claims, British Airways told Femail: 'We require all customers to wear a face mask at all times while on board. 'The safety of our customers and colleagues is always our first priority, and we work closely with the relevant authorities to adhere to international government requirements. According to Mercurio, the member of staff for British Airways said passengers are not required to provide evidence of medical exemption and therefore staff are not required to challege 'non-compliance' Reaction to Mercurio's tweet was mixed, with some people suggesting it was not the staff's responsibility to ensure people wear masks and others suggesting it should fall under health and safety regulations His tweet resulted in a lengthy debate, with some Twitter users suggesting it was not the role of plane staff to enforce mask-wearing rules, while others argued the cabin crew are there to 'ensure that all health and safety procedures are adhered to'. James Lee questioned why it was the responsibility of airline staff to challenge non-mask wearers. 'They should be challenged before they even step foot on the flight, this would eliminate issues such as this. Attendants aren't there to police,' he added. In response, Twitter user Mari said it was the staff's job to adhere to health and safety regulations onboard flights and suggested ensuring all passengers were wearing masks fell under that role. The airline's website states: 'If a customer qualifies for an exemption we do not expect them to wear a mask, however we strongly recommend they carry an exemption card, badge or sign to avoid being asked about their exemption status at various points in the journey.' When asked to confirm its policy, British Airways tweeted passengers are required to wear a mask on board its planes at all times, expect those who are exempt Several people waded in on the debate to add their belief that people who are unable to wear masks, even for short-haul flights, should not be allowed to do so. Twitter user Sarah added that British Airways had assured her that masks would be worn by all passengers on her flight and said she would refuse to sit next to someone who did not wish to wear one. Val Plant questioned BA directly and asked the organisation to confirm their policy for mask wearing onboard flights. In response, the company's social media team said: 'We require you to wear a face mask on board at all times. 'However, the UK Government has provided a list of exemptions and we would not require these passengers to wear one.' Meanwhile vice president of Lib Dem Women Liz Jarvis said people should be forced to wear masks unless they have a medical reason not to, and noted wearing a mask should be 'as natural as fastening your seatbelt'. While some people offered up a host of reasons why the passengers may have not worn a mask, others said people should not be allowed to travel if they are unable to wear masks onboard Others gave reasons for why the passengers may have opted to not wear masks, such as Osiris Rage who said they may have asthma or anxiety. However, Mercurio noted the staff on the flight never asked the passengers why they were not wearing a mask so it was not clear if they were choosing not to or if they had a medical exemption. In support of his claims, Andy Dillon said he experienced a similar situation while on a flight to Belfast from Bristol in which one passenger took his mask off before people around him asked him to put it back on. FICTION The Pull of the Stars Emma Donoghue Picador, $32.99 Emma Donoghue's 17th book of fiction, The Pull of the Stars, is set in a Dublin hospital during the influenza pandemic of 1918, and was submitted to her publisher just as COVID-19 pulled planet Earth to its knees. In author notes, and extensive self-laudatory communiques on her website, Donoghue thanks her team for bringing her pandemic novel together "in a mere four months" as if expediting coal to Newcastle were an obvious winning publishing strategy. Dublin in 1918 during the Spanish flu pandemic, the subject of Emma Donoghue's latest and very timely novel. Credit: Has hastening paid off? You bet. The novel is a bestseller in Canada, the US and Ireland. It's the outing du jour of book clubs, including the Australian Women's Weekly's, and is the Oprah Magazine Best Book of Summer 2020. Brazil, Russia and Czech markets are translating it as I type. Understanding a deadly virus is nothing, clearly, next to comprehending the immersive urges of readers locked down or otherwise in its shadow. Donoghue's narrator is Julia Power, a young Dubliner midwife in charge of a specialist maternity/fever ward, helping expectant women with the life-threatening grippe to deliver their "tiny passengers". Social movements and revolutions have the goal of promoting or resisting a change in every given society. But many movements have failed in this regard. They have failed not because they lack legitimate reasons to ask for change and not because they have failed to mobilize the people to rally with them nor failed to attract bystanders to sympathize with the course. There is, of course, a good enough reason for blacks everywhere, especially in the United States to ask for a change. The Black Lives Matter Movement and its supporters have since George Floyds death brought together thousands of people from the different races and received solidarity and empathy from myriad other audiences. The effectiveness in this aspect is simply because racism is a canker; police brutality on the black people is heinous and abhorrent. And I fully support this course to eradicate racism and to make improvements to prevent any future brutality whether from the police or from any other white group be it from a cult or from individual actions. But why do I deprecate the same movement that is fighting to eradicate racism and police brutality and feel it is less likely to succeed in its quest? During the Reconstruction era, the social movements that were formed called the Civil Rights Movements fought hard to reverse the Jim Crow laws. Between the period of 1954 and 1968, activists like Martin Luther King Jnr employed tactics that were seemingly non-violent in nature such as sit-ins. These were the times when laws were made to strengthen the hand of the racist, gave impetus to segregation and backed white supremacist like Ku Klux Klan (KKK) to vandalize and attack blacks. Throughout this period, non-violent strategies were employed over pillaging and vandalism as a means to tackle racism and an effective means of achieving the expected social change. Unlike this era, racism and police brutality during the Reconstruction period were overt and rampant. Unlike this era, the social movements and activist were tactical and they realized violence could not be used to fight violence. Unlike this era, Martin Luther King Jnr and all the civil rights activists saw that racism and police brutality were fueled by fear. Fear of the black man. Fear that by employing violence only goes to reinforce that feeling in the white man and the persistent use of the same tactic cannot and will never engender to the goal that the movement is seriously fighting for. At the very end, reforms may be achieved but the root cause, FEAR, will not be uprooted. It is heart rending to still observe acts of racism and police brutality on Black people in this current dispensation. A dispensation where the United States of America has had a black man on the highest seat in the country, has seen many black people being elected into parliament and even seen a member of the minority appointed as a vice presidential candidate. These feats can be adequately and appropriately be considered the fruits of the efforts of black and minority social movements decades ago. Can posterity reference same to the Black Lives Matter Movement decades to come? The Black Lives Matter Movement is failing tactically. Violence is not the way forward! The violence that has characterized the movement can be attributed somewhat to the dearth of uniformity in its organization. Different groups of the same movement have employed dissimilar strategies at different points in time which has called for police retaliation and even the POTUS representation of the group as anarchists. This is creating a lot of noise and noise does not get results. In as much as the relevant authorities are aware of the cause of the movement, they need to know the necessity of the same. However, they are unable to hear in the milieu of the razzmatazz. It is therefore not impertinent to say that the continual use of conventional unintelligible tactic of violence will inure to no better improvement because racism and police fear of blacks that result in brutal use of force during arrests such as choking and shooting are embedded in the very foundation on which the United States of America was built. The movement has two major tools at its disposal and it is these same tools that can ensure its success. 21st Century movements have social media and civil laws. These two tools eluded the Civil Rights Movement of the mid-20th century. Social media is an effective and far more efficient strategy to be adopted to carry the message of the movement. Just as it is effective it can also be disastrous. Effective because millions of people can join in the movement as it removes all forms of barriers, thus, there is no physical boundary with social media and therefore, as many as believe and sympathize with the course can join in from across the world. On the other hand, it is disastrous because it can be used in a manner that is self-damaging. Any violence or acts of thuggery from the black community can also be broadcast to the world and this can reinforce individual feeling of hate and fear of the black people. The second most important tool in the black mans arsenal is the Civil law. Civil laws are already in place for the blacks. I will commend those groups of the movement who result to lawful means to get justice served rather than taking to the streets. Nothing can be done outside the laws; hence, the same law can be used as a weapon to fight for more equality in police encounters and to suppress racism. The Black man is intelligent and capable of achieving anything, therefore that aspect of the black man must be seen more rather than the indiscriminate use of force which only confirms the existing idea of a life of thuggery which puts fear in many, especially in the white folks. Washington: US President Donald Trump has positioned himself as an enemy of the Washington elite in his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, dubbing his Democratic rival Joe Biden the "destroyer of American greatness" and a "Trojan horse for socialism". In an unprecedented move, Trump delivered his 70-minute speech from the South Lawn of the White House, a decision critics said was a flagrant abuse of presidential authority. Following the speech, a dramatic fireworks display lit up the Washington skyline - including fireworks spelling out "Trump 2020". "At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas," Trump said of the November 3 election. "This is the most important election in the history of our country." 28.08.2020 LISTEN The Volta Caucus of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is calling for cool heads following the recent controversy between the founder of the main opposition party, Jerry John Rawlings and Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi. The group is asking Professor Kwamena Ahwoi to humbly withdraw his book, 'Working with Rawlings,' indicating that the claimed inaccuracies have become the source of the raging controversy. The book authored by Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi who served as Minister for Local Government and Rural Development from 1990 to 2001, he made several accusations against the former President. A strong-worded response from Jerry John Rawlings sought to expose the inaccuracies in the book with the Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu joining the fray to punch more holes. In a press statement from the Volta Caucus of the NDC, it called on both parties to resort to cool heads to ensure peace prevails at a time when they are seeking for victory in the upcoming General Elections. The Volta Caucus, a group of Voltarians based outside the Volta Region and members of the NDC who believes in the ideals and principles of the NDC but most importantly seeking the regions development Wishes to appeal for cool heads to prevail over the raging controversy between the NDC founder, H.E He John Rawlings and Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi, regarding the issues of factual inaccuracies in a book titles 'Working with Rawlings' authored by the latter, a press statement from the group dated August 28, 2020, has said. The Group said it is saddened that the issue came up in such a crucial time when Ghanaians are crying for an electoral rescue from the maladministration and misrule of the Nana Akufo Addo-led government. The group is suggesting that Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi humbly withdraws the book to end the 'dog fight' among themselves. It is the ungrudging suggestion of the Volta Caucus group that Professor Kwamena Ahwoi humbly withdraws his book since the claimed inaccuracies have become the source of the raging controversy. It is in the greater interest of the NDC and Ghana that we are seeking this and anticipating peace will prevail, the statement noted. Read the full statement below: (Natural News) A chilling new report states the National Health Service the national healthcare system of the U.K. ordered care homes across the country to place their residents under do not resuscitate (DNR) orders at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Queens Nursing Institute, officials of the NHS pressured around one in 10 care homes to introduce DNRs without permission from the residents, family members and even fellow staff. The officials also said that the move was made to free up hospital beds for other COVID-19 patients. In an interview with the London Telegraph, Alison Leary, a professor at London South Bank University and the author of the damning report, also called for an investigation on the matter. While the British Medical Association maintains that a DNR order should be made after talking with the patient or their family, the practice has been controversial in the U.K., especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, the NHS was forced to issue new guidance on DNR orders after a woman sued the government over its failure to provide consistent advice on the matter. In her report, Leary surveyed 128 nurses and care home managers, all of whom worked either in elderly homes or institutions that took care of younger people with cognitive disabilities. One respondent said that they challenged the order to place DNR orders for all residents, saying the practice was unethical, while another reported that DNRs were put in place without consent from the family or discussions with care home staff. In addition, the respondents said that some hospitals refused to admit care home residents at the height of the pandemic, even for non-COVID-19 conditions. Care home staff reported having a hard time setting appointments with general practitioners for elderly residents. (Related: London struggles to cope with an explosion of coronavirus cases in the city: Prime Minister Johnson puts city on lockdown.) Do not resuscitate orders should, wherever possible, be made in consultation with the person concerned and their family and be based on fitness to be treated, as well as personal preference, said Deborah Alsina, chief executive of the nonprofit Independent Age. Report highlights egregious practice on DNR orders Leary, who teaches healthcare and workforce modeling, was surprised with how many people came forward with their concerns, saying that she expected only one or two cases. The fact that DNRs were issued for whole populations even imposed without consulting with the family or the patient was a cause for concern, she added. This effectively meant that NHS officials could make decisions that would impact the well-being of care home residents, not only the elderly but also those with cognitive problems, regardless of age. This isnt the first time that the irresponsible use of DNR orders has been brought to public attention. In April, NHS England medical director Steven Powis banned the use of blanketed DNR forms, in a letter to NHS staff. The ban came after news that a medical clinic in Port Talbot asked elderly patients to fill up forms ensuring that no emergency services will be sent the moment they contract COVID-19. In addition, a surgeon in the southwestern town of Somerset told people with autism to sign DNRs to prevent resuscitation if they fall critically ill. In a separate instance, learning disability care provider Turning Point reported that it had received an unprecedented number of DNR forms, which it plans to challenge as illegal. The United Kingdom currently has 330,967 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 41,552 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Learn more about the latest developments on the Wuhan coronavirus at Pandemic.news. Sources include: WND.com DailyMail.co.uk IndependentAge.org England.NHS.uk [PDF] PracticeIndex.co.uk BBC.com HSJ.co.uk Coronavirus.JHU.edu New Delhi, Aug 28 : Coronavirus has impacted the qawwals and artistes associated with them in a big way given the challenging circumstances posed by the pandemic. The qawwals say the Central and state governments should think about the plight of the artistes and help them to tide over the situation. Due to corona, all the qawwals and the artistes working with them have nothing to do except sit at home for the last six months. The qawwals say that some artistes have been forced to work as labourers and if the government does not help them then the legacy of the qawwals would end. Delhi's famous qawwal Yusuf Khan Nizami told IANS, "We have been performing qawwali since the age of 7. I have also done programmes in many countries. There are 10 persons in our group. Due to corona, the situation is grim, not only qawwals but all other artistes have been affected." "In any state of India you will find qawwals and they get to do only four programmes in a month and sometimes not even one." "We did our last programme on February 29 and have been sitting at home since then. There are many qawwals in Delhi. However, there are some artistes who also work with other groups to earn a living," Nizami added. The Sabri Sufi Brothers group from Ajmer Sharif, Rajasthan told IANS, "We have been performing qawwali for the last 800 years. At present, it is the 24th generation and generation after generation has been performing qawwali." (JNS) Last Tuesday, two notable events occurred in the Democratic Party. Joe Biden announced that he had selected California Senator Kamala Harris to serve as his running mate in November; and Rep. Ilhan Omar won her primary, all but guaranteeing her return to Congress for a second term. On the face of things, Harriss selection seems like the more significant of the two events. But actually, Omars primary victory was far more momentous. Traditionally, presidential candidates have selected their running mates based on electoral considerations. For instance, in 2016, then-Indiana go... Joe Biden isn't onstage this week as Republicans celebrate their presidential nominating convention. But his campaign is trying to make sure he's on TV. That presence will come in the form of a two-minute television ad set to debut on broadcast and cable networks Thursday night, offering pricey counterprogramming intended to coincide with President Donald Trump's renomination speech. The spot largely focuses on a positive message from Biden to America, including his plan to recover from the pandemic, interspersed with details of his biography. And it portrays the 77-year-old candidate as a vibrant and quick-paced campaigner at a time when Republicans are trying to paint him as a washed-up politician who is showing his age. "Some people are always in a hurry," a narrator says in the opening scene, over a montage of Biden riding a bike, walking away from an Air Force plane, preparing to go onstage and jogging up a ramp. "When Joe Biden is president, America is just going to have to keep up," the narrator says, citing Biden's plan to deal with the novel coronavirus and proposals to help working families get ahead. The spot is largely gauzy and high-minded, but it's not entirely Mr. Nice Guy, with some footage designed to trigger Trump on his big day, even though the president is never mentioned by name. At one point, as the narrator says that some people "race up steps when others take it slow" as a video shows Trump making an unsteady descent on a ramp after giving an address at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in June. That's juxtaposed with video of Biden jogging up a similar ramp, from an address he gave at the academy. (In case anyone misses the reference, a campaign news release accompanying the ad notes that the ad is being released as the general election "Ramps Up.") Other references in the ad, which is set to run on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News, are more subtle. Audio of Biden saying that America is an idea more powerful than any "dictator or tyrant" plays over a picture of Trump walking past police in riot gear near Lafayette Square after chemical irritants were deployed to clear protesters from the area before a presidential photo op. And for the briefest moment, the ad features archival video of Trump dancing at a Mar-a-Lago party attended by Jeffrey Epstein - though Epstein is not in the snippet. Biden's campaign has largely avoided trolling Trump, instead trying to stick with a message that Biden is a uniter who will heal the country. So the jabs at Trump - particularly his physical difficulties - represent a departure. The ad also highlights more familiar fare, including tragedies that have occurred Biden's life. He lost his wife and young daughter in a 1972 car crash and an adult son to brain cancer in 2015 - and the ad connects his ability to overcome personal struggles with his optimism that the country can survive current crises. "No one needs to tell Joe how hard life can hit you," the narrator says. "But he knows it's in the pain you can find purpose." The ad will also run Friday through Sunday in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, part of the campaign's $26 million ad buy for the week of the Republican National Convention. The Supreme Court has dismissed a public interest litigation seeking postponement of Bihar Assembly Elections to be held in October-November citing the coronavirus crisis. The court expressed confidence that the election commission must be considering all aspects before taking the decision to hold polls. The PIL was filed by one Avinash Thakur who urged the top court to call for a report from the EC on the prevailing conditions in the state and whether it was feasible to hold elections there. A 3-judge bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said, The EC will take care of every situation. They must be considering everything. This kind of petition we cannot entertain under Article 32. The petitioner represented by lawyer Neeraj Shekhar then sought permission from the court to move representation to the EC. The Court said that this right is always available to the petitioner but refused to pass any order to the effect. Finally, the petitioner withdrew the PIL. Several political parties in Bihar, mostly from the opposition, have sought deferment of the polls citing the pandemic and expressed fears that holding polls at this stage might pose a grave health risk to the population. Also Read: SC asks Bihar governor to take a call on B.Ed entrance test within 5 days However, the election commission recently released a set of instructions restricting mass mobilization in election campaigning and other protocols for campaigning keeping the need for social distancing in mind. The number of polling booths has also been increased to 1.06 lakh, with creation of additional 33,797 auxiliary booths, apart from the existing 72727 booths in the state with an eye on avoiding crowding on the election day. Also Read: Manjhi meets Nitish, says nothing political 6.58 lakh polling personnel have been enlisted for poll duty. The process for assigning poll related works to the polling personnel will start once the election schedule is announced, possibly by mid-September . SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON EDWARDSVILLE Bank of Hillsboro, in partnership with Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, donated $5,000 to the Goshen Market Foundations Beet Box to help expand the outreach for the mobile farmers market and bring fresh food to more communities. The Beet Box, which was created by the local nonprofit, Goshen Market Foundation, is committed to bringing affordable, fresh produce to people who might not otherwise have access to it. The mobile food market delivers roughly 1,500 pounds of produce every year serving Madison and St. Clair counties. It visits neighborhoods, schools and community centers in the region that are currently lacking access to fresh produce as a result of transportation limitations, health issues or food-desert conditions. Goshen Market Foundation Vice President Tara Pohlman said the donation will allow them to add five new stops in Collinsville, Alton and East Alton to their route and will help them pay their mobile market drivers for their time. Currently, our mobile market travels about 80 miles each week and supports three to five local farmers through the produce we buy from them, Pohlman said. This year we decided to introduce a pay what you can policy because we know there are a lot of people who cant afford to pay anything right now but really need the fresh food. Bank of Hillsboros donation helps ensure that we can do that while also reaching more people. Bank of Hillsboro was able to offer the donation after applying for a $20,000 grant through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. The bank is offering a COVID-19 Relief Program consisting of zero-rate advances and grants to support all of its member institutions, such as Bank of Hillsboro, and the communities they serve. Bank of Hillsboro Senior Vice President Mike Ward said they decided to apply for the grant and were thrilled when they received it. Bank of Hillsboro has been a proud supporter of the Goshen Market Foundation for the last two years through the Land of Goshen Community Market, Ward said. Once we found out we had received this grant, we immediately knew we wanted a portion of that money to go to the Goshen Market Foundation because we strongly believe in the efforts they are making to support local farmers and provide fresh food to underserved populations. The 150-year-old bank is headquartered in Hillsboro, Illinois, and has 11 additional locations in Alhambra, Altamont, Carlyle, Edwardsville, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Keyesport, Pana, Staunton and Vandalia. Time has erased the events that occurred in Chattanoogas neighboring county in Northwest Georgia about the judicial and political war over the building of a new and present courthouse. Beginning in 1883 Walker County was run by a five-member commission serving two-year terms. In 1916 the terms were expanded to four years and in 1940 showing the flexibility of the electorate to form new governments. Currently in 2018 Walker County voters approved a referendum to a transition from a sole commissioner who has both legislative and executive powers to a four-member board of commissioners elected by district. The first members of the board will be elected in November 2020 and will take office in January 2021. A Walker County grand jury on March 26, 1915, unfavorably reported on conditions at the old courthouse and recommended the erection of a new courthouse to Judge Moses Wright. As a result of the grand jury recommendation, the Walker County Board of Commissioners voted to erect a new courthouse and the voters of the county approved a bond drive to fund the cost of building the structure. This is where the real controversy begins. Not everyone agreed where the new courthouse would be located. Those opposed to LaFayette were mostly from the northern end of the county and wanted the county seat moved to Chickamauga or at least closer to Rossville and Chattanooga. Interesting legal proceedings followed. A representative of Chickamauga filed a petition against the commissioners and numerous businesses that were involved with the courthouse bid in their efforts to stop the project. Judge Moses Wright of the Rome Circuit Court had jurisdiction of the case but the opponents of the project did some creative judge shopping and hired the judges brother, Robert Wright of Chattanooga, as their attorney attempting to create a conflict of interest that would disqualify Judge Wright from the case since they knew that he favored the courthouse construction bill. Judge Wright denied the petition to recuse himself from the case and the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed him. In another surprise move, the anti-courthouse supporters took their petition to Judge A.W. Fite in the Cherokee Circuit Court and asked him to remove Judge Wright from the case. Fite agreed and issued an order to that effect, took over the case, and issued a temporary restraining order against the commissioners stopping any further work on the courthouse project. On May 26, 1916, the litigation got further heated when Judge Fite issued a contempt of court ruling against the Board of Commissioners and the publisher of the Walker County Messenger, E.P. Hall, Jr., who had published a request for bids for work to be performed on the courthouse project. Judge Wright immediately intervened in the case asserting that his court was the proper one to try the litigation and issued an injunction against the anti-courthouse group and also banned any Georgia sheriff or their deputies from acting on any orders from Judge Fite. Undeterred by Judge Fites ruling, the Board of Commissioners contacted a construction company from Anniston, Alabama, to begin the projectat once. This resulted in a large crowd of citizens assembling on June 6, 1916, for the awarding of the builders contract. Also present was Sheriff Ward of Catoosa County who had been ordered by Judge Fite to arrest O.M. Clemmons, clerk of the Superior Court, if he should issue any process initiating the start of work on the courthouse project. When Clemmons refused to go voluntarily with the Sheriff to Ringgold, Sheriff Ward and his support group of opposition contingents left town. From this point the legal (or illegal) proceedings really heated up on the question of which judge had jurisdiction over Walker Countys new courthouse. Sheriff Ward returned from Catoosa County and had the construction project area roped off. Commissioner J.D. McConnell was confronted with a shotgun when he arrived at the scene and was arrested when he refused to voluntarily go to Ringgold to address Judge Fites contempt of court citation. That night, Sheriff Ward and his two deputies arrested two of the commissioners, S.P. Hall and John M. Ransom, and took them to Ringgold. As a counter action Walker County Sheriff R.S. Garmany went to Chickamauga on Judge Wrights orders overruling Judge Fites orders and arrested S.T. Carson. He then unsuccessfully tried to arrest J.S. Alsobrook in Rossville but he had fled to Tennessee where he could not be arrested. On June 30, 1916, Judge Fite, before a large crowd, tried the three commissioners in Ringgold with contempt of court. Sensing the seriousness of the situation he set bonds of $1,000 in each case and would release them from paying that amount if they would revoke the courthouse contract. The three refused and Judge Fite ordered them jailed. Judge Fite then conveniently left the proceedings under the pretense of a speaking engagement and passed the hot potato to the Catoosa County Sheriff to put the three in custody but he refused and the commissioners returned to LaFayette. In the meantime, Judge Wright issued an order to the Walker County Sheriff to provide ample means for fully protecting members of the county board as well as the contractors working on the new courthouse and to jail for contempt anyone interfering with the courthouse project. The Georgia Supreme Court entered the fray and in two orders resolved the judicial war between Judge Wright and Judge Fite. On December 22, 1916, the High Court reversed Judge Fites restraining order on building the new courthouse and on April 2, 1917, held that Judge Fite had no jurisdiction over the case, reaffirming its previous ruling that Judge Wright was not disqualified and Judge Fites order adjudging the Walker Court commissioners in contempt was invalid and dismissed. Strangely, one of Sheriff Wards deputies was held in contempt of Judge Wrights order in helping the Sheriff to make the arrest. Because the Georgia Supreme Court also held that the sheriff of Catoosa County had no legal authority to serve arrest papers in Walker County, Ward escaped prosecution. On April 23, 1918, the new Walker County Courthouse was formally dedicated after construction costs of $80,000 and was lauded as the most magnificent edifice in the county. Judge Moses Wright made a formal speech at the dedication before a large crowd. Judge A.W. Fite was conspicuously absent! Seems like things do not change much in the Lookout Judicial Circuit! * * * 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 Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 27 reportedly vowed military support for embattled Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. While Putins remarks were the strongest signal that Russia is prepared to use force if needed in Belarus, it was also noted that the military wont be deployed unless the unrest there spun out of control. Putin reportedly said that Russia of course has a certain obligation towards Belarus, and the question that Lukashenko raised was whether Kremlin would provide the necessary help. The Russian leader added that he told Lukashenko that his country would fulfil all its obligations. Putin reportedly added that Lukashenko asked him to create a reserve police force and he did that. However, he also said that both of them agreed that the force would not be used unless the situation goes out of control. READ: Serbia Surprisingly Joins EU In Condemnation Of Belarus Vote Belarus has been witnessing massive anti-government protests over the recent election results, in which Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko retained his position with a landslide win. Lukashenko has made repeated appeals to Russias leader Vladimir Putin to intervene in the current political upheaval in his nation and safeguard his 26 years of the regime. He was quoted as saying, we will perish by the state media reports, which revealed, that the disturbed Belarusian leader sent several SOS to his Russian counterpart asking him to take control of the situation. READ: Stoltenberg: NATO Closely Watching Belarus Developments Russias move condemned by leaders Both Russia and Belarus have remained strong allies fostering the economic and military co-operation, however, Belarus opposition launched a scathing attack on Lukashenko for seeking foreign aid. The Belarusian opposition Coordination Council reportedly said Moscow's move to set up such force violated international law. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg also added that Russia should stay out of the crisis. Stoltenberg said that it was a sovereign and independent state. Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki also criticised Russias move and reportedly said that the intervention would be a breach of international law and the human rights of the Belarusian people, who should be free to decide their own fate. (Image: AP) READ: Belarus Leader Accuses Neighbors Of Waging "hybrid War" READ: In A Shift, Belarus Leader Seeks To Stem Protests Gradually Half a million euro will be granted to Into Kildare, the county's tourism body, to support tourism in the county. A 1 million Government fund for tourism promotion was announced for Kildare, Laois and Offaly in the wake of the recent tri-county lockdown. Failte Ireland has committed half of that sum to the recovery and supports of the tourism and hospitality sector in the Lilywhite county. Into Kildare held a meeting with Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin and local politicians during the week to examine the financial supports needed for the county's tourism industry. Some of the money will be spent on what the organisation calls "a proactive and sustainable autumn/winter marketing and promotions campaign", which will be developed with consultation from Into Kildare, Failte Ireland and other industry stakeholders. Commenting on the announcement, chief executive of Kildare County Council, Peter Carey said; this funding is great news for tourism in Kildare and comes at a time when recovery of the sector is at a crucial point." Chairman of Into Kildare, David Mongey said: We very much welcome this announcement, it provides a positive path forward for our members and other tourism related businesses in the county. On behalf of Into Kildare I would like to thank the Minister and Failte Ireland for their on-going support for Kildares tourism industry. Aine Mangan, CEO of Into Kildare added: As an organisation we can now start planning the recovery for our members and look forward to working hand in glove with Failte Ireland and implementing new initiatives that will enable us become a competitive force in tourism in the country. However, last week the CEO of Kildare Chamber, Allan Shine, called for the million euro tourism fund to be diverted to the pubs and restaurants in County Kildare affected by the further two-week lockdown extension, who need cash flow to stay afloat. After redefining heroes in his last artwork that showed healthcare and essential workers as the real heroes, it seems British street artist Banksy has decided to turn into one himself. The rebel street artist has funded a boat to rescue refugees in the Mediterranean attempting to reach Europe from Africa, the Guardian newspaper reported. The boat rescued 89 people, including 14 women and four children, at sea on Thursday, the newspaper said, and the crew were seeking to transfer them to a European coastguard vessel or disembark them at a port. Named after French feminist anarchist Louise Michel, the vessel features an artwork of a girl holding a heart-shaped lifebuoy in Banksys familiar stencilled style, according to a photo in the report. Crewed by European activists experienced in search and rescue, the boat had already participated in two other rescue operations involving a total of 105 people who were transferred to another vessel, Sea-Watch 4, the report said. Banksy, whose involvement in the operation is limited to providing finance according to the report, has highlighted refugees and migration in his work. The Bristol-born artist, who keeps his identity a secret, is known for his political or social-commentary graffiti that has popped up in cities around the world. Last year one of his paintings depicting primates sitting in Britains parliament sold for more than $12 million at auction. In 2015, he sent fixtures from his temporary Dismaland theme park in western England to an informal migrant camp in Calais, northern France, once home to thousands of migrants. Later the same year he created a mural of the late Apple founder Steve Jobs at the location. (With inputs from Reuters) Tehran, Aug 28 : Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has stressed the "important responsibility" of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in keeping the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran. Rouhani made the remarks on Thursday during a meeting in Tehran with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, reports Xinhua news agency. "In addition to its technical and specialized duties regarding the Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocol, which Iran is implementing voluntarily, the IAEA has an important responsibility, too, with regards to the JCPOA and the preservation of this multilateral agreement," Rouhani said. The deal is known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) The meeting between Rouhani and Grossi took place after an agreement was reached between Iran and the IAEA to allow the agency's inspectors access two requested locations inside Iran, after a two-days visit by the Director General. The President hailed the accord as a "good agreement" and considered it "very important" that the IAEA acts in an independent, impartial, and professional way. "The agency should pay attention to a very important point, that is Iran has sworn enemies that are always seeking to create problems for us," Rouhani said, adding "those enemies are the ones that both possess nuclear weapons and refuse to work with the IAEA". He also underlined the importance of the JCPOA for Iran and the 5+1 group of signatories, saying the 2015 nuclear deal "brought about tranquility for the whole region and the world". "The US withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018 for no good reason," according to Rouhani, but the Americans have now "well realized that what they did was not a good move". For his part, the IAEA Director General voiced satisfaction with the agreement reached with the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI). Grossi stressed the need to boost Iran-IAEA cooperation, and said the cooperation should not be affected by foreign voices. "All issues, as well as technical and professional issues, will be solved through cooperation between Iran and the Agency," he added. The two cops who tried to arrest Jacob Blake before their colleague shot the unarmed black man seven times in the back in front of his three young children have been identified by authorities as Officers Vincent Arenas and Brittany Meronek of the Kenosha Police Department. Female rookie cop Meronek only joined the force in January while Arenas has worked there for 18 months, after previously serving at the United States Capitol Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed Friday. Neither of the two officers fired their weapons during Sunday's shooting of black father-of-six Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The cop who fired all seven shots into Blake's back was identified earlier this week as Officer Rusten Sheskey - a seven-year veteran of the force with a disciplinary record. Sheskey and Arenas had each attempted to taser Blake prior to the shooting, the DOJ revealed. The release of the cops' identities comes the same day Blake's distraught father described how his son, who has been left paralyzed from the waist down, woke up in tears shackled to his hospital bed and asking why the white cop shot him so many times. Protests erupted in Kenosha this week following Blake's shooting which marks the latest in a string of recent incidents where black men and women have been killed or seriously injured by cops across America. The cop who fired all seven shots into Blake's back in front of his three young children was identified this week as Officer Rusten Sheskey (left). Two of the other cops involved were identified Friday as Officers Vincent Arenas (right) and Brittany Meronek Meronek is pictured center. She was identified as one of the other cops involved in Blake's arrest. Sheskey and Arenas had each attempted to taser Blake prior to the shooting, the DOJ revealed Friday Meronek pictured. Neither she nor Arenas fired their weapons The DOJ Friday released new information on the events leading up to the moment Officer Sheskey unloaded his weapon into Blake's back at close range including the details of the two other officers involved and revealing law enforcement tried and failed to stop Blake twice with tasers before he was shot. One of the cops was named as Officer Arenas who has served with Kenosha Police Department since February 2019, and worked with the United States Capitol Police Department prior to joining the force. The other is Officer Meronek who joined Kenosha Police Department in January. Arenes and Meronek did not fire their guns during the incident Sunday with all seven shots fired by seven-year veteran Sheskey, 31, who DailyMail.com this week revealed faced disciplinary action back in 2017 for a violation of the force's Safe Operation of Department Vehicle. Sheskey was also first to deploy his taser, according to the DOJ. Arenes also deployed his taser but it was 'also not successful in stopping Mr. Blake', the DOJ said. All three cops have been placed on administrative leave while an investigation is ongoing. Authorities said the officers are fully cooperating with the investigation. Officers were dispatched to a residence around 5pm Sunday in the 2800 block of 40th Street in response to a 911 call from Blake's girlfriend reporting 'that her boyfriend was present and was not supposed to be on the premises.' Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Blake's family, said Blake was 'helping to de-escalate a domestic incident' at the address at the time. The DOJ release said cops tried to arrest Blake and, after the initial attempt to arrest him failed, Sheskey tried to subdue him with a taser. When the taser failed to stop Blake, Arenas also deployed his taser, the DOJ said. This attempt was also unsuccessful in stopping Blake. Blake has been left paralyzed following the shooting which happened in front of his three young children 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 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 Now infamous smartphone footage reveals what happened next. The shocking video showed Blake walking round the front of his SUV tailed by the two male cops and one female cop with their guns drawn. The two male cops are pointing their guns at Blake as he opens the driver's door to his car and appears to try to get inside. At this point, Sheskey grabs Blake's shirt and shoots him seven times in the back at point blank range in the doorway of his vehicle, as his three young children watch from inside the car. His girlfriend also witnessed the moment he was shot. The DOJ said Wednesday Blake admitted he had a knife in his possession during the investigation following the initial incident. A knife was recovered from Blake's vehicle after the shooting and authorities claim he was reaching for the knife or it fell from his hand when he was riddled with bullets by the cop. However it is unclear if Blake had the knife on him when he was talking to police and there has been no suggestion Blake threatened anyone with a knife. No other weapons were found in his car. Kenosha Police Department does not have body cameras, therefore the officers were not wearing body cameras. Jacob Blake's distraught father (pictured) has described how his son woke up in tears shackled to his hospital bed and asked why the white cop shot him as many as seven times in the back 'Why did they shoot me so many times?' the 29-year-old black father-of-six sobbed, Jacob Blake Sr. told CNN Friday morning Blake's father Jacob Blake Sr. told CNN Friday morning how his son cried in his hospital bed in Wauwatosa after he regained consciousness. 'When I got to his side, he grabbed my hands and began to weep and he told me he thought he was hallucinating and then he said "I love you daddy, daddy I love you",' said Blake Sr. as he choked back tears. Blake Sr. said the 29-year-old black father-of-six sobbed as he couldn't understand why the cop riddled him with seven bullets. 'Then his next question was, "Why did they shoot me so many times?"' Blake Sr. said. TIMELINE OF JACOB BLAKE'S SHOOTING: Soon before 5 p.m. - A neighbor sees Blake barbecuing outside his apartment at 2805 40th St. 5:11 p.m. - Officers are called to the address to reports of 'family trouble' Dispatcher says a woman reported Blake 'isn't supposed to be there and he took the complainant's keys and is refusing to give them back' The dispatcher says there is an alert for Blake wanted at that address 5:12:07 p.m. - A cop tells the dispatcher he is close to the scene but has not yet arrived 5:13:47 p.m. - Dispatcher says the woman says Blake is trying to leave She tries to get a description of Blake's car from the woman but says the woman has become uncooperative A cop says he has arrived at the scene 5:14:28 p.m. - A second officer arrives 5:15:37 p.m. - Third cop asks for backup and three more squads are dispatched Footage shows Blake and two cops embroiled in a scuffle Blake walks round the front of his SUV tailed by cops and opens his car door Officer Sheskey grabs Blake's shirt and shoots him seven times in the back 5:15:50 p.m. - Cop reports 'shots fired' 5:18 p.m. - Dispatcher says sheriff's deputies are on their way and state patrol is being notified Advertisement 'And I said, "Baby they weren't supposed to shoot you at all."' Blake Sr. blasted authorities for handcuffing his son to the hospital bed by his leg - despite the fact he is paralyzed from the waist down and so unable to walk. 'Why do they have that cold steel on my son's ankle?' Blake Sr. asked. 'He can't get up, he couldn't get up if he wanted to.' The heartbroken father said his son was not being 'afforded the rights of a human.' He said Blake had been trying to protect his three sons - aged between three and eight years old - who were sat in the back of the car when he was shot. 'In his mind's eye he just wanted to get his sons out of harm's way,' said Blake Sr. 'But before he could get them out of the car he said he was just counting shots. 'He said he was counting them and I guess he lost consciousness around the fourth or fifth.' Blake's uncle Justin Blake also described it as 'an insult to injury' that Blake was shackled to the hospital bed. 'He is paralyzed and can't walk and they have him cuffed to the bed. Why?' he said. The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that all hospitalized patients in police custody are restrained unless undergoing medical procedures, and that it was working 'to ensure a safe and humane environment for Mr. Blake.' However, at a news conference, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers also slammed the treatment of Blake replying 'hell yes' when asked if he was concerned about him being handcuffed to his hospital bed. 'He paid a horrific price already,' the governor said. 'I would have no personal understanding why that would be necessary.' Thousands have taken to the streets demanding justice and calling for an end to police brutality and racism in the wake of the shooting - reigniting demonstrations that have taken place since May following the 'murder' of George Floyd by a Minneapolis cop. On the third night of protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Tuesday, a white 17-year-old shot dead two unarmed Black Lives Matter protesters and injured a third man. On Wednesday afternoon 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse was arrested and charged with murder over the shooting deaths of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, and Anthony Huber, 26. The police-obsessed Trump supporter shot Rosenbaum five times including in the head, the criminal complaint reveals, before calling a friend to tell them 'I've killed someone'. He also allegedly shot activist Gaige Grosskreutz in the arm. Outrage is building nationwide as people draw comparisons between the treatment of the illegally armed 17-year-old who had allegedly shot dead two men and injured another and the treatment of Blake by cops. Shocking video footage appears to show Rittenhouse casually walk past cops and leave the scene with his rifle slung over his shoulder and his hands in the air following his alleged shooting rampage. Blake was not armed with a gun when he was shot seven times in the back in front of his children two days earlier. Heavenly Manna, the second-largest of four food banks in Franklin County, needs more volunteers. Due to the pandemic, Heavenly Manna, which normally distributes food on Mondays, has seen an increase in the number of families seeking assistance and a decrease in volunteers. Heavenly Manna has been running with the same small volunteer group since March and has been struggling to get through the distribution and preparation of food to keep up with the demand, director Frances Davis said in an email. The Franklin County Sheriffs Office has helped by providing trustee labor for distribution and unloading of food trucks, but it is still not enough, she added. The majority of the 25 or so volunteers are 60 or older, some into their 80s, Davis said. Because of the pandemic, only about half of them are volunteering regularly, and theres a severe need for volunteer service to prepare and distribute food boxes. She said more people are seeking assistance because income restrictions for food bank recipients have pretty much been waived and theres a greater influx of people needing to pick up food. Prior to the pandemic, Heavenly Manna, on South Main Street in Rocky Mount, distributed food to about 500 families monthly. Since 1991, its been supported by Feeding Southwest Virginia, several nonprofit organizations, businesses and churches, Davis said. The three other food banks in the county are Gods Provisions in Rocky Mount, The Agape Center near the Franklin/Bedford county line and His Cupboard in Boones Mill. For more information or to volunteer, contact Davis at 420-1914. William Fleming students bring home national NAACP awards Two youths representing the Roanoke NAACP Chapter recently walked away as national NAACP Afro-Cultural Technological Scientific Olympics champions. Uyen Tran won the national gold medal for chemistry/biochemistry, the first time someone from the Roanoke chapter has earned the top award. London Paige won a national bronze medal in biology/microbiology. Last year, she won a bronze medal for chemistry/biochemistry. Paige and Tran are seniors at William Fleming High School and the Roanoke Valley Governors School for Math and Science. Other Roanokers competing in the 42nd National NAACP ACT-SO Virtual Competition were Dylan Tran, Elyse McFalls, Kameron Washington-Brown, Lynn Parks and Janiah Merchant. More than 350 olympians from across the country competed in the 33 categories from Aug. 12-15. Last year, Roanoke was the only Virginia NAACP branch to have a medal winner in any category. This year, Roanoke was joined by the Virginia Beach branch, which won a national bronze in painting, and the Norfolk branch, which won a gold medal in poetry performance. Retired county teachers award scholarship to Glenvar graduate The Roanoke County ReTirees, formerly the Roanoke County Retired Teachers, recently awarded its annual $1,000 scholarship to a Glenvar High School graduate. Makenna Prillaman, daughter of Donna Prillaman, is using the scholarship at Roanoke College, where she has been accepted into the Fellows Program. Prillaman, a longtime Girl Scout, was active in the Beta and Keyettes clubs and a founder and organizer of the 20 Project, which was designed to encourage Glenvar seniors to create an original project with civic ties. 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. OPPOSITION MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has sensationally claimed that the late human rights activist and party executive member, Patson Dzamara, who succumbed to cancer of the colon on Wednesday, may have been poisoned by State security agents. Addressing mourners at the Dzamara family home in Glen View, Harare, yesterday, Chamisa said circumstances leading to the death of Dzamara were similar to what the late party founder Morgan Tsvangirai went through before he died of colon cancer in February 2018. Chamisa said Tsvangirai, who served as Prime Minister in the inclusive government of 2009 to 2013 after being a virulent critic of the Zanu PF government for several years, might also have been poisoned during Cabinet meetings. He said he once warned Tsvangirai against eating food served during Cabinet meeting, but the latter just laughed it off. For five years in Cabinet, I didnt even touch a cup of tea until (the late former President Robert) Mugabe asked me: Who told you I practise witchcraft? I even avoided the 9am teabreak and told (Tendai) Biti and Tsvangirai that they were risking their lives, Chamisa said, adding that he had also warned incarcerated investigative journalist Hopewell Chinono and Job Sikhala against eating prison food. The way Dzamara died is the same way Tsvangirai died. Because we were swimming in a dam infested with crocodiles, Tsvangirai would laugh it off saying I would die of hunger but I knew these people Zanu PF ministers were not to be trusted. Dzamara, a fierce critic of the Zanu PF government, died at a private medical facility in Harare shortly after sympathisers had raised US$14 000 of the US$27 000 required for his surgery. He is set to be buried today at his rural home in Mutoko. Dzamara was vocal over human rights violations in the country which led to his arrest on several occasions after staging solo protests to force government to account for his missing brother Itai, who was abducted by suspected State security agents in 2015. He once claimed to have been injected with an unknown substance while in prison, adding that the substance could have caused the cancer. Turning to the socio-economic and political crisis in the country, Chamisa said: Freedom is coming to Zimbabwe. You will be happy and forget that you have been subjected to gross violation of your rights. In whatever way this country will be freed from this evil. He added that he was aware that most human rights violations being perpetrated against his supporters were meant to coerce the opposition to dance to President Emmerson Mnangagwas tune. I want you to understand that if you talk too much they will harm you. These marks Dzamara is having today showed he was fishing in a river infested with crocodiles. We want you to understand that. Look at (Zimbabwe Peace Project director) Jestina Mukoko who is here she faced it, Chamisa said. Mukoko, the director of Zimbabwe Peace Project, was abducted by suspected State security agents from her home in Norton in December 2008 and released nearly three weeks later after severe torture. In this July 14, 2020 file photo, people wait in line for coronavirus testing at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. A vaccine could help end the pandemic, but those products haven't historically been profitable for drug companies. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) Read more In a business driven by profit, vaccines have a problem. Theyre not very profitable at least not without government subsidies. Pharma companies favor expensive medicines that must be taken repeatedly and generate revenue for years or decades. Vaccines are often given only once or twice. In many parts of the world, established vaccines cost a few dollars a dose or less. Last year, only four companies were making vaccines for the U.S. market, down from more than 20 in the 1970s. As recently as Feb. 11, Anthony Fauci, the governments top infectious-disease expert, complained that no major drug company had committed to step up to make a coronavirus vaccine, calling the situation very difficult and frustrating. Oxford University surprised and pleased advocates of overhauling the vaccine business in April by promising to donate the rights to its promising coronavirus vaccine to any drugmaker. The idea was to provide medicines preventing or treating COVID-19 at a low cost or free of charge, the British university said. That made sense to people seeking change. The coronavirus was raging. Many agreed that traditional vaccine development, characterized by long lead times, manufacturing monopolies, and weak investment, was broken. "We actually thought they were going to do that," James Love, director of Knowledge Ecology International, a nonprofit that works to expand access to medical technology, said of Oxford's pledge. "Why wouldn't people agree to let everyone have access to the best vaccines possible?" A few weeks later, Oxford urged on by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation reversed course. It signed an exclusive vaccine deal with AstraZeneca that gave the pharmaceutical giant sole rights and no guarantee of low prices with the less-publicized potential for Oxford to eventually make millions from the deal and win plenty of prestige. Other companies working on coronavirus vaccines have followed the same line, collecting billions in government grants, hoarding patents, revealing as little as possible about their deals and planning to charge as much as $37 a dose for potentially hundreds of millions of shots. Even as governments shower money on an industry that has not made vaccines a priority in the past, critics say, failure to alter the basic model means drug industry executives and their shareholders will get rich with no assurance that future vaccines will be inexpensively available to all. "If there were ever an opportunity" to change the economics of vaccine development, "this would have been it," said Ameet Sarpatwari, an epidemiologist and lawyer at Harvard Medical School who studies drug-pricing regulation. Instead, "it is business as usual, where the manufacturers are getting exclusive rights and we are hoping on the basis of public sentiment that they will price their products responsibly." In the United States and other developed nations, the solution to the reluctance of drug companies was to shower them with billions of dollars in public funds to persuade them to help. The Trump administration has announced deals worth more than $10 billion with seven companies to try to turn basic research often funded by the government into effective, widely distributed vaccines but with no guarantee they would be widely affordable or available. That approach has driven up stock prices in the last four months and enriched drug executives betting with somebody elses money. AstraZeneca stock and options owned by CEO Pascal Soriot have increased by nearly $15 million in value since early April, according to calculations by KHN based on company disclosures. The stock hit an all-time high in July. The stock market value of Novavax, a biotech that never recorded a profit in more than two decades, soared tenfold to $10 billion after a nonprofit and the Trump administration agreed to give it $1.6 billion to make a vaccine. Companies say we have to charge high prices because we are taking a risk, said Mohga Kamal-Yanni, an independent consultant on global health based in the United Kingdom. Actually, the public is taking the risk. The public is paying for the cost of research and development and probably the cost of manufacturing, as well. Moderna, another company working on a vaccine candidate, received nearly $1 billion from the U.S. government to pay essentially all costs to research the product and get it approved by regulators. It's using a vaccine designed in large part by the National Institutes of Health and academic scientists using federal grants. If the vaccine works, the company will get an additional $1.5 billion to cover 100 million doses, a deal that U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Texas Democrat, likened to giving taxpayers the privilege of purchasing that same vaccine that we already paid for. That deal comes to $15 a dose. Moderna told Wall Street analysts it might charge as much as $37 a dose for smaller-volume contracts. This is greedy, and the taxpayers who have funded all of this should have expected better negotiation on the part of the U.S. government, said Margaret Liu, a globally respected vaccine scientist who once worked for Merck and is now chair of the International Society for Vaccines. Even if Moderna distributed a successful vaccine at a loss to make it widely available, it would reap enormous benefits because government support would have helped validate its technology for future products, Liu said. Moderna did not respond to requests for comment. Nonprofits such as Oxfam and Doctors Without Borders have been pressuring drug companies to change for years. Exclusive patents and high prices that sometimes make lifesaving medicines unaffordable in rich countries often render them completely unavailable in the poor world, they argue. One work-around has been enormous private and government subsidies, including from the U.K., the United States and the Gates Foundation, to promote developing-nation vaccines through the Geneva nonprofit Gavi, formerly known as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization. The Gates Foundation helped launch another non-governmental organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, in 2017. CEPI was created to fight something exactly like the coronavirus: potential infectious threats ignored or slighted by pharmaceutical companies. CEPIs early principles of equitable access drew praise from reformers. The group asked for public data disclosure from drug-company grantees, transparent accounting to show true vaccine cost, and the right to step in and take over a vaccine project if the developer failed to deliver. The pharma industry immediately objected. Even though drug companies were bankrolled by public money, they were concerned about the precedent that could be set if they allowed an outside entity, in this case CEPI, to set [the] price of a product unilaterally, CEPI reported in February. The nonprofit backed down, removing most references to prices in a new policy that Doctors Without Borders called an alarming step backward. The original policy was intended to be "interim," and CEPI's "commitment to equitable access as a principle is the same," said spokesperson Rachel Grant. New Delhi: For the first time in 7 days, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) summoned Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajput's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty in connection with late actor's death case. According to sources, the CBI began its probe on 11.20 am at the DRDO guest house in Mumbai. CBI SP and DSP Anil Yadav gave Rhea a chance to present her side of the story and narrate everything related to her relationship with Sushant. From the first time they met, places they visited together, their lifestyle, Sushant's behaviour, alleged mental illness, financial spendings etc - everything she was asked by the officials. For about 1 and half hour Rhea talked about it and said what she had to without any interruptions. She took little breaks in between to clear her throat with water while CBI listened to her patiently, as per sources. For the first two hours, the actress answered everything calmly but when CBI quizzed her on important dates and time related to the conversations with Sushant, Rhea shuddered. The officials have prepared a special list of questions related to Rhea and Sushant, specifically. The grilling session with CBI is still underway. Meanwhile, Rhea's brother Showik, Siddharth Pithani, cook Neeraj, Keshav, Samuel Miranda and Rajat Mewati - all are present at the DRDO guest house for probe today. Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14, 2020. Democratic presidential nominee says he won't skip debates with President this fall, vowing he'll use the opportunity to confront his rival and be a fact checker on the floor." Biden said Thursday there's no question the debates will take place, after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters earlier in the day that she didn't think Biden should debate the president at all. Pelosi said she knows she disagrees with Biden on this, but she doesn't think he should legitimize a conversation with Trump. The Democratic nominee has repeatedly said he is eager to take on the president. Here's the deal with bullies, I understand how they work, Biden said on CNN. And I'm going to play by the rules of the debate commission and we're going to have a debate. In a separate interview on MSNBC, Biden said he's going to be a fact checker on the floor during the debates and he thinks the media will fact check Trump as well. Pelosi said she believes Trump will probably act in a way that is beneath the dignity of the presidency and belittle what the debates are supposed to be about. She said a 2016 debate between Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton was disgraceful as Trump stood close behind Clinton as she spoke, moving into her camera angle. Pelosi says Trump was stalking Clinton and should have been told to move away. Instead, Pelosi suggests the two candidates have individual events where they take questions. Let that be a conversation with the American people, she said. Not an exercise in skullduggery. The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates recently rejected a request from the Trump campaign either to add a fourth debate or move up the three already scheduled. Trump's campaign said 16 states will have started voting by the time of the first debate on Sept. 29. Trump is set to accept the Republican presidential nomination Thursday night. (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.) While the NEET is scheduled to be held on 13 September, the JEE-Main has been planned from 1-6 September. Inzamam Ali, a student gearing up for the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test), is at a loss to understand how he can conceivably reach his exam centre. Alis house is in Bihars Gopalganj district, which has been badly battered by floods this year. Speaking to Firstpost, he listed out several grave challenges that he would have to face to even attempt to reach the exam centre in Patna, which is over 150 kilometres away. Firstly, there are floods, due to which our area is completely inundated. If we try to walk some distance, there is the risk of snake bites and electric shocks in the flooded areas. Arranging private transportation would be very expensive. My father is a farmer and the lockdown has severely affected our income. And then, of course, there is the risk of the COVID-19 infection. Like Ali, thousands of students across the country are presently up in arms against the Centres decision to conduct the NEET and JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) in September. The two examinations are held for medical and engineering college admissions respectively. While the NEET is scheduled to be held on 13 September, the JEE-Main has been planned from 1-6 September. Around 8.58 lakh candidates have registered for the JEE-Main exam and 15.97 lakh students have registered for NEET, according to PTI. Sustained protests by students seeking the postponement of the tests have forced Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank to issue a statement on the issue. Pokhriyal said that over 17 lakh students have downloaded admits cards for NEET and JEE. This shows that the students want exams to be held at any cost, Nishank said. Inzamam does not find the claim convincing. He said, Just because candidates download their admit cards, it doesnt mean that they want the exam to happen in September. We download the admit cards out of a hope that we might have got an exam centre that is close by. The education minister also claimed on Thursday that most of the students have been allotted centres of their choice. However, these assertions do little to assuage the concerns of students in many parts of the country, especially those who live far from large urban centres. One of them is Danish Khan, who lives in Bihars Bhagalpur and is also preparing for the NEET examination. Khan remarked, Getting the centre of ones choice means little when they are all so far away. For such a large state as Bihar, there are only two exam centres in Patna and Gaya. My exam centre is Patna, which is about 200 kilometres away from here. Arranging for transport is also difficult. Although some students will be travel by private buses, the bus operators are now charging exorbitant amounts. Also, the capacity of these buses is limited and they cannot accommodate all the students who want to travel to reach their exam centres. The government has said that in order to ensure the convenience of students and to prevent overcrowding, the number of JEE exam centres has been increased to 660 from 570 and the number of NEET exam centres has been increased to 3,842 from 2,546. However, in the context of COVID-19-induced restrictions, this increase does not appear to have been enough. Apart from restrictions in place due to COVID-19, the disease itself is also a cause for worry for students. Speaking on this issue, Khan said, I am especially worried about inadvertently infecting my grandparents, who live with me. As it is, my grandfather remains unwell often, and my grandmother is a diabetic. What will happen if I catch the COVID-19 infection at the exam centre or along the way? Another student, Anisha Das from Odishas Balasore, also expressed a similar concern. She said, When cases of the novel coronavirus are still rising so rapidly, why is the government insistent on conducting the examinations in September? We are all afraid that we may end up catching the disease and spreading it to our family members. Das added, It is not that we are seeking postponement of the exam because we have not prepared for it. We have studied hard for the examination. I have been preparing for it for over two years. We are only demanding that the exam be postponed by a few months, not cancelled altogether. Even if the academic session starts late, institutes can catch up with the curriculum in subsequent semesters. Both Khan and Das have participated in online campaigns to raise awareness about why the exams should not be held amid the pandemic. Such campaigns have gained significant traction in the past few days, with students using hashtags such as #Rise_AgainstExamsInCOVID and #PostponeJEE_NEETinCOVID to air their views. Across the country, the COVID-19 infection is indeed spreading at an alarming pace. On Thursday, the country reported a record 75,760 new infections and 1,023 deaths due to COVID-19. However, according to official figures, the recovery rate is now 76.24 percent and the case fatality rate has declined to 1.83 percent. In this backdrop, the demand to postpone the exams has also been echoed by several Opposition parties, who have been stepping up the pressure on this issue. In recent days, parties that have raised this issue include the Congress, Shiv Sena, Trinamool Congress and Aam Aadmi Party. This has prompted allegations that there are political motivations behind the protests. This charge has been made in a letter written by a group of academicians to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing their support for the decision to hold the NEET and JEE in September. The letter states, The dreams and future of our youth and students cannot be compromised at any cost. However, some are trying to play with the future of our children simply to propel their political agenda and oppose the government. Speaking to Firstpost, Delhi University professor SP Singh, one of the signatories of the letter, said, There could be some regions in which candidates may face difficulties in getting to their exam centres. But one cannot justify making students all across the country suffer because of this. If state governments cooperate to make sure that norms to prevent COVID-19 are followed, the exams can certainly be held successfully. In a similar vein, Swadesh Singh, assistant professor at the Delhi University, Further delay in conducting the NEET and JEE will lead to a whole year being wasted and will be a loss to the students. It is possible that after a few months, the novel coronavirus might not completely go away. We will have to live with the virus. The exams should be held while following the necessary precautions. However, a Pune-based educationist, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed a contrasting view and said, The whole narrative of a year being wasted if entrance examinations are not held in September is completely uncalled for. Even if the exams are held after a few months, the academic curriculum, as also the credits linked to it, can be restructured to compensate for the time lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such an urgency to hold examinations could have been understandable for final-year students, as a delay would hinder their chances of getting admissions for further studies within the country as well as abroad, and for prospective jobs. But as far as entrance examinations such as NEET and JEE are concerned, there is no reason why they cannot be delayed by a few more months. The safety of students and society at large must be the top priority. With the JEE-Main examination expected to begin in just three days and the NEET slated to begin in two weeks, what is certain is that the last word on this controversy has not yet been spoken. Fans have truly grown to love all things having to do with Darcey Silva, who made a name for herself looking for love on 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days. Her twin sister, Stacey Silva, also became a fan favorite as well. Viewers watched the twists and turns of Daceys life unfold, and couldnt seem to get enough. Luckily, the fun doesnt have to end because Darcey and Stacey have scored their very own spinoff called Darcey & Stacey. Were just two episodes in, and Stacey is dealing with some serious drama with her fiance, Florian Sukaj, a model from Albania. After Darcey discovers some photos of Florian and another woman, Stacey decides to confront Florian about it on his first morning in the United States. Darcey Silva finds some pictures of Florian Sukaj and another woman Darcey Silva and Stacey Silva | Brad Barket/Getty Images for Discovery, Inc. Stacey originally met Florian on social media, and after just six months of dating and 10 days into their first trip together, Florian decides to take the leap and ask Stacey to marry him. Now engaged, everything seems great as Florian prepares to come to the United States to start a life with his soon-to-be-wife. Its been almost five years since theyve been a couple, and Florians K-1 visa is finally approved. However, there is already trouble in paradise when Darcey finds some pictures of Florian with another woman. Darcey mentions to her father, Mike, about the questionable images she found on social media. There are these pictures online of Florian and some girl. He said, Oh, it was nothing. But it looked a little sketchy to me, Darcey says as she pulls out her phone to show her father the images in question. In one photo, Florian appears to have his shirt off as he lays next to a woman wearing a lacy thing as Darcey describes it. Theres a little part of me that believes Florians using Stacey for the visa, Darcey tells producers. But I feel like shes blinded by the love. What happens when Stacey speaks with Florian about the pictures? RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Darcey Silva Takes It All Off For Her New Manand Reveals Why Hes So Different The day finally arrives for Florian to come to the United States, and Stacey heads to the airport to get him. The reunion is sweet, and its clear that these two have a bond, but what will happen when Stacey brings up the pictures? They lay down in bed in their hotel room in New York City on their first morning together. Stacey pulls out a surprise for Florian: a brand-new cell phone. However, Stacey has a condition, she has to put her thumbprint on it so she will be able to access it. Its your phone, but I just want to make sure that, you know, theres no more pictures or anything like that, Stacey tells him, and Florian seems to be agreeable to it. Apparently, when Stacey originally asked Florian about the images, he said that nothing happened and the woman is just a friend. Stacey tells Florian that she doesnt want what happened previously to repeat itself. You should have never took pictures with her, Stacey says to Florian. Florian responds by saying, I understand its my fault. You knew I was going to get upset about that Stacey is clearly still uncomfortable with the whole situation, and its understandable. You knew I was going to get upset about that, Stacey continues. Florian says he feels bad about it. But you didnt feel bad the day you met up with her and took pictures, Stacey declares. Stacey doesnt just stop there. She continues with her questioning, and honestly, who can blame her? So you didnt know she was gonna trick you into taking pictures and post them online, like you guys were together? she asks. Florian makes a comment about talking about stupid things. Stacey tells him that now that they are together in person, they should talk about it. How many times every day you call on me I fix this situation to talk face to face, Florian responds. Stacey tells him this is the last chance, and he promises it wont ever happen again. Stacey says they can take things day by day, and it looks like theyre going to try and move on from this situation. Will Stacey and Florians relationship be able to survive this drama now that they are together in the United States? Only time will tell. Visitors to one of the most dramatic waterfalls in Norway will soon be able to experience a brand new thrilling view of it, thanks to a staircase spanning the gorge it thunders through. This is the dramatic Vringsfossen waterfall bridge, a newly opened tourist attraction offering incredible views of the spectacular landscape near Eifjord in Hardanger, western Norway. Here's a look at this architectural marvel above the Vringsfossen waterfall, which was the most visited natural attraction in Norway in 2018 and is situated close to Eifjord. The recently opened Vringsfossen bridge climbs over the dramatic, 535-foot Vringsfossen waterfall. This structure provides an altogether more adrenalin-pumping perspective of Voringsfossen. Photograph: Courtesy of Carl-Viggo Hlmebakk The 154ft-long construction has been designed by architect Carl-Viggo Hlmebakk. The project has been over a decade in the making. Hlmebakks team began working on the bridge in 2015 and had to call in helicopters to help with construction due to the difficult terrain. Photograph: Courtesy of Carl-Viggo Hlmebakk The bridge has 99 steps and a range of 47 metres and has an acute angle, because the two sides of the gorge it connects have a height difference of 52ft. Photograph: Courtesy of Carl-Viggo Hlmebakk The bridge connects the two sides of the valley, giving visitors a bird's eye view of the waterfall. It is part of a larger project around the area, which will eventually include an accessible footpath and cafe. The first phase of the project was completed in 2018 and included viewpoints, paths, a parking lot and service facilities near the Fossli Hotel, which is located at the top of the waterfall. By 2021, new viewpoints and paths will be added. Photograph: Courtesy of Carl-Viggo Hlmebakk Speaking about the construction, Visit Norway said in a statement: "The development of the tourist icon Voringsfossen has happened step by step over several years to make sure that visitors and the local tourism industry can enjoy the project as it is being finished." Photograph: Courtesy of Carl-Viggo Hlmebakk It's suitable for children and older people, but it is not wheelchair friendly. Hlmebakk says there is an accessible foothpath currently under development as part of the larger project. Photograph: Courtesy of Carl-Viggo Hlmebakk The eyecatching, floating-on-air design is inspired by Norwegian folklore and the country's Romantic tradition, says Hlmebakk. Turning this concept into a reality wasn't easy -- alongside more conventional building methods, the team had to use helicopters and mountaineers. Photograph: Courtesy of Carl-Viggo Hlmebakk VANCOUVER With Erin OToole promising a tougher line on Beijing if he forms the next federal government, progressive Chinese Canadian voters who are concerned about issues like democracy in Hong Kong say they are now considering a vote for the Conservative Party of Canada. The political landscape presents a considerable dilemma, said Hugh Chan, a student who recently moved back to Canada from Hong Kong, where 300,000 Canadians live. Chan said the new Conservative leaders China policies are solid, but he disagrees with the party on most issues, putting him at a crossroads about where to park his vote in the next federal election. Id probably feel extremely bad about it and I might have to throw up in the toilet once or twice after, he said of possibly voting Conservative. He said the policies of the Liberals and New Democrats, where his politics lay on other issues, are weak on China and wont help stem the agenda of the Chinese Communist Party. Ottawa has been criticized for not being more forceful with Beijing when it comes to the detentions of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Those detentions are perceived as retaliation for Canadas arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou on a request by the United States in 2018. Critics say the Liberal government has also been permissive of Chinas attempts to influence Canadian politics, soft on Beijings incursions into Hong Kong, and has not responded firmly to economic strikes against Canada that are also seen as retaliation for Mengs arrest. By contrast, OToole has laid out a more confrontational approach to China. It includes building an international coalition to decouple from China economically, banning Huawei from Canadian 5G networks, sanctioning the company along with Communist party officials and expelling agents of Beijing who are attempting to intimidate Canadians. Organizations linked to the United Front Work Department, a bureau of the Chinese Communist Party tasked with spreading its influence, have been accused of trying to silence Chinese Canadians who voice criticism of Beijing in Canada. Chan left Hong Kong fearing for his safety due to his involvement in the pro-democracy movement there. The protection of people in Canada openly opposing the Communist party is an important issue for him. But, he said, so are things like pipeline development and Indigenous rights. He now finds himself asking whether he could cast a vote that sacrifices his political beliefs on everything from social justice to economics in a bid to elect a leader who says hell reset Canadas approach to Beijing. Honestly, as of right now, its a genuine toss-up, he said. Jane Li, also a left-leaning student, said she too is considering voting for the Conservatives, based on the issue of Canada-China relations. For Li its not just about voting for the Conservatives, hoping for a stronger China stance, but withholding a vote for the Liberals or the NDP based on those parties policies. Its definitely frustrating. Partisanship in Parliament is quite strong, I would say, in Canada, she said, adding that its hard to get a consensus among opposing political parties when it comes to foreign policy. I wish that would change. Li said, at this point, she is leaning against voting Conservative but said the choice is not easy. While some of those on the left are weighing their options, those who are longtime Conservative supporters also welcome the prospect of a firmer stance on China. Ban Leung, a financial planner who moved from Hong Kong to Canada nearly three decades ago, said he has always been a Conservative supporter. Leung said the Liberals have failed to deliver any real signs of support for civil rights in Hong Kong, while the Conservatives have demanded a tougher stance. I can see they are doing things more supportive to the Hong Kong people, Leung said. The new dilemma faced by progressive Chinese Canadians signals a shift in how Canadas political parties approach politics, said one observer. Victor Ho, the founder of Chinese-language social media platform Media Analytica and retired editor of Sing Tao Daily in Vancouver, said the repression of democracy in Hong Kong has drastically changed the landscape for politicians trying to reach out to Canadas diverse Chinese communities. The introduction of Hong Kongs national security law, which came into effect this summer and essentially gives Beijing the power to suppress free speech, demonstrations and to arrest anyone on vague charges, has accelerated the change. Many argue the law flies in the face of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which handed Hong Kong over to China in 1997 with the promise of relative autonomy and freedom until 2047. Ho said while many in Canada with ties to Hong Kong have long supported the Conservative party on other issues, OTooles election is bound to bring more support to the party, especially from those with Hong Kong ties. It is a very optimistic message to the people of Hong Kong, he said. The people living here want to have a strong opposing message to confront the Beijing regime. But support goes beyond Chinas various communities in Canada, he said. Canadians with roots in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan or other East Asia nations feeling bullied by China are also likely to consider a Conservative vote based on tough approaches to Chinas government. Ho said, while for a long-time politicians have believed they must be friendly with Chinas government to court votes from Chinese Canadians, the approach is now outdated, and taking a stand against Beijing is more politically prudent. Chinas behaviour in Hong Kong is just one issue for which Beijing has been condemned within the last year. Experts say the global spread of COVID-19 was sped by the countrys mishandling of the virus. Military aggression against Chinas neighbours and the detention of as many as 2 million ethnic Muslims in the countrys far western Xinjiang Autonomous Region have also led to China hawks calling for the curbing of Beijings power. An Angus Reid poll of just over 1,500 Canadians in May found 76 per cent of the respondents favoured prioritizing human rights and rule of law over economic opportunity with China. For people like Chan, the issues are intensely felt and a political conundrum is beginning to loom over his conscience. Next voting day, Chan said, he will have to come to a decision on which is more important to him: confronting Beijing or domestic issues? Its genuinely a hard choice, he said. I genuinely have to think about this. Read more about: 27.08.2020 LISTEN Say No to Rape Her No Is No! These are campaign slogans that have been around for decades. Despite tireless efforts by stakeholders, rape remains one of the most frequently reported crimes in Liberia today, with cases growing at an exponential rate. Rape culture is pervasive. It is embedded in our culture for which the need for holistic action to root it out is urgent. Protestation has been one of the media through which citizens have expressed their anger against such inhumane crime; as citizens of Liberia come together to give their stand on this growing nightmare, what can we expect? Is protest a permanent solution to curb this national emergency? The world has watched thousands of protests against rape and sexual violence, yet the problem remains prevalent among us today. In Liberia, the rise in rape cases and sexual violence saw the urgent demands for improved judicial remedies, which led to the setting up a special court in December 2018 to exclusively deal with sexual offenses, Criminal Court E while high caseloads, reduced functioning of the jury system, and lack of support services for survivors limited the Courts effectiveness, the Sirleafs administration fought to enusre that this crime saw a level of decrease in the country. Despite significant efforts made by the past administration, just after two years of a new administration, rape is creeping back to become an even moe daily evil. With increasing fear and a new demand to curb this nightmare, can an administration that has so much link to promiscuity be trusted to handle this national emergency? When writing, I try to feel the agonizing pain brought on our innocent girls by some less animals calling themselves men. I feel their pains knowing that our children are no longer safe in our local communities, homes, and streets. Over the past years and oddly enough, between January and June of 2020 , we have experienced hundreds of different protests for different reasons ranging from corruption, nepotism, injustice, and even rape and sexual violence in their enormity. Petitions were presented to the national government with demands but nothing has been done. As we have taken to the street to speak for the vulnerable and the victims of rape, what can we learn from the past protest, what can we do differently to ensure that the objectives of the protest are achieved amidst this regime? I am sure no number of protest will meet our objective nor a death penalty. I dont want to leave the street today and hear a thousand cases tomorrow. I am aware that cases are increasing in geometric progression order and the urge for immediate action can never be as needed. As we take the street to allow our government and international partners know our stand on this strangulating nightmare and pandemic, I am here worried about what will happen after this historic protest against rape. I am optimistic that after our protest actions, the appropriate legislation will be enacted to protect our vulnerable girls and boys against rape and sodomy. While I remain committed to the struggle of eliminating rape in Liberia and to be a part of the struggle, I also believed rape is an age-old problem that cannot be solved with a day of protest. As the maxim goes, old sore needs old treatment, I would suggest a post-protest plan. We as protestors need to focus efforts on attacking the source of the problem as protectors. Cases are mostly reported from our local communities, this tells me the local community is our predominant source of attack in remedying the surge in rape crimes. Lets take the right information rape prevention measures and reporting strategies to our diffeent communities while at the same time seeking for a more robust judicial proceedings to ensure a justified penalty action for rape crimes. Its obvious that no woman or girl should feel threatened because of the way they dress; no man has the right to abuse them, which is why the availability of this information to our local communities can empower the fight against rape. Even more, to help the fight against rape, parents need to keep surveillance and the community needs to step up an awareness team: Parents need to keep watch on their children, we need to provide the right information to our children of both genders and often inform our children on what to do in case of someone calling them or when they feel insecure. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child, it is time for the community to step up and watch out for each other, report suspected cases and raise alarm when there is suspicion on someone. As we join our voices to say NO to rape, it is time to declare rape a national emergency, just as we have seen posters of Corona virus everywhere; it is time to do the same with this nightmare hunting our vulnerable ones. Lets combat Rape together. #SayNoToRape #HerNoIsHerNo Are you ready for the profound reason you shouldnt be afraid of covid-19? Its easy. I must warn you though that theres a harsh truth coming if you keep reading. You shouldnt be afraid because you are going to die anyway. If not from Covid-19, then definitely from something else. I guarantee it. Here is a true and shocking statistic: 1 in 1 people die. Put another way: 1 out of every 1 person doesnt survive life. Many thousands have died across the world due to Covid-19. I am sensitive to the tremendous pain and loss felt by the families and friends of those whove lost their Covid-19 battle. The human impact of this virus has been devastating. Yet, we will all one day die. Those you love will die. Let that sink in. Unless Jesus returns before our death, we know the grave ultimately awaits us. Rather than letting this be catastrophic news which sounds terribly morbid or makes you sad or depressed, the point I want to make in this article is that this is inspiring news and a source of hope. I am going to use the very familiar story of Lazarus in the book of John Chapter 11 to illustrate my point. But Im not going to focus on Lazarus in the story. Instead, my focus is his sister, Mary. Timing is everything Jesus didnt come right away when he heard the news of Lazarus illness and he had a reason for this. It was so that Gods purpose would be revealed. Jesus said to his disciples: for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him (verses 14-15). However, Mary didnt know Jesus had a specific plan. A Crisis of Faith In Luke Chapter 10 verses 38 to 42 we read that Jesus was at the home of Mary and her sister Martha. While Martha was attending to things, Mary listened at Jesus feet while he did his teaching. Mention of his feet is significant as it meant Mary adopted the posture of a disciple. A revolutionary position for a woman at that time in that culture. Martha was annoyed that she had to do all the preparation work without Marys help and complained to Jesus. Jesus response was that Mary had made a better choice (verse 32). I think its fair to conclude from this incident that Mary embraced Jesus teachings. She gave Jesus her focused attention and time. Then, sometime later, Marys brother, Lazarus got sick. Showing absolute confidence in Jesus and his power to heal Lazarus, Mary and her sister Martha sent word to Jesus (John Chapter 11 verse 3), no doubt expecting him to come immediately and heal Lazarus or send a word that healing was already done due to their faith. Then the unthinkable happened. Jesus delayed in arriving and her brother died. This life circumstance posed a challenge to Mary. Just like covid-19 does to us. Or any life challenge we know is beyond our control to solve. This could be a life-threatening illness or anything that feels like it is killing us slowly. The questions Mary would no doubt be asking (which are the same ones we ask when theres a mismatch between our expectations and what life actually hands us) is: Is Jesus really good? Is he really God? Is what he taught true? Mary was wondering: how could Jesus have let my brother die? Doesnt he care? Its significant that Mary and Martha in their message to Jesus had referred to Lazarus as the one Jesus loved. The Apostle John, the writer of the Book of John, also affirmed that Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters (verse 5). How we knew Mary took this situation hard is that she didnt go with her sister Martha when Martha went to meet Jesus while he was on his way to their village of Bethany (verse 20). People were consoling Mary at the house (verse 31). It wasnt until Martha came back and said Jesus had asked for her that Mary actually went to see Jesus herself (verses 28 to 29) and the first words out of her mouth when she saw Jesus (in verse 32) revealed everything in Marys heart. She said: Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. Theres an accusation implicit in this statement we shouldnt miss. Implied in what she said were: Its your fault. You could have prevented this. This didnt have to happen. Its also important to note that the Bible says in verse 32 that Mary fell at Jesus feet. This is the second time we see Mary at Jesus feet (see Luke Chapter 10 verse 39 in the passage mentioned earlier). We can contrast this John passage with what we saw in Luke. This time, Mary was at his feet in a posture of grief and brokenness. We know she was grieving deeply because when she left the house suddenly the other Jews, who had been with her at the house trying to comfort her, thought she was going to Lazarus tomb to mourn (verse 31). Mary and the other mourners were weeping so much, their weeping moved Jesus (verse 33). What do you do when life knocks you off your feet? Instead of blaming God or suggesting its all his fault, get back to the posture of a disciple. Fall on your face at his feet in humility and repentance for any anger towards God and focus on hearing the Word of God. Ask: God what are you saying to me in this rough season of my life? Be prayerful about it. Ive discovered that journaling my prayers, thoughts and feelings, along with writing down what I believe God is saying to me through His Word, helps me in rough times. I will finish this story in Part 2, next Cycle. A man who appeared before Naas District Court on August 20 was living in a tent on the Grand Canal bank near Naas. Robert Serafin 47, whose address was given as 30 Sallins Wharf, Naas, was before the court on two counts of breaching the Firearms and Offences Weapons Act in August and June 2018. The defendant, also of no fixed abode, faces three separate allegations of having a knife and two of assault at locations in Kildare town on June 24. Read more County Kildare news He faces a further allegation of a breach of the Public Order Act, also in Kildare town on June 24. Brian Jacob outlined that on August 12 2018 at Osberstown he shouted at a couple of friends and produced a flick knife, though he didnt use it or threaten to use it. It was more that he was under the influence, said Sgt Jacob. On June 6 2018 near Sallins Wharf a woman was walking with her child and two dogs when the defendant approached and produced a knife and became agitated. Solicitor Cairbre Finan said the defendant was living in a tent and would not be before the court but for bouts of alcohol use or misuse. Mr Finan described the defendant as a vulnerable individual who fears for his safety. He accepts he wouldnt like for this to happen to one of his family, added Mr Finan. He also said the defendant had tried to move back to Poland but he has no life there. He said he had always worked, generally in the construction sector but his use of alcohol and personal circumstances have made it difficult for him to get work. He said the defendant is a decent man and there is an element of fear associated with some of his actions. He added that the knives did not have large blades. Judge John Cheatle imposed a suspended two months sentence on the August 12 allegation and took the other one into consideration. The June 24 allegations were adjourned to Naas Circuit Court on October 6 and free legal aid was provided to permit the defendant the services of a barrister. An aerial view shows the massive damage done to Beirut port and surrounding area, one day after a large blast tore through the heart of the Lebanese capital with the force of an earthquake, killing more than 100 and injuring over 4000, on Aug. 5, 2020. (-/AFP via Getty Images) Surrendering Weapons by Hezbollah Is Prerequisite for Resolving Lebanons Economic Crisis: Expert The devastation caused by the explosion at the port in Beirut Aug. 4 aggravated the already existing economic crisis and was a catalyst for Lebanese people to demand reforms. Lebanese people see the incident is a symptom of larger problems in the country believing leaders have been ignoring their responsibility to meet the needs of the people, and have resisted the kind of deep fundamental reforms that are neededtransparency and accountability, State Under Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale said at a press briefing after his visit to Beirut. There is a need to end to the corruption that has become endemic in this self-serving system, he added. Hezbollaha Lebanese Shia militiahas been a part of the dysfunctional governance systems upon which they thrive and contribute to because it allows them to act as a state within a state, Hale said. Hezbollahs Origins Fighters with the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah party, carry flags as they parade in a southern suburb of the capital Beirut, to mark the al-Quds (Jerusalem) International Day, on May 31, 2019. (Anwar Amro/AFP/Getty Images) During the 1980s there were more than a dozen militias in Lebanon but after the Lebanese Civil War ended in 1990 all militia groups surrendered their arms to the government except Hezbollah which kept its weapons, Dr. Edy Cohen, Ph.D. at Bar-Ilan University in Israel and an expert on the Middle East at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies told The Epoch Times in an interview. Hezbollahs leaders are Lebanese but the group has had very close ties to Iran for years. It carries out Iranian instructions, and receives financial support, intelligence, and materiel from Iran, Cohen said. Since the end of the Civil War, for about 30 years, Hezbollah has treated itself as a country inside a country, he added. The State Department estimates Irans financial aid to Hezbollah to be $700 million per year, and it accounts for the overwhelming majority of the groups annual budget, according to the State Department report on terrorism for 2019 (pdf). Iran continues to provide Hezbollah with most of its funding, training, weapons, and explosives, as well as a political, diplomatic, monetary, and organizational aid, the report said. Hezbollah also controls the Port of Beirut as well as the Lebanese airport and does not buy food, materiel, or other goods in Lebanon, Cohen said. It imports them instead. Hezbollah also trades used cars, grows, and produces drugs such as cocaine and heroin and has partnered with Latin Americas drug cartels in drug trafficking, he said (pdf). By having control over ports it masks its economic activities and avoids paying taxes to the Lebanese authorities, which has contributed to the economic crisis, Cohen said. How Hezbollah Influences the Lebanese Government A supporter of Lebanons Hezbollah gestures as he holds a Hezbollah flag in Marjayoun, Lebanon, on May 7, 2018. (Aziz Taher/Reuters) In the last Lebanese general election in 2018, Hezbollah won only 12 seats in the 128-member unicameral Lebanese parliament, according to Reuters. However, it holds 70 seats together with groups and individuals that are politically aligned with it. Some parties and groups in the Hezbollah-aligned camp have different views and political goals than Hezbollah and in some cases, they conflict with it but they support its core goal which is the possession of arms, according to Reuters. Hezbollah claims that it needs arms to deter Israel and to protect Lebanon from Islamist insurgents in Syria. As a result, Hezbollah has veto power over decisions unfavorable to it, Cohen said. The President of Lebanon is elected by the Lebanese parliament in which Hezbollah together with its allies holds a majority, so Hezbollah votes helped to elect the current President of Lebanon, Michel Aoun, Cohen said. The basis of the governmental system is the power-sharing arrangement, which governs how key government posts are distributed among Lebanese religious sects. After World War I, France established Lebanon as a largely Christian Maronite country with some other religious minorities, said Cohen. In 1943 the French wanted to grant Lebanon independence but the Lebanese Christian community had concerns about their safety as being an enclave in the mainly Muslim population of the Middle East, Cohen said. Their fears were not unfounded as their memories of the Armenian genocide which claimed the lives of around 1.5 million of mostly Christian Armenians killed by the Turks during the Ottoman Empire about 30 years earlier were still alive. Therefore the French administration, in collaboration with the Christian majority, planned how Lebanon would be in the future, Cohen said, and they drew up an unwritten power-sharing agreement stipulating that the President would only be a Maronite Christian, the Prime Minister a Sunni Muslim, and the Speaker of Parliament a Shia Muslim. However over the years, Christians lost their majority in the Lebanese population due to two reasons, Cohen said. One reason was that Christian families were smaller while Muslim families often had 6 to 8 children. Another reason was that Christians had the right to emigrate and many of them left Lebanon. Today, there are only 800 thousand French Christians in Lebanon, Cohen said, and around 3 million Muslims (pdf), but the power-sharing rules are still in effect. Maha Yahya, the director of the Carnegie Middle East Center based in Beirut wrote that Hezbollah sought to transform a cosmopolitan [Lebanese] society into a collection of separate religious communities. By playing on sectarian differences and fears, they aimed to enhance their own power over their communities. They challenged open culture and restricted freedom of expression in the country under the guise of protecting their sectarian brethren, Yahya wrote for Carnegie. To maintain its own interests and sustain Lebanons role as its principal backyard, [Hezbollah] has persistently protected this [sectarian] system and managed to undermine Lebanons relations with both the broader Arab region and Western allies, Yahya said. Hezbollahs Threats Supporters of Lebanons Shiite movement Hezbollah wave national, Iranian as well as the movements yellow flag during celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the Iranian revolution in the capital Beiruts southern suburbs on Feb. 6, 2019. (Anwar Amro/AFP/Getty Images) Hezbollah was the only militia group that was allowed to keep its arms after the end of the Lebanese civil war in 1990 under the pretext of protecting Lebanon from [the] Israeli enemy, Cohen said. Israel faced threats from Hezbollah along its northern border where Hezbollah placed about 150,000 rockets aimed at Israel, according to the U.S. State Department report (pdf). Israeli officials expressed concern that Iran was supplying Hezbollah with advanced weapons systems and technologies, as well as assisting the group in creating an infrastructure that would permit it to indigenously produce rockets, missiles, and drones to threaten Israel from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, or Yemen, the report said. During all these years Hezbollah received weapons from Iran and became an increasingly dangerous threat but Israel became stronger and has even more weapons than its army could handle, Cohen explained. The truth is that Hezbollah is against the Lebanese, it is not against Israel, Cohen said. The last time Hezbollah launched a mission against Israel was in 2006, he added, so its entire arsenal and militia are against Lebanon, even though Hezbollah does not admit it openly. Once in a while, there is an incident on the border but there is no major attack, Cohen said. Hezbollah tries to cover with propaganda its real intention to launch a war against Lebanon. Now Lebanese people have started to realize that Hezbollah is the enemy of Lebanon, Cohen said. The corruption is very high in Lebanon, every parliament member in Lebanon can own a business unlike in America or Israel and this can create a conflict of interest, Cohen said. There are 18 religious communities in Lebanon and they usually do business with people from their community which creates opportunities for corruption, Cohen said. There is no law to regulate these affairs. Hezbollah can kill a judge, Cohen said, it is similar to a mafia. Hezbollah harms Lebanese people, he said. According to a joint study by Global Jewish Advocacy and International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, Hezbollah has avoided direct attacks against Israel since 2006 despite that it has voiced its intent to annihilate the Jewish state. Hezbollah only conducted several attacks against Israeli targets overseas during this period of time such as the terror attack on an Israeli tour bus in Bulgaria in 2012, according to the study. Hezbollah is however heavily involved in the Syrian war fighting on the side of Bashar al-Assads regime and has committed numerous war crimes and human rights violations. Although the number of casualties due to Hezbollahs involvement is not known, reports by the U.S. State Department, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International document the killing of civilians, human rights violations, attacks on homes, schools, and hospitals in Syria and Yemen. Bahiya al-Hariri, the sister of Lebanons former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, prays at his grave on August 18, 2020 in Beirut, Lebanon. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon delivered a guilty verdict against one of four men on trial for the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images) The study also mentioned Hezbollahs involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, the operation of secret detention centers and jails in Lebanon, and causing bloody riots in response to Lebanese efforts to curb Hezbollah. There is no war between Hezbollah and Israel, Cohen said. Hezbollah claims that there is a war and the two countries are enemies but it is a false accusation. Hezbollahs goal is to keep its arms. Solution to Lebanons Crisis Only international involvement can help Lebanon to resolve the crisis and ensure that Lebanon will rise again, Cohen said. No one wants to help Lebanon because of Hezbollah. Hezbollah has to give up their weapons and its members should live normal lives like other Lebanese, Cohen said, but it will not surrender its arms unless it is forced to. Hezbollah is designated a terrorist organization by Israel and the United States, and around 50 individuals are sanctioned by the United States for Hezbollah-related activities. In April Germany also designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization and banned its activity on German soil. U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale speaks to the media after visiting the site of a massive explosion at Beiruts port, Lebanon, August 15, 2020. (Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters) Among the reforms that need to be implemented Hale listed combating corruption and improving transparency, restructuring the public debt, improving the electrical system which still doesnt work since the civil war ended in 1990, changing the distribution of the customs revenues which are distributed to parties rather than to the government, and addressing the relaxed rules for accessing the port of Beirut which allow Hezbollah to use it for any kind of nefarious activities. Regardless of whether Hezbollah is a part of the Lebanese government or not, it is important that the government is truly capable of reforms, Hale said. The big problem is that reforms are contrary to the interests of all of the status quo leaders and that very much includes Hezbollah. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallahs effigy was burned about a week ago in Martyrs Square, Beirut, which is considered by Hale a sign that Lebanese people have started to realize that Hezbollah is also part of the corrupt, self-serving system upon which it thrives. Good governance, sound economics, and financial reform, and ending corruption, are what Lebanese want, Hale said. JACKSON COUNTY, Mississippi -- For longtime Mississippi coast residents, the words and images are all too familiar. Total devastation. Upwards of a million people without power. Tens of thousands without drinkable water. Six people dead. When Hurricane Laura ripped through southwestern Louisiana and southeastern Texas, people here knew exactly what the people in those areas were going through. In 2005, when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Mississippi coast, neighbors from all around came to assist in the aftermath, bringing necessary supplies, donating money and simply offering whatever help they could provide. Now, Jackson Countians are looking to return the kindness, with multiple relief efforts underway. Among them, the Jackson County Good Neighbor Initiative, a joint effort of Jackson County government, the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, the Jackson County Education Foundation, the Jackson County Sheriffs Office and the United Way for Jackson & George Counties. Residents are asked to donate supplies ranging from bottled water to non-perishable foods, to diapers/baby wipes, to hygiene essentials such as deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Cash donations can also be made through the United Way website or by purchasing gift cards and bringing them to the United Way office at 3510 Magnolia St. in Pascagoula. Those wishing to donate supplies can do so at the following locations: Jackson County Courthouse, main lobby, 3104 Magnolia St. in Pascagoula Vancleave Substation at 12002 Highway 57 Moss Point Fire Department at 4204 Bellview St. Collections will continue at those locations until Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 2 p.m. For more information on the Good Neighbor Initiative, call 228-769-3166. Also preparing to make a relief run is Comeback Coolers, the local grassroots group formed several years ago to provide assistance to those impacted by disasters. Were going to deliver next Saturday, said Comeback Coolers founder Heather Eason of Ocean Springs. Well have a packing party next Thursday and leave on Friday. Eason said they are accepting donations of coolers and items to fill them -- anything we can put in these coolers. Donations have already been rolling in, Eason said, but there is no such thing as too much. She also noted donated coolers do not have to be new -- they will take used coolers and coolers which may be missing parts which they can repair. If people have old coolers sitting in their garage or shed, we will happily take those, she said. Comeback Coolers also accepts monetary donations through PayPal or Venmo. Information on how to donate can be found on the Comeback Coolers website or Facebook page. Eason also noted there is an Amazon wishlist on both the website and Facebook pages where people can purchase items to fill kids coolers or Linemen coolers for power company workers. Other groups organizing relief drives include the City of Gautier, which is accepting donations at the Gautier Police Department at 3329 U.S. 90 in Gautier. Items requested include bottled water, flashlights, bug spray, paper products, cleaning supplies, first aid supplies, batteries, tarps, sunscreen and gloves. Likewise, donations are being accepted by the Ocean Springs Fire Department at the central station at 3820 Bienville Blvd. (U.S. 90). The list of items needed matches those requested by Gautier, although the OSFD requests no clothing or food items be donated. At MailOnline we take great pride in the quality of our journalism. All our journalists are required to observe the Editors Code of Practice and MailOnline is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), the new regulatory body for the Press set up in response to the Leveson Inquiry. We aim to correct any errors as promptly as possible. If you wish to report an inaccuracy, please email corrections@mailonline.co.uk. To make a formal complaint under IPSO rules please go to www.mailonline.co.uk/readerseditor where you will find an easy-to-use complaints form. Belize could keep border closed for remainder of year Chetumal, Q.R. In what the Belizean authorities are calling not very encouraging news, the neighboring country could keep its borders closed for the rest of the year. President of the National Chamber of Commerce and Tourism of Chetumal, Jaime Minguer Ceron, says that the economy for the states capital city is already going through a crisis and is on the verge of collapse since more than 50 percent of visitors arrive from Belize. If the country remains closed, it will be especially difficult for merchants and service providers who are already facing a severe economic crisis due to the effects of the pandemic. Minguer Ceron says that the economic benefit of Belize visitors is important, adding that their biggest demands include hotels, restaurants and recreation activities. He stressed that prior to the pandemic, approximately 20,000 Belize residents crossed into the Mexican region each month, generating millions in revenue for southern businesses. With the pandemic, the Mexico-Belize border has been closed for months. Minguer Ceron added that Belize authorities have not given any indication as to when they may reopen their border as they continue to maintain strict hygiene and security measures to avoid contagion. Raids find no illegal workers, forced labour on Phuket fishing boats PHUKET: Checks by officers on five Phuket fishing boats found no illegal workers or any evidence of forced labour, reports the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket). crimeeconomics By The Phuket News Friday 28 August 2020, 10:49AM The raids found no evidence of forced labour or human trafficking, said officials. Photo: PR Phuket The raids found no evidence of forced labour or human trafficking, said officials. Photo: PR Phuket The raids found no evidence of forced labour or human trafficking, said officials. Photo: PR Phuket The raids found no evidence of forced labour or human trafficking, said officials. Photo: PR Phuket The raids found no evidence of forced labour or human trafficking, said officials. Photo: PR Phuket The raids found no evidence of forced labour or human trafficking, said officials. Photo: PR Phuket The raids found no evidence of forced labour or human trafficking, said officials. Photo: PR Phuket The raids found no evidence of forced labour or human trafficking, said officials. Photo: PR Phuket The raids found no evidence of forced labour or human trafficking, said officials. Photo: PR Phuket Officials from various local government agencies carried out random inspections on fishing boats departing Rassada Pier yesterday (Aug 27), said the report. The inspection, led by Wiang Suwanna, Chief of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) office in Phuket, were taregeting cases of illegal employment, working conditions and human trafficking in the fishing industry, the report added. The fishing boat Jor Kong Watthana 5 was found with three Thais and 28 Myanmar nationals on board, while the Eakwaraporn was found with 10 Thais and Myanmar nationals, and the Sor Thanawutchainavy 19 was found with three Thais and 13 Myanmar nationals, four Cambodians and two Laos nationals on board. The Sor Thanawut 63 had four Thais on board, and the Sor Najasamut had four Thais and 31 Myanmar nationals on board. The boarding party inspected the working conditions and interviewed 12 of the workers. No evidence or reports of forced labour were found. No irregularities at all were found, said the report. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump warned that Joe Biden would usher in violence and chaos if elected, making the case for his own re-election as he formally accepted his party's nomination Thursday on the final night of the Republican National Convention. "This election will decide whether we will defend the American way of life or whether we allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it," Trump said, speaking to a crowd on the White House South Lawn. "In the left's backward view, they do not see America as the most free, just and exceptional nation on Earth. Instead, they see a wicked nation that must be punished for its sins. "Joe Biden is not the savior of America's soul," Trump continued. "And if given the chance, he will be the destroyer of American greatness." Trump accepted the nomination trailing his Democratic rival in the polls. Facing criticism for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed over 180,000 people in the U.S. and devastated the economy, Trump is leading an America roiled by national protests against racial injustice, with the latest wave originating in Kenosha, Wisconsin, after police shot Jacob Blake, a Black man. The four-day convention forced by the pandemic to abandon the original North Carolina location and relocate to Washington tried to drive a consistent message: Trump is due credit for his coronavirus response and, if re-elected, will quash protests and rescue the injured economy. Police funding, PPE and NAFTA: Read a fact check of President Donald Trump's acceptance speech. Protesters gathered outside the White House grounds Thursday night and could be heard on the South Lawn, the much-criticized location for Trump's acceptance speech. Presidents have traditionally avoided using the public areas of the executive mansion for overt partisan politics. Image: Donald Trump (Brendan Smialowski / AFP - Getty Images) Republicans amplified a "law and order" message throughout the convention, warning of violence and chaos under Democratic leadership while seeking to counter perceptions that Trump is a racist who has purposefully inflamed racial tensions for political benefit. Story continues "I have done more in three years for the Black community than Joe Biden has done in 47 years and when I'm re-elected, the best is yet to come," Trump said. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson was the only RNC speaker to mention Blake by name. "Before I begin, I'd like to say that our hearts go out to the Blake family and the other families who've been impacted by the tragic events in Kenosha," Carson said Thursday. "History reminds us that necessary change comes through hope and love, not senseless and destructive violence." Image: Demonstrations near the White House (Olivier Douliery / AFP - Getty Images) Trump referred to the recent unrest in Wisconsin briefly but made no mention of Blake or other Black Americans whose deaths have dominated much of the national conversation this election year. "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," Trump said. Trump began his remarks by briefly acknowledging Hurricane Laura, which hit along the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday, and announced that he would visit the affected areas over the weekend. The president also addressed the coronavirus Thursday, offering an optimistic view of the pandemic and promising a vaccine by the end of the year a timeline that health experts say is unrealistic. "If we had listened to Joe, hundreds of thousands more Americans would have died," Trump said. "Joe Biden's plan is not a solution to the virus but rather a surrender." Image: Fireworks over the White House (Doug Mills / AFP - Getty Images) The White House crowd embodied Trump's message that the virus is under control, as 1,500 supporters crowded on the South Lawn for the speech. Chairs for guests were not spaced out, and few wore masks. White House chief of staff Mark Meadow said "a number of people" attending the event would be tested for the coronavirus. The campaign contracted a firm of experts to advise on appropriate precautions for all parts of the convention that had live audiences. Trump's remarks were punctuated by rounds of applause and cheers from the crowd a feature noticeably absent from the Democratic convention. Trump has raised eyebrows throughout the week over his use of government tools to make his case for re-election, and the South Lawn setting seemed a provocation to his critics. Download the NBC News app for alerts and all the latest on the Republican convention. "Gathered here at our beautiful and majestic White House known all over the world as the people's house we cannot help but marvel at the miracle that is our great American story," Trump said. "This has been the home of larger-than-life figures like Teddy Roosevelt and Andrew Jackson who rallied Americans to bold visions of a bigger and brighter future." Some have warned that members of the Trump administration could be at risk of violating the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in certain political activities. The president and the vice president are exempt from the law, but other White House employees are not. Trump's speech was followed by a fireworks show near the Washington Monument, across the street from the White House complex. The Trump family was serenaded by a performance from opera signer Christopher Macchio, who performed classics such as "Ave Maria" from the White House balcony, as guests watched from their seats. Trump spoke for about 1 hour and 10 minutes, the second-longest convention addresses in modern history, following his own speech in 2016, at 1 hour and 16 minutes. YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS. The National Security Service said a high-ranking reputed crime boss thief-in-law Gevorg Oshakantsi Gevorik Melikyan has been jailed amid an ongoing criminal investigation involving his alleged involvement in organized crime and racketeering. The thief-in-law, a rank somewhat similar to the American Mafias made men, was arrested on suspicion of attempted extortion and his membership to an organized crime group. Under the Armenian law enacted earlier this year, it is illegal to belong to a criminal subculture even if no specific other crime has been committed. Charges were pressed against two other persons. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan The defendants persuaded numerous victims to pay them in wire transfers, checks and cash under the false pretense that their money would be invested in the foreign exchange and cryptocurrency markets, U.S. Attorney Robert Hurs office said in a news release. Their company offered contracts that guaranteed investors monthly rates of return ranging from 6% to 35% of their initial investments regardless of market volatility, according to the indictment. Parents pick up Chromebooks at the Philadelphia School District headquarters in April. Besides providing laptops, ensuring internet access has been a challenge for the district. Read more Less than a week before school is to begin virtually, as many as 18,000 Philadelphia School District students may still need internet access, Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. said Thursday. Were estimating somewhere between 15,000 and 18,000 individuals will need to be connected, Hite said. Those are district families that would need some sort of connection. Total enrollment is about 125,000. The district is preparing to start the school year with an all-virtual program Wednesday. The city earlier this month announced that free internet access would be available to 35,000 low-income families with students enrolled in Philadelphia schools. That includes charter schools which enroll about 70,000 and private schools. The $17 million plan, a partnership between the city and Comcast Corp., provides free broadband access for some households via Comcasts Internet Essentials program, and wireless hot spots to others. READ MORE: Free internet coming for 35,000 Philly families as city, schools, Comcast to spend $17M on digital equity plan Hite said Thursday that the district estimates that about 1,900 students may need hot spots. A couple hundred families have picked up the necessary devices, he said, adding that the district has 6,000 available. Asked how many homes had been wired for free internet through the PHLConnectED program since it was announced Aug. 6, district spokesperson Monica Lewis said she did not know. Comcast officials also said they did not have a figure, but said the average application time for families with children to receive internet was four days, and that families who call a new hotline by dialing 211 can still be connected by Wednesday. Our goal was to make sure that all students have access starting on Day One, Hite said during his weekly briefing. He said some people have been approved for an internet connection but the service still needs to be installed. Hot spots are providing temporary internet access while that is happening, he said. The district is also providing mobile hot spots to students who live in shelters or do not have the ability to have a wired connection, he said. Lewis said later Thursday that school leaders knew that connecting students to internet wasnt going to take place overnight when they launched the program. Will every student have internet access by Sept. 2? Absolutely not. Did we know that going into this? Yes we did, she said. The district is working with the city and internet providers to help students get access as soon as possible, she said. The city this week announced the 211 hotline run by the United Way to help connect families to the internet. Families of K-12 students in Philadelphia without internet access or with access only through their phones can call 24 hours a day and speak to a representative who will help determine their options for internet access. The hotline is available in more than 150 languages. Deana Gamble, a spokesperson for Mayor Jim Kenney, said the mayor obviously wants all students connected for virtual learning on the first day of school, but he also appreciates the great challenges involved in closing the digital divide. The city is working very aggressively with the district, other schools, Comcast, T-Mobile, elected officials, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders to inform families about this incredible resource and help them enroll as quickly as possible, Gamble said. Philadelphia saw a drop in student participation after the district moved to virtual learning in the spring, with thousands of students not logging on. Hite said the full picture of how many students lack internet access may not be clear until school begins next week, including whether those who participated in the spring will still do so this fall. If individuals may have been logging on back in the spring and theyre not logging on now, you have to find out why thats occurring, he said. BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese military opposes and is not afraid of the U.S. side's recent escalating provocations against China, a spokesman said Thursday. Wu Qian, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, made the comments at a press conference in response to a media question about the U.S. military's recent provocative moves around China, including sending warplanes and holding naval exercises. Some U.S. politicians, in pursuit of their selfish interests, are sparing no effort to undermine the relations between the two countries and the two militaries, and are even attempting to create incidents or military conflicts, Wu said. These misdeeds, with no regard to the lives and safety of personnel of both sides, the fundamental interests of the two peoples and the call for peace from people around the world, are extremely unpopular, he added. Wu said the Chinese military will resolutely safeguard China's sovereignty, security, and development interests, as well as the peace and stability in the region and the world. He urged those U.S. politicians to understand the reality, act with reason, stop provocations and help put the relations between the two countries and the two militaries back on the right track. A judge has ordered an Iowa county to invalidate 50,000 requests for absentee ballots after the elections commissioner pre-filled out personal information a decision that sided with the Trump campaign. Judge Ian Thorn issued the temporary injunction ordering Linn County Auditor Joel Miller that he must inform voters in the second largest Iowa county that the forms should have not been pre-filled with information, thus they cannot be processed. "It is implausible to conclude that near total completion of an absentee ballot application by the auditor is authorised under Iowa law where the legislature has specifically forbidden government officials from partially completing the same document," Judge Thornhill wrote in a Thursday ruling. "Not every county can afford the prepopulated request forms," he added. The county will have to re-send out ballot requests to voters for them to fill out, otherwise the voters will have to vote in-person on Election Day. The Trump campaign and Republican party filed a lawsuit against Linn County, which is home to Cedar Rapids, as one of dozens of legal battles regarding absentee ballots the groups were taking on ahead of the November election. In the lawsuit, the campaign said absentee ballot requests should have been blank except for the election date and type, per the Iowa secretary of state's directions. These rules were ignored in the more than 140,000 requests sent out to residents. According to the lawsuit, the county already received back 50,000 completed forms, all of which are now void. "Because the defendant sent the ABR [absentee ballot request] forms to voters with the required security information pre-populated, there is no assurance that the ABR forms returned to his office were actually sent by the voter listed on the ABR," the Trump campaign wrote in its lawsuit. "If the defendant mails absentee ballots in response to the prepopulated ABR forms, any of those absentee ballots that are cast would be subject to challenge and may not be counted in the 2020 general election." The county has said that it plans to mail out new request forms to any voter impacted. "Voters should rest assured that even if they submit multiple requests, they will only receive one ballot," the county said in a statement Thursday. Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel said in a statement Thursday that the "ruling upholds a key voter protection mechanism and will help to ensure Iowa's elections are free, fair and transparent." Absentee ballots have become a popular form to vote in recent months amid the coronavirus pandemic, but it has faced attacks from the president and his campaign over the possibility voter fraud could occur. More states have moved towards allowing their residents to vote by mail come the November election to avoid large gatherings at polling places, causing increased scrutiny into the process. Iowa residents voted by absentee ballot for the primary election in June, and it led to record turnout for votes cast. Then the Republican-led Legislature passed a law making it harder for residents to vote because it required them to fill out their four-digit voting identification numbers on the form something few voters know. That was why election commissioners provided absentee ballot request forms with the information already included, so it would prevent voters from leaving the area blank and thus requiring auditors to contact them to complete the application. The ruling on Thursday by Judge Thornhill was the first of others to come after the Trump campaign filed lawsuits in two other Iowa counties and in other states across the US. The Associated Press contributed to this report New Delhi, Aug 28 : The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has notified new rules for administration of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir that specify the functions of the Lt Governor and the Council of Ministers. The "Transaction of business of the government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Rules, 2019" were published in the gazette on Thursday, and have six chapters. Notified by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, these rules provide that "police, public order, All India Services and anti-corruption," will fall under the executive functions of the Lt Governor, implying that the Chief Minister or the Council of Ministers will have no say in these matters. The rules also say that proposals or matters which affect or are likely to affect the peace and tranquility of the UT or the interest of any minority community, the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes "shall essentially be submitted to the Lt Governor through the Chief Secretary, under intimation to the Chief Minister, before issuing any orders". The Council of Ministers, led by the Chief Minister, will decide service matters of non-All India Services officers, proposals to impose new taxes, land revenue, sale grant or lease of government property, reconstituting departments or offices and draft legislations. However, as per the rules, in case of difference of opinion between the Lt Governor and a minister when no agreement could be reached even after a month, the decision of the Lt Governor "shall be deemed to have been accepted by the Council of Ministers". Should the difference of opinion persist, the Lt Governor may direct that the matter be referred to the Council of Ministers, which shall consider it at its next scheduled meeting and convey its decision, but not later than 15 days from the date of such reference. In case no such decision is received within 15 days from the date of such reference, the Lt Governor's decision shall be deemed to have been accepted by the Council of Ministers. The rules also state that "any matter which is likely to bring the government of the UT into controversy with the Central government or with any state Government," shall, as soon as possible, be brought to the notice of the Lt Governor and the Chief Minister by the Secretary concerned, through the Chief Secretary. As per the rules, there will be 39 departments in the UT such as school education, agriculture, higher education, horticulture, election, general administration, home, mining, power, PWD, tribal affairs and transport. The business of the government shall be transacted in the departments specified in the First Schedule, and shall be classified and distributed between those departments as laid down therein. The Lt Governor, on the advice of the Chief Minister, shall allot among the Ministers the business of the government by assigning one or more departments to a Minister. The Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible for all the executive orders issued by any department in the name of the Lt Governor and contracts made in the name of the President in connection with the administration of the UT, whether such orders or contracts are authorised by a Minister in respect of a matter pertaining to the department under his charge or as a result of discussions at a meeting of the Council of Ministers. The rules also say all communications received from the Centre, including those from the Prime Minister and other Ministers, other than those of a routine or unimportant character, shall, as soon as possible after their receipt, be submitted by the Secretary to the Chief Secretary, the Minister in charge, the Chief Minister and the Lt Governor for information. According to the rules, all contracts in connection with the administration of the UT shall be expressed to be made by the President and shall be executed on the President's behalf by the Lt Governor, or a person authorised by the latter. A person authorised to execute and sign contracts referred to in sub-rule (1) shall execute such contracts within the financial powers delegated to him and in all cases involving exercise of financial powers in excess of those delegated to him, the contracts shall be executed after obtaining the sanction of the competent authority. Every order or instrument of the UT government shall be signed either by the Chief Secretary, Secretary, Special Secretary, Additional Secretary, Deputy Secretary or an Under Secretary to the government or such other officer as may be specially empowered by the Lt Governor in this behalf and such signature shall be deemed to be the proper authentication of such order or instrument. On August 6, 2019, Parliament read down Article 370 of the Constitution, thus revoking the special status of J&K and bifurcated and downgraded the state into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh, with a legislative assembly and without, respectively. The erstwhile state has been under Central rule since June 2018 and the Assembly was dissolved in November that year. It has been without a Chief Minister since June 2018. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while introducing the necessary legislation in Parliament last year, said Jammu and Kashmir's statehood would be restored soon. According to the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, fresh elections will be held after the delimitation exercise is completed next year. Israels Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi can certainly pat himself on the back for another diplomatic achievement. His German counterpart, Heiko Maas, agreed with him that an effort must be made to extend the United Nations arms embargo on Iran. Speaking with journalists Aug. 27, Ashkenazi said that an extension was needed to prevent Iran from getting "more advanced weapons systems and spreading them around the Middle East." He added, "We would like to see the European countries, not just Germany, preventing it. It's not helpful for the stability of the region." Echoing Ashkenazi, Maas said, "We are trying to reach a diplomatic solution so that there will be an arms embargo on Iran in the future." Maas also said that concerns outside the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) such as the Iranian ballistic missile program and Iranian growing involvement in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq need to be addressed. Iran must change its approach in the region, we are not naive about Iran. We know that Iran plays a dangerous role, Maas noted. Of course, this does not mean that Berlin now toes in line with Washington on the snapback measures or that Berlin changed its stance on the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. Maas was clear about that. For Germany, the JCPOA remains the best deal to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. We want to preserve the JCPOA to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, he said. Still, the understanding between the two ministers offers Jerusalem something to work with, ahead of Oct. 18, when the UN arms embargo on Iran expires. Ashkenazi met with Maas during a two-day visit to Berlin, on the occasion of the informal European Union foreign ministers meeting. With Germany taking over the EU presidency for the coming six months, Maas played the host. It was a particularly convenient set-up for Ashkenazis first formal meeting with the 27 European counterparts. "I just finished a visit that was both important and significant for Israels foreign policy and our connection to the European Union, and would like to thank my friend, German FM @HeikoMaas for hosting me, Ashkenazi tweeted. Ashkenazis first meeting with the ensemble of EU ministers took place on the backdrop of the recently achieved normalization agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, which was hailed by the EU. The Israeli foreign minister received a warm welcome in Berlin. Ashkenazi himself noted, "The agreement with the UAE was received with great enthusiasm by all EU foreign ministers." Since the Aug. 13 normalization agreement, Ashkenazi has been operating in the shadow of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen, who had concluded the deal without involving the Foreign Ministry. But the meetings in Berlin indicate that Ashkenazi has identified a niche where he can operate and shine. In recent years, Netanyahu lashed out at Europe again and again, preferring to cultivate ties with euroskeptic/nationalist leaders like Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban or Italian Sen. Matteo Salvini. The Brussels scene of the EU and even ties with central EU members have been neglected by Netanyahu. With his military background and his fresh political approach, Brussels seems ready to welcome Ashkenazi with open arms. Ashkenazi is counting on that to take over the Iranian file. Trump wants to get tough on US companies that move overseas - EPA President Trump said on Thursday that if he was re-elected, his administration would impose tariffs on any company that leaves the United States to create jobs elsewhere. "We will impose tariffs on any company that leaves America to produce jobs overseas," Mr Trump said in his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention. "We'll make sure our companies and jobs stay in our country, as I've already been doing. Joe Biden's agenda is Made in China. My agenda is Made in the USA." Mr Trump portrayed himself as having been willing to challenge China on trade during his speech to the party faithful and asserted his Democratic rival in the November election, Joe Biden, would not be as tough. The former real estate developer spent much of his first term waging a trade war against China over its trade practices, technology transfer and industrial policies, imposing punitive tariffs on $370 billion worth of Chinese imports. "Joe Biden's agenda is Made in China. My agenda is MADE IN THE USA." - President Trump #RNC2020 pic.twitter.com/6YGzSSArUK Francis Brennan (@FrancisBrennan) August 28, 2020 In May, he threatened to impose new taxes on American companies that produce goods outside the United States, another move his administration could make to push supply chains away from China and raise new trade barriers. Mr Trump made a similar comment last week during a campaign event in Pennsylvania, when he said: "We will give tax credits to companies to bring jobs back to America. "And if they don't do it, we will put tariffs on those companies and they will have to pay us a lot of money." Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community. Submit here Mali must return to civilian rule immediately and hold elections within 12 months, West African countries demanded Friday, as they considered sanctions over a military coup that toppled the country's president. The demands were spelt out after the new junta released ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, seized in the August 18 coup, but also apparently granted their new chief the powers of head of state. The coup shocked Mali's West African neighbours and ally France, heightening worries over instability in a country already struggling with an Islamist insurgency, ethnic violence and economic stagnation. After a video summit, the 15-nation Economic Community of West Africa State called on the junta "to initiate a civil transition immediately" and the "rapid establishment of a government to (...) prepare the legislative and presidential elections within 12 months." In a closing statement, Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou, who chairs ECOWAS, said sanctions would be "gradually lifted depending on the implementation" of the bloc's requests. ECOWAS closed its borders with Mali after the coup, banning trade and financial flows as it demanded the release of Keita and other detained officials. Keita, 75, 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 crashed as he failed to counter the raging jihadist insurgency and brake Mali's downward economic spiral. After an escalating series of mass protests, young army officers mutinied on August 18, seizing Keita and other leaders and declaring they now governed the country. They have called the junta the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), led by a 37-year-old colonel, Assimi Goita. Friday's video summit came after a three-day ECOWAS visit last week ended without a timetable for a return to civilian rule. Keita was released on the eve of the summit and Issoufou claimed he had told the ECOWAS envoys "that he resigned quite freely, convinced that this decision was necessary for peace and stability in Mali." Story continues Meanwhile, Algeria's Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum separately met with the junta on Friday -- the first representative of a foreign government to do so. Algeria hosted peace talks between Bamako and armed groups in 2015, and Boukadoum called Friday for elections that "respect the constitutional order". - Handover issue - Within hours of taking control, the junta promised to enact a political transition and stage elections within a "reasonable time." According to the chief ECOWAS envoy, former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, the coup leaders wanted a three-year handover period, which was rejected by the ECOWAS team. On Friday, the group called for a civilian leader and said: "No military structure should be above the transition president." But the meeting came as a new document published on the Malian government's Official Journal said the CNSP head had been effectively invested with the powers of head of state. The junta has yet to comment on the document. - Jihadist warning - In other remarks, Issoufou lashed the Malian military for launching the coup when the country was in the throes of an eight-year-old jihadist insurgency. Thousands of lives have been lost, hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes and swathes of the country have been abandoned to armed Islamists by the state. The junta "is refusing to return to the barracks at a time when, more than ever, the army is required to focus on its traditional mission," Issoufou said. He warned that the jihadists sought to "exploit the current institutional void" -- a scenario that happened after Mali's last coup in 2008. Mali's influential imam Mahmoud Dicko, a key player in the mass opposition protests that led to Keita's ouster, said Friday that the new military rulers did not have "carte blanche". "We will not give a blank cheque to anyone to run this country, that's over," he said. "We led the fight," he said. "People have died and the soldiers who have completed (this fight) must keep their word." bh-pgf/ach/tgb LINCOLN Secretary of State Bob Evnen ruled Thursday that a medical marijuana initiative should be placed on the Nov. 3 ballot, though he said he had no doubt that his decision will be challenged in court. That would mean that the fate of two citizen-led ballot initiatives one to expand gambling and the other to legalize cannabis for medical use will be in the hands of Nebraska courts in the next few days. The two court cases, which under normal circumstances would take weeks to decide, must be finalized by Sept. 11, the deadline to certify the ballot for the November general election. Evnen said Thursday evening that while there are a number of problems with the language of the proposed constitutional amendment submitted by Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, his review found that the language was legally sufficient to be placed before voters. This was a close call, said Evnen, who is an attorney. Uber Technologies Inc. vowed to make public more safety information regarding its self-driving cars after the National Transportation Safety Board placed partial blame for a fatal 2018 crash on the companys policies. The company made the pledge in an update to its voluntary safety assessment, filed Friday with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It marked the first major attempt by Uber to allay criticism of its autonomous driving program since the NTSB board reached its conclusions regarding a Tempe, Arizona, crash in 2018 believed to be the first fatal pedestrian accident involving a self-driving vehicle. We support the idea of transparency and making the public understand what we do, Nat Beuse, head of safety at Ubers Advanced Technologies Group, said in an interview. The new filing is a complete update from Ubers initial offering to regulators in 2018, he said. In the document, Uber touts enhancements, including the public release of a Safety Case Framework that it pledges to make open-sourced for peer review. The company also details new internal safety management procedures and the establishment of an independent Safety and Responsibility Advisory Board. So far, 23 companies have made their self-driving safety assessments public, according to NHTSA, including Apple Inc., Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co., Lyft Inc., Mercedes-Benz AG, Toyota Motor Corp., and Waymo. Beuse, a former NHTSA associate administrator for vehicle safety research, said Uber is among a handful that have updated its voluntary disclosures. The fatality occurred around 10 p.m. on March 18, 2018, when a 49-year-old woman was hit by a 2017 Volvo XC90 SUV operated autonomously by Uber, according to police in the Phoenix suburb. Authorities said the vehicle was in self-drive mode with a safety operator behind the wheel when the pedestrian, who was walking a bicycle outside of a crosswalk, was struck. She died at a local hospital. The NTSB voted in 2019 that the probable cause of the crash was the failure of the vehicle operator to monitor the environment and the operation of the automated driving system because she was visually distracted throughout her trip by her personal cellphone. The board also cited three shortcomings by Uber: the companys inadequate safety risk assessment procedures; ineffective oversight of vehicle operators; and lack of adequate mechanisms to address complacency by operators as the cars drove themselves. Latest: Driverless Car Safety Rules Proposed by U.S. Safety Agency Safety advocates have criticized the Trump administrations voluntary approach to self-driving car regulation. They say the voluntary reports submitted so far resemble slick marketing brochures instead of stringent regulatory filings. The Tempe crash roiled the debate about self-driving cars in Washington, where legislation was being considered to drastically increase the number of such cars auto manufacturers would have been able to put on public roads. Uber suspended all testing of self-driving cars for four months before resuming testing in Pittsburgh in July 2018. The company closed its driverless testing program in Arizona and let go almost 300 workers there in May 2018. Consumer advocates have seized on the incident to urge tougher regulations of self-driving cars. Its nice that Uber has decided this is the right time to update its so-called report, but a consumer-focused agency would have long ago mandated all driverless vehicle manufacturers regularly submit useful safety details regarding their public road tests, said Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety. NTSB members applauded Uber for cooperating with its nearly two-year long investigation when it released its findings in late 2019, but also cited an ineffective safety culture that played a role in the 2018 crash. Beuse said Ubers filing isnt an attempt to rebut the NTSBs findings. The said the company hopes to show that safety is paramount to what were trying to do. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 23:56:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Ministry of Petroleum said that its energy supplies to Iraq will not be affected by recent contracts between Washington and Baghdad, semi-official Fars news agency reported on Friday. Iran continues its investments in infrastructure projects in western regions of the country bordering Iraq and its natural gas supplies to Iraq are even expected to grow in the coming years, a statement by the ministry was cited as saying. Iran's gas exports to Iraq have increased notably over the past three years to reach 50 million cubic meters per day despite U.S. repeated efforts to dissuade the Iraqis from importing from Iran, the statement said. However, Iran respects Iraq's right to decrease its reliance on foreign suppliers as it plans to develop its own energy sector, it added. A total of five U.S. firms signed agreements with the Iraqi government during Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi's recent visit to Washington aimed at boosting Iraq's energy independence. Enditem There is a group called Project 1599 started by those two men, conservative Washington political operatives, but it is not a civil rights organization. Mr. Wohl and Mr. Burkman could not immediately be reached for comment. Mr. Wohl, who has a large online following, has in the past helped orchestrate efforts to smear opponents of President Trump. He has made headlines in the past two years for promoting false sexual assault allegations against Robert S. Mueller III, the former special counsel, and Pete Buttigieg, a former mayor of South Bend, Ind., and Democratic presidential candidate. A spokeswoman for Ms. Bensons office said it was not yet clear who was behind the calls, a portion of which were inaudible. The spokeswoman, Tracy Wimmer, said that everything in that call is completely false. Your information is no more exposed than if you simply register to vote, Ms. Wimmer said, adding that both Ms. Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel of Michigan were beginning an investigation of the calls, which she said appeared to violate federal laws prohibiting voter intimidation. Linguistic researchers use an extensive body of research on English and other Western languages to make broad assumptions about trends in human language, including an apparent universal preference for suffixes (e.g., less, able, ment) over prefixes (e.g., fore, anti, trans). Since psychological scientists recognize the powerful link between language and cognition, a tendency for suffixes to dominate human language may reflect a universal trait of how we think and process the world around us. However, new research published in the journal Psychological Science reveals that even though many populations favor suffixes in the same way English speakers do, others do not, including speakers of the African Bantu language Kiitharaka. This unexpected discovery challenges the idea that Western languages are sufficient when studying language and its connection to psychological science. "The original hypothesis that humans generally prefer suffixes makes a lot of intuitive sense, at least to us English speakers," said Alexander Martin, a language researcher at the University of Edinburgh and lead author on the paper. "We were surprised, therefore, to see just how starkly the two populations [English speakers and Kiitharaka speakers] differed in this regard." For their research, Martin and his colleagues studied specific word characteristics among the two populations--one whose language relies more frequently on suffixes (51 English speakers) and one whose language relies more on prefixes (72 Kiitharaka speakers). Participants were presented with a sequence of either shapes or syllables followed by two additional sequences. They were then asked to identify the sequence most similar to the original sequence. Based on their results, the researchers were able to identify which parts of sequences the speakers considered most important and therefore less likely to be modified. English speakers considered the beginnings of words as more important, a language characteristic that reflects English's use of suffixes. Kiitharaka speakers, however, were inclined to treat endings as more important, opting to select sequences that altered the beginnings of words. "This finding really challenged a previous claim about human language," said Martin. "It showed that the abundance of suffixes across the world's languages might not simply be a reflection of general human perception." A preference for prefixes over suffixes by some language speakers has larger implications than diverse human cognition. It might be a sign that language research has not been exhaustive in the past. "The important take-home here is that if we want to understand how language is shaped by universal features of human cognition or perception, we need to look at a diverse sample of humans," said Martin. The WEIRD Preference for Suffixes Prior research has established that English speakers favor the beginnings of words. This is reflected in the structure of English: when modifying a word to change its meaning, English tends to add suffixes. For example, common suffixes in the English language include "-wise," which you might add onto the end of "clock," or "like," or "-al," which often tails behind "accident" or "fiction." These past language studies, however, have focused predominantly on Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) populations. Such studies have concluded that suffixes are generally preferred over prefixes. Martin and his colleagues observed that such research excludes populations that do not fall into "WEIRD" categories, and conclusions drawn from them could therefore be unrepresentative of universal human cognition. The Nexus of Language and Cognition "How the human brain perceives and processes the world around it impacts language, but not every feature of language is a direct reflection of this," said Martin. "For example, how we use language, like for communication, can also affect language patterns." The study's conclusions further illuminate the relationship between human cognition and language systems and patterns. However, Martin cautioned against assuming that different languages must mean drastically different perceptions of the world. "When we look at speakers of other languages, especially those who speak languages that haven't been studied extensively, we are able to understand that we've been seeing the world through a biased lens. That's something we think psychologists should care about," he said. ### Psychological Science, the flagship journal of APS, is the leading peer-reviewed journal publishing empirical research spanning the entire spectrum of the science of psychology. For a copy of this article, "Revisiting the Suffixing Preference: Native-Language Affixation Patterns Influence Perception of Sequences," and access to other research in Psychological Science, contact news@psychologicalscience.org. Martin, A; Culbertson, J., (2020) Disentangling Social-Genetic From Rearing-Environment Effects for Alcohol Use Disorder Using Swedish National Data l. Psychological Science, https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797620931108 An aerial view of the execution facility at the United States Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Ind., on June 11, 2001. (Michael Conroy/AP Photo, File) Appeals Court Lifts Block on 5th Federal Execution This Year The federal execution of a convicted murderer who kidnapped and killed a 10-year-old girl is scheduled to proceed on Friday after a late ruling by an appeals court. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit overturned a preliminary injunction issued by a lower court in a brief order on Thursday, saying that there were insufficient findings and conclusions in blocking the execution of Keith Dwayne Nelson. Earlier on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan halted Nelsons execution, saying that the government needed to comply with the requirements of a federal law that regulates drugs before they can carry out the execution. Chutkan ruled that the government needed to obtain a prescription for the use of pentobarbital, the drug to be used in the lethal injection, in order to meet the requirements of that law. The governments failure to acquire a prescription for the use of pentobarbital in Nelsons execution is contrary to law and thereby violates the [Administrative Procedure Act], Chutkan wrote (pdf). Nelson kidnapped 10-year-old Pamela Butler who was rollerblading in front of her Kansas home and raped her in a forest behind a church before strangling the young girl to death with a wire. He is currently scheduled to die by lethal injection later Friday at Terre Haute, Indiana. The ruling basically allows the government to pick and choose when it will follow the law, Dale Baich, one of Nelsons lawyers, told media outlets. It is unclear whether Nelsons legal team would appeal to the Supreme Court, but on Friday morning they asked the federal district court to either clarify or amend the order that was dismissed or issue a new permanent injunction. His legal team continued to argue that Nelson would suffer irreparable injury with the use of pentobarbital and the lack of a prescription. Mr. Nelson faces irreparable injury if executed with the administration of a drug both without the benefit of prescription (and thus physician involvement) and without the benefit of using an approved (not compounded) drugand the labeling, approval and manufacturing quality requirements that apply to approved drugsincluding, among other things, a scientifically established expiration date, the lawyers wrote in their motion (pdf). Attorney General William Barr announced in July 2019 that they were resuming federal executions and that they were replacing a three-drug procedure that had been used in federal executions with a single drug, pentobarbital. The drug and the method of federal executions have been the subject of multiple lawsuits. Despite the last-minute fights, the federal government successfully carried out three federal executions in July and one earlier this week. Isabel Van Brugen and Reuters contributed to this report. Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.) Total U.S. confirmed cases: 6,002,615 (5,965,339) Total U.S. deaths: 183,203 (182,808) Total global cases: 25,259,201 (25,051,178) Total global deaths: 847,107 (843,641) Fully-approved vaccine may be months away While efforts are moving at warp speed to develop a vaccine against the coronavirus (COVID-19), Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), says it could be as late as next June before one is fully approved for general use. We're likely to see a stepwise progression of authorization of this vaccine for certain select populations that are at higher risk of either contracting it or having a bad outcome before we see a full approval for the general population," Gottlieb said on CBS Face the Nation. "I think, again, full approval for the general population, where people can go to CVS and get a shot that's really a 2021 event, maybe the first quarter of 2021, probably more likely the first half." At the same time, current FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn said his agency would be open to greenlighting a vaccine for use in the U.S. before it completes Phase III clinical trials. U.S. case total tops 6 million The number of cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. hit 6 million today. The unofficial count is maintained by the COVID-19 Tracking Project at Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. reached the milestone as the recent spike in cases has begun to slow a bit -- a trend attributed to more Americans observing face mask requirements and maintaining social distancing. At the same time, the U.S. has vastly more cases of the virus than any other nation. Brazil is second with 3,862,311, followed by India, Russia, and Peru. Auburn cancels football practice due to COVID-19 While college administrators are grappling with coronavirus outbreaks among the student body, college athletic coaches are doing the same thing by trying to keep athletes healthy and schedules on track. At Auburn, football practice was canceled on multiple days last week as 16 players tested positive. "We're learning as we go here," said Head Coach Gus Malzahn. "Every day and every week is a challenge." While some football conferences have suspended the 2020 season, the Southeastern Conference has decided to play. Auburn is scheduled to open the season on September 26 against Kentucky. New app helps people track symptoms A new app, developed in part by the University of Chicago, is helping users communicate about a wide range of coronavirus symptoms. The app is designed for people at high-risk from COVID-19, as well as those who just want to avoid becoming infected. MyCovid Passport provides users with a framework to understand their own and each others health status in five areas: breathing, temperature, body symptoms, disease contact status, and mental health. Users can track symptoms according to best practices established by COVID-19 experts at the University of Chicago and keep up to date on the latest health information. The app is a variation of one developed at the University of Chicago to help parents of premature babies to track their infants progress. The color purple means you cant open Starting this week, California school districts will be watching closely to see what color their county has been assigned. Any color other than purple means schools can open, with some restrictions. State officials say the color or tier the county is assigned is based on just two factors: the number of new positive cases per 100,000 population and the percentage of positive test results over the previous week. Officials say the new system is greatly simplified and based on the same system to determine which businesses in the state can reopen. Around the nation By PTI NEW DELHI: French Defence Minister Florence Parly is likely to visit India next month to attend the formal induction ceremony of five Rafale fighter jets into the Indian Air Force (IAF) and hold talks with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh on further boosting strategic ties, people familiar with the developments said on Friday. The induction ceremony of the Rafale jets will be held on September 10 in Ambala air force station in presence of Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and the entire top military brass of the country, they said. The Indian and French sides are in touch with each other on the proposed visit by Parly, they added. They said a preliminary discussion on a possible procurement of another batch of 36 Rafale jets by India from France may figure in the talks between the two sides during Parly's visit here. There has been a view among some officials in the military establishment that the IAF should at least have four squadrons of Rafale jets considering its operational aspects. A squadron comprises at least 18 aircraft. ALSO READ | Rahul welcome to fight 2024 polls on Rafale issue: BJP hits back at Congress MP They think it will be the "cheapest option" as the cost of research and development for all India-specific enhancements have already been covered in the previous deal, those aware of the developments said. It is learnt that the French side is also keen on discussing the option of a follow-on order. In a telephonic conversation with Singh on June 2, Parly had conveyed her readiness to visit India to further explore ways to enhance bilateral defence ties. The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in India on July 29, nearly four years after India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to procure 36 of the aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. The jets are yet to be formally inducted into the IAF. Ten Rafale jets were delivered to India so far and five of them stayed back in France for imparting training to IAF pilots. The delivery of all 36 aircraft is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021. A second batch of four to five Rafale jets are likely to arrive in India by November. The Rafale jets, known for air-superiority and precision strikes, are India's first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 year after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia. The Rafale jet is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. ALSO READ | IAF test fires air-to-air missiles ahead of Rafale integration European missile maker MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and Scalp cruise missile will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets. Meteor is a next generation beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) designed to revolutionise air-to-air combat. The weapon has been developed by MBDA to combat common threats facing the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Sweden. Out of 36 Rafale jets, 30 will be fighter jets and six will be trainers. The trainer jets will be twin-seater and they will have almost all the features of the fighter jets. While the first squadron of the Rafale jets will be stationed at Ambala air base, the second one will be based at Hasimara base in West Bengal. The new fleet will be part of the 17 Squadron of the IAF which was resurrected on Sep 10 last year. The squadron was originally raised at Air Force Station, Ambala on Oct 1 1951. The 17 Squadron has many firsts to its credit; in 1955 it was equipped with the first jet fighter, the legendary De Havilland Vampire. Being the first lady is difficult, especially if people, staff and even constituents make it extra challenging by looking down at your color. Michelle Obama said so as much. For years even when she was still the first lady, Michelle has been the epitome of a refined and yet still spunky lady. She showed the world what kind of a wife would make a man successful, given how much she supported her husband. The ex-first lady was never to just sit around and wait for staff to cater to her. She has projects of her own that made sure Barack Obama's legacy would be strong. She was successful, given how very few would say the previous Administration did not do anything. Nobody ever said Michelle herself had not done anything. In all aspects, she has surpassed expectations. Michelle Obama Escaped the White House Several Times What is shocking is that there were instances when she was made to feel invisible. This is the first time that Michelle would deviate a bit from her strong persona and share about events that hurt her while her husband was still the President. Essentially, she's the most powerful woman in the United States, and she exudes the confidence needed for that role 100 percent. Probably knowing there is no weakness in sharing one's pain and hurt, she now said that she had constantly suffered for being a Black woman for eight years. It did not matter that she was the most powerful man's wife, she was still not able to escape racism. On the August 26 episode of her Spotify podcast, Michelle shared that she felt compelled to escape the White House at night -- from time to time, and of course, in disguise. She realized that stripped off of her power momentarily, people would treat her so much different since they did not know they were talking to the FLOTUS. "I can tell you a number of stories [where] I've been completely incognito, during the eight years in the White House," Obama told her friends, Dr. Sharon Malone, Denielle Pemberton and Kelly Dibble. "Walking the dogs on the canal, people will come up and pet my dogs but will not look me in the eye. They don't know it's me. And it's - what white folks don't understand is that's so telling of how white America views people who are not like them. You know, we don't exist. And when we do exist, we exist as a threat. And that's exhausting," she added. Barack Obama Heartbreak: Wife Disrespected for Being Black This by no means meant she was safe if people knew she was the first lady. Some racists simply cannot be deterred. According to Michelle, one time back when Sasha and Malia Obama were still very little girls, she and Pemberton (who is also black) took their kids out for ice cream. She told the Secret Service to stand back so that they can buy ice cream like normal people. However, a white woman cut right in front of them as if she did not see them. Michelle called out the woman but she did not even get an apology! "She didn't apologize, she never looked me in my eye, she didn't know it was me," Obama revealed. It is not clear if Barack Obama knew about these sufferings of the first lady, or more importantly, his wife. Knowing Michelle, she would have probably not let the President know anymore. At least she's sharing it now to let people know that racism is truly an issue in the United States. READ MORE: Kanye West Desperate to Save Kim Kardashian Marriage, Dropping Presidential Campaign? ROCK SPRINGS (Wyoming News Exchange) Western Wyoming Community College will eliminate job positions and degree pathways in the days ahead. The decision was announced to employees on Monday, Aug. 17, and is due to state budget cuts, declining enrollment, and the impact of COVID-19, according to a press release. As a new president, this was not how I wanted to start our journey, President Kim Dale said. Im keenly aware that there are people attached to these decisions. Ive asked our Western family for compassion and understanding during this transition. The majority of t... New Delhi, Aug 28 : Outgoing Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa, who was next in line to head the poll panel, on Friday said that he would remember his two and a half year stint at the Commission as a "memorable experience". "It was a difficult choice on whether to continue in the EC or move on to the global canvas of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)," he said at his farewell at the Election Commission as he moves on take up a prestigious assignment as Vice President of the Philippines-based Asian Development Bank (ADB). Former IAS officer Lavasa had become an Election Commissioner on January 23, 2018 and will demit office on August 31, following his resignation on August 18. A 1980 batch officer of Haryana cadre, he was next in the line become Chief Election Commissioner after the retirement of incumbent Sunil Arora in April 2021. As Election Commissioner, Lavasa figured in thee headlines when he registered his dissent on the poll panel's clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then BJP President Amit Shah on alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Bidding him farewell, Chief Election Commissioner Arora wished Lavasa the very best ahead for meeting bigger challenges and achieving more milestones. "ECI's loss is ADB's gain where Lavasa's competence would now be available at the wider multilateral platform for the daunting task of restructuring economies in post-Covid scenario," he said. Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra appreciated Lavasa's work in the Finance Ministry earlier and especially lauded his guidance in framing broad guidelines for elections to be held in Covid times. The Commission also bid farewell to outgoing Director, Election Expenditure, Vikram Batra as he returns to his cadre after completing his term at the Election Commission. Meanwhile, Volume VI of "Landmark Judgments", a compendium of election-related judgments delivered by the Supreme Court and various High Courts from January 2017 to May 2019, that is till the conclusion of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, was also released on the occasion. The Commission also released its e-version at https://eci.gov.in/ebooks/landmark-judgment/index.html. Volume VI contains 29 significant judgments covering various aspects of the electoral process like nomination, affidavit, EVM VVPAT, Model Code of Conduct, corrupt practices and other related matters. This volume also lists the judgments already published by the EC in the previous five volumes. Additionally, the volume also lists 632 cases filed in the Supreme Court and various High Courts during the period leading to the 2019 polls. In his message, the CEC said: "I harbour the sanguine hope that this publication would further illuminate us about the domain of election law and embolden the officials concerned to execute the gigantic exercise by taking solace in the fact that their actions have consistently earned the approbation of judiciary." Lavasa said that this volume will "broaden understanding of the laws governing the vast electoral exercise of our country", while Chandra expressed hope that it will benefit all citizens of the country in understanding the election process. Publicans from around the country converged on the Riverside Park Hotel last week to highlight their concerns to local TDs and elected representatives over what they say is the crisis situation for their industry in the county. One of the speakers at the event was Tom Dunbar, from the Irish Vintners Federation and, speaking to this newspaper, he said a number of important issues were raised by members of the organisation. 'Personally, I have found the level of support we have received from the Government insulting and I know am not alone in feeling that way,' said Mr Dunbar, who owns Dunbar's Pub in Ferns. 'There are a lot of people in the sector who are 66 and over so they weren't entitled to the Covid payment and have to depend on the pension,' he said. 'We've been closed during the period that we rely on for around 75 per cent of our income for the entire year and that's between St Patrick's Day weekend and when the schools reopen,' he added. 'The treatment we have received is appalling and nothing short of it.' Mr Dunbar's points were also raised with the elected members at the meeting. 'We were told we going to be reopening twice, and twice, at very short notice, told that we couldn't reopen,' he said. He said pubs had ordered in stock from wholesalers and brewing companies on the understanding they would be opening up again and then 'a few days beforehand we were told you're not opening up'. Another point raised at the event in Enniscorthy was the fact that publicans were among the first people to respond to the pandemic in March and had taken all measures asked of them. Another point raised was the treatment of those premises that don't serve food. 'That is just so unfair and there is no sense to it,' said Mr Dunbar. 'All of our staff had to do examinations to show they were up-to-date with guidelines and regulations and that's despite the fact that we haven't actually been given specific guidelines,' he added. 'I've been a publican for 50 years and I am being told I can't open and we are the most regulated sector in the country.' The publicans are calling for adequate support measures to be put in place to support pub owners as they struggle to address the financial challenge of having had no income for almost six months through no fault of their own. Mr Dunbar said the fact that some premises can open 'because they offer a bag of chips and chicken wings' is also something the IVF wants addressed. 'It's just so unfair and what we want is for all pubs to be allowed reopen and if that's not the case, then adequate support needs to be in place for those being forced to remain shut,' he said. He said the IVF is calling on the Government to develop a clear roadmap and plan for getting pubs reopened. He also warned that if something isn't done soon it will be to the detriment of many rural pubs and that will in turn have an adverse affect in rural Ireland. 'It's so disappointing that you could be treated like this by the Government,' said Mr Dunbar. 'We need clarity, we need guidelines and we need a clear roadmap and plan to get us reopened again,' he added. A point agreed upon at the meeting was the urgent need for those premises that are being forced to remain closed to be looked after. 'There needs to be some form or support or compensation for pubs that remain closed,' said Mr Dunbar. The elected representatives at the meeting were also told that if pubs don't reopen soon many of them will be opening up again because their position will become non-viable. 'We have never looked for anything from the Government before and rural Ireland is being hit hard as it is but this is just hitting it even more,' said Mr Dunbar. 'Pubs are an integral part of rural life and many of my customers are regulars who just come in for the social aspect of it,' he added. 'We are supposed to be a major part of the tourism attraction in the country but we are being treated so unfairly it's unbelievable.' The meeting heard that the unfair playing field at present needs to change: 'All we are looking for is for fair play and a way for us to get through this but we either need to be open or supported.' A dream job as caretaker on one of Queensland's tropical paradise islands is up for grabs. The stunning Low Isles, located 15km offshore from Port Douglas and within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is in need of a caretaker to look after the island. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is looking for someone to fill the full-time position to, who will also get to live on the tropical paradise island. The stunning Low Isles (pictured), located 15 km offshore from Port Douglas and within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is looking for a caretaker to look after the island The job is looking for a caretaker for the beautiful Low Isles (pictured) who will also get to live on the tropical paradise island But whoever takes up the dream role will have to put up with limited electricity and water, Marine Park Authority's Dr Mark Read said. 'The caretakers live in paradise on a tropical island surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef but maintaining an island is hard work and remote island living means limiting electricity and water use which may not suit everyone,' he said. 'The caretakers are involved in everything from maintaining buildings and infrastructure including the solar power system and sewerage treatment system, liaising with tourist operators, cleaning toilets, managing weeds and grounds works, and counting bird populations like the pied imperial pigeons. 'We're seeking people with a passion for sustainability and natural heritage, experience in maintaining infrastructure and who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty and live remotely.' Submissions for the position as caretaker of Low Isles (pictured) closes on Friday September 25 Submissions for the once in a lifetime job opportunity must be submitted before 3pm on Friday September 25. The salary has not been revealed. 'Are you passionate about the Great Barrier Reef and island conservation, living sustainably, and possess high-level people management and engagement skills?' the job descriptions reads. 'Could you live and work on an isolated tropical island in the beautiful Great Barrier Reef Marine Park? 'Australia's lead management agency for the Great Barrier Reef is now seeking submissions via a merit-based tender process for caretakers on Low Isles, located 15 km offshore from Port Douglas within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. 'The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority appoints caretakers to this sustainable island in the Marine Park to ensure its natural and heritage values are maintained.' SINGAPORE Aug. 27, 2020 Southeast Asia Timothy Shim Total flap loss: death of all or almost all of the transplanted tissue Partial flap loss: death of more than a third of the transplanted tissue Fat necrosis: death of less than a third of transplanted tissue, with all of the transplanted skin healthy and intact and only fat tissue death. Timothy Shim Singapore Singapore August 03 August 15, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Breast reconstruction has long been considered an important part of breast cancer treatment and management. The procedure can be done using artificial breast implants, autologous tissue grafts or a combination of both. In this release, The Clifford Surgery Clinic would like to highlight a study on DIEP flap breast reconstruction conducted by the top plastic surgeons in, including Dr, Senior Consultant Plastic Surgeon at The Clifford Surgery Clinic.The main aim of a breast reconstruction surgery is to recreate new breast(s) which are natural-looking, symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing. In all cases, this will involve the use of breast implants or autologous tissue grafts from other parts of the body. In the latter case, tissue from the lower abdomen is preferred as it has the ideal skin and fat tissue composition to mimic a natural breast. The traditional approach involves the transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap, while the newer approach involves the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap.The highlighted study focuses on the newer DIEP flap approach. Mainly, Dr Shim and his collaborators aim to evaluate the safety and outcome of this approach when performed on Southeast Asian patients and identify possible risk factors. 50 DIEP flap breast reconstruction procedures performed on 46 patients of different Southeast Asian ethnicities were evaluated in this study.One of the main variables investigated in the study was the incidence rate of possible complications from DIEP flap breast construction. Some of these complications include:Results from the study revealed that complications from DIEP flap breast reconstruction was unlikely, as incidence rates of the major complications like Total and Partial flap loss were low at 6% and 4% respectively. The most common complication, fat necrosis, is a minor one that only occurred 10% of the time. These results were also consistent with similar studies done by other plastic surgeons all over the world, which further reinstated the safety and reliability of this approach.In addition, the study also investigated different factors that may contribute to the success of the reconstruction surgery, which included age, ethnicity, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, obesity, smoking and several others. Among the factors examined, obesity is the only factor proven to significantly increase the risk of complications. Other factors like smoking did exhibit a possible trend, but there was insufficient evidence to definitively prove this association. Hence, we can see that most women are suitable for DIEP flap breast reconstruction.As breast cancer remains the one of most common cancers in women, breast reconstruction is arguably one of the most important aesthetic/plastic surgery procedures. While not technically required to treat the cancer itself, many women expressed that they only felt full relief after breast reconstruction and consider it as part of the recovery journey. A successful reconstruction helps women recover both physically and psychologically from the disease. Hence, insight into breast reconstruction techniques is an important aspect in both plastic surgeon and breast cancer research. This study has revealed that the DIEP flap approach has low complication rates, with obesity being the only risk factor significantly contributing to increased complications. With these, Dr Shim and his collaborators can confidently say that DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction is a safe and reliable procedure for Asian women.Dris currently practising at The Clifford Surgery Clinic. If you are keen, you may arrange a consultation session with him by contacting us at 6532 2400 or via WhatsApp at 8318 6332.The Clifford Surgery Clinic is located at 24 Raffles Place, #01-05 Clifford Centre,048621, less than a minute's walk from Raffles MRT Exit A.References Yap, Y. L., Lim, J., Yap-Asedillo, C., Ong, W. C., Cheong, E. C., Naidu, S., Shim, T., Yeo, M., Leow, M. P., & Lim, T. C. (2010). The deep inferior epigastric perforator flap for breast reconstruction: Is this the ideal flap for Asian women?. Annals of the Academy of Medicine,, 39(9), 680686. Cancer Statistics. (2020,). RetrievedSOURCE The Clifford Surgery Clinic A press statement has been issued after an emergency meeting denounced the military coup which culminated in the forced resignation and detention of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and his government officials. The statement re-echoed calls by the U.N Security Council and regional bodies, African Union (AU) and ECOWAS for the immediate release of detained government officials. The statement praised ECOWAS for suspending Mali for the sub-regional body and closing its borders with the country noting that the military takeover would not only undermine democracy and development of the country but also efforts to fight terrorist groups in the country. The organization is calling on the U.N and its member states to mobilize punitive measures to compel the coup leaders to immediately restore constitutional rule in Mali. CUNANGOS also commended the coordinated efforts of the government, Corporate Ghana, Civil Society in mobilising resources to fight the COVID -19 pandemic. The statement singled out the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre at the Ga East Municipal Hospital in Accra, built by the Covid-19 Private Sector Fund in collaboration with the Ghana Armed Forces, in record time, as a shining example of great things that happen when all hands are on deck. CUNANGOS applauded the sacrifices and the hard work of frontline health workers whose efforts were responsible for the successes being chalked in the fight against the pandemic and called on all Ghanaians to continue to strictly adhere to all the Covid-19 protocols. Statement Issued on behalf of the association by Head/Public Affairs Theophiline Bannerman, APR CALGARYThe father of a Calgary girl who was burned in an apparent case of road rage is asking a man who threw hot tea through an open car window to come forward and apologize. Police have said the incident happened in the citys northeast late on Aug. 15 when a man was driving home with his family and was nearly hit by a vehicle that ran a red light. It just happened ... in 30 seconds, said Fahim Mirza, whose seven-year old daughter was burned. He said he hit the brakes to avoid a collision, rolled down his window and exchanged words with three men in a car. I said, I had to brake so hard, I would have hit you. My kids are sitting over here, Mirza recalled. He yelled back to me, You moron and all that stuff. And I said, You moron. He said a man in the passenger seat then got out and threw a cup of hot green tea through the open window. The tea missed Mirza, but splashed his daughter on the left side of her face and shoulder. She was taken to hospital to be treated for second-degree burns and has since been released. Mirza said his daughter is struggling and often asks why she was the one who got burned. She asked her grandfather the other day, Am I not beautiful anymore? he said. We had to pause to see what can we answer. He said its been heartbreaking. Every day when you look at your childs face and you see those marks, it hurts, said Mirza. I hope that somebody who has some kind of information or even that person comes up and admits that he was at fault at least. Come on, be a man. Police said they are looking for three South Asian men who fled the scene in a silver, four-door sedan. Finding these people is the first step, said acting Staff Sgt. Lon Brewster. We have to then build enough of a case to make an arrest. Theres two sides to every event so we will make sure an investigation is fair and through. Brewster said investigators would like to talk to the three men in the sedan. We want to speak to their better nature, he said. In the heat of the moment, a decision was made out of anger we understand that but now its time to come forward and tell your story and stand up for those consequences. Brewster also asked anyone who witnessed the apparent road rage to contact police. Read more about: Relief checks from the nearly $19.5 million that the tribe received from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act went to members during the past month, with every adult receiving $750. Joey Littlebird, with the Northern Cheyenne Incident Command Center, said the money went out with the hope that tribal members would spend it locally to both help local businesses and be prepared for the prolonged stay-at-home order. Tribal leadership also approved paying for a checkpoint plan through the end of the year, which will have the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Road Security partnering with Bureau of Indian Affairs officers to operate checkpoints throughout the reservation. The plan is intended to control access to the Northern Cheyenne, and, according to Littlebird, it's set to begin within the next week. We hoped to have it started this week, but will all of the tribal programs getting shut down, there might be a slight delay, Littlebird said. According to a memo sent by Pena, the tribes situation will be reviewed Monday to determine whether to reopen tribal buildings and programs. Dr. Kwame Asah Asante, Senior Political Science Lecturer of the University of Ghana, has called on the Akufo-Addo goverment to include in its manifesto the construction of museums for Presidents of Ghana. The ruling New Patriotic Party led by President Nana Akufo-Addo launched its 2020 manifesto on Saturday, August 22, 2020 in Cape Coast, Central Region. The manifesto captured the President's 2016 campaign promises which have been executed and those at various stages of completion as well as new promises for next four years if re-elected during this year's elections. Among the new promises are the construction of an airport and a new harbour in Cape Coast, provision of free Wi-Fi for all schools, granting opportunities for students to access loans without a guarantor, establishing a scheme to enable young graduates acquire affordable apartments and to set up a Creative Arts Fund for the Creative Arts Industry. The President is hopeful of victory in the elections as he believes his track record speaks volumes. Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Dr. Kwame Asah Asante noted that one significant intiative that will help sell the good virtues of the country is the establishment of musuems. According to him, the museums will serve as a tourist attraction and generate revenues for the tourism sector and the country at large. Dr. Asah Asante was particularly concerned with building museums to show monuments as well as give historic accounts of previous and successive Presidents and Vice Presidents. The purpose of the museums, he stated, is to educate generations about the Heads of State in the history of Ghana. "We should have museums for our past Presidents like the late President John Evans Atta Mills, Jerry John Rawlings, J.A Kufour, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Dr. Hilla Limann . . . We have to build a museum for all our Presidents," 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 the Economic Community of West Africa States said that it could steadily lift sanctions imposed on Mali as the country progressed back to civilian rule West African leaders on Friday demanded an immediate civilian transition in Mali and elections within 12 months as they considered sanctions after a coup. In a video-conference, the Economic Community of West Africa States said that it could steadily lift sanctions imposed on Mali as the country progressed back to civilian rule. Search Keywords: Short link: Its a classroom cliche that teachers take attendance in alphabetical order. The public school board in Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk counties is applying that idea to the COVID-19 pandemic by staggering the start of school based on students last names. Classes begin at Grand Erie elementary schools on Sept. 10, but only for students with last names starting with A to L. Students with M to Z surnames start school the next day, and the pattern repeats the following Monday and Tuesday. By Wednesday, Sept. 16, the plan is for all students to be in class together. The staggered entry allows students to ease into their back-to-school routines, including new health and safety procedures for COVID-19, said director of education JoAnna Roberto. We must remember that its been more than six months since theyve been in the school together, so this is an important step in setting the tone for the year ahead. Grade 9 students will be the only high school students in class on Sept. 10, with M to Z students in all grades back on Friday, Sept. 11 and A to L students returning on Monday, Sept. 14. Come Sept. 15, the idea is all high school students will be in class in a quadmester model that will see them complete two condensed courses in 45 days. Students will study one subject every day for a week and then switch subjects the following week. The goal is to keep students in similar cohorts for an entire week, Roberto said. This will assist our pubic health partners with contact tracing, should we be faced with a positive COVID-19 test. Siblings will return to school together to help families arrange child care, and students in full-time special education classes will return full time as of Sept. 10. School was set to start on Sept. 8, until the province gave school boards the option of delaying students return in order to develop COVID-19 safety protocols. While this back-to-school will look much different than previous ones, our goal remains the same a great start to the school year for all of our students, said Grand Erie board chair Greg Anderson. Im confident that if we all remain calm and focused on our students, we will all get through this. With some families opting to keep their children home, Roberto said the board will release more details on how online learning will work next week. Cattle may be able to catch the coronavirus, and it could pose a new threat to the global fight against the pandemic, according to a new study by government scientists in Germany. At the Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, also known as Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, researchers inoculated six cattle with Sars-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes the disease Covid-19. Two animals, including a calf, tested positive after nose swabs a couple of days later. To see whether the human-carried virus had entered and reproduced in the bovine bodies, Professor Martin Beer and colleagues examined their blood samples and detected the presence of antibodies specific to the virus. Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China. This worldwide-first experimental study on cattle shows a low susceptibility to Sars-CoV-2 it cannot be ruled out that the pathogen may be able to adapt by mutation, the institute said in a statement on Wednesday. A non-peer-reviewed paper detailing the study has been posted in bioRxiv.org. Covid-19 is a human disease, but some animals can contract the coronavirus. Previous studies have confirmed infections in ferrets, hamsters, dogs, cats, mink and felids, but not in mice, chickens, ducks and pigs. The known susceptible animals were mostly small, and none had been kept in massive numbers as a major source of meat around the globe. In regions with high numbers of cattle and high case numbers in humans, like the US or South America, close contact between livestock and infected animal owners or caretakers could lead to anthropo-zoonotic infections of cattle, Beer and his co-authors wrote in the paper. Hence, cattle may be included in outbreak investigations if there is any indication of direct contact to Sars-CoV-2 by infected farmers or staff. Meat processing plants have become hotbeds of outbreaks in some countries. Germany put more than 360,000 people under forced quarantine after an outbreak in a meat plant in Guetersloh in June. Dozens of facilities in the United States have suspended operations this year for similar reasons. Story continues Various theories have been proposed to explain these incidents, such as an absence of social distancing or a work environment with low temperature and high humidity that could significantly prolong the virus survival. The German scientists said their discovery did not provide any evidence that cattle or beef could be relevant as a source of infection for humans. Oral and rectal swabs all tested negative, and the relatively low amount of antibodies and absence of noticeable symptoms suggested that the viral replication in the cattle was limited. Healthy cattle kept with the infected ones did not become infected, either. Therefore, there is no immediate cause for concern, but we have to keep an eye on further developments, Beer said in the statement. The scientists main concern was recombination. In bovines, beta coronaviruses in the same family as Sars-CoV-2 are widespread and can infect up to 90 per cent of the 1.5 billion cattle worldwide, according to one estimate. The German study found that previous exposure to a bovine coronavirus did not protect against the human strain. Double infections of individual animals might potentially lead to recombination between Sars-CoV-2 and bovine coronavirus, they said in the paper. A resulting chimeric virus, comprising characteristics of both primarily respiratory viruses, could present an additional threat for both human and livestock populations and should therefore be monitored. Professor Yu Li, a researcher with the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute in China, said coronaviruses in cows and humans were very different, as were their host environments. That would make cross-infection or recombination a highly unlikely event, according to Yu. The German finding was still preliminary, and people should not worry about this when they eat beef, Yu said. More from South China Morning Post: This article Can cows catch coronavirus? German study suggests yes but no link to beef first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. UPDATED: There are 12 new cases of covid-19 in New Zealand today. Seven of the cases are imported and were identified in day three testing. The other five cases are linked to the Auckland community cluster, four of those cases are from one household linked to Mount Roskill sub cluster. The other is linked to a known case from the Auckland cluster. The Seven imported cases were on the same Air India flight on August 23 and have been transferred to the Jet Park quarantine facility. Caroline says it is highly likely they were undetected before they got on the flight. Robertson says at this stage it is unknown which country each of the seven people on the flight came from but they are entitled to be in New Zealand. The cases were caught at the border and have been transferred to quarantine. The system is working exactly as we expected it to work. There have been 2475 close contacts of the Auckland cluster identified with 2433 contacted, they are self-isolating and the tracing team is working to contact the others, says Caroline. There are 161 people linked to the community cluster that have been transferred to the quarantine facility with 88 of those people testing positive, the rest are household contacts, she says. There are 11 people in hospital with Covid-19 with three of those people in intensive care. Since yesterday seven people have recovered from Covid-19 so there are 130 active cases of the virus. The total number of confirmed cases is 1363. Yesterday laboratories processed 11,010 tests which brings the total number of tests carried out to date to 730,330. Caroline says widespread testing is a critical part of the elimination strategy and community testing sites are open around the country this weekend, with pop-up testing sites continuing to move across Auckland. She says if the numbers of testing at the moment can be maintained, she is confident that reaching the target of 70,000 test over the next week is possible. Robertson says Auckland is two and half days away from moving to level 2 and he thanks people for their efforts and reminds them that the city is still in level 3 so people need to continue following the rules. "As a result of your actions, New Zealand remains in a comparatively positive position to other countries who have experienced second-wave outbreaks, with a small number of daily cases, no additional cases and no spread of the virus beyond the cluster, so thank you. "We are nearly there, but the job is not quite done." He asked Aucklanders to get a test if they have flu or cold-like symptoms this weekend, or were connected to the Auckland cluster in any way. Robertson says there will continue to be cases, so Aucklanders needed to behave so they did not spread the virus. That's why gatherings like church and birthdays will still be limited to 10 and funerals or tangihangas to 50, he says. EARLIER: The Minister of Finance Grant Robertson and Director of Public Health Dr Caroline McElnay will provide an update on Covid-19 at 1pm today. Yesterday there were seven new cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand. One is an imported case in managed isolation and the other six cases are linked to the Auckland community cluster. The case at the border is a woman in her 20s who arrived in New Zealand from Turkey via London and Hong Kong. She tested positive around day three in managed isolation and is in quarantine at the Sudima in Christchurch, says Caroline. Of the six cases one is linked to the cluster through a workplace and the other five are household contacts of previously reported cases, she says. There are 159 people linked to the Auckland cluster that have been moved to the quarantine facility including 85 people who have tested positive for Covid-19. By Wednesday morning the contact tracing team had identified 2,455 close contacts of cases, of which 2,404 have been contacted and are self-isolating, and we are in the process of contacting the rest, says Caroline. There are 10 people in hospital with the virus, two are in Auckland City, three at North Shore Hospital, four in Middlemore and one in Waikato Hospital. Two people are in intensive care, one in Middlemore and one in the North Shore. Fifteen people have now recovered from Covid-19 so the total number of active cases in New Zealand is 126 with 11 of these cases imported. The total number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 is now 1,351. On Tuesday laboratories processed 9,257 tests for Covid-19, which brings the total number of tests completed to date to 719,320. There are now eight positive cases associated with the Mount Roskill Evangelical Fellowship church. Caroline is encouraging anybody who was at the services held at the church on Stoddard Road on August 8, 9 and 11 and a wedding on August 7 to isolate and seek a test. All of the eight cases have links to each other and attended common events, she says. Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to reconsider the decision to privatise the Nagarnar Steel Plant in Bastar. He called the move unfortunate and said it will deeply hurt the expectations of the regions tribal population when the state government has been successful in curbing Maoist activities there. Baghel said the possibility of Maoists taking undue advantage of tribal discontent due to the privatisation cannot be ruled out. In the letter to Modi on Wednesday, Baghel said the news of the privatisation has agitated the tribal community and there is a feeling of dissatisfaction against the administration among them. Baghel added the states people were very enthusiastic about the opening of the under-construction plant in the mineral rich Bastar and thought it will also provide the state an opportunity to contribute to the nation building. I have read in some media reports that the government is preparing to sell the Nagarnar Steel Plant in Bastar... Baghel said about 610 hectares of private land has been acquired for the plant. He added only 27 hectares has been given conditionally to National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) for 30 years. Baghel said the rest of the land belongs to the Chhattisgarh government. He added the land was transferred on the condition that NMDC will use it only for setting up a steel plant. Baghel said that the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, has been in force since 1996 to protect the interests of tribals and their rights in Chhattisgarh. The state government is always committed to protecting the interests of the tribals. He cited the importance Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru gave to Public Sector Undertakings and said the state government will always support them. Baghel said they have extended leases of four iron ore mines at Bailadila for 20 years to ensure new employment opportunities in the Bastar region. He added all-round development of the region should be encouraged to ensure the regions people can connect with the mainstream of development. ANN ARBOR, MI -- Two cases of the novel coronavirus were confirmed in University of Michigans West Quad residence hall, university officials confirmed Friday. The cases were unrelated, and both students returned to their permanent residences to recover as recommended by the universitys health protocols, spokeswoman Kim Broekhuizen said in an emailed statement. University officials notified residents on Thursday and close contacts that may have been exposed to COVID-19 were contacted separately by UMs Environment, Health and Safety department. Officials said that department is working with the Washtenaw County Health Department. Any residents who were not directly contacted by the health department are considered to be a low exposure risk, Broekhuizen said. Bathrooms in the dorms are cleaned twice a day and high-touch areas throughout dorms are cleaned repeatedly all day, Broekhuizen said. Students began moving in to dorms at UM on Monday, Aug. 24. Classes begin Monday, Aug. 31. Nine UM community members have tested positive for COVID-19 so far this week, according to the campus dashboard. Two cases were in faculty, staff or alumni tested at the university. There are now 290 total positive cases at the university, per the dashboard. Eighteen of them were identified in the past two weeks. MORE ON MLIVE: Central Michigan University now has 110 coronavirus cases related to students Eastern Michigan University delays move-in 3 weeks, citing other campus coronavirus outbreaks Big weather change coming for Michigan during this weekend 11 years later, the auto rescue is still a campaign issue in Michigan. Heres why Joe Biden is leaning into it. The reference is to Republican allegations that Bidens son Hunter was given a high-paying job on the board of Burisma to curry favor with his father, who was spearheading U.S. policy on Ukraine under President Barack Obama. They also allege that as vice president, Biden pressured the Ukrainian government to fire the prosecutor who was investigating the company for corruption. No evidence has been provided to support that allegation, and the prosecutor, believed by the United States and its European allies to be corrupt, was fired after a corruption investigation of Burisma had been closed. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 18:08:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iran's health ministry on Friday reported an overnight registration of 2,115 infections with novel coronavirus which brought the total infections to 369,911 in the country since February. Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said at her daily briefing that out of the new cases, 941 have been hospitalized. The pandemic has so far claimed 21,249 lives in Iran, up by 112 in the past 24 hours, said Lari. Besides, 318,270 have recovered and been discharged from hospitals while 3,811 remain in intense condition. She added that 3,161,894 lab tests have so far been carried out in Iran. The spokeswoman said that 13 Iranian provinces are still in high-risk condition. Iran announced its first cases of COVID-19 on Feb. 19. Iran and China have offered mutual help in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. In mid-February, at the early stage of the coronavirus outbreak in China, Iran lit up the Tehran Azadi (Liberty) Tower to show its solidarity with China, and donated 3 million masks to China. In return, China has delivered several shipments of medical supplies to Iran. On Feb. 29, a five-member Chinese medical team visited Iran for a month-long mission to help Iran fight the pandemic. Enditem BEIRUT (Reuters) - Canada has offered to join Lebanon's investigation into the Beirut port explosion on conditon that it is credible and transparent, the visiting foreign minister said on Thursday. Lebanese President Michel Aoun initially promised a swift investigation into why highly explosive material stored unsafely for years detonated on Aug. 4, killing at least 180 people and injuring some 6,000. But he later said the process would take time. Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said after meeting Aoun that Ottawa was ready to assist under conditions that would be defined. He did not elaborate. "The Lebanese people expect that if Canada participates in this investigation it is because it is going to be credible, transparent and get to the bottom of things to get justice," he said in televised remarks. The Lebanese presidency on Thursday quoted Aoun as telling French magazine Paris Match that 25 people "directly or indirectly involved with the port" had so far been detained under the investigation. It would be transparent and hold to account "all those negligent without exception," he said. Beirut has said France and the United States' FBI are helping investigate the explosion that wrecked the port and swathes of the city, compounding an economic meltdown. Champagne, like other Western officials, said Lebanon must form a government that can implement long-demanded reforms to unlock foreign financial assistance. "Everyone understands that the international aid must be accompanied by serious reforms," Champagne said. The outgoing government that took office in January with the support of the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and its allies resigned over the blast. No progress has been made in forming a new administration. France's foreign minister said on Thursday that Lebanon risked disappearing due to inaction of its political elite, who had been the target of protests even before the blast as the financial crisis pummelled the currency and spread poverty. Lebanon's talks with the International Monetary Fund for a bailout have stalled. (Reporting by Ghaida Ghantous and Raya Jalabi, Editing by Angus MacSwan) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Inforial (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Indonesia Sat, August 29, 2020 06:00 509 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c41487fd 4 Inforial Free We are already used to having control over various gadgets in our homes with the push of a button to switch on the lights, turn on the television or even make coffee. In a similar fashion, why cant we just push different buttons to control and adjust the water we use while bathing or washing dishes instead of turning knobs or pulling levers all the time to do it? Thankfully, the innovative German brand hansgrohe from Black Forest, Germany, and with 119 years of history has designed a simple and convenient button for use in the bathroom and kitchen. The latest technology is purely mechanical with no complicated electronics and thereby easy to use, including by children and the elderly. Hansgrohe designed the new products in collaboration with renowned design studio Phoenix Design, which has received more than 800 design awards. First of all, hansgrohes RainSelect shower control can be used in the bathroom to control your desired spray modes. The shower panel with its ergonomic Select buttons fits nicely with the current trend toward spacious, relaxing shower areas. The panel controls all functions within one unit, while its aesthetically sophisticated design and its linear, horizontal shape make a striking addition to the bathroom design. The panels unique and sleek silhouette, meanwhile, gives the wall a clean and uncluttered look, thanks to Phoenix Designs aesthetic touch. It also gives a nod to the minimalist design concept through its minimum installation thickness; the RainSelect shower control unit opens up space for more freedom of movement in the shower. Switch control: All it takes is a simple push of the Select button on the hansgrohe Rainfinity showerhead to switch between PowderRain, Intense PowderRain and MonoRain spray modes. (Courtesy of hansgrohe/.) The Rainfinity showers, meanwhile, have a modern surface in elegant, matte white, and the contemporary graphite of the simply structured jet disc gives a visual highlight to your bathroom. The Rainfinity showerhead has three spray modes, turning your daily shower into an extraordinary experience. Youll find maximum relaxation in the microfine spray of the PowderRain spray mode. Thousands of droplets wrap the body in a blanket of water a sensual, ultraquiet wellness experience. Located in the center of the jet disc, the Intense PowderRain mode with its concentrated jet makes it easier than ever to rinse out shampoo. The third spray, the MonoRain spray, offers a soothing regenerative effect on the arms and legs with targeted, powerful, Kneipp-inspired jets. All it takes is a simple push of the Select button to switch seamlessly between these three spray modes in the attractive showerhead. You can also use the Select button in hansgrohes Talis basin mixers [IO1] instead of the traditional lever. This is especially useful when you have soapy hands; simply use the back of your hand or arm, keeping the mixer clean from soap that way as you wash your hands. The Select technology is purely mechanical and works by means of an especially developed cartridge. This is why the added convenience also requires no electricity or other devices in the base cabinet. It controls water temperatures and turns the flow of water on and off by turning the valve. Hansgrohe Talis basin mixers, meanwhile, are available in a variety of spout heights for different types of basins for a harmonious style blend between the wash basin and the mixer, as well as for practicalitys sake. With just one touch: Renowned German brand hansgrohe, with 119 years of rich history, has incorporated its innovative Select technology into the bathroom and kitchen to make our everyday lives easier. (Courtesy of hansgrohe/.) Meanwhile, to make your cooking and dish-cleaning activities in the kitchen more convenient and stylish at the same time, hansgrohe also launched the Metris Select kitchen mixer, with a Select button that can turn the water on and off while you are busy cleaning kitchen tools without impending your flow of work. This way, you can turn the mixer on and off while carrying a heavy pot, as well as enjoy your cooking and baking activities without worrying about smearing the tap. Kitchen chores have never been this fun! The lever handle remains open, with preset water volumes and temperatures. The Select button is large, with a legible on/off symbol, helping you to turn the water on and off with the back of your hand or your elbow when you are in the middle of cleaning dishes. Again, the button works by benefiting from mechanical laws, incurring you no extra electricity use, let alone any extra equipment in your floor to enjoy the added convenience. www.hansgrohe-asia.com Instagram: @hansgrohe Email: info@hansgrohe.com.sg Growth in Leading Regional and National Markets (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle-East & Africa, Latin America, US, Canada, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, India, China, Australia, South Korea, Japan, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Teva, Novartis, Mylan, Pfizer, Abbott, Sun Pharma, Aspen, Fresenius Kabi, Sanofi, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited, Apotex) LONDON, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global generic drugs market is estimated at US$xyz billion in 2020 and is projected to reach at a CAGR of xyz% during forecast period 2020-2030 to grow at a market value of US$xyz billion by 2030, taking into account assumptions for V-shaped economic conditions. The increase in healthcare expenditure and a rise in the cost of pharmaceuticals worldwide results in a strained national budget due to which a high proportion of people are not able to access to essential medications. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 30% of the world's population lack access to essential medicines. The main factor that hampers access to these medicines is the cost of these pharmaceutical drugs. The robust growth of the pharmaceutical market and increase in the share of total healthcare spending have reignited the age-old debate on how to balance the cost of innovation in drug research and grant universal access to that research. Reduction in healthcare expenditure by generic medicines has been acknowledged for a long time. Multiple studies have proven that substituting the brand name drugs with cheaper generic medicines can prove to save about 10-90% of the cost spent on the preparation of these medicines. Government initiatives like reimbursement policies have further encouraged the use of generic drugs and this policy has led the adoption of using generic medicines as a substitute over expensive branded original medications by various healthcare systems. This Visiongain report includes data analysis and invaluable insight into how COVID-19 will affect your industry. Access this report today. To access the data contained in this document please email contactus@visiongain.com To request sample pages from this report please email contactus@visiongain.com or refer to our website: https://www.visiongain.com/report/generic-drugs-market-report-2020-2030/ Market Driving Forces Emerging market: This factor has a direct link with the growth of the geographical generic drug market. So, with the emergence of new generic markets, the competition for generic drugs is increasing because of which various regions and companies are competing to increase their sales of generic drugs in the market. Awareness and advance healthcare systems: Earlier, people, as well as the doctors, were not quite aware of the use of generic drugs but after the introduction of generic drugs, companies and organizations have come up with workshops, conferences and training to promote the idea of generic drugs so that, people could be well-aware of its use. Cost-effectiveness and increasing investments: The cost of generic drugs is quite cheap as compared to the brand-name drugs which have increased the sales of generic drugs in the market. As the cost of these drugs is affordable so, many companies have started investing in manufacturing the generic drugs. Increase of chronic diseases and the ageing population: This is one of the most important factors that contribute to driving the sales of generic drugs. How this report will benefit you In this brand new 431-page report you will receive 66 tables and 287 figures all unavailable elsewhere. The 431-page report provides clear detailed insight into the generic drugs market. Discover the key drivers and challenges affecting the market. By ordering and reading our brand-new report today you stay better informed and ready to act. Report Scope Generic Drugs Market by Drug Delivery forecasts from 2020-2030 Oral Dermal/Topical Inhalants Injectable Generic Drugs Market by Distribution Channel forecasts from 2020-2030 Hospital Pharmacy Retail Pharmacy Generic Drugs Market by Application forecasts from 2020-2030 Oncology Diabetes Autoimmune Other Application Generic Drugs Market forecasts from 2020-2030 by Regional and National Market: North America: U.S., Canada Europe: Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific: Japan, China, Australia, South Korea, India, Rest of Asia-Pacific Middle East & Africa: South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Rest of Middle east & Africa Latin America: Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Rest of Latin America The global generic drugs market is estimated at US$xyz billion in 2020 and is projected to reach at a CAGR of xyz% during forecast period 2020-2030 to grow at a market value of US$xyz billion by 2030, taking into account assumptions for V-shaped economic conditions. Profiles and generic drugs revenue forecasts from 2020-2030 of these selected leading companies: Abbott Apotex Aspen Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited Fresenius Kabi Mylan Novartis Pfizer Sanofi Sun Pharma Teva Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdings Co Ltd ASKA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. H. Lundbeck A/S Roche Holding Qualitative analysis of the generic drugs market: SWOT Analysis of the generic drugs market Porter's Five Forces Analysis of the generic drugs market Discussion on factors that drive and restrain the generic drugs market Key Questions Answered by This Report: How is the global market for generic drugs evolving? What are the major factors driving and restraining the generic drugs market dynamics? What were the market shares of the leading national markets in the global generic drugs market in 2019? How will each of these national markets grow over the forecast period and how much revenue will these markets account for by 2030? How will the market shares for each of the national markets develop from 2020 to 2030? Which particular national markets will be the main drivers of growth in the global market for generics from 2020 to 2030? How will political and regulatory factors influence the regional markets and submarkets? What are the predictions for partnerships, consolidation for existing players and the potential prospects for new market entrants? How will the industry sector evolve as legislations around patents and patent expiries change during the period between 2020 and 2030? To request a report overview of this report please email contactus@visiongain.com or refer to our website: https://www.visiongain.com/report/generic-drugs-market-report-2020-2030/#download_sampe_div Did you know that we also offer a report add-on service? Email contactus@visiongain.com to discuss any customized research needs you may have. Companies covered in the report include: Abbott Laboratories AbbVie Able Labs Ache Actavis Agencia Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitaria Agila Specialties Akron Pharmaceuticals Alkem Laboratories Allergan American Pharmaceutical Association Amgen Anterios Arcolab ASKA Pharmaceuticals Aspen AstraZeneca Aurobindo Auspex Pharmaceuticals Baxter International Bayer Bedford Laboratories Bergamo Biocon Bioniche Pharma Holdings Blue Cross Blue Shield Association British Generic Manufacturers Association Caisse Nationale de l'Assurance Maladie Caraco Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Centers for Medicare and Medicaid CFR Pharmaceuticals Cipla Claris Competition Commission of India Daiichi Sankyo Dalim BioTech Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ebewe Pharma Eden Biopharm Group Elder Pharmaceuticals Eli Lilly Company Elyson Pharmaceuticals EMS Sigma Pharma Eon Labs Eurofarma Laboratories European Generic Medicines Association European Medicines Agency Farmacias Similares Filaxis Fougera Pharmaceuticals Fresenius Kabi Fuji Pharma Gavis Pharmaceuticals GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Grupo Sanborns Grupo Uriach Hexal Hisun-Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Hospira Healthcare India Private Limited Ilsung Pharmaceuticals Imperial Credit Private Limited InnoPharma Italian Generics Association, Assogenerici Itero Biopharmaceuticals Janssen Pharmaceuticals Johnson & Johnson King Pharmaceuticals Kmart KMS Pharmaceutical Kowa Pharmaceuticals Labesfal Laboratorio Sanderso Laboratorios Best Lek List of Organisations Mentioned in the Report Lundbeck Lupin Pharmaceuticals Mayne Pharma Meda AB Medical Technology Association of Australia Medley Merck KGaA's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Momenta MSD Mylan Natco National Health Service National Health Surveillance Agency Nexus Pharmaceuticals Nichi-Iko Nippon Chemiphar Novartis (Sandoz) Novo Nordisk Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Oriel Therapeutics Patriot Pharma Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency Pharmacia Piramal PT Ethica Industry Farmasi PT Soho Global Health Ranbaxy Ratiopharm Ribbon Rimsa Roche Sabex Sandoz Sanofi Sawai Pharmaceuticals Servicio Sanitario Nazionale Servier Sigma Pharmaceuticals Solvay Pharmaceuticals St. Jude Medical STADA Arzneimittel Strides Arcolab Sun Pharma Synthelabo Taisho Pharmaceutical Taiyo Pharmaceuticals Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited Target Teuto Brasileiro Teva Torrent Pharmaceuticals Towa US Federal Trade Comission US Generic Pharmaceutical Association Walmart Warner Chilcott Watson Pharmaceuticals Werner Lambert Wockhardt Wyeth Zentiva Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical Zydus Cadila To see a report overview please e-mail contactus@visiongain.com RELATED REPORTS: Top Generic Drug Producers Market Forecast 2019-2029 Global Anti-Obesity Drugs Market Forecast 2020-2030 Global Antidepressant and Anti-Anxiety Drugs Market 2019-2029 Global Antibacterial Drugs Market 2019-2029 Global OTC Pharmaceutical Market Forecast 2019-2029 Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/523989/Visiongain_Logo.jpg SOURCE Visiongain The Blue Jays have already pulled off one trade, acquiring righty Taijuan Walker from the Mariners to bolster their rotation, but it seems they hope to add more players in the remaining three days before Monday afternoons trade deadline. I would expect us to be extremely active, general manager Ross Atkins told reporters following yesterdays acquisition of Walker (Twitter link via TSNs Scott Mitchell). That certainly doesnt guarantee an additional move or moves, but if the Walker swap proves to be their only addition, it wont be for lack of trying. Per Sportsnets Ben Nicholson-Smith, Atkins went on to emphasize that his clubs focus will continue to be on pitching and run prevention. Supplementing the lineup sounds like more of a secondary goal at the moment, although Atkins noted the possibility of adding a defensive upgrade who also adds some punch on the offensive side of the coin. With Walker joining Hyun Jin Ryu, Tanner Roark and Chase Anderson in the Toronto rotation, theres still space for the Jays to pick up another rotation piece if they desire. Theyd hoped top prospect Nate Pearson would step into the rotation and seize a spot, but he struggled in his two final starts before going on the injured list with what was eventually diagnosed as a flexor strain. Whether hell return in 2020 isnt known, and while the Jays have some upper-level depth that could step into that vacant fifth slot, theres some sense in picking up another more established arm particularly if said arm is controlled beyond 2020. Theyve been linked to Trevor Williams and Chad Kuhl in Pittsburgh, but theyre just two of many options to explore. As far as the defense goes, there are myriad possibilities to explore. Simple bench options like Jarrod Dyson or Billy Hamilton could add a late-inning outfield boost to support an already thriving bullpen. A more impactful defender, Andrelton Simmons, is likely available given that the Angels are well out of contention and he, like Walker, is a free agent at seasons end. The Jays are currently without Bo Bichette and could conceivably slide him over to second or third upon returning in that scenario. Help behind the plate could come in the form of Pittsburghs Jacob Stallings or a more established all-around presence like Christian Vazquez (if Boston is willing to deal within the division). All of that is speculative, of course; the overall possibilities are expansive. Whatever route they choose to pursue upgrade, the Blue Jays look to have an increasingly clear path to a postseason berth in this years expanded format. At 15-14, theyre in possession of the No. 8 seed in the American League, and the teams most closely trailing them are the Tigers and Orioles each of whom is likelier to sell assets between now and Monday than to add. Forgive the cliche, but the Jays even control their own destiny to an extent in that regard, as theyre scheduled to open a four-game set against Baltimore tonight that could put further distance between the two teams in the standings. The Tigers, meanwhile open a four-game series against the first-place Twins. The recent ceasefire in Libya may represent a ray of hope for a solution to the problems besetting the country, but only if all the parties act in good faith Over two months have passed since President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi issued his warning to forces loyal to the Turkish-backed Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) and its local and foreign militias not to cross the red line of the oil-rich region of Sirte and Jufra. Since then, the situation in Libya has not changed, aside from some temporary incursions around the country. The Egyptian warning enforced a ceasefire in an area that represents the crown jewels of Libyan territory for the Islamist and unelected, yet UN-recognised, GNA in Tripoli backed by Turkey and Qatar. At the same time, the Libyan National Army (LNA) backed by Egypt and the UAE has held its ground, while maintaining its control of most of the country except the capital Tripoli. It is against this background that the declaration of a ceasefire by the Tripoli government led by Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Al-Sarraj on 20 August, with this being accepted by the Tobruk-based parliament, represents a breakthrough in a deadlocked situation. However, despite successful diplomatic efforts led by Cairo, Washington, the EU and others to defuse a situation on the brink of explosion in Libya, there have been various warning signs making it unwise to assume that this ceasefire will necessarily hold. The ceasefire declaration by the GNA seemed cordial in its wording, and it values the role played by Egypt along with several other regional and international players in brokering it. Among the terms is a call for the disbanding of militias and the preparation of general elections in Libya to take place by March 2021. The GNA in Tripoli has also called for the end of any military presence in the Sirte/Jufra area and its being turned into a non-military zone. This area is firmly controlled by the LNA, and it is the area that Al-Sisi earlier warned that any attempt to occupy it would force Egypt to intervene militarily as a matter of national security. However, it is unclear whether the LNA or its allies will accept the ceasefire proposal, at least at this stage, since trust in the GNA has been shattered as a result of several other broken ceasefires over the past few years as well as the use of foreign mercenaries and regional allies such as Turkey by the Tripoli government in its fight against the LNA. Moreover, the oil-rich region of Sirte/Jufra is a target for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, who has been trying to take control of it over the past few months in vain. If left unguarded, it could encourage a sneak attack by Turkey or its allied militias. Despite the above, prior to an agreement of the ceasefire and as a sign of good will the LNA and Tobruk parliament approved the resumption of oil production and export after a period of stopping production in the region. Among the reasons for wariness about the ceasefire is the plan by the Turkish and Qatari regimes to force a Muslim Brotherhood regime on Libya by backing the Islamist-leaning GNA in Tripoli. A few days prior to the declaration of the ceasefire, both the Turkish and Qatari defence ministers visited Libya, and in the presence of the GNA leader they agreed to send Qatari military experts to the country and for Turkey to build a naval base in Misrata. Any such moves are totally unacceptable to Egypt, which said that Egypt cannot accept foreign bases in Libya as part of any future settlement. According to LNA Spokesman Ahmed Al-Mesmary, in July Turkey transported 25,000 mercenaries into Libya, including 17,000 Syrian militants and 2,500 Tunisians who had earlier fought in the ranks of the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria. In addition to these, it also sent in some 3,000 Turkish military experts. Prior to the ceasefire declaration, Al-Sisi sent a letter to commander of the LNA Khalifa Haftar last week expressing Egypts support for his efforts to bring unity, peace and stability to Libya. President Al-Sisi also ordered the Egyptian army to remain in a state of readiness to meet any possible developments in the region. The unity of GNA leader Al-Sarrajs group in the Libyan cabinet remains in doubt as news of disputes between Al-Sarraj and first Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Maitiq has surfaced recently. There are factions forming within the Libyan Presidential Council in Tripoli, some of which have joined Al-Sarraj and some of which have joined Maitiq. Accusations of corruption have also been thrown at Al-Sarraj by Maitiq and Libyan Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha. Al-Sarrajs acceptance of the ceasefire may thus be his way of solidifying his position against a wave of objections against his handling of political and economic affairs in the country. It remains to be seen whether both factions in the Tripoli government are in agreement with the ceasefire declaration. Yet, despite all this the declaration may represent a glimmer of hope that problems in Libya can be settled, providing that the Islamist GNA in Tripoli does not continue to leverage its position against the LNA and Tobruk parliament through its Turkish ties. It is also unclear what the current negotiations will result in, especially given present tensions and the lack of faith between the parties. There has been a major change in Erdogans tone and that of the Turkish presidency towards Egypt over the past week, especially after Egypt ratified its naval demarcation agreement with Greece. The Turkish presidency praised Egypts role in reaching a ceasefire in Libya, which is the opposite of what it has been saying over recent months. The change of tone was sudden and appeared incoherent with the years of inflammatory and hostile rhetoric that Turkey has used against the Egyptian state. Suddenly, however, Erdogan seems to have changed his tune, perhaps because he has realised that his grand ambitions for Turkish hegemony in the region may have hit a dead end. But Erdogans motives cannot be trusted. His dreams of an expansionist, neo-Ottoman caliphate in the region, encapsulated in his Mavi Vatan or Blue Homeland vision of a large part of Southern Europe and the Middle East including countries in North Africa, still lurk somewhere in his deluded mind. Even so, if there is any chance of avoiding further bloodshed in war-torn Libya, then this is a chance that has to be seized, while being wary of any side-deals and attempts by the Turkish and Qatari regimes to acquire by politics and trickery what they have failed to do by military means. Erdogans regime is currently bowing to the reality of the situation in Libya, as imposed by Egypt and the international community. But the Turkish Islamist regime is an untrustworthy partner that is unlikely to honour any long-term deals. Egypt thus remains a bulwark against Erdogans and the Islamists ambitions of hegemony in the region, and it will not stand idly by until this threat is neutralised. But for the time being, if peace can be attained in Libya without further bloodshed, then so be it. *The writer is a political analyst and author of Egypts Arab Spring and the Winding Road to Democracy. *A version of this article appears in print in the 27 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: A Congress legislator tested positive for after attending the monsoon session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha for a brief period here on Friday. Nirmal Singh, who is an MLA from Shutrana seat, contracted the infection three days after testing negative for the disease. He (Nirmal Singh) got himself tested on August 25 and then his report was negative. On the basis of this report, he entered the House (for attending the one-day session), Speaker Rana K P Singh said. But today he felt feverish, the Speaker said while adding that the MLA then got himself tested again and tested positive for COVID-19. Nirmal Singh remained in the House for about 15 minutes, said the Speaker, adding that his primary contacts would be traced for testing. Notably, the Speaker has made the negative test report mandatory for ministers, MLAs, officers and employees to attend the 12th session of the current state Assembly. The one-day Assembly session was held herewith strict protocols in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the House, only one member per bench was allowed to sit to ensure social distancing norms. UBS hires technology executive from Credit Suisse Logo of Swiss bank UBS is seen in Zurich ZURICH (Reuters) - UBS has hired Pascal Emile as head of Europe, Middle East and Africa Technology for its Wealth Management and Personal & Corporate Banking (WMPC) business from rival Swiss bank Credit Suisse , according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. Emile, who takes up his position on Sept. 1, will initially work on the activation of UBS's WMPC platform in Italy this October as well as looking at additional locations. The executive, who has more than 25 years in IT, will be based in Zurich and will join the Group Technology Management Committee and the WMPC management committee, the memo said. A UBS spokeswoman confirmed the appointment on Friday. Before joining UBS, Emile worked in the International Wealth Management and Asset Management department at Credit Suisse. (Reporting by Oliver Hirt, writing by John Revill; editing by David Evans) Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart announced Thursday that officials have arrested a man accused of stealing a CZU Lightning Complex firefighter's wallet and subsequently draining his bank account. The man, identified as Brian Johnson of Live Oak (which is near Santa Cruz), allegedly used the firefighter's credit cards at a Shell gas station and at a Capitola Safeway grocery store. After receiving an anonymous tip possibly linking Johnson to the crimes, detectives were able to match his clothing with what was seen in surveillance tapes when the cards were used. Hart explained the suspect "clearly didn't realize what he was getting himself into." Johnson later reportedly confessed to the crimes. He admitted that he had used the credit cards and made the charges, Hart said. He also sat down and wrote a letter of apology to the fireman and he was then arrested for multiple felony charges. Johnson will be charged with credit card theft, forgery, grand theft, possession of stolen property and a probation violation. The firefighter had been working with crews at the Bonny Doon Fire Station on Sunday when someone gained entry to his fire vehicle and stole his personal belongings, which included his wallet and credit cards. Cal Fire Operations Chief Mark Brunton later told reporters that the firefighter's bank account had been wiped out, calling the ordeal "unfortunate" and "sickening." Fortunately, the firefighter has since been able to work with his bank to get the charges reversed, and now, as Hart said, "all he wants to do is get back on that line and fight fires. Alyssa Pereira is a culture editor at SFGate. Email: alyssa.pereira@sfgate.com | Twitter: @alyspereira WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States plans high-level talks with "Quad" security partners from India, Australia and Japan in September and October, President Donald Trump's national security adviser said on Friday, while criticizing "very aggressive" behavior by China. Robert O'Brien told the Atlantic Council think tank he would likely meet his opposite numbers from those countries in Hawaii in October, while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would meet his counterparts from the so-called Quad in September and October. O'Brien said the United States had an "amazing amount of stake" in the Indo-Pacific region. "It's really the engine of the world economy going forward and America's gonna play a big role there. One of the ways that we can do that is providing for a safe and secure Indo-Pacific through our defense partnerships and our diplomatic partnerships with our allies," he said. O'Brien said the Quad relationship, which has been denounced by China, was coming into its own and likely to pay huge dividends. "We're seeing a very assertive, a very aggressive China and the United States is not going to back down from its long-held principles that the world's ocean ways and international waters should be free for navigation, and the same with space and with air rights and international airspace," he said. U.S.-China tension has risen in the run-up to the U.S. election in November and the countries' military forces have stepped up activities in the Indo-Pacific region. On Thursday, the Pentagon expressed concern about China's recent military exercises, including the firing of medium-range ballistic missiles in the South China Sea. China criticized a U.S. warship operation near the Paracel Islands, which China claims, along with most of the sea. The Quad engagement was revived in 2017 to deepen security cooperation and coordinate alternatives for regional infrastructure financing offered by China. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom, Daphne Psaledakis and Idrees Ali; Editing by Richard Chang) (Newser) The British government is encouraging workers to return to their offices amid concerns that the shift to working from home during the coronavirus pandemic is hurting businesses and leaving city centers virtual "ghost towns." Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government plans to roll out a media campaign next week that will encourage employers to show staff members what they have done to protect them from COVID-19 and make it safe to return to traditional workplaces. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Friday this is the right time for many people to return to their offices because their children will be going back to school next week, the AP reports. He also said prolonged isolation from friends and colleagues is taking a toll on workers, particularly young people. story continues below "For many people's mental health, it is important to return to a safe workplace. So thats why workplaces are being made COVID secure over the summer," Shapps said. "Others, I accept, will carry on in a much more flexible way than they did in the past." The Confederation of British Industry has warned of the toll on the economy as traffic plunges at shops that rely on walk-in business. On Thursday, sandwich shop chain Pret a Manger announced cuts of about 2,800 jobs after sales fell 60%. "Some of our busiest city centers resemble ghost towns, missing the usual bustle of passing trade," a CBI executive said. The government should expand coronavirus testing and highlight efforts to slow virus transmission on trains and buses to encourage a return to offices, the CBI said. (The UK is in the midst of a severe recession.) (Newser) Capping a week of protests and outrage over the police shooting of a Black man in Wisconsin, civil rights advocates gathered in DC Friday at a commemoration of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Thousands gathered near the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, the AP reports, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" address. They gathered on the heels of yet another shooting by a white police officer of a Black man29-year-old Jacob Blake in Kenosha last Sundaysparking days of protests and violence. Blake's father, Jacob Blake Sr., spoke at the rally, as did Philonise Floyd, brother of George Floyd. story continues below Martin Luther King III, a son of the late civil rights icon, and the Rev. Al Sharpton, whose civil rights organization, the National Action Network, planned Fridays event, delivered keynote addresses. Weve come to bear witness, to remain awake, to remember from where weve come and to carefully consider where were going, King said. Whether youre here in person or watching on (television networks), thank you for joining us for this March on Washington. The march was shaping up to be the largest political gathering in Washington since the coronavirus pandemic began. Organizers reminded attendees to practice social distancing and wear masks throughout the program. (The Washington Post admitted undercovering King's 1963 speech.) Captain Amarinder Singh Chandigarh: The Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday flagged off a well equipped Corona Testing Mobile Clinic & Ambulance donated by Vikramjit Sahney Chairman, Sun Foundation & International President World Punjabi Organization for State of Punjab. Explaining the salient features of the mobile clinic to the Chief Minister, Vikramjit Singh Sahni said that mobile clinic have contact less thermal testing with nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab tests. Advertisement Ambulance The fully air conditioned mobile unit also has separate Ambulance zone to evacuate critical patients. It has the potential for sampling of 1000+ people per day at doorsteps of patients especially in Rural & Semi-Urban Areas to achieve Mission Fateh Punjab. The CM pointed out that this mobile testing bus is need of the hour and would cover remote and far flung areas so as to ensure that people inhabiting these regions have access to the testing apparatus which is necessary to identify the people infected in order to break the chain of Covid-19 pandemic. Advertisement Capt Amarinder Singh Notably, at present the State Government has capacity to conduct 24000 tests per day and the target is to achieve the milestone of 30,000 tests by next week. Prominent among others who were present at the occasion included Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, Principal Secretary Health Hussan Lal and Special Principal Secretary to CM Gurkirat Kirpal Singh. After The Challenge star Kailah Casillas ended her three-year relationship, she began dating UK native of Love Island and Ex on the Beach fame, Sam Bird, in early 2020. The two quarantined together and traveled to a few countries before he surprised her with a trip to Greece. During their vacation, Bird popped the question. Kailah Casillas attends the MTV Press Junket & Cocktail Party | Jason Kempin Kailah Casillas and Sam Bird met after The Challenge 35 In late 2019, MTV star Kailah Casillas filmed the 35th season of The Challenge. At the time of filming, she was in a three-year relationship with DJ Mikey Pericoloso, and they lived together in Las Vegas. However, she fell for a persistent Stephen Bear while residing in The Challenge bunkers and ended up cheating on her boyfriend. After filming, she visited Bear in the UK before relocating to Florida, where she moved into an apartment with The Challenge star Nany Gonzalez. RELATED: The Challenge: Kailah Casillas Finally Opens up About Cheating With Stephen Bear: Im Human The MTV star began hanging out with UK native and Ex on the Beach star Sam Bird shortly later, and he spent time with her in Florida. After hanging out for a couple of weeks, the two confirmed they were dating and started calling each other boyfriend and girlfriend. Kailah Casillas and Sam Bird started dating in January 2020 In 2018, Bird first appeared on Love Island UK, where he began dating Georgia Steel. The two continued their relationship outside of the house and moved in together. However, they went through a public breakup. A year later, he went on Ex on the Beach as Steels ex, but she already developed a relationship with someone else in the house. Therefore, Bird set his eyes on a couple of other singles, but it didnt work out with any of them. Shortly after Ex on the Beach ended, he and Casillas began dating in early 2020. The couple quarantined together in Birds hometown of London for a couple of months and made several YouTube videos. RELATED: Is The Challenge Star Kailah Casillas Dating Ex on the Beach Star Sam Bird? The two then hung out with co-star Wes Bergmann in Missouri for his podcast for a few weeks before visiting her hometown of Delray Beach. They went back to London before traveling to Spain for a quick getaway. The couple hung out in Birds hometown for a few more weeks until he surprised her with an impromptu trip to Greece. Kailah Casillas and Sam Bird engaged A couple of days after arriving in Greece, Bird popped the question. The MTV star posted several videos of the newly engaged couple and showed her ring off to the camera. She officially announced the news with a picture of her ring and captioned it, Im marrying my favorite person in the world. Bird responded, Cant wait to spend the rest of our lives together with a blue heart. RELATED: The Challenge Star Kailah Casillas and Ex on the Beach Star Sam Bird Confirm They Are A Thing Her close friend and The Challenge star Jenna Compono, whos also getting married soon, noted her happiness for the couple, and Gonzalez welcomed Bird to the family. Other Challenge stars, including Kayleigh Morris, Jemmye Carroll, Aneesa Ferreira, Laurel Stucky, and Jenny West, also congratulated the two. The Challenge 36 returns mid-2021. Follow Tamara Grant on Twitter. Julian Assange received his first visitors in six months, less than a fortnight out from British court hearings for the extradition of the persecuted WikiLeaks publisher to the US, where he faces life imprisonment for exposing American war crimes. Stella Moris, Assanges partner and an internationally-respected human rights attorney, was allowed to meet with the WikiLeaks founder earlier this week, after authorities at Londons Belmarsh Prison eased restrictions introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic. It was the first time that Moris and their two young children Gabriel and Max had seen Assange since March 22. The visit is welcome news for all supporters of Assange and democratic rights. But it has underscored the brutal conditions in which he is held by the British authorities, despite not having been convicted of any crime, and has sparked renewed fears that his health is continuing to deteriorate. In comments to the PA news agency after the visit, Moris said that the experience had been incredibly stressful but that she was relieved to have been able to see Assange. We had to keep social distancing and Julian was told he would have to self-isolate for two weeks if he touched the children, Moris said. Julian said it was the first time he had been given a mask because things are very different behind the doors. She added: At least he got to see the children, even though he couldnt touch them. The children were both calm. We all remained seated the whole time. Morris with her and Assange's sons Moris said that the older of the boys, Gabriel, who is three-years old, showed off his abilities to count and to recite the alphabet. Gabriel was born when Assange was a political refugee in Ecuadors London embassy, where his arbitrary detention was enforced by British threats to arrest him if he set foot outside the building. The infant child was immediately targeted for intrusive surveillance and other human rights violations by the US Central Intelligence Agency. Max, who is one-year-old, first met Assange in 2019 at Belmarsh, a facility dubbed Britains Guantanamo Bay. Speaking of Assanges physical condition, Moris said: He is in a lot of pain. She stated that he continues to suffer from a frozen shoulder, a long-term condition compounded by a lack of adequate medical treatment. He had also recently sprained his ankle. I could not see him very clearly because of the visors, but he looked a lot thinner. He was wearing a yellow armband to indicate his level of prisoner status, and you could see how thin his arms were, Moris explained. The confirmation that Assange has not been provided with a mask is evidence that the British state wants him dead. That the most high-profile political prisoner in the world, detained in a country falsely held up as a beacon of democracy, was not provided with the most basic protection during an unprecedented global pandemic sums up the criminality of the decade-long persecution of Assange. At the height of the crisis, hundreds of prison staff and inmates at penitentiaries across the country were struck down by the virus, including in Belmarsh. Warnings from medical experts that Assange was particularly susceptible to succumbing to COVID-19, given his chronic respiratory issues, were ignored and an application for bail contemptuously dismissed. The calls for Assanges release on medical grounds during the pandemic followed statements of concern by doctors from around the world since November last year that Assange could die in Belmarsh due to a lack of adequate treatment. United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer has repeatedly condemned Assanges imprisonment as a continuation of government abuses that have resulted in the WikiLeaks founder displaying the medically-verifiable symptoms of psychological torture. Assange in Belmarsh Prison sometime last year The latest indications of Assanges physical condition follow reports that he looked poorly when he attended his last court hearing by video link on August 14. Assange was reportedly coughing through much of his brief appearance and appeared to be unwell. As the WSWS wrote in a perspective article, the August 14 hearing made clear, if any further proof was needed, that the prosecution of Julian Assange is a shameful and degrading show trial, intended to railroad an innocent man to prison or death for revealing the crimes of US imperialism. In a blatant violation of legal procedures and due process, the US filed a superseding indictment of Assange days before the hearing, and more than a year after the deadline elapsed for them to present a final charge sheet. This is a transparent attempt to prevent Assanges legal team from presenting any defence. The new indictment contains no new information or charges. It is the tortured product of American intelligence agents and two of their informants, including one previously convicted of impersonating Assange and stealing money from WikiLeaks. The gross abuse has not been condemned by any of the official political parties in Britain, the US or Australia. By their silence, all of them, including Labor and the Greens in Australia and the British Labour Party, have given their blessing to the show trial that Assange is set to be subjected to when extradition hearings recommence on September 7. The unprecedented persecution of the WikiLeaks publisher has also been treated as a non-event by the corporate media, which enjoy the closest ties with the military and intelligence agencies that have spearheaded the pursuit of Assange. The substantial public support that Assange enjoys, which stands in marked contrast to the stance of the political and media establishments, has been expressed in the response to an online fundraiser for his legal expenses, initiated last week by Moris. The initial target of 25,000 was achieved within days. A stretch goal of 50,000 has since been surpassed and the appeal is well on its way to the new target of 75,000. As of this writing, almost 68,000 has been contributed by 1,563 people from around the world. Moris provided an update on Wednesday, writing: Julian wanted me to thank you personally for all of the help you have provided in covering his legal fees to fight the extradition to the USA, where he faces 175 years in prison. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced he was stepping down on Friday, citing health issues. Even though there is one year to go in my tenure and there are challenges to be met, I have decided to stand down as prime minister, Abe told a press conference in Tokyo. He said he would stay on as prime minister until his successor is chosen. His right-leaning Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which dominates the Japanese parliament, said it will hold a leadership contest by the end of September, and the winner will almost certainly replace Abe as prime minister. Abe, 65, suffers from ulcerative colitis, a chronic bowel disease. He told reporters he had controlled the condition for years but that it had made a resurgence earlier this summer. He is now receiving treatment that would conflict with his duties as prime minister if stayed on to the scheduled end of his term, in September 2021, he said. The disease was also a factor in Abes 2007 resignation from his first term as Japans prime minister. The departure, coming amid the COVID-19 pandemic and Japans first recession since 2015, adds uncertainty to troubled times, says Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a professor in political science at Hong Kong Baptist University. Abes second period as prime minister, which began in 2012 and lasted through three elections and nearly eight years, was a period of unusual political stability for Japan. On Monday he became the countrys longest continually-serving prime minister. He led the recovery from the devastating Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, and succeeded in stalling Japans long-term economic stagnation through a strategy known as Abenomics. He also championed the elaboration of Japans Indo-Pacific strategy, a foreign policy effort aimed at expanding cooperation between countries across Asia and Africa, and countering Chinese hegemony. Abes establishment of a personal relationship with Donald Trump, even before he took office as U.S. president, is credited with maintaining strong U.S.-Japanese relations during a period of global political instability. Story continues However, Abe missed key political aims, says Jeff Kingston, Director of Asian Studies at Temple Universitys Tokyo campus. His goal of [revising Japans pacifist post-war constitution] remains elusive as does his promise to make women shine, he says, referring to the prime ministers promise to address Japans gender gap and bring more women into the workforce. Abe also failed to deliver fully on structural reforms to Japans rigid labor market a crucial part of the Abenomics doctrine and to address the looming threat of Japans rapidly ageing population, with 28% of the country now aged over 65. He has little to show for being in power for seven years with a majority in the [legislature], Kingston says. His time in office was also marred by diplomatic disputes with neighbours in East Asia, some of them stemming from historic tensions over Japans early 20th Century imperialism. Relations with South Korea, a traditional Japanese ally, suffered during Abes term. South Koreas demand for reparations for abuses committed during Japans 19101945 occupation of the Korean peninsula, including the use of forced labor by Japanese companies, sparked disputes over trade and territory in 2018 and 2019. Duyeon Kim, senior adviser on North East Asia & Nuclear Policy at the International Crisis Group, says Abes nationalist and personal worldview contributed to complicating relations between the two countries. Abe angered South Koreans, as well as China and North Korea, with a 2013 visit to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, which many consider a tribute to Japans imperial military past. The change in leadership in Japan might be a chance for the mood and atmosphere between Seoul and Tokyo to improve, Kim says, but translating into real improvements in relations is a different story. Yet despite the turbulence at home and abroad Abe may be remembered as Japans most important prime minister since the mid-20th century, says Michael J. Green, a Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair, Center for Strategic and International Studies. He did not accomplish everything Japan needed, but he accomplished more than any Japanese leader in many decades. And above all, he demonstrated that Japan can lead, he says. More than any other democratic leader, he patiently kept Donald Trump away from his worst campaign promises and isolationist instincts. It is not clear which world leader will play that role if Trump is re-elected. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Mostly sunny skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 72F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Periods of rain. Low 39F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. (Photo : Screenshot from Twitter post of @kenyapics) Looking for A Place to Stay? UK's New Luxury Hotel Lets You Come Up Close to Giraffes (Photo : Screenshot from Twitter post of @kenyapics) Looking for A Place to Stay? UK's New Luxury Hotel Lets You Come Up Close to Giraffes Hotels are great shelters when you're traveling or simply stranded because of sudden heavy rain. However, it is not fun when you're checking in all by yourself or when the place is too common. Giraffe Manor in Karen, Nairobi. Ranked one of the most beautiful hotels in the world. pic.twitter.com/7F8G8qgUTv Kenya Pics (@kenyapics) October 7, 2018 Also Read: [VIDEO] Two Beluga Whales Smile Happily While Being Transported from China to New Sancturary 6,000 Miles Away This new luxury hotel will soon open in the United Kingdom. It can help you get rid of your boredom by letting you come up close and even dine with a Giraffe. However, you might have a hard time booking it. Also Read: Underwater Robots Reveal Mediterranean Sperm Whales' 'Highly Distinguishable' Click Sound and Peculiar Habits Giraffe Hotel or Giraffe Hall, located at Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve in Kent, already racked up plenty of interest, with 9,000 people signing up on the waiting list. The expensive accommodation will be set within a Grade II listed building way back in the 15th and 16th centuries. It will be offering five cabins and ten bedrooms, which will provide incredible views over the nature reserve where animals such as giraffes, wolves, and lions can be seen. According to The Sun's latest report, these animals will be the hotel's major highlight, letting the guests interact with the animals during dining through the doors and windows. It will be the first of its kind in the western hemisphere, which is just like the Lion King-inspired attraction in Nairobi, where Disney fans can visit the real "Pride Rock." What will the new Giraffe Hotel look like The Lapa, an on-site restaurant, will be converted and extended to include outdoor decking, where guests can take their breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Visitors will have 30-mile views over the Reserve's savannahs where different kinds of animals can be seen roaming. Giraffe Manor in Karen, Nairobi. Ranked one of the most beautiful hotels in the world. pic.twitter.com/dJyKLanmhJ Kenya Pics (@kenyapics) August 8, 2019 However, the hotel didn't provide any specific details on how much the experience will cost. A handful of animal experiences are included, such as the famous "Lion Lodge," a loft-style building with massive wood-heated and open fire Scandinavian outdoor baths located on secluded platforms. The lions named Oudrika and Adras, as well as their three cute cubs, can be viewed in the king-size master suite. Port Lympne Hotel has already invited famous people, including Charlie Chaplin, Lawrence of Arabia, and even Winston Churchill. For more news updates about viral stories, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Also Read: Study Shows Bacteria Colonies Can Survive in Space For 3 Years Proving a Controversial Theory on Life Origins This article is owned by TechTimes, Written by: Giuliano de Leon. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Usually when a hurricane or tropical storm slams into the Gulf Coast, home to many of the countrys oil refineries, drivers can expect a spike in gas prices. Hurricane Laura was no exception, causing refineries and oil drilling platforms on Gulf Coast states to shut down earlier this week, then repair the subsequent storm damage and restart production. But pandemic-ravaged 2020 is far from normal. COVID-19 will spare drivers from the price spike typically seen after hurricanes and tropical storms in Gulf Coast states, an expert said. We lost a little (refining) for a while. When you knock out 700,000 barrels of refining capacity and it doesnt make the market budge, its an indication of lost demand (for gas), said Tom Kloza, Oil Price Information Service global petroleum analyst. If this were a non-COVID year, there would be a reaction. The reaction to the storm was a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde rise and drop in crude oil prices the raw product gasoline is made from Kloza said. Oil futures went up 15 cents a barrel on Monday and Tuesday and dropped 15 cents on Wednesday and Thursday. That was reflected at the pump, as GasBuddy.com reported New Jerseys average price for a gallon of regular was $2.22 Friday. That price increased from $2.14 on Aug. 21. Naturally, price-conscious drivers can find lower prices under $2 a gallon at discount and off-brand gas stations. In addition to less driving, due in large part to employees working from home, the world is swimming in crude oil supplies. There is a crude oil glut at the Gulf Coast and in China, Kloza said. The demand (for gas) destruction has more than offset the temporary supply destruction we saw this week. Travelers taking a traditional end-of-summer road trip to the Jersey Shore on Labor Day shouldnt see too much fluctuation in gas prices, with prices hovering around the $2 a gallon mark, depending on the location of the station, Kloza said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. In 2012, right in the middle of his convention speech, Mitt Romney declared the repeal of Obamacare a crucial priority. It was part of his five-part plan for a better future. We must rein in the skyrocketing cost of health care by repealing and replacing Obamacare, he said. Four years later, there was little doubt that Donald J. Trump would also mention the health law: We will repeal and replace disastrous Obamacare! he declared to roaring applause. This week, Mr. Trump didnt mention Obamacare at all in his convention speech. The word that rallied Republican voters for nearly a decade has barely been uttered. It came up precisely once during the convention, during a speech by Natalie Harp, a cancer survivor who is not an elected official. Rueil-Malmaison, 28 August 2020 VINCI Airports Releases of London Gatwick Airport London Gatwick Airport, a 50.01% subsidiary of VINCI Airports, today released its half-year results as at 30 June 2020, including the compliance certificate (which sets out the level of the financial covenants associated with the financial structure of Gatwick Funding Limited). The company states that it has entered into discussions with its lenders, in light of the forecast impact on its financial covenants. It also announced a restructuring plan to reduce costs in response to the sharp decline in traffic. Passenger numbers in August were more than 80 per cent down compared to the same period a year ago. The documents released can be found on the company's website: https://www.gatwickairport.com/business-community/about-gatwick/investor-relations/reports/ About VINCI Airports VINCI Airports, as the leading private airport operator in the world, manages the development and operation of 45 airports located in Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, France, Japan, Portugal, Serbia, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. Served by more than 250 airlines, VINCI Airports' network handled 255 million passengers in 2019. Through its expertise as a comprehensive integrator, VINCI Airports develops, finances, builds and operates airports, leveraging its investment capability and know-how to optimise the management and performance of existing airport infrastructure, facility extensions and modernisation projects. In 2019, its annual revenue for managed activities amounted to 4.9 billion, for a consolidated revenue of 2.6 billion. www.vinci-airports.com About VINCI VINCI is a global player in concessions and contracting, employing 222,000 people in some 100 countries. We design, finance, build and operate infrastructure and facilities that help improve daily life and mobility for all. Because we believe in all-round performance, above and beyond economic and financial results, we are committed to operating in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. And because our projects are in the public interest, we consider that reaching out to all our stakeholders and engaging in dialogue with them is essential in the conduct of our business activities. VINCIs goal is to build long-term value in this way for its customers, shareholders, employees and partners, and for society at large. www.vinci.com Story continues PRESS CONTACT VINCI Press Department Tel: +33 (0)1 47 16 31 82 media.relations@vinci.com Attachment At least four terrorists were killed and one captured alive on Friday in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. The J&K Police confirmed that terrorists have been killed in the encounter in Kiloora area of the district. The terrorists have been identified as Al Badr founder and district commander Shakoor Ahmed Parry, Suhail Bhat, Zubair Nengroo and Shakir-ul-Jabbar. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes. There was no injury to civilians or loss of property during the said encounter. A police official said that exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces happened in apple orchards of Kiloora village. On a specific input regarding presence of terrorists in village Kiloora area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and 178 BN Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the said area. During the search operation as the presence of terrorists got ascertained they were given an opportunity to surrender, however they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter. In 2018, Parry had escaped with four weapons of the SDPO Awantipora and formed Al Badr. Shakoor was self-styled commander of Al Badr and had recruited 10 more, most of them have been eliminated. Another is Suhail, who has been involved in killing and abduction of Khanmohs Sarpanch Nasir has been also killed. They were also involved in the abduction of TA soldier namely Shakir Manzoor Wagay resident of Shopian who has been reportedly killed. Two AK rifles and three pistols have been recovered. During the encounter Police and security forces while exhibiting extreme professionalism also arrested one active terrorist identified as Shoiab Ahmad Bhat resident of Awantipora. "Capturing one terrorist alive during an ongoing encounter will send a right message to the youth who are joining terrorism," said IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar. He is being questioned. The same group is involved in the abduction of Army jawan whose dead body has still not been found. No police personnel has been injured in the encounter in Kiloora area of Shopian district. "We will increase our operations from November in order to eliminate remaining terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir," he added. As per police records, Parray was made SPO in 2014 in Kulgam Police. On operational grounds, he was converted as a constable in the police department and was adjusted in Police District Awantipora. Later on, he was transferred district Anantnag, where he took away 4 rifles (weapons) from the other officials and joined the terrorist outfit. After joining the terrorist groups, he got active in the area and distributed the snatched weapons among his close associates. He was the main handler of proscribed terrorist outfit Al Badr and was involved in recruiting youth into terror ranks. The details of the cases in which the said terrorist remained involved are as under: FIR No 291/2012 U/S 148,149,307 436 A, 447,436 RPC of P/S Shopian, FIR No 21/2016 U/S 307 RPC 7/27 Arms Act of P/S Shopian, FIR No25/2016 U/S 364,307 RPC 7/25 Arms Act of P/S Shopian, FIR NO 08/2012 U/S 409,380,411 RPC 7/25 Arms Act of P/S Bijbehara and FIR NO 46/16 U/S 7/25 Arms Act of P/S Kulgam. All the killed terrorists had a long history of terror crime records. They were involved in planning and executing several terror attacks in the area including attacks on police and security establishments. Keeping in view the prevailing pandemic due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of people from the inherent risk of contracting the infection, the dead bodies of the killed terrorists will be sent to Handwara for burial purposes after completion of all medico-legal formalities. The nearest family members of the killed terrorists will be allowed to participate in the last rites at Handwara. In this connection, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Imam-Sahib and investigation has been initiated. As the encounter began, taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Kashmir Zone Police had said, "Shopian Encounter Update: 02 unidentified terrorists killed. Operation going on. Further details emerging." IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar confirmed that in 2020 more than 150 terrorists have been killed in Kashmir, mostly in south Kashmir, including top 26 terrorist commanders of different terror organisations. (Natural News) The latest figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that more than 40 percent of Americans who were forced into lockdown due to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) are now suffering from at least one mental or behavioral health condition. Of the 5,412 Americans surveyed at the end of June by the CDC, a shocking 41 percent reported serious adverse effects from having to stay at home under government orders. Their responses were recorded in the Aug. 14 edition of the CDCs Morbidity and Mortality report. Whether due to worry and anxiety about job security, or fears about death and loneliness, a large percentage of Americans now face a lifetime of mental and/or physical health problems as a result of measures that health authorities insisted would cure the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) plandemic. Dr. Carla Marie Manly, a clinical psychologist who specializes in dealing with stress and anxiety, told The Epoch Times that she has personally witnessed a huge surge in depression, suicidality, and anxiety during the pandemic. To help those in need, Dr. Manly has graciously participated in a number of programs such as virtual group sessions and free mental health videos, as well as her individual therapy practice. By the way, much of what is still taking place, from masks to distancing to lockdowns, is rooted in the occult. Listen below to The Health Ranger Report as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks with Scott Kesterson about how humanity, with Gods help, can defeat the rising Luciferians: Three out of four American young adults now have a mental or behavioral illness due to lockdowns The worst-affected people in all this appear to be young adults aged between 18 and 24. According to the latest CDC data, a shocking 75 percent of people in this age category now suffer from at least one mental and/or physical health condition due to the lockdowns. In the 30 days prior to this past June, more than one in 10 adults said they had seriously considered committing suicide, as one example of how people are being affected by all this. That number is roughly twice what was reported back in 2018. Meanwhile, the mainstream media continues to fear-monger about the threat of new cases, which still have no actual meaning. Does a case mean that someone is actually sick, or does it simply mean that a person tested positive, which as we have seen could be inherently flawed or even fraudulent. Weve heard about the horrible, lonely deaths that patients with COVID-19 suffer because theyre in quarantine, says Carole Lieberman, a doctor, psychiatrist and mother who warns that the medias fearmongering alone is causing a major public health crisis. Forced isolation through stay-at-home mandates can cause many physical and psychological problems including anxiety, depression and suicide. According to Nicole Avena, an assistant professor of neuroscience at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and visiting professor of healthy psychology at Princeton University, there is absolutely a public health crisis of mental illness that has now spawned due to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns. People are worried about a possible second wave of the virus, but I can guarantee we will have a second wave of mental health crisis, which is already unfolding with increased suicides, drug overdoses, and alcohol use, she warns. Based on the latest CDC data, nearly 15 percent of people affected by the lockdowns are also now using alcohol and other substances to manage their stress levels. Substances, as defined in the report, can include both legal and illegal drugs, as well as prescriptions taken outside a doctors recommendation. The latest news stories about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) plandemic are available at Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com Hamilton police are advising the public that unprescribed medications are in fact harmful after a large bundle of narcotics with a street value exceeding $50,000 were stolen from a local pharmacy. Police say the narcotics were stolen early Wednesday by an unidentified number of suspects who broke into pharmacy in the Stoney Creek area. The whereabouts of the drugs are unknown. The improper consumption of the narcotics could be fatal, police warn, and pose especially high risk to children. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Det. Const. Matt Girgenti at 905-546-8936 or Det. Sgt. George Gallant at 905-546-2991. Lawmakers in Punjab passed a bill last month to put publishers in prison if they print or import material with objectionable content. In July, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority issued a final warning to Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, ordering it to filter any obscene content. It also blocked the video-streaming app Bigo Live, though the ban was lifted after a few days once the platform agreed to moderate immoral and indecent content. Now, its the turn of YouTube. Islamabad: Pakistani regulators have asked YouTube to immediately block all videos they consider objectionable from being accessed in the country, a demand criticised by rights campaigners. There are already fears about creeping censorship and muzzling of the press and activists in Muslim-majority Pakistan, with existing or proposed restrictions limiting free speech, usually in the name of Islam or national security. In a statement Thursday, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said it has asked YouTube to immediately block vulgar, indecent, immoral, nude and hate speech content for viewing in Pakistan. The PTA said viewing such content has extremely negative effects and can foster repugnant discord. YouTube did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday, and a PTA spokesman declined to speak about the authoritys next step if the Google-owned platform does not comply. In July, the PTA issued a final warning to Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, ordering it to filter any obscene content. It also blocked the video-streaming app Bigo Live, though the ban was lifted after a few days once the platform agreed to moderate immoral and indecent content. This is not the first time Pakistani authorities have targeted YouTube. It was blocked in the Muslim-majority country in 2012 after a US-made film that negatively depicted the Prophet Mohammed and triggered violent protests across the Islamic world. Access was restored in 2016 after YouTube launched a country-specific version ensuring the filtering of content deemed blasphemous. Free speech campaigners were quick to criticise the latest PTA demand. The PTA does not make any effort to narrowly tailor its request or define what it means by terms such as vulgar and immoral, digital rights advocate Nighat Dad told AFP. While countries can ask social media platforms to take down specific content in accordance with local law, YouTube does not always comply if the requests go against international norms and principles, she added. Social media companies such as YouTube have various human rights commitments and... have to uphold principles relating to the right to privacy, freedom of expression and right to access to information. In a recent attempt to tighten control, lawmakers in Punjab, Pakistans most populous province, passed a bill last month that seeks to put publishers in prison if they print or import material with objectionable content. The Punjab governor has not yet signed it into law. Press Release August 28, 2020 Gatchalian bats to lure more out-of-school youth ahead of class opening Senator Win Gatchalian is seeking to strengthen the Alternative Learning System (ALS) as part of the education sector's recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in reaching out to more than four million learners who did not enroll this coming school year and give them a second chance. Though the economic downturn and fears of the virus are pushing the spike in the number of out-of-school children and youth, Gatchalian explained that the ALS program will bridge these learners' reintegration in the formal school system when the virus is suppressed and the economy bounces back. ALS is the Department of Education's (DepEd) parallel learning system that increases learning opportunities for out-of-school youth, adults, and children in special extreme cases. It also covers those who cannot access formal education due to economic, geographic, political, cultural, and social barriers. These include persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, children in conflict with the law, persons deprived of liberty, migrant workers, and other marginalized sectors. According to Gatchalian, DepEd should tap the ALS program in a final stretch to reach learners who are at risk of dropping out of school. Gatchalian pointed out that enrollment turnout for ALS has been dismal for this coming school year. As of August 27, there are 361,398 ALS learners enrolled for this school year, only 49 percent of 738,929 learners enrolled last year. Based on the World Bank's May 2018 Philippines Education Note, at least 24 million Filipinos aged 15 and above have not completed basic education. "Ang ALS program na ito ang sasalo sa mga hindi makakapag-aral. Importanteng may mekanismo na sasalo sa kanila. 'Di pwedeng putulin yung paghihikayat na pumasok itong mga out-of-school youth," said the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture. Gatchalian is the principal author and sponsor of Senate Bill No. 1365 or the ALS Act, which will institutionalize ALS under the proposed Bureau of Alternative Education and put up an ALS Community Learning Center (ALS CLC) in every city and municipality, making the program more accessible to potential enrollees. Like DepEd's Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP), the proposed measure also utilizes a mix of learning modalities such as digital learning, modular instruction, and radio and television-based instructions, among others. The Senate approved the ALS Act on third and final reading last May. The House of Representatives has passed its version of ALS on third and final reading this August. A bicameral conference committee will soon convene to reconcile differing provisions on the measure. "Sa pagbangon ng ating sektor ng edukasyon mula sa pandemya ng COVID-19, mahalagang mabigyan natin ng pangalawang pagkakataon ang mga naudlot ang pag-aaral. Sa pamamagitan ng ALS, hindi lamang mga kabataan ang ating aabutin, mabibigyan natin ng pangalawang pagkakataon ang bawat Pilipinong napagkaitan ng edukasyon," Gatchalian ended. ### Gatchalian layong hikayatin ang mas maraming out-of-school-youth habang papalapit ang pasukan Isinusulong ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang pagpapalakas at pagpapalawig sa Alternative Learning System o ALS bilang bahagi ng pagbangon ng sektor ng edukasyon mula sa pinsalang dulot ng COVID-19 pandemic. Ayon sa senador, bibigyan ng programa ng pangalawang pagkakataon ang mga huminto at hindi nakatapos ng kanilang pag-aaral, lalo na ang mahigit apat (4) na milyong hindi nagpa-enroll ngayong taon dahil sa epekto ng pandemya. Ang ALS ay isang programa ng Department of Education o DepEd na layong bigyan ng pagkakataong makapag-aral ang parehong bata at nakatatandang hindi maipagpatuloy ang kanilang edukasyon dahil sa iba't ibang uri ng mga sagabal na kanilang kinakaharap. Ayon kay Gatchalian, mahalaga ang papel ng ALS upang maabot ang mga mag-aaral na nanganganib na huminto sa pag-aaral. Ayon sa datos ng DepEd nitong Agosto 27, merong mahigit tatlong daang libong (361,398) nagpatala sa programa para sa darating na pasukan. Katumbas nito ang apatnapu't siyam (49) na porsyento lamang ng mahigit pitong-daang libong (738,929) nagpatala sa programa noong nakaraang taon. Ayon sa pinakahuling pag-aaral ng World Bank, may dalawampu't apat na milyong Pilipinong may edad labing-lima (15) pataas ang hindi nakatapos ng high school. "Ang ALS program na ito ang sasalo sa mga hindi makakapag-aral. Importanteng may mekanismo na sasalo sa kanila. 'Di pwedeng putulin yung paghihikayat na pumasok itong mga out-of-school youth," pahayag ng Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture. Si Gatchalian ang may akda at sponsor ng Senate Bill No. 1365 o ang ALS Act na sisiguruhing bawat lungsod at munisipalidad sa bansa ay may ALS Community Learning Center. Ito ay upang masigurong ang programa ay aabot sa lahat ng hindi pa nakapagtapos ng kanilang pag-aaral at nais ipagpatuloy ito. Tulad ng programa ng DepEd para sa blended learning ngayong taon, isinusulong ng panukalang batas ang iba't ibang paraan ng pagtuturo tulad ng online learning, paggamit ng modules, radyo, telebisyon, at iba pa. Pasado na sa Senado at Kamara ang kani-kanilang bersyon ng panukala sa programang ALS. Inaasahang magkakaroon ng bicameral conference committee na bubuo ng pinal na bersyon ng panukalang batas. "Sa pagbangon ng ating sektor ng edukasyon mula sa pandemya ng COVID-19, mahalagang mabigyan natin ng pangalawang pagkakataon ang mga naudlot ang pag-aaral. Sa pamamagitan ng ALS, hindi lamang mga kabataan ang ating aabutin, mabibigyan natin ng pangalawang pagkakataon ang bawat Pilipinong napagkaitan ng edukasyon," pahayag ni Gatchalian. The northern quoll, one of Australia's most adorable and endangered native carnivores, appears to be adapted to dramatically different landscapes - which may be key to the species' survival. University of Queensland PhD candidate Pietro Viacava co-led a study that found similarities between northern quoll skulls across a 5000 kilometre range, which has raised hopes scientists will be able to cross-breed isolated populations. "Northern quolls are in danger - a lot has been thrown at them," Mr Viacava said. "They've been victims of a devastating cane toad invasion, increases in bushfires and habitat fragmentation, all while facing stiff competition from other carnivores such as dingoes and cats. "The problem we are facing with conserving the northern quoll is that there may be too little genetic diversity in these handful of remaining populations, scattered across Australia. "If we cross-bred them, we might run the risk that they wouldn't be ideally suited to these diverse environments. "Their skulls, for example, might not be properly adapted to eat local prey, as it differs across Australia. "Luckily, this doesn't seem to be the case - these quolls seem to be incredibly versatile." The research team used a technique known as 'geometric morphometrics' to characterise skull shape variation in museum specimens of northern quolls. They looked for shape differences between populations, or whether environmental conditions coincided with changes in skull shape. Dr Vera Weisbecker from the Flinders University College of Science and Engineering supervised the study, and said the results appeared to be a win for northern quoll conservation. "Quoll skull shapes were mostly similar across their entire range, although the shapes did vary with the size of the animals," Dr Weisbecker said. "This means, for example, that a quoll skull from Pilbara region in WA looked nearly the same as a similar-sized one from south-eastern Queensland, 5000 kilometres apart. "Although other parts of the animal's body and genetic factors need to be considered, we will most likely be able to breed animals from different populations for conservation without losing adaptations to feeding." However, there is also a much less positive potential explanation for the results. "Scientists have long suspected that marsupial mammals - such as quolls, kangaroos and koalas - are seriously limited in the degree to which they can adapt their skull and skeleton," Dr Weisbecker said. "This is because newborn marsupials require a specifically shaped snout to be able to latch onto the mother's teat. "In that case, what we see may actually be a serious limitation on the ability of quolls to adapt, rather than the much more hopeful multipurpose solution we propose." To further explore this possibility, the team is now looking at how closely related species of antechinus - smaller quoll relatives - differ in skull shape. ### The research is published in Ecology and Evolution(DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6593). The team includes researchers from UQ, Flinders University, Queensland University of Technology and the University of New England, with funding from the Australian Research Council. Your browser does not support the audio element. Cil Ju Ha Gian, a 62-year-old ethnic minority man from Lam Dong Province in Vietnams Central Highlands, has spent the last 15 years combating unlawful loggers in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park and the Da Nhim forest. Ha Gian, also known as Old Gian, had served as the vice-chairman of the Peoples Committee in Da Nhim Commune, Lac Duong District, Lam Dong Province until he resigned in 1994 to begin a career as a voluntary park ranger. Every morning, Gian and his team set out to protect over 4,000 hectares of woodland from illegal loggers, carrying with them little more than some sticky rice and a plant-clearing machete. Though the job is difficult and dangerous, Gian earns only a little bit of cash for his service, thanks to support from local authorities. A team leader Thanks to his credibility and experience, Old Gian has been tasked with leading a team of more than 40 members, all of whom are members of the Cil ethnic minority. Gian first got involved with forest management about 26 years ago. His success, he says, is mostly due to his sense of direction, which makes navigating the thick forest an extremely simple task. The official ranger manpower is reinforced by Gians team of voluntary Cil forest protectors, who have come to be known as forest squads, according to Dinh Huu Dao, deputy manager of the Da Nhim forest. We need to hurry or the loggers will take advantage of the coming rain, Gian urged his ranger team. Theyll probably be in Da Sar forest and there could be at least ten of them. As the old man led the way, his followers noticed he was having difficulty walking properly, with fresh wounds still on his knees from a recent accident in the field. Using only the map in his head, Gian led his team to an illegal logging camp nestled amongst dozens of endangered gingko and elm trees. According to Le Chi Quang Minh, vice-chairman of Lac Duong District, the trees are under strict protection and anyone caught logging them will be put behind bars. Gian and his team were able to chase the loggers away, but not without a few close encounters with the rugged terrain surrounding the logging camp. It was lucky I didnt fall down the cliff. That was really scary, Gian said. Gian has 26 years of experience patrolling the forest and leading professional ranger teams. Ten years ago, illegal tin miners and loggers were highly active in the forest. Thanks to Gians squad, local authorities have since declared the forest free of such activities. Trinh Van Phi, head of the Da Nhim Forest protection station, was not shy in commending Gian for his dedication. Gian has an intense love for the forest. He feels its his duty to volunteer to protect it, said Phi. We have never had to remind him to do his job. He also does more than just catching loggers. During the dry season, he and his crew will clear the forest to make way for young fern trees. At 62 years old, Old Gian is still the leader of a voluntary ranger squad patrolling the Bidoup Nui Ba National Park and Da Nhim Forest area in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam. Photo: Duc Tho / Tuoi Tre Our forest, our pride Over a drink, Phi asked Old Gian what drove him to dedicate his life to the forest. The ancestors of the Cil ethnic people have lived in the forest for thousands of years, the old ranger answered. If we lose our forest, we lose our pride. The Cil people account for the majority of the population in Da Nhim Commune. Old Gian is highly trusted amongst his fellow Cil people. His squads make good examples for other communes and districts, said Minh, the Lac Duong District vice-chairman. Every morning of the new week, the young squad members gather in front of the Da Nhim Forest protection station for a debriefing of their job. Their vehicles are packed with the machetes, spades, and hoes they need to aid them on their hours-long trips through the forest. Old Gian is also skilled in rangers task and forest management, just like a trained forest officer, and often does his best to pass along such knowledge to his fellow Cil people, according to Minh. Minh also noted that the sheer number of rare species of animals and plants in the area of Bidoup Nui Ba and Da Nhim is a major attraction toward illegal loggers. Gian knows the forest like the back of his hand, and can even sniff out booby traps and disable them. He uses the marks on leaves and bark in order to discover potential dangers, Minh said. We feel safe with Old Gian as our leader and are thankful he joins us on our long-haul patrols. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Our readers are making the most of this summer and bringing along KidsPost for the fun. Whether they are traveling far or staying closer to home, KidsPost readers are enjoying a summer that has been defined by a global pandemic as best they can. (Natural News) German pharmaceutical giant Bayer is having to pay up $1.6 billion in compensation to at least 35,000 women who were injured by a birth control device it developed known as Essure. According to reports, the long-term birth control device, which is inserted into womens bodies as a form of Permanent Birth Control, injured or killed many of the women who received it, as well as killed unborn children still in the womb. In a press release, Bayer indicated that it has reached agreements with plaintiff law firms to resolve approximately 90 percent of the nearly 39,000 total filed and unfiled U.S. Essure claims involving women who allege device-related injuries. As explained by Womens Healthcare Associates, a pro-contraception gynecology practice based out of Houston, Essure consists of two small coils that are placed into the openings of the fallopian tubes via the vagina. The body then builds a barrier around the coils that block the fallopian tubes so sperm cannot enter, the group goes on to explain. The Catholic News Agency has reported that at least one woman was killed by Essure after her reproductive organs developed necrosis. The device has also been blamed for at least 300 fetal deaths and stillbirths. In some instances, women were required to have emergency hysterectomies after the devices broke and migrated throughout their bodies, the agency further reported. Others suffered extreme allergic reactions to the metals in the device, developed headaches and mood disorders, and some even experienced ectopic pregnancies. Bayer still wins because the settlement is contingent upon the company not admitting to any wrongdoing or liability The Bayer press release makes clear that claimants on the receiving end of the settlement agreement will be required to dismiss their cases or not file. Along with this, Bayer is emphasizing that it is not admitting to any wrongdoing or liability, even though nearly 40,000 people are claiming injuries or death from its Essure device. Essure was discontinued at the end of 2018, reports indicate, though supposedly not because the device was hurting anyone. According to the same company that has been relieved of all responsibility from the damaging impact of glyphosate, it was a voluntary business decision that had no basis in any changes to the safety profile or effectiveness of Essure. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meanwhile, was nowhere to be found in pulling the dangerous device before it could harm any more women. The agency instead ordered a postmarked surveillance study to be conducted, the results of which were published nearly two years later, back in July. Nearly 10 percent of those participants who were involved in this study experienced events of chronic lower abdominal and / or pelvic pain, it turns out. More than 16 percent reported events of abnormal uterine bleeding, while a shocking 25 percent experienced events of allergic / hypersensitivity type reactions. Despite these findings, the FDA continues to recommend that women who have been using Essure successfully to prevent pregnancy can and should continue to do so, meaning Bayer has effectively won, in this case, having to pay out a meager $1.6 billion from the many more billions it has been raking in from the sale of Essure. According to Bayer, the settlement resolves virtually all of the U.S. Essure litigation, and now the company can focus on what it describes as its commitment to womens health. Bayer sympathizes with all women who have experienced adverse health conditions, regardless of the cause, but the company continues to stand by the science supporting the safety and efficacy of Essure, the company went on to state, pretending to care about womens health. For more related news about the dangers and ineffectiveness of many Big Pharma products, be sure to check out BigPharma.Fetch.news. Sources for this article include: LifeSiteNews.com NaturalNews.com MOSCOW, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- JSC SIA, the operator of Sheremetyevo International Airport, recorded revenue of 10.355 million rubles for the first six months of 2020, when air travel declined sharply worldwide due to the coronavirus pandemic. This was a decrease of 44.2% compared to the same period in 2019. Aviation activities declined by 47.6%, and non-aviation activities declined by 39.1%. The income from concessions decreased by 18.9%. The growth in cost of sales was 19.8%, associated with an increase in maintenance and amortization costs of the new Terminal C and concession facilities. Gross income for the period was 3,050 million rubles, which is 75.5% lower than for the same period in 2019. The decrease in revenue and negative exchange rate changes were the major factors that produced a net loss of 1,157 million rubles in the first half of the year. The results were presented to the Board of Directors at a regular meeting conducted remotely on August 26, at which the financial statements for the First Quarter of 2020, which were prepared in accordance with Russian Accounting Standards (RAS), were approved. Key Indicators of JSC SIA Description of the indicator First half of the year Changes 2019 2020 % Passenger Flow 23,403,600 9,769,228 - 58,3 Revenue (millions of rubles) 18,571 10,355 -44,2 Net profit (millions of rubles) 10,870 -1 157 -110,6 Cost of sales (millions of rubles) 6,097 7,305 19,8 Gross income (millions of rubles) 1, 474 3,050 -75,5 The Board of Directors voted to convene the annual general meeting of shareholders of JSC SIA on September 30, 2020, and approved the agenda of the meeting. The board also approved the composition of the new 12-member Board of JSC SIA. Members were elected for the period from 1 September 2020 to 31 March 2022, in accordance with the Charter of JSC SIA: https://www.svo.aero/ru/about/management/top-managers . JSC SIA Board of Directors members are: Chairman A.A. Ponomarenko; Member A.I. Skorobogatko, General Director of JSC SIA M.M. Vasilenko, President of Sheremetyevo Holding LLC R.N. Zinovyev, First Vice-President - Investment Director of Sheremetyevo Holding LLC A.S. Smagin, Head of the Business Consulting Department of the autonomous non-profit organization Analytical Center Under the Government of the Russian Federation" L.R. Nisenboim, Deputy Head of the Federal Agency for State Property Management I.S. Petrov, Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation A.A. Yurchik, and Head of the Federal Agency for State Property Management V.V. Yakovenko. SOURCE Sheremetyevo International Airport Related Links https://www.svo.aero/ PODGORICA: The tiny Adriatic republic of Montenegro goes to the polls on Sunday riven by tensions over a religious communities law resisted by the powerful Orthodox Church and grappling with the coronavirus pandemic. At stake in the parliamentary election is the long rule of President Milo Djukanovics Democratic Party of Socialists, who led Montenegro through the 1990s break-up of federal Yugoslavia and the 2006 dissolution of its state union with Serbia. The DPS was also instrumental in Montenegros accession to NATO in 2017 and has overseen its ongoing efforts to qualify for membership of the European Union. The vote pits the DPS against the opposition, mainly Serb nationalist For the Future of Montenegro alliance, which seeks closer relations with Serbia and Russia and has the backing of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Montenegrins who identify as Serbs account for about a third of the 620,000 population. Most Montenegrins and Serbs share language and the Orthodox faith, and many Serbian citizens have roots and families in Montenegro. An Aug. 13 poll by the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM) put the DPS at an estimated 32-38% of the vote, with For the Future of Montenegro at 22-27%. The DPS now has a bare majority of 42 deputies in the 81-seat parliament. If it wins on Sunday, the DPS may have to seek more partners for a viable majority, said CEDEM director Milena Besic. There will have to be concessions to potential partners," she said. CHURCH-DRIVEN UNREST Opposition leaders and democracy and rights watchdogs have long accused Djukanovic, who faces re-election in 2023, and the DPS of running Montenegro as their own corrupt fiefdom and of ties with organised crime. They deny this. But the biggest, fresher hot-button issue in the campaign has been a law adopted late last year that allows the state to seize some religious assets if historical ownership cannot be proven. The law has yet to be enforced largely due to months of protests led by the Serbian Orthodox Church, Montenegros largest and backed by pro-Serbian parties. Last week Metropolitan Amfilohije, the churchs top cleric in Montenegro, called on people to vote against the ruling coalition. The churchrejoices in those who are against this lawless (religion) law," he said in a sermon. At a campaign rally on Wednesday, Prime Minister Dusko Markovic said he was confident in a DPS victory and that the Orthodox Church was Montenegros main adversary. After elections, thechurch and its priests will return to churches They will no longer be at political rallies where they curse our forefathers, us and our children." Djukanovic has repeatedly accused Serbia and Russia of using the church to undermine the independence of the mountainous, Adriatic coast republic. The dispute will influence the election outcome, said Besic. Many people see this as a foremost political issue." Montenegro has also been dealing with a coronavirus outbreak that has sickened over 4,500 people, with 89 deaths, so far. The pandemic has gutted revenues from Adriatic tourism seen as crucial to Montenegros budget. (Writing by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Mark Heinrich) Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor On Friday morning, the water level of the Yamuna river at Delhis Old Railway Bridge was recorded at 204.3 metres (m), which is close to the warning level of 204.5 m. The level rose after 11,055 cusecs of water was released from Haryanas Hathni Kund Barrage into the Yamuna at 8 am on Friday. While the water level was slightly higher than Thursdays 203.7 m recorded at 8 am, it was still lower than Mondays level of 204.3 m -- the first time this year, when it was recorded to be close to the warning mark. The Delhi governments Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) department officials said that the level recorded is much below the warning mark and might go up only if a higher volume of water is released, or if the national capital is lashed by heavy rains. Some parts of Delhi received light rainfall on Friday. If the intensity of the rainfall increases coupled with the release of more water from the barrage, the level may surge further, said an official from the state flood control department. The water is released into the barrage every four hours. On a regular basis, only 350 cusecs of water is being released. During monsoon, because of higher volume of water in the barrage coupled with rainfall in the hilly regions, more water is released. This leads to a rising water level in the Yamuna. It takes between 36 and 72 hours for the released water to reach the river in Delhi. We are continuously monitoring the water level, he added. Last year, Haryana had released over eight lakh cusecs of water in a day into the river after which the water level had breached the danger mark of 205.3 m. I&FC officials said that preparations are underway in case a higher volume of water is released and evacuation operations needed to be initiated. We have identified suitable locations for pitching tents. Since social distancing is a norm due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, we have identified schools that are closed because of the viral outbreak. The flood-hit people will be provided shelter in these closed schools while maintaining adequate social distancing norms, the official said. Delhi had reported a major flood in 1978, when the rivers water level had risen to the highest ever at 207.4 m. . SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON This article is part of Open Book, a Slate series about the new school year. The tragic, infuriating deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other Black individuals at the hands of police, and the subsequent anti-racist protests over the summer, have resulted in a national reckoning around race thats touched everything from the prison system to monuments to sports. Given this immense upheaval, I reached out to teachers across the country to get a sense of how they are thinking about teaching students about race and history in the new school year. Their accounts, based on our conversations, have been condensed and edited for clarity. Heber Diaz Race: Latinx Years of teaching experience: five Subject and grade: dual language history teacher, public high school Location: District of Columbia Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 64 percent of our students are Latino. Some of their courses are in Spanish, and some of them are in English. I also graduated from the school. This is my life. As a social studies teacher, I feel Im particularly responsible, morally and ethically, to make sure [students] are aware of whats happening: that theyre aware of their place, who they are, what their rights are, and whats being stripped of them. But most importantly, that Im giving them a voice. Im not trying to indoctrinate them; Im trying to help them learn how to think about the world theyre surrounded by. I think for students of color, exposure and skill development are super important. It doesnt matter how much they know about whats going on if they dont know how to read information and adapt to that information. Advertisement Advertisement This summer I was putting together our summer bridge program is for rising ninth graders. Its just to give them a taste of high school, especially now since its all virtual. One of the conversations we had was about what it means to be Black and brown in America. I went on TikTok, Instagram, and different platforms and selected viral videos about Black Lives Matter and the protests. We did sort of a gallery walk. It was a very lively discussion; the students seemed to be very aware of social and racial inequities. There was a lot of anger I perceived. They also seemed very sad, almost hopeless. Others were more solution-oriented, mulling ideas about how we fix this. The students are aware of whats happening, so what we need to do as teachers is help them take that knowledge and do something about it. Thats what I am now thinking about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think a lot of teachers are wanting and craving to talk about [race], especially teachers of color. There are others who are too afraid to engage. I do believe that my school does a really excellent job at promoting social justice. We have a social justice rubric where our projects have to be aligned with social justice in some way. This has existed for 10 years now. What I think we need to work on is the teacher buy-in and fidelity to it. Zel Fowler Race: Black Years of teaching experience: 15 Subject and grade: gifted program, grades K8, public school Location: Phoenix I dont see anything changing [because of the protests]. Its nothing new. The only thing new is that it was televised and everyone was at home, so they got a chance to see it. Theres no curriculum to address racism, so I feel like were so far behind. [My district] is just claiming that Black lives matter and creating resolutions that say Black students matter in our district, but we have nothing in place to thats going to implement change, or a policy thats going to back that up. I feel like its just words. Its not up to the Black people to teach anti-racism to every student. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not going to anything differently in my classroom. Ive always done things around social justice. Whether Im in the gifted program or a regular class, Ive always had that connection with students. Im hoping that we are able to hold people accountable and see actions behind the words. One teacher whos white initiated a book club for white teachers about how to teach Black students. Thats what needs to happen. Im Black. Ive been doing this my whole life. Ive been living this my whole life. Something we worry about is that everyone will look at Black educators and say, What are you doing? How are you going to fix it? Its not our job to fix it. Advertisement Advertisement Youve got to have an anti-racist curriculum implemented in the school. But whos going to teach that curriculum? How is it implemented? Its got to be a strategic plan. You cant just say, Were going to get this curriculum, and everyone teaches it. People have to really be trained on how to teach it. I dont know what it would look like for a person to be forced to teach a curriculum they dont believe in. Advertisement Youve got to bring in more Black teachers. If you dont have Black teachers, then figure out how to get Black mentors in there. Once you get kids [of color] in the [gifted] program, how are you going to keep them there? A lot of times the kids arent comfortable in those programs because of the way theyre treated. Theyre not surrounded by teachers of color, who are so important. Not only do Black students benefit from that, but all students do because a lot of times thats the only opportunity a student will get to work or communicate with a person of color. Advertisement Tiffini Flynn Forslund Race: Black and white Years of teaching experience: 11 Subject and grade: science and social studies, charter middle school Location: Minneapolis I live in St. Paul now, but my home for 4 years was in the 3rd Precinct [where the officers responsible for George Floyds death worked]. I went out on my own and [recorded] everything that was going on between the memorial and the 3rd Precinct because I felt that this was different when it started. I actually got tear-gassed. One of my fifth grade students showed me how to load [my video clips] onto YouTube. Advertisement Advertisement My students watched my YouTube videos. I showed them tear-gas shells. I showed them rubber bullets that I had picked up. Ive told my students that you will never have any greater social studies history than what is going on right now. Were going to discuss what defunding the police means. Were going to discuss how this became a movement. And we do protests at our school. Well make signs and well go out around the school and protest so that they feel like they have that power to stand up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our school is 99 percent African American students. We have a Liberian population. In fifth grade, I had them take their racist stories and put them in essays. One boys incident was with his bus driver; anothers was at a different schoolwhich was why she was at our school[where she experienced] direct racism from staff and teachers. They all have examples, and I try to get them to write it and express it. In Minnesota, we have been trying to get Black history as part of the curriculum, and its never been voted in. I think it might be different now. Weve advocated for no [school resource officers] for three, four years, and its never happened. But now, all of a sudden, the Minneapolis School Board passed it right awaythe St. Paul School Board just passed it. Now with this movement of George Floyd, things that we could not get passed are passing. So now we might see [curricula around] Black history be accepted within the Minnesota Department of Education, which would be a beautiful thing. Advertisement Michael Espinoza Race: Latino Years of teaching experience: four Subject and grade: English, AP Literature, public high school Location: San Jose, California I always teach something regarding race, even if its just a unit. But because of the climate now, Im thinking about how I can bring topics of race into my classroom throughout the year. For English I, Im planning on starting with the book The House on Mango Street. Every year I teach it from the perspective of generalities like identity, culture things like that so that its kind of related to race, but not really. Whereas this year, Im going to be much more explicit about the character in this book being a Latina. Shes experiencing things that are very specific to her identity as a person of color. Thats just one small aspect. Advertisement Advertisement Another teacher and I are revamping the entire English I curriculum. Were going to start with The House on Mango Street and then move on to Frederick Douglass, looking into what he brought to what Black Lives Matter means. And [well read] another book called Parable of the Sower. All these books are related to race in some way, and theyre all written by people of color as well. Advertisement Advertisement I tend to save [discussions around race] for the second semester, because Ive always been afraid that it is touchy. I tend to have quite a few white students in the classroom in general. I want to get to know the kids; I want them to know theyre safe and we have a relationship before we start talking about difficult things like race. When I bring it up, its always a little awkward at first. But by the end of the unit, they feel more comfortable to talk about things like racial oppression and privilege and white supremacy. Overall, its been pretty successful. Some students have pushed back on things like white supremacy and white privilege. Some students, white students in particular, will say that they have grown up poor. So theyll say, I dont feel like Ive been privileged in my life. Thats a good discussion to have as a class: What does privilege actually mean? What does it look like when we talk about racial privilege vs. privilege in general? Its generally been very productive in the past. Advertisement Jose Luis Vilson Race: Black and Latino Years of teaching experience: 15 Subject and grade: math, public middle school Location: New York City Advertisement We have to continue to make room for conversations that may or may not be in our comfort zones. Its unlike previous years where I felt like so much of the fervor around Black Lives Matter was focused from within, from people who were already appreciative of the message. Nowadays you have a broader, more multicultural, multinational, multigenerational set of folks who have started to have this discussion, especially with white folks. Advertisement In teachers own classrooms, its incumbent upon us to at least have the conversation around how these things have manifested, what the core causes are that the Black Lives Matter movement has championed, and then in what ways teachers and educators are generally part of, or at least complicit in, this systemic racism. I think too often the paradigm is that if you want to have the race conversation, you usually go to the person of color on staff. If you dont have staff like that, then you go to the person that you feel is the most radical, instead of asking, How can we collectively be more thoughtful about how we engage around race? But now it is more mainstream for teachers to understand the importance of diversity and equality. I wouldnt say equity yet. I think thats still far away from us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Black Lives Matter] is definitely on our childrens minds. When I talked about this virtually with my students, I had a discussion where I said, What are you feeling right now? Even without prompts, a lot of them were already talking about some of the current events. My students are predominantly Latinx, Dominican, but I do have Black and white students as well. Some of them I think may have been radicalized by this moment in time. Others are still trying to figure out like what it means for the police to be dangerous when theyve been told all their lives that police are there to protect them. The pandemic hasnt been helpful in terms of being able to work through this with their friends and peers. Advertisement I think if we can orient a lot of this conversation about whats right and wrong, what it means to be justeven kids as young as 2 or 3 years old have an understanding of whats fair. And if youre able to have a conversation with a 2-year-old about whats fair, you can do it for anybody else. Unfortunately, we as a country have not grappled with whats fair yet. Advertisement Jonathan Shulman Race: White Years of teaching experience: 20 Subject/Grade: AP U.S. History, AP Government, AP World History, private high school Location: San Diego This past year when I taught [AP U.S. History], a big part of it was looking at the history of race in the United States. The typical, easy approach in teaching history is to take the triumphalist or inevitable narrative. You mention that Black people were enslaved, and then they got freed, and then maybe a little bit about Reconstruction, and then skip ahead to the civil rights era, and then everythings fine. Its a constant struggle to not fall back on that America narrative. There are [so many other] narratives, often running contrary to one another. Advertisement Im a white heterosexual man who is teaching other white people for the most part. Im well aware that, no matter what I do, Im coming at them from one perspective. No matter how much I study, no matter how much I try to understand systemic racism, and no matter how often I try to speak to that and demonstrate it for the students, I havent experienced it. Its important to let the students know that. The irony of all of this is that [as a white man], I will be more listened to. If I were a member of a certain group, I would be seen as a wild feminist or any other ridiculous term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recent protests have freed me to feel like I can say Black Lives Matter in the classroom as a given, as a statement of fact. [Prior to that] I could go there, but I had to dance carefully in a way that felt kind of dumb. Thats a big change. At the same time, I think its embarrassing that that change just happened. I cant believe Ive been such a coward. I cant believe that Ive been dancing around it in the way that I have, but Im so appreciative of the fact I feel empowered now that I dont have to do that. Advertisement Disclosure: Jonathan Shulman is the authors former teacher. Advertisement Brittany Bussell Race: White Years of Teaching experience: 10 Subject/Grade: history and geography, ESL, public high school Location: Round Rock, Texas I worry about all my kids, and the events of the last few months have only exacerbated issues that Ive been aware of for a long time. My intent for this year is to figure out how to approach it as the students need us to. I think theres something to be said for walking into the classroom and confronting it, but with everything going on amid the backdrop of the pandemic, I feel as though we need to approach it when it comes up in our curriculum with tender loving hands, instead of coming in full force. Advertisement Advertisement When I teach U.S. history, it starts with post-Reconstruction, but we also do a review of the Civil War. I would like to ask studentsnow in 2020 looking backhow could we have done better? In the majority of my experiences with world history in the Texas curriculumwhich really means Western civilizationI try to give a voice to the people who are not always at the center. The nonstandard narrative. One of the biggest lessons I do is about European imperialism. [We look at a] Pears soap ad, and theres a white boy standing outside a tub. Theres a Black boy sitting in the tub up to his neck. When he stands up, from the neck down, hes white after his bath. I let the kids analyze it. And then I know when theyve got it, because they start going, Thats totally racist. This year in U.S. history I pointed out that company is still around and my students called for a boycott. I said that before we do that, we need to look at the dates of the ads and see if theyve changed. Its all about framing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theodore Borgerding Race: White Years of teaching experience: 35 Subject/Grade: English, private high school Location: Baku, Azerbaijan Students definitely take notice of [the U.S. protests]. We have American students at our schoolsomething along the lines of 20 to 25 percent, and a very small number of them are African American. Racism in Azerbaijan is a curious thing. The Black people I know are fairly well integrated, but theyre special cases I would say. The larger Azeri population I would say definitely sees [Black people] as outsiders and is definitely uncomfortable, to put in mildly. I find that among our Azeri students, which are about 20 percent of our population, it really runs the gamut of kids who are quite open-minded and interested in seeing all different views of the world that they can learn from, to kids who are probably among our moreracist would be an easy way to put itclosed-minded and see others as being not quite as good as themselves. Advertisement The injustices that Black Americans face, they need to be understood, because its a big problem that has massive ramifications around the world. Our students recognize that they look to America in a lot of ways for a lot of things. Whether theyre Korean or Russian, they still have to understand why things arent working in America. Advertisement We hear Black voices in our English curriculum, but they tend to be kind of the standard. We have Langston Hughes poetry, Maya Angelous Still I Rise. We often teach [Chinua] Achebes Things Fall Apart. But the modern African American experience has been there far less. Weve decided that we need to push for a more modern voice. Were going to have Ta-Nehisi Coates and his writings for the Atlantic as a body of work for many of our older students to study. In my years of teaching, the English curriculum has become more and more modern and contemporary. Its [now] much more likely that we will get an author whos debuted her first novel and its only a few years old and its in our curriculum. That just wouldnt have happened 30 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement What I do find comparable [to this moment] is the big change in sexuality and how people with different sexual orientations are seen. Thats the thing for me where there can be a turning point and these voices are not just part of the curriculum but are actually heard almost in the same moment, that contemporary voices can be heard for the value they have in this day and time. Advertisement Advertisement Vanessa Harkless Race: Black Years of teaching: 15 Subject/Grade: fourth grade public school teacher Location: Florence, South Carolina Our school is Id say 80 percent African American, 20 percent Caucasian and Latino. A good 95 percent of our school are on free reduced lunch. Its a Title I school. Advertisement When we talk about safety, I think that will be a good catapult for a conversation about what [my students] have seen, what theyve heard, and what they think and feel [about the protests]. When I say safety, Im talking about safety here in the building, where you have guidelines for your safety. Then outside of the building, you have your community, where you rely on your police and other important officials for safety. I would not be surprised if this leads to a conversation about what [my students] have witnessed in the news. Im pretty sure it will be a heavily loaded conversation. Ill try to be open and honest with them about it, and keep my judgment out, but have them be aware of the facts. I know what I know for me, but they need to make decisions for themselves. Advertisement Its good for them to know that, you see the Black Lives Matter movement, but there are some policemen out there who are fair, who are just, who are out there to do their jobs. There are those whom youve seen in the news and in the public who have chosen not to their jobs to the best of their ability in a given situation, and that has led to this. I know thats also going to bring up a conversation about civil rights and inequality that African American students may have experienced personally or heard about from family members and people in the community. Advertisement Advertisement We talk about the month of February, Black History Monththats when we have more conversations so that they learn more about African Americans and what theyve given to our country. We do a wax museum at our school so they know its more than just Harriet Tubman and Martin Luther King Jr. They research a person and dress like that person and give a speech about who they are. Weve had Barack Obama; weve had Condoleezza Rice. There needs to be a conversation about [addressing race in the curriculum]. Theres nothing in there now. There should be something in place for students at a younger age to have a conversation about what racism is and what it looks like. A Delhi court on Friday sent suspended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain to six days Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody in connection with an alleged case of money laundering related to the Delhi riots. Police have accused Hussain of hatching a conspiracy to orchestrate the riots, and of arranging funds for the same. The six-day custody order came after the agency moved the court seeking 14 days remand. In its remand application, the ED alleged Hussain had laundered money and also accused him of cheating, falsification of documents and criminal conspiracy. The ED told the court they had conducted searches at various premises and seized several incriminating documents. It said it had recorded statements of various persons under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and WhatsApp chats, bogus invoices and other incriminating documents have been recovered. Accused has entered into a criminal conspiracy by fraudulently transferring money from the accounts of many company. The money so obtained are proceeds of crime which were then used for committing other various scheduled offences, the ED said while also contending that the accused has not co-operated in the investigation and has been evasive in his replies. The agency is probing Hussains role in allegedly mobilising funds during the riots in February. Police and ED have accused Hussain of laundering around Rs 1.10 crore using shell companies to fuel protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the riots. Police have said Hussain mobilised funds to buy ammunition and get more rioters. While back-to-school school routines may be anything but normal this year, the 'Shipt Shuffle Challenge' was developed to transform the unordinary school season into a celebratory one with some fun and easy moves everyone can get behind. Kicked off by dance challenge enthusiast and mom of three, Candace Cameron Bure, fans can check out @candacecbure 's Instagram channel or search #ShiptShuffle to learn the dance and join in on the fun. The brand-new interactive dance challenge is easier than ever to join, and Shipt is giving away a Shipt one year membership and free groceries for a year ($5,000 value) to five lucky winners to keep them going all year long. Anyone who recreates and posts their 'Shipt Shuffle Challenge' dance on Instagram or Instagram Reels with the hashtags #ShiptShuffle and #Sweepstakes and follows and tags @Shipt, will be entered to win. For more details, visit Shipt's blog . "I love dancing. It's something I've been doing with the kids while stuck at home, so I jumped at the opportunity to help Shipt launch this challenge," said Candace Cameron Bure. "As a mom of three, I know how hectic the back-to-school season can be, and this year will be even more challenging, so let's give everyone a reason to celebrate and dance their way into the new school year regardless of what that looks like!" Shipt makes getting back-to-school essentials easier and more convenient than ever through its network of retail partners such as Office Depot and Target, and same-day delivery from its trusted personal shoppers. "We know back-to-school looks much different this year, so we want to help - whether that's delivering school supplies, grocery essentials or just allowing you and your family to laugh and dance together," said Molly Snyder, Chief Communications Officer at Shipt. "We're thrilled to partner with more than 100 retailers nationwide to be sure we are able to get busy families everything they need during this busy back-to-school season. " For more details and to learn how to participate in the 'Shipt Shuffle Challenge', visit Shipt's blog and follow @shipt on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Media Contact: [email protected] About Shipt Shipt brings the store to your door. Through a community of Shipt Shoppers and a convenient app, Shipt provides personal shopping and delivery and is available to 80% of households in more than 5,000 U.S. cities. Shipt Shoppers go above and beyond, communicating in real time about preferences and substitutions. A curated marketplace of retailers, Shipt offers access to a variety of stores and product categories including fresh foods, household essentials, wellness products, office and pet supplies. Shipt is an independently operated, wholly owned subsidiary of Target Corp. Founded and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, Shipt also maintains an office in San Francisco. For more information, visit Shipt.com. SOURCE Shipt Related Links https://www.shipt.com The spotlight will be on three-year-old trotters this Friday at Hippodrome 3R, as the Quebec Jockey Club will host the second round of the Trophee Des Eleveurs (Breeders Trophy) Series with two $10,000 divisions. There will be three legs of preliminary action and the top eight point earners will earn a spot on the gate in the $65,000 finals, which are scheduled for Sunday, September 27. The colts will be in the limelight first in the second race with eight starters. The favourite is Kenogami Coco from post seven with Stephane Brosseau in the sulky. The gelded son of Wheeling N Dealin was doing just that two starts back when he won the opening round of the series in 1:58.2. Last week Kenogami Coco took on older horses at H3R and was parked out from the start and was fifth. He is trained by Dany Fontaine for owner-breeder Jean-Frances and Marie-Claude Reid of Anjou. Starting alongside Kenogami Coco is last years two-year-old champion Babidibou (post six) with Stephane Gendron driving. He was third last week in the Preferred Trot at H3R and broke stride in the opening round of the series. The son of Royalty For Life is trainer by Maxime Velaye for owners Isidoro Russo of Montreal and Guy Corbeil of Mirabel. Frido PV (post 3) is another top contender, shipping in from Rideau Carleton Raceway where last week he in 1:57 for trainer/driver Yves St Jacques. The Muscle Mass colt was third two weeks back in the series. He will be driven by Richard Simard. Other contenders include return winner Laval Titan (post one), Master Gale (post 4) and Genetic Taurus (post 5). The fillies take to the track in the fourth race with nine starters headed by opening round winner Miss Melodie from post five for driver Stephane Gendron. This daughter of Prestidigitator sat an easy pocket trip to Anotherdeal in the series and won by one and one-half lengths in a lifetime best 2:03.4. Miss Melodie was unraced at age two and has two wins this year for trainer Maxime Velaye. She was bred by and is owned by Determination of Montreal. HP Starlett returns to H3R for the first time this season and goes from post three for driver Stephane Brosseau. She has won this season in a lifetime best 1:58.4 at Rideau Carleton in the Grassroots Series. She is trained by Daniel Martin for owner-breeders Claude Hamel of AyersS Cliff and Guy Desautels of Montreal. Anotherdeal starts from post seven for driver Sylvain Lacaille, Rideau Carleton invader Lindas Pride has post two for trainer/driver Richard Simard and Kinnder High Class starts from the rail for driver Pierre Luc Roy. Track Notes: First race post time Friday is 4:00 pm. On Sunday is the second round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old pacing colts and fillies. There are two divisions for each gender. For a free race program, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca. To view the harness racing entries for Friday at H3R, click the following link: Friday Entries - Hippodrome 3R. (Quebec Jockey Club) Juan A. Diaz, 46, of Columbia was indicted this week, more than a month after homicide detective James Lloyd was charged with extorting, kidnapping and threatening to arrest a home contractor whose work he was unhappy with. Prosecutors alleged that Lloyd drove the contractor to a bank and ordered him to withdraw money for a refund after threatening to arrest the man. kali9/iStockBy MORGAN WINSOR, JOSH MARGOLIN and JACK DATE, ABC News (KENOSHA, Wis.) -- Kyle Rittenhouse was taken into custody on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide in the Tuesday shooting, some of which was captured on cellphone video. One of the victims in the deadly shootings at a protest Tuesday night in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was shot five times, including in the head, and a second was shot in the chest, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday. The violence occurred late Tuesday night near a gas station in Kenosha, some 40 miles south of Milwaukee, amid a third night of protests in Kenosha over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, who remains hospitalized in serious condition. The two victims died from their injuries, according to the Kenosha Police Department. A third gunshot victim was taken to a hospital with "serious, but non-life-threatening injuries," police said. Cellphone video from Tuesday night's protests showed a white man, armed with a semiautomatic rifle, running past police and being chased by demonstrators. The footage showed the man trip and fall and appear to open fire on protesters. He then is seen running away. The alleged gunman, identified as 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse of Illinois, surrendered to authorities in Antioch, Illinois, before dawn Wednesday, according to Antioch Interim Police Chief Geoff Guttschow. Rittenhouse was arrested based on a warrant issued by authorities in Wisconsin's Kenosha County, charging him with first-degree intentional homicide. He's also being held on a charge of "fugitive from justice," for purposes of extradition to Wisconsin, Guttschow said. Charges against Rittenhouse were officially filed in Wisconsin on Thursday, and included two homicide counts and one attempted homicide count. Rittenhouse was also charged with two counts of recklessly endangering safety and possession of a dangerous weapon by a juvenile. A criminal complaint filed Thursday identified the two people killed as Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, and the injured victim as Gaige Grosskreutz. Rosenbaum followed Rittenhouse and threw a plastic bag at him in the parking lot of the auto repair shop Car Source Auto Service, according to the complaint. Based on a video prosecutors reviewed, Rosenbaum approached Rittenhouse following a loud bang. After four more bangs, Rosenbaum fell to the ground. After allegedly shooting Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse made a phone call and said, "I just killed somebody," the complaint said. An autopsy found that Rosenbaum was shot five times -- in the right groin, back, left hand, left thigh and right side of his forehead, according to the complaint. Rittenhouse was then chased by protestors and fell, according to the complaint. At that point, Huber tried to pull Rittenhouse's gun away when he was allegedly shot and killed, according to the complaint. Rittenhouse then allegedly shot Grosskreutz, in the right arm, according to the complaint. Huber's autopsy showed he had a gunshot wound to his chest that perforated his heart, aorta, pulmonary artery and right lung, the complaint said. The long gun allegedly used in the shootings was a Smith & Wesson AR-15 style, .223 rifle, court records show. Authorities investigating social media accounts associated with the suspect's name have found references of support for President Donald Trump and a video that appears to show the poster at a Trump rally, law enforcement officials told ABC News. The social media accounts were deactivated Wednesday and are now part of the investigation into the deadly shooting. Investigators are looking to determine whether the accounts are legitimate and are scrubbing them for any information pertinent to the probe, two law enforcement officials told ABC News. Local law enforcement agencies are not commenting on the social media accounts. Trump's reelection campaign issued a statement Wednesday night distancing itself from the alleged shooter. "President Trump has repeatedly and consistently condemned all forms of violence and believes we must protect all Americans from chaos and lawlessness," Tim Murtaugh, communications director for the Trump 2020 campaign, said in a statement. "This individual had nothing to do with our campaign and we fully support our fantastic law enforcement for their swift action in this case." Rittenhouse is currently being held at the Lake County Juvenile Detention Center in Vernon Hills, Illinois, according to Guttschow. Antioch Fire Chief Jon Cokefair confirmed to ABC News that Rittenhouse was a cadet with his fire department from September 2018 to March 2020. The Grayslake Police Department in Illinois has also confirmed to ABC News that a former public safety cadet from its youth program is a suspect in the Kenosha protest shootings. Attorney John Pierce of Los Angeles told ABC News that he has been retained to represent Rittenhouse. "We will obtain justice for Kyle," said Pierce, adding he was headed to Wisconsin Thursday night to meet with his client's family and appear at Rittenhouse's bail hearing on Friday. Pierce said he has established a legal defense fund for Rittenhouse through a Texas 501(c)(4) nonprofit called #FightBack Foundation Inc. that was formed by him and Georgia attorney L. Lin Wood. "That will be the sole authorized vehicle to fund Kyle's defense," Pierce said. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is assisting in tracing a firearm recovered Wednesday that is believed to have been used in Tuesday night's shooting, a law enforcement official told ABC News. The civil unrest in Kenosha unfolded Sunday evening after Blake was shot by police in broad daylight. Cellphone video taken by a witness shows three Kenosha police officers following Blake around his SUV, and at least one of them is seen shooting Blake multiple times in the back as he opened the driver's side door and entered the vehicle, where his three young children were still inside. The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation, which is leading the probe into the incident. The Kenosha Police Department does not have body cameras. Authorities, in a statement, later said that officers attempted to stop Blake with a stun gun but that efforts were unsuccessful. Since then, hundreds of protesters have converged at the Kenosha Police Department headquarters and the Kenosha County Courthouse. Some have smashed patrol car windows and set fires to buildings. Police in riot gear have repeatedly deployed tear gas, flash bangs and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds. The violence prompted Trump and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers to mobilize additional members of the National Guard to Kenosha. Blake's family has repeatedly called for peaceful protests. A statement released Wednesday night by the Wisconsin Department of Justice identified the officer who shot Blake and provided more details on the incident. Officers from the Kenosha Police Department were dispatched to a residence Sunday, after a female caller reported that her boyfriend was there and "was not supposed to be on the premises," according to the statement. During the incident, the officers tried to arrest Blake and deployed a stun gun in an attempt to stop him, but "the taser was not successful," according to the statement. Blake then walked around his car, opened the driver's side door and "leaned forward," according to the statement. Officer Rusten Sheskey, who has been with the Kenosha Police Department for seven years, fired his gun seven times into Blake's back while holding onto his shirt, according to the statement. No other officer fired their weapon, the statement said. The officers "immediately provided medical aid" to Blake, who was then flown to a hospital in Milwaukee, according to the statement. During the investigation following the initial incident, Blake "admitted that he had a knife in his possession," according to the statement. Investigators recovered a knife from the driver's side floorboard of Blake's vehicle. No additional weapons were found, according to the statement. When taking questions from reporters at a press conference Wednesday night, Wisconsin Department of Justice officials would not say whether Blake was the person who the female caller said was at her home. Prominent civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who is representing Blake's family, said his client was attempting to de-escalate a domestic incident when police drew their pistols and stun guns on him. Crump said Blake was walking away to check on his children when police shot him. He told ABC News that Blake's family is calling for the officers involved in the shooting to be terminated from the police force and charged with attempted murder. "Where is humanity? Where is the professionalism? Where is the training? Why is it again that we're seeing another African American who the police are supposed to protect and serve like anybody else use this brutal, excessive force?" Crump said. "It was done in front of his three little boys who were all sitting in the car. Eight years old, five years old, three years old. Can you imagine the psychological issues these babies are going to have?" Blake's family told ABC News he is currently paralyzed from the waist down but that doctors hope the paralysis is temporary. Blake is handcuffed to his hospital bed, his father, Jacob Blake Sr., told ABC News. A warrant was issued on July 7 for Blake's arrest on sexual assault and domestic abuse charges, yet it is unclear at this time if that is why he is handcuffed. Despite his condition, Blake has been the one trying to comfort family. "That tells you what kind of man he is," Blake's uncle told ABC News in an interview that aired Wednesday on Good Morning America. ABC News' Andy Fies, Sabina Ghebremedhin, Whitney Lloyd, Will Steakin and Jim Vojtech contributed to this report. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has sent a note of protest to Nicaragua demanding that it cancel the decision to appoint an honorary consul in Russian-occupied Crimea. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said this during an online briefing on Friday, August 28, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "We have learned that, unfortunately, despite Ukraine's warning not to take such a step, the Nicaraguan government has officially appointed an honorary consul in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, temporarily occupied by Russia. A note has already been sent to the Nicaraguan government with the demand to immediately revoke this unlawful decision. It also warns that in the absence of a response from Nicaragua, Ukraine will apply sanctions in accordance with its legislation," Kuleba said. He noted that especially outrageous is the fact that Oleg Belavintsev, an active participant in the attempted annexation of Crimea, was appointed to the post of honorary consul. In 2019, Kyiv's Sviatoshynsky District Court sentenced Belavintsev to 13 years in prison for encroaching on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine's borders, Kuleba said. He said that Ukraine considers such illegal actions by Nicaragua as a direct violation of the legislation of Ukraine and international law and an openly unfriendly step towards the Ukrainian state. Kuleba warned that in the absence of a response to Ukraine's demand to cancel the decision to appoint the consul, "we are ready to take even tougher steps to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine." op Instilled by PeopleFluent has landed a place on Training Industrys 2020 Top Learning Experience Platform (LXP) List Instilled represents the culmination of two decades of learning consulting experience and authoring, delivery, and analytics technology. As part of LTG, Instilled benefits from connections to a great suite of learning solutions and continues to evolve in new and interesting ways. Instilled by PeopleFluent, a corporate Learning Experience Platform (LXP) with an emphasis on the intuitive capture, cataloging and discovery of digital learning content, has been named as a Top 20 Learning Experience Platform Company by Training Industry. Launched in its current form in May 2019, this is the first year that Instilled has been eligible for the Training Industry LXP award, which is part of a series of industry-recognized annual Top 20 lists across several Learning & Development categories. These Top 20 lists aim to help buy-side organizations in their search for the right training partners, and are based on the following criteria: Value of platform features and capabilities Quality of analytics and reporting Company size and growth potential Strength of clients and geographic reach LXPs are a newly mature category in the learning marketplace, allowing learners to seamlessly interact with a wide range of content types and systems in a single place. Josh Bersin, founder of Bersin research and the Josh Bersin Academy, has previously described Instilled as exemplifying a new breed of LXP for its focus on additionally allowing learners to self-publish, transcribe, edit, coordinate, and amplify a wide range of content. We are honored to be recognized in Training Industrys Top 20 LXP list for the value and quality that Instilled offers to our global clients, says Jeff Fissel, VP of Solutions at Instilled. Instilled represents the culmination of two decades of learning consulting experience and authoring, delivery, and analytics technology. As part of Learning Technologies Group, Instilled benefits from connections to a great suite of learning solutions and continues to evolve in new and interesting ways. This is Instilleds third major award since launching, and includes two 2019 Brandon Hall Group Excellence awards for Best Advance in Emerging Learning Technology (Bronze) and Best Use of Performance Support for work with Johnson Controls International (Bronze). Instilleds entry on Training Industrys 2020 Learning Experience Platform (LXP) Top Company list can be found on the Training Industry blog. For more information on the features offered by the Instilled, or a personalized LXP demo, please visit the LXP section of PeopleFluent.com. About Instilled by PeopleFluent Instilled is an easy-to-use, structured corporate Learning Experience Platform (LXP) that supports a modern learning culture. The platform leads learners to the right contentcreated by subject matter experts and peer groupswithout distractions. Instilled draws on nearly 20 years of experience providing learning consulting and technologies for authoring, delivery, and analytics. Instilled combines award-winning technologies within Learning Technologies Group into one efficient learning experience platform. For more, visit instilled.com. 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. The hefty fines have been introduced in a bid to combat a growing number of illegal, large gatherings across the country. (Getty) New government fines of up to 10,000 for organisers of illegal raves could also technically see people who organise family gatherings, childrens birthday parties or wakes slapped with large fines. From Friday, anyone facilitating an unlicensed music event or any other unlawful gathering of 30 people or more could face the hefty penalty, while fines for not wearing face coverings in places where they are required, like public transport and supermarkets, will double for repeat offenders. People not wearing masks and participants in unlawful gatherings can be fined starting at 100, doubling for each repeat offence up to a maximum of 3,200. The hefty fines have been introduced in a bid to combat a growing number of illegal raves across the country and to deter people from attending them over the Bank Holiday weekend. Last weekend police in Birmingham said they had to break up more than 70 illegal parties - including a street rave with marquees and large house party - despite a rising number of coronavirus infections in the city. As part of a crackdown on large gatherings, the government has upped the fines that organisers can face - with those who hold or are involving in holding a large gathering facing a 10,000 fine. However, the legislation could technically also apply to gatherings of more than 30 people - leaving those who organise family occasions facing the same punishment. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you are caught "holding" a kids birthday party with more than 30 people not from the same household you could be on the end of a 10,000 fine. That really seems to be the effect here - and I don't see what that has to do with raves /8 Adam Wagner (@AdamWagner1) August 27, 2020 The issue was highlighted by human rights solicitor Adam Wagner in a series of tweets pointing out that the large fines dont only apply to raves. Story continues He said: It is already unlawful to *participate* in gatherings of over 30 people in private dwellings or public places subject to some pretty detailed exceptions - but if you are caught doing that the fines start at 100 and can rise to 3,200 for six offences.. But what these regulations do is massively up the ante for those who "hold or [are] involved in the holding of a gathering" - they will now get a 10,000 fine. There are two kinds of gatherings which aren't allowed: - A rave - A gathering of more than 30 people (reg 5B). He said: 5B may be the real stinger here as it applies basically to any privately held social gathering which doesn't fall with the exceptions. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you are caught "holding" a kids birthday party with more than 30 people not from the same household you could be on the end of a 10,000 fine. That really seems to be the effect here - and I don't see what that has to do with raves. I mean, this 10,000 fine business was meant to be about raves, not family reunions, religious events, kids' birthday parties? Why are they suddenly the focus of this huge, potentially life changing fine? He said, in his view, the fines could also apply to demonstrations if not organised by a specific organisations, which would mean spontaneous protests such as Black Lives Matter protests could also fall foul of the legislation. Police have warned that the new legislation will mean absolutely nothing for enforcement in London. Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said the new legislation would only be helpful somewhere like a warehouse or field where an owner could be identified. He said: It could be good for areas outside London, but it means absolutely nothing to us here. People just set up a music box in the middle of the street and say its not mine, its utter nonsense. Raves are completely different to an unlicensed music event, which are a very difficult situation for my colleagues, who are abused and harassed and show amazing bravery. We need clearer legislation we need to be more forceful, clearing the area immediately, close the area down, the Government need more forceful wording around groups of people gathering. This weekend has all the ingredients to be very, very stressful. Some 4,500 officers are set to be working this bank holiday weekend in the capital, and police have intelligence on numerous planned gatherings, he added. Environmental protest group Extinction Rebellion plans to target airports and impose roadblocks from Friday in cities including London, Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff and Leeds. Coronavirus: what happened today Click here to sign up to the latest news and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter Models pose in front of Samsung's new television products at the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) in Berlin, on Aug. 6. / Korea Time file South Korea's two tech giants Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc. on Friday said they will release new home appliance products in Europe to boost sales in the region amid the pandemic. Samsung said it will begin launching a new laundry appliance with upgraded artificial intelligence (AI) solutions and a new refrigerator highlighting customization features in major European markets, such as Britain, France and Germany, late this month. The WW9800T washer cuts washing time by up to 50 percent and energy usage by 20 percent compared with its previous models, according to Samsung. Its latest washing machine also comes with EcoBubble technology, which maximizes the effectiveness of detergent by turning it into soft bubbles and allows for faster penetration into fabrics, Samsung said. With its AI Control technology, Samsung said its new washer can automatically suggest the optimal wash cycle. "AI Control eliminates the need for users to scroll through cycles to find the right one, or to input their individualized settings each time," it said. "The AI Wash feature uses sensors to detect the laundry load's weight and soilage, to determine the optimal amount of water and detergent to dispense." Samsung's new RB7300 refrigerator will make its debut in Europe. The bottom-mount freezer (BMF) refrigerator boasts thinner interior walls, offering a larger internal capacity of 385 liters, 18 liters larger than the previous model, the company said. Samsung's Bespoke refrigerator range will also make its first appearance for European consumers. The product will be first sold in Nordic countries in October and will be available in other European nations over the next year. The Bespoke refrigerator is built under the company's Project Prism, which aims to reflect consumers' lifestyles and allows them to personalize the materials, colors, shapes and designs of the products. The refrigerator has already been launched in other nations, including South Korea and China. Samsung said its latest refrigerators and laundry lineup will be further explained at its "Life Unstoppable" virtual event Wednesday. The company will host the online event as a replacement for IFA 2020, Europe's largest tech expo, which it decided to skip due to the pandemic. LG said three new refrigerator models highlighting better hygienic and AI features will hit the shelves in Europe. Starting with Sweden next month, the refrigerators will be launched in more than 20 European countries by the first half of the next year, according to the company. LG said its InstaView Door-in-Door refrigerator with UVnano utilizes ultraviolet LED light technology and can disinfect the water dispenser outlets once every hour to remove up to 99.9 percent of bacteria and germs. The 569-liter refrigerator is also equipped with advanced technologies that can minimize temperature fluctuations and make entire fridge space cooler by distributing airflow from strategically placed vents, LG said. Its ice maker located in the freezer drawer can produce two-inch spherical ice balls. LG's updated Fridge and Freezer pair is comprised of a 386-liter fridge and a 324-liter freezer. They can be purchased separately, but consumers can buy both of them and connect them to look like a single refrigerator. "They are designed to fit easily into standard kitchen cabinetry for a clean, minimalist look," LG said. "Their flat door design and zero-clearance hinges are ideal for installing right next to a wall for a seamless, built-in appearance." Its latest InstaView ThinQ refrigerator boasts a consumer-centric AI platform, LG said. Any food item placed inside or removed from the refrigerator is automatically tracked via its advanced vision recognition technology, LG said. The company's AI technology also allows the refrigerator to offer meal suggestions after analyzing food items in the fridge and even inform other home appliances what to do. "It can set a connected oven to the right cooking temperature based on the recipe and even choose the optimal wash cycle for the dishwasher based on the meal," LG said. LG said its latest kitchen appliances will be explained further at its virtual exhibition hall for the IFA 2020 next week. (Yonhap) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 28) Tropical Storm Julian slightly intensified and slowed down while moving over the Philippine Sea, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Friday. In its 11 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said that Julians center was located at 870 km east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan at 10 p.m. Julian has maximum sustained winds of up to 75 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 90 km/h. PAGASA also said that Julian is expected to reach severe tropical storm category by tomorrow afternoon, and typhoon category by Sunday morning. It is likely to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday evening, August 31. The weather bureau said the raising of Tropical Wind Cyclone Signal is remote as Julian is less likely to make a high impact weather over the country. Advantages of a Devoted Server Posted by Publisher Internet Numerous websites are hosted on a shared web hosting server. The primary reason is the expense. A shared web hosting server expenses a terrific deal less than a committed server. The number of sites on a shared web hosting server is often anyplace from 1500 to 2000 sites. 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"There is some damage to some of the facilities, but it appears to be somewhat light," U.S. Secretary of Energy Daniel Brouillette said in a briefing Thursday afternoon. "It is not significant in nature, meaning that the operations of these facilities will probably continue in very short order," he said. Brouillette said his department, other agencies and BioLab Inc. were still trying to determine the cause of the leak and chemical fire at a plant owned by the company, which is a unit in the household products division of KIK Custom Products, based in Toronto, Canada, which makes a range of chlorine-based products, including Clorox-branded pool cleaners. The immediate concern more broadly is the widespread power outages in the area, said Brouillette, a Louisiana native. Staff from the local power companies, including Entergy and Cleco, were joined by about 20,000 crew brought in from 27 states and deployed under the Federal Power Act to speed the return of power to critical infrastructure, commercial and residential customers, Brouillette said. About 600,000 were without power in southwest Louisiana and just across the border in Texas in the wake of the storm. The companies were timing repairs to winds dipping to safe levels below 40 mph. The two major refineries in the hardest-hit Lake Charles area Citgo and Phillips 66 at a capacity to process 425,000 and 249,000 barrels of oil per day, respectively were shut ahead of the storm as a precaution and their restart will depend on when power is restored over the coming days. The Colonial Pipeline, a vital artery that carries gasoline and other transport fuels from Texas and Louisiana refineries to markets in the central and northeast of the country, never lost power and will quickly ramp up to normal levels, the pipeline's operating company confirmed. Investors appeared unconcerned about any damage or disruptions. Benchmark U.S. crude oil for October delivery fell 35 cents to $43.04 a barrel Thursday. Wholesale gasoline for September delivery fell 8 cents to $1.286 a gallon. September heating oil fell 3 cents to $1.21 a gallon. September natural gas rose 12 cents to $2.58 per 1,000 cubic feet. The eye of the storm rolled over the Lake Charles area, one of the nation's largest hubs for oil, gas and chemical processing and manufacturing. As Hurricane Laura barreled through the Gulf of Mexico earlier in the week, the region's petrochemical industry braced for high winds and storm surge that had threatened to top the walls of some sprawling complexes. Offshore operators shut-in wells and brought workers back to shore. Petrochemical facilities are designed to face hurricane-force winds. Before the storm, crews secured sites, removed temporary structures and tied down any loose materials. Many plants evacuated even essential employees and idled operations ahead of the storm. The worst fears of hurricane damage seem to have been averted, though company and government officials cautioned it would take days for a full assessment. On Thursday, Federal safety and regulatory officials with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said they had not had any reports of hazardous material leaks at the liquefied natural gas facilities or petrochemical facilities in Louisiana. Cameron Parish was still not accessible by road as of Thursday afternoon. The conditions of the Port of Cameron Parish and the Calcasieu shipping channel was unknown. Officials at the Port of Lake Charles could not be reached. Many petrochemical facilities awaited emergency responder approval to enter their complexes in Lake Charles and Calcasieu Parish. Some plants have volunteers that serve on skeleton crews to "ride-out" storms. They have the experience to restart the plant and address any maintenance issues that pop up. 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 Most major petrochemical complexes had evacuated all personnel. Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass LNG evacuated all workers, even essential ones, and temporarily idled its liquefied natural gas export terminal along the Gulf of Mexico. About 18 miles inland, where significant storm surge was projected but not fully realized because the storm moved through rapidly, Cameron LNG also evacuated employees and contractors before Hurricane Laura swept through. Cameron LNG was mobilizing its damage assessment and recovery team to the facility "once safe passage is authorized by local authorities," the company said. The major oil companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico were in the process of assessing any damage on Thursday. Shell, the largest operator offshore, said that it had shut in production at all but one of its nine offshore platforms and evacuated staff before the storm came through on Wednesday. "When safe conditions allow, we plan to conduct a flyover of potentially impacted assets to determine what, if any, damage the storm may have caused," Shell said Thursday morning. The company said it will resume operations once it is deemed safe to do so. Similarly, both Chevron and BP, two of the other top-four offshore oil and gas operators, said they would be assessing over the next couple of days. Megan Baldino, a spokesperson for BP, which operates four large offshore production hubs Atlantis, Mad Dog, Na Kika and Thunder Horse said flyovers are expected to start on Friday and production will remain shut in until it is determined there is no damage to the platforms or pipelines. Offshore production in the Gulf of Mexico, at about 1.6 million barrels per day, accounts for more than 15% of total U.S. oil production. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said earlier this week that more than 84% of oil production and about two-thirds of natural gas production had been shut in ahead of the storm as a precaution. Nearly half the platforms located in the Gulf of Mexico had been evacuated before the storm about 299 out of 643. Meanwhile, Sasol, a major petrochemical facility in Lake Charles, which produces 1.5 million tons per year at its ethane cracker and six downstream chemical plants, had shut down before the storm. Sasol sits across the road from BioLab, where the chemical fire was burning. The Sasol facility does not have access to external power from the energy grid. The ride-out crews who remained inside the complex overnight are "safe and accounted for," the company said. "All manufacturing facilities are shut down," it said. "There was no flooding on-site as a result of the storm surge." The manufacturing facilities owned by Sasol in Greens Bayou and Winnie, Texas, were not impacted. "When it is safe to do so, operations recovery crews will complete an initial assessment of the facility for any damage or remaining hazards," the statement continued. Advertisement A controversial Australian imam has called on Muslims to 'stand up and speak out' against 'dictator' Dan Andrews' coronavirus lockdown. Sufyaan Khalifa posted a video urging followers of Islam to resist 'tyranny and fascism' - and took a swipe at the Victorian premier. '(Muslims and) the wider community must stand against this tyranny, against this fascism which is happening in our country Especially what that dictator Dan Andrews is doing to our fellow Australians in Victoria,' the Perth-based Imam said. Sufyaan Khalifa (pictured) has posted a video to YouTube likening Victoria's Stage 4 stay-at-home order to 'tyranny and fascism' The controversial Australian Imam has called on Muslims to 'stand up and speak out' against 'Dictator' Dan Andrews' (pictured) coronavirus lockdown 'Wake up because you are in danger. Wake up because Australia is in danger and time is running out. 'We Muslims have to play a major part in saving our country. This is your role as the followers of the profits. To stand up against any tyranny which is causing harm to humanity. 'This is our job as Muslims to stand up and speak out.' Mr Khalifa was angered after police issued $15,000 in fines and arrested four men during a wild afternoon confrontation with police in Dandenong on Wednesday. At least 100 residents in Melbourne's south east clashed with police in a demonstration against the city's Stage 4 stay-at-home orders. Anti-lockdown walkers were doused with pepper spray and struggled with cops as community frustration with Melbourne's draconian Stage 4 restrictions reached boiling point. Tensions in the community have been flaring for days after a large group of residents decided to start walking at the same time and place. 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. 'In Victoria, they were walking, exercising and singing the Australian anthem, proud to be Australians but the police came to provoke them and put them down and arrest them,' Mr Khalifa said. 'If we Muslims don't go hand to hand with the Christians, the Jews, the Hindus, anyone even if they don't believe in god, to save our community or save our country, we will end up in a dictatorship. 'Most people run from our homeland in Lebanon, Egypt and wherever we come from to escape dictatorship to the land of honey and milk (Australia). But the land of honey and milk is suffering today.' A police officer on Wednesday charges at walkers wielding pepper spray after his colleagues took down a man who was not wearing a mask A man is taken down by police in Dandenong on Wednesday evening after going for a group walk with anti-lockdown protesters A police officer grapples with an unmasked man moments before he is taken down as Dandenong residents watch on Meanwhile, on Friday evening a large police presence descended on Dandenong with fears of yet another violent anti-lockdown protest. A small group of residents live-streaming their demonstration on Facebook, but the number of participants is not as large as Wednesday. Despite the tensions, no arrests were made. 'Please don't try and dress your behaviour up as exercise,' Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius warned anti-lockdown demonstrators days prior. 'We all know it's not, so stop playing us and the wider community for fools. 'Just for one moment, stop thinking about yourself but spare a thought for the loved ones of nearly 500 Victorians who have died so far (due to Covid-19). 'Stay at home and stop the spread.' On Friday evening a large police presence descended on Dandenong with fears of yet another violent anti-lockdown protest Three men are pictured riding their bikes in Dandenong in front of a police vehicle as part of an anti-lockdown protest Melbourne Police officers are pictured speaking to a man at an anti-lockdown demonstration on Friday evening A couple wearing face masks are pictured walking past a number of police officers as residents in Dandenong grow frustrated with Stage 4 restrictions A police officer is pictured waving to a women pushing a pram across a residential street in Dandenong Two police officers in Dandenong are pictured setting up a camera to keep and eye on anti-lockdown demonstrations After spending over five decades in space, NASAs Orbiting Geophysical Observatory 1 (OGO-1) spacecraft is set to retire. New data shows that the 1,070-pound satellite has fallen victim to Earths gravity and will descend back to our planet over the South Pacific this weekend ending its life in a blaze of fire. Details of OGO-1s demise surfaced when astronomers observed a very small object that appeared to be on an impact trajectory with Earth. The violent death of the craft is set for Saturday, August 29 around 5:00pm ET, however, experts say the satellite to break up in the atmosphere and poses no threat. Scroll down for video Details of OGO-1s demise surfaced when astronomers observed a very small object that appeared to be on an impact trajectory with Earth NASA launched OGO-1 September of 1964 as part of a mission with Goddard Space Flight Center to study Earth's atmosphere, magnetosphere, and the space between the our planet and Moon. The craft was the first of six other satellites to journey into space all tasked with understanding Earth. OGO-1 was launched into an eccentric orbit around Earth that took the spacecraft approximately two days to complete one orbit and allowed the spacecraft to sweep through Earths radiation belts to study our planets magnetospherethe region of space surrounding Earth that is controlled by Earths magnetic field. The craft operated and returned scientific data for five years until 1969, after which point the spacecraft was placed in standby mode when scientists were unable to return any more data. After spending over five decades in space, NASAs Orbiting Geophysical Observatory 1 (OGO-1) spacecraft is set to retire The violent death of the craft is set for Saturday, August 29 around 5:00pm ET, however, experts say the satellite to break up in the atmosphere and poses no threat And in 1971, all support for the mission was terminated. Although OGO-1 was the first to launch, the satellite will be the last to retire the others have all decayed and fell into Earths atmosphere. Astronomers at the University of Arizonas Catalina Sky Survey (CSS), funded by NASAs Planetary Defense Coordination Office notified the American space agency of the object heading to Earth. The team first speculated that it may be an asteroid, but following a further investigation the object was confirmed to be the aging satellite. OGO-1 is predicted to reenter on one of its next three perigees, the points in the spacecrafts orbit closest to our plant, and current estimates have OGO-1 re-entering Earths atmosphere on Saturday, August 29th, 2020, at about 5:10 pm EDT, over the South Pacific approximately halfway between Tahiti and the Cook Islands, NASA shared in statement. NASA launched OGO-1 September of 1964 as part of a mission with Goddard Space Flight Center to study Earth's atmosphere, magnetosphere, and the space between the our planet and Moon The spacecraft will break up in the atmosphere and poses no threat to our planetor anyone on itand this is a normal final operational occurrence for retired spacecraft. OGO-1 may be moving towards Earths atmosphere but there are many satellites that are dead and still floating around our planet adding to the millions of pieces of junk in space. There are an estimated 170 million pieces of so-called 'space junk' - left behind after missions that can be as big as spent rocket stages or as small as paint flakes - in orbit alongside some US$700 billion of space infrastructure. But only 20,000 are tracked, which are mostly from Russia and the US. In Brynns video, sister Hailey asks Brynn if she thinks DeGeneres would be proud of her buying a coffee for the person behind them in the drive-through line at the Starbucks on Eola Road, across the street from Waubonsie Valley. Brynn responds, Yeah, I just paid it backwards. ... I just spread kindness like Ellen does. Thats so nice of me. Facebook user Thai Srey Neang is shown under police guard outside the Phnom Penh Municipal Court following her arrest for posting 'revealing' images online, Feb. 20, 2020. Three dozen organizations working to promote gender equality in Cambodia have called on the countrys government to scrap its Draft Law on Public Order (DLPO), expressing concern that dress codes for females and other provisions within the bill violate womens human rights. In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the 36 national and international groups said they are disturbed by the DLPOs potential to subject women to criminal sanctions for dress and behavior that allegedly violate arbitrary and discriminatory social norms related to womens dress and conduct. The bill, which will take effect next year if approved by several government ministries and the National Assembly, would ban men from going out shirtless and stop women from wearing anything too short or too see-through. We wish to emphasize that the government cannot uphold its commitment to achieving gender equality on one hand, while demonizing and criminalizing women who they deem to be harming society by not conforming to arbitrary, conservative standards of dress and morality, the groups said in Thursdays statement. Similarly, the RGC (Royal Government of Cambodia) cannot tackle high rates of sexual violence and harassment without promoting women as being in control of their bodies and entitled to their own sexual autonomy, and without condemning and prosecuting perpetrators of all forms of sexual violence. According to the groups, the DLPO restricts womens right to freedom of expression and reinforces harmful gender stereotypes. They said it denies women the right to choose their own attire, claiming that revealing clothing has an adverse effect on national tradition and dignity. While mens clothing choices are also restricted, the groups said that given Cambodias socio-legal context, and in light of recent threats against and arrests of Cambodian women while selling products online, the law is more likely to be applied against women. During a speech to the Cambodian National Council for Women in February, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered authorities to take immediate action against women who wear revealing clothing while selling products on Facebook, saying their actions were lowering Cambodian cultural values and causing sexual violence. Shortly afterwards, Cambodian police arrested a female Facebook user named Thai Srey Neang who had been previously cautioned for posting revealing images online, saying she had breached an earlier agreement in which she apologized for her behavior and promised to stop. Thai Srey Neang was convicted of producing pornography in April and handed a six-month suspended sentence, which was reduced to two months and 15 days. Discard the DLPO On Thursday, the 36 groups said the DPLO would entrench in law sexist attitudes about womens dress and conduct and give legal authority to abusive social policing of womens bodies and choices and a broader culture of discriminatory gender norms, while also warning that the draft law would likely be disproportionately applied against members of the LGTBQ community. Additionally, the groups said, the DLPO discriminates against at-risk groups in society, particularly through disproportionately criminalizing domestic, social, and economic activities that are mostly conducted by Cambodian women. They noted that the workforce in the informal sector is largely made up of women, including sex workers and street vendorsprofessions they said will be subjected to prohibitions and penalties. While the DLPO does not single out women and girls in this regard, the DLPO will de facto have more adverse and disproportionate impacts on women than men as well as their ability to enjoy a wide range of human rights as set out in international human rights law, they said. The groups welcomed an Aug. 13 joint statement from 79 civil society organizations calling on the government to abandon the DPLO due to an extensive array of provisions that effectively criminalize the legitimate everyday activities of Cambodians, but said they felt the need to highlight gender-specific concerns with the proposed legislation. We therefore call on the Cambodian government to immediately discard the DLPO, Thursdays joint statement said. The government should instead make it an urgent priority to address the forms of gender discrimination it has identifiedincluding gender-based violence and discrimination in education, economic, social and political participationthrough legislative reforms and policy change. Draft law cannot be fixed Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for New York-based Human Rights Watchwhich was among the groups that had signed on to Thursdays statementcalled the DLPO an appalling violation of womens rights in Cambodia and questioned the mindset of the officials at the Ministry of Interior who drafted it. In some ways, it appears that one hand of the Cambodian government doesnt know what the other hand is doing because the draft law, as currently written, blatantly violates the Cambodian government's own policies and strategic plans on the promotion of gender equality in Cambodia, he said in a note supplementing the statement. This draft Public Order Law reveals a dark government vision of rigid, rights abusing social controls against the Cambodian people. While the draft claims to recognize women as the backbone of Cambodian society, the draft law seeks to strip women of their liberties and further entrench Cambodia's widespread gender-based violence and discrimination against women in socio-economic and political aspects of life. Robertson said the DPLO is so bad that it really cannot be fixed and urged the government to dump it. Instead of adopting further repressive laws, the government [should] make good on its pledges to protect women's rights, which include protecting everything from a woman's right to free speech to what she decides to wear, he said. Government response Ministry of Women Affairs spokesman Sar Sineth refused to comment on Thursdays statement, instead asking RFA to submit written questions to the ministry for answers. However, deputy head of the Ministry of Interiors legal team Mony Virak told RFA on Friday that the DPLO had been drafted to maintain social order and protect the peoples dignity. He noted that the draft law is at a very early stage, adding that the ministry had yet to consult with other stakeholders about its contents. Ouk Kimlekh, an interior ministry secretary of state who is leading the drafting process, has said the law is needed to preserve traditional culture. Blaming outfits Mu Sochua, the deputy president of the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and Cambodias former Minister of Women Affairs, told RFA Thursday that the draft law will directly impact the rights of women guaranteed in the countrys constitution. She said that if the law is adopted, women can be punished solely because of their clothing preferences. Cant a human decide which clothes they should wear? she asked. Allowing this kind of law to condemn women who are wearing short skirts will encourage men to abuse women. In an op-ed in the Washington Post last week, Menghun Kaing, an Obama Scholar and a recent masters graduate of the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, and Sievlan Len, a Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University, warned that illegalizing womens clothing choices legitimizes blaming victims of sexual violence for their outfits, rather than punishing perpetrators. In the era of the #MeToo movement, when women around the world are speaking up against injustice, Cambodia is about to further oppress its women by taking away their fundamental right to choose what they wear, the two Cambodian women wrote. We join the thousands of Cambodian women to urge the legislature to kill the bill. Lets begin a new tradition, in which the dignity of our nation is based on the equality of our women and men. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Incumbent Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore of the Ashanti Region, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, has launched a campaign to secure the highest votes in all the 90 districts of the constituency. At the launch of his campaign for the 2020 general elections, he said his campaign team is committed to do a house-to-house campaign to win votes not only for himself but also for the NPP. He urged party supporters gathered at his campaign launch that they must work hard to ensure that the NPP and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is retained after the December 7, 2020 polls. Dr. Ayew Afriyie was retained as MP by delegates during the NPP congress in June. He polled 332 votes out of the total number of 427 votes cast. His contender, Kwame Adom Appiah, polled only 68 votes. 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 Homelessness is an issue that has touched the life of Boston College sophomore Gordon Wayne. The Virginia native, who is an incoming transfer student at BC, was legally declared homeless for over a year and has been fighting for stable housing since he left high school. He is now on a 500-plus-mile journey from his hometown in central Virginia to his college in Newton to raise funds and awareness about homelessness, an issue that impacts more than half a million people in the U.S. every day. Wayne, who has been tracking the progress of his roughly 550-mile walk over social media since Aug. 8, launched a GoFundMe page earlier this month. All donations will go to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, a nonprofit that seeks to prevent homelessness in the United States. Living without proper shelter is an avoidable yet life-threatening position for anyone to be in, Wayne said on his GoFundMe page. For the past 14 months, I have been a part of this group. Attending Boston College this fall, Wayne said he will have the stress of homelessness relieved, but the college student still wants to help others out of the deep psychological hole homelessness creates. Many homeless people have great skill, work ethic and heart but simply need the resources to have a realistic chance at success, Waynes GoFundMe page said. Please consider donating, as your generosity could truly save someones life. The BC sophomore described himself as a long shot his entire life, noting that he is blessed to go to Boston College. Growing up in a rural area of central Virginia, Wayne attended a high school where nobody had ever been accepted to BC, he said in an Instagram post. He was planning to attend the University of Pittsburgh after high school but was instead left without a safe place to live, according to the post. One day, Wayne said, he found himself waking up in his car, with only $6 to his name and no idea how he would be able to go to college. I had lost the bright hopes I once had for my future, Wayne said in a social media post directed to his peers at BC. I decided that I desperately needed to put my head down and work frivolously, and thats the only reason why I have the great chance you all also have. On Thursday, Wayne crossed state lines into Massachusetts, the Boston College Carroll School of Management announced over Instagram. We wish him a safe final stretch to the finish, the school said. The GoFundMe page Wayne set up had raised more than $15,000 of its $100,000 goal as of Friday morning. A family say they are often approached by strangers asking to take pictures of their two enormous Newfoundland dogs, who stand taller on their hind legs than Tom Cruise. Gentle giants Boss and Ralphie dwarf their human owners Josh and Bee Fisher, from California, and weigh 180lbs and 140lbs respectively. But, despite their sheer size, the sweet boys are so calm they are even able to be walked by the couple's three sons Lenox, nine, and Cruz, seven, and Tegan five. Man's beast friend: Owners of much-loved Newfoundland dogs Boss and Ralphie (pictured with Cruz, seven) Josh and Bee Fisher from California have been stopped and asked by strangers to take pictures with their pets The enormous dogs often garner lots of attention from members of the public who cannot believe how big they are in real-life. Pictured: Seven-year-old Cruz attempting to get Boss into the back of the family's car People are often drawn to the enormous animals, which stand taller on their hind legs than actor Tom Cruise. Pictured: Larger dog Boss wearing a pair of glasses while reading with five-year-old Tegan Couple Josh and Bee Fisher got their first Newfoundland pooch Ralphie (right) five years ago to join their family and later added Boss (left) to the brood. Pictured: Bee and John, both 41, with sons Lennox, nine, (left) Cruz, seven, (right) and Tegan, five (centre) The family have shared their home with their much-loved pets for the past five years and often get stopped by people who are amazed at the size of the canines. Registered nurse Bee, 41, said despite their size, people aren't afraid of them and often gravitate toward them - which thinks is due their 'fluffy teddy bear' appearance. 'People ask to take pictures with them all the time and then we usually answer the same series of questions: How old are they, what kind of dog is it, do they shed, how big are their poops?' she said. The couple have even made money off the back of people asking for pictures, with people insisting they pay for a snap with the dog while they were on a trip to New Orleans. The huge dogs weigh an enormous amount, with Boss (pictured) coming in at around 180lbs The family share their home with the large dogs and owner Bee says, despite their size, people do not seem to be wary of the dogs. Pictured: The family pose for a family portrait, with the couple's youngest son Tegan , five, donning a set of Easter bunny ears Two drooling babies: The sweet dogs hearts are as big as their bodies and they are incredibly gentle with the younger members of the family. Pictured: Bigger dog Boss pictured with Tegan as a baby When on trips and excursions the family will often be stopped by strangers and asked for photographs with their eye-catching pets. Pictured: The family wrapped up in their warm coats enjoying an outing with their adored pets Josh and Bee's children have grown up with the dogs and see them as their other furry brothers, despite being almost twice their size. Pictured: Boss and Ralphie with Cruz, seven And looking after the dogs is not always easy, dad Josh, also 41, has to lift the heavier pooch Boss into the car whenever they have to go anywhere. Bee said: 'With a 40lbs weight difference, one can imagine that while Ralphie is very agile and can jump right in the car, Boss cannot. 'We have a ramp that I use when I'm alone with them but when we are altogether, Josh will lift Boss. And Boss knows the drill. Owner Bee thinks the dogs draw attention because of their 'fluffy teddy bear' appearance and they are often asked a series of questions about the breed when approached in the street. Pictured: Boss with Tegan, five The pups appear to be unaware of their sheer size, attempting to sit on their owners laps and lounging around their home. Pictured: Ralphie and Boss with Bee and a Tegan when he was younger Strangely, a common question the family gets asked when new people meet their dogs is ' How big are their poops?'. Pictured: Boss and Ralphie sat on the porch with youngest son Tegan, five Sitting next to Bee, the sheer size of the enormous dogs can be seen in all its glory in this wonderful image which dwarfs Bee What you got there? The dogs have made themselves at home and even share the sofas with their owners, despite taking up most of the seat. Pictured: Ralphie looking curiously at a mobile phone in Lenox's hand 'He raises his front paws up on the back of the car and then Josh lifts his hind legs and puts him in. 'All our boys want to be strong like daddy so every now and then they'll attempt to lift Boss to see if they're strong enough yet. Daily life for the Fisher family - who share the adventures on Instagram at @ralphie_the_newf_and_the_boss - is just the same as any other, except it also has to accommodate some big furry house guests. The couple have even made some extra money from the dogs, with people insisting they pay them money to get a snap with their dogs while on a trip in New Orleans. Pictured: Ralphie and Lenox, nine If they want to go anywhere as a family and bring the dogs too, Josh, 41, has to lift bigger dog Boss (pictured) into the car as he struggles to haul himself in on his own The couple's youngest son Tegan has never known a life without the dogs, and the pooches are extremely gentle with their children. Pictured: Boss and Ralphie with Tegan as a baby Despite how big they are, the sweet boys are so calm they are even able to be walked by the couple's children, including their youngest Tegan, five (pictured) The three boys all attempt to replicate their father hauling biggest dog Boss into the back of the family car. Pictured: Cruz hoping he is now strong enough to lift Boss Bee said: 'We hardly remember life without the two furry boys so daily life, we assume, is just like anyone else's.' But one fur baby in particular, Boss, makes his presence known, with his 'extreme heavy breathing' and huffing and puffing around the house. The mother of three said: 'It's usually because he's hot or wants water. So, we let him out and then he usually will bark minutes later because he wants to come back in. He's hot or he's thirsty, that's the story of his life. ' Older dog Ralphie is a little lighter and more agile than Boss which means he is able to get in and out of the car with ease, unlike his younger relative. Pictured: Ralphie and Cruz, seven, having fun in the sunshine The dogs are so placid the family are even able to dress them up in costumes for themed photoshoots with the children. Pictured: Ralphie wearing a bonnet and Boss donning a suit with ears with youngest son Tegan as a baby Despite dwarfing the family members, they take the dogs on lots of trips and outings, including this whitewater rafting trip. Pictured: Boss on a boat joined by owner Josh and sons Lenox, nine, and Cruz, seven Even though they have an two extra-large fur babies to look after, the couple say their daily lives are the same as everyone elses. Pictured: Tega, five, reading with Boss One fur baby in particular, Boss, (pictured) makes his presence known, with his 'extreme heavy breathing' and huffing and puffing around the house One issue the family face is housework, with the couple having to vacuum all the time to collect the animal's fur and their 'constant battle' to maintain a drool free home. 'Some people wipe baseboards and walls when 'spring cleaning', we wipe them daily,' Bee said. The dogs, which the family call 'bears', love to lounge around the house and often lay in front of the fridge meaning the family cannot get food out. The mother of three said Boss usually huffs and puffs because he's hot or wants water: 'That's the story of his life.' Pictured: Ralphie standing on his back legs looks like a brown bear Bee says one difference between their lives and other people's is their 'constant battle' to maintain a drool free home with their slobbery dogs. Pictured: The couple's three sons and their two drooling fur babies In order to keep their house as clean as possible, Bee says the family are constantly hoovering up to get rid of the hairs the fluffy dogs shed. Pictured: The whole brood on a family outing Mother-of-three Bee says: 'Some people wipe baseboards and walls when 'spring cleaning', we wipe them daily'. Pictured: Ralphie springs through the air showing just how big he is with Cruz, seven They also have a habit of laying in front of the bathroom door while people are inside and trapping them in. Although they both have the same grandfather, a Newfoundland called Kong, Ralphie and Boss have very different personalities. Bee said: 'Boss is flat out lazy. He wants to lay down every chance he gets. Ralphie is the opposite, he's full of energy. He's a licker and loves attention. In order to get Boss in the car when her husband is not there, Bee bought a ramp to help the enormous dog haul himself into the back. Pictured: Seven-year-old Cruz trying to get the Boss in the car The dogs, which the family call 'bears', love to lounge around the house and often lay in front of the fridge meaning the family cannot get food out. Pictured: Boss playing around with five-year-old Tegan On occasions the dogs have been known to lie in front of the bathroom door while people were inside, meaning they could not get out until they decided to move. Pictured: John, 41, with Ralphie Bee says despite coming from the same family, Ralphie and Boss have very different personalities. Pictured: Ralphie leaping through the air with seven-year-old Cruz The much-adored pets come from the same family and have the same grandfather, a Newfoundland pup called Kong 'Ralphie is what is known as a 'Velcro Newfie', always stuck at your side. If we do much as say Ralphie's name, his tails begins to wag. 'You have to call Boss three or four times and he might look in your direction, if he feels like it. But if you have treats, he's there.' The couple's eldest son Lenox was four-and-a-half when they got their first dog Ralphie and five when they brought Boss home. Boss is a lot more lazy than Ralphie and often wants to lay down every chance he gets whereas Ralphie is full of energy and loves attention. Pictured: The dogs with Cruz, seven The doting dog-mum said: 'Cruz had just turned two when we got Ralphie and a few months shy of three when Boss came. 'And Tegan, he's never known anything else than to have two furry big brothers. 'They all adore Ralphie and Boss. Cruz is in charge of feeding them and giving them water and he does it without even being asked.' An Elmhurst mother, who asked not to be named to keep her sitters pay private, said via email that after COVID-19 hit, she offered her sitter $21.60 an hour, up from $17, as well as new benefits: a health care contribution, a $1,000 signing bonus and two weeks of paid vacation. The mother said she increased compensation, in part, because the job involved e-learning responsibilities and, in part, because she wanted to create a stable, sustainable at-home learning environment for her three young children. Final Year University Exams to be Held by September 30, Rules Top Court The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the University Grants Commissions July 6 circular, directing varsities to conduct final year exams by September 30. The court said states must hold exams by September 30 to promote students, and if any states feel they cant conduct exams, they must approach the UGC with their concerns. Last week, Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal and Odisha had urged the court to direct the UGC to defer the final year examinations as the lives of lakhs of university students could be jeopardised due to the pandemic. READ MORE Japan PM Shinzo Abe Set To Announce Resignation Today, Citing Worsening Health: Reports Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to resign, public broadcaster NHK said on Friday, adding that the long-serving leader wanted to avoid causing problems for the government due to the worsening of a chronic health condition. Abe has battled the disease ulcerative colitis for years and two recent hospital visits within a week fanned questions on whether he could stay in the job until the end of his term as ruling party leader, and hence, premier, in September 2021. READ MORE Congress at Historic Low, Will be in Opposition for 50 Years: Kapil Sibal, Azad Double Down on Dissent Raising their voice one more time against the constant decline of Congress, senior leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Kapil Sibal on Thursday said the party must hold elections to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and key organisational posts of state chiefs lest it continues to sit in the Opposition for the next 50 years. Azad, who was one of the signatories to the letter sent to party chief Sonia Gandhi asking her for sweeping changes in Congress, said, If my party wants to be in opposition for the next 50 years, then there is no need for elections within the party, he said. READ MORE World Bank Suspends Ease of Doing Business Report Amid Concerns of Data Manipulation The World Bank Group has hit pause on the publication of the Doing Business report after irregularities pertaining to the changes to the data being used in the report surfaced. A statement issued by the World Bank Group read, A number of irregularities have been reported regarding changes to the data in the Doing Business 2018 and Doing Business 2020 reports, published in October 2017 and 2019. The changes in the data were inconsistent with the Doing Business methodology." READ MORE My Family and I Have Thought of Dying by Suicide, or Someone Should Shoot Us: Rhea Chakraborty The subject of investigation by multiple agencies in the Sushant Singh Rajput case, actor Rhea Chakraborty has revealed that the media trial threatens to push her family over the edge. I have thought of suicide in the last couple of months. My family and I think about it, or we think someone should shoot us. We are middle class people, respect is everything for us. Everyone is making up stories, so whats the point in us giving any clarification? she said in a TV interview. READ MORE Tokyo Has New Transparent Toilets Made of Special Glass Which Turn Opaque When Occupied Public toilets are usually a welcome sight to anyone who has had too much to drink, but some might do a double-take when they come across the ones that have just opened in a Tokyo park. Made of special glass, the cubicles become opaque when the lock is turned, but are otherwise completely see-through, with sinks, urinals and toilet bowls in full view. READ ON WATERLOO REGION The risk of COVID-19 spreading in a summer camp is low thanks to all the infection-control measures, says a manager at Region of Waterloo Public Health. There is a lot of guidance for these settings, said Jessie Johal, a public health manager overseeing the case and contact management group. I think thats helped a lot. An outbreak was declared at a summer camp on Monday after one camper tested positive, but there have been no additional cases related to the camp. Public health contacted all the campers in the same group, who are deemed to be high risk because they were sharing the same space as the child who became sick. They will all need to self-isolate, and get tested if needed. We monitor those very closely, Johal said. Parents of all other children at the camp, considered to be at low risk, were notified about the case by the camp operator and asked to watch for symptoms. Public health also reviewed the camps infection-control practices, such as screening and how campers are grouped. Johal said the risk is really low when measures are in place and campers stay in their small group. There hasnt actually been a confirmed case since this one. Thats 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. 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, he added. 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. The situation is the same as the reopening of Ontarios economy: Wait and watch and see what happens. 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 super-spreaders of viruses. Now were just hoping for the best, Khalid said. Were hoping the measures actually play out in our favour. Those measures, including a clear plan about what to do when a camper may be sick with the virus, seem to be working at local camps. Waterloo made sure parents were aware of all the infection-control measures in place at the citys camps before children attended, and staff also had a clear understanding of the protocols. We wanted them to feel confident, Nancy Hall-Jupp, supervisor of leisure and active living programs. We didnt want anybody to have any surprises. RELATED STORIES Waterloo Region COVID-19 outbreak declared at Waterloo Region summer camp If a camper develops symptoms while at camp, they immediately put on a mask and are isolated from their cluster of campers until a guardian picks them up within an hour to take for testing. Any items the camper was in contact with are immediately cleaned and sanitized. Because there are no shared items, were confident that theres no cross-contamination happening, Hall-Jupp said. If a camper tested positive, each person who may have come into close contact with them would be immediately notified the same procedure followed at Kitcheners summer camps. Activities at Kitchener camps were planned to respect protocols for physical distancing and cleaning. Mandatory health screening is done for each camper and staff member every camp day. Campers are encouraged to wear masks if they cant maintain physical distancing with other campers or staff. The summer camp with the outbreak had a mask-wearing policy, and the child could have picked up the virus in the community. Medical officer of health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang would not provide specifics about the camp to protect privacy because some camps are small. 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. 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. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine expects to receive the second tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by the end of 2020. "We expect the second tranche by the end of this year," a source in the government told Ukrinform. He also said that the government is "in weekly communication with the International Monetary Fund." There is a table of fulfillment of requirements with international partners. In particular, there are nine structural markers, one of which has already been completed, and the remaining eight will be done according to the schedule. According to the source, the third tranche from the IMF is provided for next year according to the schedule. He noted that an important point in the issue of receiving tranches is the appointment of the IMF mission. "The mission has not yet been appointed. And this issue, in particular the acceleration of this work, was discussed at meetings with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State in Kyiv. He promised to assist in resolving this issue," the source said. As Ukrinform reported, on August 17, NBU Governor Kyrylo Shevchenko said in an interview with the RBC-Ukraine online news site that the NBU expects to receive the second tranche from the IMF by the end of 2020. However, Chairman of the NBU Board Bohdan Danylyshyn said that the receipt of two tranches from the IMF in 2020 is unrealistic and called for a revision of the conceptual framework for cooperation with the IMF. On June 9, the IMF Executive Board approved an 18-month Stand-By Arrangement for Ukraine, with total access of $5 billion. On June 12, Ukraine received $2.1 billion as the first tranche from the IMF. ish Republican National ConventionBy MEREDITH DELISO, ABC News (CHARLOTTE, N.C.) -- The parents of Kayla Mueller, a humanitarian worker who was held captive, tortured and killed by ISIS, honored their daughter at the Republican National Convention with a moving testimonial that called on Americans to "stay strong like Kayla." Kayla Mueller, 26, was on a humanitarian mission in Turkey on Aug. 3, 2013, when ISIS kidnapped her after crossing the Syrian border to visit a hospital. In February 2015, U.S. officials confirmed that she had died while in ISIS custody, but her body was never recovered. "Everywhere Kayla went, people smiled," her mother, Marsha Mueller, said Thursday night during a recorded segment. "Kayla had a gift to be able to see the world through someone elses eyes." Her father, Carl Mueller, recounted the conditions she faced while held hostage by ISIS -- living in solitary confinement, tortured and raped by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS. "For 18 months, she endured," Carl Mueller said. "And we endured an agonizing back-and-forth between us, the Obama administration and ISIS. We put all our faith in the government." "But," he said, "our government let us down." Carl Mueller charged that the Obama administration "hid behind policy so much that we felt hopeless when they kept us from negotiating to save Kaylas life." He said they have not heard from Democratic presidential nominee, and then vice president, Joe Biden. Biden did memorialize Mueller after her death was announced in February 2015, writing on Twitter, "Deeply moved by the life of Kayla Mueller. Our nation is stronger than any enemy can understand." President Barack Obama told BuzzFeed in 2015 his administration "devoted enormous resources" to rescuing Mueller, some detailed by Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar in an interview with The Arizona Republic when she was pronounced dead. When President Donald Trump announced the death of al-Baghdadi in October 2019, following a military raid in Syria, he mentioned Mueller by name, calling her a "beautiful young woman" who died while trying to "help people." Carl Mueller said they named the mission Operation Kayla Mueller, and the operators called themselves Task Force 814, after her birthday, Aug. 14. "The Trump team gave us empathy we never received from the Obama administration," Carl Mueller said. "The Obama administration said it was doing everything it could. The Trump administration actually is." "Let me just say this: Kayla should be here," he continued. "If Donald Trump had been president when Kayla was captured, she would be here today." Marsha Mueller shared a letter from her daughter that another hostage smuggled out, part of which said, "I am not breaking down and I will not give in no matter how long it takes." "Kayla taught me so many things as her mom," Marsha Mueller said. "Shes still teaching us." Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Cell Cs recapitalisation is progressing well and is expected to be finalised by the end of the year. This is according to Blue Label Telecoms joint CEO Brett Levy, who was speaking during the companys financial results presentation for the year ended 31 May 2020. Blue Label is a majority stakeholder in Cell C, and its annual results subsequently included information regarding the performance of the network. The update provided by Blue Label showed that Cell C had lost nearly a third of its subscribers between June 2019 and May 2020, but its service revenue only declined by 2% during the reporting period. This is because the loss on subscribers has resulted in an increase in the quality of its customers, Blue Label said. Discussions around a recapitalisation plan for Cell C which was written down by Blue Label last year after posting an R8-billion loss are ongoing, and Levy said that the company plans to complete this in 2020. What we are planning for internally is we want to get the recapitalisation over the line, which we are expecting to complete this year, Levy said. All the stakeholders over the last two months have been really cooperative and have been playing ball to get this over the line and finalise Cell Cs recapitalisation. He added that the complex nature of the recapitalisation deal has resulted in it taking longer than expected. This deal is and has been very complicated, Levy said. To just put it briefly, we have dealt with two Chinese banks, two Chinese vendors, American bondholders, Lebanese banks, Lebanese bondholders, and South African banks. To get everyone around the table to agree on the final umbrella agreement has proven to be a lot more difficult than we ever envisaged and has taken a lot more time, he said. He said that they have made significant progress in the last three to four months, however, and that they are close to finalising a term sheet. We really believe we are going to recapitalise this business this year, he said. What recapitalisation means for Cell C Cell C has made a number of changes to its operations this year, including shutting down physical stores and shutting down parts of its radio access network. The winding down of its cellphone towers is part of its plan to roam entirely on MTNs mobile network, which will be enabled by an expanded roaming agreement that was recently signed between the two companies. MTN CEO Rob Shuter previously said that the pace of Cell Cs migration off of its own infrastructure and onto MTNs network would depend on how quickly the other mobile operators recapitalisation could be completed. Shuter shared Levys expectation that this process would be completed by the end of the year, stating that Cell C seemed to be progressing well. These optimistic executive outlooks are balanced by that of a number of analysts, who told MyBroadband that there were concerns over Cell Cs potential to compete in the South African telecommunications market. The best-case scenario for Cell C, one analyst said, is to merge with or be acquired by another telecoms company. Now read: Cell C lost nearly a third of its customers Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 21:37:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Protectionism and unilateralism from the U.S. are sowing a "selfish" idea among other countries and go against the current of multilateralism and globalization, Kin Phea, director general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, has told Xinhua. Speaking at a roundtable discussion under the theme "How has Cambodia prepared itself for today and tomorrow?," Phea said ongoing trade frictions between the United States and China have created negative impacts on all countries across the world, with none benefiting from the spat. "The U.S. has tried to persuade its allies to counter China, but one must remember that countering China has provided no benefit to any side, including the U.S. itself," he said. "The absolute majority of the countries in the world support multilateralism and globalization in both politics and commerce, while only a handful of countries support the trend of protectionism and unilateralism," he added. Phea said the world needs a multilateral mechanism to solve problems in politics, economics, and trade, as well as disasters such as climate change, global warming and the COVID-19 pandemic. "We need joint efforts from all states," he said. "Thus, the departure of the U.S. from the World Health Organization is a wrong move as this global organization has provided a lot of assistance to countries with a weak health system." Sharing his view on the U.S.' suppression of Chinese high-tech companies including ZTE and Huawei, as well as platforms such as TikTok and WeChat, Phea said the U.S.' actions could lead to a further downturn in the global economy, which has already been hit hard by COVID-19. "I think it is a current that goes against the global trend, as the world is talking about the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the digital economy," he said. Phea said China's peaceful development is a boon for the rest of the world. "Currently, China has become the key locomotive of regional and global growth," he said. "For Cambodia, the kingdom has received tremendous benefit from its relations with China." Pich Charadine, deputy executive director of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, said the pandemic crisis has witnessed increasing protectionist trade measures, especially in regard to medical equipment in the early stages, but then more collaborative efforts to jointly combat the economic fallouts were seen through the speed-up of free trade negotiations, tariff relief measures and bilateral trade boosts. "We should not be entirely pessimistic of the downturn of multilateralism which are still relatively alive and progress well despite the present hard time," she said at the event. Enditem 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. AHMEDABAD: At least one person died after a two-storey commercial complex collapsed in Ahmedabad in the early hours of Friday (August 28). Officials told PTI that two persons were immediately rescued from the spot. Prem Complex, a decades-old building having around 10 shops and located in the Kubernagar area of Ahmedabad city, came crashing down around 1 am, said fire officer Jayesh Khadia of Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Service. On being alerted about the collapse, Khadia and his team rushed to the spot and started a search and rescue operation which lasted for over six overs and ended around 7:30 am. "We managed to pull out two people alive from the debris. However, a third person died and we could only recover his dead body," Khadia said. Besides them, no one else was found under the debris, he said after completion of the rescue operation. Taxpayers shell out hundred of millions of dollars for the staff who are the oil in the machine of politics, but their role is opaque to most. Even the term "staffer" is a nondescript catch-all. The role of staffers has come under scrutiny again this week with revelations Victorian Liberal operatives and Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar used taxpayer-funded staff in electorate offices to run party business and stack branches. Former prime minister Tony Abbott with former staff members Nicole Chant and Andrew Hirst (second from right) in Canberra in 2017. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Their number has ballooned in the modern era. With the increase in jobs on offer has come the temptation for those looking to build factional empires to install their own people in the well-paying positions to further their political ambitions. By Express News Service CHENNAI: A day after the arrest of a few persons in connection with the kidnap and assault of a businessman, it has now emerged that the accused posed as officers of the premier investigation agency NIA during the crime. The victim, S Diwan Akbar (45) was beaten up and forced to admit that he was involved in several crimes, on camera. After recording the incident, they threatened the victim saying they had orders to kill him and stage the incident like an encounter. The incident happened in the early hours of August 17, when Akbar, who runs a screen printing firm, was returning home from a friends place in Broadway. Four men intercepted him on the way and took him away in a car, saying they were NIA officers. After he boarded the vehicle, they proceeded towards Triplicane and one more person got onto the vehicle on Bells Road. Soon after the vehicle reached the ECR, Akbar was blindfolded and a few minutes later, he was confined in a room and attacked, said a policeman. After obtaining a statement from him admitting that he was involved in drug peddling, the officers told him that they had instructions to kill him in an encounter. They agreed to spare his life if he paid up `3 crore. Akbar then called his family and arranged for Rs 2 crore the very next day. The money was handed over by Akbars brother to a man near Albert Theatre. Later in the day, they took Akbars passport, debit cards, and house keys as collateral for the balance `1 crore and dropped him off at the Parrys Corner. He was given two days time to settle the balance amount, the policeman added. Based on his complaint, a special team was formed that nabbed two persons, including the prime accused Thoufique. Meanwhile, Thoufiques wife Salma, a native of Bangladesh, was arrested in Tiruchy for illegal stay in the country. It is learnt that the duo met at a religious event in Bangladesh, and Salma came to India with Thoufique about five months back. WASHINGTON - Sen. Rand Paul, who was surrounded by screaming protesters when he and his wife left President Donald Trumps Republican National Convention speech at the White House, claimed without evidence on Friday that he had been attacked by an angry mob of the type that would be unleashed in Joe Bidens America. A video of the encounter with the protesters, who were yelling for Paul to say Breonna Taylors name, shows no attack on Paul, only a police officer who was jostled while carrying a bicycle and then stumbled into the Kentucky senators shoulder. Police and other security personnel formed a cordon around Paul and his wife as they left the White House shortly after midnight to walk a few blocks to their hotel, and the couple didnt appear to come into physical contact with the protesters and were unharmed. Still, Paul tweeted that he Just got attacked by an angry mob of over 100, one block away from the White House, and he thanked police for literally saving our lives from a crazed mob. In a television appearance on Friday, Paul linked the encounter with the protesters to lawlessness and a movement to defund police departments and said nobody would be safe in America if Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, wins the White House. We cant have Joe Biden rule the country and have no police, Paul told Fox News Channels Fox & Friends. Biden has said he does not want to defund police departments and claims Trump has proposed cutting money for local police support. Biden said he favours increasing funding for local police forces and deploying more social workers into police work. Paul alleged, without offering any evidence, that the demonstrators were paid to create trouble on the streets of the nations capital. I think were going to find out that these people are hired and from out of town, specifically in our case, Paul claimed. The protesters were shouting for the Kentucky senator to acknowledge Taylor, who was shot and killed by police officers who used a battering ram to knock down the door of her Louisville apartment. Paul said that was ironic because he proposed legislation that would end no-knock raids. The legislation, named after Taylor, died in the Senate. Protesters on Friday shouted No Justice, No Peace and Say Her Name before one appeared to briefly clash with an officer, pushing him and his bike backward, sending the officer into Pauls shoulder. Taylors name has been a rallying cry among demonstrators during recent protests against racial injustice and police brutality. The 26-year-old emergency medical technician was shot multiple times March 13, when police officers burst into her apartment using a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation. The warrant to search her home was in connection with a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found. Videos showed other attendees of Trumps RNC speech being confronted by protesters after leaving the event. Paul said theres something going on here and the FBI needs to be involved. I promise you that at least some of the members and the people who attacked us were not from D.C., he said. They flew here on a plane. Theyve all got fresh new clothes, and they were paid to be here. Its a crime to do that, and it needs to be traced. The FBI needs to investigate. ___ This story has been corrected to show Pauls tweet thanked police for saving our lives, not saving his life. Lets go back in time. The 1960s. Hippies. The March on Washington. George Wallace. Viet Nam. The Edmond Pettis Bridge. Remember? Well, I guess that those of us of a certain age do. We remember the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. We remember that time. The last time that the racial divide and the struggle for equality and voting rights were in the headlines on a daily basis. Those of us who were there and lived it saw many similarities to this past year. But, there is one significant difference this time: Where are the Jews? There is Black Lives Matter and George Floyd and Re... Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant pleaded guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and one count of terrorism (John Kirk-Anderson/Pool Photo/AP) The gunman sentenced to life in prison for the mass killing of 51 worshippers at two New Zealand mosques could serve his sentence in his native Australia. White supremacist Brenton Harrison Tarrant was the first person to be given a whole life tariff without the possibility of parole in New Zealand when he was sentenced on Thursday. The March 2019 attacks targeting people praying at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch shocked New Zealand and prompted new laws banning the deadliest types of semi-automatic weapons. Expand Close Supporters of the mosque shooting victims sing outside the Christchurch High Court during the sentencing hearing for Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant (Mark Baker/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Supporters of the mosque shooting victims sing outside the Christchurch High Court during the sentencing hearing for Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant (Mark Baker/AP) Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would be open to seeing Tarrant, who pleaded guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and one count of terrorism, transferred to Australia but said the victims wishes would be paramount. A transfer would buck international convention and require changes to the laws in both countries, but proponents of the idea have called for Australia to take responsibility for detaining Tarrant and take the costs off the New Zealand taxpayer. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said while New Zealand has made no official request the Australian government was open to taking him back. He said: Im pleased that that terrorist will never be released anywhere ever again. Well have an open discussion and look at the issues around this. Most of all, were concerned about what the views of the families would be for those affected, and we want to do the right thing by them. New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is among the most vocal proponents of a transfer. He said: Given this unprecedented circumstance and all the regard to the cost of looking after the victims in our country who survived and their families and also the 50 million New Zealand dollar plus (25 million) downstream in real terms of providing safety for this terrorist, then the sound, reasonable, logical thing to do would be to ask Australia to step up. Tarrant was a legal resident of New Zealand at the time of the massacre, and international practice is for criminals to serve time in the jurisdictions where their crimes were committed. First priority is to keep him in jail for the rest of his life, and we'll work very closely with New Zealand on any request that they provide Peter Dutton New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has shown little enthusiasm for the idea of a transfer, telling reporters that current laws do not allow it and that any decision should be driven by the wishes of survivors and family members. Opposition leader Judith Collins is among those opposed to the idea, saying Australia might then want to send back hundreds of New Zealand citizens in Australian prisons. Australias Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said he would take legal advice on whether Tarrant might become eligible for parole if he entered the countrys prison system. He said: Wed have to look at what happened in terms of parole or the way in which our legal system would work here. First priority is to keep him in jail for the rest of his life, and well work very closely with New Zealand on any request that they provide. When Dr. Ian Moore started talking about this Saturday's Pepsi North America Cup Final, he didn't immediately discuss either of his two colts that qualified for the $1 million event, but he instead focused on a horse and trainer for whom he clearly has a ton of respect. "I feel bad for Jack Darling; he's got a darn good colt there and it just didn't work out for him," Moore told Trot Insider. "I spoke to him briefly [on Tuesday] and I guess his colt has a 103 degree temperature. He might have been harbouring an infection on the weekend that might have just taken a little bit from him at the end of his mile. So I do feel bad for him; we're only stabled, as you know, about 40 feet apart there and we often jog together." Those colts that are stabled 40 feet apart -- Darling's Beaumond Hanover and Moore's Tattoo Artist -- finished one-quarter of a length apart in Saturday's first 2020 Pepsi North America Cup elimination, the first match-up of the year for the two Ontario Sires Stakes standouts. Tattoo Artist got the best of Beaumond Hanover by finishing fifth and securing a spot in this Saturday's $1 million NA Cup Final. Tattoo Artist's stablemate Denali Seelster finished fifth in his elimination for driver Trevor Henry, giving Moore a shot at taking home $750,000 of the million-dollar prize. In the first elimination, driver Bob McClure sent Tattoo Artist for the front but was beat to the first turn by Odds On Osiris and driver Sylvain Filion. Then when Tall Dark Stranger brushed to the front, Tattoo Artist raced shuffled to thirda spot which left him behind a wall in the stretch-sprint to the finish. With how fast he can leave, I think I got a little overconfident, McClure said during an interview on COSA TV. I didnt have him on his toes enough -- I think he couldve snapped right to the front. It wouldve made my life a lot easier, but he got outleft by Sylvain -- and Sylvain had the same gameplan I did, cant fault him for that. I ended up locked in praying. I think in the last turn I could actually hear Doc Moore screaming. I jerked him out to go in between Sylvain and Yannick, they shut off and I jerked him in. There was a horse going off the rail so I tried to jerk him back out. By the fifth time I jerked him sideways, I finally had the lane. I know it doesnt look like he had much at the wire, but he had been jerked five different directions, coming home :26, and he still went forward enough to get himself into the final. You have to give him a lot of credit for that. When you leave, get jammed up, locked in, jerk them all over the racetrack, drive them terrible but when you find a lane they still go forward...you cant teach that. Moore admitted that he expects a different approach from McClure this Saturday. Tattoo Artist and driver Bob McClure Tattoo Artist and driver Bob McClure "I was thinking that Bobby [McClure] will probably be driving him a little differently this week," said Moore. "I don't know, I'm usually fairly humble about it but I kind of like our chances. I still think he's got some untapped potential there that hasn't been seen yet. I could be totally wrong and maybe he's in over his head but we'll get the opportunity to find out on Saturday night for sure." McClure and Moore are on the same page with respect to Tattoo Artist's potential and ability to cross the wire first on Saturday night. I think he has as good a shot as anybody," said McClure. "I have a lot of faith in this horse. The oddsmakers have Tattoo Artist as the fifth choice, with an 8-1 morning line assessment. He leaves from post seven, while stablemate Denali Seelster -- one of three horses at 20-1 -- lines up to his left in post six for owner Ratchford Stable of North Sydney. N.S. "The other little guy, well, that was a late addition," admitted Moore. "I had already entered him for non-winners of five. [Owner] David Ratchford texted me and asked 'what would you do?' and I said I'd probably race him in the non-winners of five. He called be back at 9:30 on draw day and said 'the girls (he's got three girls) want me to spend some money so I guess I'll spend the $8,000 and put the colt in.'" Denali Seelster and driver Trevor Henry Denali Seelster and driver Trevor Henry Having two horses qualify for the North America Cup should be considered an achievement in and of itself, and Moore is certainly thrilled to have 20 percent of the field in his barn. But that's not new territory for the veteran conditioner. It will be fun to have two in," said Moore, who also had two colts qualify for the North America Cup Final in 2011 -- Rockabillie and Eighteen. Both colts finished out of the top five. "Hopefully we get a little better on the end this time. Eighteen came :25.2 on the end of his mile, and Rockabillie actually got in his way at one point when he got a little rough. The pair of them raced pretty good; it was a solid field that year." Up The Credit won that year, with the field also including Meadowlands Pace winner Roll With Joe, world champion Big Jim and Little Brown Jug winner Big Bad John. Of course, having two horses qualify for the North America Cup field in this COVID-19 environment does have its tolerable drawbacks as Moore was quick to quip. "I do miss the receptions that they normally have at Mohawk because that's usually a bit of fun...even though I don't like the Maple Leafs, so they don't need to keep bringing a Maple Leaf drawmaster all the time," said Moore with a smile. "Other than that, I hope it goes well. I hope they have a big handle on the card, because they're going to have a good card with all the stakes on there....I hope we go into it healthy and come out of it healthy, have some fun, get a good mile in and pickup some decent money while we're there." The preparation for this Saturday's test started two days ago after well-deserved time away from the racetrack. "They just started back jogging [Tuesday] because they raced Saturday so I always give them two days off in the paddock." Denali Seelster (with an obscured Tyler Moore driving) and Tattoo Artist (with Dr. Ian Moore aboard) Denali Seelster (with an obscured Tyler Moore driving) and Tattoo Artist (with Dr. Ian Moore aboard) Moore noted that Tattoo Artist -- a son of Hes Watching out of the Artsplace mare Stylish Artist owned by Florida's Frank Cannon and Let It Ride Stables Inc. -- definitely lives up to his sire's name before hitting the track at Classy Lane. "It takes Tattoo about 10 minutes to get to the track, because he takes his time, looks in all the barn doors, stops and looks around," said Moore. "So they jog Tuesday, Wednesday and then I think this week I'll train them a little...not heavy training, just a light to moderate training session, the pair of them together on Thursday, paddock them on Friday morning, give them a three-mile light jog and then off to retention on Friday night." Boasting victories in many of harness racing's most coveted stakes events, Moore would love to add the richest pacing event in Canada to that long and accomplished resume. "I'd like to win it for sure, it's one of the biggest stature races out there in North America today, and of course worth a lot of money as well. We've been in it a few times now...State Treasurer got a fifth and that might have been the best I've done. We've had some decent horses, none just quite at that top level. "I know Tall Dark Stranger's a pretty darn good horse," continued Moore, "and everybody keeps saying he's going to get beat...I do like my chances with Tattoo for sure; Denali, obviously he might be considered a little bit over his head but he's still in the race and he's going to be on the program and you never know. It's a horse race. We're hoping for the best and I'd love to get a win in that, for sure." The 2020 Pepsi North America Cup headlines a stakes-filled card this Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park that also includes the $400,000 Fan Hanover, $290,000 Roses Are Red, $220,000 Armbro Flight, $234,058 Nassagaweya (two divisions) and $214,645 Eternal Camnation (three divisions) for what is surely the most star-studded card of harness racing on the Canadian calendar so far this season. $1,000,000 Pepsi North America Cup 1. Mayhem Hanover (Randy Waples / Gregg McNair) 20-1 2. Moneyman Hill (Jonathan Drury / Carmen Auciello) 20-1 3. Captain Kirk (Jody Jamieson / Tony Alagna) 3-1 4. Tall Dark Stranger (Yannick Gingras / Nancy Takter) 7-5 5. Capt Midnight (Doug McNair / Tony Alagna) 9-2 6. Denali Seelster (Trevor Henry / Dr. Ian Moore) 20-1 7. Tattoo Artist (Bob McClure / Dr. Ian Moore) 8-1 8. Allywag Hanover (Louis-Philippe Roy / Brett Pelling) 4-1 9. Captain Barbossa (James MacDonald / Tony Alagna) 15-1 10. Odds On Osiris (Sylvain Filion / Melanie Wrenn) 10-1 Vice President Mike Pence is holding the first presidential campaign rally in Michigan since the coronavirus pandemic put a swift end to most public events. Michigan supporters have organized MAGA car cruises and lakeside boat parades in place of the high-octane rallies the president is known for. President Donald Trumps last arena rally in Michigan was Dec. 12, 2019, the same day he was impeached by the U.S. House. Pences Friday event in Traverse City comes the day after Trump claimed the Republican Partys nomination for a second term. The president delivered a lengthy speech narrating his accomplishments from the White House Thursday on the last night of the Republican National Convention. The Northern Michigan rally comes shortly after the campaign pulled television ads from Michigan airwaves until next month. Meanwhile, Democratic nominee Joe Biden launched a $280 million digital advertising blitz across 15 states, including Michigan. Read more: Trump campaign temporarily halts TV advertising in Michigan but plans to spend $11M before election John Sellek, a political consultant who led Mitt Romneys 2012 campaign in Michigan, said Biden appears to be playing offense in states Trump won. The Trump team cant afford to let Michigan drop off the radar and I think thats exactly why were seeing Vice president Pence come in, Sellek said. Sellek also noted that Trump drove up Republican votes throughout Northern Michigan, which proved valuable to his narrow 10,704-vote margin of victory statewide. Trump won the surrounding Grand Traverse County by a wide margin in 2016. The presidents campaign also touts a strong field team at work a campaign office opened in Traverse City earlier this month. If youre trying to keep the lights on in Michigan while the TV is off, then having the president or vice president dropping into Northern Michigan is a smart thing to do, Sellek. Biden hasnt visited Michigan since the Democratic Primary on March 10. Later that night, the state of Michigan announced the first confirmed case of COVID-19. Bidens campaign is keeping events online but doing them frequently; vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris joined a discussion to engage Black women in the Detroit area this week. U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence, D-Southfield, emphasized that Harris chose to talk with Michigan residents in her first solo campaign event since joining the Biden ticket. Michigans 2020 campaign schedule has been lighter than the previous presidential election, as many types of in-person activities carry a new risk due to COVID-19. The virus is linked to nearly 179,000 deaths according to the CDC, including 6,440 in Michigan. Traverse City sits within a region given a medium risk level by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The designation marks a flattening curve of new confirmed cases, and Grand Traverse County has a relatively flat rate of positive tests. Gov. Gretchen Whitmers executive orders do not restrict outdoor events in the region, so long as it attracts under 250 attendees who remain socially distant. Whitmers orders also dont prohibit events protected by the First Amendment. The Trump campaign did not provide details about the number of attendees allowed into the venue and what kinds of health screening or sanitation precautions are planned. Pences previous visit featured temperature checks and seats were placed six-feet apart in an outdoor setting. Pence last visited Michigan in June for events organized by the White House, touring manufacturing facilities in Macomb County before speaking at an outdoor event hosted by a political nonprofit. This time, hes set to address voters in Traverse City at an aviation support company near the local airport. Trump has also visited Michigan in his official capacity since the pandemic struck with a May tour of Fords Rawsonville manufacturing in Ypsilanti, preceded by a roundtable discussion with Black stakeholders and a speech. By this point in 2016, the Trump campaign had held four events. Then-candidate Trump visited Detroit and Dimondale, while Pence stopped in Grand Rapids and Novi. READ MORE ON MLIVE: Why Michigan Trump supporters are sticking with the president in 2020 Kamala Harris highlights voter suppression in virtual meeting with Michigan Black women Michigan Trump campaign teases positive vision for Republican National Convention Bidens socially distant campaign feels strong in Michigan after Democratic Party rebuilt itself to beat Trump Biden campaign aims to blame Trump for economic impact of COVID-19 in Michigan In must-win Michigan, Trump campaign takes fight door to door as polls show Biden with strong lead DALLAS, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 27, 2020, the Fifth Court of Appeals of Texas at Dallas reversed the dismissal of Fernando Herrera's Texas Whistleblower case against Dallas Independent School District. In doing so, it ordered the case back to the trial court for further proceedings. The lawsuit alleges DISD terminated Mr. Herrera because he complained to Child Protective Services ("CPS") about suspected child abuse by other DISD teachers. The lawsuit was initially filed in June 2018 in Dallas District Court. The lawsuit states Mr. Herrera made two reports to CPS. The first report was made on or about March 31, 2017 after Mr. Herrera witnessed a DISD teacher inappropriately touching a student in front of several other teachers. The second report was made on May 16, 2017 after a concerned parent informed Mr. Herrera she suspected a teacher inappropriately touched a student. On May 17, 2017, DISD put Mr. Herrera on administrative leave and later terminated him. During litigation, DISD argued that even if Mr. Herrera's allegations are true and he was terminated for reporting suspected child abuse, his case should be dismissed because he failed to follow the proper internal grievance procedures in appealing his termination. Despite evidence that Mr. Herrera had actually filed an appropriate grievance appealing his termination, the trial court dismissed Mr. Herrera's case on September 27, 2019, On appeal, the Fifth Court of Appeals of Texas at Dallas decided the trial court's dismissal was in error. The Court of Appeals held that "dismissal was inappropriate because a fact question exists on whether Herrera complied with section 554.006 by initiating his April 26, 2018 DGBA (Local) grievance, making it improper for the trial court to grant DISD's jurisdictional plea." In reversing the trial court's dismissal, the Court of Appeals further addressed language in DISD's notice of termination, which stated that the decision to terminate Mr. Herrera was "final and could not be appealed." The Court of Appeals noted: "In fact, although DISD's termination letter does not say so, non-appealability in the whistleblower context relates only to Herrera's right of appeal to the commissioner of education under Texas Education Code section 21.103, not his appeal to DISD. At worst, DISD is deliberately attempting to lure whistleblowers into a jurisdictional abyss through a game of legal 'gotcha,' a game DISD appears to be more than willing to play to its advantage." For a copy of the court's opinion, please click on the link. Mr. Herrera is represented by Jairo Castellanos, Colin Walsh, and Rob Wiley of Wiley Walsh, P.C., a plaintiff's side employment litigation firm in Austin, Texas. Rob Wiley and Colin Walsh are board certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. SOURCE Wiley Walsh, P.C. Related Links https://www.wileywalsh.com The Turkey-backed rebels sent reinforcements to frontline areas in the countryside of Syria's Idlib Province over the past few days, a war monitor said Thursday. The rebels' move coincided with arrival of the military backup of the Syrian army in the same region, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The situation in southern Idlib has been tense over the past few weeks with shelling and clashes between the rebels and the Syrian army. The Observatory said the clashes continued on Thursday in areas in southern Idlib. Four Syrian soldiers were wounded when the rebels fired a missile overnight on Syrian military positions, it added. In parallel with the clashes, the Turkish forces sent 20 new military vehicles after mid-night to Turkish observation points in Idlib. The observation points were set up to monitor a cease-fire that was brokered by Turkey and Russia and went into force in March. Search Keywords: Short link: Head of Finance and Support Services, Kampala, Uganda Organization: United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Country: Uganda City: Kampala, Uganda Office: WFP Kampala Grade: P-4 Closing date: Sunday, 20 September 2020 WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. The selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance. Are you ready to change and save the lives of the worlds most vulnerable people? If yes, this opportunity is for you! The United Nations World Food Programme is the worlds largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Our mission is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, we work worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need. We are looking for a hardworking Head of Finance and Support Services (Finance Officer) hired at the P-4 level to be based in Kampala, Uganda. COUNTRY CONTEXT: WFPs operations in Uganda are guided by the Country Strategic Plan (CSP, 2018-2022) which will be extended to 2025 to align with the NDPIII (2020-2025) and the UNSDCF. Through the CSP, WFP addresses the root causes of food insecurity and malnutrition, supports the refugee response and strengthens social protection systems. WFP Uganda provides lifesaving assistance to 2 million refugees with unconditional food and cash transfers and nutrition programmes. The CO is in the process of growing CBT operations from the current 38% in 2020 and up to 70% by 2022. Cash modalities include agency banking, mobile money, and cash (Bank on Wheels). Other key activities include support to market systems and linking smallholder farmers to markets created by cash, nutrition treatment and prevention, homegrown school meals, and support to the government for social protection. Uganda also acts as a central logistics hub for the region. The CO governance structure includes the Country Director, 2 Deputy Country Directors, and the Country Management Team (CMT) which includes Heads of Units /Area Offices (direct reports of the CD/DCD) that: provides strategic leadership and management for WFP UG CO; responsible for creating and delivering against the WFP Corporate Global Strategy, Country Strategy & Annual Performance Plan and Priorities. There are three area offices which support field operations, as well as 3 central warehouses. There are currently approximately 550 staff in the country. JOB PURPOSE: This position leads all aspects of finance, budget, administration, and technology. The ideal candidate should have strong technical knowledge and experience required to identify, analyse and resolve complex financial issues. They should provide technical expertise, advice and solutions that support strategic results, and formulate new strategies and technical approaches where appropriate. This position reports to the Deputy Country Director, IRM. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES: As Head of Finance and Support Services at the P-4 level, you will: Contribute to the deliveries of Country Wide Priorities, CSP outcome, and actively participate in the UGCO CMT. Support the corporate finance and resource management strategies, through supporting the development of strategically aligned policies, and participating in key programmatic initiatives, and embedding value for money in these initiatives through advice on financial assessment, reporting and accounting. Determine indicators to measure cost efficiency and effectiveness, and report for assessment outcomes within the units. Provide support and advice to Management and other staff in administration, budgeting, financial issues and regularly prepare reports for enhanced and objective strategic decisions. Lead WFP positioning within the UN OMT and BOS roll out. Lead and manage the Finance, Administration, ICT, and Budget Programming Units. Propose and implement innovative financial, administrative, technological, budgeting and resource management policies, plans and solutions to achieve programmatic goals, improve efficiency and effectiveness of operations, minimise risk, and align services with business objectives. Coordinate the delivery of accurate financial reporting and analyses in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), ensuring accuracy, deadlines, accounting processes and corporate governance requirements are aligned with the Organization. Design, monitor and analyse budgets for new and ongoing projects according to established corporate procedures and requirements. Operational budgets are prepared, allocated, monitored and variance analysis is carried out on a regular basis and shared with management. Enhance resource analysis reporting and support activity managers embrace available reporting tools for informed decision making. Conduct crossed functional training in resource management to understand key regulation related to contribution, CSP planning and budgeting, expense/ cash-flow, and reporting. Build cohesive and strong team within and across Finance, Administration, ICT, Budget Programming units through management of work plans, communications and performance monitoring. Organize, encourage staff participation in training that support the career aspiration, and development plans. Strengthen and efficiently manage internal business controls of the Uganda Country Office and sub offices and ensure adequate controls in place for cash based transfers. Tags accountant accounting standards banking cash management cash transfer corporate governance development plans financial reporting food insecurity logistics mobile money nutrition programmes portuguese procurement public sector refugees school meals support services Maintain up to date UGCO delegation authorities, enhance visibility and accountability through clear composition of committee and SOPs High financial risks transactions per financial dashboard, covering cash management, accounts receivable (vendor and staff) management, accounts payable management and upstream procurement management are actioned upon. Together with relevant units, review and strengthen the management of Cash Based Transfers. Assess the CBT financial strength of service provider, obtain financial guarantee and monitor the performance in aligned with contractual agreement. STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Experience: Has experience in multiple specialized financial areas. Has managed complex financial operations, administration and budgets in large country offices. Management of large teams with varied strengths. Academic: You have an advanced University degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or related fields, or First University degree in the same subject(s) with additional years of related work experience plus membership in an international recognized professional accountancy body such as Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Institute of Certified Public Accounts (ICPA) or equivalent. Language: You are fluent in oral and written English. You have an intermediate knowledge of another UN language (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian) or Portuguese (one of WFPs working languages). Skills: You have strong technical knowledge and experience to identify, analyse and resolve complex financial issues. You are able to provide technical expertise, advice and solutions that support strategic results. You have the capability to formulate new strategies and technical approaches where appropriate. You have excellent written and verbal communication skills. TERMS AND CONDITIONS The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term contract with a probationary period of one year. He/she will be required to travel abroad sometime to remote and challenging locations. Mobility is and continues to be a core contractual requirement in WFP. These positions are rotational, which means that the person shall be subject to the regular reassignment process unless the position is reclassified as non-rotational. Professional-level positions are rotational on a period of 2 to 4 years. WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, pension plan and medical insurance. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS 20 September 2020 VA Number: 123738 ABOUT WFP The United Nations World Food Programme is the worlds largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need. Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply WFP has zero-tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status. No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service. A young boy in China has been rescued by neighbours after his mother threw him out of a window while they were trapped in a blazing building. Footage captures the heart-stopping moment the parent dropped the five-year-old from the three-storey flat before he was caught by the heroic residents with bedsheets. The child is said to have survived unscathed. His mother was also saved after she climbed down to the second floor through a pipe and jumped onto the covers, reports said. Footage captures the heart-stopping moment the parent dropped the five-year-old from the three-storey flat before he was caught by the heroic residents with bedsheets in China The incident occurred when the residential building in Yanshan county of south-western Chinese province Yunnan was caught on fire earlier today. The family was rescued The incident occurred when the residential building in Yanshan county of south-western Chinese province Yunnan was caught on fire earlier today. Footage shows the three-storey block being engulfed by flames and heavy smoke while the mother and son were stuck in a flat on the top floor. They were unable to escape through the stairs as the blaze was swallowing the building, an onlooker told Pear Video. A group of neighbours rushed to make a temporary rescue mattress by tying bedsheets together to save the family. While the residents standing in a circle on the ground with the covers, the mother is seen holding her son by the window before dropping him in mid-air. After the child was rescued, the parent climbed down to the second floor through a pipe built on the buildings exterior. She then jumped and was caught with the bedsheets The boy then fell from the three-storey flat and safely landed on the bedsheets as onlookers gasped in shock. After the child was rescued, the parent climbed down to the second floor from their home through a pipe built on the buildings exterior. She then jumped and was caught with the bedsheets. Another little girl, believed to be the boys younger sister, was trapped on the second floor and rescued by the same method, one of the neighbours told reporters. The children were said to have survived unhurt while the mother suffered minor injuries on her arms. The fire has been put off after firefighters were called to the scene. An investigation of the incident is underway, reported Chinese media. Covid, the invisible assassin, has not been film's friend. Productions have been halted, multimillion dollar projects abandoned, cinema chains shuttered. And as they tentatively reopen, the future looks bleak, with Christopher Nolan's Tenet the lone canary shuffling reluctantly into the coalmine. Covid, the invisible assassin, has not been film's friend. Productions have been halted, multimillion dollar projects abandoned, cinema chains shuttered. And as they tentatively reopen, the future looks bleak, with Christopher Nolan's Tenet the lone canary shuffling reluctantly into the coalmine. If it does decent business, the producers of the Bond film No Time to Die might feel less nervous about releasing in November. But no one in the film world is all that confident about anything anymore. Read More The stakes, then, are high and Nolan has been touted as cinema's saviour, the man who insisted on opening his movie in cinemas, and may succeed in tempting wary punters back. Which makes Tenet the film all cinephiles want to love. And do we? Well, not so much. Describing the plot of a Nolan film is always a trial, for reader and writer, so I'll 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, he's taken prisoner by a deeply unpleasant Ukrainian man. He wants information, but the Protagonist (who annoyingly, is never named) won't talk, and ingests a hidden cyanide pill. He wakes to be told he's passed an extreme loyalty test and is now part of an elite secret organisation combating 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, he's shown a bullet that returns to the gun it's fired from. With the help of a rather fastidious English agent called Neil (Robert Pattinson), he infiltrates the Mumbai lair of the Indian billionaire Priya (Dimple Kapadia), who tells them that the source of this futuristic technology is Andrei Sator (Kenneth Branagh), a Russian oligarch with nihilistic tendencies. By means I won't go into (partly because I couldn't get my head around it), 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. The man himself is ill, and wishes mankind to join him in a spectacular Gotterdammerung. To prevent this, the Protagonist cosies up to Sator's unhappy wife Kat (Elizabeth Debicki). By gaining her confidence, the agent hopes to discover Sator's plan, and scupper them. But this will involve skill, sleight of hand and a labyrinthine journey back and forth through time. Actually that wasn't so brief, was it, but this believe me is the condensed version of a plot that would make Einstein dizzy. Nolan is a marvellously gifted film-maker, a master of editing, framing, light, action, the compelling synthesis of vision and sound. But he's always been better when he has a concrete subject - murders, a war, a Batman - to focus on. And the simpler that subject is, the better: in Dunkirk, he used real planes, boats and people to brilliantly recreate the rescue of the British Expeditionary Force from a French beach. Video of the Day When the canvas is wide open, however, Nolan's interest in astrophysics and maths theory dominate, to drama's detriment. It was true in the ponderous Inception and in the profound but profoundly boring Interstellar, and in Tenet, the wispy spy plot is too thin to support the overarching scientific frame. Is it good science? I am, sadly, not in a position to comment, but I do know that while temporal stiles and time flitting may be theoretically possible, their actualisation on screen is hard to take seriously. This being a Christopher Nolan film, there are 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 tension-free vacuum. Why? Because too much effort has been expended on the minutiae of time distortion, too little on drama, or character. We don't care about any of these people, from John David Washington's personality-free Protagonist to Elizabeth Debicki's elegantly miserable wife and Kenneth Branagh's 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 you're setting yourself up as a high-concept Bond film. Worth watching then? Yes. Infuriating? Most definitely. Because of the very serious conflict of views between myself and RFKHR, I feel I have no option but to return the Ripple of Hope Award bestowed upon me last year, said the author. I am deeply saddened that RFKHR has felt compelled to adopt this stance, but no award or honor, no matter my admiration for the person for whom it was named, means so much to me that I would forfeit the right to follow the dictates of my own conscience. Emad Hassan, a web developer in Cairo, has seen his salary and those of his colleagues cut in half since March when the need to halt the spread of the Covid-19 forced a shutdown of many activities in Egypt. However, he is not complaining, as he was glad to keep his job and continue working online at a time when the coronavirus crisis and associated lockdowns have slowed activity and caused many to lose their jobs. Not everyone has been as lucky as Hassan. Mahmoud, a waiter at a coffee shop in 6 October City on the outskirts of Cairo, was unemployed for more than two months because all coffee shops were closed as part of preventive measures to halt the spread of the coronavirus. Mahmoud only went back to work at the end of May, but even then a good part of his income, coming from tips and so on, was not back to usual until recently. Until late July, operating hours for such businesses were limited in order to limit public gatherings and curb the spread of the coronavirus. Many stories similar to those of Hassan and Mahmoud could be heard over the past few months, and recently released unemployment data has quantified the extent to which the coronavirus has hit Egypts labour market. The unemployment rate rose to a near two-year high in the second quarter of 2020 to reach 9.6 per cent, 2.1 per cent higher than its level in the same period last year, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS). The increase is due to the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic and the governments taking precautionary measures against it, including the partial closure of shops as well as the night-time curfew, CAPMAS said, adding that the labour force had fallen to 26.7 million compared to 28.1 million during the first quarter of the year. A study by the Egyptian Centre for Economic Studies (ECES), a think tank, further analysed how the labour market reacted during the crisis. The ECES study showed that women were the most affected by the crisis among vulnerable categories, given their high representation in the services sector such as education and healthcare and in informal sector activities. They were also hard hit by the precautionary measures, such as the suspension of schools. The crisis has also made itself felt on youth unemployment rates, especially in the sectors of food services and leisure activities such as cinemas and theatres and related transportation services such as cab-hailing applications, because young people are concentrated in these sectors. The ECES noted that the peak of the crisis was from mid-March to mid-April, which saw the beginning of the suspension of work and paralysis in many sectors. This period saw the tightening of precautionary measures, such as the closure of restaurants, cafes, and commercial malls and stores, which meant major disruption for workers in these sectors. During this period, the ECES showed that there were also signs of workers returning from abroad, especially from the Gulf countries. There was the beginning of a wave of layoffs as a result of paralysis in the tourism sector. The period saw temporary and permanent layoffs in the wholesale and retail trade sector following the closure of shops and commercial malls. According to the ECES, an optimistic scenario for unemployment rates in the months to come in Egypt is that they will reach 14 per cent, a calculation made taking into account the number of those unemployed before the crisis hit, or around 2.3 million. To these are added an estimated one million returnees from the Gulf and other countries, with the ECES estimating that more than 700,000 people could find themselves unemployed due to the crisis, a similar figure to that following the aftermath of the 25 January Revolution in 2011. A more pessimistic forecast places unemployment at 20 per cent, according to the ECES. This takes into account a larger number of returnees and a greater number of unemployed as a result of the crisis. The number of returnees from the Gulf has been increasing, though no exact numbers have been announced. One source working in Kuwait who preferred to remain anonymous spoke of how foreign workers were increasingly at risk of losing their jobs in the country. Some 750,000 Egyptians live in Kuwait, with the bulk of them working in blue-collar jobs. According to the source, the Kuwaiti government has issued decrees affecting foreign workers, including Egyptians. As a result of some of these, some Egyptians who returned to Egypt for the summer holidays were not able to return. Further decrees are likely to prompt others to leave, the source said, and many may have difficulty re-entering the job market in Egypt. With most such workers coming from the Delta and Upper Egypt, they will probably go back to working on land bought with their savings or living off the rent of homes built or bought with such savings. The government said in late July that expatriates and workers returning from abroad could input their details in a database that could help them find jobs in Egypt. Returnees will also be assisted in setting up their own projects, and they can also work on the various national projects. According to Mohamed Abed, a professor at the Faculty of Commerce at Alexandria University, such returnee workers are an asset for Egypt. They may have skills needed in the Egyptian labour market if they are white-collar workers, he said, and in ordinary times it may be difficult for Egyptian companies to pay salaries competitive with those in the Gulf. Blue-collar workers were likely to be resilient and would find ways to survive, he said. However, the problem is not just about finding jobs, but also about lower remittances from workers abroad reaching Egypt. Such remittances were a top source of hard currency in 2019, coming in at $26.8 billion. The source said that hundreds of thousands of Egyptian workers could return from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia whose economies have been affected not only by the coronavirus, but also by the drop in international oil prices. Although the ECES said the situation would improve with the easing of the precautionary measures, it warned that in September, with the start of graduate entry into the labour market in addition to returnees from abroad, unemployment would persist. Furthermore, it believes that the problem of finding employment will increase because of more reliance on the digital economy as a response to the Covid-19 crisis. In addition to the negative effects of the coronavirus on employment, the ECES study also showed that Egypts unemployment market was already suffering from other problems. The education system was contributing a huge number of new graduates to the labour force on an annual basis that exceeded its ability to generate new job opportunities. Young people in the 20 to 24 age group represent only about 11 per cent of the total number of employed compared to more than twice this percentage for the 30 to 39 age group. The ECES study showed that unemployment rates were higher among the more highly educated, reflecting the failure of the education system to meet labour-market requirements, especially in the private sector. The number of unemployed university graduates is significant, and it even approaches the rate of the illiterate and those who can only read and write, the study said. Another major problem, according to Abed, is the quality of the jobs available. He said that when unemployment falls in Egypt, it is often because of an increase in temporary jobs, but there was a need to create more good-quality permanent jobs. In order to do so, there was a need to level the playing field for the private sector and prevent it from being crowded out by the public sector in order to allow it to grow. When the private sector encounters such difficulties, it may turn to the informal sector to survive, he said. *A version of this article appears in print in the 27 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: NEW HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Knights of Columbus today announced it will donate $150,000 to the Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the wake of Hurricane Laura, a Category 4 storm that caused widespread destruction across the state on Aug. 26. Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Carl Anderson said, "Our prayers are with the people of the Diocese of Lake Charles and with everyone impacted by this destructive storm. This donation is only the first step in our efforts to help with recovery." Along with providing donations, Knights are often the first and last on the ground after disaster strikes. Louisiana Knights began recovery efforts immediately by assessing damage, determining pressing needs and identifying staging areas to receive critical supplies. The Knights of Columbus Supreme Council is procuring and shipping requested supplies, including gift cards, tools, roofing nails, tarps, bottled water, ready-made food and cleaning supplies. Bishop Glen John Provost of Roman Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles said, We deeply appreciate the generosity of the Knights because the devastation in Lake Charles is enormous. The task ahead for us is most challenging, but we know, as in the past, the Knights have always been there for us. God bless them! Offers to assist are pouring in from Knights of Columbus members in other states and countries. Anderson said this is a typical reaction from fellow Knights. "It is fraternal charity and fraternal unity that distinguished the Knights of Columbus from other relief organizations. We stand shoulder to shoulder, supporting one another in faith and service across the world." Last year, Knights of Columbus Charities Inc. and Knights of Columbus Canada Charities Inc. gave more than $1.3 million to disaster relief with an additional $3.5 million donated by local Knights councils and assemblies. Recent disaster recovery efforts by the Knights include: After the Bahamas was impacted by Hurricane Dorian in 2019, the worst storm in its history, the Knights coordinated relief efforts with the Archdiocese of Nassau and raised more than $620,000 through its Disaster Relief fund. The Supreme Council sent blankets, air mattresses, portable gas stoves, solar generators and other necessities. Knights from the Bahamas and Florida also helped to clean up debris and distribute water. was impacted by Hurricane Dorian in 2019, the worst storm in its history, the Knights coordinated relief efforts with the Archdiocese of and raised more than through its Disaster Relief fund. The Supreme Council sent blankets, air mattresses, portable gas stoves, solar generators and other necessities. Knights from the and also helped to clean up debris and distribute water. After a series of earthquakes hit Puerto Rico in 2019only two years after the devastation from Hurricane Maria--Knights provided canopies to displaced people and more than 300 Knights cooked 1,000 hot meals for those in need. in 2019only two years after the devastation from Hurricane Maria--Knights provided canopies to displaced people and more than 300 Knights cooked 1,000 hot meals for those in need. In the Pensacola - Tallahassee area of Florida , the Knights helped rebuild or repair churches and schools and provided a 29-foot camper trailer for one pastor to live in as his parish recovered in the wake of 2018's Hurricane Michael. - area of , the Knights helped rebuild or repair churches and schools and provided a 29-foot camper trailer for one pastor to live in as his parish recovered in the wake of 2018's Hurricane Michael. Knights provided food and assisted rescue operations in the wake of historic flooding in the Houston area in 2017 and in Nebraska in 2019. area in 2017 and in in 2019. Cresting rivers in Ottawa prompted sandbagging and home repairs by Knights throughout that area in the spring of 2019. prompted sandbagging and home repairs by Knights throughout that area in the spring of 2019. Knights responded to wildfires in 2018 in Paradise California by evacuating a school and erecting temporary housing. by evacuating a school and erecting temporary housing. Knights joined in the clean-up efforts after tornados hit Alabama and Ohio in 2019. To contribute to the Knights' disaster relief efforts, go to kofc.org/disaster or call 800-694-5713. About the Knights of Columbus The Knights of Columbus is one of the world's leading fraternal and service organizations with 2 million members in more than 16,000 parish-based councils. During the past year, Knights around the world donated more than 77 million service hours and $187 million for worthy causes in their communities. The organization 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. There are nearly 34,000 Knights of Columbus members in Louisiana. The first council in Louisiana was chartered in 1902 in New Orleans. SOURCE Knights of Columbus Related Links www.kofc.org The chief of Iran's Border Police, Brigadier-General Ahmad-Ali Goudarzi, said the United Arab Emirates has officially apologized to Iran for killing two fishermen in the Persian Gulf. Speaking on the sidelines of a review of border patrol units in Qeshm Island, Goudarzi said the bodies of the two deceased fishermen were delivered to Iran in Bandar Abbas and sent to their hometown in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. Goudarzi also said the UAE, per international regulations, will provide the appropriate compensation for the incident that took place in its territorial waters. On August 20, UAE coast guard vessels opened fire on several Iranian fishing boats, killing two fishermen. On the same day, Iranian border guards detained an Emirati ship and its crew for allegedly committing violations in Iran's territorial waters. The Iranian Foreign Ministry also summoned the UAE charge d' affaires in Tehran over the incident. The incident happened amid rising tensions between Iran and the UAE after the announcement in August of a UAE-Israel deal brokered by the United States. The deal, which established full diplomatic relations between the two states, also included an Israeli pledge to suspend its controversial plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank. Iran has harshly condemned the normalization of ties between Israel and the UAE, with the Iranian Foreign Ministry calling the deal "a dagger that was unjustly struck by the UAE in the backs of the Palestinian people and all Muslims," with President Hassan Rouhani saying the deal was a "huge mistake. The remarks were seen as "threats" by the UAE, which on August 16 summoned the Iranian charge d' affaires in Abu Dhabi in protest. CALIFORNIA As widely suspected, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday major changes to the way California approaches reopening the economy. While he removed the dreaded "monitoring list," he replaced the system with four new colored tiers that will dictate what businesses can and cannot operate, and at what capacity. He also announced a large and popular business sector hair salons can reopen across the state, pending county approval. The closest equivalent to the previous monitoring list is the new purple tier. Counties who will be grouped into this color tier are those counties that have seen a weekly average of more than 7 new coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents, and have a positivity rate greater than 8 percent. As of Friday, 38 of the state's 58 counties fell into this tier. However, a substantial change with this reopening framework is that even those counties in purple will be allowed to reopen indoor hair salons and barbershops starting Monday, with specific industry guidelines. Counties are still allowed to impose stricter guidelines if they wish. "For the last few weeks we've been previewing that we wanted to make adjustments based upon the input we received from county health officers, input we've received from experts, our own experience here in the state of California to adjust the framework from the old monitoring list to a more dynamic list that we hope is not only more dynamic, but is much more simple to understand," Newsom said during a press briefing Friday. "It provides four tiers, not 58 county variations." Newsom said the new system is meant to be four main things: statewide, simple, slow and stringent. Following purple, or "widespread risk level," counties will enter the red (substantial risk level), orange (moderate risk level), and finally yellow (minimal risk level) tiers, with restrictions loosening along the color pathway. A look a the new tiered system unveiled Friday. Image via State of California. Counties must remain in a colored tier for at least 21 days before they can advance to the next color, and cannot "skip" tiers. Story continues The state is expected to reassess and update levels as needed every Tuesday. "Today we're talking about a framework and moving forward, not about reopening," CA Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly stressed. "This is just an important message to remind people that we're not out of the woods... that we need everyone's effort still... we need 40 million to continue to come together to crush this curve." Along with the announcement of the new reopening framework, the state launched a website devoted to helping residents research what businesses are open in their counties. Notably absent from the list of business sectors was amusement parks. Newsom said that the state is working with these businesses separately. "We are working with them," Newsom said. "We set our discussions aside on that, they are forthcoming.... you'll be getting that as soon as we work through that." On Friday, the state reported 5,329 new Covid-19 cases. The 7-day average stood at 5,503 with a 17-day positivity rate of 6.0. "We haven't seen that in quite some time," Newsom noted. This article originally appeared on the Across California Patch TORONTO, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Namaste Technologies Inc. ("Namaste" or the "Company") (TSXV: N) (FRANKFURT: M5BQ) (OTCMKTS: NXTTF), a leading online platform for cannabis products, accessories, and responsible education, announces that it has commenced mailing materials to its shareholders for the 2020 Annual General Meeting (the "AGM"). The AGM is scheduled to be held on September 29, 2020 in a virtual format only via live webcast during which shareholders can participate, vote, or submit questions. The Notice of Meeting and Management Information Circular, outlining the meeting resolutions, has been filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and is also available through the Company's website www.namastetechnologies.com. Mailing of AGM materials commenced on August 27, 2020 to all shareholders of record as of August 20, 2020. Shareholder Questions: Shareholders who have any questions or require assistance with voting may contact Namaste's proxy solicitation agent: Laurel Hill Advisory Group Toll Free: 1-877-452-7184 International: +1 416-304-0211 outside Canada and the US By Email: [email protected] About Namaste Technologies Inc. With headquarters in Toronto, Canada, Namaste Technologies is a leading online platform for cannabis products, accessories, and responsible education. The Company's 'everything cannabis store', CannMart.com, provides customers with a diverse selection of hand-picked products from a multitude of federally-licensed cultivators, all on one convenient site. Namaste's global technology and continuous innovation address local needs in a burgeoning cannabis industry requiring smart solutions. Information on the Company and its many products can be accessed through the links below: NamasteTechnologies.com NamasteMD.com Cannmart.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release or has in any way approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release. SOURCE Namaste Technologies Inc. A British-Israeli woman is suing easyJet for 15,000 after they made her move seats twice because ultra-Orthodox Jewish men refused to sit next to a female passenger. Melanie Wolfson, 38, is claiming 66,438 shekels compensation from the low-cost airline in a lawsuit filed on her behalf by the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC). Ms Wolfson, a professional fundraiser from Tel Aviv, is also asking that easyJet bans its cabin crew from asking women to switch seats because of their gender. According to the lawsuit, Ms Wolfson paid extra for an aisle seat on a flight to London last October. An ultra-Orthodox man and his son, who were sitting in the row when she arrived, asked her to switch seats with a man a few rows ahead. Ms Wolfson said she was 'insulted and humiliated' by the request. 'It was the first time in my adult life that I was discriminated against for being a woman,' she told Haaretz in a telephone conversation. Melanie Wolfson, 38, is claiming 66,438 shekels compensation from the low-cost airline in a lawsuit filed on her behalf by the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) Ms Wolfson, a professional fundraiser from Tel Aviv, is also asking that easyJet bans its cabin crew from asking women to switch seats because of their gender (stock) 'I would not have had any problem whatsoever switching seats if it were to allow members of a family or friends to sit together, but the fact that I was being asked to do this because I was a woman was why I refused.' She added: 'What was even more infuriating was that there were passengers watching this happen who said nothing.' A flight attendant eventually intervened and offered Ms Wolfson a free hot drink as an incentive to move. Concerned that the flight might be delayed on her account and feeling that she had little choice in the matter, she agreed to switch seats. 'There were passengers watching this happen who said nothing,' she said. According to the suit, several flight attendants told Ms Wolfson that women were often asked to switch seats in order to accommodate ultra-Orthodox men. Just over a month later, she lodged an official complaint with easyJet, arguing that requests she move seats because of her gender was discriminatory. Although easyJet is not based in Israel, lawyers will argue that the airline was subject to Israeli law while its plane was on the ground at Ben-Gurion International Airport Two months later, on another easyJet flight to London, Ms Wolfson was again asked to move seats by two ultra-Orthodox men. Though she refused their request, two female passengers agreed to change seats with the two men sitting next to her, according to the suit. Members of the cabin crew allegedly did not intervene or defend her right to stay seated where she was although again she was offered a free hot drink. Ms Wolfson complained to easyJet on both occasions but when it failed to respond, she decided to sue for violation of Israeli law, which prohibits discrimination against customers on the basis of race, religion, nationality, land of origin, gender, sexual orientation, political views or personal status. Although easyJet is not based in Israel, lawyers will argue that the airline was subject to Israeli law while its plane was on the ground at Ben-Gurion International Airport. A spokeswoman for easyJet said: 'We take claims of this nature very seriously. Whilst it would be inappropriate to comment, as this matter is currently the subject of legal proceedings, we do not discriminate on any grounds.' In 2017, IRAC won a groundbreaking case against El Al for Renee Rabinowitz, a Holocaust survivor and lawyer in her eighties who was pressured by flight attendants to move seats because of an ultra-Orthodox man who refused to sit next to her. Ms Rabinowitz, 82, won 6,500 shekels in compensation from El Al. The Israeli judge hearing the case said that 'under absolutely no circumstances can a crew member ask a passenger to move from their designated seat because the adjacent passenger doesn't want to sit next to them due to their gender'. At the time, IRAC said almost 7,500 emails had been sent to El Al by members of the public objecting to requests made to female passengers to change seats. Three years ago, a group of Orthodox Jewish men caused 'absolute bedlam' on an easyJet flight by refusing to sit next to women. Staff were forced to call police from 30,000ft during the 'nightmare flight' from Tel Aviv to Luton Airport, which one steward described as the 'worst in 11 years' of making the trip. According to witnesses the Haredim men stood in the aisles and refused to move until they had been accommodated. According to witnesses the men stood in the aisles and refused to move (stock photo) Staff called police from 30,000ft during the 'nightmare flight' from Tel Aviv to Luton Airport Others also persistently rang the service button, disrupting other passengers and infuriating staff, while another man tried to charge his phone in a special panel - which could have led to dangerous circumstances. A passenger told the Jewish News: 'A group of around 10 ultra-Orthodox men caused absolute bedlam on the flight. 'It was infuriating to witness both for passengers and for the stewards, who tried but failed to control them. 'It was impossible for the stewards to get these people to listen to them.' They added: 'The men were blocking the aisle, making it really difficult for other passengers to get past and take their seat. A group of around 10 ultra-Orthodox men caused absolute bedlam on the flight. It was infuriating to witness Passenger on easyJet flight 'I was next to quite an elderly gentleman and he did not sit down the entire time. Everybody had to walk round him, he was just oblivious, because he was trying to swap his seat, so he wouldn't be sitting next to a woman.' Eventually a 'bemused' female passenger offered to swap her seat. The witness said: 'I chatted to her later on. She just couldn't believe the whole thing and they didn't even say thank you. 'That was something the staff mentioned as well, that they did not say please or thank you.' The perplexed passenger also noted the group a wedding party, which made up more than 50 percent of the flight kept using the call button, causing disruption to the other passengers. She said: 'They were constantly ringing the bell for the steward. I've never heard it go off so many times. It was dinging constantly and to the point it was really intrusive if you are trying to read or something. 'I overheard the steward say, 'I've only got one pair of hands'. They were just really stressing the staff out. Who are the Haredim? Haredi Jews are a stream of Orthodox Jews characterised by their rejection of mainstream secular culture. Haredim regard themselves as the most religiously authentic group of Jews and although this claim is contested by other streams of Judaism, it is a perception which is often held in wider Jewish and non-Jewish society. Advertisement 'One steward said he'd been doing the route for 11 years and it was the worst flight he had ever experienced.' Officers from Bedfordshire Police were waiting on the tarmac when the plane finally touched down at London Luton Airport. The passenger said: 'When we arrived, the captain said: 'Please stay in your seats. We are waiting for the police'. It went deadly quiet and I think people were shocked. 'One policeman then came on the plane, stood by the door and oversaw everybody leaving and there were two more officers standing on the tarmac.' A statement from easyJet said: 'easyJet can confirm that flight EZY2084 from Tel Aviv to Luton on 13 February 2017 was met by police on arrival at London Luton. 'This was due to a small group of passengers behaving disruptively, by not complying with the captain and cabin crew's request to take their seats, both prior to departure from Tel Aviv and during the flight. 'For the safety of all passengers easyJet's crew must ensure that whenever the seat belt signs are illuminated all passengers are in their seats with their seatbelts fastened. 'easyJet's cabin crew are trained to assess and evaluate all situations and to act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other passengers is not compromised at any time. 'Separately during the flight a passenger plugged a mobile device into a USB port on the crew control panel in the forward galley in a foolish attempt to charge it. 'This led to the exit light above the panel being illuminated but did not in any way comprise the safety or security of the aircraft.' In April 2013, one passenger took his beliefs a step further by covering himself in a plastic bag for the whole of his journey because his religion forbids him to fly over cemeteries Way around it? Israel's Ben Gurion airport is surrounded by small regional cemeteries, dotted in red, long creating concern for Orthodox Jews trying to fly into the airport Bedfordshire Police said: 'We were called at around 5.55pm on Monday to reports of a group of disruptive men on a flight landing at London Luton Airport. 'Officers attended and escorted the men off the flight preventing a breach of the peace. No offences were found to have been committed.' Haredi Jews are a stream of Orthodox Jews characterised by their rejection of mainstream secular culture. Haredim regard themselves as the most religiously authentic group of Jews and although this claim is contested by other streams of Judaism, it is a perception which is often held in wider Jewish and non-Jewish society. In December 2014, a Delta Airlines flight from New York's JFK Airport to Israel was delayed by half an hour when a group of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men refused to sit next to female passengers. Delta Flight 468, bound for Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, was reportedly held up due to several Haredi passengers refusing to to sit in their assigned seats, which were in between two women. The delay was prolonged when the two female passengers involved reportedly refused to move to accommodate the men's request, claiming discrimination. In April 2013, one passenger took his beliefs a step further by covering himself in a plastic bag for the whole of his journey because his religion forbids him to fly over cemeteries. It was believed the man was a Kohein, a religious descendant of the priests of ancient Israel, who are banned from flying over cemeteries. The startling photograph went viral after being posted on Reddit and it showed fellow passengers straining over their seats to get a look. Beneath his plastic wrapping, the man was dressed entirely in black, and appeared to be wearing a Jewish skullcap or 'kippah'. As a controversial solution - not entirely allowed by those in the Jewish Orthodox - the plastic bag creates a kind of barrier between the Kohein and the surrounding tumah, or impurity. What is an actor's persona off the screen? Isn't it intriguing? That is why tabloids' capitalization on the life and happenings of actors doesn't seem to end; their stores are just delicious. What's better to sell than the fabulous and romantic tales of your on-screen personalities. And there is one interesting story that is quite enticing about two love birds. The not-so-popular David Paul Olsen meets the popular Daniela Ruah and creates one of the most adorable love stories. The two have been together for more than eight years, and it seems the relationship is growing strong. Are you yearning for more information about David? Image: instagram.com, @davidpaulolsen Source: Instagram David's claim to fame is for the biggest part being the husband of NCIS: Los Angeles agent, Kensi Blye. Although his screen time as a stunt man doesnt accentuate his personality, his interaction with the creme del a creme of the acting industry has made him stand out. And with such rising popularity, people are bound to get interested. You are probably wondering about the now-famous Daniela Ruah husband. How did the two meet and create such a profound relationship that has been blossoming for years? Who is David Paul Olsen? David is an American stunt performer and Hollywood artist that has become popular for being the husband of another great actor, Daniela Ruah. He was born on January 2, 1976, in Moline, Illinois, USA, and is brother to Eric Christian Olsen. Interestingly, David is his younger brothers stunt double on NCIS: Los Angeles. David Olsen from NCIS began his career as a stunt double in the early 2000s. He was in a movie called Deceit in 2006 and the following year, he was given a chance to work as a stunt man in the popular movie, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. David has worked in numerous other movies and television series. His stunt work opened the door for his acting career both in television and movies. READ ALSO: Magix Enga: 5 things that you need to know How did David Olsen and Daniela Ruah meet? Who doesn't love fairy tale love stories? David and Danielas perfect union is a testament to their commonality of interest that they have built over the years and supported by an awesome first interaction. The couple went on their first date thanks to David's brother, Eric, that connected the two. At the time, they were both undergoing serious relationship problems, dating awful people that didnt allow them to be themselves. This similar circumstance made Daniela's brother-in-law hatch a plan. What did it entail? When David came to do stunts for the television show, and they were all together, his brother would mention something nice about David to Daniela. He would then say something nice to David about Daniela. With such an ideal setting and conversation starter, the two hit it off and created a great relationship. Eric created the perfect platform for a profound relationship to nourish and for two people to make the ideal love connection. When did the two get married? David Olsen and Daniela Ruah married on June 19, 2014, in a private ceremony in Portugal. This event happened after they welcomed their son, River Isaac Ruah Olsen that was born on December 2013. The couple has a very strong relationship, which they do not shy away from sharing on social media. In a tweet, Daniela posted a sweet anniversary tribute to her husband. Together for over seven and married four years today! Everything is better with you: parenting, travelling, working, building life. you motivate me to reach farther every day. I'll marry you all the time. Oh, and you make really cute kids. Daniela Ruah family is growing thanks to the love she shares with her husband that has kept them together for a long time. River, one of the most famous Daniela Ruah baby and firstborn is turning seven in December. Their other child, a daughter named Sierra, will be turning four years old. If you check out their social media handles, you will notice that the family of four is always out on adventures or snuggling up at home. It is obvious that they are fond of one another and extend the love to their two adorable kids. READ ALSO: Timmy Tdat: 6 fast facts you didn't know about the musician Quick facts about David Paul Olsen Image: instagram.com, @davidpaulolsen Source: Instagram Are you looking for more information about David? Indeed, most of what is known about the stunt man is being the wife of Daniela, but there are some interesting things that you probably never knew. 1. His brother is his wifes TV husband The characters Kensi and Deeks are romantically involved in NCIS: Los Angeles. And fans were dazzled when, after a long wait, the TV couple married surrounded by the main cast of the television series. As it might sometimes be hard to alienate on-screen relationships from real life, people are wondering Are Kensi and Deeks married in real life? Even though the two actors married during the tenth season of the show, they are just a screen couple and related in another way. Daniela is married to Eric's brother, David Paul Olsen. During a 2015 interview on The Queen Latifah Show, Daniela mentioned that although it was awkward kissing her in-law, she tries to keep it professional. 2. David works with his brother on set David Paul Olsen has a lucrative career as a stunt man and has been part of numerous movies since he began in the 2000s. One of his favourite stunt works is working as his brothers stunt man in NCIS: Los Angeles. Eric favours David so much that he is often assigned as his stunt double. On top of that, David has other roles in the popular television series that has managed to create a huge following over the years. READ ALSO: Goldie Hawn bio: Age, husband, daughter, net worth 3. David is active in charity Other than acting and doing stunts, David and his wife, Daniela Ruah, are involved in various charity works and projects. This is quite surprising for many fans considering they are only known for their television roles, which makes it even more interesting for David Olsen and Daniela Ruah. 4. Started dating Daniela in 2011 David Olsen and Daniela Ruah love story is quite interesting not only for the long-term union but the events that led to their meet-up. After Eric, David's brother introduced the two and created an environment ideal for connection, they went on their first date. This happened in February 2011, meaning that they have been in a relationship for more than eight years. Indeed, considering the many years, they have been together, Eric's matchmaking was a great success. 5. Eric's family is close to David's family Image: instagram.com, @davidpaulolsen Source: Instagram Since Eric and David are brothers, and Daniela acts with Eric on NCIS: Los Angeles, they are destined to have a strong connection. The two families are very close, including Eric's wife, Sarah Wright Olsen. They even have two kids that are the same age as Davids children. There you have it, interesting facts about David Paul Olsen. Interestingly, there is more to the stunt man than what many people know him about, which is being the husband of Daniela Ruah. One of the most remarkable things is that he has a great relationship with his wife, and the union is growing stronger every day. Tuko.co.ke featured a comprehensive overview of one of Kenyas top lawyer, Nelson Havi. The flamboyant lawyer and head of the Law Society of Kenya has created a great reputation in his profession that has accorded him great respect. Although he is popular for both positive and some not-so-popular controversies, he has managed to make a great mark in the country with his long-term practice. His outspoken nature always stands out wherever he goes. READ ALSO: Nelson Havi: 7 things you didn't know about the lawyer What happened to Trevor Noah's mother? David Rudisha bio: tribe, wife, family, net worth, stats Source: TUKO.co.ke Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected on Friday ahead of what could be the coldest August bank holiday on record. Further downpours will follow Thursdays torrential rain right across the UK, the Met Office said, with thunderstorms forecast in southern England and south Wales. Met Office weather warnings are in place across those southern regions between 11am and 8pm on Friday, with a good chance there will be traffic disruption and delays to public transport. Heavy rain seen overnight in northeast England is expected to let up by Friday afternoon as the weather edges southwards though weather warnings remain in place until 11am with localised flooding expected. East Anglia is set to see the worst from this southern drift with very heavy rain going into the evening, the Met Office forecasts. Looking ahead to the bank holiday weekend, conditions are expected to clear up for the most part, though Saturday may bring showers for those areas exposed to northerly winds such as the east of England, coastal Scotland and the west of Wales. Forecasters expect temperatures to drop across the UK over the weekend, bringing the possibility that Monday may be the coldest August Bank Holiday on record. Temperatures could peak at 19C in London while parts of Scotland will see highs of 11C, far below the 16C average. The chill follows the hottest August bank holiday on record last year, when a high of 33.2C was recorded at Heathrow. Meteorologist Emma Salter explained: We could see some places getting the coldest maximum temperatures on record this bank holiday Monday. The lowest maximum temperature recorded was 10.1C in the Shetland Islands if anywhere gets lower than that its in the running to be the coldest on record. Additional reporting by Press Association Deliveroo also works with 35,000 restaurants across the UK, including tie-ups with M&S and german grocer Aldi. Photo: Getty Waitrose has signed a 12-week trial with Deliveroo to offer deliveries within half an hour to more than half a million customers. The trial will be available from Tuesday 1 September at Waitrose shops in Bracknell and Clifton, and from 3 September in Surbiton, Cambridge and Notting Hill in London. The chain said more than 500 products will be made available, which will be delivered to customers homes by Deliveroos drivers. Waitrose already provides online delivery via its website, which offers two-hour delivery slots. The supermarket and takeaway company are hoping to extend the contract if the trial-period proves successful. The move comes as Marks & Spencer (MKS.L) and Ocado (OCDO.L) Waitroses former delivery partner for nearly 20 years are set to launch M&S food services online, also on Tuesday. READ MORE: Why the new Ocado-Marks & Spencer tie-up makes sense The COVID-19 lockdown measures boosted demand for online deliveries, with many Brits opting to stay home and order food rather than going to supermarkets, which saw Waitrose expand its delivery slots from 60,000 before the pandemic to 160,000, with plans to add 90,000 more. Waitrose executive director James Bailey said: We have laid down a marker for our future strategy with the growth of Waitrose.com and Waitrose Rapid and this gives us another opportunity to give our customers a taste of what the future of convenience shopping could look like for us. Our trial with Deliveroo has huge potential to give new and existing customers greater choice and flexibility for when and how they want to shop with Waitrose. In addition to its new contract with Waitrose, Deliveroo also works with 35,000 restaurants across the UK, including tie-ups with M&S and german grocer Aldi. READ MORE: Coronavirus: M&S to axe around 7,000 jobs Deliveroo vice president of new business Ajay Lakhani said: Deliveroos on-demand grocery services have proven vital for so many people during this difficult period, allowing families to get the items they want and need quickly without having to leave home. This new partnership will bring Waitroses fantastic product range to people in as little as 30 minutes. We are excited about working with such a brilliant British brand, bringing people the food they need and want, on demand. The Waitrose chain, founded in 1904, is part of the John Lewis Partnership. Brian Johnson, 37, of Live Oak is suspected of stealing a firefighter's wallet during the deadly Northern California blazes. (Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office) Authorities have arrested a man they say stole the wallet of a firefighter who was battling a Bay Area wildfire and used the credit cards inside to rack up multiple fraudulent purchases, including one for $1,400. Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart said the suspect, identified as 37-year-old Live Oak resident Brian Johnson, was arrested late Wednesday and confessed to his crime. When questioned by a sheriff's investigator, Hart said, Johnson "admitted that he had used the credit cards and made the charges. He also sat down and wrote a letter of apology to the fireman." Hart said the firefighter, whose name was not released, is an employee of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Officials said the wallet was stolen out of his vehicle last weekend while he was out battling the CZU Lightning Complex fire. "That case really resonated with me because here we had somebody who came from completely out of the area, left their family, left their normal life to come here to Santa Cruz County to help our community get through the most catastrophic fire that weve seen in our history, and then somebody has the audacity to steal from this man," Hart said during a Thursday news conference. Hart said investigators received a tip from the public that led them to identify Johnson as a potential suspect. Authorities searched his home and found recently purchased merchandise, as well as clothing that the suspect had been seen wearing on surveillance video, the sheriff said. Johnson was arrested on suspicion of multiple felony charges, including forgery, grand theft, credit card theft, possession of stolen property and a probation violation, Hart said. He is scheduled to be arraigned Friday, court records show. Hart said Thursday that investigators were still working to determine whether any other people may have been involved. To reassure Californians who have expressed interest in making donations to help cover the firefighter's losses, Hart said all the fraudulent charges the total amount of which was not immediately disclosed have already been reversed. The firefighter "wanted to extend his appreciation for all the support and the offers," Hart said, "but he said hes good now and all he wants to do is get up on that fire line and do his job." The CZU Lightning Complex has burned more than 82,000 acres in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties and was 26% contained as of Friday morning, according to Cal Fire. An Amazon delivery driver in Florida struck a 73-year-old man in the face with his phone after allegedly being confronted for attempting to enter a condo without wearing as mask. Surveillance video picked up the shocking moment Ray Breslin was hit after the altercation with the driver in the lobby of the Miami Beach building. Amazon apologized to Breslin and said the man was an employee of a service partner who is no longer delivering packages for the retail giant. Yet the driver has yet to be identified as Breslin's lawyer claims he is guilty of felony battery. Ray Breslin, 73, claims that the driver delivering packages for Amazon hit him in the face after an argument about the driver not wearing a mask in the lobby of a Miami Beach condo The incident happened back on August 4 in the Mantell Plaza, located along 24th Street, where Breslin owns seven units. 'I was mortified,' Breslin told WSVN. 'I just couldn't believe it.' The condo resident claims he noticed the delivery driver was not wearing a mask as he tried to enter and video shows Breslin confronting him at the door to say that he was not allowed in as the building had a strict mask policy. 'I open the door, I said, "Excuse me, you have to have a mask on",' said Breslin. 'He said, "I'm just delivering". I said, "It doesn't matter. You wanna come in the building, you need to have a mask on".' 'All of a sudden, he just puts his foot at the door like that. He's not gonna let me close the door,' Breslin alleges.'I pushed his foot out of the way and closed the door.' The surveillance footage shows how Breslin, the condo president, took the packages from the driver at this point and left them by the front door as the other man walked away. Breslin said he also went outside himself to take pictures of the driver's vehicle and license plate. Yet after the driver went back to his vehicle to pick up a mask and returned to finish delivering the packages, the situation became more frightening, Breslin alleges. The angered man decided to argue with him about being pushed to wear a mask, pushing his phone into Breslin's face as he confronted him. 'Then he came back with a mask on, and I thought, "OK, not so bad",' he said, 'and I open the door, and I let them in.' 'He brings his phone up like that and smashes me in the face,' he added. Surveillance footage shows the shocking moment Breslin was hit (pictured right). He said that the driver had returned with a mask but was still angered at being asked to do so The driver, who worked for a third party, fled the scene without delivering the packages Breslin said the man fled the scene without delivering his packages once he pointed out that the whole thing was caught on surveillance footage. 'I was like what are you kidding me? I said, there's a camera right there that just shot all this and he looked, put his head down, took his packages and walked right out the door,' Breslin told NBC 2. The 73-year-old received no injuries from the clash but told WSVN that he is still shaken up, even three weeks on. He told Local 10 that the driver said he hit him because Breslin did so first. The surveillance footage available does not show Breslin hitting the driver. Breslin filed a victims report with police in which he described the altercation as battery but cops have yet to identify the driver. Breslin also handed over the photos he had taken of the driver's van to help in the search for him. 'This is a felony battery,' Breslin's lawyer Michael Grieco said, explaining that it's a felony anytime anyone over the age of 65 is struck. 'The fact that an Amazon driver, any delivery driver, would contemplate getting violent with somebody in a situation like that is beyond me,' he added. Amazon has since sent an emailed apology to Breslin for the driver's behavior and confirmed he no longer delivers packages on their behalf. 'This does not reflect the high standards we have for delivery service partners,' the statement said. 'We are addressing the incident with the delivery service partner and can confirm that this individual is no longer delivering Amazon packages. We are in touch with the customer to make things right.' Breslin said that he just wanted to make sure the man wore a mask as 'it's the law'. 'That man should not have a job delivering for any company, let alone a big company like Amazon,' said Breslin. 'I was being firm. I wasn't being nasty. I wasn't going to let him in the building without a mask. Plain and simple.' There is currently a countywide mask mandate in effect in Miami-Dade requiring everyone to wear a mask at all times when in a public or risk a $100 fine. In Miami Beach, police and code officers started giving out $50 civil citations starting July 23 for anyone not wearing a facial covering while in a public place or space. 'We all need to be serious about flattening the curve and putting this deadly virus behind us,' said Mayor Dan Gelber. 'Please do your part and wear a mask.' As of Friday morning, there were 615,806 confirmed coronavirus cases in Florida and 10,868 deaths. There were 89 new deaths reported Thursday. Miami-Dade County accounted for 155,418 of the state's cases and 2,372 deaths. If you have any information on the delivery driver in this incident or his whereabouts, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. MINSK -- Around 50 journalists, including six from RFE/RL, were detained while covering postelection protests in Minsk on August 27, in the latest intimidation of the press in Belarus as authorities widen a crackdown. More than 260 people were detained during August 27 protests in central Minsk, according to a list compiled by the human rights center Vyasna. The Belarusian Association of Journalists said about 50 journalists were detained, but most were released after police checked their documents. However, four journalists who refused to hand over their smartphones for police to check were charged with participating in an unauthorized protest, the Belarusian Association of Journalists said. A Swedish journalist will also be deported. A total of six journalists working either for RFE/RL's Belarus Service or Current Time -- the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA -- were among those detained while covering demonstrations in two different Minsk locations on August 27. All were eventually released. Andrey Yaroshevich, a freelance camera operator working for Current Time, was among those charged with an administrative offense that can result in a fine or a jail sentence. However, his case was temporarily dropped after a court appearance on August 28 because police failed to properly fill out forms. Authorities are treating the media in an increasingly arbitrary manner. Not only are they refusing to accredit journalists, but they are using a variety of pretexts to detain fully credentialed journalists and prevent them from reporting what they see, said RFE/RLs Acting President Daisy Sindelar. We are also alarmed that authorities have threatened to bring arbitrary charges against journalists who refuse police orders to surrender photos and other information. This is blatant retaliation, and an outrageous breach of norms and laws." The detentions came after nearly three weeks of protests against the official results of the August 9 election -- which gave President Alyaksandr Lukashenka a landslide victory. Demonstrators and opposition leaders are contesting those results, charging that the vote was rigged in Lukashenka's favor. The demonstrations have been met with a brutal police crackdown, with widespread evidence of beatings and torture of detained protesters. The leading opposition candidate, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, told the European Parliament this week that at least six people have been killed in the crackdown and dozens of protesters have gone missing after being detained by authorities. But the roundup of journalists who are covering the crisis appears to signal a new strategy by Belarusian authorities. Demonstrators on August 27 first assembled in the capital's Freedom Square to continue their calls for Lukashenka's resignation and fresh elections. The demonstration later moved to Independence Square, where police dispersed a crowd of about 1,000 and detained more than 260 people. Crisis In Belarus Read our ongoing coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election, widely seen as fraudulent. The Interior Ministry says detained journalists were put on a minibus and transported to a police station where officers checked whether they had valid accreditation to work legally in the country. Belarus has received international criticism for the way its August 9 election was conducted, and for the harsh treatment of postelection demonstrators. The official vote tally showed that Tsikhanouskaya finished a distant second to Lukashenka. But she says she is the rightful winner of the vote. Belarusian prosecutors have jailed two leading members of Tsikhanouskaya's recently formed Coordination Council. Other leading opposition figures also have been summoned for questioning as part of what authorities in Minsk have called a "criminal investigation." The Coordination Council's stated aim is to negotiate with Lukashenka's government for new elections, the release of political prisoners, and a peaceful transition of power. With reporting by Current Time Bangladesh producers seek advanced income tax refund of BDT7500m 28 August 2020 Bangladeshi cement manufacturers have requested that the National Board of Revenue makes payment of BDT7500m (US$88,47m) as a refundable advanced income tax to help them recover some of their losses from the coronavirus pandemic. Previous attempts to seek similar demands in the national budget were turned down. "We need a fresh injection of capital to recover the losses incurred due to pandemic. We have fallen in capital shortage as well. So, the government should refund our adjustable fund," said Mohammed Amirul Haque, managing director of Premier Cement. More recently, the Bangladesh Cement Manufacturers Association (BCMA) sough a 60 per cent cut in import duties for clinker, the withdrawal of non-adjustable advance income tax and the return of previously paid refundable advanced income tax. "We import clinker at US$38/t to US$42/t but when we go to pay the duty, the customs always assume the price to be US$50/t, which is so unfair," BCMA President, Md Alamgir Kabir, told the NBR. Bangladesh cement manufacturers collectively spent about US$1.3bn in fiscal 2019-20 on importing various production materials such as clinker, fly ash, iron slag, limestone, and gypsum. The total amount of clinker imports alone accounted for US$900m. Published under On Monday, Israeli archaeologists digging near the city of Yavne unearthed an ancient trove of Gold. 425 fully intact gold Islamic coins were discovered, along with many other fragments of seemingly different coin denominations. The pieces were recovered by a group of youth volunteer archaeologists, and approved by Robert Kool, an antiquity coin expert. Upon initial review, Kool believes the coins to originate from the late 9th century of the Abbasid Caliphate. This Caliphate was the third successor of the Islamic Prophet known as Muhammed, and was often praised as the Islamic Golden Age in which the Muslim world was seen as a center of science, philophy and literature. As Kool stated, it was a period for which "we still know very little," and thus this exceedingly rare find sparks a hope of potential for many new discoveries of the ancient Islamic world. After President Donald Trump invoked Portland in his acceptance speech Thursday at the Republican National Convention, Mayor Ted Wheeler has officially fired back. In an open letter released Friday, Wheeler criticized Trumps divisive rhetoric, as well as his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and the federal governments response to ongoing protests against police violence in Portland and elsewhere. We dont need your politics of division and demagoguery. Portlanders are onto you. We have already seen your reckless disregard for human life in your bumbling response to the COVID pandemic, Wheeler said in the letter. And we know youve reached the conclusion that images of violence or vandalism are your only ticket to reelection. Trump, who has previously criticized the protests and leadership in Portland, claimed, without evidence, that Democratic nominee Joe Biden would defund police departments across the country if elected president, making every city look like Democrat-run Portland, Oregon. Biden has not supported activists in their calls to defund police departments and has actually called for a $300 million investment in policing contingent on new diversity initiatives. In his letter Friday, Wheeler offered support for the protests, calling them part of a proud progressive tradition in Portland. But the mayor also condemned some protesters actions, including the small amounts of damage done to city, federal and private-owned buildings in town. There is no place for looting, arson, or vandalism in our city. There is no room here for racist violence or those who wish to bring their ideology of hate into our community, Wheeler said. Those who commit criminal acts will be apprehended and prosecuted under the law. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler's open letter to President Donald Trump, released Aug. 28, 2020. Wheeler and Portland police faced criticism this week following violent clashes that occurred last Saturday as right-wing protesters showed up downtown to face off against left-wing protesters who have been demonstrating for months. Police stood by as the two sides fought in the streets, tossing projectiles, unloading pepper spray and beating one another. One right-wing protester, Alan Swinney, was photographed brandishing a gun, while another, Tusitala Tiny Toese, was seen clearly violating a court order to stay away from protests. Portland police chief Chuck Lovell said he didnt expect officers to recognize Toese in the crowd, and defended the lack of police response Saturday by saying that it was difficult to weigh the risk versus reward of breaking up the fight. Wheeler, who is police commissioner and running for re-election, laid some blame for the unrest at President Trumps feet, saying that by sending federal agents into the city and repeatedly attacking Portland protesters in his speeches, hes only made the situation worse. In Portland, we are focused on coming together as a community to solve the serious challenges we face due to systemic racism, a global pandemic and an economic recession, Wheeler said. Stay away, please. You can read the full letter online. --Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 28) The activist group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap or Kadamay on Friday filed complaints before the Ombudsman against the police director of Central Luzon and 11 law enforcers from Bulacan for the alleged seizure of copies of its Pinoy Weeky magazine last month. Respondents named in the complaint include PNP Regional Office 3 Director Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, Bulacan province police chief PCOL. Lawrence Bonifacio Cajipe, PCPT. Jun Alejandrino, PLT. Gerardo Espiritu, and eight other police officers. The police officers are facing simple robbery, robbery by execution of deed, and gross misconduct complaints. They allegedly took the copies of the magazine by force from Kadamays office in Pandi, Bulacan on July 26. Pinoy Weekly is a progressive newspaper and its editors earlier filed a similar complaint at the Commission on Human Rights. Im an engineer, Searle said. Im not an architect or anything, but I have a soft spot for [beautiful houses]. . . . This [house] had character. Everyone was telling me I should do condos. Shaw was doing great. They were doing the O Street Market. I just felt it should be returned a little bit to the grandeur it was. The Ukrainian side seeks to maintain a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire in Donbas, the president said. President Volodymyr Zelensky says Kyiv is making every effort to end the war in Donbas, expecting that the leaders of the Normandy Four countries (Ukraine, Germany, France, and Russia) will gather for a summit after their advisors meet. The comment came during Zelensky's talks with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the president tweeted. "We very much want to maintain a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and do everything to end the war," the president stressed. Thanked @vonderleyen for supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of #Ukraine. We look forward to meeting the leaders of the #N4 countries after the meeting of our advisers. We want to maintain the comprehensive and permanent ceasefire & do everything to end the war. (@ZelenskyyUa) August 28, 2020 Also, he noted that Ukraine and the EU, despite the COVID19 circumstances, continue economic integration, further strengthening strategic partnership. Read alsoRussia trying to shift Donbas settlement talks away from Normandy Four to TCG Ukraine delegateThe Ukrainian parliament will soon adopt laws on the Association Agreement with the EU, Zelensky tweeted. Separately, Zelensky expressed gratitude to the president of the European Commission for "supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of Ukraine. Normandy Four talks: latest news On August 26, Head of the Ukrainian President's Office Andriy Yermak said the meeting of advisors to the Normandy Four leaders, which was initially scheduled for August 28, has been postponed to early September. Russia was set to be represented by deputy chief of presidential administration Dmitry Kozak, Ukraine by Andriy Yermak, Germany by an aide to the chancellor for foreign policy, Jan Hecker, and France - by an advisor to the president, Emmanuel Bonne. New Delhi, Aug 28 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed grief over the ill health of his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and wished for his speedy recovery. "Pained to hear about your ill health, my dear friend @AbeShinzo. In recent years, with your wise leadership and personal commitment, the India-Japan partnership has become deeper and stronger than ever before. I wish and pray for your speedy recovery," the Prime Minister tweeted. Earlier on Friday, Abe resigned from his post citing his poor health as a major issue. After his resignation, the 65-year-old Japanese Prime Minister said in a press conference, "I cannot be the Prime Minister if I cannot make the best decisions for the people. I have decided to step down from my post." It has been learnt that Abe has been battling with ulcerative colitis for years. Abe's two recent hospital visits within a week have fanned questions on whether he could stay in the job until the end of his term as the ruling party leader in September 2021. You are here: China A total of 15,799 Chinese officials were punished in July for violating frugality rules, the top anti-graft body said on Thursday. The officials were involved in 10,719 cases, said a statement issued by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission. The punished officials include 44 at the prefecture or equivalent level, and 903 at the county or equivalent level, according to the statement. Among them, 9,327 were found guilty of bureaucratism or the practice of formalities for the sake of it, and 6,124 related cases were handled. In the meantime, authorities also investigated 4,595 cases of hedonism and extravagant conduct, such as giving or accepting gifts, awarding unauthorized allowances or bonuses, and misusing public funds for banquets, and penalized 6,472 officials, said the statement. The CPC released its eight-point rules on frugality in late 2012 to combat undesirable work practices. Rafale to S-400 air defence systems all set to add more firepower to Indian Air Force Rajnath Singh to formally induct Rafales into IAF on September 10 India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 28: The Rafale fighter aircraft will be formally inducted into the Indian Air Force at the Ambala airbase by Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh on September 10. French Defence Minister, Florence Parly will also be invited for the event, ANI reported. The news agency while quoting sources said that the induction ceremony would be held after the return of the Defence Minister from Russia, where he is scheduled to attend the meeting of the Defence ministers of the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation from September 4 to 6. The Rafale touchdown: From a political dogfight to a celebratory welcome "The Rafale aircraft induction ceremony would be held on September 10 with Singh as the chief guest. The French Defence Minister is also being sent an invitation to attend the event to mark the strategic friendship between the two countries, the report also said. Flight rules: Banned from flying if you remove mask & more news | Oneindia News Five Rafale fighter aircraft arrived in India from France on July 29. They have already started extensive training within hours of touching down. The Rafales are part of the 17 Golden Arrows squadron of the Air Force. The Rafales have already flown over the Ladakh region and have been familiarising with the terrain over which they have to fly in different parts of the country. The five Rafales which arrived include three single-seaters and two twin seaters. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) Television crew from Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) were on Friday thrown out of an election campaign rally featuring the main opposition Chadema party in Dar es Salaam, allegedly for an unfair coverage Deputy Communications Officer of NDC, Kwaku Boahen has blamed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the series of violence that has characterized the nation in recent times. According to him, the President has failed Ghanaians woefully as Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces. He accused the President of exposing the country to danger and insecurity. Speaking on UTVs Adekye Nsroma, Kwaku Boahen averred that, the level of indiscipline under Akufo-Addos government is too much . . . nothing is working under this administration because he has exposed the country to danger, political insecurity, attacks and indiscipline. To him, President Akufo-Addo has reduced governance to public ridicule. Speaking in relation with the Dome-Faase incident where some alleged land guards beat up two Military officers resulting in the heavy Military presence in the community, Kwaku Boahen said, I believe the Military has its own leaders, so who sent them to fire gunshots? Whether it was official assignment or not, the military was not supposed to be at Dome-Faase to fire gunshots at the citizens. The question is, who sent them there? The law is emphatic about the duty of the Military but because of politics, the invisible and delta force are now in Military uniforms and used to intimidate citizens. The level of indiscipline under this administration is too much and I blame the President, he stated. Soldiers vacate haunted community A number of soldiers who descended on Dome-Faase, a community near Kasoa where two suspected soldiers had been brutally assaulted by residents have vacated the area. Their departure Thursday, follows a meeting between the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Ga South Municipal Assembly, Mr. Joseph Stephen Nyarni and the leadership of the soldiers deployed to the area. The assaulted soldiers were said to have been deployed to the community to protect a parcel of land which a chief was claiming ownership of, but led to a clash between the soldiers and residents. According to a report by Accra based Joy FM, the soldiers left the area on Thursday afternoon, after retrieving all guns seized by the community members during the clash. 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 Photo credit: Rob Youngson From Harper's BAZAAR Agatha Christie was no stranger to the allure of beautiful jewels. Her stories practically shimmer with illicit and ill-fated gems: The Adventure of The Western Star sees an actress threatened with the theft of a beloved diamond; in The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan, a wealthy stockbroker's wife is burgled for her lustrous pearls; and in The Mystery of the Blue Train, a spectacular ruby causes an American heiress to lose her life. At the end of each book it's usually the duty of the author's most famous creation, Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, to use his infamous "little grey cells" and recover the missing heirlooms. Christie's own life even featured a diamond-related mystery. In 2010 a 19th Century brooch and three-stone ring that Christie inherited from her mother, both thought to have been lost after the author's death, were discovered in a locked strongbox, which had been left inside a travel trunk and unknowingly sold to one of the author's fans for just 100 in 2006. The jewels lay undisturbed until a few years later, when their new owner finally prised the box open with a crowbar. They went on to fetch almost 50,000 at auction in 2014. Photo credit: Rob Youngson So it's fitting that another legendary diamond dazzles at the heart of a brand new adaptation of Christie's 1937 novel, Death on the Nile. The film is set aboard a glamorous Egyptian steamer, where a host of mysterious characters (an all-star cast including Gal Gadot, Annette Bening and Letitia Wright) are on holiday alongside Hercule Poirot (a moustachioed Sir Kenneth Branagh, who also directs). When a murder is committed on the journey, Poirot's little grey cells are called into action once more. In a snapshot from the film's trailer, Gadot's character (a socialite called Linnet Ridgeway Doyle) can be glimpsed on a staircase with her fiance, played by Armie Hammer. Delicate gems twinkle about her ears and wrist, but it's her incredible necklace, with its canary-coloured pendant, that really steals the show. Story continues 'The necklace that Simon (Armie Hammer) gifts my character Linnet had to be something incredibly rare and special. I was absolutely thrilled when costume designer Paco Delgado told me it would be a recreation of the Tiffany Diamond, one of the world's most important diamonds,' explains Gal Gadot. 'It was such a fun experience to have all of the glittering Tiffany jewellery on set.' Photo credit: Rob Youngson The sparkling yellow drop is actually a replica of one of the world's largest and most exquisite coloured (or 'fancy') diamonds, the 128.54 carat Tiffany Diamond, which was unearthed in South Africa in 1877. Originally, the rough stone weighed over 287 carats but after Tiffany & Co's founder, Charles Lewis Tiffany, purchased it in 1878, he had it shipped to Paris, where his chief gemologist supervised the cutting of the stone into its current cushion shape, with 82 facets to ensure maximum radiance and 'fire'. The whole process took a year to complete and afterwards the stone travelled widely for much of the late 19th and early 20th centuries as the star of multiple global exhibitions, cementing Tiffany's status as the 'King of Diamonds'. Now imbued with an almost mythical status, the Tiffany diamond is part of the house's precious archive and normally resides in a display case at Tiffany & Co's Fifth Avenue flagship in New York. It's only been worn in public three times since its discovery: firstly by Mrs. Mary Whitehouse who wore it to a charity gala in 1957, mounted in a simple white diamond necklace. Four years later, it formed part of a more elaborate 'ribbon' necklace by Tiffany's trailblazing in-house jeweller, Jean Schlumberger, for Audrey Hepburn to wear in a publicity photoshoot for Breakfast At Tiffany's. In 1995, the diamond was set in Schlumberger's famous 'Bird on a Rock' brooch design for a retrospective at Paris' Musee des Arts Decoratif and it remained in that setting until last year, when Lady Gaga wore it as part of a custom-made necklace to the 2019 Academy Awards - the first time the stone had ever appeared on a red carpet. Photo credit: Jeff Kravitz - Getty Images For its latest outing, the Tiffany diamond may have been replaced by a sparkling stunt double (the gem is virtually priceless and will never be offered for sale) but its presence in Death on the Nile, alongside an array of other Tiffany jewellery, is testament to Tiffany's chief artistic officer Reed Krakoff and his mission to celebrate and promote diamonds being worn and enjoyed, rather than eternally locked away in vaults. "The Tiffany Diamond is a priceless symbol of the highest standards of virtuosity and craftsmanship at Tiffany, and rarely makes an appearance beyond its vault," he has said. "A central role in the adaptation of Agatha Christies classic novel is deserving of our priceless diamond." As a diamond lover herself, Ms. Christie herself may well have agreed. Death on the Nile can be seen in cinemas from 18 December. You Might Also Like LONDON Ruth Mackenzie broke boundaries as the artistic director of the Theatre du Chatelet, one of Paris most famous stages. In 2017, she became the first woman to run the theater, which opened in 1862. Shortly after she took office, the Chatelet closed for a two-and-a-half-year, $35 million renovation, and Mackenzie used that time to reinvent the institution. When it reopened last fall, the revamped programming made headlines and appealed to new audiences, including from Pariss poor suburbs. Last October, for example, it staged Les Justes, a rap musical based on a work by Albert Camus. The productions director, Abd al Malik, was the first Black artist to direct a play at the theater. Now, Mackenzie has been fired. The theaters board dismissed her with immediate effect on Thursday, she said in a telephone interview. A letter from the board said that she had bullied employees, Mackenzie said, an accusation that she denied. Theres a level of betrayal, she said of her feelings about the decision. Its a high price to pay for moving here, writing a 10-year vision and starting it with some beautiful work with artists and audiences that hadnt had a chance to go to this theater before. Jaipur, Aug 29 : Launching its 'Halla Bol' campaign against the Ashok Gehlot government on Friday, the BJP's Rajasthan unit attacked it on various issues, including the power tariff hike, the law and order situation and unemployment in the state. The campaign was launched by state BJP President Satish Poonia, who said that the Gehlot government, after camping in resorts, is now getting famous for delaying promises it made to people during elections. "In its manifesto, Congress made promises to farmers on loan waivers and (then Congress President) Rahul Gandhi had said 'Ab hoga Nyay' (Now there will be justice). Now we ask, 'Kab Hoga Nyay? (When will there be justice?)'," he said. Many state BJP leaders went live on Facebook and posted videos with hashtag #BJPkaHallaBol. Poonia said that the BJP demanded a four-month waiver on electricity bills but the government, instead, increased the burden on consumers. "The state government ran away from the Assembly over burning issues, including electricity, law and order and locust attacks but they cannot hide from the public," he said. Union Minister Kailash Chaudhary also addressed the Halla Bol programme, via social media, and accused the state government of breaking all its promises. "They promised that power tariff won't be increased... however the power bills are being continuously increased. Fuel surcharge and many other tariffs have been increased," he added. Party MP Diya Kumari, participating from her constituency Rajsamand, said that in the corona crisis, the Rajasthan government has brought darkness to the houses of the poor. Vehemently opposing the increase in electricity charges, she said that the Congress government is the "first such insensitive" government in the state's history which has continuously hurt the sentiments of the people, and instead of forgiving the bills, made them the main source of its income. Diya Kumari, who was visiting her constituency for the first time after becoming the state General Secretary, led the 'Halla Bol' protest in Jassa Kheda. "The government is itself relaxing in five-star hotels and the public is facing exorbitant electricity bills," she said. A Nicaraguan asylum seeker embraces his children in Costa Rica, March 2019. UNHCR/Flavia Sanchez More than three quarters of Nicaraguan refugees and asylum seekers in Costa Rica are going hungry, eating only once or twice a day as a result of the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is concerned that this could drive returns in adverse conditions. Before the pandemic hit, and thanks to effective local integration initiatives in Costa Rica, only three percent of refugees were eating once a day or less. Now, this has more than quadrupled to 14 per cent. This is according to a humanitarian assessment conducted by UNHCR in July and August aimed at supporting Costa Rican authorities address the needs of more than 81,000 Nicaraguans who have sought international protection in the country. The majority of Nicaraguan refugees and asylum seekers in the country, 63 per cent, now report eating only two meals a day. Refugee hosting communities are facing similar conditions and the economic contraction in these countries will make it even more difficult for refugees and their hosts to recover. Costa Rica generously hosts nearly 80 percent of all refugees and asylum seekers from Nicaragua who have fled human rights violations and persecution, or some 81,000 people. It is among ten countries worldwide that received the most new asylum claims last year, some 59,200. With a large proportion of forcibly displaced people in Latin America reliant on the informal economy, especially as they begin their integration into the communities that host them, COVID- related quarantine measures are now impacting livelihoods and driving food insecurity. Only 59 per cent of refugee families in Costa Rica are reporting steady work-related income streams as of the end of July, a staggering decrease from 93 per cent before the pandemic hit. This leaves many also at risk of eviction and homelessness. A fifth of Nicaraguan refugees surveyed in Costa Rica said they now do not know where they will live in the next month. Hardships faced by Nicaraguan refugees and asylum seekers, including loss of livelihoods, eviction and hunger, have also been reported elsewhere in the region, including in Panama, Guatemala and Mexico. Twenty-one percent of Nicaraguan refugees and asylum seekers surveyed said at least one member of their household is now contemplating a return to Nicaragua, mostly due to a lack of income or food. This is despite the risks they reported having fled. More than 3,000 asylum claims in Costa Rica have been withdrawn to date, principally by Nicaraguan nationals. UNHCR continues to provide impartial information to those considering whether to return to Nicaragua, where the social and political crisis has driven more than 102,000 people to seek protection abroad. In the face of this worsening situation, UNHCR is working together with governments and partners to ensure that asylum seekers and refugees -- for whom return is not an option -- receive the support and assistance they need in host countries. Since the start of the pandemic, UNHCR has stepped-up its cash assistance programmes throughout Central America to support forcibly displaced people in vulnerable conditions. In Costa Rica, UNHCR has assisted 1,221 vulnerable and at-risk families. Through its partnership with the Costa Rican Social Security System, UNHCR is also ensuring health coverage for 6,000 asylum seekers with serious and chronic conditions. In Panama, UNHCR, through partners, has supported nearly 700 people with cash assistance, and has helped dozens of families with rent payments or mediation to avoid evictions. However, a severe lack of funding is hampering the ability to address urgent humanitarian needs. UNHCRs operation in Costa Rica, whose financial requirements for 2020 stand at US$26.9 million, is only 46 per cent funded to date. UNHCR continues to support efforts by States to address the needs of people forced to flee in Central America, as part of the regional framework for the comprehensive protection and solutions to forced displacement in Central America known as MIRPS. It is also calling on all member States of the MIRPS to step up coordination and support in the face of new COVID-related challenges. For a complete picture of forced displacement in Central America and Mexico visit the UNHCR operational data portal. For more information on this topic, please contact: When the Vatican opened its sealed archives from the World War II-era pontificate of Pius XII in March, Brown University historian David Kertzer was among the first in line. Like many other scholars, Kertzer had been eager to mine the papers of a pope long under consideration for sainthood whose response to Nazism and the Holocaust had become the target of fierce debate. Some have cast Pius XII as the pontiff who remained shamefully silent as the Nazis massacred Jews during the war. Others claim that Pius worked behind the scenes to encourage the Roman Catholic Church to save thousands of Jews and other victims of persecution. Now documents from the archives are beginning to trickle out, offering an early taste of what could emerge from the tens of thousands of papers that scholars had been clamoring to study for decades. Pius XIIs pontificate stretched from 1939 to 1958. In an article published in The Atlantic on Thursday, Kertzer revealed previously unpublished documents, including a memorandum advising Pius against making a formal protest when the Gestapo rounded up 1,000 of Romes Jews on Oct. 16, 1943, for deportation to the concentration camp in Auschwitz. Kertzer also found a trail of documents revealing that Vatican officials directed clerics in France to resist turning over two Jewish boys who had been put in the care of local Catholics and baptized when their parents were killed in Auschwitz despite rulings by French courts ordering that the boys be given to their aunt. The churchs defiance of the aunts yearslong efforts to reclaim the two boys Robert and Gerald Finaly made international headlines at the time, including on the front page of The New York Times. The documents show that Pius was kept informed, even as French nuns and monks were arrested on charges of kidnapping the boys. Among historians, my piece I think will be fairly explosive, said Kertzer, whose book The Pope and Mussolini, about Pius predecessor, Pius XI, won the Pulitzer Prize for biography in 2015. Vatican officials, provided with Kertzers article, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. In 1965, Pope Paul VI ordered the release of some official Vatican records relating to the wartime period after Pius XII had been excoriated in Rolf Hochhuths 1963 play The Deputy, which attacked the pope for not having publicly condemned Hitler, even though he was aware of the Nazi crimes. Hochhuth died in May. Four Jesuit scholars published 11 volumes of documents from Pius XIIs pontificate between 1965 and 1981. Critics have said those volumes were selective and insufficient. Kertzer said a note and a memorandum found from 1943, both translated and reprinted in the Atlantic article, were not included in the Vatican volume dealing with 1943, which does, however, include a document that refers to one of the newly uncovered documents. The omission gave weight to suspicions that those four Jesuit scholars may have been loath to publish items that might be seen to cast the pope, and the Vatican, in unfavorable light, Kertzer said in a Skype interview from his home in Harpswell, Maine. Frankly this demonstrates thats the case. But others who study church history say that the rush to find gems buried in the newly opened archives could also result in a selective understanding of events. Scholars have the duty to study the archives thoroughly, said Matteo Luigi Napolitano, a history professor at the University of Molise, who has written several favorable books on Pius XII, including The Pope Who Saved the Jews. All the Truth about Pius XII from the Vatican Archives (co-authored with Andrea Tornielli, the editorial director of the Vaticans department of communications). You cant publish one scoop after another just because youve been in the library for a few days, said Napolitano, a member of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences. Thats not the way to work. Its not a historical method. Kertzer only managed to work a few days in the archives when the coronavirus caused the Vatican to shut its doors, but he continued to research with a Rome-based church historian, Roberto Benedetti. The documents include pages that Kertzer described as steeped in anti-Semitic language. In one document concerning the 1943 roundup, the Rev. Pietro Tacchi Venturi, a close adviser, proposed that Pius XII tell the Germans there was no need to use violence against Italys Jews because Mussolinis racial laws were sufficient to contain the tiny Jewish minority within its proper limits, Tacchi Venturi wrote. One does not understand why and what need there is to return to a question that Mussolinis Government considered already taken care of. Tacchi Venturis proposal was dismissed by a memorandum, written by the Rev. Angelo DellAcqua, then an official at the Secretariat of State who went on to become the cardinal for Rome, that sought to persuade Pius XII not to lodge a formal protest against the Nazi roundup but instead to speak of it privately with the German ambassador recommending to him that the already grave situation of the Jews not be aggravated further. DellAcqua was also involved in the much-publicized case of the Finaly brothers. The war had left many Jewish orphans in Catholic countries, and on at least two occasions, Jewish leaders had appealed to Pius XII asking for help in ensuring that they be returned to Jewish families. As one document published in 2004 shows, in some instances, church policy had been to resist. The Finaly boys had been secretly baptized, and the church in France had at first actively opposed attempts to give them back to surviving relatives because the church believed they should be raised in their new faith. The new documentation cited by Kertzer suggests that the Vatican had been directly involved in efforts to hide the Finaly boys and prevent them from being given to their relatives, all the while seeking to keep its role secret. The family finally prevailed, and the brothers were taken to Israel, where they still live. Kertzer suggests that the horror of the Holocaust had done little to soften the Vaticans position. Demand for full access to the archives intensified after the Vatican moved Pius XII closer to sainthood in 2009, a decision protested by some Holocaust survivors. Speaking to reporters while returning from his 2014 trip to Israel, Pope Francis said that Pius XII would not be beatified, the penultimate step to sainthood, until a miracle could be attributed to him. The cause for Pius XII is open. However, there has been no miracle, and if there are no miracles it is not yet possible to go ahead, Francis said. No miracle has yet been verified and for the church to make him a saint, he officially needs two, although Francis waived the second miracle in the case of Pope John XXIII. When Francis ordered the early opening of the sealed archive of Pius XII in 2019, he said: The church is not afraid of history. At the time, Francis had said that Pius XIIs pontificate had included moments of serious difficulties, of tormented decisions, of human and Christian prudence. The unsealed Pius XII archives (contained in three different Vatican archives) were opened March 2 but closed by the pandemic from March 5 until early June. They are now shut again because of the scheduled summer recess. But articles and at least one book have already begun appearing, as well as attention-grabbing revelations. The Rev. Hubert Wolf, a German scholar, who had been at the Vatican in March, gave an interview two months later saying he had found documents that reflected badly on Pius XII and the Vatican. As the Catholic and other media picked up these reports, some academics chastised him for publishing too hastily. Alberto Melloni, a church historian, said the anti-Semitic tones that emerge from some of the documents of the time should come as no surprise. Its not for nothing that it took 20 years and five months from the end of the war for the church to produce Nostra Aetate, Melloni said, referring to a document produced by the Second Vatican Council under Pope Paul VI, which radically redefined the churchs relationship to the Jews. Benedetti, the Rome historian who has been assisting Kertzer in his research, said that even after the papers were unsealed in March, scholars lacked full access to every document because some archives were still being digitized or inventoried. While the archive of the Secretariat of State is online, giving scholars ample access, at the apostolic archive, scholars are limited to asking to see three documents in the morning and two in the afternoon. It can be slow going. The documentation is truly immense, so I imagine that there will be many publications, supporting many differing positions, said Benedetti, the director of an online history journal. c.2020 The New York Times Company Researchers have revealed a new molecular mechanism by which bacteria adhere to cellulose fibers in the human gut. Thanks to two different binding modes, they can withstand the shear forces in the body. Scientists of the University of Basel and ETH Zurich published their results in the journal "Nature Communications". Cellulose is a major building block of plant cell walls, consisting of molecules linked together into solid fibers. For humans, cellulose is indigestible, and the majority of gut bacteria lack the enzymes required to break down cellulose. However, recently genetic material from the cellulose-degrading bacterium R. champanellensis was detected in human gut samples. Bacterial colonization of the intestine is essential for human physiology, and understanding how gut bacteria adhere to cellulose broadens our knowledge of the microbiome and its relationship to human health. The bacterium under investigation uses an intricate network of scaffold proteins and enzymes on the outer cell wall, referred to as a cellulosome network, to attach to and degrade cellulose fibers. These cellulosome networks are held together by families of interacting proteins. Of particular interest is the cohesin-dockerin interaction responsible for anchoring the cellulosome network to the cell wall. This interaction needs to withstand shear forces in the body to adhere to fiber. This vital feature motivated the researchers to investigate in more detail how the anchoring complex responds to mechanical forces. By using a combination of single-molecule atomic force microscopy, single-molecule fluorescence and molecular dynamics simulations, Professor Michael Nash from the University of Basel and ETH Zurich along with collaborators from LMU Munich and Auburn University studied how the complex resists external force. Two binding modes allow bacteria to stick to surfaces under flow They were able to show that the complex exhibits a rare behavior called dual binding mode, where the proteins form a complex in two distinct ways. The researchers found that the two binding modes have very different mechanical properties, with one breaking at low forces of around 200 piconewtons and the other exhibiting a much higher stability breaking only at 600 piconewtons of force. Further analysis showed that the protein complex displays a behavior called a "catch bond," meaning that the protein interaction becomes stronger as force is ramped up. The dynamics of this interaction are believed to allow the bacteria to adhere to cellulose under shear stress and release the complex in response to new substrates or to explore new environments. "We clearly observe the dual binding modes, but can only speculate on their biological significance. We think the bacteria might control the binding mode preference by modifying the proteins. This would allow switching from a low to high adhesion state depending on the environment," Professor Nash explains. By shedding light on this natural adhesion mechanism, these findings set the stage for the development of artificial molecular mechanisms that exhibit similar behavior but bind to disease targets. Such materials could have applications in bio-based medical superglues or shear-enhanced binding of therapeutic nanoparticles inside the body. "For now, we are excited to return to the laboratory and see what sticks," says Nash. ### Elon Musk confirmed that Russian hackers attempted to recruit an employee to install malware into the network of electric car maker Tesla. Recently US authorities arrested the Russian national Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov (27) after attempting to recruit an employee at a targeted company to plant a piece of malware. The man was arrested on August 22 and appeared in court on August 24. Kriuchkov offered $1 million to the unfaithful employee of the US company. Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov, 27, a citizen of Russia, was charged in a complaint with one count of conspiracy to intentionally cause damage to a protected computer. He was arrested on Aug. 22, 2020, in Los Angeles and had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alexander F. MacKinnon in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, California, who ordered Kriuchkov detained pending trial. states the DoJs press release. According to the complaint and statements made in court, from about July 15, 2020 to about Aug. 22, 2020, Kriuchkov conspired with associates to recruit an employee of a company to introduce malware. Kriuchkov conspired with other criminals to recruit the employee of an unnamed company in Nevada. Now Elon Musk confirmed that the target of the hackers was his company, electric car maker Tesla. Kriuchkov entered the United States on July 28 using his Russian passport and a tourist visa. The Russian man and his co-conspirators were planning to exfiltrate data from the network of the company and blackmail the organization to leak stolen data, unless the company paid a ransom demand. According to Teslarati, the unnamed company was Tesla, Elon Musk replied to a Teslarati tweet confirming the attack. Much appreciated. This was a serious attack. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 27, 2020 Teslarati confirmed that the employee contacted by the crooks is a Russian-speaking, non-US citizen working at Tesla-owned lithium-ion battery and electric vehicle subassembly factory Giga Nevada. The employee, whose identity has not been revealed, has access to the electric car makers computer networks. On July 16, the Russian citizen contacted the Giga Nevada employee through WhatsApp asking to meet with him in Sparks, Nevada. reads a post published by Teslarati. As noted in a report from Clearance Jobs, the fact that Kriuchkov approached a Russian-speaking, non-US citizen working at Gigafactory Nevada suggests that the team behind the cyberattack attempt has done their research well. A few days after meeting the employee, Kriuchkov exposed his plan to the employee offering him between $500,000 and $1,000,000 for the dirty job. The malware would provide Kriuchkov and co-conspirators, the malicious code was specifically designed to steal information from Tesla. The employee decided to warn Tesla and the company reported the attempt to the FBI. The employee had more meetings with Kriuchkov that were surveilled by the FBI. On August 22, the FBI arrested Kriuchkov. Pierluigi Paganini (SecurityAffairs hacking, Tesla) Stray bullets fired by police officers attempting to stop a moving vehicle in the Edjeba axis of Warri South local government area of Delta State have reportedly hit two teenage girls. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the incident happened late Thursday around CAC Junction in the community, as the operatives made frantic efforts to stop the occupant of a Toyota Camry, suspected to be an internet fraudster. It was gathered that one of the girls was hit on the waist, while the other was stuck on one of her hands. The police officers, who drove in a Volkswagen Jetta car with Police inscription on the bonnet, reportedly shot at the tyres of the vehicle within the residential area. Video footage of the incident, which surfaced on social media, showed people gathered around one of the teenage girls, who was said to have been shot by the security officers. She was then rushed to a hospital in a tricycle, while voices in the background were saying, what is the police doing?, they were shooting at the tyres. Another clip showed several persons, including the said policemen, gathered on a street. Both vehicles; the police car, and the Camry. were spotted. Sources alleged that a similar incident claimed the life of a young boy at the Praise Centre axis of Jakpa Road, Uvwie LGA in July. He was said to have been hit by a police van, while they were chasing a suspected internet scammer. A police patrol team attached to Safe Delta Command in the state had on Wednesday arrested a music producer, Umukoro FearGod, alongside two artistes in Ughelli on suspicion of being a yahoo boy. He was, however, released Thursday morning, after the Complaints Response Unit of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) intervened in the matter, with a promise to carry out further investigations. Residents of Warri have taken to social media and other outlets to decry the recent actions of policemen against people, especially youths of the metropolis, calling for the intervention of the Delta State government. Igho Tietie, a resident of Warri, who spoke with this reporter on Friday, called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to urgently look into the spate of brutality unleashed by his men on harmless citizens in the oil city. I condemn in strong terms the excesses and brutality of the men of the Nigerian police in Warri. The total disregard for due process and abuse of the fundamental human rights of the people in the city is unacceptable. READ ALSO: I call on the IGP to urgently look into the activities of these men and take actions to correct them before more innocent lives are lost and the image of the NPF is further dented. These men need reorientation, retraining, and possible relocation to save everyone from all these horrors, Tietie stressed. The Delta State police command confirmed that only a girl sustained an injury in the incident, adding that the team flagged down the vehicle on reasonable suspicion. A spokesperson for the command, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said, they were chasing a boy that they suspected and he refused to stop. They had to shoot at his tyres and it bounced back and hit a girl. The community people came out and as a result, the boy escaped with the vehicle. The girl was taken to a hospital by the police and is in stable condition. Nobody died. The European Union has agreed to impose sanctions on 20 high-ranking Belarusian officials suspected of rigging elections and suppressing protests, and is likely to add President Aleksandr Lukashenko to the list at some point, AP reported referring to the EU FMs. We have general agreement on how the list will be structured and who will be, more or less, on the list, Czech Republic FM Tomas Petricek told reporters at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Berlin. However, the technicalities involved in legally finalizing the list won't be concluded for at least another week. Asked whether the President of Belarus will be included in the list, Petricek said that he believes that Lukashenko should be on the list. The question is whether in the first stage, or a later stage if there is no progress. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius agreed that Lukashenko should be on the list, but admitted that there could be "tactical reasons" not to include the Belarusian leader yet. TAIPEI, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan's economy remained sluggish in July, as indicated by the latest index gauging the business climate, which was released by the island's economic regulating department Thursday. The composite index of monitoring indicators flashed a "yellow-blue light" in July for the fifth consecutive month, though the index increased by two points from June to 21 points, suggesting that the economy maintained a tendency toward recession, the department said in a press release. Under Taiwan's five-color system to assess the economy, a blue light (9-16 points) indicates a contraction, a yellow-blue light (17-22) means sluggishness, a green light (23-31) signals stable growth, a yellow-red light (32-37) suggests a warming economy and a red light (38-45) points to an overheated economy. Out of the nine factors in the composite index for July, four changed, and five remained unchanged. The sub-index for industrial production flashed a yellow-blue light, compared with a green light in June, while the sub-index for business sentiment among manufacturers turned from blue to yellow-blue. The sub-indexes for stocks and imports of machinery and electrical equipment both changed from green to yellow-red in July. The trend-adjusted leading indicator, which is composed of seven sub-indexes to predict changes in the economy, increased by 1.23 percent to 102.39 points in July, suggesting weakening impacts from the COVID-19 epidemic on the economy, the statement said. Taiwan witnessed improvements in local consumption and exports in July but the economy may continue to struggle since the COVID-19 pandemic remains severe across the world, the statement said. The Prosecutor's Office of the Department of Cochabamba within 20 days will decide to bring charges against ex-President Evo Morales of child molestation, TASS reported referring to the Secretary-General of the Attorney General Edwin Quispe. According to Quispe, if sufficient evidence of a crime is found, the guilty or guilty to be identified will be charged. The subject of the investigation was the relationship between the ex-head of state and a girl named Noemi. Photos were shared showing her spending time with Morales, who resigned from the presidency amid protests last November. Those who turned to the prosecutor's office suspect that the girl was in an intimate relationship with the former president when she underaged. In her testimony, 19-year-old Noemi said that until May 2020, she has a friendly relationship with Morales. Tomorrow on 60 Minutes, Mick Fanning, Katy Perry and the story behind an Australian prisoner in Tehran. Deep Blues Its easy to look at Mick Fanning and think lifes a beach. Hes a three-time world surfing champion who has earned millions of dollars doing what he loves. He even part-owns a brewery. But what on the surface looks like a dream existence masks years of pain and suffering below. Now for the first time, the 39-year-old surfer is talking about his deep blues, which at their worst meant he didnt leave his house for months on end. Tom Steinfort reports that Fannings tough times began after his epic battle with a shark in 2015. Most of the world thought he was indestructible, but the truth could not have been more different. It has taken five difficult years, but now with help from his mates, his mum and his fiancee, Mick Fanning has risen from the depths. He also has a brand-new reason not to leave home: fatherhood. Reporter: Tom Steinfort Producers: Laura Sparkes Living Hell If you have a free moment, spare a thought for Australian academic Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert. Her situation is grim. Shes about to start her third year as a prisoner in Iran and is being held in an unimaginably squalid, coronavirus-infested jail outside the capital, Tehran. Her crime, according to the Iranian regime, is that shes a spy. Dr Moore-Gilbert emphatically denies the accusation, but her appeals have all been ignored or rejected. As Sarah Abo reports, it means her only hope now is for the Australian government to come to her rescue. Reporter: Sarah Abo Producer: Garry McNab Katys Smile Congratulations Katy Perry! Three days ago the pop superstar added mum to her already impressive resume when daughter Daisy Dove was born. She and actor-fiance Orlando Bloom are said to be positively blooming. And the babys perfectly timed arrival could not have been scripted any better, coinciding with the release of Katys new album, the perfectly titled Smile. For this story, reporter Tara Brown first caught up with Perry back in March when she was visiting Australia to support victims of the catastrophic bushfires. But then COVID put a halt to filming until a few weeks ago when a heavily pregnant and very excited mother-to-be told Tara how she couldnt wait to meet her daughter. Reporter: Tara Brown Producer: Thea Dikeos 8:30pm (ish) Sunday on Nine. Round Four of LA COVID-19 Relief Grants Begins Monday for Micro-Entrepreneurs, Small Businesses and Nonprofits In partnership with the LA Regional COVID-19 Fund, Councilman Curren Price has secured $1 million in grants to assist micro-entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits operating in District 9 affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The fourth round of grant applications will be open from Monday, Aug. 31 through Sept. 4. The LA Regional COVID-19 Recovery Fund is open to micro-entrepreneurs, small businesses, and non-profits located in Los Angeles County. The LA Regional COVID Fund is composed of three parts including grants, loans and technical assistance. Grant opportunities of $5,000 are available to micro-entrepreneurs and $15,000 for small businesses and nonprofits. For the remaining schedule, eligibility information or to apply, please visit https://www.lacovidfund.org/. Applications are available in 15 languages. For more information, call (833) 238-4450. ADVERTISEMENT The Delhi High Court Friday dismissed a plea by Mehul Choksi, an accused in the nearly USD 2 billion PNB scam, to conduct pre-screening of documentary, Bad Boy Billionaires'. Justice Navin Chawla, after hearing the matter for over two hours, declined to grant relief to Choksi saying a writ petition for enforcement of a private right cannot be maintainable. The court said his remedy lies in a civil suit and granted him the liberty to raise the issue in a civil suit. Choksi, the promoter of Gitanjali Gems, and his nephew Nirav Modi are accused in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab Bank fraud case. Choksi left the country last year and was granted citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda. The documentary, Bad Boy Billionaires', which is scheduled to be released in India on September 2, is described on platform as, This investigative docuseries explores the greed, fraud and corruption that built up - and ultimately brought down - India's most infamous tycoons. The plea was pre-screening of the documentary was vehemently opposed by (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.) GILLETTE Campbell County Commissioners will not adopt a resolution against the states coronavirus public health orders. At a directors meeting Monday, Commissioners Del Shelstad and Colleen Faber said they had received questions from residents about whether Campbell County would pass a resolution against government overreach similar to what has been done in other communities. The city of Sheridan adopted a resolution July 20 declaring all legal businesses and personnel in the city as essential. The resolution was necessary for the purpose of discouraging state authorities fr... A man has been killed by a polar bear after it attacked a campsite in the remote Svalbard Islands, authorities on the Norwegian archipelago said. It is thought the animal attacked the site early on Friday morning but no one else was injured. The man, who has not been identified, was taken to hospital in Longyearbyen where he was declared dead, deputy governor Soelvi Elvedah said. Six other people were treated in hospital for shock. Longyearbyen is the main settlement in Norway's Arctic Svalbard archipelago, which sits more than 800km (500 miles) north of the Norwegian mainland. Advertisement The polar bear was found dead in a car park close to the nearby airport after being shot by onlookers, the governor's office said in a statement on its website. The website says bears may appear anywhere on Svalbard and urges people "to stay as far away as possible to avoid situations that could be dangerous for you and for the bear". There are warnings across the islands about the dangers of polar bears. Visitors who choose to sleep outdoors are advised that they must carry firearms to protect themselves when in more remote areas. Norwegian public broadcaster NRK said the victim was the fifth person to have been killed by polar bears since 1971. The last death was in 2011 when a teenager was killed. In 2015, a polar bear dragged a Czech tourist out of his tent as he and others were camping north of Longyearbyen, clawing his back before being driven away by gunshots. The tourist, who was slightly injured, was among a group of six people on a combined ski and snow scooter trip on the remote islands. The bear was eventually found and killed by local authorities. An estimated 20,000-25,000 bears live in the Arctic but they are critically endangered. She is one of the newest stars of Bachelor Nation. But Hannah Ann Sluss looked more like a member of Grease's Pink Ladies during a recent trip to Whole Foods in Los Angeles. The reality star, 24, wore a bubblegum hued jacket and coordinating face mask as she chatted with her pal. In the pink! Hannah Ann Sluss looked more like a member of Grease's Pink Ladies as she caught up with friends during a recent trip to Whole Foods in Los Angeles Hannah Ann was all ears as she listened intently to her friend with her dazzling face mask dangling off a single ear, putting her pretty face on complexion. Highlighted brunette hair dangling down in loose waves, Hannah Ann looked stunning as she sat across her friend with just a light touch of makeup on her face. She dressed up the look with a gold choker necklace and a Louis Vuitton crossbody bag. Hannah Ann added a trendy flair with her stylish ripped T-shirt, while keeping cool in black biker shorts. All ears: Hannah Ann listened intently to her friend with her dazzling face mask dangling off a single ear, putting her pretty face on complexion Girl gang: Sluss' ensemble was reminiscent of the iconic Pink Ladies from Grease In addition to her pink jacket and mask, even Hannah Ann's Poppi drink, an immunity boosting prebiotic soda coordinated with her look. Hannah rose to stardom after becoming engaged to Peter Weber on last season of The Bachelor. The relationship was short-lived, with Peter calling it off a short while later and subsequently beginning a relationship with contestant Kelley Flanagan. Will you accept this rose? Sluss rose to stardom after accepting - and ending - an engagement to Peter Weber on The Bachelor Miss Independent: Sluss won over fans after standing up for herself during her breakup with Peter Despite the pandemic, Hannah has remained an active member of Bachelor Nation. On top of hanging out with the likes of Bachelor fan favorite Hannah Godwin, Hannah was recently spotted on the set of The Bachelorette, which is currently filming in La Quinta, California. This season of The Bachelorette is rumored to be unlike any other, with lead Clare Crawley rumored to have been replaced by Tayshia Adams after falling in love with contestant Dale Moss. In a wide-ranging interview to ARY News on Thursday night, Khan hinted that he was pressurised into sending Sharif abroad, saying that the reports presented to his government suggested that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) supremo was severely ill, reports Dawn news. Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that allowing his predecessor Nawaz Sharif to leave the country was a "mistake" and that his government "regretted" the decision. The federal cabinet, he said, had held a long debate over whether the government should let Sharif leave on humanitarian grounds. The Prime minister further said the court had declared that the government would be responsible, should anything happen to Sharif. The premier also recalled that PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif submitted indemnity bonds worth 7 billion PKR, promising the former leader would return to the country. "Now we feel embarrassed. Now he (Nawaz Sharif) has started doing politics (from) there as well and, when you see him, it seems like there is nothing (wrong) with him. "We did not give and NRO, we tried our best to do what we could, but the medical opinion presented to us was that if we didn't do anything, he could die, that he might not even reach London. This is what we were told and after that we would have been held responsible. So after that we sent him in good faith," Dawn news quoted Khan as saying in the interview. Khan's remarks came after Adviser to the Prime Minster on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar on August 22 said that the government has approached the UK for Sharif's extradition after he was declared an "absconder". On October 29, 2019 the Lahore High Court granted the former leader an eight-week bail for treatment within Pakistan and on November 16, he got a four-week permission to travel abroad for treatment. Haulier admits manslaughter over deaths of migrants in Essex A haulier has pleaded guilty to his part in the deaths of 39 migrants in a trailer on the back of a lorry. The bodies of the Vietnamese nationals were discovered on an industrial estate in Grays, Essex, shortly after the lorry arrived in Purfleet on a ferry in the early hours of October 23 last year. Among the men, women and children were 10 teenagers, two of them 15-year-old boys. Police at the industrial estate in Grays (Kirsty OConnor/PA) An inquest heard that their medical cause of death was asphyxia and hyperthermia a lack of oxygen and overheating in an enclosed space. On Friday, haulier Ronan Hughes, 40, from Co Armagh in Northern Ireland, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to 39 counts of manslaughter. He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration between May 1 2018 and October 24 2019. It was alleged he played a leading role in the operation, with his trailers and drivers used to transport migrants. Hughes appeared in the dock alongside Eamonn Harrison, 23, of Mayobridge, Co Down, Northern Ireland, who is alleged to have driven the lorry trailer to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge before it sailed to Purfleet in England. Harrison pleaded not guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Harrison and Hughes appeared at the Old Bailey after being extradited from the Republic of Ireland in July. BERLIN Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is still in an induced coma from a suspected poisoning but his condition is stable and his symptoms are improving, the German doctors treating him said Friday. 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 Aug 20 and was taken to a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk after the plane made an emergency landing. Last weekend, he was transferred to the Charite hospital in Berlin, where doctors found indications of cholinesterase inhibitors in his system. Found in some drugs, pesticides and chemical nerve agents, cholinesterase inhibitors block the breakdown of a key chemical in the body, acetycholine, that transmits signals between nerve cells. Navalny, 44, is being treated with the antidote atropine. Charite said there has been some improvement in the symptoms caused by the inhibition of cholinesterase activity. While his condition remains serious, there is no immediate danger to his life, the hospital said. However, due to the severity of the patients poisoning, it remains too early to gauge potential long-term effects. Navalnys wife Yulia has been visiting him regularly at the hospital and Charite said physicians remain in close contact with her. Navalnys allies insist he was deliberately poisoned and say the Kremlin was behind it, accusations that Russian officials rejected as empty noise. Western experts have cautioned that it is far too early to draw any conclusions about what may have caused Navalnys condition, but note that Novichok, the Soviet-era nerve agent used to poison former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Britain, was a cholinesterase inhibitor. The Russian doctors who treated Navalny in Siberia have repeatedly contested the German hospitals conclusion, saying they had ruled out poisoning as a diagnosis and that their tests for cholinesterase inhibitors came back negative. Navalny was brought to Germany for treatment after Chancellor Angela Merkel personally offered the possibility of him being treated in Berlin. We have an obligation to do everything so that this can be cleared up, Merkel told reporters at her annual summer news conference on Friday. It was right and good that Germany said we were prepared to take in Mr. Navalny. And now we will try to get this cleared up with the possibilities we have, which are indeed limited. When there is more clarity about what happened, Germany will try to ensure a European reaction to the case, Merkel said. She cited the poisonings of Skripal and his daughter two years ago, which prompted many European countries to expel Russian diplomats and vice-versa. Following a meeting in Berlin with his counterparts from 26 European Union countries, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said forcefully that Russia had an obligation to carry out a thorough investigation, something many countries have called for. Russia must contribute more to clearing up the Navalny case, and the investigations that we expect must not remain a fig leaf, Maas told reporters. The background to this act must be investigated comprehensively and transparently, and those responsible directly and indirectly brought to account. So far, Russian authorities appear reluctant to investigate the politicians condition. Navalnys team submitted a request last week to Russias Investigative Committee, demanding authorities launch a criminal probe on charges of an attempt on the life of a public figure and attempted murder, but said there was no reaction. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he saw no grounds for a criminal case until the cause of the politicians condition was fully established. Russias Prosecutor Generals office said Thursday that a preliminary inquiry launched last week hasnt found any indication of deliberate criminal acts committed against Navalny. The dissidents supporters are not surprised at the Kremlins reaction. They understand that any investigation will lead to the Kremlin, Lyubov Sobol, a prominent opposition politician and one of Navalnys closest allies, told The Associated Press on Friday. Theyre not launching a criminal probe because they will have to answer at some point what the results of the investigation are. Sobol says while Navalnys condition hasnt prompted big protests in Russia, it has stirred the outrage brewing there. I saw a lot of comments from well-known public figures in Russia who have never spoken out for Alexei Navalny before, (but now) spoke their minds and said that this was outrageous, it shouldnt be this way, Sobol said. Its a turning point. Even with their leader in the hospital, Navalnys team continues its work on corruption investigations and regional election campaigns in Moscow and dozens of other regions. Navalnys most recent project, Smart Voting, identifies candidates that are most likely to beat those from Putins United Russia party and his supporters actively campaign for them. According to Sobol, the team is used to working in his absence frequently arrested, Navalny has spent more than a year in jail in recent years. So we know how to work without direct orders from Navalny. We understand what we need to do, Sobol said. ___ Litvinova reported from Moscow. Alexander Roslyakov in Moscow and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed. Police on Thursday gunned-down two persons suspected to be carjackers at Asamankese in the Eastern Region during a gun battle. The deceased, who had not been identified, were said to have snatched a Nissan Murano vehicle at gun point in Accra in the early hours of Thursday and travelled to Asamankese. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Effia Tenge, Head of Public Affairs Unit, Accra Regional Police Command, said this in a press release made available to the Ghana News Agency in Accra. She said the two sustained gun-shot wounds in a shot-out with the police, which resulted in their deaths. She said the police had, however, arrested Erasmus Somuah Sekyie, their accomplice, and was assisting in investigations. DSP Tenge said the Nissan Murano had been retrieved and the bodies had been deposited at the Police Hospital Mortuary awaiting autopsy. The Command further warns all armed criminals that the police will not relent on its efforts in combating violent crimes in the country, she 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 Yes Bank gained 2.11% to Rs 15.02 after credit ratings agency CRISIL upgraded its rating on bank's certificates of deposit (CD) to 'CRISIL A2+'. Yes Bank on Thursday announced that CRISIL upgraded its rating on bank's Rs 20,000 crore certificates of deposit (CD) to 'CRISIL A2+' from 'CRISIL A2'. The rating agency also reaffirmed its 'CRISIL BBB/Stable' rating on the bank's Tier-II bonds (under Basel III) and infrastructure bonds. Crisil said the upgrade in the short term rating reflects improvement in the funding and liquidity profile of the bank, with gradual increase in its deposit base as well as sizeable capital raised recently. With this, Yes Bank has repaid Rs 35,000 crore of the Rs 50,000 crore special liquidity facility availed from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in March 2020, which is ahead of the earlier plan. Further, the bank's liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) has improved in recent months. The ratings continue to be underpinned by the expectation of continued extraordinary systemic support from key stakeholders and sizeable ownership by the State Bank of India (SBI). Yes Bank's net profit tumbled 60.1% to Rs 45 crore in Q1 FY21 from Rs 114 crore in Q1 FY20. However, the bank has returned to profitability after reporting loss in the past three quarters. It had reported a net loss of Rs 3,668 crore in Q4 FY20. Net Interest Income (NII) fell 16.3% to Rs 1,908 crore in Q1 June 2020 from Rs 2,281 crore in Q1 June 2019. Net Interest Margin (NIM) stood at 3% in Q1 FY21 as against 2.8% in Q1 FY20. Yes Bank was under moratorium for 13 days in March 2020. It resumed full-fledged banking operations from 18 March 2020. This came after a consortium of eight public and private banks, led by State Bank of India, agreed to infuse capital into Yes Bank to rescue it from the brink of a collapse. These financial institutions had together pooled in Rs 10,000 crore as investment at Rs 10 per share in Yes Bank when it faced pressure from depositors. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One might assume that Trudi Shaw was overjoyed to learn that an overseas terror suspect linked to the kidnapping and beheading of her brother, Robert Hall, had surrendered to authorities. But the resident of Burnaby, B.C. says shes mostly ambivalent. Hall was one of two Canadians killed in 2016 in a high-profile hostage-for-ransom case involving members of Abu Sayyaf, the militant group that aligns itself with the Islamic State. Earlier this month, Anduljihad Susukan, a key commander said to have financed the kidnapping, was taken into custody after being wounded in battle. However, Shaw says punitive justice is not what shes after. I would have a few choice words to say to these people if I ever had a face-to-face conversation with them, but I dont hate them. And I dont think throwing them in jail is going to necessarily solve the problem, she said. The things that we experience in life can eat away at us and destroy us or we can use them to build something positive. To that end, Shaw, 69, a retired chaplain, remains focused on seeing through a mission she and her other siblings started after their brothers death to improve the way the Canadian government supports families caught up in hostage crises. During a two-hour interview with the Star, Shaw, at times fighting back tears, said that in the nine months her brother was held captive, her family often felt alone, powerless and unsupported by the Canadian government. She said she doesnt want other families to have to go through the same thing and said the ongoing detention in China of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor has been very much in my thoughts. In late 2017, Shaw and her two other siblings, Bonice Thomas and Bill Hall, travelled to Ottawa and met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, then-foreign affairs minister Chrystia Freeland, senior government bureaucrats and RCMP officials. Shaw said while the family got some verbal commitments that changes would happen, they have received no indication such changes were put into policy. In response to questions from the Star, a Global Affairs Canada spokesperson said feedback from the Hall family, as well as other hostage families, has been adopted into working practice. The RCMP said it could not discuss outcomes of meetings with families. It is important that what we shared not be lost in the shuffle of personnel and ministry appointments, Shaw said. If they dont follow through with what they learned from us, then thats all going to be in vain. On Sept. 21, 2015, Abu Sayyaf militants kidnapped Hall, Halls Filipina girlfriend, Marites Flor, fellow Canadian John Ridsdel and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad from a marina in southern Philippines. They were then taken by boat to the jungles of the Sulu archipelago. Over several months, the kidnappers posted a series of ransom videos, demanding millions of dollars to secure their release. In one video in April 2016, Hall, 66, looking gaunt, made a direct appeal to Ottawa. My specific appeal is to the Canadian government, Hall said, who I know has the capacity to get us out of here. I wonder what they are waiting for. Ridsdel, 68, would be executed later that month. Hall would face the same fate two months later, but not before appearing in another video in which he said he felt the Canadian government had abandoned him. The remaining two hostages were released. Following her brothers murder, Shaw spoke to the Star for a series of stories published in late 2016 documenting the experiences of Canadians who had been through a kidnapping crisis. She said during those nine months, she felt as if she was living in a parallel universe. Family members were given explicit instructions not to talk about the case in public. When they went to work, they had to pretend everything was normal. Shaw, then a chaplain at a care facility, recalls sitting at the bedside of a dying woman. She tried to comfort her but ended up sobbing uncontrollably. On top of the burden of keeping their brothers case secret, family members had to deal with the stress of making critical decisions, often with little guidance, Shaw said. Fundamentally, our family is in agreement with the no-ransom rule. However, thats basically an abstract idea you can agree to when its not your family member thats been taken hostage. Shaw said her family wondered whether theyd be breaking the law if they tried to raise ransom money. Where do we go to get advice on this? At one point, they agreed to lay out their conditions to the kidnappers: one lump-sum payment for the release of all four hostages. But the captors did not budge. On another occasion, Shaw said, her family agreed to the idea of sending in military forces to extract the hostages. We said we would rather our brother was killed by a Canadian bullet. But as the Star reported in 2016, even though members of Joint Task Force 2, Canadas special operations force, were in the Philippines, they never got the green light to carry out a rescue. Family members were also dismayed by the governments public messaging, Shaw said. Canada does not and will not pay ransom to terrorists, was the common refrain. It felt as if the government was devaluing the hostages and minimizing their plight. That was very hurtful because our family has a long tradition of being proud Canadians who believe in what this country stands for, she said. That cut us to the bone. Meanwhile, relationships frayed within the family. The family was told to designate one person to deal with the hostage-takers, the RCMP and government officials. The job fell to Shaws brother, Bill. If family members had questions, they would rely on him to get the answers. When the answers didnt come fast enough, it led to tension. It polarized us, she said. We were all so distressed and angry that we couldnt be in the same room together for very long. Though he was assigned help from RCMP family liaison officers it was still a lot of responsibility for one person, Shaw said. Shaw credits her sister Bonices dogged persistence for getting the surviving siblings meetings with government officials in Ottawa in November 2017. The siblings came armed with a document outlining how they had felt isolated and helpless. The same document listed suggestions for better approaches: involve more family members in discussions, case reviews and brainstorming sessions; ensure family members questions are answered in a timely manner; provide families with proper briefings on available options and implications if they decide to raise ransom money; provide advice to families on how to deal with media inquiries; and create a directory of external support services. They asked that their policy proposals be adopted in a document called the Renova Protocol named after the boat Hall sailed in the Philippines. In the weeks that followed, there were promising signs. RCMP officials visited the family in B.C. to tell them they would be assigning liaison officers to keep them posted on the investigation overseas. In February 2018, a senior RCMP official told a parliamentary committee that families who hired intermediaries to negotiate with kidnappers would not be criminally investigated. But Shaw said its unclear what ultimately made its way into written policy. Asked to comment, RCMP spokesperson Robin Percival said the agency could not discuss specific meetings with families due to privacy reasons. The experiences of past cases have most certainly impacted the RCMPs framework for responding to international hostage takings and how we work with families, she said. The force strives to provide advice, support and information to families during a hostage crisis, but sometimes information needs to be withheld because it is sensitive or from external partners. The investigation into the deaths of Hall and Ridsdel is ongoing, she added. Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Angela Savard said in an email family support is an essential part of the governments response to hostage events. Feedback from the Hall family, as well as other hostage families, has been adopted into working practice, she said, citing improvements in the governments referral of families to provincial authorities and NGOs for support services. Each situation and family is different, and we tailor our approach to family support accordingly, she went on to say. This includes taking into consideration families communication preferences for scheduling regular phone calls or meetings with designated family members, and arranging periodic face-to-face meetings with Global Affairs Canada. Shaw said adopting measures into working practice is not the same as changing written policy, but it is a start, and hopefully your inquiry has given them notice that I am watching. One of the last things my brother said to me before he went back to the Philippines was, Your kids are so neat. Im looking forward to getting to know them better. She laments that lost opportunity. When she was invited to speak at a conference last year in New York, organizers played one of the ransom videos. Shaw had forgotten how much weight her brother had lost and how hopeless he looked and sounded. That was a kick in the butt. One organization Shaw said she has leaned on for support is Hostage International. The charity was co-founded in 2004 in the U.K. by Terry Waite, who was held hostage in Beirut from 1987 to 1991. The charity said it provides emotional and practical support, connecting kidnap victims and their families with specialists in mental health, medical and legal services, as well as media and financial advice. The details of a kidnap are almost always highly confidential, meaning that even the hostages own family might only be given limited information, which can be isolating and very frustrating, Lara Symons, the charitys executive director, said in an email. It is critical for government officials to share as much information as they can with families, while explaining why they cant share it all, she said. For families wishing to seek out a third party to help with ransom negotiations, Hostage International says it cant endorse specific organizations, but will help families ask the right questions to ensure third parties are vetted properly. It says it currently supports 30 families around the world, including eight in Canada. While Shaw started the campaign for change together with her siblings, she is now doing it alone. Her sister Bonice died of cancer in April 2018. Her brother Bill died of a heart attack two months ago. I think that my younger brother and my sisters deaths were hastened by the stress of the experience we went through, she said. Im the last one standing. Read more about: OKLAHOMA CITY, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Panhandle Oil and Gas Inc. ("Panhandle" or the "Company") (NYSE: PHX) announced today that it priced its previously announced underwritten public offering of 5,000,000 shares of common stock at a price to the public of $1.63 per share. In addition, the Company has also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 750,000 additional shares of common stock at the same price per share. The offering is expected to close on or about Sept. 1, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions. The net proceeds to the Company, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, are expected to be approximately $7.2 million (exclusive of the proceeds from the underwriters' 30-day option to purchase additional shares of common stock). The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to fund pending acquisitions, subject to customary closing conditions, and for general corporate purposes. Stifel and Northland Capital Markets are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering with Stifel acting as representative of the underwriters. The public offering of the Company's common stock is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement, including the base prospectus, and a related prospectus supplement. A copy of the final prospectus supplement relating to the offering may be obtained from Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. Inc., Attention: Syndicate Department, One South Street, 15th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, by email: [email protected] or by telephone: (855) 300-7136. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Words such as "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "believes," "expects," "intends," "will," "should," "may" and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect Panhandle's current views about future events. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the results to differ materially from those expected by the Company's management. Information concerning these risks and other factors can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, available on the Company's website or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Panhandle Oil and Gas Inc. (NYSE: PHX) Oklahoma City-based, Panhandle Oil and Gas Inc. is an oil and natural gas mineral company with a strategy to proactively pursue the acquisition of additional minerals in our core areas of focus. Panhandle owns approximately 258,000 net mineral acres principally located in Oklahoma, North Dakota, Texas, New Mexico and Arkansas. Approximately 71% of this mineral count is unleased and undeveloped. Additional information on the Company can be found at www.panhandleoilandgas.com. SOURCE PANHANDLE OIL AND GAS INC. Related Links http://www.panhandleoilandgas.com When close to half the companies in Australia have price-to-earnings ratios (or "P/E's") above 19x, you may consider Australian Vintage Ltd (ASX:AVG) as an attractive investment with its 11.7x P/E ratio. However, the P/E might be low for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified. With its earnings growth in positive territory compared to the declining earnings of most other companies, Australian Vintage has been doing quite well of late. One possibility is that the P/E is low because investors think the company's earnings are going to fall away like everyone else's soon. If not, then existing shareholders have reason to be quite optimistic about the future direction of the share price. Check out our latest analysis for Australian Vintage pe Keen to find out how analysts think Australian Vintage's future stacks up against the industry? In that case, our free report is a great place to start. How Is Australian Vintage's Growth Trending? The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/E as low as Australian Vintage's is when the company's growth is on track to lag the market. Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew earnings per share by an impressive 34% last year. Pleasingly, EPS has also lifted 120% in aggregate from three years ago, thanks to the last 12 months of growth. So we can start by confirming that the company has done a great job of growing earnings over that time. Turning to the outlook, the next year should generate growth of 7.7% as estimated by the dual analysts watching the company. With the market predicted to deliver 17% growth , the company is positioned for a weaker earnings result. With this information, we can see why Australian Vintage is trading at a P/E lower than the market. It seems most investors are expecting to see limited future growth and are only willing to pay a reduced amount for the stock. The Key Takeaway Story continues Using the price-to-earnings ratio alone to determine if you should sell your stock isn't sensible, however it can be a practical guide to the company's future prospects. We've established that Australian Vintage maintains its low P/E on the weakness of its forecast growth being lower than the wider market, as expected. At this stage investors feel the potential for an improvement in earnings isn't great enough to justify a higher P/E ratio. Unless these conditions improve, they will continue to form a barrier for the share price around these levels. And what about other risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Australian Vintage you should know about. If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on Australian Vintage, explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there. 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. Israel establishing intelligence bases on Yemeni island in cooperation with UAE: Report Iran Press TV Thursday, 27 August 2020 3:17 PM Israel, in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is to build intelligence-gathering bases on a Yemeni island in a strategic area overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a new report says, four years after Tel Aviv began to build its largest spy base in the region. Citing a number of sources, including some Yemeni ones, the French-language news outlet JForum said in a report that the Tel Aviv regime plans to build a number of spy bases on Socotra Island, which is almost 3,650 square kilometers. Socotra, some 350 kilometers south of Yemen in the Indian Ocean, is the name of the largest island of a Yemeni archipelago, where a number of smaller islands are still uninhabited. According to the report, a delegation of Israeli and Emirati intelligence officers arrived on the Socotra Island very recently and examined various locations for establishing the planned intelligence bases. It cited an unnamed high-ranking Eritrean source as saying that Israel in 2016 had started to build its largest intelligence-gathering base at the top of Mount Ambassaira, south of the Eritrean capital of Asmara. The purpose of the base, according to the report, is to electronically monitor forces belonging to a Saudi-led military coalition waging a war against Yemen and the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the region, the report added. It also monitors the activities of Houthi fighters in Yemen and Iran's naval movements in the region, beside analyzing sea and air traffic in the southern Red Sea, it added. According to the report, the Israelis and Emiratis are currently making all logistical preparations to establish intelligence bases to collect information from across the Gulf of Eden, including Bab al-Mandab and south of Yemen, which is under the control of forces loyal to the UAE. Two sites on Socotra have so far been selected for spy bases, namely the Momi region in the east of the island, where the Jamgua Center will be built and a locality in the west of the island, where Katanan Center will be established, it added. Citing Yemeni sources, the report went on to say that Israeli and Emirati intelligence experts believe that these two sites are topographically the most appropriate places to set up the bases, whose jobs will be collecting electronic information from southern Yemen, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Eden, the Egyptian Bab al-Mandab and the Horn of Africa. The US recently announced that the UAE had "normalized" relations with the Tel Aviv regime, becoming the third Arab government after Egypt and Jordan to establish relations with Israel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address One man has been hospitalized after a shootout at a Northeast Side strip club Thursday morning. San Antonio police said the suspect was at the XTC Cabaret, near the 2000 block of Sable Lane, around 3 a.m., when he went to his car and retrieved an AK-47. The man then proceeded to shoot at the club before a security guard returned fire. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox The suspect was hit once and transported to University Hospital in stable condition. Several people on scene were detained, though police did not release the reason why. Police are still investigating the shooting and haven't said what charges the suspect will face. Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway This is a relatively benign story about one womans experience with prejudice in a service bay. But please stay with me: the takeaways have the potential to reach much more broadly. Im in the process of buying a car from a friend, so I took it in recently for a safety inspection. The garage I chose is under a national brand not associated with an automaker. But thats neither here nor there because, frankly, what happened next could have happened anywhere. After completing the inspection, the mechanic walked me over to the hoist to share his findings. He had a concern with the cars brakes. But he didnt start the discussion by saying so. He started by explaining, in painfully basic terms, how brakes work. Maam, these are your brakes, he said. This is the rotor. This is where the brake pad goes, under here. I hope it goes without saying that this information was not new to me. If I didnt understand how brakes work, I wouldnt have much business being gainfully employed as an automotive writer. But this fellow has no clue what I do for a living. All he saw that day was a woman who drove up in a seven-year-old hybrid with a kid in tow. And based on those parameters, he made assumptions about my level of knowledge. To his credit, he quickly changed his tone after I unwittingly shot him what must have been a pretty dirty look and asked him a much more pointed question. But by then, the opportunity for him to gain my trust by approaching me as an equal was already gone. There are a whole lot of qualifiers to apply here. For one thing, theres no question this is extremely far from being the most egregious thing thats ever happened to a woman in a service bay. In fact, as examples of sexism in the automotive industry go, this one is relatively benign. I also dont believe this gentleman was being deliberately condescending. When I posted about this incident on social media, a colleague of mine in Quebec commented that mechanics there who want to offend a woman will address her as ma ptite madame, which roughly translates to little lady. That sort of antagonistic attitude is not what I took away from my own interaction in the slightest. I think this mechanic simply got caught in a case of unconscious bias. As the Black Lives Matter movement gained renewed traction across the United States following the murder of George Floyd, I wrote a series of articles for another publication on how the Canadian automotive industry can address discrimination. One of the most valuable insights that arose from that research is the concept of unconscious bias: whether we mean to or not, each of us carries stereotypes and preconceptions that influence how we interact with the people around us. This can be anything from associating someones ambition level with his or her skin colour or ones intelligence with tone of voice or choice of words. In short, we all make assumptions about strangers, and it affects our interactions before they even start, often in ways that are unfair. Its not a pretty thing to think about, but its an important one to come to terms with if we hope to make meaningful progress toward eliminating prejudice. In my case, my mechanic assumed I didnt know much about cars based on my gender. But this concept can manifest in many other ways. If a young man in a flat-billed hat shows up at a garage with a Subaru WRX STI, does that same mechanic give him an explanation of his brake problem that sails right over his head? If a customer speaks to him with a thick accent, does he unwittingly talk down to the brilliant CEO of a tech start-up? This is why one of the most important changes that can happen in automotive service departments and in a lot of corners of society, really is for the person who will interact with the customer to start the discussion from as neutral a position as possible. So, maam, that mechanic might have said to me, how much do you know about how your brakes work? This way, there are no assumptions, theres no room for condescension, and I as the customer set the scene for the discussion. An intuitive mechanic or adviser can tailor the rest of the interaction from there, and I leave feeling respected and with the groundwork laid for a longer-term client relationship based on trust. Its one small step in a very long journey. But its one this industry needs, and its a start. President Trump addressed the country from the South Lawn of the White House on the final night of the Republican National Convention. He criticized Joe Bidens more than 40 years in public life and called the election a choice between two visions of America. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images A little-known hero of the Second World War has been honoured with a Blue Plaque. English Heritage has marked the life of Noor Inayat Khan, who was selected for the honour due to her role as Britains first Muslim war heroine in Europe. Khan, who was of Indian and American heritage, was the first undercover female radio operator to be flown into Nazi-occupied France. Dubbed an unlikely spy, Khan served behind enemy lines in the Special Operations Executive, a body set-up by Sir Winston Churchill in 1940. The spy's family home in Taviton Street, Bloomsbury / PA The heroine began her mission in 1943, but was arrested by the feared Gestapo. She managed to escape from prison, but was shortly recaptured and was transferred to Dachau concentration camp where she was killed in 1944. Despite undergoing repeated torture, the dedicated secret agent had refused to reveal any information to her captors - even her real name. The plaque has been placed on the Khan familys London home on Taviton Street in Bloomsbury. It was the address the resourceful secret agent scratched onto the base of her feeding bowl in an attempt to communicate her capture to other prisoners, following her capture by the Gestapo. The memorial token will be officially unveiled on Friday evening by the spys biographer, Shrabani Basu - who hopes the spy and vision of unity and freedom will inspire future generations. The plaque bears details of the agent's code name / PA She said: "When Noor Inayat Khan left this house on her last mission, she would never have dreamed that one day she would become a symbol of bravery. She was an unlikely spy. "As a Sufi she believed in non-violence and religious harmony. Yet when her adopted country needed her, she unhesitatingly gave her life in the fight against Fascism. "It is fitting that Noor Inayat Khan is the first woman of Indian origin to be remembered with a Blue Plaque. As people walk by, Noor's story will continue to inspire future generations. "In today's world, her vision of unity and freedom is more important than ever." The "unlikely" spy completed undercover missions / PA Just 14 per cent of more than 950 English Heritage Blue Plaques dotted around the capital celebrate women, and the unveiling comes after the organisation admitted the proportion is still unacceptably low. Plaques planned for 2020 also include tributes to another female secret agent, Christine Granville, and to the artist Barbara Hepworth. The charity said that "if we are to continue to see a significant increase in the number of blue plaques for women, we need more female suggestions". The unveiling will take place at 7pm on Friday on English Heritage's Facebook channel. With additional reporting from PA Media. Residual virus which can do no harm is responsible for at least at least 10 cases of patients testing positive for Covid-19 after being treated and cured in different hospitals in Uttar Pradesh, say experts. Such patients had gone for a test after completing treatment to check the virus load in their bodies. Sample this. A King Georges Medical University (KGMU) staffer, who completed treatment for Covid-19 got his test done again and the report was positive. His antibody test was also positive. A positive antibody report is confirmation that a person was infected in the past and has recovered from Covid-19. Initially, in his case, we got alarmed but when his Covid-19 test was done (yet again), it was negative, said Prof Tulika Chandra, head of the department of transfusion medicine at KGMU. She said at least 10 such cases came to light till now and there could be many more getting tested in private labs. She explained, After treatment, the RNA (ribonucleic acid) molecule remains in the body for some time, say another two weeks, and gradually goes out. If someone goes for a second test immediately after completing treatment, the test report will be positive but it is harmless for the person. That was what happened in the case of the KGMU staffer and in many other cases where patients were going for a test immediately after discharge from hospitals. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued guidelines that there is no need for a Covid-19 retest at least for the next three months (for recovered patients), said Prof Chandra. The guidelines from ICMR say once a person tests positive and is then treated for the infection, (the patient) should not get tested again before three months, she said. Asked how such patients got themselves tested again despite the guidelines, Prof Chandra replied, Often patients do not say they have been tested and treated earlier. If they reveal their (previous) test, the medical staff will adhere to the guidelines, but if the patient does not say, the staff wont know. Prof Chandra said people should themselves adhere to the guidelines, so that unnecessary testing load can be avoided. One can always consult a doctor if one feels there are symptoms even after treatment, said Dr Sandeep Kapoor, director of Healthcity Hospital in Lucknow. Meanwhile, the KGMU plasma bank has issued an email address plasmabankkgmu@gmail.com for those willing to donate plasma. Such people can contact the office directly or send an email, after which the medical staff will contact them and fix an appointment/visit. (JNS) - Israeli archaeologists have announced that they have unearthed a 1,300-year-old Byzantine-era church in the Lower Galilee in the village of Kfar Kama near Mount Tabor, which Christians believe is the Mount of Transfiguration where Jesus performed one his miracles. The excavation was conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority, in collaboration with the Kinneret Academic College and local volunteers. The head of the Greek Catholic Church in Israel also personally visited the site, which was conducted prior to the construction of a playground, at the initiative of the Kfar Kama loca... Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 08:16:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- No new locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases were reported Thursday across the Chinese mainland, the National Health Commission said Friday. Nine confirmed cases arriving from outside the mainland were reported Thursday, the commission said in its daily report. Two new suspected cases, also imported from outside the mainland, were reported in Shanghai. No deaths related to the disease were reported Thursday, the commission said. Enditem Tunisian-born French human rights lawyer Gisele Halimi was 12 when she made her first stand as a feminist. It was 1939, and, in her Sephardic Jewish home in majority-Muslim Tunisia, she went on an eight-day hunger strike against her parents' rules. She demanded that they treat her equally to her two brothers, not force her to serve them their meals, not impose religious fervour upon her and also allow her to read. Her father, whom she later said had been disappointed to have a daughter, caved in. That night, she wrote in her diary: I have won my first little piece of liberty. Gisele Halimi in Paris in 1977. Credit:Getty Mrs Halimi went on to become one of Frances best-known and rebellious human rights and abortion rights lawyers over the next seven decades, including a three-year spell as a socialist member of Parliament under French President Francois Mitterrand in the 1980s. She was instrumental in making abortion in France legal, toughening French laws against rape and abolishing the death penalty. The parties are getting ready to sign the relevant contract, the future envoy reports. Ukraine expects to receive in the near future actual military aid from the United Kingdom, which includes a large contract for the purchase of lethal weapons, says Vadym Prystaiko, who has been picked for the post of Ukraine's Ambassador to the UK. "The British track is unique," Prystaiko has told European Pravda, a Ukrainian online newspaper. "It's now becoming more and more important, and not only for Ukraine. This is also our very important security partner, from whom, I hope, we will soon be able to receive actual military aid, the assistance in developing our Armed Forces," Prystaiko said. The British track is unique The diplomat, who earlier served as Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, has also announced that the parties are preparing to sign a contract for the purchase of lethal weapons. "This includes a major contract for lethal weapons not only acquisition but also production at Ukraine capacities," he explained. The diplomat noted that the Ukrainian government supports Ukraine-based production, which he says is a fair stance. Ukraine's defense cooperation, lethal aid: other news Ukraine has obtained a batch of Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 strike drones. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the United States had approved the sale of 16 Mark VI patrol boats and related equipment to Ukraine. This will help the Ukrainian Navy meet current and future threats in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Ukrainian military serving in the zone of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) in Donbas will get Javelin anti-tank missile systems previously delivered as part of the U.S. lethal aid to Ukraine. 'They will try more rounds of military level talks and move it to the diplomatic and political domain to see if there is a possibility of a solution -- and like the CDS said if that does not happen, we are prepared.' IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addresses Indian troops in Ladakh. Photograph: PTI Photo "The Indian Army has made immense improvement in capability. Look at the speed with which the Indian Army has been able to the mobilise the quantum of troops. Does that not give a hint of our capability?" Lieutenant General Subrata Saha (retd) -- former Deputy Chief of the Army Staff, former General Officer Commanding XV Corps and member of the National Security Advisory Board -- tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih. The Chief of Defence Staff said that if military talks failed military options will be on the table. How many rounds of failed talks will amount to the negotiations being considered a failure? What did you make of the CDS's statement? The Dokalam standoff in 2017 did not get resolved either by military or diplomatic talks, but a solution was found at the political level. Talks at different levels -- military, diplomatic, political -- are part of the process. If five-levels of military talks have failed, we will have to see if diplomacy or political level negotiations will be undertaken to find a solution. It is in the domain of uncertainty now, and I am sure the leadership in Delhi is already discussing what is the next step. The CDS has stated the obvious. What he has said is not out of the ordinary and falls in the normal sequence of events. What he has said is that India believes in giving opportunity for negotiations to achieve its goals, but if talks fail then there is a military option. It's a statement of fact. Does this mean that there is a possibility of a war with China? At a time when there is a general feeling that the military talks are not leading anywhere, more than the content, it is the timing that is of importance. But at the same time the military level talks have not been called off and they are looking at another round of talks for which the date is yet to be finalised. So, the military talks have not yet run their course yet. In your opinion, what military options does India have or is likely to exercise to push back the Chinese if it comes to that? There is sufficient build up in Ladakh to face any eventuality as much as in all other theatres. Some observers say a limited war is the only option. Would you agree? What does a limited war entail and what does it mean? You can define the limits in terms of time or in terms of resources or in geographical extent. These are very conjectural and nebulous statements. Frankly speaking, in today's parlance of hybrid wars, what is limited and what is not is not clearly defined. By attempting to intimidate, assert and intrude, China is enlarging the spectrum of war and conflict. Fighting with medieval weapons in Galwan can also be seen as an act of war. If somebody wants to categorise that as a limited war, then we have already gone through it; while someone else might call it a skirmish or conflict. Irrespective of how you refer to what happened at Galwan, the intent was to intrude and inflict violence by using weapons which are not used from the common understanding of war. IMAGE: Indian Army vehicles in Ladakh. Photograph: ANI Photo The last time India went to war with China, our troops were woefully under equipped. In these decades how have India's military resources matched up with the Chinese in present times? In 1986-1987, the Indian Army had taken troops from Assam into Arunachal Pradesh for military exercises. It resulted in complete panic on the Chinese side. The Chinese mobilised the LAC by bringing in infantry combat vehicles, tanks etc. The Indian Army took firm military action and the border protocol agreements between India and China subsequently were an outcome of that Sumdorong Chu incident. China has enhanced its military-economic capabilities and has an ambitious head of State, therefore we are seeing a heady mix of all this being played out at the India-China border. India also has made immense improvement in capability. Look at the speed with which the Indian Army has been able to the mobilise the quantum of troops. Does that not give a hint of our capability? The Galwan fightback shows the morale and assertiveness of the current Indian soldier. We are much, much better equipped and the government is doing what it requires to make up whatever capabilities are required. Why is it so difficult to negotiate with the Chinese? The 1993 agreement was drawn to maintain peace and tranquillity along the LAC. Unfortunately, that LAC is not defined, hence there is a fundamental problem. When the LAC is so amorphous and nebulous, it is difficult to find common ground. Even if the Chinese commander on the ground wants to agree, his hands are tied because everything is controlled from the top by a very ambitious leader. How do you see the next few weeks ahead or the months ahead? They will try more rounds of military level talks and move it to the diplomatic and political domain to see if there is a possibility of a solution -- and like the CDS said if that does not happen, we are prepared. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has also said we cannot dissociate the situation on the border with the rest of the India-China relationship. This is a significant expression of how India is looking at the future. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Five people have been arrested in Ireland as part of a major operation by authorities here, Lithuania and Britain targeting a Lithuanian organised crime gang. The arrests were made as part of eight searches in Dublin, Cork, Kerry and Waterford. The network specialised in trafficking drugs, human beings and large-scale money laundering. The gang was involved in trafficking large quantities of heroin into Ireland, north and south, according to the EU judicial body Eurojust, which coordinated the operation. It said the gang had been dismantled. The five Lithuanian nationals arrested here were brought to the High Court on Wednesday on foot of a European Arrest Warrant issued by Lithuanian authorities. Four men were remanded in custody and a woman was released on bail. Five searches were carried out in the North and three arrests were made. A statement issued by Eurojust said: Judicial authorities and police in Lithuania, UK and Ireland, with the support of Eurojust and Europol, dismantled a criminal network in drug trafficking, money laundering and trafficking in human beings. It said at least 65 people were exploited by the gang as street dealers, nearly all drug users trafficked into Britain and Ireland. It said that 18 suspects were arrested in total, including the leader of the organised crime group, while 65 searches took place and assets seized, worth around 700,000. The OCG dismantled today was responsible for trafficking large quantities of heroin in Ireland and Northern Ireland, it said. The leader of the OCG, a Lithuanian, was responsible for recruiting and trafficking people from Lithuania for drug trafficking and money laundering. Together with two other individuals, he set up a complex drug transport and distribution network in Ireland and the UK, in which at least 20 individuals have been involved since 2015. Gardai worked with members in Munster to conduct eight searches and five arrests A Garda statement said the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, assisted by members in Cork, Waterford and Kerry, conducted eight searches and arrested five people in Dublin, Cork, Waterford and Kerry. They were brought before a special sitting of the High Court for extradition proceedings. Four were remanded in custody and a fifth released on bail. Assistant Commissioner John ODriscoll, Organised and Serious Crime, said: "The operational activity undertaken across three jurisdictions illustrates the potential to tackle suspected criminal activity by those involved in organised crime that has an international dimension. A PSNI statement said the gang was "believed to be responsible for trafficking large quantities of heroin into Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland". It said it was a very complex operation, spanning two and a half years. A family held hostage by drug traffickers. A violent police shoot-out on a busy street. A mother killed while shielding her three-year-old daughter from gunfire. Even for residents accustomed to violence, it was a grim 24 hours in Rio de Janeiro, as a series of shoot-outs broke out across the city among warring criminal gangs and police. It started late Wednesday, when heavily armed members of one of Brazil's largest criminal organisations, Comando Vermelho or Red Command, were driving though the wealthy neighbourhood of Lagoa and their car broke down, according to local media. They exited the car armed and were spotted by passing police officers. Over 40 shots were exchanged, resulting in two arrests and multiple injuries. But the gang, which was trying to wrest control of the Sao Carlos neighbourhood in central Rio from an enemy organisation, was undeterred. By evening, an intense shoot-out ensued there with images of the fighting aired widely by local broadcasters. One local resident, 25-year-old Ana Cristina da Silva, was walking to the bar where she worked with her three-year-old daughter when they were caught in the crossfire, police said. Ms Da Silva wrapped herself around her daughter and was hit by a stray bullet. By the time firefighters brought Ms da Silva to a local hospital, she was dead, according to police. On Thursday afternoon, after a related shoot-out with police, one suspect fled into a nearby condominium, taking a family hostage, police said. Later, the suspect freed the family and turned himself in. The state of Rio, which includes Rio city and its metropolitan area, registered 3,025 murders in 2019. Rio's notoriously violent police force killed 1,814 people during that period, according to public data. In May, after a 14-year-old boy at a pool party was killed in a botched raid, provoking widespread protest, Brazil's Supreme Court put in place restrictions on police operations in the state. Police and local officials complain their hands are unduly tied. Organisations that have denounced police violence say both violent crime and police killings have remained relatively low in the months since that order was put into place. Rio has over 1,400 comunidades,' said police spokesperson Mauro Fliess, referring to often-poor, crime plagued neighbourhoods. And four criminal gangs are fighting for control of the area, fist to fist, with weapons of war. Reuters Both Lakeside and Holland Road beaches in Port Huron have now reopened. An advisory was issued Aug. 26 for Lakeside and Holland Road beaches due to elevated E. coli levels that closed the two beaches. On Aug. 27, based on daily water sample collection, E. coli test results showed that Lakeside Beach was in the acceptable range and was reopened. On Aug. 28, after continued water quality monitoring at Holland Road Beach, lab results showed water quality conditions had improved and showed compliance with Michigans surface water bathing beach rules and the St. Clair County Health Department lifted the beach advisory. All St. Clair County beaches are open at this time. The SCCHD encourages residents to keep themselves informed about current beach conditions. Being aware of weather conditions is part of protecting your health when swimming at a beach, Environmental Educator Sheri Faust said. If we have experienced a heavy rainfall, high winds or if the water appears cloudy or turbid, individuals may choose not to swim that day because E. coli is stirred up in the sand from wind and waves. The St. Clair County Health Departments Environmental Health Division monitors public bathing beaches in St. Clair County for the presence of E. coli bacteria throughout the summer swimming season, a recent press release states. In order to remain open, public beaches must meet the states full body contact standards of 300 E. coli bacteria per 100 milliliters of water. Current advisories for St. Clair Countys public beaches are shared on the SCCHDs 24-hour Water Quality Hotline at 877-504-SWIM, the MyBeachCast app, the Michigan BeachGuard website at www.egle.state.mi.us/beach/ and facebook.com/stclaircountybeaches. For more information, call the Environmental Health Division at 810-987-5306 or visit stclaircounty.org/offices/health/bathing.aspx. MediaNews Group staff Deliberate silencing of peaceful voices in Iraq 'unacceptable', says UN human rights chief 27 August 2020 - A new UN report launched on Thursday highlights human rights violations and abuses that were committed during recent demonstrations in Iraq and calls for immediate action for justice. "This report sheds light on the suffering and provides concrete recommendations to help rebuild public trust", said UN Special Representative for Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert. Rising unemployment, years of corruption and failing public services had sparked massive protests last October. Despite promising steps by the current Government, the report, Human Rights Violations and Abuses in the Context of Demonstrations in Iraq, cites actions and omissions in handling the demonstrations during the time when they began up until April. The report recommends protection measures for demonstrators and redress for victims. Defending the defenders Some of those targeted were described the report as influential in their local community in mobilizing protesters, or supportive of protests on social or national media. "Of great concern is the continued targeting and killing of activists and human rights defenders", she contintued. "This is not random violence but a deliberate silencing of peaceful voices, coupled with the total impunity enjoyed by perpetrators". Demystifying the situation Based on more than 900 interviews with victims, relatives, witnesses, journalists and civic and political activists, the Human Rights Office of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) documented that at least 487 people were killed and 7,715 injured during the protests mostly young men. The report highlights a pattern of excessive force, including live ammunition, when dealing with protesters along with abductions and attacks by so-called unidentified armed actors. And with some 3,000 demonstrators detained, concerns have mounted over arbitrary detentions and ill-treatment. "Without accountability, the crimes committed will remain mere statistics, numbers on a page", warned the UN Special Representative. Free expression squelched The right to freedom of expression was also severely curtailed, with frequent internet blackouts, raided news outlets and journalists assaulted, harassed and arbitrarily detained, their material confiscated or deleted. "People were killed, injured, tortured and mistreated, kidnapped, disappeared, arbitrarily detained, for exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression", said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, "This is unacceptable", she stressed. More work ahead Since taking office in May, the current Government has taken welcome steps to establish an independent investigative body and offer some redress for the victims and their families, but much more needs to be done. "Everyone has the right to peacefully demonstrate and to publicly express their frustration at not being able to provide for themselves and their families", Ms. Bachelet underscored. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Ketu South, Dzifa Gomashie believes President Akufo-Addo was misled on the issue of military deployment to the countrys borders and some communities of the Volta Region during the voter registration exercise. According to President Akufo-Addo, the Volta Region was not singled out for any special military operation in the run-up to the voter registration exercise. He insisted that there was no political or ethnic agenda behind the deployment. The President further explained that the military deployment along the country's borders was a nationwide exercise, and was done across all Ghanas borders and not just Volta Region. The Minister for Defence and other Ministers earlier gave detailed and clear explanations about the situation to Ghanaians. Despite the explanations, it seems some people in the Volta Region are still not convinced. The Ketu South Parliamentary hopeful for the NDC who is also the Queen Mother in the Aflao Traditional Area, reacting to President Akufo-Addos recent remarks on the deployment on Eyewitness News said the presidents comments contradict that of his appointees. I think that His Excellency President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is being misled again because even if the military deployment wasn't just to the Volta Region or Ketu South, it started in the Volta Region and his own colleagues and appointees spoke in the media and confirmed the fact the military was deployed there for specific reasons. According to Dzifa Gomashie, the development was troubling the contradictory remarks made by the President and his appointees. Do you not find it exhausting that every time there is one explanation or the other for the same act? Depending on who is speaking there is always a different reason for why the military was there and for those of us who live in the constituency we don't see anything wrong with them explaining through one person what exactly it is they sought to do. So, depending on who is speaking and on what platform they are on, the reasons for bringing the military into the community are different, that in itself is troubling, and we don't know who to trust, or who is speaking the truth. Reacting to the Presidents decision to form a committee to investigate reports of some brutalities in the region, the NDC parliamentary candidate welcomed the idea. If he thinks that based on the evidence available to him, this is what he wants to do, I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and to hold my breath waiting to see what exactly will happen but I have genuine concerns as an indigene and as the NDC parliamentary candidate for Ketu South and so if he is assuring me that he has a way of resolving it then I am at peace with that. ---citinewsroom CANBERRA, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has failed to address the medium and long term housing precariousness in its response to COVID-19, a report has found. The report, published by The Menzies Centre for Health Governance at Australian National University (ANU) on Thursday, analyzes the policy measures and highlights the growing gap in health outcomes between rich and poor in the country. "There is a growing divide in our life expectancy and health experiences in Australia between the lowest and highest socio-economic groups, which will more than likely be widened by COVID-19," said Prof. Sharon Friel, the lead author. "Australia is going backwards in terms of social inequality and this is a matter of life and death for those most disadvantaged." It praises the JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme for providing "immediate financial relief and security to businesses and workers", recommends keeping the increases in income support and free childcare implemented in response to COVID-19, and highlights missed opportunities including in social housing. The report was critical of the failure to address housing insecurity in Australia, noting, "None of the housing-related policies that were introduced due to COVID-19 address the medium and long term housing precariousness prevalent in Australia." Friel said housing became the "lightning rod" for all the social challenges during COVID-19. The report said that Australia's response has been "impressive and to be commended," however, the country must "not return to conditions that will keep people in poverty" in the wake of the pandemic. The Menzies Centre joined leading think tank the Australia Institute and the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) in calling for free childcare to be extended. "If we do not hold on to the progress we have made with income support and free childcare policies, and do much more to fix the housing crisis, social and health inequalities will continue to widen in Australia," Friel said. Block 211 Boon Lay Place. (SCREENCAP: Google Maps Street View) UPDATE: Chinese national Cui Huan, was charged on Saturday (29 August) with murder. SINGAPORE A 24-year-old man was arrested on Thursday (27 August) for allegedly killing his wife at Boon Lay Place. Chinese national Cui Huan was subsequently charged in court on Saturday for murdering Liang Xueqiu, 26. The offence carries the death penalty or life imprisonment with caning. Police said in a media release on Friday that they received a call for assistance on Thursday at about 6.30pm to an incident at the void deck of Block 211 Boon Lay Place, where Liang was found injured and lying motionless. She was unconscious while being conveyed to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 9.58pm. Police said that Cuis identity was subsequently established by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and the Jurong Police Division, leading to his arrest within three hours of the call. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Other stories: Singapore libraries, archives to resume regular hours from 1 Sept Secondary school principal molested 7 boys while speaking to them in office Ex-MOH doctor at heart of HIV data leak loses appeal for drug offences Fewer than usual people are seen at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii, on July 29, 2020, amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. Kyodo News via Getty Images US islands that emerged from the early months of the coronavirus pandemic relatively unscathed are now facing outbreaks. In Puerto Rico, Gov. Wanda Vazquez Garced imposed travel restrictions after several officials contracted the virus. In Hawaii, Gov. David Ige signed a strict stay-at-home order for the island of Oahu after the state's case count jumped from 1,688 cases to 7,260 cases and the death toll doubled. With nearly no cases in the US Virgin Islands for the first few months of the pandemic, the number of infections is now approaching 1,000 and authorities have shut down tourism. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. US islands in the Caribbean and Pacific are facing a major surge of coronavirus cases after emerging from the early months of the pandemic relatively unscathed. Islands from Hawaii to Puerto Rico were praised throughout the springtime for taking decisive action to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks, implementing strict lockdowns and quarantine protocols in order to prevent the wave of deaths that the mainland US faced. But the islands are now showing alarming signs of large coronavirus outbreaks, The New York Times reported Tuesday. Hawaii, in particular, is emerging as a new hotspot. In just four weeks, the state's case count jumped from 1,688 cases to 7,260 cases. The death toll, too, has doubled in that period, increasing from 26 to 51 deaths. A beachgoer wearing a protective mask walks down Waikiki Beach, with Diamond Head mountain in the background in Honolulu, Hawaii, on April 28, 2020. Reuters/Marco Garcia Hawaii is once again taking dramatic action to curb the outbreak. The governor effectively "shut down" the island of Oahu this week, signing a stay-at-home and work-from-home order that will stay in place for two weeks. Businesses like gyms, salons, and dine-in restaurants will be forced to close, as will beaches and state parks. The order also forbids "indoor and outdoor social gatherings of any type and any number of people," and the state will hire up to 500 contact tracers to respond to the surge in cases. Oahu residents grew frustrated with previous coronavirus rules, saying they made no sense Story continues Hawaii's coronavirus guidelines have also struck a nerve among residents, who have criticized them for being nonsensical, given what we know about the higher risk of transmitting the virus inside closed spaces. For instance, before Gov. David Ige's stay-at-home order, Oahu permitted gyms, water parks, and other indoor activities to stay open, but forbid people from using open-air public spaces like hiking trails, parks, and beaches. The city also formerly permitted indoor dining in restaurants, but forbid residents from inviting guests into their homes from outside their households. One video criticizing the rules spread widely across TikTok and Twitter, pointing out that it was against Oahu's rules to invite a girlfriend over for dinner, but fine to meet her at a public, indoor restaurant. "People are infecting each other in crowded apartments while hotels sit empty. Close contacts are being refused testing by the officials responsible for testing them," Dr. Jonathan Dworkin, an infectious diseases doctor and Big Island resident, wrote in a Honolulu Star-Adviser column. Health officials in Hawaii were slow to ramp up testing and their criteria for testing "remained inappropriately narrow," Dworkin said in his editorial. The governor's office said in a statement on Wednesday that health officials expressed "concern about growing activity on Maui and Hawai'i island." "Along with our county partners, we are closely monitoring these trends. We have concerns that ongoing gatherings, especially with inconsistent mask use or distancing, are contributing," State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park said. Infection rates are also surging in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands Hawaii is not alone. Coronavirus cases are also spiking in the US Virgin Islands and are now approaching nearly 1,000 cases despite reporting nearly zero in the first few months of the pandemic. Cases surged to 224 per 100,000 in the territory, the highest per capita increase of infection in any state or territory, The Times reported. To address the surge, authorities in the US Virgin Islands restricted tourism activities for a month. Puerto Rico is also showing a similar trend. The US commonwealth, with more 3 million residents, was one of the first in the nation to impose a lockdown in March, and the case counts since then have remained relatively low. A woman walks pass by a banner urging visitors to wear face masks in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images But rising unemployment forced many residents to leave their homes and stand for hours at a time in crowded lines for public assistance. After several legislators, two aids to a gubernatorial nominee, a congresswoman, and several legislators contracted the virus, Gov. Wanda Vazquez Garced imposed restrictions on tourism, and implemented a stay-at-home order. "One of the most critical areas remains contact tracing, and the testing that is done," Lorenzo Gonzalez, Puerto Rico's health secretary, told The Times, adding that a shortage of testing equipment was posing a greater challenge for authorities to contain the spread. Read the original article on Business Insider Understanding the causes behind this high rate of male infertility and then treating those underlying causes has become the need of the hour. Male infertility whether its because of low sperm production, abnormal sperm function or blockages that prevent the proper delivery of sperm is on the rise globally. A study in the Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research in 2017 indicated that the prevalence of infertility in the general population is 15-20 percent and male infertility factor contributes 20-40 percent to this rate. Moreover, the prevalence of male infertility in India is around 23 percent according to this study, which is a rather high rate. Understanding the causes behind this high rate of male infertility and then treating those underlying causes has become the need of the hour. As per the research so far, many lifestyle and environmental factors may be the main causes behind male infertility. Were sure you already understand how habits like smoking and alcohol abuse affect male fertility. But if recent studies are anything to go by, the use of electronic and digital media devices have a huge impact on male fertility too. Light and male fertility A recent study published in the journal Sleep shows that exposure to light-emitting screens of digital media devices negatively affects the sperm quality of men. The study obtained semen samples from 116 men, aged 21 to 59 years, undergoing fertility evaluation. Sleep habits and exposure to digital device screens for all participants were obtained through a questionnaire. The study suggested that smartphone and tablet use in the evening and after bedtime reduced sperm motility, sperm progressive motility and sperm concentration. The greater the exposure to the short-wavelength light (SWL) emitted from these devices, the higher the percentage of immotile sperm. Further, the study indicated that longer sleep duration is positively correlated with total sperm count and progressive motility. As per the finding of this study, its safe to say that evening and nighttime exposure to SWL emitted from digital devices like phones, laptops, tablets and even digital television systems can not only lead to sleep disturbances and delay but also cause male infertility rates to shoot up. With the increasing use of and dependence on digital media devices that emit SWL, its likely that male infertility will consequently rise too. Radiation and male fertility But its not just SWL that all the devices we use in everyday life, including digital devices, emit. A study published in the journal Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology in 2018 indicates that humans today are surrounded by several types of ionizing and non-ionizing radiations, all of which have a negative effect on spermatogenesis, the process through which sperms are produced in the body. This study says that ionizing radiations, like those emitted during X-rays, are definitely more harmful and cancer-causing. But sources of non-ionizing radiations, namely mobile phones, laptops, computers, microwave ovens, televisions, WiFi, phone towers and radars, are increasing in numbers and usage across the world. Radiation emissions from these digital and electronic devices affect the testes, which in turn can affect sperm count, morphology, motility, and cause damage to the DNA, hormones and antioxidative enzymes in the body. Current research is therefore very clear on the facts that both the light emitted from digital devices, as well as the radiations emitted from digital and electronic devices, can affect male fertility negatively. Men who use or depend on these devices should, therefore, aim at limiting their exposure or use other means to counter the effects of these exposures with the consultation of healthcare professionals, in order to prevent infertility in future. For more information, read our article on Infertility. Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health. At least one civilian was injured on Friday when Pakistan violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. The firing took place in Mendhar sector of the district. At about 5.45 pm, the Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and intense shelling with mortars along LoC in the district. The Indian Army retaliated befittingly. This is a developing story. More details are awaited. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Vikas Jain Nifty has closed at 5-month high, recovering completely from the selloff it had witnessed in March 2020. The current short-term average is placed at 11,280 levels and it would act as strong support. On the higher side, 11,850-12,000 would act as strong resistance from the current levels. Bank Nifty would continue to outperform and there is enough room left for it to test its 200-day average placed at 25,150 levels. Nifty Midcap 100 index has resistance near its 200-week and 21-months average and it could witness some minor pullbacks on the downside from the current levels after a sharp outperformance of 11.6 percent for the current month. There could be some minor profit-booking to test the short-term averages on the downside. Here are three buy calls for the next 3-4 weeks: Axis Bank | Buy | LTP: Rs 473.50 | Target price: Rs 545 | Stop loss: Rs 424 | Upside: 15% The stock moved upwards after taking support at the previous weeks lows. Due to recent reversal in the prices, the key technical indicator-RSI and MACD- witnessed identical turnaround from their lower levels. In case of any negative surprise, prior swing low will continue to work as a key reversal point for the stock. Coal India | Buy | LTP: Rs 140.55 | Target price: Rs 161 | Stop loss: Rs 124 | Upside: 15% The stock has resumed its rising trend after a couple of months of underperformance. Last week, the stock has given breakout from its 100-day SMA and stayed firm above that. The stocks key technical indicators are in buy mode and this could lead the stock towards its 200-day SMA. HDFC | Buy | LTP: Rs 1,863.50 | Target price: Rs 2,085 | Stop loss: Rs 1,720 | Upside: 12% The stock has given a breakout from its short and medium-term averages and we expect an upward breakout from the current levels. It has made higher bottoms on weekly charts and RSI is cutting upwards from the lower end which confirms our positive outlook. (The author is Senior Research Analyst at Reliance Securities) 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. Advertisement A passenger was left shocked when a Ryanair flight was allowed to travel from Stansted to Italy despite a suspected Covid-infected flyer being dragged off the plane by Hazmat-suited medics. Fionn Murphy, 21, from west London, said he could be walking around Pisa spreading coronavirus because no other riders were asked to self-isolate on arrival. The allegedly infected person and his travel companion were taken off the aircraft minutes before it was due to take-off and moved to the airport's isolation area, where they were met by health authorities. Their seats and the overhead cabin were disinfected before the plane was allowed to fly to Pisa an hour and 40 minutes behind schedule, according to Flight Radar. The passenger, who has not been named, breached coronavirus quarantine restrictions by leaving their home and boarding the flight. Mr Murphy, a musician who was travelling with his 59-year-old mother Fliss, told the Mirror: 'He's put everyone at risk. 'We could be all now infecting Pisa. The plane had pushed back and it was ready to take off and it just stopped suddenly.' He added: 'The crew said the fire brigade was coming and 10 minutes later a fire truck appeared outside the plane and got dressed in full hazmat suits. Honestly it was scary. They came on and it was like ''oh s***, this is real''.' The chaotic flight came as: Up to 40 coronavirus outbreaks were identified at food processing sites across the UK, leaving supermarkets including Marks & Spencer with a shortage of prawn mayonnaise, BLT and other types of sandwiches; Matt Hancock chaired a meeting on local lockdowns amid fears Birmingham could be the next to face tougher coronavirus restrictions; The Health Secretary insisted earlier 13 is not enough for low-paid workers in Covid-hit areas to survive if they self-isolate; Europe's second wave continues with France's Covid R rate hitting 1.4, Spain topping the US in cases per million and Italy recording its highest daily case toll since May; Ministers are expected to make a decision tonight on whether to add Switzerland, the Czech Republic or Jamaica to the UK's quarantine travel list; Thousands of students prepare to return to the classroom for the first time next week; England and Wales announce eight more coronavirus deaths. A full update on the number of cases is expected later this afternoon. Hazmat-clad officials boarded a plane in London Stansted after a passenger received a text from track-and-trace minutes before take off. The flight was bound for Pisa Horrified passengers clutched their seats as the customer was escorted off the flight with their travel companion. The plane was still allowed to travel on to Pisa Ryanair said in a statement the passenger received a text message minutes before his departure that he had tested positive for Covid-19. The spokesman said: 'The passenger and his travel companion were immediately offloaded and taken to a Stansted Airport isolation area where they were assisted by local public health authorities. 'Since this passenger and his companion had complied fully with Ryanair health regulations, they were both wearing masks at all times at Stansted Airport and for the very short period (less than 10 minutes) they were seated on the aircraft prior to departure. 'There was little if any risk of Covid-19 transmission to other passengers or crew members as all of whom were also wearing face masks at all times. 'The aircraft departed for Pisa following a delay of 1 hour and 20 mins to allow for the empty seats and overhead cabin bins to be disinfected to comply with all UK health authority guidance. Ryanair apologises to all passengers for this short delay.' Shocking video shows three officials dressed head-to-toe in protective gear approaching the individual on the plane as a crew member tried to keep passengers in their seats. The revelation could throw the carefully-crafted air bridges scheme into turmoil, where people are allowed to travel between certain countries without having to self-isolate. Instructions on NHS England's website warn those with symptoms to stay at home and avoid all travel. Advice on the Department of Health website read: 'If you are getting a coronavirus test because you have symptoms, you and anyone you live with must self-isolate until you get your result. 'This also applies to anyone in your support bubble (where someone who lives alone - or just with their children - can meet people from one other household).' It can take up to 72 hours for tests to be completed to show whether someone has coronavirus. A crew member was filmed trying to calm passengers down and keep them in their seats The Ryanair flight was delayed for an hour and 40 minutes as the passenger's seat and overhead cabin was disinfected in line with government guidance One passenger onboard the plane posted a picture of themselves wearing a facemask with the caption: 'The face when you are about to take off and someone gets a text from track and trace.' They added that police came onto the plane and claimed the individual was tested for coronavirus. Stansted airport said: 'The airport were made aware of the passenger by the airline and our fire service attended the aircraft and escorted the passenger (and travel partner) to an isolation area where they were put in contact with Public Health England, who then oversaw the passenger's onward journey.' The Ryanair flight was still allowed to continue to Pisa. It is believed that no further action was taken by Italian authorities, and no other passengers were required to self-isolate. Italy, which was at the epicentre of the pandemic, made facemasks mandatory in 'all spaces open to the public' between 6pm and 6am on August 16. The country is currently battling a second wave of coronavirus, although the government has already promised it will not return to a similar lockdown to the one seen earlier this year. It recorded 1,367 new cases yesterday, the highest number since May 12. Italy remains on the government's travel corridor scheme, meaning people travelling from the UK to Italy will not need to undertake a 14-day quarantine. Its coronavirus infection rate remains about half the rate of the UK. Austria, Croatia and Trinidad and Tobago were all struck off the list this week, joining France, the Netherlands, Belgium and many other countries. Travellers arriving in the UK from these countries will need to quarantine for 14 days. Thousands of British holidays were thrown into chaos at the end of last month when Spain was removed from the airbridge scheme. Spain, France and Italy are all seeing surges in the number of coronavirus cases, as a second wave of infection takes hold across Europe Italy is also beginning to see its cases rise again, after logging 1,367 new cases on Wednesday, the highest figure the country has seen since May Italy logged 13 deaths from the virus on Wednesday, a slight increase on the previous day, but fatalities have so-far not kept pace with infections Europe is continuing to battle a second wave of the pandemic as France, Spain and Italy all record large jumps in the number of coronavirus cases they are seeing. France announced it had added 5,429 cases overnight, marking its largest single-day jump since April 14, and the third-largest daily rise since the pandemic began. Jean Castex, the French prime minister, said the country's R rate is now at 1.4, well above the crucial 1 figure needed to keep the infection curve flat. Spain registered another 7,296 cases, enough to push the country above the US - the world's worst-affected nation - in number of cases per million inhabitants, based on a seven-day rolling average. The Home Office has been contacted for comment. NHS Test and Trace: What to do if you've been in contact with a person with coronavirus If you're told you've been in contact with someone who has coronavirus: Advice on NHS England says you should stay at home for 14 days from the day you were last in contact with that person as it can take this long for symptoms to appear. You are also required to do the following: Do not leave your home for any reason - if you need food or medicine, order it online or by phone, or ask friends and family to drop it off at your home Do not have visitors in your home, including friends or family, except for essential care Try to avoid contact with anyone you live with as much as possible People you live with do not need to self-isolate if you do not have symptoms People in your support bubble do not need to self-isolate if you do not have symptoms If you get symptoms of coronavirus: Get a test to check whether you have coronavirus as soon as possible Anyone you live with must self-isolate until you've been tested and received your result Anyone in your support bubble must self-isolate until you've been tested and received your result Advertisement Test and Trace is worse than ever: Just 72.6% of Covid-19 patients were tracked - and only a THIRD of those were reached in 24 hours The Government's Test and Trace system is getting worse as figures yesterday revealed that call handlers reached a record-low of just 72.6 per cent of infected patients last week. It's the fifth week in a row the number of Covid-19 cases who have been tracked has fallen, dropping from the best performance of 82.8 per cent in the week ending July 22. Scientists have repeatedly warned at least 80 per cent of coronavirus patients must be contacted and interviewed in order for the system which Boris Johnson has called 'world-beating' to work effectively. Department of Health data released yesterday also showed a third of people who tested positive for the coronavirus and referred to the system were not reached within 24 hours. It's crucial for the system to work rapidly, so that close contacts of Covid-19 cases who may unknowingly have the virus are tracked down and told to self isolate before they can spread the infection further. It comes as Matt Hancock yesterday defended his plan to pay people on low incomes 13 a day to self-isolate, even though critics said the payments would not be enough to stop people going to work. The Government's Test and Trace system is getting worse as figures yesterday revealed that call handlers reached a record-low of just 72.6 per cent of infected patients last week The figures yesterday also add to evidence that Britain's outbreak is not spiralling out of control as feared, with the number of positive cases dropping almost nine per cent in a week. HANCOCK DEFENDS HIS PLAN TO PAY 13 A DAY TO BRITONS SELF-ISOLATING Matt Hancock yesterday launched a furious defence of his plan to pay people on low incomes 13 a day to self-isolate as critics said the payments would not be enough to stop people going to work. From September 1 people who receive Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit who are required to self-isolate, who are unable to work from home and who are in Covid-19 hotspots will benefit from the new payment scheme. Eligible people who test positive for the virus will receive 130 for their 10-day period of self-isolation while other members of their household, who under current rules must isolate for 14 days, will get 182. The scheme will initially be trialled in Blackburn with Darwen, Pendle and Oldham - areas which are currently subject to local lockdown measures. The Government hopes the payments will boost compliance with requests from NHS Test and Trace for people to stay at home, with Mr Hancock pointing out the money will be 'in addition' to other benefits. But critics believe the payments are far too small and many people will still feel that they cannot afford to stay at home. Advertisement A total of 6,115 people were diagnosed between August 13 and 19, down from 6,656 the week before. This represents 1.4 and 1.5 per cent of all tests taken, respectively, proving that cases have not fallen just as a result of less testing. Of those cases, 72.6 per cent were reached by call handlers. In comparison, the rate was 79 per cent the week before. Data also shows it is even worse than the 73.4 per cent recorded in the first week of the scheme. Of those who were contacted, only 69.7 per cent were reached within 24 hours. Five per cent weren't tracked down for at least three days. Some 75.9 per cent gave at least one phone number of a close contact, a figure that has dropped every week since mid-July. But in positive developments, 75.5 per cent of close contacts were reached, up from 71.6 per cent in the previous week. But it's still a dramatically lower number than the 91.1 per cent of cases who were reached in the first week of launching, on May 28. Experts suspect that people do not pick up the phone to contact tracers because it is an unrecognised number. Head of the NHS Test and Trace Baroness Dido Harding, said England 'now has the capacity to test for coronavirus and trace contacts on an unprecedented scale'. She said: 'This week marks a milestone for NHS Test and Trace, which has now been in operation for more than three months. 'The statistics... show every week we consistently reach the majority of people testing positive and their contacts, and have now reached almost 300,000 people who may have unknowingly passed the virus on. 'We will continue to build the service further to reach more and more people and to scale up our testing capacity. 'I urge everyone to use NHS Test and Trace to help everyone get back to a more normal way of life.' Danny Mortimer, deputy chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: 'The latest test and trace figures show a yo-yo effect with vital improvements in some areas balanced out by steps back in others.' Local health protection teams showed to have a higher success rate than the centralised system once again, proving that a 'boots on ground' approach is more effective for contact tracing. Some 95.6 per cent of close contacts were reached and asked to self-isolate in the week to August 19, compared to 61.6 per cent of cases handled by call centres. Various local authority councils took matters into their own hands and launched local contact-tracing operations to supplement the national system, before ministers offered local systems extra resources to strengthen their response. The figures also show test turnaround times between 13 and 19 August have fallen. The proportion of recent close contacts handled by call centres that were contacted More people are being referred to the NHS tracing system reflecting an increase in cases Testing turnaround times have also dipped since the record high at the start of July. But they are starting to improve for home test kits and satellite centres Just one fifth of tests from all test sites were received within 24 hours of a test being taken. The number of people who got their result returned in 24 hours after visiting a regional testing site mostly drive-throughs was the worst yet. Almost two-thirds (63.5 per cent) were still waiting for their result after 24 hours, up from 42.2 per cent the week before and 8 per cent in the week ending July 1. But at last, the 24-hour target was improved for satellite test centres places like hospitals and care homes that urgently need results and home kits after weeks of dismal figures. But still only 5.9 and 6.4 per cent of people in those testing categories got their result back in 24 hours. The PM had pledged that, by the end of June, the results of 100 per cent of all in-person tests would be back within 24 hours. Experts say getting test results fast and carrying out contact tracing immediately is vital to stopping the spread of coronavirus because there is only a short window to alert people that they are at risk of infecting others without yet knowing they're ill. But those who take a home test kit now have to wait 71 hours on average to find out if they have Covid-19. The average amount of time it takes for test results to come back from all routes has increased, apart from those done at satellite test centres. Fears of a second wave have grown over the past month, with official data showing the average number of daily cases has doubled since mid-July. Growing outbreaks in Europe have also spooked ministers. But the Department of Health figures and separate data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which tracks the size of the outbreak through swab tests of thousands of people, suggest that the number of cases is shrinking. Last week it claimed 2,400 people are catching the virus in England each day, down 37 per cent on the week before. Statisticians claimed the outbreak has 'levelled off'. For comparison, the ONS estimated that around 4,200 people were getting infected each day at the end of July. However, a senior government source told journalists last Friday that data on growth rates and R values suggest cases are 'trending upwards, very gently'. The official said: 'We are not seeing fast increase here, but I do think we are on a positive slope and its gently increasing.' SAGE warned the reproduction rate the average number of people each coronavirus patient infects could now be above the dreaded level of one. The Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) estimates the R value is now between 0.9 and 1.1. Experts say the R needs to stay below one or Governments risk losing control of the epidemic and the virus could start to spread exponentially again. But the estimate is based on three week old data due to the lag in time between Covid-19 patients falling ill and appearing in the statistics, meaning it does not paint a real-time picture of the UK's current epidemic. And it can be skewed upwards by local clusters of infections, which has been seen in swathes of the North West of England. Francis Riffey celebrated his 100th birthday just the way he wanted Thursday afternoon in a single-engine airplane in the skies over Jacksonville. As Riffey took off in the four-seater plane alongside pilot Dennis Jarmen friends, family and nurses watched from the hangar, applauding and cheering for Riffey as he ascended into the skies. This was his dying wish, his daughter, Cheryle Parker, said as Riffey flew above her. We originally thought that there was no way, but we got a call from Heritage Health and they asked if it was OK to make it happen, she said, adding that she didnt hesitate to say yes to getting her father in the skies one last time. After several calls, some planning and coordinating, Parker was able to tell everyone the flight was a go. The flight lasted upward of 20 minutes and, as Riffey was helped out of the plan and back into his wheelchair, he couldnt help but smile. It was a great experience and I didnt want to come down, he said. This was not the first time Riffey has flown in the cockpit of an airplane. The World War II Army veteran obtained his pilots license in 1949. This was a more sophisticated airplane; when I flew we didnt even have radios, Riffey said. When we would approach, the tower would have a green light for you can land or red for you cant, Riffey said of his flying days. When you saw that light you rocked your plane so the tower knew. Riffey moved to Jacksonville in 1961 from Virden. He was a mechanic by trade, retiring in 1982. He lived in his home until January of this year, Parker said. A friend to everyone he meets, Parker talked about how her father once could fix or build anything. He was one of those people that would help anyone, Parker said. Francis was there for everyone. Age did not stop Riffey from pursuing another hobby riding motorcycles. When he was 90, he rode his bike from here to Dallas, Texas, said Bud Beck, a longtime friend of Riffey. Riffeys health started to deteriorate as he approached his 100th birthday, and Parker knew the best thing for him was to be in a nursing home, she said. But she also knew his mind still was sharp. Hes so sharp, mentally, Parker said. But, as his health started failing, it was hard for him to accept help. Gathering in the hangar post-flight, the celebration continued with birthday wishes for Riffey and talks of cake. It was something of a gift for Parker, too. She knows she was able to fulfill his dying wish and she was able to visit with him during the pandemic, she said. This is the first time I have talked with him not through a window, she said, elated both to see him in person and to see his dream came true. LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 28, 2020 / Compare-autoinsurance.org (http://compare-autoinsurance.org/) is a top auto insurance brokerage website, providing car insurance quotes online from trustworthy agencies all over the United States. This website released an online guide that explains why it is recommended to compare auto insurance quotes every six months and how that can help drivers save money. Many might consider checking online car insurance quotes at every six months, a little bit too much. However, policyholders can save a lot of car insurance money by regularly scanning the insurance market. Insurance rates change frequently and in six months different events that happen can lead to cheaper or more expensive premiums. Drivers should check if their insurance premiums are still competitive, for the following reasons: Insurance premiums change frequently . There are many different risk factors that happen throughout the year and the insurers are required to adjust insurance prices. The premiums can fluctuate even from one day to another. Drivers won't notice the insurance price changes that happen daily, but in a period of six months, there can be differences that can be quite significant. Changes in the credit score. Insurance companies are using the drivers' credit score in order to determine their insurance rates. Drivers that have good or excellent credit score will pay insurance premiums that are significantly cheaper than the premiums paid by drivers that have a poor credit score. Drivers have maintained coverage. New drivers and drivers that have a long lapse in their coverage history are seen as high-risk by car insurance companies. To lower their risk profile and pay less on their insurance premiums, these types of drivers are required to maintain continuous coverage for at least six months. The vehicle value depreciates over time . Cars are continuously losing value from the moment they leave the showroom. Policyholders should pay less on the insurance of their older vehicle. Drivers should contact their insurers and see if they are willing to adjust the price of insurance. However, in most cases, the insurers will refuse to do that. If that happens, drivers should look for another insurance provider. Significant life events. Drivers who are getting married will pay less on insurance than those who are single. Moving to a safer neighborhood can also lower the costs of insurance. In some cases, drivers who got a new job will pay cheaper insurance rates if the new place of work is close to their homes. Story continues For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit http://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. "Periodically scanning the car insurance market can help drivers save a lot of money. Online quotes can help anyone find better insurance rates", 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: http://compare-autoinsurance.org/ SOURCE: Internet Marketing Company View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/603762/Car-Insurance-Guide--Why-Drivers-Should-Compare-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Every-6-Months A brand new electric car is preparing to hit the U.S. and its either going to take EVs by storm because its super cheap, or its going to meet the same fate as the Yugoslavian Yugo in the early 1990s, which began the butt of every good car joke. Chinese electric carmaker Kandi has announced its official American debut, and the price tag will make these EVs the cheapest in the country. The only question now is: Do you get what you pay for? Two models, currently ready to pre-order, are arriving as early as the end of 2020, starting in a limited area in Texas and sold through Texas-based Kandi America, the trade name of Kandis wholly-owned subsidiary SC Autosports, LLC. The model K27 comes with a 17.69 kWh battery and a range of up to 100 miles and starts at $20,499. Its also eligible for the $7,500 federal income tax credit, which would put it at just under $13,000. The larger K23 has a 41.4 kWh battery and a driving range of more than 180 miles with starting price just under $30,000, again, before applying federal incentives. Both of the models, even without the federal incentives, are less expensive than other EVs sold in the U.S. Kandi says it is now actively looking to build an electric car factory in North America. And while its largely unknown to most Western consumers, Kandi is a big name in China. Its a joint venture between Kandi Vehicles and one of China's largest automakers, Geely Group, which in turn is the parent company of Sweden's Volvo. Kandi Chairman Xiaoming Hu said in a statement that the target group is middle-class American who have few affordable EV choices. owning the (EV) car often eluded consumers who desired a great EV alongside all the other comforts of modern living. Kandi is changing that by revolutionizing the EV-buying experience for many. Kandis mission is to make electric cars accessible to all, the statement said. Related: Dead Malls Could Be Amazons Next Target So while the affordability boxes are ticked here, reliability and performance remain big unknowns. Kandi launched EV production in 2007 and on the domestic market their cars are mostly used by the car-sharing companies. However, China has a different set of safety standards. So far, it has been difficult for Chinese automakers to break into the U.S. market as vehicles sold here require approved safety equipment, such as anti-lock brakes, airbags, traction control, and exterior lighting. In addition, all vehicles sold in the U.S. are subject to crash testing by the NHTSA. In February last year, Kandi announced it had received approval from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to import mentioned two models which are still not being sold on the Chinese market. However, Kandi is not listed on the EPA's fuel economy website or among the NHTSAs crash tests, so progress on certification is not clear. CNN wrote that its reporters in China were unable to find any records of crash tests of those two models or other Kandi models. As for Yugo, in the early 1990s, UN sanctions on what was left of Yugoslavia halted exports and that was the end of the Yugo in America. Despite the fact that Yugo was labeled as the Worst Car Ever and Worst Car of the Millennium but also the cheapest, it still sold almost 140,000 cars in the U.S. during its 8-year tenure on the market. Due to the popularity and tech features, none of them are on the U.S. roads now. By Fred Dunkley for Safehaven.com More Top Reads From Safehaven.com: Jacob Blake lived in Evanston for years and attended Evanston Township High School. He is part of a family with deep ties to the community. His grandfather, also named Jacob Blake, was a pastor at the historic Ebenezer AME Church in Evanston and was active in the civil rights movement and a push for affordable housing in town. U.S. President Donald Trump said that if he was re-elected, his administration would impose tariffs on any company that leaves the United States to create jobs elsewhere. "We will impose tariffs on any company that leaves America to produce jobs overseas," Trump said in his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention. "We'll make sure our companies and jobs stay in our country, as I've already been doing. Joe Biden's agenda is Made in China. My agenda is Made in the USA." GATES MILLS, Ohio Theft: Dorchester Road A resident reported Aug 17 that political signs had been removed from her yard during the overnight hours. Special attention was given to the area. Reports indicate that there have been thefts of Donald Trump and Joe Biden yard signs in the village. Disturbance: Mayfield Road Officers responded to a report at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 18 of a noise disturbance at St. Francis of Assisi Church. They found the noise was being caused by roofers who were preparing to work at the church. The foreman was advised that work cannot begin prior to 7:30 a.m. Traffic stop: Mayfield Road A Mayfield Heights man, 27, was cited for reckless operation and speeding Aug. 18 after being observed traveling 37 mph over the speed limit. Harassing communication: Cedar Road A resident reported Aug. 21 that a former neighbor continues to harass her. The incident regarding the Mayfield Heights woman is under investigation. Fraud: Saddleback Lane A resident reported Aug. 22 that a claim had been filed for state unemployment benefits using his Social Security number. Read more news from the Sun Messenger. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 11:31:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WELLINGTON, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX) collapsed for a fourth day in a row due to cyber-attacks, it is announced on Friday. The NZX website went down on Friday morning before being restored briefly at about 10:30 a.m. local time, but collapsed again minutes later. Its website was currently indicating host error. The NZX issued a memo to the market at 8:31 a.m. on Friday. It is said that the exchange would open as normal. The NZX also said it had been working with its network service provider Spark, and national and international cyber security partners, including the Government Communications Security Bureau, to address the cyber-attack issue. It is understood that the NZX website was under cyber-attack. The type of attack was known as a distributed denial of service attack (DDoS), which overwhelms the online service rendering it inoperable. On Tuesday, the NZX website was hit by the similar cyber-attack which forced it to halt trading. The site went down again on Wednesday and Thursday for the same reason. Enditem CNN Turquoise waters, beaches of golden sand, dolphins swimming lazily offshore. The Fernando de Noronha archipelago off the coast of Brazil is one of the most beautiful destinations anywhere in the world And now it's open to travelers again -- but with an unexpected catch. You can go only if you show you have had Covid-19. Fernando de Noronha, home to Baia do Sancho, named the world's best beach by Trip Advisor's Traveler's Choice Awards this year, will reopen next week, according to authorities in the northeastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco. "To land on the archipelago, the tourist will need to present the result of a positive PCR test that is at least 20 days old, or the result of the serological test showing the presence of antibodies against Covid," its administrator, Guilherme Rocha, told a news conference on Thursday. During the news conference, Rocha didn't explicitly explain why Brazil would accept only tourists that had already had the disease. A PCR test shows whether someone has the virus; the serological test shows whether the body has already developed antibodies for coronavirus. Fernando de Noronha, a group of 21 volcanic islands, has been closed to tourists since mid-March because of the pandemic. On July 31, it was reopened just for people with homes there and local researchers. The archipelago is a national park and one of the most visited tourist attractions in Brazil. Last year, it received 106,000 tourists, 90% of whom were Brazilians. The national park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. This story was first published on CNN.com Paradise islands reopen only to visitors who've had COVID-19 Virtual Platform to Lease & Finance Cars Will Be Available to 200 Million Americans VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 28, 2020 / PowerBand Solutions Inc. (TSXV:PBX)(OTCQB:PWWBF)(Frankfurt:1ZVA) ("PowerBand", "PBX" or the "Company") is pleased to report its U.S. leasing division, MUSA Auto Finance, LLC ("MUSA"), will expand its services into an additional 13 U.S. states. Dallas, Texas-based MUSA, which can approve a vehicle lease in as little as eight seconds, has been offering leases and financing in Texas, Florida and California, with a population of almost 100 million people. MUSA will be expanding its new and used vehicle leasing services to Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New Jersey, with an aggregate population of more than 113 million people. "PowerBand, and its U.S. leasing division, continue our advance into the U.S. market," said PowerBand CEO Kelly Jennings. "Through MUSA we offer what we believe is the most efficient, consumer friendly way for drivers and dealers to lease vehicles, as easy as buying a product on Amazon." The PowerBand virtual platform has a suite of services that allows dealers and drivers to buy, sell, lease, auction and finance their vehicles with an ease that is unique to the automotive industry. MUSA has already secured an initial USD $300-million finance facility with a major U.S. financial institution. Once that facility has been utilized it will be securitized, resulting in the replenishing of the original USD $300 million, which the company believes will happen many times annually. Other negotiations are in advanced stages to secure PowerBand and MUSA additional finance facilities to meet expected demand for the Company's virtual platform, which is proving particularly popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. MUSA, which is 60-percent owned by PowerBand, was founded in 2016. MUSA is leading the modernization of the new- and pre-owned vehicle leasing experience, providing dealers and consumers with the most advanced on-line leasing options in the industry. The technology takes an application, calculates a lease, auto-decisions the application, provides an approval back to dealer partners and prefills a lease contract accurately. Approvals can occur in less than eight seconds. As a result of its proprietary technology, MUSA was awarded a contract by Tesla Motors to become a national leasing partner in 2018. About PowerBand Solutions Inc. PowerBand Solutions Inc., listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the OTCQB markets, is a fintech provider disrupting the automotive industry. PowerBand's integrated, cloud-based transaction platform facilitates transactions amongst consumers, dealers, funders and manufacturers (OEMs). It enables them to buy, sell, trade, finance, and lease new and used, electric- and non-electric vehicles, on smart phones or any other online digital devices, from any location. PowerBand's transaction platform - being trademarked under DRIVRZ - is being made available across North American and global markets. For further information, please contact: Richard Goldman, VP Corporate Development P: 1-866-768-7653 rgoldman@powerbandsolutions.com FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize, and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by Canadian securities law. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, unless an exemption from such registration is available. SOURCE: PowerBand Solutions Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603769/PowerBands-US-Leasing-Division-MUSA-to-Expand-to-Additional-13-US-States Former Detainees in Kashgar Draw Low Salaries, Forfeit Half of Wages to Old Internment Camps 2020-08-27 -- Ten Uyghur former detainees who earn half the salaries of their fellow employees at a shipping firm in Kashgar (in Chinese, Kashi) city, in far western China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), additionally must forfeit nearly 50 percent of their wages to their old internment camp, according to sources. The former detainees from Pahtekli township, in Kashgar prefecture's Kona Sheher (Shufu) county, draw monthly salaries of 2,200 yuan (U.S. $320) working as porters at the shipping center's loading dock in Kashgar citya trading post city of 500,000but must surrender 900 yuan (U.S. $130) of it to the camp in which they were previously held, a Uyghur cadre from the township told RFA's Uyghur Service. The cadre, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the former detainees had been placed at the job in Kashgar's Qizil district by handlers at their internment campone of a vast network in which authorities in the XUAR are believed to have held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities since April 2017. "They're all from Pahtekli, from our village brigade," the cadre said, adding that the former detainees work "every day" at the loading dock, although they are permitted to return to their homes at night. "There's someone there [at the company] from the internment camp who collects the money They go to record whether they [the former detainees] show up for work." The cadre said he was unsure whether the camp staffer's job was specifically to monitor the former detainees or to act as a money handler. RFA also spoke with a Uyghur employee of the shipping company, who said she oversees 57 loading dock workers who receive average monthly salaries of 4,000-5,000 yuan ($580-725) for up to 11-hour shifts, seven days a week. When asked why former detainees received significantly lower salaries, the employee replied, "I don't know the answer to that." She was also unsure how many former detainees are working under her supervision. The employee made no attempt to hide that her staff is required to undergo political education and other sessions aimed at assimilating Uyghurs into Han Chinese culture. "We definitely hold a flag raising ceremony every Monday," she said, adding that there is also an "after-hours training" session that had recently been canceled and an hour-long Chinese language instruction class held every afternoon. The employee said she was unsure about the nature of the activities of the internment camp staff that make regular visits to the company. "When they come for record-keeping, I don't see them," she said, adding that the camp staff meet with higher-level employees. Former business owner RFA also learned additional details about one of the former detainees named Erkin Hashim from a source with knowledge of the area who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal. Hashim had set up a successful business driving his tractor and other vehicles throughout Kona Sheher and neighboring counties before he was sent to an internment camp in 2017, the source said. Hashim's wife, mother and two children were able to live off of savings for the first year of his detention but were forced to sell off his tractor and other assets beginning in 2018 to support themselves financially. Since his release in 2020, Hashim has been working at the loading dock along with his nine fellow former detainees for the shipping company which the source said is owned by Han Chinese migrants that used to be employees at his business. RFA spoke with a police officer in Pahtekli, who confirmed that Hashim is a professional driver whose business was thriving until the time of his detention. "On the outside, he drove tractors and cars," the officer said. "They've let him out, I think last Spring. He's back home now He was re-educated for three years." According to the officer, Hashim was released because he "like dto have fun" drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes, suggesting that he paid little attention to matters pertaining to religion and politics. RFA also spoke about Hashim with the Uyghur cadre from Pahtekli, who called the former detainee "fixed," having come out of the camps "a very good man." "There's a shipping company over on the other side of the Qizil Bridgethat's where he's working," the cadre said. "He drove a tractor before [the camp]. Now, he unloads goods that have been brought in and loads them into other vehicles." According to the cadre, while Hashim was previously able to take time off from work to spend with his family, "he's there every day" at the loading dock, working 10-hour days. Hashim previously earned around 5,000 yuan (U.S. $725) per month through his business, he said, but now makes only 1,300 yuan (U.S. $189). The cadre confirmed that the leadership of the shipping company is Han Chinese and that the owner is a former employee of Hashim's. "Yes, they're comrades," he said, using a common euphemism. "The comrade is someone who worked for him before." Camp transition Reports of wage disparities at the shipping company in Kashgar come amid indications that China is increasingly relocating some inmates of its three-year-old internment camp program that has drawn international condemnation and U.S. sanctions, sending many to work in factories across China and putting some on trial. Last month, RFA reported on a residential zone in the seat of Kashgar's Makit (Maigaiti) county known as the "14th Neighborhood Committee," which permits detainees to live with their families, but otherwise differs little from the camps. Residents are strictly monitored and made to attend mandatory political indoctrination classes, as well as sessions involving "self-examinations" and "confessions," while entry and exit from the compound is restricted. People held at the committee "sleep and work there," according to sources, including at several factories and workshops both inside and near the compound or, in rarer cases, market shops outside the residential grounds. Residents are permitted to work at facilities outside because there are not enough factories inside to employ everyone. It was not immediately clear if the shipping company in Kashgar accepts former detainees to work there as part of a similar scheme. Other investigations by RFA have found that former detainees placed in forced and coerced labor schemes following their detention are regularly required to surrender part of their pay to camp administrators. In some cases, they are housed in dormitories on their workplace campuses and only permitted to visit their families at home as little as once a month. A source who declined to be named, but who claims to have inside knowledge of the situation, recently told RFA that camp administrators often have problems placing former detainees in work programs unless they agree to low salaries. The source said that this is another way detainees are punished for their alleged "crimes" related to religious extremism. Beijing describes its three-year-old network of camps as voluntary "vocational centers," but reporting by RFA and other media outlets shows that detainees are mostly held against their will in poor conditions, where they are forced to endure inhumane treatment and political indoctrination. RFA has documented countless university-trained specialists and other professionals who have been swept up into the "vocational training" system, where they are re-educated in spite of having studied at prestigious schools and forged successful careers prior to their detention. Meanwhile, reporting by RFA has found that a number of Uyghur entrepreneurs have lost their assets since the beginning of the internment campaign. In some cases, their assets and businesses have ended up in the hands of Han migrants to the region. Earlier reporting and evidence from construction bids and tenders themselves have shown that local governments throughout Xinjiang have been forced to bear the financial burden of camp construction. Diaspora Uyghur experts and analysts speculate that the large-scale detention and seizure of assets from Uyghur businessowners and entrepreneurs over the past several years has effectively forced the cost of the camps detaining Uyghurs en masse onto Uyghurs themselves. 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| 2020-08-28 21:45:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs will forge joint-initiatives with the country's Export Development Board (EDB) in order to achieve an export target of 10.75 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, a statement by the two institutions said here on Friday. A press release by Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the EDB said that joint-initiatives between the two state bodies would include, "identifying new market opportunities, creating awareness by disseminating market alerts, addressing supply chain issues, enhancing capacity building through webinars, and creating business linkages to support existing exporters to sustain their exports." Given the challenges posed by the pandemic, the two bodies will promote Sri Lankan products through webinars and virtual trade fairs organized with the support of Sri Lanka's network of overseas missions. The institutions hope to connect buyers and sellers online while attracting investments to SMEs from diaspora groups. Sri Lankan exports have rebounded from a low of 277 million U.S. dollars in April, to 1.09 billion U.S. dollars in July. The country's foreign mission played a key role in providing market updates to Sri Lanka-based exporters, allowing businesses to pivot to new areas including production of face masks, personal protective equipment (PPE), sanitizers, and food products. A new administration in Sri Lanka, under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has sought to reconfigure the island's foreign policy in order to focus more on economic diplomacy and pressing concerns such as the need to attract greater foreign direct investment and find new export markets. Enditem New York, Aug. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This week, 26 forward-looking companies, cities and organizations across the United States announced they will help combat extreme heat and wildfires as well as other adverse effects of climate change by conserving, restoring and growing more than 855 million trees. Healthy forests are a critical nature-based solution for the climate crisis and these pledges mark the launch of the U.S. chapter of 1t.org, the global trillion trees movement. The U.S. is home to the first regional chapter of 1t.org. Pledges demonstrate an advancement of conservation, restoration and reforestation goals within the U.S. and internationally, a significant effort and achievement toward the trillion trees goal. Trees pledged will cover 2.8 million acres. American Forest Foundation, Arbor Day Foundation, Bank of America, Mastercard, Microsoft, National Association of State Foresters, National Forest Foundation, Salesforce, and the cities of Detroit and Dallas are among those who have committed to invest in creating healthy forests. The World Economic Forum and American Forests are leading the initiative and will provide individuals and organizations in the U.S. with the tools and technical assistance they need to create and bring their pledges to life. As independent and non-partisan institutions, they are supported by the 1t.org U.S. Stakeholder Council, a bipartisan group of senior-level representatives from government, business, civil society and academia who are informing the strategic direction of the initiative. Healthy and resilient forests are a key part of efforts to combat the negative impacts of climate change. Studies have shown trees can reduce temperatures by 9 degrees and energy costs by $7.8 billion a year. The chance of extreme wildfires occurring also decreases dramatically when forests are managed properly by, for example, planting specially-selected tree species in burned areas and using novel planting techniques for resilience to future wildfires. Story continues Investing in forests will also help improve the economy and public health. In the U.S. alone, every $1 million invested in tree planting and other forest restoration activities creates almost 40 jobs. Globally, sustainable management of forests would create $230 billion in business opportunities and 16 million jobs worldwide by 2030. From a health perspective, trees absorb 17.4 million tons of air pollutants a year, helping to prevent 670,000 cases of asthma and other acute respiratory symptoms annually. The 1t.org U.S. Chapter launches at a perfect time, said Jad Daley, President & CEO of American Forests. It unites the diverse organizations and people working for trillion trees so that we can do more, and do it better, by working together. And it aligns with the trillion trees movement quickly building in the US, including bi-partisan Congressional support for historic forest conservation legislation and bold new commitments from corporations and NGOs to help address carbon emissions with reforestation. We have seen enormous energy and enthusiasm to conserve and restore our forests, said Justin Adams, Director of Nature Based Solutions, World Economic Forum. A nature-positive recovery is crucial to a great reset of our society and economy. Putting trees at the heart of this reset will help ensure it is sustainable for us and future generations. In America, forests and forest products currently capture 15% of the nations carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels. Conserving, restoring, and growing trees can enable US forests to capture nearly double the emissions. The World Economic Forum launched 1t.org at the Annual Meeting 2020 in Davos, Switzerland. It is designed to support the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030 whose goals are to accelerate global restoration of degraded ecosystems, to fight the climate crisis, enhance food security, provide clean water and protect biodiversity on the planet. American Forests is the first national non-profit conservation organization created in the U.S. Since its founding in 1875, the organization has been the pathfinders for the forest conservation movement. Its mission is to create healthy and resilient forests, from cities to wilderness, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water and wildlife. The organization advances its mission through forestry innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and restore forests, and movement building. 1t.org uses UpLink, a digital platform to crowdsource innovations and accelerate the delivery of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. The UpLink Trillion Trees Challenge was launched on the platform on July 1, 2020, and called for solutions, initiatives, fresh perspectives and ideas. Winning submissions will be invited to present at the World Economic Forums Sustainable Development Impact Summit 2020 in September. For video statements and quotes from the pledging entities, as well as b-roll footage, go to https://us.1t.org/press-toolkit/ Attachments CONTACT: Jill Schwartz American Forests 202-903-1135 jschwartz@americanforests.org About Rs 4,257 crore worth of bids have been received so far and the Centre hopes that retail investors - those investing up to Rs 2 lakh - will place bids worth at least Rs 750 crore. The government kicked off the 2020-21 divestment programme with defence company Hindustan Aeronautics (HALs) Rs 5,000-crore offer for sale (OFS) on Thursday, which saw oversubscription in the institutional investor segment with bids for 42.6 million shares as against 40.13 million on offer. About Rs 4,257 crore worth of bids have been received so far and the Centre hopes that retail investors - those investing up to Rs 2 lakh - will place bids worth at least Rs 750 crore. The base price for the OFS has been set at Rs 1,001 per share, a discount of 15 per cent over Wednesdays close of Rs 1,178. Experts said many investors could have sold the stock in the secondary market - either from their own holdings or by borrowing through the stock-lending mechanism - and applied in the OFS to pocket arbitrage gains. After the latest fall, the secondary market price has almost converged with the floor price of the OFS. Retail investors can still look to pocket some gains as the government is offering an additional discount of 5 per cent to them. The names of the investors who applied in the OFS couldnt immediately be ascertained. Market players said Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India is likely to have placed bids. Experts said the government timed the HAL share sale well. The stock has more than doubled from its March lows amid strong buying momentum in defence stocks. The Street is optimistic that firms like HAL will see an improvement in order book. Currently, the company has an order backlog of Rs 52,000 crore, which is expected to grow substantially over the next few years as the company is likely to get many new orders in the coming years, including orders for 83 light combat aircraft will go for Cabinet approval very soon. "The company also has other projects in the pipeline, including light utility helicopter. "These projects will ensure constant order flow and we are positive on the future outlook of the company, said Jyoti Roy, an equity strategist at Angel Broking. Currently, the government owns 89.97 per cent in HAL. If the retail portion garners adequate subscription, the stake will come down by 15 percentage points to below 75 per cent, making HAL compliant with the minimum public shareholding norms. HAL is the first major disinvestment carried out by the government in the current financial year, for which it has set an ambitious target of Rs 2.1 trillion. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation is likely to be the next candidate. The Centre is in the process of hiring investment banks to pare holdings in the company. Whether the Centre is able to achieve this financial years target hinges on LICs initial public offering. Photograph: Abhishek N. Chinnappa/Reuters TOKYO - Japans longest-serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe, said he is stepping down because a chronic health problem has resurfaced. He told reporters Friday that it was gut wrenching to leave many of his goals unfinished. Abe has had ulcerative colitis since he was a teenager and has said the condition was controlled with treatment. Concerns about his health began this summer and grew this month when he visited a Tokyo hospital two weeks in a row for unspecified health checkups. He is now on a new treatment that requires IV injections, he said. While there is some improvement, there is no guarantee that it will cure his condition and so he decided to step down after treatment Monday, he said. It is gut wrenching to have to leave my job before accomplishing my goals, Abe said Friday, mentioning his failure to resolve the issue of Japanese abducted years ago by North Korea, a territorial dispute with Russia and a revision of Japans war-renouncing constitution. He said his health problem was under control until earlier this year but was found to have worsened in June when he had an annual checkup. Faced with the illness and treatment, as well as the pain of lacking physical strength ... I decided I should not stay on as prime minister when Im no longer capable of living up to the peoples expectations with confidence, Abe said at a news conference. In a country once known for its short-tenured prime ministers, the departure marks the end of an unusual era of stability that saw the Japanese leader strike up strong ties with President Donald Trump even as Abes ultra-nationalism riled the Koreas and China. While he pulled Japan out of recession, the economy has been battered anew by the coronavirus pandemic, and Abe has failed to achieve his cherished goal of formally rewriting the U.S.-drafted pacifist constitution because of poor public support. Abe said he achieved a stronger Japan-U.S. security alliance and the first visit by a serving U.S. president to the atom-bombed city of Hiroshima. He also helped Tokyo gain the right to host the 2020 Olympics by pledging that a disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant was under control when it was not. Recently, the coronavirus impact on the economy was a blow to Abe, who was stuck at home and lacking an opportunity to make any achievement or show off his friendship with Trump, and was pushed into a corner, said Koichi Nakano, an international politics professor at Sophia University in Tokyo. Abe continued to bolster Japans defence capability to respond to Americas needs, Nakano said. For those who believe the Japan-U.S. alliance is paramount, that was his major achievement, he said. But Abe bulldozed his expanded defence policy and other contentious issues through parliament, repeatedly neglecting public opinion, Nakano said. Trump paid tribute to his great friend Abe, telling reporters about Air Force One that he was surprised to hear of his resignation. We had a great relationship. And I just feel very bad for him. Because it must be very severe. Look, for him to leave he loves his country so much and for him to leave, I just cant imagine what it is. Hes a great gentleman and so Im just paying my highest respect, Trump said. Abe is a political blue blood who was groomed to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi. His political rhetoric often focused on making Japan a normal and beautiful nation with a stronger military and bigger role in international affairs. Abe, whose term ends in September 2021, is expected to stay on until a new party leader is elected and formally approved by the parliament, a process which is expected to take several weeks. Abe became Japans youngest prime minister in 2006, at age 52, but his overly nationalistic first stint abruptly ended a year later because of his health. In December 2012, Abe returned to power, prioritizing economic measures over his nationalist agenda. He won six national elections and built a rock-solid grip on power, bolstering Japans defence role and capability and its security alliance with the U.S. He also stepped up patriotic education at schools and raised Japans international profile. Abe on Monday became Japans longest-serving prime minister by consecutive days in office, eclipsing the record of Eisaku Sato, his great-uncle, who served 2,798 days from 1964 to 1972. But his second hospital visit Monday accelerated speculation and political manoeuvring toward a post-Abe regime. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and sometimes polyps in the bowels. People with the condition can have a normal life expectancy but serious cases can involve life-threatening complications. After his recent hospital visits were reported, top officials from Abes Cabinet and the ruling party said he was overworked and badly needed rest. His health concerns came as his support ratings plunged due to his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and its severe impact on the economy, on top of a stream of political scandals, including his own. There are a slew of politicians eager to replace Abe. Shigeru Ishiba, a 63-year-old hawkish former defence minister and Abes archrival, is a favourite next leader in media surveys, though he is less popular within the governing party. A low-key former foreign minister, Fumio Kishida, Defence Minister Taro Kono, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, and economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is in charge of coronavirus measures, are widely mentioned in Japanese media as potential successors. Abe was often upstaged in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic by Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, a former governing party conservative who is seen as a potential prime minister candidate by some. But she would have to first be elected to parliament to be in the running for the top job. Analysts say no major change of policy is expected whoever succeeds Abe, though Japan may return to an era of short-lived leadership. The end of Abes scandal-laden first stint as prime minister was the beginning of six years of annual leadership change, remembered as an era of revolving door politics that lacked stability and long-term policies. When he returned to office in 2012, Abe vowed to revitalize the nation and get its economy out of its deflationary doldrums with his Abenomics formula, which combines fiscal stimulus, monetary easing and structural reforms. Perhaps Abes biggest regret was his inability to fulfil a long-cherished goal of his grandfather and himself to formally rewrite the pacifist constitution. Abe and his ultra-conservative supporters see the U.S.-drafted constitution as a humiliating legacy of Japans World War II defeat. He was also unable to achieve his goal of settling several unfinished wartime legacies, including normalizing ties with North Korea, settling island disputes with neighbours and signing a peace treaty with Russia formally ending their hostilities in World War II. Abe said he will focus on his treatment for now and continue his political activity and support a new administration as a lawmaker. ___ Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi Read more about: Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) attacked Joe Biden's foreign policy record in his speech at the Republican National Convention on Thursday, arguing that the former senator and vice president has "aided and abetted Chinas rise for fifty years with terrible trade deals." Why it matters: Cotton, a hardline conservative and China hawk, is widely seen as a potential 2024 Republican candidate for president. The Trump campaign and Biden campaign have gone back and forth in accusing each candidate of being soft on China. Catch up quick: Cotton rattled off a list of what he argued are President Trump's biggest foreign policy wins: killing Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem in 2017, and standing up to China through sanctions and tariffs. What he's saying: "Joe Biden would return us to a weak and dangerous past. Barack Obamas own secretary of defense said Joe Biden has been wrong on nearly every major national-security decision over the past four decades," Cotton said. Cotton accused Biden of letting "ISIS terrorists rampage across the Middle East" and of treating Israel "like a nuisance," claimed that the Democratic nominee had "coddled socialist dictators in Cuba and Venezuela," and said that he had "allowed Chinese fentanyl to flood across our southern border." "We need a president who stands up for Americanot one who takes a knee," he said, appearing to reference a form of protest used by Black Lives Matter protesters. Context: "I think I stand by that statement," Robert Gates, Obama's former defense secretary, told CBS "Face the Nation" last year when asked if he still believed Biden had been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy issue from the last forty years. The lobby of Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City is deserted on August 25, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Anh Tu. Vietnamese airlines hopes for higher summer revenues have been badly dented with travel demand plummeting amid the resurgence of Covid-19 in the country. Between July 19 and August 18, which has traditionally been a period with strong demand as many families travel, the countrys five carriers completed over 16,400 flights, down 45.7 percent year-on-year. The two largest airlines, flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and budget carrier Vietjet, each saw a year-on-year drop of 48 percent in the number of flights operated, while Pacific Airlines and Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO) experienced drops of 61 percent and 46 percent, respectively. Bamboo Airways was the only airline that saw number of flights rise 21 percent, as it only made its debut last year and the number of flights that it operated then was low. All five airlines saw double-digit declines compared to the preceding June 19-July 18 period. They canceled a total of 490 flights between July 19 and August 18, a threefold month-on-month increase. The dwindling figures followed in the wake of Vietnam starting to record hundreds of new Covid-19 community transmission cases since the end of July, most of them linked to tourism hotspot Da Nang. Before that, demand had surged in June and early July when the country had been able to contain the novel coronavirus and families started to make domestic travel plans while companies booked business flights as economic activities resumed. But the pandemics resurgence in the country has resulted in lower demand and ticket prices. A two-way ticket between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City for September was available for VND1.2 million ($52) Thursday, a third of the price in early July when demand was surging. The CEO of Vietnam Airlines, Duong Tri Thanh, said earlier that the total market size in the last five months could fall 30 percent year-on-year due to the resurgence of Covid-19 cases. He estimated a 30-40 percent year-on-year drop for the whole year. In a bid to bolster revenues, the carriers are starting to sell tickets earlier than usual for the biggest national holiday next year, Tet (Lunar New Year). Tet falls next February. To help carriers recover, the Vietnam Aviation Business Association this month called on the government to resume flights to countries that have contained the pandemic, and allow foreign tourists entry if they meet pandemic prevention requirements. The association also proposed that carriers are allowed access to an a credit package of VND25-27 trillion ($1-1.17 billion) with preferential interest for three or four years; and air services fees are reduced or cut until the end of next year. The French film director Francois Truffaut, who conducted a famous series of interviews with Alfred Hitchcock in 1962, said afterward that he had found Hitchcock to be a "fearful" and "deeply vulnerable" man, but that this was precisely what made him an "artist of anxiety." Hitchcock's biographer Peter Ackroyd concisely summed up the theme of most of his films: "Ordinary people, living in a familiar setting, are suddenly plunged into a 'chaos world' where no one is safe." This can hardly be improved upon as a description of our own world since March. It may not be clear what to call the Hitchcock movie we seem to have been plunged into - "Housebound" instead of "Spellbound"? Perhaps "The Man Who Knew Too Little?" Yet the feeling of being immersed in one of Hitchcock's movies can also induce a desire to watch them, or to consume anything comparably tense and dark and riveting. Friends of mine, from rural Wisconsin to the south of France, from Texas to Tel Aviv, have written to say that during the long coronavirus siege they have been devoting themselves to film noirs and classic Hitchcock and Clouzot thrillers, or to Poe and Kafka and Raymond Chandler stories. In a small New England town, I've been doing the same. A tenet of homeopathic medicine is that "like cures like." I'm not sure that's true, but perhaps it can at least alleviate it (as, admittedly, can pure, carefree escapism, like the screwball comedies about mostly rich people during the Depression). The art of anxiety may deflect real-life anxiety and simultaneously put it into better focus. Anxiety involves a sharpening of the senses, a heightened awareness. In any kind of treacherous landscape, it helps us keep our balance and see what is hidden. Like the news, Hitchcock's movies and Franz Kafka's stories are often about innocent people falsely accused of a crime or arbitrarily punished. "The Plague," the suddenly timely and widely reread Albert Camus novel, is about the random executions carried out by the bubonic plague bacillus, which only makes manifest the inherent precariousness of human existence. "What does that mean - 'plague'?" an old man says to the book's narrator-hero, Dr. Rieux, toward the end. "Just life, no more than that." But art's advantage over both plague and common predicament is that it is never "just life" - never really a mirror of life. It always gives us a potent intensification or distillation of some aspect of it: tragic, comic, elegiac, erotic or, in the case of the art of anxiety, a sense of disorientation and shadowy, intangible menace. These aren't pleasant feelings, but any strong and pure distillation, even of fear, can intoxicate us. It can even enchant us. Around the age of 12, I was mesmerized by Edgar Allan Poe stories like "The Pit and the Pendulum" and "The Masque of the Red Death." Children like scary stories. Hitchcock movies, film noirs and other thrillers, or the perennially popular horror genre inherited from Poe and Mary Shelley, bring us back to a half-forgotten but unconsciously persistent childhood perspective, which is one of being always a little lost, having to find our way in a sometimes perilous world full of unknown things and places and people, most of them much larger than ourselves, and featuring a regularly encroaching, scary nighttime darkness and solitude. Suspense is both a form of anxiety and a form of enchantment, and it has always been essential to the storytelling arts. But it exists as well in music, which often relies on ominous chords and passages - the opening bars of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, for example - and even in a great painting or photograph, in the sense that there is more there than meets the eye, an archetypal or subliminal something that accounts for a work's uncanny, hypnotic hold over us. The power of suspense is a legacy of the long evolutionary and prehistorical periods of humanity, when everyone had to spend a lot of their time anticipating threats, sensing and dodging dangers, and generally being scared to death. Our remote ancestors were terrified of thunder, darkness, predatory animals, snakes, ghosts, sicknesses, strangers and nearby hostile tribes, along with earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and the rest of the catalogue of routine but unpredictable natural disasters. Civilization has been largely about reducing risk and fear. That was its first excuse and sometimes its only one. The cultivation of staple crops and the domestication of animals that came with the agricultural revolution of about 10,000 years ago promised a more reliable food supply and gradually enabled large numbers of people to gather in relative safety in walled towns and the orderly ancient cities that gave us the word "civilization." But with that word came new things to fear, such as empires, conquering armies, tyrants, taxes, serfdom, slavery, periodic famines due to crop failure and occasional plagues aggravated by urban crowding. Not to mention alarming metaphysical innovations like wrathful gods, devils and eternities of punishment. Modern civilization, under the auspices of progress, has had similar mixed results in the department of fear and trembling. Some ancient terrors (endemic disease, frequent maternal and infant mortality, contaminated water supplies) were largely put to rest through scientific medicine and systematic hygiene, and through the large-scale technologies (industrial production, mechanized transportation, fertilizers) that eventually brought unprecedented levels of security, prosperity and material abundance to millions of people. But other menaces were made worse - bigger wars, for instance, and ever more lethal and apocalyptic weapons of war. There is the collateral damage to nature, too: According to a recent United Nations report, three-fourths of all land and two-thirds of the oceans have been severely affected by human activity. A million species may soon face extinction. Our global megasprawl and its unintended consequences - overpopulation, pollution, gene-altering chemicals, climate change, accelerated pandemics - could eventually have much the same effect on the planet and its biosphere as a stray asteroid once did. This time, we may turn out to be the dinosaurs as well as the asteroid. "I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature," Edvard Munch said of his inspiration for "The Scream," the 1893 painting that became the iconic image of what W.H. Auden would later call "The Age of Anxiety." It's the age when, it might be said, we have begun to fear ourselves - a recklessly expansive, hubristic version of ourselves. In movies like "Shadow of a Doubt," "Strangers on a Train" and "The Wrong Man," Hitchcock gives us an innocent character who discovers that she or he has a sinister double who has to be confronted and subdued. Anxiety is, in a sense, the discovery that what we fear is here, among us, after we have bolted the door. Auden remarked that Kafka was to our age as Dante was to his, the Middle Ages: the supreme expression of its spirit. No wonder he became an adjective. "Kafkaesque" is the only precise word for the unappeasable ambiguities of a world of elusive, interlocking technologies and global economic systems susceptible to viruses that cross the planet in 10 hours on comfortable modern transportation and take possession of our public spaces without anyone noticing until it is too late. Anxiety, when clinical, can be paralyzing and is something to be treated and diminished whenever possible. But sometimes we need to draw on the fundamental, existential anxiety that comes with the precipitous human condition. Anxiety is, as Kierkegaard said, "the dizziness of freedom." It attends every major choice, every crossroads and new experience. It is inseparable from adventure, and from savoring and surviving it. The imaginative adventures provided by the great artists of anxiety may allow us not only to momentarily escape the anxiety being generated by the pandemic and by deep social and political divisions, but to find our way through it. - - - Klepp is an essayist and critic. He lives in Vermont. China removes over 900 church crosses in first half of 2020: report Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In the first half of 2020, over 900 crosses were removed from state-run churches across China amid Xi Jinpings ongoing crackdown on places of worship, according to the Italian-based magazine Bitter Winter. According to the religious liberty magazine, crosses were removed from over 250 state-run Three-Self churches in the eastern province of Anhui, which has the second-largest Christian population in China, in the first four months of the year. Additionally, 656 state-run Protestant churches in the province saw their crosses removed during the first half of this year. A Three-Self church in the citys Yingdong district, which lost its cross in April, was told by authorities that the cross-demolition campaign was part of national policy. If a church refuses to remove its cross, congregation members may lose their social benefits, like pensions and poverty-alleviation subsidies, and possibilities for their childrens future employment will be affected, a church member explained. United Front Work Department officials who removed the cross from a church in Hanshan county informed church congregants that any crosses taller than government buildings must be demolished because they overshadow state institutions, a church member told Bitter Winter. Only churches that look like enterprises are considered legal. To sinicize Christianity, Xi Jinping does not allow churches to have Western crosses. The believer also revealed that government officials warned an elder in the church that protesting cross demolitions means protesting against the government. I feel sad thinking that all crosses in our church have been demolished, the believer added. Even though it is a symbol of our faith, who dares to disobey the central government order? On several occasions, Christians who attempted to stop cross removals were injured by authorities or detained. In May, the government of Maanshan-administered Dangtu county removed crosses from the Lingyunshan Christian Church using three large cranes. Hundreds of police officers cordoned off the church, forbidding vehicles or pedestrians from approaching, and then stormed into the church having cut off an iron chain lock, a local believer told the outlet, adding that an elderly believer who stepped forward to stop the demolition had her hands injured. Bob Fu of China Aid, a U.S. based Christian rights group, previously explained that Chinas cross removal campaign which began in 2013 demonstrates the Chinese regimes determination to contain the rapid growth of Christianity in China. Chinas crackdown on religion and religious minorities has been widely condemned by international actors such as the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, rights groups, and the U.S. State Department. In its 2020 annual report, USCIRF noted that not only have authorities removed crosses from churches across the nation, but they have also banned youth younger than 18 from participating in religious services and replaced images of Jesus Christ or the Virgin Mary with pictures of President Xi. China has also been labeled by the U.S. State Department as a country of particular concern for continuing to engage in particularly severe violations of religious freedom. In a recent webinar on Chinas rising threat to human rights, Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, said the Chinese Communist Party 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. China ranks as the 23rd-worst nation in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List. At a time when experts have come forward to encourage more widespread testing, the CDCs update appears counterintuitive and very strange. 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. 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 modeler 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. Wow, that is a walk-back, Butler-Wu said. Were in the middle of a pandemic, and thats a really big change. Butler-Wu said she was concerned that the guidelines would be misinterpreted as implying that people without symptoms were unable to pass the coronavirus on to others a falsehood that experts had been trying for months to dispel. If people are getting exposed, and theyre not getting tested, and theyre not isolating, thats a huge problem, Kuppalli said. By the CDCs own estimates, roughly 40% of people infected with the coronavirus may never go on to develop symptoms, remaining asymptomatic for the duration of their tenure with the virus. These numbers are tentative and ironically cant be confirmed without more testing of people who appear entirely healthy. Although researchers remain unsure how often asymptomatic people unwittingly transmit the coronavirus, studies have shown that the silently infected can carry the virus in high amounts. The evidence is more clear-cut for pre-symptomatic people, in whom virus levels tend to peak just before illness sets in a period when these individuals might be mingling with their peers, seeding superspreader events. Notably, experts cant distinguish asymptomatic people from those who are pre-symptomatic until symptoms do or dont appear. It seems backwards to just ignore pre-symptomatic patients, Butler-Wu said. 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. 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 U.S. 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. Katherine J. Wu c.2020 The New York Times Company President Donald Trump speaks from the South Lawn of the White House on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Washington. (Evan Vucci/AP) Friends, delegates, and distinguished guests, please. I stand before you tonight honored by your support, proud of the extraordinary progress we have made together over the last four incredible years and blooming with confidence in the bright future we will build for America over the next four years. We begin this evening, our thoughts are with the wonderful people who have just come through the wrath of Hurricane Laura. We are working closely with state and local officials in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, sparing no effort to save lives. While the hurricane was fierce, one of the strongest to make landfall in 150 years, the casualties and damage were far less than thought possible only 24 hours ago. And this is due to the great work of FEMA, law enforcement, and the individual states. I will be going this weekend. And congratulations, thank you for that great job out there. We really appreciate it. We are one national family, and we will always protect, love, and care for each other. Here tonight are the people who have made my journey possible and filled my life with so much joy. For her incredible service to our nation and its children, I want to thank our magnificent first lady. Thank you sweetheart. I also want to thank my amazing daughter Ivanka for that introduction, and to all of my children. Ivanka, please stand up. Thank you. And to all of my children and grandchildren, I love you more than words can express. I know my brother Robert is looking down on us right now from heaven. He was a great brother, and was very proud of the job we are all doing. Thank you. We love you, Robert. Let us also take a moment to show our profound appreciation for a man who has always fought by our side and stood up for our values, a man of deep faith and steadfast conviction, our vice president, Mike Pence. And Mike is joined by his beloved wife, a teacher and military mom, Karen Pence. Thank you, Karen. My fellow Americans, tonight, with a heart full of gratitude and boundless optimism, I profoundly accept this nomination for President of the United States. Story continues The Republican Party, the party of Abraham Lincoln, goes forward united, determined, and ready to welcome millions of Democrats, independents, and anyone who believes in the greatness of America and the righteous heart of the American people. In the new term as president, we will again build the greatest economy in history, quickly returning to full employment, soaring incomes and record prosperity. We will defend America against all threats and protect America against all dangers. We will lead America into new frontiers of ambition and discovery, and we will reach four new heights of national achievement. We will rekindle new faith in our values, new pride in our history, and a new spirit of unity that can only be realized through love for our great country. Because we understand that America is not a land cloaked in darkness. America is the torch that enlightens the entire world. Gathered here at our beautiful and majestic White House, known all over the world as the peoples house, we cannot help but marvel at the miracle that is our great American story. This has been the home of larger-than-life figures like Teddy Roosevelt and Andrew Jackson, who rallied Americans to bold visions of a bigger and brighter future. Within these walls lived tenacious generals like President Grant and Eisenhower, who led our soldiers in the cause of freedom. From these grounds, Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark on a daring expedition to cross a wild and uncharted continent. In the depths of a bloody Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln looked out these very windows upon a half-completed Washington Monument and asked God and his Providence to save our nation. Two weeks after Pearl Harbor, Franklin Delano Roosevelt welcomed Winston Churchill, and just inside, they set our people on course to victory in the Second World War. In recent months, our nation and the entire planet has been struck by a new and powerful invisible enemy. Like those brave Americans before us, we are meeting this challenge. We are delivering lifesaving therapies and will produce a vaccine before the end of the year, or maybe even sooner. We will defeat the virus and the pandemic and emerge stronger than ever before. What united generations past was an unshakable confidence in Americas destiny and an unbreakable faith in the American people. They knew that our country is blessed by God and has a special purpose in this world. It is that conviction that inspired the formation of our union, our westward expansion, the abolition of slavery, the passage of civil rights, the space program and the overthrow of fascism, tyranny, and communism. This towering American spirit has prevailed over every challenge and has lifted us to the summit of human endeavor. And yet despite all of our greatness as a nation, everything we have achieved is now in danger. This is the most important election in the history of our country. Thank you. At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas. This election will decide if we save the American dream or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny. It will decide whether we rapidly create millions of high-paying jobs or whether we crush our industries and send millions of these jobs overseas, as has been foolishly done for many decades. Your vote will decide whether we protect law-abiding Americans or whether we give free rein to violent anarchists, agitators, and criminals who threaten our citizens. And this election will decide whether we will defend the American way of life or whether we will allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it. That wont happen. At the Democrat National Convention, Joe Biden and his party repeatedly assailed America as a land of racial, economic and social injustice. So tonight, I ask you a simple question, how can the Democratic Party ask to lead our country when it spent so much time tearing down our country? In the Lefts backward view, they do not see America as the most free, just, and exceptional nation on Earth. Instead, they see a wicked nation that must be punished for its sins. Our opponents say that redemption for you can only come from giving power to them. This is a tired anthem spoken by every repressive movement throughout history. But in this country, we dont look to career politicians for salvation. In America, we do not turn to government to restore ourselves. We put our faith in almighty God. Joe Biden is not a savior of Americas soul. He is the destroyer of Americas jobs, and if given the chance, he will be the destroyer of Americas greatness. For 47 years, Joe Biden took the donations of blue-collar workers, gave them hugs, and even kisses, and told them he felt their pain, and then he flew back to Washington, and voted to ship our jobs to China and many other distant lands. Joe Biden spent his entire career outsourcing their dreams and the dreams of American workers, offshoring their jobs, opening their borders and sending their sons and daughters to fight in endless foreign wars, wars that never ended. Four years ago, I ran for president because I cannot watch this betrayal of our country any longer. I could not sit by as career politicians let other countries take advantage of us on trade, borders, foreign policy, and national defense. Our NATO partners, as an example, were very far behind in their defense payments. But at my strong urging, they agreed to pay $130 billion more a year, the first time in over 20 years that they upped their payments. And this $130 billion will ultimately go to $400 billion a year. And Secretary General Stoltenberg, who heads NATO, was amazed after watching for so many years, and said that President Trump did what no one else was able to do. Thank you. From the moment I left my former life behind, and it was a good life, I have done nothing but fight for you. I did what our political establishment never expected and could never forgive, breaking the cardinal rule of Washington politics. I kept my promise. Together we have ended the rule of the failed political class, and they are desperate to get their power back by any means necessary. You have seen that. They are angry at me because instead of putting them first, I very simply said, America first. Thank you. Days after taking office, we shocked the Washington establishment and withdrew from the last administrations job-killing Trans-Pacific Partnership. I then immediately approved the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, ended the unfair and very costly Paris Climate Accord, and secured, for the first time, American energy independence. We passed record-setting tax and regulation cuts at a rate nobody had ever seen before. Within three short years, we built the strongest economy in the history of the world. Washington insiders asked me not to stand up to China. They pleaded with me to let China continue stealing our jobs, ripping us off, and robbing our country blind. But I kept my word to the American people. We took the toughest, boldest, strongest, and hardest-hitting action against China in American history by far. They said that it would be impossible to terminate and replace NAFTA, but again they were wrong. Earlier this year, I ended the NAFTA nightmare and signed the brand-new Mexico-US-Canada agreement into law. And right now, auto companies and others are building their plants and factories in America, not firing their employees, and not deserting us for other countries. In perhaps no area did the Washington special interests try harder to stop us than on my policy of pro-American immigration. But I refused to back down, and today Americas borders are more secure than ever before. Thank you. We ended catch-and-release, stopped asylum fraud, took down human traffickers who prey on women and children, and we have deported 20,000 gang members and 500,000 criminal aliens. We have already built 300 miles of border wall, and we are adding 10 new miles every single week. The wall will soon be complete, and it is working beyond our wildest expectations. We are joined this evening by members of the Border Patrol Union, representing our countrys courageous border agents. Thank you very much for being here. Thank you. Brave, brave people. You see, this country loves our law enforcement. They do. They really do. Love and respect. When I learned that the Tennessee Valley Authority laid off hundreds of American workers and forced them to train their lower-paid foreign replacements, I promptly removed the chairman of the board. And now those talented American workers have been rehired, and are back providing power to Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Virginia. They have their old jobs back, and some are here with us this evening. Please stand. You went through a lot. Please stand. Thank you. Thank you very much. Youve been through a lot. Thank you very much. Last month, I took on big pharma. You think thats easy? Its not. And signed orders that would massively lower the cost of your prescription drugs, and give critically ill patients access to lifesaving cures. We passed the decades-long-awaited right to try. We also passed VA Accountability and VA Choice, our great veterans, were taking care of our veterans. 91% approval rating this month, the VA given by our veterans. First time anything like that has ever happened. By the end of my first term, we will have approved more than 300 federal judges, including two great new Supreme Court justices. And to bring prosperity to our forgotten inner cities, we worked hard to pass historic criminal justice reform, prison reform, opportunity zones, and long-term funding of historically Black colleges and universities. And before the China virus came in, produced the best unemployment numbers for African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Asian-Americans ever recorded. And I say very modestly that I have done more for the African-American community than any president since Abraham Lincoln, our first Republican president. And I have done more in three years for the Black community than Joe Biden has done in 47 years. And when I am re-elected, the best is yet to come. When I took office, the Middle East was in total chaos. ISIS was rampaging, Iran was on the rise, and the war in Afghanistan had no end in sight. I withdrew from the terrible one-sided Iran nuclear deal. Unlike many presidents before me, I kept my promise, recognized Israels true capital, and moved our Embassy to Jerusalem. But not only did we talk about it as a future site, we got it built. Rather than spending $1 billion on a new building as planned, we took an already owned, existing building in a better location. Real estate deal, right? And opened it at a cost of less than $500,000. Many things like that the government is doing right now. We also recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. And this month we achieved the first Middle East peace deal in 25 years. Thank you to the UAE. Thank you to Israel. In addition, we obliterated 100% of the ISIS caliphate, and killed its founder and leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Then, in a separate operation, we eliminated the worlds number-one terrorist by far, Qassim Suleimani. Unlike previous administrations, I have kept America out of new wars, and our troops are coming home. We have spent nearly $2.5 trillion on completely rebuilding our military, which was very badly depleted when I took office, as you know. This includes three separate pay raises for our great warriors. We also launched the Space Force, the first new branch of the United States Military since the Air Force was created almost 75 years ago. We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years. Bidens record is a shameful roll call of the most catastrophic betrayals and blunders in our lifetime. He has spent his entire career on the wrong side of history. Biden voted for the NAFTA disaster, the single worst trade deal ever enacted. He supported Chinas entry into the World Trade Organization, one of the greatest economic disasters of all time. After those Biden calamities, the United States lost one in four manufacturing jobs. We laid off workers in Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and many other states. They did not want to hear Bidens hollow words of empathy. They wanted their jobs back. As vice president, he supported the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which would have been a death sentence for the US auto industry. He backed the horrendous South Korea trade deal, which took many jobs from our country, and which Ive reversed and made a great deal for our country. He repeatedly supported mass amnesty for illegal immigrants. He voted for the Iraq war. He opposed the mission that took out Osama bin Laden. He opposed killing Suleimani, he oversaw the rise of ISIS, and cheered the rise of China as a positive development for America and the world. Some positive development. That is why China supports Joe Biden, and desperately wants him to win. I can tell you that upon very good information. China would own our country if Joe Biden got elected. Unlike Biden, I will hold them fully accountable for the tragedy that they caused all over the world, they caused. In recent months, our nation and the world has been hit by the once-in-a-century pandemic that China allowed to spread around the globe. They could have stopped it, but they allowed it to come out. We are grateful to be joined tonight by several of our incredible nurses and first responders. Please stand and accept our profound thanks and gratitude. Many Americans, including me, I have sadly lost friends and cherished loved ones to this horrible disease. As one nation, we mourn, we grieve, and we hold in our hearts forever the memories of all of those lives that have been so tragically taken so unnecessary. In their honor, we unite. In their memory, we will overcome it. And when the China virus hit, we launched the largest national mobilization since World War II, invoking the Defense Production Act. We produce the worlds largest supply of ventilators. Not a single American who has needed a ventilator has been denied a ventilator, which is a miracle. Good job heading the task force by our great vice president. Thank you very much, Mike. Please stand up. We shipped hundreds of millions of masks, gloves, and gowns to our frontline health care workers. To protect our nations seniors, we rushed supplies, testing kits, and personnel to nursing homes. We gave everything you can possibly give, and were still giving it because we are taking care of our senior citizens. The Army Corps of Engineers built field hospitals, and the Navy deployed our great hospital ships. We developed from scratch the largest and most advanced testing system anywhere in the world. America has tested more than every country in Europe put together, and more than every nation in the western hemisphere combined, think of that. We have conducted 40 million more tests than the next closest nation, which is India. We developed a wide array of effective treatments, including a powerful antibody treatment known as convalescent plasma. You saw that? On Sunday night when we announced it. That will save thousands and thousands of lives. Thanks to advances, we have pioneered the fatality rates. And you look at it, and you look at the numbers, it has been reduced by 80% since April. 80%. The United States has among the lowest case fatality rates of any major country anywhere in the world. The European Unions case fatality rate is nearly three times higher than ours, but you dont hear that. They do not write about that. They dont want to write about that. They do not want you to know those things. Altogether, the nations of Europe have experienced a 30% greater increase in excess mortality than the United States. Think of that. We enacted the largest package of financial relief in American history. Thanks to our Paycheck Protection Program, we have saved or supported more than 50 million American jobs. Thats one of the reasons that were advancing so rapidly with our economy. Great job. As a result, we have seen the smallest economic contraction of any major western nation. And we are recovering at a much faster rate than anybody. Over the past three months, we have gained over nine million jobs, and thats a record in the history of our country. Unfortunately, from the beginning, our opponents have shown themselves capable of nothing but a partisan ability to criticize. When I took bold action to issue a travel ban on China, very early indeed, Joe called it hysterical and xenophobic. And then I introduced a ban on Europe, very early again. If we had listened to Joe, hundreds of thousands more Americans would have died. Instead of following the science, Joe Biden wants to inflict a painful shutdown on the entire country. His shutdown would inflict unthinkable and lasting harm on our nations children, families, and citizens of all backgrounds. The cost of the Biden shutdown would be measured in increased drug overdoses, depression, alcohol addiction, suicides, heart attacks, economic devastation, job loss, and much more. Joe Bidens plan is not a solution to the virus, but rather its a surrender to the virus. My administration has a very different approach. To save as many lives as possible, we are focusing on the science, the facts, and the data. We are aggressively sheltering those at highest risk, especially the elderly, while allowing lower-risk Americans to safely return to work and to school. And we want to see so many of those great states be opened by Democrats. We want them to be open. They have to be open. They have to get back to work. They have to get back to work, and they have to get back to school. Most importantly, we are marshaling Americas scientific genius to produce a vaccine in record time. Under Operation Warp Speed, we have three different vaccines in the final stage of trials right now, years ahead of what has been achieved before. Nobody thought it could be done this fast. Normally it would be years, and we did it in a matter of a few months. We are producing them in advance so that hundreds of millions of doses will be quickly available. We will have a safe and effective vaccine this year, and together we will crush the virus. At the Democrat convention, you barely heard a word about their agenda. But that is not because they dont have one. It is because their agenda is the most extreme set of proposals ever put forward by a major party nominee. Joe Biden may claim he is an ally of the light. But when it comes to his agenda, Biden wants to keep us completely in the dark. He doesnt have a clue. He has pledged a $4 trillion tax hike on almost all American families, which would totally collapse our rapidly improving economy, and once again record stock markets that we have right now, will also collapse. That means your 401(k)s, that means all of the stocks that you have. On the other hand, just as I did in my first term, I will cut taxes even further for hardworking moms and dads. I will not raise taxes, I will cut them, and very substantially. And we will also provide tax credits to bring jobs out of China, back to America. And we will impose tariffs on any company that leaves America to produce jobs overseas. We will make sure our companies and jobs stay in our country, as Ive already been doing for quite some time if youve noticed. Joe Bidens agenda is made in China. My agenda is made in the USA. Biden has promised to abolish the production of American oil, coal, shale, and natural gas, laying waste to the economies of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico, destroying those states, absolutely destroying those states and others. Millions of jobs will be lost, and energy prices will soar. These same policies led to crippling power outages in California just last week. Everybody saw that. Tremendous power outage. Nobodys seen anything like it, but we saw it last week in California. How can Joe Biden claim to be an ally of the light when his own party cant even keep the lights on? Joe Bidens campaign has even published a 110-page policy platform. You cant get away from this, co-authored with far-left senator, crazy Bernie Sanders. The Biden-Bernie manifesto[ calls for suspending all removals of illegal aliens, implementing nationwide catch-and-release, and providing illegal aliens with free taxpayer-funded lawyers. Everybody gets a lawyer. Come over to our country, everybody has a lawyer. We have a lawyer for you. Thats all we need, is more lawyers. Joe Biden recently raised his hand on the debate stage, and promised he was going to give it away your health care dollars to illegal immigrants, which is going to bring massive number of immigrants into our country. Massive numbers will pour into our country in order to get all the goodies that they want to give. Education, health care, everything. He also supports deadly sanctuary cities that protect criminal aliens. He promised to end national security travel bans from jihadist nations, and he pledged to increase refugee admissions by 700%. This is in the manifesto. The Biden plan would eliminate Americas borders in the middle of a global pandemic. And he is even talking about taking the wall down. How about that? Biden also vowed to oppose school choice, and close all charter schools, ripping away the ladder of opportunity for Black and Hispanic children. In a second term, I will expand charter schools, and provide school choice to every family in America. And we will always treat our teachers with the tremendous respect that they deserve. Great people. Great, great people. Joe Biden claims he has empathy for the vulnerable, yet the party he leads supports the extreme late-term abortion of defenseless babies, right up until the moment of birth. Democrat leaders talk about moral decency, but they have no problem with stopping a babys beating heart in the ninth month of pregnancy. Democrat politicians refuse to protect innocent life, and then they lecture us about morality and saving Americas soul. Tonight, we proudly declare that all children, born and unborn, have a God-given right to life. During the Democrat convention, the words, under God, were removed from the Pledge of Allegiance. Not once, but twice. We will never do that. But the fact is, this is where theyre coming from. Like it or not, this is where theyre coming from. If the Left gains power, they will demolish the suburbs, confiscate your guns, and appoint justices who will wipe away your Second Amendment and other constitutional freedoms. Biden is a Trojan horse for socialism. If Joe Biden doesnt have the strength to stand up to wild-eyed Marxists like Bernie Sanders and his fellow radicals, and there are many, there are many. We see them all the time. It is incredible, actually. Then how is he ever going to stand up for you? Hes not. The most dangerous aspect of the Biden platform is the attack on public safety. The Biden-Bernie manifesto calls for abolishing cash bail, immediately releasing 400000 criminals onto the streets and into your neighborhoods. When asked if he supports cutting police funding, Joe Biden replied, Yes, absolutely. When Congresswoman Ilhan Omar called the Minneapolis Police Department, A cancer that is rotten to the root, Biden would not disavow her support and reject her endorsement. He proudly displayed it shortly later on his website, displayed it in big letters. Make no mistake, if you give power to Joe Biden, the Radical Left will defund police departments all across America. They will pass federal legislation to reduce law enforcement nationwide. They will make every city look like Democrat-run Portland, Oregon. No one will be safe in Bidens America. My administration will always stand with the men and women of law enforcement. Every day, police officers risk their lives to keep us safe, and every year many sacrifice their lives in the line of duty. One of these incredible Americans was Detective Miosotis Familia. She was part of a team of American heroes called the NYPD, or New Yorks finest, who I was very proud to get their endorsement just the other day. Great people. If they were allowed to do their job, youd have no crime in New York. Rudy Giuliani knows that better than anybody. Thank you, Rudy. Three years ago on the Fourth of July weekend, Detective Familia was on duty in her vehicle when she was ambushed just after midnight, and murdered by a monster who hated her purely for wearing the badge. Detective Familia was a single mom. She recently asked for the night shift so she could spend more time with her kids. Two years ago, I stood in front of the US Capitol alongside those beautiful children, and held their grandmothers hand as they mourned their terrible loss. And we honored Detective Familias extraordinary life. It was extraordinary. Detective Familias three children are with us this evening. Genesis, Peter, Delilah, we are so grateful to have you here tonight. Thank you very much for coming. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. I promise you that we will treasure your mom in our memories forever. We must remember that the overwhelming majority of police officers in this country, and thats the overwhelming majority, are noble, courageous, and honorable. We have to give law enforcement, our police, back their power. They are afraid to act. They are afraid to lose their pension. They are afraid to lose their jobs. And by being afraid, they are not able to do the job that they so desperately want to do for you. And those who suffer most are the great people who they protect, and who they want to protect at an even higher level. When there is police misconduct, the justice system must hold wrongdoers fully and completely accountable, and it will. But when we can never have a situation where things are going on as they are today, we must never allow mob rule. We can never allow mob rule. In the strongest possible terms, the Republican Party condemns the rioting, looting, arson, and violence we have seen in Democrat-run cities all, like Kenosha, Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago, and New York, and many others, Democrat-run. There is violence and danger in the streets of many Democrat-run cities throughout America. This problem could easily be fixed if they wanted to. Just call, were ready to go in. We will take care of your problem in a matter of hours. Just call. We have to wait for the call. It is too bad we have to, but we have to wait for the call. We must always have law and order. All federal crimes are being investigated, prosecuted, and punished to the fullest extent of the law. When the anarchists started ripping down our statues and monuments right outside, I signed an order immediately, 10 years in prison, and it was a miracle. It all stopped. No more statues. They said, Thats just too long, as they looked at a statue. I think well rip it down. Then they said, 10 years in prison? I think that is too long. Lets go home. During their convention, Joe Biden and his supporters remained completely silent about the rioters and criminals spreading mayhem in Democrat-run cities. They never even mentioned it during their entire convention. Never once mentioned. Now, they are starting to mention it because their poll numbers are going down like a rock in water. It is too late, Joe. In the face of left-wing anarchy and mayhem in Minneapolis, Chicago, and other cities, Joe Bidens campaign did not condemn it. They donated to it. At least 13 members of Joe Bidens campaign staff donated to a fund to bailout vandals, arsonists, anarchists, looters, and rioters from jail. Here tonight is the grieving family of retired police captain, David Dorn, a 38-year veteran of the St. Louis Police Department, a great man and a highly respected man by all. In June, Captain Dorn was shot and killed as he tried to protect a store from rioters and looters, or as the Democrats would call them, peaceful protesters. They call them peaceful protesters. We are honored to be joined tonight by his wonderful wife Ann, and beloved family members, Brian and Kielen. To each of you, we will never forget the heroic legacy of Captain. David Dorn. Thank you very much for being here. Thank you very much. Great man. As long as I am president, we will defend the absolute right of every American citizen to live in security, dignity, and peace. If the Democrat Party wants to stand with anarchists, agitators, rioters, looters, and flag burners, that is up to them. But I as your president, will not be part of it. The Republican Party will remain the voice of the patriotic heroes who keep America safe and salute the American flag. Last year, over 1000 African-Americans were murdered as a result of violent crime in just four Democrat-run cities. The top 10 most dangerous cities in the country are run by Democrats, and have been for many decades. Thousands more African-Americans are victim and victims of violent crime in these communities. Joe Biden and the Left ignore these American victims. I never will. If the radical Left takes power, they will apply their disastrous policies to every town, city, and suburb in America. Just imagine if the so-called peaceful demonstrators in the streets were in charge of every lever of power in the US government. Just think of that. Liberal politicians claim to be concerned about the strength of American institutions. But who exactly is attacking them? Who is hiring the radical professors, judges, and prosecutors? Who is trying to abolish immigration enforcement and establish speech codes designed to muzzle dissent? In every case, the attacks on American institutions are being waged by Radical Left. Always remember, they are coming after me because I am fighting for you. That is what is happening. And it has been going on from before I even got elected. And remember this, they spied on my campaign, and they got caught. Lets see now what happens. We must reclaim our independence from the Lefts repressive mandates. Americans are exhausted, trying to keep up with the latest lists of approved words and phrases, and the ever more restrictive political decrees. Many things have a different name now, and the rules are constantly changing. The goal of Cancel Culture is to make Americans live in fear of being fired, expelled, shamed, humiliated, and driven from society as we know it. The far-left wants to coerce you into saying what you know to be false, and scare you out of saying what you know to be true. Very sad. But on November 3rd, you can send them a very thundering message they will never forget. Joe Biden is weak. He takes his marching orders from liberal hypocrites who drive their cities into the ground while fleeing from the scene of the wreckage. The same liberals want to eliminate school choice while they enroll their children into the finest private schools in the land. They want to open our borders while living in walled off compounds and communities and the best neighborhoods in the world. They want to defund the police while they have armed guards for themselves. This November, we must turn the page forever on this failed political class. The fact is, I am here. What is the name of that building? But Ill say it differently, the fact is, we are here and they are not. To me, one of the most beautiful buildings anywhere in the world is not a building, it is a home, as far as I am concerned. Its not even a house, it is a home. Its a wonderful place with an incredible history. But it is all because of you. Together, we will write the next chapter of the great American story. Over the next four years, we will make America into the manufacturing superpower of the world. We will expand opportunity zones. Thank you, Tim Scott. Bring home our medical supply chains. And we will end our resilience for banned things. We will go right after China. We will not rely on them one bit. We are taking our business out of China. We are bringing it home. We want our business to come home. We will continue to reduce taxes and regulations at levels not seen before. We will create 10 million jobs in the next 10 months. And it will be higher than that. We will hire more police, increase penalties for assaults on law enforcement, and surge federal prosecutors into high-crime communities. We will ban deadly sanctuary cities, and ensure federal health care is protected for American citizens, not for illegal aliens. We will have strong borders. And Ive said for years, without borders, we dont have a country. We dont have a country. Strike down terrorists who threaten our people, and keep America out of endless and costly foreign wars. We will appoint prosecutors, judges, justices who believe in enforcing the law, not enforcing their own political agenda, which is illegal. We will ensure equal justice for citizens of every race, religion, color, and creed. We will uphold your religious liberty, and defend your Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. And if we dont win, your Second Amendment doesnt have a chance. I can tell you that. I have totally protected it. We will protect Medicare and Social Security. We will always and very strongly protect patients with pre-existing conditions, and that is a pledge from the entire Republican Party. Thank you, Kevin. We will end surprise medical billing, require price transparency, and further reduce the cost of prescription drugs and health insurance premiums. They are coming way down. We will greatly expand energy development, continuing to remain the number-one in the world, and keep America energy independent. And for those of you that still drive a car, look how low your gasoline bill is. You havent seen that in a long time. We will win the race to 5G, and build the worlds best cyber and missile defense, already under construction. We will fully restore patriotic education to our schools and always protect. We will always, always protect free speech on college campuses. And we put a very big penalty in, if they do anything having to do with your free speech, colleges have to pay a tremendous, tremendous financial penalty. And again, it is amazing how open they have been lately. We will launch a new age of American ambition in space. America will land the first woman on the moon, and the United States will be the first nation to plant its beautiful flag on Mars. This is the unifying national agenda that will bring our country together. So tonight, I say to all Americans, this is the most important election in the history of our country. There has never been such a difference between two parties or two individuals in ideology, philosophy, or vision than there is right now. Our opponents believe that America is a depraved nation. We want our sons and daughters to know the truth. America is the greatest and most exceptional nation in the history of the world. Our country wasnt built by Cancel Culture, speech codes, and crushing conformity. We are not a nation of timid spirits. We are a nation of fierce, proud, and independent American patriots. We are a nation of pilgrims, pioneers, adventurers, explorers, and trailblazers who refuse to be tied down, held back, or in any way reigned in. Americans have steel in their spines, grit in their souls, and fire in their hearts. There is no one like us on Earth. I want every child in America to know that you are part of the most exciting and incredible adventure in human history. No matter where your family comes from, no matter your background in America, anyone can rise. With hard work, devotion, and drive, you can reach any goal and achieve every ambition. Our American ancestors sailed across the perilous ocean to build a new life on a new continent. They braved the freezing winters, crossed the raging rivers, scaled the rocky peaks, trekked the dangerous forests, and worked from dawn till dusk. These pioneers didnt have money. They didnt have fame. But they had each other. They loved their families, they loved their country, and they loved their God. When opportunity beckoned, they picked up their bibles, packed up their belongings, climbed into their covered wagons, and set out West for the next adventure. Ranchers and miners, cowboys and sheriffs, farmers and settlers. They pressed on past the Mississippi to stake a claim in the wild frontier. Legends were born. Wyatt Earp, Annie Oakley, Davy Crockett, and Buffalo Bill. Americans built their beautiful homesteads on the open range. Soon, they had churches and communities, then towns, and with time, great centers of industry and commerce. That is who they were. Americans build their future, we dont tear down our past. We are the nation that won a revolution, toppled tyranny and fascism, and delivered millions into freedom. We laid down the railroads, built the great ships, raised up the skyscrapers, revolutionized industry, and sparked a new age of scientific discovery. We set the trends in art and music, radio and film, sport and literature. And we did it all with style and confidence and flair, because that is who we are. Whenever our way of life was threatened, our heroes answered the call. From Yorktown to Gettysburg, from Normandy to Iwo Jima, American patriots raced into cannon blasts, bullets, and bayonets to rescue American liberty. They had no fear. But America did not stop there. We looked into the sky and kept pressing onward. We built a six-million-pound rocket and launched it thousands of miles into space. We did it so two brave patriots could stand tall and salute our wondrous American flag planted on the face of the moon. For America, nothing is impossible. Over the next four years, we will prove worthy of this magnificent legacy. We will reach stunning new heights, and we will show that the world for America there is a dream, and it is not beyond your reach. Together, we are unstoppable. Together, we are unbeatable. Because together, we are the proud citizens of the United States of America. On November 3rd, we will make America safer. We will make America stronger. We will make America prouder. And we will make America greater than ever before. I am very proud to be the nominee of the Republican Party. I love you all. God bless you, and God bless America. Thank you very much. Only recognition of the miracle is missing. Then Pope Luciani will be able to ascend to the Honours of the Altars. The history of the Cause of John Paul I embraces an arc of nearly 15 years. It opened late, in 2003, 25 years after his death. And he was the only one of the 20th century Popes proceeding toward Canonization to have waited so long for his Cause to be opened. However, requests for his introduction began to arrive in John Paul Is native diocese from all over the world immediately after his death on 28 September 1978. The then Bishop Maffeo Ducoli of Belluno-Feltre reported receiving a crescendo of thousands of requests for the introduction of the Cause, all preserved at the Archive of the Curia of Belluno. With nothing official, signatures were gathered for the 34-day Pope by a grass-roots initiative which involved various countries, including Brazil, Switzerland, France, Canada and the United States. On 9 June 1990, Archbishop Serafim Fernandes de Araujo of Belo Horizonte presented the request for the introduction of the Cause directly to Pope John Paul II with a petition signed by the entire Episcopal Conference of Brazil. The 226 bishop signatories highlighted the motivations that led them to the collective petition, considering the example of the habitus virtuoso of the Bishop of Rome, Albino Luciani, who showed himself to be the typical synthesis of a man of God, which is the fullness of humanity and at the same time the fullness of Christ, and as such he was an apostle of the Council, whose teachings he explained with crystal clarity and whose directives he translated rightly into practice. Thus, our most intimate conviction, the Brazilian Bishops stated in conclusion, is that we are interpreting the favourable judgment of many other brothers in the episcopate, and translating a most profound aspiration of the faithful of the Church of Brazil, as well as of Catholics throughout the world. However, only during the ministry of the Salesian Bishop Vincenzo Savio of Belluno-Feltre from 18 February 2001 to 31 March 2004 could the diocesan Inquest be begun into the heroism of John Paul Is life, his virtues and reputation for holiness. Noting the constant and growing reputation for holiness of the Pope from Belluno, on 26 April 2003 Bishop Vincenzo Savio of Belluno-Feltre formally requested from Cardinal Camillo Ruini, then Vicar of Rome, consent to open the Cause not at the Vicariate of Rome, the natural seat of competence, but in the late Popes native diocese of Belluno-Feltre, supported by these motivations: By reason of the very brief residence the Servant of Gods Pontificate having lasted little more than a month in the Diocese of Rome most of his life was spent and, consequently, his Magisterium was expressed, first in this diocese, then in the neighbouring dioceses of Vittorio Veneto, and lastly in the Patriarchate of Venice. Bishop Savio, communicating to the diocese the initiative assumed, broadly explained the motivations that had induced him to undertake this step, spurred by the over 300,000 petitioning signatures that had been received, and to formulate the request that the Cause be processed at the native diocese whereas: Albino Luciani spent his childhood, his seminary formation, his presbyteral service and was vicar general of the Diocese of Belluno until the age of 46, and his commitments first as bishop and then as patriarch did not separate him from his native Venetian land, except for the 33 days of his pontificate. These motives also supported the opportunity to deepen the context of familial and local faith in which Albino Luciani grew up. Thus, on 17 June 2003, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints granted the nihil obstat. On 23 November 2003, exactly 23 years after Pope Lucianis death, the solemn opening of the Cause was held in the Cathedral Basilica of Belluno. Wholly uncharacteristically, the inaugural session of the diocesan Inquest was attended by the then Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, who emphasized that this circumstance offered the opportunity to come to know and expand on the figure and work of Albino Luciani, so that one day we can invoke, as a Saint, this great man from the local Church of Belluno to the universal Church as Bishop of Rome. The Bishop being a Salesian, appointed Fr Pasquale Liberatore, Postulator General of the Salesian family, as postulator of the Cause. Upon his death in October 2013, Salesian Fr Enrico dal Covolo was appointed, having succeeded Fr Pasquale Liberatore as Postulator General of the Salesian family in the meantime. The ecclesiastic tribunal of the diocesan Inquest began working on 22 November 2003 and concluded its work three years later on 10 November 2006. The diocesan process was divided into 203 sessions, during which, in the episcopal Sees of Belluno, Vittorio Veneto, Venice and Rome, 167 witnesses were examined all but one de visu and nine ex officio in addition to the depositions of three experts from the historical Commission. Two theologians from Belluno, teachers at the diocesan seminary, were tasked with examining his published writings. The documents of the diocesan process were transmitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome in November 2006. On 9 November 2017, upon examining the received documents in order to concede their validity, the ordinary Congress of the Congregation observed that the documentation received presented various gaps in particular reference to that held at the historical Archive of the Patriarchate of Venice and at the Archive of the Episcopal Conference of Triveneto. In order to acquire this documentation the Congregation for the Causes of Saints required a supplemental investigation. Thus, on 25 March 2008 Bishop Giuseppe Andrich of Belluno-Feltre instituted the supplementary tribunal for the diocesan Inquest, giving me the task of directing the investigation. On 13 June 2008, only after the consignment of these archival papers, the formal validity of the principal and supplemental documents of the diocesan Inquest were recognized by decree. Thus began the Roman phase of the process, which calls for the necessary research for the purposes of the complete acquisition of the Servant of Gods papers, the historical-scientific study, the inspection of all documentary and testimonial sources with the relative critical evaluation and therefore the drafting and composition of the Positio, the dossier which includes the corpus of documentary and testimonial proof that must demonstrate the heroism of life, the virtues and reputation for holiness of the candidate for the Honours of the Altars. On 27 June 2008 Fr Cristoforo Bove was appointed as the relator of the Cause and entrusted me with the composition and drafting of the Positio which, beginning in 2012, involved the cooperation of Canale dAgordo native Fr Davide Fiocco, a theologian and professor of patrology. After Fr Boves death, the Cause was assigned to Fr Vincenzo Criscuolo, relator general of the said Congregation for the Causes of Saints, who continued the work undertaken, requesting the appropriate in-depth examinations and further necessary acquisitions regarding both the documentary and testimonial portions. Moreover, the belated opening of the Cause had compromised the acquisition of precious eyewitnesses, just as it had led to a certain dispersion of documentary materials, which necessitated careful research. Between 2008 and 2015 extraprocedural depositions and another 21 witnesses were thus added to the documents, with particular reference to the period of the pontificate and death of John Paul I, on which the testimony of Pope Benedict XVI took on a completely exceptional importance due to its up to then unicum storico, as the first time a Pope had offered de visu testimony about another Pope. In addition to the drafting of the ritual documents, in light of the new documentary acquisition on the basis of an omnino plena archival investigation, which included more than 70 archives in 30 different locations, first and foremost the institutional archives held in the places where Luciani was based from Belluno to the Vatican a noteworthy effort was also expended in the location and critical translation of all the publications signed by or attributed to the Servant of God, also thanks to the valuable contribution of John Paul Is nieces, Lina Petri and Pia Luciani. This painstaking research in which, from the beginning of the Roman phase, I was involved as the vice postulator of the Cause, had never before been undertaken for Pope John Paul I. On 16 October 2015 the Bishop of Belluno-Feltre appointed as the new postulator of the Cause Cardinal Beniamino Stella, a native of the Vittorian diocese, who the then Bishop Albino Luciani had introduced to the ecclesiastical Pontifical Academy. On 17 October 2016, with the consignment of the Positio comprised of 5 volumes and over 3,600 pages to the Congregation, the eight years of scientific and editing work concluded and thus began the examination for final judgment by the deciding bodies of the Congregation who, according to practice, are called to express their vote in two examination sessions: that of the Congress of consulting theologians and the ordinary session of Cardinals and Bishops. The Congress of theologians expressed its unanimous positive vote on 1 June 2017 and the ordinary Session of Cardinals and Bishops gave the same response on 3 November 2017. The Cause then concluded with the decree of venerability sanctioned by Pope Francis on 9 November 2017, in which the virtues of John Paul I were proclaimed. To proceed to the Beatification, as noted, the recognition of a miracle is necessary. There is currently underway a Super miro process for the case of a presumptive extraordinary healing through the intercession of John Paul I in 2011 in the Diocese of Buenos Aires in Argentina. The diocesan phase of the Super miro process was completed in November 2017 and the judicial process has reached the final examination sessions at the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Stefania Falasca The upshot of four nights of the Republican National Convention could be summed up in four words: It could be worse. It may be a less than inspiring message for a nation unnerved by four simultaneous crises: A pandemic that has claimed 180,000 U.S. lives, a resulting economic shock that has brought double-digit unemployment, police killings of African Americans that have led to a national reckoning about race, and epic wildfires and hurricanes that are bringing death, property damage and a stark reminder of the cost of years of obliviousness and neglect to the scientific consensus about climate change. The drumbeat of warnings about Joe Bidens America was all the more incongruous considering that President Trump has held the levers of power for the past four years. Trump maintained that theme of fear and loathing in his Thursday night acceptance speech on the South Lawn of the White House the use of the peoples house was in open defiance of the 1939 Hatch Act, which was designed to insulate government business from political campaigning. In a rambling speech that exceeded 70 minutes, Trump suggested that Biden is a Trojan horse for socialism and that no one would be safe in Bidens America. The dire warnings throughout the convention were interrupted only occasionally with testaments to the presidents empathy and compassion and speeches by women and African Americans trying to raise his dismal approval ratings among those constituencies. Viewers of the GOP infomercial were told a Democratic victory in November would bring the end of religious freedom, the Second Amendment, safe streets and even suburban life itself. Kimberly Guilfoyle, the onetime San Francisco prosecutor and ex-wife of Gov. Gavin Newsom, set the tone on opening night in railing against the Golden State she once called home, painting it as a socialist dystopia of discarded heroin needles in parks, riots in streets and blackouts in homes. Guilfoyle was hardly alone. Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz suggested a Trump loss would mean, Theyll disarm you, empty the prisons, lock you in your home and invite MS-13 to live next door. One of the segments that seemed tasteless beforehand and even worse afterward featured Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple facing weapons charges for waving guns at protesters outside their home in June. It seems as if the Democrats no longer view the governments job as protecting honest citizens from criminals, Mark McCloskey said, adding, if you stand up for yourself, the mob, spurred on by allies in the media, will try to destroy you. Two nights later, in Kenosha, Wis., the danger of armed civilians trying to take the law into their own hands turned tragic. Armed vigilantes confronted people protesting the police shooting of Jacob Blake, paralyzed after being hit with seven bullets. A 17-year-old with an affinity for guns and an expressed admiration for Trump allegedly opened fire on the protesters, killing two and seriously wounding another. The suspected shooter, Kyle Rittenhouse, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide. The Republican National Convention was presented against the backdrop of a nation hurting and divided battling a virus, battling to pay bills, battling wildfires, battling racial injustice and battling one another on the streets. The coronavirus pandemic rated no more than fleeting mention in the conventions first three days. In his speech, Trump went out of his way to blame the virus on China and accentuate his administrations response, even though he downplayed it for months after it reached U.S. shores. On Thursday night, Trump had one last chance to show a sincerity and specificity about addressing the four crises that have been amplified on his watch. What Americans heard instead was the denial, deflection and disassociation from the facts that have defined his presidency. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. The Chief Medical Officer wants health care workers to get the vaccination Frontline health workers in Northern Ireland have been urged to get their winter flu vaccination, after three quarters of staff skipped getting the jab in one health trust last year. It emerged on Friday that just 29% of health care workers in the Western Trust heeded calls from the Chief Medical Officer to get vaccinated in 2019. Dr David Irwin from the Public Health Agency said work was continuing to make it easier for staff working under pressure to get time for a vaccine appointment. While the flu winter vaccine is not mandatory for front line workers, he said as an individual he would "actively encourage" staff to make time to protect themselves, loved ones and patients. He was speaking to the BBC's Nolan Show, which reported on the low up-take at the Western Trust. Stormont currently has a target of vaccinating 75% of vulnerable health groups below the age of 65, but just 58% of that group received it last year while the proportion of at-risk under-65s fell by 13% between 2015 and 2020. The UK government has also pledged to double flu vaccinations this year from 15m to 30m, with Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride estimating that one million will be available here. In Northern Ireland, the flu vaccination programme will be extended to: Household contacts of those who received shielding letters during the Covid-19 pandemic; Staff in independent care and nursing homes; And children in school year 8. The programme may be further expanded later in the year to include those in the 50-64 year old age group, starting with the oldest first. With the surge in demand expected, the SDLP's health spokesman Colin McGrath said a huge effort would be needed to increase capacity. "It seems to be that the medical advice being offered is the uptake of this year's winter flu is critical," he said. "Not only will it prevent an additional strain on the health service, people getting winter flu will also be more vulnerable to catching coronavirus. "I do think there needs to be a discussion about the capacity. There has been talk today about drive-through vaccinations and "I do think this is the sort of infrastructure that we're going to have to be looking at to deliver this in order to ensure there is the maximum uptake. "Not everyone is going to feel safe about going into a clinical setting at the moment, so perhaps that will be more acceptable to people." On encouraging more front line health workers to get the flu jab, he added: "Obviously the worry for them will be the impact of a potential second wave of coronavirus. "So we need to make sure more people aren't being sick for regular reasons, enabling them to be fully functional to fight any second wave. "It's also vital they don't have a lower immune system when working in clinical settings." On the scale of the challenge, he said: "It's no small obstacle, in Northern Ireland we're looking at trying to get close to two million people immunised. "So we will need large-scale, almost medical camps set up in places to access the vaccine. In a way it will also be a practice run for when we hopefully do get a Covid-19 vaccine." Mr McGrath said the fast response earlier this year to setting up a Nightingale hospital in Belfast was an encouraging sign. He added: "When we put our minds to it I'm very sure that we can achieve massive things. "I've every faith we can do that but we would certainly want to see evidence that we're progressing towards that quickly." This week, experts have also warned that complacency over the flu jab could risk overwhelming the NHS across the United Kingdom. Analysis showed a decline among vulnerable groups in England to getting the vaccine. Local authorities in England had an average of 45% of people with serious health conditions under 65 getting the jab, a 50% drop since 2015. In Northern Ireland the respective figure for vulnerable groups under-65 was 58% - the target here is 75%. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said this week: "The vaccine is more vital than ever." An Akure High Court on Friday voided the suspension of four members of the Ondo State House of Assembly who were suspended by the leadership of the house. The suspended lawmakers are the deputy speaker, Iroju Ogundeji, the only female member of the house; Favour Tomomowo, Wale Williams, and Tomide Akinribido. They were suspended over allegations of misconduct and other actions capable of bringing the legislature to disrepute. However, it is widely believed that the action by the speaker, Bamidele Oleyelogun, and his colleagues was connected to the refusal of the suspended members and five others, to sign a notice of impeachment served on the state deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi. The speaker and 14 of his colleagues had issued an impeachment notice seeking to remove Mr Ajayi over his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as he sought to contest the coming governorship elections. The refusal of the nine lawmakers to sign the impeachment notice, and instead, signing a document dissociating themselves from the move, thwarted the impeachment effort. Three of the suspended lawmakers; Messrs Ogundeji, Tomomowo and Williams are members of APC, while Mr Akinribido is the only member of the house on the platform of Zenith Labour Party. In protest to the suspension, the lawmakers through their lawyer, Banjo Ayelakin, sought the protection of the court against their unlawful suspension from the house. In his judgement, the presiding judge, Ademola Bola, described the suspension as illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever. He held that the House of Assembly, as well as other members, had no power to suspend any member of the Assembly. READ ALSO: The suit has the House of Assembly, the speaker, the deputy majority leader, Oladiji Olamide Adesanmi, the parliamentary secretary, Abayomi Akinruntan, and the clerk of the house, Bode Adeyelu, as defendants. The judge said the act by the house violated sections 90, 91, 106 and 117 of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria. The court held that the lawmakers must be reinstated into their positions with immediate effect. Mr Bola ordered that a sum of N5 million should be paid to each of the lawmakers as damages. Reacting to the judgement, the state attorney general and commissioner for justice, Kola Olawoye, described the judgment as no victor no vanquished. He urged all members of the house to unite and work for the progress of the state. Mr Iroju, who spoke on behalf of the other suspended lawmakers, charged all members of the house to work together and ensure the house operated independently, according to the provisions of the constitution. Agartala, Aug 28 : The opposition CPI-M on Friday asked the BJP led government in Tripura to control the fast rising Covid-19 cases, curb unabated attacks on the opposition parties and provide financial aid to the distressed people. Terming the Covid-19 situation as "grim", opposition leader and former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said that the state government must trace, test and treat the people on a war footing. "Government should strengthen the infrastructure including the testing facilities across the state including in mofussil areas. Government's SOPs (Standard Operating Procedure) to deal with the Covid-19 management including the constitution of the containment zones must be realistic and people welfare centric," he told the media. Sarkar, Chief Minister for 20 years (1998-2018), led a six member delegation of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) MLAs and held a two-hour meeting with Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb. He raised many demands on numerous issues. The Left legislators requested the Chief Minister to take care of the people in around 100 containment zones as they are facing critical problems of food and livelihood. Sarkar said that due to the pandemic a serious economic crisis has been prevailing in the state and the government must come forward with various schemes for the welfare of the people. The opposition MLAs also urged the government to provide regular jobs to the 8,882 former government school teachers, who are part of the 10,323 government teachers who lost their jobs due to the Supreme Court and High Court orders citing "discrepancies in recruitment". Sarkar said that during the Left regime, Tripura was the only state among the northeastern states to become an electricity surplus state, but the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) led government handed over the electricity infrastructure to private parties depriving the people of Tripura. "We have told the Chief Minister that after a successful agitation programme of the CPI-M party in Tripura on August 26, BJP workers have attacked the opposition party supporters and members in as many as 33 places. Opposition party leaders and MLAs are unable to freely move in the state specially in the interior areas due to the violent activities of the ruling party workers," the CPI-M politburo member said. He added: "Earlier over 350 Left leaders and members were killed by the terrorists in Tripura. Due to the erstwhile Left government's concerted efforts, decades old terrorism was tamed. But in the recent months there are some instances of reviving such outlawed terror acts. Government must firmly deal with the situation." Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) India co-sponsored a Security Council resolution in the United Nations seeking women's participation in peacekeeping missions on Friday, August 28. The resolution was tabled by Indonesia, calling for "full, effective, and meaningful" participation of women in peacekeeping operations. India's Permanent Mission at the United Nations said that it was "proud" to support the resolution put forth by Indonesia and will continue to push for greater involvement of women in all areas. Read: UN Council At Odds Over Peacekeeping Operation In Lebanon India is proud to co-sponsor @indonesiaunnys resolution the Security Council today on Women in Peacekeeping. pic.twitter.com/7hVzZFtSpX India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) August 28, 2020 Ever since Indonesia took charge as president of the Security Council in 2019, it has been advocating participation of women in UN peacekeeping operations. Indonesia had tabled the draft resolution regarding women in peacekeeping earlier and it was expected to announce the result of the voting on Friday. As per reports, the resolution has been passed by a consensus, however, the United Nations is yet to inform about the development officially. Read: UN Moves Toward Ending UN-AU Peacekeeping In Sudan's Darfur India's women in peacekeeping Meanwhile, India, which has a long tradition of sending peacekeeping forces to the United Nations, made history in 2007 when it deployed the first all-women Former Police Unit in the UN Mission in Liberia. India is one of the largest troop contributors to the UN peacekeeping operations and it has been sending women forces for UN missions since the 1960s. Indian women served in the Republic on Congo in the early 1960s after the country gained independence from Belgium and a conflict ignited constituting a series of civil wars. Indian women served in the Armed Forces Medical Services of the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo, which was a rare sight then. (Image Credit: UN/Website) Read: United Nations, Huthi Rebels At Impasse Over Stranded Oil Tanker Off Yemen Coast Read: Security Council Extends Peacekeeping Force In Mali For Year WASHINGTON: China has escalated its previously announced exercise activities in the South China Sea by launching four medium-range missiles impacting the stretch between Hainan Island and the Paracel Islands, the Pentagon said Thursday. The Department of Defense is concerned about China's recent decision to conduct military exercises, including the firing of ballistic missiles, around the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on August 23-29, the Pentagon said in a statement. Conducting military exercises over disputed territory in the South China Sea is counterproductive to easing tensions and maintaining stability, the Pentagon said, adding that Chinese actions, including missile tests, further destabilise the situation in the South China Sea. Such exercises also violate China's commitments under the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to avoid activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, and call into question its motivations with ongoing negotiations for a Code of Conduct between China and ASEAN, the Pentagon said. This military exercise, the Pentagon said, is the latest in a long string of Chinese actions to assert unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea. Chinese actions stand in contrast to its pledge to not militarise the South China Sea and are in contrast to the US vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, in which all nations, large and small, are secure in their sovereignty, free from coercion, and able to pursue economic growth consistent with accepted international rules and norms. The Pentagon said that it alerted China in July that it would continue to monitor the situation with the expectation that China will reduce its militarisation and coercion of its neighbors in the South China Sea. China chose to escalate its exercise activities by firing ballistic missiles, it said and urged all parties to exercise restraint and not undertake military activities that could threaten freedom of navigation and aggravate disputes in the South China Sea. The Pentagon also announced to deploy Task Force Ellis, comprising US Marines and Sailors from I Marine Expeditionary Force, aboard the USS Comstock to the Indo-Pacific to conduct theater security cooperation activities through November 2020. Task Force Ellis is designed to provide a forward-deployed capability to respond to a variety of crises and contingencies throughout the region, to include supporting Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR) operations, it said. According to a media release, the Task Force also stands ready to conduct military-to-military training, subject matter expert exchanges, and key leader engagements. The Task Force is comprised approximately 120 US Marines and Sailors from 1st Marine Division, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I MEF Information Group, and 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. "Task Force Ellis is forward-deployed with a wide range of capabilities to highlight the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," the Pentagon said. Geojit's report on Agri Picks The International Grains Council has marginally scaled up its estimate for global wheat production in 2020-21 to 763.0 mln tn from its July forecast of 762.0 mln tn. The central government has proposed two options for states to fund the shortfall in goods and services tax compensation--a special window by the Reserve Bank of India and borrowing by states, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. Torrential rains, coupled with wide-scale pest infestation and diseases, are expected to hit 5-6% of the standing crops in Madhya Pradesh this kharif season, an official with the state farm department said. NCDEX Agridex, an index of agricultural commodities, was down 1.50 points at 1122.05 as contracts of soybean, guar seed, castor seed, and cottonseed oilcake declined. The government today raised its estimate for foodgrain production in 2019-20 (Jul-Jun) to a record high of 296.65 mln tn from 295.67 mln tn pegged in May. The rise in total foodgrain output is seen due to upward revisions in production estimates of rice, pulses and cereals. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal today sought cooperation from states to develop a single-window system to facilitate all central and state-level clearances for starting a business in the country. India received 11.7 mm rainfall yesterday, 58% above normal, the India Meteorological Department said. Since Jun 1, the country has received 737.5 mm rainfall, 8% above normal. 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 BRASILIA, Brazil - A group of Brazilian lawmakers made a final push Thursday to try to convince President Jair Bolsonaro not to reduce tariffs on American ethanol, a major Trump administration request. Bolsonaro has until Monday to decide whether he will renew or terminate a 20% tariff on ethanol imposed on every gallon after the country after imports a tariff-free quota of 198 million gallons (750 million litres). While U.S. diplomats and corn producers push for a zero-duty exemption for American ethanol from tariffs, Brazilian congressmen tied to the sugarcane industry have lobbied for the end of the quota and the reinstating of a 20% tariff on all imported ethanol. We have a great appreciation for the U.S., a country we share values and ideals with, but American interests can not come before Brazilian ones, the 39 congressmen from 13 mostly right-wing and centre-right parties across a wide ideological spectrum wrote in a letter sent to Bolsonaro. Ethanol negotiations are currently a central piece in the trade relationship between the two countries. In a letter sent last week to Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, 20 American lawmakers urged the Trump administration to press Brazil to lift its tariffs. Brazils inequitable treatment of U.S. ethanol creates economic strain throughout the U.S. ethanol industry, especially during a year in which COVID-19 is devastating fuel demand in our country, they argued in the letter dated from August 20. They said in the letter Brazil was the largest U.S. ethanol export market last year, purchasing $493 million in American ethanol. Ambassador Todd Chapman has also pressed for Brazil to lift tariffs on ethanol, on at least one occasion mentioning it could influence Iowas vote in the U.S. presidential election, according to a person who spoke with Chapman and told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Chapmans lobbying on ethanol, which was reported last month without attribution by two local newspapers, prompted the Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee to demand Chapman provide written assurances he isnt urging the Bolsonaro government to support Trumps re-election. Rep. Eliot Engel, in a July 31 letter to Chapman, said that such actions would potentially violate the Hatch Act of 1939, which bars executive branch employees from partisan politics. Chapman has vehemently denied crossing any lines. Read more about: Whiskey Myers' frontman Cody Cannon and his wife Haley announced they are expecting a son come February 2021. The couple shared with Chron.com how thrilled they are in anticipation of their first child. "We are so excited and ready for our new roles as parents!" said Haley Cannon, who marriedCody Cannon back in Oct. 2018 at the Gruene Estate in New Braunfels. 'RESTORING GALVESTON' RETURNS FOR SEASON 2: DIY's breakout hit 'Restoring Galveston' is back for season 2 with new name and more homes to love The couple shared an adorable photo shoot highlighting their exciting baby news. "We took the photos behind my uncle's house a couple miles from where we live," said Cody. "Our (Whiskey Myers) photographer/videographer, Khris Poage, came out and took them for us. He did a great job." During the pandemic, the couple shared they have been staying at their home in East Texas. "Being off the road for the first time in 13 years has been different for me, but it's been nice to spend some time at home," said Cody. According to an article by People.com, the couple isn't the only one adding new members to the band. "Both Cannon's bandmate John Jeffers and tour manager Chris Alexander are also expecting children with their wives." "It's awesome! Raising these boys together will be so much fun," said Haley to Chron.com. "I think there's about 40 days between each of our due dates. It's going to be a busy winter!" The Cannons' parents couldn't be happier to welcome their grandson, according to Haley. "They're all stoked! This baby is already very spoiled." From the looks of one of the photos, it seems Cody is more than ready to share his love of hunting with baby Cannon as he holds up a T-shirt that states, "Daddy's Future Hunting Buddy." "He is! Cody grew up with a passion for hunting and fishing, so that will definitely be something he passes along to our son," said Haley. While the band isn't traveling right now due to the pandemic, Cody said they are all spread out for the most part but have gotten together with some of the guys a few times. The beloved Texas band, you may recall, was featured in Kevin Costner's TV Series "Yellowstone" in 2018. STAY INFORMED: Sign up to receive breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 22:14:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIGA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- A clandestine methadone lab, which had been operating on a private property in a rural municipality in central Latvia, was busted in an international police operation this summer, Latvian state police said Friday. As a result of an investigation conducted in Latvia, police seized over 21 kilos of methadone, as well as various drug precursors from the narcotics lab in Krimulda municipality. Meanwhile, 6.5 kilos of methadone, meant for selling in Russia, were seized by Russian law enforcement authorities in the Moscow region. A group of six suspects, including the organizer of the illegal operation and makers of the narcotics, were held as part of the probe. Investigators also established that the suspected criminals had used a chemistry textbook for high school students to synthesize the drug. The state police noted that the investigation into the case was started this past spring and the methadone lab in Krimulda was busted on July 13 in an operation involving officers of the state police, OMEGA anti-terrorist unit and other law enforcement units. Enditem Three of the women president Donald Trump granted clemency to this week had one thing in common: they were all in prison with Alice Johnson, the former drug dealer whose sentence Mr Trump commuted (lessened the penalty for) two years ago. Crystal Munoz was Johnsons adopted daughter in federal prison. Tynice Hall and Johnson prayed together. And Judith Negron performed with Johnson in dance productions. When Mr Trump freed Johnson in 2018, the three hoped their own appeals for clemency would one day also be granted. That day came on Tuesday, when Mr Trump cut short their sentences, in part based on Johnsons recommendations. In interviews on Wednesday, the women said they had not spoken with Johnson in years and were only vaguely aware of her efforts. I knew I would always be in her heart, but I never knew she would advocate so hard for me, Hall said. Shes my secret angel. The relief granted to the three women is the latest example of the unorthodox ways that Mr Trump chooses to exercise his clemency powers, having sidelined the traditional pardon bureaucracy administered by the Justice Department. The women stand in contrast to the well-connected public figures who were also granted clemency on Tuesday: convicted junk-bond king Michael Milken, former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, former New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik and billionaire Edward DeBartolo Jr. The men had members of congress, wealthy campaign donors and celebrities vouching for them. The women had their former prison mate who was freed after her case was championed by reality-television star Kim Kardashian West. Every time I think about it, my eyes fill and the tears just flow, Johnson said in a telephone interview on Wednesday, speaking of the release of her friends. Amy Povah, founder of a pro-clemency group called CAN-DO, said she and other criminal-justice advocates submitted a list of about a dozen meritorious female offenders directly to the White House late last year. When it boiled down to only three, its not surprising that the White House put value on the ones Alice served time with and knew their character, said Povah, who was incarcerated for nine years for drug crimes before receiving a commutation in 2000. You know who those diamonds are in there who are so deserving, and you know who the people are that are still engaging in shenanigans. For decades, offenders have filed petitions seeking clemency with the office of the pardon attorney in the Justice Department. That office vets the requests and sends recommendations to the deputy attorney general, who forwards final recommendations to the White House. Clemency advocates have long argued that the Justice Department, traditionally led by tough-on-crime former prosecutors, opposes too many offenders who are deserving of leniency. Im not trying to be the pardon office or to say people have to go through me, but I am trying to offer a little help, said Johnson, a 64-year-old great-grandmother who served about 22 years of a life sentence for cocaine trafficking. Despite Johnsons role as an informal adviser to the president and her appearance in a Super Bowl ad for the Trump campaign, federal prosecutors in the western district of Tennessee have opposed her request to cut short her five years of supervised release. Motivated now by continued greed for money, fame and celebrity, the defendant seeks to throw off the pesky burden of supervised release, US attorney Michael Dunavant, a Trump appointee, said in a court filing in July. Uninformed members of the public continue to celebrate her criminality. Johnson said it was absolutely crazy to cast her as a risk to public safety. She now lives with her daughter in Arizona, giving speeches about criminal justice reform and promoting a memoir. Johnsons application to end supervised release is now pending. Johnson was held at several different prisons, including Federal Medical Centre Carswell in Texas, where she met Munoz, and at Federal Correctional Institution Aliceville in Alabama, where she befriended Hall and Negron. Munoz, who spent 12 years in prison for her role in a marijuana smuggling ring, described Johnson as a surrogate mother. Munoz was separated from her two baby daughters when she was imprisoned. Alice was a light in a dark place, said Munoz, 40. To know that she had a life sentence and to see the strength and motivation that she gave to everyone around her, it helped me have hope. The White House cited Munozs mentoring of other inmates, volunteer work with a hospice program and extraordinary commitment to rehabilitation. Hall said she and Johnson commiserated during president Barack Obamas second term when they were not among a record-setting number of about 1,700 commutations. She kind of talked me through it and gave me moral support, said Hall who served about 14 years of an 18-year sentence for drug crimes. Hall completed apprenticeships, took college classes and taught prison educational programs, the White House said. Negron, who had completed eight years of a 35-year sentence for healthcare fraud, said she had never praise-danced before she met Johnson in prison. She made this beautiful choreography, and I wanted to be part of that, Negron said by phone from her home in Miami. It kind of helped us do our time. Negron was convicted of aiding a $200m (156m) fraud that was one of the largest mental-health billing scams in the country. Every day, I am trying to compensate and repair the damage, she said. I am grateful I have been given an opportunity, and I will continue to pay my dues to society. Johnsons role in the clemency process dates to October, more than a year after her release, when Mr Trump invited her to a criminal justice speech in South Carolina. In the middle of his remarks, he called on Johnson to help him find other inmates worthy of clemency. You know some great people that are going to be there for many, many years, Alice. Right? Mr Trump asked. And youre going to give me some names, all right? Johnson told The Washington Post that she heard an alarm go off. That was the moment Id been waiting for, she said. Thats all it took, and then I hit the ground running. During a discussion on the death of the child in Khashtarak village of Armenia held by Media Center, leading specialist of the Division for Protection of Childrens Rights at the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia Marine Avagyan said the death of the child in Khashtarak village is in the focus of the Human Rights Defender. What happened was tragic and painful, and it was another alarm about the fact that there are systemic issues in all circles at the state level, and this issue is in the focus of the Human Rights Defender, she said, adding that there is a need to work on breaking the stereotypes in society since such incidents are a result of the societys stereotypes. Avagyan also stated that the cases of domestic violence are usually concealed and that competent authorities need to pay more attention to domestic violence in order to reveal the cases. Currently, the necessary activities for raising the level of awareness and legal awareness of the rights of children are not effective. Children also need to be aware of their rights, and efforts need to be made to enhance knowledge of parenting, she said. Touching upon guardianship and curatorship bodies, she stated that these bodies need to play a major role and voiced hope that this case will serve as an alarm for systemic changes. She also attached importance to inter-agency cooperation since its wrong to address the issue to guardianship and curatorship bodies. An excavation in the western Japanese city of Osaka has unearthed more than 1,500 human bones at what is thought to be a burial site dating back some 160 years, city officials have said. The site, dubbed the Umeda Tomb, is believed to be one of seven historical gravesites from the late Edo and early Meiji periods around the 1850s to 1860s. Researchers discovered 350 small graves at the site as well as the remains of animals including four piglets, horses, and cats, city officials announced earlier this month. The Osaka City Cultural Properties Association said people buried at the site were likely local residents from around Osaka Castle town, with many believed to be in their 30s or small children. Some looked to have had signs of disease on their hands and feet, it said. Multiple bodies were found in some graves. Experts believe they were buried together due to deaths related to epidemic disease, the association said. Eswatini faces cement shortage 28 August 2020 Significant players in Eswatinis construction industry have seen projects stall due to a cement shortage, according to The Swazi Observer. Nhlanhla Dlamini, CEO of the Construction Industry Council, has announced that a meeting was convened with the association of builders, manufacturers and suppliers to deliberate on the issue. "We are aware of the cement shortage which has been caused by shortage of supplies due to COVID-19 which led to the lockdown," said Mr Dlamini. In the short term, the council has advised both companies and individuals that require cement in large volumes to place orders early to avoid delays. As a long-term strategy, they are expected to continue to engage with the government and all strategic stakeholders with a view to attract an investment that could satisfy the local market and also export to other countries in the southern African region. Published under At its fifth annual Axon Accelerate conference this week, the police tech company Axon , formerly known as Taser, unveiled three new products into a political environment they know is encouraging scrutiny on their market. Two of the products, an AI-powered transcription tool for video recordings and an updated operations and dispatch platform, might have been released any other time. But the third, if not a direct answer to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May, is at least pointed at one of the variables in that incident: a series of virtual-reality trainings, including one to teach officers how to police each other in the field.Axon CEO and co-founder Rick Smith toldthat the company has been making virtual reality training software for more than a year, but primarily limited to what he called empathy training. In these scenarios, trainees put on virtual reality headset Axon doesnt make the hardware and experience a scenario twice, from the point of view of an officer and then as the member of the public being detained. To date, the training has involved three scenarios: one on dealing with people who have schizophrenia, one for people with autism and one with suicidal subjects.These VR trainings are one aspect of the companys Taser certification program, but Smith said Axon is now investing more heavily in VR and plans to release designated, more full-featured and broader product offerings. According to a news release, the first two modules will be about peer intervention and training officers to know when and how to step in if a colleague uses excessive force or acts inappropriately. The news release said this will involve de-escalation techniques and be available for practice at any time, as opposed to being a one-time training session.Smith likened the peer intervention module to the circumstances of Floyds death, in which a 19-year veteran of the agency was flanked by new hires who didnt challenge him when he crossed a line.Just conventionally, thats a difficult situation in law enforcement, because those rookies are trained to respect the hierarchy of authority, he said. I think there are general points of agreement that more intensive training needs to be given to rookies on when its appropriate to intervene and challenge what is normally a hierarchical organization.The news release said four other VR trainings are in the works, including "Officer PTSI," to help officers deal with their own traumas they encounter in the field; "Deafness," to help officers identify if a person has hearing loss and communicate more effectively them with them; "Community PTSI," for identifying and dealing with a person who has post-traumatic stress injury; and "Alzheimers/Dementia," for assisting people who might have those conditions.Axon spokeswoman Carley Partridge said in an email that Axon developed the VR trainings with input from at least 11 outside groups or individuals including nonprofits, academics, behavior analysts and law enforcement: the peer intervention program EPIC (Ethical Policing is Courageous), Brain Health & Research Institute, National Alliance on Mental Illness , the nonprofit Badge of Life , clinicians, El Paso County Behavior Health Programs, Los Angeles Police Department, Seattle Police Department and Tarrant County Sheriffs Office.On the question of whether the scenarios will be customizable, Smith said its more likely that Axon will invite police agencies to their production studio to weigh in on VR simulations than that theyll give agencies the ability to create their own.We try to approach it first as, what are the universal truths in training that we can help them with in such a way that it can then be useful for the broader law enforcement community? he said. Law enforcement in the U.S. is highly decentralized, so sometimes you get a lot of fragmentation in how officers are trained, depending on where they are in the country. So theres some advantage to doing this is in a little more centralized way, which might help with giving more consistency with the types of training being deployed.Partridge said the peer intervention VR modules will be available within the next few months, with the other four scheduled for release in the first half of 2021. I watched the 2020 Republican National Convention on C-Span, largely because the screen is uncluttered with banners and preview windows and they hang around at the end of such events for awhile, particularly when President Trump, Vice-President Mike Pence, or First Lady Melania is the speaker. I would try to turn to Fox for analysis only to see first up the shining visage of a Marie Harf or a Juan Williams, the Democrat who has lately been obsessing about something called QAnon violence whatever that is. Mornings at Fox have not been much better, with the likes former DNC chair Donna Brazile who, on Tuesday mornings episode, lost it entirely when questioned about the DNCs failure to address and accept responsibility for the anarchy, rioting, looting, burning, and deaths resulting from the Democratic Partys push to empty the prisons, defund and otherwise neuter the police, and to not arrest or prosecute vigorously those perpetrating the violence. As Breitbart reported: Tuesday on Fox News Channels Fox & Friends, host Brian Kilmeade cut away from former Democratic National Committee chair Donna Brazile, also a network contributor, after she derailed a segment with conservative commentator Tammy Bruce. While commenting on the first night of the Republican National Convention, Bruce said, No Democratic has spoken out against the nature of whats happening in Kenosha, Portland, Seattle, Baltimore, New York, Chicago. Americans have a choice, and the fact is that the Republicans are showing an expanse of what the American sensibility and what the American future is. Brazile said, This is why the choir sounds like a note coming from a scratched record. It sounds like I will never be an American in your world, because, after 400 years, my family cannot walk out of this house without fearing violence. Kilmeade said, Thats not what anyone said. After an extended back and forth, Brazile said, She ignores the reality of what is happening. She is ignoring it because I see it. Tammy, I see it every day. I see the violence, Tammy. She continued, Coming from someone who does not live my existence -- you do not recognize my existence, Tammy. You do not recognize my existence! Bruce said, Its a shame. Brazile shot back, You are the shameful one. You are the shameful one. You cannot erase my history. Whatever was she ranting about? No one is trying to erase her history. It is Donna Brazile, not Tammy Bruce or anyone else, who is ignoring the reality of Democratic governors and mayors letting their cities burn amid an anarchy that has nothing to do with George Floyd or any social injustice real or imagined. It has everything to do with seizing power from Donald Trump, and canceling our middle class, our culture, and our system of law enforcement and justice Donna Brazile, the disgraced former DNC leader and newly minted Fox News contributor who leaked debate questions to Hillary Clinton, got away with swearing at RNC Chairwoman Ronna Mcdanion the morning after Super Thursday, as Joe Biden called it, instead of being pulled from the air immediately as Fox would have cheerfully done to any conservative analyst who similarly ranted before telling say, the DNC Chair, to similarly go to hell. McDaniel had appeared earlier on "America's Newsroom," and opined that perhaps the withdrawal of Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg and the support of Beto ORourke was part of deal-making that included future cabinet positions and other considerations in exchange for their endorsements. McDaniel suggested, based on the 2016 nominating shenanigans, that perhaps the DNC was once again conspiring to deny Bernie Sanders its nomination. This was the partisan analysis of a political operative in an election year, an opinion she was entitled to express, an opinion well-grounded in the historical record. This struck a nerve with Brazile, who, asked to comment, went off on a borderline incoherent rant that stunned Newsroom co-hosts Ed Henry And Sandra Smith, who said nothing to correct the record or apologize to an equally stunned audience as Brazile went off the rails: Ms. Brazile, a Fox News contributor and former interim Democratic National Committee chairwoman, became visibly irate during an appearance on Americas Newsroom after co-host Sandra Smith asked her to weigh in on comments made earlier on the program by Ms. McDaniel, who said a potential brokered Democratic convention would be rigged against the Vermont senator. Stay the hell out of our race, Ms. Brazile responded. I get sick and tired of listening to Republicans tell me and the Democrats about our process. First of all, they dont have a process. They are canceling primaries. They have winner-take-all. They dont have the kind of democracy that we see on the Democratic side. And for people to use Russian talking points to sow division among Americans that is stupid, she continued. So Ronna, go to hell! This is not about Whoa, whoa, co-anchor Ed Henry interjected. No, go to hell, Ms. Brazile repeated. Im tired of it, Ed. Again, it is hard to imagine a GOP or conservative getting away with this. Russian talking points? Really? Foxs idea of analysis is to provide a forum for Brazile to cry, Russia, Russia, Russia. So impressed was Fox with Braziles cogent analysis that she was back in the evening for post-election analysis and on Fox and Friends the following morning. This is typical for a Fox News that has been veering to the left of late, a recent example being Neil Cavutos rewriting of history when he agreed with guest A.B. Stoddard that Trump lost all his 2016 debates with cringeworthy performances. And then theres Juan Williams, who recently reacted almost as irrationally when asked on The Five about Democratic responsibility and culpability for urban violence in Democratic-run cities. As the Daily Caller reported: Juan Williams compared blaming Democrats for ongoing riots and anarchist violence to blaming President Donald Trump for QAnon violence during a Thursday discussion on Fox News The Five. Guest-co-host Martha MacCallum played a clip of a former police officer being knocked down and assaulted on a New York City street. This was on 39th street, MacCallum said. This is basically midtown in the middle of the afternoon. They pulled 600 police officers off the streets, and now we are seeing this. So is this a mistake for Democrats to ignore this? They havent mentioned it once, Juan, MacCallum said, referring to the ongoing Democratic National Convention. There is not widespread violence in American cities, Williams responded. Lets not buy into Donald Trumps nonsense about American violent crime in this country is down. Stop it, Juan You cant be serious. Im not Donald Trump. Im telling you the facts. Every day I tell you the facts, Juan, and you keep shifting it to Donald Trump. Its pathetic. You need to come up with a new talking point, cohost Greg Gutfeld said. Gutfeld continued and said, the murders and shootings are up, as Williams continued to speak at the same time. This is not anarchist violence by a small group in Portland, Oregon, thats suddenly being blown into like, oh that represents what is going on in American cities,' Williams said. Thats just wrong! Thats just a total distraction. The reality is that Democrats are not responsible for some violent anarchists no more than Donald Trump is responsible for QAnon violence or Proud Boy violence Again, Juan, what in the world is QAnon violence? Where is it happening? The answer is that it isnt, and doesnt exist except in the fevered recesses of Juan Williams brain. President Trump has commented on the decline of Fox News as an objective source of information, particularly its weekend lineup. As the Washington Examiner reported: President Trump criticized Fox News' weekend lineup, saying they were loading up with Democrats, making them worse than CNN. "Watching @FoxNews weekend anchors is worse than watching low ratings Fake News @CNN, or Lyin Brian Williams," Trump said Sunday on Twitter. "Like CNN, NBC is also way down in the ratings. But @FoxNews, who failed in getting the very BORING Dem debates, is now loading up with Democrats & even using Fake unsourced @nytimes as a 'source' of information." "@FoxNews is changing fast, but they forgot the people who got them there!" Trump added. So it would seem, as FOX continues to embrace its latest Democratic heartthrob, Donna Brazile. The continued listing to port of Fox News, which rose to prominence precisely because it cut through the politically correct swamp fog that passed as media news just as Donald Trump sliced through the swamp itself on his way to the White House, was on full display. Its time to drain the Fox News swamp as well. 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: Fox News 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 New AI-based test uses X-rays to detect Covid in a few minutes Health ministry recommends COVID tests for all tuberculosis patients India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Aug 26: Tuberculosis is associated with a 2.1-fold increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease, the health ministry said on Wednesday, recommending that all newly-diagnosed tuberculosis patients or those currently on treatment should be tested for COVID-19 and vice versa. The prevalence of tuberculosis among COVID-19 patients has been found to be 0.37 to 4.47 per cent in different studies, the ministry said and highlighted that there has been an overall decline in tuberculosis notification by 26 per cent during January to June, as compared to the previous year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. In its "Guidance note on Bi-directional TB-COVID screening and screening of TB among ILI/SARI cases" issued on Wednesday, the ministry said studies have shown that a history of active as well as latent tuberculosis is an important risk factor for the SARS-CoV-2 infection. 200 AIMIM leaders, workers booked for violating coronavirus lockdown in Bihar's Kishanganj "This not only results in increased susceptibility, but also rapid and severe symptom development and disease progression with poor outcomes. Tuberculosis is associated with a 2.1-fold increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease," the document said. In addition, tuberculosis patients also tend to have comorbidities or living conditions (malnutrition, diabetes, smoking habit, HIV etc.) that increase their vulnerability. In order to address this dual morbidity of tuberculosis and COVID-19, activities such as Bi-directional TB-COVID screening, TB screening for influenza-like illness (ILI) cases and TB screening for severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) cases should be carried out, the ministry said. Flight rules: Banned from flying if you remove mask & more news | Oneindia News Under Bi-directional TB-COVID screening, COVID screening for all diagnosed TB patients and TB screening for all COVID-positive patients should be conducted. Tuberculosis and COVID-19 are infectious diseases, which primarily attack the lungs. They present with similar symptoms of cough, fever, and difficulty in breathing, although tuberculosis has a longer incubation period and a slower onset of disease, the document said. The Hundred Year Kingdom is the debut title from Waku Waku Games, a new micro-indie publishing label from Chorus Worldwide that opens the door to small teams with big ideas. London, Aug 28 : The British government on Friday proposed measures to give emergency approval to a safe and effective Covid-19 vaccine and train a large number of people in administering it in order to enable a fast-paced mass rollout. If a vaccine is developed before 2021, the proposals will bolster existing powers that allow the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to consider approving its use, before a full product licence is granted. However, the government stressed that Covid-19 vaccines will only be given to the UK patients if proven to be safe and effective. "We are making progress in developing Covid-19 vaccines which we hope will be important in saving lives, protecting healthcare workers and returning to normal in future," Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, said in a statement. "The proposals consulted on today suggest ways to improve access and ensure as many people are protected from COVID-19 and flu as possible without sacrificing the absolute need to ensure that any vaccine used is both safe and effective." The UK went into a transition period with the European Union after the Brexit so that both sides can work out the details of their engagements. The new measures proposed on Friday are necessary because during the transition period, a new potential Covid-19 vaccine must be granted a licence by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The British government launched a consultation on Friday which will look to amend the Human Medicine Regulations 2012. The measures could come into force by October, ahead of the winter season. The regulations will permit the MHRA to consider giving temporary authorisation allowing patients to benefit while it undergoes the full licensing process, with reinforced conditions attached to ensure safety, quality and efficacy. From 2021, the British regulator will have a national licensing system in place and will be responsible for granting licences for potential Covid-19 vaccines and treatments once they meet high standards of safety and effectiveness. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) London and Seoul are about the same size big cities, with busy streets, crowded public transport and a racy nightlife. South Koreas capital is the home of K-Pop music and the Oscar-winning film Parasite. Both cities were surprised by the Coronavirus earlier this year. Both coped as best they could. But the results could hardly have been more different. London has lost 6,000 people. In one four-week stretch in April, more Londoners died than during the worst four weeks of the Blitz. By contrast, in Seoul, barely 20 people have died of the virus. Korean politicians reacted far more quickly than Britains and far more smartly. Seoul soon returned to its normal bustling self while London remained and remains a ghost town. True, the Korean capital has recently experienced a spike in cases, but not deaths. The authorities quickly re-imposed some restrictions, closing public spaces and urging companies to reintroduce flexible working. Troops prepare for a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on October 1, 2019 in Beijing Worried citizens in Seoul have recourse to an impressive Covid-fighting infrastructure: you can get tested in numerous booths in the main streets and get your temperature taken at bus stops. Many of Asias other huge cities did far better than London. Singapore, Taipei and Hong Kong have also lost only a handful of people. Even if Chinas role in the emergence of the virus remains at best murky, even if it lied and covered up, Beijing and Shanghai also did much better than most Western cities. Londons total only looks good when set alongside New York City, which has lost more than 23,000 people. Is this a fair assessment? Many argue that we cannot possibly trust Chinas statistics, or those of other countries. Yet the latest Bloomberg figures show that mainland China has endured 3.3 deaths per million of its population. You could multiply that number tenfold and the death rate would still be 20 times lower than Britains. One of the great fears about the Covid epidemic is that it will plunge the world into a prolonged recession. But consider a still more frightening prospect: that it will mark a turning point in history when the West surrenders its pre-eminence to the East and particularly to China. Go back five hundred years and China was home to the worlds most powerful empire with the Ottomans and India a little behind it. PPE supplies arrive at Bournemouth International Airport from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 06. The Airbus 340 bearing the livery Thank you NHS landed in the UK with a cargo of PPE from Malaysia Beijing had a population of more than a million, three times the size of Tudor London, and a network of roads and canals linking the country together. The West was a bloody backwater by comparison. The reason for this was that China had the worlds best government, with an imperial civil service selected by written examinations, while Europe had only rudimentary state structures. If Henry VIII had visited Beijing, he would have been treated as an uneducated tribal curiosity. Then history swung the other way. The Chinese allowed their government to atrophy, with Mandarin civil servants continuing to be tested in the Confucian classics to the exclusion of modern knowledge. The West caught up, with its government going through a series of revolutions and the country that led that change was Britain. US President Donald Trump meets with China's President Xi Jinping at the start of their bilateral meeting at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019 While the Chinese used gunpowder for fireworks, British soldiers and sailors used it to blow their European rivals out of the water and then take over a third of the world. British thinkers, such as Thomas Hobbes, John Stuart Mill and John Locke, and British technology changed the way we look at the state. By 1792, when the Chinese emperor dismissed the British envoy, Lord George Macartney, saying China had not the slightest need for your countrys manufactures, Britain was perhaps already the most powerful nation on the planet. By 1875, it certainly was and the novelist Anthony Trollope could imagine a dinner party in London where a crooked financier parades the emperor of China as a curiosity for his guests. Waterloo Station as London's streets and stations stayed empty despite shops back open on July 9 In the 20th century, Britain gave way to the United States in terms of power, but it still pioneered many of the ideas that changed government around the world, from the welfare state to Thatcherism. Yet, for the past quarter century, Asia has been rising again often by using British ideas better than we did. In a former British colony, Singapore, the first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew (described by one British foreign secretary as the best bloody Englishman east of Suez) designed a slimmer state than Margaret Thatcher ever achieved and with much better schools and hospitals. Other Asian countries are following suit, including China. Asias success with Covid was not a fluke. Countries are taking Singapores lead and recruiting their most intelligent young people into the civil service and also investing heavily in smart infrastructure. Does this all mean that we are heading towards a Sinocentric century? Not necessarily. The West has reinvented itself before. But it does make sense for any sensible Briton to ask: what has gone wrong? And what can we do to fix it? Tanks marched in the military parade for the commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people's war of resistance against Japanese aggression and the world anti-fascist war. It was held at Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 2015 Covid revealed a lot of what has gone wrong. True, there has been plenty of self-sacrifice and heroism. Doctors and nurses brought comfort to people dying in horrific circumstances. The army did a sterling job of building seven new Nightingale hospitals. A team from Oxford University is leading the race to find a vaccine for the virus. Yet overall, the numbers show in brutal terms how poorly we have done. It is not just that Britains mortality rate over 600 per million people is close to a hundred times that of some Asian countries; we did worse than any European country except Belgium. We have the worst overall death toll in Europe, with more than 41,000 dead, and the second highest excess mortality rate in the continent, twice as high as Frances and eight times as high as Germanys. Britain also has the second highest death rate among care home residents after Spain. Some say this is partially because Britains population suffers from high levels of obesity. And that is a fair point. It is true, too, that countries measure Covid fatalities in different ways. It is not just that Britains mortality rate over 600 per million people is close to a hundred times that of some Asian countries; we did worse than any European country except Belgium. Pictured, clinical staff at an intensive care unit in Cambridge in May But the gap is too immense simply to blame overeating or the statisticians. Britain performed worse than other countries mainly because it was incredibly slow slow to lock down, slow to roll out mass testing, slow to close down public events, slow to identify a track and trace app, slow to order protective equipment, slow to stop visits to care homes, slow to require people to wear face coverings. While Taiwan and Hong Kong closed their airports in a bid to prevent the virus from spreading, Britain let planes from Wuhan land every day. The one area where we were quick and decisive proved to be a disaster: hospitals discharged 25,000 people into care homes, often without bothering to test them for Covid, spreading the disease into the most vulnerable part of the population. Some of Britains sluggishness is explicable. It is easier for authoritarian regimes to lock down countries quickly than it is for liberal countries (though that does not explain why we did worse than other democracies). But this slowness cost lives. There has been the odd academic study questioning how great the impact of lockdowns has been on Covid fatalities, but most of the research around the world (and common sense) is clear: countries that acted quickly protected their citizens. Alipay employees work in the Shanghai office building of Ant Group in Shanghai, on August 28 as China gets back to the office The slowness has also hit the economy hard. In the first half of the year, Britains GDP shrunk by 22 per cent twice as much as America and worse than any major European economy other than Spain. What went wrong? The brutal answer is poor government. There were individual mistakes and Boris Johnson should take responsibility for many of them. This prime ministers strength has never been organisation; and with Covid, the man he relies on to do the organising, Dominic Cummings, destroyed much of the Governments credibility by taking a trip to the north and making that infamous visit to Barnard Castle to test his eyesight. But in general, the Government machine simply did not work. The Covid-19 crisis was like a gigantic stress test for government everywhere and Britains state failed the test hopelessly. Many of the problems were simple ones. Lack of preparation, for instance. Covid was the third virus this century, after SARS and MERS. The NHS is Europes biggest health organisation. Yet there was no plan to deal with it. Then there was the Governments fixation on the short-term: the Department for Health devoted much of its attention in February on whether to scrap parking fees in hospitals, for example, when it should have been concentrating its efforts on the long-term strategy to beat the virus. People walk in front of the China Construction Bank (CCB) branch in Shanghai, China, 27 August. Above all, perhaps, the Government failed to learn. Private companies have to learn from their mistakes or they go bankrupt The next problem was what we have called in our book the not-invented-here syndrome. Britain had to abandon contact tracing for a while because Public Health England insisted on using its own tests, which quickly ran out, rather than bringing in tests from private companies or university laboratories as Germany did. The Government also insisted on designing its own app rather than getting one from Google or Apple, which again led to problems and delays. There was also a lack of common sense. Any business person could tell you to be careful of buying large quantities of PPE from a Turkish supplier that you hadnt had any dealings with before. The Government went ahead anyway and the gear was faulty. Above all, perhaps, the Government failed to learn. Private companies have to learn from their mistakes or they go bankrupt. Government departments just bumble on regardless. So the purchasing problems have continued: recently thousands of masks had to be junked because they didnt have the right attachments The effects of poor government go far beyond Covid, of course. This years A-level and GCSE results were a fiasco: Gavin Williamson, the hapless secretary of state for education, was warned that the algorithm would produce chaos by both his civil servants and the relevant parliamentary committee but carried on regardless. Motorists drive past an Alipay logo next to the Shanghai office building of Ant Group in Shanghai, on August 28 The Department for Work and Pensions, meanwhile, is still struggling with an ill-thought-out system of universal credit. The Department for Transport rolled out a programme of smart motorways only to discover that they made driving more dangerous. Cynics might say that it was ever thus: government is just naturally inefficient. The problem is that, as Asia shows, it does not need to be this way. Even a poor Asian country such as Vietnam has done far better than Britain (and indeed America). Some on the Left think that the solution lies in more government. Pump more money into the economy! Hire more civil servants! Create new departments! Jeremy Corbyn has even claimed that Covid proves he was right all along. Even some Tories are talking about national self-sufficiency. Sadly, just adding more government is the equivalent of dealing with dry rot in your house by adding another storey. Very few of the countries that did better than Britain had bigger states. What Britain needs is better government, not more of it. It needs a revolution based on what works. There are two places from which Britain can draw inspiration. One is the rest of the world. The inevitable official inquiry into Covid should not just focus on who is to blame, but on what others did better. How did New Zealand reduce the number of Covid cases to zero? Why did Vietnam do better than us when its so much poorer? Why did Germanys decentralised health system protect people better than centralised systems? The other place to draw on is our own history. The Victorians succeeded in reducing the size of the British government while improving the services that the people received. Many of the schools, hospitals, sewers and railway lines that we continue to use are Victorian creations. Reformers achieved this by ending government sinecures, using modern technology (especially the railways) and professionalising the civil service. In some cases, reforming Britain could entail more cash. For instance, the National Health Service had little spare capacity when the virus hit. There is a strong case for spending more on the NHS, not just because there may be more viruses on the way but also because the population is ageing. At the same time, many parts of government could be slimmed or re-thought. Britain has one of the most bloated legislatures in the world with 650 MPs and more than 800 peers. The United States has just 535 members of Congress: 100 in the Senate and 435 in the House of Representatives. More power could usefully be moved from Westminster to local authorities which are closer to ordinary people. One of the Victorians strengths was resisting the tendency to centralise and backing innovative mayors such as Joseph Chamberlain of Birmingham. Both the Conservative Andy Street and Labours Andy Burnham have done a good job in Birmingham and Manchester respectively. We need more like them. Another priority is to re-think how public servants are paid. At the moment we have the worst of all worlds. On the legislative side, we pay MPs a relatively low wage by the standard of London professions. This discourages able people from going into politics and encourages those who do go into politics to fiddle their expenses or make money on the side. A smaller legislature would mean you could pay politicians more. On the administrative side, the civil service is bedevilled both by lousy pay and a culture of jobs for life that has long since disappeared in the private sector. Australia pays senior civil servants much more than Britain but also sets them strict targets which they are expected to hit. Singapore spots talented young people and pays for their university education on condition that they spend some time in the civil service. The top civil servants receive million-dollar salaries, but Singapore is ruthless about getting rid of bad performers, especially in education. Britain might also experiment with another idea national service. For some, this has a whiff of the 1950s about it. But nowadays service need not be military. Forcing young people from every class to work together for say one year before they are 25 would not just provide a cheap workforce to carry out Johnsons command to build, build, build; it would help unify the country. Israel and South Korea have had national service for decades, while Israel credits its success in technology in part to its militarys supply of young people. Sweden recently re-introduced national service, and Emmanuel Macron is also talking about it. For all its awfulness, the Covid-19 pandemic is an alarm call. Its not too late for Britain to address the evident problems of the state sector. Its not too late to wake up to the fact that the West is losing its pre-eminence. We still have time to repair the damage. But we dont have that much time and the Eastern world is forging ahead while we are still dithering. Whatever we do, we cannot afford to hit the snooze button. UPDATED U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has appointed Terris Todd, the ethnic vice chair of the Michigan Republican Party, to the long-vacant position of executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African-Americans. Todd, a former teacher and administrator in the Battle Creek, Mich., schools, quickly rose through the ranks of the state GOP after switching political allegiances. The DeVos family has donated millions to Republican candidates and causes in the state and the education secretary is a former state party chairwoman. In a unlisted YouTube video posted in March, Todd said he was asked to deliver the opening prayer during a Barack Obama campaign rally in Battle Creek in 2008, but turned down the offer because he was asked not to mention the name of Christ. The video is linked from the Calhoun County, Mich, Republican Party website . The claim seems to play on conspiracy theories that allege Obama, a Christian, is secretly a Muslim. Obama, who battled misperceptions about his faith throughout the 2008 presidential campaign, closed that Battle Creek rally by saying, God bless you all. In a quote attributed to Todd on the site, he said: Around the time of Obamas campaign for the presidency and into his second term, I began to see and understand that my values really aligned much better with the Republican platform which speaks firmly to my faith, family, and freedoms given by God. The Education Department did not make Todd available for an interview. Todd joined the Republican party in 2015 after a failed run for a state House of Representatives seat in 2014, where he lost in the Democratic primary. He was elected as the state Republican Party ethnic vice chair in 2017. Before taking on the new role at the Education Department, Todd most recently worked as director of community outreach for Community Action of South Central Michigan, an agency that oversees services, including Head Start and Early Head Start, for low-income families in a five-county area. He spent more than a decade as a teacher and administrator in the Battle Creek schools. Until Todds appointment in May, the executive directors position for the African-American initiative had been vacant for nearly four years. The previous director left in September 2016 during the final months of the Obama presidency. The administration has been actively searching for the best candidate for this role, an education department spokeswoman wrote in an email to Education Week. The federal government also oversees advisory commissions on educational excellence for Hispanic, Asian and Pacific Islander, and American Indian and Alaska Native students. During the first year of the Trump administration, commissioners questioned whether their voices were valued in an administration that many of them view as hostile to communities of color. But the Education Department and White House have filled key roles this summer. The White House broadened the scope of the Hispanic group this summer, renaming it the White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative and appointing New Mexico Lt. Gov. John Sanchez as director. During the Obama presidency, appointees to the African-American and Hispanic initiatives helped launch the My Brothers Keeper initiative, which sought to improve education and expand opportunities for black, Latino, and Native American boys. The program lives on as a nonprofit that merged with the Obama Foundation. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 23:53:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) Commission on Friday said that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated an already dire tax revenue situation across the African continent. The statement was made by Victor Harison, AU Commissioner for Economic Affairs, emphasizing the brunt of economic challenges mounting from the ongoing COVID-19 impact on African economies. "Undoubtedly, the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a devastating situation for health systems and national incomes globally. Governments continue to strain their fiscal revenues as they implement emergency measures and recovery plans to sustain economies," an AU statement issued on Friday quoted Harison as saying. "This also has a significant negative effect on tax revenues, which provide a substantial source of revenue for most nations. In many African countries, the pandemic has exacerbated an already dire tax revenue situation," the AU Economic Affairs Commissioner added. The 2020 Revenue Statistics in Africa report produced by the AU, African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), indicated that the tax-to-GDP ratio for 26 African countries remained low at 17.2 percent, compared to the OECD average at 32.2 percent and 22.8 percent for Latin America. Some major economies, including Nigeria, stood at 5.7 percent, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) at 6.6 percent. "This signifies the importance for countries to strengthen their tax administration to enhance domestic resource mobilization and develop financial autonomy," said Harison. The AU Economic Affairs Commissioner also emphasized the imperative for African countries to properly tax the digital economy to derive the benefits therein, emphasizing that tax administrators "should be adequately equipped to overcome the constraints they face in taxing the digital economy." On Wednesday, the AU had also warned that the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified Africa's need to expand resource mobilization base as 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'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 drop by 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. "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. Enditem BOULDER, Colo., Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Redeam, the leading and only independent global connectivity stack with digitized channel management and voucher redemption/reconciliation solutions for Walt Disney World, Big Bus, Google, Groupon and others selling in the Experiences industry, today announced the appointment of Jeff Grant to its Board of Directors. Grant, currently the Chief Operating Officer of Thumbtack, has an extensive track record of joining fast-growing companies in senior-level positions and playing an instrumental role in creating value. An early veteran of the online travel agency business, having worked executive positions at Orbitz for five years and prior to at American Airlines, Grant's position on the Board strongly complements Redeam's other Board members', and his cross-industry, cross-functional experience with close ties to the investor community is unique. Grant joins the Board at an inflection point in Redeam's trajectory. Over the past year, the company has experienced significant global growth in large-scale operator and distributor partnerships, validating the company's vision and timing of product market fit. "Jeff and I have previously worked together at two different companies, and I can't express how ecstatic I am to be able to work with him again, this time with him as a Board member of Redeam," said Redeam CEO Melanie Meador. "Jeff's extensive, storied, and very successful career in multiple verticals including travel and with multiple successful exits will bring a fantastic, fresh perspective to the Board at just the perfect time." "I'm drawn to companies that catalyze the transformation of industries from off-line, analog transactions to digitized and automated ones," said Grant. "As I've witnessed firsthand, Redeam, under Melanie's proven guidance, already has an impressive track record and a passionate team of A-List seasoned professionals who are clearly energized by the opportunity to build better solutions for the Experiences industry. I look forward to serving the company in my capacity as a Board member." To learn more about how tour, attraction, and activity operators rely on Redeam to easily automate their businesses so that they can sell more tickets around the world, visit the Redeam website. Media Contact: Amber Smokowski [email protected] +1 (303) 709-4775 SOURCE Redeam, Inc. The machines at Fiedlers meat processing plant in Simcoe have been running throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and with a $57,000 government grant in hand, manager Brian Fiedler expects to soon be even busier. Fiedlers is one of 73 food processing businesses in Ontario to split $5.4 million for specific projects from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a joint venture funded by Ottawa and Queens Park. The goal is to help grow our local economy while ensuring a safe food system thats in demand around the world, said MP Neil Ellis, parliamentary secretary to federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, during a funding announcement at Fiedlers on Thursday. Businesses submitted applications in November, and some grant money is already helping recipients increase efficiency through automation, improve food safety, and develop new products and processes, said Ontario Agriculture Minister Ernie Hardeman. We are working with the sector to reinforce its capacity and its strength, Hardeman said. Fiedlers employees used to clean racks used for cooking and smoking meat by hand. With this funding which the company had to match to receive the grant the plant can install an automated system that will clean the racks in a contained space, using less product and taking less time. That frees up the plants 22 employees to process more meat, while the cost savings will keep prices low. This has helped us immensely, Fiedler said. Because were not wasting time cleaning racks, we can focus on manufacturing more products. The second-generation family business started as a European-style deli in Simcoe nearly 50 years ago before Brian and his father Roland opened the processing plant in 1983, turning out deli meats and sausages. The plant, which meets strict federal safety guidelines, sells more than 50 beef, pork and poultry products to local markets and distributors with clients around the world. Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett said food processors are a key part of the economy in his rural riding. For close to 50 years, Fiedler Meats has been one of the backbones of our local area, Barrett said, praising the employees who worked during the early days of the pandemic to make sure we continue to have food on the table. Hardeman noted food processors edge automakers as Ontarios biggest manufacturers, as well as being the main customers for farmers. Theres no sector of the economy more important to us than the food we eat, he said. Fiedler said business has been good during the pandemic, particularly as restaurant sales dipped and more people cooked at home. My sales have gone up slightly, he said. Demand is higher for processed deli meats at the supermarket. The grants announced Thursday ranged from $766.23 for Burlington brewer Backed By Bees to study the nutritional content of two new mead beers to $200,000 for Toronto-based Well Juicery Canada Ltd. to add a hyperbaric system to their bottling line. Locally, VG Meats in Norfolk got $11,250 to track productivity and develop benchmarks for increasing production, while a pair of Hamilton breweries Collective Arts and Fairweather each received approximately $75,000 for technological improvements and product expansion. The remnants of Hurricane Laura have unleashed heavy rain and twisters hundreds of miles inland from a path of death and destruction along the Gulf Coast of the United States. Flooding and more tornadoes are possible as the leftovers of the once fearsome Category 4 hurricane move eastwards through Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama after an apparent tornado tore through a church and homes in Arkansas. Laura weakened to a tropical depression late on Thursday, but could become a tropical storm again when it moves off the mid-Atlantic coast on Saturday. Expand Close Damage in Cameron, Louisiana caused by Laura (Bill Feig/The Advocate via AP, Pool) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Damage in Cameron, Louisiana caused by Laura (Bill Feig/The Advocate via AP, Pool) More than 750,000 homes and businesses were without power in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas in the storms wake, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports. One of the strongest hurricanes ever to strike the United States, Laura was blamed for six deaths as it barrelled across Louisiana and parts of Texas. A sense of relief prevailed that Laura was not as destructive forecasters had feared, but a full assessment of the damage could take days. Buildings were demolished and entire neighbourhoods have been left in ruins along the coast. Thunderstorms and sizzling heat were expected in the disaster area on Friday, complicating recovery efforts. Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards said: It is clear that we did not sustain and suffer the absolute, catastrophic damage that we thought was likely. But we have sustained a tremendous amount of damage. The last couple of days have been hard, and the road to recovery wont be easy. But we will recover. Our strength will show through, as it always does. #lagov #Laura #HurricaneLaura pic.twitter.com/LxfAXnA3hP John Bel Edwards (@LouisianaGov) August 28, 2020 Mr Edwards said finishing search and rescue operations was a top priority, followed by efforts to find hotel or motel rooms for those unable to stay in their homes. Officials in Texas and Louisiana both sought to avoid traditional mass shelters for evacuees over fears of spreading Covid-19. Mr Edwards called Laura the most powerful hurricane to strike Louisiana, meaning it surpassed even Katrina, which was a Category 3 storm when it hit in 2005. The hurricanes top wind speed of 150mph put it among the strongest systems on record in the US. Not until 11 hours after landfall did Laura finally lose hurricane status as it ploughed north and thrashed Arkansas, and up until Thursday evening it remained a tropical storm with winds of 40mph. Expand Close Boaters in Louisiana navigate a flooded road (Brad Bowie/The Advocate via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Boaters in Louisiana navigate a flooded road (Brad Bowie/The Advocate via AP) The storm crashed ashore in low-lying Louisiana and clobbered Lake Charles, an industrial and casino city of 80,000 people. On Broad Street, many buildings had partially collapsed. Windows were blown out, awnings ripped away and trees split. A floating casino came unmoored and hit a bridge, and small planes were thrown on top of each other at the airport. A television stations tower toppled. A Confederate statue in front of a courthouse that local officials had voted to keep in place just days earlier was knocked down by Laura. Laura was the seventh named storm to strike the US this year, setting a new record for US landfalls by the end of August. Laura hit the US after killing nearly two dozen people on the island of Hispaniola, including 20 in Haiti and three in the Dominican Republic. US President Donald Trump plans to visit the Gulf Coast to tour the damage. Congress MP from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, H Vasanthakumar died of COVID-19 at a hospital in Chennai on Friday, the party said. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted this photo of him with Congress MP from Tamil Nadu H Vasanthakumar, condoling his demise, on Twitter. Photograph: Kind courtesy @narendramodi/Twitter The 70-year old first time MP, and working president of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, who was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals on August 10 after he tested positive for coronavirus, succumbed to the illness, a party spokesperson told PTI. Vasanthakumar is survived by wife, two sons and a daughter, he said. Apollo Hospitals in a statement later said the MP was treated in a critical care unit for severe COVID pneumonia. 'Despite all active medical measures, his condition deteriorated gradually due to COVID complications and he passed away today,' the hospital said. Vasanthakumar, a two-time MLA (2006-11 and 2016-19) was elected to the Lok Sabha last year. Born on April 14, 1950, Vasanthakumar Harikrishna Perumal is the brother of Tamil Nadu Congress veteran and noted Tamil litterateur Kumari Ananthan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Congress party leaders Rahul Gandhi, P Chidambaram and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M K Stalin were among those who condoled Vasanthakumar's death. Modi, on his twitter handle said: 'Saddened by the demise of Lok Sabha MP Shri H Vasanthakumar Ji. His strides in business and social service efforts were noteworthy. 'During my interactions with him, I always saw his passion towards Tamil Nadus progress. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.' Expressing grief, Palaniswami said, 'Vasanthakumar who started his career as a salesman came up in life through his hardwork. He did excellent service for the educational and economic growth of the poor and earned the love of people in his public life.' Rahul Gandhi said 'the news of Kanyakumari MP, Shri H Vasanthakumars untimely demise due to Covid-19 has come as a shock 'His commitment to the Congress ideology of serving the people will remain in our hearts forever. Heartfelt condolences to his friends and family members.' Expressing shock, Chidambaram and Stalin praised Vasanthakumar for his hardwork. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President K S Alagiri, paying rich tributes, said a pillar of the state unit has fallen. As a mark of respect, Alagiri announced a week-long mourning, and said party flags will fly at half mast and all party events are being cancelled. Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan, actor Rajinikanth, Pattali Makkal Katchi and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leaders S Ramadoss and Vaiko were also among those who condoled the death Vasanthakumar, noted for his smiling face, is a successful entrepreneur. His smiling image in advertisements for his retail chain that sold consumer durables and electronics is very popular in Tamil Nadu. Digital advertising services offered by online platforms with a Vietnamese user base and revenue earned in the Vietnamese market will be subject to tax liability and Vietnam's Law on Cybersecurity, according to a new draft decree. The proposed regulation is among several changes put forward in the draft amendment to Decree No. 181 issued by the Vietnamese government in 2013, which further elaborates on some articles of the Law on Advertising. According to the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIT) the lead agency for drafting the amendment, the current version of Decree No. 181 stipulates regulations on cross-border advertising activities in Vietnam, but has not yet assigned legal responsibility to service providers, most notably pre-publishing censorship responsibility toward advertised products and tax liabilities. The administration of the current laws overlaps between MoIT and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism as both have jurisdiction over cross-border advertising. With an understanding of the difficulties of enforcing such laws, MoIT is drafting several amendments to Decree No. 181 in order to ensure media entities are held responsible for censorship and taxes. Standing out from the draft amendments is the proposed regulation on foreign individuals and entities that provide cross-border advertising services and earn revenue from advertising in Vietnam via either websites, social media platforms or applications. Under this proposal, these individuals and entities are subject to compliance with Vietnamese laws on advertising, management, and provision of Internet services and online information, as well as tax liability. On another note, foreign individuals and entities that provide cross-border advertising services in Vietnam are also required to ensure that products promoted on their platforms abide by Vietnams Law on Advertising. They are also warned against placing product advertisements on content that violates Vietnams Law on Cybersecurity. They are to prevent and remove illicit content if instructed to do so by MoIT and other relevant agencies. Foreign advertising service providers must pay taxes on their business operations in Vietnam in addition to making sure products advertised on their platforms are placed in accordance with Vietnams Law on Cybersecurity. Advertising publishers operating in Vietnam are instructed to develop their capacity to detect and remove illegally advertised products from cross-border advertising services, as well as products and service providers deemed illegal by Vietnamese authorities. When it comes to advertisers, the publishing and broadcasting of advertisements on platforms deemed illegal by Vietnamese law are prohibited. The draft decree also holds advertisers responsible for their advertised products in advertising contracts signed with foreign individuals and entities that provide cross-border advertising services in Vietnam. Online advertising constitutes a huge proportion of advertising spending in Vietnam, said the MoIT. The two biggest advertising platforms chosen by business and individual advertisers in Vietnam are both foreign entities: Google and Facebook, which together hold 70 percent of the total advertising revenue in the Southeast Asian country. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Bombay High Court on Friday refused to grant bail to lawyer and activist Sudha Bharadwaj, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Koregaon Bhima case being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). A bench led by Justice RD Dhanuka rejected an appeal filed by Bharadwaj in June this year, whereby she had challenged a special courts order that denied her bail on health grounds. Bharadwaj, 58, had approached the HC seeking bail, saying that she suffered from chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. She had said these comorbidities put her at a higher risk of contracting coronavirus while at the Byculla womens prison where an inmate had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier. The court, however, noted the submissions made by the NIA and the Maharashtra government that the prison authorities were taking all precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and that they were providing necessary medical care to Bharadwaj for her comorbidities. NIA counsel, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, also told the court that if at any time, Bharadwajs condition needed further treatment or if she was required to be admitted to a hospital, even a private one, the state would provide for the same. He pointed out that poet-activist Varavara Rao, a co-accused in the case, had been admitted to the state-run JJ Hospital and then shifted to the private Nanavati Hospital in the city for treatment of COVID-19 and other ailments. In our view, no case is made out for grant of bail.This appeal is devoid of merits," the HC said while dismissing Bharadwajs plea. On August 21, pursuant to an HC order, the state government had submitted a report stating that Bharadwaj had been examined in the prison by a medical officer and that her health condition was found to be stable and satisfactory". The state report stated that Bharadwajs vital health parameters were stable. It stated that she had been suffering from mild depression too, and had complained of body ache. The state said that Bharadwaj had been given medication for dizziness and had been advised to continue medicines for her chronic conditions. Bharadwajs counsel Ragini Ahuja, however, pointed out that the report of August 21 did not mention that Bharadwaj suffered from hypertension or from a heart condition. She pointed out that previous report of the state had said that Bharadwaj suffered from ischemia, a heart condition. Ahuja claimed the latest medical report, therefore, was inconsistent and perhaps bogus". The bench, however, said the present report probably only dealt with Bharadwajs vital parameters vis-a-vis COVID-19. It said, In our view there is no substance in the appellants submissions on inconsistencies in the medical report." Bharadwaj has been lodged in the Byculla womens prison here since September 2018 following her arrest in the case. The case pertains to the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune district on December 31, 2017. It is alleged that speeches made by some activists at the conclave led to violence near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial on outskirts of Pune city the next day. CAIRO Egypts interior ministry said Friday that a security services raid on a Cairo apartment had captured Mahmoud Ezzat, the acting leader of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, who had been on the run for seven years. The capture of Mr. Ezzat, 76, was the rare arrest of a senior figure in the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypts oldest and largest political movement, which has been crushed by a fierce wave of state-led repression in recent years. Since the military takeover that ousted Egypts first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi, in 2013, most Muslim Brotherhood leaders have been cast into the countrys crowded maximum-security prisons or forced into exile. Mr. Ezzat was the exception. A deputy to the Brotherhoods leader, Mohammed Badie, Mr. Ezzat was appointed as an acting leader in 2013 after Mr. Badie was arrested. He promptly vanished from public view, and many Egyptians supposed he had fled to Turkey, which is home to many exiled Brotherhood leaders and media outlets. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani taunted former Vice President Joe Biden at the Republican Convention for conducting TV interviews from his basement but did not bring up his signature accusations against Biden's son, Hunter. Giuliani, who served as one of Trump's lawyers during impeachment, referenced his own anti-crime credentials as he tore into progressive mayors, whom he accused ot causing a spike in violent crime. He blasted New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, claiming he and others 'prevented the police from making arrests.' In this image from video, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, personal attorney to President Donald Trump speaks from New York, during the fourth night of the Republican National Convention on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020 'Liberal progressive district attorneys release the rioters so as not to disrupt the rioting,' he said. 'Today my city is in shock. Murders, shootings and violent crime are increasing in percentages unheard of in the past. Were seeing the re During riots,' he said, after a series of speakers Wednesday praised Donald Trump's 'law and order' approach. He said a vote for Biden would bring 'this lawlessness to your city to your town to your suburb' after days of protests and rioting in Kenosha, Wisconsin over the police shooting of Jacob Blake. 'Biden has changed his principles so often he no longer has any principles,' said Giuliani, in just one of his slashing attacks. 'Hes a Trojan horse with Bernie, AOC, Pelosi, Black Lives Matter and his partys entire left wing just waiting to enact heir pro-crime anti-police socialist policies,' he said. Giuliani mocked Joe Biden for conducted TV interviews from his basement A protester uses a megaphone during a demonstration in Portland, Ore., on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. Officials say protesters in Portland smashed windows at City Hall in a demonstration that started Tuesday night and stretched into Wednesday morning In this May 29, 2020 file photo Police officers fire rubber bullets during a protest over the death of George Floyd Friday in Los Angeles. California lawmakers are pushing to enact nearly a dozen policing reform laws driven by nationwide outrage and protests after Floyd's death in May. Giuliani blamed violent street clashes on Democratic local governance He did not attack Joe Biden's son, Hunter, a staple of his TV appearances Giuliani mostly tailored his attacks to crime an indication the Trump campaing thinks continued unrest in cities in battleground states could provide a political opening. Earlier Thursday, counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway told Fox News: 'The more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns, the better it is for the very clear choice on who's best on public safety, and law and order.' He also lodged one of Trump's favorite attacks on Biden, whom he said wasn't up to the 'awesome job.' It is a job that 'cannot be done from your basement, Joe,' said Giuliani. Giuliani then sketched out a conspiracy theory where he claimed there was a chance to reach a bipartisan deal to stop police brutality that Black Lives Matter and Antifi then sabotaged to hurt Trump. 'It seemed, for a few brief, shining moments, Democrats and Republican leaders would come together with a unified proposal to reduce police misconduct. This possibility was very dangerous to the left. They had a President to beat and a country to destroy. And although an agreement on action against police brutality would be very valuable for the country, it would also make President Trump appear to be an effective leader,' Giuliani said. 'They could have none of that. So Black Lives Matter and Antifa sprang into action and in a flash, they hijacked the peaceful protests into vicious brutal riots,' he said. New York had 318 murders last year, and has seen a spike in violent crime this year. The fewest murders while Giuliani was in office was 633, NY1 reported. The city is on track to hit as many as 430 amid the spike, which has also been seen in other cities. Giuilani has made waves repeatedly on the TV circuit for alleging that Joe Biden pushed to oust a Ukrainian prosecutor as part of a plan to enrich his son, Hunter, who took a lucrative job at a Ukrainian energy firm, although Biden's posture was part of an effort backed by the U.S. government and western nation. He did not raise the topic in his remarks. Advertisement Donald Trump appeared alongside his whole family on the last night of the Republican National Convention - a rare sight for a First Family that has found itself under a very bright spotlight during his first term in office. The President was seen kissing four-year-old grandson Theodore Kushner - son of his daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared - on the head in front of the White House in a sweet moment that came after his speech. Theodore was attending the event alongside eldest sister Arabellat, nine, and big brother Joseph, six. Also present were Tiffany Trump, who is rarely seen at her father's events, and her boyfriend Michael Boulos. At Trump's side throughout the night were First Lady Melania and their son Barron, 14. Eldest son Donald Trump Jr and his partner Kimberly Guilfoyle also attended, along with Eric Trump and his wife Lara. Donald Trump appeared alongside his whole family on the last night of the RNC, in a rare sight. From left to right, they are: Michael Boulos, partner of Tiffany Trump; Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, and their children Arabella, Joseph and Theodore; Eric Trump and wife Lara (obscured from the frame); Donald Trump Jr and his partner Kimberly Guilfolye; Tiffany Trump, Donald Trump, his wife Melania and their son Barron The President was seen kissing grandson Theodore on the head in a sweet moment that came after his speech - held on the South Lawn of the White House - had concluded Theodore, aged four, was attending the event alongside eldest sister Arabella, nine, older brother Joseph, six, and parents Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump Barron Trump, who has become a more prominent feature of Trump's Presidency in recent months, towered above mother Melania as the pair attended the final night of the RNC Melania was seen placing a tender hand into the small of Barron's back as they turned to face the White House following her husband's speech on the final night of the RNC Trump gathered his family as he accepted the Republican nomination for president, then gave a speech warning voters of 'the most important election in the history of our country'. While opponent Joe Biden had attempted to present Trump as the chaos candidate, Donald attempted to flip the script, presenting voters with a choice: Four more years of his leadership, or 'demolition' under Biden. 'Despite all of our greatness as a nation, everything we have achieved is now endangered,' the president warned in his acceptance speech, given on the South Lawn of the White House. 'This is the most important election in the history of our country. At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas.' 'This election will decide whether we save the American Dream, or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny,' he said. And he ended his remarks with the same message. 'I say again to all Americans: This is the most important election in the history of our country. There has never been such a difference between two parties, or two individuals, in ideology, philosophy, or vision than there is right now,' he said. His speech ended two weeks of conventions - first Democratic, then Republican - which presented two diametrically opposed versions of a country gripped by the coronavirus pandemic, racked by a reckoning on racial justice, and hit by mass unemployment on a scale unknown since the 1930s. President Trump gives Ivanka and Jared's son Theodore a thumbs-up as Tiffany Trump makes a face at him during applause for the first family on the final night of the RNC Tiffany Trump, Donald Trump, Melania Trump, and Theodore Kushner watch a fireworks display during the final night of the Republican National Convention Fireworks explode over the South Lawn of the White House, where Trump chose to make his nomination speech after the convention had to be moved from North Carolina due to coronavirus The silouhette of Andrew Jackson's statue is seen as fireworks paint the sky above the obelisk of the Washington Monument while demonstrators gather on the streets of Washington DC Fireworks are seen above the Washington Monument and the White House at the conclusion of the final day of the Republican National Convention US President Donald J. Trump delivers his acceptance speech on the final night of the Republican National Convention on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC Democrats called Trump's administration a time of 'American darkness,' while Republicans said Biden would bring anarchy; Democrats focused on the virus and unemployment, and Republicans on 'crime and violence.' The end of the conventions marks the dash to the finish line, with the first head-to-head debate on September 29, giving Trump and Biden a month to focus their message and deal with the challenge of campaigning in a pandemic. He attacked Biden's record on jobs and hit his Democratic opponent in one of his strongest areas - his appeal to blue collar workers, the same group that put Trump in the White House four years ago. 'For 47 years, Joe Biden took the donations of blue collar workers, gave them hugs and even kisses,' Trump said, pausing as the audience roared with laughter. 'And told them he felt their pain and then he flew back to Washington and voted to ship their jobs to China and many other distant lands. 'Joe Biden spent his entire career outsourcing the dreams of American Workers, offshoring their jobs, opening their borders, and sending their sons and daughters to fight in endless foreign wars.' While demonstrations started out peacefully with a street party, scenes turned ugly as the night wore on, with multiple confrontations recorded on the streets Hundreds of demonstrators had gathered near the White House for a party aimed at drowning out Trump's speech, but scenes turned progressively ugly as the night wore on Activists clashed with police at multiple cordons that had been set up around the White House, but in other areas officers seemed to be completely absent as RNC attendees walked away Protester Shelton Hawkins raises his fist while standing on top of a bus during a protest on the fourth night of the Republican National Convention But as has been the case with the rest of Trump's political career, the event was marred with protests which began around midday in DC with a march outside Jeff Bezos's house. Demonstrations then moved to the streets around the White House from 7pm, with DJs and bands playing in an attempt to drown out the RNC. During the convention itself, which lasted from 9pm until 11pm, protesters let off fireworks and blared air horns which could be heard in the background of Trump's speech as it was broadcast on TV. Scuffles initially began between the activists and a smaller number of counter-demonstrators leading to two arrests, according to DCist. But as the convention finished the disturbances became more widespread. Several attendees were assaulted and accosted as they left the event, after apparently being left without police protection as they walked to nearby hotels. Footage from the streets surrounding Pennsylvania Avenue showed one white-haired man being punched in the back of the head and later knocked to the ground by a mob of activists who also threw water over him. Meanwhile RNC committeeman Chris Ager and his wife were repeatedly abused by a balaclava-wearing protester who threatened to 'f*** you up' as they tried to get into the doors of their hotel. While demonstrations started peacefully things grew progressively ugly as the night wore on, with attendees forced to run a gauntlet of angry activists as they tried to leave the event. Footage showed some scuffles breaking out between police officers and protesters, some of whom aimed punches at officers who drew batons in response. Senator Rand Paul was also accosted by protesters who almost pushed him to the ground as he left the White House, after shoving a police officer into him. For better and worse, Wikipedia is one of the places most of us go to when we want definitive information on a topic. But a recent scandal is highlighting one of the major pitfalls of the platform: not every Wikipedia editor is an expert in their field. Earlier in the week, a Reddit user named Ultach detailed a discovery they made about the Scots language version of Wikipedia (via The Guardian). Alongside Gaelic, Scots is one of the indigenous languages of Scotland. The thousands of Wikipedia entries written in it make up one of the largest collections of the Scots language you can access online for free. The problem is an American teenager from North Carolina who can't speak the language wrote 49 percent of all the entries. Before Ultach discovered the teen, who had gone by the username AmaryllisGardner, they had been prolific. By 2018, the 19-year-old had written more than 20,000 entries and committed approximately 200,000 edits. They were able to write so much by starting at the age of 12. The majority of entries AmaryllisGardner penned feature the occasional Scots word, often misspelled, and they include no Scots grammatical constructions. It seems AmaryllisGardner used an online translator to graft Scots words onto sentences written in American English. Part of the reason no one noticed or stopped the vandalism is that there wasn't much interest in the Scots Wikipedia before this week. "Nobody cared about maintaining [the Scots Wikipedia]," said Wikipedian MJL, one of the website's administrators. "Someone stepped up because no one else did. That person was never given any guidance. Articles ended up being very poorly mistranslated." The issue is twofold. Scots is an endangered language, and the Wikipedia community now needs to decide what to do with all the entries. Some have said the website should delete AmaryllisGardner's contributions, arguing that they do more harm than good. But Michael Dempster, the director of the Scots Language Centre in Perth, says it would be better to salvage the contributions. "We know that this kid has put in an incredible amount of work, and he has created an editable infrastructure," he told The Guardian. "It's a great resource but it needs people who are literate in Scots to edit it now. It has the potential to be a great online focus for the language in the future." Another unfortunate outcome of all this is that people have taken to harassing the teen, despite the fact it seems like they had good intentions in contributing to the Wiki. "I was only a 12-year-old kid when I started, and sometimes when you start something young, you can't see that the habit you've developed is unhealthy and unhelpful as you get older," they said on Wikipedia. As the AV Club points out, the entire episode is a reminder that Wikipedia is not a perfect resource. The website and all the information you can find on it wouldn't exist without the tireless work of countless unnamed volunteers, but those people can make mistakes. The Scots example is an extreme case, but every entry you read on the website (and any other website, for that matter) is worth scrutiny. In the beginning there was Covid-19, and the tribe of the white collars rent their garments, for their workdays were a formless void, and all their rituals were gone. New routines came to replace the old, but the routines were scattered, and there was chaos around how best to exit a Zoom, onboard an intern, end a workweek. The adrift may yet find purpose, for a new corporate clergy has arisen to formalize the remote work life. They go by different names: ritual consultants, sacred designers, soul-centered advertisers. They have degrees from divinity schools. Their business is borrowing from religious tradition to bring spiritual richness to corporate America. In simpler times, divinity schools sent their graduates out to lead congregations or conduct academic research. Now there is a more office-bound calling: the spiritual consultant. Those who have chosen this path have founded agencies some for-profit, some not with similar-sounding names: Sacred Design Lab, Ritual Design Lab, Ritualist. They blend the obscure language of the sacred with the also obscure language of management consulting to provide clients with a range of spiritually inflected services, from architecture to employee training to ritual design. Their larger goal is to soften cruel capitalism, making space for the soul, and to encourage employees to ask if what they are doing is good in a higher sense. Having watched social justice get readily absorbed into corporate culture, they want to see if more American businesses are ready for faith. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday invoked a provision of the Disaster Management Act to postpone final year examinations of universities and colleges amid the threat of the coronavirus pandemic. The exams will not be held in September, she said. Addressing a virtual meet to celebrate the foundation day of Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, Mamata said, It is not possible to hold an examination in September due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Education Minister Partha Chatterjee would consult all state run universities and colleges to formulate a plan whether online or offline final year examinations can be conducted before Durga Puja or not. She directed the education minister, present at the event, to consult the concerned parties before taking a decision and inform the students within a week. On April 29, the UGC had asked not to hold examinations but on July 11, they sent another letter asking the states to conduct the college exams. What is going on?" Mamata questioned. The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the University Grants Commissions (UGC) decision to have final year exams conducted by September 30.A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said that there was no infirmity in the July 6, 2020 circular that asked universities across the country to complete final year exams by the said deadline. It also maintained that states and universities will have to hold exams to promote students and confer degrees, and that internal assessments will not suffice the requirements of the UGC. About the decision taken by some states to not conduct exams by September 30, the bench held that although the states will be authorised to postpone exams under the Disaster Management Act, they will not be able to confer degrees on students without exams. The top court further said that the states should approach the UGC with their problems and ask for suitable relief measures regarding the final year exams. On holding NEET and JEE examinations, Mamata took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, Students are suffering but there is a person who is busy in Mann ki Baat. Is he bothered about the Mann ki Baat of students. The West Bengal chief minister has expressed serious concerns over Centres decision to hold terminal examination for various courses in colleges and universities and to conduct NEET, JEE amid the pandemic. Disapproving of the move, Mamata had tweeted, In our last video conference with the Honble PM Shri@narendramodi Ji, I had been vocal against the UGC guidelines mandating completion of terminal examinations in Universities/Colleges by the end of September 2020, which had a huge potential to put student lives at risk. She further said, Now with the directive of @EduMinOfIndia to conduct NEET, JEE 2020 in Sep, I would again appeal to the Centre to assess the risk and postpone these examinations until the situation is conducive again. It is our duty to ensure a safe environment for all our students. We along with other states on Friday have already submitted a plea before the Supreme Court to reconsider the decision to hold NEET and JEE examination in this crisis, Mamata said. The logo of Sanofi is seen at the company's research and production centre in Vitry-sur-Seine, France, August 6, 2019. Sanofi's confidence in its coronavirus vaccine candidates has increased this summer as the French drugmaker prepares to start clinical trials, its chief executive told Reuters. The company is working on two of the more than 150 potential vaccines being developed across the world to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, which has claimed more than 831,000 lives and sparked economic chaos. One candidate, to be manufactured on the back of an existing platform that develops vaccines to treat flu, will use an adjuvant made by Britain's GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to boost its efficacy. The other, being developed with U.S. company Translate Bio, relies on a different technology known as mRNA. "The early data is saying that we're on the right track and that we have a vaccine," Paul Hudson said in an interview on Friday, referring to the vaccine being developed with GSK. That vaccine is set to start clinical trials next month. Around 30 experimental coronavirus shots are already in human trials. But Hudson said in June the probability of Sanofi obtaining a vaccine with an efficacy of more than 70% was higher than for rivals, in part due to its experience in vaccines. "Our confidence has increased. We have work to do like everybody on manufacturing in large volumes. But we will have one, maybe two vaccines next year," Hudson said. The High Court has ordered the release of Porsche Panamera to suspected gold scammer Jared Otieno. This after the State lost a bid to hold the luxury vehicle, with Justice John Onyiego ruling there was no proof the Sh30 million sports car was bought using proceeds of crime. While asking detectives to release the car to Jared Otieno, the judge said the high-end vehicle has been lying at the CID headquarters wasting away. According to the Business Daily, the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) is preparing an appeal, arguing that the Porsche will deteriorate in value and defeat the push to have it forfeited to the State. Justice Onyiego directed the agency to appeal his decision in the Court of Appeal. After being suspended shortly after starting, the Constitutional Committee has been given the all clear to proceed by health officials writes SANA. UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen announced Thursday that the meetings of the Constitutional Committee will resume this afternoon following confirmation from health authorities that it is possible. In a statement, Pedersen said that after additional testing and further medical advice from experts regarding the four positive coronavirus tests, the office of the Special Envoy was formally informed by the concerned health authorities that the third round of the committee can resume its meetings, while ensuring social distancing and taking all relevant precautions. He added that after consulting all the participating presidents and members of the committee, the meetings will be resumed at 2:00 p.m. at the UN Palace in Geneva. Last Monday, the UN announced the suspension of meetings of the mini-committee of the expanded body of the Constitutional Committee in Geneva following the discovery of coronavirus infections among a number of the participant delegations. 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. They broke quarantine rules earlier this month when they failed to self-isolate for 14 days after a romantic getaway to Spain. But Rebecca Gormley and Biggs Chris looked in high spirits as they enjoyed a date night together in London on Thursday. The Love Island star, 21, put on a leggy display in a sheer black dress patterned with flowers as she cosied up to her boyfriend. Couple goals: Love Island's Rebecca Gormley and beau Biggs Chris put on a loved up display as they enjoyed fun a night out together in London on Thursday She accessorised with see-through heels and a black over-the-shoulder bag as she enjoyed her date night. Rebecca wore her brunette tresses in curls round her shoulders and upped the glam with a slick of red lipstick. Meanwhile Biggs, 27, looked effortlessly cool in black jeans and a jumper which he paired with a leather jacket and white cap. Cute: The Love Island star, 21, put on a leggy display in a sheer black dress patterned with flowers as she cosied up to her boyfriend Their outing comes after the couple ignored quarantine rules after jetting straight from a holiday in Spain to Scotland earlier this month. Rebecca shared racy Instagram snaps as she enjoyed her visit to her beau's home city of Glasgow, where the couple mixed with friends and family, enjoying dinner dates and spa treatments. The couple had been holidaying in Ibiza, and should have quarantined for 14 days when they returned to the UK after the government pulled its air bridge with Spain following a spike in COVID-19 cases. Rule breakers: Their outing comes after the couple ignored quarantine rules after jetting straight from a holiday in Spain to Scotland earlier this month Rebecca and Biggs had arrived in Scotland the day before, with Biggs sharing a photo of his girlfriend checking in for their flight from Spain, alongside the Scottish flag and 'next destination.' Once they landed, the pair visited Biggs' friends and family, sharing photos of a takeaway night. On Thursday Biggs filmed as he indulged in a facial treatment at a Glasgow beautician, while Rebecca watched. Not quarantining: The couple had been holidaying in Ibiza, and should have self-isolated for 14 days when they returned to the UK after the government pulled its air bridge That evening he shared a snap of the couple's dinner at Manjaros Restaurant in the city. Under government rules those arriving in Scotland from Spain are required to quarantine for 14 days to help reduce the risk of the transmission of the virus. A representative for Rebecca declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has cancelled Schoolies for the first time ever as the state recorded three new coronavirus cases on Friday. All three new cases have been linked to the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre and corrections training academy at Wacol, in the city's south-west, with two living on the Gold Coast and one at Forest Lake in Brisbane. The small outbreak has prompted the premier to introduce strict new limits on people living in the Gold Coast in an effort to stop any further infections. But in the biggest blow to the state so far, Ms Palaszczuk has announced the cancellation of Schoolies for the first time since the 1970s. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has cancelled Schoolies in Queensland as the state recorded three new coronavirus cases on Friday (Schoolies 2019 pictured) In the biggest blow to the state so far, Ms Palaszczuk has announced the cancellation of Schoolies for the first time since the 1970s (Schoolies 2019 pictured) Ms Palaszczuk said the chief health officer and director-general of education will be writing to every school in the state to inform them and ensure students understand the rules The cancellation of the major end-of-high-school celebrations come as the chief health officer designated mass gatherings over several days a 'high risk event'. 'It poses a high risk,' the premier said on Friday. 'High risk, not only the people who attend, all the young people, but also all the people they come in contact with, and of course their families and their friends and their grandparents.' 'So, we've had to take that very tough decision. So there will be, unfortunately, no concerts, no organised events, because there can be no mass gatherings.' Health Minister Steven Miles confirmed the new infections were the first confirmed cases of community transmission on the Gold Coast. Ms Palaszczuk said the chief health officer and director-general of education will be writing to every school in the state to inform them and ensure students understand the rules. The premier said students can still book end-of-school holidays with their friends but it should be a quieter celebration. 'Just as any other person can go along and book accommodation, people are welcome to continue to do that, in those small groups, right across Queensland,' she said. 'There is nothing wrong with small groups of people finishing school, booking somewhere close to where they live as well.' Ms Palaszczuk is urging people to celebrate their achievement by holidaying in Queensland and supporting local businesses and tourism operators. 'It's a tough year for everyone. And hopefully, hopefully, things will get better by the end of next year, and we can have a double celebration.' The cancellation of the major end-of-high-school celebrations come as all mass gatherings are still banned in Queensland (Schoolies on Surfers Paradise beach in 2019) School leavers will be forced to stay home this year instead of celebrating the end of high school on the Gold Coast (Schoolies 2019 pictured) 'But we're in a world pandemic, and I just hope everyone understands that.' Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said cancelling Schoolies was 'a really tough decision' as the current Year 12 group has had a 'really difficult year'. 'This is a rite of passage. Your last year of school is such an important year... and so much of it has had to change for this group,' Dr Young said. 'But look, I think this group is one of the most resilient, innovative groups, and I'm looking forward to seeing what they will put in place instead of that traditional mass gatherings on the beaches and so forth.' Schoolies week first began on the Gold Coast in the late 1970s in the weeks following final exams with the Broadbeach Hotel as the main meeting place. Events began to be organised in 1980 when the Gold Coast started attracting students from all over the country to celebrate. Schoolies week first began on the Gold Coast in the late 1970s in the weeks following final exams with the Broadbeach Hotel as the main meeting place Surfers Paradise is this year expected to be deserted as Schoolies has been cancelled due to the coronavirus Dr Young also noted that the students will not be able to have a gap year and will be stuck at home for Christmas, New Year and next year. Surfers Paradise maintains its status as the largest single venue for the celebration, with tens of thousands of graduated students flocking there each year. 'I expect to see that the celebrations will continue over a longer period of time, and we're working with the accommodation providers to see how they may be able to facilitate that, see they'll be celebrating in smaller groups, celebrating with their immediate friendship cohorts, of groups of 10 coming together, to celebrate,' she said. 'So there will be still be celebrations, but they'll just be completely different.' Ms Palaszczuk announced that from 8pm on Saturday, the number of visitors at a home is restricted to ten people and outside gatherings on the Gold Coast are also limited to ten. Two of the three new cases have been linked to the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre at Wacol (pictured), in the city's south-west, while another was from Forest Lake on the Gold Coast The new cases take the number of active cases in the state to 20, from 21,653 tests done in the past 24 hours (A drive through testing facility in Brisbane pictured) Gatherings in residences, including holiday units, will also be limited to no more than ten people across the state from November 21 to December 11 - the designated Schoolies time. Restrictions on visitors to aged care facilities, hospitals and disability facilities have also been extended to the Gold Coast. NEW QUEENSLAND RESTRICTIONS The current restrictions in place across the Greater Brisbane area are extending to the Gold Coast on Saturday. Indoor and outdoor gatherings are limited to ten people. Aged care facilities will go into lockdown. Hospitals on the Gold Coast will be required to increase the use of personal protective equipment. Advertisement 'We have to take this cautionary approach, I think everyone would agree, we acted very swiftly when it came to those earlier cases with the Brisbane youth detention centre and we know people travel a lot from the Gold Coast to Brisbane, and it makes sense to extend that,' she said. Dr Young said the ten-person limit is only for unplanned and impromptu events - but weddings and other events with a Covid-safe plan in place can still go ahead. 'Wherever weve got Covid-safe plans, that includes for weddings and funerals for restaurants, pubs, clubs, nightclubs, where theres a Covid-safe plan, those arrangements can continue,' she said. Two of the new cases live at Pimpama on the Gold Coast and the other was from Forest Lake in Brisbane. Both cases from the Gold Coast are recruits - a 33-year-old woman and 37-year-old man who carpool together. The third new case, a 33-year-old man, attended a course at the academy. The cases at the correctional services academy were detected after a group of recruits and staff were tested following a positive test result in a trainer. The new cases take the number of active cases in the state to 20, from 21,653 tests done in the past 24 hours. The number of cases linked to the detention centre cluster is now 15. Vice President Mike Pence is making a trip to the Scranton-Wilkes Barre area next week as northeastern Pennsylvania continues to gain attention in the race for the White House. Pence is slated to appear at an event at Wilkes Barre/Scranton International Airport on Tuesday. And hell be visiting Joe Bidens old stomping grounds. Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee and former vice president, grew up in nearby Scranton. President Donald Trump traveled to the Scranton area last week, visiting Bidens home turf on the day he accepted the Democratic presidential nomination. Pennsylvania has long been viewed as one of the key battlegrounds in the presidential election and both Biden and Trump are devoting a great of attention and money to the commonwealth. Trump narrowly won the Keystone State in 2016, beating Hillary Clinton by less than a percentage point. But the win in Pennsylvania helped propel him to the White House. Biden is aiming to move Pennsylvania back to the blue column as he aims to unseat Trump. Even before becoming vice president, Biden has long been familiar to many in Pennsylvania as a longtime U.S. senator in Delaware. Polls show Biden leading in Pennsylvania but recent surveys show the potential for a close contest. Northeastern Pennsylvania is a key area in the race. In 2016, Trump won 58 percent of the vote in Luzerne County. Four years earlier, Barack Obama won that county - and Pennsylvania - on his way to a second term. Last month, Pence arrived in Lancaster County on a day that included a few stops and ended in Philadelphia. He also visited Cumberland County for a Women for Trump event earlier this year. Both Trump and Biden have made a host of appearances in the Keystone State over the past year. More from PennLive Trump details accomplishments, depicts election as historic choice between greatness and socialism Latest poll finds Biden still leading Trump among Pa. voters, who also like Wolfs pandemic response Biden speech strikes good balance between attacking Trump and offering worthy agenda, Pa. viewers say Vietnamese students to kick off new school year like never before Covid-19 threats and potential online tuition cause students, parents and teachers worry and uncertainty ahead of the upcoming school year. Luong Thanh An, 13, is both excited and worried to return to his secondary school in Hanois Long Bien District with the new school year one week away. "Staying home is boring, so I want to return to school, but when I think about the coronavirus, my excitement fades," An said. An is among 23 million Vietnamese students set to start a new school year early next month amid an unprecedented situation, including health safety and online lessons, brought about by the pandemic. Vietnam has recorded 1,036 Covid-19 patients in total, with 637 recoveries. The country has seen 548 local transmission cases associated with Da Nang since July 25, when the nation confirmed its first community transmission in over three months. A HCMC student joys at returning to school in May, 2020, after a three-month Covid-19 break. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. The excitement of an upcoming school year notwithstanding, children, parents and schools are keeping a wary eye on the pandemic that enforced a three-month break last semester. Parents with young children are even more anxious about their safety since they cannot protect themselves properly at school. Nguyen Thi Quynh, mother of a third-grader in Hanoi, said she is uneasy thinking about letting her son sit in a classroom with more than 30 other students, worried his classmates and their families may have traveled during summer and "accidentally caught the virus." Students share the same concern as close contact with their friends is unavoidable. Nguyen Viet Anh, 17, of Hanoi's Nguyen Gia Thieu High School said: "If we go to school, we will talk, eat and hang out together, which is risky." Those using public transportation to go to school are even more anxious, believing crowded buses could be hotbeds for the novel coronavirus. Anhs parents have prohibited him from using the bus since March, promising to buy him an electric bike "to keep the Covid-19 danger at bay". With most schools in the country to welcome students back in the first week of September, some have prioritized a safe learning environment and a simpler opening ceremony to avoid crowds. There will be an official opening ceremony on September 5, virtual in provinces and cities under Covid-19 semi-lockdown, according to the Ministry of Education and Training. In Hanoi, the occasion will be no longer than 45 minutes. In Covid-19 hotspots like central Quang Nam Province and Da Nang City, authorities have considered letting students study from home and return to school later. Schools in other provinces and cities have started disinfecting facilities and equipping themselves with thermometers and hand sanitizers. Some are looking for official guidance on what to do if a student is infected. Teachers, worried students may forgo protective measures, were told to remind their learners to put their masks on, wash their hands and reduce going to other places apart from their homes and schools. "To protect myself and help students to protect themselves is all I can do," said Nguyen Tra My, a math teacher at a Hanoi-based secondary school, adding she has told her students to immediately report symptoms of fever or runny noses if occurring a week before school. A new type of classroom With Covid-19 still around the corner, online learning is gaining popularity, especially after the Ministry of Education and Training advised schools to be proactive in organizing online classes "when children cannot go to school" in the coming semester. In Hanoi, Marie Curie Primary and Secondary Schools have prepared two options, including traditional classes and online lessons once a Covid-19 semi-lockdown is imposed. Hanoi-based British International School also plans for online lessons and will update parents ahead of any closure or outbreak, according to a school representative. But both parents and teachers are skeptical and worried when it comes to the fees and effectiveness of online lessons. The lack of interaction with students is said to be a huge problem, especially with young learners not tech-savvy and easily distracted. A girl studying online at her home in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Phan Duong. For parents, tuition fees related to online learning are a popular concern, especially since few official regulations exist regarding their management. "What is the point of paying the same fee when students will have to revise all their lessons once back at school?" asked Nguyen Ngoc Anh, whose daughter is studying at Saigons Gia Dinh High School. Many schools have not mentioned the fees in case students must study online. "We will not charge 100 percent of traditional class fees, with the detailed numbers to be discussed with parents first," said Nguyen Xuan Khang, principal of Hanoi-based Marie Curie Primary and Secondary Schools. Schools and teachers are still waiting for official guidance from educational authorities on online teaching, which is affected by internet connectivity, living environment and parent coordination. After the summer break, many students are confident when it comes to protecting themselves amid the pandemic, saying everyone should adapt to the new normal. Nguyen Duc Nam, a tenth-grader at Hanoi's Chu Van An High School, affirmed he will bring along hand sanitizer and wear a mask when talking with his friends at school. "I miss my friends and I think we have to adapt to life amid the pandemic," he added. Parents have helped their children protect themselves at school by preparing more masks, hand sanitizer and dozens of reminders telling them to be on their guard. "I hope we will have a normal school year, last semester was such an ordeal," An said while buying stationary with his mother at a store on Hanoi's Ly Thuong Kiet Street, adding he misses the sound of the school drum. Laredo police are releasing more information on the case where a man is accused of burning a child with hot water. Officers responded on May 20 to an injury to a child report at the Laredo Medical Center. A woman had taken her 1-year-old daughter to LMC due to burns on her childs body. She stated that her boyfriend, Julio Cesar Leon Garcia, 26, was taking care of her five children, including the 1-year-old, at her residence in the 200 block of Iturbide Street. An LMC emergency room doctor told investigators that the 1-year-old suffered possible second-degree burns. In addition, the child had brain bleeding possibly due to shaken baby syndrome. The doctor stated he suspected possible child abuse, neglect, states the affidavit. The child and her mother were taken via ambulance to University Hospital in San Antonio for further evaluation. Investigators went to the apartment on Iturbide, where they met with Leon Garcia. He allegedly agreed to be interviewed at the LPD annex building on 4810 Maher Ave. He stated he allowed the children to play in the shower alone while he was doing other house duties. When the children began fighting, he shouted at them to leave the 1-year-old alone. The older siblings left the 1-year-old alone. About 5 to 10 minutes later, he heard the child crying, Leon Garcia told police. He went to the bathroom and found it full of steam, according to police. He put cream on the 1-year-old for the burns. Leon Garcia did not tell the mother about what happened, according to court documents. He said it hurts him because she is a child and she got injured, states the affidavit. Asked about the theory of the possible shaken baby syndrome, he stated he did not have any knowledge, according to court documents. Records further state that he then changed his story and alleged that the mother shakes the baby often when she gets mad at her. Leon Garcia stated that his girlfriend is a good mother but alleged that she did not have patience with the children. Asked about the burns, Leon Garcia claimed that the 1-year-old burned herself when she opened the hot water, states the affidavit. Garcia was then arrested on May 21 and charged with abandoning or endangering a child by criminal negligence. He was released on bond on June 3. A doctor would later confirm to police that the 1-year-old had a subdural hematoma in the brain along with second-degree burns. The girls 5-year-old brother was taken on June 1 to the Childrens Advocacy Center for a forensic interview. He stated that the girl was crying in the shower because the water was cold. Leon Garcia then put on the hot water, according to court documents. An assistant district attorney approved the issuance of an arrest warrant for Leon Garcia for injury to a child. He was served with that warrant on Monday. Nine months after the Centre initiated the process of giving ownership rights to four million residents of 1,731 unauthorised colonies in the national Capital, efforts are now being made to bring these colonies under the planning ambit. The Master Plan of Delhi-2041, a vision document for the citys development, will focus on development in all unauthorised colonies, said a DDA official. Officials of the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), roped in by the DDA to prepare Delhis 2041 Master Plan, said efforts will be made to provide essential services and social infrastructure in these soon-to-be authorised colonies. Unauthorised colonies that house nearly four million people are an integral part of the city and cant be ignored, urban planning experts said. Hitesh Vaidya, director NIUA, said, The new master plan will focus on providing opportunities of regeneration in all typologies of development, especially unplanned residential areas, such as unauthorised colonies, where it is imperative to improve the residents quality of life. For this, the NIUA and the DDA will hold a meeting with resident welfare associations of these colonies on September 2 to discuss their concerns and identify issues to be addressed. A senior DDA official said, We are holding consultation with all stakeholders. This is to understand their problems faced by people in these localities, what they want and how those issues can be addressed better. Though the contours of the new plan are yet to be finalised, Vaidya said, efforts will be made to create provision of social infrastructure in such illegal colonies. We are looking at aspects such as provision of social infrastructure like schools, parks etc wherever possible. NIUA is supporting DDA with public engagement and we look forward to all stakeholders and residents using this platform to provide constructive suggestions for the next master plan, Vaidya said The Centre handed ownership rights documents to 20 property owners under the Pradhan Mantri Unauthorised Colonies in Delhi Awas Adhikar Yojana (PM-UDAY) last year, days before the model code of conduct for the February 2020 Delhi assembly polls came into force. Ownership rights to residents of unauthorised colonies was one of the main poll planks of the BJP in the assembly elections held earlier this year. The DDA, the nodal agency for implementation of PM-UDAY, recently resumed the process to give ownership rights. Urban planner Shamsher Singh, the former chief town planner of the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Delhi, said while ownership rights are being given, they cant get building plans sanctioned as per the existing MPD-2021 norms. In some of these unauthorised colonies, the lanes are not wide enough because of which the building plans cant be sanctioned. They need a different set of development control norms, Singh said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON For too many Americans, the supply of quality, affordable housing has not kept pace with demand. While many look to Washington for answers, the typical big government routine is to make the problem worse by appropriating more money to spend on the same supply of housing, which ends up making housing less affordable. Rather than pursue the same failed policies of the past, we must identify and correct the root cause of our current challenges. But each community is different. We must work more closely with state and local officials to find the proper and appropriate solutions that best meet the unique needs of their local residents. LANSINGBURGH, N.Y. Lansingburgh Central School District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Antonio Abitabile announced some modifications to the school districts reopening plan. Abitabile also addressed budget cuts disproportionately affecting Lansingburgh schools. Its the mission of every public school district in this country to provide the best educational experience possible for all students, balanced with whatever resources that were afforded, Abitabile stated. Due to circumstances beyond our control I felt it best to inform our community of some extremely unfortunate news that makes this districts mission much more difficult to achieve than others, Abitabile continued. We were notified last week that all schools in New York state regardless of need are receiving a twenty percent reduction in state aid funding. This reduction is expected to last at least for this school year or until we received federal funding to replace the shortage of aid, Abitabile noted on the drastic cuts to aid. Abitabile went on to stress the inequity caused by the 20 percent flat cut by the government which further impedes the ability to educate their students most in need. He also noted that unlike their wealthier suburban school counterparts, Lansingburgh and other similar school districts are much more reliant on vital state aid. To that end, 65 percent of the Lansingburgh Central School Districts overall budget is derived from the same revenue sources. The cut is equivalent to 12 percent of their overall budget or $6.5 million of their $52 million total operating budget. This financial burden, combined with around 40 percent of our students opting for remote learning and staff members still conflicted about returning safely to school, makes it impossible for the district to open all of our schools for in-person learning on Sept. 8, Abitabile explained. Abitabile also detailed the modifications made to their reopen plan for the school year. Turnpike Elementary School, kindergarten, first, second, UPK and EPK will open with one slight reduction to one of EPK sections. Special education Multiply Disabled 12:1:2 classes moved to Turnpike. All self-contained special education classes will operate in-person from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and learn remotely beginning at 12:30 p.m., Abitabile said. All other students from grades 3-12 will begin school year learning remotely, Abitabile added. Additionally, Abitabile announced that a superintendents conference day has been shifted to Sept. 8, while Sept. 9 will become the first day of school for students grades 3-12. The phased in reopening plan for Turnpike has been moved back one day as well. The school district plans on holding another live Q&A session on Monday, Aug. 31 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Those with additional questions on the reopen plan are urged to send emails to covidinfo@lansingburgh.org. The parents of an American who was taken hostage by Isis and later killed declared their support for Donald Trump during a speech on the final night of the Republican National Convention, suggesting the president would have saved their daughter had he been in office at the time of her abduction. Marsha and Carl Mueller took the stage on Thursday night before the president delivered the headline speech of the week. They told the story of their daughter, Kayla, and how she was captured by Isis in August of 2013 while volunteering to help Syrian refugees in Turkey and Syria. My name is Marsha Mueller. This is my husband, Carl. Our daughter, Kayla was taken as a hostage and murdered by Isis, Ms Mueller said in an emotional speech, at times holding back tears and breathing deeply as she and her husband spoke to the audience. Kayla was mostly held in a 12 by 12 cell in solitary confinement. It was cold and dirty. Isis terrorists shined bright lights in her face. They shaved her head. They beat her and tortured her. The leader of Isis, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, raped her repeatedly. The parents went on to condemn former President Barack Obamas White House administration, saying: For 18 months she endured. And we endured an agonising back-and-forth between us, the Obama administration, and Isis. We put all our faith in the government. But our government let us down. President Obama refused to meet with us until Isis had already beheaded other Americans, the parents continued. To this day, weve never heard from Joe Biden. Instead, the Obama administration hid behind policy so much that we felt hopeless when they kept us from negotiating to save Kaylas life. The US has long had a policy of not negotiating with terrorist groups a policy that continued under the Obama administration as it has under the Trump administration. But the Mueller family remained adamant in their support for Mr Trump, who they said showed compassion and empathy amid their efforts to recover their daughters remains. The Trump team gave us empathy we never received from the Obama administration. The Obama administration said it was doing everything it could. The Trump administration actually is, they said. Let me just say this: Kayla should be here. If Donald Trump had been President when Kayla was captured, she would be here today. The Mueller family was just one of the speeches made on Thursday night as the president officially accepted the Republican Partys nomination for the White House in his re-election bid. Guest speakers also featured members of the presidents White House administration and family, like senior adviser and first daughter Ivanka Trump, as well as Alice Johnson, a grandmother and former prisoner who Mr Trump pardoned. Kayla Mueller, a human rights activist born in Arizona, was taken captive near a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Aleppo, Syria. She had been working to assist refugees in southern Turkey. All Kayla wanted was to make it home. We are still working to find her and, God willing, we will bring her home, her parents said. Eight months into Kaylas captivity, another hostage was able to smuggle out a letter Kayla had written. As we read it, we could see that God was holding her in His arms. In her words, she felt tenderly cradled in freefall. Carl and I support Donald Trump because of his commitment to make and keep America great, not with the power of the government, but with the passion of people like Kayla, Ms Mueller said, Americans who, even in the darkest days, always have more fight left inside of them. Americans who dont just talk they act. She concluded: That was our daughter. Thats President Trump. As long as we stay strong like Kayla, as long as we refuse to break, we will be great. Lara Trump used an Abraham Lincoln quote when speaking at the Republican National Convention, but it appears she got the line from a Facebook meme as the former president never uttered the phrase. "Abraham Lincoln once famously said: 'America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves,'" Mrs Trump said, who is married to Donald Trump's second son, Eric Trump. That quote, attributed to the 16th president, has widely circulated online on social media sites like Facebook and was even listed on Goodreads as something Mr Lincoln said. But fact checkers with the New York Times and USA Today, among other publications, were quick to point out that there is actually no record of the president saying those words. Mr Lincoln did make a similar statement in a January 1838 speech prior to when he became president. "At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide," he said. That quote has been widely used throughout history and even made an appearance at Walt Disney World in the Hall of Presidents. An animatronic of President Lincoln would say the phrase during his monologue. Misquotes of famous politicians, authors, and prominent figures is not rare. Quotes attributed to figures like President Thomas Jefferson, Winston Churchill, and Mark Twain have circulated and then later been debunked as false. To make fun of these misquotes that people will share, one meme has circulated on social media sites like Facebook that shows a picture of Abraham Lincoln next to a quote. The quote reads: "Don't believe everything you read on the internet just because there's a picture with a quote next to it." Besides misquoting President Lincoln, Mrs Trump used her speech to claim that the 2020 election would decide whether America stays as is or turns "towards socialism". "This is not just a choice between Republican and Democrat or left and right this is an election that will decide if we keep America America, or if we head down an uncharted, frightening path towards socialism," she said. Mrs Trump added: "Will we choose the right path and maintain the unique freedoms and boundless opportunities that make this country the greatest in the history of the world? The choice is ours." One major theme throughout the RNC was warning voters that America would lose its "freedoms" if Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden were elected. A female prison guard has been accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with an inmate under her care. Vicki Greenhalgh, 52, was employed as a Service and Programs Officer at St Heliers Correctional Centre in Muswellbrook, around 240km north of Sydney. Police allege Greenhalgh began a sexual relationship with former inmate Robert Parry, 56, while he was incarcerated at the facility, Sydney Morning Herald reported. Vicki Greenhalgh (pictured above) allegedly began a sexual relationship with a prison inmate while she was working as a Service and Programs Officer at St Heliers Correctional Centre Greenhalgh, 52, (pictured right) was arrested at a home in Muswellbrook, 240km north of Sydney in the Hunter region, on Thursday morning and taken to Muswellbrook Police Station Detectives from the Corrective Services Investigation Unit launched an investigation in June after the prison referred the 'alleged inappropriate relationship' to police. Greenhalgh was arrested at her home in Muswellbrook around 10.30am on Thursday morning after 'extensive inquiries'. 'She was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station and charged with engaging in a relationship with an inmate causing a safety risk and engaging in sexual conduct to compromise sentence,' a NSW Police statement said. Greenhalgh was granted conditional bail and scheduled to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court on September 21. Corrective Services NSW said the prison guard had been suspended after 'allegations of an inappropriate relationship'. 'The officer was suspended from duty when concerns were first raised and the matter was referred to NSW Police. Greenhalgh (pictured during her arrest) was charged with engaging in a relationship with an inmate and engaging in sexual conduct to compromise sentence The 52-year-old was accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with former inmate Robert Parry, 56, while he was imprisoned at St Heliers Correctional Facility (pictured above) Greenhalgh (pictured right) was suspended from duty when the allegations arose 'The officer remains suspended from duty,' a spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia. Service and programs officers work with inmates to deliver behaviour change programs within prisons. They help inmates reintegrate into the community and reduce the risk of re-offending. St Heliers is a minimum security facility for men and first opened as a correctional centre in 1989. Inmates are involved in 'community projects' to aid with reintegrating into society. Corrective Services NSW said the prisoners participate in activities including maintaining community areas, restoring community halls, charity activities and assisting local bushfire brigades. An eight-year-old girl died from a 'traumatic head injury' when a tree collapsed onto her as she walked along a footpath with her friend, an inquest heard today. Maisy Mayne was killed when she was struck by the fallen tree in a crop field in Bobbing near Sittingbourne, Kent on August 21. Another child was flown to King's College hospital in London with serious injuries after the branch came down amid high winds just after 12pm. Winds reached speeds of up to 60mph around the time of the tragedy and the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning as Storm Ellen blasted Britain. Opening an inquest today, assistant coroner Sonia Hayes said Maisy had sustained a traumatic head injury when the tree branch fell onto her. Maisy Mayne was struck by a fallen tree along a footpath in a field in Bobbing, near Sittingbourne in Kent (pictured) Police had rushed to the scene alongside the South East Coast Ambulance Service, the air ambulance and Kent Fire and Rescue Service. Emergency services were unable to save the eight-year-old and she was pronounced dead at the scene. It is understood Maisy and her friend were walking with a woman when the freak accident occurred. A witness told the Sun: 'I heard this woman shouting as she came running across the field with no shoes on so I walked over. 'She rushed towards me and was screaming for anyone to help. The woman started crying and said her niece had just been hit by a tree. Another child was left seriously injured when they were hit by the tree (pictured) that came down amid high winds just after 12pm on Friday Maisy was declared dead at the scene and the surviving youngster was airlifted to King's College hospital in London with serious injuries 'I asked her if she was alright. She seemed very, very panicked. As I walked up and down trying to help her, at least 15 emergency service vehicles came flying past me.' Floral tributes have been placed close to the spot where Maisy died. A note left at the scene by her uncle read: 'To my beautiful niece, I love you. May you rest in peace. Love your uncle and beautiful cousins.' The exact circumstances of the death are still unknown, but will be uncovered in a full inquest in November. Police are not investigating the tragedy. A Kent Police spokesman said: 'We were called at 12.17pm on Friday to a report two children had been injured by a falling tree near Parsonage Lane, Bobbing. 'Officers attended alongside South East Coast Ambulance Service, the air ambulance and Kent Fire and Rescue Service. 'One child was declared deceased at the scene and another child was airlifted to a London hospital with serious injuries.' The inquest has been adjourned until November 17 at Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone. YEREVAN. An internal investigation is underway, also, a criminal case has been initiated or will be initiated in the near future; as a result of the internal investigation we will find out how it happened. Armenias defense minister Davit Tonoyan stated this in a talk with journalists in the National Assembly Friday, referring to Armenian soldier Gurgen Alaverdyan ending up in Azerbaijan. "Because our initial assessment is that our soldier got lost and ended up at the side of the adversary. Whether our serviceman was abducted, whether there were other conditions, we still have to find that out. Depending on that, we will work within various international organizations, in various formats. Now our demand is that the international Red Cross representation in Azerbaijan visits our servicemen, which, according to my information, has not been done at the moment," the minister said. And to the remark that Azerbaijan has violated international humanitarian norms, Davit Tonoyan responded as follows: "There are standard procedures by which any halls of power, including the Azerbaijani authorities, are informed, warned that they have committed a violation. After that there are reactions in various formats. We are confident that within the framework of both the OSCE and the office of the international Red Cross and the relevant UN agencies are sparing no effort for the return of our servicemen. But there are also some conditions for returnexchange, etc. We cannot talk about it at this time. The main thing at this phase is that they be safe and healthy." Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 11:06:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close OSLO, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Facing the impact of COVID-19 and the global economic downturn, China will not shut its door but will instead open it wider to the outside world, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Thursday. This is a clear message from Chinese President Xi Jinping, who delivered a very important speech recently on China's economic development and opening up, he added. Wang made the remarks during a joint press conference with Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide later on Thursday. Responding to the question as to whether China's opening up policy will be affected by the current situation, where the pandemic has caused deep recession of the world economy and rising unilateralism and protectionism, Wang said that it has been proved by China's reform and opening up for more than 40 years that openness brings progress, while isolation leads to backwardness. "Over the past 40 years, through opening up, China has developed together with the world, and at the same time has been repaying the world," he said. China has over fulfilled its commitments to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and reduced the average tariff rate to 7.5 percent, which exceeds that of all the other major developing countries and approaches the level of developed countries, he added. He also pointed out that China, for two consecutive years, has been one of the world's economies making the biggest improvement in business environment. Over the past 40 years, China's opening up has brought enormous business opportunities and development dividends to countries including Norway, and made an important and irreplaceable contribution to the global economic growth, he added. "Today, with the impact of the pandemic, China and the world are facing a new situation and entering a new stage of development," he said. Xi, when delivering the speech on China's economic development and opening up, said that China will promote a dual-cycle development pattern, Wang said, adding that this means the country's growth will rely on both domestic and international economic cycles, with the domestic cycle being the mainstay. Xi also said that China will raise the level of opening up in an all-round way and build higher-level new institutions of the open economy, Wang noted. Through deeper reforms, lower tariffs, shorter negative lists, more convenient market access, more transparent market rules and a more attractive business environment, China will link its domestic market, the world's largest one, with the global market more closely, promote a virtuous cycle of mutual development which will be larger, more efficient and more dynamic, and create wider development space and more opportunities for China itself and other countries around the world, he said. In the new round of China's opening up, China welcomes the active participation of European countries including Norway, he added. He called on both parties to provide a strong and lasting impetus for their respective development and the global economic recovery by enhancing opening up and cooperation in such fields as trade, investment and industry. Enditem Stacks of new style five Australian dollar note are seen from September 1, 2016.(STR/AFP/Getty Images) Left and Right Senators Duel Over Super Fund Industry The debate about whether to increase the rate of money Australians pay into their compulsory retirement savings received vigorous debate in the Senate on Aug. 27. While speaking in support of a separate bill to amend the superannuation retirement scheme, Gerard Rennick, a Liberal Nationals senator, told the Australian Parliament the issue highlighted the core difference in philosophy between the left and right sides of politics. Rennick said those on the right, or conservative, side of politics believed in free choice and individual responsibility; and were fighting forces pushing Marxist and communist policies on the left, progressive, side by contrast. So many of those forces sit opposite us today, all with their little red books, bobbing their heads to every command issued by their Big Brother: industry super funds run by unions, he told the Parliament. Attributing the $3 trillion superannuation industry to the secretive plotting of communist controllers, Rennick noted that Australias retirement scheme had never been mandated by the people. He then pointed out that in New Zealand when the government wanted to introduce a compulsory retirement savings scheme in 1996, 92 percent of the people voted against it. Rennick also criticised the $40 billion in superannuation management fees and a similar amount the industry receives in tax concessions. Most of these fees go to white-collar blowhards in Sydney and Melbourne. Every week rivers of gold flow out of regional communities, Rennick said. He also criticised Labor for not standing up for low-income earners, who he says pay a higher rate of income tax than the wealthy pay on their superannuation income. Where is the Labor Party in this? I thought the Labor Party and the unions were the champions of the poor and oppressed. Nonot when it jeopardises the rivers of gold that flow into the superannuation funds that then flow into the Labor Partys coffers, he said. Bemused by Rennicks speech, Labor Senator Timothy Ayres rebuffed the remarks, saying he wasnt clear what the senator opposed in terms of industry superannuation funds. The super system was built by Australians working together, he continued, saying the compulsory scheme that takes a percentage of income from employeesaccessible once they turn 60was built by employers and unions. Millions of Australians who otherwise would have been impoverished in their retirement are living a decent, secure retirement that their parents could only have dreamt of. Ayres likened Rennicks speech to a stream of consciousness world salad that had him feeling like he was having an out-of-body experience. Ayres then claimed that the Liberal government forced Australians to access their super funds early, instead of providing a means to support workers amid the pandemic. Those individuals knew they couldnt rely on Scott Morrison, said Ayres. They had to go to their own low-balance accounts and strip them out because theycasual workers, low-income workers, and womenknew they couldnt rely on this government. Australian Capital Territory Labor Senator Katy Gallagher said Prime Minister Scott Morrison made an election promise to continue with the currently legislated increase for the super guarantee from 9 to 12 percent. If he breaks his promise, this will be an attack on workers and their standard of living, said Gallagher. However, the standard of living for workers pre-retirement would be lowered if the legislated increase goes ahead, according to a review by Treasury of Australias tax system. The superannuation guarantee rate should remain at 9 percent, the reports panel recommended. The panel also recommended that together with the Age Pension, the 9 percent superannuation guarantee can be expected to provide the opportunity for low to average wage workers with a working life of 35 years a substantial replacement of their income in their retirement. The report notes that increasing the compulsory saving rate to 12 percent would increase potential retirement income, but: It would also reduce an employees pre-retirement income. This would lower the standard of living for Australians during their working years, says Leith van Onselen, an economist formerly with the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury, and Goldman Sachs. Treasurys Tax Review supports this claim, and goes on to say employees would bear the cost of these contributions through lower wage growth. The retirement income report recommended that the superannuation guarantee rate remain at 9 percent. In coming to this recommendation, the Review took into account the effect that the superannuation guarantee has on the pre-retirement income of low-income earners, the report stated. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/8/2020 (510 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Precarious work, housing crises, "addiction traps," raging hunger, unlivable conditions and extreme poverty. Those are only few of the concerns that the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives highlighted about Manitobas working poor at a news conference Thursday, where they released their report, Surviving on Minimum Wage, which features their recent research and accounts from workers. The non-profit institute is now calling for the province to increase Manitobas minimum wage from the current $11.65 per hour to at least $15 which they believe "couldnt come at a more perfect time." "Certainly if the government wants to help people get back to work, nows the time to make these changes, especially with COVID-19," said Jesse Hajer, lead researcher for the project and professor at the University of Manitoba. "The pandemic has only made these issues worse." "And while itd be great if the labour market voluntarily increased minimum wages on their own, I think theres a built-in bias for employers to believe it simply isnt a winning proposition for them to do that without regulations in place." Currently offering the second-lowest minimum wages in the country, Manitoba stands well behind Ontarios $14 per hour and Albertas $15. Hajer says theres no reason why the province couldnt do the same as other governments. But in a joint-statement to the Free Press, the provincial minister of finance and minister of economic development and training said: "The Manitoba government believes minimum wage should be determined by economic factors rather than political factors." Ministers Scott Fielding and Ralph Eichler cited 2017 legislation to index the provinces wages every year by about 30 cents and government student funds like the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative as some of the "many supports to improve Manitobans quality of life," beyond increasing the provincial minimum wage. "Our government is focused on building a skilled workforce and has taken concrete steps to work with industry, businesses and post-secondary institutions to align education with labour market needs and ensure students have the right skills to advance their careers," reads the statement. "This includes programs to quickly get money in students hands so they can focus on their studies rather than their finances." On Wednesday, Premier Brian Pallister announced the province is expanding Manitobas Back To Work initiative a wage subsidy program launched earlier this summer thats now doubling reimbursement for employers to hire more workers. Between July 16 and Oct. 31, businesses that hire or rehire up to 20 people can receive 50 per cent reimbursement in paid wages up to $1 million. That incentive on top of the other federal wage subsidies are "great for employers," said Hajer in an interview, "but it might not be as appealing to employees, especially minimum-wage earners." "Those jobs are still non-unionized, without benefits and still paying the same unlivable wages." Thats probably why it might be in minimum wage earners "best interest" to collect the federal $500-a-week Canadian Emergency Response Benefit for as long as they can, he added. 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 Free Press reached out to more than 10 storefronts that pay minimum wages Thursday. All but one declined to comment. "We just cant afford to pay people more money," said Taste of Sri Lanka owner B.M. Kalyai before declining to say more. For the 42 workers whose experiences Hajer and co-author Ellen Smirl documented along with at least 31,000 other minimum wage earners in the province, as of 2018 "that just isnt good enough reason not to make change," he said. "Its time we finally start giving Manitobans living wages." Twitter: @temurdur Temur.Durrani@freepress.mb.ca Throughout the global pandemic, there have been many issues on abortion bans and abortion support. Chloe Cark, an Iowa State University professor threatened students to take leave if they oppose 'Black Lives Matter' and abortion in the syllabus as she labeled the argument as a 'GIANT WARNING.' According to the student's syllabus, the professor noted, "you cannot choose any topic that takes at its base that one side doesn't deserve the same basic human rights as you do (ie: no arguments against gay marriage, abortion, Black Lives Matter, etc). I take this seriously." As the syllabus was made, the students burst out of frustration on how they aren't able to freely express their own thoughts and arguments. The university described the syllabus as "inconsistent" with its commitment to the First Amendment. Washington News stated the Professor was forced to relearn the school's free speech policies after her course syllabus initially warned students about the arguments. In shock, Iowa State University apologized for not being able to manage professors correctly as the State explained students are freely able to express their viewpoints in their speech. After the incident, Iowa State University has promoted the organization upon George Floyd's death and the dean issued a 'BLM' statement that pledged a critical examination of their own policy to ensure the students are freely equitable. Chinese kids grow up learning rules about chopsticks: Dont wave them around or point them at others, dont use them to stab your food, dont suck on them or click them together noisily, and never, ever leave them sticking up out of your rice bowl thats reminiscent of offerings to the dead. But none of the rules concerns double-dipping. Once you get past the excess, Aashram is a window into the wild world that straddles new-age communities and the underlying depravity. Language: Hindi Director Prakash Jhas series for MXPlayer starts off guns blazing. It sets a tone for the twisted tale of a godman, who is more a conman, and the machinations within his expansive ashram. Almost immediately we cut to a flashback: It is 2012, and the narrative is now following Pammis (Aditi Pohankar) story. The setting is Uttar Pradesh, where a lower caste family has tolerated years of abuse and prejudice. Pammi is an aspiring wrestler. Talented but stubborn, she is furious when a less talented contender from a higher caste unfairly bags a national berth. Pammi is the entry point into the story of Baba Nirala (Bobby Deol), also known as Babaji of Kashipur, Messiah of the poor, he is the soft-spoken leader of a cult that focuses on upliftment of the downtrodden. Along the way, he has amassed legions of followers, swept by his bargain-basement sermons, and blinded by the veneer of philanthropy. In fact, the cults modus operandi is far from pious. It is replete with evil, manipulation, avarice, and desire. Pammi and her family, especially her absurdly naive brother Satti (Tushar Pandey), are emblematic of the exploitation and faux enchantment that entrances the under-privileged, desperate for a protector. As much as Nirala is the magnet, his astute right-hand, Bhope (Chandan Roy Sanyal), plays fixer. In most of Deols scenes with Sanyal, the actors make for a well-tuned team the former placid and inert, the latter menacing and conniving. But just as Sanyal nails the part of the unsparing manager of a burgeoning sect, Deol glides along in this fitted robes, as if he has had one too many of the magic laddoos produced at his ashram. The Babaji, aka Monty Singhs enigma is in danger of collapsing when the subject of his nightmares is unearthed as a skeleton. With a zealous investigating officer Ujagar (Darshan Kumaar), a news reporter (Rajeev Siddhartha), a postmortem doctor (Anupriya Goenka), and a junior policeman (Vikram Kochhar) at one end, a messy fight for the chief ministers seat in the centre and an empire built on a fragile philosophy at the extreme end, the stage is set for this crime-drama series. Off the occasional cast, look out for Sachin Shroff as Hukum Singh and Tridha Choudhury as Babita. Jhas nine-part season, written by Habib Faisal (story) and Kuldeep Ruhil (screenplay), sticks to his favoured themes of the caste system, caste politics, power play, and oppression. The first season desperately misses out on Babajis origin story. Even after nine episodes, the first scene in the first episode is unresolved. We remain in an extended flashback, with these reveals most likely reserved for the next season. The screenplay is also repetitive. Bhopes praxis of entrapment is used repeatedly, and becomes as tiresome as watching numerous sweeping shots of uniformed devotees chanting and praising their guru. A stubborn and aggressive teenager has a sudden change of heart and becomes submissive and docile. The murder investigation shows no sense of urgency, and we are subjected to a number of clumsy and unaesthetic scenes of coupling. How does one un-see those! Parallels with real life godmen exposed as fakes and criminals are undeniable. The symbiotic relationship between godmen, politicians, and law enforcers is sharply portrayed. It is fascinating to imagine the process of indoctrination, the brainwashing, the systematic spread of a cult, co-opting of wealth and assets, and the illegalities that occur, often in cahoots with authorities. These ideas are papered over in this uneven series but once you get past its excess, Aashram is a window into the wild world that straddles new-age communities and the underlying depravity. Aashram is streaming on MXPlayer. Rating: *** Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 12:49:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Matthew Rusling WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iran has agreed to United Nations (UN) inspection of a couple of its nuclear sites. But this is unlikely to help ease the crippling U.S. sanctions on the Islamic republic, experts said. "A new deal on inspections probably won't by itself help a lot, even if it's potentially a welcome small step," Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow at Brookings Institution, told Xinhua about the question of U.S. sanctions relief for Iran. Iran on Wednesday agreed to permit inspectors to access two of its nuclear sites, in a deal inked during a visit to Iran by UN watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi. "I think better inspections help," O'Hanlon said, but added that the White House's main concerns were about the limited longevity of the nuclear restrictions, as well as issues including missile development. Those were not covered in the Iran nuclear deal, from which Washington withdrew in 2018. David Pollock, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told Xinhua that the United States is likely to see the new Iran-UN agreement as evidence that U.S. sanctions are working. As such, Washington is unlikely to ease the sanctions that have wreaked havoc on Iran's economy, Pollock said. Clay Ramsay, a researcher and Iran expert at the University of Maryland, told Xinhua it will not matter to the Trump administration that Iran has opened a couple of sites to UN inspections. "The United States now broadly designates Iran as an enemy," Ramsay said. Ramsay added that after the United States withdraw from the nuclear deal, the consensus among Iran's political field as well as the public is that Iran had gained nothing from its concessions. Under the Iran deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran reduced its uranium enrichment program and vowed not to develop nuclear weapons, in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. The Iran deal, however, has been in danger since Trump pulled out in 2018 and reinstated sanctions on the Islamic republic. Experts said the U.S. president's move caused Iran to begin wavering in its compliance with the nuclear deal. Washington has recently tried to invoke a snapback provision in the deal, which would reinstate sanctions for what Washington called is Iran's failure to honor its commitments to the JCPOA -- a move that critics say is bizarre since the United States pulled out of the agreement in 2018. U.S. allies and JCPOA's European signatories -- Germany, France and Britain -- have rejected this stance, contending that Washington has no right to make such a move, as the United States is no longer part of the agreement. Tehran has always maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful, intended for medical, energy and other uses. Meanwhile, Washington's Iran policy is at a crossroads in the lead-up to November's U.S. presidential elections, which are expected to be tight. If Trump is re-elected, U.S. policy is likely to continue in the same direction. But if his contender Joe Biden clinches the White House, Washington is likely to take a softer approach to Iran, including possibly rejoining the nuclear deal, experts said. Experts said it is possible that Biden, if elected president, would get back to some form of the deal that the Trump administration scrapped but "with some additions," Pollock said. Enditem Two Vietnamese DJs listed among Asian producers to tune into DJ Get Looze (L) and DJ Hoaprox. Photo courtesy of the artists. Electronic dance music (EDM) publication Mixmag Asia named Vietnamese DJs Get Looze and Hoaprox as two of 17 "unmissable talents" in the region. DJs Get Looze and Hoaprox were included in a list of 17 producers Mixmag Asia described as "making serious noise in the world right now" and turning heads in the dance community. The selected artists are "some of the very best newcomers, best kept secrets, and leading lights the continent has to offer," said Mixmag Asia. Get Looze, real name Khuong Bao Khang, is deemed one of Vietnam's brightest young stars. He won two music production contests, Vietnam Pioneer Digital DJ Battle in 2014 and DJ EDM Vietnam in 2015, and was included in the 2019 Top 10 DJ list by digital media conglomerate Yeah1. In April, the 28-year-old producer joined 40 international artists for a virtual rave, starring along Dutch DJ duo Bassjackers and Brazilian DJ duo Cat Dealers who placed 34th and 46th in 2019 DJ Mags Top 100 ranking. He also shared the stage with Hardwell (ranked 12th in 2019 DJ Mags Top 100 ranking), Steve Aoki (10th), W&W (18th), Headhunterz (29th), Yellow Claw (77th), and others. Hoaprox, or Nguyen Thai Hoa, has been making waves and gaining internal success. Mixmag Asia wrote his style "encompasses expansive sounds including progressive house, future bass, trap, dubstep, nu-disco and more." The Saigon artist had two singles, "I Cant Find You", and "Words of the Wind", included on "Billboard Presents Electric Asia Volume Two" in 2018 and "Billboard Presents Electric Asia Volume Three" in 2019. The 23-year-old DJ recently joined 250 artists for the "Outlaw Ocean Music Project" in collaboration with Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times investigative reporter Ian Urbina to raise awareness about dark deeds on international seas. He released an album called "Secrets in the Waves" earlier this month, consisting of eight songs utilizing field recordings like machine-gun fire off the coast of Somalia, chanting of captive deckhands on the South China Sea, and other rhythmic frequencies. The list also includes an array of Asian-based DJs from different countries and territories, including Indonesia's Dipha Barus, South Korea's DJ Soda, Taiwan's Kaku, and Cambodia's Maily. Mixmag Asia is part of Mixmag, a British publication centered around EDM. The publication made its official debut in Vietnam in 2019. He returned to the UK earlier this month after a family break to Barbados. And Wayne Rooney was every inch the doting dad as he shared a pair of throwback snaps from the sunny holiday on Friday. The former England captain, 34, couldn't contain his laughter as he giggled with his sons Klay, seven, and Kit, four, during an afternoon of fun in the swimming pool. Sweet: Wayne Rooney was every inch the doting dad as he shared a pair of throwback snaps with sons Klay, seven, and Kit, four, from the sunny holiday on Friday In the snaps, Wayne, Klay and Kit appeared to be in fits of giggles as they enjoyed a day of fun in the swimming pool together. The trio certainly appeared to be enjoying their family break, with Wayne captioning his post: 'Nothing better than laughing with the boys.' Wayne and Coleen recently returned from a family getaway to Barbados, and the WAG offered a major telling sign that the summer holidays are drawing to a close, when she shared snaps of her four-year-old son Kit trying on his new school uniform. The mother-of-four took to Instagram last week to upload the images, which showed adorable Kit striking a series of poses as he donned his striped blazer, shorts and cap. Cute: The former England captain couldn't contain his laughter as he giggled with his sons during an afternoon of fun in the swimming pool A sure sign summer is coming to an end! Coleen Rooney shared snaps of her four-year-old son Kit trying on his new school uniform on Friday 'Uniform try on,' Coleen captioned the snaps, which garnered almost 6,000 likes within an hour of being uploaded on the image-sharing platform. Earlier this month, Coleen jetted to Barbados for a family holiday with husband Wayne and their sons Kai, 10, Klay, seven, Kit, four and Cass, two, as well as her dad Tony and mum Colette, and brother Joe. She enjoyed several weeks on the sun-kissed Caribbean island with her family, with current government rules stating those returning to the UK do not have to quarantine after travelling to the country. Fun in the sun: She recently enjoyed a sunny getaway to Barbados with her husband Wayne Rooney, their four sons Kai, 10, Klay, seven, Kit, four and Cass, two On Monday, Coleen was spotted heading into the Barbados airport with her family, though husband Wayne was absent, having flown home earlier to begin pre-season training with his current club Derby County. The sunshine break was no doubt needed for Coleen, who is currently engaged in an epic WAG war with Rebekah Vardy after she accused her of leaking stories to the press last year, a claim Rebekah vehemently denies. Coleen was also accused of leaking stories to the press by Rebekah earlier this month, after she told in a bombshell legal document how she had been left suicidal by the accusation that she had leaked stories about Coleen and her family. She also claimed in the document drawn up for her libel battle against Coleen that the stress of the scandal had left her fearful of losing her unborn baby and suffering panic attacks that made her too scared to leave her home. Dapper gent: The mother-of-four took to Instagram to upload the images, which showed adorable Kit striking a series of poses as he donned his striped blazer, shorts and cap The I'm A Celeb star complained of being made a 'scapegoat' by her rival seeking to blame her for stories appearing when in the past Coleen had approved of her friends leaking gossip about her. The document says Rebekah believes she 'has deliberately been made a scapegoat (sic) by the Defendant (Coleen) for past 'leaked' stories.' It points to previous stories about Coleen and Wayne with some 'in particular about their marriage, which have in fact come from the Defendant's friends, at times even with the Defendant's approval.' Rebekah describes in her document how Coleen's public denunciation of her on Instagram while she was seven months pregnant had 'gravely injured her reputation'. Detailing how Coleen had 'caused her enormous distress and very extreme embarrassment', she disclosed how she had been bombarded with abuse on social media. Sunny: During their trip to the Caribbean, Coleen shared a stream of snaps of their adventures Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 03:31:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ROME, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 epidemic situation in Italy was "under control" despite a recent surge in new infections, according to the scientific body counseling the Italian cabinet on the emergency. Such assessment was provided by Agostino Miozzo, coordinator of the technical-scientific committee (CTS), at a hearing before the education panel of the lower house on Thursday. "The data registered these days were expected," Miozzo told lawmakers. He explained the new infections registered in recent weeks, which authorities confirmed as mainly linked to holidaymakers, resulted from "the liberty someone took of not respecting the basic preventive rules." "Right now, even if numbers are on the rise, our epidemiological trend is under control," said Miozzo, who is also a member of the Civil Protection Department. "They are relevant numbers, but our territorial (health) system is capable to manage them." As of Thursday, some 1,179 new coronavirus infections were registered over a 24-hour period, bringing the total of active infections to 21,932, according to the latest statistics from the Health Ministry. Of all those actively infected, some 20,734 are currently isolated at home as they are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. The remaining 1,131 cases are hospitalized, with 67 in intensive care units. With 225 new recoveries on a daily basis, the number of those recovered in the country since the pandemic broke out in February has risen to 206,554. COVID-19 death toll grew to 35,463 after five more deaths were registered compared with Wednesday. Some 94,024 swab tests were carried out across the country over the last 24 hours, data also showed. Overall, the total of COVID-19 cases assessed in the country stood at 263,949. A large majority of the new infections in recent weeks concerned vacationers under the age of 40, and especially young people returning from popular beach destinations in Italy, such as the Sardinia island, and in nearby countries. This prompted the government to impose on Aug. 12 mandatory COVID-19 tests on people returning from Greece, Spain, Malta and Croatia. A few days later, Health Minister Roberto Speranza issued a decree closing all-dancing facilities across the country, and making face masks mandatory again between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. everywhere there could be the risk of crowding. In his report to lawmakers on Thursday, the CTS coordinator also drew attention to the forthcoming school reopening set on Sept. 14. He explained that CTS experts would expect a limited increase in infections after millions of students and school staff are back to their classrooms, as it has happened in other countries. "School now is our absolute priority in terms of consideration and debate," Miozzo said. "One goal we are committed to helping our school system to reopen is safety, yet an even more crucial goal is to help it to remain open in safe conditions." Set up during the emergency, the CTS is the official body advising the Italian government on its policies concerning the COVID-19 health crisis. It comprises 20 top scientists and health officials. Enditem For the third day on Thursday, the number of daily coronavirus infections in Nigeria was less than 300. Continuing a trend that began Tuesday, the latest figure is 296, one of the lowest in at least two months. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the 296 infections were recorded in 17 states, bringing the total number of infections in the country to over 53, 317. Only one patient died from the virus in the past 24 hours, dragging the number of confirmed deaths from the virus to 1,011. The new cases, according to the NCDC, were found in the following 17 states Plateau (85), Enugu (46), Oyo (31), Lagos (21), Rivers (20), FCT (15), Kaduna (13), Bauchi (12), Delta (11), Ekiti (11), Akwa Ibom (7), Ebonyi (6), Kwara (5), Ogun (4), Osun (4), Gombe (3), Niger (2). Again, Plateau had the highest of the daily reported cases with 65 infections on Thursday. Enugu and Oyo followed with 46 and 31 cases respectively. Though Lagos came fourth in the daily tally with 21 new infections, the city remains Nigerias coronavirus hotspot with over 18,000 infections and 202 deaths. Abuja, Nigerias capital is the second most impacted with a total of over 5,000 cases and 50 deaths. The latest update came barely hours after authorities postponed the resumption of international flights in Nigeria. International flights, earlier scheduled to resume on August 29, will now commence on September 5. The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Musa Nuhu, explained that the postponement is to ensure all non-aviation logistics are put in place. The NCDC update also came amid reports that some Nigerian students participating in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examinations examination have tested positive for COVID-19. On Thursday, the Permanent Secretary, Bayelsa State Ministry of Health, Inodu Apoku, said 20 students have tested positive for the contagion in the state. Nigeria has tested nearly 400,000 since it reported its index case on February 28 in an Italian traveler. A total of 40,726 infected persons have recovered and have been discharged after treatment in the countrys 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. August 28 : In a new development in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case, a TV channel has shown two pictures of the late actors body that were taken by his sister Meetu when she had arrived at his apartment on June 14. These new pictures have raised some fresh questions regarding the mystery of his death. The Times Now TV has shown these two new pictures, which are different from the pictures that were leaked in social media soon after the later actor was found dead in his Bandra flat. The ligature marks on the new pictures taken by Meetu vary from those seen in the pictures that were leaked earlier. These new pictures have been taken from the right side of the actors body which clearly show inconsistencies in the mark on the neck of the late actor. Times Now has pointed out that the pictures which were leaked earlier had just one clear ligature mark whereas the pictures taken by Meetu clearly shows two ligature marks and a big round wound. The question the channel raised is that was this being done purposely to push the suicide theory? Union Minister Ramdas Athawale meets actor #SushantSinghRajput's father KK Singh and his sister Rani Singh in Faridabad. pic.twitter.com/JsWASzWe90 ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2020 After seeing these two new pictures, the forensic team of the CBI has asked for more pictures from the Mumbai police and the forensic team of Cooper Hospital where his body was taken for post-mortem. Sushant Singh Rajputs family lawyer Vikas Singh told Times Now that the pictures that were leaked earlier could have been morphed. When Times Now asked the same question to top CBI officers, they also said may be. Meanwhile, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale met the late actors father K K Singh and sister Rani Singh in Faridabad today. Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery A medical staff takes samples of a man in Hanoi for Covid-19 test, July 30, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Tat Dinh. A woman in Da Nang and a Hanoi man returning home from a quarantine camp in Hai Duong Province have been diagnosed with Covid-19, taking Vietnam's active cases to 343. "Patient 1037" is a 29-year-old woman in Da Nang's Bac Son Tra District. She had come into contact with a 52-year-old man who later became "Patient 1036." Her test results showed positive Thursday. "Patient 1038" is a 23-year-old man living in Hanois Hoan Kiem District. He was quarantined at a camp in northern Hai Duong Province from August 11 after returning from Russia on Vietnam Airlines flight VN5062. During the 14-day quarantine period, he stayed at the same room with a 34-year-old man who later became "Patient 1034." On August 25, he completed his quarantine and returned to his rented room in Hoan Kiem District before his roommate was confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus Wednesday night. His test results conducted by the Hanoi Center for Diseases Control came back positive on Thursday. He is being treated at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Vietnam has seen 549 local transmission cases associated with Da Nang since July 25, when the nation confirmed its first local transmission case in over three months. The country has now recorded 1,038 cases in total, with 663 recoveries. Worldwide, more than 24.5 million have been infected with the virus and reported deaths have crossed 830,000. A complete disengagement in eastern Ladakh requires re-deployment of troops by each side towards their regular posts on the respective sides of the Line of Actual Control(LAC), India said on Thursday on the prolonged border row with China. The spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Anurag Srivastava said this can be achieved only through mutually agreed reciprocal actions. "Thus it is important to bear in mind that achieving this requires agreed actions by both sides," he said at an online media briefing. The MEA spokesperson also referred to last week''s talks between the two sides under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs. Also read: India-China standoff: Military options on table if talks fail, says General Bipin Rawat "In this context, in the last meeting of the WMCC the two sides have agreed to resolve the outstanding issues in an expeditious manner and in accordance with the existing agreements and protocols," he said. "Both sides also agree that full restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas would be essential for the overall development of bilateral relations," he added. Srivastava further said the two sides had also agreed to continue their engagements both through diplomatic and military channels. Also read: Ready to properly address differences with India: China ARGYLE, N.S.Fire crews battled a wildfire in Nova Scotias Yarmouth County Friday that led to intermittent closures of a major highway. The Department of Lands and Forestry said it determined human activity was to blame for the blaze, but it did not provide details. Twelve department crew members along with volunteer firefighters were battling the 15-hectare fire along Highway 103 in the municipality of Argyle. The public is being asked to avoid the area because of smoke. Earlier in the day, air tankers from New Brunswick assisted suppression efforts with a water drop. Officials said the few homes in the area are not at risk. They said another fire that had been burning earlier in West Pubnico, N.S., had been contained. Crews were also working on at least three other smaller fires in the province as dry conditions prompted a no-burning advisory for mainland Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia has an average of 225 wildfires each season. Read more about: Black Girls Sue Governor and Legislature Over Public School Funding California Budget Bill Cuts Funding From Growing School Districts, Harming Futures Of Tens Of Thousands Of Californias Schoolchildren At the tender age of 5, Samaiya Atkins and her father Marcus Atkins have high hopes and dreams for a high-quality, public education. When Mr. Atkins realized his daughter could get that level of rigor at a new school with an established reputation for developing high-performing scholars just a few blocks away from their home in the Meadowview community of Sacramento, he was ecstatic and quickly signed Samaiya up for Tecoy Porter College Prep. Meadowview is the community where Stephon Clark, an unarmed Black man was shot and killed by the Sacramento police in his grandmothers backyard giving rise to local and national protests. Fostering hope out of tragedy, Black community leaders built Tecoy Porter College Prep, a new college-prep charter school for students grades K-5 just yards away from where Clark was killed and named the playground in his memory at a groundbreaking on February 4, 2020 with his family. I want them to know Stephon is a part of Sacramento history, said his brother, Stevante Clark. The remembrance of Stephon is what we want the kids to keep in their hearts and in their minds. Sacramento native, Dr. Margaret Fortune is an officer of California State NAN, a modern civil rights organization that is Rev. Al Sharptons affiliate in the Golden State. Dr. Fortune raised $12 million to build the sprawling public elementary school campus, creating new opportunities for children in Meadowview children like kindergartner Samaiya Atkins. In addition to the Stephon Clark Playground, the facility includes a music room, yoga studio, and an art makerspace for kids. Dr. Fortune, who is African American, has founded four of the highest performing, majority-Black public schools in California. She is credited with closing the Black achievement gap in mathematics in her schools. Dr. Fortune insisted that construction be completed on-time at the new Meadowview campus, even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. ADVERTISEMENT Things would be looking up in Meadowview, but there is cause for concern since the California Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom voted for and signed SB 98, a budget bill that profoundly harms schools with growing enrollment, including an estimated 3,500 traditional public schools and more than 450 public charter schools throughout the state. California has always guaranteed funding for each students education, but this decision means the state will instead withhold more than $542 million from more than 52,000 students like Samaiya statewide. Critics say SB 98 was designed by school employee unions and big city school districts to keep taxpayer dollars in declining school systems protecting jobs and pensions, even after the students have left the district. More than 38,000 parents have signed petitions opposing the new school funding law which parent advocates and civil rights groups say kneecaps Californias longstanding policy of the money following the child to the school where they are enrolled. This seems like a way for the education establishment to use the pandemic as an excuse to undercut education alternatives, like charter schools, said Joette Spencer-Campbell, education chair of the San Bernardino NAACP. Its also an attack on a parents right to pick their childs school, continued Spencer-Campbell, a grandmother. The Governor and the Legislature are basically telling a parent who moves their family to a more affordable region of California like the Inland Empire or the Central Valley, Sure, you can buy a house but you get nothing from the state to fund your childs public education. How is that constitutional? If the state has money to fund phantom kids, then they certainly have the money to fund actual live ones, she added. Families with children at four growing public school systems across the state say its not constitutional and filed a lawsuit against the State of California and Governor Gavin Newsom, among others last month. The lawsuit, Samaiya Atkins v. State of California, challenges the constitutionality of the state budget deal signed into law through SB 98. We are fighting the same battles Blacks have always had; the fight for equity, said Mr. Atkins, a plaintiff in the lawsuit that bears his daughters name. There are 18 other plaintiffs in the lawsuit, four of whom are Black girls: Nailah DuBose, Aniyah DuBose, Jael Allen-Pearson and Samaiya Atkins. The states actions violate the constitutional right of my students to a free and equitable public education and our political leaders need to take immediate action to fix this situation, said Dr. Fortune, president of Fortune School, where five of the student plaintiffs are enrolled. Our school community is over 90 percent Black and Latino and 82 percent low-income. Defunding these childrens education and calling it equity is a slap in the face to their parents who have chosen their childs school for a good reason. State funding should follow the child to the school that is educating them. Thats whats fair and right. In June, Assemblymember Dr. Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), a longtime education advocate and chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, commented on SB 98 on the Assembly floor saying, Weve left out some very important people in the process It is painful to me to have any child not actually funded. I know there are some really wonderful schools that are working very hard and have attracted students to those schools and will not get the funding to move forward. We have to prioritize them when it comes to August and September. This decision casts a shadow over our community, said Pastor Tecoy Porter, after whom the Sacramento school is named. Im disappointed in Democratic legislative leadership, including Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and the budget committee chairs such as Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), who claim to be defenders of equity for all but have completely defunded the education of every child in this school, continued Dr. Porter, a Democrat. Its not often that the Black community can muster the resources to build schools to lift up a community in trauma. ADVERTISEMENT Taisha Brown, Chairwoman of the California Democratic Party, African American Caucus, wrote a letter to democratic leaders Rendon, Atkins, McCarty, Phil Ting, Holly Mitchell and Richard Roth and urged them to reverse the negative impact SB 98 will have on Black children. She said it is untenable that school funding will not follow children to the schools where they are actually being educated. I urge you to pay attention to the lawsuit brought by Black girls, Samiya Atkins v. State of California which asserts that children have a constitutional right to a free and equitable public education. That is true for all Black children in California, no matter what type of public school their parents have chosen for them, including public charter schools, Brown wrote. I want to encourage you not to make the mistake of eroding the high quality education programs that exist for Black children who we know already struggle mightily in our public school system. Fix SB 98 so the money follows the child. Thats whats fair and equitable. EDITORS NOTE: Families with children at the four growing public school organizations across the state have launched a new coalition called Fund All Kids (www.fundallkids.org), and an online petition to send to legislators urging them to reverse SB 98. To send a letter to the legislature, click here for more information. Although it was weekend, workers were still busy sorting express parcels shipped from overseas to Thailand at a warehouse of TPI Import-Export & Shipping. Co., Ltd. located on the outskirts of Bangkok, capital city of Thailand. A large number of the parcels were goods ordered via e-commerce platforms. The number of express delivery parcels from online shopping platforms has risen significantly this year, said a worker at the warehouse, adding that they have been short-handed because of the increased workload, and that sometimes when they couldnt deliver parcels in time people who want to receive their products quickly would drive to the warehouse to pick up their parcels. "Due to the COVID-19, I mostly shopped online during the first half of the year," said a resident in Bangkok, adding that the number of orders she has placed on e-commerce platforms such as Shopee and Lazada has increased significantly compared with the previous years. Global management consulting firm Bain & Company predicted that the number of online shoppers in Southeast Asia is expected to reach 310 million this year, doubling that of the previous year. In 2019, the size of the e-commerce market in Southeast Asia reached $38 billion, according to a report jointly released by Google, Temasek and Bain & Company, suggesting that the figure may exceed $153 billion by 2025. The booming e-commerce is becoming an important driver for promoting economic recovery in Southeast Asia. China and Southeast Asian countries have always worked closely in cross-border e-commerce, providing strong support for the economic recovery in Southeast Asia. Many featured local products in Southeast Asia, including Thai coconuts, Malaysian Musang King durians and mangoes of Myanmar, have been introduced to China through e-commerce platforms and become increasingly popular among Chinese consumers. Since the beginning of this year, trade between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China has bucked the trend of economic recession brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and shown a good momentum of growth, in which cross-border e-commerce has played a key role. Besides engaging in cross-border trade on e-commerce platforms, Chinese companies have also brought experience, mature technologies and operation models to the Southeast Asian e-commerce market, which is still in the early stage of development, helping to improve local e-commerce technology, logistics and payment systems. In the meantime, they have introduced livestreaming and other emerging marketing models into Southeast Asia. Established in 2012, Lazada has expanded its business to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. In 2016, China's e-commerce giant Alibaba invested in Lazada and acquired control of the company. Since then, Alibaba has upgraded the entire platform with new technologies and set up over 30 warehousing centers in a dozen cities in Southeast Asia to improve the "last mile" logistics capability of the platform. Chinese companies have also enabled the platform to adopt a variety of payment methods to meet the diverse demands of consumers. Lazada has now developed into one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the ASEAN region, with its number of annual active consumers exceeding 50 million. Chinese companies have also strengthened e-commerce cooperation with their counterparts in Southeast Asian countries in many other areas. Alibaba has built the Electronic World Trade Platform together with Thailand and Malaysia, aiming to facilitate digital customs declaration and clearance for small and medium-sized merchants and thus shortening logistics time. Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com and Central Group, a leader in retail and service business in Thailand, have jointly established an online shopping platform named JD Central, which has become one of the top 10 online shopping platforms in Thailand. The year 2020 has been designated as the China-ASEAN Year of Digital Economy Cooperation, during which e-commerce has become, without doubt, a new highlight of China-ASEAN digital economy cooperation. The proportion of digital economy in ASEANs GDP will increase from 1.3 percent in 2015 to 8.5 percent in 2025, predicted Dato Lim Jock Hoi, secretary-general of the ASEAN. China is at the forefront of the development of digital infrastructure and is an important partner of ASEAN in its efforts to promote digital economy in the region, said Lim. Southeast Asian countries should take advantage of the China-ASEAN Year of Digital Economy Cooperation to carry out exchanges and cooperation with China in the field of e-commerce, so as to further improve the e-commerce development pattern in Southeast Asia and speed up the recovery of regional economy, said an associate professor at the Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University in Thailand. In another change to the Portland local TV scene, TraRenee Chambers, host of the KATU-TV weekday show, Afternoon Live, has left the program after four years. Chambers says that theres no juicy story, or drama, behind her departure. My contract was up, and I took some time to think, and discuss with my family whether or not it would be a good idea to continue, Chambers says in a phone interview. She was influenced, she says, by the upheaval in the culture caused by the coronavirus, and how it impacts families, as well as the focus on racial justice sparked by the Black Lives Matter movement. While Chambers says of KATU, I definitely got the sense that they wanted me to stay, she was eager to have more flexibility in her schedule, so the Aug. 14 Afternoon Live was her last. The farewell show was heartfelt and beautiful, says Chambers. But, she says, when she considered whether she wanted to commit to another two-year contract, she didnt really see herself staying in the same position for two more years. So, I figured it was time to move on, and explore other things. Chambers still hosts the 3-7 p.m. show on Portlands JAMN 107.5 radio, and says she now has the freedom to pursue other potential projects, including a podcast, a Web show, working on a book and other ventures. I also want to be far more active in the community, says Chambers, who in addition to her broadcast career, is a licensed clinical social worker in Oregon. I had a private practice, Ive worked as a mental health therapist in schools, and theres still a lot to be done. As awareness of racial justice has moved to the forefront, Chambers says she also takes seriously the fact that shes a woman of color who can speak out about issues that matter. I feel like now, more than ever, if I had any sort of platform, I needed to be a bit more vocal about some of the social injustices that are happening, says Chambers, adding that a show like Afternoon Live, which mainly features lifestyle topics, wasnt really a platform to address more weighty subjects. Shes happy about new adventures ahead, but Im bummed its @TheRealTraRenees last day at @afternoonlivek2 on @KATUNews. Im gonna miss this woman throwing a sarcastic remark my way every time she walks past the newsroom. Good luck, Tra. pic.twitter.com/o5KP71oveo Lincoln Graves (@LincolnGraves) August 15, 2020 As a wife and mother, Chambers also thought about her three daughters when making her decision. With the pandemic impacting schools, Chambers wanted to be able to, as she says, be there when they need me. While I loved being on Afternoon Live, I still have these three little ones here, that now more than ever need my attention, and my energy, Chambers says. And then you add the other pandemic, she says, referring to the systemic racism that the country is currently confronting. And as little Black girls, my daughters have constant questions, and theyre trying to navigate through everything they see on the Internet, and what theyre hearing from their friends. I needed to dedicate more time to them. Chambers says shes grateful for viewers who have reached out to her through social media, to say theyll miss seeing her on Afternoon Live. Co-host and producer Kara Mack, left, and host Tra'Renee Chambers, right, on Chambers' last "Afternoon Live" show on KATU. (Photo: KATU/Screenshot) I have gotten a lot of direct messages, and comments and pictures and postings, Chambers says. I want to say that I love and appreciate everybodys acceptance of a big-mouthed girl coming on TV, with no television experience, and accepting me into their homes every day, for an hour a day. I want to let them know that Im not done with my big mouth, and they can absolutely look forward to hearing more from me in the coming months. More of our coverage: TV news notes: KGW adds new staffers, and a longtime Portland anchor is returning -- though not to TV Former KGW anchor Joe Donlon prepares to launch a new, national newscast: A fact-driven show, without opinion Subscribe to our What to Watch newsletter. Email: -- Kristi Turnquist kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Mumbai, Aug 28 : Amid startling revelations in her media interview, Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty on Friday appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation for the first time in the ongoing probe into the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Accompanied by her father, Rhea, 28, reached the DRDO-IAF guest house in the suburbs after the Supreme Court transferred the case to the CBI and it launched its probe on August 6. Among other things, the CBI team is likely to get her version of Sushant's mental condition; their Europe trip on which she has made several claims of his health, etc.; corroborate her statements with those given by the others questioned so far in the case, including her brother Showik. This comes a day after Sushant's father Krishna Kishore Singh made the sensational allegation that she had administered poison to kill his son, and demanded her arrest. Earlier, Sushant's kin have blamed the Chakraborty family for his death and allegedly swindling off Rs 15 crore from his bank account, but Rhea has denied all the accusations. Sushant, 34, was found dead in his rental duplex flat in Mont Blanc building in Bandra west on June 14, sparking a furore in Bollywood and political circles with multiple agencies entering the fray. Initially, the Mumbai Police which registered an accidental death report, had interrogated Rhea, followed by the Enforcement Directorate and now the CBI, with the Narcotics Control Bureau waiting in the queue to probe the drugs angle. In her TV interviews, Rhea has declared: "I have nothing to fear... I will cooperate with all the agencies." Earlier, Rhea's brother Showik was grilled by the CBI, besides his flatmate Siddharth Pithani, house manager Samuel Miranda, and cook Neeraj Singh. Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Many New Jersey families are facing a conundrum. People are continuing to return to work after coronavirus closings, and now many children are about to start a new school year with online learning because of COVID-19 concerns. But many residents cant skip work to stay home with their kids. And some cant afford to put them in child care. A number of daycare centers havent reopened yet, either. In response, the state has planned for a $250 million fund to help child care centers operate and low-income families pay for their services, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Friday. The money would come from the states pool of $2.39 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds. The program is included in the revised, nine-month state budget Murphy unveiled this week. The state Legislature would still have to approve the funds. This broad initiative is designed to address the issue of child care from multiple directions, Murphy said while announcing the program during a news conference at the Edgar Early Learning Center in Metuchen. Child care providers need assistance to remain open and our families need assistance. The governor also said the goal is to make sure parents have peace of mind that their children are safe during the day. Keep up with the latest in N.J. schools coverage. Sign up with your email here: The program would be run by the state Department of Human Services, and the money would be allocated in four different ways: $50 million will go toward grants for child care providers in New Jersey that have reopened by Oct. 1. Murphy said that will keep more centers open and give parents more options. $30 million will go toward subsidy grants for eligible child care providers for increased costs because of the pandemic. $20 million will go toward subsidies for eligible working families making less than 200% of the federal poverty level who need additional child care for their kids aged 5 to 13 years because of remote school learning. $150 million will go toward tuition assistance for families not eligible for that subsidy but earn up to $79,000 a year and need their children to be watched during the school day. Murphy said nearly half of New Jerseys licensed child care centers have remained closed since COVID-19 started spreading rapidly through the state in March. He also noted that daycare providers employ nearly 5% of the states female workforce. State Sen. Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex, praised Murphy for the new plan. These are the immediate investments we need to make in our working families if we are going to build the bridges necessary to return to a new normal, and it doesnt stop here, Ruiz said. The lawmaker noted she introduced a bill Thursday that would create an emergency child care program for school staff and administrators in New Jersey as the academic year begins. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Murphy is pushing for as many New Jersey schools as possible to reopen for at least some in-person classes in the fall, though he has allowed some that dont meet health and safety standards to begin the year all-remote. According to the most recent numbers, 180 school districts have applied to begin the school year remote, while 59 districts plan to fully reopen and 436 will use a hybrid model of both in-person and remote learning. Murphy is seeking to raise taxes by $1 billion, borrow $4 billion, and cut $1.25 billion to help cover a $5.6 billion hole in the new state budget because of coronavirus tax revenue losses. Republicans have criticized the Democratic governor for increasing spending during a pandemic, and top Democrats who lead the Legislature have expressed concern about tax increases. But state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, pledged support Friday for the child care plan. Today is an important day, Coughlin said. The funding announced is much-needed as we move toward further re-opening of our state. ... This is the right thing to do. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Local journalism is important and producing it costs time and money. To continue viewing content on tucson.com, please sign in with your existing account or subscribe. When we first saw the Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo Concept back in 2018, the expectation was set that it would launch in late 2020. Once the Porsche Taycan launched, and we knew Porsche had perfected its technology (if thats what you would call less than 250 miles of range), we really expected the Cross Turismo to come quickly after, as expected in 2020. As it turns out, Porsche has been forced to delay the Cross Turismo, but according to Porsche, its not a casualty of the Pandemic. The Taycan Cross Turismo Should Debut in Late 2021 With all the delays from just about every industry and almost the entire list of carmakers, we wouldnt blame you if you thought Porsche is delaying the Taycan Cross Turismo due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, according to CEO Oliver Blume, that isnt the case at all. In fact, Porsche is one of the few automakers that remained profitable throughout the first half of the year, part of which can be attributed to it earning more than $10,000 in profit per model sold. So, why is the Cross Turismo being delayed? According to Blume, its because there is so much demand for the Taycan. So this is more about optimization for profit than any type of struggle. The change is no disadvantage for us; we just optimized the cycle plan Blume even went on to say that Porsche looks to the future with confidence. Apparently, Chinas bouncing back so quickly and rise in demand for Porsche vehicles is being attributed to at least part of Porsches impressive success during such a dark and turbulent time. Other factors include changes made on the go and the companys focus on the essentials. Even better yet, and despite the Cross Turismos delay, Porsche is confident that it will not cancel any car projects as the result of market problems due to the pandemic going forward. So, as of now, its forward and upward for Porsche, but the company will continue to optimize and change as it goes. As for the new Cross Turismo, we dont expect to see that until early-to-late fall of 2021. 2020 Porsche Taycan specifications 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Porsche Taycan 4S Porsche Taycan 4S Performance Plus Electric motors power 616 horsepower (670 horsepower with overboost) 616 horsepower (750 horsepower with overboost) 530 horsepower 571 horsepower Battery 93 kWh 93 kWh 79.2 kWh 93.4 kWh 0-60 mph 3 seconds 2.6 seconds 4.0 seconds 4.0 seconds Top Speed 161 mph 161 mph 155 mph 155 mph Source: Automotive News It is time to praise Victorians; the people, of course, not the politicians who represent them at the national and state level. Victorians are proving more resilient, and cohesive, in the second wave of the pandemic than the rest of the country may appreciate. Community support for the second lockdown remains at remarkably high levels despite the blame-shifting between Scott Morrison and Daniel Andrews and the bomb-throwing from the state opposition. Nine out of 10 Victorians support the wearing of masks, and seven in 10 support the restrictions of movement, and even the nightly curfew, according to research from Roy Morgan released this week. The only restriction that divides opinion at the margin is the ban on visiting family members in another house (with the exception of delivering care or essential services), but even on this question almost six in 10 (57 per cent) are still in favour. The citizens of Victoria are proving to be a resilient and cohesive bunch. Credit:Jason South The survey coincided with an encouraging report from the Victorian Coroners Court showing the number of suicides has not surged in lockdown. Every life lost remains a tragedy. But the state total in the year to August 26 466 happens to be the lowest since 2017. This figure echoes the trend in New Zealand, where the national suicide rate is also at its lowest level in three years, according to New Zealands chief coroner Judge Deborah Marshall. There are even green shoots of recovery, and not in the place one would expect. Victoria appears to be the only state in the health crisis so far that has been able to shift some economic activity from the capital to the regions. Employment in the rest of Victoria was almost 3 per cent higher in July compared with the same month last year. In Melbourne, it had fallen by more than 4 per cent, based on original data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. A 29-year-old Jersey City man was arrested Thursday and charged with leaving the scene of a fatal crash on July 4, authorities said. Evans Severe was taken into custody at his home shortly after 10:30 a.m. and charged in connection to the July 4 hit-and-run that claimed the life of Shawn Charles, 26, also of Jersey City, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. Charles, a pedestrian, was struck just before 4 a.m. while standing outside a home on Hopkins Avenue near Summit Avenue. He was taken to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead soon after, Suarez said. Severe was charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle collision resulting in death, a second degree crime. Authorities did not disclose how Severe was tracked down. The Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit continues to investigate the incident and is asking anyone with information to call 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/. Small-scale pig keepers have a few days left to take part in a survey to gauge knowledge about the threat of African swine fever. The survey aims to find out more about what smallholders, pet pig keepers and hobby keepers already know about the disease. It will also ask about keepers' feeding and biosecurity practices and what sources they refer to for guidance on keeping pigs. It was launched by the UK government and devolved administrations as part of the campaign to combat the introduction and spread of the disease. The results will be used to improve information available to keepers to help protect the health of their pigs and the UK pig industry. UK chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss has called on anyone who keeps pig to take actions to contribute to keeping the disease out of the UK. African swine fever has no cure and there are currently no effective vaccines. She said: If it were to reach the UK, it would have a devastating impact on commercial pig keepers, small-scale pig keepers and pet pig keepers alike. If you are a small-scale pig keeper or keep pigs as pets, please complete the survey to help governments across the UK understand more about your knowledge of the disease and your pig keeping practices. "This will help us to provide you with the information you need to protect the health of your pigs and all UK pigs. The survey, which can be completed online, closes on Monday 31 August. Ive been thinking about the two families weve encountered over the past two weeks. The Biden family is emotionally open, rendered vulnerable by tragedy and driven by a powerful desire to connect. The Trump family is emotionally closed, isolated by enmity and driven by a powerful desire to dominate. Occasionally this week one of the female members of the Trump family would struggle to stick her head above the muck of her familys values and display some humanity. But Donald, Don Jr. and Eric showed no such impulse. Trump family values are mean world values. Mean world syndrome was a concept conceived in the 1970s by the communications professor George Gerbner. His idea was that people who see relentless violence on television begin to perceive the world as being more dangerous than it really is. By the 1990s it was no longer violent programing that drove mean world culture, but reality television. Thats an entire industry designed to give the impression that human beings are inherently manipulative, selfish and petty. If you grow up watching those programs, or starring in them, naturally you believe that other people are fundamentally untrustworthy. Anna Thomas, 18, and Dylanger Thomas-Brodsky Johnson, 18, at the entrance to dorm-style rooms at St. Joseph's House, a former convent in West Oak Lane for college students experiencing homelessness. Read more Its the rug that does it for Anna Thomas. After years of couch-surfing, the La Salle University freshman finally has a place of her own. Its in a converted Philadelphia convent that Depaul USA, a Germantown nonprofit, turned into housing for college students experiencing homelessness. Family and friends helped the 18-year-old personalize her room. But when we talked this week, she confided that its the $38 gray, fluffy rug she bought online that makes the space truly feel homey. Growing up, Thomas used to wait until right before the doors of her Kensington charter school were being locked for the evening. And then, shed scroll through her phone in search of a place to spend the night. Her family was thrown into chaos after her father left when she was 10. Relatives were always supportive of her and her siblings, she said, but it was hard not to feel like an imposition. It wasnt their fault that I was going through what I was going through, she said. She was temporarily staying with her grandmother when she found out she got enough financial aid to pay for La Salle tuition, but not enough for housing. READ MORE: Tiny homes made in Amish country could soon house Phillys homeless In another room of what is called St. Josephs House, Dylanger Thomas-Brodsky Johnson recalled being in and out of foster care. When his adoptive parents planned to move out of the area, he decided hed juggle as best he could his freshman year at Temple University studying criminal justice with a full-time job. He didnt receive enough aid for housing, but he plans to start driving for Uber soon. And then he learned of the new residential program in the West Oak Lane neighborhood that offers support services including academic and career counseling, an open pantry, and even the occasional casserole dropped off by thoughtful neighbors. I was skeptical, said Johnson, who is also 18. I was like, There has to be a catch. But there isnt. This place is literally the perfect program. What wasnt perfect was the timing, which coincided with the coronavirus pandemic. Sandra Guillory, Philadelphia director at Depaul USA, said they planned to open the program, with a mix of city and private funding for 24 Philadelphia students, sometime in April. But when the coronavirus hit, they sped up construction and moved students in earlier. Ten have so far moved in. We were afraid that students were going to leave campuses, not have a safe place to go, and might drop out of college, she said. It was one of many changes they made on the fly. The transitional housing program was originally slated for upperclassmen who might otherwise drop out without a place to live. But it quickly became clear that affordable housing is an issue for students at every stage. Few know that better than Sara Goldrick-Rab, a professor at Temple University and one of the nations experts on student homelessness. Her team at the universitys Hope Center for College, Community and Justice advised on the projects planning and program development. Given how few people in this country have even taken seriously the idea that college students can be homeless this is genuinely exciting, she said. But she also warned that persistent misconceptions about college students mean vital help still isnt reaching them. There are going to be those who say, and its totally predictable: Just get a job, she said. I hope you know that all of our surveys show these students already have jobs. I hope you also know that theyre going to say there are other people who arent in college who need housing, too. Yep, absolutely. What were trying to do here is keep these students from being on the street, too. Whats the point of having more people on the street? However compelling the stories of homeless students and these are just two of countless others Goldrick-Rab believes the growing numbers will eventually force a meaningful reckoning. Theres growing interest because there has been growing evidence, she said. We do things in this city and around this country because theyve been counted. Only when we count how many students are affected does anybody start doing anything. Stories, unfortunately, are never enough. A newly released report by her center found more than half of Philly college students at two-year campuses, and one-third at four-year universities, were having difficulty accessing adequate food and secure housing. And that was before the coronavirus left schools and students scrambling. Students whose stories we might never hear before they are forced to give up on their dreams. For the first time in a long time, Thomas can see her future clearly. She plans on majoring in psychology. I want to become a therapist because I feel like growing up, I wasnt really listened to that much, she said. Id like to be that support to people. These days, after working part time at FedEx and taking remote classes, she retreats to her room. She likes to sit in the middle of her rug, close her eyes, and savor the peace that until now had eluded her. Not since the days of the Ottoman Empire has the Turkish military had such an extensive global footprint. Under its ambitious president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey sent troops to Libya to turn the tide of the war there, and it keeps up a military presence in Syria, Iraq, Qatar, Somalia and Afghanistan as well as maintaining peacekeeping troops in the Balkans. At the same time, the Turkish navy patrols the Mediterranean and Aegean seas where it has laid claim to energy and territorial interests amid escalating tensions with European Union members Greece and Cyprus. The effort comes at a cost. The military budget as a percentage of gross domestic product has risen, from 1.8% in 2015 to 2.5% in 2018, at a time when Turkeys economy has weakened. Heres a look at where Turkey is flexing its muscle, and why. The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine has sent a note of protest to the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation over another illegal movement of the so-called "humanitarian convoy" to the uncontrolled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (ORDLO), the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported. According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the "humanitarian convoy" crossed the Russian border checkpoints "Donetsk" and "Matveyev Kurgan" and the checkpoints "Izvaryne" and "Uspenka" that are closed by Ukraine. At the same time, the Russian side made it impossible for Ukrainian border guards and customs officers to carry out mandatory control procedures in line with the legislation of Ukraine and norms of international law, including bilateral international agreements. In view of this, a note of protest was sent to the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation demanding strict compliance with international obligations, including bilateral agreements, previously approved modalities of delivery of humanitarian goods. The Ukrainian side also demands that they be sent in accordance with the Ukrainian legislation and through the border checkpoints controlled by it, reads the report. iy 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 By Jenny Gold | CaliforniaHealthline Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our nonprofit public service journalism: Donate now. As the smoke thickened near her home in Santa Cruz, California, last week, Amanda Smith kept asking herself the same questions: Should we leave? And where would we go? The wildfire evacuation zone, at the time, ended a few blocks from her house. But she worried about what the air quality -- which had reached the second-highest warning level, purple for "very unhealthy" -- would do to her children's lungs. Her 4-year-old twins had spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit; one was later diagnosed with asthma, and last year was hospitalized with pneumonia. By Tuesday, said Smith, "we all had headaches, the kids were coughing a little bit, and it was raining ash." The family had been conscientiously isolating at home because of the COVID pandemic, and leaving meant potential exposures. But on Wednesday, Smith said, "I looked at my partner and said, maybe we should leave." She called a friend in Orange County, about 380 miles south, who offered her parents' empty condo. But the next day, the friend's child spiked a fever -- a possible case of COVID-19 -- and the plan fell through amid the distraction. Amanda Smith takes a selfie of herself and her twin children in Santa Cruz, California, in April. Smith and her partner evacuated their family on Aug. 20, 2020, from their home in Santa Cruz due to the wildfires. "It's coming out of our savings to stay here," Smith says of the Airbnb they evacuated to. (Amanda Smith) So Smith looked on Airbnb, careful to seek out hosts who detailed their COVID precautions, and found an apartment in San Bruno, about an hour's drive north. She stuffed photos and documents into a suitcase, grabbed the go-bags, and her family headed out. "It's coming out of our savings to stay here," Smith said from the safety of her apartment rental, which runs about $1,150 a week. "It was a really fraught decision to leave, but as soon as we got over the hill and the sky was blue, I took a big sigh of relief and knew that it had been a good decision." As the twin disasters of COVID-19 and fire season sweep through California, thousands of residents like Smith are weighing difficult options, pitting risk against risk as they decide where to evacuate, whether from imminent flames or the toxic air. Amid a virulent pandemic, which is safest? Doubling up at a friend's home? A hotel? An evacuation center? And when do the risks of smoke inhalation outweigh the risk of a deadly infection? icon DON'T MISS ANY L.A. CORONAVIRUS NEWS Get our daily newsletters for the latest on COVID-19 and other top local headlines. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy "Obviously the most important thing is for people to do what they can to protect their lives, not only from the fire, but also from COVID," said Detective Rosemerry Blankswade, public information officer for the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, which is helping coordinate response to the massive CZU Lightning Complex fires. "You have to evaluate the big picture here. If fire is your most imminent danger, maybe take the COVID risk. But if you can avoid both of them, that's obviously going to be the best option. It's kind of a little bit of triage that we're asking for people to do in their own lives right now." In San Mateo, one of two counties where the CZU Lightning Complex fires are blazing, officials are advising people to head to an evacuation center, where county workers will assist them in finding a hotel room. Meanwhile, in neighboring Santa Cruz, where tens of thousands of residents have evacuated and shelters have limited space, officials are asking those under orders to leave to stay with family and friends whenever possible. What's the right choice when all options pose additional risks? We spoke with several experts to help guide your thought process. YOU HAVE TO EVACUATE: WHERE SHOULD YOU GO? If your region is under an evacuation order, do not hesitate. Leave immediately. If you can afford it, booking a room at a hotel or motel outside the evacuation zones may be the best option, said Dr. Michael Wilkes, a professor at the University of California-Davis School of Medicine. They almost always have air-conditioning units, which help filter the air from both smoke and virus. Many hotels are implementing new cleaning processes; ask staffers to detail what they're doing to sanitize rooms, and consider skipping the daily cleaning service during your stay. You might also check review sites such as TripAdvisor to see what other guests report. When possible, avoid the lobby and other shared spaces, and opt for contactless check-in. Amanda Smith at home in Santa Cruz, California, with her twin children. Smith and her family decided to voluntarily evacuate their home in Santa Cruz on Aug. 20, 2020, due to heavy smoke in the area from the CZU Lightning Complex fires in the nearby Santa Cruz Mountains. (Anna Maria Barry-Jester/KHN) With so many people in Northern California fleeing the fires, many hotels are already full, especially in more remote areas. So what about staying with family or friends? After months of being shut in and avoiding close contact beyond immediate family, moving into someone else's home means a host of potential exposures. Consider whether you or anyone else in the home is at high risk from COVID-19 because of age or a preexisting condition. "If so, that's a reason to think twice before going to someone's home," said Dr. Gina Solomon, a program director at the Oakland-based Public Health Institute. Consider, too, what precautions your friends or family have been taking. Sheltering with someone whose job brings them into frequent contact with other people may not be as safe as sheltering with people who largely have been staying home. Another question is how crowded the home is: If you have your own room and, preferably, your own bathroom, that makes staying with friends a better option. If a separate bedroom is not available and smoky skies are not a problem, you might consider pitching a tent in their backyard. For those with an RV or tent, camping can present another good option -- although, with hundreds of wildfires burning across California, it may be challenging to drive far enough away to avoid fire and smoke. If you do camp, try to find a site away from wooded areas. And think twice before using group bathrooms. IS AN EVACUATION CENTER SAFE? Many counties have implemented new precautions at emergency shelters to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. In Santa Cruz, for example, officials are scaling back the capacity in each shelter to allow for social distancing, providing tents for people to use as shielding inside and allowing camping in the parking lots. Still, staying in a shelter should probably not be your first choice. In terms of COVID risk, deciding between a hotel and a friend's house is "nipping at the edges," said Dr. John Swartzberg, a clinical professor emeritus at the UC-Berkeley School of Public Health, while "being in a congregate setting is only better than being completely exposed to the elements." If an evacuation shelter is your best immediate option, again, do not hesitate. "You have these standards you want to practice for yourselves," Swartzberg said, "but when something worse comes along, it trumps how careful we can be with COVID because the need for shelter is greater." You can lower your risk of infection by wearing a mask, washing hands frequently and sanitizing surfaces. Amanda Smith's partner, Grant Whipple, walks with their twin children in Big Sur on March 7, 2020. That was their last camping trip before the COVID pandemic hit, Smith says; that area is now under threat from wildfire. Smith and Whipple decided to voluntarily evacuate their family from their home in Santa Cruz on Aug. 20, 2020, due to heavy smoke in the area from another fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains. (Amanda Smith) IF YOU AREN'T IN A FIRE ZONE, SHOULD YOU INVITE FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO STAY WITH YOU? Deciding whether to open your home to friends who are evacuating is an intensely personal decision and may depend on whether anyone in your family has a preexisting condition. "I guess it depends on how good a friend they are and how desperate they are," said Swartzberg. It may also depend on how much space you have; if your guests can have their own bedroom and bathroom, it might be safer. If you do offer your home, experts advise against simply considering yourself a new pod with your guests. Instead, take steps to lower your chances of infection. "It might not be pleasant, but wearing a mask anytime you're not in your own bedroom is the safest way to go," said Solomon. Stay outside as much as possible, she added, and consider eating meals outdoors or eating in shifts to avoid being maskless with those outside your family unit. Sanitize surfaces and wash hands frequently. If air quality permits, keep the windows open to improve airflow. IF YOU'RE IN A REGION WITH HAZARDOUS SMOKE CONDITIONS, SHOULD YOU LEAVE? If your area has dense smoke but no imminent fire risk, the thought of heading somewhere else may be appealing, especially if you have respiratory issues. But in most cases, Wilkes said, it would be safer not to leave your COVID bubble. And given the expanse of California's fires, anywhere you flee could end up having lousy air quality by the time you arrive. "The better part of rationality," Wilkes said, "would be to stay at home, not exercise [outdoors], stay inside as much as you can, turn on the air conditioning." California Healthline senior correspondent Anna Maria Barry-Jester contributed to this report. This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. This article will reflect on the compensation paid to Robert Bulluss who has served as CEO of Coventry Group Ltd (ASX:CYG) since 2017. This analysis will also evaluate the appropriateness of CEO compensation when taking into account the earnings and shareholder returns of the company. See our latest analysis for Coventry Group Comparing Coventry Group Ltd's CEO Compensation With the industry At the time of writing, our data shows that Coventry Group Ltd has a market capitalization of AU$70m, and reported total annual CEO compensation of AU$571k for the year to June 2020. That's a notable increase of 28% on last year. In particular, the salary of AU$399.0k, makes up a huge portion of the total compensation being paid to the CEO. On comparing similar-sized companies in the industry with market capitalizations below AU$277m, we found that the median total CEO compensation was AU$570k. From this we gather that Robert Bulluss is paid around the median for CEOs in the industry. What's more, Robert Bulluss holds AU$265k worth of shares in the company in their own name. Component 2020 2019 Proportion (2020) Salary AU$399k AU$379k 70% Other AU$172k AU$67k 30% Total Compensation AU$571k AU$447k 100% On an industry level, roughly 63% of total compensation represents salary and 37% is other remuneration. According to our research, Coventry Group has allocated a higher percentage of pay to salary in comparison to the wider industry. If salary dominates total compensation, it suggests that CEO compensation is leaning less towards the variable component, which is usually linked with performance. Coventry Group Ltd's Growth Coventry Group Ltd has seen its earnings per share (EPS) increase by 116% a year over the past three years. Its revenue is up 22% over the last year. This demonstrates that the company has been improving recently and is good news for the shareholders. This sort of respectable year-on-year revenue growth is often seen at a healthy, growing business. Historical performance can sometimes be a good indicator on what's coming up next but if you want to peer into the company's future you might be interested in this free visualization of analyst forecasts. Story continues Has Coventry Group Ltd Been A Good Investment? With a three year total loss of 13% for the shareholders, Coventry Group Ltd would certainly have some dissatisfied shareholders. Therefore, it might be upsetting for shareholders if the CEO were paid generously. In Summary... As we touched on above, Coventry Group Ltd is currently paying a compensation that's close to the median pay for CEOs of companies belonging to the same industry and with similar market capitalizations. At the same time, the company has logged negative shareholder returns over the last three years. But on the bright side, EPS growth is positive over the same period. Considering positive EPS growth, we'd say compensation is fair, but shareholders may be wary of a bump in pay before the company logs positive returns. CEO compensation can have a massive impact on performance, but it's just one element. That's why we did some digging and identified 3 warning signs for Coventry Group that investors should think about before committing capital to this stock. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a different set of stocks. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. 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. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Nigeria is preparing for an extended period of low oil prices, Muhammadu Buhari, the president of the biggest oil producer in Africa, said at an energy event on Friday. Nigeria should diversify away from oil, on which it is heavily reliant for foreign exchange income, the president added. Africas top oil producer, which is also the biggest economy on the continent, needs to develop non-oil sectors to diversify its revenues, Buhari said, as quoted by Nigerian media. The oil and gas industry continues to be a significant contributor to Nigerias economic development and economic growth, representing some 10 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), the president added. Nigeria, like other oil-producing countries, is suffering from the double whammy of the coronavirus-related economic slowdown and the oil price crash. The collapse in oil prices and oil demand, and the new OPEC+ production cut deal with which Nigeria has yet to comply fully have crippled Nigerias government revenues, more so than in some other countries, because crude oil is Nigerias largest source of revenues. In the second quarter of this year, Nigerias economy shrank by 6.1 percent year over year due to the low oil prices and the lockdowns in the country to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Related: Hurricane Laura Makes Landfall In Oil Heartland After the OPEC+ deal began in May, Fitch Ratings said that Nigerias participation in the deal would result in deeper economic contraction and fiscal deficits and compound pressures on external finances from the slump in oil prices. Nigerias fiscal breakeven oil price the price of oil at which Nigeria balances its budget is very high, at US$133 per barrel, given remarkably low non-oil fiscal intakes, Fitch has estimated. According to the World Banks latest update on Nigeria from June 2020, the collapse in oil prices coupled with the pandemic are expected to plunge the Nigerian economy into the most severe recession in four decadesthe worst since the 1980s. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: MIDDLETOWN- Delco still cares. That is the message volunteers from the Billy Mock Foundation had for front line staff at Riddle Memorial Hospital Thursday. More than five months have passed since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the region, and while the number of patients has greatly decreased, hospitals are still dealing with the new normal the virus presents. The Billy Mock Foundation was founded in tribute to Billy Mock, a compassionate and loving 13 year-old boy who died in 2007. The foundation funded lunch service for over 200 health care workers at Riddle and Chester County hospitals to thank them for their months of service to the region. The meals were provided by John Serock Catering. We felt it was important to recognize the great work by our health care workers, said Roe Falcone, spokeswoman for the Billy Mock Foundation, as she presented the food to Riddle President Shelly Buck and members of her staff. We know that it has been hard, so we wanted to do something to make them know their hard work is appreciated and there is a lot of respect in the foundation for the care giving people that are suffering from COVID. I think this is a wonderful thing that we receive support from the community, from various foundations and organizations, to recognize the hard work the physicians, the nursing staff, the ancillary staff just do every day, said Buck. They (staff) come in every day and know they are up against a lot of challenges but that doesnt stop them from wanting to provide the care that community needs and people deserve. To be recognized with any type of gift, whether its a card or food, just anything, is just so heartwarming and means a lot to the staff. Buck pointed out the hospital, like many health care organizations, has to find a new normal things such as fewer people in the waiting room, social distancing, more closely timed arrivals to reduce wait time, and COVID testing before procedures. Buck said the testing allows the hospital to know where to place a patient and what precautions need to be taken to ensure proper care. We want to make sure you are Covid free before you come in for a procedure or a surgery, said Buck. But in the event you do have COVID, we are still here to take care of you. Buck said staff at the hospital is doing a wonderful job of working in the new environment. The staff have adequate personal protective equipment like masks, gowns and gloves. They are helping and supporting each other, adjusting their schedules. We know some people are home taking care of their children now, so were supporting them in that way. They are doing a wonderful, wonderful job of working in the new normal we have to live in. Officials said the food donations are distributed on a rotating basis to the various departments and nursing staff. The Billy Mock Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, was established 13 years ago after the Mock Family lost their son to brain cancer. The all-volunteer organization raises money to help community members. In the past, the foundation has provided grants to Delaware County nonprofits such as Annas Place homeless shelter. It also funds need-based grants to individual families, such as those who might have difficulty affording specialized education for their children or those afflicted by devastation and socioeconomic factors. "May God have revenge on every politician!" The anguished cry echoes across the revered Imam Hussein's shrine in Iraq's Karbala, as Shiite pilgrims mourn his killing centuries ago and demand justice today. The thousands of black-clad pilgrims are marking Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar, during which they commemorate the Prophet Mohammed's grandson and vow to fight oppression. Hussein was killed at the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD by the forces of the Caliph Yazid. The seminal event in Islam's confessional divide, it is seen by Shiites around the world as one of history's great unavenged injustices. For some in Karbala, 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Baghdad, the transgressions continue. Their faces twisted in sorrow, two dozen men and boys solemnly carry portraits of some of the nearly 600 Iraqi protesters, activists and reporters killed since mass anti-government rallies erupted last October. The Iraqi tricolour and the traditional black flags of Muharram emblazoned with "Oh Hussein," flutter side by side in a rare late summer breeze. The mourners stand in a cluster facing the bright neon lights of the main shrine and chant rhyming mourning chants customary during this month -- with a twist. "We saw how they assassinate honourable people!" they call out, pumping their arms rhythmically towards the shrine. Among the portraits is a recent victim: 29-year-old Riham Yaaqub, an activist shot dead in the oil-rich southern city of Basra just last week. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi paid condolences to Yaaqub's family, vowing to hold her killers accountable. But similar pledges regarding other slain protesters have so far gone unfulfilled. Since demonstrations erupted in Baghdad and across southern Iraq on October 1 last year, protesters have regularly compared themselves to Hussein's companions, often shouting the slogan: "Hussein is revolution!" Some have even drawn parallels between security forces burning protest tents and Yazid's forces setting alight the desert camp of the revered imam's followers. But the tradition of mixing pilgrimage with protests far predates the 2019 movement. Collectives in Karbala have organised marches against perceived injustices for decades, even staging small protests under feared Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein. Despite taking place at the shrine, the marches are a rare melting pot, attracting communist-leaning youth alongside pious Iraqis. The Abbasiyah Convoy is the oldest and most prominent such marching collective, active since the 1940s and native to the holy city. "We are known as a revolutionary convoy, a revolution like Imam Hussein's. We want to convey the suffering of the Iraqi street to the whole world," says Hatem Nawras, an elderly attendee. For Alaa al-Sarraf, who has been taking part in the Muharram chants for nearly two decades, "Hussein represents an awakening against injustice." "We have a history of writing chants based on what the street wants: we opposed the US invasion and sectarianism after 2003, and today we support better services, an end to corruption and rights for all," he said. Thousands of pilgrims have descended on Karbala since Muharram began on August 21, ignoring calls by officials and even clerics to stay home as the novel coronavirus spreads. Iraq has logged more than 215,000 cases and more than 6,600 deaths, with the World Health Organization warning last week of an "exponential rise" that could create a major health crisis. Coronavirus-linked restrictions meant Karbala has attracted fewer visitors in 2020 than in previous years, when millions of Shiites converged on the holy site from Afghanistan and neighbouring Iran. But thousands still attended this year, some carrying banners referencing Tehran, which was heavily criticised during the protest movement for backing an Iraqi political class seen as corrupt and inept. "How many government officials are followers of our 'neighbour'?" one poster read. "They became its servants, and are happy with all this shame." The "Mourning Procession of the October Martyrs," a new protest-pilgrim group, vows to keep up calls for justice. "The rule of all tyrants will end, however long it takes," says pilgrim Ihab al-Wazni. He has a bitter warning for Iraqi politicians: "Your day will come too, if you don't implement the demands of the Iraqi people." By Azernews Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 54 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. Armenian armed forces were using large-caliber machine guns. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts. The Congress on Friday held nationwide protests and ran an online campaign against the Centre's decision to conduct Joint Entrance Examination and National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test examinations amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with party chief Sonia Gandhi urging the government to listen to the voices of students and act according to their wishes. IMAGE: Congress workers demonstrate during a protest against the central government for conducting NEET and JEE exam amid the coronavirus pandemic, in Patna. Photograph: ANI Photo Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also urged the government to hold a conversation with students over the issue of conducting NEET and JEE exams amid the pandemic and take a decision after arriving at a consensus. Various opposition parties, including the Congress, have demanded that the NEET and the JEE be deferred due to the COVID-19 pandemic and floods in parts of the country, even as the Union government has made it clear that they will be held as per schedule with due precautions. Six ministers of opposition-ruled states on Friday also moved the Supreme Court seeking review of its order permitting the Centre to conduct NEET and JEE exams this year amid the persisting pandemic. Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal, in a statement, said students across the country are agitating and demanding to postpone the JEE-NEET exams, scheduled to take place next month in the middle of the COVID-19 crisis, with the government taking an 'unjustifiable intransient stand'. He said the Congress stands with the students and the party wants the government to listen to their voices so that students' safety is ensured in flood-affected areas like Bihar and Assam. IMAGE: Congress workers demonstrate against conducting NEET and JEE exam amid the coronavirus pandemic, in Kolkata. Photograph: ANI Photo As part of the Congress' day-long campaign, the party posted Sonia Gandhi's message to students and the government on the issue of conducting the exams. "I feel for you because you are now facing a very difficult situation. The issue of your exams, of when they should be taken up is the most important issue, not only for you but for your family," Sonia Gandhi said in a video addressing students. "You are our future. We depend on you to build a better India," she said. Therefore, if any decision has to be taken regarding students' future, it is important that it is 'being taken with your concurrence', she said. "I hope the government listens to you, listens to your voices and acts upon your wishes. This is my advice to the government," she said in the nearly minute-long video posted on the Congress' Twitter handle with the hashtag 'Speak Up For Student Safety'. Rahul Gandhi tweeted and also put out a video in support of students. 'NEET-JEE aspirants' safety should not be compromised due to the failures of the government. Government must listen to all stakeholders and arrive at a consensus,' he tweeted with the hashtag 'Speak Up For Student Safety'. With the tweet, Rahul Gandhi also tagged a video of him urging the government to listen to students and take a decision only after reaching a consensus. "You are the students and you are going to take this country to new heights. Everybody understands what has happened over the last three or four months," he said in the video. "Everybody understands the mishandling of COVID-19, the devastation that has been caused, the economic destruction, the pain that this country has had to bear. "Now what I don't understand is why you should be held responsible and why further pain should be imposed on you," Rahul Gandhi said, addressing students. Alleging that the government has been incompetent, he asked why the Centre should force anything on students. "It is important that the government listens to the students, they are wise, they have the interest of this country at heart and any decision that is made with regard to these exams is made after a conversation and after a consensus has been developed and this is my message to the government," he said. The Congress undertook countrywide protests and online campaigns to amplify the voice of millions of students and their guardians against the 'mindless decision' of the central government, especially the education minister, to conduct the JEE-NEET examinations amid a raging and uncontrolled pandemic and debilitating floods, Venugopal said. "The Coronavirus situation is getting worse each day with India now adding nearly 78,00 cases every day. In grave times like these, it is prudent that we deal with the present scenario in a way that protects our country's future," he said. But even as infections rise and cases pile up, the BJP government wants students to cram into examination halls to write NEET and JEE main exams early next month, putting into danger and at stake the very lives of nearly 24 lakh students who have applied to take these tests, Venugopal said. The 'SpeakUpForStudentSafety' hashtag trended on top on Twitter worldwide for four hours with more than 21 lakh tweets and counting, the party said. The Congress, on its official Twitter handle, said the government must be fair to all citizens when taking decisions. "We urge the BJP government to consider the implications of holding the JEE & NEET exams right now. Listen to the students and then take a decision," the party said. It also posted videos of several senior Congress leaders voicing their opposition against holding of the exams. SOFIA, BULGARIA / ACCESSWIRE / August 27, 2020 / The WordPress company Vipe Studio, whose founder Ivan Popov has over 10 years of experience in creating websites, is using the popular CMS platform to build high-end and highly customized WordPress websites, online stores and any necessary website in particular. Production of a website and online shop Vipe Studio offers all types of web services - web design, creating an online store, WordPress website, graphic design, online security and a managed web hosting. Why do people prefer to build websites with WordPress? One of the most frequently asked questions is: Why use WordPress? Isn't my old site good enough? Why should I switch to WordPress from another platform? If you ask these questions, then you are in the right place. In this article, we will share some important things you need to know when you start designing a website with WordPress. One of the most common misconceptions about WordPress is that it's just a blogging platform. That's why many people avoid making websites with WordPress. However, this is absolutely untrue. WordPress started as a blogging tool, but it has evolved over the years and has become a powerful website creator and robust content management system (CMS). The biggest advantage of WordPress is that it is easy to use and flexible enough to create different types of websites. This is the main reason why WordPress has grown so much in popularity. According to a recent study, WordPress powers about 35% of all websites on the Internet. Thanks to their stable features, many of the best brands use WordPress to power their websites, including Time Magazine, Facebook, The New Yorker, Sony, Disney, Target, The New York Times and more. The team at Vipe Studio know that a well-informed and informed user is able to make the right choice to be satisfied with. For this reason, Vipe Studio's blog is full with a series of texts related to the use of the WordPress platform. Let's start! Story continues WordPress is a free software WordPress is a free software. This means you are free to download, install, use and modify it to suit your needs. You can use it to create any type of website. This is one of the main advantages of the WordPress information management platform and makes it the most preferred CMS system nowadays. While WordPress software itself is free, you need a domain name, web hosting to install it and ultimately a professional who has to setup everything correctly if you need a high performing website. WordPress is easy to customize with themes and plugins Most of the people who build WordPress websites are neither web designers nor programmers. In fact, most people start using WordPress without prior knowledge of designing websites. This is because the platform has thousands of free templates (themes) for websites, from which you can choose the most appropriate according to your requirements and desires. There is a perfect WordPress theme for almost any type of website (whether it is a blog, business site or online store). WordPress themes are easy to customize because many of them come with their own options panel that allows you to change colors, upload a logo, change the background, and really customize your site to your needs without writing any code at all. Like themes, WordPress has thousands of free and premium plugins that you can use. Of course, there are also many paid plugins that you can add to diversify your site and make it more functional. If you want to learn more about these possibilities, read Vipe Studio other texts on the subject. In any case, if you are hesitant to start designing websites with WordPress, this option is your huge plus, which is of great importance. However, Vipe Studio specialty is when it comes to huge customization and high-end websites. Here is a sample of a work done by Vipe Studio recently. MobilaDalin is a manufacturer of upholstered furniture, which has its own network of showrooms, franchises, chain stores throughout Europe! The time has come for the brand new site of the company for Bulgaria! Their WordPress website is inspired entirely by the spirit of Italian chic in interior design. The mission in building the platform was to escape the typical-looking furniture sites. Visitors to the showroom have always been impressed by the product range of MobilaDalin, which forced us to meet their high expectations and requirements when building the site. The platform offers options for a detailed examination of furniture. Consumers can easily choose the right product for them and get rich information about it. MobilaDaling website has many added functionalities, one of which is, in addition to the offered furniture, to present all events related to the company. And they are not insignificant - for over 20 years MobilaDalin has been among the preferred choices for furniture for different needs and occasions - from home through the office - to events and festivals. The company's furniture has been enjoyed by many celebrities in various fields - from the Pope to Armin van Buuren. In addition, the site is responsive to all devices and offers a pleasant user experience on a laptop, phone, tablet or iPad. Website development guaranteed quality from Vipe Studio Creating a website with WordPress is Vipe Studio specialty! Need a website to introduce you to the Internet? Vipe Studio - with more than 10 years of experience in making websites - is the right place! Vipe Studio is a WordPress agency for developing unique software solutions on the core of WP. We work at the highest professional level. Their experience with WordPress dates back to 2009. Since then, Vipe Studio has developed over 20 detailed personalized websites per year for various clients and businesses. Vipe Studio prefers WordPress sites because in recent years the engine has become the most widely used, due to its easy management, affordable price and good indexing in Google. The team says 'we create web pages both according to given designs and with completely custom developments. Once we are done with your site, you need a minimum of technical knowledge to be able to manage it'. As their motto claims the key is a long-term partnership - Vipe Studio relies on not only taking care of creating a website for your business but also being by your side all the time after that! MEDIA INFORMATION Company Name: Vipe Web Ltd Contact: Ivan Popov Telephone: +359 988 993 128 Company E-mail: office@vipestudio.com Website: https://vipestudio.com/en/ Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest: https://www.facebook.com/vipestudio.web/ https://twitter.com/Vipe_Studio https://www.instagram.com/vipestudio.web/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/vipe-studio-ltd/ SOURCE: Vipe Web Ltd View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/603634/Vipe-Studio--A-WordPress-Agency-Helps-Clients-Win Several Alabama schools have changed schedules due to the threat of severe weather. The following closures, early dismissals have been announced for Friday: Athens City Schools - Dismissing Pre-K at 2 p.m., Elementary Academies at 2:15 p.m., Alabama Intermediate at 2:30 p.m. and Athens Renaissance at 2:30 p.m. The pep rally has been moved to tomorrow at 3:15 p.m. Benjamin Russell High School - Benjamin Russells football game against Clay Central, originally scheduled for Friday night at 7 p.m., has been moved to Saturday at 7 p.m. Boaz City Schools - Dismissing at 1:30 p.m. Colbert County Schools - Closed Cullman City Schools - Dismissing at 1 p.m. Decatur City Schools - Dismissing all elementary schools at 1:15 p.m. and all secondary schools at 2 p.m. Florence City Schools - Dismissing at 11 a.m. Franklin County Schools - Dismissing at 12:30 p.m. Guntersville City Schools - Dismissing at 1:30 p.m. Haleyville City Schools - Dismissing at 1:30 p.m. Hartselle City Schools - Dismissing 1 p.m. Huntsville Achievement School No after school care. Students can be checked out without penalty. Huntsville City Schools - Schools are virtual but the system is ending meal service at 11:30 a.m. today and all athletic and extracurricular activities scheduled for today are cancelled. Lauderdale County Schools - Dismissing at 11 a.m. Lamar County Schools - Dismissing at 1:30 p.m. Lawrence County Schools - Dismissing at 11:45 a.m. Madison Academy - Closing 1 hour early Madison County Schools - Faculty and staff dismissed at 1 p.m.; all extracurricular activities cancelled Marshall County Schools - Dismissing at 1 p.m. Morgan County Schools - Dismissing at 1 p.m. Russellville City Schools - Dismissing at noon Sheffield City Schools - Dismissing at noon Shoals Christian School - Dismissing at 11 a.m. Tuscumbia City Schools - Dismissing at noon Valley Fellowship Christian Academy - Closing at 3:30, all afterschool activities cancelled. Walker County Schools - Closing at 1 p.m. Westminster Christian Academy (Huntsville) - Dismissing at 1:30 p.m. Winfeld City Schools - Dismissing 1 hour early Laura to bring the risk of severe weather to Alabama this afternoon, Friday and Saturday This page will be updated if more closures are announced. A Superior Court Judge Friday relaxed some of the bond restrictions against Michelle Troconis, but didnt remove the 24-hour GPS monitoring. Judge John Blawie said he will issue a written ruling by mid-September on whether Troconis, charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the disappearance of Jennifer Farber Dulos in May 2019, must still where a wrist and ankle bracelet and be subject to GPS monitoring as she has since her first arrest in June of 2019. Blawie did remove some requirements that she call her probation officer before leaving her house and inform them of where she was going. She will still be under a curfew. Her attorney Jon Schoenhorn argued that the bond conditions were restrictive for what she was charged with and that she has abided by all of the conditions since her first arrest. Researchers from Bentley University are initiating a project funded by the National Science Foundation (award # 1951896; $140,421) to explore long term homelessness and minimize recidivism. The project will establish the technical and community infrastructure needed to address these difficult and complex research problems. The research team will conduct pilots and experimentation, in collaboration with community partners, to explore two directions. They will explore analytical models that may help shelters match a homeless individual's needs against the right services. They will explore process modeling to improve triage efforts at the shelter. These efforts build on their ongoing research in this domain. In particular, the team has investigated computational models to explore the slide to long-term homelessness (published in the IEEE Conference on Business Informatics, 2019); and combining customized case-management with traditional process modeling in their prior research (published in the European Conference on Information Systems, 2020). The community partner for their effort will be Pine Street Inn, New England's largest homeless shelter, as well as other agencies that care for the homeless within the Greater Boston ecosystem. The team will also leverage data obtained from both the City of Boston, and the Pine Street Inn, among others, to develop and test analytical models. "The planned work will ensure the availability and quality of data for the analytical modeling efforts, and to cultivate and strengthen partnerships needed for a program of research," says Dr. Monica Garfield, one of the investigators and a professor of computer information systems. "We hope to combine process modeling with primary data collection from the case workers to better understand how such analytical tools may be incorporated with existing work practices at these shelters," adds Dr. Purao, another investigator in the team, and a professor of information & process management. Over the last two years, the research team has continued to build connections within the Greater Boston community of agencies that care for the homeless, and plan to build on these to develop a robust research agenda. The research is important because homelessness continues to be a significant concern. The 2019 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress shows more than half a million people were experiencing homelessness across the United States including many children and families. Understanding how the problem can be mitigated, and supporting work practices at the homeless shelters can, therefore, have a direct impact on the problem. ### Garfield, M. (PI), and S. Purao (Co-PI). 2020. SCC-PG: Improving Service Delivery for the Homeless with Analytics and Process Modeling - Community Engagement and Capacity Building. National Science Foundation. Award #1951896, Smart and Connected Communities. Division of Computer and Network Systems. $140,421. https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1951896 Purao, S., Garfield, M., Gu, X. and Bhetwal, P., 2019, July. Predicting the Slide to Long-Term Homelessness: Model and Validation. In 2019 IEEE 21st Conference on Business Informatics (CBI) (Vol. 1, pp. 31-40). IEEE. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8808020/ Purao, S., M. Garfield. 2020. Process Modeling in Humanitarian Settings: A Case Study and Lessons Learned. European Conference on Information Systems. https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2020_rp/211/ About Bentley University Bentley University is more than just one of the nation's top business schools. It is a lifelong-learning community that creates successful leaders who make business a force for positive change. With a combination of business and the arts and sciences and a flexible, personalized approach to education, Bentley provides students with critical thinking and practical skills that prepare them to lead successful, rewarding careers. Founded in 1917, the university enrolls 4,200 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate and PhD students and is set on 163 acres in Waltham, Massachusetts, 10 miles west of Boston. For more information, visit http://www.bentley.edu. The back-to-back presidential nominating conventions that concluded with Donald Trumps speech on Thursday showed both sides intend to fight for the sliver of independent and moderate voters that will decide the election, each with a wildly different strategy in the final sprint to Nov. 3. A self-styled showman, Trump used all of his reality-show talents during the Republican convention this week to try to win back supporters alienated by his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, with a dire warning of a lawless America if his Democratic rival Joe Biden takes power. That illustrated the Republican strategy for the next two months: change the subject from a pandemic that has killed 180,000 Americans and shackled the U.S. economy, and blame Democrats for the violence on the streets. Republicans largely abandoned talk of the health crisis as if it had abated, in favor of reminding voters of the robust economy that existed beforehand. During the Democratic convention the previous week, Biden put the focus on holding Trump accountable for his actions during the outbreak. These two conventions have offered very different pictures of reality, in terms of where our country is now and what our future may hold, said Christopher Devine, an expert in U.S. elections at the University of Dayton in Ohio. Trumps convention depicted the president as a champion of law and order, taking aim at voters who do not approve of his divisive and inflammatory rhetoric but may be jittery about months of protests over racial injustice and police brutality that have sometimes turned violent. This is their attempt to nail down the base and mobilize them to get out and vote, said Kathleen Dolan, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. But I do think he is trying to peel away some of those undecided women, the people who hes calling the suburban women. Biden holds a seven point lead over Trump nationally, about the same position he held before the conventions, according to the Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll conducted Aug. 19-25. But it showed the race for suburban voters narrowing, a worrying sign for the former vice president who had previously expanded his lead with the crucial voting group. Suburban women - a cohort considered key to the election - have become less critical of Trump than they were in June, and Bidens advantage with this group has narrowed to nine points in the latest poll, compared to a 15-point advantage over Trump in a similar Reuters/Ipsos poll in June. The August poll also showed Biden with a 5-point lead with college-educated white Americans, compared with his 7-point lead in July and an 11-point advantage in June. But in reaching out to suburban voters with unapologetic tough-on-crime messages, while showing little empathy for the protesters who demand racial justice, Trump may have further bolstered Black American support for Biden, already strong. Trumps message would have been more powerful before the pandemic, said Kyle Kondik, an analyst for the University of Virginia Center for Politics. It could be successful if Covid is not as much of a focus in the fall as it is now. That seems hard to imagine, but its possible, he said. Pitch to the middle While lauding Trump at every turn, his convention was just as much about convincing wavering Republicans or undecided voters that Biden - who ran largely as a centrist candidate in the Democratic primary - would be beholden to the far-left elements of his party. A bevy of speakers accused Biden of turning a blind eye to the crime and violence that have marred mostly peaceful protests over racial justice, sparked by the police killing in May of George Floyd, a Black man in Minneapolis. The latest police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, led to a fresh wave of protests. Ford OConnell, a Republican consultant close to the Trump campaign, said much of the conventions programming was directed at voters who might have soured on Trump because of his divisive style or were still looking for reasons to support him. First lady Melania Trump expressed sympathy for those who had suffered because of the pandemic, a gesture of solace that her husband has rarely shown, and Vice President Mike Pence offered a more statesmanlike critique of Biden that may have appealed to Republicans weary of the presidents invective. Liam Donovan, a Republican strategist in Virginia not affiliated with the Trump campaign, said the unrest this week in Kenosha, a small city in Wisconsin, may bolster Trump in ways other protests have not. With the pandemic still raging and the economy struggling, chaos and uncertainty are the best friend he has, Donovan said. Violence as strategy? Speaking at a fundraiser on Thursday, Biden too suggested Trump welcomed chaos. The violence youre seeing is in Donald Trumps administration, Donald Trumps America. Did they forget whos president? Biden said. Violence isnt a problem in Trumps eyes. Its a political strategy. The protests have been a thorny issue for Biden, who would rather keep the focus on the virus. While showing solidarity with demonstrators, he has also criticized the destruction of communities and has not backed the de-funding of police departments as called for by activists in his party. But Jim Messina, who was President Barack Obamas campaign manager for the 2012 reelection, said Republicans fiery rhetoric against protests, which have been mostly peaceful despite sometimes violent clashes, could turn off independents who want an end to the bitter polarization. Trump has gone so far right that hes left the middle for the taking, he said. Bidens convention underscored profound fears within the party that voter turnout may be depressed by the pandemic as well as Trumps efforts to limit mail-in voting, which Trump has denounced as prone to fraud despite no such evidence. Former first lady Michelle Obama urged Americans to vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured the people of the Volta Region of their importance to the country and thus cannot be discriminated against. Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in According to the president, the region was not singled out for any special military operation in the run-up to the conduct of the voter registration exercise, and there was certainly no political or ethnic agenda. Akufo-Addo said despite explanations that were given for the the situation, it appeared not to have satisfied some people because of the mischief that was so easily generated by some elements of social media. Voltarians are important to Ghana; I have no agenda against them Akufo-Addo Source: Facebook (Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo) Source: Facebook READ ALSO: About 600 soldiers storm town where 2 officers were attacked; residents vanish into thin air He made this known while speaking at a durbar held in his honour by the Awoamefia of the Anlo State, Togbui Sri III, in Keta, on Thursday, 27th August 2020. Volta Region is an integral part of the Republic of Ghana, and military deployments in a Region cannot be described as an invasion, Akufo-Addo said. The President noted that the easiest way to tell if people are being discriminated against by a government would be to look out for how the national cake was being shared. He added that the NPP government under his leadership has spread development projects equitably in all parts of the country with Anloga having their own share as well. I dare say this area (Anloga) has done quite well under this Government. After years of demanding, an Anloga District has been created, and a new Assembly Complex is being constructed. There are numerous GETFund projects scattered all over Anloga, and Keta SHSs is one which I am due to commission today. Important to me are two TVET projects in the Anloga district alone, one of which I shall be inspecting at Atorkor, he stressed. READ ALSO: Kotoka International Airport to be opened to air travels on September 1 In other news, the aviation minister, Joseph Kofi Adda has revealed that the Kotoka International Airport would on Tuesday, September 1, 2020 be opened to international air traffic. On March 22, 2020, President Akufo-Addo in his second address to the nation on COVID-19 measures, announced that the airport would be closed to international and domestic air travels. Kofi Adda during a tour of the terminal three of the airport to assess the facilities preparedness and work done made this known to the pressmen present. READ ALSO: Ahwois book full of countless fabrications and assumptions Rawlings "John Mahama can create 1 million jobs in 8 years" - Sam George | #Yencomgh Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: YEN.com.gh Parliaments panel on information technology dropped on Friday the issue of internet shutdowns in Jammu and Kashmir after Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla sent a letter to chairpersons of all House panels to not take up issues pending before courts. Panel members told Hindustan Times that a message with a partially modified agenda was circulated among those in the committee that mentioned Bihar and Delhi internet shutdowns, but left out Jammu and Kashmir. Hindustan Times has viewed the message. The panel was scheduled to hear from home ministry and telecommunications officials as well as representatives from Bihar, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir on September 1. However, on Friday, the message made no mention of Jammu and Kashmir. Hindustan Times on August 25 reported that Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla had written to the chairpersons of all parliamentary panels to select subjects following parliamentary rules and conventions, including not taking up subjects that are pending examination by courts. 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, accessed by the 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. Also Read: Pakistani court sentences 3 aides of Hafiz Saeed 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 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 grounds that its disclosure would be prejudicial to the safety or interest of the state. The Supreme Court is still considering the matter of internet shutdowns in Jammu and Kashmir. While the next hearing has not been notified, on August 11 the Centre had told the court that it will be restore 4G internet services in the newly formed Union territory in a staggered manner after August 15. A day after the speakers letter, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had written to panel chairperson Shashi Tharoor to cancel the meeting since the agenda was in contravention of the rules. Hindustan Times reached out to Tharoor for a comment but did not get a response till press time. The panel, however, is still slated to hear from Facebook about reports that its India policy head Ankhi Das allegedly acted in a manner favourable to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party by not censoring hate speech by some of its members. We were never against calling Facebook for an explanation, said BJP MP and IT panel member Nishikant Dubey. We just said that the proper procedure should be followed. Now permission from the speaker has been obtained. According to former Lok Sabha secretary general PDT Achary, the committee can take a decision to drop a subject any time. If the committee feels that a the subject need not be considered, they can drop it from the agenda, said Achary. We should still like to hear the facts from the government, even if we dont have a discussion on Jammu and Kashmir, said an IT panel member on the condition of anonymity. A statement has been allowed in the past. It should not be against the rules. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned a Goa-based businessman in connection with its money laundering probe linked to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, officials said on Friday. IMAGE: Enforcement Directorate puts a notice at Gaurav Arya's hotel, The Tamarind in Anjuna, Goa, asking him to appear before the agency before August 31. Photograph: ANI They said Gaurav Arya, who runs a hotel in the coastal state, has been asked to depose before the central probe agency at its office in the Ballard Estate area of Mumbai on August 31. The summons was stuck at his property in Goa as the agency was not able to get in touch with him, they said. Arya is being called after the ED came across some mobile phone messages reportedly sent by actor and Rajput's live-in partner Rhea Chakraborty to him in 2017 and they purportedly indicate discussion of certain banned narcotics, they said. In some news channel interviews, Arya had said that he has never dealt in narcotics and his last interaction with Rhea was about three years ago, adding he will 'comply' with all legal probes and procedures. The agency will also summon some other people with whom Rhea, 28, had similarly interacted in connection with alleged procurement of certain drugs and banned narcotics apart from talking about some other professional deals. The agency is looking at the money laundering angle in this case and hence all such conversations and entities are required to be questioned to establish facts and to find out if any criminality is involved, a senior official said. It had questioned Rajput's talent manager Jaya Saha recently after her name allegedly figured in one of such chats regarding a chemical called CBD (cannabidiol). She has denied any wrongdoing during the questioning and is understood to have told the agency that prescribed amounts of CBD can be used to treat anxiety. The ED has also intimated the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) about these purported drugs-linked chats and the anti-narcotics agency is now probing these leads. Rhea, the main accused in the case, her father Indrajit Chakraborty, brother Showik and multiple staff members of her and Rajput have been grilled by the ED till now. On Thursday in Mumbai, the ED opened some bank lockers in the presence of Indrajit Chakraborty after it had issued prohibitory orders against their operation. Meanwhile, the NCB, the third federal investigative agency probing the linked instances surrounding the death of the 34-year-old actor, is scanning through the details shared by the ED with it apart from collecting some other information linked to Rajput and his close associates. A three-member team of the NCB had reached Mumbai from Delhi on Thursday and it held a meeting with the ED team that is investigating the case. It is expected that the NCB will soon summon various people who feature in the 'WhatsApp conversations' that were obtained by the ED from two mobile phones of Rhea after forensic cloning. Rhea is expected to be called for the NCB grilling later, they said. The ED's case filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) stems from an FIR filed by Rajput's father on July 25 with the Bihar Police in Patna against Rhea, her father, 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. Rajput's father has also alleged financial irregularities in his complaint to the police. In the complaint, Singh alleged that an amount of Rs 15 crore was siphoned off from Rajput's bank account in one year to accounts of persons not known or connected to the late actor. However, the ED has not found any direct transaction made from Rajput's account to that of Rhea except an instance where it intercepted a mobile phone message where Rhea allegedly talks about obtaining details of a debit card used by the late actor from his house manager Samuel Miranda. Some cash deals in this case are also under the scanner of the agency. Rhea has maintained that she 'never consumed' any banned narcotics and that she will cooperate with all the probe agencies as a law-abiding citizen. They are a familiar sight to over a generation of expat residents and holidaymakers on the Costa del Sol, but next year Supersol supermarkets are set to disappear for good. On Thursday, it was announced that the stores, currently owned by Lithuanians, were being sold to Carrefour for 78 million euros. The French retail giant plans to roll out its Carrefour Express or Market brands instead of Supersol, as well as its separate Supeco low-cost stores, after the sale of 172 stores is completed at the start of 2021. At the moment Supersol has 173 supermarkets in Spain and 90 per cent of these are in Andalucia and Madrid. Carrefour said that the new sales points will help it expand its home delivery capability. Supersol employs over 4,000 people and last year turned over 450 million euros but has faced stiffer competition from other, faster-moving supermarket chains in recent years and its market share has declined. Lithuania's Maxima bought Supersol from Dinosol in 2012. China became a major buyer of Iranian crude oil in the 1990s. As its economy grew in the 2000s, Chinas investment in and broader commercial ties with Iran expanded, too. When the European Union sanctioned Irans oil industry in 2012, China replaced the EU as the largest buyer of Iranian crude. By 2018, Iran-China trade had more than doubled from its 2006 level. Iranian President Hassan Rouhanis government has often professed a desire to attract European expertise, but since the U.S. quit the nuclear deal, Irans hard-line politicians have become increasingly hostile to the idea of closer ties with European countries and have often called for expanded relations with China and Russia instead. For its part, China, driven in part by its trade war with the U.S., has become more vocal in its criticisms of U.S. policy toward Iran and more defensive of the nuclear deal. Gov. Kay Ivey endorsed the courts upholding of the convictions. As an elected official, our first priority is to be above reproach and avoid even the appearance of misconduct and abuse of office, she said in a May statement. "I support seeking clarity on our states ethics laws to ensure those who want to abide by them may not be unfairly targeted. However, let me be abundantly clear, I do not support weakening a system that is meant to hold our elected officials accountable. The rule of law must be upheld. The Opelika-Auburn News has not been able to reach Hubbard or his legal team for comment since the Supreme Courts ruling in his case. Edgenuity The high court affirmed convictions related to Hubbards consulting contracts with Edgenuity, Inc. and American Pharmacy Cooperative Incorporated (APCI). Hubbard was paid $210,000 by Edgenuity and $95,000 from APCI from 2012 to 2014. Hubbard argued that his contracts with the companies were not related to his position as Speaker of the House and came within the Ethics Codes compensation exclusion from the definition of thing of value, the opinion said. Defying trade tensions, Chinese buyers snap up Indian steel A worker stacks steel pipes in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad By Neha Arora and Min Zhang NEW DELHI/BEIJING (Reuters) - India's steel exports more than doubled between April and July to hit their highest level in at least six years, boosted by a surge of Chinese buying in defiance of tensions between Beijing and New Delhi. Traders said reduced prices had driven the purchases as Indian sellers sought to get rid of a surplus generated by the impact of COVID-19 on domestic demand and generate much-needed income. It was unclear whether the sales broke any trade rules, but the China Iron and Steel Association said in a statement it was monitoring them. Leading Indian steel companies Tata Steel Ltd and JSW Steel Ltd were among Indian companies that sold a total of 4.64 million tonnes of finished and semi-finished steel products on the world market between April and July. That compared with 1.93 million tonnes shipped in the same period a year earlier, government data analysed by Reuters showed. Of the 4.64 million tonnes, Vietnam and China bought 1.37 and 1.3 million tonnes of steel respectively. The Chinese purchases are by far the largest since data was first collated in the current form beginning with the fiscal year April 2015-March 2016. Neither Tata, JSW nor India's ministries of steel and commerce responded to emails seeking comment. Vietnam has been a regular buyer of Indian steel, but China's emergence as a leading buyer, replacing New Delhi's traditional markets, such as Italy and Belgium, is more surprising. An already uneasy relationship between New Delhi and Beijing, became severely strained after violent border clashes in June, when 20 Indian soldiers were killed at the disputed Himalayan border. New Delhi afterwards tightened rules to restrict Chinese investment in India and initiated measures to curb its trade with Beijing. RHETORIC VERSUS MARKET REALITY The politics is at odds with market realities. Although China, the world's leading steelmaker produces vast quantities, it needs imports as it ramps up infrastructure spending. Story continues Two industry sources, asking not to be named because they are not authorised to talk to the media, said major Indian steelmakers offered a discount of at least $50 a tonne, selling hot-rolled coils and billets to China at $430-$450 per tonne against the $500 offered by most Chinese producers. Hot-rolled coils, a flat steel product, are mostly used to make pipes, automobile parts, engineering and military equipment. The China Iron and Steel Association official told Reuters it was paying particular attention to the imports of hot-rolled coils. During the first four months of the 2020-21 fiscal year, China and Vietnam together bought close to 80% of India's total hot-rolled coils exports, the data showed, while the product constituted more than 70% of India's steel exports. Ji Renjie, a general manager at China's Ningbo Henghou Group said the company in May bought 30,000 tonnes of hot-rolled coils from India for July shipment and expected to take delivery of another cargo of a similar size in October. "I mainly do iron ore trades and just bought several cargoes of hot-rolled coils this year due to rosy profit margins," Ji told Reuters AM/NS India, the joint venture between ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel <5401.T>, in an email also said China had been a big buyer, accounting for 35% of the approximately 0.5 million tonnes of hot-rolled coils it shipped between April and July. (Reporting by Neha Arora in New Delhi and Min Zhang in BEIJING; editing by Mayank Bhardwaj and Barbara Lewis) The consumer durables sector has been one of the fastest sectors to have bounced back in the new COVID normal. As people get used to restricted living and are spending more time indoors, there has been a clear trend of spending more on gadgets and appliances in order to make their life more comfortable. As most homes don't have domestic help, there is an increasing trend of investing in appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines and vacuum cleaners. Most consumer durables majors claim that their sales are almost at pre-COVID levels, and they are hoping for a great festival season too. However, bulk of this consumer optimism is coming from the smaller tier 2-3-4 markets. "Almost 40 per cent of our revenue already comes from tier 3-4, and it is going to get better as per capita income of consumers in these markets have gone up," says Pradeep Bakshi, MD, Voltas. The consumer durables arm of the Tata Group has made a Rs 108 crore profit in the first quarter of FY21, and Bakshi says that the tier 3-4 markets have been a major contributor. Rural growth has been in excess of urban, agrees Saurabh Baisakhia, President (Appliances), Usha International. "Our sales in smaller markets are close to pre-COVID levels. The extent of revival has been much faster in these markets." Lower incidences of the COVID-19 pandemic, good monsoons and increased spends by the Government have improved the sentiments in the smaller markets. ALSO READ: BT Buzz: How Amazon, BigBasket, Grofers are pushing private labels over popular brands The likes of Panasonic India are investing heavily to ramp up their operations in small-town India. The Japanese durables major has launched a separate business function called Bharat Marketing to focus on smaller towns and rural markets. "Bharat Marketing will focus on gathering intel on real-time information on inventory, identify insights from these markets in order to create and execute an effective strategy. For instance, places where there are frequent power-cuts we offer our fixed-speed, window AC range that helps regulate the room temperature despite power cuts. Similarly, we have focussed products such as direct cool refrigerators, semi-automatic washing machines and TVs from the starting range that are in demand across tier 2-3-4 markets. Continuing with our innovation, we have identified the potential demand for 250 litres, frost-free refrigerators across rural markets. We are already in the process of developing this new range to best serve our rural consumers," explains Manish Sharma, President and CEO, Panasonic India. Sharma says that tier-2 markets registered a 13 per cent and 19 per cent growth during the months of June and July, respectively. "Owing to the pent-up demand, first-time buyers and other positive sentiments such as favourable monsoon, the rural contribution is on a rise. This was majorly driven by the accelerated demand for microwave oven, LED TVs, direct cool refrigerators and semi-automatic washing machines across the rural regions," he further adds. Consumer durables retailer, Croma has seen two-time higher sales from its stores in tier 2-3 towns such as Vapi, Mandya, Bhavnagar and Bhuj, says Ritesh Ghosal, Chief Marketing Officer, Croma. "People in these markets are worried about safety, so they prefer shopping in large stores which have more spread-out aisles." ALSO READ: Consumption sentiment revives, but consumers more cautious than ever post coronavirus Not only has small-town India bought more washing machines, refrigerators, microwaves and OTGs, their appetite to shop online has gone up too. Godrej Appliances all through the lockdown has invested in training its dealers across the country to have a digital interface. Kamal Nandi, Business Head, Godrej Appliances, says out of its 26,000-strong dealership network, 15,000 have e-stores. "Smaller markets contribute 65 per cent of our business and the percentage of online and video-assisted sales have gone up in these markets. A bulk of the consumers are asking for online video demonstrations and they mostly visit the stores only to close the transaction." Usha International, says, Baisakhia, has created an online-offline business model, wherein it is encouraging consumers to place orders on their website and the product is being delivered by the local dealers. "We are trying to digitalise the entire buying process," points out Baisakhia. ALSO READ: BT BUZZ: How Indian consumers are going the extra mile to build immunity Rising tensions against Chinese products around the world could mean opportune times for India in the near future. With countries all over the globe banning Chinese apps and many more imposing myriad taxes on its products, Indias step towards Aatamnirbhar Bharat could woo automakers around the world to ditch China and replace its glorified status of providing the cheapest products. While India is already among the top countries to manufacture cars for both domestic and export markets, and a global leader in making two-wheelers, many automakers are still sourcing components essential for the final product from China, owing to cheaper cost. This in turn, reduces the cost of the final product. In a recent parliamentary meeting held, auto industry bodies including SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) and ACMA (The Automotive Components Manufacturers Association) were invited to discuss ways in which India could fish for the companies who are looking to move out of China. The Parliamentary panel on Commerce has sought recommendations on manufacturing and opportunities in a post-COVID-19 scenario. Eyeing on such companies, needless to mention, can be a substantial push towards a much-needed recovery for the Indian manufacturing sector. The talks to put a ban on auto components sourced from China intensified during the Indo-China tensions that escalated a couple of months back. However, not many automakers, especially the big ones are particularly keen about the move. Border standoff has led to rising popular call for boycott of Chinese goods. Already India was eyeing bizs leaving China post the tariff war with the US. How feasible is business without China? We ask RC Bhargava, Chairman of @Maruti_Corp pic.twitter.com/Bj2toxuJpO CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) June 15, 2020 Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Indian auto-giant Maruti Suzuki conveyed its resistance towards Indias move to increase tariffs on Chinese imports in the country. The company argued that Chinese imports were necessary for manufacturing vehicles and that vendors require it more than the manufacturers. The move, according to the company, will impact Indian consumers and is not thought through. The Prime Minister has made has made doing business in India Infinitely Better, but FDI is still not coming. India hasnt been able to attract major manufacturing FDI over the last 70 years and policies in India have not been designed to promote competitiveness the company said. Speaking on the same note, home-grown two-wheeler manufacturer Bajaj conveyed its concern along the same lines stating that imports play a major role in strengthening the supply chain. According to the company, alloy wheels for motorcycles are major imports from China for two-wheelers and the reason to source it from China was because of more competitive pricing. As per a report by the Standing Committee on Commerce on Impact of Chinese Goods on Indian Industry in 2019 imports from China increased by USD 50 billion, exports increased by USD 2.5 billion. Trade with China constitutes more than 40% of Indias total trade deficit. Also Watch: Not only ICE-powered cars, but electric vehicles are considered to lose big in this fight between two nations. As India pushes for electric vehicles in the country, the development of such cars could see serious troubles with the recent decision. Close to 50 per cent of the cost of an electric vehicle is the cost of batteries. Out of the five largest battery manufacturers globally, two are Chinese in origin and operations. The other 3 have manufactured a considerable portion of their batteries in China or in association with Chinese counterparts. While this brings into light just a tiny fraction of the problem, the blanket ban on Chinese products could have serious effects on the industry in the long-term. Loading the player... Walmart joins Microsoft bid for TikTok's US operations Walmart Inc said it was joining Microsoft in a bid for social media company TikTok's U.S. assets, revealing its plans hours after the video company's chief executive said he would step down. CEO Kevin Mayer, a high-profile former Disney executive, has left three months after joining TikTok, in the middle of negotiations to sell the Chinese-owned short-form video app's U.S. operations to Microsoft Corp or Oracle Corp. TikTok owner ByteDance aims to enter exclusive talks with a bidder in the next 24 to 48 hours and ink a deal by Sept. 15. COVID-19 pandemic: Dell's quarterly profit beats expectations as WFH takes centre stage Dell Technologies Inc on Thursday posted a smaller-than-expected drop in quarterly revenue and beat profit estimates on robust demand for its notebooks and software products for remote work and online learning. Shares of the company were up 2% in trading after the bell. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rapid shift to cloud, spurring demand for products that allow organizations to carry on. Reliance Retail warns against franchise scam by bogus JioMart websites Reliance Retail, the retail arm of Reliance Industries, has issued a warning against fraudulent websites seeking franchises in the name of its online portal, JioMart. The digital avatar of Reliance Retail which went live in May this year is offering its services in over 200 cities. In its statement, the company clarified that it is currently not running any dealership or franchise model at present. Edelweiss to sell 51% stake in wealth management arm to Pacific Alliance Group Edelweiss Financial Services on Thursday said that its board has approved sale of 51 per cent stake in its wealth management business to Pacific Alliance Group (PAG) for an investment of $300 million (approximately Rs 2,200 crore). The deal will be completed at a post-money valuation of Rs 4,400 crore. This will be PAG's first majority equity investment in India. The transaction is expected to close in the next 4 to 6 months, subject to regulatory approvals, Edelweiss Financial Services said in an exchange filing. Kent launches touchless attendance system CamAttendance A leading name in water purification space, Kent RO Systems has launched a next-gen touchless attendance system that uses face recognition technology to mark employees' attendance. As offices are opening up post the ease of lockdown, managing employee attendance using existing biometric attendance system has been a hassle for many organisations. NEW YORK: Walmart Inc could turn into an online advertising leader if its plan to acquire popular short-form video app TikTok goes through, analysts said on Friday. The proposed purchase, in partnership with Microsoft Corp , would allow the worlds largest retailer to quickly compete with Amazon.com Inc , Facebook Inc and Alphabet Incs Google for eyeballs on social media, reaching customers across virtual and physical sales channels. TikTok is up for sale as the Chinese-owned company is under fire from the Trump administration as a potential national security risk due to the vast amount of private data the app is compiling on U.S. consumers. Walmart, which pitched its ad business to large consumer goods companies and advertising firms for the first time last year, said on Thursday it was confident" it could meet U.S. TikTok users expectations and satisfy U.S. regulators concerns. TikTok owner ByteDance aims to ink a deal by Sept. 15, people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday. Walmart is going to see a very quick rise in ad spend" if its bid succeeds, said Scott Smigler, president of e-commerce marketing agency Exclusive Concepts. From a brand standpoint, its a no brainer because of the reach Walmart has and the huge shift were seeing right now from offline to online (spending). For all of our brands and retailers that are eligible, were going to want them on Walmart for sure." Last week, Walmart posted its biggest-ever quarterly growth in online sales, as the unprecedented spike in demand seen by big-box retailers at the peak of the coronavirus lockdowns has remained strong even as restrictions ease. Walmart does not break out revenue from sponsored ads for products sold on its website. But online ads yield much higher margins than product sales, and ad revenue is growing as the retailer boosts investments in the area. It has been more important than ever for Walmart to find new ways to win market share from its closest e-commerce rival Amazon.com, a fast-growing ad platform, as customers increasingly shop online. Amazon reported $4.2 billion (3.18 billion pounds) in advertising and other revenue for the most recent quarter, nearly double what it brought in for the same period two years prior. That amount is up 41% from the year-ago period. Retailers including Target Corp and grocers such as Tesco Plc have aggressively wooed big advertisers to their websites to drive sales through pop-up banners and search-bar keywords. In July, Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart rolled out new features for its in-house advertising platform Walmart Media Group. Walmart has seized many opportunities to scoop up online brands like Bonobos, which it purchased for $310 million in 2017, and Art.com, which it bought for an undisclosed amount in 2018. In 2010, Walmart announced its new video-on-demand service with its acquisition of Vudu, which also offers a free ad-supported streaming option. However, Vudu still lags far behind the monthly viewership numbers that competitors Netflix and Hulu pull in, and Walmart sold it to Comcast Corp-owned Fandango Media LLC, a movie ticketing service, in April. Investors are viewing Walmarts play for TikTok as a potential win, and are raring to know more details. Its really hard to put a value on the return theyre (Walmart) going to get from this" possible acquisition, said Randy Hare, portfolio manager at Huntington Private Bank. But clearly the markets excited about this because this could really help Walmart with a new channel of advertising." 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 CLEVELAND, Ohio Mayor Frank Jacksons administration announced that 24 new cases of COVID-19 coronavirus were confirmed Friday in Cleveland by the Ohio Department of Health. No new deaths were reported. The deaths of 123 people in Cleveland have been attributed to the coronavirus. The average age of those who died was 73 years old. The new cases involve patients ranging from their teens into their 90s. There have been 4,937 confirmed cases in Cleveland since March. In addition, Cleveland Department of Public Health has identified 552 probable cases. That figure, using an expanded definition from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, captures suspected cases where there is no confirmed test. As of Wednesday, Cleveland had recorded a total of 5,489 cases, according to the Cleveland Department of Public Health. Those infected have ranged in age from less than 1 year old to more than 100 years old. The average age is 42 years old. Twelve percent of those cases required hospitalization. Fifty-five percent of the cases involve women. About 57% of all those infected are African American. About 19% are white. Asian residents comprise about 1% of the cases. Race is unknown for 13% of the cases. The Cleveland Department of Public Health reports that 2,069 patients have been released from isolation. After days of lower rates of positivity on coronavirus tests, Ohio exceeded 5%, according to the Ohio Department of Health. On Wednesday, the positivity rate was 5.7%, the Ohio Department of Health reported Friday. The positivity rate is seen as an indicator of infection among a population. The World Health Organization advises governments against reopening when the positivity rate is above 5% on average for the past 14 days. Ohio still has a while before its average exceeds 5%. The number of newly reported coronavirus cases in the state increased by 1,296 on Friday compared to the day before and was above the 21-day rolling average of 1,021. In all, 120,124 people have had coronavirus in Ohio; 100,127 are presumed recovered. The number of people who have died with COVID-19 increased by 29 on Friday to 4,105. This is above the 21-day average of 22. Cuyahoga County reported 10,689 cases of coronavirus had been tallied as of Friday. That figure includes 958 classified as probable cases. There were 465 reported deaths. The numbers exclude the cases from the city of Cleveland. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions updated tally on Friday reported 5,845,876 cases and 180,165 deaths in the United States. Those numbers tend to lag other reporting sites. Johns Hopkins University of Medicine reported that as of Friday evening its tally showed 5,906,615 people had become infected with the coronavirus. By its tally, deaths in the United States totaled 181,598. More from Cleveland City Hall Cleveland to target block and street parties to slow spread of COVID-19 coronavirus, Mayor Frank Jackson says 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 The Delhi high court on Friday dismissed a plea by Mehul Choksi, the uncle of diamantaire Nirav Modi, seeking a preview of a series to be aired by video streaming platform Netflix next month. The series, Bad Boy Billionaires, focusses on the fraud committed by many high-profile business tycoons in India. The poster released by Netflix shows Choksis nephew Nirav Modi, Subrata Roy of the Sahara Group, chairperson of the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines , Vijay Mallya, and Ramalinga Raju, the former chairperson and CEO of Satyam Computer Services. The high court said Choksi can file a civil suit as what is being alleged as an infringement by him is a private right and can be exercised in a civil suit. It also refused to grant him a preview stating that there are no regulations to control the content being streamed on OTT platforms, citing a similar order passed by the division bench of the high court in a different matter. ALSO WATCH | BJPS take tuition jibe at Rahul Gandhi; Congress says fugitives protected Choksi had sought the postponement of the series, which is slated to be released on September 2. The petition, filed by lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, said that Choksi got to know of the documentarys release on August 24 when he saw the trailer. He started receiving phone calls from across the world, including from Delhi, asking him whether he was part of the documentary and to solicit his comments. Choksi further discovered, says the petition, that one of the persons seen speaking in the trailer was the writer of the book titled Flawed: The Rise and Fall of Indias Diamond Mogul Nirav Modi where his name had been co-mingled with Nirav Modi. The petition said that Choksi fears his name may have been used in connection with Nirav Modi in the series even though his relation to the fugitive diamantaire is only that of an uncle and nephew. It also said that the series might have an episode on Choksi which has the potential of leading to a media trial. It said Choksi has the right to an innocent and free and fair trial and such a documentary would cause serious prejudice to his case. The petition claimed that Choksi has been falsely accused of various crimes in India. Lawyer Vijay Aggarwal had on Wednesday demanded a pre-screening for the petitioner and if his apprehension regarding his image getting tarnished is settled, then a chance may be given to him for agitating. Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, who appeared for Netflix, said the series has a two-minute piece on Nirav Modi where mentions of Choksi has been made. He also said that that there is no regulation of content on the OTT platform. Cooler weather and the arrival of more firefighters and equipment from other states helped to make some progress containing the storm of devastating wildfires which hit California over the last week. However, more heat, dry weather and thunderstorms are increasing the number of new wildfires in Northern California. According to a Tuesday report by Cal-Fire, over 1.25 million acres (500,000 hectares) have burned in less than two weeks, equivalent to the size of the state of Delaware. So far, 140,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate from their homes. Cal-Fire indicated that their preliminary assessment indicated 1,400 homes and other buildings have been destroyed, and that the final number could reach 3,000. The agency also considers some 30,000 buildings at risk of being destroyed by the Walbridge fire, burning in Napa, Sonoma and Lake counties, north of the Bay Area. Seven people have been confirmed dead, and there is an active search for missing people, which could yield additional fatalities. After the dry lightning storm that ignited fires in the areas surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area on August 15, and despite the limitations on the use of prison laborers due to coronavirus, firefighters managed this week to slowly control 29 percent of the Walbridge Fire in the wine region north of San Francisco; 15 percent of the LNU lightning complex Northeast of the Bay Area; 15 percent in the SEU lightning complex east of San Jose and the Silicon Valley; and 17 percent of the series of fires in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties (the CZU Lightning complex). Currently, 14,000 firefighters are battling the fires across the state. Given the combined extension of these three fires, 1,200 square miles (3,100 square kilometers), there is still a lot that must be done by firefighters, while at the same time confronting new outbreaks. State authorities are warning that conditions are still very dangerous and have warned evacuees not to return to their homes until allowed to do so. Six residents who did return to their homes south of San Francisco had to be rescued from the flames. While some evacuees are returning to what is left of their homes, new groups are being given evacuation orders as fires break out across Northern California. As of last count, there have been over 650 outbreaks since the beginning of the lightning storms. While the weather this week has been more favorable in terms of humidity, the latest forecast anticipates a warming and drying trend with temperature highs above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius). On Tuesday, the National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning of more thunderstorms with potential lightning and no rain, increasing the danger of new wild fires in Northeastern California all the way down to the Lake Tahoe Basin in Central California near the Nevada border. Over 13,000 lightning strikes have occurred since August 15, and several hundred in the last few days have ignited new fires. On Wednesday fires erupted along Highway 16 in Yolo County, west of Sacramento, the states capital. Evacuations were ordered in Winters near the University of California, Davis. The Yolo County and LNU fires are impacting air quality in the greater Sacramento area. Air Quality Index readings of 150 to 200, considered unhealthy for the general populationnot just sensitive groups, such as victims of the coronavirus or people with asthma and other respiratory ailmentsare expected for the entire region through this weekend. In addition to the wildfires in California, massive fires are also taking place across the world. According to just released satellite information by NASAs Fire Information Resource Management System (FIRMS), extensive wildfires are taking place in the Amazon region of Brazil, in Argentina, and in southern Africa. Brazilian authorities reported on August 20 9,507 new fires, mostly in the Amazon River basin. In Argentina, the region bordering on the Parana River delta is also on fire, severely affecting the air quality of cities along the southern end of the river, including Buenos Aires. In both cases, landowners have set the forests on fire, to clear land for cattle and soybean production. As always, what is typically described as natural phenomenafires, floods, tornados, hurricanes and earthquakesevinces a lot more about the realities of life under capitalism. In California, like the rest of the world, millions of people, working on a daily basis and producing unprecedented levels of global wealth, will be cut out of the resources necessary to address the devastating consequences of the latest round of fires. While the political elite pathetically issues empty promises, especially in an election year, the complicit media may show slivers of social reality for a moment, but only until the smoke has dissipated. Then, those suffering the disastrous consequences will be forgotten and the next round of natural phenomena will take another toll. By Cooper Inveen and Helen Reid FREETOWN/JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Sierra Leoneans seeking damages for alleged environmental degradation around a diamond mine have applied for a freezing order on the assets of Octea, a subsidiary of Israeli billionaire Beny Steinmetz's BSG Resources (BSGR). In an affidavit to the high court of Sierra Leone, seen by Reuters, the lawyer for the plaintiffs said there was a "clear and present risk" the defendants could expatriate funds in order to avoid having to pay out if the court rules against them. Sierra Leone's High Court discussed the application for a freezing order on Tuesday and will continue on Wednesday, a lawyer for the plaintiffs and a court clerk said. A spokesman for BSGR said the company would not comment until there was a legal ruling. Octea has described the accusations in the case as "baseless and without merit." A lawsuit was filed against Octea subsidiary Koidu Limited and related companies in April last year by 73 plaintiffs who are identified in the complaint as part of an association that says it is made up of individuals who live or lived within 500 metres of the mine at the relevant times. In other court documents, plaintiffs say they have suffered respiratory infections and headaches from living near the mine. The complaint seeks damages of an unspecified amount. The affidavit said that without a freezing order, plaintiffs might have to seek execution of a possible judgment in their favour in as many as seven separate jurisdictions, because most of the 12 defendants are not domiciled in Sierra Leone, and BSGR is in administration proceedings. BSGR and Octea Limited are registered in Guernsey. Britain's High Court issued a freezing order in December 2019 against Steinmetz and the seven other defendants in an ongoing case against Brazilian iron ore miner Vale , freezing assets including a yacht and two Bombardier aircraft held by BSGR parent company Nysco Management Corporation, court documents show. Sierra Leone's mines minister Timothy Musa Kabba did not reply to a request for comment. (Reporting by Cooper Inveen in Freetown and Helen Reid in Johannesburg; Editing by Alessandra Prentice and Mark Potter) Shed already been a presidential guest at the 2019 State of the Union speech. And starred in one of this years most popular Super Bowl ads. On the final night of the Republican National Convention, Alice Marie Johnson again praised President Trump for freeing her from a life prison sentence for a relatively minor drug offense. The Trump campaign hopes that the emotional personal testimony by the Tennessee great-grandmother will paint the president as a criminal justice reformer compassionate and moved to stop injustice. Experts say his record on crime and punishment is far more problematic, demonstrated by his support of more coercive policing, reduction of oversight on troubled law enforcement agencies and failure to move beyond a 2018 law that reduced incarceration. To use this one example to claim the mantle of a criminal justice reformer is so cynical, said David Sklansky, co-director of the Stanford Criminal Justice Center. It just flies in the face of reality. That does not mean that Johnsons story is less compelling, or her apparent devotion to Trump less sincere. "When President Trump heard about me, about the injustice of my story he saw me as a person. He had compassion. And he acted," said Johnson, 65. She described a metamorphosis that began during her more than 20 years in prison, one that included working with the disabled, in hospice care and as an ordained minister. She even became a playwright, she told the convention audience. Her fall into despair began in Memphis, Tenn., in the 1990s as a single mother of five children; she buckled under the weight of unemployment and gambling. She joined a cocaine distribution ring, before being arrested in 1993 for transporting the drug from Houston to Memphis. Under mandatory sentencing guidelines, her conviction for cocaine distribution, money laundering and conspiracy led to a sentence of life in prison without parole. That story did not distinguish Johnson from thousands of other lifers in state and federal prisons, many of them Black. But a 2018 video of Johnson explaining her struggle went viral, catching the attention of entertainer Kim Kardashian West. Story continues The reality TV star soon visited Trump at the White House to plead for leniency. In short order, he commuted Johnsons sentence. Her story became even more widely known in February, with a Trump ad that reached more than 100 million Super Bowl fans. On-screen chyrons proclaimed that Politicians talk about criminal justice reform while President Trump got it done. Between those declarations, a tearful Johnson thanked the president. This is the greatest day of my life! she said. The use of the presidential pardon is not the most efficient way to reverse the kind of mass incarceration that Democrats and many Republicans now agree has been problematic, criminal justice analysts said. And Trump has chosen to focus many of his grants of clemency not on the thousands of everyday people waiting for a review, but on political allies or people connected to him personally. Last month, he commuted the sentence of Roger Stone, just as his longtime advisor was about to face 40 months in prison for lying to federal investigators, witness tampering and impeding a congressional inquiry. Others who received pardons or commuted sentences include Trump supporters Joe Arpaio, the former Arizona sheriff held in criminal contempt by a judge for detaining people only on a suspicion they were in the country illegally, and Dinesh DSouza, the filmmaker and conservative provocateur convicted of making illegal campaign contributions. The Stone case marked Trump's 10th commutation, comparable to the record of President George W. Bush, but far short of the 1,715 commutations ordered by President Obama. Trumps most expansive incarceration reform came in 2018, when his White House helped negotiate the First Step Act, a law designed to give judges more discretion to reverse some of the harsh determinate sentencing of the 1990s. By the start of this year, nearly 2,400 inmates had their sentences cut because of the acts provision attempting to equalize sentences for crack and power cocaine offenders. (Crack inmates, more often Black and Latino, received disproportionately more time than the white prisoners who used powder cocaine.) Johnson called the law "real justice reform," adding: "And it brought joy, hope and freedom to thousands of well-deserving people. I hollered, 'Hallelujah!'" Reformers celebrated the law, but said that, as its name might suggest, it was only a first step. They have challenged Trump to do more, in particular to advocate for reforms by the states, which imprison the vast majority of offenders. When it comes to policing, Trump has been the opposite of a reformer, particularly in advocating that police have latitude in the use of force, critics said. He has made light of officers protecting the heads of arrestees they placed into their patrol cars. He has strongly supported stop and frisk practices that have led to young Black and Latino men being confronted by police far more often than white people. And his Justice Department has made little effort to keep tabs on police departments repeatedly cited for excessive force and other misbehavior. Under President Obama, the Department of Justice opened 25 investigations of law enforcement agencies and reached 19 agreements requiring reforms. Fourteen of those agreements were court-ordered consent decrees that gave federal judges oversight of police reforms. The Trump Justice Department has gone mostly silent on the issue, though it did launch an investigation of the Chicago Police Department in 2017, in the wake of the shooting death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. But no additional oversight came out of the investigation. He wants more police force. He wants more stop-and-frisk. And he doesnt want police to be more careful when they handle suspects, said Sklansky, who is also a Stanford Law professor. He has pretty consistently called for pushing police in exactly the wrong direction. The Foster Farms processing plant in Livingston, Calif., in 2013. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The site of one of California's worst coronavirus outbreaks has been a Foster Farms poultry plant in the Central Valley. And now, officials want the processing plant shut down. Eight workers at the Foster Farms Livingston Facility have died representing 18% of the COVID-19 death toll in Merced County among people under the age of 65. At least 358 employees have tested positive, Merced County health officials said in a statement. Other Foster Farms facilities in multiple counties are also experiencing outbreaks, said Dr. Erica Pan, the acting state health officer. In view of increasing deaths and uncontrolled COVID-19 cases, the decision was made to order the Livingston Plant within the Foster Farms Livingston Complex closed until acceptable safety measures are in place, Dr. Salvador Sandoval, the Merced County health officer, said in a statement late Thursday. "Our charge is to protect the publics health, even in the face of difficult decisions." Despite the public statement by Merced County officials, Foster Farms employees received emails late Thursday instructing them to show up to work for Thursday night's shift or Friday if they were scheduled to do so. "All active status employees should report to work for their regular shift tonight or tomorrow as scheduled. The plant and all other facilities on the Livingston complex are safely operating," said the letter, which was reviewed by The Times. "Please continue to wear your face covering and follow other safe practices at work and outside of work." Later Thursday night, Mike North, a spokesman for Merced County, said enforcement of the shutdown order was delayed by 48 hours after the county received a call from the U.S. Department of Agricultures undersecretary for food safety. The delay, North said in an email, will help facilitate logistics associated with any necessary closure. In a statement issued Friday, Foster Farms did not address the shutdown order. Of the worker deaths, the company said: "We share the grief of their families and loved ones." Story continues Foster Farms said employee health and safety was one of its highest priorities, adding that the company is "an essential part of the national infrastructure." "Foster Farms comprehensive set of COVID-19 mitigations, promptly implemented following CDC guidance, can protect employees while they are on our premises, but we cannot fully protect them when they are exposed in the greater community," the statement said. "While this context may provide some measure of understanding, we can never be complacent about employee illness or death." Foster Farms, based in Livingston, Calif., has described itself as the West Coast's leading poultry producer. The workers at the Livingston plant are predominantly Latino and Punjabi Sikh, said Deep Singh, executive director of the Jakara Movement, a Central Valley youth and family nonprofit aimed at the Punjabi Sikh community. Many of his group's members work at the Foster Farms plant. Singh said he was disappointed by the decision to instruct workers to return to work in spite of the county order to shut down. "I'm highly disappointed that Foster Farms would continue with tonight's shift. That puts workers at danger and at risk of infection despite the expert medical opinions provided by county public health and other professionals," Singh said on Thursday. He recounted what one worker told him: "They call us essential, but they treat us as if we're expendable." The county's decision to order the closure of the sprawling facility comes two months after an outbreak was first identified there. In a statement issued publicly, Merced County public health officials said they had advised, and later directed, Foster Farms to conduct widespread testing among its employees. But the testing ordered by the county has not been completed, county officials said, and deaths continue to climb and cases are increasing. On Friday, the company said it planned to complete testing of its employees later that day. "The closure of this plant is the only way to get the outbreak at Foster Farms swiftly under control. Our hearts are with the eight families who have lost a loved one," Sandoval, the Merced County health officer, said in a statement. Of plant workers confirmed to be infected, 2.2% have died, according to the county. That's significantly higher than the fatality rate among people infected with the coronavirus in the general population of Merced County, which is 1.3%. County officials said they worked with the state attorney general's office and the California Department of Public Health to reach an agreement with the company to avoid a full-scale closure of the production facility, but could not do so. If were going to keep food on our tables during this pandemic, we must do a better job of protecting the essential workers who are putting it there. That means standing up for the people in our poultry facilities, agricultural fields, meat processing plants, restaurants, grocery stores and more, state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said in a statement. Foster Farms poultry operation in Livingston ... has experienced an alarming spread of COVID-19 among its workers." Pan, the acting state health officer, wrote in a letter to an attorney representing Foster Farms that "by failing to comply with county directives, Foster Farms is not only jeopardizing the health of permanent, temporary and volunteer workers and their families, but also increasing the risk of community transmission in Merced County and surrounding counties, which are already experiencing very high levels of transmission." While the beginning of California's coronavirus pandemic hit hard first in the Bay Area and then Los Angeles County, as the summer wore on the outbreaks have increasingly struck the rural agricultural regions of the state, infecting low-income essential workers who produce the food that feeds the country. A Times analysis found that of California's counties with the 12 worst per capita case rates over the last two weeks, eight of them are in the eight-county San Joaquin Valley. Merced County has the one of the worst rates statewide, reporting 565 cases per 100,000 residents in the last 14 days. By contrast, L.A. County has about 209 cases per 100,000 residents; San Francisco, 141 cases per 100,00 residents; and San Diego County, 116 cases per 100,000 residents. Merced County also has one of the worst mortality rates among all counties over the last two weeks, reporting 38 deaths. On a per capita basis, that works out to 14 deaths per 100,000 residents; L.A. and Orange counties are reporting 5.5 deaths per 100,000 residents, and San Diego County and San Francisco, fewer than two deaths per 100,000 residents. The Central Valley has the most animal slaughtering and processing industry jobs than any other region in California, according to an analysis by the UC Merced Community and Labor Center. The region also has higher rates of investigations triggered by accidents or complaints, according to the center's analysis of data provided by the U.S. Department of Labor. Between mid-2015 and mid-2020, the Central Valley was home to 65% of unplanned investigations of slaughterhouses and animal processing facilities in California, the UC Merced analysis found. The center has urged officials to enact emergency workplace health and safety standard for the Central Valley's animal slaughter and processing workforce. The Central Valley's other big outbreaks have affected Central Valley Meat Co. in Kings County and Ruiz Foods, a frozen-food packager in Tulare County. Meatpackers in California are particularly vulnerable in the pandemic era the workers are low-income and live in tightly knit environments, said Edward Flores, a sociology professor with the UC Merced Community and Labor Center. Research by Flores and Ana Padilla, the center's executive director, found that California counties with a greater share of low-wage and crowded households have been more likely to be hit hard by the pandemic. Meatpacking workers in California are largely Latino, and Latinos have been disproportionately hit hard by COVID-19 in California. Across the state, Latinos account for 60% of cases and 48% of COVID-19 deaths, despite making up 39% of the population. Latinos account for 56% of California's low-wage workers, according to the UC Berkeley Labor Center, many of whom work in essential jobs in which they must leave home to work, raising their risk for infection. Times staff writer Leila Miller contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Nordin Benallal arriving at the Brussels courthouse in 2004 - AFP Nordin Benallal, a criminal known in Belgium as the breakout king after a series of audacious prison escapes, has been arrested in Spain on suspicion of taking part in a violent kidnapping attempt. Benallal, one of three men remanded in custody on Thursday in Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa, has escaped from Belgian jails five times after a number of convictions for armed robbery. The most notorious breakout by the 41-year-old from Brussels came in 2007, when he attempted to fly to freedom in a hijacked helicopter that landed in the yard of Ittre prison, south of the Belgian capital. A scrum ensued as several prisoners fought to board the helicopter, causing it to crash with inmates holding on to the landing skids. Miraculously, no one was killed and Benallal still managed to escape by using the gun his accomplice had brought inside the helicopter and walking out of the prison to a waiting getaway car by kidnapping a guard. A year later Benallal was arrested when taking part in a robbery in a car showroom across the border in the Netherlands, eventually being caught in a police chase after he tried to escape on a stolen motorcycle. Sentenced to four-and-a-half years for the Dutch heist, Benallal was moved back to Belgian custody in 2010 and received further convictions for robberies and 10 years for the helicopter escape. However, in 2016 he was released on parole before being arrested again in 2018 as a suspected member of a kidnapping crew. He was placed on bail with electronic monitoring and was reportedly still wearing the ankle bracelet when arrested in Ceuta. On Friday August 21 Benallal and his alleged two accomplices, a Belgian and a Moroccan, were surprised by Spanish police bundling a badly battered man into the boot of a car, in what authorities believe was a gangland dispute. The alleged kidnappers rammed their vehicle against a police car and tried to escape the scene, but were found hiding in bushes by officers using a thermal camera. Between his first conviction for robbery as a teenager in 1998 and the spectacular Ittre jailbreak, Benallal had escaped from custody on four other occasions. Once, he swapped clothes with his little brother who was visiting him and simply strolled out of the prison. Another time he faked an ankle injury before tossing aside his crutches and running during a court appearance. In 2004 Benallal, also known as the eel, slipped out of Nivelles jail by scaling the wall with a rope thrown from the outside to help another inmate escape. Donald Trump U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a briefing at the White House August 13, 2020 in Washington, DC. Trump spoke on a range of topics including his announcement earlier in the day of a new peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images The United States trails many other developed countries when it comes to life expectancy, but how long one lives can have a lot to do with where that person lives in the U.S. and how conservative its policies are. And Michael Hobbes, in an article for HuffPost, discusses the connection between GOP policies and shorter life expectancy and a new study showing how destructive those policies can be. "In 2014," Hobbes notes, "American life expectancy fell backward for the first time in 21 years. U.S. lifespans slid lower for another three years straight before barely ticking upward in 2018." This month, the Milbank Quarterly published a study that breaks down the connection between where Americans live and how long they live. "Conservative policies, the researchers found, are the driving force behind America's declining lifespans," Hobbes observes. According to Jennifer Karas Montez, a sociologist at Syracuse University and the study's lead author, "Across a huge range of issues, the more liberal version of state policies predicts longer life expectancy, and the conservative version predicts shorter life expectancy." Hobbes explains that the study published in Milbank Quarterly "illuminates the choice before Americans in the 2020 election. While the Republican Party has declined to release a national policy platform for the next four years, the GOP currently holds 29 state legislatures and 26 governorships and has spent decades enacting its preferred policies in conservative states. Over the last decade, a growing body of research has found that these policies are negatively affecting the health of constituents." Related Articles In this screenshot from the RNCs livestream of the 2020 Republican National Convention, Debbie Flood, President of architectural hardware and castings manufacturer Melron Corp., addresses the virtual convention on Aug. 27, 2020. (Photo Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty Images) Businesswoman Who Once Lost Half of Business to China Backs Trumps Made in America Policies A businesswoman from Wisconsin said Thursday that she supports President Donald Trumps Made in America agenda. Debbie Flood owns architectural hardware and castings manufacturer Melron Corp., which makes cast bronze architectural hardware. She said her business is one of the only U.S. companies left who make their products from start to finish in America. Flood said they lost nearly half of their business to China in the mid-2000s. We wondered how a small company like ours could continue to compete, she said. Her business has been better off with the employment of 3D technology and help from Trumps Made in America policies. He actually fought for American workers and American craftsmen, Flood said. We no longer had to succeed despite government. Now, the government was on our side, and we enjoyed a thriving economy stimulated by President Trumps pro-business and pro-worker policies. She criticized Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden, who was a long time U.S. Senator, for doing nothing to confront China during his time in Washington. Joe Biden was a Senator who voted to normalize trade with China, and help pave the way for them to join the WTO [World Trade Organization], even though they were hurting American companies like ours, she said. Joe Biden doesnt really know anything about business, or creating jobs. [He] Spent 47 years in government, and its doubtful that hell finally figure it out. In year 48 he is pledged to raise our taxes, and bring back excessive regulation. The Biden campaign didnt respond to an email request for comment. Biden, as a long-time politician, left a controversial trail of past dealing with China. Hunter Biden, the former vice presidents son, had a deep business relationship with China. Trump took a hawkish approach toward China in economy and trade relationships while trying to maintain a friendly relationship with the Chinese regime before the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus outbreak. The CCP virus, also known as novel coronavirus, infected over 5.8 million people and claimed the lives of more than 180,000 in the United States, according to government data collected by Johns Hopkins University. The Chinese regime claimed that there are only 89,814 infections and 4,715 deaths inside China, a highly doubtful figure. Its widely reported that the Chinese regime covered up the outbreak and refused to share information with other countries. Trump later said he is angry with China and took a tougher stand on the Chinese regime. He also vowed to hold the Chinese regime accountable for the deaths and infections caused by the CCP virus, which originated from Wuhan city, China. Biden mostly blamed Trump for the outbreak, and rarely confronted the Chinese regime over the pandemic. Bowen Xiao contributed to the report. Tokyo, Japan As US President Donald Trump arrives in Tokyo on Sunday, he and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are expected to act in lockstep in terms of their messaging on North Korea nuclear weapons and missile development are entirely unacceptable and all options are on the table in terms of how this threat may be met. The political phrase all options on the table, of course, encompasses the possibility that the United States and Japan might jointly launch an aggressive military attack on North Korea, which they would portray as being pre-emptive in light of the many verbal threats that have already been issued by the regime of Kim Jong-un. At a personal level, Abe hardly needs Washington to push him into a hardline stance vis-a-vis North Korea (or China or even South Korea for that matter) because his hawkishness towards mainland Asian neighbours has been part of his political trademark throughout his career. At times, he has associated with even some of the more fringe elements of the Japanese hard right. As critics point out, support for all options including an attack on North Korea puts Abe in spiritual rebellion to the nations constitution, which mandates that the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. Obviously, all options are on the table is precisely the sort of threat of the use of force that Japans post-World War II constitution explicitly bans. Rewriting the Peace Constitution {articleGUID} But Abes antagonism towards his nations Peace Constitution is hardly a new development. In recent years, he decapitated the independent bureaucratic agency that had traditionally guaranteed legislations conformity to the national charter. In the summer of 2015, he went on to force passage of new security policy legislation that some 97 percent of independent legal scholars judged to be unconstitutional. Even expert witnesses handpicked by the ruling party itself shocked the Abe government by denouncing the unconstitutionality of the bills, which were, thereafter, enacted nonetheless. Finally, on May 3 of this year the 70th anniversary of the Constitution Abe announced his intention to revise the pacifist Article Nine in a video message to a meeting of the Nippon Kaigi (Japan Conference). The venue was significant. Nippon Kaigi is a controversial nationalist organisation seeking not only constitutional change, but also possessing a sweeping right-wing programme of Emperor-centrism, historical revisionism, opposition to female and LGBT equality, and a rollback of the entire Western conception of rights in favour of enhanced individual obligations to the state. While Abe has proven to be slow and methodical since returning to power in December 2012, there is not much doubt that groups such as Nippon Kaigi remain his fundamental political base. Fresh off his third major general election victory on October 22, which was pulled off mainly via the dramatic implosion of the opposition challenge led by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, Prime Minister Abe is now in a position to move forward his lifelong goal of revising the Constitution. However, while his ruling coalition holds the necessary two-thirds majority in both houses of the legislature, Abe still faces high hurdles. First, he must get his own fractious Liberal Democratic Party and coalition partner Komeito to reach consensus on a specific word-for-word proposal for rewriting the national charter. That task alone may prove his undoing. But even if he succeeds on that difficult matter, he still must conduct an unprecedented national referendum in which a majority of voters approve the proposed constitutional change. The latest poll by Kyodo News finds 52.6 percent of the Japanese public are opposed to Abes current proposal with only 38.3 percent in support of it. When one also considers the fact the opposition parties will fight a ferocious campaign against revision as well as the reality that polling shows deep public distrust towards the prime minister personally the smart money still suggests that Abe will ultimately fail to achieve his dream. However, Japanese politics are likely to be tied up by these fierce battles over the Peace Constitution for the next several years. Abe is expected to push forward this issue, even at the cost of his own political life, because he is on the record as a lifelong true believer. The Norths abductions {articleGUID} One related matter likely to be highlighted during Trumps visit is that of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea between 1977-1983 another Abe pet issue by which he initially rode to national prominence from 2001-2006. North Korea admitted in 2002 to kidnapping Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 80s to help train its spies in Japanese language and culture. North Korea has insisted it resolved this issue in 2004 when five surviving abductees and their families (10 people in total) returned from North Korea. Japan has insisted, on the contrary, that Pyongyang has yet to reveal the full truth and that other abductees may still be alive. Trump is expected to echo the Japanese line on this issue as a demonstration of his political solidarity with Abe. The broader trajectory of the North Korea crisis remains a question mark. Abe has repeatedly denounced talks for the sake of talks and called for tougher sanctions on Pyongyang. There has been no indication, however, that he has any realistic diplomatic objective in mind beyond these serial calls for punishment. Brad Glosserman, senior adviser to Pacific Forum CSIS, echoes many analysts when he observes, Kim Jong-un will not give his nukes, period Kim Jong-un sees them first as instrumental to his regime survival. He adds, Without nuclear weapons North Korea is nothing. There are no serious analysts who believe that economic pressure will induce Pyongyang to disarm itself, even though that is what both the Trump and Abe administrations publicly claim is the objective of their current sanctions policy. The major wild card without a doubt is Trump. While all other players can be expected to behave in a manner in which they have long been behaving, the unpredictable US president is certainly the most dangerous element of instability. According to Koichi Nakano, professor at Sophia University, for the first time in many years, the Japanese people are not sure whether the United States, and its president in particular, is a force for good whether it really provides for the safety of the country and the region. None of these doubts, however, are expected to be reflected in the shows of mutual friendship and solidarity that Shinzo Abe and Donald Trump will perform for the cameras. Michael Penn is president of the Shingetsu News Agency New Delhi, Aug 28 : Union minister of state for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Friday met KK Singh, father of late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, and sister Rani Singh, saying they will get justice soon and the role of the Bollywood mafia will be exposed. Athawale met Sushant's family for nearly half-an-hour at the residence of Faridabad Police Commissioner OP Singh, who is also the brother-in-law of the late actor. Athawale said the truth will be revealed by the CBI investigation and the Bollywood mafia will be exposed, which tries to suppress new talent in the industry. The Union minister said he was in favour of a CBI probe in the case right from the beginning. KK Singh sees a deep conspiracy behind Sushant's death. He also questioned the role of Mumbai police in the case. Rani Singh has also raised many questions about the suspicious death of her brother Sushant. Athawale is a Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra. In such a situation, his meeting with the father and sister of Sushant Singh Rajput holds a lot of significance. Athawale has been vocal about demanding a high-level inquiry into the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Spain's holiday islands are battling record levels of coronavirus cases as they struggle to rescue the tourist season. The Balearic Islands saw a record 525 new cases on Thursday, while the Canary Islands also hit a new high with 338 as more holiday flights and packages are cancelled because of the crisis. Along with mainland Spain, the islands were struck off Britain's travel corridor list in late July, meaning visitors from the UK have to quarantine when they return. Tenerife and its neighbouring islands, which include Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, say there is little hope left for bookings in September but hope that the winter season which begins in October might still be saved. Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera believe their summer season is now totally wiped out as more airlines withdraw. Beachgoers go in the sea at the Figueretes beach in Ibiza earlier this month, as coronavirus cases continue to mount on the Spanish holiday islands Spain is now seeing more than 7,000 cases per day on average, almost as many as at the height of the pandemic in Europe in the spring Spain's death toll has increased slightly although has not risen close to the levels seen earlier in the year Hoteliers in Tenerife say the only way to save the dire situation is the introduction of coronavirus tests at destination and arrival airports. Jorge Marichal, the president of the local hotel association, urged the Canary Islands government to go it alone and set up testing. 'Let us insist on the urgent need to carry out sanitary tests at airports,' he said. 'We do not understand why it is not possible to do it in Spain when other countries do it; without tests we will not have customers and winter will fall.' New measures have been introduced in both island groups, including total closure of nightclubs, and 1am closures and reduced capacity for pubs and restaurants. There is also a smoking ban in public places and the streets, tighter mask controls, a ban on party boats and fiestas, and limits on the number of people meeting up in groups for social gatherings. Canary Islands leader Angel Victor Torres has so far ruled out a return to the strict lockdown which was imposed in the spring. He said of the new measures: The most important thing is that they are complied with, that they are taken as orders to avoid going back into the dark weeks of April.' The same stance is being taken by the Balearic government but selective lockdowns in certain districts could still be on the cards. In the Canaries, Gran Canaria is currently experiencing the largest number of outbreaks but there are now fears that Lanazarote is following the same path. On Wednesday, the Canaries hit a new record of 295 cases in 24 hours - before this was exceeded again with 338 positive tests on Thursday. The Canary Islands has seen a spike in coronavirus cases in recent weeks which is larger than the initial wave of the disease in the spring. New cases are in orange, with recoveries in green and deaths in red The Balearic Islands have also seen cases rise above the levels seen earlier in the year, with a new record of 525 cases yesterday. The blue bars show the daily number of cases The latest spike took the total to 5,868 accumulated infections in the Canary Islandssince the start of the pandemic, of which 3,124 are regarded as active. The number of deaths in the archipelago rose to 171, with two new new deaths in Gran Canaria. Of the 338 new cases registered, 266 were in Gran Canaria which accounts for more than half the total cases in the island chain. Tenerife has 38 new patients and a total of 582 active cases, and also has the highest death toll in the islands with 114. The Balearic Islands have also hit a record level of infections, with 525 new cases being reported on Thursday. No new deaths were reported, meaning the figure remains at 237. Balearic health chiefs have found 32 new outbreaks in the last week, of which 20 are in Mallorca, nine in Menorca and three on Ibiza. Tracking teams are being deployed in both the Canaries and the Balearics where leaders have called on people to obey the rules, avoid family gatherings and 'show responsibility.' Both island groups have been pressing the UK government to lift its 14-day quarantine rule for British holidaymakers returning from Spain. Spain was struck off Britain's travel corridor list in July after a spike in cases in the country, which is now seeing more than 40,000 new cases per week. The Canary Islands have even offered holidaymakers free insurance cover which would meet their costs if they became infected with coronavirus during their stay. Regional leaders say the high level of cases is down to more coronavirus tests being carried out, insisting that they do have the health facilities to cope. The Karnataka High Court on Friday appointed a retired judge as the Claims Commissioner for assessing the damage caused to properties by the rioters who went on a rampage torching a Congress MLA's house and two police stations in Bengaluru. The court was passing orders on the state government's plea for the appointment of the Claim Commissioner to fix the liability on the rioters who also set afire a number of private and police vehicles during the violence on August 11 night protesting an alleged inflammatory social media post by Congress MLA R Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy's relative. Our Govt approached Hon'ble High Court to appoint Claims Commissioner to assess the damages caused to public & private properties during riots in KJ Halli & DJ Halli, Bengaluru. Today, Hon'ble HC appointed Justice HS Kempanna (Retd) as Claims Commissionerhttps://t.co/vKQPGEtdxK B.S. Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) August 28, 2020 Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa took to twitter and noted the high court's order. "Our Govt approached Hon'ble High Court to appoint Claims Commissioner to assess the damages (sic) caused to the public & private properties during riots in KJ Halli & DJ Halli, Bengaluru. Today, Hon'ble HC appointed Justice HS Kempanna (Retd) as Claims Commissioner," he tweeted. Naming retired high court judge H S Kempanna as the Claim Commissioner, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Ashok S Kinagi directed the state government to issue a notification on his appointment and provide him infrastructures such as office, vehicles and staff. As many as 377 people have been arrested while four people died with three of them in firing by police to quell the mob. In all, 65 cases have been registered in connection with the riots. The state government on August 17 said it had decided to assess the damage caused to public and private property in the violence and recover the cost from the culprits. The high court instructed the state to consult the Claims Commissioner regarding infrastructure that he would need and asked it to fix the remuneration considering his status as a retired high court judge and provide him benefits available to sitting judges of the HC. The bench said the government should give wide publicity regarding the appointment of the claims commissioner and call upon persons whose property had been destroyed or damaged to submit the particulars before him so that he can assess the loss. The state should also supply a list of empaneled list of property value assessors to the claims commissioner. Directing the government to submit videos and recordings of the violence to the claims commissioner, the bench also said the public should also be asked to submit video footages to pin-point the damage and establish the role of the perpetrators. The government can make a request to the Registrar General of the Court if the claims commissioner needed to summon witnesses or direct production of documents, it said and posted the matter to September 11 for further hearing. States of Texas and Louisiana could struggle even more to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in their areas after Hurricane Laura. Officials fear that a new wave of COVID-19 infections could be recorded in the wake of Hurricane Laura. "We're basically going to be blind for this week because we'll have to discontinue much of our community-based testing," Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards was quoted in a report. Edwards said that state administration took safety measures to prevent the further spread of the virus. These measures include placing storm refugees in hotels and motels instead of putting them in crowded shelters. Edwards said they do not want people using congregate shelters unless it is an absolute last resort. He added that if they are going to use them, they will try to make them as safe as they can. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the same concerns. Abbott said that COVID-19 is going to be in Texas during the course of Hurricane Laura. "Remember: Just because a hurricane is coming to Texas, does not mean COVID-19 either has or is going to leave Texas," Abbott was quoted. CEO of the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council, Darrell Pile, said it will be up to residents of Texas to ensure that the pandemic does not spread. Pile said that social distancing will be much more difficult for people who are evacuating. "However, they can wear a mask." Pile said. He added that they can do their best to minimize being too close to each other. Hurricane Laura Scientists at Columbia University and the Union of Concerned Scientists said before Hurricane Laura arrived that a large-scale hurricane evacuation could increase the chances of spreading COVID-19. Kristy Dahl, a senior climate scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists and one of the co-authors of the study, warned that many of the country's most hurricane-prone states have recently experienced some of the highest COVID-19 growth rates in the nation. "In every scenario we analyzed, hurricane evacuations cause an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases," Dahl was quoted in a report. States like Texas, Florida, and Arizona experienced a surge of new cases and deaths after they started reopening in May with objection of many public health experts. Austin, one of Texas' major evacuation centers, housed in more than a thousand of Gulf Coast residents in advance of the Hurricane Laura. Texas COVID-19 cases Texas recorded 91,734 new COVID-19 cases and 2,779 deaths in just the last two weeks. In addition, Texas was fourth in nation's ranking with nearly 12,000 deaths and second only to California in a total number of cases with 612, 632 as of Thursday. The United States' death toll was over 180,000 as of Thursday. The number of confirmed cases was nearing 6 million. Meanwhile, the federal Centers for Disease Control Prevention has decided to change the guidelines on COVID-19 testing. On Wednesday, the CDC amended its guidelines to say that healthy people who had been exposed to COVID-19 "do not necessarily needed a test," provided that they do not have symptoms. 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 Southeast Texas Residents Forced to Evacuate As Hurricane Laura Strengthens It took some time, but after some shockingly challenging years, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex are finding their stride in the public eye. From the moment they went public with their relationship in 2016, there was a media frenzy surrounding the couple. Unfortunately, the medias interest in the former actor quickly turned poisonous. For Prince Harry, who had been struggling for some time to find his place in the royal family as Prince William began to prepare for his role as the Crowned King, the press attacks on his wife were unacceptable. In the end, since the British royal family was unable to do anything about the couples grievances, the Sussexes left the U.K. for Meghans home state of California. Now, one body language expert claims that are morphing into another infamous couple. RELATED: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Warned the Royal Family About Megxit Several Times, Source Claims Prince Harry is finding his footing in the U.S. Prince Harry has stated unequivocally that Megxit was his idea. Meghan was willing to try and make it work, but the prince, who grew up in the royal fold had enough. As his brother and sister-in-law, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge began garnering more responsibility, the prince felt aimless and lost in the shadows, especially following his retirement from the Royal Army. Marrying Meghan simply gave him the push he needed to define himself and his legacy away from the royal stage and on his own terms. Reporter Caitlin Flanagan explained to The Atlantic, The couples future isnt certain. They are hugely appealing and glamorous. Everyone in Hollywood is eager to host them. The first few years of this plan are going to be heady. But as Harry has often said as soon as Williams three children become old enough to emerge as individual figures, the klieg lights will immediately turn to them. He is in a rush to make his mark and seems to treat life as a race, too. RELATED: Prince Harry Thinks the Media Is Terrified of Meghan Markle Meghan Markle is thrilled to be back in California For her part after landing in picturesque Santa Barbara about one hour away from LA, where they can thrive and raise their son privately, Megahan is thrilled to be back in the U.S. Though the pandemic slowed down a lot of the Sussexes plans, Meghan has been using her voice for advocacy. During a recent chat with legendary activist Gloria Steinem for MAKERS Women, Meghan revealed how happy she was to be back. She seemed carefree and joyful during their chat. Meg, welcome home, Steinem said. Im so glad that youre home. Meghan responded, Me too, for so many reasons. RELATED: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Are Just as Popular as the Ever Were, Source Explains Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are turning into John Lennon and Yoko Ono One body language expert believes that Prince Harry and Meghan post-Megxit are reminiscent of another controversial couple. Judi James explained to Fabulous Digital, With Meghan and Harry going further down what looks like the John and Yoko power-couple-for-global-harmony route, Meghans emphatically casual, bohemian styling here and her free-wheeling body language place her as firmly away from royal traditions and restrictions as possible. The woman who we once watched struggling with rules like crossing her legs at her ankles and which side to place her clutch purse is now sitting with one leg bent casually up on her chair when shes not mirroring the body language of her hero Gloria. From what were seeing so far, it looks like Meghan and Prince Harry are going to be just fine. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > Letter to the Readers Mainstream, August 29 - Lockdown Edition No (...) Letter to the Readers No 23 August 29 Chief ministers from the states of Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Puducherry met in a virtual meeting at the initiative of Congress Partys interim leader Sonia Gandhi and the Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee on August 26 and have called for forging a common alliance against the Central Government. They have grievances on many common issues the non-payment of GST dues and central government going on a privatization overdrive with no consultation with the States etc. The Kerala Left Government was missing from this discussion. It seems the Interim President of the Congress party wanted to invite Kerala Chief minister Pinari Vijayan but there was opposition from the States Congress unit. This is very unfortunate. All State Governments run by non-BJP parties should be part of a coordinated Opposition. The media groups friendly to the Government have been playing a murky role attacking all Opposition parties but most of all pouring scorn on the Congress party. They seem very concerned about democratisation when it comes to the leading Opposition party but they never ask for accountability and democracy within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. India needs a strong Opposition and the wide spectrum Left of Centre social-democratic conglomeration in the Congress party is central to that process. Recently, there have been signs of internal debate and stirring in the Congress party and we hope this will lead to much needed internal elections, resulting in new faces and a new strategy. Congressmen of all shapes should stand united to strengthen and regenerate that party and help forge a wider alliance across India. In the past week, a nationwide citizens platform also met in the form of Janta parliament a 7 day long peoples parliament to discuss a range of public issues, from Jobs, to food security to public health, privacy, to land rights etc. The many issues raised there should find an echo in the Parliament which has been shut for five months. It was good to see leaders of many Opposition parties also speak at the platform on its last day, where they agreed with demands raised and called for a shared common minimum programme. It would be very useful to take up practical issues and demands raised at the peoples Parliament with the state governments in Opposition-ruled states to implement some of the demands to demonstrate the working of alternative policies and this will also help contrast with the functioning of the ruling party. The coming monsoon session of Parliament is expected to start by mid-September and will last only two weeks. The demand for deferment of JEE exams, the standoff with China, non-transparency of PM CARES Fund, migrant workers crisis, privatisation of Public sector firms, Facebook Indias controversial connection with the BJP are going to be among the issues the Opposition will try to raise in Parliament. Growing misuse of the Police powers and the Judiciary playing second fiddle to the Government of the day: A Delhi court on August 26 dismissed the application by CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat seeking registration of an FIR against BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma for allegedly making hate speeches. The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate stated that prior sanction of the Central Government was required under section 196 CrPC and dismissed the application. Amnesty International has just released a report that documents incidents of police brutality and complicity during the north Delhi riots of February 2020 We are alarmed to hear of the access given to the Delhi Police to the voter records of Delhis riot-hit areas by the Election Commission. The Election Commission is a constitutional body and the information it has in its databases on citizens should be out of bounds for all and its handing over photo ID information for police identification purposes sets a very bad precedent. This is also a case of police overreach and should be probed and banished. We have repeatedly written in these pages about how the police, which comes under the direct control of the Union Home Ministry is being misused to go after critics of the government. Police misconduct needs to checked and there should be no impunity for wrongdoing. Abuse of police powers and discrimination became big news and sparked large public protests following the death of George Floyd in police custody in the U.S but this doesnt happen in India, where there is hardly any outrage against police brutality. On the contrary a section of society stands on the side of the police when it comes to crime, even when there is evidence of custodial killings and so-called encounter deaths. Earlier this year the National Campaign Against Torture (NCAT), based in New Delhi, released its India: Annual report on Torture 2019 which says that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India recorded a total of 1,723 cases of death of persons in judicial custody and police custody across the country from January to December 2019. The Peacock Raja and The Favoured Tycoons: Crony capitalism is not new in India but we are scaling new heights now on this score. The Modi Government has been in power for over six years. Prior to his election in May 2014 for his first term in office as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party campaigned all guns blazing against the Congress-led UPA Government charging it with gross corruption and crony capitalism and assuring that it will put an end to corruption. (In fact there was a whole campaign of India Against Corruption which was backed by the RSS the mothership body of the present BJP Government.) As he campaigned for his election we could already see that Modi had close links with certain business groups, notably the Ambanis, the Adanis from his 15 year stint as the Gujarat CM. Soon after coming to power, a chosen few business groups got special treatment.... Adani was a regular during PM Modis trips to the United States, Australia, Brazil and Japan. In November 2015, Mr Adani was with PM Modi at events around the G-20 Summit in Australia. The State Bank of India signed a controversial $1 billion (Rs 6,200 crore) loan agreement with the Adani Group for its huge Australian mining project in Queensland, which is caught in controversy and now has been challenged in court by some rights groups. Mr Modi and one of the Ambani brothers were at the centre of a major controversy with allegations by the Opposition Congress party. It was also reaffirmed later by former French President Francois Hollande that in 2018, the Indian Government facilitated Mr Ambanis newly created defence firm to secure an offset deal in the contract for fighter jets with Dassault Aviation of France. This matter went to court in November 2018. A Bench headed by former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi gave a verdict in the Rafale case favourable to the government. Later a petition was filed by former Union Ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie, lawyer Prashant Bhushan against the top courts judgement. In November 2019 the Supreme Court dismissed review petitions on the Rafale jet deal. According to The Times of India, many months after the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) submitted its performance audit on defence offset contracts to the government, a source in the CAG has said that the report does not cover any offset deals related to Rafale aircraft purchased from French company Dassault Aviation. By the way, Mr. Modis former Secretary is now the Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) of India. The proximity between certain business conglomerates to the government means that certain rules are getting tweaked (e.g. the eligibility criteria for the bidders) or overlooked contrary to stated policy. Contracts seem to be getting awarded to an influential firm with no prior experience in running airports. Mr Adanis firm close to the government won contracts for a 50 year lease to operate six airports that were previously under the Airports Authority of India. Many of these airports had seen fairly recent major public investments for large scale re-development and did not seem to be on any list for privatisation till 2018. Restrictions on the number of airports a single entity could bid for were removed. So now the same firm that won bids to run six airports is now bidding for more airports. Normally all PPP (public-private partnership) contracts require public consultation and consultation with the State Governments. This should have been done but it has seemingly been set aside leading to protests by the Kerala Government which was kept in the dark. We have already seen firms close to the government getting loans from public banks via help from politicians this is leading to more and more concentration of economic power in the hands of a favourable few according to an article in NDTV o o The International Day Against Nuclear Tests will be observed on August 29. It was established on December 2, 2009 at the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly by resolution 64/35. We hope India remains committed to maintaining restraint on going for any nuclear test or an expansion of its hugely expensive nuclear programme. We are at a time in our history when we need more social and health spending and must put a cap on military spending. o o The Covid-19 pandemic has expanded massively in India after a failed lockdown and an unprepared government. Practically all of the month of August has seen the daily case numbers hover between 65000 to 70000. Beating all records on daily cases on August 26, the country had 75996 cases of coronavirus in a single day. o o The prominent Afghan actress and film director Saba Sahar was shot in Kabul on August 25, we hope for her safe recovery. Tributes Fr. Gaston Roberge, the Canadian Jesuit, film critic and a pioneer of the film appreciation movement in India, died in Calcutta on August 26, 2020. He had lived in India since 1960 and worked at St Xaviers College. In 1970 he founded the Chitrabani Institute, a truly unique space for learning about film and photography. He will be fondly remembered in Calcutta and all over India. Retired Major General Bir Uttam Chitta Ranjan Dutta from Bangladesh, who was also known as CR Dutta, passed away on August 25. He was the President of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council. During the Bangladesh liberation war in 1971, Dutta served in the Mukti Bahini as a commander. Diana Russell, the feminist scholar and activist, died on July 28 at the age of 81. She spent a lifetime writing and campaigning to end violence against women. She helped organise the first International Tribunal on Crimes against Women held in Brussels, Belgium, in 1976. Gail Sheehy, the American journalist who wrote on lives of public figures and was famous for her very influential 1976 book Passages on the crises of adult life, passed away on August 25. We pay homage to all these people August 29, The Editor After a month-long investigation, Massachusetts State Police say a Lawrence-based drug dealer has been arrested and about 2.5 kilograms of suspected fentanyl has been seized. The investigation was by the Massachusetts State Police Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction and Enforcement Team, with assistance from the State Police Gang Unit and members of the Southeastern Massachusetts Gang Task Force, targeting the distribution of fentanyl and cocaine by two suspects in Fall River, state police said in a statement. During the investigation, authorities made a series of controlled purchases of fentanyl from the two targets, which allowed troopers to obtain search warrants for two apartments and two cars in Fall River, the statement said. On Thursday morning, troopers and Fall River Police Gang Unit officers set up surveillance at a Liberty Avenue apartment. Just before 9 a.m., authorities saw two people leave the apartment and drive off in a Chevrolet Malibu. The investigators followed the Malibu and stopped the car on Broadway in Fall River, state police said. Then, troopers and officers went back to the apartment to execute the search warrant. Authorities seized a digital scale consistent with use for drug distribution, U.S. currency and documents establishing residency of the apartment, the statement said. Narcotics and currency seized during Fall River search warrants. Photo courtesy of Massachusetts State Police. A search warrant was also executed on a Cadillac Escalade parked at the apartment. Officials seized eight bricks of suspected fentanyl wrapped in cellophane and weighing approximately 814 grams; two plastic baggies containing suspected fentanyl weighing approximately 97 grams and 44 grams; a revolver-style firearm and ammunition; a pill bottle containing numerous light blue pills, stamped M30; and a purse holding plastic baggies, a digital scale, and a knife, state police said. A search warrant executed on the Malibu led officials to seize about $11,600, which state police said is suspected proceeds of drug sales. While the search warrants were being executed, the troopers and officers received information identifying a Lawrence-based supplier of the narcotics seized, state police said. Investigators then arranged for a delivery of fentanyl by the supplier to a restaurant in Fall River on Thursday night. The investigative team, which also included Brockton Police Officers, set up surveillance of the delivery location, an Applebees restaurant in Fall River, the statement said. Around 9:15 p.m., an older model Honda CRV pulled into the parking lot. Jose Baez-Lara, 32 of Lawrence, was alone in the car. He was placed into custody, state police said. There was a gift bag on the front seat. Inside the bag, there was a shoebox containing 15 block-shaped packages of suspected fentanyl, weighing about 1,534 grams with packaging, the statement said. Baez-Lara was booked on narcotics trafficking charges, state police said. The two individuals at the Fall River motor vehicle stop will also face drug charges, state police said, but no further information about the two is being released as of Friday. Notwithstanding the Covid-19 pandemic, a hospital cannot be shut down without following due process of law, the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court (HC) said on Thursday while striking down an order passed by local authorities abruptly shutting down a hospital in Jalna. If a particular procedure is prescribed for initiating appropriate steps with regard to complaints against a hospital, such procedure has to be necessarily followed. A drastic order of closure of the hospital cannot be passed under the pretext of Covid-19 Pandemic, said the bench of justice Ravindra Ghuge and justice Shrikant Kulkarni. The bench struck down an order issued by the district administration on August 21 cancelling the registration of Arogyam Hospital of Dr Ritesh Agrawal, after finding out that no notice was issued to the doctor before issuing the order. The bench rejected submissions advanced by government pleader DR Kale that a number of complaints were received about malpractices in the hospital and there was a public uroar about the mismanagement at the hospital while Covid-19 pandemic was spreading. It was in these peculiar circumstances that a show-cause notice of hearing before issuing the order of closure could not be given, Kale said. The bench, however, refused to accept the reason in view of an order pronounced by HC in December 2018, holding that under provisions of the Bombay Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1949 a notice is required to be issued before cancelling registration of a hospital and that registration cancelled without giving hearing to the concerned is not legally sustainable. HC has now directed that the order dated August 21 be treated as a show-cause notice and that the competent authority under the Bombay Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1949 shall pass a fresh order on complaints received against Arogyam Hospital by September 19 after granting the hospital an opportunity to file reply to the notice and hearing. On the request of the government pleader the bench has restrained the hospital, where nine patients are admitted for treatment, from admitting any other patient to the hospital till fresh order is passed by the competent authority. BLOOMINGTON Residents of McLean County should start taking extra precautions immediately to avoid the county slipping into the states warning level for COVID-19, said county health administrator Jessica McKnight. The countys seven-day positivity rate jumped to 8.6%, the highest percentage to date and the third day in a row the level was above the 8% mark. Also, McKnight announced the confirmation of 80 new cases, which included an infant under 1-year-old and 48 cases of people in their 20s. The three days of the positivity rate over 8% does not automatically trigger the mitigation strategies from the governor, McKnight said. Those triggers are based off of the regional data, but the 8% positivity rate is still a factor for the county. The regional metrics are about a week behind so we will see where we currently are right now in the warnings given out to the counties next Friday. But the time has come for local residents to do even more to slow the spread of the coronavirus, she said. We put the information out there where we are right now so that our community can go ahead and look at what we can do to prevent us and even help our region, so as a region we would not fall into the states mitigation strategies, she said. McKnight stressed limiting exposure to large gatherings and wearing masks as ways to slow the spread of the novel virus. As of Friday, 526 individuals were isolating at home and three remain hospitalized, McKnight said. There are 827 people that have been released from isolation and considered recovered. Sixteen have died from COVID-19. McKnight reported that there was one new case of a youth between the ages of 10 and 17, five people in their 30s, three people in their 40s, four people in their 50s and three people in their 70s. Record test numbers On Thursday, 832 people were tested at the McLean County Fairgrounds testing site operated by Reditus Laboratories. That shattered the previous record of 729 from Aug. 11. It is somewhat expected with ISU being back in session, now, because some of the students are coming out there, he said. You have sports teams and I also think that employers are sending their employees out here by the masses. That was my experience on Thursday, because we saw a lot of that. The site, open daily, has averaged 653 people per day in the past week. At the beginning when the government was handling this site, it never did over 250, and now in August, we are doing 800-plus, so it is a little crazy, he said. Once tested, the individual is given a code, and an intake number. It generally takes a couple of days to get results. The results are coming in a lot quicker now and everyone gets a text or e-mail when their results are done and they can pull that stuff on their own, he said. Reditus also does the testing for ISU. We have the staff to do it and we are busy, but making it work, he said. Large gatherings continue to be the reason for the spike in numbers, especially in the college-age sector, she said. On Friday, ISU announced an additional 102 cases were confirmed. Those numbers are included in the countys total, but not necessarily on the same day. ISU is reporting their testing that they are doing on campus and they like are getting that data sooner than we do, McKnight said. We are looking at the entire county and reporting it by age range and we also add in what we receive from the providers offices and the fairgrounds. Ours are a total number and our numbers could be from several days. McKnight said interviews are being conducted to add more contact tracers to the department and because of some recent grants, about 25 contact tracers will be working before long. But we have over 500 active cases and that is a lot and each of those have between five and 10 close contacts that we have to contact, she said. We are definitely overwhelmed as most of the health departments across the nation are. We are all feeling that. Jan Lancaster, owner of The Bistro in downtown Bloomington, said one of their employees recently tested positive for COVID-19. We will plan on reopening next Wednesday for Happy Hour, she wrote in a social media message. "During this time, we will continue to deep clean, as we do daily, and make our 'home' as safe as possible. Central Illinois In Livingston County, three more cases were confirmed Friday. The newly confirmed cases include a male under the age of 20, a male in his 20s, and a male in his 70s. All active cases are recovering in isolation. There have been 181 total confirmed cases in Livingston County. In Ford County, three new cases were confirmed Friday. One of the cases is associated with an outbreak at a long-term care facility. Ford County has a total of 101 cases. Of those, 71 are confirmed cases and 30 are probable cases. Ninety-five of the previously reported cases have been released from isolation. Four cases remain active with no hospitalizations. There have been two COVID-19 related deaths. In LaSalle County, 26 new cases were added Friday, including a boy under the age of 13 and two teenage girls. There have been 1,208 total cases in the county. Statewide, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced 2,149 new confirmed cases and 20 additional deaths. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from August 21 to August 27 is 4.1 percent. McLean County opens first rural COVID-19 test site Contact Kevin Barlow at (309) 820-3238. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_barlow 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. For 238 days she had not eaten food to protest against her 13-year prison sentence. She was charged with (allegedly) belonging to a criminal organization. Together with her colleague Aytac Unsal she asked for a "fair trial". Social networks flooded with condolences of activists, intellectuals, politicians. Istanbul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Ebru Timtik, a Turkish human rights lawyer, died yesterday in a hospital in Istanbul due to deteriorating health conditions from the hunger strike she had been conducting for 238 days. She was protesting the conviction for (allegedly) belonging to a terrorist organization. The news was reported by the People's Law Office, the law firm for which Ebru Timtik worked. Ebru had been demanding a "fair trial". It is reported the woman died in the early hours of the morning when her pulse suddenly stopped. Activists and human rights lawyers recall that Timtik was sentenced to over 13 years in prison. Together with her colleague Aytac Unsal she began a hunger strike last April, to "strengthen their demands for a fair trial" and a correct "administration of justice in Turkey", at the center of numerous complaints for violations of human rights. The two lawyers and activists had recently confirmed their intention to "persist in the hunger strike, even if this results in their death". The verdict dates back to March 2019; in October the appellate judges confirmed the sentence. The proceedings had reached the benches of the Supreme Court, whose judgment was expected in the coming weeks. The death of Ebru Timtik has raised a wave of protests and indignation in the country; with numerous comments from politicians, activists, journalists and ordinary citizens posted on social networks. The musician Husnu Arkan recalls her fight "for justice" which will not be "forgotten". Gursel Tekin, parliamentarian of the opposition movement Republican People's Party (CHP) recalls that the Constitutional Court "Constitutional Court rejected her release 'as there was no risk of death.' A politicized judiciary means a judiciary that has turned into an executioner. If there is no law, there is persecution. The AKP regime will stand trial for the crimes it committed against justice before history and the nation." The artist Zulfu Livaneli states the death of Ebru before the eyes of everyone is the death of humanity, justice and conscience in this country." Journalist Ahmet Sk adds that "this evil will, of course, come to an end, but when that day comes, we will be unable to look each other in the face due to the silence today." Nesrin Nas, an economist and former president of the Motherland Party recalls that "all she asked for was a fair trial." As 5,000 students prepared for move-in day at the University of Arizona this week, the school warned they will periodically be tested for Covid-19. One test, though, doesn't involve a nose swab. The university is regularly screening the sewage from each dorm, searching for traces of the virus. On Thursday, officials said the technique worked - and possibly prevented a sizable outbreak on campus. When a wastewater sample from one dorm came back positive this week, the school quickly tested all 311 people who live and work there and found two asymptomatic students who tested positive. They were quickly quarantined. "With this early detection, we jumped on it right away, tested those youngsters, and got them the appropriate isolation where they needed to be," said Richard Carmona, a former U.S. Surgeon General who is directing the school's reentry task force, in a news conference. Researchers around the world have been studying whether wastewater testing can effectively catch cases early to prevent Covid-19 clusters. There are programs in Singapore, China, Spain, Canada, and New Zealand, while in the U.S., more than 170 wastewater facilities across 37 states are being tested. Earlier this month, officials in the U.K. announced testing at 44 water treatment facilities. The Netherlands has been collecting samples at 300 sewage treatment plants. With colleges battling large outbreaks around the country, the University of Arizona -- which is trying a mix of online and in-person courses -- elected to test sewage from all 20 residence halls. Other schools are doing the same, including the University of California, San Diego and Syracuse University. On Tuesday, that screening process found signs of the virus in the wastewater from a dorm called Likins Hall. Although all students living in the dorm had to pass antigen tests before moving in, the second screening after the wastewater alert found the two positive cases. Carmona said without the sewage testing, those two asymptomatic students could have spread the virus far before it was detected. "You think about if we had missed it, if we had waited until they became symptomatic and they stayed in that dorm for days, or a week, or the whole incubation period, how many other people would have been infected?" he said. Wastewater testing has been used for years to test for other viruses, to study illicit drug use, and to understand the socioeconomic status of a community based on its food consumption, according to Kevin Thomas, the director of the University of Queensland's Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences. Thomas has been working with a federal research agency to develop techniques on how to best detect traces of the virus in Australia. Wastewater testing is effective because fragments of the virus stay in feces, he said. "I really do think it's a good demonstration of the technique and technology because all the researchers working in this space internationally have come to the conclusion that is a very good early warnings system," Thomas said of Arizona's experience in an interview with The Washington Post. The process used to test the effluent is the same as those used for nose swab tests, which involves "concentrating the fragments within the sample and then extracting the RNA," Thomas said. At the University of Arizona, the procedure can also study if the university's efforts to curb infection rates have been effective, said Ian Pepper, director of the University of Arizona's Water and Energy Sustainable Technology Center, in a news release. "The approach can also be used to help determine if an intervention is working to reduce the transmission of the virus," he said. As of Thursday, the university has had 46 positive amid more than 10,000 antigen tests. But students have only been on campus for a week. New cases in Arizona have fallen 25 percent this past week, according to The Post's coronavirus case tracker. There have been more than 200,000 cases and almost 5,000 deaths in the state since the end of February. University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins said that numbers will go up on campus. "It's inevitable," he said in the news conference. "The issue is going to be can we handle the steady flow of cases or do we get a big spike in cases that overwhelms our ability to isolate and continue to test." That scenario has already played out at a number of schools, including Notre Dame, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Michigan State University, forcing them to switch to online classes only. At the University of Alabama, where 530 cases were detected the first week, school officials suspended students who violated social distancing rules by attending parties. Thomas said that as some colleges are bringing students back on campus, testing wastewater from dorms could be an effective technique - along with individual testing and contact tracing - to manage the spread of the virus. "The proof is there that it works and it does seem to be a very sensitive approach," Thomas said. "I think it's a proactive way of trying to manage the potential for infection on campus." Marathi-speaking residents in the Peeranwadi area objected to the statue of Sangolli Rayanna as they want to install a statue of Shivaji at the same spot Belagavi: Tension prevailed at a village in Belagavi district bordering Maharashtra on Friday, with a section of people objecting to installation of a statue of 18th century warrior and freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna. Police resorted to lathi charge to bring the situation under control. According to official sources, some admirers of Rayanna installed his statue at a road junction in Peeranwadi during the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. A section of others raised objections as the news spread, leading to tension in the area. Those objecting, largely Marathi-speaking, are opposed to the location where they want to install a statue of Maratha ruler Shivaji, after whom the circle is named. They also have apprehensions that its name too may be changed in future. Realising that the situation was turning tense with some skirmish breaking out, police used batons to disperse the gathered crowd. According to officials, they also tried to calm the protesters stating that the statue has been installed without requisite permission and the issue can be dealt with legally. An FIR has been booked in this regard and action will be taken, they said. Additional forces have been called in to avoid the situation spiralling out of control. Reacting to the incident, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa in Bengaluru said, he has spoken to Belagavi Deputy Commissioner and other officials and has given them necessary instructions. "I have told officials that without differentiating between Kannadigas and Marathi people, the situation should be handled delicately and issues should be resolved... everything is peaceful now, everyone is cooperating. I thank the people for this.. everything will be resolved," he told reporters. Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said police have taken stringent measures to control the situation, and that he has spoken to Belagavi Police Commissioner and IG, also ADGP Law and Order is visiting the area. "All necessary police bandobast is being made..." he said, adding that the administration was taking all efforts to resolve things peacefully by taking everyone into confidence. On 15 August, police thwarted attempts to install Rayanna's statue there, citing absence of permission from the authorities for the same, and also Supreme Court directions against such moves near highways. This had led to protests in different parts of Karnataka by pro-Kannada organisations, especially in Belagavi, which has a sizable Marathi-speaking population. District in-charge minister Ramesh Jarkiholi had said on Thursday that a decision to install the statue will be taken on 29 August within legal parameters and as per the guidelines of Supreme Court. Leader of Opposition and former chief minister Siddaramaiah said he has spoken to Belagavi district in-charge minister, deputy Commissioner and Police Commissioner, asking asked them to deal with the situation carefully. Alleging that the government by neglecting the Sangolli Rayanna statue issue has allowed it to become controversial, in a statement he said there can be no compromise on the issue of state's land, water, language and people who are its pride. "I also appeal to Kannada organisations and admirers of Rayanna to be patient and cooperate in resolving the issue," he added. JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy hit out at a section of Marathi people for protesting against the statue of Rayanna and said there is no need for anyone else's approval for installing the statue of a great freedom fighter. In a series of tweets, he said whether it is Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti or Shiv Sena or someone else, if anyone insults Rayanna, the brave son of this land, it is like testing the patience of Kannadigas, and warned that they don't tolerate such things. "There can be no compromise on the issue of the state's land, water, language and border...," he added. Sangolli Rayanna (1798-1831) was the army chief of the erstwhile Kittur Kingdom ruled by Rani Chennamma and fought against the British who hanged him to death from a Banyan tree near Nandagad in Belagavi district in 1831. Other nonreligious, independent private schools some with more resources and fewer students than public schools are also set to reopen for the fall. Some parents with the means to do so are eyeing these schools as an option to send their children back into school buildings, and many parents whose children already attend private school have also said theyre grateful to have the option. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} When I told him why I wore it, he said that he didnt care, said Crisp. I dont feel like its a political statement to back law enforcement. Lowes supports our troops, and we sell the thin blue line flag and stickers at the store. I just believe that was his personal agenda. In response to this incident, friends and supporters of Crisp held a protest in front of the store Thursday evening which drew hundreds of people. Organizers of the protest said on Facebook they didnt want to block traffic or raise their voices but show their solidarity for our heroes. Chris Marsh spoke to the crowd about how he wants to support Crisp and his family. He said that he hopes this crowd would include Republicans, Democrats, people of all races, gay and straight united to show their support for our law enforcement not only here but throughout the nation. Numerous people carried blue lives matter flags and American flags as well as blue lives matter T-shirts. Beth Silver said a prayer and the crowd recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. flag at the conclusion of the gathering. Crisp said he greatly appreciates the show of support Thursday evening. Kate Sarosy is the AARP Wyoming State President, but you may know her as the former mayor and city councilman in Casper. She says during her campaigns in the 2000s it never occurred to her to specifically court the age 50+ vote. She isnt alone. While research tells us candidates tend to court young voters, older voters are deciding elections. According to US Census data, 90.5 percent of registered voters aged 50+ participated in the 2016 election. In Wyoming, the 50+ voter remains reliable. According to the Secretary of State, 81 percent of registered voters between 70-79 voted in... BAMAKO: Malis West African neighbours said on Friday that sanctions they imposed over a coup there were needed to stamp out the disease" of military takeovers, and that the officers who engineered the power grab should return to barracks. The 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended Mali from its institutions, shut borders and halted financial flows with the country following last weeks ousting of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Concerned about prolonged instability in Mali and its potential to undermine the fight against Islamist militants there and in the wider Sahel region, ECOWAS maintained that hard line on Friday. Putschism" was a serious illness, the blocs chair, Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou, told a virtual summit convened to discuss Malis political future. To cure it, only one prescription: sanctions. It is certainly bitter, but isnt it so in medicine for many diseases?" he said. The soldiers behind the coup are anxious to get the sanctions lifted and, as a gesture of goodwill ahead of the summit, released Keita on Thursday and allowed him to return home. They also cut the proposed duration of a transition to democracy to two years from three. However, Mahamadou said Keitas release did not represent a return to constitutional order which requires the return of the military to their barracks". ECOWAS has demanded that the political transition last no more than a year, according to an internal report by mediators dispatched to the Malian capital Bamako last week. The report, not published by ECOWAS but posted on several websites, also requires that the transition be overseen by a civilian president and prime minister. The mediators held three days of talks with the coup leaders that ended on Monday with no agreement. The onus is on the (junta) to provide assurance on a quick return to political normalcy through a credible process. This would facilitate the process for the lifting of sanctions," the mediators report also said. Keita, whose government was facing allegations of corruption following a disputed election in March that triggered social unrest in the run-up to the coup, dissolved parliament and resigned ten days ago, hours after being detained at gunpoint. According to the document, he repeatedly told the ECOWAS mission he stepped down voluntarily for the peace and reconciliation of Mali." 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 Indian state refiners have stopped buying crude oil from China-linked companies, three sources said, after New Delhi's recent regulation aimed at restricting imports from countries that it shares a border with. The new regulation, put in place on July 23, comes after a border clash between India and China that killed 20 Indian soldiers and soured relations between the two neighbours. Since the new order was issued, state refiners have been inserting a clause in their import tenders on new rules restricting dealings with companies from countries sharing a border with India, the sources said and the tender documents show. Last week, Indian state refiners decided to stop sending crude import tenders to Chinese trading firm like CNOOC Ltd, Unipec and PetroChina, among others, one of the sources said. To participate in Indian tenders, the July 23 order makes registration with a department in the federal commerce ministry 'mandatory' for any bidders from nations sharing a border with India. India shares borders with China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan, but the government statement did not name any specific country. Also read: BPCL privatisation likely to be completed by March 2021 State refiners, which control 60% of India's 5 million barrel-per-day refining capacity, regularly tap spot markets for crude. India is the world's third biggest oil consumer and importer and imports nearly 84% of its oil needs. China does not export crude to India but Chinese firms are major traders of the commodity globally. Chinese companies also hold equity stakes in many oilfields across the globe ranging from the Middle East to Africa and the Americas and often submit competitive bids in crude import tenders by Indian state refiners. Also read: 5 ways India's public sector enterprises can help further climate agenda NATIONAL INTEREST Indian state refiners have also decided not to deal with China Aviation Oil (Singapore), PetroChina and subsidiaries of Unipec among others for fuel imports, and have stopped chartering Chinese tankers for imports, sources said. "There is no impact from the tanker ban and refined fuel imports restrictions as we hardly hire Chinese vessels and our (state refiners') refined fuel imports are also almost nil except for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)," a second source said. Also read: Is environment a speed-breaker to PM Modi's $5 trillion economy plan? State refiners will, however, take delivery of crude in tankers linked to China if the import tender was awarded on a cost, insurance, freight (CIF) basis, where the seller arranges the ships, the sources said. State refiners Indian Oil Corp, Bharat Petroleum Corp, Hindustan Petroleum Corp, Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemical did not immediately respond to requests for comment. CNOOC, PetroChina and Unipec parent Sinopec also did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while China Aviation Oil declined comment. India has surplus refining capacity. Most refiners are operating their plants at below capacity as COVID-19-related restrictions have dented fuel demand. Also read: 159 listed firms' aggregate EBITDA dipped Rs 22,500 crore in March quarter "Nowadays our own requirement is very less, so these new rules are not hurting much. But at some point in time we will definitely be impacted by the new conditions. But we need to think of the larger picture and the national interest, also," a third source said. YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan says he is confident that international organizations spare no effort to return the Armenian military officer held captive in Azerbaijan back home. We are sure that both the OSCE and the International [Committee ] of the Red Cross, relevant organizations of the UN spare no effort in order for the serviceman to be returned, Tonoyan told reporters on August 28 in parliament. Our preliminary assessment is that our serviceman got lost and appeared in the adversarys side. We must yet determine if he was possibly kidnapped or in whatever other conditions he appeared there. Depending on this we will work in different formats in different international organizations, although right now our demand is for at least the International Red Cross representatives in Azerbaijan to visit our serviceman. As of this moment this request hasnt been fulfilled, Tonoyan said. 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. The Azerbaijani media then released a video where Alaverdyan is seen reading a text for the camera. The Armenian Defense Minister contacted Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk and noted that the videos made by Azerbaijan constitute a violation of international humanitarian law. Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan CCI nod for takeover of JB Chemicals, 4 other Indian firms by foreign funds The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the proposal of Tau Investment to acquire shares in J B Chemicals. The proposed combination envisages acquisition of up to 64.90 per cent of the share capital of J B Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Limited by Tau Investment Holdings Pte Ltd. Tau Investment is a company incorporated in Singapore. It is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of KKR Asian Fund III L.P and is an affiliate of funds, vehicles and/or entities managed and/or advised by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co LP, which is an indirect subsidiary of KKR & Co Inc. J B Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Limited is an Indian pharmaceutical company, headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is listed on BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited. CCI also approved the acquisition by Lightstone Fund SA, for and on behalf of Lightstone Global Fund (LGT) of certain equity stakes in 91Streets Media Technologies Pvt Ltd (91Streets), Ascent Health and Wellness Solutions Pvt Ltd (Ascent), API Holdings Pvt Ltd (API), Aahaan Commercials Pvt Ltd (Aahaan) and Lokprakash Vidhya Pvt Ltd (Lokprakash). Lightstone Fund SA is structured as a reserved alternative investment fund and was established as an umbrella fund structure with initially one sub-fund, ie, Lightstone Global Fund. Lightstone Fund SA is managed by its Alternative Investment Fund Manager, ie, LGT Capital Partners (Ireland) Limited. 91Streets is a company incorporated in India and operates on a pan-India basis directly and through its subsidiaries. 91Streets inter alia owns technology and intellectual property required to develop an e-commerce platform (website as well as mobile application), focusing on the sale of medicines and nutraceuticals by retailers/retail pharmacies with valid licences, and diagnostic test package facilities offered by third-party labs. It also owns and develops a tele-medical consultation platform. Additionally, 91Streets subsidiaries are engaged in the wholesale (Business to Business (B2B)) sale and distribution of pharmaceutical products, and sale to pharmaceutical retailers in India and in the provision of logistics delivery and transportation services. Ascent is a company incorporated in India and is operating on a pan-India basis directly and through its subsidiaries. These are inter alia engaged in the (online as well as offline) wholesale B2B sale and distribution of pharmaceutical, over the counter FMCG and nutraceutical products, on a cash and carry basis and in the business of owning and developing an application which provides an order management system for facilitating B2B sales in the pharmaceuticals industry. API is a company incorporated in India and is not engaged in any business. In FY21, API, through its subsidiary, acquired stake in Instinct Innovations Private Limited, which is engaged in the business of developing software and enterprise resource planning solutions for healthcare business as well as non-healthcare space, inter alia, and customised application services for the retail pharmacies on which sales can also be made. Aahaan and Lokprakash do not carry out any business activities and do not have any subsidiaries. ANN ARBOR, MI - After spending an uncharacteristically low key summer in Ann Arbor prior to his senior year at the University of Michigan, Jacob Walraven had almost forgotten the sights and sounds of hundreds of students walking the streets together after arriving back on campus. Spreading out some junk food on a bench outside the campus Diag after an evening of walking around with his small group of friends around 1 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28, Walraven said even the familiarity of having students back cant shake the feeling that things are markedly different on the UM campus this fall. White put together all the ingredients necessary to feed an entire family. With five entrees to choose from, he placed the food items in backpacks that he delivered to the school. These were complete meals, he said. All the ingredients for a family of four enough to feed everyone. Whites service eventually grew to preparing 200 backpacks a week and a flock of volunteers came to help him prepare the meals for delivery. In March, White moved his operation to Deacon Road, where about 70 percent of his volunteer force is made up of current or former educators who White relies on for referrals. The teachers are my recon scouts, said White. Theyre the ones who are identifying hungry families and connecting us as a resource. I tell people, dont call me directly, talk to your counselor, talk to your teacher, and theyll ask for the resources and well get them to you. When the COVID-19 pandemic swept the nation in March and closed businesses and schools, White lost the schools as drop-off points for his meals. Today, he goes door to door delivering them. Three more Rafale jets to land in India from France in non-stop flight 6 Rafale fighters to be flagged off by IAF chief from France Rafale induction: French Defence Minister Florence Parly likely to visit India next month India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Aug 28: French Defence Minister Florence Parly is likely to visit India next month to attend the formal induction ceremony of five Rafale fighter jets into the Indian Air Force (IAF) and hold talks with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh on further boosting strategic ties, people familiar with the developments said on Friday. The induction ceremony of the Rafale jets will be held on September 10 in Ambala air force station in presence of Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and the entire top military brass of the country, they said. The Indian and French sides are in touch with each other on the proposed visit by Parly, they added. HD Revanna tests positive for COVID-19 They said a preliminary discussion on a possible procurement of another batch of 36 Rafale jets by India from France may figure in the talks between the two sides during Parly''s visit here. There has been a view among some officials in the military establishment that the IAF should at least have four squadrons of Rafale jets considering its operational aspects. A squadron comprises at least 18 aircraft. They think it will be the "cheapest option" as the cost of research and development for all India-specific enhancements have already been covered in the previous deal, those aware of the developments said. It is learnt that the French side is also keen on discussing the option of a follow-on order. In a telephonic conversation with Singh on June 2, Parly had conveyed her readiness to visit India to further explore ways to enhance bilateral defence ties. The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in India on July 29, nearly four years after India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to procure 36 of the aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. The jets are yet to be formally inducted into the IAF. Rahul Gandhi's new attack over Rafale deal evokes sharp response from BJP Ten Rafale jets were delivered to India so far and five of them stayed back in France for imparting training to IAF pilots. The delivery of all 36 aircraft is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021. A second batch of four to five Rafale jets are likely to arrive in India by November. The Rafale jets, known for air-superiority and precision strikes, are India''s first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 year after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia. The Rafale jet is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. European missile maker MBDA''s Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and Scalp cruise missile will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets. Meteor is a next generation beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) designed to revolutionise air-to-air combat. The weapon has been developed by MBDA to combat common threats facing the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Sweden. Out of 36 Rafale jets, 30 will be fighter jets and six will be trainers. The trainer jets will be twin-seater and they will have almost all the features of the fighter jets. IPL 2020: CSK bowler and staff members test positive for Covid-19 | Oneindia News While the first squadron of the Rafale jets will be stationed at Ambala air base, the second one will be based at Hasimara base in West Bengal. The new fleet will be part of the 17 Squadron of the IAF which was resurrected on Sep 10 last year. The squadron was originally raised at Air Force Station, Ambala on Oct 1 1951. The 17 Squadron has many firsts to its credit; in 1955 it was equipped with the first jet fighter, the legendary De Havilland Vampire. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 28, 2020, 18:37 [IST] Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 21:58:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry on Friday reported 4,177 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total nationwide infections to 223,612. The new cases included 1,118 in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, 338 in Basra, 293 in Karbala, 280 in Najaf, 273 in Wasit, and 208 in Erbil, while the other cases were detected in the other provinces, the statement said. It also reported 74 deaths during the day, raising the death toll to 6,814, while 3,865 more patients recovered in the day, bringing the total number of recoveries to 164,874. The new cases were recorded after 22,634 testing kits were used across the country during the day, and a total of 1,547,498 tests have been carried out since the outbreak of the disease, according to the statement. Iraq has been taking a series of measures to contain the pandemic since February when the first COVID-19 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 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 putschthe second in eight yearshas once more placed the spotlight on one of Africas 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 countrys 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 Keitas 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 juntas 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 countrys 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 countrys downward economic spiral. Despite international opposition to the coup, analysts say Keitas return to power is now highly unlikely. (AFP) Another circumstance more tangibly affected us: a disparity in social capital and financial resources. Computer science classes, which focused heavily on coding, exposed a technological divide. In the early- to mid-1990s, most homes still lacked a desktop computer; those that did typically owned an IBM-compatible model with word processing and basic software. By the time we graduated high school in 1996, only about 18 percent of Black households owned a computer, as compared with 36 percent for White homes and 49 percent for Asians. Those of us who did not have access to a Mac outfitted with the same computer programming applications used in class faced enormous pressure to complete all of our work during the class period or at lunch, which often meant not eating. The coronavirus pandemic has exposed that this digital divide among communities of color still persists. Co Kildare's 'wet pubs' will have to wait a few more weeks to open their doors for the first time in nearly six months. The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) considered the reopening of pubs that do not serve food at a meeting on Thursday. Previously, the earliest pubs would be permitted to reopen was Monday, August 31st. Following the meeting, acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said we didnt feel that we could recommend today that it would be appropriate for pubs to reopen next week. The matter would be considered again in two weeks time, along with other recent restrictions on indoor gatherings to six people, and 15 outdoors. Speaking on RTEs Morning Ireland, Dr Colm Henry said the increase in cases, plus the 14-day incidence now standing at 33 per 100,000, along with the reopening of schools are strong reasons for pubs to stay shut at this time. He said while controlling the behaviour of people in society is not always possible, the advice remains to avoid crowded indoor settings and minimise social contacts. Dr Glynn said yesterday that the National Public Health Emergency Team considered the issue of pubs that do not serve food at its meeting. But he said given the current epidemiological situation it did not feel it would be appropriate for them to open next week and the situation is being kept under review. Professor Philip Nolan, head of the National Public Health Emergency Team Epidemiological Modelling Group, said the key to suppressing the virus is to stick to the advice from health officials, particularly in relation to limiting social interactions. "We're all going to have to ration the number of people we meet" and "we need to starve this virus of the opportunity to transmit," he added. Fifty-two of the 93 Covid-19 cases reported yesterday are among men and 41 among women. 7,700 Acre Circle A Angus Ranch Being Sold in Multiple Tracts or Entirety Overview of famous "Circle A Angus Ranch" in Stockton, Mo. The ranch is currently for sale by auction. Overview of famous "Circle A Angus Ranch" in Stockton, Mo. The ranch is currently for sale by auction. STOCKTON, Mo., Aug. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The opportunity to own all or part of one of the biggest and longest operating ranches in Missouri is available now via auction. The satellite location of Circle A Angus Ranch will be sold in its entirety or 18 separate tracts ranging in size from 55 to 1,000 acres on Wednesday, September 16, at 10 a.m. Tracts offer potential for cattle ranching, hunting, recreational, country estates and more. Circle A Ranch is a 7,700 acre diverse ranch located in Cedar County and as a cattle ranch features 6,621 acres of established ranchland with 2,400 cow/calf capacity and 1,100 acres of row crop fields. The property for sale is a satellite location for the 24,000 acre main ranch located in Iberia, Mo., which is one of the most widely known brands in the country. It is an industry leader in the development of superior Angus genetics. Tracts are available that are suited for residential development for country homes with acreage, hunting tracts, vacation properties and lake properties as some of the tracts are within a few miles of Stockton Lake. Some tracts could be developed with income potential and further development. This multi-parcel auction will offer 18 separate tracts, combinations of tracts, and then offer the entire ranch as a whole giving buyers the option to buy a single, multiple or the entire ranch depending on final offers. Some of the property features include: Five ranch homes Cattle tight fencing Eleven water wells Two large outbuildings. Miles of buried water line A nine acre lake with numerous other ponds and springs Miles of creeks running though some tracts Excellent deer hunting and wildlife Productive farm land potential This rare opportunity and property will be sold by auctioneer Randie Landwehr of United Country Real Estate | Heartland Realty and Auction in Stockton, Mo. Learn more about the ranch, individual tracts for sale and the auction terms by visiting the ranch website at www.MissouriRanchforSale.com. Story continues About United Country United Country Real Estate is the largest ranch real estate company nationwide and leading, fully integrated network of conventional and auction real estate professionals. The company has been an innovator in lifestyle, ranch, farmland and country real estate marketing since 1925. United Country supports a combined network of nearly 500 offices and 6,000 real estate professionals across the nation, with a unique, comprehensive marketing program that includes the highest ranked and largest portfolios of specialty property marketing websites, the largest real estate marketing services company, an extensive buyer database of over one million opt-in buyers and exclusive global advertising of properties. Attachment CONTACT: Angela Smith United Country Real Estate 816-420-6200 pr@unitedcountry.com N95 respirators, which are widely worn by health care workers treating patients with COVID-19 and are designed to be used only once, can be decontaminated effectively and used up to three times, according to research by UCLA scientists and colleagues. An early-release version of their study has been published online, with the full study to appear in September in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. N95 respirators reduce exposure to airborne infectious agents, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and are one of the key pieces of personal protective equipment used by clinical workers in preventing the spread of the virus. Critical shortages of these masks have driven efforts to find new decontamination methods that can extend their use. Although N95 respirators are designed for just one use before disposal, in times of shortage, N95 respirators can be decontaminated and reused up to three times, But the integrity of the respirator's fit and seal must be maintained." James Lloyd-Smith, co-author of the study and UCLA professor of ecology and evolutionary biology In a controlled laboratory setting, the researchers tested several decontamination methods on small sections of N95 filter fabric that had been exposed to SARS-CoV-2. The methods included vaporized hydrogen peroxide, dry heat at 70 degrees Celsius (158 degrees Fahrenheit), ultraviolet light and a 70% ethanol spray. All four methods eliminated detectable viable virus from the N95 fabric test samples. The investigators then treated fully intact, clean respirators with the same decontamination methods to test their reuse durability. Employees with the National Institutes of Health's Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Montana volunteered to wear the masks for two hours to determine if they maintained a proper fit and seal over the face. The scientists decontaminated each mask three times, using the same procedure with each. The masks treated with vaporized hydrogen peroxide experienced no failures, suggesting they potentially could be reused three times, Lloyd-Smith said. Those treated with ultraviolet light and dry heat began showing fit and seal problems after three decontaminations, suggesting these respirators potentially could be reused twice. The study authors concluded that vaporized hydrogen peroxide was the most effective method because no traces of the virus could be detected after only a 10-minute treatment. They found that ultraviolet light and dry heat are also acceptable decontamination procedures, as long as the methods are applied for at least 60 minutes. The ethanol spray, the scientists discovered, damaged the integrity of the respirator's fit and seal after two sessions, and they do not recommend it for decontaminating N95 respirators. The researchers stressed that anyone decontaminating an N95 respirator should closely check the fit and seal over the face before each reuse. Jacob Blake's sister delivered a powerful speech at the March on Washington's 57th anniversary rally where she ordered Black America to 'stand up' and fight, but urged the public to avoid 'violence and chaos'. Letetra Widman took the stand at the Lincoln Memorial, where Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic, 'I Have a Dream' speech in 1963, and said, 'We will not be a footstool to oppression.' 'Black America, I hold you accountable. You must stand, you must fight, but not was violence and chaos. Learn to love yourself black people. Unify,' Widman said. 'We will not dress up this genocide and call it police brutality. We will only pledge allegiance to the truth,' she added. Her brother Jacob Blake, a father of six, was shot seven times in the back by a white police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Sunday, refueling national outrage against police brutality against black people. Jacob Blake's sister Letetra Widman delivered a powerful speech at the March on Washington's 57th anniversary on Friday where she ordered Black America to 'stand up' and fight, but urged the public to avoid 'violence and chaos' 'Black America, I hold you accountable. You must stand, you must fight, but not was violence and chaos. Learn to love yourself black people. Unify,' Widman said More than 50,000 people gathered on Capitol Hill for the historic gathering where the crowd heard from activists, Rev. Al Sharpton, Widman, and Yolanda Renee King, the granddaughter of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr More than 50,000 people gathered on Capitol Hill for the historic gathering where the crowd heard from Martin Luther King Jr's granddaughter, who vowed her generation will 'fulfill my grandfather's dream'. Activists were joined by the families of police brutality victims including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner. Rev. Al Sharpton, whose civil rights organization, the National Action Network, planned Friday's event, said the objective of the march is to show the urgency for federal policing reforms, to decry racial violence, and to demand voting rights protections ahead of the November general election. Jacob Blake Sr. (center): 'Racism against Trayvon Martin - we find them guilty! Racism against George Floyd - we find them guilty! Racism against Jacob Blake...guilty! And we're not taking it anymore' Jacob Blake, 29, has been left paralyzed from the waist down in Sunday's shooting Outrage over Blake's case continued to grow this week after it was revealed he is now paralyzed from the waist down and was handcuffed to his hospital bed by law enforcement. Jacob Blake Sr. took to the podium after his daughter and said: 'We're going to hold court on systematic racism - guilty!' 'Racism against Trayvon Martin - we find them guilty! Racism against George Floyd - we find them guilty! Racism against Jacob Blake...guilty! And we're not taking it anymore.' B'Ivory LaMarr, the attorney for the Blake family, doubled down on his clients stance and said 'we're tired of talking'. 'We're tried of playing games. 2020 is they year America will be put on timeout. Today, I just want to let you know is the last season of the police version of 'How to Get Away With Murder,' said LaMarr, referencing the popular television show. Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by Officer Rusten Sheskey on Sunday Sheskey grabbed Blake's vest as he was getting into a car and shot him seven times in the back 'We know your playbook. We know your plays,' he continued. 'Step one: claim that you were in fear and find an object so you can justify that you were in fear of a black or brown person. 'Step Two: assassinate that black person and step three: assassinate his character.' Other people who spoke at Friday's march were event organizers Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III, who both called decried racism that has continued to permeate the country. Yolanda Renee King, the 12-year-old granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr., gave a riveting speech that called on young Americans to take their place on the front lines of fighting for equality. Tamika Palmer, the mother of Breonna Taylor and the siblings of George Floyd were also in attendance. In the Sunday shooting, police arrived to the 2800 block of 40th Street in Kenosha after Blake's girlfriend 'reported that her boyfriend was present and was not supposed to be on the premises'. Officers tried to subdue him with a taser before opening fire, authorities said. During an investigation Blake admitted to police that he had a knife and authorities recovered it from the driver's side floorboard of car after opening fire. No other weapons were found at the scene. People gather at the Lincoln Memorial during the 'Get Your Knee Off Our Necks' march in support of racial justice that took place in Washington D.C. on Friday Around 50,000 Americans descended upon the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. for the March on Washington event on Friday Attorney B'Ivory LaMarr: We know your playbook. We know your plays. Step one: claim that you were in fear and find an object so you can justify that you were in fear of a black or brown person' Pictured: Jacob Blake (left) and three of his children 'We will not dress up this genocide and call it police brutality': Jacob Blake's sister demands justice for her brother Letetra Widman, his sister, said: 'We will not pretend. We will not be your docile slave. We will not be a foot stool to oppression,' she said. 'Most of all, we will not dress up this genocide and call it police brutality. We will only pledge allegiance to the truth. 'Black America, I hold you accountable. You must stand, you must fight, but not was violence and chaos. Learn to love yourself black people. Unify.' Jacob Blake Sr., the man's father, said: We're going to hold court on systematic racism - guilty!' 'Racism against Trayvon Martin - we find them guilty! Racism against George Floyd - we find them guilty! Racism against Jacob Blake...guilty! And we're not taking it anymore.' B'Ivory LaMarr, the attorney for the Blake family, added: 'We're tried of playing games. 2020 is they year America will be put on timeout. Today, I just want to let you know is the last season of the police version of 'How to Get Away With Murder. 'We know your playbook. We know your plays,' he continued. 'Step one: claim that you were in fear and find an object so you can justify that you were in fear of a black or brown person. 'Step Two: assassinate that black person and step three: assassinate his character.' Advertisement Jacob Blake's lawyer says paralyzed black man shot by police is no longer handcuffed to hospital bed after he posted bond for an arrest warrant on a sexual assault charge Jacob Blake, the 29-year-old black man left paralyzed after he was shot by Kenosha, Wisconsin, police on Sunday, is no longer handcuffed to his Milwaukee hospital bed. Patrick Cafferty, an attorney representing the Blake family, told WISN-TV on Friday that the felony arrest warrants which stem from alleged crimes that Blake committed before the shooting have been vacated and that deputies were no longer in his hospital room after he posted bond. Kenosha County Sheriff's Department spokesman Sgt. David Wright said on Friday that Blake was handcuffed to his hospital bed because he 'has felony warrants for his arrest from crimes he committed prior to the shooting incident.' Milwaukee County Sheriff's Investigator Scott Still said, 'Mr. Blake posted the bond underlying the arrest warrant, enabling his release from custody. The hospital watch was discontinued immediately after receiving this information from Kenosha authorities.' Scroll down for video Jacob Blake Sr said he was shocked to see his son being handcuffed to his hospital bed The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office told The Associated Press that all hospitalized patients in police custody are restrained unless undergoing medical procedures and that it's working to 'ensure a safe and humane environment for Mr. Blake.'' A reporter asked Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers about the handcuffs Thursday during a news conference. 'The Sun-Times is reporting that Jacob Blake is handcuffed to his hospital bed. Does that concern you?' the reporter asked. 'Hell, yes. I would have no personal understanding why that would be necessary. 'Certainly, he's paid a horrific price already being shot seven or eight times in the back. I can't imagine why that's happening,' Evers said. At the time that police in Kenosha responded to a domestic disturbance call from Blake's girlfriend on Sunday, there was an outstanding warrant for Blake's arrest. Blake was wanted in connection with a domestic abuse call from earlier this year. He faces charges of third-degree assault, trespassing and disorderly conduct in connection to an alleged domestic abuse incident on July 6. A woman Blake knew has alleged that Blake came into her house at about 6am, sexually assaulted her, and then took a debit card and car keys before fleeing in her vehicle, according to a criminal complaint. In 2015, Blake was charged with a gun-related offense in Racine, Wisconsin, but it did not result in a conviction. The officers who responded to the Kenosha residence near the location of the shooting on Sunday appear to have been warned by the dispatcher to be on 'alert at this address for a ninety-nine.' In police code, 10-99 can refer to a wanted suspect, according to CNN. It's unclear whether the officers knew the exact circumstances of the outstanding warrant against Blake when they arrived at the residence. Earlier on Friday, Blake's father revealed the news that his son was handcuffed to his bed at Froedtert Hospital. Outrage spread quickly at the news, and people demanded Kenosha police remove the handcuffs. 'How the f**k do you handcuff Jacob Blake that you paralyzed to a hospital bed after you shot him in the back seven times?' tweeted Rashida Tlaib, congresswoman for the neighboring state of Michigan. Tony Evers, governor of Wisconsin, was asked if he's concerned about Blake being handcuffed. 'Hell yes,' he said. 'I would have no personal understanding why that would be necessary. 'I can't imagine why that's happening and I would hope that we would be able to find a better way to have him get better and recover.' Jacob Blake Sr told the Chicago Sun Times that he had just been to see his son in hospital. 'I hate it that he was laying in that bed with the handcuff onto the bed,' he said. 'He can't go anywhere. Why do you have him cuffed to the bed?' Blake also asked what he had been arrested for, and received no answer. The Blake family attorney, Benjamin Crump, said it would take a 'miracle' for Blake to recover use of his legs. 'The medical diagnosis right now is that he is paralyzed, because those bullets severed his spinal cord,' he said at a press conference on Tuesday. 'He will need a miracle to walk again. He is currently in surgery as we speak, to try and save his life. And return to some semblance of the man he once was.' Crump's legal partner, Patrick Salvi, confirmed that a bullet went through his spinal cord. He had bullets in his stomach, and had to have almost his entire colon removed. He had a bullet in the kidney, and in the arm. 'He has a long road to recovery,' said Mr Salvi. When Blake, 29, saw his father in the hospital Wednesday, he thought he was hallucinating because he could not believe what he was seeing, according to his father. 'I told him, 'You thought Daddy wasn't going to see my son?' his father said. 'He grabbed my hand, held it real tight and started weeping, telling me how much he loved me.' Though his son's eyes were swollen, the elder Jacob Blake said he 'looked and sounded like' his son, and he's alive. Seeing him in the hospital was like walking across a desert to find someone waiting with a glass of water, his father said. 'It was way more than fulfilling,' his father said. 'It was a feeling I can't describe.' Renatto Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor, said: 'Jacob Blake was shot in the back multiple times and is paralyzed from the waist down. 'What possible justification could there be for handcuffing him to his hospital bed?' Wesley Lowery, correspondent for 60 Minutes, said he had just spoken to Blake's uncle, who was deeply distressed by the handcuffing of his nephew. 'One thing the family is particularly upset about the uncle just gave me a call to make sure I had noted this in our interview is that Jacob Blake, shot seven times and paralyzed, has been handcuffed to his hospital bed,' Lowery said. Tlaib, member of the 'squad' and congresswoman for neighboring Michigan, was outraged The former head of the civil rights division for the DoJ said: 'I have no words' Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotto asked: 'What possible justification' could there be 60 Minutes correspondent Wesley Lowery said that Blake's family was deeply upset Rusten Sheskey, the police officer who shot Blake in the back, is a seven-year veteran of the Kenosha Police Department. Sheskey, 31, has been put on administrative leave while Wisconsin officials investigate the confrontation caught on video. Sheskey, a member of the department's bicycle squad, long aspired to a law enforcement career and once described police work as 'a customer service job, and the public is our customer.' On Thursday officials announced that the National Guard will send troops from three additional states - Arizona, Alabama and Michigan - to Kenosha to assist with operations there. GRANTS PASS, Ore., Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Grants Pass Downs, Oregon's premier horse racing track, has announced dates for its Fall 2020 Race Meet, with opening day set for Monday, September 14. The meet will feature 18 dates, with race days scheduled every Monday and Tuesday through November 10. Building on the momentum of Grants Pass Downs' successful summer racing season, the total purses for the Fall Meet will exceed $1 million at an average of $60,000 per race day. First post each day will be at 4 p.m. PST. The track will officially open for training on August 31. To ensure the health and safety of all participants during the meet, COVID procedures and protocols will be in effect. All Grants Pass Downs employees will be required to wear a mask or facial covering, and masks will be strongly encouraged for everyone on premises. There will also be a 200-person limit on the number of patrons admitted on racing days. In advance of the summer meet, Grants Pass Downs made key adjustments to ensure racing operations could be conducted with public safety top of mind, and it will continue to prioritize the protocols recommended by the CDC and Oregon public health officials. Physical spaces have been adjusted to promote social distancing standards, hand sanitizers are readily available throughout the facility, and staff will conduct temperature checks and COVID screening for attendees. "Grants Pass Downs is building on a successful Summer Meet, and we look forward to continued growth this fall," said Randy Evers, president of Grants Pass Downs. "Our teams have been focused on improving our facilities to ensure our fall racing program runs safely and efficiently for all our horsemen, spectators and horses. We're ready and excited to host another outstanding season of racing." Grants Pass Downs welcomes Luckii, which will sponsor this fall's Sprint Series. The Luckii.com Sprint Series will consist of three races, to be held October 5, 19 and November 3, and will feature three-year olds and upward with $15,000 in added purse money on the line. Veteran race caller Jason Beem is set to return as track announcer for all 18 fall dates. Racing fans will be able to hear him and tune into the simulcast of each race at ten off-track betting locations around Oregon, as well as connect and play through TVG Network and other advance-deposit wagering (ADW) websites. A list of participating ADW sites is available on Grants Pass Downs' website at https://gpdowns.com/wagering/. ABOUT GRANTS PASS DOWNS Located at the Josephine County Fairgrounds, Grants Pass Downs has hosted live pari-mutuel horse racing since 1968 and is now home to the largest race meet in the state of Oregon. More information about Grants Pass Downs can be found at www.gpdowns.com. Media Contact: Pete Johnson, Finn Partners [email protected] (503) 546 7880 SOURCE Grants Pass Downs Related Links http://www.gpdowns.com Hanoi's biggest overpass at the Hoang Quoc Viet-Nguyen Van Huyen crossroad in Cau Giay District opened to traffic this morning after 10 months of construction. The total investment on the project was more than VND560 billion (US$24.03 million) sourced from the citys budget. With a length of 278m and 16m in width, the overpass has 10 lanes, including four for motorised vehicles on the upper bridges and six mixed vehicles lanes in the ground-level roads. Pedestrians, non-motorised vehicles, trucks, tractors higher than 3.5m are not allowed on the overpass' upper bridges, they would drive in the ground-level roads as directed by the traffic signs. Vice chairman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee Nguyen The Hung said the overpass would help handle the narrow section on Nguyen Van Huyen Street - a major traffic jam spot in Hanoi, which has existed for 23 years, with a high number of vehicles, thereby increasing traffic capacity, reducing congestion, and facilitating vehicles moving through the Belt Roads No 2.5. He requested the project management board to immediately handover items for pavements, trees, lighting, technical infrastructure, roads and overpasses for units to manage and ensure traffic safety as well as maintain. This is a key traffic project of the city in the 2016-2020 period to solve traffic congestion at the intersection between Nguyen Van Huyen and Hoang Quoc Viet streets and is expected to help further complete the city's transportation network - especially between the three urban districts of Bac Tu Liem, Cau Giay and Tay Ho, and improve the service sector and economic development in the area. The flyover has been built at a cost of VND560 billion, all of which is sourced from the citys budget. The construction of the newest piece of infrastructure serves as one of Hanois key transport projects for the 2016-2020 period. It is anticipated that the flyover will reduce traffic congestion whilst facilitating vehicles moving easier through belt roads No.2 and No.3. Workers put the final touches on the flyover as they complete construction on the transport project on August 27. In total, the flyover measures 278 metres in length and 16 metres in width. The flyover will help to promote greater socio-economic development in the districts of Cau Giay, Tay Ho, and Bac Tu Liem. Approximately 1,500 trees have been planted along Nguyen Van Huyen street as part of the project. Construction on the flyover first began on October, 2019. Leaders of the Hanoi administration cut the ribbon on August 28 inaugurating the flyover at the Hoang Quoc Viet and Nguyen Van Huyen intersection. The completion of the latest construction project is part of activities throughout the capital in celebration of the 75th anniversary of Vietnams National Day, which falls on September 2. Hanoi Party Secretary Vuong Dinh Hue cut the ribbon to inaugurate the flyover. This is one of the largest flyovers in Hanoi. Hanoi officials attach a signboard to the work Hanoi Party Secretary Vuong Dinh Hue presents a certificate to the project owner. Thanh Nam Photo: VOV/VGP/VNS POETRY Navigable Ink Jennifer Mackenzie Transit Lounge, $24 Navigable Ink, inspired by the life and work of the great Indonesian novelist Pramoedya Ananta Toer, also impressionistically re-casts into poetry episodes from his writings on Indonesias complex history. Jennifer Mackenzies earlier volume Borobudur meditated on that Buddhist monument through its architect, and here she transmits Pramoedyas vigilant dissidence, often through his novel Arus Balik (The Turning of the Tide), set in 16th-century Indonesia, that she has also partly translated. Credit: Mackenzies ekphrastic (describing a work of art) poetry draws out the tantalising correspondence between an implacable edifice or oeuvre and the trials and vision of its creator encased in time. Similarly, contrasts are recurrently noted between idealism and actuality, between nature and profit: a single orchid bloomed.../ for occidental propagation, / for a lifetime behind conservatory glass (Bogor), a bucolic radiance / which a painter trained in genre / might have pronounced / timeless.(Before Nightfall). Navigable Ink starts with Before Nightfall and ends with Dawn as Mackenzie draws us in to this riven history and then back to Pramoedyas own origins. Amid lyrical descriptions of unvarnished nature, she inserts sites of exploitation: Girl from the Coast (from a short story based on Pramoedyas grandmother) portrays a young girl sold to her Dutch overlord as a practice wife but soon abandoned into poverty; Kalimantan witnesses the poisonous 2019 fires and continuing environmental destruction: palm oil plantations to the horizon / to the azure oceans of // PLASTIC. Leaked pages from the iPad Air 4 manual suggest the tablet will include Apple's TouchID technology integrated into the top power button for the first time. The leak originated on the Chinese social media platform Xiahongshu but was shared on Twitter by relatively new Apple leaker DuanRui. The four images appear to be from a Spanish language version of the manual and show an edge-to-edge screen similar to the iPad Pro. There is no mention of Apple's FaceID technology used on the iPhone, but it does show a picture of a longer than usual power button and instructions to use it to unlock the device through TouchID. The leak originated on the Chinese social media platform Xiahongshu but was shared on Twitter by relatively new Apple leaker DuanRui Other pages of the manual reference a USB-C connector on the device rather than a Apple's own Lightning port - and a Smart Connector to attach a keyboard. No date has been confirmed, although several known Apple leakers have suggested a new iPad version is due for release before the end of this year. Jon Prosser claimed to know that Apple will release an unspecified iPad in September via a press release - which could be this new iPad Air 4. If the manual is real - and it has yet to be verified by another source - it points to one of the biggest updates yet for the iPad Air range. It would not have a traditional home button, allowing the device to have a full screen similar to recent iPhones and the iPad Pro. Rather than integrating an expensive TouchID camera system, Apple appear to have created a novel TouchID sensor integrated into the top button. Only limited snippets of text are available on each of the four pages, but one piece clearly visible translated to 'Touch ID with the top button to unlock the iPad Air.' The iPad Air is the mid-range version of the Apple tablet family - above the iPad Mini and iPad but below the iPad Pro. There is no mention of Apple's FaceID technology used on the iPhone, but it does show a picture of a longer than usual power button and instructions to use it to unlock the device through TouchID. Rather than integrating an expensive TouchID camera system, Apple appear to have created a novel TouchID sensor integrated into the top button No details have been revealed about the screen sizes but previous leaks have suggested that Apple is working on a 10.8-inch iPad Air due later this year. Switching from Lighting to USB-C would be another major departure for Apple. It would bring the Air inline with the more expensive iPad Pro and its Macbook range of laptop computers which already have USB-C ports. An earlier rumour, shared by DuanRui claimed that Apple would be putting a Lightning to USB-C cable with iPhone 12 models - suggesting more of the firm's devices would be moving to the globally standard connection. The four images appear to be from a Spanish language version of the manual and show an edge-to-edge screen similar to the iPad Pro It will likely come with the upcoming iOS 14 preinstalled but details of the internal chipset and camera are 'hard to say', according to Apple experts. The current iPad Air 3 was released more than a year ago - in March 2019 but instead of releasing a new iPad Air in March 2020 Apple released an iPad Pro. So a new version of the mid-range tablet is overdue, according to Apple commentators - who say one is expected towards the end of this year. According to Trusted Reviews, it isn't possible to properly predict the price of the iPad Air 4 until it is announced, but would likely be in line with previous models. Leaker Komiya suggests the top end model of the device could be around $649. A family has been left heartbroken after callous thieves have stolen their cats. Hertfordshire police are investigating the incident which saw the two valuable Ragdoll cats - Yeti and Cloud - stolen from the Pages Farm Stables cattery in Elstree last week. Officers believe the theft took place over night between August 19 and August 20. A family have been left 'heartbroken' after they found out their cats had been stolen from a cattery. Police are investigating the burglary from Pages Farm Stables in Dagger Lane, Elstree The cats are worth 1,000 each and the family have put out appeals on social media, offering a substantial reward for anyone who finds the cats. Her mother Kate Simon told the Enfield Independent: 'The cats are part of our family. We feel bereft. 'They are ragdoll cats but they are known to be very affectionate. They have been a source of relaxation, wellbeing, comfort. 'We just want the cats back. We want to whatever we can to bring them home. Our three children are devastated.' Celebrity couple Rochelle and Marvin Humes have expressed support for the family, taking to social media to urge the criminals to return the much-loved pets. Hertfordshire Police officer PC Shazia Malik, who is investigating, described the family as heartbroken and said the young children are desperately missing their pets. The cats' identical carriers were also stolen from the farm where the cats were staying Ragdolls are a pointed breed - meaning they have a relatively pale body with darker markings on the face, ears, tail or legs - and they are known to be gentle, calm and sociable. Yet and Cloud, who are both microchipped, have been described as red/flame point, meaning they have pale ginger markings on their back, face, paws and tail. If you can help, call the non-emergency number 101 or email PC Shazia Malik at shazia.malik@herts.pnn.police.uk quoting crime reference 41/66756/20. Information can also be reported online at herts.police.uk/report or by contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org. A Pennsylvania University professor has renewed calls for officials to investigate claims that Donald Trumps faked his admission test to get into the school. Eric W. Orts, along with six other staff members, first called for a probe in July this year after allegations made in a book by the presidents niece, Mary Trump. Ms Trump claimed that her uncle paid someone else to sit his entrance test to Pennsylvania in 1966, having transferred there from Fordham University, where he studied in the two years previous. While accepting that the allegations were concerning, University officials decided against a probe, saying that the alleged incident took place too long ago for a meaningful enquiry to take place. Mary Trump said she recorded conversations with the presidents sister, Maryanne Trump Barry, which backed up the claim that he cheated the test. Recommended Mary Trump has a stark warning about the chance of a Trump dynasty At the weekend, The Washington Post published audio of that recording, which Prof Orts says constitutes new evidence, worthy of an investigation. Mary Trump said it was a man named Joe Shapiro, a student at Pennsylvania, who took the presidents test. The White House has has dismissed the audio recordings of Maryanne Trump Barry, branding them sibling rivlarly. According to Mr Trumps former fixer, the disgraced lawyer Michael Cohen, the president ordered him to to threaten his high school, his colleges and the College Board to never release his grades or SAT scores. Mr Trump has frequently boasted that he was a stellar student, but he declined throughout the 2016 campaign to release any of his academic records, telling The Washington Post then: Im not letting you look at anything. In 2018 Mr Trump suggested he was first in my class at the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton business program, where he finished his undergraduate degree. But his name does not appear on the schools deans list or on the list of students who received academic honours in his class of 1968. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment The FBI has arrested a Russian tourist in America, who investigators say offered a Tesla employee $1 million to infect company computers with malware in a scheme to steal data and extort payment from the company. Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov, 27, was arrested last week in Los Angeles and federally charged with conspiracy to damage a protected computer, after the Tesla employee alerted the company and the FBI. Elon Musk on Thursday confirmed that the target of the attack was Tesla, which was identified in charging documents only as 'Victim Company A.' 'This was a serious attack,' Musk said in a tweet responding to an article by Teslerati identifying the electric car maker as the foreign hacker group's target. Elon Musk on Thursday confirmed that the target of the attack was Tesla, which was identified in charging documents only as 'Victim Company A' According to prosecutors, Kriuchkov first had 'contact' with the male Tesla employee in 2016, but had not been in touch until recently sending a WhatsApp message saying that he planned to visit the U.S. The Russian arrived in the United States on a tourist visa on July 28. Kriuchkov rented a car in San Francisco and drove to Sparks, Nevada, the location of Tesla's Gigafactory 1, according to a criminal complaint. The Russian met with the employee several times, lavishing the person with drinks and dinners, and going on an excursion to Lake Tahoe, the complaint states. Eventually, Kriuchkov revealed that he was working on a 'special project' and offered to pay the Tesla employee $1 million to assist. Prosecutors say that Kriuchkov's 'special project' was to introduce malware into the companys computer network. The malware would supposedly provide Kriuchkov and his co-conspirators with access to the companys system, allowing them to extract data from the network and then threaten to make the information public, unless the company paid their ransom demand. Investigators say that Kriuchkov provided the employee with a burner phone to communicate with other unidentified members of the plot, and instructed him to leave the burner phone in airplane mode until after the money was transferred. But instead of taking the money, the employee alerted officials at Tesla, who contacted the FBI. Kriuchkov rented a car in San Francisco and drove to Sparks, Nevada, the location of Tesla's Gigafactory 1, according to a criminal complaint FBI agents were surveilling as Kriuchkov met with the employee again, and boasted of the list of companies that his hacker group had similarly targeted and extorted in the past, according to the complaint. Cybersecurity experts say that certain ransomware groups, such as Evil Corp, are believed to act as contractors for the Russian government, raising the possibility that Kriuchkov could potentially provide valuable information to U.S. counterintelligence officials. It is not immediately clear which hacker group Kriuchkov is allegedly associated with. Experts also say that traveling to the U.S. to bribe an employee is a very unusual method for foreign hacker groups, raising the possibility that the scheme was more than the extortion scam it purported to be. 'Cybercrime groups make billions from the (relative) safety of their own countries, so why did one choose to stick its neck out in the case of Tesla and come to the US to attempt face-to-face bribery?' asked Brett Callow, a threat analyst with cybersecurity firm Emsisoft, in an email to DailyMail.com. He continued: 'Was this, perhaps, an act of espionage dressed up to look like extortion? Was the real objective to obtain Teslas [intellectual property]?' CHICAGO - A man known for his love of skateboarding, a Texas transplant to the state and a college student acting as a volunteer medic were killed or wounded this week by a 17-year-old gunman during a night of protests on the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Kyle Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Illinois, has been charged with fatally shooting two protesters and wounding a third. Attorneys representing Rittenhouse have said he acted to defend himself. Kenosha County prosecutors said in court records this week that the first person shot around 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday has been identified as Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha. Prosecutors said Rosenbaum followed Rittenhouse into a used car lot, where he threw a plastic bag at the gunman and attempted to take the weapon from him. The medical examiner found that Rosenbaum was shot in the groin, back and left hand. The wounds fractured his pelvis and perforated his right lung and liver. He also suffered a superficial wound to his left thigh and a graze wound to his forehead. Friends have told local media that Rosenbaum was originally from Texas and previously lived in Arizona before moving to Wisconsin this year, where his young daughter lives. According to his Facebook page, he worked at a Wendys restaurant in Kenosha. The Associated Press was unable to reach family members by phone this week. Rittenhouse then ran down the street and was chased by several people shouting that he just shot someone before he tripped and fell, according to the complaint and video footage. Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, was shot in the chest after apparently trying to wrest the gun away from Rittenhouse, the complaint said. Hannah Gittings, Hubers girlfriend, told WBBM-TV that he pushed her out of the way before chasing after the man others on the street had identified as the shooter. Hubers friends gathered at a Kenosha skate park this week to remember him and his passion for skateboarding. According to court records, Huber had a skateboard in his right hand and used it to make contact with Rittenhouses left shoulder as they struggled for control of the gun. Other protesters remembered Huber on Wednesday night near the spot where he was shot, and Gittings told the group that he was an amazing person. He took down an armed gunman with nothing but his (profanity) skateboard, Gittings said, according to the Chicago Tribune. The Kenosha News reported that local protest organizers said both Rosenbaum and Huber had participated in demonstrations this spring and summer, beginning with the May death of George Floyd after a Minnesota police officer pressed his knee into the handcuffed mans neck. They came out here every time with us, said Porche Bennett, a Kenosha resident who has organized protests. Sweet. Loving. They were the sweetest hearts, souls. I called Anthony my hippie guy. They were sweet guys. Bennett said she was particularly grateful to Huber, who stood in front of her when authorities used tear gas during protests outside the Kenosha County Courthouse this week. The third man to be shot was wounded in the left arm. Court records said Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, appeared to be holding a gun when he approached Rittenhouse after he shot at Huber. Grosskreutz is an activist who volunteered as a medic during the Kenosha demonstrations, according to Milwaukee activist Bethany Crevensten. She said Grosskreutz was part of a group of roughly two dozen activists who have demonstrated around Milwaukee in the wake of Floyds death and went to Kenosha to protest. Grosskreutz, who was wearing a backpack and cap labeled paramedic, was shot in the arm, Crevensten said. He was a hero and he is a hero, she said. Grosskreutz, of West Allis, was recovering after surgery and was not yet giving interviews, Crevensten said this week. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Grosskreutz is a senior at Northland College in Ashland and the college registrars office said he is set to graduate in December. The paper also reported that he previously worked as a special events co-ordinator, wilderness medical instructor and sea kayak guide at Lost Creek Adventures in Cornucopia, according to an online LinkedIn profile. The company offers kayak tours, rentals and programs on wilderness skills within the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. A senior living facility in Midland was among 11 in the state that was sent a cease and desist letter this week for charging residents a COVID fee. However, the management company, Senior Village Management, which owns Independence Village in Midland, has stated it will be reversing the action that prompted the letters from the attorney general's office. Director of Marketing Irina Olgart of Senior Village Management, LLC, told the Daily News Friday that they have been in contact with the attorney general and that they will not be charging the fees. What we would like people to know is for those who have paid, we have taken action to credit them back and we are not charging going forward, she said. On Thursday, Aug. 27, a press release was shared that stated 37 senior living facility residents, or their families, had filed complaints with the Michigan Department of Attorney General after the residents were charged a $900 supplemental COVID-19 fee at Independence Village of Brighton (Senior Living Brighton LLC) and at StoryPoint Portage (Senior Living Portage LLC). A senior official with the company told the attorney generals office that the one-time fee was to partially offset cost increases attributed to the COVID-19 response, including charges for meal service, personal protective equipment and cleaning services. The official also said residents who were upset by the fee and pushed back were told they did not have to pay it, bringing into question the fairness of a fee ultimately borne only by those too trusting or afraid to resist its imposition, the announcement stated. However, the AG office stated this could potentially violate the Michigan Consumer Protection Act (MCPA). The attorney general alleges the charging of this fee was inconsistent with the residents leases, and implicates the following unfair trade practices under the MCPA: Causing a probability of confusion or of misunderstanding as to the legal rights, obligations, or remedies of a party to a transaction; Failing to reveal a material fact, the omission of which tends to mislead or deceive the consumer, and which fact could not reasonably be known by the consumer; Causing coercion and duress as the result of the time and nature of a sales presentation; and Making a representation of fact or statement of fact material to the transaction such that a person reasonably believes the represented or suggested state of affairs to be other than it actually is. This prompted Nessels office to send cease and desist letters to 11 facilities along with their parent and management companies. The letters were sent Tuesday to Brighton-based parent company CSIG Holding Co. LLC, its facility management company, Senior Village Management LLC, and the facilities, which are located in Brighton, Petoskey, Plymouth, Oxford, Midland, Grand Ledge, White Lake, Rockford, Chesterfield and Saline. A letter was also sent to Senior Living Portage LLC, which had a different registered agent but is part of the CSIG Holding family. The operators have 10 days from receipt of the cease and desist letter to respond or face a formal investigation and potential legal action from the Attorney Generals office. The operators may also sign an agreement requiring they cancel and refund the $900 fees to residents and make assurances that they will not violate the MCPA again, among other terms. This pandemic has caused financial strain for many people and businesses in Michigan, but that does not provide companies with the right to impose unauthorized costs on their customers and clients especially those in our senior communities and others who are already living on a fixed income, Nessel said in the announcement. As attorney general, I am bound by duty to ensure our laws are enforced, and it as my responsibility to protect our vulnerable populations and all Michigan residents from unlawful actions. On Wednesday as Joe Biden took his oath of office the world came crashing down around the adherents of the QAnon conspiracy theory. It had been foretold in the conspiracys prophecy that there would come a day when all the prominent Democrats and other elite "Satanic pedophiles" would be arrested and executed. For weeks that day had become Joe Bidens inaugural, Trump would declare martial law and members of the military seize those assembled. Trump did not. He instead boarded Air Force One after a small send-off at Joint Andrews Base and headed to Florida. QAnon followers were left in dismay as their savior Trump had not stayed on as president and his enemies in the "deep state" would not be punished. Some members began to change the narrative saying that really Joe Biden is part of Trumps the plan to take down the global cabal. Others simple woke up and smelled the coffee with one saying, Weve been had. What is QAnon? QAnon followers espouse an intertwined series of beliefs, based on anonymous web postings from 'Q,' who claims to have insider knowledge of the Trump administration. A core tenet of the conspiracy theory is that US President Donald Trump is secretly fighting a cabal of child-sex predators that includes prominent Democrats, Hollywood elites and 'deep state' allies. QAnon, which borrows some elements from the bogus 'pizzagate' theory about a pedophile ring run out of a Washington restaurant, has become a 'big tent' conspiracy theory encompassing misinformation about topics ranging from alien landings to vaccine safety. Followers of QAnon say a so-called Great Awakening is coming to bring salvation. How has it spread online? The 'Q' posts, which started in 2017 on the message board 4chan, are now posted on 8kun, a rebranded version of the shuttered web board 8chan. QAnon has been amplified on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, the video streaming service of Alphabet Inc's Google. Media investigations have shown that social media recommendation algorithms can drive people who show an interest in conspiracy theories towards more material. Conspiracy theorist QAnon demonstrators protest their belief in child trafficking on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. KYLE GRILLOT (AFP) A report by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) found that the number of users engaging in discussion of QAnon on Twitter and Facebook have surged this year, with membership of QAnon groups on Facebook growing 120 percent in March. Researchers say that Russian government-supported organizations are playing a small but increasing role amplifying the conspiracy theories. QAnon backers helped to organize real-life protests against child trafficking in August and were involved in a pro-police demonstration in Portland, Oregon. QAnon also looks poised to gain a toehold in the U.S. House of Representatives, with at least one Republican candidate who espouses its beliefs on track to win in the November elections. What are social platforms doing about it? Twitter in July said it would stop recommending QAnon content and accounts in a crackdown it expected would affect about 150,000 accounts. It also said it would block QAnon URLs and permanently suspend QAnon accounts coordinating abuse or violating its rules. One badge short... | Querdenker Q buttons lie in a bin for sale at a gathering of coronavirus skeptics on the eve of a planned protest march on August 28, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. Sean Gallup (Getty Images) Facebook in August removed nearly 800 QAnon groups for posts celebrating violence, showing intent to use weapons or attracting followers with patterns of violent behavior. It has also imposed restrictions on the remaining 1,950 public and private QAnon groups that it found. Facebook said it plans to ban ads that promote or reference QAnon, and it does not allow QAnon pages to run commerce shops. A spokeswoman for the short-form video app TikTok said QAnon content 'frequently contains disinformation and hate speech' and that it has blocked dozens of QAnon hashtags. A Reddit spokeswoman told Reuters the site has removed QAnon communities that repeatedly violated its rules since 2018, when it took down forums such as r/greatawakening. A YouTube spokeswoman said it has removed tens of thousands of Q-related videos and terminated hundreds of Q-related channels for violating its rules since updating its hate speech policy in June 2019. YouTube also said it reduces its recommendations of certain QAnon videos that 'could misinform users in harmful ways.' It does not have a specific ban on monetizing QAnon content. ISD researchers found that about 20 percent of all QAnon-related Facebook posts contained YouTube links. Reviews of major e-commerce sites Amazon.com Inc and Etsy Inc show sellers listing QAnon-branded items ranging from books to T-shirts and face masks. Diamantaire Mehul Choksi moves Dominica high court to quash proceedings against him Mehul Choksi gets bail by Dominica HC, can travel to Antigua for medical treatment Diamantaire Mehul Choksi lands in Antigua, Barbuda after getting bail in Dominica Punjab Congress infighting: Amarinder Singh, Navjot Singh Sidhu meet party MLAs for next plan of action Considering return to India to prove innocence: Mehul Choksi Mehul Choksi moves Bombay HC seeking to keep in abeyance ED's fugitive proceedings Delhi HC dismisses Mehul Choksis plea seeking pre-screening of Netflix series India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Aug 28: The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed a plea by Mehul Choksi, an accused in the nearly USD 2 billion PNB scam, to conduct pre-screening of Netflix documentary, 'Bad Boy Billionaires'. Justice Navin Chawla, after hearing the matter for over two hours, declined to grant relief to Choksi saying a writ petition for enforcement of a private right cannot be maintainable. The court said his remedy lies in a civil suit and granted him the liberty to raise the issue in a civil suit. Why has Mehul Choksi moved HC against Netflix original Bad Boy Billionaires Choksi, the promoter of Gitanjali Gems, and his nephew Nirav Modi are accused in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case. Flight rules: Banned from flying if you remove mask & more news | Oneindia News Choksi left the country last year and was granted citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda. The documentary, Bad Boy Billionaires', which is scheduled to be released in India on September 2, is described on Netflix platform as, "This investigative docuseries explores the greed, fraud and corruption that built up - and ultimately brought down - India's most infamous tycoons". The plea was pre-screening of the documentary was vehemently opposed by Netflix. As more details emerge surrounding the police shooting of Jacob Blake, who remains hospitalized, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul is refusing to answer questions on whether officers knew beforehand that Blake had a knife. "We're not commenting on that detail at this point in the investigation. Mr. Blake stated to investigators that he had a knife in his possession and there was one that was found on the driver's side floorboard," Kaul told ABC News' Cecila Vega in an interview Friday on "Good Morning America." When pressed on why he declined to elaborate, Kaul doubled down. "This is an ongoing investigation and we are not commenting on facts that may be disputed as this case moves forward," he said. "Ultimately, this case is going to be presented after a full and thorough investigation to a prosecutor who is going to make a charging decision. And if there is a charge or charges that are filed in this case, this is going to be tried in a court of law and it's our top priority to make sure we're protecting the integrity of this investigation." MORE: Authorities identify Kenosha cop who shot Jacob Blake, say Blake had knife Late Friday, the Kenosha Professional Police Association said not only did officers know Blake had a knife, but he was holding it in his left hand and ignored "repeated commands" to drop it. Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot by police in broad daylight on Sunday in Kenosha, Wisconsin, about 40 miles south of Milwaukee. Cellphone video taken by a witness shows three police officers following Blake around his SUV, and at least one of them is seen shooting Blake multiple times in the back as he opened the driver's side door and entered the vehicle, where his three young children were still inside. The Wisconsin Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation, which is leading the probe into the incident, released new details in a statement Friday morning, identifying the officers involved and revealing that they tried twice using a stun gun on Blake while attempting to stop and arrest him but that those efforts failed. Story continues PHOTO: In this September 2019 selfie photo taken in Evanston, Ill., Adria-Joi Watkins poses with her second cousin Jacob Blake. (Adria-joi Watkins via AP) According to the statement, officers from the Kenosha Police Department were dispatched to a residence Sunday, after a female caller reported that her boyfriend was there and "was not supposed to be on the premises." After the initial attempt to arrest Blake, Officer Rusten Sheskey deployed a stun gun to stop him. When that attempt failed, Officer Vincent Arenas also deployed a stun gun but "that taser was also not not successful in stopping Mr. Blake," the statement said. Blake then walked around his car, opened the driver's side door and "leaned forward," according to the statement. Sheskey, who has been with the Kenosha Police Department for seven years, fired his gun seven times into Blake's back while holding onto his shirt, according to the statement. No other officer fired their weapon, the statement said. MORE: Jacob Blake paralyzed by police shooting, father says The Kenosha police union disputed several facts released by the Department of Justice late Friday, though it's not clear what they are basing the information on. In addition to the possession of the knife, the union also said police officers were called to the scene for a complaint about Blake stealing the caller's car or keys and he was not breaking up a fight between two women as the Blake family contends. Officers "immediately provided medical aid" to Blake, who was then flown to a hospital in Milwaukee, according to the statement. Blake's family told ABC News he is currently paralyzed from the waist down but that doctors hope the paralysis is temporary. When taking questions from reporters at a press conference Wednesday night, Wisconsin Department of Justice officials would not say whether Blake was the person who the female caller said was at her home. PHOTO: Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey, a seven-year veteran of the Kenosha Police Department in Wisconsin has been identified as the officer who shot Jacob Blake on Aug. 23, 2020. (Wisconsin Department of Justice) During the investigation following the initial incident, Blake "admitted that he had a knife in his possession," according to the statement. Investigators recovered a knife from the driver's side floorboard of Blake's vehicle. No additional weapons were found, according to the statement. The officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave. The Kenosha Police Department does not have body cameras, according to the statement. The officer who deployed the second stun gun, Arenas, has been with the Kenosha Police Department since February 2019, with prior service with the United States Capitol Police. A third officer was also present at the scene, Officer Brittany Meronek, who joined the force in January, according to the statement. The police union claimed "the officers involved gave Mr. Blake numerous opportunities to comply. He chose not to. None of the officers involved wished for things to transpire the way it did. It is my hope that truth and transparency will help begin and aid in the healing process." PHOTO: Kenosha Police Officer Vincent Arenas has been identified as one of the Wisconsin officers who deployed a taser at Jacob Blake before Blake was shot on Aug. 23, 2020. (Wisconsin Department of Justice) Prominent civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who is one of the lawyers representing Blake's family, said Blake was attempting to de-escalate a domestic incident when police drew their pistols and stun guns on him. He said Blake was walking away to check on his children when police shot him. Crump told ABC News that Blake's family is calling for the officers involved in the shooting to be terminated from the police force and charged with attempted murder. Blake is handcuffed to his hospital bed, his father, Jacob Blake Sr., told ABC News. A warrant was issued on July 7 for Blake's arrest on sexual assault and domestic abuse charges, yet it is unclear at this time if that is why he was handcuffed. The family said he was uncuffed Friday afternoon after the warrant was vacated. He is still facing the charges. The union said police officers arriving on the scene were already aware of the warrant for felony sexual assault against Blake. MORE: Tens of thousands set to march in 'Get Your Knee Off Our Necks' protest The police shooting has sparked widespread demonstrations in Kenosha and other U.S. cities. The civil unrest in Kenosha led to cars and buildings being set on fire. Police in riot gear have deployed tear gas, flash bangs and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds. Blake's family has repeatedly called for peaceful protests. PHOTO: Demonstrators protesting the shooting of Jacob Blake march through a neighborhood on Aug. 27, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) A man shot three people near a gas station in Kenosha late Tuesday, amid a third night of protests. Two of the victims died from their injuries while a third was taken to a hospital with "serious, but non-life-threatening injuries," according to the Kenosha Police Department. The violence prompted President Donald Trump and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers to mobilize additional members of the National Guard to Kenosha. MORE: Authorities issue citywide curfew after police shoot Black man in Wisconsin Cellphone video from Tuesday night's protests shows a white man, brandishing a semiautomatic rifle, running past police and being chased by demonstrators. The armed man trips and falls, and he appears to open fire on protesters. He then is seen running away. The alleged gunman, identified as 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, surrendered to authorities in Antioch, Illinois, before dawn Wednesday, according to Antioch Interim Police Chief Geoff Guttschow. Rittenhouse was arrested based on a warrant issued by authorities in Wisconsin's Kenosha County, charging him with first-degree intentional homicide. He's also being held on a charge of "fugitive from justice," for purposes of extradition to Wisconsin, Guttschow said. PHOTO: Kyle Rittenhouse, center, with cap on backwards, walks along Sheridan Road in Kenosha, Wis., Aug. 25, 2020, with another armed civilian. (Adam Rogan/AP) Charges against Rittenhouse were officially filed in Wisconsin on Thursday, including two homicide counts and one attempted homicide count. He was also charged with two counts of recklessly endangering safety and possession of a dangerous weapon by a juvenile. John Pierce, one of the attorneys who has been retained to represent Rittenhouse, told ABC News that they "will obtain justice for Kyle." MORE: Wisconsin gunman charged, allegedly shot protester 5 times Rittenhouse, who faces five felony charges, wasn't physically present for his initial court appearance in Illinois on Friday morning, when his lawyers asked to delay a decision on whether he should be returned to Wisconsin to face charges. The judge agreed to postpone Rittenhouse's extradition hearing to Sept. 25. ABC News' Andy Fies, Fergal Gallagher, Sabina Ghebremedhin, Will Gretsky, Ahmad Hemingway, Joshua Hoyos, Whitney Lloyd, Josh Margolin and Alex Perez contributed to this report. Wisconsin attorney general won't say whether Kenosha police knew Jacob Blake had a knife before shooting him originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Kenosha, Wis. Prosecutors on Thursday charged a 17-year-old from Illinois in the fatal shooting of two protesters and the wounding of a third in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during a night of unrest following the weekend police shooting of Jacob Blake. Kyle Rittenhouse faces charges of first-degree intentional homicide, one count of first-degree reckless homicide, one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. He would face a mandatory life sentence if convicted of first-degree intentional homicide, the most serious crime in Wisconsin. The attack late Tuesday largely caught on cellphone video and posted online and the shooting by police Sunday of Blake, a 29-year-old Black father of six who was left paralyzed from the waist down, made Kenosha the latest focal point in the fight against racial injustice that has gripped the country since the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. Kenosha police faced questions about their interactions with the gunman on Tuesday night. 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 yelled for him to be arrested because he had shot people. As for how the gunman managed to slip away, Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth has 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. Video taken before the shooting shows police tossing bottled water from an armored vehicle and thanking civilians armed with long guns walking the streets. One of them appears to be the gunman. The national and state chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday called for the resignation of Beth and Kenosha Police Chief Dan Miskinis over their handling of Blake's death and the subsequent protests. Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Illinois, about 15 miles from Kenosha, was taken into custody Wednesday in Illinois. He was assigned a public defender in Illinois for a hearing Friday on his transfer to Wisconsin. Under Wisconsin law, anyone 17 or older is treated as an adult in the criminal justice system. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Rittenhouse's attorney, Lin Wood, said the teenager was acting in self-defense. Cellphone footage shows the shooter being chased into a used car lot by someone before shots are heard and the person lies dead. The shooter then runs down the street where he is chased by several people shouting that he just shot someone. He stumbles after being approached by several more people and fires, killing another man and injuring a third. The two men killed were Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, and Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake. A third man was injured. Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, of West Allis, is recovering after surgery. Authorities in Srinagar have tightened security in some parts of the city especially around business nerve centre Lal Chowk to ensure that Muharram processions are not taken out on Saturday. The processions have been banned because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Late Thursday night, police started closing roads towards the city centre Lal Chowk by placing barbed wire and barricades. Similar steps were also taken in other parts of the city like Batamaloo, Karan Nagar, Dalgate and Rainawari areas. But shops and business establishments in other parts of the city are functioning as usual. Earlier on Thursday, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole had ruled out any chance of allowing Muharram processions. Restrictions will continue on all religious processions and gatherings in all districts, Pole said during a meeting with Shia groups. Traditionally, a procession used to be taken out from Guru Bazar to Dalgate area of the city on the eighth day of Muharram before militancy erupted in the Valley. Authorities have not allowed a procession on this route for almost 30 years now. On several occasions in the past, security forces scuttled Muharram processions in Batmaloo, Jahangir Chowk, Abi Guzar and Dalgate by using tear gas shells. On Tuesday night, police arrested two persons in Srinagar for allegedly raising Azadi slogans during a Muharram procession. China's MoD Says Recent Drills Don't Target Any Country Sputnik News 08:05 GMT 27.08.2020(updated 08:40 GMT 27.08.2020) The day before, the South China Morning Post reported that the country's military had fired two missiles, including an "aircraft-carrier killer", into the South China Sea on the morning of August 26, "sending a clear warning to the United States". The Chinese Defence Ministry stated on Thursday that its recent drills don't target any country. Over the course of August, China has conducted a series of drills in the South China Sea region. Most recently, the country fired two missiles into the South China Sea in an act of "warning" to the United States after a US spy plane trespassed into it army's no-fly airspace. The missiles included a DF-26B dual-capability missile, launched from the northwestern Qinghai province, and a DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile, launched from the eastern coastal Zhejiang province. According to the source, both were fired into an area between Hainan province and the Paracel Islands. Prior to the launch, the Chinese Defence Ministry said that a US U-2 reconnaissance aircraft entered restricted airspace where the Chinese Army fired live ammunition. The intrusion purportedly disrupted a regular military exercise and violated the international norms of the safe sea and air conduct. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chennai: Tamil Nadus cumulative COVID-19 case count on Thursday surpassed the 4-lakh mark, including 3.43 lakh recoveries and 6,948 casualties. One lakh new cases were added to the state tally in the last 17 days. Over the last two months, daily cases in Tamil Nadu have been hovering in the sub-6000 range while Chennai has been witnessing about 1200 cases in a day. The laboratories in the state have tested about 45 lakh samples thus far. Tamil Nadu is among the few states that havent done away with the E-Pass system for travel as it had opted to permit more restrictions starting August. It was from August 17 that the state government had started instantly approving, offering E-passes for inter-district travel without scrutiny. The state has also been rigid on continuing with the E-pass system for both inter-district travel and inter-state travel (pass issued after scrutiny). The state government has maintained that the E-Pass system is necessary to trace the travelers and identify the contacts if and when they get infected. Recently, the Home Ministry had instructed states to ensure that the pass system is abolished, to ensure the free movements of persons and goods between states, as a part of the Unlock strategy. On Thursday, Chief Minister K Palaniswami had said that a call would be taken on the E-pass system on Saturday when he is expected to preside over a meeting of District Collectors and health department officials. Currently, Tamil Nadu has allowed companies to work with 75% of staff in attendance, hotels to function with 50% dine-in capacity, E-commerce delivery of all items, etc. While gyms and all kinds of standalone shops are permitted to be open, shopping malls, swimming pools cinema halls, parks, beaches, and other public spaces remain shut. The government has also strictly prohibited all kinds of religious gatherings, rallies, and places of worship. Only small places of worship that earn less than Rs.10,000 per year have been allowed to stay open. So far, even inter-district and inter-state bus services remain suspended. However, limited trains and flights alone are operating. HUGER Patrick Richardson wouldn't mind quitting his regular job. It's not that he doesn't like it. Even as the 32-year-old Berkeley County native describes shaping molten metal at the Nucor Steel plant during the graveyard shift, he still talks positively about his coworkers and the work environment. But his true fulfillment is a mile down the road, at the stables. He puts on his cowboy boots, a blue polo shirt with the emblem R&R Racing and hoists a bridle on one of his racehorses. He takes her out, carefully connecting her reins to the training line. He washes her down. He feeds her. This is what he wants to do full time and it's more than Richardson's side hustle. This is his passion, this is his vocation. Richardson is a winning racehorse owner and trainer. His six quarter horses have raced in more than six states and he's making a name for himself on the track. He's also making money, and has netted more than $783,000 in winnings as of August. Horse racing is a storied sport, and South Carolina's equestrian roots run deep. It's the state where Secretariat's South Carolina groomer, Eddie Sweat, and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame trainer Lucien Laurin made history in Holly Hill. In 1734, the first jockey club in the United States was founded in Charleston. The famous Camden Cup and Charleston Steeplechase events have become notable races in the American racing circuit. It's also an opulent hobby. It often requires owners to have deep pockets and a lot of backers to hire the best staff to care for their expensive and well-bred investments. Richardson is a blue-collar guy. But that hasn't stopped him. His staff and ownership group is his family. His two brothers, his dad and his friend Maurice Perry all have an ownership stake in R&R (Richardson and Richardson) Racing. They work, train, travel, win and, sometimes, lose as a family. "A working man couldn't afford it all," Richardson said. "So, we got the whole family in on it. Other teams and other owners aren't going to be hands-on all the time. But we can do that." Additionally, horse racing owners are overwhelmingly White, while Richardson is Black. As dialogues about race and equality continue to grip the nation, the horse racing community is also trying to reckon with diversity. "In terms of racial diversity, we have a lot of work to do to cultivate a more diverse ownership group and a more diverse industry organization," Dora Delgado, the executive vice president and chief racing officer of the Breeders Cup, said in a statement this June. "As we work to change our sport for the better, we should be continuously engaging the Black and Latino communities in conversations about their opinions of the racing industry," she conceded. Patrick Richardson's father, Henry, said they've noticed the inequality firsthand at various racetracks. "As African Americans, we stick out at the track," he said. "But this group, they set an example. We're winning. You couldn't tell me 10 years ago that we'd make money racing a horse." They've learned to cut through the noise and the distractions. The family has made a big splash in the horse racing world and, with a little more luck and a lot of hard work, Richardson thinks they'll soon be at a point where R&R Racing can't be ignored. Eyes on the prize Richardson knows that owners like to have fun at the track. They come with their suits, their cigars and their whiskey. But he can't be distracted. He gets dialed in. He's focused. "I can't sleep the night before a race," he said. "I've got to get up early and get out to the barn and think it all through." He grew up going to various match races around South Carolina with his uncle. He always liked it, but he never thought he'd be a part of it. When most people think of horse racing, they think of the Kentucky Derby or hit movies like "Secretariat" and "Seabiscuit." But there are different kinds of horse racing. Richardson's racing is different. He races quarter horses. Think of the Kentucky Derby like NASCAR: a large lap around a track where people are aiming for position. Quarter horse events are like drag racing. It's all about speed, quickness and pure explosive horsepower. Quarter horse racing takes place at some of the same tracks as thoroughbred racing. Horses rip down a quarter-mile of track at distances ranging from 100 yards to 440 yards. It's not uncommon for horses to reach speeds upward of 50 mph. There's usually about a dozen horses per race and they gallop the track in less than 21 seconds on average. Money is raised through gambling odds and betting something that is unlawful in South Carolina as well as prize money held at each track. Richardson's horses have made headlines for impressive performances on the track with the help of professional trainer Joe Davis. Most notably, his 5-year-old gelding, Stone Cold Leader, has had sweeping success. Richardson bought the horse for $10,000. To date, Stone Cold Leader has netted more than $500,000 in winnings. In one race in March 2019, Stone Cold Leader forged ahead of his 10 rivals under Richardson's jockey, Rolando Pina, finishing by 1 lengths in 19 seconds. Its hard to describe how good he is, Pina said after the race. Hes the best one I have ever ridden." And Richardson's luck hasn't run out yet. Just last month, Richardson's 2-year-old filly, Sheza Freight Train T, won The Lassie Futurity at Delta Downs Racetrack Casino in Vinton, La. She covered 330 yards in 16 seconds racing on a sloppy track. The All-American Dream For the Richardson family, the money is a bonus. Henry Justin Richardson, Patrick's brother, said they've gotten to travel far outside of little Huger in Berkeley County. They've been to casinos and racetracks from Indiana to New Mexico. "We take about four trips each year as a family," Henry Justin said. "It's not about the money. It's about keeping us all together." Patrick Richardson wants to start boarding horses at his stable in Huger and, ideally, it would double as a small training ground for his horses and others. He knows chasing prize money isn't profitable, especially when there's feed, straw and vet bills to think about. "I always say you have to make money without winning races," Richardson said. "To keep money, you have to be thinking differently." He still has a lofty goal: He wants to compete for the All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs Race Track in New Mexico. The quarter horse event has a purse of $3 million and is the richest race for 2-year-olds of any breed in North America. "We ain't far from it," Richardson said. "We could run it today, but we want to be able to win it. And I know we can someday." Church youth leader indicted on over 80 counts of sexual abuse Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A youth leader for a Delaware church was indicted on more than 80 counts of sex abuse stemming from sexual relationships he had with two teenage girls who attended his youth group. John C. Sapp Jr., a 34-year-old from Hartly who served as a youth leader at Maranatha Fellowship of Dover, was recently indicted following a confession to his pastor in February. A spokesman for Delaware's Department of Justice told WBOC on Tuesday that the charges include 33 counts of Unlawful Sexual Contact Second Degree, 29 counts of Sexual Abuse Of A Child By A Person Of Trust First Degree, 13 counts of Rape Fourth Degree Sexual Intercourse Victim Less Than 18 Years Old, and seven counts of Rape Fourth Degree Sexual Penetration Of Another Person Without Consent. Sapp was also charged with three counts of Sexual Abuse Of A Child By A Person Of Trust Second Degree, two counts of Continuous Sexual Abuse Of A Child, and two counts of Loitering On Property Of A State- Supported School, College, Or University. We're awaiting a scheduling order from the courts with respect to case review and trial, said DOJ spokesman Mat Marshall, according to WBOC. Sapp confessed to inappropriately touching a minor in a meeting with a pastor on Feb. 13. Following the meeting, another teenager stepped forward claiming sexual abuse. According to court documents reported on by the Delaware News Journal, one of the victims told Delaware State Police that she and Sapp had a secret relationship that began in October 2017 when she was 15 and ended in June 2019. The second girl told police that she had had a secret sexual relationship with Sapp that went from January 2019 until January of this year, beginning when she was 16 years old. The sexual acts between Sapp and his two victims allegedly occurred at multiple places, including his house, his truck, the parking lot of the Dover Campus of Delaware Technical Community College, the church property, and even on a youth group camping trip, reported the News Journal. Maranatha Fellowship of Dover was founded in 1996 and is affiliated with the Conservative Mennonite Conference. Sapp preached at least one sermon there in December 2013. Laird exclaimed: Oh God! Bailey, youve done it; youve killed me! according to the newspaper account. Bailey fired two more shots at him and two at his wife but without effect. The wife hung on to Laird and tried to save him from her husbands wrath. (Laird) managed to walk about two rods out through the gate and down the sidewalk, where he fell. As Hurricane Laura approached the Gulf Coast on Wednesday night, many in the Houston area hoped predictions of a near miss would come true. While the prospect of a Category 4 hurricane is worrying for anyone, for thousands of Houston residents who have yet to recover from Harvey it is terrifying. Imagine the thicket of government agencies through which theyve had to navigate since Hurricane Harvey. Aid for homeowners trying to recover from Harvey has come in various forms: FEMA individual assistance, Small Business Administration loans, charitable home-repair programs and the city of Houstons Homeowner Assistance Program. The citys program is funded by federal grants distributed to the states through Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Relief, which is in turn administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. These funds aim to permanently repair homes damaged by the disaster, make repairs to government buildings and property, and fund planning studies and other disaster efforts. According to HUD guidelines, they are supposed to assist low-income people in particular, but many of the poor, Black and brown households still working to recover have seen no assistance at all. After two years of waiting, and experiencing next to no recovery, a group of frustrated residents joined together this past October to form the Harvey Forgotten Survivors Caucus. They received staff support from Texas Housers, West Street Recovery and other HOME Coalition members. Although the caucus is fed up with the entire recovery system, the group is especially irked by the citys homeowner assistance program because, despite having applied for HoAP help almost a year earlier, most of them had not heard back, and none have yet received material assistance. For some members, the lack of response was creating dangerous living situations that were only getting worse as Harvey faded from the citys consciousness. Juanita Hall Nearly three years after Harvey, the lifelong home of caucus member Juanita Hall, 59, is still completely uninhabitable and a health risk to her brother who stays there to protect the property. Her home is located in the 100-year floodplain in Superneighborhood 46: Eastex-Jensen. She lived there with her brother and mother before Hurricane Harvey. Their mother passed away three months before the storm. Juanita looks at this as a blessing; she knows her mother would have been devastated to see her home in its current condition. During the storm, the water level rose around two feet inside the house, but Juanita and her brother did not evacuate. She slept on the couch for eight days before she started seeing mold grow up the walls and went to stay with relatives. After spending the small amount she received from FEMA to muck and gut her home and make minimal repairs, Juanita set out to find charitable assistance to help with further repairs. Doors closed everywhere she turned; nonprofit eligibility standards screened her out. Other rules presented new barriers: Because FEMA estimated her chance of flooding was at least 1 percent per year, her applications were denied. Another reason may have been new city rules requiring homes that had sustained damages of more than 50 percent of the structures value be elevated. This requirement pushes costs and technical expertise so high that most charitable organizations will pass, preferring to help with lots of smaller repairs over helping just a few big ones. Luckily, Juanita is not navigating this ordeal by herself. After meetings between the caucus and the Housing Department and innumerable calls with staff at the citys home assistance program, Juanita has had a health-and-safety escalation status placed on her file. This is good news, but its likely to be six months or more before contractors can get to her home. When she heard about the delay, one caucus member, Sandra Edwards, offered to have Juanita stay with her. Then, she remembered that the front room of her mostly repaired home still doesnt have AC. Sandra Edwards Sandra, who lives in Supernieghborhood 55: Greater Fifth Ward, has also been frustrated in her attempts to fully recover. Although West Street Recovery made the home safe and livable, Sandra is still hoping the citys program can complete her home. Because Sandras house is still in probate, she doesnt yet have clear title to it. That and the associated tax debt have prevented the city from providing her with assistance. Many other Black and brown applicants are in the same situation and while the recovery funds were supposed to connect applicants like her with lawyers, help has been absurdly slow. Sandra was finally scheduled to appear in probate court on Aug. 25 with the help of Lone Star Legal Aid, but for reasons she doesnt know, the date was delayed another month. To make matters worse, having her home in heirship means that she is not eligible for a homestead exemption. This is causing her to fall behind on taxes. Sandra feels that without the caucus supporting her, things would probably be worse. You want to know what shows the caucus works? she asked. My life! Thats proof right there! In late August, two caucus members, Mark Rubio and Lawrence Hester, proceeded to chip away at necessary repairs that had been paused at the peak of COVID-19 infection. Doris Brown As the third anniversary of Harvey approached, caucus members joined their weekly call to evaluate the status of the recovery process, express frustrations about the authorities that should be repairing homes and devise a plan to help each other. Lifelong activist Doris Brown, 70, who has lived in the Scenic Woods neighborhood for over 50 years, said, The programs are no good. Weve still got people living in mold. While this injustice is infuriating, it also motivates, and the caucus imagines ways the recovery system could be improved. But small changes wont be enough. Improving the recovery and making it more equitable will require much more bravery from our political leaders and much more attention to the unjust recovery from the general public. To win that needed attention, and to build pressure for change, the group ventures to build its own power to get its members out of application purgatory. One strategy involved a dangerous and moldy home tour at the house of member Lawrence Hester, 59. While the housing department was slow to react, the demonstration did gain the attention of workers with the Episcopal Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, which agreed to fund repairs on the home. Collective strength Overall, the group believes that the forgotten survivors are best positioned to understand the urgency and complexity of the situation and therefore should have more power to shape the execution of the citys homeowners assistance program. We have been through it all. We flooded, we have mold, we understand that the program doesnt work, Rubio explained. They already feel the results of their collective effort. If one mosquito comes at you, you just swat it away, Sandra explains. But when they come as a swarm, you're gonna get bit. Theres nothing you can do. And thats what we have to be. Members say that the Harvey Forgotten Survivors Caucus demonstrates that people, often portrayed as powerless or a burden, can help each other survive and navigate bureaucracy. They hope that the model of their collective advocacy and self help can spread to other cities and issue areas. In the world the caucus is fighting for, those who need the most help after storms would receive help first, and everyone would have a safe and dignified home. No neighborhoods would be left behind. This world is possible, but there is a long way to go. For now, the group will continue pushing for a just recovery from Harvey and storms that are sure to come, and keep taking care of each other like family. Orduna is community navigator in disaster recovery with Texas Housers, a nonprofit that supports ground-level advancement of housing policy and neighborhood improvement. Hirsch is a community organizer and policy advocate for the grassroots disaster recovery organization West Street Recovery, based in Houston. Bengaluru, Aug 28 : Three employees of a Scheduled Tribes welfare corporation in the city have been arrested and Rs 83 lakh unaccounted money seized from them, an official said on Friday. "On a reliable tip-off we received on the three employees' activities, we have raided their office to recover the unaccounted money and arrested them," Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Jain told IANS. Police arrested Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Schedule Tribes Development Corporation General Manager S. S. Nagesh, office superintendent P. D. Subbappa and assistant general manager Manjula. The three government employees have been arrested under Sections 7 a, 8, 13 (1) (C) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988. Incidentally, the police are yet to find who bribed the employees. "We are still probing who paid the bribe and for what purpose," said Jain. Police did not find all the Rs 83 lakh in the office itself. Of the recovered money, Rs 22.65 lakh was found in the ST development corporation, Rs 32.8 lakh at the residence of Nagesh and Rs 27.5 lakh in Subbappa's home. As the protocols of ACB require that an FIR has to be registered before proceeding with a case, Jain said the department registered an FIR on Wednesday. Later, after procuring a search warrant, they raided the ST development corporation office in Vasanth Nagar on Thursday, resulting in the recovery of the money. "In ACB, we have to develop our own sources of information, verify the credibility of information, book an FIR first and then take a search warrant. In other police departments, you directly raid and then book and FIR," he said. Though the real purpose of the bribe is yet to be established, police are suspecting that the trio could have taken the money for some contract. All the three accused were produced in court and taken into police custody. 2020 began a decade that I think will be defined by irony. Ill skip over the prominent political examples and jump right into social media and drill down to focus on Facebook. Last week we ran a survey asking people which of the CEOs that were questioned by Congress last month is the most trustworthy. Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg took the dubious prize for last place. Tim Cook of Apple was voted the most trustworthy of the four CEOs. Online survey of ECT News Network visitors conducted Aug. 3 10, 2020 These results reveal overwhelmingly that issues of trust exist for these big tech company leaders across-the-board. With that said, I think this survey and Zuckerbergs image showcases an incredible level of incompetence, particularly given that Facebook appears to be tied so deeply to the amount of fake news that is currently surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak and I believe it will eventually lead to the mother of all class-action lawsuits against the company. If you think about it, you have a CEO of a company that is structured to mine user information and manipulate opinion, and a firm that still mostly sells hardware. There shouldnt be any competition; Facebook has the tools and information access to assure it is beloved. Yet Apple, which doesnt have anywhere near that level of reach nor engagement, has a far better image. Lets talk about ironic incompetence this week, and well close with my product of the week: a stand-alone Microsoft Teams appliance that belatedly makes the video phone real (sort of). The Potential Power of Facebook For those that participate on Facebook, the company has data on you that is unprecedented. It knows when you were born, where you like to vacation, where you work, your title, your close friends (at least those on Facebook), what makes you mad, and what makes you happy. Facebook knows much of what you buy, who you are likely to vote for, and it likely knows who you voted for in past elections. With the level of information Facebook collects on you, it could manipulate you, emulate you, and either do you great harm or, potentially, help you out a great deal. Harm could include aggregating comments youve made over time to make you appear sexist or racist. Doing you well could include making you visible in a positive way to those that have some control over your career or might be convinced to give you a job offer. There is also little doubt Facebook has the capability to change the outcome of an election or change the impression of a sitting politician. It can also help keep you safe by pointing out false information that puts you at risk, or it can (as Facebook did in my case) spread information that could put your life at risk. With that kind of massive power, the person running the company needs to be trustworthy, because, if he or she isnt, we are not only in a world of hurt individually, but likely in a world of hurt as a nation. I believe that by the end of the year it is very likely that well conclude that, for the good of the nation, Facebook will need to be shut down and it doesnt need to end that way. A D V E R T I S E M E N T With Great Power With high power comes great responsibility is one of the most memorable Stan Lee Spiderman quotes, and that is hard to argue with. What we often talk about is the abuse of power and the other well-known quote, power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Facebook has an unprecedented amount of power, and it has the potential to be a great force for good in the world. Instead, it the company has chosen a very different path, and Mark Zuckerberg is seen as the face of that problem. The ideal person to run a company like Facebook is someone who both understands the technology that Facebook uses and the social science underneath human interaction. That grants the core skills to steer the company; but if we want the company to do good rather than evil with the power, the person leading the company needs some other skills. The leader must understand strategy to assure long-term outcomes. They need empathy so they are less apt to harm intentionally or by accident, they must have a strong ethical core, and the person needs to be successfully charismatic. Together these attributes would assure the company is run by someone that people trust, and is trustworthy, and that Facebooks power isnt used to abuse people. As TikTok is exemplifying, if a social media service is seen as a threat, a government can ban it. There is a decent chance that enough people will see Facebook as a problem during both the pandemic and the coming election that a more serious effort to shut down the service along with other social media properties will result. Thats on top of the possible class action litigation over false information tied to folks who now arent socially distancing. Fast forward a year, and I doubt there will be a jury pool or judge that did not lose someone due to this false information being spread on social media. Since Facebook is at the heart of this issue and appears to have deep pockets, itll be an extremely attractive target, particularly given how poorly Zuckerberg does in testimony. Discovery to Judgement I was reminded last week of how advanced discovery tools had become when I was briefed by Celebrate, who has one of the newer class of AI-driven solutions. I expect internal emails, notes, and employee social media posts will showcase that a large number of Facebook employees have been concerned with the firms spread of false medical (and other) information. This information should build a case for intentional gross negligence that, in turn, will be tied to the historic death toll we are likely to see by year-end. I, and other Facebook users, have been actively trying to fight this false information. But we dont have the tools or scale that Facebook enjoys, and when we lose loved ones, as a result, we are likely to make credible and motivational statements about Facebooks culpability. Its not just the deaths directly connected to not wearing masks and socially distancing. Millions of people could become insolvent by the end of next month, suicides are on the rise and likely not to peak before year-end, and divorces are expected to spike in the coming months. A large percentage, if not most, of these outcomes, should be partially tied to the spread of critical false information on Facebook. In short, once we can again open the courts, Facebook is on the shortlist of companies likely to be blamed for the avoidable severity of this pandemic. This outcome is not only because it had the power, but it failed to use it to stop the dissemination of false information, but Facebook will be shown to have profited from the spread. Wrapping Up: Facebook Needs a New CEO If Facebook doesnt step up to the challenge (and frankly it may be too late) of using the incredible power it has responsibly and for the good of its users, it is likely to be put down much like what may happen to TikTok. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Zuckerberg may find that even his extreme wealth isnt enough to cover the liability he has accrued. The company desperately needs a new face and better leadership to both fully utilize the potential of a social media platform at scale, and to assure it is a force for good and not partially responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths and the millions of devastated people we are likely to be talking about by the end of 2020. The firm needs to be run by someone trusted and trustworthy, and that isnt Mark Zuckerberg. Not even close. I first got excited about video conferencing in the mid-60s after seeing the AT&T exhibit at Disneyland. The future was coming, and it sure as heck took a lot longer than anyone expected for this technology to catch on. With the pandemic, the need to replicate in-person meetings with video technology has become the go-to solution for most of us. However, using your laptop to do a video call and also to do work is problematic because you are consuming your limited screen real estate for both note taking and the call itself. It makes multitasking, where you are listening to a meeting while catching up with your work, far more difficult. But if you take the call on separate hardware, like a phone, your laptop remains untouched, and you can continue to function much like you would with a hands-free phone call. That is what the Lenovo ThinkSmart View does. Tied to Microsoft Teams, which is fast becoming the new enterprise standard for video collaboration; this is an affordable (US$349.99), easy-to-use device that is dedicated to video calls. Reviews by Microsoft Teams users have generally been positive. However, there have been issues with the camera placement being too low, and the lack of support for other collaboration platforms like Zoom or WebEx. (The video conferencing industry is on a 40-year whirlwind effort to improve interoperability.) Lenovo ThinkSmart View The ThinkSmart View is a first-generation product, but it did borrow from Lenovos impressive digital assistant design. You do need a business Teams license to use it properly and, while it has a great speaker, you may find pairing a set of headphones works better to both keep the background noise down and limit how much you annoy your spouse. For the right user and business, the ThinkSmart View could be an ideal tool to connect remote employees more solidly with their teams and management. As a result, the ThinkSmart View is my product of the week. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ECT News Network. Australia's three biggest states are calling for major changes to NAPLAN tests, including moving it from year 9 to year 10, holding it at the beginning of the school year and adding a test of critical and creative thinking in STEM subjects. They also want to rebrand the tests, and overhaul the often-criticised writing component in which student performance has decreased almost every year since the test began. But they stopped short of calling for an end to standardised testing. Education ministers from NSW, Queensland, Victoria and the ACT commissioned the report last year, saying the test needed improving. But the review and its recommendations are not supported by the federal government, which mandates NAPLAN as a condition of its school funding. Education ministers want a major overhaul of NAPLAN. Credit:Adam McLean NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the disruption caused by COVID-19 and the cancellation of this years NAPLAN provided an opportunity for reform. August 27, 2020 News By JIM GARAMONE , DOD News Defense.gov Esper Discusses Moves Needed to Counter China's Malign Strategy The international, rules-based system that has brought security and stability to much of the globe is under duress, Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper said in Honolulu today. Esper said China is threatening the basis for prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, and like-minded nations must band together. Allies and partners are crucial in this new era of great power competition, Esper said at a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies. The United States recognizes the dangers and is reaching out to nations around the globe to counter China's moves. That U.S. network of allies and partners "remains the enduring asymmetric advantage we have over near-peer rivals, namely China, that attempt to undermine and subvert the rules-based order to advance their own interests often at the expense of others," he said. Great power competition is the foremost threat facing the globe, and the United States has made it the foundation of the National Defense Strategy promulgated in 2018. "One of the goals that drives our implementation of the [strategy] is to focus the department on China," he said. The Defense Department has taken a number of steps including the creation of a new policy office to counter China. There is now a China strategy management office to integrate DOD efforts to deter China. The National Defense University has shifted its curriculum with 50% of the coursework concerning China. He also decreed that the services make China "the pacing threat" in all DOD schools, programs and training. "These efforts are critical to preparing our military's future leaders for tomorrow's challenges," he said. The Chinese Communist Party not the people rule China, and the leaders in Beijing have repeatedly fallen short of their promises, and China does not abide by international laws, rules or norms, Esper said. This is despite continuing to reap the benefits of the international system and free markets. The Communist Party also reneges on commitments it made, including promises to safeguard the autonomy of Hong Kong and not to militarize features in the South China Sea, the secretary said. "Beijing's self-serving behavior is not isolated to just the Indo-Pacific region," he said. "Increasingly, our like-minded partners around the world are experiencing the CCP's systematic rule-breaking behavior, debt-backed economic coercion and other malign activities meant to undermine the free and open order that has benefitted nations of all sizes China included." Fishing fleets with no care for the ecological and economic damage they create around the world are an example of China flexing its muscles. Beijing has failed to uphold its obligations under the World Trade Organization. Chinese leaders also hampered global efforts to control the coronavirus pandemic due to its lack of transparency with the World Health Organization, Esper said. There are direct military implications to the Chinese attitude. "To advance the [Chinese Communist Party's] agenda, the People's Liberation Army continues to pursue an aggressive modernization plan to achieve a world-class military by the middle of the century," the secretary said. "This will undoubtedly embolden the PLA's provocative behavior in the South and East China Seas, and anywhere else the Chinese government has deemed critical to its interests." The PLA does not serve the people or swear an oath to a constitution but is the military arm of the Communist Party. It is in league with attempts to undermine rules and norms across the globe, including Djibouti, Sri Lanka, Latin America and Africa. "Clearly, China seeks to undermine the free and open order itself, which impacts every nation supporting and benefitting from this system," he said. DOD's answer to this is preparedness, strengthening alliances and partnerships, and promoting and expanding a network of like-minded partners. The United States is focusing on modernizing the force to deter, compete, and, if necessary, fight and win, across all domains: air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace, Esper said. "Thanks to our largest research and development budget in the department's history, we are prioritizing the development and deployment of game-changing technologies, such as hypersonic weapons, 5G and artificial intelligence," he said. "We are also investing in platforms critical to the future of a free and open Indo-Pacific, such as submarines, B-21 stealth bombers, P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, unmanned underwater and surface vehicles, long-range precision munitions, integrated air and missile defense, and a new class of frigates." But it is not just equipment. DOD is developing a new Joint Warfighting Concept for the 21st century. Part of that is making the U.S. military more strategically predictable to our partners, and operationally unpredictable to our competitors, Esper said. "These efforts prepare our military for future conflicts that we hope we won't need to fight, but must and will be prepared to win," he said. Allies and partners are key in this struggle. DOD must assist countries across the region to develop their national security policies, strategies, plans, and laws. "This type of work with nations such as Bangladesh, Mongolia, the Philippines and several Pacific Island nations has helped put like-minded partners on a path toward greater preparedness, enabling them to become more confident in their sovereignty," he said. Allies and partners provide an asymmetric advantage adversaries do not have. "Our shared security concerns and desire to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific have yielded countless bilateral and multilateral initiatives throughout the region aimed at strengthening and expanding defense cooperation and alignment," Esper said. Part of this process is through an improved and expanded foreign military sales program. "By streamlining the FMS process, we have lowered costs and accelerated our response time to partner nation requests, allowing us to deliver critical capabilities more quickly and effectively," he said. The United States is working with long-established allies, including Australia and Singapore, and with other nations in South Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania. Bilateral alliances are good, but multilateral efforts are better. Promoting a more networked region encourages the growth of inter-connected security partnerships, Esper said. This is a force multiplier for nations that share U.S. interests. "As we continue to implement our Indo-Pacific strategy, the United States needs our allies and partners to contribute in ways that are fair and equitable," the secretary said. "We need them to pursue close alignment in policies that uphold a free and open order, and reject decisions that would benefit malign actors to our collective detriment. And, we need them to make the necessary investments to improve their capabilities so that, together, we can safeguard our interests, strengthen our readiness, and defend our sovereignty and values." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton have opened the door to Christchurch mosque killer Brenton Tarrant being deported to Australia, saying the priority was to keep him behind bars forever. Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 29, was sentenced on Thursday to life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to 51 charges of murder, 40 charges of attempted murder and a charge of committing a terrorist act in the Christchurch massacre in March last year. New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has demanded Australia take back Tarrant, an Australian citizen from Grafton in New South Wales who moved to New Zealand about two years before the attack, so that he can serve out his life sentence on home soil. Peters, who is also the country's Foreign Minister and the leader of New Zealand First Party, which governs in coalition with Jacinda Ardern's Labour Party, welcomed Tarrant's maximum possible sentence. Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has announced his intention to resign, citing persistent health concerns. Mr Abe, 65, has visited hospital twice in the past two weeks and told a news conference that a chronic illness has resurfaced. I cannot be prime minister if I cannot make the best decisions for the people, he told reporters. I have decided to step down from my post. He apologised to Japanese citizens from the bottom of my heart. The prime minister earlier met party leaders at the headquarters of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to tell them of his intention to step aside, the partys general secretary said. His resignation will trigger a hotly contested leadership race within the party, likely to be decided in two or three weeks. Mr Abe is expected to stay in post until a new leader has been named and formally accepted by a vote in parliament. Mr Abe became Japans longest serving prime minister in November. His first term ended abruptly 13 years ago because of health problems, fuelling concerns about his recent hospital trips. The first was a brief trip in June. Then, on 17 August, he spent seven hours in hospital for a visit described by his office as a day-long checkup during the summer break, as he has hardly had any days off recently and would like to be in his best condition after the break is over. His third trip to hospital was on Monday and triggered a new wave of speculation in Japanese media that his health was declining, even as he insisted he was there to get detailed results from last weeks checkup and have additional examination, and that he planned to keep working hard. Top cabinet officials including the finance minister and deputy prime minister Taro Aso said publicly that Mr Abe was overworked and badly needed rest. During the past week, Mr Abe has only spent a few hours a day in his office and only in the afternoon. Political journalists said he looked tired and was moving slower than usual. Mr Abe has previously acknowledged having ulcerative colitis since he was a teenager and has said the condition was controlled with treatment. He did not make it clear if this was related to his recent health issues or hospital visits. Mr Abes term was due to end in September 2021. On Monday, he became his countrys longest serving prime minister for consecutive days in office, overtaking the record set by Eisaku Sato, his great-uncle, who served 2,798 days from 1964 to 1972. Long before Fridays announcement, speculation and political manoeuvring had begun to focus on the post-Abe administration. His personal approval ratings have taken a battering in recent months as a result of public anger at the governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the economy, as well as a number of political scandals. Media surveys place Shigeru Ishiba, a hawkish 63-year-old former defence minister and Mr Abes arch rival, as the favourite to be next leader, though he is less popular within the ruling party than he is with the general public. Other potential successors include the former foreign minister Fumio Kishida, defence minister Taro Kono, chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga, and economic revitalisation minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, the latter of whom is in charge of coronavirus measures. The last time Mr Abe left office it was followed by an era known as revolving door politics, with six different leaders in as many years. His return to office in 2012 came with a promise of stability and a vow to revitalise the economy with Abenomics, a mix of fiscal stimulus, structural reforms and monetary easing. Boris Johnson was among the world leaders to respond to Mr Abes resignation on Friday. In a tweet, the British prime minister said Mr Abe had achieved great things as PM of Japan for his country and the world. Under his stewardship the UK-Japan relationship has gone from strength to strength in trade, defence and our cultural links, he wrote. Thank you for all your years of service and I wish you good health. The Kremlin regretted Mr Abes decision to step down, spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, describing the working relations between the Japanese leader and Vladimir Putin as brilliant. Taiwans president, Tsai Ing-wen, said Mr Abe was always friendly to Taiwan, whether on policy or the rights and interests of Taiwans people. We value his friendly feelings towards Taiwan and hope he is healthy. And South Koreas presidential Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok said: We regret the sudden resignation announcement of Prime Minister Abe, who has left many meaningful achievements as Japans longest-serving prime minister, and has also especially played a large role for development in South Korea and Japans bilateral relations. We wish the prime minister a quick recovery. Our government will continue cooperation with the new prime minister and the new cabinet for improved ties with Japan. Additional reporting by agencies After the hurried, early morning oath-taking ceremony of BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis as Maharashtra chief minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar as his deputy last year in November, the two leaders shared the stage again - this time for the inauguration of a Covid-19 hospital in Pune. Pune Municipal Corporations multi-storey Covid-19 hospital was inaugurated by the leaders. Bhartiya Janta Partys state unit president Chandrakant Patil was also present along with Fadnavis and Pawar. As Pawar and Fadnavis attended the hospital event, eyebrows were raised among the political circle. Interestingly, Fadnavis appreciated the work carried out by Pawar in Pune district but was quick to criticise the state government and Shiv Sena on the Covid-19 situation in Mumbai. Also read: Mumbai civic body asks private hospitals to refer critical patients to its Covid facilities Pune Municipal Corporations multi-storey Covid-19 hospital was inaugurated by Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis. (HT Photo) Recently Ajit Pawars son Parth Pawar, who was defeated from Maval Lok Sabha constituency, supported the BJPs stand to conduct a CBI inquiry into Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput death case. Pawar got upset with Parths stand and publicly called his son as immature. Even after the CBI inquiry was initiated in the case, Parth tweeted, Satya Mev Jayate. Despite the presidents rule in force, Ajit Pawar had rebelled from the NCP and joined hands with the BJP last year. Maharashtra governor conducted his oath-taking ceremony during the wee hours on the morning of November 23, 2019. But the alliance could not prove the majority. Both Fadnavis and Pawar had to serve their resignations. Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress joined hands to form the Maha Vikas Agadhi government in the state with Uddhav Thackeray as the chief minister. In the spirit of confession, Katzen defiantly owns her privileged background. Perhaps in order to disown it. Hayley Katzen is nothing if not honest. Her revealing memoir about a (self-described) "white Jewish South African lesbian" who came to Australia in 1989 in search of safety and belonging, is threaded with shame, fear and self-hate as she turns herself inside out to fit in. But she's indefatigable, and there is hope and dry humour, too. Emigration is a strange business, and these memoirs are testament to life's old chestnut: you take yourself with you wherever you go. She finds herself, for example, jumping in to pay after a car accident that was not her fault, for fear that the "privilege police" might accuse her of being a "typical ungenerous rich white Jewish South African". Credit: She struggles with family, and a mother who says: "I wouldn't care if your husband wasn't Jewish or even if he were black. But Hayls, lesbianism means you won't have children." And: "'I just so want you to be happy. When you're happy, I'm happy.' A line I'd heard all my life, a sentiment I interpreted as pressure rather than love." Exiling herself from them, she scrunches up family invites to Friday night dinners and Passover seders in search of a more authentic self, a brave and singular heroine who creates her "own happy chosen family". When she falls in love with Jen, an off-the-grid beef cattle farmer in northern NSW, she can't believe her luck: "In the evenings, as we sat on a log in front of the bonfire watching the moon rise golden through the gum trees, I pinched myself. This woman. This space. This freedom The antithesis of my Johannesburg childhood of bars on every window, high fences and security gates" And elsewhere: "We decided we were each other's favourite waste of time." Vodafone went down across the United Kingdom today, leaving thousands of customers unable to access 4G internet and make calls for three hours. The problem seems to have arisen shortly after 9.20 this morning. According the outage-tracking website Downdetector, complaints about the Vodafone service peaked at around 10:51 this morning, with nearly 3,000 reports. Particular hotspots appear to have included London and the south of England, as well as Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow. Vodafone is now encouraging any user affected by the issue to restart their devices. The network provider told MailOnline the outage was caused by 'a fault with a piece of equipment in our core network' that affected 'a small portion of our customers.' However, Vodafone said it was unable to explain the cause of the issue, identify the equipment at fault, or determine exactly how many customers were affected. Vodafone is down across the United Kingdom today, leaving thousands of customers unable to access 4G internet and make calls for two hours. Pictured: Hotspots of complaints filed with the website Downdetector included much of the south of England, Manchester and Glasgow Vodafone is down across the United Kingdom today, leaving thousands of customers unable to access 4G internet and make calls for two hours. Pictured, reports of Vodafone outages with the site Downdetector peaked at 10:51 am this morning 'We're aware of a network update which is causing customers to have signal and connection issues,' Vodafone spokesperson Katie wrote on Twitter. 'We can confirm that our engineers are working to restore the service as a top priority. Sorry for any inconvenience caused while we get this fixed.' At 12:31, Vodafone tweeted out that the issue had been addressed. 'We've just had news that this should all be resolved. Can you give your device[s] a quick restart for me please,' Vodafone spokesperson Liam wrote. Disappointed customers took to Twitter to complain and see if they were not alone in being affected by the outage. 'Is the Vodafone mobile network down for anyone else?' wrote user @Seunte. She also drew attention to the status of the firm's network checker, which was displaying the error 'HTTP Error 503. The service is unavailable.' Since the tweet was posted, the network checker has been restored to operation. Meanwhile, Vodafone UK Business customer Alex Donaldson tweeted that he had both 'no connection' and 'signal problems', while Colin Gallacher replied that non-business customers were also experiencing issues with the service. 'Is the Vodafone mobile network down for anyone else?' wrote user @Seunte. She also drew attention to the status of the firm's network checker, which was displaying the error 'HTTP Error 503. The service is unavailable' 'We're aware of a network update which is causing customers to have signal and connection issues,' Vodafone spokesperson Katie wrote on Twitter. 'We can confirm that our engineers are working to restore the service as a top priority. Sorry for any inconvenience caused while we get this fixed,' she added Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment When the White House announced an executive order pledging a commitment to international religious freedom in June, many Christians applauded. In churches like the one I pastor, religious liberty is a key issue. Likewise, global Christians remain hopeful that America will continue its historic commitment to protecting religious liberty for others around the world. The order calls religious freedom Americas first freedom and a moral and national security imperative. It also states our nations historic commitment to ensure equal rights and legal protections for individuals and groups regardless of belief. But the order says nothing about the gravest consequence of global religious persecution: the refugee crisis. Any U.S. commitment to defending religious freedom will inevitably fail if it doesnt address refugee resettlement. Displacement remains the worlds largest and most widespread humanitarian emergency, resulting in greater danger than most diseases, including COVID-19. Yet the glaring reality is that the United States blessed with the largest economy in the world has drastically reduced its commitment to refugees, including Christian refugees, in the last four years. According to a recent report released by Open Doors USA and World Relief, the U.S. will receive roughly 90% fewer Christian refugees from the countries where they face the most severe persecution in 2020 than in 2015. Our church in Tulsa, Okla., is connected to Christians from various countries whose religious freedom is constantly in danger. Many now live in our own city, having come to the U.S. fleeing religious persecution at home. The largest group of Christian refugees in Tulsa, numbering nearly 10,000, are from Myanmar (Burma), which has had multiple cases of infringements on religious freedom, including severe acts of violence. In January of this year, a local Burmese pastor reached out to me about the grave concerns circulating among Tulsas Burmese/Zomi community. The White House had just announced its latest list of countries from which travel is suspended and, to the great surprise of many, Myanmar was first on the list. Travel Ban 4.0, as some have called it, went into effect in January. The Burmese community feared a dramatic decrease in family reunification visas, and those fears came true. The pastor asked me: "Will the woman in my church whose husband was scheduled to join their family here in Tulsa be able to come? Will the aging parents of another married couple now be forced to remain in Myanmar until they die? How much longer will the brother of one of my deacons be forced to remain in the refugee camp in a neighboring country?" I had no optimistic answers to give. Yet without hesitation, I can say countless positive things about the ways Burmese families in Tulsa enrich our local community. They are kind and welcoming people and incredibly thankful to live here. After fleeing an environment of poverty and persecution, followed by the arduous process of resettlement, the U.S. has become their home. Many have opened businesses or work in essential industries. They have quickly moved away from using public resources and have become taxpayers who also contribute to charitable organizations and churches. Many have actually repaid their own resettlement costs. According to New American Economy, natives of Myanmar along with the other five countries in Travel Ban 4.0 earned almost $22.0 billion annually, and paid more than $6.1 billion in taxes in 2018. Families from Myanmar have also done much to improve our citys faith. Burmese pastors have founded more than a dozen churches in Tulsa, some of which have hundreds of members. Though most of these churches worship in Burmese dialects, some also now offer services in English. In addition to their local outreach ministries, they also send missionaries to other parts of the world. Until this year, Myanmar held steady near the top on the list of countries from which refugees were resettled into the U.S. Because Myanmar was a high priority, family reunification for Burmese Christians was also possible through other immigration channels. But now, many families in our city are in danger of remaining separated from loved ones indefinitely. The more our church has engaged with our Burmese neighbors, the more weve cherished them and learned just how important refugee resettlement and family reunification visas are for protecting their families and faith. If the immigrant visa and travel ban from Myanmar persists, along with a shutdown of all refugee resettlement, it will be a crushing blow to many families who reside in our community. As they suffer, we all suffer. I am thankful that our national leaders have made religious freedom a top priority, but without robust support for refugees, they're undercutting the foundation of Americas first freedom significantly. If we as Americans truly believe protecting religious freedom to be a moral imperative, we must renew our commitment to resettle refugees as soon as possible. The Church has an important role to play in this process, but the key decisions regarding refugee resettlement must come from Washington, DC. I pray that our leaders chart a safe and healthy path forward for refugees, so that we can once again be the worlds leading nation in standing up for the vulnerable. T his is the first picture showing the damage done when a 20 million Picasso was wrenched from the wall of the Tate Modern by a student. Shakeel Massey, 20, used a padlock to smash through security glass and punch a hole in the Bust Of A Woman abstract portrait in an attack on December 28 last year. On Tuesday, the Spanish architecture student was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with the judge concluding he had carried out the act of vandalism in a bid for notoriety. Pictures released for the first time today show the aftermath of the incident, as Picassos work lay on the floor of the gallery surrounded by broken glass. A hole has been ripped in the canvas and one side of the paintings frame has been broken off. Shakeel Massey was sentenced to 18 months in prison The Tate Modern said the artwork, created by Picasso in Paris in 1944 to depict his famous muse and photographer Dora Maar, is undergoing 18 months of restoration, at a cost of up to 350,000. It is not yet known whether the paintings 20 million valuation has been affected by the damage. Judge Jeremy Donne QC said: The damage caused here is considerable, and the potential damage is unknown. The value of the painting might be enhanced through notoriety if there is a successful restoration, but it might be reduced. Massey, who was studying for an architecture degree in Spain, had entered the gallery and spent about three minutes staring at the work before launching the attack. He wrapped his hands in scarves to protect them from the glass and used the padlock as a battering ram, telling a security guard who rushed to the scene that it was a performance. In his pocket was a hand-written note indicating Massey had calculated the possible sentence he would face and knew of a previous incident of criminal damage at the gallery when a 50 million Mark Rothko had been defaced. His barrister, Glenn Harris, told Inner London crown court: He did what he did for five minutes of fame, and he has brought shame on the family. Massey, who had been living in Willesden Green, pleaded guilty to one charge of criminal damage. The scene at the final night of the Republican National Convention was concerning to virologists, to political analysts, and apparently to at least one person at Fox News, which reported that few attendees at the White House event appeared to be wearing masks, and most of the spectators sat closer to one another than the recommended social distancing length of six feet. But among the 1,000 or so gathered on the White House lawn, there were some people wearing masks. Which might lead one to wonder: huh! Exactly how many people were wearing masks? Advertisement First, lets take a brief tour of the masks that were on display. Here is a photo of former White House press secretary Sean Spicer and his conservative talk show co-host Lyndsay Keith wearing masks: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here is Pennsylvania Rep. Glenn Thompson and his wife, both wearing masks: These official Trump masks (not to be confused with official MAGA masks or Trump gaiters) appear in the campaigns online store next to the copy Lets Keep America Safe! That message didnt come across Thursday, nor earlier in the week in Charlotte, North Carolina, where some of the official business of the convention took place. I think we all felt safe and secure and thats why some people had [a mask] on, and some didnt, South Carolina delegate Glenn McCall said earlier this week of the GOPs indoor gathering in Charlotte, where masking was also inconsistent. As of Friday, four people who were there have tested positive for the virus. Advertisement Advertisement To mask or not to mask on the night of the lawn gathering was a real dilemma for North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, whose face was covered at the beginning of the night: I am honored to be in Washington for President @realDonaldTrump's acceptance speech for the @GOP nomination, where he will share with America our continued vision of freedom, prosperity, and opportunity to live the American Dream. #RNC2020 pic.twitter.com/7wUptHJrL3 Thom Tillis (@ThomTillis) August 28, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement But during the speech itself, Tillis took it off, which he then apologized for on Friday, the Charlotte Observer reports. Ive stressed the importance of mask wearing throughout this pandemic and have tried to lead by example on this issue, but last night I fell short of my own standard, Tilliswho is in a tight race to keep his Senate seatsaid in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement CNN reporters were wearing masks, but thats too boring to spend more time on. And here are some senior administration officials. Only Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar is wearing a mask: Wilbur Ross is 82 and not wearing a mask. Only @SecAzar is wearing. pic.twitter.com/4l22Rqa9u4 Kate Bennett (@KateBennett_DC) August 28, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the hordes of folks on the lawn, you can spot a few masksif you look very closely: Of the 25 people whose mouths and/or ears are visible, three are wearing face coverings. If we consider this crowd shot to be a rough, random sample of the nights attendees (debatable, but lets go with it), that means about 10 percent of people on the lawn were wearing masks. In the photo at the top of this articlewhich features the most masks of any I could find from Thursday nightmask usage is, by my count, just north of 15 percent. Yes, the speech took place outside, which does lower the risk of coronavirus transmission considerably. Protests that involve crowds of people have taken place without subsequent identifiable spikes in cases, though protests have also involved lots of mask wearing and social distancing. Its plainly silly and needlessly dangerous to gather a large, seated crowd and not put more distance between chairs! Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday night, the White House lawn was basically a nightmare of individualism, in which the vast majority of people were not wearing masks and those who were placed themselves in an otherwise inadvisable situation anyway. As even masks stans will note, it is not enough to simply cover your face if you want to stay healthy during an airborne pandemic; one has to do things like avoid tight crowds of unmasked peopleparticularly people who, like the evenings final speaker, may not have spent the last few months taking this pandemic seriously. For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below. Hurricane Laura made landfall in Louisiana in the early hours of Thursday (NOAA via AP) A newly-married Irish graduate had to evacuate his new home in the US with his wife before Hurricane Laura hit earlier this week. Speaking on RTE Radio One Drivetime yesterday, Brian Flangan, originally from north Dublin, said that together with his wife Emma, they fled their home in the Lake Charles area of Louisiana on Tuesday. Its just been absolutely devastating, we evacuated on Tuesday. We were one of the earlier ones to go, he explained. It just got worse and worse, we watched the weather and we watched the news. Its just absolutely devastated the city, it looks like an absolute warzone. At least six people have been killed by the hurricane, which was upgraded to a Category 4, the second highest on the wind scale. It has since been downgraded to a tropical storm. The couple got married in July and had just moved into their new home, however, having evacuated quickly for what they thought would be a couple of days, they have no idea if their house has survived the storm. We literally had everything set up and just had to leave it all behind and pray that it was going to be OK. We got out, we moved 120 miles up to the north. Read More Mr Flanagan said that a Facebook group has been set up by the residents in their local area in Louisana where people have been posting photographs of houses decimated by the storm. [Our house] seems to be in one piece. Were going to try to come back to the city at some point in the next 24 hours. He added that they left a lot of valuables behind, including his wifes wedding dress. We just packed up a case thinking well be back on Saturday We left so much stuff behind including one of our cars. One of the things we left behind is my wifes wedding dress, were pretty upset about that And all of our new wedding presents behind. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-27 22:54:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A volunteer pushes the wheelchair of a villager at a temporary shelter in the No.168 Middle School in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, July 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Junxi) BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Premier Li Keqiang has underlined the country's social assistance work to ensure the well-being of those in need. Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in an instruction to a meeting held in Beijing Thursday about improving the country's social assistance system. Noting that social assistance is an institutional arrangement to help those most in need, Li urged authorities to put themselves in the shoes of those in difficulties, and help them get through the tough times. More efforts should be made to help those affected by the COVID-19 epidemic and floods, and ensure basic living standards of low-income groups, Li said. While attending the meeting, State Councilor Wang Yong stressed innovation in social assistance mechanisms to make relief measures more targeted and effective. Angela Merkel suggests talks could go on until the end of the transition period - EPA Angela Merkel has hinted she expects Brexit talks to go down to the wire as she said they would keep her staff occupied until the end of 2020. The German Chancellor used her annual summer press conference to say she expects the Brexit trade talks to keep her team busy until the end of the year, which is also the end of the Brexit transition period. The crucial weeks are now approaching to clarify the future relationship between the UK and the EU, Merkel said. The comments come after the EUs chief Brexit negotiator has started urging leaders in the blocs national capitals to appeal to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to step in on the talks. The German presidency of the EU council removed Brexit from the agenda of a meeting of deputy EU ambassadors scheduled for next week suggesting the mood in Brussels is that more senior figures are being requested to step in. Johnson in Brussels last year. The Prime Minister has been asked to step in and help to accelerate talks - GETTY IMAGES Despite Merkels comments on the timeframe, EU sources say it is too early to comment on whether or not Brexit will creep onto the agenda when leaders meet in Brussels in late September. A special summit has been called later in the month to talk about escalating tensions between Greece and Turkey over drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean. Diplomatic sources say they will wait to see what the outcome of the next round of Brexit talks is before making a decision on the agenda that round taking place in London on the week starting the Monday 7th September. But with both sides saying very little progress is being made during Brexit talks, it is looking increasingly likely that EU leaders may step in. Michel Barnier said this week that during the last round of talks, he presented the UK side with a timetable proving a deal needs to be in place by the end of October to ensure there is time to ratify it in the relevant parliaments around Europe. Barnier has warned a deal seems unlikely and that they have been wasting valuable time: The UKs chief negotiator believes the way the EU is insisting the negotiations are structured makes it unnecessarily difficult to see any progress. David Frost has frequently lamented the fact that Brussels will not move onto issues while they are still hung up on the main sticking points. Those remain over fisheries, the EUs demand that the UK remains under its rules on state funding of companies and over whether EU courts have jurisdiction in enforcing the rules of the trade agreement. BEIJING, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- At the recent 2020 China Unicorn Carnival, co-sponsored by China Business News and The China Business Federation, Experts in attendance generally agreed that companies including Bytedance, SpaceX, Alibaba, Didi, WhatsApp, Airbnb, and TOJOY Sharing could all potentially reach the trillion-dollar valuation mark, with much competition expected for which could do so first. TOJOY Global CEO Ge Jun voiced his confidence that TOJOY could indeed become the next trillion-dollar valuated company. Ge pointed out similarities that TOJOY's model has with Apple - where Ge worked as an executive for years as the company built itself into the world's first company with a trillion-dollar valuation. Ge said that Apple had succeeded by integrating the world's best production capabilities with world class software development and visual and ergonomic design. Ge felt that TOJOY is doing something similar as it integrates the shared resources of over 800,000 active entrepreneurs on the TOJOY platform to accelerate businesses. With millions of entrepreneurs worldwide ready to put their own resources towards promising business models, the market is large. Ge also explained why he feels TOJOY will become a trillion-dollar valued company. "TOJOY has accelerated 229 projects, delivering rapid growth through services in exchange for equity," said Ge. "In another five years, TOJOY can reach 2,000 to 3,000 accelerated companies. In accordance with the value growth created for these companies, it is expected that TOJOY will grow to a trillion-dollar market value." Ge said he believes that enterprise-level services such as TOJOY's will increasingly be in demand over the next 20 years. According to Ge, there is no other business ecosystem comparable to the forest-like one Mr. Li described that TOJOY has created. "Platform + Sharing" model hopes to create the next super unicorn The resilience of this platform was shown by TOJOY's continued business growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Having prepared a global collaborative digital business platform in advance, TOJOY was able to take its full business online quickly at the start of the pandemic. This not only brought its Unicorn Business Opportunity Sharing Conferences online, but also enabled all 7,000 of its employees to work remotely. Even before China's pandemic recovery, the TOJOY Entrepreneur Cloud app hosted nearly 30 online China Unicorn Business Opportunity Sharing Conferences and released more than 100 high-quality projects. In its first online/offline event following the pandemic, the 2020 China Unicorn Carnival, TOJOY announced that 34 projects that were incubated on the TOJOY Sharing Platform have collectively launched plans to list publicly. This brings TOJOY one step closer to its goal of a trillion-dollar valuation. TOJOY plans to continue helping innovative companies grow into large companies it refers to as "big trees", and thus grow its ecosystem into a lush "forest". With this system it hopes to become the next trillion-dollar valuation super unicorn. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1245160/ToJoy.jpg New Zealand mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant was sentenced to life in prison without parole Thursday for the massacre of 51 Muslim worshippers, with a judge calling his actions "wicked" and "inhuman". As the sentence was read out, there was jubilation outside the courtroom, with crowds cheering and singing the national anthem -- "God Defend New Zealand". Judge Cameron Mander said Tarrant's "warped" ideology and "base hatred" led the Australian white supremacist to murder defenceless men, women and children last year in New Zealand's worst terror attack. "Your crimes are so wicked, that even if you are detained until you die it will not exhaust the requirements of punishment and denunciation," Mander said as he announced a sentence that is a New Zealand legal first. The judge solemnly read out the names of those murdered in a livestreamed rampage and recounted in forensic detail how Tarrant executed the wounded as they pleaded for help on March 15 last year. "It was brutal and beyond callous. Your actions were inhuman," the judge said, pointing out that Tarrant deliberately attacked Friday prayers to maximise casualties. Tarrant, 29, retained the same impassive demeanour through the four-day hearing as survivors and bereaved family members gave heart-wrenching testimony of their incalculable loss. Gamal Fouda, the imam of Al Noor mosque -- one of those targeted by Tarrant -- said the sentence was what the Muslim community had hoped for. "But no punishment is going to bring our loved ones back and our sadness will continue for the rest of our lives," he said. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who was praised for her compassionate and decisive response to the shootings, also welcomed the sentence. "The trauma of March 15 is not easily healed but today I hope is the last where we have any cause to hear or utter the name of the terrorist behind it," she said. Story continues "His deserves to be a lifetime of complete and utter silence." As New Zealand reeled from the shootings, Ardern immediately moved to tighten gun laws and pressure social media giants to curb online extremism. She expressed hope that members of the country's traumatised Muslim community felt "the arms of New Zealand around you" during the painful sentencing process. Ardern's Australian counterpart Scott Morrison echoed the sentiment, condemning Tarrant's "cowardly and horrific" crimes. "It is right that we will never see or hear from him ever again," he said. - 'Racist and xenophobic' - Tarrant sparked global revulsion when he rampaged through two Christchurch mosques for 20 minutes during Friday prayers. He had admitted 51 charges of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one of terrorism over the attacks, after reversing an initial not-guilty plea. Prosecutor Mark Zarifeh said the atrocity was "without comparison in New Zealand's criminal history". "The offending was motivated by an entrenched racist and xenophobic ideology... in my submission, the offender is clearly New Zealand's worst murderer," he said. Zarifeh said life behind bars was "the only proper sentencing option" for Tarrant. For much of the sentencing, the court heard testimony from dozens of his victims and their families. "Since my husband and son passed away, I've never had a proper, normal sleep. I don't think I ever will," widow Ambreen Naeem told the court. "His punishment should continue forever." Fearing Tarrant may use the platform to spout extremist ideology, the court had imposed tight restrictions on the reporting of proceedings. Before the sentencing, Tarrant, a former gym instructor, had sacked his legal team and declared he would represent himself. Instead, he waived his right to speak and court-appointed lawyer Pip Hall made a brief one-line statement on his behalf. "Mr Tarrant does not oppose the application that he should be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole," Hall said. But Judge Mander rejected Tarrant's gesture as "uncorroborated, self-serving and a relatively recent phenomenon", saying the had never shown any compassion for his victims and probably retained his racist views. He is likely to be kept in isolation for his own safety at New Zealand's only maximum-security prison in Auckland, where 80 percent of inmates are Maori or Pacific islanders. cf/ns/arb/qan The power purchase agreement of LNG Bac Lieu will be signed this month (Illustration) The prime minister asked Bac Lieu Peoples Committee to co-operate with ministries and relevant authorities to support investors to complete investment procedures to ensure that the project is implemented on schedule. If difficulties arise during implementation, the province will be in charge of presenting solutions to the prime minister for approval, even proposals exceeding the province's authority to ensure the projects construction process. Previously, the National Steering Committee for Power Development proposed the investor of the Bac Lieu LNG-to-power project to keep the selling price of power at 7 US cent per kWh to make negotiations quicker. According to a source of Baodautu, the investor had at least one online and one offline working session with EVN relating to the power purchasing agreement (PPA). Notably, in May, the two parties discussed the projects timeline with a focus on completing the PPA, including the grid interconnection agreement, by the end of this year. Delta Offshoe Energy (DOE) presented updates on the progress of the project, as well as stressed the urgency of organising the PPA discussions to facilitate its signing by October 2020. DOE contracted the Institute of Energy, Vietnams leading energy technical advisor under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, to complete the grid interconnection report, feasibility study, and the environmental impact assessment as prerequisites for key approvals and agreements with the Vietnamese government. DOE also hired expert international consultants to help complete the feasibility study by September 2020, but the document has yet to be completed. A number of investors said that the lack of a government guarantee for this project forced them to expend much more effort to mobilise capital. As the projects investment capital is $4 billion, with 80-85 per cent sourced from loans mainly from overseas, the investors have their work cut out for them. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A recent study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis provides the first explicit analysis of the timing, determinants and impacts of mitigation interventions for all states and Washington, D.C., during the first five weeks of the pandemic. States initially with high prevalence rates of COVID-19 enacted mitigation interventions, like social distancing, in a delayed fashion, which explained why the U.S case/death counts of the virus remained high for a long period. "Because there is no preventive vaccine and because there are few potentially effective treatments, recent reductions in new cases and deaths must be due, in large part, to the social interventions delivered by states. Our study suggests that the policy of reopening the economy needs to be implemented carefully," said Shenyang Guo, the Frank J. Bruno Distinguished Professor of Social Work Research. Guo is lead author of the study "Social Distancing Interventions in the United States: An Exploratory Investigation of Determinants and Impacts," which is available online and will be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Research on Social Work Practice. Through an impact analysis, the researchers explored the effects of the interventions and the potential risks of removing them under the context of reopening the economy. "Unlike other studies that evaluated the stay-at-home order by using simulated data, our study employed the real data of various case counts of COVID-19," Guo said. The study revealed two main findings: States with a higher prevalence of COVID-19 cases per 10,000 population reacted more slowly to the outbreak, suggesting that some states may have missed the optimal timing to prevent the wide spread of the disease; and Of nine mitigation measures, three (non-essential business closure, large-gathering bans and restaurant/bar limitations) showed positive impacts on reducing cumulative cases, new cases and death rates across states. The study also found evidence that vulnerable populationsminorities, poor and unemployed peoplehave suffered most severely from the pandemic, "which helps to emphasize the significant resurgence in the Black Lives Matter and anti-racism movements," Guo said. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: Shenyang Guo et al. Social Distancing Interventions in the United States: An Exploratory Investigation of Determinants and Impacts, (2020). Shenyang Guo et al. Social Distancing Interventions in the United States: An Exploratory Investigation of Determinants and Impacts,(2020). DOI: 10.1101/2020.05.29.20117259 NORTH BATTLEFORD, SASK.A 10th person has been charged in the homicide of an Edmonton woman who disappeared after she attended a funeral in Saskatchewan. Tiki Laverdiere was reported missing in May 2019 after she went to a service for a friend from the Thunderchild First Nation. The 25-year-old womans remains were found about two months later in a rural area outside North Battleford. Her family had last heard from her on May 1, 2019, when she sent a text from North Battleford saying she wanted to return home. Saskatchewan RCMP say Samuel Takakenew, who is 36, was arrested by Edmonton police on Wednesday. He had been wanted on a Canada-wide warrant after being charged earlier this month with being an accessory after the fact to murder. Police say he had been living in Edmonton since the time of Laverdieres death. Takakenew is the son of Mavis Quinn Takakenew, who was sentenced in May to 18 months after pleading guilty to being an accessory after the fact. He is to appear in North Battleford provincial court at a later date. Some of the co-accused have been sentenced and others still face trials on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping. There is a court-ordered publication ban on details of the case. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version based on an RCMP news release spelled Samuel Takakenews last named incorrectly. Read more about: BRADY ANDERSON, Chariho, Wrestling, Sophomore; Anderson finished first in the 152-pound weight class at the Griswold Midseason Invitational tournament. Anderson went 3-0 in the tournament, pinning all of his opponents in the first period. Anderson is 10-4. LYDIA LASKEY, Stonington, Gymnastics, Senior; Laskey finished first in all four events in meets against NFA and Westerly. Laskey had an all-around score of 33.75 against NFA and 34.60 against Westerly. RILEY PELOQUIN, Westerly, Girls Basketball, Sophomore; Peloquin scored 22 points and had 19 rebounds in two games. Peloquin is averaging 7.6 points and 7.5 rebounds a game for the Bulldogs. DEONDRE BRANSFORD, Wheeler, Boys Basketball, Sophomore; Bransford scored 25 points and had 28 rebounds in a pair of Wheeler victories. Bransford is averaging 10.6 points and 12.1 rebounds per contest for the Lions. Vote View Results Talk of vanquishing the virus Modis stated goal at the outset of the pandemic has disappeared, replaced by a focus on mitigating its impact. The only thing that will significantly change Indias trajectory now is the advent of a vaccine or reaching what is known as herd immunity, said Giridhar Babu, an epidemiologist at the Public Health Foundation of India. Until then, we just need to hold on to whatever we are doing and hang in there, he said. A COVID-19 saliva sample is collected as testing is conducted on July 7, 2020, in a tent on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus. Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) The University of Illinois is testing students for COVID-19 so often that its tests account for 20% of the state's tests, according to a column in the Chicago Sun-Times written by a professor and dean from the school. While on campus, students have to be tested twice a week for the virus and have to show a negative test result to access campus buildings. Students who test positive will be quarantined for 10 days, per guidance by the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District. Their testing guidelines are stricter than other schools many other colleges aren't testing as frequently, or only testing when students move back to campus. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. As colleges across the US continue to close and suspend classes because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the University of Illinois is taking a different approach. While some schools are testing students when they first arrive on campus, the University of Illinois is requiring its students to be tested for COVID-19 twice a week, using rapid saliva tests that provide results within hours. Students are only allowed inside campus buildings if they receive negative test results, which are kept up-to-date on a health-tracking app. The school is testing so many students so often, that its plan accounts for 20% of the state of Illinois' testing, and 1.5% of the nation's, Sheldon H. Jacobson, a founding professor of computer science at Illinois, and Janet A. Jokela, the acting regional dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times. The average testing at the University of Illinois for August 18 through August 24 was 8,505 students per day, according to an online tracker. For the same time period, the state of Illinois tested an average of 47,870 per day, according to the state's health department website. That means the university's tests accounted for an average of 17.76% of the state's COVID-19 tests during that time period. Story continues And testing has only increased since classes began on August 24. The school conducted 17,656 tests that day, accounting for nearly half of the state's 36,155 tests. Despite the strict prevention measures, 109 students at the college tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend, Fox Illinois reported. All of them have been quarantined per guidance by the school and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District. While the university can't explicitly stop students from partying which many schools have blamed for COVID-19 outbreaks it can prevent the spread of the virus by banning students from in-person classes and campus buildings. Along with its testing, the University of Illinois also has a mask mandate in place and is holding limited in-person classes. One student even detailed the steps she has to go through to get on campus in a TikTok video: The school is working with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to conduct contact tracing for all cases connected to students, faculty, or staff. Colleges are struggling with their reopening plans Not all colleges are as strict on testing as Illinois. According to USA Today, the University of Northern Georgia didn't test all students arriving back on campus. Instead, it asked students to monitor themselves for symptoms. As students come back to campus, many schools are facing an influx of COVID-19 cases. The University of Notre Dame and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill stopped hosting in-person classes after more than 400 students tested positive for the virus at each. The University of Alabama saw more than 500 positive tests in one week. Alabama and Notre Dame currently have rules in place banning students from campus unless they have a negative COVID-19 test result. Follow-up testing, however, appears to be voluntary at both schools. Governor of Illinois Jay Robert Pritzker attends a science initiative event at the University of Chicago, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. July 23, 2020. REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski In an email to students seen by Insider, Illinois Chancellor Robert J. Jones said that the first 10 or 15 days of classes would "define how we move forward." "What will determine if we stay together in-person is whether we all can make the personal choices and exercise the very best judgment in these critical early days," he said. "Our testing can detect the virus quickly. But the only way we can prevent it from spreading in the first place is by wearing face coverings, washing our hands, practicing social distancing and avoiding crowds and situations that we know put many people at risk of exposure and put all of us at risk of having to return to fully remote operations as we did in the spring." In their Sun-Times column, Jacobson and Jokela said that it's up to students to ensure the school's rigorous testing is successful. "The students will make or break the University of Illinois testing and surveillance system," the wrote. "Students now know that if they circumvent the recommendations, they jeopardize the in-person component of their education, just as was seen at the University of North Carolina. The students carry the responsibility for keeping the University of Illinois in-person component alive. They must make individual choices with community-wide implications." Read the original article on Insider The 185-acre recreation area around Kaercher Creek Lake had been gem in Berks Countys system since 1972. The man-made lake became a popular fishing spot, known for bass. Situated near Hamburg, the creek is named for Martin Kaercher Jr., who founded the borough in northern Berks. In 1779 he received 250 acres of land from his father and divided it into building lots, naming the area Kaercher Stadt. Hamburg was officially founded in 1787. The 40-acre lake is the culmination of a flood-control project started in the 1960s to harness Kaercher and Mill creeks, which flow through the borough. The flood-control effort was a joint project of state, federal and local agencies. The land surrounding it in Windsor Township became the recreation area. But things have changed. For example, the picnic tables are gone, and a pavilion is unkempt. Berks resident Christy Schaeffer noticed and wanted to know what happened and where her tax dollars were going. Why is Kaercher Creek Park area not cared for by Berks County Parks and Recreation any more? Schaeffer asked in a question submitted to the Reading Eagles Ask the Eagle reader-powered journalism project. Schaeffer was concerned because the states website says there is a picnic area and restrooms that the county maintains, which is not accurate. The county has been out of the picture since 2014. Tangled history Who cares for the park is complicated. The bottom line is the land around the lake is owned by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission and cared for mostly by volunteers. The parks fate is tied to nearby Price Battery Lead Smelter Superfund site. Fish & Boat Commissioner Rick Kauffman, a Leesport resident who represents the southeast region, said the commission maintains the area as a fishery, not a park. Maintaining parks is not part of the agencys mission and therefore it doesnt have the staff or resources to maintain it for recreation other than for boating and anglers. That means the commission is focused on caring for the parking area and boat launch. The park had been administered by Berks since 1973 through a $1 a year lease. All recreational facilities, except the boat launch and lake, were shut down April 30, 2014, when lease renewal negotiations broke down between the county and the commission over the cleanup of lead contamination. The county wanted the commission to exempt it from liability should environmental contamination be uncovered in the future, as it was twice in the past. Estimates were that the county and the commission might have to share $1 million in cleanup costs, just a portion of the total cleanup. In November 2012, according to Environmental Protection Agency records, the state Department of Health indicated to the EPA that members of the Hamburg Historical Society had reported visible battery fragments in the surface soil at the park. The casings and lead were believed to have been deposited by the former Price Battery plant at 246 Grant St. in Hamburg. The plant was taken over by General Battery, then Exide Corp. Exide is now in its third bankruptcy in two decades and has other cleanup sites in the county. The EPA conducted a cursory assessment and battery casings were observed in surface soils. The EPA took X-ray fluorescence readings, which revealed lead concentrations as high as 3,500 parts per million, or ppm. The EPA has established 400 ppm for lead in bare soils in play areas and 1,200 in non-play areas for federally funded projects. EPA reported the findings to the state Department of Environmental Protection, and representatives of both agencies returned to the park to verify the presence of casings and elevated lead. When it proposed a corrective action, EPA, as it usually does, sought input from the property owners. The EPA proposed capping the area to protect further migration of lead and to keep park visitors safe. Todd Richardson, EPA site coordinator, said the Fish & Boat Commission expressed an interest in the plan but had concerns about liability. The EPA could not release the commission from liability but agreed to let the commission handle cleanup with oversight from DEP. The EPA provided data and its recommendations. The contaminated soil was encapsulated under 1.5 feet of clean fill because it was not economically feasible to remove it from the site, according to the environmental covenant. The work was completed in 2016, but the state had not taken confirmation samples to document the capping. Richardson said EPA asked the state to take samples and as he recently read through the report it was unclear the samples were confirmation samples but some were taken. In the end, Richardson said the area, located west of the boat ramp, was capped satisfactorily and poses no migration or direct contact threat. We did review the action, Richardson said. We took a look and we felt the work was done in a satisfactory manner. State records show an environmental covenant was registered on the land in 2018. The limitations say if the property is developed in the future and soil is disturbed best management practices shall be used to limit worker exposure and decrease potential spread of lead. The EPA continues to monitor the Price Battery Lead Smelter Superfund site and issued a report this month, the 2020 Five-Year Review. It determined there is no current exposure to site-related contaminants. It also has made more progress on the cleanup in Kaercher Creek Park this summer. Uncertain role Meanwhile, the volunteer group, Friends of Kaercher Creek, continues to clean brush and maintain what they can of trails and access. Their role is in limbo. Tim Mazaika, president of the Friends group, said he submitted an application to the Fish & Boat Commission for an Adopt An Access agreement more than a year ago. He has not received a reply as of Aug. 24. The agreement would recognize our group being on the former park side on a regular basis, Mazaika said in an email. We would cut grass, knock down weeds, provide access to shoreline fishing areas, pick up litter, cut back dangerous tree limbs and keep the walking path tidy for those still using it. All within the guidelines that were previously set forth during a discussion with the chief of the Division of Construction and Maintenance, John Sinclair and the then-Property Services Manager, Mark Mitchell. Mazaika said one of the agreement requirements was to purchase general liability insurance. He found an affordable policy similar to one volunteers at the Kernsville Dam use. The group has a permit pending for a fall volunteer cleanup on the park side. Its scheduled for Oct. 3, with a rain date of Oct. 10. To find out more about events and updates you can follow Friends of Kaerhcer Creek on Facebook. Phoenix Mills share price rose over 1% in Friday's early trade after brokerage firm CLSA gave a 'buy' call on the stock and raised the target to Rs 790 per share from the previous Rs 742. Following the updates, Phoenix Mills stock opened at Rs 652.90 and touched an intraday high of Rs 654.35, rising 1.48% on BSE. The stock price of Phoenix Mills also hit low of Rs 646.05 intra day. Phoenix Mills stock price trades higher than 20, 50 and 100 day but lower than 5 and 200-day moving averages. Shares of Phoenix Mills has risen 10.86% in one month. Market capitalisation of the firm stood at Rs 11,103 crore as of today's session. The company raised Rs 1,100 crore through a qualified institutional placement, which was open for subscription between August 18 till August 21. ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, SBI Mutual Fund and Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund had participated in the QIP. Besides these, the Government of Singapore bought 74,38,017 shares for around Rs 450 crore, contributing almost 41% to the proceeds. CLSA in a note said it remained positive on the value potential of recent equity raise. It added the funds will aid in building a new project pipeline and the funds will be utilised for acquiring new projects. "Equity raise of Rs 1,100 crore in this environment is testimony to Phoenix Mills' strong asset portfolio," it added. The brokerage is positive on the value potential of this capital raise and says it help in building a robust project pipeline. Funds will be utilised to acquire new projects. HDFC Securities also maintained a 'buy' call on Phoenix Mills with a target price of Rs 828 and said," In the long run, it holds the potential for significant cash-flow distribution and growth. Near-term headwinds remain, but current prices provide quality at a reasonable price." Gold price rises after 2 days; silver rates at Rs 65,500 Share Market News Live: Sensex rises 420 points, Nifty at 11,666; ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Grasim top gainers With the nationwide protests going against JEE NEET exams 2020,the Congress party on Friday launched a nationwide campaign for the same with Rahul Gandhi urging people to speak up for the safety of students amid the coronavirus pandemic. Days after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee insisted on knocking the doors of the Supreme Court over the conduct of JEE Main and NEET UG in September, Punjab, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand all non-BJP states have asked for delay of the entrance exams, urging the Supreme Court to reconsider its recent order rejecting the postponement. The decision to move the court was taken during a meeting held by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on a range of issues ahead of Monsoon Session of Parliament. The Supreme Court on August 17 had dismissed a petition seeking the postponement of the NEET and JEE exam scheduled to be held in September 2020 observing that the career of students cannot be put under jeopardy for long. On Thursday, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday urged Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank to consider postponing NEET and JEE in view of the coronavirus pandemic. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that the states Cabinet minister also his son Aditya Thackeray had written to PM Modi urging him to count the academic year from January 2021, instead of June or July 2020. Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanaswamy said that he supports Banerjees call to postpone JEE and NEET and would be a part of the review petition. The Congress party on Friday launched a nationwide campaign against the Central governments decision to conduct NEET and JEE main exams, with Rahul Gandhi urging people to speak up for the safety of students amid the coronavirus pandemic.The Congress workers hit the streets to protests against the governments decision. Although, the members of the National Students Union of India were put into custody by police in various cities across the country during the protests. Apart from this, the Congress has also decided to organise a massive nationwide online campaign, #SpeakUpForStudentSaftey on the same day from 10 AM onwards. Here are some visuals of the protests happening around the non-BJP states : ALSO READ : RRB NTPC Admit Card, Exam Date 2020 Update : Check latest update here Ahmedabad: Members of National Students' Union of India (NSUI) detained by police during a protest against Centre's decision to conduct JEE & NEET examinations in September pic.twitter.com/51zpMb9EYy ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2020 ALSO READ : SSC CGL Tier 2020 date announced, check notice here If we keep raising the matter, Centre will have to consider the demands of people and postpone #JEE_NEET examinations: Sachin Pilot, Congress in Jaipur#Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/BSUKD99ZZS ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2020 Karnataka: National Students' Union of India stages protest against holding of #JEE_NEET examinations, at Race Course Road in Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/mfcKQIsfbS ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2020 Tamil Nadu: Congress workers in Chennai hold protest against Centre's decision to hold NEET-JEE 2020 exams amid COVID19 pandemic pic.twitter.com/wruQKgZuvB ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2020 Delhi: Congress holds protest outside Shastri Bhawan against holding of the JEE & NEET examinations in September. pic.twitter.com/SIfStMV39z ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2020 Meanwhile, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has said the students want the exams to be conducted as more than 17 lakh candidates have already downloaded the admit cards for JEE and NEET exams.He also said that following the order of the Supreme Court with the request of students as well as parents, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has decided to conduct the engineering and medical entrance examinations.The National Testing Agency, during the hearing, had submitted that all safeguards will be taken while holding the exam. ALSO READ : Delhi Police Constable 2020 recruitment: Know vacancy, last date to apply and how to apply @ssc.nic.in 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. Long before she agreed to meet Tyler Bosmeny, Sophie Turnbull, who was finishing up a masters degree at Harvard, had bought a plane ticket to return to her native Australia. I was having dinner one night with a friend and his fiancee, talking about the pitfalls of dating, said Ms. Turnbull, 32. Suddenly, out of nowhere, he says Hey Sophie, you have to meet a friend of mine, hes the most eligible bachelor I know. Thinking I wasnt going to meet this Tyler guy anytime soon, I said, Yeah, sure, why not. Ms. Turnbulls friend, who was living in Boston, also reached out to Mr. Bosmeny. I get up one morning and theres a text waiting for me that said, Hey Tyler, the next time youre in Boston, theres someone you have to meet, said Mr. Bosmeny, 33, a founder and chief executive of Clever, a San Francisco-based software platform used by K-12 schools nationwide. When Mr. Bosmeny responded that he was planning on attending a work conference in Boston that Monday, just 48 hours later, in January 2019, the table was set. Parents in China's northern region of Inner Mongolia are refusing to send their children to school this semester in protest over changes to the curriculum by the ruling Chinese Communist Party. A directive from the Inner Mongolia education department recently ordered an end to Mongolian-language classes for first-year primary students and an end to Mongolian-medium teaching and materials in favor of the Chinese language, teachers in the region have told RFA. The move prompted protests from parents in the region's Tongliao city. Photos circulated on social media of parents holding up cardboard placards on city streets and squares in Tongliao. One placard read: "Prohibition of learning Mongolian in Inner Mongolia is violating the constitution of [the People's Republic of] China." "It is the inalienable right of Mongolians to learn the Mongolian language," read another. Refusal to enroll Ethnic Mongolian rights activist Khubis said parents at one Mongolian-medium school in Tongliao had refused to enroll their children in protest. " [Aug. 27], none of the parents of Mongolian students in Zaruud, near Tongliao city in eastern [Inner Mongolia], went to register their children," Khubis said. "I went to the school and but I didn't enrol mine either." The Zaruud Mongolian Experimental Primary School responded by issuing a notice to parents on , he said. "The notice basically said that any parents who refused to enrol their kids would have their kids sent back to the school where they were previously registered," Khubis said. "The Tongliao municipal education department notified parents that ... schools officially went back on Aug. 27, so any parents refusing to enrol are delaying their children's access to compulsory education," he said. 'Tensions are running high' Haschuul, a resident of Shilingol League near the border with the independent country of Mongolia, said similar tensions had emerged in his hometown in Shuluun Huh banner, a county-level administrative division. "Previously they didn't start teaching them Chinese until the third grade of elementary school, but now they have to start Chinese in the first grade," Haschuul told RFA on . "And Chinese is the language of instruction, with Mongolian as a minor subject," he said. "This will mean the gradual disappearance of our Mongolian language, so of course we have a problem with that." Nomin, a former schoolteacher from Shuluun Huh who now lives in the U.S., said teachers have also been joining the campaign, signing petitions to ask the ruling Chinese Communist Party to reverse its policy in the region. "People are very angry and tensions are running high," Nomin said. "They are putting pressure on teachers and parents and threatening the kids, saying that they won't get into university in future [if they don't learn Chinese]." Plans are also afoot on social media for rallies against the new language policy on Sept. 1 in the regional capital Hohhot, and in Baotou, Wuhai, Tongliao and Hailar. Those protesting say the new policy, which is being billed as "bilingual education" by the authorities, are in breach of the constitution, and regional ethnic autonomy laws. Repeated calls to the complaints department of the Zaruud banner government rang unanswered during office hours on . Parents posted conversations with officials to social media in which the officials claimed that no such policy document existed, and said the parents' ire was premature given that school hadn't yet started. However, the regional education department said in a statement on its website that it was soliciting comments on the new policy "in the light of strong public reactions and international media attention." Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. A pair of capybaras were recently added to the Cape May County Zoo and seem to be getting along very well, according to a news release from the county. Five-year-old Budette arrived from the Cleveland Metropark Zoo in July, and 6-year-old Mikey arrived from the Sedgwick County Zoo in Kansas last week, associate veterinarian Dr. Alex Ernst said in a news release. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Ernst hopes they will produce pups next spring. The pair have been slowly acclimating to their new home, and they have been released into public view, Ernst said. They can be found every day in our newly refurbished capybara habitat at the foot of the Savanna Bridge. While not a threatened species, the capybara is hunted in some areas for its skin, according to the release. The largest and longest-living rodent in the world, it is native to South America and has an average lifespan of seven years in the wild and may live up to 12 in captivity. 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. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Because of the virus, there is a current debate between opening up the schools or only using online instruction. Online instruction allows parents to hear what is being taught to their children. But that has some liberals up in arms because they want to teach a more radical curriculum than most parents would wish. Perhaps the largest bone of contention in this respect is in the realm of sex education, which in our day has become more radicalized. Christian attorney Brad Dacus, the president of Pacific Justice Institute, even calls todays curriculum Sexxx ed. Dacus told D. James Kennedy Ministries: With the new sex-ed curriculum revolution taking place in public schools, it is a literal spiritual genocide.It is so twisted with a radical LGBTQ taught to young children all the way down to kindergarten, convincing them that they can change their gender be a boy on the inside, girl on the outside. The Family Research Council (FRC) has recently released a booklet laying out the shocking facts about all this. It is entitled, Sex Education in Public Schools: Sexualization of Children and LGBT Indoctrination. The author is Cathy Ruse, a Senior Fellow at FRC and Georgetown Law grad. Ruse notes, Most of us remember what sex education was like when we were in school. A couple of uncomfortable hours.Things are very different today. Children are taught they could be born in the wrong body. Teens are shown videos of techniques to pleasure their sex partners. Students are told how to have abortions without telling their parents. Schools in Indiana send teens out to shop for condoms. And on it goes. Tony Perkins, the president of FRC, told me in an interview: When most parents hear about sex education, they immediately think back to their gym teacher giving them some of the basic facts of human biology. But thats not what is being taught today in our schools. He noted that for the most part much of todays teaching is a tutorial on sexual activity. He also said, It has expanded to where in some cases it is 70 hours of instruction. Planned Parenthood is now the nations largest sex educator in our public schools. And they profit off of the abortions they provide to sexually active teenagers. This reminds me of the old phrase, Follow the money. In an interview on Christian television, Cathy Ruse told me, There is a story out of a rural Virginia county where parents learned that their 9th grade daughters had been shown a Planned Parenthood sex ed videofocusing on certain sexual organs of their partners, and the video promoted the use of sex toys. As noted earlier, response to the coronavirus has shut down many schools, which now provide only virtual classes. And some educators do not welcome parental involvement. Last week, the DailyWire.com (8/20/20) noted that parents have to sign a waiver agreeing not to monitor virtual instruction. Why? Does the school have something to hide? This particular story was out of Murfreesboro, Tennessee not some liberal metropolis. On 8/10/20, washingtonexaminer.com wrote of a Philadelphia teacher who fretted that conservative parents who listen in on their childrens instructions might interfere with teachers who are involved in the messy work of destabilizing a kids racism or homophobia or transphobia. The teacher assumes that teachers know whats best for the children, not the parents. Who is responsible for the children? The parents or the teachers? The Bible tells us that the parents are responsible for rearing their children. And God will hold parents accountable for the type of education they provide for their children. This is why school choice is such a hotly debated topic today. One byproduct of the COVID-19 pandemic is that some parents learned that they actually could homeschool their children. Homeschooling has a long and rich tradition in American history. Some of our founding fathers and great leaders were homeschooled for at least part of their education. This includes George Washington, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, and Abraham Lincoln. Homeschooled children today often succeed well beyond their public school counterparts. Parents are responsible for their children, even if they delegate the teaching to the school. Our TV ministry once covered a story about a young girl in a California high school who had an abortion apart from her parents permission or knowledge. When she developed an infection (because of the abortion) that caused her to be paralyzed, it was the parents, not the school, who had to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Schools should work with parents, not against them. If the schools are teaching dangerous things, including falsehoods about sex and purposely excluding the parents from knowing whats going on parents might want to consider other educational options for their children. An insurance company founder and big political donor heading to prison after being convicted of attempting to bribe North Carolinas top elected regulator of the industry remains confident hell get a new trial or overturned conviction. In a letter sent this week to his companys executives, employees and customers, Greg E. Lindberg said he never asked for any favors from state Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. And Lindberg said associates and advisers never told him that what he was doing was illegal. Lindberg, who was sentenced last week to more than seven years in prison, plans to appeal to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Hell have to report to prison soon. A 2019 federal indictment accused Lindberg and three others of trying to give over $1.5 million to help Causeys 2020 campaign, in exchange for Causey removing an official from the department that regulated Lindbergs business, in particular Global Bankers Insurance Group. Jurors in March found Lindberg and company consultant John Gray guilty of two counts each. Gray got a 2 1/2-year sentence. Then-state Republican Party Chairman Robin Hayes was among those indicted and pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents. He received probation. The fourth person was acquitted. Prosecutors called the scheme brazen and dangerous and accused Lindberg of attempting to buy his regulator, plain and simple and expressing no remorse. Lindberg, who kept a low public profile before his indictment, offered a different narrative. I asked for stringent regulation and tough regulatory scrutiny, Lindberg wrote in a 2,000-word letter, which was printed in state newspapers this week, according to a company spokesperson. How could that be a crime? How does democracy work if you cant ask your elected officials for `stringent regulation from an unbiased regulator as I did? Lindberg also repeatedly accused Causey, the governments star witness, of lying under oath at the trial. Causey wasnt accused of wrongdoing. He alerted authorities and recorded conversations that served as the basis of the indictments. Lindberg wrote that Causey, a Republican, went after him as political retribution because Lindberg had supported then-Democratic Commissioner Wayne Goodwin in the 2016 election. Causey and Goodwin are running again in November. With Causeys help, Lindberg said, the FBI spent eight months and hundreds of hours trying to unlawfully entrap him. He was concerned about the threat that I posed to his 2020 re-election campaign, Lindberg wrote. Causey declined to comment on the letter, an Insurance Department spokesperson said on Tuesday, citing ongoing litigation. Lindberg and his companies sued Causey two weeks after his conviction, alleging Causey abused his power as commissioner, resulting in over $500 million in damages. Causey has previously defended his actions. Lindberg, the sole owner of the company now known as Global Growth, had quickly become the largest individual political donor in North Carolina a few years ago. He had given more than $5 million to state and federal candidates and committees since 2016, favoring Republicans but also giving to Democrats. Lindberg wrote that he had been a political neophyte and looked to Hayes, Gray and others for advice. Had any one of these people with decades of political experience given just a simple warning, none of this mess would have occurred, he wrote. I would have stopped everything immediately with just the slightest warning. I am a careful and conscientious person. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation North Carolina AN investment vehicle controlled by billionaire financier Dermot Desmond has had a receiver appointed to Dublin tech firm Rapt Touch, which was co-founded by entrepreneur Gerry Giblin. Mr Desmonds Netherlands-based Bottin International made up to a 4m loan available to the touchscreen technology developer in 2018. The latest set of publicly available accounts for Rapt Holdings show it had racked up losses of 34.7m by the end of 2017. No accounts have been filed by the firm at the Companies Registration Office since then. Read More Neither Mr Giblin nor Rapt co-founder Owen Drumm were contactable. Bottin has appointed Shane McCarthy of KPMG as receiver and manager of Rapt. Mr McCarthy was also uncontactable. Rapt was founded in 2008 and develops software that provides enhanced touchscreen capabilities. Its technology is primarily aimed at corporate and education sectors. Mr Desmond is also an equity investor in the business, alongside other backers including Enterprise Ireland, M3 Ventures, Cyprus Venture Fund and the Ulster Bank Diageo Venture Fund. The 2017 accounts for Rapt Holdings show that it made an 8.5m loss that year. Turnover that year was 3.2m, which was just more than double that generated in 2016. It was all generated in the United States. Its operating loss was 3.1m in 2017, but it also incurred a 5.3m net interest expense on top of that. The company employed about 43 people at the end of 2017. The accounts also note that after the year end, it had received additional funding from investors in the form of loan facilities. Company filings for Rapt indicate that Bottin has a charge over a swathe of assets at the tech company, from property to patents and licences. The difficulties at Rapt come as Mr Desmond is also bankrolling troubled Irish travel software firm Datalex. Mr Desmond has provided Datalex with a 21m debt lifeline and owns just under 30pc of the business. Datalex was hit by an accounting scandal last year, and has been hammered by the impact of the Covid pandemic. Its software is used by airlines to help them leverage revenue from passengers. Mr Desmond also recently agreed to provide an additional $75m (63m) in support to Canadian miner Mountain Province Diamonds (MPD), in which he has a 32pc stake, as the pandemic plays havoc with its business. A company owned by Mr Desmond will buy a total of $100m in diamonds from MPD and the billionaire has also assumed $25m in debt owed by MPD. A single Australian radio producer has explained why she doesn't like to receive unsolicited 'd*** pictures', after her male colleague revealed why men take them in the first place. Triple M radio worker Jana Hocking, 36, spoke to host Danny Lakey on air about how she gets 'a lot' of lewd snaps from 'weird guys' on Instagram, even though she never asks for them. The blonde bombshell said they make her feel like an 'easy option' and like she doesn't deserve to be treated with manners. Triple M radio worker Jana Hocking, 36, spoke to host Danny Lakey on air about how she gets 'a lot' of lewd snaps from 'weird guys' on Instagram Poll Have you ever sent a photo of your genitals? Yes, I don't mind No, not at all Have you ever sent a photo of your genitals? Yes, I don't mind 24 votes No, not at all 171 votes Now share your opinion 'We find them entertaining and we're going to show our friends and really zoom in on them. But it doesn't make me want to rip off my clothes and hail the nearest taxi to their place,' she said. 'And can I just say, you don't put any effort in. Where is the pretty lighting? Where is the good angle? They look so aggressive, and there is always a wet towel on the floor in the background.' Jana said if she's willing to send a 'saucy little picture' she puts effort into the backdrop - maybe by lighting a candle - and she uses a flattering angle. Jana said if she's willing to send a 'saucy little picture' she puts effort into the backdrop - maybe by lighting a candle - and she uses a flattering angle 'Men just don't even try,' she said. Danny said that he has never sent one without being asked before but did understand the appeal from a male gaze. 'We sexualise everything right? You women are kind of spoiled for choice because you've got three big, sexy parts,' he said. ''The breasts, the a*** and the bum' 'Three things guys have been putting on a pedestal for a very long time. If you could crawl inside the minds of dudes... we're thinking about it all the time.' So when a guy sends a photo it's because he believes a woman wants to see his 'pecker' just as much as he wants to see her prized possessions. 'The guy that's sending the d*** pic and wants a girl to lust over it does so for the same reason a guy might wolf whistle at a girl in the street,' he said. In speaking to news.com.au, Jana said that a picture of any other region of a man's body was going to be better received on the part of his prospective partner Speaking to news.com.au, Jana said that a picture of any other region of a man's body was going to be better received on the part of his prospective partner. 'May I make a suggestion, instead of a full-frontal d*** pic, why not send something that really turns us on, like a pic of your broad shoulders, or rugged beard, or sparkly eyes. Tease a girl a little,' she said. According to relationship expert Louanne Ward, most women don't like being caught off guard by a photo of genitals. 'Guess what, a lot of women don't find it that pretty,' she told FEMAIL. 'They don't want to have to lie about it, say how magnificent it is and then be expected to send a reciprocal naked photo just because you did. 'It doesn't mean the lady is going to be impressed by what she sees - she'd rather not be disappointed before even meeting you, so leave the photo of your penis in your camera roll until a lady might ask for it.' By PTI UNITED NATIONS: UN chief Antonio Guterres on Friday renewed his call on India and other G20 countries to invest in a clean and sustainable transition as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, expressing deep concern over the continued support for polluting fossil fuels by nations across the world. UN Secretary-General Guterres, virtually delivering the 19th Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), said that clean energy and closing the energy access gap are good business. They are the ticket to growth and prosperity. Yet, here in India, subsidies for fossil fuels are still some seven times more than subsidies for clean energy, he said. Coal subsidies in 2019-20 amounted to USD 2.06 billion, with overall subsidies to fossil fuels at USD 11 billion, he said. Guterres praised India for raising the proportion of renewable energy in its total consumption to 24 per cent from 17 per cent despite the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that coal-fired power use has declined by 10 per cent to 66 per cent from 76 per cent. The UN chief said that investments in renewable energy generate triple the number of jobs created by investments in fossil fuels. With the COVID-19 pandemic threatening to push many people back into poverty, such job creation is an opportunity that can't be missed, Guterres said. Apart from issues of job creation and concerns about pollution and climate change, coal power plants are likely to become stranded assets, he said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar presided over the event and delivered the Presidential Address. The UN chief described as deeply troubling the continued support for fossil fuels in so many places around the world. I have asked all G20 countries, including India, to invest in a clean, green transition as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. This means ending fossil fuel subsidies, placing a price on carbon pollution and committing to no new coal after 2020, Guterres said. The Secretary-General elaborated that in India, 50 per cent of coal will be uncompetitive in 2022, reaching 85 per cent by 2025. This is why the worlds largest investors are increasingly abandoning coal. They see the writing on the wall. It spells stranded assets and makes no commercial sense. The coal business is going up in smoke, he said. Guterres said that he is increasingly concerned about the several 'negative trends and pointed out that G20 recovery packages show that twice as much recovery money has been spent on fossil fuels as clean energy. In some cases, we are seeing countries doubling down on domestic coal and opening up coal auctions. This strategy will only lead to further economic contraction and damaging health consequences. We have never had more evidence that pollution from fossil fuels and coal emissions severely damages human health and leads to much higher healthcare system costs, Guterres said. India in June launched the auction process for coal blocks for commercial mining. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the auction process for 41 coal blocks for commercial mining, a move that opened India's coal sector for private players, and had termed it a major step in the direction of India achieving self-reliance. Presently, despite being the world's fourth largest producer, India is the second largest importer of the dry-fuel, Modi had said. Allowing private sector in commercial coal mining is unlocking resources of a nation with the world's fourth-largest reserves,' he had pointed out. Modi had said that the launch of the auction process not only marked the beginning of unlocking of the country's coal sector from the lockdown of decades, but aimed at making India the largest exporter of coal. Guterres lauded the developed economies and many developing nations for leading by example by shifting to green solutions to meet their energy demands amid the pandemic. He cited the example of South Korea, the United Kingdom and Germany, as well as the European Union for speeding up decarbonisation of their economies in their domestic stimulus and investment plans in response to COVID-19. He noted that these countries are shifting from unsustainable fossil fuels to clean and efficient renewables, and investing in energy storage solutions, such as green hydrogen. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Citizens throughout the nation are counting on using mail ballots to vote in November without placing their lives at risk. President Donald Trump is determined to prevent them from doing so, if they live in heavily Democratic metropolitan areas, that is. Trump claims that allowing widespread mail balloting is an invitation to massive and systematic fraud, saying: What they're doing is using COVID to steal an election. They're using COVID to defraud the American people. But when a judge ordered Trumps campaign to come up with evidence for the presidents fraud claims, the campaign produced absolutely nothing. Still, theres ample evidence that if Trump gets his way, hundreds of thousands of duly registered voters will not be able to vote, or will have their ballots go uncountedmore than enough to sway the outcome of a close election. On June 29, the Trump campaign filed a lawsuit demanding the voiding of the efforts of Pennsylvanias state officials to facilitate mail voting during the pandemic, pursuant to a recently enacted law. Among other things, Pennsylvania is allowing the use of ballot drop boxes, so voters can avoid returning ballots through the mails. In light of revelations that Trumps recently installed Postmaster General (and fundraiser), Louis DeJoy, deliberately engineered new inefficiencies and delays at the Postal Service (particularly in Philadelphia), the need for drop boxes is even more clear. But thats only made the Trump campaign more determined to prevent their use. Al Gore: If Trump Refuses to Concede, the Military Would Run Him Out According to the Trump campaigns complaint, Pennsylvania voting officials have sacrificed the sanctity of in-person voting at the altar of unmonitored and unsecured mail-in voting and have exponentially enhanced the threat that fraudulent or otherwise ineligible ballots will be cast and counted in the upcoming General Election. Trumps complaint uses the word fraud no fewer than 51 times. Story continues Given the centrality of Trumps fraud claims, on Aug. 13 the Pittsburgh federal judge hearing the case, Nicholas Ranjan (a Trump appointee), ordered the campaign to provide any and all evidence supporting its allegations concerning potential or actual fraud or voter misconduct, including from the use of drop boxes, absentee ballots, or vote-by-mail. When the Daily Beast asked the Trump campaign for a copy of the materials it produced, the campaign declined to share one. It later became clear why, when the campaigns interrogatory responses were disclosed. The filings contained virtually no evidence of mail-in or drop-box ballot fraud, let alone fraud of a nature and scale remotely sufficient to change the outcome of a statewide election. Instead, the document contained a grab bag of examples of campaign irregularities, errors and misconduct, many taken from newspaper articles, and none substantiating the massive mail voting fraud claims the campaign made in its complaint. Indeed, the campaign was reduced to making the absurd contention that it does not need to demonstrate any evidence of fraud to prove its case, even though the campaigns complaint was laced with, and grounded on, claims of a grave risk of fraud. Of course, its nothing new for Trump and his associates to make claims without evidence. Apart from the presidents now regular rants about rigging the upcoming election, Attorney General William Barr has repeatedly contended that if you have wholesale mail-in voting, it substantially increases the risk of fraud." Barr has even joined Trump in asserting that foreign nations are poised to engage in massive counterfeiting of mail in ballots to sway the outcome of the election. But when asked if he had any evidence whatsoever to support his claims, Barr has repeatedly admitted, most recently before Congress, that he has none, and instead is relying entirely on what he calls "common sense. A senior official of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence recently contradicted Barr, stating that the intelligence community has no evidence that foreign powers intend to manipulate mail-in ballots. In fact, as election experts have demonstrated, Barrs claim that mail ballots are a likely source for massive, systematic fraudlet alone a foreign powers scheme to sway an electionis entirely contrary to common sense. A database maintained by the conservative Heritage Foundation indicates that, over a period of nine years, there were all of 15 cases of voter fraud in the five states that employ universal mail-in voting; furthermore, as election expert Rick Hasen has explained, it would likely require thousands of counterfeit or otherwise fraudulent ballots to sway the outcome of a states election, something that would be virtually impossible to carry off. A senior FBI official similarly recently stated that [i]t's extraordinarily difficult to change a federal election outcome through [coordinated] fraud alone. Trump lost a round when the Pennsylvania federal court case was temporarily stayed by the judge hearing it in favor of allowing the Pennsylvania law issues in the case to first be addressed by state courts; but it will likely be revised. In the meantime, the Trump campaign can be expected to continue to peddle its bogus fraud claims in every court in which it can be heard. But there is now no doubt that the Trump challenges to mail voting are grounded on phantom, and indeed, fantastically fraudulent, claims of fraud. But theres nothing speculative about the consequences of allowing Trump to get away with his scheme to suppress and limit mail voting. If Trump succeeds, thousands of eligible voters will be prevented from casting their votes, or will complete ballots that are not counted. The Washington Post reported that more than 534,000 mail ballots went uncounted during the recent primaries, many in battleground states, including because signatures were rejected or ballots were received past the deadlines. The vast majority of these ballots were cast by duly registered citizens who had every right to vote. At the end of the day, of course, the Trump campaign has no actual interest in preventing voter fraud; rather, the president wants to make it even more difficult for people who reasonably fear going to crowded polling places in heavily Democratic metropolitan areas from effectively voting by mail, and thereby from voting at all. That is a classic voter disenfranchisement scheme, and it is directly at odds with the principles of democracy. 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. Seeking re-election, United States President Donald Trump on August 28 formally accepted the Republican Partys presidential nomination for the upcoming polls. Speaking at the White House as part of the virtual convention, Trump said, My fellow Americans, tonight, with a heart full of gratitude and boundless optimism, I proudly accept this nomination for president of the United States. Here's what Trump said at the convention finale: > This is the most important election in the history of our country and it will "decide if we can save the American dream, or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny, Trump said. > We will defend America against all threats and all dangers. We will reach new heights of national achievement, Trump added. > Trump said, Your vote will decide whether we protect law abiding Americans, or whether we give free reign to violent anarchists, agitators, and criminals who threaten our citizens. > The 74-year-old attacked rival Joe Biden, calling him a destroyer of Americas jobs, without providing evidence. For 47 years, Joe Biden took the donations of blue-collar workers, gave them hugs and even kisses, Trump added. > I have done more in three years for the black community than Joe Biden has done in 47 years, Trump said. And when Im re-elected, the best is yet to come." > Trump declared the Democratic Party's agenda as "the most extreme set of proposals ever put forward by a major party nominee and presented himself as the last barrier protecting an American way of life which he said was under siege from radical forces. > Tonight, I ask you a very simple question: How can the Democratic Party ask to lead our country when it spends so much time tearing down our country?" Trump said. In the lefts backward view, they do not see America as the most free, just, and exceptional nation on earth. Instead, they see a wicked nation that must be punished for its sins." > He reiterated his earlier claim that China would own our country if Joe Biden was elected. "Joe Biden's agenda is made in China. My agenda is made in the USA," Trump added. > Our planet has been struck by a new, powerful and invisible enemy. We will produce a vaccine by the end of this year, of maybe sooner. We will make America stronger than ever before, Trump said. Joe Bidens plan is not a solution to the virus, but a surrender to the virus, added. > Trump claimed that hundreds of thousands of more Americans would have died if his Democratic opponent, Biden, had been in office during the pandemic. The United States has seen nearly 1.8 lakh deaths related to COVID-19 so far. > Trump also spoke about efforts made by his administration towards resolution of disputes in West Asia. He highlighted moving the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and the recent IsraelUnited Arab Emirates (UAE) peace agreement. > He made two space-related promises in his convention speech tonight: America will land the first woman on the moon, and the United States will be the first nation to plant its beautiful flag on Mars, the president said. The battle ahead Trump's acceptance speech concluded four days of star-studded convention of the Republican Party, which gathers once in four years in one of the American cities to nominate its presidential candidate. Vice President Mike Pence had accepted his nomination as Trumps running mate at the Republican National Convention on August 27. Trump and Pence are being challenged by former vice president Joe Biden and California Senator Kamala Harris from the rival Democratic Party. As per an average of major national polls tracked by Real Clear Politics, Biden leads Trump by 7.1 percentage points and in the battleground states it has come down to 3.7 percentage points, indicating that the presidential elections in less than 70 days from now is headed for an interesting finish. (With inputs from agencies) Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently trusted by 58 per cent of the countrys citizens, a fresh poll by Russias Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) showed on Friday. A week ago, the number was 55 per cent. According to the findings, 31 per cent of respondents feel distrust toward the president, while another 11 per cent were not able to give a definite answer. In addition, 60 per cent approved of Putins performance in office, while 25 per cent disagreed. Another 15 per cent could not say for sure. The survey was conducted from August 21-23 among 4,000 Russian adults. The margin of error does not exceed 1.9 per cent. Trust in Mr Putin had sunk as the public was unimpressed with his performance in response to a series of shocks that hit the Russian economy in the first quarter of 2020. It slumped 10 percentage points between January and May to a multi-year low of 25 per cent, according to independent pollster, the Levada Center, down from a peak of 59 per cent in November 2017. Mr Putin has been caught between a rock and a hard place as he tries to avoid responsibility for the states poor response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic in Russia. The pandemic in Russia has resulted in the third highest number of infections in the world (387,623 confirmed cases and 4,374 deaths, as of May 30, according to John Hopkins), behind only Brazil and the U.S. Mr Putin pushed off responsibility for dealing with the epidemic to the regional governors and remained isolated and aloof for most of April and May while the entire country was put on lockdown. READ ALSO: The country is used to seeing Putin as a man of action, ending the chaos of the Yeltsin-era, facing down the U.S. sanctions and winning a war against terrorists in Syria. The new Mr Putin, sitting alone in his office in front of a bank of TV screens holding online meetings, is a new image that sits less well with the population. However, trust in Mr Putin is still well ahead of trust in any other politician. The next most trusted politician remains Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, but even he has seen his rating almost halve from 23 per cent in November 2017 to 14 per cent as of May 2020. (Sputnik/NAN) NHAI introduces rating system for concessionaires, contractors and consultants The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has developed a `Vendor Performance Evaluation System to establish a transparent and comprehensive Performance Rating system for its consultants, contractors and concessionaires. According a statement by NHAI, the portal based objective assessment of vendors has been initiated to track the performance of the vendors for various NHAI projects. The portal is available on the NHAI website under Vendor Performance Evaluation System Vendors, NHAI has said, are required to make a self-assessment and upload the documents related to the project activities being executed by them on the portal. The submissions are reviewed at multiple levels by NHAI, based on which a vendor rating is generated. The portal contains provision for rating the projects according to the mode of implementation and status of completion under BOT (Toll), BOT (Annuity), HAM, EPC works and for NHAIs engineer, independent engineer and DPR consultants. To ensure that the evaluation is done in the most objective and balanced way, the vendor rating generated post multi-level reviews, shall be shared with the vendor. The vendor will also be given an opportunity to appeal against the generated rating. As on date, vendors have filled data for 853 projects (519 consultants and 334 contractors) which are under different stages of review. The vendors who fail to upload the requisite documents on the portal will not be allowed to participate in the bids of NHAI. "Suitable amendments in bidding documents are being incorporated to make rating of vendors as one of the qualification criteria for awarding new projects," NHAI stated in a release. This rating system will increase the accountability of vendors thereby improving the quality of highways. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal With a COVID-19 outbreak that hit more than 50 positive cases on Thursday, La Pasada Halfway House executive director Ruben Chavez said he isnt going home anytime soon. In fact, he said he has been living with the dozens of pre-trial federal detainees and state defendants in the residential facility on North Fourth Street in Albuquerque for the past 10 days. That way, Im not exposing anybody else, said Chavez, who has worked at the nonprofit halfway house for the past nine years. So far, nearly all of the 44 residents who have tested positive have been asymptomatic, he said. But the challenge is to try to keep the others who have tested negative from contracting it. Currently, there are 76 people living there, Chavez said. Typically, federal defendants deemed to be at low risk of fleeing or those who dont pose a public safety threat are permitted to live at the halfway house while awaiting trial in Albuquerque. Both men and women reside there. In normal times, they usually can leave to go to their jobs or for medical appointments. But nobody is going anywhere right now, Chavez said. Everyones on hold right now. During court hearings Thursday in Albuquerque, U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven Yarbrough informed defendants and their attorneys that La Pasada isnt taking people for at least the foreseeable future. One court staffer told the judge it could take up to another three months before the halfway house will be open again. (With the COVID-19 threat, the public is permitted to listen to live court proceedings online.) The temporary loss of La Pasada has left federal magistrate judges in Albuquerque with few options: they can either release defendants on their own recognizance or to the custody of third-party custodians pending trial. Or they can temporarily house them at one of the states prisons. Yarbrough told those in court he recognized that two of the biggest (COVID-19) outbreaks in New Mexico have been in correctional facilities, but he opted to keep several defendants seeking halfway house release confined to correctional facilities in Cibola or Torrance counties for the time being. Chavez said La Pasada Halfway House, which dates back to the late 1970s, helps keep tabs on defendants, and alerts U.S. Probation and Parole officers when residents abscond or fail to abide by their conditions of release. The building can house up to 110 people, he said. The state Department of Health, which is working to contain the spread, confirmed at least 44 positive cases of residents and seven staff members in an email to the Journal late Thursday. Chavez lamented on Thursday how he and his 35 employees were able to head it (the coronavirus) off for such a long time. But apparently everything we did just didnt work. We were wearing protective equipment, gloves, taking temperatures and making sure people were washing their hands when they came in for the last six months. But its just inevitable. So far, no one has become seriously ill. He believes the outbreak started earlier this month with one resident who fell ill and was taken to the emergency room. That person was returned to the facility and later tested positive. Now, it is a matter of testing residents regularly and keeping those infected quarantined. So far, theres been cooperation among the residents, he said. Chavez said he and his program director are trying to be good leaders and, if were here, then it makes everyone else feel a little more comfortable. He said his wife understands his absence at home because she is a priest in her church and wants to protect her congregation. Were on the front lines, like everybody else, Chavez said. We want to make sure were also keeping everyones spirits up as well, and letting them know its going to be OK and it will pass. Sentiment among European investors for the Vietnamese market remain stable The BCI is a regular barometer of EuroCham members and their perceptions of the trade and investment environment. Each quarter, it tracks the performance of EuroChams member companies and their perceptions of the economic environment in Vietnam. The overall BCI score saw a slight increase over the last three months. It rose from 27 per cent in the first quarter to 34 per cent in April, and remained stable into the second quarter. This confirms that confidence is returning to the market after a fall during the initial emergence of COVID-19. However, the BCI also shows that European business leaders continue to feel the impact of the global pandemic and remain cautious about the future prospects of their enterprises. The latest BCI reveals that European enterprises fared better over the last three months than first anticipated during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first quarter, just one in 10 EuroCham members had foreseen a short-term improvement in their performance. However, businesses outperformed these predictions, with 24 per cent describing their business situation as good or excellent over the last three months. Looking ahead there are more grounds for optimism, with around a quarter of EuroCham members predicting a rise in orders in the third quarter. Meanwhile, a further 28 per cent anticipate a similar level of orders to the second quarter, and this should help to drive growth into the autumn. Despite these positive signals, companies continue to feel the impact of COVID-19 on their business operations, with around half predicting a drop in headcount in the next quarter. Nicolas Audier, chairman of the EuroCham, said, "Despite the stormy waters of a global pandemic, our data shows that the governments swift and effective response to COVID-19 has successfully steadied the ship here in Vietnam. While the confidence of our member companies has improved and stabilised, business leaders continue to feel the effects of this virus and remain cautious about the future prospects of their business operations." The BCI also found that international travel restrictions are having an impact on European enterprises in Vietnam. The government has worked with foreign business communities to facilitate the safe return of essential workers, and we are grateful for their assistance. Looking ahead, global trade will remain unpredictable for some time but we can be confident that European business will be one of the factors driving long-term economic growth in Vietnam, now that the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement has entered into force, he added. President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali was arrested on August 18 in a military mutiny. The United States strongly condemns the. . .mutiny in Mali as we would condemn any forcible seizure of power, said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement. While it is reported that President Keita has been released to his home, it is feared that instability in Mali could empower extremists seeking to advance their Islamist agenda in Mali and in neighboring countries and lead to the displacement of millions of civilians. Indeed, after a military coup in Mali in 2012, Islamist rebels, some with ties to Al Qaeda, seized control of large areas of northern Mali, including the ancient cultural capital of Timbuktu. In areas under the control of Islamic extremists, Malians were forced to follow a strict religious code, including forced marriages for women, until French forces helped the Malian military drive out the jihadists. But armed groups continue to threaten civilians in rural areas, and the violence has spread into the neighboring countries of Burkina Faso and Niger. According to press reports, more than 10,000 West Africans have died and over a million have fled their homes since 2012. U.S. Special Envoy for the Sahel Region Peter Pham made clear in a post on Twitter: The United States is not providing any training to the Malian armed forces at this time. He also tweeted that the US opposes any extra-constitutional change of government, whether by those on the streets or by the defense and security forces. The United States joins the Economic Community of West African States and African Union, as well as other international partners, in denouncing the mutiny in Mali. The freedom and safety of detained government officials and their families must be ensured, stressed Secretary Pompeo. The United States calls on all political and military actors to work towards a restoration of constitutional government. We urge all stakeholders in Mali, said Secretary Pompeo, to engage in peaceful dialogue, to respect Malians rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and to reject violence. The shooting of Jacob Blake matters here in Houston because his story is personal. Anytime I see the loss of Black life at the hands of law enforcement, I think, this could've been my dad, my brother or my uncle. It's hard to wrap my mind around the senseless violence and blatant hypocrisy Black people endure from law enforcement. Blake, a unarmed Black man, was shot multiple times in the back by police when walking to his car. Yet after the news broke and protests ensued in Kenosha, Wisconsin, a white armed militia member who shot and killed multiple people with an automatic weapon walked away unscathed, with a water bottle and praise from police officers. Related: Teen accused of fatal shooting during Kenosha protests arrested in Illinois Clearly, police officers know how to detain armed criminals without killing them, and yet unarmed Black men and women have continuously died at the hands of police. It seems as if the senseless murder of George Floyd created a domino effect across the country Americans are opening their eyes to the systemic racism that exists in this country. But so many Black men and women have died at the hands of police since May, and honestly, it's tiring. Related: Police body cam footage has leaked showing more details from George Floyd's fatal arrest If theres anything that history has shown us, its that violence from police has persisted against Black people, and other people of color. There are countless videos of police on camera harming African Americans. What officers fail to realize is, that whether innocent or guilty, its not their job to make the decision about who lives or dies. In Blakes case, while the situation is extremely traumatizing and Blake is now paralyzed from the waist down, Im happy to know hes alive and will be able to share his story. We don't need any more stories of Black people dying at the hands of law enforcement before we genuinely start taking a look at the role police officers play in a system that willfully murders people of color. WATERLOO REGION Disabled people have been hit especially hard by COVID-19, new government surveys reveal. Many are struggling to sustain their finances and essential needs. Parents of disabled children face heightened concerns about the health and success of their children. Its a clear indicator of whos hurting the most and where we need to direct support, said Jay Dolmage, a University of Waterloo professor who studies disability rights. Dolmage said many disabled people now face an even more precarious future after being denied much of a life before the pandemic struck. I think the repercussions will spread out longer. Theyre going to be the last group that gets the opportunity to go back to work, he said. Statistics Canada released results Thursday after surveying 13,000 disabled people and 32,000 others in June and July. Surveys found that more than one-third of disabled people lost jobs or had hours reduced after the pandemic struck in March. Thats a big hit among people who are less likely to have jobs and who typically earn less. Almost one-third saw their household income fall, a big hit among people more likely to live in poverty. Income disruptions as a result of the pandemic could place persons with disabilities in an even more vulnerable position, a report concludes. Almost half of disabled people said the pandemic threatens their ability to buy food and protective gear such as masks. Among people with more severe disabilities, more than two-thirds report threats to their finances or essential needs. The pandemic has had a pernicious impact on families with disabled children. Parents of disabled children are more likely than other parents to worry that their children are lonely, isolated or struggling with mental health. They are more likely to fret that their children are getting too much screen time. They worry more than other parents about managing their childrens behaviour, stress, anxiety and emotions. They worry more than other parents about their childrens school year and academic success. Dolmage said governments sent a clear message by providing emergency pandemic cash to others that greatly exceeds the aid that is regularly made available to disabled people. It was made clear to disabled people that their value is low, he said. He said governments shut disabled people out of health care to prepare for COVID-19. A lot of people just got kind of cut off. They couldnt get appointments. They couldnt get in-home care that they needed, he said. He expects some people will see their conditions worsen as a result. Roch Longueepee is among disabled residents fighting for his health care during the pandemic. He has a brain injury. Theres a lot of inequity, said Longueepee, who is battling the University of Waterloo in court after judges ruled the school discriminated against him by refusing to admit him. He sees more talk than action from the federal government on supports for the disabled. The online government survey on pandemic impacts did not capture concerns of many disabled people, Longueepee said. Statistics Canada says people missed from the survey may include people who are blind and people without access to a computer or the internet. A Russian financier who is thought to have drowned her seven-year-old son and hanged herself had been suffering from breast cancer, neighbours said today. Banking analyst Yulia Gokcedag, 35, and her son Timur had been reported missing to the Metropolitan Police on Wednesday 12 August. Police grew increasingly concerned about their welfare and broke into the 687,000 flat on the Isle of Dogs in east London the next day at 3.20am. Mrs Gokcedag and her son Timur were found dead inside the property, with a post-mortem giving their causes of death as hanging and drowning. Friend and former colleague Agnieszka Leonowicz said she had been suffering from breast cancer but had been 'doing fine', while a neighbour said she had experienced depression several years ago. A second neighbour told The Sun: 'I know she had breast cancer. It was really sad. I can't believe what has happened.' Mrs Gokcedag married investment banker Mehmet Gokcedag, 50, in 2011 and they moved to London a year later, according to online profiles. She had shared Facebook photos of days out with her husband in London, a trip to his native Turkey and the couple cradling baby Timur after his birth in 2013. It is not clear if they were still together prior to her death. Yulia Gokcedag, 35, (pictured) and her seven-year-old son Timur had been reported missing to the Metropolitan Police on 12 August Timur is pictured in a Facebook album under his name that was posted on Mrs Gokcedag's Facebook page after he was born in 2013 Mrs Gokcedag last worked as a data analyst at Moody's Investors Service and had won awards as a banker at Barclays, according to her Linkedin account. She gained a finance and economics degree at the Moscow Financial University before doing an academic English course at the London School of Economics. Prior to moving to the UK she had worked at two financial services companies in south-east Russia. She was listed on Companies House as a British national and the director of two businesses. She described herself as experienced in working alongside 'high net worth clients in corporate banking and hedge funds'. One was an educational services company and the other involved renting Housing Association properties. One neighbour said he had seen Mrs Gokcedag with her son on several occasions and that she seemed like a 'devoted mother.' The man, who did not want to be named, said: 'The wife seemed really devoted to her son. She was Russian. Her mother and Mehmet's mother, from Istanbul, were here all the time. The family seemed fine. I didn't notice anything untoward. ' At a recent neighbourhood gathering, another former neighbour of Mr Gokcedag told the group he was about to relocate with his family to Wimbledon, in south west London. The neighbour added: 'I've lived here for thirty years. He moved in around 15 years ago, but two or three years ago he started renting this place and moved into a nearby house with his wife and son. He returned once a month to clean the place for tenants. 'He was from a Muslim background and studied at Yale in the US. And I am American and have a Muslim wife so I think he thought we had something in common.' Mrs Gokcedag was a banking analyst who had won awards while working at Barclays. She shared pictures of her and her husband, Mehmet Gokcedag, 50, enjoying life in London According to the neighbour, the father had moved to the area in order to be in the school catchment for his son. He added: 'Mehmet used to work at Credit Suisse and Namora Bank in Canary Wharf. I would often see him at the tube station.' Another local told how the boy attended nearby Canary Wharf College Primary School where parents and pupils have been informed. The woman, who lives opposite the flat where the pair were found, said: 'I found out today that my best friend's daughter went to the same school as the boy. 'The parents received an email announcing the death of the mother and the child.' The woman, herself a mother but who asked not to be named, added: 'My friend knew the mother and child, of course. Their children sat in the same salon. I think the parents had a WhatsApp group.' The woman said she had lived in the building for four years, but did not recognise pictures of the mother. She was a very proud and happy mother, she was always thinking of what is best for her family,' she said. 'She also had lots of experience and was a team player. I am very sad she is gone.' Her husband, who is Turkish, has a degree from Yale University and is vice president of the investment bank Bear Stearns, according to his LinkedIn. Mrs Gokcedag and her son Timur were found dead inside the property, with a post-mortem giving their causes of death as hanging and drowning Police grew increasingly concerned about their welfare and broke into the flat in Lockesfield Place, Tower Hamlets at 3.20am on Thursday (file photo) Mr Gokcedag is also trustee of Seeds for Growth, a charity which helps disadvantaged youngsters. Inquests into the deaths are set to be held at Poplar Coroner's Court on December 16. The Metropolitan Police said that its directorate of professional standards (DPS) was informed. A referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) which referred it back to the local professional standards unit which is currently investigating. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'Officers forced entry to the property and found Yulia and her son Timur unresponsive. 'Both were pronounced dead at the scene and an investigation was launched by the Met's Specialist Crime Command. The location of Mrs Gokcedag's flat in Tower Hamlets, east London, where she was found dead with her son on August 12 'Post mortem examinations determined the cause of death for Yulia to have been hanging and Timur's cause of death was drowning. 'Detectives investigating are not seeking any other persons in connection with the deaths.' The Met spokesman added: 'As is routine, the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards was informed. 'A referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) who referred it back to the local professional standards unit who are currently investigating. 'Inquests into the deaths of Yulia and Timur will be held at Poplar Coroners' Court.' An inquest has been scheduled and a file prepared for the coroner which will take place at Poplar Coroners' Court on Wednesday, 16 December. Anyone seeking help can call Samaritans free on 116 123 or visit Samaritans.org Press Release 28 August 2020 If tourism brings us together, then travel restrictions keep us apart. Advertisements More importantly, restrictions on travel also prevent tourism from delivering on its potential to build a better future for all. This week the United Nations Secretary-General launched the Policy Brief "COVID-19 and Transforming Tourism", which UNWTO assumed the lead role in producing. This landmark report makes clear what is at stake - the threat of losing tens of millions of direct tourism jobs, the loss of opportunities for those vulnerable populations and communities who stand to benefit most from tourism, and the real risk of losing vital resources for safeguarding natural and cultural heritage across the world. Tourism needs to thrive, and this means that travel restrictions must be eased or lifted in a timely and responsible manner. It also means that policy decisions need to be coordinated across borders to face up to a challenge which does not care about borders! "COVID-19 and Transforming Tourism" is a further element in the roadmap for the sector to regain its unique status as a source of hope and opportunity for all. This is true for both developing and developed nations, and all governments and international organizations have a stake in supporting tourism. But we can only call on governments to back up strong words with equally strong actions if we move first and take the lead. As destinations open up again, we are resuming in-person visits, to show support, to learn, and to build confidence in international travel. On the back of our successful visits to destinations in Europe, UNWTO delegations are now seeing first-hand how the Middle East is ready to restart tourism safely and responsibly. In Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and his government made clear how strong, targeted support, has saved jobs and allowed tourism to weather this unprecedented storm. Now iconic sites such as the Pyramids are ready to welcome back tourists, with the safety of both tourism workers and tourists themselves a priority. Similarly, the government of Saudi Arabia has warmly welcomed UNWTO and expressed a firm commitment to continue building the Kingdom's tourism sector, first for domestic visitors and then international visitors. The pandemic is far from over. As cases across the world make clear, we must be ready to act fast to save lives. But it also now also clear that we can also take decisive action to protect jobs and safeguard the many benefits tourism delivers, both for people and planet. UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili iStock/Pornpak Khunatorn (KENOSHA, Wis.) -- Authorities investigating social media accounts associated with the name of the alleged gunman in Kenosha, Wisconsin, have found references of support for President Donald Trump and a video that appears to show the poster at a Trump rally, law enforcement officials told ABC News. The social media accounts were deactivated Wednesday and are now part of the investigation into the deadly shooting. Investigators are looking to determine whether the accounts are legitimate and are scrubbing them for any information pertinent to the probe, two law enforcement officials told ABC News. Trump's reelection campaign issued a statement Wednesday night distancing itself from the alleged shooter, saying it condemns all forms of violence and lawlessness. At least three people were shot late Tuesday night near a gas station in Kenosha, some 40 miles south of Milwaukee, and two of the victims died from their injuries, according to the Kenosha Police Department. The third gunshot victim was taken to a hospital with "serious, but non-life-threatening injuries," police said. The violence occurred amid a third night of protests in Kenosha over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, who remains hospitalized in serious condition. The alleged gunman, identified as 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse of Illinois, surrendered himself to authorities in Antioch, Illinois, before dawn Wednesday, according to Antioch Interim Police Chief Geoff Guttschow. Charges against Rittenhouse were officially filed in Wisconsin on Thursday, for two homicide counts and one attempted homicide count. New Delhi, Aug 28 : In a big boost to locally manufactured products, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) will receive a consignment of 1,200 quintals of mustard oil worth Rs 1.73 crore by the end of this month from the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). The KVIC received the order from the ITBP -- one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)-- for supplying 1,200 quintals of kacchi ghani mustard oil. The purchase order comes just weeks after the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the KVIC and the ITBP on July 31, which is aligned with the Prime Minister's call for "Atmanirbhar Bharat" and "Vocal for Local". As per KVIC, the consignment will be supplied to the ITBP within 30 days from the date of order. The Minister for MSMEs, Nitin Gadkari, lauded KVIC's efforts and said this would encourage local production and empower lakhs of people engaged with village industries. KVIC has said that this order will create additional jobs at the Khadi institutions manufacturing high quality kacchi ghani mustard oil. The KVIC has instructed the Khadi institutions to work in three shifts to complete the supply within the stipulated period of 30 days. The development comes in the wake of the instructions of Home Minister Amit Shah to the paramilitary forces to encourage local products in a bid to support the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" mission. Shah has made it mandatory to sell only "Swadeshi" products through the CAPF canteens across India. The ITBP is the nodal agency appointed by the MHA for the procurement of provisions on behalf of all paramilitary forces. KVIC chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena welcomed the purchase order saying this was a major step towards strengthening the village industries and empowering the local artisans. "Only by encouraging local production and strengthening our village industries that we can overcome financial distress and create sustainable livelihood for our people. At the same time, our jawans at the border will get the best quality mustard oil. We will ensure the supplies are made before time," Saxena said. The KVIC and ITBP have signed the MoU for a period of one year which will be renewed further. The next products in the pipeline are cotton mats (dari), blankets, bed sheets, pillow covers, pickles, honey, papad and cosmetics. The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB) is planning to reopen schools by dividing students into groups that will enter classrooms on alternating days to learn COVID-19 safety protocol from teachers and staff. The Catholic board sent its plan for staggered reopenings to parents and guardians on Friday. The plan indicates that students in kindergarten, elementary grades and secondary schools will re-enter schools between Sept. 9 and Sept. 14. One of four kindergarten groups will return on Sept. 9, along with students in Grades 1 and 2, students in Grade 9 and students with special needs. Three more kindergarten groups will return on the following three days, along with three more elementary groups, divided by grades. Secondary school classes will start up on Sept. 10, while elementary classes will resume with all students on Sept. 16. Synchronous online instructions will begin Sept. 14. The rationale for the staggered start is to limit the number of students in schools while health and safety protocols are taught to students, the board has said. This will ensure that students and staff are properly educated on the use of masks, hand hygiene, physical distancing and other practices that are being implemented to keep our students and staff safe, the board told parents. The board has not yet released information on start dates for its online-only school. The public board, meanwhile, released its staggered reopening plans earlier this week. The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) says its students will enter classes gradually for the first weeks of school, with students being placed into two groups to enter schools on alternating days during the first week. One group will attend school on Sept. 10 and Sept. 14, while the other will attend school on Sept. 11 and Sept. 15. Sept. 8 and Sept. 9 will only be open to students with special needs. All students will return to school on Sept. 16. The HWDSB says it will sort re-entry groups based on the first-letter of students last names. Was it a case of making the best decision in very difficult circumstances or a classic example of just passing the buck? Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has given the final say over what action should be taken in each region regarding the coronavirus to the various regional Presidents. Up until recently it was Madrid which decided what action should be taken. So it will be Balearic President Francina Armengol who will have to decide if some parts of Palma or even some villages and towns go into lockdown again. Obviously, Madrid will be offering plenty of guidence and advice but the decision is hers. The reason for this change of heart by the Spanish Prime Minister is because there are different levels of the coronavirus across the country; some parts of Spain are almost virus free while in others it is higher than the European average. Armengol may have some difficult to decisions to make over the coming weeks. The number of cases of the virus has escalated over recent weeks and there is talk of the government introducing a mobility ban and even a return to lockdown in some parts of the island. There is still a hope that German and British tourists will return with so-called safe air corridors being established so Armengol will also be heavily involved with the tourist industry. There are some who claim that the regional adminsitrations do not have enough power...this is not the case any longer. There is hope in Princeton -- and there are more than 17,000 reasons on display that prove the point. The Princeton Paper Crane Project was developed this spring, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic when a symbol of hope was needed most. Led by Heidi Moon, of Miya Table and Home, a shop located on Palmer Square, the project invited members of the community to fold paper cranes of their own design, perhaps including images, special messages, or names of loved ones, to become part of the public art project. The result is a massive origami installation at the Taplin Gallery in Princeton, filled with the huge collection of light, whimsical works of art. Heidi Moon, in the Taplin Gallery inside the Arts Council of Princeton. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Originally, our plan was to make one crane for every person who had passed from COVID-19 in N.J., Moon said. By the time we finished the project it was over 15,000 deaths. So we thought that it would be important for people to understand the enormity of that number. The cranes, according to the Princeton Arts Council, were chosen in honor of a Japanese cultural belief that they are a symbol of longevity and peace. The Arts Council of Princetons Taplin Gallery,.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com When the protests to support Black Lives Matter started happening, we thought we needed to include those names, as well. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Emmett Till. We wanted to make sure that is also at the forefront of this room and this communal wish for hope, she said. The display is impressive and the flow of the air either from air conditioning or even people moving through the space creates currents that gently move the cranes, creating something of an interactive display. Detail of one crane in memory of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician, was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police Department officers. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Cranes attached to string sway in the air currents. It took about a month to receive the cranes, and a month to string them all up. Moon says she had help and support with the installation and with folding cranes from her husband and their two daughters. A local Girl Scout Troop and staff from the Bent Spoon Ice Cream Shop, also on Palmer Square, folder paper cranes and Sewa Central Jersey contributed a whopping 9,500 cranes near the end of the collection period. Some cranes even came shipped from around the country. Heidi Moon, in the Taplin Gallery inside the Arts Council of Princeton. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Now that the exhibit is coming to a close, on August 29, Moon says they are hoping we can find a new home (within the Princeton area) just to keep the exhibit going a little bit. The white chandelier that we created is going to have a permanent home here at the Arts Council of Princeton, which were very happy about. A t left, a large white "chandelier" made of folded paper cranes hangs from the ceiling at one end of the room.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Michael Mancuso may be reached at mmancuso@njadvancemedia.com. Davos Man may have just missed the opportunity to retire gracefully. The globetrotting executives favorite Alpine talking shop has been postponed until early next summer, with organizers settling for a smaller-scale digital alternative in the usual January slot. They are right to say there is an urgent need for the world to reset after the social and economic ravages of a pandemic. Whether the World Economic Forum is the right venue to draw that path to recovery is more questionable. If nothing else, 2020 has shown just how much society needs to listen to new voices. Its ... SC Decision on UGC Guidelines LIVE Updates: The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the University Grants Commissions (UGC) July 6 circular, directing varsities to conduct final year exams by September 30. The UGC circular had mandated universities to conduct the final term exams in all affiliated universities by the end of September amid the coronavirus pandemic. The apex court said states must hold exams by September 30 to promote students, and if any states feel they cant conduct exams, they must approach the UGC with their concerns. Last week, the state governments of Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal and Odisha had urged the top court to direct the UGC to defer the final year examinations as the lives of lakhs of university students could be jeopardised due to the pandemic. The bench had said it will also decide whether the states will have power under the Disaster Management Act to postpone the final examination till the COVID-19 situation normalises. The hearing was concluded on August 18. Here are top points on the Supreme Courts Verdict on UGC Final Year Exams: The bench was adjudicating a clutch of petitions against the UGCs July 6 directive to the universities for holding the final year/semester exams by September 30. Internal Assessments Wont Suffice, Says SC | It also maintained that states and universities will have to hold exams to promote students and confer degrees, and that internal assessments will not suffice the requirements of the UGC. A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said that there was no infirmity in the July 6 circular that asked universities across the country to complete final year exams by the said deadline. SC Upholds UGC Decision to Hold Exams by September | The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the University Grants Commissions (UGC) decision to have final year exams conducted by September 30. One of the 31 petitioners, who has tested positive for coronavirus, had sought for directions to the UGC to adopt the CBSE model and conduct an examination at a later date for the students who are not satisfied with the marks awarded on the basis of the assessment. Petitioners Seek Cancellation of Exams | The students, in their petition, said the examinations should be cancelled and results of such students should either be calculated on the basis of their internal assessment or past performance. The UGCs July 6 circular was challenged by as many as 31 students from different universities across India who approached the Supreme Court to reject the guidelines mandating all universities in the country to wrap up the final term examinations before September 30. States have argued that the UGC exam guidelines interfere with their rights as health-related decisions lay within the powers of the state governments. Responses Received from 818 Varsities | Out of the 818 universities, 603 have either conducted the examination or are planning to conduct. While 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. States Claim UGC Guidelines Finalised Without Consulting Them | The state governments of Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal and Odisha had last week urged the top court to direct the UGC to defer the final year examinations as the lives of lakhs of university students may be jeopardised due to the pandemic. The states said they were not consulted before finalising the UGC guidelines. Hearing Concluded Last Week | On August 18, the Supreme Court concluded the hearing and reserved its order. A former Scotch College teacher has pleaded guilty to obtaining and distributing child abuse material outside Australia. Andrew Robert Grant, 59, who taught at the prestigious Melbourne school for 12 years, pleaded guilty on Friday to 15 charges in the Melbourne Magistrates Court. Andrew Grant The charges include 10 of obtaining child abuse material, two of using a carriage service to solicit it, two of possession and one of distributing the material. The charges relate to offending between May and December last year, all outside Australia. One charge says he obtained the material in Singapore. Officials in some of the areas hit hardest by intense storms in Connecticut on Thursday said a tornado might have touched down in North Haven, Hamden and Bethany. On Friday, National Weather Service office is is sending a team to survey storm damage. That survey will determine if any tornadoes touched down in the state. Survey teams determine whether damage may have been caused by straight line winds or a tornado. The team will be assessing the damage in New Haven County, particularly the towns of Guilford, North Branford, Branford, East Haven, North Haven, Bethany, Hamden and Waterbury, the NWS said. With the severe thunderstorms which started in the late afternoon and continued throughout the evening came heavy rain and tornado-like wind speeds from some parts of the state, according to the National Weather Service. Eversource and United Illuminating reported a combined 48,327 customers without power as of 9:30 p.m., after fierce storms slammed the state, ripping down trees and wires. Earlier in the night, outages for both companies combined were over 62,000. A majority of those outages were in the towns hit hardest by Thursdays storm: Branford, Hamden and North Haven. As of 11 a.m,. Friday, nearly three-quarters of Eversource customers in Branford or 16,589 customers were without power, according to the utility company. UI reported 13,164 customers without power in Hamden, North Haven, East Haven, North Branford, New Haven, Shelton, Bridgeport, and Derby. In Branford, the damage is so severe our crews are facing traffic jams and impassable roads, said a statement from Eversource Vice President of Electric Operations Mike Hayhurst. Southern Connecticut was also under a tornado watch until 8 p.m. The weather service said tornadoes can develop quickly from severe thunderstorms. Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove said the town has suffered widespread damage as a result of the storm, adding that a lot of roads are blocked and resources are awaiting deployment. He said local and state resources will be available in the coming days as the town assess the damage. East Haven Mayor Joseph A. Carfora said there was extensive damage in the Foxon area of town. He said most roads were impassable, with trees and power lines down on many streets. Hamden Mayor Curt Leng said, in a brief Facebook live video just shortly after 6 p.m., that officials believe the town was hit by a tornado or microburst. He said public safety personnel saw roofs lifted off houses, trees snapped and cars lifted off the ground. There are many roads that are in very bad condition, he said, adding that crews from UI were already on the ground and would work throughout the night to restore power to the thousands still in the dark. Officials in nearby North Haven said, Numerous 911 callers and witnesses report(ed) a tornado through the Montowese section of town, around 4 p.m. Town officials said the Emergency Operations Center was activated in an effort to manage hundreds of fire and police incidents. Officials urged residents to stay indoors, adding that excessive traffic was affecting the ability of first responders to get to emergency calls. North Haven officials said they have already reached out to the state for additional resources to help clear roads and get access to neighborhoods that were blocked off by fallen trees and wires. Lamont approved the deployment of 100 personnel from the Connecticut National Guard Response Force, and two search and rescue teams, to respond to East Haven and Branford in response to the storm. A route clearance team was also sent to North Haven. In Bridgeport, officials prepared for the inclement weather by closing city parks to visitors at 2 p.m. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection did the same. Expecting storm damage and possible hazards for hikers, Sleeping Giant State Park and West Rock Ridge State Park both in Hamden were closed as storms started to hit in the late afternoon. Police in towns and cities across the state scrambled to keep up with emergency calls. In Hamden, police reported flooding on Dixwell and Whitney avenues. There were a handful of streets that were impassable in town Thursday night because of storm debris. In the Valley, first responders in Ansonia and Derby darted from call to call about downed wires, trees and tree limbs. Staff writers Clare Dignan and Jim Shay contributed to this story. Alice Johnson, who received a life sentence for a first-time drug offense, receives a pardon from President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on Aug. 28, 2020. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Trump Pardons Alice Johnson After Her RNC Speech President Donald Trump on Friday signed a full pardon for Alice Johnson, whose life sentence for drug offenses was commuted several years ago. We are giving Alice a full pardon. I just told her, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, as Johnson sat next to him. We didnt even discuss it I saw you in the audience last night, and I asked the folks if you could bring Alice over, he said. And were going to give a full pardon. Were going to do it right now. That means you have been fully pardoned. Thats the ultimate thing that can happen. When Trump pardoned her in 2018, Johnson was serving a life sentence for her involvement in a Memphis-area cocaine trafficking organization in 1996. The president commuted her sentence at the request of reality TV star Kim Kardashian. Johnson delivered a speech at the Republican National Convention (RNC) and testified to Trumps compassion and praised his administrations attempts to advance reforms to the criminal justice system. President Donald Trump speaks with Alice Marie Johnson as he issues a full pardon for Johnson in Oval Office of the White House on Aug. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) It was real justice reform, Johnson said on Thursday of the First Step Act. And it brought joy, hope, and freedom to thousands of well-deserving people. I hollered, Hallelujah! My faith in justice and mercy was rewarded. Imagine getting to hug your loved ones again. Its a feeling I will never forget. And to think, this first step meant so much to so many. She told viewers: Truth is, there are thousands of people just like me, who deserve the opportunity to come home. Trump earlier this week pardoned Jon Ponder, who used his time in prison to create a reintegration program for ex-inmates. He was convicted and sentenced for robbing a bank. On Friday, Trump told reporters that since Johnson was released from prison, she has done an incredible job and has identified more prisoners who are eligible for early release. Were very proud of Alice and the job youve done and what you represent, Trump said. Johnson has become the face of Trumps efforts to push criminal justice reform, appearing in a Super Bowl ad on the issue. I pray that you will not just hear this message but that you will be inspired by my story and your compassion will lead you to take action for those who are forgotten, she said in her RNC speech. Thats what our president, Donald Trump, did for me, and for that I will be forever grateful. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 20:39:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Syrian ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel Karim Ali said on Friday that his country will cooperate with Lebanon by allowing donations from Arab countries to reach Beirut through Syria, the National News Agency reported. Ali's remarks came during his meeting with Lebanese Foreign Affairs Minister Charbel Wehbi. Ali said Syria is keen on cooperating with Lebanon because both countries have common interests especially in the security area. "We should cooperate in the security area to confront any conspiracies being prepared in both countries," Ali said. Lebanon has been receiving donations from different countries following the explosions that rocked Beirut's port on Aug. 4. Enditem Nearly 40 children are now safe and sound after a two-week operation involving state and federal authorities in Georgia. The U.S. Marshals Service, with help from state police and other local agencies, rescued 26 missing children and ensured the safe location of 13 others as part of Operation Not Forgotten, the agency announced Thursday. The initiative was launched in early August in Atlanta and Macon. These missing children were considered to be some of the most at-risk and challenging recovery cases in the area, based on indications of high-risk factors such as victimization of child sex trafficking, child exploitation, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and medical or mental health conditions, authorities said. Other children were located at the request of law enforcement to ensure their well-being. The U.S. Marshals, with the help of state and local authorities in Georgia, rescued 26 missing children and ensured the safe location of 13 others in a two-week sting called Operation Not Forgotten. The sweeping operation, which spanned 20 metro-Atlanta counties, also led to the arrests of nine suspects. Authorities were able to clear 26 warrants and filed additional charges for alleged crimes including sex trafficking, parental kidnapping, and drugs and weapons violations, according to the feds. The ages of those rescued ranged from just three to 17 years old, authorities said at a news conference announcing the outcome of the operation. One child had been missing for almost two years. Our children are not for sale, and theyre not ever forgotten, said U.S. Marshals Director Donald Washington. The U.S. Marshals Service Missing Child Unit partnered with the agencys Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Office of the Attorney General, the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services and others on the initiative. The U.S. Marshals, with the help of state and local authorities in Georgia, rescued 26 missing children and ensured the safe location of 13 others in a two-week sting called Operation Not Forgotten. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said the goal of the operation was to locate missing and endangered children across Georgia. When we track down fugitives, its a good feeling to know that were putting the bad guy behind bars, Darby Kirby, chief of the agencys Missing Child Unit, said in a statement. But that sense of accomplishment is nothing compared to finding a missing child. Its hard to put into words what we feel when we rescue a missing child, but I can tell you that this operation has impacted every single one of us out here. We are working to protect them and get them the help they need. In a statement, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp commended law enforcement for their work in the bust. Y oung Extinction Rebellion (XR) protesters have blocked a bridge in Bristol as part of planned demonstrations over the Bank Holiday weekend. Charlie Siret, 19, a student at the University of Bristol, and Fern, 18, who did not wish to give her surname, were pictured lying in the road on the Clifton Suspension Bridge. They were locked together with an "arm lock". The environmental protest group said the teenagers had planned to stay overnight on the bridge with more members of XR Youth, the separately organised youth wing of the group for people aged under 30, to join them on Friday morning. Avon and Somerset Police later said the protest was stopped and that two women were arrested on Thursday night. A police spokesman said: "Two women were arrested on the Clifton Suspension Bridge at just before 11pm on suspicion of wilful obstruction of the highway and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. "They've been taken into custody. The bridge is now closed to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians." It comes after Avon and Somerset Police said the bridge would be closed to all vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists from midnight "to protect public safety ahead of a planned protest", with the order potentially in place until 6am on Tuesday. Speaking before the arrests, Poppy Silk, a Bristol University student and member of XR Youth, said: "During the pandemic, the Government has proved that they are unable to keep us safe in the face of emergency. "Now is the time for adults to listen to and join the youth in demanding the Government address the climate and ecological crisis in a way that also addresses deepening inequality in our society. "We have signed petitions, striked from school for two years and still they refuse to care about our futures. "As Greta Thunberg says, when it comes to action the world's leaders are still in a state of denial. "In blocking this iconic landmark, we are asking 'Will you listen to us now?'." Beginning on Friday, a "regional rebellion" over four days will see protests staged across the country, including in London, Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff and Leeds. Thank goodness for solar lights! When the power went out on Thursday afternoon, everything was fine. It was still light and a call to Entergy said that service would be back by 8 p.m. That was okay. We just unplugged all the vital electronics to prevent surge damage and picked up a book. Then dusk, sunset and 8 p.m. came with no electricity. Still okay with my backlit Kindle, the hubby was out of luck with his hardback novel. Ah ha, lightbulb moment! Retrieving the bright LED emergency solar lantern sitting on the window sill, and couple of pathway lights for the bathroom and bedroom, we were good to go til bedtime. Reading the newspaper this morning, we discovered that Entergy was ordered by Midcontinent Independent Operator System to cut power to more than half of its customers to prevent a more extensive and prolonged power outage that could damage the reliability of the power grid that stretches from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. So neighbors, get prepared for a few more evenings of solar reading. Grab the pathway lights, some batteries, and a solar lantern if you have one. Even back then, Cup Day was a prominent race event. During his literary tour of Australia in 1895, the celebrated American writer and humourist Mark Twain wrote: Nowhere in my travels have I encountered a festival of the people that has such a magnetic appeal to a whole nation. The Cup astonishes me. He had the characteristics of a marketing genius. He equipped his arcade with skylights, brass columns and light-filled galleries. At its entrance, two little mechanical sailors advertised what was for sale within. He designed open-plan shelving where customers could help themselves to books, and he made them feel welcome by providing sanctuaries where they could rest their tired feet and read his books without being obliged to buy. He scattered coins around city streets advertising his books and bearing morally uplifting slogans. He entertained Melbournes reading public with outrageously exaggerated advertisements about his arcade and he chose Melbourne Cup Day 1883 to open it. Like the rainbows he used as trademarks, Edward William Cole lit up Victorian Melbourne with his Book Arcade and the ways he promoted it. Cole began selling books from a barrow in the Eastern Market, then moved to a small arcade in Bourke Street above Swanston Street, before settling in a much larger arcade on Bourke Street between Swanston and Elizabeth streets. It was a brave move on Coles part. He risked censure from the race crowd with a provocative ad in The Herald: Coles new book arcade will open on Cup Day. It is the finest sight in Melbourne and the grandest book shop in the world. Intellectual non-racing people are invited there instead of going to the races. But it worked. Not only did non-racing readers turn up, but half the Flemington crowd as well. Indeed, such was the congregation wishing to enter the arcades brass portals that police had to be called to control them, and staff were instructed to sell coins at threepence each to those in the queues. The crowds continued to pour into the arcade for the remainder of the Spring Racing Carnival. It was a triumph of advertising and a triumph of presentation, and business had never been better. Ten years later, Edward leased a building on the arcades western flank, knocked out a wall and opened what he called a Shilling Room where, in order to attract cash-strapped shoppers, no article was priced above one shilling. To his chagrin, however, business was slow as customers were reluctant to be seen in a place that had the stigma of poverty. After giving the room a decent time to see whether customers would overcome their pride and frequent it in greater numbers (they did not), he turned part of it into a light-filled optical illusion for children called Wonderland. He installed a giant stuffed alligator, a Fairy Forest and a World Beneath the Sea exhibitions designed by specialists who knew how to use lighting, reflective surfaces and optical illusions to enhance space and depth. He contracted the Melbourne glaziers Meadows & Company to supply warped mirrors that distorted the human form by making the thin fat, the fat skinny, the pretty plain and the plain attractive, and installed them in a Funny Mirrors Room from which erupted squeals of mirth from delighted customers. Around the same time, he added a stationery department stocking fine writing instruments; a fashion department; a perfumery for women; and a photography studio. Trumps speech was a clever but dangerous recasting of the culture war. The national cleavage he chose to widen was not primarily Republican vs. Democrat or liberal vs. conservative. It was urban vs. suburban (and small town). According to Trump, Democratic nominee Joe Biden and the radical left will multiply the left-wing anarchy and mayhem in Minneapolis, Chicago and others. They will spread the violence and danger in the streets of many Democrat-run cities throughout America. They will make every city look like Democrat-run Portland, Oregon. They will give free rein to violent anarchists and agitators and criminals. They will demolish the suburbs. We must remember that the overwhelming majority of police officers in this country are noble, courageous and honorable. We have to give law enforcement, our police, back their power. They are afraid to act. They are afraid to lose their pension. They are afraid to lose their jobs. And by being afraid, they are not able to do their jobs. And those who suffer most are the great people who they want so desperately to protect, Trump said. KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A former 17-year-old female Boy Scout member contends in a lawsuit against a Kansas City-area chapter that she faced sexual harassment and discrimination before she was fired from a camp last summer. The plaintiff and her mother, who are not identified, claim in the lawsuit against the Heart of America Council that she saw Boy Scout members barge in on women while they changed clothes at a camp and that staff also attended drunken parties, KCUR reported. The lawsuit alleges the girl was punished for actions male Scouts got away while she was a staff member at H. Roe Bartle Scout Camp in Osceola, Missouri, last summer. She said she was sent home from camp after only 12 days for leaving camp with a male, despite having her mothers permission to do so. The Heart of America Council also routinely violated its policy requiring an adult to be present when another adult has a conversation with someone younger than 18, the lawsuit claims. Brick Huffman, Scout Executive for the Heart of America Council, said in a statement Friday that the organization cannot comment on the lawsuit, but officials are looking into the matter and can assure you that the conduct alleged in the complaint runs counter to everything Scouting represents. Huffman said Scouting members and staff are expected to treat everyone with respect, and the organization does not allow bullying or harassment. Scouting values diversity and seeks to provide a safe environment for everyone, he said. Prejudice, intolerance, discrimination and harassment are unacceptable in our organization, Huffman said. The Heart of America Council oversees scouting in 19 counties in eastern Kansas and western Missouri, including Kansas City. Girls were allowed to join the Boy Scouts in 2017, and the plaintiff said she was one of the first female staff members at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Camp. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for sex discrimination, sexual harassment, breach of contract and retaliation. The national Boy Scouts of America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February in response to hundreds of lawsuits by Scouts alleging they were sexually abused. Family members from Bosnia and Herzegovina who moved to France over two years ago will face abuse charges after they were accused of beating the 17-year-old girl for having "improper relations" with a local Christian man. Last Monday in the eastern city of Besancon, the parents, uncle, and aunt of the teenage girl beat the child while shaving her hair in their apartment. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin shared that he was "deeply shocked by the act of torture" which happened because she "loved a Christian" in his Twitter. Darmanin argues "This barbarism calls for the most severe sanctions" in his tweets. The 17-year-old girl fleed her house with her 20-year-old boyfriend of Serbian origin for four days because her parents took away her phone and restricted her from talking to her boyfriend. According to her testimony, the girl's mother and a male relative beat her until she confessed that the relationship was a lie. She had to make up the story about her relationship because she was afraid of the family. The family then reportedly shaved the girl's head. "The first blow came from the mother, then there was an outbreak of violence. She was taken to a room and beaten," Deputy Prosecutor Margaret Parietti said. "She was shaved, according to her testimony, by her uncle - her father's brother - while being beaten." "The two families knew each other and [their relationship] was not a problem," Parrietti said. "But when they started talking about marriage, the girl's parents told her: 'We are Muslims, you cannot marry a Christian.'" Her boyfriend's parents were also said to be at the apartment at the time of the violence. Her boyfriend left to call the police and the girl was taken to a hospital once police arrived. She had bruises all over her body and suffered a broken rib. Even though all four were released under judicial control, the girl's parents and two relatives were banned from contacting the girl for "violence against minors." According to the Vienna-based Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe, the number of "anti-Christian incidents" has been increased dramatically over the last decade-plus. OIDACE Executive Director Ellen Fantini said, "The French government reported 275, what they call, anti-Christian acts [in 2008]," which compares to the numbers that are little over 1,000 [per year] between 2018 and 2019. "So the increase from 275 to a little over 1,000 works out to an 285% increase." These acts of anti-Christian include "anything from targeting a church [or statue] in some way with vandalism" to "actual assaults against French Christians with an anti-Christian bias," Fantini said. The Nigerian government has finally reacted to several allegations by Nigerian traders in Ghana that they were being harassed by the authorities in the country, to the extent of closing up their businesses. In a statement on Friday, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said Nigeria will no longer tolerate harassment of its citizens in Ghana. He said the government is deeply concerned over the incessant harassment of Nigerian citizens in Ghana and the progressive acts of hostility towards the country by Ghanaian authorities, and will no longer tolerate such. According to the Minister, The Federal Government has been documenting the acts of hostility towards Nigeria and Nigerians by the Ghanaian authorities. These include Seizure of the Nigerian Missions property located at No. 10, Barnes Road, Accra, which the Nigerian Government has used as diplomatic premises for almost 50 years. This action is a serious breach of the Vienna Convention. The negative reportage of issues concerning Nigerians resident in Ghana by the Ghanaian media is fueling an emerging xenophobic attitude towards Nigerian traders and Nigerians in general. The immediate fallout is the incessant harassment and arrest of Nigerian traders and closure of their shops. Harsh and openly-biased judicial trial and pronouncement of indiscriminately-long jail terms for convicted Nigerians. There are currently over 200 Nigerians in the Nsawam Maximum prison in Ghana alone. The Federal Government will like to put on record the fact that even though over 1 million Ghanaians are resident in Nigeria, they are not being subjected to the kind of hostility being meted out to Nigerians in Ghana. Also, Even though the main reason given for the seizure of Federal Government property at No. 10, Barnes Road in Accra is the non-renewal of lease after expiration, the Ghanaian authorities did not give Nigeria the right of first refusal or the notice to renew the lease. By contrast, the lease on some of the properties occupied by the Ghanaian Mission in Nigeria has long expired, yet such properties have not been seized. Nigeria has time after time demonstrated its fidelity to the long cordial relations with Ghana. But indications, especially in recent times, are that Nigerias stance is now being taken for granted and its citizens being made targets of harassment and objects of ridicule. This will no longer be tolerated under any guise. PV: 7 White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday to discuss the next round of stimulus bill. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was finally given a chance to talk with the Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on a new stimulus bill on Thursday. This is to make sure that millions of Americans will have the aid that they need before the government shuts down on October 1. Republicans and White House never stopped to reach out with the Democratic House Speaker to act on the next round of stimulus bill. White House Chief of Staff has been very vocal even before the Republican National Convention that Pres. Trump will sign it as soon as the bill is on his table. One of the reasons why the White House and Republicans are putting pressure on the Democratic leaders because they are afraid that millions of Americans will not receive the aid they need before September ends. All government operations will shut down beginning October 1 to focus on the campaign. This means that if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will not consider the request of White House to recall Congress and vote for the next round of stimulus bill, more Americans will suffer the economic effect of the global pandemic. More families will get hungry and more people will be homeless. According to a published report in Market Screener, White House Chief of Staff Mar Meadows made the first step to call Pelosi. He made this after he was not given a chance to have a meeting with Pelosi on Saturday to discuss the second round of stimulus package. Pelosi's aide told Meadows that the House Speaker was at a meeting. Finally, the two leaders talked for 25 minutes after the last time they discussed the new stimulus package. However, the two leaders are still apart from each other and it seems that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi continued to reject the offer of the House on the new relief package. Pelosi said "This conversation made clear that the White House continues to disregard the needs of the American people as the coronavirus crisis devastates lives and livelihoods. "We're willing to come down - meet them in the middle - that would be $2.2 trillion, and when they're ready to do that we'll be ready to discuss and negotiate the particulars." However, this is in contrast to what White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said in a separate interview with the Fox News, He said that he sought funding for the enhanced unemployment benefits, help for small businesses and money for schools and daycare. He also asserted that he gets nothing from Pelosi during the 25-minute call. It can be remembered in the recently published article Latin Post White House and Republicans are set to propose a new stimulus bill. Two senior administration officials and three persons who have the knowledge about the matter also shared that they will release and brief congress as early as this week on the new stimulus bill. It is now up to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi if she will recall Congress as early as next week to discuss on the floor the new relief bill. White House has long been supportive of the second round of the aid but Congress never acts on what millions of Americans need. Check these out! Brian Fishman, who oversees Facebook's dangerous organisations department, also posted a thread to Twitter about the situation, saying: "None of the shooter's accounts were reported by users prior to the shooting." Loading Mathewson's personal account was also removed without notice and he was effectively banned from Facebook for life in connection with the policy, which prohibits organisations or individuals that declare a violent mission or are engaged in violence. "He will not have been warned and [we] will not allow people who are banned under our dangerous orgs policy to have a profile," a spokeswoman for Facebook said in an email. Facebook also looked into any obvious links between Mathewson's post and the arrival of Rittenhouse in Kenosha. "At this time, we have not found evidence on Facebook that suggests the [suspect] followed the Kenosha Guard page or that he was invited on the Event Page they organised," the Facebook spokeswoman said. "However, the Kenosha Guard Page and their Event Page violated our new policy addressing militia organisations and have been removed on that basis." The policy was announced August 19 and comes after a northern summer of vigilante clashes during protests following Floyd's killing at the end of May. Loading "We've had too many tragedies like those in Kenosha. Companies like Facebook owe it to everyone to closely examine the influence of online content on such violence - and to take action to stop it," Fishman wrote. Militia-style groups patrolled the streets of Minneapolis in the weeks after Floyd died. In Albuquerque, a person was shot and seriously wounded in June during a clash between protesters and a group called the New Mexico Civil Guard. After the shootings in Kenosha, hundreds of people made clear they would like to see Mathewson face a much harsher punishment than losing his Facebook page. A petition circulating online demanding that Mathewson be charged as an accessory to murder had 1650 signatures by Thursday. Mathewson, a private investigator, said he has also been the target of death threats. Loading In an interview, Mathewson said he wouldn't go so far as saying he regretted that so many people came from outside his community to guard it, saying it wasn't his intention for the response to grow so large. He said the posting was written up by the alt-right website Infowars run by Alex Jones, known for his conspiracy theories. Mathewson, in turn, said he promoted the Infowars article on the Kenosha Guard page, as a way to note the "event" was getting national media attention. Soon, he started getting hundreds of messages of support from all over the world, as far away as Australia and New Zealand. Loading On Thursday, Mathewson said promoting the Infowars article was a mistake. "It certainly wasn't my intention to attract people from outside the community, let alone the state," he said. He also acknowledged that the Infowars site is "not very credible". Mathewson said he made the post an "event" on Facebook but he hadn't planned logistics for something so large. He said he didn't have walkie-talkies or issue assignments or coordinate the turnout, other than suggesting people "go to the courthouse". Before returning to his neighbourhood, where he spent much of the night posted at a subdivision entrance with a small group, Mathewson himself was there, standing with other openly armed men in a park as curfew neared. At the time, Mathewson told a reporter he was there to "lend support to the good guys." Soon, he started getting hundreds of messages of support from all over the world, as far away as Australia and New Zealand. Kenosha Police Chief Dan Miskinis appeared to agree, saying Mathewson and the others were out to protect property and "exercise their constitutional right". Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian disagreed, saying such groups only make the situation worse. "No, I don't need more guns on the street in the community," he said at a news conference the day after the shootings. A protester walks past a building set on fire during protests against the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha on Monday. Credit:AP March on Washington Jacob Blake, the man shot seven times in the back by Wisconsin police on Sunday, was handcuffed in his hospital bed despite being paralyzed and charged with no crime, it has emerged. Mr Blake, 29, had the handcuffs removed on Friday after outrage from politicians and demonstrators alike. The news came as thousands of people gathered in Washington DC to protest against police brutality on the 57th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a Dream" speech. Addressing the crowd, the civil rights leader's 12-year-old granddaughter, Yolanda Renee King, invoked one of the best-known lines of the civil rights leader's speech, where King envisioned a time his children would "not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character". "My grandfather predicted this very moment," she said. "He said we were moving into a new phase of the struggle. The first phase was the civil rights and the new phase is genuine equality". MLK In Kenosha, Wisconsin, where the shooting of Mr Blake sparked fury and deadly violence, anger spread quickly at the news of his handcuffing. "How the f**k do you handcuff Jacob Blake that you paralyzed to a hospital bed after you shot him in the back seven times?" tweeted Rashida Tlaib, congresswoman for the neighboring state of Michigan. Tony Evers, governor of Wisconsin, was asked if he's concerned about Blake being handcuffed. "Hell yes," he said. Jacob Blake Sr told the Chicago Sun Times that he had just been to see his son in hospital. "I hate it that he was laying in that bed with the handcuff onto the bed," he said. "He can't go anywhere. Why do you have him cuffed to the bed?" Kenosha police said told the BBC that Mr Blake was in custody for previous warrants and the handcuffs were policy. Crump The Blake family attorney, Benjamin Crump, later said the handcuffs had been removed after a date for a court hearing relating to those warrants was agreed with police. Story continues Mr Crump said it would take a 'miracle' for Blake to recover use of his legs. Mr Crump's legal partner, Patrick Salvi, confirmed that a bullet went through his spinal cord. He had bullets in his stomach, and had to have almost his entire colon removed. He had a bullet in the kidney, and in the arm. Mr Blake's shooting sparked five nights of unrest in Kenosha, which on Tuesday night culminated in a Trump-supporting 17-year-old, Kyle Rittenhouse, shooting dead two protesters. Rittenhouse is currently in jail his hometown of Antioch, Illinois - 20 miles from Kenosha - and on Friday a planned extradition hearing to send him to Wisconsin for trial was delayed until September 25. On Thursday night it emerged that he was now being represented by lawyer L. Lin Wood, nicknamed "attorney for the damned". Mr Wood represented the security guard falsely accused in the Centennial Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta in 1996, the parents of missing child beauty pageant star JonBenet Ramsey, and Nicholas Sandmann, the teenager who sued for defamation suit against The Washington Post following a confrontation with a Native American elder. Addressing the crowd in Washington DC, Mr Blake's father said: "There are two systems of justice in the United States. Theres a white system and theres a black system. The black system aint doing so well. He added "we're going to hold court today on systematic racism", rattling off the names of other African Americans killed by police in recent years. March on Washington Reaching the end of his list, he declared the system "guilty". The March on Washington, called "Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks," was planned in the wake of George Floyd's death, the unarmed African American killed by a white police officer who pressed his knee into his neck until he became immobile. Kendra Postelle, who travelled two hours from Newcastle, Delaware to attend told The Telegraph she made the decision to attend as soon as the march was announced at a memorial service for Mr Floyd in June. "I'm here because I have three black sons, and I want to make sure my sons are safe at night," she said. Another protester, Sabrina, said she had come all the way from Florida to show her support. "I had to be here," she said, adding that it was "sad" that she felt it necessary, 57 years on from Rev King's historic March on Washington. Dexter, who came from Baltimore, said: "It's like history repeating itself. We've been here before, but it's time to make a change this time. Now you have people all over the world, and that's a big difference." In all, around 50,000 people were estimated to have attended the march, organised by civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton and his National Action Network organisation. After speeches at the Lincoln Memorial, participants walked to the Martin Luther King memorial about a half mile away. MLK March Rev. Sharpton said he chose to hold the rally at the Lincoln Memorial to honor King's 1963 march, but also to highlight the broken promises President Abraham Lincoln had made. He promised us full citizenship if we fought to save the Union," he said. "We never got the full citizenship. We never got the reparations. Weve come to Lincoln because you promised, Mr Lincoln, and the promise has been broken. The civil rights activist also launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump, who has declined to address the video of Mr Blake's shooting, or mention the 29-year-old by name. "Well, Mr Trump, look right down the block from the White House," he said. "Weve come to Washington by the thousands. Were going call their name. Were going to call their name. Well never let America forget what youve done." He added: "We didn't just come today to have a show. Demonstration without legislation would not lead to change. We come to let you know, if we will come out in these numbers in the heat, and stand in the heat, that we will stand in the polls all day long." Mr Floyd's sister, Bridgett Floyd, told the crowd: I want you to ask yourself: What will be your legacy? Will future generations remember you for your inaction, complacency, or for your empathy, leadership, for weeding out injustices? Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, expressed optimism about the marchers' potential as she addressed them virtually, saying: If we work together to challenge every instinct our nation has to return to the status quo we have an opportunity to make history, right here and right now. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 23:30:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOSCOW, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday condemned the U.S. decision to blacklist Russian research institutes, recalling that Washington itself was carrying out suspicious research both in the United States and abroad. "We consider the inclusion of three Russian research institutes in the U.S. restrictive lists to be blatant," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement. On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Commerce blacklisted some 60 research institutes around the world, including three Russian institutes, one of which was working on a COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine, alleging they were involved in developing chemical and biological weapons. Zakharova said that this U.S. move can hardly be called the right step towards cooperation in the fight against the pandemic. She pointed out that Washington has provided no proof of its accusations, while Russia stopped developing chemical and biological weapons in 1992 and finished destroying all their stocks in 2017. Currently, the United States remains the only member of the Chemical Weapons Convention that still possesses chemical weapons and it issues licenses to produce "various inventions related to the use of full-fledged chemical warfare agents, including nerve agents," Zakharova said. Russia's activities in the biomedical sphere are of a purely peaceful nature and fully comply with the obligations under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), as evidenced by the annually provided information on Russian facilities and biological activities as part of the BTWC confidence-building measures, she said. At the same time, there are questions about the biomedical activities of Washington both in the United States and beyond its national borders and there is no reason to assert that the activities carried out in U.S. biological laboratories fully comply with the BTWC, Zakharova said. She recalled that an investigation into terrorist attacks involving the dispatch of anthrax spores to the United States in 2001 revealed that the scientist who sent out envelopes with poison worked in the biolaboratory at Fort Detrick, which is the forefront of the U.S. military's biosecurity facility. "Instead of sanctions' pressure, we suggest that the U.S. side sit down at the negotiating table to discuss in a bilateral format all the accumulated issues," Zakharova said. Enditem The other day, I wrote a post called It can happen here. In fact, its already happening. By it, I meant mob assault against people for having political views the mob doesnt like or even for just refusing to affirm the mobs political views. This had just occurred at a series of Washington, D.C. restaurants. It happened here in Washington again last night. Sen. Rand Paul was confronted by an angry BLM mob after he left the White House following President Trumps speech. The Senator and his wife required police protection to get to their hotel. He says that without the protection he might have been killed. Unable to get to Sen. Paul, the mob closed in on the police. It nearly knocked an officer down. Paul had to hold him up. As with the mob rampage at D.C. restaurants earlier in the week, this gang tried to force particular speech. The restaurant thugs coerced dinners into holding up their fists. Anyone who refused was harangued and harassed. This time, the fledgling brown shirts demanded that Sen. Paul say Breonna Taylors name. Shes the African-American woman from Louisville who was shot and killed during a narcotics raid. ( Reportedly, Taylors boyfriend has admitted that he shot at the police, which, unsurprisingly, prompted return fire.) Ironically, Sen. Paul, a libertarian, is the sponsor of the Justice for Breonna Taylor Act to do away with no knock police raids like the one during which Taylor died. Paul, though, refused to accede to the mobs demand that he say Taylors name. He kept on walking. It wouldnt have mattered if Paul had explained his Act to the mob. Its members arent interested in changing police behavior. They want to get rid of the police and to physically attack people who disagree with their radical far-left politics. Paul believes the group that confronted him was paid and brought in from out of town. Maybe. But there are enough fledgling brown shirts in the D.C. area who are happy to do it for free. No sooner had President Trump denounced their violence and called out Democrats for tolerating it, then mob was back in action doing its fascist thing. It thereby confirmed one of the main themes of the Republican Convention and of the Trump campaign. It is happening here, and it will get worse unless America elects (and reelects) leaders who are willing to denounce these mobs and take decisive action to curb them. Hurricane Laura, a category 4 hurricane that was one of the strongest to ever hit the United States, has left hundreds of thousands in Louisiana without power, and at least 11 dead. The Associated Press reports that basic facilities like power and water could take weeks to be back up and running. Laura made landfall between Texas and Louisiana Thursday at 1 a.m. It brought with it maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, only the 10th such hurricane to make landfall in the continental US since record keeping began in 1851, reports NPR.org. The storms aftermath has left 600,000 homes and business in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas without power, according to utility tracking website poweroutage.us. Additionally several hospitals in Louisiana were moving critical patients to other facilities due to the lack of water and electricity. However, despite the damage, and warnings of an unsurvivable storm surge, state officials are thankful that it wasnt quite as bad as expected. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said It is clear that we did not sustain and suffer the absolute, catastrophic damage that we thought was likely. But, he continued, we have sustained a tremendous amount of damage. Edwards called Laura the most powerful hurricane to strike Louisiana. That would make it stronger even than Hurricane Katrina, which devastated parts of the state in 2005. The Associated Press reports that a full assessment of the damage could take days, and there is additional threat of tornadoes as the storm passes. The storm is projected to move north and then east, heading towards Kentucky and Virginia this weekend. It has now been downgraded to a tropical storm. President Donald Trump is planning to visit the Gulf Coast for a tour of the damage. Photo credit: Getty Images/Andrew McArthur Bethany Pyle is the editor for Bible Study Tools.com and the design editor for Crosscards.com. She has a background in journalism and a degree in English from Christopher Newport University. When not editing for Salem, she enjoys good fiction and better coffee. Utica, N.Y. -- State officials are in Utica today to investigate any potential health effects from the smoke that blanketed the city after a fire at the CharlesTown Mall. A federal Environmental Protection Agency report in 2010 said the eight-building mall complex, which had been the site of weapons and early computer parts production, contained significant amounts of asbestos which was never abated. Asbestos is a fire retardant that, in high doses, can cause lung cancer and other lung-related diseases. The EPA in 2010 launched a cleanup of the complex, including the removal of asbestos and cancer-causing PCBs. By the end of 2011, more than 16,000 tons of debris contaminated with asbestos or PCBs, and drums containing ignitable, corrosive and toxic liquids, had been removed, said EPA spokesperson Jennifer May-Reddy. The complex, which straddles the border of Utica and the town of Frankfort, burned much of the day Thursday, blanketing Utica and its suburbs with pungent grey smoke. The city of Utica declared a state of emergency and advised residents to stay inside with their windows shut. The fire at CharlesTown is under control, Utica Fire Chief Scott Ingersoll said on Friday. Firefighters cant get to pockets of fire that are blocked by debris and collapsed parts of the structure, he said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and U.S. Rep. Anthony Brindisi, who represents Utica, today called on the EPA to send an on-scene coordinator to inspect the site for environmental and public health threats. The aging building and potentially hazardous chemicals present a real threat to our communities, Brindisi said in a statement. The state Department of Environmental Conservation said today it would evaluate any potential negative impacts on public health and the environment. The DEC said other state agencies will be involved, including the Department of Health and Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. The Mohawk Valley Water Authority issued a boil-water advisory near the mall because so much water was poured on the fire that water pressure in the lines dropped significantly. The area includes the Masonic Home Complex, a senior facility with 500 residents, and the Acacia Village retirement community. The EPA report said The report said the 16-acre complex was built in the late 1800s to house the Savage Arms factory, which manufactured guns and munitions until after World War II. In the 1950s it was bought by Sperry Univac, which made computer parts there. The complex was sold in the 1970s to local developer Charles Gaetano, who turned the buildings into the CharlesTown Outlet Complex. At its peak, the mall housed 52 stores, two restaurants and off-track betting parlor. A news release from Schumers office said CharlesTown was the states first outlet mall, drawing in masses of customers from all over the state. In the early 1980s, the malls peak, it housed 52 stores, two restaurants and an off-track betting parlor. The malls popularity faded quickly, and by 1991 the stores were shut down and the complex was converted to offices. Schumer said the complex has been plagued by fires and vandalism over the years after the structure fell into a state of disrepair during the early 2000s. In 2008, a developers plan to renovate the mall into shops and apartments was were because the demolition crew didnt have the proper permit and wasnt taken safety measures with asbestos, a cancer-causing fire retardant found in old buildings, according to the EPA report. EPA said in 2010 it had obtained funding fora cleanup, the focus of which consists of 8 interconnected, badly deteriorated, brick buildings located at the southeastern end of the site. These buildings contained significant amounts of asbestos which was never abated prior to collapse and/or demolition. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Undergraduate research in a foreign country is an opportunity that cant be missed. No one knows this better than Brooke Stearns Lawson 99, who went to great lengths to complete it and set the course of her career as a result. In 1998, she flew to Senegal under the auspices of a Carson Undergraduate Research Grant to work on microfinance with the United Nations. Last-minute changes by the organization left the then-junior without an internship and job contact the week before she arrived. She showed up anyway. She found a local Senegalese organization where she could do similar research, and after repeatedly offering work, it allowed her to interview microfinance borrowers to gauge whether the loans were benefiting the community. The experience was all she needed to embark on a 20-plus-year career in international development. Working extensively in Africa, she has worked with the local community to help develop programs to counter organized crime and violent extremism, partnered in designing governance programs for countries like Afghanistan and met with influential leaders such as microfinance pioneer and Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus. As senior conflict and crime advisor for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Africa Bureau, her job is one of the best ways to strengthen fragile countries, she said. Its so important to promote peace and security, she said. Its very hard to have development in conflict-affected or highly traumatized societies without it. Aiming to be a good global citizen Willamette University was a clear fit for Stearns Lawson, who discovered international studies satisfied her global interests while the universitys connection to the state capital fed her political ones. Willamette was fundamental in forming who I am, and it shaped how I wanted to make a difference in the world, she said. She also found more than an opportunity to study abroad in France, learn about politics at American University in Washington, D.C., and complete professional-level research she met mentors she remains in contact with to this day. Amiko Matsumoto, former Community Service Office director, and Mary Tolar, who supervised Stearns Lawson in the Student Academic Grants and Awards office, taught her how to effectively find opportunities to be a good global citizen and mentored her on applications, she said. Under their guidance, she found her passion for microfinance. This led to her first post-graduate job at the Grameen Foundation USA, an affiliate of the Grameen Bank microfinance model founded by Yunus, a scholarship that supported her microfinance work in a South African rural town, a Rotary World Peace Fellowship and other achievements. They embody Willamettes motto and cultivated her passion and direction for how she wanted to be of service, she said. Their mentorship helped me see not only where I wanted to go, but also the resources that could help me on that journey, she said. Assisting the Obama administration As Stearns Lawson moved into progressively higher development roles and achieved a doctoral fellowship at global think tank and research organization RAND Corporation in L.A., the majority of her energy and career focused on USAIDs Africa Bureau. She first joined USAID in 2002, spending one year as a bureau research associate, then returned in 2010. It was a crucial time that year, Congress passed the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act, which helped Central African communities who were brutalized by the armed group led by Joseph Kony. The biggest part of her job was helping develop the Obama administrations strategy to mitigate and eliminate the threat to civilians posed by the LRA. She also assisted the USAID Missions in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, designing programs that built community resilience to violence and instability, supported the reintegration of former combatants into their communities and in trauma healing. And its just one example of her complex, multifaceted job. When she isnt attending national security meetings, providing technical assistance for American embassy personnel worldwide and working with companies like Google and Apple to promote responsible mineral trade, shes likely in Africa for interviews or research. She wouldnt have it any other way. Its fulfilling, she said. Theres a lot of opportunity working at USAID to shape how the U.S. engages with other countries in a meaningful way to really improve the lives of others. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Two people were arrested in connection with the seizure of foreign and Indian currency at the international courier terminal at the airport here. Based on specific intelligence that currency was likely to be smuggled out of India through parcels, three packages destined to Singapore were inspected at the terminal, said Air Customs Commissioner Rajan Chaudhary. He said two parcels that were declared to contain sarees and shawls were taken up for examination first. On opening a carton, the officials found white envelopes concealed inside, each containing $10,000. A total of $50,000 equivalent to Rs 37 lakh was recovered. Similarly, four more envelopes were found concealed inside sarees in the second parcel. They contained 1,86,500 Saudi Arabian Riyals, 4,000 Euros, 25,000 Swiss Franc and 18,000 Singapore Dollar. Total foreign currency equivalent to Rs 1.06 crore was seized, said Chaudhary. Meanwhile, the third parcel was declared to contain shirts and leggings. On inspecting the carton, white envelopes were found concealed inside 15 shirts. On opening the envelopes, Rs 2 lakh in denomination of 2,000 were found. A total of Rs 30 lakh Indian currency was recovered and seized. The parcels were booked by two Chennai-based persons and both were arrested. File photo Over half of Canadian restaurants are in danger of closing close over the next three months, according to new government data. On Aug. 26, the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions, produced by Statistics Canada with support from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, found that 29% of accommodation and food service businesses cannot operate at all with social distancing measures in effect. The survey also found that a further 31% of these businesses will only able to remain operational for up to 90 days with distancing measures in effect. In other words, up to a whopping 60% of the industry could fail within three months. Report author Harrison Ruess, Public Affairs Officer for the chamber, notes that the figures are particularly concerning since, "83% of businesses in the accommodation and food services industries temporarily closed and two-thirds were forced to lay off some staff due to COVID. According to Restaurants Canada, the food service industry lost 800,000 jobs." Ruess says that the government hasn't created a recovery plan that is tailored to the needs of the hardest hit industries, such as food services. As a result, the Chamber and 15 food service businesses, representing more than 60 brands, are launching the Our Restaurants campaign. We need to act now. Across Canada, our restaurants are where we meet for business or pleasure, where we got our first job and where our families spend a night out. Simply put, our restaurants are cornerstones in our communities, said Hon. Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The Our Restaurants campaign underscores the urgent need for Canadians both the public and our governments to come together to support these businesses in their time of need. The campaign aims to put a spotlight on the current situation faced by Canadas restaurants amidst COVID-19: high costs, fewer customers, and government programs ill-equipped for the unique, long-term challenges faced by the industry. Gim Young-seo, the author of "Even Tears Shine in the Light" By Kim Se-jeong North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits a typhoon-hit area in North Korea's southwestern province of South Hwanghae, state media reported Friday. Yonhap North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a typhoon-hit area in the country's southwestern province of Hwanghae and called for all-out efforts to minimize damage to farming fields and a reduction in harvests, state media reported Friday. Kim's trip to South Hwanghae Province, which came after Typhoon Bavi passed along the North's western coastline Thursday, is seen as aimed at highlighting his image as a leader caring for the lives of his people as they have been reeling from recent back-to-back natural disasters. During the visit, Kim said that the scale of damage is smaller than expected and "positively appraised national crisis control system against natural disasters taking up proper shape and the ability to counter the crisis making remarkable improvement," the Korean Central News Agency said. He stressed the need to "direct efforts to minimizing the damage in the agricultural field in particular and reduction in the harvest," while urging "an all-out campaign" of completing the recovery so that the country can mark the 75th founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party next month "with proud of achievement." Hwanghae Province is one of the largest rice-producing areas of the country. "It is one of top-priority tasks to be surely carried out by our party to go among the people and encourage and sincerely help them when they are in trouble and feel difficult and the Central Committee of the party should always be with them both when they are in weal and woe," Kim said, according to the KCNA. The KCNA did not reveal when his trip took place, but it appears to have come hours after Typhoon Bavi made landfall in South Hwanghae Province early Thursday. The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling party, said that the typhoon hit farming areas of Hwanghae Province, in particular, dealing a blow to corn stalks, rice paddies and other crops. Hundreds of acres of farming land in North Hwanghae Province were affected, the paper said, reporting on broken trees, flooded houses and roads in the region. Damage in areas near Pyongyang was also reported. The paper, however, did not mention any casualties. In an unusual move, the country's state TV network has provided real-time coverage of damage caused by wind gusts and rainfalls in recent days, showing the sense of urgency and efforts to provide updated info on the storm to people. North Korea had stayed on high alert as it feared the typhoon could be stronger than Typhoon Lingling that devastated many areas of the country last summer. Kim held a politburo meeting Tuesday, calling for stepped-up efforts to brace for the approaching typhoon and minimize damage. North Korea has been facing multiple challenges, including the fallout from its protracted antivirus campaign and floods caused by recent heavy downpours. North Korea has claimed to be coronavirus-free, but it keeps a high level of border control and quarantine, which appear to be taking a toll on its already fragile economy under the strain of crippling global sanctions. Making matters worse is that it was hit hard by recent heavy downpours, which reportedly wrought havoc on its rice-producing areas, raising worries that its chronic food shortage problem could worsen. Last week, leader Kim unusually acknowledged failure in implementing his five-year economic development plan, citing "severe" and "unexpected" challenges. He said that he will unveil a new development scheme in a rare party congress to be held in January. (Yonhap) Michigan health department officials reported 758 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, Aug. 27, as the states cumulative total nears 100,000. On Thursday, Attorney General Dana Nessel orders nursing homes to refund $900 COVID-19 fees charged to residents, bandannas and neck gaiters are no longer acceptable at Northern Michigan casino, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer tightens an order that allows workers with COVID-19 symptoms to stay home. Heres the latest on how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting people across the state. Michigan reports 758 new coronavirus cases, 16 new deaths The Department of Health and Human Services also announced 16 new COVID-19 deaths, of which 15 were late additions identified during a vital records search conducted three times per week by department staff. Through 24 weeks, Michigan has tracked 99,958 known cases and 6,440 deaths linked to the novel virus. Thursday marks the sixth consecutive day of at least 758 new cases. The seven-day moving average has climbed to 752 new cases per day, while the deaths average remains steady at 10 per day. As of Thursday, 611 adults with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 were being treated at Michigan hospitals, with 68% of hospitals reporting. Ten children were hospitalized, of which five have had confirmed cases of coronavirus. Sorry, but your browser does not support frames. Michigan AG orders senior living facilities to refund $900 COVID-19 fees charged to residents Nessels office has sent cease and desist letters to 11 senior living facilities after receiving complaints from nearly 40 residents that they were charged $900 each in COVID-19 fees. The charges, intended to compensate owners for additional costs incurred during the coronavirus pandemic, potentially violating consumer protections laws, the AGs Office said in a statement Thursday, Aug. 27. Cease and desist letters on Tuesday were sent to their parent company, CSIG (Common Sale Investment Group) Holding Co.; the management company, Senior Village Management; and affiliated Independence Village senior living centers in Brighton, Petoskey, Plymouth, Oxford, Midland, Grand Ledge, White Lake, Rockford, Chesterfield and Saline. Another letter was sent to Senior Living Portage, which is also part of CSIG Holding Co. The owner and management company face an AGs Office investigation if they do not respond within 10 days or sign an agreement to refund and discontinue the fees. Sorry, but your browser does not support frames. Bandannas, neck gaiters no longer acceptable face coverings at Northern Michigan casino One of Michigans most popular casinos is implementing stricter policies regarding face coverings. The Little River Casino Resort in Manistee announced this week that bandannas, neck gaiters, and masks with valves will no longer qualify as acceptable face coverings on the property. The policy is effective beginning on Monday, Sept. 7. These types of face coverings allow unfiltered, exhaled air and respiratory droplets to escape more easily, a notice from Little River reads. The updated policy applies to all LRCR team members and guests. Guests who arrive wearing an unacceptable type of face-covering will be offered a disposable mask at the entrance, staff said. Sorry, but your browser does not support frames. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer tightens order that allows workers with COVID-19 symptoms to stay home A new executive order from Whitmer clarifies, and tightens restrictions, on the symptoms an employee has to stay home sick during the COVID-19 without facing repercussions from their employer. Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-172 on Thursday, Aug. 27, replacing Executive Order 2020-166. The former order allowed people to stay home, barring their employer from firing or disciplining them if they had any of these symptoms: Fever, sore throat, a new uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, new onset of a severe headache or a new loss of taste or smell. The new order is more restrictive. Under the order workers must have a fever, uncontrolled cough or shortness of breath to stay home from work or at least two of the following symptoms: loss of taste or smell, muscle aches, sore throat, severe headache, diarrhea, vomiting or abdominal pain. 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, click here. Read more on MLive: University of Michigan president apologizes for reinforcing stereotypes after comparing HIV testing to coronavirus testing Western Michigan University freshmen rolling with the punches as they move in during a pandemic Immigrant rights activists say governors COVID-19 testing orders for migrant and farm workers arent racist Advertisement Hurricane Laura, one of the strongest to ever strike the U.S., barreled across Louisiana on Thursday, shearing off roofs, killing at least six people and maintaining ferocious strength while carving a destructive path hundreds of miles inland. Aerial photos have laid bare the extent of the destruction caused by the Category 4 storm, that left entire neighborhoods submerged in green-brown floodwater, high-rise buildings with missing windows, and an airport hangar shredded into ribbons of metal. Most of the homes that remained intact still had missing shingles, shattered windows and yards strewn with debris. A full assessment of the damage wrought by the hurricane is likely to take days, and the threat of additional damage loomed as new tornado warnings were issued after dark in Arkansas and Mississippi. But despite a trail of demolished buildings, entire neighborhoods left in ruins and almost 900,000 homes and businesses without power, a sense of relief prevailed that Laura was not the annihilating menace forecasters had feared. 'It is clear that we did not sustain and suffer the absolute, catastrophic damage that we thought was likely,' Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said. 'But we have sustained a tremendous amount of damage.' He called Laura the most powerful hurricane to strike Louisiana, meaning it surpassed even Katrina, which was a Category 3 storm when it hit in 2005. Hurricane Laura's fury: Buildings and homes were left submerged in brown flood water on Thursday after the storm ripped through Lake Charles, Louisiana Laura finally made landfall early Thursday morning after days of gaining strength while barreling towards the Gulf Coast. Pictured: Lake Charles, LA The southwest Louisiana city appeared to have suffered the worst of the storm, with homes left completely flattened and those that were still standing had missing shingles, shattered windows An apartment building near Lake Charles was destroyed overnight. A full assessment of the damage wrought by the hurricane is likely to take days A convenient store in Lake Charles was severely damaged after the city was lashed by 150mph winds and heavy rain Destroyed planes lie damaged around a Southland Field airport hanger in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura in Sulphur, Louisiana One home was completely ripped from the ground, leaving behind only the foundation in Grand Lake, Louisiana The hurricanes top wind speed of 150mph (241kph) put it among the strongest systems on record in the U.S. Not until 11 hours after landfall did Laura finally lose hurricane status as it plowed north and thrashed Arkansas, and even by Thursday evening, it remained a tropical storm with winds of 40mph (65kph). The storm came ashore in low-lying Louisiana and clobbered Lake Charles, an industrial and casino city of 80,000 people. On Broad Street, many buildings had partially collapsed, and those that didn't were missing chunks. Windows were blown out, awnings ripped away and trees split in half in eerily misshapen ways. Police spotted a floating casino that came unmoored and hit a bridge. At the local airport, planes were overturned, some on top of each other. In front of the courthouse was a Confederate statue that local officials had voted to keep in place just days earlier. After Laura, it was toppled. 'It looks like 1,000 tornadoes went through here. It's just destruction everywhere,' said Brett Geymann, who rode out the storm with three family members in Moss Bluff, near Lake Charles. He described Laura passing over his house with the roar of a jet engine around 2am. 'There are houses that are totally gone. They were there yesterday, but now gone,' he said. At the local airport, planes were overturned, some on top of each other after Laura barreled across Louisiana Laura is said to be the most powerful hurricane to strike Louisiana, surpassing Katrina, which was a Category 3 storm when it hit in 2005. Pictured: Toppled trees and homes with missing roofs in Lake Charles, LA The storm crashed ashore in low-lying parts of the state and clobbered Lake Charles (pictured) an industrial and casino city of 80,000 people In Grand Lake, Louisiana, residents Michael and Darlene Taylor were seen sorting through the rubble and debris left behind after the storm flattened their home Elaine Rayburn's home in Lake Charles was damaged by fallen trees and ferocious winds that battered the community Windows were blown out, awnings ripped away and trees split in eerily misshapen ways. Pictured: A large power line lies across a Chevron gas station in Lake Charles In Orange, far east Texas, Benjamin Luna helps recover items from the children's wing of the First Pentecostal Church that was destroyed by Laura overnight The Southland Field airport in Sulphur, Louisiana is now a pile of rubble after being wrecked in the storm on Thursday A resident surveys the damage to their home in Lake Charles, after Laura tore off the roof of the property. Not until 11 hours after landfall did Laura finally lose hurricane status Not long after daybreak gave the first glimpse of the destruction, a massive plume of smoke visible for miles began rising from a chemical plant. Police said the leak was at a facility run by Biolab, which manufactures chemicals used in household cleaners such as Comet bleach scrub and chlorine powder for pools. Nearby residents were told to close their doors and windows and turn off air conditioners. State and federal aircraft headed into the skies over the coast to look for signs of any other industrial damage. The fatalities included a 14-year-old girl and a 68-year-old man who died when trees fell on their homes in Louisiana, as well as a 24-year-old man who died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator inside his residence. Another man drowned in a boat that sank during the storm, authorities said. No deaths had been confirmed in Texas, which Republican Governor Greg Abbott said would amount to 'a miracle.' Chevellce Dunn considered herself among the fortunate after a night spent huddling on a sofa with her son, daughter and four nieces and nephews as winds rocked their home in Orange, Texas. Left without power in sweltering heat, she didn't know when power might be restored. 'It ain't going to be easy. As long as my kids are fine, I'm fine,' Dunn said. President Donald Trump planned to visit the Gulf Coast this weekend to tour the damage. More than 580,000 coastal residents evacuated under the shadow of a coronavirus pandemic and calls for masks and social distancing to combat its spread. Gerstner Memorial Drive in Lake Charles, Louisiana is blocked off by toppled trees and powerlines in the wake of the Laura Two people are seen driving their Jeep through the flooded streets of Lake Charles, hours after the storm passed The Golden Arches of a local McDonald's were destroyed during the monster storm A Confederate statue that local officials had voted to keep in place in front of the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse just days earlier was toppled by the hurricane Bricks cover the sidewalk after the wall of a building collapsed in Lake Charles after Laura slammed into the coast The Cameron Parish Courthouse still stands following the storm. Forecasters had warned that the storm surge of 15 to 20 feet would be 'unsurvivable' and could push 40 miles inland Entire neighborhoods, including this mobile home park in Lake Charles, were left in ruins on Thursday. Almost 900,000 homes and businesses were also left without power Laura hit the U.S. after killing nearly two dozen people on the island of Hispaniola, including 20 in Haiti and three in the Dominican Republic. Pictured: A school in Cameron, Louisiana In the wake of Laura's passing, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said it was clear the state did not 'suffer the absolute, catastrophic damage that we thought was likely,' - but said it still sustained tremendous damage It was the largest evacuation order since the pandemic began and many people followed it, filling hotels and sleeping in cars. Although not everyone fled from the coast, officials credited those who did leave for minimizing the loss of life. Forecasters had warned that the storm surge of 15 to 20 feet would be 'unsurvivable' and could push 40 miles inland. Edwards said the storm surge wound up being measured in the range of 9 feet to 12 feet - still bad, but far from the worst forecast. He was hopeful that damaged homes could quickly be made habitable. The priority, Edwards said, was search and rescue, followed by efforts to find hotel or motel rooms for those unable to stay in their homes. Officials in Texas and Louisiana have both sought to avoid traditional mass shelters for evacuees over fears of spreading COVID-19, and Edwards was concerned that the storm would inhibit coronavirus testing as schools and universities are reopening. Bucky Millet, 78, of Lake Arthur, Louisiana, considered evacuating but decided to ride out the storm with family due to concerns about the coronavirus. He said a small tornado blew the cover off the bed of his pickup and made him think the roof on his house was next. 'You'd hear a crack and a boom and everything shaking,' he said. Hurricane Laura has killed at least six people, including a 14-year-old girl, after trees fell on their homes A church in Lake Charles had its roof torn off by the catastrophic winds brought by the hurricane People survey the damage left in the wake of Hurricane Laura in Holly Beach, Louisiana A boat storage facility was completely flattened into a pile of debris. Laura is tied with five other storms for fifth most powerful U.S. hurricane The force of Laura's winds blew out every window of the living room in the Lake Charles house where Bethany Agosto survived the storm with her sister and two others. They sought safety in a closet when the hurricane was at its worst. 'It was like a jigsaw puzzle in this closet. We were on top of each other, just holding each other and crying,' Agosto said. The storm was so powerful that it could regain strength after turning east and reaching the Atlantic Ocean, potentially threatening the densely populated Northeast. Laura hit 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. It was 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. Laura was tied with five other storms for fifth most powerful U.S. hurricane, behind the 1935's Labor Day storm, 1969's Camille, 1992's Andrew and 2004's Charley, Klotzbach said. The Ministry of Public Securitys Investigation Agency today decided to detain for four months and launch criminal proceedings against Hanoi Mayor Nguyen Duc Chung on charges of appropriating State secret documents in line with Article 337 of the Criminal Code 2015. Mr. Nguyen Duc Chung. Photo: Tran Thuong The Investigation Agency also searched his home in Dong Da district, and his working office. Earlier, three defendants were also prosecuted on the same charge, including Nguyen Anh Ngoc working at the secretariat of the Hanoi Peoples Committee, Nguyen Hoang Trung, a driver of Chung, and Pham Quang Dung, a former officer at the Police Department for Corruption, Smuggling and Economic Crimes under the Ministry of Public Security. On August 11, Chung was suspended from official duties for 90 days, while a police investigation was carried out into his role in a number of cases under a decision signed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. On the same day, the Politburo announced Chung would be suspended from his position as Vice Secretary of Hanoi's Party Committee. Chung was also under the verification and investigation to clarify his responsibility regarding two other cases. The first case involves smuggling, violations of accounting and bidding regulations causing serious consequences, and money laundering at the Nhat Cuong Trading & Technical Services Co. Ltd., the Department of Planning and Investment of Hanoi, and some related agencies. Nhat Cuong's director-general Bui Quang Huy is currently wanted for questioning by police. The second case regards the violation of regulations on the use and management of State assets causing waste and losses in Hanoi. Chung was born in 1967 in Hai Duong province. Before becoming the chair of the Hanoi Peoples Committee in 2015, Chung served in many positions in Hanoi's public security force, including deputy head and then head of the Criminal Police Department, deputy director of the Hanoi Police and head of the investigation agency of the Hanoi Police. He was awarded the title of Hero of the Armed Forces at the age of 37 (2004) and was promoted to Major General on July 13, 2013, at the age of 46, becoming the youngest Major General of the police at the time of his promotion. In September 2012, he was appointed the director of the Hanoi Police when holding the rank of colonel. Chung took office as the chair of Hanoi Police Director in 2012-2016, during which he directed the investigation of many cases. In September 2014, he successfully persuaded the person who took a hostage in Thanh Xuan district. In November 2011, when he was deputy director of the Hanoi Police, he successfully instructed relevant units to discover the case in which a criminal posed as a doctor to kidnap a newborn at the Central Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital. Chung was elected as Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee for the 2015-2020 tenure at the 16th City Party Congress. At the meeting of the Hanoi People's Council in December 2015, he was elected Chairman of the People's Committee of Hanoi. From there, he officially moved out of the police to assume this new position. At the Hanoi Peoples Council meeting in December 2015, he was elected chair of the Hanoi Peoples Committee. Investigators searched the home of Mr. Nguyen Duc Chung in Dong Da district, Hanoi this evening: browser not support iframe. Investigators searched the home of Mr. Nguyen Duc Chung in Dong Da district, Hanoi. Photo: Pham Hai Photo: Kien Trung Photo: Pham Hai Photo: Pham Hai Photo: Kien Trung Photo: Kien Trung Investigators searched the office of Mr. Nguyen Duc Chung. Photo: Kien Trung Doan Bong - Kien Chung - Pham Hai The highs and lows of Hanoi Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung Hanoi Peopel's Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung, who has been suspended from duties, over the years has engaged in a number of memorable activities and made impressive statements as the Hanoi Police Director and Hanoi Mayor. TUCSON, Ariz. A Tohono Oodham Nation police officer was killed Thursday while trying to apprehend a suspect on tribal land near the tiny southern Arizona community of Why, authorities said. Tribal police said officers were responding to reports of a public disturbance by an armed and erratic driver around 9 a.m. near a casino. During the apprehension, police said one officer suffered a serious injury and was airlifted to a hospital in Phoenix where he was pronounced dead. The suspect attempted to flee the scene but was arrested by tribal police with help from U.S. Border Patrol agents. Authorities said the suspect was in custody and receiving treatment for his injuries. The name of the police officer killed and how he died werent immediately released by authorities and neither was the identity of the suspect. But Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey identified the fallen officer as Bryan Brown and announced that flags at all state buildings be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset Friday to honor Brown. The FBI said it was investigating the incident that occurred near the Desert Diamond Casino in Why, located about 120 miles (193 kilometers) west of Tucson. The Tohono Oodham reservation stretches from near Tucson to the edge of Why. The Muslim organisation took the example of Ganesh idol immersions to support its right to undertake Muharram processions A day after the Supreme Court declined to permit Muharram processions across India claiming that it cannot pass a general order for the whole country, the Bombay High Court on Friday granted permission for a the festival in Mumbai with stringent COVID-19 restrictions in place. A high court bench of Justices SJ Kathawalla and Madhav Jamdar gave permission after the Maharashtra government granted hearing to a local Shia Muslim organisation that had petitioned the court seeking permission for a symbolic procession for Muharram amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The state government and the petitioner, All India Idaara-E-Tahafuz-E-Hussainiyat, reached an agreement and informed the court of the same on Friday, following which, the court granted permission for the procession. Interestingly, the Muslim organisation took the example of Ganesh idol immersions to support its right to undertake Muharram processions in Mumbai. It argued that if the state government had permitted Ganesh with health safeguards, it must also permit the Muharram mourning procession. As per the court's order, members of the Shia Muslim community will be permitted to carry out the procession on August 30, between 4.30 pm and 5.30 pm on one pre-determined route only by trucks and not on foot. Maximum of five persons will be allowed on a truck and only five will be permitted walk with the 'Tazia' symbol for the last 100 meters on the selected route, the order stated. The five participants of the procession will have to give their home addresses to the Mumbai police beforehand, the court said. As per Friday's order, the procession will be carried out from Bhendi Bazaar to the Shia cemetery in Byculla in the city. The court also directed the state government to impose all necessary restrictions, including section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code [CrPC] if required, to control crowds and manage the procession. Notably, the Supreme Court of India bench, comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, on Thursday had claimed that the processions would lead to chaos and targeting of a particular community. Probably, the bench was referring to the communally-charged allegations against the Tablighi Jamaat attendees, who were blamed for spreading coronavirus in India. You are asking for a general order and then if we allow this there will be chaos. Particular community will be targetted 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, said. The Supreme Court, incidentally, had asked the petitioner, Shia leader Syed Kalbe Jawad, to approach the Allahabad high court for permission to undertake limited processions in Lucknow. It is to be noted that Lucknow is a major centre for Shia Islam in India. EUROCANN INTERNATIONAL PLC ("Eurocann" or "the Company") INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE 6 MONTHS ENDED 31 MAY 2020 Since the final results released last month, Eurocann has continued to consider opportunities within the medicinal cannabis sector, whilst prudently working to strengthen its balance sheet through making select investments in listed companies. I am pleased to advise that all investments made are performing well. After much consideration, and in light of the global economic backdrop, the board has decided that the Company and its shareholders will be best served going forward through broadening the investment strategy to also include the natural resource sector, as well as special situations that the board believes will build shareholder value. To this end we will be publishing a circular in the coming days with a view to obtaining shareholder approval for the amended investment strategy, as well as changing the name of the Company to better reflect a more generic investment strategy. Ultimately our objective as directors is to work toward maximising value for shareholders through the best course of action possible, and we believe that broadening the investment strategy will improve our chances of fulfilling such an objective. FINANCIALS The financial results for the period from 1 December 2019 to 31 May 2020 show a loss after taxation of 54,818 (2019: 41,792). The interim results have no been reviewed by the Company's auditor. OUTLOOK We believe we can further build on the investment performance through broadening the investment strategy to include the natural resource sector, as well as special situations that the board believes will deliver shareholder value through capital appreciation. We look forward to publishing the Circular setting out this intention for shareholders to vote on at the Company's forthcoming AGM, and we continue to view the future for the Company with optimism. Conrad Windham Executive Director 28 August 2020 The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement. ENQUIRIES: Company Eurocann International plc Burns Singh Tennent-Bhohi / Conrad Windham Telephone: 020 3778 1106 Corporate Adviser Peterhouse Capital Limited Guy Miller and Mark Anwyl Telephone: 020 7220 9796 EUROCANN INTERNATIONAL PLC CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 MAY 2020 Unaudited 6 month period ended 31 May 2020 GBP Audited year ended 30 November 2019 GBP Unaudited 6 month period ended 31 May 2019 GBP Revenue - - 35,284 Cost of sales - - (35,732) GROSS LOSS - - (448) Administrative expenses (54,890) (452,275) (43,380) Other non-operating income 72 4,092 2,036 LOSS BEFORE TAX (54,818) (448,183) (41,792) Income tax expense - - - LOSS FOR THE PERIOD/YEAR (54,818) (448,183) (41,792) Attributable to: Equity holder of the parent (54,818) (448,183) (36,420) Non-controlling interest - - (5,372) LOSS PER SHARE Basic & diluted (0.002) (0.02) (0.005) EUROCANN INTERNATIONAL PLC CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 31 MAY 2020 Unaudited at 31 May 2020 GBP Audited At 30 November 2019 GBP Unaudited At 31 May 2019 GBP NON CURRENT ASSETS Intangible assets - - 90,007 Property, plant and equipment - - 3,016 Investments 38,574 48,778 28,630 38,574 48,778 121,653 CURRENT ASSETS Trade and other receivables Investments 13,810 - 13,930 - 11,006 1,130 Cash and cash equivalents 55,028 101,448 4,251 68,838 115,378 16,387 TOTAL ASSETS 107,412 164,156 138,040 EQUITY PLUS NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL AND RESERVES Share capital 1,210,810 1,210,810 1,208,059 Share premium Other reserves 1,150,383 239,369 1,150,383 239,369 1,067,510 - Retained profits (2,546,828) (2,492,010) (2,177,572) SUBSCRIBED CAPITAL 53,734 108,552 97,997 Non-controlling interest - - (8,816) TOTAL EQUITY 53,734 108,552 89,181 CURRENT LIABILITIES Trade and other payables 53,678 55,604 48,859 TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 107,412 164,516 138,040 Notes: 1. The financial information contained in the interim report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. 2. Basic loss per share has been calculated using the weighted average number of shares of 35,556,549 (30.11.19: 20,260,458; 31.5.19: 8,053,724). Given the loss per share, there are no dilutive instruments in issue. 3. The results for the 6 month period ended 31 May 2019 and the balance sheet at 31 May 2019 are based on the consolidated financial statements at that time. During the year ended 30 November 2019, the Company disposed of its subsidiary undertakings such that it prepared entity only financial statements at 30 November 2019 in accordance with the Companies Act 2006. 4. The Directors of the issuer accept full responsibility for this announcement. [This article was originally published in 2020] With a team of world-class chefs, access to the best food that money can buy, and dining rooms at palaces across the UK, you would have thought meal times are always prestigious in the Windsor household. The Queens former chef, Darren McGrady, has drawn back the curtain and revealed Her Majestys private dining habits, having previously spoken about her preferred drinks. The 58-year-olds primary role during his 15-year tenure at Buckingham Palace was as Queen Elizabeth IIs personal chef, accompanying her on two royal tours of Australia. He also cooked for five American Presidents Ford, Reagan, Bush Snr, Clinton, and Bush Jnr during their state visits. McGrady also worked for other members of the royal family including Princess Diana, and her sons William and Harry at Kensington Palace. He was cooking for Diana on the night of her death 31 August 1997. McGrady already had her dinner ready and waiting for her return. In his book "Eating Royally: Recipes and Remembrances from a Palace Kitchen", McGrady has revealed the Queens dining preferences, her favourite meals and the things she is not a fan of on the dinner table. How many meals does the Queen eat in a day? McGrady says the Queen has four meals a day - but only eats small portions at each. In a series of YouTube Q&A videos, he says that during his time as her personal chef between 1982 and 1993, the Queen would eat breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. For breakfast she keeps things simple. Royal biographer, Katie Nicholl, has previously said: "HRH typically starts with a simple cup of tea and biscuits, followed by a bowl of cereal." (The Guardian previously reported she likes to keep it in Tupperware to preserve its freshness.) This is before moving on to a lunch of grilled fish with wilted spinach or courgettes, according to McGrady. She is also partial to a simple grilled chicken with salad - a low carbohydrate option. Then, in the late afternoon, McGrady says, the Queen will have an afternoon tea. (The Queen always has scones with jam and clotted cream - and she puts jam on first). He explained: Shed always have afternoon tea wherever she was in the world. Wed flown out to Australia and were on the Royal Yacht. It was five oclock in the morning but for the Queen it was five in the afternoon so my first job was making scones. The queen had 20 chefs at the royal kitchen at the time McGrady was working there, he says. It was previously reportedthat the head chef would provide the Queen with a menu twice a week and then she could choose meals to her liking. McGrady confirmed the menu system was in place. McGrady says while the Queen never directly said she didnt enjoy a meal, she would leave a message in a notebook for the staff. She had a little book on her desk and she would just put a note in there saying I don't want this again or something like that, he explains. The Queen wore the same dress at the premiere of Lawrence of Arabia in 1962( (PA/PA Wire) What are the Queens favourite foods? The Queen apparently has a particular love for Morecambe Bay potted shrimp on toast. In a Q&A video, McGrady said: "They're cooked and marinated in this secret spicy butter. And then the Queen would have them with warm toast, and when you spread them on the warm toast, the butter melts." The Queen might only enjoy small portions of savoury food, but McGrady says she is a glutton for sweet. Charbonnel et Walker, Bendicks, and Prestat all hold royal warrants. "She is absolutely a chocoholic," McGrady told Hello! magazine in 2016. "Anything we put on the menu that had chocolate on, she would choose, especially chocolate perfection pie [a layered chocolate pie with white and dark chocolate and chocolate shavings]." One of the Queens favourite guilty pleasures during McGradys time as chef was a croque monsieur sandwich, with melted Gruyere, ham and whipped eggs, he said. One of Prince Philips favourite dishes was reportedly salmon coulibiac, McGrady says there was always a lot of salmon to eat when the royals were in residence at Balmoral because they went fishing frequently. "There are foods that the Queen and the royal family love, though, and it's all the produce at their estate, especially at Balmoral castle." As well as enjoying four meals the monarch is partial to a tipple, according to the Queens cousin, Margaret Rhodes, who said the Queen's preferred drinks are a gin and Dubonnet or a flute of champagne. Historic Royal Palaces Show all 4 1 /4 Historic Royal Palaces Historic Royal Palaces Historic Royal Palaces Historic Royal Palaces Historic Royal Palaces What is the most important meal at the Palace? McGrady says that the most popular meal of the week was always Friday fish and chips. Everybody loved fish and chips," explained McGrady. "All the staff, 300 staff at Buckingham Palace, all of the chefs would have fish and chips for lunch. But, forget your tartar sauce and your ketchup, we loved it with salad cream. Salad cream on those French fries, on those chips." Although the Queen reportedly had her fish and chips in a panko breadcrumb rather than traditional batter. As for her condiment of choice - Lea & Perrins, HP Sauce, and Heinz ketchup all hold royal warrants. But the other meal closest to the Queens heart is not one for the humans. McGrady told Hello! magazine: One of the things that really, really shocked me when I got a job as the Queen's chef was that I wasn't straight away preparing banquets for kings, queens and presidents. I was actually chopping beef, liver and chicken for the Queen's [12] corgis. I later learned that was one of the most important meals of the day when it came to the Queen. And one of his first tasks as the Queens personal chef was peeling carrots for her horses at Balmoral. (Getty Images (Getty Images) Are there any foods the Queen doesnt like? The Queen does not enjoy strong flavours, such as garlic and onion, says McGrady. "The Queen doesn't like garlic... we could never use it at Buckingham Palace. McGrady says the most important thing to remember was that unlike when you are cooking in a hotel or restaurant you are only cooking for one person so their taste is what matters. It was [about] cooking dishes that the queen liked for example, you could do a beef stroganoff and if she didn't like paprika in there, it became a dish without paprika because youre cooking for that one person. This also applied if Prince Philip was dining with his wife. The Queen eats to live whereas Prince Philip lives to eat, says McGrady. He loves curries with lots of garlic and spices, a real foodie. But we could never do [two plates] for your plate youre going to have lots of garlic, and your plate, no garlic, it was always down to the Queen, you have everything how she has it. And shellfish and rare meat are also avoided during royal visits or tours times when the family cannot afford to be out of action with food poisoning. Former royal butler Grant Harold confirmed this rule is sensible when royals are on duty. Does the Queen ever cook for herself? McGrady says that while Prince Philip was an amazing chef and regularly enjoyed cooking on the grill and having family BBQs on the Balmoral estate, and the younger royals like William, Kate, Meghan and Harry, all enjoy cooking, the Queen herself stays out of the kitchen. And no, the Queen was never partial to a McDonalds drive-thru either. The Queen never ordered fast food. When youve got 20 chefs in the kitchen, why would you? You can call down to the kitchen and order whatever you want, says McGrady. What about special occasions? McGrady told Hello! magazine that the biggest food event at the palace is Christmas. Although they go for traditional options. "It was the same meal every year," he said. "They're actually boring when it comes to festivities. They didn't do hams or anything, just traditional turkeys. We did three turkeys for the Queen and her family in the royal dining room, one for the children's nursery and then more for the 100 or so staff, so everyone had a Christmas lunch." And they didnt scrimp on dessert the Christmas pudding would be decorated in holly, doused in brandy, and the palace steward would carry it, flaming, into the royal dining room. For Mothers Day, McGrady says the Queen didnt really celebrate but she would often go to Windsor castle for the weekend and want special eggs for breakfast. The royals do not celebrate Halloween either, McGrady confirmed. Michigan environmental groups support regulations for how large farms deal with animal waste, filing an a motion to intervene in a challenge against the states new permitting requirements. Multiple farms filed a challenge against the state Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), seeking looser regulation on how they can use manure on their farms. At the end of the day, the responsibility of EGLE is to issue a permit that is rooted in science and protective of water, said Tom Zimnicki, program director for groundwater, surface water and agriculture for the Michigan Environmental Council. The permit requirements that went into place on April 1 apply to big farms called concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). In order for CAFOs to use their animals waste, or manure, as fertilizer, they need a permit and to fall in line with certain restrictions. State officials say this is to combat environmental concerns, such as waste run-off entering the groundwater. But farmers and others say the restrictions are too expensive and prohibitive for farms. A coalition of CAFOs backed by the Michigan Farm Bureau filed a challenge in June with the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules. This followed multiple hearings and meetings with stakeholders, including big farms, prior to the new rules being implemented Throughout the NPDES permit review process and public comment period, farmers have expressed ongoing concerns over the lack of factual justification for many of the new permit requirements, said Laura Campbell, manager of Michigan Farm Bureaus Ag Ecology Department in a June statement. Unfortunately, the final permit is still considered overly burdensome, increasing farm costs and threatening their economic viability, she said. But environmental groups argue that the current permits dont go far enough to protect the environment. In Michigan, waste from confined animal farms is usually stored in large lagoons and spread on fields as crop fertilizer. While that can help increase crop yield, it can also degrade water quality when nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen run off into lakes, streams and rivers. When those nutrients enter waterways they can spawn harmful algal blooms and cause bacterial contamination. When the ground is frozen in the winter, theres higher risk of nutrients in the waste entering waterways instead of getting into the soil. EGLEs General CAFO Permit is a vital tool for ensuring that industrial-scale animal farms are not just dumping excessive amounts of hazardous waste into Michigans waters, said Margrethe Kearney, senior attorney at the Environmental Law & Policy Center. The center represents the coalition of intervenors. The permit conditions being challenged do not threaten our states agricultural heritage, she said. Rather, they serve to protect our most precious natural resource: the water that we drink, the rivers and streams where we fish, and the aquatic environment where we play. The CAFOs are asking an administrative law judge to determine the legality of the permit. The appeal process, while not a lawsuit, resembles a trial. A coalition of CAFOs also filed a lawsuit earlier in Aug. with similar challenges. More From MLive: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer tightens order that allows workers with COVID-19 symptoms to stay home Michigan unemployment rate dips as federal stimulus checks shrink to $300 per week University of Michigan president apologizes for reinforcing stereotypes after comparing HIV testing to coronavirus testing A 19-year-old Philadelphia man has been charged with raping a 12-year-old girl, filming the attack, and posting a video of it on Instagram, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced Friday. Ibraham Johnson of West Philadelphia faces charges of raping a child, filming sex acts with a child, and related crimes, according to court records. He was being held at the Delaware County prison after bail was set at $250,000. According to Stollsteimer, detectives began investigating the case on July 6, when someone reported that the girl had sex with a teenage man, and that a video of the abuse had been posted to Instagram and shared with the childs mother and two siblings. Detective Steven Bannar interviewed the girl, her mother, and her father, who provided the name of the man, the prosecutor said. The victim later identified Johnson from a photo array. Officials did not say whether or how Johnson knew the victim, or when police believe the rape occurred. Johnson declined to speak with detectives when they approached him at his home in West Philadelphia on Monday, according to an affidavit of probable cause for his arrest. Johnson did not have an attorney listed in court documents. He was arrested twice in Philadelphia this spring, court records show, and is facing charges in those cases for forgery, theft, theft from a car, and related crimes. Stollsteimer, in a statement, called the rape case heartbreaking and deeply disturbing. Although the number of reported child abuse cases has fallen during the pandemic, Stollsteimer urged people to remain vigilant about reporting them, cautioning that the decrease in cases may be the result of vulnerable children having fewer teachers, nurses, or other caretakers to keep eyes on them and report problems. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Researchers from Scotland-based University of Dundee have helped identify distinct forms of Type 2 diabetes in South Asians, a development with important implications for prognosis and management of diabetes. This shows that there are more than just Type I or Type 2 diabetes. This, according to scientists, will help doctors cut down on medication for some patients and prescribe drugs to prevent complications such as blindness, kidney or nerve damage. The study was done as part of the India-Scotland Partnership for Precision Medicine in Diabetes (INSPIRED) and was published in the BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care recently. It classified Type 2 diabetes in Indians into four distinct clusters SIDD (Severe Insulin Deficient Diabetes), IROD (Insulin Resistant Obese Diabetes), CIRDD (Combined Insulin Resistant and Deficient Diabetes) and MARD (Mild Age-Related Diabetes). In this study, a team of scientists analysed nearly 20,000 case sheets of patients with Type 2 diabetes from Dr Mohans Diabetes Speciality Centre, in association with the University of Dundee, School of Medicine, Scotland, to categorise patients into four clusters, two of which were unique to Indians IROD and CIRDD. The scientists then replicated the findings in a representative population-based ICMR-INDIAB study done across 15 Indian states. Until now, we have been treating all Type 2 diabetes as the same. The study shows different clusters of Type 2 diabetes in Indians, said diabetologist Dr RM Anjana, the first author of the study. This research helps doctors predict the risk of complications and focus on individuals with the highest risk of developing complications, said senior diabetologist Dr V Mohan, in the study. Agreeing, Dr Abhay Gundugarthi, endocrinologist, Sagar Hospital, said, Dr Mohans Centre is reputed and the study done by them will definitely help clinicians treat patients effectively and prevent complications. This further classification will benefit many patients. Dr Colin Palmer from the Department of Pharmacogenomics, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, said, Recognising subtypes might help doctors choose specific medication for their patients, instead of standard treatment.While it remains unknown if clusters of diabetes have different causes or whether peoples classification might change over time, scientists are working to see if genetic markers play a vital role. Egypt has already sent several aid shipments to Lebanon through an airlift, per President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis orders The first of a series of aid shipments sent by sea from Egypt to Lebanon arrived on Friday, state-run MENA agency reported, as Cairo continues to support Beirut in the aftermath of a deadly explosion earlier this month. The aid-laden ship was received by Egypts Ambassador to Lebanon Yasser Elwi and other Egyptian and Lebanese officials. It carried around 125 tons of glass, provided by the Federation of Egyptian Industries to help with repairs in the capital. The explosion at Beiruts port on 4 August killed at least 171 people and injured thousands. Egypt has sent several aid shipments to Lebanon since then through an airlift, per President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis orders. The latest on Wednesday saw two military planes carrying medical and food aid, prepared in coordination with the Egyptian Red Crescent and a number of civil society groups, sent to Beirut. The explosion, the most powerful ever to take place in Beirut, caused property damage worth $10-15 billion disabled the countrys main entry port for imports, required to feed the nation of more than 6 million people. Search Keywords: Short link: (Natural News) Until a Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine becomes publicly available, some government officials have indicated that they want to keep everything under indefinite lockdown. But a vaccine could end up making the plandemic even worse, according to Anthony Fauci. In case you missed it, Fauci is on record as having stated in the past that earlier vaccine candidates for other coronaviruses produced a suboptimal response. He went on to explain that they actually enhanced pathogenesis of the disease, which is always worrisome. The Citizens Council for Health Freedom (CCHF) in Minnesota has issued an urgent plea calling on government officials and health authorities to take note of Faucis words in addressing current vaccine policy. First, theres no guarantee a COVID-19 vaccine will work and second, it could backfire, strengthening the virus, the group has said, as reported by WND. It was on May 12 that Fauci warned about two major unknowns concerning a vaccine for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), which for all intents and purposes is little more than a mutated cold virus. I think we should very carefully listen to Dr. Faucis concerns, says Twila Brase, R.N., president and co-founder of CCHF. No coronavirus vaccine has been developed despite earlier coronavirus pandemics. While it would normally take years for a newly developed vaccine to come to market, President Donald Trump has promised fast-tracked vaccines for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) as part of his Operation Warp Speed plandemic response. The American public should be concerned about the possibility that a COVID-19 vaccine may backfire,' Brase further warns. More plandemic-related news can be found at Pandemic.news. 2012 study found that SARS coronavirus vaccines made virus worse in test mice A case-in-point was the infamous SARS pandemic of 2012. The global spread of this earlier iteration of coronavirus was used as an excuse to try to develop a corresponding vaccine, a project that utterly crashed and burned. Test mice that were given the experimental jab appeared to develop some antibodies, but they also got sicker than the other mice that were not treated with the vaccine. Researchers discovered the mice, who were believed to have developed antibodies, had actually gotten sicker, CCHF says. The study concluded the vaccines had made the coronavirus more virulent, and issued caution in proceeding to application of SARS-CoV vaccine in humans.' Despite all the vaccinated mice developing antibodies, injection with the vaccine resulted in the occurrence of what is known as Th2-type immunopathology, which suggests hypersensitivity to the components included in the SARS-CoV jab. In lieu of favorable science, Yale wants to coerce people into getting coronavirus jabs by spreading shame and guilt Since there is no evidence whatsoever that any Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine will be safe or effective, the plan, at least at Yale University is simply to guilt and shame resisters into getting jabbed. A study conducted by Yale researchers concluded that the best way to enforce compliance is to call those who refuse the vaccine not brave, and to further suggest that they are selfish and do not trust in science. In contrast to firefighters, doctors and front-line medical workers, all of whom are brave, according to Yale, vaccine resisters are cowards, this negative label representing a tool that the vaccine-pushers hope will compel more people to get vaccinated. Despite the danger of the vaccine backfiring, and before any of the vaccine trials have proven a vaccine to be safe and effective, proponents are busy figuring out how to force the public to get vaccinated, Brase says about this desperate attempt to use character assassination as a tool to force vaccine compliance. Proponents want the unvaccinated banned from airplanes, buses, or trains, and want everyone to provide evidence of immunization to enter public and private auditoriums and spaces. But Americans should be concerned about these proposals, this vaccine, and those who wish to plunge it into their arm. People have no idea what theyre signing up for with this vaccine. Sources for this article include: WND.com NaturalNews.com While in the car, Pradun showed the girls an explicit photo of himself on his phone, prosecutors said. After dropping off two of the girls, he pulled his car over, locked the door, and asked the girl he was left alone with if he could trust her, and then proceeded to sexually abuse her, prosecutors said. For anyone who is actually aware of what is happening in America, watching the Republican National Convention was not a pleasant experience. Despite the reality that most of our lives continue to be upended by the pandemicthe death, the jobs lost, the kids stuck home from school, the parents slowly losing it, the grandparents whose loneliness worries us second only to the prospect of them dying alonethe RNC was a bizarre four-night effort to pretend not only that none of this is President Donald Trumps fault, but also that things are actually fine, and even that the bad times are over. The RNC also coincided with two climate disastersfires burning through much of the West, hurricanes barreling toward the Southand yet another instance of a police officer shooting a Black man. The pageantry of the convention and the parade of speakers making the case that this administration cares about its citizens was painful against this backdrop. But to me, nothing felt as terrible as watching Ivanka Trump speak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There has always been some speculation that Trumps oldest daughter doesnt approve of his more severe actionsthat, unlike her brothers, she actually knows better. Shes supposed to have, or maybe used to have, nonoffensive views on topics ranging from gay rights to climate change. She went into her job at the White House talking about wanting to make child care more accessible. But the evidence of Ivanka as policy softener is not really there, and its been clear since Trump pulled out of the Paris Agreement four months into his presidency that she was not the moderating force she framed herself as during the 2016 campaign. Ive known this for so long that Ive stopped being disappointed by it. Whereas a few years ago it might have only been slightly naive to ask, But where was Ivanka? in response to a horrific new policy, by now we know that the answer is that Ivanka was there, in the room, making the choices. As Elaina Plott observed in the New York Times this week, Ms. Trump now has the burden of the incumbency. 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. So why did she bug me so much last night? I think its because she seemed happy. Like, so so happy. From the moment she walked out of the White House and down the steps to the stage, Ivanka was absolutely radiating in delight to be there. And why shouldnt she be? Not only is she the only Trump offspring to work in the White House (despite having no qualifications to do so), shes the one who was selected to introduce her father on the biggest night of the convention. Shes the golden child, and she knows it. While her brothers come across as rabid dogs, she beams. In the face of more than 180,000 Americans dead and gun-toting white teenagers patrolling the streets of Kenosha, its that smile that really got me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike her brothers, who are there to rile up the base, or Melania, who is there for Im not sure what purpose, Ivankas job is to humanize her father. So it was no surprise that she opened her convention speech expressing sympathy for those affected by Hurricane Laura, and later noted that she prays for health care workers and those mourning loved ones who have died of COVID. But the rest of the speech was built around what an absolute thrill it has been for Ivanka Trump to watch her father be president. (Tonight, I stand before you as the proud daughter of the peoples president, she said, just before noting, He is our president and my father, Donald J. Trump.) Yes, she celebrated progress made on child care in the middle of a pandemic whose major theme has been the strain it is putting on working parents, and particularly mothers. But the speech wasnt really about whats going on in the country; it was about what Ivanka has gotten to witness: Ive been with my father and seen the pain in his eyes when he receives updates on the lives that have been stolen by this plague, she said. I have witnessed him make some of the most difficult decisions of his life. When it comes to helping construction workers find jobs, what counts is that it has been a new and profound experience for him, and for me, to see these stoic machinists and steelworkers come to him with tears in their eyes. She was with her father when he commuted Alice Johnsons sentence and got to see the emotion on his face. She said this all with great feeling and pride. And she smiled, and smiled, and smiled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont need to tell you that, for most people, things are really hard right now. Even if you havent lost your job or had to relocate because of a natural disaster, youre probably stuck mostly in your house, maybe with children who have nothing to do and nowhere to be, or far from an older loved one you havent been able to see. Nobody is really happy right now. Even if quarantine suits you personally, this is, objectively, not a good time. Unfortunately for Ivanka, unhappy is the opposite of her brand. Ivanka is aspirational. Shes about how good it is to be her, about how she has figured out how to be a working mom, and you can too. Ivanka is the sheath dress that none of us needs to wear right now. Ivanka glows while the rest of us struggle. At least the anger from her father and brothers feels more matched to the national mood. Four years ago, I told you I would fight alongside my father, she said last night, wearing a great-looking pants ensemble, her shiny hair blowing just right in the wind. And, four years later, here I am. And its true: Here she is, completely removed from where the rest of us are. For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below. The firefighters at the base camp in northern California have been braving wildfires for the last week, as the Golden State continues to see acres of land burn following a heatwave and lightning strikes. These courageous firemen wear helmets and goggles that are streaked with ash, and their faces often remain stoic as they work around the clock to help get a handle on the blazes. Kerith offering a hug to a firefighter at the staging area of the Woodward Fire. (Courtesy of Heidi Carmen) However, there is always one thing after a long shift that helps make the firefighters smile: the embrace of their canine pal, Kerith. The 2-year-old golden retriever, a certified crisis-response therapy dog, takes her job very seriously, spreading love to firefighters as they take on the Woodward fire in Californias Marin County. On her Instagram page, Kerith describes herself as an Adventurous Golden, Therapy Dog, Trail Runner, and Beach Explorer. But to the firefighters on the ground, shes also a support system. Kerith offers comfort to Marin County firefighters amid the ongoing wildfires. (Courtesy of Heidi Carmen) During the Woodward wildfire in Marin County, Kerith is boosting morale during the crews morning briefing, Heidi Carmen, Keriths owner, told CNN. She brings levity and a sense of playfulness even though they know the task of the day will be challenging. Born to Serve Kerith was bred to be a guide dog for the blind in San Rafael, California. But her energetic, super-affectionate nature made her unsuitable for guide work. So, the Carmen family adopted her as their pet. Later, the pooch earned certification as a comfort dog through the Pet Partners therapy dog organizationand she began making the rounds as a therapy dog in her local hospital emergency ward, Carmen said. When Kerith isnt riding shotgun in the firetruck, she is acting as a therapy dog to firefighters in Marin County. (Courtesy of Heidi Carmen) There, she visited patients, medical staff, and paramedics. Its also where she first developed her affinity for firefighters, who invited the lively dog to visit their stations. Kerith is a very special dog with endless love and affection to share with all who meet her, Carmen said. Her favorite people are firefighters. Making Firefighters Feel Special When the firefighters know that Kerith is scheduled for a visit, they get excited and look forward to seeing her during their shift, Carmen said. She makes people feel loved, special and important. One firefighter told me Kerith has the uncanny ability to make me feel like I am the most important person in the world, Carmen recalled. Kerith offers love and much-needed comfort to firefighters. (Courtesy of Heidi Carmen) In Instagram photos, Kerith is seen alongside smiling firefightersembracing them or posing with them as they smile. During the Woodward wildfire in Marin county, Kerith boosts morale during the crews morning briefing. There are wildfires to the west, north, south and east of us, a post on Keriths Instagram from last week reads. Too many fires, not enough resources to battle them so they are growing. We are doing the best we can to lift morale at base camp. Hang in there my friends. Kerith embracing firefighters at the staging area of the Woodward fire. (Courtesy of Heidi Carmen) Carmen said she also hands all of the firefighters a card with Keriths picture on it to carry with them. Kerith helps them feel less overwhelmed, exhausted and emotionally depleted, she added. The CNN Wire contributed to this report. Credit: Shutterstock A tiny, thin-film electrode with a 3-D-printed housing has been implanted in the peripheral nervous system of songbirds, where it successfully recorded electrical impulses that drive vocalizations. The research is seen as an advance in the emerging field of bioelectronic medicine and eventually could lead to a new treatment for diseases such as inflammatory bowel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, said Tim Gardner, a neuroscientist at the University of Oregon's Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact. Gardner was the principal investigator on the project detailed Aug. 21 in the journal Nature Communications. His research team developed the device, called a nanoclip, that is about the diameter of a human hair. It is the first cuff electrode for recording or stimulating peripheral nerves to be fabricated on a scale compatible with the smallest nerves in the body. The research was done in his former lab at Boston University and is being further advanced in his Knight Campus lab. "I think many future devices will involve a combination of thin-film microfabrication using standard clean-room processes and 3-D printing on a micron scale," said Gardner, who joined the UO in June 2019. "This applies to biomedical implants as well as devices for experimental physics and other fields." The nanoclip can decode and modulate electrical signals traveling in the peripheral nervous system, which contains nerves and neuronal cells outside the brain and spinal cord that control end organs. Bioelectric medicine, Gardner said, seeks to modulate these signals to treat chronic problems such as asthma, bladder control, hypertension, polycystic ovarian syndrome or even the damaging inflammatory response in some COVID-19 cases. In addition to achieving stable, high signal-to-noise ratio recordings of nerve signals during vocalizations in adult male zebra finches, the device allowed researchers to precisely control the output of the nerve. They were able to evoke distinct vocalizations for different spatial patterns of activation on six electrical contacts within the nanoclip. Such spatiotemporal control may be useful for future biomedical implants that seek to not just activate a nerve but do so with spatial selectivity for specific structures within nerves that have different functions in the end organ. A key feature of the device, Gardner said, is the ease of surgical implant, which remains an important outstanding issue in future bioelectric medicines. "Imagine you had to manipulate a small nerve and wrangle a device onto it using forceps to both open a cuff electrode and position it on the nerve," he said. "The micromanipulation required with current cuff electrodes can be damaging to the smallest nerves. In contrast, the 3-D-fabricated nanoclip can be implanted by just pushing it onto the nerve. This ease of implant may allow for keyhole or other minimally invasive surgery." The nanoclips were produced using a 3-D printer designed by the research team. The printer, Gardner said, can manufacture the devices up to 20 times faster than existing commercially available printers that operate at similar resolution. While the devices described in the paper use a propriety photoresist chemistry not approved for human use, current nanoclip electrodes fabricated in the lab use an approach closely related to existing dental implant materials, suggesting a possible path to future human use. While there are research groups now testing nerve therapies in humans, including Galvani Bioelectronics, a division of GlaxoSmithKline that partially funded this research, the study's co-authors wrote in their conclusion that "the basic science of nerve signaling in relation to physiological function must be expanded." "This study is really an early test for new fabrication methods focused on submillimeter structures," Gardner said. "A focus of the work in my lab in the Knight Campus is to refine methods for integrating thin-film fabrication and micron-resolution 3-D printing and to use these tools to create new kinds of devices." Explore further Using light instead of electricity in cochlear implants More information: Timothy M. Otchy et al. Printable microscale interfaces for long-term peripheral nerve mapping and precision control, Nature Communications (2020). Journal information: Nature Communications Timothy M. Otchy et al. Printable microscale interfaces for long-term peripheral nerve mapping and precision control,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18032-4 Indian-origin Senator Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party's vice-presidential candidate, has blasted President for failing to protect the American people from the deadly coronavirus pandemic by being "fixated on the stock market" and caving in to China. In a blistering speech hours before Trump delivered his acceptance speech to the Republican National Convention from the South Lawn at the White House, Harris alleged that the president's policies have been "a reckless disregard" for the danger a pandemic would pose to American lives. " has failed at the most basic and important job of a President of the United States. He failed to protect the American people. Plain and simple. Trump showed what we, in the legal profession, would call a reckless disregard for the well-being of the American people," Harris said. With the Republican leaders attending the four-day convention largely downplaying the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed over 180,000 people and infected over five million others in the US, Harris pointed out that Trump's failure to address the health emergency more aggressively is emblematic of a tweet-driven presidency. "Here's what you have to understand about the nature of a pandemic: It's relentless. You can't stop it with the tweet," the 55-year-old Senator from California told Trump. Instead of rising to meet the most difficult moment of his presidency, Trump froze and was scared. And he was petty and vindictive, she said. She said Trump "doesn't understand the presidency" and believes it is "all about him." The Republican convention is designed for one purpose: To soothe the president's Trump's ego, to make him feel good, Harris said. "But here's the thing: He's the President of the United States, and it's not supposed to be about him. It's supposed to be about the health and the safety and the well-being of the American people." "And on that measure," she added, " has failed.""He never appreciated that a President swears an oath before God and country to protect America against threats seen and unseen. It's his duty. It's his obligation to protect us. And yet, he has failed. Miserably, she said. Harris alleged that Trump "caved" in when the US needed him to be tough on the Chinese government. "On January 24th, he praised the transparency of the Chinese government. He said, quote, China has been working hard to contain the coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. "But they weren't being transparent. They blocked public health inspectors from the CDC, from getting the access and information they needed to protect American lives, she said, referring to China not allowing American health experts to visit Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the coronavirus pandemic emerged last year before it spread across the world. "Donald Trump stood idly by. And folks, it was a deadly decision. Instead of rising to meet the most difficult moment of his presidency, Donald Trump froze. He was scared. He was petty and vindictive, Harris said. She said Trump was "fixated on the stock market" as he thought that shutting down the economic activities to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country would harm his interests. Former vice president Joe Biden and his running mate Harris from the Democratic Party are challenging President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence from the Republican Party in the November 3 presidential election. "Here's the thing, Donald Trump's incompetence is nothing new. That has always been on full display. But in January of this year, it became deadly. That's when the threat of a virus that would endanger the world first emerged. Trump dismissed the threat. Joe Biden sounded the alarm, she said. It would be the beginning of a pattern that persists to this day. Trump telling us not to worry, that the virus will, quote, disappear, that a quote, miracle is coming. Joe Biden, saying we need a plan, a national strategy, a President who is willing to lead, willing to be a role model for our nation. For our children, Harris said. This was the first major policy attack by Harris against Trump after she was nominated by the Democratic Party as its vice-presidential candidate last week, becoming the first Indian-American and first Black woman to be picked by a major American political party for the top post. As President, Joe Biden will put a plan into effect on day one, she asserted. Develop and deploy rapid tests with immediate results. Make sure testing, treatments, and ultimately, a vaccine reach all Americans, including communities of color, who have historically been left behind. Manufacture the medical supplies and protective equipment we need, she said. And make them right here-in America, so we're never again at the mercy of China and other foreign countries to protect our own people, she added. A Biden Administration will put in place a nationwide mask Mandate-it's not a burden to protect each other. Harris alleged that before the virus hit, Trump made the country vulnerable. After it was struck, he failed to do what was necessary. As it continues, he's making it worse every day, she 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.) Washington: The outgoing Obama administration is planning a series of fresh sanctions against Russia for its alleged role in cyber hacking into servers and emails of American political parties and leaders in the run up to the general elections, multiple media reports have said. Quoting unnamed senior administration officials, CBS News and CNN said the new set of sanctions is likely to target the Russian intelligence agency and its official. US officials believes that the spy agency operated with the blessing of the Russian President Vladimir Putin. The sanctions could be announced as early as Thursday, CNN reported. Obama has already announced investigations into the alleged Russian hacking. The report is expected early January. US president-elect Donald Trump told reporters that the administration should do the best they can, figure it all out. CBS News said the White House is seeking measures the incoming administration cant reverse. Trump has so far refused to acknowledge Russias role in the cyberattacks. Administration officials would also like to make it difficult for President-elect Donald Trump to roll back any action they take. Part of the goal here is to make sure that we have as much of the record public or communicated to Congress in a form that would be difficult to simply walk back, one senior administration official told The Washington Post. Reacting to media reports, Russia has said such a move by the US would be considered as provocative and warned of retaliation. The sanctions is likely to name individuals associated with the hacking and having close contacts with the government. If Washington really does take new hostile steps, they will be answered...any action against Russian diplomatic missions in the US will immediately bounce back on US diplomats in Russia, a spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry said. According to CNN, the US actions are expected to include expanded sanctions and diplomatic measures. In October, the United States formally blamed Russia for political hacking attacks, saying they were intended to interfere with American elections. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Interfax that the accusations are nonsense. Earlier this month, CIA officials told US media they had high confidence that Russian hackers had attempted to sway the US election in Trumps favour. The Trump team responded to those reports by saying these are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mugello has become a fourth 2020 race host hoping to welcome spectators back to Formula 1. Sochi, Imola and Portugal are all planning for varying numbers of spectators to be able to watch the races trackside amid the corona crisis. And now Mugello, scheduled to host F1 in just two weeks time, has reportedly asked the local Tuscan authorities for permission to let in at least 1000-6000 spectators per day. Italy's Autosprint, revealing that the Ferrari-owned circuit has already filed its proposed health guidelines with authorities, said the decision is expected "within hours". It has also emerged that, as a result of agreeing to host spectator-less 'ghost races' this year, promoters of the Spa and Monza circuits have been granted one-year contract extensions by Liberty Media. "It must be said that 2020 is a blank year," Spa promoter Vanessa Maes told RTBF. "In the negotiations, we obtained an additional year in our contract. We are therefore guaranteed to have F1 in 2021 and 2022." Italian automobile club president Angelo Sticchi Damiani told Corriere dello Sport of Monza's extended agreement: "It is for another year. It goes to 2025 now." Monza will host the Italian GP next weekend. "Organising an important event like Formula 1, albeit without the presence of the public, is proof of the recovery we want to achieve, and a demonstration that we must not be intimidated and we must react in the face of this incredible situation," Sticchi Damiani added. (GMM) FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- For more than 60 years, Harold Wells Associates, Inc. (HWA) has proven itself as a leading manufacturers' representative in the power products industry, representing the best manufacturers in the industries they serve. That's why ASCO Power Technologies is pleased to announce that HWA has agreed to become an Advanced Solutions Partner, representing the full portfolio of ASCO critical power equipment and Schneider Electric products to the data center industry in Northern California and Nevada. Based in San Ramon, California, Harold Wells Associates specializes in providing products, services, and support for critical emergency power systems; data center infrastructure; and motor drives for industrial, HVAC, and municipal applications. Its projects typically involve mission-critical sites, where the firm provides design and application assistance, project management, and long-term service and support. Serving end users, architects, consultants, installation contractors, value-added resellers, and distributors, HWA has developed a reputation based on integrity, straightforward business ethics, and engineering know-how. By becoming an ASCO Advanced Solutions Partner, HWA will provide the full range of ASCO Power Technologies' transfer switches, power control systems, load banks, and critical power management solutions. In addition, HWA will also offer the full range of electrical products and resources offered by Schneider Electric. With more than a century of critical power solutions experience, ASCO Power Technologies solutions are renowned for providing the highest levels of reliability and availability required by data centers today. "We are extremely happy to be working with the team at HWA," says Jack McCauley, ASCO Power Technologies' Vice President of US Sales. "Their years of experience in Critical Power, combined with the ASCO Power Technologies products, support, and service will provide our customers with industry-leading capabilities." "We are eager to merge our decades of experience and customers with the expanded line of products from ASCO and their great local support," says Jim Hoyt, President at HWA. "We are also excited about collaborating with the other local Schneider sales teams and distributors". ASCO Power Technologies products are backed by technology, support, and service that are unmatched in the industry. Contact an ASCO representative to learn more. About ASCO Power Technologies ASCO Power Technologies has provided power reliability solutions for more than 125 years. The firm designs, manufactures, services, and supports automatic transfer switches, power control equipment, load banks, and critical power management systems. ASCO products serve mission-critical functions in data centers, healthcare facilities, telecommunication networks, commercial buildings, and industrial operations. To learn more about any of ASCO's premium products and services, call (800) 800 ASCO (2726), email [email protected], or visit www.ascopower.com. SOURCE ASCO Power Technologies Related Links http://www.ascopower.com Ukraine's energy regulator halves fines for over-limit gas distribution 14:20, 28.08.20 1141 The NEURC has also significantly extended the deadline for filing the adjustment of the ordered capacity from July 23 to September 15. A Bend bus driver was charged with assault for choking a passenger until he briefly lost consciousness while forcing the man off the bus a week ago for not wearing shoes. The Aug. 20 incident has angered members of Central Oregons Black Lives Matter community because the passenger, Dorian Allstot, is Black and the driver, Michael Brinster, is white, and responding Bend Police officers arrested Allstot but not Brinster. Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel announced Thursday that after viewing security camera footage he decided to charge Brinster, 44, with fourth-degree assault and strangulation. The actions of this bus driver were shocking and criminal, Hummel said. There is no place in society for conduct like this. Around 7 p.m., police were called to a disturbance aboard a Cascades East Transit bus at the Hawthorne Station, the regions only transit hub. According to the district attorneys office, Allstot had earlier attempted to board Brinsters bus but was told by Brinster he needed shoes. Cascades East Transit does not have a policy requiring shoes, according to legal counsel for the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, which oversees it. Brinster drove off and by the time hed returned to Hawthorne Station from his route, Allstot, who is referred to by police as a transient, had put on socks. Allstot again attempted to board and was again stopped by Brinster. Surveillance footage released Thursday picks up as Allstot attempts to board the second time. He walks past Brinster, who tells him, Gotta have shoes, bro. Allstot takes a seat alone on the bus as Brinster stands over him. Get off. I told you, you gotta have shoes to get on my bus, Brinster said. No shirt, no shoes, no service. Brinster then attempts to forcibly remove Allstot. The footage shows Brinster claiming Allstot reached for a knife at his side. You touched your (expletive) knife, (expletive). Get off my (expletive) bus, Brinster says. Hummel said Allstot was lawfully carrying the knife, and the district attorneys office doesnt allege he reached for it at this point. Brinster is then seen placing Alstot in a chokehold and dragging him from the bus as another driver and a friend of Allstots look on. During a press conference Thursday announcing the charges, Hummel paused the video as Brinster is seen pulling Allstot through the doorway of the bus. This is the point where he loses consciousness, Hummel said. After dragging Allstot off the bus, Brinster places him on the ground and he soon regains consciousness. They continue to argue, with Brinster standing in the bus doorway. Brinster calls police and says a passenger just threatened him with a knife. Allstot tells the bus driver to put him to sleep again. I need help! Brinster yells into his phone. Yeah you do, huh? Allstot replies. Hummel said at one point before police arrived, Allstot pulled out his knife, threatened and spat on the bus driver. Cmon, cmon, cmon, Allstot says, gesturing for Brinster to fight. Im about to get physical with him, Brinster yells to his phone. Bend Police officers responded and arrested Allstot for unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated harassment and menacing. They were not able to immediately view the security footage, Hummel said. Bend Police acted on the information they had at the time, he said. The footage was later turned over to Hummel. Brinster was fired from Para-Transit Services on Thursday afternoon, according to Christie Scheffer, chief operating officer for Cascades East Transit, which oversees Para-Transits contract. He was determined to have violated the companys policies and procedures, she said. Tammy Baney, executive director of the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, said policy requiring closed-toed shoes was attempted several years ago but was found to run against Americans with Disability Act guidelines, she said. Chokeholds have been a major issue in the current nationwide debate over police discrimination and excessive force. Perhaps the most notable instance involves the death of Eric Garner, a Black man suffocated in 2014 by an officer of the New York City Police Department. Though never charged, the officer was fired in 2019. The protest group Central Oregon Peacekeepers last week on Facebook called for the suspension of the officers who responded and arrested Allstot but not Brinster. Luke Richter, president and founder of the group, wants Hummel to investigate the Bend Police officers involved. Yes we definitely want an investigation into the officers and potentially even Bend Police night shift as this is where we are seeing most problems arise, he said. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close As part of the drills, Ukrainian military worked out the scenario of response to a full-scale invasion. Ukraine's Armed Forces on Thursday held military exercises in Rivne region, involving landing and take-off of Su-27 fighter jets on the Kyiv-Chop highway. Traffic was temporarily blocked on the relevant part of the highway, TSN reported. Read alsoUkraine holds MLRS and missile drills near Crimea (Video)The 39th tactical aviation brigade involved twelve fighters were involved, of which Su-27s were deployed in the area of the Kyiv-Chop highway, Glavcom reports. One of the warplanes carried out additional weather reconnaissance, two jets flew at ultra-low altitudes over the road, and another one touched down and took off. "These skills will come in handy for war pilots in the event of a large-scale enemy invasion," the report reads, adding that the Ukrainian military will be able to use the section of the Kyiv-Chop highway as a runway. The rest of the planes engaged in the drill that took off from the Zhytomyr airfield practiced intercepting bomber in the sky over Khmelnytsky and Volyn regions and forcing the enemy planes to land. This is not the first time the Armed Forces carry out such exercises. In 2016, the Ukrainian MiG-29s made a training landing and takeoff at the same highway as part of the Sky Shield 2016 drill. (Natural News) This unique and very revealing compilation of history and data by Dr. Meryl Nass, board certified in Internal Medicine, is essential reading. The medication concerned is without doubt a key to ending the terrible loss of life and devastating social and economic devastation caused by the unnecessary lockdowns and other harmful mitigation policies imposed by government and health authorities during this pandemic. (Article republished from LifeSiteNews.com) Some have now been saying that the true death statistics for this disease, as opposed to the likely hugely inflated real numbers, are just below the statistics of what can legitimately be called a pandemic. The heroic Front Line Doctors group was formed to try to counter a massive disinformation campaign against the highly effective, safe and inexpensive Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) medication for the treatment and prevention of Wuhan/COVID-19 virus infection. In this document, Dr. Nass verifies the many serious concerns of the Front Line Doctors, Dr. Harvey Risch, French Professor and Dr. Didier Raoult, Dolores Cahill and numerous other physicians around the world, about the suppression of the use of HCQ. Let me put it to you bluntly. Most of the people who have died from Wuhan virus infection would not have died if they had been treated at an early stage of infection with the proper HCQ protocol. For that reason, many of the above-mentioned doctors are calling for criminal investigations over what has been happening during the past several months regarding HCQ and insisting that it has exhibited true Crimes Against Humanity given the large, unnecessary loss of life and other devastations that have resulted from it. To emphasize the credibility of Dr. Nass, here is just a small sample of her more extensive credentials. For more, see here if you have access to Google docs. Accomplishments Epidemic and Anthrax Expert National reputation in anthrax: consulted for the World Bank affiliate Inter-American Development Bank (2001) and the Director of National Intelligences Summer Hard Problem Program (2008) among others; identified Zimbabwes 1978 anthrax epidemic as an episode of biological warfare (1992); after accurately diagnosing the cause, consulted for Cubas Ministry of Health on its optic and peripheral neuropathy epidemic (1993); created a methodology for determining the cause of suspect epidemics (1992); wrote about how to better manage the Ebola epidemic (2014); wrote a summary of the Zika epidemic for a US federal agency (2016) The following is an extensive resource for all serious researchers of this catastrophic, international medical, economic, and social scandal. DO NOT believe almost everything that you read in most mainstream media reports on this issue. They are all geared to maintaining a climate of fear for the purpose of convincing the worldwide public that the only way for a return to normal life is to accept the new vaccine that is being developed. And then, everyone who refuses to be vaccinated will be subjected to the removal of many rights and freedoms. That has already started to happen for those who have eyes to see what has been happening to many who reject forced and unnecessary masking mandates and equally unnecessary lockdown restrictions. Steve Jalsevac LifeSiteNews.com Saturday, June 27, 2020 How a false hydroxychloroquine narrative was created, and more by Meryl Nass, M.D. It is remarkable that a large series of events taking place over the past three months produced a unified message about hydroxychloroquine, and produced similar policies about the drug in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and western Europe. The message is that generic, inexpensive hydroxychloroquine is dangerous and should not be used to treat a potentially fatal disease, Covid-19, for which there are no (other) reliable treatments. Hydroxychloroquine has been used safely for 65 years in many millions of patients. And so the message was crafted that the drug is safe for its other uses, but dangerous when used for Covid-19. It doesnt make sense, but it seems to have worked. In the U.S., Never Trump morphed into Never Hydroxychloroquine, and the result for the pandemic is Never Over. But while anti-Trump spin is what characterized suppression strategies in the U.S., the frauds perpetrated about hydroxychloroquine and the pandemic include most western countries. Were these acts carefully orchestrated? You decide. Might these events have been planned to keep the pandemic going? To sell expensive drugs and vaccines to a captive population? Could these acts result in prolonged economic and social hardship, eventually transferring wealth from the middle class to the very rich? Are these events evidence of a conspiracy? Here is a list of what happened, in no special order. Please help add to this list if you know of other actions I should include. This will be a living document, added to as new information becomes available. I have penned this as if it is the To Do list of items to be accomplished by those who pull the strings. The items on the list have already been carried out. One wonders what else might be on their list, yet to be carried out, for this pandemic. 1. You stop doctors from using the drug in ways it is most likely to be effective (in outpatients at onset of illness). You prohibit use outside of situations you can control. Situations that were controlled to show no benefit included three large, randomized, multi-center clinical trials (Recovery, Solidarity and REMAP-Covid), the kind of trials that are generally believed to yield the most reliable evidence. However, each of them used excessive hydroxychloroquine doses that were known to be toxic and may have been fatal in some cases; see my previous articles here and here. And a fourth Chinese study that also used excessive doses (3.6 g HCQ in the first three days and 800mg/day thereafter, comparable to the above studies) also found no benefit from HCQ. 2. You prevent or limit use in outpatients by controlling the supply of the drug, using different methods in different countries and states. For example, in New York state, by order of the governor, hydroxychloroquine could only be prescribed for hospitalized patients. In Nevada, the governor outright prohibited both prescribing and dispensing chloroquine drugs for a Covid-19 diagnosis. In New Jersey, the Department of Consumer Affairs required a positive test result before a chloroquine prescription could be dispensed or prescribed. France has issued a series of different regulations to limit prescribers from using it. Frances Health Minister also changed the drugs status from over-the-counter (OTC) to a drug requiring a prescription on January 13. 3. You play up the danger of the drug, emphasizing side effects that are very rare when the drug is used correctly. You make sure everyone has heard about the man who died after consuming hydroxychloroquine in the form of fish tank cleaner. Yet its toxicity at approved doses is minimal. Chloroquine was added to table salt in some regions in the 1950s as a malaria preventive, according to Professor Nicholas White in his study for the Recovery trial. 4. You limit clinical trials to hospitalized patients, instead of testing the drug in outpatients, early in the illness, when it is predicted to be most effective. Finally, but not until May, you have Dr. Anthony Faucis NIAID conduct a trial in outpatients, using hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin, but you only enroll 20 patients, after planning for 2,000. You reduce the duration of followup from 24 weeks to 13 days post treatment. You cancel the study after only five weeks, claiming inadequate enrollments. 5. You design clinical trials to give much too high a dose, ensuring the drug will cause harm in some subjects, sufficient to mask any possible beneficial effect. You make sure that trials in 400 hospitals in 35 countries (Solidarity) plus most hospitals in the UK (Recovery) use these dangerous doses, as well as additional sites in 13 countries (REMAP-Covid trial). 6. You design clinical trials to collect almost no safety data, so any cause of death due to drug toxicity will be attributed to the disease instead of the drug. 7. You issue rules for use of the drug based on the results of the UK Recovery study, which overdosed patients. Of course, the Recovery results showed more deaths in the hydroxychloroquine arm, since they gave patients 2.4 g in the first 24 hrs, 800 mg/day thereafter. Furthermore, the UK has the second highest death rate in the world for Covid-19 (Belgium is first), so simply conducting the trial in the UK may have contributed to the poor results. 8. You publish, in the worlds most-read medical journal, the Lancet, an observational study from a massive worldwide database (96,000 Covid cases) that says use of chloroquine drugs caused significantly increased mortality. This was said to be the paper to end all controversy about HCQ and Covid-19. You make sure that all major media report on this result. This was said to be the nail in the coffin for hydroxychloroquine. Then you have three European countries announce they will not allow doctors to prescribe the drug. 9. You do your best to ride out any controversy, never admitting culpability. Even after hundreds of people renounced the Lancets observational study due to easily identified fabrications the database used in the study did not exist, and the claimed numbers did not agree with known numbers of cases the Lancet held firm for two weeks, serving to muddy the waters about the trial, until finally three of the four co-authors (but not the Lancet) retracted the study. Neither the authors nor the journal have admitted responsibility, let alone explained what it was that induced them to co-author and publish such a fraud. You made sure very few media reported that the data were fabricated, the study was fraudulent, and the drugs were actually safe. Even though the story of the database company, Surgisphere, was full of scandalous details, the story of the studys retraction went largely unnoticed by the public. You made sure most people remember the original story: that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine frequently kill patients. 10. You ensure federal agencies like FDA and CDC hew to your desired policies. Some examples: a) FDA advised use only in hospitalized patients (too late) and later advised use restricted to only clinical trials (which are limited, are difficult to enroll in, have been halted prematurely, or may use excessive doses). b) You have FDA make unsubstantiated and false claims, such as: Hospitalized patients were likely to have greater prospect of benefit (compared to ambulatory patients with mild illness) and claim the chloroquine drugs have a slow onset of action. If that were really true, they would not be used for acute attacks of malaria or in critically ill patients with Covid. (Disclosure: I once dosed myself with chloroquine for an acute attack of P. vivax malaria, and it worked very fast.). c) Although providing treatment advice is a large part of its mission, CDC instead refers clinicians to the NIH guidelines, discussed below. d) Despite the fact that Belgiums Covid treatment guidelines repeatedly mention that the doses of HCQ in the Recovery and Solidarity trials were four times the cumulative dose used in Belgium, you make sure the Belgian guidelines, paradoxically, only recommend use of HCQ within clinical trials. 11. You make sure to avoid funding/encouraging clinical trials that test drug combinations like hydroxychloroquine with zinc, with azithromycin, or with both, although there is ample clinical evidence that such combinations provide a cumulative benefit to patients. For example, one study that did look at this combination had no funding. 12. You have federal and UN agencies make false, illogical claims based on models (or invention) rather than human data. For example, you have the FDA state on June 15 that the dose required to treat Covid is so high it is toxic, after the Recovery and Solidarity trials have been exposed for toxic dosing. This scientific double-speak gives some legal cover to the clinical trials that overdosed their patients. According to Denise Hinton, RN, the FDAs Chief Scientist (yes, a registered nurse without scientific qualifications is the Chief Scientist at FDA), or perhaps a clumsy FDA wordsmith: Under the assumption that in vivo cellular accumulation is similar to that from the in vitro cell-based assays, the calculated free lung concentrations that would result from the EUA suggested dosing regimens are well below the in vitro EC50/EC90 values, making the antiviral effect against SARS-CoV-2 not likely achievable with the dosing regimens recommended in the EUA. The substantial increase in dosing that would be needed to increase the likelihood of an antiviral effect would not be acceptable due to toxicity concerns. You have a WHO report claim toxic doses are needed. This is nonsense since: Tellingly, JAMA editor Gordon Rubenfeld wrote in April, after the Brazilian study came out in JAMA, if you are prescribing HCQ after these JAMA results, do yourself and your defense lawyer a favor. Document in your medical record that you informed the patient of the potential risks of HCQ including sudden death and its benefits (???). 13. You create an NIH Guidelines committee for Covid treatment recommendations, in which 16 members have or had financial entanglements with Gilead, maker of Remdesivir. The members were appointed by the Co-Chairs. Two of the three Co-Chairs are themselves financially entangled with Gilead. Are you surprised that their guidelines recommend specifically against the use of hydroxychloroquine and in favor of Remdesivir, despite a Chinese Phase III study showing no benefit, which was mistakenly posted on the WHO website, then taken down? The guidelines authors deem their recommendations the new standard of care. You create an NIH treatment guidelines summary that cherry picks the literature to claim HCQ provides no benefit. 14. You frighten doctors so they dont prescribe hydroxychloroquine, if prescribing it is even allowed in their jurisdiction, because prescribing outside the new NIH standard of care leaves them open to both malpractice lawsuits and potential loss of license. For example, Michigans Medical Licensing Board issued the following: Prescribing hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine without further proof of efficacy for treating COVID-19 or with the intent to stockpile the drug may create a shortage for patients with lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or other ailments for which chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are proven treatments. Reports of this conduct will be evaluated and may be further investigated for administrative action It is also important to be mindful that licensed health professionals are required to report inappropriate prescribing practices. In other words, Michigan pharmacists are required to snitch on doctors prescribing the drugs for Covid. You further tell doctors (through the FDA) they need to monitor a variety of lab parameters and EKGs when using the drug, although this was never advised before, which makes it very difficult to use the drug in outpatients. You have the European Medicines Agency issue similar warnings. In Australia, only physicians in certain specialties are allowed to prescribe the drug for Covid. And in Queensland, physicians or pharmacists who do not comply (for example, by prescribing the drug for prevention of Covid) face up to six months imprisonment and a fine up to $13,000 Australian dollars. 15. You manage to control the conduct of most trials around the world by specially designing the WHO-managed Solidarity trials, currently conducted in 35 countries. WHO halted hydroxychloroquine clinical trials around the world twice. The first time, May 25, WHO claimed it was in response to the (fraudulent) Lancet study. The second time, June 17, WHO claimed the stop was in response to the Recovery trial results. Recovery used highly toxic doses of hydroxychloroquine in over 1,500 patients, of whom 396 died. You stop the trial before the data safety monitoring board has looked at your data, a move that is unlikely to be consistent with trial protocol. WHOs trial in over 400 hospitals overdosed patients with 2.0 g hydroxychloroquine in the first 24 hours. The trial was halted three days after the toxic doses were exposed (by me). The trial involved doctors around the world typing minimal patient information into an online WHO platform, which assigned the patient a treatment. The only safety information collected during the trial was whether patients required oxygen, required a ventilator, or died. This effectively masked the adverse effects of the drugs tested. I should mention that WHOs initial plan for its Solidarity trial entirely omitted the chloroquine drugs, but they were added at the urging of participating nations. WHOs fallback position appears to have been to use toxic doses. 16. You have the WHO pressure governments to stop doctors prescribing hydroxychloroquine. 17. You have the WHO pressure professional societies to stop doctors prescribing hydroxychloroquine. 18. You make sure that the most-consulted U.S. medical encyclopedia, UptoDate, advises physicians to restrict hydroxychloroquine to only clinical trials, citing the FDA. 19. You have the head of the Coronavirus Task Force, Dr. Tony Fauci, insist the drug cannot be used in the absence of strong evidence while he insisted exactly the opposite in the case of the MERS coronavirus outbreak several years ago, when he recommended an untested drug combination for use which had been developed for that purpose by his agency. And while he was bemoaning the lack of evidence, he was refusing to pay for trials to study hydroxychloroquine, and cancelled two trials of outpatient HCQ before completion. And he was changing the goalposts on the Remdesivir trial, not once but twice, to make Remdesivir show a tiny bit of benefit, but no mortality benefit. And dont forget, Fauci was thrilled to sponsor a trial of a Covid vaccine in humans before there were any data from animal trials. So much for Faucis requirement for high quality evidence, before risking use of drugs and vaccines in humans. 20. You convince the population that the crisis will be long-lasting. You have the second richest man in the world, and biggest funder of the WHO, Bill Gates, keep repeating to the media megaphone that we cannot go back to normal until everyone has been vaccinated or there is a perfect drug. (The Gates Foundation helped design the WHO Solidarity trial, which says only that it has multiple funders, helped fund the Recovery trial, and Gates is heavily invested in Covid pharmaceuticals and vaccines.) 21. You have CDC (with help from FDA) prevent the purchase of coronavirus test kits from Germany, China, WHO, etc., and fail to produce a valid test kit themselves. The result was that during January and February, U.S. cases could not be tested, and for several months thereafter insufficient and unreliable test kits made it impossible to track the epidemic and stop the spread. 22. You have trusted medical spokesmen lie to the public about the pandemics severity, so precautions werent taken when they might have been more effective and less long-lasting. Congress was repeatedly briefed about the pandemic in January and February, which scared several Congress members enough that they sold off large amounts of stock, risking insider trading charges. Senator Burr is one of them, currently under investigation for major stock sales on February 13. Yet Dr. Fauci told USA Today on February 17 that Americans should worry more about the flu than about coronavirus, the danger of which was just miniscule. Then on February 28, Drs. Fauci and Robert Redfield (CDC director) wrote in the New England Journal: the overall clinical consequences of Covid-19 may ultimately be more akin to those of a severe seasonal influenza (which has a case fatality rate of approximately 0.1%) or a pandemic influenza (similar to those in 1957 and 1968) rather than a disease similar to SARS or MERS, which have had case fatality rates of 9 to 10% and 36%, respectively. 23. You destroy the reputation of respected physicians who stand in your way. Professor Didier Raoult and his team in Marseille have used hydroxychloroquine on over 4,000 patients, reporting a mortality rate of about 0.8 percent. (The mortality rate of patients given hydroxychloroquine in the Recovery trial was 25.7 percent.) Raoult is very famous for discovering over 100 different microorganisms, and finding the long-sought cause of Whipples disease. With this reputation, Raoult apparently thought he could treat patients as he saw fit, which he has done, under great duress. Raoult was featured in a New York Times Magazine article, with his face on the magazine cover, on May 12, 2020. After describing his accomplishments, the Times very unfavorably discussed his personality, implied he conducted unethical trials without approval, and using anonymous sourcing produced a detailed hit piece. Raoult is now considered an unreliable crank in the U.S. You gather a group of Yale professors to dispute Yale colleague Harvey Frisch, MD, PhD epidemiologist on his publications and vocal support of the benefits of HCQ for Covid. Their first argument is that he is not an infectious disease doctor. Notably, the first signer of the statement opposing Dr. Frisch is an economist. Physician and state senator Scott Jensen of Minnesota is being investigated by his state medical board due to anonymous complaints about spreading misinformation and giving reckless advice about Covid in interviews. Jensen was previously selected as Family Physician of the Year in his state. Now his medical license is at risk, not because of how he treated a patient, but for what he said outside of the office. Unprecedented. UPDATE: Jensen was exonerated. 24. You have social media platforms ban content that does not agree with the desired narrative. As YouTube CEO and ex-wife of Google founder Sergey Brin, Susan Wojcicki, said, YouTube will ban any content containing medical advice that contradicts World Health Organisation (WHO) coronavirus recommendations. Anything that would go against World Health Organisation recommendations would be a violation of our policy. 25. When your clinical trials are criticized for overdosing patients, you have Oxford-affiliated, Wellcome Trust-supported scientists at Mahidol University publish papers (a literature review with modeling and a modeling study) purporting to show that the doses used were not toxic. You develop a new method to measure hydroxychloroquine in a handful of Recovery patients who were not poisoned. However, there are two problems you forgot with this approach: The Brazilian data, including 16 deaths, extensive clinical information and documented ventricular arrhythmias, are much more persuasive than a theoretical model of hydroxychloroquine pharmacokinetics. Either the drug is too toxic to use, even at normal doses, for a life-threatening disease, or even extremely high doses are safe. You cant have it both ways. Oxford is the institution running the Recovery trial, and invented a Covid vaccine that already has 400 million doses on order. The Wellcome Trust funded the Recovery trial. 26. You change your trials primary outcome measures after the trials have started, in order to prevent detection of drug-induced deaths (Recovery) or to make your drug appear to have efficacy (NIAID Remdesivir trial). 27. You stop manufacturers from supplying the drug. Shortly after the fraudulent Lancet paper came out, Sanofi announced it would no longer supply the drug for use with Covid, and would halt its two hydroxychloroquine clinical trials. One of the cancelled Sanofi trials was expected to test 210 outpatients early in the course of disease. The trial remains suspended at the time of writing, while the Lancet paper was retracted 13 days after publication. You surely dont want a trial of hydroxychloroquine treatment early in the disease, since it might show an excellent effect. Sanofi (a pharma company) begins acting like a regulator. From the Australian DOHs Therapeutic Goods Administration website: Sanofi, the supplier of one of the hydroxychloroquine products marketed in Australia (Plaquenil), has also written to health professionals reinforcing that hydroxychloroquine is not approved for use in Australia for treatment of COVID-19 outside the confines of a clinical trial. Sanofi also reinforced some of the known risks of prescribing hydroxychloroquine, in particular potentially serious cardiac issues. Globally, Sanofi has received an increased number of reports of serious cardiac issues, including deaths, in patients treated with hydroxychloroquine, This appears to be more common in patients also treated with other medicines that can affect the heart. Then Sanofi started collecting information on all off-label use of hydroxychloroquine in New Zealand and Australia. Why is Sanofi, a drug manufacturing company, becoming a surveillance/enforcement mechanism intended to frighten medical providers from using the drug for Covid, which use is by definition off label. Sanofi alternatively suggests one may report (anonymously or not) others off-label use to New Zealands Pharmacovigilance Center or the Australian equivalent. And see this: Novartis will supply HCQ only under certain conditions, and halted its HCQ trial due to lack of enrollments, although enrollment was not an issue for its other Covid trials. 28. You attempt to retract published papers that provide evidence to support use of hydroxychloroquine for Covid. 29. You have your bought scientists conceal their financial conflicts of interest in their HCQ clinical trials and publications as well as in the guidelines they produce. 30. You can get your experimental, unlicensed drugs tested much more expeditiously and cheaply than under ordinary circumstances, on Covid patients in large clinical trials, but only as long as no drug is designated effective for the condition. This opportunity only lasts while the standard of care is nothing more than supportive measures. 31. You have a research organization with big Pharma members (A.O.K.I.) pressure the Russian Ministry of Health to remove hydroxychloroquine from its treatment guidelines. 32. You stopped use of hydroxychloroquine, allegedly in response to the fabricated Lancet study, in France, Italy and Belgium (countries with very high Covid mortality rates) then Portugal then Switzerland. But Switzerland restarted using HCQ 15 days later. This created a natural experiment in Switzerland. About two weeks after hydroxychloroquine use was halted, death rates approximately tripled, for about 15 days. Then, after its use was allowed again, two weeks later death rates from Covid fell back to their baseline. (Thanks to FranceSoir). 33. You reverse an old trick of clinical trials to mask benefit of hydroxychloroquine. The trick was to replace the saline placebo with a substance that is being used by many clinicians and in many trials against Covid, thus by comparison likely to reduce the positive effect of your tested medication. This was done in trials both at NYU and at University of Washington, using vitamin C or vitamin C and folate, respectively, as placebos. 34. You have the chief medical officers of Wales, England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and the director of the UKs National Health Service write to UK doctors, a) urging them to enroll their Covid patients in one of three national clinical trials, two of which greatly overdosed patients with hydroxychloroquine, and b) stopping their use of off license treatments outside of a trial. Yet again, we encounter a veiled threat against clinicians actually attempting to treat the primary SARS-Cov-2 infection. The chief doctors wrote: While it is for every individual clinician to make prescribing decisions, we strongly discourage the use of off-licence treatments outside of a trial, where participation in a trial is possible Any treatment given for coronavirus other than general supportive care, treatment for underlying conditions, and antibiotics for secondary bacterial complications, should currently be as part of a trial, where that is possible. 35. You have a state Pharmacy Board refuse to dispense hydroxychloroquine outside of clinical trials on June 15, citing the FDA recommendation for use only in trials. You issue this new regulation on the same day that FDA publishes its recommendation, indicating prior coordination. But when your regulation is exposed on July 14, you immediately rescind it. 36. You have the IMF offer rapid financing to Belarus, but only if it follows the recommended model of Covid response and imposes quarantines, isolation and curfews. 37. A group of doctors went to Washington D.C. on July 27-28. They called themselves Americas Frontline Doctors and gave a press conference and livestream talks about the Covid-19 pandemic as well as about the need for physicians to be able to prescribe HCQ freely. While the media sparsely attended the press conference, the livestream got millions of views. And within hours, their livestream was banned by Google, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Twitter was said to additionally ban comments about its ban. Then Squarespace took down the Frontline Doctors website. Today, Bitchute is hosting their press conference. So is Brighteon. In those media that describe what happened, the group is tarred for providing misinformation. 38. After the HCQ issue got so much attention on social media, you impose another ban on July 29 on the prescribing of HCQ for Covid, starting July 30 in Ohio, using its Pharmacy Board to dictate to physicians what they may not prescribe. (A repeat of #35 in a different state.) This ban got so much attention that the Ohio governor (who must have initially supported it) rescinded it the next morning, on July 30, saying he agrees with FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn, who said in a July 30 interview that the prescribing of HCQ is between a doctor and patient. 39. After having Google take down physician James Todaros article on hydroxychloroquine for four months, you allow it to resurface right before Googles (and Facebooks and Amazons and Apples) CEOs testify before Congress on July 29 on censorship and abuse of power. You have Twitter warn that Todaros article is at an unsafe link. 40. After massive attention to the banning of the videos posted by the physician group Americas Frontline Physicians and its website, you make intense efforts to discredit the physicians involved. MedPageToday claimed it could find no evidence that any of the speakers worked in hospitals with significant numbers of Covid-19 patients. But the doctors claimed they used the drug early and prevented hospitalizations and deaths. With over 4.4 million Americans diagnosed with Covid, what doctor hasnt seen a Covid patient? USAT headlined: Americas Frontline Doctors may be real doctors, but experts say they dont know what theyre talking about. You have USA Today review and publish detailed information on the licenses, practice locations and malpractice histories of the doctors who spoke out. USAT reporters claim these doctors are not experts and lack knowledge about the use of HCQ in Covid-19, despite the fact that most work in primary care, urgent care or emergency medicine and report using the drug for Covid. Yet no one asks how many years ago expert Fauci last treated a patient? Expert Birx medical license expired in 2014, so she hasnt treated a Covid patient either. 41. Hydroxychloroquine use is truly the wedge issue for understanding and turning around the pandemic. If hydroxychloroquine works reasonably well as a prophylactic and treatment for Covid-19, it could potentially end the seriousness of the pandemic and return us to life as we knew it. You must make use of the levers of government, mainstream media and social media to stop that from happening. So, just in case doctors thought the Frontline Doctors video, or a new study from Spain showing the drugs usefulness meant they should use hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid, you must act fast. You use representatives at a Congressional health subcommittee hearing on July 29 to threaten doctors about the use of the drug last April in veterans who were nursing home patients. Per The Washington Post: Doctors at the 238-bed nursing home dosed (30) patients with what came to be called a covid cocktail for more than two weeks in April, often over the objections of nurses and without the full knowledge of residents families. At least 11 residents received the drug even though they had not been tested for covid-19, The Post found. I have treated patients in nursing homes, and one rarely discusses medication changes with family, unless the patient is seriously ill. When nursing home residents were dying like flies last April, when tests were hard to come by and confirmed diagnoses few and far between, doctors used this medicine to try to prevent nursing home deaths during a pandemic. And now they are being scapegoated for doing so. The WaPo article does not even tell us whether the patients survived, thrived or were harmed. The article hardly makes sense. Its only purpose is to blacken the drug and the physicians who use it. 42. You use state Medical Licensing Boards to threaten doctors who claim there is a cure for Covid-19. 43. You have Dr. Fauci discredit published observational studies that show benefit during a Congressional hearing, demanding randomized controlled trials. Fauci never tells the Committee he has cancelled the one randomized controlled trial of HCQ that his agency, NIAID, was supposed to conduct on HCQ. NIAID claimed that it could not enroll enough subjects, and was cancelled after only 20 were enrolled. However, Fauci told the Committee that 250,000 Americans have shown interest in participating in trials of a Covid vaccine. It is difficult to believe there was extreme lack of interest in a treatment trial, and such massive interest in a vaccine trial. Doctors who wrote studies showing benefit (50 percent mortality reduction) defended their work from Faucis criticism. 44. You erode the doctors primary responsibility to the patient, replacing it with the need to perform clinical research. This is the first time I have ever heard such a thing: research physicians are pressuring frontline doctors not to veer from protocol-determined treatment, even when patients enrolled in treatment trials are at risk of death. 45. You use the term stellar to describe the Recovery trial in the August 5 New York Times, but avoid any hint that the Recovery trials hydroxychloroquine arm gave 1,500 patients a toxic, potentially lethal dose. 46. You censure and oust from the Detroit Democrats a state legislator because she credited HCQ for saving her life when she had Covid-19, and she publicly thanked President Trump for bringing the drug to her attention. It had been extremely difficult for her to obtain the drug, because her governor, Gretchen Whitmer, had banned use of the drug for Covid. 47. Despite assuring you control the outcome of the vast majority of randomized clinical trials of the chloroquine drugs, you have been thwarted by physician researchers in Detroit, Spain, Italy, France, Saudi Arabia who publish their observational results with hydroxychloroquine, showing the drug dramatically reduces mortality from Covid. So you have frontman Tony Fauci repeatedly dismiss this evidence from thousands of patients, since it did not come from randomized controlled trials. See c19study.com for a compilation of 78 studies of the chloroquine drugs efficacy. Remember, the system would not be going to these lengths if hydroxychloroquine didnt work. Please think about that. The People and the Professionals Fight Back I am starting a new live list of ways in which the people are pushing back against the abrogation of our rights, the propagation of lies, and our ability to access the medical care we choose. Please help contribute to it. 1. A huge Thank You goes to FranceSoir, which has covered the hydroxychloroquine restrictions in a long series of articles, has done the digging that the mainstream media refuses to do, and has brought the issue before a judge. The judge ruled that a press release issued on May 27 by Frances Minister of Solidarity and Health, informing doctors they cannot use hydroxychloroquine for Covid, has no legal meaning, and cannot restrict the prescribing of medicines by Frances medical providers. 2. Italian citizens take their government to court over the handling of the pandemic and the lockdown. 3. Skye News Australia presents information on the effective responses to the pandemic in Sweden and Switzerland. The pandemic is over in Sweden. Switzerland proved (again) the benefits of HCQ used at the proper dose, in conjunction with other drugs/supplements. The destruction of our economies was completely pointless. 4. The statistical methods of three major, randomized controlled trials of hydroxychloroquine efficacy in Covid have been questioned by a large group of statisticians, researchers and clinicians. All three trials were inadequately powered, with large p values. In fact, evaluated differently, the evidence from all these trials points to (HCQ) treatment effectiveness, according to the group of professionals providing the critique. 5. The assertion that antibodies only last a few months, and therefore immunity wanes rapidly, seems to be another misleading claim from the fake-science influencers. As with many other viruses, T and B lymphocytes are critical for coronavirus immunity, and a lot more durable than antibodies. From a U. Washington study, the SARS-CoV-2-specific memory lymphocytes exhibited characteristics associated with potent antiviral immunity: memory T cells secreted IFN-? and expanded upon antigen re-encounter, while memory B cells expressed receptors capable of neutralizing virus when expressed as antibodies. 6. The governor of Minnesota on August 12 rescinded his states ban on the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for Covid. 7. Three U.S. senators demand answers from the FDA on what evidence it used to recommend against outpatient treatment with HCQ, whether states have the right to regulate what drugs can be used, etc. Very powerful letter that cuts to the heart of the legal confusion regarding HCQ restrictions. Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com Medical workers in Hebei Province, who were sent to Wuhan to help stop the coronavirus, were given free admission for a year to more than 100 cinemas across the province. [For chinadaily.com.cn] Starting this month, more than 1,000 medical workers in Hebei Province, who were sent to Wuhan, Hubei Province, to help stop COVID-19, can go to movie theaters free for a year, according to Hebei Film and Television Group. "This is to show our respect for their contribution," said Wang Shengjun, chairman of the group. Wang said medical staff members can get free admission at more than 100 cinemas across the province until Aug 21 next year. Their companions can buy tickets at a discount. During the period, the medical workers can watch movies as many times as they like. Some other medical personnel who didn't go to Wuhan but also fought on the frontlines of the pandemic, will also get free tickets. More than 100 cinemas from 11 cities in the province have volunteered to provide free tickets to the workers, and the number is increasing. (Source: chinadaily.com.cn) (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Arnaud Lagardere is learning the hard way that marriages of convenience in the business world can work for you, and against you. The hedge fund Amber Capital U.K. LLP has for two years been targeting the eponymous Lagardere SCA a media and retail company founded by Arnauds late father, which is now run by the son for sweeping governance changes. To fend off the activist attack, Lagardere turned to the French establishment for support earlier this year. Three French billionaires rallied to the cause. First off, Vincent Bollores Vivendi SA and the investor Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere both acquired Lagardere stakes. Their votes helped the company defeat Ambers effort to replace much of the board in a shareholder vote in May. Bernard Arnault the boss of LVMH SE, and Frances richest man later that month bought a 100 million-euro ($118 million) stake in the holding company through which Arnaud owns his Lagardere shares. The alliance didnt last long. Bollore, ever the opportunist, has now switched sides and aligned instead with Amber. Vivendi cited the poor financial performance of Lagardere, which reported a net loss of 481 million euros in the six months through June. It cant have helped that Arnaud publicly declared his interest in acquiring the publisher Simon & Schuster, a potential acquisition target for Vivendi. While Bollores and Ambers agendas dont exactly match up, their mutual enemy has made them friends. The new coalition makes life deeply uncomfortable for Arnaud. Vivendi and Amber are Lagarderes two biggest investors, with a combined 44% stake. Ambers biggest complaint is an antiquated management structure that lets Arnaud retain de facto control of a company in which he owns just 7% of the stock. This partnership arrangement, known in France as a commandite, also means Arnauds management firm is generously reimbursed, even though operational responsibility is largely delegated to Lagarderes two businesses, publishing and retail. Story continues If Bollore and his hedge fund ally expected their combined might to weaken Arnauds resolve, theyve been quickly disabused of the idea. On Aug. 17, less than a week after Vivendi announced it was teaming up with Amber, Lagarderes board extended Arnauds contract by four years. That looked like an effort to shore up control before the reinforced opposition was able to drive through a board shakeup. It was also a pretty good demonstration of why Amber is so unhappy about the companys corporate governance the commandite structure means even the board cant oust Arnaud until the end of his contract. Arnauds rearguard defense may yet be in vain, however. According to Reuters, Vivendi and Amber are seeking a shareholder meeting to change the board anyway. If no such meeting is approved by the current directors, as seems likely, a court case is bound to follow. Would a judge really dismiss the demands of such a large tranche of the shareholder base? With board seats, Arnauds opponents could turn off the money spigot to his management company. That might be enough to force him to negotiate an end to the commandite structure in return for more equity. Hed then be paid with dividends rather than management fees. By roping in Bollore, Arnault and Ladreit de Lacharriere, Lagardere was tacitly admitting that he couldnt count on support against Amber from his existing investors. Those minority shareholders would be justified in wanting change: $10 invested in Lagardere when Arnaud took sole control in 2003 would be worth $17 today. The same amount invested in Europes Stoxx 600 Media Index or Frances benchmark CAC 40 Index would be worth $26 and $23 respectively. So can Arnaud count on Arnault or Ladreit de Lacharriere to see off Bollore and the hedge find? Its doubtful. Vivendi has invested more than either man, and its ownership of Frances Canal+ pay-TV service and Editis publishing house means it probably spies corporate opportunity in this messy situation. Lagarderes Hachette publishing business and Europe 1 radio network might be attractive targets for Bollore. Lagardere must have thought that bringing in these pillars of the establishment would shore up his position at the 2 billion-euro company. Instead, he appears to have invited the fox into the henhouse. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Alex Webb is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Europe's technology, media and communications industries. He previously covered Apple and other technology companies for Bloomberg News in San Francisco. 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) On the 13th straight week of nightly rioting in Portland, Oregon, the Antifa and Black Lives Matter militants have once again targeted a police precinct. Footage from the arson attack showed large fires burning at an awning of the Portland Police Bureaus (PPB) North Precinct. While these fires were spreading, the rioters were chanting burn baby burn and laughed hysterically as PPB officers tried to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher. These officers were also relentlessly pelted with projectiles such as rocks and glass bottles while they were performing their duties. Several rioters were even shining lasers at their eyes in an attempt to blind them. All of this chaos eventually led to the police declaring a riot, deploying tear gas and arresting at least 23 people on Portlands 87th consecutive night of rioting and civil unrest. That evenings rally began after 9:30 p.m., when a group of more than 100 people departed from Woodlawn City Park, several blocks to the north of their targeted precinct. They marched through several residential neighborhoods while chanting their usual anti-police slogans such as All cops are [expletive] and Black lives matter, along with the addition of Say his name! Jacob Blake! as a reference to the man who coincidentally has an extensive criminal record shot by police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin just a few hours before their demonstration. (Related: Chaos in Kenosha: Wisconsin Gov. Evers sends in the National Guard to quell rioting and civil unrest.) Local reporters witnessed several rioters vandalizing private property during the march, such as one person that spray painted a fence. The Black Lives Matter movement is once again showing its hypocrisy by pretending to care about Black lives. Listen to this episode of the Health Ranger Report by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, as he talks about how their support for Black lives is meaningless if they do not care about unborn Black lives. Rioters attempted to burn down North Precinct while officers were still in the building The violent mob arrived at the PPBs North Precinct by 10 p.m. Immediately after getting there, they started to cause chaos; they took two nearby dumpsters and setting its contents on fire. In response, the PPB began issuing warnings. They first warned the crowd against coming any closer to the precinct, as it would be considered trespassing. However, this warning was ignored as the rioters continued to use their lasers and throw rocks, glass bottles and paint balloons at the officers. Criminal Activity has continued. This event is now a RIOT. All persons must leave to the SOUTH. Failure to adhere to this direction may subject you to citation, arrest, and/or crowd control agents including, but not limited to, tear gas and impact weapons. Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) August 24, 2020 As a result, at 10:30 p.m., the PPB declared the gathering to be an unlawful assembly and ordered the people to leave immediately. This also did not work and the rioters retaliated by setting off fireworks. At 11:08 p.m., the PPB declared a riot and warned that if the crowd didnt disperse, they could face criminal charges if arrested and be subjected to crowd control munitions such as impact weapons and tear gas. The violent mob remained defiant. Even the declaration of a riot did not deter them from initiating more criminal activities. Several members of the crowd set an awning outside of the building on fire. Police officers who were standing on the roof of the precinct quickly worked to put out the spreading flame, but as it was extinguished the rioters immediately set another part of the awning on fire. The PPB report states that this second arson attack caused a lot of damage before it was extinguished. Police officers on the rooftop reach over to extinguish the fire outside the North Precinct #PortlandRiots #PortlandProtests #Portland pic.twitter.com/2vhEWenvSK Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) August 24, 2020 The PPB also said that, while they were working hard to keep the North Precinct from being burned down, the crowd was jeering at them and pelting them with large rocks and glass bottles. One police lieutenant suffered a large cut to his hand after he was hit by a piece of ceramic. Due to the extreme threat to life and safety, by around 11:30 p.m., the PPB deployed tear gas in order to push back the violent mob, who were still trying to burn down the precinct. Thanks to the crowd control munitions, the rioters were forced to move south. It was during this dispersal that the PPB made the first of their 23 arrests that night. As soon as the officers were satisfied with their dispersal, they pulled back to the North Precinct. However, within minutes of doing so, the rioters had reformed and returned. At 12:30 a.m., the PPB dispersed the mob once again, though it isnt clear if they used tear gas a second time. Several arrests were also made during this time. When the PPB disengaged a second time, the rioters reformed once again. At 1:17 a.m., the officers conducted a third dispersal. Around this time, a sergeant was struck in the head by a helmet thrown by one of the rioters. The suspect in question was immediately arrested. Of the 23 people arrested, only 14 were confirmed to be Portland residents. Four of the rioters were from other parts of Oregon, one was from Washington and the rest had unknown residences. Federal government once again offering aid Following this renewed wave of unrest in the city, President Donald Trump once again urged the leaders of Portland and of the state of Oregon to request federal assistance to help suppress the violence. This offer of aid was prompted by Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and Gov. Kate Brown, both Democrats, once again publicly criticizing the presidents decision to send federal law enforcement officers to the city to help protect federal property back in July. Acting Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Ken Cuccinelli even went on Fox News to talk about the pathetic failure of local and state officials. He also stated that, even without federal assistance, Brown has the power to deal a final blow against the rioters thanks to the more than 7,800 National Guard troops that are at her disposal. Oregon has the resources to solve this problem and yet they refuse to do it, alleged Cuccinelli. The riots will continue so long as the authorities in Portland and in Oregon refuse to act decisively. Stay updated on the latest events in Portland by subscribing to Rioting.news. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk KOIN.com RT.com TheHill.com FoxNews.com New reckoning for WHO vaccine plan as governments go it alone FILE PHOTO: Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Sao Paulo By Kate Kelland, Francesco Guarascio and Stephanie Nebehay LONDON/BRUSSELS/GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization will next week receive a raft of pledges of support for its plan for COVID-19 vaccines for all. But the agency has already had to scale back its ambition. The United States, Japan, Britain and the European Union have struck their own deals to secure millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses for their citizens, ignoring the U.N. bodys warnings that "vaccine nationalism" will squeeze supplies. If other countries that can afford it pursue a similar approach, the WHO's strategy for fighting the coronavirus pandemic globally and equitably risks coming undone, experts warn. "If that were to happen, it's fairly clear that there would be insufficient volumes of vaccine available for any other countries, particularly in the first six to nine months," said Alex Harris, head of global policy at the Wellcome Trust health charity. Countries wishing to be part of the WHO initiative, dubbed COVAX, must submit expressions of interest by Monday. More than 170 countries, including Canada, Norway, South Korea and Britain, have submitted non-binding expressions of interest to participate in the scheme, which the WHO has touted as the only global initiative to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are available worldwide to rich and poor countries alike. It has signed up nine COVID-19 vaccine candidates and set out plans to obtain and deliver 2 billion doses by the end of 2021 across countries that sign up. But it has struggled to get wealthier countries on board in full beyond pledges of funding and warm words about donating surplus vaccines. Last week, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus criticised nations that hoard vaccines, warning the strategy will worsen the pandemic. In a last-ditch call for support ahead of Monday's deadline, he wrote letters to members urging their participation. The EU Commission is "fully committed" to the success of COVAX while it enters into parallel talks with vaccine manufacturers for supplies for the bloc, a spokeswoman told Reuters. Story continues Britain said it was supporting COVAX to ensure equal access to vaccines, including funding, while doing its own bilateral supply deals. White House did not immediately comment on the situation. The United States did not participate in the launch of the programme in April or a fundraising event in May. DEALMAKING The EU's aggressive dealmaking for vaccine supplies and tepid statements about COVAX have in particular undermined the initiative, which is co-led by the WHO, the GAVI vaccines alliance and the CEPI Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. The European Commission is likely to pledge cash for COVAX but it is also securing its own supply deals for member states, deeming COVAX too slow and expensive. Brussels has told countries they can help fund COVAX, but can't seek to buy vaccines via both schemes, a Commission spokesman said. Forced to choose, some countries have pulled out of COVAX entirely. The Czech Republic and Portugal were listed as early backers, but government support appears to have cooled after joining the EU vaccine procurement programme. Prague has opted for the EU programme instead. Portugal has asked for an initial delivery of 6.9 million doses of vaccine when the EU programme becomes available, the government has said. Asked if it would take part in COVAX, a spokesman for the country's drug regulator INFARMED said it would coordinate its participation in the programme with other European nations. Other WHO members, which are already major donors to existing global vaccine programmes unrelated to COVID-19, are still on the fence too. Brazil, with the world's second worst coronavirus outbreak outside the United States, has not yet decided whether to participate, a health ministry spokeswoman said. In Japan, deputy Health Minister Hisashi Inatsu said he would like to enter discussions about participating, but the government has not said if it will submit an official expression of interest by Monday. Like many wealthy nations, Japan has ordered its own supply of shots, with almost 250 millions of doses of potential vaccines booked from AstraZeneca , Pfizer and BioNTech . RADICAL DEPARTURE Officials say both COVAX and government deals can run in parallel, but that's a radical departure from the original plan outlined in the spring. In acting alone, countries will create "a few winners and many losers", Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, warned on Monday. It also means poorer or less powerful countries may go to the back of the queue for vaccines that could help them control the pandemic. "The risk is that access to COVID-19 vaccines will be defined by purchasing power and the ability to sign advance purchase deals rather than the medical needs or the shifting epidemiological situations," said Dimitri Eynikel, EU representative on medicines and vaccines for Doctors Without Borders. The initiative is all the more significant for the WHO as scrutiny grows on its handling of the pandemic. The results of the first round will highlight the challenge of tackling a global crisis with competing individual interests. One senior European government official explained the dilemma facing wealthy nations: how to support a vaccine for developing countries when there may not be enough for your own population. Diverting resources abroad "is difficult to sell at home", he said. (Reporting by Andreas Rinke in Berlin, Catarina Demony in Lisbon, Rocky Swift in Tokyo, Anthony Boadle in Brasilia, Alistair Smout in London, Victoria Klesty in Oslo, Anne Kauranen in Helsinki, John Miller in Zurich, Kelsey Johnson in Ottawa, Sangmi Cha in Seoul and Jeff Mason in Washington; Writing by Josephine Mason; Editing by Giles Elgood) Frances defense minister headed to Iraq on Thursday to reiterate her countrys commitment to Iraqs security and the fight against the Islamic State (IS). Florence Parlys visit comes following the visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi to Washington last week. In Washington, Kadhimi met with US President Donald Trump. The United States and Iraq held meetings in the context of the "strategic dialogue," which included discussions of the US-Iraq security relationship and future US troop presence. The United States has about 5,200 troops in Iraq right now. The minister recalled Frances determination in continuing the fight against Daesh, read a statement from the French Ministry of Armed Forces, using the Arabic acronym for IS. The minister met with Kadhimi and Iraqi President Barham Salih. France is committed to remaining a part of the global anti-IS coalition and still views IS as a threat, according to the statement. Parly also met Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan Masrour Barzani, according to his office. Iraqi forces, backed by the coalition, took IS last bit of territory in late 2017. IS has continued attacks on Iraqi and coalition troops since then. France is one of several European countries to provide troops and air support for the coalition. Pressure on US forces to leave Iraq increased after a US drone killed Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad in January following an attack by Iranian-backed militants on the US Embassy. The coalition has turned over several military bases to the Iraqi military since then, including Camp Taji this month. Parly's visit on Thursday indicates that France intends to continue helping Iraq militarily in the meantime. Security concerns in Iraq are not limited to IS. On Wednesday, a UN convoy was damaged by an explosion. An unknown Iraqi group claimed credit for the attack, but said they targeted American soldiers. WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has selected five proposals for concept studies of missions to help improve understanding of the dynamics of the Sun and the constantly changing space environment with which it interacts around Earth. The information will improve understanding about the universe as well as offer key information to help protect astronauts, satellites, and communications signals such as GPS in space. Each of these Medium-Class Explorer proposals will receive $1.25 million to conduct a nine-month mission concept study. Following the study period, NASA will choose up to two proposals to go forward to launch. Each potential mission has a separate launch opportunity and timeframe. "We constantly seek missions that use cutting edge technology and novel approaches to push the boundaries of science," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. "Each one of these proposals offers the chance to observe something we have never before seen or to provide unprecedented insights into key areas of research, all to further the exploration of the universe we live in." NASA's heliophysics program explores the giant, interconnected system of energy, particles, and magnetic fields that fills interplanetary space, a system that constantly changes based on outflow from the Sun and its interaction with the space and atmosphere around Earth. "Whether it's looking at the physics of our star, studying aurora, or observing how magnetic fields move through space, the heliophysics community seeks to explore the space system around us from a variety of vantage points," said Nicky Fox, director of the Heliophysics Division in NASA's Science Mission Directorate. "We carefully pick missions to provide perfectly placed sensors throughout the solar system, each offering a key perspective to understand the space that human technology and humans increasingly travel through." Each of these new proposals seeks to add a new puzzle piece to understanding that larger system, some by looking at the Sun, some by making observations closer to home. The proposals were selected based on potential science value and feasibility of development plans. The cost for the investigation ultimately chosen for flight will be capped at $250 million and is funded by NASA's Heliophysics Explorers' program. The proposals selected for concept studies are: Solar-Terrestrial Observer for the Response of the Magnetosphere (STORM) STORM would provide the first-ever global view of our vast space weather system in which the constant flow of particles from the Sun known as the solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetic field system, called the magnetosphere. Using a combination of observation tools that allow both remote viewing of Earth's magnetic fields and in situ monitoring of the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field, STORM would track the way energy flows into and throughout near-Earth space. Tackling some of the most pressing questions in magnetospheric science, this comprehensive data set would provide a systemwide view of events in the magnetosphere to observe how one region affects another, helping to untangle how space weather phenomena circulate around our planet. STORM is led by David Sibeck at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. HelioSwarm: The Nature of Turbulence in Space Plasmas HelioSwarm would observe the solar wind over a wide range of scales in order to determine the fundamental space physics processes that lead energy from large-scale motion to cascade down to finer scales of particle movement within the plasma that fills space, a process that leads to the heating of such plasma. Using a swarm of nine SmallSat spacecraft, HelioSwarm would gather multi-point measurements and be able to reveal the three-dimensional mechanisms that control the physical processes crucial to understanding our neighborhood in space. HelioSwarm is led by Harlan Spence at the University of New Hampshire in Durham. Multi-slit Solar Explorer (MUSE) MUSE would provide high-cadence observations of the mechanisms driving an array of processes and events in the Sun's atmosphere the corona including what drives solar eruptions such as solar flares, as well as what heats the corona to temperatures far above that of the solar surface. MUSE would use breakthrough imaging spectroscopy techniques to observe radial motion and heating at ten times the current resolution and 100 times faster a key capability when trying to study the phenomena driving heating and eruption processes, which occur on time scales shorter than previous spectrographs could observe. Such data would enable advanced numerical solar modeling and help unpack long-standing questions about coronal heating and the foundation of space weather events that can send giant bursts of solar particles and energy toward Earth. MUSE is led by Bart De Pontieu at Lockheed Martin in Palo Alto, California. Auroral Reconstruction CubeSwarm (ARCS) ARCS would explore the processes that contribute to aurora at size scales that have been rarely studied: at the intermediate scale between the smaller, local phenomena leading directly to the visible aurora and the larger, global dynamics of the space weather system coursing through the ionosphere and thermosphere. Adding crucial information to understanding the physics at the border between our atmosphere and space, these observations would provide insight into the entire magnetospheric system surrounding Earth. The mission would use an innovative, distributed set of sensors by deploying 32 CubeSats and 32 ground-based observatories. The combination of instruments and spatial distribution would provide a comprehensive picture of the drivers and response of the auroral system to and from the magnetosphere. ARCS is led by Kristina Lynch at Dartmouth University in Hanover, New Hampshire. Solaris: Revealing the Mysteries of the Sun's Poles Solaris would address fundamental questions of solar and stellar physics that can only be answered with a view of the Sun's poles. Solaris would observe three solar rotations over each solar pole to obtain observations of light, magnetic fields, and movement in the Sun's surface, the photosphere. Space researchers have never collected imagery of the Sun's poles, though the ESA/NASA Solar Orbiter will provide oblique angle views for the first time in 2025. Better knowledge of the physical processes visible from the pole is necessary to understand the global dynamics of the entire Sun, including how magnetic fields evolve and move throughout the star, leading to periods of great solar activity and eruptions approximately every 11 years. Solaris is led by Donald Hassler at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado. For information about NASA and space science, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/sunearth SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 20:55:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOSCOW, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Kremlin said Friday that Russia regrets the resignation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and expects his successor to continue developing relations between Tokyo and Moscow. "It is a great pity that Shinzo Abe decided to leave the post of Prime Minister of Japan," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. He noted that Abe has made invaluable contributions to the development of bilateral relations, recalling that Russian President Vladimir Putin highly values "brilliant working relations" with him. Peskov said Putin appreciates Abe's "adherence to the principle of resolving all controversial issues, even the most difficult ones, exclusively through negotiations and the development of relations in those areas of mutual interest." "We hope that his successor will no less follow the path of further development of Russian-Japanese relations," he said. Peskov said that the Kremlin wishes Abe could resolve his health problems as soon as possible. Earlier on Friday, Abe said he is stepping down from his post for health reasons. Enditem QINGDAO, China, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The three-day Summer Summit of Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum 2020, themed "Chinese Enterprises under the Big Test," kicked off on August 28 in Qingdao, which is hailed as the "city of startups." The event has gathered a host of Chinese entrepreneurs to brainstorm strategies for mutual development from such perspectives as support for small- and medium-sized enterprises, industrial Internet's role in driving industrial transformation and upgrading as well as digital infrastructure construction. Over the past 20 years, the Yabuli forum has developed into the country's most influential platform for exchange between entrepreneurs. Boasting thought-provoking topics and constructive ideas, it not only helps increase Chinese entrepreneurs' awareness of social responsibility, but also plays a unique and active role in propelling the country's economic and social development. As the forerunner for opening-up in Shandong province, a new strategic pivot in the regions north of the Yangtze River for national opening-up, and a new platform for international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, Qingdao has set up a broad stage for entrepreneurs to seek further success. Qingdao has been focusing on carrying forward the entrepreneurial spirit. With great respect to entrepreneurs, the city government has been optimizing the local business and investment environment to bolster entrepreneurs' innovation, creation and pioneering development. The government of Qingdao has set up the Market Allocation Promotion Divisions in 17 departments in charge of economic development and adopted the public inquiry mechanism for public policy making and government-funded legal service mechanism to promote implementation of preferential policies for enterprises, aiming to develop into a market-oriented, law-based and open government capable of providing efficient professional services. Qingdao's pioneering policies make entrepreneurs feel "comfortable" in the city. In the first half of 2020, the results of a city-wide survey on entrepreneurs' satisfaction with the city's administrative services show that, the general index of the respondents' satisfaction with local administrative services was 96.05, up 0.81 over the previous year. Despite of the hardship due to the global COVID-19 outbreak, Qingdao saw over 500 new projects launched in June, with total investment of about RMB100 billion, hitting a three-year high. Qingdao strives to become a new start for entrepreneurs' future voyages to the sea of business. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1245396/Yabuli_China_Entrepreneurs_Forum_2020.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1245397/Qingdao_China.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1166081/Qingdao_Logo.jpg Contact: Ms. Zhu Yiling Tel: +86-532-85911619 Web: http://www.qingdaochina.org Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/qingdaocity Twitter account: https://twitter.com/loveqingdao The State Collaborative On Reforming Education (SCORE) named Chattanooga States Julius Dodds as one of 30 participants to its Complete Tennessee Leadership Institute (CTLI) cohort for the 2020-2021 year. Participants chosen for this cohort bring varied expertise and perspectives to the program. Dodds, director of Academic Retention, has been with Chattanooga State since 2008. Data from the Center for Economic Research in Tennessee show that by 2025 at least half of the jobs in Tennessee will require some type of postsecondary credential. Since 2016, CTLI has created a space where leaders from across Tennessee collectively focus on eliminating barriers to postsecondary education and completion. The mission of CTLI is to ensure that all Tennesseans have equitable access to a high-quality postsecondary opportunity and the supports necessary for completion while building community advocates and promoting local ownership to increase completion rates for higher education in the state. Dodds is excited about the opportunity to collaborate with other educational partners who have a vested interest in the success of students in Tennessee. I believe that my participation in this educational reform effort will foster new relationships with community stakeholders and provide a platform where I will be able to tell the Chattanooga State story and gather additional support to accomplish our mission, said Mr. Dodds. Julius has been instrumental in the implementing many of the student success initiatives at Chattanooga State, said Dr. Rebecca Ashford, Chattanooga State president. I am so very pleased that he will participate in the Complete Tennessee Leadership Institute so that he can collaborate with other leaders from education, the non-profit sector, and business and industry about how to continue to improve college student success. Presenting a unified and coordinated approach to education, SCORE believes all Tennessee students deserve success in college, career, and life, and measures success by the academic growth and achievement of Tennessees students. I believe that it is my obligation and responsibility to this community to build pathways for all current and future students so they can become citizens of higher education and productive members of our society, said Mr. Dodds. The US Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans has urged US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to prioritise the advancement of the mini-trade deal between the United States and India. The Co-Chairs of the Caucus, US Senators John Cornyn and Mark Warner and US Congress members Brad Sherman and George Holding said that a mini-trade deal will reinforce the confidence and trust needed to realise the true potential of the India-US relationship. In a letter to Lighthizer on August 27, the Co-Chairs acknowledged the complexities involved in a comprehensive trade agreement between the two countries and said that the limited trade deal, under negotiation between India and US, has the potential to make significant progress towards a long term comprehensive, and enduring relationship with India. Also read: Donald Trump's India visit: 13-point growth agenda for Indo-US trade push "Between 2000 to 2017 alone, bilateral trade increased by 560 percent, from $19.1 billion to $126.2 billion. We believe that a limited trade agreement with India that resolves outstanding barriers, and restores the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) for Indian exports and removes India's retaliatory tariffs on 28 US products will enable us to develop the necessary foundation to advance a stronger trade relationship", the letter said. The letter also pointed out the need to address old and new challenges, including India's recent tax on digital commerce, though it was not in favour of including safe harbour clauses contained in the digital trade chapters in other agreements negotiated by USTR in the India-US trade deal. The argument in support of this stand was the ongoing efforts in both US and India to establish new policies to promote greater accountability of social media platforms, in the wake of evidence that these platforms have contributed to disinformation, social strife and criminal activity in both countries. Also read: India Ideas Summit: India, US need to think 'bigger' while resolving trade issues, says Jaishankar "We believe that resolving issues in the context of a mini deal, as you are currently attempting, can demonstrate confidence in our ability to resolve these challenges and expand the economic partnership between our countries," the letter said. India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said that the mini-deal is just a few phone calls away as most of the negotiations are over. The letter to USTR is an attempt to get the US side to also act with the same urgency. Also read: US elections: Trump naturalising immigrants like 'fox blessing henhouse', says Hillary Clinton In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Amino Technologies plc (LON:AMO) by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Amino Technologies What's the estimated valuation? We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$11.4m US$12.1m US$12.6m US$13.0m US$13.3m US$13.6m US$13.9m US$14.2m US$14.4m US$14.6m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Est @ 5.58% Est @ 4.27% Est @ 3.36% Est @ 2.72% Est @ 2.27% Est @ 1.95% Est @ 1.73% Est @ 1.58% Est @ 1.47% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 7.7% US$10.6 US$10.4 US$10.1 US$9.7 US$9.2 US$8.7 US$8.3 US$7.8 US$7.4 US$6.9 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$89m Story continues The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (1.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.7%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2030 (1 + g) (r g) = US$15m (1 + 1.2%) (7.7% 1.2%) = US$228m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$228m ( 1 + 7.7%)10= US$109m The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$198m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of UK1.3, the company appears quite undervalued at a 34% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf Important assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Amino Technologies as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.7%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.937. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Next Steps: Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Amino Technologies, there are three essential items you should look at: Risks: You should be aware of the 2 warning signs for Amino Technologies we've uncovered before considering an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does AMO's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the AIM every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com. Oil and gas tanks are seen at an oil warehouse at a port in Zhuhai, China October 22, 2018. China is stocking up on oil from the United States in an apparent effort to ease tensions with Washington, analysts say. On Aug. 14, Reuters reported that China's national oil companies (NOCs) had made shipping arrangements to import at least 20 million barrels of U.S. crude oil through September as part of a push to meet terms of a bilateral trade deal. When it was signed on Jan. 15, the Phase 1 trade deal was hailed as a major breakthrough that averted an escalation of the near two-year-old U.S.-China trade war. Under the agreement, China pledged to boost its U.S. energy imports by $52.4 billion (360 billion yuan) over a two-year period compared with 2017 levels. The promised purchases were part of a $200-billion commitment that included $77.7 billion in manufactured items, $37.9 billion in services and $32 billion in agricultural commodities. The text of the agreement required China to buy no less than $18.5 billion of energy products above the 2017 base level in 2020 and no less than $33.9 billion more in 2021. Import shortfall China's tentative booking of tankers for U.S. crude deliveries is seen as a sign that it is trying to address concerns that its imports will fall far short of the terms for this year. As of June 30, China's purchases of U.S. crude this year totaled only $2.06 billion, Reuters said, citing U.S. Census Bureau data. According to a trade tracker compiled by the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, China made only $39.3 billion in purchases of all U.S. goods covered by the agreement as of July, against a commitment of $142.7 billion for this year, based on U.S. export data. The shortfall has been most acute in the energy category, touching off a scramble among China's NOCs to improve the figures ahead of a six-month meeting to review compliance with the Phase 1 deal. A review set for Aug. 15 was initially postponed "due to scheduling issues," Reuters said. On Aug. 18, President Donald Trump told reporters that he had postponed the talks, citing China's responses to the spread of COVID-19. "With what they did to this country and to the world, I don't want to talk to China right now," Trump was quoted as saying. On Aug. 20, a spokesman for China's Ministry of Commerce said the two countries had agreed to hold talks "in a few days," state media reported, but the statement was not confirmed by the U.S. side. On Aug. 24, the two countries held phone talks with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He to discuss implementation of the agreement, according to official statements. "Both sides see progress and are committed to taking the steps necessary to ensure the success of the agreement," the U.S. statement said. Increased friction Despite the many months of tension and intense negotiations, the achievement of the Phase 1 agreement has been nearly forgotten in the avalanche of conflicts that followed the COVID-19 outbreak, which became known in Washington shortly after the deal was signed. Since January, U.S.-China frictions have increased over issues ranging from the mistreatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, the suppression of rights in Hong Kong, claims to the South China Sea, the banning of Huawei from mobile phone networks, U.S. attempts to force the sale of social network TikTok, allegations of spying, the closure of China's consulate in Houston and China's shutdown of the U.S. consulate in Chengdu. China's belated attempt to honor its import commitments could be a signal of conciliation despite the discord. The delay of the meeting on Phase 1 may have been part of an effort to keep non-compliance from adding to the list before the upcoming U.S. elections, said Edward Chow, senior associate in the Energy Security and Climate Change Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "I would say that both sides are trying to kick the can past Nov. 3. Neither side has any interest in admitting the Phase 1 trade deal failed to deliver," Chow said. "I have been surprised by how mild Beijing's reactions have been," said Chow. "I believe the Chinese have decided not to provoke Trump any more than necessary, except in matters they see as strictly internal, such as Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan." Just politics China's increase in imports of U.S. oil is unlikely to be justified by purely commercial considerations. "It's politically driven for sure because there are a plethora of barrels being offered to Asia cheaper than what WTI lands," a trader told Reuters, referring to the West Texas Intermediate grade of crude. China imposed a 5-percent tariff on U.S. oil imports last September and did not rescind it as part of the Phase 1 deal. The higher costs and refining requirements for WTI crude are not seen as impediments to more Chinese imports. "It's a mandate from higher up," another Reuters source said, speaking of the import drive. But even if China's tanker bookings are meant as a signal, the country may have trouble meeting the terms of the Phase 1 agreement this year. China has already splurged on oil imports despite the economic uncertainties of the pandemic, taking advantage of the worldwide glut that followed the COVID-19 crisis and the price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia earlier this year. Oil buying set back-to-back monthly records as imports jumped from 11.3 million barrels per day (mbpd) in May to nearly 13 mbpd in June. Crude imports in June soared 34 percent from a year earlier, Reuters said. In the first half of the year, China's crude imports climbed 9.9 percent, according to customs data. In July, China's imports climbed 25 percent from a year before to 51.29 million tons (12.08 mbpd), boosting seven- month volumes to a 12.1-percent gain. China's crude imports from the United States rose more than six-fold in July from June to 3.67 million tons (26.9 million barrels), the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said in a statement this week. Despite doubts about economic growth and domestic demand, much of the imports have been driven by independent refiners and fuel export opportunities. While world oil prices have largely stabilized with moderate gains, they remain below the break-even point for much of China's domestic production. Logistical delays But the import surge has led to massive port backlogs with dozens of very large crude carriers (VLCCs) stalled offshore for weeks at a time. At least 80 vessels were waiting over a month to unload oil at ports in northern China, The Wall Street Journal reported on Aug. 12. More than half were VLCCs, which can carry up to 2 million barrels of crude, traders said. The VLCCs have been turned into floating storage, running up daily chartering costs. China's onshore storage has been reported to be nearly full for months. "They have no space to store the crude and the congestion is severe," one tanker owner told The Journal. The backups are not only a problem for logistics and further purchasing. They may also be an obstacle to meeting terms of the Phase 1 deal, which require that the agreed volumes be both "purchased and imported." The import spike has been "an optimistic sign for the global economy, however the pace has been so quick that it has challenged the logistical capabilities of Chinese ports," Oilprice.com reported on Aug. 5, citing analysis by data provider OilX. The analysts also pointed to "possible discrepancies between the classification of imports and vessels waiting to discharge." Although the backups may ease in coming months, the unprecedented conditions leading up to China's port congestion suggest that the country may have difficulty meeting the terms of the Phase 1 agreement, even if that is part of its import plan. Six men are due to appear at the Old Bailey accused of being part of a people-smuggling ring linked to the deaths of 39 migrants in the back of a container (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Six men are due to appear at the Old Bailey accused of being part of a people-smuggling ring linked to the deaths of 39 migrants in the back of a container. The bodies of the Vietnamese nationals were discovered on an industrial estate in Grays, Essex, shortly after the container arrived in Purfleet on a ferry in the early hours of October 23 last year. Among the men, women and children were 10 teenagers, two of them 15-year-old boys. An inquest heard that their medical cause of death was asphyxia and hyperthermia a lack of oxygen and overheating in an enclosed space. Eamonn Harrison, 23, of Mayobridge, Co Down, Northern Ireland, is alleged to have driven the lorry trailer to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge before it sailed to Purfleet in England. Harrison, who was extradited from the Republic of Ireland, is charged with 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Expand Close The container lorry where 39 people were found dead in Grays, Essex (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The container lorry where 39 people were found dead in Grays, Essex (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Irish haulier Ronan Hughes, 40, Co Armagh in Northern Ireland, was also extradited on the same charges. It is alleged he played a leading role in the operation, with his trailers and drivers used to transport migrants. They are expected to appear at the Old Bailey along with Gheorghe Nica, 43, of Langdon Hills, Basildon, Essex, who is also alleged to have been a key player. Nica has previously denied 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Valentin Calota, 37, of Birmingham, Christopher Kennedy, 23, of Co Armagh, Northern Ireland, and Gazmir Nuzi, 42, Barclay Road, Tottenham, north London, have denied being part of a people-smuggling operation, which it is alleged made two previous successful runs from the continent. An eight-week trial has been fixed to start at the Old Bailey on October 5. On April 8, lorry driver Maurice Robinson, 25, of Craigavon in Northern Ireland, who discovered the bodies after transporting the container from Purfleet to an alleged pick-up point in Grays, Essex, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to 39 counts of manslaughter. He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration of non-European Union citizens between May 1 2018 and October 24 2019 and acquiring criminal property, but denied a further charge of transferring criminal property. Ezzat was named the groups acting leader in August 2013 and has been in hiding ever since; he is also the head of the Brotherhood's international organization Egyptian authorities have arrested Mahmoud Ezzat, the acting supreme guide of the terrorist-designated Muslim Brotherhood, at a hideout in eastern Cairo, in the most significant Brotherhood arrest in recent years. In a statement on Friday, Egypts interior ministry said the fugitive group leader, who is also the head of the Brotherhood's International Organization, was arrested following intelligence that he was hiding at a flat in New Cairos Fifth Settlement neighbourhood. They said Ezzat had used the apartment as his latest hideout, despite rumours promoted by the Brotherhoods leaders about him being abroad, to mislead authorities. The leader was arrested after a raid carried out per a warrant by the Supreme State Security Prosecution, the statement said, adding that several laptops and mobile phones with open-source software to secure communication with leaders and members of the banned group inside the country and abroad were found. According to the statement, Ezzat was in charge of forming the Brotherhoods armed wing and the supervisor of major terrorist operations since 30 June 2013 until his arrest. Operations supervised by Ezzat include the assassination of former general prosecutor Hisham Barakat in 2015, policeman Wael Tahoun in 2015, top-ranked army officer Adel Ragei in 2016, and the attempted assassination of the general prosecutors former aide Zakaria Abdel-Azim in 2016, the statement said. It also charged him with supervising a deadly car blast outside the capitals main cancer hospital in August 2019 which killed 20 people. Ezzat was also responsible for cyber-attacks which manage [spreading] rumours and fake news to stir confusion and divide public opinion, the statement said, adding that he managed the movement of the groups funds and funds to activities through the groups members abroad from suspicious international organisations. Ezzat, 76, has been in the Brotherhood ranks since the 1960s and was named a member of the group's Guidance Bureau, or its executive board, in 1981. He has previously been detained for several years for his activism and affiliation with the group. He was named the groups acting leader in August 2013, after the arrest of Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie, who received a fourth final life sentence in July on violence-related charges, totalling 100 years. Ezzats whereabouts had previously been unclear since that date. He has been given several sentences in absentia, including life imprisonment terms and the death penalty, during mass trials of the Brotherhoods leading members on charges of espionage with Palestinian group Hamas and other violence-related crimes. Under Egyptian law, in absentia convictions must be re-tried once the defendant is apprehended. Search Keywords: Short link: The rise of renewable energy sources and the decarbonization of the grid will need new energy storage installations in the coming years to provide flexible energy and capacity. Alongside rising shares of solar and wind power in the electricity mix, the U.S. is set to see increased energy storage installation as storage is critical to ensuring more solar and wind power generation. America has the potential to see 100 gigawatts (GW) of new energy storage deployed by 2030, the U.S. Energy Storage Association (ESA) said in a new white paper this month. That is an ambitious target, considering that in its previous estimate from 2017, ESA projected 35 GW of energy storage including batteries, thermal, mechanical, and pumped storage hydro installed by 2025. The ambitious 100-GW target of new energy storage is achievable if supportive policies and emerging policies removing barriers to market participation continue, the trade association says. Remarkable Growth Ahead With the right policies and regulatory frameworks in place, we believe that achieving 100 GW of new storage installations by 2030 is entirely reasonable and attainable. Current market projections indicate remarkable growth for energy storage over the next decade, and its role is expanding to maintain and enhance the reliability, resilience, stability and affordability of electricity over the coming decade, said Kelly Speakes-Backman, CEO of ESA. All estimates point to the exponential growth of energy storage installations over the next decade. Related: Oil Major Equinor Stops Drilling In U.S. Shale Patch The most recent U.S. Energy Storage Monitor from Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables and the ESA shows that a total of 523 MW of energy storage was deployed in the United States. This year, the storage deployment is set to double to nearly 1.2 GW, despite the coronavirus crisis that has changed and challenged energy markets and company plans. In 2025, energy storage deployment is set to reach 7 GW, representing six-fold growth compared to the new storage installations in 2020. Policy Support Supportive legislation would be one of the key growth-enabling factors for energy storage deployment, which could create at least 200,000 jobs directly associated with the expanding energy storage marketroughly a threefold increase from current levels, ESA said in its report. These legislative initiatives could be Congress enacting an investment tax credit (ITC) for stand-alone storage facilities, the trade association says. State-level pledges for grid decarbonization, expansion of solar and wind generation, and clean energy standards would also drive energy storage deployment. A supportive policy framework and a vibrant clean energy economy would drive energy storage growth and set a trajectory to attain the 100 GW storage goal by 2030, says ESA, which notes that seven states have enacted deployment targets totaling approximately 11 GW of new storage by 2035, and that over US$1 billion in incentives specifically for energy storage have been made available in six states, with several more states piloting storage incentives. Utilities And Businesses Deploy More Energy Storage The other key growth factors include the fact that utilities are now planning and preparing for energy storage in their resource planning, and companies in various sectors are increasingly looking to deploy renewables+battery storage on-site to cut their electricity bills. A growing number of utilities across the United States include storage in their integrated resource planning (IRP). According to ESA, more than 80 percent of 2018-2019 utility IRPs examined storage in their models, and over 20 GW of storage has been economically selected in IRPs through 2040. Related: Putin Would Like To See Oil Prices Above $46 Per Barrel For example, El Paso Electric, a regional electric utility in the Rio Grande Valley, plans to expand solar energy and introduce utility-scale battery storage with a 100-MW solar facility combined with 50 MW of battery storage in Otero County, New Mexico, and a 50 MW stand-alone battery storage facility in Canutillo, Texas. Companies are also increasingly looking to use solar-plus-storage to have access to cheaper electricity. Technology infrastructure corporation Switch and asset management firm Capital Dynamics broke ground last month on what they described as the largest behind-the-meter solar plus battery project in the world. The Gigawatt 1 project will use thousands of solar panels made by U.S. firm First Solar, and battery storage utilizing Tesla Megapack manufactured in Storey County, Nevada. This project also ensures Switchs power costs will remain in the 5 cent a KWh range and Switch clients will continue to enjoy low-cost, 100% renewable power for decades to come, Adam Kramer, Switch EVP of Strategy, said. The power costs would be several cents lower than what Switch would pay to buy electricity from the local utility NV Energy, thus saving Switch tens of millions of dollars a year, Katherine Blunt of The Wall Street Journal writes. Our goal is to be running around the clock on green electrons, Kramer told the Journal. The image of sustainable business practices and care for the environment aside, companies have a good financial incentive to install solar-plus-battery on site. Beer maker Sierra Nevada Brewing Company installed in 2018 in Chico, California, a Tesla Powerpack battery system to help it better use the energy it produces. The Powerpack charges when energy demand is low, then kicks in when demand jumps. With the battery system, Sierra Nevada has cut its power costs from US$50,000 to below US$10,000 per month, sustainability manager Mandi McKay told the Journal. This year, various U.S. businesses are expected to install 220 MW of storage at or near their locations in 2020and this annual pace of deployment is set to quadruple by 2029, Ricardo Rodriguez, research analyst at Guidehouse Insights, told the WSJ. Companies and utilities have started to realize that energy storage could help them cut costs and adapt to the push toward cleaner energy in many U.S. states. Combined with the right incentives and policies, America could witness an energy storage boom in the next decade. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: William Billy McMahons time as the 20th Prime Minister of Australia was not long and his achievements have rarely been trumpeted by historians and political junkies. But Patrick Mullins warts-and-all 2018 biography of him, Tiberius with a Telephone, locates him in a significant period of global change and credits him with some crucial reforms at home. Patrick Mullins was surprised by how much McMahon got done as PM. Credit: The book has won this years $25,000 National Biography Award. Jessica Whites Hearing Maud won the Michael Crouch Award for a first book. Since Tiberius with a Telephone, which also won this year's NSW Premiers non-fiction award, Mullins has published The Trials of Portnoy, an acclaimed account of Penguins battle with the censors to allow publication of Philip Roths Portnoys Complaint in Australia, and is now writing a history of law firm King & Wood Mallesons. Mullins said having completed a PhD on political biography he wanted to use what he had learned. McMahon was an obvious subject because there had never been a biography of him, he had been Prime Minister, and he had a one-sided reputation. I wasnt alive at the time so I could come to the subject completely fresh. And, of course, he had a huge career: he had been a minister since 1951. Vasanthakumar had won the Kanyakumari Lok Sabha seat in the 2019 election by defeating then sitting BJP MP and Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan by a huge margin Congress MP from Tamil Nadu and party's working president in state, H Vasanthakumar passed away Friday due to COVID-19-related complications, media reports said. The MP had tested positive for coronavirus on 10 August and was admitted at Chennai's Apollo Hospital for treatment. The Kanyakumari MP was on ventilator support since 17 August. Earlier today, a The Hindu report had quoted hospital authorities a saying that the 70-year-old MP was being treated by a team of doctors for severe COVID pneumonia and his clinical condition were critical. Condolonce messages poured in for the Congress leader on Twitter. His party colleague and fellow MP Karti Chidambaram remembered the leader as a "good friend". The Sivaganga MP too had tested positive for coronavirus on 3 August and has since recovered. You will be missed #Vasanthakumar. I have so many fond memories with him. He was an elder colleague and a good friend. @vasanthakumarH pic.twitter.com/iG3pl54rUL Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) August 28, 2020 Congress MP from Virudhunagar, Manickam Tagore offered heartfelt condolences. Deeply saddened at the untimely demise of Kamarajar follower Mrs Gandhi loyalists resolute Congressman my colleague in Loksabha & Working President of @INCTamilNadu - Annachi H #Vasanthakumar.we will always miss him deeply. Heartfelt condolences to family & well wishers. RIP. pic.twitter.com/mUe9Mq9cnR Manickam Tagore MP (@manickamtagore) August 28, 2020 Senior Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala also condoled the leader's death. Deeply Saddened & shocked to hear about the sudden & untimely demise of our colleague & dear friend H. #Vasanthakumar, MP from Kanyakumari & TNCC Working President. Heartfelt condolences from @INCIndia to his family and friends in this time of grief. pic.twitter.com/I8bjtNgz4Z K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) August 28, 2020 Deeply saddened at the untimely demise of a born fighter, resolute Congressman, M.P & Working President of TNCC - Sh. H. Vasanthakumar. All of us, along with lakhs of his supporters, will always miss him deeply. Heartfelt condolences to family & well wishers. RIP. pic.twitter.com/TyCyzCRIgK Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) August 28, 2020 Congress party leader and Tamil actor Khushbu Sundar wrote: "We always use to call you #PunnagaiMannan Your warm smile,your easy approach towards a crisis,you wearing #Congress batch with supreme pride on your sleeves,never shying away from hardwork, your commitment to serve the poor. Everything will be missed #Vasanthakumar Avl. #RIP (sic)" Vasanthakumar was also a noted businessman from Tamil Nadu. He was the co-founder of the states biggest appliances retail chain Vasanth and Co and also ran a Tamil language TV channel, Vasanth TV, according to his profile on the Vasanth and Co website. Before heading to the Lok Sabha in 2019, Vasanthakumar was a two-time MLA in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. He was first elected to the Assembly from Nanguneri constituency in 2006, and thereafter in 2016. Vasanthakumar, however, resigned from his seat after successfully contesting from Kanyakumari Parliamentary constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. He had defeated the BJP's sitting MP and then a Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan by a huge margin, according to NewsMinute. My fellow Americans, tonight with a heart full of gratitude and boundless optimism, I profoundly accept this nomination for president of the United States. This evening was a huge demonstration of the presidents grip on his party. This convention has largely been about allies of the president, friends of his. Do you think America is to blame or do you believe in American greatness? To make America great again, again. Joe Biden is not a savior of Americas soul. Trumps speech last night was, you know, withering about Joe Biden and making clear that it is going to be a pretty brutal and savage general election campaign. He was using the power of incumbency in a way that weve never seen a president use the White House. He was literally pointing to the building behind him and saying The fact is Im here. Whats the name of that building? That was a stunning moment. The fact is were here, and theyre not. There was a big question this week about whether there have been violations of the Hatch Act, which is a prohibition on using your government post for partisan purposes. The president is exempt from it, but his aides are not many ethics experts believe that his aides who participated in this convention, and there were many, did that. Whether there are going to be any consequences, the answer is almost certainly no. Most of the crowd was not wearing masks. People were basically on top of each other. People within close proximity of the president were tested. But everybody was not. I think that Donald Trump will do and say anything to win. And I think that people who dont understand that after seeing this week are missing it. So I think we are in for a messy 60 some-odd days. There was no clear message to this week, other than sort of an overarching Biden is bad and Trump is good. Joe Biden is weak. In terms of the specifics of how they were presenting that, I think it was I think it was jumbled. He takes his marching orders from liberal hypocrites who drive their cities into the ground while fleeing far from the scene of the wreckage. We got a lot of what we have heard from Donald Trump over a very long period of time. There was no vision that he presented that we have not heard before. In a new term as president, we will, again, build the greatest economy in history, quickly returning to full employment, soaring incomes and record prosperity. He is telling people, If you like me, I will continue to do more of this. The president continued something hes been saying for a while, which was to paint his administration as a victim of China. They could have stopped it, but they allowed it to come out. His goal was to try to describe the coronavirus response by his administration, which has been widely criticized as slow and incompetent and halting, to describe it as a success story. That is not true, for the most part. We are delivering life-saving therapies, and will produce a vaccine before the end of the year or maybe even sooner. If people have not been paying close attention to it, did he do enough to comfort people who are not that tuned in? Possibly. At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies or two agendas. Trump had a number of items that he ticked off about a second term that were pretty confusing. Mostly where he was clear was when he was drawing a contrast with Joe Biden. Your vote will decide whether we protect law-abiding Americans or whether we give free rein to violent anarchists and agitators and criminals, who threaten our citizens. The huge overarching message of his speech tonight was law and order. And he suggested that the country will be, you know, continuing on a path of unrest if Biden is elected, forgetting about the fact that President Trump is president right now. And these events are happening right now. And this election will decide whether we will defend the American way of life, or whether we will allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it. Crowd: What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now. What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now. There were protests outside of the White House grounds, and you could hear sirens at various points all the way to where we were sitting on the South Lawn. And it was police interacting with the protesters. It was an interesting split screen. Republicans know that the president is playing defense in basically every critical state that he needs to win. And, you know, theyre anxious. The closer you get to inside the presidents circle, the better theyre feeling about it. But that isnt necessarily because theyre seeing something other people arent. Its because they have muscle memory about 2016, and theyre hoping this will end up being similar. And certainly anything can happen still, and that is something people should remember theres a long race ahead. Im very, very proud to be the nominee of the Republican Party. I love you all. God bless you, and God bless America. Thank you very much. Hi Im Sarah Kerr, the producer of this video. Thanks for watching. With the conventions behind us, we have just over nine weeks to go until the election. Stay up to date with the latest news and analysis at nytimes.com/2020. The bank will soon be the fifth Gulfi banking institution to operate in Egypt Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC (ADCB) will open in the Egyptian market on Sunday, becoming the fifth Gulf institution to join the Egyptian banking system. ADCB has total assets worth EGP 1.75 trillion and is ranked third largest operating bank in the UAE. ADCB is expected to play a critical role in the Egyptian market, as we intend to extend unprecedented and innovative banking services to clients built on an ambitious plan that targets expanding through establishing new branches to reach the targeted clients, ADCB Managing Director and CEO Ihab ElSewerky told Ahram Online. He said that the banks vision is to become customers preferred bank by providing upgrades and safe banking solutions and adopting a digital transformation breakthrough with a focus on achieving client satisfaction and sustainability. ADCBs strategy in Egypt focuses on five key pillars: attaining growth through tapping into available opportunities in the domestic market; achieving sustainability through a deposits base; achieving a high degree of efficiency and quality regarding the services and the financial products the bank provides; dealing with likely risks according to a clear strategy, and attracting; and keeping and improving the banks employees in order to attain high performance levels. The bank has also adopted a number of strategic goals aimed at achieving rapid growth in the Egyptian market through introducing the same products that other banks provide, while extending new innovative products such as new payment solutions, wealth management programmes and concierge services, in addition to establishing partnerships with programme providers to provide accounting services for SMEs, according to ElSewerky. ADCB reported a net profit of AED1.436 billion (approx. $400 million) from January to June of 2020. 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Pedigree Texel ram lamb Double Diamond was sold to three farmers at the Scottish National Texel Sale in Lanark on Thursday.

The opening bid was 10,000, with Charlie Boden and his family from their Sportsmans flock in Stockport, Greater Manchester, pocketing the final bid.

One of the buyers, Jeff Aiken, flock manager at Procters Farm, told Sky News that a lot of breeders had their eye on Double Diamond as he was a "special animal".

He said: "I knew he was going to be a lot of money but I wasn't expecting him to make that much.

"He's just an outstanding animal. He's a massive lamb with great confirmation and character, some of which is what breeding is all about.

"But with the pedigree you start looking at the smaller details of the lamb - you look at his head, the hair colour, the colour around his eyes, legs, he was just perfect in every way."

Mr Aiken said the six-month-old animal will travel between flocks over the next few months to mate with the different ewes the farmers have.

"Hopefully he'll live for a long time and as long as he's fit and healthy, we'll keep using him and breeding with him," the farmer said.

He added he was hoping by next year the farmers will have recouped some of their money back, and said the price is a "one-off" and not a reflection of the farming industry.

The Texel Sheep Society said the previous record was 231,000 paid for a Texel, Deveronvale Perfection, in 2009.

The breed regularly sell for five-figure sums, however Double Diamond has topped the record.

Texel sheep come from the island of Texel, one of the northwestern islands off the Netherlands.

They are now stalwarts of the British sheep industry.

Two young men have told of how they risked their lives by venturing out into Melbourne's deadly storm to save their elderly neighbour after a tree fell on her house. The wild weather cut a path of destruction through the city's east on Thursday night with trees brought down, cars demolished and homes damaged. The lives of a man, woman, and four-year-old boy were tragically lost after they were hit by falling trees in separate incidents. In a dramatic rescue in the suburb of Belgrave, two teenage boys braved the storm and climbed through a window in their 85-year-old neighbour's house to save her. Joshua O'Connell (right) and his mate Michael (left) described the storm as something out of a movie with their house shaking and trees falling 'left, right, and centre' including one that smashed into their neighbour's house The boys described trying to climb the fallen tree into their neighbour's house (pictured) before smashing a window Joshua O'Connell and his mate Michael described the storm as something out of a movie with their house shaking and trees falling 'left, right, and centre' including one into their neighbour's house. 'Straightaway we rushed out to see what we could do. I tried to jump up the tree and climb into the house that way, but unfortunately it was all caved in,' Mr O'Connell told the Today show. He said he next thought of going through a window, so he smashed the kitchen glass and climbed through. 'I called out her name and luckily I could hear her ... The tree crushed the middle of the house so she was stuck in the lower part of the house.' He said he and Michael then looked after the woman until rescue crews arrived. 'The roof has just missed her. When I've jumped in she was still sitting on the couch, there was a part of the roof that was this far away from her head. She was completely oblivious to what had happened.' As soon as I saw the tree went down, I knew she was by herself without her carers, Josh told 7NEWS. The boys said a team of ten people then helped to get the woman safely out of the house so she could be properly assessed by paramedics. Joshua said the woman was unaware of how much danger she was in when he and his friend Michael finally reached her Volunteers worked through the night to try to clear the fallen trees and branches littered across roads and railway tracks A four-year-old boy was one of three people tragically killed in the storm after he was hit by a falling tree in Blackburn South at about 6pm, according to The Herald Sun. The boy was rushed to Box Hill Hospital and then transferred to the Royal Children's Hospital but succumbed to his injuries later on Thursday night. A 59-year-old Tecoma man also died when his car was crushed while leaving a shopping centre in Belgrave at about 6pm. The third person, a 36-year-old woman, was killed when a tree fell on a ute in the outer eastern suburb of Fernshaw at about 6.50pm. A four-year-old boy was one of three people tragically killed in the storm after he was hit by a falling tree in Blackburn South (pictured: crews at the scene on Friday) Arborists access a fallen tree which struck and killed a 4-year-old boy in Blackburn South, Melbourne, on August 28, 2020 About 160,000 people lost electricity at the height of the storm and about 53,000 properties remain without power on Friday morning. An Ausnet spokesperson has urged people to beware of fallen power lines and said aerial teams and ground crews were working to repair the damage. The State Emergency Service said the hardest hit areas were Mt Evelyn, Belgrave, Croydon, and Lillydale. SES state duty officer Gerry Sheridan told 3AW his crews were still responding to nearly 400 jobs as of Friday morning. Illustration: Matt Golding Credit: Lucky old UK, I say (''Exemption for Abbott to take on Brexit job'', August 27). They are getting a man in Abbott who sticks to his beliefs despite all the ridicule. Thats rare in this day and age. Mary Julian, Glebe Abbott knows all about hocus pocus (''Obama threw another barb on over Abbott's denialist stance'', August 28). He abolished the carbon tax, which was a tax levied against miners to discourage pollution. Abbotts alternative Emissions Reduction Fund proposed to pay the miners as an incentive to reduce pollution a payment funded by the long-suffering taxpayer. While emissions fell significantly while the carbon tax was in place, and taxpayers were no worse off, emissions have been rising ever since. So much for Abbotts solution. Michael Healy, East Maitland During a speech in London in 2017, Abbott said that climate change was probably doing some good. Id like to see him stand up in any one of the rural places destroyed by the recent fires and say that with a straight face. The British are much more enlightened than he is on this subject but I somehow doubt his opinion that climate change is hocus pocus will ever change. Somewhat perverse blind faith indeed. Peter Neufeld, Mosman Tony, don't take any notice they're a miserable lot. Anthony Horan, Campbelltown Boat has sailed on ferry deal I suppose Scott Morrisons proposed laws to control deals with foreign countries come too late to cancel the Indonesian-built ferries that are too tall for the Parramatta River bridges (Letters, August 28). Sue Martin, Clareville Is the PM talking about those French submarines in this latest media storm? Merrilyn Rowley, Charmhaven Time to koel-esce Correspondent Brenda Spencer, concerned about the non-appearance of her koel, needs to be patient. It's not late; it's just in 14 days' quarantine after its flight from Indonesia (Letters, August 28). Tony Powell, MacMasters Beach Ours has. Carolyn Little, Mortdale Camperdown may be quiet at 5am due to the absence of the resident koel, but I was kept awake at 3.45am in Surry Hills by the cries of a lovesick currawong. Seems that these raucous predatory birds are making their presence felt even earlier, closer to the CBD. Don Beresford, Surry Hills In Woolloomooloo, my favourite (not!) koel has arrived and makes itself heard at 2am. Pia Byrne, Woolloomooloo Another effect of climate change? When I was a student last century, we always called the koel the "study bird" because it only ever arrived in Sydney mid-to-late October to frustrate our exam swotting. Helen Lewin, Tumbi Umbi Don't forsake the suspended Its a fine line schools take between suspension being a punishment or a tool to assist the school and the student (''Reforms 'could lower behaviour standards''', August 28). It is right that violence and harm requires a long suspension as this is when the school needs planning and risk assessment for the student's return. But the suspension policy allows schools to suspend for continued disobedience. Often this can be a culmination of offences such as being out of uniform or wearing a hat in class. Perhaps classroom misbehaviour is also factored in, and suddenly, often-struggling parents or carers have the student at home. The Minister correctly points out high rates of suspension for First Nations, disabled and disadvantaged students. These students need to be at school consistently. Often suspensions lead to non-attendance, which at some schools lead to further suspensions. Our public school system takes all students. Teachers need the skills in adjusting and accommodating content and delivery so that all students get equal access to the curriculum and engage in learning. Scott Warnes, Suffolk Park Suspension is a means by which a violent student can be removed from a situation. It is much more than a punishment; it is a means of returning the classroom or playground to a calmer, safe environment for all students and teachers. Violence and disruption have a traumatic effect on all concerned, including staff trying to help the student and keep others safe. Unfortunately, there are no facilities or staff available to give the suspended student the space to be safe, regain composure, receive quality counselling and continue lessons. It is so obvious that much more money must be spent so that the rest of the class and teachers can continue safely and calmly with their education, which is their right, while the violent student also receives appropriate care. Augusta Monro, Dural Protect us on transport Illustration: Matt Golding Credit: Dear Premier, for goodness' sake, just do it (''Make masks mandatory on public transport before it's too late: experts'', August 28). Show some decisiveness. Make masking on public transport mandatory now. Lets not wait another couple of weeks with further preventable new cases occurring on our buses, trains and ferries before acting. Kevin McCracken, Eastwood It is certainly time for Andrew Constance to make masks mandatory or forget the idea. We took the 440 bus from Museum station yesterday. Of the 14 passengers, four were wearing masks. Jonathan Bligh, Paddington Repatriation is right The Australian government in recent years has deported numerous individuals holding criminal records far less daunting than Brenton Tarrants hideous deeds by resorting to a technicality concerning their citizenship (''NZ deputy PM wants Tarrant to serve out his life sentence on Australian soil'', August 28). Surely it is incumbent on the government now to repatriate Tarrant to see out his life-long sentence in Australia and in so doing rid our trans-Tasman friends of this scourge. Michael Stockley, Warners Bay Republican ironies How ironic for Mike Pence, a devout Christian, to break the commandment "You shalt not bear false witness" by lying about Joe Biden's position on recent street violence (''Trump locks in law and order strategy'', August 28). And for Melania Trump to tout her "Be Best" campaign against online bullying when her husband uses his Twitter account every day to denigrate others, and to praise Trump's "transparency" when he refuses to release his tax returns to the public; for Tiffany Trump to accuse media of manipulating news when her father has been documented telling thousands of lies in office; for the lobster farmer to thank Trump for government assistance when the President's trade war caused China to reduce seafood imports as retaliation; and for the ''law and order" President to pardon his own associate for crimes committed in service of his election campaign. Han Yang, North Turramurra Happy for heritage order It's welcome news that the Heritage Council of NSW has recommended placing a temporary protection order over the heritage landmark MLC building at the heart of the North Sydney CBD (''NSW government considers protection order for modernist MLC building'', August 27). Built 61 years ago at a time when intelligent and artistic detailing got full expression, the building has with splendid examples of curtain walling, tiled facades and integrated works of art. It makes sense to retain this beautiful quality building with standards of excellence made to last. Peter Kingston, North Sydney Save the chapel Your photograph of Don Gazzards Wentworth Chapel at Vaucluse illustrates with brutal honesty the condition this masterpiece of Sydney architecture has been reduced to (''Architects share their favourite hidden gems'', August 27). Before it deteriorates further, the building and the land it stands on should be resumed by the state government and added to the Vaucluse House Estate. Under Sydney Living Museums' management, this architectural gem could then become a secular celebration venue for members of the public to hold birth, marriage and death events. Scott Brandon Smith, Bowral Suburban vision Sydneys suburbs werent always as segregated as they are now (Letters, August 28). Growing up in Hunters Hill in the '40s, '50s and '60s was probably like growing up in the type of suburb the minister is now proposing for our city. Admittedly it was largely monocultural, but families came from all walks of life and many struggled to put food on the table. However, everyone helped one another, and in no way was there an attitude of them and us. If this is what the minister has envisioned, then bring it on. Mary Lawson, Marrickville Not a hit with me Call me a sooky-la-la if you must: I find two men pulverising each other as neither sport or entertainment ("Rushton failed Horn by trying to keep him going", August 28). Zuzu Burford, Heathcote Paying for it I agree with correspondent Pamela Wood Afterpay is causing "misery for many". I am devastated that I didn't buy its shares when they were $8 (Letters, August 28). Angus McLeod, Cremorne Citizen pain Why should a values test only be applied to those people wanting to become citizens? There are quite a few Aussies who have no idea what values are ("A tougher test but free classes for new Aussies", August 28). Con Vaitsas, Ashbury Doggone it "Cavalier attitude? Me? You're barking mad!" growls our 13-year-old cavoodle Adelaide from the leather lounge that she commandeered soon after coming to us seven months ago (Letters, August 28). Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills By the ballot box Well a solitary vote may save Dominic Perrottet but I doubt it will increase the public's confidence in Gladys Berijiklian's government and her handling of this issue ("Solitary vote saves Perrottet in no-confidence motion over icare", August 28). Jan Kent, Farmborough Heights Postscript ''They say there are two certainties in life. Death and taxes. There is now a third certainty. The mere mention of Tony Abbott in the Herald will always unleash a tsunami of letters to the editor,'' says Riley Brown of Bondi Beach. We agree. The former PM has long been on correspondents' hit-list, as evident this week. Unfortunately, those that support Abbott and the travel exemption he was granted to take up a Brexit job didn't express their views until it was well past deadline. George Fishman of Vaucluse described the ''ranting against Abbott as most unbecoming'' and Donna Green of Glenbrook said the letters were ''disgraceful''. She writes that ''in this day of heightened awareness of how we should treat other humans, it all goes out the window when it comes to this man'', saying writers ''may not have liked his policies when he served parliament (and thats OK) but to not acknowledge he also did some good just reflects how low this society is willing to go to attack anyone who does not hold their ideologies''. We received dozens of letters on this subject. The 16 letters selected were the least offensive, most entertaining and representative of all received. Writers may have appeared to have been ''whipped into a frenzy'' and others may have felt they were too ''harsh'' but, as always, they were a fair representation of what had landed in our inbox, as are today's Abbott letters. One thing all correspondents might agree on is, as Geoffrey Williamson of Woollahra writes, that after seeing the published letters, the former PM might be singing with even greater enthusiasm Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty. Pat Stringa, letters editor Iran said that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lives in a parallel alternative universe. Thus, the representative of the Iranian Foreign Ministry reacted to Pompeo's tweet on re-imposing UN sanctions on Iran, Mehr reported. In a tweet, Pompeo noted that UN sanctions on Iran would be imposed on September 20. If any member of the UN Security Council submits a resolution to lift the sanctions, the US will oppose it. If the resolution is not introduced, sanctions on Iran will be imposed on September 20. This is how UNSCR 2231 works, Pompeo wrote. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Said Khatibzadeh wrote in response that 13 members, including the President of the UN Security Council, said that America has no legal status to use Resolution 2231, since it is not a party o the nuclear agreement. Flash Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to step down from his post owing to concerns over his health, a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) source said Friday. Rumors about the Japanese premier's deteriorating health have been swirling of late and amplified by two trips to a Tokyo hospital within a week. Abe's first admission to hospital on Aug. 17 for what was described at the time by as a "health check up" that lasted more than seven hours stoked concerns about his health. On Aug. 24, Abe revisited the Keio University Hospital in Tokyo again to receive the results of the checkup and to receive more tests, with the second visit lasting four hours. The same day he visited the hospital for the second time, he became Japan's longest-serving leader with the most consecutive days in office at 2,799. If confirmed, this would be the second time Abe has left the top post due to health issues. Abe, 65, during his first tenure as prime minister, which started in late September 2006, abruptly stepped down from his post in 2007 due to chronic ulcerative colitis, an intestinal disease. After a landslide victory in the lower house in 2012 he returned to serve as the nation's prime minister and his seven year-tenure has made him Japan's longest ever serving leader. Abe, prior to his health condition, was set to spend one more year at the helm. Sparking concerns about the premier's ill health, prior to the rumors mounting, a weekly magazine reported that Abe vomited blood at his office on July 6. Abe is scheduled to give a press conference later in the day. Catherine Burgess Catherine Burgess and her team have sold many of Boulder Countys most prestigious properties, ranging from iconic Charles Haertling homes to spacious horse properties to gated lake community homes. Haute Residence is pleased to welcome Catherine Burgess to the exclusive Haute Residence Network as its representative in the Boulder, Colorado real estate market. Burgess Group at Compass is one of Colorado's top-producing real estate firms. Catherine Burgess and her team have sold many of Boulder Countys most prestigious properties, ranging from iconic Charles Haertling homes to spacious horse properties to gated lake community homes. Catherine made her mark with her commitment to exceptional service. Specializing in high-end and luxury homes, her team is highly attentive, with active and consistent communication, delivering fast and profitable results. They negotiate aggressively, but collaboratively, to represent their clients. Visit Catherine Burgess' Haute Residence profile at: https://www.hauteresidence.com/member/catherine-burgess/ Visit Catherine Burgess' website at: https://www.burgessgrouprealty.com/ ABOUT HAUTE RESIDENCE Designed as a partnership-driven luxury real estate portal, Haute Residence connects its affluent readers with top real estate professionals, while offering the latest in real estate news, showcasing the worlds most extraordinary residences on the market and sharing expert advice from its knowledgeable and experienced real estate partners. The invitation-only luxury real estate network, which partners with just one agent in every market, unites a distinguished collective of leading real estate agents and brokers and highlights the most extravagant properties in leading markets around the globe for affluent buyers, sellers, and real estate enthusiasts. HauteResidence.com has grown to be the number one news source for million-dollar listings, high-end residential developments, celebrity real estate, and more. Access all of this information and more by visiting: http://www.hauteresidence.com We have seen these threats before, and this time Exelons threats will need to be backed up by a thorough and transparent review of their finances including why the profits of the company as a whole cannot cover alleged operating losses at a few plants, Jordan Abudayyeh, the governors spokeswoman, said in a statement. Abuse of senior citizens on the Gold Coast has almost doubled over the course of the coronavirus pandemic. Legal experts issued a warning that desperate Australians had resorted to scamming and even assaulting some of the most vulnerable people in society as the pandemic puts unprecedented pressure on the nation's finances. Senior solicitor Ian Martin, from the Gold Coast Community Legal Centre, said he'd seen a major increase in the number of elderly people seeking aid. Legal experts warned that the abuse of elderly Australians on the Gold Coast (woman pictured wearing a mask in Queensland) had almost doubled during the coronavirus pandemic Senior Australians experienced the most physical and financial abuse from their adult children who moved home during the pandemic (Surfers Paradise beach in the Gold Coast pictured) 'The amount of questions I've had over wills, estates and powers of attorney from May until August, compared to the same period in 2019, I'm looking at a 110 per cent increase,' Mr Martin told Gold Coast Bulletin. The solicitor said he also faced a confronting 250 per cent jump in advice related to abuse and improper financial conduct. 'A lot of elder abuse is going to have a domestic violence component because, quite sadly, it's the daughters or the sons that are causing the abuse,' he explained. Mr Martin said the 'huge jump' could be attributed to a staggering number of adult children moving back home and causing physical and financial stress. 'For the most part it's financial abuse and neglect, where you have a number of what you might call privileged children thinking 'mum or dad just need to be put in a home somewhere and we'll just move into the house', he explained. Mr Martin added that some of his clients had also suffered after lending their children money without a formal legal contract. He said children taking financial advantage and isolating their elderly relatives was common and had become easier during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most senior citizens (an elderly man wearing a mask pictured in Brisbane) were reluctant to take action against their children despite experiencing 'appalling' abuse Elderly citizens were already particularly vulnerable, as they are more socially disconnected, and this was exploited by opportunistic relatives during isolation. Mr Martin said most elderly clients declined to pursue legal action against their children despite undergoing 'appalling' and 'distressing' psychological abuse. Head of the Gold Coast family violence unit, Detective Inspector Paul Dalton, said criminal complaints had not increased but felt the issue deserved more attention. He agreed that the coronavirus pandemic had made elderly Australians even more vulnerable and forced them into further isolation. Inspector Dalton urged members of the community check on their elderly neighbours or friends and to speak up if something was wrong. Joint Statement on the Seventh Meeting of the Japan-U.S. Comprehensive Dialogue on Space Media Note Office of the Spokesperson August 27, 2020 The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and Japan on the occasion of the Seventh Meeting of the Japan-U.S. Comprehensive Dialogue on Space. Begin Text: Pursuant to the shared goal of continuing to advance bilateral space cooperation and to further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance as declared by the leaders of both nations, the Government of Japan and the Government of the United States of America held the Seventh Meeting of the Japan-U.S. Comprehensive Dialogue on Space in Tokyo, on August 26, 2020. This Dialogue represents the strong and shared commitment of two of the world's most advanced spacefaring nations to enhance further bilateral space cooperation and to cooperate closely with the international community toward ensuring the continuous, safe, and stable use of outer space for current and future generations. This meeting was co-chaired by representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Space Policy Secretariat, Cabinet Office for Japan, and by representatives from the Executive Office of the President's National Space Council and National Security Council for the United States. Principal participants included the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; National Space Policy Secretariat; National Security Secretariat; Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications; Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT); Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Ministry of Environment; Ministry of Defense; Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA); and National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) from the Japanese side, and the Departments of State, Defense, and Commerce; and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from the U.S. side. Through this Dialogue, Japan and the United States continue the work to enhance and strengthen cooperation between the two countries from a broad, inclusive, and strategic perspective. With the participation of experts from across the two governments, the Dialogue series emphasizes a whole-of-government approach to civil, commercial, and national security space interests and cooperation. At this meeting, both sides provided updates on their respective space policies, including the recent revision of the Basic Plan on Space Policy on the Japanese side and the release of the Defense Space Strategy on the U.S. side. Both sides renewed their strong determination to expand bilateral cooperation in a variety of areas including space security, international rule-making, space situational awareness (SSA), space exploration, commercial space activities, and global navigation satellite systems and to seek opportunities for cooperation with third countries and in international fora. Both sides engage in robust bilateral cooperation in Earth observation, including weather forecasting, Earth science, land and ocean observation, and environmental and space weather monitoring. Together both sides also take lead roles in multilateral coordination of the global observing system. Japanese and U.S. weather and Earth observation satellite systems are essential components of the global observing system on which other nations rely. Both sides also discussed other important issues regarding space utilization, such as space resources and the use of space for Maritime Domain Awareness. The United States welcomed Japan's effort to establish a new framework for satellite development and demonstration. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to Artemis, the U.S.-led international space exploration program through which the United States and its international and commercial partners will sustainably explore the Moon in preparation for a human mission to Mars. Both sides welcomed the further development of a wide range of cooperative Artemis activities related to the Gateway and lunar surface exploration. Both sides also acknowledged opportunities for Japanese crew activities as highlighted in the Joint Exploration Declaration of Intent for Lunar Cooperation between MEXT and NASA signed in July 2020. Both sides acknowledged the importance of the International Space Station (ISS). Specifically, Japan congratulated the United States on the recent successful test flight of its new crew vehicle to the ISS from U.S. soil, and the United States congratulated Japan on the successful flight of the final HTV cargo resupply mission to the ISS and noted that the United States is looking forward to the next generation HTV-X cargo resupply missions. Both sides recognized the important role of the private sector in exploring the frontier of outer space. Both sides acknowledged the ongoing efforts to create a safe and transparent environment which facilitates exploration, science, and commercial activities in outer space and reaffirmed the mutual commitment to finalize the legal framework for the Gateway cooperation and accelerate discussions on the Artemis Accords. Recognizing the increasing importance of space for national security as well as the dependence of contemporary society on space systems, both sides welcomed significant developments in their respective defense institutions, namely, the establishment of the Space Operation Squadron of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and the Space Command and Space Force of the United States. In light of the inherent vulnerability of space systems and growing concern for threats to the continuous, safe, and stable use of outer space, both sides committed to enhance cooperation on SSA and mission assurance. In this regard, both sides welcomed that Japan's Cabinet Office and the U.S. Department of Defense have substantially approved the detailed implementing arrangements concerning the plan to host U.S.-provided SSA payloads on Japan's Quasi-Zenith Satellites to be launched by the end of March 2024. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of the rule of law in outer space and further reiterated the importance of responsible behavior in outer space and transparency and confidence building measures (TCBMs). Both sides shared the view that it was important for leading spacefaring nations to promote bilateral and multilateral space cooperation with transparency and discussed possible ways for the two countries, with partners, to cooperate in expanding space activities and utilization to address the needs of other nations, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. Both sides recognized the role of space applications such as satellite-based Earth observation and navigation in the context of solving global issues including achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Amid the unprecedented crisis due to the outbreak of COVID-19, this meeting provided the two countries with a valuable opportunity to discuss emergency responses in the space sector and utilization of space to address challenges that the international community faces today. Both sides reconfirmed the strategic value of the Japan-U.S. Comprehensive Dialogue on Space as a mechanism to guide overall bilateral space cooperation policies and reaffirmed that this Dialogue would continue to strengthen cooperative relations between the two countries across ministries, departments, and agencies. Both sides concurred on holding the Eighth meeting of the Dialogue in the United States in 2021. End text. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Three men have been been arrested by detectives investigating an arson attack two years ago which left a seven-year-old autistic boy dead. Scotland Yard said the men, aged 21, 22, and 24, were seized last week on suspicion of conspiracy to murder and have been released under investigation. It comes little more than two years after the death of Joel Urhie, who died at the family home on Adolphus Street in Deptford, south-east London, after a burning package was pushed through the letterbox, police believe. The arrests come two years after the death of Joel Urhie, who died at home in Deptford, south-east London, after a burning package was pushed through the letterbox, police believe Joel's body was discovered by emergency services in the upstairs bedroom he shared with his mother Iroroefe on August 7, 2018. A post-mortem examination conducted at St Thomas' Hospital found his death was 'consistent with fire and smoke inhalation' It is thought lighted accelerant was pushed through the letterbox of the family home Joel's body was discovered by emergency services in the upstairs bedroom he shared with his mother Iroroefe on August 7, 2018. His mother and then-19-year-old sister Sarah had escaped by jumping out of a first-floor window. A post-mortem examination conducted at St Thomas' Hospital found his death was 'consistent with fire and smoke inhalation'. Iroroefe, who spent a month in hospital recovering from burn injuries she suffered, called Joel 'the sweetest most caring little boy you could ever meet'. Sources have previously said one line of inquiry was that the attack was gang-related, amid reports Joel's brother, Sam, then 21, may have been the target. The house in Deptford where Joel Urhie died as police arrest three male suspects Police released shocking photos of the devastation caused to the inside of the building Detective Chief Inspector Mark Wrigley, who is leading the investigation, said: 'Despite the passing of two years, this remains a very open and active investigation. 'The loss of such a young and innocent life is always tragic, but the pain of losing a child under these circumstances is immeasurable. 'There are people out there who know exactly what went on and who is responsible for Joel's death. I need them to do the right thing and get in touch.' Two men, aged 21 and 29, were arrested on August 11, 2018 on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life, but they were released with no further action in November 2019. Anyone with information is asked to call 020 8345 3715. Joseph and Nellie Graham are believed to be Northern Irelands oldest couple The birthday candles are usually in big demand in Joe and Nellie Graham's home in Randalstown. Between them, the amazing couple have celebrated no fewer than 203 special days. But the coronavirus crisis put a dampener on Joe's 102nd birthday this week. Nellie, who is 101, and her family were forced to abandon plans to put on a party for Joe. The couple's 76-year-old son David said: "It was a very different birthday for my dad. My parents' minister called by and there were messages from friends and family but the nervousness over the pandemic meant that we couldn't celebrate the way we normally would. "In the end my mother and father did very little to mark the day." Joe and Nellie who had three children have 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren who were saddened that they could not see the heads of the family in person. Expand Close joe and nellie / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp joe and nellie Irish President Michael D Higgins did not forget Joe's special day, however. Every birthday Orangeman Joe and Nellie receive a special coin from Dublin as a follow up to the 2,540 gift they each got on their 100th birthdays. The colourful pair who still live independently in their own home are reckoned to be Northern Ireland's oldest married couple. And they say they are happy as ever - and they have been side by side for 28,464 of them since their wedding on September 23, 1942, which was right in the middle of World War Two. Their 78th wedding anniversary next month is also expected to be a low key affair. Joe and Nellie were childhood sweethearts, having met at Taylorstown Elementary Primary school. David said: "They started school on the same day and they sat beside each other. "My father was six and my mother was five. That's 96 years or so they've known each other." After they married, Joe, who is a fanatical supporter of Ballymena United went with Nellie to live on a farm outside Randalstown before moving into the town where they both worked in the Old Bleach linen factory. Nellie, who will be 102 years young next May, said she did not know what the secret was to their longevity and she scoffed at claims from couples who insisted they never rowed. "You can have an argument at any time of the day but you always make up after it, " she said. Demonstrators march through New York City to protest against the shooting of Jacob Blake, on Aug. 24, 2020. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images) 2 Additional Officers Involved in Jacob Blake Incident Named Stun guns used against Blake were not successful, investigators say Two police officers involved in the Jacob Blake incident were named on Friday by investigators in an update on the probe into what happened. Vincent Arenas was directly involved while Brittany Meronek was also president, the Wisconsin Department of Justices Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) said. Arenas, previously with the U.S. Capitol Police Department, has been a Kenosha officer since February 2019. Meronek joined the department in January. The other new information: more then one stun gun was used against Blake. Kenosha Police Department officers were dispatched Sunday to a house on 40th Street after a woman called 911 to report her boyfriend being present who was not supposed to be there. After officers arrived, they engaged with Blake, who was wanted for sexual assault, attempting to arrest him. Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey in an undated photograph. (Wisconsin Department of Justice via AP) When the initial attempt failed, officer Rusten Sheskey deployed a stun gun to try to stop Blake. When that attempt failed, Arenas also deployed his stun gun, investigators said in the update. Both stun guns were not successful in stopping Blake, who escaped from officers before walking around his vehicle, opening the drivers side door, and leaning forward. While holding onto Blakes shirt, Sheskey fired seven times into his back, the department said previously. No other officer fired their weapon. No body camera footage is available because the police department does not have any body cameras. The incident was captured from multiple angles by bystanders. After being shot, Blake was rushed to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. He remains at the hospital. The gunshots severed Blakes spinal cord and shattered some of his vertebrae, attorney Benjamin Crump told reporters this week. Adria-Joi Watkins poses with her second cousin Jacob Blake in Evanston, Ill., in September 2019. (Courtesy Adria-Joi Watkins via AP) It is going to take a miracle for Jacob Blake Jr. to ever walk again, he said. Blakes family plans on filing a civil lawsuit. All the officers involved were placed on administrative leave. They are fully cooperating with investigators. Blakes lawyers want them fired. State investigators plan on providing a report of the incident to the prosecutor within 30 days. Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley has said that his office will review the evidence. We have by law, a very narrow task in the enormity of the big issues I talked about. We are asked to review that independently garnered evidence. And we are asked, are there any crimes that a police officer has committed, that can be proven to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt? he said. That is the only question that his office will answer. DCI investigators are leading the probe, with assistance from FBI agents, the Wisconsin State Patrol, and the Kenosha County Sheriffs Office. U.S. President Donald Trump delivers his acceptance speech as the 2020 Republican presidential nominee during the final event of the Republican National Convention on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, August 27, 2020. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters Painting a picture of horrors he claims await Americans if Democrat Joe Biden defeats him in November, President Donald Trump capped the 2020 Republican National Convention on Thursday by accepting his party's presidential nomination for the second time. Trump vouched for his reelection in a more than 70-minute speech on the White House South Lawn, with the president's official residence in the background. Mixing official government and political business, he spoke to a crowd sitting shoulder to shoulder during a pandemic, flanked by "Trump Pence" campaign signs. In his remarks, the president outlined what he considers the triumphs of his first term in office, including trade deals and an economy that was strong before coronavirus-fueled shutdowns. Trump made lofty promises, assuring rapid job growth and a reined-in coronavirus outbreak. He also took aim at Biden, claiming his election would lead to an economic collapse and violence in American cities. Here are some of the highlights from Trump's speech, as prepared for delivery by his campaign. Coronavirus promises We are delivering lifesaving therapies, and will produce a vaccine before the end of the year, or maybe even sooner. We will defeat the virus, end the pandemic, and emerge stronger than ever before. Trump The coronavirus pandemic has ravaged the United States. The nation has recorded 5.8 million Covid-19 infections and at least 180,000 deaths, the most in the world, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. While new cases have showed signs of slowing, the country is still reporting tens of thousands per day on average. The U.S. has moved to produce a vaccine in record time to combat the once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. Trump has even said he is "optimistic" a vaccine will be ready before Election Day. But there is no concrete evidence now that a safe and effective vaccine will be ready before the end of the year, let alone sooner. Clinical trials are taking place for vaccines, and public health officials have said they hope to know whether one of those could be effective by the end of the year. The United States has among the lowest case fatality rates of any major country in the world. The European Union's case fatality rate is nearly three times higher than ours. Altogether, the nations of Europe have experienced a 30% greater increase in excess mortality than the United States. Trump The United States has a case fatality rate of 3.1%, according to Johns Hopkins data. The American rate is better than European countries Italy, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Germany. However, Trump misleads about the American death toll by citing case fatality rates. Because the virus has spread rapidly in the U.S., it ranks among the worst countries in deaths as a share of population. The U.S. has had 54.93 deaths per 100,000 people, the 11th highest in the world. Biden and Bernie Biden is a Trojan horse for socialism. If Joe Biden doesn't have the strength to stand up to wild-eyed Marxists like Bernie Sanders and his fellow radicals, then how is he ever going to stand up for you? The most dangerous aspect of the Biden platform is the attack on public safety. The Biden-Bernie manifesto calls for abolishing cash bail, immediately releasing 400,000 criminals onto your streets and into your neighborhoods. When asked if he supports cutting police funding, Joe Biden replied, "Yes, absolutely." When Congresswoman Ilhan Omar called the Minneapolis police department a cancer that is "rotten to the root," Biden wouldn't disavow her support and reject her endorsement he proudly displayed it on his website. Make no mistake, if you give power to Joe Biden, the radical left will defund police departments all across America. They will pass federal legislation to reduce law enforcement nationwide. They will make every city look like Democrat-run Portland, Oregon. No one will be safe in Biden's America. Trump While Biden has made some policy concessions to supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders, the democratic socialist and runner-up in the 2020 Democratic primary, he has angered liberals by not backing their top priorities including "Medicare for All" and the Green New Deal. On criminal justice, the Biden campaign has backed ending cash bail, saying it "incarcerates people who are presumed innocent." But it has not supported defunding police departments, a goal for many liberals. While Biden has pushed for reforms to hold police more accountable for killing Black Americans, he has actually called for $300 million more in federal funding for cops. Biden has promised to abolish the production of American oil, coal, shale, and natural gas laying waste to the economies of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico. Millions of jobs will be lost, and energy prices will soar. These same policies led to crippling power outages in California just last week. How can Joe Biden claim to be an "ally of the light" when his own party can't even keep the lights on? Trump Biden has not gone as far as Sanders and other liberals in pushing to limit fossil-fuel production. He has called to stop new oil and gas drilling permits on public land, but does not want to stop existing production. He also has not pushed to ban the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing, as some Trump allies have claimed. Trade deals Biden's record is a shameful roll call of the most catastrophic betrayals and blunders in our lifetime. He has spent his entire career on the wrong side of history. Biden voted for the NAFTA disaster, the single worst trade deal ever enacted; he supported China's entry into the World Trade Organization, one of the greatest economic disasters of all time. Trump Biden supported the North American Free Trade Agreement as a senator and the Trans-Pacific Partnership as vice president. NAFTA, the three-nation deal with Canada and Mexico, is generally accepted to have sapped American manufacturing jobs after companies moved operations outside of the U.S. Trump used criticism of trade deals to appeal to blue-collar workers during his 2016 campaign. They said that it would be impossible to terminate and replace NAFTA but again, they were wrong. Earlier this year, I ended the NAFTA nightmare and signed the brand new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement into law. Now auto companies and others are building their plants and factories in America, not firing their employees and deserting us. Trump While Trump renegotiated NAFTA, the new pact known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement made only moderate changes to the existing deal. It also included some components similar to those in the TPP, the deal, which the Obama administration joined and Trump withdrew from. Protests and public safety WASHINGTON President Trump employed his power of clemency on Friday for the second time this week in connection with his nominating convention, issuing a full pardon for Alice Marie Johnson, a onetime drug convict, a day after she appeared in a campaign video praising his leadership. Mr. Trump had already commuted Ms. Johnsons sentence in 2018, but he said he decided to elevate the action to a full pardon after seeing her in the audience at the White House on Thursday night when he delivered his speech at the Republican National Convention accepting nomination for a second term. You were out there, I saw you in the audience last night, and I asked the folks if you could bring Alice over, the president told her during a hastily arranged event in the Oval Office. Were going to give a full pardon. Were going to do it right now. That means you have been fully pardoned. Thats the ultimate thing that can happen. That means you can do whatever you want in life and just keep doing the great job youre doing. The pardon came only three days after he pardoned Jon Ponder, a convicted bank robber who now runs a nonprofit organization for prisoners, in an act captured on videotape and then shown that evening at the convention. Critics complained that Mr. Trump was brazenly using the power of his office to stage an event for a partisan political gathering, while the White House said it was legal because it was an official event shown on a government website and the campaign then used video that was available to the public. Shia Muslims visit the historic Badshahi Ashurkhana, built by Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah in 1611, during the mourning month of Muharram, in the old city of Hyderabad. (PTI) New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday 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. 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 targetted 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, said. The bench allowed the petitioner to withdraw the petition with the liberty to approach the high court with limited prayer of holding procession in Lucknow. The apex court was hearing a PIL was filed by Shia leader Syed Kalbe Jawad. Turkey has hit back at claims that it is preventing water from reaching Hassakeh, instead blaming the Autonomous Administration for not providing electricity reports Al-Masdar. The Turkish Anadolu Agency published a detailed explanation in which it said that the Syrian government narrative about the water crisis in Hassakeh is incorrect. The state-owned agency said that all reports blaming Turkey for cutting off the water to Hassakeh are wrong, claiming that they have details about the real perpetrators. The agency denied all accusations against the Turkish government, stressing that the real perpetrator is, the Autonomous Administration controlled by terrorist organizations affiliated with the PKK organization. The agency indicated that the Autonomous Administration did not allow the return of electricity to the Syrian city of Ras al-Ayn in the northern countryside of Hassakeh until Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020. The agency indicated that the resumption of electricity allowed a breakthrough in part to the crisis, as the Autonomous Administration did not respond to days-long campaigns carried out by activists to restore electricity to Ras al-Ayn in order to operate the pumping stations. The agency confirmed, according to local sources east of the Euphrates, that these entities [PKK] are, responsible for cutting off water to the residents of Hassakeh and its environs due to cutting off electricity to the Alouk Water Station, noting that, the Autonomous Administration is the one who controls the sources of electricity in the region, and therefore Turkey has nothing to do with it. The agency talked about the, fact that these [Autonomous Administration] authorities, after failing in the battlefields, resorted to a media war, by employing their ability to control the sources of electricity that feed the water stations, which caused water cuts in the Syrian governorate. 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. Thank you for your interest in employment at WFSU Public Media. WFSU Public Media is a PBS and NPR member station whose licenses are held by Florida State University. Current Job Openings Production Technician (80167) - WFSU-TV/The Florida Channel Videographer- WFSU-TV/The Florida Channel (2 Vacancies) Graphics Op/Utility Personnel (61440) - WFSU-TV/The Florida Channel Sr. Reporter (61500) - WFSU-TV/The Florida Channel News & Public Affairs Specialist Coordinator and Classical Music Host (OPS) OPS TV Production Assistant (Part-time, as needed) Grants Compliance Analyst Assistant Director, Budget & Financial Services - UBA/WFSU job-opportunities WFSU Public Media's Mission The mission of WFSU Public Media is to enrich lives and cultivate diverse perspectives by connecting our community through media content and services that inform, educate, and entertain. We work together in a cross-media-platform and integrated environment to accomplish this mission. Read more about us. 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We do not accept or retain general applications/resumes for employment. Current Openings Job Title: Production Technician (80167) - WFSU-TV/The Florida Channel Job ID: 50448 Posted Date: 2021-11-15 Close Date: Open until filled Job Family: MEDIA Department: WFSU Florida Channel Read Full Job Posting and Apply Internal Applicants External Applicants Job Title: Videographer- WFSU-TV/The Florida Channel (2 Vacancies) Job ID: 50433 Posted Date: 2021-11-09 Close Date: Open until filled Job Family: MEDIA Department: WFSU Florida Channel Read Full Job Posting and Apply Internal Applicants External Applicants Job Title: Graphics Op/Utility Personnel (61440) - WFSU-TV/The Florida Channel Job ID: 50447 Posted Date: 2021-11-10 Close Date: Open until filled Job Family: MEDIA Department: WFSU Florida Channel Read Full Job Posting and Apply Internal Applicants External Applicants Job Title: Sr. Reporter (61500) - WFSU-TV/The Florida Channel Job ID: 50228 Posted Date: 2021-10-14 Close Date: Open until filled Job Family: MEDIA Department: WFSU Florida Channel Read Full Job Posting and Apply Internal Applicants External Applicants Job Title: News & Public Affairs Specialist Job ID: 50218 Posted Date: 2022-01-10 Close Date: 2022-01-25 Job Family: MEDIA Department: WFSU FM News Read Full Job Posting and Apply Internal Applicants External Applicants Job Title: Coordinator and Classical Music Host (OPS) Job ID: 50169 Posted Date: 2021-10-21 Close Date: Open until filled Job Family: OPS Department: WFSU FM Operations Read Full Job Posting and Apply Internal Applicants External Applicants Job Title: OPS TV Production Assistant (Part-time, as needed) Job ID: 50524 Posted Date: 2021-12-08 Close Date: Open until filled Job Family: OPS Department: WFSU Local Production Read Full Job Posting and Apply Internal Applicants External Applicants Job Title: Grants Compliance Analyst Job ID: 50819 Posted Date: 2022-01-13 Close Date: 2022-01-27 Job Family: BUDGET Department: FL Ctr for Interactive Media Read Full Job Posting and Apply Internal Applicants External Applicants BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 28 By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend: Turkmenistan is working to build up partnerships in such areas as climate change, environmental protection, rational use of natural resources, and ensuring environmental safety, Trend reports with reference to Turkmenistans State News Agency. Currently, Turkmenistan is a party to 20 international conventions and multilateral documents in the field of ecology. This year Turkmenistan has joined the 4 international decrees for the protection of the environment. Based on the initiative of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, a draft concept of the UN Special Program for the Aral Sea was developed. The draft document on the creation of this special program will be considered at the next session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), which will be held in May 2021. Turkmenistan pays special attention to the implementation of international obligations and national legal acts in the field of ecology. It is proposed to establish a working group on environmental issues in the country in order to carry out these activities on a systematic basis. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva The use of glue bird traps was suspended by French President Emmanuel Macron to stop the controversial practice of hunting birds on Thursday. France was warned in July this year by the European Commission that it would face legal sanction should the practice continue, and was given three months to comply with the EU's 2009 Bird Directive. Macron suspended the legal practice this year while awaiting the legal opinion from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the issue. READ: Owner Mauled To Death by 400lb White Lions, Plus 5 Other Cases of Pets Killing Their Owners The Glue Bird Trap for Bird Hunting In France, the practice of using glue birds traps to catch thrushes and blackbirds is still allowed. The birds are captured by verguettes or sticks covered by glue. The sticky substance is then washed with chemicals, caged, kept in dark for months, and then taken out of daylight to sing and attract other birds. Birds coming close are then shot by hunters in cabins or get stuck in verguettes. The glue trap method has earned criticism as it is non-selective and cruel, but it also harms other birds such as robins and tits. Activists described the method as barbaric. pic.twitter.com/69noubwSTa France Told To Ban "Barbaric" Glue Traps For Birds Or Face Fines https://t.co/mIXfii0UgF August 19, 2020 There are at least 150,000 birds that die every year from non-selective hunting techniques such as glue traps and nets, environmentalists report and the European bird population is also declining. France is the only country in Europe that allows glue bird traps. READ ALSO: Australia Proposes 30-Year Plan to Protect Great Barrier Reef, Allocates $2 Billion for Phase 1 The EU 2009 Bird Directive The European Commission gave France three months to address its concerns in July. In the warning, European Commission stated that France "has authorized several methods for the capture of birds, such as glue for thrushes, nets, and traps for skylark and pigeons, which are not selective and are forbidden by the Directive." "Member states may derogate with some provisions under strict condition that are not fulfilled in this case," the warning also stated. The Commission also expressed concern that "most of the species captured are not in good conservation status." At least 32 percent of the EU's bird species are not in good status. In France, the 64 species allowed for hunting had only 20 species that are in good conservation status. According to Birdlife International, France allows hunting for 64 species. The Netherlands only allows two. The EU allows an average of 30 species, making France the "most forgiving country for hunters." Meanwhile, Thierry Coste of the National Federation of Hunters (FNC) maintains their methods are strictly supervised, citing that they observe strict rules such as specific hours of the day, cleaning and releasing other birds when hunting thrushes for bird songs. READ NEXT: Methane Leak: The Decade-Long Poisoning of the North Sea by a Major Gas Company Check out more news and information on Birds on Nature World News. WATERLOO REGION More anxious parents are choosing to keep their kids at home as schools move closer to reopening in the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest data suggests up to 17 per cent of local students who have responded intend to keep learning remotely from home starting in September. Thats up from 14 per cent who said earlier in August that they plan to stay home. We have a higher than anticipated number of students who have opted for distance learning, the Waterloo Region District School Board said Friday in a statement to parents. The vast majority of students, estimated at 83 per cent of respondents by the latest count, still intend to return to publicly-funded classrooms that were shuttered in March. These rates are for public and Catholic schools combined. Excluded are 5,000 students (six per cent of enrolment) who have not revealed their intentions, and students attending French-language or private schools. Boards plan staggered starts in September for up to 89,000 students. Catholic students are more keen on classrooms than public students, with 87 per cent of Catholic respondents currently indicating a desire to return. When education trustees voted recently to require masks for all students, some parents were pleased but others were upset and sought to alter their plans, said Loretta Notten, education director for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. We have been clear that health and safety is our No. 1 priority and I think our parents can see that in our plan, she said. We know families are anxious and have questions which is natural but we also know parents and students are excited to be returning to our schools. All students returning to local classrooms must wear masks and follow safety protocols. Following the conclusion of staggered starts, elementary students will be in classrooms daily. High school students will see a mix of classroom and home learning. Boards are pledging enhanced online learning for students who stay home. New COVID cases are down 93 per cent since the disease peaked in mid-April. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 04:33:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Russian President Vladimir Putin answers questions in a televised interview at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia, on Aug. 27, 2020. (Kremlin photo) According to Putin, Belarus is perhaps the closest country to Russia ethnically, linguistically, culturally and spiritually. MOSCOW, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Russia is ready to intervene if the situation in Belarus gets out of control, although only as a last resort, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday. "We proceed from the assumption that all the existing problems that are taking place today in Belarus will be resolved peacefully," Putin said in a televised interview. He said that within the frameworks of the Union State and the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Russia could help Belarus protect its sovereignty, national borders and stability. Putin recalled a recent phone conversation with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who asked Putin to form a "certain reserve of law enforcement officers," and Putin said he did. Yet the two leaders agreed that the reserve will not be used unless the situation grows out of control and extremists "hiding behind political slogans cross certain boundaries," Putin said. According to Putin, Belarus is perhaps the closest country to Russia ethnically, linguistically, culturally and spiritually. "Therefore, of course, we are not indifferent to what is happening there. But this is primarily the business of the Belarusian people," Putin said. Belarus has been witnessing mass protests after incumbent President Lukashenko won a sixth term in the Aug. 9 elections, with the opposition refusing to recognize the results. Mali's new military rulers said Thursday that former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was detained during the country's coup on August 18, had been freed. The announcement came on the eve of a summit by Mali's neighbours, who are to decide whether to ratchet up pressure on the fledgling junta. Keita's ouster by rebel troops sent shockwaves through the region and in France, which sees Mali as a linchpin in its campaign against jihadism in the Sahel, where more than 5,000 French troops are based. "President IBK is free in his movements, he's at home," a spokesman for the junta, Djibrila Maiga, told AFP, referring to Keita by his initials, as many Malians do. The junta, calling itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), said on Facebook it was "informing public and international opinion that former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has been released and is currently in his residence". A Keita relative, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the 75-year-old former leader had returned overnight to his house in the Sebenikoro district of the capital Bamako. The source did not say whether he was still subject to any restrictions. Keita, prime minister Boubou Cisse and other senior officials were seized by young officers who mutinied at a base near Bamako. In the early hours of August 19, Keita appeared on national TV to announce his resignation, saying he had had no other choice, and wanted to avoid "bloodshed". His release -- and other leaders -- is a key demand of Mali's neighbours, its ally France and international organisations, including the African Union and European Union. His son Karim, an MP whose flamboyant lifestyle made him the target of protestors demanding his father's resignation, has fled to a "neighbouring country," sources familiar with his whereabouts told AFP Thursday. ECOWAS Summit Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, heading a team from the regional bloc ECOWAS, was given access to the former president last Saturday, and said he seemed "very fine." The announcement Thursday came on the eve of a virtual summit by the 15-nation ECOWAS -- the Economic Community of West African States -- which has imposed sanctions against Mali for the coup. Those measures include a closure of borders and a ban on trade that threaten to worsen Mali's already severe social and economic troubles. Jonathan's three-day mission to Bamako foundered on the question of the transition to civilian rule. The junta have promised to enact a political transition and stage elections within a "reasonable time" but not spelt out details. Discussing progress with Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari, Jonathan said the coup leaders wanted to stay in power for a three-year transition period, an offer rejected by the mediators, according to a statement from the presidency. "We also told them 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," Jonathan was quoted as saying in the presidency statement late Wednesday. Jihadist Attacks 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 plummeted as he failed to counter 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. The army announced that four troops were killed and 12 wounded in an ambush on Thursday that it attributed to "terrorists," its typical term for jihadists. It was the second time that the armed forces have suffered a loss on this scale since the coup. Both attacks have happened in central Mali, a volatile, ethnically diverse region. In a visit to the Estonian capital of Tallinn on Thursday, the head of the French armed forces, Francois Lecointre, said, "Our wish is to maintain the Malian army's commitment in the fight against armed terrorist groups." "We are going to see if the Malian armed forces are able to maintain the momentum... we have told them that this appears essential to us," said Lecointre. Search Keywords: Short link: STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- In an apparent show of support for police officers, eye witnesses say a man was seen painting a blue line on an Annadale street. The blue line that spans about 15 feet sits in between two white street markers on the 700 block of Drumgoole Road West. Neighbors who spoke to the Advance/SILive.com said that they dont know who painted the line but support the action. If (Mayor Bill) de Blasio could paint lines where ever he wants, why cant this person do it?' said one woman who asked to remain anonymous. I agree with what he did. Other neighbors explained that the neighborhood is home to many civil servants and police officers. Just look around, the block is lined with American flags and the thin blue line flags,' one said. It couldve been anyone. The man went on to point to a plethora of houses that are owned by police officers. When asked about a picture of the man painting the line that was obtained by the Advance, neighbors told a reporter that the man was a resident of the neighborhood, but they couldnt say who it was. The show of support comes after a blue line painted outside the 122 Precinct in New Dorp was defaced by a Black Lives Matter supporter and after the artist who painted the line received a cease and desist letter from the city. Earlier this summer, in response to nationwide racial injustice protests and riots, de Blasio announced one street in every borough would be renamed Black Lives Matter and the roadway would be painted to match the sign. In July, City Hall confirmed that the mayor would not allow pro-police groups to paint Blue Lives Matter near the NYPD headquarters in Lower Manhattan. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. She filed a request for an emergency court hearing last week seeking to force her ex-husband Seal to allow her to take their children to Germany with her in October. But it seems Heidi Klum has been able to reach an agreement with the British musician without needing a judge to rule on the matter. While he expressed concerns about the kids traveling to Europe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Seal has now agreed to allow Klum to take them with her, People reported Thursday. Settled: Heidi Klum has reached an agreement with ex-husband Seal allowing her to take their kids with her to Germany for Next Top Model filming in October after she requested an emergency court hearing to force him to permit it In return, Seal will get expanded visitation with the children both before they leave and upon their return, according to the publication, as well as being able to see them while they are in Germany if he so wishes. Klum, 47, is going to Germany to film a new season of the country's Next Top Model reality show. In her previous court filing, she explained that the series is normally filmed in the USA but the German cast and crew are not permitted currently to enter America due to the pandemic. Klum and Seal, 57, who married in 2005 and finalized their divorce in 2014, share joint legal and physical custody of daughters Leni, 16, and Lou, 10, and sons Henry, 14, and Johan, 13. Exes: The former couple, who married in 2005 and finalized their divorce in 2014, share joint legal and physical custody of daughters Leni, 16, and Lou, 10, and sons Henry, 14, and Johan, 13 Family: Klum has agreed to let Seal gave expanded time with the kids (pictured in 2019) before they leave and upon their return as well as allowing him to visit them in Germany Klum married German guitarist Tom Kaulitz, 30, in February 2014. In legal documents obtained by TheBlast.com on August 20, the German model and TV personality explained that the children did not want to be parted from her for the three-and-a-half months she's contracted to be in Germany but that Seal had not signed off on the trip. Instead, she stated, he preferred the children to remain in Los Angeles, where he also resides. The Kiss From A Rose hitmaker - real name Henry Samuel - has previously permitted the kids to travel with their famous mother, but after initially agreeing in April to the fall trip to Germany, Klum said he changed his mind. She explained: 'My work in television supports our family. Neither Henry (Seal) nor I pay child support to one another, and because our children are with me the vast majority of the time, I take on a larger portion of their regular expenses. 'I am well aware of all the necessary precautions associated with the Covid-19 virus, and would never put our children at risk. I have taken all the precautions for Germany the same way I do in the US.' Issue: The British musician who, like his ex, resides in LA said in his own legal filing that he was concerned that the German native might unilaterally decide not to return the kids to the US Sensational: Meanwhile Heidi displayed her iconic fashion sense in a dramatic velvet dress as she shared a snap from America's Got Talent filming In his own legal filing, Seal responded that he was suspicious of his ex's motives. 'Heidi is a celebrity and a German national and I am concerned that if she is allowed to take the children to Germany, she may unilaterally decide not to return them to the United States,' Seal said. He also stated: 'Notwithstanding Heidis request, if granted, could in effect move the children away from me and their home here in Los Angeles to Germany for what could be an indefinite period of time given the uncertainty of the impact of COVID-19 on this countrys and Germanys travel restrictions which could change at any time and prevent the children from leaving Germany or entering the United States.' The new agreement he has reached with Klum states that should the coronavirus crisis escalate to the point where the US decides to shut down its borders, Klum must 'immediately make arrangements in an effort to return home with the children before the borders close.' Almost three months into the alleged abduction of Wanchalearm Satsaksit, a prominent Thai activist who was last seen in Cambodia, his family members and those of other missing Thais on Thursday urged the government to pass a bill that criminalizes enforced political disappearances. Their pleas came as Thai youths have led anti-government protests including against the harassment and disappearance of dissidents such as Wanchalearm. Since mid-July, pro-democracy protesters have also been demanding that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, the former army chief and junta leader, dissolve parliament and hold free and fair polls, unlike the last election, which they and dissidents say was fixed. Thailand should have awareness in this matter and push forward to pass the Prevention and Suppression of the Torture and Enforced Disappearances Bill in order to bring justice to the perpetrators, said Sitanan Satsaksit, Wanchalearms sister. The law will make us rest assured. Sitanan and relatives of other missing men and women spoke during a forum at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) to observe the upcoming International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances on Aug. 30. They said only a law that punishes those involved in planning and carrying out enforced disappearances would bring justice to the families of 87 people whove gone missing since 1980. In June, the cabinet approved the draft law. It is being reviewed by the Office of the Council of State, after which it will be forwarded to parliament. Sitanans brother, Wanchalearm, apparently was abducted in broad daylight on June 4 by gunmen from in front of his apartment complex in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, a day after he had posted a video on Facebook against the Thai government. Wanchalearm fled Thailand following the 2014 coup led by Prayuth, who was then Army chief. The Thai government never tells our family how far the investigation has gone, neither do Cambodian authorities, Sitanan said at the forum sponsored by Amnesty International and local human rights groups. We dont know what these two governments have done. In fact, since 2014, as many as nine anti-government activists have vanished. Two of them Chatcharn Buppawan (alias Comrade Phu Chana) and Kraidej Luelert (alias Comrade Kasalong) were found dead in the Mekong River in December 2018. In early 2019, Human Rights Watch said Thai police reported that the bodies hands and feet were bound and their faces smashed beyond recognition. They also both had been disemboweled and stuffed with concrete. BenarNews was not able to reach justice officials or anyone at the House committee on Laws for comment on Thursday. Among those who went missing was a Vietnamese blogger for Radio Free Asia (RFA), a sister entity of BenarNews, who was allegedly taken from Bangkok by police in January 2019 and wound up in jail back in Vietnam. On Aug. 14, a court in Hanoi upheld a 10-year sentence that it handed him earlier this year. Nhat, who had earlier been jailed in Vietnam from 2013 to 2015 for his writings criticizing Vietnams government, was convicted in March of abusing his position and authority in a decade-old land fraud case. He was charged by police investigators in July 2019 with abusing his position during his 1998 to 2011 tenure as bureau chief of the Dai Doan Ket (Great Unity) newspaper in Danang City. Long-delayed bill Thailand signed the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances in 2012 but has yet to ratify it. Instead, in 2012, the Justice Ministry proposed the Prevention and Suppression of the Torture and Enforced Disappearances Bill to the government. A government spokeswoman said the bill would criminalize torture and enforced disappearances and empower relatives to file legal complaints. It would authorize the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) under the Ministry of Justice to investigate cases where police are suspects, and vice versa. And it would punish with hefty prison terms those found guilty of planning or enforcing political disappearances. While some believe passage of the bill is a good first step, there are others who are unhappy with its provisions. A legal adviser for the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) who attended the forum said the draft bill is flawed. There are some articles inconsistent to the international laws i.e. the definition of torture and disappearances, said Sanhawan Srisod, ICJs legal adviser. It also allows trial in military which contradicts the international laws, it must use civilian court. Another flaw, said Sanhawan, is that the bill doesnt talk about trying past kidnappings and disappearances. The guilt of enforced disappearance remains as long as that individual is missing, but the bill does not have that clause, she said. The U.N. has directly recommended that the Thai government not have a statute of limitation when it comes to torture and enforced disappearances. As Kanya Teerawuth, the mother of Siam Teerawuth, who went missing while in exile in Vietnam on May 8, 2019, said at Thursdays forum, the pain of not knowing the fate of a missing loved one never goes away. I feel hurt every minute when I wake up, I miss my son, she said. I asked senior government officials they said they dont know. What about if he were your son? Actor Sanjay Dutt today dropped a birthday wish for his sister Priya Dutt. In the birthday note, Sanjay called her a constant in his life. Sanjay on social media posted a picture with his sister, extending his greetings. The actor took to Instagram to say, Thank you for always being a constant in my life. I wish you all the happiness of the world. Happy Birthday @priyadutt. In the photo, the brother and sister can be seen showing victory signs with smiles on their face. In the comment section, Sanjays wife Maanyata Dutt also wished Priya happy birthday along with two heart emojis. Priya has accompanied Sanjay several times to hospital for treatment of an illness. The actor is undergoing treatment at Mumbais Kokilaben hospital, PTI reported on August 19 quoting Maanyata. Read: Sanjay Dutt Undergoing Preliminary Treatment in Mumbai Hospital: Wife Maanayata For those asking, Sanju will complete his preliminary treatment in Mumbai. We will formulate further plans of travel depending on how and when the covid situation eases. As of now, Sanju is in the best hands of our esteemed doctors at Kokilaben hospital," the news agency quoted her as saying. Maanyata stated that plans to take the actor abroad for treatment depends on COVID-19 situation. Sanjay was admitted to Lilavati Hospital on August 8 after he complained of breathlessness. On August 11, he took to Twitter to inform his fans that he was taking a short break from work for some medical treatment. The actor even urged his fans not to worry or unnecessarily speculate. By Akbar Mammadov Commanders of the Azerbaijani and Turkish units are exchanging military experience as part of the large-scale joint tactical and tactical-flight exercises held in Nakhchivan, the Defense Ministry reported on August 27. Computer exercises are being held at the Simulation Center of the Nakhchivan Garrison in order to improve the skills and habits of the command staff to make decisions in a short time in accordance with the tactical conditions and report to the higher headquarters, deliver to subordinates and organize combat at the training. During the exercises, the commanders also practice the tasks of ensuring the covert movement of subunits, using the terrain relief, firing in limited conditions and managing subunits. It should be noted that the final episode of the first stage of the Azerbaijani-Turkish joint large-scale exercises took place on August 13, with the observation of the Defense Ministers of the two countries. The Land and Air forces of the two countries participated in the military exercises held in line with the agreement on military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey, in accordance with the annual plan. According to the plan, exercises involving the Land Forces were held from August 1 to 5 in Baku and Nakhchivan, while exercises involving the Air Forces were conducted from July 29 to August 10 in Baku, Nakhchivan, Ganja, Kurdamir and Yevlakh. The personnel, armoured vehicles, artillery and mortars, combat and transport helicopters of the Air Forces, as well as air defence and anti-aircraft missile divisions of the two armies, will be involved in the military exercises. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Logan Saturday 29/8 CH4 @ 9pm An old and broken Logan is quietly eking out an existence as a limo driver. His X-Men days are far behind him. Until a young girl called Laura comes looking for help. This final installment in Wolverine's story is a stunner. A superhero/western/drama that will knock you for six even if comic book movies aren't your thing. Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and little Dafne Keen are all in spectacular form here. BTW, it's brutally violent so be wary. The Good Girl Saturday 29/8 TG4 @ 11.15pm Justine is trapped in a dead end job in a crappy little town and she's not enjoying life with her husband. Until she meets an unusual co-worker called Holden. Holden has....notions. This is the film that made people realise there was far more to Jennifer Aniston than haircuts and mega famous sitcoms. A heartfelt and emotional movie with a couple of fine supporting turns from the always reliable John C.Reilly and a babyfaced Jake Gyllenhaal. Mandy Sat 29/8 Film4 @ 10.45pm Mandy and Red are living a lovely peaceful life in the wilds of the Pacific northwest. One day Mandy has the misfortune to run into a cult called Children of the New Dawn and their peace crumbles. This 2018 horror thriller is one hell of a watch. Horrifying, bizarre and strangely beautiful. It's the weirdest film you'll see on TV this week and Andrea Riseborough, Nicholas Cage and Ireland's own Ned Dennehy all add to the joy. Looper Sunday 30/8 BBC2 @ 00.15am Set in the near future where unwanted people are disposed of by sending them back in time to be killed. This is all well and good until a man is faced with an older version of himself. A magnificently original piece of sci fi/action right here. Chilling, brutal, intelligent and mind boggling. Joseph Gordon Levitt and Bruce Willis have a whale of a time playing the young/old versions and Emily Blunt does stellar work as a protective mother caught up in it all. 28 Days Sunday 30/8 RTE1 @ 00.30am Gwen loves the sauce way too much and the day she ruins her sister's wedding is the day she ends up in rehab. She has no interest in being there but eventually realises it's for the best. The great Sandra Bullock does well in this rather cliched but very watchable look at the work involved in getting yourself clean. A nice cast includes Marianne Jean- Baptist, Alan Tudyk and Voggo Mortensen amongst others. Identity Sunday 30/8 The Horror Channel @ 9pm A disparate group of people find themselves being picked off one by one at a run down motel in the middle of nowhere. Just what on earth could be going on? An entertaining and blackly comic, grisly whodunnit filled with enough twists and turns for a dozen films. There's a fine cast too including John Cusack, Ray Liotta and Amanda Peet and their good work might just stop your eyes from rolling out of your head late in the story. Border Monday 31/8 CH4 @ 00.55am Tina's a customs officer with a difference. She can smell fear off the people she comes into contact with every day. One day she meets someone like her and things get.....interesting. This adult fairy-tale from Sweden contains some disturbing material but that doesn't stop it from being one of the best films of 2018. Original, surreal, darkly funny and grounded by a phenomenal turn from Eva Melander. Steve Jobs Monday 31/8 TG4 @ 9.30pm Steve Jobs, the man who made Apple into what it is today wasn't a very nice person. We meet him at 3 stages in his life and get an insight into what made him tick. Danny Boyle's drama is an engaging watch and one that isn't afraid to show the nasty side of it's subject. Michael Fassbender as Jobs & Kate Winslet as Joanna Hoffman put in a excellent work and Seth Rogen is surprising in a dramatic role as Steve Wozniak. Gumshoe Monday 31/8 Talking Pictures TV @ 11pm He's 31. He's a bingo caller and he's not happy about it. So Eddie puts an ad in the paper advertising himself as a private eye. He's been inspired by his love of private eye novels. Why not? It might be interesting. This early Stephen Frears film is fun, fast moving, quotable and contains some decent twists and turns that you need to keep sharp for. Albert Finney and Billie Whitelaw do well as the leads. Horror Of Dracula Tuesday 1/9 The Horror Channel @ 02.45am The Prince of Darkness has had his sanctuary disturbed and so sets out to prey on the loved ones of his attacker. Only one man, Dr Van Helsing, can stand up to him. This 1958 Hammer Horror take on the legend of Dracula is a magnificent film. Unsettling, sensual, beautiful looking and after 60 years, still startlingly scary in places. 2 brilliant performances from Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing seal the deal. American Made Tuesday 1/9 Film4 @ 9pm The story of Barry Seal, pilot, cigar smuggler, CIA spook, drug runner contracted to the Medellin Cartel and eventually gun smuggler for the Contras. This Tom Cruise led action thriller is a highly enjoyable watch despite the subject matter. One of those films that would be considered far fetched if it was fiction. Strong turns from Domhnall Gleeson, Sarah Wright and Alejandro Edda all add to the fun. Only God Forgives Wednesday 2/9 Sony Movies @ 00.45am A decade ago Julian killed a man and disappeared into the Bangkok underground. Now the death of a young girl and the arrival of his mother into the mess flips his life upside down. Nicolas Winding Refn's 2013 crime drama is tough, seedy and vicious look into the sordid side of life in the Thai capital. It's not going to be for everyone but it's an interesting and atmospheric watch. Ryan Gosling's the lead but Kristin Scott Thomas and Vithaya Pansringarm own this film. Drowning By Numbers Thursday 3/9 Film @ 01.20am 3 women, a granny, a mother and a daughter, each called Cissie, are sick of their husbands and decide to do something about them. A grimly humorous and very odd movie from the depths of director Peter Greenaway's psyche. There's so much going on you won't be able to look way while a trio of mighty turns from Joan Plowright, Joely Richardson and Juliet Stevenson stave off the darkness of the story. The Man Who Wanted To Fly Thursday 3/9 RTE1 @ 11.20pm Bobby Coote is a Cavan man in his 80's and he has a dream. He wants to fly a plane before it's too late. So he sets out to put his plan into motion. This delightful documentary is just what we need these days. A look at an obsession 50 years in the making but also a look at the family and community around who want it all to come to fruition. Record this one and watch it when you need to cheer yourself up because it's just the ticket. The Lion In Winter Friday 4/9 TCM @ 6.35am England. The 12th century. King Henry II is coming to the end of his reign. His 3 sons are in the line of succession but his choice is clashing with that of his wife Queen Eleanor. Her and her children set out to force his hand. A witty and complex script filled with all manner of backstabbing and shnakery plus pitch perfect performances from Peter O'Toole & Katherine Hepburn turn this into a very congenial history lesson. Read more at http://hamsandwichcinema.blogspot.com/ Mali's deposed president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has returned to his home after being detained by the ruling military junta for 10 days. As per reports, he was returned by the military at around 2 am Thursday, August 27, a family member said on the condition of anonymity as they are not allowed to speak to the media. The family member is reported to have added that new guards have been put on duty at the president's residence. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was detained on August 18 after a group of military officials staged a coup and took him into detention along with other government officials at Kati, a city located 15 kilometers from the capital city of Bamako. READ: Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita Resigns To Avoid 'blood Shed' After Military Mutiny Keita resigns as President Keita resigned from his post to avoid bloodshed hours after he was detained by soldiers amid the rising political crisis in the west African nation. According to the reports, Keita's release under tight military security comes after negotiations with the 15-nation West African regional bloc i.e. ECOWAS whose leaders are scheduled to meet in a virtual conference to further discuss the Mali crisis on Friday, August 28. The deposed Malian president's release could be a big hint that the ruling junta is trying to meet some of the demands by ECOWAS. READ: Mali Mutiny: Thousand Celebrate On Bamako Streets Following President Keita's Arrest People celebrate junta's move Thousands of people took to the streets in the Malian capital of Bamako to celebrate the junta's move. Following the arrest of Malis president in a coup, thousands of people gathered in Bamakos Independence Square with many declaring victory over the arrested president. The military leaders forced Keita to resign on state television. The act was condemned by several world leaders who had called for the release of the detained president and the return of power to the civilian administration. France, Malis former coloniser, and the United Nations have also condemned the actions of the military and had urged for Keita to be reinstated. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a brief statement earlier, said that he hopes "for an immediate restoration of constitutional order and rule of law" in the west African country. (Image/Inputs - AP) READ: Mali President Keita Faces Possible Deportation To Senegal After Coup: Report READ: Mali Mutiny: World Leaders Urge Ruling Junta To Release President Keita, PM Cisse CAMBRIDGE Two pot shops may soon open on Main Street in downtown Galt even though the city was hoping to keep them out of the core. Brian Garner, owner of Caribbean Oxygen on Main Street, said his landlord was thrilled to see a new business fill her empty storefront. Garner said he knows many Galt residents are eager to see a legal cannabis shop within walking distance. I think this will help bring people to the area, Garner said. But the City of Cambridge did not agree when it asked the Alcohol and Gaming Commission to reject Garners application earlier this year. Garner wasnt sure what to think about the citys reaction. He did not receive any complaints from nearby businesses or residents during the early stages of his application process. The city sent Garner a letter detailing all the reasons it did not want a cannabis retail shop in the downtown core. He said reasons included: proximity to an addiction treatment centre at 150 Main St., a Conestoga College campus and two driver training schools, among others. All of these are outside the criteria of the AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario), Garner said, noting these locations were all outside the 150-metre radius dictated by the agency. Garner said he addressed the citys concerns after speaking with the agency. The AGCO compliance officer he worked with told him Cambridge had been tough on other cannabis retail operators wanting to set up shop in Cambridge. My understanding is they were giving everyone a hard time, Garner added. Even though Cambridge agreed to opt in to allow pot shops within city limits, the city has been clear that it does not want to have pot shops in any of the citys core areas. Last year, the commission recommended that all municipalities adopt a cannabis retail policy, which would outline what the municipality considers to be local sensitive issues to consider when the AGCO evaluates a proposed cannabis retail location. In Cambridges policy, the city states it does not want pot shops in the citys core areas. Other local concerns in the policy include proximity to community centres and city parks. Business owners in the core areas have had a lot of stress between the impacts of the pandemic, some of the social issues we have been seeing, and on Main Street, there has been recent construction work, Mayor Kathryn McGarry said in an emailed statement to The Record. The feedback I have been receiving from businesses and nearby residents since the legalization of cannabis has primarily been that they do not wish to have cannabis retail stores located in downtown cores. Garner said he faced another challenge by the city when his building permit was delayed. He said he waited longer than others who applied at the same time. Maybe it was because of COVID, he said. It was a challenge, but they got me the permit. Despite the citys attempts at stopping Garner, he says his store is on track to get the green light from the AGCO soon. He hopes to open this fall. Garner said he hopes peoples misconceptions about legal cannabis operations will change. He wants to contribute to Galts revitalization and said legal pot shops can drive foot traffic to the struggling core. He has lived in the city for more than two decades. He raised his family here, and now he wants to open a business in a downtown that he loves and says has the feel of Montreal. Were trying to make it look like the Apple store, Garner said. Were going to do this responsibly. The regions first cannabis retail shop opened on Pinebush Road in Cambridge earlier this year, 18 months after the drug was legalized. Another new Cambridge pot shop opened just last month on Holiday Inn Drive. There appears to be a cannabis retail boom in the region with 27 applications currently in progress with the AGCO. Eight of those are in Cambridge, including one at 51 Main St., less than 200 metres down the street from Garners shop. Landlords who own property near this proposed location worry a pot shop on their block will deter new businesses and shoppers from the downtown. Terry Polyak owns a handful of properties on Main Street between Ainslie and Water streets, and said this strip of downtown has many empty storefronts and sees a lot of nefarious activity. It has a reputation as a fragile downtown, he explained. It is at the brink of revitalization. He is referring to the opioid crisis that Cambridge, like many cities across the country, is grappling with. The picturesque historic buildings and skyline dotted with church spires that define downtown Galt are now the backdrop to a homelessness and drug crisis that has pitted harm reduction advocates against businesses owners and residents who want to see the downtown cleaned up. The empty storefront at 51 Main St. may soon be home to a cannabis retail store called True North Cannabis Co. according to the application submitted to the AGCO. This proposed location is under public notice until Sept. 1., which means city residents can submit comments on whether or they think the proposed location is in the public interest. Polyak and other area property owners have submitted comments about the 51 Main St. proposal to the AGCO, and said they are encouraging others to do the same. The City of Cambridge said it also submitted comments to the AGCO and has requested that the agency not approve the location, which is 149 metres from a private school and daycare. Main Street property owner Eugene Chan said the unknown operator of this location placed a public notice sign on the back door, and no one on the street knew about it until Chan spotted it earlier this week. The sign shouldnt be in the back facing a parking lot, Chan said. It is not allowing for community consultation. But the lack of information about this particular proposed new location isnt the only thing worrying Chan and Polyak. Polyak thinks any cannabis shop in the downtown core will deter developers, businesses and residents alike as downtown Galt tries to revitalize and bring more shoppers to the core. This area is just re-emerging as a shopping street, Polyak added. I am indifferent to pot shops, but this particular location is not an appropriate one. The operator of the proposed store at 51 Main St. could not be reached for comment. Kitchener has one cannabis shop on Fairway Road with 11 more applications being evaluated by the AGCO, including three for downtown locations. Waterloo has one store in operation on King Street in uptown Waterloo, with eight applications in progress. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 28 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: The value of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Sweden amounted to $84.6 million over 1H2020, compared to $168.9 million during the same period of 2019, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Statistics Committee. The share of Sweden in the total value of Kazakhstans trade turnover stood at 0.2 percent during the reporting period compared to 0.4 percent during the same period of 2019. Kazakhstans export to Sweden amounted to $14.5 million over the period from January through June 2020, compared to $97 million during the same period of 2019. Swedens share in the total volume of Kazakhstans export also amounted to 0.1 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 0.3 percent during the same period of 2019. In turn, Kazakhstans imports from Sweden stood at about $70.06 million over the reporting period, compared to $71.9 million during the same period of 2019. Swedens share in the total volume of Kazakhstans import amounted to 0.4 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 0.4 percent during the same period of 2019. The total volume of Kazakhstans trade turnover amounted to $42.5 billion over the period from Jan. through June 2020 which indicates a decrease from $46.1 billion during the same period of 2019. Kazakhstans export amounted to $26 billion during the reporting period of 2020 ($28.6 billion in the same period of 2019), whereas import amounted to $16.5 billion ($17.5 billion in 2019). --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh Q. This picture has just been passed on to me. It hung in my grandparents farmhouse in Amherstburg, Ont., when I was small, in 1940, but nothing else is known about it. The frame is 48 x 58.5 centimetres (19 x 23 inches) and looks like leather on wood. There is a little damage. I would be very pleased with any information. Thank you. Phyllis, Cambridge A. Your circa-1890 pastoral scene picture, with horses and cattle wading in a river, is quite folky and contrasts well with the very dramatic and original frame that houses it. The frame is actually papier mache made with layers of paper glued together, pressed and then moulded into the high-relief grapevine. The layered technique was developed in the late 1700s by Henry Clay, in Birmingham, England, where the company of Jennens and Bettridge made items commercially many of which were exported to North America. About 1850 the Litchfield Manufacturing Company of Connecticut started producing items until around 1900. Your dramatic frame and folk art together make a competitive piece of artwork for collectors which is worth about $150. Q. This oil lamp recently caught my eye through an online auction, and I bought it for $10. It is 26 cm tall and quite heavy. Although it has a chip on the foot, it is pretty clean otherwise. Up and inside the foot, where the stem starts to flare out, there is quite a rough circle of glass. It rings when you pick it up quickly off a table top. Im not worried about my investment Im just wondering what I bought. I will have to find a chimney of some sort for it. Thanks for looking. Sandra, Tillsonburg, Ont. A. You have a piece of Horn of Plenty pattern glass made and sold by the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company in Massachusetts from 1845 to about 1870. It was an important early enterprise and their products have been avidly collected over the years. Its popularity, from as early as the 1930s, led 20th-century glass companies to reproduce it but yours is authentic. Lead content accounts for the heavy weight, the sound resonance and the clarity and brilliance. The rough circle you describe is the pontil mark where the blowpipe was attached to make the bottom half of the lamp. It is made in two parts joined by a thin layer (blob) of molten glass which is obvious with a closer look. The shape is characteristic of fluid or whale oil lamps which predate kerosene oil lamps. It had only a special burner and no chimney originally. In spite of the chip it is well worth $75 today. Q. We bought this old table at a garage sale 12 years ago for $20. At that time it was in poor shape. We replaced the finish with a protective coating and reglued the legs. It appears to be predominantly mahogany with a veneer on top and a bookend seam down the middle. The legs have brass feet and casters. It measures 53 cm high x 122 long and 46 wide (21 x 48 x 18 inches). I can find no manufacturers stamp or mark anywhere. It does seem tall by todays standard coffee table height. Would you know of its likely history and value? Thanks. Tim, Ottawa A. You did a fine job refinishing this double pedestal Duncan Phyfe-style table. The brass leg toes in paw form are typical of the style. The larger size suits modern-day tastes for larger coffee tables and the book-matched mahogany veneer always adds appeal. The tops crossbanded edge contrasts nicely with the centre. The legs are machine-dovetailed into the pedestal in a similar fashion from early tables of the 18th and 19th centuries and it just predates todays more desirable Mid-Century Modern designs of the 1950s but is still a handsome example. Some heavy trade catalogue research might reveal a southern Ontario or Quebec manufacture. It is worth $175. The system of cooperative ties dates to the 1993-95 Oslo accords and has served both parties. Israel collects taxes and import duties that account for almost two-thirds of the Palestinian Authoritys monthly revenue. Palestinian police coordinate with the Israeli military units active in the West Bank to minimize the potential for violence. Agencies on both sides process work and travel permits that allow patients to seek treatment in Israeli hospitals and tens of thousands of workers to take jobs on the Israeli side of the checkpoints. A petition was created last week that urged the Robbinsville Township officials to remove the Thin Blue Line police support flag flying in front of the police department and courthouse. The creator of the petition, Melissa Reily, said she supports police but doesnt like what she feels the flag now represents, especially after the town passed a resolution last month in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. BERLIN -- European Union foreign ministers have agreed to impose sanctions on up to 20 senior Belarusian officials suspected of involvement in election fraud and a brutal crackdown against protesters since the country's disputed August 9 presidential election. The ministers did not rule out that Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka will be among those named on the sanctions list if the country doesnt cease human rights violations. Meanwhile, on August 28, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) offered to mediate between Lukashenka's government and opposition leaders who charge that the presidential election was rigged in favor of Lukashenka. In another diplomatic gesture on August 28, the missions of the United States, the EU, Switzerland, and Britain issued a joint statement saying they stand in solidarity with the people of Belarus and their determination to seek democratic change. The statement condemned brutal and disproportionate use of force by the law enforcement authorities against peaceful protesters and ordinary citizens and urged the Belarusian authorities to stop the violence and threats to use military force and release all people unlawfully detained. Belarus has experienced nearly three weeks of unprecedented protests since the election gave Lukashenka a landslide victory. More than 7,000 people have been detained, hundreds have been injured, and at least three killed. More large-scale protests are planned over the weekend. EU diplomats are not naming who may be put on the sanctions list, saying every step will follow legal and formal procedures. Asked if Lukashenka is on the list, Swedens foreign minister said that EU diplomats are using the term high political level to describe those whom the sanctions will target. We have also decided to have an option to gradually expand the list in the future, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde told RFE/RL. The EU foreign ministers were seeking in Berlin to gain political endorsements for a proposed sanctions list. Their agreement on the list allows for the formal approval of EU sanctions against targeted individuals. Western countries are trying to find a political solution to end the crisis, which has raised concerns Lukashenka will unleash a bloody crackdown or Russia may intervene. Current OSCE chair, Albanian Foreign Minister Edi Rama, told a special session of the Vienna-based body on August 28 that the situation is "deeply alarming as he urged Belarus to allow a delegation to visit the country. Linde, who is incoming chair of the OSCE, told RFE/RL that there was political support for an OSCE visit to Belarus to support an open and constructive dialogue in the country. There is almost a uniform backing for the initiative by the current and the next chairs of the OSCE -- in other words Albania and Sweden -- to try to arrange a visit to Minsk in order to facilitate a dialogue between the opposition and the regime, Linde said. Lukashenka has accused the West of waging a "diplomatic war" against Belarus, claiming that Western powers are seeking to foment a "color revolution." He also put the military on high-alert, using the army to intimidate protesters while accusing NATO of amassing forces near the Belarus-Poland border in recent weeks. The alliance has denied it poses any threat. Lukashenka continued his tirades against the West on August 28, trying to tie his own fate as Belaruss ruler to Russias security. "Belarus is just a springboard to Russia, as always," he said. "Unlike Hitler, who sent his army to Moscow, they are trying to destroy the government in place here and replace it with a new one that will ask another country for military assistance and deploy troops." Deploying Russian forces to Belarus would be a mistake, said Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the self-exiled former presidential candidate who has become an unlikely leader of the Belarusian opposition. "This is our internal problem, an internal issue that Belarusians must resolve with the Belarusian government," Tsikhanouskaya told RFE/RL from Vilnius, where she fled amid threats to her family. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun on August 28 said it is "clear to the world" that the recent presidential election in Belarus was "fraudulent." "This is not a contest between East and West, and certainly not a contest between Russia and the United States," Biegun tweeted. "This is a battle between a ruler and his own people." With reporting by Rikard Jozwiak in Berlin, RFE/RL's Belarus Service, Current Time, Reuters, AP, TASS, Interfax, dpa, AFP, and Tut.by Sweden finally seems willing to confront the abuses committed against its minorities over centuries. A Truth and Reconciliation Commission has been at work since June 2020 for the Tornedalians, a minority of Finnish origin, while at the end of September or early October the Sami Parliament would launch a preparatory phase for the opening of a second truth commission. With the truth commission, were not there yet, says Matti Berg, a Sami MP leading a working group in the Sami Parliament (Sametinget) on the truth commission. Were going to start by examining the conditions for establishing such a commission. First we will talk to the inhabitants of Sapmi (Lapland), from north to south, and discuss what mandate we should give such a commission. Because we are doing this for the people, for the Sami, not for politicians or the Sami Parliament. If the Truth Commission project only serves to shed light on history, it makes no sense to us, says reindeer herder Anders Kraik, a Sami MP in the four-member working group with Matti Berg. We need to strengthen our rights and give the Sami influence over decisions on Sami lands, instead of being told to go to court if there are disputes with mining companies. A Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the Tornedalians and a planned commission for the Sami, these ideas have long been maturing in Sweden. They are rooted in the work of the Lutheran Church in the early 1990s to include the Sami in parish life at a time when the Church was preparing to separate from the State. This was done in 2000. In the wake of that, the Sami youth organization Saminuorra launched a first project in 2007 to work for a truth commission, but without immediate success. 2016 White Paper Momentum increased in 2012 when the Church launched a White Paper Project on the Church of Sweden and the Sami. This report, containing two volumes of 1,200 pages, was published in April 2016. Written by several dozen academics, the White Paper reviews the role of pastors, who helped Swedens colonisation of Lapland from the 17th century onwards, fighting against the beliefs of the Sami shamanism was fought as a manifestation of evil and forcibly converting them to Christianity. This White Paper pointed to a lack of profound questioning of the Swedish state, whereas Sami and international bodies like the Council of Europe and the UN rapporteur on indigenous peoples regularly criticise Sweden for failing to ensure that the rights of the Sami in Lapland are respected. The reindeer husbandry practised by the Sami is increasingly threatened by industrial activities developed without consulting them. This White Paper also marked the start of reflections by the Sami and the Tornedalians concerning justice for abuses they have suffered or are still suffering. The Tornedalians, who were quicker to initiate the process, are a less visible and less well-known minority. They were granted national minority status in 1999 at the same time as the Sami, Skogfinns (or Swedish Finns), Jews and Roma, while their languages Meankieli, Sami, Finnish, Yiddish and Romani were recognised as minority languages. A group of Swedes denouncing the industrial exploitation of the Sami peoples land as an extension of the historical abuses against this aboriginal minority. Olivier Truc Skull measurements For the Tornedalians, the idea of a truth commission was born in 2016, at the initiative of their Federation. The Ministry of Culture funded a preliminary study, published in 2018. It explains how the Swedish state, from the 1880s onwards, practised a policy of forced Swedish-ization. It was not until 1957 that the ban on speaking Meankieli at break time was lifted in Swedish schools. Measuring skulls, one of the most blatant expressions of the eugenics policy practised in Sweden from the 1920s including on the Sami, was practised until 1951. Since 11 June this year, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the Tornedalians, Kvenes and Lantalainen has been in place. It is composed of two historians, a linguist, a minority lawyer from the Swedish Lutheran Church, a researcher in international law and two members of the Tornedalian community. Headed by Elisabet Fura, former Chief Ombudsman of the Parliament and judge at the European Court of Human Rights, the commission is to report on its work by 16 May 2022. The commission is to examine the policy of assimilation and its consequences for the minority, groups within the minority and individuals, disseminate information about their history and submit proposals to help bring about reparation and promote reconciliation. Suicides among reindeer herders In 2016, the Sami Parliament published a report on Sami mental health, at a time when there were a high number of suicides among young reindeer herders feeling they had no future and seeing their land eaten away by industries. Many Swedes see their country as being of one people, one culture, one history, one language. Not so for the Samis. They are an indigenous people who benefit from this international status, the only indigenous people in the European Union, present in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia, with a population estimated at over 100,000. While reindeer husbandry is the hallmark of their culture, only ten per cent of them make a living from it. Swedens Sami Parliament, set up in 1993 to represent the kingdoms 20,000 to 30,000 Sami (out of ten million inhabitants), organized a round table at the end of 2016 with experts from truth commissions such as Peruvian Eduardo Gonzalez Cueva and Austrian Gerhard Baumgartner. From this consultation came the Sami demand, which proceeded in stages: in June 2019, the Sami Parliament of Sweden sent a request for support for a preliminary study on the establishment of a Truth Commission. In spring 2020, the government allocated SEK 1.2 million (EUR 115,000) for this study. Recommended reading Indigenous Peoples: The Norwegian Truth Commission's timid first steps Truth first, reconciliation later There is a lack of knowledge of history that also contributes to the racism we see in Sweden today, says Swedish Culture Minister Amanda Lind, a member of the Greens. The government must take responsibility for the injustices that have been committed. We are aware of international criticism that we are not living up to the conventions. This is why, independently of this commission, we are working, for example, to improve access to the Sami languages and procedures for consulting Sami bodies when projects affect them. In fact, there have been numerous court cases in recent decades pitting reindeer herders against mining companies, farmers or forest owners, and even recently against the State in a high-profile trial on hunting and fishing rights, where for the first time the Sami won before the Supreme Court. All these trials have over time undermined the situation of the Sami on what they consider to be their territory, even as the same Swedish state is supporting indigenous populations elsewhere in the world. This has led to accusations that the Swedish government has double standards. For the Sami, the current process is only about a truth commission, it is a first step, and it is a wish of the Sami themselves, says Lind. The reconciliation aspect, she says, will come later, depending on what emerges from this first phase. Setting up a commission is a Swedish speciality for burying difficult issues, says Matti Berg. Well see, but were part of the answer, so its up to us to make sure this commission serves a purpose. David Jessen had planned for this moment his whole life. On Aug. 21, forty-foot tall wildfire flames from the CZU August Lightning Complex fire had reached the edge of his farm and everyone was in position to fight. He manned the three 5,000 gallon water tanks. His wife was in charge of the generator. Six others spread out with shovels, hoses and other materials to fight spot fires. One of the volunteers even brought his own water truck. The fire came around finally and it did exactly what it was meant to do. It was a textbook burn, said Natalia Jessen Flechsig, Jessens daughter. The eight of them worked and saved the property. The fire burned all around them. No structures were burned and there were no injuries, she said. The property in Boony Doon, known as the Deerhaven Herb & Flower Farm, has more than 8,000 lavender plants, which also survived the flames. Cal Fire does not recommend staying to protect your property when there is an evacuation. We always advocate that you need to evacuate. Five people have died this year, said Cal Fire spokesperson Scott McLean. These fires move so fast. Mikala Kaaihue Laine Jessen had worked with Cal Fire in years past to put in prevention measures to protect the property each year, especially after their farm burned down in the 2008 Martin Fire. There were large fire breaks around the property line every year, in addition to the water tanks and generators. With Cal Fire resources stretched thin this year due to multiple wildfires burning across Northern California, Jessen Flechsig said there were long periods of time when the locals really held down the fort. She said theyve been putting out spot fires, feeding community members and opening up their property as a safe place to gather since Aug. 17. Now that the fire is more under control she said the family has been working with Cal Fire to help, especially since they know the area so well. A lot of us up there are multigenerational, Jessen Flechsig said. We know [the area] really well. Its a complicated topography. Its handy to have us around. Were willing to work with Cal Fire so we can stay there safely. Natalia Jessen Flechsig Theyre still on the lookout for spot fires, which could keep popping up due to smoldering embers. Theyre also keeping an eye out for looters, who have been capitalizing on the empty homes. As of publishing, 799 structures have been destroyed in the fire. Of those, 545 are confirmed single-family residences. Of the total structures, 11 are in San Mateo County and 788 in Santa Cruz County. More than 13,000 structures remain threatened. But Jessen Flechsig said its already time to think about rebuilding. Were fundraising for our community, she said. There are so many needs. How do we care for the children who were already distance learning and now they lost their homes? Could we get portable cell phone towers up here to improve communication? Since its early in the wildfire season, she said theyre also already thinking about how to prevent the next fire. Were looking at fire prevention for the future, she said. How can we make some changes so this doesnt happen again? Tessa McLean is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her at tessa.mclean@sfgate.com or follow her on Twitter @mcleantessa. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- It will be an unusual school year when New York City students, teachers and staff return to classrooms for the first time since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shuttered school buildings in March. The citys public school students are slated to return -- under a tentative Sept. 10 start date -- to school buildings part-time under a blended learning model, or will learn at home remotely full-time. No matter which option they choose, they will be learning five days a week, Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza wrote in a letter to families last week. Students who choose blended learning will learn in smaller in-person class sizes to adhere to social distancing protocols. They will be required to wear a face covering while in school and on a school bus, and they may be subject to random temperature screenings upon arrival. In this learning model, students will rotate in groups between in-person and remote learning. For students who choose full-time remote learning, synchronous and asynchronous instruction will be provided. Synchronous learning refers to real-time remote learning, or live instruction via technology. Asynchronous learning is self-paced learning without real-time instruction. The same system will be in place for students within the blended learning model on their designated remote days. *** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK *** The city Department of Education (DOE) is adapting and strengthening its practices, investing in technology required to provide a quality online experience, and working with teachers to develop their skills as online instructors, Carranza said. Curriculum is being updated to reflect the blended online and in-person model and to ensure the guidelines and curriculum include social-emotional learning and mental health supports, he added. We will continue to lead with the lens of equity and excellence, giving your child what they need to excel and recognizing the ways that will be different from each of their classmates, especially in a time of crisis, Carranza said in the letter. Heres a look at what you need to know for the 2020-2021 school year. Will school buildings open? School buildings will only open if the citys rate of positive coronavirus tests is less than 3% using a seven-day rolling average. Though New York Citys infection rate cannot rise above 3%, the states threshold is 5%. If new coronavirus cases surpass the 3% threshold using a seven-day rolling average, all schools in New York City will need to close. One confirmed coronavirus case in a classroom, or at least two cases linked together in the same classroom, would be enough to quarantine an entire classroom for 14 days. At least two cases in the school in separate classrooms would shutter the entire building, quarantining all classrooms for 14 days. Students would be required to stay in pods together throughout the day as much as possible, and limit contact with other classrooms to contain any potential spread of the virus to other parts of the school. Classroom sizes will be slashed by at least half, with student desks spaced apart for social distancing. Signage promoting mask usage, hand hygiene, social distancing and other protective measures will be displayed throughout school buildings, including in hallways and classrooms. Every school will receive backpack sprays, or an electrostatic disinfect, to thoroughly disinfect schools every night. The DOE also will supply schools with cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE), like face coverings. How many students are learning remotely full time? According to the DOEs most recent learning preference survey results, 66% of New York City public school students (not including charter schools) requested blended learning -- which is a mix of in-person and remote learning. That means over 660,000 students requested to learn in-person partially -- while over 330,000 students requested to learn remotely full-time. In Staten Islands District 31, 27% of students requested to learn remotely full-time -- which means nearly three-quarters of students will return to their borough schools for blended learning. The percentage of students participating in remote and blended learning is subject to change, as families can opt into remote learning at any time, and can opt into blended learning at certain points throughout the school year. Families are able to choose full-time remote learning at any point by filling out this survey at www.nycenet.edu/surveys/learningpreference. Will face coverings be required? The DOE said it will follow the guidance of local, state and federal health experts when it comes to requiring mask usage for both students and staff during in-person learning. Face coverings will be required inside school buildings -- even in buildings without air conditioning. Exceptions to wearing face coverings will be developmentally- and age-appropriate, consistent with guidance of health agencies. They will be paired with increased PPE for staff. The DOE will procure and distribute appropriate PPE for students and staff to use when inside school buildings. They can also bring their own face coverings. Students who cant tolerate a face-covering medically, including situations in which students with such coverings would harm their physical or mental health, will not be subject to wearing one. The DOE has repeatedly stated that it will strongly encourage students to wear a facial covering at all times and provide age-appropriate lessons to students regarding the importance of mask-wearing. When asked what would happen if some students continually refused to wear a face covering in school, the DOE said that those students would be required to transition to a fully remote learning model. We take the health and safety of our students and staff extremely seriously, and have been clear that face coverings will be required unless an individual is unable to wear one due to a medical or developmental accommodation. We will clearly communicate to families that a student who repeatedly refuses to wear a face covering will transition to remote learning, and our focus will continue to be on educating our communities about the importance of this life-saving measure, including age appropriate lessons for all students, said DOE spokesman Nathaniel Styer. The department emphasized that students being sent home or required to transition to remote learning would not be considered a disciplinary action, but rather a health and safety measure, and would in no way impact a students grades or ability to continue learning remotely. Will there be health screenings? When students and staff arrive each day to school they will be randomly selected for temperature checks every morning and will be required to check their own temperature before going to school, according to the DOEs reopening plan. Students and staff will not be allowed to go to school if they have one or more of the following: a temperature greater than 100 degrees; coronavirus symptoms; a positive coronavirus test. In addition, those who have traveled internationally or to a high-infection state in the last 14 days will not be admitted.. The DOE said it will purchase a thermometer for any family who needs one. DOE employees will pre-screen themselves before heading to a department building using an Online Health Screening Application. Upon entering, the employee will be asked to provide the results of his or her screening by showing an email on a phone or a printout of results. What will instruction look like? Live instruction will be provided for fully remote learners and students participating in the blended learning model when they are remote learning. However, the live instruction will not be from a childs classroom, instead a different teacher will be providing the lessons online in real-time. This real-time instruction will be delivered in short intervals -- 15 to 20 consecutive minutes -- throughout the day for the youngest learners, and may increase based on developmental appropriateness and grade level, according to the DOE. Class schedules and schedules for live instruction for all students, including fully remote students and those participating in blended learning, will be posted online for families and students. To facilitate remote learning, students can access multiple educational applications -- such as G Suite, Microsoft O365, and Zoom -- using secure central accounts. Schools should ensure their students have DOE student accounts. Students engaged in remote learning full-time must meet the same academic policies as students engaged in blended learning, which means students will be graded the same. This mom, Jackie Campbell, was able to get a computer at PS 44 in Mariners Harbor on March 19, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) How will students use devices? Students who are participating in blended learning and who received a DOE-issued device at the end of the 2019-2020 school year are expected to bring that device to school for the 2020-2021 school year. In April, the DOE partnered with Apple, T-Mobile, and other public and private companies to provide more than 300,000 LTE-enable devices to public school students who did not have access to one at home so they could participate in remote learning. According to the city, the DOE has been able to fulfill device requests as they come in, and does not anticipate a backlog this coming school year. In September, children who may be entering a new school, such as moving from an elementary school to an intermediate school, should bring their DOE-issued device to their new school. If a student still needs a device at that time, the school will return the old device to the previous schools inventory and issue a new one. If your child does not have access to a device at home or internet access, you can request an internet-enabled device through the DOE. Parents should contact their childs school, as well as fill out the iPad Distribution form on the DOEs website; the form will ask if youre in need of a device, WiFi access, or both. What if a student exhibits coronavirus symptoms? The DOEs reopening plan includes guidance should a student exhibit coronavirus symptoms during the school day. Each public school building will have an isolation room, according to the plan submitted by the city to the state and confirmed by the DOE. An isolation room is a place where a student with suspected COVID-19 symptoms can be safely isolated in the building, and where they can be seen by a health-care professional and/or picked up by a guardian, the plan states. DOE spokesman Nathaniel Styer told the Advance/SILive.com that the safety and health of students and staff have guided the departments reopening plan and are the top concern. If someone feels ill at school we will follow strict protocols when responding, and we are guaranteeing that every school will have a nurse on staff this year, Styer said. Should a student exhibit coronavirus symptoms -- such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, lack of taste or smell, or other symptoms -- he or she will be escorted to the schools isolation room. The student will then be evaluated by a nurse or health-care professional. Should the nurse/health professional be unavailable to examine the student, or if a school does not have a nurse or access to a health professional at that time, the student must wait in the isolation room until picked up, according to the DOE reopening plan. Each school will only have just one isolation room, according to the city. So if multiple students need to be isolated after showing COVID-19 symptoms, they will be sent to the same room. The isolation room will be set up to be comfortable and allow for social distancing, the city said. Anybody entering the isolation room will be required to wear appropriate PPE. You can go here to learn what steps are taken for a student to return to school after showing coronavirus symptoms. Will schools have enough ventilation and air circulation? The city DOE said it is making improvements to its HVAC systems to improve air circulation, as well as replace regular air filters with higher efficiency filters. Additionally, air conditioning units will be identified and repaired, and other physical adjustments will be made to buildings in order to increase airflow. To ensure proper airflow, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that inspectors will perform ventilation checks in schools across the city. Every space occupied by students and staff in a school building will be inspected, according to a news release from the mayors office. School maintenance professionals have inspected buildings to identify repairs and improvements that could increase ventilation. The independent School Ventilation Action Team inspections will provide further information on the buildings air circulation. From there, staff with the citys School Construction Authority (SCA), along with agencies like the city Buildings Department and FDNY, will ensure all building space is ready for occupancy. In addition to opening school windows, the DOE purchased 10,000 portable air purifiers to be placed in schools by the first day. Each school building will be provided a device to measure carbon dioxide to determine how much fresh air is in a room. Will kids learn outside? Students and teachers could also be learning outside this school year. City agencies are working with school principals to facilitate outdoor learning options, de Blasio said. Schools can use their own, on-site yards, as well as securing space in parks and streets near their campus to create outdoor learning areas. Schools can continue to submit their plan, which will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The program is open to all public, charter and private schools, as well as the free child-care program, Learning Bridges. New York City schools can apply to use their outdoor spaces during the 2020-2021 school year. An example could be this new outdoor classroom area recently completed at Markham Intermediate School (I.S. 51), Graniteville. (Staten Island Advance/Annalise Knudson) Where will students eat breakfast and lunch? Grab-and-go meals will be available for breakfast and lunch each day, though students will be permitted to bring their own lunch. Lunch will likely be in classrooms to minimize interaction between groups of students. Grab-and-go meals will be delivered to students in 3-K to kindergarten classrooms, and pickup points within the school will be designated for students in grades one to 12. After eating, students and staff will wipe down the area. Students will be advised to not share food or drinks with other students. The reopening plan does not specifically state that cafeterias cannot be used for meals. If the cafeteria must be used, schools must maintain appropriate physical distancing, it says. Students not receiving in-person instruction on a given day can pick up lunch from their own school or an identified school building near their home. What are the options for transportation? New York City has acknowledged that the ongoing health crisis may inhibit the city from providing bus transportation for the full number of students who typically use the service. It is widely recognized that the current pandemic presents unique challenges to providing school bus service, and that it may not be possible to provide service in all cases, according to the citys reopening plan. The DOE said it will attempt to provide transportation to all students, to the extent possible, but limitations related to the pandemic may alter its ability to do so using traditional school bus service. Because of this unique situation, it may not be possible to provide transportation through a conventional mode such as a bus, and may require other modes to be employed to satisfy transportation needs, such as MetroCard, according to the plan. As a result, the DOE is encouraging families to plan to provide their children with transportation to and from school, whenever possible. For now, it remains unclear as to how many students the DOE will be able to transport via school bus and which students will be eligible for that service, leaving parents in a holding pattern as they attempt to plan their childs return to school. When recently asked earlier this month when such a decision would be made, the DOE could not provide a specific timeline, simply noting that parents will be made aware of their childs transportation options prior to the start of school. The DOE has implemented for anyone riding on a school bus, all students will be required to wear an acceptable face covering at all times, including while entering, exiting and while seated. In the event a child doesnt have a face covering when attempting to board a bus, face coverings will be available onboard. Students must maintain appropriate social distancing while on the bus, unless they are members of the same household. If students take the yellow school bus in New York City, they will be required to wear a face mask. (J. Scott Park | MLive.com)J. Scott Park | MLive.com What about child care? Some full-time working parents are scrambling for more information on the citys free child-care program, Learning Bridges, which will provide care to 100,000 kids from 3-K to eighth grade this fall. De Blasio said the city is working to have as many seats as possible ready for the first day of school, with capacity building out over time. The program would provide relief to families who cant stay home or find alternate care for their kids on days they arent in school buildings. Learning Bridges programming across the city will consist of no more than 15 children per room under health and safety guidelines. And the students will be supervised by city staffers and provided care, tutoring assistance, as well as recreational activities, arts and local field trips -- when possible. The city said the program will be operated by community-based organizations and other partners, and will provide students opportunities to connect to their remote learning activities. The DOE asked those parents and guardians interested in free child care on remote learning days to fill out a survey to guide the citys planning for the fall. The survey asks parents what grade their child will be entering in the 2020-2021 school year and how many days per week care would be needed for the child or children in the household. You can fill out the survey here. Families can expect information about placement in the coming weeks. Locations and additional details havent yet been announced. Could there be a teacher strike? The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) union, which represents New York City teachers, announced that no school in all five boroughs should open during the coronavirus pandemic unless it meets all criteria in the unions School Safety Report -- which sets standards for cleaning supplies, PPE, testing and more. The union is strongly recommending that adults and children should receive antibody testing. If a person doesnt have antibodies, he or she should be required to receive a negative diagnostic COVID-19 test 10 days prior to the start of school in order to return to a school building. Those who test positive for coronavirus would attend school remotely. If a school is not deemed safe, UFT President Michael Mulgrew said the union is prepared to go to court and to take action -- even if the court determines the union is breaking the Taylor Law, which defines the rights and limitations of unions for public employees in New York. That means the union could go on strike, Mulgrew said. If a court determines we are breaking the Taylor Law, so be it, he said. We have promised the teachers and the parents of New York City that we would stand and fight if we felt a school was unsafe, and that is a promise we are going to keep. Related stories: NYC opened schools during 1918 pandemic. Heres how it worked Sending your kids back to school? Tips from experts on how to keep them safe. Coronavirus: Reopening plans for Staten Island charter schools NYC teachers push for schools to stay closed come fall 2020-2021 school year in NYC: Guidelines on gym, music and more Coronavirus: How NYC plans to safely reopen schools in fall 2020-2021 academic year: Reopening plans for schools across Staten Island NYC schools reopening: State guidelines for special education The Catholic elementary school reopening plan: Face masks, temperature checks and more NYC schools reopening: Transportation plan for students remains unclear 2020-2021 academic year: Reopening plans for schools across Staten Island Returning to school: NYC to improve air circulation in classrooms With or without air conditioning, face masks will be required in Staten Island classrooms FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. Neymar and Di Maria call Messi to persuade him to join PSG FC Barcelona - La Liga Would prefer a move to Manchester City There is serious interest in Lionel Messi from Paris Saint-Germain, so much so that Neymar and Angel Di Maria have been in touch with the Blaugrana captain. Sporting director Leonardo has already met with the Argentine's representatives to talk about the project in Paris. For the moment, Messi would prefer to join Manchester City, but that's not stopping PSG's players from trying to convince him otherwise. According to Le Parisien, Neymar and Di Maria have made contact with their good friend in an attempt to persuade him to move to the Parc des Princes. The pair have played with Messi for club and country, and their presence in the PSG dressing room would make it easy for the forward to settle in should he move there. Several countries have toughened entry quarantine for travelers from Korea due to a resurgence of coronavirus infections here. According to the Foreign Ministry on Thursday, Taiwan has removed Korea from a list of mid to low-risk countries. That means arrivals from Korea now have to be quarantined for 14 days instead of seven. Taiwanese health authorities pointed out that the Korean government has announced that the cases have yet to peak, posing "risks of a wider spread." Singapore also changed the rules to require Korean visitors to remain quarantined for 14 days at government facilities rather than at home or in their hotel. The measure applies even to travelers who merely transited through Korea. Meanwhile, a charter flight that was to take owners of small and medium-sized businesses to the Chinese city of Chongqing on Friday has been canceled by the Civil Aviation Administration of China due to the rising infections in Korea. And Korean Americans traveling to Korea on American Airlines must now present negative COVID-19 test results or they will be refused boarding. The Foreign Ministry in a statement on Thursday said the reason seems to be a misunderstanding of regulations by airline staff. The new restrictions are a blow for the Korean government, which had so far prided itself on how well it has managed to contain the epidemic. At present, 91 countries ban entry to Korean travelers. A small-town Christian school in California has defied state and local health authorities by reopening for in-person instruction despite being in a county with a high rate of COVID-19. The schools efforts put it at the center of two legal cases that may set precedents for all of California as that state and others debate reopening schools amid the pandemic. Immanuel Schools , a 600-student K-12 institution in Reedley, Calif., this week successfully fought off a legal effort by Fresno County for a temporary restraining order that would put a stop to on-campus instruction that began Aug. 13. The school is also part of a larger legal effort challenging California Gov. Gavin Newsoms orders that limit school reopenings in the counties that have been on the states monitoring list for the previous 14 days. About 30 counties remain on the state list, including Fresno County. Immanuel Schools and several other private schools filed a petition for a writ of mandate directly in the California Supreme Court on Aug. 21, asking the states highest court to rule that the Democratic governor exceeded his authority under the state constitution and that his orders violated the state constitutional right to education and the right of private schools to contract. The state supreme court this week asked the state to respond to the schools request, as well as to a companion writ filed by two public school entities, the Orange County Board of Education and the Palm Lane Charter School in Anaheim. The state high court actions on behalf of both the private and public school litigants were filed by the same law firm, Tyler & Bursch of Murrieta, Calif. The governors decisions with regard to schools, both private and public, negatively affect students more than others, Jennifer Bursch, a partner with the firm, said in an interview. Every private school is dealing with a very difficult choice. That is, to risk the schools financial security in the future and potentially have to close their doors, or to open and deal with whatever comes next from the county or the state. The California battle is one more in a growing list of legal clashes over the reopening of schools amid COVID-19. They generally take two forms. The first involves efforts primarily by parents and private schools to get out from under state orders that bar or restrict in-person instruction, at least as coronavirus infections have swelled. The other involves states such as Florida and Iowa where Republican governors have sought to mandate the reopening of schools and faced opposition from teachers unions and other parties. A Florida state judge this week blocked that states effort to mandate most public schools reopen by Aug. 31. The state has appealed, but on Thursday, the trial judge lifted an automatic stay of his ruling, thus allowing Florida districts to decide for themselves whether to open schools or not. A Suggestion of Herd Immunity Immanuel Schools was founded in 1926 as a Bible school by the Mennonite Brethren Church. A high school opened in 1944, with junior high and elementary grades being added later, according to the schools website. For the majority of students, it is clear that an online education is not a substitute for an in-person, Christ-centered, relationally based classroom setting, Ryan Wood, the superintendent of Immanuel Schools, said in a statement this month. While the Public Health Departments attempt to protect us from COVID-19, the CDC and medical experts attest that they are creating new public health problems for our children by not allowing them on campus for learning. The school points out in court papers that it contracted with a clinical pathologist, Paul Atmajian, who conducted an antibody test for COVID-19 on 198 people at the school to assess herd immunity within the community. Through the antibody tests, Dr. Atmajian determined that at least 59 percent of petitioner Immanuel School had developed antibodies for COVID-19, the school said, adding that the pathologist adopted additional controls to reach a more reliable conclusion that the schools community possessed herd immunity. Fresno Countys health officer issued a written order on Aug. 13 for Immanuel Schools to remain closed, on penalty of civil fines of $1,000 per day. On Aug. 18, the acting state health officer wrote to Wood to say that by reopening contrary to state and county orders, Immanuel Schools are jeopardizing the health of Immanuel students, family, faculty, and staff, but also increasing the risk of community transmission in Fresno County. The states orders and directives, while representing a sacrifice for all Californians, are critical to reducing the spread of the virus and protecting the health of the school community and the broader Fresno County population, the letter said. They are also mandatory. Still, the school remained open. On Aug. 20, Fresno County sued Immanuel Schools in state court, seeking a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction that would bar the school from conducting in-person instruction. On Aug. 25, supporters of the school gathered outside the B.F. Sisk Courthouse in downtown Fresno as state Superior Court Judge D. Tyler Tharpe considered arguments on both sides for the temporary restraining order. At the end of the hearing, he denied the TRO. The county must make an affirmative factual showing and a declaration pertaining competent testimony based on personal knowledge of irreparable harm, immediate danger or any other steps or a basis for granting relief again on an ex parte basis. The court finds that the county has not made that showing thus far and it denies the issuance of a temporary restraining order, Tharpe said from the bench, according to several news accounts. Although the judge set a Sept. 15 hearing for the preliminary injunction, when the county can offer more extensive arguments for closing the school, the schools supporters rejoiced. Since returning to school on Aug.13, we have seen Gods hand move mightily on our campus and throughout our community, Wood, the private schools leader, said in a message on Facebook. Daniel C. Cederborg, the county counsel of Fresno County who sued Immanuel Schools to enforce state and county orders, said he is an evangelical Christian himself and understands the desire of private schools and their communities to go back to school. But he was skeptical of the schools assertions about having achieved herd immunity. The consensus is, we dont know enough yet to relieve the health orders, he said. Cederborg noted that the state supreme court has set an aggressive briefing schedule for the separate actions challenging the governors orders, with the states response to the two petitions for mandate due on Aug. 28 and a reply from the private school and public school litigants due on Sept. 1. My guess is that we will be getting a decision from the Supreme Court that will decide this statewide, he said. The chief executive of a leading environmental charity believes now is the time to double the 5p levy for plastic bags after it was revealed that 13m fewer bags were sold in 2019/20 compared to the previous year. (Ali Waggie/PA) The chief executive of a leading environmental charity believes now is the time to double the 5p levy for plastic bags after it was revealed that 13m fewer bags were sold in 2019/20 compared to the previous year. Between April 1, 2019, and March 31 this year, 80.5m bags were dispensed by retailers under the carrier bag levy. Since the 5p levy was introduced in 2012, the number of single use plastic bags being used has dropped from 300m. Yesterday's figures, which were released by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), revealed a 73.2% drop in plastic bag usage since 2012. A total of 4.4m was raised through the 5p charge in 2019/20 - a decrease of 0.2m the previous year. DAERA said that the decrease in sales can be attributed to a drop in the sales of 5p bags being sold (36.7%). However, the number of upper rate bags - those which have had a price added on by the retailer - increased by 27.6% between 2018/19 and 2019/20. The chief executive of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, Dr Ian Humphreys, said the 5p charge must be increased to act as a further deterrent in using plastic bags. "I've asked for this for some time in front of the Environment Committee at Stormont," he explained. "If you think about the levy in the south, which stands at least at 22 cents, we have a 5p levy and it's time we at least move that to 10p, if not 20p. "That would act as another deterrent for people to stop using these single use bags. I would be calling for at least a doubling of the levy. It hasn't moved in seven years. "We are seeing it continue to have an impact in reducing the number of bags but this would speed it up." Lynda Sullivan from Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland added that the charity welcomed the reduction in the use of plastic bags and believes it is down to increased awareness. She warned, however, that the Covid-19 pandemic has seen a rise in the usage of plastics. "There is a worrying trend towards single use items as a consequence of Covid-19, and we would urge institutions, schools and businesses to find alternative safe practices," continued Ms Sullivan. "Moreover, the Northern Ireland government needs to rapidly phase out all single use plastic sold in shops, moving to a total ban." Meanwhile, the leader of Green Party NI, Clare Bailey, added that the year on year drop in the sales of plastic bags is a welcome trend. New Delhi: With the 50-day period for depositing of demonetised notes expiring on December 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the nation before the dawn of the New Year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address the nation before dawn of the New Year, sources said. However, it was not clear as to whether he would address the nation on Friday or Saturday. In his address, the Prime Minister may speak about the roadmap post the demonetisation period especially on the steps likely to be taken to ease cash flow that has been a major problem ever since demonetisation took place. ALSO READ: (Currency ban destroyed terror funding, human-drug trafficking: PM Modi) He may also speak on the steps to deal with the problems the economy faces after the demonetisation was announced on November 8. The Prime Minister in his public meetings in the last few weeks has been urging the people to bear with the pain following the governments decision and that it would start easing gradually once the 50-day period is over. On Tuesday, Modi met economists and experts at a meeting in Niti Aayog to discuss the current economic situation. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. JOHANNESBURG, Aug 28 (Reuters) - South Africa has endured its worst power cuts on record this year, research by the country's national science council showed on Friday. The power cuts by ailing state utility Eskom are one of the biggest challenges facing President Cyril Ramaphosa as he tries to revive investor confidence in Africa's most industrialised economy. Analysis by South Africa's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) found that 1,498 Gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy had been shed so far in the first eight months of 2020, more than 1,352 GWh in the whole of last year and 1,325 GWh in 2015, the previous two worst years on record. The CSIR estimates planned power cuts, known locally as load-shedding, cost the economy up to 120 billion rand ($7.2 billion) last year. Eskom generates more than 90% of South Africa's power but has struggled to meet demand for years because of faults at its coal-fired power stations. Some of these stations have not been properly maintained and two new ones have been hobbled by design flaws. Ramaphosa has promised to break up Eskom to make it more efficient and has granted it a series of mammoth bailouts to stabilise its finances, but its problems have persisted. Eskom last implemented planned power cuts last week. The CSIR predicts load-shedding will continue for two to three years, depending on the actions the government takes to address the electricity shortfall. ($1 = 16.7032 rand) (Reporting by Alexander Winning; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) Hyundai Capital CEO Chung Tae-young Korea Times file The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a case against Jalaj Srivastava, a former Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), for fraudulently obtaining call detail records (CDRs) to help a tainted Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Sansar Chand and his wife Avinash Kaur, who were arrested by the probe agency in February 2018. At present, Srivastava is back with his parent cadre, Border Security Force (BSF) and is posted in Imphal, Manipur. Srivastava had allegedly obtained two CDRs in 2017 and 2018 on the request of Kaur by accessing the email of his senior in the NIA, AD Negi, an Indian Police Service (IPS) official without the latters permission. Later, he had allegedly shared the CDRs with Kaur. The director-general (D-G), NIA, referred the matter for investigation to CBI following which the agency has booked Srivastava for criminal misconduct and under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988. Officials familiar with the development said Srivastava, who is posted with the 182nd battalion of BSF, knew Chand and Kaur because they used to live in the same housing society and, as a result, decided to help them in the CBI case. Kaur had asked for the CDRs of one Sudesh Saini that Srivastava had obtained illegally for her. The first information report (FIR) against Srivastava stated though he had obtained two CDRs, there was also a failed bid. Chand, a 1986-batch (IRS) officer, who was posted as a Goods and Services Tax (GST) official in Kanpur, was arrested in February 2018 for allegedly taking bribes from businessmen by threatening to take action against them. CBI officials said they have taken necessary sanction from BSF before filing a corruption case against Srivastava, who would be interrogated soon. . The Belfast Health Trust tested only a sixth of patients who were discharged from hospitals to care homes for Covid-19 during the early weeks of the pandemic. (John Stillwell/PA) The Belfast Health Trust tested only a sixth of patients who were discharged from hospitals to care homes for Covid-19 during the early weeks of the pandemic. The trust has also admitted a number of those sent to care homes from hospitals had tested positive for the virus. Some 318 patients were discharged to care homes between March 1 and April 15 this year. Of these, 52 were tested for Covid-19 prior to discharge. Of those patients who were tested, the trust stated: "The majority of those tested were negative. "Less than five tested positive and none were inconclusive." The trust failed to state exactly how many people tested positive before being sent to a care home. Responding to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request, the trust explained: "It is important to note that during the time period of this FoI request, there was no requirement set out in the Department of Health's 'Interim Protocol for Testing of Covid-19' to test care home residents prior to discharge." Updated guidelines on testing were issued in April. Figures have shown consistently around half of deaths here occurred in care homes. Last month the Northern Trust said about one in six of its 433 patients returned to care homes were tested in the same period. Six tested positive. The South Eastern Trust tested one in five in this same period. Out of these 34 patients, one had coronavirus and was sent to a "Covid specific recovery unit". Both trusts said they were acting within the guidelines at the time. Advertisement New York City is home to seven Apple Stores, but decades before the Apple icon hung on each building, they were shops, warehouses and even a post office. The citys Municipal Archives has a trove of photos taken of all five boroughs for a project during 1939 and 1941, revealing a world before iPhones and Genius Bars took over the city. Some locations are unchanged from the original structure, while others can only be identified by street signs. The Soho location resembles that of the US postal office that once filled the interior, but the 'Cube' on Fifth Avenue has completely changed the landscape. Scroll down for video Slide me Apples SoHo location (right) was built in 2002 inside a former United States Postal branch (left), located at 103 Prince Street. The exterior echoes that of the 1940s service facility, still with Station A hanging over the doorway. However, at the corner of the building now hangs the small Apple icon New York Citys Municipal Archives conducted a massive survey by taking photos of every single building that stood in all five boroughs, as first reported on by 9to5Mac. The black and white images show the city's history before the large skyscrapers clouded views, traffic jams filled the streets and Apple Stores renovated charming buildings. Apples SoHo location was built in 2002 inside a former United States Postal branch, located at 103 Prince Street. The exterior echoes that of the 1940s service facility, still with Station A hanging over the doorway. Slide me At 767 Fifth Avenue is a large, glass cube (left) that acts as an entry to an underground Apple store. It is located adjacent to a General Motors building, which was once where the Savoy-Plaza Hotel stood (left) Slide me New Yorks meatpacking district is lined with warehouses (left) that have been converted into restaurants, bars and an Apple store. However, at the corner of the building now hangs the small Apple icon. In 2012, the location did a $20 million renovation that increased the interior by 5,000 square feet. When it came to construction of the Fifth Avenue location, Apple did not renovate a building it added a completely new structure. At 767 Fifth Avenue is a large, glass cube that acts as an entry to an underground Apple store. It is located adjacent to a General Motors building, which was once where the Savoy-Plaza Hotel stood. The charming hotel was much smaller when it first opened its doors in 1892, just 12 stories, but after a new owner invested $30 million dollars into the building it grew to 33 floors. It was demolished in 1965 and replaced by the General Motors building three years later. New Yorks meatpacking district is lined with warehouses that have been converted into restaurants, bars and an Apple store. Located at 401 W 14th Street is the tech giants store, which opened in 2007, in what appears to be one of those renovated facilities. However, the streets still show sings of the towering tracks that ended service in 1940. Take a trip back in time while standing at 1981 Broadway and you may not know where you are. Sixty years ago, a classic movie theater brought in the crowds and today, people from all over come to purchase the latest iOS gadgets. Slide me Sixty years ago, a classic movie theater (left) brought in the crowds and today, people from all over come to purchase the latest iOS gadgets. Now sits Apple's Upper West (right) location at 1981 Broadway The location was once home to the Alden Theater, which opened in 1931, but was purchased by the Regency Theater after 68 years of operation -it was later torn down and replaced with the structure seen today. Nestled inside Grand Central Station is another Apple Store and although New Yorks Municipal did not capture what was once there, the images from 1941 are without stairs leading to the glowing Apple icon. The staircase was not installed until 1995, but mirrors the West Stairs on the opposite end of the station. Slide me Nestled inside Grand Central Station is another Apple Store and although New Yorks Municipal (left) did not capture what was once there, the images from 1941 are without stairs leading to the glowing Apple icon (right) Slide me The address of 940 Madison Avenue previously belonged to the US Mortgage Trust Company, which was completed in 1922, but was eventually replaced with the Chemical Bank & Trust Company (left). The building appears to look as it did, but is now waving a flag with Apples logo in front (right) Apple took over another former government building for its Upper East Side store. The address of 940 Madison Avenue previously belonged to the US Mortgage Trust Company, which was completed in 1922, but was eventually replaced with the Chemical Bank & Trust Company. The building appears to look as it did, but is now waving a flag with Apples logo in front. Head over to Queens and the area is completely different today than it was in the 1940s. Slide me Head over to Queens and the area is completely different today than it was in the 1940s - there was a single Sunoco station on the land (left). Today sites the Queens Center with a number of stores including Apple's (right) Where the Apple Queens Center sits was once a small Sunoco gas station, which was the first building constructed at the corner of 59th Avenue and 92nd Street. The early image of 247 Bedford Avenue shows what is now the corner of the Apple Williamsburg store near a corner light post. The original building, which is unknown, was torn down before Apples late CEO Steve Jobs was tinkering with ideas for the first iPhone. Slide me Apple opened a store inside World Trade Center (right) in 2016, but before any of those buildings stood tall, the area was home to the citys own Nedicks (left) an American fast-food chain was started in Manhattan in 1913 Slide me The small luncheonette, tuxedo rental shop and personal loan company are long gone at 123 Flatbush Avenue (left). Now, in their place is as stunning, glass walled Apple store (right) Westfield World Trade Center and the Oculus are new additions to New York City, as they were constructed following the 9/11 attacks. Apple opened a store inside World Trade Center in 2016, but before any of those buildings stood tall, the area was home to the citys own Nedicks an American fast-food chain was started in Manhattan in 1913. The streets surrounding the Downtown Brooklyn store resemble the scene form the 1940s, with its triangular formation that was once small shops in a highly-trafficked area. However, the small luncheonette, tuxedo rental shop and personal loan company are long gone and in their place is as stunning, glass walled Apple store. Details added: first version posted on 16:07 BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.28 Trend: The sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Armenian armed forces attempted to commit a provocation in the direction of Azerbaijans Goranboy district on August 23, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend on August 28. As a result of the decisive actions of the units of the Azerbaijani armed forces, the provocation was prevented and the group's commander, First Lieutenant Gurgen Alaverdyan of Armenian Armed Forces was detained. According to the ministry, the detainee admitted that he, together with a group of Armenian military servicemen, intended to attack the positions of the Azerbaijani army to inflict damage to the personnel and military infrastructure of Azerbaijani Armed Forces. As the ministry said, the reconnaissance and sabotage actions of the group commanded by Gurgen Alaverdyan during the intensification of intelligence operations of the Armenian armed forces in various areas of the line of contact, including the widespread use of unmanned aerial vehicles, indicate that the military-political leadership of Armenia is conducting another military provocation on the line of contact. The ministry noted that the actions also should be perceived as intentional aggravation of the military situation. The groundless and absurd accusations against Azerbaijan, voiced by Armenia in a state of hysteria and panic, after the uncovering of this malicious plan, is an attempt to divert the attention of the international community and the Armenian society from its unsuccessful policy of military escapade, the ministry said. We categorically reject statements of Armenian side with groundless accusations against Azerbaijan about the violation of international humanitarian law and Armenophobia. Concernig the detained Gurgen Alaverdyan, the Azerbaijani side acted under the requirements of international humanitarian law, pointed out the ministry. In this regard, it is worth recalling that Armenia, which accuses Azerbaijan with claims of violation of international humanitarian law, is a country that for about 30 years has been continuing aggressive policy towards Azerbaijan, accompanied by military actions and crimes against humanity, including genocide and ethnic cleansing, the ministry also noted. As a result of Armenia's aggression against Azerbaijan, 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed, 50,000 became disabled, about a million civilians were forcibly expelled from their native lands, 5,364 people disappeared, were taken prisoner, hostage, and were subjected to torture and abuse. The fate of nearly 4,000 of them is still unknown, reminded the ministry. Currently Armenia is holding our compatriots - civilians Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev, who were tortured and illegally deprived of their freedom, as hostages, the ministry said. A fight for control of the Senate is raging across the country, but viewers who tuned in to the Republican National Convention this week could be forgiven if they did not realize it. In a two-and-a-half-minute taped address on Thursday night, Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, urged voters to back Republican senators as a firewall against Democrats. But other than those remarks on the conventions closing night, vulnerable Republican senators battling to hang on to their partys majority were almost absent from the stage. One who did appear in prime time, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, focused on a wind storm that hit her state without even mentioning that she was running for re-election, or that control of the Senate crucial to the next president was on the ballot. And when Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the Republican leader responsible for retaking control of the House, spoke early Thursday evening in his own taped remarks, he said nothing about his partys efforts to reclaim the majority, an endeavor that most now privately concede is unlikely to succeed. The only candidate he mentioned was President Trump. The US State Department has approved a proposal to freeze foreign aid to Ethiopia amid the countrys dispute with Egypt and Sudan over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Foreign Policy reported Thursday. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo formally approved the aid freeze and the State Department briefed congressional aides this week. Details are not finalized, but the move could affect up to $130 million in aid, according to Foreign Policy. If the plan goes through, it would be a blow to Ethiopias position to fill and operate the dam without coming to agreement with its neighbors first. Ethiopia built the dam to provide electricity to its population of more than 100 million. Leaders say the country has not been benefiting as it should from the Nile River and want to alleviate poverty in the east African country. The dam is located on the Blue Nile River, a main tributary of the Nile. However, Egypt and Sudan are concerned that filling the massive dam without safeguards in place could dangerously lower water levels in the Nile in their countries. Egypts latest contention is that several species of fish could go extinct due to the dam. Ethiopia disputes that the dam will have negative effects on Egyptian and Sudanese waters. Negotiations mediated by the United States, the European Union and the African Union have failed to reach an agreement on the dams filling. In July, Ethiopia said the first year of filling is finished following heavy rainfall in the region. The three countries are currently negotiating again. Talks stopped earlier in August amid yet one more diplomatic spat between the three countries. Foreign Policys report comes after Pompeos visit to Sudan this week. The top US diplomat was in the country to discuss removing Sudan from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism and the possibility of Sudan recognizing Israel. He also discussed the dam with Sudanese leaders, according to the State Department. Al-Monitor was unable to independently verify Foreign Policys report. Sudan is allied with Egypt on the issue of the dam, and Egypt is a close ally of the Trump administration. As Kyle Rittenhouse secured a legal team Friday after being charged in the fatal shooting of two men at a protest against police brutality, demonstrators and law enforcement grapple with how the deadly gunfire in Kenosha, Wisconsin, has injected a chilling and long-feared dimension into protests. We have been very fortunate that shootings have been rare at demonstrations where emotions are already running high, but (Kenosha) is an example of a lot of peoples worst fears, said Gil Kerlikowske, a former Seattle police chief who was Customs and Border Patrol commissioner during the Obama administration. We are living in unbelievably unsettling times. During a chaotic night of demonstration sparked by the police shooting of Jacob Blake, Rittenhouse told reporters before the deadly confrontation that he was armed with a rifle to protect a local parking lot. Wisconsin law allows for gun owners to carry their firearms in public, though it is unclear whether the Illinois 17-year-old would have been prohibited as a minor. Illinois authorities said Friday that attorney John Pierce was representing Rittenhouse, whose first scheduled court hearing was postponed Friday. Pierce could not be immediately reached for comment, but he vowed on Twitter to assemble a "Seal Team" of former federal prosecutors and defense attorneys to assist the teenager. TIMELINE: Detailed unfolding of events in shooting of Jacob Blake, Kenosha protesters On the streets, rocks, bottles, Molotov cocktails and fireworks served as protesters weapons of choice against bursts of tear gas and rubber bullets. But handguns and rifles, similar to the one Rittenhouse wielded Tuesday night, are increasingly appearing at demonstrations in gun-friendly states that allow their open display dangling from holsters and shoulder slings. They also loom as potential game-changers for social justice advocates promoting peaceful resistance. Earlier this week, at least one protester was wounded by gunfire near Bedford, Pennsylvania, in an encounter with local residents as marchers passed through on their way to a weekend demonstration in Washington, D.C. In Idaho, an 18-year-old man was sentenced to four days in jail this month for discharging a weapon near a demonstration in Boise. Story continues One of the most unsettling events played out in Michigan this spring when armed protesters crowded inside the state Capitol to oppose a statewide coronavirus lockdown. No one was injured in the demonstration, but the images raised a troubling concern for the security of future demonstrations where firearms are readily available. Brian Levin, director at California State University San Bernardino's Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, called the introduction of weapons during a contentious demonstration "a recipe for disaster." "We have to make sure that police departments have policies on how to manage situations when these (armed) people show up," Levin said. "But unfortunately, the horse seems to have left the barn on that point." The 'inevitable outcome' The dreaded mix of guns and large crowds has been a persistent and growing concern for law enforcement for years. Ed Davis, a former Boston police commissioner, said the the violence in Kenosha is the inevitable outcome when private citizens armed with military-grade weapons and driven by visceral reactions take to the streets to assume the role of law enforcement. More than 40 Three Percenters demonstrated Saturday at Black Lives Matter protest in Louisville, Kentucky. July 25, 2020 The utilization of these weapons and the type of response that weve seen in communities like Kenosha, its just unacceptable," Davis said, adding that the risk to life is "very high when you have untrained individuals utilizing weapons like this." Davis said the unrest on display in Kenosha is a symptom of the most profound racial and political division he has seen in the country in more than three decades in law enforcement. Police in Louisville, Kentucky, kept opposing groups apart as protesters demanding racial justice marched to Jefferson Square for a rally on July 25. I dont see an easy solution to this, he said. I think were in for a tough time between now and November. Hopefully after November ... we can move forward and try to heal, no matter who wins. In the run-up to the 2016 party conventions, the country was jolted by a pair of deadly shootings that targeted police officers: an ambush in Baton Rouge where three officers died and an attack at a Dallas protest in which five police officers were killed by a gunman who set out to kill white officers after fatal police shootings of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile and other Black men. The conventions, which featured waves of protesters, were never seriously threatened. Yet the risk posed by the introduction of weapons at large, contentious gatherings looms even larger in a country riven by political and racial animus, analysts said. Last year, as the Secret Secret Service began finalizing its preparations for the 2020 presidential campaign season, cut short by the coronavirus pandemic, a spate of mass shootings added a daunting worst-case scenario to the planning. Agency officials sought the guidance of law enforcement and medical authorities who responded to the 2017 Las Vegas attack on an outdoor music festival in what stands as deadliest mass shooting in American history. The attack, carried out by a single shooter from a hotel room overlooking the venue, left 59 people dead and more than 400 wounded. In a new season of civil unrest and in the midst of another contentious presidential election campaign, "nothing is so simple anymore and that includes protests," said Oren Segal, vice president for the Center on Extremism at the Anti-Defamation League. "It used to be that demonstrations involved protesters and counterprotesters. You knew what sides people were on," Segal said. "Now, it's a challenge for law enforcement because you don't know who is coming in; you don't what side they are on. And some of them are carrying guns." Segal said the increasingly "complicated" scenario raises a serious question: "Should we even be allowing people with weapons into spaces like this?" 'I've gotta protect myself' Asked why he felt the need for a gun in the midst of social justice protest, Rittenhouse was ready with an answer: "People are getting injured, and our job is to protect this business," Rittenhouse told a Daily Caller reporter in video interview. "And my job also is to protect people. If someone is hurt, Im running into harms way. Thats why I have my rifle; Ive gotta protect myself, obviously. But I also have my med kit." The encounter would prove more meaningful when it was revealed that Rittenhouse was later charged in connection with the fatal shootings of two men and the wounding of a third person. WHAT WE KNOW: The men killed in Kenosha, one 'got along with everybody,' the other leaves behind a young daughter The violent encounters were captured in darkened yet stunning video showing a rifle-toting man, a cap turned backward on his head, trotting down the middle of a Kenosha street apparently pursued by others before stumbling to the asphalt. From a sitting position, the gunman opens fire and at least two people fall wounded while protesters scream in fear. After the shooting, video shows the gunman walking quickly toward approaching law enforcement vehicles with his hands up, only to have police pass him by. The image, juxtaposed with a separate video of police, guns drawn on Blake before he was shot, just days earlier have come to represent in stark relief law enforcement's disproportionate response to Black suspects, analysts said. FACT CHECK: Jacob Blake did not 'brandish' knife "The irony is very difficult to swallow," Segal said. "The images are significant." Rittenhouse was far from the only person carrying a gun during Tuesday's protests. Earlier Tuesday, a local militia known as the Kenosha Guard posted their intent to join the protests in a Facebook message that appeared to be directed at local police. "We are mobilizing tonight and have about 3,000 RSVPs. Our effort has made the national media. I ask that you do NOT have your officers tell us to go home under threat of arrest as you have in the past. We are willing to talk to KPD and open a dis cussion. It is evident, that no matter how many Officers, deputies and other law enforcement officers that are here, you will still be outnumbered. An armed man is seen outside the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020. Rittenhouse's own social media posts included references to his strong support of police and his affinity for weapons. An image of Rittenhouse and another man is framed in a blue circle that contains the words "duty," "honor," "courage" and "Blue lives matter." But it was unclear whether the shooting suspect is connected to the militia group. Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth acknowledged the intent for an armed intervention, saying he fielded an inquiry earlier this week. "I had a person call me and say, 'Why dont you deputize citizens who have guns to come out and patrol the city of Kenosha?'" Beth said Wednesday. "And Im like, Oh hell, no. What happened last night is the perfect reason why I wouldnt." Guy Relford, who has devoted his legal practice to protecting the Second Amendment and recently started a gun rights group in Indiana, acknowledges the right to bear arms to protect their businesses and themselves. (Rittenhouse was not protecting his own business.) But the tense situation in Kenosha raises a lot of uncertainties, especially when guns carried by private citizens are introduced to the mix. If youre looking for a confrontation with a gun, then yeah, thats not going to end well a lot of times, Relford said, cautioning that hes not drawing conclusions about the intentions of Rittenhouse. And it doesnt shed a good light on those of us who want to responsibly own and use guns and defend ourselves. 'Anxiety, rage, fear' and determination Elizabeth Brown, an advocate for grieving families in Wisconsin, said the fatal shooting of protesters in Kenosha only makes her more determined to continue raising her own voice. Ive been a Black woman in America; every day is violent for me, she said. (I want) to go out there and stay out there longer because I just dont want this to be my daughters or my grandchildrens future. I go out there because I dont want it to come to my doorstep. Brown and other activists drove to Kenosha from Milwaukee in a caravan on Monday, where they joined with local activists. That day, Brown protested alongside Anthony Huber, one of the two protesters fatally shot Tuesday night. It tore me apart. I seen it online when it actually happened. It was the same way I felt when I saw Mr. Blake get shot. The same way I felt when I saw Mr. Floyd die," Brown said. "A tightening in my chest, in my gut. Anxiety. Rage. Fear. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: After Kenosha: Guns, militia inject chilling dimension into protests Ophelia is a fan of Roisins work, and shes both start-struck and terrified when she encounters Roisin in the ladies room at a university function. Ophelia Marsh (Emily Reid from Belgravia ) has fallen for her charming (or sleazy, if youre past a certain age) English lecturer Michael Callaghan (Irish actor Emmett J. Scanlan, from British soap Hollyoaks and Peaky Blinders ), undeterred by the fact that he seems very familiar with other students her age or that hes married to bestselling author Roisin Mulvery (Catherine Walker). Part Gothic ghost story, part psychological thriller, the four-part series begins with the classic cliche of the pretty young Cambridge University student sleeping with her English professor (its always the English professors). Written by Northern Irish writer and producer Lisa McGee (with her husband, actor and screenwriter Tobias Beer), The Deceived is a very different beast from the playful schoolgirl comedy Derry Girls for which shes best known. But her fling with Callaghan continues, until he suddenly disappears from campus. Ophelia, distraught, tracks down the address of his country house in Donegal in north-west Ireland, a stately home and the inspiration for Callaghans forthcoming novel, Knockdara. Emmett J Scanlan and Emily Reid in The Deceived. Ophelia heads to Ireland, where she finds Michael at the local churchyard Roisin has died in a mysterious house fire at Knockdara and for reasons not entirely clear, Michael has kept her death a secret. Apart from the fact that the press are unaware the famous author has died, even her close friends havent been told. This fact alone, coupled with the fact that Roisins mother, Mary (Eleanor Methven) is staying with Michael, would impel most people to head back to Cambridge at once, but Ophelia accepts Michaels invitation to stay in the half-burnt, atmospheric mansion on the outskirts of town; she has urgent news she needs to tell him. Ophelia tells Mary that shes from Roisins publishing company, but the not-quite-grieving-enough mother seems from the outset to know her daughters marriage was troubled. As Ophelia slips into one of Michaels freshly dead wifes jumpers, much to Marys horror, there are obvious nods to Daphne du Mauriers 1938 novel Rebecca, (and Hitchcocks 1940 film adaptation) especially as we've already learnt that Ophelia is an orphan, unlikely to be missed at home. But a different fate awaits Ophelia; shes not the manipulative one here. When a mysterious knocking persists in a locked room, and Ophelia glimpses what appears to be Roisin outside the house in the middle of the night, Michael convinces her shes unwell and cajoles her into taking sleeping pills; Ophelia spends a lot of the series in bed, groggy and confused. " " Image courtesy FBI Because the FBI's mission continues to evolve and has such a wide scope, it has developed many different divisions to process information and handle incidents. A few of these include the Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS), the Laboratory Division (or "Crime Lab"), the Behavioral Analysis Unit and the Hostage Rescue Team. Let's look at each of these divisions in detail. The Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS) is the largest division within the FBI. This makes sense because the collection, analysis and comparison of crime scene data is some of the FBI's most important work. The CJIS comprises several programs, including the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). The IAFIS contains the fingerprints of more than 47 million subjects and is the largest database of its kind in the world. The CJIS also includes the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). It stores detailed information on crimes committed across the United States, regardless of which organization originally investigated the crime. Law enforcement agencies at the national, state and local levels can access both the IAFIS and the information contained in the NCIC, helping them identify criminals who may move from place to place by spotting patterns and similarities between crimes. Advertisement Law enforcement agencies can also use the services of the Laboratory Division. As one of the largest forensic laboratories in the world, the FBI Crime Lab has conducted more than one million forensic examinations and pioneers new techniques in forensic analysis. The laboratory conducts forensic investigations on all types of physical evidence, including DNA, blood, hair, fibers, latent fingerprints, documents, handwriting and firearms. Law enforcement agencies can also receive training from the Lab's Forensic Science Research and Training Center (FSRTC) at the FBI Academy. Laboratory examiners provide expert testimony in court cases that deal with forensic evidence. The FBI has been a pioneer in the technique of criminal investigative analysis (sometimes called "profiling"), conducted by the staff of the Behavioral Analysis Unit. According to the division's Web site, criminal investigative analysis "is a process of reviewing crimes from both a behavioral and investigative perspective." Trained profilers look at the evidence and circumstances surrounding a crime or series of crimes and create a profile that describes various aspects of the suspect's personality. Gender, age, level of education, types of jobs and other elements can narrow investigations and help agents prioritize leads. Geographical profiling helps as well -- in this technique, profilers feed information about the locations of crimes into a computer, which creates an "area of interest" for investigators to focus on [ref]. Profilers require about a year of in-depth training, and an academic background in psychology or another social science is helpful. However, the most important trait of an FBI profiler is extensive experience working on investigations. The FBI also has one of the top hostage rescue teams in the world -- the Hostage Rescue Team, a part of the Tactical Support Branch of the Critical Incident Response Group. Initially, the HRT was a tactical rescue unit outfitted like a SWAT team. Their job was to end a hostage situation with the use of force. The Hostage Negotiation Unit was separate, and was supposed to try resolving hostage situations peacefully before the HRT went in. An adversarial relationship grew between the two units, culminating in the controversial Ruby Ridge incident. In 1992, U.S. Marshalls were in a standoff with a heavily armed family in rural Idaho. The FBI went in, but the HRT acted contrary to advice from experienced negotiators and ordered snipers to fire on the family before the negotiators had a chance to end things peacefully. Snipers killed the mother of the family [ref]. In response to this and other incidents, the FBI created the Critical Incident Response Group, which combines the Crisis Negotiation Unit and the HRT into a single group with a single commander. Following September 11, 2001, FBI Director Robert Mueller ordered operational and organizational changes to support changes in the FBI's focus: "prevention of terrorist attacks, countering foreign intelligence operations against the U.S., and addressing cybercrime-based attacks and other high-technology crimes" [ref]. The organization is also working on technological upgrades to meet these changes and provide stronger support to federal, state and local agencies. For lots more information on the FBI and related topics, check out the links that follow. Becoming an FBI Agent To apply to become an FBI agent, you must have a four-year degree, hold American citizenship and be between the ages of 23 and 39. You must also have a clean record, without convictions for any serious crimes. Only about 10 percent of all applicants are accepted. In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the number of applicants shot up dramatically. Once accepted, agents train at the FBI Academy, located on a U.S. Marine Corps base in Quantico, Va. The 385-acre academy opened in 1972. In addition to dormitories, a forensic training and research lab, firing ranges, a garage, pursuit driving track, gymnasium and library, the academy has an entire fake town called Hogan's Alley for training. The academy is not open for public tours. While being an FBI agent can be dangerous, the Bureau has a remarkable safety record. In the 71-year period spanning 1925 to 1996, just 33 agents were killed in action. Read More New Delhi, Aug 28 : A circular has been issued by an institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research over safety of women personnel after an objectionable incident surfaced during a webinar at the institute. According to information, the webinar was organised by the National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), an institute of ICAR, in which agricultural scientists from various institutes participated. The objectionable incident occurred during a break in the middle of the webinar that took place earlier this month. The case is now being investigated by ICAR. ICAR Director General Trilochan Mohapatra told IANS that the matter is being probed and action will be taken when the evidence emerges. He said that along with taking action during the investigation, an advisory will also be issued to all institutions. The incident is linked to the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research (IISR) in Lucknow, which comes under ICAR. After this incident, an office order was issued on August 24 on behalf of the institute. The order states that no woman worker (research scholar, young professional and contract worker) will sit in any officer's room. The order states that they will always be in the lab or in the field. The institute has said that women workers can work in the lab or field only. The order states that keeping their safety in mind, women workers will work from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during office hours on all working days. As per the order, they are not allowed to stay in office after 5.30 p.m. This order was issued by the institute's official who spoke to IANS. The official said that the webinar was organised by NAARM, so they do not have any video footage regarding the incident. He said, "We were not the host of the webinar. So we do not have any video footage, but we got information about the objectionable incident." He said that no written complaint of the objectionable incident has been received, but on getting information in this regard, this order was issued as an advisory. By Laman Ismayilova Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation continues to expand international ties. The Foundation discussed prospects for future cooperation with the Brazilian Embassy in Azerbaijan. During the meeting, President of the Foundation Gunay Efendiyeva spoke about the activities of the organization headed by her and projects aimed at promotion of the cultural heritage of Turkic-speaking nations. She recalled her visit to Brazil and her participation in a conference titled "Continental, regional, scientific approach to Turkish, Latin American culture, history and traditions", stressing the improtance of cultural promotion. The Brazilian Ambassador Manuel Adalberto highlighted the relations between Brazil, Latin America and Turkish cultures in general. The Ambassador stressed that he would assist in the translation and publication of books reflecting the richness of the Turkic world in Brazil. The diplomat expressed his confidence in further successful cooperation between the Foundation and the Brazilian Embassy in Azerbaijan. Initiated in 2012, Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation focuses on preservation of Turkic heritage in member countries as well as conducting projects in collaboration with partners in third countries. The Foundation provides assistance in the protection, study and promotion of Turkic culture and heritage through supporting and funding various activities, projects and programs. It carries out its activities in cooperation with TURKSOY and the Turkic Academy. --- Gov. Ralph Northam has had sweeping authority to handle Virginias coronavirus pandemic, but as hes shut down businesses and required people to wear masks, lawmakers believe its time to weaken the governors emergency powers. Since his emergency declaration in March, Northam has issued more than 20 orders related to the coronavirus. Massive decisions have largely fallen to one man and his administration trying to navigate the unpredictable situation. Northam shut down schools and businesses including gyms, salons, movie theaters and bowling alleys. He ordered people to wear face coverings at all times while inside public places. He limited how many people can gather in one place. The General Assembly adjourned in March, but the pandemic is still far from over. Its likely that Northam, a Democrat, will continue to be the person making the major decisions for months to come. Lawmakers mainly have been observers to Northams decisions, and their lack of involvement has motivated some of them to try to rein in the governors emergency powers. Any time a chief executive takes these kinds of expansive powers, and theyre in place for a longer period of time, and especially in this situation about the nature of the response, it opens itself to questions, said Karen Hult, a political science professor at Virginia Tech. Northam has called the legislature back to Richmond on Aug. 18 to take up budgetary matters, but lawmakers also plan to consider legislation dealing with the pandemic as well as criminal justice and police reform. Republicans put together work groups to discuss the governors emergency powers, and a delegate and senator have introduced legislation to add limits to them while enhancing those of the General Assembly. They anticipate filing additional legislation to add checks on the administration. Currently, a governors executive order issued under an emergency declaration can last until June 30 following the next regular session of the General Assembly, which starts in January. Virginians are more familiar with these orders coming down during natural disasters like a hurricane or a tornado so the commonwealth can rapidly respond. In those situations, the order typically lasts a month to a couple of months. Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, filed S B 5001, which would limit that order to 30 days. If the General Assembly doesnt take any action on it, the governor can issue the same order for another 30 days. The governor couldnt issue the same executive order again after the 60 days are up. Lawmakers have been asking Northam for months to call the legislature back for a special session sooner than mid-August, so Newman said the idea behind the bill is to encourage the governor to call the legislature back to assist in responding to a crisis. The legislature should be doing more, and it would be empowering to the people, Newman said. Democracy is a good thing. I know that a dictatorship is very efficient, but thats not the way free people should be governed. Del. Tony Wilt, R-Rockingham, filed a proposal to amend the Virginia Constitution. Under HJ 5001, an executive order issued in a state of emergency would expire after 45 days. The governor could call the General Assembly into special session to approve an extension of the order. Democrats control the House of Delegates and Senate, and its primarily been Republicans publicly raising concerns with Northams use of his emergency powers, so the issue is likely to become a partisan one. The most outspoken Democrat against Northams orders has been Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax City, who sued Northam on behalf of a business. The executive branch has the authority to protect us during a public health emergency, but that authority is not unlimited nor is it indefinite, Petersen wrote in an op-ed in The Roanoke Times in April. Northams office has indicated opposition to the proposals. Emergencies can change fast, and COVID-19 shows that they are not always limited to some arbitrary time frame like 60 days, Northam spokeswoman Alena Yarmosky said. And since the law requires the governor to respond to emergencies and to mitigate their effects on Virginians, he must be able to act swiftly and with flexibility, as changing conditions require. Yarmosky said under these proposals, the coronavirus executive orders would have expired already, leaving 8.5 million Virginians without a leader during a worldwide health crisis. Northams powers are similar to those granted to governors across the country who are enacting policies much like those in Virginia or even more aggressive ones. When Northam declared a state of emergency in March, he activated a part of the commonwealths emergency management law that vastly expands a governors powers. Under the Virginia Constitution, the governor is the commander-in-chief and has the power to enforce laws, which gives a governor latitude in responding to a threat to the commonwealth. Additionally, there are numerous sections in the state code that grant the governor extensive powers to respond to emergencies. The section in the code about controlling ingress and egress at an emergency area provided Northam the authority to shut down schools and order businesses to close. He used his power to control peoples movements typically applied during natural disasters that require evacuations to impose limits on the size of gatherings. The language is pretty flexible because you cant predict specific emergencies, Hult said. The primary check on Northams orders is the courts. More than a dozen lawsuits have been filed across Virginia, and the executive orders have almost entirely withstood challenges. Businesses some represented by legislators have sued Northam over the mask mandate and other restrictions. Pastors have challenged their right to have more people in their pews on Sunday. A Lynchburg gun shop secured the only court victory when a judge allowed it to open its shooting range. Lawmakers, particularly Republicans, have bristled at some of Northams decisions. Theyve complained about people required to wear face coverings in indoor public settings and businesses tasked with enforcing that. They also have expressed frustration about Northam extending the time frame of the orders. Its gubernatorial overreach, said Sen. Bill DeSteph, R-Virginia Beach. DeSteph and other lawmakers have criticized Northam for excluding them from discussions. Many of them have said they dont learn about executive orders until everyone else, which is typically when the governor holds a press conference. People should not be governed by press conferences, Newman said. DeSteph said he didnt know about the new restrictions on restaurants and gatherings in the Hampton Roads area until Northam announced them Tuesday. He said hes often not properly informed about these orders when fielding dozens of phone calls a day from constituents. House Majority Leader Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, didnt comment on the Republicans proposals, but she said she believed Northam was acting responsibly and with the best intentions. A new poll from Hampton Universitys Center for Public Policy shows that 54% of Virginians approve of the way Northam has been handling the crisis. A total of 1,099 Virginia adults were interviewed between July 13-21 for the survey, with 59% saying Northam issued his stay at home order at the right time. The survey found a partisan split in attitudes. About three-quarters of Democrats approved of Virginias response, compared to about one-third of Republicans. I hope that we can debate this issue, because this is not about pro- or anti-Gov. Northam, Newman said. This is about whether the Senate of Virginia and House of Delegates matters, its about whether the Code of Virginia matters, about whether we trust democracy in tough times. Lagos, August 25, 2020 - All is set the first Panafrican MSME Academy informational webinar in Nigeria slated for 3rd of September, 2020 at 10am and open to Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises across the 36 states and federal capital territory. The MSMEs are invited to join this webinar tailored specifically for MSME operating in Nigeria. The webinar provides tips on access to finance and building a digital presence. Spearheaded under the AUDA-NEPAD 100,000 MSMEs by 2021 (100K MSMEs) programme launched by the African Union Development Agency AUDA-NEPAD in partnership with the Ecobank Group, the MSME Academy provides easy access to practical training and resources on financing opportunities in various countries, how to build a digital presence for businesses and how to adapt business operations in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Panafrican MSME Academy offers free access to market intelligence, a host of mentors with a diverse experience while assisting with access to funding opportunities. The programme provide support to African MSMEs and is structured in three pillars, namely: the MSME Academy, MSME Marketplace, and MSME Financing Support Programme to be delivered through an MSME Digital Platform. The MSME Academy aims to build the capacities of MSMEs across Africa through a combination of relevant content library, a network of institutions specialized in MSME support such as incubators and accelerators, and a community of peers, mentors, and advisors; the MSME Marketplace is a consolidated marketplace of marketplaces, enabling MSMEs to access e-commerce, procurement and alternative financing opportunities across the continent; while the MSME Financing Support Program is a scheme that will bring together financial institutions, guarantee funds, and other institutions to reduce the cost of risk for lenders to deliver capital to MSMEs at scale. The objective is to radically expand access to finance by aggregating smaller financial institutions such as micro-credit institutions and credit unions that have access to micro-enterprises, standardising their processes, and building trust in their capabilities. The MSME Digital Platform is a one-stop-shop for all MSMEs across Africa to access all these three programmes which jointly address MSMEs challenges with access to capacity building, markets, and capital. Register to the MSME Academy athttps://msmeacademy.nepad.org/ Nicole Byer has been named the host of the upcoming 2020 Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Television Academy will hold the event in a virtual presentation over five nights from September 14-19. The 33-year-old actress and comedian - who is the Emmy-nominated host of the Netflix bake-off competition Nailed It! - will hold down the hosting duties for all five shows. Host with the most!! Comedian and pure ray of sunshine Nicole Byer will host this year's digital version of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards. She's seen in May 2019 above The first four shows , September 14-18, will stream on Emmys.com. The final evening, Saturday, September 19 will be a two-hour ceremony broadcast that will air on FXX at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. Byer shared Deadline's article about her hosting the Creative Arts Emmys on her Instagram page and gushed in the caption: 'Isnt that fun and nice. Truly what a treat!' Honored: The outspoken American comedian gushed about being named host of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards when she posted Deadline's article on Instagram History maker: Byer, 33, became the first Black woman to be nominated in the category of Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Competition Program for Nailed It! in 2020 The Creative Arts Emmys Awards ceremony will recognize excellence in genres including reality, variety, documentary, animation, comedy, drama, limited series and movies. Statues will be handed out in categories ranging from casting to choreography, cinematography, hair and makeup, editing, original music and lyrics, visual effects, among others. Just last month, Byer became the first Black woman to be nominated in the category of Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Competition Program for Nailed It!. The Netflix series, which premiered in March 2018, is also up for Outstanding Competition Program. Unique: The New Jersey native showcased her comedic touch, and humility, when she issued a statement about being nominated on social media The outspoken American comedian showcased her comedic touch, and humility, when she issued a statement about being nominated on social media. 'I did an interview today and he asked why I deserved an Emmy and I said "because Im cute' honestly truly a treat to be nominated,' The New Jersey native wrote back on July 28. 'I cannot believe I'm an Emmy nominee. Isn't that wild. I celebrated today with SKATE GANG and it warmed my heart! Also the show was nominated and everyone involved is truly such a dream!' She concluded by adding, '@jacquestorres is a joy to work with and @weston_bahr is a joy to yell at.' Host with the most: Byer currently hosts the podcast Why Won't You Date Me?, and co-hosts the podcast Best Friends with Sasheer Zamata Byer gained recognition for her work in the commentary series Girl Code (2013). She later starred in the MTV/Facebook Watch series Loosely Exactly Nicole (2016-18), which was based on her real life experiences As of 2017, Byer is the host of the HeadGum podcast Why Won't You Date Me? and the co-host of the Earwolf podcast Best Friends with Sasheer Zamata since 2019. He acting resume includes guest appearances in such comedy series as 30 Rock (2012), Family Guy (2016), Transparent (2016-17), The Good Place (2019), The Simpsons (2019 and Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2019-20). Kamala Harris Says Police Officer Who Shot Jacob Blake Should Probably Be Charged Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris said Thursday that, while she has not seen all the evidence, she believes the police officer who shot Jacob Blake likely used excessive force and should face charges. Blake was shot seven times in the back by a policeman in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in a confrontation with officers who were dispatched to residence after a woman called 911. He survived the encounter and is recovering in hospital, though family members said he is paralyzed from the waist down. The incident sparked a wave of protests in Kenosha, some violent, with a shooting on the third night of unrest resulting in one injury and two deaths. I think that there should be a thorough investigation and, based on what Ive seen, it seems that the officer should be charged, Harris told NBC in an interview that aired Friday morning. Harris, a former prosecutor and California attorney general, told the interviewer that, while she is unfamiliar with all the facts in the case, she thinks its unlikely the use of force was justified. I dont see it. But I dont have all the evidence, she said. The man was going to his car. He didnt appear to be armed, Harris said. If he was not armed, the use of force that was seven bullets coming out of a gun at close range in the back of the man, I dont see how anybody could reason that that was justifiable. During the Aug. 23 incident, officers tried to arrest Blake, who had an outstanding warrant for sexual assault, and a struggle ensued. Officers were unable to subdue Blake after using multiple stun guns. Disobeying orders from police with drawn guns, Blake walked around the vehicle and opened the drivers side door, reaching in, at which point Kenosha officer Rusten Sheskey fired his gun seven times into Blakes back while holding onto his shirt. A new video has emerged showing the incident from another angle. It shows officers struggling to subdue Blake on the grass beside the vehicle, before he manages to escape and dart around to the drivers side with Sheskey in pursuit with his weapon drawn. Blake was to later admit he had a knife, which investigators later recovered from the floor of his vehicle. During the investigation following the initial incident, Mr. Blake admitted that he had a knife in his possession. DCI agents recovered a knife from the drivers side floorboard of Mr. Blakes vehicle. A search of the vehicle located no additional weapons, the Wisconsin Department of Justice said. Sheskey, who has been a Kenosha Police Department officer for seven years, has been placed on administrative leave. Multiple investigations have been launched in connection with the shooting, including a civil rights probe led by the Justice Department. Chaos erupted in Kenosha following the incident, culminating in gunshots on Tuesday night, with a 17-year-old Illinois teenager arrested and charged with homicide and attempted homicide after allegedly killing two people and wounding a third. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. Cluster of positive covid cases found in Wales caused by holidaymakers not quarantining on their return This article is old - Published: Friday, Aug 28th, 2020 Holidaymakers are being urged to follow quarantine rules when they return to Wales from abroad to stop the spread of coronavirus. It comes after clusters of positive cases have been reported in Wales stemming from people returning from holidays who did not self-isolate for 14-days as required. ITV Wales have the location of the travel cluster "The cases are described as being 'linked through social gatherings', and it appears the first cases contracted their infection whilst abroad. " It shows it can, and is happening. Hopefully the people of Wrexham can be better! https://t.co/5vy5DbA3H5 Wrexham.com (@wrexham) August 28, 2020 More cases like this could increase the rate of transmission in Wales and put some of the most vulnerable people at risk of infection. Health Minister, Vaughan Gething, said: Wales currently has very low community transmission rates of Covid-19 and it is important we keep it that way so we can keep the new freedoms we have introduced. The 14-day quarantine rule is in place for people returning from certain countries that have higher transmission rates. It is vital anyone coming back from these countries self-isolates and if they develop symptoms to get tested. The thoughtless behaviour of a few can put some of most vulnerable people at risk of infection. Thanks to the co-operation and sacrifices of the Welsh public we have managed to control the spread of the virus here. But we cannot get complacent and its important everyone continues to follow the guidance, maintain social distancing and wash hands regularly. It is the responsibility of travellers to check if they are required to self-isolate when they return to Wales, as the list is subject to change at any time. The latest information is available here. Travellers should check out the latest advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office before traveling and before returning home. The latest advice can be found here. The cabinet is meeting today to consider giving Gardai the power to close a pub on the spot if they are found to be in breach of Covid-19 rules and increase enforcement powers to shutdown house parties. The proposed new legislation is part of further measures to tackle the spread of Covid-19 announced last week and is expected to be approved by Ministers today. As part of the proposals, it would be a criminal offence to organise or attend a gathering of more than six people in a private house. These discussions follow the National Public Health Emergency Team's (NPHET) advice not to allow pubs that do not serve food to reopen on Monday. Ministers are expected to act on NPHET advice to further delay the reopening of pubs. Padraig Cribben, CEO of the Vintners Federation of Ireland thinks the government could take a number of actions to combat rising case numbers from social gatherings. Mr Cribbin believes minimum unit pricing for alcohol is one solution to the house party issue. "You've got to either bring in the minimum unit pricing that's already on our statute books. "It's already there, it doesn't need legislation. It only needs a Minister for Health that's lecturing us about various things to actually take action, that's one option," said Mr Cribben. Mr Cribben also said another option would be for the government to introduce a temporary prohibition on the sale of alcohol while Covid-19 cases are increasing. Mr Cribben said: "If we are in such a bind if the numbers are increasing at such a rate, what we actually need to do is look at whether we should take a period of three weeks and actually stop the sale of alcohol in off-licenses." Highly regulated Cork publican Michael ODonovan has called for off licences to be closed and for the selling of alcohol to be banned in supermarkets. If the Government was serious about bringing Covid-19 numbers under control, then they needed to take a serious look at where alcohol was purchased for house parties, he told Newstalks Pat Kenny show. It is not being purchased in licenced premises. A licenced premises is a much more controlled environment. We are one of the most highly regulated industries in this country so we are well capable of following guidelines and we look after our customers. If you are in a house party, neither of those things happen. Mr ODonovan said that there had been very, very few clusters related to pubs since they started serving food on 29th June. There is nothing stopping anyone in a supermarket at the moment going in and buying a trolley-load of drink. If you come into my pub, there is no way I am going to give you a trolley-load of drink and after a certain time, I will get you a taxi. "You will not consume the same amount of alcohol in my licenced premises or any licenced premises in this country. The Auld Dubliner & Olver St John Gogarty, two pubs which are closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic in Dublin's city centre. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Later on RTE radios News at One, Mr ODonovan said that he welcomed new powers for the gardai, which he had been calling for from the beginning. Mr ODonovan called on the Government to support publicans who were not being given a chance to see if their business will still be viable. With the bank moratorium due to end shortly, that will mean even more difficulties for publicans, he said. No point in small measures Meanwhile, publicans want the Government to announce a financial package later today - which the Tanaiste pledged. Around 3,500 pubs that don't serve food were due to open on August 31, however, NPHET has recommended they remain closed. Two weeks ago Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said he would bring forward additional supports at today's Cabinet meeting if the closure orders continue. Paul Moynihan, from the Vintners Federation of Ireland, said many pubs will close for good if they don't get help urgently. Mr Moynihan said: "There's no point in talking about small measures here, we need an industrial, big help out from the government. "Most publicans now are at their end, financially, and even physically and mentally is the problems among them. "We're facing huge problems. As I said, we'd love an announcement from the government: 'Thank you for helping us out here, we're keeping your industry closed. But here is the help we are going to offer you for the thelp that you've done for the country'." The Chair of the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland, Rosemary Garth said now is the crucial point on whether some pubs are able to reopen. Ms Garth said: "Any further lockdown will be the difference in pubs reopening or not in the long term. Irish pubs are generally small businesses with modest revenues. "90% of pubs are located outside of Dublin. Irish pubs have endured the longest lockdown in the EU, losing half a year of business. "The Government has so far failed to provide them with any kind of reassurance, certainty, or long-term support." Human level Gearoid ORegan owner of ORegans pub in Ballyheigue Co. Kerry said its another hammer-blow for publicans not to be allowed reopen. Mr O'Regan said: "Six months closed, I've spent a lot of time speaking to various TDs, and so on about this whole situation. "On a human level, you wouldn't put someone out on the streets for six months and not give them anything. "And to be honest with you that is what has happened to the publicans. "The decision hasn't been made fully yet, cabinet meets this afternoon, but I'd kind of take it as a given." Yesterday Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said pubs are to stay shut for at least another two weeks to allow health officials to track the impact of schools reopening has on the spread of Covid-19. Dr Ronan Glynn urged restraint in what was at times an impassioned appeal during last nights Covid-19 briefing. We simply can't have everything with the pandemic, he said. We can have an education system open. We can protect the most vulnerable. We can have a health system get back up and running, and address all the backlogs that we have. But all the other stuff? We want to have sport, we want people to be able to go to pubs, we want people to be able to socialise but right now is not the moment. US President Donald Trump, in accepting the Republican Partys nomination for president Thursday night to conclude the Republican National Convention, heralded the US-brokered agreement for Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalize ties and went after opponent Joe Bidens record on Middle East issues. This month's Emirati-Israeli agreement to normalize relations means the UAE has become the third Arab country to have official relations with Israel, joining Egypt and Jordan. Trump praised the historic agreement about halfway into his 70-minute speech. We achieved the first Middle East deal in 25 years, he said. Thank you, UAE. Thank you to Israel. The Israel-UAE deal was mentioned throughout the night. Trumps daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump also praised the agreement in her speech. A campaign commercial aired by the Republican Party between speeches likewise praised the deal. Trump also celebrated leaving the Iran nuclear deal and moving the US Embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in his remarks. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley made similar comments during their convention speeches. Earlier this month, Trump described the Jerusalem move as for the evangelicals, referring to religious Christian voters who supported the decision. Trump, like Pompeo, reiterated that the US airstrike that killed Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leader Qasem Soleimani in January was the right move. We eliminated the worlds No. 1 terrorist by far: Qasem Soleimani, said Trump at the convention. The president then went after his Democratic rivals record on the Middle East, saying, He voted for the Iraq war. Biden has been criticized for his 2002 Iraq war vote, including by Democrats. Barack Obama, under whom Biden served as vice president, won the presidency in 2008 in part because of his stark opposition to the war. Trump repeatedly criticized the war when running in 2016, which made him somewhat unique among Republicans, as the war had been pushed for by Republican President George W. Bush. There is no public record of Trump opposing the war before the 2003 invasion, however. Trump added that Biden opposed the mission to take out Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader who was the mastermind of 9/11. Bin Laden was killed by US special forces in a raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan in 2011. Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton echoed this claim in his speech Thursday. A fact check by NBC shows that Biden had told Obama dont go regarding the attack, wanting to be sure that bin Laden actually was at the target site. But Biden later said he had told the president to follow your instincts, according to the outlet. Trump gave the United States credit for the defeat of the Islamic State (IS) in March 2019. We obliterated 100% of the ISIS caliphate, he said, using an alternative abbreviation for IS. The US-led Global Coalition against IS included the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which did much of the major fighting against IS in Syria. While IS has lost control of the land it held in Iraq and Syria, the militant group remains active and has carried out numerous attacks in the region this year. The parents of Kayla Mueller, an American killed by IS in captivity in Syria in 2015, spoke before Trump did. Mueller was an aid worker abducted by IS in northern Syria at the height of the civil war. She was raped during her 18-month detention and then killed. US attempts to rescue her were unsuccessful. The Muellers accused the Obama administration and Biden of a lack of interest in their daughters case at the convention. To this day, weve never heard from Joe Biden, said Carl Mueller. The Muellers and other families of Americans killed by IS are now supporting efforts to try British members of the group who are suspected of killing Americans. The Republican convention followed the Democratic National Convention, held the week before. MOUNT PLEASANT, MI - Since Central Michigan University students returned to campus, COVID-19 cases connected to the move-in continue to increase in Isabella County. The Central Michigan District Health Department reported an additional 16 confirmed cases Friday, Aug. 18, bringing the total to 126 since students returned. The health department is also tracking 8 probable cases, which would push the total to 134. The department reported total 75 confirmed cases Monday, Aug. 24. About 17 miles south in Gratiot County, Alma College also reported four cases among its campus population, which is about roughly 1,700 students and staff according to the colleges website. The college also reports 1,755 asymptomatic tests. Central Michigan University suspended in-person Greek life activities Monday, Aug. 24 and threatened to fine and suspend students involved in large gatherings after identifying 54 positive cases among students and staff during the week of Monday, Aug. 17. The health department issued an emergency order Monday that limits outdoor gatherings in Mount Pleasant to no more than 25 people. Remaining on campus this fall relies on every member of our community accepting the responsibility to protect ourselves and others, Davies said in a letter to the community Monday. Please, do your part to keep yourself and others safe. The university will update its student and staff case count daily instead of weekly beginning Tuesday, Sept. 1, CMU Executive Director for Communications Heather Smith said previously. Read more: Central Michigan University now has 110 coronavirus cases related to students Outdoor gatherings in Mount Pleasant limited to 25 after Central Michigan University coronavirus spike Central Michigan University reports 54 students with coronavirus, suspends in-person Greek activities ROSTOCK, Germany, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AIDA Cruises, the leading cruise line in Germany and a part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL;NYSE: CUK), today announced that it will offer cruises this fall and winter that combine the fascination of a cruise trip with an unforgettable holiday experience to several popular destinations. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the conditions are currently not in place in Germany's neighbouring European countries, especially in the north with Norway and Denmark or the Baltic states. For many distant destinations outside of Europe, the Federal Republic of Germany has issued a travel warning or the respective countries have prohibited calls of cruise ships until 2021. As a result, the company has cancelled its previously announced cruises for September and has updated its fall and winter 2020-2021 program to provide its guests and sales partners additional time to plan and book vacations for a safe and enjoyable return to cruise holidays. As the first ship from the AIDA fleet to begin sailing, AIDAmar will set course on Nov. 1, 2020, for seven-day voyages to the Canary Islands, a popular destination with German vacationers. AIDAperla will follow on Nov. 7, 2020, and will take over the travel program originally planned for AIDAnova. AIDAmar's voyages will start and end in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. For voyages with AIDAperla, in addition to Las Palmas, AIDA Cruises will offer a second departure port with Santa Cruz de Tenerife. In the Western Mediterranean, AIDA Cruises will resume sailing operations with AIDAstella on Dec. 12, 2020, where the ship will cast off from Palma, Mallorca, on seven-day cruises to some of the most beautiful cities in the Western Mediterranean. The treasures of the Orient take center stage during the seven-day AIDAprima cruises that will be offered starting Dec. 11, 2020, from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and from Dec. 15, 2020, from Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). "Even though it is currently not possible for cruise ships to call at Norway, which is so important for our voyages to the north, we are confident that the first AIDA ships from Germany will be able to travel to Northern Europe again at the beginning of 2021," says Felix Eichhorn, president of AIDA Cruises. AIDA Cruises is in close contact with the responsible authorities and airlines in order to prepare for the restart of its voyages in November and December. Supported by the theme "With certainty the most beautiful vacation," the company provides information about the enhanced protection measures against COVID-19 at www.aida.de/sichererurlaub. All AIDA cruises take place in compliance with the requirements of the respective international and national health authorities as well as the enhanced health and hygiene standards of AIDA Cruises. The renowned independent testing company SGS Institut Fresenius and the classification society DNV-GL have reviewed and confirmed the enhanced health and hygiene standards and the processes of preventive measures that AIDA Cruises will implement for the restart of cruise operations. All AIDA cruises can be booked at travel agencies, with the AIDA customer center at the phone number 0381/202 707 07, or online at www.aida.de. Due to the current pandemic, events of the last few weeks in Germany and the associated travel restrictions in neighboring European countries, especially in Northern European countries such as Norway and Denmark, as well as the Baltic states, AIDA Cruises has come to the conclusion that, despite its careful preparations, the conditions for a safe and responsible restart are not yet in place. AIDA Cruises unfortunately has to extend its pause in operation and all short voyages with AIDAblu from Kiel, the voyages with AIDAperla with departure dates of Sept. 12, 19 and 26 from Hamburg, as well as all voyages up to and including Oct. 31, 2020, will be cancelled. In addition, all other voyages planned for the fall and winter season for 2020 and 2021 in the Western Mediterranean, the Azores, Cape Verde Islands and Northern Europe will not take place. AIDA Cruises also very much regrets cancelling all long-distance cruises of the fall and winter season for 2020 and 2021 in the following destinations: Caribbean (including transit cruises) with AIDAdiva, AIDAluna and AIDAperla (including transit cruises) with AIDAdiva, AIDAluna and AIDAperla Southern Africa (including transit cruises) with AIDAmira (including transit cruises) with AIDAmira Southeast Asia (including transit cruises) with AIDAbella and AIDAvita (including transit cruises) with AIDAbella and AIDAvita Indian Ocean (including transit cruises) with AIDAblu Orient with AIDAprima up to and including the voyage on Dec. 8, 2020 All guests whose voyage cannot take place will be informed immediately. Full details of the extension of the pause in operations as well as FAQs can be found on this website: www.aida.de/reisehinweis. SOURCE AIDA Cruises (CNN) The words "Biblical proportion" come to mind, but even the Plagues of Egypt didn't come all at once. In 2020, we have giant swarms of locusts from East Africa to India, 500-year floods in Europe, fears of a dam collapse in China and Typhoon Bavi hitting the Korean Peninsula. In the US alone there is the record-smashing hurricane in the South, a million-acre "gigafire" in the West and over 40% of Iowa corn and soybeans flattened by 140 mph winds. Complicating the mounting task of saving lives and livelihoods in this ongoing climate crisis: a new disease, released from a natural world out of balance. Two tiny foes -- coronavirus and heat-trapping gas -- joining forces to make pandemic patients in Lake Charles, Louisiana, worry about blown roofs and falling trees. They are forcing California firefighters to socially-distance on 72-hour shifts after more than 10,000 dry lightning strikes started 500 fires. "Threat multiplier" is the adjective the US military first applied to climate change in 1990, when predictions of death, desperation and tension were mostly for distant corners of a warming world. But now, here at home, the threats seem to multiply by the hour. As an example of the Sophie's Choices that come from such confluence of unnatural disaster, President Trump hopes to divert $40+ billion from FEMA's Emergency Response Fund to a fresh round of unemployment relief for the tens of millions driven out of work by Covid-19. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom furloughed nonviolent convicts in a desperate attempt to slow prison outbreaks and as a result, lost vital firefighting manpower. "For so long in studying climate change, we're studying the future," says Katharine Hayhoe, director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University. "And now the future is here. So, if we live here in Texas, we're seeing stronger and bigger and slower hurricanes with a lot more rainfall. If we live in the west, we're seeing that natural wildfires are burning greater and greater area. If we live in the Midwest, warmer temperatures are supersizing our rainstorms." Juicing these changes, she says, are the very Gulf oil platforms, refineries and petrochemical plants punished by Hurricane Laura ... and Harvey, Michael, Rita, Ike, Katrina et al. Almost every other developed nation in the world understands the basic physics that the more they pump and burn, the more unpredictable life on Earth will become. But watching the Republican National Convention, if you didn't know, you'd never know. Vice President Mike Pence offered warnings and good wishes for those in the path of Hurricane Laura on Wednesday night and on Thursday, President Donald Trump started his speech mentioning the people who had come through "the wrath" of the storm. He said it was "fierce, one of the strongest to make landfall in 150 years," then added that the casualties and damage were far less than thought possible just a day earlier. Night after night, speaker after speaker made no mention of the scientific consensus that burning fossil fuel is making your parents' hurricanes, floods and wildfires much, much worse. While the Democrats drilled down and got specific on their promises should they get a chance to govern, most mentions of the environment by the Republicans came in celebration of regulation rollbacks and harsh rejections of Joe Biden's plan to spend $2 trillion on clean energy projects and reenter the Paris Climate Accord. "The Democratic Party of Joe Biden is pushing this so-called 'Green New Deal,'" said Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst in a pre-taped speech. She mocked efforts by Democrats to legislate the climate crisis after referencing the August 10 derecho that ripped apart ten million acres of her state. "If given power, they would essentially ban animal agriculture and eliminate gas powered cars. It would destroy agriculture industry not just here in Iowa but across the country." This is untrue. The 14-page Green New Deal resolution calls for "working collaboratively with farmers and ranchers in the United States to remove pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector as much as is technologically feasible," but there is no call for a ban on cows or gasoline cars. "How much does the 2018 Camp Fire cost, just to fight? Just to put out the flames?" I asked Gov. Newsom after ferocious winds made the Camp Fire the most destructive wildfire in state history. "It is jaw-dropping -- the numbers -- and they continue to escalate," Newsom replied. "Just the debris removal is in multi, not billion, multi-billion-dollar expense." The second and third biggest fires in state history are now burning at the same time and the windy season hasn't even begun. "Folks think, well, we can't afford to address climate change," Newsom says. "My gosh. The naivete of that. Because the most expensive option is doing nothing." "How did climate change become so politically polarized?" Hayhoe asks. "It's not the science, it's the solutions. We've been told that the only solutions to climate change are negative or punitive. They involve destroying the economy, throwing people out of work and letting the United Nations rule the world." Blurred by this message, she says Americans miss how much progress is happening between disasters. "They don't know that 70% of new electricity being installed around the world now is clean energy. They're unaware that solar energy plus storage is actually cheaper than natural gas in California. Or that Texas has more installed wind energy than any other state in the country. Or that Texas has the first carbon neutral airport in DFW, and Ft. Hood, the biggest army base in the US is supplied entirely by wind and solar energy. The reality is that the solutions are already here." But if Hayhoe sees the solutions, others see the pain along the way. "It's gonna get worse before we get better," says Lt. General Russel Honore. "We have to find solutions to pollution that will drive the future economy." Known as the "Ragin' Cajun," Honore took over following a disastrous state and federal response to Hurricane Katrina. The storm and its aftermath killed at least 1,833 people, almost 15 years ago to the day. "Right after Katrina we had Rita. A reporter asked me, 'We just had two hurricanes. Do you think that has anything to do with global warming?' And I was stunned. I gave her some smart answer, but it haunted me for days," he says. At the time, the Department of Defense was keen to the threat of sea level rise to bases around the country, but the question suddenly made the science personal, as Honore saw his own beloved bayou communities drown after lack of official planning and imagination. Fifteen years later, Honore spends most hours thinking about fixes for the Gulf and the nation he served. "We can start fixing our infrastructure. Let's adjust the damage done, create jobs that reduce the impact on the air and the water and the land. I think we've got to have adult conversation, regardless of what political class," he said. Taking action is critical for people like Hayhoe. "There is no right answer in how to fix climate change," she says. "There is no silver bullet either. Just a lot of silver buckshot. "But we are all responsible to our families, to our loved ones, to our children, to the poor and the marginalized and the vulnerable right here where we live, as well as around the world to take our heads out of the sand to recognize that climate is changing. Humans are responsible. The impacts are serious. And we can act now. No matter who we are and how we vote." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Hurricanes, fires, floods and locusts: Science says climate change is here but the RNC refuses to believe." US multinational water innovation company Crystal Lagoons has announced plans to launch its revolutionary product Public Access Lagoons (PAL) in the Middle East. It is currently in talks with 19 developers in the GCC region for key PAL projects. A patented technology developer of giant crystalline lagoons, Crystal Lagoons said the PAL licensing contracts have become the business of the future with investors seeking to move forward, attracted by its success in the US, netting high returns and long-term security as Covid and Amazon-proof investments. The company has 22 real-estate projects anchored by crystalline lagoons in the Middle East region with the most notable one being the 480,000-sq-m District One project in Dubai and 125,000-sq-m Citystars Sharm El Sheikh development Egypt, with stunning turquoise bodies of water in the desert. Crystal Lagoons pointed out that it is negotiating with Middle Eastern investors and foreign funds, interested in their profitability, long-term security, limited risk as Covid and Amazon-proof alternatives, and potential due to the region's culture and climate. These crystalline lagoons surrounded by white sand beaches become the most beautiful place in the city, it stated. The firm offers investment models with more or less infrastructure, with the most complete options including areas for road shows, food-halls, weddings and concerts in multiple set-ups such as beaches, terraces, domes, as well as an array of gastronomic offerings, retail and amphitheaters. "Investors envisage that, as these projects are built, they generate a financial pyramid. Despite a low initial investment, a company can achieve a very high present value," remarked Alastair Sinclair, the Regional Director of Crystal Lagoons. "The hospitality industry has witnessed a jump in room rental values and up to 200 per cent food and beverage consumption in those hotels which boast a beach, compared to the hotels inland," revealed Sinclair. "Investors have corroborated that, on lower-value land, a hotel combining a beach and PAL elements can benefit from very attractive returns," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Despite a few setbacks that India may have faced with Chandrayaan-2, our spirit to get back up stronger and better until we taste complete success, has been only growing stronger. Indians took pride in the achievements of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), that managed to collect valuable data in spite of the little glitch with the landing of the Vikram Lander on the moons surface. Reddit Even NASA hailed the efforts when it later identified Vikram Lander and said, Despite the loss, getting that close to the surface was an amazing achievement. However, with work on track for Chandrayaan-3 launch next year, ISRO has decided to leave no stones unturned to ensure a successful execution this time. And in keeping with this objective, ISRO is all set to create artificial craters in Ullarthi Kavalu, Challakere campus, almost 215km from Bengaluru. The cost of the project is being estimated at about Rs 24.2 lakh and the construction will begin by the end of this year. Twittetr/ISRO As per reports, the craters will be 10 metres in diameter with a 3-metre depth. The idea is to recreate the lunar surface on which Chandrayaan-3 will land. A scientist involved with the project told TOI, The landers sensors will undergo a crucial test Lander Sensor Performance Test (LSPT) which will involve us flying the sensors on an aircraft over the artificial lunar site and see how efficient they are in guiding the lander. Twitter/iAtulKSingh Apart from this crucial step for heightened positivity rate, the next lunar mission will also make use of multiple sensors, including some which will help the lander assess its height from the landing spot, decide velocity and keep the craft away from boulders and uneven surface. To test if the outcome follows expectations, an ISRO aircraft with the sensors will be made to descend from an altitude of 7km over the artificial lunar surface. The sensors are expected to guide the craft from about 2km altitude. Although Chandrayaan-2 was also tested on similar craters, reports claim that due to wear and tear of the older one, fresh craters are being created. 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. New Delhi: From highlighting custodial deaths to putting a spotlight on poor fire safety compliance in hospitals, the NHRC championed the upholding of human rights in 2016 and is looking ahead with a hope to earn more teeth to enforce its orders on violations. The National Human Rights Commission, since its inception, has impacted human lives and striven for justice, liberty and equality for all, with some landmark cases, punctuating its eventful journey of over 20 years. Chairperson of the rights panel Justice H L Dattu has pitched for vesting NHRC with more power, and as it clocks another year, the Commission would be looking forward to move in that direction. Everyone wants to have more power. We (NHRC) also want to have more power, he had said on its Foundation Day celebrations in October. Dattu had termed NHRC a toothless tiger that needed some teeth to enforce its orders on remedial measures in cases relating to any violations. In many cases, due to our active intervention, we have addressed human rights issues... And, with more power, it (NHRC) should roar like a tiger, he had told PTI. Since its inception in 1993, the NHRC has come a long way by addressing several issues of human rights violations as well as giving inputs on key legislations impacting human rights, he said. Whenever an issue of human rights violation comes to the notice of the NHRC, it has to take cognisance without bothering for the permutations and combinations of electoral politics or caste and creed equations, Dattu said. And, indeed the rights panel has taken up a whole gamut of issues, and highlighted cases of human rights violations with timely intervention. According to NHRC, Uttar Pradesh registered highest number of cases of custodial deaths in the country between October 2015 and September 2016, with as many as 401 deaths taking place in judicial custody and 27 in policy custody. Between October 2015 and September 2016, the NHRC has registered 1,05,664 cases on the basis of complaints, intimation from police and prison authorities etc, and on suo motu basis. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 22:49:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has been well prepared to cope with the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the European Union's partial withdrawal of Everything But Arm (EBA) trade preferences, academics said here on Friday. Cambodia has allocated 1.16 billion U.S. dollars for health and social assistance as well as economic support after the onset of the COVID-19 earlier this year, and has unveiled a number of measures to support manufacturers and exporters after the EU partially withdrew the EBA from the kingdom. Speaking at a roundtable discussion on "How has Cambodia prepared itself for today and tomorrow?", Sok Touch, president of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the government's measures were crucial to sustain socio-economic development during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. He said to ensure a resilient economy during the post-pandemic era, the country must continue to maintain peace and political stability, increase local production for exports, develop human resources with quality, and revitalize tourism. EU began to impose customs duties on some of Cambodia's typical export products such as garments, footwear and travel goods from Aug. 12 after accusing the country of human right violations. With this partial imposition of tariffs, Cambodia will be required to pay 20 percent tax for exports to the European market with 80 percent of the items still being exempt from tax. Kin Phea, director general of International Relations Institute of Cambodia (IRIC), said that the kingdom was well prepared to deal with these issues, saying that the EU's decision was totally unfair. Pich Charadine, deputy executive director of Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace (CICP), said the partial withdrawal has affected Cambodia's economy, but the kingdom has been focusing on the economic recovery by diversifying its export markets. "Cambodia has done a great deal to facilitate trade and reduce costs for businesses including the removal of Camcontrol along the borders, the launching of online business registration, the promotion of e-commerce, the development of digital knowledge and digital literacy," Charadine said. "Nevertheless, to stay on the curve, Cambodia should put more effort and investment on the improvement of education quality, equal access to education, research and innovation, technical skill and vocational training in order to empower a skilled labor force," she said. She added that the Southeast Asian nation also needed to revitalize its untapped yet high-potential agriculture sector by investing heavily in agribusiness and agro-processing industry and modernize its tourism industry into a green and sustainable tourism. Enditem No reports of thefts of dogs in the region recently, say North Wales Police This article is old - Published: Friday, Aug 28th, 2020 North Wales Police have today issued an update over huge concern following reports of suspicious behaviour by individuals looking to steal dogs. In recent weeks there have been hundreds of reports shared on Facebook community groups claiming criminals are using cable ties and chalk to mark properties with pets. However in a statement North Wales Police say the force hasnt had reports of thefts of dogs in the region recently. It adds that officers are aware of the huge concern and social media reports about what people believe is suspicious behaviour by individuals seeking to steal dogs. Community Safety Sergeant Ali Sharp said: Dogs are often part of the family and their loss or theft is devastating for owners. Across the UK demand for dogs increased during lock-down and as the demand increased so did the price, which has sadly led to dogs in some areas being stolen with a view to being sold on at a high price. I would urge all owners to make sure their dogs are micro chipped and to take extra care to deter thieves and protect their pets. Please ensure you dog is micro chipped and, if they are kept outside, that their kennels are secure. If you are buying a dog please only do so from reputable breeders or contact one of the many animal rescue centres across North Wales. Earlier this week the deputy leader of Wrexham Council, Cllr David Bithell called for calm over rumours of dogs being targeted by thieves in the county borough. Cllr Bithell, leader of the Wrexham Independent Group, said he had received reassurance from North Wales Police that the number of dog thefts occurring in the area is low. Speaking on Wednesday he said: I am aware of a great deal of social media speculation and concern regarding dog thefts in and around our area. Also, and most concerning there is a great deal of negative discussion. I have today asked the RSPCA on what local authorities can do or what advice they can offer longer term. North Wales Police have also emailed today as nationally there have been a small number of thefts. The police today can reassure you that crimes such as these are extremely rare with no confirmed thefts having occurred across the county in a considerable time. He added that anyone with genuine concerns should still report any suspicious incidents to police. Top pic: A cable tie picture that was shared in relation to this apparent issue. Aug 28 (Reuters) - The first vessel to go to Kinder Morgan Inc's Elba Island liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant in Georgia to pick up a cargo in seven months arrived late Thursday, according to data from Refinitiv. The Maran Gas Hector entered the port after crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Spain. Before that, Elba had not exported a cargo since January as government steps to reduce the spread of the coronavirus dented global energy demand. All 10 trains at the nearly $2 billion plant were available for service, with each train capable of liquefying about 0.3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG or 0.04 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) of natural gas. Elba is 51% owned by units of Kinder Morgan and 49% by EIG Global Energy Partners. Royal Dutch Shell Plc has a 20-year contract to use the facility. Including projects under construction, U.S. LNG export capacity is expected to rise from 9.8 bcfd now to 10.5 bcfd by the end of 2021 and 12.5 bcfd by the end of 2022. That keeps the United States on track to become the world's biggest LNG exporter in 2024. It became the third-biggest exporter in 2019, behind Qatar and Australia. (Reporting by Scott DiSavino; editing by Jonathan Oatis) SYDNEY: Australias second most populous state - the epicentre of the countrys latest COVID-19 outbreak - said on Friday it has detected 113 new cases in the past 24 hours, unchanged from the previous day. Victorias case numbers raise hopes that Australia may have contained the spread of COVID-19 after a stringent lockdown of Melbourne. The country has now recorded nearly 25,500 COVID-19 infections, while the death toll rose to 584 after 12 people died in Victoria. Strict lockdown measures have helped ease the daily rise of COVID-19 infections in Victoria after the state hit a one-day high of more than 700 cases about three weeks ago. 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 opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is accusing Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia of stoking the flames of tribalism in his recent interaction with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM. Dr Bawumia in an exclusive interview on Tuesday, justified the intention of the NPP administration to construct an airport in the Central Region. He asked why those opposing this decision didnt do so when an airport was being constructed in the Volta Region. It is an idea whose time has come . . . theres more of a case for an airport in Cape Coast than there was for an airport in Ho. But I didnt see a lot of resistance to the airport in Ho as Im seeing the airport in Cape Coast; but in terms of tourist potential Cape Coast is bigger. Its fine we have an airport in Ho but Im saying that the economic case is stronger in Cape Coast; much stronger, he intimated on "Kokrokoo". Dzifa Tegah, a member of the Communication team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) described his comments as unfortunate. He should have gone ahead to make his comments, bringing in Ho airport was needless. There wasnt any need for comparison; comparing Ho to Cape Coast; it was completely unnecessary, she said on Neat FM's "Me Man Nti" show. But in a sharp rebuttal on the same platform, Madam Ellen Ama Darku, a member of the Communication team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) dismissed her assertions, insisting there was "nothing wrong with the Vice President's comment". 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 The Huntsville city council on Thursday night authorized Mayor Tommy Battle and other city leaders to pursue claims against Remington Outdoor Company, which opened a gun manufacturing facility in the Rocket City and filed for bankruptcy last month. The city is due Remingtons sprawling facility on Wall Triana Boulevard near Huntsville International Airport under a development agreement between the company and the city. The claim on the facility and the 114 acres it sits on are the citys protection for almost $10 million in financial incentives provided to the company to lure it to Alabama. Related: Huntsville protected as Remington files bankruptcy again, Mayor Tommy Battle says The vote Thursday by the city council is largely a procedural move that enables Battle, city clerk treasurer Ken Benion and city attorneys to act on the citys behalf in the rapid bankruptcy proceeding that could be resolved as soon as next month. The city council would still have to approve any settlement reached with Remington. When we talked to the public years ago when Remington came in, we told them we had them protected, Battle said. The city holds a $12.5 million lien on the Remington facility a 843,175 square foot building formally known as the old Chrysler building. The buildings most recent appraisal values it at $47.3 million, according to tax records. The city of Huntsville is listed among the secured creditors in the bankruptcy case by virtue of the citys claim to the facility. Battle told the council that city attorneys needed the flexibility to act quickly in the bankruptcy case, which was the purpose of the resolution the council unanimously approved. Our biggest desire would be to see a company come in and be a successor company to Remington and do the same thing and employ people and keep people employed in Madison County, Battle said. But if we cant, we want to make sure we protect our dollar interest. This just gives us a lot of flexibility to protect that dollar interest of the city and it may have to happen quickly before we have time to bring council together for a meeting. So were just asking you give us that flexibility. Remington failed to meet its obligations outlined in the development agreement with Huntsville such as hiring up to 2,000 people. Remington had a little more than 500 employees when it last reported to the city in 2018 and the company never gave the city a number of employees in 2019, Battle said last month. According to a city press release on the resolution, Huntsville has also been involved in preliminary confidential communication with potential bidders for the Huntsville facility in cooperation with Remington. The city has informed both Remington and the bankruptcy court that it objects to any proposed sale of the Huntsville facility that will not result in the payment in full at the sale closing of the citys full mortgage debt or that is not otherwise acceptable to the city. Pakistani troops have resorted to at least nine ceasefire violations daily over the last three years and left 119 people, including 63 civilians, dead along the 198-km long International border and 744-km de facto frontier, or the Line of Control (LoC), with Pakistan in Jammu & Kashmir, according to information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. As many as 8,571 ceasefire violations have been reported between January 1, 2018, to July this year, the Union home ministry said in response to information activist Raman Sharma sought under the RTI Act. The ministry said 308 civilians and 300 security force personnel have also been injured in firing and shelling from across the border during this time. It added compared to 2010, the ceasefire violations in 2019 increased by around 50 times and till July by 60 times. In 2010, 70 such incidents were reported. They went up to 3,479 in 2019. Until July this year, 2,952 ceasefire violations have been reported. The ministry said since 2010, 11,572 ceasefire violations have been reported that have left 122 civilians and 118 security force personnel dead. It added 673 civilians and 594 security force personnel were also wounded in firing and shelling from across the border during this period. In 2010, two civilians and five security force personnel were killed in 70 such incidents. The number ceasefire violations increased by around 50 times (3,479) in 2019 and left 18 civilians and 19 security personnel dead. This year till July, 2,952 ceasefire violations have claimed lives of 15 civilians and eight security personnel. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ravi Krishnan Khajuria A principal correspondent, Ravi Krishnan Khajuria is the bureau chief at Jammu. He covers politics, defence, crime, health and civic issues for Jammu city. ...view detail CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Why do Ohio schools need an order from Gov. Mike DeWine to require them to disclose coronavirus cases? Were talking about the governors order for schools to alert parents and the public 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: 1) Why is Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine setting specific rules for how schools must report students who have the coronavirus? An Ohio order will require schools to create a mechanism for parents to report cases. Then, within 48 hours of learning of a case in a student or staff member, the district must contact the local health department and make the information about a positive test publicly available. 2) If Valarie McCall, a top member of Mayor Franks Jacksons staff, was illegally paid $57,000 for being an RTA board member, as the state auditor now says, why doesnt she have to pay it back? Because she didnt authorize the payment. The Ohio auditors office ordered Joe Calabrese, who served at the time as the boards secretary/treasurer, his bonding company, and then-board President George Dixon to repay the money because Calabrese and Dixon authorized the illegal payments. 3) What are the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and MetroHealth thinking in not immediately testing their staff members who are exposed to the coronavirus or quarantining them until they are tested? The hospitals say each instance is handled on a case-by-case basis, the hospital systems said. And some employees must use paid time off if they are tested. 4) What does Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose have to say about the second lawsuit filed against him for limiting the number of ballot drop boxes each county can have to one? Maggie Sheehan, a spokeswoman for LaRose, said in a statement: Secretary LaRose has been and continues to be supportive of legislation that permits additional options for voters to return their absentee ballots. As an executive officeholder, he must follow the law as the legislature writes it. His focus at this time remains on getting the Ohio Controlling Board to permit him to pay postage on absentee ballots, effectively making every blue mailbox an absentee drop box. 5) With so many people wearing masks the wrong way not covering their noses what public service can we do here today by talking about this trend? Wearing the mask below your nose is worrisome, since a new study suggests that the coronavirus first establishes in the nasal cavity, then is aspirated into the lungs where it can cause potentially fatal illness. 6) Rich Exner took a look this week at the frustrations people in Ohio have over problems with their unemployment payments and their stimulus checks, and the story quickly rocketed to number one on our site. What did he say? The good news is that there is still time. As states are approved, FEMA is dolling out enough money to cover three weeks worth of checks. After then, more money will be provided as available. The first four states werent approved until Aug. 15. 7) Is evidence continuing to grow that the Ohio mask mandate is working? Just six counties are red or Level 3 in the states coronavirus advisory map, the lowest number in the nine weeks Ohio has been utilizing the color-coded system. 8) Why arent some Cleveland coronavirus experts that troubled by news the three people have been reinfected by it just months after recovering from it? Because the fact that reoccurrence is rare should be reassuring. 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 When the Metropolitan Museum of Art closed in March, as the coronavirus ravaged New York, the cluster of pushcarts out front one of the most coveted food-vending locations in the city was left with no business. No museum, no customers, said Dan Rossi, 70, a vendor who over 13 years has become known as the museums hot dog king by holding the top sidewalk-selling spot, directly in front of the Mets main steps. Mr. Rossi was not about to pack up. For more than five months, he kept his carts dormant at their location, along Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street in Manhattan, and visited constantly from his suburban home to make sure they were not moved. Now, with the museum reopening to the public on Saturday, he has fired up his propane grills and resumed selling his $3 dogs and $1 bottles of water. He will again work to lure customers away from the seven vendors who typically flank him offering pretzels, halal food, ice cream and more hot dogs. WASHINGTON - As protesters remain unyielding nearly three weeks since an election they say was rigged handed Belarus President Alyaksandr Lukashenka a sixth term, authorities are escalating their attacks against Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and other independent media. Authorities are treating the media in an increasingly arbitrary manner. Not only are they refusing to accredit journalists, but they are using a variety of pretexts to detain fully credentialed journalists to prevent them from reporting what they see, said Acting President Daisy Sindelar. We are also alarmed that authorities have threatened to bring arbitrary charges against journalists who refuse police orders to surrender photos and other information. This is blatant retaliation, and an outrageous breach of norms and laws. RFE/RL Belarus Service journalists Uladz Hrydzin, Ales Dashchynski, Aleh Hruzdzilovich, and Andrei Rabchyk and Current Time reporter Roman Vasiukovich and cameraman Andrey Yaroshevich were among 30 or more local and foreign journalists the Belarusian Association of Journalists says were detained on August 27 while covering peaceful protests in downtown Minsks Independence Square. They were among tens of journalists, several with visible press credentials, who were herded into minibuses at about 5:00pm local time and taken to a district office of the Ministry of Interior. A ministry spokesperson said it was necessary to check documents confirming the legality of their professional activities, adding that the journalists were not detained. Rabchyk was snatched by police in the middle of a live broadcast. Yaroshevich was released this afternoon after spending the night in custody on charges of participating in an unauthorized rally. Yaroshevich was previously a photographer for Belarusian State TV, but was one of hundreds of workers who went on strike, eventually leaving his job, to protest the police violence that erupted after the August 9 election. During their detention, RFE/RL journalists were searched by police, who appeared to be looking for recording equipment. Their laptops and cameras were seized, and they were ordered to open up the photo galleries and other information on their mobile phones; in at least one case, a journalist was told to delete images of riot police. When Hrydzin, an accredited photographer, refused to surrender his photos, police threatened him with new administrative charges. With the exception of Yaroshevich, the journalists were all released by 1:30am on August 28. Journalists from TUT.BY, BelaPAN, Belsat, TASS, the Associated Press, and other media were also detained. Most were later released. The attack comes amid an information blockade that the Belarusian government has engineered to radically reduce internet access for more than 70 targeted websites, including the website of RFE/RL's Belarus Service. As part of the blackout, numerous bloggers who were instrumental in mobilizing public attention around the election remain in prison, in some cases for months. Ihar Losik, a popular blogger who consults for the Belarus Service on digital strategy, is currently in Zhodzina prison outside of Minsk, having been arrested on June 25; authorities today extended his detention release date to October 25. Protesters are planning another mass demonstration in Minsk on Sunday, August 30. Our journalists will of course be there, said Sindelar, and we call on the government to stop targeting the media and -- at the barest minimum -- to respect the rights of the journalists it itself has accredited. About RFE/RL's Belarus Service Despite the government's information blockade, RFE/RL's Belarus Service continues to provide live coverage and independent news and analysis of the fast-moving events to Belarusian audiences in their own language, relying on messengers, social media, circumvention technology, and even a return to the AM airwaves. In July, views of Belarus Service video content via Facebook jumped to 4.2 million from 1.2 million in May, while the sum of interactions with its Instagram feed quadrupled during the same timeframe. The number of subscribers to its YouTube page has more than doubled since May, to 206,000. Current Time, the 24/7 Russian-language digital network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with Voice of America, received over 86 million video views of its Belarus coverage across digital platforms between August 17-24. About RFE/RL RFE/RL relies on its networks of local reporters to provide accurate news and information to more than 38 million people in 27 languages and 23 countries where media freedom is restricted, or where a professional press has not fully developed. Its videos were viewed over 3.6 billion times on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram/IGTV in FY2019. RFE/RL is an editorially independent media company funded by a grant from the U.S. Congress through the U.S. Agency for Global Media. ---- FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Joanna Levison in Prague (levisonj@rferl.org, +420.221.122.080) Martins Zvaners in Washington (zvanersm@rferl.org, +1.202.457.6948) As Apple gears up to launch its new iPhone 12 series in the next couple of months, rumour mills it seem are slogging extra hard. According to Taiwanese research firm TrendForce, the upcoming iPhone 12 models will not be bundled with accessories. The TrendForce report notes that the upcoming iPhone 12 models will be more expensive to manufacture due to the 5G support. Apple may remove accessories from the box to maintain or reduce the cost of the iPhone 12 models. Additionally, the Cupertino-based tech giant could also boast the environmental benefits of the move to remove accessories from the box. The removal will result in lesser plastic waste and slimmer packaging. This could also boost sales of AirPods. However, removing basic accessories may not go down well with audiences, especially considering the high prices of the iPhone 12 models. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also claims Apple plans to introduce a new 20W fast charging that will be sold separately. Kuo also suggests that the new iPhone 12 models will be similarly priced to the iPhone 11 lineup. The report notes that the iPhone 12 will be priced between USD 699 to USD 749, while the iPhone 12 Max will start from USD 799. The two Pro iPhone models, including the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max could be priced from USD 1,049 and USD 1,149, respectively. The TrendForce report also notes that all the upcoming iPhone 12 models will feature Flexible AMOLED screens. The new iPhones will feature Apples A14 Bionic chipsets built on a 5nm process node. MANILA, Philippines, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The KC N901 Smart Helmet, developed by leading technology and innovation company KC Wearable, will be made available in the Philippines for the first time. KC Wearable has announced partnerships with two new distributors, My Solid Technologies & Devices Corporation and Medcare Supplies, meaning the wearable COVID-19 symptom detector will be widely available in the country. The Philippines has one of the highest infection rates in South East Asia, with more than 200,000 cases confirmed so far. As new cases continue to emerge, interest the wearable thermal detection device has grown. The KC Smart Helmet allows users to screen multiple individuals for a key symptom of COVID-19 at once, helping to stop the spread of the virus. The helmet can detect fevers, the most prevalent COVID-19 symptom, with 96% accuracy. Unlike traditional static thermal cameras, the wearable headset improves the efficiency and flexibility of COVID-19 screening, enabling the user to freely move around an area. The helmet can scan up to 200 people a minute, making it well suited to public settings like transport hubs, hospitals or parks. Powered by sophisticated augmented reality technology, the helmet visor's thermo-scan sensors show the temperature of people in real time. The helmet is effective within a seven-metre radius, enabling the wearer to maintain social distancing at all time, and has the potential to link up to other data on COVID-19 tracking apps. The device stores all data itself with a 64GB internal memory. Local distributor My Solid Technologies & Devices Corporation forms part of Solid Group Inc., a publicly listed holding company with operations in distribution, real estate, support services and investments. Working closely with KC Wearable, the company will assist in dispensing the pioneering smart helmet in continued efforts to reduce the spread of the virus across the Philippines. Beyond the Philippines, the helmet is already in use in more than 35 countries, including Indonesia, the UAE, Italy, Netherlands, Kuwait, Chile, Turkey and multiple African countries. KC Wearable has partnered with national authorities and major transport hubs such as airports, as well as schools and hospitals, to detect COVID-19 symptoms in a range of settings. Dr Jie Guo, Global Head of KC Wearable, said: "At KC Wearable, our mission has always been to do everything possible to reduce the spread of this life-threatening disease, as well as the devastating impact that it is having on societies across the globe. With a high fever being a common COVID-19 symptom, the KC N901 Smart Helmet is a quick, efficient and accurate way of identifying potential cases. "We have already partnered with countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America and seen positive results. So we are pleased to now be working with our distributors in the Philippines to do what we can to bring some relief and reassurance to the country's citizens and hope that we can help some elements of normal life return." Beda Manalac, President of My Solid Technologies & Devices Corporation said: "The KC N901 Smart Helmet is an incredibly exciting innovation. As people in the Philippines have looked to adapt to COVID-19, reliable and effective technology has become increasingly important. The KC Smart Helmet provides our customers with a high-tech way of screening for symptoms of the virus, helping to keep people safe and society moving. The helmet's flexibility across a number of sectors including health and security services makes it a natural choice in the fight against COVID-19. By distributing the product, we hope to make an important contribution to our country's efforts to control the virus." To find out more about the KC N901 Smart Helmet, please visit the following website: https://www.kcwearable.com/enpc/index.html. About KC Wearable KC Wearable, is a company with a passion to innovate. Founded by five colleagues with postgraduate degrees from top universities, KC Wearable has operations in many different high-technology industries including aerospace, communications, artificial intelligence and more. Over the course of several years, they have built a global community of innovation that has one clear purpose: making the world better for all people. They have brought together companies and technologies across the globe from many different industries who share ideas, technology and vision to achieve this and through our co-operation, they have been able to achieve extraordinary goals ranging from providing connectivity to millions in Southeast Asia to directly saving lives in China. For more information, please visit https://www.kcwearable.com/enpc/index.html SOURCE KC Wearable By DR. ALEX AWITI Empires rise and fall. Epochs come and go. Are we on the verge of the end of the age of America? The myth or substance of American exceptionalism has been shattered by a pandemic. Covid-19 laid bare troubling weaknesses deep cultural polarisation; a blistering eruption of racial discord; a revolting chasm of economic equality; staggering health disparities. The worlds sole superpowerhome of the best universities in the world, the one nation with access to the most advanced healthcareaccounts for about 22 percent of Covid-19 morbidity and mortality. At the height of Americas desperation President Donald Trump advocated the use of bleach, antimalarial drug and the deadly plant poison oleandrin to cure Covid-19. The use of face masks has become a cultural and political flashpoint, pitting Democrats against Republicans. The use of face mask among Trumps zealots is a singular violation of personal freedoms. One might imagine that the use of a face mask would be a laudable act of patriotism and personal responsibility in the fight against a deadly virus. How America has handled the pandemic and its impact on lives and livelihoods has severely dented its global standing. American exceptionalism is in tatters. The fitness and competence of the Chinese state in dealing with the pandemic makes America, in comparison, a failed state, governed by an ensemble of incompetent politicians and bureaucrats. As American health workers looked to China for essential medical supplies and as China and East Asia lead the rest of the world in the post Covid-19 economic recovery, the mantle of supremacy moved to China. Empires are born to die. The 19th century was dominated by Great Britain. Americas greatness is diminished, not bolstered, by being the most warlike nation on the planet; with troops deployed in 150 countries. America has enjoyed only 16 years of peace in its 242-year existence as a nation. In contrast, China has not been at war in the last 50 years and is consuming more cement every three years than America did in the last 100 years. In purchasing-power-parity (PPP) terms, Chinas 2017 GDP was $19.617 trillion compared to the USs $19.519 trillion. Data from the World Bank and IMF predicts China will overtake the United States of America, with India, Japan Indonesia and Russia taking 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th places respectively, relegating European economies to lower ranks. Asias burgeoning middle class is one of the reasons for the economic tectonic shift. The 2020 election is going to be a venomous, and polarising culture war between the Republicans and the Democrats. Trump now says he is the only thing standing between the American dream, total anarchy and chaos. Biden, the democratic nominee has framed the 2020 election as a battle for Americas soul. America will be weaker, more divided. Is the American 'empire' unravelling? Is this the Asian age? But we may at some point, when Chinas global domination and power peaks, feel nostalgic about the age of America. Just maybe. Ashwini M Sripad By Express News Service BENGALURU: Imagine getting rice from an ATM! This is what the Karnataka government is planning to help the needy. Just like water vending machines, these machines will dispense certain quantity of rice if coins are inserted. People availing rice from the Public Distribution System (PDS) can get rice at such centres anytime and need not have to visit ration shops during working hours. At present, Indonesia and Vietnam have a similar system. In May, Indonesia had rolled out Rice ATMs across Jakarta to assist those struggling to feed their families, as the coronavirus pandemic took a heavy toll on its economy. Free rice is dispensed using artificial intelligence. Speaking to TNIE, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies K Gopalaiah said there was a proposal before them to install Rice ATMs at various locations to help the poor. I was told these come in various sizes -- 100 kg, 200 kg and 500 kg capacity. Once a coin is inserted, certain quantity of rice is dispensed. He added, We need to check how it works and make arrangements to refill rice every time the container gets empty. We are checking the feasibility. We plan to install this machine in one or two places on trial. If we get good results, we will install them in various places. A senior official from the Food and Civil Supplies department said that most of the beneficiaries in the State work as daily wage labourers. They have to take off or take permission from work to visit the ration shops. These shops are open only during day time. It is not possible to keep these PDS shops open till night. Therefore, the government plans to start Rice ATMs. The staple can be availed by inserting coins. For those who have ration card, finger biometric system can be used. At present, 5 kg of rice per individual per month is given to a BPL card holder family under the Anna Bhagya scheme and over 1.22 crore families and 4.27 crore individuals are covered. The government distributes rice for free to BPL card holder family members. But APL family members get it for Rs 15 per kg. And since the outbreak of the pandemic, free rice is also being given to migrants, based on their Aadhaar card. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 18:40:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Visitors watch a rare portrait of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II during a ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey, on Aug. 28, 2020. A rare portrait of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II was brought to its new home in Turkey's largest city Istanbul on Friday after being acquired at a live auction in London two months ago. (Photo by Osman Orsal/Xinhua) ISTANBUL, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- A rare portrait of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II was brought to its new home in Turkey's largest city Istanbul on Friday after being acquired at a live auction in London two months ago. "Perhaps, we are witnessing a renaissance era art piece joining in a public collection for the first time," Ekrem Imamoglu, mayor of Istanbul, told reporters at a ceremony at the municipality headquarter in the Sarachane neighborhood. "This 540-year-old art piece of the Italian painter Gentile Bellini is placed at a special section where highest level measures, from security to air conditioning, have been taken," Imamoglu noted. The oil painting portrait was purchased by the municipality officials who joined the sale at the famous British auction house Christie's over the phone in June. Following a fierce competition, the municipality paid the highest price and purchased the portrait for 770,000 British pounds, or 955,000 U.S. dollars, a press release had said. "After the end of the Ottoman's war with the Republic of Venice in 1479, Sultan Mehmed II prepared a peace treaty at which he invited Bellini to Istanbul to carry out his works," Imamoglu explained the story of the painting. "And, Bellini created this portrait of the sultan during his time he spent in the city," the mayor said, noting that it is one of the three original portraits of the sultan that survived to the present day. In his piece, the painter depicted the sultan facing another man, whose identity is unknown. It is widely believed by historians that this was one of the last poses of the emperor before being poisoned to death in 1481. The sultan conquered the Byzantine city of Constantinople, today's Istanbul, in 1453, when he was 21 years old, bringing an end to the Byzantine Empire. Since then, he has been known as Mehmed the Conqueror, one of the most revered figures among Turkish people. Imamoglu revealed that the portrait would be open to the public in October, and until then, it would be left to rest at this specially designed section. The Centre will bring in 11 ordinances to both Houses for passage when Parliament convenes for the Monsoon Session. These ordinances pertain to the Health Ministry, Finance Ministry, Parliamentary Affairs Ministry and Agriculture Ministry, among others. The Monsoon Session is likely to begin on September 14 will conclude on October 1, as recommended by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs. According to a report by India Today, procedures have been tweaked to hold the session, amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. There will not be a single day's break. A total of 18 sittings will be held in both Houses. The Rajya Sabha will function for the first four hours of the day and Lok Sabha will work for the next four except for the first day as the Lower Houses Speaker Om Birla has to formally seek members permission to let the Upper House us their chamber. The news report adds that the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry is reaching out to leaders of political parties in Parliament, to convince them to forego the Question Hour during the session. Rajya Sabha chairman holds trial Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on August 27 held a trial of the preparations for the upcoming session and expressed satisfaction at the arrangements. As the members of the Rajya Sabha will be seated at multiple locations, including the galleries of the House and in the Lok Sabha, a hotline facility between the chambers of the two Houses has been created for the technology-aided session. This will ensure an effective coordination for hassle-free, technology-aided participation of the members in the first-of-its-kind proceedings of the House during the session. The last Budget Session of Parliament had to be curtailed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and both Houses were adjourned sine die on March 23. As per precedent, Parliament has to be convened before the end of six months from the last session. (With inputs from PTI) 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. Rushing from one home to another in a village in western India, health worker Ashwini Mhaske cannot afford to take a breather. Working to keep Covid-19 at bay while caring for mothers and babies, Mhaske races between households to meet job targets and earn bonuses for a average monthly wage of 4,000 rupees ($54) that Indias army of rural health workers say is derisory. Accredited Social Health Activists - or ASHA workers - are the governments recognised health workers who are usually the first point of contact in rural India, where there is often limited or no direct access to healthcare facilities. Many of Indias one million all-women ASHA workers - who have conducted door-to-door checks to trace coronavirus patients in addition to their usual duties - went on strike this month to demand job recognition, better pay and proper protective gear. Now we work all hours, with no days off, said 33-year-old Mhaske, who used to do farm work shifts to supplement her ASHA income before the coronavirus pandemic struck India in March. Indias coronavirus cases crossed the 3.2 million mark this week - it is behind the United States and Brazil - after a surge in rural areas where two-thirds of its 1.3 billion people live. With infections spreading further to small towns and remote regions, experts say the epidemic in India is likely to be months away from its peak, putting more strain on an already overburdened healthcare system and struggling ASHA workers. All we (ASHA workers) are saying is that the government should think about us, Mhaske told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from Osmanabad in Maharashtra state. PAY DISPUTE Enlisted as part of a 2005 national programme to boost healthcare services across rural India - from maternal care to vaccination drives - ASHA workers are treated like volunteers and not covered by state governments minimum wage legislation. They recently received a 33% hike to their basic monthly salary due to the new coronavirus, and get bonuses for tasks such as 50 rupees for ensuring five children are immunized and 600 rupees for taking pregnant women to hospital to give birth. Yet labour economists and campaigners said ASHA workers were still hugely underpaid for their duties, and earned about half as much as farm workers employed under government job schemes. In the name of community service, they are working without commensurate remuneration or rights, said K.R. Shyam Sunder, a professor at the Xavier School of Management in Jharkhand. This amounts to indignity or undignified labour ... the returns to the society from their work will far outweigh the meagre economic cost in regularizing them. Indias health ministry has not officially responded to ASHA workers demands for a base salary of 10,000 rupees per month. They get task-based incentives and we already have a set of incentives ... that would yield 5,000 to 6,000 rupees a month, said Vikas Sheel, joint secretary at the health ministry. Yet payment records reviewed by the Thomson Reuters Foundation of nearly 600 ASHA workers from four states - Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh - revealed average earnings of about 4,000 rupees for the month of July. We have already increased 1,000 rupees for their Covid-19 duties, Sheel added. Right now, thats it. Sheel said individual states had the discretion to boost the earnings of local ASHA workers and that some states had done so. But there isnt one clear payment structure for the whole country, said Ranjana Nirula, convenor of the All India Coordination Committee of ASHA Workers, which is a union. This is part of unpaid labour of women and is seen as an extension of the work women do at home. FULL CONTROL Several ASHA workers said they had worked around the clock and been on call at all hours since March - when millions of migrant workers returned to villages from cities post-lockdown. The health workers recorded every arrival, took travel histories and helped place the labourers into quarantine, all while carrying out their maternal and child healthcare duties. Leela Devi Rawat, a 30-year-old ASHA worker in Udaipur in northwestern Rajasthan state, said she was exhausted due to her new responsibilites yet had no choice but to keep working. How do I run my house if I quit? My husband takes up daily wage work but has had no earnings in lockdown, she said. Payment records for 195 workers in Maharashtra seen by the Thomson Reuters Foundation showed average earnings of 4,156 rupees in July - an increase of 60 rupees from February despite the 1,000 rupees wage hike that was implemented in March. Workers said their coronavirus duties meant they had little time to carry out other tasks that awarded them bonus payments. Asha workers have emerged as the backbone of primary healthcare in India, said physician Abhay Bang, founder of the public health non-profit Search. Over the years, their work has gone from part-time to full-time, he said, adding that their average work day was at least 12 hours. You call them community workers, so you dont give them government wages. But you keep full control over them. The Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have hailed the ASHA workers in recent months for their role in containing the epidemic in India. Yet such praise means little to many ASHA workers as their work days get longer while their pay remains roughly the same. I hope the payment will improve and maybe I will grow professionally, said Mhaske, who recently enrolled in a computing course to widen her career prospects. I hope that some day it will be better. (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 Details added: first version posted on 16:07 BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.28 Trend: The sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Armenian armed forces attempted to commit a provocation in the direction of Azerbaijans Goranboy district on August 23, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend on August 28. As a result of the decisive actions of the units of the Azerbaijani armed forces, the provocation was prevented and the group's commander, First Lieutenant Gurgen Alaverdyan of Armenian Armed Forces was detained. According to the ministry, the detainee admitted that he, together with a group of Armenian military servicemen, intended to attack the positions of the Azerbaijani army to inflict damage to the personnel and military infrastructure of Azerbaijani Armed Forces. As the ministry said, the reconnaissance and sabotage actions of the group commanded by Gurgen Alaverdyan during the intensification of intelligence operations of the Armenian armed forces in various areas of the line of contact, including the widespread use of unmanned aerial vehicles, indicate that the military-political leadership of Armenia is conducting another military provocation on the line of contact. The ministry noted that the actions also should be perceived as intentional aggravation of the military situation. The groundless and absurd accusations against Azerbaijan, voiced by Armenia in a state of hysteria and panic, after the uncovering of this malicious plan, is an attempt to divert the attention of the international community and the Armenian society from its unsuccessful policy of military escapade, the ministry said. We categorically reject statements of Armenian side with groundless accusations against Azerbaijan about the violation of international humanitarian law and Armenophobia. Concernig the detained Gurgen Alaverdyan, the Azerbaijani side acted under the requirements of international humanitarian law, pointed out the ministry. In this regard, it is worth recalling that Armenia, which accuses Azerbaijan with claims of violation of international humanitarian law, is a country that for about 30 years has been continuing aggressive policy towards Azerbaijan, accompanied by military actions and crimes against humanity, including genocide and ethnic cleansing, the ministry also noted. As a result of Armenia's aggression against Azerbaijan, 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed, 50,000 became disabled, about a million civilians were forcibly expelled from their native lands, 5,364 people disappeared, were taken prisoner, hostage, and were subjected to torture and abuse. The fate of nearly 4,000 of them is still unknown, reminded the ministry. Currently Armenia is holding our compatriots - civilians Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev, who were tortured and illegally deprived of their freedom, as hostages, the ministry said. As the ministry stressed, the leadership of Armenia, which in the context of the detention of an officer of the armed forces of this country recalls humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, shouldnt forget that it has stubbornly opposed Azerbaijans initiative to exchange prisoners and hostages on the principle of "all for all", supported by the international community, including the co-chairing countries the OSCE Minsk Group. It should be noted that Armenia, putting forward ridiculous claims against Azerbaijan, which does not put fundamental human values and fundamental principles of international humanitarian law into anything, didnt hesitate to use the bodies of the dead as objects of political and material gain, the ministry further said. Being a country that applied a "pricing table" to the bodies of the dead per their professions or military ranks, has long lost the moral right to speak about humanism, tolerance and universal values, the ministry stated. "The accusations against Azerbaijan in the context of humanism and humanitarian law voiced by the current leadership of Armenia, which openly refused to apologize for the grave war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Azerbaijan and its civilian population by the previous military-political leadership of Armenia, are blatant hypocrisy, pointed out the ministry. Armenia, accusing Azerbaijan of undermining a favorable environment for peace, is making an unsuccessful attempt to avoid responsibility for the military provocation on the state border in the direction of Tovuz [district] on July 12-16 this year, the ministry added. It also unsuccessfully attempts to use the situation that arose after it, through provocative statements by the leadership of this country, increasing tensions on the line of contact and undermining attempts to settle the conflict, the ministry said. The international community understands that the military-political leadership of Armenia bears direct responsibility for the purposeful escalation of the conflict in the direction of Tovuz and that the country's attempt to make use of the situation over Gurgen Alaverdyan is doomed to fail, the ministry also added. The Azerbaijani side once again resolutely rejects the groundless accusations of Armenia against our country regarding violation of humanitarian law and "Armenophobia", calling on the international community to take effective steps to keep Armenia from trying to escalate an already difficult situation in the region," concluded the ministry. For people with colorblindness, fall foliage lacks its renowned rich hues. Tennessee is trying to change that, one autumn at a time. In 2017, the state's tourism board began installing scenic viewfinders with EnChroma lenses that alleviate red-green colorblindness in 12 lookouts around the state. "There are over 13 million colorblind Americans who never get to experience something as beautiful as fall colors," says Mark Ezell, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. "We created 12 scenic viewers located in some of Tennessee's most picturesque locations so that they could, for the first time, fully appreciate that beauty." Ezell says many people with colorblindness have an emotional experience when they look through the special viewfinders. "Red was the biggest difference. I mean, I can't describe it," Tennessee local Lauren Van Lew told the Associated Press in 2019 after using one of the viewfinders at Mount Harrison. "It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life. That red, it's just gorgeous. It's incredible." And in a video from TNVacation, a man looking through a viewfinder for the first time is overcome with emotion as he says: "I'm glad to have seen it. I just wish I'd seen this all my life. Kind of like what I would imagine the difference between here and heaven." The coronavirus pandemic initially thwarted plans to install more of the viewfinders throughout the state. However, Ezell says Cares Act funding may get the expansion back on track. "We had budget challenges," Ezell says. "But it's back on our list to try to move quickly and work with EnChroma, as we're not only upgrading those lenses but [adding] some sites." Travelers can find the existing viewfinders using an interactive map on the state's tourism board website. The viewfinders are placed all across the state, so Ezell recommends that colorblind travelers find the ones most conveniently located to them. Despite the pandemic, Ezell thinks fall travelers will be drawn to Tennessee this year because the state has an abundance of outdoor attractions. "It's why we are so blessed in Tennessee," Ezell says. "Whether it's our 50,000 miles of streams or our hundreds of thousands of acres of lakes or our mountains, we've got 56 state parks. . . . There's plenty of room to spread out with a natural social distancing." The hospitality industry has also reworked operations to welcome back tourists safely this fall. "Whether somebody is choosing a cabin or a hotel or a campground, so many businesses across Tennessee have worked on those key things like extra sanitation, making sure people and employees are wearing masks, doing temperature checks and then using social distancing," Ezell says. "We really feel good about the environment that we're being able to encourage people to travel safely." According to the nonprofit Colour Blind Awareness, approximately 300 million people worldwide have some kind of colorblindness, from deuteranomaly - a reduced sensitivity to green light - to monochromacy - an absence of color completely. Other initiatives are in place to bring colorful experiences to those with colorblindness. Some museums and libraries in the United States, including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver, the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, the California Academy of Sciences and the St. Johns County Public Library System in St. Augustine, Fla., stock EnChroma glasses for visitors to wear during their visit. Tennessee is the only state with designated fall foliage colorblind viewfinders, but Ezell hopes the concept spreads elsewhere. "We would love for this to be available across the country if it helps folks," he says. As Tropical Depression Laura continues to barrel through the south Friday, the remnants of the storm are expected to be felt in Massachusetts on Saturday. The leftovers of the storm, which was downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical depression Thursday, may bring tropical downpours, flooding, heavy winds and potentially severe thunderstorms to nearly all of New England by the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. As of 4 a.m., Laura was swirling over the Arkansas-Missouri border with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The tropical depression is moving northeast at 13 miles per hour, and its remains should hit Massachusetts by Friday night. It will not just be the remnants of Laura that will batter the commonwealth, though. The tail end of the tropical depression will merge with another storm that is moving east over the Great Lakes region, according to Bryce Williams, a meteorologist with the National Weather Services Boston/Norton office. Both storms will phase together and move toward the Northeast as one large area of unsettled weather, Williams told MassLive. Those two storm systems will move into Massachusetts starting Friday, he said. Probably the peak will be around Saturday afternoon. The state may see winds gusts of up to 60 miles per hour and rainfall amounts of an inch to an inch and a half, according to the meteorologist. However, the stormy weather on Saturday is not expected to look nearly as severe as the life-threatening storm surges that swept through the Gulf Coast earlier this week, killing a 14-year-old girl in Louisiana. I would not even compare the two honestly. This will be a breezy wet system for us with some thunderstorms, Williams said. It will be unrecognizable from the system that hit the Gulf. The weather over the weekend may be a bit cooler due to the stormy conditions, with highs on Saturday expected to reach 78 degrees in Boston, 76 degrees in Worcester, 79 degrees in Springfield and 75 degrees on Cape Cod. Temperatures on Friday will be slightly hotter, with highs in the upper 70s and lower 80s across the commonwealth. Drier, less humid and cooler weather will follow Sunday and last through early next week, with a taste of fall expected, the National Weather Service said. The forecast is subject to change more than 72 hours out. Related Content: Hurricane Laura downgraded to Category 1; Louisiana governor says 14-year-old girl is first person killed by the storm China not to allow US to cause trouble: Defense Ministry Iran Press TV Thursday, 27 August 2020 10:30 AM China's Defense Ministry says the country will not "dance to the tune" of the United States or allow it to "cause trouble," as Washington ramps up hostile posturing against Beijing, including in the South China Sea. Wu Qian, a spokesman for the Chinese Defense Ministry, also said at a monthly news briefing on Thursday that China hoped that the United States would take practical measures to create a "positive atmosphere" for high-level exchanges between the two sides to ease military tensions. Washington and Beijing are currently at loggerheads over a host of issues, including trade, technology, Hong Kong, Taiwan, navigation in the East and South China Seas, and most recently, the coronavirus pandemic. The South China Sea has recently become a flashpoint. The United States has been trying to push back against what it views as China's rising influence in the resource-rich South China Sea. Washington has sided with China's rivals in maritime disputes in the sea and been routinely sending warships and warplanes there to assert what it calls its right to freedom of navigation. Last month, two US aircraft carriers conducted tactical air defense exercises in the South China Sea, with Washington claiming that the maneuvers were "in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific." On Tuesday, China said the United States had flown a spy aircraft into a Chinese no-fly zone during live-fire military drills, calling the flight "naked provocation." On Wednesday, the Chinese military launched two ballistic missiles into the South China Sea, in a clear warning to the United States. The US had earlier in the day blacklisted 24 Chinese companies and individuals over their actions related to disputed islands in the South China Sea. US sanctions unjust: China On Thursday, China's Foreign Ministry censured the US administration for imposing the sanctions against the two dozen Chinese companies involved in construction work in the South China Sea. Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian denounced the sanctions as "unjust" as the construction activities were taking place on Chinese territory. China claims most of the strategic waterway and has been building artificial islands there and installing military equipment on them. The US accuses Beijing of undertaking what it calls land reclamation. On Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said China "seems to be flexing its muscles the most and conducting some of its worst behavior" in the South China Sea. He described the Indo-Pacific region as the epicenter of a "great power competition with China." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to revisit decision on privatisation of NMDC's under-construction plant in Nagarnar, Bastar. In a letter to the prime minister on Wednesday, Baghel said the privatisation move will deeply hurt the expectations of lakhs of tribals and Naxalites might take undue advantage of the situation. The country's largest iron ore miner NMDC, under the Ministry of Steel, is setting up its first plant with a capacity of 3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) in Nagarnar. The plant was in the list of public sector enterprises lined up by the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) for strategic divestment. However, the proposal for strategic divestment of the plant was later deferred by an Inter-Ministerial Group for Divestment until the unit becomes operational. In the letter, the chief minister apprised Modi of the situation in the state with regard to the Centre's plan of privatising the plant. In this August 26 letter, Baghel said there is discontent among the locals over the Centre's plan of privatising the plant being built at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore. He requested the Centre to reconsider the decision. "The news of privatisation of the plant has agitated the tribal community and there is a feeling of dissatisfaction against the governance and administration among them," the chief minister wrote. He further said the "state government has been successful in curbing Naxal activities with considerable efforts. But, under these circumstances, the possibility of Naxalites taking undue advantage of tribal discontent due to privatisation of Nagarnar steel plant cannot be ruled out". The central government should let the Nagarnar plant continue as a public sector enterprise, so that it helps in improving the standard of living of the tribals of the Bastar region, the letter said. The state, he said, was extremely enthusiastic that commencement of the plant will not only ensure utilisation of minerals in Bastar but also provide an opportunity to contribute in nation building, Baghel said. The state, he said, was also hopeful that the industrial unit will also provide thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities. It would be very unfortunate for that the proposed public sector steel plant in the tribal area of the state would be privatised, Baghel said adding that "it will deeply hurt the expectations of lakhs of tribals". He informed that about 610 hectares of private land has been acquired for the Nagarnar steel plant. In December 2019, he had said that the land belonged to the tribes and they gave the land thinking that a public sector industry would come on it and people will get jobs. It was not given for privatisation, Baghel had said. In the letter to Modi, Baghel further said, "PESA Act, 1996 is in force to protect the interests of tribals and their natural rights in The state government is always committed to protect the interests of the tribals of Chhattisgarh." The public sector undertakings (PSUs) "were taken forward by our guide former Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, and seeing their importance, the Government of Chhattisgarh will always support them in their progress". He also informed that leases of NMDC's four iron ore mines at Bailadila have already been extended for the next 20 years by the state government, so that new employment opportunities could be in the Bastar region. Meanwhile, NMDC has informed the stock exchanges that its board of directors at a meeting held on August 27 accorded an in-principle approval to the proposal to demerge its NMDC Iron & Steel Plant (NISP), Nagarnar, Chhattisgarh. "NISP is steel wing (business) of NMDC. Nagarnar project is under NISP. The board has approved its demerger," a company official explained. (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.) Dublin, Aug. 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Metal Forming Market for Automotive by Technique (Roll, Stretch, Stamping, Deep Drawing, Hydroforming), Type (Hot, warm and Cold), Application (BIW, Chassis, Closure), Material (Steel, Aluminum, Magnesium), Vehicle (ICE & Electric) - Global Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global metal forming market for automotive is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.2% from 2020 to 2025, to reach USD 202.23 billion by 2025 from USD 172.56 billion in 2018. The key companies profiled in the study are Magna (Canada), Benteler (Germany), Tower International (UK), Toyota Boshoku (Japan), Aisin Seiki (Japan), Kirchhoff (US), CIE Automotive (Spain), Mills Products (US), VNT Automotive (Austria), Superform Aluminum (US), and Hirotec (Japan). Global vehicle production and growing commercial vehicle demand to fuel the metal forming market for automotive The market is projected to rise owing to key reasons such as increasing vehicle production and growing demand for commercial vehicles. On the other hand, the major factor hindering the growth of the metal forming market is the high capital cost of forming equipment. The hydroforming market is projected to show the fastest growth by forming a technique segment Hydroforming is one of the most advanced forming techniques used in the automotive industry. It is generally used to manufacture hollow tube structures such as manifolds, exhaust cones, and a few suspension components. As hydroforming is comparatively expensive, it is mostly used by premium car manufacturers. Due to the increasing market share of premium car manufacturers, hydroforming is expected to grow at the fastest rate. It is an advanced technique and requires a high setup cost as well as high operating costs, because of which it is expected to have a significant market in Europe and North America. Cold forming is estimated to be the largest market by forming type and is projected to maintain its position in the forecast period Story continues Cold forming is one of the most conventional manufacturing processes in which components are formed using different types of forming techniques at room temperature and do not require any additional handling and carrying. The cold-forming process is simpler than the hot forming process and does not require any additional setup cost. Hence, the overall cost of cold forming is low as compared to hot forming. Because of the advantages such as cost and low production time, cold forming is the major preference of OEMs across the globe. Asia Oceania and North America are estimated to drive the metal forming market for automotive The Asia Oceania region is projected to lead the metal forming market for automotive during the forecast period owing to the large-scale vehicle production compared to other regions. According to OICA (Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles), Asia Oceania contributed about 50-55% of the global vehicle production in 2019. Vehicle production in Asia Oceania has grown substantially in the last 10 years. This increase in production comes from small and mid-sized cars in China and India as these two countries have the largest population and are price-sensitive markets. With the increase in the production of vehicles, the demand for metal forming for automotive grew at a significant rate in Asia Oceania. This growth may have been derailed in 2020 owing to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, as per estimates, the Asia Oceania will witness growth in the forecast period owing to the successful containment of the virus in countries such as China, Japan, and South Korea. North America is expected to be the fastest-growing metal forming market for automotive. The North American region comprises countries with significant vehicle production such as Canada, Mexico, and the US. The US is the major contributor, i.e., it contributed around 65% of the overall vehicle production in North America in 2019. The North American metal forming market is dominated by key players such as the Tower International (US), Magna (Canada), and Kirchhoff Automotive (US). Report Coverage The report covers the metal forming market for automotive. It is broadly segmented by region (Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, South America, and the Middle East and Africa), Technique type (Roll forming, Stretch forming, Stamping, Deep drawing, Hydroforming, and Others), Forming types (Cold forming, Warm forming, and Hot forming), Material Type (Steel, Magnesium, and Aluminum), Application type (BIW, Chassis, and Closures), Vehicle Type (Passenger car, LCV, Truck, and Bus), and Electric & Hybrid vehicle type (BEV, PHEV, and FCEV). Key Topics Covered 1 Introduction 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Premium Insights 4.1 Attractive Opportunities in Metal Forming Market for Automotive 4.2 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Forming Type 4.3 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Technique 4.4 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Material 4.5 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Application 4.6 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Vehicle Type 4.7 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Electric & Hybrid Vehicle 5 Market Overview 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Market Dynamics 5.2.1 Drivers 5.2.1.1 Rising Global Vehicle Production and Growing Commercial Vehicle Demand 5.2.1.2 Stringent Emission and Fuel Economy Regulations for Lightweight Materials 5.2.2 Restraints 5.2.2.1 Increasing Usage of Composites in Automotive Applications 5.2.3 Opportunity 5.2.3.1 Growing Sales of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles 5.2.3.2 Increasing Adoption of Hydroforming Techniques 5.2.4 Challenges 5.2.4.1 High Capital Investments for New Entrants to Set Up Metal Forming Process 5.3 Ecosystem Analysis 5.4 COVID-19 Impact on Metal Forming Market 6 Technological Overview 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Advantages of Metal Forming Techniques Over Other Techniques 6.3 Types of Forming Techniques 6.3.1 Roll Forming 6.3.2 Stretch Forming 6.3.3 Deep Drawing 6.3.4 Stamping 6.3.5 Hot Forming 6.3.6 Hydroforming 6.4 Hydroforming: The Future of Automotive Forming 6.4.1 Advantages of Hydroforming 6.5 Additive Manufacturing 6.5.1 Advantages of Additive Manufacturing 6.5.2 Disadvantages of Additive Manufacturing 7 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Technique 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Roll Forming 7.3 Stretch Forming 7.4 Deep Drawing 7.5 Stamping 7.6 Hydroforming 7.7 Others 8 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Forming Type 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Cold Forming 8.3 Hot Forming 8.4 Warm Forming 9 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Application 9.1 Introduction 9.2 BIW 9.3 Chassis 9.4 Closures 9.5 Others 10 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Material 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Steel 10.3 Aluminum 10.4 Magnesium 10.5 Others 11 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Vehicle Type 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Passenger Cars 11.3 Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) 11.4 Trucks 11.5 Buses 12 Metal Forming Market for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles, by Vehicle Type 12.1 Introduction 12.2 BEV 12.3 PHEV 12.4 FCEV 13 Metal Forming Market for Automotive, by Region 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Asia Oceania 13.3 Europe 13.4 North America 13.5 South America 13.6 Middle East & Africa 14 Competitive Landscape 14.1 Overview 14.2 Metal Forming Market for Automotive: Market Ranking Analysis 14.3 Competitive Leadership Mapping 14.3.1 Stars 14.3.2 Emerging Leaders 14.3.3 Pervasive Companies 14.3.4 Emerging Companies 14.4 Competitive Scenario 14.4.1 Expansions 14.4.2 Supply Contracts 14.4.3 New Product Launches/Developments 14.4.4 Partnerships/Joint Ventures 15 Company Profiles 15.1 Introduction 15.2 Benteler 15.3 Tower International 15.4 Magna International 15.5 Toyota Boshoku Corporation 15.6 Aisin Seiki 15.7 Kirchhoff 15.8 CIE Automotive 15.9 Mills Products 15.10 VNT Automotive 15.11 Superform Aluminium 15.12 Hirotec 15.13 Client Requirement 15.13.1 PWO 15.13.2 Ernst Umformtechnik 15.13.3 Hornlein 15.13.4 Hubert Stuken GmbH & Co. KG (Starken) 15.13.5 Stewart EFI 15.13.6 Truelove & Maclean (Acquired by SFS Group AG) 15.13.7 Metal Flow 15.13.8 Transfer Tool 15.14 Additional Companies 15.14.1 North America 15.14.1.1 Vari-Form 15.14.1.2 LTC Roll 15.14.1.3 Martinrea International Inc. 15.14.1.4 Multimatic 15.14.2 Asia Oceania 15.14.2.1 Kaizen Metal Forming 15.14.2.2 AES Automotive 15.14.2.3 JBM Auto 15.14.2.4 MIM 15.14.3 Europe 15.14.3.1 Craemer 15.14.3.2 Voestalpine 15.14.3.3 Gestamp Automocion 15.14.3.4 Quintus Technologies For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/f97hxy 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 Authorities in the North Korean city of Sinuiju ordered people living in flimsy houses to evacuate to sturdier apartment buildings to prepare for Typhoon Bavi, causing friction between the evacuees and tenants, sources across the Yalu river border in China told RFA Thursday. Bavi, known locally as typhoon number 8, made landfall in North Korea with winds of 83 miles per hour at the western coast of North Pyongan Province at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Pyongyang time, according to the China Meteorological Administration. North Korean media reported vast flooding, uprooted trees and downed telephone poles. Two days earlier, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had ordered extensive preparations to minimize damage and injuries ahead of the typhoon at an enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau. A resident of Dandong, China, who has family across the Yalu river border in Sinuiju, told RFAs Korean Service Thursday that members of his family had been mobilized as part of the citys typhoon readiness plan. I talked to my family in Sinuiju on the phone this morning, and they were very busy because the city government was pushing them since yesterday until early this morning, said the source, who requested anonymity to speak freely. They couldnt sleep at all last night. They stayed up all night to follow the instructions of the authorities, the source said. Part of the preparations involved taping windows to prevent shards of broken glass from going airborne, according to the source. The city government ordered residents to attach tape at least 5 centimeters (2 inches) wide in an X-shape pattern to all glass windows in their house. They even sent an inspection team and checked the windows one by one, the source said. Residents living in houses were ordered to evacuate to the corridors of nearby apartment buildings at least three-stories tall by 5 a.m. today, while residents of apartments were ordered not to go out, the source added. In addition, the entire city went on lockdown ahead of Bavi. All transportation, including city buses and taxis, will not be running today. This is because all the vehicles must be moved to higher and safer places where there is [less potential for] damage from flood and wind, said the source. All the employees of businesses couldnt get off work yesterday and had to report for special duty afterwards to [prepare for] the typhoon. The emergency situation is not likely to end until late afternoon today when the typhoon completely moves away, the source said. It is common in other parts of the world for residents to evacuate to spacious public buildings like gymnasiums, schools or domed stadiums during severe weather, but Sinuiju's house-dwellers had to endure miserable conditions in apartment building hallways, a second source told RFA. There is serious friction with the apartment residents over several issues including the use of toilets, said the second source, a trader from Dandong who often hears news from his North Korean business partner. This is the first time in my whole life of 50 years that theyve evacuated people to apartment buildings because of a typhoon. I wonder where rural residents will evacuate to when there are no apartments near their homes. the second source said. Sources told RFA that Dandong on Thursday also stopped running all city buses and closed all government offices. The Chinese city however did not mobilize the public, instead putting only members of the public security department in charge of disaster control and management on special emergency duty. Sometime after landfall, Typhoon Bavi was downgraded and reclassified as a tropical storm. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) in Honolulu issued its final warning regarding Bavi at 6 p.m. Pyongyang Time, saying it would continue to rapidly weaken as it moved northeastward from its then position over Chinas Jilin province. At its peak on Wednesday, Bavi had been a category-3 typhoon. It caused light structural damage as it passed by South Korea in waters off the peninsulas west coast before hitting North Korea early Thursday. Pyongyang lightly scathed A diplomat living in Pyongyang told RFA that the North Korean capital had suffered only minor damage from Bavi. It was ok. There was some strong wind, some fallen trees, some roofs vanished, but nothing dramatic, both in our compound and the rest of the town as well, said the diplomat, who asked not to be named. The Koreans are working very quickly to fix it. Everything. Everywhere. For example, one wall has fallen in this compound and it has been fixed already. Its been rebuilt. The whole wall, the diplomat added. They work very quickly. They were reporting for duty quickly and fixing things quickly. It was raining very early this morning, like at three, four, or five oclock. Then there was no rain, but strong winds. By twelve noon, there was no rain and no wind at all. Reported by Joonho Kim and Hee Jung Yang for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. 27.08.2020 LISTEN The Youth Organiser for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Anyaa Sowutuom Constituency of the Greater Accra Region, Mr. Vincent Yengbe, has admonished party supporters to remain strong and resist intimidation by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government and security agencies. "Fellow comrades, I will encourage you to mobilise for victory, remain very strong, and don't be intimidated by our opponents and security agencies who have become stooges to the clueless NPP government," he said. Mr. Yengbe made the call during the inauguration of the Lomnava ward campaign team in Accra. The ward campaign team has been mandated to ensure the party wins both the presidential and parliamentary contests in the elections. The Youth Leader further encourages members to work in harmony for the progress of the party. He was optimistic the party will win the general elections and democracy will be restored. " I am confident, the National Democratic Congress will be in control of government and reinstate pure democracy come January 7,2021, Mr. Yenbey stated. He urged all Ghanaian in the constitute to vote for John Mahama and the parliamentary candidate, Emmanuel Adotey Allotey to ensure good governance. Mr. Yenbey cautioned the youth against engaging in violence before, during, and after the election so as not to scuttle the nations democracy which was restored by the erstwhile NDC administration led by former President Jerry John Rawlings. RALPH APETORGBOR ANYAA SOWUTUOM- CONST. DEPUTY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER THURSDAY, 27TH AUGUST, 2020. ACCRA Belarus opposition supporters hold a giant former white-red-white flag of Belarus used in opposition to the government, during a demonstration in central Minsk on Aug. 16, 2020. (Sergei Gapon/AFP via Getty Images) Putin: Russia Is Ready to Provide Security Help to Belarus MINSK, BelarusRussian President Vladimir Putin warned that he stands ready to send police to Belarus if protests there turn violent but sees no such need now, while Belarusian police dispersed a protest in the capital and detained scores on Aug. 27, raising pressure on the opposition. Belarus authoritarian president of 26 years, Alexander Lukashenko, is facing weeks of protests against his reelection to a sixth term in the Aug. 9 vote, which the opposition says was rigged. Putin told Russias state television in an interview broadcast on Aug. 27 that Lukashenko has asked him to prepare a Russian law enforcement contingent to deploy to Belarus if necessary. Putin said that he and Lukashenko have agreed that there is no such need now, and I hope there wont be. We have agreed not to use it until the situation starts spinning out of control and extremist elements acting under the cover of political slogans cross certain borders and engage in banditry and start burning cars, houses and banks or take over administrative buildings, he said. Hours after Putins interview was aired, hundreds of riot police dispersed a protest on the Belarusian capitals main square, detaining dozens in a move that underlined Lukashenkos determination to squelch protests. Scores of reporters, including AP journalists, were also detained. The Coordination Council, created by the Belarusian opposition to facilitate a peaceful transition of power, criticized Putins statement, saying its inadmissible for any country to form armed units for use on the territory of Belarus. This contradicts international law and consolidated position of Belarusian society, it said in a statement. Putin accused unidentified foreign forces of trying to win political advantages from the turmoil in Belarus. They want to influence those processes and reach certain decisions, which they think conform with their political interests, Putin said. Russia sees neighboring Belarus as an important conduit for Russian energy exports. The two countries have a union agreement envisaging close political, economic, and military ties, and Lukashenko has relied on cheap Russian energy and other subsidies to keep Belarus Soviet-style economy afloat. Despite the close cooperation, RussiaBelarus relations have often been strained by disputes. Lukashenko frequently played overtures to the West and accused Moscow of hatching plans to incorporate Belarus. Just before the election, Belarus arrested 32 private Russian military contractors on charges of planning to stage riots. Belarusian authorities released the men shortly after the vote in a bid to mend ties with the Kremlin amid rising Western criticism. In the interview, Putin described the incident as a provocation by the Ukrainian and the U.S. spy agencies, charging that they lured the Russians to travel to Belarus by promising them jobs in a third country and made the Belarusian authorities believe they had a mission to destabilize the country. The United States and the European Union have criticized the Aug. 9 election that extended Lukashenkos rule as neither free nor fair and encouraged Belarusian authorities to engage in a dialogue with the opposition. The Belarusian leader, who has ruled the nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist since 1994, has dismissed the protesters as Western puppets and refused to engage in dialogue with the opposition, which is contesting his reelection to a sixth term. Seeking Moscows support, Lukashenko has cast the protests as part of a Western plot to weaken Russia. After a brutal crackdown on demonstrators in the first days of post-election protests, when nearly 7,000 people were detained, hundreds were injured, and at least three protesters died, 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. On the 19th straight day of protests on Aug. 27, several dozen women stood on the Belarusian capitals main Independence Square with their hands bound to protest the police dispersal of a rally there the previous night. Amid the Aug. 26 crackdown, police blocked the doors of a Catholic church facing the square where several dozen protesters found refuge, causing public outrage and drawing a strong rebuke from the archbishop of Minsk and Mahilyow, Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz. Putin must be ashamed, hes promising to add Russian clubs to the Belarusian ones, said 45-year-old protester Regina Fustovich. As the evening came, about 1,000 demonstrators marched across the city to Independence Square, chanting Freedom! as motorists honked in support. Putin has untied Lukashenkos hands, said 20-year-old student Anton Gavrilovich. The protest will win sooner or later because we are the majority, but the Belarusians will not forget that. Another protester, Irina Furs, a 30-year-old medical worker, suggested that the Kremlin is afraid that the Belarusians could show an example of a successful peaceful struggle. When the demonstrators gathered around the church on Independence Square, police trucks pulled in and hundreds of officers began dispersing the rally, detaining dozens. Scores of Belarusian and foreign correspondents who were covering the demonstration, including AP journalists, were also rounded up by police. In the interview, Putin defended the Belarusian authorities response to protests, saying that police in Belarus have shown restraint. As part of a multi-pronged effort to stifle protest, Belarusian prosecutors have opened a criminal probe against the opposition Coordination Council, accusing its members of undermining the countrys security. Belarusian courts this week have handed 10-day jail sentences to two council members and summoned several others for questioning, including Svetlana Alexievich, who won the 2015 Nobel Prize in literature. Another council member, Maria Kolesnikova, a close associate of the main opposition challenger in the vote, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was called in for questioning on Aug. 27. Its part of the pressure on civil society, she told reporters outside Belarus Investigative Committee headquarters. The authorities are refusing to listen to the people. The EU ambassadors to Belarus warned on Aug. 27 that prosecution of Coordination Council members on grounds presented by the authorities is unacceptable. In an apparent bid to win time, the Belarusian leader has alternated pressure and threats against protesters with promises of a constitutional reform that could see a new election down the road. Speaking at a meeting with officials on Aug. 27, he said he would welcome discussions on constitutional changes with representatives of factory workers, farmers, and students, but ruled out talks with protesters whom he described as violent thugs who roam the streets and shout that they want a dialogue. By Yuras Karmanau & Vladimir Isachenkov Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kate Kelland, Francesco Guarascio and Stephanie Nebehay (Reuters) London, United Kingdom/Brussels, Belgium/Geneva, Switzerland Fri, August 28, 2020 14:45 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4127145 2 World WHO,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-vaccine,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free The World Health Organization will next week receive a raft of pledges of support for its plan for COVID-19 vaccines for all. But the agency has already had to scale back its ambition. The United States, Japan, Britain and the European Union have struck their own deals to secure millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses for their citizens, ignoring the U.N. bodys warnings that "vaccine nationalism" will squeeze supplies. If other countries that can afford it pursue a similar approach, the WHO's strategy for fighting the coronavirus pandemic globally and equitably risks coming undone, experts warn. "If that were to happen, it's fairly clear that there would be insufficient volumes of vaccine available for any other countries, particularly in the first six to nine months," said Alex Harris, head of global policy at the Wellcome Trust health charity. Countries wishing to be part of the WHO initiative, dubbed COVAX, must submit expressions of interest by Monday. More than 170 countries, including Canada, Norway, South Korea and Britain, have submitted non-binding expressions of interest to participate in the scheme, which the WHO has touted as the only global initiative to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are available worldwide to rich and poor countries alike. It has signed up nine COVID-19 vaccine candidates and set out plans to obtain and deliver 2 billion doses by the end of 2021 across countries that sign up. But it has struggled to get wealthier countries on board in full beyond pledges of funding and warm words about donating surplus vaccines. Last week, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus criticized nations that hoard vaccines, warning the strategy will worsen the pandemic. In a last-ditch call for support ahead of Monday's deadline, he wrote letters to members urging their participation. The EU Commission is "fully committed" to the success of COVAX while it enters into parallel talks with vaccine manufacturers for supplies for the bloc, a spokeswoman told Reuters. Britain said it was supporting COVAX to ensure equal access to vaccines, including funding, while doing its own bilateral supply deals. White House did not immediately comment on the situation. The United States did not participate in the launch of the program in April or a fundraising event in May. Dealmaking The EU's aggressive dealmaking for vaccine supplies and tepid statements about COVAX have in particular undermined the initiative, which is co-led by the WHO, the GAVI vaccines alliance and the CEPI Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. The European Commission is likely to pledge cash for COVAX but it is also securing its own supply deals for member states, deeming COVAX too slow and expensive. Brussels has told countries they can help fund COVAX, but can't seek to buy vaccines via both schemes, a Commission spokesman said. Forced to choose, some countries have pulled out of COVAX entirely. The Czech Republic and Portugal were listed as early backers, but government support appears to have cooled after joining the EU vaccine procurement program. Prague has opted for the EU program instead. Portugal has asked for an initial delivery of 6.9 million doses of vaccine when the EU program becomes available, the government has said. Asked if it would take part in COVAX, a spokesman for the country's drug regulator INFARMED said it would coordinate its participation in the program with other European nations. Other WHO members, which are already major donors to existing global vaccine programs unrelated to COVID-19, are still on the fence too. Brazil, with the world's second worst coronavirus outbreak outside the United States, has not yet decided whether to participate, a health ministry spokeswoman said. In Japan, deputy Health Minister Hisashi Inatsu said he would like to enter discussions about participating, but the government has not said if it will submit an official expression of interest by Monday. Like many wealthy nations, Japan has ordered its own supply of shots, with almost 250 millions of doses of potential vaccines booked from AstraZeneca, Pfizer and BioNTech. Radical departure Officials say both COVAX and government deals can run in parallel, but that's a radical departure from the original plan outlined in the spring. In acting alone, countries will create "a few winners and many losers", Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, warned on Monday. It also means poorer or less powerful countries may go to the back of the queue for vaccines that could help them control the pandemic. "The risk is that access to COVID-19 vaccines will be defined by purchasing power and the ability to sign advance purchase deals rather than the medical needs or the shifting epidemiological situations," said Dimitri Eynikel, EU representative on medicines and vaccines for Doctors Without Borders. The initiative is all the more significant for the WHO as scrutiny grows on its handling of the pandemic. The results of the first round will highlight the challenge of tackling a global crisis with competing individual interests. One senior European government official explained the dilemma facing wealthy nations: how to support a vaccine for developing countries when there may not be enough for your own population. Diverting resources abroad "is difficult to sell at home", he said. Satellite image of smoke from California wildfires on Aug. 19, 2020. Credit: European Space Agency Something unfamiliar to many Californiansan intense thunderstorm with widespread lightning strikesspawned the all-too-familiar wildfires that have so far burned more than 1 million acres across the state's north. That contrast may foreshadow a future of increasingly frequent extreme weather that drives natural disasters. Noah Diffenbaugh, the Kara J Foundation Professor at Stanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences, studies climate change's role in increasing the risk of extreme weather and has led recent research forecasting longer, more extreme wildfire seasons. Chris Field, the Perry L. McCarty Director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, studies climate change impacts, adaptation and vulnerability, with a focus on disaster risk reduction, especially from wildfires. Here, Field and Diffenbaugh discuss extreme weather's role in current and future wildfires, as well as ways to combat the trend toward bigger, more intense conflagrations. What do climate science and climate models have to say about the current situation? Could we have expected this? Diffenbaugh: The current event is unprecedented, in that two of the three largest wildfires in California's recorded history are burning simultaneously. The largest and fourth-largest were in 2018 and 2017, respectively, and all but three of the top 20 have occurred since 2000, during which time California's temperature has routinely been well above the historical average. We have very strong evidence, in part from our recent research, that the frequency of extreme wildfire weather has been increasing in California in recent decades. The primary mechanism in terms of weather conditions is long-term warming, which has resulted in more dry, flammable vegetation. We know that around half of the increase in area burned in the western United States in recent decades is associated with this long-term warming. In addition, warming has also increased the number of days for which the fire weather conditions reach extreme levels. For the current event, the thunderstorms were highly unusual, but the heatwave and vegetation dryness were very much in line with recent trends. In fact, our research shows that global warming has increased the odds of record-setting hot events by about 80 percent across the globe, and doubled or even tripled the odds in the region of California and the Southwest that experienced extreme heat prior to the thunderstorms. So we have a lot of evidence that global warming is intensifying the conditions that are in place when other ingredients like ignition and high winds occur. What do the current wildfires tell us about the future in terms of extreme weather, fire risk and fire intensity? Top 20 largest fires in California history. Credit: Noah Diffenbaugh Diffenbaugh: The same research that shows that global warming has increased the frequency of extreme wildfire weather historically also suggests that continued global warming will intensify those conditions further. In particular, further warming is likely to continue increasing the simultaneous occurrence of extreme wildfire conditions over disparate areas of California, which has placed so much stress on firefighting resources in recent years, including this week. Meeting the goals agreed to in the UN Paris Agreement would reduce the level of intensification of extreme wildfire weather, particularly later in this century. However, even holding global warming to below 2 degrees Celsiusa primary goal of the Paris Agreementwould still yield increases. So both greenhouse gas mitigation and climate change adaptation have important roles in managing these increasing risks. How might more widespread prescribed burnsfires purposefully set under controlled conditions to clear ground fuelshave affected the scope of the current fires? Field: We are decidedly behind the curve in wildfire preparations. A large part of effective preparation is fuel treatments, including clearing defensible spaces around communities and reducing the abundance of ladder fuelsvegetation near the ground that can carry fire into the treetops. Prescribed burns are an important part of the package, but they are not the best choice everywhere. In some places, we should be reducing fuel loads with grazing by goats or cattle or cutting with saws or tractor-mounted equipment. It is important to remember that what we think of as classic California landscapes, from grasslands with scattered oaks to majestic yellow-pine forests, have experienced frequent fires for thousands of years. Bringing fire back into these landscapes is an important part of keeping them healthy. What role, if any, does climate change have in exacerbating bad air quality over large areas of the state during wildfires? Diffenbaugh: By increasing the area burned by wildfire and the frequency of extreme wildfire conditions, global warming is increasing the risk of the wildfires that produce harmful smoke conditions. In addition, although there are a lot of nuances to the air quality in any given location at a given time, our previous research suggests that global warming is likely to increase the kinds of air stagnation events that produce poor air quality, including over the western United States. What other approaches should California and other fire-prone states focus on to improve the wildfire situation? Field: As is the case with all disasters, we need to think about effective interventions at all stagesprepare, respond and recover. For preparation, there is so much to do, from reducing unsafe accumulations of ladder fuels to improving defensible space around homes, to repairing the aging infrastructure that causes some of the worst fires, to chemical treatments that prevent fires from taking off. In addition, we should be thinking about preparations that facilitate safe evacuations, with particular focus on road maintenance and preparations that keep us safe from smoke exposure, as well as improved air filtration in public buildings and homes. When a fire occurs, an effective response requires the availability of trained first responders, plus well-equipped evacuation and medical facilities. Our experience over the last week, with so many different fires, should push us to rethink the necessary size of the fire-fighting force. After the fire, we can do much more to make recoveries efficient. When rebuilding communities, it is especially important to make the resources available to make them fire safe in the future. In locations where the fire risk is too high to rebuild, we need to plan for relocations. Explore further Researchers forecast longer, more extreme wildfire seasons Subscriber content preview DETROIT (AP) The U.S. government's road safety agency is offering a smartphone app that will alert drivers if their vehicles are recalled. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was scheduled to roll out the free app for both Android and Apple phones on Thursday. . . . On the final night of the Republican National Convention, as protesters massed outside the White House that was transformed into a grand political backdrop, President Donald Trump offered a sentiment the nation actually can unite behind. "At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies or two agendas," the president said Thursday, in accepting the Republican nomination for a second time with a meandering and searing speech. It would have been a jarring scene in any moment -- bright lights and big "TRUMP-PENCE" signs on the South Lawn of the White House, as a giant political rally was held at the most famous residence in the United States. The messaging, too, would be discordant in any time -- descriptions of American rot and violence joined by urgent pleas to reelect the president. PHOTO: President Donald Trump delivers his acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination on the South Lawn of the White House, Aug. 27, 2020, in Washington. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) But this is not just any moment. It's a tense, angry, conflicted time, amid the biggest pandemic and most sudden economic collapse in a century, and unfolding reckonings around race and policing. Multiple crises are metastasizing simultaneously -- all during Trump's presidency, of course. Speaking to upwards of 2,000 invited guests outside "the people's house," masks and social distancing were scant, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump offered a thorough and quite long recitation of achievements. The president used the biggest of stages to depict the biggest threats to prosperity and even "the American way of life" as coming from his fellow Americans. "Despite all of our greatness as a nation, everything we have achieved is now endangered," the president said. "This election will decide whether we save the American Dream, or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny." MORE: The striking contrast between the Democratic and Republican conventions Out came a searing new attack on his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden -- including a wink-wink reference to "hugs and even kisses" he said Biden had given blue-collar workers over the years. Story continues "Joe Biden is not a savior of America's soul. He is the destroyer of America's jobs, and if given the chance, he will be the destroyer of American greatness," Trump said. That question of greatness, though, is a delicate one -- as evidenced by the sights and sounds dominating inside the country he leads. The aftermath of a Black man's shooting by police in Wisconsin has jolted the nation, and the economy is struggling under the weight of a pandemic that continues to rage. Trump used events that have happened during his time in office to make his case. He ignored events that are inconvenient to his narrative; he did not mention Jacob Blake's name, but listed Kenosha, Wisconsin, as one of the "Democrat-run cities" suffering from "rioting, looting, arson and violence." PHOTO: President Donald Trump arrives to deliver his acceptance speech for the Republican Party nomination for reelection during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Aug. 27, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) Earlier in the day, in a TV interview, Biden made an obvious but potentially powerful counterpoint: "The problem we have right now is we're in Donald Trump's America." In Trump's narration of current events, the country's ills are virtually all reasons to retreat to partisan corners and fight. Speakers on the convention's final night tallied carnage from America's streets -- yet built that into an argument for four more years. "These continuous riots in Democratic cities give you a good view of the future under Biden," former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said. The president's decision to have this kind of gathering at this time speaks to his views of his own power -- and the removal of any guardrails that might have previously constrained his actions. It was, like so many other things Trump has done, something no other president would likely even have considered. Trump chose to offer pageantry and fireworks to compete with protests, and celebration to counter uncertainty. His followers loved it and his opponents hated it. In other words, Trump was no doubt happy right where he was. MORE: GOP convention ignores inconvenient realities amid unrest and unease But the campaign argument from here is a somewhat awkward one, as encapsulated by a clunky turn of phrase favored by Vice President Mike Pence: "Make America great again, again." PHOTO: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for his acceptance speech for the Republican National Convention from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Aug. 27, 2020. (Doug Mills/Pool via Reuters) For all that Trump was shattering norms all week, he was doing something pretty basic that incumbents do. He used his convention to try to turn a referendum election into a choice, mainly by seeking to disqualify his opponent. Biden is well-known, though, and generally better-liked than Trump himself. The issues Trump is seeking to recast and rewrite the history of include many that the American people have lived day in and day out for month. Yes, Trump is digging in against his political enemies. But he's also squaring up against powerful forces in his own America. Trump squares off with his own America as GOP convention concludes: ANALYSIS originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Chelsea Clinton says she wants her three kids to understand that they are 'white children of privilege' and to 'erode that privilege throughout their lives' in an effort to make sure that all Americans have the right to vote. The 40-year-old former First Daughter spoke with Massachusetts Democratic Representative Ayanna Pressley on a 'Women for Biden' video call today, and the two discussed the US' history of voter suppression, and the ways some people still face challenges in voting today. Chelsea said that while she taught them about the importance of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, she also explained how that victory was 'incomplete' because many Americans have spent the decades since fighting for their right to vote. Speaking out: Chelsea Clinton said today that she wants her three children to understand that they are 'white children of privilege' and to 'erode that privilege throughout their lives' Chat: The 40-year-old former first daughter spoke with Massachusetts Democratic Representative Ayanna Pressley on a 'Women for Biden' video call today 'My children are young,' Chelsea said, according to Just The News, 'but we believe that they're young, but still citizens. 'So we talked about the ratification of the 19th Amendment, and Women's Equality Day, and about how fundamentally incomplete that victory was. So not to say it wasn't a victory and it wasn't important, but that it was so fundamentally flawed.' She pointed out that while white women were awarded the right to vote in 1920, many other women including black women and Native American women were not. The 19th Amendment prohibited the government from denying the vote on the basis of sex but it didn't guarantee the vote to all. It didn't ban local and state-level laws, like poll taxes and literacy tests, from being used to keep non-white voters from the polls. These weren't banned until the Voting Rights Act of 1964. Chelsea, who lives in New York with husband Marc Mezvinsky and their three children, also alluded to laws and hurdles that other Americans face when it comes to voting. 'These fights aren't just in our history books. These are still active, ongoing fights,' she said. History: Chelsea said that while she taught them about the importance of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, she also explained how that victory was 'incomplete' because many Americans have spent the decades since fighting for their right to vote ''My children are young,' Chelsea said, according to Just The News , 'but we believe that they're young, but still citizens' 'You know, 40 per cent of Americans with disabilities report that they have real challenges voting in person. 'And so in states where there haven't been, kind of, no-excuse absentee voting or where there hasn't been the introduction of early voting yet, you know, it still isn't, kind of, easy, fair, or equal for many Americans to vote.' She said she wants her kids five-year-old Charlotte, four-year-old Aidan, and one-year-old Jasper to be aware of their privilege and use it to fight for others. 'I think it's really important that my children understand that,' she said. 'And I think it's particularly important that they understand that as white children of privilege, because I want them to erode that privilege throughout their lives to ensure more people are enfranchised and that equality isn't just an ideal.' Rep. Pressley praised Chelsea, telling her that she was modeling 'that which my mother certainly believed, which is that a parent is a child's first teacher.' 'I so appreciate that you're providing that full education, because we know that often there is a revisionist history or a sanitizing or filtering of history that does not tell the whole story,' she said. Open doors: She said she wants her kids five-year-old Charlotte, four-year-old Aidan, and one-year-old Jasper (pictured) to be aware of their privilege and use it to fight for others Flashback: She and her husband Marc Mezvinksy pictured with son Aidan and Chelsea's parents shortly after she gave birth in 2016 'But confronting that past, that's really how we get to truth and reconciliation. 'And we fortify ourselves to continue to do the work to make sure that we are dismantling those barriers that still exist, and that we are in cooperative affront to the voter suppression and intimidation tactics that are still very real today what I would consider, equivalent to like modern day jelly bean counting.' Earlier this month, Chelsea spoke to Marie Claire about the importance of voting this year. Good: Rep. Ayanna Pressley praised Chelsea, telling her that she was modeling 'that which my mother certainly believed, which is that a parent is a child's first teacher' 'Im voting on November 3 because who is in office at every level matters, especially in moments of crisis,' she said. 'We need elected officials who believe that all people regardless of race, religion, sex, gender or who they love are created equal; that access to quality healthcare and education is a fundamental human right. 'We need elected officials who make decisions rooted in science and facts. We need elected officials who are committed to making voting easier for all Americans. 'Voting is not only our opportunity, it is our duty as citizens to be heard and shape the future we want for ourselves, our children, our communities, our country and world. And, as weve seen time and time again, every vote counts.' During the 2016 campaign, Chelsea's mom, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, was asked to talk about her own white privilege and how she thinks she has benefitted from it. 'I think it is hard when you're swimming in the ocean to know exactly what's happening around you so much as when you're standing on the shore watching,' she said. Votes: Hillary Clinton (pictured this week at the unveiled of a stature of women's rights activists) was asked during the 2016 about her own white privilege She explained that she was born white and middle class, she went to good public schools, she had 'a very strong, supportive family,' went to a 'wonderful college' and law school. 'I never really knew what was or wasn't part of the privilege, I just knew that I was a lucky person and that being lucky was in part related to who I am, where I'm from, and the opportunities I had,' she said. Unlike her mother, Chelsea did not only attend 'good public schools', she also had the benefit of a private education. When Chelsea's father Bill was in the White House, her parents faced criticism when they made the decision to pull her out of public school and send her to Sidwell Friends School, a private school in Maryland. She then went on to attend Stanford University, where she studied history, before going on to earn a Masters and then a PhD from the prestigious Oxford University. Chelsea later studied for a second Masters at Columbia. Chelsea now serves as vice chair of her parents' Clinton Foundation, and also holds positions on the boards for Barry Diller's company IAC and the School of American Ballet. Meanwhile her husband, 42, secured a job at private equity firm TPG in October 2019, having been unemployed for year after leaving his role as vice chairman of Social Capital. The nudge is morphing into a shove. What began as a prime ministerial exhortation for British workers to return to their offices if it was safe for them to do so is now, we are told, to become a full-blown government campaign to encourage people to get back to their old desks in town and city centres across the UK. Theres talk of newspaper adverts and posters. Apparently, we can expect an emphasis on the social and health benefits for workers of returning to pre-lockdown office life. Yet the government briefing to some outlets also suggests that the carrot will be coupled with stick, or at least the fear of it. Its been rather darkly suggested that those who do not go back to their old desks are more likely to find themselves made redundant if companies decide to restructure. Some people at the heart of government are clearly worried about the economic impact of the fact that millions of workers are continuing to work from home even though the official requirement for them to do so has gone. There are reports that ministers have been alarmed, as they are chauffeured through empty city centres, at the sheer lack of people on the streets and the knock-on impact of that absence on those businesses that support office workers. Some business lobby groups are also concerned. Carolyn Fairbairn, the boss of the CBI, this week urged ministers to encourage people back to their former workplaces, describing offices as vital drivers of our economy. One can imagine the slogan return to the office, save the economy replacing the stay at home, save lives injunction that accompanied the lockdown in March. Yet its worth considering whether or not this is actually true. Just how important is what we might call the UKs office economy in the broader scheme of things? Its pretty obvious why, in the short term, an absence of office workers is economically damaging. One need only think of all those sandwich shops, cafes, pubs, bars, restaurants, news agents, gyms and dry cleaners in city or town centre locations that have seen their custom fall off a cliff since March. Recommended How workers feel about returning to the office The fact that Pret a Manger, the ubiquitous chain thats become almost synonymous with the office take-out lunch, has seen a 60 per cent decline in business in the past six months is emblematic of whats been happening to all those other businesses. Then theres the transport businesses that get people from their homes in the suburbs to the city centres to consider. Train, bus and underground passenger numbers have collapsed, ruining the finances of the organisations that run them. Transport for London, which runs the London Underground, seems to be facing a 5bn hole in its finances. Ministers cannot afford to allow these organisations to fail since that would deprive hospital staff and other key workers of their means to travel to work so they have had not choice but to bail them out with billions of pounds of public money. At that moment thats effectively an open-ended financial commitment, which no doubt partly explains why ministers are keen for the commuters to return. But how much does the office matter for the overall economy? Around half of all trips by surface rail are either for commuting or business purposes. And a reasonable share of our sizeable hospitality and retail trade is based in city centres, although its hard to estimate how much they rely on office workers relative to tourists and normal visitors. To give a rough idea of the importance of these sectors, retail accounts for around 5 per cent of UK GDP and hospitality 2 per cent. They unquestionably matter for the wider economy. Yet its worth comparing their size to other sectors of the traditional office economy. Banks and insurers account for around 7 per cent of the economy. Law firms, accountants and management consultancies are another 7 per cent. Another 7 per cent is information technology firms. And whats notable about these types of business services firms is how relaxed they are about any return to the office. A BBC survey this week found that fifty of the biggest UK employers have no plans to return all staff to the office full-time in the near future. To some extent this is because of the concerns of workers about the possibility of coronavirus infection, but it also implies and this is backed up by surveys that the managements of these firms have found that having a large proportion of their staff working from home has been satisfactory for them. A far larger proportion of the employees of these type of professional services firms tend to have been working from home too. To this extent the idea that the overall British economy cannot recover until offices are full again looks like an exaggeration. Its perfectly plausible to argue, as some do, that the future will involve considerably more home working on a permanent basis and that this will result in a restructuring of the economy with fewer shops, bars and gyms etc in city centres and more opening up closer to the places where people now live and work. Office workers might even have more disposable income to spend in those new local businesses because they wont have to spend so much commuting. No one, of course, knows for sure how this will pan out, but its clear the Covid crisis has opened up a range of possibilities along these lines. Its understandable that ministers are trying to encourage people back to the office. And there probably will indeed be high-profile economic costs and casualties if the commuters and office workers dont flood back in the coming months. But the danger is that the government is shoving against the tide of a major structural economic change (the ramifications of which The Independent will explore in future articles). Such exercises historically tend to end in disappointment. Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government on Wednesday decided to strengthen security at the secretariat, a day after a minor fire there triggered protests by opposition parties, which alleged that important files, including that relating to the gold smuggling case, had been destroyed. Continuing their protests, workers of opposition UDF, including youth congress, BJP, Yuva Morcha, Indian Union Muslim League, the Youth League, Pathikajathi Morcha hit the streets over the incident, which turned violent at some places, following which police registered cases against them. The state cabinet, which evaluated the steps taken after the violent incidents in the last two days, entrusted additional chief secretary, Home department, to take action to strengthen the security of the administrative headquarters of the state. Meanwhile, police registered a case against around 50 people, including Congress MLA V S Shivakumar, BJP state chief K Surendran and workers of the Congress-led UDF and BJP for trespassing into the secretariat on Tuesday 'in violation of COVID-19 protocol' after news of the fire broke out. Shivakumar, Surendran and others had barged into the secretariat complex soon after the news of the fire broke out. Industries Minister E P Jayarajan Wednesday made it clear that important files were not destroyed in the minor fire casued due to a short-circuit and was nothing as "exaggerated" by the Congress and the BJP. Attacking the Leader of the Opposition in the assembly, Ramesh Chennithala, Jayarajan said he should perform his duties and not encourage violence. "This seems like a conspiracy hatched by the Congress and the BJP. The Congress was embarrassedby its debacle in the state Assembly on August 24 (when the no confidence it brought in was defeated). They are trying to recover from all these by indulging in violence. The protocol officer himself has made it clear that none of the important files were lost," Jayarajan said. Finance Minister Dr Thomas Isaac mocked the Congress and the BJP over their charge. "UDF & BJP are so embarrassed at the fiasco of non- confidence motion in Assembly that they have started violent agitation breaking all Covid protocols over of an inconsequential fire in the Secretariat. They allege sabotage of crucial files by fire in a fully e-file secretariat!," Isaac tweeted. Referring to the protests, health Minister K K Shailaja said many of them violated COVID-19 protocol, with most not wearing masks or maintaining social distancing. "This is a disease which can be spread from anyone to anyone. This can be spread to the family members too.If elders and children get infected,the situation will get complicated," she said in a Facebook post. Police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse protesters at many places as various political organisations on Wednesday took out state-wide marches and tried to break the barricades and enter the secretariat complex here, salleging that "important files" were destroyed in the fire. Many workers were reportedly injured in the police action. The government has maintained that no important file has been destroyed and all information was now stored in e-files as part of the paperless secretariat initiative. Chennithala had launched a scathing attack on Chief Secretary Vishwas Mehtha and said he is now "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 but 'Avishwas 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. Meanwhile, Surendran said the government's 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 shut down due to COVID cases, did the government inform the media?" Surendran asked. However, CPI(M) state chief Kodiyeri Balakrishnanalleged that the Congress has engaged in violence to hide the ignominy of defeat of the no-confidence motion and differences of opinion from their own (UDF) Front. He charged both Congress and BJP with jointly trying to incite violence,evident from the fact that the BJP state chief and opposition Congress Leader reached the spot soon after the fire broke out. Both Congress and BJP have been trying to spin a fake narrative even as it has been clear that only a few papers were partially burnt in the incident," he said in a statement. The CPI(M) leader 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 BJP in this matter should also be investigated," Balakrishanan said. The government has been drawing flak in the gold smuggling case involving a diplomatic baggage addressed to the UAE consulate. the matter is being probed by central agencies, including the NIA, Customs and the Enforcement Directorate. The NIA has arrested many people, 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 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 government has appointed an expert panel, headed by the Disaster Management Commissioner, to look into the incident and asked it to submit the report within a week, while the crime branch will also probe the matter. Chief Secretary Vishwas Mehta and other senior officials, including probe team members, have already visited the spot. The fire broke out on the second floor of North Sandwich Block, where certain sections of the General Administration and the tourism department are functioning. A U.S. Border Patrol agent recorded the moment an undocumented immigrant was saved in the California mountains after he was abandoned by human smugglers. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said agents were conducting a surveillance mission in the Jacumba Mountains in Jacumba when they encountered a 55-year-old man from Mexico who was suffering from heat stroke. The El Centro Sector agents heard the man's faint cry for assistance and found him lying under a rock. A Border Patrol agent provides water to a 55-year-old man from Mexico who was abandoned by human smugglers in the California mountains on August 13 CBP said U.S. Border Patrol agents were conducting a surveillance operation of the Jacumba Mountains in Jacumba, California, when they heard the faint cries of a Mexican man who was suffering a heat stroke. He was airlifted to a hospital for treatment A Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue Team administered the migrant with intravenous fluids and requested air support to transport him out of the mountains. Border Patrol Chief Agent Gregory K. Bovino shared the rescue footage of the August 13 incident on his Twitter account Wednesday as an advisory warning for migrants seeking to unlawfully enter the United States and to show them the dangers they could encounter. An agent could be seen holding a bottle of water for the distressed man. Agents carried the Mexican man for at least a half mile in 115-degree heat to an area where the helicopter was awaiting. The man was then transported to a hospital in the Imperial Valley for additional treatment. Border Patrol agents carried the ill 55-year-old Mexican man for a half mile in 115-degree heat According to CBP stats, agents have rescued 3,854 undocumented immigrants in the southwestern border area through July. The CBP El Centro Sector has rescued 79 undocumented immigrants who have been left stranded by smugglers through August 5. Since then, the sector's Border Patrol agents have saved at least 11 more individuals. The El Centro Sector has seen a 49 percent drop in arrests of migrants unlawfully entering the United States from Mexico through July, compared with the same period last year. 'We treat everyone with dignity and compassion here,' a CBP spokesperson told DailyMail.com. 'But we also have a job to do, to secure out nation's borders and if that results in a rescue, then we have to conduct rescues as well.' French Defence Minister Florence Parly is likely to visit India around September 10 to attend a ceremony to formally induct five Rafale fighter jets into the Indian Air Force (IAF) and hold talks with her Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh to further boost strategic ties, people familiar with the development said on Friday. They said the IAF has proposed September 10 to hold the ceremony, adding both the Indian and French sides are in touch with each other for the possible visit by Parly. The first batch of five Rafale combat jets, manufactured by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, arrived at the Ambala air base on July 29. The jets are yet to be formally inducted into the IAF. Sources said the Defence Minister, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and the entire top military brass of the country will attend the event at the Ambala air base. In a telephonic conversation with Singh on June 2, Parly had conveyed her readiness to visit India to further explore ways to enhance bilateral defence ties. India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore. The Rafale jet is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. European missile maker MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and Scalp cruise missile will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets. Meteor is a next generation beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) designed to revolutionise air-to-air combat. The weapon has been developed by MBDA to combat common threats facing the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Sweden. Out of the 36 Rafale jets, 30 will be fighter jets and six will be trainers. The trainer jets will be twin-seater and they will have almost all the features of the fighter jets. While the first squadron of the Rafale jets will be stationed at the Ambala air base, the second one will be based at the Hasimara base in West Bengal. With the conventions over, Joe Bidens team is rolling out an array of new religious outreach efforts targeting a diverse set of communities as his campaign vies with President Donald Trumps for faith-motivated voters. The Democratic presidential nominees campaign is holding a trio of virtual events in the swing state of Florida this weekend that focus on engaging Christian, Jewish and Muslim voters. Those will be followed in the days to come by events focused on other faith communities that could play pivotal roles in the election including Latino evangelicals, Catholics, Hindus and young people of faith as well as broader religious-themed events that delve into issues such as immigration and homelessness, according to details shared with The Associated Press. Such outreach indicates that Bidens team plans to strongly counter messaging from President Donald Trumps campaign portraying the GOP as the friendlier party for voters of faith. During the Republican National Convention this week, for example, a nun praised Trump as in a speech as the most pro-life president that this nation ever had, referring to his anti-abortion record. While Trumps team often touts his record on abortion and freedom to worship, Biden is pitching religious voters on broader spectrum of issues. Josh Dickson, national faith director for the campaign, said it sees faith communities as highly diverse in terms of their backgrounds, in terms of how they orient their faith to how theyre thinking about elections. We also think many people of faith are not single-issue voters as much as Republicans want to paint them out to be, and we believe our campaign is deeply aligned with the core values most important to people of faith, Dickson said, adding that systemic racism is a pivotal issue for many devout voters in this election. The Trump campaign has already been focusing on faith communities that the Biden team is planning events for, such as Catholics and Chaldean Christians. Samantha Zager, deputy national press secretary for the presidents reelection effort, pointed to the number of GOP convention speakers who lauded Trumps defences of religious freedom as a testament that President Trump will always prioritize and protect the fundamental rights of Americans of faith. Zager called the Democratic ticket a promise for taxpayer-funded abortions, anti-Catholic bigotry, and attacks on the religious liberties all Americans are guaranteed by the Constitution. Biden, a lifelong devout Catholic, doesnt intend to cede the pews to Trump, however. He recorded a three-minute video sent to faith leaders this week quoting the Bible to address concerns of Black, Latino, Asian American and Native American communities. The campaign is also circulating a letter in which he and running mate Sen. Kamala Harris ask devout Americans for their votes. (W)e invite you to stand with us, together, as we pursue a redemptive vision for our country centred in the inherent human dignity of all Gods children, says the Aug. 16 letter, which has not been publicly released. This weekends Florida events include a Friday outreach to Jewish voters led by Doug Emhoff, Harris Jewish husband, along with three Jewish Democratic members of Congress. On Saturday, Abdul El-Sayed, a former Michigan gubernatorial hopeful who backed the more liberal Sen. Bernie Sanders over Biden during the Democratic primary heads an event targeting Muslim voters. A Sunday event focused on Christians and hosted out of Orlando will feature Dickson and eight other faith leaders from different denominations. Going forward, Bidens team is working on other religious outreach projects. Building on listening sessions that were already taking place, the campaign is tapping advisory groups to help shape strategy for faith communities including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Asian American and Pacific Islander Christians. Beyond Florida, states likely to be focal points for faith-centred events include Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas, Georgia and Colorado, according to the campaign. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Subscriber content preview ANCHORAGE (AP) The Alaska SeaLife Center has raised enough money to remain open through the winter after a revenue loss stemming from the coronavirus pandemic threatened to permanently shut its doors, an official said. The attraction in Seward announced Wednesday that the funds will support continued operations at the center, which houses Alaska's only marine mammal rescue program and serves as a North Pacific animal research hub. . . . The malware was aimed at extracting data from the network and then to threaten the company for ransom money, Tesla said. Elon Musk said on Thursday that Tesla Inc's factory in Nevada was a target of a "serious" cybersecurity attack, confirming a media report that claimed an employee of the company helped the Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) thwart the attack. News website Teslarati said that the electric carmaker was the unnamed company in a statement issued by the US. Department of Justice on Tuesday about a Russian national's arrest, in connection with a planned attack on an unidentified company. "This was a serious attack," Musk said in a tweet, in response to the Teslarati article. The Justice Department said that Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov, 27, a Russian national, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to intentionally cause damage to a protected computer by trying to recruit an employee to introduce malware into a system. The malware was aimed at extracting data from the network and then to threaten the company for ransom money, the statement said. According to the Justice Department, Kriuchkov had promised the employee an incentive of $1 million upon introducing the malware into the system. But the employee alerted the FBI, who were successful in thwarting the attack, a complaint filed by the FBI's Las Vegas Field Office showed. (Repeats to additional clients, no change to text) TOKYO, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to hold a news conference on Friday afternoon in which he is expected to address growing concerns about his health after two recent hospital examinations within a week. Ruling party officials have said Abe's health is fine, but the hospital visits, one lasting nearly eight hours, have fanned speculation about whether he will be able to continue in the job until the end of his term in September 2021. On Monday he surpassed a record for longest consecutive tenure as premier set by his great-uncle Eisaku Sato half a century ago. Under fire for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and scandals among party members, Abe - who vowed to revive the economy with his "Abenomics" policy of spending and monetary easing - has recently seen his support fall to one of the lowest levels of his nearly eight years in office. Though he has beefed up Japan's military spending and expanded the role of its armed forces, his dream of revising the pacifist constitution has so far failed due to divided public opinion. Sources have told Reuters Abe would consult with doctors prior to the news conference, whether by phone or another hospital visit. He is expected to provide an explanation about his health and lay out new measures to fight the coronavirus at the news conference from 5:00 p.m. (0800 GMT) Among them will be a pledge to secure enough vaccines for everyone in the nation by early 2021, paying for this with reserve funds, Japanese media said. Abe, who has been struggling with the chronic condition ulcerative colitis since his teens, has not detailed what the hospital visits were for, instead saying he wanted to take care of his health and do his utmost at his job. Speculation that he would step down has been dismissed by allies in his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) including Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, who told Reuters on Wednesday that he meets Abe twice a day and hasn't seen any change in his health. He added that Abe's comments on Monday that he would continue to do his best in the job "explains it all." Abe has been in the role since 2012. He resigned abruptly from an earlier term in 2007 because of his struggles with ulcerative colitis, which he has kept in check with medicine that was not previously available. (Reporting by Elaine Lies; Editing by Stephen Coates) Editors Note: This story has been updated to correct an error in a Pennsylvania State Police report. State police said the 18-year-old driver will be charged, but those charges have not yet been determined. An 18-year-old driver will be charged following a Wednesday evening crash that flipped her vehicle and killed a 19-year-old passenger, Pennsylvania State Police said. According to state police, Sumeya A. Sanbur, 18, was driving herself and Salman A. Hassan, both of Mechanicsburg, west around 5:37 p.m. on the 1200 block of West Trindle Road in Monroe Township. State police said Sanbur crossed the double yellow lines into the path of a 60-year-old Mechanicsburg woman headed in the opposite direction. Sanburs vehicle overturned, and both vehicles came to a rest in someones front yard, state police said. Hassan was pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers were taken to Holy Spirit Hospital with serious injuries, state police said. State police said charges will be filed against Sanbur, but the investigation is ongoing to determine what those will be. READ MORE: Burglar caught on camera breaking into Harrisburg store deserves no cut on jail term, Pa. court says Armed and dangerous suspect wanted after Pa. woman shot multiple times and killed in her backyard: cops We need people to come forth: New dads unsolved killing in Harrisburg frustrates family CLEVELAND, Ohio - Theres no way for sure to tie the outcome directly to Gov. Mike DeWines statewide order to wear masks, but new coronavirus cases are down across Ohio since the order was imposed July 23, dramatically so in some in some counties. This trend becomes clear in examining the dates for the estimated onset of symptoms for each case, rather than when the cases were finally reported by the state. Flash Facing the impact of COVID-19 and the global economic downturn, China will not shut its door but will instead open it wider to the outside world, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday. This is a clear message from Chinese President Xi Jinping, who delivered a very important speech recently on China's economic development and opening up, he added. Wang made the remarks during a joint press conference with Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide later on Thursday. Responding to the question as to whether China's opening up policy will be affected by the current situation, where the pandemic has caused deep recession of the world economy and rising unilateralism and protectionism, Wang said that it has been proved by China's reform and opening up for more than 40 years that openness brings progress, while isolation leads to backwardness. "Over the past 40 years, through opening up, China has developed together with the world, and at the same time has been repaying the world," he said. China has over fulfilled its commitments to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and reduced the average tariff rate to 7.5 percent, which exceeds that of all the other major developing countries and approaches the level of developed countries, he added. He also pointed out that China, for two consecutive years, has been one of the world's economies making the biggest improvement in business environment. Over the past 40 years, China's opening up has brought enormous business opportunities and development dividends to countries including Norway, and made an important and irreplaceable contribution to the global economic growth, he added. "Today, with the impact of the pandemic, China and the world are facing a new situation and entering a new stage of development," he said. Xi, when delivering the speech on China's economic development and opening up, said that China will promote a dual-cycle development pattern, Wang said, adding that this means the country's growth will rely on both domestic and international economic cycles, with the domestic cycle being the mainstay. Xi also said that China will raise the level of opening up in an all-round way and build higher-level new institutions of the open economy, Wang noted. Through deeper reforms, lower tariffs, shorter negative lists, more convenient market access, more transparent market rules and a more attractive business environment, China will link its domestic market, the world's largest one, with the global market more closely, promote a virtuous cycle of mutual development which will be larger, more efficient and more dynamic, and create wider development space and more opportunities for China itself and other countries around the world, he said. In the new round of China's opening up, China welcomes the active participation of European countries including Norway, he added. He called on both parties to provide a strong and lasting impetus for their respective development and the global economic recovery by enhancing opening up and cooperation in such fields as trade, investment and industry. Claim: Pepsi pledged $100 million to Black Lives Matter The killing of George Floyd, an African American man, while in police custody in Minneapolis sparked a widespread racial justice movement, often led by Black Lives Matter. It prompted a number of corporations and other organizations to address issues of racial equality raised by the incident and the ensuing protests. Several Facebook users have posted items that said, "Pepsi just gave BLM a hundred million dollars... Boycott Pepsi!!" In this 2015, file photo, Pepsi bottles are on display at a supermarket in Haverhill, Mass. A pledge to BLM, but not by Pepsi The posts appeared to stem from a claim by Lou Dobbs on Fox Business Network in July that major corporations were donating money to Black Lives Matter. He included among these: Bank of America, purportedly pledging $1 billion; PepsiCo, $400 million; and $100 million each from Comcast, Walmart and Apple. One day after the broadcast, Dobbs issued a correction on his program and also posted statements on Twitter and Facebook, saying the show's claim regarding the corporate donations to BLM was inaccurate. The large amounts of money were not for Black Lives Matter but rather pledges of investments to address economic and racial inequality," the statement said. "We apologize to each of these companies for our mistake, and we apologize to you for the error. Black Lives Matter is a movement, founded in 2013 by three community leaders Patrisse Khan-Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi after George Zimmerman was acquitted in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, a Black teenager, in Florida. It has 16 U.S. chapters, according to the BLM website. Its charity, known as The Black Lives Global Network Foundation is incorporated in Delaware, according to the Delaware Department of State: Division of Corporations. More: Fact check: Kamala Harris was part of the second integrated class in elementary school Gatorade has pledged to BLM, others PepsiCo, Bank of America, Walmart, Apple and Comcast issued statements emphasizing that their pledges are aimed at advancing social justice and equality. Story continues PepsiCo is the global corporation, and Pepsi is a brand of the soft drink that the company produces. Alix Ekstrom, a spokesperson for PepsiCo, tells USA TODAY by email that "the Pepsi brand has not made any such donation" to BLM. She said PepsiCo in June "announced that we will be investing more than $400 million over 5 years to address issues of inequality and create opportunities." But a separate PepsiCo brand, Gatorade, has pledged a donation to BLM. It announced on Instagram on June 3 that it was donating a total of $500,000 to four organizations, including Black Lives Matter, the NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union and Know Your Rights Camp, a group founded by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Gatorade called the donation a "first step." "We're committed to creating a more equitable society through influence, education, and support," it said in announcing the pledge. Regarding PepsiCo's position, CEO Ramon Laguarta described on the corporate website, under the heading "PepsiCo's Racial Equality Journey," the goals of the $400 million investment: "to lift up Black communities and increase Black representation at PepsiCo. These initiatives comprise a holistic effort for PepsiCo to walk the talk of a leading corporation and help address the need for systemic change." More: Poll: Nearly two-thirds of Americans support protests against racial injustice After outlining plans for changes in such areas as PepsiCo's workforce and its relations with business partners, he spelled out how the company's donations would be used more broadly: "Accelerating our support for social programs that impact Black communities, including delivering $6.5 million in community impact grants to address systemic issues; investing $1 million to replicate our holistic community support program, Southern Dallas Thrives, in Chicago; expanding our Food for Good initiative providing jobs and access to nutrition to more Black communities; and increasing our contribution to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to support the struggle for social justice." Laquarta's only reference to Black Lives Matter was in the closing sentence of his statement, when he wrote: "We proudly stand with our Black associates and Black communities, and we believe unequivocally that Black Lives Matters." The Facebook user who posted the claim did not respond to an email regarding the original item. The claim was also found to be "false" by FactCheck.org and "mostly false" by Snopes. Our rating: False Our research shows that Pepsi is not donating money to the Black Lives Matter organization, therefore we rate this claim as FALSE. The original source of that claim corrected its early claim, which it called a mistake. PepsiCo, the parent company of Pepsi, has pledged millions to build up social programs, and PepsiCo brand Gatorade has pledged a donation to BLM, but not Pepsi itself. Our fact-check sources: Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: PepsiCo pledges $400M to Black communities' programs BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 28 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: The value of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Romania amounted to $779.4 million over 1H2020, compared to $885.4 million during the same period of 2019, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Statistics Committee. The share of Romania in the total value of Kazakhstans trade turnover stood at 1.8 percent during the reporting period compared to 1.9 percent during the same period of 2019. Kazakhstans export to Romania amounted to $738.7 million over the period from January through June 2020, compared to $848.5 million during the same period of 2019. Romanias share in the total volume of Kazakhstans export also amounted to 2.8 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 3 percent during the same period of 2019. In turn, Kazakhstans imports from Romania stood at about $40.6 million over the reporting period, compared to $36.8 million during the same period of 2019. Romanias share in the total volume of Kazakhstans import amounted to 0.2 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to less than 0.2 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 imports amounted to $16.5 billion ($17.5 billion in 2019). --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh This failure to fully conceptualize the existence of other minds may be a fundamentally Trumpian trait. But the resulting insistence on the ubiquity of corruption has also been fueled by a right-wing media ecosystem that focuses outsize attention on supposed violations of norms by those in the Democratic Party. Trump presumably got his idea that Obama and Holder were engaged in Trump-style cronyism and thuggery from somewhere. For that reason, its noteworthy that Trump tweeted regularly in 2011 and 2012 about the Fast and Furious scandal, a botched law enforcement operation that became a focus of ire and conspiracy theories many of which highlighted the supposed role of Holder among congressional Republicans and on Fox News. The same dynamic is at play in the obsession of Trump, and the right-wing media, with Hillary Clintons use of an unsecured private email server which, for them, became such an iconic example of supposed corruption and impunity that it functioned as an effective rebuttal to more or less anything Trump did during the 2016 campaign. The ruling partys object, no doubt, is to spread a sense of deepening organisational crisis in the Congress It is preposterous to believe that the letter-writers (with exceptions, possibly) who brought a spot of drama to the Congress Party recently by demanding change in leadership, specially the jettisoning of former president Rahul Gandhi from a perch of influence, would have launched themselves on this path to benefit the BJP. The ruling partys object, no doubt, is to spread a sense of deepening organisational crisis in the Congress, and to degrade it in the eyes of voters. This is because this party alone, even in its much-weakened state, offers a challenge to Hindutva on an all-India plane in ideas, policy, and social and political acceptability. But men like Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kapil Sibal, Shashi Tharoor or Manish Tewari, and many others among those 23, are hardly the type to consciously help the Hindutva party trump the Congress. However, it is equally hard to credit their epistolary venture with political maturity or acumen, or indeed a sense of occasion. After all, the Bihar Assembly polls are less than three months away and needs focused attention. A pandemic is raging. Floods are devastating many states. At the political level, the Congress is still trying to stabilize itself in Rajasthan where only chief minister Ashok Gehlots astuteness and tenacity came in the way of the corrupt bid to topple the state government with the help of defectors, with the BJP playing a key role. Therefore, to call the letter-bomb amateurs dissenters, as many have done, is to be ignorant of the meaning of dissent. The act of dissent takes a toll. But the letter-writers as a group have been beneficiaries of the Congress decades-old durbar and family connections culture (which now afflicts all parties), and were not bitten by the democracy bug before, though, to be fair, some began to espouse the cause of organisational polls after Gandhi resigned as party president last year honourably taking responsibility for the Lok Sabha rout with a couple even throwing their hat into the ring. Now the whole group has publicly demanded organisational elections in the Congress at all levels and the revival of the Congress Parliamentary Board, an elected CWC, and a more visible and proactive party president. This is a valid demand. Elections bring cohesion and accountability to a political organisation and throw up debates and discussion around issues that are important to the people. Indeed, such discussions which sometimes grew fierce and ugly were once the norm in the party that won India freedom, and triggered public participation around policy concerns. But the context in which the 23 musketeers raised the demand seems to suggest they have chosen to be innocent of ground realities. A full-fledged internal election in the Congress, starting with ascertaining, correcting and broadening a membership roster, can take about a year. If only the crusaders had waited until after the Bihar elections and the ebbing of the pandemic, they might have been more credible. Since their demand was not made at a party forum (given that there were four CWC members among them) but publicised through the media, it is not outlandish to think that they desired to embarrass or panic the current leadership (though its meant to be a stopgap, with Sonia Gandhi as interim president), whittle its public standing, and force it to concede organizational polls and change of guard at the top here and now. Even a college union doesnt work that way. So, if some Congress figures in frustration accuse the lot of aiding the enemy, their angst is understandable even if not well-founded, considering we are in an era of turncoats (as Madhya Pradesh showed graphically, and Rajasthan nearly did). An Indira Gandhi (she had to claw her way back from the brink when the hardened old men of the party tried to shove her under the bus), a Chandra Shekhar, a V.P. Singh, a Madhu Limaye or a George Fernandes (the latter two from among socialists) would likely have stomped the countryside by now, and started their crusade even single-handed if they had a bee in their bonnet on the leadership or organisational issue, or an authentic point of policy contention, or plain burning ambition in their bosom. Each had shortcomings but they were not straw characters. The protagonists of the simulated dissent who have come to the fore today appear to be a very different set. Their anxieties belong to the realm of existentialism: What will happen to their political careers if the Congress fortunes dont change? Its not necessarily concern for the party or the country. And they have (rightly) banked on media help if their message is couched in an anti-dynasty idiom. The Congress has brought some of this upon itself. Since Rahul Gandhi resigned his post unexpectedly in May 2019, gobsmacking the loyalist and dynasty diehards, the party showed listlessness. An ailing Gandhi was drawn in as chief on an interim basis as the only one who would be above factions. But the partys mandate at this stage was to democratise and hold an organisational election, even a patchy one. It didnt, relying on ever-present distractions in India to bail it out. The path of electing the next party chief by summoning an AICC session in the next six months was cleared at Mondays CWC, and announced. This could have easily happened earlier, considering some form of acceptable democratisation has been in contemplation at the top levels of the Congress for some time. But this party, with a thoroughbred democratic past that few political organisations in the world can rival, has fallen on opaque times, and didnt make this known. Its time to change this culture consciously, and with dispatch. This will take some doing. It is undeniable that the Congress is a pale shadow of its past self. That proposition need not detain us. The point is, has it been taken to the cleaners by Narendra Modis BJP? Again, the answer is obvious. While the party has lost two Lok Sabha polls on the trot (the BJP had too!), in state after state it has been the BJPs equal in Assembly polls or has roundly defeated it in situations where the fight is not multi-cornered (as in UP, Bihar, West Bengal). Even in Gujarat, the citadel of Modi and Amit Shah, the BJP got to the finish line panting. As a party, the Congress must take lessons from this dichotomous situation. It must not succumb to listlessness. A Santa Cruz County resident was arrested late Wednesday on suspicion of stealing a Cal Fire firefighter's wallet last weekend and using his credit cards while he was combating the raging CZU Lightning Complex fires. Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart said the firefighter had gotten his bank to reverse the unauthorized credit charges, just one of which topped $1,400. So, although he is grateful to the many people across the United States who offered to help him, the firefighter declined the offers because he has been made whole. "All he wants is to get back on that fire line," Hart said. In particular, authorities urged concerned community members not to contribute to a GoFundMe account supposedly set up to benefit the firefighter. It was not authorized by the firefighter or by Cal Fire and is likely a scam. Brian Johnson, 37, of Live Oak, an unincorporated area between Santa Cruz and Capitola, had the firefighter's identification and cards when he was arrested and confessed to the crime and apologized, Hart said. Johnson was identified through a tip from a community member based on seeing security footage captured while Johnson was making a variety of purchases, Hart said. Johnson faces a variety of charges, including grand theft, larceny and probation violations. Hart said another man is still being investigated in connection with the case, and a separate investigation is under way into the theft of another firefighter's protective gear. 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. GREENWICH Even though the number of new COVID-19 cases in town is stable, a local health official warned that there could be an influx of cases in the fall. The warning comes as schools prepare to reopen classrooms to students and as colder fall weather will soon set in, according to Director of Health Caroline Baisley. We are preparing for possibly more cases, Baisley said. There could be an influx of cases in the fall as the weather gets cooler and the humidity starts to drop. We are working on that and refining some of the things we have to put in place. Baisley spoke to the Board of Selectmen on Thursday morning and provided an update on the towns efforts on contact tracing and on the number of coronavirus cases in Greenwich. Since the outbreak began in March, there have been 949 diagnosed cases among Greenwich residents, an increase of only one since Monday, she said. Were more or less stable, Baisley told the board. Of the cases, five are considered active, with her department conducting contact tracing, she said. With contact tracing, an official is assigned to every new COVID-19 case to investigate where the person has been and who they have come into contact with. It is a valuable tool for identifying possible cases before the virus can be spread any further, Baisley said. Also, her department is moving forward with implementation of the states new data entry system to improve its contact tracing efforts, Baisley said. The state is working out a few kinks, she said, but the tracing is moving along and her staff is trained to input the required data. We more or less feel at this point, as opposed to the spring when we didnt have any restrictions in place, that most of the contacts we are finding are people with their own families, Baisley said. Occasionally, you get a boyfriend or a girlfriend or that kind of thing or a friend, but we see more of the family as close contacts. Thats a big change from before when we saw a lot of non-family close contacts because there were no restrictions in the community. As of Thursday, Greenwich Hospital reported it was treating only one coronavirus patient. It has discharged 636 patients with COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. Baisley told the selectmen that the numbers, which come from the state Department of Public Health, can sometimes fluctuate. We occasionally get someone who is a New York resident or is a duplicate on the list, she said. There could be a variation in case numbers from day-to-day as a result of that. If I report out on Wednesday that there are 950 cases and today were down to 949, there is a reason for that. We did have a duplicate in the system. Baisley did not provide a breakdown of the numbers, but she said the most COVID-19 cases in Greenwich have occurred in residents between 50 and 59 years old. The second highest number of cases are in the 60 to 69 age range, with the 20 and 49 group coming in third. The department has prepared a list of nearby spots for COVID-19 testing, which is posted at www.greenwichct.gov. Those locations include Greenwich Hospital, Family Centers Health Care and Murphy Medical Associates as well as several in Stamford. The towns annual flu shot clinics for residents will go forward this year, she said, but did not provide specifics. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com A Joe Biden administration would address systemic racism and tackle police reform, Sen. Kamala Harris said on Thursday, invoking the "sickening" shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin as further evidence for the need to address racial injustice in the U.S. "The reality is that the life of a Black person in America has never been treated as fully human. And we have yet to fulfill that promise of equal justice under the law," Harris said. "We will only achieve that when we finally come together to pass meaningful police reform and broader criminal justice reform and acknowledge, yes, acknowledge, systemic racism." Harris spoke hours before President Donald Trump is set to formally accept his party's nomination for re-election at the final night of the Republican National Convention, pre-emptively criticizing the president for his response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Trump campaign has used the Republican convention to paint his administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic as a success, largely depicting the disease as under control. Harris, however, described his response as a failure. "Instead of rising to meet the most difficult moment of his presidency, he froze. He was scared. He was petty and vindictive," Harris said. Harris' criticism anticipated that Trump will continue the themes of his convention, including depicting the nation as plagued by mobs and riots in cities led by Democrats. The country had seen "the pain, hurt and destruction in the aftermath of yet another Black man shot by police," Harris said, adding that Blake's shooting "pierced the soul of the nation," and was "sickening to watch." Blake, who is Black, was shot in the back by police Sunday in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He is now paralyzed from the waist down, his father said. During protests after Blake's shooting, two people were killed and another was injured when someone opened fire. Story continues Police have arrested 17-year-old Illinois resident Kyle Rittenhouse on a first-degree intentional murder charge in connection with those shootings. NBC News has reported that Rittenhouse had posted online numerous photos of himself carrying long guns, along with several photos of the Blue Lives Matter flag. Harris sought to make a distinction between "peaceful protesters" and "those looting and committing acts of violence" and "a shooter who was arrested for murder." "Make no mistake, we will not let these vigilantes and extremists derail the path to justice," Harris said. In an interview with NBC's Craig Melvin after the speech, Harris said Blake's shooting did not appear to be justified. "I don't have all the evidence," the former prosecutor told Melvin in an interview, but "based on what I've seen it seems the officer should be charged." Craig Melvin interviews Sen. Kamala Harris on Aug. 27, 2020. (NBC News) She also noted that the topic of racial justice has been avoided at the Republican convention. "I have yet to see these people who profess to be national leaders, speak about this issue of the killing of unarmed Black men, brown men, indigenous men in our country. I have yet to see them speak about it," she said, noting that despite the rosy talk about Trump's record at the convention, the country is dealing with multiple crises at once. "And the American people regardless of race or gender or geographic location have a right to believe that their leaders will speak truth, even when these are difficult truths to speak and to hear. And we're not seeing that in the Republican National Convention," she said. Parts of the interview aired on "Nightly News with Lester Holt" and MSNBC and more will be broadcast Friday on the "TODAY" show. In her speech, Harris also levied harsh criticism at Trump's response to the coronavirus, saying he "failed the most basic and most important job of a president of the United States." "He failed to protect the American people, plain and simple," she said. Harris, a former prosecutor, said Trump "showed what we in the legal profession would call a reckless disregard for the wellbeing of the American people." She accused Trump of not having a plan from the start of the outbreak and attempted to contrast his approach with the fact that Biden has released several proposals on how to best deal with the pandemic, including implementing a national mask mandate if elected. More than 180,000 people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19, while nearly 6 million have been infected. Both figures are the largest of any country in the world. "If you get it wrong at the beginning, the consequences are catastrophic, and it's very hard to catch up. You don't get a second chance at getting it right," she said. "Trump still doesn't have a plan." Congress MP from Tamil Nadus Kanyakumari, H Vasanthakumar succumbed to Covid-19 disease on Friday . The first time MP from Tamil Nadu, Vasanthakumar was being treated at the Greams Road facility of the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. He was admitted to the hospital on August 10 and was in critical condition after contracting severe Covid-19 pneumonia. Mourning the 70-year-old leaders demise, Prime Minister Modi tweeted, During my interactions with him, I always saw his passion towards Tamil Nadus progress. Condolences to his family and supporters. Saddened by the demise of Lok Sabha MP Shri H. Vasanthakumar Ji. His strides in business and social service efforts were noteworthy. During my interactions with him, I always saw his passion towards Tamil Nadus progress. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/SmuAK8ufAx Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 28, 2020 Sad to know the passing of Shri H. Vasanthakumar, MP from Kanyakumari. An entrepreneur and social activist, he earned his name in the world of politics and business. His devotion to peoples cause in Tamil Nadu was inspiring. Condolences to his family, friends and followers, said President Ram Nath Kovind on Twitter. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed his condolences. The news of Kanyakumari MP, Shri H Vasanthakumars untimely demise due to Covid-19 has come as a shock. His commitment to the congress ideology of serving the people will remain in our hearts forever. Heartfelt condolences to his friends and family members. pic.twitter.com/oqhrfQXEUD Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 28, 2020 Recalling his close association with the leader, state chief minister V Narayanasamy said, the TNCC (Tamil Nadu Congress Committee) has lost a great and dedicated leader. Vasanthakumar was a hard working entrepreneur who contributed a lot to the Congress, the chief minister also said. Vasanthakumar was a two-time MLA and elected to the Lok Sabha in the 2019 elections. In unsealed video testimony released Monday, Planned Parenthood officers admit under oath that some of their abortion doctors have changed abortions to harvest more usable fetal organs and tissues. (Natural News) (Article republished from HarbingersDaily.com) The new video released by the Center for Medical Progress (CMP), includes unsealed testimony from Dr. Deborah Nucatola, Planned Parenthood Federation of Americas senior director of medical services from 2009 to 2016, who now holds regional leadership positions with the organization. The video shows Nucatola being deposed in April of last year. WARNING: This article contains graphic descriptions of practices used at Planned Parenthood. As CBN News reported back in 2015, Nucatola spoke about the demand for fetal organs in an undercover video from CMP. Yesterday was the first time she said people wanted lungs, Nucatola explained. And then, like I said, always as many intact livers as possible. In the undercover video, Nucatola described using ultrasound guidance to flip a fetus to a feet-first position for intact extraction and successful organ harvesting at Planned Parenthood. However, when questioned by congressional investigators, Nucatola had publicly denied that such abortions were used in Planned Parenthoods fetal tissue research programs. But under oath in her deposition taken in April of 2019, Nucatola confirms, If I was aware that it was a donation case, yes she would change where she grasped the fetus with her forceps in order not to crush certain organs. When asked about her description of flipping a fetus to breech position in order to obtain intact organs, Nucatola first seems to deny doing so. But when confronted with her conclusion on the undercover tape, Weve been pretty successful with that, Nucatola admits, I was referring to PPLA. Asked if that included herself, Dr. Nucatola testifies, Yes, including me, I worked at PPLA. According to the CMP, using ultrasound guidance to manipulate the fetus from vertex to breech orientation before intact extraction is the trademark of an illegal partial-birth abortion procedure. Partial-birth abortions are a federal crime (18 U.S.C. 1531). CMP points out it is a felony to do an abortion where the fetus is delivered alive beyond certain anatomical points only to kill the partially born baby afterward. This latest revelation in the case led Lila Rose, the founder, and president of the pro-life organization Live Action to tweet: Planned Parenthood has been exposed violating the federal law that prohibits the sale of fetal tissue. Its past time to investigate them and prosecute them for their crimes against children NOW. Where is @TheJusticeDept? Enforce federal law!! Planned Parenthood has been exposed violating the federal law that prohibits the sale of fetal tissue. Its past time to investigate them and prosecute them for their crimes against children NOW. Where is @TheJusticeDept? Enforce federal law!! https://t.co/dT18X4GbcJ Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) August 25, 2020 CMPs newly released video also shows testimony from Dr. Mary Gatter, former medical director for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, admitting that after internal debate in the organization, she evolved in her thinking to believe that changing abortion techniques in order to harvest higher quality fetal tissue was acceptable. During the trial of CMPs David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt last October, Gatter had to admit under oath that her wanting a Lamborghini comment in the released undercover video in 2015 was directly related to compensation for babies body parts. In a released statement, CMP founder and project leader Daleiden said its time for federal authorities to investigate. Planned Parenthood reflexively proclaims innocence to the public and to a compliant establishment press, but when Planned Parenthood abortion leadership is placed under oath, they testify to crimes against women and infants. Criminality in the national taxpayer-funded abortion industry will continue to spread unless federal authorities hold them accountable once and for all, he said. Earlier this month, 28 US Senators wrote to Attorney General Bill Barr demanding an update on action the Department of Justice has taken to enforce the laws against trafficking in human fetuses and other violations. Watch the Center for Medical Progress video below: Warning some images although animated are graphic. Read more at: HarbingersDaily.com and Abortions.news. BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) In a surprise move, Serbia has joined the European Union in its rejection of the election results in Belarus and criticism of a crackdown against those protesting against the countrys longtime autocratic leader. Serbias prime minister, Ana Brnabic, said Thursday that Belgrade signed up with the EU resolution on Belarus in order to align the Balkan countrys policies with those of the bloc it formally wants to join. Belgrade has had close relations with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, who last visited the Balkan country in December. He was the only world leader who visited Serbia during the 1999 NATO bombing of the country over its crackdown against ethnic Albanian separatists, which was seen as his support of Serbias former strongman, Slobodan Milosevic. I hope Lukashenko wont hold it against us, Brnabic said while admitting for the first time that Serbia accepted the EU stance on Belarus' elections. We should not forget the friendship Lukashenko has shown to our people during the difficult times. Last month, European Union leaders said they stand beside the people protesting for democratic rights in Belarus, rejecting election results that swept the countrys leader of 26 years back into power and warned they are preparing a long list of Belarusians who face sanctions over vote fraud and a brutal crackdown on protesters. Serbias acceptance of the EU criticism of the Belarus leader was first revealed Wednesday in tweets by the EU and US ambassadors to Belgrade who hailed the move. I welcome Serbia for joining EU Declaration on Presidential Elections in Belarus, EU Ambassador Sam Fabrizi wrote on Twitter. The U.S. ambassador to Serbia, Anthony Godfrey, also praised Belgrades decision. It is great to see that Serbia stands by its European environment, he wrote on Twitter. Serbian populist President Aleksandar Vucic has also faced criticism from home and abroad for curtailing media freedoms, holding elections that the opposition claims are not free and fair and cracking down on anti-government demonstrators. Story continues Although formally seeking EU membership, Serbia has been strengthening political, economic and military ties with Russia and China. It has refused to join EU sanctions against Russia for its policies over Ukraine. ___ Follow APs coverage of Belarus at https://www.apnews.com/Belarus Years of neglect, lack of foresight and complete absence of urban planning has left India staring at mountains of waste-landfills, waste-choked drains, water bodies and rivers. This is called legacy waste, a cumulative consequence of decades of neglect and lack of foresight. There are about 48 recognised landfills across India, together covering nearly 5,000 acres of land, with a total land value of about Rs 100,000 crore. India generates about 275 million tonnes of waste per year. With current waste treatment rates of about 20-25%, this leaves majority of waste untreated, in a heap, on landfills, and an equal amount in drains and river bodies. The Deonar dumpsite in Mumbai is an example. This is the oldest landfill in India, and was set up in 1929. It covers about 325 acres, receives 5,500 metric tonnes of waste, 600 metric tonnes of silt and 25 tonnes of bio-medical waste daily. Mumbai city generates about 7,500 metric tonnes of waste daily. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has recently commissioned a waste-to-energy (WTE) plant which will treat 600 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste every day. Clearly the plant is not positioned to deal with the everyday fresh waste, let alone treat legacy waste, that is the Deonar dumpsite. Drains and water bodies, emptying out into Indian rivers, also carry with them an unimaginable amount of waste. The Ganga is among the top 10 polluted rivers in the world, together accounting for 90% of the total ocean plastic pollution. India faces a seemingly insurmountable challenge of treating and getting rid of the legacy waste, with simultaneous and continuous accumulation of fresh everyday waste. India generates the most waste globally, and if urgent measures are not put into place, by 2050, our waste generation will double. Central, state, city and municipal governments, over decades, have not been able to prevent this situation, nor deal with its scale. For a country the size of India, there are about 92 large WTE plants. Of these, only a small fraction is operational, and the plants that are operational, run at suboptimal capacity. State governments have, so far, invested an estimated Rs 10,000 crore in such plants. The task now is to be clear on what needs to be done, on what has not been done, or done incorrectly, and to ensure correct execution of a national mission. Here are some suggestions that may be pertinent. First, municipalities need to have access to affordable technology which has been piloted and validated under Indian conditions. Today, most of the technology/equipment needed for waste management is imported, expensive and often not suited in our varied local situations. India needs affordable, decentralised, customised solutions for its land-constrained complex city matrix. For example, amphibian equipment to clean water bodies is imported and can work well for large water bodies. Indigenisation of design and manufacturing of such equipment for smaller drains and water bodies is essential. Robotic long-hand scavenging machines to unclog drains, booms which filter and prevent waste in our drains entering a larger water body are some examples, where Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) needs to kick in immediately. Entry to drains in India is choked with pan masala, shampoo sachets, chips/kurkure packets and so on. These are major problems unique to India and require both community and technological solutions. The next suggestion for focused action is the ease of procurement. Evolving a less cumbersome process for the procurement of technology and equipment is imperative. State governments are hit by a double whammy due to lack of technology and an immutable and rigid procurement system. BMC took almost seven years to finalise the bid for a Deonar waste to energy plant. The third area where speedy change is needed is policy. A direction which can accelerate the removal of waste exponentially is needed. One way, used internationally, is to unlock the land value under landfills. Allowing agencies, companies or industry that clear waste, to own the land (fully or partially as per mutually agreed terms) can fund the clean-up. A land payback can be a major incentive to recover the estimated 5,000 acres of prime land taken up by landfills. Rough calculations suggest that the value of the 77 acres of land under the Ghazipur landfill is worth at least Rs 1500 crore. These calculations ignore the socioeconomic benefits of cleaning a site which harbours disease and is a pernicious source of pollution to land, water and air. The fourth area needing urgent attention is the development of skilled and trained professional personnel to operate and maintain the waste management chain, right from collection, operation and maintenance of waste-handling plants. This needs to done with full use of mechanisation. The fifth and final focus area is to move to a zero-waste society. India was traditionally a society where little was wasted and everything could be reused and recycled. Sweden is now importing waste for some of its plants and there is definitely value in all the waste generated and any investment needed is an investment for a clean and secure future. Central, and integral to success, is design. Design in the collection, of centralised and decentralised waste treatment plants, and of the equipment used. Design of waste management should be the bedrock of a well-planned smart city, town or village. A well-designed waste-management strategy, cognisant of Indian constraints, will be the hallmark of Swachh Bharat, Swasth Bharat and Unnat Bharat. Science and technology must be the fulcrum to provide solutions to the waste challenges faced by the country, a challenge which is both urgent and important, and can be ignored at our own peril. Dr Shailja Vaidya Gupta is Senior Adviser, office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India The views expressed are personal The Ghana Health Service is to organize two rounds of polio immunization this year to help eradicate the virus identified at 150 surveillance sites across the country. The first immunization would run between 10 and 13 September and the second round between 8 and 10 October this year. This was disclosed by the Deputy Eastern Regional Director of Health in-charge of Public Health, Dr Antobre Boateng at stakeholders meeting at Koforidua in the Eastern Region. He said the two immunization programmes would help protect children aged day one to under five years from polio type two. Dr Boateng said the health personnel would move from house to house and assured of strict adherence to the COVID-19 health protocols. He appealed to the stakeholders to help mobilize parents to open their homes for the immunization exercise. Mr Daniel Asamaning, the Eastern Regional Coordinator of the Expanded Programme of Immunization, said the oral immunization would be organized on house to house bases. He said the campaign would hold in 11 regions out of the 16 regions because some regions had already undertaken the immunization exercise. Ms Bridget Anim, Eastern Regional Health Communication Officer, called on stakeholders and politicians to help mobilize the people to ensure the success of the programme. She appealed to the media to help motivate parents to support the campaign. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video T he range of the UK's coronavirus R rate remains above one, latest Government data shows. Data released on Friday by the Government Office for Science and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) shows the estimate for R across the UK is between 0.9 and 1.1. If the R rate reaches one or above, the disease can spread exponentially and infect more and more people. The growth rate of coronavirus transmission, which reflects how quickly the number of infections is changing day by day, has shifted slightly. Scientists say there have been indications that these values may be increasing, with estimated ranges rising slightly from previous publications. For the whole of the UK the latest growth rate is between minus 2 per cent and plus 1 per cent per day - a slight change from between minus 3 per cent and plus 1 per cent last week. Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images The growth rate means the number of new infections is somewhere between shrinking by 2 per cent and growing by 1 per cent every day. The most likely value is towards the middle of the range, experts say. In England, the R is between 0.9 and 1.1, and the growth rate is minus 2 per cent to plus 1 per cent. Recent changes in transmission are not yet fully reflected in the estimates because the data used to calculate R and growth rate reflect the situation from a few weeks ago. A man wearing a face mask walks by a social distance sign in Liverpool / REUTERS Epidemiological data, such as hospital admissions, ICU admissions and deaths, usually take two to three weeks to reflect changes in the spread of disease. This is because of the time delay between initial infection and the need for hospital care. Therefore, the figures published on Friday more accurately represent the average situation over the past few weeks rather than the current situation. But models that use Covid-19 testing data, which have less of a time delay, indicate higher values for R in England, the Sage statement said. Local lockdowns still remain in areas of the north-west / AFP via Getty Images It added: For this reason, Sage does not have confidence that R is currently below 1.0 in England. We would expect to see this change in transmission reflected in the R and growth rate published over the next few weeks as we gain more certainty of what is currently happening. The scientists warn that estimates of R and growth rate per day are less reliable and less useful in determining the state of the epidemic when disease incidence is low, or where there is significant variability in the population, for example during local outbreaks. A coronavirus test is diposited into a box at a drive-in centre / PA They say when this is the case, estimates of R and growth rate become insufficiently robust to inform policy decisions. In the East of England, the growth rate is unchanged at between minus 3 per cent and zero, and the R number is 0.8-1.0. In London, the growth rate is unchanged at between minus 2 per cent and plus 1 per cent, and the capitals R rate is also unchanged at 0.9-1.1. The Midlands has a growth rate of between minus 3 per cent and plus 1 per cent, a change from between minus 4 per cent and zero, and an R number has increased slightly from 0.8-1.0, to 0.8-1.1. In the North East and Yorkshire, the growth rate is between minus 3 per cent and plus 1 per cent, with an unchanged R number of 0.8-1.0. The growth rate in the North West is between minus 3 per cent and plus 1 per cent, a slight change from between minus 2 per cent and plus 1 per cent. The R value here is unchanged at 0.9-1.1. In the South East, the growth rate is between minus 2 per cent and plus 1 per cent, a change from between minus 4% and zero last week. The R value in the region is up from 0.8-1.0, to 0.9-1.1. Loading.... The South West has a growth rate of between minus 2 per cent and plus 2 per cent, compared with between minus 1 per cent and plus 2 per cent last week. Its R value is 0.9-1.1. 'Aero India' is considered Asia's largest aerospace exhibition. (A file photo) NEW DELHI (PTI): The Defence Ministry has decided to host the next edition of Aero India considered Asia's largest aerospace exhibition in Bengaluru in February, notwithstanding the coronavirus pandemic, officials sources said Friday. The Ministry took the decision to hold the biennial event as scheduled following inputs from major stakeholders including the domestic defence industry and global aerospace majors, they said. The sources said the main event will be held from February 3-5 while the exhibition will be thrown open for general public on February 6 and 7. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has already held a number of internal meetings including one on Friday on hosting of the mega event in its traditional venue of Yelahanka Air Force station on the outskirts of Bengaluru. "It was decided that the event will be hosted while taking maximum precaution against the coronavirus pandemic," said a source. Since its inception in 1996, Bengaluru has been hosting the event. In the event, the Government will showcase India as an attractive destination for investment in the defence manufacturing sector besides highlighting series of initiatives it has taken to promote the domestic industry, the sources said. A number of global defence majors and big investors are expected to participate in the event besides official delegations from several countries, they said. Several leading aerospace companies have already offered to set up manufacturing bases in India provided they get big-ticket contracts. US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin has already said that it will not sell its newly rolled out F-21 fighter jet to any other country if India places an order for 114 planes. Another aviation major Boeing too has announced that it is ready to set up manufacturing facilities for its F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft if it bags the IAF contract. It will be the first major global defence event in India after the country unveiled a series of measures like pruning of the import list of weapons systems and increasing the FDI limit from 49 per cent to 74 per cent in defence sector under the automatic route. The Government is also taking steps to implement an ambitious policy under which select private firms were to be roped in to produce key military platforms like submarines and fighter jets in India in partnership with global defence majors. On August 9, the Defence Minister announced that India will stop import of 101 weapons and military platforms like transport aircraft, light combat helicopters, conventional submarines, cruise missiles and sonar systems by 2024. In a related development, the DRDO has 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 the largest importers of arms globally. According to estimates, the Indian armed forces are projected to spend around US$ 130 billion in capital procurement in the next five years. However, the Government now wants to reduce dependence on imported military platforms and has decided to support the domestic defence manufacturing. The Defence Ministry has already set a goal of a turnover of US$ 25 billion (Rs 1.75 lakh crore) in defence manufacturing in the next five years that included an export target of US$ 5 billion (Rs 35,000 crore) worth of military hardware. President Donald Trump delivers his acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination on the South Lawn of the White House August 27, 2020 in Washington, DC. Trump gave the speech in front of 1500 invited guests. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Trump: 2020 Election a Choice Between American Dream, Socialist Chaos President Donald Trump during the Republican National Convention (RNC) suggested the Democrats pose an existential threat to the United States, casting the November election as a binary choice between order and chaos. At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas, the president remarked in accepting the GOPs nomination for president. This is the most important in the history of our country, he said, adding that Democrats want to create a socialist agenda to demolish the United States. Democrats, he suggested, are obscuring a far-left, socialist agenda and are propping up Biden as a moderate Trojan Horse. Trump excoriated Democratic nominee Joe Biden and his party, saying that his administration has spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years. At the Democrat convention, you barely heard a word about their agenda. But thats not because they dont have one. Its because their agenda is the most extreme set of proposals ever put forward by a major party nominee. In recent months, Trump has cast himself as the law and order candidate in the midst of protests, riots, arson, looting, and general civil unrest in the wake of George Floyds death in Minneapolis. At the same time, he has accused Biden of kowtowing to the more radical elements in the Democratic Party in the midst of calls to defund police departments. How can the Democratic Party be asked to lead our country when it spends so much time tearing down our country, Trump rhetorically asked. The South Lawn of the White House is pictured ahead of President Donald Trumps acceptance speech for the Republican Party nomination for reelection during the final day of the Republican National Convention in Washington, on Aug. 27, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) Biden, 77, on Thursday, accused Trump, 74 of using the specter of violence as a political strategy, rather than actually aiming to address it. Democrats formally nominated Biden at a convention last week. Donald Trump keeps saying it wont be safe in Joe Bidens America, he said. Their proof? The violence youre seeing is in Donald Trumps administration, Donald Trumps America. Did they forget whos president? Earlier in the night, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) made little mention of Trump but instead focused on the Democrats, saying that the party doesnt want to improve the lives of people living in flyover country, adding that they want to defund the police and take away your Second Amendment rights. McConnell, like Trump, reiterated that Bidens agenda as president isnt clear. Before Trump, RNC speakers warned about Biden embracing the left-wing agenda, which was underscored by Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday. Earlier on Thursday night, the GOP tapped NYPD union boss Patrick Lynch and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to issue warnings about what could happen if Democratic officials take control of the federal government. When you consider their agenda, its clear: Joe Biden would be nothing more than a Trojan horse for a radical left, Pence said. The choice in this election has never been clearer, and the stakes have never been higher. In a rebuttal to Trump, Bidens running mate Kamala Harris said the president is incompetent in the face of multiple crises, declaring: Donald Trump doesnt understand the presidency. She primarily faulted the presidents leadership in dealing with the CCP virus pandemic in the United States, where around 180,000 people have died from the virus. He thinks its all about him, she said, adding that its about all of us. Donald Trump has failed at the most basic and important job of a president of the United States: He failed to protect the American people, plain and simple. Trump also touted his administrations response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Published on 2020/08/27 | Source Lee Sung-min, Lee Hee-jun and Gong Seung-yeon are starring in "Handsome Guys". Advertisement "Handsome Guys" is a movie about friends visiting a mountain resort in the Gangwon Province where exorcism used to happen. It is produced by High Corp Media, which produced "Deliver Us From Evil", "The Man Standing Next" and "Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum" and director Nam Dong-hyub, who participated as an assistant director in "Penny Pinchers" and "High Society - Movie", will take on the megaphone. Earlier, Lee Hee-jun and Gong Seung-yeon decided to star in the movie. Lee Sung-min decided to appear on the show because of the scenario and with trust in the production company from "The Man Standing Next". However, Lee Sung-min could not make a decision easily because of his busy filming schedule, which did not match the filming schedule for "Handsome Guys". Rumor has it that the production team agreed that Lee Sung-min is essential and adjusted the filming schedule, eventually joining him. Lee Hee-jun, who worked with Lee Sung-min in "The Man Standing Next" originally filmed "Bogota: City of the Lost" overseas but returned to the COVID-19 pandemic and was looking for his next film. With deep trust in the production company, he decided to star in "Handsome Guys" and work with Lee Sung-min again. Gong Seung-yeon makes her commercial film screen debut with "Handsome Guys". Gong Seung-yeon, who made her face known through the drama "Introvert Boss", appeared in the short film "My Dream Class" with Byun Yo-han in 2018, but "Handsome Guys" is her first full-fledged commercial film. "Handsome Guys" plans to finish pre-production and start filming with Lee Hee-jun and Gong Seung-yeon at the end of September. Lee Sung-min will join the group after wrapping up the "Miracle: Letters to the President" shoot. Days after the George Floyd protests began in New York City, Caroline Gombe joined the cause. "The walking and the chanting helped me heal in a way," she said. Before long, Gombe, an event planner, actress, and teacher, was helping organizers distribute water, hand out masks, dollop hand sanitizer into outstretched palms and wave the front banner. But she noticed a glaring omission in the larger fight for racial justice and equality. When she asked organizers whether any protests were planned related to Black women's issues, someone suggested that she start one. IMAGE: Chivona Newsome (Ira L. Black / Corbis via Getty Images) "So I went around asking African American women there if they would like to start a women's march," she said. "I wanted to create a platform for Black women to put their problems, issues, solutions, ideas and struggles on the table and start building together." With Kimberly Bernard, 31, and Monik Walters, 22, the Black Women's March made its debut in Brooklyn at Herbert Von King Park in June. Bernard invited Chivona Newsome, co-founder of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, and Kristin Richardson Jordan, who is running for a New York City Council seat representing Harlem, to speak. "We had these two powerful women," Bernard said. "Our message was clear: Vote for women of color. Protect and respect Black and brown women." For weeks community members, white allies, men and other organizations led by Black women, such as Warriors in the Garden, Freedom March NYC and The Descendants 2020, approached Gombe about collaborating on the next program. Image: Regine Shabazz (Giannella M. Garrett) A month later, on July 19, the coalition held a candlelight vigil at the Brooklyn Museum dedicated to Black women and men who had lost their lives. Among the honored speakers was Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, who died in 2014 in New York while in police custody. "Black Women's March is an organization that's part of the Black Lives Matter movement," said Regine Shabazz, 26, an organizer, who joined Black Women's March this summer. "We have more visibility for Black women and more inclusivity, especially for Black trans women." Story continues At the vigil, Shabazz introduced Gombe to Qween Jean, an off-Broadway costume designer who is an organizer for Black trans liberation. They found a synergy, and Qween Jean teamed up with Black Women's March. "We participate in a lot of community organizations throughout the boroughs, advocating for trans and queer youth who have been kicked out of their homes, who have food and housing insecurities," she said. "So if we are going to be restructuring our language and advocating for Black lives and equality, trans lives need to be centered in that conversation also." The Black Women's March was held in Times Square a week later, on July 26, drawing hundreds of participants for a program of speeches that centered on dismantling systems and policies that entangle Black women and girls in the criminal justice system. "There are schools that function as entrees to detention centers, where armed police outnumber teachers, and unaffordable health care leaving Black women vulnerable to heart disease and cancer," Bernard said. The crowd gathered and marched from 42nd Street to Harlem with a squad of bicyclists forming a protective barrier between the peaceful protesters and traffic along the FDR Drive. IMAGE: Kimberly Bernard (Giannella M. Garrett) Two weeks later, the group organized a march dedicated to Breonna Taylor that snaked from Central Park over to the Henry Hudson Parkway. "Each event has grown exponentially," Gombe said. The March on Washington is set for Friday to commemorate the 57th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. Black Women's March organizers say it promises to be their most far-reaching alliance yet. For the past week, Gombe and her team have been collaborating with two other local charitable organizations, The People's Bodega NYC and Save Our SISTERS NY, to collect feminine care products and blessing bags. The idea is to donate the items to N Street Village, the largest provider of housing and supportive services for homeless women in Washington, D.C. Download the NBC News app for breaking news and alerts Attendance at what some have dubbed the "Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" March on Washington is expected to be in the thousands Friday, beginning with speeches at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. In New York, Gombe hopes for one last march before the end of summer, with September focused on community actions, such as food and clothing drives, a fundraiser for mental health and finding ways to help New Yorkers facing eviction. To implement those actions, Black Women's March has started a fundraising campaign with a $20,000 goal. "As founder of this group, I'm so incredibly proud of each member and the team work," Gombe said. "It's an amazing example of how Black women get things done." PEOPLES UNION FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES 332, Patpar Ganj, Opposite Anand Lok Apartments, Mayur Vihar I, Delhi 110 091 Phone 2275 0014 PP FAX 4215 1459 Founder: Jayaprakash Narayan; Founding President: V M Tarkunde President: Ravi Kiran Jain; General Secretary: Dr. V. Suresh E.mail: puclnat[at]gmail.com ; pucl.natgensec[at]gmail.com 27th August, 2020 Press Release Organizations from All Over India Issue a call for a Protest Week, August 28 September 5, Urging People to Stand Up for Civil Liberties Over 70 organizations and several individuals from around the country endorsed the call initiated by the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties to conduct protest actions from August 28 to September 5, considering the deterioration in Civil Liberties in the recent past. This call was given marking August 28 as the day when two years ago, 5 human rights activists Sudha Bharadwaj, Gautam Navlakha, Varavara Rao, Arun Ferriera and Vernon Gonsalves were arrested in the Bhima Koregaon Conspiracy Case. A total of 12 renowned lawyers, professors, academics, writers, activists remain imprisoned under fabricated charges, while the actual perpetrators of violence in Bhima Koregaon, walk freely. The days of protest end on September 5th, which will mark the third anniversary of the assassination of Gauri Lankesh, the fearless journalist who would not be silenced any other way. In their call, the organizations note more than 24 anti CAA-NRC protestors and supporters of the movement for equal citizenship, have been falsely arrested under UAPA in Delhi and Assam, for conspiracy and several others under stringent sections of the IPC and other special laws. In UP, anti CAA-NRC protestors are being subjected to illegal processes of auctioning of their personal properties to pay for the damages to public property caused during protests. The call notes that scores of intellectuals, activists, trade unionists and others are continually being summoned, examined in the Delhi Riots case and the Bhima Koregaon case, and then subjected to vilification campaigns with a section of the media, ensuring that the process itself becomes a punishment, even as these cases will fail in trials. The nationwide protests are also in support of Prashant Bhushan, a Supreme Court lawyer and a leading anti-corruption crusader, who has been convicted under the Contempt of Court Act, and of the numerous journalists, who are facing charges or have been arrested, for pointing out problems with government policies and their implementation. The crisis in civil liberties in the country is most apparent in the case of scores of Kashmiris continue to be under preventive detention for more than a year. Apart from individual organizations, large networks of organizations, such as the National Alliance of Peoples Movements, the Right to Food Campaign and the National Confederation of Human Rights Organizations have also endorsed this call on a nationwide-basis, in addition to many of their constituent groups. This call saw active participation from the womens movement, with National Federation of Indian Women, All India Progressive Womens Association, Saheli Womens Resource Center, Forum Against Oppression of Women, Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression, among others. University-based and student organizations, such as the All India Retired University and College Teachers Organisations, Delhi University Womens Association and the Student Christian Movement of India also joined the call. A full list of the participating organizations is attached along with the full text of the National Call. Sd/- Mr. Ravi Kiran Jain, President, PUCL Dr. V. Suresh, General Secretary, PUCL **NATIONAL CALL FOR A WEEK OF PROTEST** Fri, AUG 28th- Sat, SEP 5th STAND UP FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES As representatives of human rights organizations and peoples movements from around the country, we are alarmed at the increasing assault on fundamental rights of people who chose to voice their opinions, to openly oppose government policies, and to organize themselves into peaceful protests. As we speak, a More than 12 renowned lawyers, professors, academics, writers, activists are in prison in the Bhima Koregaon Conspiracy Case, some of whom have been in prison for over two years now, a More than 20 anti CAA-NRC protestors and supporters of the movement for equal citizenship, have been falsely arrested under UAPA, for conspiracy and several others under stringent sections of the IPC and other special laws, a In UP, anti CAA-NRC protestors are being subjected to illegal processes of auctioning of their personal properties to pay for the damages to public property caused during protests, a A leading anti-corruption crusader has been convicted under the Contempt of Court Act, a Numerous journalists face charges for pointing out problems with government policies and their implementation, and many of them have been arrested, a Scores of intellectuals, activists, trade unionists and others are continually being summoned, examined in the Delhi Riots case and the Bhima Koregaon case, and then subjected to vilification campaigns with a section of the media, ensuring that the process itself becomes a punishment, even as these cases will fail in trials, a Scores of Kashmiris continue to be under preventive detention for more than a year... Our silence is our complicity in all these shameful acts of oppression. We are calling upon all to RISE UP IN RAGE! August 28 will mark two years from the day that the police arrested Sudha Bharadwaj, Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves and Gautam Navlakha, five prominent human rights activists among many in jail today. September 5 will be the third anniversary of the assassination of Gauri Lankesh, the fearless journalist who would not be silenced any other way. We must raise our voices against this, we must be heard. Organize protests wherever possible, be it groups of 5 or 50. Stand with a placard. Write letters to the authorities. Share photos, videos, tweets. Organize meetings, big or small. In solidarity a Peoples Union for Civil Liberties a Right to Food Campaign a National Alliance of Peoples Movements (NAPM) a National Confederation of Human Rights organizations (NCHRO) a National Federation of Indian Women NFIW a All India Progressive Womens Association AIPWA a Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS) a New Trade Union Initiative a Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti, Gujarat a Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity a Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha (BJVJ) a Police Reforms Watch a Forum Against Oppression of Women a Progressive Writers Association a Bagaicha Ranchi a Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan a Aman Biradari a THE BOMBAY CATHOLIC SABHA a Batuka Social service centre a Jharkhand Nagrik Prayas a Inquilabi chhatra morcha, uttar pradesh a APCR Association for Protection of Civil rights a Madhya Pradesh Mahila Manch (MPMM) a Center for Peace Studies a Grakoos Union, Karnataka a Naavu Bharathiyaru a BMMA a Kala sanskriti prokosht rjd a Saheli Womens Resource Centre, New Delhi a Delhi Solidarity Group a Aamra Ek Sachetan Prayas Forum a Srijanatmak Manushi Sanstha a Forum Against Corruption & Threats (FACT) a aPlease Save Mea Foundation a Sahiyar Stree Sangathan a Janbodh a GUIDE a GASS, Odisha a Delhi Peoples Forum a Egalitarian Trails a All India Retired University and College Teachers Organisations a Delhi University Womens Association a CCG a Student Christian Movement of India a We EmbrAce a Chhattishgarh adhikar manch a Kadambari a ONE NATION EQUAL EDUCATION CAMPAIGN a Neethi Vedhi a PUCL Tamil Nadu a Eka a Snehasadan, Pune a Mashal a Mahiti Adhikar Manch a Chhattishgarh adhikar manch a JANANEETHI a Vividha a Nagrik Sashaktikaran Manch a NREGA Sangharsh Morcha a Sahiyar Stree Sangathan a Salma a PUCL Chhattisgarh a RTF Campaign West Bengal a Global Shapers Panjim a National Federation of Indian Women, Delhi Unit a PUCL Rajasthan a The four legs charitable trust a Right to Education Forum Himachal Pradesh a aaaaaaa aY aaaa aYa aaa aaaa aaa a aa aaaa a Samudaaya Mangaluru a WSS West Bengal a PUCL, Gujarat 'Scooby-Doo' co-creator Joe Ruby has died aged 87. The US animator passed away of natural causes in Westlake Village, California on Wednesday (26.08.20), according to Variety. Joe and his partner Ken Spears were the brains behind the 'Scooby-Doo' franchise, which featured the original series 'Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!', for Hanna-Barbera Productions. The animated series - which tells the story of a group of teenagers and their titular Great Dane dog Scooby-Doo who travel around in a blue and green van trying to solve mysteries - first aired on CBS in 1969. Joe and Ken were also behind the creation of 'Dynomutt, Dog Wonder' and 'Jabberjaw'. Sam Register, President of Warner Bros. Animation and Blue Ribbon Content, said in a statement: "Joe Ruby made Saturday mornings special for so many children, including myself. "He was one of the most prolific creators in our industry who gifted us some of animation's most treasured characters and it was a thrill to host him at our studio. "Scooby-Doo has been a beloved companion on screens for more than 50 years, leaving an enduring legacy that has inspired and entertained generations. "We at Warner Bros. Animation have the privilege and honour of carrying on that legacy and send our warmest thoughts to his loved ones." Joe was previously in the Navy, during which he was a sonar operator on a destroyer during the Korean War. He later worked for Walt Disney Productions in the animation and editing departments, before joining Hanna-Barbera Productions, where he met Ken. The pair later set up their own studio, Ruby-Spears Productions, in 1977, which went on to produce 'Alvin and the Chipmunks', the 1988 animated 'Superman' series, and a 'Police Academy' animated series, among many others. The Spanish Agency for Medicine and Health Products (AEMPS) has authorized the first clinical trial in Spain of an experimental vaccine against the novel coronavirus. Thats according to Health Minister Salvador Illa, who made the announcement on Friday at a government press conference. The testing will involve a vaccine from Janssen, a company that is owned by the US multinational Johnson & Johnson, with 190 healthy volunteers from Spain. There will be a further 400 participants of the trial in Germany and Belgium. The recruitment of volunteers who will be aged between 18 and 55, and over 65 will begin immediately, Illa stated, with three Spanish hospitals La Paz and La Princesa in Madrid, and Marques de Valdecilla in Santander taking part. The recruitment of volunteers who will be aged between 18 and 55, and over 65 will begin immediately There is a tremendous effort underway to find a vaccine as soon as possible, Illa continued. We have learned that [US firm] Moderna has signed a deal with a Spanish company to manufacture the vials for the vaccine in our country. We count on high capacity here. Illa also pointed out that a definitive contract was signed on Thursday between the company AstraZeneca and the European Union, the first that has been negotiated with a pharmaceutical firm for access to experimental vaccines against the coronavirus. Member states from the EU will be able to acquire a total of as many as 400 million doses of the experimental vaccine manufactured by AstraZeneca and created by Oxford University in the United Kingdom. The injections will be shared out according to the population of each country. If everything goes well and safety is guaranteed, we are hoping to have the first doses by the end of December, said Illa on Friday. The experimental vaccine from Oxford University has shown promising results until now, but its safety and efficiency is yet to be demonstrated. The prototype is being tested on more than 20,000 volunteers in the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa. Spanish vaccines The scientific community in Spain is already working on a dozen or so experimental vaccines against Covid-19, but none of the projects has yet reached the stage where clinical trials in humans can begin. The two most-advanced initiatives are being headed up by the virologist Mariano Esteban, from Madrids National Biotechnology Center, and by Felipe Garcia, from the Clinic Hospital in Barcelona. The experimental vaccine from Esteban is using a weakened version of the Vaccinia virus, which has been used since the 1970s for the eradication of smallpox, but in this case with genetically added information from the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The project, he complained in June, has been delayed due to the lack of macaque monkeys for testing in Spain, and due to the shortage of these animals in international laboratories, which are currently overwhelmed as a result of the rise in research during the ongoing pandemic. The experimental vaccine being coordinated by Felipe Garcia is based on genetic language, RNA, as is that of Moderna, which is already carrying out clinical trials with a group of 30,000 people. These injections introduce a genetic formula with instructions so that human cells produce determined proteins of the novel coronavirus. In theory, the human body can thus train its defenses without any risks. This theory will now have to be demonstrated via major trials with tens of thousands of people. There is a tremendous effort underway to find a vaccine as soon as possible Health Minister Salvador Illa Last Tuesday, Spanish Science Minister Pedro Duque took part in a meeting to coordinate the next steps to begin clinical trials for Spanish vaccines against Covid-19. There are already 173 experimental vaccines against the coronavirus being developed across the globe, and 31 of them are being tested in humans, according to a register kept by the World Health Organization (WHO). The European Commission has announced conversations and preliminary deals with five developers of experimental vaccines: British company AstraZeneca, Curevac from Germany, the US firms Johnson & Johnson and Moderna, and the alliance formed by French company Sanofi and British pharmaceutical firm GSK. English version by Simon Hunter. NMDC share price surged over 9 percent intraday on August 28 after the board approved to the proposal to demerge its NMDC Iron & Steel Plant in Nagarnar, Chhattisgarh. The Board of Directors of the company at their meeting held on August 27, 2020, have accorded in-principle approval to the proposal to demerge its NMDC Iron & Steel Plant (NISP) at Nagarnar in Chhattisgarh, the company said in an exchange filing. The stock has gained over 27 percent in the last one month and was trading at Rs 104.85, up Rs 8.85, or 9.22 percent. It has touched an intraday high of Rs 107.00 and an intraday low of Rs 99.80. It witnessed a spurt in volume by more than 3.54 times and was trading with volumes of 1,092,796 shares, compared to its five day average of 218,675 shares, an increase of 399.74 percent. NMDC's profit after tax for the first quarter ended June 30 slumped by 55 percent to Rs 533 crore as both production and sales were impacted due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the state-owned miner said on Thursday. The company had posted Rs 1,179 crore PAT in the corresponding quarter in 2019-20, it said in a release. NMDCs turnover during the first quarter was Rs 1,938 crore compared to Rs 3,264 crore during the corresponding quarter last fiscal, the company said. SARATOGA SPRINGS - The New York Racing Association has donated $20,000 to four city nonprofits. The Friday check presentation at the Whitney Gate at the Saratoga Race Course included NYRA President and CEO Dave O'Rourke and Mayor Meg Kelly. She will evenly distribute the money to AIM Services, Inc., Franklin Community Center, Shelters of Saratoga and the SNACpack Program (Saratoga Nutrition Assistance for Children). NYRA raised the money through the summer online sale of Saratoga face masks. Kelly identified the beneficiaries, which provide food, shelter and other resources to residents during the coronavirus pandemic. A limited number of three-pack sets of Saratoga face masks remain on sale for $24.95 at Shop.NYRA.com. The reusable cloth masks come in a variety pack featuring three individual designs: a red mask with a white Saratoga logo; a white mask with a red Saratoga logo; and a navy-blue mask with a red Saratoga logo. The masks include a white border and stretchable elastic ear straps with an interior pocket for a replaceable filter. The 2020 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course runs through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7. Racing at Saratoga is conducted five days a week, Wednesdays to Sundays. Spectators are not allowed, following state health guidelines. "It was great to see this level of support for a campaign that not only serves as a unique sign of the times, but benefits the collective health of the Saratoga community in so many ways," said O'Rourke in a statement. "We thank our fans for their enthusiasm surrounding the face masks, as well as Mayor Kelly and the City of Saratoga Springs for their continued partnership and leadership." NEW DELHI (PTI): French Defence Minister Florence Parly is likely to visit India around September 10 to attend a ceremony to formally induct five Rafale fighter jets into the Indian Air Force (IAF) and hold talks with her Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh to further boost strategic ties, people familiar with the development said on Friday. They said the IAF has proposed September 10 to hold the ceremony, adding both the Indian and French sides are in touch with each other for the possible visit by Parly. The first batch of five Rafale combat jets, manufactured by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, arrived at the Ambala air base on July 29. The jets are yet to be formally inducted into the IAF. Sources said the Defence Minister, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and the entire top military brass of the country will attend the event at the Ambala air base. In a telephonic conversation with Singh on June 2, Parly had conveyed her readiness to visit India to further explore ways to enhance bilateral defence ties. India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore. The Rafale jet is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. European missile maker MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and Scalp cruise missile will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets. Meteor is a next generation beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) designed to revolutionise air-to-air combat. The weapon has been developed by MBDA to combat common threats facing the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Sweden. Out of the 36 Rafale jets, 30 will be fighter jets and six will be trainers. The trainer jets will be twin-seater and they will have almost all the features of the fighter jets. While the first squadron of the Rafale jets will be stationed at the Ambala air base, the second one will be based at the Hasimara base in West Bengal. The governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, says his criticisms of the Nigerian Army are aimed at improving on its successes and not out of lack of appreciation. Mr Zulum said this on Thursday while commissioning the Institute of War and Peace located at Buratai town in Biu local government area of southern Borno, the country home of the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai. The institute, which is named after the Army Chief, is an off-campus section of the Nigerian Army University, which has a campus in Biu town. Mr Zulum, in recent times, has been an ardent critic of the military and its operations in the state, blaming it for the recurring Boko Haram attacks in its communities. In February, he blamed Nigerian soldiers for the attack by Boko Haram which claimed the lives of over 30 stranded travellers. I am being pushed to the wall to say the truth, the governor said. Since my inauguration as the governor of Borno State from May 29th to date, Auno town has been attacked for about six times now. And the reason is that the military has withdrawn from Auno town. Also, he accused the military of being responsible for the attack on his convoy earlier this month in Baga, a town in Kukawa Local Government Area of the state. Mr Zulum survived an ambush by suspected gunmen while on a trip to Monguno and Baga towns to distribute food to internally displaced persons (IDPs). Speaking at the venue of the commissioning on Thursday, Mr Zulum expressed appreciation to officers, and men of the Nigerian military for their counter insurgency operations in the northeast. I am not unaware of where we were before the inception of the Buratais leadership and the successes recorded by the military in the war against terror. We appreciate the sacrifices of lives and deaths of our gallant officers; we shall continue to support our armed forces. When we occasionally criticize, we do so with a view to improving on our successes and not out of lack of appreciation, Mr Zulum said in a statement shared on his social media page. The governor further stated that the institute will promote research on contemporary issues such as terrorism, insurgency and all forms of conflict, with a view to attaining peace. This is a very welcome development. I can assure you of the absolute support of the Government and people of Borno State for such a noble venture. We appreciate the foresight of the Nigerian Army University, Biu and indeed the Nigerian Army under the leadership of Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai for this initiative. The Government of Borno State shall work with Tukur Buratai institute to design a template of programs for peacebuilding, reconstruction and development of our communities. Count on our support, Mr Zulum said. He added, You are all aware of the depleting effect of Boko Haram insurgency in Borno, neighboring States, and indeed adjoining countries of Niger, Chad and Cameroon. Our dear state, Borno is the worst affected, with many of our citizens living in the IDPs camp. Mr Zulum announced the plans to rehabilitate those displaced owing to the destruction of infrastructure, so that they will return to start their means of livelihood. Thats why the Borno State Government is importing a lot of its resources to empower the people and encourage them to return to their communities. The Nigerian Army has been a reliable partner in this endeavor. The governor also directed the construction of a new mega school in Buratai town and ordered the rehabilitation of Primary Health Center, Buratai. The newly commissioned institute was previously the Armys national museum, established in 2016. The institute has six centres for research and documentation, counter terrorism and counter insurgency, strategic communications, cyber security, museum and archives. Japans longest-serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe, announced Friday he is resigning from office because of a health problem. The Japanese leader spoke with reporters about his decision. He said, Faced with the illness and treatment, as well as the pain of lacking physical strength...I decided I should not stay on as prime minister when Im no longer capable of living up to the peoples expectations with confidence. Abe has long battled ulcerative colitis, a chronic, or long-lasting, bowel disease. This summer, he visited a Tokyo hospital two weeks in a row for medical exams. Abe said he now has a new treatment. But there is no guarantee that it will cure his condition, so he decided to resign as prime minister after treatment next Monday. It is gut wrenching to have to leave my job before accomplishing my goals, Abe said Friday. He noted his failure to settle the issue of Japanese kidnapped by North Korea, a territorial dispute with Russia, and amending Japans constitution. Abes resignation marks the end of a period of stability in a country famously known for changing prime ministers. During his years in office, Abe pulled Japan out of an economic recession, although the coronavirus crisis has weakened the economy. He built up strong ties with the United States and President Donald Trump, but Abes support of nationalist policies unsettled China, as well as North and South Korea. His goal of rewriting the U.S.-drafted pacifist constitution failed because of poor public support. Although Abe is leaving office with some of his political goals unfinished, he continued to expand Japans defense capability to react to the needs of the United States. For those who believe the Japan-U.S. alliance is paramount, that was his major achievement, said Koichi Nakano, an international politics professor at Sophia University in Tokyo. Abe is expected to stay on until a new party leader is elected and approved by the parliament. Shinzo Abe is from a family long active in politics. His grandfather was former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi. Abe became Japans youngest prime minister in 2006, at age 52. The term ended a year later because of his health. He returned to power in December 2012. In all, he won six straight national elections. This coming Monday, Abe will become Japans longest-serving prime minister, in terms of consecutive days in office. He will break the record of Eisaku Sato, his great-uncle, who served 2,798 consecutive days as prime minster from 1964 to 1972. After his recent hospital visits were reported, top officials from Abes Cabinet and the ruling party said he was overworked and badly needed rest. There are several politicians interested in becoming prime minister. They include Shigeru Ishiba, a 63-year-old former defense minister, former foreign minister Fumio Kishida, Defense Minister Taro Kono, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, and economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura. Abe said he will focus on his treatment for now and continue his political activity and support a new administration as a lawmaker. I'm Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press reported this story. Hai Do adapted the story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story capable - adj. able to do something confidence - n. a feeling or belief that someone has the ability to succeed bowel - n. the long tube in the body that helps digest food and carries waste out of the body in a row - phrase, in succession gut wrenching - adj. causing great mental or emotional pain stability - n. the quality of being stable, not changed easily paramount - adj. very important achievement - n. something that has been done through strong effort or hard work great-uncle - n. an uncle of one's father or mother focus - v. to direct attention at something specific Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal A new state program allows eligible New Mexico companies to work with scientists and engineers at Sandia or Los Alamos national laboratories to advance technology developed at the labs into market-ready programs and services. But the first deadline is approaching quickly. The Technology Readiness Gross Receipts Tax Credit Initiative, signed into law earlier this year, allows selected companies to receive up to $150,000 in direct technical assistance per year, according to a news release from Sandia National Laboratories. Technical assistance includes prototyping, proof-of-concept, field demonstrations, testing and development, technical validation and other activities, according to the release. The initiative is a three-year pilot program, designed to address the stage between technology development and commercialization. Once technology is transferred out of the labs, it often requires significant capital investment, and businesses often lack the funding to let the technology mature. Statements of intent from companies looking to participate are due Sept. 3, according to the release. After receiving all statements, the laboratories will complete an interview to establish eligibility by Sept. 17. From there, eligible companies will then complete written proposals and prepare presentations by Oct. 14. Invited companies will present to a review panel the following week, and funding decisions will be announced by Oct. 26, the release said. 28.08.2020 LISTEN The General Secretary elect of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) Nana Yaa Akyimpim Jantuah said the CPP is the best alternative to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC), since the two parties had failed to better the lot of Ghanaians. CPP is the best alternative for Ghanaians, both NPP and NDC have failed Ghanaians in terms of transforming the economy. I have already contributed in various ways to support the national executive committee and Im prepared to do more to make the party more vibrant and attractive to the electorate, she added She urged the constituency executives to be united and pull their resources together to support the party to capture power in 2020. She also stressed that the CPP was the best party to govern the nation after Ghanaians had tested the NPP and NDC. Nana Yaa Akyimpim Jantuah noted that the CPP had good policies that could rescue the economy from economic doldrums and make Ghanaians happy again, as it happened under the administration of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first President. ---KingdomfmOnline ShakePay is built, not to hold your bitcoin [but] to send it out right away, Amiouny told CoinDesk. What [our customers] do is they buy bitcoin and then they send it out to wallets they control as a platform we generally dont hold customer assets very long. According to Shakepay, the insurance provided by Aon is underwritten by insurers with Lloyds of London. The insurance covers all funds Shakepay holds in cold storage it covers physical theft of the media where the private keys are held, Amiouny explained. The cold storage is provided by a crypto custody provider regulated in the US, though the providers identity is undisclosed for security purposes. On top of securing insurance to beef up its protection, Shakepay has tapped CipherBlade to perform a full audit of the cryptocurrency companys reserves and security policies. The audit revealed that Shakepays reserves fully back its customer assets on paper. There was a 100% match between transaction data found in backend systems and amounts credited to user accounts accordingly relative to actual transaction amounts observed on the Bitcoin and Ethereum blockchains (for cryptocurrency transactions) and bank account records (for fiat transactions) in all transactions observed, CipherBlades report said. Four people who were in attendance at the scaled-down Republican National Convention in Charlotte earlier this week tested positive for COVID-19, according to local health officials. The positive tests were reported just days after county officials expressed concern that those who gathered in Charlotte for the convention were not adhering to social distancing and mask-wearing. Two people who attended the convention and two others who served as support staff were found to have the coronavirus, Mecklenburg County officials said. The individuals who tested positive were immediately isolated, according to health officials. Local health officials in Mecklenburg County say four people who were in attendance at the Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, this week tested positive for COVID-19. The convention center is seen above prior to the first day on Monday The positive results came after local health officials grew alarmed seeing a large number of delegates in attendance at the Charlotte Convention Center (seen above on Monday) failing to adhere to social distancing rules. Many were also seen without face coverings The image above shows delegates mingling at close quarters - several of whom are not wearing masks or socially distancing - on Monday in Charlotte The four-day RNC began in the Queen City on Monday and continued through Thursday. Due to state social distancing guidelines, the Republican Party was forced to hold a scaled-down version of the event. More than 300 delegates from across the country met at the Charlotte Convention Center throughout the course of the week, according to The Charlotte Observer. Earlier this month, a top health official with the RNC said that even a miniaturized convention posed a high risk given that the attendees would be arriving from different parts of the country. The Charlotte area has seen 25,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 290 deaths since the pandemic began in March. Delegates who started arriving in the city last week were given COVID-19 tests as well as regular symptom checks. County officials said that 800 tests were administered to both attendees and support staff. After arriving, the attendees were free to roam around the city, taking in the areas dining and going to local events. Health officials worried that delegates could have contracted the virus in the time period between their initial test in Charlotte and the start of the in-person convention. In the days leading up to Mondays first day, delegates held business meetings inside a ballroom in the Westin Charlotte. They also moved about the city, where several convention-related events were held. Local health officials prepared for the delegates arrival by setting up a sophisticated contact-tracing system. In order to combat the spread of COVID-19, delegates wore special badges that recorded the names of people with whom they came into contact. That way they could prevent an outbreak by reaching infected people before they had an opportunity to unwittingly spread the disease. But health officials began to worry when they noticed that few of those in attendance during the first day of the convention at Richardson Ballroom were not wearing face coverings. Many delegates were seen mingling in small groups and roaming around the room without masks and failing to socially distance themselves. When the convention was in session, the delegates were seated individually at tables that were spaced out 6 feet apart. The RNC tried to reassure worried health officials that it would enforce public health guidelines. But when President Trump spoke during the first day on Monday, his speech was beamed through a television at the front of the ballroom. During his speech, several delegates rushed toward the stage to get a better glimpse. In doing so, they stood tightly packed together. At one point, when the song YMCA came on, they started dancing. Many of them were not wearing masks at the time. In June, Trump announced that the convention would not be held in Charlotte after Governor Cooper, a Democrat, refused to pledge that the 20,200-seat Spectrum Arena would be available for use. The president then decided to hold the convention in Jacksonville, Florida. But a spike in COVID-19 cases in Florida forced Trump to cancel that plan as well. Finally, the Republicans held a scaled-down version in Charlotte while most of the convention speeches were done virtually. The last night of the convention featured Trumps acceptance speech, which was staged on the South Lawn of the White House. Some 1,500 people - many of whom were not wearing masks - watched as the president gave his speech to close out the convention. On Demand We have a new story every day on the front page of thephuketnews.com. Also like us on our Facebook page (facebook.com/thephuketnews) and be the first to watch all the new stories. Finally you can watch any segment, any time by going to thephuketnews.com/tv where all the stories are listed for you to enjoy. All our programs can be enjoyed in High Definition when watching on the internet. In-Room VDO Statewide concerns about funding cuts The concerns of Wake's principals were echoed by the State Board of Education, which passed a motion asking lawmakers for protection from school funding cuts. State board chairman Eric Davis made his pitch to lawmakers at a committee meeting this week, saying many districts are "financially fragile." It's uncertain whether lawmakers will address these concerns when they return to Raleigh next week. Legislative staff said that a district might lose 2% to 4% of its state funding if its enrollment drops 10% this year. The state looks at whether enrollment during the first two months of the school year met the projections used to provide funding. "It's not just a straight cut, meaning that if the numbers go down it's not as draconian as it seems," Rep. Jeffrey Elmore, a Wilkes County Republican and House education leader, said at Tuesday's legislative committee meeting. Creditors will decide on Friday whether to accept the countrys $65bn restructuring proposal. Argentinas day of reckoning has arrived. After four months of tense debt talks, multiple pushed deadlines and amendments since an initial low-ball offer in April, bondholders will decide on Friday whether to accept the countrys $65bn restructuring proposal. The main three creditor committees holding a large chunk of the bonds backed a deal earlier this month, bolstering confidence that the government will get the required level of support to allow a full deal to go ahead without holdouts. A deal is key to pulling Argentina out of default and reviving the economy, already in its third straight year of recession. Economy Minister Martin Guzmans next step will be renegotiating a failed $57bn deal with the International Monetary Fund. After circling around each other for the better part of 2020, we have finally reached D-Day, said Patrick Esteruelas, head of research for Emso Asset Management in New York. He added it was highly unlikely that legal thresholds on the bonds needed for a deal would not be reached. A person with direct knowledge of the negotiations told Reuters news agency earlier this week that participation was very good, though the final result would only be known on Friday. The restructuring invitation expires at 5pm Eastern Time (21:00 GMT) unless further extended. The new bonds are scheduled to be issued on September 4 if a deal is struck. Argentinas government made a breakthrough with its main creditor groups the Ad Hoc Group, Argentina Creditor Committee and the Exchange Bondholder Group on August 4, when all three agreed to support an amended offer. That helped push up Argentinas sovereign bond prices, though they have slipped back over recent weeks in thin trading, affected by broader concerns about the countrys tough economic outlook. They dipped an average 0.5 percent on Friday. The bonds include so-called Exchange bonds, involved in a previous restructuring, and which have tougher legal clauses. The other Macri bonds were issued during the previous administration of conservative President Mauricio Macri. Argentina needs support from holders of 85 percent of the Exchange bonds, and between 66.67 percent and 75 percent on the Macri bonds, though individual bond series can have lower levels of support. It is estimated that adherence will be high, but its still to be seen what percentage is reached in relation to the activation thresholds of the collective action clauses, financial services firm Puente said in a note. Investors will pay special attention to this detail, to get an idea on whether the swap can be made 100% binding on all the various series of bonds. 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 SACRAMENTO California overhauled its rules for when businesses can operate during the coronavirus pandemic, imposing a statewide system that will allow for partial openings in areas where the disease is under better control. Under the plan, unveiled Friday by Gov. Gavin Newsom, counties will be placed into four color-coded tiers purple, red, orange and yellow, in descending order of severity based on the prevalence of the coronavirus in their communities and gradually move through those levels. Restrictions on business and public life will be eased as transmission drops. Newsom said the approach is simpler, more stringent and, most important, slower than the first time the state reopened this spring. As the governor began to ease a statewide stay-at-home order in May, many counties moved swiftly to bring back businesses and revive their ailing economies, leading to a summer surge of new coronavirus cases. We dont believe that theres a green light that says, Go back to the way things were or back to a prepandemic mind-set, Newsom said at the news conference. Much of the state may not immediately see any changes to public life under the new system, which takes effect Monday. Thirty-eight counties, encompassing 87% of the population, fall into the most restrictive tier, purple, where indoor operations for nonessential businesses largely must be closed. All Bay Area counties, except San Francisco and Napa, are now in this tier. Counties will have to improve in two key areas to progress from one tier to another: daily case rate and test positivity rate. They will also have to show progress in addressing health equity, which has been a major issue during the pandemic, with Black and Latino residents getting COVID-19 at much higher rates than the rest of the population. More details on the equity benchmark will be announced Tuesday. Previously, counties had to meet benchmarks for personal protective equipment, contact tracing, testing and hospitalizations in order to proceed with reopenings. While the state will continue monitoring those areas, counties will not need to meet specific goals in those categories to advance to the next tier. Case rates are measured by daily confirmed cases per 100,000 people, to account for population. California, for instance, has a case rate of 10.9 cases per 100,000 people. San Francisco has a case rate of 9.8 cases per 100,000 people, according to the state. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle The test positivity rate is the percentage of total tests that come back positive. The World Health Organization has recommended that countries keep the rate below 5% for at least two weeks before considering reopening. Californias test positivity rate is 6%. San Franciscos test positivity rate is 3.4%. For context, states that have successfully tamped down the virus, like New York, have test positivity rates of 1% or lower. States that are struggling, like Florida and Texas, have test positivity rates between 10% and 20%. Purple counties have more than seven new daily coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents and more than 8% of tests coming back positive. Indoor dining, gyms, nail salons and other personal care services, movie theaters, museums and houses of worship cannot yet open. Hair salons and barbershops will be allowed to reopen indoors and retail stores can operate with 25% capacity. San Francisco and Napa County are in the next-lowest tier, red, where many of those nonessential businesses will be able to reopen with limited capacity. Bars, card rooms and office buildings must remain closed. The red tier metrics require a daily new-case rate between 4 and 7 per 100,000 people and a positive test rate of 5% to 8%. In the orange tier, businesses can be open with some modifications and limits on capacity. The required metrics are between 1 and 3.9 daily cases per 100,000 people, and a positive test rate of 2% to 4.9%. Businesses can be nearly fully reopened when their counties are in the yellow tier, which requires them to have fewer than one new daily case per 100,000 residents and fewer than 2% of tests return positive. Hospitalization and ICU rates will not be formally considered part of the new framework because case rates and test positivity rates are earlier indicators of transmission, said Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. Hospitalizations tend to trail new cases by several weeks. However, officials will continue monitoring hospital and ICU capacity and will work with counties to pause or backtrack if hospitals or ICUs become overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, Ghaly said. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Statewide, the number of people hospitalized and in ICUs for COVID-19 have been trending down for the past several weeks. As of Friday, hospitalizations were down 40% compared with the peak on July 21, dropping from about 7,200 people to 4,200, Ghaly said. And the number of COVID-19 patients in ICUs has declined about 35% from the peak on July 21, dropping from 2,058 to 1,329 as of Thursday, according to state data. The state will update counties status weekly. Counties must spend at least three weeks in each tier before they can advance to the next one a much slower pace intended to give public health officials time to monitor the effects of the changes on transmission of the coronavirus. If counties hit the case rate and testing targets for the next level for at least two weeks, they will be allowed to ease restrictions further. If they miss the criteria for their current tier for at least two weeks, they will drop back a level and must adopt more restrictions again. Having four tiers rather than a binary system makes a lot of sense to me, said Dr. George Rutherford, head of the division of infectious disease at UCSF. Once youre in a tier, you cant change tiers for three weeks at least. Slowing things down will be very helpful. ... Slow and steady wins the race. This is a way to kind of keep everything clear and in front of us and not move too quickly. We know what happens if we move too quickly. Schools can reopen for in-person instruction in counties that have been in the red tier for two weeks. But counties in the purple tier can reopen elementary schools if they receive a waiver from the local health department. But some local officials and businesses worry the new strategy may move too slowly. Tony Avelar/Special to the Chronicle I do have concerns about how slow the approach should be, considering the high numbers of businesses on the brink of closure and those who have already lost their jobs, said San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa. California Business Roundtable said it is gravely concerned that California will see a wave of permanent job loss. As coronavirus cases surged in California in June, Newsom began shutting down much of the economy again to slow transmission. By the middle of July, the governor had ordered bars, indoor dining, movie theaters and card rooms closed statewide. In counties on a state monitoring list for heightened spread of the virus, gyms, houses of worship, hair and nail salons, offices and shopping malls were told they could only operate outdoors. The states new system eliminates the watch list in favor of the colored tiers. At one point, the state was monitoring more than 40 counties, encompassing nearly the entire population of California. But as some including Napa, Santa Cruz and the states second-largest county, San Diego fell off the list in recent weeks, pressure grew on the Newsom administration to provide guidance on how they could begin to reopen businesses. A dropping caseload has given Newsom confidence to attempt a second reopening, which he promised would be more cautious and deliberate than the first. The seven-day average for new coronavirus cases has dipped to less than 6,000, well below a peak of more than 10,000 in late July, though still about three times higher than when the state first began rolling back lockdown measures in May. Newsom also announced a deal this week to more than double Californias test processing capacity over the next six months, which he said could help the state return more quickly to public life. Alexei Koseff and Catherine Ho are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff @Cat_Ho COVID-19 cases are increasing rapidly in northeast Syria. The war-torn region is susceptible to an outbreak due to the effects of recent conflicts and the closure of an aid crossing in January. Coronavirus cases have increased significantly in August in northeast Syria. There were 327 total cases in the area as of Aug. 21, according to a report from Qamishli-based Rojava Information Center. This included a 145-case increase that week. There were at least 300 new cases in three weeks, the center said on Aug. 24, showing that the majority of the regions confirmed cases are recent. The International Rescue Committee a humanitarian non-governmental organization operating in northeast Syria said on Thursday that COVID-19 cases have increased by 1,000% in August in a release sent to Al-Monitor. There are 425 confirmed cases in northeast Syria, a spokesperson for the organization said the same day. In a statement sent to Al-Monitor, Doctors Without Borders said that a fifth of those infected are health workers. Northeast Syria is governed by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. The area operates independent of Damascus and is led by the Kurdish political party the Democratic Union Party. Various other Christian and Arab groups also participate in the administration, as well as in the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces that fight the Islamic State (IS). Conflict and political isolation make northeast Syria vulnerable to a virus outbreak. The years-long war with IS damaged healthcare infrastructure, as did the 2019 Turkish incursion into the area, which displaced hundreds of thousands. Many people remain displaced by recent conflicts, including more than 60,000 IS-affiliated women and children in the al-Hol camp. Some healthcare workers tested positive for the virus in the crowded camp with water access issues this month. The situation is further complicated by the UN Security Councils January closure of the Yaroubiyah crossing from Iraq into northeast Syria. Russia and China, who back the Syrian government, want aid to flow through Damascus. The Syrian government does not fully recognize the authorities in northeast Syria, making it difficult for humanitarian actors to deliver aid that way. The International Rescue Committee, or IRC, said that the closure is significantly harming healthcare in northeast Syria. The IRC has already seen devastating impacts of the UN Security Councils decision to put the Yaroubiya crossing out of use: severe disruption to services and closure of health facilities, critical shortages of medicine, the organization said in its statement, citing a lack of personal protective equipment and intensive care unit beds as well. Lack of adequate testing could mean there are more cases than detected. This is grounds for concern regarding a hidden, and far wider, spread in some of the most vulnerable parts of the country especially amongst the civilians displaced or in humanitarian need in the northeast, said the IRC. Doctors Without Borders reported that the limited tests in northeast Syria show about a 50% positive rate. Testing is limited, but of those tests carried out, around half return a positive result, the organization said on Thursday. This suggests that transmission rates are high and that much more testing is needed. Turkey, which is in a state of conflict with Kurdish groups in northeast Syria, cut the water supply to the region this month. Water is necessary for hygiene practices that combat the spread of the virus. Autonomous administration officials are attempting to mitigate the virus spread. Wearing a mask is mandatory and public gatherings are banned. The regions schools moved online earlier this year. Containment remains difficult. In its Aug. 21 report, the Rojava Information Center said that contact tracing stopped in the Jazira region due to uncontrollable spread. By Abdul Qadir Sediqi and Orooj Hakimi KABUL (Reuters) - Taliban fighters killed four civilians on Thursday during clashes with Afghan forces in the central province of Parwan, amid rescue work after flash floods claimed more than 150 lives, officials said. It was the latest violence amid peace talks between the warring sides that have been delayed over the issue of prisoner releases, as part of efforts to end the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan, which has spanned nearly two decades. "Taliban fighters opened fire on civilians fleeing areas worst hit by the flash floods," said Abdul Shukoor Qudoosi, a district official in Bagram, home to the country's biggest U.S. military base and the site of the clashes. "Taliban were clashing with Afghan forces and they killed civilians who were in an autorickshaw near an army checkpoint," Qudoosi said, adding that it appeared as if the Islamist militants mistook the passengers for Afghan soldiers. One Afghan soldier was killed and two were injured. A Taliban spokesmen was not immediately available to comment. The death toll from the floods rose to 150, with at least 250 people injured, as survivors and rescue workers sifted the debris of more than 1,500 homes destroyed to the north of the capital, Kabul. Authorities moved more than 900 families out of parts of the mountainous province that had been devastated by the floods, which were triggered by exceptionally heavy rain this week. "The search is still on, as many people, we fear, are still buried under the rocks and rubble," said Tamim Azimi, a spokesman for the ministry of disaster management. "The situation is very grim, the scale of loss is intense." Security forces, officials and survivors have trudged through deep mud in the search for survivors while the effort to clear the disaster area has stretched more than 28 hours, hampered by blocked and damaged roads. The dead included many children, survivors said. The death toll was expected to rise as families prepared for mass burials, while mounds of rubble remain to be cleared. Afghanistan regularly suffers from drought but can be lashed by very heavy rain during the south Asian monsoon season. (Writing by Rupam Jain;Editing by Robert Birsel and Clarence Fernandez) Microsoft is teaming up with Walmart in a contest against Oracle to buy the U.S. assets of the popular video-sharing app TikTok from China's ByteDance Ltd. Oracle and Microsoft, with its new partner, both submitted bids in a deal that could come within the week, according to people familiar with the deliberations. Walmart would also own a stake in a newly spun off TikTok business, alongside Microsoft, the people said. Competing offers have been made in what augurs the closing process of a deal, although it will take longer for final details to be worked out, one person said, requesting anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the negotiations. Walmart confirmed in an email that it is in "partnership" with Microsoft in its pursuit of TikTok, a move to bolster the retailer's third-party marketplace and nascent advertising arm. A Walmart-Microsoft bid would "meet both the expectations of U.S. TikTok users while satisfying the concerns of U.S. government regulators," Walmart said. TikTok and Microsoft declined to comment, while Oracle didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. In China and other countries, ByteDance's apps offer e-commerce features along with video clips, which haven't been available in the U.S. so far. Adding Walmart to the deal would enable the retail giant to play that role for the U.S. TikTok app, said a person familiar with the planning. Microsoft and Walmart are already collaborating on cloud applications, brought together by mutual rivalry with Amazon.com Inc., which is the biggest cloud-infrastructure software seller, followed by Microsoft. The White House has been pushing for a sale of TikTok's U.S. operations due to concerns over its ties to China and implications for national security. Microsoft had emerged as the top contender to buy the company, announcing in a blog post earlier this month that it was in talks to acquire TikTok's business in the U.S., New Zealand, Australia and Canada. Microsoft's discussions are now centered around TikTok's U.S. business, narrowing the scope from its original plans to include the three other countries, according to two people familiar with the matter. While ByteDance is asking about $30 billion for TikTok in the U.S., bidders have not been willing to offer that amount, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing people familiar with the negotiations. President Donald Trump has issued an executive order with a mid-September deadline for TikTok to be sold to an American company or prohibit U.S. people and companies from doing business with the app. The announcement set off a flurry of interest from other companies. A later order required ByteDance to sell TikTok's U.S. assets within 90 days. It's not clear whether other parties have entered the process or plan to bid. The departure Wednesday of TikTok Chief Executive Kevin Mayer, after less than three months at the company, suggests a deal is imminent. Mayer had left a long career at Walt Disney Co. to join TikTok in June. Mayer's appointment was held up as an example of how the company was distancing itself from its Chinese roots and was seen as a way to smooth relations with Washington. "As we expect to reach a resolution very soon, it is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company," Mayer said in an internal memo obtained by Bloomberg News. "In recent weeks, as the political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural changes will require, and what it means for the global role I signed up for." In a town hall with TikTok's U.S. and European employees on Thursday, executives reassured employees that they will know more in the next couple of weeks, according to people familiar with the company who were not authorized to speak publicly. Analysts and bankers have pegged the value of TikTok's U.S. business anywhere from $20 billion to $50 billion, a wide range that reflects the complexity involved in separating TikTok's American and global businesses, in determining a reliable number of users, and how revenue breaks out just for the markets at stake in the deal. With some 100 million monthly active users in the U.S. and a unique platform for making and sharing short videos, TikTok has drawn interest from an array of companies. Google parent Alphabet Inc. weighed pursuing a stake as part of a coalition that later came unraveled, people with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg this month. Walmart, it turns out, was part of that group, alongside SoftBank Group Corp., some of the people said Thursday. SoftBank, led by Japanese billionaire Masayoshi Son, already owns a stake in ByteDance. Representatives of Alphabet and SoftBank declined to comment. CNBC previously reported Walmart's involvement with the Google grouping. Aside from being crowded, the negotiations around TikTok have also become unusually public. Trump economic adviser Peter Navarro, who has come out against a potential sale to Microsoft and advocated banning TikTok completely, has been at odds with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who wants the app sold, according to a person familiar with the deliberations within the White House. A Treasury spokeswoman declined to comment. Navarro said there were "no tensions whatsoever" between himself and Mnuchin. Mnuchin had come around to support a TikTok purchase by Oracle, this person said, before Walmart entered the picture. The person asked not to be named because they weren't authorized to speak publicly on the matter. It's unclear whether the entry of Walmart into deal negotiations changes the administration's views on which suitor is best positioned to satisfy the government's national security concerns. The move to ban TikTok or force a deal has drawn rebukes from Democrats. David Cicilline, the U.S. representative leading a high-profile antitrust investigation into Silicon Valley's biggest companies, said in an interview this week that the government should embrace challengers to Facebook Inc., not hinder them. "We need more competition in this space," he said. "What we don't need is the president of the United States injecting himself into a transaction." Deal terms would also have to be palatable to the Chinese government, which has criticized the Trump administration for its actions against TikTok. Microsoft will want to avoid going so low on its proposed price that China feels ripped off, a person familiar with the matter said. Walmart's partnering with Microsoft is the "final piece of the puzzle that ultimately cements" a successful acquisition of TikTok's U.S. operations for $35 billion to $40 billion, Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives wrote in a note to investors. He called Microsoft the "only true white knight." Oracle has proposed a deal of $20 billion in cash and stock, according to a report in Hollywood publication The Wrap. Oracle's offer would be made up of $10 billion in cash and $10 billion in Oracle stock plus 50% of annual TikTok profit would flow back to ByteDance for two years, one unidentified person told The Wrap. The deal could be complicated by a lawsuit seeking to block the Trump administration from banning the app, a move that many of ByteDance's investors sought to stop. Executives at General Atlantic and Sequoia Capital, two major backers of ByteDance, tried unsuccessfully to dissuade Chief Executive Officer Zhang Yiming from moving forward with the lawsuit, people familiar with the matter said. They were concerned, in part, that challenging Trump would backfire and that the administration would respond by enacting additional roadblocks to completing a sale of the TikTok business, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions were private. General Atlantic and Sequoia Capital declined to comment. Bill Ford, CEO of General Atlantic, and Doug Leone, a managing partner at Sequoia Capital, have been acting as emissaries to the Trump administration on behalf of the Chinese company. Their main mission is to avert a ban by securing a deal, said the people. Even with Microsoft's and Oracle's bids submitted, they may need an extension beyond the deadline set by the president to work out details. But ByteDance's legal team was eager for a fight, and Zhang was happy to oblige, one of the people familiar with the discussions said. The Trump administration hasn't been particularly eager to embrace Leone's overtures, either. Leone has sought to develop relationships with Mnuchin and the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, people familiar with the discussions have said. One official in Washington has described Leone as overconfident and aloof to the problems Sequoia's large presence in China presents to the administration. However, the investors' concerns were warranted, said two officials in Washington who asked not to be identified amid the litigation. The lawsuit is likely to have repercussions on the administration's leniency toward any proposed deal, they said. Oracle has a decent shot of winning approval, two officials said, thanks to a public endorsement by Trump, the president's relationship with its top executives and a collaboration between the company and the administration on 5G mobile infrastructure. Navarro echoed that endorsement Wednesday during an appearance on Fox News. "If you look at Microsoft versus Oracle, the one thing that separates the two companies with respect to national security is that Microsoft has a large footprint in China," Navarro said. "Oracle on the other hand has a strong reputation of really putting a great firewall between its operations and China and that's an important thing." A previously little-known agreement between Switzerland and China allowing Chinese officials access to Chinese nationals applying for asylum in the European country has come up for renewal, prompting concerns that the law may be used to expel Tibetans and other ethnic minorities fleeing persecution by Beijing. The document, first signed in 2015 and never officially published, was revealed this week by the Swiss NZZ am Sonntag news site, and immediately drew criticism from Swiss lawmakers and other observers who called for the agreement to be withdrawn. Nicolas Walder, a Swiss member of parliament, described himself as shocked by the news of the agreements existence, telling RFAs Tibetan Service that it had never been put forward for discussion in Swiss civil society or parliament or by the Swiss people themselves. Im personally very much against that agreement, because it raises questions about the protection of people seeking asylum or seeking protection in Switzerland, even if the Administration gives us some guarantee that information about Tibetans and Uyghurs will not be shared with the central Chinese government, Walder said. Asking Chinese officials to come to Switzerland to determine the identity of persons escaping persecution in China is like asking a criminal to come and check to see if a victim is really a victim, Walder said, pointing to what he called Chinas poor record on human rights. Im also quite worried about other Chinese people, Walder said. You know, you have a lot of political activists defending human rights, defending the environment. They may not be part of a minority, but they still need protection. Well ask the government not to sign the extension of that agreement, Walder said. A close look at claims Reached for comment, Lucas Riederspokesperson for Switzerlands State Secretariat for Migration (SEM)told RFA that Swiss authorities look closely at the claims made by Chinese nationals seeking asylum in the country, and that the role Chinese officials invited to the country to investigate is only to confirm their identity. Swiss authorities scrupulously examine each asylum application individually. If any sign of persecution is detected or suspected, asylum seekers will not get returned to their country of original, Rieder said, adding, The protection of the rights of the concerned individuals is of the highest importance to the Swiss authorities. Citing data from SEM, NZZ am Sonntag said the agreement between Switzerland and China has so far been implemented only once, leading to the deportation of 13 individuals, including four persons applying for asylum, after a Chinese delegation visited the country to identify them in 2016. Even though the Swiss government says that the 2015 agreement wont affect Tibetans and Uyghurs, many questions have been raised, and there are looming doubts among the public, said Tethong Wangpo, a Swiss-Tibetan and member of the Dharamsala, India-based Tibetan Parliament in Exile. How do they determine the lists of the people to be deported? How would they separate Tibetans and Uyghurs from Chinese nationals? And how are these investigations conducted, and by whom? Wangpo asked. Wangpo noted that Fabian Molina, a Swiss MP from the Social Democratic Party, and long-time Tibet supporter and lawmaker Sibel Arslan have promised to look into the issue in the coming days. But we dont know what will happen, he said. We hope that the Swiss government will not fall under the influence of the Chinese Communist Partys far-reaching expansionist agendas, not just for the sake of the Tibetans but also for the people of Switzerland themselves, he said. Switzerland is home to more than 100,000 refugees and also hosts key United Nations rights bodies, including the UN Refugee Agency and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Reported by Tashi Wangchuk and Rigdhen Dolma for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Written in English by Richard Finney. German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Friday that the coronavirus pandemic would worsen in coming months, and that life would not return to normal until a vaccine against it had been developed. Western Europe's longest serving leader also called on the world to accelerate the fight against global warming, and for Germany and Europe to maintain dialog with other major powers through difficult times while beating the drum for democracy. But as Merkel makes preparations to step down before the next national election in October 2021, she made clear that she expects the pandemic to define her last year in office. Urging citizens not to drop their guard against the virus as Germany's daily infection rate rises, she told a news conference: "This is a serious matter, as serious as it's ever been, and you need to carry on taking it seriously." Even though Germany would not fully repay debt incurred to fund relief measures offsetting the impact of COVID-19 until 2058, such stimulus was essential as the economy could not be allowed to grind to a halt, she said. Her government would also work to foster social cohesion in the face of the pandemic, focusing on protecting children and other vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and low-income families, from its effects. Meanwhile, she said further contracts for COVID-19 vaccines were "in the works" between drug companies and the European Union, whose rotating presidency Germany holds until December. With none of the many vaccines under development having yet passed through phase III trials, the European Commission this week secured at least 300 million doses of British drug maker AstraZeneca's potential treatment. Merkel also said that, with global efforts to combat climate change insufficient, the EU needed to adjust climate goals it has set for 2030, and that she wanted a carbon pricing mechanism for the industry and transport sectors. It was also important for Europe to keep channels of communication open with China and Russia, even if there were issues on which they disagreed. She cited tensions over Hong Kong and Belarus, and the suspected poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who is being treated in a Berlin hospital. Fondly referred to as "Mutti" or Mum in Germany, Merkel has been a dominant figure on the world stage since 2005, helping to steer the EU through the euro zone crisis and opening Germany's doors to migrants fleeing wars in the Middle East in 2015 - a strategy that still divides the bloc and her country. Her government has so far also managed the coronavirus crisis better than many of its European counterparts, introducing rigorous testing that has helped keep cases and deaths relatively low. But, in common with the trend across much of the world, the country's new daily infections have accelerated in recent weeks. Merkel and regional leaders agreed on Thursday to keep Germany's schools open, ban major events until at least the end of the year, and toughen quarantine rules for travelers returning from high-risk countries. She stressed on Friday she would continue to focus on battling the pandemic, rather than preparing for retirement. Asked if she had booked her post-chancellorship dream vacation yet, she said: "This is not the time to book such trips. I am fully occupied with the current time." Nobody could foresee how the situation would develop in the winter, she said. "We only know a little bit about the virus... Whenever we know something new we will need to take new measures. It's going to be an ongoing process." (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie (Natural News) Research into the benefits of CBD has ramped up in recent years, and one area that could be particularly valuable is its effects on mental health. One recent study by Brazilian researchers found that it can help address isolation-induced aggression, which is something that could be incredibly useful in the quarantine era. In the study, four groups of mice were given different doses of CBD, while a fifth group was not given any and served as a control. The mice were isolated in cages for 10 days prior to the experiment; an isolation of this long normally prompts them to attack newcomers. The idea was to see how they would react when a new friend was introduced in a test known as a resident intruder test. They found that the mice in the fifth group (the placebo) attacked a mouse intruder just two minutes after entering their cage, and they made anywhere from 20 to 25 attacks. This is in keeping with their normal response to intruders. The mice who were given the smallest dose of CBD, however, started attacking at around four minutes, which was double the time it took the control group to get hostile, and they attacked half as many times. The group of mice who were the least aggressive were those who had been given 15 milligrams per kilo of body weight. They waited 11 minutes after the mouse intruded to attack, on average, and there were only an average of five attacks per cage. Interestingly, the mice who were given the highest CBD doses, which were equivalent to 30 milligrams and 60 milligrams per kilo of body weight, were a bit more aggressive than those who got low doses, yet they were still less aggressive than the ones in the control group. The scientists said that they expected to see this type of reduction in the effect of CBD in higher doses based on the results of past studies. They said that past experiments looking into the potential of CBD as an antidepressant found lower effects as doses rose following an initial gain. In fact, they said that if they had tested a dose of 120 milligrams per kilo on an additional group of mice in this study, they might have found their aggressiveness was not inhibited at all. They then set out to determine how CBD calms the rodents, so they blocked the receptors in the mices brains that they believed were critical in this response, the 5-HT1A receptor and the CB1 receptor. Regardless of the dose they were given, the mices aggressiveness remained nearly the same as those who did not take any CBD. They still arent quite sure how these receptors affect aggressiveness, however. Their findings were published in the journal Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry. CBD can soothe anxiety and aggression A mental health lecturer from the University of York, Ian Hamilton, told the Daily Mail: You do see that CBD has a calming effect on people with mental health problems. It looks like it has potential for helping impulsive control and thats seen in a lot of things like autism, depression and anxiety. He added that he would expect a similar effect to be seen in humans, although he cautioned that the doses of CBD given to the mice were a lot stronger than what people could achieve using the products that are currently being sold legally. Although CBD is extracted from marijuana, it does not cause dependency or psychosis because it doesnt contain THC. Reducing aggression can be added to the very long list of benefits that science has already linked to CBD, such as pain relief, addressing psychosis, reducing blood pressure, and fighting seizures. Many people with anxiety find that its mellowing effect on the nervous system takes them out of that heightened fight or flight state and gives them some much-needed peace, and further studies are likely to uncover even more CBD benefits for mood and mental health. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk Eurekalert.org To corner government, 22 opposition parties to meet ahead of Parliament session India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 28: At least 22 opposition parties are likely to meet soon and chalk out a plan for a united peoples' movement against the Narendra Modi government. The meeting is likely to take place online and will be held before Parliament's Monsoon Session which begins on September 14. It may be recalled that on May 22, a similar meeting had taken place. The meeting was critical of the government's decision of imposing a nation-wide lockdown in the aftermath of the COVID-19 spread. 4-hour daily sittings, no off days: Monsoon Session of Parliament likely from Sept 14 to Oct 1 Hindustan Times reported that the upcoming meeting is expected to chalk out a plan to launch a campaign espousing key issues. The leaders had identified the government's failure in containing the pandemic and also providing relief. Flight rules: Banned from flying if you remove mask & more news | Oneindia News Further the parties would discuss how the Centre and its agencies have acted with bias during the February communal violence in Delhi. The use of the UAPA and invoking sedition to dub people as anti-national will also be discussed by the opposition leaders. Congress will be at the centre stage of this meeting. The report said that the meeting date is yet to be fixed. It was initially supposed to be held in August, but was postponed at the insistence of the Congress which was busy with the Rajasthan crisis and the CWC. Hurricane Laura left devastation in its wake in the state of Louisiana and is considered to be one of the most powerful storms to rip through the region in the history of the United States. The storm left catastrophic damage and killed at least six people, including a 68-year-old man and a 14-year-old girl. Hurricane Laura's destructive strength The weather disturbance has now turned into a tropical depression and has destroyed homes and business establishments, knocked out power that was distributed to nearly one million families in the states of Texas and Louisiana. According to CBS News, United States authorities have placed Arkansas under a state of emergency and is currently being ravaged by strong winds and massive flooding. The National Hurricane Center reported that Hurrican Laura was located about 30 miles north northeast of Little Rock, Arkansas, and was accompanied by sustained winds that blew at nearly 35 mph. The powerful storm disturbed hundreds of thousands of homes in Louisiana's power and water supply. Entergy, an electric power distributor in the state, said that as of Thursday 4:00 p.m., there were more than 540,000 homes left without electricity. The power company announced it had deployed over 16,000 restoration teams to work on bringing back power to its customers. Also Read: COVID-19 Vaccine: China Announced Using Experimental Vaccine in Public Since July The Louisiana Department of Health post on Twitter that at least 220,000 people were deprived of their water supplies, which meant that their communities could not access water. The department revealed that Hurricane Laura caused 67 water system outages, which were responsible for the lack of water access. John Bel Edwards, the governor of Louisiana, said that the storm did not cause as much damage to the state as authorities feared it would. However, he cautioned that the region still suffered catastrophic damage and warned citizens to remain vigilant and aware, as reported by BBC. Visiting the affected areas of the state After being briefed at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Washington, United States President Donald Trump said that he would schedule to travel to the affected area over the weekend. President Trump said he was planning on delaying his speech at the Republican National Convention (RNC) scheduled on Thursday to make his travel plans. The US president said that country was somewhat lucky that Hurrican Laura, although very powerful and destructive, passed through very quickly. According to CNN, some communities were ravaged by storm surge, and videos taken by the United States Coast Guard showed massive flooding along the coast in Cameron. One survivor, Paul Heard, told reporters that he witnessed enormous damage left by the storm and said that citizens would need plenty of support to survive. Heard said that he left his home shortly before Hurricane Laura tore the roof of his house off at around 1:00 a.m. and quickly took shelter inside his vehicle. He continued to watch about 25 feet away and witnessed his home being ravaged by the storm's powerful winds. Related Article: Navy Suspects Arson in USS Bonhomme Richard Navy Ship Fire @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Beijing: Four militants were shot dead after they attacked the ruling Communist Party of China's office inrestive Xinjiang province, official media reported, one of the deadliest terror incidents reported in months. A car carrying the attackers crashed into the yard of the office building of the local Communist Party committee in Karakax county and "detonated an explosive device", killing one person and injuring three others, the news portal of the Xinjiang government said. Police shot and killed the four attackers, Hong Kong based South China Morning Post quoted the report as saying. Social order had been restored, the portal report said,adding without identifying the attackers. The attack was reported after several months of lull in terrorist violence in the province where the Uyghur Muslimswere restive for years over the settlements Han Chinese in the province, bordering Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Afghanistan. China has been blaming separatist outfit, East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), for the violent attacks in the province and the rest of the country. ETIM was blamed for suicide blast in the Chinese Embassyin Kyrgyzstan in September this year in which one person was killed and five others injured. In November 2015, 28 suspected militants were killed overthe course of a 56-day man hunt following an attack on acolliery in Aksu two months earlier that left 16 people dead. In March 2014, 31 people were knifed to death at a train station in Kunming, in southwestern China, with four attackerskilled. Xinjiang had generally been quiet in 2016 with no majorreported attacks or other violent incidents. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The novel coronavirus pandemic has hit the Great Andamanese tribe, whose population in Union Territory is already on the decline. As many as 10 of the tribes members have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said on August 27. Authorities had dispatched a team to Strait Island after six members of the tribe contracted the infectious disease in Port Blair recently. The tribe currently has little over 50 members, the officials added. Health Department Deputy Director and Nodal Officer Avijit Roy told news agency PTI that four of the 37 samples tested came out positive. Some of those tribe members who tested positive for COVID-19 have been admitted to hospital, while others are in home quarantine, Roy added. Andaman and Nicobar Islands' COVID-19 tally stood at 2,985 as of August 27, including 2,309 recoveries. The archipelago has recorded 41 deaths related to COVID-19. India has recorded a total of 33.1 lakh confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 60,472 deaths. However, the recovery rate has surged to over 76 percent and the case fatality rate has fallen under 2 percent. A 23-year-old man accused of raping a 16-year-old girl was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of sexual assault of a child, an arrest affidavit said. Police said Jesus Lopez-Notario worked with the victim for about three weeks and began a friendship with her. On June 6, Lopez-Notario invited the teenager over to his house to hang out with him and some family members. Soon after she arrived, the girl told officers she began drinking tequila and that Lopez-Notario tried to kiss and hug her throughout the night despite her fending off his advances, according to the affidavit. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox Later in the night, the girl got in a vehicle thinking she was joining the family members to go pick someone up, but the group left in a different car, leaving her alone with Lopez-Notario in the backseat of a vehicle parked in the driveway. She tried to get out of the vehicle, but he pulled her back in and began to forcefully undress her before she passed out, the affidavit said. The victim told police that she was woken up later by the family members trying to redress her. They took her home and told her they were angry with Lopez-Notario and kicked him out of the house after he allegedly admitted that he had sex with the unconscious victim, according to the affidavit. The next day, Lopez-Notario told the victim he would get her a "pill" so she doesn't get pregnant, the affidavit continued. Lopez-Notario's bail was set at $50,000. Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway University of Illinois President Timothy Killeen warned Friday that the school will face coronavirus outbreaks as students return to campus but said the key to preventing further spread is rapid testing. "We will face outbreaks, there's no question. What we're going to do is have actionable tests so that we quickly squelch down the outbreak," Killeen told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street." "Once you know where the virus is, you can deal with it. If you don't know where it is, it's very tricky. It will develop." All students and staff on campus at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign must be tested for Covid-19 at least twice a week, Killeen said. The university developed its own rapid, saliva-based coronavirus test that's similar to Yale University's test, which is also used by the NBA. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted the University of Illinois' test emergency use authorization shortly before students returned to class earlier this week. Officials have so far tested 121,000 people and found 248 unique positive cases, Killeen said. The university's so-called positivity rate, or the percentage of tests that are positive, remains below 1%. "It's going really well," Killeen said. "We don't like this virus. We want to crush it, and that's what we're doing, and we're doing it on a massive scale." Killeen added that the university is confident in the accuracy of its saliva test, though there may be "a few negative" cases that were actually positive. When someone tests positive, they're isolated and their close contacts are notified through an app and sent to quarantine as well. "The key is time, because if we give the virus no time to spread from an infected individual to others, we can stop its transmission," he said. Some universities have been overwhelmed with coronavirus cases within their first few weeks of reopening. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was forced to move instruction online after outbreaks sent its positivity rate above 13% and stressed its space for students to quarantine. The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, almost faced a similar fate, halting in-person classes for two weeks before deciding on Friday to allow students to return to class once its positivity rate declined from above 10% to nearly 6%. "We think we have a unique ecosystem of safety and containment that I think is very interesting for others to look at," Killeen said. "This is what I think we need to do to really attack this virus and not just watch it develop." Prashant Singh, a final-year university student in Noida said there are no trains available from his hometown Varanasi to New Delhi yet due to the partial lockdown. He was pinning hopes on the apex court to cancel examinations amidst the coronavirus outbreak. How am I supposed to travel? I am hearing that my institute will now hold exams by September 15. This feels like punishment when we were told since June that exams wont be conducted, he said. Even as the final-year examinations have been made mandatory by the Supreme Court in its judgement on August 28, students are expressing concerns about this decision. The SC said that students cannot be promoted without being giving examinations. The confusion arose because state governments such as Maharashtra and West Bengal had said in June itself that final-year examinations would be cancelled. Maharashtra went a step ahead to say that students will be promoted on the basis of their performance in their previous semesters. Twenty-one-year old Ayushi Nadkarni said the students have to suffer due to the clash between the Centre and States. Todays judgement makes it very clear that the UGC guidelines will prevail and that universities cannot take a decision to not hold exams. If that is the law, why did Maharashtra universities agree to cancel exams? Don't student lives matter? she questioned. While Nadkarni is due to appear for the final year examinations for an undergraduate English literature programme from Mumbai, she went back to her hometown in Wardha in May 2020. I have not prepared for the exams because I was under the impression that exams have been cancelled. Now we are suddenly told that exams will be held. Inter-state transport is still restricted and quarantine norms are being mandatory. So if I have to quarantine for 14 days in Mumbai, where will I stay? questioned Nadkarni since she has vacated the hostel which clearly stated that outsiders wont be allowed due to COVID-19. If quarantine rules are followed, then almost 100,000 outstation students studying in places like Mumbai and Pune would have to spend 15-17 days in these locations just for writing an examination. As of August 27, a total of 75,760 new COVID-19 cases were added in India taking the total tally to 3.39 million. The death toll increased by 1,023 to 60,472. "India is all set to overtake Brazil to become the second-most coronavirus-infected country. But UGC has misplaced priorities in insisting that exams be held even in this condition. There seems to be no regard for students," said 22-year-old Zainab Sheikh from Hyderabad who is scheduled to give her final year exams in science. Students still confused about the examination date While the top court said that examinations have to be conducted to get a degree, it has given freedom to the states and union territories to approach the UGC seeking a deadline extension. Yuva Sena secretary Varun Sardesai has said the Maharashtra government will meet and discuss the further course of action on holding final year examinations. We thank SC for accepting our argument that SDMA overrides UGC guidelines and to allow postponing exams till situation normalises. Varun Sardesai (@SardesaiVarun) August 28, 2020 We are sure Maharashtra government will prioritise health and well-being of students over everything else, he said. Similarly, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said that examinations wont be conducted in September in the state. She added that the state would request to see if examinations can be taken offline/online before Durga Puja in October. However, this indecisiveness of the states only means confusion for students. Saptarshi Mondol who has gone back to his native town in Uttar Dinajpur wants the state government to take a strong stand on the UGC matter. I cannot travel now because two family members have tested positive. The state government should give a final date and ensure that exams are not mandatorily conducted in September, he added. While state governments can make a request to the UGC for extension of the September 30 deadline to hold exams, the university body is free to allow or reject the request. Also Read: Here's why it is too early to rejoice about SC's UGC judgement Nashik's Asmit Saxena is part of a containment zone and is worried about how he will be able to give the examinations. His institute has unofficially said that offline exams will be conducted. "Am I not putting others at risk if I am asked to report to an examination centre? What was the urgency to hold exams and why couldn't past performance be used to promote us? UGC's decision is illogical and puts our life and that of others at danger," he said. The SC in its order has said that UGC guidelines and standard operating protocols show a 'deep concern' about the health of all stakeholders, be it students or exam functionaries. For those eyeing international education, further delays in examinations could prove costly. Ahmedabad's Roopal Trivedi who has secured provisional admission into an Australian university for a postgraduate programme in psychology is worried that her seat will be given to someone else. "I have time till November to submit my final marksheet and degree certificates. Now if exams are postponed to October by the state government, then I may lose out on my admission but I am also apprehensive of writing offline exams. The best option would have been to just promote students based on internal assessments," she said. Online exams could post accessibility concerns The UGC in its July 6 guidelines had said that all final-year examinations have to be conducted before September 30. The body had said that universities can conduct these exams on an online mode, offline mode or blended mode with a mix of offline and online tests. This means that if a student is unable to give the examination in a physical centre due to COVID-19 fears, he/she can give the tests online. However, not all universities may allow this model. When it comes to online tests, students rue that this will be discriminatory to those who dont have access to laptops or computers. Amidst a pandemic when both my parents have lost their jobs, how am I supposed to afford a laptop? Is it necessary to hold exams risking ones life? said Allahabads Bhaavya Singh. At the undergraduate level itself, close to 6.4 million students give final year examinations every year. Add postgraduate and doctoral programmes and the number would touch 8 million. The UGC has conveniently said that exams can be conducted online as well. But who will bear the cost for computers? Universities have already indicated that they wont be able to bear the cost, said Bengaluru-based final-year student Kavita Lobo. She also wants the UGC to explain that when CBSE and ICSE/ISC board examinations can be cancelled, then why not final-year exams. Holding home exams make no difference Holding online examinations or blended models has been suggested as an alternative to physical examinations. Delhi University, for instance, has instituted a system of open-book examinations for students and those who cannot appear in these will be given a chance to give physical exams in September. Students, however, are of the view that holding open-book exams just takes away the credibility and that is it better to cancel exams. Having OBE where students can sit at home and give tests makes no sense. How is this testing a candidates aptitude? It is strange that the UGC is ready to get the testing structure completely diluted but wont cancel examinations, said Coimbatores Srividya Shankar who is appearing for her commerce final year exams. For now, it is a wait-and-watch for students. Examination dates for final examinations across universities will be released over the next two weeks. And for those states who manage to get the September 30 deadline, the period of uncertainty for students will get longer. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, was charged with first-degree intentional homicide. TikTok Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old accused of killing two people at a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, has been charged with multiple felonies. Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley charged Rittenhouse with first-degree intentional homicide, two counts of first-degree reckless homicide, and attempted first-degree homicide, The Associated Press reported. If convicted, Rittenhouse could face a mandatory life sentence. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old accused of shooting and killing two people at an anti-police-brutality protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, among other felonies. Rittenhouse, who was arrested Wednesday on one charge of first-degree homicide, is said to have traveled from Illinois with a firearm and accused of shooting multiple people Tuesday night amid civil unrest over the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Video: The real cost of the police On Thursday, Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley filed the full set of charges against the teenager: first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, and first-degree reckless endangerment. If convicted of the first charge, he could receive a sentence of life in prison. The teenager also faces a misdemeanor charge of possessing a dangerous weapon while under the age of 18. He's being held in the Lake County Judicial System in Illinois and set to be extradited to Wisconsin, according to the Village of Antioch Police Department. According to the criminal complaint filed Thursday, Rittenhouse showed "utter disregard for human life," spurring him to "recklessly cause the death" of Rosenbaum. He also had an "intent to kill" Huber, and later "attempted to cause the death" of Grosskreutz. Rittenhouse is accused of shooting 3 people in Kenosha before going back to Illinois Rittenhouse's attorney, Lin Wood, said he was acting in self-defense. A witness told Business Insider the scene before the first shooting was not violent but that Rittenhouse seemed "on edge." Story continues A New York Times analysis of video from the scene shows a gunman shooting a man in the head near a gas station. The criminal complaint identifies that man as Joseph Rosenbaum, who "appears to be unarmed" for the duration of the video that police reviewed. Video then shows the gunman running from the scene with a phone to his ear, saying that he had "just killed somebody." He is pursued by a crowd, falls to the ground, and gets up while firing another round of shots, killing one man, identified as Anthony Huber, and wounding another, identified as Gaige Grosskreutz. Rittenhouse idolized the police and was a supporter of President Donald Trump, attending a January campaign rally for the president in Iowa, Business Insider reported. Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes described Rittenhouse as an "outside agitator" at a press conference Thursday. "He came in from Illinois with a long rifle and was able to just walk the streets, freely, like that's something normal we should just come to expect," Barnes said. This article has been updated. Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com Read the original article on Business Insider China opposes any official exchanges and military ties between US and Taiwan: Defense Spokesperson PLA Daily Source: China Military Online Editor: Huang Panyue 2020-08-27 18:58:12 BEIJING, Aug. 27 -- "Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, China resolutely opposes any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist actions and any form of official exchanges and military ties between the US and the Taiwan region, this stance is clear and definite," said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, at a monthly regular press conference on Thursday. Wu made the remarks when commenting on the frequent contacts between the US and the Taiwan region in August. The US Secretary of Health and Human Services arrived in Taiwan for certain activities, the USS Mustin(DDG 89) passed through the Taiwan Strait, and the US military aircraft increased the frequency of provocative activities in waters around the Taiwan Strait. Wu said that recently, the PLA Eastern Theater Command dispatched troops from multiple services and directions in a systematic manner to organize live-fire military exercises across the Taiwan Strait. "The military exercises were actually aimed at the external interference, the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and their separatist activities," he stressed. Anyway, China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Wu added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lancashire police have launched an investigation after a passenger repeatedly punched a train guard when he realised he had missed his stop. The unidentified man is said to have fallen asleep on the train, and became angry when he was woken up by the guard on Tuesday night. After the assault, the man then escaped the scene by running down the tracks. British Transport Police (BTP) Lancashire Tweeted: On Tuesday night a train guard was assaulted at #Chorley. As his train approached the station he awoke a sleeping man. The male became angry on realising hed missed his stop, and punched the guard repeatedly, before running off down the track. Enquiries ongoing. Details of the suspect havent been released but police were called to the scene. A spokesperson for BTP told The Independent: Officers were called to Chorley station at 11.17pm on 25 August following reports a train guard had been assaulted by a man who then trespassed while leaving the station. Enquiries are currently ongoing. Sadly this is far from the only incidence of violence against train staff. Last year, a ticket inspector ended up trading punches and kicks with two passengers after allegedly being subjected to racist abuse for asking them to move their feet off a train seat. Footage of the incident showed two male youngsters kicking and punching the lone rail worker, who retaliated by holding on to a pole and swinging his legs at them in a flying kick before hitting them back. Walmart Inc said it was joining Microsoft in a bid for social media company TikTok's U.S. assets, revealing its plans hours after the video company's chief executive said he would step down. CEO Kevin Mayer, a high-profile former Disney executive, has left three months after joining TikTok, in the middle of negotiations to sell the Chinese-owned short-form video app's U.S. operations to Microsoft Corp or Oracle Corp. TikTok owner ByteDance aims to enter exclusive talks with a bidder in the next 24 to 48 hours and ink a deal by Sept. 15, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. ByteDance declined to comment. The sale of TikTok is happening as the company is under fire from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump as a potential national security risk due to the vast amount of private data the app is compiling on U.S. consumers. The Trump administration has demanded that China's ByteDance, which owns TikTok globally, sell its U.S. operations. Earlier this week, TikTok also sued over an executive order effectively banning it in the United States. Retailer Walmart lauded TikTok's integration of e-commerce and advertising capabilities in other markets and said that a three-way partnership could bring that integration to the United States. The deal would help Walmart reach customers across virtual and physical sales channels and grow its online marketplace and its advertising business. Shares of Walmart rose 6%. Also read: TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer quits after Donald Trump threatens to ban app in US "We are confident that a Walmart and Microsoft partnership would meet both the expectations of U.S. TikTok users while satisfying the concerns of U.S. government regulators," Walmart said in a statement. Mayer was Walt Disney Co's top streaming executive before becoming chief executive officer of TikTok and chief operating officer of parent ByteDance on June 1. ByteDance founder and CEO Zhang Yiming said in a separate letter reviewed by Reuters that the company was "moving quickly to find resolutions to the issues that we face globally, particularly in the U.S. and India". He said Mayer had joined just as the company was "entering arguably our most challenging moment." "It is never easy to come into a leadership position in a company moving as quickly as we are, and the circumstances following his arrival made it all the more complex," Zhang said. Also read: ByteDance investors seek to use stakes to finance TikTok bid U.S., INDIA CHALLENGES Amid growing distrust between Washington and Beijing, Trump complained that TikTok was a national security threat and could share information about users with China's government. Trump issued an executive order banning U.S. transactions with TikTok on Aug. 6, effective in mid-September. He issued a separate order about a week later giving ByteDance 90 days to divest of TikTok's U.S. operations and data. ByteDance has been in talks to sell TikTok's North American, Australian and New Zealand operations which could be worth $25 billion to $30 billion, people with knowledge of the matter have said. The company has also been targeted in India, where TikTok was one of 59 Chinese apps banned by the Indian government in June following a border clash between India and China. Also read: Unusual for US to get any cut from TikTok sale, says WH Economic Advisor That month, Mayer wrote to India's government saying China's government has never requested user data, nor would TikTok turn it over if asked. TechCrunch reported earlier this month that ByteDance was in talks with India's Reliance for investment in TikTok. TikTok has become a global sensation since ByteDance launched the app in 2017, with operations in countries such as France, South Korea, Indonesia, Russia and Brazil. In April, the app hit 2 billion downloads globally. LITTLE SURPRISE Mayer was scheduled to leave TikTok as part of the planned sale, as the global role he had been hired for would no longer exist, according to a person familiar with the matter. Zhang has been the key person in TikTok sale talks, said two people with knowledge of the matter. TikTok's decision to launch a $200 million "creator fund" in July was spearheaded by TikTok's former head Alex Zhu, though Mayer was also directly involved, said two of the people. The project was initiated internally much earlier than Mayer's arrival, one of the people said. Also read: TikTok to take legal action against Trump administration over app's ban in US "Whether TikTok reaches an agreement to sell its U.S. business or decides to duke it out in the courts, the role for Mayer will not be anything like that he had envisioned when he joined," said Mark Natkin, managing director of Marbridge Consulting in Beijing. Mayer's departure is not a great boost for company morale right now, Natkin said. Chandigarh, Aug 28 : Punjab Police on Friday morning raided the residence of former state Director General of Police Sumedh Singh Saini, but could not find him there. Sumedh Singh Saini, who is now above 60, was considered a blue-eyed boy of militancy-era police chief K.P.S. Gill, who was credited with eliminating militancy in the state. Saini was booked in connection with the 29-year-old 'abduction' case of Balwant Singh Multani in May this year. Section 302 (punishment for murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been added last week in the first information report (FIR) against Saini on the direction of a trial court in Mohali near here. A day earlier, the Mohali court reserved orders on Saini's bail application. Based on the complaint, the case was registered afresh under Sections 364 (kidnapping or abduction in order to murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 344 (wrongful confinement), 330 (voluntarily causing hurt to exhort confession) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) in Mohali on May 7. The kidnapping case was related to a bomb attack on Saini by the Khalistan Liberation Force militants in 1991. At that time, he was the Senior Superintendent of Police and posted in Chandigarh. He survived with injuries, but his three security personnel were killed. A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into Multani's disappearance began in 2007 against Saini but he got the relief from the Supreme Court and the probe stopped. Saini, who was removed from the top post by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in 2015 following incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and subsequent violence in the state in which the police force was accused of excesses that left two people dead, has not been sharing cordial relations with current Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. In fact, Saini had challenged the Vigilance Bureau's closure report in the multi-crore Ludhiana City Centre scam involving Amarinder Singh. For quite some time, Amarinder Singh had been seeking a probe into the fake gun battles and extra-judicial killings alleged to have taken place during militancy in Punjab. Taking cognizance of the revelations made by a former Punjab Police constable, Gurmeet Singh, alias Pinky, wherein he had alleged in 2015 that a number of people were killed without trial during militancy in Punjab, Amarinder Singh had demanded the dismissal of DGP Saini and registration of a case against him. The Chief Minister has already rejected Saini's allegation of political motivation in the filling of the FIR against him. There was no question of political interference, the Chief Minister has said, asserting the law would take its course in the matter. A police spokesperson said the case against Saini was filed on the basis of a fresh application by the victim's brother Palwinder Singh Multani, a resident of Jalandhar. The spokesperson said the complainant had cited the Supreme Court order of December 7, 2011 that it was "open to the applicants who had filed the petitions under Section 482 of the CrPC to take recourse to fresh proceedings, if permissible in law". Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 16:56:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Thirteen civilians, including six children, were killed in an improvised bomb explosion in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province on Friday, a hospital source said. "Thirteen killed civilians, including six children, two women and five men were admitted at Spin Boldak district hospital following an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion in the district Friday morning," Ahmad Jawid Afghan, director of the district hospital, told Xinhua. The hospital staff had coordinated with the district police to notify the relatives of the victims. Local villagers said the blast occurred when a mini bus touched off a Taliban roadside bomb along a dusty road in Loya Kariz locality of the remote district. They said victims were travelling back home after attending a wedding and the vehicle was destroyed in the blast in the region, 450 km south of the country's capital, Kabul. Militants in Afghanistan have been using home-made IEDs to make roadside bombs and landmines to target security forces, but the lethal weapons also inflict casualties on civilians. More than 800 civilians were killed and over 2,330 others wounded in IED explosions in 2019, according to official figures. Enditem The first operation of its kind in Vietnam was successfully performed by doctors from the Hanoi-based E Hospital recently. It is the first case in Vietnam to apply technological advances in the cardiovascular industry to replace a degenerated artificial heart valve with the least invasive method and without having to re-operate. The surgery was conducted by a team of doctors from the Heart Centre in Hospital E, headed by Professor, Dr. Le Ngoc Thanh the hospital director, in coordination with a team from Vinmec Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, led by Professor, Dr. Vo Thanh Nhan the former head of the Cardiology Department in Cho Ray Hospital. The 80-year-old female patient underwent surgery by Professor, Dr. Le Ngoc Thanh 17 years ago to replace her heart valve at Viet Duc Hospital. She had underlying hypertension and coronary artery stenosis that had been stented before. The patient was diagnosed with the degenerated artificial heart valve that needed replacing after showing difficulty in breathing and tiredness. With her status as elderly person, with complicated co-morbidities, the current re-operation had several potential risks for the patient. We consulted with the team and decided to replace the heart valve through catheters, Prof. Thanh said regarding the difficulties in the replacement. On July 19, the patient received an intervention to replace her artificial heart valve. A system of equipment carrying a small valve, only 5-6mm in diameter, compressing an internal biological artificial heart valve, was carried along the peripheral blood vessels from the femoral artery, through the abdominal aorta to the inner aorta in the chest and to the location of the broken artificial heart valve. A balloon system expanded the old degenerated artificial valve, then the device released the newly compressed artificial heart valve into the correct position. Doctors simply needed to poke a fine needle into the femoral artery, extend it by a few millimetres and put the device in the form of wires and pipes into the blood vessel and up into the heart. Doctors congratulate the patient (centre, first row) after her surgery. The operation was performed under the positioning screen of a modern digital blood vessel scanner system. With the designated specifications, the newly opened artificial heart valve firmly adhered to the surrounding structures, repeating physiological blood flow and ensuring the blood supply of the patient. The total time to perform the surgery for the patient, including the preparation of the necessary equipment, was less than two hours. The patient was awake immediately after the valve was replaced and she was discharged a few days later. Her echocardiography re-examination on August 27 showed that the new heart valve was working well, helping to improve immediately her clinical symptoms. The valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve implantation (ViV-TAVI) applies a range of technological advances from the interventional cardiology industry. It is one of the preferred options suitable for many elderly patients who have had a biological aortic valve replacement and now need that to be replaced, while helping to avoid having to perform prolonged surgery with significant potential risks for their health. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Friday told employees that the company's failure to remove the page and event for a militia group before two people were killed at a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was "largely an operational mistake." Zuckerberg addressed employees after a report from The Verge found that at least two Facebook users had reported the group and event to the company. Facebook removed the group from its service on Wednesday, after a gunman killed two people at a Tuesday night protest over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man. "The contractors and reviewers who the initial complaints were funneled to basically didn't pick this up," Zuckerberg said in a video to employees that he later posted publicly on his Facebook profile. "On second review, doing it more sensitively, the team that's responsible for dangerous organizations recognized that this violated the policies and we took it down." Zuckerberg posted his address following a Friday BuzzFeed report about the company's town hall, highlighting that several employees criticized their CEO for the company's failure to remove the pages. Zuckerberg said Facebook is now proactively looking for content that praises the alleged shooter and the shooting. However, a Thursday report from The Guardian found that there were still several posts celebrating the alleged shooter and the shooting across Facebook, despite that being in violation of the company's policies. "We're going to continue to enforce our policies and continue evolving the policies to be able to identify more potential dangerous organizations and improve our execution in order to keep on getting ahead of this," Zuckerberg said. "I think that this shows that there is a real risk and a continued increased risk through the election during this very sensitive and polarized and just highly charged time." SILVER SPRING, Md. - Three Maryland men presenting themselves as pastors targeted church members and other investors in a Ponzi scheme that defrauded victims out of more than $28 million, according to a federal indictment unsealed Friday. Instead of providing customers with high rates of return and helping with charitable religious causes, the three men used the money to pay off other investors and to fund lavish lifestyles that included luxury cars, private jets and family vacations, Justice Department prosecutors said. The July 27 indictment against Dennis Mbongeni Jali, 35; John Erasmus Frimpong, 40; and 61-year-old Arley Ray Johnson includes charges of wire fraud, securities fraud and money laundering. Federal regulators say the men fraudulently raised millions of dollars from approximately 1,200 investors, many of them African immigrants working in the medical field. The indictment identifies nine of the victims as residents of Maryland, Indiana or Texas and says they included nurses, an accountant, an engineer and a car dealership manager. Jali was the owner and CEO of a Largo, Maryland-based company called 1st Million Dollars, which had satellite offices in Florida and elsewhere. Frimpong served as the companys chief marketing officer. Johnson was its chief operating officer. Jali, Frimpong and Johnson attended church functions to recruit investors and tried to portray themselves as religious men more interested in the philanthropic financial freedom of others than personal financial gain, the indictment says. The three men presented themselves as pastors and told prospective investors that 1st Millions work was in furtherance of Gods mission in that it helped churches and their members achieve personal wealth and financial freedom, it adds. The defendants persuaded numerous victims to pay them in wire transfers, checks and cash under the false pretense that their money would be invested in the foreign exchange and cryptocurrency markets, U.S. Attorney Robert Hurs office said in a news release. Their company offered contracts that guaranteed investors monthly rates of return ranging from 6% to 35% of their initial investments regardless of market volatility, according to the indictment. Frimpong, a native of Ghana who isnt a U.S. citizen, was arrested Friday at his Upper Marlboro home. He later pleaded not guilty to all 10 counts he faces. A federal magistrate judge ordered him to remain in custody pending a detention hearing Wednesday. Frimpongs attorney didnt immediately respond to a phone call and email seeking comment. Johnson, of Bowie, is expected to surrender to authorities on Monday, according to a spokeswoman for Hurs office. Sarah Hall, an attorney for Johnson, declined to comment. Jali, formerly of Upper Marlboro, fled the U.S. in May 2019 after the scheme collapsed but has been arrested in his native South Africa, Hurs office said. Office spokeswoman Marcia Murphy said Jali doesnt have an attorney here yet. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission also filed related civil actions against the defendants Friday. The SECs lawsuit says Jali purported to be a pastor and preached at several churches. He falsely presented himself to investors as a self-made millionaire who was an expert trader, the complaint says. Johnson, who purports to be a minister, knew that Jali had been involved in an alleged fraudulent scam in South Africa but accepted Jalis denial of the allegations and continued to solicit investors, according to the lawsuit. Frimpong, who sometimes preached at a church in the Bowie area, also falsely claimed to be an expert trader in the foreign exchange and cryptocurrency markets, the complaint says. Jali preached at local churches, including the church Frimpong attended, and solicited investments from parishioners during church services, at times giving certain parishioners cash as a sign of his purported wealth and success as a trader, the lawsuit says. READ: Full Transcript of President Trumps RNC Acceptance Speech President Trump addressed the nation from the South Lawn of the White House on the last night of the GOP convention Thank you, thank you very much. Friends, delegates and distinguished guests, please. I stand before you tonight, honored by your support. Proud of the extraordinary progress we have made together over the last four incredible years and brimming with confidence in the bright future, we will build for America over the next four years. We begin this evening. Our thoughts are with the wonderful people who have just come through the wrath of hurricane Laura. We are working closely with state and local officials in Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, sparing no effort to save lives while the hurricane was fierce. One of the strongest to make landfall in 150 years, the casualties and damage were far less than thought possible only 24 hours ago. And this is due to the great work of FEMA law enforcement and the individual States. I will be going this weekend and congratulations. Thank you for that great job out there. We really appreciate it. We are one national family and we will always protect love and care for each other. Here tonight are the people who have made my journey possible and filled my life with so much joy. For her incredible service to our nation and its children, I want to thank our magnificent first lady. I also want to thank my amazing daughter Ivanka for that introduction and to all of my children. Ivanka, please stand up. And to all of my children and grandchildren. I love you more than words can express. I know my brother, Robert is looking down on us right now from heaven. He was a great brother and was very proud of the job we are all doing. Thank you. We love you. Robert. Let us also take a moment to show our profound appreciation for a man who has always fought by our side and stood up for our values. A man of deep faith and steadfast conviction. Our vice president, Mike Pence. And Mike is joined by his beloved wife, a teacher and military mom, Karen Pence. Thank you, Karen. My fellow Americans, tonight with a heart full of gratitude and boundless optimism, I profoundly accept this nomination for president of the United States. The Republican party. The party of Abraham Lincoln goes forward united, determined, and ready to welcome millions of Democrats, independents, and anyone who believes in the greatness of America and the righteous heart of the American people. In a new term as president, we will again build the greatest economy in history, quickly returning to full employment, soaring, incomes, and record prosperity. We will defend America against all threats and protect America against all dangers. We will lead America into new frontiers of ambition and discovery, and we will reach for new heights of national achievement. We will rekindle new faith in our values, new pride in our history, and a new spirit of unity that can only be realized through love for our great country. Because we understand that America is not a land cloaked in darkness, America is the torch that enlightens the entire world. Gathered here at our beautiful and majestic White House, known all over the world as the Peoples House, we cannot help but marvel at the miracle, that is our great American story. This has been the home of larger than life figures like Teddy Roosevelt and Andrew Jackson who rallied Americans to bold visions of a bigger and brighter future. Within these walls lived tenacious generals like President Grant and Eisenhower who led our soldiers in the cause of freedom. From these grounds, Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark on a daring expedition to cross a wild and uncharted continent. In the depths of a bloody civil war, President Abraham Lincoln looked out these very windows upon a half completed Washington monument and asked God in his Providence to save our nation. Two weeks after Pearl Harbor, Franklin Delano Roosevelt welcomed Winston Churchill and just inside, they sent our people on a course to victory in the second world war. In recent months, our nation and the entire planet has been struck by a new and powerful invisible enemy. Like those brave Americans before us, we are meeting this challenge. We are delivering life saving therapies and well produce a vaccine before the end of the year, or maybe even sooner. We will defeat the virus and the pandemic and emerge stronger than ever before. What united generations passed was an unshakeable confidence in Americas destiny and an unbreakable faith in the American people. They knew that our country is blessed by God and has a special purpose in this world. They knew that our country is blessed by God and has a special purpose in this world. President Donald Trump It is that conviction that inspired the formation of our union, our westward expansion, the abolition of slavery, the passage of civil rights, the space program, and the overthrow of fascism, tyranny, and communism. This towering American spirit has prevailed over every challenge and lifted us to the summit of human endeavor. And yet, despite all of our greatness as a nation, everything we have achieved is now in danger. This is the most important election in the history of our country. At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas. This election will decide whether we save the American dream or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny. It will decide whether we rapidly create millions of high paying jobs or whether we crush our industries and send millions of these jobs overseas, as has foolishly been done for many decades. Your vote will decide whether we protect law abiding Americans, or whether we give free reign to violent anarchists and agitators and criminals who threatened our citizens. And this election will decide whether we will defend the American way of life or whether we will allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it. It wont happen. At the Democrat national convention, Joe Biden and his party repeatedly assailed America as a land of racial, economic, and social injustice. So tonight I ask you a simple question, how can the Democrat party ask to lead our country when it spends so much time tearing down our country? In the lefts backward view, they do not see America as the most free, just, and exceptional nation on earth. Instead, they see a wicked nation that must be punished for its sins. Our opponents say that redemption for you can only come from giving power to them. This is a tired Anthem spoken by every repressive movement throughout history. But in this country, we dont look to career politicians for salvation. In America, we dont turn to government to restore ourselves. We put our faith in almighty God. Joe Biden is not a savior of Americas soul. He is the destroyer of Americas jobs. And if given the chance, he will be the destroyer of American greatness. For 47 years, Joe Biden took the donations of blue collar workers, gave them hugs and even kisses and told them he felt their pain. And then he flew back to Washington and voted to ship our jobs to China and many other distant lands. Joe Biden has spent his entire career outsourcing their dreams and the dreams of American workers, offshoring their jobs, opening their borders and sending their sons and daughters to fight in endless foreign wars, wars that never ended. Four years ago, I ran for president because I could not watch this betrayal of our country any longer. I could not sit by as career politicians let other countries take advantage of us on trade, borders, foreign policy, and national defense. Our NATO partners, as an example, were very far behind in their defense payments. But at my strong urging, they agreed to pay $130 billion more a year, the first time in over 20 years that they upped their payments. And theres $130 billion will ultimately go to $400 billion a year. And Secretary General Stoltenberg who heads NATO was amazed after watching for so many years and said that President Trump did what no one else was able to do. From the moment I left my former life behind, and it was a good life, I have done nothing but fight for you. I did what our political establishment never expected and could never forgive breaking the Cardinal rule of Washington politicsI kept my promise. Together, we have ended the rule of the failed political class and they are desperate to get their power back by any means necessary. Youve seen that. They are angry at me because instead of putting them first, I very simply said, America First. Days after taking office, we shocked the Washington establishment and withdrew from the last administrations job-killing transpacific partnership. I then immediately approved the Keystone XL and Dakota access pipelines, ended the unfair and very costly Paris climate accord, and secured for the first time American energy independence. We passed record setting tax and regulation cuts at a rate nobody had ever seen before. Within three short years, we built the strongest economy in the history of the world. Washington insiders asked me not to stand up to China. They pleaded with me to let China continue stealing our jobs, ripping us off, and robbing our country blind. But I kept my word to the American people. We took the toughest, boldest, strongest, and hardest hitting action against China in American history by far. They said that it would be impossible to terminate and replace NAFTA, but again, they were wrong. Earlier this year, I ended the NAFTA nightmare and signed the brand new U.S., Mexico, Canada agreement into law. And right now, auto companies and others are building their plants and factories in America, not firing their employees, and not deserting us for other countries. In perhaps no area did the Washington special interests try harder to stop us then on my policy of pro-American immigration. But I refused to back down and today, Americas borders are more secure than ever before. We ended catch and release, stopped asylum fraud, took down human traffickers who prey on women and children, and we have deported 20,000 gang members and 500,000 criminal aliens. We have already built 300 miles of border wall, and we are adding 10 new miles every single week. The wall will soon be complete, and it is working beyond our wildest expectations. We are joined this evening by members of the border patrol union representing our countrys courageous border agents. Thank you very much for being here. Thank you. Brave, brave people. You see this country loves our law enforcement. They do it. They really do, love and respect. When I learned that the Tennessee Valley authority laid off hundreds of American workers and forced them to train their lower paid foreign replacement, I promptly removed the chairman of the board. And now those talented American workers have been rehired and are back providing power to Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Virginia. They have their old jobs back and some are here with us this evening. Please stand. You went through a lot, please stand. Thank you. Thank you very much. Last month I took on big pharmayou think thats easy, its notand signed orders that will massively lower the cost of your prescription drugs. And give critically ill patients access to life saving cures, we passed the decades long awaited Right to Try. We also pass VA accountability and VA choice. Our great veterans, were taking care of our veterans, 91 percent approval rating this month, the VA, given by our veterans, first time anything like thats ever happened. By the end of my first term, we will have approved more than 300 federal judges, including two great new Supreme court justices. And to bring prosperity to our forgotten inner cities, we worked hard to pass historic criminal justice reform, prison reform, opportunities zones, and long-term funding of historically black colleges and universities. And before the China virus came in, produced the best unemployment numbers for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans ever recorded. And I say very modestly that I have done more for the African American community than any president since Abraham Lincoln, our first Republican president. And I have done more in three years for the black community than Joe Biden has done in 47 years. And when Im reelected, the best is yet to come. When I took office, the Middle East was in total chaos. ISIS was rampaging, Iran was on the rise, and the war in Afghanistan had no end in sight. I withdrew from the terrible one-sided Iran nuclear deal. Unlike many presidents before me, I kept my promise, recognized Israels true capital, and moved our embassy to Jerusalem. But not only did we talk about it as a future site, we got it built. Rather than spending $1 billion on a new building, as planned, we took an already-owned, existing building at a better locationreal estate deal, rightand opened it at a cost of less than $500,000. Many things like that, the government is doing right now. We also recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. And this month, we achieved the first middle East peace deal in 25 years. Thank you to UAE, thank you to Israel. In addition, we obliterated 100 percent of the ISIS caliphate and killed its founder and leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Then in a separate operation, we eliminated the worlds number one terrorists, by far, Qassem Soleimani. Unlike previous administrations, I have kept America out of new wars and our troops are coming home. We have spent nearly $2.5 trillion on completely rebuilding our military, which was very badly depleted when I took office, as you know. This includes three separate pay raises for our great warriors. We also launched the Space Force, the first new branch of the United States military since the Air Force was created almost 75 years ago. We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years. Bidens record is a shameful roll call of the most catastrophic betrayals and blunders in our lifetime. He has spent his entire career on the wrong side of history. Biden voted for the NAFTA disaster, the single worst trade deal ever enacted. He supported Chinas entry into the World Trade Organizationone of the greatest economic disasters of all time. After those Biden calamities, the United States lost one in four manufacturing jobs. We laid off workers in Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and many other states. They didnt want to hear Bidens hollow words of empathy. They wanted their jobs back. As vice president, he supported the trans Pacific partnership, which would have been a death sentence for the U.S. auto industry. He backed the horrendous South Korea trade deal, which took many jobs from our country and which Ive reversed and made a great deal for our country. He repeatedly supported mass amnesty for illegal immigrants. He voted for the Iraq war. He opposed the mission to take out Osama bin Laden. He opposed killing Soleimani. He oversaw the rise of ISIS and cheered the rise of China as a positive development for America and the worldsome positive development. Thats why Chinas supports Joe Biden and desperately wants him to win. I can tell you that upon very good information. China would own our country if Biden got elected. Unlike Biden, I will hold them fully accountable for the tragedy that they caused all over the world. In recent months, our nation and the world has been hit by the once in a century pandemic that China allowed to spread around the globe. They could have stopped it, but they allowed it to come out. We are grateful to be joined tonight by several of our incredible nurses and first responders. Please stand and accept our profound thanks and gratitude. Many Americans, including me have sadly lost friends and cherish loved ones to this horrible disease. As one nation, we mourn, we grieve, and we hold in our hearts forever the memories of all of those lives that have been so tragically taken. So unnecessary. In their honor, we will unite. In their memory, we will overcome. And when the China virus hit, we launched the largest national mobilization since world war two. Invoking the defense production act, we produced the worlds largest supply of ventilators. Not a single American who has needed a ventilator has been denied a ventilator, which is a miracle. Good job heading the task force by our great vice president. Thank you very much. We shipped hundreds of millions of masks, gloves, and gowns to our frontline healthcare workers. To protect our nations seniors, we rushed supplies, testing kits and personal to nursing homes. We gave everything you can possibly give, and were still giving it because were taking care of our senior citizens. The Army Corps of Engineers built field hospitals, and the Navy deployed our great hospital ships. We developed from scratch the largest and most advanced testing system anywhere in the world. America has tested more than every country in Europe put together and more than every nation in the Western hemisphere combined, think of that. We have conducted 40 million more tests than the next closest nation, which is India. We developed a wide array of effective treatments, including a powerful antibody treatment known as convalescent plasma. You saw that on Sunday night when we announced it. That will save thousands and thousands of lives. Thanks to advances, we have pioneered the fatality rate. And you look at it and you look at the numbers, it has been reduced by 80 percent since April, 80 percent. The United States has among the lowest case fatality rates of any major country, anywhere in the world. The European Unions case fatality rate is nearly three times higher than ours. But you dont hear that, they dont write about that. They dont want to write about that. They dont want you to know those things. Altogether, the nations of Europe have experienced a 30 percent greater increase in excess mortality than the United States. Think of that. We enacted the largest package of financial relief in American history. Thanks to our paycheck protection program, we have saved or supported more than 50 million American jobs. Thats one of the reasons that were advancing so rapidly with our economy, a great job. As a result, we have seen the smallest economic contraction of any major Western nation, and we are recovering at a much faster rate than anybody. Over the past three months, we have gained over 9 million jobs and thats a record in the history of our country. Unfortunately from the beginning, our opponents have shown themselves capable of nothing but a partisan ability to criticize. When I took bold action to issue a travel ban on China, very early indeed, Joe Biden called it hysterical and xenophobic. And then I introduced the ban on Europe very early again. If we had listened to Joe, hundreds of thousands, more Americans would have died. Instead of following the science, Joe Biden wants to inflict a painful shutdown on the entire country. His shut down would inflict unthinkable and lasting harm on our nations children, families, and citizens of all backgrounds. The cost of the Biden shut down would be measured in increased drug overdoses, depression, alcohol addiction, suicides, heart attacks, economic devastation, job loss, and much more. Joe Bidens plan is a solution to the virus, but rather its a surrender to the virus. My administration has a very different approach. To save as many lives as possible, we are focusing on the science, the facts, and the data. We are aggressively sheltering those at highest risk, especially the elderly by allowing low-risk Americans to safely return to work and to school, and we want to see so many of those great States be open by Democrats. We want them to be open. They have to be open. They have to get back to work. I have to get back to work and they have to get back to school. Most importantly, we are marshaling Americas scientific genius to produce a vaccine in record time. Under operation warp speed, we have three different vaccines in the final stage of trials right now, years ahead of what has been achieved before. Nobody thought it could ever be done this fast. Normally it would be years and we did it in a matter of a few months. Were producing them in advance so that hundreds of millions of doses will be quickly available. We will have a safe and effective vaccine this year and together we will crush the virus. At the Democrat convention. You barely heard a word about their agenda, but thats not because they dont have one. Its because their agenda is the most extreme set of proposals ever put forward by a major party nominee. Joe Biden may claim he is an ally of the light, but when it comes to his agenda, Biden wants to keep us completely in the dark. He doesnt have a clue. He has pledged a $4 trillion tax on almost all American families, which will totally collapse our rapidly improving economy. And once again, record stock markets that we have right now will also collapse. That means your 401ks, that means all of the stocks that you have. On the other hand, just as I did my first year, I will cut taxes even further for hard working moms and dads. I will not raise taxes. I will cut them and very substantially. And we will also provide tax credits to bring jobs out of China back to America. And we will impose tariffs on any company that leaves America to produce jobs overseas. We will make sure our companies and jobs stay in our country, as Ive already been doing for quite some time if youve noticed. Joe Bidens agenda is made in China, my agenda is made in the USA. Pardon his promise to abolish the production of American oil call shell and natural gas laying waste to the economies of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexicodestroying those states, absolutely destroying those States and others. Millions of jobs will be lost and energy prices will soar. These same policies led to crippling power outages in California just last week, everybody saw that. Tremendous power outage. Nobodys seen anything like it, but we saw that just last week in California. How can Joe Biden claim to be an ally of the light when his own party cant even keep the lights on. Joe Bidens campaign is even published a 110 page policy platformyou cant get away from thisco-authored with far-left senator crazy Bernie Sanders. The Biden-Bernie manifesto calls for suspending all removals of illegal aliens, implementing nationwide catch and release, and providing illegal aliens with free taxpayer-funded lawyers. Everybody gets a lawyer, come on over to our country. Everybody has a lawyer. We have a lawyer for you. Thats what we need is more lawyers. Joe Biden recently raised his hand on the debate stage and promised to he was going to give it away, your healthcare dollars to illegal immigrants, which is going to bring massive numbers of immigrants into our country. Massive numbers will pour into our country in order to get all of the goodies that they want to give: education, healthcare, everything. He also supports deadly sanctuary cities that protect criminal aliens. He promised to end national security travel bands from jihadist nations, and he pledged to increase refugee admissions by 700 percent. This is in the manifesto. The Biden plan would eliminate Americas borders in the middle of a global pandemic. And hes even talking about taking the wall down, how about that. Biden also vowed to oppose school choice and close all charter schools, ripping away the ladder of opportunity for black and Hispanic children. In a second term, I will expand charter schools and provide school choice to every family in America. And we will always treat our teachers with the tremendous respect that they deserve. Great people. Great, great people. Joe Biden claims he has empathy for the vulnerable, yet the party he leads supports the extreme late term abortion of defenseless babies right up until the moment of birth. Democrat leaders talk about moral decency but they have no problem with stopping a babys beating heart in the ninth month of pregnancy. Democrat politicians refuse to protect innocent life, and then they lecture us about morality and saving Americas soul. Tonight, we proudly declare that all children, born and unborn, have a God given right to life. During the Democrat convention, the words Under God were removed from the pledge of allegiance. Not once, but twice. We will never do that. But the fact is, this is where theyre coming from. Like it or not. This is where theyre coming from. If the left gains power, they will demolish the suburbs, confiscate your guns, and appoint justices who will wipe away your second amendment and other constitutional freedoms. Biden is a Trojan horse for socialism. If Joe Biden doesnt have the strength to stand up to wild-eyed Marxists like Bernie Sanders and his fellow radicalsand there are many, there many, many, we see them all the time, its incredible actuallythen how is he ever going to stand up for you? Hes not. The most dangerous aspect of the Biden platform is the attack on public safety. The Biden-Bernie manifesto calls for abolishing cash bail, immediately releasing 400,000 criminals onto the streets and into your neighborhoods. When asked if he supports cutting police funding, Joe Biden replied, Yes, absolutely. When Congresswoman Ilhan Omar called the Minneapolis police department a cancer that is rotten to the root, Biden wouldnt disavow her support and reject her endorsement. He proudly displayed it later on his websitedisplayed it in big letters. Make no mistake. If you give power to Joe Biden, the radical left will defund police departments all across America. They will pass federal legislation to reduce law enforcement nationwide. They will make every city look like Democrat-run Portland, Oregon. No one will be safe in Bidens America. My administration will always stand with the men and women of law enforcement. Everyday, police officers risk their lives to keep us safe. And every year, many sacrifice their lives in the line of duty. One of these incredible Americans was detective Miosotis Familia. She was part of a team of American heroes called the NYPD or new Yorks finest, who I was very, very proud to get their endorsement just the other day. Great people, great, great people. If they were allowed to do their job, youd have no crime in New York. Rudy Giuliani knows that better than anybody. Three years ago in the 4th of July weekend, Detective Familia was on duty in her vehicle when she was ambushed just after midnight and murdered by a monster who hated her purely for wearing the badge. Detective Familia was a single mom. She recently asked for the night shift so she could spend more time with her kids. Two years ago, I stood in front of the us Capitol alongside those beautiful children and held their grandmothers hand as they mourned their terrible loss, and we honored Detective Familias extraordinary lifeit was extraordinary. Detective Familias three children are with us this evening. Genesis, Peter, and Delilah, we are so grateful to have you here tonight. Thank you very much for coming. Thank you. I promise you that we will treasure your mom in our memories forever. We must remember that the overwhelming majority of police officers in this countryand thats the overwhelming majorityare noble, courageous, and honorable. We have to give law enforcement, our police, back their power. They are afraid to act. Theyre afraid to lose their pension. They are afraid to lose their jobs. And by being afraid, they are not able to do the job that they so desperately want to do for you. And those who suffer most are the great people who they protect and who they want to protect at an even higher level. When there is police misconduct, the justice system must hold wrongdoers fully and completely accountable and it will. But we can never have a situation where things are going on, as they are today, we must never allow mob rule. We can never allow mob rule. 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 in New York and many others Democrat run. There is violence and danger in the streets of many Democrat-run cities throughout America. This problem could easily be fixed if they wanted to. Just call, were ready to go in. Well take care of your problem in a matter of hours, just call. We have to wait for the call. Its too bad we have to, but we have to wait for the call. We must always have law and order. All federal crimes are being investigated, prosecuted, and punished to the fullest extent of the law. When the anarchists started ripping down our statues and monuments right outside, I signed an order immediately: 10 years in prison. And it was a miracle, it all stopped, no more statues. They said, thats just too long as they looked at a statue, I think well rip it down. Then they said, 10 years in prison. I think thats too long. Lets go home. During their convention, Joe Biden and his supporters remain completely silent about the rioters and criminals spreading mayhem in Democrat-run cities. They never even mentioned it during their entire convention. Never once mentioned. Now theyre starting to mention it because their poll numbers are going down like a rock in water. Its too late Joe. In the face of left wing anarchy and mayhem in Minneapolis, Chicago, and other cities, Joe Bidens campaign did not condemn it. They donated to it. At least 13 members of Joe Bidens campaign staff donated to a fund to bail out vandals, arsonists, anarchists, looters, and rioters from jail. Here tonight as the grieving family of retired police, captain David Dorn, a 38 year veteran of the St. Louis police department, a great man and a highly respected man by all. In June, Captain Dawn was shot and killed as he tried to protect his store from rioters and looters, or as the Democrats would call them peaceful protestors. They call them peaceful protestors. Were honored to be joined tonight by his wonderful wife Ann and beloved family members Brian and Kielen. To each of you, we will never forget the heroic legacy of Captain David Dorn. Thank you very much for being here. Great man. Great man. As long as I am president, we will defend the absolute right of every American citizen to live in security, dignity, and peace. If the Democrat party wants to stand with anarchists, agitators, rioters, looters, and flag burners, that is up to them. But I, as your president will not be a part of it. The Republican Party will remain the voice of the patriotic heroes who keep America safe and salute the American flag. Last year, over 1,000 African Americans were murdered as a result of violent crime in just four Democrat-run cities. The top 10 most dangerous cities in the country are run by Democrats and have been for many decades. Thousands more African Americans are victim and victims of violent crime in these communities. Joe Biden and the left ignore these American victims. I never will. If the radical left takes power, they will apply their disastrous policies to every city, town, and suburb in America. Just imagine if the so-called peaceful demonstrators in the streets were in charge of every lever of power in the U.S. government. Just think of that. Liberal politicians claim to be concerned about the strength of American institutions, but who exactly is attacking them? Who is hiring the radical professors, judges, and prosecutors? Who is trying to abolish immigration enforcement and establish speech codes designed to muzzle descent? In every case, the attacks on American institutions are being waged by radical left. Always remember theyre coming after me because I am fighting for youthats whats happening. And its been going on from before I even got elected. And remember this, they spied on my campaign and they got caught. Lets see now what happens. We must reclaim our independence from the lefts repressive mandates. Americans are exhausted trying to keep up with the latest lists of approved words and phrases, and the ever more restrictive political decrees. Many things have a different name now, and the rules are constantly changing. The goal of cancel culture is to make decent Americans live in fear of being fired, expelled, shamed, humiliated, and driven from society as we know it. The far left wants to coerce you into saying what you know to be false and scare you out of saying what you know to be true,its very sad. But on November 3rd, you can send them a very thundering message they will never forget. Joe Biden is weak. He takes his marching orders from liberal hypocrites who drive their cities into the ground while fleeing far from the scene of the wreckage. These same liberals want to eliminate school choice while they enroll their children in the finest private schools in the land, they want to open our borders while living in Waldorf compounds and communities in the best neighborhoods in the world, they wanted to defund the police while they have armed guards for themselves. This November, we must turn the page forever on this failed political class. The fact is Im herewhats the name of that building. But Ill say it differently. The fact is were here and theyre not. To me, one of the most beautiful buildings anywhere in the worldand its not a building, its a home as far as Im concerned. Its not even a house, its a home, a wonderful place with an incredible historybut its all because of you together. We will write the next chapter of the great American story. Over the next four years, we will make America into the manufacturing superpower of the world. We will expand opportunities zones, bring home our medical supply chains, and we will end our reliance We will go right after China, we will not rely on them one bit. Were taking our business out of China. We are bringing it home. We want our business to come home. We will continue to reduce taxes and regulations at levels not seen before. We will create 10 million jobs in the next 10 months, and it will be higher than that. We will hire more police, increase penalties for assaults on law enforcement, and surge federal prosecutors into high crime communities. We will ban deadly sanctuary cities and ensure that federal healthcare is protected for American citizens, not for illegal aliens. We will have strong bordersand Ive said for years without borders, we dont have a countrystrike down terrorists who threatened our people, and keep America out of endless and costly foreign wars. We will appoint prosecutors, judges, justices who believe in enforcing the lawnot enforcing their own political agenda, which is illegal. We will ensure equal justice for citizens of every race, religion, color, and creed. We will uphold your religious liberty and defend your second amendment right to keep and bear arms. And if we dont win, your second amendment doesnt have a chance, I can tell you that. I have totally protected it. We will protect Medicare and social security. We will always and very strongly protect patients with preexisting conditions and that is a pledge from the entire Republican party. We will end surprise medical building, require price transparency, and further reduce the cost of prescription drugs and health insurance premiumstheyre coming way down. We will greatly expand energy development, continuing to remain the number one in the world, and keep America energy independent. And for those of you that still drive a car, look how low your gasoline bill is. You havent seen that in a long time. We will winning the race to 5G and build the worlds best cyber and missile defense. already under construction. We will fully restore patriotic education to our schools and always protect, we will always, always protect free speech on college campuses. And we put a very big penalty in. If they do anything having to do with your free speech, colleges have to pay a tremendous, tremendous financial penalty. And again, its amazing how open theyve been lately. We will launch a new age of American ambition in space. America will land the first woman on the moon and the United States will be the first nation to plant its beautiful flag on Mars. This is the unifying national agenda that will bring our country together. So tonight I say to all Americans, this is the most important election in the history of our country. There has never been such a difference between two parties or two individuals in ideology, philosophy, or vision than there is right now. Our opponents believe that America is a depraved nation. We want our sons and daughters to know the truth. America is the greatest and most exceptional nation in the history of the world. Our country wasnt built by cancel culture, speech codes, and soul crushing conformity. We are not a nation of timid spirits. We are a nation of fierce, proud, and independent American Patriots. Were a nation of pilgrims, pioneers, adventurers, explorers, and trailblazers who refuse to be tied down, held back, or in any way, reigned in. Americans have steel in their spines, grit in their souls, and fire in their hearts. There is no one like us on earth. I want every child in America to know that you are part of the most exciting and incredible adventure in human history. No matter where your family comes from, no matter your background in America, anyone can rise. With hard work, devotion, and drive, you can reach any goal and achieve every ambition. Our American ancestors sailed across the perilous ocean to build a new life on a new continent. They braved the freezing winters, crossed the raging rivers, scaled the Rocky peaks trekked the dangerous forests, and worked from dawn till dusk. These pioneers didnt have money, they didnt have fame, but they had each other. They love their families, they love their country, and they love their God. When opportunity beckoned, they picked up their Bibles, packed up their belongings, climbed into their covered wagons, and set out west for the next adventure. Ranchers and miners, cowboys and sheriffs, farmers and settlers, they pressed on past the Mississippi to stake a claim in the wild frontier. Legends were born. Wyatt Earp, Annie Oakley, Davy Crockett, and Buffalo Bill, Americans built their beautiful homesteads on the open range. Soon, they had churches and communities, then towns and with time, great centers of industry and commerce. That is who they were. Americans build their future. We dont tear down our past. We are the nation that won a revolution, toppled, tyranny and fascism, and delivered millions into freedom. We laid down the railroads, built the great ships, raised up the skyscrapers, revolutionized industry, and sparked a new age of scientific discovery. We set the trends in art and music, radio and film, sport and literature, and we did it all with style and confidence and flair because that is who we are. Whenever our way of life was threatened, our heroes answered the call. From Yorktown to Gettysburg, from Normandy to Iwo Jima, American Patriots raced into cannon blasts, bullets, and bayonets to rescue American liberty. They had no fear. But America didnt stop there. We looked into the sky and kept pressing onward. We built a 6 million pound rocket and launched it thousands of miles into space. We did it so that two brave Patriots could stand tall and salute our wondrous American flag planted on the face of the moon. For America, nothing is impossible. Over the next four years, we will prove worthy of this magnificent legacy, we will reach stunning new heights, and we will show that the world, for America, there is a dream, and it is not beyond your reach. Together, we are unstoppable. Together, we are unbeatable because together, we are the proud citizens of the United States of America. And on November 3rd, we will make America safer, we will make America stronger, we will make America prouder, and we will make America greater than ever before. I am very, very proud to be the nominee of the Republican party. I love you all. God bless you, and God bless America. MUMBAI: Sushant Singh Rajput's friend and flat-mate Siddharth Pithani has told the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that eight hard-disks were destroyed on June 8 at the actor's Bandra flat, before Rhea Chakraborty left the house. According to reports, Pithani said that while the content of the hard-disks was not known to him, he claimed that IT professionals were called to erase files from the hard disks. He said the process was carried out in the presence of both Sushant, Rhea and his cook Neeraj and house help Dipesh Sawant. Pithani added that the content was first copied before being deleted by the IT experts. He also informed the probe agency that Sushant and Rhea had a fight before she left the house on June 8 for good. Reacting on the claims, Sushant's father KK Singh's lawyer Vikas Singh said that he suspects a large conspiracy in connection with the death of the actor. "I think theres something very sinister in this entire episode and it appears that there is the involvement of some big people in the case," Singh stated. August 27 was the fifth consecutive day CBI grilled Pithani in Sushant death case. Meanwhile, a team of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is in Mumbai to probe the drug angle in connection with Sushant's death. On August 26, the NCB filed a criminal case against Rhea Chakraborty and others to probe their alleged dealings in banned drugs. The case has been registered under Sections 20, 22, 27 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The deleted messages, officials said, allegedly indicate dealings in banned drugs and chats about the procurement and consumption of these drugs that includes cannabis. Rhea has been questioned by the ED about these suspected drug deal messages deleted from her phone and her statement on these allegations has been recorded by it under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). It is understood that the 'deleted WhatsApp messages' pertain to Rhea purportedly talking to her friends and some of Rajput's domestic helpers about certain banned narcotics. The NCB, they said, will probe the possible 'source, trade, consumption and handling' of these banned drugs and their possible links to Rajput as well as his death, officials told PTI. The messages reportedly had references to the availability of 'best weed ever' in Bhubaneswar. A deal can completely change the narrative for a company. This just might be the case for NIO (NIO), so says Morgan Stanley analyst Tim Hsiao. Back in April, the Chinese electric vehicle company inked a deal with the city of Hefei in which it secured a $1 billion investment from several state-owned companies in the city. As per the terms of the agreement, NIO set up its headquarters in Hefei. It should be noted that the companys factory, which it operates along with Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group, is already in Hefei. Weighing in on the implications, Hsiao stated, Hefei government's recent funding injection into NIO and its improving credit access make NIO much more financially competitive vs. EV/ICE peers. This should underpin NIO's value proposition of being a domestic luxury EV brand, with superior brand loyalty. That being said, several factors have caused Hsiao to view NIO in a different light, telling investors he underestimated the upside potential from scale benefit, synergies from extended industry collaboration and the stock's self-reinforcing momentum. What are these factors? For starters, based on NIOs Q2 vehicle margin beat driven by a favorable mix of high-margin ES8, Hsiao estimates total vehicle margin could increase from 11% in 2020E to 23% in 2022E. This will likely be powered by significant scale benefit that will expand vehicle margins and enhance working capital via more efficient supply chain management. Additionally, the Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) program carries significant volume potential. Hsiao argues that by offering lower usage costs, NIO will see 10-36% incremental vehicle sales in 2021-2030. He added, More importantly, with closer engagement with government and major players via BaaS, NIO can strengthen its position in the EV ecosystem by defining industry standards. Theres something else that comes into play here. Stock performance, funding access and industry franchise together create self-reinforcing momentum and make NIO an even stronger player to grow its operations and investment value. Despite performing more like a trading stock nowadays with significant volatility, it's also a growth stock with long-term value unfolding amid recent operational progress, Hsiao explained. Story continues Summing it all up, the Morgan Stanley analyst commented, Supported by a well-thought long-term growth strategy, underpinned by more substantial mid-term profitability/cash flow improvement with surge in scale, we believe NIO deserves a further valuation re-rating. Based on all of the above, Hsiao joined the bulls, upgrading his rating from Equal-weight to Overweight. The price target also gets a boost, with it moving from $12 to $20.50. Should his thesis play out, a minor potential twelve-month gain of 3% could be in the cards. Other analysts are more cautious. 3 Buy ratings, 3 Holds and 2 Sells have been assigned in the last three months. The $13.83 average price target implies 30% downside potential. (See NIO stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analyst. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. This article was originally posted on TipRanks. Bihar is the first state to go to polls during the Covid-19 pandemic and amid preparations being made by the Election Commission (EC) for holding elections two months from now, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the first sign of resistance to ECs decision. A three-judge bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan dismissed a PIL filed by a Muzaffarpur resident Avinash Thakur seeking postponement of Assembly elections due in October this year. Pointing to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the state and floods which have displaced lakhs of residents in 14 districts of north Bihar, the petition stated that at present, the health of citizens should be the paramount consideration of the state authorities. The petition cited a news clipping of August 12 where the Chief Election Commissioner was quoted saying that elections to the 243-member Assembly in Bihar will be held as per schedule. Also read: All Lok Sabha MPs will be requested to undergo Covid tests, says Speaker The bench observed, the Election Commission will take care of every situation. They must be considering everything. The petitioners counsel Neeraj Shekhar said that the Representation of Peoples Act gives power to the EC to defer the polls. He asked the Court to seek a report from the EC or the state authorities to assess the situation on the ground. He stated that presently, there is a ban on any political, social or cultural gathering in the state due to the pandemic. Politicians and administration are focusing on election preparation instead of battling flood and Covid-19, the petitioner told the bench. Shekhar urged the Court to consider the ground situation and direct the EC not to ask the state government to recommend holding assembly elections. The bench, also comprising Justices R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah, said, We cannot interfere with the process of elections. What you suggest cannot be a ground to stop elections. This kind of petition under Article 32 cannot be entertained. The petitioner decided to withdraw his plea. Shekhar made a final request to move a representation to the EC in this regard. The bench said that this right was available to the petitioner even otherwise and refused to pass any direction to this effect. Political parties in the state are divided over holding elections during the pandemic. Some political parties, like the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) have requested deferment of polls. The Left parties too have supported this demand. However, the ruling combine of Janata Dal (United) and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) are happy to go ahead with the election. The EC is getting poll-ready although dates have not been announced yet. Recently, the poll panel released guidelines for conducting polls in Bihar which provide the last hour of poll to allow Covid-19 patients. Those suspected of having the disease will also have the opportunity to cast votes at the respective polling stations. Only 1,000 voters to each polling station have been permitted by the EC. All voters will undergo temperature checks and the wearing of mask shall be compulsory. The EC guidelines further provide that the poll candidates convoy will have only five cars. Three persons will be permitted to conduct a door-to-door campaign. What a relief! Id worried about the coronavirus, but were fine! Ive been watching the Republican National Convention, and it turns out that while everyone else stood helpless before the pandemic, our national lodestar, President Donald Trump, stepped up and saved millions of lives. Whew! From the very beginning, Democrats, the media and the World Health Organization got the coronavirus wrong, according to a GOP propaganda film shown at the convention. Fortunately, one leader took decisive action to save lives: President Donald Trump. We did the exact right thing, Trump said in his speech Monday. We saved millions. He has moved seamlessly from the fantasy that the virus would go away, as he has said some 31 times, to the fantasy that he has already dispatched it. I feel well equipped to cover the Republican convention, having covered personality cults in China, Iraq and North Korea. But this grotesque manipulation deserves a response, for it dishonors and erases the 180,000 Americans confirmed to have died from COVID-19. The Trump administration is responsible for the single worst public health failure in the last 100 years, Peter Hotez, a global health expert and dean at the Baylor College of Medicine, told me. Devi Sridhar, an American who is professor of global public health at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, said it had been astounding to watch the Trump narrative from afar. In Scotland, she noted, children are now back in school because the government there was committed to suppressing the virus. The biggest obstacle to an effective COVID-19 response is President Donald Trump, Sridhar told me. There is a path through this crisis, but it requires strong leadership, transparency and letting scientists lead the response. Thats the problem in America: Trump fought science, and the virus won so the public lost. 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. 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. Yet those countries were able to self-correct and bring infections down, although imperfectly and with risks of a return. In contrast, Trump never learned and still tackles the virus with magical thinking while resisting a coherent national strategy driven by science. Pandemic control involves not a single tool but a broad set of skills, making it a measure of good governance. Its not surprising that Germany led by a disciplined scientist, Angela Merkel has done particularly well, with a death rate now only 1/48th that of the United States. If Trump had managed the pandemic as well as Merkel, some 143,000 American lives could have been saved. Think about those peoples lives when you see Trump try to rewrite history. The indisputable truth is this: The United States has 4 percent of the worlds population and 22 percent of the worlds confirmed coronavirus deaths. East-end residents will be coming together Saturday, Aug. 29 to colourfully Reclaim Dentonia Park after two of their neighbours recently fell victim to a violent, racially-charged assault there. The morning of June 25, Mark Austin was walking his dog in the 15-acre park with his partner Candace Zingweg when an altercation broke out that resulted her being knocked to the ground and kicked in the head by two white people. Zinkweg, who was transported to hospital by ambulance, is still dealing with the effects of the concussion she sustained that day. Austin, who is Black, said he was called the n-word and threatened with future gun violence by a third white person. He alleges Toronto police, who on July 7 arrested and charged two men in connection with the incident, failed to respond promptly and appropriately to the situation because of the colour of his skin. That same day, a coalition of groups held a rally outside 55 Division to demand racial justice. Organizers demanded Toronto police immediately lay charges on the assailants, and publicly apologize for their shocking inaction in the face of a clear case of violent assault, racist abuse and ongoing threats to this couple." Toronto police have not said sorry. Since then, those same supporters have been planning a family friendly event at Dentonia Park where people can come together albeit in a physically distanced way to speak out against hate and symbolically take back space. We all feel unsafe, attacked by that hate crime. It hurt all of us, said organizer Zahra Dhanani of Olds Cool General Store, a community hub known for its social justice and anti-racism work. Everyone can relate to this incident. It could have happened to anyone in this community. Dhanani, who is an immigration and refugee lawyer, said Reclaim Dentonia Park is all about encouraging people in the community to look out for each other, and letting those who victimized Austin and Zinkweg and anyone else contemplating bringing harm to those enjoying this popular local green space know their actions arent acceptable and wont be tolerated. She also said the gathering serves to call on the police to better investigate racially-motivated crimes, and treat everyone equally. Brian Champ, of Toronto East Anti-Hate Mobilization, said Saturdays event has been organized to support those who live and work in the highly diverse Crescent Town area, many of whom have had experiences similar to that of Austin and Zinkweg. We want to help build support for people who want to come forward and tell their stories, he said, adding Reclaim Dentonia Park is part of an ongoing effort to hold authorities and institutions accountable to the people theyre supposed to be serving and protecting. Its important to empower people in racialized communities, to remove fears when wrong things happen, to encourage them to speak up. Organizer Sultana Jahangir, the executive director of the South Asian Womens Rights organization, said in the last three or four years there have been a lot of incidents in and around Dentonia Park that have left people in the community feeling unsafe and unwelcome. We know there is systemic racism here and that can lead to violence, she told toronto.com. We have had some incidents where people have experienced racism and felt the police werent helping or taking their matter seriously. People in the community are feeling a bit discouraged and arent calling the cops. Jahangir said Reclaim Dentonia Park is part of a greater effort to create harmony, inclusivity, and safety for people of all cultures and ethnic backgrounds in the area. Lets come together and stand up against racism. We need to reject these racist attitudes and behaviours in our community, she said. As for Austin, he said the kindness theyve been shown by various groups and area residents has meant a lot to him and his partner, and said they're looking forward to taking part in Saturdays event. The support of the community and social justice groups and the unions is what keeps us going, said Austin, who said he still feel shaken by the incident and admitted theyre considering moving out of the city. Reclaim Dentonia Park, which is being dubbed a United Against Hate community art rally and call for justice, will run from 4 to 7 p.m. at Dentonia Park, 80 Thyra Ave. All are welcome. Dont forget your mask, hand sanitizer, and colourful art and signs. Joanna Lavoie is a reporter with toronto.com. Reach her via email: jlavoie@toronto.com Banksy has reportedly funded a bright pink boat to rescue refugees attempting to reach Europe from North Africa. The Louise Michel a 100ft motor yacht named after a 19th-century French anarchist features Banksy artwork of a girl in a life vest holding a heart-shaped buoy. It set sail in secrecy from Spain on 18 August and is in the central Mediterranean where it helped rescue 89 refugees, including women and children, in distress on a rubber boat on Thursday. The boats crew, said to be made up of European activists, had already helped in two previous rescue operations, saving a total of 105 people who are now safe on board Sea-Watch 4, another NGO vessel. The anonymous Bristol graffiti artist is said to have funded the vessel after reaching out to Pia Klemp, the former captain of several non-governmental organisation (NGO) rescue boats, back in September 2019, according to The Guardian. He is said to have written: Hello Pia, Ive read about your story in the papers. You sound like a badass. I am an artist from the UK and Ive made some work about the migrant crisis, obviously I cant keep the money. Could you use it to buy a new boat or something? Please let me know. Well done. Banksy. Ms Klemp told The Guardian Banksys involvement only went as far as providing financial support. Banksy wont pretend that he knows better than us how to run a ship, and we wont pretend to be artists, she told the newspaper. Banksy recently donated a trio of paintings referencing the European refugee crisis to a charity auction to help raise money for a hospital in Bethlehem. The works, titled Mediterranean Sea View 2017, were estimated to be worth between 800,000 and 1.2m and ended up fetching 2.2m. P assengers are paying hundreds of pounds for a seat on flights back to the UK to avoid two-weeks of quarantine. The Czech Republic, Switzerland and Jamaica were added to the quarantine list on Thursday, meaning travellers returning to the UK from these countries will have to self-isolate for 14 days. Tourists are now scrambling to get home before 4am on Saturday when the new measures kick in. It is unlikely people arranging travel back from Jamaica will make it in time after the change in policy was announced on Thursday night. But flight prices from Switzerland and the Czech Republic have soared in the past 24 hours. Swiss International Air Lines is selling seats on a flight from Geneva to Heathrow departing on Friday afternoon for 321, while flights on Saturday after the new quarantine rules come into force are available for just 99. Travellers rush back to the UK to beat quarantine / REUTERS A flight from Zurich on Friday is available for 244. British Airways put on extra services from the Czech Republic and Switzerland to Heathrow following the quarantine announcement, costing 268 from Prague, 308 from Zurich and 353 from Geneva. One Twitter user said they could only find a direct flight from Switzerland for more than 400 before the quarantine rules kick in. She wrote: "Only direct flight back from Switzerland to UK I could find for tomorrow is Zurich to Edinburgh for 407. "Most indirect don't work as if you change planes in a country already on the quarantine list you will have to quarantine anyway!" Travellers rush back to the UK (file photo) / PA A couple landing at Heathrow Airport from Switzerland on Friday morning explained how they had cut short their Swiss Alps honeymoon because of the looming changes to travel quarantine rules. Daniel Maree and Leisa Evans, from Stevenage, spent around 200 on new flights, so they would not have to self-isolate for two weeks as their original flight would have arrived back in England after 4am on Saturday. The couple, both 43, and travelling with their four-year-old son, were due back later on Saturday but decided to change their flight home before the Governments announcement. We took a chance and said well if it happens it happens, Mr Maree said. Travellers rush back to the UK (file photo) / PA I would have lost two weeks of work. Im self-employed, so no work, no pay. It would have affected us quite a bit, especially after an expensive holiday. We anticipated it so it wasnt that much of a shock. Yeah its a bit disappointing. Mr Maree said they had flown out a week ago despite being aware of other countries being hit recently with changes to travel quarantine rules. 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 Its a once-in-a-lifetime trip you do, so we thought wed take the risk, he said. On the Governments handling of travel corridors, he added: Im sure they know beforehand that they are going to announce it, say a week later. So they might give people a bit more notice, which would have been probably better. Another traveller arriving at Heathrow Airport from Zurich in Switzerland on Friday morning had rebooked his flight to beat the impending travel quarantine deadline. Saul Burban, 26, from London, flew out on August 16 and was due back at 8pm on Saturday, but managed to spend just 28 on a new flight. He said: We got the warning a couple of days beforehand. It would have been a massive drama if theyd only told us on the day, or only mentioned it on the day. Air bridges: Czech Republic and Switzerland join England's quarantine list But there were rumblings in the press a couple of days before that so it sort of gave me a heads-up so I knew to sort of keep an eye out on it. When I thought yeah, they are going to make the decision I just rang up, I actually rang up a little bit earlier to get my flight and Im happy that I did because that was the only flight that was available leaving at 7 oclock in the morning. Mr Burban said he knew the risks of travelling, but added: I hadnt seen my family in about eight months and it was the first opportunity. He added: People have had a pretty hard couple of months. If someone wants to go on holiday they do it at their own risk. As long as theyre responsible and quarantine for two weeks when they come back it doesnt bother me. Luckily I managed to get back a little bit earlier, if I hadnt Id have probably had to quarantine myself. I wouldnt have expected much sympathy because I chose to go out there in the first place. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned British holidaymakers that quarantine rules could continue to change rapidly. He told Sky News: When people travel at the moment, when coronavirus is still a thing, (they) just need to be aware that unfortunately things can change very quickly and, you know, if you go with your eyes open and you know that things can change, it wont then come as so much as of a surprise. Reductions in coronavirus cases mean that Cuba has been added to the list of destinations from which people can arrive in England or Wales without entering quarantine, while Wales has also removed the quarantine requirement for arrivals from Singapore. A nuclear energy venture founded by Bill Gates said Thursday it hopes to build small advanced nuclear power stations that can store electricity to supplement grids increasingly supplied by intermittent sources like solar and wind power. The effort is part of the billionaire philanthropists push to help fight climate change, and is targeted at helping utilities slash their emissions of planet-warming gases without undermining grid reliability. TerraPower LLC, which Gates founded 14 years ago, and its partner GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, plan to commercialize stations called Natrium in the United States later this decade, TerraPowers President and Chief Executive Chris Levesque said. The project has not previously been reported. Levesque said the companies are seeking additional funding from private partners and the U.S. Energy Department, and that the project has the support of PacifiCorp, owned by billionaire Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway, along with Energy Northwest and Duke Energy. If successful, the plan is to build the plants in the United States and abroad, Levesque said. By 2050 we would see hundreds of these reactors around the world, solving multiple different energy needs, Levesque said. The 345-megawatt plants would be cooled by liquid sodium and cost about $1 billion (760 million pounds) each. Nuclear power is a top source of virtually emissions-free electricity, but many plants are shutting in the United States because of high costs and competition from solar and wind. Critics of advanced nuclear have also warned that smaller nuclear is even more expensive than conventional. The new plants, however, are designed to complement a renewable power because they will store the reactor power in tanks of molten salt during days when the grid is well supplied. The nuclear power could be used later when solar and wind power are low due to weather conditions. Molten salt power storage has been used at thermal solar plants in the past, but leaks have plagued some of the projects. Levesque said the Natrium design would provide more consistent temperatures than a solar plant, resulting in less wear and tear. Gates, chairman of TerraPowers board, said in a statement that Natrium innovation was extremely difficult but its team had the expertise, commercial experience, and the resources necessary to develop viable reactors. Levesque said Natrium plants would first be built in the United States and other developed countries, but could later spread to countries that do not have yet have nuclear power. Nonproliferation experts have warned that advanced nuclear projects could become targets for attack because their uranium fuel would be more highly enriched and more easily converted to fissile material than conventional fuel. Levesque said the plants would reduce proliferation risks because they reduce overall nuclear waste. Gates had initially hoped to build an experimental nuclear plant near Beijing with state-owned China National Nuclear Corp. But last year, TerraPower was forced to seek new partners after the Trump administration restricted nuclear deals with China. Updated 2pm Councillors from both Sinn Fein and the Social Democrats have been sanctioned by their parties after holidaying in countries not on the Republics green list. Travel to non-green list destinations has been advised against by the Government, with travellers from these countries required to self-isolate for 14 days upon their arrival in the Republic to help curb the spread of Covid-19. The party whip has been removed from Sinn Fein Monaghan councillor Cathy Bennett, after she travelled to Lanzarote in a trip breaching party guidance and health advice on international travel. In a statement this afternoon, Sinn Fein group leader on Monaghan County Council Cllr Brian McKenna said: On foot of a recommendation from the Sinn Fein national councillors forum, I have today withdrawn the Sinn Fein whip from Cllr Cathy Bennett. Advertisement I know that this move will add further embarrassment to Cathy and her family but I also know she will accept this sanction in recognition of her mistake and the hurt that has been caused to members of the public. Cathy breached party guidance and public health advice regarding international travel. She is deeply sorry for her actions and I know that she is sincere in her apologies and regret. However, it is vitally important that elected representatives show leadership in respecting the necessary public health advice so that we can collectively tackle Covid-19. I know that this move will add further embarrassment to Cathy and her family but I also know she will accept this sanction in recognition of her mistake and the hurt that has been caused to members of the public. Social Democrats The Social Democrats party has also removed the whip for six months from Kildare councillor Bill Clear, after he travelled to Spain with his family. Cllr Clear has apologised to his constituents, saying the trip to the country was in poor judgement. He has also resigned from his role as Deputy Mayor of Naas. In a statement, Cllr Clear said: "I have apologised and expressed regret at my actions in relation to a recent family trip to Spain, and I reiterate again my sincere apology to the people I represent and to my fellow councillors in Kildare." The party expects its public representatives to uphold high standards in public office and regret this lapse in judgement by Cllr Clear. The Social Democrats party also issued a statement following a meeting of its national executive on the matter yesterday evening: "Cllr Clear accepts that he exercised poor judgement relating to his travel to and return from Spain." "The national executive this evening considered Cllr Clears explanation for his trip to Spain and his failure to adhere to public health guidance. The national executive have taken into account the seriousness of the issue, his expressions of regret, and the actions he has already taken to demonstrate that regret. "The party expects its public representatives to uphold high standards in public office and regret this lapse in judgement by Cllr Clear, who has to date been a strong representative for his constituents in Naas Municipal District. Accordingly, the national executive have decided to remove the whip from Cllr Clear for a period of six months, beginning immediately." WASHINGTON - For more than 10 hours this week, President Donald Trump and his allies used the unfiltered platform of a national political convention to paint a portrait of two Americas that do not exist. In one - a misrepresentation of life under Trump - the coronavirus has been conquered by presidential leadership, the economy is at its pre-pandemic levels, troops are returning home, and the president is an empathetic figure who supports immigration and would never stoke the nation's racial grievances. In the other - a hypothetical preview of a Joe Biden presidency that mischaracterizes many of his proposals - police are defunded, taxes are increased, infanticide is legal, suburbs are abolished and cities burn as violence spreads nationwide. "No one will be safe in Biden's America," Trump said Thursday in a speech that described the upcoming election as a choice between a dystopian socialist future under Democrats and a resurgent America under Trump. While all political confabs involve some level of spin and revisionism, the Republican National Convention this year has stood out for its brazen defiance of facts, ethical guidelines and tradition, according to experts on propaganda and misinformation. While Trump, a former reality television star, has long trafficked in mistruths and innuendo, the broad cast of characters who took up his tactics during prime-time speeches underscores how his brand of politicking has taken root in the GOP. The result was a four-day display of propaganda-style programming, said Peter Pomerantsev, a former Russian-television producer and author of "Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible," a memoir that describes the Kremlin's efforts to manipulate the news. "It reminds me of things I've seen in Russia before," he said. "Facts don't really matter in this context. You're just telling different people what they want to hear, so facts become tertiary. They're not trying to even win a debate; they're trying to feed people's confirmation biases and their fears." A carousel of Trump endorsers and family members used taped speeches and the backdrop of federal property to depict a swift descent into radicalism and chaos if Biden is elected in November. They described the former vice president as an avatar for socialism who would wreck the economy with trillion-dollar tax increases, corruptly enrich his family members and enact job-killing bans on fracking and fossil fuels. By contrast, the convention used highly produced videos, emotional testimonials and surprise appearances to portray Trump in a positive light. The portrayals were often at odds with the policies and behaviors Trump has embraced during his turbulent first 3 1/2 years in office. The contrast was perhaps best illustrated by Trump's decision to host a naturalization ceremony for immigrants at the White House on Tuesday, with videotaped footage that aired as part of the Republican convention's "Land of Opportunity" programming that evening. "Today America rejoices as we welcome five absolutely incredible new members into our great American family," Trump said during the ceremony, the first to be conducted at the White House for apparent political purposes. "You're now fellow citizens of the greatest nation on the face of God's earth. Congratulations." During his administration, Trump has made prolific use of his executive authority to restrict immigration and make it harder for noncitizens to naturalize. The president has called for restricting family-sponsored migration, deriding the largest category of legal immigrants as beneficiaries of "chain migration." Neimat Awadelseid, one of the immigrants who participated in the ceremony, obtained citizenship through her brother after coming to the United States from Sudan. Earlier this year, Trump issued a proclamation that barred citizens of Sudan, along with those of several other African countries, from applying to move to the United States through a diversity visa lottery, citing national security concerns. Awadelseid described Trump's policy on Sudan as "painful." In 2018, Trump referred to African nations as "shithole" countries, questioning why immigrants from that part of the world were allowed to come to the United States. Leon Rodriguez, who ran the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during the Obama administration, said Trump's use of a naturalization ceremony to boost his political fortunes was a sign that the president now realizes his strident approach and offensive rhetoric have taken a toll on his electoral prospects. "They're trying to look different in this convention than how they have governed for the last 3 1/2 years," he said. "It's pretty cynical." Trump pulled together a lengthy roster of validators in his four-day nominating convention, with a goal of rebooting his campaign and changing the narrative of a presidency in crisis. Several family members testified on his work ethic, countering the image of a television-obsessed president who doesn't read his briefing materials. Lawmakers and residents described him as an empathetic and caring listener behind closed doors, a contrast to his public image as a cruel brawler. Black supporters declared he was not a racist, national security officials said he was a level-headed commander in chief, and female aides countered the image of a onetime playboy who as president tweets about women's facelifts and facial features. Several medical professionals described him as a lifesaving leader who successfully responded to the coronavirus pandemic. The deluge of back-to-back misleading depictions offered a distortion of reality with the sole aim of earning Trump a second term, said Barbara Perry, director of presidential studies at the University of Virginia's Miller Center. "Our legendary presidents are known for their truthfulness: Washington couldn't tell a lie, Lincoln earned the moniker 'Honest Abe,' Truman was famous for plain speaking," she said. "So it is indeed ironic that our first reality-TV-star-turned-president, abetted by his party, would bury truth in an avalanche of prevarications about current cataclysms and his role in them." The Trump campaign has claimed that the president is only using the platform of the convention to deliver an unfiltered message directly to the American people, blaming the news media for often injecting bias into their coverage of the White House. "The national news media has turned into the Joe Biden rapid response team, inventing a new role for themselves as the partisan opposition to President Trump," campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said by email. "It's reached such bizarre levels that the Post even fact-checked Herschel Walker's (true) statement that President Trump once owned a professional football team. These fact checks are practically the same as press releases from rival political campaigns." The Washington Post Fact Checker did not look into whether Trump owned the team but assessed Walker's assertion that "he used what he learned to make the team better." Biden has made Trump's loose relationship with the truth part of his messaging pitch, saying Thursday that the president's attacks on him were part of a pattern of stretching the truth and using lies to distract from his record. "It's just one lie after the other - lying, lying, lying, lying," Biden said on MSNBC. He added, "I think everybody knows this man has a somewhat pathological tendency to not tell the truth." After Vice President Mike Pence's speech Wednesday, Biden deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield accused Republicans of using "debunked scare tactics and gaslighting in an attempt to further divide us." There's a risk that the approach by Trump could backfire, with polls showing most Americans do not view the president as honest. In a statement endorsing Biden, more than 200 officials from the George W. Bush administration denounced Trump for a lack of honesty. "Over the past four years we, as a nation, have struggled with truth," said the statement. "Conspiracy theories have been legitimized and facts have been dismissed." The statement took Trump to task for his handling of the pandemic, which the president has received low marks for in public polls as the death toll has surpassed 175,000 Americans. During the convention, some Trump allies referred to the pandemic in the past tense, and others attempted to rewrite the history of his response. In glitzy videos and misleading testimonials, Trump was hailed as a bold and lifesaving leader who "was right" on the coronavirus while Democrats and doctors were wrong. Pence on Wednesday hailed Trump for banning "all travel" from China in January, even though the president's restrictions had several exemptions and did not stop the virus from spreading through communities. On foreign policy, Trump's erratic approach was presented as steady and effective, with former U.S. ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell claiming that he had watched Trump "charm" German Chancellor Angela Merkel and with other officials falsely suggesting that the president has brought back significant numbers of American troops from abroad. Pence and a number of other speakers stretched the truth as they attacked Biden and predicted he would fail to enforce law and order if he was elected. Trump's son Eric falsely claimed Biden supported defunding police, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel indicated Biden would raise taxes on 82 percent of Americans, and former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz described Biden as a "Catholic in name only." The Post's Fact Checker and other independent outlets have debunked those and other claims as misleading or false. But with four days of largely uninterrupted prime-time messaging, Trump's attacks could succeed in their intended goal of dragging down Biden's poll numbers and uniting much of the Republican Party around the president, said Emma Briant, a professor at Bard College who studies propaganda and political communication. "The RNC seems to have put the emphasis on a tried-and-tested weapon to try and unite support - leveraging fear in fearful times," she said. "If one doesn't have truth on one's side, shouting loudly with emotion can certainly work." - - - The Washington Post's Jose A. Del Real contributed to this report. - Silva completed his move to Chelsea on Friday, August 28, with the club officially unveiling him as their player - The 35-year-old left PSG after spending eight years with the French giants - Silva penned a one-year deal with the London club Chelsea have completed yet another signing as Thiago Silva joined the Blues barely weeks after losing the Champions League final with Paris Saint Germain. Silva becomes the clubs third signing in a week after Ben Chilwell and Malang Sarr and the fifth overall in this transfer window. READ ALSO: Sergio Aguero bombarded with questions about brother Messi during Livestream READ ALSO: Kiungo wa kati wa Manchester United Paul Pogba apatikana na virusi vya corona TUKO.co.ke has since learnt the 35-year old has penned a one-year deal with Chelsea. His arrival at Chelsea meant he put an end to an illustrious eight-year spell in France with PSG where he won seven Ligue 1 titles. Silva completed his Chelsea medical on Thursday, August 27 and was expected to fly to London within the next 24 hours. Speaking on his completed move, the Brazilian expressed excitement at playing for the Blues, who finished fourth in the Premier League last campaign. "I am so happy to be joining Chelsea. I am delighted to be a part of Frank Lampards exciting squad for next season and Im here to challenge for honours. See you soon Chelsea fans, I look forward to playing at Stamford Bridge very soon.," Silva said as quoted in the Chelsea website. During his spell in France, Silva made a total of 315 appearances for PSG including 21 in the just concluded 2019/2020 campaign. Before being snatched by PSG in 2012, Silva was a rising star with AC Milan where he spent three seasons between 2009- 2012. READ ALSO: Blow for Lampard as 4 Chelsea players go into isolation after returning from holiday Silva joined Chelsea after eight years wirh PSG. Photo: Getty Images. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Cristiano Ronaldo confirms where he will be playing next season The signing of Silva further highlighter Chelseas intent in the transfer window as they seek to fully bolster their squad ahead of the new season. Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner, who signed from Ajax and RB Leipzig respectively are already settling into the club. The Blues are also in hot pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Kai Havertz, who is valued at around 67million. Do you have an inspirational story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Tuko news Women are all over me, my wife should be saved and respectful -Stivo Simpleboy | Tuko TV : Source: TUKO.co.ke In the early morning, Sun Zhicheng sits in front of the table in her studio and gets ready to start her work for the day. She twists off the pigment lid with her teeth, dries the interior of a finger-size bottle with a bulb blower under her chin and uses a tiny brush to paint on the inner surface of the tiny container. The 33-year-old is an inside-bottle painter in the city of Hengshui in Hebei province. She was born paralyzed and can only move her right hand. It usually takes her several hours to paint the inside of a snuff bottle with a bottleneck roughly the size of a coin. Snuff bottles were used by Chinese during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) to contain powdered tobacco. With delicate carvings on the surface or painting inside, snuff bottles are now popular collectors' items. Sun was born in a family of farmers in Hengshui. Being confined at home due to her paralysis, she learned how to write by herself when she was a child and cultivated her natural talent by teaching herself how to paint. When told that some people with disabilities had managed to live on their own by painting bottles in 2009, Sun decided to have a try, dreaming of being independent one day. But her parents were not supportive. They felt inside-bottle painting was difficult for people without disabilities, let alone for someone who has with them. "I knew my aging parents couldn't look after me my entire life. I was determined to learn a skill to support myself," Sun says. In school, Sun tied her middle and ring fingers with a thin thread to hold the paintbrush firmly, and used her head, chin and teeth for such actions as opening the paints. She practiced painting for more than 16 hours every day. "I wanted to prove that I can support myself and lead a life of value." In August 2010, one of her works featuring flowers and birds won the third prize in an exhibition of works by people with disabilities in Hengshui. Her work not only won the hearts of the judges but also helped her find her Mr Right. In 2012, while Sun continued her studies, Wang Shunxin, a migrant worker from Dezhou, Shandong province, visited the school where Sun was studying. "I saw a beautifully painted bottle and asked to meet the creator. And there she was, a pretty, tiny figure sitting in a wheelchair, with her eyes filled with optimism and hope," Wang, 35, recalls. They became friends in the following year, during which time Wang encountered misery in life and work, but was comforted and cheered up by Sun. After they got married in 2014, the couple started selling inside-painted bottles. Wang looks after Sun, helps her when she paints and sells the bottles as a street vendor. The works sell for 200 yuan ($29) to more than 100,000 yuan. With the help of the local government, Sun opened her own studio in May. They also created a livestreaming account to teach netizens how to paint inside bottles and share their lives online. "By telling our story, I hope more people can find beauty in life and spread positive energy across society," Sun says. A man with a firearm raises his hands up as he walks toward vehicles during a riot in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 25, 2020. (Brendan Gutenschwager/via Reuters) Attorneys for Teen Accused of Kenosha Killings Establish Legal Defense Fund The attorneys representing Kyle Rittenhouse, the Illinois teenager who allegedly shot three people during riots in Kenosha earlier this week, announced Thursday that they have set up a fund to help cover the teens legal defense. Rittenhouse, 17, was charged by Kenosha County prosecutors on Thursday with one count of first-degree reckless homicide, one count of first-degree homicide, two counts of recklessly endangering safety, one count of attempted homicide, and one count of possessing a dangerous weapon by a person under 18, according to court records. The teenager was arrested Wednesday, the day after the shooting, in Antioch, Illinois, where his place of residence is listed. A man is wounded by gunfire amid rioting in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 25, 2020. (@Louriealex/Instagram via Reuters) Rittenhouse, who is being held without bond, is due to appear in court in the city for an extradition hearing on Friday. Lin Wood, the attorney for high school student Nicholas Sandmann, announced Thursday night that a legal team from the Texas non-profit #FightBack Foundation, Inc. will be part of Rittenhouses defense team. The team will be led by John Pierce, according to Wood. (1) Thanks to ALL Freedom Loving Americans who responded to requests for contact information on Kyle Rittenhouse. We have connected with Kyles family & help is on the way. Kyle will have excellent legal representation. We owe him a legal defense. Lin Wood (@LLinWood) August 27, 2020 Thanks to ALL Freedom Loving Americans who responded to requests for contact information on Kyle Rittenhouse, Wood tweeted. We have connected with Kyles family & help is on the way. Kyle will have excellent legal representation. We owe him a legal defense. Many others will need your help in coming days. Stay strong. Continue to speak truth. Continue to demand justice under our Constitution. Continue to be fearless, Wood continued. Most important of all, continue to pray for your fellow citizens. Pray for our president. Pray for our country. And always, always, always #FightBack. We will not go quietly in the night. We are Americans. The team is bolstered by local and national lawyers, he added on Twitter, noting that the #FightBack Foundation will be accepting donations in Rittenhouses fight for justice. It comes after GoFundMe removed multiple fundraisers for the teen. Wood told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he helped form the foundation with a mission to protect and defend our Constitution on many fronts. Kyles defense is one of those fronts, he said. A recently launched website for the foundation states that it brings lawsuits to check the lies of the left. The radical left has taken over mainstream media and they dont care about truth. They will lie, cancel, and defame anyone who stands in their way, the website reads. But the truth still matters. And thats why we bring lawsuits to stop the lefts lies. To defend the truth. To defend freedom. Wood added that the foundations fundraiser is the only approved fund for the teens legal defense. Please be wary of any other efforts to raise money for Kyles defense, he said on Twitter. Pierce will appear with Rittenhouse at an extradition hearing in Lake County Circuit Court in Illinois on Friday. Zachary Stieber and Reuters contributed to this report. Read More 3 Struck by Bullets During Rioting in Wisconsin Identified Rhea's Claims Rhea went on to make several claims during her interview including, Sushant being afraid of flying, and that he didn't leave his hotel room while in Paris on their Europe trip. And she also said that the actor had met a psychiatrist in 2013, who prescribed him Modafinil. Sushant's Family Lawyer On Rhea's Statement Sushant's family lawyer also reacted to the statements saying, Rhea was tying herself in knots' by making statements regarding SSR's deteriorating mental health. "In the interview, Rhea said that Sushant developed serious mental health issues during his Europe trip last year. If he was really disturbed, then she is seriously obligated to inform Sushant's family. By making these statements she is only tying herself in knots. Even if we assume all that she said was correct, but it would still not justify her actions. The original charge is abetment to suicide and her conduct points towards her role in the incident," Vikas Singh said. Sushant's Family Also Slammed Rhea For Her Comments On the other hand, as channels started to promote their interviews with Rhea, Sushant's sister Shweta Singh Kirti said it would be an "utter disgrace" if the interview is aired on a national platform. The right-wing government of Progressive Conservative Ontario Premier Doug Ford is currently enforcing a homicidal reopening of Ontarios schools, with the aim of forcing 2 million students and over 200,000 teachers to return to unsafe classrooms and school buildings in less than two weeks. Contrary to the governments absurd assertion that it has presented guidelines to ensure a safe reopening, the reality is that it is rushing to cram children into overcrowded and poorly-resourced schools so that their parents can be forced back to work to turn a profit for the ruling elite. The Ford governments plan calls for the in-person return of elementary students from kindergarten to grade 8. Elementary school students will return for the full five-day school week. There will be no reduction in class sizes to facilitate social distancing. Students from kindergarten to grade 3 will not be required to wear masks. High school students will be subjected to the so-called hybrid model, with a cohort of up to 15 students returning to the classroom for part-time, in-person instruction, alternating with the other half of the class learning remotely. Dr. David Williams, the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario, had significant input in devising the plan. Williams came under fire earlier this year for suggesting that testing for the coronavirus should be confined only to those who exhibit symptoms, despite the fact that it is scientifically proven that those who are presymptomatic or asymptomatic can be infectious. This policy guided the Ford government earlier this year when they forced asymptomatic migrant farm workers back to work. At least three young migrant farm labourers are known to have succumbed to COVID-19. Predictably enough, nothing is being done to offer regular COVID-19 testing to students and teachers. The governments guidelines specifically state that schools have the choice of whether to contact public health authorities or parents if students are unwell, because these are frequent occurrences and students often display non-specific symptoms. Even if an outbreak occurs, which is defined as two or more cases in a school within a 14-day period, the facility will not close. Instead, the government has instructed schools to put up extra signage, restrict extracurricular activities and manage staff and student movements. In the event a school is forced to close, the guidelines also declare that the outbreak need not be over for the school to reopen. Initially, the reopening plan called for an additional $309 million for the education budget, but a further $244 million was added for improved ventilation and cleaning on August 13 after a public outcry about the inadequacies of the governments plan. This sum is a pitiful drop in the bucket given the systematic cost-cutting to education budgets pursued by successive Liberal and Tory governments. The criminal drive to reopen schools is provoking widespread opposition. Nearly 250,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org calling for major changes to the plan. The Ford government would not be able to proceed so recklessly without the intimate collaboration of Ontarios education trade unions, whose main priority is to ensure that no social opposition or protests develop against the reopening of schools. The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO), the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF), the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO) and the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) have limited themselves to claiming that the government has violated the Occupational Health and Safety Act. In an August 13 letter complaining about the lack of union involvement in drafting the back-to-school plan, they issued a token threat to go to the pro-employer Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) to contest the governments plan. The OLRB has upheld only 1 of over 300 COVID-19 related claims since the start of the pandemic. The unions bitter hostility to any struggle by teachers against the dangerous reopening policy is in keeping with their role in suppressing opposition to the Ford governments attacks over the past year. Beginning with the expiration of the contract for 250,000 teachers and education staff at the end of August 2019, the unions deliberately sought to isolate the teachers and prevent them from fighting together. Support amongst teachers for strike action in defense of public education was overwhelming: 98 percent of ETFO members, 97 percent of OECTA members, and 95.5 percent of OSSTF members voted in favour of a strike. However, the unions flagrantly ignored these huge strike mandates and systematically suppressed the initiative of their members, preventing unified action against the Ford government. Instead of a combined effort, the unions conducted a series of rotating one day strikes and work to rule, with all of the unions following separate job action schedules and pursuing their own negotiations with the government. It was only after six months that the unions, in the face of overwhelming public support for teachers, eventually acceded to a one-day strike on Feb. 21. The one-day walkout was the largest teacher strike in the province in over two decades. In opposition to the Ford governments austerity program, teachers demanded substantial increases in education spending to reduce class sizes, repair dilapidated school buildings, increase teacher pay and provide support services to students. They were also opposing the Ford governments imposition of the introduction of four mandatory online learning courses for high school students, many of whom lack the equipment and internet access necessary to participate in them. (See: 200,000 Canadian teachers strike, as global worker counteroffensive continues) Given the depth of popular hostility to the Ford governments across-the-board assault on spending on health and social services as well as education, including a 1 percent pay and benefit cap for over 1 million public sector workers, the teachers strike could have served as a launching pad for a broad-based working class struggle against austerity that would have inevitably raised the question of a general strike and political power. But the unions had other ideas. Terrified by the strong public support for the one-day strike, they swiftly called off or delayed any further regional strikes and work-to-rule plans. They then seized on the coronavirus pandemic as a cover to step up their closed-door talks with the Ford government. This resulted in all four unions ramming through concessions-laden contracts during March and April that met none of the teachers demands. The unions shutting down of the teachers strike and the acceptance of large portions of Fords cuts has created conditions in which teachers, students, and their families are being forced to risk their lives in unsafe and under-resourced school buildings amid a raging pandemic. Consider, for example, the issue of class sizes. In their joint letter of Aug. 13, the four education unions identified the problem of large class sizes as their main concern in the governments back-to-school plan. Large numbers of students crammed into poorly-ventilated classrooms will create ideal conditions for the virus to run rampant. Yet just four months earlier, the OSSTF agreed to an increase in class sizes in the final agreement it reached with the government and forced its membership to accept. The increase in class size from an average of 22 to 23 students, first introduced in the 20192020 school year, was made permanent. A similar increase in class sizes was agreed to by the ETFO. (See: Citing COVID-19 crisis, Ontario teacher unions impose concession-filled contracts) The only way teachers can stop the criminal reopening of schools and save lives is by forming independent rank-and-file safety committees in opposition to the trade unions. These committees should call for the immediate closure of all schools until the pandemic is brought fully under control, and demand a vast expansion in funding for public education to ensure all students can access online instruction and additional support services, including mental health care, special education assistance and food security. To fight for these demands, the rank-and-file safety committees must strive to unite all workerseducators, school bus drivers, janitors, maintenance workers and other support staff, with manufacturing, health care, logistics, grocery and food processing, retail and restaurant workersto carry out a nationwide general strike to prevent the reopening of schools and save lives. Teachers in the United States, where thousands of infections among teachers and students have been reported across the country since schools began reopening in late July, have already taken the decision to establish rank-and-file safety committees to fight for this program. (See: Form independent rank-and-file safety committees of educators, parents and students) We strongly encourage all educators, students, parents, and family members in Ontario and across Canada who agree with this program to register today to attend the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees next online meeting at 3 p.m. Eastern time this Saturday, August 29. The coronavirus knows no national boundaries. Only a coordinated, international response to the pandemic can save the lives of teachers, students and their families. But the increase is widespread, and it is unsettling societies that had hoped the worst was behind them. Paris on Friday joined some other French jurisdictions in imposing a citywide mask requirement, with cases spiking. France, Germany, Spain and others posted caseloads in recent days that had not been seen since April and early May. Spain has been hit particularly hard, with per capita cases now worse than in the United States a notable marker in Europe, which after the initial springtime spike had generally controlled the virus more successfully than America. TANZANIA, Tanzania - The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution Friday calling on the United Nations and its 193 member nations to step up action to increase the number of women in military and civilian positions at all levels in the U.N.s far-flung peacekeeping operations. The resolution recognizes the indispensable role of women in increasing the overall performance and effectiveness of peacekeeping operations, stressing that a better balance between men and women contributes to greater credibility of the U.N. missions among the people they are mandated to protect, and more effective community engagement. The Indonesian-sponsored measure puts a spotlight on the huge disparity between men and women in the U.N.s 13 peacekeeping operations, despite efforts over decades to improve the gender balance. Calling himself a proud feminist, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lashed out at men who abuse power and declared at March observances of International Womens Day that the fight for gender equality is the biggest human rights challenge we face. He has made the promotion of women and achieving gender equality a top priority within the United Nations. Fridays resolution recognizes the significance of the 20th anniversary of a Security Council resolution on women peace and security and the 25th anniversary of the U.N. womens conference in Beijing that adopted a 150-page road map to achieve gender equality as momentum for all countries to implement the resolution adopted in 2000. It said this should be done by ensuring and promoting the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in peace processes and increasing the number of civilian and uniformed women in peacekeeping at all levels and in all positions, including senior leadership positions. According to the U.N. Department of Peace Operations, women made up 1% of deployed uniformed personnel in 1993. Today, it said, only 6% of all uniformed military, police and justice and corrections personnel in field missions are women. In 2019, out of approximately 95,000 peacekeepers, women constituted 4.7% of military contingents and 10.8% of police units in U.N. peacekeeping missions, the department said. In total, only 6% of all uniformed military, police and justice and corrections personnel in field missions are women. In 2015, the Security Council called for doubling the number of women in uniformed peace operations by 2028. This means increasing the number of women in military contingents to 15 per cent, the number of women military observers and staff officers to 25 per cent, and the number of individual women officers to 30 per cent and women in police units to 20 per cent, the Department of Peace Operations said. The resolution encourages the 193 U.N. member nations to develop strategies and measures to increase the deployment of uniformed women to peacekeeping operations including by providing access to information and training and identifying and addressing barriers in the recruitment, deployment, and promotion of uniformed women peacekeepers. It expresses concern at allegations of sexual harassment in peacekeeping operations and affirms the secretary-generals zero tolerance policy on all forms of sexual harassment. It requests the U.N. chief to strengthen efforts to prevent and address sexual harassment within peacekeeping operations, in close co-operation and consultation with member states. The Department of Peace Operations said the U.N. recently deployed a record number of women into the most senior military roles in U.N. peace operations - with one force commander and two deputy force commanders now serving in the field. The department said member states are now requested to nominate a minimum of 20% women for individual police officer positions, the department said, and priority is being given to police units that include women. A man accused of 'kidnapping and sexually assaulting' a woman allegedly hid in a wall cavity behind a bookshelf during a police raid on a Sydney home. NSW Police searched a property on Monfarville Road, St Marys, on August 14 following reports a woman, 37, was allegedly being sexually abused on an ongoing basis by a man known to her. While executing the search warrant, officers allegedly found the man, 43, they wished to speak to hidden in a concealed wall cavity behind a bookshelf at the home. The man was arrested at the home and taken to Penrith Police Station, where he was charged with 13 offences Officers seized several items, including mobile phones. The man was arrested at the home and taken to Penrith Police Station, where he was charged with 13 offences. They include three counts of resisting arrest, sexual intercourse without consent and take/detain person with intent to obtain advantage cause actual bodily harm. Other charges include two counts of common assault, two aggravated sexual assault charges - inflict actual bodily harm and deprive liberty- stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two outstanding warrants for domestic violence offences. Police searched the home again yesterday with assistance from specialist tactical resources including the dog squad and bomb unit. Rubbish was strewn across the floor in the hidden passage (pictured). Police seized items to undergo forensic examination, including another mobile phone, duct tape and documentation More items were seized to undergo forensic examination, including another mobile phone, duct tape and documentation. Police will allege in court that the man sexually assaulted and physically abused the woman between July and August this year. A dog at the property was taken to a vet for treatment. He was refused bail to appear before Penrith Local Court on Friday. Investigations are continuing. The architect of Australia's free trade deal with China insists relations between the two countries have 'never been better'. Former Liberal trade minister Andrew Robb was instrumental in Australia signing a 2015 agreement to eliminate import tariffs with its biggest trading partner, China. Mr Robb, who now runs a very lucrative consultancy advising Chinese firms, said the relationship was the best it had ever been - despite 'wolf warrior' diplomacy threats from Beijing to boycott Australian goods and services and the new suspension of beef exports. 'Our relationship at a political level has become difficult but the relationship at a commercial level has never been better,' he told Daily Mail Australia. Scroll down for video The architect of Australia's free trade deal with China insists relations between the two countries have 'never been better'. Former Liberal trade minister Andrew Robb (second right) was instrumental in Australia signing a June 2015 agreement to eliminate import tariffs with its biggest trading partner, China He made the claim as China suspended beef imports from a fifth abattoir in Queensland after Prime Minister Scott Morrison threatened to tear up Victoria's Belt and Road deal with Beijing. China's customs authority claims it found the banned drug chloramphenicol in beef from the family-owned business John Dee Warwick. Nonetheless, Australia's annual exports to China during the last financial year hit a new record high of $151billion - with the Communist nation buying 34 per cent of all Australian exports. This was despite the imposition in May of 80 per cent tariffs on Australian barley exports to China. Australia's trade surplus with China widened in June even though China's ambassador in Canberra, Cheng Jingye, in April threatened a boycott on education, tourism and wine exports in retaliation at Mr Morrison's call for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19 in Wuhan. The federal government on Thursday announced the states and territories would be required to seek commonwealth permission to sell infrastructure or enter commercial arrangements with foreign powers. Mr Robb said Australia would need to rely on China after the pandemic, despite recent diplomatic tensions, but he couldn't guarantee a strong trade relationship would continue. 'Who knows what the future holds?,' he said. 'China has become a lot more assertive than it was even four or five years ago. 'It's more assertive and aggressive and the government of the day has to deal with that one way or another.' Australia's trade surplus with China widened in June even though China's ambassador in Canberra, Cheng Jingye (pictured), in April threatened a boycott on education, tourism and wine exports in retaliation at Prime Minister Scott Morrison's call for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19 in Wuhan Still, Mr Robb insisted Australia would need China to emerge from the coronavirus recession - the worst economic downturn since the 1930s Great Depression. 'The relationship has never been better because of the free trade agreement,' he said. 'We, in the world, need a working relationship with China coming out the other end of the pandemic because we, including China, will struggle to restore the prosperity that all the world, that many parts of the world was experiencing.' Mr Robb also defended using his experience as a former trade minister to lucratively charge Chinese and Asian companies for advice on how to succeed in Australia. His website andrewrobb.com.au features an image of him as trade minister. Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured with Chinese President Xi Jinping in June 2019 on the sidelines of the G20 in Osaka) wants the states and territories to seek commonwealth permission to enter into arrangements with foreign powers Mr Robb also defended using his experience as a former trade minister to lucratively charge Chinese and Asian companies for advice on how to succeed in Australia. His website andrewrobb.com.au features an image of him as trade minister 'Yeah, that's my experience,' Mr Robb said. 'I usually get involved in deals to try and help companies to do deals, to understand the cultures in other countries and the way in which business is done and I get paid for it but I'm not living in a mansion, I can assure you. 'What do you expect me to do? Spend my life doing nothing? Not being paid for anything, is that your point or what? 'I don't understand it. Don't presuppose what my personal circumstance is it's irrelevant. What's going on here with this conversation?' Upon leaving politics at the July 2016 election, Mr Robb was paid $880,000 as a consultant to advise Ye Cheng, the owner of the Chinese Landbridge Group, an ABC Four Corners investigation revealed. The Northern Territory government in October 2015 gave Landbridge a 99-year lease over the Port of Darwin, Australia's northern-most harbour which is also near naval and army bases and is also home to American Marines The then special minister of state Scott Ryan in June 2017 insisted Mr Robb had not breached the ministerial code of conduct by working as a part-time consultant. Former NT Country Liberals chief minister Adam Giles declined to defend this arrangement when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. 'Mate, I'm not interested,' he said The Northern Territory government in October 2015 gave Landbridge a 99-year lease over the Port of Darwin, Australia's northern-most harbour which is also near naval and army bases and is also home to American Marines. Former NT Country Liberals chief minister Adam Giles declined to defend this arrangement when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. 'Mate, I'm not interested,' he said. Mr Robb denied a claim in academic Clive Hamilton's book Silent Invasion that as trade minister, he downplayed objections raised by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to get the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement signed in June 2015 so it would come into effect by Christmas. 'That's total nonsense. Because it was a team effort, it wasn't just me and DFAT were enormously supportive, in fact they were part of the negotiation,' he said. 'They're a big negotiating team. We've made billions and created many, many jobs through the effect of that agreement.' Punjab Vidhan Sabha Chandigarh: The Punjab Vidhan Sabha today unanimously passed seven bills during a specially convened one day session amidst the ongoing Corona pandemic. During the session chaired by Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha Rana KP Singh, the Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh with his several Cabinet colleagues was also present. Advertisement Punjab Vidhan SabhaDuring the session, assembly passed the legislation for setting up Sri Guru Teg Bahadur University of Law at Tarn Taran to commemorate the 400th Birth Anniversary of the Ninth Sikh Guru Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji. The bill Sri Guru Teg Bahadur State University of Law, Punjab Bill, 2020 was presented by Higher Education Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa to establish and incorporate a State University for the development and advancement of legal education, for the purposes of imparting specialized and systematic instruction, training and research in the field of law and for the matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The objects of the University would be to evolve and impart comprehensive legal education at all levels, to organise advanced studies and promote research in all branches of law, as well as to disseminate legal knowledge and legal processes and their role in national development by organizing lectures, seminars, symposia, webinars, workshops and conferences. Advertisement It would also seek to promote cultural, legal and ethical values with a view to promote and foster the rule of law, the objectives enshrined in the Constitution of India and to promote legal awareness in the community for achieving social and economic justice. Punjab Vidhan Sabha Other objectives of the University would be: to improve the ability with a view to analyze and present for the benefit of the public, contemporary issues of public concern and their legal implications; to liaison with institutions of higher learning and research in India and abroad; to publish periodicals, treatises, study books, reports, journals and other literature on all subjects relating to law; to hold examinations and confer degrees and other academic distinctions; to undertake study and training projects relating to law, legislation and judicial institutions; and to do all such things as are incidental, necessary or conducive to the attainment of all or any of the objectives of the University. Advertisement The assembly also unanimously approved the Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Amendment Bill, 2020. Presenting the bill Higher Education Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa said that the legislation would pave the way for extending the period of parole in situation of disasters, epidemics and extreme emergencies. The rationale behind bringing the legislation was to enable the Jail Department to take measures to decongest jails, besides ensuring that the jails remain Covid-19 free, as readmitting the inmates released on parole/interim bail, who reside in different parts of state and outside, would expose other inmates to the risk of contracting Covid-19. Advertisement Notably, the Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 1962 did not have any provision through which parole of prisoners could be extended from 16 weeks and the condition of parole being availed on quarterly basis could be waived in unprecedented situations of disasters and epidemics. Punjab Vidhan Sabha The assembly also passed the Punjab Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Second Amendment) Bill 2020. Presenting the bill Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal said that in view of the serious negative impact of the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic on the resources of State Govemments, the Govemment of India has decided to provide relaxation in borrowing limits by increasing an additional Borrowing Limit of up to 2.0 per cent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for the year 2020-2021 subject to implementation of specific State Level Reforms. He said that the motive was to strengthen resources in the hands of State Governments. The State of Punjab has also been allowed an additional borrowing of 2.0 per cent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) i.e. Rs 12130.00 crore in 2020-21 over and above its Net borrowing ceiling, which is 3% of GSDP. However, the relaxation in borrowing limits is partly unconditional to the extent of 0.5 per cent and remaining 1.5 per cent is conditional to the implementation of following reforms Implementation of One Nation One Ration Card System, Ease of doing business reform, Urban Local body/utility reforms; and Power Sector reforms. He said that bill would envisage in additional borrowing of Rs 12130.00 crore as mentioned above, over and above 3% of GSDP Net borrowing ceiling of the State of Punjab permissible under FRBM Act, 2003), during the Financial Year 2020-21. Punjab Vidhan SabhaThe Punjab assembly also gave nod to The Punjab Clinical Establishment (Registration and Regulation) Bill 2020. Presenting the bill Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said that as there was no legislation at present in the State of Punjab to register or regulate private clinical establishments, the aim of this enactment was to bring the clinical establishments under a regulatory mechanism so as to further ensure transparency in their functioning. It also seeks to improve quality public healthcare, prevent overcharging of patients, and to lay down norms, terms of physical standards, medical standards, staff norms, record maintenance, reporting etc. The legislation would provide for such establishments to support the state during the natural disasters, calamities as well as pandemics and epidemics. The assembly also approved The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020. Presenting the bill Punjab Labour Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said that the necessary amendment envisages raising the number of workers for attracting the provisions of sub clause (a) and (b) of sub section (4) of section 1 of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, from 20 to 50. Balbir Singh Sidhu The Assembly also gave green signal to The Industrial Disputes (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020. Presenting the bill Labour Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said that the bill provides for enhancement of the threshold limit for applicability of Chapter V-B from present limit of 100 to 300 workers. Apart from this, now workers will be eligible for 3 months of extra wages on retrenchments or on closure of establishments. This move will go a long way in further improving the process of ease of doing business. Meanwhile the assembly also passed The Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020. Punjab governmentPresenting the bill Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal said that the bill seeks to provide changes so as to make the levy and collection of taxes under the GST effective and easier for the tax payers. He said that these composition levy ,eligibility and conditions for taking input Tax credit, cancellation of registration, revocation of cancellation of registration, tax invoice, tax deduction at source, penalty and punishment for certain offences and transitional arrangements for input Tax Credit. 24 military officers investigated for civilian killings Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas The Attorney Generals Office of Military Justice says 24 officers are under investigation for their alleged responsibility in the use of lethal force during a confrontation between the military and armed men. The confrontation took place July 3 in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas when military personnel said their units were attacked by armed people and that they only repelled the aggression, which resulted in the death of 12 subjects. However, a video published by El Universal (news media) contradicts the militarys version of events, showing how after the attack, military personnel chased a pickup truck. Upon catching up with the truck, military personnel opened fire, silencing the vehicle. On the video, one of the uniformed military men sees a survivor in the bed of the truck and orders him killed. Gunshots are heard on the video. At least three of the deceased from the pickup were civilians who had been abducted by a criminal group. The surviving person ordered killed by the military was a civilian. In a press conference Thursday, the Secretary of National Defense, Luis Cresencio Sandoval, said that so far, the investigation is being carried out by the Fiscalia General de Justicia Militar, but the Attorney Generals Office of the state could participate because civilians were involved in the incident. During the conference which was headed by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, he said As for the investigation that is being carried out, the Office of the Attorney General of Military Justice, from the date this event took place in Nuevo Laredo, initiated an investigation. With what resulted from the video that came to light a few days ago, the Attorney General sent personnel from the Ministerial Military Police to continue with investigations that will focus on what is observed in the video. The investigation came after the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights requested Mexican authorities investigate the use of lethal force. The FGR case contains complaints against Sedena for the culpable homicide of the three kidnapped youths who were seen in the bed of the truck in the video released Monday. Despite telling Fort Erie council there is a clear path to purchase land to build the Canadian Motor Speedway, the people who own the property say it has been more than three years since theyve had contact with project developers. In 2017, an investigation published by Niagara This Week revealed overseas investors from Kuwait were in severe financial trouble and had been delisted from the stock exchange. After refusing to comment on the status of that investment for the past three years, the project director said this week the investment money from Kuwait had disappeared. We did, at one point during this 10-year journey, lose our funding from an investor, said Azhar Mohammad, executive director of the stalled speedway project, in addressing council Monday. Following that setback, Mohammad said, he found a new investor who will revive the project. He would not offer specifics about the new investor, but said he provided proof of the investment capital in a private memo to Mayor Wayne Redekop. During the discussion, however, Redekop said the proof never materialized on Aug. 21, the date it was meant to arrive. After years of delays, Mohammad initially said the speedway would be running by 2016. The project is set to expire Sept. 13 the date set by the Ontario Municipal Board as a sunset deadline on the rezoning application. There are three residential properties near the proposed speedway (one each on Laur Road, Gilmore Road and Sunset Drive), which the board judge ordered developers to purchase before they could be granted a building permit. If the developers fail to purchase all three homes by Sept. 13, the entire rezoning application will be null, and the area would revert to agricultural zoning. On Aug. 24, with just a few weeks before the deadline Mohammad went to town council to ask for support in getting the province to grant a one-year extension to the sunset clause. Some around the council chamber appeared skeptical that, after not purchasing the homes over the past eight years Mohammad suddenly has the money. Mohammad insisted the developers had maintained a good relationship with the landowners, and purchasing the properties before the one-year extension runs out would not be a problem. According to the property owners, though, they have not heard from Mohammad or anyone associated with the speedway in years. Ive not spoken a word to them since just before you wrote that last article about the speedway, said Dick Jukosky, referring to August 2017 reports. From about 2012 to 2016, speedway developers had a contract with Jukosky and the two other landowners to purchase their homes, as required by the rezoning terms of the board ruling. Without that contract, the homeowners are under no obligation to sell to the developers. Unless the developers can purchase those homes, there is no speedway. I hold no grudge towards them, business is business and things happen, said Jukosky, who said that since the purchase agreement with the speedway developers expired, he has moved on with his life and decided to continue living in his farmhouse on Gilmore Road. I support the speedway project, so if he (Mohammad) comes here tomorrow and makes me a fair offer, this house is his, said Jukosky. As for the other two properties, the owner of the home on Sunset Drive (who had a similar purchase contract with the speedway that has since expired) has also had no contact with anyone from the speedway since mid-2017. The original owner of the third property, on Laur Road, no longer lives there. The three-bedroom home, on an acre of property, was sold for about $500,000. That sale closed less than two months ago. It was not purchased by the speedway developers, and Mohammad will still need to buy it from the new owner if he hopes to get a building permit. Public health experts expressed concern Friday about President Donald Trumps largely mask-free, socially un-distanced Republican convention event on the White House lawn, saying some of his 1,500 guests may have inadvertently brought and spread the coronavirus to others. There almost certainly were individuals there who were infected with COVID-19 but dont know it, said Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University.. I worry about these individuals infecting one another and most certainly going back to their home, said Wen, who previously served as Baltimores health commissioner. Trump delivered his speech accepting the GOP presidential nomination at the Thursday night event, which continued a pattern of flouting coronavirus safety guidelines. Few in the audience wore masks when virtually all leading public health professionals, including the administrations, say face coverings play a big part in slowing virus transmission. Chairs were placed inches apart instead of the recommended 6 feet, leaving attendees little room to practice social distancing. Only those guests the White House expected to be in close proximity to Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were to be tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Though public health officials have said outdoors is safer than indoors, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also puts the risk of COVID-19 spreading at its highest at large outdoor events and in-person gatherings where people cannot stay 6 feet apart and attendees come from out of town. Trumps campaign issued a statement from Dr. Robert Darling, chief medical officer of Patronus Medical Corp., who said the Republican National Committees protocols are in full compliance with multiple guidelines issued by the CDC, the District of Columbia health department and other leading health authorities. He provided no details. The campaign said Darling, a former White House physician to President Bill Clinton, has been working with the RNC to make sure the proper protocols are in place at convention sites. In Charlotte, North Carolina, where delegates met Monday to nominate Trump for reelection, the city required a process to be put in place to trace peoples contacts in the event of an outbreak, including requiring attendees to wear trackers on their lanyards. Masks and social distancing requirements were also in place, and attendees were required to complete a daily temperature screening and wellness questionnaire. They were tested before departing for Charlotte and retested upon arrival. Out of nearly 800 coronavirus tests administered, two attendees and two people supporting the Charlotte event tested positive after they arrived, the county health department said. The four individuals were instructed to isolate, and any known close contacts were notified and given instructions on quarantining, the department said. Public health officials also expressed concern over a march in Washington on Friday to commemorate the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The size of the event had been scaled back because of coronavirus concerns. Participants underwent temperature checks as part of coronavirus protocols. Organizers also reminded the marchers to practice social distancing and wear masks, though many were bare-faced and packed together. Wen, the former Baltimore health official, said the White House event gives the public the false impression that precautions are no longer necessary. We, in public health, have been trying to share, to put out guidance on what to do, and when we have the president of the country and top leaders doing exactly what we are asking people not to do, how can we be seen as credible? she asked. On Friday, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said he fell short of my own standard and apologized for not keeping his face mask on at the White House. Tillis, who is in a tough reelection bid against Democrat Cal Cunningham, has been consistent about talking up face coverings as a key method to slow the spread of COVID-19. Tillis campaign tweeted a picture of the first-term senator wearing a mask on the White House lawn on Thursday before Trumps speech. But other media outlets later showed images of the crowd during the speech and Tillis was seen not wearing his mask. I thought it was very hard not to recoil at those images, said Dr. Howard Koh, a public health professor at Harvard and a former assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services under President Barack Obama. Koh said one mitigating factor was that Trump held the event outdoors. He said wearing facial coverings during outbreaks is expected behavior in some Asian societies and social distancing, wearing masks and avoiding large crowds are new social norms that can save lives in the United States as well. Koh said the same guidance applies to protests, but that moving around during demonstrations might help curb the spread of the virus. In a significant judgment, a court in Jammu has granted bail to a pharmacist after observing that he was falsely implicated in a militancy related case. The court made out that anti-terror laws, UAPA, were not applicable to him. While granting bail, Sunit Gupta, Special Judge under Unlawful Activities (Prevention Act), noted the court could not find a single witness or statement which can be held against Zahoor Ahmed for his alleged links to militancy. The court could not find a single witness whose statements were recorded under section 161 or 164 CrPC who have uttered even a single word against the accused Zahoor Ahmed," the judge observed. Ahmad, a junior pharmacist with the government, lives in a remote Marwah area of Kishtwar. He was arrested in January this year after police station Dachhan charged him of supporting Hizbul Mujahideen and Jehangir Saroori, Kashmirs oldest surviving militant. Saroori, a resident of Kishtwar, has been evading arrest since 1990. The police had accused Ahmad and nine others of being overground workers of HM and providing information about security forces to militants to carry out attacks on them, besides raising funds for Saroori. Police had submitted a chargesheet in court against Ahmad and others under several sections of UA(P) Act. In a separate case that was filed by Kishtwar police station against him in 2019, he was accused of providing medicine to Saroori and three others on the instant of one Akther Hussain, resident of Kishtwar. Judge Gupta while reprimanding the police investigation officer said he did not find any evidence against the accused. In fact, he said, the officer had managed to annex a photostat copy of a statement of one witness namely Akhter Hussain which was recorded under section 164 CrPc in some other case and attached with this case. With the strength of the said copy of the statement, the IO had made a successful attempt to falsely implicate the accused Zahoor Ahmed and even as per the statement; the accused is not genuinely found to be involved in any such activity which may be said to be an offence under UA(P) Act," the court added. The court further observed Ahmed cannot be said to be involved in aiding, harbouring or being part of the terrorist organisation. As far as he was supposed to be in possession of some medicines, the court stated even if he was intending to deliver some medicine even to the terrorist, he cannot be said to have been involved in any of the offence under UA(P) Act as such rigorous of the provisions of section 43-D() UA(P) Act would not apply in the present case. With these observations, the accused was granted bail subject to furnishing the surety bond or Rs.25000. The court directed the superintendent of Central Jail, Jammu to release the accused from custody. Kyle Sandilands has defended The Bachelor's Locklan 'Locky' Gilbert, after his racist social media post from 14 years ago resurfaced on Thursday. As first reported by Daily Mail Australia, Gilbert, 31, had shared a map of Australia with the words 'F**K OFF WE'RE FULL' to his Myspace account in 2004, when he was a 16-year-old high school student in Perth. Speaking on his KIIS FM breakfast show on Friday, Sandilands, 49, said: 'The kid was 16. I blame the government at the time. This was when the government was turning boats back around with 200 poor Indonesians coming to Australia for a better life.' 'He was just a kid!' Kyle Sandilands (pictured) has defended The Bachelor's Locklan 'Locky' Gilbert, after his racist social media post from 14 years ago resurfaced on Thursday 'That's what the government said, "No to the boats". He was a 16-year-old kid echoing what the government would be thinking,' he added. 'It's not like he would have been a racist teenager kid. It's just what it was like back then.' On Thursday, it was revealed that Gilbert, 31, had shared the post featuring the anti-immigrant and anti-refugee slogan 'F**K OFF WE'RE FULL', which is widely considered to be racist. Error of judgement: Sandilands said on Friday that Gilbert (left, with Bachelor host Osher Gunsberg) was just 16 when he uploaded the racist Myspace post and may have simply been echoing the tone of government policy at the time The post also included the Southern Cross constellation and the words 'Aussie Pride'. While not intrinsically racist, the Southern Cross and 'Aussie Pride' slogan are sometimes associated with right-wing nationalism. He apologised for his post in a statement to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday. 'I am deeply sorry for the image I posted on MySpace over 14 years ago. I do not hold these views and I apologise for the offence I have caused,' he said. Regrettable: As first reported by Daily Mail Australia, Gilbert shared the bigoted post in 2004 to his Myspace account (pictured) when he was a 16-year-old high school student At the time of Locky's post, racial tensions in Australia were high as the government adopted a policy of 'turning back the boats'. In 2001, Australia introduced an operation aimed at deterring people from arriving by boat by denying them access to the country, but it ended in the following year. A similar policy was reintroduced 2013 by the Abbott Government, which involved turning back boats 'where it is safe to do so'. Insensitive: The shocking post features an outline of Australia with the words 'F**K OFF WE'RE FULL', an anti-immigrant and anti-refugee slogan widely considered to be racist. The same meme also included the Southern Cross constellation and the words 'Aussie Pride' In 2005, the Cronulla riots also made headlines when violence broke out following racial and ethnic tensions between white Australians and Middle Eastern men. The riots started when a group of men of Middle Eastern appearance reportedly assaulted two off-duty surf lifesavers on December 5 that year. On December 11, about 5,000 people gathered at the beach to protest against the assault and the behaviour of Australian Middle Eastern youths, leading to violence. BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - French stocks were little changed on Friday as investors weighed the Federal Reserve's dovish gesture against surging coronavirus cases in countries like Spain, France and Italy. France made wearing masks mandatory in Paris and several surrounding areas from today amid a surge in Covid-19 cases. The move comes a day after the country recorded 6,111 new infections - its highest number since early May. In economic releases, French household consumption rose 0.5 percent in July from the previous month, slowing from a surge of 10.3 percent in June, the INSEE stats agency said in a second release. GDP sank 13.8 percent in the second quarter after already contracting 5.9 percent in the previous three months, the INSEE said, confirming an initial reading. The benchmark CAC 40 was up 2 points at 5,017 after declining 0.6 percent on Thursday. Technology and healthcare stocks paced the declines, while banks were moving higher after a rise in Treasury yields. BNP Paribas jumped 3.7 percent, Credit Agricole advanced 2.8 percent and Societe Generale added 3 percent. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. The Maharashtra government has reduced the stamp duty on property registrations from 5 per cent to 2 per cent for transactions made between September 1 and December 31. This comes a relief for home buyers. How big would the impact be on your home purchase costs? Cost savings A three BHK (bedrooms, hall and a kitchen) apartment in Ville Parle, Mumbai can easily cost you above Rs 3 crore. Similarly, a 3 BHK in Koregaon Park, Pune carries a price tag of around Rs 1.5 crore and a 3 BHK in Jyoti Nagar Aurangabad will require you to fork out Rs 75 lakh. However, besides the cost of a house that a buyer has to pay to the seller, there are other expenses too. These indirect costs can significantly increase the cost of purchase for a buyer. One such cost is stamp duty, which is usually between 4 per cent and 8 per cent in different states across India. However, a reduction of 3 per cent in stamp duty means a benefit of more or less Rs 9 lakh, Rs 4.5 lakh or Rs 2.25 lakh, respectively, for someone buying an apartment in the above-mentioned locations. Theres more. The stamp duty will be 3 per cent for property registrations done between January 1 and March 31. This decision came in the wake of the slowdown that the real estate sector is witnessing. Stakeholders welcome the government move. The Stamp Duty is a mandatory expenditure while buying a house; it adds to the overall cost of buying a property. So, any reduction decreases the overall cost of the house. It will boost sentiment, and help fence sitters take the buy decision, says Niranjan Hiranandani, President (National) Assocham and National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO). The other notable benefit of lowering duty is that it increases compliance and, hence, may positively impact the exchequers revenue, says Dhruv Agarwala, Group CEO, Housing.com, Makaan.com and PropTiger.com. Stamp duty impact Stamp duty is a state subject. The rate for registering a property varies from state to state. A buyer has to pay stamp duty on the actual transaction value or ready reckoner rate (minimum price of the property, as per the government), whichever is higher. The buyers gender can also play a role in determining how much stamp needs to be paid. For instance, in New Delhi, a woman home buyer has to pay 4 per cent stamp duty, while a male pays 6 per cent. Similarly, in Haryana, a male homebuyer is required to pay 8 per cent stamp duty in urban areas and 6 per cent in rural areas, while a woman has to pay 6 per cent and 4 per cent, respectively. Reduction in stamp duty rate can bring down the purchasing cost for the home buyer significantly. Payment of stamp duty also qualifies for deduction under section 80C of the Income Tax act 1961, which has an overall limit of Rs 1.5 lakh. Travel restrictions imposed on UK travellers returning from Switzerland could make planning assisted deaths 'almost impossible' for terminally-ill patients and force loved ones to grieve in isolation, campaigners said. Travellers arriving in England from Switzerland after 4am on Saturday will have to self-isolate for 14 days, a rule which was also enforced in Scotland last week. Dignity in Dying said the rule change, announced late on Thursday for England, has made it 'impossible' for terminally-ill patients to plan to travel to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland. It said that travelling to Switzerland for a legal assisted death takes months of 'meticulous planning, often in secret' and travel restrictions 'changing by the day' makes it even harder for terminally-ill patients. Dignity in Dying said UK travel restrictions requiring passengers returning from Switzerland to self-isolate could make planning an assisted death 'almost impossible' (file photo) The non-profit organisation added that the rule change could force relatives and loved ones into 14 days of isolated grief after returning to England. Jane Parker was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in October 2019 and had been considering travelling to the clinic for an assisted death, which is illegal in the UK. The 68-year-old, who lives with her husband Adrian in Devon, said: 'I am now unable to speak and swallowing has become very difficult as the muscles continue to weaken. 'I do not want to suffer a protracted, traumatic death but my options are severely limited, even more so since lockdown. 'Travelling to Switzerland for a legal assisted death, for example, is made even more difficult, particularly with this recently announced quarantine and travel restrictions changing practically every week.' Ms Parker, who has three daughters and three grandchildren, said: 'I want to die at home, and am genuinely considering the idea of refusing food and water - a legal option under the current law. 'How can we allow people to starve and dehydrate to death, but not allow someone to slip away, quickly and peacefully in their sleep?' The non-profit organisation said travelling to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland takes months of 'meticulous planning' and travel restrictions 'changing by the day' makes it harder (file photo) Dignity in Dying campaigns manager Ellie Ball said: 'It's just another source of anxiety about an option that is already so fraught with difficulty. 'For those who have the resources and strength to avail themselves of this choice, it takes many months of meticulous planning, often in secret. But with travel restrictions changing by the day, it makes planning almost impossible. 'And for loved ones returning to the UK... imagine losing a dear relative, having to leave their body behind in a foreign land and then dealing with your grief completely alone with your support network?' Before the coronavirus pandemic, Ms Ball said one Briton a week was travelling to Switzerland for an assisted death. She added that each year around 300 terminally ill people end their own lives in the UK, often involving 'multiple, incredibly traumatic attempts'. Dignity in Dying said an average cost of 10,000 at Dignitas puts the option of assisted dying out of reach for some people. Dignity in Dying said that, before the coronavirus pandemic, one Briton a week was travelling to Switzerland for an assisted death (file photo) Ms Ball said the best solution is for assisted dying options to become available in the UK for 'terminally ill, mentally competent people' in their final months. In UK law, helping someone end their life is punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The Government ruled out changing the law on assisted dying in 2019 after the high-profile case of Anne Whaley. Ms Whaley, then 76, was interviewed by police ahead of a planned journey with her 80-year-old husband Geoff Whaley, who had motor neurone disease, to Switzerland to end his life. Before his death, Mr Whaley told the Times the stress of police involvement had 'destroyed everything we had done to prepare ourselves'. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Some Recent developments In January 2020, MagnaFlow entered the UTV market with a new cat-back exhaust system for 2017-20 Can-Am Maverick X3 models. The new exhaust system (part number 8101201) uses 2.5-in. mandrel-bent stainless-steel tubing and a 14-in. muffler with an aggressively styled dual-exit design, to give your Can-Am the deep signature MagnaFlow growl, without the drone associated with other systems on the market. This new venture by MagnaFlow provides the company new region top explore and gain demands from. It will work out for the company well in the longer run. In October 2019, MagnaFlow launched its new modular, cat-back exhaust system designed for the 2020 Toyota Supra. This new system, dubbed xMOD, will eventually spread to other applications. This system can be customized as it sits after installation thanks to a series of modular components that can be swapped in and out in minutes using quick-release v-band clamps. Given these abilities of the system it is expected to turn a lot of heads in the automotive exhaust market. This will also boost the growth rate of cold-end exhaust system in the aftermarket. In March 2019, MagnaFlow suffered a setback, when it was penalized by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for manufacturing and selling diesel truck parts that bypass or disable emissions control systems, in violation of the Clean Air Act. It sold 5,674 aftermarket exhaust systems intended for trucks from 2001 to 2007, which allowed for the removal of newer exhaust control systems that reduce emissions. This act has caused the company to be heavily penalized by the agency to the tune of more than $600,000. These penalties and the rules for environmental safety will act as hindrances for the growth. In February 2020, Flowmaster releases new American thunder exhaust for Ram & Silverado Company. Flowmasters American Thunder series exhaust uses Delta Flow technology to increase performance and deliver a deep, powerful sound. Their new exhaust lineup is designed for 2014-2019 RAM 3500 models with the 6.4L Hemi engine. Flowmaster has also expanded to cover 2020 Chevy/GMC 2500HD & 3500HD trucks equipped with the 6.6L gas engine. It will provide improved performance and fuel economy while producing a moderate tone inside and outside the truck, leading to better demand in the market for the systems. In January 2019, MagnaFlow introduced the DPF-Back Exhaust for 2018-19 Ford F-150 diesel trucks. The system has two configurations, black-coated and polished dual-tip. The systems are fully compliant to the emission standards in every state of the U.S. This new exhaust system utilizes 4 tubing, welded intercooled tips to enhance exhaust aesthetics, all in a simple, clamp-on exhaust configuration that provides the signature MagnaFlow sound. Also, this launch boosts the credibility of the exhaust systems by MagnaFlow for the market. In-depth report on global cold-end exhaust system aftermarket by Grand View Research: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/cold-end-exhaust-system-aftermarket-industry In May 2019, The Eberspaecher Group of Companies invested in a component plant for exhaust technology in Mexico. The new building in Saltillo will house manufacturing facilities for existing and future contracts in the NAFTA market. The planned facility with approximately 15,000 square meters of manufacturing space will produce complete exhaust systems as well as components such as particulate filters and catalytic converters for the NAFTA market. The first batch of products rolled out at the end of 2019. In May 2019, Calsonic Kansei and Magneti Marelli announced that they would be moving to a single brand (Marelli), and in September, they announced that they would be changing their legal name in October 2019. While Calsonic Kansei now legally operate as MARELLI Corporation, Magneti Marelli is called as MARELLI Europe S.p.A.. The move comes on the back of parent MARELLI planning to compete effectively on the global scale. Major affiliate companies are also called by the MARELLI name from October 2019. 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. Once again, the court of California has denied Los Angeles County's application for a temporary restraining order against Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church from holding their weekly indoor sermons throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic regulations set by Governor Gavin Newsom. Judge Mitchel Beckloff determined that the restraining order did not meet the statutory requirements. As a result, the next hearing regarding the matter will be set for Sept 4th. Paul Jonna of Thomas More Society Special Counsel commended the court's decision stating that Los Angeles County's attempts at seeking a restraining order was ultimately defective. This attempt by the county is reported to be their fourth unsuccessful attempt to prohibit Grace Community Church's indoor services. Pastor MacArthur also added to the conversation that the county's attempts were aimed to hinder the Church's "free exercise of religion by criminalizing activity directly required by our faith." He goes on to state that after 63 years of sacrifice for the city, the county in turn tried to take action to shut down Grace Community church when no one is actually sick. He concluded by saying, "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,". Pastor MacArthur went on to express the significance of the actions taken against the church. 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." In response, Los Angeles county officials argue the continuance of indoor worship services held by the church could have a possibility of contributing to the spread of COVID-19 within the community. They seek repercussions such as fines or even arrests if Pastor MacArthur and his church do not comply with orders. Ranjeeta Mehta, media spokesperson of Haryana Pradesh Mahila Congress and national coordinator, All India Mahila Congress, posted a series of Tweets on Friday highlighting the poor condition of isolation wards in civil hospital, Sector 6, Panchkula, where she has been kept after testing positive for Covid-19 on August 26. In her tweet to Haryana home minister Anil Vij, she wrote, Bees are welcoming Corona patients in Sector 6 hospital. No one has conducted any test since 11am. Is this the way you and your department are handling patients? Now I can understand why the CM and speaker rushed to Vedanta. In another tweet, she shared a picture with ten tablets in her hand. Seeking the intervention of the minister, she wrote: Ten tablets given to me after five hours of torture to consume together. When I asked what the tablets were, no one answered. She also shared a video where patients are undergoing X-ray in an open corridor. Dr Jasjeet Kaur, civil surgeon, Panchkula, said: I understand her problem. We may not be able to provide optimum facilities, considering the number of cases. In isolation, even sweepers cant be sent constantly as they cant be exposed. I am arranging a private room for her in a private hospital by tomorrow so she can stay comfortably. But I would like to request everyone to be a little more patient, as we are trying our best, the civil surgeon said. She said Mehta cannot be sent home for isolation as per doctors advice considering her health condition. Aero India-2021 to be held in Bengaluru from February 3 to 7 India pti-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Aug 28: The defence ministry has decided to host the next edition of Aero India -- considered Asia's largest aerospace exhibition -- in Bengaluru in February, notwithstanding the coronavirus pandemic, officials sources said on Friday. The ministry took the decision to hold the biennial event as scheduled following inputs from major stakeholders including the domestic defence industry and global aerospace majors, they said. The sources said the main event will be held from February 3-5 while the exhibition will be thrown open for general public on February 6 and 7. Fake: This viral video of violence is from West Bengal, not Bengaluru Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has already held a number of internal meetings including one on Friday on hosting of the mega event in its traditional venue of Yelahanka Air Force station on the outskirts of Bengaluru. "It was decided that the event will be hosted while taking maximum precaution against the coronavirus pandemic," said a source. Since its inception in 1996, Bengaluru has been hosting the event. In the event, the government will showcase India as an attractive destination for investment in the defence manufacturing sector besides highlighting series of initiatives it has taken to promote the domestic industry, the sources said. A number of global defence majors and big investors are expected to participate in the event besides official delegations from several countries, they said. Several leading aerospace companies have already offered to set up manufacturing bases in India provided they get big-ticket contracts. US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin has already said that it will not sell its newly rolled out F-21 fighter jet to any other country if India places an order for 114 planes. Another aviation major Boeing too has announced that it is ready to set up manufacturing facilities for its F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft if it bags the IAF contract. It will be the first major global defence event in India after the country unveiled a series of measures like pruning of the import list of weapons systems and increasing the FDI limit from 49 per cent to 74 per cent in defence sector under the automatic route. The government is also taking steps to implement an ambitious policy under which select private firms were to be roped in to produce key military platforms like submarines and fighter jets in India in partnership with global defence majors. Pak social media shares video of pilot injured in Aero India show On August 9, the defence minister announced that India will stop import of 101 weapons and military platforms like transport aircraft, light combat helicopters, conventional submarines, cruise missiles and sonar systems by 2024. In a related development, 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. IPL 2020: CSK bowler and staff members test positive for Covid-19 | Oneindia News 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 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. However, the government now wants to reduce dependence on imported military platforms and decided to support the domestic defence manufacturing. The defence ministry has already 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. Two men have been charged for the kidnapping of St Helena couple Narine and Mattie Maraj. Calling the COVID-19 safety measures planned for local schools inadequate, a group of approximately eight people came together Thursday to give the Brandon School Division a piece of their mind. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/8/2020 (510 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Calling the COVID-19 safety measures planned for local schools inadequate, a group of approximately eight people came together Thursday to give the Brandon School Division a piece of their mind. "If these are the people in charge of our education, Im surprised my children can read," said protester Elliott Oleson, who brought his 10-year-old twins to the event, at which all participants wore masks and made efforts to physically distance during their march from Brandon City Hall to the school division offices. Even though he has his school-age nieces and nephews in mind when he calls for stronger safety measures, protest organizer Donovan Sliziak said the decision to reopen schools "affects all of us as a city." "If the parents have health conditions and the kids go to school and its all crowded, theres the chance of bringing it home to them and getting them infected." Protesters at Thursdays Safe Restart Brandon Rally came armed with a few key criticisms, but their chief concerns related to the physical distancing of students and their desire to see the use of masks more strongly mandated. In a conversation with the Sun on Thursday, Supt. Marc Casavant outlined the latest regulations in place to accompany students when they return to school in a couple of weeks. Students in grades 4 to 12 must wear a mask when physical distancing of at least two metres is not possible, during which they must limit close contact with their peers to class-sized cohorts and maintain a distance from each another of at least one metre. Further, he said Grade 3 students in multi-grade classrooms with older students must wear a mask and all students must wear masks on buses. LEFT: Brandonites march to the Brandon School Division offices during Thursdays protest. Pictured right is Elliott Oleson, with his kids Mikhail, left, and Kier, who are both in Grade 5. RIGHT: David Winter and Donovan Sliziak rally outside Brandon City Hall on Thursday to protest what they consider to be inadequate safety measures at local schools. All other students can wear a mask "if their parents want them to." "If two metres is the minimum requirement for it to be safe, what does one metre accomplish?" Oleson asked, referencing the generally accepted message from medical professionals that says at least two metres of spacing between people must be maintained. "Its window dressing. It doesnt make sense in the context of what we know." Protesters also pushed for increased funding to expand remote learning opportunities so more students can learn from home. Casavant said that kindergarten to Grade 8 students will be expected to maintain 100 per cent in-class attendance, while those in grades 9 to 12 will attend school in person every second day, except for those in Prairie Hope High School, who will be required to physically attend school every day. There will be remote learning accommodations made for students who have "medically advised doctor notes to say theyre not able to be in schools," he added. The same can apply if an immediate family member of a student has a medical condition that puts them at risk and their doctor advises the student against attending school. Underpinning much of the protesters criticism was the fact the Brandon School Division falls under a Code Yellow designation from the province, which highlight the measures being taken to help stop the spread of COVID-19. They argued in favour of the more restrictive Code Orange designation, which the Prairie Mountain Health region has been placed under with some exceptions, such as area schools. As of Thursday, more than half of the provinces active cases of COVID-19 were in Prairie Mountain Health, with 212 of 407 active cases recorded in the Westman health region. Of these cases, 126 were in Brandon. David Winter and Donovan Sliziak rally outside Brandon City Hall on Thursday to protest what they consider to be inadequate safety measures at local schools. Casavant said the school division is simply following the provinces health orders. "Manitoba Ed(ucation) creates a reopening of schools plan, and the chief medical officer puts a number of health orders in place that school divisions have to comply with," he said. "Health orders are legally bound, so the quick answer is I dont see that we have any ability to say no." The school division might have to follow mandatory minimum guidelines outlined by the province, but Oleson argued they could do more if they wanted to. "They can determine a dress code for the schools, they can determine what is appropriate and what is inappropriate behaviour they can set their own policies on absolutely everything, but in this one area " he said. "Is he saying theyre doing the least they can do? Can they do more and theyre choosing not to?" Another concern among protesters was with the schools ventilation systems, which Casavant said are now operating at increased air volume as per guidelines outlined in the provinces Restoring Safe Schools document released June 25. tclarke@brandonsun.com Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB The Star Tribune seems to have gotten the memo from CNN on the riots and looting in Kenosha. In its lead editorial yesterday, the paper summed up the festivities this way: Another Black man is shot by police this time in Kenosha, Wis. Another night of mostly peaceful protesting devolves into violent damage to property, buildings and vehicles. I can hardly wait to see if the editors pull off a comparable take on the scene a few blocks over from their offices in downtown Minneapolis. So far, however, they are resting on their right to remain silent. Like Jack Benny in the old joke, they are thinking about it. Over on the papers news pages, however, Reid Forgrave lends a hand in a painfully long riot of excuses. Forgrave reports: As the video of [George] Floyds killing inflamed Mays uprising, it stood to reason that video of Wednesdays suicide could cool the nights heated emotions. Forgrave continues: But that was not fully the case. Emotions reappear when Forgrave purports to explain the rioting and looting: [O]n Wednesday night, even as a man with a megaphone shouted, We have the video the man killed himself! emotions morphed into violence. A group looted a nearby Target. A man sat on the hood of a squad car, and two police officers shoved him off and sprayed him with mace, dousing several bystanders. Some tossed garbage cans to the street, and a few took the lids and smashed windows of businesses in IDS Center. They broke windows to Nordstrom Rack, climbed inside and then left with stolen merchandise. Emotions really got out of hand at Target, Saks, and Nordstrom. The Center of the American Experiments John Phelan recounts in some detail just how emotional it got at downtown retail outlets. Forgrave quotes an apologist toward the end of his story: Looting, he said, isnt about stealing; its about lashing out at the power structure that otherwise wont let them in. After such knowledge, what Forgraveness? The Star Tribune itself sits at the heart of the Minneapolis power structure and embodies the civic irresponsibility that has devastated Minneapolis. Forgraves bald apologetics in story form present a clue to the ills that plague Minneapolis. President Donald Trump told the American people this week that convalescent plasma is a potential new treatment for COVID-19. His announcement followed the Food and Drug Administration's decision Sunday to grant fast-track authorization for its emergency use as a treatment for hospitalized COVID patients. This "emergency use authorization" triggered an outcry from scientists and doctors, who said the decision was not supported by adequate clinical evidence and criticized the FDA for what many perceived as bowing to political pressure. With all the news swirling around convalescent plasma this week, we thought we'd break it down for you. 1. Convalescent plasma contains antibodies against disease. Donations are being promoted as a potential COVID-19 treatment. "Convalescent" refers to recovery from a disease. And plasma is the yellowish, liquid part of blood in which blood cells are suspended. When someone is infected with a virus, the body generates antibodies to fight off the viral particles. Enter COVID-19. If an individual who has recovered from this virus donates their plasma, scientists can isolate the antibodies from the plasma and give it to patients who are still in the early stages of their COVID-19 infection. This infusion, in theory, should help people fight off the virus while their own body catches up and makes its own supply of antibodies. It's not a new concept. An infusion of antibodies via plasma has been used as a treatment for other types of diseases, such as rabies. 2. Some experts took issue with the data presented to approve the treatment and thought the FDA action crossed a political line. An FDA emergency use authorization allows companies and medical providers to deploy unapproved treatments or medical products in a crisis. The FDA said health care providers would be authorized to distribute COVID convalescent plasma to treat suspected or confirmed patients with COVID-19 while in the hospital. Before the authorization, some top researchers and clinicians at the National Institutes of Health felt there was not sufficient scientific evidence to support pushing the treatment forward. "A randomized placebo control trial is the gold standard," said Dr. Howard Koh, who was an assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services from 2009 to 2014 under President Barack Obama. "If you don't have that standard and don't have some evidence from a high-quality study or [a randomized controlled trial], you are left with suboptimal science and treatments in the long run that may not prove to work." Koh also said that for other COVID-19 treatments including the medication remdesivir, a randomized clinical trial had been done before the FDA OK'd it for emergency use. When the emergency authorization for convalescent plasma was announced, HHS officials pointed to findings from a Mayo Clinic preliminary analysis as the rationale. The analysis has not been reviewed by other scientists and doctors. Suspicions of a political motive behind the decision were heightened because the authorization came one day before the start of the Republican National Convention. "The timing raises so many questions," said Koh, also a professor of the practice of public health leadership at Harvard University. "I think this announcement shakes the confidence of the medical community in the rigor of the FDA decision-making process." Trump tweeted just a day before the FDA's action, "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. Must focus on speed, and saving lives!" Scott Gottlieb, a former Trump administration FDA commissioner, offered his take in a tweet the day after the announcement: "Plasma may provide a benefit, and it could be meaningful for certain patients, but we need more evidence to prove it. The data FDA had supports an authorization for emergency use, where the standard is 'may be effective' but we need better studies to confirm preliminary findings." 3. Dr. Stephen Hahn, the current FDA commissioner, misrepresented the data on the treatment's effectiveness during Sunday's press conference. Hahn later corrected himself. The Mayo Clinic analyzed outcomes of patients who were given a low dose of plasma and those given a high dose. Those who got the high dose had a lower seven-day mortality rate (8.9%) compared with the seven-day mortality rate of those given a low dose (13.7%). Dr. Adam Gaffney, a critical care doctor and instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School, said these two variables were used to calculate what is known as a "relative risk reduction," or the percent difference between the risk of two different treatment outcomes. In this case, the risk reduction between the high dose and low dose of plasma is 35%. That's the number Hahn misrepresented. "Many of you know I was a cancer doctor before I became FDA commissioner, and a 35% improvement in survival is a pretty substantial clinical benefit," said Hahn. "What that means is and if the data continue to pan out 100 people who are sick with COVID-19, 35 would have been saved because of the administration of plasma." But, that was an incorrect statement. Hahn had confused relative risk with absolute risk, as many members of the medical community later pointed out. Absolute risk reduction refers to the number of people who experienced reduced mortality from a treatment compared with the rest of the entire population who didn't get the treatment. The absolute risk reduction in this situation is probably closer to 3-5 cases out of 100. On Monday night, Hahn issued a tweet to set the record straight: "I have been criticized for remarks I made Sunday night about the benefits of convalescent plasma. The criticism is entirely justified. What I should have said better is that the data show a relative risk reduction not an absolute risk reduction." Hahn also noted in the Twitter thread that the agency's decision was not political, but "made by FDA career scientists based on data submitted a few weeks ago." He also said the approval was not final and the FDA could revoke authorization if needed. 4. President Trump referred to the use of blood plasma during the RNC, and is likely to do so throughout the remainder of his presidential campaign. During the first night of the Republican National Convention, in a meeting with a group of first responders, Trump told a police officer who had recovered from COVID-19 that her blood was "valuable." "Once you're recovered, we have the whole thing with plasma happening. That means your blood is very valuable, you know that, right?" Trump said. Vice President Mike Pence also mentioned it in his Wednesday night speech. 5. Critics of the convalescent plasma treatment say there must be randomized clinical trials to prove its effectiveness. Koh said receiving convalescent plasma doesn't appear to be dangerous, but a recent study in China did report that 2 in about 100 people experienced adverse events associated with the treatment. And multiple experts said a randomized clinical trial is necessary to ensure that the mortality outcomes shown in the Mayo Clinic analysis weren't confounded by other factors. A randomized clinical trial would involve one group receiving a placebo and another group receiving the treatment. Who is assigned to each group would be completely random to eliminate bias. Gaffney said he noticed that patients in the low-dose plasma group seemed to be sicker than those in the high-dose plasma group which could have affected the Mayo Clinic's findings. "To ensure that the effect we see is the effect of the intervention, and not a manifestation of differences in how sick the two groups are," the trial has to be randomized, said Gaffney. The Mayo Clinic analysis also reported that some patients who received plasma also took remdesivir or steroids, which could have influenced their mortality outcomes. Dr. Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, said, at best, he sees the outcomes of this analysis as a hypothesis that needs to be tested in a randomized clinical trial. "No survival benefit has been proven," he wrote in an email. The Trump administration on Wednesday imposed sanctions on 24 Chinese companies over South China Sea island building, adding them to the entity list, and imposing visa restrictions on Chinese individuals. This is another new measure adopted by the US to expand its conflict with China. The US has been planning for a long time to initiate the sanctions. They launched it at a time when the presidential election is about two months away. Washington wants to use the sanctions to show its hard-line attitude toward China, and to benefit Donald Trump's presidential campaign. This can be seen as a diplomatic move to coordinate with the current administration to seek reelection. The sanctions are designed with the election in mind. They will create limited damage to the Chinese companies, but will generate some uncertainty for those companies' overseas businesses. By announcing the sanctions, the US has further played up its stance on South China Sea sovereignty issue. It has stepped up confronting China in the waters. But Washington did not make any implication to upgrade its strategic goals in the region, or start a military competition with China. Disputes over the sovereignty of the South China Sea have gone through several rounds of ups and downs, and regional countries have gradually adapted to the situation. Negotiations over the South China Sea Code of Conduct are underway, which means room for the US and other external forces to maneuver to hype up brawls in the region is limited. The real risk of the regional situation is possible military friction. Compared with previous years, other claimant countries in the South China Sea are now less likely to be involved in maritime incidents with China. However, the risk of accidental China-US maritime and air conflicts is rising. This is the real focus of the tense situation in the South China Sea. On the one hand, the US aggressively promotes its so-called freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and continues to put pressure on China. On the other hand, the US fears China's modernizing of its maritime and land-based missile forces, as well as China's determination to safeguard the bottom line of its national interests. As long as our will to resolutely counterattack when being attacked does not sway, US provocation in the South China Sea will be restricted, and will remain cautious in challenging China's bottom line. Speculation has been spreading that the PLA launched DF-21D and DF-26B missiles into the South China Sea on Wednesday. The Chinese side has neither confirmed nor denied it. As the US military flexes its muscles in the South China Sea more frequently, the PLA must increase its actions in the waters accordingly to suppress US arrogance and reinforce the US understanding that China does not fear a war, and will not soften its stance in the face of a conflict. Washington should not assume that a military flare-up can deter the Chinese people. US sanctions against Chinese companies are a marginal tactic amid the China-US competition in the South China Sea. It cannot really pressure China, nor can it encourage countries like Vietnam and the Philippines. The Chinese people would only scoff at the US visa restrictions on Chinese. While the pandemic is far from over in the US, how many Chinese people would be willing to go to the worst virus-stricken country across the Pacific? The US side constantly includes Chinese companies into its entity list, and it is not easy for the Chinese side to carry out reciprocal retaliation. But China does not have to be frustrated. On the one hand, all commercial sanctions are double-edged swords. When the US sanctions a Chinese company, US companies also suffer. On the other hand, Chinese companies will learn to avoid being sanctioned by the US, and the Chinese economy will gradually have the ability to strategically avoid risks. Such adaptability will speed up. Russian Prosecutors Claim There's No Sign Of Crime In Navalny Case By RFE/RL's Russian Service August 27, 2020 Russian prosecutors said on August 27 that they have no indication so far that a criminal act has been committed against Aleksei Navalny, and requested that German medics treating the opposition leader share his medical records. The 44-year-old anti-corruption campaigner and staunch critic of President Vladimir Putin is currently in an induced coma in a German hospital after collapsing a week ago on a Russian commercial flight from the Siberian city of Tomsk, where he had been conducting his latest corruption investigation. Earlier this week, doctors at the Berlin hospital where Navalny is being treated said their initial medical examination pointed to poisoning. Russian doctors who had treated Navalny in a Siberian hospital have contradicted that diagnosis, while the Kremlin has claimed that German medics were "rushing" to use the word "poisoning." Amid mounting Western calls for a transparent investigation into the case, the Russian Prosecutor-General's Office said that a preliminary inquiry launched last week had found "no evidence" of "deliberate criminal acts committed" against Navalny, and that it saw no basis to launch a criminal investigation. German authorities have agreed to cooperate with Russia on the case, the office said, asking Germany to hand over "the evidence for the initial diagnoses they gave," including test results. Meanwhile, the Siberian branch of the Interior Ministry's transportation unit said that it has been conducting a preliminary inquiry to "establish all the circumstances" surrounding Navalny's illness and determine whether a criminal investigation should be launched. Police said in a statement that they inspected locations that Navalny visited, his hotel room, and the routes he had taken in Tomsk, and examined security-camera footage. They said no potent or narcotic substances were found. In Moscow, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said preliminary checks were always carried out in such situations and that there was no need for a formal investigation. "Nothing has changed, we still don't have any understanding of what caused the state the sick man is now in," Peskov told journalists. Navalny fell ill on a plane from Tomsk to Moscow on August 20. He spent two days in a clinic in Omsk, also in Siberia, before being transferred to the renowned Charite hospital in Berlin. Doctors there said on August 24 that "clinical findings indicate intoxication by a substance from the group of active substances called cholinesterase inhibitors," adding that they do not yet know the specific substance involved. Cholinesterase inhibitors are a broad range of chemicals that are found in several drugs as well as in some pesticides and nerve agents. Russian doctors said their tests did not find any trace of poison while they treated Navalny. His supporters say they think he was poisoned when he drank tea purchased at the Tomsk airport before boarding his flight, and accuse the Kremlin of being behind what they see as a deliberate poisoning. Navalny's team filed a request with Russia's Investigative Committee demanding that authorities launch a criminal investigation on charges of an attempt on the life of a public figure, but said they received no response. Putin rejected "rushed and groundless accusations" when he discussed the case with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on August 26, according to the Kremlin. The Russian leader underscored Russia's "interest in a thorough and objective investigation of all the circumstances of the incident." On August 27, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he did not understand why Russia did not opt for transparency, which would be "to their credit." German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas once again urged Moscow to investigate Navalny's condition, saying: "If there is no investigation it will be not possible for Moscow to dismiss the accusations." With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and Rikard Jozwiak in Berlin Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/30806038.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 new COVID-19 testing plan by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will not be followed by California, Florida, and Texas, among other states. The new COVID-19 testing plan reduces testing for people who were exposed to the virus. CDC suggested that such tests were not needed. But people have continually been tested even without symptoms with the former COVID-19 testing plan, a CNN report noted. Public health leaders from California, Florida, and Texas also disapproved of this new COVID-19 testing plan. States who said they will still test asymptomatic people are Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, and New York, reported the Reuters. A spokesman for Texas Department of State Health Services said they would continue to test all confirmed cases' close contacts. For them, doing so will allow early case identification among people who are at the highest risk of infection. "There's not a planned change at this point," the department said in a statement. California officials also disagreed with the new testing plans. On Wednesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom said the new guidance would not take effect in California, reported the Los Angeles Times. "I don't agree with the new CDC guidance," he said. "We will not be influenced by that change." Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer echoed Newsom's statements. She noted that anyone who was exposed to the virus should get tested and quarantine. Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Health said asymptomatic testing would continue as they assess the new CDC testing plan. Texas also said it would evaluate. New COVID-19 Testing Plan Shocks Experts The new testing plan wasn't just a surprise to state officials but also public health experts. This prompted accusations that the guidance was politically motivated. Even before the new guidance was put in place, COVID-19 testing rate has dropped in the United States. Last week, the average was only 675,000 in a day. The newly recorded number of tests is lower than the 800,000 that the country saw in late July. Nationally, cases have gone down in the past five weeks, but infections are still going up in the U.S. Midwest. To remedy the drop in testing, California signed a contract with an East Coast medical diagnostics company.In going into the contract, the state hoped to have twice the number of coronavirus tests done in a day. They hope to expand the capacity to about 250,000 tests in a day. Under the $1.4 billion contract, a new lab will provide testing results within two days. It is far quicker than the average of five to seven days in other labs' waiting time.The new lab is set to begin testing in November. Officials Defend New COVID-19 Testing Plan Assistant Secretary for Health of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Admiral Brett Giroir said there was no pressure from the administration to change the testing guidance. He said testing people who do not show symptoms could produce false negatives and add to the virus' spread. CDC Director Robert Redfield issued a statement on Thursday, saying "everyone who needs a COVID-19 test can get a test," but "everyone who wants a test does not necessarily need a test." Check these out! Experts Worried About New CDC Testing Guidelines, 'Change in Policy Will Kill' CDC Drops 14-Day Quarantine Recommendation for Returning Travelers New COVID-19 Testing Contract In California to Address Delays, Shortages The President of the NYPD's Police Benevolent Association union has accused Democrat leaders of 'surrendering' American streets in a fiery Republican National Convention speech. Pat Lynch's pre-recorded address aired during Thursday night's RNC, as dozens of cities across the country grapple with soaring crime rates and civil unrest. 'The Democrats have walked away from us. They have walked away from police officers and they've walked away from the innocent people we protect. Democratic politicians have surrendered our streets and our institutions,' Lynch stated. 'They [Democrats] have hijacked and dismantled the criminal justice system. They have passed laws that have made it impossible for police officers to do our jobs effectively'. It is the first time in at least three decades that the NYPD union has endorsed a presidential candidate. Scroll down for video The President of the NYPD's Police Benevolent Association union has accused Democrat leaders of 'surrendering American streets' in a fiery Republican National Convention speech In New York City, shootings were up 177 percent in July when compared to the same month last year. NYPD officers are seen responding to the shooting murder of a man in Brooklyn last week Lynch went on to claim that the goal of the 'radical left' is to completely eliminate police altogether. 'The radical left's anti-law enforcement campaign... is about a message. The message is police officers are the enemy. The message is criminals have the right to resist arrest,' he stated. 'That's the message echoing from City Halls and state houses across our country. It's playing on a loop in the media. The criminals have heard that message and they're taking full advantage.' Back in June, New York City's Democratic Mayor, Bill de Blasio, announced that the NYPD's budget would be slashed by $1 billion following widespread anti-police protests. In the wake of the cut, violent crime has surged dramatically across all five boroughs of The Big Apple Lynch explained that he has been an NYPD officer for 30 years, before stating: 'I've never seen our streets go this bad this quickly,' In July, murders were up 58.8 percent when compared to the same month last year. Shootings were up a staggering 177 percent. Lynch referenced the staggering rise in gun violence in his RNC address, stating: 'We are staring down the barrel of a public safety disaster. More than 1,000 people have been shot in New York City so far this year, almost 300 have been killed. 'These are not just numbers, these are real people'. New York City police officers investigate the scene of a shooting in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn last month. Shootings in July were up 177 percent Last week, an innocent bystander was shot in broad daylight in Brooklyn while he walked with his wife to buy toothpaste from a nearby store. Doctors fear he will never walk again after the bullet struck his spine The NYPD released its comprehensive crime figures for the month of July 2020, showing shootings and murders were up when compared with the same time last year Lynch went on to tout President Trump as a fierce defender of police officers. The Commander-in-chief has described himself as 'LAW & ORDER PRESIDENT', while others at the RNC have blasted the Democrats for not coming out forcefully enough to condemn riots, looting and shootings. On Thursday, former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani endorsed Trump and trashed his Presidential rival Joe Biden, by stating: 'You can't beat crime from your basement, Joe!' In his own speech, Vice President Mike Pence told voters 'you won't be safe in Joe Biden's America'. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Monday that violent crime is 'painful' and 'horrible'. He recently announced $1 billion in NYPD budget cuts Governor Andrew Cuomo has blamed police themselves for the rising crime, saying they have done 'very little' to come up with reform plans. Police are seen responding to a shooting in NYC earlier this month Meanwhile, five separate shootings were reported in New York City between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. The victims were all aged in their teens and twenties. All are recovering in hospital. Meanwhile, last week, an innocent bystander was shot in broad daylight in Brooklyn while he walked with his wife to buy toothpaste from a nearby store. Doctors fear he will likely never walk again after the bullet struck his spine. Police unions have blamed bail reform, police budget cuts, and anti-cop sentiment for the rise in violent crime. But Governor Andrew Cuomo has blamed police themselves for the rising crime, saying they have done 'very little' to come up with reform plans. He also threatened to pull funding from up to 500 departments across the state if they do not have reform plans in place by April 2021. De Blasio said last week that violent crime is 'painful' and 'horrible' and said that the NYPD is 'engaging the community more deeply' to try to stem the tide. This "wasn't an easy move," minister stressed. From midnight today, August 28, Ukraine closed its borders for foreign citizens, leaving a few exceptions for certain categories of foreigners. The entry ban was introduced a day earlier than initially planned (on August 28 instead of August 29) in order to "protect foreign citizens and Ukrainians from COVID-19" and prevent corruption-related violations of law at the border, says Cabinet Minister Oleh Nemchynov, according to Obozrevatel. The decision to speed up the launch of travel restrictions for foreigners wasn't an easy one, Nemchynov said. The move had been considered by several ministries before the decision was approved. Officials expressed concern that before the date announced earlier, corruption-related offenses could be committed at the border, including providing an unlawful crossing-in for those who have no such right. "Therefore, we decided to speed up this process and launch quarantine restrictions early," Nemchynov said. Read alsoUkraine not going to reintroduce tough quarantine amid second wave of COVID-19Commenting on the situation where foreigners who had already purchased tickets for August 28, but eventually couldn't come to Ukraine, he referred to it as "force majeure", adding that, unfortunately, the persons affected should "accept" this. "This is the necessary move [entry restriction] that we must make in order to preserve health both of our fellow citizens and people arriving in Ukraine," the minister stressed. Temporary entry ban: background On August 26, 2020, the Cabinet extended the adaptive quarantine across Ukraine until November 1. At the same time, the government imposed a temporarily entry ban for foreigners from August 29 until September 28, with a number of exceptions for certain categories of foreign nationals. One of such exceptions was allegedly made for Belarusian citizens due to the mounting unrest in the neighboring country. Late on Thursday, August 27, the Cabinet declared that borders would be shut a day early, from midnight on August 28. Here are the exceptions allowing certain categories of foreign nationals to enter Ukraine. This is one macabre auction: A lock of Abraham Lincolns hair, wrapped in a bloodstained telegram about his 1865 assassination, is up for sale. Boston-based RR Auction said bidding has opened online for the items ahead of a live auction scheduled for Sept. 12 in New Hampshire. The auction house set the minimum bid at $10,000 but expects the lock and telegram to fetch $75,000 or more, spokesman Mike Graff said. Measuring roughly 2 inches (5 centimeters) long, the bushy lock of hair was removed during Lincolns postmortem examination after he was fatally shot at Fords Theatre in Washington, D.C., by John Wilkes Booth. It was given to Dr. Lyman Beecher Todd, a Kentucky postmaster and a cousin of Mary Todd Lincoln, the 16th presidents widow, Graff said. The physician was present when Lincolns body was examined, he added. The hair is mounted on an official War Department telegram sent to Dr. Todd by George Kinnear, his assistant in the Lexington, Kentucky, post office. The telegram was received in Washington at 11 p.m. on April 14, 1865. A caption typed by Todds son reads: The above telegram arrived in Washington a few minutes after Abraham Lincoln was shot. Next day, at the postmortem, when a lock of hair, clipped from near the Presidents left temple, was given to Dr. Todd finding no other paper in his pocket he wrapped the lock, stained with blood or brain fluid, in this telegram and hastily wrote on it in pencil: Hair of A. Lincoln. Dr. Todd gave a slightly different account later in life, writing in 1895 three decades after the assassination, and seven years before his own death that he clipped the lock of hair himself. In Lincoln-era papers kept at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania, he wrote in an account of the autopsy: When all was over, General Hardin entered, and handed me a pair of scissors, requesting me to cut a few locks of hair for Mrs. Lincoln. I carefully cut and delivered them to General Hardin, and then secured one for myself which I have preserved as a sacred relic. Could scientists clone Lincoln from the lock? Forget about it. Hair follicles rarely contain viable DNA, the genetic material that maps human beings. This July 2020 photo released by RR Auction shows a bloodstained telegram and lock of hair from former President Abraham Lincoln, to be auctioned Sept. 12, 2020, by the Boston-based auction firm. The lock of hair was removed during Lincoln's postmortem examination in April 1865. (Nikki Brickett/RR Auction via AP)AP RR Auction said it vouches for the authenticity of the lock and telegram, in part based on a 1945 letter written by Dr. Todds son, James Todd. The letter says the clipping of hair has remained entirely in the custody of our family since that time. It last was sold in 1999, the auction house said. Bobby Livingston, executive vice president of RR Auction, disputes the notion that the offerings particularly the lock are a little on the dark side. Its not macabre. Its a fascinating artifact from a horrible tragedy, he told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. Collecting locks of hair was common after someone passed away. Its such a piece of history. The assassination of President Lincoln was obviously such a shock. Historians say the telegram itself is significant because it disproved a conspiracy theory that then-Secretary of War Edwin Stanton plotted to kill Lincoln because of their personal and political differences. At the time, some claimed that Stanton ordered military communications to be disrupted, allowing Booth to briefly elude his captors. The time stamp on the dispatch shows that military telegraph lines were, in fact, functioning on the night Lincoln was assassinated. The telegram is evidence to disprove the misinformation and conspiracy theories in the Lincoln assassination, Graff said. French Defence Minister Florence Parly is likely to visit India around September 10 to attend a ceremony to formally induct five Rafale fighter jets into the Indian Air Force (IAF) and hold talks with her Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh to further boost strategic ties, people familiar with the development said on Friday. They said the IAF has proposed September 10 to hold the ceremony, adding both the Indian and French sides are in touch with each other for the possible visit by Parly. The first batch of five Rafale combat jets, manufactured by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, arrived at the Ambala air base on July 29. The jets are yet to be formally inducted into the IAF. Sources said the Defence Minister, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and the entire top military brass of the country will attend the event at the Ambala air base. Also read: Rajnath Singh to induct five Rafale jets into Indian Air Force on Sept 10 In a telephonic conversation with Singh on June 2, Parly had conveyed her readiness to visit India to further explore ways to enhance bilateral defence ties. India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore. The Rafale jet is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. European missile maker MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and Scalp cruise missile will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets. Meteor is a next generation beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) designed to revolutionise air-to-air combat. The weapon has been developed by MBDA to combat common threats facing the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Sweden. Also read: India's Rafale vs Pakistan's JF-17, F-16 vs China's J-20: Which one is better? Out of the 36 Rafale jets, 30 will be fighter jets and six will be trainers. The trainer jets will be twin-seater and they will have almost all the features of the fighter jets. While the first squadron of the Rafale jets will be stationed at the Ambala air base, the second one will be based at the Hasimara base in West Bengal. A colorized scanning electron micrograph of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Credit: NIAID New research suggests that children can shed SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, even if they never develop symptoms or for long after symptoms have cleared. But many questions remain about the significance of the pediatric population as vectors for this sometimes deadly disease, according to an invited commentary by Children's National Hospital doctors that accompanies this new study published online Aug. 28, 2020 in JAMA Pediatrics. The commissioned editorial, written by Roberta L. DeBiasi, M.D., M.S., chief of the Division of Pediatric Diseases, and Meghan Delaney, D.O., M.P.H., chief of the Division of Pathology and Lab Medicine, provides important insight on the role children might play in the spread of COVID-19 as communities continue to develop public health strategies to reign in this disease. The study that sparked this commentary focused on 91 pediatric patients followed at 22 hospitals throughout South Korea. "Unlike in the American health system, those who test positive for COVID-19 in South Korea stay at the hospital until they clear their infections even if they aren't symptomatic," explains Dr. DeBiasi. The patients here were identified for testing through contact tracing or developing symptoms. About 22% never developed symptoms, 20% were initially asymptomatic but developed symptoms later, and 58% were symptomatic at their initial test. Over the course of the study, the hospitals where these children stayed continued to test them every three days on average, providing a picture of how long viral shedding continues over time. The study's findings show that the duration of symptoms varied widely, from three days to nearly three weeks. There was also a significant spread in how long children continued to shed virus and could be potentially infectious. While the virus was detectable for an average of about two-and-a-half weeks in the entire group, a significant portion of the childrenabout a fifth of the asymptomatic patients and about half of the symptomatic oneswere still shedding virus at the three week mark. Drs. DeBiasi and Delaney write in their commentary that the study makes several important points that add to the knowledge base about COVID-19 in children. One of these is the large number of asymptomatic patientsabout a fifth of the group followed in this study. Another is that children, a group widely thought to develop mostly mild disease that quickly passes, can retain symptoms for weeks. A third and important point, they say, is the duration of viral shedding. Even asymptomatic children continued to shed virus for a long time after initial testing, making them potential key vectors. However, the commentary authors say, despite these important findings, the study raises several questions. One concerns the link between testing and transmission. A qualitative "positive" or "negative" on testing platforms may not necessarily reflect infectivity, with some positives reflecting bits of genetic material that may not be able to make someone sick or negatives reflecting low levels of virus that may still be infectious. Testing reliability may be further limited by the testers themselves, with sampling along different portions of the respiratory tract or even by different staff members leading to different laboratory results. It's also unknown whether asymptomatic individuals are shedding different quantities of virus than those with symptoms, a drawback of the qualitative testing performed by most labs. Further, testing only for active virus instead of antibodies ignores the vast number of individuals who may have had and cleared an asymptomatic or mild infection, an important factor for understanding herd immunity. Lastly, Drs. DeBiasi and Delaney point out, the study only tested for viral shedding from the respiratory tract even though multiple studies have detected the virus in other bodily fluids, including stool. It's unknown what role these other sources might play in the spread of this disease. Drs. DeBiasi and Delaney note that each of these findings and additional questions could affect public health efforts continually being developed and refined to bring COVID-19 under control in the U.S. and around the world. Children's National has added their own research to these efforts, with ongoing studies to assess how SARS-CoV-2 infections proceed in children, including how antibodies develop both at the individual and population level. "Each of these pieces of information that we, our collaborators and other scientists around the world are working to gather," says Dr. DeBiasi, "is critical for developing policies that will slow the rate of viral transmission in our community." Kenosha, a city of 100,000 in Wisconsins southeastern corner, now confronts the question of when lethal force is justified in two different cases. One, the shooting of Jacob Blake by a police officer, I addressed yesterday. The other is the case of Kyle Rittenhouse, who is alleged to have killed two people and injured one during the civil unrest this week, and who has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, reckless homicide, and other offenses. Rittenhouse is a 17-year-old from Antioch, Ill., about a half hours drive from Kenosha. Inexplicably, this underage police cadet from out of state wound up on the streets after curfew in a place where a riot was likely imminent, doing interviews with journalists and openly carrying an AR-15style rifle. There can be no question that Rittenhouse and whatever adults were in charge of him made idiotic decisions. Minors should not stand guard at riots play-acting at being cops. But even people who knowingly put themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time are allowed to defend themselves against attack when they get there. So the biggest legal question is: Did Rittenhouse defend himself against attack with an appropriate amount of force, or were the people he shot the ones acting in self-defense by trying to disarm him? The very beginning of the situation is not on video that I am aware, but the complaint against Rittenhouse contains some key details from Richard McGinnis, a Daily Caller reporter who was interviewing Rittenhouse at the time: McGinnis said that as they were walking south another armed male who appeared to be in his 30s joined them and said he was there to protect the defendant. McGinnis stated that before the defendant reached the parking lot and ran across it, the defendant had moved from the middle of Sheridan Road to the sidewalk and that is when McGinnis saw a male ([Joseph] Rosenbaum) initially try to engage the defendant. McGinnis stated that as the defendant was walking Rosenbaum was trying to get closer to the defendant. When Rosenbaum advanced, the defendant did a juke move and started running. McGinnis stated that there were other people that were moving very quickly. McGinnis stated that they were moving towards the defendant. McGinnis said that according to what he saw the defendant was trying to evade these individuals. Story continues After that, much of the situation was recorded, and the New York Times has done an excellent job of stitching the videos together. This Twitter thread from a co-author of the piece nicely explains the events and (for those willing to watch graphic footage) provides the key clips: A teenager faces charges in shootings that left 2 people dead in Kenosha, WI. The @nytimes Visual Investigations team reviewed hours of livestreams to track 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouses movements during and leading up to the shootings. [THREAD] https://t.co/FRCYlS5wgH Christiaan Triebert (@trbrtc) August 27, 2020 The first video starts with people already chasing Rittenhouse, one of whom throws something at him. One person even fires a handgun in the air and another, Rosenbaum, charges at Rittenhouse, who shoots him. After that, there are more shots from an unknown source, and Rittenhouse calls a friend on his phone and leaves. But again hes pursued, with some protesters urging others to join in, and this time he falls down. Several people move in on him, and he takes shots at three, hitting two. One is holding a handgun and survives a shot to the arm; the other has a skateboard and dies. Again there are additional mysterious gunshots after the fact. Obviously, a big unanswered question right now is how this all really got started. But as we wait for that information, lets take a gander at the Wisconsin laws at issue. There are two extremes here: justifiable use of deadly force and first-degree intentional homicide. So lets see what the law says about those two situations, bearing in mind that other charges can apply if Rittenhouses behavior fell in between them. (There are plenty of options: Rittenhouse is charged with reckless homicide for the first fatal shooting, first-degree intentional homicide for the second, and attempted first-degree intentional homicide for the nonfatal one, in addition to charges for reckless endangerment and bearing a dangerous weapon as a minor.) Quite typically for a U.S. state, Wisconsin allows civilian use of deadly force when one reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm. One major issue, then, will be whether Rittenhouse reasonably thought that the folks engaging with him meant to inflict serious injury, not just disarm him. But what if Rittenhouse provoked the confrontation to begin with? Thats bad for a claim of self-defense, but it doesnt preclude one. Heres another excerpt from the Wisconsin statute books: (a) A person who engages in unlawful conduct of a type likely to provoke others to attack him or her and thereby does provoke an attack is not entitled to claim the privilege of self-defense against such attack, except when the attack which ensues is of a type causing the person engaging in the unlawful conduct to reasonably believe that he or she is in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm. In such a case, the person engaging in the unlawful conduct is privileged to act in self-defense, but the person is not privileged to resort to the use of force intended or likely to cause death to the persons assailant unless the person reasonably believes he or she has exhausted every other reasonable means to escape from or otherwise avoid death or great bodily harm at the hands of his or her assailant. (b) The privilege lost by provocation may be regained if the actor in good faith withdraws from the fight and gives adequate notice thereof to his or her assailant. (c) A person who provokes an attack, whether by lawful or unlawful conduct, with intent to use such an attack as an excuse to cause death or great bodily harm to his or her assailant is not entitled to claim the privilege of self-defense. So, even if Rittenhouse bears some responsibility for the initial conflict, he can still argue that he did everything he could to escape the situation and withdraw from the fight. Both shooting incidents began with him running away. Moving to the other extreme, to prove first-degree intentional homicide, prosecutors will have to show that Rittenhouse cause[d] the death of another human being with intent to kill that person and will have to disprove the existence of any mitigating circumstances the defense asserts. If the prosecution fails at the latter task, the offense is knocked down to the second degree. Mitigating circumstances include adequate provocation, meaning the victim did something sufficient to cause complete lack of self-control in an ordinarily constituted person; unnecessary defensive force, meaning Rittenhouse believed he . . . was in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and that the force used was necessary to defend [himself], even though the belief was unreasonable; and prevention of felony, meaning he believed his actions were necessary to stop the commission of a felony, even though the belief was unreasonable. In other words, even if Rittenhouse unreasonably thought his actions were necessary, he can get the charge downgraded, though in that case hell still have committed a very serious offense. Rittenhouse is already a hero to some and a supervillain to others; in that sense, he is the Bernie Goetz of 2020. The highest charge against him strikes me as a stretch, but beyond that I dont have any bold opinions yet. The outcome for each shooting will depend on whether Rittenhouse reasonably feared for his life, which in turn might depend on broader context we lack thus far and even if all three shootings were justified, there are still firearms and reckless-endangerment charges for him to contend with. Where the f*** were this kids parents? More from National Review Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Moisture Analyzer Calibration Market: Global Industry Analysis 2013-2018 & Opportunity Assessment 2019-2027 A recent market study published by FMI Moisture Analyzer Calibration Market: Global Industry Analysis 2013-2018 & Forecast 2019-2027 offers a comprehensive assessment of the most important market dynamics. After conducting thorough research on the historic as well as current growth parameters of the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market, the growth prospects of the market are obtained with maximum precision. MOISTURE ANALYZER CALIBRATION MARKET TAXONOMY The global Moisture Analyzer Calibration market is segmented in detail to cover every aspect of the market and present a complete market intelligence approach to the reader. Product type Desktop Handheld Inline Sample of Research Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-9047 Analysis Technique Loss on Drying Karl Fischer Titration Infrared Radiation Microwave Radiation Capacitance End Use Manufacturing Pharmaceutical Food & Beverages Chemicals Construction Pulp & Paper Others Region North America Latin America Europe Japan APEJ MEA WHAT'S INCLUDED Chapter 01 Executive Summary The report commences with the executive summary of the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market, which includes a summary of the key findings and key statistics of the market. It also includes the market value (US$ million) estimates of the leading segments of the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market. Chapter 02 Market Overview Readers can find the detailed taxonomy and the definition of the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market in this chapter, which will help them understand the basic information about the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market. This section also highlights the key inclusions and exclusions, which helps the reader understand the scope of the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market report. Chapter 03 Key Market Trends The report provides the key trends that are expected to substantially impact the growth of the market during the forecast period. Detailed industry trends are provided in this section, along with key market developments or product innovations, key competition mapping, which is likely to have a significant impact on Moisture Analyzer Calibration market. Chapter 04 Key Success Factors This section includes the key inclusions of the report. It includes the product adoption & usage analysis, product timeline, regulatory assessment, reimbursement scenario, pipeline assessment & opportunity analysis, and manufactures strategies for market expansion. Chapter 05 Global Moisture Analyzer Calibration Market Demand (in Value or Size in US$ Mn) Analysis 2013-2018 and Forecast, 2019-2027 This section explains the global market value analysis and forecast for the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market between the forecast period of 2013-2027. This chapter includes the detailed analysis of the historical Moisture Analyzer Calibration market, along with an opportunity analysis of the future. Readers can also find the absolute opportunity for the current year (2019 2020), and an incremental opportunity for the forecast period (2019 2027). Chapter 06 Market Background This chapter explains the key macro-economic factors that are expected to influence the growth of the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market during the forecast period. Along with macroeconomic factors, this section also highlights the opportunity analysis for the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market. This chapter also highlights the key dynamics of the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market, which include the drivers, restraints, and trends. Moreover, it will enable readers to understand the key trends followed by the leading manufacturers in the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market. Chapter 07 Application of Moisture Analyzer Calibration in Emerging Areas, 2018 This section explain the global market penetration analysis for the Moisture Analyzer Calibration in 2018. The section also covers the key information about the applications of the Moisture Analyzer Calibration in various industries such as Food & Beverages, Chemicals, construction, Pulp & Paper and Others. The section also covers the key information about the adoption of Desktop, Handheld and Inline Moisture Analyzer Calibrations. It also provides information on the penetration of the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market by emerging application areas. Chapter 08 Global Moisture Analyzer Calibration Market Analysis 2013 - 2018 & Forecast 2019 - 2027, By Product Type Based on the Product Type, the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market is segmented into Desktop, Handheld and Inline. In this chapter, readers can find information about the key trends and developments in the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market and market attractiveness analysis based on the Product Type. Chapter 09 Global Moisture Analyzer Calibration Market Analysis 2013 - 2018 & Forecast, 2019 - 2027, By Analysis Technique Based on the Analysis Technique, the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market is segmented into Loss on Drying, Karl Fischer Titration, Infrared Radiation, Microwave Radiation, and Capacitance. In this chapter, readers can find information about the key trends and developments in the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market and market attractiveness analysis based on the Analysis Technique. Chapter 10 Global Moisture Analyzer Calibration Market Analysis 2013 - 2018 & Forecast, 2019 - 2027, By End Use This chapter provides details about the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market on the basis of Industry, based on which the market has been classified into Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical, Food & Beverages, Chemicals, construction, Pulp & Paper and Others. In this chapter, readers can understand the market attractiveness analysis based on End Use. Chapter 11 Global Moisture Analyzer Calibration Market Analysis 2013 2018 & Forecast, 2019 - 2027, By Region This chapter explains how the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market will grow across various geographic regions, such as North America, Latin America, Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), and the Middle East & Africa (MEA). Chapter 12 North America Moisture Analyzer Calibration Market Analysis 2013 2018 & Forecast, 2019 - 2027 This chapter includes a detailed analysis of the growth of the North America Moisture Analyzer Calibration market, along with a country-wise assessment that includes the U.S. and Canada. Readers can also find the regional trends, regulations, and market growth based on the Analysis Technique, Product Type, End use industries, and countries in North America. Chapter 13 Latin America Moisture Analyzer Calibration Market Analysis 2013 - 2018 & Forecast, 2019 - 2027 Readers can find detailed information about several factors, such as the pricing analysis and the regional trends, which are impacting the growth of the Latin America Moisture Analyzer Calibration market. This chapter also includes the growth prospects of the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market in the leading LATAM countries such as Brazil, Mexico, and the Rest of Latin America. Chapter 14 Europe Moisture Analyzer Calibration Market Analysis 2013 - 2018 & Forecast, 2019 - 2027 Important growth prospects of the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market based on its end users in several countries, such as Germany, the UK, France, Spain, Italy, and the Rest of Europe, are included in this chapter. Chapter 15 Japan Moisture Analyzer Calibration Market Analysis 2013 - 2018 & Forecast, 2019 - 2027 Japan is the prominent country in the Asia Pacific market. Thus, Japan is the prime subject of assessment to obtain the growth prospects of the Asia Pacific Moisture Analyzer Calibration market. In this chapter, readers can find detailed information about the growth parameters of the Japan Moisture Analyzer Calibration market for the period 20182028 Chapter 16 Asia Pacific Excluding Japan Moisture Analyzer Calibration Market Analysis 2013 - 2018 & Forecast, 2019 - 2027 This chapter highlights the growth of the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market in the Asia Pacific Excluding Japan by focusing on India, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and the Rest of APEJ. This section also helps readers understand the key factors that are responsible for the growth of the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market in APEJ. Chapter 17 MEA Moisture Analyzer Calibration Market Analysis 2013 - 2018 & Forecast, 2019 - 2027 This chapter provides information about how the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market will grow in the major countries in the MEA region, such as GCC Countries, South Africa, Israel, and the rest of MEA, during the forecast period 2019 - 2027. Chapter 18 Market Structure Analysis In this chapter, readers can find detailed information about the tier analysis and market concentration of the key players in the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market, along with their market presence analysis by region and product portfolio. Sample of Research Methodology Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-9047 Chapter 19 Competition Analysis In this chapter, readers can find a comprehensive list of all the leading stakeholders in the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market, along with detailed information about each company, which includes the company overview, revenue shares, strategic overview, and recent company developments. Some of the market players featured in the report are METTLER TOLEDO, PCE Instruments, Adam Equipment, Sartorius AG, KERN & SOHN GmbH, A&D Co., Ltd., Ametek, Inc., Shimadzu Corp., Sinar Technology, Systech Illinois, Michell Instruments, Spectrasensors Inc., OHAUS Corporation, General Electric, CEM Corporation, Hach (Danaher Corporation), and Mitsubishi Chemical Analytech Co., Ltd. Chapter 20 Assumptions and Acronyms This chapter includes a list of acronyms and assumptions that provide a base to the information and statistics included in the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market report. Chapter 21 Research Methodology This chapter helps readers understand the research methodology followed to obtain the various conclusions as well as important qualitative and quantitative information about the Moisture Analyzer Calibration market. ABOUT US: Future Market Insights is the premier 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. FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers. CONTACT US: Future Market Insights U.S. Office 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Web: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com Video above: Wisconsin officials hold news conference from Kenosha Jacob Blake's attorney told sister station WISN that the felony warrant against Blake has just been vacated, handcuffs removed in his hospital bed and the deputies have left his room at Froedtert Hospital in Wisconsin. On Thursday, Blake's father told the Chicago Sun-Times, "He can't go anywhere. Why do you have him cuffed to the bed." Blake's family said he's paralyzed after a police officer shot him in the back Sunday. The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office told The Associated Press that all hospitalized patients in police custody are restrained unless undergoing medical procedures and that it's working to "ensure a safe and humane environment for Mr. Blake.'' A reporter asked Gov. Tony Evers about the handcuffs Thursday during a news conference. "The Sun-Times is reporting that Jacob Blake is handcuffed to his hospital bed. Does that concern you?" the reporter asked. "Hell, yes. I would have no personal understanding why that would be necessary. Certainly, he's paid a horrific price already being shot seven or eight times in the back. I can't imagine why that's happening," Evers said. The state continues to investigate the shooting. In the Central African Republic, a country with a history of coups since independence from France 60 years ago, the ouster of Malian president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has brought back dark memories. In 2013, the Seleka, a rebel coalition drawn largely from the Muslim minority, toppled then-president Francois Bozize, plunging the CAR into a spiral of violence that continues today. The fragility of the state is visible whenever his successor, Faustin Archange Touadera, ventures forth. The president is accompanied by armoured vehicles, pickup trucks carrying soldiers and an ambulance with screaming sirens, in a convoy travelling on roads closed to traffic. "The Malian syndrome could be happen here," said Edgard Kette-Djama, a teacher in Bangui. "We have an army that is politicised. Signs of frustration can be seen among the population." Vulnerable president There are just four months left before presidential and parliamentary elections, and Touadera's problems are evident. Elected in 2016, he has failed to crack down on two issues of deep concern -- entrenched corruption and militias that control two-thirds of the CAR's territory. The militias still inflict many civilian casualties, despite a peace accord signed in 2019 and the presence of 11,600 peacekeeping troops in the United Nations mission in the CAR (MINUSCA). As in Mali, the presence of UN troops sits ill with much of the population. Many people here say the peacekeepers are too passive with the militias. This perceived weakness may be a temptation, said Nathalia Dukhan, a researcher with the US anti-corruption watchdog The Sentry. "The leaders of the armed groups now think that the UN presence is no obstacle to violently overthrowing the regime in Bangui," Dukhan observed. On the other hand, the mandate of the UN mission in the CAR is crucially different from that in Mali. Central African Republic. By (AFP) Its forces in the Sahel have been deployed against a jihadist revolt that began in northern Mali in 2012 and has since spread to the centre. In the CAR, foreign troops can in theory intervene to protect the country's institutions. "The preservation of constitutional order is an essential part of action by MINUSCA," said Hans De Marie Heungoup, an analyst with the International Crisis Group (ICG). Guarded by Rwandan UN soldiers and Russian security agents, the Renaissance Palace of the head of state would put up serious resistance to rebels or mutineers from a depleted national army already under an international arms embargo. If a coordinated assault like that of 2013 seems pretty unlikely, the volatile situation raises fears of other scenarios such as an attack on the president or a popular uprising led by the opposition. Coming from an ethnic minority and with no electoral base, Touadera has had to make compromises with clans locked in rivalry to grab power. He can count on a solid electoral system and support from Russia, but his position remains fragile. Well-supported rival The worries of the presidential majority are focused on former president Francois Bozize, a soldier who seized power from Ange-Felix Patasse in 2003 following several successive coup bids. Bozize himself lasted a decade before he was toppled. Bozize has cast a shadow over Touadera's government since returning from abroad last December. By FLORENT VERGNES (AFP) Returning to Bangui last December after seven years in exile and becoming a presidential candidate, Bozize today presents himself as "a man of peace," an assertion that does not convince many adversaries that he has turned the page. A member of the country's majority Gbaya community, he has much support in the army and among the so-called anti-Balaka -- the Christian militia who took up arms against the Seleka rebels in 2013 and 2014 and played a major part in the country's downward spiral. In March, several leaders in the anti-Balaka movement were arrested, officially because they had had an "unauthorised" meeting at the home of a minister. Several days later, officers close to Bozize were detained in Bangui with military weapons in their possession, prosecutors say. But whether this is a precursor of violence is far from certain -- and Heungoup notes that the government "also uses the fear of a coup to discredit" Bozize. Another factor in the coup equation is that the CAR's public is deeply repelled by the country's endless cycle of dramas and bloodshed. Touadera has never been very popular but unlike Keita in Mali, he has never faced wide-scale protests -- and winning over the public for a mass revolt would be a major challenge for any would-be putschists. WASHINGTON (JTA) - Gabby Giffords, the Jewish former congresswoman who became a leader in the gun control movement after being shot by an assailant in the head in 2011, opened the third night of the Democratic convention with an appeal to elect Joe Biden president. "We can let the shooting continue or we can act," Giffords said in a recorded video that opened the proceedings Wednesday at the convention, held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. "We can protect our families, our future. We can vote. We can be on the right side of history. We must elect Joe Biden." Giffords describe... A man who attempted to smuggle nearly four kilograms of methamphetamine into Australia hidden in a red esky has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. Australian Border Force officers selected the Malaysian taxi driver for a baggage examination when he arrived at Perth International Airport on October 27, 2018 on a flight from Kuala Lumpur. When they pulled the esky apart they found 3.79 kilograms of meth hidden in its walls, the equivalent of 37,900 hits with an estimated street value of $2.8 million. The meth was hidden in the walls of an esky. Credit:ABF Australian Federal Police charged him with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, which has a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A high-ranking U.S. intelligence official who died in June killed himself in his own front yard in front of his terrified new wife, it has been revealed. Anthony Ming Schinella, 52, died on June 14 in Arlington, Virginia, but his death had not been widely reported until this week, when The Intercept revealed a medical examiners report listed his cause of death as suicide from a gunshot wound to the head. Schinella was just weeks away from retirement as National Intelligence Officer for Military Issues following a long CIA career, and had newly married wife Sara Cocoran, a journalist, a few weeks prior to his death. Corcoran said that she was in her car in the driveway of their home, trying to get away from Schinella, when she witnessed his suicide, according to The Intercept. Scroll down for video Anthony Ming Schinella, 52, died on June 14 in Arlington, Virginia. A medical examiner's report revealed that the senior intelligence official died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head Schinella's new wife Sara Cocoran (left and with him right) said that she was in her car in the driveway of their home, trying to get away from Schinella, when she witnessed his suicide The widow did not reveal further details about the events leading up to Schinella's death. Corcoran said that after Schinella's death, she discovered a large collection of bondage and S&M gear that had been hidden in his house. She also discovered 24 guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Corcoran said that the CIA has completed an investigation into Schinellas death, but that the agency didnt provide her with any details. Schinella was the highest-ranking military affairs analyst in the U.S. intelligence community, and was also a member of the powerful National Intelligence Council. He was an expert on the Taliban's military capabilities, and his death came shortly before the New York Times reported on June 26 that Russia paid bounties to the Taliban to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan. Schinella committed suicide in his front yard. Above, his last known residence is seen Following the report, the NIC drafted a memo, which quickly leaked, claiming that the intelligence about the bounties was inconclusive. The memo did not mention that the NIC's top analyst on military affairs and Taliban expert had killed himself days earlier. In a tribute to Schinella published in CityWatch, Corcoran wrote that he possessed an 'astonishing intelligence and an heroic work ethic.' 'He traveled to more than 100 countries on six continents, spoke several languages and was able to pick up the basics of practically any language before he even left for the airport,' she wrote. Schinella is also survived by two daughters from a previous marriage. In an article last week for CityWatch, Corcoran suggested that her husband viewed Russia as a distraction, and China as the real foreign threat to America. 'My husband Tony and I often discussed China's increasing influence in Americas public domain, as well as in other countries around the world,' she wrote. In a tribute to Schinella, Corcoran wrote that he possessed an 'astonishing intelligence and an heroic work ethic' 'China was one of our shared interests, as he was half-Chinese and I received my MBA from a business school in Shanghai.' Corcoran said that prior to his death, Schinella had recommended that she read Clive Hamilton's 2019 book Silent Invasion, which documents China's aggressive attempts to shape Australian politics and culture. 'My husband was an astute identifier and observer of stealth influences upon current events that are beneath the mainstream media radar, but warrant wide awareness of,' she wrote. 'Our conversations could range from how the Chinese Security Services or PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) had centralized its operations, to how they supported influence campaigns targeting universities, politicians, and public sentiment in Australia,' she continued. 'So while many of us in the United States have been preoccupied with Russian influence campaigns here, it turns out that the Chinese have been wreaking havoc on our ally Oz down under; and indeed the main threat to Australia's national security interests today come from its largest trading partner to the northwest: China.' If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 Over the past several months, 80% of healthcare institutions in the US have reported being targeted by some sort of cyberattack, ranging from minor to severe, with an uptick in phishing attempts and spam specifically. Most of these attempts have been aimed at illegally acquiring troves of patient data, including the recent hacks of hospitals in Chicagoand Utah. About 20% of the hacks and cyberattacks reported by hospitals and medical facilities since March directly affected the facilities capacity to function optimally, with a much smaller percentage of those including ransomware attacks. One of the reasons for the increase in the success of these attacks has been the fact that more healthcare IT workers are working remotely as well as the fact that many IT staffers have been laid off or let go completely. In several recent instances, the removal of entire hospital system IT staffs have been tied to a larger effort by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to consolidate control over patient data, including Coronavirus-related data, with the assistance of secretive government contractors with longstanding ties to HHS. The surge of cyberattacks combined with major budget cuts has made hospitals even more vulnerable as many are compelled to do more with less. As a result, there has been a renewed push for the improvement of cybersecurity at hospitals, clinics and other healthcare institutions throughout the country over the course of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. Amid this backdrop, an odd group of cyber threat intelligence analysts with ties to the US government, Israeli intelligence and tech giant Microsoft have volunteered to protect US healthcare institutions for free and have even directly partnered with US federal agencies to do so. They have also recently expanded to offer their services to governments and social media platforms to target, analyze and neutralize alleged disinformation campaigns related to the Coronavirus crisis. While these analysts have claimed to have altruistic motives, its members who have identified themselves publicly have notably dedicated much of their private sector careers to blaming nation states, namely Iran but also China, for hacking and, most recently, for cyberattacks related to the Coronavirus crisis, as well as the 2020 presidential campaign. These individuals and their employers rarely, if ever, make their reasons for assigning blame to state actors available to public scrutiny and also have close ties to the very governments, namely the US and Israel, that have been attempting to gin up hostilities with those countries in recent years, particularly Iran, suggesting a potential conflict of interest. The Cyber Justice League? Calling themselves the cyber version of Justice League, the Covid-19 Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) League was created earlier this year in March and has described itself as the first Global Volunteer Emergency Response Community, defending and neutralizing cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities to the life-saving sectors related to the current Covid-19 pandemic. They now claim to have over 1,400 members hailing from 76 different countries. According to their website, they seek to protect medical organizations, public healthcare facilities, and emergency organizations from threats from the cyber domain and offer their services pro-bono to major hospitals, healthcare and pharmaceutical companies as well as U.S. law enforcement and federal agencies. Upon their creation, they sent an open letter to the healthcare community, offering to volunteer their time and efforts to mitigate [cyber] threats and protect our healthcare system. However, since its creation, the CTI League has offered its services to sectors entirely unrelated to healthcare systems, companies and institutions. For instance, they now offer their services to critical infrastructure systems throughout the US, including dams, nuclear reactors, chemical plants and others, according to their inaugural report and their contact form. This is particularly concerning given that there is no oversight regarding who can become a member of the League, as one must merely be approved for entrance or vetted by the leagues four founding members, whose conflicts of interests and ties to the US and Israeli national security states are detailed later on in this report. In addition, the leagues team of expert volunteers also tackle alleged disinformation campaigns related to Covid-19. Some examples of the disinformation campaigns the CTI league has been investigating on behalf of its private sector and federal partners include those that associate Covid-19 spread with the distribution of 5G equipment, encourage citizens to break quarantine, and one that incited a 1st and 2nd amendment rally in Texas. Regarding their disinformation workstream, the CTI league states the following: The CTI League neutralizes any threat in the cyber domain regarding the current pandemic, including disinformation. The mission of this effort is to find, analyze, and coordinate responses to the current pandemic disinformation incidents as they happen, and where our specialist skills and connections are most useful. The CTI League has offered its services pro bono to a variety of groups in the private and public sector, which has allowed the Leagues members access to the critical systems of each. For instance, they work closely with the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center (H-ISAC), whose members include Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Merck, Amgen, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Athenahealth, among others. H-ISACs president, Denise Anderson, works closely with the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center, part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). According to H-ISACs Chief Security Officer (CSO), Errol Weiss, the organization has been partnered with the CTI League since very early on in the Coronavirus crisis. The CTI League also works with unspecified law enforcement partners in the US and works particularly closely with the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), an independent federal agency overseen by DHS. The current CISA director, Christopher Krebs who was previously the Director of Cybersecurity for Microsoft, told CSO Online in April that CISA is working around the clock with our public and private sector partners to combat this threat. This includes longstanding partnerships, as well as new ones that have formed as a direct result of Covid-19, including the Covid-19 Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) League. Malicious actors are trying to take advantage of COVID19 through targeted #cyber attacks on businesses, governments, and individuals. @CISAgov is working with partners to stop thisthrough efforts like the newly established #COVID19 Cyber Threat Intelligence League @CTIleague. Chris Krebs (@CISAKrebs) April 21, 2020 Since they began working with US authorities, the CTI League has increasingly taken to assigning blame to nation states, specifically Russia, China and Iran, for various cyber-intrusions just as the US federal authorities began to do the same. In late April, for instance, the Justice Department began claiming Chinese hackers planned to target US hospitals and labs to steal research related to coronavirus and anonymous US officials blamed China for a hack of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and COVID-19 research. Yet, no evidence tying China to the hacks was provided and only anonymous government officials were willing to imply blame in statements given to the press, suggesting that there was not enough evidence to justify going public with the accusation or to even open an official investigation against specific foreign entities. Notably, that same week in April, CTI Leagues founder Ohad Zaidenberg claimed that China, Iran and Russia are trying to steal everything, telling CBS News that they can steal information regarding the coronavirus information that they dont have, (if) they believe someone is creating a vaccine and they want to steal information about it. Or they can use the pandemic as leverage so they (can) to steal any other type of information. Yet, upon looking more closely at the CTI leagues membership and co-founders, particularly Mr. Zaidenberg, much of the leagues leadership has a rather dubious track record regarding past claims linking state actors to cyberattacks. In addition, they also possess rather glaring conflicts of interests that undermine the CTI Leagues professed desire to protect critical health and other infrastructure free of charge as well as ties to foreign governments with a history of espionage targeting the United States. ClearSky and the manufactured Iranian threat The public face of the CTI League and its original founder is a young Israeli named Ohad Zaidenberg, who was previously an award-winning commander in Israeli military intelligences Unit 8200, a key component of Israels military intelligence apparatus that is often compared to the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA). While serving in Unit 8200, Zaidenberg specialized in acts of cyberwarfare targeting the Iranian state, serving first as a Persian analyst in the Unit before becoming commander. His current biography states that he continues to remain focused on Iran as a strategic intelligence target and describes him as an authority in the operations of key Iranian APTs [Advanced Persistent Threats]. In addition to his leading role at the CTI League, Zaidenberg is also the lead cyber intelligence researcher at ClearSky Cybersecurity, an Israeli company directly partnered with the Unit 8200-linked Checkpoint and Verint Inc., formerly known as Comverse Infosys a company with a long history of fraud and espionage targeting the US federal government. ClearSky also collaborates daily with Elta Systems, an Israeli state-owned subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and was founded by Boaz Dolev, the former head of the Israeli governments e-Government platform. Aside from his work at CTI League and ClearSky, Zaidenberg is also a researcher for Tel Aviv Universitys Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). Zaidenberg is specifically affiliated with the INSS Lipkin-Shahak Program, which is named after the former head of Israeli military intelligence and which focuses on national security and democracy in an era of Post-Truth and Fake News. According to the INSS website, the program works directly with the Israeli government and the IDF and is currently headed by Brigadier General (Ret.) Itai Brun, the former head of the Israel Defense Intelligence (IDI) Analysis Division. Prior to the creation of CTI League, ClearSky and Zaidenberg, specifically were often cited by US mainstream media outlets as the sole source for dubious claims that Iranian hackers were responsible for a series of high-profile hacks and disinformation campaigns. In every mainstream media report that has covered ClearSkys and Zaidenbergs claims regarding Iranian hackers to date, their connections to the Israeli government and Israeli intelligence services have been left unmentioned. Also unmentioned was the fact that the only state actor that ClearSky has ever blamed for hacks or other online attacks has been Iran, suggesting that the government-linked cybersecurity firm has a rather myopic focus on the Islamic Republic. Ohad Zaidenberg For instance, in February 2018, Forbes reported on ClearSkys claim, citing only Zaidenberg by name, that an individual linked to Irans government had been responsible for an Iranian propaganda machine producing fake news and attempting to imitate BBC Persian. Zaidenberg claimed that the individual behind the three fake news websites, which largely published criticisms of the BBC as opposed to false news stories, is believed to have worked for [Irans] National Ministry of Communications. Based merely on the Iranian nationals believed (i.e. unconfirmed) work history, Zaidenberg then asserts with medium-high certainty that the operation was funded by the Iranian government. Zaidenbergs history as a commander in Unit 8200 targeting Iran and his continued, self-admitted work in pursuing Iran as a strategic intelligence target while working at the Israeli government-affiliated ClearSky are left unmentioned by Forbes. More recently, right before the founding of the CTI League, Zaidenberg and ClearSky were the sole source of claims that Iranian hackers were exploiting VPN servers to plan backdoors in companies around the world as well as targeting the networks of certain governments, mainly in the U.S. and Israel. ClearSkys assertion that the hackers in question were tied to Irans government was solely based on their finding of medium-high probability that the hackers activities overlapped with the past activity of an [unspecified] Iranian offensive group. They declined to specify what the nature of the overlap was or its extent. A clear conflict of interest Notably, ClearSkys February report on Iranian hackers targeting governments and major international companies in the US and elsewhere came right on the heels of speculation that Iran would target the US with a cyberattack following the US January assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, an act that was greatly influenced and allegedly prompted by Israeli intelligence. In the aftermath of the Soleimani assassination, mainstream media outlets in the US had heavily promoted the claim that Irans government would soon respond with a cyberattack as retaliation and thatfinancial institutions and major American corporations may be in the crosshairs. President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had both threatened, at the time, to dramatically respond to any Iran-launched attack, including one launched in the cyber domain, presumably with military force. While Irans much-hyped cyber retaliation failed to materialize, ClearSky, with its dubious claims that Iranian hackers were targeting major corporations and governments, created the impression that Irans government was involved in cyberattacks against U.S. interests at this sensitive time. ClearSky and Zaidenbergs claims regarding Iran only intensified after the CTI League was founded, with ClearSky and Zaidenberg being the only source for the claim made earlier this year in May that Iran had been responsible for the hacking of US biopharmaceutical company Gilead (a company which boasts close links to the Pentagon). The hack itself, which was widely reported by US media, is said to have consisted of a Gilead executive receiving a single fake email login page designed to steal passwords and it is unknown if the attack was even successful, per Reuters, which first broke the story in May. ClearSky subsequently claimed to have single-handedly foiled the Gilead hack. Notably, Gilead is part of H-ISAC, which had been partnered with Zaidenbergs CTI League weeks prior to the alleged hack. The alleged Iranian-led hack received considerable media attention as the cyberattack was said to have targeted Gileads antiviral medication remdesivir, which had received a Covid-19-related emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just a week before the hack allegedly took place. Only Zaidenberg is cited by name in the report on Irans alleged links to the Gilead hack, with Reuters citing two other, yet anonymous, cybersecurity researchers who told the outlet that they concurred with Zaidenbergs assertion that the web domains and hosting servers used in the hacking attempts were linked to Iran. Then, earlier this month, the FBI sent out a security alert claiming that Iranian government-aligned hackers were targeting F5 networking devices in the US public and private sector, with some media outlets citing anonymous sources tying the hackers in question to those previously identified by ClearSky. The FBI alert was issued right after an alert from CISA(which works directly with the CTI League and Zaidenberg) regarding vulnerabilities in F5 devices that did not mention the involvement of any state actors. Just a few days before the FBI alert, the director of the US intelligence communitys National Counterintelligence and Security Center, William Evanina, had alleged that Iran was likely to use online tactics to discredit U.S. institutions and to stir up U.S. voters discontent. Aside from citing only ClearSky and Zaidenberg for claims linking Irans government to cyberattacks, it is also worth noting that the media reports that accused Iranian government-linked groups of committing those attacks declined to even mention the extreme extent to which Iran itself has been the subject of cyberattacks over the course of 2020. For instance, in February, a cyberattack took down an estimated 25% of Irans internet, with some alleging US involvement in a similar attack that had targeted Iran just months prior. More recently, a series of several mysterious fires and other acts of industrial sabotage across Iran over the past few months have been linked to Israeli intelligence operations. In some cases, Israeli officials have acknowledged the Zionist states role in these events. In addition, there is the fact that top Israeli intelligence officials have attempted for years to goad the US into making the first move against Iran, both covertly and overtly. Indeed, for much of the last twenty years, Mossad has had access to virtually unlimited funds and powers for a five-front strategy, involving political pressure, covert measures, proliferation, sanctions and regime change in order to target Iran. Some Mossad officials have openly stated that part of this five-front strategy involves directly influencing the US Iran policy, including lobbying the U.S. to conduct a military strike on Iran. For instance, former Mossad director Meir Dagan, who pushed the US State Department to pursue covert measures and urged more attention on regime change in Iran while head of Mossad, is on record in 2012 stating that, in his view, the US needs to strike Iran first so Israel doesnt have to. Currently, Israeli officials have been relatively candid about their role in several of the recent cyberattacks that have befallen Iran as well as the fact that powerful elements of the Israeli state are trying to get the US to join a conflict against Iran before the 2020 presidential election while Trump remains in power. The effort has reportedly led to concern among EU officials that Israels government may be seeking to provoke an event whereby the US would engage Iran militarily. This context highlights why solely citing a firm like ClearSky and an individual like Ohad Zaidenberg in linking a cyber attack to the Iranian government is dangerous, given that ClearSky and Zaidenbergs ties to the Israeli national security state presents a conflict of interest. This is especially true given that Zaidenbergs old unit in Unit 8200 is directly involved in conducting cyber attacks on Iran, like those that have been recently taking place as part of the strategy to provoke a military engagement between the US and Iran prior to the November elections. While Irans government could have been involved in recent cyberattacks, especially considering the extent to which Iran has been recently targeted by cyberwarfare, using a firm tied to the very government and military intelligence apparatus actively seeking to embroil the US in a war with Iran as the sole source linking Iran to a cyberattack is not only ill advised, but dangerous and reckless. Furthermore, given Zaidenbergs key role in the CTI League, allowing faceless volunteers vetted by Zaidenberg and the leagues three other founding members (whose affiliations are discussed below) onto critical private and public networks under the guise of aiding their security amid the Covid-19 crisis is similarly reckless. CTI, Microsoft & 2020 While Zaidenberg has made himself the public face and spokesperson of the CTI League, it is worth examining the other three individuals that are listed as founding members on the Leagues website, if only because only these four individuals vet those who join the CTI League. One of these other founding members is Marc Rogers, who began his career as a hacker and later hacktivist before deciding that ethical hacking was more likely to have a positive outcome. For Rogers, ethical hacking meant pursuing a cybersecurity career with multi-national corporations like Vodafone and Cloudfare as well as asset management firms like Asian Investment & Asset Management (AIAM). Rogers is currently the Vice President of Cybersecurity Strategy at Okta, an enterprise identity solution platform, co-founded by former Salesforce executives and largely funded by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. Andreessen Horowitz is advised by former Secretary of the Treasury and Jeffery Epstein friend Larry Summers and is also a major investor in Toka, a company closely tied to Israels military intelligence apparatus and led by former Israeli Prime Minister (and a close friend of Epsteins), Ehud Barak. Aside from Rogers and Zaidenberg, the other founding members of the CTI League are Nate Warfield and Chris Mills. Warfield is a former self-described Grey Hat hacker (defined as a hacker or cybersecurity professional who violates laws or common ethical standards but without malicious intent) who now works as a senior program manager for the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC). Mills also currently works for the MSRC as a senior program manager and he previously created the US Navy Computer Forensics Lab while serving in the Navys Cyber Defense Operations Command. The MSRC proactively builds a collective defense working with industry and government security organizations to fend off cyberattacks and works within the Cyber Defense Operations Center and Microsofts other cybersecurity teams, including that previously overseen by Chris Krebs when he was in charge of Microsofts US policy work on cybersecurity and technology issues. Krebs, as previously mentioned, is now the head of the federal agency CISA, which oversees the protection of critical electronic infrastructure in the US, including the voting system. In addition to the above, MSRC is heavily focused on pursuing the cybersecurity needs of Microsoft customers, which includes the US government, specifically the US Department of Defense. It is worth noting that the MSRC is also directly affiliated with Microsofts ElectionGuard, a voting machine software program that was developed by companies closely tied to the Pentagons infamous research branch DARPA and Israeli military intelligence Unit 8200 and creates several risks to voting security despite claiming to make it safer. The push for the adoption of ElectionGuard software in the US has been largely spearheaded by the Chris Krebs-led CISA. Perhaps more telling, however, is that Microsoft and the MSRC have been at the center, alongside ClearSky, of claims linking Irans government to recent hacking events and assertions that Iranian government-linked hackers will soon target the US power grid and other critical infrastructure with cyberattacks. For instance, last year, Microsoft penned a blog postabout a threat group it named Phosphorus, sometimes also called APT35 or Charming Kitten, and Microsoft claimed that they believe [the group] originates from Iran and is linked to the Iranian government. Microsoft did not provide more details as to why they hold that belief, despite the implications of the claim. Microsoft went on to assert that the Iranian Phosphorus group attempted to target a US presidential campaign, which subsequent media reports revealed was President Trumps re-election campaign. Microsoft concluded that the attempt was not technically sophisticated and was ultimately unsuccessful, but the company felt compelled, not only to disclose the event, but to attempt to link it to Irans government. Notably, the Trump campaign was later identified as the only major presidential campaign using Microsofts AccountGuard software, part of its suspect Defending Democracy program that also spawned NewsGuard and ElectionGuard. AccountGuard claims to protect campaign-linked emails and data from hackers. Though it provided no evidence for the hack or its reasons for believing that the attack originated from Iran, media reports treated Microsofts declaration as proof that Iran had begun actively meddling in the US 2020 presidential election. Headlines such as Iranian Hackers Target Trump Campaign as 2020 Threats Mount, Iran-linked Hackers Target Trump 2020 Campaign, Microsoft says, Microsoft: Iran government-linked hacker targeted 2020 presidential campaign and Microsoft Says Iranians Tried To Hack U.S. Presidential Campaign, were commonplace following Microsofts statements. None of those reports scrutinized Microsofts claims or noted the clear conflict of interest Microsoft had in making such claims due to its efforts to see its own ElectionGuard Software adopted nationwide or the fact that the company has close ties to Israels Unit 8200 and 8200-linked Israeli tech start-ups. Coincidentally, Phosphorus, as Microsoft calls them, is also the group at the center of the Iranian hacker allegations promoted by ClearSky and Zaidenberg, which refers to this same group by the name Charming Kitten. The overlap is not very surprising given Microsofts long-standing ties to Israels Unit 8200 as well as the fact that Microsoft as a company and its two co-founders, Paul Allen and Bill Gates, personally ensured the success of an Israeli intelligence-linked tech company then-led by Isabel Maxwell, Ghislaine Maxwells sister who boasts close ties to Israels national security state. It is certainly interesting that the four founding members of CTI League share ties to the same military intelligence agencies and associated corporations as well as an interest in the same group of alleged Iranian hackers. While CTI League only publicly identifies the names of its four founding members, further investigation reveals that another member of the league is its program lead for combatting Covid-19-related disinformation Sara-Jayne Terp. Terp is a former computer scientist for the UK military and the United Nations and, in addition to her role at the CTI League, she currently co-leads the misinfosec (i.e. a combination of misinformation analysis and information security) working group for an organization known as the Credibility Coalition. The Credibility Coalition describes itself as an effort to address online misinformation by defining factors that communicate information reliability to readers and is backed by Googles News Lab, Facebooks Journalism Project as well as Craig Newmark Philanthropies and the Knight Foundation. The latter two organizations also back the Orwellian anti-fake news initiatives called the Trust Project and the Microsoft-affiliated Newsguard, respectively. Questionable access granted Through claims of altruism and partnerships with powerful corporations and government agencies, the CTI League has been able to position itself within the critical infrastructure of hospitals and the U.S. healthcare system as well as attempting to expand into other key networks, such as those tied to dams and even nuclear reactors. It is truly stunning that a group whose unnamed members are vetted only by Zaidenberg, Warfield, Mills and Rogers, has been cleared to access critical private and public networks all because of the pandemonium caused by the Coronavirus crisis and the leagues offering of their services pro bono. Notably, a considerable part of the strain that led hospitals and healthcare institutions to request the leagues services, such as budget cuts or the firings of IT staffers, were actually the result of government policy, either due to state or federal budget cuts for healthcare systems or HHS efforts to consolidate control over patient data flows into the hands of a few. In other words, these government policies directly led to a situation where hospitals and healthcare institutions would, out of desperation, be more likely to accept the pro bono offer of the CTI League than they otherwise would have been under more normal conditions. Another critical fact worth pointing out is that the U.S. and Israeli intelligence communities have been seeding the narrative for over a year regarding the upcoming hacks of critical U.S. infrastructure on or around the US 2020 election, scheduled for November 3rd, by groups affiliated with the governments of Iran, Russia and/or China. As described above, many of the same groups and individuals behind the CTI League have played key roles in seeding aspects of that narrative. Despite its massive conflict of interest, this opaque group is now nestled within much of the US critical infrastructure enjoying little, if any, oversight ostensibly justified by the leagues altruism. As a consequence, the groups opaqueness could easily lend itself to be used as the springboard for a false flag cyberattack to fit the very narrative pushed by Zaidenberg and his affiliates. From a national security perspective, allowing CTI League to operate in this capacity would normally be unthinkable. Yet, instead, this suspect organization is openly partnered with the US government and US law enforcement. With US intelligence already having conducted such false flag cyberattacks through its UMBRAGE program, which allows them to place the fingerprints of Chinese, Russian and Iranian-affiliated hackers on cyberattacks that the U.S. actually conducts, any forthcoming cyberattack should be thoroughly investigated before blame is assigned to any state actor. Any such investigation would do well to first look at whether the CTI League was given access to the targets. The three etched-in-stone rules of the coronavirus pandemic are: 1) wear a mask, 2) wash your hands frequently and 3) keep at least 6 feet from others. Now British researchers say No. 3 needs some tweaking. A new paper published Monday in The BMJ, the peer-reviewed UK medical journal, finds that the 2-meter (6-foot) safe physical-distancing rule is "an oversimplification based on outdated science." Nicholas R. Jones of the University of Oxford and his fellow researchers from the University of Oxford, St. Thomas Hospital in London and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology concluded that the current rigid distancing guideline ignores the physics of respiratory emissions in which droplets of all sizes are concentrated in a gas cloud that can cover several meters in a few seconds. Instead, they proposed a more nuanced model assessing the risk of viral transmission as it relates to the four Cs (close, closed, crowded, continuous) and whether or not face coverings are worn. The model assumes everyone is asymptomatic (or presymptomatic). The chart (broken into two sections here to make it easier to read) does not replace the 2-meter rule but shows graded recommendations that better reflect the multiple factors that combine to determine risk, the studys authors wrote. Where the risk is great, such as a crowded bar or night club, distancing should be extended beyond 2 meters. The model is not perfect. Risk levels do not factor in an individuals susceptibility to infection, the amount of virus shedding from an infected person, indoor airflow patterns or the proximity of a healthy individual to an infected one. The authors acknowledged that more research into these variables is needed, as well as a study of the duration of exposures indoors and how it relates to occupancy levels. The 2-meter guideline has been around for a long time. In 1897, German bacteriologist Carl Flugge demonstrated that pathogens contained in large droplets expelled from the respiratory tract could spread disease. Flugge recommended a 1- to 2-meter safe distance, which over the years became entrenched scientific belief. But a recent Swiss study demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 can be spread by aerosols over distances of at least 8 meters (26 feet). The BMJ paper cited evidence that distribution of viral particles is affected by numerous factors, including air flow, and that activities such as singing, shouting, coughing and sneezing can propel pathogens to distances greater than 2 meters. Physical distancing should be seen as only one part of a wider public health approach to containing the covid-19 pandemic, the authors wrote. It needs to be implemented alongside combined strategies of people-air-surface-space management, including hand hygiene, cleaning, occupancy and indoor space and air managements, and appropriate protective equipment, such as masks, for the setting. Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate A recent activity in the South China Sea has made the PLAN make changes in the deployment of its aircraft carrier. The Hainan has the recently revealed underground sub pens. Current intelligence points out that China will have a major shift in how it will distribute its resources. Recent events in the SCS shows that the U.S. is active in sending its carrier strike groups that signal the need for nearby bases in the doorstep of the SCS. One of the chosen forward bases is Hainan, the PLAN (People's Liberation Army Navy) building facilities to do be able to support such large ships. An example of this Chinese initiative is the creation of a dry dock that can service either the Shandong or Liaoning. Both carriers go to Hainan having an equipped dry dock is foresight of their later stationing there. For now, Chinese carriers are berthed far to the north, which lengthens deployment time, reported Forbes. For the Chinese which may face conflict with multiple hostiles like the U.S. Navy, they will need options to bring repair teams fast to fix these flat tops with specialized dry docks that can handle these giant vessels. These dry docks on Hainan will be key to the PLAN in keeping their flat tops in fighting shape. Intel has determined the dry docks as being too big for smaller naval craft, and it is placed in a harbor that is protected. One way to reach the new dry dock is just one access to the inner part of the harbor. It is also where most Chinese non-nuclear subs are parked for protection. Bigger nuclear subs are stationed at a different place in the naval complex, they are near the coastal areas in the nearby bay. All these sub facilities are part of the Yulin base complex with an underground facility that keeps these subs covered from enemy airstrikes or missile attack. Also read: Beijing Disapproves of US-Taiwan Visit, Sends Combat Air Patrol to Taiwan Strait as Warning Included in this complex are the subterranean tunnels that enable access to large nuclear subs which is one of the most crucial vessels of the PLA Navy. One type of Chinese nuke submarine is the Type-094 ballistic missile submarines that has rockets to kill U.S. ships. China installed a system to monitor the SCS on the Hainan coast. When carriers are stationed, the Hainan base has crosshairs on it. Chinese naval resources include the Liaoning and Shandong busy with deployment. The third ship is getting built in Shanghai, noted The Daily Mail. Liaoning is 67,500 tons,999-feet, 246-feet across, with Shandong at 1,033 feet longer. On the decks are Russian knockoffs called the J-15, which is not as capable as the Super Hornet Block III. Most of the Chinese planes rely on Chinese installation with runways like Woody Island located in the Paracels. Several J-11s were sent as a warning to the U.S. Navy. Operating the Shandong and Liaoning will allow China to pursue its agenda of coercion to occupy disputed areas in the SCS. Having the two Chinese aircraft carriers in easy reach of the South China Sea brings to bear how Beijing will bring to its will. But the U.S. gives them a notice to dial back or else. Having the Hainan base with the dry dock is an upgrade to China's plans to control the SCS. Related article: Chinese Submarines Using Underground Base in Hainan Island Captured in Satellite Photos @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Brad Pitt met his stunning new girlfriend Nicole Poturalski at her husband's high-class Berlin restaurant, MailOnline can reveal. The Hollywood actor, 56, is said to have been mesmerized by the striking brunette with the seductive pout, 27, when he locked eyes on her for the first time in August 2019. Double Oscar winner Pitt became acquainted with Borchardt and its flamboyant owner Roland Mary, 68, in 2009 when he was filming on location in Germany for the Quentin Tarantino movie, Inglorious Basterds. First meeting: Brad Pitt met his new girlfriend Nicole Poturalski at her husband's high-class Berlin restaurant Borchardt in August 2019, MailOnline can reveal (pictured arriving at the restaurant that night) What a stunner: Nicole 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 He returned to the 150-a-head city centre restaurant in August last year while promoting his latest Tarantino movie, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, with the legendary director and co-stars Leonardo Di Caprio and Margot Robbie. And it was in that night in August last year that he met Nicole - who bears a startling resemblance to his ex-wife Angelina Jolie - for the first time and fell in love. The fashion model was in LA a few weeks later for a photo shoot and met up with Brad. They were later pictured together at a Kanye West concert in November 2009. A year on Brad Pitt and Nicole Poturalski are a couple in love and currently on holiday at his luxury 50 million Chateau Miraval in the south of France. Fateful night: Brad was snapped arriving at the Berlin restaurant on the night he net Nicole in August 2019, after the Once Upon A Time in Hollywood premiere Long-time acquaintance: Double Oscar winner Pitt became acquainted with Borchardt and its owner Roland Mary, 68, in 2009 (above) that year when he was filming on location in Germany for the Quentin Tarantino movie, Inglorious Basterds 'Brad Pitt first met Nicole [Poturalski] in August last year at Borchardt which is her husband Roland's restaurant,' a friend of Nicole told MailOnline. 'Brad Pitt has been coming to Borchardt for years. He knows Roland [Mary] and Nicole was at the restaurant when he came to celebrate his new film. 'Brad was introduced to Roland's wife Nicole [Poturalski] and she passed him her number. 'Nicole travels a lot for her work as a fashion model and he connected with Brad Pitt while she was in LA for work.' New romance: A year on Brad and Nicole are a couple in love and currently on holiday at his luxury 50 million Chateau Miraval in the south of France (pictured at Kanye West's performance in the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in November 2019) Nicole remains married and has a seven-year-old son called Emil with Roland. The youngster recently started school in Berlin but was pictured earlier this month in Beverley Hills with mum Nicole. Roland Mary, 68, declined to discuss his wife's love affair with Brad when contacted by MailOnline. He said simply: 'No comment.' However Roland is said to be 'philosophical' about his wife's 'close friendship' with the Hollywood heart-throb Pitt. The friend told MailOnline: 'Roland is a very philosophical guy. Husband; Roland (pictured right at Borchardt in 2015) is said to be 'philosophical' about the romance as a friend said: 'They are still married but you could describe their relationship as an 'open marriage'.' Meeting: A source said: 'Brad was introduced to Roland's wife Nicole [Poturalski] and she passed him her number' (pictured arriving at the restaurant) Co-star: Brad's Once Upon A Time co-star Margot Robbie was also seen arriving at Borchardt on the night 'He has been married several times and has five children. He is not interested in negativity or jealousy.' 'They are still married but you could describe their relationship as an 'open marriage'.' A spokesman for Brad Pitt declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. It is no surprise that Brad would have chosen to celebrate Germany's opening night of his latest film Once Upon A Time In Hollywood at Roland's Borchardt restaurant. The iconic eatery has become a landmark in Berlin's show business scene. The cafe and restaurant, which dates back to 1853 is popular with statesmen and celebrities who visit the German capital. Having fun? The fashion model was in LA for a photshoot a few weeks after their meeting in Berlin and met up with Brad (pictured November 2019) Who's who? The dark blonde beauty, left, strikes an uncanny resemblance to the screen star's former spouse (pictured right in 2019) US President Barack Obama and German leader Angela Merkel have dined there. Other notable diners include George Clooney, Madonna, Natalie Portman and Harvey Weinstein. This comes as Brad and Nicole were pictured enjoying a cosy date night nine months ago, as their relationship was confirmed on Thursday. The pair were seen cosying up together in the VIP box during Kanye West's performance at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in November 2019, with onlookers saying they pair were deep in conversation as they waited for the performance to begin. Sources revealed on Wednesday that actor Brad and Nicole were in a relationship after they were spotted touching down at France's Le Castellet Airport. During the concert the pair were joined by actress Alia Shawkat, who Brad later shut down claims he's dating. In demand: The cafe and restaurant, (pictured) which dates back to 1853 is popular with statesmen and celebrities who visit the German capital including George Clooney and Madonna On Thursday sources confirmed that Brad and Nicole were dating, telling Page Six: 'They are seeing each other, they're enjoying a vacation together.' Brad, who previously shut down claims he's dating actress Alia Shawkat earlier this year, is now believed to be staying at Chateau Miraval, an estate he purchased for $67 million in 2011 with his ex-wife Angelina. He sported a protective face mask while wearing his signature flat cap, a white T-shirt and khaki green trousers as he touched down in France on a private jet. 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'. Love: In February, Nicole raised eyebrows as she shared a snap of herself along with a caption about her mysterious 'love' 'They were kissing and Brad was being super attentive to her,' added the source. 'He was in a semi public place but didn't seem to mind people seeing him. She's a real beauty and obviously a lot younger than him.' 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. 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 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 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. 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. 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. 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. Another: Several weeks later, in March, she alluded to her 'love' once again in another post as she mentioned her 'better half' When contacted by MailOnline, a representative for Brad Pitt said: 'We don't 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 five of their six 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. Drama: The TV and film star's divorce proceedings with ex Angelina have stretched into a fourth year (pictured in 2015) 'In his eyes it was like a suggestion that he'd somehow lost custody when that couldn't be further from the truth. If Angelina wanted to leave the country with the children for a permanent move, she'd 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. 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. However, the reports were shut down at the time as the source told MailOnline: 'There is absolutely no truth to this'. '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) 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. Amy Kennedy showed great strength and love for her neighbors during her campaign. She has connected her values and compassion with those in need in the communities. She has joined in peaceful protests, fed those in need, and understands the moral character one needs to make communities better. She will have my vote. I admire her dedication to the community and do believe that she can make a difference when elected. Prior to this election she has worked with teachers to educate children. In her spare time, she also assisted her husband in dealing with the advancement of mental health services, especially working with veterans, PTSD, attempted suicide victims, and opioid addictions. Everyone needs to vote in this next election. All that people have suffered to gain their freedoms is at stake. Step up and be counted. As the late Congressman John Lewis stated, Get in good trouble, necessary trouble and redeem the soul of America. We are complicit when we tolerate injustice. It is not enough to say it will get better by and by. Each of us has a moral obligation to stand up and speak out. He urged everyone to answer the highest calling of their hearts and stand up for what they truly believe. People should recognize his legacy of activism and be open to peace and love. Gatwick bosses fear demand for flying won't return to pre-pandemic levels until 2025, as coronavirus continues to hit the aviation industry hard. Passenger numbers at the West Sussex airport fell by two-thirds in the first half of the year compared with 2019, plummeting from 22.2 million to 7.5 million, it was announced today. The industry was crippled earlier this year as non-essential travel was banned during the peak of the Covid crisis. Just 200,000 people flew into UK airports each month during April, May and June as thousands had to cancel holidays and remain at home in lockdown. The opening of 'air bridges' to dozens of countries around the world in recent weeks then saw air traffic increase six-fold in July, though the 1.3 million arrivals represents just a tenth of the number who flew into Britain 12 months previously. A glimmer of hope was provided for Gatwick, however, which also announced a 61.3 per cent drop in revenue and a 321m loss, as Wizz Air announced it is to open a new base at the airport. Gatwick bosses fear demand for flying won't return to pre-pandemic levels until 2025, as coronavirus continues to hit the aviation industry hard A glimmer of hope was provided for Gatwick, however, as Wizz Air announced it is to open a new base at the airport Gatwick's announcement today comes amid a difficult period for the aviation industry in which: The number of passengers flying into the UK rose six-fold in July - but arrivals are just a TENTH of total who landed in July 2019 Gatwick Airport is planning to axe up to 600 jobs in 'significant restructure' Salvage crews pick apart once-mighty 747 jumbo jets after BA retired its entire 31-strong fleet Most of America will remain 'red listed' despite plans for an 'air bridge' between London and New York moving closer Business chief warns the worst is yet to come for UK firms if they don't get ongoing support once the furlough scheme ends Surge in passengers for July but numbers down a tenth on last year The number of passengers flying into UK airports surged to 1.3million people in July - compared to just 200,000 arriving in each month during April, May and June. But the surge in arrivals last month is just a tenth of the number who flew into Britain during July last year. Figures released by the Home Office today make dim reading for the struggling aviation industry. After Gatwick announced it was cutting up to 600 jobs, the passenger numbers show the number of arrivals compared to July 2019 is down by 89 per cent. Around 11.1million people flew into the UK's airports 13 months ago, compared to 1.3million arrivals last month. Heathrow Airport was one of the hardest hit, just 867,000 people travelled through the West London airport last month, compared with 7.7million at the same time last year. It had been hoped the summer holidays would provide a boost for the struggling industry, but quarantine measures have curbed holidays. Gatwick Airport is operating at around 20 per cent of its capacity and has around 75 per cent of its staff on furlough. Last week budget airline easyJet annouced closures of its bases in Stansted, Southend and Newcastle in a cost-cutting drive - as Ryanair reduced its flight capacity by a fifth. Advertisement Gatwick released its half-year results today after announcing on Wednesday that 600 jobs - around a quarter of its workforce - would be cut across areas including corporate staff, security and those working on airfields and terminals. This is on top of 785 who have already left, mostly through voluntary redundancies, but neither figure includes people working in shops and restaurants on site, who are employed directly by each of those companies. The airport said in a statement today that the recovery to pre-pandemic traffic levels 'is forecast to be four to five years'. Chief executive Stewart Wingate said: 'Like any other international airport, the negative impact of Covid-19 on our passenger numbers and air traffic at the start of the year was dramatic and, although there are small signs of recovery, it is a trend we expect to continue to see. 'However, we are focused on ensuring the business remains robust and is best placed to take advantage of future growth. 'As with any responsible company we have protected our financial resilience by significantly reducing our operational costs and capital expenditure.' Home Office figures released this week showed that while arrivals rose in July to 1.3 million, this was down massively on 11.1 million the year before. The impact of declining passenger numbers has also seen budget airline easyJet annouce closures of its bases in Stansted, Southend and Newcastle in a cost-cutting drive - as Ryanair reduced its flight capacity by a fifth. Meanwhile British Airways, which grounded its Gatwick fleet in March following the outbreak of Covid-19, had said that all short-haul flights from Gatwick will be consolidated into Heathrow until at least September. BA itself announced it would be forced to cut hundreds of jobs at Gatwick in a bid to stay afloat during the fallout of the coronavirus. It comes after Airbus, Europe's biggest aircraft maker, announced plans to slash nearly 15,000 jobs across its global operations - including 1,700 in the UK. Paul Charles, the chief executive of the PC Agency travel consultancy, told MailOnline last week: 'The government's quarantine policy is scarring the UK economy now and the dogged pursuit of that policy is hurting the travel sector.' Passenger numbers at the West Sussex airport fell by two-thirds in the first half of the year compared with 2019, plummeting from 22.2 million to 7.5 million, it was announced today Gatwick to slash 600 jobs on top of hundreds who have already left Gatwick released its half-year results today after announcing on Wednesday that 600 jobs - around a quarter of its workforce - would be cut across areas including corporate staff, security and those working on airfields and terminals. This is on top of 785 who have already left, mostly through voluntary redundancies, but neither figure includes people working in shops and restaurants on site, who are employed directly by each of those companies. In a statement the airport said it was restructuring to 'further reduce operating and staff costs in light of the dramatic impact COVID-19 has had on its passenger and air traffic numbers'. Advertisement Gatwick boss Mr Wingate revealed that despite the collapse in demand for air travel, the airport is pressing ahead with plans to use its emergency runway for routine flights. It is seeking permission to bring the airstrip into full passenger use. Gatwick lost out to Heathrow in a bid to obtain Government approval to build an additional runway in October 2016, amid a need for more airport capacity in the South East. Mr Wingate said: 'In this post Covid-19 travelling world, we are working hard with our airlines to ensure we continue to offer our customers a wide choice of destinations and carriers. 'We also expect, next year, to progress our plans to bring the existing northern (stand-by) runway into routine use which, as we rebuild our passenger numbers over the next four to five years, will enable us to offer even more travel choice. 'We will ensure we continue to deliver our operation mindful of our environmental, social and governance responsibilities. 'We want to rebuild better.' In better news for Gatwick, Wizz Air announced last week it would become its third base, alongside London Luton and Doncaster Sheffield. The airline will allocate an Airbus A321 aircraft to the Sussex hub and launch four new routes to leisure destinations in Greece, Italy, Spain and Malta from October. Managing director Owain Jones said: 'Already the fourth largest airline group operating in the UK, this announcement of our new Gatwick base and four new routes reinforces Wizz Air UK's position as a British airline that is growing, creating new jobs, bringing much-needed connectivity to the UK and so helping the economy get back in the air.' Gatwick boss Mr Wingate added: 'This is encouraging news for Gatwick, particularly at a time when the industry has been so negatively impacted by COVID-19. 'Having a new aircraft based at Gatwick underpins the resilience of our business for the long-term and ensures we continue to offer our passengers great choice. 'This is a welcome indication of the positive conversations we are having with airlines both existing and new - about securing Gatwick's future.' Wizz Air's managing director Owain Jones said its new Gatwick base 'reinforces Wizz Air UK's position as a British airline that is growing, creating new jobs, bringing much-needed connectivity to the UK and so helping the economy get back in the air' Gatwick boss Mr Wingate revealed that despite the collapse in demand for air travel, the airport is pressing ahead with plans to use its emergency runway for routine flights Aviation giants who have announced job cuts during the pandemic British Airways - 12,000 Ryanair - 3,000 (worldwide) Virgin Atlantic - 3,150 Easyjet - 4,500 (worldwide) Bombardier - 600 Heathrow Airport - 500 Aer Lingus - 500 Airbus - 1,700 Luton Airport - 250 Gatwick Airport - 600 Advertisement Meanwhile, an air bridge could be set up between London and New York to allow Britons to avoid quarantine, it emerged this week - 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. Elsewhere, airline salvage workers have begun to break up Boeing 747 jets in the Gloucestershire countryside as British Airways retires its whole 31-strong fleet of the large passenger jets amid a plunge in global air travel. It comes as ministers were warned today that businesses and workers will need months more financial assistance to avoid a second economic 'hurricane' in the autumn and winter. British Chambers of Commerce director general Adam Marshall warned that a second storm after the furlough scheme ends in October could be worse than the original impact of the lockdown in the spring and summer. The BA boneyard: Sad scenes as salvage crews pick apart once-mighty 747 jumbo jets at UK airfield after airline retired its entire 31-strong fleet due to plunge in air travel Airline salvage workers have begun to break up Boeing 747 jets in the Gloucestershire countryside as British Airways retires its whole 31-strong fleet of the large passenger jets amid a plunge in global air travel. The four planes - G-BYGF, G-CIVL, G-CIVL and G-CIVN - are being scrapped and dismantled by a specialist team from Air Salvage International (ASI) at Cotswold Airport outside Kemble as the coronavirus pandemic continues. Photographs taken yesterday showed the engines on some of the 747-400s having been removed at the former Royal Air Force site, which is also home to various flying schools and was once the Red Arrows base. This week G-BYGF became the fourth BA plane to retire to Kemble, landing in front of a group of planespotters having completed a 24-minute flight from London Heathrow and a loop of the villages around Kemble. BA is retiring all of its 747 planes amid a continuing crisis for air travel after severe travel restrictions were brought in around the world when the Covid-19 crisis intensified across Europe in March. Photographs taken yesterday show the engines on some British Airways 747-400s have been removed at Cotswold Airport Four British Airways 747-400s are being stored at the airport near Kemble in Gloucestershire after being retired by BA The four planes are being scrapped and dismantled by a specialist team from Air Salvage International at Cotswold Airport BA is retiring all of its 747 planes amid a continuing crisis for air travel after severe travel restrictions were brought in globally The jets are being sent worldwide for storage and scrapping, with G-CIVD leaving Heathrow earlier this month for Castellon in Spain. Seven of the BA fleet remain at Heathrow, which is where the Kemble planes had been based. Fourteen of the BA fleet are being stored 70 miles away at Cardiff Airport, including one in the historic livery of Boac (British Overseas Airways Corporation) which was the airline's predecessor. A further five in the fleet are being stored at Teruel Airport in Spain. Earlier this month, BA chief executive Alex Cruz said: 'We are starting the early retirement of our beautiful 747-400s as part of the reshaping of our airline.' In a letter to staff, the 54-year-old added: 'This is a necessary move reflecting the cliff-edge drop in premium long-haul travel, which may never recover to the levels we saw in 2019. 'If these were normal times, we would be celebrating the retirement of the Queens of the Skies with a great deal of noise including special commemorative flights and colleague events. Airline salvage workers have begun to break up the British Airways Boeing 747 jets in the Gloucestershire countryside British Airways is retiring its whole 31-strong fleet of the large passenger jets amid a plunge in global air travel BA staff and plane enthusiasts are said to be keen for souvenirs from the jets, four of which are in storage at Cotswold Airport 'Sadly, given the difficulty of operating during the pandemic, the farewell will be less lavish, but still heartfelt. 'I know many of you will join me in fond remembrance of these remarkable aircraft that have served us and our customers so well. There will never again be anything quite like them.' BA staff and plane enthusiasts are said to be keen for souvenirs from the jets, with ASI owner Mark Gregory saying the firm is receiving many inquiries from people keen to own a part from one of the jets. He told the BBC: 'I get a daily stream of emails from BA staff and 747 fanatics who want to buy a piece of a plane. A cut-out side section is popular which can be hung on the wall. 'These usually go for about 200 each. They are good aircraft and have done a lot of hours. They have definitely earned their keep.' The British Airways Boeing 747-400 G-CIVU passenger aircraft lands at London Heathrow Airport on July 14, 2018 (From left) Elysa Marsden, Toni Richards and Olivia Welch walk in front of a 747 at London Heathrow Airport in March 2019 Mr Gregory added that there has been a ten-fold increase in airlines looking for storage facilities, with the company having 11 747s parked up, with some being dismantled and others going up for sale. He said engines make up around 80 per cent of the value of a retired plane, with some selling for more than 2million, although the Rolls-Royce ones on the BA 747-400s are expected to sell for less. The 747-400s, which can take up to 15 weeks to dismantle, first began flying more than 30 years ago. Boeing sold almost 700 of the jets, which made them the best-selling version of the long-haul airliner. ASI, which has 170,000 sq ft of hangarage at the airport, has space for up to 20 wide and 50 narrow bodied commercial aircraft and has disassembled nearly 600 around the world in its 18 years of operations. It comes as Gatwick Airport has cut one in four of its workforce or 600 posts - taking the number of jobs lost at big British firms since the pandemic past 252,000. And airplane manufacturing giant Rolls Royce has announced it would close a major UK site in Annesley, Nottinghamshire, by the end of 2022 - weeks after announcing 9,000 job cuts. A Boeing 747 jumbo jet is pictured next to the Concorde airliner at New York's John F Kennedy Airport in October 1978 The arrival on the world stage of the giant Boeing 747 in 1969 ushered in a new era of air travel. One is pictured above in 1971 The travel sector is not expected to recover until 2023 as fears over quarantine and catching the virus push tourists to stay at home. However, the Mail has learned Britons will be allowed to visit New York without having to quarantine on their return under plans being drawn up by UK and US officials. The re-opening of the Heathrow to New York route - the worlds most profitable air link - would help rescue long-haul airlines that rely heavily on trans-Atlantic travel, including BA and Virgin Atlantic. However, industry sources say US officials are likely to insist on Covid-19 testing at British airports before they agree to re-open their borders. 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. Top EU diplomat says preparing sanctions against Turkey over territorial dispute with Greece in Eastern Mediterranean. The European Union has threatened Turkey with fresh sanctions including tough economic measures unless progress is made in reducing soaring tensions with Greece and Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean. The EUs top diplomat Josep Borrell on Friday said the bloc wanted to give a serious chance to dialogue but was steadfast in its support for member states Greece and Cyprus in the crisis, which has raised fears of a military standoff. A dispute over maritime borders and gas drilling rights near the island of Cyprus has reignited the long-running rivalry between Athens and Ankara, with the two neighbours staging rival naval drills. The EUs measures, meant to limit Turkeys ability to explore for natural gas in contested waters, could include individuals, ships or the use of European ports, Borrell said. We can go to measures related to sectoral activities where the Turkish economy is related to the European economy, Borrell told a news conference, referring to possible sanctions. The EU would focus on everything related to activities we consider illegal, he said. Borrell was speaking after EU foreign ministers met in Berlin to discuss support for Greece after it ratified a maritime accord with Egypt to counter Turkeys claims to energy resources in the region. Beyond the limits of EU Turkeys foreign ministry said the EU had no basis for its stance and rejected Greek maritime claims. It is beyond the limits of the EU to criticise the hydrocarbon activities of our country within our own continental shelf and demand that we stop them, spokesman Hami Aksoy said. Al Jazeeras Sinem Koseoglu, reporting from Istanbul, said Ankara has urged the EU not to support Greeces maximalist demands against international law under the pretext of union [EU] solidarity. Greece is not an archipelago state. It is illegal under international law for Greek islands to have a continental shelf, Koseoglu said, citing a Turkish foreign ministry spokesman. Borrell and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the EU first wanted to give dialogue a chance to cool tensions between Greece and Turkey, which are NATO allies. Turkey is also a formal candidate to join the EU, although its candidacy is at risk and could be withdrawn as a type of sanction, diplomats have said. Two senior EU diplomats told Reuters news agency that foreign ministers agreed to leave any decision to EU government leaders, who are set to meet for a two-day summit from September 24. Nothing will be decided before the September European Council, a senior diplomat said, adding that Turkey could also be rewarded with greater access to the EUs market of 450 million consumers if it curtailed its drilling. John Psarapoulous, reporting for Al Jazeera from Athens, said there is a tenor of satisfaction on the Greek side following the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Berlin. He said Greece has put conditions to any bilateral dialogue with Turkey. It [Athens] not only wants that dialogue to be a political agreement to what the two sides agree based on the current dynamic in the eastern Mediterranean, but international, he said. [Greece] wants Turkey to commit to arbitration at the International Court [of Justice] at The Hague if the dialogue doesnt ultimately succeed. Greece and Turkey are at odds over the rights to potential hydrocarbon resources in the area, based on conflicting claims over the extent of their continental shelves. Tensions escalated this month after Ankara dispatched the Oruc Reis seismic survey vessel in a disputed area following the pact between Athens and Cairo. The agreement is seen as a response to a Turkish-Libyan accord signed in 2019 allowing Turkey access to areas in the region where large hydrocarbon deposits have been discovered. On Thursday, the Turkish military issued an advisory, known as a Navtex, saying it will hold gunnery exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean off the coast of Iskenderun, northeast of Cyprus on September 1 and 2. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 23:33:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A man writes down his information before entering a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Aug. 28, 2020. Malaysia will continue imposing the recovery phase of "Movement Control Order" measures to contain the COVID-19 till Dec. 31, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Friday, citing risks posed by the continued spread of the pandemic worldwide. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua) KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia will continue imposing the recovery phase of "Movement Control Order" measures to contain the COVID-19 till Dec. 31, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Friday, citing risks posed by the continued spread of the pandemic worldwide. In a televised speech, Muhyiddin said the situation within Malaysia is under control, with a low number of local transmissions as well as some positive economic recovery. However he said the COVID-19 situation globally still did not show signs of ending in the foreseeable future and that the country itself is still faced with a transmission risk such as several case clusters reported recently. "This risk must be handled immediately and controlled through strict measures before it spreads widely," he said. "This means the government still needs the legal mechanisms to continue to control the COVID-19 outbreak. So in your interests, the government has decided to extend the recovery Movement Control Order until Dec. 31," he said. Muhyiddin said he is confident that the daily activities of Malaysians would not be disrupted as these would proceed with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in line with the new normal. "What is important is that we must get used to wearing face masks, washing hands, ensuring personal cleanliness and avoiding crowded places. I believe all this has already been practiced by you all this while, allowing us to control the spread of COVID-19 in the community," he said. Muhyiddin added that the measures will include extending the ban on foreign tourists to prevent a rise in imported cases. Malaysia first implemented the restrictions on March 18 before relaxing them since May. Most economic and social activities have been allowed to resume since the recovery Movement Control Order started in June. Malaysia reported 10 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the national total to 9,306, the Health Ministry said on Friday. A total of 9,030 people have been cured and discharged while total deaths stand at 125. Enditem based on the fact that they don't give you a refund and you only get a gitf card when you return something idk how fashion nova is so popular Reply Thread Link that and most of the stuff is ugly af Reply Parent Thread Link I blame kylie and cardi b, and gullible and easily to influence kids on a budget. Reply Parent Thread Link I remember when F21 was like that. Reply Parent Thread Link IDK, at one point I felt like a lot of young people of color liked it bc it was an affordable version of styles that are supremely overpriced but I could be wrong. Reply Parent Thread Link Its honestly not even that cheap, its between H&M and Zara price wise Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Some of the clothes on there are ridiculous, I get a yeast infection just looking at it lol Not to mention it's fucking expensive! You can buy an animal print one-piece leotard thing for like 70 bucks like ??? I've heard their jeans are good for curvier shapes but everything else looks super Forever 21. At least F21 is actually more affordable though imo. Reply Parent Thread Link Their high waist jeans are very flattering on most people, idk. But their other clothing is trash and would rip after 1 or 2 wears. Reply Parent Thread Link I've never bought from them but like cbluechicken said they have marketed well to poc, especially to poc plus sized girls. They have some of the biggest plus size insta influencers on thier payroll. From what I hear, compared to f21, the plus size fits a bit better and can run bigger than the sizing charts say. The jeans are supposed to be decent quality and fit bigger butts better. Again, I have not tried and of thier stuff, this is all stuff I have seen from reviews. Reply Parent Thread Link I only found this out last year when I bought a leopard jacket for my Hypodermic Sally Halloween costume and it didnt fit. Sizing was all fucked up too. Im a small/medium and I ordered a medium jacket and it wouldnt even close. I contact customer service and they only would give me a credit. I was So pissed. I had to spend it on random accessories and shit cause I didnt wanna get another clothing item that didnt fit. Reply Parent Thread Link Wow a fashion designer suing for that? How brazen. Literally all major labels do is steal from student/indie designers and indigenous textile makers and says its ok because its ~art~ Reply Thread Link mte, this is a Team No One situation (although Fashion Nova, Forever 21, and all those fast fashion brands clearly steal their outfits from everyone under the sun) Reply Parent Thread Link Excuse you. They come up with 3% of it on their own. Reply Parent Thread Link I've never purchased anything from Fashion Nova and I never intend to. I don't get the appeal of their clothing, even though sometimes (very infrequently) I like to browse their site. Reply Thread Link I love Fashion Nova. The FN Curve clothes fit my body right and I look cute. What more to ask for? Reply Thread Link Have you tried Shein? I find as long as you know your measurements and pay attention to the reviews, everything you get will be a hit. Last summer I had so many weddings to attend and I bought a dress for each of them off Shein and I got so many compliments on all of them. Reply Parent Thread Link Not the OP but had to check the site out because I wear so many dresses. And theyre all so cute! Bookmarked it for later. Ty!!! Reply Parent Thread Link Same! Shein's measurements for their garments are surprisingly accurate. I've bought so many dresses and accessories from them. Reading the reviews also help. Reply Parent Thread Link My only complaint with shein is some of their fabrics are just not breathable. Which I know is what i get for an 8 dollar dress, haha. But when theyre meant to be more fitted, my texas ass cannot. Reply Parent Thread Link I would never wear their stuff after they made that swastika necklace. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i know no fast fashion brand is notably ethical but shein is really over-the-top in how shitty they are. they steal from small, indie (often non-white) designers shamelessly and they just got in trouble for selling swastika necklaces and for buying muslim prayer mats and reselling them as decorative rugs. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Yeah, I have heard great things how their jeans are figure-hugging. It's soo hard finding jeans that actually fit. Reply Parent Thread Link Their jeans are amazing but their dresses are so poor quality. I wore one for New Years and it fucking ripped while I was dancing in it Reply Parent Thread Expand Link NGL, I was thinking about buying that Jlo copycat outfit. Reply Thread Link I love ASOS! I don't know if other brands have it but I love the moving images they provide. It gives me a chance to really see what the garment looks like rather than ~modelsque photos taken from a certain angle. Also, their return policy is great! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link You made me want to do my eventual wardrobe update with them! Reply Parent Thread Link Me too. It's a problem. I unsubscribed from emails to avoid more temptations. Reply Parent Thread Link Asos own brand might be fine. But the other brands that stock aren't. They used to stock boohoo who were paying factory workers 3.50 an hour. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Thank you for these resources! Reply Parent Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link Fashion Nova saw a gap in the market and filled it so they're smart in that regard but yeah, sometimes navigating the site is like being in a Kardashian surrealist nightmare. I appreciate them serving the plus size market though, especially when other stores have such limited options in their extended sizes if at all Reply Parent Thread Link I always see FashionNova's clothes posted by memepages on Instagram and all I can think of is how tacky and gross their clothes are. Classless/lowbrow, imo. Edited at 2020-08-28 01:58 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link what do you feel is lowbrow and classless about it? Reply Parent Thread Link Imo, they overly sexualize their ads. Not that that should stop people from buying their clothes. But it's also easy to do with how skimpy they are. Could also be that it's just not my taste too. Reply Parent Thread Link yessss Reply Parent Thread Link Take each other out. Reply Thread Link Much was made of the launch of the drilling at the Geothermal Project in May 2019 (source: CDB) Ellsworth Dacon, Project Manager of what is left of the failed Geothermal Project on the Eastern slopes of La Soufriere, while speaking on Radio 705 last Sunday, August 23, alluded to three options which the government is considering going forward. According to Dacon, the three options presented for consideration are: * an approach that uses a model like a motor vehicle radiator that generates power by transferring heat, and therefore does not rely on permeability; * continue to explore for required permeability through the use of optical sensing device that can identify where the permeable areas might be; * stimulating the three wells that have already been dug so as to increase the flow of liquid. As would be expected, each of the options comes with a cost which will determine which way, if any, the government goes, Dacon said. It was Dacon who, in an earlier interview with this publication, told the nation that the next step in the Geothermal Project, after it ceased drilling operations in March, and foreign personnel, including top expertise, had left the country just before the new coronavirus made its landing in SVG, would have been decided when the experts returned. Information as to whether or not those experts returned is not forthcoming, but what is clear is Jardboranir hf., the Icelandic Drilling Company that signed a contract to drill four wells but managed only three, have packed up shop. The major (drilling and attendant) equipment has been dismantled and is to be shipped, it is reported, to Europe. The Geothermal Project was promoted as the kingpin of the governments drive to increase the use of renewable energy here. Much was made of how power generated by this source would translate into lower electricity cost to consumers, a boast which the said Dacon put to spend in the interview as referenced. Those who have followed this project from its inception will recall that a company registered as St. Vincent Geothermal Company Limited (SVGCL), was established to carry out the St. Vincent Geothermal Project in two phases: Phase I - Exploration and Phase II - Production. The SVGCL original shareholders were: Emera Caribbean (56.25%) an international energy and services company with interest in power generation in Barbados; Government of SVG (25%); and Reykjavik Geothermal (18.75%) - a world leading geothermal Icelandic management and science team. Emera would in the course of time withdraw from the company and project, and the Government of St, Vincent and the Grenadines assume ownership of its shares. Whether Emera simply worked away with their losses between their legs is still not a question that has been fully answered. WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is poised to posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe, who suffered fatal burns while bursting into a burning vehicle in Iraq to save the lives of fellow soldiers. Cashe's actions "merit award of the Medal of Honor," Defense Secretary Mark Esper said this week in a letter to members of Congress who have taken up his case. That determination means that the award, the nation's highest for valor in combat, has agreement from the Army, leaving final approval to the president. "The final award authority for the Medal of Honor rests solely with the President," Esper said in the letter, dated Aug. 24. "My favorable determination in no way presumes what the President's decision might be." Cashe, 35, of Oviedo, Fla., would be the first African American recipient of the award for combat valor in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has long been seen within the military community as one of the great heroes of the Iraq War, and he was recommended this year as a potential new eponym for one of 10 Army installations that are named after Confederate military officers who fought to preserve slavery. The Medal of Honor approval process is considered secretive, with defense officials rarely commenting on a case before full approval. Esper sent the letter because there is a five-year time limit to award the Medal of Honor from the date of a service member's heroic actions, and Cashe's occurred nearly 15 years ago, on Oct. 17, 2005. "Before we can take further action with this nomination, Congress must waive this time limit," Esper wrote. "Once legislation is enacted authorizing the President of the United States to award, if he so chooses, the Medal of Honor to SFC, I will provide my endorsement to the President." Similar congressional waivers have been granted in other cases, and approving one is not expected to face resistance. Esper sent his letter in response to correspondence from Reps. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., Michael Waltz, R-Fla., and Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, who wrote the Pentagon in October urging Esper to upgrade a Silver Star - the third-highest award for valor in combat - that Cashe had received for his actions in Iraq. Murphy, whose district includes Cashe's hometown, said in a statement Friday that she is "overjoyed" that the defense secretary has determined that Cashe's actions merit the Medal of Honor. She called him "a hero in the purest and most profound sense." "I will work with my colleagues to swiftly grant the President the authority he needs to provide this valiant soldier with the recognition he earned," she said. Waltz, who served in the Army, called Cashe a hero who demonstrated "extraordinary courage." "He without a doubt deserves our nation's highest honor - and I'm very glad Secretary Esper and our Department of Defense agree and recognize his heroic actions," Waltz said. Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL officer who was wounded in Afghanistan, said he will continue to push for Cashe's recognition. "Heroes are all around us, but certain heroes stand out," Crenshaw said. "One of those heroes is Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe." Cashe's sister, Kasinal, said in a phone interview Friday that she has been "walking on air" since Murphy notified her of Esper's backing Thursday night. The award still needs presidential approval, but Cashe's sister said she is optimistic the award will come soon. "I've been assured that with the secretary of defense writing the letter, it's just a technicality," she said. Cashe was deployed with the 3rd Infantry Division in Samarra, Iraq, when his armored Bradley Fighting Vehicle rolled over an improvised explosive device, according to his Silver Star citation. He was slightly injured and drenched in fuel, and realized that the armored vehicle's fuel cell had erupted and the vehicle had burst into flames. Cashe made numerous trips into the vehicle despite suffering burns in the process. "Without regard for his personal safety, Sergeant First Class Cashe rushed to the back of the vehicle, reaching into the hot flames and started pulling out his soldiers," the Silver Star citation said. "The flames gripped his fuel soaked uniform. Flames quickly spread all over his body." Cashe continued to assist others even after he was on fire, the citation said. He suffered burns over 72% of his body. The civilian translator traveling with the soldiers was also killed. Ten soldiers were injured in the incident, seven badly, according to Army accounts of the incident. Cashe died Nov. 5, 2005, at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, which is known for its facility treating burns suffered in combat. Three other soldiers - Staff Sgt. George Alexander Jr., 34, of Killeen, Texas; Sgt. Michael Robertson, 28, of Houston; and Spec. Darren Howe, 21, of Beatrice, Neb. - died of injuries. Cashe's commanding officer, then-Col. Gary Brito, nominated Cashe for the Silver Star and later said that he did not realize the severity of the situation at the time. Brito, now a lieutenant general, has recommended Cashe for the Medal of Honor several times since, fine-tuning the nomination package. "I don't know that there's much more I can do," Brito told the Army News Service in 2014. "I've asked others who have provided witness statements so far to look at them and see if there's anything else that can be recalled that was left off before. I'm not going to have anything fabricated and I'm not going to violate the integrity of the award, and I don't want to bring any dishonor on Sgt. 1st Class Cashe or his family." Kasinal Cashe credited Brito with doggedly pursuing the upgrade on his own time in addition to his duties within the Army. "He didn't do this because he was assigned to do it," she said. "He did it because he wanted to make right something that was wrong." Diffusion has been named North American public relations agency of record for furniture and mattress retailer Raymour & Flanigan. It will provide corporate and consumer media relations support for the company and work to elevate R&Fs brand awareness, targeting a growing base of millennials. The campaign will position the retailer as a go-to resource for interior design needs and seed R&Fs catalog to mainstream and consumer media, targeting key shopping dates throughout the year. Diffusion impressed us on every levelfrom creativity in the ideas they presented to the passion, excellence and leadership on their team, said R&F vice president of marketing Adam Goldberg. M Booth Health is partnering with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington and Penn State University on initiatives aimed at containing the COVID-19 pandemic and educating the public about virus-prevention protocols. For the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, the agency will provide communications counsel and support for the organization's COVID-19 data forecasts. It is providing strategy, messaging, media, issues management, and global communication support to the institute through its New York headquarters and worldwide network. M Booth Health will produce an integrated communications campaign for Penn State University that will encourage students, faculty, and staff to follow public health guidelines designed to limit the spread of COVID-19 as the fall semester resumes across 24 campuses. DRIVEN360 has been retained by Galaxy Magnesium, a mine-to-customer source of magnesium, as agency of record. The agency will work with Galaxy as it expands its strategy to transform the world of industrial metals with reasonable, stable cost, guaranteed quality and sustainable alloys. With its history of continued success within the automotive industry and its proven agile approach that includes a business-development partnership, everyone at Galaxy Magnesium is excited to grow, with the DRIVEN team by our side, said Galaxy Magnesium president Michael North. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 28 Trend: Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov received Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the Republic of Azerbaijan Saud Abdulaziz Al Roomi on August 28, 2020, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend. Bayramov stressed the successful development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Kuwait based on the principles of friendship that has deep historical roots. The Azerbaijani foreign minister stressed that there is a wide range of opportunities for the development of cooperation in various areas. Ambassador Saud Abdulaziz Al Roomi congratulated Bayramov on his appointment as foreign minister and in this regard conveyed sincere congratulations of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait. During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on further expansion of cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats, as well as on the issues of mutual support within international organizations. Briefing the Kuwaiti ambassador on the Armenia-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which is one of the biggest threats to regional security, Bayramov emphasized the position of Azerbaijan on the settlement of the conflict based on the norms and principles of international law. The sides stressed that Kuwait always supports fair position of the Republic of Azerbaijan within international organizations. During the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest. Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) Two human rights groups on Friday asked the South Sudan authorities to investigate the fate and whereabouts of scores of victims of enforced disappearances and those still missing from years of civil war The Congress, TMC, JMM and Shiv Sena on Friday said non-NDA leaders had moved the Supreme Court seeking postponement of NEET and JEE keeping in view the health and safety of students amid rising COVID-19 cases. Ministers of six opposition-ruled states moved the court seeking review of its order permitting the Centre to conduct the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) this year amid the persisting coronavirus pandemic. The review plea has been filed by ministers from West Bengal (Moloy Ghatak), Jharkhand (Rameshwar Oraon), Rajasthan (Raghu Sharma), Chhattisgarh (Amarjeet Bhagat), Punjab (B S Sidhu) and Maharashtra (Uday Ravindra Sawant). In a joint online press conference of the parties, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the grounds on which their review petition has been filed has not been heard by the court so far and is different from those petitions which have been dismissed by the top court. The petition for postponement of the entrance exams has aspects like safety, security and health of students, logistics which are required for holding the tests with 25 lakh students taking them and balancing health and education of students. The review plea was filed on Friday in the backdrop of the Supreme Court on August 17 refusing to interfere with the conduct of medical and engineering entrance exams NEET and JEE scheduled to take place in September saying that life must go on and students cant lose a precious year due to the pandemic. Singhvi said that they have only sought deferment or postponement of NEET and JEE and not cancellations, as they do not want the academic year of students to be wasted. Though a petition has been dismissed by the court in this regard, none of the points raised by us have been discussed by the court earlier. Ours is a petition for deferment and not for cancellation of exams," he said. On August 17 the top court had dismissed a plea by one Sayantan Biswas and others seeking direction to National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts both the NEET and JEE exams, to postpone them after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured that all safeguards would be taken. This fresh petition is a constructive, non-negative, non-destructive approach to not cancel the exams but defer them, the Congress spokesperson said. We are doing this as our duty towards the youth and students of our country and in public interest. We are not deterred by clearly admitted constraints of both time and earlier petition dismissed, which was totally avoidable and which did not raise any of these issues. Without denying the constraints, there is always hope," Singhvi said. He claimed that this petition represented by around 30 per cent area and population of the country. Singhvi suggested that the exams, which are starting from September 1, be deferred till November and the academic session can start from January to save the academic year. While JEE is from September 1 to 6, NEET begins from September 13. The petition follows a meeting of chief ministers of seven states. It was convened virtually by Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday. Singhvi also accused the central government of being insensitive and inefficient, and termed it as a government of apathy and contradictions". The petition says that it be listed before the Supreme Court at the earliest, otherwise grave and irreparable harm and injury would befall on the student community of our country and not only the health, welfare and safety. Singhvi said students appearing for NEET and JEE could stand imperilled but also the public health at large would be in severe jeopardy in these COVID-19 pandemic times. Trinamool Congress leader Derek OBrien said conducting examinations of this magnitude when the infection is at its peak poses serious health hazards for the students, their parents and persons conducting these exams. He said the issue would also come before Parliament for discussion, where all parties will come together on it. It is very clear that we will be speaking in one voice. The review petition is only one step in that direction. It is beyond politics and it is in the interest of students," OBrien said. He added that in jointly filing the petition, various governments have shown great team work" and it is being filed in the true spirit of federalism". OBrien added that this is a big step in fighting for the rights of students, which will be taken forward in 2020. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said many students would not be able to take these exams out of fear or due to logistical difficulties. Besides, he said, some may even be suffering from underlying health conditions such as asthma and diabetes, thus making it even more dangerous for them to physically appear at examination centres. It seems the central government is being adamant and stubborn in holding the exams," Soren said, asking who will be responsible for the health of students. He urged the Supreme Court to take a holistic view on the matter, noting that the central government seems to have shed its responsibility on states and is not bothered about controlling the spread of coronavirus. Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant was also present at the conference but he had to leave for a meeting. Singhvi argued that with recent information about the spread of the virus, conducting physical examination of such magnitude can have disastrous consequences. He said with the prime minister giving sermons on safety every day, holding the examinations of such nature would make a mockery of the COVID safeguards. The Congress leader noted that COVID is dormant and people are asymptomatic, and temperature guns at exam centres would not be enough as safeguards at exam centres, which have a density of 1500 students per centre for JEE and 450 for NEET. The exam centres are a recipe for disaster as far as health of students is concerned," he said. Asked about the chances of the petition, Singhvi said we are not deterred. Ensconced in a lucrative niche at home, Jack Mas Ant Group nevertheless has to look outward. And expanding overseas has never looked so difficult for Chinas biggest payments app, even with the war chest from what may be a world-record initial public offering. Ant will have no problems raising the $30 billion its seeking in this mega-IPO. Few investors will pass up the chance to buy into the owner of Alipay, a super-app that offers access to everything from insurance and funds to loans and even groceries. For U.S. institutions, the lure of the worlds most valuable unicorn is likely to overshadow the threat of further action against Chinese companies by President Donald Trump, who has already issued executive orders targeting Tencent Holdings Ltd.s WeChat, Alipays biggest domestic rival. China sales account for about 95% of Ants revenue. Yet overseas expansion is destined to become more important to the company. Ant is already so large and dominant at home that its growth inevitably will slow. It also faces intensifying competition in China, not only from WeChat and other technology rivals but from foreign financial firms such as American Express Co., which in June became the first overseas payments network to be allowed to start processing local currency transactions. The real killer app may come from Beijing, which is testing a digital yuan that will offer all the convenience of electronic money. Tighter regulation may also weigh on Ants ability to grow in China. For all the companys attempts to rebrand itself as a technology firm (a more lightly regulated industry), it still looks more like a financial-services business, as my colleagues Shuli Ren and Anjani Trivedi have written. The companys YuE Bao money-market fund, which grew to become the worlds largest, has already had its wings clipped by Beijings financial watchdogs. A quick trawl through Ants 674-page prospectus shows just how much attention this issue is consuming: Regulation appears almost 500 times. Against this backdrop, Ant identified cross-border expansion as one of the four uses for its IPO proceeds. The company intends to enhance its international payment capabilities, invest in technology and develop more digital payment, finance and daily-life services for consumers, merchants and partners beyond China, according to the filing. Tourism has been key to the extending reach of Alipay and WeChat Pay. China was the worlds largest source of overseas tourists in 2018, and also the worlds largest spender, driving increased acceptance of the Chinese payment apps in cities from Paris to Bangkok. Post-IPO, Ant faces a dramatically changed environment, with the Covid pandemic having sent the global tourist industry into cold storage. Geopolitics, meanwhile, was a problem for the company even before U.S.-China tensions reached cold-war levels. In early 2018, Ant scrapped its takeover of MoneyGram International Inc. after the U.S. raised national security concerns. The company also backed out of a promise to create 1 million jobs in the U.S., with Ma blaming the trade spat between the countries. The IPO filing devotes three pages to geopolitical risks, most centered on the U.S. Unlike its shareholder Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Ant decided against selling shares in New York, opting instead for a dual Hong Kong and Shanghai listing. It still may be exposed to potential future U.S. sanctions, though. Since the MoneyGram deal collapsed, the company has mainly focused on its Asian backyard. Even here, progress faces hurdles. India banned dozens of Chinese apps in June, following a border clash. Alibabas UC Browser was banned, though Ant-invested Paytm has escaped sanction. Southeast Asia, where mobile payments and credit card penetration are relatively low, offer more opportunities, though homegrown competition from the likes of Singapores Grab and Indonesias GoJek is on the rise. A fast-growing business with 1 billion customers and a seat at the cutting edge of financial technology is creating understandable excitement. Investors should temper that with a recognition that Ants future may be a lot harder than its past. Top Photo: Simon Hu, chief executive officer at Ant Group, at Alipays Partner Conference in Hangzhou, China on May 20, 2020 (Photo: Business Wire) Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics COVID-19 USA China US 'walking on thin ice' with spy plane flight People's Daily Online (China Daily) 14:31, August 27, 2020 Chinese experts warned that the United States military is "walking on thin ice" by allowing one of its U-2 spy planes to trespass into a no-fly zone over Chinese live-fire military drills, calling the move extremely provocative and prone to misjudgement. On Tuesday, a Lockheed U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft trespassed into the no-fly zone that is hosting a live fire 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. Wu said the trespass had "seriously disrupted China's regular training activities" and violated China-US maritime and flight safety codes and international norms. "The incident could very easily lead to misunderstanding and misjudgment, and may even lead to an accident," he said. "It is also a blatant provocation that China resolutely opposes." Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in a news briefing on Wednesday that China resolutely opposes the US trespass and urged the US to immediately stop such provocative acts and take concrete measures to maintain regional peace and stability. The US Pacific Air Forces said in a statement on Tuesday that a U-2 flight had been conducted in the Indo-Pacific region and it had operated 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," it added. The South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative, a Chinese nonprofit research institution, said a US RC-135S intelligence aircraft entered air space above the South China Sea on Wednesday morning via a flight path above the southeastern waters of Hainan province, where the Chinese military is holding a drill nearby. Naval drills According to local maritime safety administrations, China is holding major naval drills in all four of its major adjacent waters, namely the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the South China Sea. Since late July, the Chinese military has conducted a total of 22 drills in these waters. The exercise in the Bohai Sea, which is the northwestern and innermost gulf of the Yellow Sea bounded by the coastlines of Hebei, Shandong and Liaoning provinces, began on Aug 21 and ends on Friday. The drill in the South China Sea began on Monday and ends on Saturday. On Wednesday, the local maritime authority in Zhejiang province said the Chinese military will conduct "real weapons training" in the East China Sea from Thursday to Sunday, and prohibited ships from entering the training area. Major General Zhang Shaozhong, a military commentator, said according to international norms, any nation has the right to declare a temporary no-fly zone for military testing and training, and the announcement must be made in public and in advance. "It is extremely dangerous to deliberately trespass into a no-fly zone after receiving clear notification, because the radars on live missiles may pick up the wrong signal and pursue the wrong target, causing accidental damage," he said on microblogging platform Sina Weibo on Tuesday. A military historian who spoke on condition of anonymity said seeing a U-2 spy plane trespassing into a Chinese no-fly zone is like seeing a "ghost of the Cold War", because the plane is infamous for its aggressive intelligence gathering capability and had been shot down multiple times in the 1960s. Developed in the early 1950s, the U-2 is a single-pilot, high-altitude spy plane known for conducting photo-reconnaissance deep into enemy territory and picking up radio signatures from radar, data links and telecommunication equipment from an extreme operating height of 21.3 kilometers. "It is a notoriously high-profile target that no competent military could allow to roam freely around their borders," the historian said, adding that the plane played a major role in the Cuban missile crisis, the Vietnam War and the Gulf War. "The recent trespass was in a temporary no-fly zone, not our territorial airspace. It would be a perilous overreaction and escalation if we tried to intercept or shoot the plane down, and the US knows we can't risk this," the historian said. "But the US military is also walking on thin ice here. Flying a Cold War relic directly in China's face, our military will not take this insult lightly." Zhu Feng, executive director of the Collaborative Innovation Center of South China Sea Studies, said the US is sparing no effort to stir up tension in the South China Sea and around China, and is hoping to "artificially manufacture a China crisis". "History has repeatedly shown that the only way to heal a divided US is for it to tackle a serious external threat, so people could rally around the American flag," he said. "We must see through this insidious ploy and remain calm and collected." Groundless claims In another development, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao on Wednesday rebuked an article by US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, published in The Wall Street Journal on Monday, saying his claims about the role of the PLA were "totally groundless". Zhao said China upholds a defensive national defense policy, and the Constitution of the Communist Party of China and the Constitution of the People's Republic of China have made it clear that China follows a path of peaceful development and opposes hegemony. "Can the US make such a declaration?" Zhao asked. "Which country owns hundreds of military bases around the world, waged war or conducted military actions illegally against countries such as Iraq, Syria and Libya, and sent vessels and aircraft to flex its muscles in distant waters away from its own territory?" he said. "Which country is sticking to a Cold War mentality, withdrawing from treaties and organizations, wielding its 'clubs and fists' and undermining global rules wantonly?" Zhao said. Also, China has sent more peacekeeping troops than any other permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Zhao said, pointing out that since 1990, the Chinese military has participated in more than 20 UN peacekeeping operations and sent more than 40,000 peacekeeping troops. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hong Kong police sift the past to pursue new security law crimes On August 10, Hong Kong police conducted their largest operation yet under the law, arresting 10 people, six of them for "colluding with foreign forces" Hong Kong police are using the past words and deeds of government critics to bolster investigations under the city's sweeping new security law, despite the legislation not being retroactive. The law, described by China as a "sword" hanging over the heads of its pro-democracy opponents, was imposed on the financial hub by Beijing in June, with authorities promising it would not apply to past transgressions. But details from more than 20 arrests so far show actions including political speeches and online posts made before the law was introduced have formed a key part of investigations, helping police obtain search warrants, conduct raids and make arrests. "They will go back into your history and look for connections," one lawyer involved in national security investigations told AFP, requesting anonymity to speak freely, adding police were empowered to use past acts as "background information" for both investigations and upcoming trials. On August 10, police conducted their largest operation yet under the law, arresting 10 people -- six of them for "colluding with foreign forces". Much of the drama centred on the arrest of newspaper owner Jimmy Lai and a subsequent raid by more than 200 officers on his Apple Daily newspaper. - Political adverts - On the same day, three officers paid a more discreet visit to the local newsroom of Nikkei, the Japanese financial newspaper, armed with a court order. The reason, according to a source present who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, was an advert placed in Nikkei a year ago calling for international support for pro-democracy protests then convulsing the city. Similar adverts ran in papers around the world and were paid for with crowd-funding. Despite being a collaborative effort, the Nikkei advert featured the name of pro-democracy party Demosisto, which was led by young activists until it disbanded hours before the security law came in. Later that evening, one of Demosisto's leading figures, 23-year-old Agnes Chow, was arrested alongside two other former student activists. Story continues At a media briefing that day, police offered some details of the operation. Without naming individuals, they said media company executives allegedly used an overseas account to provide financial support for a three-member group that lobbied for foreign sanctions against Hong Kong. "The group remained active after the law came into force," senior superintendent Li Kwai-wah said. After her release, Chow said the collusion charges were "very vague accusations without specifying time and means", and she was "clueless" about what actions she may have taken to break the new law. Speaking to the Apple Daily, his own newspaper, Lai said police had focused their attention on calls he made before the law took effect on June 30 lobbying for international action. - Social media posts - Past social media posts have also become a focus for police. Tony Chung, 19, was arrested alongside three others on July 29 for allegedly inciting secession. He is a former member of Studentlocalism, a pro-independence group that disbanded its Hong Kong chapter before the security law came in. Police said the arrests were made after an overseas group left a post on Facebook, following the imposition of the security law, calling for Hong Kong to become a republic. Chung denied having anything to do with the post. During his 40 hours of detention, he said most of the evidence presented by police was made up of old social media comments. "All those posts were published before the law came into force, with the oldest one dated in 2016," Chung told AFP. A Hong Kong police spokesperson declined to comment on active investigations but said "there is no retroactive effect" on the work they carry out under the national security law. So far only one person has been charged under the legislation -- a man who allegedly drove a motorbike into police officers while flying a pro-independence flag. He is facing one count of terrorism and one charge of inciting secession. The lawyer involved in national security cases said he believed police often had no intention of charging those arrested. "Intimidation, forfeiting their travel documents, and using those released on bail to pick up more people are the three purposes," he said. District councillor Chow Wai-hung was the 11th person arrested under the law after he raised placards at a protest in late July, including one that read "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times" -- a popular but now banned slogan. "No officer answered when I asked why I was accused of inciting secession," he told AFP after he was released on bail. "Except one who shouted that I should prepare for three years in jail." su/jta/axn/jah Investigators looked into a shooting by one of its officers, that left Jacob Blake paralyzed. The town of Kenosha, Wisconsin was wracked by problems caused by the left, who have been orchestrating them from the start. During the commotion, an officer had shot Blake several times, but some omissions were noted. One of them is possession of a bladed weapon. That set the defensive posture of the officer in the midst of the chaos. This was indeed verified by the state attorney general on Wednesday, reported Reuters. Just like other parts of the country, Kenosha has been struck by violent unrest that has affected law and order. Many of these communities were peaceful until the left puppeteers changed the narrative that took lives if two people there. The police were already affected and demoralized by the defunding when out to do their jobs. This once normal community is marred by the events affecting all Americans. An official statement of the alleged Sunday shooting of Blake had this as its contents. It is getting investigated and probed by the Wisconsin Justice Department. In the document, the Attorney General Josh Kaul said the knife which was concealed got recovered on the driver's side of the car. On the floorboard on the driver's seat. He was near it when leaning close to the floorboard. Blake was in this position when gotten shot in his back. The attorney general said in a news brief that the one who got shot did not deny that a knife was there. According to Blake, the knife was his. A knife is bladed and dangerous. Hence, having one may be noted as questionable. Also read: Hungry Pigs Eat Each Other in Dismal Conditions at Farm Claiming High Standards In a statement, the defender of Blake said that the man was no threat to the police officer, who shot him not in self-defense but due to a knife in his possession. The AG Kaul did not elaborate about the knife in possession of Blake, making sure no narratives or allusions can be heaved on the case. Officer Rusten Sheskey of the Kenosha police department, is a veteran officer of seven years. No statement has been issued by him, about the defensive shooting. Just as his press statement came, the U.S. Justice Department determined that a probe on a federal civil rights inquiry will be done. Agencies involved are the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Wisconsin officials in the case.: As the Kenosha police, were trying to bring back order in the chaotic streets, things slid backward as the left orchestrated incidence of violence got worse. A teen got arrested by shooting several people. Two did not survive, and one survives during the chaos. The lone shooter is Kyle Rittenhouse, 17 of Antioch, Illinois. Who as a militia member took to the streets as his statement. He acted alone and took two protesters down and one survived. They rushed Rittenhouse who shot in self-defense. The presence of the national guard deterred the left sponsored protestors from activity. Related article: Pastor Shot Two Neighbors Dead In Front of His Daughter After Heated Altercation Escalated @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. TORRINGTON One man was killed when his vehicle was hit by a speeding driver who was possibly racing with another vehicle, according to police. Police, firefighters and medics responded to a motor vehicle crash on New Litchfield Street near Hassig Road around 2 p.m. Thursday and found two vehicles off the road and partially in the woods, according to Detective Kevin Tieman. Investigators learned that the two vehicles were headed west on Route 202 (New Litchfield Street) and were witnessed by another driver racing, Tieman said. He said the driver of one of the vehicles involved, an Audi A4, was driving at a high rate of speed and while passing the other vehicle, hit a third vehicle that was headed east on Route 202. The driver of the Audi fled the scene on foot. The third vehicle, a Lincoln sedan, had significant drivers side intrusion as a result of the crash, Tieman said. The driver of the sedan, who Tieman said was in his mid-40s and not a resident of Torrington, was pronounced dead at the scene. A female front seat passenger was taken to St. Marys Hospital with internal injuries that Tieman said are reportedly not life-threatening. The driver of the second vehicle, which was passed by the driver of the Adui who fled, and the driver was found shortly after, Tieman said. All three vehicles were seized. While investigators processed the scene and as crews worked to clear the crash site, a section of Route 202 that stretched into Litchfield was closed to vehicles. Tieman said the name of the victim killed in the crash would not be released until next of kin was notified, but did say the man is about 47 years old. The driver of the Audi A4 has been identified by investigators, and the Accident Investigation Team continues to investigate the crash. The drivers name was withheld due to the ongoing investigation, Tieman said. Anyone with information or who might have witnessed the crash is asked to call Officer Tyler Otis at 860-489-2090 or Detective Kevin Tieman at 860-489-2063. Tunisian government authorises use of polypropylene bags for cement ICR Newsroom By 28 August 2020 Tunisias government approved the use of polypropylene for packaging cement, but the move has already drawn ire of the countrys environmentalists and the Tunisian Industrial Paper and Cardboard Co (Sotupapier). Sotupapier filed a complaint with the administrative tribunal on 21 August 2020 to challenge the decision taken by the Tunisian ministers of industry and trade. The company expects the step to increase plastic pollution through the production of at least 150m new polypropylene bags each year, especially as the country has no adequate system for collecting and disposing them. However, the National Chamber of Cement Producers (CNPC) has come out in support of the governments decision. The use of polypropylene packaging will considerably reduce bag breakage and its consequent loss of product as well as provide improved protection against humidity, according to the CNPC. The controversy comes amid steps by the Tunisian government to ban plastic bags from 2021 for producers, suppliers and users. Published under Islamabad, Aug 28 : Pakistan has called on New Delhi to share initial findings of the death of 11 Pakistani citizens, who were found dead inside a rented farmhouse in Jodhpur on August 9. Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi has established immediate contact with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), seeking details on the incident. "Our High Commission in Delhi immediately contacted the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and asked them to share details including circumstances of death, copy of the FIR and investigation report," he said during a weekly press briefing at the Foreign Office in Islamabad. "The Indian side was also asked to provide immediate consular access to the family," he added. Chaudhri said that presence of the diplomatic mission's doctor during the post-mortem was also requested. "Since those who died were Pakistani nationals it's incumbent upon us to ensure the incident is properly investigated and the finding of the investigation are shared with us. " As per details of the incident, the Pakistani family had arrived in Rajasthan in 2015 on a long-term visa. On August 9, 11 members of the family were found dead in a field in Jodhpur. One member, who survived, claimed that his in-laws murdered his family over a dispute. Police launched an investigation into the incident while forensic experts also took part in assisting the investigation. Rahul Bharat, a police official said that "an investigation is being carried out to ascertain the exact cause of the incident". However, initial investigation suggested that the incident may have arisen from a family dispute. The deceased family belonged to the Bheel community. After the incident, 37-year-old Kewal Ram was the only surviving member of the family and was being interrogated by the local police. Among the killed were Kewal Ram's parents, brother, three sisters, daughter and two sons, and 75-year-old Budha Ram, who was the head of the family. Pakistan has expressed serious concerns over the incident, tagging it with the situation of security and safety of Pakistani citizens in India. They're not adverse to letting their thoughts be known on social media. And Jedward were sure to amuse their followers when they shared windswept snaps of Boris Johnson and Donald Trump looking windswept on Thursday. Twins John and Edward, 28, poked fun at the Prime Minister and President of the United States by labelling them 'Poundland Jedward'. 'Poundland Jedward': X Factor stars (pictured in 2017) poked fun at Boris Johnson and Donald Trump's hair on social media Sharing a picture of themselves with their signature spikey hairdos, they then added: 'In the name of the Jed and of the ward and of the holy Jepic Amen (sic).' The dynamic duo followed the promotional shot of them with a snap of a mug that had their faces on them, as they asked if fans wanted tea. This isn't the first time that Jedward have made a political remark on Twitter, as they launched a scathing attack on Jim Corr after he expressed support for an anti-mask protest in Dublin last week Jokers: The pair ere sure to amuse their followers when they shared windswept snaps of the Prime Minister and President of the United States The real deal: Sharing a picture of themselves with their signature spikey hairdos, they then added: 'In the name of the Jed and of the ward and of the holy Jepic Amen (sic)' Promotion: The dynamic duo followed the shot of them with a snap of a mug that had their faces on them, as they asked if fans wanted tea The former X Factor stars hit out at Jim, 56, who is a member of The Corrs, after a crowd marched through the Irish capital to protest the use of face coverings amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The protest, which was held on Saturday and organised by Health Freedom Ireland, drew ire from Jedward who called the demonstrators 'selfish low lives'. Taking to Twitter, they wrote: 'Dear Dublin Anti Mask Protest! Get the f**k inside you selfish low lives sincerely the rest of the country. Argument: Last week, Jedward launched a scathing attack on Jim Corr after he expressed support for an anti-mask protest in Dublin (pictured in October 2019) Not happy: Jedward hit out at Jim, 56, after he expressed support for the crowd who protested the use of face coverings amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic (pictured in October 2017) 'When your core message is wrong you have no legs to stand on! Theres only one Right in this fight against Covid so dont even try to question it! Change your attitude and get with the times.' Jim shared footage from the protest on Twitter and expressed his support, leading Jedward to criticise the musician along with a few references from The Corrs' most well-known hits. They wrote: 'Gwan leave the whole country "breathless" from Covid because of your idiotic behaviour @Jimcorrsays [middle finger emoji]'. Outraged: The protest, which was held on Saturday and organised by Health Freedom Ireland, drew ire from Jedward who called the demonstrators 'selfish low lives' Disagreement: Jim shared footage from the protest and expressed support, leading Jedward to criticise the musician along with a few references from The Corrs' most well-known hits Jim quickly responded to the jibe by writing: 'Shut up you fools and grow a brain between you'. Jedward then fired back with another song quip, writing: 'Why dont you just go and "Runaway" and FYI your sisters never needed you please leave the band'. Jim then slammed the duo as 'Ireland's Millie Vanillie' and jokingly shared a YouTube link to The Corrs' song I Never Loved You Anyway to further get his feelings about the pair across. Jibe: Jim then slammed the duo as 'Ireland's Millie Vanillie' and jokingly shared a YouTube link to The Corrs' song I Never Loved You Anyway Ouch: Jedward hit back yet again with more song references, writing: 'Youre the best background band member In the history of Irish music He wrote: 'Irelands Millie Vanillie have spoken and I shall hand in my notice forthwith. But lads, I just want to say... [song link]'. Jedward hit back yet again with more song references, writing: 'Youre the best background band member In the history of Irish music. 'Jim "it really doesnt matter at all, cause we are so young now" and "irresistible" youre just another #COVIDIOT good luck with your air guitar skills.' Jim then shot back by sharing a link to a documentary denying the coronavirus pandemic. Back and forth: Jim then shot back by sharing a link to a documentary denying the coronavirus pandemic 'Bored': Jedward then tried to put an end to the virtual squabble, writing: 'Youre a waste of our time, Were getting bored' He wrote: 'Here lads, while I go practise my air guitar watch this, it involves interviews with some important people but dont get overwhelmed as they use some big words on occasions, just take your time and if you need help understanding, Im here.' Jedward then tried to put an end to the virtual squabble, writing: 'Youre a waste of our time, Were getting bored. May as well be talking to a brick wall. Go to bed Jim.' Determined to have the last word, Jim shot back by sharing a link to Pink Floyd's Another Brick Wall and wrote: 'Speaking of which... night lads x'. Jedward then shared a Tweet where they appeared to have a change of heart about online arguments, calling them 'pathetic'. 'We're right you're wrong': Jedward then shared a Tweet where they appeared to have a change of heart about online arguments, calling them 'pathetic' They wrote: 'Twitter fights are so pathetic! We dont have time! Were right youre wrong. Wear your mask and wash your hands to whoever needs to hear this'. Jim is a member of The Corrs along with his three younger sisters Andrea, Sharon and Caroline. He has been critical of mask usage to help combat the virus on social media, writing in July that masks 'are about keeping the fear alive until the vaccine arrives. 'Masks stop viruses in their tracks, in the same way underpants stop farts.' In May she revealed her first pregnancy in the video for lead single, Daisies. The triumphant stadium pop song follows a formula Perry has relied on for more than a decade: bellowing vocals tempered by soaring melodies that, despite her best efforts, fall flat. Insincerity is a problem that's plagued the singer throughout her career, although this time she is striving for more and she achieves it on Teary Eyes, Harleys in Hawaii and, in detailing the traps of fame, on Champagne Problems. For almost 12 years Katy Perry has endured the spotlight, narrating in excruciating detail the victories, pitfalls and banalities of her life through music. Unlike previous records, Perry's sixth studio album is remarkably honest as we follow her into the next chapter of her life. This week, The Age and Sydney Morning Herald's critics reviewed Katy Perry's Smile, Bright Eyes' Down in the Weeds Where the World Once Was, Bill Laswell's Against Empire and Derek Jones and Cameron Roberts' Flute Perspectives Volume 2. Perry is surprisingly indulgent with the details of her highly publicised, yet extremely private relationship, as she meditates on the warm glow of true love (Only Love). But saccharine moments like Never Really Over and Tucked ring hollow. In July on Instagram Perry promised an album about her "journey towards the light". These are lofty ambitions for a star who cut her teeth on absurdist pop jaunts, and sadly the result is milquetoast, at best. KISH LAL INDIE ROCK Bright Eyes, Down in the Weeds Where the World Once Was (Dead Oceans/Inertia) It has always felt slightly wrong to regard Bright Eyes as synonymous with melancholy and morose introspection, as has often been the Omaha band's reputation. For a long time Conor Oberst's songs have meditated on the solace and reward of small interactions and meaningful bonds in the face of controlling, destructive forces on a socio-historical scale. This continues with the first Bright Eyes album in nine years, and their 10th overall. Bright Eyes: direct poetry from a complex band for our complex times. Credit:Danny Cohen Down in the Weeds Where the World Once Was, recorded before the pandemic, features typically direct poetry that implores amity as much as it excoriates power. Production is on a startlingly grand scale perhaps too grand at times with strings and synths to the fore, while dulcimer makes for a lovely addition on some songs, and even bagpipes sound just about palatable on Persona Non Grata. Oberst's voice, which still maintains that immediately recognisable quiver after all these years, remains integral. While the album lacks the song-writing punch of The People's Key (2011) and Cassadaga (2007), undeniable standouts include the brooding One and Done and the sombrely romantic Hot Car in the Sun. A complex band for complex times. BARNABY SMITH Sen. Rand Paul: People Who Accosted Me in DC Were Trying to Kill Me An angry mob in Washington on Friday surrounded Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and his wife as well as other lawmakers, including state Georgia Rep. Vernon Jones, a Democrat who supports President Donald Trump. Video footage showed Paul, who was brutally assaulted by his neighbor several years ago, protected from the crowd by police officers. Paul and several women stood in place for at least 5 minutes until more officers arrived. Police began fending off the demonstrators so the small group could move. Demonstrators shouted at the senator, issuing threats and calling on him to say the name of Breonna Taylor, a woman shot by police officers. White silence is violence! they told Paul, who introduced the Justice for Breonna Taylor Act last month. After several minutes of walking, Paul and the women made it to a hotel. Just got attacked by an angry mob of over 100, one block away from the White House, Paul wrote in a tweet. He thanked Metropolitan Police Department officers for literally saving our lives from a crazed mob. The threats were to f you up, to you know, to kill you. The threats were if they could get a hold of youand I truly believe with every fiber of my being, had they gotten at us, they would have gotten us to the ground, Paul added during an appearance on Fox & Friends. We might not have been killed. We might just have been injured by being kicked in the head or kicked in the stomach until we were senseless. Youve seen the pictures. Most of the networks will not show the pictures of this. This is happening in all of our cities. Its got to stop, and thank God for the police. Paul said the irony is lost on these idiots, that theyre trying to kill the person who is trying to get rid of no-knock raids, referring to the legislation he introduced. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) speaks at the 2020 Republican National Convention in Washington on Aug. 25, 2020. (Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty Images) Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), center, and three women are escorted by police officers through a crowd in Washington on Aug. 28, 2020. (Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo) Demonstrators clash with police officers in Washington on Aug. 27, 2020. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo) Demonstrators in Washington on Aug. 27, 2020. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo) We cant walk down the street in D.C. safely now. Thats how bad it is, he said. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called what happened wrong, before adding: The police protecting them were heroic, but this needs to stop. This is very close to escalating to serious violence. Other people who attended the Republican National Convention events at the White House were also confronted by Black Lives Matter demonstrators, including Jones, a black man who has faced criticism from Democrats for supporting Trump. Alex Triantafilou, an attorney who serves as chairman of the Hamilton County, Ohio GOP, said what he experienced as he exited the White House will never leave me. We had to endure the peaceful protestors as they hurled insults, threatened me with assault, and generally made a walk through an American city a harrowing ordeal, he said on Twitter. Unacceptable. Police officers clashed with demonstrators in multiple areas. At one point, a group of demonstrators harassed an elderly couple, one of whom was wearing a Trump 2020 T-shirt, before knocking the man to the ground. The raucous demonstrations during Trumps speech featured a guillotine with a blow-up version of the president on it. The Metropolitan Police Department didnt respond to a request for comment. Data the department published later Saturday showed eight arrests were made, including five for assaulting police officers, during the unrest overnight. One of the last shows I reviewed before the coronavirus crisis closed the theaters was Harold Pinters minor masterpiece The Dumb Waiter at West End Productions, a brilliant production that did full justice to one of Pinters justly famous comedies of menace. West End is one of Albuquerques newest producing theaters, and it always does high-quality work. The company does 3 shows a year, always by a writer from the UK (hence West End, which is Englands Broadway). Speaking with artistic director Colleen Neary McClure about the hardships the theater has endured because of the closure, she said that closing down The Dumb Waiter early was devastating. All the hard work done by director Joe Feldman, the cast and crew and set builders, to shut down early was a great disappointment. Noel Cowards classic Hay Fever was scheduled for the summer of 2020, then postponed to January 2021, and now is scheduled for June 2021. Patrons have been incredibly supportive, McClure said, not asking for refunds, but planning to use their tickets at a later date for another production. Thankfully, West End does not have its own space and so does not have to pay for an unused theater. We are not having to pay annual utilities, rent, etc., so we are surviving. Our hearts go out to our fellow theater companies. If patrons have ever enjoyed a show at any of these venues, please go to their websites and click the donate button, she said. Like other theaters, West End is venturing into the world of internet performance as an alternative to live theater. Its inaugural Zoom production will be Lazybed by Scottish writer Iain Crichton Smith. The play premiered at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh in 1997 and is about a man who cannot or will not get out of bed, apparently for metaphysical reasons. We took advantage of actors we had worked with outside of Albuquerque. It felt right to involve performers from other states. Zoom will never be the same as live theater, but there is something powerful about the closeness of characters interacting in this media. Lazybed is directed by Levi Gore, an actor and director from Austin, Texas, who arrived in Albuquerque shortly before the pandemic struck. The cast includes Marc Balester and Judd Farris (also from Austin), Joanna Daniel and Robert Shaw-Smith (both from Atlanta). In addition to the out-of-town actors, the production will feature McClure herself, as well as Albuquerque actors Philip Shortell, Tim MacAlpine, Jessica Osbourne, Parker Owen and Merritt Glover. As West End company member Marcelle Garfield told me, What could be more timely right now than the story of a man who for metaphysical reasons wont get out of bed? What will get him up? Lazybed can be viewed through Zoom at 2 p.m. Sept. 6. The performance is free. To watch, send an email to info@westendproductions.org and request the link. Online Lazybed can be viewed through Zoom at 2 p.m. Sept. 6. The performance is free. To watch, send an email to info@westendproductions.org and request the link. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A man who police say was driving impaired when his car jumped a curb, struck a woman and then two houses has been sentenced to a minimum seven years in prison. Javan Thomas Beard, 37, was sentenced Thursday, Aug. 27 in Kent County Circuit Court on a charge of operating under the influence causing death. Judge Mark Trusock sentenced Beard to 86 months (7 years, 2 months) to 15 years in prison. Beard was driving a vehicle about 5:30 p.m. Dec. 16 on Kalamazoo Avenue, headed north, when it jumped a curb and struck 47-year-old Lashanda Howard. Witnesses said the vehicle was traveling at high speed. Howard died from the crash. She was standing there, talking to a friend. By the time she looked up, it was too late, Dee Floyd, a friend of Howard since childhood, said in a December interview. Beards vehicle continued on and struck two nearby houses along Kalamazoo Avenue. The crash happened near Temple Street, south of Hall Street. More from MLive Four Caledonia Schools students test positive for coronavirus West Michigan woman charged with neglect after son drowned in Lake Michigan Ford India has adopted a unique, fun and quirky way to market the Freestyle Flair by influencing search behaviour on Google and through exclusive Freestyle playlists on Indias largest streaming platform, JioSaavn. The Ford team has identified that users often accept the recommendations under Did you mean this? from Google, whenever there is a misspelling. Learning from this consumer insight, the team has identified the most common search terms, including some from the competition. On entering these keywords, Google search engine has been tuned to share key product attributes of Ford Freestyle. To boost sales in the festive season, Ford India has partnered with JioSaavn to offer a playlist for every kind of mood and drive. Currently, eight playlists are live on the Freestyle Channel, which include - Freestyle Woofer Beats - Freestyle Romantic Drives - Freestyle City Buzz - Freestyle Road Trips - Freestyle Josh - Freestyle Bollywood Beats - Freestyle Ishq Humsafar - Freestyle Safarnama Interestingly, customers booking any variant of Ford Freestyle before February 2021, will avail one-year premium subscription to ad-free music on JioSaavn. Apart from the exclusive Freestyle Channel, the partnership with JioSaavn also comes alive on social media with: - Popular on Freestyle Channel: A poll on JioSaavn Twitter handle, crowd-sourcing songs and giving people a chance to get their favourite songs added to the channel. - Instagram stories on music personalities: A series of stories on Instagram focused on the personalities of people who will stream the playlists on the Freestyle Channel on JioSaavn. - Playlist feature on Facebook: A series showcasing all the eight playlists available on the Freestyle Channel along with the swipe up links to each playlist. Speaking on the occasion, Kaushik Prasad, GM Marketing, Ford India, True to the character of the brand Freestyle, the Flair does not just stop at the product but is visible in our engagements with Google Search and JioSaavn. The feature loaded Ford Freestyle Flair was launched in India at an introductory price of Rs 7,69,000 for the petrol variant, while the diesel variant is priced at Rs 8,79,000. To learn more about the Ford Freestyle Flair, click here. Ford Freestyle N/A Onwards Ford | Freestyle | Ford Freestyle A few weeks ago, we had reported that director Nagashekar will be directing the remake of Kannada blockbuster Love Mocktail in Telugu. The Tollywood remake will star Satyadev Kancharana and Tamannaah in the lead roles. Titled as Gurthundha Seethakalam, fans were curious to know when will the team start shooting for the same. And guess what, the makers finally started shooting Love Mocktail's Telugu remake in Hyderabad. Today (August 28), the makers of Gurthundha Seethakalam conducted a puja ahead of the first shoot of the film. The lead actor of the film, Satyadev started shooting for the film, but sadly, actress Tamannaah couldn't attend the event. For the unversed, Tamannaah's parents have tested positive for COVID-19 on August 26. The actress had informed the same on social media. Hence, she couldn't attend the first day of shooting in Hyderabad. However, fans are praying for her parents' speedy recovery and hoping to see her soon on the sets of Gurthundha Seethakalam. Talking about the first day's shooting of Gurthundha Seethakalam, the photos from the puja ceremony went viral on social media. In the photos, Satyadev can be seen sporting long hair with a beard. The event was attended by other crew members also. Produced by Bhavna Ravi, Kala Bhairava will handle the music department of the film.On a related note, Darling Krishna and Milana Nagaraj-starrer Love Mocktail was released on January 31, 2020. The romantic-drama turned out to be a surprise package for all, and become a blockbuster despite being promoted on a low scale. The film caught everyone's attention and fans hope the Telugu remake will do justice to the iconic film. Also Read : Satyadev & Tamannaah To Feature In Telugu Remake Of Kannada Blockbuster Love Mocktail! The makers of Love Mocktail have already started working on its sequel titled as Love Mocktail 2. Also Read : Tamannaah Bhatia's Parents Test Positive For COVID-19, Actress Confirms Through Social Media Russias human rights body to monitor September elections RAPSI 16:05 28/08/2020 MOSCOW, August 28 (RAPSI) The Presidential Council for Human Rights will monitor elections in September, according to a statement on the bodys website. Rights advocates will attend poll stations in several Russian regions from September 11 to 13 in order to keep track of the observance of election rights of citizens. The Councils members will work in cooperation with ombudsmen and members of regional civic chambers and human rights bodies, executive secretary of the Presidential Council for Human Rights Alexander Tochenov has stated. Moreover, the rights advocates will pay their attention at e-voting. The election monitoring working group will be coordinated by to chairpersons Igor Borisov and Natalia Yevdokimova. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Everyone knows the existential dread that comes along with standing in line for what seems like an eternity. But new research by Wharton operations, information and decisions professor Hummy Song, Guillaume Roels from INSEAD and Mor Armony from New York University's Stern School of Business suggests that knowledge-based industries should rethink how they approach this aspect of customer service. In this article, originally published in INSEAD Knowledge, the researchers write about their findings and how operational design can change organizational culture and improve performance. We've all been in lines that seem to last forever, especially if we choose our queue at the checkout and the one next to ours is moving faster. You know the existential dread that comes along with standing in a dedicated queue and waiting interminably. To make service of all kinds more efficient, the predominant thinking in operations management is to form a single serpentine queue that feeds different serversa pooled queue. Traditional operations management theory has determined that pooling is more efficient. And it may be, if tasks or widgets are the items in the queue and it's machines, not human beings, that are processing them. In a system with dedicated queues, it's possible to have one that's empty and another queue that's full but no way to rebalance this. If the queue contains customers, naturally they can switch to the empty queue. But when we consider job assignments, for example, these can't just move across queues. So the dedicated queue is viewed as less efficient than a pooled one in terms of throughput and waiting time. An impactful paper by Hummy Song and her co-authors focused on waiting rooms in emergency departments and found that when a part of the emergency department (ED) at a Kaiser Permanente hospital in California changed from a pooled queue to dedicated queues, patients had shorter wait times and a shorter length of stay. In the pooled setup, patients in the waiting room were assigned to a physician only when one became available. The switch to a dedicated system meant that as soon as patients were triaged, they were assigned to a particular physician and that physician's queue. Interestingly the researchers found the opposite of traditional efficiency in queueing theory; patients had a shorter stay in the ED when they were in dedicated queues. Physicians anecdotally described how they felt more responsible in the dedicated setup for the people assigned to them in the waiting room before they actually saw them as a patient. It's unusual in operations management to consider people in all their humanity, with their own idiosyncratic biases and behaviors. In "Pooling Queues with Strategic Servers: The Effects of Customer Ownership," forthcoming in Operations Research, we show that efficiency is improved across the system if organizations consider a concept that may be unfamiliar to scholars in this area: customer ownership. Service providers may develop a greater sense of obligation and accountability when they see all the customers in their queue as belonging to them rather than as an indiscriminate pool of demand. We modeled this upending of queueing theory using customer ownership as the motivator. We described the split in servers' sense of customer ownership between when the customers enter the system and when they are right in front of the server. Our theory is human servers have human reactions that impact operational effectivenesslike how long someone spends in an ED. When Does a Person Become a Customer? When we talk about customer ownership, it's like a sense of responsibility that ED doctors had for people in the waiting room when they were triaged. Other doctors may feel customer ownership when the patient is in front of them. In our model, we stripped out financial incentive notionsimagine call center workers who get a bonus dependent on short wait times, for instanceto consider customer ownership on its own. (In fact, doctors at Kaiser are paid a fixed wage, so they have no financial incentive to see more patients.) Organizational behavior has documented a sense of organizational ownership, but customer ownership had not been previously analytically modeled nor had its consequences on process performance been considered. In the model, we broke down customers who are already in the room versus the entire scope of the system. System-wide customer ownership is a combination of the people who are currently being served plus those still in the queue. Servers either care about the customer they are currently serving or not only about that person, but also future customers as well. Incorporated in customer ownership is an interesting time dimension, whether servers focus on the present or the future and how they behave. The Type of Task Matters With a combination of game theory and queueing theory, one of the innovations of this paper is how we model the discretion that servers have in terms of their choice of the pace of work, which seems endogenous in practice. In some cases, servers have very limited discretion. For instance, if you have to administer a survey of ten yes/no questions, you might have limited flexibility for taking much more or much less than the five minutes the survey was designed to last. But if the task is more knowledge-intensive, like physicians seeing a variety of cases in the ED, it's up to the server to decide how much time is needed. There is a clear distinction between the routine tasks where servers have some discretion and those that are typically more knowledge-intensive where servers may have more discretion about how much time they need to complete it effectively. The type of service matters when choosing an efficient queueing system. With a standard type of task, the traditional theory that pooling queues are the most effective mechanism holds. But if the service provided is knowledge-intensive, it's important to understand that the effect can be flipped. We modeled the utility of servers and how their notion of customer ownership maximizes it. This paper formalizes what was observed in Song's earlier work and demonstrates that the phenomenon can be justified on rational grounds. Our work is grounded in practice, and we built a theory to explain how it is transferrable to other contexts. Our paper highlights the importance of accounting for human behavior on the part of the server, shifting attention away from the customers and the human impact on process performance. Broader Implications of Customer Ownership Queues aren't only at the grocers or the airport. Managers in certain domains may need to consider redesigning their queueing systems not only when it comes to assigning customers to servers but also assigning work to team members. Another aspect to consider is the attention that individual contributors in knowledge-intensive services have on their own task queues. Think emails, assignments and other deliverables. Our paper suggests that in knowledge-intensive services where workers have a lot of discretion about the amount of time spent on a project, queues need to be managed a little bit differently. We find dedicating assignments to certain servers rather than pooling them to be more efficient. Customer ownership is a concept that reflects organizational culture. As such, it can modified, like other aspects of culture. Operations management often takes organizational culture for granted; our paper shows that operational design can shape it and thus impact performance. In particular, no one had previously pointed to queue configuration, which is an important operational lever, as a way to shape organizational culture. Yet switching to dedicated queues can lead to greater customer ownership. When we think about queues, we usually think about them from the customer's point of view. But we need to look at the human on the other end of the queue. Including a server's customer ownership in consideration when planning queues will shorten the time for everyone. Explore further There's a mathematical formula for choosing the fastest queue More information: Mor Armony et al. Pooling Queues with Discretionary Service Capacity, SSRN Electronic Journal (2017). Mor Armony et al. Pooling Queues with Discretionary Service Capacity,(2017). DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2951959 Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. (Newser) Rand Paul says he was leaving the final night of the RNC on Thursday when he was "attacked by an angry mob." The Republican senator from Kentucky thanked Metropolitan Police "for literally saving our lives" in an early Friday tweet, saying he'd been swarmed by more than 100 people just a block away from the White House. A video shows protesters surrounding Paul and his wife, Kelley Ashby Paul. They chanted "no justice, no peace" and urged the senator to speak the name of Breonna Taylor, the Black woman shot dead by police executing a "no-knock" warrant at her Louisville, Ky., home in March, per the Louisville Courier Journal. At one point, an officer who was using a bicycle to block protesters was pushed and stumbled into Paul. Paul appeared to grab the officer to keep him from falling. They then continued along the street. story continues below The footage doesn't show Paul or his wife being physically attacked, per CNN. During a Friday appearance on Fox & Friends, Paul said protesters had threatened to kill both of them. "They were trying to push the police over to get to me, they were grabbing at us," he said, per the Hill. "Had they gotten at us we might not have been killed, we might just have been injured by being kicked in the head or kicked in the stomach until we were senseless." He noted he had introduced the Justice for Breonna Taylor Act, which would force federal law enforcement to provide notice of "authority and purpose" before executing a warrant. Florida GOP senator Brian Mast was also confronted by protesters following President Trump's speech. A video shows him calmly responding to requests that he comment on police killings of Black people. (Read more Rand Paul stories.) Why No Seahorses on Washington / Oregon Coast - The Weird, Related Bay Pipefish Published 08/28/20 at 6:11 AM PDT - Updated Periodically By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Portland, Oregon) There are sadly no seahorses on the Oregon coast or the Washington coast. Those adorable yet somehow eerie little creatures with their freakishly expression-filled faces and bulbous bodies live in much warmer climates. The Pacific Northwest coast is too cold for them, according to Seaside Aquariums Tiffany Boothe. (Photos Seaside Aquarium's Boothe) Seahorses are legendary for their means of reproduction: the male does the pregnancy thing. Its surprising to learn that the Oregon / Washington coast region has a relative of it: the bay pipefish (Syngnathus leptorhynchus). Indeed, the bay pipefish is a wild creation of Mother Natures, a much stranger, even sci-fi kind of fish that does a host of things you wont believe. Visitors to the aquarium often ask if we have seahorses but since we only display marine life that can be found off the Oregon coast, we direct them to the closest thing we have, bay pipefish, Boothe said. Bay pipefish belong to the same family as seahorses (Syngnathidae) and though you can see the resemblance in their face, their bodies are long, thin, and straight. Seriously, forget the seahorse. First, the pipefish is extremely stealthy. Both the Seaside Aquarium and Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport typically have them, as does the Charleston Marine Science Center on the south coast (availability of these may differ from time to time). The pipefish live among the eelgrass along the coastlines of Mexico all the way up to Alaska, as they do in aquariums here. Their long bodies and color blend in quite well with those watery blades, and its there they hide from predators as well as waiting to gobble their own prey which consists of phytoplankton, crustaceans and other extremely small beasties. They use that long, toothless snout to vacuum in their food. Swimming vertically, they blend in with eelgrass so well that it can be difficult to see them, which is why they prefer to inhabit bays and estuaries laden with eelgrass, Boothe said. The pipefish does something remarkable and strange when its hunting prey, with an underwater action thats almost akin to that of a hummingbird. It has a transparent fin that oscillates so fast it cant be seen, something like 20 times a second. Even though theyre bad swimmers in general, this tiny action allows it to maneuver beneath its prey in a precise way and still keep its body motionless, thereby remaining mostly invisible. (Although in fairness the seahorse does something similar.) At this point it becomes something almost out of a steam punk sci-fi film. Its head locks into position, a host of muscles start building tension, and then another really weird part: each eye can track independently or it can go into binocular mode like us humans. When everything is just in line, the bay pipefish of the Oregon / Washington coast releases a set of clamps near its skull and the head snaps up insanely fast to start vacuuming in its din-din. It does not use muscles for this part, as those would work too slowly to grab what are otherwise super quick-moving lunch items. Then, of course, theres the whole freaky male-giving-birth thing. Baby bay pipefish Females will pass up to 750 eggs to the males, Boothe said. The males will fertilize them and hold them in a specialized pouch located just above their tail. It will take about six weeks (depending on water temperature) for the eggs to hatch. During this time, the male provides nutrients to the eggs via blood supply. Once hatched the miniature pipefish swim off and begin their journey on their own. (Other Sources: National Library of Medicine, San Franciscos Bay Nature Magazine) Oregon Coast Hotels in this area - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted By Amit Kumar, TwoCircles.net The Kalinga Intitute of Social Sciences (KISS) has often been presented as an ideal model for ensuring that tribal children are not deprived of education because of poverty. Over the past three decades, this institute has grown from 250 students to over 27,000 students who are given free education. In return, it has earned a lot of name and fame for itself and its founder, Achyuta Samanta. Support TwoCircles But beyond the headlines, there is a darker, murkier truth that has escaped the scrutiny of mainstream media. The fact that thousands of tribal children are separated from their families after birth, or the fact that what part of our constitution allows a private entity to keep thousands of tribal children away from their culture under one roof has escaped the media and the larger societys attention. This explains why in July 2020, over 200 tribal leaders, academics, activists, etc submitted a petition to The International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Studies (IUAES) to express their dissent against KISS being chosen to host the World Congress of Anthropology (WCA) in 2023. The petition was submitted to Junji Koizumi, president of International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES) along with vice-chancellors of Utkal and Sambalpur universities, Soumendra Mohan Patnaik and Deepak Kumar Behera, respectively. These two universities were also to hold the event along with KISS. The WCA took cognizance of the matter and decided that the KISS will no longer host the event. This information was shared with the vice-chancellor of Sambalpur University on August 16, 2020. Pranab Doley, who belongs to the Mising tribe in Assam and is the advisor to Jeepal Krishak Shramik Sangha, a farmers organisation, played a leading role in this campaign. He, along with renowned tribal author Gladson Dungdung and other academicians and civil society members, exposed the systemic injustices that have been meted out to tribals in KISS in the name of upliftment and education. TwoCircles.net correspondent Amit Kumar spoke with Doley at length to understand the reasons behind the protests against KISS and why such institutions are dangerous for the tribal community of India. TCN: Could you tell us about when you came to know about the KISS event and what was your first reaction? Doley: The event was declared two years back in 2018. Its been two years now that we have been thinking and sharpening our arguments towards an opposition to the event that was supposed to be held in KISS in Odisha. TCN: What was the process of building the argument? Doley: There has been a huge body of work that has gone into this. And in the process, academics, activists, both Adivasis and non-Adivasis have contributed to the same. It also includes more than 50 interviews of students, staff members who have resigned from KISS or are working there still. So, it comes from a knowledge base of not only the larger holistic understanding of Adivasi world view and their knowledge about building the future. KISS as an institute is not eligible to host and organize an event of the stature of World Anthropological Congress. This comes from experiences of more than 50 people within KISS and there are many more who did not want to speak about their experiences. The whole argumentation that comes up against KISS comes out of lived reality, scientific studies and the historical understanding of what such institutes have done in different parts of the world, how indigenous and Adivasi knowledge bases have been annihilated historically. We dont want this to continue in the modern age, where we talk about science taking precedence over illogical ideas. TCN: Could you give us a few examples of what were the most distressing testimonies that emerged out of KISS which strengthened your protests? Doley: A majority of the cases we have seen of the people who have talked about their experiences has been very disturbing. It has impacted them both physically as well as psychologically. It also impacted the individual but also their community. This sums up the kind of trauma that the members who have decided to come out and speak of their experiences. Also, there are references to large-scale violation of childrens rights. The very existence of KISS is a symbol of colonial apparatus. Where in the world do you find a single house holding more than 30,000 Adivasi children? Is that even human? We would like to ask the Indian government, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Tribes, who shamelessly even awarded KISS a few years back for sadly recognizing the grand work that the institute is doing. The National Commission needs to go back to the constitution of India which clearly states the rights of indigenous people of this country, the fundamental right to education for every child in this country in a free environment, the right to life, the PESA, the fifth and sixth schedule. Here, I would also like to include the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. They need to wake up. They need to look into the gross violations of its people. And if they cant stand up to this, then people like us will, who still have the rationality to think about the future of our children. I mean, just that you are failing to provide our people with the basic standard of education so that they too can compete with others without losing their culture, their knowledge base. Its your duty so that they too can become doctors, engineers and social scientists. KISS is a Brahmanical institute. The moment you enter the campus, you see replicas of temples, which are not a part of Adivasi culture and heritage. Is this a Sanskritization process? The Indian government and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs need to immediately act on this and provide the people of this country with a transparent report about what is happening in KISS. TCN: You mention how Adivasi children have almost been herded in one place. But KISS is not a new institute. It has received support from the government as well as NGOs. How do we prevent another institute like KISS does not replicate its model? Doley: It is already happening. We have come to know that KISS is signing MoUs with other tribal states to create similar models. The whole glorification of Achyut Samanta and the kind of patronization he receives as the patron.no I would call him the owner of this institute proves that it is an Adivasi annihilation project. It aims to take away their resources, their land, their forests, their rivers and completely dispose of the communities who continue to proudly showcase their symbiotic relationship with nature. In India, sadly, we know that the majority of resources are still present in the Adivasi territory. A project like KISS cannot be seen in an isolated incident. Its a designed process to take away their resources and this is substantiated by the fact that multiple corporations, mining companies fund KISS. It is a design to annihilate the Adivasis and take away their resources from them. TCN: What were your experiences with regards to the petition and the response of the World Congress of Anthropology? Doley: This attempt by Adivasis and non-Adivasis is the first step towards taking on an inhuman institute like KISS and its also a larger global struggle. The discourse, the idea behind this is that no children should be treated like this. Children have their rights and they need to be respected. If people who are considered adults do not take up this fight, then who will? The struggle against KISS is not a rabble-rousing struggle: it comes from a deep understanding of what is happening in the name of education. It is just the first step into the injustice meted out to the Adivasi people in the name of education. Till the day, institutes like KISS are erased from democratic countries like India. KISS does not have the legitimacy to survive. Our constitution does not allow this kind of an institute. Regarding the response of the World Congress of Anthropology, I must point out that there was a lot of support for our statement from across the world from people from all walks of life. IACN took cognizance of the fact that there is resistance against their step. KISS is an illegal institute and needs to shut down. We also want the World Congress of Anthropology to take a stronger position. Just saying that they decided against holding the event because a lot of people protested against the same does not give us a complete answer. I am sure the World Congress of Anthropology has studied indigenous societies across the world. I am sure they know what is happening in KISS. We demand that they must come out with a clear stand on this idea. How does KISS have the authority to keep more 30,000 students under one roof? Do they have the right to hegemonize so many children? Do they have the right to take children away from their mothers? All these questions need to be answered by the World Anthropological Congress too else Adivasis will point fingers at them too. It is a matter of our life and death. For you, it may be just an institute, but for us, it is our future. We cannot let Corporate and Brahmanical institutes like KISS to annihilate our future and history. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Igor Dodon, President of the Republic of Moldova. "Dear Mr. President, I cordially congratulate you on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Moldova, the Independence Day," the head of state said. "Our countries are bound together by the ties of friendship and cooperation. I am confident that based on these traditions of goodwill, the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Moldova will continue to develop and strengthen for the prosperity of our peoples and countries," the head of state wrote. "I avail myself of this opportunity to express the Azerbaijani people`s solidarity with the people of Moldova in tackling the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic," Azerbaijani president said. "I wish you the best of health and success, and the brotherly people of Moldova progress and prosperity," the letter said. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Northern Philippines Under Lockdown As The Coronavirus Continue To Spread An aerial view of the BASECO Compound, Manila's largest slum area, on April 3, 2020 in Manila, Philippines. Credit - Ezra Acayan/Getty Images All cities have gone through the ebb and flow of social distancing and lockdowns, with regulations repealed as cases decline and hurriedly re-imposed when cases return. But few urban residents likely feel as dislocated as those living in Manila. The capital of the Philippines went through a three-month lockdown, starting in mid-March and ending in early June. Then, as residents started to return to work, a spike in cases in early August led the government to reimpose lockdown measures. Yet these measures were repealed merely two weeks later, as the economic pain of shutdown began to take holdevidenced in a record 45.5% adult unemployment rate. Manila is just one example of how the economies of megacitiescities with large and growing populations, often exceeding ten millionin developing countries have struggled to protect their residents and keep their economic engines running. It is an indication of the flaws inherent in an economic model focused on rapid and widespread urbanization. Megacities are not the future because they thrive on cheap labor and government policies fuel this abuse. Stagnant rural economies encourage people to move to the cities, hollowing out rural communities and leaving a hole often replaced by an increasingly concentrated and industrialized agricultural system. Singapore, on the other hand, is a good case study of how even the most modern cities are vulnerable to those who they most rely on, and who they take for granted. In March, Singapore was being hailed as a model for beating the virus. Cases were low and the city remained openuntil it was discovered that the virus was running rampant through the citys migrant worker dormitories. In cities across the world, migrant worker and minority communities have been hit hardest from the coronavirus. One U.K. report found that those from its ethnic minority community were 50% more likely to die from COVID-19. Data from the United States shows that minority communities, especially Black, Latinx, and Native American communities, see significantly higher rates of cases and deaths. Story continues A girl covers her ears as people disinfect an area at the Babilonia favela, in Rio de Janeiro on April 18, 2020. Photo by CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images These are advanced economies with ample resources (though maybe not the political will to apply them universally). But with the prominent exception of the U.S., todays COVID-19 hotspots are found throughout the developing world. In Brazil, favelas in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are organizing their own support networks due to the lack of adequate government infrastructure. Cities in Colombia have seen spiking death rates as medical systems collapse. One recent study in Mumbais slums found that over half of slum dwellers had antibodies for SARS-COV-2. Some commentators have looked at the pandemic and asked whether the time of the superstar city is over, as the pandemic makes population density look like a danger rather than an opportunity for productivity gains. Theyve suggested that the pandemic may finally lead to an exodus from cities, as young professionals, fed up with the high cost of living and nightmare commutes, and freed by the shift to remote work, leave for rural communities. But this idea is focused on advanced economies and, specifically, on the upper and upper-middle classes within them. In growing economies, mass urbanization will remain the focus, as it is still seen as the best, if not the only, vehicle for economic development, moving people from the unproductive countryside to the more productive cities. By emptying rural hinterlands with its demand for low-paid workers, this urbanization ultimately leads to more unstable, more damaging, and more unequal economies. Read more: The Photos Show Life in the Poorest Towns in America World economic growth in recent history has been centered on a few superstar cities: New York, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Paris and more recently Shanghai, for example. London makes up 30% of the UKs economy, has 13% of its population and is more than eight times as populous as the countrys second largest city, Birmingham. So-called emerging markets have relied upon urbanization to drive growth. Turning rural labor into urban labor was seen as a positive for productivity. But the pandemic has highlighted the inequality and unsustainability of these cities. A population of urban professionals, with safe and secure lifestyles, is supported by a large and poorly-paid service sector. These people work in the grocery stores, hair salons, restaurants, bars, and gyms, and live in poor neighborhoods or even slums. They deliver food, fix homes, cut hair, dispose waste, keep transport systems running, clean suburbs, look after children, and walk dogs. These underpaid workers have either seen their livelihoods evaporate in recent months, or have been forced to risk their health by providing essential services, because they do not have the choice of the privileged work-from-home crowd. After all, you cannot work from home if your job is keeping the hospitals working or the sewers in operation. Residents wait to get themselves checked during a COVID-19 coronavirus screening in the Dharavi slum in Mumbai on August 11, 2020. Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images Even before the pandemic, these workers tended to live unstable lives. The high-cost of living in megacities forces many of them to live in slums or peripheral communities. The expansion of cities beyond the ability of infrastructure to cope means these communities have lower-quality housing, worse access to education, poor provision of electricity and clean water, bad sanitation, traffic congestion, dead spots for internet and mobile access, and food deserts. Worse, urban lifestyles are increasingly oriented around the so-called innovation of the gig economy: service workers now lack even the basic protections afforded to proper employees. Read more: Its a Race to the Bottom. The Coronavirus Is Cutting Into Gig Worker Incomes as the Newly Jobless Flood Apps Yet in times of crisis, like the pandemic, these workers are seen as a disposable, redundant or even a threat. Without protections, they are unceremoniously expelled from the city. The lockdowns in India led to a huge and uncontrolled migration of day laborers back to their homes in rural communitiesa reaction that almost certainly worsened the spread of the pandemic. In addition, the massive amount of resources used to power urban economies have significant social and environmental effects on rural communities throughout the world. The effects of urban pollution and wastefrom landfills to smog to dirty waterare also disproportionately placed on rural communities. Even when cities are sincere in their efforts to improve their environmental impact, they often ignore the ways they harm the countryside and the free ride they enjoy from the under-priced services of the hinterland. An abandoned house is spray painted "Trump!" on August 14, 2016 in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. This Northeastern Pennsylvania region has a rich coal mining history, but the majority of nearby coal mines have closed. Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images This leads to political discontent: a feeling that urban communities benefit from the resources and work of rural communities, while imposing rules and regulations on them. This is part of the background behind political phenomena like Brexit, the Donald Trump presidency and the rise of European populism. Whether or not pandemic-driven de-urbanization happens on its own, governments should leverage this period to create a balance between urban and rural economies that is sustainable. While the impacts of remote work and other digital technologies are probably not as great as their promoters claim, it is true that they reduce the unique value that density provides and may finally dent the allure of large cities for white-collar workers. Governments should consider three policies in particular: Greater investment in rural areas to make them more compelling places to live. This does not just mean utilities, education systems and health care services, but also cultural institutions to help balance the significant soft power major urban centers hold. Support for small businesses, including protections against competition from larger firms. Rural economies live off small business, but a hollowed-out economy and greater competition from national and global firms run them out of business. A lack of local economic vibrancy encourages people to leave for the city. This replaces small business and the family farm with large-scale industrial agriculture and big companies, which reduces social mobility and industrializes the food-supply chain. Redistribution of income between urban and rural areas. Governments should funnel public revenues raised from urban areas towards resolving burdens placed on rural areas by cities. And it must also ensure that revenues are directed towards addressing imbalances, whether through building new infrastructure or resolving some of the external costs that are placed on rural communities, such as groundwater contamination or loss of arable land. Cities will always be useful to national economies, but they have grown into unmanageable Frankensteins. Yes, there really are some things that can only be done in a dense, urban environment but that does not mean turning a blind eye to growing megacities with over five million people. Countries probably dont need the extreme urbanization weve seen over the past few decades, nor should we be strangely resigned to the notion that urbanization is inevitable and a net good. The time has come to rethink whether we should continue to place cities at the heart of our nations, turning them into large parasitic centers which practice economic apartheid. Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service PATNA: Two years ago when Akhileshwar Pathak joined a government school in a village in Bihars Saran district as principal, he was shocked to see its condition. There was no boundary wall, no toilet for girls and no drinking water facility. Today, the school has facilities which its reputed urban counterparts can boast of. The 55-year-old principal is a selectee, among 47 like him across the country, for the National Teacher Award-2020 to be given away by President Ram Nath Kovind on the Teachers Day, September 5. We need to change our outlook and sincerely make efforts to seek peoples cooperation in building our society. Complaining and carping about shortage of funds wouldnt help, said Pathak. The government-run Chanpura-Bhaismara Middle School, located in Garkha block, is now a smart school with facilities built with the contribution of local people. The school has a dining hall, is equipped with CCTV cameras and biometric attendance system for the students. Pathak says days after joining, he hired a public addressing system with a rickshaw and made a public announcement in adjoining villages inviting the locals to a meeting in the school. The people turned up in good numbers. I appealed to them to help in renovating the school. They voluntarily contributed Rs 98,176 and I donated Rs 21, 000 while my colleagues came up with Rs 5,000. Various renovation works started in the school, he said. Girls skipped the school largely because there was no separate washroom, recalled Pathak. The first thing he along with others did was to get four toilets built, two each for girls/women teachers and boys/male teachers. The facilities were ready in not more than a fortnight, he said. The number of students also increased from 535 to 773 and the attendance of girls rose to a hundred. Pathak then got the CCTV cameras installed and started arranging other facilities including LED screens, and biometric attendance system for students. The school now has a strong boundary wall along with all systems available to impart education through projectors on all subjects through short films covering the syllabus content-wise, he said. Jaipur: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot cancelled his scheduled meetings after as many as 10 staff members at Chief Ministers Office and residence test positive for novel coronavirus. The state government released a statement saying, "As a precautionary measure, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has cancelled all pre-scheduled meetings after 10 staff of Chief Minister`s Office and residence tested positive for COVID-19." Nine people working at the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) and one staff member working at the Chief Minister's Residence (CMR) have tested positive for coronavirus. Rajasthan's COVID-19 tally has reached 75,303 with the addition of 633 new cases on Thursday. Meanwhile, the number of MLAs and ministers infected by COVID-19 in Punjab rose to 29, however, seven of them have already recovered. State Rural development Minister Tript Rajinder Bajwa was the first Minister to test positive for coronavirus but he has recovered and rejoined office. After him, Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa tested positive followed by Revenue Minister Gurpreet Kangar and Industries Minister Sham Sunder Arora. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh appealed to all other legislators who had come in contact with them to avoid attending the one-day Vidhan Sabha session on Friday. A giant tree fossil found in Peru has given researchers a new picture of how the environment in the Andes mountain has changed over the past 10 million years. On an expedition to the Central Andean Plateau, researchers from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) discovered the fossil buried in a cold, grassy plain. The plant fossil record from this high-altitude site in southern Peru contains details about dramatic changes in the Andes mountains environment. The team found that the environment in the mountains was more humid than existing climate model predictions they would have been 10 million years ago. Left to right: Florentino Tunquipa who discovered and excavated the fossil tree on his land The anatomy of the petrified wood the researchers found is very much like the anatomy of wood found in low-elevation tropical forests today. But that ecosystem did not last for long. Today, the tree fossil sits amid an arid, intermountain plateau that lies at 13,123 feet above sea level. At the time the tree probably sat at an altitude of 6,560 feet above sea level. 'This tree and the hundreds of fossil wood, leaf and pollen samples, reveal that when these plants were alive the ecosystem was more humid - even more humid than climate models of the past predicted,' said Camila Martinez, a fellow at STRI. 'There is probably no comparable modern ecosystem, because temperatures were higher when these fossils were deposited 10 million years ago.' Five million year-old fossils from the same sites confirmed that the Puna ecosystem that now dominates the Andes' high mountain plateaus had been born: the younger pollen samples were mostly from grasses and herbs, rather than from trees. Leaf material was from ferns, herbs and shrubs, indicating that the plateau had already risen to its current altitude. 'The fossil record in the region tells us two things: both the altitude and the vegetation changed dramatically over a relatively short period of time,' said Carlos Jaramillo, STRI staff scientist and project leader. He says this supports a hypothesis that suggests the tectonic uplift of this region occurred in rapid pulses. Paleontologist Edwin Cadena poses next to giant, fossilized (permineralized) tree on Peruvian Central Plateau 'Andean uplift played an important role in shaping the climate of South America, but the relationship between the rise of the Andes, local climates and vegetation is still not well understood,' Martinez said. 'By the end of this century, changes in temperature and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations will again approximate the conditions 10 million years ago.' Understanding the discrepancies between climate models and data based on the fossil record help us to elucidate the driving forces controlling the current climate of the Altiplano, and, ultimately, the climate across the South American continent. The findings have been published in the journal Science Advances. State Bank of India (SBI), the countrys largest lender by assets, will have one of its trusted hands to lead the show at a time when the banking industry is facing an unprecedented crisis. According to a notification from the Banks Board Bureau (BBB), the name of Dinesh Kumar Khara, who is one of the MDs of the bank, has been recommended as the next Chairman of SBI. As reported by Moneycontrol on August 18, current SBI chief Rajnish Kumar will not get an extension. His term is coming to an end on October 7. Along with Khara, three other MDs of the bank, Arijit Basu, CS Shetty and Ashwani Bhatia were interviewed on August 28 for the chairman post. Khara was supposed to retire in August 2021. If his name is finalised, Khara will get a three-year extension in the bank that is routine during the selection of new SBI chiefs. Joined SBI as a probationary officer in 1984, Khara is a seasoned banker. He has experience across all verticals of banking such as retail Credit, SME and Corporate Credit, deposit mobilisation, international banking operations and branch management. Within SBI circles, Khara is known as a general banking specialist. He also had a foreign stint during his three-decade-long career in SBI at the banks Chicago office and was associated with the overseas acquisition of Indian Ocean International Bank Mauritius during his stint in overseas expansion wing. Kharas colleagues remember him as an amiable officer who has grown through the ranks of SBI. The first thing you would notice is the amiable attitude even in the midst of deadlines. At a time when the whole banking industry is in a crisis, this is a safe bet, said an SBI insider requesting not to be named. Over the last three decades, Khara has handled departments like associates and subsidiaries, global banking in SBI, Corporate Accounts Group and International Banking Group. Khara holds a Masters in Business Administration from FMS New Delhi and is a post-graduate in Commerce. He is also a Certified Associate of Indian Institute of Bankers (CAIIB). Prior to being appointed as SBI MD, Khara was the MD and CEO of SBI Funds Management Pvt. Ltd. Challenges ahead Kharas ascension to the chairman post comes at a time when the banking industry is facing an unprecedented challenge. The onset of COVID-19 has put the banking industry on the back foot; there is a likely build-up of huge asset quality pressure across verticals. SBI isnt immune to the COVID crisis. The pain has not been felt by the banking sector so far on account of the six months moratorium given for all term loans by the Reserve Bank of India. Post the moratorium period, the RBI has offered a one-time restructuring for COVID-linked stressed loans. However, banks will have to set aside significant provisions for such loans. SBI may have a sizeable chunk of loans that could go under recast. Warning signals On Tuesday, global rating agency, Moodys downgraded SBIs standalone profile to ba2 to from ba1 reflecting Moody's view that the bank's asset quality and profitability will deteriorate. The resultant weakening in internal capital generation will reverse improvements in the bank's financial metrics achieved over the past two years Moodys said. Of course, SBI may not have any immediate implications on account of the downgrade in its standalone profile. The banks overall rating has been affirmed by Moodys in line with the sovereign rating. However, the downgrade is a strong message to the lender that all is not well for the bank. For the new chief, managing asset quality will be the primary challenge. Weakening asset quality As on June 30, SBI has made a total provision of Rs 3,000 crore to cover COVID losses. Asset quality has improved. Gross non-performing asset (NPA) ratio at 5.44 percent is lower than 6.15 percent in the preceding quarter. But the continuation of moratorium till August end makes current NPA numbers somewhat irrelevant. One will have to wait and watch to see how the moratorium loan book is performing post-August 31. According to the SBI chairman, 9.5 percent of the book is now under moratorium and over 90 percent of customers have paid two or more instalments since March. From September onwards, Kumar hopes corporate accounts will start repaying normally. The bank has set aside as COVID provisions on Rs 1,041 crore of home and home-related loans and less than Rs 400 crore each in personal and SME loans. The problem is the uncertain environment ahead. No one in the banking system, including the regulator, knows exactly how deep the bad loan problem is. Thats precisely what Moodys has pointed out in its rating action. Finmin-bank relation Kharas other challenge will be finding the right equation in his relation with the central government, which is the majority owner in the bank. SBI chairmans job is tougher than other PSB chiefs since the lender commands a leadership position in the banking sector. SBIs moves set trends in the banking sector. Hence SBI chiefs comments and actions will be watched closely by the government. During Rajnishs term, there had been a few occasions when the SBI chief came under heavy criticism by the finance ministry. Against this backdrop, Khara will have to hit the ground running and prepare his plan of action. Being an insider, Khara knows SBI culture well and has the backing of an experienced team. Anthony Peltier/iStockBy ADIA ROBINSON and KIARA BRANTLEY-JONES, ABC News (WASHINGTON) -- Thousands seeking criminal justice reform gathered at the National Mall on Friday under the rallying cry "Get Your Knee Off Our Necks," a reference to the manner in which George Floyd was killed while in police custody in May and reminiscent of the 1963 March on Washington. "We've come, like Dr. King came 57 years ago, to say we're tired of broken promises," Rev. Al Sharpton said at the march on Friday. "There's a sense of urgency now. We need national legislation to deal with this." The reverend said now is the time for change. "It's time we have a conversation with America," he continued. "We need to have a conversation about your racism, about your bigotry, about your hate, about how you would put your knee on our neck while we cry for our lives. We need a new conversation." Civil rights and social justice activists addressed the crowd and delivered speeches from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, demanding meaningful action in ending systemic racism. Speakers also called for the U.S. Senate to pass H.R.7120, known as the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The bill, approved by the House but not by the Senate, would address issues linked to policing practices and law enforcement accountability. "We must answer the call of institutional racism ... now, today, this attack on us as people of color, who died on the battles of warfare, who have died on the streets for civil rights, it will stop today," said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas. "We will heal the nation, but we will not stop until the nation knows Black lives matter and reparations are passed as the most significant civil rights legislation of the 21st century." Joyce Beatty, vice chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, echoed a similar sentiment. "Go vote! Go vote!" Beatty added. "Tell them to get their knees of of our necks." Yolanda Renee King, Martin Luther King Jr.'s granddaughter, also gave an impassioned speech about the challenges facing her generation. "We are going to be the generation that dismantles systemic racism once and for all, now and forever," she said. "We are going to be the generation that ends poverty here in America, the wealthiest nation on Earth." She added: "We stand and march for love and we will fulfill my grandfather's dream." Martin Luther King III, who helped lead Friday's march, spoke about current injustices. "We're marching to overcome what my father called the triple evils of poverty, racism and violence," he added, listing challenges that disproportionately affect Black and Latino communities, including the coronavirus pandemic, unemployment, police brutality and attacks on voting rights. He called on attendees to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming election. "We must vigorously defend our right to vote because those rights were paid for with the blood of those lynched for seeking to exercise their constitutional rights," King said. He told ABC News' "2020" in an interview scheduled to air on Friday that normally there wouldn't be a demonstration on the 57th anniversary of his father's historic march. "But because of what is going on," the oldest son of Martin Luther King Jr. said, "the climate in this nation -- more civil rights demonstrations we've seen in our nation and really throughout the world that are finally acknowledging that Black lives matter -- when you realize the reasons why, police brutality and misconduct is still occurring, it is beyond time for immediate action." "We all saw some things begin to move a short period of time after, tragically, George Floyd was killed, but we haven't made the kind of steps that we need to, certainly not at the national level," he added. Family members of Black Americans who were victims of police brutality spoke to attendees at the March on Washington. Wanda Cooper-Jones, the mother of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man chased and shot to death while jogging in Glynn County, Georgia, spoke to attendees. "I'm carrying a very broken heart," she said. "But also a grateful heart that God chose my son, Ahmaud Arbery, to be a part of this most huge movement." "I do believe that if we continue to stand and fight together, that we will get change," she added. Tamika Palmer, Breonna Taylor's mother, walked up to the podium as the crowd chanted, in call-and-response style, "Say her name! Breonna Taylor!" Palmer began her speech by thanking supporters who have been fighting for justice for her daughter. "What we need is change, and we're at a point where we can get that change, but we have to stand together. We have to vote," Palmer said. Then the family members of George Floyd addressed the crowd. Philonise Floyd, his brother, was greeted by repeated "George Floyd!" chants from the crowd. "I wish George were here to see this right now. That's who I'm marching for," Philonise Floyd said. "I'm marching for George, for Brianna, for Ahmaud, for Jacob, for Pamela Turner, for Michael Brown -- Trayvon and anybody else who lost their lives." He was joined by his sister, Bridgett Floyd, who also spoke. She urged them to stand against injustice and to reflect on how future generations will look back on their actions today. "We're here right now and have the power to make it happen," she said. "My brother cannot be a voice today -- we have to be that voice, we have to be the change and we have to be his legacy." Jacob Blake Sr., the father of Jacob Blake, who was shot in the back by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, spoke to the crowd as well. In the wake of the shooting that left his son paralyzed, Blake Sr. encouraged attendees to "stand up" against injustice. He also expressed his love for supporters. With his fist clenched and raised in the air, he chanted: "No Justice!" and the crowd responded, "No peace!" Blake said that he attended Friday's March on Washington because he had "a duty" to show support. "But we're gonna stand up. Every Black person in the United States is gonna stand up. We're tired!" he said. "And we're not taking it anymore, I ask everyone to stand up. No justice, no peace!" Letetra Wideman, Jacob Blake Jr.'s sister, also addressed the crowd, calling for Black people to unify. "We will not be a footstool to oppression," Wideman said. "Black America, I hold you accountable. You must stand. You must fight, but not with violence and chaos -- with self love." Citing "group economics," she called on Black children to "read, learn, grow and live, and question everything." "Stand up, Black men!" she added. "Educate yourself and protect the Black family unit." The "Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" March comes toward the end of a summer of unrest sparked by more Blacks being killed or severely injured by police. Floyd, 46, died after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes. Chauvin was fired and now faces murder charges. Protesters have called for the arrest and prosecution of the Louisville, Kentucky, officers involved in the March shooting of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT who was shot at least eight times when plainclothes officers fired "blindly" into her apartment as they executed a no-knock warrant, alleges a lawsuit by Taylor's mother. Blake, 29, was shot by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday night. According to Blake's family, he was shot seven times in the back and is now paralyzed from the waist down. The Department of Justice identified the officer as Rusten Sheskey Wednesday. Due to COVID-19 concerns, all participants are required to wear masks and get their temperatures checked before entering the event. While buses are bringing participants in from outside of the region, the organizers are discouraging people living in states on D.C.'s mandatory quarantine list from traveling there for the march. "We are tired of the mistreatment and the violence that we, as Black Americans, have been subjected to for hundreds of years," Sharpton said in a statement before the event. "Like those who marched before us, we are standing up and telling the police, telling lawmakers, telling the people and systems that have kept us down for years, 'Get your knee off our necks.'" Sharpton announced the march in June during his eulogy at Floyd's Minneapolis memorial service. It occurs on the 57th anniversary of the original March on Washington and in conjunction with the NAACP's virtual March on Washington. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.28 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Export of chemical products from Turkey to Azerbaijan rose by 30.37 percent in the first seven months of 2020 compared to the same period of last year, making up $242.8 million, Trend reports on Aug.28 referring to the Turkish Trade Ministry. In July 2020, Turkey exported chemical products worth over $39.3 million to Azerbaijan, which is almost 23.6 percent more than in July 2019. Turkey's export of chemical products to foreign markets decreased by 13.4 percent from January through July 2020 compared to the same period of last year and stood at slightly over $10.1 billion. The chemical products export from Turkey abroad amounted to 11.3 percent of the countrys total export for the reporting period. In July 2020, Turkey's export of chemical products to world markets slightly exceeded $1.5 billion, which is 8.5 percent less compared to the same month of 2019, the ministry said. Turkey's export of chemical products in July this year made up 10.5 percent of the countrys total export. During the last 12 months (from July 2019 through July 2020), Turkey's export of chemical products to world markets made up $19 billion. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu General Manager - Mark Plebanski We are privileged to have someone of Marks caliber and industry experience leading the team, and we are confident that he will continue to carry the Hampton by Hilton spirit through every facet of his position, said Farrah Adams, COO of LBA Hospitality. At the Hampton Inn New Smyrna Beach (214 Flagler Avenue), General Manager, Mark Plebanski has made providing exceptional experiences for guests his top priority. Mark joined the team of the 112-room hotel, owned by Key International and managed by LBA Hospitality, in September of 2019. Plebanski, a hospitality veteran of over 30 years, leads the team in all aspects of hotel operations, from hotel administration to guest service and satisfaction. In recent months, his role has expanded beyond practicing Hamptonality - Hampton by Hiltons unique and unmatched approach to hospitality, to implementing Hiltons CleanStay Initiative, ensuring the health & safety of every team member and guest. Leading by example, Plebanski works alongside his team sanitizing all areas of the hotel, ensuring all PPE protocols are followed, and keeping guest health & safety at the forefront of all operations. We want our guests to feel safe and be confident in their decision to stay with us. Plebanski stated. The fully renovated Hampton Inn, conveniently located on historic Flagler Avenue, is a leader in the New Smyrna Beach market, providing unmatched comfort and service to business and leisure travelers. Walking distance to white sandy beaches and the citys thriving business district, the Hampton Inn New Smyrna Beach offers a range of amenities, including complimentary breakfast, a sparkling outdoor pool and free Wi-Fi. Hotel guests admire the unique architecture and charming interiors of the hotel, atypical of the Hampton Inn brand, which align perfectly with the historic and picturesque coastal city of New Smyrna Beach. We are privileged to have someone of Marks caliber and industry experience leading the team, and we are confident that he will continue to carry the Hampton by Hilton spirit through every facet of his position, said Farrah Adams, COO of LBA Hospitality. I am beyond proud to be able to lead the phenomenal team at Hampton Inn New Smyrna Beach, said Plebanski. Our associates are like family, and we want our guests to feel like they are part of the family as well. Prior to joining Hampton Inn New Smyrna Beach, Plebanski spent most of his time in operations for Hampton and Homewood properties. His exceptional leadership has resulted in many awards over the years Hampton by Hilton Lighthouse and Circle of Excellence Awards, as well as 2017 GM of the Year, to name a few. In addition to his tenure in hospitality operations, Plebanski spent 10 years as a fireman in Lake County, Florida, keeping in line with Hiltons overall service culture, philanthropic principles, and dedication to community health & safety. Hampton Inn New Smyrna Beach is part of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest loyalty program for Hiltons 18 world-class brands comprising more than 6,100 properties in 118 countries and territories. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount, and free Standard WiFi. Members also enjoy popular digital tools available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app where Hilton Honors members can check-in, choose their room and access their room using Digital Key. Hilton Honors offers its more than 106 million members hundreds of ways to earn and redeem Points. Members can redeem their Points for free nights, premium merchandise and items on Amazon Shop with Points, and make charitable contributions. The program is free to join, and travelers may enroll online by visiting http://www.hiltonhonors.com. Connect with Hilton Honors at newsroom.hilton.com/hiltonhonors, and follow Hilton Honors on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information or to make reservations, visit http://www.newsmyrnabeach.hamptoninn.com or call +1 386-898-9444. Read more about Hampton by Hilton at http://www.hampton.com and newsroom.hilton.com/hampton. ### About Key International Key International is a world-class real estate investment and development company that has been influential throughout South Florida since the 1970s. With offices in Miami, Florida and Madrid, Spain, the company focuses primarily on the luxury commercial and residential sectors, including condominiums, hotels & resorts, apartments, offices, and retail properties. Key Internationals high-profile projects include the development of such sought-after addresses as 400 Sunny Isles, 1010 Brickell, the landmark Mint and The Ivy towers in Downtown Miami, along with the master development of the Riverfront Community district of Miami and the $250 million expansion and restoration of the world-famous Eden Roc Resort Miami Beach. Key International also owns and manages a diverse collection of hotels within the Marriott, Hilton and InterContinental Hotels Group brands. For more information, visit http://www.key-international.com. About LBA Hospitality Established in 1973, LBA Hospitality is one of the leading hotel management, development and consulting companies in the US. With an extensive portfolio of hotels located in the Southeast and Southwest, the Company is a recognized leader developing and operating the most respected brands under franchise licenses of Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide and InterContinental Hotel Group. For more than four decades, LBA Hospitality has continued to set a higher standard in hotel development, management and guest satisfaction, resulting in sustained, profitable growth for owners. For more information, visit http://www.lbahospitality.com. MINNEAPOLIS - One of the four ex-Minneapolis police officers charged in the May 25 death of George Floyd is seeking a change of venue. An attorney for J. Kueng filed documents Thursday saying potentially prejudicial information released by prosecutors has stripped his clients right to a fair trial. Attorney Tom Plunkett suggested Stearns County as a potential location for the trial. Kueng is one of four officers charged in the May 25 death of Floyd, a handcuffed Black man who died after Derek Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyds neck for nearly eight minutes as Floyd said he couldnt breathe. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. Kueng and two other officers, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao, are charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter. All four were fired. Plunkett is also asking that the case against Kueng be dismissed, saying there is no probable cause that Kueng committed a crime. Plunkett wrote that the restraint Chauvin used on Floyd was reasonable, and that theres no evidence that shows Keung know Chauvin was committing a crime. The next hearing in the case is Sept. 11. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 23:37:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's floriculture sector will fully recover from the negative effects of COVID-19 pandemic in the middle of 2021, executives said on Friday. Clement Tulezi, CEO of Kenya Flower Council (KFC), said the sector was on a recovery trajectory thanks to reopening of export markets. "We are projecting that we shall recover by June 2021 and already farmers have recalled their entire workforce following the troubled period," Tulezi told journalists in Naivasha. He said that flower exports stood at 70 percent from a low of 30 percent at the height of the pandemic. He said that high freight charges were some of the challenges facing flower farmers adding that state intervention was key to helping lower the cost of airlifting the commodity overseas. "We would like the state to intervene and cushion farmers from the high cost of exporting flowers to foreign markets," said Tulezi. He said that COVID-19 exposed the vulnerability of the floriculture sector, adding that farmers have resolved to reduce the cost of production in order to survive. He said the high flight charges combined with the attacks of fresh produce by moths are the two major challenges currently facing the floriculture sector. Enditem YouTube West Mathewson A conservationist in South Africa died this week after the animals he took care of since they were cubs turned on him. West Mathewson, 69, was attacked Wednesday during one of his daily walks with two white lionesses, The Guardian reported Thursday. Mathewson was walking the two animals on the family's Lion Tree Top Lodge property when one of them suddenly attacked him, his family told The Guardian. His wife Gill was driving along behind and attempted to save Mathewson, but to no avail. "She tried her best to rescue her husband, but was unable to do so," family attorney Marina Botha told The Guardian. "The family is heartbroken by the loss of their husband, father and grandfather," Botha added. "They find comfort and peace with the fact that he died while living his dream, being in nature and with his lions." RELATED: Mom of 2 Killed in 'Unprovoked' Bear Attack While Talking with Father on Phone Mathewson had reportedly saved the two lionesses from "canned hunting," which is when animals are bred to be hunted or hunted in a small, enclosed area, The Guardian reported. The same lions escaped and killed a man at a neighboring property in 2017, Africa Geographic reported at the time. While it remains unclear why the lions attacked Mathewson, but his family believes it may have been a result of "rough play," The Independent reported. RELATED: Safari Guide Reportedly Dies in Girlfriend's Arms After Elephant Attack: 'He Is Sorely Missed by All' "We will only know why he died when we have the results of the autopsy," Mathewson's daughter-in-law Tehri Fergusson said. "We have to realize, West was not as young as he thought he was. We are still not sure what actually happened but there was very rough play." Fergusson added that the lions will not return to the family's lodge. "They are in a safe place now and they will be cared for and loved, and then they will be let loose into the wild, but they will not be returning here," she said, according to The Independent. Photo: (Photo : Photo by JAGMEET SiNGH from Pexels) The Texas police shared a video by the Duncanville Police Department warned parents about leaving children in hot cars. Since April, a total of 19 deaths among children have been recorded in the United States. The cause of these deaths has been accounted for being left in hot cars. Just recently, another child was left in a hot car in Texas. Fortunately, Texas police officers were able to rescue the 1-year-old child. When the Texas police found the child, he was covered with vomit and was already crying. READ ALSO: Should Parents Be Alarmed? Here Are the Coronavirus Symptoms in Children [Experts Reveal] The Texas child In the Duncanville Police Department's Facebook post, they shared that they discovered the child was left alone in the car after receiving a call from a concerned citizen. One of the Texas police officers rescued the baby by shattering one of the vehicle's windows. The police decided to keep the child in the patrol vehicle while waiting for medical help. Paramedics arrived in the area to check on the child. The mother of the child arrived afterward with the grandmother and two other siblings of the child. According to authorities, the incident was because of misunderstanding and false assumptions. Child Protective Services and the Dallas County Grand Jury was called regarding the incident. READ ALSO: Parents Ask: How Can Dads or Partners Show Support to Breastfeeding Moms? The police video The video that the Texas police shared on the Duncanville Police Department Facebook page shows how important it is to make sure that a child is not left inside a car. When the baby is inside a car, they can experience heat stroke as the car's temperature increases fast, even when the windows are cracked open. Research shows that among the cases when a child is left inside the car, 54 percent are because parents forgot. The video shared also gave parents tips on how this could be avoided. The phrase, "Where is the baby?" should be kept in mind when stepping out of the car. Also, parents should develop the habit of checking the locks so that parents will not forget. READ ALSO: Moms Ask: How Many Calories Does Breastfeeding Burn? [Experts Reveal] The "Forgotten Baby Syndrome" Although some might think that it is impossible to forget a child in the car and that no parent will ever forget their child, it is possible, according to Dr. David Diamond's research. The "Forgotten Baby Syndrome" is when a parent completes tasks like usual, but parents tend to forget about the child in a car due to a slip of memory. According to Dr. Diamond, "You might not even remember the trip. But it's common to drive right past the store and come home. When your partner says, 'Where's the milk?' you feel flustered because you remember the conversation, but for some reason you came home instead." READ ALSO: American Moms Work for 98 Hours a Week, a Study Reveals Putin urges Belarus authorities, opposition to find way out of crisis Iran Press TV Thursday, 27 August 2020 4:06 PM Russia's President Vladimir Putin urges Belarus' officials and opposition to resolve their differences towards ending the political turmoil that has followed the ex-Soviet republic's elections. "The parties to this process have enough common sense to find a way out without resorting to extremes," Putin said in an interview aired on state television on Thursday, AFP reported. Mass street protests have followed Belarus' August 9 elections, in which President Alexander Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory, thus winning a sixth term in office. The European Union has rejected the results and threatened to expand a planned blacklist of Belarus officials. The Russian head of state acknowledged that Belarus was suffering from some problems "otherwise people wouldn't take to the streets," but hoped that the standing issues be resolved peacefully. Russia puts police force on alert Putin, meanwhile, warned the EU against intervening in Belarus' internal affairs and said Moscow was ready to "fulfill its obligations" under a military alliance of former Soviet countries. "We have of course certain obligations towards Belarus," he was cited by Russia's Interfax news agency as saying. Putin said he had agreed to a request from his Belarusian counterpart for creation of a reserve group of law enforcement officers who could be sent to Belarus to help out its security forces if need be. "I told him Russia would fulfill all its obligations. Alexander Grigoryevich [Lukashenko] asked me to create a reserve police force and I have done that," Putin said. The Russian president, however, reminded that the police force "would not be used unless the situation got out of control." Poland, which is a member of the Western military alliance of NATO and hosts United States troops and missile batteries, reacted strongly to Putin's announcement, with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki claiming that Moscow harbored "plans" for "military intervention" in Belarus. Lukashenko has hit out at the US and allied European nations, saying they have been sponsoring violent protests by opposition supporters across the country since his electoral victory. He has also ordered the army to take "stringent measures" against NATO troops, who are "seriously stirring" near the country's borders. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The government has been accused of abdicating responsibility for making workplaces safe before urging people back to offices, ahead of the launch of a publicity campaign aimed at reducing homeworking. Labour said the plan beggars belief and urged ministers to drop it, while the Independent Sage group of scientific advisors called on Friday for a national system of inspections to make sure even the worst employers are complying with social distancing best practice to keep workers safe. The independent expert group, set up amid concerns about political interference in the official Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said workplaces should have to be certified before employees could return, and that unannounced inspections should be introduced to ensure they continue to follow the rules. They also criticised the timing of the official push back to offices, which coincides with the mass return of pupils and students to school and universities as well as a rise in daily Covid cases, with the UK reporting its highest daily number of new coronavirus cases since 12 June on Thursday, with 1,522 confirmed positive results. The chair of the governments own Equality and Human Rights Commission (ECHR) has also expressed scepticism over plans to pressure employees to stop homeworking, saying it could penalise disabled and vulnerable people. The governments chief medical officer Chris Whitty said last month that the UK had probably reached the limit of what could be opened up safely and that some things might have to close but the government is now pushing for office workers to stop working from home, in an apparent bid to shore up businesses that rely on their trade. Trade unions also warned on Friday that lack of childcare would be a major barrier to many people returning to work, calling on ministers to wake up to the unfolding crisis. Frances OGrady, the general secretary of the TUC, accused the government of running a scare campaign instead of providing real assistance. Throughout this crisis millions of people have worked extremely hard from home, often in cramped bedrooms with limited equipment or balancing work with childcare, she said. Many now want a better balance of office and home-based working. But before this can happen, ministers must take responsibility for guaranteeing workers safety with a fast and reliable test and trace system, and better enforcement of transport safety and workplace risk assessments. Ministers also need to wake up to the UKs childcare crisis. Many working parents have lost all their childcare. Until proper support is provided, they have no choice but to keep balancing work and care by working at home. And many disabled workers can only safely undertake their roles at home. Increased childcare investment and strengthened rights to flexible working are vital to protect these workers jobs. Its extremely concerning the way the prime minister has presented this argument, said Dr Zubaida Haque, the director of the Runnymede Trust, who sits on the Independent Sage group. Threatening people to go back to work without ensuring that workplaces are safe is not the way to proceed. The only way the public can be confident to go back to work is if they know its safe, and the government needs to do much more to make it safe. Professor Stephen Reicher, a professor of social psychology at St Andrews University who also sits on the group, said: We have seen how poor working conditions and pressure on employees to come to work when unwell have contributed to outbreaks of infection which have then affected whole communities. It is quite clear that rigorous procedures to ensure workplace safety must be central to any overall pandemic strategy. And yet the government has abdicated responsibility for this, simply telling employers to make workplaces safe but without any support or procedures to make sure this happens. You simply cant fight Covid-19 on a wish and a prayer. Calling for an inspections and certifications system, Professor Reicher added that most employers are responsible and would be putting mitigations in place. But he said that it was not good enough that most employers are doing this, we need all employers to be doing this, even the bad employers. Speaking at a briefing to journalists on Friday he warned that cuts over the last decade to the Health and Safety Inspectorate have resulted in the system being largely dismantled in this country, or severely cut down by 50 per cent. He noted that there were just 390 health and safety inspectors for the whole country, on top of councils capacity. In general this is very much a situation where we should wait and see Professor Susan Michie, UCL Professor Susan Michie, who specialises in health psychology at University College London, said there was concern about the timing about encouraging a return to work of those people who dont need to at the same time as schools and universities. In general this is very much a situation where we should wait and see, given the priority that everybodys got for schools see how that goes, see how university term goes, and if the transmission rate hasnt started to climb and is at a low level, then we can think about people going back to work, she said. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said there should be no question of peoples jobs being vulnerable if they do not return to the office. Interim commission chair Caroline Waters said: The pandemic has seen many employers rip up the red tape and scale up their flexible working practices. Having been forced out of offices and to adapt to working from home overnight, many employers have seen the benefits of flexible working and have said they will continue with a more flexible approach beyond the pandemic. This has presented an opportunity to drive up flexibility for everyone, unlocking more career opportunities for disabled people and helping people to balance the complexity of working from home with caring responsibilities and family life. Having seen how it is possible to work flexibly and retain productivity, we cannot backtrack now. Reopening offices does not need to mean the end of homeworking and there should be no question of peoples jobs being vulnerable if they do not return to the office. 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 The row over whether home working should continue comes as a YouGov poll shows the public largely support a continuation of the new arrangements since the pandemic, with 47 per cent saying people should not be pressured to return to the office and 31 per cent saying they should. Among the countrys demographics, only people of pension age, 65 years and older, support sending workers back out when they could simply work from home by 44 per cent to 35 per cent. A separate study by academics at Cardiff University and the University of Southampton found that nine out of ten people in the UK who have worked from home during lockdown want to continue doing so. That study found that working from home as risen from 6 per cent of employees before the start of the pandemic to 43 per cent in April. The research found that productivity was broadly stable despite the change. The study questioned a representative sample of 6,000-7,000 workers. Four in ten (41 per cent) say working from home has made no difference to how much work they have got done, while roughly equal parts said they had got more work done or less work done (29 per cent and 30 per cent respectively). This story was reprinted here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Barbara Herndon lay in the center of her bed, muscles tensed, eyes on the television. She was waiting for the storm. All morning on that day in late May, the news had covered the cold front slouching south from central Texas. By late afternoon, dense ropes of clouds darkened her Houston neighborhood. Rain whipped the windows. Cyclone-force gusts rent open her backyard breaker box. She cringed at the noises, chest tightening, mind on the havoc that might followbut ultimately didnt. Advertisement Herndon, who as a child in southern Louisiana saw her share of hurricanes and thunderstorms, had never thought much about them. Now, even a passing squall like the May stormlasting less than an hourwill panic the 70-year-old retiree. I get scared, she said. I cry a lot, easily. That didnt use to happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Herndon is among the 50 percent of Houston-area residents who have wrestled with powerful or severe emotional distress since Hurricane Harvey deluged the city in 2017, according to a Rice University survey. Studies have shown similar outcomes with symptoms of anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress following other hurricanes, floods, and wildfiresnatural disasters that are intensifying as climate change accelerates. Already, the U.S. has faced nearly 40 such events costing at least a billion dollars each in the past decade, more than any period previously recorded. Mental health experts worry the psychological toll from these increasingly common cataclysmswith a pandemic now overlaid on topcould be unprecedented. Advertisement Advertisement The nation isnt ready. The countrys primary aid for mental health after disasters is the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program, run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Every year, the program distributes an average of $24 million, or 1 percent of FEMAs annual total relief fund, to send mental health workers into disaster-stricken communities and provide other support. But the Center for Public Integrity and Columbia Journalism Investigations found that this help usually lasts about a year, even though the psychological effects can linger for many more, and reaches only a fraction of survivors. Advertisement After Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, for instance, 18 percent of the island received counseling paid for by the program even though many more were affected. In Houston, where Harveys flooding was widespread, less than 1 percent of residents saw counseling. Advertisement The FEMA-funded program has given out $867 million nationwide in its more than three decades of existencejust slightly more than the money one Defense Department agency lost track of in a single year. Studies show other forms of federal assistance, like housing aid, are distributed unevenly, exacerbating inequalities and drawing out recovery for communities of color and people with less money. This, in turn, compounds the trauma and emotional burdens of a disaster. Advertisement Advertisement The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration referred questions to FEMA, which funds the effort. FEMA said its program, often shortened to CCP, provided counseling to 1.4 million people in the past five years and gave brief help to several million more. The toll that disasters put on mental health is well documented and part of the reason FEMA funds the CCP, a spokesperson wrote in an email. The program, however, exists to supplement, not supplant, state, local, tribal, and/or territorial resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But more Americans are affected by climate-driven disasters every year, with serious emotional consequences. Even with FEMA aid, state and local resources arent enough. Public Integrity, CJI, and newsrooms across the country asked people affected by hurricanes, floods, and wildfiresand the professionals helping such survivorsto share their experiences. More than 230 responded to the online survey, most from regions repeatedly hit by disasters in the last decade. That ranged from Puerto Rico, struck by seven major storms, to some Northern California communities fighting wildfires every year. Seventy percent of the survivors said they did not get mental health services after their experience, for reasons ranging from cost to their belief that they didnt need help. But the struggles they linked to the disasterfrom anxiety and depression to trouble sleepingsuggest that many could have benefited from the support. Over 60 percent of survivors reported five or more types of emotional challenges in the first year after the disaster. Advertisement In Naguabo, Puerto Rico, Jonathan Alverio Rivera started having flashbacks after Maria slammed into the island in 2017. He lost power for three months, reliving the terror in the dark. Alverio Rivera, now a 29-year-old medical student, says he needed mental health aid but couldnt find any: I didnt see any ads or anything saying, If you need help, call this number. Advertisement Advertisement In Magalia, California, Mickey Dukes, 65, lost her job as a medical technologist when the 2018 Camp Firethe states deadliest and most destructive wildfireburned through her town. The hospital where she worked closed, and many of her friends moved away. The feeling of loneliness is overwhelming, said Dukes, but we dont really have very good mental health services. Advertisement And in the rural Midwest, where those services are often spare to nonexistent, punishing floods in recent years have sowed trauma. Sharon Stewarts community of Pacific Junction, Iowa, was largely wiped out by 2019 flooding. Weve had a really, really, really rough year since then, she said. Theres so many people that went through so much. As scientists warn that the warming climate will keep adding fuel to extreme storms, Texas is a bellwether. In the past 10 years, the state faced 15 federally declared major disasters for storms or wildfires, six in the Houston area alone. Harvey, dumping more than 19 trillion gallons of rain on the state, was by far the worst. After that storm, FEMA gave Texas $14 million for the counseling program, helping 200,000 survivors, officials say. But records show the number that received counseling is far lower. And many residents believe theyve been forgotten. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats particularly true where Herndon lives: northeast Houston, with its lower-income, majority Black and Latino neighborhoods shaped by a long history of discrimination and increasing risks of floods. Three years after Harvey, some there are still rebuilding, and the storms toll on mental health remains palpable, residents and community leaders say. The spread of COVID-19 through the city is yet another disaster piling stress onto residents with too much already. And the threat of more powerful storms is ever-present. Its becoming routine, and that is not good, said Robert D. Bullard, an environmental justice scholar at Texas Southern University in Houston. That is not good. Advertisement Advertisement For Herndon, the trauma started on Aug. 28, 2017. Harvey was, by then, into its fourth day assaulting southeastern Texas. Advertisement At around 2 a.m., when Herndon stepped out of bed to use the bathroom, her toes sank into cold water. No, she remembers saying to herself. No, no, no, no. Three inches of musty, tea-colored water had seeped into her one-story home. And it was rising. She had seen this 16 years earlier during Tropical Storm Allison. She and her husband, Oscar, stayed in the house all day, the water rising to their calves before they finally fled. Oscar, with a chronic lung condition, died a year and a half latera death hastened by stress, Herndon believes. Advertisement Now, amid Harvey, she was on her own, with the rain picking up fast. Neighbors were making for dry land on air mattresses or trying to wave down helicopters. It took her nearly 10 hours to find a rescue boat. By then, she was chest-deep in floodwater and emotionally numb. Advertisement Days later, Herndon returned home. Furniture, floors, wallseverything was spoiled. She had married Oscar in that living room and promised him, as he lay dying, that shed never sell; his spirit was there, she said. Harvey took that away. She was so focused on survivalapplying for the housing and property aid she desperately neededthat months passed before her feelings finally caught up to her. By winter of that year, she remembers feeling drained and lonely. She was crying more and more. She recalls praying for a change one night. God, she asked, whys this got to be so hard? FEMAs Crisis Counseling Program was made for people like Herndon. But she says it never reached her. Advertisement The way the program works can also impede efforts to help. Established in the 1980s as a short-term disaster relief grant, the program funds free emotional help for anyone affected by a major disaster. Its been used in every state, plus Puerto Rico and other territories, for more than 400 traumatic events in all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement States with some of the most damaging climate-related catastrophes in the past decade said they rely largelyoften entirelyon the programs funding to support disaster survivors mental health. That typically includes state hotlines and crisis counselors who, until the pandemic hit, would go into communities and offer help in person, sometimes door to door. After floods and hurricanes in South Carolina, for instance, counselors showed up to town halls, local meetings, even Christmas parades. Advertisement States are required to plan for the mental health consequences of disasters. Officials said theyre grateful when they get CCP funding and appreciate the flexibility to plan the response they think will suit their communities best. But the way the program works can also impede efforts to help. Though disasters always affect mental health, states dont automatically get the funding. Wildfires often arent deemed large enough to qualify. When events do pass the magic threshold, states must complete long applications justifying the need. Iowas most recent request, for instance, ran 168 pages. And states must fill out two applications if they want to access the full program because FEMA splits it into immediate and regular phases. The second application can take months to be approved. Advertisement Advertisement The agencys reasoning is that states should only receive assistance if the event would overwhelm existing mental health services. But thats almost always the case for major disasters, said Karen Hyatt, emergency mental health specialist for the Iowa Department of Human Services. Even when other FEMA programs are up and running, crisis counseling program administrators are still writing the grant, she said. In wildfire-prone California, where counties provide much of the mental health response to disasters, local officials have found the federal program difficult to manage in part because they were on the hook to pay upfront. It took a long time for them to get reimbursed, said Michelle Doty Cabrera, executive director of the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California. Advertisement Advertisement Then theres the problem of how long funding lasts. The program typically ends after a year, even though studies show that emotional burdens can persist far longer. When youre talking about mental health, recovery takes years, said Dr. Karen G. Martinez, director of the University of Puerto Ricos Center for the Study and Treatment of Fear and Anxiety. Disaster programs dont really address that. Of the nearly 200 survivors who responded to the survey by Public Integrity, CJI, and partner newsrooms, a third were still reporting five or more types of emotional struggles todayat least three years post-disaster in many cases. Though people across the country participated, the survey isnt nationally representative, and it may have drawn respondents who are more affected by disasters than average. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this finding echoes earlier research: Epidemiological studies found emotional disturbances three years after Superstorm Sandy in 2012. One study of low-income mothers affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 discovered 1 in 6 with post-traumatic symptoms 12 years after the storm. And the new reality of back-to-back disasters gives people little time to heal, said Amber Twitchell, associate director at On the Move, a social services organization in Californias Bay Area. Since the Sonoma Complex Fires in October 2017, she said, we have been in a constant state of disaster response. Public Integrity and CJI reviewed the CCP response to six major disasters: floods in Missouri and Iowa, the Camp Fire in California, and Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, and Florence in Texas, Puerto Rico, and South Carolina, respectively. The programs reach varied but was small compared with the scale of the disasters, according to federal data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. Advertisement Puerto Ricos CCP, which was extended beyond two years to accommodate the high level of need, reached the most people. Of the islands 3.2 million residents, 580,000 met with counselors for sessions lasting longer than 15 minutes. Yet even there, some areas appear underserved. In Ponce, 35 percent of residents applied for FEMA financial aidone indication of how many people were affectedand only 7 percent received counseling sessions. Advertisement Advertisement Texas has relied on the CCP for 35 disasters, some simultaneouslymore than any other state or territory. Responding to multiple disasters is nothing new for our program and for the state, said Chance Freeman, director of Disaster Behavioral Health Services at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Advertisement In many waysin part because of the repeated poundingsthe state has one of the most advanced disaster mental health systems. Yet a review of its Harvey response in Houston shows that even there, relatively few survivors are reached by the federally funded counseling program. Roughly 22,000 Houston residents received individual, family, or group counseling within the 14 months the program was active, according to Public Integrity and CJIs review. At the same time, about 341,000 people there applied for housing or property aid from FEMA. Freeman says the state used that list of applicants to help identify the hardest-hit areas. But in the nine Houston ZIP codes with the highest per capita share of FEMA applicantsall lower-income, majority Black and Hispanic areas1 percent of the population received counseling. Thats about the same level of help provided in some higher-income, majority-white ZIP codes, even though a smaller percentage of residents there applied for aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Herndons ZIP code, which ranked second on that FEMA application list, about 4,700 people asked for aid. Just 105 met with counselors. Dr. Annelle Primm, chair of the All Healers Mental Health Alliance, a group that taps volunteers to fill gaps in the government response to disaster-struck communities of color, is not surprised by the data. The unequal distribution of assistance she sees in Black neighborhoods in particular, from food to disaster loans, adds to the emotional toll for residents. In this country, the response seems to assume that the people who are affected are middle-class white folks, Primm said. They really arent thinking about, well, what if the community that is affected was already behind the eight ball, or had preexisting challenges, which the disaster just made that much worse? Advertisement Advertisement Presented with Public Integrity and CJIs findings, a FEMA spokesperson said the program supplements local mental health services, so there is no universal ideal or adequate level of counseling post-disasterit varies not only by locality but also by disaster. The agency added that crisis counseling is available to all U.S. residents through the federal Disaster Distress Helpline. The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, which ran the CCP in Houston after Harvey, said that the findings dont include other forms of support beyond counseling. The agency led educational sessions with thousands of residents that, it said, could inform and motivate survivors to seek help from other mental health organizations, religious groups, family, and friends. Advertisement Freeman, of the Texas health department, said the program serves all survivors equally. Among the 16,000 who received individual counseling in Houston, 38 percent were Black, 30 percent were Latino, and 18 percent were white, according to the counselors observations. Advertisement More time would be great and more resources would be great, he said, but were not there to create a need that doesnt exist. Communities are resilient. Stigma around mental health care and peoples desire to be self-reliant both make it difficult to know when a community no longer needs aid, experts caution. After Katrina, teams dispatched to hard-hit communities found that no one stopped to talk if they set up a table with a free crisis counseling sign. But when we began posting tell us your hurricane story, people stopped, said Danita LeBlanc, manager of Louisiana Spirit, the states crisis counseling program. When Texas reached the end of its Harvey counseling program, 40 percent of the grant was unspent. Positions were never filled, and some staff, including counselors, left before their contract was up. This is not uncommon given the temporary nature of the program, a state health department spokesperson said in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency didnt directly address a question about whether thousands more people could have been counseled with the unused funds. It said it exceeded its goals and got a commendation from the federal government. The money, $5.6 million, went back to FEMA. How well or quickly someone recovers emotionally from a disaster can depend on how well and quickly they recover in other, more tangible ways. The longer the recovery takes, the worse mental health outcomes can get. Its not just initial exposure to a flood or wildfire, said Sarah Lowe, a psychologist and professor at Yale School of Public Health. Its more than that: dealing with bureaucracies, finding someplace else to live, financial impacts. One example of those traumatic ripple effects: Major disasters worsen homelessness. In the 201718 school year, the number of homeless students jumped 57 percent in districts where a hurricane, flood, coastal storm, or wildfire damaged property, according to a Public IntegrityCJI analysis of federal data. Advertisement In unscathed school districts that year, student homelessness was virtually unchanged. The Houston Independent School District counted a little fewer than 7,000 students whose families had no home of their own before Harvey hit, including those doubling up in other peoples houses and living in motels. Afterward, their ranks swelled to nearly 30,000, more than in any other district nationwide. Advertisement Houstons school district has spent the past three years helping families get back on their feet. But Lisa Jackson, senior manager of the districts Department of Student Assistance Services, said the families of some students made homeless by the hurricane have yet to find housing. The longer the recovery takes, the worse mental health outcomes can get. This was clear, experts said, from Louisiana after Katrina, where many lived in damaged homes for years and felt forgotten. Advertisement Recovery efforts after Harvey were widely applauded by both government officials and emergency management experts. But even in Houston, thousands of low-income homeowners are still seeking aid to repair hurricane damage to their homes, according to the city. Recent analyses show that part of the reason may be the unequal way the federal government distributes aid. Advertisement In one study, researchers at the University of ColoradoBoulder and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis found that bankruptcy rates in Houston after Harvey rose nearly 30 percent for flooded low-income households while remaining flat or even declining for flooded higher-income households. Emily Gallagher, a finance professor who co-authored the study, attributed that to the fact that those same low-income areasas well as majority Black and Latino neighborhoodswere also less likely to secure federal disaster aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In majority-white Houston neighborhoods like Greater Heights, for instance, the rate of approval for FEMA housing aid was 20 percent. In the Fifth Ward, a majority-Black neighborhood, the rate of approval dropped to 15.5 percent. This pattern was consistent throughout the city. It isnt because there was less damage in minority areas, said Gallagher, whose study controlled for that. Her conclusion wasnt that FEMA is actively discriminating but the agency may not be accounting for the way that race in America, after decades of systemic discrimination, is linked with factors that make it harder to get a grant. FEMAs caseworkers do their best to help all people struck by disaster, regardless of their background, an agency spokesperson said: To imply that FEMA does not or would not grant assistance to any survivor in need is grossly inaccurate, misleading, and disturbing. Advertisement Nationally, other studies have shown differences in aid. Nearly 60 percent of requests for federal disaster loans were denied from 200118, and tens of thousands of other applicants were kicked out of the process before a decision was made, according to a Public Integrity investigation. Ninety percent of denials were due to lack of repayment ability or unsatisfactory credit history, one way that lower-income disaster survivors get shut out of recovery help. Advertisement Advertisement Herndon applied for FEMA housing assistance just days after the storm. She was rejected weeks later: Her house was Safe to Occupy, FEMA wrote. I was sitting in my bedroom, and I could look all through my house, said Herndon, who had torn out her walls because black mold had overtaken them. That was the most disheartening thing. Advertisement For months, Herndon met with countless nonprofits to no avail. She said she appealed FEMAs denial three times. Finally, in early 2018, Herndon got two bits of good news. FEMA reversed its decision and awarded her $9,800. Then a nonprofit called Team Rubicon agreed to rebuild her house free of charge. Sandra Edwards, who lives in the Fifth Ward not far from Herndon, was less fortunate. Edwards $47,000 homelike Herndons, located outside the 100-year floodplainwas all but destroyed by the flooding. FEMA awarded her $11,000, money she used to rip out her walls and pay for a few months of temporary housing. For over a year, Edwards, 54, lived without walls, gas, or hot water. Parts of her floors and ceilings were missing. One side of her house had sunk several inches into the ground. She wrote frenzied, handwritten appeals for more aidI am Homeless!!! she declared in onebut was denied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the fall of 2019, she found West Street Recovery, a local nonprofit. The organization had enough money to repair part of her home, though about a third remains unfinished. Edwards moved back this March. A city application to finish her home is on hold. The experience took an enormous toll on her mental health, she said. Shed be sitting in a neighborhood meeting, for instance, and break down in tears. If you sit back and think about all the stuff you going through, said Edwards, it just makes you dont want to be here anymore. Advertisement Few Americans are protected from disaster-related stress this year. As COVID-19 exacts collective trauma, more than 40 states and territories so far have launched federally funded crisis counseling programs in response. Advertisement But the need to stay physically distanced upends the way disaster counseling usually operates. States scrambled to organize video calls and are relying more on hotlines. Unable to send people door to door, theyre hoping that online announcements, posters in stores, or pamphlets with food aid will get the word out that help is available. In the midst of all this, some officials are also trying to support the mental health of people who survived extreme weather before the pandemic hitand theyre bracing for more climate disasters. Advertisement Just being able to reach out has been a challenge, said Garcia Bodley, director of the Louisiana Department of Healths crisis counseling program. Were missing that connectivity weve had in the past. Advertisement For the survivors of recent hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, the coronavirus represents yet another weight. About three-quarters of those who took the Public IntegrityCJI survey said the pandemic is compounding their previous disaster experience, from piling on more stress to further eroding their finances. Both Herndon and Edwardsolder Black women with chronic lung problemsfall into high-risk categories for the virus. Theyre afraid of getting sick. Herndon says shes spending more time at home alone, worries intensifying. Many of the survey respondents are profoundly anxious about the future. Nearly all were concerned that their community will be hit by more disasters; two-thirds were very concerned. A few had already moved at least in part for that reason. Advertisement And theyre deeply frustrated about the governments preparedness for and response to disaster. Two-thirds rated it poor. Only 12 percent said it was good or great. Advertisement The problems they identified ranged from scant rebuilding help to local development decisions that worsen flooding, a problem so common that the flood-survivor organization Higher Ground now has more than 50 chapters in the U.S. And then theres the halting, often nonexistent response to the warming climate supercharging storms and fires. Advertisement Advertisement After a disaster, if the government does not declare a climate emergency and start acting like it, its just such a betrayal, said Margaret Klein Salamon, a psychologist who started the advocacy group the Climate Mobilization after living through Superstorm Sandy. Providing mental health support to survivors even as elected officials fail to rein in global warming is like a Band-Aid. How can we trust a government that does so little to protect us? Advertisement Even when its working well, crisis counseling may be only the start of what survivors need. Counselors try to connect people with longer-lasting services when requiredthats the logic for why the program ends after a year. But Americas fragmented system of mental health care is strapped at the best of times. Almost a quarter of all U.S. adults with a mental illness reported that they were unable to get the treatment they needed, according to the advocacy group Mental Health America. Some of the most common reasons: lack of insurance, lack of providers, an inability to cover copays. Asked how the country should change its response to psychological damage in an era of worsening disasters, FEMA said: There is a need for investment in mental health services at every level, but especially at the local, state, tribal, and territorial levels. Survivors will always receive the best, most appropriate services from those who live in their own community. Advertisement Using data from FEMA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Integrity and CJI identified 178 U.S. counties or municipalities predisposed to disaster-driven mental illness. All have vulnerable populations that were hit by multiple property-damaging hurricanes, floods, or wildfires in the past 10 years. At least a quarter of those places have poor access to psychological care, according to County Health Rankings. Advertisement In Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston, 29 percent of Black and 33 percent of Latino residents were unable to afford medical care in 2017, according to state data and compared with 10 percent of whites. Mental health providers in Houston are concentrated on the southern and western sides of the city, away from Herndon and Edwards neighborhoods. Herndon tried to find a therapist several times after Harvey. But when she began calling the dozen or so people shed been given by her insurance provider, many were no longer taking her insurance. The others never called back, she said. I stopped actively looking for help, she added. It was making me more depressed. Edwards, for her part, said she looked into therapy but could not afford the copays. Access to care can make a huge difference. Between 2015 and 2017, Sherri Blatt, 54, was flooded three times in her neighborhood of Robindell in southwest Houston. Blatt, a recovering alcoholic, relapsed and was overwhelmed with stress each time. Advertisement Advertisement After the last floodHarveyshe went into therapy and was diagnosed with PTSD. Like Herndon, she continues to be frightened by the sound of rain. But shes in a much better placeand almost two years sober. Today, she works for a rehabilitation center helping others. If I flooded today it would look different for me, she said. I have a different support system that can carry me through. Herndon has accepted that she may never get professional help, but she learned a few breathing techniques that help her cope. She also joined a neighborhood group, the Harvey Forgotten Survivors Caucus, where she advocates for more mental health resources. During the pandemic, theyve been meeting by phone weekly. Still, she worries about what future storms may bring. In the years since her husband died, the warming climate has amped up the risks in her now flood-prone neighborhood. She thinks often about her promise to stay. And, look, Ive been keeping it, she said. Im still here. Kio Herrera and Chris Zubak-Skees contributed to this article. Funding for CJI comes from Columbias Investigative Reporting Resource and the Energy Foundation. A coronavirus cluster at the Queensland Corrective Services Academy has grown to four after another three people tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. Two of the new cases were people living in the Gold Coast suburb of Pimpama and the third was a Forest Lake resident. A cluster at the Queensland Corrective Services Academy has grown. A trainer at the prison training academy, aged in his 60s, was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Wednesday night. As part of the health response, about 7000 inmates in prisons from the NSW border up to and including the central Queensland city of Rockhampton were locked in their rooms. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps today hinted quarantine-free holidays to the Spanish islands could be allowed to restart as he suggested they could be treated differently to the Spanish mainland. The Foreign Office is currently advising against all non-essential travel to Spain, including the Balearic and Canary Islands, after a spike in coronavirus case numbers with all travellers returning to the UK facing 14 days in self-isolation. Ministers are under pressure to ditch the blanket approach to quarantine and introduce a more nuanced regional system because infection rates on the islands are lower than on the mainland. The Government has so far resisted the calls and said a regional system would be too complicated. But Mr Shapps today signalled a shift may be possible as he said he accepted 'that actually islands are potentially an area where you can distinguish'. His comments came as the travel industry urged the Government to drop the 'snakes and ladders-style quarantine game' after Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Jamaica became the latest additions to the UK's 'red list'. Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, today hinted that holidays to the Spanish islands could soon return Mr Shapps was told during an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the infection rate in Gran Canaria is closer to that in Cheshire than in Catalonia as he was asked whether he agreed that blanket quarantine is too 'blunt' an instrument. He replied: 'It is by its very nature a clunky thing when you have to look at a country as a whole.' Told that Germany does currently have a regional system for imposing quarantine, Mr Shapps said: 'It is interesting. If you look at the data that we have available and it is the Joint Biosecurity Centre who do all of this crunching and make their recommendations, in the United Kingdom for example we now have capacity for a third of a million tests per day, going up to 500,000. 'We have mass surveying ongoing by the Office for National Statistics and expanding. 'We are able to say as a result of that, for example, we knew that there was a problem in Leicester or in the north west... we are able to really define it. 'We don't have access in foreign countries to that sort of granular data to say "well in this particular area...". 'Even where we do, for example a couple of weeks ago with France people were saying "it looks better in the Dordogne than it does in the south of France" or whatever, even where we do of course travel within that country could be easier. 'Now I do accept that actually islands are potentially an area where you can distinguish. 'But even there, we're having to work very carefully and closely with the authorities on the ground to check that the data is accurate.' Mr Shapps said the Government's 'first priority had to be protecting the UK population' and 'we cannot see this return by re-importing it by people coming home from a break'. 'We're seeing too much of that and we will always clamp down on it, I'm afraid,' he said. Travel bosses said the Government's current approach to imposing quarantine was 'chaotic' and they fear the eventual return of a worldwide travel ban. Charlie Cornish, the chief executive of Manchester Airports Group, which runs Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands, said the approach was 'sluggish' and 'illogical'. Paul Charles, founder of the PC Agency, the travel consultants, told The Times: 'The weekly in-out, snakes and ladders-style quarantine game is just not helping the travel sector in any way whatsoever. This policy must be abandoned and replaced by effective testing. 'There is a danger that we will simply return to blanket quarantine, which was abandoned after only three and a half weeks because it was so unpopular. That's the way we are heading.' YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Ministry of High Tech Industrys Military-Industry Committee Chairman Artak Davtyan led a delegation to the Army 2020 International Military-Technical Forum in Moscow, Russia. The delegation had meetings with the Deputy Director of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation of Russia Vladimir Drozhov and other officials of the Russian defense industry. The discussions resulted in agreements on further developing cooperation. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan Salar Abdoh. Akashic, $26.95 (240p) ISBN 978-1-61775-860-7 Abdoh (Tehran at Twilight) delivers a superb pressure cooker of a novel centered on Saleh, a middle-aged Iranian journalist with one bum eye who splits his time between Tehran and covering the war on ISIS. In Tehran, he pulls in cushy art review gigs while navigating the cutthroat, overtly patriotic TV industry, where his script ideas are often compromised or stolen; while on the front line in Iraq and Syria, he embeds with coalition soldiers and mourns those who die in battle. Saleh is surrounded by a web of characters in both halves of his life, among them a security handler, H, who tests Salehs loyalty and sends him on a clandestine mission involving a text by Marcel Proust, and Atia, a friend who tries to recruit Saleh for a new magazine. When fellow journalist Saeed finds him in Iraq, Saeed insists Saleh is sabotaging their careers by protecting a woman known as Zahra the Beheader, who took revenge on the men who killed her family, and whose story the British media wants to buy from them. Meanwhile, aging artist Miss Homa, tired of life, asks Saleh to assist in her suicide. In chapters that shuffle Saleh around Syria and Iraq, Abdoh vibrantly illustrates the futilities and dangers of proxy conflict. As Saleh juggles his various objectives and dilemmas, he confronts his own desire for meaning (In this war, nothingnothing at allmade sense). Abdoh brilliantly fuses the confusions of combat and modern life to produce an unforgettable novel. This is one of the best works of literature on the war against ISIS to date. Syracuse Central New York media outlets have been competing in the State Fair milkshake contest for the past 17 years. The tradition is continuing, even though the coronavirus forced the cancellation of this years Fair. Were still mixing ice cream, milk and whatever else we can find into the blender. This year, the American Dairy Association North East is taking the competition online. Earlier this week, reporters and on-air personalities met virtually via Zoom to show off our entries in the 2020 Undeniably Dairy Shake-Off. In the past, we would gather in the pavilion in the back of Chevy Court to make our shakes, and the Dairy Princesses would pick the winner. This year, youre picking the champion. You can vote on the American Dairy Association North East Facebook Page by posting a comment. Voting closes 5 p.m. Sunday, and the winner will be announced 10 a.m. Monday. The folks running the competition ask that you vote based on creativity, ingredients, and most importantly, which milkshake would you make at home. The competitors are: 93Q: The secret ingredient of 93 Moo milkshake is Capn Crunch cereal. The rest is ice cream, milk and whipped cream. CNY Central: Hope Floats Because of You honors local heroes. Its an American-themed shake with French vanilla ice cream, a donut, whipped cream and a cookie. The whole thing is red, white and blue tethered to an American flag balloon. Spectrum News: The Dairy Berry Chocolate Surprise is a strawberry and chocolate milkshake dressed up with whipped cream, chocolate-covered strawberries and lots of chocolate syrup. Syracuse.com: The Pumpkin Spice Latte Milkshake celebrates the Fair as a bridge between the end of summer and the start of autumn. We started with Up All Night ice cream from Byrne Dairy. Its a coffee-based ice cream with espresso fudge swirl. We added pumpkin puree and whole milk. We topped the PSL milkshake with local whipped cream, crushed graham crackers, a dash of nutmeg and a drizzle of salted caramel. WSYR Channel 9: The Sweet and Salt City Shake pays tribute to local businesses. Its got a Glazed & Confused donut, Hercules candy, Sweet Praxis cookies and ice cream from downtowns Ice Cream Stand. Salted caramel and salted pretzels bring it all together to pay homage to the Salt City. MORE ON STATE FAIR No State Fair? No worries! How to deep-fry sweets at home 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. Congress MP from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu H Vasanthakumar died of coronavirus COVID-19 at a hospital in Chennai on Friday, the hospital said. He died at 6.56 pm at the Apollo Hospital where he was admitted on August 10 after he tested positive for coronavirus. In an official statement, the Apollo hospital said that he was treated in the critical care unit by a team of doctors for severe COVID pneumonia. But despite all active medical measures, his condition deteriorated gradually due to COVID complication, the statement added. "It is with profound grief that we announce about the sad demise of Mr H. Vasanthakumar today on 28th August 2020 at 6.56 PM. Vsanthakumar 70 years, current Member of Parliament was admitted to Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road on 10th August 2020 with COVID infection," read the statement. We are deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Shri H. Vasanthakumar. A staunch Congressman, true leader of the people & beloved MP. He will be sorely missed by all members of the Congress party & his followers. Our prayers are with his family in this time of grief. pic.twitter.com/BU49MrbNXg Congress (@INCIndia) August 28, 2020 The news of Kanyakumari MP, Shri H Vasanthakumars untimely demise due to Covid-19 has come as a shock. His commitment to the congress ideology of serving the people will remain in our hearts forever. Heartfelt condolences to his friends and family members. pic.twitter.com/oqhrfQXEUD Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 28, 2020 "He was treated in the critical care unit by a team of doctors for severe COVID pneumonia. Despite all active medical measures, his condition deteriorated gradually due to COVID complication and passed away today. We join Mr Vasanthakumars family members in profoundly mourning his loss." The 70-year old was a first time MP and a two-time MLA who was elected to the Lok Sabha in the 2019 elections. Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, the Congress party also expressed its grief over his death. "We are deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Shri H. Vasanthakumar. A staunch Congressman, true leader of the people & beloved MP. He will be sorely missed by all members of the Congress party & his followers. Our prayers are with his family in this time of grief." Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "The news of Kanyakumari MP, Shri H Vasanthakumars untimely demise due to Covid-19 has come as a shock. His commitment to the congress ideology of serving the people will remain in our hearts forever. Heartfelt condolences to his friends and family members." Earlier, in a statement, Apollo Hospitals said the MP was in critical condition and treated by a team of doctors for severe COVID pneumonia. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn has fired the agency spokesman just days after Hahn made an embarrassing mistake about the efficacy of convalescent plasma for treating COVID-19. Miller, an former spokeswoman and former State Department official as well as TV reporter for conservative outlets, had been on the job for just 11 days. The agency gave no reason for the sudden firing, but it came after she helped prepare Dr. Stephen Hahn for interviews, including one in which he completely mis-stated the results of a study on plasma a treatment President Trump has touted for COVID-19. FDA spokeswoman Emily Miller was fired from her post after just 11 days on the job She posted on Facebook that would 'work nonstop to get information on COVID-19 tests, treatments and the vaccine process communicated to people as accurately and quickly as possible.' On Thursday she tweeted quoting President Trump, writing that Convalescent plasma will save thousands and thousands of lives. The government official included hashtags for #COVID19 and the '#RNC2020Convention.' The New York Times reported that another senior agency flack, Wayne Pines of the Health and Human Services Agency, had his contract terminated a day earlier. He had advised Hahn to apologize after his on-air mistake about plasma. Commissioner of U.S. Food and Drug Administration Dr. Stephen M. Hahn apologized after he made a wildly inaccurate statement about the use of convalescent blood plasma President Donald Trump listens as Dr. Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, speaks during a media briefing in the James Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington. The credibility of two top public health agencies is on the line after controversial decisions that outside experts say suggest political pressure from the Trump administration. Hahn was forced to apologize for using an erroneous, misleading statistic describing the effectiveness of a blood plasma therapy granted emergency use for COVID-19, as Trump twisted the facts and inflated the significance of the move Miller has reported for the conservative One America News Network and other outlets The administration has touted the potential of treating COVID-19 patients with blood plasma. Melissa Cruz, donates COVID-19 convalescent plasma at Bloodworks Northwest on April 17, 2020 in Seattle, Washington I did recommend that he correct the record, he told the paper, saying he didn't know why his contract was ended. If a federal official doesnt say something right, and chooses to clarify and say that the criticism is justified, thats refreshing, Mr. Pines said. HHS called the two actions a coincidence. Hahn had said the treatment would save 35 out of 100 people which would be an astonishing breakthrough if true. "I can't remember a mistake by FDA or the commissioner as serious as this one," Dr. Eric Topol of the Scripps Translational Research Institute told NPR. Hahn owned up to the error, saying criticism was 'entirely justified.' 'What I should have said better is that the data show a relative risk reduction not an absolute risk reduction." In fact, the unpublished study he was referring to, which didn't have a control group, compared people treated with convalescent plasma in the first three days to those who got it later. After a week, there was a 9 percent mortality rate for those treated early compared to a 12 per cent mortality rate for those who got it later. After about a month, those who got it earlier had a mortality rate of 22 percent, compared to 27 per cent for the group who got it later a maximum difference of about 5 percentage points. The study did not say it would save 35 out of every 100 people who got treated. An FDA release Sunday carried a headline that strayed beyond typical scientific restraint. 'Another Achievement in Administration's Fight Against Pandemic,' it blared on the eve of the GOP convention. Miller previously worked as a journalist, including at a local Fox affiliate where gun control advocates demanded her firing after Washington reported she told a gun rights rally Virginia that 'D.C. is not part of America. President Trump mentioned plasma at his White House convention speech Thursday. 'We developed a wide array of effective treatments, including a powerful anti-body treatment known as Convalescent Plasma that will save thousands of lives,' he said. Owning a private collection of nearly 140 artworks by luminaries like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein would be a godsend for most arts organizations, but it was a burden for the Keith Haring Foundation. Legal counsel had warned the nonprofit for years that keeping a collection made by artists other than its founder might fail to serve its charitable purpose. So last year the foundation began arranging with Sothebys to sell the artworks in an online auction called Dear Keith, with all proceeds benefiting the Center, an L.G.B.T.Q. community organization in the West Village. The sale is scheduled to begin on Sept. 24 and is expected to raise nearly $1 million with a selection ranging from a $100 painting by David Bowes to a $250,000 Warhol print featuring Mr. Haring and his lover Juan Dubose. An exhibition of the collection will also take place online and by appointment at the Sothebys headquarters in Manhattan. It feels as if Keith himself rallied his friends to make art for this specific purpose, said Gil Vazquez, acting director of the foundation. The Center embodies so much of what Keith was about: community, empowerment and the support of our future, the youth. Construction on many traffic infrastructure projects is running behind schedule due to a slow land clearance process. Many traffic infrastructure projects in HCM City are behind schedule because of land clearance and resettlement problems. Photo courtesy of baodautu.vn The HCM City Management Board for Traffic Works Construction and Investment has requested an urgent meeting with the HCM City Peoples Committee to discuss challenges with delayed projects. Various traffic infrastructure construction works in the city have begun but have been delayed due to land clearance problems, the management board stated. This has negatively affected the quality of life of locals living in the project area. According to au Tu (Investment) newspaper, HCM City currently has about 60 projects that are behind schedule due to land clearance. Five of them are under a red alert status. Specifically, the Long Kieng Bridge Construction Project, though approved by the city Peoples Committee nearly 20 years ago, has only completed 52.6 per cent of the construction volume due to delays in land clearance. Last month, Nha Be District Peoples Committee proposed purchasing 53 land lots to arrange resettlement for locals living in the land clearance area. The proposal is currently awaiting authorities approval. Nam Ly Bridge Project, worth VND857 billion (US$37.2 million), encountered a similar circumstance. According to the initial plan three years ago, this project was supposed to be completed after one and a half years. However, only 39 per cent of the project, worth VND162 billion, has been completed. The project investor is seeking the final land compensation unit price from the HCM City Land Valuation Council so that District 9 Peoples Committee has a basis to carry out land compensation and then hand over the land plot to the investor. Meanwhile, the Tang Long Bridge Project has had 30 per cent of its construction volume completed. This project has been halted for a year because 42 households have not settled on the land compensation price. Similar cases include the Xom Cui Bridges embankment project and Gia Dinh Parks renovation project. Even though the Gia Dinh Park project has had 95 per cent of its volume completed, 12 households and one organisation have not handed their land over. Administration hurdles Problems related to land clearance are partly caused by ineffective coordination in resolving administrative procedures between consulting agencies, project management boards, and district-level peoples committees. Local residents' disagreement about land compensation prices has also contributed to the problem. According to a representative of the HCM City Management Board for Traffic Works Construction and Investment, land clearance and compensation is the biggest obstacle when it comes to implementing traffic infrastructure projects. Compensation for site clearance usually makes up two thirds of the total investment of the project. However, disagreement on compensation rates between the state authorities and locals remains the biggest problem," the representative said. In the time to come, the representative expects more proactive measures taken by HCM City authorities now that the Government has approved shortening the processing time for land compensation, resettlement and acquisition in the city. A leader from a district-level Peoples Committee said that land clearance is a very difficult task, especially when market land prices fluctuate rapidly and the process of setting up compensation plans and approving compensation prices is complicated. As such, it is important to make fundamental changes in how land compensation and site clearance are carried out. Recently, the HCM City Peoples Committee assigned the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to be responsible for the implementation of land compensation and resettlement. The department will also be in charge of issuing a coordination regulation among relevant authorities to ensure transparency, shorten the process of site clearance and compensation, and remove the administrative "knots". VNS HCM Citys transport infrastructure lags behind demand despite huge investment HCM City allocates about US$431.9 million a year for the transport sector but the funding does not seem to be enough for narrowing the gap between the local infrastructure system and travel demand, heard at a meeting on June 10. The House Foreign Affairs Committee announced on Friday that it would move to hold Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in contempt of Congress for defying its subpoenas related to the State Departments participation in Senate Republicans investigation targeting the Bidens. The move, announced on Friday by Representative Eliot L. Engel, Democrat of New York and the chairman of the panel, would amount to a rare and stinging rebuke of the nations top diplomat, who has drawn criticism for flouting norms of diplomatic custom in pursuit of President Trumps political interests and his own ambitions. Mr. Engel said he had sought records from Mr. Pompeo regarding his transparently political misuse of department resources, including in his recent address to the Republican National Convention from Jerusalem, but had been stonewalled in an unprecedented record of obstruction and defiance. The chairman said he had been told that receiving the records was contingent upon his committee agreeing to investigate the Bidens. He has demonstrated alarming disregard for the laws and rules governing his own conduct and for the tools the Constitution provides to prevent government corruption, Mr. Engel said of Mr. Pompeo. He seems to think the office he holds, the department he runs, the personnel he oversees and the taxpayer dollars that pay for all of it are there for his personal and political benefit. The scooter engines snorted out, and Sara el-Sayed swung herself down to the pavement outside the third damaged building she had visited that afternoon, two carpenters in tow. Upstairs, a womans blown-apart doors needed fixing. Cigarettes and cellphone in one hand, pen and paper in the other, el-Sayed jotted down dimensions as the carpenters measured empty door frames and shattered windows. She has taken this up as her job now: volunteering to hammer together as much of the splintered city as she can before leaving it hopefully for good. Six days after the explosion that crushed much of Beirut, a Spanish masters degree program in interior design notified el-Sayed that she had been accepted, a long-held dream come true. When she leaves, she will be done with all of this, she hopes: a government whose incompetence appears to have led to the blast; a corrupt political system young Lebanese blame for aborting their futures; a country where the middle class is sinking into poverty as the politicians slow-walk economic reforms, and where the only way to survive seems to be a second passport, a job or a graduate program somewhere else. Many Lebanese were already looking for such escape hatches before the Aug. 4 explosion. An exodus now seems inevitable. But el-Sayed cannot think about leaving quite yet. Im not running away, said el-Sayed, 30, a Palestinian-Lebanese architect with a small custom furniture business who used to live in Gemmayzeh, one of the worst-hit neighborhoods. I want to at least have Beirut on its feet before I go. As Beirut reckons with the destruction, thousands of Lebanese in their teens, 20s and 30s rather than government personnel have shown up to put the most damaged neighborhoods back in order, shoveling, sweeping, feeding, fixing. Many of the volunteers have been protesting against the political system since last fall; if anyone believes Lebanon can change, it is them. Yet few say they want to stay to see whether it will. Since the explosion, countries like Canada have been hit by a wave of applications from young Lebanese seeking to emigrate, officials say. I used to call people sissies for leaving the country, because youre afraid of doing the change and everything, said Mohammed Serhan, 30, a political organizer and cleanup volunteer who protested for months. But the explosion had altered his calculus. Yesterday I woke up thinking, I can go to the airport immediately, tell them Im not coming to work. Go to the airport, fly to Turkey, see what happens. He sighed. Its a little emotional. I still want to win this fight. El-Sayed, who had just assessed Serhans damaged doors and windows, jumped in. Really, were fighting, she said. They would both keep protesting, they agreed. But I dont have hope, el-Sayed said. Ive always wanted just to leave. Like young people across the Arab world, their generation is well educated yet underemployed. While some of their friends and cousins left for masters degrees and jobs in Dubai and the West, volunteers like el-Sayed and Serhan stayed because they wanted to or had to, hoping to change their country even as it skidded toward economic ruin. People who are outside love the country but dont want to come back in, and people who are inside hate the country but they dont want to leave, said Zein Freiha, 21, a college student who went door to door after the explosion with a plastic broom. We hope that we have a country to come back to. But the more we discuss it, were all just looking at each other like, OK, there really is no more hope. For them, the cleanup is personal. Many of the volunteers used to live, work or socialize in the half-demolished neighborhoods of Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhael, drawn to their cocktails, clubs, cafes, galleries and studios. Their Beirut is now in ruins. El-Sayeds former apartment was destroyed in the blast, along with friends homes, workplaces and cars. Doors around east Beirut were ripped from their frames. When looters slipped into the neighborhood, she began sealing off apartments. Nearly three weeks after the explosion, she had raised enough money via GoFundMe to replace about 90 doors. One elderly couple had slept in their foyer with a heavy sewing machine pushed up against their splintered front door, fearing thieves. Others who called her had been quoted hundreds of dollars to replace their doors at a time when banks are rationing access to dollars and the Lebanese currency has lost 80% of its value. Beyond fixing apartments and clearing broken glass and debris, the volunteers have assessed damaged buildings, searched for missing pets, delivered hot meals and diapers and even compiled what amounts to the incidents only centralized database of missing people. (The government has not released any official data on the missing.) While civilian volunteers go to work, soldiers sit on street corners, rifles dangling from their shoulders and cigarettes from their lips. Only about two weeks after the explosion did government personnel begin distributing food boxes and assessing damages, residents said. A day after the blast, Hussein Kazoun, 28, an organic farmer, took over an abandoned gas station in Geitawi and started handing out vegetables. A week later, the station, which he christened Nation Station, buzzed with about 200 young volunteers. Its not my job to do this, said Josephine Abou Abdo, 29, an architect and designer-turned-volunteer who was coordinating food donations. But if I dont get up, people wont get fed. Using the data volunteers collected from residents, Kazouns younger sister was mapping out the most underserved areas. Nearby sat 20 donated rolls of plastic, used to seal broken windows, that a comedian had shown up with a few days before. As he and the volunteers have expanded Nation Stations scope, Kazoun has also tried to persuade people to stay. We need you in this country, he said he was telling friends. If its left to the old generation, things will stay the same. Abou Abdo listened with conflicting impulses. Sometimes I think, Enough, she said. I just want to live in a Scandinavian country and pay taxes and live my life, you know? On the question of whether reform was even possible, she, like other volunteers, was caught between idealism and despair. Neither months of mass anti-government protests nor the explosion appears to have greatly weakened the ruling class, whom many Lebanese still turn to for protection and patronage despite growing consensus that they bear responsibility for the countrys problems. At one apartment that volunteers were sweeping up, Hala Youssef, 49, who lived there, said she had waited 11 days after the explosion for government aid before giving up and accepting volunteer help. Nobody even came to say Thank God for your safety, she said of the government, using the phrase Beirutis greeted each other with in the days after the blast. At the Nation Station recently, Joe Youssef, 39, dropped off his daily donation, a truckload of vegetables and fruits that several young women were sorting into plastic bags. Youssef said he preferred donating to Nation Station over an aid group, he said, because like many Lebanese, he was suspicious of anything that might be tainted by the countrys favor-bartering class of sectarian political leaders. We dont trust anyone in this country, he said. They could be tied to some gang. Disgusted with Lebanons corruption and seeing no future at home, he moved years ago to Dubai, where he worked in sales before returning on vacation last month. But, he said, When I saw the people, the crowd not the government, not the police or anything Im proud to be Lebanese now, to be honest. New improvements had materialized at the gas station over the course of the day. Someone had welded together a metal rack to dispense the plastic rolls. Two tons of fresh vegetables had been distributed. Sarah Barakat, 21, an architecture student overseeing the vegetables, said that she, too, planned to leave Lebanon for graduate studies. But Im coming back as soon as I finish my masters, she said. Who else is going to rebuild this city? c.2020 The New York Times Company The Delhi high court on Friday sought to know from the Delhi Police whether their action against the students on the Jamia Milia Islamia campus last December, during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), was proportionate to the polices claims that weapons were stored on the campus to attack the police. After an anti-CAA protest turned violent on December 15, the police had entered the campus, cane charged students and detained them and also used tear gas shells. Even if we assume that the action taken by police was legitimate, was it proportionate? Does it justify what the police have done? Was it as per the ethical standards of policing?, a bench of chief justice DN Patel and justice Prateek Jalan asked additional solicitor general Aman Lekhi. The bench was hearing a bunch of pleas pertaining to the Jamia violence, seeking relief and registration of FIRs against erring police personnel. The courts poser came after ASG Lekhi contended that the police action was warranted and the police had asked the students to maintain restrain. He said the students inside the varsity, however, got violent and started pelting stones, bricks, bottles, etc at the police. Despite multiple warnings, students continued to pelt stones and destroy barricades, he said. He submitted said that the unruly mob did not even spare school buses and six buses were burnt. He said the mob had blocked the roads and there was heavy stone pelting from inside the campus. A university is supposed to have books and academics, where did all these objects come from? A university has to be a place of learning and not of violence and arson, Lekhi said. The objective of that mob was to overawe the law with the use of criminal force, he said, while adding that the facts squarely fit into the definition of an unlawful assembly, and hence the police action was warranted. Following arguments, the court posted the matter for further hearing to September 18. Violence has broken out in the varsity after student protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). Police have been accused of entering the university campus and assaulting students after a protest against the Citizenship(Amendment) Act turned violent on December 15. At least 10 vehicles were allegedly torched by protesters. The Jamia students had said they were not involved in the violence and that their peaceful march was hijacked by outsiders. A new study points to a new symptom reported in children with coronavirus. The study out of Wuhan, China shows some children infected with COVID-19 show eye symptoms, including pink eye. The study examined 216 children between the ages of 2-11, all of whom had tested positive for coronavirus. While many of those with symptoms reported fevers and coughs, 49 roughly 23% - showed various ocular manifestations. The most common symptom was conjunctival discharge, seen in more than half the children. Children who had other symptoms, like cough, were more likely to show conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye. Eye symptoms along arent a likely sign of the virus but if a parent knows their child has been exposed or they are showing other symptoms, it might be good to have them tested, health experts said. Here are other coronavirus headlines from around the country: FDA warns about hand sanitizer The U.S. Food and Drug is warning people about hand sanitizer packages that look like food or drinks. The alcohol-based hand sanitizers are being packaged in things such as beer cans, childrens food pouches, water bottles, juice bottles and even vodka bottles. Some of the hand sanitizers even contain food flavors, such as chocolate or raspberry, the FDA said. Hand sanitizer can be toxic if ingested and even a small amount can be deadly to a young child. University asks students to leave dorms North Carolina State University is asking students who live on campus to move out of their dorms by Sept. 6, a move due to the rapid spread of coronavirus. NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson said the university has seen a quickly rising number of positive cases in both on- and off-campus housing. The university reported 325 positive cases of COVID-19 during the period between Aug. 20 and 26 out of 3,105 tests performed, a positivity rate of a little more than 10%. Students are receiving refunds for housing and food costs. New moderate income housing program could be on the way to Long Beach DENVER -- A Pennsylvania man who caused a Delta flight from Los Angeles to Detroit to be diverted after he started a fire in the bathroom pleaded guilty to the attempted destruction of an aircraft. The U.S. attorneys office announced Robert Allen, 40, entered his plea as part of deal that will see him sentenced in December, according to the Associated Press. Allen faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and restitution to Delta Air Lines. He is currently free on bond. The incident took place April 1 when Allen was aboard the flight headed to Detroit. Crew and passengers said they observed Allen acting strangely on the flight, according to federal prosecutors. Crew attempted to settle Allen down, but he eventually locked himself in the bathroom and refused to come out. While he was in the bathroom, the smoke alarm eventually went off and crew forced their way into the bathroom. Allen was removed by crew and the plane was diverted to Denver where federal agents eventually arrested Allen. Crew members were able to extinguish burning papers they found inside the bathroom after Allen was removed. Allen was charged April 2 and a grand jury indicted him on June 2. READ MORE 14-year-old girl among trio that allegedly drove around Detroit looking to shoot at police Bandannas, neck gaiters no longer acceptable face coverings at Northern Michigan casino Big weather change coming for Michigan during this weekend WASHINGTON President Trump delivered a lengthy speech defending his record and railing against his Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, on the final night of the Republican National Convention on Thursday. Trump spoke from the South Lawn of the White House, in a departure from longstanding tradition and, potentially, in violation of ethics rules that bar the use of the presidents official residence for political events. He began by presenting an optimistic vision for the country under a second term of his leadership. We will reach for new heights of national achievement. We will rekindle new faith in our values, new pride in our history, and a new spirit of unity that can only be realized through love for our great country, Trump said as he formally accepted the Republican presidential nomination. We understand that America is not a land cloaked in darkness. America is the torch that enlightens the entire world. He repeatedly argued that Democrats are focused on tearing down the country by focusing on racial and economic injustices. Describing Novembers election as a contest between two starkly different agendas, he argued that, on the contrary, the country is a beacon of success and is likely to stay that way as long as Biden is not elected. Despite all of our greatness as a nation, everything that we have achieved is now in danger. This is the most important election in the history of our country, Trump said, adding, This election will decide whether we save the American dream or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny. President Trump addresses the Republican National Convention at the White House on Aug. 27, 2020. (via Reuters TV) Trump then turned to a dominant theme at his partys convention this week: the idea that Democratic support for protests over racial issues is tantamount to supporting the rioting that has taken place alongside demonstrations. Your vote will decide whether we protect law-abiding Americans or whether we give free rein to violent anarchist agitators and criminals who threaten our cities, he said. This election will decide whether we will defend the American way of life, or whether we will allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it. Story continues While Trump conceded that wrongdoers involved in police misconduct should be held fully and completely accountable, he went on to say that the protests that began over high-profile police killings of Black Americans have gone too far. We can never have a situation where things are going on as they are today, he said. We must never allow mob rule. We can never allow mob rule. Elements of Trumps speech were wildly contradictory and sometimes misleading. He suggested that anyone who criticizes the country is unpatriotic, just before going on to say that the streets of U.S. cities harbor dangerous criminals who could topple society. He warned citizens that they will have to live in fear under Biden, while implying they have much to fear right now. In his critiques of the recent protests, which have sometimes turned violent and even deadly, the president was implicitly decrying the state of the country under his own presidency. Protests were raging a few blocks from the White House as the president spoke, and reporters said noise from the demonstrations was audible on the South Lawn. Trump also offered dire warnings about how Biden would handle the pandemic, noting that the former vice president has said he would consider shutting down the country again if scientists deemed it necessary. Joe Biden wants to inflict a painful shutdown on the entire country. His shutdown would inflict unthinkable and lasting harm, Trump said. The cost of the Biden shutdown would be measured in increased drug overdoses, depression, alcohol and drug addiction, suicides, heart attacks, economic devastation, job loss and much more. Biden has said he would follow expert recommendations in determining whether a new lockdown would be necessary, but Trump claimed that his approach is not following the science. In the six months since the pandemic, Trump has repeatedly questioned the scientific consensus around the virus. The final night of the convention offered a vivid example of this disregard. He spoke before a packed crowd, very few of whom were wearing masks, in defiance of his own administrations guidelines. The president also took liberals to task for political correctness and what he described as repressive mandates calling for the use of approved words and phrases. As his poll numbers have dropped in recent months, Trump has started to focus on what he sees as the conformity of thought demanded by the left. The goal of cancel culture is to make decent Americans live in fear of being fired, expelled, shamed, humiliated and driven from society as we know it, he said. Declaring that Biden and other Democrats are in league with dangerous radicals, Trump vowed that he would not give in. If the Democrat Party wants to stand with agitators, rioters, looters and flag burners, that is up to them, he said. I, as your president, will not be part of it. The Republican Party will remain the voice of the patriotic heroes who keep America safe and salute the American flag. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: While both North Carolina and Mississippi have mandates for people to wear face coverings in public places to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Tate Reeves did not while speaking at this rally for Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest at the Rowan County Fairgrounds in Salisbury, N.C., on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020. Forest is running for governor against incumbent Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. Reeves said Tuesday, Aug. 25, at a news briefing, that he wore a mask 90% of the time while in North Carolina and that he only took his mask off to speak at the rally in support of Forest. (Ben Stansell/The Salisbury Post, via AP) As the coronavirus death toll mounts around the world, the U.S. state of Iowa closed bars in several of its largest counties in response to swelling numbers of confirmed virus cases and debates flared around the country over mask requirements. Elected officials in a Mississippi city got into a dispute after some refused to wear masks, prompting the mayor to clear out the room and enforce social distancing between board members after the meeting restarted. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization's top official in Europe said Thursday that rising infections among young people could spread to older people and cause an uptick in deaths. Dr. Hans Kluge said younger people are likely to come into closer contact with the elderly as the weather cools in Europe and families move activities inside. More than 800,000 people across the world have died from the virus and more than 24.2 million have contracted it, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins Universityfigures experts say understate the true toll because of limited testing, missed mild cases and other factors. In Italy, the day-to-day increase in new cases rose again on Thursday. And a senior U.N. humanitarian official said reports of Syrian health care facilities filling up and increasing death notices and burials appear to show that actual cases of COVID-19 "far exceed official figures." People crowd the commuter train platforms at Atocha station in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. Authorities in Madrid, the hottest spot in Spain's new surge of coronavirus contagion, said Wednesday they only consider very localized stay-at-home orders for the worst-hit areas of the Spanish capital, discarding the idea locking down the city of 3.3 million. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas) IOWA CLOSES BARS Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered that all bars be closed in six of the state's largest counties in response to surging numbers of confirmed coronavirus cases blamed in part on young people ignoring mask and social distancing recommendations in such establishments. Reynolds ordered the action in Black Hawk, Dallas, Linn, Johnson, Polk and Story counties effective at 5 p.m. Thursday on a day when the state saw nearly 1,500 confirmed cases, a new high that topped levels recorded in the spring. In a 24-hour period as of Thursday morning, Iowa recorded 1,475 confirmed cases, surpassing the April 25 total of 1,284. During that period, there were 18 more deaths for a total of 1,079. Reynolds said the increased cases are largely due to young people gathering, especially those returning to state universities. Former workers of a bus route that was privatized, demand economic help from the government during a protest in Mexico City's main square, the Zocalo, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. According to the demonstrators they still have not been paid from when they were retired by the government almost two decades ago. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) In Story County, where Iowa State University is located, 28% of tests reported Wednesday were positive, and in Johnson County, where the University of Iowa is centered, it was 25%, according to state data. ITALY CASE NUMBERS RISE Italy's day-to-day increase in new cases rose again on Thursday but so did the number of COVID-19 swab tests done in the last 24 hours. The nation where Europe's coronavirus outbreak began registered 1,411 new cases since the previous day, raising to 263,949 the total of known infections. Many of the newly infected are travelers returning from countries with many clusters of COVID-19 or from Sardinia, a popular Italian vacation island, as well as from tracing contacts with these cases. Dozens of cases have now been linked to clusters in trendy discos on Sardinia's Emerald Coast. A woman sunbathes at the 'Biblioteca degli alberi' (Trees' Library) public park, as space around umbrellas is marked with chalk to keep social distance and prevent the spread of COVID-19, at the Porta Nuova business district in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) Several airports, including in Rome, Milan and Naples, as well as seaports now test travelers as soon as they disembark from aircraft or ferries. Most of those infected lately are in their 30s, 20s or teens, and often are asymptomatic. Still the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients has been creeping upward. A month ago, the number of hospitalized patients had dipped to just over 700. In contrast, early in Italy's devastating outbreak, some 30,000 patients were hospitalized nationwide on any given day. On Thursday, 76 additional persons needed hospitalization, for a total of 1,131 non-intensive care patients in Italian hospitals. Italy's known death toll increased by five, to a total of 35,463. WHO SCIENTIST SAYS MASKS NOT ENOUGH A top scientist at the World Health Organization said wearing masks alone to protect against the spread of the coronavirus isn't enough, expressing concerns that people are growing too lax on maintaining physical distancing. Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead of WHO's emergencies program, says she's becoming "a little bit concerned" that use of masks appear to be leading some people to think they don't need to keep safe distances from others. People crowd the commuter train platforms at Atocha station in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. Authorities in Madrid, the hottest spot in Spain's new surge of coronavirus contagion, said Wednesday they only consider very localized stay-at-home orders for the worst-hit areas of the Spanish capital, discarding the idea locking down the city of 3.3 million. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas) "We're seeing that people aren't really adhering to the physical distancing anymore," she told reporters at a regular WHO news conference. "Even if you're wearing masks, you still need to try to do the physical distancing of at least 1 meter (3 feet) and even further if you can." The U.N. health agency has laid out a number of recommendations including physical distancing, regular and thorough hand-washing, use of masks and other measures to fight COVID-19. "So it's not just masks alone. It's not just physical distancing alone," Van Kerkhove said. "It's not just hand cleaning alone. Do it all." MASK DISPUTE DISRUPTS CITY MEETING Elected officials in a Mississippi city got into a dispute after some refused to wear masks to guard against the new coronavirus, prompting the mayor to clear out the room and enforce social distancing between board members after the meeting restarted. Wearing masks to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, police guard the city government building during a protest in Mexico City, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) The feud in McComb meant the only way the public could watch the Board of Selectmen conduct business Tuesday night was on a video feed with poor audio quality, the Enterprise-Journal reported. Mississippi remains under Republican Gov. Tate Reeves' order for people to wear masks in public. McComb also has a local mask mandate. SYRIAN CASES COULD BE HIGHER A senior U.N. humanitarian official says reports of Syrian health care facilities filling up and increasing death notices and burials appear to indicate that actual coronavirus cases "far exceed official figures" confirmed by the government. Assistant Secretary-General for humanitarian affairs Ramesh Rajasingham told the U.N. Security Council on Thursday that "rising patient numbers are adding pressure to the fragile health system." He said many people "are reluctant to seek care at medical facilities, leading to more severe complications when they do arrive," and "health workers still lack sufficient personal protective equipment and associated supplies." Ultra-Orthodox Jewish students study religious texts in a yeshiva, or Jewish seminary, using protective plastic shields set up amid the coronavirus pandemic, that allows the customary practice of learning together with a partner, in Bnei Brak, Israel, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. Israel's ultra-Orthodox Jewish community has been especially hard hit by the country's coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) A young boy stands near a coronavirus-themed mural as a motorist rides past by in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) Of the 2,440 cases confirmed by the Ministry of Health, Rajasingham said, "the majority cannot be traced to a known source." He said several health facilities suspended operations this month because of capacity issues and staff becoming infected. In Al Hol camp in northeast Syria, where 65,000 mainly women and children connected to Islamic State fighters are detained, Rajasingham said "12 health facilities had to suspend operations this month due to staff becoming infected, having to self-isolate, or due to lack of personal protective equipment." He said, "both field hospitals at the camp have since resumed operations." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. A mother-of-two has revealed how she told her husband she was gay - just moments after her partner came out as transgender. Jenni Barrett, 37, tied the knot 15 years ago to a man called Sean but, while they remain happily married and devoted to their children, Morgan, 13, and Toby, 11, her husband is now transitioning and identifies as a woman called Sarah, 38. The couple, both teachers, from Phoenix, Arizona, made their admissions to each other on the same night, with Jenni revealing that she was a lesbian just moments after Sarah's bombshell revelation that she was transgender. Sarah has since undergone hormone therapy and a breast augmentation, and will have gender-affirming surgery next year - after the procedure was pushed back because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jenni says their experience, in turn, helped their eldest son, Morgan, to become his 'true authentic self,' and he came out as gay two years later in 2018. Mother-of-two Jenni Barrett (right), 37, came out as gay on the same night that her husband (left) came out as transgender - and the two (pictured with their kids) remain happily married Jenni and Sarah on their wedding day, before Jenni was aware of Sarah's gender confusion Now posting regularly about their incredible story on social media the couple have proved that 'love conquers all' and want to show other couples that relationships can 'survive a transition.' Jenni recalled: 'Sarah rolled over one evening in bed in 2016 and told me, "I really need to talk to you - I think I'm trans." 'I'd come to realize why I'd always been so drawn to her, it was because of who she was on the inside - a woman - and not her shell. 'I turned around and said, "That's ok - I think I'm gay."' Falling head over heels in love after they met at a friend's house party in March 2004, Jenni and Sarah - who was assigned male at birth - have been inseparable ever since. Jenni recalled: 'We met through a friend at Arizona State University where we were training to be teachers. 'Sarah - who went by Sean back then - had a crush on me straight away, but unfortunately I was taken. 'Three years later, when he found out I'd broken up with my ex, he got our friend to throw a house party so we could meet. 'We always joke that he was my stalker, but really we've been inseparable ever since. 'I knew he was The One as soon as he gave me a killer head massage that same night. Sarah relaxing in the pool. The couple made their admissions to each other in 2016 on the same night Sarah, Jenni, Morgan and Toby visit Disney land. Jenni said their realization in 2016 helped son Morgan (left), who came out as gay two years later, to become his 'true authentic self' 'I told myself I'd play hard to get after he left a voicemail trying to set up a second date. I waited 20 minutes before calling him back - that's how hard I was to get.' After breaking up for the summer holidays in April 2004, the pair split their time between Jenni and Sarah's family homes. And, in June that year, Sarah felt confident she had met the woman she wanted to stay with for the rest of her life. 'Sarah took me to a pretty vantage point overlooking Mount Mingus in the Black Hills of Yavapai County - a large mountain range in central Arizona,' Jenni recalled. 'We had a picnic, with cheese and wine, and when I turned back from admiring the view, there was a red rose with an engagement ring on it.' Jenni and Sarah (left) at college, they met at a friend's house party in March 2004. The couple now, after Sarah's transition (right) Moving in together for their final year of studies, in September 2004, the couple went on to tie the knot on December 18, 2005. At the time, Jenni knew nothing about her partner's gender confusion, but now says her attitude to the wedding preparations should have been a sign. She laughed: 'I didn't clock it at the time, but looking back at the wedding, Sarah was a bit of a bridezilla. 'I was happy to elope and get married just us two, but she organised every part of the big day, from tableware to the venue - all I did was try on the dress and turn up.' Settling into married life, the couple's family felt complete after the birth of their sons - Morgan in 2007 and Toby in 2009. Jenni (left) said that although she had noticed Sean wearing women's clothing she did not want to point it out and knew that her partner, now Sarah (right), would tell her when ready In hindsight, Jenni finds it sad that, despite their happiness, Sarah was suppressing who she really was. She said: 'I've since learnt that Sarah has always had a strong desire to wear women's clothing, but that she felt ashamed. 'She would try on her mum's bikini or her sister's clothes, but always in secret. Sarah recovering from her breast augmentation surgery 'After she came to college, she suppressed those desires.' But, after Toby was born, Jenni started to notice Sarah's unusual shopping habits. Jenni said: 'Sarah would come home with a pair of silk pajamas, clearly for women, and ask if it was weird if she wore them. 'She started buying a lot of clothes like that, which were on the edge of what is seen as male or female. 'She would wear a nightie to bed and on date nights she'd be wearing countless layers of clothes with a bra underneath, so no one could see. 'I noticed something going on, but it wasn't hurting anybody so I left it. 'Slowly, she started replacing her boxer shorts with women's lingerie - after a while getting rid of all her men's underwear. 'I didn't say anything though. It was as if we'd both silently agreed not to discuss it - maybe it was some sort of survival method, who knows?' Within a couple of years, Sarah had amassed an entire second wardrobe of women's clothing. Jenni said: 'For a long time, she pretended all the clothes were for me. 'One item that really sticks out is a pink, strappy satin top that was very out of my clothing style. 'It totally didn't make sense for her to buy me that. I never wear pink, satin or strappy. 'I kept it in my closet without ever wearing it. The happy family who hope to prove that relationships can survive through gender transitions 'We look back and laugh about it now. It was like we both just agreed to pretend it didn't exist. 'It was the elephant in the room that we didn't talk about. 'I didn't tell anyone either, as we run in the same circles, so if I told my friends or family it would feel like I was sharing Sarah's innermost secrets with people close to both of us.' Then, in 2012, Sarah started wearing women's clothes when she began teaching remotely online - thinking that her wife would not know. Jenni said: 'The class couldn't see what she was wearing, but from the moment me and the kids were out of the door, she would slip on some heels and a skirt. 'Then, 20 minutes before we were due home, she'd set an alarm to get changed. 'I knew she was wearing the clothes at home, though. 'It was obvious that if she had an entire wardrobe of women's clothes, she would be wearing them somewhere. Teaching from home was the perfect place for her to do so. Jenni (left) and Sarah (right) at their graduation at Arizona State University 'There were clues, too. I'd be doing the laundry and there would be women's clothes that I definitely hadn't worn - so I knew Sarah must have been wearing them. 'People never believe it, but I can honestly say that I never felt any betrayal or sense of being lied to. 'I guess, by that point in our relationship, I already knew that Sarah was trans. 'Looking back, part of me was scared to have my suspicions confirmed, another part of me didn't want her to feel uncomfortable. 'I didn't want to point the finger and be wrong. It didn't feel like my place. 'We've had conversations since about this time in our lives and it turns out we were both silently Googling. 'I was looking up, "Is my partner transgender?" and Sarah was Googling, "Am I transgender?". 'During that period I did the grieving for my husband in private - way before Sarah came out. 'It was mostly when I went to bed, I'd hit the pillow and be hit by a few tears, unable to shut off my mind. 'But it wasn't all consuming. I made the decision to persevere and be with Sarah regardless - she's my soulmate. Jenni and Sarah's first year of marriage, 2006. The couple had son Morgan in 2007 and Toby in 2009 'It was pretty grim looking back, but I knew that Sarah would tell me when she was ready. 'I wasn't worried about the boys finding out at that point as we used the wardrobe to hide their presents - it was last place they'd ever look. 'They know their parents' room is off limits.' But hiding who she really was soon started to take its toll on Sarah. Jenni said: 'Sarah started becoming withdrawn and shutting herself away. She wasn't filled with the same light. 'I turned to her and said, "I think you're depressed''.' Sarah's chest after recovering from a breast augmentation Eventually, it was the couple's suspicions that their eldest boy, Morgan, might be gay that gave Sarah the courage to address her own demons. 'We'd suspected Morgan was gay since he was about two,' said Jenni. 'He just can't hide it - not that we would ever want him to. 'He was born singing theme tunes and being over the top. 'As he started secondary school, in 2016, Sarah and I discussed how we wanted him to be comfortable enough to come out as gay and be his true, authentic self. 'That's what drove Sarah to hold up a mirror to herself and come out as trans. 'If she couldn't be honest with Morgan, how could she expect him to be honest with himself?' Vowing to stay together after Sarah came out in mid-2016, the couple then told their children. Jenni continued: 'Kids don't over-complicate things. 'We explained that Daddy had a girl's brain and that it was in the wrong body - but doctors would fix it. The boys call Sarah 'Eema' - Hebrew for Mother, and quickly came to terms with their father's transition 'Toby took it really well, but Morgan was upset for a while, maybe as he was confused, too. He was crying in bed that same night, but when Sarah promised they could still play Minecraft together he was fine! 'Now, we're both Jewish, the boys call Sarah 'Eema' - Hebrew for Mother.' After months of counselling and being given the green light to start transitioning, in May 2017 Sarah officially came out on Facebook just hours before flying to Hawaii, USA, for a 10-day family holiday. 'Everyone was so positive and supportive when they read the post,' Jenni said. 'It was the beginning of the next chapter for all of us.' Starting hormone therapy on July 17, 2017, Sarah now takes a combination of testosterone blockers and estrogen every day. Describing what it was like seeing Sarah going through a 'second puberty,' Jenni said it was similar 'to having a third child in the house.' Jenni, Toby, Morgan and Sarah. They said they received a positive response after announcing news of Sarah's transition on Facebook She continued: 'There were a lot of tears and mood swings for the first two or so years. 'But it was amazing being able to see the shift in Sarah's body. Within six months, fat was starting to move around. 'She started developing a more womanly figure, growing little breasts and getting higher cheek bones.' Over a year after starting hormone therapy, Sarah paid $4,400 to have a breast augmentation in October 2018. Initially intending to complete her transition with gender confirmation surgery - when the testes and penis are removed to create a vagina, vulva and clitoris - in June this year, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sarah's operation has been pushed back to 2021. 'Because we're both teachers, the only time Sarah can have the surgery done is over the summer holidays, as it's quite a hefty recovery,' Jenni explained. 'She's very eager to get it done, but COVID-19 has messed that up. 'I'm looking forward to it too. I don't think it's going to change anything for us - even in the bedroom. 'Since Sarah came out we have been closer than ever - in all ways - and when we are being intimate, we act as if that part of her isn't there.' Describing themselves as an LGBT family, since Sarah began her transition the couple have been posting about their journey on Instagram. Jenni said: 'Even when Sarah came out it was a very different world out there for trans representation. 'Looking online there was so little about trans couples - especially married ones - who happily stayed together. 'Now I hope we can show other people that it is possible to weather the storm. 'We're so proud of our LGBT family, although we do always say that, after Morgan came out in 2018, Toby must feel left out. 'He jokes that he's going to have to come out as bisexual to fit in!' Counting down the days until her gender confirming surgery next year, Sarah cannot wait to reach the milestone. Sarah said: 'I feel like that's the final chapter in my journey and I can't wait to achieve it. 'It's the final barrier stopping me from entirely seeing myself as a woman. 'I used to hate looking at my body and never wanted to see myself naked. Now I finally like what I see - apart from one part. 'There's no rule book to being trans, but this is something I know I need to do. 'And it's fantastic to know that Jenni and our boys will support me all the way.' A freight train that derailed and caught fire in South Wales was hauling 25 wagons each holding up to 100 tonnes of diesel or gas oil, investigators said. Ten of the train's wagons derailed as it passed through Llangennech, near Llanelli, at 11.15pm on Wednesday. The derailment and subsequent damage to the wagons 'resulted in a significant spillage of fuel and a major fire', the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said. A train that derailed while passing through Llangennech, near Llanelli, on Wednesday was hauling 25 wagons each holding up to 100 tonnes of diesel or gas oil The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said the derailment and subsequent damage to the wagons 'resulted in a significant spillage of fuel and a major fire' Following the fire at 11.15pm on Wednesday, around 300 people within an 800-metre exclusion zone were asked to move as a major incident was declared The RAIB added its investigation will seek to identify the causes of the derailment and how these led to the fire, as well as 'any underlying management factors'. Local people reported 'seeing a plume of flames and smoke, and the strong smell of fuel', the RAIB also said. The driver, who was unhurt, reported the accident to a railway signaller. No one was injured in the fire and two workers who were on the train are set to be interviewed by police. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the fire has been extinguished and control of the scene was handed over to British Transport Police and Network Rail at 8.30am on Friday, more than 33 hours after the accident happened. There were fears that diesel spillage into the nearby River Loughor could spell disaster for the local cockle fishery industry, with the Food Standards Agency advising the closure of shellfish beds in the area's estuary. The RAIB said its investigation will seek to identify the causes of the derailment and how these led to the fire, as well as 'any underlying management factors' Local people reported 'seeing a plume of flames and smoke, and the strong smell of fuel', investigators have said Two employees were on board the train at the time, but no injuries have been reported, shocking pictures show flames and smoke billowing into the night sky during the blaze The train, owned by DB Cargo UK, was travelling from Robeston oil refinery in Milford Haven to a fuel distribution terminal in Theale, Berkshire. Officers declared a major incident and knocked on the doors of houses in an 800-metre exclusion zone, asking around 300 people to move to the nearby Bryn School and Llangennech Community Centre. Police were said to have told the locals the train could 'explode at any moment'. The residents were allowed to return to their homes after 5am on Thursday. Locals described balls of smoke billowing into the sky and the smell of diesel as they were taken out of their homes and placed into two evacuation centres. Mum-of-three Louise Perkins, 38, said she was forced to leave her home with her children aged 19, 12, and seven at midnight. Around 300 people were taken to two evacuation centres on Wednesday night, they were allowed to return to their homes after 5am on Thursday The train, owned by DB Cargo UK, was travelling from Robeston oil refinery in Milford Haven to a fuel distribution terminal in Theale, Berkshire The fire was extinguished and control of the scene was handed over to British Transport Police and Network Rail at 8.30am on Friday, more than 33 hours after the accident Ten wagons of the train, which were each carrying up to 100 tonnes of highly-flammable fuel, derailed in the accident on Wednesday night Louise said: 'There was this massive fire and black smoke. 'As we left it was just fire - you could see like balls of it puffing up, and smell the smell of diesel. 'It was just everywhere, and there were just black, black clouds of smoke in the air.' Louise said she was told by officers that the train could explode at any moment after it was derailed at about 11.20pm. She said: 'At that point my children were up and and they got really distressed. Nearby residents described balls of smoke billowing into the sky and the smell of diesel as they were taken out of their homes Two members of the train's crew escaped unharmed following the blaze and will be interviewed by police 'They were worried - 'oh, what if our house catches fire, what about all the stuff?' 'I told them not to panic But my youngest was really upset, she's seven, she was just heartbroken, she was crying.' The blaze - which broke out at around 11.20pm on Wednesday - is being investigated by specialist investigators from British Transport Police. A BTP spokesman said: 'A cordon around the scene will remain in place and people are still being advised to avoid the area.' British Transport Police Assistant Chief Constable Sean O'Callaghan said: 'This is a significant incident. Residents within the exclusion zone were moved to the nearby Bryn School and Llangennech Community Centre after the fire broke out 'Resources from across BTP, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Dyfed-Powys Police have been deployed to the scene to mitigate damage to the surrounding area and ensure the safety of all those living nearby. 'The fire continues and there is still a substantial risk within its immediate vicinity, so our advice remains for people to avoid the area. 'Our officers will be conducting initial enquiries into the incident and are in the process of securing key witness statements and CCTV. 'Once the fire has been extinguished, and the scene is safe to assess and investigate, we'll be working with the Office of Rail and Road and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to establish the exact circumstances behind the incident.' One resident, Mum-of-three Louise Perkins, 38, said said she was told by officers that the train could explode at any moment as she was forced to leave her home There are fears diesel spillage into the River Loughor could spell disaster for the cockle fishery industry, as the Food Standards Agency advised the closure of shellfish beds Police are working with the Office of Rail and Road and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to look into what caused the fire Locals could see the fire raging from miles away after it broke out just after 11pm on Wednesday Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were contacting people living in the evacuation area and asking them to leave their homes and convene at Bryn School. Superintendent Ross Evans said: 'This is a fast-moving situation, which has been declared a major incident. 'There are a significant number of emergency services personnel at the scene, and an evacuation zone has been put in place. 'Officers are in contact with people within that area asking them to leave their homes, and we urge people to comply with officers' requests to ensure a swift and efficient evacuation.' 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. Steel Strip Wheels gained 3.5% to Rs 492 after the company received new orders for over 253,000 euros from Europe. Steel Strip said it bagged export orders of nearly 37,000 wheels for EU caravan trailer market. The company said the order is to be executed in November & December from its Chennai plant. The firm expects orders of similar capacity from the same customer base as businesses have picked up speed. Steel Strip on Thursday announced that it has bagged new orders worth $128,000 from US & EU market. The firm received export orders for around 12,000 wheels for US & EU caravan trailer market to be executed in September and October from its Chennai plant. The company said that production at the Chennai steel wheel plant will cross 100% utilization in both passenger and truck lines. SSWL is engaged in the manufacturing of steel wheel rims catering to different segments of automobile industry. The firm operates in automotive wheels segment. Its geographical segments include India and overseas. On a standalone basis, the company reported a net loss of Rs 5.25 crore in Q4 March 2020 as against a net profit of Rs 19.92 crore posted in Q4 March 2019. Net sales declined 26.5% to Rs 387.07 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Finnish town Lahti residents are given rewards such as bus tickets, coffee, or cake should they have reduced carbon emissions. Reduced Carbon Emission with Rewards The initiative was made possible because of a project called "Citicap," funded by the EU. A Lahti resident is provided with an app that allows them to track carbon emissions as they move around: whether they are driving a car, using public transport, riding a bike, or walking. A "carbon allowance" is allocated for each person every week. The app tracks the carbon emissions from the user's mobility. Users with less than their allocated carbon allowance are rewarded with "virtual euros." These rewards may be used for swimming, getting free bus tickets, free bike lights, or a slice of cake and even a coffee. For a highly dependent town on cars, the project aims that by 2030, the use of vehicles in Lahti is reduced by sustainable transport modes into half. For now, Lahti scores 44 percent. READ: Real Estate Website Provides Flood-Risk Score for Every American Home Carbon Allocation for Reduced Carbon Emission Each participant is allocated a weekly carbon "budget" based on their circumstances. According to the project's head of research, Ville Ususitalo, an average person in Lahti emits 21 kilograms (46 pounds) of CO in a week, and the app hopes to reduce these by encouraging users to use public transport or by instead to cover 12 miles of their usual travel. Researchers are trying to figure out if huge rewards could encourage citizens not to use their cars more often. "It's possible to earn two euros if your mobility emissions are really low," Uusitalo said. The project, however, plans to increase the amount tenfold in autumn. READ ALSO: Packaging Makes Up 33% of Plastic Waste, but What Other Types Contribute to Its Accumulation? Citicap Project The project aims to develop an innovative method to encourage eco-friendly behavior using a personal carbon trading system that may be replicated in other cities. According to Anna Huttunen, the Citicap project manager, CitiCap has gained interest in Europe, the U.S., and Canada. It is patterned from the EU's carbon trading system scheme. In the mentioned scheme, companies and governments are provided with carbon credits and are using more than their allocated amounts must pay, or they can sell any surplus should they emit less. The lockdown led to a dramatic drop in car journeys. Thus, the app's impact cannot be assessed yet, but the project will continue collecting data next year. For now, the project reports that 2,000 residents have downloaded the app, while 200 are active users at a time. The project shows that residents found it interesting to track their emissions, Huttunen said. However, some critics raise the privacy implications of the app as it records all their travel. But City council worker Mirkka Ruohonen, an active app user, says, "I think all the apps that I use collect some information." Huttunen assured that the app meets the EU's data regulations, and external parties are not allowed to analyze the data. The app creators hope that rewards such as this can help people reduce other carbon-emissions such as food and other consumptions in the future. Lahti is eyed to be awarded as the "European Green Capital" for initiatives such as this. READ NEXT: How Hang Drying Clothes Can Help Save the Planet from Climate Change Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 07:47:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HOUSTON, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least four people died from major category 4 hurricane Laura which made landfall on Thursday morning, leaving devastating destructions in U.S. southern states of Louisiana and Texas, local media reported. Among the four dead was a 14-year-old girl who was killed when a tree fell on her family's home, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said. The governor warned that the number of casualties would grow as thousands of local, state and federal officials ran out to do search and rescue, survey damage and restore water and power. Spared the worst case of flooding and storm surge, Louisiana is dealing with "tremendous damage" from winds caused by the storm. According to local newspaper The Advocate, a riverboat casino was jostled loose and got wedged under the Lake Charles Bridge in West Louisiana on Interstate 10, causing the close of the highway. Moreover, fire broke out at a chlorine gas chemical plant in the area, prompting a shelter-at-home order from the governor. Besides, more than 600,000 homes and businesses were without power and it was not clear how long power would be out. Louisiana Department of Health also said at least 67 water systems are "inoperable," meaning more than 200,000 people are potentially having trouble accessing clean water. In neighboring state of Texas, Governor Greg Abbott on Thursday flew above the affected region with the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct a full survey of the damage. Abbott said Orange city in East Texas was hit hard by the storm. "You saw more rooftops ripped off," said the governor. "You saw big pieces of steel framing wrapped around some trees. You saw some roads that were still inundated under water." The powerful storm made landfall in Louisiana's Cameron Parish as a category 4 hurricane around 1 a.m. Thursday, making it the most powerful hurricane to hit Louisiana in 150 years. It brought screeching winds of a maximum speed of 240 kilometers per hour and heavy rainfall. The storm has weakened to a tropical storm, bringing heavy rains and tropical storm force winds over parts of the state of Arkansas, the National Hurricane Center said. Enditem Chandigarh, Aug 28 : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday urged Punjab Governor V.P. Singh Badnore to direct the Congress government to reconvene the Vidhan Sabha next month to discuss the burning issues of the state, saying the government has used the pretext of Covid-19 to run away from facing the ire of the people. In a letter to the Governor, the legislative group led by Sharanjit Singh Dhillon and other SAD legislators said that this intervention is necessary as there is a complete breakdown in parliamentary procedures in the state and corrective steps need to be taken to prevent the Congress government from making a mockery of democracy. The legislators also brought to the notice of the Governor the 'oppressive' tactics of the Vidhan Sabha Speaker and the Congress government which asked Chandigarh Police to barricade the residences of opposition legislators to prevent them from stepping out of their houses ahead of the session. They said never before in the history of the state had the movement of elected representatives, who had already announced that they would act responsibly, been restricted in this manner. They also urged the Governor to order an inquiry into the forced house arrest of SAD legislators. The legislative group said the one-hour session of the Assembly called by the government to fulfil its constitutional duty was against the spirit of democracy as well as parliamentary procedures. The legislators said that other state Assemblies as well as the Parliament are being convened for duration of up to two weeks and the Punjab Vidhan Sabha should be reconvened next month and due directions should be given to the state government at the earliest. Speaking about the pick-and-choose policy of Speaker Rana K.P. Singh, the legislators said the Speaker had deliberately made the legislators ineligible to attend the one-hour session. "If no contact with Covid-19 positive MLAs is the sole criterion for admission as has been related by the Speaker, then the latter is also ineligible to attend the session under the same rules. So are most Congress legislators who were in close contact with their colleagues who have tested Covid-19 positive," said the legislators. Five more volunteers were inoculated with the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine candidate in Pune district on Thursday as part of the phase II clinical trial launched in search for an antidote against the viral infection that is showing no signs of abating in the country. Three of the volunteers were administered the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine candidate at Bharti Vidyapeeth's Medical College and Hospital in Pune city, a senior doctor from the medical facility said. Two more volunteers were inoculated with the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine candidate at the KEM Hospital and Research Centre at Vadu in Shirur tehsil, 30km from Pune, an official said. Earlier, two volunteers, aged 32 and 48, were given a shot of the ''Covishied vaccine, being manufactured by the city-based Serum Institute of India (SII), on Wednesday when the phase II clinical trial of the medicine began at Bharti Vidyapeeth''s Medical College and Hospital. Also read: Coronavirus vaccine trials: 'Respect the process, be patient for two months,' says Adar Poonawalla "On Thursday afternoon, three more volunteers - two females and a male - were administered the vaccine candidate after their reports of RT-PCR test for COVID-19 and antibody test came negative," said Dr Sunita Palkar, in-charge of the research cell at the medical college. Meanwhile, authorities at KEM Hospital and Research Centre at Vadu said five volunteers were screened on Wednesday and reports for COVID-19 and antibody tests came negative for all of them. "Of these five, two volunteers were given vaccine at the hospital''s Vadhu facility on Thursday," said a senior official from KEM Hospital. Meanwhile, the vital health parameters of the two volunteers, who were administered the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine candidate at Bharti Vidyapeeth's Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday, are normal, the medical facility's deputy medical director Dr Jitendra Oswal said. Also read: Coronavirus vaccine: Phase 2 trials of Oxford candidate start in India; two get vaccinated "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," he said. "They have been given all the necessary emergency numbers (to contact in case of need) and our medical team is also conducting follow-ups with them," he added. The vaccine dose will be repeated on both the volunteers after one month, the hospital's medical director Dr Sanjay Lalwani earlier said. He said in all, 25 candidates will be given the vaccine in the next seven days. Also read: COVID-19 vaccine: Russia invites Moscow residents to join advanced trials for Sputnik V 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. The race for a COVID-19 vaccine is hotting up even as India continues to see a daily rise in number of positive cases. India''s virus tally has sprinted past the 33 lakh-mark. Early voting for the Sept. 1 Massachusetts primary election will come to an end Friday. Voters in the commonwealth were allowed to start casting their ballots early Aug. 22, marking the first time early voting has been allowed in a Massachusetts state primary. Saturday was also the final day residents could register to vote in the September election. Those who want to cast their ballots early before the day ends should check out their communitys early voting schedule and location at Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvins website. Residents who received their ballots by mail but have not mailed them in are encouraged to hand-deliver their ballots at their local early voting sites. If you are able to do so, the best way to ensure that your ballot is counted is to deliver it in person, Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin said. Ballots can be returned to early voting sites, ballot drop boxes, and local election offices. Voters this year have more options for returning their ballots than ever before. Ballots must be received by local election offices by 8 p.m. on Sept. 1 in order to be counted. Beyond early voting, residents can still cast their ballots in person at their polling place on the day of the election next month. Two Democratic primary fights in Massachusetts have occupied the news cycle for the past several months, including the Senate race between incumbent Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy III as well as the race for Massachusetts 1st Congressional District between incumbent Rep. Richard Neal and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse. Recent polling has put Markey as high as 12 percentage points ahead of Kennedy. An internal poll conducted earlier this month found that Morse is within 5 points of Neal, who was endorsed by The Republicans editorial board this week. Today is the last day of early voting in several communities where local election offices are closed Friday to prepare for next Tuesday's primary. Check your town's early voting schedule at https://t.co/jg3AQ7X59k if you plan to vote this week! Mass. Elections (@VotingInMass) August 27, 2020 Related Content: Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 10:30:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Interior Ministry of Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) on Thursday said that an armed group had indiscriminately fired at protesters in the capital Tripoli. "The Interior Ministry followed up an armed group's attack on the peaceful protesters later on Wednesday August 26, by indiscriminately firing and using machine guns, and forcibly kidnapping some of the protesters," the ministry said in a statement. "The Interior Ministry confirms that it has identified the armed group and the party it is affiliated to. The ministry confirms that it is ready to protect the unarmed protesters," the statement said. Many Libyans protested in central Tripoli against the political and security instability in the country, as well as a lack of basic services such as electricity and water. According to local media, it was a security force under GNA that fired at the protesters and arrested a number of them on Wednesday. The UN Support Mission in Libya on Monday called for a thorough investigation into the excessive use of force by "pro-GNA security personnel" in Tripoli. "The rights to peaceful assembly, protest and freedom of expression are fundamental human rights and fall within Libya's obligations under international human rights law," the mission said. Enditem Protected structure: One of the statues that was removed from outside the Shelbourne Hotel with gold-tinted ankle bracelets, which were misinterpreted to be shackles. The quartet are worth 200,000 to 300,000 As the deadline expires today for Dublin's Shelbourne Hotel to defend its recent breach of planning laws through the removal of four historic French made bronze statues from its frontage - or else restore them - their future remains more uncertain. "If they ever go back on their plinths, they'll need a 24-hour guard," says fine arts expert Ian Whyte. "They would be vulnerable to both theft and vandalism." Whyte is one of the city's most respected art valuation experts and a long serving fine arts auctioneer. He has estimated the current sale value of the four at between 200,000 and 300,000. The hotel, which is owned by Kennedy Wilson and run by Marriott International, removed the lamp-bearing statues at the end of July from their plinth positions on St Stephen's Green in light of the Black Lives Matter campaign and on the basis that they depicted 'slaves'. Each depicts a woman, holding a lamp in a frosted glass shade. Two wear Egyptian costume; the other two are African, but not from a specific country. The Black Lives Matter movement has led to the removal of many public sculptures, especially in the United States. The removal of the Shelbourne four has triggered a national debate on two counts; first because the hotel is a protected structure and alterations to the facade require planning permission. Dublin City Council is "not aware of permission being granted to remove the statues concerned". The matter is now under investigation by the Planning Enforcement Section. Secondly, the original catalogue shows that these particular designs were neither listed nor sold as 'slaves' while others listed in the same catalogue are. The quartet was cast in bronze at the Paris-based Fonderie d'Art du Val d'Osne from original sculptures by Mathurin Moreau (1822-1912). The quartet comprises two pairs, listed in the foundry catalogue as "Candelabre Egyptienne" and "Candelabre Negresse" respectively. All four are wearing gold-tinted jewellery, including ankle bracelets that resemble shackles, but which are historically interpreted as ornamental jewellery. From a fine-arts perspective, the statues are both of historical interest and artistic merit. The torch-bearers were installed as part of a major redesign by the Irish architect John McCurdy in 1867, and their original purpose was to create a sense of luxury and glamour at the threshold of the hotel, as well as illumination. "I used to see the sculptures outside the Shelbourne every day going to and from work," says James O'Halloran of Adams. "I never thought of them as slaves. They don't look enslaved." It seems that their erroneous association with slavery might have its origins in a history of the Shelbourne, written in 1951. In it, the novelist Elizabeth Bowen describes the statues as: "Nubian in aspect; holding a torch-shaped lamp. Two of the four are princesses; two are slave-girls." The debate around the statues has raised questions that are nothing to do with slavery. They come from an aesthetic tradition known as Orientalism which glamourised the bodies of women of colour. Orientalist art reflects an era where racism, sexism and colonialism were deeply embedded in material culture. For Philip Sheppard, auctioneer, erasing traces of our colonial past does not solve the problem. He asserts that such cultural objects are part of our history and we should be learning from them rather than getting rid of them. "We need to look at the things that we did wrong in the past to avoid making the same mistakes in the future." Should the Shelbourne statues come to auction, expert opinion is divided as to how the controversy will affect their value. Sheppard feels that the younger generation might be put off. "They'd want to see them in a museum context, but they wouldn't want to have them in their homes." Ian Whyte has a different perspective. "They're beautiful pieces of art. I hope that they don't come on the market because they're an integral part of the building but, if they do, there are collectors that would buy them." For some, the element of controversy would even be an attraction. Two further statues in the same series, formerly located in the Horseshoe Bar, were removed more than 15 years ago during renovations and are now on display in Cafe Bar H at Grand Canal Quay, Dublin. See whytes.ie; adams.ie; sheppards.ie. In the salerooms Sotheby's The display of Sotheby's annual Irish Art Sale before it travels to auction in the UK is a kind of Irish wake for paintings that will seek their fortunes abroad. This year, the sale includes 19 works from the collection of Sir Michael Smurfit, with a combined pre-sale low estimate of 2.9m. Many of these were previously on display at the K Club, Co Kildare; others were hung in Smurfit's own home. Expand Close In demand: Louis Le Broquy's Travelling Woman With Newspaper / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp In demand: Louis Le Broquy's Travelling Woman With Newspaper The sale takes place in London on September 9, with highlights on view at the RHA, Dublin, until Sunday, August 30 (tickets can be booked through eventbrite.ie). The probable highlight among them is Louis le Brocquy's Travelling Woman With Newspaper (est 786,000 to 1.123m). The sale also includes another portrait of a lady, Lady Evelyn Farquhar, by Sir John Lavery (est 674,000 to 898,000); the dreamy In Tir Na Nog, 1936, (est 337,000 to 561,000) by Jack B Yeats; and Portrait of WB Yeats, 1930, by Augustus John (est 79,000 to 112,000). Other pieces from the Smurfit collection will be sold at Sotheby's Irish Art Sale in 2021. See sothebys.com Adam's The sale of Important Irish Art at Adam's, previously scheduled to for March 25, will take place on Wednesday, September 2. It includes a late painting by Jack B Yeats, the Sick Bed (1950) (Lot 53: est 250,000 to 350,000) and the much smaller but equally haunting Bound For The Islands (1952) by the same artist (Lot 36: est 50,000 to 70,000). Other blue-chip offerings include Hay Stooks With Cottages by Paul Henry (Lot 16: est 50,000 to 70,000), which does what it says on the tin, and Henry's moody and atmospheric Bogland, Kerry (Lot 106: est 40,000 to 60,000). See adams.ie De Vere's The appetite for high-end Irish painting seems undiminished, with the top works at de Vere's auction of July 23 performing strongly, while the auctioneers report the online format attracted new bidders. The top five results were: Jack B Yeats, The Street Performer (1947) (184,000); Paul Henry, Achill Cottage, Lough Corrib (116,000); Louis le Brocquy Life Study (in 15 parts) (114,000) and Head of Francis Bacon (90,000); and Roderic O'Conor, Peonies And Iris In A Vase And A Bowl Of Fruit (78,000). See deveres.ie Donald Trump Jr retweeted a Twitter post in which a user explains how right-wing vigilante and alleged murderer Kyle Rittenhouse convinced him to vote for Donald Trump in the 2020 US election. The original post was written by Tim Pool, an independent reporter with a primarily right-wing audience, and describes how Mr Rittenhouses decision to cross state lines, murder two people and maim a third has led him to support Mr Trump. Kyle Rittenhouse is a good example of why I decided to vote for Trump. Violent extremists were destroying peoples lives for months, 30 people were killed. Democrats rejected Federal assistance every time Trump offered it. Media lied about Trump deploying secret police, he wrote. Finally some kid from a nearby town, about 20 minutes drive, decides to go up and protect businesses and offer medical support to people, even the rioters. He was threatened and shot at. He goes on to criticise the media, claiming that members of the press are attempting to paint extremists as good guys and goes on to say it has to stop now. Mr Rittenhouse, 17, 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, all with a deadly weapon. Mr Trump Jr also amplified a post in which Mr Pool noted recent federal charges that have been brought against 74 protesters in Portland. The DOJ is dropping the hammer, Mr Pool wrote. The US Department of Justice is charging 74 protesters from Portland with federal crimes. The charges include assaulting federal officers, arson, failing to obey lawful orders, and damaging federal property. The charges are alleged to have occurred between 1 July and 24 August. Most of the charges are related to arrests that occurred between 20 July and 31 July, when Mr Trump sent federal agents into Portland ostensibly to protect a federal court house. However, protesters claim the federal officers intentionally ratcheted up violence against the protesters. The DOJs aggressive move to prosecute protesters is a stark contrast to the policies put in place by the Multnomah County District Attorney, who said violations that did not involve deliberate property damage, theft, or threat of use of force against other people would not be prosecuted. The protests in Portland, Oregon and Kenosha, Wisconsin were both sparked by police violence against unarmed black men. The killing of George Floyd set off months of protests, including Fridays March on Washington in Washington DC and the Portland protests. The police shooting of Jacob Blake in which a police officer pursued Mr Blake to his car following a confrontation and shot him seven times in the back while he was trying to enter the vehicle prompted the protests in Kenosha. Mr Trump Jr has been a frequent critic of protesters and a frequent signal booster for right-wing narratives of the protests. Recommended Don Jr addresses rumors he was on cocaine during RNC speech On Friday, Mr Trump Jr shared video of senator Rand Paul being harassed by protesters as he and his wife left the White House following Mr Trumps Republican National Convention speech. Earlier in the week, Mr Trump Jr retweeted a post by Andy Ngo that detailed prior criminal charges that were brought against Mr Blake. There is currently no evidence Mr Blakes shooting was related to any of his past charges. He also boosted another live-streamer who shared videos of cars burning at a Kenosha car dealership, with the message peaceful protests. An Eat Out to Help Out restaurant today issued a scam warning after a woman offered to sell tables at fully-booked venues on the final day of the scheme for 20 each. The woman - using the name Susan Scott - claimed to have reserved 25 tables at seven booked out restaurants on Bank Holiday Monday, which is the final night of the scheme. 'Susan', from Blackpool, Lancashire, took to Facebook to offer the reservations. It is not clear if she is a scammer or a prankster. The woman - using the name Susan Scott - claimed to have reserved 25 tables at seven booked out restaurants on Bank Holiday Monday, which is the final night of the scheme A number of the establishments have now confirmed the bookings do not exist and that their restaurants still have space on Monday. Michael's Indian restaurant and Miller & Carter Steakhouse both confirmed the supposed bookings do not exist. A Miller & Carter spokesman said: 'We are aware of this and these tables are not booked so please do not pay any money anyway.' Social media users have hit out at 'Susan', accusing the person of running a fake account and being a 'troll'. It does not appear anyone has taken the offer up and parted with their money in exchange for the fake bookings. 'Susan' made the post on a private Facebook page called Blackpool Take Out Reviews yesterday. A number of the establishments have now confirmed the bookings do not exist and that their restaurants still have space on Monday The user wrote: 'Right weeks ago I booked loads of tables for final night of Rishi deal, and now selling them, all these are booked for certain times and amount of people, thought it would be worth making a few quid for final night.' The post offers nine places at two Miller & Carter Steakhouse restaurants for a total of 50. Bank Holiday Monday is the final day of the popular scheme The individual also advertises a table for two at a Chinese called Jade's Delight at 6pm for 10 and a bistro called Winstons at 7.30pm for the same price. Finally ten places at three different Indians, Micheals, Gurka and Baby Kingfisher, are offered for a total of 80. 'Susan' concludes the post: 'Inbox me for payment details and surname will be given once payment made.' 'Susan's' post, which many people say is a joke, has attracted 456 likes and 748 comments. Nicola Sorah said: 'I take it this is a joke?' Jessica Leigh Westrop posted: 'I am so worried about how many people are taking this seriously.' Alex Roper added: 'Funny how many people thinks this is real.' Felicity Martin said: 'As if anyone is going to pay you for a free table.' Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi traveled in June to Iran for his first trip outside of Iraq as the country's leader, and was well received, including statements of support from Iranian officials. His next trip abroad was to the United States on Aug. 19, followed by Jordan on Aug. 25, where he met with King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to discuss economic cooperation and joint security efforts. Here too, Kadhimi received praise for deepening ties with key allies and partners. This brings up the question: Will Iran still continue to support Kadhimi following his moves toward the United States and Arab world? Al-Monitor met with Iranian Ambassador to Baghdad Iraj Masjedi to get his viewpoint about Iran's relationship with Iraq in light of recent developments in the region. Masjedi said, Bilateral relations between countries are basically internal and related to the foreign policy of each country. We do not intend to interfere in an internal matter. Iraq is our friend and brother country, and its leaders recognize their national interests better than anyone. However, he expressed concerns about the US military presence in Iraq, saying, Iran believes [the US presence has] only resulted in increased insecurity, a growth of terrorism and will lead to the creation of new colonial mechanisms." This is in line with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's views on the same issue expressed in his conversation with Kadhimi during the prime minister's trip to Tehran. Iran does not interfere in Iraq-US relations, Khamenei told Kadhimi, before immediately pushing the Iraqi leader to work on ousting US forces from Iraq. The Islamic Republic expects officials in Baghdad to follow up on ousting Americans from Iraq because their presence sparks insecurity, Khamenei said, advising Iran's Iraqi friends to realize the nature of the United States as the enemy whose presence anywhere can be a source of corruption and destruction. Kadhimi's trip to Washington was sharply criticized by Iranian media outlets close to the supreme leader. How could Kadhimi want to meet with the killer of his people, Donald Trump?! wrote Hussein Shariatmadari, the managing editor of the Kayhan newspaper, prior to the trip. Shariatmadari was appointed by Khamenei. After the trip, Shariatmadari slammed Kadhimi for thanking the United States for its role in defeating the Islamic State and expressing Iraq's need for a US military presence to continue to confront the militant group. Iraqi groups close to Iran also criticized Kadhimi for what they viewed as an unsuccessful trip to Washington, and for not setting a clear and fast timetable for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. In a parallel development, attacks against US troops have been on the rise in Iraq. In response to a question about imposing the rule of law on a group of factions within the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) that are taking actions against the United States in Iraq, the ambassador said this issue is an internal matter. He did, however, express Iran's willingness to see security, order and reconstruction spread in Iraq." He said Iranian support for the Iraqi government is unconditional, whether Iraq decides to allow the US troops to stay or expel them. However, Masjedi reiterated how the Iraqi parliament voted in favor of a nonbinding resolution earlier this year to end the US troop presence in the country, and said he hopes this gets implemented very soon. The ambassador expressed Iran's eagerness to see Iraq empty of all foreign forces, not only the Americans. The presence of foreign forces, including the Americans, in Iraq exacerbates the climate of insecurity, the growth of terrorism and security challenges, Masjedi said. He accused the US forces of turning Iraq into a battlefield with Iran, saying that the United States "openly and shamelessly assassinated our senior military commander [Qasem Soleimani], who was the official guest of the Iraqi government." "Should such an action go unanswered? the ambassador questioned. Do you expect the resistance forces in Iraq, whose commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was martyred, to calm down? he asked, in reference to the PMU leader who was killed in the Jan. 3 drone strike alongside Soleimani. The ambassador denied any type of Iranian intervention in the decision-making and activities of military and political forces in Iraq known for being close to Iran and who often call themselves resistance forces." However, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, in a virtual panel conversation with the Atlantic Council accompanied by Finance Minister Ali Allawi, said the Iraqi government sees Iran's role in Iraq as being more than that normally seen in a typical bilateral relationship, and sought a rectification in Iraq's relations with Iran. Hussein, who like Allawi also serves as a deputy prime minister, said that Iran can have influence in Iraq but that the decision must be in the hands of Iraqis. "We have got this problem, he said. The foreign minister added, We are desperately in need for both sides [Iran and the United States] , but on one condition, they must not make the decision for us and in this case, the Iranians are intervening more, they decide for us, they have got different positions inside our political system." Hussein said he had attended a meeting where the Iraqi prime minister told Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, 'We want to have relations but on the basis of being equal, state to state.'" Yet what Hussein sees as abnormal in the Iran-Iraq relationship, Masjedi views as completely normal and natural. Iran and Iraq, as two historic neighbors, have many things in common that have intertwined their destiny, Masjedi said. We are neighbors forever, so no country wants the welfare and prosperity of Iraqi people more than we do." The ambassador said the nature of the relationship between Iran and Iraq is unchangeable. No matter what government is in power in Iraq, the relations between the two countries are so intertwined in different areas that no government can ignore them." He said the relationship between Iran and Iraq also involves a wide variety of economic, cultural and educational and even humanitarian aid. He said that Iran has been exporting electricity to Iraq for more than a decade and that Iran is working on building the largest Iraqi power plant in Rumaila in the southern province of Basra. The ambassador also said that Iran is building Zawra Stadium in Baghdad as well and that Tehran has provided various forms of aid, including oxygen to Iraq during the coronavirus pandemic. He accused the US sanctions on Iran as preventing the latter from working with greater capacity in Iraq. He said he hoped that the border disputes between Iran and Iraq get resolved soon so that the project of connecting Iran's railway to Iraqs could be quickly completed and revive the silk road connecting northern Iran to the Mediterranean sea in Syria through Iraq. In response to a question about Iraq's willingness to connect its electricity grid to the Gulf states, the ambassador said Iran has no objection to Iraq expanding its relationships with the Arab world; however, he said no other country can provide Iraq with the same quality of electricity as Iran. Kadhimi spoke about a new east in his meeting with the Jordanian king and Egyptian president, saying, We hope that the fraternal meeting will be a gateway to the future, serving our peoples, for a new brightness for development and prosperity, and for the consecration of the spirit of dialogue, understanding and security in the region. Kadhimi is showing that he is more than serious in maintaing positive international and economic relations with neighbors, the region, and the world, based on sovereignty and respect. He knows that Iraq's success depends on Iraq as a bridge not a battlefield, and that conflicts are replaced by cooperation, even if indirectly. This is no easy taks, given the current sharp and complex conflicts in the region, but it is the right one for Iraq. Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of United States Steel Corporation Global Credit Research - 28 Aug 2020 New York, August 28, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of United States Steel Corporation 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. United States Steel Corporation's (U. S. Steel) Caa1 Corporate Family Rating (CFR) captures the deterioration in performance and metrics that occurred in 2019, as the Flat-Rolled Products Segment experienced relatively flat shipments and lower realized prices while U. S. Steel Europe (USSE) saw declines in shipments and lower realized prices due to the slowing in European economies and important end markets such as automotive. The Tubular segment continued to post negative EBITDA on a continued decline in drilling activity and price pressure from increases in OCTG imports. Consequently, U. S. Steel entered 2020 with weaker debt protection metrics and increased leverage, which has left the company more vulnerable to the severe deterioration in market end demand for its products as a result of the coronavirus. The impact on key end markets, such as automotive, which had idled production capacity from approximately mid-March through mid-May, together with reduced drilling activity were contributing factors to the roughly negative $250 million EBITDA (adjusted for Moody's standard adjustments) in the second quarter ended June 30, 2020. While automotive is showing improvement, this is expected to be slow over the 2021/2022 time frame as will improvement in the oil and gas industry. Story continues The actions taken by U. S. Steel to respond to the extremely negative conditions, include the indefinite idling of operations at Lone Star Tubular, Lorain Tubular, the temporary idling of a number of blast furnaces (although some have been restarted upon resumption of automotive production at the OEM's) and additional other cost savings measures. Capital expenditures have been reduced to $750 million and include the delay of the Mon Valley Works projects, which we view as strategically important to the company's competitive position in the industry going forward, as well as the delay of the remaining Gary hot strip mill upgrades among others. Given anticipated expansions by competitors in flat-rolled capacity this could impact U. S. Steel's competitive position over the next several years. Against this backdrop, U. S. Steel's CFR is supported by its liquidity position, which included $2.3 billion in cash and equivalents at June 30, 2020, $190 in availability under the company's $2 billion ABL facility and $155 million in availability under its USSK facility. Although negative EBITDA moving to breakeven is expected over the next several quarters, the company's liquidity is expected to cover given working capital release expected in 2020 and absence of near-term debt maturities. 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 Steel Industry published in September 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. 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CHENGDU, China - Even during normal times, eating hot pot requires protection. Customers don aprons so they won't be splattered as they dip raw meat, seafood, vegetables and noodles into a cauldron of simmering broth. They stow their coats and bags in lockers to shield them from the lingering aromas of fat and spice. Wait staff dole out hair ties for women and plastic covers for phones within spitting distance of the pot. But in post-coronavirus China, there's a new safeguard at hot-pot restaurants: public chopsticks, intended only for transferring morsels from the pot onto an individual's plate. "Some people are curious and accept it, but other people say it's just not their habit to use serving chopsticks," said Han Mingjia as she waited tables at a branch of Dian Tai Xiang Hot Pot on Chengdu's "Hot Pot Street" on a recent Friday night. "It's a bit difficult for people to use serving chopsticks when they're eating hot pot compared with other food because when you're eating with friends, you're so happy that you just forget," she said. The idea of serving chopsticks is a radical change from China's usual practice of family-style eating, where people don't order individual meals but instead get numerous dishes to share, thinking nothing of putting their personal chopsticks in the communal plate and then in their mouth and then back into the plate. Chinese kids grow up learning rules about chopsticks: Don't wave them around or point them at others, don't use them to stab your food, don't suck on them or click them together noisily, and never, ever leave them sticking up out of your rice bowl - that's reminiscent of offerings to the dead. But none of the rules concerns double-dipping. Now, the coronavirus outbreak has injected new momentum into the stop-start campaign to change the practice of sharing food - an integral part of Chinese culture and an expression of closeness and affection. Zhang Wenhong, an infectious-diseases expert in Shanghai, has suggested that "separate dining" should become the "new normal." Describing the "scariest" custom from a public health perspective earlier this year, Zhang said it was people serving food with their own chopsticks. "What you see is food and wine, but all I see are all viruses and bacteria," he said at the opening of a food festival in Shanghai in April. Some organizations are promoting Nov. 11 - a date that, when written in numerals, looks like two pairs of chopsticks - as a "Day for Civilized Dining." But it's a tough sell. "It's a Chinese tradition and a custom that has been around for thousands of years, so it's difficult to change it," said Li Yibing, a food blogger in Chengdu who is involved in the public chopstick campaign. Chinese people began using chopsticks to share food in about the 12th century when they began using tables, said Q. Edward Wang, a history professor at Rowan University in New Jersey and the author of a book about chopsticks. Previously, people would hold their own bowls to eat, but with the common use of tables, people began laying out dishes to share. "In my opinion, it's just like any other custom. It takes time to form. And once it's formed, it's very difficult to change," he said. Many Chinese complain that using serving utensils would create distance between themselves and their friends or family members. Others say it is awkward to ask for serving chopsticks because it implies they think their dining companions are germ-infested. That's why the campaign in Chengdu, in the modern home of hot pot in Sichuan province, centers on the idea that you can show you care by not transmitting germs, rather than by feeding each other. The Chengdu Catering Industry Association has launched a campaign called "Use Public Chopsticks With People You Like" to try to overcome the cultural misgivings. "We want to tell people that it doesn't mean that you don't care about others, that it means that you really care about them and their health and that's why you're are doing this," said Qu Wenjie, a food blogger who, along with Li, has joined local authorities in proselytizing for public chopsticks. Just as hot-pot restaurants promote the quality of their meat or tout their hygiene practices, serving chopsticks could become another marker of high standards, she said. Hot pot is perhaps the most communal of shared foods. Diners throw their dinner into a vat of pork fat awash with spicy chilies and numbing peppercorns, and lean in with their chopsticks to stir their food. When it's done, they fish it out and gobble it down. In fact, the shared experience is part of the joy of hot pot, said Tang Yi, the founder of Dian Tai Xiang. "Hot pot promotes inclusiveness. You can cook everything from all parts of China in one pot," he said over a bubbling tub. "There is something for everyone." But the inclusiveness could extend to unwanted areas. Li Liangping, director of the gastroenterology department at Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital in Chengdu, said that using serving utensils reduced the risk of spreading hepatitis A and E, typhoid fever and dysentery, which can all be transmitted through saliva. "Infectious-disease prevention is more important than treatment. Using public chopsticks and sharing meals will reduce the chance of disease transmission," Li told Sichuan Online. As the coronavirus epidemic took hold in China early this year, communal eating drew closer scrutiny. One factor in the virus's rapid spread through Wuhan was a huge potluck meal on Jan. 18, where 40,000 families gathered to dip their chopsticks into communal banquet plates and which was found to be the source of an outbreak. Hot pot quickly fell out of favor, particularly in Hong Kong, where 11 of the 19 members of an extended family who celebrated the Lunar New Year together over hot pot contracted the disease. As restaurants have reopened, health authorities have seized the opportunity to change habits. The Communist Party-controlled media, usually aghast at any talk of groundswell change, has been promoting the need for a "table revolution" in China, calling serving utensils a kind of "vaccine" against coronavirus. But the campaign is most advanced here in Chengdu. At huge screens in shopping malls and on Jumbotrons on buildings' exteriors, signs promote "civilized dining." Restaurant chains and hotels have gotten in on the act - under threat of being summoned for a chat with the authorities if they don't - with servers guiding people to make the switch. But customers? Not so much. Few diners crowded around hot-pot tables with their friends or workmates at the Dian Tai Xiang branch on Hot Pot Street were bothering with the serving chopsticks. As two Washington Post reporters asked puzzled restaurant patrons about the concept, a waiter rushed over to place some serving chopsticks on the table. "I don't think it's necessary," said Yuan Rui, who is 24 and works in a hotel, as she shared hot pot with her friend. Using serving chopsticks would seem excessively polite, she said. "You know the Chinese word 'jianwai'? It means 'not willing to be close to each other.' " Liu Quan, an architect who was dipping pig innards into hot oil with a friend, said the concept of serving chopsticks was a strange one for Chinese people. Asked if he would use them at home, he was incredulous: "Of course I wouldn't use them with my family. I don't even use them with my friends!" A survey by the state-run Jiangsu News found that more people in the province - 64,000 - said that using serving chopsticks was annoying than said they would try it (57,000). Advocates like Qu and Li are not particularly optimistic that they will be able to effect change - especially not with hot pot. As Li put it: "When people eat hot pot they get excited, so they talk and communicate and are more free." - - - The Washington Post's Liu Yang contributed to this report. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 18:22:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAMPALA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni warned late Thursday that government ministers and politicians could get arrested for violating COVID-19 guidelines. Some ministers and politicians who should be setting an example for the public are instead flouting the guidelines, Museveni said in a statement posted on social media. "Regarding the politicians that have been gathering people contrary to the guidelines, my order to the IGP (Inspector General of Police) is now out. The order now is that do not put yourself in a situation where people gather around you. If you do, we shall arrest you," he said. "We had contained the disease because the majority followed the guidelines," Museveni said, urging politicians to stick to the guidelines and standard operating procedures issued by the country's health ministry. Despite a ban on public gatherings to stop the spread of the virus since March, politicians have been seen gathering people in preparation for next year's general elections. As of Thursday, Uganda has registered a total of 2,679 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 1,268 recoveries and 28 deaths, according to its health ministry. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 23:26:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- During the COVID-19 pandemic, some American politicians have disregarded the facts, fabricated and spread a series of lies to stigmatize China for political purposes. The so-called investigation report released by Michael McCall, a Republican and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was full of such prejudice and lies and based on deliberately pieced together incidents. Allegation 1: China failed to heed the lessons of the 2003 SARS outbreak, providing inaccurate information about the pandemic in the early stages and covering up the truth. Fact Check: COVID-19 is one of the greatest challenges that humans have encountered in centuries. At the beginning of the pandemic, mankind knew little about the source of the disease, the incubation period, ways of transmission, the pathogenic mechanism, the transmission power, the source of infection, and people's immunity. It took researchers time to accumulate evidence and deepen understanding of the virus. Until now, humans' understanding of it remains quite limited. At the outset of the COVID-19 outbreak, China, at the earliest possible date, took the initiative to release information to the public in an open, transparent and responsible manner and has communicated with the United States on many occasions about the pandemic. According to "Timeline of China releasing information on COVID-19 and advancing international cooperation on epidemic response," China's regular briefing on the outbreak with the World Health Organization (WHO), relevant countries and regions and China's Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan came on Jan. 3, 2020. Also starting Jan. 3, China began to inform the United States of the pneumonia outbreak and response measures on a regular basis. On Jan. 9, an expert team from the National Health Commission (NHC) made public a new type of coronavirus, initially identifying it as the cause of the viral pneumonia in Wuhan. China informed the WHO about the epidemic, sharing with the WHO initial progress in determining the cause of the viral pneumonia. The WHO released a statement, saying that the preliminary identification of a novel coronavirus in such a short period of time was a notable achievement. On Jan. 12, the China CDC, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the Wuhan Institute of Virology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as designated agencies of the NHC, submitted to the WHO the genome sequence of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which was published by the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) and shared globally. "The WHO has been in constant technical communication with China since Jan. 3 on the severity, transmission dynamics and the possibility of sustained human-to-human transmission, the clinical course, and effectiveness of treatments, and the WHO has provided detailed information to the international community under the framework of the International Health Regulations (IHR)," Dr. Gauden Galea, the WHO representative in China, told Xinhua on May 5. Allegation 2: China played down the risk of human-to-human transmission about the virus to the public. Fact Check: At the beginning of the pandemic, when there was a limited number of clinical cases, China's NHC grouped together experts of different disciplines to carry out etiological and epidemiological investigations to strengthen research on and judgment of the clinical manifestations of infected patients. On Jan. 12, China publicly shared the genetic sequence of COVID-19. On Jan. 20, a high-level expert team of China's NHC led by renowned Chinese respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan confirmed the people-to-people transmission of 2019-nCoV and infections among medical staff. Allegation 3: China manipulated statistics throughout the outbreak and excluded asymptomatic cases when collecting data of confirmed cases. Fact Check: Asymptomatic carriers usually refer to those that have no fever, cough and other clinical symptoms, but test positive for COVID-19. The asymptomatic cases have not been listed as confirmed cases for the following reasons: The asymptomatic carriers are divided into two groups, namely the inapparent infections and infections with no symptoms in the beginning. It is probable to call them asymptomatic infections from the view of management science. Besides, China has reported asymptomatic infections daily and also paid great attention to the suspected and confirmed cases. Furthermore, medical observation and quarantine measures are also applied to them. Allegation 4: The WHO lacks transparency in publicizing information and is actively engaged in an effort to defend China's leadership from criticism, negatively impacting the world's understanding of the virus and hampering the global response effort. Fact Check: The WHO is regarded as the most authoritative and professional international organization in global public health security. China, as a signatory of the IHR, has always taken the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough measures in the light of openness, transparency and responsibility, and earnestly fulfilled the provisions and obligations stipulated in the IHR regulation. Meanwhile the United States, attempting to shirk responsibility for its ineffective domestic control of the virus, has arbitrarily smeared China and informed the United Nations (UN) in July it would quit the WHO one year later after it refused to pay its membership dues. Allegation 5: China actively engaged in a cover-up designed to obfuscate data and hide relevant public health information. The COVID-19 pandemic could have been prevented if the Chinese side had acted in a transparent and responsible manner. Fact Check: An epidemic is a natural disaster, and not a man-made misfortune. China is the same as other countries in that it is a victim, not an offender. HIV cases were first reported in the United States and then spread globally; however, the international community has never asked the United States to shoulder the responsibility for the disease. Since the beginning of the outbreak, China, always in an open, transparent and responsible manner, has actively and promptly released relevant information about COVID-19, and communicated many times with the U.S. side. On May 1, Dr. Anne Schuchat, the No. 2 official at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pointed out in a report that while the U.S. administration imposed travel restrictions on China in late January, it didn't follow up with many European countries until mid-March. Those delayed travel alerts, free access to mass gatherings and limited testing all led to the surge of U.S. cases starting in late February. Enditem ROSEAU, Dominica, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- This release serves to confirm that Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar is not, nor has he ever been, a citizen of the Commonwealth of Dominica, neither through the Citizenship by Investment Programme nor any other means. As such, any publication by any media or by any person purporting otherwise is strictly false. It has long been the responsibility of the Citizenship by Investment Unit to safeguard the integrity of the Citizenship by Investment Programme through the use of sophisticated due diligence and vetting procedures. The Citizenship by Investment Unit applies a multi-tiered system of due diligence, involving both internal and external checks by reputable, top-tier, international due diligence firms based in the United States and the United Kingdom. These external firms perform thorough checks, including on-the-ground research, to produce exhaustive due diligence reports. In this way, Dominica maintains a firm commitment to professional ethics and ensuring the safety of Dominican citizens. Our aim remains not just to protect Dominica, but also to uphold the security of our international partners, whose support and trust we value and recognise as imperative for our own protection and sustainability. Please contact the Citizenship by Investment Unit if you have any queries on the above at [email protected]. cbiu.gov.dm SOURCE The Government of Dominica Related Links http://cbiu.gov.dm As the Justice Department prepares to file a landmark antitrust lawsuit against Alphabet Inc.s Google, a 2018 Supreme Court decision in favour of American Express Co. could complicate matters. Attorney General William Barr is expected as soon as September to sue the search and online advertising giant, alleging it engages in anticompetitive conduct, according to people familiar with the matter. Numerous states, which are also investigating Google, could join the lawsuit or file their own later, two of the people said, asking not to be named discussing a confidential matter. When the enforcers move, antitrust experts say theyll likely have to contend with the American Express decision, in which the high court said that the credit-card giant, like many other companies, operates in a so-called two-sided market. Conduct that may harm one side could benefit the other, the justices said, and government lawyers must prove harm to both sides. The decision has already caused the U.S. to suffer at least two losses in major antitrust cases. On the surface, the search giant and the credit-card issuer have little in common. But they both interact with customers in two distinct markets. American Express serves consumers who use the card to pay for purchases and retailers who accept the card in lieu of cash. Likewise, Googles display advertising business engages with advertisers on one side and publishers on the other, while its search unit serves advertisers and web users. Federal and state enforcers need to be prepared for Google to invoke the AmEx ruling in its defence, antitrust experts say. The company has argued that competition has helped lower the cost of online ads in recent years, and highlighted the money it makes for publishers. Successfully raising that legal precedent would put a higher burden on government lawyers to prove that Googles behaviour is anticompetitive. People are going to have to try to guess when a court is going to say, Oh no, your market is actually two-sided, and they will have to have the backup market definition ready to go, said Chris Sagers, a professor at the Cleveland State University law school. If they dont, case dismissed. State and federal enforcers in recent weeks have demanded additional information on Googles ad business and accelerated a dive into the companys flagship search business, Bloomberg has reported. Googles lucrative search ad business sells advertising space to brands around the results it provides to consumers. It also plays a key intermediary role connecting buyers and sellers of digital display ads across the web, and as a seller of display ad space for its YouTube video unit. Investigators have looked into all three, Bloomberg has reported. Antitrust experts said that one reason for the delay in the Google lawsuit, which was expected in July, could be that government lawyers needed more time to construct the case to meet the standards in the AmEx ruling. Thats a complex, lengthy complaint to draft, and that takes time, said Spencer Weber Waller, director of the Institute for Consumer Antitrust Studies at Loyola University Chicago. The government would probably have to create a a belt-and-suspenders approach that says why it would win under two kinds of market definitions, he said. The Justice Department declined to comment. A Google representative didnt respond to a request for comment. The Supreme Court in 2018 held that there are two sides in each credit-card transaction the merchant and the cardholder. AmEx charged merchants higher fees to process the transactions, while barring them from steering retail customers to cards with lower fees. The justices ruled that the ban may have harmed merchants but that enforcers needed to establish whether consumers also were harmed, and referred to the robust rewards programs funded by the fees as an offsetting benefit. Some antitrust scholars are optimistic that the Justice Department can produce the evidence it needs for its case because of Googles dominant position in online advertising. It doesnt matter if the digital advertising market is two-sided within the Supreme Courts definition, or three or four or five, said an antitrust road map funded by the Omidyar Network as part of a larger effort to boost enforcement in the technology sector. The company has harmed competition among publishers, publisher ad servers, exchanges, demand side servers, and advertisers, all to the ultimate detriment of consumers. One of the authors is Yale Universitys Fiona Scott Morton, a former Justice Department official who has urged a case against Google, while advising Amazon.com Inc. and Apple Inc., which are also under antitrust scrutiny. Other antitrust experts have said that Google might struggle to persuade a court that its search-advertising business should be seen as the kind of two-sided market the justices described in AmEx. The reason is that the Supreme Courts majority opinion said that enforcers need not look on both sides of some two-sided markets, including newspapers. Unlike AmEx, where the value of the cards increases the more that both merchants and customers use them, the justices reasoned that the two sides of a newspaper market are more independent, with readers caring little about how many advertisers take out space. Many experts said they saw a likely hurdle for Google, where users also seek information without much regard for the variety of advertisers competing for their attention. If a court viewed the companys search operation like a newspaper, that would make the Justice Departments case simpler. Whats Google but a newspaper in some deep sense? said Harry First, co-director of the Competition, Innovation, and Information Law Program at New York University. Its the same thing dressed up in digits. Even the Justice Departments antitrust chief, who is now recused from the case, said last April he didnt see the ruling touching on Googles search business. Yet the AmEx case has already handed federal enforcers some defeats. This month, the Federal Trade Commission lost a case against Qualcomm Inc. in a ruling that quoted extensively from the AmEx precedent. When the Justice Department challenged the merger of travel technology companies Sabre Corp. and Farelogix Inc., a court approved the combination, finding that the companies dont compete because one was a two-sided market while the other is single-sided. The deal was abandoned soon after, however, because of U.K. government concerns. After those losses, government lawyers might be a little more cautious and thinking more about how the AmEx decision may affect a case against Google, said Bloomberg Intelligence antitrust analyst Jennifer Rie. Its definitely a speed bump, she said. It may be more. Read more about: Donald Trump Jr., from left, Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump at the 2016 Republican National Convention. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) It's the Republicans' party. But it's been Donald, Melania, Ivanka, Tiffany, Eric and Donald Trump Jr.'s show for a while now. Families are a feature at many political conventions, often softening the candidates' rougher edges. Democratic nominee Joe Biden's domestic life has been the central feature of his professional identity, with the deaths of a wife and two children lending the once-brash senator a pathos forged from the crucible of grief. The Trump family at the 2020 Republican National Convention is something different. They're not dramatis personae who advance the narrative of the hero. They're key players in the ongoing merging of the Trump business empire with the Republican Party and the government, making America itself a family business. "My fathers entire worldview revolves around the idea that we can always do even better. Imagine the life you want to have, one with a great job, a beautiful home, a perfect family," Trump Jr. told the Republican National Convention on opening night Monday. "You can have it." Everything President Trump has now his business, his party, his government his family is helping him have it. Trump Jr., who along with his girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, is a top party fundraiser and surrogate, called Biden "basically the Loch Ness monster of the swamp" at Monday's session, a metaphor for the overly cozy relationships between (other) powerful people in politics. Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, have served as key advisors to the president, not just in name but in official function, while maintaining their expansive private business interests. "Dad, people attack you for being unconventional, but I love you for being real, and I respect you for being effective," Ivanka Trump said in her Thursday speech at the convention. The Trump family business now rests in the hands of Eric, who, rather than keeping his distance, as one CNN reporter tweeted Thursday, "for some reason is in the room for the president's hurricane briefing at FEMA." Story continues "I miss working alongside you every single day, but Im damn proud to be on the front lines of this fight," Eric said in remarks directed at his father at the convention Tuesday. There are conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest, and there is the Trump Organization. On Thursday, the Washington Post reported that the Trump administration has funneled more than $900,000 of taxpayers' money to the Trump Organization for services since the president took office, through the president's visits to his resorts. GOP groups have reportedly paid the company at least $3.8 million in fees. As if to illustrate the point, the White House rushed to the family business' defense. "The Washington Post is blatantly interfering with the business relationships of the Trump Organization, and it must stop," a White House spokesman told the newspaper, also claiming the administration was building a "dossier" on the reporter for his "false" stories. Then there's the campaign's merging with Trump's official duties, which has alarmed anti-corruption experts as Trump converted the White House lawn into a staging ground for the Republican Party. "This abomination may be the most visible misuse of official position for private gain in Americas history," tweeted Walter Shaub, Trump's first director of the Office of Government Ethics. "It is an abuse of the power entrusted to this man, the breach of a sacred trust. It is the civic equivalent of a mortal sin maybe a religious one too. And it is a harbinger." The first Trump family member to walk out of the White House, onto a platform erected on the grounds for purely for partisan purposes, was Ivanka, a federal employee electioneering on federal property. Washington has not changed Donald Trump," Ivanka told the assembled audience of party favorites. "Donald Trump has changed Washington." Members from the Indian Gyms Welfare Federation gathered near Safdarjung Airport on Friday morning to stage a protest against the Delhi government and Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal for not allowing gyms and fitness centres to reopen in Delhi. Also read: Limited entry, exit once Metro restarts Federation president Sunil Kumar Tonk said, While gyms in the neighbouring towns, including Noida, Gurgaon and Faridabad, have opened up, lakhs of people employed in Delhi gyms are suffering. There are many who have to borrow from friends to run their houses. It has been more than six months that gyms have been shut. If all other places, including restaurants and salons, can open, why are they not allowing gyms to be opened in Delhi? We are ready with all precautions. It is a loss of livelihood for lakhs of people, the government must wake up now, said Tonk. Over a thousand people had gathered for the protest. There was no disruption until Friday morning and the beat police took stock of the situation, said Atul Kumar Thakur, deputy commissioner of police (south). The group now plans to hold another protest at the chief ministers house at Flagstaff Road, Civil Lines. There are over 6,000 gyms and fitness centres across Delhi employing over 100,000 people. Delhi Congress vice-president Abhishek Dutt said, These people are suffering and many have had to sell their assets to make ends meet. The Delhi government just wrote a letter urging the L-G to open the gyms, but what about the electricity and water bills, which now run into thousands even as the establishments have been shut. The government must come out and support them by waiving their mounting bills and giving them some relaxation, said Dutt, also a councillor from Andrews Ganj ward The U.S. is going all out to spread anti-China sentiment around the globe, using the media as a tool to defame China, and spreading fabricated stories, fake news, and negative perceptions about the country. It is an established fact that the Western media dominates the global narrative, and the U.S. is exploiting it. Social media is being used as an even more effective tool used against China. On top of that, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been touring the world, with one of his objectives being to create an anti-China alliance. Historically, the U.S. has always formed alliances and built a narrative before any major agenda push. This time, the U.S. is harbouring evil designs to counter China, contain China, and resist China's peaceful rise. The U.S. has a track record of forming alliances for its quests. In recent history, whether it was a war on Iraq, Libya, Syria, or Afghanistan, the U.S. created an alliance before it attacked. Secretary Pompeos latest tour of four European nations - Czech Republic, Slovenia, Austria, and Poland - was in line with this endeavor. However, in his crusade against China and Russia, the narrative has found little support and an anti-China alliance has failed to materialise. On the contrary, Europe was visibly divided, and he faced widespread criticism for trying to split the continent. His agenda was to convince Europe to ban Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant, which is considered a national security threat by Washington due to its leading role in 5G technology, and to block Russian gas supplies to Western Europe. During his visit, Secretary Pompeo tried to convert them into believing that China and Russia pose a dangerous threat to "the democratic world," saying that using technologies from the two countries would be harmful to the independence of those nations. Not only did his attempts to convince them prove futile, but they were ultimately rejected out of hand. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said that the Czech Republic is a sovereign country and he does not see any major threat. On relations with China, he said that the Czech Republic "seeks guidelines with the European Union, and there's no major problem here," despite Pompeo's best attempts to create dissent. The Czech Republic treats all countries alike. He also declined to rule out Huawei as a prospective partner in 5G technology construction, despite Pompeo's opposition. During a joint news conference with the U.S. Secretary of State, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said, "Our view is not to ban in general one competitor or one service-provider, but to declare a clear list of criteria to avoid high-risk providers." The Austrian government's stand is comparable to the Czech Republics. Schallenberg said that Vienna had agreed to a common position within the E.U., which has been termed the "E.U. toolbox." "The signing of the political declaration on 5G security between Slovenian Foreign Minister (Anze) Logar and U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo does not follow Slovenia's interests," member of the European Parliament and member of the leadership of the Slovenian Social Democratic Party Milan Brglez said. The Slovenian local newspaper Vecer carried a commentary saying that Pompeo had found a willing audience among Slovenian officials for U.S. plans to edge out Chinese competition in 5G telecommunications and contain Russia's energy expansion. "We cannot get rid of the feeling that all that search for threats to human rights, secure communications, the rule of law and democracy is not about those values of Western civilization, but about who gets a bigger slice of the pie in this future business, and consequently controls the world," said the commentary. U.S.-Poland defense cooperation is another thorn in the side of Washington and Berlin, as well as between Warsaw and Berlin. On Saturday, Pompeo and Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which involves the opening of a base in Poland for the U.S. Army, probably in 2021. The total number of American soldiers will increase by 1,000 to around 5,500. The strengthened U.S.-Poland defense cooperation came as Washington decided to withdraw around one-third of its troops from Germany as a punishment for Berlin's non-compliance with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO's) 2 percent of gross domestic product defense spending standard and Nord Stream 2. Currently, the US is the largest trading partner of the E.U. But some European countries are not reaping the benefits, with only a few countries in Europe dominating trade with the U.S. China is the second-largest economy, but is growing and expected to surpass the American economy within a few years. Furthermore, the Chinese market, with a population of 1.4 billion, is enormous and presents a huge temptation for Europe. The good news is that Chinas purchasing power is the highest in the world. Europe simply cannot ignore China. Although the U.S. has provided security to the E.U. against any threat from Russia, the emerging trend in U.S. defense policy is to get rid of its liabilities. The U.S. has spread its military bases all over the world and engaged in several fronts simultaneously around the globe. The U.S. has spent an estimated 30 trillion U.S. Dollars on wars around the world in just the last couple of decades. Its economy cannot sustain such lavish defense spending. The U.S. is withdrawing its troops from Syria, Afghanistan, Germany, and many other places around the world. According to former National Security Advisor John Bolton, the Trump administration may pull the U.S. out of NATO very soon. Under this scenario, the E.U. can no longer depend solely on the U.S. Either they join China or maintain good relations with both China and the U.S. But they cannot afford to be solely anti-China. The opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to People's Daily Online. Zamir Ahmed Awan is a senior fellow with the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and a sinologist at the National University of Sciences and Technology in Pakistan. E-mail: [email protected] A haulier from Northern Ireland has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of migrants who were found dead in the trailer of a lorry in Essex. Ronan Hughes, 40, of Co Armagh, was one of six men accused of being part of a people-smuggling ring linked to the deaths of the 39 Vietnamese people last October. The bodies were discovered on an industrial estate in Grays, shortly after the lorry arrived at Purfleet on a ferry in the early hours. Among the men, women and children were 10 teenagers, two of them 15-year-old boys. An inquest heard their medical cause of death was asphyxia and hyperthermia a lack of oxygen and overheating in an enclosed space. 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Show all 15 1 /15 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Thirty-nine bodies have been found in a lorry container in Essex, police have said PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex The discovery of 38 adults and one teenager was made at an industrial estate in Thurrock Reuter TV 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Police said they believed the lorry had come from Bulgaria and entered the UK at Holyhead, in Wales, on Saturday. Getty 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Essex Police said it had launched a murder investigation after its officers were called to Waterglade Industrial Park, in Grays, in the early hours of Wednesday morning Reuter TV 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex A 25-year-old-man from Northern Ireland has been arrested on suspicion of murder PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex In a statement, Chief Superintendent Andrew Mariner said: This is a tragic incident where a large number of people have lost their lives. Our enquiries are ongoing to establish what has happened. We are in the process of identifying the victims, however I anticipate that this could be a lengthy process. Reuter TV 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Getty 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Getty 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Getty 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Reuter TV 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Reuters 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Reuters Hughes also pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration between 1 May 2018 and 24 October 2019. It was alleged he played a leading role in the operation, with his trailers and drivers used to transport migrants. He appeared in the dock alongside Eamonn Harrison, 23, of Mayobridge, Co Down, who is alleged to have taken the lorry trailer to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge before it sailed to Purfleet in Essex. Harrison denied 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Harrison and Hughes were extradited from the Republic of Ireland in July. On 8 April, lorry driver Maurice Robinson, 25, of Craigavon in Northern Ireland, who discovered the bodies after transporting the container from Purfleet to an alleged pick-up point in Grays, also pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to 39 counts of manslaughter. In addition, he admitted conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration of non-European Union citizens and acquiring criminal property, but denied transferring criminal property. Recommended Essex lorry container victims died of suffocation and overheating In June, Romanian Alexandru-Ovidiu Hanga, 28, of Hobart Road in Essex, admitted conspiring to assist unlawful immigration between May 2018 and October 2019. During Fridays hearing, Gazmir Nuzi, 42, of Barclay Road, Tottenham, north London, appeared at the Old Bailey by video link and pleaded guilty to assisting unlawful immigration. Harrison now faces an Old Bailey trial on 5 October, with three other defendants. Gheorghe Nica, 43, of Langdon Hills, Basildon, Essex, who is alleged to have been a key player, has previously denied 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Valentin Calota, 37, of Birmingham, and Christopher Kennedy, 23, of Co Armagh, have denied being part of a people-smuggling conspiracy. Remanding the defendants into custody, Mr Justice Sweeney said the trial would last for five weeks. A hearing was fixed for 21 September for a pre-trial review. Reporting by PA The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday temporarily lifted a lower courts preliminary injunction on federal law enforcement officers use of force, threats and dispersal orders against journalists and legal observers working at Portland protests. The injunction was put in place by U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Simon while the federal government appeals the restriction. The appeals court said Simons injunction was without adequate legal basis. It concluded that the government showed the order will cause irreparable harm to law enforcement efforts and personnel. For now, the ruling essentially puts journalists and legal observers on the same footing as demonstrators when it comes to orders to disperse and the use of force. The matter was heard by 9th Circuit Judges Eric Miller, Daniel Bress and M. Margaret McKeown. Miller and Bress, both appointed to the bench by President Donald Trump, lifted the injunction. McKeown, appointed to the appeals court by President Bill Clinton, dissented, saying the government failed to meet its burden to demonstrate either an emergency or irreparable harm to support lifting the injunction. The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon issued a statement saying it disagrees with the 9th Circuit decision, describing it as only temporary and not the final word. We look forward to having a chance to brief the issue on the merits, the ACLU said in a statement. The freedom of the press protects a democracy from devolving into tyranny. Under the First Amendment, press and legal observers must be allowed to document whats happening at protests without being assaulted, shot, detained, or arrested. The government cannot be held to account if there is no one left to document its actions. Last month, Simon issued an order temporarily barring federal officers from using force, threats and dispersal orders against journalists or legal observers at the protests. The measure had been sought by journalists and legal observers represented by the ACLU of Oregon. He granted the preliminary injunction last week to continue the order. Attorneys submitted statements from journalists, photojournalists and legal observers who have suffered shots to the back, neck and legs from impact munitions fired by federal officers outside the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse during the federal response to the demonstrations. U.S. Department of Justice attorneys argued that it was too difficult for federal officers to distinguish peaceful demonstrators from violent ones. They said federal officers must make split-second decisions and are wearing masks, helmets and other face-coverings and that they cant stop to determine who is a member of the press or a legal observer when commercial fireworks are being thrown at them and lasers shined in their eyes and everyone before them has their cellphone out filming their actions. -- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Mali's coup leaders and mediators from West Africa's regional bloc on August 27 held talks, insisting that Mali returns to the civilian rule after a military coup in troubled nation ousted countrys leader Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Fifteen nation Economic Community of West African States (or ECOWAS) conducted a meeting with Malis president Keita at an unspecified location, the delegation head and former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan reportedly said. Top West African officials negotiated with Malis military Junta that held president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita captive for nine days on August 18 on conditions of three-year soldier-led transitional military rule. At a live-streamed virtual press address, chair of the regional bloc ECOWAS, President Mahamadou Issoufou Keita of Niger said, If we consider that the question of (Keita's) release is resolved, it is not the same concerning the return to constitutional order, which pre-supposes that all troops return to their barracks. The rebel soldiers seized the power in a coup following months of protests against the Mali President. The negotiation talks, in the presence of Colonel Assimi Goita reached some agreements, however, the two parties had some loopholes in key decision making and were unable to reach a unanimous decision. Although, both regional delegation and the military officers that wanted the country to move on agreed to discuss a resolution forward. A spokesperson for the junta, Colonel Ismael Wague was quoted as saying that the military Junta and the delegation compromised on certain aspects, and the negotiations will continue. The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are holding another Extraordinary Summit on the Socio-Political Situation in Mali on Friday, August 28, 2020. pic.twitter.com/a2UmHxrOwN ECOWAS-CEDEAO (@ecowas_cedeao) August 28, 2020 Read: Mali Soldiers Promise To Organise Fresh Elections Soon Amid Political Crisis Read: Mali Soldiers Behind Coup Take To Airwaves, Promise Handover According to several reports, while the regional bloc ECOWAS initially demanded President Keita to assume his services, the President reportedly said that he no longer wanted to resume duties. Although, the citizens attacked the transition scheme and demanded the immediate resumption of the constitutional law and order. This evokes fear of regional revolt and upheaval similar to the 2012 coup that led to the jihadist insurgency. Threats of sealing Malis borders and sanctions against coup leaders have surfaced due to the chaos. In a presser, Presider Keita said that he resigned quite freely, convinced that this decision was necessary for peace and stability in Mali. "The junta accepted letting president Keita return to his home with the security appropriate to his rank as a former head of state, as well as the possibility of having the doctor of his choice and of travelling abroad for medical checkups," he said. Ban on trade and financial flows However, the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States imposed the ban on trade and financial flows in the nation amid the governmental-civil disturbances. As per the statement made by the chief ECOWAS envoy, Goodluck Jonathan, coup leaders wanted a three-year transition period which was rejected by the ECOWAS team that demanded interim government with an ex-military officer or a civilian as a leader. Read: Facing 2nd Virus Wave, Spain Tracks Infections With Soldiers Read: Mexico Army To Probe Soldiers In Border Deaths (Image Credit: AP) Along with recognized features of COVID-19, children also often suffer a cluster of symptoms including sore throat, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and rash Children and young people have less severe covid-19 than adults and death is exceptionally rare, only occurring in children with serious underlying conditions, confirms a study published by The BMJ today. However, the findings also show that children of Black ethnicity were disproportionately severely affected by covid-19 infection. Children and young people make up only 1-2% of cases of covid-19 worldwide, and the vast majority of reported infections in children are mild or asymptomatic, with few recorded deaths. As such, there has been less information on ethnicity, underlying conditions (comorbidities), and outcomes for children with covid-19 than in adults. To address this knowledge gap, UK researchers in the ISARIC4C consortium analysed data from 651 children and young people (aged less than 19 years) with covid-19 admitted to 138 hospitals in England, Wales, and Scotland between 17 January and 3 July 2020. The median age of patients in the study was 4.6 years, predominantly male (56%) and of white ethnicity (57%), with most (58%) children having no known comorbidities. The main outcome measures were admission to critical care (a high dependency unit or intensive care unit), death in hospital, or meeting the World Health Organization definition for multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) - a rare condition thought to be linked to covid-19. Patients were tracked for a minimum of two weeks (to 17 July 2020), during which time 18% (116) children were admitted to critical care. Those aged younger than 1 month, aged 10-14 years, and of black ethnicity were more likely to be admitted to critical care. Six children (1%) died in hospital, all of whom had profound comorbidity. This is a "strikingly low" fatality rate compared with 27% across all ages (0-106 years) over the same time period, note the authors. Eleven percent of children met the WHO definition for MIS-C. These children were older (average age 10.7 years) and more likely to be of non-white ethnicity. These children were also more likely to be admitted to critical care, show symptoms such as fatigue, headache, muscle pain and sore throat, and have a low blood platelet count, but there were no deaths in this group. This is an observational study, so can't establish cause, and the researchers point to some limitations that may have affected their results. However, they say this large study not only gives a detailed picture of the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes of covid-19 in children, it should also help to refine the WHO criteria for multisystem inflammatory syndrome. As such, they conclude that severe disease is rare and death is exceptionally rare in children admitted to hospital with covid-19, but that ethnicity seems to be a risk factor for more severe illness. ### Peer reviewed? Yes Evidence type: Observational Subjects: Children admitted to UK hospitals with covid-19 Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 21:13:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BERLIN, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Seventy-seven percent of German citizens supported strict compliance with COVID-19 measures in the country, according to the Politbarometer survey published by German public broadcaster ZDF on Friday. Only 21 percent were against strict control as daily infection numbers in Germany picked up again lately, the survey among 1,300 Germans found. For the first time since April, daily infections in Germany exceeded the 2,000-mark last Saturday. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced on Friday that new infections with COVID-19 increased by 1,571 within one day to 239,507. On Thursday, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced stricter COVID-19 measures such as a fine of at least 50 euros (59 U.S. dollars) for violating the face mask rule to contain the spread of the coronavirus in Germany. According to the survey, 70 percent of Germans supported limiting the number of people at private celebrations while 79 percent were also in favor of stricter limitations for public events. After long discussions between Merkel and the minister presidents of German states on Thursday, the ban of major events was prolonged until December. However, no agreement was reached on a nationwide upper limit for private events. German citizens were only asked to "weigh up critically" in each individual case whether private celebrations were necessary and justifiable in light of possible COVID-19 infections, the government noted. The survey also found that Germans were divided on the question of compulsory face-mask wearing at work, with 42 percent in favor and 48 percent against. When asked about compulsory masks for pupils and teachers in classrooms, only 37 percent of Germans voiced their support while 58 percent rejected the proposal. Germany's most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia, made masks compulsory in classrooms until the end of August. In most federal states, masks are only required on school grounds but not in classrooms. Enditem playb/iStockBy LUKE BARR, ABC News (NEW YORK) -- Law school graduates in Florida were required to download software to take the bar exam virtually amid coronavirus -- and a number of them now say they encountered significant data breaches, including, in some cases, attempted hacks on bank accounts because of the software. A number of Florida students who planned to take the online bar exam in August 2020 claim there were attempts originating from Russia to gain access to sensitive accounts after they downloaded test software from ILG Technologies, and in some cases, they say their entire computers were wiped out after downloading the test administering software. "There are now accounts emerging of examinees receiving emails from websites claiming that their information was used to log in or that a login attempt was detected from another country, a number of students wrote in a letter. The letter, obtained by ABC News does not specify how many students signed on. Many of the Florida students who were set to take the bar said in an Aug. 10 letter sent to the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. Two days before the Florida bar exam was supposed to take place, on Aug. 20, the Florida Board of Bar Examiners cancelled it altogether, saying in a video that taking the exam online was not "technically feasible," but not going into details. "Our inability to offer the Bar examination in August was a failure. We apologize for that failure," Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady said in video released last week. "We acknowledge and accept the criticism that has been directed at the court and the Board of Bar Examiners." ILG Technologies is a Missouri-based company that specializes in administering both the online and in-person bar exam, with Illinois, Alabama and Texas among the states that use the software, according to the company's website. Their development office is based in Turkey, according to the website. "There is no evidence linking any security breach with ILG Software," a representative for ILG told ABC News. "We actually have had our software audited via third party software security firm, based in Miami, Florida and the report came back negative for any virus or malware." The Florida State Supreme Court has not responded to ABC News' request for comment. Students were required to download the software four days before the exam, and quickly, their letter states, issues started to occur. "Some have experienced a sudden influx of messages from foreign telephone numbers seeking Bitcoin, and many cannot access email accounts after their passwords were changed without their permission," the letter, which includes 28 pages detailing reported problems students faced, says. Shortly after signing up and downloading the software, one student, whose name was redacted for privacy, said they received a Gmail login attempt emanating from Russia.The letter also asserts that multiple students reported there were attempts to gain access to their Robinhood accounts, a platform for online investing. Some students said their bank accounts were accessed shortly after the software was downloaded. "Examinees understand that their information could have been accessed from anywhere, but the co-occurrence of the ILG software download and these login attempts is disturbing when coupled with the lack of accountability from ILG," the students continued. ILG's user agreement says they're not responsible for any lost data or software. Screenshots obtained by ABC News show apparent failures in the system's artificial intelligence verification program, which is supposed to use photos to verify an ID or other form of identification. Students said the system was accepting any photo as a form of identification: In one instance, a user submitted an image of a dog, and another, a glass of what appears to be orange juice. The system approved both of those images, according to the letter. Fourteen states and jurisdictions are set to take the bar in October, according to the National Conference of Bar Examiners, and students ABC News spoke with worry they will not be able to adequately and fairly take that October exam due to technical difficulties. Issues have been plaguing law graduates attempting to take the bar across the nation. In Michigan and Nevada, for instance, software programs -- not run by ILG -- crashed mid-exam. "I don't want to overly dramatize what happened but it caused a period of strong anxiety in the middle of a test day for myself and, I'm sure, for many other people," Kerry Martin, a University of Michigan law school graduate, told the Detroit News. "I can't guarantee you that the path forward will be flawless, but I can guarantee you that we have learned from this mistake and that it will not be repeated," Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Canady said in last week's video. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. As of July 20, Vietnam attracted $81 billion in registered investment capital from ASEAN member states, Photo: Le Toan Despite the prolonged pandemic affecting all ASEAN member states and in a bid to spur on regional economic growth and investment attraction, the whole bloc, under the leadership of Vietnam as ASEAN chair, is making great efforts to ink the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a type of free trade agreement (FTA), with Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea. India pulled out of the negotiations last year, saying that the deal was not set to provide adequate protection against possible surges of imported goods. The agreement will almost certainly be inked at the fourth RCEP Summit on the sidelines of the 37th ASEAN Summit in November either in Hanoi or online, depending on the developments of COVID-19. The pandemic was two weeks ago forecast by Singapore-based ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office, a regional surveillance organisation, to cause a -2.6 per cent growth rate for East Asia this year. Almost all regional nations are predicted to suffer from below-zero growth, except for Vietnam (3.1 per cent) and China (2.3 per cent). Once signed, the RCEP will be the worlds biggest such agreement, which will function as an engine for economic recovery for negotiating nations in the post-pandemic world. The RCEP is regarded as the worlds largest regional trade agreement as it covers a market of 47.4 per cent (about 3.5 billion people) of the worlds population, accounts for 39 per cent (about $49 trillion) of global GDP, 29.1 per cent of global trade, and 32.5 per cent of global investment flows. New growth engine Currently no details of the RCEP are available, and senior officials from the involved nations are wrapping up legal squabbling before finalising the deal. They are confident that it will help accelerate the economic recovery of the whole East Asian region which is heavily affected by the health crisis when compared to the rest of the world. With the easing of lockdowns and travel restrictions in most parts of the region, East Asias economic recovery has been witnessing an earlier restart. The deal will contribute to the planned ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework currently under discussion by ASEAN leaders. It will help swell intra-ASEAN trade with East Asian economic powerhouses, by promoting supply chain connectivity in the new normal era. Vietnams Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh stated that under Vietnams ASEAN chairmanship, the inking of the RCEP will send a message that negotiating countries support a multilateral trade system, and increase economic integration among regional member states, therefrom contributing to recovering economic activities, and establishing a new normalcy in the whole region. According to a statement from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the 15 negotiating nations stressed that as a region-wide FTA, the RCEP will provide a more stable and predictable economic environment to support the much-needed recovery of trade and investment in the region, which has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding Indias participation in the RCEP, all parties said that India is always an important member in the negotiation process, and its participation in the deal will contribute to the entire regions progress and prosperity. They stress that the RCEP is quite open for India to join in, read the statement. Vietnam will benefit from the RCEPs content. For example, the agreements e-commerce chapter facilitates related trade, which offers big opportunities for Vietnam. The chapter also embraces rules on consumer protection and personal information protection to protect Vietnamese consumers engaging in e-commerce. The provisions will also enable Vietnam to regulate to achieve legitimate public policy objectives, for instance to ensure robust privacy and consumer protection safeguards, or implement measures in its essential security interests. In another case, the inclusion of a chapter on government procurement reflects Vietnams ambition for the RCEP to be a modern and comprehensive FTA. The commitments are modest, and primarily on transparency and cooperation. The chapter provides a foundation on which to build closer economic ties concerning government procurement activity in the region. As of July 20, total registered investment from RCEP-14 in Vietnam hit over $179.34 billion, including $81 billion from ASEAN member states, and over $98.3 billion from Australia ($1.9 billion), China ($21 billion), Japan ($60.2 billion), New Zealand ($209.5 million), and South Korea ($70 billion), according to Vietnams Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI). Spurring on attraction While acting as ASEAN chair, Vietnam has and will continue calling for more investment from regional nations and the blocs partners into the region as ASEAN is developing a single market, according to Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The values of ASEAN as a common market and unified production base, an open space of travel and work, and a caring and sharing community need to be widely disseminated and made known to all, so that our citizens and businesses shall all partake of them, and likewise contribute to the development of ASEAN, stated Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of the founding of ASEAN and the 23rd anniversary of Vietnams accession to the bloc. One of the key priorities of Vietnam as chair for the region is boosting regional economic connectivity and comprehensive linkages within the bloc and with partners via improving the regional investment climate to attract intra-bloc investment and non-ASEAN investment based on the regional shared spirit of constructing a single market and a shared production base. This year Vietnam will complete removal of almost import tariffs imposed on goods imported from ASEAN member states, making it completely favourable for businesses to do business in the country, especially those investing in Vietnam and then exporting products to regional markets. Notably, since the ASEAN Economic Community was established in late 2015, and as per the tariff cuts under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, Vietnam has been attracting a great deal of regional investments, and its trade ties with regional members have also improved. Statistics from the MPI showed that in the first seven months of 2020, Vietnam expanded investments to some regional markets, such as Myanmar ($38.3 million), Laos ($24.7 million), Singapore ($19 million), and Cambodia ($15.7 million). As of July 20, Vietnam attracted $81 billion in registered investment capital from ASEAN member states, including Singapore (over $55 billion), Thailand ($12.4 billion), Malaysia ($12.77 billion), Indonesia ($590.6 million), and the Philippines ($265.3 million). The first seven months of 2020 saw Singapore making the largest investment in Vietnam with $4.57 billion registered for 139 newly-licensed projects, and Thailand with 19 newly-licensed projects registered at $136.7 million. Notably, Singapores Delta Offshore Energy Pte., Ltd. was in February licensed by the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu to construct a $4 billion, 3,200MW power plant to be run by liquefied natural gas. The plant will have four turbines of 750MW each and one with a capacity of 200MW, the former to go on stream at the end of 2023 and the latter in 2027. According to the MoIT, currently Southeast Asia is Vietnams fourth-largest export market after the US, the EU, and China. Vietnams export turnover from the region surged from under $1 billion in 1995 to $18.23 billion in 2015, and $17.45 billion in 2016. However, the figure ascended to $21.7 billion in 2017, $24.7 billion in 2018, and $25.3 billion last year, up 1.9 per cent on-year. In the first seven months of 2020, the figure hit $12.8 billion, down 15.2 per cent on-year. Meanwhile, Southeast Asia is also Vietnams third-largest import market. The countrys import turnover from other member states totaled $23.7 billion in 2016, $28 billion in 2017, $32 billion in 2018, and $32.1 billion last year. The figure touched $16.7 billion in the first seven months of 2020, down 11.3 per cent on-year. The operation came a day after China fired ballistic missiles into the sea as part of ongoing live-fire exercises The Chinese military on Friday accused the US ship of entering "China's territorial waters" near the islands "without authorisation". (Representational Image: AP) Beijing: An American warship sailed near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, the US Navy has said, challenging Beijing's claims on the resource-rich waterway and prompting a warning from the Chinese military. The Thursday operation came a day after China fired ballistic missiles into the sea as part of ongoing live-fire exercises, inflaming already high tensions between Washington and Beijing. The US regularly conduct "freedom of navigation operations" in the area to challenge Chinese territorial claims. The US Navy's Pacific Fleet said in a statement that the USS Mustin, a guided-missile destroyer, sailed Thursday "in the vicinity of the Paracel Islands to ensure critical shipping lanes in the area remain free and open". The Chinese military on Friday accused the US ship of entering "China's territorial waters" near the islands "without authorisation". Chinese forces tracked the warship and then warned it to leave, said military spokesman Li Huamin. In recent years, China has aggressively pursued its territorial claims in the South China Sea, building small shoals and reefs into military bases with airstrips and port facilities. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Taiwan also have competing claims in the South China Sea, through which international trade worth trillions of dollars passes a year. Tensions have risen this week in the area near the Paracel Islands -- called Xisha by Beijing -- where the Chinese military has been conducting exercises. Beijing on Tuesday accused Washington of flying a U-2 spy plane into a no-fly zone to disrupt the drills -- which included the ballistic missile launches. The Pentagon then accused China of destabilising the region and using the military for "unlawful maritime claims" in a statement criticising the exercises and the use of ballistic missiles in the drills. The Chinese military on Friday said the US had "repeatedly provoked trouble in the South China Sea", urging it to "immediately stop such provocative actions". Egypt has arrested the acting leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Interior Ministry said Friday, as part of a long-running crackdown on the banned Islamist group. After monitoring his movement for a while, Mahmoud Ezzat, 76, was found during a raid on an apartment in a Cairo suburb despite incessant rumors circulated by officials of the Brotherhood about his presence abroad, a ministry statement said. The ministry said police searching the apartment discovered a number of encrypted computers and mobile phones used to communicate with Brotherhood members. Ezzat had previously been sentenced twice in absentia to death, as well as life imprisonment, for charges including espionage and leadership of a terrorist group. Under Egyptian law, those convicted in absentia face retrials after their arrest. The Interior Ministry statement accused Ezzat of overseeing major terror operations, including the assassination of Egypts former public prosecutor in 2015, and a deadly car bombing outside Cairos main cancer hospital last summer that killed 20 people. Considered a terrorist organization by the government, the Muslim Brotherhood has been under increased pressure since the military takeover that forced Islamist leader Mohamed Morsi from power seven years ago. Morsi, who became the countrys first democratically elected president in 2012, died last year after collapsing in a courtroom while in Egyptian custody. Many of the groups senior figures, including spiritual leader Mohamed Badie, have been jailed and sentenced to death or life in prison. Others have fled the country and found refuge in Turkey. Security forces operating under Morsis successor, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, have rounded up thousands of perceived Brotherhood supporters under the pretext of combatting terrorism. Human rights campaigners accuse the former army chief of exploiting the countrys state-of-emergency and protest laws to crush dissent. Human Rights Watch estimated at least 60,000 people have been arrested on political grounds in Egypt during Sisis rule. CARGOTEC CORPORATION, PRESS RELEASE, 28 AUGUST 2020 AT 11 AM (EEST) Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has concluded an agreement with Phnom Penh Autonomous Port (PPAP) to supply four Kalmar SmartPower Rubber-Tyred Gantry (RTG) Cranes for its LM17 Container Terminal in Cambodia. The order was booked in Cargotec's 2020 Q3 order intake with delivery scheduled to be completed in Q3 of 2021. PPAP's LM17 Container Terminal started its operations in January 2013 in Kandal Province, Cambodia. The terminal provides service for both containerised and conventional cargoes with a current container handling capacity of 150,000 TEUs. The four new Kalmar RTGs to be delivered at LM17 are part of the terminal's infrastructure expansion program, which aims to support the company's growth plans helping them double the terminal's capacity. The terminal already operates a Kalmar fleet of RTGs and Reachstackers. The Kalmar SmartPower RTG consumes up to 10 litres less fuel per hour than most of the diesel RTGs on the market, thanks to its significantly smaller diesel engine and intelligent power management system. Due to its sophisticated design, Kalmar SmartPower RTG weighs less and has fewer components, resulting in higher efficiency, fewer faults, less downtime and less maintenance. It provides the perfect balance between productivity and cost efficiency in typical container handling applications. H.E. Bavy Hei, Chairman & CEO, PPAP: "Our strong relationship with Kalmar dates back to the very beginning of our operations at LM17. The Kalmar team's great support and high-performing equipment led us to choose them again when it came to expanding our capacity." Daniel Ho, VP, Sales, APAC, Kalmar: "We are pleased to continue to gain ground with our RTG solutions in South East Asia. It is also a great pleasure to continue our partnership with PPAP and support them in their ambitious growth plans. Our fuel-efficient SmartPower RTGs can reduce fuel consumption by up to 50 per cent annually compared to traditional diesel machines, helping customers take the first step on their journey towards more eco-efficient operations." Further information for the press: Daniel Ho, VP, Sales, APAC, Kalmar, daniel.ho@kalmarglobal.com Maija Eklof, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Kalmar, tel. +358 20 777 4096, maija.eklof@kalmarglobal.com Kalmar offers the widest range of cargo handling solutions and services to ports, terminals, distribution centres and to heavy industry. Kalmar is the industry forerunner in terminal automation and in energy efficient container handling, with one in four container movements around the globe being handled by a Kalmar solution. Through its extensive product portfolio, global service network and ability to enable a seamless integration of different terminal processes, Kalmar improves the efficiency of every move.www.kalmarglobal.com Kalmar is part of Cargotec. Cargotec's Attachments Evan Vucci, STF / Associated Press President Donald Trump said hes planning to get a firsthand look at damage from Hurricane Laura in Texas and Louisiana this weekend. We'll probably be going on Saturday or Sunday and we'll be heading to Texas and Louisiana, Trump said earlier today after receiving a briefing on the hurricane at the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Washington, D.C. Scott Morrison has fired back at Daniel Andrews after the Victorian premier scolded him for proposed foreign policy legislation which would rip up his deal with China. The prime minister wants new laws to stop states and territories signing deals with foreign powers that go against Australia's foreign policy and damage the national interest. If the laws pass, Victoria's 2018 agreement to increase Chinese participation in building projects, manufacturing and trade could be cancelled. The Victorian premier stood by his controversial deal with China during his coronavirus press conference on Thursday. 'If the Prime Minister has time to be doing those things, that's fine for him,' he said. 'I don't. I'm exclusively focused on fighting this virus.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke about rumoured tensions with Premier Daniel Andrews in a tense interview on Friday Victoria's Belt and Road deal will also be examined if the new laws pass. Pictured: Premier Daniel Andrews and Chinese ambassador Jingye Cheng Mr Morrison responded to Mr Andrews' comments on Friday, telling the Today show he was going ahead with plans to implement the laws. 'We will pass the legislation first and then deal with each of these issues on its merits,' he said. 'That's the legal process. I'm not going to prejudice that one way or the other. 'It is my job to look after Australia's foreign interest to promote our national interests around the world and ensure that everything that's happening in Australia is consistent with that.' Mr Morrison said it was the premier's job to continue focusing on the coronavirus outbreak that has seen Victoria thrown into a harsh second lockdown. The prime minister was also quizzed over rumours of a rift between the two leaders. Today show host Allison Langdon asked Mr Morrison if the pair can 'get on'. Mr Morrison replied: 'Of course we can.' 'All the commentary around this issue is usually overstated. We are both very professional leaders, we work together on so many different issues. 'There will be some we disagree on, there are many we do agree on.' Mr Morrison said there is a lot to focus on in Victoria with the current coronavirus outbreak. 'What we want to get happening in Victoria is obviously continue to get the outbreak under control, get people out of lockdown, get borders open again, get people back to work and ensure we have a very solid basis to ensure that the outbreak won't recur in Victoria,' he said. 'There is a lot to do, we will get on with our jobs, he with his, me with mine.' Mr Morrison said it didn't matter if Mr Andrews was not happy with the proposed legislation. 'It's not about whether I'm happy or any other politician is happy, it's about doing the right thing and that's what we are doing, standing up for Australia's national interest and ensure there is a consistent approach,' he said. 'We welcome the relationship we have with all countries including China. They are our biggest trading partner and our trade is at record levels and we will continue to work hard to ensure that happens. 'But we won't trade away our national interest with any country.' The prime minister wants new laws to stop states and territories signing deals with foreign powers that go against Australia's national interest 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 Mr Andrews earlier demanded to know what alternatives Victoria would have if it was banned from making deals with China that he believes create local jobs. 'Given the announcements the prime minister has made today he will no doubt be able to list the full range of other free trade agreements and other markets that we'll be sending Victorian products to. I'll look forward to that,' Mr Andrews said. 'Presumably this approach will include quite soon a very detailed list of alternative trading arrangements, alternative free trade agreements, alternative markets. 'I'll leave that to the PM to announce, but presumably that's coming and coming pretty quickly.' Asked if his deal with China threatens national security, Mr Andrews said: 'No, I would never concede that point.' Several federal politicians, fearing the expansion of Chinese power and influence, have urged the Victorian government to scrap its deal under China's Belt and Road Initiative - 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. Sydney's partnership with the Chinese city of Guangzhou will also come under scrutiny. Pictured: Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore welcomes Guangzhou Vice Mayor Mr Wang Dong 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 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. Mr 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'. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (pictured) is an example of a project being financed by China under the country's Belt and Road Initiative 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 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. 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. Mr 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. 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 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.' 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. The new owner of a vacant, dilapidated Jersey City property that has been the subject of years of litigation was cited by the state for failing to remediate the contaminated site. The soil and groundwater at 125 Monitor St., contain arsenic, copper, lead, petroleum hydrocarbons, tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE), the state Department of Environmental Protection said in the complaint filed in Hudson County Superior Court. These hazardous substances in the soil threaten human health and the environment in several ways, for example, persons handling the soil can come into contact the hazardous substances and suffer adverse health effects, the complaint says. The soils at the property remain contaminated with hazardous substances above the applicable standards. The owner of the property, cited in the complaint as 125 Monitor St. LLC, faces a fine of up to $50,000 for every day the cite is not in compliance. The address for the LLC, on Bloomfield Avenue in Clifton, belongs to Manage NJ, what appears to be a real estate management company. Company officials did not return a call for comment. 125 Monitor St. was one of 12 sites across the state whose owners were sued for ignoring remediation orders. A Tonnelle Avenue property in Jersey City was also cited. Fathi and Alia Hassanein, owners of the 111-113 Tonnelle Ave. property, were cited for the removal of underground storage tanks without necessary permits. The DEP also said the property was back-filled with gasoline-contaminated soil and the owners have not complied with the DEP site investigation/remediation orders. The 2.2-acre site at 125 Monitor St., which includes a six-story warehouse, was purchased for $5.5 million in March 2019, but the deal was contested in a civil lawsuit. On Aug. 24, Hudson County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Jablonski approved the sale. DEP officials say the new owners of the property agreed to an administrative consent order (ACO) on April 29, 2019, to remediate the hazardous substances at the site. The complaint says the owners complied with some requirements of the ACO, but failed to comply with several of the core requirements, including the establishment of a remediation funding source for the cost of future remediation; and applying for a soil remedial action permit. The Real Deal website reported in 2007 that Landmark Developers planned 180 loft condominiums in the building. Jersey Digs reported in 2015 that the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency had designated Ironstate Developments Graffiti 125 LLC as the propertys redeveloper, with plans for 152 units and 139 parking spaces. Married At First Sight's Amanda Micallef has responded to backlash, after setting up a GoFundMe page to help pay for her to move from Melbourne to the Gold Coast. The 34-year-old told The Wash on Friday that she's 'dumbfounded' by the criticism, adding that trolls 'want to kick you when you're down'. Detailing her struggles amid the coronavirus pandemic, Amanda said she created the page after becoming so 'broken' and having 'run out of ideas to survive'. 'I'm dumbfounded!' Married At First Sight's Amanda Micallef (pictured), 34, has responded to backlash, after launching a GoFundMe page to move from Melbourne to the Gold Coast 'I have had that many personal struggles. I was living in my best friend's property recently and was a target to her partner, who was like the devil,' she said. 'I had to leave that property and now I'm staying with a good friend of mine. I am living out of boxes at the moment, which I have never done.' Amanda launched her GoFundMe page on Thursday, stating that she's decided it was time for her to 'start a brand new life' in Queensland. 'I am living out of boxes at the moment': The personal trainer told The Wash on Friday that she created the page after becoming so 'broken' and having 'run out of ideas to survive' 'I'm surviving off Centrelink': On Thursday, Amanda shared a video on her Instagram Story, telling her followers: 'I'm actually not working full-time. For those that think that I am, yes, I sell a few programs online, but my business has been severely struggling because of COVID' She also shared a video to her Instagram Story, telling her followers: 'I'm actually not working full-time. 'For those that think that I am, yes, I sell a few programs online, but my business has been severely struggling because of COVID,' the personal trainer added. She continued: 'We're pretty screwed here in Melbourne, all the gyms are shut. I'm surviving off Centrelink for those of you who don't know. Time to move: On her GoFundMe page, Amanda said she's decided it was time for her to 'start a brand new life' in the Sunshine State New start: She explained: 'Just to give you a quick rundown, the hotel quarantine alone is going to cost close to $3000, plus getting myself there in a separate flight to Smokey (her pet cat), the car, my personal belongings' 'Just to give you a quick rundown, the hotel quarantine alone is going to cost close to $3000, plus getting myself there in a separate flight to Smokey, the car, my personal belongings,' she explained. Elsewhere, the former reality TV star said: 'I also don't need to justify myself, I just think I've done a lot for other businesses out there.' 'I've done a lot of posts for free, I actually haven't charged a lot of the businesses that I've worked with, and I'm just asking if you're feeling generous and you want to give back, now would be the perfect time to do it.' Amanda added: 'What I don't need is any hate messages or calling me a cheapskate or anything like that, because I can assure you that I'm struggling just like everyone else' Amanda added: 'What I don't need is any hate messages or calling me a cheapskate or anything like that, because I can assure you that I'm struggling just like everyone else.' Former fans of MAFS criticised Amanda for asking people for cash when so many were struggling during the coronavirus pandemic. 'Literally just unfollowed her. I can't believe the audacity, to set up a GoFundMe is just ridiculous,' wrote one outraged fan. Outrage: Former fans of the show slammed the reality star for her 'audacity' to ask people for cash when so many were struggling during the coronavirus pandemic Another asked: 'So you're on Centrelink, so is half of Australia. What makes you special?' Others simply couldn't believe it was a serious request, and thought she 'must be joking'. 'You are kidding me right! Bold! Half the country is in hardship! You should have been saving for a rainy day like the rest of us have to! Ask your family!' shared one. They've been married since 2016, long before he became famous. And on Thursday, Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding and his TV presenter wife Liv Lo looked completely loved up as they strolled in Santa Monica, California. The actor, 33, draped an arm around his 35-year-old wife's shoulders as they walked. Couple goals: Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding and his TV presenter wife Liv Lo looked completely loved up as they strolled in Santa Monica, California, on Thursday Golding was dressed casually in a black t-shirt and white chinos and a pair of Adidas trainers. Lo wore a pretty blue and turquoise patterned dress with a buttoned up blue denim jacket. She stepped out in bright yellow flats and sported angular sunglasses. They both had on face masks as required under California law when out in public places during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lunch date: Golding, 33, was dressed casually in a black t-shirt and white chinos while Lo, 35, wore a pretty blue and turquoise patterned dress with a buttoned up blue denim jacket Happy together: The couple have been married since 2016, long before Malaysian-born Golding became famous thanks to the 2018 blockbuster summer rom-com hit Malaysian-born Golding was one of the breakout stars of the 2018 summer hit rom-com Crazy Rich Asians. In July, it was announced he's lending his voice talent to the Paramount animated feature The Tiger's Apprentice. He will voice the tiger named Mr. Hu, the protagonist in the 2003 best-selling children's book by Laurence Yep. The shape-shifting, talking big cat takes a young boy in San Francisco under his wing, introducing him to a magical world that includes an ancient phoenix, a dragon and a clan of evil-doers. The movie is slated for a 2022 release but it's unknown of the pandemic will delay that. It comes after the October premiere of Golding's G.I. Joe spin-off Snake Eyes was postponed to sometime in 2021. New role: In July, it was announced the actor is lending his voice talent to Paramount animated feature The Tiger's Apprentice based on the best-selling children's book by Laurence Yep Best-selling children's book: He will voice the tiger named Mr. Hu, a shape-shifting, talking big cat that takes a young boy in San Francisco under his wing, introducing him to a magical world No new deaths were announced this evening which means the total number of Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland is still 1,777. Of the cases announced today: 70 are men while 57 are women, 80 per cent of cases are under the age of 45, 66 are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case The department also said that eight cases have been identified as community transmission In terms of the location of the new cases: 52 are in Dublin, 13 in Monaghan, nine in Tipperary, eight in Meath, eight in Wexford, eight in Roscommon and the remaining 29 are located in Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Offaly, Waterford, Westmeath and Wicklow. Hospitalisations Speaking about today's figures Dr Ronan Glynn, acting chief medical officer, said: While the number of people in critical care remains stable we have seen an additional 8 people hospitalised in the last 24 hours. Advertisement If cases continue to rise we will see an inevitable increase in the number of people hospitalised. We all have a role to play in preventing that from happening. This weekend it is vital that people play their part by decreasing social contacts. Do not drop your guard just because you are meeting people close to you." He is urging people to remember that just because somebody looks and feels well, that does not mean they are COVID free. Yesterday 93 additional cases of Covid-19 were confirmed and no further deaths. There are currently 32 people in Irish hospitals being treated for the virus and five people in ICUs. Critical plans meant to protect communities from bushfires are years out of date for nearly half of NSW, in breach of government legislation, including bushfire-prone parts of Sydney and communities hardest hit by last summer's fires. Regions where thousands of hectares were razed and hundreds of homes were destroyed, including the Eurobodalla and Snowy Monaro, have badly out of date plans that lapsed four or more years ago. 'Low risk': the Scots College Glengarry campus was deemed unlikely to be at risk from bushfires before buildings burnt down last summer. And while the plan for the fire-ravaged Shoalhaven region is current, serious concerns have been raised over missing contents, slabs of "copy and pasted" text and a school labelled low risk that subsequently had buildings burn down. A Herald analysis can reveal 29 of the 61 plans have not been updated within the past five years, with the plan for the Murrumbidgee not updated since 2008. A former Liberty University student who played in a band with Becki Falwells son claims she performed oral sex on him and pursued him on Facebook for months when he was 22. The scandals surrounding evangelist Jerry Falwell Jr and his wife Becki deepened on Thursday when a man, who declined to give his name, came forward to claim he had a sexual encounter with Becki in 2008 when he was a student, according to Politico report published Thursday. Falwell Jr resigned as president of Liberty University, one of the nation's largest evangelical Christian colleges, on Tuesday after a pool boy came forward alleging he had a six-year affair with the Falwells. In the sexual encounter, the former student said he had finished band practice with the Falwell's eldest son Trey and was at the Falwell home in Cifax, Virginia when Becki allegedly jumped into bed with him and began to perform oral sex on him. He claimed her husband, the president of Liberty University who resigned this week, was away at the time. A former Liberty University student who played in a band with Becki Falwells son claims she performed oral sex on him and pursued him on Facebook for months when he was 22. Jerry Falwell Jr and his wife Becki above on their Virginia farm The former student who says Becki Falwell pursued him was in a band with the Falwell's eldest son Trey Falwell (above) He said that he gave in to her advances but rejected her later ones when she pursued him with gifts and chit chat on Facebook messages. 'She was the aggressor,' he said of the relationship. The former student said on some occasions hed stay up drinking whiskey and playing music with Trey and would crash in the guest bedroom of the Falwells home next to Treys bedroom. He said on one occasion in either August or September 2008, he stayed over and heard giggling next to him and found Becki in the room, but got her to leave. A few nights later he stayed the night again at the Falwells home and Becki came into the guest bedroom where she climbed into his bed and took down his pants. 'I was like, "uh, what are you doing?"' he said. The man claims she proceeded to give him oral sex. Afterwards, the student said he feared word would get out and he would tarnish the legacy of Jerry Falwell Sr, a respected evangelical pastor who died the year prior. A fellow bandmate, who was unnamed in the report, said the former student told him about the encounter with Becki a month later. That bandmate said Becki would flirt and make innuendos with the former student during band practices while her son was present. A view of Jerry Falwell Jr's estate just outside Lynchburg, Virginia pictured above The former student provided screenshots of messages Becki sent him that suggest a flirtatious relationship. In one message she said: '[Redacted] said that she wants you to cut bangs when you get your hair cut. I think that you are beautiful just like you are. You dont want to cover up those killer eyes of yours and you know the bandana drives me wild oh well, do whatever YOU want to do. Now you have my two cents.' According to Politico after months of chasing the former student she wrote to him: 'Maybe time will heal whatever wounds that I have caused and your Christian heart will allow you to forgive me.' He claimed she also tried to contact him on social media using fake accounts where she posed as a blonde North Carolina woman in her early 20s. 'She was saying stuff a 20 and 21-year-old wouldnt say. [It was] like real Southern charm. Stuff that older people say. And I said [to myself], "Hold up, not only is this an old person, its Becki,"' he said. 'So I said, "I think I have a feeling who this is. Why are you doing this right now on this account?"' the former student recalled. 'I think she was embarrassed, because I kinda remember her being defensive about it.' He said she would offer him gifts including CD's and tickets to see Kings of Leon. The former student, who is now 34, says he hasnt heard from Becki Falwell in more than eight years until this week when the pool boy scandal with Giancarlo Granda broke out. He said she texted him to say hello and share her agony on the scandal. She texted him Monday night: 'This is a nightmare. It just keeps getting worse.' Jerry Falwell Jr and Becki Falwell pictured with Donald Trump in May 2017. The couple are ardent supporters of Trump The former student said that the incident with Becki made him spiral into a long battle with his faith and mental health. He didn't tell his family about the incident and only confided in a few close friends. 'I dont want to be a homewrecker. That took a toll on the soul,' the former student said. 'It made [him] feel bad. It was a depressing thing; he struggled with depression [afterwards],' a former bandmate said. Becki and Jerry Falwell Jr have dismissed the former student's claims as 'false and fantanstic claims'. 'It is unfortunate that the coverage of our departure has turned into a frenzy of false and fantastic claims about us. These false and mean spirited lies have hurt us and our family greatly and we will respond fully with the truth at an appropriate time,' they said in a statement to the outlet. Liberty University said no students registered sexual misconduct claims with the university against Becki. 'This is a fresh allegation, as far as we can tell,' Scott Lamb, the vice president of the nations largest evangelical university in Lynchburg, Virginia said. Jerry Falwell Jr stepped down as president of Liberty University on Tuesday, a day after a man named Giancarlo Granda came forward saying he had a six-year affair with Becki and Jerry would watch them have sex He stressed the schools 'policies against employees having sexual relationships with students, as well as having other inappropriate relationships outside of marriage, whether consensual or not.' 'Becki Falwell was an employee in 2008 and such policies would have fully applied to her as spouse of the then-university Chancellor and President,' he added. At Liberty University, students arent allowed to have sex outside of marriage. Those that do risk punishment including expulsion. Like many other Christian institutions, the school views premarital sex as a sin. Jerry Falwell Jr stepped down as president of Liberty University on Tuesday, two days after a man named Giancarlo Granda came forward saying he had a six-year affair with Becki and Jerry would watch them have sex. This week Giancarlo Granda, 29, went public with bombshell allegations that he was involved in a sexual affair with the Falwells from 2012 through 2019 He said he was 20 when he met the pair in Miami when he was a pool boy and that starting in March 2012, he had sex with Falwell's wife Becki several times a year in hotel rooms, sometimes while Falwell Jr. watched, until 2018 He said he was 20 when he met the pair in Miami when he was a pool boy and that starting in March 2012, he had sex with Falwell's wife Becki several times a year in hotel rooms, sometimes while Falwell Jr. watched, until 2018. Falwell said in a statement Sunday his wife was involved in the affair but he was not. The former student says he's coming forward with the story because he believes Becki is abusing her position and power. 'Usually I think about a middle-aged man grooming someone,' he said. 'Its funny how it happened with the whole, "Me Too" [movement]. Im on the other end of the spectrum [from] men harassing women. I found [that] a lot of the traits that these guys had, [Falwell] had as well,' he added. YORKVILLE, IL Whether learning is in person or through a camera lens, there isn't a day that's gone by this month when school board members aren't being questioned for what they've decided is the right way for their students and staff to begin a new school year during the coronavirus pandemic. And many are asking themselves, is there truly one "right way" to go about this? After all, people and parents are making decisions they most likely never dreamed of having to make months ago, according to Parkview Christian Academy School Board President Jed Davis. Patch reached out to Parkview Christian Academy after students and staff at the private Christian school in Yorkville returned to classrooms at both campuses on Aug. 19 for full time in-person learning. The academy's Upper Campus, for students in grades six through 12, is located at 202 E Countryside Parkway in Yorkville. The academy's Lower Campus, located at 201 W Center Street in Yorkville, is where students in preschool through fifth grade spend their school days. When asked about this school year's admission numbers, Davis told Patch some families have chosen to send their kids into Parkview classrooms while others are choosing the homeschooling route. Some families are sending one or more children to Parkview, and keeping their other children home, Davis added. One parent told Davis they enrolled their children in Parkview after realizing they want their kids to be able to do kids things, including play on playgrounds. "Parents have had to make decisions of whether to have their kid be a kid, and Parkview has helped that," Davis told Patch. "I've got a senior, a freshman and a first-grader all at Parkview, and they've been having a great experience this year, all the COVID logistics aside." Upon being notified of what area public schools and Parkview decided for this school year, some families chose to send their children to Parkview, while others took them out of the school, according to Davis. The board president added they've even had some families who were "hardcore" supporters of public schools enrolled their students in Parkview. Story continues A breakdown of admissions numbers, according to Davis: Up roughly 15 percent for high school enrollment About even when it comes to the number of kindergarten through fifth-grade students compared to past years. About 295 students attend Parkview, roughly 40 staff members Class size varies from 10 to 20-25 per class. The average number of students per classroom is around 18. Parkview's first-grade class is "really large" this year. Down one or two staff members, with four or five open positions listed online. Down 55 students this year due to families leaving the state and homeschooling. Added 75-79 students whose families sought alternate schooling routes due to "frustrations from public school plans." Davis added that Parkview's openings for administrative positions are always a bit more challenging to fill compared to teacher positions because of the higher level of community involvement that goes into choosing administrators. When asked what contributed to Parkview's decision to have in-person classes, Davis openly cited the school's tuition factor with Patch. "One-hundred percent of our funds are tuition payments from families," Davis said, adding that therefore some have voiced feelings along the line of "I pay for tuition, so I want my children in school." Davis also discussed two other main factors in their decision-making process. " At the basic level, we feel that it's extremely valuable both from an educational perspective and social-emotional perspective that kids are back in the classroom," Davis told Patch. In addition, Davis said they have a lot of flexibility thanks to the school's square footage. "It's easier for us to comply to ISBE guidelines than perhaps a large public school," Davis said, adding that they're able to work with around 100,000 square feet, including "massive" exercise rooms currently acting as classrooms. According to Davis, Parkview's unique square footage situation has played a big part in their extensive plans for abiding by state health guidelines during the pandemic. "We had created our plans, had been working on them month after month," Davis said. According to Davis, near the end of the school board's planning for what was to come, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) issued their lengthy back to school guidelines. Davis said he and Parkview's board members thought about what their plan was, including the square-footage for extra space between students and staff. ISBE's document ended up confining them, Davis said. Back in June, an attorney representing Parkview Christian Academy in Yorkville wrote a letter notifying state officials that it won't follow recommended health and safety guidelines for reopening schools. This came just days after the State of Illinois released new health guidelines for faculty and students set to return to classrooms in the fall. In the letter from law firm Silver Lake Group, Ltd., to State Superintendent Dr. Carmen Ayala of the Illinois State Board of Education and Dr. Ngozi Ezike from the Illinois Department of Health, Attorney Thomas DeVore claims the state officials failed to included any citation to the United States Constitution, Illinois Department of Health Act, Illinois School Code, or "any legitimate legal source" in resources cited in a 63-page "Part 3-Transition Joint Guidance" released to schools, colleges and universities across the state in June. In addition, the letter sent on behalf of Parkview Christian claimed state officials failed "to reference any legislative act which delegated to each of your agencies in the authority to place such demands upon schools, parents or our children." "We weren't trying to be political or give a muscle flex, it was that we want to let them know we plan to implement our own health measures," Davis said, adding that instead of calling Parkview or visiting, or doing a follow-up with the school to find out more about what their reality is in Yorkville, Gov. J.B. Pritzker filed a lawsuit against Parkview and two other schools. Don't miss updates about precautions in the Yorkville area as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters. The lawsuit filed last month against Hutsonville Community Unit School District 1, Families of Faith Christian Academy in Channahon and Parkview seeks a judge's approval of the governor's order that students, teachers and staff wear masks or coverings over mouths and noses to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Earlier this month, a circuit court judge granted the governor's motion for a temporary restraining order against Parkview, according to Davis. "We were doing (following) 99 percent of the guidelines," Davis told Patch. "We aren't even against face coverings. We are pro-parent choice. Now we're masking up at Parkview because of that order. No one has checked on us in the past." Davis described the ongoing situation as one that feels political and disheartening. A case ruling is expected within the next 30 days, according to Davis. Davis told Patch there haven't been any confirmed coronavirus cases at Parkview this school year, and described other measures theyre taking inside the buildings. According to Davis, Parkview teachers move from classroom to classroom instead of the students, in an effort to decrease traffic flow. Adjustments also include lockers positioned at the back of classrooms instead of in the hallways. "More than 90 percent of families and staff members have been on board," Davis said. "Only a couple of teachers, really, have been nervous, but didn't leave, and are hanging in there with us. We've made accommodations for them." Related: Davis told Patch he's had board members from public and private schools reach out to him to talk about what's been working, and for advice. "It's really good to be back in the building and back full time," Davis added. >> More information on the 2020-2021 school year at Parkview Christian Academy Illinois educators, parents and guardians: How has the beginning of the school year been in your district? Share your thoughts in the comment section or in an email to rebecca.bream@patch.com This article originally appeared on the Yorkville Patch ALEXANDRIA, VA When times are tough, heroes emerge. We all know someone who's making a difference right now as we live through unprecedented and changing times. Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. Together with Ring, we're working to let all your neighbors know about these outstanding people and their stories. We received several nominations for Suzanne Leitner-Wise, founder of 532Yoga in Alexandria, from Katherine Sheriff, Lindsay Gaudet and Dolores Korba. All three praised her for keeping the yoga studio going and helping them cope during the stressful time of the pandemic. Patch reached out to Leitner-Wise to learn more about her yoga studio, how it is surviving the pandemic, and what she loves about Alexandria. Do YOU have a local hero you would like us to know about? Share their story here. Read about other heroes from across Virginia here. 1. Tell us about how 532Yoga got started and the services it offers. 532YOGA is a locally owned and operated yoga studio, and is an independent small business, that was established in April 2012. I had been teaching around 35 classes per week in Alexandria since my arrival from London in 2000, and I wanted a base to build a community in order to share the benefits of a regular Yoga practice. I happened upon the building on my way back from dropping my son off at the Dee Campbell Rowing Center one early morning; a beautiful award-winning space that was/is perfect for the practice of Yoga. We established this teacher-run studio with a group of the best teachers in the area with a mission to provide a first class service in a welcoming environment and to offer a diverse schedule of classes that is all-inclusive, for all levels, and for all style preferences, both traditional and modern. We want every body to be able to enjoy the myriad benefits of health that a regular Yoga practice brings. We are delighted to have been awarded Best Yoga Studio in Alexandria (Alexandria Best Businesses) for 4 years and are a Mindbody Visionary Award winner. Story continues 532YOGA cares about, and is proud to support, the local community. We support local charities, schools, homeless shelters, benefits, Veterans, non-profit organizations, and more... Between 2016-2018 alone, we contributed and raised donations to the sum of $12,438. We have presented classes and exhibits for numerous organizations and companies, including The Department of State, The National Health Institute, The Department of Defense, The Department of Finance, The American College of Nutrition, and Microsoft Federal, to name a few. Right now we are offering socially-distanced in-studio classes and are live-streaming each class so those that are not ready to come back can still participate. We also have a few teachers offering zoom classes from their homes. Pre-covid, we had workshops each weekend to further enhance learning of the importance of alignment of the physical body, plus other mind-body topics related to the practice of Yoga. We intend to bring back workshops soon, albeit perhaps not so many and of course, offering them live-stream. We had also started our 22nd year of Yoga Teacher Training as a Registered Yoga School prior to the order to close our business, and have adapted to continue the training online. 2. What kind of impact has the pandemic had on the business? Our main concern in these unprecedented times is your health and well-being. The impact of the pandemic has been just awful as far as economics go. Some of our service providers, such as Mindbody and Comcast, offered discounts on monthly bills, but others did not. We are still currently working with our landlords to (hopefully) negotiate some middle ground. As you can image, and as with many small businesses, money going out vs no money coming in, has been really tough. I dont know why, when the Governor of Virginia ordered us to close down the business, that service providers and rental offices were not told to suspend invoices as I am sure that would have helped a lot of small businesses to stay open. It is sad. The impact that covid-19 has had on businesses is devastating. We re-opened when we were able to, on July 6. It was a tough decision to make, but we were secure in the knowledge that the studio was as safe as it could possibly be. We re-decorated the whole studio, thoroughly disinfected the space and all props, and bought new equipment. We are proud to be part of the ALX Promise; a certification program of the Alexandria Healthcare Department that signals to employees and customers that we have gone above and beyond in our commitment to following all local, federal and state guidelines for the safety of our teachers and clients. Those joining us in-studio and online are delighted that we have re-opened, and we are so pleased to be able to serve our community again. We all have a passion to share our knowledge and to impart the importance of this practice to keep everyone as healthy as possible. That said, I would say that we are currently at about 25% of pre-covid business. The classes have been small, but our hearts are filled :) 532Yoga 3. How were you able to adjust services when places like fitness studios were allowed to open with restrictions? We have always held our business to the highest standards. Practitioners of Yoga follow guidelines for personal conduct and obligations. We have, and always will, uphold and honor the practice of Saucha (cleanliness) and Ahimsa (non-harming); essential parts of the yoga discipline, in order to provide a safe environment. We implement all proper cleaning and sanitizing procedures. We are routinely cleaning frequently touched surfaces and equipment to maintain a clean and safe environment, we have hand sanitizing stations, and ask that clients bring their own props with them to class. Since our recent re-opening, we have changed our schedule and reduced the amount of classes offered to enable spaciousness for social distancing between entry and exit. Our space is clearly marked for mat placement to adhere to physical distancing, and we require that protective face covering be worn on entering and exiting the studio. Of course this means fewer classes and fewer people in classes, so unfortunately we have had to put some of our teachers on leave for now, but we are also offering live-streaming of all our classes for those that are not yet comfortable to return to the studio. When we closed our doors on 25 March, we started offering pre-recorded and free Yoga classes. All our teachers were (and are) fantastic! They came in to the studio for filming, or filmed from home in order to continue to provide a service to our clients. We have had many challenges over the last several months. We have had to buy new equipment, and we have all had to learn new skills in order to get our live-streaming classes running seamlessly. One delightful side effect of this is that we are now serving clients across the United States and also Internationally; we have had clients live-streaming from England and Israel, which is rather exciting! I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful teachers who have put in the time and effort to provide classes and to thank all our clients for their continued support! 4. How does yoga impact different aspects of health, and how can it be beneficial to help with stress during the pandemic? So many people have been impacted by the pandemic. It is a crazy stressful time for everyone, but our health is our greatest possession, and we must do our best to take care of ourselves. Stress is the modern day silent killer and 85% of all dis-ease is stress related! It will take a toll on your body, so managing stress will reduce your risk of developing a chronic condition. Yes, Yoga is, in part, physical exercise, but it is also so much more. Yoga, combined with breathing exercises and meditation, can help lower stress levels and hormones that compromise your immune system. It reverses the fight-or-flight (stress) reaction, helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and reduces the heart rate and the oxygen requirement of the body by 10-20%, which is the effect produced by medication to lower high blood pressure, without the side effects!. Stress affects each of our body systems and relentless exposure to stress can lead to serious illness. A regular Yoga practice offers a viable means of prevention and reversal of numerous ailments and diseases, including cardiovascular, stress-related illness, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. We are very proud to receive regular feedback and reviews on how we have helped our clients achieve greater health and well-being. We strongly believe in the power of Yoga and want to help everyone achieve their goals and improve their life through optimal alignment, postural awareness, and proper stretching techniques in order to build awareness, help body stability, flexibility, and strength, keeping the spine and joints supple, de-stressing, and helping them feel better and move more easily in everyday activities. 5. What has the support of members meant during these hard times for businesses? We have an amazing community and they have been extremely supportive. Throughout this whole ordeal, we have had only one client request a refund on membership, and we are truly grateful that everyone feels that this is, for want of a better word, their sanctuary, where they can look after themselves under expert guidance from our teachers. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all that have donated to 532YOGA. It means a lot and it makes a difference. The ongoing support is truly appreciated. If you would consider providing support for 532 to help cover costs during this difficult time, we would be most grateful. 6. What do you like about doing business in Alexandria? Old Town, Alexandria, is a great place to live, work, visit, and practice Yoga. We love that there is a diverse population and broad demographic in Alexandria, and we love to see tourists come in when they are in town. Alexandria is a very friendly and safe town. 7. What are your go-to places to eat in Alexandria? We dont tend to eat out much as my husband is an amazing cook! However, we do have a couple of favorites in Alexandria; Lenas is great if you like Pizza and we find it to be pretty authentic (I am extremely fussy about my pizza as my mother is Italian and we have eaten a ton of pizza in Italy. Also, for Chinese food, we like Shanghai Peking which is consistently good. All photos included in this post are owned by identified third parties who have given Patch the right to use explicitly for the Patch Local Heroes series. This article originally appeared on the Old Town Alexandria Patch Once again, Im with Gov. Tom Wolf. Hes got the right idea: The state should legalize the use of recreational marijuana. Wolf says if the Legislature would follow his plan, revenues from the sale of marijuana could help businesses and residents recover from the recession caused by COVID-19. Thats a good idea. Wouldnt it be better, after all, to have revenues from a legal product benefit the common good rather than watch them disappear into the pockets of illegal drug dealers? But my reasons for supporting Wolf have less to do with revenue and more with what people want. Opinion polls show that Pennsylvanians want recreational marijuana use legalized for adults. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman held meetings across Pennsylvania last year and heard repeatedly that this is what people want. Frankly, a lot of them want it legalized because they are already using it. A 2017 survey found that more than half of American adults have tried marijuana at least once in their lives, and 22 percent currently use it. And a Franklin & Marshall poll the same year found that 56 percent of registered voters would support legislation to legalize the drug. Ill admit to my use. In my younger years, I used marijuana, Not often, but occasionally. And when I say younger, Im referring to my 20s, 30s and 40s. I didnt become addicted or suffer from Reefer Madness. I didnt move on to more potent drugs. In those days, smoking with a friend or friends was not unlike meeting for drinks, although the outcome could have been a lot different. As Fetterman has noted, being arrested for smoking a joint or having a personal stash can have serious side effects. Its deeply concerning that we spend so much time, money and other resources prosecuting something that most Pennsylvanians dont even think should be illegal, Fetterman said. Having a marijuana conviction on your record can mean a lifetime of consequences, including possible employment and housing problems, or even being barred from volunteering to chaperone your kids field trip. Smoking a joint is really no different than enjoying an alcoholic beverage, with one exception. People who smoke become mellow and relaxed. People who drink often become aggressive, nasty and mean. Bar fights and domestic violence are fueled by alcohol, not marijuana. Of course, common sense isnt something often present where legislators gather. The leadership in the Republican-controlled state House and Senate opposes the legalization of marijuana. Mix that with their feelings about Wolf, and public opinion be damned. Dont look for Pennsylvania to accomplish whats been done in 11 states and Washington, D.C. That was pretty clear when I read reporter Charles Thompsons article on Wolfs plan. He spoke with Jake Smeltz, chief of staff to Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster County. I could hear the sarcasm drip as Smeltz said of his boss, One priority he does not have is to make sure that people can get high legally. Thats when it came to me. Maybe Smeltz, Cutler and a few of their Republican friends ought to have a toke or two. That ought to mellow them out. NANCY ESHELMAN: columnist1@verizon.net Foreign travellers dreaming of their next vacation in Vietnam can now find the countrys best sustainable tourism options in one online destination. browser not support iframe. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), together with the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) and the Swiss Sustainable Tourism Programme (SSTP) have joined hands to launch a new Green Travel section on the national tourism website: www.vietnam.travel/sustainability. Users visiting the section will find articles dedicated to best practices for responsible travellers, guides on following Vietnamese customs and local etiquette, and pieces highlighting the countrys lesser-known destinations. To make it easier for travellers to find sustainable tourism providers in Vietnam, the webpage features a catalog of reputable businesses across the country. Visitors can look up outstanding tours that are educational, ethical, as well as eco-friendly; find sustainable accommodations among lodges, homestays, and hotels; and discover souvenirs such as crafts, textiles, and stationery brands that preserve Vietnamese culture and support local communities. The section also offers hand-drawn infographics on sustainable travel in Vietnam, and in-depth stories for those interested in Vietnams ethnic minorities and traditional craft villages. To make the experience actionable for travellers planning trips, a collection of leading tour operators offering sustainable experiences is also included. In order to ensure the listed companies are standout examples of practicing socially and environmentally sustainable tourism, TAB sought the expertise of SSTP consultants to research the contents of the Green Travel section in accordance with the sustainability criteria established by SSTP for the tourism industry in Vietnam. Tourism officials said the Green Travel section represents progress, and is a first step in Vietnams endeavours to support sustainable travel businesses and assist responsible travellers coming to Vietnam. Over the coming months, the national tourism website will make debut videos showcasing the countrys best sustainable tourism assets and outstanding experiences, and will host giveaways for sustainable Vietnamese products and holidays on its official social media channels, found under the handle: @vietnamtourismboard. Already social media users can show their support for responsible travel by searching in GIFs for the keyword greenvietnam, and posting the stickers to their stories on Instagram and Facebook. Vietnam recently also launched a Visit Vietnam from Home page, encouraging travellers to explore the country even while the borders are closed. The page delivers virtual travel experiences such as 360-degree tours, local recipes, colouring pages, and immersive videos. Tourists prefer short-distance trips for National Day holiday Tourists are booking mostly short-distance trips and brief stays near their homes for the upcoming National Day (September 2) holiday. A representative of Vietravel said that all group tours stopped after the second COVID-19 outbreak in late July. The company is now focusing on services for family groups such as car rentals, hotel reservations and tickets at tourist spots on Phu Quoc Island and Vung Tau City for the upcoming holiday. Luxury staycations at hotels such as Rex, Lotte Saigon, and Vinpearl Luxury in HCM City are another alternative chosen by tourists, the representative said. A staycation package at upscale hotels with discounted prices starting from VN1.3 - 3.4 million (US$56-146) for two guests are especially suitable for locals in HCM City and neighbouring localities. TST Tourist is focusing on one or two-day tours by road with prices starting from VN700,000-1.8 million ($30-77) a person. Nguyen Minh Man of TST Tourists marketing department said the company has adopted COVID-19 preventive measures to ensure safety for tourists. Fewer than 30 passengers are being grouped in a 45-seat bus, and fewer than 20 guests in a 30-seat bus, to maintain safe distancing, Man said. Struggling travel operators are striving to organise tours for the holiday in an attempt to maintain operations and create work for staff, according to the HCM City Department of Tourism. Travel agencies said that they plan to offer stimulus tour packages for the autumn season and year-end holidays if the outbreak is under control in September. During the upcoming holiday, the Sai Gon Railway Transport Joint Stock Company will run additional trains on routes from HCM City to Nha Trang. The company has committed to implement preventive measures to ensure safety for passengers and staff. The central coastal province of Khanh Hoa is expected to welcome small groups and families during the National Day holiday, said Hoang Van Vinh, chairman of Khanh Hoa Province Tourism Association./.VNA/VNS HCM City devises two scenarios to revive tourism Ho Chi Minh Citys Department of Tourism has mapped out two scenarios to kick-start the tourism market post-COVID-19. A man who is still having shrapnel pulled from his back following a UVF bomb in Dublin 46 years ago said he is sickened at Sinn Fein's ongoing stance over the victims' pension. Edward O'Neill was caught in the blasts, which killed his father, sister and 31 other people, in 1974. And he said he has written to the Sinn Fein leadership and under-fire Martina Anderson - as well as every other Assembly member - to voice his disgust at a tweet sent out by the Foyle MLA earlier this week. The Sinn Fein MLA was forced to apologise by her party vice-president Michelle O'Neill, after claiming the money from a Troubles victims' pension was mainly for those who took part in what she described as "Britain's dirty war in Ireland". Ms Anderson had also claimed the pension would cost 800m and mostly go to "those involved in collusion and British troops, for instance paratroopers involved in shootings in Ballymurphy in 1971 and on Bloody Sunday in 1972". The social media post, which was later deleted, sparked fury from all other political parties in Northern Ireland. Mr O'Neill, who lives in the Republic, will not be eligible to apply for the pension as he was injured south of the border and said his anger stems from a moral stance, not a financial one. "Terrorist bombers, gunmen, child killers and murderers from either republican or loyalist groups aren't victims. They chose their path. I never chose mine," Mr O'Neill wrote to Ms Anderson. "Your tweet was beyond offensive, crass and frankly disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourself. "Stop comparing these people to people like me. We never chose our path. "The constant rhetoric of Sinn Fein likening these people to genuine victims is blatantly false. Stop it." Mr O'Neill said he did receive a telephone call on Thursday from Mid-Ulster MLA Linda Dillion following his correspondence. "I don't think it was the telephone call she was expecting," he told the Belfast Telegraph. "I wanted to know in what world do Sinn Fein think someone like Shankill bomber Sean Kelly or Bobby Storey equates to someone like me? Certainly not in my world. "I told her these people chose their path in life. I did not choose mine, to be caught in a bomb. I did not choose for my father and sister to be murdered. I did not choose to continue to have shrapnel pulled from me all these years later." More shrapnel from one of the 1974 Dublin/Monaghan bombs still remains trapped in Mr O'Neill's body - and he still suffers pain more than four decades on. The latest piece was only extracted in March this year. Two coordinated loyalist attacks in Dublin and Monaghan on May 17, 1974 killed 33 people and an unborn child. No-one has ever been convicted of involvement in the most deadly day of the Troubles. "I'm sickened that they are still pushing this line and I'd be happy to meet them in a test of public opinion on it," he said. "Had there been no political outcry there would have been no forced apology over what she said. "Those words of hers should never have appeared in the first place and I'm furious that I am being compared to the likes of someone who would plant a bomb to kill an innocent child. "But the more Sinn Fein keep comparing victims like me to the people who did this to me, the louder I'll shout." The WAWA at 1300 E. Erie was the scene of a shooting on Friday morning August 28, 2020. The store has been turning away customers. Read more A 25-year-old off-duty security guard is in critical condition after being shot at a Wawa store overnight following what police say was a dispute over social distancing. According to police, a customer got into an argument with a security guard at the Wawa on the 1300 block of East Erie Avenue in Philadelphias Juniata section about 4:15 a.m. The guard was trying to enforce social distancing and limit the number of people inside. At some point, the customer got into a struggle with a second security guard, who works elsewhere and happened to be at the store, and ultimately shot him in the chest, according to police. The suspect fled the scene in an Acura. I dont know if the suspect forced his way into the store. The suspect at one time was in the store. And when that suspect was struggling with the security guard, who does not work here, they had a physical altercation which spilled out into the vestibule area, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said. The victim was rushed to St. Christophers Hospital for Children and later transferred to Temple University Hospital, police said. The shooter fled and is at large. Advertisement Families can save hundreds of pounds by swapping trendy staycation resorts with areas just as nice only a few miles away. Hotel prices in destinations popular with City financiers and celebrities are much higher than equally attractive alternatives a short drive away. The figures come from a survey by Which? and throw a lifeline to those denied a foreign holiday this year and unable to afford the better known resorts. The biggest saving was in Devon, where an average of 59 a night could be saved by swapping one coastal destination for another just 20 miles away. For those looking for a waterside holiday, Salcombe, Devon, costs an average of 209 per night Only 20 miles down the road, holidaying in Dartmouth could save 59 per night as average hotel prices are 150 Which? said the average cost of a hotel room in Salcombe, which has become known as 'Chelsea-on-Sea', was 209 a night. However, further down the coast in Dartmouth, the average price of hotel rooms was 150 a night. That is 30per cent less and adds up to a saving of more than 400 a week. And Dartmouth is no poor relation. It received the second highest ranking in Which?'s recent survey of seaside towns and villages, achieving a customer score of 84 per cent with praise for its scenery and tourist attractions. The old destination for a beach break was Brighton, East Sussex, which cost an average of 122 per night New destination Eastbourne is only 22 miles away and you could save 56 as average nightly costs for hotels is 66 That put it ahead of often crowded Salcombe, which scored 71 per cent. The average hotel room in Saundersfoot, which lies in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, was an average of 155 a night. But just three miles away in Tenby, the figure is 112 - a saving of 43 a night, or 301 over a week. Tenby also fared well in Which?'s seaside survey, receiving a customer score of 79 per cent, beating Saundersfoot on 71 per cent. Holidaymakers looking for a Scottish city break could save an average of 25 a night if they travelled the 47 miles from genteel Edinburgh to Glasgow. For those looking for a heritage trip, Southwold, Suffolk, costs an average of 160 per night Aldeburgh costs on average 129 per night in a hotel, a saving of 31, and is 18 miles from Southwold Glasgow ranked highly in Which?'s recent survey of the UK's best cities, scoring 82 per cent - just two percentage points behind Edinburgh. It received excellent scores for culture, sights and attractions, as well as food and drink. The consumer group also found savings for those staying in Gloucester rather than Cheltenham, choosing Eastbourne over Brighton and Wells in Somerset as an alternative to Bath. The editor of Which? Travel, Rory Boland, said: 'These destination swaps aren't just a chance to save money - travellers can expect to find fewer crowds and more space to breathe, with holidaymakers ranking many of the cheaper destinations as not only better value, but a better overall stay than their pricier and more popular counterparts. 'As we come towards the end of a holiday season like no other, holidaymakers will be pleased to learn they can still squeeze the last out of the summer without sacrificing beautiful scenery or great attractions by just travelling a few extra miles along the road.' A city break in Scotland's capital Edinburgh costs an average of 114 per night The new destination of Glasgow is 47 miles away and costs an average of 89 per night, a saving of 25 HOLIDAY SWAP SAVINGS Prices are average nightly costs for hotel room Old destination and cost Salcombe - 209 Saundersfoot - 155 Fowey - 168 Sheringham - 163 Brighton - 122 Bath - 129 Cheltenham - 125 Southwold - 160 St Andrews - 128 Edinburhg - 114 New destination and cost Dartmouth - 150 Tenby - 112 Falmouth - 125 Cromer - 139 Eastbourne - 66 Wells - 75 Gloucester - 79 Aldeburgh - 129 Dundee - 71 Glasgow - 89 Saving 59 43 43 24 56 54 46 31 57 25 Distance moved 20 miles 3 miles 34 miles 5 miles 22 miles 21 miles 9 miles 18 miles 14 miles 47 miles Advertisement The WHO assembly voted unanimously last May in favour of an enquiry. A team of experts has not yet been assembled and the date of their visit has not been set. Geneva (AsiaNews/Agencies) The World Health Organisation (WHO) has not yet assembled the group of experts that will travel to Wuhan, where the first COVID-19 cases were reported, nor picked a date for their visit. Mike Ryan, director of the WHOs emergencies programme, at a press conference yesterday said that a two-member advance team travelled to China in July for two weeks to prepare the ground; however, they only managed to have online meetings with Chinese experts and authorities in and around Beijing. The WHO Assembly voted in favour of an independent investigation into the origin of the pandemic and the way the UN body tackled the crisis. All 194 members voted in favour of a resolution calling for an enquiry at the earliest possible moment. However, neither Ryan nor WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus were able to give a date for the start of the mission. China has been accused of being the origin of the pandemic and its government has been criticised for keeping silent for weeks about the developing crisis and human-to-human transmission. US President Donald Trump has claimed that the source of the virus is a virology laboratory in Wuhan, probably engaged in the study of bacteriological weapons. China has categorically denied the allegations. WHO has also come under heavy criticism and its director general has been described as Chinas puppet" for going along with Beijings omissions and silence. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 17:31:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's exports rose for the second straight month in July, growing 3.1 percent year on year to 92.53 billion ringgit (about 22.18 billion U.S. dollars), official data showed Friday. The Malaysia International Trade and Industry Ministry said in a statement exports of manufactured goods which accounted for 87.5 percent of total exports rose by 4.7 percent year on year in July. Exports of agriculture goods surged 30.4 percent year on year, boosted mainly by exports of palm oil and palm oil-based agriculture products. Exports of mining goods, however, decreased by 30.2 percent year on year on lower exports of liquefied natural gas. Total trade in July fell 2.2 percent year-on-year to 159.92 billion ringgit, as lower trade was recorded with Australia, Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia and Japan. Malaysia's trade with China rose 1.9 percent year on year to 29.44 billion ringgit in July. Its exports to China also surged 13.9 percent to 15.58 billion ringgit, driven by higher exports of iron and steel products, other manufactures, palm oil and palm oil-based agriculture products as well as manufactures of metal. "July's exports continued increase for the second consecutive month marks a positive development ahead that the worst of exports contraction is behind us," Socio-Economic Research Centre executive director Lee Heng Guie said in a note Friday. While anticipating Malaysia's exports to contract 5 percent in 2020, he opined that the exports could surprise on the upside with a smaller decline of between minus 1 percent and minus 2 percent. For the first seven months, Malaysia's exports declined by 6.2 percent year on year to 541.47 billion ringgit. (1 U.S. dollar equals 4.17 ringgit) Enditem Want to nominate someone for a Padma Award? Here is where you do it Padma awards nominations open till Sept 15: MHA India pti-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Aug 28: The Union Home Ministry on Friday said the process of online nominations for the 2021 Padma awards, recognising distinguished and exceptional achievements and service in various disciplines, will be available till September 15. The nominations or recommendations for the Padma awards will be received online only on the portal https://padmaawards.gov.in, a home ministry statement said. The online nominations or recommendations for the Padma awards to be announced on the occasion of Republic Day, 2021 started from May 1 and the last date for nominations for Padma awards is September 15, the statement said. The Padma awards, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, are amongst the highest civilian awards of the country. In the last few years, the Modi government has been honouring scores of unsung heroes with the Padma awards for their life-long contributions to the society and achievements in different fields. Instituted in 1954, these awards are announced on the occasion of the Republic Day every year. The awards seek to recognise 'work of distinction' and are given for distinguished and exceptional achievements or service in all fields or disciplines, such as, art, literature and education, sports, medicine, social work, science and engineering, public affairs, civil service, trade and industry etc. All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards. Government servants including those working with PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for Padma awards. IPL 2020: CSK bowler and staff members test positive for Covid-19 | Oneindia News The government is committed to transform Padma awards into "people's Padma" and all citizens are therefore requested to make nominations and recommendations including self-nomination, the statement said. The nominations or recommendations should contain all relevant details specified in the format available on the above said Padma portal, including a citation in narrative form (maximum 800 words), clearly bringing out the distinguished and exceptional achievements or service of the person recommended in her or his respective field or discipline. This year, so far, 8,035 registrations have been made on the portal against which 6,361 nominations and recommendations have been completed, it said. The home ministry has requested all central ministries, departments, states and UT governments, Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan awardees, institutes of excellence that concerted efforts may be made to identify talented persons whose excellence and achievements really deserve to be recognised from amongst women, weaker sections of the society, SCs and STs, divyang persons and persons who are doing selfless service to the society. Further details in this regard are available under the heading 'Awards and Medals' on the website of Ministry of Home Affairs. AMSTERDAM, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- EIT Climate-KIC is investing 4 million in nine climate ventures to help them recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, and to support them in their efforts to bring essential innovations to contribute to the fight against climate change. The funding is part of the EIT Crisis Response Initiative, which directly contributes to the European Union's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 301 applicants from 25 countries applied for funding under the "Extraordinary COVID-19 Venture Support" call launched by EIT Climate-KIC in May 2020 to support highly innovative climate impact ventures whose business has been impacted by the pandemic crisis. The start-up economy is severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Raising capital from investors is more difficult in the current climate and bringing innovations to the market is often delayed, sometimes disrupted. EIT Climate-KIC shortlisted 19 businesses and invited them to participate in a 'Climate impact forecast' workshop and to deliver their five-year 'Climate Impact Potential'. Different metrics were used to calculate the greenhouse gases emissions reduction potential of the innovation and assess the suitability of the business for the grant. The nine ventures selected for funding develop innovations in agriculture, energy and industry. They will receive between 320,000 and 500,000 and are now invited to sign an investment agreement. AgroSustain SA (420,000), a venture from Switzerland , provides biological solutions for crop protection, including coatings for fruits and vegetables freshness extension as well as antifungal solutions, preventing fungal growth on crops in the field, and protecting the fresh produce during storage and distribution. , provides biological solutions for crop protection, including coatings for fruits and vegetables freshness extension as well as antifungal solutions, preventing fungal growth on crops in the field, and protecting the fresh produce during storage and distribution. Alchemie Technology (500,000), a start-up from the UK, commercialises breakthrough new technology for sustainable dyeing and finishing of textiles. Brill Power (500,000), is a UK-based team of battery specialists whose technology improves battery system performance with intelligent control technology. Bound4blue (500,000), a Spanish company, is on a mission to deliver automated wind-assisted propulsion systems (wingsails) to shipowners and operators looking to decrease their fuel-related costs and pollutant emissions up to 30 per cent. Dabbel AI (320,000), in Germany , developed Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven software able to self-manage commercial building energy systems. Available worldwide, DABBEL replaces the building engineer's human brain with artificial intelligence, reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions up to 40 per cent. , developed Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven software able to self-manage commercial building energy systems. Available worldwide, DABBEL replaces the building engineer's human brain with artificial intelligence, reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions up to 40 per cent. Everimpact (320,000), is a French company who developed a software that combines satellite, ground sensors, and AI data to help cities and businesses measure their greenhouse gas emissions and identify opportunities to reduce their carbon footprint. PlanBlue (500,000), a company from Germany , combines satellite technology with artificial intelligence and underwater navigation in an intelligent underwater camera to monitor the effects of climate change, biodiversity, plastic waste pollution, but also enable sustainable industrial activities on and near seafloor areas, lake bottoms and river beds. , combines satellite technology with artificial intelligence and underwater navigation in an intelligent underwater camera to monitor the effects of climate change, biodiversity, plastic waste pollution, but also enable sustainable industrial activities on and near seafloor areas, lake bottoms and river beds. UniSieve AG (440,000), a Swiss cleantech company, provides sustainable membrane separation solutions to customers in the chemical and energy industries. Vultus (500,000), a Swedish venture, eliminates waste in farming by offering satellite-based prescriptions, reducing nitrogen, fungicide and water usage by 30 per cent. "Our entrepreneurship community has been severely affected by the COVID-19 crisis, be it through last-minute investment cancellations, losing customers, global supply chains being interrupted or even just distraction from prioritizing the climate emergency in the face of immediate economic crisis," says CEO of EIT Climate-KIC, Kirsten Dunlop. "The volume and geographical spread of applications we received for this call shows how much support is needed across Europe, it also confirms that there is both an urgent need and an opportunity for the innovation community to focus on building capability for resilience and renewal. Our team has selected ventures that will significantly contribute to building back better - maximizing the opportunity to accelerate decarbonisation and introduce sustainable solutions - and ventures that can achieve significant milestones in crisis prevention and resilience given the likelihood of further shocks." The funding will help the selected ventures to overcome this unprecedented situation and continue delivering innovative solutions for Europe and its citizens. The support package is one of the two elements of the 'EIT Crisis Response Initiative', a 60 million additional funding mobilised by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) to power innovations in health, climate change, digitisation, food, sustainable energy, urban mobility, manufacturing and raw materials. Eleven climate innovation projects across Europe had already been selected by EIT Climate-KIC to receive funding as part of the "Pandemic Response Projects", the other instrument of this European initiative. About EIT Climate-KIC EIT Climate-KIC is the EU's climate innovation agency, working to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon and resilient world by enabling systems transformation. Headquartered in Amsterdam, it operates from 13 hubs across Europe and is active in 39 countries. Climate-KIC was established in 2010 and is funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. As a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC), it brings together more than 400 partners from business, academia, the public and non-profit sectors to create networks of expertise, through which innovative products, services and systems are developed, brought to market and scaled-up for impact. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1245037/EIT_Climate_KIC_Logo.jpg Chandigarh: The Chandigarh administration on Friday decided that there will be no weekend lockdown in the Union Territory. Shops and malls will remain open on Saturday and Sunday. The administration, however, decided to continue with the odd-even system that is operational in the citys 11 congested markets. These decisions were taken at the war room review meeting on Friday. Reacting to weekend restrictions imposed in Punjab and Haryana in the wake of surge in Covid-19 cases, the UT had on August 21 ordered the closure of all shops and malls on Saturday and Sunday in the city. With the Haryana government on Friday deciding to allow shops to open on weekends in the state, the UT also decided to follow it in Chandigarh. UT adviser Manoj Parida, said, Haryana has opened its markets on Saturday and Sunday. The lockdown restrictions in the city wont work unless the tricity (of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali) is closed. Withdrawing the order on weekend closure of shops, Haryana has directed the closing of shops and malls on Monday and Tuesday instead. But the UT will not follow suit in this regard, Parida said. Stating that there is no proof that only markets spread coronavirus infection, Parida, said, How long can restrictions go on? Our literate residents have got the message to behave hygienically. PRESSURE FROM TRADERS The revival of economy and trade in the city also weighed in favour of the administrations decision to allow the opening of shops and markets on weekends. The UTs August 21 decision to shut shops on weekends had come under criticism from traders, who held protests and submitted memoranda to the administration. Traders said the weekend lockdown along with the odd-even system was causing loss to them. Trader bodies welcomed the administrations decision on the withdrawal of the weekend lockdown. Charanjiv Singh, the chairman of Chandigarh Beopar Mandal, said, There is no rush in the markets on both weekdays and weekends as the footfall has come down to 25% as compared to pre-Covid days. So, social distancing can be easily maintained. We also want the odd-even system withdrawn, too. At present, the odd-even system is operational in the electronics market in Sector 18, Sector 8 internal market, Patel Market in Sector 15, Palika Bazaar and Sadar Market in Sector 19, Azad Market and Palace Market in Sector 20, Booth Market in Sector 21, Shastri Market in Sector 22, Janta Market in Sector 27, Krishna Market in Sector 41 and market area near the old PNB Bank/Bihari Garment, Burail Chowk. The basements of seven shops in the mobile market will continue to remain closed, while the scooter market of Sector 43 will remain closed on Sunday. House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Rep. Eliot Engel of New York announced Friday his panel would carry out contempt proceedings against Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, whom he accused of showing 'disdain' for failing to comply with a subpoena. In a stinging letter, the retiring Engel blasted the nation's top diplomat for refusing to hand over documents about Ukraine that the committee first sought more than a yea ago as part of the impeachment inquiry. He also blasted Pompeo for turning over thousands of documents to Senate Republicans as part of their own separate investigation, which he said was designed to push Russia's 'debunked conspiracy theories.' The House Foreign Affairs Committee will begin contempt proceedings against Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for refusing to comply with a subpoena for documents. Here in this photo released by the state-run Oman News Agency, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, right, meets with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Muscat, Oman, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020 'The Secretary's ongoing defiance of two duly authorized subpoenas on matters directly linked to American foreign policy toward Ukraine has left the Committee no further option but to begin drafting a resolution finding Secretary Pompeo in contempt of Congress,' Engel said in a statement. 'He seems to think the office he holds, the Department he runs, the personnel he oversees, and the taxpayer dollars that pay for all of it are there for his personal and political benefit,' he said. Engel's statement focused on Ukraine, following President Donald Trump's infamous July 25 call to president Volodymyr Zelensky and cited recent U.S. intelligence warnings of Russian misinformation in the 2020 elections. He referenced Pompeo's own angry letter where he 'categorically rejects your baseless assertion' that his agency acted inappropriately. He called the claim State was politicizing requests 'inaccurate and misleading. House Foreign Affairs chairman Rep. Eliot Engel said he won't allow Pompeo to treat the House with 'such disdain' Pompeo drew heat by delivering a speech at the Republican National Convention from Jerusalem, where he was on a government trip Engel is demanding State Department documents, and blasted Pompeo's cooperation with GOP Senate probe, where senior Republicans are seeking to dig up information on Joe Biden's son, Huner The House Foreign Affairs Committee has been going back and forth with the State Departments for months in a fight over document production Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., is conducting his own look at Trump-Russia issues, and got thousands of State Department documents Engel bristled at Pompeo's statement that if he can assert that his committee is investigating 'identical or very similar corruption issues involving Ukraine,' that State is 'ready to commence' document production. Engel shot back: 'I want no part of it. Under no circumstances will I amplify Putin's debunked conspiracy theories or lend them credence. And I won't stand by and see the Committee or the House treated with such disdain by anyone.' Many Democrats consider the Senate Republican probes an attempt to try to muddy Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden by probing some of the same issues Donald Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani has been trying to promote. Although the mere holding of contempt proceedings would have no immediate effect on Pompeo, it sets in motion a process that could lead to a House vote with a punishment that technically can result in imprisonment and fines. It comes days after Democrats howled at Pompeo's appearance at the Republican National Convention via a speech he gave from Jerusalem on an official government trip. Democrats are also seeking documents and information about various Inspector General investigations at State, including one that involved use of staff for personal errands such as walking Pompeo's dog. The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) has launched the Citizens' Anti-Corruption Manifesto (CACM) to serve as a basis for conversations on potential anti-corruption reforms. Mrs Beauty Emefa Narteh, the Executive Secretary of the GACC, expressed the hope that political parties would embrace the issues identified by citizens and be guided by the broad recommendations to fashion out their own specific approach to addressing corruption in Ghana. The CACM was developed by the Coalition and the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), with funding from the STAR-Ghana Foundation. It is aimed at making corruption a key election issue this year thereby improving Ghanas anti-corruption performance in subsequent years. Mrs Narteh said the Coalition and other CSOs were implementing a STAR-Ghana Foundation funded project, dubbed; Making All Voices Count in the 2020 Anti-Corruption Agenda of Political Parties Manifestoes to increase citizens voices in the anti-corruption agenda. She said the CACM Report underscored governments inclination to execute its Manifesto rather than the country's development plan. Mr Joseph Whittal, the Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, who launched the Report, said CSOs were creating a powerful platform that would set out the conversation for the next several months leading to the election. Mrs Mary Awelana Addah, the Programmes Manager, GII, said going forward the organisation was planning to sustain the discourse by mobilising the mass of CSOs and the media to begin to interrogate the sources of funding of political parties. Dr Esther Ofei-Aboagye, the Chairperson of STAR-Ghana Foundation, said the Foundation was happy to be associated with the CACM document having an immeasurable value. The CACM seeks to create stakeholder awareness on citizens view on anti-corruption reforms for inclusion in political parties manifestos and to increase support and commitment in fighting the canker. It also seeks to create the pathway for political parties to design and implement appropriate legal and policy/administrative reforms to tackle corruption on a more sustainable basis. In compiling the CACM, the GII and GACC collated the views of a wide spectrum of sub-groups in Ghana including faith-based organisations, traditional rulers, and anti-corruption experts. Others were women groups, students, civil society organisations, people with disability and other marginalized groups. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The open letter comes as the aviation sector continues to confront an unprecedented crisis in coronavirus. Photo: PA Over 100 MPs on Friday joined forces with trade union Unite to call for a long-term extension of the UK governments wage subsidy scheme for the countrys aviation sector. In an open letter to chancellor Rishi Sunak, the MPs said that the move would provide much-needed stability to the sector, warning that there was otherwise no realistic prospect for a quick return to normal for the industry. The scheme, which has seen as many as 9.4 million UK workers placed on furlough during the coronavirus pandemic, is currently set to be wound down at the end of October. The open letter comes as the aviation sector continues to confront an unprecedented crisis in coronavirus. British Airways-owner IAG (IAG.L), EasyJet (EZJ.L), and Virgin Atlantic are among airlines that have announced tens of thousands of job cuts, while the countrys airports have swung to historic losses. READ MORE: London Gatwick sinks to 321m loss as Schipol airport cuts hundreds of jobs On Friday, Londons Gatwick Airport reported a loss of 321m ($420m) for the six months to June, largely due to a 66% fall-off in passenger numbers. The news came after the airport on Wednesday said it needed to trim 600 jobs or around a quarter of its workforce so that it could reduce costs in the wake of weaker demand. The sector has been particularly impacted by the countrys travel corridors system, which requires travellers from most countries to quarantine for 14 days upon arriving in the UK. While acknowledging that the job retention scheme has provided an essential safety net for workers and businesses, the letter asks the government to consider the merits of a specific long-term extension for the aviation sector. The scheme could then be tied to the phased unlocking of restrictions, such as the easing of quarantine measures, the letter advises. The MPs said that the scheme should be extended until March 2021, with a review taking place in November 2020. READ MORE: UK government 'frightening' women in row over back-to-work threats Story continues Workers furloughed on the scheme should continue to receive 80% of their pay, the letter says. Under current plans, the government will contribute just 70% of a workers salary as part of the scheme from September. This will fall to 60% in October as the scheme is wound down. Employers must nevertheless top this wage subsidy up to ensure that furloughed employees still receive 80% of their wages up to the 2,500 limit. This proposal has the backing of business, airports, trade unions and cross-party politicians alike who recognise that this would provide some much-needed stability to the industry and would be a vital lifeline to aviation workers across the country, the letter says. The letter has been signed by Conservative MP Henry Smith, who represents the constituency where Gatwick Airport is located, Labours transport spokesperson Jim McMahon, Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner, another 10 members of the shadow cabinet. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 23:34:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The United States should stop making waves and sowing discord in the South China Sea and play a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and stability, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the comments at a daily news briefing in response to a question about U.S. Department of Defense claims Thursday that China launched a ballistic missile test in the South China Sea on the morning of Aug. 26, threatening regional peace and security. Relevant training activities near the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea are routine arrangements conducted by the Chinese military off China's coast. They are not targeted at any country and have nothing to do with the South China Sea disputes, said Zhao. "The relevant accusations are groundless and unjustified," he said. Zhao said that, over a period of time, the United States has frequently dispatched in large numbers advanced warships, fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft all the way to the South China Sea to project its power and engage in military provocations, undermining China's sovereignty and security interests as well as the normal order of navigation in the South China Sea. The United States has become the saboteur and troublemaker of peace and stability in the South China Sea, and the international community bears witness to these all, Zhao said. Enditem Carillonneur Sue Bergren will perform at noon followed by a Name That Tune concert by carillonneur Tim Sleep at 7 p.m. In the latter, the audience can guess the songs performed and check them against the list posted later on the Carillons Facebook page. For more information, go to www.napervilleparks.org. Australia's oldest family-owned meat processor has been hit with a new trade suspension by China, days after the Morrison government rejected a $600 million Chinese bid for Lion Dairy and Drinks. China's customs department suspended exports from John Dee on Wednesday after it said it found the banned chemical chloramphenicol, used in the treatment of bacterial infections in dogs and cats, in pieces of sirloin at Chinese ports. China has suspended imports from four Australian beef processors. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "The defective products were destroyed and were not allowed to enter the country," it said in a statement published on Friday morning. "In order to ensure the safety of imported meat products, customs has officially notified Australia to suspend the export of the company to China, and requires Australia to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the relevant company within 45 days and provide feedback to the Chinese side." Donald Trumps speech accepting the Republican nomination on Thursday contained a multitude of falsehoods some merely misleading, and others fully untrue. To help keep the audience alert to what Mr Trump was doing, CNN went so far as to add a facts first layer to their chyron; the networks fact-checker, Daniel Dale, called the president a serial liar who spouted at least 20 false or misleading claims. As fact-checkers everywhere pore over the speech to detail the many incidents where Mr Trump misled his audience, here are six of the most egregious examples. The United States has among the lowest case fatality rates of any major country anywhere in the world This is highly misleading. The USs case fatality rate currently stands at 3.1 per cent, according to Johns Hopkins University; while that puts it well behind Mexico and marginally behind Brazil, it is nearly double the rate in Russia, India and the Philippines. What Mr Trump did not mention, meanwhile, is that the US is one of the worst-affected countries in terms of deaths per 100,000 people. At 54.93, it currently ranks fourth in the world, behind Peru, Chile and Brazil. Recommended This was the hardest Trump has fought to reduce America to his level Over the past three months, we have gained over 9 million jobs, and thats a record in the history of our country While Mr Trump did accurately state the figure of jobs added by US employers in the last three months, his framing is highly misleading. These jobs represent a recovery against a total loss of 22 million, meaning the economy is still down by 13 million thanks to the knock-on effects of the pandemic. Economists are also warning that the USs labour market recovery is slowing down, a worrying sign that the next quarter will move at a snails pace assuming there is no need to reimpose harsh lockdowns because of another surge in infections. That could scotch what progress has been made in repairing an economy thats shrunk faster than at any time since the Great Depression. We will always, and very strongly, protect patients with pre-existing conditions, and that is a pledge from the entire Republican Party The Trump administration and the Republican Party at large have for nearly 10 years been trying to abolish or dismember the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare, one of the key provisions if which is that health insurance companies cannot refuse to cover anyone because of a pre-existing condition. While this is not the GOPs principal stated reason for abolishing Obamacare, it would be one of the most tangible consequences of scrapping the act. And so far, despite their promises, Mr Trump and his allies have yet to come up with a concrete proposal that would protect people whose conditions previously made it very hard or impossible to obtain insurance. We also passed VA accountability and VA Choice, our great veterans. We are taking care of our veterans. Mr Trump has repeated this untruth many times in recent years. The Veterans Choice programme, which lets veterans choose doctors outside of the Veterans Administration (VA) while having their medical bills covered by public money, was created under Barack Obama. It is true that Mr Trump expanded eligibility for the programme, reducing the time veterans have to wait for a VA appointment or the distance they must have to travel before they can go to a private doctor. But his claim to be the first president to pass it into law is a lie. The Biden-Bernie Manifesto calls for suspending ALL removals of illegal aliens. While one of the unity task forces created by Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden has recommend freezing deportations for 100 days, this is not part of any stated plan to end the expulsion of undocumented immigrants. Instead, it is a moratorium intended to buy time for reform at immigration control agencies. Joe Biden, meanwhile, did not mention the border or illegal immigration in his convention speech, merely saying he wanted the US to have an immigration system that powers our economy and reflects our values. The wall will soon be complete, and it is working beyond our wildest expectations. This is not true. The wall on the US-Mexican border is nowhere near complete, with only around 300 miles constructed on a border stretching 2,000 miles. And the sections that have been constructed are mostly reinforcements or replacements of existing fences. The saga of Mr Trumps dream of a fortified border dates back to his first campaign, where chants of build the wall! were a consistent feature of his rallies, along with the call-and-response chant whos gonna pay for it it? Mexico! So far, there is no sign of Mexico funding the wall; instead, Mr Trump is paying for construction with appropriated taxpayer money and redirected military funds. The Gambian Organization of Reading PA, a nonprofit organization, donated 20 pizzas Thursday to staff in several departments at Penn State Health St. Joseph in Bern Township. John Joof, the organizations secretary general, said the group wanted to send its appreciation to the health care workers during the pandemic. Last week, the group donated 20 boxes of pizza to health care workers at Tower Health. The organization aims to educate, promote, enlighten and bring awareness of the contributions Gambians make to Reading and Berks County. Members contribute to a fund and every few months they make a collective charitable donation. This summer it was to Tower Health in recognition of the health care workers who are on the front lines of the coronarvirus pandemic. There are about 80 Gambians living in Berks, the group said. In October, they took steps toward establishing a formal presence in the civic and social service network to bind them together. The hope was they could play a larger role in the community and their numbers continue to grow, Joof said. New information regarding a century-old murder discovered by staff at the Sweetwater County Historical Museum is shedding light on the acts leading to that murder. According to a Wyohistory.org article by Dick Blust, an employee at the museum, the death of a game warden in 1919 may have been the result of legislation aimed at immigrants. On Sept. 14, 1919, a deputy game warden, John Buxton, encountered two boys, 16-year-old John Kolman and 17-year-old Joseph Omeyc north of Rock Springs. The two were hunting rabbits when Buxton approached them. Omeyc was an Austrian immigrant and Buxton took... The Andhra Pradesh high court on Thursday extended status quo on continuing Amaravati as the state capital till September 21, thereby halting the plan of the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy to shift the administrative capital to Visakhapatnam and judicial capital to Kurnool. A three-member bench of the state high court comprising chief justice J K Maheshwar, justice M Satyanarayana Murthy and justice A V Sesha Sai, acting on a batch of petitions filed by the farmers of Amaravati, said there would be stay on the implementation of two legislations passed by the state legislature on the repeal of AP Capital Regional Development Authority (APCRDA) and formation of three capitals till further hearing on September 21. The Jagan government has no chance to move the Supreme Court as the latter on Wednesday refused to interfere in the high courts status quo orders. This is the third time that the high court had stalled the plan of the state government on formation of three capitals. The status quo was first ordered on August 4 till August 14, which was later extended till August 27. Now, it has been further extended till September 21. About 15 senior advocates, mostly from Delhi, have been appearing for the nearly 70 petitioners challenging the Jagan governments decision to create three capitals and to abolish the APCRDA. The high court said the government could file its counter on the objections raised by the petitioners before September 11 and the petitioners could present their version by September 17. The division bench said it would like to hear the petitions in person, rather than in virtual mode, if it was convinced about the safety in view of the Covid-19 pandemic situation. We shall take a call on holding the court physically or virtually a week before the next hearing on September 21, Meanwhile, farmers of Amaravati filed a separate petition in the high court questioning the delay in annuity for their lands surrendered to the state government for construction of capital in 2015. According to the agreement signed with the APCRDA in 2015, each farmer has to be paid yearly amount of Rs 30,000 per acre for drylands to Rs 50,000 per acre for wetlands for a period of 10 years. Besides, landless poor who were working as agriculture labourer in the surrendered lands have to be paid Rs 2,500 per month. The amount has to be paid in June. Though the government has issued orders last month itself, the money has not been paid till now, a farmer Idupulapati Seetharamaiah told the court. On Wednesday, a group of farmers tried to lay siege to APCRDA office in Vijayawada demanding payment of annuity, but they were arrested by the police. The high court ordered the government to pay the amount due to the farmers within the next two days. Soon after the court judgement, state minister for municipal administration and urban development Botsa Satyanarayana said the government could not pay the annuity due to technical reasons. We shall credit the amount to the accounts of farmers immediately, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The British Ecological Society (BES) announced today the winners of its annual awards and prizes, recognising eleven distinguished ecologists whose work has benefited the scientific community and society in general. This year, honorary membership, the highest honour given by the society, has been awarded to three distinguished ecologists: Mike Begon, Sandra Lavorel and Michel Loreau. While this year's BES award recognises Juliet Vickery, whose work leading the scientific team at RSPB underpins the work of the organisation in conserving threatened sites, species and habitats throughout the world. Helen Roy, current president of the Royal Entomological Society, is also recognised with the Ecological Engagement Award for her active work in citizen science and her role in BES's Public Engagement Working Group, making a major contribution to how the society approaches public engagement. Professor Jane Memmott, President of the British Ecological Society, said: "I am delighted to offer my congratulations to the winners of this year's BES awards for their exceptional contributions to ecology. Each year these prizes recognise and celebrate the exceptional contributions of individuals to advancing ecology and communicating its importance for society." The full list of 2020 BES award and prize winners is as follows: Honorary Membership: Mike Begon, University of Liverpool; Sandra Lavorel, CNRS, Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research; Michel Loreau, CNRS Honorary membership is the highest honour we can give and it recognises an exceptional contribution at international level to the generation, communication and promotion of ecological knowledge and solutions. Mike Begon has spent his whole scientific career at the University of Liverpool, where he is now Professor of Ecology, specializing in the population and community ecology of infectious diseases in wildlife. The book Mike wrote with Colin Townsend and John Harper, Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems is hailed by world leaders in ecology as the definitive textbook on all aspects of the discipline and it remains the mainstay of ecology students, university courses and practitioners worldwide. On receiving the award Mike said: "I'm deeply grateful to the society, of which I've been a member all my working life. The British Ecology Society continues to punch way above its weight on the international stage. This makes me especially proud to be an Honorary Member." Sandra Lavorel has focused her research on impacts of changes in climate and land management on ecosystems and their services. She builds on the strengths of functional ecology in order to improve the quantification of ecosystem services. Sandra has had a strong involvement in national and international projects, in France, Australia and other parts of the globe. "Being awarded the British Ecological Society's Honorary membership is an outstanding honour as a functional ecologist who has been influenced and impressed through her career by several eminent BES members." said Sandra. Michel Loreau's main research theme during the past twenty years has been the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning and the ecological and societal consequences of biodiversity loss. Michel has devoted significant efforts to fostering new research initiatives and linking science and policy in the area of biodiversity and ecosystem services internationally. "I feel of course privileged and honoured to win this award." said Michael. "I see it as a stimulus to continue to work toward my long-standing goals of building an integrative ecological theory that can guide empirical, experimental and applied ecological research, and providing useful new knowledge on the ecological and societal consequences of biodiversity loss." Marsh Award for Ecology: Teja Tscharntke, Georg-August-University of Gottingen This prize is awarded for an outstanding current research record which is having a significant impact on the development of the science of ecology or its application. It is provided by the Marsh Christian Trust and administered by the British Ecological Society. Teja Tscharntke is head of the Agroecology Group, at the University of Gottingen, Germany. His research focuses on biodiversity and the composition of communities of plants and animals as well as plant-insect interactions. He has been hugely influential in the field of agro-ecology. Speaking about his work being recognised by the award, Teja said: "My research areas which have been highlighted by this award cover concepts and findings that landscape structure affects local biodiversity and associated ecosystem services such as pollination and biocontrol." Marsh Award for Climate Change Research: Wendy Foden, South African National Parks, IUCN, University of Cape Town, University of Stellenbosch This prize is awarded for an outstanding contribution to climate change research. It is provided by the Marsh Christian Trust and administered by the British Ecological Society. Wendy Foden is a world-leading researcher in climate change vulnerability assessments of threatened species. Her work with IUCN and Red-listed species has global reach. Wendy is recognised for her interest in translating science for practical conservation use, and in fostering conservation leadership. On winning the award, Wendy said: "I'm extremely proud to represent Africa's woman scientists and hope that the award inspires other women scientists, particularly from developing countries, to step up to conservation and climate change challenges." Marsh Award for Ecologists in Africa: David Odee, Kenyan Forestry Research Institute, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology This prize aims to celebrate the significant scientific achievements of African ecologists and raise their profile in the UK. It is provided by the Marsh Christian Trust and administered by the British Ecological Society. David has worked extensively on the impact that anthropogenic disturbances can have on the processes that maintain tree species' genetic diversity, and on how tree species can be brought into agriculture - from the points of view of making use of the beneficial associations that come with having trees on-farm, and on matching tree genetics to the target growing environment. Always, he has aimed to improve the delivery of tree products to African foresters and farmers, to improve and secure their livelihoods. "I hope this award will further inspire many other researchers, especially early career scientists in Africa to do their utmost to further the cause." Said David. "Recognition by BES and my peers is most humbling and encourages me to re-double efforts and continue to shine the spotlight on African ecological research." Founders' Prize: Tommaso Jucker, University of Bristol This Prize commemorates the enthusiasm and vision of the Society's founders. It is awarded to an outstanding early career ecologist who is starting to make a significant contribution to the science of ecology. Tommaso?has been called a rising star in forest ecology. His?goal is to get a more accurate picture of what forests will look like in the future and better understand how they will respond to rapid environmental change, and in turn, how this will impact climate, biodiversity and people. On winning the award Tommaso said: "It's a huge honour. It's hard to imagine my research career without the British Ecological Society. The BES annual meeting was the first conference I ever attend and presented my work at. Journal of Ecology is also where I published the first chapter of my PhD and is the journal that took a chance on me as a young associate editor." BES Award: Juliet Vickery, RSPB This Award is made in recognition of exceptional service to the Society. The research by the scientific team that Juliet Vickery heads at the RSPB, underpins the work of the organisation in conserving threatened sites, species and habitats throughout the world. Juliet has been a long-standing supporter of the BES, most recently serving as the Chair of the BES Policy Committee. Under her careful stewardship the work and influence of the Society's policy team has grown considerably. "I am thrilled to receive this award from an organisation that has been such an important part of my career in terms of support and inspiration. It has been a privilege to work with such an engaged and active committee and with such expert and professional BES staff for so long - a great learning experience for me and huge fun!" said Juliet. Ecological Engagement Award: Helen Roy, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology This Award recognises an ecologist who has bridged the gap between ecology and other groups. Citizen science provides opportunities for engaging people actively in science and over the last ten years Helen Roy has led several major citizen science initiatives involving tens of thousands of people. Helen is the founder of the BES Citizen Science Special Interest Group and has played a very active role in the Society's Public Engagement Working Group, making a major contribution to how the BES approaches public engagement. On receiving the award Helen said: "It has been such a pleasure for me to collaborate with so many people to share my excitement and wonder for our natural world. I am so proud to be a member of the British Ecological Society and this recognition from the Society is an incredible honour for me." Equality and Diversity Champion: Iain Stott, University of York This annual award recognises an individual or group who have campaigned to highlight the importance of equality and diversity and worked to make a difference or served as an inspiration to others. It honours and celebrates those who have made significant, innovative and cumulatively outstanding contributions to enhancing the practice of equality and diversity in the ecological community. Iain has worked tirelessly in support of equality and diversity for the BES. He is a member of the BES Equality and Diversity Working Group, helped establish the BES LGBT+ Network and has organised all the BES LGBT+ Annual Meeting Mixers since they were first run in 2015. Iain is also a mentor in the Women in Ecology mentoring scheme and LGBTQ+ peer group mentoring. "I wouldn't say anything I've done is extraordinary, and in many ways I was surprised to win this award. On reflection however, I certainly could have done with many of these things as an early career researcher and I've never really felt like I know a senior LGBT+ academic role model to look up to." said Iain. Marsh Ecology Book of the Year award: Kimberly A. With, Kansas State University Essentials of Landscape Ecology The Marsh Ecology Book of the Year award aims to recognise the contribution authors make to ecology. The Award acknowledges the important role that books have on ecology and its development. It is awarded to the book published in the last two years that has had the greatest influence on ecology or its application. On winning the award for her book Essentials of Landscape Ecology, Kimberly said: "I am beyond grateful to receive this recognition, especially as writing this book has been a very personal experience that required taking some professional risks. Researching and writing this book has been the most challenging project of my career, and ultimately, the most satisfying for me personally as well as professionally." The winners will be presented with their prizes during a ceremony held at the Society's annual conference in December 2021 (due to a smaller face-to-face conference in 2020). The meeting will bring together 1,200 ecologists from around 60 countries to discuss the latest advances in ecological research across the whole discipline. ### Kansas City Council Approves A New Court So A Parking Ticket Won't Land You In Jail Come October, parking tickets in Kansas City won't land residents in municipal court. The Kansas City Council voted 10 to 2 to create an administrative court to handle parking tickets and non-moving violations instead of criminal court. Almost.Only white people have to pay.Kidding.Here's the mayor and most of the council legislating what was only defacto randomized taxation in the first place . . . Read more: Dear Editor: Members of SSIP (Settled and Serving in Place) know that most senior citizens want to stay in their own homes. The fact that COVID-19 has killed over 6,600 long-term care residents in New York state has made this issue even more urgent. Yet when we ask for home care assistance, no workers are available. We know why. These valuable care givers are not paid a living wage. They have no benefits, no travel coverage, and no chance of advancement. According to surveys by the Caring Majority (domesticemployers.org), 24% of them live in poverty and 39% rely on Medicaid. No wonder every year, over 5,000 care workers leave the occupation, just when our senior population is expanding. It is time to extend fair pay and benefits to these essential workers. Lets make sure Albany hears from us. Demand that investment in this workforce be central to the economic development of New York. ViVi Hlavsa Settled and Serving in Place Lomontville, N.Y. The number of new daily cases of coronavirus could dip below 100 as soon as the weekend which Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton predicted would provide a psychological boost to the public enduring lockdowns. The number of new COVID-19 infections in Victoria remained steady at 113 in the past 24 hours, the same number as Thursday and the equal lowest since July 5, when 74 cases were reported. Premier Daniel Andrews said 12 people had died in the last 24 hours taking the state's toll to 496. Mr Andrews said all of those 12 deaths were linked to aged care. Those who lost their lives include a man in his 70s, two women in their 80s, and five women and three men in their 90s. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on August 27 asked ministries and agencies to closely monitor and accelerate granting of visas to foreign experts and investors. (Photo: VNA) At a meeting with representatives from a number of ministries, agencies and localities, the Government leader proposed resuming commercial flights to certain countries with high COVID-19 safety indexes, stressing the need to seek all possible ways to support the national economy. He urged the Ministry of Finance to coordinate with the Ministry of Health in devising a plan on COVID-19 treatment fee collection. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to fly home Vietnamese stranded abroad, and bring foreign experts and investors to Vietnam in an appropriate and flexible manner. Great efforts are needed to prevent the spread of the pandemic, and the widespread closures of businesses, as well as unemployment at the same time, the PM emphasised, suggesting extending the social welfare package. If business and production would not be promoted and job issues would not be addressed, high unemployment rate is visible, causing social disorder, the leader warned. He reiterated basic measures in the fight like wearing face masks in public places and avoid mass gatherings, while highlighting international cooperation in vaccine research. The PM cited a survey conducted by the Party Central Committees Commission for Information and Education as saying that 97 percent of the respondents expressed their support for guidelines and measures adopted by the Government, the PM and the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc lauded efforts in dealing with outbreaks in 15 localities, including Da Nang, Ha Nam, Hai Duong, Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Hoa and Quang Nam. Pointing to the latest local transmission in the northern province of Ha Nam, he asked ministries and agencies, especially the health ministry, to stay vigilant during the combat./. Janata Dal (United) leader Sanjay Singh on Friday said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should immediately arrest Rhea Chakraborty in the death case of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. While speaking to ANI, the JDU leader accused actress Chakraborty of being involved in the death of Rajput and said not only should CBI arrest her, the investigating team should also use third-degree measures on her in order to get her confession. Ive been watching Rheas interviews on TV since yesterday. For saving herself, she is trying to convey that she is innocent and has no part in the suicide or murder of later actor Sushant Singh Rajput, but her face looks cunning just like a criminal. She looks like the leader of a criminal gang and her face reflects that she is involved in the matter of Rajputs suicide. She should be arrested immediately by CBI, said Singh. If CBI uses third degree, shell confess everything. She is a total criminal and once she confesses, names of big personalities will come up. She has relations with drug dealers and who all are the drug mafia around everything will be disclosed, he added. The Enforcement Directorate had on July 31 registered an Enforcement Case Information Report in the late actors death case after a First Information Report (FIR) was filed by Rajputs father KK Singh against actor Rhea Chakraborty in Bihar on July 28. ALSO READ : Row over JEE NEET 2020: Review petition filed in SC, Congress-led Opposition holds nationwide protests On August 19, the Supreme Court had asked the probe agency to investigate the case related to the actors death, while holding that the FIR registered in Patna was legitimate. The agency has registered an FIR against Chakraborty and others in connection with the actors death after the Centre accepted Bihar governments recommendation to transfer the probe in the matter from Patna.Rajput was found dead at his residence on June 14. ALSO READ : Rafale induction ceremony on September 10: French Defence Minister on the guest list Peanut allergies are the body's overreaction to certain proteins found in peanuts. The immune system's response to these allergens is to trigger an antibody, which then triggers other chemicals. One of the scariest results of these chemicals is the chance for anaphylaxis, which is a potentially fatal condition in which sufferers have trouble breathing because of constricted airways, experience a sudden and drastic drop in blood pressure, have an increased pulse rate, and sometimes even pass out. Estimates say that in the United States, thousands of people visit the emergency room annually because of allergic reactions to food. Somewhere around 150 to 200 people die in the U.S. each year because of food allergies. It's estimated that around 50 percent to 62 percent of those fatal cases of anaphylaxis were caused by peanut allergies. Meanwhile, around 10 people in the United Kingdom die each year because of food allergies. However, these figures are not completely reliable, in part because allergic deaths aren't considered reportable events. Advertisement Although the number of people who die annually from peanut allergies is in the low hundreds at most, peanuts have gotten a reputation for being particularly deadly. While some people call peanut allergies an epidemic, others say the situation has been blown out of proportion. For example, Professor Nicolas Christakis of Harvard Medical School told the BBC that there was "a gross overreaction to the magnitude of the threat." He even said that the fear of peanuts had led to a situation resembling mass psychogenic illness -- once known as epidemic hysteria. Meanwhile, the "Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology" notes that the "epidemic" of peanut allergies only applies to the U.S. In France, the rate of peanut allergy is somewhere between .3 percent and .75 percent; Denmark is lower at .2 to .4 percent; and in Israel the rate of peanut allergy is around .04 percent. Six months after welcoming son Boston, Cyrell Paule stepped out for the premiere of the new thriller, Tenet, in Sydney on Friday. The 31-year-old former Married At First Sight star looked glamorous in a black figure-hugging halterneck dress, which emphasised her post-baby curves. She accessorised with a grey fur stole and strappy black stilettos. Making an entrance: Just six months after welcoming son Boston, Cyrell Paule stepped out for the premiere of the new thriller, Tenet, in Sydney on Friday Cyrell's long balayage brunette hair was worn sleek for the event, and she appeared heavily made up. The new mum was joined by her partner, former Love Island star Eden Dally, with the couple welcoming Boston back in February. The 27-year-old reality star looked smart in a navy blue suit, which he wore with an open collar. Baby on board: In an interview with The Daily Telegraph back in January, shortly before Boston's birth, Cyrell confessed her pregnancy wasn't planned Going for glamour: The 31-year-old former Married At First Sight star looked glamorous in a black figure-hugging halterneck dress, which emphasised her post-baby curves Baby Boston features regularly on both of his parents' Instagram pages, with the new mum and dad clearly smitten by their little boy. And while he may only be a few months old, the adorable baby already has his own Instagram page, amassing over 13,500 followers. 'Mummy & Daddy made a wish and then I came true,' reads the bio on Boston's Instagram page. Date night: The new mum was joined by her partner, former Love Island star Eden Dally, with the couple welcoming Boston back in February In an interview with The Daily Telegraph back in January, shortly before Boston's birth, Cyrell confessed her pregnancy wasn't planned. 'It has been the biggest year of my life... There has been a lot going on,' she said of her tumultuous 2019. 'I wouldn't say it has been the best but the outcome has been me having a son and I never thought I'd have a son at this age as I thought it would be later down the track.' It is wedding season but not as we know it. Ireland's Covid-19 restrictions mean that traditional big white weddings are now off the cards, though smaller celebrations can go ahead. One Offaly couple shared their story with the Tribune recently about how they managed to enjoy their day despite getting married in the middle of the lockdown in May last. Emma Kelly, from Ballycumber and her now husband, Matthew Gorman, from Derrygrogan, Kilmurry, Tullamore had planned their wedding for three years but having paid for it in full, they faced a huge dilemma when they were forced to postpone it on May 4 last. We were faced with the dilemma that our wedding, which was planned and we had put so much effort and of course, money into, had to be postponed from May 4 2020, Emma outlined. May 4 is a significant date for Emma as it is her late grandfather's birthday and he was someone who was a major father figure in her life. Having the wedding on this date was important in a way and the closest thing to him actually being there. And, the year 2020 was such a unique year with the 20s and we won't be here to see 3030, the bride continued. However, Emma was not going to be deterred and despite the odds and the original priest, who didn't feel comfortable carrying out the ceremony, the couple's church ceremony went ahead. Emma explained that her local priest, Fr Martin Carley, in Rahan, allowed the ceremony to go ahead with strict social distancing guidelines in place. The wedding was dramatically reduced from 100 people to just 12, which Emma said was horrendous for the couple because she has 11 brothers and four sisters and her husband has two sisters and a brother as well as the four parents and grandparents. The bridal party, which should have been four bridesmaids and a maid of honour, four groomsmen and a best man was reduced to just the maid of honour and the best man as they were siblings, Emma explained. The couple had their four parents, two of their three daughters were flower girls and her two brothers were page boys while Emma's brother provided the music and the photographer, Keith Touhey, who despite keeping social distance did a great job. My brother sings so he ended up doing the music, which turned out to be lovely. My dad sang me up the aisle and my mam sang while I signed the register. This made our wedding that bit more special. Our four parents did the readings and the prayers of the faithful as well as bringing up the gifts while Matthew's sister made the decorations for the church. Emma's makeup and hair was completed by some close friends as, unfortunately, the original people booked weren't covered by their insurance to carry out their duties during a pandemic. Sadly, the wedding car couldn't be gotten either. However, Emma was resourceful and used her own class Mazda MX5 for the job. Looking forward to their reception on May 2 2021, Emma said that despite sacrificing their reception and their guests, she wouldn't change a thing. Despite sacrificing my reception and my guests, with the efforts of both our families our wedding was so intimate and special, and I wouldn't change a thing, she enthused adding that we will always remember our lockdown wedding. Pelosi: Coronavirus Relief Talks Will Resume When Republicans Start to Take This Process Seriously House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that negotiations on the coronavirus relief package will go no further until Republicans get serious about the process. Pelosi made the statement after a 25-minute call with White House chief of staff Mark Meadows on Thursday, which apparently did not do anything to push the talks forward. Democrats are willing to resume negotiations once Republicans start to take this process seriously, Pelosi said in the written statement. Lives, livelihoods, and the life of our democracy are at stake. The Speaker said that in the call with Meadows, she did offer to drop the funding amount to $2.2 trillion from the already lowered $2.4 trillion. She made it clear to reporters at her weekly press briefing on Thursday that they would not give up any of their demands. In order to meet in the middle, we have now said we would be willing to go to $2.2 trillion to meet the needs of the American people. This is not about dollars, this is about values, Pelosi said. Pelosi criticized the Trump administration for not prioritizing the needs of the American people, saying the Democrats package, which contains aid for front-line workers, rental assistance, money for food programs, funding for the United States Postal Service, among others things, shows they care. The main negotiators for the current coronavirus relief package have been Pelosi, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Meadows, and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. The two sides remain far apart on the scope of this next package and have expressed little to no optimism that there will be any progress on stimulus talks before lawmakers return to Washington in September. Republicans have proposed a package that is a little over $1 trillion, and is focused on reopening schools safely and testing, treatments, and vaccines. They have criticized the Democrats for adding unrelated funding measures into their package and ballooning the price tag. Meadows on Wednesday told Politico that hes not optimistic a deal will be reached until after September and said he expected that Pelosi would hold off until the September deadline so she can push her priorities through. At her press briefing on Thursday Pelosi said it has been hard to reach an agreement because We do not have shared values. I check in with my Chairmen. They say, You know, I know you have to come down, but understand our number is a defensible, scientific, institutionally based justification for what the public needs, whether its about schools and the rest or people being evicted or millions of children hungry in our country and the rest. Pelosi continued. The White House did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times request for a comment about the stalled negotiations and Speaker Pelosis statement. Meanwhile, from the campaign trail, Senate Majority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told local Kentucky newspaper The News-Express on Thursday that although negotiations are stalled, he does think a package is needed. McConnell said the Democrats Heroes Act, which the House passed in May, was done hastily and was too broad. Our friends in the House acted within a month, adding $3 trillion more, McConnell said. Im not here to make a partisan observation, but I felt it was too much too soon. We needed to wait a little bit and see what we had already done, see how it affected the country, and make a decision then. Regretfully, we are now in a much more partisan place than we were in March or April, he continued. I cant tell you today that were going to reach an agreement on another rescue package, but heres what I can tell you: I think we need another one, McConnell added. I think the country needs another one. About a hundred mothers, wives and children of Ukrainian servicemen who were killed as a result of Russian aggression in Donbas have taken part in a campaign entitled "Time does not cure" outside the building of the Russian Embassy in Kyiv, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. Women and children held portraits of their men and parents. The protesters told reporters that six years after the Ilovaisk tragedy, the actions of the Russian military leadership have not been properly assessed, and Russian generals who ordered the execution of a column of Ukrainian servicemen had not yet been convicted or declared internationally wanted. According to the organizer of the rally, the head of the Association of Wives and Mothers of ATO Fighters, Natalia Muzyka, women insist that the Servant of the People faction in parliament send its representatives to the interim parliamentary commission investigating the events of 2014-2015 years. "Nothing has been done in the case of Ilovaisk and Debaltseve in the past three years," Muzyka said. After the rally near the Russian embassy, the women went to the building of the President's Office, where they demanded punishment for those responsible for the deaths of Ukrainian servicemen and volunteer fighters. On August 21 this year, the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine submitted to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court the evidence of Russia's committing war crimes near Ilovaisk, Ukraine's Donetsk region, in August 2014. According to experts' conclusions and a set of other evidence, the only factor that led to the tragic events near Ilovaisk is the military aggression of the Russian Armed Forces. op Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie has made a complaint to the Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards and Privileges about two Tweets by Sinn Fein MLA Martina Anderson. Mr Beattie said he believes the Tweet, which was sent on August 25, is designed to discourage people from a nationalist background applying for the Victims Payment Scheme (VPS). There is no commissioner currently in post but Mr Beattie said he hopes the matter will be addressed when one is appointed. He has also called for Ms Anderson's resignation. It's after the Foyle MLA this week apologised for a Tweet claiming a compensation scheme for those injured in the Troubles was mainly for those who fought Britains dirty war. The comment sparked anger and hurt among the victims community, many of whom have been campaigning for years to secure the payments which have been repeatedly delayed due to political rows over who should qualify. Ms Anderson deleted her original Tweet amid widespread backlash. Statement in relation to Martina Anderson pension comments: pic.twitter.com/8IjHspcgqA Michelle ONeill (@moneillsf) August 26, 2020 Mr Beattie said her remarks have created "huge and lasting hurt" and said a second Tweet sent by Ms Anderson is "even more harmful" than the first. Ms Anderson's Tweet reads: "All Victims should qualify for the pension. It reflects the Brit Gov policy & only its narrative of the conflict. Its given legal protection to Brit armed forces who killed or injured or tortured Irish citizens during the conflict. NO to Discrimination Criminalisation Exclusion." All Victims should qualify for the pension It reflects the Brit Gov policy & only its narrative of the conflict Its given legal protection to Brit armed forces who killed or injured or tortured Irish citizens during the conflict NO to Discrimination Criminalisation Exclusion pic.twitter.com/vLZYuLxT17 Martina Anderson Sinn Fein (@M_AndersonSF) August 25, 2020 Mr Beattie said he believes this Tweet is harmful because some victims may believe if they apply for a victims' pension, they are supporting UK policy. "The reason this is so incredibly harmful is that Ms Anderson is stating that the VPS is an extension of UK Government Policy and only reflects its narrative of the Troubles," he said. "This could lead to those who are entitled to this pension and who come from a nationalist background, not applying for it, simply because they believe the Sinn Fein propaganda line and believe that if they do apply, they are supporting UK policy and the UKs narrative of the Troubles. "This is damaging to all communities and it is obviously false." Expand Close Sinn Feins Martina Anderson (right) with deputy leader Michelle ONeill at the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland after handing in her nomination papers to run in the European elections. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sinn Feins Martina Anderson (right) with deputy leader Michelle ONeill at the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland after handing in her nomination papers to run in the European elections. To apply for the pension does not mean you are supporting any narrative of the Troubles or UK policy, Mr Beattie said. "The pension is clear- it acknowledges all sections of the community with long term, life limiting injuries caused during the Troubles and only omits those from all communities who injured themselves whilst undertaking an illegal action," he added. "My second complaint is around the false statement that British Armed Forces will receive legal protections though this VPS legislation. I challenge Sinn Fein to show where those legal protections are. This is creating division, it is deliberate in doing so, and that is against the code of conduct we should expect of any MLA. "Martina Anderson cannot backtrack on this last tweet, the media cannot ignore what she is doing and she must resign forthwith." Sinn Fein, on behalf of Martina Anderson, has been asked for a comment in relation to this story. Due to the global Covid-19 pandemic and for the first time in its history, Birthright-Israel has postponed all trips since mid-March. While tens of thousands of Jewish young adults were planning to visit Israel this summer, the organization quickly turned to online high-quality engagement with its alumni and prospective participants. Since mid-March we reached 4.4 million people around the world, said Noa Bauer, vice president of Global Marketing at Birthright. Today we invite the thousands of Birthright applicants whose trips were cancelled, as well as past and future Birthright p... Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 22:39:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JINAN, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- This year marks the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which falls on Sept. 3. A manuscript, collected by a Chinese translator living in eastern China's Shandong Province, uncovered a number of facts buried in the fierce war. Now being carefully restored by translator and writer Wang Jinling, the manuscript was written by American novelist Irving Wallace in the 1940s, which revealed the Japanese army's atrocities and Chinese people's struggle in the most desperate condition. "Wallace and his family always care about China's condition and development," said Wang, who recently received an email from Wallace's son, sending regards and expressing his concern about China's COVID-19 situation. According to Wang, this manuscript dates back to 1940, when Wallace was a journalist assigned to the Far East by a U.S. magazine to report the war between China and Japan, part of the World Anti-Fascist War. At that time, Wallace managed to collect information from both sides. He interviewed several core figures behind Japan's expansionist policy, including Hideki Tojo, as well as common people from the two countries. He made scrupulous records on several major events in Japan's invasion of China, including the September 18 Incident of 1931, the July 7 Incident, the August 13 Incident and Nanjing Massacre, all in 1937. Besides writing articles for the magazine, he decided to write a book to expose Japan's ambitions and the crimes it committed in China to the rest of the world. However, his plan to publish the book was postponed due to the Pearl Harbor incident, after which the United States declared war on Japan and other fascist countries. Since then, the manuscript remained dust-laden for decades. The special value of this manuscript was discovered by Wang after he was granted the translation right of Wallace's work by the family. "No matter how long it was sealed, the truth of history will finally emerge and be known by people," said Wang. The manuscript was translated into Chinese and published in China in 2005, titled "Japan's Mein Kampf." In the book, Wallace wrote about the Sept. 18 Incident, when Japanese troops blew up a section of railway under their control near Shenyang and accused Chinese troops of sabotage as a pretext for attack. They then launched an invasion of the northeast part of China. "Japanese soldiers bayoneted citizens who didn't understand their foreign orders and stripped and raped all women within reach," he wrote in the book. As to the Nanjing Massacre, he wrote that "there were more men, handcuffed back to back, stood up against walls being used as living dummies for real bayonet practice." There is also a video stored in Wang's outdated laptop, produced by Wallace and his colleagues after he joined the U.S. army. The film, titled "Battle for China," was used to encourage Americans to join the army and soldiers to fight more bravely. "China is land. China is people. China is history." The film says in the very beginning, praising the friendship between China and the United States in their joint fight against the fascists. Though died of cancer in 1990, Wallace's articles and films are valuable records of that part of history and have made more people aware of China's role in the Anti-Fascist War. Professor Rana Mitter from Oxford University in an article in the New York Times shared a similar opinion. "If we wish to understand the role of China in today's global society, we would do well to remind ourselves of the tragic, titanic struggle which that country waged in the 1930s and 1940s not just for its own national dignity and survival, but for the victory of all the allies, West and East, against some of the darkest forces that history has ever produced," wrote Mitter. Enditem Randy Zuckerberg (entrepreneur, investor, founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media) will appear as a headliner of Kyiv Smart City Forum 2020. The event takes place on October, 8 online. Before starting her own company, the sister of Facebooks founder has contributed with Facebook Live, a tool for live streaming on Facebook app, which is used by more than a billion people worldwide. For this project, she has been nominated for an Emmy award in a category "real-time news coverage". She has written four books, two of which become bestsellers, and one named DOT adopted as a scenario for a TV series. Under her leadership, Zuckerberg Media keeps collaboration with such giant companies as The Clinton Global Initiative, Cirque du Soleil, Conde Nast, The United Nations, Bravo and others. Zuckerberg dedicated to Facebook more than 10 years of her life. She started working for an unknown startup, totaled only 12 employees and made it to a Commercial Director of a huge company with more than 40 offices around the world, counting several thousand employees. Actually, Randy actively helps to rookie entrepreneurs, standing out with brilliant ideas. "I consider myself a patron of business. Every morning I ask myself: can I help even more entrepreneurs? - Randy admits. Now her key mission refers to support businesses in different countries and gain investment resources for them. A world-renowned speaker on technology and entrepreneurship, she helps others understand new trends in technology and mentors about making them working for you and your business. Randy Zuckerberg's interests also include producing Broadway shows and TV projects, running the weekly radio show Randi Zuckerberg Means Business and even acting - Randy starred in the musical Rock of Ages. Ukrainian entrepreneurs, startups and other participants have a unique opportunity to listen to Randy Zuckerberg live on October 8, 2020 during the Kyiv Smart City Forum 2020 on an innovative online platform, devoted to discussions about future of smart cities. The forum, which is one of the main events, dedicated to promotion of smart city technologies in Eastern Europe, brings together thousands of the best Ukrainian and international innovation experts, urban planners, government officials and crisis managers. For the first time in Ukraine, such a large-scale forum will be held online, consisting of: speeches from leading Ukrainian and international experts, a virtual exhibition area with the best technological solutions, live communication with the smart community, interactive events and networking with TOP international companies. Speakers from Ukraine, Netherlands, the USA, Spain, Germany and Singapore will talk about transformations, taking place around the world, present unique content, discuss different points of view and share experience of professionals referring to all aspects of smart life. For readers of interfax.com.ua, there is a 20% discount for the promo code UNF2020. Look for more details on-line: http://forum.kyivsmartcity.com Advertisement A Bavarian diplomat and art dealer's 17th-century autograph book that included endorsements from leading figures of the period has sold for 2.5million. Philipp Hainhofer became the most distinguished autograph hunter of his age after creating the 208-page album while the Thirty Years' War raged in central Europe. He collected signatures from a whole host of diplomats and royalty including Cosimo de' Medici, archdukes of Austria, a Stuart queen and the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II. Philipp Hainhofer's autograph book included various endorsements from leading figures of the day and the inscriptions were often accompanied by miniature portraits, depictions of sea battles, short poems and even doodles of animals Hainhofer collected signatures from a whole host of diplomats and royalty including Cosimo de' Medici, archdukes of Austria, a Stuart queen and the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II The book (pictured) went missing for almost 300 years and was acquired by several private collectors before eventually going on sale at Sotheby's auction house Philipp Hainhofer (pictured) became the most distinguished autograph hunter of his age after creating the 208-page album Hainhofer's Album Amicorum (book of friends), which was something between an art catalogue and historical record of geo-political conflict, acted as a 17th-century LinkedIn. It included various endorsements from leading figures of the day and the inscriptions were often accompanied by miniature portraits. The pages were filled with depictions of sea battles, short poems and even doodles of animals. It was later embellished further by leading painters of the period after Hainhofer's death in 1647. The book went missing for almost 300 years and was acquired by several private collectors before eventually going on sale at Sotheby's auction house. The Herzog August library in Wolfenbutte, Germany, bought the book for 2.5million (2.8million). Hainhofer was born in 1578 to a Protestant dynasty in Augsburg, Germany. His father, Melchior, was ennobled by Emperor Rudolf II but the family did not belong to the Augsburg patriciate. Hainhofer began collecting signatures and coats of arms at just 15 years old with the aim of creating 'a memorial of favours granted, a repository of undying friendship, a refreshment after the cares and toils of this life,' Peter Buschel, director of the Herzog August library told The Times. He went off to study in Padua, Cologne and Siena before returning to take his place in the family's textile business. By 1605 Hainhofer had become a prominent figure in the community and was elected as to the Greater Council of the city. Hainhofer's Album was later embellished further by leading painters of the period after his death in 1647 (coats of arms pictured) Hainhofer created the book (pictured) as 'a memorial of favours granted, a repository of undying friendship, a refreshment after the cares and toils of this life' The Herzog August library in Wolfenbutte, Germany, recently bought the book (floral illustrations pictured) for 2.5million (2.8million) His trading of exotic goods including Italian silk later brought him into contact with German princes and he soon found himself working as a political agent. He succeeded his uncle, Hieronymus Hormann, as correspondent to King of France Henry IV in 1607. And later he worked as an ambassador to other prominent rulers including the Duke of Pomerania-Stettin and the Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg. Hainhofer, who worked as a kind of freelance ambassador, began collecting signatures and coats of arms (pictured) at just 15 years old Hainhofer's Album Amicorum (extract pictured) was something between an art catalogue and historical record of geo-political conflict Hainhofer, who had extensive knowledge of languages and profound humanist education, would also often undertake diplomatic missions for his his patrons by representing them at ceremonial gatherings. But his fortunes changed for the worse in 1618 as the war between Catholics and Protestants disintegrated much of the German-speaking world. Hainhofer spent his final years working for the King of Sweden Gustavus Adolphus but died almost penniless. YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS. The appeal of the director of B.M.L. Arzni LTD and the bankruptcy manager of the same LTD against the decision of 12.03.20 of the Court of Appeal of RA on the case B.M.L. Arzni Company against Anelik Bank was dismissed, ARMENPRESS was informed from the IDBank. Let us remind that on March 12 of this year the Court of Appeal invalidated the verdict of the Court of First Instance of Yerevan and qualified the demand of B.M.L. Arzni Company to confiscate USD 22 million from the Bank as groundless. As Mher Abrahamyan, the Chairman of the Management Board mentioned, we can call this a restoration of justice and jurisdiction: We are happy to mention that the Court of Cassation dismissed this absurd appeal and upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal. This means that the Bank has no obligation to the B.M.L. Arzni Company and the bankruptcy manager of the same company, said Mher Abrahamyan. Let us remind that Gevorg Afandyan, the previous owner of B.M.L. Arzni Company received a USD 7 million loan from Anelik Bank in 2010, didnt fulfill his credit obligations, received the 33.3% of the property back, according to the agreement with the Bank (which, by the way, was invalidated by the Court of the First Instance), but later he started demanding a fine of USD 22 million from the Bank. I want to thank our clients who trusted us unconditionally throughout the whole process of this litigation and appreciated the services offered by us, the quality of the service and the partnership. We continue to move forward with the digitalization strategy we have adopted, to improve the tools offered and to replenish the daily life of our clients with innovative products - concluded Mher Abrahamyan. Reminder: The verdict of the Court of Cassation enters into legal force from the moment of its publication and it is not subject to appeal. The date for the launch of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2020 manifesto has been postponed. Party executives had slated the launch for Monday, August 31, 2020 but information available to Citi News indicates that the event will not come off as planned. It is unclear why the event was postponed. A new date and venue will, however, be announced later, according to sources. According to the NDC, its campaign document was presented to the partys manifesto committee weeks ago. Already, the NDC has stated that its yet-to-be-outdoored manifesto will be superior to the one released by the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) last week. Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the NDCs manifesto will be driven by the real needs and aspirations of Ghanaians. Mr. Ablakwa in a Facebook post said Ghanaians will appreciate the wisdom in the NDC manifesto when it is launched on Monday, August 31, 2020. One can therefore immediately see the wisdom of the NDC leadership when they chose to embark on a peoples manifesto which our opponents ridiculed. Clearly, you cannot get it wrong when you go to the people and engage them directly on what constitutes their needs, hopes and aspirations. Certainly, the NDC is better positioned to present a far superior manifesto on Monday. A manifesto from the people and for the people as it ought to be. Meanwhile, the NDC has described the NPPs manifesto as recycled promises which do not inspire hope. According to the opposition party, the promises outlined by the NPP do not reflect the work done by the party after being in office for over three years. Source: citinewsroom.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan will build ten new water reservoirs to improve water supply in the country, Azertag has reported. The reservoirs will be built in Alincachay, Gudyalchai, Valvalachai, Grachai, Gusarchai, Agsuchai, Turianchai, Yengica, Vilashchai and Zayamchai rivers across the country in line with Action plan for 2020-2022 to ensure the effective use of water resources, approved by the presidential decree. The Yengica reservoir with a volume of 17.5 million cubic meters will be built in northern Gabala district, on Vandam river in Yenikand village. The used volume of the new water reservoir will be 12.5 million cubic meters, representative of Gabala Irrigation Systems Department Gurbanali Dashdamirov has told Azertag. Gabala experiences water shortage and irrigation problem about a month every summer since all rivers in the region originate in the mountains and the amount of water depends on snow. Yengica reservoir will allow full irrigation of 10,000 hectares of land in Gabala region, which will lead to an increase in the yield of these lands, allowing sowing 2-3 times a year. Construction of Yengica reservoir will add 4,000 hectares of additional land to the irrigation network of Gabala region Irrigation Systems Department that already covers an area of about 16,000 hectares. It should be noted that on July 23, President Ilham Aliyev urged the government to take measures to eliminate the water shortage problem in the country. He also signed the Order on additional measures to ensure the efficient use of water resources in the country on July 28. The construction of a water reservoir is nearing a completion in the countrys Neftchala city that has been experiencing water supply problems recently. Moreover, Gazanarhi canal is being constructed in Aghsu region to improve water supply or arable lands in this region. Azerbaijan has been recently experiencing problems with water supply due to the diminishing of the level of Kura River, Azerbaijans largest water source. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Drugstores ramp up COVID-19 testing as part of health-care push amid pandemic, Aug. 26 Premier Doug Ford has stated talks are underway investigating COVID-19 testing in Shoppers Drug Marts in Ontario for asymptomatic individuals. Until further scientific data is available, I believe this is a bad idea. Limited research suggests asymptomatic transmission ranges from less than 2 per cent to 40 per cent, suggesting little clarity, and an unwarranted risk to Shoppers patrons and employees. Shoppers Drug Marts are the sites for prescriptions submission and pickups and for Canada Post activities, as well as a convenient local food source, particularly for seniors and individuals with limited transportation options. In-store COVID-19 testing could increase the risk of acquiring the virus for patrons. The physical space is not conducive to lineups, nor is the air circulation as good as Ontarios drive-thru testing sites. I would urge the premier to delay implementation of this plan. The risk/benefit ratio is too great to proceed at this time. On Wednesday evening the Gibraltar authorities announced that further anti-Covid measures would come into force today, Friday 28 August. The number of active cases of the virus has been steadily increasing in recent days and was 67 on Wednesday, but Gibraltar is carrying out large-scale testing of its population and cross-border workers, so the rise in figures is not unexpected. Under the new measures, people in Gibraltar must now wear a mask in all covered public spaces, and socialising is discouraged except with family or established social groups. The over-70s are being asked once again to stay indoors unless it is absolutely necessary for them to go out, and young people are advised not to socialise with or visit grandparents over 70 for the time being. Changes have also been announced for Gibraltar's National Day celebrations. The traditional firework display has been cancelled and no large screens will be installed in public places to broadcast the online events, to avoid people gathering around them to watch. With regard to air travel, the government is considering introducing further measures at the airport before people are permitted to board aircraft bound for the UK. The subject is under discussion and the Gibraltar authorities plan to hold talks with the UK. If any action is deemed necessary, it will be announced later on. News of the new restrictions coincided with Germany issuing a travel warning for Gibraltar. However, in a BBC radio interview chief minister Fabian Picardo said the German authorities need to look beyond the Covid figures. He said that if you extrapolate them per 100,000 inhabitants they do look high, but Gibraltar has tested 32,000 people, equal to its population, tests 2 per cent of its population every day and that its controls are working well. reStage, a turnaround venture fund, will acquire Needle, a Salt Lake City-based company that provides live ecommerce chat staffed by passionate brand advocates. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. reStage will help the company grow its offering. Founded in 2010 and led by Brandon Anderson, CEO, Needle is a technology and service platform for e-commerce brands who utilize advocates for live chat and customer engagement. The list of brands that use their service to provide a differentiated ecommerce chat experience including TaylorMade, Stuart Weitzman, Sonos, and Bare Necessities. FinSMEs 28/08/2020 Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has had no contacts with his Belarussian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko after the presidential election in the neighboring country, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said on the 1+1 television channel. "There have been no contacts between them since the elections. And there are no plans for any," he said, adding that last time Zelensky and Lukashenko were in touch before the Belarussian election. "In fact, all processes and all of our contacts with the Belarussian side have been put on hold," Kuleba said. "I can say so quite officially. We are keeping a close watch on the situation. As soon as we see that these contacts are not fraught with any reputational, moral or ethical risks for Ukraine, they will be resumed," TASS cited him as saying. In that connection he recalled that the Ukrainian ambassador had been recalled from Minsk for consultations. Kuleba said that the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry saw its current task in ensuring "the developments in Belarus should not raise the level of threats to security in Ukraine and to the Ukrainian citizens in Belarus." He added was doing his utmost to ensure the events in the neighboring country "should have the fewest possible effects on the economy and businesses in Ukraine, because his country had very active bilateral trade with Belarus. Belarus held a presidential election on August 9. According to the Central Election Commission, the incumbent, Alexander Lukashenko received 80.1% of the votes. Lukashenkos rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya collected 10.12%. The election returns triggered mass demonstrations in several Belarussian cities. During the first days of protests there were clashes with police. On Sunday, August 23, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky told Euronews in an interview, that if he were in Lukashenkos place, he would have agreed to a rerun of the elections. In response Belarussian Foreign Ministry spokesman Anatoly Glaz said that Belarus did not need "hackneyed advice" from the Ukrainian leadership, but would like to feel its support and understanding. Govt agrees on charter path BANGKOK: Parties in the coalition government have agreed on a single version of a motion to initiate a constitutional amendment, which includes details of the formation of a panel which would write a new charter. By Bangkok Post Friday 28 August 2020, 09:21AM Opposition leader Sompong Amornwiwat, left, hands the charter amendment motion to House Speaker Chuan Leekpai at the parliament in Bangkok on Monday. Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya / Bangkok Post The fate of the Senate is to be decided in the future. Chinnaworn Boonyakiat, deputy government chief whip, on Thursday said the version of the motion will be forwarded to parliament for approval after the Council of State, the governments team of legal advisers, finishes its review of its wording, reports the Bangkok Post. The government-sponsored motion would allow the formation of a 200-member charter-drafting panel made up of 150 elected writers, the Democrat MP for Nakhon Sri Thammarat said, adding senators, university presidents and the student movement would choose 50 others. The panel would have 240 days to write a draft for constitutional amendments, the passing of which would be determined via a referendum if parliament votes to reject it. The motion was made following the opposition-sponsored version, which would leave the Senates fate in the hands of the writers, Mr Chinnaworn said. An amendment to Section 256 is needed to open the door to a constitutional amendment by a new committee. Section 256 stipulates charter amendment requirements, including a national referendum if a would-be amendment involves the chapters on general provisions, the king and charter amendment. The charter amendment process was set in motion after students kicked off a series of anti-government protests last month. One of their demands was to rewrite the constitution, which was enacted by the previous government under coup-leader Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The opposition camp submitted its version of the motion to House Speaker Chuan Leekpai on Aug 17. The looming controversial issue is the future of the Senate. The Move Forward Party has vowed to curb its power, or even get rid of the upper house. The current constitution gives extensive power to senators, all non-elected, including entitling them to vote during the selection of the prime minister. Although the coalition parties will support a joint motion which leaves the Senate untouched, members of the Democrat Party remain defiant in wanting to limit the role of senators. The party will decide on Monday. Democrats know that Joe Biden is a sure loser if November's elections play out fairly. But they have no intention of losing again to Donald Trump nor of letting the U.S. House slip away, nor permitting Mitch McConnell to keep the Senate gavel. Democrats' intentions couldn't be more apparent. The means? Imposing historic massive vote fraud on the nation. But if ballot fraud isn't enough? Earlier this week, in the spirit of mafia dons, Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton issued public threats. The threats are more than brazen. They're ominous. If Democrats' schemes to steal the presidential election falter, Clinton says there's no retreat. Given what's happening so far this year in Democrat cities, why are bullying and, perhaps, force off the table? About Republicans who dare oppose Democrats vote-by-mail hustles, Speaker Pelosi proclaimed, "They're doing everything they can ... scare people, intimidate by saying law enforcement will be there, diminish the role of the postal system in all of this. It's really actually shameful. Enemies of the state[.]" We could shrug off Pelosi's use of the words "enemies of the state" as hyperbole. But there's a concept behind those words and actual law. Is Pelosi really being sloppy with language? The speaker hasn't just spent most of her adult life in politics; she grew up in it. Her father, Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr., was a Baltimore congressman and mayor. Her brother, Tommy D'Alesandro III, was Baltimore mayor, too. No passes for Pelosi. When Pelosi refers to enemies of the state, she's alluding to subversion, "the attempt to weaken or destroy a political system or a government." If we follow Pelosi's thread, Republicans who oppose mail-in balloting ploys are subversives. What punishments will be meted out to Republicans should Democrats claim the presidency? Or even if they don't? Because we know that Democrats can be awfully punitive without the executive power. There's law defining an "enemy of the United States." It's reasonably specific. But so what? Democrat-appointed judges have a knack for creatively interpreting law. Besides, the Soviets had no compunction in generous definitions of what constituted enemies of the people. The late Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn powerfully attested to that in his lifetime. This from the Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School: According to 50 USCS 2204 [Title 50. War and National Defense; Chapter 39. Spoils of War], enemy of the United States means any country, government, group, or person that has been engaged in hostilities, whether or not lawfully authorized, with the United States; (3) the term "person" means (A) any natural person; (B) any corporation, partnership, or other legal entity; and (C) any organization, association, or group. Why shouldn't we suppose that "hostilities" can be flexibly applied? What about "whether or not lawfully authorized"? Malicious prosecution in fact, malicious applications of law isn't out of bounds for vengeful Democrats. Ask Tom Delay about that, who, in 2004, fingered Pelosi as a ground floor conspirator in attempts to destroy him. How about Roger Stone? General Mike Flynn? Lest we forget, President Trump has suffered through nearly four years of legal fishing expeditions and hounding and an unwarranted impeachment. Why wouldn't President Biden and the cabal that controls him weaponize the law to even scores with troublesome Republicans or waylay, let's say, Devin Nunes or Jim Jordan? Or Tom Cotton or Josh Hawley? Perhaps Brett Kavanaugh will be on tap as enemy of the state fodder? This brings us to Hillary Clinton. Clinton, whose thuggishness always shines through, announced that Joe Biden has no intention of conceding the election to President Trump. Per The Epoch Times, August 25, 2020 (italics added): "Joe Biden should not concede under any circumstances, because I think this is going to drag out, and eventually, I do believe he will win if we don't give an inch and if we are as focused and relentless as the other side is," Clinton said in an interview on Aug. 25. I think that [Republicans] have a couple of scenarios that they are looking toward. One is messing up absentee balloting. They believe that helps them so that they then get maybe a narrow advantage in the Electoral College on Election Day," she claimed. "So we've got to have a massive legal operation, and I know the Biden campaign is working on that." If Democrats can't steal the presidential election outright and that's unlikely and if key state elections are close enough, they intend to "Palm Beach" the counts. Recall that in 2018, now Florida governor Ron DeSantis came within a whisker of losing to wastrel Democrat Andrew Gillum. Palm Beach County was where Democrats aimed to flip a close gubernatorial election in the counts. Back in 2000, Palm Beach Democrats almost pulled out the election for Al Gore. Both times, Democrats were thwarted. Yet is three the charm? The Heritage Foundation, in a December 16, 2019, commentary, discusses the "irregularities" that continue to plague Palm Beach County. That it's run by Democrats is probably its first irregularity. In 2020, Democrats won't lean on just one blue county in Florida to swing the presidential contest. As the Heritage commentary states: "Unfortunately, Palm Beach County isn't an isolated problem." In other words, Democrats are gearing up other blue counties across the nation to manufacture the votes needed to defeat Trump in the counts. The good news is that Republicans won't be sitting by idly. Donald Trump is the most street-savvy president in history. His campaign will have a "massive legal operation" to counter the Democrats' chicanery. Let's revisit the ominous in Clinton's remarks. She's made it clear that there's no room for capitulation. Joe Biden will win the presidency in November or else. A war of attrition is what she wants, and she's pushing Democrats to stay on the battlefield longer, and fight harder, to achieve Trump's defeat. Ends justify means. The will of the voters be damned. But don't think the fight for the presidency will happen in county elections offices only. Or in courtrooms. Democrats intend to broaden the battlefield. They're masters of misdirection. Expect their MSM handmaidens to hurl false accusations of Republican election rigging. There must be charges of racism. Trump and Republicans will be accused of minority voter intimidation. Expect aggrieved blacks, in particular, to be trotted out before cameras. And don't forget that Democrats have their allies in the streets, Antifa and BLM. Brace for new episodes of civil unrest on Election Night and subsequently. What better backdrops to provide to disputed elections? America in flames, "protesters," looting and ransacking city neighborhoods, heretofore untouched. Violence galore. Maybe, just maybe, Democrats have plans to export mayhem to your community? You see, Republicans are now enemies of the state, and by extension, so are tens of millions of patriots. For Democrats, there must be victory this November and a steep price to pay by all who oppose them. J. Robert Smith can be found on Twitter at @JRobertSmith1 and Parler at @JRobertSmith. He also blogs at Flyover. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr. A police officer stands watch as a looted pawn shop burns in the background, in Minneapolis, Minn., on May 28, 2020. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) Virginia Senate Passes Bill Permitting Downgrade of Assault on Police Officer from Felony to Misdemeanor Virginias Democrat-controlled Senate has approved legislation that lets judges and juries downgrade the charge of an assault on a police officer from a felony to a misdemeanor if the attack did not cause injury or if the perpetrator has diminished physical or mental capacity or pervasive developmental disorder, drawing pushback from Republicans, who said the bill undermines the safety of law enforcement officials amid nationwide protests, some of which have turned violent. Senate Bill 5032, which passed on Wednesday with a 21-15 vote strictly along partisan lines, also eliminates a six-month mandatory minimum sentence for assault causing bodily injury to police officers and other categories of officials performing public duties like firefighters and emergency medical personnel. Republicans have said the bill makes police and responders more vulnerable at a time when they face attacks during protests. State Sen. Amanda Chase, a Republican serving Virginias 11th District, called the legislation an attack on our law enforcement, while State Sen. Ryan T. McDougle (R-Hanover) said: Were sending a message to people that riot in our streets . . . that if you encounter a law enforcement officer you dont need to be concerned because if you assault them its not as serious. Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican, criticized the bill in a tweet: This is unhinged. The Democrat Virginia Senate has passed a bill that would dramatically reduce penalties for assaulting a police officer. Liberal politicians are endangering police officers and fueling the riots in our streets. Democrats, who all voted for the bill, argued that the legislation does not downplay the crime of assaulting police officers and other public servants, but instead seeks to distinguish between serious assaults on police and minor incidents. What were talking about here are situations that involve much more insignificant minor touches, said State Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax), who proposed the bill, adding that the law does not grant anyone the right to assault first responders. In Virginia, serious physical assaults on police can still be prosecuted as felonies under the states malicious bodily injury to a police officer law. If there was intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or kill, such assaults carry a two-year mandatory minimum sentence and up to 30 years behind bars. If such malicious intent was lacking, but the victim sustained a bodily injury, the perpetrator can be charged with a Class 6 felony, and a conviction will include a mandatory minimum term of one year behind bars. The bill will now be taken up by the House, where Democrats hold a 55-45 majority. The legislation in Virginia comes as the death of George Floyd and widespread protests have prompted several states to move quickly to pass significant policing reform proposals. The Supreme Court in Friday refused to entertain a plea seeking directions to the Election Commission to refrain from holding upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar "till the state is declared COVID-19 and flood free". New Delhi [India], Aug 28 (ANI): The Supreme Court in Friday refused to entertain a plea seeking directions to the Election Commission to refrain from holding upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar till the state is declared COVID-19 and flood free. A bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan refused to hear plea seeking postponement of Bihar elections and asked the petitioner Rajesh Kumar Jaiswal, a resident of Bihar, to approach the Election Commission of India for the same. How can we ask ECI to not hold elections? COVID is not a valid reason for the postponement of the election, the bench said. When the counsel appearing for the petitioner told the bench that the Representation of People Act says election can be deferred due to extraordinary situation, the bench said it is for the ECI to decide on the matter and added that the court cannot direct poll panel to not hold elections. Also Read: States slam centres proposal to give two borrowing options to states to meet GST shortfall, call it betrayal of federalism Also Read: Students to netas plan massive protests over NEET row: While JKhand CM demands postponement of exams, Tgana NSUI chief begins indefinite fast The plea sought directions that Election Commission be directed not to recommend to the State of Bihar to publish notification of election in official gazette till February or until the competent authority declares Bihar as COVID-19 and flood free. It said that Election Commission has shown complete unawareness of the extraordinary circumstances and prohibition in the whole country and more particularly the constituencies which are likely to go for polls. Election Commission has convinced itself that free and fair elections could be held even when the public meetings are banned as well as extremely hazardous to the candidates to contest or indulge in election propaganda, the plea said. It said that the petitioner had filed a representation to the Election Commission on July 18 requesting it to postpone the Bihar election for the safety of people. On August 11, the Chief Election Commissioner had announced that Bihar election will be held as per schedule ignoring the fact that Bihar is grappling under COVID-19 and floods, it said. By deciding to hold elections during a pandemic, the Election Commission of India has ignored the population of states like Bihar whereby the population is above 9.9 crores and it cant adopt targeted measures for older voters who are more vulnerable to COVID-19. Options like proxy voters under a well established legal framework, postal voting, and mobile ballot boxes can not be explored and implemented in such a short span of time, the plea added. Saying that Bihar has over one lakh COVID-19 cases, the plea said that holding elections will only contribute to spreading the virus in the state. The plea further sought directions that Bihar government be directed to ensure proper facilities to its residents without focusing on the upcoming election. It also asked that the Election Commission be directed to decide on his representation. (ANI) Also Read: Uproar over Rheas Interview continues, now Actors sister rebuts Rheas claims, says she drugged, confined and isolated him A Colorado woman's body was found in her car, in a hospital emergency room parking lot, three days after she died inside the car. Yvette Mooney, 50, of Denver, Colorado, was found dead on August 23 in the ER parking lot at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado. Police discovered the mother of two, who had several grandchildren, in her parked car, three days after her August 20 death. Yvette Mooney, 50 (center), was found dead in her car in Colorado's Swedish Medical Center's ER parking lot on August 23. She had actually died in her car on August 20 'She couldnt make it inside,' Mooney's daughter-in-law Kandra Garcia told WKRN. 'She thought, "I'm in an ER parking lot. They will find me somebody will come." Not three days later when shes blistered and too decomposed for us to have a proper burial.' Garcia told the news station that Mooney's family believed she had gone to the hospital to visit a family friend and pray with them. But, when Mooney didn't answer calls that day, the family said they called police, who were able to locate her in the hospital parking lot. Mooney's family thought she had gone to the hospital to pray with someone. Her daughter-in-law, Kandra Garcia (right), is pictured with Mooney's son (left) When Mooney (far left and right) didn't return calls that day, Mooney's family called police Police tracked down Mooney (pictured) at the hospital parking lot, inside her car which had tinted windows, which would have made it difficult for people to see inside it, police said Garcia said that when Mooney's body was found in the parking lot, it was too 'blistered and too decomposed for us to have a proper burial' Police told the news station that Mooney's cause of death is still being determined by the coroner's office and that detectives are asking for surveillance tapes from the hospital. Police said Mooney's car windows were said to be tinted, which would've made it difficult to see inside the car. In a statement to KDVR, the hospital said: 'We offer sincere condolences and deepest sympathy to the family and loved ones. Upon discovery of the event we immediately notified the Englewood Police Department and have worked closely with them throughout the ongoing investigation.' Garcia, who called her mother-in-law a 'hard worker all her life,' noted that 'Somebody dropped the ball and I want answers.' Mooney's family is asking that hospital security polices be changed to involve more frequent checking of cars. 'There should never be an unattended death,' Garcia said. Megan Gale's fiance Shaun Hampson has broken his silence on her brother Jason Gale's death in July. The retired AFL player, 32, told the Herald Sun on Friday that the model, 45, and her family 'dealt with it in their own way'. Mr Gale, 49, was last seen at a petrol station on July 14 in Western Australia, and was found dead a week later in bushland next to his 1999 Honda CR-V SUV. Megan Gale's AFL star fiance Shaun Hampson (pictured together) broke his silence on her brother Jason's death - after he mysteriously vanished and was found in bushland a week later Hampson told the publication that while a death at any time is tragic, it was particularly difficult while in lockdown. 'That happening at any time isn't a great feeling, but at a time like this. But you know, the family has dealt with it in their own way and so now it's about moving on.' Hampson went on to reveal that he and Ms Gale thought it was in the best interests of their children, for her to attend the funeral solo. The couple share six-year-old son River and two-year-old daughter Rosie. Hampson, 32, told the Herald Sun on Friday on dealing with a family death amid lockdown: 'That happening at any time isn't a great feeling, but at a time like this. But you know, the family has dealt with it in their own way and so now it's about moving on' Hampson revealed that he and Ms Gale thought it was in the best interests of their children, for her to attend the funeral solo. The couple share son River, six, and daughter Rosie, two 'Megan went on her own, we didn't think it was wise to take the kids over at a time like this, so she went,' he said. 'She had the full two weeks quarantine in the hotel in Perth, so she did the whole shebang, which is hard when you're grieving as well.' Ms Gale joined mourners on August 18 to farewell her brother at his funeral, four weeks after he was found dead in bushland. She flew from Melbourne to Perth and travelled to Fremantle Cemetery for his cremation service. Ms Gale joined mourners on August 18 to farewell her brother at his funeral, four weeks after he was found dead in bushland. She is pictured at the Charlotte Dawson memorial in 2014 A devastated Ms Gale was spotted wearing a black coat and large sunglasses as she stepped into a limousine after the service. Mr Gale was last seen on July 14 buying petrol and water at the Popanyinning General Store, 160km south-east from his Perth home. Following a desperate week-long search by family, friends and police, Mr Gale was found dead next to his car. The death was not considered suspicious. The 45-year-old supermodel flew from Melbourne to Perth and travelled to Fremantle Cemetery for Jason Gale's (pictured) cremation service Mr Gale was last seen on July 14 buying petrol and water at the Popanyinning General Store, some 160km south-east from his Perth home before he was found dead a week later in bushland Mr Gale's famous sister thanked everyone who had assisted during the search. 'They (the Gale family) thank everyone for their support especially Jason's neighbours, close friends and work colleagues who have been assisting,' manager Lara Messenger said. Mr Gale, an industrial mechanic, was known for 'going bush' but friend Belinda Murray said he had never disappeared before. Ms Murray said Mr Gale 'really struggled' after a watching a man die in a tragic 2018 incident at a wastewater plant south of Perth. Daily Mail Australia understands Mr Gale was one of a group of colleagues who were there with the victim when he was struck and killed by a pipe. Pictured is a still of Mr Gale's 1999 silver-coloured Honda CR-V station sedan when he was last seen on July 14 Family, friends and police had been desperately searching for the 'very private' sibling of one of Australia's most famous women Ms Murray described Mr Gale as 'a gentle soul' and a 'very skilled, very clever' mechanical maintenance worker. Ms Gale grew up in Perth with her two older brothers and parents, but now lives in Melbourne. She has featured in a string of high profile fashion magazines including Marie Claire, Vogue Italia, Cosmopolitan and GQ. Her career started at the ripe age of 18 after winning a modelling competition in her hometown. In 1999, she featured in a series of ads for Italian telecommunications company Omnitel - leading to her European success. Mr Gale was last seen at about 9.40am on Tuesday July 14 buying water and petrol during a stop in Pingelly, some 160km south-east from his Perth home She has starred as a judge on Australia's Next Top Model along with hosting Project Runway Australia. Ms Gale has also played roles in Australian movies such as I Love You Too, Mad Max: Fury Road, and The Water Diviner featuring Russell Crowe. She had previously dated Andy Lee, most known for his radio show with Hamish Blake, Hamish and Andy. For confidential crisis support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. By Angus Berwick (Reuters) - A Colombian businessman detained in Cape Verde in June was on a mission to Iran as a special envoy of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to negotiate fuel and humanitarian supplies at the time of his arrest, his lawyers told Reuters. Authorities in Cape Verde detained Alex Saab when his private jet stopped to refuel just after 8 p.m. on June 12, acting on an international arrest warrant for money laundering charges filed last year in the United States. U.S. prosecutors accuse Saab of bribing Venezuelan officials to take advantage of the state-controlled exchange rate and transferring $350 million in illegally obtained funds to overseas accounts. Saab, who remains in a Cape Verde jail as he fights extradition to the United States, has denied the charges. His lawyers have called the U.S. charges "politically motivated." The Madrid-based law firm representing Saab in Cape Verde exclusively provided Reuters with details of his Iran visits and relationship with the Maduro government, along with an account of his arrest. "Special Envoy Saab is the key figure for the U.S. in their plan to overthrow Nicolas Maduro and keep suffocating the Venezuelan people," said a statement from Saab's defense team, led by former Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon. Saab's lawyers said he made an earlier visit to Iran in April, when he persuaded Iranian officials to send oil tankers loaded with gasoline along with planes carrying refinery materials, to Venezuela to ease a fuel shortage crisis. He also secured medical supplies and food to help Venezuela prepare for the coronavirus pandemic, which threatened to overrun the country's decrepit health system, the lawyers said. Asked about U.S. officials' comments that Caracas paid Tehran in gold for the shipments, Saab's lawyers said the items were "paid for along standard international terms of trade using Venezuela's own resources." Story continues Washington has imposed tough sanctions on trade in Venezuelan oil and gold in recent years in an effort to remove Maduro, whose 2018 reelection was widely considered a sham. The United States has also put sanctions on Iran. Venezuela's government, which said after Saab's arrest that he was acting as its "agent" to secure humanitarian supplies for the coronavirus pandemic, did not respond to requests for comment. Saab's legal team is appealing a decision by a Cape Verde court to extradite him, arguing that he has diplomatic immunity and would not face a fair trial in the United States due to "illegal evidence." In a letter Saab wrote to Cape Verde's prime minister earlier in August, he said Venezuela would offer his government "more opportunities" if authorities there released him. "I can help Cape Verde more than the United States will do in 100 years," Saab wrote in the letter, seen by Reuters. Saab's arrest was a dramatic turn for the man who had risen from a textile company owner in Colombia to become a powerful intermediary for the Venezuelan government, considered a dictatorship by most Western nations. As the Trump administration tightened sanctions, Saab has leveraged his international contacts to help Maduro barter his remaining resources to obtain aid from allies like Iran. Saab's relationship with the Venezuelan government began in 2011, when he secured a contract to build public housing, his lawyers said. The U.S. indictment against Saab alleges he made "corrupt payments" in connection with this deal. In 2018, Maduro named Saab a special envoy to "collaborate" with foreign governments "to find solutions to Venezuela's complex situation," his lawyers said. When the coronavirus pandemic began spreading through Latin America early this year, the lawyers said Venezuela's foreign ministry entrusted Saab with "the responsibility of acquiring greatly needed humanitarian resources." During his April visit to Iran, Saab told Iranian officials that Venezuela needed shipments of gasoline, as U.S. sanctions had restricted the Maduro government's ability to import material needed to produce it. The Iranians agreed to send eight oil tankers, along with 16 flights coordinated by Iran's Mahan Air, his lawyers said. Iran's government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Flight tracking services showed 16 Mahan Air flights arriving in Venezuela in late April and May. At the time, a senior PDVSA official said the flights were bringing chemicals needed in the refining process to make gasoline. Iran also sent five tankers carrying gasoline to Venezuela starting in May, which helped to ease temporarily the scarcity of gasoline. However, the United States this month seized four cargoes of Iranian fuel bound for Venezuela, where fuel shortages are once again worsening. A top Iranian official involved in the talks for these shipments told Reuters the Mahan Air planes returned to Iran with gold bars worth $200 million as part of the "trade." In April, some 7 tonnes of gold was withdrawn from Venezuela's central bank, people familiar with the operations said, though they did not know its destination. The Maduro government has repeatedly sold off its gold reserves in recent years to obtain valuable foreign currency. (Additional reporting by Belen Carreno in Madrid, Parisa Hafezi in Dubai, and Mayela Armas and Corina Pons in Caracas; Editing by Brian Ellsworth, Dan Flynn and Daniel Wallis) Virtual Reality theater is coming to the Portland Art Museum as part of the 2020 Venice VR Expanded festival. The Fields Ballroom of the museum will host hourlong sessions where up to 14 guests can don virtual reality headsets that place the viewer inside VR storytelling films. The festival will be available online as well, but Portland is the only U.S. city to host in-person screenings. Ticketholders can choose from three headset options and nearly 40 film experiences of varying lengths. Face coverings must be worn for the entire one-hour session. The projects feature animated, nonfiction and creative storytelling work from around the world. Among the highlights, Gnomes and Goblins is an animated, story-driven game from Jon Favreau (Iron Man, The Lion King) and Jake Rowell (The Animatrix). Baba Yaga features the voices of Daisy Ridley (Star Wars) as well as Jennifer Hudson and Kate Winslet. The Danish offering Smagen af Sult (A Taste of Hunger) places the viewer at the center of a love triangle that includes Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones Jaime Lannister). In Japanese director Keisuke Itohs Beat, a story is built around the viewers own heartbeat. Find a full list of titles here. Timed-entry tickets must be purchased in advance via the website, portlandartmuseum.org. Film sessions are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Sundays, Sept. 2-12, in the ballroom, 1219 S.W. Park Ave.. Some time slots have already sold out. Visitors are asked to familiarize themselves with the offerings before visiting the museum. Not all experiences are available on all headsets, and visitors must choose just one. Some projects have been formatted for only one type of virtual reality experience. The Oculus Go is the only experience that uses just the headset, with no hand controllers. Both the Quest and VIVE headsets come with hand controllers, similar to a remote control or joystick, that helps visitors more freely interact, move and navigate in the space. These two headsets also provide a larger variety of experiences with 26 unique projects to VIVE and six unique to Quest. Admission tickets include only one headset and visitors must choose between them. Headsets cannot be swapped out during the 1-hour time slot. All gear will be thoroughly sanitized between each visitor use. All VR contents will accessible to viewers ages 14 and older. Viewers will have 50 minutes to interact with projects. There will be five minutes to enter and put on the headset, and 5 minutes to exit safely. Social distancing rules will be in place. Tickets, available for purchase online now, are $25; Portland Art Museum members and Northwest Film Center Silver Screen members receive a $5 discount. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Lukashenko Claims 3Mln People Attended Protests in His Support Across Belarus Sputnik News 11:08 GMT 27.08.2020 MINSK (Sputnik) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday the number of his supporters who had taken to the streets across the country amid the post-election unrest was around 3 million people, which he describes as a "great force." "The rallies in support of peace, tranquillity and the incumbent president have already been attended by about 3 million people. This a great force - 3 million people," Lukashenko told Belarus' state news agency Belta. According to the Belarusian president, his supporters are "calmer" and include "veterans, retired people and professionals." "That is how we would have the number of people who voted for us, the 80 percent," Lukashenko added. A wave of protests engulfed Belarus following the presidential election on 9 August, in which incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won a sixth consecutive term, gaining over 80 percent of the vote. The country's opposition refused to recognise the results, claiming that the election was rigged. Supporters of the Belarusian president staged their own rallies after Lukashenko stressed that daily strikes at major companies, including vehicle and fertiliser manufacturers, as well as demonstrations, are dealing a significant blow to the economy. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Volta Caucus, a group of members of the opposition National Democratic Congress from the Volta Region but based outside the region, is calling for cool heads to prevail between the partys founder, Mr Jerry John Rawlings and his former appointee Prof Kwamena Ahwoi. There is tension between Mr Rawlings and Prof Ahwoi following a book authored by the latter titled Working with Rawlings in which he chronicled their time in government together and made certain revelations and allegations against Mr Rawlings and his wife. Mr Rawlings, in response, said the book is full of factual inaccuracies and also made a series of allegations against Prof Ahwoi. Reacting to the allegations and counter-allegations between the two NDC stalwarts, the Volta Caucus, in a statement, said: We, as a group, feel saddened that this issue will come up in such a crucial time as this when Ghanaians are crying for an electoral rescue from the maladministration and misrule of the Nana Akufo-Addo-led government. The group, thus, urged the two to bury their differences and work together to bring the party back to power. The 2020 election is so crucial requiring all energy and hands on deck because it is that election which will, again, define Ghanas destiny. It is an election which will have good triumph over evil and to return Ghana onto the path of development, departing from the status quo; an affinity for treachery and engagement in divisive politics; a typical case as we witnessed and suffered during the recent Voters Registration exercise, the statement said. 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 West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring students on his monthly radio programme Mann ki Baat and ask them impromptu questions about their opinion on holding JEE-NEET amid Covid-19 pandemic. She also announced that final year examinations in state-run colleges and universities will not be held in September because of the pandemic. The chief minister asked the state education minister to announce the dates by next week. Bring in students at Mann ki Baat. Dont stage it. Ask them impromptu questions and not rehearsed questions to find out what they think about holding JEE-NEET during the pandemic. We will accept what they say, Banerjee said on Friday. Also read: Uttar Pradesh backs Centres decision to hold NEET, JEE - CM Yogi Adityanath Six opposition-ruled states, including West Bengal, on Friday, filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against its order allowing the central government to hold the NEET and JEE in September. Mamata Banerjee and Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi had jointly convened a meeting of chief ministers of non-Bharatiya Janata Party ruled states on Wednesday to demand the postponement of the JEE-NEET examinations. On Friday, the apex court upheld a July 6 directive of the University Grants Commission (UG) to hold terminal semester exams in universities and colleges by September 30 but gave states the liberty to defer such exams beyond the September 30 deadline. We will not hold the final exams in our colleges and universities in September for sure. The state education minister will discuss the matter and see whether the exams could be held before the Pujas (scheduled in October-end). The dates would be announced by next week, said Banerjee. The Trinamool Congress supremo expressed questioned how will the students reach the examination centres for the JEE-NEET exams. She also made it clear that her salvo was not targeted against the Supreme Court and that it was against the centre and the UGC. The chief minister nephew Abhishek Banerjee, who heads the partys youth wing, also lashed out at the centre over the JEE-NEET issue. Before conducting the exams, the centre should give an undertaking that swab tests would be conducted for 30 lakh students appearing for the exam, provide them with insurance cover and that the government will take full responsibility if any student gets infected or if anything happens to them. What happened to digital India? If the USA can hold online exams, why cant we? Abhishek Banerjee questioned. The chief minister led a scathing attack against the BJP on multiple fronts including NRC and CAA. The NRC and CAA have been suppressed due to the pandemic. But they (BJP-ruled government) will start it all over again once the pandemic is over. She also announced that her government would celebrate Students Day on August 9 every year. Stressed-out parents have been stuck in eight-hour queues this week as they rushed to buy last-minute school uniforms ahead of the start of term. Hundreds of shoppers flocked to outfitters across Britain in the early hours to avoid the huge wait times which stacked up as staff limited the number of customers allowed inside due to social distancing. It comes amid chaos ahead of the start of term, with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson warned he is 'on his last life' after his humiliating exams fiasco and will be sacked if Boris Johnson's schools reopening is botched. Mr Johnson has visited schools across Britain ahead of the new academic year, after the Government made a last-minute U-turn on face-coverings in secondary schools. In Croydon, south London, frustrated parents arrived as early as 5.15am to purchase the required clothing for their children while residents insisted 'we need more uniform shops.' A sign outside Hewitts of Croydon, which provides uniforms for 80 schools, warned parents they would not be guaranteed entry to the store if they arrived after 3pm. However, one furious parent urged the shop to 'employ more staff' as she claimed people arriving at 10am were only entering the store at 3pm. Stressed-out parents have been stuck in eight-hour queues this week as they rushed to buy last-minute school uniforms ahead of the start of term. Pictured: Lines in Eastleigh, Hampshire In Croydon, south London (pictured on Tuesday), frustrated parents arrived as early as 5.15am yesterday to purchase the required clothing for their children as residents insisted 'we need more uniform shops' Similar scenes were spotted in Eastleigh, Hampshire, where shoppers were seen lining up in heavy rain outside an outfitters last week. And outside Stevensons in Southbourne, near Bournemouth, three-hour queues formed as desperate parents scrambled to secure the necessary items for their children. Another woman reported queues of up to eight hours outside her local uniform store, writing: 'There's only one shop that sells school uniforms where we live. 'There are presently eight-hour queues outside the door, and no ticket system. So if you queued all day and didn't get in, you don't get to be first in the queue the next day. 'There are people who have queued for days.' Outside Stevensons in Southbourne, near Bournemouth, three-hour queues formed as desperate parents scrambled to secure the necessary items for their children A sign outside Hewitts of Croydon, which provides uniforms for 80 schools, warned parents they would not be guaranteed entry to the store if they arrived after 3pm In Croydon, customers to Hewitts reported lining up outside the store for the fourth day in a row after they were turned away from the shop when it closed at 5pm. One woman, attempting to buy uniform for her 12-year-old daughter, told My London she had waited for more than three hours each time and spent 40 on parking. But Martin Hewitt, who runs the retailer, said he and 35 staff members were working hard to meet the enormous demand. He added that only 10 customers were able to be in the shop at once instead of the usual 40. Staff are also not permitted to measure students for uniforms due to social distancing and any returned items have to be quarantined for 48 hours. Neil Garratt, a Conservative London Assembly candidate for Croydon and Sutton, said he had seen similar queues outside Cladish Schoolwear in Wallington, London. He said: 'This is ridiculous. Schools that force parents to buy uniform from one single shop can't wash their hands of this: they've created the problem, they need to stop up to find a solution. 'This isn't it.' In Bournemouth, those outside Stevensons reported 'tensions building' as people rushed to get hold of uniforms and sportswear before the start of term. Natasha Sanders-Jones told the Bournemouth Echo she had been waiting to enter the store for two-and-a-half hours yesterday after driving to the retailer from Poole. She said: 'I had to drive here from Poole because this is the only place to get Poole High and Poole Grammar uniform. Pictured: Dozens of shoppers wait in heavy rain outside a school uniform shop in Eastleigh One furious parent urged Hewitts to 'employ more staff' as she claimed people arriving at 10am were only entering the store at 3pm One woman in Croydon yesterday reported parents arriving as early as 5.15am to buy uniforms Neil Garratt, a Conservative London Assembly candidate for Croydon and Sutton, said he had seen similar queues outside Cladish Schoolwear in Wallington, London 'By the time I get home I will have had a round trip of at least four hours just to get a few bits and pieces.' Susan Elsworth added: 'We drove past the shop yesterday and saw a big queue so we thought we'd come back today but it's just as bad. 'Unfortunately we've got no choice because we need an Avonbourne uniform and this is the only place to get one.' The store had been open for appointment-only customers until August 24, when it opened for walk-in shoppers. Lengthy queues were also rife in other parts of the UK, with dozens taking to social media to complain about the wait. 'These festival length queues to buy school uniform is reason enough not to have children,' one user said. Another added: 'My wife and youngest son have been queuing up for the past 30 minutes to buy his sixth form college uniform, still seven in front of them. 'The blazer alone is 65, will it last till Christmas? (Not the blazer).' Lengthy queues were also rife in other parts of the UK, with dozens taking to social media to complain about the wait Others were more prepared, with one mother explaining she had come prepared for the wait with a coffee and her Kindle. Thousands of students are preparing to return to school next week - many for the first time since the coronavirus crisis closed classrooms in March. Children must return for the autumn term unless they or a family member develop symptoms of Covid-19 or test positive for the virus. Penalties could be issued for those who miss school without a reason, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson confirmed in June. 'Unless there's a good reason for absence we'd be imposing fines on families,' he said. One father said: 'My wife and youngest son have been queuing up for the past 30 minutes to buy his sixth form college uniform, still seven in front of them. The blazer alone is 65, will it last till Christmas? (Not the blazer)' It comes after it was confirmed this week that thousands of secondary pupils will have to wear masks at school in yet another education U-turn. With just days to go before children return, Mr Williamson said face coverings will be compulsory in the communal areas of schools covered by local lockdowns. A decision on whether to wear masks in other schools will be left to individual heads. The eleventh-hour U-turn followed new advice from the World Health Organisation at the weekend. He 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 have therefore decided to follow the World Health Organisation's new advice. In local lockdown areas children in year seven and above should wear face coverings in communal spaces. 'Outside of local lockdown areas face coverings won't 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.' Best value school uniform revealed: Sainsbury's comes out on top of a like-for-like comparison at 15 - while John Lewis is three times more expensive Sainsbury's has come out on top as the best British store to buy new school uniform, according to a new study. Parents are able to purchase a new whole set of schooling attire for just 15 - 30 cheaper than John Lewis, which proved to be the most expensive in a comparison of seven British retailers. Researchers at UK-based online price tracking firm Alertr compared prices of six uniform essentials - a shirt, polo shirt, jumper, cardigan, trousers and a skirt - across seven retailers, M&S, John Lewis, Asda, Next, Sainsburys, Matalan and Debenhams to determine which ones were offering the better deal. Some retailers had multi-pack options and the total number of items included within them was occasionally different (e.g. two pack in one retailer, but three pack in another). In those instances, researchers divided the total price of the multipack by the number of items within it to reveal the price customers would pay per item, to ensure the results were not unfairly skewed. The results therefore hypothetically reflect buying one of each item to determine value for money. Results are also broken down into three age groups to help give the most accurate representation. Which retailer is best value for money? SUPERMARKET 1. Sainsbury's 2. Asda 3. Matalan 4. Debenhams 5. Next 6. M&S 7. John Lewis 4-5 years 15.00 19.75 20.50 25.90 34.50 36.30 45.00 7-8 years 20.50 24.50 25.50 30.10 40.50 42.33 55.00 10-11 years 20.50 29.25 30.00 30.10 48.50 50.00 64.00 Advertisement SAINSBURY'S - TOTAL COST: 15.00 Sainbury's TU range was crowned the most affordable school uniform for all age groups Sainbury's TU range was crowned the most affordable school uniform for all age groups, with a multipack of short sleeve shirts for 4-5 years coming in at just 3 and a sweet scalloped cardigan for only 6. Shoppers are able to get two red scalloped cardigans for 6.00 (3.00 per item) and three white short sleeve shirts for 4.00 (1.33 per item) Perfect for PE and sports days, Sainsbury's offer three white unisex polo shirts for 3.50 (1.16 per item) and two black V-neck jumpers for 6.00 (3.00 per item) which can be thrown over any grass stains And the supermarket even has fantastic deals for bottoms, with two pairs of grey trousers with reinforced knees for 7.00 (3.50 per item) and two grey jersey skater skirts for 6.00 (3.00 per item) ... and for the other age groups For the same items, Sainsbury's customers can expect to only pay a fraction more for the bigger sizes AGE 7-9: 20.50 AGE 10-11: 20.50 Advertisement ASDA - TOTAL COST: 19.75 Though pipped to first place by its competitor, Asda's George range has reasonably priced school uniforms for primary school-age children, including V-neck jumpers and trousers for as little as 3.00. Parents are less likely to run out of shirts before the end of the week with these impressive deals, including two girls white shirt sleeve shirt for 3.00 (1.50 per item) and two white polo shirts for 2.50 (1.25 per item) While it is still mostly warm for now, as the winter months draw in these jumpers and cardigans are a must have. Pictured: Two black cotton-rich knitted V-neck jumpers (left) for 6 (3.00 per item) and a girls cable knit V-neck cardigan for 6.00 With adjustable waistbands to accomodate all shapes and sizes, these trousers (3.00 each) and this skirt (5.00) are a must-have ... and for the other age groups For less than a tenner more, Asda customers can get their hands on the equivalent items in the older sizes AGE 7-9: 24.50 AGE 10-11: 29.25 Advertisement MATALAN - TOTAL COST: 20.50 The next best store for value for money was clothing and homeware outlet Matalan, with practical offerings which help children feel comfortable at school while still looking polished. Here Matalan is seen keeping costs down with a two pack of minimum iron shirts for just 4 (2 per item) and a two pack of basic polos for 3 (that's 1.50 each) Matalan's adorable Scallop Edge cardigan comes in at 4, with their v-neck knit jumpers also just 4 for one For those who favour a skirt Matalan's smart pleated skirt is 4, a two pack of slim fit trousers is 10 (5 per item) ... and for the other age groups Parents of older children can expect to pay at least 10 more for the same items in Matalan. AGE 7-9: 25.50 AGE 10-11: 30.00 Advertisement DEBENHAMS - TOTAL COST: 25.90 Debenhams own brand of primary school clothing landed in the middle for value money, with their two pack of white short sleeve shirts costing at least 2.00 more than Sainsbury's three for 4.00 offering. Debenhams is offering two easy iron shirts for 4.20 (2.10 each) and a set of two polo shirts for 4.90 (that's 2.45 per item) Debenhams' simple knit cardigan is 4.90, while a two pack of v-neck jumpers comes in at 8.40 (that's 4.20 per item) A two pack of belted skirts is 14 (7 each) at Debenhams, while a two pack of slim fit trousers comes in at 7.70 (3.85 per item) ... and for the other age groups As the sizes increase, Debenhams prices only rise by 5.00, with years 10-11 only costing 10p more than Matalan. AGE 7-9: 30.10 AGE 10-11 : 30.10 Advertisement NEXT - TOTAL COST: 34.50 The school uniform from Next, pictured, comes in the middle of the pack This year's school uniform range from fashion retailer Next boasts of easy iron shirts and stain resistant polo shirts, perfect for busy parents but for a bigger price tag. A two pack of short sleeve shirts at Next will cost parents 8, pictured right, while a two pack of polo shirts are priced at 6 The Knitted V-Neck Jumper at Next is priced at 8, pictured right, and the V-Neck Cardigan will cost parents 7 Formal Slim Leg Trousers are priced at 8, pictured right, while a pleat skirt is just 4.50 at the British store, pictured left ... and for the other age groups Edging closer to the 50 mark, while well-reviewed, the Next range does not work out as the best value for money. AGE 7-9: 40.50 AGE 10-11: 48.50 Advertisement MARKS & SPENCER - TOTAL COST: 36.30 Similar to Next, Marks & Spencer promises to make its customers lives easier with easy ironing as well as being sustainably sourced. Marks & Spencer is offering three easy iron shirts for 9.00 and a set of three cotton polo shirts for 7.00 The brand's Unisex Cotton Rich School Jumper costs 8 (pictured right), while its Girls' Pure Cotton School Cardigan is 5 The firm's Boys Skinny Leg School Trousers are 9 (pictured right) and its Girls' Permanent Pleats School Skirt is also the same price ... and for the other age groups School uniforms from Marks & Spencer, which boasts of StayNEW technology which reduce bobbling and colour loss, reach as much as 50 for the older children AGE 7-9: 42.33 AGE 10-11: 50.00 Advertisement JOHN LEWIS - TOTAL COST: 45.00 At priciest end of the scale, high end retailer John Lewis comes in as the most expensive At priciest end of the scale, high end retailer John Lewis comes in with the least value for money school uniform, costing close to 50 for staple items. John Lewis & Partners Cotton Short Sleeve School Blouse, which comes in a pack of two, is priced at 13, and its pack of two polo shirt is 11 The brand's Unisex School V-Neck Jumper is 12, pictured right, while its Cotton Double Pocket Easy Care Cardigan is 13 Boys' Adjustable Waist Generous Fit School Trousers are 13 at the store, while the shop's Girls' Stain Resistant Pleated School Skirt is 9 (pictured right) ... and for the other age groups New school uniforms for older primary school children reach an eyewatering 64 for just the basics. AGE 7-9: 55.00 AGE 10-11: 64.00 Advertisement Andy Barr, personal finance expert and co-founder of online price tracking website www.alertr.co.uk, commented on the findings: 'As we approach the end of the summer holidays, after a strange time for kids due to lockdown, the rush to get everything sorted for back to school is on. 'Many people have a perception of Sainsburys that its more on the expensive side, but thats certainly not what we witness at Alertr; this isnt the first time the supermarket chain has beaten seemingly cheaper stores like Asda in terms of price for various things. 'Buying all the items needed for a childs return to school for a new academic year can be expensive business, which will now be felt more than ever as parents suffer the financial impact of lockdown that has hit many people.' The ultimate back to school mask guide: From colours to match uniforms to personalised and antibacterial coverings, Femail reveals the best choices for kids making the big return next week By Bridie Pearson-Jones For MailOnline Secondary school pupils will have to wear masks to school when they return next week after a government U-turn last week. With just days to go before children return, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson last week said face coverings will be compulsory in the communal areas of schools covered by local lockdowns. A decision on whether to wear masks in other schools will be left to individual heads. Some parents have also shared their desire for smaller children to wear masks and in England and Wales children over the age of 11 have to wear masks on public transport. Here, FEMAIL reveals the best masks for your children, from simple colours to match their school uniform to personalised coverings so they don't get mixed up. PLAIN COLOUR TO MATCH UNIFORM Marks & Spencer has a great deal on school face masks, selling a pack of five adjustable kids' face coverings in plain colours for less than 10. With the rules around coverings constantly changing, some schools may insist on plain masks to match uniform rules. Marks & Spencer has a great deal on school face masks, selling a pack of five adjustable kids' face coverings in plain colours for less than 10. They also sell the pack in pastel and patterned colours for less strict schools, or when children need to wear a mask in the evening or at weekends. PERSONALISED With hundreds of pupils at school, personalised masks will stop your child's getting mixed up with someone else in class. Prezzybox offer photo-printing onto masks form 9.99, for a unique design while various sellers on Etsy offer monogrammed masks on a black or navy design for a simpler look. They start at 14.99 for a pack of two. Snapfish also allow a fully personalised designs, with both photos and text from 9.99. Prezzybox offer photo-printing onto masks form 9.99 (left), for a unique design while various sellers on Etsy offer monogrammed masks on a black or navy design for a simpler look. They start at 14.99 for a pack of two (right) Prezzybox also allow masks to be personalised with a fun pattern for kids who enjoy bright colours ANTIBACTERIAL Lloyd's are selling children's face covering with antibacterial fabric treatment, which are also water repellent and washable up to 20 washes, which is 7.99 for a pack of four, which are currently on offer for buy one get one half price. The mask comes in four child friendly designs and is hand and machine washable. Boots also offer an adjustable facemask for all ages for 10. Made by the Body Doctor, the mask uses skin friendly, patented, Polygiene technology, which does not interfere with skins natural bacterial flora. Lloyd's are selling children's face covering with antibacterial fabric treatment, which are also water repellent and washable up to 20 washes, which is 7.99 for a pack of four, which are currently on offer for buy one get one half price Boots also offer an adjustable facemask for all ages for 10. Made by the Body Doctor, the mask uses skin friendly, patented, Polygiene technology, which does not interfere with skins natural bacterial flora Face mask storage cases for school If you don't opt for a personalised mask, children can keep their masks in a personalised case. Many independent sellers on Etsy sell cases, usually clear in colour, with the option to print a name on them from around 4.50. Advertisement PATTERNED Catering for any age, The Lion Sparkles customers with a penchant for something unique will find just that when browsing through their range of masks. One designer sure to be a hit with on-trend teenagers is their powder pink design with a tiger print, which costs 18. British children's designer Rachel Riley, who is best known for dressing Prince George and Princess Charlotte has repurposed her workshop which normally makes her handmade shoes to now produce masks. British children's designer Rachel Riley, who is best known for dressing Prince George and Princess Charlotte has repurposed her workshop which normally makes her handmade shoes to now produce masks. Pictured a model in one of her masks Catering for any age, The Lion Sparkles customers with a penchant for something unique will find just that when browsing through their range of masks. One designer sure to be a hit with on-trend teenagers is their powder pink design with a tiger print, which costs 18. She makes masks for children, men and women in her signature vintage prints, starting at 19. Frugi, the leading organic kidswear brand has some colourful, fun facemasks for kids on their website. They come in two sizes, for 3-11 years (9.95) and over 12 years (13.96). Regatta also have a range of fun patterned masks in animal prints, including sharks, tigers, and crocodiles that start from 9 for a pack of three. Months of ambiguity over the end-of-term final-year exams were finally brought to an end on Friday, after the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that all the universities in the country will have to hold exams to promote students. Even as the Maharashtra government announced to follow the Apex court order, students and colleges are still confused, trying to figure out how and when the exams will be held in the upcoming weeks. The state education department has assured clarity over the exam schedule and other minute details soon. Colleges are currently working on virtual classes and a majority have decided to conduct semester exams by November this year. Going by the state governments announcement, the final-year exams might also take place around the same time, leaving teachers burdened again, said a senior professor of a suburban college. She added that before announcing the exam dates, the state government will have to clarify the minutest of details such as how the exam will be conducted, how the papers will be set and assessed, among others. To give themselves enough time for clarity, several final-year students had decided to defer joining foreign universities for higher studies by one semester. Many are still worried that after missing the August-September session, they might miss joining universities abroad in the January-February session too. Due to the Covid-19 scare and uncertainty over my exams, I had deferred my intake to the February semester. Im worried that I might not even make it for that semester, if the university exams and eventual results are delayed further, said Akruti Patel, a final year Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) student, who has already been accepted by a Canadian university for Master of Business Management course. Several student organisations have called the SC verdict unfair, and claimed that the decision will put the health of students in jeopardy. The SC verdict is completely unfair to the student community. Not only will this cause additional mental stress to students, but also pose a serious health hazard for all those who will be involved in the exam process, said Mohammad Salman for the Student Islamic Organisation (SIO). He added that imposing University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines on all universities is contrary to the federal nature of education in the country and infringes on the rights of state governments and autonomous institutes. Some colleges, however, are not complaining about the verdict. Conducting exams will hinder the current academic session but Im sure every college has been mentally preparing for this situation, and so everything will be managed well, said Rajendra Shinde, principal, St Xaviers College. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON WASHINGTON: The House Foreign Affairs Committee is moving to hold Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in contempt after he has repeatedly rejected the committees subpoenas for records related to Ukraine that the department has turned over to the Republican-led Senate. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., said Friday that the panel will prepare a contempt resolution because of what he called Pompeos unprecedented record of obstruction and defiance of the Houses constitutional oversight authority. The House has asked for the same documents that the State Department has turned over for a Senate investigation into Democrat Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden, and his activities in Ukraine, but Pompeo has refused to provide them. In a letter to Engel this week, the department said Pompeo would turn over the documents if the House panel was investigating, like the Senate, identical or very similar corruption issues involving Ukraine and corrupt influence related to U.S. foreign policy. Democrats have said they believe that investigation by the Senate Homeland and Governmental Affairs Committee is a politically motivated, election-year probe that is aiding Russias attempts to sow chaos in American democracy and spreading Russian disinformation. The committees contempt resolution will also cite Pompeos refusal to comply with a subpoena issued during the House impeachment inquiry last year. The House impeached President Donald Trump in December for his pressure on Ukraine to investigate Hunter Biden as his father was running for the Democratic nomination to challenge Trump. The president and his associates asked Ukraine for the probes as he was withholding military aid to the country. Mr. Pompeo is demanding that the committee do essentially the same thing Russia is doing, according the Office of the Director of National Intelligence: spreading claims about corruption in order to interfere in the American presidential election, Engel said. In other words, Pompeo will give the committee what we were seeking if we join in a smear of the presidents political rival. Sound familiar? The contempt resolution is the latest and likely futile attempt by the Democrat-led House to pressure Trumps administration into complying with requests for testimony and information on a wide range of issues. While congressional subpoenas are legally binding, officials who have rebuffed Congress have faced little consequence for defying them, while Trump has fired or demoted federal employees who have complied with requests individually. Contempt itself is largely a symbolic gesture that has generally been used to embarrass officials who refuse congressional requests, and Democratic attempts to legally fight the administrations refusals have been drawn out in lengthy court battles. The State Department has also defied subpoenas in the committees investigation of Trumps firing of the departments inspector general, Steve Linick, which Democrats have alleged came in retaliation for probes of Pompeo that the watchdog was conducting. Pompeo has denied knowledge of any investigation into his own conduct. Pompeo and his aides have said all of the House subpoenas are politically motivated, without merit, and unnecessary as the information and testimony could be otherwise obtained. The department said the committee had not shown that its demand on the Ukraine documents was for a legitimate legislative purpose and suggested that it was entirely partisan. Meanwhile, the chairman of the Senate homeland panel, Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, has said his Ukraine investigation is rooted in facts and has called the idea he is pushing foreign propaganda completely false. He says he hopes to get a report out by Election Day. Pompeo has also faced criticism for making a speech at this weeks Republican National Convention. The address was 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. 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 Competition Council published on its Internet page, for the first time, a blacklist of the companies that were involved in investigations regarding the defrauding of public auctions, among the well-known names being Siveco, Energobit, Electrica or Electromagnetica. The list contains 35 companies that were involved in investigations regarding bidd-rigging, the decisions to sanction them in the past three years, as well as mentions regarding the modus operandi of their cooperation with the national competition authority. The most recent case, concluded last year, was that in which Siveco Romania and Intrarom were fined for breaching the Treaty to accede to the EU by concerted practices to divide the market in the case of an auction organized by APIA (Payment and Intervention Agency for Agriculture, ed. n.). Other large companies on the blacklist are Electromagnetica, Electrica, Condmag, Cis-Gaz, Armax or Vesta Investment. The competition watchdog decided to publish this list to come in the support of authorities making the assessment, according to a release sent to, on Wednesday, to AGERPRES. The Sula Food & Beverage Corporation, a distribution company dedicated to promoting food products made by socially responsible companies. The Sula Food & Beverage Corporation, a distribution company dedicated to promoting food products made by socially responsible companies. Miami, Florida, Aug. 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lacthosa SULA, is widening its market to the United States by offering its products through the Sula Food & Beverage Corporation, a distribution company dedicated to promoting food products made by socially responsible companies. Lacthosa Sula is a leading brand in the production and distribution of milk, juices and soft drinks in in the Central American region, it has just been positioned in fifth place as one of the preferred brands competing in quality and prestige with major international brands, according to Kantar Worldpanel's 2020 Brand Footprint annual study. SULA is the primary brand of LACTHOSA, Lacteos de Honduras SA, a recognized Honduran company that asserts its production processes, quality control, focus on innovation and new markets expansions. The company has been certified by the FDA since 2001, approving the export authorization to the USA, validating that these are products that meet high quality and safety standards to enter the USA market. Sula products are present in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, the United States, Panama, Grand Cayman, and Haiti. The portfolio of products is manufactured in 5 processing plants in Honduras. Lacthosa maintains an annual purchase of 140 million liters of fresh milk, which make it the leading company in the dairy sector in Honduras. It also provides jobs to more than 3,000 employees, has 639 sales routes and 23 distribution centers. Through the production value chain, Lacthosa works directly with more than 4,000 milk suppliers and local citrus growers from different areas of Honduras. Due to innovation, quality and 60 years trajectory, Sula has been on the market in the United States since 2001, specifically in the states of Florida , Maryland, New Jersey where it has been present for 19 years and sought by Honduran and Central America families. The community of Central Americans and Hispanics in the United States has grown exponentially, and as a brand we want to be present for that nostalgic market that wants to preserve its customs, roots, but above all enjoy the flavor of the Sula products. Sula is here to stay, and we want to invite all cultures in general to savor and discover the quality of our genuine and unique products, expressed Mrs. Stephanie Kafie, Sula Food & Beverage Corporation. Story continues Where can you find SULA products? Sula Products can be found in Florida, at the President, Sedanos and Bravo supermarkets. We invite all to visit these supermarkets so that you can share Sula products with your families. SULA is also present in other states such as Tennessee, Louisiana, Maryland and New Jersey. We offer a wide range of products in different categories. For further information and interest in Sula Products please contact The Sula Food & Beverage Corporation Juan Carlos Tenorio, operations Manager, contact information jtenorio@sulafbc.com , telephone +1 (786) 792-1746. For more information: https://bit.ly/31OzBwy Attachment CONTACT: Alejandro Ochoa Lacthosa alejandro.ochoa@lufussa.com Cherie Wong was utterly consumed by the protest movement that swept Hong Kong last summer. "I didn't sleep properly for days, for weeks, really," she said. She watched the protests obsessively, then became an activist herself. Wong, 24, tried to discuss her beliefs with older family members who included former members of the Hong Kong Police Force. "It ended up in conflict, it was awkward," she said. But her activities were cheered by her grandmother, in her mid-80s, who was "incredibly pro-protester. We'd just go into a private chat to talk about it." But Wong, a freelance writer and policy researcher, was not in Hong Kong. She was more than 12,000km away in Ottawa, Canada, watching events unfold on her smartphone. "I would fall asleep watching a live stream, with my phone in my hand. I would wake up and the live stream would still be going," she said. A teenage Cherie Wong on a visit to Hong Kong's Ocean Park in 2014. Photo: Handout alt=A teenage Cherie Wong on a visit to Hong Kong's Ocean Park in 2014. Photo: Handout While the past year of turmoil in Hong Kong has rippled through diaspora communities around the world, it has been felt with particular intensity in Canada. Protests over Beijing's handling of the city continue regularly in Canada. Hong Kong activists were given a platform by a parliamentary committee which has spent eight months investigating Ottawa's relationship with China. And clashes between rival camps supporting and opposed to the protest movement have spilled onto the streets of Vancouver and Toronto, vividly mirroring the conflict in Hong Kong. Canada's experience of Hong Kong's year of tumult has been largely defined by the phenomenon of transnationalism, in which hundreds of thousands of immigrant Hongkongers and their children divide their lives and emotions between both places, sometimes alternating between the two over decades, in ways that are far less common among American Hongkongers. Story continues Guy Ho, 58, an IT trainer, moved to Canada with his parents as a teenager in 1977. He returned to Hong Kong in 2004, then moved back to Canada in 2015. "I saw it coming. In every way. The whole environment was changing ... this was not the Hong Kong I used to know," said Ho of his most recent move. Ho had participated in the "umbrella movement" protests in Hong Kong in 2014. After returning to Montreal, he resumed his political activity there, helping organise protests and other events about Hong Kong last August with his husband, fellow Hong Kong immigrant Henry Lam, 43, a translator and novelist. Hong Kong immigrants Henry Lam (left) and husband Guy Ho in Vancouver. Photo: Handout alt=Hong Kong immigrants Henry Lam (left) and husband Guy Ho in Vancouver. Photo: Handout Unlike traditional understandings of migration as a completion, transnationalism is a continuum of movement and behaviour. And it has extended to the children of Hong Kong immigrants, like Wong, with residency rights in both places. Wong was born in York, Ontario, moved to Hong Kong at the age of two, then returned to Canada about a decade ago to complete her schooling. She said she connected with her Canadian identity at international school in Hong Kong - but after returning to Canada, she would describe her holidays to friends by saying, "guys I'm going home, and they'd say, 'home to Ontario? No, home to Hong Kong.'" Now she calls herself a Hongkonger Canadian. "This place we live in - it's not like we have one home. We have two homes," said Wong. The Hong Kong-Canada transnational experience has been forged by tax and immigration policies that created the densest populations of the Hong Kong diaspora in the Western world, and the largest community of foreign citizens in Hong Kong. Although the number of Hong Kong-born people who live in the US and Canada are roughly similar, at more than 200,000 each, there are some 300,000 Canadians living in Hong Kong, mostly returnee migrants and their children, according to Global Affairs Canada. About 85,000 Americans are said by the US State Department to be living in Hong Kong. This strong tendency towards transnationalism among Hong Kong Canadians boils down to differences in tax law, according to David Lesperance, a Canadian lawyer who has been involved with Hong Kong immigration for about 30 years. American tax obligations follow US citizens for life. But Canadian citizens can declare tax non-residency and move back to Hong Kong, resuming careers there and paying its lower levels of tax. "The United States is the only country in the world that also taxes you based on citizenship," said Lesperance. "As a US citizen, you are a full US taxpayer ... But in Canada, you can come in, get citizenship ... become a [Canadian] non-resident for tax purposes, and then you can bounce back and forth until you're going to retire in Canada." This is also possible for Hongkongers who immigrated elsewhere, such as Britain or Australia. But Canada became the most common choice because of early immigration policies that catered to middle-class and wealthy Hongkongers from the 1980s onwards, said Lesperance. For comparison, there are 87,000 Hong Kong immigrants in Australia and 100,000 Australians in Hong Kong, according to the Australian consulate-general. In Britain, there are about 96,000 Hong Kong immigrants (the number of Britons in Hong Kong is unclear.) Hong Kong-born Professor Leo Shin, convenor of the Hong Kong Studies Initiative at the University of British Columbia, said that "what distinguishes the Hong Kong-Canadian story is the sheer number of Hongkongers who left Hong Kong for Canada within a relatively short period." Professor Leo Shin, pictured in Toronto in 1990. His family arrived in Canada on June 7, 1989, just after the Tiananmen Square crackdown. Photo: Handout alt=Professor Leo Shin, pictured in Toronto in 1990. His family arrived in Canada on June 7, 1989, just after the Tiananmen Square crackdown. Photo: Handout "Between 1982 and 1998, more than 350,000 Hongkongers became permanent residents of Canada, many of whom would eventually settle in major cities such as Vancouver and Toronto," said Shin, 52, who landed in Canada with his parents on June 7, 1989, days after the Tiananmen Square crackdown. The influx concentrated itself in Vancouver and Toronto in numbers unmatched in US cities or elsewhere in the western world. There are currently more than 100,000 Hong Kong-born people in greater Toronto alone, population 5.9 million. That exceeds the 96,000 Hong Kong immigrants in all of California - home to 40 million people. Vancouver, meanwhile, is home to 71,000 Hong Kong-born people among a population of just 2.4 million. "The large number of immigrants from Hong Kong or mainland China in cities such as Vancouver or Toronto is no doubt the main reason the turmoil in Hong Kong has had such resonance in such places," said Shin. Professor Leo Shin is convenor of the Hong Kong Studies Initiative at the University of British Columbia. Photo: UBC alt=Professor Leo Shin is convenor of the Hong Kong Studies Initiative at the University of British Columbia. Photo: UBC Justin Tse is an assistant professor of humanities at Singapore Management University who has studied transnationalism among Hong Kong Canadians. He is the son of Hong Kong emigrant parents who moved to Canada in 1981, but he is a dual US-Canadian citizen - Tse was born in Vancouver but moved with his family to the San Francisco Bay area when he was an infant. Tse returned to Vancouver to study at UBC; he has never lived in Hong Kong. Transnationalism, said Tse, is the notion that a migrant from one place to another establishes a "social field" between the two, blurring the distinction between past and present physical homes. "They operate simultaneously between the two places," he said. "Whatever they do in their new place of residence has direct effects back home. There's no difference between the home and destination countries because there is this social field involved." As a theory, transnationalism was born in the US. "But it's interesting that this phenomenon is playing out much more in Canada," said Tse. Tse said that during his research on Hong Kong Canadian youth he was surprised that they thought of themselves as "very Canadian" even as they remained strongly attached to Hong Kong. Cantonese-speaking institutions - churches and immigrant-service societies, for instance - meant there was no need to either assimilate into "white Canadianness" or "bloc Chineseness" while still thinking of themselves as Canadian. Indeed, Tse said he was surprised to find that things he thought of as transnational, as an observing American, were understood by the interviewees to be expressions of Canadianness instead. Justin Tse is an assistant professor of humanities at Singapore Management University who has studied transnationalism among Hong Kong Canadians. Photo: Ian Young alt=Justin Tse is an assistant professor of humanities at Singapore Management University who has studied transnationalism among Hong Kong Canadians. Photo: Ian Young For instance, continuing to speak Cantonese was seen by some as an expression of Canadian identity: it differentiated them from the Americanness of the immigrant melting pot to the south. "This was 'we have a different narrative to the United States. We're multicultural. We can keep our cultures' [and] what I had parsed, as an American, as them maintaining Hong Kong transnational ties, [they thought] was actually them being exquisitely Canadian." In contrast, Tse's own family in the US became beholden to "the burden of being Chinese-American". "Hong Kong for us was a place of nostalgia. We listened to Sam Hui. We watched TVB on KTSF Channel 26, we were living the Chinese-American life ... But these 'astronauts'? Their sensibilities were entirely different. They had actual familial transnational ties to Hong Kong: 'Wait, have you moved? Have you not moved?' and they were like 'kind of both'." "Astronaut" is a term referring to Asian transnational family arrangements, in which an immigrant breadwinner returns to their homeland while supporting a spouse and children in the new country. "For them, maintaining actual ties to Hong Kong ... was very important to them. Whereas it wasn't important to our family. We didn't even call people in Hong Kong, for example," said Tse. Back in Hong Kong, the Canadian transnational community may be huge, but in many ways it is invisible, since it consists mostly of Hong Kong-born dual citizens and their children. Hong Kong's statisticians do not even acknowledge the group's existence because dual citizenship is not recognised under China's nationality law. According to the 2006 Hong Kong census, there were only 11,976 Canadians in the city; by 2016, Canadians did not even make the top 10 of foreign nationals. But the Canadian population of Hong Kong is thought to be roughly the same as that of Halifax, Nova Scotia. If they were a city, they would be Canada's 15th largest. In 2011, the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada released a "conservative" estimate that there were 295,930 Canadians in Hong Kong. Sixty-seven per cent were born in Hong Kong and just 16 per cent in Canada. But their continuing connections to Canada were clear: 64 per cent had immediate family members living there. And 62 per cent were considering returning to live in Canada themselves. Ho was one who did just that. He returned to Canada in 2015 after marrying Lam on a visit to Vancouver in 2011. Ho demurred when asked if he felt more at home in Hong Kong or Canada. "With all the travelling I've done, I can feel at home anywhere," he said. "There are things I love about Hong Kong, and things I appreciate about Canada ... In Hong Kong, the people, my family, friends, of course the food, the unique culture. "In Canada, the fresh air. The space. The friendly Canadians." And as gay men, Ho and Lam, who recently moved from Montreal to Vancouver, are recognised in Canada as a married couple, unlike in Hong Kong "where we are 'just friends'." In a 2004 study of return migration among Hong Kong Canadians, geographers David Ley and Audrey Kobayashi wrote that "transnationalism invokes a travel plan that is continuous not finite. Immigrants never quite arrive at their destination because they never quite leave home." Cherie Wong is the executive director of Alliance Canada Hong Kong, a group that supports the Hong Kong protest movement. She was born in Canada, moved to Hong Kong as a toddler, then returned to Canada in her teens. Photo: Handout alt=Cherie Wong is the executive director of Alliance Canada Hong Kong, a group that supports the Hong Kong protest movement. She was born in Canada, moved to Hong Kong as a toddler, then returned to Canada in her teens. Photo: Handout But the limits to that process are now being tested for some in an unexpected way, by Hong Kong's new national security law. Wong, Ho and Lam all said they had no plans to return to Hong Kong, to live or visit, citing fears about the law. Wong is one of the founders of an activist group called Alliance Canada Hong Kong. She testified on August 11 at the House of Commons committee on Canada-China relations, which was launched in December. She told MPs of her fears about the extraterritorial reach of the law, which criminalises secession, subversion and collusion with foreign powers, not just on Hong Kong soil but anywhere in the world. "I'm not going to go back to Hong Kong, not until Hong Kong is liberated, whatever that means ... I don't think I would be safe to go back," she told the Post. Ho and Lam agreed; this time it feels like Canada is for keeps, said Ho. Instead they watch Hong Kong from afar. For Lam in particular, it has been an emotionally draining experience: "I was in Canada but my heart was in Hong Kong." Ho said he feared that his husband "somehow feels guilty, feels responsible ... other Hongkongers when they see Henry write about supporting democracy, they would say 'you're not even in Hong Kong, you don't have a say'. That is very, very hard to take." Supporters of the Hong Kong protest movement rally outside a SkyTrain Station in Vancouver on August 17, 2019. Photo: AFP alt=Supporters of the Hong Kong protest movement rally outside a SkyTrain Station in Vancouver on August 17, 2019. Photo: AFP Tse said he suspected that transnationalism could lead some in Canada to "overdetermine" their Hongkongness, amid the intense emotions stirred by the protest movement. "You only have one body, right? You can't physically be in two places at once. You aren't physically pulling on a gas mask," he said. "Oftentimes when we talk about transnationalism and its simultaneities, we forget media isn't as developed as Star Trek. You're not teleporting to Hong Kong. You're sitting in front of a screen and wishing you were there." He added: "Anecdotally, people have told me they feel guilty: 'my God, I'm in a place of such privilege compared to what's going on there [in Hong Kong]'." Wong echoed the sentiment. She said her activism was born from a "duty to Hong Kong" that demanded she employ her rights as a Canadian citizen, that she felt friends in Hong Kong did not have. "I can speak my mind and the government won't come after me. I can say 'Hong Kong needs democracy. Hong Kong needs to be free' and I can say these words without consequences in Canada." But she said she misses Hong Kong, and "not as some kind of fantasy world". She misses the cold metal seats of the MTR and the rush-hour "squish", eating out at 2am, even "the dirty air, that smell". "When I was back to Hong Kong, I'd go to a specific stall, and the owner would remember me and say, 'how is life in Canada?'," Wong said. "They'd know that I came back every few years and would say, 'oh, when do you leave? Let me give you a little extra. Just in case you don't come back to see me again'." 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. Advertisement First daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump introduced her father as 'the People's President' during her Thursday night speech at the Republican National Convention, delivering her remarks from the White House's South Lawn. 'I recognize that my dad's communication style is not to everyone's taste. And I know his tweets can feel a bit unfiltered,' she said with a pause. 'But the results speak for themselves.' She talked of the admiration she's seen from working Americans for her father, 'to see these stoic machinists and steelworkers come to him with tears in their eyes and thank him for being the only person willing to go to the mat for them.' Ivanka Trump gave the speech directly before her father at Thursday night's Republican National Convention Ivanka Trump's speech served as an introduction to her father and she tried to soften his image by providing details about his reaction to Americans dying of COVID-19 Ivanka Trump can be seen on giant screens positioned around the South Lawn at the White House Thursday night, where President Donald Trump accepted renomination Ivanka Trump talked about how American workers have approached her father with 'tears in their eyes' for the work he has done for them She called that a 'new and profound experience for him, and for me' despite Trump having 'admired and befriended construction workers on countless jobsites,' a reference to her father's real estate tycoon past. The first daughter, wearing a black Gabriela Hearst number, began her remarks discussing her move to Washington in 2017. 'We didn't exactly know waht we were in for, but our kids loved it from the start,' she said. 'My son Joseph promptly built grandpa a Lego replica of the White House,' she continued. 'The President still displays it on the mantel in the Oval Office and shows it to world leaders, just so they know he has the greatest grandchildren on earth.' In Washington, Ivanka Trump said, she found that politicans would 'silence their convictions and skip the hard fights' in order to survive. 'I couldn't believe that so many politicians actually prefer to complain about a problem, rather than fix it,' she said. 'I was shocked to see people leave major challenges unsolved, so they can blame the other side and campaign on the same issue in the next election.' 'But Donald Trump did not come to Washington to win praise from the beltway elites,' she said. Her father's unpopularity among certain groups became a theme of her speech. 'For the first time in a long time, we have a President who has called out Washingtons hypocrisy - and they hate him for it,' she said. 'Dad, people attack you for being unconventional, but I love you for being real, and I respect you for being effective,' she added. She also took time to soften her father's image, playing tour guide for the audience during pivotal points of his administration. Ivanka Trump described him as a president 'who is fighting for you from dawn to midnight, when the cameras have left, the microphones are off, and the decisions really count.' She talked of standing at his side when he went to Dover Air Force Base to receive remains of a fallen soldier. Ivanka Trump (center left), along with Hope Hicks (center right), is seen walking toward the South Lawn Thursday night before delivering her address to the Republican National Convention 'And each time it steeled his resolve to finally stop the endless foreign wars,' she said. She spoke of seeing her father's more personal reaction to the deaths from COVID-19. 'Ive been with my father and seen the pain in his eyes when he receives updates on the lives that have been stolen by this plague,' she said. 'I have witnessed him make some of the most difficult decisions of his life.' She said, among those, was closing the U.S. border to Europeans. Ivanka Trump brought up some of her pet projects as well, including the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, which she and the president promoted on their Monday trip to North Carolina, where the RNC was supposed to be held. Ivanka Trump's speech was the curtainraiser for her father's on the White House lawn, where 1,500 people were gathered in a not-so-socially distanced way. Many didn't wear masks. Air horns from protesters outside the White House gates could be heard during Ivanka Trump's address. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.28 Trend: Twenty-eight years have passed since the massacre committed on August 28, 1992, by Armenian armed forces against Azerbaijani civilians in the village of Balligaya, Goranboy district, Trend reports. Witnesses of the crimes told the local AzTV channel about the details of the massacre. According to them, the Armenian armed forces committed inhuman crimes against civilians in Balligaya and burned the bodies of the killed. The event took place in the night when Armenian armed saboteur group of 10-12 persons killed 24 and wounded 9 residents, all of whom were Azerbaijani civilians, shepherds involved in animal husbandry, as well as their family members. 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. joe jill biden dnc Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States, Insider and Decision Desk HQ projected on Friday. Andrew Harnik/AP Former Vice President Joe Biden is projected to win the 2020 presidential election, according to Decision Desk HQ. He married his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, 43 years ago, but he had to propose five times before she said yes. They have each written memoirs in which they share the history of their love story. They have been at each other's sides during celebrations, such as inaugurations in 2009 and 2013, devastating losses, such as the death of their son Beau, and embarrassments, such as Biden's short-lived presidential campaign in the '80s. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Related: Here's how Trump and Biden supporters reacted to election results It took some convincing for Jill Taylor Jacobs to agree to marry Joe Biden. "Joe often tells people that I didn't agree to marry him until the fifth time he asked me," she said in a speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. "The truth is, I loved him from the start." Through their 43 years together, Joe and Dr. Jill Biden have been at each other's sides through successes and failures, through joyful celebrations and devastating losses. Now, it looks like they're headed to the White House. Joe Biden is projected to be the next president of the United States, Insider and Decision Desk HQ reported on Friday, and Jill will be the next first lady. Keep scrolling for a complete timeline of their relationship. joe jill biden Joe and Jill Biden in the early days of their relationship. Office of United States Senator Joe Biden/Public Domain jill biden joe biden Joe and Jill Biden in June 1987. Getty Images joe ashley biden Joe Biden with daughter Ashley. Bill Ballenberg/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images/Getty Images joe jill biden 1987 Joe and Jill Biden announcing his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination. Cynthia Johnson/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images/Getty Images joe jill biden Joe Biden announces his withdrawal from the race. Arnie Sachs/CNP/Getty Images Story continues joe jill biden Joe and Jill Biden at Walter Reed Army Medical Center after he was discharged. Pam Price/AP joe biden book Joe Biden released "Promises to Keep" in 2007. Charles Dharapak/AP joe biden jill hug Joe and Jill Biden on the campaign trail. Mark Wilson/Getty Images obamas bidens The Obamas and Bidens during a rally in Springfield, Illinois, in 2008. EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images joe biden swearing in Joe Biden is sworn in as vice president in 2009. Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images Joe and Jill Biden plaque, VP residence The plaque on a tree on the grounds of the vice president's residence. Katherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty Images joe jill biden israel Joe and Jill Biden arrive in Israel. BAZ RATNER/AFP via Getty Images joe jill biden dnc 2012 Joe Biden embraces Jill Biden at the Democratic National Convention in 2012. SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images joe biden inauguration Jill Biden looks at her husband as he's sworn in during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in 2013. Carolyn Kaster/AP joe jill biden beau funeral Joe Biden and Jill Biden leave following the funeral for their son Beau in Wilmington, Delaware. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Pool/Reuters jill biden book Jill Biden's book "Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself." Johnny Louis/Getty Images joe jill biden Joe and Jill Biden greet supporters and staffers at an event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 2020. Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images joe jill biden finger bite Joe Biden bites the finger of his wife Jill as she introduces him during a campaign event in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Joshua Lott/Getty Images jill biden protestors Jill Biden fights off protestors that got up on the stage during a Super Tuesday election night party in Los Angeles, California. Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images jill joe biden dnc A screenshot from the livestream of the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Handout/DNCC via Getty Images joe jill biden dnc Joe Biden hugs his wife Jill Biden after speaking during the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention. Andrew Harnik/AP Read the original article on Insider Rebel Foods, the worlds largest internet restaurant company recently partnered Wunderman Thompson South Asia for its flagship food brand Faasos. Faasos first ever above the line brand campaign #BoreNoMore showcases young peoples desire to try something exciting and beyond the usual. As part of the campaign, the company focused on their Signature Wraps which is a meal by itself and essentially exotic in-between meals option, bursting with the unexpected and flavourful combinations. The campaign conceptualized by Wunderman Thompson South Asia, centers around a young couple stuck in the lockdown bored of eating the same food. The film starts with the wife looking at a Faasos ad that pops up on her laptop and getting enticed to eat something out of the ordinary. She steps in the hall to ask her partner, aaj khaane me wahi? (The same food to eat?)?. He replies, yes! After couple of times the husband excitedly replies, No! And pops his arms out from behind his back to reveal two Faasos signature wraps. The girl gets a huge smile on her face, and her eyes light up with amazement. On this association, Shoumyan Biswas, Head of Strategic Alliances at Rebel Foods, said, Rebel Foods has always wanted to make the simplest of our consumer experiences, fun and memorable. The idea behind this advertisement was to pull out the consumers from their monotonous lives due to the pandemic and extend our EAT.SURE promise of safety with full flavor, care and hygiene to them. Wunderman Thompson team led by Samarth & Ajeeta has done a terrific job at conveying our message to the consumers. Sharing his thoughts on the campaign, Samarth Shrivastava, Senior Vice President & EBD Wunderman Thompson, Mumbai, said, Most Indians are foodies and during the lockdown our food palates are getting affected! With so much more to do at home, cooking is becoming a chore especially for millennials who live on their own and not in joint families. The strategy was to target these couples and indulge them with Faasos Signature Rolls - a welcome respite to indulge the food palate with a variety of international and Indian flavours. It brings back the variety with 12 great recipes and comes in a wholesome and convenient wrap. Ab bore no more! Credits: Strategy Team: Ajeeta Bharadwaj, National Planning Director Nivedita Sanjai, Account Planner Account Management Team: Kishore Tadepalli, Managing Partner Samarth Shrivastava, Senior Vice President & EBD Giridhar Bhat, Vice President Paritosh Daryani, Account Manager Jiten Painter, Account Manager Creative Team: Tista Sen, Regional Creative Director Priya Pardiwalla, Senior Vice President & ECD Steve Mathias, Vice President & ECD Vinayak Gaikwad, Associate Vice President & Sr. CD Rahul Chandwani, Copy Supervisor Dattaprasad Mestry, Art Supervisor Films Team: Asmit Chachad, Agency Producer The Indian Air Force (IAF) will formally induct Rafale fighters at the Ambala air base on September 10 in presence of defence minister Rajnath Singh, officials familiar with the matter said on Friday. India has also invited Singhs French counterpart, Florence Parly, to attend the ceremony, they added. Five Rafale fighters of the 36 ordered arrived at the airbase on July 29, ending IAFs wait for new fighter jets to sharpen its combat potential. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria and other senior air force officers were present when the jets arrived, but a formal induction ceremony was reserved for another day. The arrival of the jets coincided with the ongoing India-China border tensions in Ladakh. Also Read: Guarding over skies night and day, hail or shine Shortly after they landed last month, the defence minister said the fighters would enhance the IAFs capabilities and deter any threat to the country. He said those who want to threaten Indias territorial integrity should be worried about the new capability. The Rafale fighters will significantly enhance IAFs offensive capabilities and be a game changer with their advanced weaponry, high-tech sensors, superior radar for detection and tracking of targets and ability to carry an impressive payload, experts say. They are part of the IAFs 17 Squadron also known as the Golden Arrows. The aircrew that brought them to India was headed by Group Captain Harkirat Singh, a decorated fighter pilot, who is the commanding officer of the squadron. The aircraft covered a distance of nearly 8,500 km from France to India. The first stage of the flight covered a distance of 5,800 km from Merignac to Al Dhafra (UAE). The second covered over 2,700 km from Al Dhafra to Ambala. The new fighters are the first imported jets to be inducted into the IAF in 23 years after the Russian Sukhoi-30 jets entered service in June 1997. The IAF ordered 36 Rafale jets from France as part of a government-to-government deal worth Rs 59,000 crore in September 2016. They have been specially tailored for IAF. The Rafale weaponry includes Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missiles, Mica multi-mission air-to-air missiles and Scalp deep-strike cruise missiles. The weapons allow fighter pilots to attack air and ground targets from standoff ranges and fill a significant capability gap. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON President Trump broke long-held ethical norms by holding the final night of the Republican National Convention at the White House. Before the event started, jumbo screens on the South Lawn were used as campaign billboards. (Associated Press) The 2020 Republican National Convention will likely be remembered for its groundbreaking transgression of ethical norms separating government from party politics, culminating with President Trump holding the final night of the convention on the grounds of the White House. As Trump spoke from risers on the South Lawn and jumbo screens showed the speech, a crowd of more than a thousand eschewed social distancing guidelines on a day that the U.S. death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic passed 180,000. The number of dead from the disease was not spoken during the four-day convention. Here are some of the other memorable moments: A surprise naturalization ceremony On the second night of the Republican convention, Trump participated in a naturalization ceremony at the White House for five immigrants, welcoming them as new U.S. citizens. Government ethics experts were quick to point out that Chad Wolf, acting secretary of Homeland Security, who led the ceremony, violated federal law that restricts federal employees from certain political activities by appearing in an event for a political, partisan event. The president is exempt from the federal Hatch Act, which prohibits federal officials from using their positions to influence elections or partisan politics. The White House has said that the RNC's use of the ceremony did not violate the act because the video was publicized online, and the Trump campaign simply chose to show it. But the move led to calls for investigation. Wolf specifically hijacked a governmental function for the Trump campaign, Walter Shaub, a former director for the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, wrote on Twitter. And he used humans. I have seen a lot of ethical abuses before. Ive never seen anything like that. The moment was also a sharp contrast to an administration that has sought to slash legal immigration by limiting pathways to citizenship. A secretary of States norm-breaking partisan speech from Jerusalem Story continues Wolf is not the only federal official whose appearance at the Republican convention sparked investigations, complaints and accusations of violating the Hatch Act. While on a government trip to Israel, Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo gave a speech from a rooftop in Jerusalem, praising Trump's foreign policy leadership. His four-minute speech tossed aside norms upheld by previous secretaries of State, who have long avoided the appearance of partisanship. Government ethics experts say he also broke the law. Pompeo himself reminded other State employees in a July cable of the departments longstanding policy that U.S. citizen employees and family members may not engage in partisan activities while abroad on temporary duty, even on personal time. His speech led to official complaints with the State Department and at least one investigation. Maximo Alvarezs speech on fleeing Cuba Maximo Alvarez, an immigrant from Cuba, speaks during the first night of the Republican National Convention. (Associated Press) Maximo Alvarez, an immigrant from Cuba, gave an emotional speech on the first night of the Republican convention about his story of coming to the U.S. The Florida businessman told of fleeing Fidel Castros communist regime as a child and starting over in Miami. At age 13, Alvarez came to the U.S. through a government program called Operation Pedro Pan, which brought unaccompanied children to Miami, according to his companys website. Alvarez said the U.S. gave him an opportunity to build a life and most of all, the gift of freedom. The businessman, owner of Sunshine Gasoline Distributors, has donated thousands to Trump's reelection campaign, Republican candidates and the GOP, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Alvarez warned of Democrats' agenda, likening their ideas of "spread the wealth, free education, free healthcare" to Castro's. I choose President Trump because I choose America. I choose freedom," he said, choking up as he recalled his fathers words about going to the U.S. "I still hear my dad: There is no other place to go. Kimberly Guilfoyle takes it to maximum volume Former Fox News personality and GOP fundraiser Kimberly Guilfoyle, who is the girlfriend of the president's son Donald Trump Jr., burst out of the gates on the opening night of the convention with a high-energy and high-volume speech. "Dont let the Democrats take you for granted," Guilfoyle said. "Dont let them step on you. Dont let them destroy your families, your lives and your future. Dont let them kill future generations because they told you and brainwashed you and fed you lies that you werent good enough." Guilfoyle spread her arms wide as she urged support for Trump: "Ladies and gentlemen, leaders and fighters for freedom and liberty and the American dream, the best is yet to come!" Meet the McCloskeys Mark and Patricia McCloskey emerge from their St. Louis mansion with guns after protesters walked onto their private street in June. (Laurie Skrivan / Associated Press) America first met Mark and Patricia McCloskey outside their homes, when they brandished guns at nonviolent protesters who were passing through their upscale St. Louis neighborhood. They were charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon, but conservatives rallied to their side, making them symbols of self-defense. That culminated with a convention invitation that was of-the-moment part rebuke of the protests roiling the nation, but also emblematic of how little the Trump campaign cared about the optics of inviting a highly litigious couple that has a long history of sparring over minor slights. 'Erdogan was very good' In this screenshot from the RNC's livestream, President Trump speaks with freed captives, including Pastor Andrew Brunson, left. (RNC via Getty Images) Trump met at the White House with former captives whose release his administration helped facilitate, in a video shown on the first night of the convention. Trump praised the leader responsible for one of the captives' imprisonment, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who fired or imprisoned civil servants, police, professors, military officers, dissidents and journalists after a failed 2016 coup. Pastor Andrew Brunson was one of those swept up. Trump told Brunson: "To me, President Erdogan was very good." The Hatch Act goes out with a whimper, but also a bang Demonstrators stand with signs noting the COVID-19 death toll as fireworks go off at the Washington Monument at the conclusion of President Trump's convention speech Thursday. (Caroline Brehman / CQ-Roll Call) Trump's convention disregarded federal ethics laws with repeated use of federal property and employees for campaign purposes, but there may have been no greater symbol of the norm-shattering than the president holding his acceptance speech on the lawn of the White House, and then following it with a campaign fireworks show from the National Mall. One Democratic senator, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, pushed back: Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 05:03:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- An Argentine health official on Thursday called on the public to avoid "shouting" or "singing" without a face mask indoors to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). "We really need to rank the riskiest activities, activities in enclosed spaces, over a long period of time, with people close by, without face masks, doing ... things like speaking loudly, shouting, singing, laughing," the Health Ministry's Secretary of Access to Health Carla Vizzotti said at a press conference. Vizzotti also urged people to cough or sneeze into their bent elbows, saying "we can be part of the chain of transmission" without even knowing it, because some people show no symptoms despite being infected with COVID-19. Tests detected 10,550 new cases of infection on Wednesday, taking the total caseload to 370,188. It was the highest number of infections detected in a single day since the country's first case was registered on March 3. "We need to work together more than ever and follow the recommendations for COVID-19. We are at a very important point of the pandemic in Argentina. An individual's role has an impact on the outcome of the management of the pandemic," said Vizzotti. Enditem The 10th annual International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearance Sunday offers a fresh reminder that Laos has done little or nothing to investigate citizens, including a highly respected development expert, who have vanished in the communist Southeast Asian nation, human rights groups said. Rural education and development expert Sombath Somphone and others remain unaccounted for, years after disappearing, in most cases after last being seen in police hands. On December 15, 2012, police stopped Sombath Somphone in his vehicle at a checkpoint on the outskirts of the capital Vientiane. He was then transferred to another vehicle, according to a police surveillance video, and has not been heard from since. Before his abduction, Sombath had challenged massive land deals negotiated by the Lao government that had left thousands of rural villagers homeless with little paid in compensation. The deals sparked rare popular protests in Laos, where political speech is tightly controlled and heavily punished. We can see clearly that the Lao government has never been interested in disappeared persons or their families. For example, they have never reported progress on the case of Sombath Somphone, Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division, told RFAs Lao Service Thursday. The Lao government has been avoiding the issue by saying they were not involved. They claim they dont know and didnt see, and they havent investigated his disappearance, he said, adding that the activists case has made Lao citizens afraid to speak out or conduct activities that might be perceived as going against government policy. Though authorities have denied any responsibility, the abduction is widely acknowledged by rights NGOs, UN Agencies and the U.S. State Department be an enforced disappearance. As usual the Lao government still denies any knowledge in the case of Sombath Somphone. Even if the Lao government has no answers in this case, they should at least cooperate with us in order to protect Human Rights in Laos, a former member of Thailands National Human Rights Commission told RFA. For his work, Sombath Somphone, 68, won the U.N.s Human Resource Development Award for empowering the rural poor in Laos and the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership. Sombath Somphone is the most prominent of four cases in which Lao citizens have gone missing after encounters with police. Democracy activist, eco-tourism entrepreneur Od Sayavong had been part of the Free Lao network of migrant workers and activists in exile in Thailand and had participated in peaceful pro-democracy and anti-corruption protests outside the Lao embassy and UN offices in Bangkok. During one such protest on June 16, 2019 Od and others had called for political freedoms and human rights in Laos, especially for the victims of government land grabs and dam collapses that have left hundreds stuck in poor housing without a way to earn a living. He had also called for the release of three Lao workers given long prison terms in April 2017 for criticizing the government on Facebook while working in Thailand, and for a U.N. investigation into the disappearance of Sombath Somphone. Od Sayavong had applied for political asylum with the UNHCR and was recognized as a refugee when he was last seen Aug. 26, 2019 in his home in Bangkok. He was 34 at the time. Sompawn Khantisouk was the owner and manager of a small ecotourism lodge and was active on conservation issues the northern province of Luang Namtha. He went missing after he was ordered to report to a police station in January 2007, shortly after he had mobilized local villagers to speak out against land seizures for Chinese-invested agricultural projects that were damaging the environment. The U.S. network PBS reported in 2016 on Kha Yang, an ethnic Hmong who fled to Thailand to escape widespread persecution of his minority. Yang and his family were among 158 UN-documented refugees living in a Thai immigration center awaiting resettlement in a Western country who were deported back to Laos after Bangkok decided to stop hosting Hmong refugees in 2009. They escaped to Bangkok again in April 2011, and he was detained later that year at his construction site job by Thai authorities and informally deported to Laos in December 2011. It is unclear if he is still alive, his wife told PBS. RFA contacted Laos Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but an official of the ministry declined to give comments via telephone, saying that inquiries can be made only in writing. UN: End these heinous crimes A Lao citizen, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told RFA that most disappeared people are those who openly criticize the government in a country that marked 45 years of communist rule this year. Anyone who is critical of the government on political issues or who posts criticism on Facebook will be marked as being against the government, the source said. People who criticize the government these days are those who live overseas. If they do it from Laos, they have to escape overseas, otherwise they will be arrested for anti-government acts. Laos signed the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances but has yet to ratify it. The UN Human Rights Office in a news release called on Southeast Asian nations to ratify the convention and criminalize enforced disappearances. The time has come to end these heinous crimes in South-East Asia, said Cynthia Veliko, Regional Representative of the UN Human Rights Office in Bangkok. Strong commitments are needed by States to achieve that goal through adopting domestic legislation that meets international norms and standards and by fully implementing the Convention, including establishing appropriate domestic institutional mechanisms to investigate allegations of disappearances, she said. The office noted that only Cambodia has ratified the convention, while Indonesia, Laos and Thailand remain signatories. According to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances there are at least 1,301 unresolved missing persons cases in Southeast Asia, almost half of which are in the Philippines. The working group reported in 2019 that since its inception in 1980 it has transmitted 57,891 cases of disappeared persons to 108 states, 45,811 of which have not yet been clarified, closed or discontinued. Washington-based Freedom House classified Laos as not free with a global freedom score of 14 out of 100 in its 2020 Freedom of the World survey. The Southeast Asian country scored 2 out of 40 in political rights, and 12 out of 60 in civil liberties. Laos is a one-party state in which the ruling Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party (LPRP) dominates all aspects of politics and harshly restricts civil liberties. There is no organized opposition and no truly independent civil society, the NGO said. Reported by RFAs Lao Service. Translated by Sidney Khotpanya. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Facebook is still figuring out the best ways to promote reliable news on the platform. One of its next tricks might be linking users profiles with their news subscriptions. Today, the company revealed that its been working with publishers to test a new account-linking feature. It works like this: When Facebook identifies that a user subscribes to a participating publisher, it will invite the user to link their subscription account. Once the accounts are connected, if the user clicks on a paywalled link via Facebook, they wont have to sign-in to access the content. Users who link their Facebook and news accounts will also see more stories from those publishers in Facebook News. Facebook is testing the feature with a handful of publishers, ranging from The Atlantic to the Winnipeg Free Press, and early test results are promising. In June, subscribers who linked their Facebook accounts made 111 percent more article clicks compared to those who didnt link their accounts, Facebook said in a blog post. People have account and password fatigue and so it is not surprising that one of our most common reader complaints is that they have to login too often, and of course when it happens they do not remember their username, or password, Christian Panson, VP of digital at Winnipeg Free Press, said in a statement. Once a reader has linked their subscription, any visit to us from Facebook delivers a seamless and frictionless experience directly to the content they expect. Platforms, like Facebook and Apple News, and publishers are still figuring out how to work with each other. Facebook reportedly offered publishers millions of dollars to participate in its dedicated news tab, which the company is now expanding to more countries. Facebook said its committed to promoting original reporting, but it has also struggled to find enough local news coverage. Ideally, promoting reliable news on the platform will help Facebook take back control from rampant misinformation. The feature could also let publishers deliver more personal experiences and recommendations on Facebook, or it could be another way for the giant to get its hands on more of your data. America's oldest active bombers will fly in formation across all 30 NATO countries Friday in a single-day mission meant to showcase solidarity with partners and allies, according to an Air Force Global Strike release. In an operation dubbed "Allied Sky," four B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers, deployed to Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford, U.K., will fly over Europe alongside allies while two bombers from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, fly over the U.S. and Canada, the command said. Read Next: SecDef Throws Support Behind Medal of Honor for Alwyn Cashe NATO nations scheduled to integrate with the Cold War-era bomber aircraft include Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, the U.K. and the U.S, the release said. "U.S. security commitments to the NATO Alliance remain ironclad," said Gen. Tod Wolters, commander of U.S. European Command. "Today's bomber task force mission is another example of how the alliance sustains readiness, improves interoperability and demonstrates our ability to deliver on commitments from across the Atlantic." Called Bomber Task Force, or BTF, missions, the shorter flights -- using two to four bombers -- have been a regular occurrence since the spring as part of the Pentagon's larger "dynamic force employment" strategy for military units to test how nimbly they can move from place to place. "It gives the appearance that we're in more places and we really are," Maj. Gen. Jim Dawkins Jr., then-commander of the Eighth Air Force and the Joint-Global Strike Operations Center at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, told Military.com in May. Dawkins is now the director of the Global Power Programs at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Acquisition, Technology & Logistics at the Pentagon. In the last year, officials have planned more, and shorter, strategic bomber rotations -- employing the B-1B Lancer as well as the B-2 Spirit -- to test the Air Force's agility when deploying its heavy aircraft forces around the world while also coordinating flights with overseas counterparts, Dawkins said at the time. The flights are based "on the timing and tempo of the combatant commanders and how much they request" bombers in their region, he said. But they are becoming more frequent and, therefore, more standard, Dawkins explained. "There is just so much of a bigger signal sent with a bomber than with a couple of [F-16 Fighting Falcons]. It just is what it is," he said. The European theater has had a bomber rotation at least once a year as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. EUCOM on Friday said since 2018, the U.S. and allies have conducted more than 200 sorties as part of a BTF mission. "Operations and engagements with allies and partners serve as cornerstones highlighting USEUCOM's commitment to global security and stability," the release said. "These opportunities also serve as a reminder that, despite ongoing challenges presented by COVID-19, U.S. forces remain fully ready to execute their missions across all domains." "By further enhancing our enduring relationships, we send a clear message to potential adversaries about our readiness to meet any global challenge," Wolters added. The flights come a day after Air Force F-22 Raptor jets intercepted Russian spy planes off the coast of Alaska. North American Aerospace Defense Command, which oversees North American operations, said the stealth fighters intercepted three groups of two Tu-142 Russian maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, known as the ADIZ, which stretches roughly 200 miles off Alaska's coast. The patrol aircraft stayed within international airspace, but loitered within the ADIZ for "approximately five hours and came within 50 nautical miles of Alaskan shores," NORAD said in a release. "Our northern approaches have had an increase in foreign military activity as our competitors continue to expand their military presence and probe our defenses," Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander of NORAD, said in a statement. "This year, we've conducted more than a dozen intercepts, the most in recent years. The importance of our continued efforts to project air defense operations in and through the north has never been more apparent," VanHerck said. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Related: B-1 Bomber May Become the New Face of US Military Power in the Pacific The demand for postponement of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)-Main will be in focus, when West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee celebrates the foundation day of the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), the students wing of her party, on Friday. JEE-Main and NEET for undergraduate engineering and medical course aspirants, respectively, will be held between September 1 and 6 and on September 13, respectively. CM Banerjee has said that millions of students and parents accompanying them to examination centres would be exposed to the risk of getting infected by SARS-CoV-2, which causes coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders said that Banerjee would address a virtual rally on Friday afternoon and it is expected to be the partys second big event during the Covid-19 pandemic after the annual Martyrs Day programme on July 21. Fridays virtual rally will be broadcast live on social media. Also Read: JEE and NEET: 5 things you need to know today While jointly convening a virtual meeting of CMs from non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states along with Congresss interim president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday, Banerjee proposed that these states should move the Supreme Court (SC). Didi (Banerjee) is happy with the response from the other CMs. At the meeting she said that Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik (who did not attend the meeting) might join his counterparts. On Thursday, Patnaik, who heads the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi and requested him not to hold the examinations in September, said a senior TMC leader, who did not want to be quoted. This is Didis success, he added. The BJP reacted sharply on Thursday. WB CM Mamata Banerjee, after pleading inability to facilitate JEE/NEET exams, has now ordered a state-wide lockdown on September 11 and 12, to create difficulties for NEET examinees to reach the examination venue on September 13. In order to achieve her political goals, is she treading a dangerous path? Amit Malviya, the head of the BJPs national information technology (IT) cell, tweeted. Every year, TMC celebrates August 28 with a rally held near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the Maidan in central Kolkata. A small rally will be held on Friday morning because of the pandemic, when TMCP members will demand postponement of NEET and JEE. Other opposition parties in Bengal have also taken a stand, as the issue is expected to influence young and first-time voters in the assembly polls slated to be held next year. The Bengal unit of the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), or the CPI (M), have demanded the postponement of the examinations. On Thursday, leader of the opposition in the West Bengal assembly and veteran Congress leader Abdul Mannan and CPI (M) lawmaker Sujan Chakraborty jointly wrote letter to Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal, seeking postponement of NEET and JEE-Main examinations. Chhatra Parishad, the students wing of the Congress, will also celebrate its 67th foundation day through protests on Friday. Redmi Note 9 Pro has been featured in Googles latest list of Android Enterprise Recommended smartphones, marking a new milestone for Xiaomi. While Xiaomi phones have featured in Googles recommendation list of smartphones for business users before, this is the first Xiaomi smartphone running on its custom MIUI interface to feature in the list of Google recommended devices. So far, Xiaomi phones featuring in the Android Enterprise Recommended devices list have included Mi A2, Mi A2 Lite and Mi A3, all of which run on Android One and not MIUI. As a result, this marks a major milestone for Xiaomi, since this is the first time that Google has recommended a smartphone running on the custom MIUI interface for business users. Google has a set of requirements for devices to feature in its business recommended Android devices, including a streamlined interface and frequent software updates. According to Google, Android devices qualifying for this list will have to roll out all Android security updates within 90 days of them being released by Google. As a result, Xiaomi smartphone users purchasing the Redmi Note 9 Pro can expect regular and more frequent software updates on the device. Redmi Note 9 Pro price in India, specifications Redmi Note 9 Pro was announced earlier this year by Xiaomi, and features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G chipset paired with 6GB of RAM, and up to 128GB of internal storage. It houses a 6.67-inch full HD+ LCD display with a centrally placed punch hole for the 16MP front camera. To the rear, it houses a quad camera unit with 64MP primary, 8MP ultra-wide, 5MP macro and a 2MP depth sensing unit. The smartphone runs on Android 10 based on MIUI 11, with Xiaomis update roadmap showing a planned upgrade to MIUI 12 in September. The Redmi Note 9 Pro also features a 5,020mAh battery with 30W fast charging, and is priced onward of Rs 13,999 in India. In India, the Redmi Note 9 Pro from Xiaomi features competition from other devices such as Samsungs Galaxy M21, as well as the recently announced Moto G9. 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. 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. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics USA Nevada Due to their explosive growth over the last two years, Bluestar is excited to announce they have relocated to a larger facility located in Illinois allowing for immediate and future growth. Not only does this new development allow Bluestar to expand its team, but it also enables them to increase their reach into the Chicago-land market. With a fresh start comes fresh faces. Bluestar is proud to welcome Helen Maracle, as their new Director of Sales and Marketing. With an extensive background in the relocation industry, Maracle brings in-depth experience from previous consulting roles and a wealth of experience in customer satisfaction. Maracle is a forward-thinking, strategic business leader dedicated to establishing and strengthening relationships within the global mobility industry. Bluestar President, Robert Mills, is enthusiastic and comments, Bluestar couldnt be prouder to have the timely and valuable addition to our team that Helen Maracle brings. Helens passion is exceeding customer expectations while managing the critical client relationships that are so important. Bluestar Relocation Services is thrilled to be making tremendous moves this year and is looking forward to what 2021 will bring. About Bluestar Relocation Services Bluestar was founded in 2004 in the Sunshine State, better known as Florida. Since its founding Bluestar has expanded operations across all fifty states, growing to become one of the countrys leading providers of automotive transport solutions with a robust nationwide distribution system of shipping trucks and a dedicated staff of industry veterans. Our mission is to provide transportation for exotic and domestic automobiles through reliable, safe, and efficient means without fail. Our core competencies lie in the fundamentals of logistics: scheduling, communication and customer service. Were able to get your vehicle shipped without any ambiguities in costs or when it is delivered. For more information visit http://www.bluestarrelo.com. The war of words between a former pool attendant and Jerry Falwell Jr. and his wife Becki escalated on Friday morning as Giancarlo Granda claimed on "Good Morning America" that Falwell "enjoyed watching" him have sex with the former Liberty University president's wife. "He was aware from day one of our relationship and he did, in fact, watch," Granda, 29, told George Stephanopoulos. Granda contends that in the spring of 2012, Becki Falwell began to flirt with him at the Miami hotel where he worked and invited him to a hotel room for sex, telling him her husband liked to watch. He said he soon met Falwell -- a leading voice in Christian conservative politics -- for the first time. "Jerry was laying on the bed," Granda said. "He was drunk, and he was giggling." Granda said that the two men awkwardly discussed the parameters of the impending sexual encounter. He insisted that during that first encounter he reassured Falwell that if the older man became uncomfortable, he would leave,"Hey," he said he told Falwell anxiously, "if at any point you get jealous or you want me to back off, just let me know and I'll walk out of here." Granda said Falwell reassured him, urging him to "go for it." "He enjoyed watching," said Granda, who told ABC News that the sexual encounters continued "multiple times a year" until 2018 in hotels in Miami, New York and at the Falwells' Virginia home. Granda said that the Falwells told him during that first encounter that they had visited a Miami swingers' club the previous night but that they weren't comfortable. "She mentioned that they were actually at a swinger's club the night before but they said it wasn't their thing they wanted a more intimate session." Falwell and his wife have vigorously denied most of Granda's charges. A spokesperson for the Falwells directed questions to Granda's attorneys, who did not immediately respond to a list of emailed questions from ABC News. Granda and the Falwells have been waging a very public battle over the details of a yearslong relationship that both parties acknowledge included a Miami real estate deal and sex between the young man and Becki Falwell -- but diverge sharply on the length and the nature of the sexual relationship and the dissolution of the business deal. Story continues Earlier this week, Falwell claimed in a statement that he wasn't involved in what he described as a brief 2012 affair between Granda and his wife -- and that he and his wife have long since reconciled. PHOTO: Giancarlo Grande on 'Good Morning America,' Aug. 28, 2020. (ABC News) On Monday, Reuters published an explosive interview with Granda, 29, in which he contended that his seven-year affair with Becki Fallwell began in 2012 when he was 20 years old. He said that Jerry Falwell Jr. watched his wife's sexual trysts with the younger man from the corner of the room or through video cameras. He provided text messages, screenshots and audio to corroborate his account, according to Reuters. Granda also provided one of the audio tapes to ABC News. The report suggested the news organization had been working on the story for some time -- and noted that Reuters had first presented its findings to the Falwells nearly a week earlier. While the Falwells have claimed Granda is trying to extort them, he maintains that he is simply trying to dissolve their business partnership and sell his 25% stake in the venture. "That's false," Granda said of the extortion claims. "That's ridiculous. That's just them trying to smear me." He mocked the idea that "a 20-year-old" was "targeting and preying upon this power couple." To underscore his point that the Falwells once trusted him, Granda provided ABC News with a recommendation letter he contends that Falwell wrote for him to Georgetown University in 2018. In the letter, Falwell writes that Granda is "consistent dependable" and operates "with the highest business and ethics standards." Granda also sought to qualify a previous statement he'd made accusing Falwell of sending him a compromising picture of a female Liberty University student -- a photo that the Falwells insist was innocent fun. He said he was having drinks with the couple at a Miami hotel when Jerry Falwell Jr. sent him the picture. "I don't know context of the photo The point is why did he have that picture, why did he share it and why was he publicly joking with him." Granda denied any political motivations for coming forward now as election season is heating up -- but said that he is being represented pro bono by a senior adviser to the Lincoln Project, a campaign that is working to prevent Trump's reelection. The adviser was brought on by Granda's attorney, Aaron Resnick, he told ABC News producers. 'Right from the beginning' Falwell was the earliest and most potent voice in the Evangelical Christian community to endorse Trump's bid for the White House, a fact the president has frequently acknowledged. "Jerry Falwell Jr. just endorsed me -- from Liberty University," Trump told Stephanopoulos in a Jan. 31, 2016 interview, " which is probably one of the reasons I went so high with the Evangelicals." At the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in June 2019, Trump described Falwell, 58, as "a friend of mine [who] was with me right from the beginning." PHOTO: In this Nov. 28, 2018, file photo, Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. speaks before a convocation at the university in Lynchburg, Va. (Steve Helber/AP) 'I was not involved' Yet earlier this week that bond, forged over years, began to strain at a decisive moment for the president. The first hints of impending trouble for the Falwells surfaced on Sunday -- the eve of the Republican National Convention -- when the Washington Examiner published a lengthy statement, dotted with Biblical quotes, from Jerry Falwell Jr. Falwell's statement reported that "more than eight years ago," his wife Becki Falwell had what he described as a brief affair -- "something in which I was not involved" -- with an unidentified young man the couple had met and befriended and with whom they ultimately went into business. He contended that the man involved had been threatening to go public about the relationship "to deliberately embarrass my wife, family, and Liberty University unless we agreed to pay him substantial monies." Falwell had already been on an indefinite leave of absence from his university duties since Aug. 7, after he posted and later deleted a photo on social media which showed him with his arm around the waist of his wife's assistant. In the photo, both parties' pants are partially unzipped, and Falwell refers to the drink in his hand as "a prop" in the photo's caption. Falwell apologized for posting the photo and said "it was in good fun" from a costume party he attended. (MORE: Jerry Falwell Jr. officially resigns from Liberty University) (MORE: Video: Jerry Falwell Jr. officially resigns from Liberty University) Resignation Late on Monday night, Falwell formally resigned from his position as university president and stepped down from the school's board of directors. Yet the mutual recriminations continued into Tuesday, as the nation prepared to hear key RNC speeches that evening from first lady Melania Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. "We couldn't take this torture anymore, so we went public with the story," Becki Falwell, 53, told ABC News' Kyra Phillips early Tuesday morning. "And Jerry resigned to protect the reputation of the university that he and his family spent their lives building." PHOTO: A sign marks the entrance to Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., March 24 , 2020. (Steve Helber/AP, FILE) Falwell told Phillips that he considered himself more of a businessman than a spiritual leader. "I was never called to be a pastor," he said. "My calling was to use my legal and business expertise to make Liberty University the evangelical version of Notre Dame. Some of us are called to be preachers, that wasn't mine. I was called to make Liberty University the greatest Christian university in the world and I couldn't have done that as a preacher." By Tuesday evening, Granda was out with a new statement which charged that the Falwells had minimized their roles and responsibility for the relationship that appears to have developed. "The Falwells would have you believe that I seduced Becki into an affair, without Jerry's knowledge, and then spent the intervening 7 years trying to extort them," Granda said in a statement released late Tuesday. Granda contended that "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." Both sides described each other in dueling statements this week as "a predator" or "predators." ABC News' Chris Francescani, Kyra Phillips, Chris Donovan, Alisha Davis, Claire Brinberg and Kaitlyn Folmer contributed to this report. Former pool attendant details alleged relationship with Becki and Jerry Falwell Jr. originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The United States Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Stephanie S. Sullivan on Friday donated critical medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Ghana Health Service. The items are to assist frontline health workers in Kumasi and Sekondi in the fight against COVID-19. The Ambassador presented the supplies to Lieutenant General Obed Boamah Akwa, Chief of Defence Staff, at Burma Camp in Accra. The supplies would be transported by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), who would be joined by representatives of the Embassy to deliver them on September 1 to the Kumasi South Hospital in the Ashanti Region and the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital in the Western Region. The United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) provided the funding to purchase the supplies locally. The items, valued at over GHC430,000 include 10,000 N95 face masks, 1,600 hospital gowns, 2,000 litres of methylated spirit, 3,000 litres of sodium hypochlorite, 20 glucometers, 200 glucometer strips, and 14 pulse oximeters. The donation of medical supplies and the cooperative delivery between USAFRICOM and the GAF are testaments to the advanced partnership between the United States and Ghana. Madam Sullivan said: The United States is leading the world in providing critical international assistance as, together, we battle this global pandemic. And the GAF continues to play a leading role, along with the Ministry of Health, in responding to the pandemic here in Ghana." "The US Embassy and AFRICOM are proud to partner with the GAF in this and many other endeavours. She said the medical supplies would support frontline civilian health workers, who were battling the COVID-19 pandemic with bravery and selfless service. The doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and other health care workers are risking their lives every day to keep everyone safe, and these supplies would provide them with needed equipment to keep themselves healthy. USAFRICOM in the past supported the 37 Military Hospital with a state-of-the-art Level II Field Hospitals in February 2020. The GAF has since deployed one of the hospitals in Accra, and it is now the second largest COVID-19 treatment centre in Ghana. On his part, Lt Gen Akwa expressed gratitude to the US Government for the kind gesture towards the fight against COVID-19. He said the US made similar donations to the 37 Military Hospital, including two-level field hospitals, one of which was deployed at the El Wak Stadium in Accra to support the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. "It is in time of crisis that you know who your true friends are and the US has proven to be a true worth of Ghana, and in particular the GAF; during this crisis of COVID-19 pandemic," he said. "The bond of friendship between our two countries and in particular the two-armed forces have grown from strength to strength and this is going to continue as we roll on in the future." He said since the partial easing of the COVID-19 restrictions, the US Government had provided opportunities for personnel of the GAF to study in the US, for which Ghana was very grateful. He assured the Ambassador that the supplies would be delivered by the GAF to their intended destinations in good time and in perfect condition. ---GNA China automotive giant Geely maintained its strength as it has cornered the local subcompact-crossover arena for two consecutive months, earning the number 1 title in the segment for the said period. Based on the sales submitted to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) and the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID), the Geely Coolray took the top spot among the 5-seater subcompact crossovers in July. Last month, a total of 263 Geely Coolray units were sold, beating its previous highest sales record in June, when 154 units rolled out. After almost a year since it has been introduced to the local automotive arena, Geely Philippines, under Sojitz G Auto Philippines (SGAP), has already surpassed its 1,000th-vehicle delivery mark for Coolray last month. Coolray Manahan It was also back in July that Geely made it to the top 9 ranking in Philippine automobile passenger vehicle sales with a total of 292 units sold, holding a 1.3 percent market share. For his part, SGAP President and CEO Mikihisa Takayama expressed his elation over the latest milestone. This shows that more Filipinos are beginning to trust the Geely brand and what it could offer. The numbers speak for itself. As the Coolray sets good vehicle quality and standards, we are confident that the good market reception that were getting for Coolray will also transcend to the other models like the Azkarra and the others that will be introduced after it, he said. Dominating the sub-compact SUV crossover market with a good number of sales amid the crisis is a significant step in gaining more peoples trust in the Geely brand, Takayama added. Coolray On the global scale, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding) has once again joined the Fortune Global 500 for the 9th consecutive year this year, placing 243rd out of the corporations in terms of revenue. The feat was achieved after having total revenue of US$47.886 billion last year. According to them their success in globalization has relied on integrated development, shown in the acquisition of Volvo back in 2010. Story continues The collaboration between Geely and Volvo has become a fundamental case study for top business schools around the world including Harvard, CEIBS, Lyon, Peking, Tsinghua, Zhejiang, Fudan, among others. Geely Holdings rapid development over the past decade has been a result of continuous technological innovation. Further, Geely Holding is proactively meeting the challenges of the times, seizing historic opportunities, investing in advanced scientific research and development, strengthening its innovative capabilities, and driving technological transformation. Photo/s from Sojitz G Auto Philippines, Ruben D. Manahan IV Also read: Geely PH welcomes new brand ambassadors Geely Launches More Coolray Variants Geely opens new dealership on Quezon Avenue A 32-year-old traffic constable attached with the Sakinaka traffic division of Mumbai traffic police was suspended on Wednesday after he and his friend tried extorted 5,000 from a vehicle driver, and also siphoned liquor bottles the man had bought. According to Mumbai Police officers, constable Prasad Mahadik was advised to be in quarantine for 14 days from June 22 to July 6, after one of his neighbours at a chawl in Bhandup tested positive for Covid-19. However, Mahadik did not follow the quarantine norms, and on July 4, he and his friend Amol Devlekar went to Kharegaon toll plaza in Kalwa. They stopped a vehicle on the pretext of taking strict action against the motorist and took a bribe of 5,000 from the driver, identified as 41-year-old Raju Parte. Parte later registered a complaint with Kalwa police station and told officers that when he and his friend Vijay More were stopped near the toll plaza, they were scared of the consequences and had hence paid the bribe of 5,000. Parte said that Mahadik and Devlekar, who were dressed in police uniforms, seized the liquor bottles he had purchased. Parte told police that after he reached home, he remembered that the two were wearing sandals (not police attire), and so he decided to visit the toll plaza to check if the two accused were present. The complainant went back to the liquor shop where he had made his purchase and spotted Devlekar keeping an eye on anyone buying liquor. Once the person started his vehicle, Devlekar would follow them and then Mahadik would stop them near Kharegaon. Parte then approached Kalwa police station and a first information report was registered on July 5 under section 170 (personating a public servant), 171 (wearing garb or carrying token used by public servant with fraudulent intent), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 419 (punishment for cheating by personation), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). A departmental enquiry was initiated against Mahadik and he was found guilty. On Wednesday he was suspended from the force. Mid City Micro-Con 'Creating the Future, Expanding Our Universe' 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday Free online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK2kYLri7ac&feature=youtu.be A schedule of events is available at the East Baton Rouge Parish Library website at ebrpl.com. Free wi-fi is available at all library branches for those who cannot connect from home, and libraries have a limited number of earbuds available for patrons to listen to the Micro-Con discussions and workshops. Questions? Email midcitymicrocon@gmail.com. Injuries to the lungs from vaping have suggestive patterns on CT scans that could help physicians make accurate diagnoses and reduce unnecessary biopsies, according to a new study published in the journal Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging. Electronic nicotine delivery systems such as e-cigarettes and vaporizers heat nicotine, flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that the user inhales. Use of these devices has grown rapidly over the past decade, particularly among young people. The inhaled aerosols, commonly referred to as "juices," may contain a number of potentially toxic or damaging substances. Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received its first report on an illness known as electronic cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI). Three criteria define EVALI: e-cigarette use or vaping within 90 days from symptom onset, abnormalities on chest imaging and the exclusion of other potential sources of injury like infection. Almost 3,000 hospitalized EVALI cases were reported to CDC within six months of the first case, with 68 deaths confirmed. Also last year, pathologists at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, published a paper describing a peculiar pattern of lung injury in young people using vape products. The injuries were wrapped around the bronchi, the tubes that branch off the trachea into the lungs. Mayo Clinic radiologist Michael B. Gotway, M.D., recently expanded on that study by looking for patterns on chest CT scans that might correlate with the previously observed pathological findings. The study included 26 patients who met the EVALI criteria and had undergone CT and biopsy or some other type of tissue removal. Dr. Gotway and colleagues classified the CT scan pattern according to several different recognized patterns. One pattern is ground glass opacity, an area on the CT scan that appears whiter than normal but does not obscure the underlying structure of the lung. Another is consolidation, or denser white areas on CT. We read the CT scan and then plugged it into one of those patterns and correlated that with histopathology. What we found out was that ground glass opacity, sometimes with consolidation, is by far the most common pattern that we see with EVALI." Michael B. Gotway, M.D., Mayo Clinic Radiologist That pattern was found more commonly than a CT pattern resembling subacute hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a term for the inflammation of lung tissue. The findings of this study and other related research could provide an important diagnostic tool for physicians treating young patients who express symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath. "We hope to make radiologists aware that if they see diffuse lung opacities in a younger patient without clearly defined causes, then they may want to seriously consider that the patient could have a vaping injury," Dr. Gotway said. "Patients may not readily admit that they're using the material, but if a radiologist recognizes these patterns and then tells the clinician that it could be vaping-induced injury, then maybe they could test for a nicotine metabolite or ask the patient about this exposure." Such an approach could help reduce lung biopsies, which carry considerable expense, some risk of complications and additional anxiety for the patient. "These radiological findings will be especially beneficial to physicians to help them determine potentially less invasive treatment options," Dr. Gotway said. "We could potentially make that diagnosis noninvasively through cooperation with our clinical colleagues. By alerting them to a scan pattern that is suggestive of the possibility of EVALI, we may actually save patients from having to meet a surgeon." The researchers found some good news in their study, as it appears that signs of EVALI on imaging may resolve quickly with cessation of use of the offending agent, often supplemented by corticosteroid therapy. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey on Friday has joined a coalition that is suing the administration of President Donald Trump over a recently finalized rule gutting the National Environmental Policy Act, officials said. NEPA is a federal law that requires federal agencies to comprehensively assess the impact of their actions on the environment. The complaint was filed Friday in the Northern District of California against the Council on Environmental Quality and argues that the rule violates NEPA and the Administrative Procedure Act, according to a statement from Healeys office. In the midst of a devastating pandemic and climate crisis, it is imperative for our government to address the impacts of its actions in our most vulnerable communities, Healey said. And yet, to benefit his development and fossil fuel industry friends, President Trump is pushing forward a damaging and unlawful rule that will undermine our nations cornerstone environmental law and exacerbate the existing health disparities for our Black and Brown communities. We are challenging this unlawful and harmful rule to protect federal law, public health, and the environment in Massachusetts and beyond. Joining Healey in filing the lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, District of Columbia, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Guam, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Harris County, Texas, City of New York, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. As the first major amendment to the NEPA regulations in more than 30 years, the rule drastically curtails environmental reviews for projects undertaken, permitted, or funded by virtually every federal agency, the statement said. The complaint alleges that the rule will lead to significant repercussions for states, including causing inadequate consideration of climate and environmental justice impacts. Additionally, the Council on Environmental Quality failed to provide reasoned basis or data to support the change or follow the requirements of NEPA itself in promulgating the rule, the attorney generals office said. A vast array of federal actions require compliance with NEPA, from the approval of significant energy and infrastructure projects to key decisions concerning the management of federal public lands. By ensuring agencies take a hard look at their actions, NEPA has led to better, more informed decisions and has given affected communities a voice in the decision-making process, the statement said. The rule will limit and reduce the number and types of projects subject to NEPA review, Healeys office said, as well as curtail or eliminate analysis of greenhouse gas emissions and climate impacts. In March, Healey joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in calling on the Trump Administration to abandon its proposed rule gutting NEPA. Then, in May, Healey issued a brief on the environmental factors that compound the coronavirus pandemics disparate impact on communities of color in Massachusetts, as well as steps the state should take to address the longstanding impact of environmental injustice on families. Related Content: Reuters At least one child was killed in northern Syria this week when a storm blanketed tented camps in snow and brought freezing temperatures, compounding the misery of thousands of people displaced by the Mediterranean country's decade-long war. The child died and its mother was in intensive care after snow caused their tent to collapse in the Qastal Miqdad area, as a result of the storm that struck on Jan. 18, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. "I was scared the tent would fall down on the kids," Abu Anas said in Zaitoun camp in northern Syria, after his family fled from eastern Gouta, an area on the outskirts of Damascus that was devastated by the conflict. Klein Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Michael Gosselin said the department had a very low call volume throughout the night of Wednesday, Aug. 26, leading up to when Hurricane Laura made landfall early Thursday in Louisiana near the Texas border. Nonetheless, they had been prepared for emergencies. Gosselin said the department is always ready for weather events moving along the gulf coast as all stations were staffed in anticipation of a major storm. Ready to rescue: Harris County Precinct 4 road and bridge department ready to rescue people if needed during storm events It doesnt even have to be a hurricane; a severe thunderstorm can come through and cause just as much havoc, Gosselin said. So, we always have to be prepared for high wind, high water events. Gosselin said the department doubled up staffing of individuals at each station in the event of the hurricane, with all equipment in a state of readiness. He said the only thing they do differently from a non-major storm is increase the amount of personnel that they have at stations. The department has several boats, three high-water utility vehicles (retired army vehicles) for high-water evacuations, with staff trained in swift-water rescue and maneuvering boats in swift water. Gosselin said working under swift-water conditions is a little bit different than a lake because people dont know exactly whats underneath the water. On HoustonChronicle.com: Scars of Hurricane Laura evident as Louisiana residents assess storm damage Gosselin said the department was watching Hurricane Laura closely ahead of time until it came within about 48 hours, which gave them a better idea of where it was going to hit. He said they received updates about every four hours from Harris County Emergency Management, with everyone busy with normal duties throughout the day. As it got closer, we focused more on it, Gosselin said. Once it was within 12-24 hours, the forecasters nailed where it was going to hit. Despite avoiding the worst part of the hurricane, the department was still concerned about high-wind events but didnt get any from Laura, according to Gosselin. Thats just normal operations, every time theres a storm in the gulf, were always watching, Gosselin said. Gosselin said vehicles stay in the fire stations all the time, unless needed. The only difference in this event, was doubling the amount of people that were on duty from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. The department had about 36 people on duty Wednesday and Thursday, plus there were volunteers working from home. Fortunately, they werent needed, but if they were needed, we did have adequate personnel, Gosselin said. Gosselin said as it got closer to Wednesday evening, the department recognized that the path of the storm was not going to hit the area. The only thing we might get is a straight thunderstorm which we did not get, Gosselin said. The department is equipped for different types of emergencies and in this particular case he said they were worried about downed power lines caused by lightning strikes. Were prepared for those types of things all the time, Gosselin said. Gosselin said the biggest thing residents can do to prepare and stay safe during a major storm is have a plan in place ahead of time and a meeting point for everyone. He said aside from taking care of young children and older adults, people with physical disabilities need to be evacuated a little bit sooner so theyre not stuck in traffic where it can affect their health. Where are you going to evacuate to if you have relatives outside the affected area, Gosselin said. If your plan is to shelter in place, ensure that you have plenty of drinking water thats the number one thing, and have food supplies, batteries and flashlights. alvaro.montano@chron.com Elon Musk took to the stage Friday to show the world his Neuralink brain chip progress - following a more than 30 minute delay that left some 100,000 people waiting on the edge of their seats. Musk said last month in a tweet that on August 28, Neuralink 'will show neurons firing in real-time' and the CEO kept his promise. The three little pig's demo, as he called it, showed an animal named Gertrude with the brain implant. While she snuffed around in a pen, viewers saw her brain activity on a large screen. The livestream also gave the first look of the redesigned chip, which is the size of a large coin attached to wires that replace a piece of skull when connected to the brain. 'It's like a Fitbit in your skull, Musk said during the event. 'It goes flush on your skull. I could have a Link right now and you wouldn't know. Maybe I do.' Although the public may have hoped to see a person use the powers of the chip, the event suggests Neuralink is getting closer to Musk's vision of allowing humans to control computers and smartphones with their mind. Scroll down for videos The livestream gave the first look of the redesigned Neuralink chip, which is the size of a large coin attached to wires that replace a pieced of skull when connected to the brain Neuralink's system is comprised of a computer chip attached to tiny flexible threads that are stitched into the brain by a 'sewing-machine-like' robot. The device pick ups signals in the brain, which are then translated into motor controls. Musk started Neuralink in 2016, but has since kept a tight lid on the firm's technology, developments and most plans - until now. Musk took viewers over to an area with three pigs in separate pens, noting one was without a Link. The three little pig's demo, as he called it, showed an animal named Gertrude with the device implanted in its brain and while she snuffed around in a pen viewers saw her brain activity on a large screen 'This shows the beats of Link on the screen and you can see each of the spikes from the 1,024 electrodes implanted in the pigs brain,' Musk said pointing at a large screen over the pen. A flustered Elon Musk took the stage Friday to show the world his Neuralink progress update, following a more than 30 minute delay that left more than 100,000 people waiting on the edge of their seats 'Dorothy which had an implant that was removed, illustrates that Link can be removed and you will live a healthy life,' he explained. However, another pig had an implant, which Musk showed captured its brain activity on a screen as it moved its shuffled its snout on the ground looking for food. 'This shows the beats of Link on the screen and you can see each of the spikes from the 1,024 electrodes implanted in the pigs brain,' Musk said pointing at a large screen over the pen. 'When she touches her snout to the ground, the neurons will fire and that is what makes the sound.' 'We have also implanted two Neuralinks in three pigs at this point.' 'You can have multiple Links and they can be healthy, happy and indistinguishable from a normal pig.' Musk took viewers over to an area with three pigs in separate pens, noting one was without a Link Musk also shared details of the new prototype that has 1,000 channels and is about 23 millimeters by eight millimeters 'and fits nicely in the skull The livestream also gave the first look of the redesign chip, which is the size of a large coin attached to wires that replaces a pieced of skull when connected to the brain Musk also shared details of the new prototype that has 1,000 channels and is about 23 millimeters by eight millimeters 'and fits nicely in the skull.' The device can be charged at night, similar to a smartphone and will have full power all day long. 'Getting a link requires opening a piece of skull, removing a coin size piece of skull, robot insets electrodes and the device replaces the portion of skull that is closed up with super glue,' explained Musk. Musk started Neuralink in 2016, but has since kept a tight lid on the firm's technology, developments and most plans. The CEO has provided minor details about the system - it is a implant connected to electrodes that are attached the the brain The 'sewing' robot was also present on stage with Musk, who explained the procedure takes just 30 minutes, general anesthesia is not needed and patients can leave the hospital on the same day. When plans to develop the brain-computer interface were first revealed, the firm positioned it as a way to enable people with quadriplegia to control technologies, like a computer or smartphone, with their mind. However, as many of Musk's ventures evolve the system developed into much more. He touched on an the idea of 'conceptual telepathy,' which allows two individuals to communicate through thoughts with the help of technology. The 'sewing' robot was also present on stage with Musk, who explained the procedure takes just 30 minutes, general anesthesia is not needed and patients can leave the hospital on the same day 'Getting a link requires opening a piece of skull, removing a coin size piece of skull, robot insets electrodes and the device replaces the portion of skull that is closed up with super glue,' explained Musk The future is going to be weird,' Musk said. 'In the future you will be able to save and replay memories.' 'You could basically store your memories as a backup and restore the memories. You could potentially download them into a new body or into a robot body.' Leading up to Friday's demonstration, the CEO had only revealed small bits of what the public should expect when the chip is ready for human use. Musk paraded most of the details on Twitter, noting Neuralink had made improvements to the robot that will insert the device into human brains back in February. Musk showed a visual of what the electrodes would look like while implanted into the brain The chip will be connected to the brain through tiny, flexible threads that are thinner than a human hair The 'sewing robot' removes a small chunk of the skull, connects the thread-like electrodes to certain areas of the brain, stitches up the hole and the only visible remains is a scar left behind from the incision. And the firm has said on many occasions that these 'high bandwidth, high precision neural interfaces', dubbed N1, could be implanted in humans within the next 12 months. The tech tycoon recently delved into more details of the system in May while speaking on Joe Rogan's podcast. The 'sewing robot' removes a small chunk of the skull, connects the thread-like electrodes to certain areas of the brain, stitches up the hole and the only visible remains is a scar left behind from the incision 'You wouldn't need to talk,' Musk said, who foresees the technology going further to enable 'symbiosis' between humans and AI. 'I think this is one of the paths to like AI is getting better and better,' Musk said. 'We are kind of left behind, we are just too dumb. So how do you go along for the ride? If you can't beat them join them.' However, Musk has noted that creating an entire brain interface with the Neuralink chip would take 25 years to successfully complete. An early focus of Neurlink was to address brain diseases and paralysis, but experts have questioned this feat. 'It is unclear as to how this development would help people with paralysis,' Dr. Burnett explained. 'Not that it couldn't, they just don't make it clear. People become paralyzed because the neural connections between brain and spinal cord to the relevant bodily area have been damaged/severed.' 'The ideal treatment would be to restore these damaged links, by regenerating and reconnecting the nerves. Not sure how brain/tech interface would help that.' Musk also touts that the chip can 're-train part of the brain' linked to the ailments, such as depression and addiction suggesting that the technology can completely overhaul your way of thinking. They say good things come to those who wait. It might be true in a lot of circumstances but there's one County Wexford band that is well on its way to knocking that particular line of thought on its head. Formed just two years ago, Gorey based, Foot Squeaker, have no intention of sitting back and waiting for things to happen. The band has just released a new single, 'Wayside', and it's one of the most impressive tracks to be released by a local band in a long time. There is a slight new wave, pop punk feel to the song that should endear it to a broad music fan base. The track is set to a fantastic stop-start rhythm and there are hints of Mod-styled guitar bands like the Jam and the Blades in evidence. The band, composed of Diarmuid Comerford, Mike Lynch and Mick Byrne, adopted one rule from the very start: 'keep it hard and fast'. It's something that is evident on 'Wayside'. The band are formidable musicians and that's something that is also very clear to see on this track. The production is also worth noting as there is a wonderful, full sound to the recording. The single has a brilliant bridge and it's obvious the band knows a thing or two about harmonies. The chorus is very strong and will grab your attention whether you want it to or not. Diarmuid and Mike spent 2018 sculpting their songs while the latter also took on the role of quality auditor of the riffometer. In 2019, Mick Byrne joined on bass and the seeds were then sown for a trio that could be destined for great things. The band rehearsed for the next few months after recruiting Mick and the overall tight feel of the rhythm is something that stands out when listening to their songs. The band has numerous influences and while some of them are vaguely evident in the music what Foot Squeaker has done is take a myriad of influences and used them to create their own rather unique overall sound. 'Wayside' comes in the wake of another cracking song from the band, titled 'No Connection'. That track had a foreboding feel and in many ways invoked an image of a bleak, dangerous future. There was an anger to the track that revealed one aspect of the band's songwriting style. Citing musical influences such as Neil Young, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Paul Weller, Queens Of The Stone Age, Pearl Jam, Weezer, Supergrass, Blur and Beck, the band wield the combined explorative sounds of the above whilst maintaining an air of individuality. While the current pandemic has forced bands to postpone their live activity for (hopefully) the short term, the live circuit is something Foot Squeaker is eager to enjoy again and it's no wonder. The band's songs are custom made for a live setting; the louder the better. The band members are also no strangers to successful live gigs with their very first venture as a live act seeing them play to a packed audience as part of the Gap Arts Festival curated by Marc Aubele (Bell X1, Join Me In The Pines). It was a moment that cemented the fact that here was a band with something special to offer the contemporary music scene. In addition to 'Wayside', here at the Last Verse, yours truly has also been given access to the band's next single and it's a fantastic song called 'Specimen'. It offers something different again to what has gone before. The song begins with a lovely, intricate stepped guitar riff before the vocals come in. The song has a lovely, melancholic feel while never being self-indulgent. The Jam influence is definitely there but as with the band's other tracks there is a distinctive overall sound that marks it out as being Foot Squeaker and no-one else. 'Specimen' will be backed by a track called 'When They're Gone'. It's a new wave, pop rock number that has a great upbeat tempo and great chorus. In January, this year Foot Squeaker headed to Hellfire Studios, Dublin, to record four tracks with Ivan Jackman (Chad Channing, Sinead O' Connor, Girlband). 'No Connection' was the debut single from that recording session with 'Wayside' being single number 2. It's a personal song, as Diarmuid Comerford explained: 'My Da always said he had gotten more hardship than me growing up. I reckon his Da said the same and now I'm saying the same to my sons. There is one thing however that has been consistent with men through time and that's the inability to talk about their feelings. Us men need to speak up when we need help, reach out to somebody, anybody, just reach out.' Friends, delegates and distinguished guests, please, I stand before you tonight honored by your support, proud of the extraordinary progress we have made together over the last four incredible years and brimming with confidence in the bright future we will build for America over the next four years. We begin this evening, our thoughts are with the wonderful people who have just come through the wrath of Hurricane Laura. We are working closely with state and local officials in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, sparing no effort to save lives. While the hurricane was fierce, one of the strongest to make landfall in 150 years, the casualties and damage were far less than thought possible, only 24 hours ago. And this is due to the great work of FEMA, law enforcement, and the individual states. I will be going this weekend. And congratulations, thank you for that great job out there. We really appreciate it. Portico: The president gave himself all the trappings of the presidency for his speech - angering Democrats and blowing throw precedent by delivering it in front of the White House's grandest elevation We are one national family. And we will always protect, love and care for each other. Here tonight are the people who have made my journey possible and filled my life with so much joy. For her incredible service to our nation and its children, I want to thank our magnificent First Lady. I also want to thank my amazing daughter, Ivanka, for that introduction and to all of my wonderful children Ivanka, please stand up. And to all of my children and grandchildren, I love you more than words can express. I know my brother Robert is looking down on us right now from heaven. He was a great brother and was very proud of the job we are all doing. Thank you. We love you, Robert. Let us also take a moment to show our profound appreciation for a man who has always fought by our side and stood up for our values, a man of deep faith and steadfast conviction, our Vice President Mike Pence. And Mike is joined by his beloved wife, a teacher and military mom, Karen Pence. Thank you, Karen. My fellow Americans, tonight with a heart full of gratitude and boundless optimism, I profoundly accept this nomination for President of the United States. President Donald Trump accepted his party's nomination for a second term President Donald Trump and his family after he accepted the Republican nomination for president for a second term The Republican Party, the party of Abraham Lincoln, goes forward united, determined and ready to welcome millions of Democrats, Independents and anyone who believes in the greatness of America and the righteous heart of the American people. In a new term as president, we will again build the greatest economy in history, quickly returning to full employment, soaring incomes and record prosperity. We will defend America against all threats and protect America against all dangers. We will lead America into new frontiers of ambition and discovery and we will reach for new heights of national achievement. We will rekindle new faith in our values, new pride in our history and a new spirit of unity that can only be realized through love for our great country. Because we understand that America is not a land cloaked in darkness. America is the torch that enlightens the entire world. Gathered here at our beautiful and majestic White House, known all over the world as the People's House, we cannot help but marvel at the miracle that is our great American story. This has been the home of larger-than-life figures like Teddy Roosevelt and Andrew Jackson, who rallied Americans to bold visions of a bigger and brighter future. Within these walls lived tenacious generals, like President Grant and Eisenhower, who led our soldiers in the cause of freedom. From these grounds, Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark on a daring expedition to cross a wild and unchartered continent. In the depths of a bloody civil war, President Abraham Lincoln looked out these very windows upon a half-completed Washington Monument, and asked God, in his providence to save our nation. The first couple walk down to the South Lawn Two weeks after Pearl Harbor, Franklin Delano Roosevelt welcomed Winston Churchill. And just inside they set our people on a course to victory in the Second World War. In recent months, our nation and the entire planet has been struck by a new and powerful invisible enemy. Like those brave Americans before us, we are meeting this challenge. We are delivering life-saving therapies and will produce a vaccine before the end of the year, or maybe even sooner. We will defeat the virus and the pandemic and emerge stronger than ever before. What united generations past was an unshakeable confidence in America's destiny and an unbreakable faith in the American people. They knew that our country's blessed by God and has a special purpose in this world. It is that conviction that inspired the formation of our union, our westward expansion, the abolition of slavery, the passage of civil rights, the space program, and the overthrow of fascism, tyranny and communism. This towering American spirit has prevailed over every challenge, and lifted us to the summit of human endeavor. And yet despite all of our greatness as a nation, everything we have achieved is now in danger. This is the most important election in the history of our country. Thank you. At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between the parties, two visions, two philosophies or two agendas. This election will decide whether we save the American dream or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny. It will decide whether we rapidly create millions of high-paying jobs or whether we crush our industries and send millions of these jobs overseas as has foolishly been done for many decades. Your vote will decide whether we protect law-abiding Americans or whether we give free rein to violent anarchists and agitators and criminals who threaten our citizens. And this election will decide whether we will defend the American way of life or whether we will allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it. That won't happen. At the Democrat National Convention, Joe Biden and his party repeatedly assailed America as a land of racial, economic and social injustice. So tonight I ask you a simple question: How can the Democrat Party ask to lead our country when it spends so much time tearing down our country? In the Left's backward view, they do not see America as the most free, just and exceptional nation on earth. Instead, they see a wicked nation that must be punished for its sins. Our opponents say that redemption for you can only come from giving power to them. This is a tired anthem spoken by every repressive movement throughout history. But in this country, we don't look to career politicians for salvation. In America, we don't turn to government to restore our souls; we put our faith in almighty God. Crowded in: The audience for the speech were not moved apart for social distancing and ignored requests to wear masks. Only those coming into direct contact with Trump were tested for coronavirus Joe Biden is not a savior of America's soul; he is the destroyer of America's jobs, and if given the chance he will be the destroyer of American greatness. For 47 years, Joe Biden took the donations of blue-collar workers, gave them hugs and even kisses ... And told them he felt their pain. And then he flew back to Washington and voted to ship our jobs to China and many other distant lands. Joe Biden spent his entire career outsourcing their dreams and the dreams of American workers, offshoring their jobs, opening their borders and sending their sons and daughters to fight in endless foreign wars, wars that never ended. Four years ago I ran for president because I could not watch this betrayal of our country any longer. I could not sit by as career politicians let other countries take advantage of us on trade, borders, foreign policy and national defense. Our NATO partners, as an example, were very far behind in their defense payments. But at my strong urging, they agreed to pay $130 billion more a year the first time in over 20 years that they upped their payments. And this $130 billion will ultimately go to $400 billion a year. And Secretary General Stoltenberg who heads NATO was amazed after watching for so many years, and said that President Trump did what no one else was able to do. Thank you. From the moment I left my former life behind - and it was a good life - I have done nothing but fight for you. I did what our political establishment never expected and could never forgive. Breaking the cardinal rule of Washington politics: I kept my promise. Together we have ended the rule of the failed political class, and they are desperate to get their power back by any means necessary. You've seen that. They are angry at me because, instead of putting them first, I very simply said America first. Days after taking office, we shocked the Washington establishment and withdrew from the last administration's job-killing Trans Pacific Partnership. I then immediately approved the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines. Ended the unfair and very costly Paris Climate Accord. And secured for the first time American energy independence. We passed record-setting tax and regulation cuts at a rate nobody had ever seen before. Within three short years, we built the strongest economy in the history of the world. Washington insiders asked me not to stand up to China. They pleaded with me to let China continue stealing our jobs, ripping us off, and robbing our country blind. But I kept my word to the American people. We took the toughest, boldest, strongest and hardest-hitting action against China in American history by far. WHO WAS ON THE SOUTH LAWN TO WATCH DONALD TRUMP'S RNC SPEECH Melania Trump, first lady Mike Pence, vice president Karen Pence, second lady Ivanka Trump, president's daughter and senior adviser Lindsey Graham, South Carolina senator Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor and Trump's lawyer Rand Paul, Kentucky senator Kristi Noem, South Dakota governor Jim Jordan, Ohio representative Ronny Jackson, former White House physician and Texas congressional candidate Alex Azar, Health and Human Services secretary Chad Wolf, acting Department of Homeland Security secretary John Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Reince Priebus, former Trump White House chief of staff Sean Spicer, Trump's first press secretary Bernard Kerik, former NYPD commissioner who Trump pardoned Michael Lindell, MyPillow CEO Daryl Strawberry, retired MLB player Ralph Reed, former Christian Coalition director Mary Ann Mendoza, 'Angel mom' who was pulled from RNC speaker schedule for anti-Semitic tweet Corey Lewandowski, one-time Trump 2016 campaign manager Pat Cipollone, White House counsel Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to the President and wife of leading anti-Trump Republican George Conway Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council Rudy Giuliani, former New York mayor, and his girlfriend Dr. Maria Ryan Frank Luntz, Republican pollster Hope Hicks, senior advisor to the president Viktor and Amilja Knavs, Melania Trump's parents Ronna McDaniel, Republican National Committee chair Ryan Zinke, former Secretary of the Interior, quit amid ethics investigations Advertisement They said that it would be impossible to terminate and replace NAFTA. But again, they were wrong. Earlier this year, I ended the NAFTA nightmare and signed the brand-new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement into law. And right now, auto companies and others are building their plants and factories in America, not firing their employees, and not deserting us for other countries. And perhaps no area did the Washington special interests try harder to stop us than on my policy of pro-American immigration. But I refused to back down, and today America's borders are more secure than ever before. We ended catch-and-release, stopped asylum fraud. Took down human traffickers who prey on women and children. And we have deported 20,000 gang members and 500,000 criminal aliens. We have already built 300 miles of border wall, and we are adding 10 new miles every single week. The wall will soon be complete. And it is working beyond our wildest expectations. We are joined this evening by members of the Border Patrol Union representing our country's courageous border agents. Thank you very much for being here. Thank you. Brave, brave people. You see, this country loves our law enforcement. They do. They do. They really do. Love and respect. When I learned that the Tennessee Valley Authority laid off hundreds of American workers and forced them to train their lower paid foreign replacement, I promptly removed the chairman of the board and now those talented American workers have been rehired and are back providing power to Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina and Virginia. They have their old jobs back, and some are here with us this evening. Please stand. You went through a lot. Please stand. Thank you. Thank you very much. You've been through a lot. Thank you very much. Last month, I took on Big Pharma. You think that's easy? It's not. And signed orders that will massively lower the cost of your prescription drugs and give critically ill patients access to life-saving cures. We passed the decades-long awaited right-to-try. Right-to-try. We also passed VA Accountability and VA Choice. Our great veterans, we're taking care of our veterans. 91 percent approval rating this month, the VA, given by our veterans. First time anything like that's ever happened. By the end of my first term, we will have approved more than 300 federal judges, including two great, new Supreme Court justices. And to bring prosperity to our forgotten inner cities, we worked hard to pass historic criminal justice reform, prison reform, opportunity zones and long-term funding of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and before the China virus came in, produced the best unemployment numbers for African-Americans, Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans ever recorded. And I say very modestly that I have done more for the African-American community than any president since Abraham Lincoln, our first Republican president. And I have done more in three years for the Black community than Joe Biden has done in 47 years. And when I'm re-elected, the best is yet to come. When I took office, the Middle East was in total chaos. ISIS was rampaging. Iran was on the rise. And the war in Afghanistan had no end in sight. I withdrew from the terrible one-sided Iran nuclear deal. Unlike many presidents before me, I kept my promise, recognized Israel's true capital and moved our embassy to Jerusalem. But not only did we talk about it as a future site, we got it built. Rather than spending $1 billion on a new building as planned, we took an already-owned existing building in a better location, real estate deal, right? And opened it at a cost of less than $500,000. Many things like that that government is doing right now. We also recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. And this month we achieved the first Middle East peace deal in 25 years. Thank you to UAE. Thank you to Israel. In addition, we obliterated 100 percent of the ISIS caliphate and killed its founder and leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Then in a separate operation, we eliminated the world's number one terrorist by far, Qassem Solemeini. Unlike previous administrations I have kept America out of new wars, and our troops are coming home. We have spent nearly $2.5 trillion on completely rebuilding our military, which was very badly depleted when I took office, as you know. This includes three separate pay raises for our great warriors. We also launched the Space Force, the first new branch of the United States military since the Air Force was created almost 75 years ago. We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years. Biden's record is a shameful roll call of the most catastrophic betrayals and blunders in our lifetime. He has spent his entire career on the wrong side of history. Biden voted for the NAFTA disaster, the single-worst trade deal ever enacted. He supported China's entry into the World Trade Organization, one of the greatest economic disasters of all time. After those Biden calamities the United States lost one in four manufacturing jobs. We laid off workers in Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and many other states. They didn't want to hear Biden's hollow words of empathy. They wanted their jobs back. As vice president, he supported the Trans Pacific Partnership which would have been a death sentence for the U.S. auto industry. He backed the horrendous South Korea trade deal, which took many jobs from our country, and which I've reversed and made a great deal for our country. He repeatedly supported mass amnesty for illegal immigrants. He voted for the Iraq War. He opposed the mission to take out Osama Bin Laden. He opposed killing Soleimani. He oversaw the rise of ISIS and cheered the rise of China as a positive development for America and the world. Some positive development. That's why China supports Joe Biden and desperately wants him to win. I can tell you that, upon very good information. China would own our country if Joe Biden got elected. Unlike Biden, I will hold them fully accountable for the tragedy that they caused, all over the world, they caused. In recent months, our nation and the world has been hit by the once in a century pandemic that China allowed to spread around the globe. They could have stopped it but they allowed it to come out. We are grateful to be joined tonight by several of our incredible nurses and first responders. Please stand and accept our profound thanks and gratitude. Many Americans, including me, have sadly lost friends and cherished loved ones to this horrible disease. As one nation, we mourn, we grieve, and we hold in our hearts forever the memories of all of those lives that have been so tragically taken. So unnecessary. In their honor we will unite, in their memory we will overcome. And when the China virus hit, we launched the largest national mobilization since World War II, invoking the Defense Production Act. We produced the world's largest supply of ventilators. Not a single American who has needed a ventilator has been denied a ventilator, which is a miracle. Good job heading the task force by our great vice president. Thank you very much, Mike, please stand up. Please. We shipped hundreds of millions of masks, gloves and gowns to our front-line healthcare workers. To protect our nation's seniors we rushed supplies, testing kits and personal to nursing homes, we gave everything you can possibly give and we're still giving it because we're taking care of our senior citizens. The Army Corps of Engineers built field hospitals. And the Navy deployed our great hospital ships. We developed from scratch the largest and most advanced testing system anywhere in the world. America has tested more than every country in Europe put together, and more than every nation in the Western Hemisphere combined. Think of that. We have conducted 40 million more tests than the next closest nation, which is India. We developed a wide array of effective treatments including a powerful antibody treatment known as convalescent plasma. You saw that on Sunday night when we announced it. That will save thousands and thousands of lives. Thanks to advances, we have pioneered the fatality rate and you look at it, and you look at the numbers, it has been reduced by 80 percent since April. 80 percent. The United States has among the lowest case fatality rates of any major country anywhere in the world. The European Union's case fatality rate is nearly three times higher than ours, but you don't hear that. They don't write about that. They don't want to write about that. They don't want you to know those things. All together, the nations of Europe have experienced a 30 percent greater increase in excess mortality than the United States. Think of that. We enacted the largest package of financial relief in American history. Thanks to our Paycheck Protection Program, we have saved or supported more than 50 million American jobs. That's one of the reasons that we're advancing so rapidly with our economy. Great job. As a result, we have seen the smallest economic contraction of any major Western nation. And we are recovering at a much faster rate than anybody. Over the past three months, we have gained over 9 million jobs, and that's a record in the history of our country. Unfortunately, from the beginning our opponents have shown themselves capable of nothing but a partisan ability to criticize. When I took bold action to issue a travel ban on China, very early indeed, Joe Biden called it hysterical and xenophobic. And then I introduced a ban on Europe very early again. If we had listened to Joe, hundreds of thousands more Americans would have died. Instead of following the science, Joe Biden wants to inflict a painful shutdown on the entire country. His shutdown would inflict unthinkable and lasting harm on our nation's children's, families and citizens of all backgrounds. In an interview with ABC World News Tonight anchor David Muir last week, Joe Biden was asked if he would advocate for shutting down the country if there were a second wave of COVID-19, combined with the flu, and scientists advised that's what he ought to do. 'I would shut it down; I would listen to the scientists,' Biden answered. The cost of the Biden shutdown would be measured in increased drug overdoses, depression, alcohol addiction, suicides, heart attacks, economic devastation, job loss and much more. Joe Biden's plan is not a solution to the virus, but, rather, it's a surrender to the virus. My administration has a very different approach. To save as many lives as possible, we are focusing on the science, the facts and the data. We are aggressively sheltering those at highest risk, especially the elderly, while allowing lower risk Americans to safely return to work and to school and we want to see so many of those great states be opened by Democrats. We want them to be open. They have to be open. They have to get back to work. They have to get back to work, and they have to get back to school. Most importantly, we are marshalling America's scientific genius to produce a vaccine in record time. Under Operation Warp Speed, we have three different vaccines in the final stage of trials, right now, years ahead of what has been achieved before. Nobody thought it could ever be done this fast. Normally it would be years and we did it in a matter of a few months. We're producing them in advance so that hundreds of millions of doses will be quickly available. We will have a safe and effective vaccine this year. And together we will crush the virus. At the Democrat convention, you barely heard a word about their agenda. But that's not because they don't have one; it's because their agenda is the most extreme set of proposals ever put forward by a major party nominee. Joe Biden may claim he is an 'ally of the light,' but when it comes to his agenda, Biden wants to keep us completely in the dark. He doesn't have a clue. He has pledged a $4 trillion tax hike on almost all American families, which will totally collapse our rapidly improving economy. And once again, record stock markets that we have right now will also collapse. That means your 401(k)s, that means all of the stocks you have. On the other hand, just as I did in my first term, I will cut taxes even further for hard-working moms and dads. I will not raise taxes. I will cut them, and very substantially. And we will also provide tax credits to bring jobs out of China back to America, and we will impose tariffs on any company that leaves America to produce jobs overseas. We will make sure our companies and jobs stay in our country as I've already been doing for quite some time, if you've noticed. Joe Biden's agenda is 'Made in China.' My agenda is 'Made in the USA.' Biden has promised to abolish the production of American oil, coal, shale and natural gas, laying waste to the economies of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico, destroying those states. Absolutely destroying those states, and others. Millions of jobs will be lost. And energy prices will soar. These same policies led to crippling power outages in California just last week, everybody saw that. Tremendous power outage. Nobody has seen anything like it. But we saw that last week in California. How can Joe Biden claim to be an 'ally of the light,' when his own party can't even keep the lights on. Joe Biden's campaign has even published a 110 page policy platform, you can't get away from this. Coauthored with far left senator, crazy Bernie Sanders. The Biden Bernie Manifesto calls for suspending all removals of illegal aliens, implementing nationwide catch and release and providing illegal aliens with free, taxpayer-funded lawyers. Everybody gets a lawyer. Come on over to our country, everybody has a lawyer, we have a lawyer for you. That's what we need is more lawyers. Joe Biden recently raised his hand on the debate stage and promised, here give away -- he was going to give it away, your healthcare dollars to illegal immigrants, which is going to bring healthmassive number of immigrants into our country. Massive numbers will pour into our country in order to get all of the goodies that they want to get, education, healthcare, everything. He also supports deadly sanctuary cities that protect criminal aliens. He promised to end national security travel bans from Jihadist nations, and he pledged to increase refugee admissions by 700 percent. This is in the manifesto. The Biden plan would eliminate America's borders in the middle of a global pandemic. And he's even talking about taking the wall down. How about that? In a recent interview with a group of Black and Hispanic journalists, Biden said he would cease additional construction of the border wall, but he did not suggest he would tear down the existing wall along the southern border built during the Trump administration. 'There will not be another foot of wall constructed on my administration,' Biden told NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro. Biden also vowed to oppose school choice and close all charter schools, ripping away the ladder of opportunity for Black and Hispanic children. In a second term I will expand charter schools and provide school choice to every family in America. And we will always treat our teachers with the tremendous respect that they deserve. Great people. Great, great people. Joe Biden claims he has empathy for the vulnerable. Yet the party he leads supports the extreme late-term abortion of defenseless babies right up until the moment of birth. Democrat leaders talk about moral decency, but they have no problem with stopping a baby's beating heart in the ninth month of pregnancy. Democrat politicians refuse to protect innocent life and then they lecture us about morality and saving America's soul. Tonight we proudly declare that all children born and unborn have a God-given right to life. During the Democrat Convention, the words 'under God' were removed from the Pledge of Allegiance, not once, but twice. We will never do that. But the fact is, this is where they're coming from. Like it or not. This is where they're coming from. If the left gains power they will demolish the suburbs, confiscate your guns and appoint justices who will wipe away your Second Amendment and other constitutional freedoms. Biden is a trojan horse for socialism. If Joe Biden doesn't have the strength to stand up to wild-eyed Marxists like Bernie Sanders and his fellow radicals, and there are many, there are many, many, we see them all the time, it's incredible, actually, then how is he ever going to stand up for you? He's not. The most dangerous aspect of the Biden platform is the attack on public safety. The Biden-Bernie manifesto calls for abolishing cash bail, immediately releasing 400,000 criminals onto the streets and into your neighborhoods. When asked if he supports cutting police funding, Joe Biden replied, 'Yes, absolutely.' When Congresswoman Ilhan Omar called the Minneapolis Police Department a cancer that is rotten to the root, Biden wouldn't disavow her support and reject her endorsement. He proudly displayed it shortly later on his website. Displayed it in big letters. Make no mistake, if you give power to Joe Biden, the radical left will defund police departments all across America. They will pass federal legislation to reduce law enforcement nationwide. They will make every city look like Democrat-run Portland, Oregon. No one will be safe in Biden's America. My administration will always stand with the men and women of law enforcement. Every day police officers risk their lives to keep us safe. And every year many sacrifice their lives in the line of duty. One of these incredible Americans was Detective Miosotis Familia. She was part of a team of American Heroes called the NYPD, or New York's finest, who I was very, very proud to get their endorsement just the other day. Great people. Great, great people. If they were allowed to do their job. You'd have no crime in New York. Rudy Giuliani knows that better than anybody. Thank you, Rudy. Three years ago on the 4th of July weekend, Detective Familia was on duty in her vehicle when she was ambushed just after midnight and murdered by a monster who hated her purely for wearing the badge. Detective Familia was a single mom. She recently asked for the night shift so she could spend more time with her kids. Two years ago, I stood in front of the U.S. capitol alongside those beautiful children and held their grandmother's hand as they mourned their terrible loss. And we honored detective Familia's extraordinary life. It was extraordinary. Detective Familia's three children are with us this evening, Genesis, Peter, Delilah, we are so grateful to have you here tonight. Thank you very much. I promise you that we will treasure your mom in our memories forever. We must remember that the overwhelming majority of police officers in this country, and that's the overwhelming majority, are noble, courageous and honorable. We have to give law enforcement, our police, back their power. They are afraid to act. They are afraid to lose their pension. They are afraid to lose their jobs. And by being afraid, they are not able to do the job that they so desperately want to do for you. And those who suffer most are the great people who they protect and who they want to protect at an even higher level. When there is police misconduct, the justice system must hold wrongdoers fully and completely accountable, and it will. But we can never have a situation where things are going on as they are today, we must never allow mob rule. We can never allow mob rule. In the strongest possible terms the Republican party condemns the rioting, looting, arson and violence we have seen in Democrat-run cities all, like Kenosha, Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago and New York, many others, Democrat-run. There's violence and danger in the streets of many Democrat-run cities throughout America. This problem could easily be fixed if they wanted to. Just call, we're ready to go in. We'll take care of your problem in a matter of hours. Just call. We have to wait for the call. It's too bad we have to, but we have to wait for the call. We must always have law and order. All federal crimes are being investigated, prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law. When the anarchists started ripping down our statues and monuments, right outside, I signed an order immediately. 10 years in prison, and it was a miracle, it all stopped. No more statues. They said, that's just too long, as they looked at a statue. I think we'll rip it down. Then they said 10 years in prison I think that's too long, let's go home. During their convention Joe Biden and his supporters remained completely silent about the rioters and criminals spreading mayhem in Democrat-run cities. They never even mentioned it during their entire convention. Never once mentioned. Now they're starting to mention it because their poll numbers are going down like a rock in water. It's too late, Joe. In the face of left-wing anarchy and mayhem in Minneapolis, Chicago and other cities, Joe Biden's campaign did not condemn it. They donated to it. At least 13 members of Joe Biden's campaign staff donated to a fund to bail out vandals, arsonists, anarchists, looters and rioters from jail. Here tonight is the grieving family of retired police captain David Dorn, a 38-year veteran of the St. Louis Police Department, a great man and a highly respected man by all. In June, Captain Dorn was shot and killed as he tried to protect a store from rioters and looters, or as the Democrats would call them, peaceful protesters. They call them peaceful protesters. We're honored to be joined tonight by his wonderful wife Ann and beloved family members Brian and Kielen. To each of you, we will never forget the heroic legacy of Captain David Dorn. Thank you very much for being here. Thank you. Thank you very much. Great man. Great man. As long as I am president, we will defend the absolute right of every American citizen to live in security, dignity and peace. If the Democrat Party wants to stand with anarchists, agitators, rioters, looters and flag burners, that is up to them. But I, as your president, will not be a part of it. The Republican Party will remain the voice of the patriotic heroes who keep America safe and salute the American flag. Last year over 1,000 African-Americans were murdered as a result of violent crime in just four Democrat-run cities. The top 10 most dangerous cities in the country are run by Democrats and have been for many decades. Thousands more African-Americans are victim and victims of violent crime in these communities. Joe Biden and the Left ignore these American victims. I never will. If the Radical Left takes power, they will apply their disastrous policies to every city, town and suburb in America. Just imagine if the so-called peaceful demonstrators in the streets were in charge of every lever of power in the U.S. government, just think of that. Liberal politicians claim to be concerned about the strength of American institutions. But who exactly is attacking them? Who is hiring the radical professors, judges and prosecutors? Who is trying to abolish immigration enforcement and establish speech codes designed to muzzle dissent. In every case attacks on American institutions are being waged by radical left. Always remember they're coming after me because I am fighting for you. That's what's happening. And it's been going on from before I even got elected. And remember this, they spied on my campaign and they got caught. Let's see now what happens. We must reclaim our independence from the Left's repressive mandates. Americans are exhausted trying to keep up with the latest lists of approved words and phrases. And the ever-more restrictive political decrees. Many things have a different name now. And the rules are constantly changing. The goal of cancel culture is to make decent Americans live in fear of being fired, expelled, shamed, humiliated and driven from society as we know it. The far Left wants to coerce you into saying what you know to be false and scare you out of saying what you know to be true. Very sad. But on November 3rd, you can send them a very thundering message they will never forget. Joe Biden is weak. He takes his marching orders from liberal hypocrites who drive their cities into the ground while fleeing far from the scene of the wreckage. These same liberals want to eliminate school choice while they enroll their children in the finest private schools in the land. They want to open our borders while living in walled-off compounds in communities in the best neighborhoods in the world. They want to defund the police while they have armed guards for themselves. This November we must turn the page forever on this failed political class. The fact is I'm here -- what's the name of that building? But I'll say it differently. The fact is we're here and they're not. To me one of the most beautiful buildings anywhere in the world, it's not a building, it's a home, as far as I'm concerned. It's not even a house, it's a home. It's a wonderful place, with an incredible history. But it's all because of you. Together we will write the next chapter of the great American story. Over the next four years we will make America into the manufacturing superpower of the world. We will expand opportunity zones. Thank you, Tim Scott. Bring home our medical supply chains, and we will end our resilience for bad things, we will go right after China. We will not rely on them one bit. We're taking our business out of China. We are bringing it home. We want our business to come home. We will continue to reduce taxes and regulations at levels not seen before. We will create 10 million jobs in the next ten months, and it will be higher than that. We will hire more police, increase penalties for assaults on law enforcement, and surge federal prosecutors into high-crime communities. We will ban deadly sanctuary cities and ensure that federal healthcare is protected for American citizens, not for illegal aliens. We will have strong borders. And I've said for years, without borders we don't have a country. Don't have a country. Strike down terrorists who threaten our people, and keep America out of endless and costly foreign wars. We will appoint prosecutors, judges, justices who believe in enforcing the law, not enforcing their own political agenda -- which is illegal. We'll ensure equal justice for citizens of every race, religion, color and creed. We will uphold your religious liberty and defend your Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. And if we don't win, your Second Amendment doesn't have a chance. I can tell you that. I have totally protected it. We will protect Medicare and Social Security. We will always and very strongly protect patients with pre-existing conditions. And that is a pledge from the entire Republican Party. Thank you, Kevin. We will end surprise medical billing; require price transparency, and further reduce the costs of prescription drugs and health insurance premiums. They're coming way down. We will greatly expand energy development, continuing to remain the number one in the world and keep America energy-independent. And for those of you that still drive a car, look how low your gasoline bill is. You haven't seen that in a long time. We will win the race to 5G and build the world's best cyber and missile defense, already under construction. We will fully restore patriotic education to our schools and always protect -- we will always, always protect free speech on college campuses. 'Teach American Exceptionalism' is one of two bullet points under 'Education' listed in a White House press release covering 'Trump's 2nd Term Agenda.' The other is 'Provide School Choice To Every Child In America.' And we put a very big penalty in -- if they do anything having to do with your free speech, colleges have to pay a tremendous, tremendous financial penalty. And again it's amazing how open they've been lately. We will launch a new age of American ambition in space. America will land the first woman on the moon, and the United States will be the first nation to plant its beautiful flag on Mars. This is the unifying national agenda that will bring our country together. So tonight I say to all Americans, this is the most important election in the history of our country. There has never been such a difference between two parties or two individuals in ideology, philosophy or vision than there is right now. Our opponents believe that America is a depraved nation. We want our sons and daughters to know the truth. America is the greatest and most exceptional nation in the history of the world. Our country wasn't built by cancel culture, speech codes and soul-crushing conformity. We are not a nation of timid spirits. We are a nation of fierce, proud and independent American patriots. We're a nation of pilgrims, pioneers, adventurers, explorers and trailblazers who refuse to be tied down, held back, or in any way reined in. And we have steel in our spines and grit in their souls and fire in their hearts. There is no one like us on earth. I want every child in America to know that you are part of the most exciting and incredible adventure in human history. No matter where your family comes from, no matter your background in America, anyone can rise, with hard work, devotion and drive, you can reach any goal and achieve every ambition. Our American ancestors sailed across the perilous ocean to build a new life on a new continent. They braved the freezing winters, crossed the raging rivers, scaled the rocky peaks, trekked the dangerous forests, and worked from dawn until dusk. These pioneers didn't have money. They didn't have fame. But they had each other. They loved their families. They loved their country, and they loved their God. When opportunity beckoned they picked up their bibles, packed up their belongings, climbed into their covered wagons and set out west for the next adventure. Ranchers and miners, cowboys and sheriffs, farmers and settlers, they pressed on past the Mississippi to stake a claim in the wild frontier. Legends were born. Wyatt Earp, Annie Oakley, Davy Crocket and Buffalo Bill. Americans built their beautiful homesteads on the open range. Soon they had churches and communities. Then towns. And with time, great centers of industry and commerce. That is who they were. Americans build their future. We don't tear down our past. We are the nation that won a revolution, toppled tyranny and fascism, and delivered millions into freedom. We laid down the railroads, built the great ships, raised up the skyscrapers, revolutionized industry and sparked a new age of scientific discovery. We set the trends in art and music, radio and film, sport and literature. And we did it all with style and confidence and flair because that is who we are. Whenever our way of life was threatened, our heroes answered the call. From Yorktown to Gettysburg, from Normandy to Iwo Jima, American patriots raced into cannon blasts, bullets and bayonets to rescue American liberty. They had no fear, but America didn't stop there. We looked into the sky and kept pressing onward. We built a 6 million pound rocket and launched it thousands of miles into space. We did it so that two brave patriots could stand tall and salute our wondrous American flag, planted on the face of the moon. For America, nothing is impossible. Over the next four years, we will prove worthy of this magnificent legacy. We will reach stunning new heights. And we will show that the world, for America, there is a dream. And it is not beyond your reach. Together we are unstoppable. Together, we are unbeatable, because together we are the proud citizens of the United States of America. And on November 3rd, we will make America safer. We will make America stronger. We will make America prouder. And we will make America greater than ever before. I'm very, very proud to be the nominee of the Republican Party. I love you all. God bless you and God bless America. Thank you very much. Elizabeth native and LGBTQ activist Marsha P. Johnson will soon get a monument in her home city following a push from activists to build one. Johnson was key figure in the 1969 police raid on the Stonewall Inn, the unofficial start of the gay liberation movement. Transgender was not a word that was widely used during Johnsons lifetime, but she used female pronouns, called herself gay, a transvestite and a queen. The County of Union on Thursday announced with Johnsons family a monument will be built in her honor on the Freedom Trail near Elizabeth City Hall. In October, the Union County Office of LGBTQ Affairs will invite the public to participate in the planning of the project with Johnsons family and local elected leaders. Marsha P. Johnson's family stands on Freedom Trail in Winfield Scott Park at the site of a new monument to be built in Johnsons honor.Courtesy of County of Union Activists have been protesting in the wake of George Floyds death at the hands of Minneapolis police to remove the Christopher Columbus statue in Peterstown - a historically Italian section of Elizabeth - and replace it with a Johnson monument. An online petition with those demands gained more than 166,000 signatures. Al Michaels, Johnsons nephew, told NJ Advance Media on Friday the family picked the spot for the monument and then the county worked with them to make it happen. He said he didnt want to remove the Columbus statue in Peterstown since its part of the Italian community there. If you put a statue of a trans woman, the same treatment that theyre giving the Christopher Columbus statue, thats what theyre going to do there, said Michaels, who was born and raised in Elizabeth. Johnsons cousin, James Carey, also said he did not want the Columbus statue removed from Peterstown. He said the location for the monument of his cousin was selected because its close Elizabeth City Hall and a school, where children will be able to see and learn about Johnsons work. Let them have the statue, he said of the Columbus statue. It has nothing to do with my cousin. Two activists expressed disappointment over the decision to not remove the Columbus statue, but agreed it was a step in the right direction to finally honor Johnson. Danielle Fienberg, an Elizabeth resident who identifies as pansexual, recently protested at the Columbus statue to remove it. Its complicated there, theyre not actually listening to the residents, especially the queer and Black residents, said Fienberg, of the decision to not remove the Columbus statue. ...I dont believe he deserves a place in a city that is as diverse as ours. Kason Little, a Black Lives Matter activist from Elizabeth, said he wouldve wanted more community input before a location for the monument was put in place. She was from Elizabeth, Little said. Christopher Columbus did not even discover America. Johnson graduated from Thomas A. Edison High School in Elizabeth in 1963 and lived in the Uptown section of Elizabeth on Washington Avenue, her family said. She moved to Greenwich Village in Manhattan and was - at times - homeless, according to multiple documentaries about her life. While many credit her with throwing the first brick that started the Stonewall Riots, it has never been confirmed. She would go on to advocate for gay and homeless rights. Her body was found in the Hudson River in 1992 when she was 46 years old. Police ruled her death a suicide, but those who knew her suspected she was murdered. Her life and death was the subject of a 2017 Netflix Documentary. Editors notes: - This story was updated on Friday with information from Marsha P. Johnsons family. - An earlier version of this article incorrectly reported the Elizabeth neighborhood in which Johnson lived. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Rating Action: Moody's changes Taseko's outlook to stable; affirms Caa1 Global Credit Research - 27 Aug 2020 Toronto, August 27, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") revised the rating outlook for Taseko Mines Limited ("Taseko") to stable from negative. At the same time, Moody's affirmed Taseko's Corporate Family Rating (CFR) at Caa1, its Probability of Default Rating at Caa1-PD and its senior secured note ratings at Caa1. The company's Speculative Grade Liquidity Rating ("SGL") is unchanged at SGL-4. "The outlook revision to stable reflects our expectation the company will generate marginally positive free cash flow as copper prices have strengthened," said Jamie Koutsoukis, Moody's Vice President, Senior Analyst. Affirmations: ..Issuer: Taseko Mines Limited .... Corporate Family Rating, Affirmed Caa1 .... Probability of Default Rating, Affirmed Caa1-PD ....Senior Secured Regular Bond/Debenture, Affirmed Caa1 (LGD4) Outlook Actions: ..Issuer: Taseko Mines Limited ....Outlook, Changed To Stable From Negative RATINGS RATIONALE Taseko's Caa1 corporate family rating is constrained by the company's concentration of cash flows from one metal (copper) at a single mine (Gibraltar), variability in grade and costs due to mine sequencing, and high leverage (5.0x LTM Q2/20). The company benefits from its mine location in a favorable mining jurisdiction (Canada) and long reserve life (19 years). We expect there to be some volatility in Taseko's metrics, as changes in ore grade, strip ratio, copper prices, and the Canadian/US exchange rate can substantively change leverage. Taseko is exposed to environmental risks typical for a company in the mining industry. This includes, but is not limited to wastewater discharges, site remediation and mine closure, waste rock and tailings management, and air emissions. The company is subject to environmental laws and regulations in the areas in which it operates. Story continues Taseko's liquidity is weak over the next 12 months (SGL-4). Taseko had CAD64 million in cash and equivalents at June 30, 2020, against Moody's expectation that the company will have marginal free cash flow during this period (using a $2.50/lb copper price sensitivity, after deducting capex and stripping costs). The company does not have a credit facility. Taseko has no debt maturities until June 2022. The stable outlook reflects our expectation that Taseko will maintain copper equivalent production at about 110 million lbs/year and the company will generate marginal free cash flow during the next 12-18 months. FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS The ratings could be downgraded if it becomes more likely that Taseko will not be able to refinance its debt prior to the June 2022 maturity, the company experiences operating challenges at Gibraltar, or if liquidity weakens. Taseko's CFR could be upgraded if there the company is able to generate sustained positive free cash flow, demonstrate stability in its credit metrics. An upgrade would also require that the company generate a positive EBIT margin (-10% LTM Q2/20) and maintain total adjusted debt/EBITDA below 5x (5x as LTM Q2/20). The principal methodology used in these ratings was Mining published in September 2018 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1089739. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Taseko Mines Limited operates Gibraltar, an open-pit copper and molybdenum mine located in British Columbia (BC), Canada, producing about 130 million pounds/year. Gibraltar is an unincorporated joint venture, 75% owned by Taseko and 25% owned by Cariboo Copper Corp. (a Japanese consortium). The Company also owns the New Prosperity gold-copper (BC), Aley niobium (BC), Florence copper (Arizona) and Yellowhead copper-gold-silver (BC) projects. Revenues in 2019 were CAD330 million. 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. 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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. Jamie Koutsoukis Vice President - Senior Analyst Corporate Finance Group Moody's Canada Inc. 70 York Street Suite 1400 Toronto, ON M5J 1S9 Canada JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Donald S. 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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday urged the government to hold a conversation with students over the issue of conducting NEET and JEE amid the coronavirus pandemic and take a decision after arriving at a consensus. Various opposition parties, including the Congress, have demanded that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test and the Joint Entrance Examination be deferred due to the COVID-19 pandemic and floods in parts of the country, even as the Union government has made it clear that they will be held as per schedule with due precautions. Six ministers of opposition-ruled states on Friday also moved the Supreme Court seeking review of its order permitting the Centre to conduct NEET and JEE this year amid the persisting pandemic. As part of the Congress's day-long campaign of holding protests and voicing opposition on social media to holding of the entrance examinations, Gandhi tweeted and also put out a video in support of students. "NEET-JEE aspirants' safety should not be compromised due to the failures of the government. Government must listen to all stakeholders and arrive at a consensus," he tweeted with the hashtag 'Speak Up For Student Safety'. With the tweet, Gandhi also tagged a video of him urging the government to listen to students and take a decision only after reaching a consensus. "You are the students and you are going to take this country to new heights. Everybody understands what has happened over the last three or four months," the former Congress chief said in the video. "Everybody understands the mishandling of COVID-19, the devastation that has been caused, the economic destruction, the pain that this country has had to bear. Now what I don't understand is why you should be held responsible and why further pain should be imposed on you," Gandhi said, addressing students. Alleging that the government has been incompetent, he asked why the Centre should force anything on students. "It is important that the government listens to the students, they are wise, they have the interest of this country at heart and any decision that is made with regard to these exams is made after a conversation and after a consensus has been developed and this is my message to the government," he said. Gandhi urged the government to have a conversation with students and resolve this issue peacefully. Earlier in the day, the Congress leader tweeted, "Unite your voice with lakhs of suffering students. #SpeakUpFor StudentSafety...Let's make the government listen to the students". "Raise your voice with lakhs of worried students... Let us demand from the government to listen to the students," he tweeted, tagging a video which emphasised the party's stand on the issue that the government must take into consideration the problems being faced by the students. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the government cannot ignore the voices of students appearing for JEE, NEET and those of their concerned parents. "They are the future of our country.With the rising scale of the pandemic, is it fair to expose them to infection in this manner? Are they not our children too?" she asked. The Congress also posted videos of several senior party leaders voicing their opposition against holding of the exams. Congress general secretary organisation, K C Venugopal, had said on Wednesday that various state units of the Congress will be holding protests on Friday in front of central government offices at state and district headquarters. While the NEET is slated to be held on September 13, engineering entrance exam JEE-Main is scheduled between September 1-6. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-27 18:48:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Undated file photo shows the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force conducting a joint combat patrol mission in the South China Sea. (Xinhua) The U.S. has sent military aircraft to the region more than 2,000 times in the first half of this year alone. The U.S. tries to drive wedges between China and related Southeast Asian nations, push those countries to the front and enlist them as pawns in its anti-China agenda. Washington's malign scheme to make the South China Sea another anti-China battleground will certainly fail. by Xinhua writer Gao Wencheng BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Washington announced on Wednesday its decision to blacklist Chinese enterprises and individuals involved in China's construction in the South China Sea, further exposing its intention to foment division and spur tensions in the region. The move marks yet another one of Washington's blatant attempts to meddle in the region's maritime territorial disputes with arbitrary sanctions, an ostentatious breach of its commitment to not taking any side among related parties. For starters, China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and their adjacent waters. China's infrastructure construction on its own territory is an exercise of national sovereignty in accordance with international law. Aerial photo taken on July 29, 2020 shows the Kantan No.3 offshore oil platform and its supply ship in the northern waters of the South China Sea. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu) Seeking to justify its ill-founded decision, Washington has falsely accused Beijing of so-called "militarization of disputed outposts in the South China Sea," while trying to portray itself as a keeper of peace in the region. Yet, the truth is that the United States has sent military aircraft to the region more than 2,000 times in the first half of this year alone. That clearly shows who is posing a threat to regional peace. By rolling out such provocative unilateral actions, the White House aims to create divisions in the region. It tries to drive wedges between China and related Southeast Asian nations, push those countries to the front and enlist them as pawns in its anti-China agenda. Furthermore, the attempt of those China hawks in Washington to stoke up waves in the South China Sea reveals a deeper intent to obstruct China's development and pursue hegemony in the region. Washington's malign scheme to make the South China Sea another anti-China battleground will certainly fail. Since regional countries share a common aspiration to maintain stability and prosperity in the South China Sea, which is the only way to best serve their fundamental economic and security interests. "The South China Sea is the shared home for the countries in the region and should not be a wrestling ground for international politics," Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Xinhua earlier this month, urging all regional countries to be vigilant, and prevent the region's hard-won peace and development from being sabotaged by the United States. The 15th Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) is held in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, June 27, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu) Likewise, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said recently that the Philippines would not join the navies of other countries, like the United States, in maritime drills in the South China Sea for fear of raising tensions in the area. Meanwhile, according to Ren Guoqiang, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, relevant negotiations in the region have made positive progress. Thanks to shared efforts by all related parties, the South China Sea has remained generally stable. And since the COVID-19 outbreak, China has been working with regional countries to contain the deadly pathogen, while cargo ships and airplanes loaded with medical supplies for the coronavirus battle have been busy navigating through the South China Sea, providing a lifeline underpinned by mutual help in these troubled times. Those have demonstrated regional countries' similar stance to settle disputes through dialogue among countries directly concerned and oppose external forces interfering in regional affairs. Looking into the future, China, as it has done before, will continue to strengthen maritime cooperation with other related parties, deepen mutual security confidence, and advance joint development, so as to make the South China Sea "a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation." The Kerala man who found and returned the wallet lying on a roadside to its owner is being hailed for his honesty on social media. The wallet contained Rs 65,000 and was found by Sudhakan, an employee of Naval Ship Repair Yard at Kochi. Sudhaka took the wallet to Panangad Police Station. The cops traced the owner of the wallet, an autorickshaw driver, and returned the wallet to him a day later. PK Sudhakaran (pic 1), an employee of Naval Ship Repair Yard at Kochi, spotted a wallet containing Rs 65,000 cash on road on 26th Aug. He deposited it at Panangad Police Station. It was returned to its owner, an auto driver, on 27th Aug: Southern Naval Command, Kochi, #Kerala pic.twitter.com/KDD7fhILBv ANI (@ANI) August 27, 2020 Twitter is appreciating Sudhaka for his honesty and sincerity. Here are some of the reactions: I can't believe people like him still exist. To be honest I personally don't think I can do the same kARKHA (@Deepjit264) August 28, 2020 Credit to police too MADRASSI (@adingoyyala) August 28, 2020 Thank you PK Sudhakaran Sir for your honesty and being the source of inspiration to many to follow the path of truthfulness. Uday (@udayfreelancer) August 28, 2020 True example of Honesty is the best policy. Mukul Sharma (@Mukul2106) August 27, 2020 Well done sir with most respect Manish Pareek (@Seemanish2005) August 27, 2020 Humanity is still alive, salute to your honesty Pao Adha Pao Ka Atom - Anil () (@AdhaPao) August 27, 2020 An act of honesty is a joy forever indeed! FILE - In this June 11, 2020 file photo, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., attends a Senate Judiciary Committee business meeting to consider authorization for subpoenas relating to the Crossfire Hurricane investigation, and other matters on Capitol Hill in Washington. Tillis said on Friday, Aug. 28, he fell short of my own standard Sen. Thom Tillis said Friday he "fell short" for not wearing a mask or urging his fellow attendees at the Republican National Convention to do so. Tillis (R-N.C.) has been a vocal proponent of wearing masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus and posted a picture of himself as one of the few people wearing one during President Donald Trump's keynote speech Thursday night. But he was later spotted with his mask off in the tightly pack crowd on the White House South Lawn. Tillis' zeal for enforcing masks has landed him in hot water in the past. The North Carolina Republican, who is facing a tough reelection bid, was criticized last month after suggesting that Hispanic people wear masks less than others and said: "Just wear the mask out of respect." Former North Carolina state Sen. Cal Cunningham, a Democratic challenger for Tillis' Senate seat, called out the Republican lawmaker not telling those around him to cover their faces as a double standard. "Sen. Thom Tillis criticized folks for not wearing masks, until Washington Republicans were the culprits. His attendance last night shows North Carolinians that the rules dont apply to his colleagues in Washington and that his talk about fighting this pandemic is just that: talk," Cunningham tweeted Friday morning. In a statement Friday, Tillis said he's "stressed the importance of mask wearing throughout this pandemic and have tried to lead by example on this issue, but last night I fell short of my own standard." Cunningham and Tillis are facing in a tight race, with North Carolina playing a major role in Democrats' effort to take control of the Senate. Tillis didn't miss an opportunity in his Friday statement to make a swipe at Cunningham's tax record, which has been an attack point for both sides in the race. "The difference between Cal Cunningham and I is that I can accept responsibility for my actions, while he lies and makes excuses for his, like how he has misused taxpayer dollars for his own personal gain and broke his promise not to raise taxes on hardworking North Carolinian," Tillis said. Democratic state lawmakers pushed for an increase in sales tax to generate over $1 billion in more revenue back in 2001 a vote that Tillis has used to portray Cunningham as a supporter of higher taxes, according to Raleigh's News and Observer. Caitlin Oprysko contributed reporting. Hurricane Laura continues to make its way inland on Thursday morning. The storm hit the U.S. coastline late Wednesday night near the southwestern Louisiana-Texas border as a Category 4 hurricane, bringing 150-mph winds and an "unsurvivable" storm surge to the coastal region. The system has since weakened to a Category 2 as it moves north-northwest of Lake Charles. As day breaks over southwestern Louisiana, photos of the devastation are beginning to emerge. Below are some of the early images photographers have captured of the destruction in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Sabine Pass, Texas. City Editor Tom Roeder is the Gazette's City Editor. In Colorado Springs since 2003, Tom has covered the military at home and overseas and has covered statehouses in Denver and Olympia, Wash. His main job, though, is being dad to two great kids. WASHINGTON U.S. President Donald Trump again claimed credit for an agreement by NATO members to increase spending on their own defense during his Republican convention speech on Thursday night, repeating a consistent but somewhat misleading talking point from his campaign rallies. Our NATO partners, as an example, were very far behind in their defense payments, but at my strong urging, they agreed to pay $130 billion more a year, Trump said. And this $130 billion will ultimately go to $400 billion a year. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Trump said to applause, was amazed, after watching for so many years and said that President Trump did what no-one else was able to do. The speech doubled as Trumps formal acceptance of his re-nomination to serve as president and an argument that he deserves four more years. In it, he said that other countries had been taking advantage of the United States on foreign policy and national defense before he became president. Trump also repeated a mischaracterization of NATO members as delinquent in payments to the alliance and enlarged his role in convincing members to increase their defense spending. Under NATO commitments forged 2014 two years before Trump took office, and coinciding with Russias annexation of Crimea each ally has until 2024 to reach their goal to spend 2 percent of its gross domestic product on its own defense. Trump has used those pledges to make a vigorous push for allies to share more of the costs for their own protection. And Stoltenberg has given Trump some credit for Canada and European allies adding $130 billion to their defense budgets, on the way to $400 billion by 2024. President Trump has been very clear, Stoltenberg told Fox News in 2019. He is committed to NATO. He stated that clearly just a few days ago and also at the NATO summit in July. But at the same time, he has clearly stated that NATO allies need to invest more. And therefore at the summit in July last year, we agreed to do more to step up and now we see the results. Story continues By the end of next year, NATO allies will add hundred 100 billion extra U.S. dollars toward defense. So we see some real money and some real results. And we see that the clear message from President Donald Trump is having an impact. Trumps troop drawdown from Germany will take years, says Inhofe Under a second term, Trumps reelection campaign promises there would be more money to come. Trumps 50 core priorities, unveiled ahead of the four-day Republican convention, included vows to maintain American military might, wipe out terrorist groups overseas and stop the countrys involvement in endless wars but also a pledge to get allies to pay their fair share. Former Vice President Joe Biden and his advisors have drawn a contrast with Trump, pledging to rehabilitate frayed alliances, and Biden is thought to view those relationships more conventionally, as mutually beneficial, without Trumps transactional lens and provocative rhetoric. In a recent Fox interview, Trump accused Germany of making a fortune off U.S. soldiers, and that Germany, owed us billions of dollars, billions of dollars to NATO. Trump has said Germanys inability or unwillingness to commit 2 percent of its budget to defense spending fueled a contentious decision to cut deployments in Germany by nearly 12,000 troops and relocate some to Belgium and Italy. (U.S. defense officials insist it was a strategic decision.) Trumps former national security adviser John Bolton recently told the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag that the removal of German-based troops was a sign and not a good one of what lies ahead if Trump is re-elected president in November. He added that, Trump shouldnt get a second term. With a new mandate from voters, Trump may bear down in the Pacific, observers say. Defense cost-sharing negotiations with South Korea have deadlocked over U.S. demands that Seoul sharply increase its contribution to offset the costs of stationing some 28,500 service members to protect against North Korean threats. Trump has openly complained about the costs, and reportedly wants a 50 percent increasedown from 400 percent initially. The negotiators and the policy makers have very little latitude because the president takes a strong personal interest on these matters, and believes we should be paid more, as hed say it, to protect them, said a former administration official. So what we should expect to see is more of the same. In South Korea, its dragging into almost a full year, and its possible we could see the same thing in Japan if our request is an extraordinarily high number. Earlier this summer, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon was drawing up plans to reduce the U.S. presence in South Korea below the current level of 28,500 personnel. U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said after that he had not issued any such orders, but he did leave the door open for a future move. Workforce cuts in April could hinder US-South Korea negotiations Japans five-year bilateral deal with the U.S., which Trump has called unfair, is up for renegotiations before it expires in March, 2021. However, there are some key differences as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has striven to cement a personal relationship with Trump while Seoul is seen as more ambivalent about the U.S. presence. Its not clear yet how Abes resignation, announced Friday, would factor in. Japan, which has boosted its defense spending in the face of a rising China, plans to buy 105 F-35 joint strike fighters, which would make it the biggest foreign customer of the Lockheed Martin-produced jet. Crediting allies for purchases of U.S. military equipment is something the Trump administration has discussed as a way to meet the presidents concerns, but to no avail. Again, to him, its very transactional. What are we being paid to defend them? the former administration official said. For the U.S. to follow its defense strategy, based in great power competition with Russia and China, it cannot withdraw masses of troops over burden sharing, said James Carafano, vice president for national security and foreign policy at the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank. However, Carafano speculated that, like the plan to reposition U.S. troops in Europe, a second term for Trump could see some troops redistributed from South Korea to another location in the region, like Guam. Still, the expense of big troop withdrawals undercuts any cost-savings arguments the administration might want to make. Whats going to play into this is the transaction costs, and people cant move things around like they are cost-free, Carafano said. I find it hard to believe the benefits of moving the [Germany-based units] are going to outweigh the costs. SACRAMENTO As a transgender woman, Jasmine Jones said Californias prison system constantly put her life at risk during the 17 years she spent behind bars by housing her among men. Jones said she was assaulted repeatedly and raped three times in mens prisons. Guards mocked her identity, Jones said, and forced her to undergo humiliating strip searches that exposed her in public. They werent going to protect me, Jones said of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officers. I knew that for a fact. The only person that was going to protect me was myself. Advocates say Jones experience is common for transgender, intersex and gender nonbinary people in California prisons, where research shows they are raped and assaulted at rates far higher than that of the wider prison population. They are urging state legislators to pass SB132 by Sen. Scott Wiener, which would allow transgender, intersex and gender nonbinary people to decide whether to be housed in a mens or womens prison. Transgender is an umbrella term to refer to people who identify as a gender different from the one assigned at birth. Intersex refers to people whose sex anatomy doesnt fit typical definitions of female or male. Gender nonbinary describes people who have a gender identity that isnt exclusively male or female. In most cases, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation now houses transgender and other gender-variant people in prisons according to their sex assigned at birth. Trans women, in particular, are at such extreme risk of brutalization in mens facilities, said Wiener, D-San Francisco. We need to treat them with the basic respect and dignity that they deserve. Wiener shelved the bill last year while the corrections department met with activists and surveyed people in prison. The agency found that 52% of transgender, intersex and nonbinary people said they dont feel they can safely report violence, harassment or discrimination. Corrections spokeswoman Terry Thornton said the agency doesnt have a position on SB132, though the final bill is the result of talks between supporters and corrections officials. CDCR maintains a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment, sexual violence, staff sexual misconduct and retaliation, Thornton wrote in an email. She said the agency has updated several policies in recent years to create a more respectful environment, including giving clothing and cosmetics to transgender people to match their gender identity and directing officers to address them with their correct pronouns. Of the 102,000 people incarcerated in California prisons, 1,078 are transgender, nonbinary or intersex people, according to the corrections department. California doesnt track how many of them have been assigned to a prison of their gender identity, though the corrections department says it has fulfilled some requests from transgender people based on individual circumstances, including whether they have undergone surgery. Still, the agency has refused to move many transgender women from mens prisons, a practice that transgender people say exposes them to attacks. In a lawsuit filed against the corrections department this week, a transgender woman held at Mule Creek State Prison in Amador County said her cellmate beat her with a blunt object when she refused his demands for sex, leaving her with severe memory loss and slurred speech. The plaintiff, Fancy Lipsey, said she had alerted guards that the man was threatening her, but that they told her to handle it like a man and to stop using her gender identity to work the system. Thornton said the corrections department would not comment on pending litigation. Supporters of SB132 say the case is one example of the brutality that transgender people in prison endure. In a 2007 study, UC Irvine researchers found transgender women in prison are 13 times more likely to be sexually assaulted than men, and 59% reported being assaulted while in a California prison. Syiaah Skylit, 30, a transgender woman incarcerated at Kern Valley State Prison in Kern County, told The Chronicle she has been retaliated against for reporting assaults or asking officials to transfer her to a womens prison. Skylit, who answered questions in writing, said the discipline has included making me walk the yard with no shirt on or bra, exposing my breasts while in handcuffs. If you express safety concerns, they ignore it until something happens to you, she wrote. The mistreatment and neglect is endless. Transgender men in prison also report being harassed, though they may not want to be housed with men for safety reasons. Wieners bill would allow them to also select the type of prison they prefer. Advocates say SB132 wont eliminate the danger transgender people face in a system designed with narrow conceptions of gender, but it will reduce it. Our current penal system is very binary, said Jen Orthwein, a partner at Medina Orthwein LLP, a law firm that has represented numerous transgender people in prison and helped write the bill. The intention of this bill is to help trans people survive prison, so they can be free, she said. Trans people are not safe in prison. Theres no underlying belief that this bill is going to make trans people safe in prison. A large coalition of transgender groups co-wrote the bill, including the Transgender Law Center, TransLatin@ Coalition and Equality California, an LGBTQ advocacy group. One group has been vocally opposed in hearings: Feminists in Struggle, which advocates for those assigned the female gender at birth. Sam Esther, a spokeswoman for Feminists in Struggle, said the group opposes housing transgender women in female prisons, regardless of whether they have undergone surgery, because they were born and socialized male. Women are still suffering from violence from males, she said. People born female have rights here, too, and they are completely lost in the discussion. Under the bill, the corrections department could deny a transgender persons request to be housed with a specific gender population, if it can certify an articulable basis for the security concern. The agency would be prohibited from denying requests for discriminatory reasons, including due to a persons genitalia or sexual orientation. The department would also be required to consider other housing options, such as putting a transgender person in a single cell, with another person of their choice or away from someone they find threatening. A handful of states and cities have enacted similar policies. More states have moved transgender women to womens prisons on a case-by-case basis. Wieners bill is on the brink of passage. The amended version faces votes in the Assembly and state Senate, where it must pass by the end of the legislative session Monday or die. Jessica Christian / The Chronicle Jasmine Jones, who was released from prison in May, said the bill would be a lifeline for transgender women. She now lives in San Francisco, where she works for the Transgender Gender-Variant & Intersex Justice Project, an advocacy group and sponsor of Wieners bill. She helps other transgender people find housing and jobs as they leave prison. Jones said she constantly writes to transgender women who are still in the system. I told them all, Im not going to forget about any of you, she said. I worry about my trans sisters in there. These things that I went through are still going on to this day. Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com @dustingardiner Trump to Tackle Black Lives Matter, Riots in Speech: Campaign President Donald Trump is planning to make the riots in Americas major cities a part of his focus during the Republican National Convention on Thursday night. The president will address the unrest in this country, he will make reference to Kenosha, and he will speak about the issue, Trump communications director told reporters Thursday. He will speak about the issue also in terms of how the reaction cannot be to escalate violence, Murtaugh said. We cannot have Americans continue to harm Americans in our streets, and also in the frame, the police should be allowed to do their jobs and that he respects and admires the work that the vast majority of our men and women of law enforcement do. In recent months, in the wake of George Floyds death in Minneapolis, unrest has rocked Portland, Seattle, Chicago, and Minneapolis. In recent days, riots and arson broke out in Kenosha, Wisconsin, following the shooting of a black man who appeared to be resisting arrest in viral footage. Over the summer, Trump has attempted to paint himself as the law and order candidate in the wake of the civil unrest and left-wing calls to defund or even abolish police departments. The president said hes attempted to provide federal agents to combat a rise in crime across major cities and curb the unrest. At the same time, Trump and Republicans have cast former vice president Joe Biden as weak and ineffective on crime and rioting. The media generally has ignored or glossed over the criticism of Joe Bidens record, Murtaugh added. The best way to really punch through is if the president delivers this speech himself. Trump, according to Murtagh, will highlight some of his administrations work to combat the CCP virus pandemic. Trump will also go after his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, over his campaign strategies in the same time period. The president will also compare his record of mounting an unprecedented effort to combat the coronavirus versus Joe Bidens basement strategy of sitting on the sidelines and offering nothing but useless criticisms, Murtaugh said, adding: We look forward to a good, strong, tough speech but one filled with policy and one filled with contrast between his own record and the Democrats vision. A worker who can stay on the job only by enduring severe pain can be considered disabled, a federal appeals court ruled Friday in an Oakland longshoremans case that could apply to other disability claims. Anthony Jordan, who was then 42, suffered multiple back injuries in September 2014 when the tractor he drove to move cargo containers for his employer, SSA Terminals, was lifted and dropped by a crane. He underwent spinal fusion surgery in March 2018 and sought workers compensation benefits, saying he had been unable to work. The company did not dispute benefits for the periods immediately after the accident and after Jordans surgery, but said a surveillance video by the companys insurer in 2016 showed him walking, bending and lifting objects. Jordan, who also had a private landscaping business, said he had been in pain the entire time, and his doctor agreed that the pain was substantial. But a hearing officer and the federal Benefits Review Board, which reviews longshore cases, said Jordan was required to work as long as he could do so, regardless of pain. If Mr. Jordans financial needs compel him to work unwillingly, he has plenty of company in the workforce, the hearing officer said in a decision denying benefits from April 2017 to the time of his surgery 11 months later. On Friday, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said pain, by itself, can be disabling. The level of pain must be sufficiently severe, persistent and prolonged to significantly interfere with the claimants ability to do his or her past work, Judge Frederic Block said in the 3-0 ruling. Block, appointed by President Bill Clinton, is a senior federal judge from New York temporarily assigned to the appeals court. He was joined in the ruling by Judges Ryan Nelson and Daniel Bress, both appointees of President Trump. The court said an employees injury must be work-related to qualify for benefits, but the level of pain need not be excruciating or torturous, standards suggested by other appeals courts. Block also said an employee cannot be required to perform work that would make the injury worse. The panel said the hearing officer must review Jordans case, determine whether his claims of pain were credible and, if so, apply the standard in Fridays ruling. 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. Michael Villeggiante, a lawyer for Jordan, said the ruling would benefit West Coast longshore workers and should set a precedent for other workplace disability cases. It is a common-sense, legally sound ruling that will help ensure the safety and well-being of workers up and down the coast, said Villeggiante, who noted that his family has been working on the Bay Area waterfront for four generations. A lawyer for SSA Terminals and its insurer, Homeport Insurance, could not be reached for comment. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed his intention to step down due to his declining health, according to reports on Friday by NHK and other Japanese media. The Prime Ministers Office said the report could not be immediately confirmed, but that Abe was believed to be meeting top ruling officials at the party headquarters. The Liberal Democratic Party spokesman did not answer the phone. Also read: At India-Japan Summit next month, Modi and Abe to sign off on key military pact Concerns about Abes chronic health issues, simmering since earlier this summer, intensified this month when he visited a Tokyo hospital two weeks in a row for unspecified health checkups. Also Watch | Amid China tension, India & Japan talk business as Delhi seeks investments Abe, whose term ends in September 2021, is expected to stay on until a new party leader is elected and formally approved by the parliament. He had abruptly resigned from his first stint in office in 2007 due to his health, which was fueling concerns about his recent condition. Abe on Monday became Japans longest serving prime minister by consecutive days in office, eclipsing the record of Eisaku Sato, his great-uncle, who served 2,798 days from 1964 to 1972. But his second hospital visit on Monday eclipsed festivity for his record and has accelerated speculation and political maneuvering toward a post-Abe regime. Abe has acknowledged having ulcerative colitis since he was a teenager and has said the condition was controlled with treatment. He has not made clear if it is related to his recent health issues or hospital visits. After his recent hospital visits were reported, top officials from Abes Cabinet and the ruling party said Abe was overworked and badly needed rest. Also read: Japan PM Shinzo Abe may call off India trip amid protests in Assam over citizenship law: Report His health concerns added to speculation that Abes days in office are numbered, when his support ratings are already at their lowest levels due to his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and its severe impact on the economy, on top of a slew of political scandals. Shigeru Ishiba, a 63-year-old hawkish former defence minister and Abes archrival, is a favorite next leader in media surveys, though he is less popular within the ruling party.A low-key former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, Defence Minister Taro Kono, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, and economic revitalisation minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is in charge of coronavirus measures, are widely speculated in Japanese media as his potential successors. The end of his scandal-laden first stint as prime minister was the beginning of six years of annual leadership change, remembered as an era of revolving door politics that lacked stability and long-term policies. When he returned to office in 2012, Abe vowed to revitalise the nation and get its economy out of its deflationary doldrums with his Abenomics formula, which combines fiscal stimulus, monetary easing and structural reforms. New Delhi: Following Prime Ministers call for Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Vocal for Local, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has received the first order from Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) for supplying 1200 quintals of 'Kacchi Ghani' mustard oil worth Rs 1.73 crore, said a KVIC statement. The purchase order comes just weeks after the MoU signed between KVIC and ITBP on July 31. The supply order will be met within 30 days from the date of order, said the KVIC statement. Lauding the KVICs efforts, Union Minister for MSME Nitin Gadkari said that this would encourage local production and empower lakhs of people engaged with village industries. KVIC has stated that this order will create additional jobs at the Khadi institutions, manufacturing high quality 'Kacchi Ghani' mustard oil. It has instructed Khadi institutions to work in 3 shifts so as to complete the supply within the stipulated period. This order will generate lakhs of additional man-hours for Khadi artisans and thus encouraging local production, it added. The development is understood to have come in the wake of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's instructions to the paramilitary forces to encourage local products in order to support the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. The ITBP is the nodal agency appointed by MHA for the procurement of provisions on behalf of all paramilitary forces. Notably, the Home Ministry has made it mandatory to sell only Swadeshi products through the CAPF canteens across India. Welcoming the purchase order, KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena said this was a major step towards strengthening our village industries and empowering the local artisans. Only by encouraging local production and strengthening our village industries, we can overcome financial distress and create a sustainable livelihood for our people. At the same time, our jawans at the border will get the best quality mustard oil. We will ensure the supplies are made before time, Saxena said. The KVIC and ITBP have signed the MoU for a period of one year which will be renewed further. The next products in the pipeline are cotton mats (dari), blankets, bedsheets, pillow covers, pickles, honey, papad, and cosmetics, etc. The total value of oil and dari will be approximately Rs 18 crore. Palermo, Italy It is a warm summer night and crowds of young people flood into Vucciria, an old market in the centre of Palermo. There is excitement in the air, filled with the smell of grilled veal guts and sweet wine but there is hardly any mask in sight. Here in Sicily, we felt the lockdown, but not COVID-19, shouts Benedetta Matino, loud enough to drown out the buzz around her before having another sip of zibibbo wine from a plastic glass. Just days before September rolls in, the coronavirus pandemic appears to be an afterthought for Matino, and many others in this southern part of Italy. The region has been largely spared of the brutal impact of a disease that has killed more than 35,000 people nationwide in the last six months, almost half of them in Lombardy, in the countrys north. But that apparent complacency may not last. Official figures published on Friday showed an increase in the number of coronavirus infections for a fourth consecutive week across the country, hitting more than 1,400 on Thursday that is as many cases as recorded in May. The average age of COVID-19 patients is 29, with every region in the country registering infections following a summer during which Italians and foreign tourists were allowed to move around freely. People without face masks take selfies in front of the Trevi Fountain following a government decree that states face coverings must be worn after 6pm in areas where gatherings are more likely [Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters] The increase, however, comes along with an unprecedented testing effort: a record 94,024 tests were carried out on Thursday, a day when the number of new coronavirus-related deaths stood at just five. A pandemic spreads thanks to peoples movement, hence the increase [in the number of cases] after summer holidays and the easing of restrictions was predictable, said Pierluigi Lopalco, a professor of hygiene and preventive medicine at the University of Pisa. He warned, however, that Italy stood at a crossroads in its fight against the pandemic and urged vigilance to avoid a major coronavirus resurgence. We are in the classic phase which is preliminary to a second wave; this is [like] the fuse that is lighting, hence we need to get all the firefighters to switch it off now, said Lopalco. So many sacrifices, cant throw them away Italy, a country of some 60 million people, paid a heavy price after the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus emerged in late February, going to count at some point more than 6,000 daily cases and becoming the pandemics epicentre. In response, the government in March imposed one of the worlds strictest lockdowns including a ban on travel between regions and abroad. Shops, schools and places of worship were also swiftly closed, while people were told to stay inside as much as possible. By May, however, the government had decided to begin rolling back restrictions in a bid to restore livelihoods and revive its battered economy, especially the key tourism sector which accounts for 12 percent of the countrys gross domestic product (GDP). At the time, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte acknowledged taking a calculated risk by easing the lockdown, while last week Health Minister Roberto Speranza described Italys current coronavirus situation as a diffusion but not an explosion. Still, for those who survived but are still scarred from the first wave of the pandemic, the prospect of a major coronavirus resurgence carries a heavy mental and emotional toll alongside the health risks. Who hasnt lived through it, cant get scared, said Elisa Arcari. I dont think many [people] have heard all those ambulance sirens that I have, most [people] dont have friends who left the house to never return, added the 35-year-old, a psychologist from Brescia. The town, together with neighbouring Bergamo, lay at the heart of Lombardy region where in March, an average of about 160 people died daily. We have made so many sacrifices, we cant afford to throw them away, said Arcari, feeling angry with those who deny the threat posed by the virus. As for herself, she has not hugged her 65-year-old father since February out of fear of a possible infection. No more dancing While the government confirmed last week that a second lockdown is out of the picture, it has also moved towards imposing new restrictions following the summer surge. Travellers coming from Malta, Greece, Spain and Croatia must now self-quarantine upon arrival. Dancing in nightclubs and outdoor public spaces, meanwhile, has been banned while face coverings in certain areas have become mandatory. Every region in the country is now registering infections following a summer during which Italians and foreign tourists were allowed to move around freely [Aeroporti di Roma via Reuters] There is no doubt that the [health] system is more prepared, especially in terms of hospitals reception capacity in emergency rooms, said Massimo Galli, the head of the infectious disease department at Milans Sacco Hospital. But the question is to what extent are we able to handle the situation in terms of contact tracing at the local level this aspect is still problematic, added Galli. Before August, authorities had been able to keep the epidemiological curve under control through contact tracing, but the government in recent weeks had to deal with a much higher volume of movement. On Wednesday, health workers rushed to locate thousands of patrons of Billionaire, a popular nightclub on the island of Sardinia, after 60 staff tested positive, including owner Flavio Briatore, a former Formula 1 team boss. Approximately 3,000 people are believed to have gone through the club since the beginning of August. Looking ahead, Francesco Iacchetti, a psychologist working for the northern town of Cremas municipality, said the expected reopening of schools on September 15 is what worries him the most. I feel the health system is more ready to absorb new hotspots, but if schools have to close again [after a new outbreak], and old people who often take care of children are not available, then that would be a massive problem. Galli shared the apprehension about the imminent return of students to classrooms. Strengthening local tracing is vital, and it will especially for schools reopening, he said. (CNN) China launched a series of ballistic missiles into the South China Sea this week, according to United States defense officials, part of a flurry of military exercises extending thousands of miles along the country's coastline, as tensions with Washington over the disputed waterway continue to escalate. Beijing claims almost all of the vast South China Sea as its sovereign territory and has stepped-up efforts to assert its dominance over the resource-rich waters in recent years, transforming a string of obscure reefs and atolls into heavily fortified man-made islands and increasing its naval activity in the region. China's territorial ambitions are contested by at least five other countries, and have been rejected outright by Washington which has declared Beijing's claims to be illegal under international law. A US defense official told CNN that the Chinese military launched four medium-range missiles from mainland China on Wednesday. The missiles impacted in the northern reaches of the South China Sea between Hainan Island and the Paracel Islands, known as the Xisha Islands in China, the official said. In a statement Thursday, the Pentagon described the drills as the latest in a long string of Chinese actions intended to "assert unlawful maritime claims" that disadvantage neighboring countries. The comments follow the announcement Wednesday that the US government will impose sanctions on dozens of Chinese companies for assisting Beijing in the development and militarization of artificial islands in the South China Sea. 'Neither confirm nor deny' Senior Col. Wu Qian, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, said on Thursday that China had carried out drills in waters and airspace between Qingdao in northeastern China and the disputed Spratly islands known as Nansha in China in the South China Sea, but did not mention the missiles outright. According to Wu, the drills "did not target any country." Though China's Defense Ministry has not confirmed the missile tests, China's government controlled media made several detailed references to the launches, citing reports in overseas media. Those reports said the missiles involved were DF-21D and DF-26 missiles, both of which have been touted in Chinese propaganda as highly accurate and able to hit ships moving at sea. "China's DF-26 and DF-21D are the world's first ballistic missiles capable of targeting large and medium-sized vessels, earning them the title of 'aircraft carrier killers,'" the state-run Global Times said on Thursday, citing military observers. A separate editorial in the same outlet acknowledged speculation around the launch of the DF-21D and DF-26 missiles, saying only that the "Chinese side has neither confirmed nor denied it." The editorial added that China "must increase its actions in the waters accordingly to suppress US arrogance and reinforce the US understanding that China does not fear a war." Home to vital international shipping lanes, the South China Sea is widely deemed as a potential flashpoint for a military conflict between the US and China. Wednesday's tests come a month after two US aircraft carrier strike groups, led by the USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan, completed combined exercises in the South China Sea for the first time in six years. The US has increased its naval activity in the region in recent months, carrying out routine patrols, referred to as freedom of navigation operations. On Thursday a US guided-missile destroyer sailed near the Chinese-claimed Paracel Islands. In a news conference call on Thursday, US Vice Adm. Scott Conn, commander of the US Navy's Third Fleet, talked up the US naval presence in the region and its ability to respond to Chinese threats. "In terms of launching of the ballistic missiles, the US Navy has 38 ships underway today in the Indo-Pacific region, including the South China Sea, and we continue to fly and sail and operate anywhere international law allows to demonstrate our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and reassure our allies and partners," he said. 'High level of sophistication' China's drills, while intended to send a message to adversaries, also offer a rare opportunity for observers to assess the country's advanced military capabilities. According to Carl Schuster, a retired US Navy captain and former director of operations at the US Pacific Command's Joint Intelligence Center, Wednesday's missile tests showed a high level of sophistication, owing to the involvement of two separate military branches, the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and its Strategic Rocket Force (SRF). "This missile shot indicates China has or is very close to establishing procedures for coordinated fleet-SRF anti-ship ballistic missile attacks," he said. That echoes comments made in Chinese state media that Beijing had developed what it termed a "complete system," using aircraft, satellites and ships at sea to monitor the movements of enemy vessels and relay information to the missiles so they can adjust their trajectories during their final attack phase. Schuster also noted the missiles were fired into an area where Chinese naval vessels were likely operating, indicating a high degree of confidence in the accuracy of the missiles. More maneuvers are expected in the days ahead. Beijing announced new exercises are set to begin in the Yellow Sea on Saturday and stretch through next Thursday. Those follow at least four exercises that were underway on Tuesday, when Beijing says a US U-2 spy plane encroached on an exercise off its northern coast. "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," Wu, the Defense Ministry spokesperson, said. A statement from US Pacific Air Forces to CNN confirmed a U-2 flight but said it did not violate any rules. "A U-2 sortie was conducted in the Indo-Pacific area of operations and 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 statement said. CNN's Barbara Starr, Ryan Browne, Shawn Deng and Amy Payne contributed to this report. This story was first published on CNN.com "China test fires so-called 'carrier killer' missiles into South China Sea" Barcelona presidential candidates agree on Bartomeu vote of no confidence FC Barcelona - La Liga Victor Font and Lluis Fernandez come together Barcelona presidential candidates Victor Font and Lluis Fernandez have joined forces with Jordi Farre, another contender for the Blaugrana top job, on a vote of no confidence towards current president Josep Maria Bartomeu. Farre, who initially proposed the motion, issued a joint statement together with Font and Fernandez. "We demand the immediate resignation of Bartomeu," it read. "It's a question of dignity, responsibility and adherence to Barcelona's values." On a collective television appearance, the three candidates stated that this was not an electioneering move, but a unified wish to remove the current administration, which they believe is responsible for Barcelona's many financial and sporting problems. They also requested the collection of signatures to support the motion, which will begin next week. Bartomeu may be forced to resign if the petition, which has already been supported by a number of supporter groups, makes his position untenable. PHILIPSBURG:--- The e-version of the first issue of Growing Up Safe St. Maarten has been launched online. The magazine is geared primarily towards informing and connecting professionals working in the field of Child Protection, but also contains interesting information for the wider community and touches upon topics such as domestic violence and teaching during COVID-19. The magazine is the first initiative of the recently established Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) with the support from UNICEF Netherlands and the Augeo Foundation. The Child Protection Working Group is an inter-ministerial group, with representatives from the Ministries of Justice, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) and Public Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA). Minister of Justice Anna Richardson commends the resourcefulness of the venture. She stated, There is always a need to protect our children in all the different ways. We have to do so as a government and as a community, with our Child Protection professionals. This initiative will go a ways towards improving the professionalism and the effectiveness of operations by informing and exchanging knowledge with persons who work in the field and the community in general about what is going on and how we all can care and assist. Only by working together towards the improvement of Child Protection are we able to increase the level of our most cherished parts of the communityour children. With the technical support of UNICEF Netherlands, the CPWG was formed in September 2019, to oversee the process of the establishment of a permanent multi-stakeholder Child Protection platform. The goal of the Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) is to ensure that the formal and informal community-based child protection mechanisms on St. Maarten are strengthened, to better meet the protection and safety needs of our children. Our professionals; such as teachers, doctors, police, among others, play an important role in ensuring our kids grow up safe and reach their full potential. We supported the development of this magazine because we want to help empower and connect these professionals to strengthen the work that they do, says Mrs. Kimberly Dort Brown on behalf of the child protection working group. Augeo Foundation is based in the Netherlands and aims to provide each child with the opportunity to grow up safe. The Foundation publishes a quarterly online magazine in the Netherlands focused on prevention and a systematic approach to child abuse and domestic violence. Last year, Augeo Foundation and UNICEF NL, together with stakeholders on St. Maarten, identified ways to strengthen the child protection system on St. Maarten. Creating a series of magazines is one of the immediate actions taken to support professionals in their important work for children. It is great to work together with the professional workforce in St. Maarten by sharing resources and experiences. Developing this magazine together was inspiring. We hope that the content of this magazine inspires many professionals to promote a safe upbringing of children and fight together against every form of violence against children says Mrs. Andrea Smits of Augeo. UNICEF Netherlands has been working closely on St. Maarten with the Government, mostly ECYS and the Court of Guardianship, on a number of programmes since January 2018. The Child Rights organization has committed to another four years of support made possible by funding from the St. Maarten Trust Fund. With the additional funding, UNICEF Netherlands will continue to help strengthen childrens rights in sectors such as disaster preparedness, psychosocial support, and child protection. UNICEF Netherlands Child Rights Advocate on St. Maarten, Mrs. Suzette Moses-Burton says, We are excited that the Child Protection Working Group has been able to successfully launch the first edition of this magazine. Persons interested in childrens rights and who wish to know more about the work that is being done on St. Maarten, should take a look. The content also highlights new tools and programmes, as well as a wide range of viewpoints on childrens rights from professionals locally and internationally. Topics included in the first edition include: protecting children after a disaster, personal stories on domestic abuse, schooling during the COVID-19 crisis, corporal punishment, highlights of child-protection programs, columns and advice by seasoned professionals, and more. Funding for the production of this first issue was made possible through the generous support of the Netherlands Red Cross. The first edition of Growing Up Safe Sint Maarten can be viewed online on: undefined QUITO, Ecuador, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Monetary Fund ("IMF") announced today that it had reached a staff-level agreement on a new funded program for the Republic of Ecuador (the "Republic"). Accordingly, the IMF Condition to settle the Republic's Consent Solicitation and Invitation to Exchange (together, the "Invitation") has been satisfied. The Republic announced that it is accepting all of the Eligible Bonds validly tendered pursuant to the Invitation, as reflected in the Republic's communication of August 10, 2020. The settlement of the Invitation will occur on August 31, 2020 (the "Settlement Date"). The Republic expects the GLC Opinion Condition to be satisfied on the Settlement Date. All other conditions for the consummation of the Invitation have been satisfied. The terms and conditions of the Invitation are described in the invitation memorandum dated July 20, 2020 (as amended, the "Invitation Memorandum"). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Invitation Memorandum. On the Settlement Date and upon the execution of the New Indenture pursuant to the Invitation to Exchange, the New Securities (including the New PDI 2030 Bond) will be issued in the principal amounts set forth in Table A below. All Eligible Holders who are entitled to receive New Securities will receive such New Securities by credit to the same account at the principal clearing system from which their Eligible Bonds were tendered. All Eligible Bonds exchanged pursuant to the Invitation to Exchange will be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. The principal amount of the New PDI 2030 Bond to be issued for each U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Eligible Bonds of the relevant series is set forth in Table B below. Only those Eligible Holders who validly delivered Consent and Tender Orders at or prior to the Consent Deadline, and whose Consent and Tender Orders were accepted by the Republic, will receive the New PDI 2030 Bond. Separately, the final PDI Closing Payment (as defined in the Invitation Memorandum), which will be used to pay certain closing costs and expenses in connection with the Invitation, will be U.S.$1,060,000. For the avoidance of doubt, the PDI Closing Payment will not affect the principal amount of New PDI 2030 Bonds issued to Eligible Holders pursuant to the terms of the Invitation. On the Settlement Date and upon the execution of the Supplemental Indentures for each series of Eligible Bonds pursuant to the Consent Solicitation, Eligible Bonds that were not validly tendered in the Invitation will be modified pursuant to the Proposed Modifications. Among other things, the Proposed Modifications will provide that each series of Eligible Bonds will be modified to replicate the maturity and economic terms of the New 2040 Bond, without changing the ISIN numbers of such Eligible Bonds and without re-issuing new Global Notes. In addition, the Proposed Modifications will include reducing the outstanding principal amount of the applicable Eligible Bond such that for every U.S.$1,000 principal amount originally due, only U.S.$911.30 principal amount will remain outstanding. Table A New Securities Principal Amount New 2030 Bonds U.S.$3,701,423,865 New 2035 Bonds U.S.$8,458,864,776 New 2040 Bonds U.S.$3,403,135,207 New PDI 2030 Bond U.S.$1,004,941,992 Table B Series of Eligible Bonds New PDI 2030 Bond(1) 2022 Bonds U.S.$85.09 2023 Bonds U.S.$55.80 2024 Bonds U.S.$47.24 2025 Bonds U.S.$62.40 2026 Bonds U.S.$59.05 9.625% 2027 Bonds U.S.$61.42 8.875% 2027 Bonds U.S.$64.87 2028 Bonds U.S.$40.58 2029 Bonds U.S.$53.50 2030 Bonds U.S.$75.37 ___________________________________ (1) Principal amount of New PDI 2030 Bond to be issued for each U.S.$1,000 principal amount of the applicable Series of Eligible Bonds. * * * Eligible Holders, or custodians for such holders, of Eligible Bonds may obtain a copy of the Invitation Memorandum by contacting the Information, Tabulation and Exchange Agent at the contact information set forth below, or by download, following registration, via: https://gbsc-usa.com/ecuador. This announcement is for informational purposes only and is not an invitation or a solicitation of consents of any holders of Eligible Bonds. The Consent Solicitation and Invitation to Exchange to Eligible Holders of Eligible Bonds was only made pursuant to the Invitation. Ecuador did not register the Invitation, the Eligible Bonds or the New Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any state securities law. The Invitation was not made in the United States or to any U.S. persons except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Invitation was only made to (A) "qualified institutional buyers" as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, (B) "accredited investors" within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act ("institutional accredited investors") and (C) (x) persons outside the United States, (y) if located within a member state of the European Economic Area or in the United Kingdom, a "qualified investor" as defined in Regulation (EU) 1129/2017, and (z) if located outside the EEA or the UK, is eligible to receive this invitation under the laws of its jurisdiction. Only holders of Eligible Bonds who returned a duly completed eligibility letter certifying that they were within one of the categories described in the immediately preceding sentence were authorized to receive and review the Invitation Memorandum and to participate in the Invitation ("Eligible Holders"). None of the DEALER MANAGER, the Trustee, the Information, Tabulation and Exchange Agent, the financial advisor nor any of their respective directors, employees, affiliates, agents or representatives made any recommendation as to whether Holders should deliver their consents or TENDER THEIR ELIGIBLE BONDS pursuant to thE INVITATION, and no one was authorized by any of them to make such a recommendation. The Invitation Memorandum is available from the Information, Tabulation and Exchange Agent. The Information, Tabulation and Exchange Agent for the Invitation is: Global Bondholder Services Corporation 65 Broadway Suite 404 New York, New York 10006 Attn: Corporate Actions Banks and Brokers call: (212) 430-3774 Toll free (866)-470-3800 By facsimile: (For Eligible Institutions only): (212) 430-3775/3779 Confirmation: (212) 430-3774 Email: [email protected] Any questions regarding the terms of the Invitation should be directed to the Dealer Manager or the Information, Tabulation and Exchange Agent at their respective addresses and telephone numbers set forth on this communication. Requests for additional copies of the Invitation Memorandum, the eligibility letter or any other related documents may be directed to the Information, Tabulation and Exchange Agent. The Dealer Manager for the Invitation is: Citigroup Global Markets Inc. 390 Greenwich St, 1st Floor New York, NY 10013 Attention: Liability Management Group U.S. Toll-free: +1-800-558-3745 Collect: +1-212-723-6106 Email: [email protected] ********* The Republic of Ecuador Ministry of Economy and Finance Av. Amazonas entre Pereira y Union Nacional de Periodistas Plataforma Gubernamental de Gestion Financiera, Pisos 10 y 11 Quito, Ecuador (Financial Advisor to the Republic of Ecuador) Lazard Freres 121 Boulevard Haussmann 75008, Paris SOURCE The Republic of Ecuador Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 28, 2020 14:03 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c412510e 1 Business retail-investors,retail-sukuk,finance-ministry,sukuk,2020-state-budget,state-budget-deficit Free The government launched on Friday retail sukuk SR013 to raise Rp 5 trillion (US$343 million) to fund the state budget in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tradable debt papers, set to mature on Sept. 10, 2023, offer a fixed annual yield at 6.05 percent, slightly lower than the sukuk issued in March that offered 6.3 percent yield per annum. Investors can buy the bonds for Rp 1 million to Rp 3 billion from Aug. 28 and Sept. 23 at 31 partnering distributors, which include conventional and sharia-compliant banks, as well as online investment platforms such as Bareksa and Investree. Dwi Irianti, the director of sharia-compliant financing at the Finance Ministry, expected the government to exceed the target of raised funds as investors appetite appeared large. Our focus is deepening the domestic market through the retail bonds to allow more people to [invest] in us, so we are not dominated by foreign investors, Dwi said in a virtual presser on Friday. With no plans to issue another global bond in the remainder of the year, the SR013 issuance emerged as a part of the governments effort to raise Rp 900 trillion in the second half of the year to cover the widening budget deficit. The 2020 state budget deficit is estimated to reach 6.34 percent of GDP as the government allocates Rp 695.2 trillion for its pandemic response and has spent 25 percent of the budget thus far. As this is a government product to fund the budget and finance the pandemic response, people can invest while helping this nation in responding to COVID-19, said Lucky Alfirman, the director general of financing and risk management at the ministry. As of Aug. 6, the government has issued Rp 236.82 trillion in domestic sukuk, which nearly topped last years issuance of Rp 258.28 trillion. Aidil Akbar, a financial planner, said Friday the SR013 was an attractive investment instrument for retail investors because it offered a higher yield and lower tax rate at 15 percent compared to banks time deposits. Investors can only gain 5.25 percent per annum from time deposits and incur a tax rate of 20 percent. It can be used for an emergency fund, practical fund and short-term fund. If you have money for next years expenses that has not been spent, just put it here, said Aidil. The government raised in July Rp 18.33 trillion from government retail bond issuance ORI-017, the highest proceeds ever recorded in an online bond offering by the country. The Finance Ministry booked the figure as individual investors flocked to safe-haven assets amid a volatile financial market due to uncertainties triggered by the COVID-19 outbreak. The ministry reported that 42,733 investors bought the debt papers offered from June 15 to July 9. They were dominated by millennials, or people between 20 and 40 years old, followed by the age group of 41 to 55 years old and investors aged 54 to 74 years old. The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das on Wednesday warned banks against becoming overly risk-averse and suggested that they reframe their strategy to support sunrise sectors as well as those that have the potential to bounce back from the Covid-19 crisis. Banks need to look at opportunities in the rural sector as well as startups, renewables and logistics, among others, Das said in his keynote address at an event organized by Business Standard newspaper. Remaining overly risk-averse may seem to be a measure of self-immunisation, but it will be self-defeating as it would affect the bottom lines adversely. Risk propensity should be in alignment with the individual banks measured risk-appetite, Das said. Though economic activity has restarted after one of the worlds strictest lockdowns, banks have been cautious when it comes to lending. According to RBI data, bank credit growth moderated further to 5.5% during the fortnight ended July 31 compared with 5.8% in the preceding two weeks. An analysis of sectoral data shows that lending to medium-sized industries has contracted by 9.4% while that to micro and small sectors contracted by 7.6% in the current financial year to June 19. Das assured that RBI will not look at unwinding the countercyclical measures to stimulate demand once the pandemic is under control and will craft a cautious exit plan. Post containment of Covid-19, a very careful trajectory needs to be followed for the orderly unwinding of the various countercyclical measures taken by the RBI and the financial sector should return to normal functioning without relying on the regulatory relaxations and other measures as the new norm, he said.He said banks need to proactively respond to the challenges posed by the pandemic, including erosion of capital. RBI, in its financial stability report, said capital adequacy ratio for lenders could fall to 11.8% by March 2021 down from 14.6% in March 2020. On policy options, Das said, We have not exhausted our policy options, whether it relates to rate cuts or any other aspects of central banking. We have not exhausted our instruments or ammunition. With inputs from PTI. Science tells us that in the short term COVID-19 wont let us even hug our loved ones. And in the long term, climate change may end it all. Fight the temptation to give up on trying for a better future. Especially here in the Silicon Valley center of innovation from which the best science crafted by visionaries can create a better world. Capture this virus-driven economic and intellectual reset time to re-craft a better future. The virus will be subdued by the worlds best minds that are also learning how to confront the next pandemic more effectively. Now is not the time to accept emotional defeat. Let us take this opportunity to refocus on our long-term future. Silicon Valley and our state will continue as a magnet for the best and brightest. Lets plan to give that gathering of intellect a nurturing place from which to create the best of all worlds by using this reset time to meet the following three pivotal core challenges along with the many others facing our childrens world. Education: Californias K-12 schools were among the worlds best before Proposition 13 gutted funding. We get what we pay for. The nations richest state should be ashamed of being 27th, in the lower half of the states in the nation in per-pupil investment in K-12 education. Californias thriving corporations, so reliant on education, should offer and demand added support to help prepare our children for tomorrow. Transportation: The region has sustainable transportation master plans that must be completed to serve this centurys population influx. Intercity high speed rail, regional BART and Caltrain, local light rail and electric bus feed systems, evolving electric cars, trucks, buses and expanded bicycle networks can be funded by proposed major carbon disincentive fees. We have the capacity to move millions of those bright new Californians sustainably as we massively shift to solar, wind, geothermal and other renewable sources of electricity. Lets fight climate change by transitioning to electric power with battery storage back up, and away from petroleum and coal carbon-based fossil fuels. Housing: The regions commuter-shed features thousands of urban area stations and adjacent parking linked by rail to job centers. Place those rail stations and parking lots underground with a couple dozen acres of parkland on a podium over the top. Out of those podiums, buffered from the surrounding low-rise communities, cluster a half dozen or more high-rise condominium and rental unit towers, with 15% or so aided housing scattered throughout to avoid concentrating the less affluent in slums. Those transit villages would integrate a high-capacity underground transit link and parking and ground floor convenience commercial and community facilities (education, child care, library, community rooms, dining, laundry, etc.) with hundreds of thousands of units of more affordable residential space. Our busy high-tech workers would use transit as a horizontal elevator to work with less reliance on cars on overcrowded roads. And those tens of thousands of acres atop a thousand rail stations in the north states commuter shed, now off the tax rolls, become property and sales tax generators. The adjacent school districts, cities and counties receive a massive new tax funding source that supports the new transit villagers as well as current tax-starved local programs. By accommodating growth in transit villages, this centurys influx of new Californians will live in our developed areas avoiding urban sprawl. Precious rural watershed lands would be protected while reducing commuter congestion and air pollution. Let us use this COVID-19 crisis as a reset and refocus on a better future. We have the industry, funding and intellect; do we have the courage? Rod Diridon Sr. is Silicon Valley Ethics Roundtable chair, past chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Bay Area Air Quality Management District and Association of Bay Area Governments. Police in Corvallis are asking for the publics help in locating a 16-year-old girl who has been missing for more than a week, officials said at a Friday press conference. Ava Carey was last seen around 5 p.m. on Aug. 20 when she left her home to go to Village Green Park on the 900 block of Northeast Conifer Boulevard, police said. She never returned and multiple law enforcement agencies, volunteers and her family have been searching for her ever since. We are anxious and deeply concerned, Corvallis Police Chief Nick Hurley said. Carey takes medication that she did not have with her when she was last seen, Hurley said. On Thursday, Corvallis police activated their Major Crimes Team to assist in the search and the department has been working with law enforcement agencies from Albany, Philomath, Benton and Linn counties as well as the Oregon State Police and the FBI. We have cast a very wide net, Hurley said, noting that investigators do not believe Carey ran away from home. Carey is described as a 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 105 pounds, with greenish or hazel eyes and reddish or auburn dyed hair that is shoulder length, but shaved on one side. Police said she has a small tattoo on her lower calf and was carrying a longboard with a custom-painted design on the bottom the last time she was seen. Hurley asked for residents who live near Village Green Park to contact police if they have outdoor surveillance cameras so that investigators can review the footage. Everyone else was asked to keep a look out for Carey and to call a tip line the department set up at 541-766-7911 or use the departments online form. -- Kale Williams; kwilliams@oregonian.com; 503-294-4048; @sfkale Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. On Mondays Four Corners, Michael Brissenden, reports on the The New Space Age: The race to colonise outer space. Its not just a boom. Its a frenzy. Suddenly every government department is a space department in one way or another. All industry sectors somehow are dabbling in spaceIt truly has become a frenzy. Space academic Sixty years ago, the world watched in wonder at the dawning of the space age. Humankinds first flights into space and the landing on the moon showed the seemingly impossible was achievable. Now we are on the brink of a new space revolution. I tell my kids in a hundred years, people will look back and just think that theres absolutely nothing wrong with catching a rocket to the moon and back again, the same way my kids just get on a plane and think nothing of the technology of going anywhere. Space entrepreneur Space travel has never been so accessible. The entrepreneurial vision of business tycoon Elon Musk and his Space X business teamed with more affordable and reliable technology has resulted in a space revolution that is giving rise to a whole new world of possibilities. My vision of space is, I think sooner or later, therell be millions of people living off the planet. Therell be cities on the moon, cities on Mars and itll just become a major part of the ecosystemEverything is going to be space. Space entrepreneur On Monday Four Corners examines the extraordinary opportunities and challenges of the new space age, in which travel beyond our own planet is suddenly affordable. The benefit of everything being cheap is a lot more people can do it. The negative of everything being cheap is a lot more people can do it and that regulation, that control, just isnt there because it was never envisioned to be there. Astrophysicist Those at the forefront are grappling with everything from the inherent risk of space travel to the management of space junk. Accidents will happen, mistakes will happen. We will have space disasters for tourists, we will have satellites colliding and triggering geopolitical tensions. That is just going to happen. So its the need for society, the need for people, to make sure we put checks and balances on what that possibility is and have our policy makers and scientists think of those other things to make sure we can control it. Astrophysicist Even more challenging is that nation states including America and China are already staking their claims in this new world with designated Space Forces and a growing militarisation of space. You are seeing a recognition now that space is contested. Its not this serene, peaceful sanctuary that sits untouched by terrestrial geopolitics. Instead, its a war-fighting domain. Space analyst Where space travel was once only the preserve of government agencies, now billionaire entrepreneurs are competing to colonise the moon and to control its rich resources. Theres going to be a space race to the moon and I think its going to be a bit of a land grab. Space entrepreneur The potential resource wealth on the moon and in near-earth asteroids is huge. Whilst theres legal and regulatory arrangements to try and manage that, theres no law against it. So, its a case of how we mine the moon and near-earth asteroids, and what we do with those resources. Space analyst As science fiction becomes science fact, the challenge will be to see if humankind has learned the lessons of life here on earth. This is a pivotal moment for us to be thoughtful about how do we want to do this safely and in the right way. And in a way that reflects the best of humanity going forward. Because we cant go back and fix it. Astronaut Monday 31st August at 8.30pm on ABC. The Bella twins, 36, welcomed two sons just a day apart on July 31 and August 1. And now Nikki and Brie Bella are getting real about post-partum life, showcasing their post-baby bodies on Instagram, Thursday. They both posed for at-home selfies in their bras and underwear, just a day after opening up about their side-by-side journey. Be proud: Brie Bella joined her sister Nikki in showing their post-baby bodies just weeks after giving birth, in posts to Instagram on Thursday, Brie told followers to 'be proud' of their bodies Brie posed in a black bra and high waist grey boy shorts while lounging in her bed. The new mother-of-two went fresh faced as she rested her hand on top of her still slightly round belly. 'Lets be proud of our bodies and be open and honest about the process,' she wrote in the caption. 'So future moms can feel more prepared too!' Brie, 36, delivered baby Buddy with her husband Daniel Bryan on August 1, and they are also parents to daughter Birdie, three. Same, but different: Nikki wore the same grey boy shorts as her twin, but opted for a cotton green bralette. 'Its so important as mamas to take care of ourselves after birth and feel proud of our bodies and its strengths,' she captioned the photo Meanwhile, Nikki also posed on her bed, in a bit more sultry position on her side. She wore the same grey boy shorts as her twin, but opted for a cotton green bralette. 'Its so important as mamas to take care of ourselves after birth and feel proud of our bodies and its strengths,' she captioned the photo. Nikki welcomed her first child, son Matteo, just 22 hours before her sister Brie gave birth on July 31. So sweet: The WWE champion sisters, covered the new issue of People cradling their new baby boys after giving birth within a day of each other She and fiance Artem Chigvintsev, who she announced her engagement to earlier this year. The WWE champion sisters, covered the new issue of People cradling their new baby boys after giving birth within a day of each other. While Buddy is Brie's second child, Nikki the first-time mother told People: 'I've been up since 3 a.m., but this is what I've wanted my whole life. The fact that he's here - I'm just so in love and happy.' Her twin sister chimed in: 'That's what happens when you're on an infant schedule. But like Nikki said, the love is just so overpowering that even though you're so tired, that bliss just takes over.' Side by side: The two couples and Birdie went into lockdown together amid the coronavirus pandemic and the Bella twins got to experience pregnancy in tandem Calling the newborns 'calm and patient' she dished: 'We're the wild ones and very feisty. Our little boys don't have our personalities yet. Birdie does. Birdie is our mini.' Meanwhile Artem, who rose to fame as a pro hoofer on Dancing With The Stars, proposed to Nikki in France last November. The two couples and Birdie went into lockdown together amid the coronavirus pandemic and the Bella twins got to experience pregnancy in tandem. Brie announced her new baby's birth on Instagram a day after it occurred and shared: 'Its a BOY!!!' while not revealing his name or face. Welcome to the world: Brie, 36, delivered baby Buddy with her husband Daniel Bryan on August 1, and they are also parents to daughter Birdie, three Baby mine: Meanwhile Nikki waited to declare she had given birth until this Wednesday, the day that her joint People cover with Brie and the babies dropped She debuted both in the latest People magazine, dishing that her baby's name is Buddy Dessert and explaining that she had a cesarean. After the People cover went public Brie also posted her own picture of her baby to Instagram, captioning: 'Hi I'm Buddy.' Nikki's plan had been to get induced exactly a week ahead of her August 6 due date as her blood pressure had the doctors concerned, but her water broke at the doctor's office on July 30. 'We barely had bags packed. I labored for 22 hours, and I pushed for two hours while wearing a mask because of COVID-19. It was 118 degrees in Phoenix, and our room wouldn't get colder than 76 degrees, so I was burning hot the whole time.' Happy couple: Brie also has a three-year-old daughter called Birdie with her husband and former WWE co-star Daniel Bryan, whom she married in 2014 Spouses to be: Nikki, 36, welcomed her son Matteo on July 31 with fiance Artem Chigvintsev whom she is pictured with last July Brie revealed: 'I was trying to have a VBAC [a vaginal birth after a previous cesarean section] because I had an emergency c-section with Birdie, but I forgot I make stubborn babies, and they don't like to come out. The result was that she was booked in for a cesarean on August 1 and that she was, she said in fun, 'upset' that Nikki had Matteo before she could give birth. 'When Matteo came on the 31st, I was like: "No matter what, my baby is coming at 9 a.m. tomorrow." We didn't know it was a boy yet,' she noted. 'This experience was so different from my last - just to walk into a c-section and be completely alert. When they pulled out Buddy, they put down the curtain, and my husband was like: "Oh, I got a boy!" We were really overwhelmed with joy.' She found: 'Buddy loves kicking. I actually was really nervous, because everyone's like: "If you have a good baby, you're going to have a really bad one." I was like: "Well, Birdie was so good. So here comes my wild one." He's calmer than what Birdie was.' State Secretariat for Migration Bern-Wabern, 28.08.2020 - As of 31 August, it will no longer be possible to enter Switzerland from a high-risk country on a transit flight via a non-high-risk country. However, passengers travelling from a non-high-risk country will be able to enter Switzerland even if they have a stopover in a high-risk country, provided they do not leave the transit area of the airport. Until now, it has been possible to circumvent the entry restrictions by travelling via airports in countries not on the high-risk list. Despite the coronavirus, Swiss and EU/EFTA nationals can currently enter Switzerland from any country in the world. However, depending on the country they are travelling from, they may be required to go into quarantine as ordered by the Federal Office of Public Health FOPH. There are no longer any entry restrictions for travellers within the Schengen Area and from EU member states. Switzerland gradually relaxed the entry restrictions from mid-May onwards. Most countries outside the Schengen Area remain on the list of high-risk countries. It is still not possible to enter Switzerland from these countries in the vast majority cases. Country of departure now counts, not stopover country Until now, the decisive factor for air travellers from high-risk countries was the country of departure of the flight carrying a person into Switzerland. The country of departure of any previous connecting flights was immaterial. For example, a third-country national was able to fly to Switzerland from a high-risk country such as the USA via Canada still respecting the quarantine requirements because Canada is not listed in the COVID-19 Ordinance 3 as a high-risk country. Because the USA is considered a high-risk country, it was not possible to enter Switzerland on a direct flight from Washington or Chicago. Under the new rules, which apply from 31 August, the country of departure, not the stopover country, determines whether travellers may enter Switzerland. For example, it is no longer possible for third-country nationals to fly to Switzerland from the USA via Toronto. This new regulation aims to prevent people circumventing the entry requirements by travelling in transit via countries not on the high-risk list. Conversely, air passengers from third countries on the list of exceptions in the COVID-19 Ordinance 3, such as Japan, Australia or New Zealand, may enter Switzerland even if they have to change planes in a country on the high-risk list, such as Turkey, because no direct flights are available. The only condition is that they do not leave the international transit area in the airport in which they stop over i.e. they do not actually enter the high-risk country. Address for enquiries State Secretariat for Migration, medien@sem.admin.ch Publisher State Secretariat for Migration https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home.html Barcelona claim Atletico Madrid enquired first about re-signing Griezmann FC Barcelona - La Liga Blaugrana maintain forward is not for sale Barcelona are adamant that it was Atletico Madrid who asked first about Antoine Griezmann's availability for transfer. The Catalans were understood to have originally proposed a swap deal between the French forward and Atleti star Joao Felix, but they have denied they were the instigators. Instead they claim that Los Rojiblancos initially made advances for Griezmann weeks ago, just one year after selling him to Barcelona. Ronald Koeman is said to want Griezmann in his squad next term, and the Frenchman doesn't want to leave the Camp Nou either. Orangefield ISD became the latest school in the region Friday to announce further delays in reopening schools, both virtually and in-person, as administrators return to campuses to assess the damage and thousands across the region remain without power. Like many members of out community, the districts facilities received damages from the storm and our electricity has not yet been restored, a statement from the district said. We are currently mitigating these damages to return to school quickly and safely. The district will remain closed all of next week, Aug. 31-Sept. 4, including all extracurricular activities and related functions. Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD received significant damage from the storm, according to a letter from Superintendent Stacey Brister to parents and staff. We are working with our insurance company, Entergy, and preparing our buildings to safely return to school, she said in the letter. Because of this, LCM will remain closed for the week of August 31st through September 4th. With power and internet outages, the district will not transition to virtual learning at this time. The District will re-evaluate each week to determine when a return-to-school date will be decided, Brister said. We must have operational utilities for students and staff to safely return. All sporting events have been canceled for LC-M, and all gyms and facilities will remain closed. Lamar State College Orange is urging students to stay safe and focus on securing housing and essentials and not worry about classes right now. A plan for a return to campus will be released next week. Damage to the LSCO campus includes broken windows, a toppled oak tree and damage to the siding of several buildings. The emergency response team is currently completing a full assessment. Vidor ISD retained minimal damage to campus facilities, but will also delay returning to campus until Sept. 7. Overall the district facilities were fine, Superintendent Jay Killgo told The Enterprise. Some damage to awnings and a little roof damage, but overall very good. The main reason for the closures remain the ongoing issues with power throughout the region, Killgo said. West Orange Cove CISD will make a decision late next week on the status of moving forward, but will remain closed at least until next week. Bridge City ISD also sustained an unspecified amount of damage to campus facilities, along with power outages. They will also release details at the end of next week about a plan for returning to campus. Port Neches-Groves ISD is without power for the majority of their campuses, and but did not receive any significant damage. We only have two facilities with power, and everything else is without, Assistant Superintendent Julie Gauthier said. Until we have power for 24 hours, we do not plan to return to campus. We are thankful that power is the only issue we are facing right now. Trees around Groves Elementary school were seen uprooted, and split down the side Thursday morning after the storm. Beaumont ISD said in a message to parents Thursday that the district tentatively planned on returning to virtual classes on Monday contingent upon restoration of power, and was also undergoing damage assessment Thursday afternoon. Lamar University, which received minimal damage is still undergoing assessments before evacuated students return to campus. Once weve completed our thorough inspection of campus well announce a plan to bring students back on campus, University spokesperson Shelly Vitanza said. About 45 LU students are currently being housed at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. This post will be updated. isaac.windes@hearstnp.com twitter.com/isaacdwindes Standard Chartered Bank Ghana has rewarded its clients who have subscribed and used the banks digital banking platform - SC Mobile App, with free 3 months premium subscription on Boomplay Music and shopping vouchers on Jumia. The winners were part of a promotion where customers were encouraged to open accounts on SC Mobile and enjoy the power of seamless, convenient and secure banking. The partnership between Standard Chartered Bank Ghana, Boomplay Music and Jumia was as a response to the recent surge in the consumption of social and digital media by many Ghanaians who are staying more at home to protect themselves from the COVID pandemic. Star actress and Standard Chartered SC Mobile ambassador Joselyn Dumas shared how simple and easy their lives have become with the usage of the app as they presented the awards to the winners. Commenting on the initiative, Head Products & Segments, Retail Banking, Standard Chartered Bank, Bossman Kwapong, said: We recognize that digital lifestyles and e-commerce are the new normal. These rewards represent just a fraction of the goodness that comes with using SC Mobile. We continue to encourage all Ghanaians to sign up to experience real digital banking. SC Mobile was launched in 2019 to fulfill the banks determination to provide the best digital lifestyle for clients. It has been designed with continuous feedback from clients, incorporating innovative technology to allow clients to execute all banking activities from a mobile device. A year after its launch, SC Mobile has recorded remarkable growth nationwide, due to its many functionalities that allow users to bank on the go, transact cardless cash transfers, perform local and international fund transfers, pay bills and send money while gaining access to a functional service request center. 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 founders of the nonprofit Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center in Poway each remember the moment they knew where life was taking them. For Program Director Allie Sarnataro it was while she was volunteering 15 years ago at another equestrian therapy center. The very first child who came in was in a wheelchair and could barely pull herself up. We put her on the horse and she was sitting up tall, steering, laughing, Sarnataro said. It blew my mind. I knew this is what I needed to do with my life. For Katie Cram, the centers equine specialist, it was years ago, after watching a boy at a riding center being passed from one instructor to another because they couldnt stand his attitude. Advertisement He was super smart but had zero filter and came off as .. rude and a know-it-all she said. He hated coming to the lessons at first. Cram said she continued working with the boy and, over time, a huge change occurred he bonded with a horse and his lessons became the favorite part of his week. Realizing I could take a kid and make it entertaining for him and teach him to have a connection with horses like I had growing up I thought, yes, this is what I want to do, she said. For Wayne Jackson, Ride Aboves executive director, it came about five years ago while he was finishing up a 20-year career with the U.S. Marine Corps. After several tours in Iraq where he became involved in a charity that helped child refugees he began volunteering at a North County horse center where he met Cram and Sarnataro. He was typically there every Thursday, but had to miss a few months because of work. When he returned, he had what seemed like a typical session with one of his regular students. That evening my phone started to blow up, Jackson said. The childs mother had posted on Facebook a description of her normally emotionless son, who on the drive home from the riding center was smiling from ear to ear. He told his mother today was the best day because Wayne was back. For him to be able to feel an emotion, process it, show the emotion on his face, explain what he was feeling and why he had it it was a huge thing, Jackson said. That was it, the hook was set for me. This was what I was going to do. The trio formed Ride Above in 2014 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, with the goal of helping a wide variety of special-need students at the lowest price possible, and showing that lessons are about so much more than just riding a horse. Theyre now hoping to expand the organization to serve more students. The center in Poways Sycamore Canyon, on property donated by the Rolling Hills Boarding Stable has 37 students who take four or five lessons monthly. When another therapeutic riding center in the area recently shut down, Ride Aboves waiting list mushroomed. Jackson and his colleagues are trying to raise money so they accommodate the growing need. Every time a butt hits a saddle it costs us a little bit over $90 and we only charge $47, Jackson said. The rest of it we make up with direct public support, fundraising and I beg shamelessly. The center has a policy that everyone whose doctor says it will not hurt them physically to ride will be accepted regardless of behavior, weight or age. They help students with severe and not so severe mental and physical disabilities. Their youngest client is three and their oldest is 70, though their website says they serve students from 2 to 102. Holly Baltera said her 8-year-old daughter Lauren, who is autistic and non-verbal, began coming to the center in November and has loved it from her first lesson. Things she never thought she would do shes dong, Baltera said. She just loves it. Her face is grinning from side to side. She cant get enough of it. Its amazing. So amazing that the family has doubled Laurens monthly lessons to eight. She has a bond with the horse and the people and the place, Baltera said. They are extremely cautious here. You know they are going to take care of the most important things. Its a great group of people here. Mara Penick brings her 27-year-old daughter, Kimberly, to the center once a week. Kimberly is deaf, weighs just 58 pounds, and suffers from various ailments that affect her balance. Like many of the students, it takes a team of instructors and volunteers to accompany her on a ride one leading the horse, two on each side, a sign-language interpreter and others. When she comes she feels really special, Penick said. This is one of the best nonprofits youll ever find. Almost all are volunteers and they do it because they have such big hearts. Ride Above is hoping for corporate sponsorship and encourages private donations. Jackson said more money will help them teach more students and perhaps to even lower the prices more. To learn more about Ride Above visit radtrc.org or call 858-349-1692 | Email: Katie@radtrc.org jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones Their World War II settings are what make these five titles obvious companions. But their tributes to family are what strongly connect them. All five commemorate the generational and lateral bonds that sustain children across the globe, and that are all too easily broken. Dip into these very different books and youll find resentment and reconciliation between siblings, heartbreak as extended families are obliterated, strength as old men open their homes to grandchildren and joy as a new generation is brought into the world. Youll be transported to New York, London, France, Cuba, Poland, Russia, Turkestan; youll weep at the shocking randomness by which lives are suddenly torn apart. But youll come away convinced that in times of crisis those who love us or who do their best to love us are the key to our survival. THE SUMMER WE FOUND THE BABY By Amy Hest 181 pp. Candlewick. $16.99. (Ages 10 and up) Amy Hest gently and expertly explores these themes in The Summer We Found the Baby. The story takes place on the American home front in an undisclosed year and is related by three instantly engaging narrators: 11-year-old Julie and 6-year-old Martha Sweet, summering in Belle Beach, Long Island, and their neighbor 12-year-old Bruno Ben-Eli, son of the local grocer. The baby of the title turns up on the doorstep of the new childrens library on the day of a gala celebrating its opening, and the rest of the summer is remembered in breezy flashbacks as the three narrators chase one another around trying to do whats best for the mysterious and patient infant in the basket. The characters are exuberant and full of personality, but the whiff of tragedy in the background is genuine: The Sweets mother is dead and Brunos adored older brother Ben is serving his country in the Pacific. The reality of combat is never far away, as wounded soldiers recuperate in the nearby military hospital and the whole town participates in all-too-frequent oceanside memorial services whenever another local boy is killed. Through it all, the novel wears its wartime and historical mantle with a summer lightness of spirit; loss never quenches its persistent undercurrent of hope. RIP TO THE RESCUE By Miriam Halahmy 208 pp. Holiday House. $16.99. (Ages 8 to 12) A leap across the Atlantic takes us to another home front in Miriam Halahmys Rip to the Rescue, as we follow gutsy Jack Castle through the bomb-strewn streets of London at the height of the Blitz. At 13, Jack lies about his age to become an air raid bicycle messenger, providing a vital service as phone lines are severed and city streets are blocked by wreckage. Rip is Jacks dog, based on Britains original search-and-rescue dog, a mixed-breed terrier who saved more than 100 lives during World War II thanks to his ability to identify survivors trapped under rubble. Appeals are being made to Minister for Education Norma Foley, asking her to step in, especially as this is her own constituency. Numbers are not clear but it is believed dozens of students from Tralee, Killarney and other parts of Kerry will now scramble to find a place in fifth and sixth year classes in other second-level schools. A number of foreign language students were already in Tralee and in quarantine, it is understood. The 30-year old Brookfield College had suffered a significant loss as a result of Covid-19, its principal told students and parents in an email on Thursday evening. Students were due to begin on September 2nd and had paid deposits for the year. One student, who had been interviewed for a place in the school two weeks ago, told Radio Kerry how he had bought his books for his coursework just two hours before receiving an email saying the college had ceased trading. Advertisement Fifth year student Jude Pearse from Ballyduff had enrolled for the two year senior cycle course and was preparing to start school next week. "I was disheartened. I was in dismay. I couldnt believe it. We sent in our application in July, he said. Students had been interviewed and paid a deposit of 1,500 on August 13th and there was no indication of a downturn in numbers. Mr Pearse is now worried that given the pandemic, most secondary schools are preparing for specific numbers, so it will not be easy to obtain a place. Local Sinn Fein Councillor Cathal Foley said this was a devastating blow for students, staff and parents, saying Deputy Pa Daly has been in touch with the Minister regarding the matter. The school was based in a rented premises in Monavalley and has garnered a reputation as a grinds and language school. It accepts students from all over the world for English language courses, including China. In an email to students and parents, principal Elisha Dowling said: The company has suffered a significant loss as a result of the Covid crisis. We have also had very few new enrolments for the upcoming year and consequently the business is no longer viable and has been placed in liquidation. Those who had already paid their fees would now be listed as creditors, and liquidators JPA Brenson Lawlor would be in contact, Ms Dowling said. Some 16 teachers are employed in the school. A query has been placed with the Department of Education. In Sri Lanka, we can boast of having the ideal condition of inclusive citizenry, where all enjoy equal status as citizens of one country. This is one component of a fully-fledged democracy. by Mass L. Usuf Views expressed in this article are the authors own The ceremonial sitting of the first session of the 9th Parliament was declared open by H.E. The President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on 20 August 2020. The President then delivered the government Policy Statement as provided for by Article 33(2) of the Constitution. Certain announcements made in the policy statement need careful reflection. The spirit and essence of some statements may not have been intended to carry the meaning in its literal sense. I would like to think it that way giving the benefit of the doubt to the President. The President is not a politician with an extensive political biography of his own like that of his brother, the Honourable Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakshe. Nevertheless, the President is surrounded by a coterie of political persons of different hues. Among them are also the ethno-nationalists and ethno-centrists. He has the support of his own kith and kin who are veterans in the field of politics. And, in an unprecedented and peculiar development, this President has also allowed himself to be encircled by an Advisory Council of Monks appointed by him to seek advice on governance. If the President is keen on good governance, it is something that deserves high commendation. Constituting the Advisory Council with a wider representation than the monks only, will provide greater credibility and facilitate the deliberation of different viewpoints. New Meaning of Majority Given this setting, it is fair to assume that certain aspects of the Policy statement may be a reflection of the thinking characteristics of the above mentioned. After all, the President is a human being and he has to depend on others as well. As a matter of interest, this column, from the viewpoint of concepts and related interpretation will focus only on the following statement made by him: As representatives of the people, we always respect the aspirations of the majority. It is only then that the sovereignty of the people can be safeguarded. Here the word, majority needs to be clarified. This word has taken an additional political meaning, pre and post, the recent Presidential and Parliamentary elections. The Presidential election campaign was run solely wooing the votes of the Sinhala people who constitute the majority, around 74%. In other words, with the expressly stated position of not relying at all on the minority votes of the Tamils (11%), Muslims (9%) and the rest others. Hot on the heels of the resounding victory at the Presidential polls, the Parliamentary election was held. The sentiment of Sinhala majoritarianism mobilised to defeat the minorities had not waned by that time and was very much intact. In his book, The Self-fulfilling Prophecy, Professor Robert K. Merton, wrote: Men respond not only to the objective features of a situation, but also, and at times primarily, to the meaning this situation has for them. (Professor of Sociology, Columbia University). At the inaugural event of his Presidency, the country heard Mr. Gotabaya Rajapakshe acknowledging that he was voted to power by the Sinhala majority. The word majority in the context of an election has evolved into a new meaning which is unique to Sri Lanka. Aspirations Are Conditional Like the President said, respect the aspirations of the majority is very good as it symbolises the true spirit of democracy. However, this is not a universal principle that can be taken on face value alone. This is why a clarification is required to such a statement. It has to be said that the manner in which the aspirations of the majority is respected is different in a country which has multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural features. In these circumstances, democratic principles demand that the majority wishes are respected within the broader framework of securing the rights of the minority. In this context, one has to be aware that the majority aspirations are not absolutely unconditional but, necessarily, subject to conditions. Ethnic And Traditional Majority One of the essential principles of a constitutional democracy is that of majority rule and minority rights. Here, the powers of government vests with the traditional majority and thus "the majority rules". This power is subjected and limited to the extent of ensuring that the fundamental rights of individuals in the minority are protected. Remember that Democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people. And, people would mean all the people which obviously include both the ethnic majority and all the other minorities. Those who voted for and against. Looking at the different status of people in various countries, some people may be called subjects. This is in an instance where people obey the command of an authoritarian ruler. For example, a King who rules over his subjects. This is a system opposed to democracy and inclined towards monarchical autocracy. Then there can be a class of people who do not enjoy equality with another class of citizens a discriminated category. This also cannot happen in a democracy since it violates the basic principle of equality. An illustration of this discrimination was seen from the recent Indian experience. The Indian Citizenship law which is 64 years old, prohibited illegal migrants from becoming Indian citizens. An amendment known as the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) was introduced to ease this prohibition. The CAB was justified on the premise that it will give sanctuary to people fleeing religious persecution from other countries. It is a very generous piece of legislation but it grossly discriminated against Muslims. Only six religious communities were identified namely Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian. For example, the Rohingya people in India who fled religious persecution from the Myanmar government will not be given sanctuary under this Bill because they are Muslims. Delhi-based lawyer Gautam Bhatia says that by dividing alleged migrants into Muslims and non-Muslims, the bill "explicitly and blatantly seeks to enshrine religious discrimination into law, contrary to our long-standing, secular constitutional ethos". If India was sincere in its efforts to protect persecuted minorities then, Muslims too, should have been included. Equal Citizenship In Sri Lanka, we can boast of having the ideal condition of inclusive citizenry, where all enjoy equal status as citizens of one country. This is one component of a fully-fledged democracy. But, for how long? Are we home and dry or a threat is looming? The latter is evidently present with rising ethno-centricism and anti-religious rhetoric. The government must take cognisance of this danger and zealously safeguard and protect its citizens from disintegrating. The idea of respecting the aspirations of the majority becomes a critical issue if the dangers embedded therein are not distinguished properly. A wrong view or flawed understanding may be justified as correct; A misdirected path may seem the correct path; There is the tendency to fall trap to the malicious intents of others; The higher one soars fuelled by the idea of ethnic majoritarianism, the farther he goes from the common touch of the lesser folks on the ground. Floating in the cloud of majoritarianism will cause to lose empathy with the others. I Can Do Anything Remember the extraordinary victory by 5/6th majority of J.R. Jayawardena in the 1977 elections. He never attributed his victory to an ethnic majority because he did not campaign on ethnic lines. Therefore, in this sense, it is grossly different from the nature of majoritarianism that is alluded to at present. However, some unsavoury highlights of his government are the deprivation of the civic rights of former Prime Minister Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the postponement of election by a referendum and masterminding the July 1983 Tamil holocaust humiliating the Tamil minority which plunged this country into a long drawn out conflict killing our own people. JR is on record saying, I can do anything except make a man a woman, or a woman a man. This statement of JR was famously written by Jean-Louis de Lolme, British political theorist in his most famous work, Constitution de l'Angleterre (The Constitution of England, 1771). He was an advocate of a constitutional form of government. Most importantly, in his work he enshrined the principle of balanced government, balancing the one, the few, and the many. A wise formula to accommodate both majority and minority aspirations. The Late former Vice President of the World Court, Judge C.G. Weeramantry once quoted Arahant Mahinda who introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BCE, who had said to King DevanampiyaTissa at Mihintale: Great king thou art not the owner but only the guardian of all this; the birds of the air and the beasts in the forest, all have equal right to it. If the environment is said to have equal rights what, then, about humans? Presidential nominating conventions are always chockablock with praise for the partys pick. Clout is more interested in the defectors Republicans who spoke in favor of Democratic nominee Joe Biden last week and Democrats who spoke for President Donald Trump this week. It wasnt a close contest. Bidens parade of GOP backers easily outpaced Trumps smattering of Democratic support. Among the Republicans for Biden were former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, former U.S. Sen. and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, and former New Jersey Gov. and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman. Then, on the first day of the Republican National Convention on Monday, three former Republican U.S. House members from Pennsylvania Jim Greenwood, Charlie Dent, and Bill Clinger endorsed Biden, joining 24 other former Republican members of Congress from 18 states. READ MORE: Fact-checking Trumps speech at the Republican National Convention On Thursday, dozens of former staffers for the last three Republican presidential nominees U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, the late U.S. Sen. John McCain, and former President George W. Bush endorsed Biden hours before Trump was set to deliver his speech to close the RNC. How did Trump fare? State Rep. Vernon Jones, a Democrat from Georgia, told the RNC the Democratic Party does not want Black people to leave their mental plantation. And Bob Vlaisavljevich, the Democratic mayor of Eveleth, Minn., thanked Trump for his economic and trade policies. U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a Democrat turned Republican from New Jersey, spoke Thursday evening. Van Drew pledged undying support to Trump in the Oval Office in December as he switched parties. Pennsylvania GOP officials shrugged off rogue Republicans in a call with reporters Thursday. They went pretty way back in history to find a few Pennsylvania Republicans to come out, said state Republican Party Vice Chair Bernie Comfort. These are folks not working in the field now, and most of them in 2016 were not with Trump and theyre not in 2020. Its old news. And its not going to move a voter. Not one voter. Greenwood, who served six terms in his Bucks County-based district and helped recruit former Republican members of Congress to support Biden, said Trumps approach to politics and policy and his personal behavior drive away some Republicans. A lot of us are not only completely disgusted with his behavior and his personality, but we dont see him as a Republican, Greenwood said. You may have some Democrats who are coming out for Trump, but its not because they dont find Joe Biden to be a regular Democrat who adheres to the party. Local 98 sues over anonymous website comments Last we heard of John Johnny Doc Dougherty, the leader of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, was declaring he has a story to tell about how he got indicted by the feds. Dougherty didnt tell that story during his appearance last month on Talk Radio 1210-WPHTs Saturday Night Live With Philly Labor show. Now Local 98 is coming after others with stories to tell. The union last week sued one of its members, Charles Battle, and his wife, Jeanette. It accused them of running two websites with variations of the name The Truth About Your Local, where anonymous commenters made loathsome, false and defamatory statements about the union and its officials, according to the lawsuit. The websites have been wiped clean. Clifford Haines, attorney for the Battles, said he was surprised Local 98 sees negative opinions as defamation, given the tumult since the January 2019 indictments. But I will be interested in hearing about their complaints, and in particular the way in which this highly visible public entity has been damaged by a few shots fired across their bow, Haines said. Im not sure they want their dirty laundry out in public, but it will be fun to find out about it. Joseph Podraza Jr., Local 98s lawyer, and a spokesperson for the union did not respond to requests for comment. Dougherty, City Councilmember Bobby Henon, and six other Local 98 officials are accused of embezzling more than $600,000 from the union. They have pleaded not guilty. Their trial is set for Oct. 26. File under: Not going to happen anyway Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner signed a pledge this week from the Justice Collaborative, vowing to not seek or accept campaign contributions from law enforcement unions. Lets review. Krasner has been in an almost constant state of verbal warfare with Lodge 5 of the Fraternal Order of Police in Philadelphia. The FOP has a banner plane message: Support Philly Police. Dump Krasner flying above Jersey Shore beaches every weekend until Labor Day. Retired Philadelphia police officers in that union announced this month that they had raised $750,000 in just three weeks for Protect Our Police PAC, to oust progressive prosecutors like Krasner. Krasner hit back last week in a fund-raising email, calling the group disgruntled retired cops who believe no one should ever challenge the thin blue line, no matter the abuse and discrimination that occurs in our communities. Clout is betting Krasner never breaks a sweat living up to the pledge. In keeping with global efforts to stem the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) will take its annual, face-to-face meeting virtual. ACR Convergence will take place online Nov. 5 - 9. Originally slated for Nov. 6 - 11 in Washington, D.C., the ACR Convergence planning committee made the decision in late spring to host an all-virtual event in response to the pandemic affecting rheumatologists, rheumatology health professionals and patients with rheumatic diseases--along with the rest of the world. In a few short months, dedicated ACR leaders, volunteers and talented staff have pivoted from our original plans to reimagine all aspects of our annual meeting, resulting in an all-virtual, interactive experience for the global rheumatology community. Our goal is to present the highest quality educational content in a way that allows everyone to participate, with the unified purpose of improving patient care." Ellen Gravallese, MD, ACR President As expected, there will be changes to how participants access and experience the meeting's content. This year, the daily educational sessions will be divided into two blocks (10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. ET and 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ET) to accommodate meeting participants in different time zones. Each educational block will include live content and time for Q&A, as well as opportunities for interaction with peers. Between educational time blocks, participants will have the opportunity to access community hubs, a unique feature that allows attendees to engage with experts and connect with peers who share the same research or clinical interests. The ACR Convergence Opening Session has also been revised for this meeting. It will be held Thursday, Nov. 5 at 2:00 p.m. ET, and will include the presidential address, recognition of ACR's Gold Medal Award recipient, ARP Lifetime Achievement Award, the keynote lecture, and the always popular Year in Review. The 2020 keynote speaker is Eric J. Rubin, MD, editor-in-chief of The New England Journal of Medicine, chair of the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, and the Irene Heinz Given Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases. Dr. Rubin will discuss COVID-19 and the convergence of infection and inflammation. Among other things, participants will have opportunities to attend special events, visit the virtual exhibits and schedule private group meetings to connect with their peers. Additionally, all content will be available on demand following the live session so attendees can watch their choice of sessions at a later time. The ACR is also honored to have Anthony S. Fauci, MD, ACR Master and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases give a live presentation on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 4 p.m. ET. Dr. Fauci, who delivered the 2017 ACR keynote address, will share valuable insights on COVID-19. "Future generations will refer to 2020 as a transformative year for education in rheumatology. We hope that the ACR Convergence annual meeting will reflect that transformation in the best possible way," said Gravallese. BEREA, Ohio Theft: North Rocky River Drive An unidentified man stole a shopping bag filled with candy at about 1:15 p.m. Aug. 23 from Speedway, 880 N. Rocky River. Security video showed the man, driving a gray four-door sedan, enter the parking lot and park. He was wearing a black face mask. The man walked into the store, pulled out a reusable TJ Maxx bag from his waist and filled the bag with candy from the shelves. The man walked out without paying, stepped back into his car and drove northbound onto Ohio 237. The store later found that 79 bags of candy were missing. Public intoxication: Riveredge Parkway A Berea woman, 29, was taken to Southwest General Health Center in Middleburg Heights at about 6 p.m. Aug. 21 after police found her lying on a path on Riveredge. Someone had called police about the woman. She appeared to be intoxicated. When asked for identification, the woman pulled business and credit cards from her wallet, then handed police her wallet and asked them to find her ID. The woman slurred her words and had a blank stare on her face. She said she was staying with her sister on Arden Avenue. Police asked the woman if she could walk to her sisters house, but the sister expressed concern about caring for the woman because she had small children in her home. Police called an ambulance. The woman fell to the ground while speaking to paramedics. Police helped her to her feet and she threw her wallet at one of the paramedics. She was given a summons to appear in court. Theft: Dorland Avenue A gray Rubbermaid Brute 32-gallon round trash can was stolen at about 8:45 a.m. Aug. 21 from a tree lawn on Dorland. Security video showed a van, similar in style to a Ford Econoline or Chevrolet Astro, drive up and stop near the tree lawn. Both sides of the van featured blue stripes and blue words. A person stepped from the drivers seat, opened the vans doors, grabbed the trash can and placed it in the van. Possession of dangerous drugs: North Rocky River Drive A 42-year-old North Bloomfield man, wanted in Medina County, was arrested at about 9:30 p.m. Aug. 23. An Abbyshire Drive resident had called police after overhearing a conversation about a possible drug deal at a house down the street. A car drove from the house, and police spotted a vehicle fitting the cars description on North Rocky River. Police pulled the car over in the CVS Pharmacy parking lot. Police recognized the passenger, who was the North Bloomfield man, and the driver, who was the mans 43-year-old wife, from a previous traffic stop. During that traffic stop, police had caught the couple with drug paraphernalia and items that might have been stolen. Police learned that the man was wanted in Shaker Heights and Brunswick, as well as in Medina County. With the help of a K-9, police found crack cocaine, several counterfeit $20 bills, two glass pipes and a metal spoon with burned residue, two digital scales, tweezers, a torch lighter and a cut straw in the car. Police turned the man over to Medina County and gave the woman a summons to appear in court. Theft: Prospect Street Two unidentified teenage boys stole several lighters at about 3 a.m. Aug. 22 from Shell, 20 Prospect. The only employee on duty was in the restroom at the time of the theft. A short time later, the boys returned and stole several vape devices. Read more from the News Sun. On Aug. 24, the Iranian state news agency Press TV published a story claiming that NATO aircraft in Afghanistan were transporting narcotics as part of that countrys lucrative opium trade. It quoted Brigadier General Eskandar Momeni, head of the Islamic Republics drug control headquarters. "Based on reliable information, planes operated by the NATO and the United States transport these illicit drugs in our neighboring country, Momeni claimed. That is misleading. The story provides no further evidence for the claim, but cites a story from Russias TASS state news agency quoting a Russian official making a similar claim. The story in question quotes Zamir Kabulov, Russias presidential envoy to Afghanistan, voicing the drug trafficking accusations. The top Russian diplomat made those charges as Moscow was denying reports attributed to U.S. intelligence alleging that Russia has been paying bounties to Taliban to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan. "Those wonderful US intelligence officers, who accuse us of different things, are involved in drug trafficking. Their planes from Kandahar, from Bagram [airfield near Kabul] are flying wherever they want to - to Germany, to Romania - without any inspections. Every citizen of Kabul will tell you that, everyone is ready to talk about that," Kabulov said. Beyond his assertion that every citizen of Kabul would make this claim, he provided no evidence to substantiate it. Another recent TASS story that raises these allegations quotes Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying: "We keep on receiving reports, including via mass media, that contraband of opiates has been organized from Afghanistan to other countries, including to Europe, with the use of military aircraft of the NATO coalition. We cannot verify these reports 100% but such reports are coming too regularly to be ignored. If military aircraft were used over Afghanistan, they could have been only NATOs aircraft and such flights could have been performed only by the military or special services. Naturally, such information needs to be probed into, first of all in the United States." Apart from citing unspecified mass media reports, Lavrovs assertion that NATO aircraft are the only military aircraft flying over Afghanistan ignores the fact that Afghanistan has its own air force. NATO has long been involved in counter-narcotics work in Afghanistan, part of which involves training local Afghan police to combat drug cultivation and trafficking. Since the U.S. became involved in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Washington has spent over $8 billion on counter-narcotics operations there. However, that does not mean the U.S. operations have been successful. For example, in 2019, the Pentagon ended a year-long program that involved air strikes on Taliban narcotics facilities after it was found that the strikes had little impact on Afghanistans drug trade. The opium trade in Afghanistan has been a major source of funding for the Taliban. In recent years, the United States has significantly reduced its military presence in Afghanistan and is currently negotiating a peace agreement with the Taliban, which controls nearly 20 percent of the countrys territory. March to July are the key months for opium harvesting in Afghanistan, which requires a large labor force. The United Nations estimates that the Talibans annual revenue from the illegal narcotics trade in 2018 alone amounted to about $400 million and remains in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Russian organized crime and state actors have been reportedly long-time key actors in Afghan drug trafficking, maintaining distribution roots via Central Asia and the Caucasus. According to recent research by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), cross-border mobility restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic reduced illegal drug trafficking worldwide. However, in countries like Afghanistan with limited law enforcement capacity, measures to counter the spread of COVID-19 may divert resources away from counter-narcotics efforts, making drug trafficking and production less risky and "providing a conducive environment for illicit activities. In 2018, Argentine authorities arrested a Russian Foreign Ministry official in connection with an earlier seizure of 389 kg of cocaine that had been found inside luggage stored at the Russian embassy in Buenos Aries. Flynt challenged the damages, losing before an appeals court in Richmond, where Judge Jay Wilkinson a former newspaperman worried about a chilling effect. To not rehear the case, he wrote in a dissent, could thwart political satire, which tears down facades, deflates stuffed shirts, and unmasks hypocrisy. Flynt then turned to the U.S. Supreme Court, which unanimously decided in an opinion written by a Republican-picked chief justice, William Rehnquist that Falwells distress over the Hustler lampoon was not sufficient to deny Flynts First Amendment rights as a publisher. Flynt and Falwell would, surprisingly, become friends and appear across the country together, debating how free free speech should be. The source of the young Falwells headache how painful can it be, given his $10.5 million payoff to give up the presidency of Liberty University? is the news media. Reporters for years have been nosing around Jerry Jr.s Lynchburg-based empire, wondering if his conduct really has been Christian. 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 New AI-based test uses X-rays to detect Covid in a few minutes UP CM Yogi Adityanath directs official to close markets for 2 days per week for sanitisation India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P Lucknow, Aug 28: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed district officials to ensure that all markets in state are closed during the weekend --Saturday and Sunday-- for sanitisation and fogging. "These bi-weekly activities are helpful in not only curbing the spread of coronavirus disease but also reducing the risk of transmission of other communicable diseases," he added. The direction came after CM Adityanath inspected the situation in state on Thursday in order to come up with a plan for systematic unlocking. He also expressed his satisfaction over the fact that the state had conducted more than 50 lakh coronavirus tests till date. Lucknow, Kanpur, Gorakhpur and Shahjahanpur districts were asked to maintain strict vigil in order to avoid spread of the novel coronavirus and hospital should have enough ventilators, 24-hour oxygen backup and other necessary paraphernalia for treating COVID-19 patients. Flight rules: Banned from flying if you remove mask & more news | Oneindia News The Chief Minister also addressed issues arising out of floods that have ravaged parts of state in the last few days. "The government has provided relief material for people in flood-affected areas," he said. The CM also said that people whose houses have been destroyed due to the floods will be compensated. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 28, 2020, 9:19 [IST] Fifty-seven years ago, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. made a plea that people be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Yet the situation remains unchanged, said Esther Lee, president of the NAACP Bethlehem Branch and organizer of an event on Friday commemorating the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where King made his famed I Have a Dream speech. We need to continue to address this as long and as much as we can, Lee said, calling racism as heightened as its ever been. More than 50 people took part in Fridays commemoration. It was held on Bethlehems Payrow Plaza on the anniversary of the 1963 speech, which King delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial before an estimated 250,000 people. The Easton and Allentown branches of the NAACP took part in Fridays service, as well, as did elected officials including Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez, Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr., Allentown Mayor Ray OConnell and Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure. We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream. We are still not satisfied. 57 years later, the work for justice continues. The pursuit of righteousness goes on.#IHaveADream #MLK pic.twitter.com/KPwDhROd4o The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center (@TheKingCenter) August 28, 2020 In an interview with lehighvalleylive.com, Lee pointed in particular to the need for police training so officers change the way they approach certain situations. She believes such training is needed more than ever after the killings of people of color in incidents involving the police this year, including Breonna Taylor, shot by police in March in Louisville, and George Floyd, who died with an officers knee on his neck on Memorial Day in Minneapolis. On Sunday, a Black father of six named Jacob Blake was shot multiple times by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Lee said she understands police have to make split-second decisions, but she sees no reason for the officer to have fired seven times at Blake, who survived but is paralyzed, according to the Blake familys attorney. We cant continue to have that happen, she said of police using excessive force. The anniversary of the March on Washington is happening a little more than a month after the death of Congressman John Lewis, who died on July 17. He had been the last living speaker from the 1963 event. Lee recalled Lewis advice in pushing for racial justice and equality: Get in good trouble, necessary trouble. We need people in general to really take part in this movement, she said. The Black Lives Matter group, theyre all out there and its all about change, but weve got to have the hearts of man to change. And we dont see that. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Sub-prime lender Amigo Holdings saw its quarterly profits sink by 83 per cent, new results show. The company, which dishes out loans to borrowers who struggle to get credit from mainstream channels, said there was 'material uncertainty' about its future as a going concern. Amigo has been hit hard by the pandemic and halted loans to all new customers except key workers as a result of the crisis. It has also granted payment holidays to 47,000 customers since the pandemic began. The company, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, saw its share price jump around 30 per cent earlier today. But, the share price is currently up 12.68 per cent or 1.52p to 13.52p. Amigo's founder James Benamor, pictured, is pushing ahead with plans to re-take control of the guaranteed loans specialist The sub-prime lender is currently being investigated by the Financial Conduct Authority over how it works out the creditworthiness of its customers. Amigo's founder James Benamor is pushing ahead with plans to re-take control of the guaranteed loans specialist and has requisitioned a meeting to remove the company's senior directors. Benamor in a tweet published late on Thursday said he had made an irrevocable bid for 29 per cent of the company at 20p a share, to be executed if he is appointed as chief executive. Benamor had stepped back from running Amigo after it listed in 2018, but has been embroiled in a public row with the companys management over strategy since late last year. Benamor called for a shareholder vote to oust current chief financial officer Nayan Kisnadwala and board member Roger Lovering, as well as to reinstate himself as chief executive. Amigo has also been battling a surge in complaints from customers and has set aside 116million for potential costs in this regard. But, the amount of cash set aside to cover costs arising out of complaints did not increase in the last quarter. Amigo said today: 'As reported at the full year, the economic impact of Covid-19, a potential increase in the level of complaints received and the possible outcome of the FCA investigation have led to a material uncertainty surrounding going concern. Despite this, the Board considers there to be adequate liquidity to support our business.' Amigo is hopeful it will restart lending by the end of this year The company said it could not provide guidance on its financial performance this year. It took 48.8million for the quarter to 30 June. Kisnadwala said Amigo had 'turned the corner' on tackling a backlog of complaints from customers who say they should never have been granted a loan in the first place. The firm is also hopeful it will restart lending by the end of this year after carrying out a review of lending processes and policies. Amigo said: 'Despite the difficulties we face, it is important to remember that Amigo serves a purpose in providing financial inclusion to those who are unable to access finance through mainstream lenders. 'This will be even more important as the country recovers from the economic impact of Covid-19.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 23:15:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DHAKA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved a 100 million U.S. dollars loan to help Bangladesh respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The loan will enable the Bangladeshi government to ramp up its testing, tracing and treatment capacity and improve the longer-term pandemic preparedness of the country. According to a statement of AIIB on Friday, Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic as it is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with a large percentage of the population living in informal settlements without adequate basic services and infrastructure. "The unfolding pandemic presents an unprecedented global challenge and has widespread and severe negative social, economic, and financial impacts. said AIIB Vice President for Investment Operations D.J. Pandian. "Through the COVID-19 Emergency Response and Pandemic Preparedness Project in Bangladesh, AIIB can help ease the significant pressures and strains on the country's healthcare infrastructure, systems, and supply chains and mitigate the risk of loss of life and suffering faced by the people," the vice president said. AIIB says all the components of support are consistent with the country's priorities and are designed to help the government of Bangladesh address the immediate health effects, and longer-term economic and social effects, of the COVID-19 pandemic, while serving the dual purpose of strengthening national systems to better respond to future disease outbreaks. Enditem A 92-year-old woman in the Philippines survived a severe bout of Covid-19 condition staying at home with her grandchildren taking care of her. Antonina Gargoles contracted the virus on July 23 when she suffered weakness and difficulty breathing on August 6. Kind doctors visited her home in Himamaylan City in Negros Oriental to check on her and found that she also had a lung diseases that was blocking her airflow. The doctors asked that they admit Antonina to the hospital, but her family insisted that she stayed with them so they can properly take care of her. Dr Kaye Marie Yap, one of the doctors assigned to the old woman's case, said: "I advised the family that Antonina should be referred to a tertiary hospital, however they refused. "They wanted to be the ones to take care of Lola, considering her old age and bedridden status." Hospitals in the country face a crisis of congestion because of the rising cases of covid-19 so the medical workers agreed and gave the old woman's family some guidelines on how to take care of her. Dr Yap provided her with medicine and monitored her from time to time. She said that the old woman followed the instructions, which improved her conditions only two days after. The doctor said: "Antonina was in good hands, under the care of her kind and loving family. She is our inspiration in our struggle to fight this Covid-19 pandemic. " When Antonina was tested for the virus again on August 23, her results showed negative and her symptoms were also gone. Antonina, the oldest person in her town, said she survived the virus with the help of her family. She said: ''I was never scared because I knew that my family would stay by my side. I would not have survived without their love.'' Flash French Prime Minister Jean Castex on Thursday declared an additional 19 departments, including the Paris region, high-risk zones as "the virus is progressing throughout the territory," forcing authorities to toughen rules and consider all scenarios to contain an eventual second wave of coronavirus cases. The government already classified Paris and the Bouches-du-Rhone area around Marseille as red zones for coronavirus cases on Aug. 14. At a news briefing, Castex warned that France was witnessing "a phase of resurgence of the epidemic," in the wake of the strict confinement imposed between March 17 and May 11. In the red zones where the virus is actively circulating, the vigilance threshold, which indicates the number of infected people per 100,000 inhabitants, exceeds 50 patients, well above the limit of 10, Castex said. The COVID-19 reproduction (R) number is now 1.4, up from 0.77 percent in June when France returned to normalcy. This means that 10 infected people will infect an additional 14 on average. In the coronavirus high risk zones, the authorities have the power to impose localized confinement by limiting travel, restricting public transport and closing non-essential businesses. A further 5,429 patients tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, the highest daily spike in four months, the country's Public Health Public Agency said. A total of 253,587 cases have now been confirmed, while 340 clusters are still active, up by 27 in one day, it added. Citing the deteriorating sanitary indicators, Castex stressed that the government had to intervene fast to control an eventual new outbreak, which French scientists say may overwhelm the country's health system this autumn-winter. "The epidemic can grow exponentially if we do not react now", he said. "The rule is simple: wearing a mask is now compulsory in all closed spaces where several people gather," he added. Teachers in kindergartens, schools, colleges and universities as well as students older than 10 years are now required to wear mask. Furthermore, the wearing of face masks would also be mandatory on the streets of Paris and the neighboring cities, which make up the country's most populated region. The same rule has already been imposed in Marseille and Toulouse. As part of its prevention plan, the government also aims to bolster the testing capacity to one million tests per week in September from 830,000 currently. "Our first weapon to fight against the spread of the virus is prevention," Castex told reporters, adding that the government was considering "all the scenarios" in case of a new outbreak. "Territorial or nationwide lockdown plans are ready. Our health system is also ready for a new wave of patients. But our objective is to do everything to avoid a new general re-confinement," the prime minister said. "The more activity stops, the more the economic and social crisis increases, the more dramatic the human consequences will be," he said. A felon has been arraigned for a quadruple shooting Wednesday night in Pontiac that left three men dead and one seriously injured at the Spring Lake Village apartment complex. Kenneth Durell Clay, 32, who turned himself in to authorities, was arraigned in 50th District Court on Friday for: * Three counts of homicide-first degree, premeditated * Assault with intent to murder * Possession of a firearm by a felon * Five counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony Clay, a Pontiac resident, has a criminal history of carrying a concealed weapon and driving while license is suspended. At his arraignment, Judge Michael Martinez denied him bond. His next court date is Sept. 8 before Judge Cynthia Walker. The Oakland County Sheriffs Office has identified the three killed as Dominique Latrell Williams, 28, Kenrick Keon Lanehart, 39, and Montray Jamarr Morris, 29. Another man was critically wounded by the gunfire and remained hospitalized as of Friday. Williams was the cousin of Pontiac City Council President Kermit Williams, who described the shooting as a tragedy all around. Hes inviting the community to join together at a community event Sunday to show support and help those grieving to begin healing. Beginning at 1:30 p.m., people will gather at Woodside Bible Church, 830 Auburn Rd. near Opdyke, which is next to Spring Lake Village. Theyll then walk together in prayer and love through the apartment complex. The gathering, which Williams called a community movement of love in the city of Pontiac, will continue on the church grounds at 2 p.m. This is a community tragedy. I know the city as a whole is hurting, said Williams. The goal of Sundays event is to support the grieving families and those who witnessed the shootings, as well as to show a way to move to a happier spot after experiencing such trauma, he said. Its also a way to kick off an effort to spread a positive narrative to other neighborhoods in the city affected by violence, he said. The hope is to start in Spring Lake Village and actually go to all complexes that are having these same problems and start a movement to reclaim our city, Williams said. Pastors and other clergy are expected to be at the event, he said, and there will be music and food. There will be a few speakers, but the main focus will be one-on-one conversation. We want to have a community catharsis and uplift at the same time. We want to show more of whats right in the community, he said. Williams also offered a heartfelt message to those, he said, who may mistakenly see violence as a good solution. Your life is valuable. Dont throw it away for anybody. For those grieving, whatever you are going through it will get better, he said. He also urges people to get help if they are experiencing mental health issues. Its important to get past the stigma. People should get help to address the emotion that they feel. READ THIS NEXT: By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijans State Oil Company (SOCAR) has suspended production at unprofitable fields, the companys Deputy Head of Public Relations Ibrahim Ahmadov said in an interview with RIA Novosti. Ahmadov stated that the production was suspended as part of the OPEC+ agreement on reduction of oil production. However, he emphasized that the majority of oil production will remain profitable even at the low oil price level. Moreover, he noted that the company plans to adhere to those quotas that were agreed upon in the framework of the OPEC+ initiative and approved by Azerbaijani government. Ahmadov stressed that this will help not only to stabilize the market, but also to increase the efficiency of operators by stopping the operation of fields that are unprofitable in these conditions. He highlighted the fact that despite the reduction in oil production with the OPEC+ agreement, Azerbaijan increased its revenues from the oil sales by about two times (during the period of agreement being in force) compared to April. Thus, the price of one barrel of Azerbaijani oil was $20.48 in April, while during June-July it was on average at $42-44. It should be noted that in April 2020, OPEC and non-OPEC countries entered into agreement on reduction of daily oil production by 9.7 million barrels in May-June and 164,000 barrels for Azerbaijan. According to the Declaration on Cooperation, Azerbaijan produced 718,000 barrels of crude oil per day in October 2018, while in May-July 2020, the country must maintain the average daily production of crude oil at 554,000 barrels. At the meeting of OPEC and OPEC+ countries on June 6, it was decided to extend the quota until the end of July. Azerbaijan is fulfilling its obligations under OPEC+ agreement. Thus, the average daily oil production in May amounted to 650,000 barrels, in June to 553,800 barrels and in July to 650,100 barrels. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz One of the strongest hurricanes ever to strike the US has pounded the Gulf Coast with wind and rain, unleashing a fearsome wall of sea water and killing at least four people. The state of Louisiana took the brunt of the damage when the Category 4 storm barrelled over Lake Charles, an industrial and casino city of 80,000 people. Laura's powerful gusts blew out windows in tall buildings and tossed around glass and debris. Police spotted a floating casino that came unmoored and hit a bridge. Drone video showed water surrounding homes with roofs peeled away. A 14-year-old girl and a 68-year-old man were among the four people killed when trees fell on their homes, authorities said. The hurricane's top wind speed of 240kmh put it among the most powerful systems on record in the US. Not until 11 hours after landfall did Laura finally weaken into a tropical storm as it churned toward Arkansas. "It looks like 1,000 tornadoes went through here. It's just destruction everywhere," said Brett Geymann, who rode out the storm with three family members in Moss Bluff, near Lake Charles. He described Laura passing over his house with the roar of a jet engine at around 2am. "There are houses that are totally gone. They were there yesterday, but now gone," he said. Daybreak offered the first glimpse of the destruction as a massive plume of smoke began rising over Lake Charles, where authorities responded to a chlorine leak at a chemical plant. Police said the leak was at a facility run by Biolab, which manufactures chemicals used in household cleaners. Nearby residents were told to close their doors and windows and turn off air conditioners. Elsewhere, initial reports offered hope that the destruction might be somewhat less than originally feared, but a full damage assessment could take days. Wind and rain blew too hard for authorities to check for survivors in some places. Hundreds of thousands of people were ordered to evacuate ahead of the hurricane, but not everyone fled the area. "There are some people still in town, and people are calling... but there ain't no way to get to them," Tony Guillory, president of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury said over the phone from a Lake Charles government building that was shaking from the storm. More than 700,000 homes and businesses were without power in Louisiana and Texas. Forecasters had warned that the storm surge of 4.5m to 6m would be "unsurvivable" and could push 65km inland. Damaging winds extended outward as far as 280km, according to officials at the National Hurricane Center. China hails Iran-IAEA agreement to resolve issues, criticizes 'unilateral bullying' Iran Press TV Thursday, 27 August 2020 2:29 PM China welcomes recent arrival at an agreement by Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog to resolve some issues specified by the agency, berating coercive attempts that seek to prevent such dialog-powered cooperation. Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian made the remarks on Thursday, a day after the Islamic Republic and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced the agreement on future visits by the agency to two sites identified by the organization. "China welcomes and applauds that the IAEA and Iran reached an agreement," he said at a press briefing. The agreement came by after a two-day visit by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to Iran, where he met with senior Iranian officials. Grossi's visit took place over two months after the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution -- put forward by Britain, France and Germany -- to push for inspections of the two sites that the trio claimed might 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 had, however, strictly rejected the allegations and refused to let the Israeli claims form the basis of its cooperation with the IAEA, only choosing to make the locations available at its own will and upon the agency's request. "We hope the two sides will continue working toward the same direction and faithfully implement this agreement. We also call on all relevant sides to make constructive efforts in this regard.," the Chinese official said. "Facts have shown time and again that unilateral bullying only exacerbates confrontation, while differences can only be narrowed through equal-footed dialog," the spokesman added. He was apparently referring to Tel Aviv and the United States' pressure on the agency to sabotage the Iranian nuclear program. In 2018, the US left the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a historic nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, a move that was welcomed and supported by the Israeli regime. All the JCPOA's remaining signatories, namely the European trio, Russia, China, and Germany, have ever since been rebuking Washington for the move that, by extension, violated UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2231 that endorses the nuclear deal. The Chinese official likewise said, "Under the current circumstances, all pertinent countries should keep to the right direction, staunchly uphold the authority and efficacy of the JCPOA and the UNSCR 2231, and work for the political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue." The IAEA is tasked with verifying Iran's commitments under the JCPOA, the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, and facilitating an Additional Protocol that Iran has agreed to voluntarily implement to prove its good faith. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The murder of Tammy Jo Blanton shocked a small community in Indiana way back in 2019. The culprit was her own cannibal boyfriend who killed and mutilated her body. But he was not satisfied and decided to eat the victim's organs. Law enforcement officers in Jefferson, Indiana, the police were treated to a crime worthy of Hannibal Lecter. They found the remains of Tammy Joe which has been dismembered and disemboweled while lying in a bloody bathtub. The defiled corpse was covered using a camping tent. Investigators saw 25 stabs and the throat, mouth, lips, nose, chest, and fingers were struck by a blunt object that revealed badly-beaten remains. Last Wednesday, the prosecutor gave this gruesome picture of the victim's death at the hands of her boyfriend, as reported by News and Tribune. The accused is Joseph Oberhansley, 38, who slaughtered the victim like a farm animal, said prosecutor Jeremy Mull. Overall, the victim's death went beyond gruesome or grisly. It was deplorable to slay and defile a corpse that way. Oberhansley will be getting life with no parole related to charges of rape, mutilation, and breaking with entering. In 2014, he went the nine yards that were completed by snacking on the victim's corpse, according to the Independent. A deal was struck by the prosecutors and defense that the death penalty will not be declared. That is, if the cannibal's defense strikes out the plea of insanity to make the deal stick. According to Mull, the victim and the suspect were in a relationship and lived together under one roof at some point before he went to deathly extremes. She was brutally murdered on September 11, 2014. Also read: Hartford Man Decapitates Roommate With Samurai Sword Over Heated Argument He added that before she ended her relationship with Oberhansley, she decided to limit his access to her home. One day before the victim was slain viciously, she told her acquaintances that she wants to start life anew away from her boyfriend. She revealed that her ex scared her and she felt threatened by him. She also insisted that she was going to her own home, not hide out at her friend's home. Even back then, the victim was already scared for her life, according to Courier Journal. Tthe victim ran from her raging ex and tried to barricade in the bathroom and locked it. But she was not able to save herself when Oberhansley got through. The next few moments was terror, the results seen in her decrepit remains. During a police interview with the cannibal killer, he answered questions about the final moments of the victim. He said that his girlfriend was not afraid and she was prepared for it. Mull tried to convey her last moments as acceptance she'll be defiled and chopped up or another grim end, confirmed Desert Sun. During the trial, his mental fitness was questioned. At one point, Bart Betteau, one of the accused's attorneys painted this picture of the cannibal's sanity. He told the jury to hear what Mull did not tell them. He also mentioned there will be graphic photos and testimony too. When the accused killed his ex and ripper her torso apart like meat, he ate it her heart as well. He added more grisly details that must have made the juries stomachs turn. Related article: Meatworker Beheads Friend During Fishing Trip, Possibly Due to Wife's Infidelity @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Ashanti Regional Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sam Pyne, has appealed to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to consider the attitude and competent level of their employees as far as the ongoing reform is concerned. According to him, the reforms should tackle sustainable development goals and encourage professionalism. Some attitudes of GES staff towards colleague teachers is as if we never deserve anything, meanwhile most of them were in the classroom before appointed to the office." I will appeal to the committee to conduct training programmes for staff on interpersonal relationships because the attitude towards teachers whenever we visit their offices is not good. When people are treated badly, it affects the output of their service and we all know if the input is not good, it affects the output leading to poor performance," he said on UTVs Adekye Nsroma. He also hinted that the new reforms will help the sustainable development goal in terms of equity, quality and accessibility. 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 Newly formed subsidiary follows software acquisition; will grow and manage eCommerce operations for Thoughtful Brands VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 28, 2020 / Thoughtful Brands Inc. (CSE:TBI)(FWB:1WZ1)(OTCQB:PEMTF) (the "Company" or "Thoughtful Brands"), a global natural health products and eCommerce technology company, is proud to announce the launch of Ecommerce Tech LLC ( "Ecommerce Tech") , a new wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company in the United States. Going forward, Ecommerce Tech will serve as the comprehensive operational engine for all Thoughtful Brands eCommerce ventures, which include nutraceutical and hemp-based CBD brands available in North America and Europe. Ecommerce Tech acquired the rights to a bespoke software platform (the "Software") from Offer Space LLC on August 21, 2020. The acquisition of the Software, which has facilitated more than Cdn$350 million in consumer transactions, paves the way for Thoughtful Brands to capture previously unrealized value from the products it launches in the online natural health market. The Software acquisition is also expected to allow the Company to launch new products in the emerging natural health markets worldwide more efficiently than before. In addition to providing immediate value to existing brands such as the CBD lines Nature's Exclusive and Sativida, the newly acquired e-Commerce platform has the potential to lower operating costs and increase profitability across the Company's natural health product brands. Customer acquisition and customer service are also expected to receive major boosts, with Ecommerce Tech also being able to leverage current customers to cross-sell additional items. "The formation of Ecommerce Tech LLC along with its ownership and implementation of the Software platform is a significant milestone in executing our long-term strategy to expand the Thoughtful Brands footprint in the global natural health products market," said Thoughtful Brands CEO Ryan Hoggan. "Now that the digital platform, integral technology and our top brands are all under our umbrella, Ecommerce Tech LLC is poised to be a powerful supporter of our existing brands, set the stage for new strategic acquisitions and spur future ventures with third party clients." Thoughtful Brands recently announced that it expanded its portfolio in the nutraceutical and hemp-based CBD product space through the August 2020 acquisitions of Golden Path LLC and Wild Mariposa LLC, two direct-to-consumer eCommerce brands offering natural health products throughout the U.S. The new technology will be applied to these brands, as well as to future clients as the Company further executes its natural products health strategy. Software Acquisition Update Ecommerce Operations, LLC has agreed to manage and operate the Software and is entitled to certain bonus payments (each a "Bonus Payment" and together, the "Bonus Payments") based on the revenue and profitability of Ecommerce Tech LLC over the next three years. The following Bonus Payments will be payable: US$4,666,667 if the gross revenue derived from Ecommerce Tech LLC exceeds US$5 million during the 12-months ended August 31, 2021; US$4,666,667 if the gross revenue derived from Ecommerce Tech LLC exceeds US$10 million during the 12-months ended August 31, 2022; or US$4,666,667 if the gross revenue derived from Ecommerce Tech LLC exceeds US$15 million during the 12-months ended August 31, 2023. Each Bonus Payment will be payable in Common Shares based on the volume-weighted average closing price of the Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange in the ten trading days prior to the date which Ecommerce Operations, LLC requests the Bonus Payment be made. The Common Shares issued in connection with the Bonus Payments will be subject to a four-month and one day statutory hold period from their date of issuance. About Thoughtful Brands Inc. Thoughtful Brands Inc. is an eCommerce technology company that researches, develops, markets, and distributes natural health products through various brands in North America and Europe. Through continuous strategic acquisitions, the Company has a strong footprint in the CBD market, as well as the burgeoning psychedelic medicine sector. Thoughtful Brands owns and operates a 110,000 square foot pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Radebeul, Germany, where its highly skilled team conducts clinical studies utilizing naturally occurring psilocybin and other compounds found in psychedelics for the treatment of opiate addiction, while planning for future opportunities to create proprietary psilocybin products. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THOUGHTFUL BRANDS INC. Ryan Hoggan Chief Executive Officer For further information, readers are encouraged to contact Joel Shacker, President at +604.423.4733 or by email at info@thoughtful-brands.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statement All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including with respect to the ability of the Software to allow the Company to capture previously unrealized value from the products it launches in the online natural health market; the ability of the Software acquisition to allow the Company to launch new products in the emerging natural health markets worldwide more efficiently than before; the ability of the Software to provide immediate value to existing brands such as the CBD lines Nature's Exclusive and Sativida; the potential of the Software to lower operating costs and increase profitability across the Company's natural health product brands; the ability for the Software to boost customer acquisition and customer service; the ability of Ecommerce Tech to leverage current customers to cross-sell additional items; the formation of Ecommerce Tech LLC along with its ownership and implementation of the Software platform being a significant milestone in executing the Company's long-term strategy to expand the Thoughtful Brands footprint in the global natural health products market; and having the digital platform, integral technology and the Company's top brands under our umbrella leading to Ecommerce Tech being poised to be a powerful supporter of the Company's existing brands, set the stage for new strategic acquisitions and spur future ventures with third party clients. The Company provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited those identified and reported in the Company's public filings under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law. SOURCE: Thoughtful Brands Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603752/Thoughtful-Brands-Launches-Ecommerce-Tech-LLC Enforcement action has been taken at an NHS trust amid concerns over infection control, including people contracting Covid-19 in hospital. The Care Quality Commission said it has launched action at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust following an inspection earlier this month. Inspectors were responding to concerns about standards of care and risk to patients. The watchdog would not comment on the nature of the enforcement action, but the PA news agency understands it relates to infection control including levels of hospital-acquired coronavirus. The trust which runs three acute hospitals has been under the spotlight in recent weeks in relation to Covid-19. Professor Ted Baker, the CQCs chief inspector of hospitals, said: As a result of serious concerns we have taken immediate enforcement action at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. CQC inspectors visited the trust on Tuesday 12 August 2020 after concerns were raised about the standards of care and the risk to patients. The CQC said it would be inappropriate to comment on the details of the investigation since East Kent Hospitals has a right to appeal against the action. A spokesman for the trust said: Keeping our patients and staff safe is always our top priority. We have reviewed and are strengthening our procedures and training, overseen by an experienced director of infection prevention and control. We are asking our staff to always follow recommended guidance, are making further physical changes to our buildings to improve infection control and support social distancing, and have reported on this progress to the Care Quality Commission, while being supported by NHS England and NHS Improvement. The trust is also subject to an independent review in relation to its maternity service. Care for mothers and newborn babies has been heavily criticised following a series of baby deaths. Harpreet Bajwa By Express News Service CHANDIGARH: Former Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini is on the run from the law as a police team raided his house today early morning here to arrest him in a 29-year old murder case but the former top cop was not to be found at his house at that time. Sources said a team of Mohali police, Chandigarh police and the SOG (Special Operations Group) raided his Sector 20 house around 5:30 today morning but they could not find him. Also his farm houses in Mohali and in Himachal Pradesh and his house in Delhi were raided but police was not able to trace him. On May 6 this year, Saini along with six other police officers - DSP Baldev Singh, sub-inspectors Satbir Singh, Harsahai, Jagir Singh, Anoop Singh and Kuldeep Singh - was booked on charges of kidnapping or abduction in order to murder, causing disappearance of evidence, wrongful confinement, voluntarily causing hurt to exhort confession and criminal conspiracy in a 29-year-old case of former CITCO employee Balwant Singh Multani who was the son of former IAS officer Darshan Singh Multani at Mataur police station in Mohali. On the complaint of the deceased's brother Palwainder Singh Multani, it was alleged that Balwant was unlawfully abducted, inhumanly tortured and killed in custody by Saini and the police personnel under his command in 1991. A Mohali court had added Section 302 of the IPC in the case against Saini recently. The court of additional district and sessions judge of Mohlai (ADJ) Rajnish Garg yesterday reserved its orders on Sainis anticipatory bail petition for August 29 for staying his arrest. The judge has not passed any orders on the interim stay on the arrest of Saini. Recently two official of Chandigarh police, who are now retired and named in the case, turned approvers in the case and gave details how Multani was allegedly picked, tortured and killed. In their statement in the court they have alleged that they were the eyewitness to when Multani was tortured under custody of Saini and then shifted in a Gypsy in an unconscious state. Later they were told that Multani had gone missing. Sources said that the two police officials also allegedly they were asked to declare Multani as missing which they did. On the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2007, a CBI probe was initiated in this case against Saini but later it was quashed by Supreme Court. At the time of the incident, Saini was SSP of Chandigarh Police. Multani was picked up by two officers after a terrorist attack on Saini in Chandigarh in which four policemen deployed in his security cover were killed. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan and its Central Asian neighbour Kazakhstan have discussed joint projects related to Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, Azerbaijan Railway companys press service has reported. During the online meeting held between the two countries railway operators Azerbaijan Railway and Kazakhstan Railway companies the sides discussed the pilot project on creation of the digital corridor in the Trans Caspian International Transport Corridor, paperless execution of documents during cargo transportation on the route. They reviewed the implementation of the task to establish a joint venture, and listened to a report by Kazmortransflot company that oversees the activity of the Aktau-Baku-Aktau route. Moreover, the tariffs for carriage of coal cargoes along the Trans Caspian International Transport Corridor were determined and hese tariffs will be in force until the end of 2020. Additionally, a memorandum of cooperation between the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor and the TRACECA corridor was discussed and a protocol was adopted and singed at the end of the meeting. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor was established in February 2014 with the participation of relevant agencies involved in cargo transportation of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Georgia. Lately, Ukraine, Romania and Poland have joined the association. Currently the route begins in Chinese port of Lianyungang and passes through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, expanding further to Europe either through Georgian Black Sea Ports or through Turkey by BakuTbilisiKars railway. The Trans Caspian transport rout is one of the Chinas Belt and Road Initiative important integrated trade corridor. This 6,500 km long corridor enhances development and growth of Central Asia and Caucasus by increasing regional trade, investment and infrastructure. Established in 1993, TRACECA is an international transport program involving the European Union and 12 member states of the Eastern European, Caucasian and Central Asia region (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan). The program aim is to provide assistance in the restoration of the transport infrastructure of the newly independent states of the South Caucasus and Central Asia, create a shortest transport corridor connecting Europe and Asia and thereby integrate the region into the West. Thus, Europe-Caucasus-Asia transport corridor connects Frankfurt (Germany) with Shanghai (Chine). The volume of cargo transportation in the Azerbaijani section of the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA) amounted to 21.6 million tons in January-June this year. The 2020 Chinese Committee Meeting of China-Arab Joint Chamber of Commerce (CAJCC) was held in Beijing on Aug. 27. Achievements of China-Arab economic and trade cooperation were summarized and the vision for further engagements was defined. As an important multilateral cooperation mechanism for trade and investment exchanges between China and Arab countries, the CAJCC is a non-profit non-governmental organization. It was jointly established in 1988 by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture for Arab Countries (GUCCIAAC) with the approval of the State Council. In recent years, under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China-Arab relations have entered a new stage of development, according to Zhang Shaogang, vice chairman of the CCPIT. "The action plan for the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) 2020-2022, which was released in July of this year by both sides, will promote collaboration in such fields as energy, infrastructure, logistics services and investment facilitation. Cooperation in high-tech sectors including nuclear energy, astronautics and satellites will also be strengthened," Zhang said. "In 2019, the volume of China-Arab trade totaled US$266.4 billion, up 9% year on year. China's direct investment in Arab countries amounted to US$1.42 billion, up 18.8% on a yearly basis. These figures fully demonstrate the broad prospects of China-Arab cooperation," said Chen Zhong, vice president of the China Communication Construction Company, which sponsored the meeting. Speeches by Arab participants expressed hopes for further exploration of trade and investment collaboration opportunities highlighted at the meeting. "Cooperation makes us all rich and satisfied while selfishness makes us poor. Just as the Chinese saying goes, when everyone adds fuel, the flame flies high," said Hussam Al Husseini, the ambassador of Jordan to China. Wang Linjie, director of the CCPIT legal advisory office, analyzed the business and legal risks facing the enterprises trading and investing abroad at the meeting, many of which result from the COVID-19 pandemic, which still has not been controlled across the world. Wan noted the "increased risk of contract breach and rupture of industrial supply chains." She then offered suggestions to help avoid such threats. In the next phase, the Chinese committee will dedicate itself to the preparation of the 9th entrepreneur conference under the CASCF and the 5th China-Arab States Expo, which will be held in 2021. In the meantime, the committee will work to better serve bilateral efforts to prevent and control COVID-19. In one image, he was a new relative in the Huxtable family from The Cosby Show. In another, his face was superimposed on the body of Michael Jordan as he glided to the rim. In another, he was placed in a scene from a classic Italian film in which the actor Toto, wearing blackface, plays an ambassador from a fictional African country. When Luigi Di Maio, Italys foreign minister, returned to Rome from a vacation on the island of Sardinia, it took little time for Italians to notice his deep tan. By Aug. 25, images and memes featuring Mr. Di Maio in a form of blackface appeared across the Italian web. One of these instances depicted Mr. Di Maio as a Black migrant on a crowded boat. Instead of criticizing the images, Mr. Di Maio embraced them, sharing some on his own Instagram account, including the ones of Mr. Jordan, Toto and the Huxtables. Guys. I promise that next summer I will put on 50 SPF sunscreen, Mr. Di Maio wrote in a caption under the images. And thanks for making my day lighter. Maiden voyage of China-built Type 075 amphibious assault ship a success: Defense Ministry Global Times Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/27 18:06:53 The Chinese Navy's first Type 075 amphibious assault ship has successfully completed its first sea trial, China's Ministry of National Defense announced on Thursday. The vessel is China's first independently developed amphibious assault ship, and has strong capabilities in amphibious combat and carrying out a diverse range of tasks, said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a Defense Ministry spokesperson, at August's routine press conference. According to online videos and pictures taken by local residents, the Type 075, outfitted in the Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai, left the shipyard along the Huangpu River for its maiden voyage on August 5. After 19 days out at sea, it reportedly returned to the shipyard on Sunday. Military experts told the Global Times that the first sea trial likely tested its propulsion system among other major systems, including navigation and communication systems. A 19-day sea trial is considered a lengthy one, and its success showed the ship's rapid outfitting progress, analysts said. It usually takes a new warship a year or two to formally join military service after its first sea trial, military analysts said. This means the first Type 075 will likely be commissioned into the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in 2021 or 2022, they said. The first Type 075 was launched in September 2019. A second ship of its class was launched in April this year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Detains Soldier on Suspicion of Espionage for Ukraine in Siberia Sputnik News 07:18 GMT 27.08.2020 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A soldier in the Russian Strategic Missile Forces was detained in the Siberian city of Barnaul on suspicion of passing defence secrets to Ukraine, the Federal Security Service (FSB) said Thursday. "A serviceman of the Strategic Missile Forces, who was collecting and sending state secrets to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defene Ministry, was detained in the city of Barnaul", the FSB said. Under charges of treason, the detainee could face up to 20 years in prison. A video, depicting the detention was published by the authorities later in the day. It shows the serviceman approaching a house, when the officers arrest him. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Federico Vasoli - Lawyer and managing partner, dMTV Global The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) will definitely have a positive impact on the economy and business of Vietnam. Per se, the reduction or elimination of duties makes goods cheaper, hence allowing for greater purchase power and greater margins. Therefore, Vietnam can benefit from a larger inflow of EU products in many fields, including industrial goods, technology, and lifestyle, which will make local companies more competitive and give people access to a wider spectrum of goods at competitive prices. The COVID-19 pandemic has further made purchasing nations realise that they cannot afford to rely solely on one manufacturing hub. Even if a second wave or another similar disaster does not affect the world any time soon, Vietnam is poised to grow as a manufacturing base for local and foreign investors alike. Having many FTAs in place evidently only favours locally-based production, with spillover effects on the entire economy and image of the country. In my many years of legal activity in and with Vietnam, I have always thought that there were too few foreign investments, especially from the EU, which would benefit from the countrys advantages, and would also be to the advantage of Vietnam itself. Colin Blackwell - Founder, Enablecode First and foremost, the EVFTA gives a welcome economic boost to Vietnam during these challenging times. Any positive news like this will assist in supporting employment levels in the key export sectors. As trade and investment from the EU builds up, so will economic activity and employment opportunities in Vietnam. The other, less well known labour benefits, are the encouragement and technical advice provided during the treaty discussions on modernising the countrys Labour Code. As a result, Vietnam now has one of the most dynamic and positive labour codes in the world, which will benefit sustainable development for many years into the future. This can particularly be seen in labour dispute resolution mechanisms which protect employees and employers alike. Although the EVFTA was one of many factors influencing the new Labour Code, the overall effect really strengthens the way forward for Vietnams workforce, given the more complex considerations faced by a middle income country undergoing rapid technology advances. The Labour Code has very future ready provisions on non-discrimination, modern flexible working practices, and the re-skilling needed to remain competitive globally during the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Paul Tonkes - Director, Logistics and industrial services, Cushman & Wakefield As a member of several international FTAs, Vietnam signed the EVFTA with the EU, in addition to the ASEAN Economic Community. EU duties have dismantling periods stretching from five to seven years of tariff elimination from the existing duty rates of 60.2 per cent to zero. Vietnam agro-fishery, food and beverages, and textile manufacturers are among the largest beneficiaries of this FTA. These companies should prepare to move up the value chain and prepare for the production of high-value products as well as look for new sources of raw materials. In the coming time, focus should be on productivity improvement, digitalisation, and Industry 4.0. Although this is associated with high upfront costs, there is long-term benefit. In that light, tenants should focus on the domestic market, and build and invest time in developing local supply chain quality and find new local clients. Diversifying production could be a shorter-term solution. The current move of the garment and plastic sectors to step into the production of protective gear is pragmatic and a way to offset the loss of orders although this market is the most volatile, hard to predict, and setting up a factory line takes time. Yanai Hisayuki - CAO Nidec Chaun Choung Vietnam Corporation The EVFTA is a new generation bilateral agreement which contains fundamental provisions for the cooperation and development of Vietnams economy. The agreement will help to strengthen Vietnams foreign relationships and open up a new page in the nations international economic integration, while further enhancing cooperation on global and regional challenges. To businesses, especially international ones, this agreement helps to bring advanced technologies and opens larger markets to promote and enlarge the development business and meet a wider demand. Our expectation for this event is simply advancing high-quality and sustainable production in Vietnams economy, which is truly a significant impact on our long-term business in Vietnam. Since our company is now focusing on strengthening our position in the local market, we have not had a plan to expand the companys scale to avail such promising opportunity. However, this agreement has brought tremendous opportunities to all enterprises in Vietnam, scaling up economy and social development. Laurent Genet - General director, Audi Vietnam Germany and Vietnam are now celebrating 45 years of diplomatic relationship and the German Business Association its 25 years in Vietnam. German investment in the country has a long standing history. The 25-story Deutsches Haus opened in 2017 in Ho Chi Minh City and stands as another visible landmark. The EVFTA shall accelerate that investment spread further. For German investors interested in import and retail opportunities, Vietnams attractiveness as a market keeps growing with almost 100 million people, a fast-developing middle-class, a massively build-up infrastructure. For German investors looking for a production base, Vietnam is an ideal destination for production investment thanks to a cost-competitive skilled workforce. Furthermore, the impact of COVID-19 highlighted the need to prevent supply chain disruptions by diversifying suppliers and avoiding reliance on one single country like China. German investors interested in export will consider Vietnams unique trade capacity in Southeast Asia with its record number of 14 FTAs signed. Nguyen Thi Tra My - CEO, The PAN Group The EVFTA opens huge opportunities for Vietnam in its key sectors like agriculture, fishery, and processed food, which are also The PAN Groups core businesses. In addition to the roadmap of tariff cuts, many export items to the EU will have their quotas increased. For example, right after the enforcement of the landmark agreement, the EU gives Vietnam an export quota of 80,000 tonnes of rice a year with tariff of zero per cent. To enjoy this tariff cut, Vietnamese businesses need to meet a lot of strict requirements to overcome the on-tariff barriers on goods quality, the origins, food safety and hygiene, and environmental factors, among others. To tap into the opportunities from the EVFTA, The PAN Group has made preparations for a long time to satisfy the requirements and to conquer the market with high-quality products. For example, we put into operation the Vinarice factory with modern assembly lines in late 2019. In July, a member of The PAN Group successfully exported VJ Pearl Rice and RVT fragrant rice to the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. Tran Nhu Tung - Deputy general director, Thanh Cong Text Garment JSC As the EVFTA officially took effect on August 1, we now expect to grow our exports to the EU by 30-50 per cent in the coming years. To materialise the agreements opportunities, Thanh Cong built up a garment-dyeing factory with 1,500 labourers in Hoa Phu Industrial Zone in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long. Its estimated annual output is expected to meet the trade demand of the company. Moreover, to accelerate the expansion to the EUs market, Thanh Cong plans to open a similar factory in the southwest of the country. However, developing garment factories was found burdensome in recent times because of the concerns of environmental pollution. Therefore, the local government should soon take prompt actions to help garment companies enhance their productivity to take advantages of the agreement. C.K Tong - CEO, BW Industrial Development JSC The EVFTA has definitely impacted us positively, bringing us a lot of enquiries, and we have recently signed deals with some European-based manufacturers. In Vietnam, BW Industrial Development JSC is one of the very few developers with ready-to-move-in factories at strategic locations, and we are well-positioned to avail of the advantage. We are planning and doing a lot of activities right now, including organising and taking part in webinars, talking to related associations and business groups, working with agents locally and internationally, and making sure that we reach the categories of this group of clients, whether they are in China, in Europe, or in any other part of the world. As the pandemic is evolving, we also offer virtual tours, road shows, and some other digital solutions that help us approach investors who cannot be here. Bui Ha Linh - Economic researcher and project manager, Friedrich Naumann Foundation Vietnam The EVFTA offers many opportunities to build and develop a digital economy in Vietnam. The most direct way is through increasing the trading of high-tech goods and attracting investment in technology-related projects. Europe is our long-standing trade partner, with a high level of technology development under the lead of Germany a pioneer in Fourth Industrial Revolution. A solid trade partnership could encourage technology transfers from the EU, and at the same time, set a foundation for creativity and innovation. However, the EVFTA impacts less on some key pillars of the digital economy, such as telecommunications and its infrastructure. The worries for cybersecurity constraint openness for this sector in the EVFTA, but it is reasonable and also the typical concern in many nations. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 20:05:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close OSLO/MOSCOW, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- A high-level Norwegian diplomat is being expelled from Russia, according to Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday. "Our embassy in Moscow has been informed by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that one of our diplomats has been declared undesirable in Russia. This is completely unfounded. Our diplomat has not broken any rules and has acted fully within the framework of diplomatic activities," said Guri Solberg, from Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement to state broadcaster NRK. The expelled diplomat has been revealed by Norwegian media as Jan Flaete, the second-highest ranking diplomat at Norway's embassy in Moscow. The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday that it had retaliated against Norway's expulsion of a Russian diplomat by revoking the diplomatic accreditation of a senior employee of the Norwegian embassy in Moscow, who will have to leave the country within three days, Russian media outlet Sputnik reported. "Norwegian Ambassador to Russia Rune Resaland was summoned on Aug. 28 and informed that one of the senior diplomats of the Norwegian embassy was also declared persona non grata as a retaliatory measure," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. Ten days ago, Norway announced to expel Aleksandr Stekolshikov, a trade representative at the Russian embassy in Oslo. Norwegian authorities deemed Stekolshikov to be a Russian intelligence officer involved in an espionage case, which also involved an employee at the Norwegian Oil and Gas company DNV GL charged with "gross disclosure of state secrets." Russia then condemned the deportation of Stekolshikov. Enditem Beirut, Aug 28 : Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), announced that the UNESCO has launched the initiative "Beirut" to attract funds to be used in rehabilitating Beirut's heritage buildings, LBCI local TV channel reported. "We should implement measures to preserve the national heritage of Lebanon and we will be holding a meeting for donors' country by the end of September for this purpose," Azoulay said on Thursday during her meeting with Caretaker Culture Minister Abbas Mortada, Xinhua news agency reported. Mortada offered a comprehensive study to Azoulay about the number of heritage buildings destroyed in the city following the explosions and the extent of the damage. The UNESCO has previously warned that 640 heritage buildings have been damaged by the explosions and 60 of them are at risk of collapse. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text West is not the shot in the arm desperately needed during the strangest presidential campaign in modern history. The truth is that West has about as much chance of siphoning a large number of Black votes from Biden as I have of getting down in an onstage performance with Cardi B. Flash floods caused by unprecedented monsoon rains have engulfed large parts of Pakistan's financial capital Karachi, shutting down businesses, shops and markets. The government of southern Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital, announced a holiday to tackle what it called a "disaster-like" situation. At least 15 people have been killed in rain-related accidents, Sohail Rajput, Karachi's commissioner, said by phone. The Pakistan Stock Exchange continued trading. Murad Ali Shah, the provincial chief minister, urged people to stay home as troops and rescue officials evacuated citizens from submerged parts of the city of 22 million. Local television channels showed footage of flood waters gushing through roads, streets and homes. Shah told Geo television water has receded from most parts of the city. Prime Minister Imran Khan also directed officials to help the stranded people. More nationwide rains are predicted on Friday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said on its website. The weather office recorded a total of 345 millimeters of rain in August so far, breaking the previous record of 298 millimeters in the month, according to the office of the Sindh chief minister. Pakistan hasn't experienced monsoon floods this bad since 2010. That rainfall left hundreds of thousands of people homeless and destroyed infrastructure and crops valued at about $10 billion, the Asian Development Bank said at the time. This year, monsoon rains have mostly caused damage to the southern cities. Pakistan Refinery said earlier this week it may have to shut operations because of damage to oil pipelines. Qamar-uz-Zaman, an adviser to both the Asian Development Bank and International Union for Conservation of Nature based in Islamabad, attributed the record-breaking rains to climate change, adding the country seen extreme weather patterns since 2010. Some local media blamed Karachi's poor urban planning for the extensive damage, saying the rains had exposed the metropolitan city's infrastructural deficiencies and choked waterways. It's difficult to determine what's caused the record rainfall this year, said Omair Ahmad, the editor of thethirdpole.net, an online platform focuses on the ecology, environment and climate of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas. "We do know that floods are more likely because of climate change and at the same time urban infrastructure in South Asia is badly designed for this onslaught," he said. "Poor countries, battered by climate change impacts, have fewer resources to build climate resilient infrastructure." The SA scheme suffered deteriorating finances and a blowout in costs. Indeed, a parliamentary report in 2010 noted that EMLs fees jumped from $25 million in 2006 to almost $50 million two years later. The parliamentary report quoted the then chairman of the workers compensation scheme saying there were issues including staff turnover and the "impact on case management outcomes, customer service standards, ongoing training and support to case managers following induction; and ensuring return to work was the priority focus across the scheme." This was reiterated by an independent report by PWC in 2011 which described the claims management as weak "with limited upfront and strategic case management practice and a "reported lack of experience among agent case managers to make fast and informed decisions." SA decided to open up the system to competition. Fast forward to 2018 and the NSW workers compensation regulator, the State Insurance Regulation Authority (SIRA), was concerned about icare and the decision to move to a new claims management system and a single agent. It commissioned EY to a health check on the workers compensation scheme. The report, obtained by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, gave icare a red rating for operational risk. Released to SIRA in April 2018, it noted that 10,000 workers compensation claims were unable to be matched to an underlying policy file. It said EML was using a "laborious" manual procedure to do the matching which was resulting in backlogs and delays in managing claims. It said caseloads for claims managers within EML were up to 100 per cent greater than accepted industry norms, which could have an adverse impact on claims management. Even more damning, the EY report said a "lack of workers compensation experience" among claims team leaders at EML "can result in claims officers not getting the support they need in regard to difficult decisions with complex claims." David Bruce, a 27-year-old who had a back injury at work in September 2018, is one of a number of injured workers who suffered as a consequence of icare and EML. Injured worker David Bruce Credit:Kate Geraghty "The case managers never returned a phone call once in a period of six months," he said. Since September 2018, Bruce has churned through more than 15 EML case managers equivalent to almost one a month - which he says resulted in delays and denials of treatment and culminated in a secondary injury requiring a second surgery. "I think Id be back at work now. I think Id be back to pre-injury if I had been treated early enough," he said. But EML doesnt just operate in NSW and SA. A report released in December 2019 by the Victorian Ombudsman discussed EML as part of an investigation into workers compensation and the management of complex claims. The report lays bare how insurance agents are rewarded if they meet set targets to kick people off the workers compensation system. It includes a series of internal emails from insurance agents including EML. In one email the insurance agent had its eye on a hefty bonus. "...we cannot take our foot off the accelerator as Maximum Reward for this measure is currently worth $687,000! ... we can do this!!" Mark Coyne resigned from the ARLC after news broke of his arrest in Singapore. Credit:Edwina Pickles EML, which didn't respond to questions for this column, calls itself a mutual. Its public face is former Queensland rugby league star Mark Coyne, who fronted parliament on Monday. But behind the mutual is a nest of companies owned by partners including former Macquarie banker Cameron McCullagh, and former fund managers Angus Gluskie and Andrew Fleetwood. Interestingly lobbying firm PremierState, which is run by Liberal powerbroker Michael Photios, includes EML as one of its clients. Indeed, EML confirmed on Monday that it had employed David Begg, a former business partner of Photios and is who is married to NSW upper house MP Natalie Ward. Since the workers compensation scandal broke in a joint investigation with The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Four Corners, hundreds of injured workers, insiders from Treasury, politics, the insurance industry and icare have come forward, with new evidence about a system that is failing injured workers and the employers who bankroll the system. The scandal has forced resignations including icares chief executive John Nagle, an icare director and the chief of staff to the NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet. But besides a few heads rolling, little has changed to improve the lot of injured workers or employers who spend a fortune each year in premiums. This is why NSW Labor finance spokesman Daniel Mookhey led a confidence motion in the board and Treasurer in the state's upper house. Nothing will change unless the people in charge of this scheme change. The Treasurer has to go. The board has to go, he said in parliament this week. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-27 04:45:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The National Center for Disease Control of Libya on Wednesday reported 553 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country so far to 11,834. The center said in a statement that it received a total of 2,094 suspected samples, of which 553 were tested positive, adding that 40 patients have recovered and seven died. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Libya is 11,834, including 1,152 recoveries and 210 deaths, the center confirmed. To curb the spread of the pandemic, Libya has taken a series of precautionary measures since the first case was reported in March, including closing the country's borders, shutting down schools and mosques, banning public gatherings and imposing a curfew. Starting from Wednesday evening, the UN-backed government imposed a 24-hour curfew in the country, followed by a 10-day overnight curfew. China donated medical aid to Libya in June to help the country's pandemic battle. Enditem With COVID-19 killing more than 180,000 and infecting more than 5.8 million in the U.S., many voters are looking to the mail as a safe way to cast their ballots in November. Six states use mail-in voting exclusively, 39 don't require an excuse for an absentee ballot and five require an excuse, meaning millions will be voting by mail this fall. President Trump's frequent criticism of voting by mail, the system has come under tremendous scrutiny less than three months before Election Day -- a situation critics say may lead to disenfranchisement through a campaign of disinformation. The president has decried voting by mail on a regular basis, repeating unsubstantiated claims that there will be widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election due to mail-in ballots. Mail in ballots are very dangerous. There is tremendous fraud involved and tremendous illegality, President Trump said in May [He also suggested recently that if he doesn't win the election in November, the contest is "rigged." Attorney General Barr echoed the presidents claims. When government, state governments start adopting these practices like mail-in ballots that open the floodgates of potential fraud, then people's confidence in the outcome of the election is going to be undermined, Barr told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo in June. And that could take the country to a very dark place, if we lose confidence in the outcomes of our elections. PHOTO: Attorney General William Barr talks to the media during a news conference on Aug. 19, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. (Charlie Riedel/AP) Intelligence officials have concluded that mail-in ballots are not susceptible to widespread fraud. "We're fully aware that COVID-19 and the expectation of the increased mail-in ballots has created a new environment for this election cycle," a senior FBI official told reporters on a conference call Wednesday. "However, we have not seen to date a coordinated national voter fraud effort during a major election. It would be extraordinarily difficult to change a federal election outcome through this type of fraud alone, given the range of processes that we need to be affected or compromised by an adversary, at the local level." Story continues 'No widespread voter fraud' A senior intelligence official said there has been no information or intelligence that any other country is engaging in activities to undermine any part of the mail-in vote or ballots, contradicting the President. Experts and most secretaries of state interviewed by ABC News disagree with the president and attorney generals assertions that mail-in voting could discredit an election. Voting by mail is not some kind of new, untested innovation, Dale Ho, director of the ACLU's Voting Rights Project told ABC News. We've been using it in this country since the Civil War. And I think over 80 percent of Americans live in states that have committed to letting every eligible voter cast a ballot by mail in November. So it's not something kind of new or crazy. It's been something that people in this country have been doing for over a century. ABC News reached out to elections authorities in all 50 states for their assessment of Trump's claims. Of the nearly 30 secretaries of state and elections board offices who provided on-the-record responses in July none expressed doubts in their state's ability to protect the integrity of their elections this November. PHOTO: In this June 30, 2020, file photo, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold makes a point during a news conference at a mobile voting location in Denver. (David Zalubowski/AP, FILE) There is no widespread voter fraud, vote by mail is extremely safe, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said. And we have the safeguards in place to make sure that we would catch any double voting. What vote by mail does is actually make us more cyber secure because Russia cannot hack a mail ballot. In recent days amid an ongoing crisis with the Postal Service, questions have been raised about whether mailed ballots will actually get to their destination in time to be counted and whether they will actually be counted. The president has attacked drop boxes that are intended for people to drop their ballot in so they can be counted in time. "So now the Democrats are using Mail Drop Boxes, which are a voter security disaster. Among other things, they make it possible for a person to vote multiple times. Also, who controls them, are they placed in Republican or Democrat areas? They are not Covid sanitized. A big fraud!" the president tweeted Sunday. MORE: Biden dramatically outspends Trump on TV ads during Republican convention week Mail drop boxes are a place where voters can drop off their ballot in a safe and secure location," Griswold explained. There's absolutely zero evidence that ballot drop boxes are anything other than something that is convenient that helps people vote, Ho explained. May not know results on election night The newly installed postmaster general and Trump donor, Louis DeJoy, has been under fire from Democratic critics for trying to cut USPS services so close to an election that is going to rely so heavily on the mail. All my actions have to do with improvements in postal service. Am I the only one in this room that understands that we have a $10 billion a year loss, DeJoy told Congress earlier this month. The postal service is fully capable and committed to delivering the nation's ballots securely and on time." There have also been questions raised about the ballots being counted on election night and how long it will take to know the results. Earlier this month, President Trump warned that lots of things can happen if the presidential race isnt decided on election night. The president also accused Democrats of trying to steal an election by using vote by mail. Chris Krebs, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the cyber arm of the Department of Homeland Security, said at a conference earlier this month, that election day results will look a little different. On November 3rd it's quite possible that we won't know who won the election, Krebs said in pre-taped remarks in early August. That's why we need you. We need everyone to be more patient voter to wait until the vote is certified. And we know who the winner is, again, it takes a little bit more time this go around because of COVID, but that's okay. A lot will depend on whether states will allow mail-in voting to be counted earlier and not just beginning on election night. The most important thing is to get the vote counting, right? Not necessarily to get it done quickly, Ho said. Concerns remain among some Republicans Some Republican secretaries of state, however are worried about fraud in voting by mail . I know that there are a number of concerns that have been introduced because of universal vote by mail, John Merrill, the Alabama Secretary of State told ABC News. Now, in Alabama, we have a situation where people can vote by mail, but it's through the absentee process. It's much safer and much more secure. Merrill points to other places, like in Los Angeles County, where he says 83 ballots were sent to one person or in Nevada where thousands of ballots have been mis-mailed to people just basically keeping them from being able to vote and disenfranchising them altogether. We recently saw what happened in Patterson, New Jersey, where four people have been indicted because of vote by mail fraud, Merrill said. PHOTO: In this Dec. 12, 2017, file photo, Secretary of State John Merrill speaks to the media after Alabama special election in Montgomery, Ala. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters, FILE) According to the Associated Press, in June city council candidate Alex Mendez and other election officials were charged after 800 ballots were not counted after being found in a mailbox. Mendez and the others allegedly approached people and collected their mail ballots, which is illegal in New Jersey. MORE: Biden dramatically outspends Trump on TV ads during Republican convention week "I am not guilty and I expect to be vindicated, Mendez said in a statement according to local reports. The actions in Nevada and Los Angeles County have not resulted in criminal charges. In addition to people casting mail-in ballots, some still plan to vote in-person. The president has raised the specter of sending law enforcement to the polls, something critics say can amount to pure intimidation. My question to you then is, are you going to have poll watchers, Fox News host Sean Hannity asked President Trump. Are you going to have an ability to monitor, to avoid fraud, and cross-check whether or not these are registered voters? Whether or not there has been identification to know that its a real vote from a real American?" We're going to have everything. We're going to have sheriffs, and we're going to have law enforcement, and we're going to have, hopefully, U.S. attorneys, Trump responded. Ho says that is ludicrous. Polling places are not like bars or clubs in Vegas with velvet ropes where people in sunglasses or with earpieces check your I.D. at the door, Ho said. Polling places are supposed to be freely accessible to every American. And no president in history has ever set federal law enforcement to stop people from accessing their polling places. Griswold blasted the idea and said it harkened back to the Jim Crow South not to mention illegal. Using police enforcement, law enforcement at polls is a tactic straight out of the Jim Crow South, Griswold said. Say you have an unpaid parking ticket. That should not stop you from casting a ballot. And the use of armed or in uniform police at polling centers is a tactic that we know is used to suppress voters of color. And I just think that we can't stand for that anymore. Elections officials push back on voter fraud claims originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Screening, sanitizing, and sitting apart. Thats the new reality for Ontarios students as they return to class in September, thanks to COVID-19. Even before they set foot inside the building, the students at George Webster elementary in East York will line up out front, behind lines on the school sidewalk spray-painted in bright pink so they know how far apart they need to be. Once inside, theyll get a quick COVID quiz from the principal or a staff member Do you have a cough? Fever? Have you travelled anywhere recently? Theyll grab a disposable mask if they need it, and use hand sanitizer before following the round arrow decals on the floor directing them to class. In classrooms, the walls are mostly bare, desks spaced two metres apart and all books removed. They have to be as sparse as possible, but as welcoming as possible, Principal Lise Medd said of the classrooms, where desks have been taken to storage, or stacked against a wall to make more space. With everyone masked, and face shields available as an additional protection for staff, Medd said one teacher suggested wearing happy-face buttons so kids will still see smiles. On Thursday, the Toronto District School Board permitted tours of two schools to show how principals and staff are figuring out all the complications COVID brings how to screen students in the morning without delaying the start of the day, keeping kids physically distant in the halls and classrooms, and handling lunch and recess safely. Medd has arranged for staggered lunch periods and three separate recesses at George Webster, which has 700 students from kindergarten to Grade 8. At Wexford Collegiate in Scarborough, principal Tom Lazarou said the challenge will be to get all 1,200 students in each morning in time for class given the necessary screening protocols. Hes been at the school since Aug. 17, working with staff on traffic flow, installing the arrow floor decals and deciding how to handle entrance and exit times. (They will be staggered.) High-traffic areas will be cleaned more frequently, and when students leave for the afternoon, the evening crew will do a more thorough clean. Lazarou has arranged for two entrances to have screening stations with a COVID information sheet, free masks and a huge jug of sanitizer with two staff at each to conduct the 10-second check-in. Lockers are off-limits, shut tight with white plastic ties. The cafeteria is closed a big sign says STOP, do not enter but might be used for a couple of drama classes at Wexford, which runs a well-regarded arts program. We will be doing it all, said Lazarou, though there will be some modifications to classes in dance, drama, music and vocal. In classrooms, desks that can be used are marked with yellow sticky notes, because theres not enough storage space to remove unused ones. Here, books remain teens will just be told not to touch them, Lazarou said. Im excited to return to school, said Grade 11 student Vanessa Trotman. Im not so nervous after walking through, because I see what they are doing, and all the precautions they are taking with face shields, masks, and how they are asking everybody questions before they are allowed in. They are really taking precautions to keep everyone safe. Class sizes at Wexford, where students will attend for almost four hours every other morning, should be at the expected 15 students. In the afternoons, Toronto teens return home for live online learning. At George Webster as with most elementary schools in Ontario class sizes remain a concern. While the provincial and federal governments have put in more than $1.2 billion for Ontario schools, critics have said the province should have mandated elementary class sizes of about 15 for childrens safety. Torontos public and Catholic boards have approved plans to hire as many extra teachers as they can afford, and place them in schools in areas hard-hit by COVID. On Thursday, Premier Doug Ford said he and Education Minister Stephen Lecce talked with school board directors and chairs in a conference call about back-to-school issues and extra money being provided. Were really relying on the school boards, Ford added at his daily briefing, held in Brockville. I just told them I have all the confidence in the world that theyre going to be able to get through this and make sure that the students and the staff are in a very safe environment. At Queens Park, Ontarios chief medical officer urged teachers to be sticklers for their own levels of infection prevention and control to avoid being affected by respiratory droplets that spread COVID-19. Dr. David Williams said if you do that, you will not be at risk consistency is really important, he told a news conference where he was asked if teachers face greater dangers than other workers such as grocery store staff. I dont think theyll be at more risk than other people, Williams replied. At George Webster, primary classes will have about 20 students. However, in kindergarten and the upper elementary grades, classes will have about 27. Most of the staff are a little bit nervous about the number, said Medd. However, they are working to make it as feasible as possible, and we are working with them to support them and make sure its as safe as possible. Sisters Kaiya and Tianna Grant are looking forward to returning. Im excited to come back, excited to see my friends, said Kaiya, who is going into Grade 8. Online learning was difficult for me after the school shutdown in March. She said most of her friends are going to be learning online, from home, because their parents dont feel comfortable sending them back. But if they saw the precautions the school is taking, they would not be nervous, she said. The Toronto board has asked families whether they intend to send their children in person or will keep them at home for remote classes. In elementary, the board has set three dates for kids to make a switch and return to school: Oct. 13, Nov. 23 and Feb. 16. Advance notice is required. High school students can switch at the end of each quadmester they are taking two courses at a time for about 45 days but at no other time without risking their credits. For now, principals and teachers are working on curriculum, figuring out how many classes can be held outside, or in the gym or cafeteria, and then waiting to see what happens once school reopens. At Wexford, vice-principal Paula Pink-Grant is hopeful. Well manage. Well pull through, she said. We are resilient. With files from Rob Ferguson (Natural News) Attorney Lin Wood, famous for representing Covington Catholic High School student Nicholas Sandmann in the young mans multiple lawsuits against the mainstream media, has now offered to represent Kyle Rittenhouse for free following the suppression of multiple efforts to crowdfund for his legal fees on popular fundraising platforms GoFundMe and Fundly. Rittenhouse, who is currently being held in custody by the police department of his hometown of Lake County, Illinois, is being charged with one count of first-degree intentional homicide. This is on top of five other charges for the shooting of three rioters who were attacking him. Two of the three assailants have since died. (Related: Mainstream media is LYING about American hero Kyle Rittenhouses act of self-defense.) Wood was spurred on to offer his services for free after he witnessed Democratic congresswoman Ayanna Pressley smearing Rittenhouse on Twitter by calling him a white supremacist domestic terrorist. Ayanna Pressley just got condemned to the World of the Blocked, tweeted Wood. She is no Elvis. And I am not a criminal defense lawyer but I am going to see what I can do tomorrow to help Kyle Rittenhouse. If a private defense lawyer steps up to defend him, please notify me of his or her name. When a person on social media informed Wood that Rittenhouse has enough money to pay for him thanks to crowdfunding efforts which have since been taken down Wood responded by saying that, if his services are needed, Rittenhouse does not need to pay. God has blessed me with enough and enough is always enough When [the charges are dismissed], accusers should be held accountable and they should pay. Expert legal team comes forward to represent Rittenhouse In order to further help Rittenhouse fight his charges, Wood is teaming up with several other attorneys, most notably John Pierce of Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht LLP. With the help of Pierce, Wood created the #FightBack Foundation. Incorporated in Texas earlier this month, the foundation will be collecting donations for Rittenhouses legal defense. Wood said that he helped create the foundation with a mission to protect and defend our Constitution on many fronts, and that its main task for the foreseeable future will be to make sure the charges against Rittenhouse will be dropped. Pierce, who launched his law firm in 2017, previously represented former mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani, a Republican, and Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat. Pierce represented Giuliani when the latter was being probed by the Manhattan U.S. Attorneys office into whether he broke lobbying laws when he was dealing with Ukraine. Pierce represented Gabbard when she was suing Hillary Clinton for calling her a third-party candidate that was groomed by Russia. On its website, the Pierce Bainbridge firm describes itself as a state of the art litigation law firm dedicated to the lost art of combat by trial. Pierce, with the help of Wood, has begun forming a proper legal defense team that can represent Rittenhouse. He said that he and Wood will soon be joined by a SEAL Team of former assistant U.S. attorneys who are now working as criminal defense lawyers. [Rittenhouse] needs and deserves courageous legal counsel who will fight for him, Wood said in a tweet. John is ready to do so and others will join him. The fight is for Kyle and for ALL Freedom Loving Americans. Rittenhouse is scheduled to appear in Lake County Circuit Court in Illinois on Friday for an extradition hearing. Wood will be with him during his first court appearance. Rittenhouses crowdfunding efforts shut down Supporters of Rittenhouse who wanted to donate turned to popular crowdfunding website GoFundMe. Unfortunately, their fundraiser on the website was taken down on Thursday, August 27. The company pulled all fundraisers for Rittenhouse and refunded all donations contributed to these crowdfunding campaigns because they apparently violated their terms of service. However, it refused to specify which policies the efforts violated. Unfortunately, not much can be done, because GoFundMes terms of service prohibit any activity that GoFundMe may deem in its sole discretion to be unacceptable. This basically allows the company to get rid of any campaign it does not agree with. For comparison, GoFundMe has decided to leave up GoFundMe pages for Jacob Blake and for Anthony Huber, one of the people who attacked Rittenhouse. Blakes page has raised more than $1.8 million as of Thursday evening, and Hubers two GoFundMe pages one set up by Hubers girlfriend and another set up by his family have collectively raised over $136,000 as of writing. It was not clear how many campaigns for Rittenhouse have been pulled from the website, nor the amount they all raised. At least three pages were able to raise over $1,000, but not much else is known besides that. Another campaign on crowdfunding website Fundly was much more successful. Within just a few hours, it had raised more than $50,000 before it was taken down sometime late on Wednesday. After it got taken down, other fundraisers for Rittenhouse popped up, but they have only been able to raise less than $600 combined as of Thursday evening. Fundly has not released a statement on the matter. A still-active fundraiser for Rittenhouse exists on Christian crowdfunding website Give Send Go. The fundraising campaign was created by a group from Atlanta, Georgia that calls themselves the Friends of the Rittenhouse Family. Kyle Rittenhouse just defended himself from a brutal attack by multiple members of the far-leftist group Antifa. wrote the group on the crowdfunding campaigns main page. The experience was undoubtedly a brutal one, as he was forced to take two lives to defend his own. The situation was clearly self-defense, and Kyle and his family will undoubtedly need money to pay for the legal fees. Lets give back to someone who bravely tried to defend his community. The group alleges that the district attorney for Kenosha County, Mike Graveley, a Democrat, is using the situation to capitalize on its political angle despite the evidence clearly showing that Rittenhouse acted in self-defense. Give Send Gos co-founder and chief marketing officer Heather Wilson said that she will not be removing the crowdfunding campaign from her website. Give Send Go is committed to giving both sides of the political culture in our society an equal chance to let their voices be heard, she said. We will not be removing the campaign. As of Thursday evening, the fundraiser has amassed over $67,000. Instead of using GoFundme, Fundly or any other popular crowdfunding website, both Wood and Pierce said that anybody who wants to contribute should send their donations through the #FightBack Foundation. It will be the only approved fund that can pay for Rittenhouses legal fees, and any other attempts to raise money for the young man should be avoided entirely. It is unclear if Wood and Pierce will refuse to accept the funds raised for Rittenhouses legal fees on Give Send Go. Mainstream media is trying to smear Rittenhouse and make him out to be a mass shooter. Learn more about how they censor conservative voices at Censored.news. Sources include: InformationLiberation.com JSOnline.com 1 Twitter.com JSOnline.com 2 NYTimes.com WashingtonTimes.com KenoshaNews.com Newsweek.com KenoshaCounty.org A former Mars executive is claiming that a member of the family and the company's board "stamped" on his foot and told him that he would regret his choice to leave for a position with JAB Holdings. The allegation is part of JAB Holdings' rebuttal against a trade secrets lawsuit filed by Mars in May in federal court in Washington, D.C. The M&M maker claims that Jacek Szarzynski, who formerly served as CFO of Mars' pet-care business and is named as a defendant in the suit, stole upward of 6,000 documents from Mars and passed them over to JAB. The latest salvo, which was first reported by the Financial Times, is a rare look behind the curtain into the two privately held companies. Szarzynski called the lawsuit "vindictive and unnecessary," saying that while he still had some Mars documents in his possession, he never used or intended to use them for his own benefit or to harm his former employer. He is now a partner at JAB, which is the investment arm of the Reimann family, and serves as chief operating officer and chief financial officer at Pret Panera, one of its business units. "Mars is a private, family-owned business, and the Mars family reacts with brutality to any perceived slight," he wrote in a court filing Aug. 20. "They were upset that, after 24 years working for Mars, I had the temerity to leave." Szarzynski claimed that Frank Mars, who shares a name with company's founder and sits on its board, "intentionally" stepped on his foot after one of his final presentations in front of the Mars board in December 2018. "As Mr. Mars stared at me aggressively, his foot on top of mine, he warned me, 'Tell your new boss we will never forgive him taking people like you from us and will fight him aggressively,'" he alleged. Mars said in a statement to CNBC that the arguments are "an attempt to divert attention from wrongdoing and paint a misleading picture." The company said it is confident that its lawsuit will be successful. "Mr. Szarzynski and JAB do not dispute these facts," the company said. "We tried to resolve this issue amicably, but unfortunately we were unable to do so. JAB was unwilling to agree to a comprehensive settlement." In its original complaint, Mars also accused the former executive of expense fraud. Szarzynski estimated that the expenses could not be worth more than a few hundred dollars and said that he has offered Mars repayment for any errors. He alleged that the company has rebuffed the suggestion. Szarzynski also claimed that Mars wrongfully withheld incentive compensation awards owed to him with an estimated value of more than $1 million. Moreover, he argued that the dispute should be solved through arbitration with Mars or in Belgian courts, where he resides and formerly worked for Mars. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Steel Strips Wheels share price gained over 2 percent intraday on August 28 after the company bagged export orders of nearly 37,000 wheels for EU caravan trailer market amounting to 2,53,000 euro. The company secured export orders of nearly 37,000 wheels for EU caravan trailer be executed in the month of November and December from its Chennai plant. Orders capacity are anticipated from the same customer base as businesses have picked up speed, the company said in an exchange filing. The stock price has gained over 46 percent in the last 3 months and was trading at Rs 488.00, up Rs 12.65, or 2.66 percent. It has touched an intraday high of Rs 495.00 and an intraday low of Rs 480. The company on August 27 also informed about bagging firm export orders for around 12,000 wheels for US and EU caravan Trairer Market to be executed in the month of September and October from its Chennai plant. According to Moneycontrol SWOT Analysis powered by Trendlyne, the company has been efficient in managing assets to generate profits - ROA improving since last 2 years. Moneycontrol technical rating is very bullish with moving averages and technical indicators being bullish. : 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. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices fell slightly on Friday after Hurricane Laura roared through Louisiana and Texas without causing any apparent major damage to the upstream or downstream facilities. Benchmark Brent crude for November delivery dropped 0.4 percent to $45.44 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 0.3 percent at $42.91 a barrel. At least six people were killed as Hurricane Laura, which has now been downgraded to a tropical storm status, smashed parts of U.S. state Louisiana and parts of Texas early Thursday with winds of 150 miles per hour (240 km per hour). U.S. President Donald Trump said he will visit the area during the weekend. Investors also shifted their focus from production outages to demand destruction as Covid-19 cases continues to surge and U.S. economic continued to paint a mixed picture. Europe is seeing a surge in new coronavirus cases, with some countries like Spain, France and Germany recording their highest number of daily infections since April as countries gradually reopened their economies, including greenlighting travel in mid-June. The World Health Organization has warned of a possible uptick in hospitalizations and mortality rates in Europe during the winter. The Labor Department's report showed on Thursday that U.S. unemployment claims fell slightly last week but remained historically high, signaling layoffs. Another report from the Commerce Department showed U.S. economic activity contracted slightly less than initially estimated in the second quarter, but there was a sharp drop in gross domestic product. Separate data from the National Association of Realtors showed a much bigger than expected jump in pending home sales in the month of July. 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. Lottie Tomlinson put her sensational figure on display in a slew of sizzling snaps shared to Instagram on Friday. The influencer, 21, showcased her tanned figure in the sultry pictures, as she continues to enjoy her romantic getaway with beau Lewis Burton in Ibiza. Looking sensational, Lottie slipped into a coral pink bikini that showed off her toned abs, while the plunging top gave a glimpse of her cleavage. Beach babe: Lottie Tomlinson set pulses racing in a coral bikini as she enjoyed her Ibiza trip with beau Lewis Burton in snaps shared via Instagram on Friday Lottie's swimwear from Boux Avenue was cut high on her waist to accentuate her slender legs, while it also highlighted her sun-kissed skin. The sister of Louis Tomlinson went on to model another swimming costume from the brand as she wore a plunging dark blue swimsuit. Her ensemble had a scallop wavy design, while it was backless and also had a plunging neckline that was sure to turn heads. Lottie's blonde locks were styled into loose waves that cascaded over her shoulders and she used a light palette of make-up for the photo shoot. Wow! The sister of Louis Tomlinson went on to model another swimming costume from the brand as she wore a plunging dark blue swimsuit Looking good: Her ensemble had a scallop wavy design while it was backless and also had a plunging neckline that was sure to turn heads 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. 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'. Sleepwear: Lottie also went on to model a white lace polka-dot top and yellow striped shorts Looking good: Lottie's ensemble also highlighted her sun-kissed skin 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, 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 Reaction: Caroline's grieving mother slammed Burton on Instagram, claiming the star's relationship with him 'did end her life' She wrote: 'This relationship did end her life.' She then added: 'Want this deleted so much.' 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. Relaxing: Lottie has been soaking up the sunshine in Ibiza with beau Lewis, despite previously denying claims they were dating 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 16:52:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BERLIN, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- German stocks were up slightly at the start of trading on Friday, with the benchmark DAX index increasing 44.24 points, or 0.34 percent, opening at 13,140.60 points. The biggest winners among Germany's 30 largest listed companies at the start of trading were car manufacturers BMW and Daimler, increasing by 1.06 percent and 1.05 percent, followed by automotive supplier Continental with 0.96 percent. Shares of Deutsche Post fell by 2.20 percent. The German mail and logistics company was the biggest loser at the start of trading on Friday, after announcing at the annual general meeting on Thursday that operating profit for this year would decline to at least 3.5 billion euros (4.2 billion U.S. dollars). Import prices in Germany in July decreased by 4.6 percent year-on-year, while export prices decreased by 1.1 percent year-on-year, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) announced on Friday. Following three consecutive months of growth, consumer sentiment forecasted for September "suffered a considerable decline" to minus 1.8 points, 1.6 points down from August, the German market research institute GfK announced on Friday. "An increase in the number of infections and the fear that coronavirus-related restrictions will be further tightened are creating uncertainty and consequently dampening the mood," said Rolf Buerkl, GfK consumer expert. The yield on German ten-year bonds went up 0.019 percentage points to minus 0.384 percent, and the euro was trading at 1.1821 U.S. dollars, decreasing slightly by 0.01 percent on Friday morning. Enditem Russias two latest amphibious assault ships currently under construction at the Zaliv Shipyard in Crimea will be capable of carrying both deck-based Ka-31, Ka-27 or Ka-52K helicopters and multi-purpose gunships for special missions, Ak Bars Shipbuilding Corporation Chief Renat Mistakhov told TASS at the Army-2020 forum on Thursday. Russias two latest amphibious assault ships currently under construction at the Zaliv Shipyard in Crimea will be capable of carrying both deck-based Ka-31, Ka-27 or Ka-52K helicopters and multi-purpose gunships for special missions, Ak Bars Shipbuilding Corporation Chief Renat Mistakhov told TASS at the Army-2020 forum on Thursday. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link Representative picture. (Picture source: Russian Defense Ministry/TASS) Multi-purpose amphibious assault ships also called helicopter carriers are capable of carrying a group of heavy helicopters of various designations on their board (up to 16 helicopters aboard Mistral-class vessels and over 30 gunships aboard US Wasp-class warships) and transporting from several hundred to 1,000 and more marine infantry personnel. Helicopter carriers are outfitted with a dock for landing craft and can transport armor. Russias first two domestic helicopter carriers Ivan Rogov and Mitrofan Moskalenko were laid down at the Zaliv Shipyard in Kerch on the Crimean Peninsula on July 20. Floating hospitals The Russian multi-purpose amphibious assault ships can be transformed into floating hospitals, if necessary, he said. From the start of the work on the ships design, the Ak Bars Shipbuilding Corporation suggested that some equipment should be stationary, for example, oxygen apparatus, he said. If necessary, an amphibious assault ship will get medical apparatus and materials in addition to the basic equipment installed initially to transform into a full-fledged hospital vessel, he said. Russias Defense Ministry displayed its interest in acquiring hospital ships during the pandemic when the hospital vessel Irtysh was involved in the Far East to ease the burden on hospitals. Russian Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Oleg Ryazantsev told TASS at the Army-2020 forum on August 26 that the United Shipbuilding Corporation had offered several options of building new hospital vessels of various types, layouts, accommodation and classes for operation in coastal and distant waters. Russias Defense Ministry will make a decision on building a fleet of such vessels, proceeding from available financial resources. Copyright 2020 TASS Navy Recognition. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Santee Cooper can't stop Goose Creek from setting up a new competing municipal electric utility to serve South Carolina's only aluminum smelter, according to a ruling this week. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued an order Thursday instructing the state-run utility to give the city access to its power lines. The order is a victory for the city, which wants to buy electricity from outside of South Carolina and transport that power to the Century Aluminum plant off U.s. Highway 52. But the ruling is unlikely to resolve the conflict over who gets to power Century's operations in South Carolina. Elected leaders in Goose Creek and executives with the Chicago-based company joined together last year to formulate a plan where the city would create a utility to supply the company's Mount Holly smelting operations. The deal was intended to allow Century to sidestep Santee Cooper, which has powered the plant for four decades, and buy cheaper electricity from other providers. In return, Century promised to allow Goose Creek to annex its property, bringing with it new tax revenues estimated a $1 million annually. City officials convinced residents last year to support a referendum they needed to set up the utility. Since then, Century, Goose Creek and Santee Cooper have been locked in several legal battles over which side has a right to supply electricity to the plant and the surrounding property. The case decided by FERC this week was filed in March after Santee Cooper declined to give the city access to its transmission lines. Century and Goose Creek followed that up with two lawsuits against Santee Cooper in state court. Century, which also operates plants in Kentucky, Iceland and Holland, continues to argue it will need to shut down its operations in Berkeley County unless it can buy all of its power from a supplier other than Santee Cooper. Century currently gets 25 percent of its electricity from the power plants owned by the Moncks Corner-based utility, but that contract is set to expire at the end of the year. The company did not respond to requests for comment. Santee Cooper maintains it has an exclusive right to power Century's Mount Holly property. It said some of its fixed costs will be pushed on to other electric customers if Century is allowed to buy its power from other sources. Attorneys for Santee Cooper tried to argue in front of FERC that Goose Creek's new utility is a "sham" because it was set up for the benefit of a single company. The commission's four current members, who are appointed by the president, did not see it that way. "Goose Creek has acted within its authority as a political subdivision of the State of South Carolina to form a municipal electric utility," the commissioners wrote in their order. "We disagree with Santee Coopers claim that Goose Creek would not be engaged in the sale of electric energy because it is simply a 'sleeve' or 'agent' for Century Aluminum." Goose Creek Mayor Greg Habib, who spearheaded the city's deal with Century, said he was "encouraged" by FERC's ruling. But he is also aware that it is only the first step in what is expected to be a drawn out legal fight. "I'm sure there will be appeals, but we believe very strongly in our case," Habib said. Santee Cooper spokeswoman Mollie Gore said the leaders of the utility are reviewing the decision and would soon decide whether to file an appeal. Santee Cooper does not have a problem with Goose Creek establishing a lawful municipal electric utility, Gore said, but it does have a problem with the city setting up a new utility to help Century circumvent the law. For now, the fight between Santee Cooper and Goose Creek is likely to pivot to Berkeley County court. While FERC ruled Goose Creek can access the power lines, its commissioners said the state court is better equipped to decide if Santee Cooper has an exclusive right to serve Century's property. If Santee Cooper prevails in that case, FERC said it may be forced to to reconsider its ruling. Some shoppers in Windsor wear face coverings, but many don't, despite the director of public health for Berkshire urging residents to follow social distancing guidelines following a significant rise in the number of positive COVID-19 tests in the past week. (Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images) The coronavirus R rate of infection could be higher than 1 in every region of England, the governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) has warned. The growth rate of coronavirus transmission, which reflects how quickly the number of infections is changing day by day, has increased slightly across the UK since last week. The latest growth rate for the whole of the UK is between -2% and +1% which means the number of new infections is somewhere between shrinking by 2% and growing by 1% every day. This is a slight increase from between -3% to +1% last week. All regions in England now have an R rate range that reaches 1 or above (gov.uk) Thursday saw England record the highest number of new COVID-19 infections since 18 June, with the number of new cases rising to 1,522 in 24 hours - up from 1,048 on Wednesday. However, this is much lower than the 5,000 new cases a day in April, at the peak of the epidemic, and the Office for National Statistics said that rates are on the whole levelling off. The organisation said there is not yet enough evidence to say there has been a fall in new infections in the most recent week and therefore we continue to report that the incidence rate for England remains unchanged. The R number represents the number of people each COVID-19 positive person goes on to infect. In England, the R is between is between 0.9 and 1.1, the same as last week, but with all areas now a range that could be 1 or above. As a result, SAGE does not have confidence that R is currently below 1 in England. As numbers of COVID-19 cases in Birmingham increases, a public health advice campaign featuring Bully the Bull Ring bull wearing a face mask has been launched to try and control the rate of infections (Mike Kemp/In PIctures via Getty Images) Recent changes in transmission are not yet fully reflected in the estimates because the data used to calculate R and growth rate reflect the situation from a few weeks ago. The figures, published each Friday on the gov.uk website, are estimates and there is a high degree of uncertainty with them, experts say. A time delay between initial infection and the need for hospital care usually means it may take between two to three weeks for changes in the spread of COVID-19 to be reflected in the estimates. Story continues The news comes as schools in England prepare to reopen after the summer holidays. Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Chris Whitty said this week that missing school could be worse than catching coronavirus for children. However, experts have warned that while reopening schools has not been usually followed by a surge in COVID-19 transmission, it could mean the reproduction rate remains above one. The British Museum has reopened to the public after being closed for 163 days due to COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown, with strict safety measures in place to help prevent another rise in infections. (Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images) Parts of the north of England are subject to local lockdowns, and areas including Birmingham and Slough were last week added to the government lockdown watch list after reporting rises in numbers of coronavirus infections. Museums, bowling alleys and soft play centres have all reopened to the public, but with strict social distancing measures in place to try and prevent further rises in infection. Coronavirus: what happened today Click here to sign up to the latest news, advice and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter Researchers at the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, and collaborators have warned against only targeting one viral gene when carrying out reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The team conducted a study showing that a mutation had arisen in the N gene of the virus that impaired the annealing of a commonly used RT-PCR primer. Manu Vanaerschot and colleagues say the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that in some areas where community spread of SARS-CoV-2 is high, RT-PCR screening of just one discriminatory target is considered sufficient. However, the current study identified a nucleotide change in an N gene primer sequence that disrupted annealing and amplification, thereby reducing diagnostic sensitivity. The researchers say the findings strongly support the routine use of at least two targets when testing for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR, even in areas where transmission rates are high. A pre-print version of the paper is available on the server bioRxiv*, while the article undergoes peer review. Transmission electron microscopic image of an isolate from the first U.S. case of COVID-19, formerly known as 2019-nCoV. The spherical viral particles, colorized blue, contain cross-sections through the viral genome, seen as black dots. Image Credit: CDC/ Hannah A Bullock; Azaibi Tamin Standard testing generally targets more than one viral gene Routine testing for SARS-CoV-2 involves using RT-PCR to test for the viral genome in respiratory samples, and this is usually carried out using primer pairs that target more than one viral gene. However, the WHO recommends that in areas where the COVID-19 virus is widely spread, a simpler algorithm might be adopted in which, for example, screening by RT-PCR of a single discriminatory target is considered sufficient. Of the FDA-approved Emergency Use Authorizations that currently exist, 36 only screen for one target in RT-PCR assays. The COVID-19 diagnostic laboratory at the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub and the University of California San Francisco (CLIAHUB) has been receiving samples for no-cost testing from various counties in California since April 7th, 2020. The protocol involves assays that target the N gene and the E gene in SAR-VoV-2, and other groups commonly use these assays. What did the study involve? In July, the researchers identified clustering of 35 samples from Madera County that showed poor assay performance for the N gene, but not the E gene, and the team has now set out to identify potential reasons why. The researchers assessed the concordance of the cycle threshold (Ct) values for the two assays in 3,957 SARS-CoV-2-positive tests that were conducted between May 27th and August 7th. The Ct value is a relative measure of the concentration of a target during PCR. Of 3,629 samples that were positive for the E gene and N gene, the difference in Ct value between the N and E gene (Ct[N-E]) was 0.40. The team defined two potential mutant sample sets. The first set (set A), which comprised 42 samples collected from Madera County between June 30th and August 4th, included samples that had an Ct(N-E) value of 2.96 or more and an E gene Ct value 30 or less. The team reports that in sample set A, the Ct(N-E) was an average of 5.35, representing an approximate 41-fold impairment of N gene amplification. The second sample set (Set B), which comprised 19 samples collected from Madera County over the same time period, included samples that had an E gene Ct value of more than 30 and an Ct(N-E) of more than 2.96 or an E gene Ct value of more than 30 and no N gene Ct value detected. Sequencing identified a mutation Sequencing of the detected N gene fragment in samples from set A, identified 34 samples that had a single mutation in the forward primer binding site in the N gene, which corresponds to G29140T in the SARS-CoV-2 genome. The other eight samples had a wild-type N gene fragment, indicating that the higher average Ct(N-E) of 5.99 that was observed in these samples was an artifact. Of 17 randomly-selected control samples from Madera county that had an Ct(N-E) value of less than 2.96, none contained the G29140T mutation. Sequencing of the detected gene fragment in samples from set B identified twelve samples that had the G29140T mutation. Importantly, RT-PCR targeting the N gene did not detect SARS-COV-2 in five of ten 10 samples, says the team. Fortunately, these cases could still be recognized as infected by use of the E gene assay, write the researchers. To assess the effect the G29140T mutation had on PCR targeting of the N gene, the researchers synthesized a new N gene forward primer that had complete complementarity to the mutated sequence and compared the performance of this primer to the original primer among 16 mutant and 14 wild- type samples. Among the mutant samples, the Ct(N-E) fell from 5.44 with the original primer to 0.19 with the mutated primer. Among wild-type samples, the Ct(N-E) increased from 0.46 with the original primer to 7.34 with the mutated primer. These data validate that the G29140T mutation is causative for the observed aberrant N gene Ct values, says the team. At least two targets should be used Vanaerschot and colleagues say the findings demonstrate that even in areas where community spread of SARS-CoV-2 is high, mutations can arise that impair recognition of RT-PCR primers and decrease diagnostic sensitivity. This could lead to under-diagnosis if laboratories only used one target for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Our findings strongly support the routine use of at least two targets for SARS-CoV-2 detection by RT-PCR, concludes the team. *Important Notice bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. Medics have been hit hard in Kosovo - Ferdi Limani/Getty Images Kosovo has become the worlds most deadly country for Covid-19 despite the fact it has Europe's youngest population, as the republics divided political class struggles to contain the virus. Over the last week, the death rate in Kosovo jumped to 54.2 fatalities per million people, making the republic of 1.8 million the worlds leader when it comes to per capita deaths from the virus, according to figures from John Hopkins University. Columbia is in second place, with 50 fatalities per million people. Avdullah Hoti, the prime minister who tested positive for the virus in early August, has warned that the hospitals across the country were running out of beds due to an influx of new Covid cases. He has also said the government was prepared to bring in new restrictions in an effort to contain the virus. Despite Kosovo's young population - 53 percent of its people are under the age of 25 - it has proved particularly vulnerable to the pandemic. Kosovo closed places of worship in July - AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu Kosovo is one of Europe's poorest countries and has a fragile health service, but it has also had to endure political instability that has undermined attempts to contain the virus. In March, just as Covid-19 was taking a grip, the country was thrown into constitutional chaos when the government collapsed following a no-confidence vote. The vote itself was precipitated by a clash between Albin Kurti, the prime minister at the time, and Hashim Thaci, the president, over how to limit the spread of the virus. The ousting of the government brought with it the sacking of the health minister and other health, derailing the states response to the public health emergency. Mr Hotis government has also been accused of lifting anti-virus restrictions too early. The political instability has put more pressure on Kosovos ailing health service. Since March some 1,200 health professionals have been infected with the coronavirus, including 494 doctors, seven of whom have died. In early August nurses protested in the capital Pristina, calling for their salaries to be doubled to 36 a day. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan increased the volume of trade turnover with Saudi Arabia in January-July 2020, local media reported with the reference to State Customs Committee on August 27. According to the statement, Azerbaijans trade turnover with Saudi Arabia during the reporting period amounted to $7.1 million. Meanwhile, trade turnover with Iran amounted to $179.2 million, and with the United Arab Emirates $22.6 million. Thus, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia were among the three leading countries of the Persian Gulf with which Azerbaijan conducted the most trade operations. It should be noted that the trade turnover with Iran and the United Arab Emirates decreased in comparison to the same period last year, while with Saudi Arabia increased. Moreover, these countries were also top three leaders in terms of Azerbaijani import. Thus, import from Iran amounted to $158.4 million, from the United Arab Emirates to $16.2 million, and from Saudi Arabia to $6 million. Likewise, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are accounted for the largest volume of export from Azerbaijan, during the first seven months of the year. Thus, export to Iran amounted to $20.7 million, to the United Arab Emirates to $6.3 million and to Qatar amounted to $1.1 million. It should be noted that there was a decrease in terms of export volumes with Iran and the United Arab Emirates, and increase with Qatar. Earlier it was reported that, Azerbaijans top trade partners among Organization of Islamic Cooperation were Turkey, Iran and Tunisia. Thus, the trade turnover with Turkey amounted to $2.5 billion, with Iran to $179.2 million and with Tunisia to $174.9 million in January-July 2020. Furthermore, Russia was the leader among Azerbaijans trade partners among the CIS countries as well as the countrys third largest trade partner with the volume of trade turnover between the two countries reaching $1.5. Additionally, Spain, Mexico and Ecuador were the top three countries with which Azerbaijan conducted the most trade transactions from among Spanish-speaking countries. Thus, the trade turnover with Ecuador amounted to $24.8 million, Spain amounted to $262.6 million, while with Mexico to $34.5 million. The volume of Azerbaijans foreign trade turnover amounted to $15 billion in the period between January and July 2020. Hundreds of learners at an English center in Vietnam are seeking refunds after having their courses canceled or suspended. Students at the Dai Bang (Eagle) English Center have been unsuccessfully requesting reimbursement for several weeks after the school canceled and suspended classes at campuses in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Dai Bang English Center is owned by Eagle Corp Education and Training Consulting Ltd., according to Nguyen Thanh Trung, office chief at the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training. The company applied for the establishment of its first branch in Ho Chi Minh City at 422 Cao Thang Street in Ward 12, District 10 in August 2019. It then submitted applications to open nine more branches across the city in November that same year. The municipal education department granted the license for all ten Dai Bang English Center facilities on November 14, 2019. A few weeks later, Eagle Corp filed another application to the education department for permission to put the facility at 422 Cao Thang Street into operation but never received approval due to unfinished paperwork. Despite failing to get the green light, the center began recruiting students and collecting tuition. L.B.H., a prospective Eagle English Center student, paid VND12.66 million (US$547) for a 17-month course at the centers Binh Thanh District location in late 2019. Though the center promised H. he would be able to achieve an IELTS band 6.5 by the end of the course, he has not yet been allowed to set foot in a classroom. The center repeatedly announced school breaks for several reasons such as the Lunar New Year holiday, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the class not having enough students. I demanded a refund but they havent processed my request, H. complained. N.N.N.Th. also signed up for an IELTS course with the center, this time paying VND11 million for 14 months of lessons at the District 6 location. Though she was able to take a few lessons with the center, she was forced to stop once it began announcing closures. I asked them to refund me at least VND10 million [$433] for the lessons I have not attended but havent heard anything back, Th. said. When Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper called the Dai Bang English Center hotline on August 21, a respondent said that its headquarters is in Hanoi and its facilities in Ho Chi Minh City have switched to online classes due to the pandemic. Tuoi Tre then visited each of the centers 14 locations in Hanoi on Tuesday but found that most were out of operation and the premises had been returned to landlords. Only two facilities, one on Tay Son Street in Dong Da District and another on Le Thanh Nghi Street in Hai Ba Trung District, were open. When Tuoi Tre asked to see the manager of the center on Le Thanh Nghi Street, the center refused. Attempts to reach the centers manager and director via phone were also in vain. Ho Chi Minh City education department office chief Trung said his agency has received complaints from people related to the English center and has contacted Eagle Corp regarding the issue. In response, the company admitted that its English centers have been recruiting learners without permission, but rejected reports that it has launched teaching activities, according to Trung. We have made an appointment with the company for a working session later this week. We will ask it to clarify its collection of tuition. Well also give the center a deadline to refund its learners, Trung said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Coca-Cola is offering 4,000 buyouts to workers as it prepares to make job cuts due to the coronavirus. The company, which has suffered a decline in sales as a result of the pandemic, announced on Friday it would make voluntary and involuntary staff cuts. Coca-Cola did not say how many jobs would be lost in total but has confirmed it will reduce the number of its individual business segments from 17 to nine. In a statement, the company said that the voluntary programme was expected to reduce the number of involuntary redundancies. Chair and chief executive James Quincey said the business would prioritise a portfolio of strong brands and a disciplined innovation framework. As we implement these changes, were continuing to evolve our organisation, which will include significant changes in the structure of our workforce, Mr Quincey said. The global severance programmes are expected to incur expenses of up to $550m (412m). The company is just one of many with ties to the events and hospitality industry that has been severely affected by the virus. Half of Coca-Colas sales come from stadia and cinemas, which have all seen prolonged closures in an attempt to stop the spread of the disease. Shares of Coca-Cola Company are down about 13 per cent this year and revenue in the Atlanta companys most recent quarter fell by 28 per cent. Additional reporting by Associated Press Tuolumne County Public Health View Photo Sonora, CA There are two new positive coronavirus cases involving residents of Tuolumne County and both are staff at the prison. Both individuals are in isolation. Public Health officials detail that one previously isolated case has recovered. They add that one hospitalized individual has been reassigned to another jurisdiction as part of that countys outbreak investigation. On Wednesday, health officials informed that nine inmates at the Sierra Conservation Center (SCC) had tested positive, as reported here. They have since been removed from the countys case tally. That is due to the California Department of Public Health no longer including prison inmate cases in case rates for data monitoring purposes, according to county health officials. Additionally, those numbers will not be reflected in the daily case count. However, they add that this does not apply to SCC staff who are Tuolumne County residents, like those reported today. Known Tuolumne tests: 9,633, positive 181 (93 females and 88 males), none hospitalized, active cases 11, total recovered 168. 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 recommended. The site now offers testing for children ages 3 and older (accompanied by a parent or guardian). 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. 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 Visit our Health Section, under the Community tab or keyword: health. All of our Coronavirus updates are here. Adviser on Gender Equality, Vienna, Austria Organization: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Country: Austria City: Vienna, Austria Office: OSCE Vienna Closing date: Monday, 7 September 2020 Issued by: OSCE Secretariat Vacancy number: VNSECS01551 Vacancy type: International Seconded Field of expertise: Human Rights Grade: S Number of posts: 1 Duty station: Vienna Date of issue: 22 July 2020 Deadline for application: 7 September 2020 - 23: 59 Central European Time (CET/CEST) Background This position is open for secondment only and participating States are kindly reminded that all costs in relation to assignment at the Secretariat must be borne by their authorities. Candidates should, prior to applying, verify with their respective nominating authority to which extent financial remuneration and/or benefit packages will be offered. Seconded staff members in the OSCE Secretariat and Institutions are not entitled to a Board and Lodging Allowance payable by the Organization. The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis. The OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chair-in-Office in its activities, supports the participating States in implementation of the Ministerial Council Decisions across comprehensive security issues. The incumbent will be placed in the Gender Issues Programme within the Office of the Secretary General (OSG). The OSG plays a key role in supporting the Secretary General in the effective implementation of his/her mandate and specific tasks given to him/her by the OSCE participating States. This includes assisting the Secretary General in his/her activities, serving as a focal point for liaison and support to the Chairperson-in-Office, and co-ordinating tasks across the Secretariat. The OSG ensures effective co-ordination of policy advice provided to the Secretary General and the Chair-in-Office, and management decisions taken by the Secretary General. The Gender Issues Programme of the OSG supports the efforts of the OSCE Secretary General to promote gender equality through a continuous and systematic gender mainstreaming process within the Organization. It also ensures the full implementation of the 2004 Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality, relevant Ministerial Council decisions as well as commitments to gender equality of the OSCE participating States. It implements projects, assists and advises the OSCE executive structures in the implementation of the 2004 Action Plan by providing technical assistance for the mainstreaming of gender equality in all activities, policies, programmes and projects. Tasks and Responsibilities Under the general supervision of the Senior Adviser on Gender Issues, and the direct supervision of the Senior Co-ordination Adviser on Gender Issues, the incumbent will provide programmatic expertise in the thematic area of the inclusion of women in conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation. More specifically, the successful candidate will be responsible for: Assisting the Secretariat, and executive structures, the Chair-in-Office and participating States, on their request, in the implementation of the 2004 Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality, and relevant Ministerial Council decisions (MCD), in particular regarding the effective participation of women in peace processes, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation; Suggesting strategies, undertaking research and analysis on priority topics of gender equality as well asproviding technical assistance to various OSCE executive structures, with focus on making the link between gender equality and politico-military security, in particular for the implementation of the Ministerial Council decision 14/05 and UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 and subsequent resolutions on women, peace and security; Assisting the Secretariat, and executive structures to develop a systematic approach to integrating a gender perspective throughout their activities; promoting the effective use of instruments for gender mainstreaming, in particular in security sector, and peace building initiatives and activities; Participating in designing and delivering capacity development work for staff, and relevant stakeholders in OSCE participating States, promoting thedissemination of good practices; Developing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting extra-budgetary projects of the Gender Issues Programme with a focus on politico-military dimension, as well as violence against women and other relevant themes of gender equality; Reviewing extra-budgetary project proposals in the politico-military dimension of security and suggesting adequate measures for gender mainstreaming; Assisting in the preparation of the Annual Progress Report on Gender Equality in the OSCE, compiling data from various OSCE executive structures and preparing analysis and recommendations; Liaising with relevant international and regional organizations as well as politico-military structures within and outside the Organization with regard to gender equality matters and, as appropriate, promote the exchange of best practices; Performing other related duties, such as representing the Senior Adviser on Gender Issues in various meetings and events, as required. For more detailed information on the structure and work of the Department for Human Resources, please see: //www.osce.org/secretariat>www.osce.org/secretariat Necessary Qualifications Advanced university degree in international relations, political science, gender studies, social sciences or a related field; A minimum of six years of professional experience in political affairs , gender equality and human rights; Demonstrated experience in programme management, implementation, monitoring and reporting in bi- or multilateral development organizations; Solid knowledge of international documents and conventions related to gender equality, including the UN SCR 1325 and subsequent resolutions on the women, peace and security; Sound knowledge of the OSCE politico-military commitments; experience with the work of OSCE would be an asset; Hands-on experience in developing and providing training and other capacity development activities on gender equality issues; Tags capacity development conflict prevention conflict resolution crisis management democratization gender analysis gender mainstreaming good practices human resources human rights international relations monitoring and reporting peace and security programme management regional organizations social sciences violence against women word processing Proven knowledge and application of gender analysis, preferably within the context conflict, conflict resolution and post conflict recovery; Demonstrated ability to research, analyse and evaluate critical matters pertaining to a broad spectrum of issues related to gender equality; Sound knowledge of OSCE principles, commitments and fundamental documents; Professional fluency in English, both oral and written; knowledge of other OSCE working languages, would be an asset; Advanced communication and co-ordination skills; Proven ability to work in team while being able to work with minimum of supervision along with a strong initiative-taking ability; Advanced skills for establishing and maintaining effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds whilst remaining impartial and objective; Demonstrated computer-related skills and ability to operate Windows applications, including word processing and e-mail; Ability and willingness to travel outside the duty station. If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCEs online application link found under //jobs.osce.org/vacancies>https: //jobs.osce.org/vacancies. The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment at a lower grade or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration. Only those applicants who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted. Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see //www.osce.org/states>http: //www.osce.org/states. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages the nomination of qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds. Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process. Please apply to your relevant authorities several days prior to the deadline expiration to ensure timely processing of your application. Delayed nominations will not be considered. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 16:49:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TOKYO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said at a press conference on Friday that he will step down from his post due to health concerns. Abe said that he will remain in office until his successor is chosen. The Liberal Democratic Party will decide next week on how to hold a leadership election, with parliamentarians and representatives of local chapters likely casting ballots, according to local media reports. Abe, 65, said that his health condition has worsened and he began feeling fatigued in July. He said he lost confidence in his ability to serve the Japanese people. Abe said that he needs to be treated for a flare-up of his intestinal disease that led his first one-year stint to end abruptly in 2007. He will receive new treatment but requires prolonged care, Abe said. Enditem The Delhi police on Friday said they have busted a gang of robbers, who would snatch gold chains and then sell them to a gold loan firm in Mayur Vihar, and arrested six people for their involvement in the snatchings. The six include Himanshu Chand, 27, a fruit vendor previously involved in six cases of assault, robbery, snatching and illegal possession of arms, and Jitender Lal, 28, a driver. Both are residents of Trilokpuri. Their wives, Babita, 26, and Preeti, 27, would allegedly exchange the jewellery at the firm. Police identified the other two arrested accused as Rahul Kumar, 28, who runs a mobile repairing shop and Nitin, 28, a fruit vendor, who are also accused of selling stolen items. Deputy police commissioner (South-East) R P Meena said Chand and Lal were arrested in Amar Colony on Wednesday after they were trying to flee on a bike after snatching a mans gold chain. He added the two told their interrogators that they were members of Parcha Gang and confessed to their involvement in at least four other cases of snatching and robbery. They disclosed that some chains and jewellery robbed and snatched by them recently have been kept in the office of the firm in Mayur Vihar by their wives. Raids were conducted and... two more snatched gold chains were recovered from the companys office. Both the women, Babita and Preeti, were also arrested, he said. Meena said Chand and Lal also told them that Kumar and Nitin would also sell the snatched gold chains. The other two were also arrested from Trilokpuri. Meena said Rakesh Yadav, who helped nab the entire gang, was rewarded with a certificate and cash Rs 2,000 for his exemplary act of courage in taking on the robbers at Amar Colony. As many as 1,095 look out circulars have been deleted and 630 foreign members of the Tablighi Jamaat have left India, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. On the issue of foreign Tablighi Jamaat members stuck in India for violating visa rules and pandemic restrictions, MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the ministry has been actively facilitating their consular access, deletion of LOCs and smooth repatriation to their respective countries. "We have kept the respective foreign embassies informed through the entire process," he said. "As of August 24, 1,095 look out circulars (LOCs) were deleted and 630 foreign members of the Tablighi Jamaat have left India," he said at an online media briefing. These members of the Tablighi Jamaat were charged under the Foreigners Act for indulging in activities that were incompatible with their visa status, he said. Therefore, for such activities, appropriate category of visa has to be sought, Srivastava said. To a separate question on whether External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) foreign ministers' meeting next month, Srivastava said the minister has received an invitation for the meeting to be held in Moscow and a decision on his participation would be made known once it is taken. On whether the Kerala government had sought MEA's approval for signing an MoU with the UAE Red Crescent Authority - an NGO -- for a project, Srivastava said no such approval had been taken. Also read: Tablighi Jamaat case: Delhi court frames charges against 36 foreigners from 14 countries Also read: Foreign attendees of Tablighi Jamaat event made scapegoat in pandemic, says Bombay HC Mahmoud Ezzat, the groups acting leader, arrested in the capital Cairo, interior ministry says. Egypt on Friday arrested a top leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, the latest swept up by Cairos long-running crackdown against the outlawed Islamist group. Mahmoud Ezzat, the groups acting leader, has already been handed two death sentences in absentia, as well as life imprisonment. Egypt has jailed thousands of members and supporters of the group since the armys overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi in 2013, on the back of mass protests against his brief rule. Cairo has blacklisted the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation, but it has consistently denied any link to violence. National security has communicated information concerning the arrest of the fugitive leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mahmud Ezzat, the interior ministry said in a statement. Ezzat, the statement added, is the acting supreme leader of the international terrorist organisation. He was apprehended in a residential area east of the capital, despite incessant rumours circulated by officials of the Brotherhood about his presence abroad, the ministry added. The 76-year-old had already been sentenced on charges including participation in the management of a terrorist organisation, collaboration with armed terrorist groups, and endangering the foundations of the state. Ezzat, a member of the Brotherhood since the 1960s, spent time in prison under the presidencies of Gamal Abdel Nasser and Hosni Mubarak, and has served as the organisations acting leader several times. By Eduardo Simoes and Stephen Eisenhammer SAO PAULO (Reuters) - The Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, which is in advanced trials of a Chinese coronavirus vaccine, will inoculate its population even if the federal government declines to help, governor Joao Doria told Reuters in an interview on Friday. The comment comes amid the deteriorating relationship between Brazil's wealthiest and most populous state and the capital Brasilia. Doria said the vaccine developed by Chinas SinoVac still needs to complete clinical trials and be approved by health regulator Anvisa, but that Sao Paulo is ready to begin vaccinations in December. "We will be prepared, if there were some situation in which the federal government, for some grave circumstance of attitude, turns its back on Sao Paulo, Brazilians from Sao Paulo will have the vaccine," Doria said in an interview. Doria and President Jair Bolsonaro have clashed frequently in recent months over the nation's handling of the coronavirus pandemic in Brazil, with the president blaming Doria for killing the economy and the governor accusing Bolsonaro of negligence. (Reporting by Eduardo Simoes and Stephen Eisenhammer; Editing by Sandra Maler and Alistair Bell) The United States and China exchanged accusations amid rising military tensions between the world's two largest economies, with the US Secretary of Defense pledging not to yield an inch in the Pacific and Beijing saying Washington is risking the lives of soldiers, Reuters reported. Multiple disagreements between the two countries touch on issues such as technology, human rights, and China's military activity in the disputed South China Sea, with each side blaming the other for deliberately provocative behavior. On Thursday, US Navy warship conducted a routine operation near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, which is often criticized by Beijing as a threat to its sovereignty. US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said 'the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) wanted Beijing to project power globally via its military.' To advance the CCPs agenda, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) continues to pursue an aggressive modernization plan to achieve a world class military by the middle of the century, Esper said. This will undoubtedly involve the PLAs provocative behavior in the South and East China Seas, and anywhere else the Chinese government has deemed critical to its interests. However, according to Esper, the United States wanted to hopefully continue to work with the Peoples Republic of China to get them back on a trajectory that is more aligned with the international rules based order. Speaking before a regional tour, Esper described the Indo-Pacific as the epicenter of a great power competition with China. He added, Were not going to cede this region, an inch of ground if you will, to another country, any other country that thinks their form of government, their views on human rights, their views on sovereignty, their views on freedom of the press, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, all those things, that somehow thats better than what many of us share. In Beijing, Chinas Defense Ministry shot back at certain U.S. politicians it said were damaging Sino-U.S. military ties in the run-up to the November election for their own selfish gain, even seeking to create military clashes. This kind of behavior puts the lives of frontline officers and soldiers on both sides at risk, spokesman Wu Qian told reporters on Thursday. Japanese Prime Minister announced that he will step down amid health concerns. Japanese national broadcaster NHK said on Friday that Abe wanted to avoid causing problems to the government due to his worsening health condition. Speculation over Abe's health was rife after the Japanese PM made two visits to a hospital recently. Shinzo Abe battled ulcerative colitis, a chronic disease, for year. Abe held a press conference to make the announcement. The ruling party has said that Shinzo Abe's health is fine amid reports of hospital visits -- including one that lasted nearly eight hours. His health led to concerns over his ability to continue in the demanding job till the end of his term in September 2021. He recently surpassed the record for the longest serving Prime Minister set by great-uncle Eisaku Sato around 50 years ago. Shinzo Abe had vowed to revive the Japanese economics with his 'Abenomics' policy of spending and monetary easing. Amid criticism for the handling of the coronavirus pandemic, Abe's support fell to one of the lowest levels in nearly eight years in office. Abe had also abruptly resigned in 2007 citing ill health. (With Reuters inputs) Also read: Japan's next concern -- running out of credit card numbers amid online shopping boom Also read: COVID-19 pandemic likely to push Japanese banks' credit costs to Great Recession levels: Bank of Japan Find all of the most important pandemic education news on Educating N.J., a special resource guide created for parents, students and educators. The prolonged coronavirus outbreak and tough safety guidelines have prompted scores of public school districts in New Jersey to draft plans to reopen in September with all-remote learning instead of in-person classroom instruction. As of this week, 180 school districts across the state have indicated they want to begin the 2020-2021 school year with all-remote learning, while 59 districts plan to fully reopen and the remaining districts want to start the new school year with a hybrid mix of in-person and remote learning, according to Gov. Phil Murphy. All school reopening plans need to be reviewed and approved by the state Department of Education 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 revisions requested by the state, the governor said. Keep up with the latest in N.J. schools coverage. Sign up with your email here: For many school districts, the desire to reopen with 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. NJ Advance Media has been able to confirm the following 178 districts are 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 (remote at start of school year) Brigantine (remote start, with re-entry 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 (remote at start of school year) Pleasantville (remote at start of school year) 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 (remote through Oct. 19) Bergenfield (remote start, until Oct. 16) Edgewater (remote for the month of September; district expects to re-evaluate in the middle of September) Elmwood Park (through Oct. 19) Fair Lawn (remote through Oct. 19) Fort Lee (remote through Oct. 16) Garfield (plan submitted to state Department of Education to start all-remote and transition to hybrid) Hackensack (remote start, schools plan to reopen Nov. 2) Lodi (remote start, through at least Oct. 19) Lyndhurst (remote learning until Oct. 16; in-person instruction scheduled to begin Oct. 19) North Arlington (remote through Oct. 16) Palisades Park (remote through at least Oct. 13) Ridgefield (remote through first marking period) Rochelle Park (remote through Oct. 5) Teaneck (remote through first marking period) Tenafly (remote instruction for all students, district-wide) Wallington (remote through Oct. 13) Wyckoff (remote through Sept. 24) BURLINGTON COUNTY Bordentown (remote Sept. 3 through at least Oct. 9) Burlington City (remote through at least Oct. 13) Burlington Township (remote through first marking period) Chesterfield (schools plan to reopen Oct. 19 with remote learning) Eastampton (remote through first marking period) Florence (remote through Sept 18, hybrid plan to start Sept. 21) Lumberton (remote learning Sept. 8 to Sept. 18, hybrid learning starting Sept. 21) Northern Burlington County Regional (students to begin 2 weeks of all-remote instruction on Sept 14, then report for in-person instruction Sept. 28 with a hybrid model) Palmyra (remote) Pemberton Township (remote through at least Oct. 13) Rancocas Valley (remote Sept. 8 through Sept. 25) Westampton (remote) Willingboro (remote through Nov. 18) CAMDEN COUNTY Audubon (remote through Nov. 4) Barrington (remote through at least Nov. 9) Brooklawn (remote to start the school year) Camden (remote through Jan. 31) Clementon Collingswood/Oaklyn (remote through mid-October) Eastern Regional (remote start, return to school Oct. 5) Gloucester City (through Oct. 16) Haddon Heights (through Oct. 30) Lindenwold Winslow Township (through Jan. 1) CUMBERLAND COUNTY Bridgeton (remote through Oct. 13) Commercial Township (remote through Oct. 13) Cumberland County Technical Education Center (remote start, plans to move to hybrid model Oct. 13) Cumberland Regional (remote start) Deerfield Township (remote through Oct. 13) Downe Township (remote through Oct. 13) Fairfield (remote 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 (remote through Oct. 13) ESSEX COUNTY Bloomfield (remote through September) Caldwell-West Caldwell (remote to Oct. 7 except for a group of self-contained special education classes) Cedar Grove (remote to start; district to reevaluate by end of September and look to go hybrid by Oct. 19) East Orange (remote through September) Glen Ridge (high school remote-only through Oct. 5) Irvington (remote start) Livingston (school year to start all remote) Millburn-Short Hills (remote through first quarter of school year) Montclair (remote start) Newark (remote through first marking period) Nutley (remote through first marking period) Orange (remote learning through Nov. 25; hybrid begins Nov. 29) South Orange-Maplewood (remote 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 Essex Regional School District (remote to Oct. 2) West Orange (remote start) GLOUCESTER COUNTY Delsea Regional (remote start) Deptford (remote through Sept. 30) Gateway Regional (remote through at least Oct. 13) Glassboro Public Schools (starting fully remote, through Nov. 12) 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) Washington Township (through Sept. 21) West Deptford (all-virtual from Sept. 8 to Nov. 9) Woodbury City (remote start, hybrid starting Nov. 9) Note: An earlier version of this report incorrectly listed the Elk Township school district. That district is not starting the school year with all-remote instruction. HUDSON COUNTY Bayonne (remote start) Guttenberg (remote start) Harrison (remote through Nov. 13) Hoboken (all virtual Sept. 14 to Sept. 19, optional in-person after that) Hudson County Schools of Technology (remote through Sept. 28) Jersey City (remote start) Kearny (remote start) North Bergen (remote through the end of September) Union City (remote for at least the month of September) Weehawken School District (remote to start with students moving to a hybrid schedule between Sept. 28-Oct. 14) West New York (remote start) HUNTERDON COUNTY Flemington-Raritan (remote through Oct. 30) Lebanon Township (remote start) Readington (remote to at least Oct. 19) MERCER COUNTY East Windsor: (remote instruction from Sep. 9 to Nov. 9) Ewing (remote start, 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 (remote through first marking period) Lawrence Township (all students will start remote) Mercer County Special Services (remote start) Mercer County Technical Schools (remote through Nov. 9) Princeton Charter School (remote start) Princeton Township public schools (remote start) Robbinsville (students in grades 6-12 fully remote until Oct. 12. Pk-5 will remain in the hybrid or 100% remote model) Trenton (remote start) MIDDLESEX COUNTY Carteret (remote until Oct. 9; plans to begin hybrid learning on Oct. 13) Cranbury (remote through Oct. 16) Dunellen (remote through the Thanksgiving holiday) Edison (remote at least until Oct. 16) Highland Park (remote until Oct. 5 for some students) Jamesburg (remote until Nov. 1) Metuchen (at least until Oct. 1) Middlesex Borough (remote start) Regional Education Services Commission of New Jersey (remote start) 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 (remote during first two marking periods) North Brunswick (remote during first marking period) Old Bridge (remote until Oct. 12) Perth Amboy (remote until at least Nov. 18, the end of first marking period) Piscataway (remote until at least Nov. 13) Sayreville (remote until at least Nov. 12) South Brunswick (remote start) South Plainfield (remote start) South River (plans for in-person instruction on Oct. 1) Spotswood (remote until at least Sept. 18) Woodbridge (remote until at least Oct. 12) MONMOUTH COUNTY Asbury Park (remote for first 30 instructional days; return to school Oct. 21) Freehold Borough (remote start, will re-evaluate 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) Freehold Regional High School District (through Oct. 19) Long Branch (remote start) Manalapan-Englishtown (remote at least the first two weeks of school for some schools) Neptune Township (remote start, will re-evaluate by the end of October) Ocean Township (remote 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 (remote through first marking period) Montville (middle and high school students to start remote) Mount Olive (district will start in-person on alternating weekly schedule or remote for grades K-3 while grades 4-12 will be synchronous full-day remote) OCEAN COUNTY Lacey Township (remote to start, on Sept. 8, and then a hybrid model from Sept. 21) Toms River (remote through first marking period) PASSAIC COUNTY Bloomingdale (remote start, with a review on Oct. 15 and a target date of Nov. 16 or sooner to reopen schools in a hybrid instructional program) Clifton (remote to start year; district to reevaluate conditions on Oct. 1, with possible reopening for in-person instruction on Oct. 12. Manchester Regional High School District (school year to begin remote) Passaic (remote through September) Paterson (remote through at least Nov. 1) Prospect Park (remote through Nov. 11) 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 (remote through Oct. 1) Bridgewater-Raritan (remote through Oct. 12) Franklin Township (remote start) 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 (remote start) Hillside (remote start, will reassess three weeks before the end of the first marking period) Linden (remote start, will reassess the end of each month) Plainfield (remote through at least Nov. 1) Rahway (remote start) Roselle (remote through first marking period) Roselle Park (remote start) Scotch Plains-Fanwood (remote start) Springfield (remote through Nov. 2) Union Township (remote start, 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) Do you know of a school district thats planning to start remotely? Tell us about it here. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. NJ Advance Media staff writers Len Melisurgo and Casey Roland contributed to this report. 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Rome, Italy Fri, August 28, 2020 16:27 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4130aad 2 Art & Culture Banksy,refugee,artist,Mediterranean,Britain,Italy,Spain,migrants Free British street artist Banksy is funding a ship covered with his own artwork to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean and has so far picked up at least 89 people, a newspaper reported. Named after the 19th-century French anarchist, Louise Michel, the German-flagged boat left the Spanish port of Burriana on August 18, British newspaper The Guardian reported late Thursday. Banksy funds refugee rescue boat operating in Mediterranean https://t.co/jLhliMnBqT The Guardian (@guardian) August 27, 2020 Chartered under strict security, the boat on Thursday rescued 89 people including 14 women and two children in the central Mediterranean, the paper said, declining to give the vessel's exact position. "It is now looking for a safe seaport to disembark the passengers or to transfer them to a European coastguard vessel," the paper said. Painted in bright pink, the vessel features Banksy artwork depicting a girl in a life vest holding a heart-shaped safety buoy. The 31-meter motor yacht that was formerly owned by French customs authorities is smaller but considerably faster than other NGO rescue vessels, The Guardian said. It has 10 crew members "made up of European activists with long experience in search and rescue operations" and is captained by German human rights activist Pia Klemp, who has also captained other NGO rescue vessels. Read also: Banksy coronavirus graffiti removed from London train Banksy's involvement in the rescue mission goes back to September 2019 when he sent Klemp an email. "Hello Pia, I've read about your story in the papers. You sound like a badass," Banksy wrote, according to The Guardian. "I am an artist from the UK and Ive made some work about the migrant crisis, obviously I cant keep the money. Could you use it to buy a new boat or something? Please let me know. Well done. Banksy." Klemp, who initially thought it was a joke, told the paper she believed she was chosen because of her political stance, The Guardian said. Early this month, humanitarian organisations said they would resume migrant rescues in the Mediterranean Sea where none have operated since the Ocean Viking docked in Italy in early July. Before the Ocean Viking's last mission, rescue operations in the Mediterranean had been suspended for months due to the global coronavirus pandemic. More than 100,000 migrants tried to cross the Mediterranean last year from north Africa with more than 1,200 dying in the attempt, according to the International Organization for Migration. Topics : Banksy refugee artist Mediterranean Britain Italy Spain migrants Abbott Laboratories has trials underway for its rapid coronavirus test to determine whether it could effectively be used on asymptomatic people, CEO Robert Ford told CNBC on Friday. The company on Wednesday received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration for its new coronavirus antigen test, which it says sells for $5 and can produce results in 15 minutes, similar to a pregnancy test. Abbott's latest product is a notable development as the U.S. attempts to build out Covid-19 testing capacity this fall but for now, the FDA's authorization for the test is limited in scope. It can be used only within seven days of someone showing coronavirus symptoms and in consultation with a health-care provider, meaning it is not authorized to test presymptomatic people or those without symptoms. But Ford said the Illinois-based medical equipment company has hopes to expand beyond the current FDA approval. "We are working on developing data for asymptomatic claims, so we are running our clinical trial, and we'll eventually have data to be able to support that," Ford said in an interview with CNBC's Meg Tirrell on "Power Lunch." A spokeswoman for Abbott Labs said the company did not have any additional details on the clinical trials to provide at this time. Abbott's offering, called BinaxNOW, has potential to dramatically speed up turnaround time for Covid-19 results in the U.S., which has experienced significant testing challenges throughout the pandemic. The test does not need lab equipment to deliver results, making it portable and suitable for settings such as doctor's offices. The U.S. government secured a deal for at least 150 million of Abbott's tests, with hopes to deploy them to nursing homes, schools or other high-risk populations. In a CNBC op-ed published Thursday, Ford emphasized that rapid antigen tests such as BinaxNOW are critical because they eliminate the waiting game for results. As Covid-19 cases surged this summer, widespread delays for lab-based testing results were reported, which medical experts say is problematic since people need to know as soon as possible whether they must self-isolate. "Rapid tests deliver actionable results quickly so that infected patients can immediately begin self-quarantine. This test, along with others like it, is risk reduction on a societal scale," Ford wrote. While Abbott conducts its trial for the test with asymptomatic people, Ford said Friday that Abbott believes it can be distributed and used in a number of beneficial settings. "In the meantime, we see it being able to be deployed, because it doesn't requirement an instrument ... through the federal government, through the state governments, through schools, through employers, or even through retail clinics," Ford said. "We think that's a great opportunity to be able to line up this volume." Shares of Abbott Labs closed Friday's session at $110.79 apiece but hit an all-time high of $114.20 during the session. The stock is up more than 25% so far in 2020. Not for Distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or Dissemination in the United States VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aldebaran Resources Inc. ("Aldebaran" or the "Company", ALDE TSX.V) is pleased to announce that it has increased the size of its previously announced non-brokered private placement of units (the "Offering") from $3,000,000 to $4,800,000. Upon closing of the Offering, the Company will issue up to 16,000,000 units ("Units") at a price of CAD$0.30 per Unit. Each Unit will consist of one common share in the equity of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one-half of one share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional Common Share at a price of $0.70 until the second anniversary of the closing date of the Offering. The proceeds of the Offering will be used to support the Companys current activities, which consist of a re-logging program of existing drill core, preparing a new mineral resource estimate for the Companys Altar copper-gold project in San Juan Province, Argentina, planning an exploration campaign for the next field season commencing in November of this year, and for general corporate purposes. The Offering is scheduled to close on or about September 14, 2020, and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals of the TSX Venture Exchange (the Exchange). The securities to be issued under this Offering will be offered by way of private placement exemptions in various provinces of Canada. The Units to be issued under this Offering may also be offered outside of Canada, pursuant to applicable exemptions and in the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Company may pay a cash finders fee of 5% to qualified finders in respect to a portion of the Offering. Story continues Certain insiders of Aldebaran will acquire securities in the Offering. Any such participation would be considered a related party transaction as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101. The Company is relying on certain exemptions in 61-101 based on the size of the Offering in connection therewith. The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This release does not constitute an offer for sale of, nor a solicitation for offers to buy, any securities in the United States. Any public offering of securities in the United States must be made by means of a prospectus containing detailed information about the issuer and its management, as well as financial statements. The Company also announces that it has issued an aggregate of 2,300,000 stock options to employees, officers, directors, and consultants. The stock options have an exercise price of $0.40 per share and were granted in accordance with the terms of the Companys stock option plan, which has been approved by the Companys shareholders and the Exchange. For further information, please contact: Aldebaran Resources Inc. John E. Black CEO / Director Phone: +1 303 618-7797 mobile +1 720 514-9036 office Email: john.black@aldebaranresources.com About Aldebaran Resources Inc. Aldebaran is a mineral exploration company that was spun out of Regulus Resources Inc. in 2018 and has the same core management team. Aldebaran acquired the Rio Grande copper-gold project located in Salta Province, Argentina from Regulus along with several other early stage projects in Argentina. Aldebaran also has the right to earn up to an 80% interest in the Altar copper-gold project in San Juan Province, Argentina from Sibanye-Stillwater. Altar hosts a large porphyry copper-gold system with mineralization currently defined in three distinct zones. The Altar project forms part of a cluster of world-class porphyry copper deposits which includes Los Pelambres (Antofagasta Minerals), El Pachon (Glencore), and Los Azules (McEwen Mining). A total of 259 drill holes (124,701 m) have been completed at Altar between 1995 2019. In mid-2018 an updated NI 43-101 resource was prepared for Altar by Independent Mining Consultants Inc (IMC) based on the drilling completed up to 2017. The updated Altar NI 43-101 report is available on Aldebaran's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Aldebarans primary focus is on the Altar project with a view to discovering new zones with higher-grade mineralization. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements regarding Aldebaran, including management's assessment of future plans and operations, may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond Aldebaran's control. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes" 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. Specifically, and without limitation, all statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Aldebaran expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including the proposed exploration and development of the Altar project described herein, and management's assessment of future plans and operations and statements with respect to the completion of the Offering, completion of a new resources estimate and anticipated exploration and development programs, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Canadian and worldwide economy, the Companys workforce, world wide demand for commodities and the Companys business generally, may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond Aldebaran's control. These risks may cause actual financial and operating results, performance, levels of activity and achievements to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Although Aldebaran believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The forward looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and Aldebaran does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Parvez Sultan By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Social activist Anna Hazare on Friday snubbed Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Adesh Kumar Gupta, who urged him to join a mass movement against corruption' in Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the national capital. Hazare, in his response to Gupta, said the change in the country would not happen merely with the replacement of the party but transformation of the system. Hazare, who was at the forefront of Jan Lok Pal movement in 2011, said that it was unfortunate that the BJP should ask him to join in its agitation when it has a huge cadre of its own and wields power in the Centre. I felt sorry after reading your letter. Your party (BJP) is in power for the last six years. Despite your party having youth in large numbers, which also claims to be the largest party in the world, you are calling an 83-year-old man--living in a 10X12 feet room of a temple-- a fakeer (pauper), to Delhi, who does not have money, wealth, and power. Nothing can be unfortunate more than this, his letter in Hindi said. The letter was also posted on Hazares verified Facebook page. On Monday, Gupta had written to the anti-corruption crusader Hazare seeking his support. Questioning the claims by the BJP-ruled Central government regarding corruption eradication, Hazares letter also said that multiple administrative subjects are with the Centre why it couldnt take action against the Delhi government. The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) always claims to have taken strong steps to end corruption. If it is true and the Delhi government is involved in corrupt practices, why doesn't your (BJP) government take stringent legal action? Or all claims by the Centre for corruption elimination are just sham? said he. Responding to Hazares letter, Gupta said, The BJP is committed and capable to fight every battle against corruption. We request those who have been fighting against corruption to join this movement". The embarrassment to BJP came close on the heels of the faux pas by its local unit on Shaheen Bagh. Recently around 50 residents of Shaheen Bagh were inducted into the party, who were projected as anti-CAA protesters. The AAP used the opportunity to attack the saffron outfit stating that Shaheen Bagh protests were orchestrated by the BJP. The Fridays development once again caused major embarrassment within the party. Several BJP leaders questioned the political acumen of Guptas political advisors. First, it was Shaheen Bagh and now this letter to Hazare. One blunder is followed by another. Gupta is putting the central leadership on a spot, said a senior BJP functionary. Kylie Jenner looked like she was in a state of bliss as she showed off her toned tummy while in a crop top and jeans atop a building in Paris without a mask on Friday in new Instagram photos. The 23-year-old makeup mogul is in France with her friend Fai Khadra as well as other pals as she takes meetings with executives from Coty, the parent company for Kylie Cosmetics, DailyMail.com has learned. In 2019, Coty announced that it was taking a $51% stake in Kylie Cosmetics, for a huge sum of $600 million, which at the time, valued her company at $1.2 billion. In Europe: Kylie Jenner looked like she was in a state of bliss as she showed off her toned tummy while in a crop top and jeans atop a building in Paris without a mask on All biz! The 23-year-old makeup mogul is in France with her friend Fai Khadra as well as other pals as she takes meetings with Coty, her parent company for Kylie Cosmetics, DailyMail.com has learned Meanwhile, Kylie flew into Europe via private jet. The Keeping Up With The Kardashian star's followers were quick to comment on how the lockdown rules seem to be different for the wealthy star, however. Kyle wore her long highlighted hair down over her bare shoulders as she made her midsection the focus of the photos. The top was a halter shape and showed off her body well as she added low-slung black denim boyfriend jeans. Her fans were surprised, though, that she was not in California where Governor Gavin Newsom has issued strict guidelines amid the ongoing pandemic. The official California State Government website currently urges people to only travel for 'urgent matters'. There have been over 12K deaths from the pandemic in the state of California alone with almost 700K cases. 'You don't have to deal with COVID if ur rich,' sniped one fan. 'Is the pandemic over for rich people? I just see them taking luxurious vacations to tropical places or Europe like how is Kylie Jenner in Paris rn I don't understand.' Dreamy in Paris: Kyle wore her long highlighted hair down over her bare shoulders as she made her midsection the focus of the photos And another woman said, 'Kylie Jenner gong to Paris during Covid while the rest of the world can't travel or visit family in other countries/states due to border restrictions just doesn't sit well with me.' France has tight restrictions on travelers from the United States due to the rampant spread of COVID-19. There have been over 181K deaths in the US and almost 6M cases. The official website of the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in France currently states all arrivals in France from the US 'must provide the results of a virologic screening test (such as a PCR test) taken less than 72 hours before departure indicating a negative result for Covid-19.' The website also states: 'Travelers arriving in France must self-isolate for 14 days if they have no symptoms. Anyone displaying symptoms could be subject to quarantine for up to 30 days.' Stylish by the Seine: The top was a halter shape and showed off her body well as she added low-slung black denim boyfriend jeans This is not the first time Kylie has seemed to be free from lockdown worries: In the past week she has dined at Nobu in Malibu and attended Justin and Hailey Bieber's party. The star has also been seen entering Delilah's in West Hollywood. The star stood out in a halter top as she went to the Bieber party with no mask on. The Hidden Hills, California resident was seen in close proximity with other revelers. She had company: The businesswoman was in the company of Fai Khadra, who is also pals with her sister Kendall Jenner Soaking up that Paris summer sun: The daughter of Kris Jenner closed her eyes as she took in the heatwave Different for KJ: The Keeping Up With The Kardashian star's followers were quick to comment on how the lockdown rules seem to be different for the billionaire star, however Gripes: Her fans were surprised that she was not in California where Governor Gavin Newsom has put the public under lockdown. There have been over 12K deaths from the pandemic in the state of California alone. 'You don't have to deal with COVID if ur rich,' sniped one fan Also with her was her supermodel sister Kendall Jenner. They chatted up Hailey and Justin, who were also mask free. The party was to celebrate Justine Skye's birthday. Kylie has also been seen heading to restaurants with friends as if there is no pandemic. Another pretty pal: A blonde friend was in an Alexander Wang crop top and skirt Just hanging out in the back of a car: Here the star was giving fans a closer look at her Dior top No mask, just lipstick: The siren was mask free as she went to a meeting, but she seemed to be in a private car as she was driven around the city of lights A quick trip to the Louvre: The star made sure to stop by the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa painting in person The city streets call to her: Paris is known for it's classic architecture and lanterns A week ago she was in a sexy white outfit as she walked into the night club and restaurant Delilah in West Hollywood. It is not known if she spent time in the restaurant or if an outdoor area was provided. And the Kylie Skin founder has been seen many times hitting Nobu in Malibu with her pals. Jenner shares daughter Stormi Webster, with her ex, rapper Travis Scott. Party time: She appeared on the platform in a silk patterned tie-wrap top when she headed to Justin and Hailey Bieber's house for a party last week Party people: Also at the big bash was her sister Kendall Jenner. They mingled with Hailey and Justin who were also mask free. The party was to celebrate Justine Skye's birthday Former Mauritanian president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has lashed out at unnamed enemies, saying he had been targeted for "a settling of old scores" after undergoing a week-long interrogation over suspected corruption. Aziz, who handed over power in August last year, took his case to the media late Thursday, three days after being released from questioning. No charges have been filed against him although his passport was taken away and he is forbidden to leave the capital Nouakchott, his lawyer says. "I am a victim of a settling of old scores, but I am going to defend myself," he said in his first public statement since stepping down. "I spent seven days in unjust, arbitrary detention, even though I voluntarily drove to state security" after they went to his home, he said. "I didn't reply to any questions, because the procedure is illegal," he said, adding however that he had "faith in the justice system." Aziz, a 63-year-old former general, seized power in 2008 and served two terms as president before being succeeded in August 2019 by Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, his former right-hand man and ex-defence minister. Aziz had gone to the headquarters of the General Directorate for National Security (DSGN) on August 17 after police went to his home and asked him to cooperate with investigators. He has been the subject of a parliamentary probe this year into alleged corruption under his long spell in power. Among the issues probed by the commission, according to sources in parliament, were the handling of oil revenue, the sale of state property in Nouakchott, the winding up of a publicly owned food supply company and the activities of a Chinese fishing company called Pully Hong Dong. The commission's report has been handed to prosecutors, and four ministers whose names surfaced in the investigation have been replaced, including the prime minister, Ismail Ould Bedda Ould Cheikh Sidiya. Aziz has been sidelined by Ghazouani since he took over after victory at the ballot box. In December, Aziz lost the leadership of the party he had founded, the Union for the Republic (UPR). The new prime minister, Mohamed Ould Bilal, was a minister several times under former president Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, who was deposed in the 2008 coup led by Aziz. Hurricane Laura, which struck the coast of Louisiana as a Category 4 storm on Thursday, is the most powerful storm to make landfall in the US state in living memory 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. '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. Texas was also in the path of the hurricane but the state ended up being spared the brunt of the storm with the most significant damage taking place in neighboring Louisiana. 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. HONG KONG Chinese authorities have detained a dozen activists from Hong Kong who were attempting to leave the territory via speedboat, according to people familiar with the attempt and the individuals captured, as Beijing intensifies a campaign to seek out protest leaders and others resisting the Communist Partys tightening grip. At least one of the people on board the boat, seized on Sunday by the Chinese Coast Guard, was an activist who was being investigated under the citys new national security law, said one of the people familiar with the capture. The group was apparently trying to flee to Taiwan, said a second person familiar with the episode. More than 200 Hong Kong protesters and activists have sought refuge in Taiwan over the past year. The detentions on Sunday were the first confirmed case of such activists being caught by the Chinese authorities at sea. The attempts to flee Hong Kong point to the anxiety that has set in among activists as Chinas ruling Communist Party tightens its grip over the semiautonomous city to quell dissent. Beijing imposed a sweeping security law on the city on June 30 that punishes political crimes such as subversion with potentially heavy prison sentences. Adjusting to new workplace Covid protocols is among the biggest concerns for employees as businesses prepare to return to work on September 13, according to new research. The research released today by e-recruitment platform, Jobs.ie, reveals that adjusting to the workplace poses some concerns for employees, with those waiting to go back least looking forward to returning to the daily commute to the workplace (35%), adjusting to new workplace Covid protocols (28%) and using public transport (13%). Of those with the option to continue working from home once businesses can reopen; two in five (40%) say they would like to continue working from home full time while almost half (49%) would be happy to do a mixture of both. The remaining one in 10 (11%) want to go back to the workplace fulltime. To ensure the safe return of employees to the workplace, businesses are also implementing a number of workplace health and safety protocols in line with HSE and public health guidance. The most common safety measures being introduced include hand sanitising stations (79%), more frequent cleaning schedules (63%) and reduced capacity within the workplace (61%). Mandatory face coverings (48%) and Perspex partition screens (36%) are also among some of the most popular measures being introduced. A small number of businesses (5%) are introducing additional measures to protect employees based on their specific workplace like assigned seating, one-way entry and exit systems and lift protocols. According to the survey findings, there are a mixture of return to work policies being put in place by employers. 59% of employees say that they must return to the workplace when it reopens, 23% have the option to work from home for a select amount of days per week, while 18% can continue to work from home full time if they choose to do so. Commenting on the figures, Christopher Paye, General Manager at Jobs.ie said, For many businesses in Ireland, Covid-19 has made working from home the new normal - even for those who didnt think it would be possible. Equally, for employees who may have been on the fence about it before, it has brought positive benefits such as a reduced commute time, or in some cases, the ability to work flexible hours. Following the Governments most recent guidelines which require all businesses to return to working from home until 13 September, the question now is whether working from home will continue to be part of our everyday work life. In response to these findings, Paye added, From our research, it is evident that there is a demand among workers for flexible schedules that allow working from home either on a full time or part time basis going forward. For employers, this should be a key consideration when implementing return to work policies. While some sectors will inevitably require teams to return to the premises, others will find that there is room for flexibility, and where possible, employers should look to incorporate this into their HR policies to ensure that employees feel safe and secure in their return to the workplace. Israel has listed a flight by its flagship carrier El Al taking off on Monday for Abu Dhabi. Israel has listed an El Al flight taking off on Monday for Abu Dhabi, in what would mark Israels first passenger flight to the United Arab Emirates after the two countries agreed to a United States-brokered deal to normalise relations. The confirmation of the flight is the latest breakthrough in a deal that secured an agreement from Israel to suspend plans to annex Palestinian lands in the Occupied West Bank, and brought into the open a long-standing relationship between Israel and the UAE that both countries hope now will benefit their economies and strengthen their ties to the US amid tensions with Iran. The website of the Israel Airports Authority listed the flight on Friday. It said the flight would be numbered LY971, a nod to the UAEs international calling code number. A return flight to Tel Avivs Ben Gurion International Airport on Tuesday will be numbered LY972, Israels international calling code. Emirati officials and the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Associated Press news agency. The flight was not immediately bookable on the website of El Al, Israels flag carrier. However, US officials earlier said the anticipated first flight will include American officials led by President Donald Trumps senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner. Other US officials on board will include national security adviser Robert OBrien, Middle East envoy Avi Berkowitz and envoy for Iran Brian Hook. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier announced that his national security adviser, Meir Ben-Shabbat, will lead Israels delegation. Several Israeli government ministries will also send representatives, including the directors of the foreign and defence ministries and the national aviation authority, he said. Private jets earlier flew between the two nations as their officials conducted covert talks. In May and June, Abu Dhabis Etihad Airways flew cargo freighters to Ben Gurion carrying aid for the Palestinians to combat the continuing coronavirus pandemic. Israel and the UAE agreed to normalise relations on August 13. By August 16, telephone calls began ringing between the nations, marking the first concrete step of the US-brokered diplomatic accord. The historic deal delivered a key foreign policy victory to Trump as he seeks re-election, and reflected a changing Middle East in which shared concerns about Iran have increasingly eclipsed traditional support among Arab nations for the Palestinians. The deal has been met with criticism from some parts of the Arab world, with the Palestinian leadership condemning it as a stab in the back. Officers who were watching the looting of the CBD Kratom store at 28 E. Randolph St. gave chase and arrested Javonte Williams at 5 a.m. As he ran, Williams had dropped a semi-automatic handgun, according to police. The black Ruger 9 mm was loaded with seven rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber, authorities said. The remnants of Tropical Storm Laura likely will bring rain and gusty winds Saturday to the Triad and Northwest North Carolina, forecasters say. The storm is expected to move across the Ohio and Tennessee valleys Friday, and it will then move across the mid-Atlantic region Saturday, said Chrissy Cockrell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Raleigh. "We will get some rain Saturday (in Forsyth and Guilford counties)," Cockrell said. "It will be tropical rain with embedded thunderstorms. The wind may gust up to 35 mph." The Triad might receive up to a half inch of rain on Saturday, the weather service said. The storm likely will produce 1 to 2 inches of rain in the northwestern counties, said Erik Taylor, a weather service meteorologist in Blacksburg, Va. "An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out" in the region, Taylor said. "The whole area will get some sort of rain," Taylor said. "Saturday will be a wet and windy day. The system will be moving fairly quickly." Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 14:14:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SHANGHAI, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The 2020 Shanghai Tourism Festival is set to run from Sept. 12 to 27, the organizers said Friday. With an aim to bring a feast of culture and tourism to those in attendance, the event will feature a wide range of multi-themed activities including a Huangpu River tour, night tour and countryside park tour. Products related to culture and tourism will also be launched during the festival. Provinces and cities across the Yangtze River Delta will jointly participate in the festival, setting up special venues in the cities of Nantong, Wenzhou and Huangshan, launching cross-provincial tourist activities and sharing tourism facilities, information and tourist resources. The festival will also promote online and offline consumption with tourism and culture companies like Trip.com Group and Meituan Dianping, as well as other online platforms, in a bid to provide brand-new experiences to tourists. The authorities have set up working teams for epidemic prevention and control, demanding social distancing as well as temperature and health code checks. The Shanghai Tourism Festival has been held annually since 1990. Enditem A surge in chickenpox cases has hit a major Australian city as parents fail to immunise their kids during the coronavirus pandemic. The Gold Coast has reported at least 120 cases of the viral infection spreading throughout the city within the last month. Health experts warned that diseases often spiked during a pandemic and cases would continue to grow if children were kept from their regular health checks. The Gold Coast recorded an alarming spike in chickenpox cases after parents avoided immunising their children (vaccination pictured) during the COVID-19 pandemic At least 120 infections were recorded in the city (Gold Coast pictured) in the last month Gold Coast Primary Health Network Chairman Roger Halliwell said he anticipated an increase in infections and chronic illnesses during the coronavirus period. 'When you get to situations as we've got with COVID, people become fearful of attending their GP for routine stuff such as vaccines and the vaccination rate drops off a little bit,' he told Gold Coast Bulletin. 'So it's not surprising chickenpox has reared its head, particularly as it's much more contagious than coronavirus.' The Gold Coast has experienced a whopping 46 per cent spike in the year-to-date average number of chickenpox cases. WHAT IS CHICKENPOX? Chickenpox, or varicella, is a highly infectious disease spread through contact and bodily fluids The infection begins with cold-like symptoms such as a headache, mild fever, runny nose and cough A pink rash will appear and develop into itchy blisters over a few days The blisters will scab over and people are advised to avoid workplaces and school until they have healed The average time between contracting with the virus and developing symptoms can be up to 16 days Chickenpox can be treated with a vaccine and will rarely be caught twice Advertisement Health data showed a staggering 817 cases had been recorded this year in comparison to an average of just 634 at the same time in previous years. 'It just starts with a couple of cases then more cases and away it goes. Right now people just don't have their eye on that particular ball,' Dr Halliwell explained. He urged Australians to visit their doctors for routine checks to avoid discovering something more serious at a later date. At least 30 cases of chickenpox were reported on the Gold Coast last week after Pacific Pines State High School alerted parents to an outbreak in the school on August 18. Queensland Health described chickenpox, or varicella, as a highly contagious disease that initially emerges with cold-like symptoms. These include a mild fever, runny nose, headache and cough. A pink rash will appear within the next few days and quickly develop into itchy blisters that last three to four days before scabbing over. The disease is most infectious in the days before the rash develops and until at least all the blisters have scabbed over. Anyone who is infected with chickenpox is advised to avoid attending school or work until all the blisters have scabbed over. Eric Trump and his wife, Lara Trump, at a campaign rally for President Donald Trump at the BOK Center on June 20 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Win McNamee/Getty Images Eric Trump said Thursday that Democrats care to talk only about the coronavirus pandemic. "All they can talk about, Steve, is COVID," Trump told the Fox News host Steve Doocy in an interview. "COVID, COVID, COVID, and how Trump's a bad man." The younger Trump's comments came as the US death toll inched past 180,000 this week. The US has the highest number of confirmed cases in the world and makes up almost 25% of the total number of cases despite having just 4% of the planet's population. Nearly 6 million Americans have been infected with the disease, and millions have lost their jobs as states across the country keep schools and businesses closed to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Eric Trump said Thursday that Democrats care to discuss only the coronavirus pandemic, as the US death toll surpassed 180,000. "All they can talk about, Steve, is COVID," Trump told the Fox News host Steve Doocy in an interview. "COVID, COVID, COVID, and how Trump's a bad man." The younger Trump's remarks came as the US death toll inched past 180,000 this week, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The US has the highest number of confirmed cases in the world, making up almost 25% of the total number of cases despite having just 4% of the planet's population. Nearly 6 million Americans have tested positive for the disease so far, and millions have lost their jobs as states across the country keep schools and businesses shuttered to curb the spread of the coronavirus. fake nick ramsey @ (@nick_ramsey) August 27, 2020 Eric Trump's comments also came on the last day of the Republican National Convention. But as Business Insider's Jake Lahut wrote, the COVID-19 pandemic took a back seat throughout much of the convention as speakers instead focused on violent crime and culture wars related to political correctness and "cancel culture." Story continues The few segments that did mention COVID-19 cast the issue as a victory for the Trump administration, saying the president acted swiftly and saved "thousands of lives" early on by banning travel from China in late January. However, public-health experts have said the travel ban was not effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the US. The president is expected to speak on the issue as the RNC wraps up on Thursday night. According to Politico, which obtained an early draft of his planned remarks, Trump will tear into Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden by portraying him as weak on coronavirus, crime, immigration, China, and other issues. "At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas," the president is set to say. "We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years. At the Democrat convention, you barely heard a word about their agenda. But that's not because they don't have one. It's because their agenda is the most extreme set of proposals ever put forward by a major party nominee." Read the original article on Business Insider Japan's government says the economy is still in a severe situation in August, although it's showing signs of picking up. That assessment is unchanged from the month before as the country grapples with the pandemic. In its monthly economic report, the government says exports have been starting to rise, led by strong growth in car shipments to the US and China. It says production is also showing signs of recovery in some industries. Personal consumption also appears to be increasing. The government said the same last month. But officials say companies continue to face large declines in earnings, and that employment remains weak. The government says it will keep a close eye on whether the recovery in exports continues. In June and July, it had revised its assessment upward. (Newser) A British-Israeli woman is suing EasyJet for discrimination after she says she was twice asked to move seats because of her gender. Melanie Wolfson, 38, says she paid extra for an aisle seat on an October flight from Tel Aviv to London only to be asked to move seats by an Orthodox Jewish man and his son in the same row who refused to sit next to a female passenger, per the Guardian. Wolfson, "insulted and humiliated," initially refused their request for her to switch seats with a man nearby. "I would not have had any problem whatsoever switching seats if it were to allow members of a family or friends to sit together, but the fact that I was being asked to do this because I was a woman was why I refused," she tells Haaretz. "It was the first time in my adult life that I was discriminated against for being a woman." However, Wolfson eventually caved as she feared the flight might be delayed. story continues below Wolfson says flight attendants had offered a free hot drink as an incentive, telling her that women were often asked to move to accommodate Orthodox men. Two months later, on another EasyJet flight along the same route, Wolfson says two Orthodox men made the same request of her and flight attendants again offered the drink. She declined, and two women agreed to switch seats with the men. The suit, seeking $20,000, is backed by the Israel Religious Action Center, which in 2017 won a similar case against the country's El Al Airlines. The Israeli judge ruled that a crew member couldn't ask a passenger to move "because the adjacent passenger doesn't want to sit next to them due to their gender." Lawyers will argue that EasyJet was subject to Israel's anti-discrimination laws while at Ben-Gurion airport. In a statement, EasyJet says it does "not discriminate on any grounds." (Read more gender discrimination stories.) Three-year initiative to identify connectivity gaps in 35 countries is a critical first step in connecting every school to the internet. Ericsson and UNICEF announced today 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. 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 Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson calls for charges to be filed against the officers involved in Jacob Blakes shooting. Thousands of protesters are expected to turn out on Friday for a so-called March on Washington, DC to protest against the polices treatment of Black people. It follows days of often violent rallies in the city of Kenosha in Wisconsin state after police shot unarmed Black man Jacob Blake. But things were quiet on Thursday night, as Al Jazeeras John Hendren reports. Researchers say some people already fighting chronic conditions may have contracted the virus, which then triggered deadly events for example, someone with a heart issue getting sick with COVID-19 and then dying after a heart attack without ever being tested. Others may have placed the wrong bet on the likeliest way to stay alive when they avoided crucial medical care for fear of catching the virus. Scores of Telugu Desam Party leaders, including former minister Amarnath Reddy, were kept under house arrest and several others were taken into preventive custody, while they were on their way to the house of a Dalit youth who died a few days ago in Chittoor district. Om Pratap, a Dalit auto rickshaw driver, died by suicide at his home in Kanduru Bandakadapalli SC colony of Somala block in Chittoor district on August 24, a day after his selfie video strongly criticising the liquor policy of the Jagan government went viral on social media. For the last three days, Chandrababu Naidu and his party leaders have been using the youths death as a rallying point to protest against the alleged atrocities against Dalits in the state. Even as the Chittoor police conducted a re-post mortem of Prataps body in the afternoon, the TDP leaders alleged that the Dalit youth had resorted to extreme step following threats from YSRCP leaders. In a way, it is a murder by the Jagan Mohan Reddy government, senior TDP politburo member and MLC Varla Ramaiah alleged. On Thursday, Ramaiah lodged a complaint with the National SC Commission that the ruling YSRCP leaders vindictive action was responsible for the untimely death of Om Pratap. He requested that the commission order an inquiry and take immediate action against the ruling party leaders to prevent them from continuing their spate of atrocities against the weaker sections. The TDP on Thursday also brought out a 27-page booklet titled Dalitulapai Damanakanda-Dalita Drohi Jagan (Atrocities on Dalits Jagan, a betrayer of Dalits), listing out a series of atrocities allegedly being perpetrated on Dalits during the last 15 months of the YSRCP rule in the state. Some of the alleged atrocities on Dalits mentioned in the booklet are: suspension and torturing of an anaesthetist Dr Sudhakar in Narsipatnam in Visakhapatnam, tonsuring and beating of a youth Varaprasad for allegedly questioning the sand mafia in East Godavari district, beating to death of another youth Kiran Kumar from Chirala in Prakasam for not wearing a face mask and killing of a TDP worker by YSRCP leaders in Gurajala in Guntur district etc. Over 100 such incidents of atrocities on Dalits took place during the YSRCP government rule over the last 15 months. Unfortunately, the police had been silent and not taken any action on the perpetrators of atrocities, Naidu said. However, chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy underscored that there was no question of sparing anybody, irrespective of their stature, if there were allegations against them of indulging in atrocities against Dalits. At a review meeting held a couple of days ago, Jagan said his government was not sparing even senior police officials and booked them under SC/ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act. There were four or five such instances of atrocities against Dalits and immediate action was initiated against the accused, he said. The chief minister said all the policemen down from constables should be given orientation classes and sensitised to face the situation. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON (Newser) A Florida man who spent the last 37 years in prison on a rape and murder charge was released Thursday, hours after officials revealed dramatic new evidence that proved his innocence. Robert DuBoise walked out of the Hardee Correctional Institution in Bowling Green shortly after 2pm. With him were his mother and sister. "It's an overwhelming sense of relief," Robert DuBoise told reporters outside the prison. "I prayed to God every day and hoped for it." The 56-year-old was serving a life sentence, having been convicted in 1983 in the murder of 19-year-old Barbara Grams. She had been raped and beaten while walking home from her job at a Tampa mall. DuBoise's conviction centered on one piece of evidence: an alleged bite mark on the victim's face, the AP reports. A jailhouse informant's testimony also helped convict him. story continues below On Thursday, a lawyer from the Innocence Project and a lawyer from the Hillsborough County Conviction Review Unit addressed the false evidence in an online court hearing. Experts proved that the mark wasn't from a bite, and the jailhouse informant was deemed not credible. Rape kit evidence was located and tested and that evidence excluded Duboise. Judge Christopher Nash ruled that DuBoise should be released immediately. DuBoise said he will have to learn many modern things, such as how to use a computer. But he added he bears no ill will toward those involved in his long incarceration. "If you keep hatred and bitterness in your heart, you dont have room for anything else," he said. The case has since been reopened and authorities have a suspect in Grams' rape and murder. Hall said the person does not pose a threat to public safety at this time. (Read more false imprisonment stories.) Having offered no agenda beyond reelecting Donald Trump, the RNC threw itself into Trump week armed with a three-pronged strategy. The first required re-narrating Joe Biden, a moderate Democrat known for getting along with Republicans, as a wild-eyed Communist who dreams of tearing down American institutions. The second was even more challenging: it required stealing the case the DNC had made for Biden as the Empathy Candidate so as to make Donald Trumpthe Youre Fired fellowthe compassionate candidate instead. To that end, speaker after speaker spoke about the caring nature Trump displays whenever hes not in public. It was not a convincing case. (Id expected the bulk of that humanizing testimony to come from his children, but Tiffany, Eric, and Don Jr. had nothing to say about paternal love or acts of caring. Ivanka was the sole exception.) The third and final prong tackled Trumps racism: Trump polls poorly on his handling of race relations, so the RNC pulled a scheduled speaker whod recently broadcast a virulently anti-Semitic conspiracy theory, and featured several speakers of color and a video of Trump with some naturalized citizens. The sincerity of the effort can be gauged by the revelation that the newly naturalized citizens were neither asked whether their images could be used at the Republican National Convention nor informed they would appear on television. They were used as props: the objective was to give safe cover to voters who might be slipping away because Trump is a racist xenophobe. See? He can be nice to immigrants of color! On camera! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The larger task was to make the present crises afflicting the country someone elses fault. Trumps America has millions unemployed, businesses going under, a raging pandemic, wildfires in California, tropical storm Laura battering Louisiana, unchecked police brutality, debt at an all-time high, and schools all over the country opening only to close their doors days later as COVID-19 cases mount, leaving parents in the lurch, forced to somehow work full time from home while parenting full time too. Mass evictions are about to start happening. The RNC sought to make these disasters that compounded under Trump predictive of Bidens America. In the meantime, Trump doubled down on supporting corrupt police departments while his officials openly break laws (laws that officials like Mike Pompeo have themselves enforced against underlings!) on television. This is the tacitand yes, fascistpromise Trump makes to his supporters: the law is for others to follow and for you to flout. Advertisement Advertisement Its not easy to frame someone else for the mess you made. But Trump has advantages. The big one is that his supporters love it when he lies and cheer when he cheats. This helps! Trumps MAGA gear is famously made in China, not the States (unlike Bidens, which comes from an American union shop). Ivanka Trump was granted five enormously valuable patents from China while she was supposed to be working for the American people. None of that matters to Trumpists: Joe Bidens agenda is Made in China. My agenda is MADE IN THE USA, Trump said last nightsleepily, strangely, to applause. That two of his campaign managers have faced criminal chargesSteve Bannon most recently for defrauding Trump supporters who donated to a Build a Wall fundis only a lib-triggering plus. That his employees and associates have also been criminally charged, including folks like Roger Stone and Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen and George Papadopoulos and Rick Gates, is evidence not of Trumps own ambient criminality but of his persecution. Trump has convinced his supporters that these innocent lambs (the ones he still likes, anyway) have been unjustly targeted by the so-called deep state. In short, he has told America to regard any law that is enforced against him or his people as illegitimate while billing himself as the law and order candidate. Thats no small achievement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This helps explain why its not impossible for Trump to make the case that Biden is both the second coming of Fidel Castroa novel and unprecedented Communist threat to the American way of lifeand an entrenched member of the political establishment responsible for everything already wrong in America. He has Fox personalities running cover for him, hissing and spitting at his detractors for one thing. But more broadly, the authoritarian strategy of attacking the media has worked reasonably well for him. Trump has spent years explaining that the media doesnt treat him fairly, that the media lies, that the media is the problem. So when the media tries to note that Trump and his associates spent the entirety of the convention lying, lying about real things actual people are living through, all Trump has to do is return to his most practiced refrain, that hes being treated very unfairly. For this demographic, there simply isnt much that fact-checking the scripted whoppers in his speech from last night is going to accomplish. (Here they are, for the record.) Trump can also expect help from several fringe movements working for himmost notably QAnon, followers of which believes Trump is a messiah and Joe Biden and other Democrats are Satanic child rapistsand which Trump refused to disavow. People convinced Biden and Tom Hanks are harvesting fear from the blood of children (I wish I were joking) and that Trump is a messiah figure can probably believe whatever Trump wants them to believe about Biden. Pitching him as a Communist might be easy after cannibal is already accepted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not everyone is amenable to these arguments, though, which explains the spaghetti-at-the-wall approach Trump took in last nights speech. Theres a reason Trump wanted to run against Bernie Sanders, and even got himself impeached trying to kneecap Joe Bidens candidacy by thuggishly pressuring foreign governments to say they were investigating the former vice president. Biden is pretty well known to Americans, and he just isnt a radical, and he isnt corrupt. Ever the projectionist, Trumps first idea, last year, was to make Biden out to be a corrupt wheeler and dealer like him. This was the plot he tried to get Ukrainian president Zelensky to circulate. It backfired spectacularly, and Trump appears to have all but given up on that messaging. The idea now is to terrify moderates into voting for him by painting the Democratic candidate as a radical leftist. Sanders might have fit that bill; Biden really, really doesnt, and the effort to make him into one sometimes smacks of desperation. To make it work, Trump needed to erase everything his audiences know about Biden and he tried hard. George Condon pointed out on Twitter that the most times a presidential nominee has named his opponent in a nomination acceptance speech is 8a record set by George H.W. Bush in 1992. Trump said Bidens name forty-one times. Biden, who has advanced an enormously ambitious jobs program, is the destroyer of jobs. He would be the destroyer of American Greatness and China would own the United States if Biden won! A senior adviser in the administration excused the lack of social distancing among Trumps guests last night by saying everybody is going to catch this thing eventually. That perfectly distilled this White Houses total (and literal!) surrender to COVID-19and its refusal to take any measures at all to protect people. True to form, Trump accused Biden of wanting to surrender to the virus in his speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That doesnt mean one of these lies wont work. Trump told a lot of stories over the course of his interminable speechgish-gabbling as only he can, putting entirely contradictory narratives into circulation in hopes that listeners who want to be swayed will snatch on to one line of argumentation and ignore the rest. Maybe the weak point for someone is cancel culture. Maybe its the second amendment. Maybe, as my colleague Ben Mathis-Lilley put it, its just really missing playing Oregon Trail. Donald Trump wasnt in his element last night. He peacocked a bit, perking up periodically to joke a little about things like sexual assault, but on the whole he seemed damp and exhausted. He started out in the tone he considers oratoricaltheres a sing-songy quality to it, and it falls off at the end of each sentence, as if the very air coming from his lungs is exhausted and awed at what hes just said. But he was already leaning against the podium, as if for support, within a few minutes of starting. For long stretches, it felt like he was just reading lists, boring himself. This wasnt the Trump who screamed If Putin wants a call with me you just put him through at a subordinateat a formal dinner, in front of other heads of statebecause hed missed the Russian dictators call. It was a world-weary huckster trying to live up to the empathetic portrait previous speakers had created for him and failing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last time Trump ran, Republicans could frame themselves as the disruptors. They could blame the state of the world on Democratic governance, rail against Democratic principles, and coast on the decades Fox News had spent vilifying Hillary Clinton. That the economy was at an all-time high didnt matter; neither did the fact that President Obama had brought the United States back from a brutal recession despite Republican obstruction at every turn. Now, Trump has been in office for four years. The country is struggling through conditions so bad not even Trumps worst critics could have predicted them. He is still trying to blame Democratic governance, having nothing else to offer. Asked what his second-term agenda would be, Donald Trump replied, But so I think, I think it would be, I think it would be very, very, I think wed have a very, very solid, we would continue what were doing, wed solidify what weve done, and we have other things on our plate we want to get done. The Republican party has given up on fighting for anything but Trump. That means the partys fate depends to an unusual extent on Trumps ability to pull this off. And who knows. He might. On a perilous westerly course bound for Cape Horn near the southern tip of South America in 2002, Larry and Lin Pardey made their approach into the hazardous currents of the Strait of Le Maire aboard Taleisin, their 29-foot, engineless wooden yacht. Well after midnight, with Ms. Pardey on watch and Mr. Pardey asleep below, she lost sight of navigation lights but realized, suddenly, that several large rocks were in front of her, not the open water that she had expected. I threw the helm and tacked to turn and reached out to sea on a reciprocal course, she said in an email. At the same time, I yelled for Larry to get up on deck. He ended up being thrown from the bunk on the cabin sole, then scrambled quickly into the cockpit. They were, for a short time, lost. Mr. Pardey took the helm as his wife studied their charts to determine the safest course back to open water. They eventually passed through the strait and headed to Cape Horn. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- Federal investigators are requesting data from New York and other states where nursing homes were required to admit COVID-19 patients into already vulnerable populations. According to the Department of Justice, the orders sanctioned by governors in those states may have resulted in the deaths of thousands of elderly nursing home residents, CBS News reported. The departments Civil Rights Division, meanwhile, is considering whether to begin investigations under the federal Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act. Government leaders in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan also are on the federal governments list for possible wrongdoing. New Yorks COVID-19 nursing home death toll is reported to be 20% out of its overall COVID-19 death toll, however, experts say the number would be significantly higher if nursing home patients who died while being treated in nearby hospitals were also included in the numbers. Earlier this month, New York state lawmakers from both parties questioned State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker about among other topics the Health Departments March 25 directive that ordered nursing homes to accept medically stable coronavirus patients. A state Health Department report issued in early July said the agencys statewide analysis of the timing of admissions versus COVID-19 fatalities shows that Cuomos March 25 directive could not be the driving force of nursing home infections or deaths. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has since argued the actions did not violate the federal governments own guidelines. The governor has dismissed the need for an independent investigation. Allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a procedure that infuses a donor's healthy blood-forming stem cells into a recipient as part of a potentially curative therapy for cancer. While this therapy can be life-saving, a major complication is the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which causes significant morbidity and can be fatal. Before allogenic HSCT, a patient receives a conditioning regimen, chemotherapy designed to deplete his/her normal white blood cells, including T cells. But a new study by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital, University of Oslo (Norway) and University of Newcastle (UK) has found that skin and intestinal T cells in the recipient survive conditioning regimens and continue to perform their normal functions. But, under certain conditions, these T cells can become activated by donor white blood cells and play a previously unappreciated role in acute GVHD. The investigators' results are published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation. "In all the years that GVHD has been studied, it has been an article of faith that graft T cells mediate the disease and attack the body," said Thomas Kupper, MD, chair of the Department of Dermatology at the Brigham. "We discovered in skin and gastrointestinal tract that the T cells that cause GVHD are also from the host -- that is, the patient's own T cells. These durable T cells from the host become activated by cells from the graft, thus causing tissue injury. This completely novel finding was unexpected and opens the door to new approaches to treatment and prevention." Conditioning regimens are meant to deplete the host of normal white blood cells, including T cells, in order to make room for the new immune system that will develop from the graft. When recipient blood has been examined after conditioning, T cells are difficult to detect. But Kupper and colleagues found that while the recipients blood T cells were depleted, their tissue T cells in the skin and gut were not. The researchers used high throughput DNA sequencing of T cells and "short tandem repeat"/STR analysis, which together determines the proportion of blood (or tissue) cells that derive from the donor (graft) or the recipient (host), respectively. They further studied male-female host/donor mismatch transplants, using XY sex chromosomes to determine the origin of the cells. The team also used mouse models, grafting human skin onto immunocompromised mice to avoid rejection and test the ability of host skin T cells to mediate GVHD without donor T cells. Based on the high throughput sequencing and STR analysis, the team saw that there were still abundant host T cells present in the skin and small intestine during GVHD, even when blood cells were 100% of donor origin. The mouse models demonstrated that skin-resident host T cells could be activated by donor non-T cell white blood cells to generate GVHD-like skin inflammation. The results indicate that unexpectedly, skin- and intestinal-resident T cells not only survive conditioning regimens, but are present in tissues during acute GVHD and very likely play an important role in the pathphysiology of this disease. "Our new understanding of GVHD allows us to think about tissue resident memory T cells in the host/recipient as a new target for therapy, which is potentially game changing," said Kupper. "Hypothetically, we could use this information to intervene earlier and perhaps even prevent the emergence of GVHD. This study is an example of how we must never assume we know everything about disease mechanism and must always be willing to challenge prevailing paradigms if that's where the data leads." ### Funding for this work was provided by the NIH (DP5OD023091 to Sherrie Divito; T32AR007098, R01AR065807 and R01AI127654 to Thomas Kupper; R01CA203721 and P30AR069625 to Rachael Clark). Divito received the Dermatology Foundation Physician-Scientist Career Development Award. Frode Jahnsen received a PhD grant from the South Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority. The project was also supported by the Research Council of Norway through its Centers of Excellence funding scheme (project number 179573/V40 to FLJ). Paper cited: Divito, S. et al. "Peripheral host T cells survive hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and promote graft-versus-host disease" J Clin DOI: https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI129965 As the government struggles to find the right approach to get kids back to school in England safely, theres one European country that has been able to keep their classrooms open throughout the pandemic Sweden. When coronavirus began to severely impact Europe in March, countries across the continent each came up with ways to combat the spread of the disease. Most nations, including the UK, settled on lockdowns, restricting travel for their population and closing all businesses and schools. Teenagers at a school in Stockholm during March when most other European nations decided to put their countries into lockdown and send their children home. (Getty) But while the four UK nations grapple with how to successfully return students to education and ensure parents maintain confidence in the process Sweden has managed to keep its pupils in the classroom throughout. A graduation ceremony in Stockholm in June, with social distancing in place and only two relatives allowed to attend with them. (Getty) Read more: WHO warns young people flouting lockdown rules could lead to spike in deaths Ministers have struggled to present a coherent plan for schools reopening in England particularly in regards to mask wearing with anger from parents, teachers unions and opposition parties mounting. The government performed another education-related u-turn earlier this week when they decided to stop advising against masks being worn in schools in England. The new policy is that staff and pupils in secondary schools in high infection areas will be required to wear a mask. Scotland has made it a requirement for masks to be worn in all secondary schools, while Wales said itll be up to schools and councils to decide. Sweden never closed schools as part of its light approach to lockdown, with most businesses staying open. The country has implemented few hard rules, with bans on visits to care homes and stopping large gatherings of over 50 people being the main ones. The businesses and the general population has also been quick to adopt social distancing, with bars and restaurants putting tape on every other table to keep people apart. Teenagers at a school in Stockholm in March. (Getty) Statistician Ola Rosling told the BBCs More or Less podcast in July: We have kept our schools open and I definitely think that all countries in the world can do that. Story continues The children are told to keep separate, the teachers are careful, there's no hugging etc and in Sweden, we don't see any evidence that parents and teachers are much more infected. Rosling said while they didnt have perfect data to properly assess the impact he noted there had barely been any outbreaks in schools. He also said Sweden did have several advantages when it comes to fighting epidemics, with a lot of people living on their own and a very low population density. Swedish schools are currently being asked to ensure social distancing takes place but is not advising the use of masks. Read more: NHS staff smear themselves in fake blood in Downing Street protest over pay The daily new confirmed COVID-19 cases in Sweden. While some schools are doing part of their education digitally basically all have been open since the pandemic began. The main difference that school pupils face is strict social distancing at all times, particularly between student and teacher. Swedens public health agency said in July keeping schools open during the pandemic did not result in a higher infection rate among its children compared to neighbouring Finland. The report showed that severe cases of COVID-19 were very rare among both Swedish and Finnish children aged one to 19, with no deaths reported. Children made up around 8.2% of the total number of COVID-19 cases in Finland, compared to 2.1% in Sweden. They have maintained that the negative consequences of a shutdown on the economy and society outweigh the benefits, and said this also applies to schools. Last week Swedens prime minister Stefan Lofven defended keeping schools open. He said: "What has been discussed most, and what we did differently in Sweden, was that we did not close schools. Read more: Government's 180 compensation for self-isolating branded a 'slap in the face' Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven. (Getty) Now there are quite a few people who think we were right." Lofven also commented on why masks were only recommended rather than required in most areas, including schools. He said: What they are saying, and what I absolutely believe, is that they cannot be the main tool we use." What is important still is social distancing, testing and tracking. Those must be our main focus in order to reduce infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) released new advice on Friday saying pupils over the age of 12 should wear a mask in school. State epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, the main architect of Sweden's approach, told the Observer earlier this month that 30% of the country could have antibodies. State epidemiologist Anders Tegnell of the Public Health Agency of Sweden and architect of the countries light approach to lockdown. (Getty) It is not yet fully clear that after recovering from COVID-19 the antibodies you have developed will make you completely immune to the disease. It emerged this week a man in Hong Kong who recovered from coronavirus became infected again four and a half months later. Even if Tegnells estimate of 30% immunity is correct, they are still far off the required 70 or so per cent needed to reach effective herd immunity. The decision to keep schools open hasn't been perfect, at least one teacher has died after contracting coronavirus in a school where 18 of 76 staff tested positive. More than 5,800 Swedes have died of COVID-19, a much higher death rate than in neighbouring Norway, Denmark and Finland. Sweden currently has a number of cases per 100,000 on a 14 day average of 35.4, higher than the UKs 22.6 but lower than Frances 70 and Spains 191.9. Its deaths per 100,000 over the past 14 days are similar with 0.4, twice as high as the UKs, but lower than Spains 0.8. Coronavirus: what happened today Click here to sign up to the latest news and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter During a working trip to Kirovohrad region on August 27, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky met with local business representatives and discussed urgent issues with them. According to the press service of the head of state, the participants of the meeting spoke about the debt of NNEGC "Energoatom" to RPE "Radiy" for the supplied equipment for the modernization of power units at nuclear power plants. The President noted that the issue of repaying Energoatom's accounts payable and the company's stable financial position is important both for the operation of the fuel and energy complex and for suppliers. The parliament recently passed the law on measures aimed at repaying debts incurred in the wholesale electricity market. It will systematically resolve the issue of accumulated debts. The government is working on the implementation of the document. In addition, the President instructed the Cabinet of Ministers and the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine to resolve problematic issues of repayment of NNEGC Energoatom debts to suppliers, the report reads. The parties also discussed the provision of industries with qualified economists and engineers. According to the head of state, enterprises should financially support specialized technical schools and colleges by investing in the knowledge infrastructure. The participants also discussed the impact of adverse weather conditions on the harvest in many regions. It was noted that this year there was little rainfall and severe drought, which negatively affected the harvest. Given the long-term climate change not only in Ukraine, but also in the world as a whole, this could be a problem for years. The President noted that a long-term response is needed. "We need to create new irrigation systems, crop insurance programs. Don't worry: the government is already doing this - a bill on insurance is being developed," he said. Zelensky also appealed to the government and the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture to urgently determine what can be done this year to help farmers. ish National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) announced this years NAMB National, normally the largest in-person conference for the mortgage broker industry, is moving the flagship event to virtual due to national and travel concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) announced this years NAMB National, normally the largest in-person conference for the mortgage broker industry, is moving the flagship event to virtual due to national and travel concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The virtual conference will be held live online October 14th -15th, free of charge to its members. Our member's best interest has been at the center of our mission since we founded in 1973, said Rocke Andrews, President of NAMB. While we will miss the in-person networking and camaraderie, our members rely on NAMB National for the learning, tools and tips to propel their business. Now more than ever, the conference must go on. NAMB Nationals theme is Lets Move Forward with more than 25 virtual sessions divided into five tracks, designed to champion NAMB member and partner success with actionable takeaways. Learning tracks include Your Voice in Washington, Maximize your Business Operations, Shop Local to promote brokers in local markets, Membership Perks to streamline costs, and Technology Today to compete in a newly defined virtual world. The live streaming will include elite speakers from inside and outside the industry including education specialist and best-selling author Ginger Bell, Advertising Hall of Famer Bill Ludwig, and many more. NAMB National has become the mark for the year ahead, said NAMB President-Elect and NAMB National Committee chair, Kimber White. This years conference, Lets Move Forward, sets the stage for our industry to move forward on multiple fronts from the pandemic to diversity and inclusion. Were grateful to the speakers for adjusting to the virtual format. NAMB also serves as the inauguration for its incoming elected officials, with a state of the association speech from President-Elect Kimber White. NAMB will also announce a new Executive Vice President to lead NAMB daily operations. The virtual sessions are filling up with over 1500 registrants. Early registration advised since speakers will be providing materials ahead of their learning sessions to give participants a more interactive experience. Register today and receive the latest updates on sessions, prizes, and more. About the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) NAMB is the mortgage broker industrys largest and longstanding association of mortgage professionals with membership in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, founded in 1973. NAMB provides education, certification and government affairs representation for the mortgage industry. For more information, visit NAMB.org. ### When the coronavirus pandemic first struck in mid-March, Clear Trust Mortgages joined businesses across the industry is closing down their offices in Ontario, BC and their newly opened branch in Alberta. After just one month in lockdown, president and CEO Robert Afan decided it was time to adapt and move forward. Clear Trust began offering training sessions on sales strategies, and roundtable meetings with brokers to share best practices in order to motivate brokers and keep them engaged. Id be lying if I told you I wasnt worried when we first got hit with a lockdown; numbers were trending downwards and for a numbers guy like me, I was worried. I knew something needed to be done to get things going again, and that all starts with a change in mindset from lockdown to open for business. A big part of that change in mindset had to do with Afan conducting weekly briefings with brokers across the country, staying connected with leadership, encouraging them, and making sure they felt supported. Through this time of uncertainty and volatility, Afans steady leadership, optimism and unwavering passion for his business cascaded down through the rest of the team, and as a result, their 180 brokers banded together to achieve $1 billion in mortgage production for 2020. Its the third time that Clear Trust Mortgages has hit this goal since its inception in 2011. The publishing world has had to adapt to a business landscape that is rapidly changing as a result of the pandemic and the response to continuing police violence against unarmed Black people. The 130 Black-owned bookstores in the U.S. have had to deal with these broader challenges, as well as with cultural and economic forces that uniquely affect them. Marcus Books, one of the countrys best-known and oldest Black bookstores, was cofounded in 1960 in San Francisco by two African American doctors, husband-and-wife team Julian and Raye Richardson. Rising rents forced Marcus Books to close its San Francisco store six years ago, but it moved to Oakland. The pandemic hit a few weeks after Rayes death, at age 99, on February 11. We closed briefly due to the death of our mother, said Blanche Richardson, Julian and Rayes daughter, who now runs Marcus Books. Then the Covid-19 rules came down and we had to cancel plans for her memorial as well as our 60th anniversary celebrations and events. We stayed open to receive book deliveries and take phone and mail orders. Later, we instituted curbside pick up, then allowed customers to come into the store as long as they followed the Covid safety guidelines. Richardson had taken down the stores website in early February in order to make upgrades. We did create a temporary method for online purchases but were overwhelmed with 200300 orders a day, she said. We shut it down in order to fulfill all of the orders. The new site is expected to be up in September; in the meantime, Richardson is taking orders over the phone. In Goose Creek, S.C., VaLinda Miller, a co-owner of Turning Pages Bookshop, the only Black-owned bookstore in the state, faced her own challenges. A former resident of Washington, D.C., she opened the store last year. We were shut down for about six weeks, from April until the middle of May, she said. But Im one of the blessed ones. I saw the writing on the wall. So when we shut down, I knew we could cover the expenses of the business. I knew we werent making any sales, but I could still pay my one employee, because my other employee got unemployment compensation from another job. So we were okay. Turning Pages also upgraded its website when the pandemic hit and reopened gradually. As challenging as this period is for bookstores like Marcus Books and Turning Pages, other outlets, like Semicolon, a new bookstore in Chicagos West Town neighborhood, are seeing growth. The pandemic has actually given us a boost, because everybody started paying us more attention and found out we actually existed, said owner D.L. Mullen. We had never done any marketing: we wanted every visit to [the physical store] to be organic. But people started sharing us more on social media. We went from 3,000 followers to 66,000 followers in one week. The extra attention brought more support. We have definitely done well during the pandemic, Mullen said. Black Garnet Bookshop understands the plight of Black people and their struggles with law enforcement: its located in Minneapolis, where George Floyd was killed by police in May, making the city ground zero for the Black Lives Matter protests of recent months. The bookstore is a virtual one; it opened on July 29, with a bricks-and-mortar location forthcoming. Named after a gem with healing properties, the bookstore is the brainchild of owner Dionne Sims, who was inspired by the Floyd protest to do something tangible for the community. I needed to be doing something where Im hands-on in the community where I could see faces, make connections, and give back in a way that is long-term and sustainable, she said. Sims said that as she looked for books to buy following Floyds death, she realized that there werent any Black bookstores in Minnesota. Sims tweeted that her dream was to open a bookstore and the tweet went viral. Opening a store, she said, is something our community really needed in the midst of all of this hurt and pain, and all of the healing we would need to go forward. Bookstores can provide that kind of space for healing and self-empowerment. A GoFundMe page launched by Sims hit her goal of $72,000 within two days. There was an incredible outpouring of support from people within and outside the state, she said. I was able to quit my full-time job, and now this bookstore is my full-time job. Whats selling When Black Lives Matter and other social justice movements began to attract widespread attention, people were ordering only anti-racist titles, Mullen at Semicolon said. But we made a point to introduce Black fiction to our readers, she added. We made it a point to do that every time someone ordered an anti-racist title. Among the books recommended at Semicolon are titles by Octavia Butler, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and N.K. Jemison, as well as Kiley Reevess Such a Fun Age and Brit Bennetts The Vanishing Half (which Mullen said did very well), plus any Afro-futuristic writer. She added, Fiction is easier to understand, and something you can build empathy from, as opposed to statistics and numbers. Anti-racism is rooted in empathyyou have to understand the plight before you can support it. As Richardson of Marcus Books sees it, Following the murder of Mr. Floyd and the resultant worldwide protests against police brutality, our inventory was basically the same, but with the inclusion of more titles dealing with the various issues surrounding race, diversity, police brutality, and institutional racism. Since Black had become the flavor of the month, books in all categories sold very wellincluding fiction, childrens books, cookbooks, biography, and even spirituality. With the chaos of Covid-19 and the growth of Black Lives Matter, what does the future hold for Black bookstores? As a culture, and as a society, we are now starting to realize the importance and the beauty that Black people and Black businesses bring to the community, said Black Garnets Sims. And for white people, this is a time for them to be thoughtful and intentional about where they are putting their money and where their dollars are going. And even in places where people are not ready to make space for Black businessesor Black bookstores specificallywe are at a point where we will carve out a place for ourselves. Thats what Im doing here. Richardson believes Black booksellers need to keep their focus amid the tumult. Black bookstores should do well as long as they serve their communities and provide the information and knowledge that the community seeks, she said. We frequently hear from new customersmostly white and Asianthat they are patronizing us because they want to support a Black business. How long that will last is yet to be seen, so Black bookstores should concentrate on being true to their basic target population. Eugene Holley Jr. writes about jazz and African American culture. Aaron James Wharton subjected Nicola Frost to a campaign of horrific domestic abuse during their six year relationship (SWNS) A mum who was subjected to a six-year campaign of horrific domestic violence has slammed her abusers 21 month jail sentence as disgusting. Nicola Frost, 32, revealed how her violent and controlling ex-boyfriend forced her to get a series of tattoos of his name on her body - including one reading "Property of AJ Wharton". Aaron James Wharton, 31, left Frost fearing for her life following one attack during which she was punched, kicked, strangled and had a knife pressed to her face in a three-hour ordeal. Each year two million people in the UK are affected by domestic abuse. During the coronavirus lockdown there was a sharp increase in incidents as victims were trapped at home with perpetrators. The court heard Wharton treated Frost "like a princess" for the first year of their relationship, then became increasingly violent and controlling (SWNS) Frost, who finally contacted police after the attack in February 2019, said Wharton would "control every aspect of her life". He made her get several tattoos of his name or initials on her body so "nobody else would touch her" because she was "his property". Wharton, of Rosedale Road, Northampton, was convicted of Actual Bodily Harm and jailed for 21 months at Northampton Crown Court last Friday (21 August). He was also handed a ten-year restraining order banning him contacting his former partner. Wharton was handed a 21 month prison sentence and ten year restraining order (SWNS) But Frost has blasted his sentence as too lenient. She said: The sentence for this is disgusting. No amount of time can repay what he has done to me and my kids. Knowing he is going to get out in a year means it is not long enough. People like him dont change. Speaking out after Whartons conviction in the hope that other victims of domestic violence will find the courage to speak out, Frost revealed how she became trapped in a spiral of escalating mental and physical torture and was isolated from friends and family. The mum-of-five, from Northampton, said: "The first year was perfect. He treated me like a princess. But the next five years were a living hell. Nicola Frost finally approached police after Wharton beat, kicked and threatened her with a knife during a three-hour ordeal (SWNS) He controlled every aspect of my life. Wharton would take his partners bank card, and refuse to let her communicate with friends. Story continues He would hit me multiple times and stepped on my face quite regularly, punch me and slap me, and throw me against the walls. He gave me a black eye and split lip a few times, but I was too scared to tell anyone and he knew I didnt have anyone else. Read More From Yahoo News UK: Birmingham restaurant first to be issued warning for flouting coronavirus distancing rules Staff at a 700-year-old castle are being abused by visitors objecting to COVID-19 safety measures Coronavirus R rate could be higher than 1 in every region of England He made me get tattoos of his name on me. One said: Property of AJ Wharton. Frost, who had two children with Wharton, broke up with him in June 2018 after suspecting he was cheating. She said she tried to remain on good terms with him for the sake of their children up until the night of his most violent attack in February last year. Wharton told Frost she was his "property" (SWNS) She revealed how her ex flew into a drunken rage following a night out and only stopped the brutal assault when he fell asleep. She said: "He knocked at my door at 3am. He punched me in the face within minutes. He put a knife to my face and cut my cheek. It was like he was possessed. He was angry I was getting on with my life and he couldnt let go. He was saying I was his property. He started hitting me with multiple punches, knocked me to the floor and started kicking me. It didnt matter if I was up or down, he would hit me. He was drunk and if he hadnt fallen asleep I dont think Id be here today. Aaron James Whartonforced Nicola Frost to get tattoos bearing his name all over her body (SWNS) Frost said she wanted to go public with her experience to help other victims to find a way out. She said: There are so many people in abusive relationships who cant speak out. Now I can, I am trying to help someone else by doing so. "People need to know the signs and see it as abuse and to not doubt themselves, follow through and get out. I would love to campaign on this and raise awareness for women and men all over the world in abusive relationships. Id like to see increased funding for domestic abuse victims. There are charities like Womens Aid but they dont have enough. Nicola Frost has spoken out about her ordeal to encourage other victims to see a way out of abuse (SWNS) "The effect on me has been long standing. Sometimes I don't even trust my own family and I shudder when someone raises a hand. "I am now un-training myself from what he trained me to be, mainly not having to ask permission to do anything. But now I can understand myself better and get on with my life because hes in prison. A recent survey conducted by domestic abuse charity Womens Aid revealed that more than two-thirds of survivors felt that domestic abuse escalated under lockdown, and 72% said that their abuser had more control over their life since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Coronavirus: what happened today Click here to sign up to the latest news, advice and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter Fearing persecution, Belarus activists flee to Lithuania Waves of repression against protestors in Belarus have turned Lithuania, an EU and NATO member, into a place of refuge for pro-democracy Belarusians A few weeks ago, Belarusian sound engineers Vladyslav Sokolovsky and Kirill Galanov were arrested for playing an iconic Soviet-era protest song at a pro-government rally in Minsk. Now, they are among around two dozen pro-opposition Belarusians who have sought refuge in neighbouring Lithuania -- along with opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. "I'm not even thinking about going back at the moment. It's not clear what is happening and it's dangerous," Sokolovsky, 30, told AFP. Sokolovsky was jailed for 10 days for his act of defiance on August 6 -- just before a presidential election that has led to unprecedented mass protests against President Alexander Lukashenko's 26-year rule. The musician remembers being held in solitary confinement, then in overcrowded cells, and deprived of a cot but he was spared the beatings handed out to other pro-democracy protesters. After being released, Sokolovsky was taken in for questioning again for several hours on August 21 at the interior ministry and was threatened with additional criminal charges. "The next day I made my way to Lithuania with the help of the embassy," he said, adding that Lithuania had originally offered assistance after he played the song "Peremen!" (Changes). The act turned the song, performed by Russian 1980s rock star Viktor Tsoi and his band Kino shortly before the fall of the Soviet Union, into an anthem and a rallying cry for protesters. A clip of the song has even been tweeted by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Lina Linkevicius with the words in English: "Belarus has awaken". - 'In safe environments' - Waves of repression in Belarus have turned Lithuania, an EU and NATO member, into a place of refuge for pro-democracy Belarusians. Since the crackdown in Belarus, Lithuania has eased coronavirus restrictions to allow in people from Belarus on "humanitarian grounds". Poland has also announced an easing of entry restrictions to let in fleeing Belarusians, as well as offering to treat anyone injured in the recent violent crackdown on mass protests. Story continues An interior ministry spokeswoman said Lithuania has accepted 22 Belarusian activists so far -- half of whom have requested political asylum. "All of them are in safe environments," the spokeswoman said, adding that another 14 activists have received permission to arrive in Lithuania but have not yet crossed the border. Lithuania's offer of shelter for protesters is part of a broader diplomatic effort to boost international support for protests in Belarus. These moves have angered Russia, which supports Lukashenko and has condemned Vilnius for what it calls an "undisguised interference in the affairs of this neighbouring state". Lithuania and Belarus have close historic ties, dating back to the 14th-century Grand Duchy of Lithuania, but have followed very different paths since the breakup of the Soviet Union. The Baltic states are firmly anchored in the West, having joined the European Union and NATO in 2004, but Belarus has turned into one of the world's most isolated states under Lukashenko. Belarusians like Sokolovsky may have little choice but to follow unfolding events from afar. "I'm a musician, I play the guitar. But at the moment I'm not up to it. I am trying to resolve remotely all my problems at home." vab/dt/pma/gle By ANI SRINAGAR: Four terrorists were neutralised and one was captured in Kiloora area of Shopian district on Friday, according to Vijay Kumar, Inspector General of Police Kashmir. Kumar said that the Shopian police were informed that 4-5 terrorists were in an orchard in the Kiloora area. When the security forces cordoned off the area and started the search, they fired on them. "Four terrorists have been killed while one has been captured, who is being questioned," said Kumar. Kumar said, "Out of the four terrorists killed, Shakoor Ahmed Parray was the most important. He was a special police officer (SPO) and was later made a constable. He had fled with 4 AK-47s and joined terrorists." "Parray formed a group, Al-Badr and recruited 10 youths out of which 5 have been killed," he said. According to IG Kumar, "No police personnel have been injured in the encounter in the Kiloora area of the Shopian district." "We will increase our operations from November in order to eliminate remaining terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir," he added. Earlier today, an encounter broke out between terrorists and security officials in the Kiloora area of Shopian district. Emmy nominee Chris Pine and Suits alum Patrick J. Adams celebrated their 40th and 39th birthdays together with a motorcycle ride down the Pacific Coast Highway on Thursday. After popping into a Santa Monica coffee shop, the I Am the Night producer-actor perched on his white BMW Cafe Racer bike while looking handsome in a leopard-print shirt, black jeans, and boots. Chris - who technically turned 40 on Wednesday - then rode off wearing a brown suede jacket and a helmet on his head. Easy-on-the-eye riders! Emmy nominee Chris Pine (L) and Suits alum Patrick J. Adams (R) celebrated their 40th and 39th birthdays together with a motorcycle ride down the Pacific Coast Highway on Thursday Meanwhile, Patrick - who turned 39 on Thursday - owns a grey Triumph motorcycle but was not photographed getting on it. Pine and Adams made sure to protect themselves and others from the coronavirus by covering their noses and mouths with red bandanas, which California Governor Gavin Newsom made mandatory for all public outings on June 18. As of Thursday, there have been over 236K confirmed COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County, which has lead to 5,701 deaths - according to Johns Hopkins University. Nice mustache! After popping into a Santa Monica coffee shop, the I Am the Night producer-actor perched on his white BMW Cafe Racer bike while looking handsome in a leopard-print shirt, black jeans, and boots Vroom! Chris - who technically turned 40 on Wednesday - then rode off wearing a brown suede jacket and a helmet on his head Steed: Meanwhile, Patrick - who turned 39 on Thursday - owns a grey Triumph motorcycle but was not photographed getting on it (pictured May 9) Committed: Back in 2014, the third-generation Hollywood actor and the Toronto-born Canadian co-starred in the Funny or Die short, Pa-gents, which was a three-minute spoof of a Lifetime reality TV competition for men Back in 2014, the third-generation Hollywood actor and the Toronto-born Canadian co-starred in the Funny or Die short, Pa-gents, which was a three-minute spoof of a Lifetime reality TV competition for men. Missing from Chris' side on Thursday was his British girlfriend - The Silencing actress Annabelle Wallis - whom he began romancing in April 2018. Meanwhile, Patrick has a 22-month-old daughter Aurora Adams with his wife of three years - Pretty Little Liars alum Troian Bellisario - whom he met while co-starring in the 2009 play Equivocation. Instagram official! Missing from Chris' side on Thursday was his British girlfriend - The Silencing actress Annabelle Wallis (R) - whom he began romancing in April 2018 (pictured December 19) Family-of-three: Patrick has a 22-month-old daughter Aurora Adams with his wife of three years - Pretty Little Liars alum Troian Bellisario - whom he met while co-starring in the 2009 play Equivocation (posted August 12) Last Saturday, Pine reunited with his Wonder Woman 1984 castmates and director Patty Jenkins for a virtual 25-minute DC FanDome panel. 'It was kind of like a good lesson for me as a human being to remind myself to open up and not be so cool and over everything,' the Quibi Princess Bride guest star said of his fish-out-of-water character Steve Trevor. 'My job, again, is to be in love with Gal [Gadot], which is not a hard gig and try to make her giggle, which is always fun.' Hitting US/UK theaters on October 2! Last Saturday, Pine reunited with his Wonder Woman 1984 castmates and director Patty Jenkins (3-L) for a virtual 25-minute DC FanDome panel The Quibi Princess Bride guest star said of his resurrected character Steve Trevor: 'My job, again, is to be in love with Gal [Gadot], which is not a hard gig and try to make her giggle, which is always fun' In the junior novel, Chris' character is resurrected from the dead by Diana Prince/Wonder Woman (Gadot) with a wish-granting Dreamstone, according to Bleeding Cool. The thrice-delayed DC Comics sequel - also featuring Lynda Carter, Kristen Wiig, and Pedro Pascal - hits US/UK theaters on October 2. As for Adams, the SAG Award nominee next plays real-life Mercury Seven astronaut John Glenn in National Geographic's eight-episode drama The Right Stuff - based on Tom Wolfe's 1979 book - which premieres October 9 on Disney+. A Burlington County man admitted that he killed his mother in November and concealed her body in the trunk of his car, parked for weeks at the Willingboro eatery where he worked delivering pizza. Brian K. Templeton, 54, pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated manslaughter in a plea deal that calls for a 25-year prison sentence with more than 21 years of parole ineligibility, according to the Burlington County Prosecutors Office. Last fall, Templeton had been staying with his mother, Doris Templeton, 77, in the Courtyard Apartments complex in Edgewater Park, the prosecutors office said. Police began investigating her disappearance Nov. 11 after an employee at the complex reported she had not been seen in more than two weeks, the office said. The next day, they discovered her body in his vehicle. The investigation revealed that Brian Templeton killed his mother inside of her apartment, put her body into a chest and loaded it into the back of his car, the prosecutors office said in a previous release. He then moved the car to the parking lot of a pizza shop in Willingboro where he was employed as a driver and began utilizing his mothers car for transportation. The prosecutors office has never released a suspected motive in the case. She died from blunt force trauma to the head, the office said. Superior Court Philip E. Haines will decide whether to accept the plea deal at Templetons sentencing Oct. 23. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Rus diplomasisinin COVID-19 donemindeki en dinamik cephelerinden biri Iran oldu. Haziran ve temmuzda Moskovaya iki ziyaret gerceklestiren Iran Dsisleri Bakan Muhammed Cevad Zarif, nukleer anlasmann gelecegini ve ABDnin Irana yonelik BM silah ambargosunu uzattrma cabalarna kars Rusyayla esgudumu gorustu. Tum bunlarn ustune Iran Savunma Bakan Emir Hateminin Rusyada 23-29 Agustosta duzenlenen Army-2020 askeri forumuna katlm, silah ambargosunun 18 Ekimde sona ermesinin ardndan Moskova ve Tahrann askeri-teknik isbirligini arttracag beklentisini iyice korukledi. ABDnin yasaklar uzatma onerisi BM Guvenlik Konseyinde reddedildi. ABDnin Irana yaptrm uygulamaya donuk snapback (geri tepme) mekanizmasn kullanma talebinin de sonuc vermesi olas gorunmuyor. Hateminin ziyareti oncesinde Irann Moskova Buyukelcisi Kazm Celali, Rusya ve Iran arasndaki askeri isbirliginin gunbegun arttgn ve yaknda yeni bir asamaya gececegini soyledi. Buyukelci Telegram uzerinden paylastg mesajda Rusya-Iran askeri-teknik ortaklgnda yaknda yeni bir sayfa acacagz ifadesini kulland. Hateminin Rus mevkidas Sergey Soyguyla gorusmesinin ardndan ise Moskovadaki Iran Buyukelciligi, iki ulkenin bolgedeki stratejik anlays birliginin derinligi sgnda ortaklgn daha da guclendirilmesi gerektigini belirtti. Ancak, Rusya-Iran askeri isbirligine genelde iyimser yaklasan Rus medyasnda ayn heyecan yoktu. Iran heyetinin foruma katlm fazla ilgi gormedi. One ckan tek haber, S-400 ve Pantsir-S1 hava savunma sistemlerini inceleyen Iran heyetinin goruntuleri idi. Bu, soz konusu sistemlerin Irana olas satsn akla getirdi. ABD Savunma Istihbarat Ajansna gore ambargo kalktktan sonra Iran yonetimi Rusyadan tank, S-400 ve Bastion ky savunma sistemi almak istiyor. Tahrann ayrca Rus yapm Su-30 savas ucag, Yak-130 geliskin pilot egitim ucag ve T-90 tanklaryla ilgilendigi soyleniyor. Dogal olarak bu iddialara ihtiyatla yaklasmak lazm. Su ana dek olas silah sozlesmelerine yonelik tek somut kaynak, Iranl ve Rus yetkililerinden gelen ve oldukca muglak olan beyanlar. Tahrann Moskova ile buyuk capl sozlesmeler yapacagna dair halen ciddi kuskular mevcut. Temkinli olmay gerektiren birden fazla sebep var. Her seyden once, S-400leri inceleyen ve gelecekte olas almlara ilgi gosteren tek Orta Dogulu heyet Iranllar degil. Rus uzmanlar Rus yapm silahlar ovmekten, yabanc heyetlerin Rus tanklar, savas ucaklar, fuze sistemlerinden nasl etkilendigini anlatmaktan hoslanr. Ne var ki fiiliyatta silah almna yonelik resmi ilgi beyan ile alm sozlesmesi imzalamak arasnda daglar kadar fark var. Kald ki Iran Devrim Muhafzlarnn elinde modernize edilmeye musait Rus yapm Tor-M1 ksa menzilli hava savunma sistemleri var. Ikincisi, Iran yonetimi T-90 gibi Rus yapm tanklarn veya fuze savunma sistemlerinin favori tercihi oldugunu ancak mevcut onceliginin Karrar tank gibi yerli zrhl araclar uretmek oldugunu defalarca belirtmistir. Bu arada Rusyadan alnms olan uc adet S-300PMU fuze sisteminin yeterli olacag dusunuluyor. Tahrann elinde ayrca S-300lerle benzer ozellikler tasyan yerli Bavar-373 sistemleri var. Irandaki savunma sanayinin cogunu kontrol eden Devrim Muhafzlarnn yerli uretim icin bastran baslca guc odag olduguna inanlyor. Ucuncusu, Iranla askeri isbirligini derinlestirmek Moskova icin muhtemel, hatta kesin itibar riskleri tasyor. Ocak aynda Ukrayna Uluslararas Havayollarna ait Boeing 737nin dusurulmesi, ucaga iki adet Tor-M1 fuzesi frlatan Iran askeri personelinin stres kosullarnda ne kadar dayanksz oldugunu ortaya koydu. Dorduncusu, Rusyann Irann geleneksel baz hasmlaryla yaknlasma ihtimalini yok saymak yanls olur. Savunma Bakanlgnn ev sahipliginde gecen yl duzenlenen 8. Moskova Uluslararas Guvenlik Konferansnn ardndan Bloomberg ajans, Orta Doguda gerilimi artrmak ve Korfez devletleri ile Israili kzdrmaktan cekinen Rusyann, Irann S-400 alm talebini geri cevirdigini yazmst. Askeri-Teknik Isbirligi Federal Kurumu yetkilileri ise daha sonra Rusyann Irana S-400 tedarik etmeye hazr oldugunu belirtmislerdi. Teorik olarak, Rusya icin hem Iranla iliskilerde gerilim yaratmamak hem de Iranla fazla yaknlasmaktan dogacak itibar kaybn onlemek mumkun. Bunun icin Tahrana saldr silahlar vermeden ds tehditlere kars korumasn guclendirecek cesitli menzillerdeki hava savunma sistemlerinin tedarikiyle snrl bir altn oran bulunabilir. Rus analist Yuri Lyamin, gunun sonunda Irann Rusyadan Su-35 veya Su-30M savas ucag almak isteyecegini ongoruyor. Iran hava kuvvetlerinin modern, cok amacl ucak ihtiyac aciliyet arz ediyor ve yerli savunma sanayi su an bu ihtiyac karslayabilecek durumda degil. Strateji ve Teknoloji Analiz Merkezi uzmanlarndan Mihail Barabanov 2018deki degerlendirmesinde Iran ucak sanayinin eski Amerikan ucaklarnn modernizasyonuna dayandgn, bunun otesinde bir sey yapamadgn, yeni fikirler uretemeyen muhendislerin eski ucaklar icin daha fazla fon saglamaya calstgn vurguluyor. Barabanov bu yorumu, Irann, esasen iki kisilik F-5 ucagnn bir varyant olan yeni Kevser ucagn tanttg gunlerde yapmst. Rusya Uluslararas Iliskiler Konseyinin Tahrandaki uzman Nikita Smagine gore Irann Rusyadan genis yelpazede silah ve askeri donanm almn iceren, buyuk capl bir sozlesme paketine imza atmas olas degil. Iranda ekonomik durgunlugun aslamadg, insanlarn reel gelir kayb yasadg bir donemde rejimin buyuk silah almlarna yonelmesi ic huzursuzluklara neden olabilir. Smagin, Irann Rusyayla buyuk capl anlasmalar yapmayacagna neredeyse kesin gozuyle bakarken, Amerikan blokajn asabildigini gostermek icin sembolik baz anlasmalar yapabilecegini dusunuyor. Bunlarn Irann uzun vadeli sorunlarn cozmeyecegine dikkat ceken Smagin, Birkac yeni ucak satn alarak kohnemis bir ucak filosunu adam edemezsiniz. Yabanc sistemlerin kopyas olan hava savunma sistemlerinin entegrasyonu da kolay bir is degil diyor. Yine de askeri isbirliginin potansiyeli gorundugunden fazla olabilir. Rezonans arastrma merkezinin baskan yardmcs Alexander Stuciline gore merkezin hayalet ucaklar tespit etmek uzere tasarlayp urettigi Rezonans-NE radar, Iranda birkac yldr muharip gorevlerde kullanlyor. Hatta radar ocak aynda Iran snrlar yaknnda ABD yapm F-35 ucaklarnn varlgn tespit etmis. Stucilinin bu acklamalar medyada sansasyon yaratsa da aslnda olaganustu bir sey icermiyor. Ucaklarn gorunmeden ucma kabiliyeti yuzde yuz degil. Asl mesele, hava tehditlerini tespit ve bertaraf etmekte ne gibi taktiklerin kullanldgdr. Daha kayda deger bir detay ise F-35lerin Rus ordusu icin uretilen radarlarla tespit edilmis olma ihtimali. Resmi bilgilere gore Rusya 2014 ve 2015 yllarnda Irana iki adet Ghadir tipi radar sistemi gonderdi ve bunlar daha sonra Simnan ve Huzistan eyaletlerinde faaliyete gecirildi. Ihrac urunu olarak tasarlanan bu radarlar, Rusyada kullanlan modellere gore daha dusuk ozelliklere sahip. Ancak Iranda Rus ordusunun kullanm icin uretilen radar istasyonlarnn da bulundugu, bunlarn Fars eyaletinde Siraz sehrinin batsnda ve Kurdistan eyaletinde Bicar kentinin kuzeyinde konuslandrldg iddia ediliyor. Her halukarda silah ambargosunun kalkmas, Iranla askeri isbirliginde Rusya icin baz zorluklar getirecek. Moskovann savunma silah satma egilimi ile Tahrann saldr silah alma istegi arasnda bariz bir gerilim var. Irann olumsuz imaj da Rusyann hesaba katmas gereken bir faktor. Ucak, savas ucag fuzesi veya savas gemisi gibi urunlerin sats, hem bolgesel ulkeler arasnda hem de ABDde buyuk tepkiyle karslanabilir. Yine de Kremlinin imaj kayglarn goz ard ederek saldr silahlarnn satsna onay vermesi, tamamen imkansz degil. Ancak boyle bir durumda Rusya, Sovyet donemindeki ideolojik bagaj olmasa da yine kusatlms bir kaleye donusebilir. Sgt. Elder Fernandes, a 23-year-old Fort Hood soldier, was found dead on Tuesday, his family's lawyer, Natalie Khawam, told The Boston Globe. Fernandes had accused a male superior officer of sexually assaulting him in April but was harassed for doing so, his mother told The Globe. He was hospitalized on August 11 and was last seen by a staff sergeant who drove him home on August 17. His family said they didn't know why he was in the hospital to begin with. "I just can't go back to Boston without my son. I need answers," his mother, Ailina Fernandes, told The Globe. At a news conference on Wednesday, Special Agent Damon Phelps of the Army Criminal Investigation Command said, "There was a thorough legal review, and the allegations were unsubstantiated." Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. A 23-year-old Fort Hood soldier who had reported being sexually abused and went missing more than a week ago was found dead on Tuesday evening. Natalie Khawam, the lawyer for Sgt. Elder Fernandes' family, told The Boston Globe that his body was found hanging from a tree about 25 miles from the Army base in Killeen, Texas. A person walking by a railroad track in Temple came across Fernandes' body, and investigators identified him with his driver's license found in a black backpack nearby, Khawam said. "Our worst nightmare has happened," Khawam said in a statement to The Globe. "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 Fernandes's family." The Temple Police Department is investigating Fernandes' death because of where his body was found. The agency said in a statement that there was "no indication of foul play" but that an autopsy had been ordered and that the investigation is ongoing. "They don't know what happened whether it was suicide or whether murder," Khawam said, per The Enterprise. "But I'm gonna tell you, what they did to him, the blood on their hands, it's a form of murder." Story continues Fernandes was discharged from the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center on August 17 and given a ride to a residence in Killeen, Texas, by his staff sergeant, KWKT-TV reported, citing Fernandes' family and the Killeen Police Department. His family said they didn't know why he was in the hospital. He didn't show up to work on August 18 and was reported missing. Fernandes' car was found in his unit's parking lot, Fort Hood said in a press release. Sgt. Elder Fernandes. Fort Hood 'I can't resume my life not knowing' Fernandes' mother, Ailina Fernandes, told The Globe that when she flew to Texas last week, she was unaware that her son had accused a male superior officer of groping him in a supply closet in April, or that reporting this resulted in him being harassed and bullied. She also said she didn't know that he had become suicidal or that he had been transferred to another unit because of safety concerns. "He was humiliated, he was embarrassed, he couldn't even tell his mom. He didn't want to tell anyone," Khawam said, according to The Enterprise. "He was afraid. He was ashamed by this." Ailina Fernandes told The Globe that her son had been tight-lipped on the phone, saying only that he wanted to "clear his mind." She said he told her that he would call her after being discharged from the hospital, but she didn't hear from him again. "I just can't go back to Boston without my son," Ailina Fernandes told the newspaper. "I need answers. I can't resume my life not knowing." Elder Fernandes is not the only soldier who has been reported missing from Fort Hood. The nonprofit Missing People in America said that nine others had vanished in 2020 alone. Pfc. Vanessa Guillen's disappearance and death made headlines earlier this year. Her family said she was sexually abused. Fort Hood denied the allegation, saying there was no "credible information" to back it. The Army denied any link between his disappearance and a sexual-abuse investigation Lt. Col. Chris Brautigam, a 1st Cavalry Division spokesman, told NBC News over the weekend about "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 added. However, Fort Hood said in a statement on Saturday that Fernandes "left on his own accord" and that there was "no connection between the disappearance of Sgt. Fernandes and any other ongoing cases at Fort Hood." Ailina Fernandes said she didn't believe this. "Elder is a lovely family boy, he wouldn't run away without letting us know where he is at," she told The Globe on Tuesday, adding, "If the Army drove Elder that crazy to make Elder do something like that, then shame on them, because that is not the Elder I know." The Globe said the military was denying Ailina Fernandes information about her son's hospitalization because of health-privacy laws. But Khawam, who also represented Guillen's family, is demanding answers. "People have to be held accountable for what they've done here," Khawam said. "Enough is enough. These families all need answers." Fernandes' accusations were 'unsubstantiated,' Army spokesman says Asked for a comment, Fort Hood officials pointed Insider to a Wednesday press conference where officials discussed Fernandes' case. Lt. Col. Justin Redfern, the commander of the 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, told reporters that the "chain of command" at Fort Hood noticed Fernandes' behavior changing around April and was concerned about it. "The chain of command was very much invested in this trooper," he said. "It was a person that we felt was exemplary." But Redfern said he didn't "see any connection" between the sexual-assault allegation and Fernandes' failure to report for duty. Special Agent Damon Phelps of the Army Criminal Investigation Command said the investigation into Fernandes' allegation was completed "fairly recently." "The subject of the investigation took and passed a polygraph investigation, and we found no witnesses that could corroborate Sgt. Fernandes' allegations," Phelps said. "There was a thorough legal review, and the allegations were unsubstantiated." However, Khawam and the Fernandes family are pushing for a congressional investigation into Fort Hood. "We are all heartbroken and sickened by this tragedy," Isabel Fernandes, Elder Fernandes' aunt, wrote on Facebook. "Elder signed up to serve our country, he did not sign up to be sexually assaulted by his sergeant, and then bullied and hazed for reporting it!" Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts responded to the news of the soldier's death in a statement on Wednesday. "Elder Fernandes was a patriot who chose to serve his country, but when he needed support, his country failed him," Markey said. "No parent or family should lose a son in this way." Markey said he thought that "the Army did not uphold its obligation to keep Sergeant Fernandes safe," and he called for an independent investigation into his death "so we can get a full accounting of what went so terribly wrong and hold accountable those who failed him." "The Fernandes family deserves answers, and Sergeant Fernandes deserves justice," Markey added. This article has been updated. Read the original article on Insider MUSKEGON, MI Dozens of corrections officers protested what their union president called severely understaffed prisons during a picket outside two Muskegon-area prisons Friday. The Aug. 28 picket at the entrance to the Muskegon and Brooks correctional facilities was a kickoff event for an informational campaign about the more than 700 corrections officer vacancies in the state, said Byron Osborn, president of the Michigan Corrections Organization. The union represents about 6,000 corrections officers who work at the states 29 prisons. Were here today to bring attention to the ongoing staffing shortages with corrections officers in the Michigan Department of Corrections, Osborn said. This has been going on for a number of years. Were frustratedthat the administration has failed to address the ongoing issues with recruitment and retention of officers. On Thursday, Aug. 27, the union called for the removal of Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has expressed confidence in Washington, who was appointed in 2015 by former Gov. Rick Snyder. Related: Michigan corrections officers call for removal of department director, citing failed leadership The Muskegon Correctional Facility has experienced one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks among state prisons. Of the 1,296 inmates there, 812 or 62 percent -- had tested positive for COVID-19 as of Thursday, according to data on the Michigan Department of Corrections website. In addition, 23 staff members at the prison have tested positive, according to MDOC. Osborn said COVID-19 has exasperated long-standing problems with vacant corrections officer positions. Losing staff who have had to quarantine only just poured it on, he said. Remaining corrections officers have had to work mandatory overtime including 16-hour days several days a week, Osborn said. There have been times when there have been 13 officers overseeing 1,000 inmates at the Muskegon Correctional Facility, he said. Related: More than half of inmates at Muskegon prison positive for coronavirus Its the last straw, really, Osborn said, explaining that officers, especially those who are single parents, are quitting under the heavy load. People didnt sign up for this, he said. On Friday, dozens of corrections officers and their family members lined Sheridan Drive across from the correctional facilities holding signs with such phrases as We need officers, MDOC fails officers, and Unsafe conditions. Many passing motorists honked their horns in support. These prisons right now are tinder boxes because of the anxiety over COVID, Osborn said. Its not safe for us. Its not safe for the prisoners either. Statewide, 5,097 inmates or 13 percent of the total have tested positive for COVID, according to the department of corrections. LaNise Moody, who has family at the Muskegon Correctional Facility, contacted MLive with concerns about COVID cases and staffing there. They dont have proper guards, Moody wrote in an email. They have two guards per podWe are seeking justice for our family members that are there and exposed to (COVID) due to the lack of facility workers. The union believes recruitment and training of new corrections officers should be decentralized and regionalized to be more effective, Osborn said. We believe theyre spinning their wheels, he said. The recruitment is poor; the retention is poor. He also called on the Legislature to provide retiree health benefits for corrections officers to help with retention. There are about 734 corrections officer vacancies statewide, MDOC Spokesman Chris Gautz told MLive. The department has authorization to fill 700 of them, he said. He estimated that about 50 officers leave employment each month, a situation compounded by officers on family leave. The corrections department received $20 million this year to recruit and train officers, Gautz said. So far, 778 officers have been hired, but training has slowed down due to COVID-19 restrictions, he said. The department uses social media, micro-targeting campaigns, and advertising as part of its recruitment efforts, Gautz said. It also pushes for staff members to recruit officers too, and said its important for corrections officers to talk positively about the job. Also on MLive: Friday, Aug. 28: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Michigan Democrats target Pences vote against auto bailout before visit, tout Biden as job savior Mike Pences Michigan rally is first for presidential campaigns here since COVID-19 struck "Watching that video of Mr. Blake, you should be angry," Kennedy said. "There's no way you can have any humanity and not respond with anger, frustration. I'm that angry. I'm that hurt. I'm that frustrated. I have a responsibility to be that and still try to be constructive and build my community and maintain the quality of life of my constituents. "Be angry and vocal, but when you're done be with me so we can build this city." About 11% of Kenosha's 99,000 residents are Black, but only about seven of the police force's 207 officers are African American. Kenosha's white population is about 67%, while 89% of the city's police officers are white. Ray Roberts, a data scientist who has lived in the city about a decade, said he and other Black residents face very different rules when dealing with police than white residents do. "If you're a white guy, a firefighter with an open (alcohol) container and gun in your car and you get pulled over, you get dropped off at the firehouse," said Roberts, 38. "If you're Black, that might be the end of your life you get shot or you might face 20 (years in prison)." 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. Auli'i Cravalho's life changed forever at age 14 when she was cast as the voice of Disney's "Moana." The Hawaiian native loved singing and acting, but they were just hobbies to her. So were horseback riding, swimming and microbiology, for that matter. A career in Hollywood seemed implausible at best. "But life decided to surprise me," said Cravalho, who went from obscurity to performing at the Oscars in just a few months. Now at 19, Cravalho is checking off another milestone: Her first live-action film, "All Together Now," is being released on Netflix Friday. And once again, she's in the lead. Based on Matthew Quick's novel "Sorta Like a Rock Star," the film from director Brett Haley finds Cravalho playing a very different kind of character from the adventurous Polynesian princess. Amber is a high school student with a to-die-for voice, an unflappable optimism and a dream of going to Carnegie Mellon. She also happens to be living in a school bus with her alcoholic mother. "This felt like the next step," she said. "I'm a little older and I love the challenge of showing these tougher emotions and telling these deeper stories." She'd actually auditioned for Hayley before. She didn't get that part, but he promised he'd remember her. "I was like, sure, OK, I'm never going to hear from this guy again," she laughed. And then Amber Appleton came along. "I really related to Amber. I genuinely I understood her optimism," she said. "I am an optimist almost to a fault myself. I also have to kind of get real and be like, 'Oh, wait, I can reach out and ask for help.'" Cravalho had already had some on-camera experience, including in the short-lived television show "Rise," which was canceled after one season. ("My first heartbreak.") But she was nervous about a feature film and acting opposite people like Carol Burnett. "My biggest challenge is figuring out what to do with my face on screen," she said. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Thankfully, she had an unusually empathetic and supportive director in Haley, who helped her feel comfortable and gave her space to play around with her character and lines. And he's excited for audiences to see her in a more dramatic role. "Yes, she's optimistic. Yes, she's bright and shiny. But she also has a depth of emotion. She really is layered. She's not just this Disney princess," Haley said. "I think you can see that in her performance. She goes to so many different places in the role." Cravalho has for the past few years been living outside of Hawaii, first in New York and now in Los Angeles. She finished up high school on her laptop from the set of "Rise," and she empathizes with all the students having to do that now. For now, she'll continue pursing acting and already has another series in the works in Amazon's thriller "The Power," but she'd also like to go to college and keep her options open. She's only 19, after all. "I'm not really sure where my career will take me. I've been lucky to play strong women characters so I hope I'll continue on that path," she said. "But I'm also young and figuring out what fuels me as a person and figuring out that my career (can be) different from who I am." Labour has urged the government to "categorically rule out" a campaign force people back into offices during the pandemic, amid reports that one is set to be launched next week. Cabinet minister Grant Shapps told workers it is "now safe to go back", ahead of the roll-out of adverts emphasising the benefits of a return to workplaces. The public information campaign comes as the UK reported its highest daily number of new coronavirus cases since 12 June on Thursday, with 1,522 confirmed positive results. However the government's push, thought to be driven by concern for businesses near offices, appears to contradict aspects of previous statements by its medical advisors. Chief medical officer Chris Whitty said at the end of July that the UK had reached the limit of what it could open up without risking a return of the virus, and experts have suggested that some restrictions could even return to allow schools to go back. Labour's shadow business minister Lucy Powell said: "It beggars belief that the Government are threatening people like this during a pandemic. Forcing people to choose between their health and their job is unconscionable. "Number 10 should condemn this briefing and categorically rule out any such campaign." The warning comes as a YouGov poll shows the public largely support continued home working, with 47 per cent saying people should not be pressured to return to the office and 31 per cent saying they should. Among the country's demographics, only people of pension age, 65 years and older, support unnecessarily sending workers back out when they could simply work from home - by 44 per cent to 35 per cent. A separate study by academics at Cardiff University and the University of Southampton found that nine out of ten people in the UK who have worked form home during lockdown want to continue doing so. Working from home as risen from 6 per cent of employees before the start of the pandemic to 43 per cent inA pril. The research found that productivity was broadly stable despite the change. The study questioned a representative sample of 6,000-,7000 workers. 41 per cent say working from home has made no difference to how much work they have got done, while roughly equal parts said they had got more work done or less work done. (29 per cent and 30 per cent respectively). Professor Alan Felstead said the results suggested there could be a "major shift" from the traditional way workplaces have been organised. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 January 2022 Demonstrators outside Downing Street during a Kill The Bill protest against The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in London. PA UK news in pictures 14 January 2022 Ecologist Emma Smart (left) and retired GP Dr Diana Warner outside HMP Bronzefield, in Surrey, following their release from the prison where Emma undertook a 26-day hunger strike during her incarceration. Ms Smart was sentenced in November, along with other members of Insulate Britain, to serve four months for breaking a High Court injunction by taking part in a blockade at junction 25 of the M25 motorway during the morning rush hour on 8 October last year PA UK news in pictures 13 January 2022 A TV presenter holds a copy of a newspaper outside 10 Downing Streetafter the Prime Minister apologised for attending a gathering of colleagues in the Number Ten garden in May 2020, while the UK was in strict lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic Getty UK news in pictures 12 January 2022 Fitness guru Derrick Evans after receiving an MBE during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 11 January 2022 A couple walk underneath an umbrella during wet weather on Westminster Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 10 January 2022 A jogger passes the Covid Memorial Wall in London AP UK news in pictures 9 January 2021 The sun rises over horses at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 8 January 2022 Riders compete during the Veterans Men's race at the UK Cyclo-Cross National Championships 2022 in Ardingly, south of London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 7 January 2022 A dog looks out of a car window at the wintry conditions in Killeshin, Co. Laois PA UK news in pictures 6 January 2022 People walk through frost and mist alongside a frozen lake during sunrise in Bushy Park, London REUTERS UK news in pictures 5 January 2022 A skier jumps on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines to the north of Weardale in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 4 January 2022 Freshly-fallen snow covers houses in Corbridge, near Hexham in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 3 January 2022 Dean Morrison, 13, receives his Covid-19 vaccine from student nurse Anthony McLaughlin during a vaccination clinic at the Glasgow Central Mosque PA UK news in pictures 2 January 2022 Konastantinos Tsimikas of Liverpool with Chelseas Mason Mount during the Premier League match at Stamfrod Bridge Liverpool FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 January 2022 New Years Eve Lasers, drones and fireworks illuminate the sky in front of the Royal Naval College in Greenwich shortly after midnight in London EPA UK news in pictures 31 December 2021 Competitors in fancy dress run across the Pennine tops near Haworth, West Yorkshire, in the annual Auld Lang Syne Fell race which attracts hundreds of runners every year PA UK news in pictures 30 December 2021 Sunrise at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 29 December 2021 The Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, looks at Becket, a six month old red-billed chough as he visits Wildwood Wildlife Park in Kent on the anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket PA UK news in pictures 28 December 2021 Troops of the Household Cavalry are seen reflected in a puddle during the changing of the Queens Life Guard, on Horse Guards Parade, in central London PA UK news in pictures 27 December 2021 A pedestrian walks past a winter sale sign outside a John Lewis store on Oxford street in London Getty UK news in pictures 26 December 2021 Riders take their bikes through the snow near Castleside, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 25 December 2021 Patrick Corkery wears a santa hat and beard as waves crash over him at Forty Foot near Dublin during a Christmas Day dip PA UK news in pictures 24 December 2021 People stand inside Kings Cross Station on Christmas Eve in London Reuters UK news in pictures 23 December 2021 Christmas shoppers fill the car park at Fosse Shopping Park in Leicester PA UK news in pictures 22 December 2021 The sun rises behind the stones as people gather for the winter solstice at Stonehenge. Getty UK news in pictures 21 December 2021 People take part in a winter solstice swim at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh to mark the solstice and to witness the dawn after the longest night of the year PA UK news in pictures 20 December 2021 An auction employee displays poultry to buyers and sellers attending the Christmas Poultry Sale at York Auction Centre in Murton PA UK news in pictures 19 December 2021 Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 December 2021 Freight lorries queuing at the port of Dover in Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 December 2021 Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, bursts 'Boris' bubble' held by colleague Tim Farron, as she celebrates following her victory in the North Shropshire by-election PA UK news in pictures 16 December 2021 Brussels sprouts are harvested by workers as they prepare for the busy Christmas period near Boston in Lincolnshire PA UK news in pictures 15 December 2021 Lewis Hamilton is made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 14 December 2021 The Royal Liver Buildings surrounded by early morning fog in Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 13 December 2021 People queue outside a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster Getty Images UK news in pictures 12 December 2021 People take part in the Big Leeds Santa Dash in Roundhay Park, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 11 December 2021 People arrive at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Elland Road in Leeds, PA UK news in pictures 10 December 2021 Stella Moris speaks to the media after the US Government won its High Court bid to overturn a judges decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange PA UK news in pictures 9 December 2021 Camels are lead around Salisbury Cathedral during a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Service PA UK news in pictures 8 December 2021 Margaret Keenan and Nurse May Parsons, a year after Margaret was the first person in the UK to receive the Pfizer vaccine PA UK news in pictures 7 December 2021 Snowfall in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire as Storm Barra hits the UK with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow PA UK news in pictures 6 December 2021 A person tries to avoid sea spray on New Brighton promenade in Wallasey as the UK readies for the arrival of Storm Barra Getty UK news in pictures 5 December 2021 People release balloons during a tribute to six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside Emma Tustin's former address in Solihull, West Midlands, where he was murdered by his stepmother PA UK news in pictures 4 December 2021 People walk through a Christmas market in Trafalgar Square Reuters UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 2 December 2021 Duchess of Cambridge inspects a Faberge egg at the Victoria and Albert Museum Getty UK news in pictures 1 December 2021 Meerkats at London Zoo with an advent calendar PA UK news in pictures 30 November 2021 Workers put the finishing touches to the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree ahead of the lighting ceremony later in the week PA UK news in pictures 29 November 2021 Home Secretary Priti Patel is greeted by a police dog at a special memorial service for Met Police Sergeant Matiu Ratana Getty UK news in pictures 28 November 2021 Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City battles for possession with Aaron Cresswell of West Ham United during a match at the Etihad during snow Manchester City/Getty 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 "What is particularly striking is that many of those who have worked at home during lockdown would like to continue to work in this way, even when social distancing rules do not require them to," he said. "These people are among the most productive, so preventing them from choosing how they work in the future does not make economic sense. "Giving employees flexibility on where they work could be extremely beneficial for companies as they attempt to recover from the impact of Covid-19." Report co-author Darja Reuschke, from the University of Southampton, said: "City centre high streets have been hard hit by the pandemic and are likely to remain quiet for some time to come as fewer people return to traditional places of work. "However, this also provides an opportunity for us to radically rethink our city centres as multi-use places that accommodate different kinds of economic uses and are not built around fast roads that connect workplaces with residences." Written by the family Albert Irving Gross was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on Aug. 25, 1929, to Molly and Meyer Gross and passed on Aug. 16, 2020, following a lengthy illness. At age 2 during the winter, Al sat in his baby carriage along with food for relatives. His mother pushed the carriage across a frozen pond and told him not to tell his father that she was giving away food he had worked hard to pay for. That was when Tikkun Olam, Healing the World, was actively birthed in him for he went on in life to work for justice and social action. After graduating from Suffolk University in Boston, Al joined the Navy. Afterwards he purposely chose the South where he took his battle for workers rights, working in Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. Al was involved in the 1960s in the Deep South. He knew John F. Kennedy before he ran for president. Martin Luther King worked together with Al on the Memphis Sanitation strike that eventually took Martin Luther Kings life. Because of his connection to Dr. King, Al frequently was honored at the Orlando MLK interfaith candlelight march and service. Al was a Union International Representative for over 40 years working for three ALF-CIO Unions. He organized blue-collar workers in the City of Orlando, Orange County, and the Greater Orlando International Airport. One special accomplishment was having Black workers be hired as supervisors. In February 2013, Al was recognized by the Kinneret Council on Aging as a recipient of the 8 Over 80 award. He personally lived his life deeply rooted in his beliefs. He was a proud Democrat. There is a magnolia tree planted at Lake Eola with a bronze plaque dedicating it to him for his service to workers in Orange County. On the day of his retirement, Feb. 9, 1999, Mayor Glenda Hood proclaimed that day as Albert I. Gross Day in Orange County. Twenty-one years later on March 22, 2020, Al was given a 50-year continuous membership achievement certificate and a gold membership card in commemoration of this memorable occasion by Laborers International Union of North America. His leadership, dedication, sacrifice, commitment to goals, ideals, values of the Union will not be forgotten. For over 40 years Al was a member of Congregation of Liberal Judaism, later renamed Congregation of Reform Judaism. He was on the Board of the Jewish Federation Community Relations Committee service for many years as their liaison to the Seminole County Democrat party. Al was on the board for over 40 years of Apopkas Justice and Peace office run by Sister Teresa McElwee of the Sisters of Notre Dame. He left a personal legacy of daughter Paula Horne, whom he dearly loved, son-in-law Steve, and two grandsons, Benny and Nick. He was extremely proud of Paulas successful career as a CPA and her high level of integrity with her clients. From an early age, he involved her in politics and the importance of doing right by others. As she grew she always embodied a true work ethic, which was so vitally important to him. As each year passed their bond grew stronger. Als legacy includes his brother, Lenny Gross; sister-in-law, Arlene; sister-in-law, Cookie Davis; brother-in-law, Lynn; three nephews, two nieces, four great nephews, and five great nieces. He met his future wife, Linda, then a public school teacher, at a CROP Walk for Hunger sponsored by local synagogues and churches. Al always encouraged her spiritual work and was proud of her. He adored his dog Hercules and was Poppy to Lindas two grandsons, Ethan and Aaron Flower. For Als final year of watching Chanukah candles be lit, a one-minute silent meditation was added to the rituals. Al chose one theme, Unconditional Love. Als caregivers Bob, Dee, and Meg served with love. A private family service, with military honors, was held at Congregation of Reform Judaism Cemetery in Gotha, with Rabbi Steven W Engel officiating. In memory of Albert I Gross, the family requests contributions to Israels National Emergency Service, Magen David Adom, 352 Seventh Avenue, NY, NY 10001. Union rural development ministry has agreed to increase man-days under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA) for Chhattisgarh, officials said on Friday. As per a press note issued by the Chhattisgarh government, the Central government gave the approval for these man-days on Friday. The Chhattisgarh government had earlier written to the Centre and demanded additional man-days. Now the total target for financial year 2020-21 will be 15 crore man-days which was earlier 13.50 crore. This decision was taken during a meeting of the state panchayat department and Union panchayat officials via video conferencing, said the state government. Officials further informed that so far 9.46 crore man-days have been used and more than 48.70 lakh people in over 26 lakh families have been employed in Chhattisgarh. About 79,000 families have received over 100 day employment, the statement claimed. Chhattisgarh Panchayat minister TS Singh Deo had written a letter to the Central government for the increase in man-days in May. The state minister had said that a minimum of 200 days should be mandated with prompt payment. In normal times, Chhattisgarh has an average of 32 to 36 workdays per card which has a limit of 100 days. About 3% job card holders do 100 days. Hence for the really needy and marginalised, it is a just requirement to be provided 200 days option, the minister stated. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 21:53:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian authorities have arrested the acting supreme guide of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group, Mahmoud Ezzat, the country's Interior Ministry said in a statement on Friday. "Ezzat, head of the Brotherhood's International Organization, was arrested in an apartment in New Cairo's fifth settlement neighborhood," the statement posted on the ministry's Facebook page said. "He used the apartment as a hideout to run anti-security terrorist operations," the statement said, adding that the Brotherhood's leaders were promoting rumors about Ezzat being abroad to mislead the authorities. During the security raid, several laptops and mobile phones used for communication with the group's leaders and members inside the country and abroad were seized, it added. The group interim leader has founded an armed wing that carried out major terrorist operations in Egypt since June 30, 2013, according to Egyptian authorities. The statement stressed that the terrorist operations included the assassination of the former general prosecutor Hisham Barakat in 2015, police Colonel Wael Tahoon in 2015, top-ranked army officer Adel Ragei in 2016, and the attempted assassination of the general prosecutor's former aide Zakaria Abdel-Azim in 2016. It added that Ezzat has also orchestrated the deadly car blast outside the country's national cancer hospital in 2019 that killed 20 people. Ezzat, 76 years old, was named the group's acting supreme guide in August 2013, replacing Mohamed Badie who currently serves life sentences over violence charges. Promoted as a member of the group's guidance bureau in 1981, Ezzat has been sentenced in absentia for a life term on accusations of espionage with the Palestinian Hamas movement. Enditem New Delhi, Aug 28 : The Supreme Court has ruled that final-year examinations in the universities will be held in September as it upheld the UGC circular for conducting the examinations by September 30. The apex court's decision has been welcomed by Professor R.C. Kuhar, Chairman of the UGC's expert committee that decides the rules of university examinations. He is also Vice Chancellor of Haryana Central University. The UGC committee has worked out a solution on how to conduct examinations in all universities across the country and how and when to start the new session of universities amid the coronavirus crisis and lockdown. Prof Kuhar told IANS, "Keeping in mind the future and career of the students, we emphasised that it is imperative to hold the exams because the acceptance of the degree obtained through the examinations is at the global level. The Supreme Court, while keeping in mind this basic sentiment, has underlined the importance of examinations." Prof Kuhar said, "As far as health and safety amid the pandemic is concerned, whether it is the entrance examination of NEET and JEE or the final-year and semester main examinations of universities and other higher educational institutions, the government and educational institutions are determined to take all necessary measures for safety. Our committee has also recommended that educational institutions should pay special attention at their level in this regard." If the examinations of final-year students are not conducted in colleges, the UGC will not recognise their degrees. In view of this decision of the UGC, so far more than 600 universities have agreed to conduct final-year examinations. So far, 818 universities have sent their replies to the UGC regarding the examinations. In their replies, 209 different universities across the country said that they have successfully completed the examinations in their institutions as per the UGC guidelines. Apart from these, 394 other universities are preparing for the exams in August and September with online, offline and mixed resources. Almost all central universities across the country have given their consent for the final-year exams. The UGC said "There have been positive responses from 51 central universities on the guidelines set for the examinations of universities on July 6. Many of these universities have completed final-year and final-semester online examinations while the remaining central universities have assured to get these examinations done before September 30." -- Syndicated from IANS Researchers from Sechenov University together with Russian and Iranian colleagues described currently known approaches to the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the paper published in Journal of Molecular Medicine, they wrote about how different groups of drugs worked and how promising each approach was. SARS-CoV-2 - a coronavirus that caused the pandemic in early 2020 - is a close relative of two other viruses (SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV) that triggered epidemics in 2003 and 2013-2015. Most often, the disease is accompanied by fever, dry cough, increased fatigue, and loss of taste and smell. Most symptoms are associated with an overreaction of the patient's immune system, which, in severe cases, causes damage to lung tissue and systemic inflammation. The first approach considered in the article is immunotherapy. It is known that antibodies contained in the serum of people who have had a viral disease can speed up the recovery of other patients. Despite the simplicity of this method, it has several limitations: the number of potential donors is still small, the activity of antibodies decreases over time (which is why the serum from the patients who had the disease long ago is less valuable), and the antibodies themselves can help the virus spread in the body - a phenomenon known as antibody-dependent enhancement of infection. Similarly, we can use T-lymphocytes - cells that can destroy damaged or infected cells of the body. Scientists have noticed that the number of T-cells of the CD8+ subpopulation is significantly reduced in patients with COVID-19, and the more severe the disease the lower this number. T-cells directed against a specific virus can be produced in vitro and offered to patients as therapy. Another area of research is related to the suppression of certain enzymes, in particular AAK1 and GAK, which are needed for the virus to enter a cell. Some of the drugs that act as inhibitors of these enzymes have already been tested and used, although for another purpose, such as, for example, the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (this approach is called 'drug repurposing'). 'Analysis of clinical trials registered in ClinicalTrials.gov has shown a wide variety of therapeutic agents offered for the treatment of COVID-19. And, of course, most of them are associated with the use of previously known drugs used in the treatment of other diseases,' commented Anastasia Shpichka, one of the authors of the study, a leading researcher at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University. There are other ways to prevent the virus from entering cells. Since the receptor that is built into the cell membrane and lets the virus inside is known (this is the ACE2 protein), it is possible to create an analogue that will bind to viral particles and 'distract' them from the patient's cells. Such analogues of the ACE2 receptor have already been developed, tested and shown to slow down the spread of the virus in the body, but not stop it, which indicates the presence of other entry points into human cells. The use of antiviral drugs gives contradictory results. Remdesivir, which showed good efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 in some studies, did not bring noticeable benefits in others. Chloroquine, used to treat malaria, was considered a promising drug, but its side effects do not allow it to be recommended for the treatment of COVID-19. Attempts to use HIV medications against SARS-CoV-2 also yield mixed results. One more direction in the fight against COVID-19 is suppression of excessive immune system reaction, which especially affects the lung tissue. One treatment option may be mesenchymal stem cells, used in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Studies of the effectiveness of this method in the treatment of COVID-19 are already underway. Another class of drugs that limit inflammatory response is corticosteroids. They can reduce mortality among patients with severe disease. Despite the efforts of scientists from all over the world, aimed at finding an effective COVID-19 treatment, the optimal algorithm has not yet been found. The key to creating a drug can be either a discovery as part of one of these approaches or a new solution, for example, found at the intersection of scientific disciplines or borrowed from the experience of treating other diseases. ### Fianna Fail TD for Kildare North James Lawless is calling for the Government's Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme to be extended for workers in Co Kildare. The Governments Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme will become the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme from next Tuesday. Deputy Lawless said: The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme was introduced to support employers affected by Covid-19. It subsidises the wages of workers up to 410 a week. The government is switching to a new scheme which is called the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) from next week which will see the maximum payment per week set at 203 per employee. It had previously been up to 410 a week." He said:While the new scheme does appear to be broader, I would appeal that the current scheme remains in place for businesses in Kildare which remain in lockdown and really starting to struggle. Minister Donohoe has said today if any employers move into the scheme, they will be in it for the full six-month period. Under the new scheme there will be a six week lag time to claim back payments. This is not acceptable as many businesses will not have the cash flow to support this, in particular businesses in Kildare." Deputy Lawless said: To date, over 69,500 employers have registered with the TWSS and over half a million people have received at least one payment on the scheme. My concerns are that the payment is to be reduced and this will have a huge impact for the people of Kildare as the county remains in lockdown." I would appeal to the Minister to extend the TWSS in its current form for the people while lockdown continues, concluded Deputy Lawless. Counterfeit cards, academic degrees and land use certificates are seized by police in Dong Nai Province, August 25, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quoc Thang. Police have detained 18 people to investigate a ring believed to have counterfeited documents and certificates since 2017 using sophisticated and modern technology. The Crime Department Police under the Ministry of Public Securities has identified three men Nguyen Trong Duong and Tran Duc Toan, both 30, and Nguyen Thanh Phong, 44, as leaders of the ring that has forged papers "with the most sophisticated and modern technology and at the largest scale in Vietnam." The ring worked with different groups and has operated since 2017 to provide fake documents for customers all over the country, the police announced Thursday. For now, they have detained one woman and 17 men, including the three ring leaders for investigating under charges of "forging seals and/or documents of agencies and/or organizations." The forgery ring has provided counterfeit ID cards, certificates, degrees and business licenses at the cost VND3-5 million ($129-215) each. Registration plates for vehicles cost less, the police said. It was not possible to tell these documents were fake just by looking at them, they added. Duong, Toan and Phong established the fake documents business at a workshop in Dong Nai Province, which borders Ho Chi Minh City. As demand kept rising, the three decided to expand operations, connecting with hundreds of dealers across the country. After some time, following a disagreement with Duong, Toan and Phong decided to strike out on their own. The duo decided to invest heavily in their new operation, buying a lot of equipment from abroad and opening three workshops in HCMCs Binh Tan District and other outlying areas of the city. To advertise the "quality" of their products, they allowed customers to test them with a microscope. Despite the parting of ways the three men continued to do business together. They constantly changed the addresses of their facilities in different cities and provinces and chose mostly isolated areas to operate from, hiring facilities or space using fake IDs. Earning "enormous" unspecified incomes, the ring members spent "a lot of money" hiring local residents to watch out for them, police said, adding that they tracked the "extremely dangerous" business for months. On August 25, they decided to bust the ring, sending hundreds of officers to raid eight different locations identified as workshops and/or residences of the suspects. The raids netted thousands of counterfeit seals of administrative units, signatures of officials from the ministry to district levels, fake documents, equipment and machinery, tens of thousands of forms for making fake press cards, land use certificates, academic degrees and driving licenses. Each measure would set aside $2 million for prepaid postage on mail-in ballots and instruct registrars to allow voters to correct ballot errors that might keep an absentee vote from being counted. The bills also would remove the requirement for a witness to certify a ballot signature and mandate drop boxes at voting precincts as an alternative to putting absentee ballots in the mail. Credit: CC0 Public Domain European nations are pushing ahead with reopening primary schools despite a rise in coronavirus cases, with smaller classes, shorter lessons and mask-wearing among the steps adopted to curb infections. But many parents and teachers worry the measures are not enough, or have been adopted too close to the start of classes to be put in place properly, leading some parents to decide to keep their children at home. David Rodrigo, a 41-year-old IT specialist from the western Spanish city of Salamanca, said he would not send his two sons aged seven and nine to their school when it re-opens next month because he fears it won't be safe. While children in general face less severe virus symptoms than do adults, they can infect older family members who live in the same household who are "very, very vulnerable," said Rodrigo, the spokesman of a parents group representing some 60 area families that share his concerns. "It's a time bomb," he said, adding children will respect social distancing rules for "the first ten seconds". His group is one of several in Spain, which has one of the fastest virus growth rates in Europe, that wants the government to make it possible for pupils to attend classes remotely until a vaccine or treatment for COVID-19 is found. But the Spanish government insists children, who have not seen a classroom since March when online learning replace in-person teaching due to the pandemic, must attend classes when schools re-open in September. It announced Thursday that all children above the age of six will be required to wear masks at all times while in school. Italy, Europe's first virus hot spot, requires masks for children over six only when they can't respect social distance while Greece has made it mandatory for all students. The importance of using masks in school during a pandemic is "as obvious as is the use of a seat belt in a car or the need to vaccinate your children," Greek Education Minister Niki Kerameus said. 'Done nothing' Some countries have also reduced class sizes to ensure children keep a safe distance from each other. In Greece, which has avoided the worst of the pandemic so far, classes can have no more than 17 students while Serbia and Bosnia have set the limit at 15. In Spain the Madrid region announced Tuesday that it would hire nearly 11,000 more teachers and set up makeshift classrooms in schoolyards to bring class sizes in primary schools down to 20. But Mercedes Sardina, a teacher's representative with the CCOO union in Fuenlabrada on Madrid's southern outskirts, said she doubted this would be possible, likening it to trying to stage a wedding in three days "when you have done nothing. You haven't even bought your dress." "Teachers are very frightened. And the students and parents too," she added. Spain's student union has called a strike on September 16, 17 and 18 to decry funding shortages and reject the "improvisation" of the start of the school year. While Ana da Silva, a 42-year-old language teacher in Fuenlabrada, said she was also not sure Madrid could reduce class sizes as promised, she was keen to return to in-person schooling. "I need to see my students, connect with them. We know their dreams, their joys, their frustrations," she said. 20 minute lessons Among other measures in place are staggered start times, rules requiring frequent hand washing and shorter lessonsjust twenty minutes long in urban areas in Bosnia. Italy has ordered 2.4 million individual desks but delivery is expected to last until October, after classes have already begun. Greece will give all primary school children their own reusable water flask so they can avoid using water fountains where the virus may linger. Britain's chief medical officer Chris Whitty has sought to calm jitters, telling the BBC earlier this month that it looked as if "there is much less transmission from children to adults than adults to adults". But Germany may serve as a cautionary tale. Officials closed two schools in the north of the country in early August after several cases of COVID-19 were detected in staff and students just days after classes resumed. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2020 AFP Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a news conference in May. (Associated Press) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Friday that he was stepping down because of illness, ending a record-breaking tenure marked less by grand achievements than by measured economic and diplomatic gains and mixed success in his push to bolster Japans military power. In a lengthy news conference, Abe apologized to his compatriots for stepping down at a time when the country was struggling with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and before he had accomplished some of his most cherished goals, including a revision of the countrys U.S.-installed pacifist constitution. I must ask you for your forgiveness that I'm resigning now, he said. He said his long-standing chronic illness, ulcerative colitis, had reemerged in recent months and he was in need of treatment; his frequent visits to the hospital had fueled speculation about his health. He will remain in the position until a successor is formally named. Abe first vaulted into the prime minister's office in 2006 as the youngest person, at age 52, ever to hold the job. But poor health cut short that stint, too, after only a year. Abe, now 65, returned to power in 2012 for a second time in the wake of a tumultuous period in Japanese politics and in the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. A scion of an elite political family, Abe on Monday broke the record of his own great-uncle, Eisaku Sato, for consecutive days as premier. Sato served 2,798 days from 1964 to 1972. While the years under Abe's leadership marked a period of political stability rare for Japan, he will leave behind a contentious legacy shaped by his nationalist bent and modest economic gains that are now in danger of being wiped out by the pandemic. Abes approval ratings have tumbled in recent months to one of the lowest levels during his years in office amid perceptions that his leadership was absent in the early days of the coronavirus outbreak in Japan. He was nearly invisible most of the time, and when he did come out, it was with eccentric, ill-thought-out policies, said Koichi Nakano, a political science professor at Sophia University in Tokyo. Story continues In assessing his own legacy Friday, Abe said it would be up to the judgment of the people. At the same time, he highlighted Japan's recovery from the Fukushima disaster, economic growth following nearly two decades of deflation and President Obamas 2016 visit to Hiroshima, a first by a U.S. leader. Abe was deeply influenced by his maternal grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, who was once jailed as a war crimes suspect but went on to serve as prime minister in postwar Japan from 1957 to 1960. Throughout his time in office, Abe unsuccessfully pursued the unfulfilled ambition of his grandfather to revise Article 9 of the Japanese constitution, which renounces war. Even without the revision, Abe in 2015 pushed through laws that reinterpreted the constitutional restrictions and broadened Japans use of military powers. David Leheny, a professor of Japanese politics at Tokyo's Waseda University, said that, in the absence of major breakthroughs to point to, views on Abes rule would remain deeply divided along political lines. "For people on the right, they will be glad during this era that he led the promotion of the idea that Japan can and should be proud of its history, he said. Among the left, he's going to be remembered very darkly." Leheny said Abes endurance as prime minister came from his having dialed back the nationalist agenda and rhetoric from his first brief term. After months of being plagued by scandals, Abe at the time also cited his chronic bowel disease as the reason for stepping down. When he returned to office, Leheny said, Abe kept his declared focus on bread and butter issues while continuing to quietly and more effectively pursue some of his more controversial ideas. For the people who were concerned about him being an ideologue, he turned out to be more pragmatic," Leheny said. "He seemed like a steady presence. The results of his trademark policy for boosting the countrys long flagging economy, which came to be known as Abenomics, have been mixed. The aim of stimulating growth with a combination of fiscal expansion, monetary easing and structural reform managed to achieve only limited gains and was hampered by unpopular consumption tax hikes. The same has been true of his so-called Womenomics policy to boost women in the workforce, which Abe announced early in his tenure, saying he would strive for a Japan in which women shine. Critics say the policy has focused only on women already in top corporate jobs and left out those who are low-income or otherwise vulnerable. The Tokyo Olympics, originally scheduled for July, were to be a capstone of Abes time in office before his term ran out in 2021, until the Summer Games were delayed by the pandemic. Tobias Harris, author of The Iconoclast, an English-language biography of Abe, said the outgoing prime ministers real legacy will lie in what he did behind the scenes in the halls of Japanese government, building institutions and centralizing power to be able to set trade and defense policy and exert diplomatic influence. Yet he didnt use that consolidated authority to take bolder steps on climate change or in economic policy, Harris said. What were his priorities? Should he have spent as much time talking about constitutional reform or a peace treaty with Russia? Harris said, citing two of Abe's stated goals that were never realized. Were there things he could've done differently with that power? Harris said Abe would be leaving many of Japans most serious crises for his successor to deal with, including dramatic demographic declines and deteriorated diplomatic relations with neighbors in Asia. Too often he chose stability over deep structural change, Harris said. Nakano of Sophia University said that how Abe would be remembered would hinge on what his successor does with his unfulfilled agenda items. What he accomplished remains deeply controversial, Nakano said.He may be remembered as someone who was epoch-making or groundbreaking, or he could be remembered as someone who made changes that remained insignificant. David Lugo is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin resident who enjoys his motorcycle, fishing, music festivals, and cooking. He has published his new book A Convicts Life, Brick by Brick: a no-holds-barred reflection on years of sex, drugs, and incarceration. A thrilling story of a sexually abused boy who grew up too fast. Hes taken to a brothel at age thirteen and discovers his love for smoking fetish. He grows to become a notorious, wild gang member and convict in the Wisconsin prison system. A violent twist begins as hes sent to a Tennessee prison where female officers cant resist his sexual charisma. He hustles drugs and struggles with sex addiction and cocaine. Convict #165330, Crazyhorse, makes the best of his situation. Published by Page Publishing, David Lugos engrossing book is an entertaining choice for mature readers. Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase A Convicts Life, Brick by Brick at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues to focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. Yankovic is an expressive performer, and though he stayed seated for the majority of the show, he put his full body into his singing, often nodding his head to the rhythm and using his left hand to make various gestures. And though the vast majority of his lyrics are intentionally ridiculous, his serious and often intense delivery belies the absurdity of what he's saying he commits fully to the spirit of the song, whether he's admonishing youngsters ("When I Was Your Age") or admiring a piece of art ("Velvet Elvis"). The creation of a militia is in no way a sign of a large-scale war. It is simply a way for the society to be ready to respond to military challenges and threats. This is what Minister of Defense of Armenia Davit Tonoyan told reporters in parliament today. When told that many citizens of Armenia are wondering that a militia is being created since the resources of the Armenian army arent enough, the minister said the resources of Armenias active army obviously cant be enough. In response to a comment that perhaps this is within the framework of the nation-army concept, Tonoyan said he isn't familiar with the 'nation-army' concept and added that the current situation on the border is stable and predictable. The first documented instance of coronavirus reinfection came from Hong Kong this week followed quickly by Belgium and the Netherlands reporting one case each, but there is no reason for alarm yet, say scientists, calming fears that a surge might be inevitable. As concerns mount that herd immunity may not be enough to curb the Covid-19 pandemic, scientists in India and elsewhere said more studies are needed for a reliable inference. Wide conclusions cannot be drawn about reinfection from individual cases, noted Belgian virologist Marc Van Ranst told PTI on the three cases reported this week. "Since we do not yet know how frequent reinfections are, it is difficult to say what these findings mean for the success of a vaccination campaign," Ranst, a clinical biologist at the academic hospital UZ Leuven in Belgium, told PTI, addressing worries that reinfection might also impact the vaccination programme. As the number of Covid-19 cases across the globe crosses 24 million with more that 820,000 fatalities, reports of scientists from the University of Hong Kong documenting the worlds first case of human reinfection created a flutter. On Wednesday, a study in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases assessed the case of a young and healthy patient who was diagnosed with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection 142 days after recovering from the first episode. According to the researchers, the viral genomes analysed from the patient following the first and second episodes of infection belonged to two different strains or clades, indicating the patient caught a different variant of the virus after recovering from it the first time. Following the report from Hong Kong the case was reported in the media on Monday but the research paper was published on Wednesday -- two similar reports emerged, one each from Belgium and the Netherlands. The scientists in the Hong Kong study said it may not be possible to curb the ongoing pandemic with herd immunity, which is when a significant section of the population has recovered and gained immunity against a disease. "Our results suggest SARS-CoV-2 may continue to circulate among the human populations despite herd immunity due to natural infection or vaccination," the scientists noted in the study, adding that further research is needed to shed more light on the implications of reinfection for vaccine design. Immunologist Satyajit Rath asserted that conclusions on the immune system working against the virus cannot be made from individual patient case studies. "We do not know anything about the interactions of immunity and reinfection in such patients. Especially since there appear to be only three such confirmed cases so far," Rath, from the National Institute of Immunology (NII) in New Delhi, told PTI. Ram Vishwakarma, former director of Jammus Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), explained that the human immune system is way too complex to make broad statements on reinfection from individual patient studies. "Every individual is immunologically different. This can be because of different inherent genetic reasons, or they could be on drugs that suppress the immune system, and the history of the individual cases makes a difference," Vishwakarma told PTI. Commenting on the significance of the study for vaccine discovery, he said any vaccine, irrespective of the current findings, may not be completely protective against infection in all humans. "Vaccines are basically weakened forms of viruses, and we know already that there is no vaccine which is 100 per cent protective, and they may not have a similar effect on all people," Vishwakarma noted. Similarly, natural immunity against the virus may also not be protective to the same extent and in the same way in all people. "Because the idea of a vaccine is to confer immunity to individuals via a complex web of protection with antibodies, and cells of the immune system," Vishwakarma said. So, a person infected with the virus for the first time, or receiving a vaccine, may not have major protective function from antibodies but may have better immunity via the immune system's T cells. However, this may not be the case with another individual. "A large number of people may not develop antibodies, and that doesn't mean it is the only protection. Biologically, people may be same but immunologically everybody is different," the former IIIM director said. According to Vishwakarma, the science behind the complexity of the immune system is still not very clear with several pieces of the puzzle remaining to be solved. What are the long-term health consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection and what are the correlations of such consequences with the level of the initial illness, and/or with the nature and extent of co-morbidities, are just some questions to be addressed in future studies, according to Rath. He said the long-term consequences of infection, with respect to antibodies as well as the cells of the immune system such as the memory B and T cell responses, are also unknown. According to the NII immunologist, the relationship between these immune responses with actual infection or disease protection remains to be discovered. Rath noted that scientists still do not completely understand what the correlations of these immune consequences are to the level of the initial illness. "There is no need to be alarmed, but we must not be complacent," Vishwakarma added. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji is on a roll this week after sanctioning yet another high-profile arrest over graft on Thursday. After giving the green light for the prosecution of Migori Governor Okoth Obado and Maasai Mara University Vice-Chancellor Mary Walingo, Haji now wants former Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director Daniel Manduku brought to book. In a statement to newsrooms, the DPP said there was sufficient evidence to charge the former MD alongside KPA works officer Juma Chigulu over irregular procurement amounting to Sh244 million. Manduku authorized and approved the procurement of the manufacture of concrete barriers at the Inland Container Depot, Kilindini Port and Makongeni Goods shed without an approved budget and procurement plan for the 2018/2019 Financial Year, said the DPP. According to Haji, the contracts for the manufacture of the concrete barriers were awarded to 10 companies that were hand-picked by Manduku contrary to procurement regulations. I have independently reviewed the evidence gathered and upon perusal of the inquiry I established that there was no requisition made for concrete barriers by the user Department within the KPA as required under the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015(PP & AD Act, 2015) and the Regulations made thereunder, said the DPP. Manduku, who resigned as KPA Managing Director in March this year, is facing several charges, including abuse of office, willful disobedience of statutory duty, neglect of official duty, breach of trust and conspiracy to defeat justice. Eva Longoria was hard at work on her social media presence as she relaxed by the pool with a friend on Thursday. The 45-year-old Desperate Housewives star showed off her impressive figure in a pale pink one-piece bathing suit while snapping some photos on her phone with a friend. The actress looked as if she had just gone for a dip in the pool while she's been vacationing in Mexico's Cabo San Lucas. Pretty in pink: Eva Longoria, 45, showed off her outstanding figure on Thursday as she wore a pink one-piece swimsuit while vacationing in Mexico's Cabo San Lucas Eva's swimsuit featured a single shoulder strap and showcased her toned arms and legs. She looked as if she had already gone for a dip based on her wet brunette locks. The 5ft2in Overboard actress flashed a playful smile across her makeup-free face and dashed across the grounds to join her friend. Svelte figure: Eva's swimsuit featured a single shoulder strap and showcased her toned arms and legs On the move: The 5ft2in Overboard actress flashed a playful smile across her makeup-free face and dashed across the grounds to join her friend Eva's guest rocked a scarlet two-piece swimsuit, which she covered up with a white mesh robe. She accessorized with a white shell necklace and wore her dark locks parted down the middle and resting on her shoulders. Eva stood below her and tried to snap the perfect photo as she turned her head dramatically. Afterward, the two women went over the photos to find the best shots. Woman in white: Eva's guest rocked a scarlet two-piece swimsuit, which she covered up with a white mesh robe Selective: After Eva snapped some photos, the two looked them over to find the best shots Also on Thursday, Eva shared an adorable video of her son Santiago as he played her in large walk-in shower. The two-year-old, whose hair had gotten shaggy enough for a short ponytail, shouted gibberish at his mother from inside the shower. She shouted her own baby talk back at him from the bathroom on the other side of the glass door before saying, 'I love you!' Bonding time: Also on Thursday, Eva shared an adorable video of her son Santiago as he played her in large walk-in shower Baby talk: The two-year-old, whose hair had gotten shaggy enough for a short ponytail, shouted gibberish at his mother from inside the shower Eva shared a kiss with Santiago from the other side of the glass, before starting to sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. But once she opened the shower door, her son interrupted her singing by sticking his fingers in her mouth, which got a heart laugh from her. 'Nothing like singing in the shower!!' she captioned the sweet exchange while adding shower head emojis. Cute: She shouted, 'I love you!' from the other side of the glass before they shared a separated kiss Didn't see that coming: Eva opened the door and started to sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, but Santiago just put his fingers in her mouth When she isn't soaking up the sun or lounging by the pool during her Mexican getaway, Eva has been encouraging her 7.9 Instagram followers to vote in the upcoming general election on November 3. On Wednesday, she shared a photo of herself flanked by Gina Rodriguez, America Ferrera, Zoe Saldana and Rosario Dawson as the Latinas marked National Women's Equality Day. Each of the actress wore a T-shirt urging their fans to vote in the snapshot, and Eva captioned the photo: 'Here's to strong women- May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them!' Last week, the Over Her Dead Body actress joined in on the Democratic National Convention by helping to host part of the four-day broadcast. Vote: On Wednesday for National Women's Equality Day, Eva and fellow actresses Gina Rodriguez, America Ferrera, Zoe Saldana, and Rosario Dawson graced Instagram in their best voter gear An unemployed mother of two was left distraught when her property manager posted a heartlessly conceived eviction notice on the door of her rented apartment. After local news outlets picked up the story, the mom received an apology and an outpouring of support. The local community was outraged and showed up in full force to ensure that the worried mom and her two kids would continue to have a roof over their heads. Sonja Lee, 33, lost her job at Jack in the Box at the outset of the pandemic lockdown and struggled for weeks to secure a new one. Lee, who lives at The Steeples apartment complex in Houston, Texas, was so desperate that she even fell victim to a hiring scam, she told People, losing three months rent in the process. In addition, Lee says she was denied unemployment benefits five times. The eviction notice pinned to her door on the afternoon of Aug. 17 then became the straw that broke the camels back. Guess whos moving? the printed note began, with a waving, smiling, clip-art emoji underneath. You!!! Pay your outstanding balance, or release your apartment and turn in your keys to the leasing office by 6:00 p.m. today. The note added: Eviction will be filed promptly Tuesday morning, 8/18/2020, the note signed off. Lee explained that the message left her feeling scared and overwhelmed for both herself and her children, 12-year-old Patrick and 2-year-old Sean. I felt like I was in a big hole and I couldnt get out of it because I was set back so much, she said. Im a single mother with two boys. I do the best that I can and am a very hardworking woman. Lee claimed she had been open with her property managers about her situation and felt the tone of the note was unnecessary. I didnt think it was funny at all, she explained, it was heartless, especially during a pandemic. Unbeknown to Lee at the time, her property managers note would not have stood up in court. This notice doesnt have any power, Jon-Ross Trevino of Lone Star Legal Aid explained to ABC-7. Just because this notice is on your door, doesnt mean the landlord is correct in what theyve done. An eviction notice, said Trevino, should be posted on the inside of a residence and should give the tenant at least three days to move out. Reprieve for the struggling mom came quickly, however, from over her property managers head. When CEO Swapnil Agarwal of Karya Property Management, the company that oversees The Steeples, heard what had happened, he issued a formal apology to Lee. Buck stops with me, he admitted to KTRK, so yes, I do personally apologize. I wish I had the time and the resources to reach out personally to every one of [the tenants] who have dealt with any issues at our properties. The CEO revoked Lees eviction and assured her that the property manager, who wrote and posted the eviction notice without corporate approval, had been reprimanded in case it was insensitive. Lee accepted the apology wholeheartedly. Members of the public, touched by Lees plight, also reached out to help in several meaningful ways. One person who heard the news called The Steeples and paid two months rent on Lees behalf, another woman donated school supplies for Lees eldest son, while one donor paid off the moms outstanding light bill. In addition to the help she received, Lee started a GoFundMe page to raise enough money to move her kids into a bigger, more comfortable home. At the time of writing, Lees fund had raised almost $40,000, far surpassing her original $3,380 goal. [N]ever give up, Lee told People. [I]f you have faith, keep your faith, stay strong, and just stay positive because blessings are real and miracles do happen within a blink of an eye. Perhaps the best news of all to come out of the struggling moms ordeal is that Lee was hired for a new job. She started on Aug. 24. We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc A White House official has reportedly brushed off concerns over lack of social distancing and wearing of face masks among Donald Trump supporters, claiming "everybody is going to catch this thing eventually". While coronavirus continues to kill 1,000 Americans each day, Mr Trump defied his own administration's pandemic guidelines to speak for more than an hour to a tightly packed crowd as he accepted his party's renomination on the South Lawn of the White House. The rows of chairs were inches apart, protective masks were not required and Covid-19 tests were not administered to the gathering of more than 1,500 people. Jim Acosta, CNN's chief white house correspondent, said he raised concerns about "possible super-spreading" of the virus from the event. He said: "I talked to a senior White House official earlier this evening about all of these people, hundreds of people, sitting side by side in the audience, not wearing masks, and the senior White House official brushes off these concerns about the lack of social distancing at the president's speech tonight." CNN had raised concerns about the lack of social distancing and wearing of face masks / REUTERS Mr Acosta said the senior official dismissed his concerns and told him: "Everybody is going to catch this thing eventually." During his speech, Mr Trump promised victory over the pandemic which has killed more than 180,000 people in the United States and left millions unemployed Teasing once more that a vaccine could arrive soon, Mr Trump sought to project a sense of normalcy by throwing caution about the coronavirus aside. He touted an expansion of rapid testing, after the White House announced it had struck a $750 million deal to acquire 150 million tests for nursing homes, schools and other areas with high risk populations. Trump pumps his fist at the crowd as he stands with Melania / REUTERS Elsewhere in his speech, the president blasted Joe Biden as a hapless career politician who will endanger Americans' safety as he accepted his renomination. Facing a moment fraught with racial turmoil, economic collapse and a national health emergency, Mr Trump delivered a triumphant, optimistic vision of America's future. But he said that brighter horizon could only be secured if he defeated his Democratic foe, who currently has an advantage in most national and battleground state polls. When Mr Trump finished, a fireworks display went off by the Washington Monument, complete with explosions which spelled out "Trump 2020". A crowd of supporters gather on the South Lawn at the White House / REUTERS Some demonstrators had taken to Washington's streets on Thursday night, ahead of a march planned for Friday. New fencing was set up along the White House perimeter to keep the protesters at bay, but some of their shouts and car horns were clearly audible on the South Lawn. After the convention concluded, protesters yelled and threw water bottles at police at the historic St John's Church near Black Lives Matter Plaza and there were some arrests. Amidst falling poll numbers, economic hardships, a raging pandemic, and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, United States President Donald Trump walked into the Republican National Convention and managed to make it all about himself, as is his wont. Presidential nominating conventions are traditionally occasions where Americans get to evaluate a party for its principles, ideas and vision for the country, and for political parties to reach out to voters on issues. The Republican National Convention failed to do that in the four-day-long extravaganza. Strangely, the Republican Party did not even have a new political platform this year. So, it just reused the old platform from 2016, letting the convention degenerate into a mere encomium for Trump. The resounding leitmotif at the convention was that traditional American values are at threat, and only Trump can save America from falling into economic ruin, socialism, violence and anarchy, and from falling apart altogether. The list of delegates, which included many members of Trumps family, while not as diverse as the Democratic National Convention, still had much more diversity than expected, and was meant to convey the message that the US is a land of opportunity rather than a land of systemic racism. People in India would be enthused by Nikki Haleys impressive speech, which will probably propel her into one of the primary contenders for the Republican nomination in 2024. Her line I was a Brown girl in a Black and White world certainly was one of the lines worth remembering from this convention. However, the inclusion of others like the McCloskey couple, who had brandished their guns at peaceful BLM protestors, show that the Republican Party is not going to change its positions on racial injustice or on gun rights anytime soon. Neither is it going to change its position on abortion, going by the speeches at the convention. The Republican Party has for some time had trouble attracting women voters, a problem which has been compounded by Trumps behaviour. Polls show an almost 20 percent difference among women between him and Democratic Party presidential candidate Joe Biden. So, there was an attempt to reach out to women voters, particularly the suburbanites, by getting prominent women to speak at the convention, emphasising the partys tough policy on law and order and security at a time of political chaos. Little time was spent on how to kickstart the economy at a time when job losses are reaching Great Depression levels at 20.6 million since March. The COVID-19 pandemic was downplayed despite over 180,000 deaths and 5.8 million cases, and polls showing that just 36 percent of Americans approve of how Trump has handled it. A fair amount of time was spent on speaking about the dangers of cancel culture, a form of social boycott in which an individual who has said something that offends some people is called out and shunned. Cancel culture is seen as an attack on freedom of speech by many Americans, particularly the Republicans. The media also came under attack for being biased. Like with all things Trump, ethical issues have been raised around the Republican National Convention. For instance, his use of the White House (a federal office) to deliver his campaign speeches has been criticised; the House of Representatives, controlled by the Democrats, has launched an investigation into Mike Pompeos decision to speak at the convention, while on a visit to Jerusalem, as it seems to be a violation of the Hatch Act which bans federal employees from taking part in political activity while on duty. The Republican National Convention made no attempt at becoming transcendental unlike Biden who is trying to get swing voters and moderate Republicans to vote for him. The whole Republican National Convention was about re-energising the old faithful, the White Conservative Christians, who fear that the US is becoming too progressive and too diverse, and who helped Trump win in 2016. The attacks on the Democratic opponents, including attacks on Bidens faith, show that the highly-polarised nature of American politics is here to stay. Trump has warned of a rigged election throughout his campaign. The Republican National Convention was no exception. There is speculation that he might not readily concede defeat if he loses, and that could set off a whole different conundrum for the US, beginning with legal battles. Let us hope it does not come to that. The remarkable exploits of a hero Bomber Command navigator can be revealed after his medals and logbooks emerged for sale. Flight Lieutenant Alan Forsdike took part in 41 operations during the Second World War including raids all over Germany. He directed his Halifax bomber on missions over Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Essen, Dusseldorf, Monchengladbach, Leverkusen and Nuremberg. Flight Lieutenant Alan Forsdike, pictured, took part in 41 operations during the Second World War including raids all over Germany. His medals will go one sale to raise money for charity Flight Lieutenant Alan Forsdike, pictured with proud parents, took part in 41 operations during the Second World War including raids all over Germany. His medals will go one sale next month The medal set awarded to Flight Lieutenant Alan Forsdike includes, left to right, Distinguished Flying Cross, 1939-45 Star, Aircrew Europe Star, Defence Medal and the War Medal He was almost killed on his first outing as a fire broke out on board. He logged several other narrow escapes that followed and noted the number of bullet holes he counted in his Halifax after landing. After one raid on Hamburg in August 1943 he wrote '38 flak holes'. Miraculously, he survived the bombing campaign against Germany which cost the lives of more than 55,000 Allied airmen - a casualty rate of almost 50 per cent. Flt Lt Forsdike's medals, including a prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross, are going under the hammer with Bosleys auctioneers, of Marlow, Bucks. They are being sold to raise funds for the Leonard Cheshire Disability charity, named after the Victoria Cross recipient and fellow Bomber Command member who founded it. Pictured: Flight Lieutenant Alan Forsdike, back row 2nd from left, with his crew, ground crew and a Halifax Bomber during the World War Two which saw him awarded for exemplary bravery Flt Lt Forsdike's collection is expected to fetch 2,200. Bernard Pass, auctioneer at Bosleys, said: 'Anyone who participated in Bomber Command was extremely brave as 55,000 were killed doing their bit to fight fascism. 'Forsdike took part in 41 operations while a tour was normally 30 and then they were rested so it seems that he volunteered for more. 'He was a lucky chap as on his first operation there was an incendiary in the plane and he almost bailed out. 'His medals have been bequeathed to raise funds for the Leonard Cheshire charity, founded by the Victoria Cross recipient who was also in Bomber Command.' Flt Lt Forsdike joined the RAF in 1940 and after completing his training joined 78 Squadron, flying his first operation to Aachen on July 13, 1943. His log book entry documenting the arduous six hour outing states: 'Incendiary in belly, No Gee nearly bailed out.' Flight Lieutenant Alan Forsdike's log book showing operations over Berlin and noting 24 bullet holes from Ju 88 which took place during another close encounter with enemy aircraft Flight Lieutenant Alan Forsdike's log book showing remarkable notes on his operations over Cannes noting 'hit middle of town by mistake' while flying over the French town Two weeks later, they survived being attacked by a Junkers Ju 88 night fighter flying over the North Sea. An outing on September 27 of that year reveals another near miss at the hands of an enemy aircraft. It reads: 'Starboard outer engine unserviceable over target cannon shell through crack casing attacked by Ju88 night fighter.' Pictured: Flight Lieutenant Alan Forsdike Flt Lt Forsdike was transferred to 158 Squadron in January 1944, subsequently taking part in numerous raids over Berlin. These included the last heavy bomber outing over the German capital on March 24, when 811 aircraft headed there while a diversionary raid by 147 others was carried out south of Le Havre in France. Flt Lt Forsdike had to contend with heavy winds crossing the European mainland but found the target on a second sweep of Berlin. It was a costly night for the RAF who lost 72 aircraft. Flt Lt Forsdike completed his tour on May 1 with his 41st sortie. After the war ended, he left the RAF and became a teacher in Brighton, East Sussex. Flt Lt Forsdike's Distinguished Flying Cross citation said: 'This officer has participated in a large number of attacks on enemy targets including such centres as Berlin, Hamburg, Essen, and Kassel. 'He is a navigator of high merit whose example of courage, and determination has been inspiring. 'He has proved his skill in many difficult situations and his efforts have contributed greatly to the successes obtained.' Pictured: Flight Lieutenant Alan Forsdike with his fellow aircrew during the Second World War Group Captain Leonard Cheshire, who founded the charity in his name, was one of the most highly decorated pilots of World War Two, completing 102 missions. In 1948, he took a dying man with nowhere else to go into his home, which gave him the idea to start a charity. Out of the 125,000 aircrew of Bomber Command, 55,573 were killed, a chilling 44 per cent death rate. They dropped over a million tonnes of bombs on German industrial sites and cities. Flt Lt Forsdike's medal group consists of a Distinguished Flying Cross; 1939/45 Star with Bomber Command clasp; Aircrew Europe Star; Defence Medal; War Medal. The sale takes place on September 2. Sophia Antipolis, France - 28 Aug 2020: A survey of nurses caring for children with heart problems has revealed that more than half are emotionally exhausted. The analysis, presented today at ESC Congress 2020, also found that good working environments were linked with less burnout.1 "Nurses' wellbeing is central to ensuring the best outcomes for patients," said study author Dr. Annamaria Bagnasco of the University of Genoa, Italy. "When wards have poor leadership and fragmented teams with no development prospects for nurses this should raise an alarm that there is a risk of burnout." Previous research has shown that burnout rates are higher in paediatrics than in other specialties, and that burnout is connected to patient safety. Strategies to reduce burnout and its impact on patient safety are needed. This study examined emotional exhaustion in nurses providing routine care on paediatric cardiology wards and whether it was related to the working environment. Data were obtained from the RN4CAST@ITPed study. A web survey was distributed to 2,769 nurses working in children's hospitals throughout Italy between September 2017 and January 2018. A total of 2,205 (80%) nurses responded, of whom 85 worked in cardiology wards and intensive care units (ICUs). Additional data were collected from hospital administrations. Topics included workload, skill mix, work environment, and emotional exhaustion. The following definitions were used: Workload referred to how many patients each nurse was caring for (nurse-patient ratio). Skill mix included both the education level of nurses working in one unit and the number of nursing assistants providing support during each shift. Work environment was measured with the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI), which covers issues such as: having a nurse manager or immediate supervisor who is a good manager and leader; opportunities for advancement; opportunities to participate in policy decisions; and collaboration between nurses and doctors. Emotional exhaustion was investigated using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, which measures feelings about work. For example, feeling emotionally drained, used up, fatigued in the morning, burned out, frustrated, working too hard, stressed, or "at the end of my rope". This analysis focused on responses from the 85 nurses working in cardiology wards and ICUs at five hospitals. Interviews were also conducted with these nurses. More than half (58%) were emotionally exhausted. The main causes were related to working conditions, including being responsible for high numbers of patients and the complexity of caring for sick children. "The most important consequence was that 30% of the nurses we interviewed wanted to either go and work in another hospital or even change their career," said Dr. Bagnasco. The researchers then analysed the relationship between emotional exhaustion and the working environment. Improving the workplace environment was associated with an 81% fall in emotional exhaustion - even with the same skill mix and nurse-patient ratio. "Our study shows that nurses value good leadership, being involved in decision-making, having chances to develop their career, and team working," said Dr. Bagnasco. "The lack of these conditions is connected to burnout, which we know from prior research could compromise patient safety." Dr. Bagnasco noted that paediatric cardiac nurses must collaborate with children and their families, who often feel concerned and afraid. She said: "Establishing a trusting relationship is essential but burned out nurses may find it 'too heavy' to bear emotionally. If the working environment is positive for the nurses who work in it, children and their families will receive better and safer care." ### Notes to editors Authors: ESC Press Office Mobile: +33 (0)7 85 31 20 36 Email: press@escardio.org The hashtag for ESC Congress 2020 is #ESCCongress. Follow us on Twitter @ESCardioNews This press release accompanies an abstract at ESC Congress 2020 - The Digital Experience. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Society of Cardiology. Funding: Associazione Ospedali Pediatrici Italiani (AOPI) [Italian Association of Pediatric Hospitals]. Disclosures: No conflicts of interest to declare. References and notes 1Abstract title: Relationship between burnout and nursing practice environment in pediatric cardiology: a cross-sectional study. About the European Society of Cardiology The European Society of Cardiology brings together health care professionals from more than 150 countries, working to advance cardiovascular medicine and help people lead longer, healthier lives. About ESC Congress ESC Congress is the world's largest gathering of cardiovascular professionals contributing to global awareness of the latest clinical trials and breakthrough discoveries. ESC Congress 2020 takes place online from 29 August to 1 September. More information is available from the ESC Press Office at press@escardio.org. BAGHDAD, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- French Minister for the Armed Forces Florence Parly confirmed on Thursday that France is ready to continue training and supporting the Iraqi forces to defeat the terrorism in the war-torn country. Parly made her comment at a joint press conference with her Iraqi counterpart Juma Inad after their meeting during her visit to Baghdad. She pointed out that her visit to Iraq was aimed at strengthening relations between Iraq and France in all fields. Parly also expressed her concern about the situation in the Middle East, hoping the region could enjoy stability. For his part, Inad told the press conference that the Iraqi defense ministry "will develop the contracts previously concluded with the French side to get advanced weapons from France." He said Parly's visit is part of the efforts by the two countries to enhance security cooperation. Iraqi President Barham Salih also met with Parly and her delegation in his office in Baghdad, according to a statement by the Presidency. During the meeting, Salih asserted "the necessity of concerted international efforts to continue the war against terrorism, eliminate its hotbeds that pose a threat to security and peace." He highlighted the importance of cooperation with the European Union "to consolidate stability in the region and spare it from further crises and tension." Parly also met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi who discussed with her the security situation in Iraq and the region, as well as means to support Iraq in its fight against terrorism, according to a statement issued by al-Kadhimi's media office. "France is a partner in the war against terrorism, and the Iraqi government is keen to develop its partnership with France to strengthen and qualify the Iraqi forces, developing their combat efficiency, and enhancing the exchange of security information," the statement quoted al-Kadhimi as saying. Parly affirmed France's determination to stand with Iraq in the war against terrorism and support the Iraqi security forces, especially since France has participated in the international coalition in the war against the Islamic State (IS) militants, the statement said. Al-Kadhimi also discussed with the French minister the situation in Syria and its impact on the stability of Iraq and the region, it added. Parly, heading a delegation, arrived in Baghdad late on Wednesday on an official visit to show France's support for the Iraqi government, which is facing a political, economic and health crises. France is part of a U.S.-led international coalition tasked with helping the Iraqi security forces in the fight against IS militants by carrying out airstrikes against the IS in Iraq and Syria and providing military equipment and training to Iraqi forces. Kishore Biyani-led Future Enterprises board will take a crucial decision tomorrow. The company's board members could give the final approval for the sale of the group's retail business to Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Retail, a deal that'll help it cut debt and liabilities. The Reliance Retail-Future Group all-cash deal is supposed to be worth Rs 29,000-Rs 30,000 crore. The detail will entail Future Enterprises Ltd (FEL) merging grocery, apparel, supply chain and consumer business into itself, which will then sell Future Retail assets to Reliance Retail, The Economic Times reported citing people familiar with the deal. Also read: Reliance-Future Retail deal: Why Kishore Biyani is forced to sell his business to Mukesh Ambani The proceeds worth around Rs 13,000 crore from Reliance could be used to clear the debt. The company will repay its liabilities, including pending rents, with around Rs 7,000 crore, and the rest of the cash will go to the promoter group. Apart from Future Group's retail business, Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance could also get a minority stake in Future Enterprises for Rs 3,000 crore as part of the deal, the daily reported, adding it would be sealed via 'preferential allotment'. Also read: The companies Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries plans to buy in days ahead The FEL could also sign an agreement for a long-term supply distribution for apparel and groceries. The deal will make RIL the number one player in brick-and-mortar space after getting access to over 1,800 Future Retail stores in India and will lead to Biyani's exit from the retail business. Also read: Deal with Mukesh Ambani's Reliance not even final, but Future Enterprises stock already up 42% The RIL-Future deal will make Reliance Retail undisputed leader in retail space as it would get around Rs 26,000 crore worth additional sales from Future Retail. Future Retail owns several supermarket brands, comprising budget department and grocery chain Big Bazaar, Ezone, Fashion at Big Bazaar (FBB), Foodhall and Easyday. However, the selling of controlling stake in Future Retail to Mukesh Ambani's RIL is seen as the biggest setback to Biyani, known as one of the best minds in retail business in India. Also read: RIL-Future deal: Mukesh Ambani to retain brand names Big Bazaar, FBB and others Future Group has accrued heavy debt over the years. As of September 30, 2019, debt at Future Group's listed entities rose to Rs 12,778 crore from Rs 10,951 crore as on March 31, 2019. He had the March deadline for repayment of some of these dues. But the Reserve Bank of India's loan moratorium has provided a breather. Mukesh Ambani's interest in Kishore Biyani's retail business has, however, fired up stocks of the retailer. Future Group stocks, which were languishing till June, have surged up to 42% in one month on reports that Ambani-led Reliance Industries is in the final stage of talks to buy a controlling stake in its retail business. Post the deal, Ambani will also emerge as the biggest rival of US-based Amazon's India in the e-commerce space. Meanwhile, the Future Retail stock surged 10.26 per cent or 12.05 at Rs 129.5 on Thursday, compared to its previous close of 117.45 on the National Stock Exchange. Also read: Mukesh Ambani's RIL in talks with parent ByteDance to acquire TikTok in India Also read: Future Uncertain Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam, Riau Islands Sat, August 29 2020 Riau Islands is gearing up to implement stricter health measures across the province as the central government enters into discussions with Singapore on opening up a travel corridor between the two countries. Governor Isdianto said the provincial administration would do its best to prepare regulations that would ensure the safety of travelers visiting the province. 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 Before he took his rifle to confront the unrest Tuesday in Kenosha, Wis., and was charged in a fatal shooting at the protests, Kyle Rittenhouse seemingly idolized one thing: the police. Growing up in Chicago's far northern suburbs, the 17-year-old shadowed local law enforcement as a cadet and filled his social media feeds with posts declaring that "Blue Lives Matter." There were videos from the front row of a Trump rally, and photos of himself posing with guns. Rittenhouse attempted to join the Marine Corps in January, but was disqualified from serving after discussing his options with recruiters, said service spokeswoman Yvonne Carlock. She declined to specify why he was disqualified, citing the service's privacy guidelines. Much else is still unknown about Rittenhouse. He was charged Thursday with six counts -- including two homicide charges -- in a criminal complaint that accused him of killing two people and injuring a third during the Kenosha unrest on Tuesday night. But brief accounts from neighbors and local institutions paint the picture of a high school dropout who viewed law enforcement officers as his personal heroes. So much so that, when massive protests, looting and fires broke out in Kenosha following the police shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday, he crossed state lines to offer his support to local policemen - at times, speaking as if their duties were his, too. "People are getting injured, and our job is to protect this business," he told the Daily Caller on Tuesday night, hours before he would allegedly start shooting. The following day, those officers he so lionized arrested him at his home in Antioch, Ill. As of late Wednesday night, the 17-year-old suspect was being held without bond in an Illinois juvenile detention facility about 45 minutes south of Kenosha as he awaits extradition back to Wisconsin. Although self-declared militia members and armed counterprotesters have descended this week in Kenosha, authorities have not said whether Rittenhouse is a member of any of those groups. Before the deadly shooting, Rittenhouse lived with his mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, a single mom and nurse's assistant, in a quiet apartment complex beside a park in Antioch, a bedroom community that sits just south of the Wisconsin border. According to court records reviewed by the Chicago Tribune, Wendy Rittenhouse sought an order of protection from police in January 2017, claiming that a classmate of her son's had been threatening him and calling him "dumb" and "stupid." The Washington Post was unable to immediately reach her for comment. According to court records, Rittenhouse had received a pair of traffic tickets in Kenosha County earlier this month. The court filings show that on Aug. 4, he received a citation for driving 24 mph over the speed limit on a freeway and another for operating without a valid license.The records give the same Antioch, Ill., address included on the police complaint filed there in connection with the deadly shooting this week. That police complaint labels him a fugitive, saying Rittenhouse was charged with homicide in Wisconsin and fled to avoid prosecution. Jim McKay, the superintendent for the school district that includes Antioch, said in a statement to The Post that Rittenhouse attended Lakes Community High School for a semester in the 2017-18 school year and did not re-enroll in either local high school afterward. Two unnamed neighbors told the Chicago Sun-Times that he had dropped out of Lakes. Outside school, Rittenhouse participated in cadet programs with both the Antioch Fire Department and the Grayslake Police Department, according to department newsletters. The police initiative offers participants from ages 14 to 21 "the opportunity to explore a career in law enforcement" through ride-alongs with officers on patrol and firearms training, according to since-deleted pages on its website. Philip L. Perlini, the Grayslake police chief, declined to comment to The Post but said his agency was cooperating with an investigation by the FBI and Kenosha police. More recently, Rittenhouse worked as a part-time lifeguard at a YMCA in Lindenhurst, Ill., the Tribune reported. Man-Yan Lee, a representative for the organization's metro Chicago branch, said in a statement to The Post that Rittenhouse was furloughed in March. A few weeks earlier, he attended a Trump rally in Des Moines, sitting in the front row and posting a TikTok video from the Jan. 30 event, BuzzFeed News reported. The video, which has since been deleted, appeared to match C-SPAN footage of Rittenhouse standing just to the left of the lectern, according to the news site. The Trump campaign distanced itself from Rittenhouse and his video late on Wednesday, with spokesman Tim Murtaugh telling The Post that the president had "repeatedly and consistently condemned all forms of violence." "This individual had nothing to do with our campaign," Murtaugh said, "and we fully support our fantastic law enforcement for their swift action in this case." Besides the Trump rally, the public posts on Rittenhouse's Facebook are almost entirely dedicated to honoring police, with Blue Lives Matter graphics, photos of officers killed in the line of duty, and the "thin blue line" flag associated with support for law enforcement. In December 2018, he started a Facebook fundraiser for Humanizing the Badge, a nonprofit that Rittenhouse said looks to "forge stronger relationships between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve." His TikTok account, meanwhile, showed him in recent weeks assembling or firing two different types of guns, BuzzFeed News reported: an AR-15-style rifle as well as a firearm he identified as a 12-gauge shotgun. On Tuesday, as Kenosha erupted into demonstrations following the police shooting of Blake, Rittenhouse appeared to bring the same rifle with him to the scene. The 17-year-old drove about 20 miles from Antioch to Kenosha, also toting a medical kit, to partake in what referred to as his "job." "Part of my job also is to protect people," Rittenhouse told the Daily Caller moments before he allegedly began shooting. "If someone is hurt, I'm running into harm's way. That's why I have my rifle. I've got to protect myself, obviously." Rittenhouse and the other armed civilians shown in videos with him were violating Kenosha's 8 p.m. curfew, and at 17, he is too young to openly carry a gun in Wisconsin, the Tribune reported. But police did not challenge him on either front. One live stream from the scene appears to show police in an armored vehicle throwing bottles of water to him and others in his group, telling them: "We appreciate you guys. We really do." On Wednesday afternoon, Antioch police stationed vehicles inside the apartment complex where Rittenhouse has a listed home address, allowing only residents to enter the buildings and walk through the parking lot. Tammy Blanton, 34, who lives a four-minute walk away, said the arrest at the complex stunned her, particularly because Rittenhouse is about the same age as two of her children. "I was really surprised because I never see any cops around, I never hear any bad news, it's a very quiet town," she said. "We go to the park right here, down the street, and knowing there's someone like that in the neighborhood - I still want to know the full story of what happened - but it's pretty scary." Local government officials in Antioch issued a curfew on Tuesday night, citing the potential for civil unrest. Residents were asked to stay home, businesses shuttered, and both local high schools were entirely closed into Wednesday, the district said on its website. Standing with her son on the sidewalk across from Rittenhouse's apartment complex, Blanton said Rittenhouse seemed to have crossed a line. "Maybe he thought he was doing the right thing, but you don't kill somebody," she said. "That's not your business to kill someone for messing with someone else's business. That's for the cops to deal with." - - - The Washington Post's Erin Chan Ding in Antioch, Ill., and Mark Berman, Tim Craig, Jennifer Jenkins and Dan Lamothe in Washington contributed to this report. Jacob Blakes family has said the African American man shot by a police officer is currently handcuffed to his hospital bed. After the situation in Kenosha, Wisconsin, returned to a state of at least relative calm following three days of protests and unrest in the wake of Sundays shooting of Mr Blake, his father said he had visited him the night before. I hate it that he was laying in that bed with the handcuff onto the bed, his father, also named Jacob Blake, said on Thursday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He cant go anywhere. There was no immediate confirmation from authorities that the 29-year-old Mr Blake was handcuffed to his bed, following a series of surgeries after he was shot seven times, all at close range. The family has said it fears he may be paralysed for life and a lawyer for his relatives, Ben Crump, said it would be a miracle if he was to ever walk again. The Kenosha Police Department did not immediately respond to enquiries on Thursday. Kamala Harris says it is 'no wonder' people taking to streets in pre-RNC broadside against Trump Mr Blake said when he had visited his son on Wednesday evening, he said he thought he was hallucinating. I told him, You thought Daddy wasnt going to see my son, his father said. He grabbed my hand, held it real tight and started weeping, telling me how much he loved me. Protesters raise their fists during a demonstration against the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin (AFP via Getty Images) He said although his eyes were swollen, he looked and sounded like his son. The older Mr Blake compared the experience to walking across a desert to find someone waiting with a glass of water. It was way more than fulfilling, he said. It was a feeling I cant describe. His remarks came a day after the authorities in Kenosha released the name of the police officer, Rusten Sheskey, who shot Mr Blake seven times at close range on Sunday. They also said they had arrested a white 17-year-old, Kyle Rittenhouse, on suspicion of shooting dead two men, and injuring a third, during subsequent protests in Kenosha. Police have named the victims as Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, and Joseph Jojo Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha. Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, of West Allis, was shot in the arm and is expected to recover. Jacob Blakes father refused to comment on the violence, saying he will fully address the matter when he speaks at the March on Washington in the nations capitol on Friday. At a press conference with relatives on Tuesday, his mother, Julia Jackson, called for an end to looting and destruction in the city. We need healing, Ms Jackson said. I also have been praying, even before this, for the healing of our country. Shes recently spoken out about the US elections - but could Meghan Markle one day take the ultimate next step and run for the top job of President? Thats the question sparked by one betting company, which has revealed the Duchess of Sussex gets more bets placed on her running for executive power in 2024 than Michelle Obama and George Clooney. Meghan, 39, has been campaigning to encourage people, and women in particular, to use their vote in the forthcoming US Presidential Election. She has, however, been careful not to align herself to a particular party. Despite this, her campaigning comments have prompted a flurry of bets that she could run in 2024, with betting firm Ladbrokes placing the likelihood of her doing so at 100/1. Meghan Markle, making a speech in London in September 2019, could become US president. (Getty Images) So how would this sit with Meghans role as a high-profile member of the royal family. Typically, senior royals do not vote, nor voice political opinions which would support one particular party over another in order that they remain neutral. Although they are not formally banned Meghan herself recently revealed her husband, Prince Harry, has never been able to vote. Read more: Meghan Markle says she's proud of Prince Harry for setting 'beautiful' feminist example to son Archie One biographer, Lady Colin Campbell, has claimed she has been told Meghan wants to run for president one day, though The Daily Telegraph has said the duchesss recent campaigning should not be seen as a warm-up for the Democrat cause. But how would this sit with her role as a royal? Professor Robert Hazell, from the Constitution Unit at UCL, told Yahoo UK: Meghan Markle is a US citizen by birth. Legally and constitutionally, there is nothing to prevent her from being a candidate for the US Presidency. Nor could the British royal family stand in her way. They have no power to do so; nor would they want to obstruct her; especially if she appeared to be a popular candidate with a chance of winning. Anyone wanting to run to be US president must be a natural born citizen, at least 35 years old, and have been a resident in the US for 14 years. Story continues At 39, Meghan already fits all of this criteria, but it would be too late for her to enter the ballot in most states this year. Read more: Meghan Markle tells women: 'If you aren't voting, you're complicit' Professor Vernon Bogdanor, a research professor at Kings College London, said: There is no legal provision by which the royal family could prohibit her standing. But of course there could be social pressures. Prof Hazell added: Monarchy has more in common with an elected Presidency than might be supposed. In the 20th century 18 referendums were held on the future of the monarchy in nine different European countries. Monarchies survive only with the continuing support of the people; individual monarchs who lose that support tend to lose their thrones. This happened most recently with King Juan Carlos of Spain, after opinion polls showed two thirds of Spaniards felt he should abdicate, which he did in 2014. Polls over the years have shown the monarchy in the UK continues to be popular. A YouGov poll in February found only one-fifth of people would get rid of the monarchy in the UK, with support for the institution at 62%. Meghan has chosen to stay out of backing a specific candidate for this election, but before she married Harry, she called Donald Trump misogynistic and divisive. Her appearances so far have included one with When We All Vote, a non-partisan organisation founded by Michelle Obama, and with Makers US where she spoke to lifetime campaigner Gloria Steinem. Steinem has previously backed Democratic candidates in presidential elections, including Hillary Clinton. Meghan also talked about the importance of voting because of whats at stake this year. We are saddened to learn about TA Hotel Management Limited Partnership and TA Hotel GPs bankruptcy petition which was announced today, Amanda Miller, a spokeswoman for the Trump Organization, said in a statement late Friday. Like so many other developers who rely on international travel for the majority of their business, the Covid-19 pandemic has severely impacted their numerous properties, forcing them to remain closed and make this tough decision. Underwood Lutheran Church Underwood Lutheran Church, at 10 third Ave., will hold limited Sunday worship opportunities. Outdoor worship will be at 9:30 a.m., weather permitting, on the church lawn with the Rev. Scott Dalen. The sermon will focus on Matthew 16:21-28. Worship videos are released online at 8 a.m. Our Saviors Lutheran Church Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 600 Bluff St., has resumed in-person worship services, Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m. Face masks and social distancing are highly recommended. Worship services can be found online on YouTube (OSL CB), the churchs Facebook page: facebook.com/Our Saviors Lutheran Church of Council Bluffs and on the churchs website: oursaviorscb.org. Our Saviors Lutheran Food and Pet Pantry is open Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (you must call between 9:30 and 11 a.m. for same day appointment). The pantry is also open the third and fourth Fridays from 5 to 7 p.m. (you must call between 4 and 5 p.m. for same day appointment). More events and information can be found on the churchs website or Facebook page. Epworth United Methodist Church Epworth United Methodist Church, 2447 Ave. B, is handicap accessible. Membership is not necessary to participate in any church activities. The church is open for worship at the regular time of 9:25 a.m. on Sundays, and the church will practice social distancing. Masks are recommended and will be available for those who need one, and the church has plenty of hand sanitizer. Congregants will meet in the Fellowship Hall due to ease of sanitizing the facility. The weekly sermon will be posted on Facebook. The Scripture for this coming Sunday is Matthew 16:21-28. If you decide not to attend at this time, you can read some scripture, pray, and worship at home at the regular time so as not to get out of the habit of regular worship of our loving heavenly Father. The church is in prayer for all those affected by this virus. Church office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The churchs phone number is 712-323-3124. Check out the church on facebook.com/pages/Epworth. Fe y Esperanza United Methodist Church Fe y Esperanza (Faith and Hope) United Methodist Church, 2447 Ave. B, is handicap accessible. The church is in prayer for all those affected by the coronavirus. Bilingual worship in English and Spanish is held every Sunday in the sanctuary at the regular time of 12:30 p.m. The church is practicing safe social distancing and asks you to bring your own mask. Masks will be provided for those who dont have one. The churchs pastor can be reached at 712-828-1340. The church is on Facebook at Fe y Esperanza UMC. Hazel Dell United Methodist Church Hazel Dell United Methodist Church, 23109 205th St., is handicap accessible. Membership is not necessary to participate in any church activities. Due to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, congregants will worship this Sunday outdoors at the regular time of 11 a.m. If you want to wear a mask feel free, and hand sanitizer will be available. The church is in prayer for all those affected by this virus. The weekly sermon will be posted on Facebook. The churchs phone number is 712-545-3021. Check out the church online at facebook.com/hazeldellumccb and at hazeldellumccb.wordpress.com. Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church, 1800 Fifth Ave., invites the public to participate in live worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. Social distancing will be practiced, and face masks are encouraged (but not required). The Sunday worship service will continue to be recorded live and can be viewed on the churchs Facebook page: Fifth Avenue UMC, Council Bluffs. The church office can be reached Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for prayer or other requests at 712-323-7374 or through our email: faumc@msn.com. The church is praying for the community and anyone affected by the virus. Twin Cities Christian Church Twin Cities Christian Church, 4220 Gifford Road, welcomes everyone to Sundays in person and online worship service at 10:30 a.m. The church is handicapped accessible and online Services may be accessed on the church website twincitiescb.org, on Facebook and on YouTube. A number of changes have been made to the in person service to adhere to guidelines for social distancing, sanitation, non-touch greetings and more that may be viewed on the church website and on Facebook. For more information, call the church office at 712-366-9112. Community of Christ Community of Christ Church, 140 W. Kanesville Blvd., will reopen for worship services Sunday at 10:15 a.m. There are numerous requirements and rules the church will abide by. The theme this week is Called by God, with Scriptures Exodus 3:1-15, Psalm 105:1-6; 23-26, 45c. Everyone is encouraged to make the best possible choice as to attending or not. There are some virtual ministries out on our World Church Website just access ongoing ministries: cofchrist.org. Community of Christ Church welcomes you in the name of our Lord and Savior. Timothy Lutheran Church Timothy Lutheran Church, 3112 W. Broadway, will hold traditional worship services at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The services will also be livestreamed at the same times via the churchs Facebook page at facebook.com/timothy-lutheran-church-council-bluffs-94942511723/. If you do not have a Facebook account, connect with the church online at: Timothylutheran.net. The videos and services on the churchs website are offered to help all participate. Sunday school and adult Bible class have resumed. Midweek Bible study groups are cancelled until further notice. The churchs pastor releases Bible study videos via the website at timothylutheran.net/bible-studies.html. The church takes seriously the needs of all members. As some return, others will choose to wait. Those who do return will find new health measures taken to ensure safety. Timothy has an elevator for easy access to worship services and other activities. Faith Lutheran Church Faith Lutheran Church, 2100 S. 11th St., will have worship services at Faith at 9 a.m. Sunday with social distancing precautions in place. All attending must wear a mask from your car, through services and back to your car and should enter through the back entrance only. A volunteer will meet you at the back door for a temperature check, to sign in and direct you to your specific seat which will include social distancing and will answer any questions you have. Family members in the same household can sit together. Worship services will also continue to be available online on YouTube, on Faiths Facebook page and on Faiths new website at faithlutherancouncilbluffs.org. To locate the livestream, search Facebook, Faith Lutheran Council Bluffs. It will come up in the first few links. Then just click the live button. YouTube viewing is available by searching to Ron Rosenkaimer. Sunday streaming will start at 9 a.m. Members without social media are asked to send email addresses to Faiths office: office@faith.omhcoxmail.com for mailing of devotional materials and links to the uploaded videos. Members are also reminded to be faithful in supporting Faith with their regular offerings. For more information, contact the church office at 712-323-6445. New Horizon Presbyterian Church New Horizon Presbyterian Church will not resume in-person services or activities for the next several weeks. The church will hold drive-in services at 10 a.m. Sundays. Check the churchs Facebook page for details. The service will also be posted on the churchs Facebook page facebook.com/newhorizonpc at 10 a.m. Sunday. Saint John Lutheran Church Saint John Lutheran Church, 633 Willow Ave., will resume in-person worship this weekend at 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays and 9:30 a.m. on Sundays. Social distancing guidelines will be followed and masks are required. There will be limited seating; reservations will be accepted starting on Tuesdays for the upcoming weekend. Please call the church office at 712-323-7173 to make reservations. Worship will also be available to watch on Facebook or YouTube. Our Facebook page is Saint John Lutheran Church Council Bluffs IA and our website is SaintJohnELCA.org. You can call the church office with any questions. Emanuel Lutheran Church Emanuel Lutheran Church, 2444 N. Broadway, will have worship this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the upper parking lot with holy communion and baptism. Participants may attend from their car, or bring lawn chairs and must practice social distancing. Videos of the worship will be posted to YouTube each Sunday. For more information, visit emanuelcb.org. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global vibration monitoring market size is anticipated to reach USD 3,574.3 million by 2026 according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research. The report Vibration Monitoring Market Analysis Report By Component (Hardware, Software, Services); By Monitoring Process (Online, Portable); By End-User (Automotive, Chemical, Aerospace and Defense, Food and Beverages, Construction, Mining, Oil and Gas, Others); By Regions: Market Size & Segment Forecast, 2019 2026provides a complete analysis of present market trends and future insights. In 2018, the hardware segment accounted for the highest market share in terms of revenue. North America is expected to be the leading contributor to the global Vibration Monitoring market revenue in 2018. The increasing modernization of factory equipment, and stringent regulations regarding energy efficiency and workforce safety majorly drive the market growth. The growing adoption of IoT, cloud-based technologies, and machine learning further supports the growth of the market. The growing need to streamline operations for improving productivity and safety, while reducing maintenance time and cost would increase the adoption of vibration monitoring systems during the forecast period. Other driving factors include technological advancements, increasing adoption of smart factories, growing adoption of embedded systems, and increasing demand from emerging economies. Get sample copy of this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/vibration-monitoring-market/request-for-sample Vibration monitoring systems ensure that data is organized and decisions can be made efficiently. They collect real-time information, offer historical trends and graph data for further analysis. They generate alarms when abnormalities occur and send instant alarms to smart devices. They sense concerns such as imbalance, misalignment, bearing wear and looseness and provide predictive maintenance. North America generated the highest market share in the Vibration Monitoring industry in terms of revenue in 2018, and is expected to lead the global market throughout the forecast period. The presence of established telecom and cloud infrastructure in this region, and growing trend of IIoT has accelerated the market growth in the region. The growing demand of mobile devices, automation of manufacturing process, increasing safety concerns, and technological advancements generate numerous opportunities for the market in this region. The well-known companies profiled in the report include National Instruments Corporation, Emerson Electric Co., Bruel & Kiaer Sound & Vibration Measurement A/S, Meggitt PLC, Honeywell International Inc., Schaeffler AG, Analog Devices, Inc., SKF AB, General Electric, and Azima DLI Corporation. These companies are consistently launching new products to enhance their offerings in the Vibration Monitoring industry. With the advancement of technologies, companies are innovating and introducing new customized products to cater the growing needs of the customers. Leading companies are also acquiring other companies, and enhancing their product offerings to improve their market reach. Acquisitions enable key players to increase their market potential in terms of geographic expansion and expansion of customer base. Complete Summary with TOC Available @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/vibration-monitoring-market Polaris Market research has segmented the vibration monitoring market on the basis of component, monitoring process, end-user, and region. Component outlook (Revenue USD Millions, 2015 2026) Hardware Software Services Monitoring process outlook (Revenue USD Millions, 2015 2026) Online Portable End User outlook (Revenue USD Millions, 2015 2026) Automotive Chemical Aerospace and Defense Food and Beverages Construction Mining Oil and Gas Others Regional outlook (Revenue USD Millions, 2015 2026) North America o U.S. o Canada o Mexico Europe o Germany o UK o France o Italy Asia-Pacific o China o India o Japan Latin America o Brazil Middle East & Africa Avail discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/vibration-monitoring-market/request-for-discount-pricing About Polaris Market Research Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities. Adept with a highly competent, experienced and extremely qualified team of experts comprising SMEs, analysts and consultants, we at Polaris endeavor to deliver value-added business solutions to our customers. Contact Us: Polaris Market Research Phone: 1-646-568-9980 Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com Web: www.polarismarketresearch.com The Covid-19 pandemic continued to impact the global mobile phone industry, as worldwide sales of smartphones to end users totalled 295 million units, a decline of 20.4% in the second quarter of 2020, according to leading research and advisory firm Gartner. Among the top five smartphone vendors, Samsung experienced the largest decline in sales while Apples smartphone sales were nearly flat year-over-year, said the Gartner report titled Market Share: PCs, Ultramobiles and Mobile Phones, All Countries, 2Q20 Update. Although Huawei also declined in smartphone sales year-over-year, it experienced 27.4% growth, quarter-over-quarter, moving it into a virtual tie with Samsung for the No.1 position. Almost all major markets, except China, continued to face some form of shelter-in-place restrictions for most of the second quarter of 2020 which led to continued declining smartphone demand. The improved situation in China saw demand recovering quarter- over-quarter, said Anshul Gupta, senior research director at Gartner. Travel restrictions, retail closures and more prudent spending on nonessential products during the pandemic led to the second consecutive quarterly decline in smartphone sales this year. Even with increased demand, smartphone sales in China declined 7% in the second quarter of 2020, with nearly 94 million smartphones sold. India which adopted rigorous lockdowns (even restricting e-commerce) recorded the worst smartphone sales decline (-46%) among the top five countries in the world. Samsung sold nearly 55 million smartphones in the second quarter of 2020, a decline of 27.1% year on year. The Covid-19 pandemic continued to negatively affect Samsungs performance in the second quarter of 2020, said Gupta. Demand for its flagship S Series smartphones did little to revive its smartphone sales globally. Huaweis smartphone sales dropped 6.8% and totalled 54 million units year on year. Huaweis performance in China helped it avoid a worse quarterly performance, said Gupta. Huawei extended its lead in China where it captured 42.6% of Chinas smartphone market in the second quarter of 2020. Huawei put in place an aggressive product introduction and sales promotion in China in particular and benefited from the strong support of communications services providers for its 5G smartphones. Apple sold 38 million iPhones in the second quarter of 2020, a decline of 0.4% year-over- year. Apples iPhone sales fared better in the quarter than most smartphone vendors in the market and also grew sales quarter-over-quarter, said Annette Zimmermann, research vice president at Gartner. The improved business environment in China helped Apple achieve growth in the country. In addition, the introduction of the new iPhone SE encouraged users of older phones upgrade their smartphones. TradeArabia News Service Following CNBC's report Thursday that Walmart is teaming up with Microsoft in its effort to buy TikTok, the social media app's interim head Vanessa Pappas said the social media upstart and retail giant already have a common interest. "For us, we've been really focused recently on rolling out some e-commerce features. We've been providing that for our creator community as another way for them to earn a livelihood," Pappas said in an interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box" Friday. "I think there's a lot of different synergies there." TikTok began testing new social commerce features last year by allowing some users to add links to their profiles and videos. Levi's was among the first retail brands to use TikTok's new "Shop Now" feature to direct users to merchandise. The company partnered with influencers to spread their message and reported high engagement and traffic to its website in early tests as of April, according to TechCrunch. TikTok is under pressure to sell to an American company before Sept. 20 when an executive order banning U.S. entities from transactions with the app would go into effect. The Trump administration has raised national security concerns with TikTok due to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. Members of both parties in Congress have shared fears over the potential for ByteDance to be compelled by the Chinese Communist Party to share American user data. TikTok has repeatedly disputed that it would share data with Chinese officials, saying TikTok is not offered in China and data for the app is not stored in the country. Microsoft was the first to emerge as a potential buyer for TikTok as pressure mounted. Though it has had a mixed record on consumer offerings, Microsoft would be able to offer TikTok a strong cloud infrastructure at a well-resourced company. Oracle, another cloud provider, has also emerged as a potential buyer. Walmart teamed up with Microsoft after its attempt to become majority owner of TikTok through a partnership with SoftBank and Google-parent Alphabet fell apart, CNBC previously reported. Pappas said she's not directly involved in deal talks but saw strengths in both Microsoft and Oracle as technology providers. "I think if you look at the various players and the partners that we're hearing from, I think they're amazing tech companies," she said. "Oracle has its strengths in terms of being a leading data infrastructure company and focused on security, Microsoft as well, great security and privacy platform as well as everything they're doing with cloud." Pappas took the helm at TikTok after former CEO Kevin Mayer announced his resignation this week. Mayer, a former Disney executive who was thought to be in contention for that CEO job before it was filled by Bob Chapek, said he had been looking forward to running a global company. That the actions of the U.S. government seemed to have changed the role he signed up for. A deal to buy TikTok's U.S., Canadian, Australian and New Zealand operations could be announced as soon as next week, sources told CNBC. The deal is likely to be valued at $20 billion to $30 billion, according to the sources. Correction: Pappas is the interim head of TikTok. A previous version of this story referred to her as interim CEO. WATCH: TikTok is growing rapidly, even as it fights a U.S. government ban Alabama Power crews are headed west to help restore service in the wake of Hurricane Laura. About 350 Alabama Power team members from across the state, including line crews and support personnel, are arriving in Louisiana to assist in storm recovery. Crew foreman Jason Wood says his crew was eager to help in other states. These guys come and help us when something happens, Wood said. Were returning the favor to go help them in their time of need. Hurricane Laura made landfall early Thursday in Cameron, Louisiana, 45 miles south of Lake Charles, as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 150 mph. Western Louisiana and eastern Texas were battered by heavy rains and dangerous winds with at least 6 deaths reported from the storm. As of 9 a.m. Thursday, more than 625 electric customers were without power from the storm. Thursdays efforts come one week after Alabama Power crews returned home from assisting in Illinois and New Jersey. Earlier in the month, more than 200 lineworkers and support personnel traveled to New Jersey to assist utility FirstEnergy in its response to the damage caused by Tropical Storm Isaias. A week later the crews traveled from New Jersey to Illinois to assist Commonwealth Edison with restoring service following a violent derecho a swift-moving thunderstorm system that tore through the Midwest. Alabama Power crews replaced 58 poles, more than 300 spans of wire and 35 transformers to restore power to more than 5,000 customers near Chicago. The platform can be overwhelming until you understand it is primarily a place for research, not booking. (Long said that will change in 2021, with hundreds of thousands of bookable sites.) I found it easiest to search without set dates since you need to check availability with the campground anyway and then zoom into different locations. I steered clear of the campground that had biting flies and mosquitoes, according to one review, and settled on Pohick Bay Regional Park, 25 miles southwest of the District, which had 11 positive reviews out of 12. I studied a few maps to understand the distance between water access and camping, and then I booked my night through the parks website. Teslas Gigafactory in Nevada was a target of attempted and thwarted cyberattack, Elon Musk said, describing the attempt as a serious attack. Musk confirmed there was an attempted cyberattack, in reply to an article tweeted by Teslarati, which described how a Russian national had contacted an unnamed Russian-speaking, non-US citizen working at Teslas Gigafactory Nevada, offering to pay him US$1 million to insert malware in Teslas network, extract data, and demand ransomware. After meeting with the Russian national who had offered the money, Teslas employee reported the planned cyberattack to Tesla. The EV maker contacted the FBI, which took over and had the Tesla employee wear a wire at a meeting with the man planning the attack, Teslarati reports. The FBI apprehended the plan planning the cyberattack last week. On Tuesday this week, the U.S. Justice Department said that Russian national Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov, 27, was arrested for conspiracy to introduce malware into a computer network of a Nevada company. Kriuchkov was arrested for his role in a conspiracy to recruit an employee of a company to introduce malicious software into the companys computer network, extract data from the network, and extort ransom money from the company, the Justice Department said. Kriuchkov promised to pay the employee $1 million after the malware was introduced. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Kriuchkov provided the employee with a burner phone, and instructed him to leave the burner phone in airplane mode until after the money was transferred, the Justice Department added. Kriuchkov appeared in court on Monday for his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alexander F. MacKinnon in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, California, who ordered Kriuchkov detained pending trial. Commenting on the thwarted cyberattack on Tesla, Jake Moore, cybersecurity specialist at ESET, told Silicon.co.uk: Some of the biggest threats come from physical access to a network, and the insider threat can be extremely difficult to protect against. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The most you can lose on any stock (assuming you don't use leverage) is 100% of your money. But in contrast you can make much more than 100% if the company does well. For instance the Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:SAH) share price is 132% higher than it was three years ago. Most would be happy with that. On top of that, the share price is up 64% in about a quarter. Check out our latest analysis for Sonic Automotive To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). Over the last three years, Sonic Automotive failed to grow earnings per share, which fell 34% (annualized). In this instance, recent extraordinary items impacted the earnings. Thus, it seems unlikely that the market is focussed on EPS growth at the moment. Since the change in EPS doesn't seem to correlate with the change in share price, it's worth taking a look at other metrics. Languishing at just 0.9%, we doubt the dividend is doing much to prop up the share price. We severely doubt anyone is particularly impressed with the modest 1.4% three-year revenue growth rate. So truth be told we can't see an easy explanation for the share price action, but perhaps you can... The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. So it makes a lot of sense to check out what analysts think Sonic Automotive will earn in the future (free profit forecasts). What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. 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. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. In the case of Sonic Automotive, it has a TSR of 142% for the last 3 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective It's nice to see that Sonic Automotive shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 62% over the last year. And that does include the dividend. That's better than the annualised return of 17% over half a decade, implying that the company is doing better recently. In the best case scenario, this may hint at some real business momentum, implying that now could be a great time to delve deeper. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Sonic Automotive (1 doesn't sit too well with us) that you should be aware of. 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. In a tweet Thursday, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said he is seeking a full account of what led police to arrest a Black man while he was jogging Tuesday. Nirenberg tweeted the situation needs to be approached "seriously because every resident deserves fair and equitable treatment from their city." Police were in the area of Woodstone Drive on the Northwest Side, searching for a suspect believed to have choked and punched a woman in an nearby apartment complex. As they were searching, they came across 33-year-old Mathias Ometu an insurance adjuster with no criminal record who was out jogging. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox Officers told Ometu his outfit matched the description of the suspect and when officers asked for his identification, Ometu refused to provide it. Per the Texas Penal Code, a person being detained or questioned by police is not required to provide identifying information. But, SAPD officers handcuffed Ometu because he allegedly became aggressive and when they "advised" him to get into the back seat of a patrol car, the man refused, a police report said. They also accused Ometu of kicking the officers as they tried to force him into the patrol car. The woman who was involved in the altercation was brought to the scene to identify Ometu but she said that he was not the man who assaulted her. Yet, Ometu was still arrested and taken to the Municipal Court on South Frio where he was charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer. A couple who had also been jogging nearby recorded the entire incident, saying Ometu's only crime was "jogging while Black." It reaffirmed that cops do not de-escalate situations, said Victor Maas, who recorded the video. It was shocking how quickly they wanted to get into a fight with a fellow citizen, and how they used their badge and guns to escalate the situation. READ ALSO: San Antonio police wrestled a Black man into a squad car and took him to jail. He wasnt the suspect they were searching for. An SAPD spokesperson said the incident was under administrative review. Individuals on social media began calling for justice for Ometu, shocked that he was being held in the Bexar County Jail with a bail set at $20,000. In a statement released Friday, Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales said his office is looking into Ometu's case to see if there is a potential criminal case. He said they are waiting for "law enforcement to complete their investigation and file their full case, including any body camera footage, with our office." Ometu has been released on bond, Gonzales said. San Antonio police have not responded to requests by the San Antonio Express-News for additional information on the incident. Emilie Eaton contributed to this report. Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway Google is starting to roll out a new default setting on Chrome to block advertisements that violate its heavy ad intervention policy. The company had announced this development back in May. At that time, Google said the new setting will be implemented in late August 2020, without revealing an exact date. Now, sources have told AdExchanger that the new default setting to block heavy ads on Chrome will be rolling out gradually starting this week. The roll-out of the new ad policies coincides with the release of Chrome 85. The latest version of Googles browser is now rolling out with a whole slew of changes including faster page loading, collapsible Tab Groups, revamped share menu, QR code sharing on desktop, and more. Google Chrome will automatically block heavy ads Google defines heavy ads as those that use more than 4MBs of network data or 60 seconds of total CPU. Ads that mine cryptocurrency or host mini-games are some examples of such ads. Advertisement Although just about 0.3 percent of ads exceed these Google-defined thresholds, they reportedly make up 27 percent of total ad data network consumption. Such heavy ads also account for 28 percent of total ad CPU usage. This is certainly not ideal for consumers and Google wants to do something about it. Given the small volume of heavy ads, Googles latest move will not affect many advertisers and publishers. However, those who rely on long-form videos and rich media ad units would be impacted. Some companies also risk losing money on blocked ad units. Ads distribution platform Teads welcomed Googles decision saying the impact would be minimal for ad tech companies that have already cut down on data and CPU use in their ad units. Low file sizes and minimal CPU usage are things weve been considering for years, said Jeremy Arditi, chief commercial officer at the company. So were aligned with the motivation. Advertisement Google has been putting in efforts to improve the ad quality on Chrome for some time now. Back in January, the company announced that it would phase out third-party cookies from its browser over the next two years. This move will certainly disrupt how publishers monetize internet traffic and will give Google more control over digital advertising. The web giant is also a member of the Coalition for Better Ads. This group develops Better Ads Standards for desktop web and mobile web. They are reportedly working on tracking down on ad formats like pop-ups and autoplay video ads. Jacob Blake is handcuffed to his hospital bed, his family told CNN. Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot seven times in the back by Kenosha, Wisconsin, police Officer Rusten Sheskey on Sunday. He is paralyzed from the waist down. He is paralyzed and cant walk, and they have him cuffed to the bed. Why? Blakes uncle Justin Blake told CNN. This is an insult to injury. Blake has been in the hospital since he was shot. Kenosha police and other authorities did not comment on Blakes hospital detainment, CNN reported. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said he couldnt imagine why the cuffs were necessary. Sheskeys shooting of Blake has led to nightly protests in the 100,000-person Wisconsin city and nationwide as people demand racial justice. Thursday, prosecutors charged Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, with fatally shooting two protesters and injuring a third in a Tuesday night incident. Ellen DeGeneres is fake, this is what her staff and some of her guests said. An investigation has been launched about the toxic work culture in her show and some form of apology by the comedian was given to the staff. However, for the people she allegedly victimized, this does not erase the fact that she is a fraud. Even if half of the complaints turn out untrue, the fact that Ellen is not the all-kind, all-compassionate, funny television personality that she portrayed for over a decade (or forever) means that she has shown something not genuine. So much for always being true to yourself and being free: two things Ellen was an epitome of, apart from being kind and generous. Even though celebrity friends got her back, this only adds fuel to the fire.Could she just be kind to A-list celebrities in real life? Is she kind only on TV and a monster when the cameras are rolling? Complaints and insider reports are still coming, to think this issue has been around for months already. One just cannot turn a blind eye to this. If you are interested about some of these complaints, then below are three. Ellen DeGeneres' Charm Is for TV Only "The Ellen Show" only aired for a year from 2001. This was the comedian's second sitcom and did not do quite well, given the issues surrounding her sexuality. It was certainly not for the lack of talent and efforts among those in the writers' room. According to Dan Tobin, who spent a total of eight months working in the writers' room for the show, Ellen DeGeneres was only ever funny and charming when the cameras were rolling. Once the shooting was done, she would transform completely and start criticizing all of them. Tobin said watching the transformation was baffling, leading them at the writers' room to say that she must truly be a great actress. "She is very talented and very funny, she would give it her all and everyone would fall in love with her," Tobin shared "But once they had yelled 'Cut', her face would fall and she would turn on us, she would shout 'These jokes are terrible!'" One can argue that Ellen is only in jitters all the time because she wants her show to be a success, but surely there is a nicer way to go about it instead of trampling on writers' hearts like that. Tobin added that the comedian had a default position to dislike all materials and criticize those behind them. This took place not only once or twice, but daily. She Ignores Her Fans During Commercial Breaks It appears that the comedian does not even care if people not behind the scenes know about her annoying behavior. According to a former guest on the show, Ellen's wide smile is always only for the cameras. Dana Dimatteo was a guest on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in 2018. She was not a celebrity and she was just picked to be on stage for a game. Naturally, she was excited, as most people who goes to the show are massive fans. Speaking to British tabloid The Sun, Dana recalled how fake Ellen could be. According to her, she did not care if people can see it! "During commercial breaks, Ellen would break out of her 'kind' character and sit moodily in silence on her couch," she revealed, "not acknowledging anyone." "She didn't say one word to the audience unless the cameras were on," Dana added "she snapped out of her character the second the cameras stopped rolling." Again, it can be argued that she is saving her energy to when the cameras start rolling once more, but she can still be kind about it! Ignoring people when they all came to see her (some flew from one state to another like Dana) sounds like a jerk move. Ellen Is Cold and Demeaning The bodyguard assigned to Ellen when she hosted the 2014 Oscars said it was the worst stint in his whole career. Speaking with Fox News, Tom Majercak said he was tasked to shadow the comedian while walking from the red carpet to the theater. Ellen essentially just ignored him and did not even bother saying hi. Portia de Rossi, at least, carried out a conversation. There you have it, just three when there are so many. How Ellen DeGeneres can bounce back with all of these stories and accusations will be interesting to see. She could probably, for one, get all of these complainants on her show and say sorry. READ MORE: Halle Berry Goes Topless To Promote Self-Love [SEE PHOTO] House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is among the Democratic leaders who have begun to signal that a long-standing government compromise on abortion payments will be challenged. (Associated Press) For more than 40 years, Democrats and Republicans have stuck to a compromise on abortion: No government money would be used to pay for ending pregnancies. Now, top House Democrats say they plan to challenge that status quo. Beginning next year, Democratic leaders in the House no longer will back the annual move to put the prohibition into law, they've told a small group of House Democrats. The move could spark a major fight over abortion and its intersection with race and class discrimination. If successful, ending the ban, known as the Hyde amendment, would mark one of the most significant changes in abortion policy in decades. Its an issue of racial justice and its an issue of discrimination against low-income women, women of color, women who dont have access to what middle- and upper-income women have in terms of the choice to have an abortion, said Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland). The plan to oppose the restriction on government money reflects the dramatic and widespread reversal of opinion on the subject that Democrats have undergone in the last five years. What was once viewed as an acceptable compromise is now widely seen among Democrats as a prime example of systemic racism that unfairly hurts poor women and women of color by banning abortion in most cases for Medicaid patients. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), who leads the subcommittee that funds federal health programs, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) told a small group of lawmakers last month that they would not add the prohibition to any government funding bill beginning next year, according to Lee and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), who co-chair the House Pro-Choice Caucus. Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill did not comment on the remark. When asked about the prospects for next year, he said: The House will work its will. DeLauro considered removing the ban from a spending bill this year, but the move was considered futile as Republicans hold the Senate and White House. Story continues "Although this years bill includes it, let me be clear, we will fight to remove the Hyde amendment to ensure that women of color and all women have access to the reproductive health they deserve," she said when her subcommittee approved its spending bill. A move to end the ban on federal funds for abortion would face significant challenges House Democrats dont yet have the votes to do so. And it is likely to run into strong opposition in the Senate, even if Democrats control the chamber after the election. Abortion-rights supporters almost certainly wont have the 60 votes currently needed to overcome a filibuster. DeGette, who asked House Democrats this summer where they stand on the issue, said her side has more than 200 votes but remains short of the 218 required to pass legislation. She expects Democrats will have 218 by next year. With a growing abortion-rights majority in the House and the support of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden he reversed his decades-long support of the ban last year amid intense pressure from abortion rights groups Democrats feel that the time is right to try. Abortion rights groups say they will keep pressure on a Biden administration and congressional Democrats to follow through. The policy was first adopted in 1976, shortly after the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision, when former Rep. Henry Hyde of Illinois wrote the amendment banning taxpayer money from being used to pay for most abortions under Medicaid. The policy was attached to a bill to fund the government. The ban has been renewed annually ever since and covers all federal healthcare programs. Several states, including California, have adopted laws that allow state money to be used to pay for abortions for low-income women. Republicans strongly support the ban and ever since it was first adopted have since insisted on its inclusion in any bill that funds the government. They and anti-abortion groups would put up a significant challenge to ending it. "This is a terribly reckless push on the part of Democrats to force taxpayers to fund abortion on demand," said Mallory Quigley, spokeswoman for the Susan B. Anthony List, a leading anti-abortion group. "People dont want to be complicit in abortion with their taxpayer dollars, regardless of how they identify, pro-life or pro-choice." Eliminating the policy would provide access to abortion for people enrolled in Medicaid or other government health programs, such as insurance provided to Peace Corps volunteers, members of the military and federal workers. Today, those programs only cover abortion in the cases of rape, incest or to preserve the health of the woman. If the House is able to act, it would put Senate Democrats in a difficult position. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the top Democrat in the Senate committee that funds health programs, opposes the Hyde amendment. But Senate Democrats widely accept that they would not have the votes to undo it. Murray has been glad to see growing momentum to repeal Hyde and will continue working alongside many others to build support for getting this done, said her spokeswoman, Helen Hare. If they get the policy change through the House but not the Senate, House Democrats would have to choose between insisting on the policy change and shutting down federal health programs, an untenable option. Lee acknowledged that she doesn't expect the Senate would move quickly. "We have to make it a priority," she said. "This is something that we will have to insist on and hold members of the Senate accountable just as with the House." Questions remain about how much of a priority a Biden administration would place on ending the policy. Biden was a strong advocate of the funding ban as recently as last summer. But abortion rights supporters say they take his change of position seriously. We intend to go in with good faith that when we flip the Senate and the White House, that people need to make good on their commitment on this, said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. The Democratic partys changing position on the policy has been swift. As recently as seven years ago, when the group All* Above All was founded with a goal to end the ban, mainstream abortion-rights groups and many establishment Democrats gave it little notice, unwilling to rock the boat on a long-established compromise. Democrats representing Republican-leaning parts of the country, they reasoned, would never be able to get reelected if they supported it. Destiny Lopez, co-director of All* Above All Action Fund, called it truly a third-rail issue both on the Hill and within the reproductive rights movement" at the time. But the message about the discriminatory nature of the policy took root and spread, particularly in recent months as the country reckons with racial inequity. Reversing the policy has become a mainstream pro-abortion rights position. Its not just [lawmakers] from safe Democratic districts" who support changing the law, DeGette said. Support comes from "across the entire Democratic caucus." These members are pro-choice and pro-choice to them includes repealing the Hyde amendment. Pre-owned fashion continues to solidify its relevance in the industry. On Wednesday, handbag reseller Fashionphile announced $38.5 million in Series B funding led by NewSpring Growth, which follows a minority investment made by Neiman Marcus in April of last year. More from WWD Founded in 1999, the pre-owned ultra-luxury pioneer has relied on its proprietary re-commerce technology, authentication expertise and pricing algorithm to stay relevant amid ever-increasing competition in the space. Citing the broad success of the resale category, which, according to GlobalData retail, is set to grow to $64 billion in 2024, and, according to Fashionphile founder and president Sarah Davis, our sales reflect this growth trend, she said: With a number of new services were rolling out regionally, and state-of-the-art tech authentication products in development, were excited to continue leading the ultra-luxury secondary market and cater to the needs of our clients. Similar to offerings at The RealReal, Fashionphile on Friday launched its white glove service, what Davis cites as the next evolution of our VIP Concierge service, allowing sellers to schedule pickups for their items, handing over the processes of authentication, pricing, cleaning, photographing and seamlessly listing goods to Fashionphile staff. Fashionphile operates four selling studios in Beverly Hills, Newport Beach, San Francisco and Dallas, though it has expansion plans under way. While were not able to share exact locations at this time, stay tuned for more information soon on new Selling Studios in new areas to Fashionphile as well as regional fulfillment centers both domestically and abroad, Davis said. Though Neiman Marcus, Fashionphiles most recent investor prior to this latest round of funding, is presently embroiled in bankruptcy and reorganization proceedings, Davis isnt phased by any threat to the relationship. Story continues Our partnership and plans with Neiman Marcus are firmly intact as we have confidence in the strength of their business. Were thrilled to continue in our partnership with them to support the full luxury lifecycle for the Neiman Marcus customer, she said. While consumers may have slowed their spending amid the pandemic, theyre still looking to luxury resale for moments when theyre not at home, however few. Rebag, another luxury resale purveyor, was also able to secure funding amid the COVID-19 crisis, announcing $15 million in Series D funding in May, bringing its total funding to $68 million. For More, See: Neimans Consignment Vendors Who Await Payments What of Renting, Consigning and Reselling Clothing During Quarantine? Home Secretary Priti Patel's bid to report 23 cross-Channel migrants to Spain has failed after the deportation flight was cancelled due to a last minute legal challenge. The plane was scheduled to leave the UK on Thursday morning, but had to be scrapped while the appeals are considered. The Home Office accused such legal claims of typically being 'baseless and entirely without merit'. The ministry had aimed to remove 23 migrants yesterday morning after checks on EU databases found they passed through Spain on their way to the UK, as reported by The Times. The comments come as the department was forced to abandon using a Dad's Army-style video where it accused 'activist lawyers' of trying to disrupt the asylum system. A group of people thought to be migrants are brought into Dover, Kent, by Border Force officers on Thursday The Home Office was forced to abandon using Dad's Army-style video where it accused 'activist lawyers' of trying to disrupt the asylum system Simon Davis, president of the Law Society, said: 'Attacks on the integrity of the legal profession undermine the rule of law. To describe lawyers who are upholding the law as 'activist lawyers' is misleading and dangerous.' Ms Patel was understood to be furious that the planned deportation flight was halted. A government source told The Times: 'There's a bunch of particularly loudmouthed lawyers and barristers who seem to spend more time on social media than representing their clients, who think even the mildest criticism of their profession will bring about the destruction of democracy. 'It's patently absurd and they'd be better off leaving this kind of hysterical ranting to Her Majesty's Opposition'. The department deported 12 people on Wednesday - six people to France and six to Germany. They were nationals from Kuwait, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait Bidoon, Sudan and Yemen. A Home Office spokeswoman said: 'The Government's efforts to facilitate entirely legitimate and legal returns of people who have entered the UK through illegal routes are too often frustrated by last minute challenges submitted hours before a scheduled flight. 'These claims are very often baseless and entirely without merit, but are given full legal consideration, leading to removal being rescheduled. Home Secretary Priti Patel in Dover in early August. Ms Patel was understood to be furious that the planned deportation flight was halted 'This can effectively result in the timing out of a return due to stringent Dublin Regulations. 'It is right that we seek to remove migrants who have travelled through a safe country and have no right to remain in the UK.' On August 14, an Iranian national was deported to the Netherlands, where it was determined he had an immigration status, after he arrived in Dover after crossing the Channel on a small boat. Some 14 other Channel migrants, including nationals from Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan who arrived in the UK - but the Home Office claimed had no right to be in the country - were deported on August 12. It comes as charities reported that eight suicide attempts had taken place in the days leading up to the latest flights in Brook House immigration removal centre near Gatwick, with three people being taken to hospital. The Home Office would not confirm the number of incidents, but a spokeswoman said: 'We take the welfare of the detained individuals extremely seriously. 'All immigration removal centres have trained medical staff on hand to provide medical care to those in detention. Everyone who is removed from the UK is seen by a health professional and the Home Office is notified of any individual who is not well enough to be removed. 'We make no apology for seeking to remove those who have travelled through a safe country and have no right to remain in the UK. This is part of our strategy to make this dangerous route unviable.' Chai Patel, legal policy director at the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, said: 'The treatment of immigration detainees in the UK is a matter of national shame. 'We are facing a global pandemic and the Home Office has chosen to focus on running dangerous and rushed deportation flights, placing vulnerable refugees at risk and prioritising speed over fairness. 'Every time a flight is stopped, we find people on it who go on to win their cases. 'We need to fix the broken system that tries to deport people at all costs, and we must resist all attempts to speed up unjust deportations and reduce legal protections for people who already have almost none. 'Eight human beings were so scared of what we were willing to send them back to face, that they tried to take their own lives. No one under our protection should ever feel that way again.' It comes after last week campaigners said some migrants who crossed the Channel to the UK were on hunger strike in the detention centre ahead of facing deportation. According to the Home Office's latest annual report, the department incurred 'fruitless payments totalling 2.2 million' in 2019-20 as a result of 'cancellations of scheduled flights intended to remove ineligible asylum seekers, which were subsequently cancelled due to asylum seekers being granted the right to appeal'. COVID-19 directly impacted the way government agencies serve citizens. Because many employees are now working remotely, agencies struggle to support constituents through traditional, in-person methods of customer service. Yet now more than ever, the public needs government services including information about closures and travel restrictions, access to benefit programs and more. The result is often overloaded call centers, frustrated citizens and overwhelmed government staff. Government agencies need to think creatively about ways to use technology to provide effective customer experience (CX) during this moment of crisis. But CX solutions can do more than provide short-term emergency response. The right CX technologies can also help organizations get on the right footing for the future, says Peter Still, senior principal product strategy manager for customer experience at Oracle. Still outlined a three-pronged approach government agencies can take to provide effective customer support to constituents while also preparing for the long-term future of government service: Step One: Digital Response Before COVID, many government agencies relied on forms of customer experience that required both employees and citizens to be on-site, including in-person appointments. During COVID, when citizens are sheltering in place or less inclined to visit physical sites, face-to-face CX is often impossible. Physical call centers can allow citizens to retrieve information from home, but the centers often cannot handle the influx of calls many departments face during the pandemic. We heard a deluge of stories from clients where traditional government services were breaking down. Unemployment call centers were getting a million calls in a week and only answering a fraction of them. People were unsure of whether they had to shelter in place, or what that even meant, says Still. One of the first steps government agencies can take toward improving CX during COVID is to turn to digital tools, including smart self-service portals. These allow agencies to manage frequent communication and share knowledge quickly and widely at a moment when timely information is critical. Smart portals can provide interactive, personalized, up-to-date advice to fit each citizens circumstances. Users can call in to quickly understand if they are eligible for a particular program, or what travel restrictions are in place. By providing smart content for citizens across a variety of digital channels, agencies can lessen the burden on call centers and empower citizens to get the information they need quickly and efficiently. Step Two: Government Continuity When providing services to citizens, government leaders need to think not only about the public, but also about their employees. Many government employees are now working remotely, which means they can no longer collaborate with one another via in-person meetings and conversations. Despite this, agency employees need to work just as effectively from home as they did in person. To successfully continue government service in this work-from-home era, agencies need to provide staff with remote access to their networks. More than that, they also need to provide digital tools that enable virtual collaboration among employees, as well as the assignment, tracking and execution of various workstreams. Agencies also need digital solutions that allow employees to assign and schedule service tasks, track service completion and manage outstanding payments. These kinds of end-to-end solutions will allow employees to continue to deliver effective customer service safely from home, while enabling them to problem-solve with colleagues across departments. Step Three: Recovery in the Long Term While steps one and two focus on deploying solutions for immediate issues, step three involves preparing for the medium- and long-term impacts of COVID-19. Government agencies will likely see an increased need for services over an extended period of time. Along with an increase in unemployment benefits, there may also be an expansion of needs for other supplemental programs, including SNAP benefits, cash programs, Medicaid assistance for families and more. Its an irony of government: when the economy is under strain, spending goes down, but demand for government services goes up, says Still. Agencies need to prepare to meet that demand for an indefinite period. Moreover, there may be changes to the regulations around many of these services, as local governments put in emergency assistance programs or rules for various benefit programs. The increased need for benefits and potential regulatory changes mean governments need to develop an agile CX framework. This framework might include a variety of technologies, such as applicant data verification programs to reduce fraud and error with the influx of new cases within an agency. It might also include outcome analysis programs to track the success of various new recovery programs. Implementing various digital tools can help agencies track data and quickly adjust to change. Effective CX Now and in the Future In a time of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an immediate need to serve citizens, but there is also a need to prepare for the future. This need to respond and prepare does not require a complete shift in e-government strategy. The pandemic hasnt really changed the fundamentals of the vision of e-government, Still maintains. But as our normal way of working has been taken away from us, COVID-19 has accelerated the urgency to change and adopt things that were not a top priority previously. By adopting digital CX solutions, governments can ensure a long-term, successful customer service experience for both employees and citizens. For nearly 30 years, DLT Solutions, a Tech Data Company, in partnership with Oracle, has been dedicated to solving public sector IT challenges. DLT has knowledge and experience helping public sector customers acquire the Oracle technology solutions they need, a vast contract portfolio, including OMNIA Partners and other state-specific contracts, and a robust collection of technology solutions across six strategic solution sets DLT makes it easy to find, select, and buy the solutions you need. Charles Owusu, Head of Monitoring Unit of Forestry Commission, has expressed dissenting views over the President Nana Akufo-Addo's promise to construct an airport in Cape Coast, Central Region, in his next term should Ghanaians retain him. The President is seeking re-election to the Presidential seat but not without facing a fierce competition by former President John Dramani Mahama who will be competing with him in the December polls. In an interview with host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia hightlighted the importance of an airport in Cape Coast stressing it will boost tourism and trade as well as ease the stress of commuters in the Region. An airport makes a lot of sense in Cape Coast. It is a real tourist hub and between Greater Accra and Kumasi, you have a triangle that really is a hub for economic activities, you can build railway lines between them and its a major growth pole if we put an airport here to drive infrastructural growth," the Vice President said during NPP's 2020 manifesto launch in Cape Coast. But Charles Owusu thinks constructing an airport in Cape Coast shouldn't be a top priority for the government. To him, what is important is for the government to construct dual carriage roads and improve the railway sector of the economy. He believes improving the road and railway system is much necessary than constructing an airport in Cape Coast. "Considering our current situation, do we have need for these things? Because when you look at hardships in the country and devising ways to improve living conditions, there are things that we have to do before we proceed to do other things. How many times do flights go to Kumasi and Tamale airports? But if we construct dual carriage roads, still people will prefer to drive. If trains are operational, people will prefer to take the trains," 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 New Delhi: Six months after the in the North East Delhi violence which claimed the lives of more than 50 people, a majority of them being Muslims, Amnesty International has accused the Delhi Police of failing to prevent riots in between February and 23 and 29. The investigation conducted by the human rights organisation alleges that there was a denial of medical services to victims, failure to rescue them, excessive and arbitrary use of force on protesters and differential treatment of assemblies, no response to multiple calls leaving the survivors to fend for themselves over the period of six days of violence in Delhi. After interviewing almost 50 witnesses of the riots which began after BJP leader Kapil Mishras ultimatum speech the Amnesty International has claimed that the response of Delhi Police to hate crimes committed during the violence was inadequate. There was verification of the evidence of human rights violations in the user-generated social media videos during the riots, and for this, Amnesty International India collaborated with Amnesty Internationals Crisis Evidence Lab. Highlighting the case of Mohammed Faizan, a 23-year-old victim who was seen in a viral video where policemen kicked a group of five wounded men and asked them to sing national anthem, Amnesty International said the ruthless treatment of the heavily injured men by the Delhi police violates the international human rights standards. After the video was shot, the men were detained by the police. Faizan had later succumbed to his injuries. According to the report, Delhi polices actions also violate Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which India is a state party. Delhi police also violated the domestic law, it says, adding that the cops did not follow due procedure as per law. Amnesty investigation further alleged that Delhi police personnel were complicit and an active participant in the violence that took place in Delhi in February 2020. Yet in the last six months not a single investigation has been opened into the human rights violations committed by the Delhi police - before, during and after the violence. Avinash Kumar, Executive Director of Amnesty International India, said the first step towards ensuring justice for the survivors of the February Delhi riots is to end the impunity that prevents Delhi police from being held accountable. Six months on, there has not been even a single investigation into the role of the Delhi police. This ongoing state-sponsored impunity sends the message that the law enforcement officials can commit grave human rights violations and evade accountability. That they are a law unto themselves, he added. It also analysed the role played by politicians who made hate speeches in the build-up to the riots and illustrated the example of 23 February, when BJP leader Kapil Mishra, led a rally against the peaceful protests in Jaffrabad in North-East Delhi, and gave an ultimatum speech. Kumar said, Amnesty International India calls on the Ministry of Home Affairs to conduct a prompt, thorough, transparent, independent and impartial investigation into all allegations of human rights violations committed by Delhi police and the hate speeches made by political leaders. In 1997, the Supreme Court of India in the case of D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal also laid down a set of guidelines to prevent custodial abuse and torture that have since been incorporated in the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the human rights organisation points out. These guidelines and various sections of the CrPC call for the preparation of an arrest memo with the date and time of arrest signed by the arrested person and an independent witness. It also states that a family member should be informed of the persons arrest along with their place of detention and that the arrested persons must be medically examined after being taken into custody. It also requires the police to produce every arrested person before a magistrate within 24 hours. In July there was chairperson of Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC)s fact-finding report on communal violence in North East Delhi. It had as well slammed the police for allegedly engaging in direct violence, including physical assault and abuse. The report found that Delhi police were either mute spectators or, in some cases, even alleged participants in the violence. "Dr. Karan Chopra has an ongoing commitment to excellence in cosmetic surgery of the face, eyes, breast and body." Dr. Karan Chopra obtained his doctor of medicine (MD) degree at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Chopra was then accepted into the premier Johns Hopkins & University of Maryland Integrated Residency Program in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery where he trained and served as Chief Resident under leaders in the field of Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic, and Craniofacial Surgery. He went on to complete an Oculoplastic & Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Fellowship with Mark Codner in Atlanta where he focused on cosmetic surgery procedures of the eyes, face, breast, and body. Dr. Chopra is known for his genuine kindness, affability, and his individualized care and attention to each patients needs. He has an ongoing commitment to excellence in cosmetic surgery of the face, eyes, breast and body. These procedures include facelift, eyelid lifts, breast surgery and, tummy-tuck, fat grafting, Jeuveau, Botox, dermal fillers and more. Visit Dr. Karan Chopra's Haute Beauty profile at: https://hauteliving.com/hautebeauty/member/dr-karan-chopra/ Visit Dr. Karan Chopra's website at: https://www.tcplasticsurgery.com/ ABOUT HAUTE BEAUTY: Haute Beauty offers readers access to an invite-only, prominent collective of leading doctors and industry-leading aesthetic surgeons located in their area. Haute Beauty is affiliated with the luxury lifestyle publication Haute Living. As a section of Haute Living magazine, Haute Beauty covers the latest advancements in beauty and wellness, providing readers with expert advice on aesthetic and reconstructive treatments through its network of acclaimed surgeons. To learn more about Haute Beauty, visit https://hauteliving.com/hautebeauty/ Family calls for accountability as 16-year-old boy with Downs syndrome dies after he was allegedly shot by police. Johannesburg, South Africa Residents in the South African capital are angry after a disabled 16-year-old boy was allegedly shot dead by the police. Nathaniel Julius, who had Downs syndrome, died in a hospital in Johannesburg on Wednesday night, hours after he was shot by the police metres away from his home in the citys Eldorado Park suburb. The killing occurred after residents in the neighbourhood ravaged by drugs and crime took to the streets to protest the lack of housing in the area. In recent months, the South African police have faced allegations of brutality during the enforcement of coronavirus restrictions. Police claimed Julius was wounded in a shoot-out between gang members and police officers when a stray bullet hit him. But the family and the community rejected the claim. According to the family, the teenager was shot in the chest when he was unable to answer questions from the police. Witnesses said Julius was holding a biscuit in his hand when police began questioning him, but he was not able to answer properly due to his condition. Witnesses alleged that police officers bundled Julius into a van after the shooting and took him to hospital several miles away, where he died. Justice for Nathaniel Police should be trained to minimise the possibility that bystanders will be killed. The facts are not clear here, but a shoot-out does not in itself constitute justification for the death, David Bruce, an independent expert on policing in South Africa, told Al Jazeera. During the protest on the day of Julius death, Eldorado Park residents hurled rocks at the police, who retaliated by firing rubber bullets and stun grenades. A provincial government official, Faith Mazibuko, visited the teens family on Thursday and announced that the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IDIP) will probe the case. Addressing the reporters later, Mazibuko said the police officers deployed in Eldorado Park during the incident have been removed while the case is being investigated. Meanwhile, more violence followed on Thursday, with residents calling for an overhaul of the police force in the area. Residents of Eldorado Park protesting the death of the teenage boy allegedly shot by the police [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters] In a statement on Wednesday, IDIP spokesperson Ndileka Cola said it was difficult to reach the scene of the incident as the situation had been volatile and that it was difficult to conduct interviews as the community was violent. On Friday, Police Minister Bheki Cele was confronted by an angry crowd chanting Police are corrupt! and Justice for Nathaniel! as he visited Juliuss parents in Eldorado Park. Worrisome According to the boys family, the police are trying to cover up the cold-blooded killing. The shooting is reminiscent of other instances of recent police brutality in South Africa during the coronavirus lockdown that started on March 27. Bruce compared the boys shooting to the killing of Tyrone Moeng, 19, who was fatally shot by the police on April 13. Themba Masuku of the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum said, The killing of a defenceless young man by the police demonstrates serious problems in our policing. It is highly unlikely that this young person posed any threat that warranted lethal force. The culture of impunity and lack of respect for life is worrisome because everyone especially children must feel safe around the police. Force should be used as a last resort, Masuku told Al Jazeera. We have a moral duty and that is to demand the truth. We must demand answers and expect to get only the truth, said Yasmin Sooka, executive director at Johannesburg-based Foundation for Human Rights. I want to help Virginians simplify their compliance process by both interpreting the Mandatory COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard and providing easy access to the required documents. Virginias COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (Standard) lays down strict standards to keep Virginians safe at work and to aid in stopping the spread of COVID-19. Employers need to understand some of their obligations and penalties, so weve broken down the Standard into some of it components, and offer a brief overview of risk categories and responsibilities, said Merritt Green, Founder/Managing Partner of McLean-based legal firm General Counsel, P.C. As an employment attorney, I want to help Virginians simplify the process by both interpreting it and providing easy access to required documents. Most Virginia employers, and all state-owned and operated businesses and offices MUST comply with Virginias Standard by implementing the following. The deadline for compliance is August 26, 2020. Employer Requirements Self-ranking and Applicability. Employers must rank themselves in exposure and exposure risk categories ranging from very high to lower, and meet specific requirements for each. Preventive and Response Plans. Employers in very high or high categories must develop and implement a written Infection Disease Preparedness Plan, which must be distributed to employees. Employers within the medium exposure category, with 11 or more employees, must also prepare the written plan. No such requirement is mandated for medium risk employers with 10 or fewer employees, or lower risk employers. Preventive Measures. Employers in certain risk categories are mandated to provide PPE and PPE training for employees, and must establish and implement a system for self-assessment and COVID-19 symptom screening, and implement procedures to prevent sick employees and others from infecting healthy employees. Compliance is required for heightened requirements for air handling system maintenance (i.e. HVAC systems). Training. Employers are required to train and inform employees on the rules and regulations, COVID-19 transmission, PPE usage, etc., and must post this information in the workplace. Return-to-Work Plans. Employers must draft and implement a return-to-work plan aimed towards employees who tested positive for COVID-19 and are now seeking re-entry into employment. Retaliation Protection. Employers are forbidden to retaliate against an employee who files a complaint or expresses concern with, or relating to, the new COVID-19 rules and regulations. Employer Risk Categories Virginia employers must rank themselves within one of five (5) risk categories as outlined in the Standard, ranging from very high to lower. Very High. There is a very high potential for employee exposure to COVID-19. Commonly, these jobs expose employees to aerosol generating procedures (e.g. intubations, dental procedures, invasive specimen collection, etc.,); or handling specimens from or performing autopsies on persons suspected of or known to have COVID-19. High. Jobs put employees in a position of high potential for exposure to COVID-19 within six feet. These jobs are commonly in the medical field, including mental health practitioners (e.g. doctors, dentists, pilots, flight attendants, etc.). Medium. Jobs require minimal contact with people known or suspected of having COVID-19 within six feet (e.g. restaurants, bars, indoor and outdoor construction, educational and day care facilities, pharmacies, food banks, gyms, etc.). (The majority of employers fall within this category.) There is a distinction between employers with 11 or more employees and those with 10 or fewer; employers with 11 or more employees must create an Infection Disease Preparedness and Response Plan. Lower. Jobs have a minimal risk of exposure through the implementation of engineering, administrative, and social practices control. These mainly include offices, where there is minimal contact with others. Employer Penalties Employers must comply with all new regulations. Failure to do so could result in fines up to $135,000.00, depending upon the severity of the violation. Virginia Emergency Standard Forms Generator (VES Forms Generator) Business Compliance, LLC, in conjunction with the law firm General Counsel, P.C. provides access to an easy-to-use and inexpensive way for Virginia employers to access the forms, training, and documents required to comply with the Standard: the COVID-19 Virginia Emergency Standard Forms Generator (VES Forms Generator accessible at: https://www.generalcounsellaw.com/ves_forms_generator/ or http://www.covidcomplianceplans.com. Media: For More Information For more information about Virginias COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard, please contact Merritt Green, Founder and Managing Partner of General Counsel, P.C., a McLean, VA-based, full-service law firm providing comprehensive legal services for business ranging from start-up to multi-billion dollar organizations. Contact Mr. Green at 703-556-0411 or mgreen@gcpc.com; http://www.generalcounsellaw.com. (Natural News) The debate surrounding the practice of testing using animals had remained a stalemate for the longest time. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), however, has finally stepped in and announced that it will stop requiring animal testing on the chemicals it evaluates come 2035. The announcement garnered strong reactions from both scientific circles and animal rights groups. Those in opposition to animal testing applauded the EPAs decision, citing the antiquated methods and inaccurate results of animal testing as grounds enough for the ban. But scientists in support of animal testing blasted the decision, arguing that a ban nullifies its role in keeping dangerous chemicals from getting into consumer products. Others argued it remains the sole testing process robust enough to gauge the impact of chemicals on people of different ages, genetics and health backgrounds. Nonetheless, the EPA remains optimistic that its hard 2035 deadline affords scientists enough time to enhance existing non-animal testing techniques. Ban on animal testing elicits strong reactions from both pro and anti groups Experts estimate that hundreds of thousands of animals are killed every year in trials and experiments designed to gauge the safety and efficacy of substances for human use. For instance, the EPA is one of several agencies that rely heavily on animal testing to evaluate chemicals in products like pesticides. But on top of ethical issues surrounding the topic of animal testing, results of animal tests are often unreliable and misleading, said Justin Goodman, a member of the animal rights group the White Coat Waste Project. The EPA has also admitted that animal testing is expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, testing methods that do not use animals could help researchers evaluate chemicals faster and more accurately, at a fraction of the cost. In addition, facilities and laboratories that engage in animal testing also often dispose of chemicals and other supplies used during the testing process. Critics argue that these substances contribute to pollution. Therefore, the EPAs decision might also have positive implications for the environment, added Goodman. But not all environmental advocates share the same sentiments. Jennifer Sass, a senior scientist at the environmental group the Natural Resources Defense Council, expressed grave concern over the recent announcement. Scientists need animal testing to study health conditions that are still not fully understood, such as cancer and infertility, said Sass. Cells in Petri dishes also cannot stand for entire animals, she added. Sass also expressed concerns that the decision is going to give the chemical industry too much control over developing non-animal testing methods that might lack scientific rigor. Most non-animal tests are done by contractors, and this can make it difficult for experts to evaluate the methods used to test chemicals, she added. Ann Bartuska, an ecologist and a senior official at the Department of Agriculture, noted that Sass raised important points. She said that non-animal testing methods need to be transparent so that experts can evaluate their safety and efficacy. Bartuska added that although its important to be cautious, something still has to change. She said that the EPA has set a long enough deadline to ensure that scientists can test and develop non-animal alternatives before it bans animal testing. In fact, the EPA already announced plans to invest $4.25 million in developing modern means of testing, such as computer programs and the so-called organ-on-a-chip a testing technique that involves cultivating human cells on computer microchips to mimic entire organs. The EPA could set a precedent for other agencies Other groups opposed to animal testing have also lauded the decision for its potential to act as a precedent for agencies that still use animal testing. Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for instance, have also been looking to reduce or replace animal testing altogether. That said, FDA spokesperson Tara Rabin said in a recent statement that the agency plans to continue using animal testing because of its importance in certain research areas, like life-threatening diseases. On the other hand, the NIH announced in 2015 that it plans to stop research on chimpanzees and release its 50 laboratory chimpanzees to a sanctuary. Scientists are still far from creating safe and efficient non-animal testing methods. Nonetheless, the EPAs decision has great potential to encourage other agencies and organizations to reduce their reliance on animal-based studies and their use of animal testing. (Related: Animal drug testing can be a thing of the past; scientists now 3D-printing embryonic stem cells.) Read more articles about non-animal testing techniques at FutureScienceNews.com. Sources include: MindBodyGreen.com NYTimes.com ScienceMag.org After multiple military personnel from the United States were injured in an encounter between Russian and American armored vehicles in Syria, the Pentagon lambasted Russia's military stating that the latter exhibited provocative and aggressive behavior, Thursday. Russia blames US troops In a statement by Pentagon's Chief Spokesman Jonathan Hoffman, he said that the forces from Russia breached the deconfliction arrangement with Syria resulting in several US service members becoming injured. The statement was the first comment that the Department of Defense has released about Tuesday's incident. The Pentagon also added that they have already reached out to Russia about the dangerous and unacceptable behavior of their troops. Hoffman also stated that they are expecting to return to the professional deconfliction routine in Syria while reserving the right to defend the forces at any time that they are at risk, CNN reported. Meanwhile, to answer Pentagon's statement, the Defense Ministry of Russia also released a statement on Thursday. Contradictory to the Pentagon's statement, Russia blamed the US troops for the incident. They also stated that the incident has already been discussed in a phone call between the Chief of the Russian General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov and the US's Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley. According to Russia's statements, details of the Russian convoy's movements were given to the US, however, US troops blocked the Russian patrol causing the collision. But the Central Command of the US military stated that they did not receive an advance notice or any notification of the movements of the Russian troops. Read also: Navy Suspects Arson in USS Bonhomme Richard Navy Ship Fire US troops already recuperating after the encounter In addition, Capt. William Urban of the Central Command stated that Russia failed to use the established deconfliction measures in requesting passage of a Russian patrol on August 25 through the Eastern Syria Security Area (ESSA), Stars and Stripes reported. Urban also stated that the encounter between the US-SDF patrol and the Russian convoy happened amid the "unauthorized incursion" of Russia. He also stated that the Russian troops proceeded recklessly to pursue the Coalition convoy even side sweeping a US vehicle. A Russian helicopter was also said to be flying at an extremely low level resulting in injuries of seven US soldiers. According to the military, all members of the US service that were injured are already back in duty after treatment. The soldiers were reported to have sustained muscular strains due to vehicle crashes and mild concussive-type injuries, but there was no correspondence recommending the evacuation of the soldiers from Syria. Encounters and close operations between US troops in Syria and the Russian military who are believed to e backing the Syrian regime are common in the area. However, the recent encounter is believed to be the first collision between the two forces. Meanwhile, as the coalitions led by the US have described such close operations as professional, the number of encounters between the forces has increased ever since forces from Russia moved in the areas that have been ceded by the US. Moscow's stand on the presence of US troops in Syria have been very clear amid their long protests. Related article: China Launches Powerful Missiles Into South China Sea, Sending a Message to Intimidate US @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 28 By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Uzbekistan increased to 40,613, Trend reports with reference to the statistics of the Uzbek Ministry of Health. To date, 37,200 (92 percent) patients have fully recovered in the country, while 300 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. Uzbekistan as an active member of the WHO European Regional Office has joined the Coronavirus vaccination program. --- Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini On Aug. 18, three Russian jets conducted 12 air raids using thermobaric missiles on the outskirts of the Harbanoush and Kokania villages to the west of the villages of Maarat al-Sin and al-Sheikh Bahr as well as al-Salama camp in western Idlib. The airstrikes came in spite of a March 5 agreement between Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan and his counterpart Russian President Vladimir Putin to establish a security corridor around the strategic M4 highway connecting Aleppo and Latakia provinces. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Aug. 2 that the regime forces had brought in new military reinforcements in the Idlib countryside, suggesting that the Syrian regime was preparing for a possible battle in the area. In an Aug. 12 speech before the Peoples Council, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad vowed to liberate the remaining lands to preserve the unity of our land and ensure our peoples protection. The Russian raids prompted the Turkish army to reinforce its positions in the Idlib countryside. Naji Abu Hudhayfah, spokesperson for the opposition-affiliated National Liberation Front, told Al-Monitor that ever since the cease-fire declared by Erdogan and Putin March 5, the [opposition] factions have been preparing for a possible battle the regime and Russia might wage [in Idlib] because of their mistrust in their promises. We are training fighters and improving their fighting abilities, in addition to enhancing expertise and capitalizing on experience from previous battles. We have prepared special units that can face the scorched-earth tactics and heavy air shelling adopted by Russia. He noted that the regime has been recently trying to infiltrate the ranks of factions in the Latakia countryside and the Jabal al-Zawiya areas of Deir Sunbul, Fatira and Fleifel. He added that the forces are engaged in "intensive military training" to avoid repeating their swift defeats by the regime in the battles for Aleppo's western countryside and eastern and southern Idlib at the end of 2019 and early 2020. We beefed up coordination between factions through Al-Fateh al-Mubin operations room, and we are coordinating the factions to work together against the regime forces, he added. Al-Monitor met in the Idlib countryside with Abu Khalid al-Shami, a military spokesperson for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which the United States considers a terrorist organization. Shami said, Military preparations never end and always need development. At Al-Fateh al-Mubin operations room, we examined past obstacles and expected scenarios, and we worked on increasing readiness and strength by building more [training] camps and increasing weapons training. We also boosted military reinforcements along the front line with Assads militias. The militias of Assad, Russia and Iran are mobilizing their forces on many fronts, mainly the Latakia countryside and in the south and east Idlib countrysides. He added, The joint work carried out as part of Al-Fateh al-Mubin operations room is always improving, and this progress is clear to anyone who visits the fronts. But showing the reinforcements and preparations via the media might jeopardize the security of the military work. Therefore, we do not encourage mentioning this in the media. Khalid Kutayni, a Free Syrian Army leader from the Hama countryside who resides in Turkey, told Al-Monitor, If the regime does not abide by the agreement signed March 5 and tries to advance to control the M4 highway, where Russian and Turkish patrols are deployed, Turkey will implement plans B and C, which the Turkish minister of defense had drafted before the March 5 agreement. The most likely option is that Turkey and the Syrian opposition factions will [be ready to fight] the regime forces to push them to retreat from the areas they gained control over recently. He added, Although Russia has thus far fully backed Assads policies, it will reassess the situation amid the constant Turkish warnings to the regime not to get near the Turkish army locations in Idlib. Russia is concerned about losing Turkey, since the two countries share strategic interests. Although the Libyan affair does not affect the Idlib issue, it influences Turkish-Russian relations. Turkey will not agree to barter for Idlib in exchange for the Libyan key city of Sirte). We have heard claims that Turkey would be allowed to take control of Sirte if Turkey allows Russia to control Idlib, but this is not true. Turkey and Qatar are supporting Libyas internationally recognized Government of National Accord based in Tripoli. In recent months, forces loyal to the GNA managed to take control of several areas around Tripoli, including al-Watiya airbase that was under the control of forces loyal to eastern military commander Khalifa Hifter, who is backed by Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In light of these advances, the GNA has been eying the key city of Sirte and recently announced preparations to expel Hifters forces and seize the city. Majd Kilany, a researcher at Jusoor Center for Studies in Idlib, told Al-Monitor, Russian forces often wage similar raids to create pressure or to send messages as part of its negotiation track with Turkey, which is not limited to understandings over Idlib, but also [concerns] various areas, including in Libya. Meanwhile Iranian and Syrian forces that are managed by Iran and Russia are sporadically clashing with the factions. The indiscriminate shelling is intended to drain the area and drowning it in the ongoing chaos, in addition to sending warnings and threats to opposition factions. He said, The regime is sending military reinforcements to the coastal front [the Latakia countryside], specifically the Kabina axis, where Russian forces are still creating opportunities to secure their presence on the Syrian coast. He added, The decision to fight in northwest Syria has become a political rather than military one. The main factors at play are the regional and international players who make the political decisions on the negotiating table. Based on political considerations, it is unlikely that wide breaches in the March 5 Russian-Turkish agreement will take place or that it will collapse. The return of joint patrols on the M4 highway is an important indicator that both sides want to maintain the map of the area and uphold the cease-fire. The complaint used by cops to handcuff Jacob Blake to his hospital bed since they shot and paralyzed him last weekend has been obtained by DailyMail.com, and shows he was wanted for a Class G felony and two misdemeanors. The 29-year-old was accused of a Class G felony sexual assault - which could carry a maximum 10-year prison term - and two counts of domestic abuse involving trespass and disorderly conduct. The warrant was dropped Friday afternoon amid outcry at the continued handcuffing of Blake for days after he was shot seven times in the back by a Kenosha police officer. The move was shortly after Wisconsin governor Tony Evers was asked if Blake being restrained would concern him and said: 'Hell yes. 'He's paid a horrific price already being shot seven or eight times in the back. I can't imagine why that's happening.' Patrick Cafferty, an attorney representing the Blake family, told WISN on Friday that the felony arrest warrants, which stem from alleged crimes that Blake committed before the shooting, have been vacated and that deputies were no longer in his hospital room. Jacob Blake, 29, has been left paralyzed from the waist down after being shot by a Kenosha officer. DailyMail.com exclusively obtained the criminal complaint against Blake which was used to keep him cuffed in his hospital bed until the warrant was dropped Friday Blake was shot seven times in the back by Officer Rusten Sheskey on Sunday. He's seen lying in the street being tended to by cops The county sheriff's office had said anyone accused of a felony would be handcuffed in hospital, although it offered no documentary evidence for the policy, and did not address why it had not been reviewed in Blake's case. The shooting has caused a wave of protests around the country and in Kenosha, led to violence which saw a white 17-year-old cop-obsessed vigilante allegedly shoot and kill two protesters. In Washington D.C. Friday Blake's brother spoke at a march to mark the anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington, where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his 'I have a dream speech.' The three count criminal complaint filed on July 6, 2020 in Kenosha County, Wisconsin against Blake includes: Rusten Sheskey, 31, is te officer who shot Blake seven times in the back. He has been placed on leave Criminal trespass, domestic abuse a Class A misdemeanor, and if convicted faces a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than 9 months or both. Third Degree Sexual assault, Domestic Abuse a Class G Felony and if convicted faces a fine of not more than $25,000.00 or imprisoned not more than r 10 years, or both. Disorderly Conduct, Domestic Abuse, a Class B Misdemeanor and if convicted faces a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 90 days, or both. According to the probable cause statement on May 3, 2020 a Kenosha police officer responded to the very same address where Blake was shot at on August 24, 2020 for a report that an ex-boyfriend had broken into the residence and stole vehicle keys, a vehicle debit card before fleeing. The complainant is listed in the report only by initials met with officers, crying, visible shaken and dressed only in a nightgown. The victim explained to police the previous evening she had left at approximately 8pm to attend a party in Milwaukee and had rented a vehicle for the weekend because she didn't think her vehicle would make it up there and back because of mechanical issues. The victim said she had her sister spend the night and watch her kids when she was gone. She said she returned back home at about 4.11am, her sister was sleeping in the living room on the couch with numerous children. She said she took her son with her into the first bedroom down the hallway and went to sleep. The report states at about 6am the victim was woken up by Jacob Blake. Blake was standing over her saying, 'I want my sh*t.' As the victim laid on her back, Blake, 'suddenly and without warning, reached his hand between her legs, penetrated her vaginally with a finger, pull it out and sniffed it, and said, ''Smells like you've been with other men.'' The officer noted in the report the victim had a very difficult time telling him this and cried as she told how the defendant (Blake) assaulted her and then the defendant immediately left the bedroom. She told the police being penetrated digitally caused her pain and humiliation and was done without consent. The three count criminal complaint filed on July 6 include criminal trespass, third degree sexual assault and disorderly conduct She also told the police after he left she realized her vehicle and debit card were missing. After she had called 911, while waiting for officers the victim said she checked her account and found two fraudulent ATM withdrawals for $500 each. She also told police that Blake was unemployed, has no vehicle and refused to tell her where he was currently living. She said that over the past eight years the defendant has physically assaulted her twice a year 'when he drinks heavily.' Coincidentally in a dispatch call on August 24, 2020 first reported by Madison365.org, a woman who told the police dispatcher her name was 'Sabrina' called from Kenosha, Wisconsin and claimed Jacob Blake 'took her keys wasn't supposed to be there and won't give her keys back.' A few seconds later the dispatcher can he heard telling the police that Blake has a warrant for his arrest. The dispatcher then told police that 'Sabrina' was being uncooperative and eventually disconnected the phone call. A few minutes later Blake was shot seven times by Kenosha Police officer, Rusten Sheskey. Jacob Blake Sr, the father of Jacob Blake, said he was shocked to see his son being handcuffed to his hospital bed on Thursday. The cuffs were removed on Friday Officer Sheskey grabbed Blake's vest as he was getting into a car and shot him seven times in the back in front of Blake's children On August 26, 2020 Wisconsin's attorney general Josh Kaul said, Jacob Blake was near a knife when the shooting took place, but he would not say whether Blake was carrying the knife when he was shot. 'Officer (Rusten) Sheskey fired the weapon into Mr. Blake's back,' Kaul said, he also confirmed to investigators that he was in possession of a knife. Blake is in a Milwaukee area hospital paralyzed from the waist down, according to his family. A man who recorded the shooting on video, Raysean White, said he heard police tell Blake to 'drop the knife.' White said he did not see Blake with a knife. Officer Sheskey is on administrative leave pending an investigation. Officials in a Central Massachusetts town handed out more than one thousand dollars worth of fines this week to those responsible for hosting a 200-person party over the weekend in violation of state restrictions issued in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Authorities issued $1,500 in three citations in response to the large party held along Franklin Street in Milford on Aug. 22, the towns board of health said in a statement Thursday. Police were called to break up the festivities, and officers witnessed partygoers violating social distancing restrictions and not wearing face coverings, the statement said. Those in attendance were also going against Gov. Charlie Bakers order limiting outdoor gatherings to a maximum of 50 people, according to officials. Local boards of health in Massachusetts are permitted to issue $500 civil fines for each violation of Bakers orders aimed at staving off transmission of COVID-19. The Milford Board of Health noted events like the one that was busted Saturday have caused transmission of the viral respiratory infection among attendees. A crowded beach party on Nantucket last week led to at least two new cases of the coronavirus, and a bachelorette party in Rhode Island late last month led to a cluster of COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts, WBUR reported. In Maine, dozens of people contracted the virus after attending a wedding of roughly 65 guests, the states Center for Disease Control and Prevention said. During a pandemic, hosting and attending large gatherings threatens the publics health and harms the community, the Milford Board of Health said in its statement. The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is a highly contagious virus and potentially fatal for some persons. Related Content: Goldstein credits a childhood trip to a Hersheys chocolate factory, where he was awed by the candy bar-wrapping machinery, with revving up his mechanical aptitude. By age 8, he had his heart set on attending MIT. Two decades later, he left the university with four engineering degrees. Since retiring from NIH, where he worked on devices for medical research and clinical use, his kinetic sculptures have been displayed at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore and the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. BEIJING, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the 2020 Semi-Annual Report released by China Fortune Land Development ("CFLD" or "the company") on August 28, as of the end of the reporting period, the company generated RMB 37.372 billion in revenue, with over 60% contributed by regions outside the greater Beijing area. The company achieved net profit of RMB 6.062 billion attributable to the parent of the company and a net profit margin of 16.2%. The debt-to-asset ratio of CFLD stood at 83.1%, representing a year-on-year decrease of 5.0%. Focusing on the development of core metropolitan areas, CFLD aims to build a leading domestic investment, development, operation and management platform for real estate projects in core metropolitan areas, and is committed to realizing the "3 + 3 + N" business strategy. Regions outside the greater Beijing area contributed 62.4% of the total revenue of the company in the first half of 2020, a significant increase from 38.5% in the same period last year. On top of that, 77.3% of the land parcels acquired by CFLD in the first half of 2020 were located outside the greater Beijing area. By the end of the reporting period, CFLD's recovery rate of accounts receivables rose to 72.5%, as compared to 61.6% from the same period last year., while the total payment for land increased by RMB 2.7 billion compared to the same period last year, and the net outflow of the overall net operating capital decreased by RMB 2 billion. Dedicated to exploring "new models, new fields, and new regions," CFLD made significant breakthroughs in the areas of commercial complexes, public housing, health and elderly care, communities for scientists, etc. Amongst these was CFLD's Guangzhou Bai'etan Project, the first large-scale commercial complex project in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, which passed its acceptance inspection; CFLD's winning bid for providing construction agency services for the Global Headquarters of China Merchants Bank project, which is a masterpiece among asset-light projects; the company's support for the government in purchasing and reserving large areas of land for the first time, winning the bid for the Weiyuan Island comprehensive service project, and being selected as a service provider for nine projects in their early stage of development. Moreover, the company has also participated in the World Laureates Association Shanghai Scientific Community project. In addition, CFLD strives to create a cohesive platform for its partners. The company actively served listed companies within the New Industry Cities and has formed strategic partnerships with leading listed companies, such as BOE in the Gu'an New Industry City in Hebei Province, Sunwoda in the Lishui New Industry City in Nanjing, and OFILM in the Shucheng New Industry City in Anhui Province. Through its intense efforts to incubate listed companies and by comprehensively organizing enterprises in every industrial park, the company has established a reserve of S&T enterprises listed on the Sci-Tech innovation board and helped key enterprises to obtain their listing status. CFLD also actively participated in the establishment and introduction of government funds for encouraging investment in emerging industries to provide capital support for listed companies or companies planning for IPOs, such as Visionox and Zhenbang Aerospace Precision Machinery Co., Ltd. SOURCE CFLD President Trump listens as Dr. Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, discusses convalescent plasma treatment for COVID-19 patients on Aug. 23. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) To the editor: As a physician, I believe in the scientific method of vaccine development and clinical testing. I understand the rationale behind herd immunity and that it likely won't be accomplished with COVID-19 until about 70% of the population is immune. ("Sorry, Mr. President. There's no miracle cure for COVID-19," editorial, Aug. 25) As can be seen by the Swedish experience, simply allowing the virus to spread is not the way to beat it. We need a vaccine . The other day I held out my arm for this year's flu shot, but I do not have confidence that the first available COVID-19 vaccine will have been properly tested for safety and efficacy. President Trump is exerting pressure get a vaccine approved before the election, so as a believer in science, I have serious doubts about being inoculated against COVID-19. I have little hope we will achieve 70% immunity. More than 170,000 Americans have died from this virus, many because of the Trump administration's failure to take timely action. More will die because of the way he has needlessly instilled doubt about treatments and a vaccine. Lawrence Rudd, MD, Pasadena .. To the editor: As an elementary school student I was called a "polio pioneer." I was part of the study in the 1950s (I still have my ID card) that ultimately led to a vaccine that saved millions of people around the world from polio. For a number of weeks all of us marched through the nurse's office in our school. Some got the real vaccine, and some got the placebo. My card now says I got the vaccine. This is the way testing is supposed to work. Now comes Trump telling everyone that a vaccine is on the way and is on the fast track to being approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The public must understand the danger of accepting a vaccine that has not been fully tested. Last week, my wife and I had our annual flu shots, which are safe and typically highly effective. Unless and until a COVID-19 vaccine is fully tested, we will not consider using it. Jay Slater, Los Angeles They pleaded innocence arguing that all the requirements of the deal were met and that the meters supplied were actually being used by ZETDC and only three out of 1 151 had faults and that this was a contractual dispute with remedies in the contract. Daily News China fires anti-ship ballistic missiles into South China Sea in warning to US Iran Press TV Thursday, 27 August 2020 7:36 AM China has launched two ballistic missiles, including one known as the "aircraft carrier killer," into the South China Sea, in a clear warning to the United States, which has been ratcheting up tensions in the strategic waterway. The South China Morning Post reported on Wednesday that the two medium-range ballistic missiles a DF-21D and a DF-26 were launched from Qinghai Province in the northwest and Zhejiang Province in the east, respectively. The Hong Kong-based English-language newspaper cited an unnamed source as saying that both missiles were fired into an area between Hainan Island and the Xisha Islands in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. The source said Beijing's goal in launching the missiles into the South China Sea was to improve the country's ability to deny "other forces" access to the resource-rich waterway. "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. "China doesn't want the neighboring countries to misunderstand Beijing's goals." The two ballistic missiles were said to have warheads with enough maneuverability to strike large and relatively slow-moving ships, such as aircraft carriers, with Chinese media dubbing the DF-21D the "carrier killer." The South China Morning Post quoted Song Zhongping, a Hong Kong-based military analyst, as saying that the launch of the anti-ship ballistic missiles was clearly meant to send a signal to the United States. "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 US had earlier in the day blacklisted 24 Chinese companies and individuals over their actions related to disputed islands in the South China Sea. The US State Department also announced in a separate statement on Wednesday that it had imposed visa restrictions on a number of Chinese individuals under the same pretext. The South China Sea is a gateway to major sea routes, through which about 3.4 trillion dollars' worth of trade passes each year. China claims sovereignty over the strategic waterway and has since 2014 built artificial islands on reefs and installed military bases on them. Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei have overlapping claims with China to parts of the sea. The United States, an extra-regional force, has been trying to push back against what it views as China's rising influence on the resource-rich South China Sea. It has sided with China's rivals in the maritime dispute and been routinely sending warships and warplanes to the sea to assert what it calls its right to freedom of navigation, ratcheting up tensions. Last month, two US aircraft carriers conducted tactical air defense exercises in the South China Sea, with Washington claiming that the maneuvers were "in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific." On Tuesday, China said the United States had flown a spy aircraft into a Chinese no-fly zone during live-fire military drills, calling the flight "naked provocation." Diplomatic relations between Washington and Beijing have dropped to the lowest level in decades since US President Donald Trump came to power. The two countries are currently at loggerheads over numerous issues, including trade, technology, Hong Kong, Taiwan, navigation in the East and South China Seas, and most recently, the coronavirus pandemic. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address It wasnt the publicity stunt itself that went horribly, just the next 20 years. David Arquette, best known for the Scream movies, was promoting his 2000 wrestling comedy Ready to Rumble when WCW (World Champion Wrestling) invited him to not just partake in gimmicky wrestling matches, but ultimately hatched a plot where he would win the championship belt. Fans were stunned, then outraged, and though his reign only lasted 10 days, the actor became a punchline in the sport he loved for years to come. Its all documented in the rousing new film You Cannot Kill David Arquette, which also tracks the now-48-year-old actors return to wrestling through the rough-and-tumble independent circuit, including one match that almost took his life when he was stabbed in the neck with a smashed tube light. I wanted to prove myself, it was such an important thing, Arquette, who suffered a near-fatal heart attack in 2017, tells Yahoo Entertainment in a new interview promoting the documentary (watch above). I got two stents put in my heart after a really bad reaction to a stress test. I was going into the surgery and I was thinking, Oh, my family loves me. My wife loves me. My friends love me. I love them. And Ive done some things in my career I could be proud of But that wrestling thing! It was one of the major things that I thought about. So I knew at that point it was something I had to address somehow. People were still making these jokes. I was the butt of all the jokes I didnt want to be a joke anymore. I wanted to prove myself. I wanted to pay my dues. David Arquette in 'You Cannot Kill David Arquette' (Super LTD) The documentary, co-directed by David Darg and Price James, follows Arquette as he attempts to get back into the good graces of wrestling professionals, engages in a bloody underground beating in a Virginia backyard, and trains in Mexico. The films most brutal moment are there are a few shows the 2018 match in Los Angeles where he suffers a severe cut to the neck, causing profusive bleeding, as hes rushed to the hospital. Story continues I thought I was dying, Arquette says. So I had this moment of, This is it. Im thinking about my family. I dont know if I was scared Its really hard for me to talk about because it was really painful. It was really scary, I was thinking about my kids and not being able to say goodbye to them. Arquette was taken to hospital with the help of his close friend Luke Perry, the Beverly Hills 90210 and Riverdale actor who died in 2019 at 52. Luke [was] the coolest guy, Arquette says. Luke [was] a really private guy, he was one of the greatest men Ive ever met in my life. He was just solid, he was all about family. He loved living in Tennessee and just getting out Hollywood. He would do his acting job just as a job. He didnt take all of the fame and all of the stuff he didnt care about any of that. He was just one of the coolest guys that I ever met. So it was a big loss for us. You Cannot Kill David Arquette is now streaming. Watch the trailer: -Video produced by Jen Kucsak Read more on Yahoo Entertainment: Golden Mile Tower (PHOTO: Google Street VIew) SINGAPORE The owner of a retail shop in Golden Mile Tower engaged two men to perform renovation works on his unit and entrusted them with the key. However, Loo Jiale, 32, and Peter Ngin, 52, took the opportunity to hold a drinking party at the shop with eight others during phase 1 of Singapores reopening after a partial lockdown. The party of 10 were busted by the police after an anonymous tipoff about an illegal disco pub with sexy ladies going business during CB secretly open daily 24/7. Loo was fined $8,000 while Ngin was fined $6,000 after each pleaded guilty to one count of meeting nine others outside of their residence for a purpose that was not for work or exceptional circumstances, but to consume alcohol together. Each Singaporean had a charge of leaving their residence without reasonable excuse taken into consideration for sentencing. The eight others involved are four Singaporeans: Ho Hua Heng, 51; Rainven Tan Choon Chye, 49; Kwok Kian Ghin, 56; Lek Guan Heng, 56, and four Thai women: Bunkhan Supapron, 33; Ob-un Wanwisa, 30; Ketthim Supatsara, 25, and Khamsam Wararat, 30. Each was fined $4,000 after they pleaded guilty to the same charge as Ngin and Loo, with the latter charge also taken into consideration for sentencing. Facts of the case Loo and Ngin had been hired by the owner of a retail unit in Golden Mile Tower to perform renovation works in April this year. The owner left the keys in the duos possession so that they could check for water leakage in the unit periodically. They were not given permission to use the unit for drinking sessions. Singapore entered a partial lockdown from 7 April which prohibited individuals from leaving their residences without a reasonable purpose, and also banned individuals from meeting those who did not live in the same households. Phase 1 of the countrys reopening started on 2 June, but individuals were still required to leave home only for essential purposes, with social gatherings prohibited. Story continues On 11 June, Loo entered the unit at about 12pm and invited Kwok, Lek and Bunkhan to gather for drinks. He also informed others via a group chat that he was at the unit and they joined him there, including Ngin at about 5pm, and Lek at about 7pm. Lek said he felt bored at home. Ho joined the gathering at about 4pm of his own accord, as he claimed to have felt very stressed at home as he was not working. Similarly, Tan joined even though he was not invited, as Ho had mentioned he was there. The four women joined at the invitation of the men or each other. A police report was lodged at about 9.50pm, with the anonymous caller stating that he or she will go to social media as there was no response after a report was made. At about 10.07pm, the police arrived at the unit and noted that it was a retail shop, not a disco pub as was stated in the police report. Officers knocked on the door until Loo answered three to four minutes later. Officers then spotted a closed door behind Loo and entered it, only to find the nine other accused persons seated around cups of beer and soju. A few crates of beer bottles were placed on the floor. Ngin and Loo had ordered 10 cartons of beer, costing $800, for the purpose of drinking during gatherings at the unit. Loo admitted that he had participated in two to three gatherings towards the end of April. He spent about 10 hours at the unit on 11 June. Frivolous gathering Submitting for fine amounts that were eventually imposed by the court, the prosecution said that the frivolous gathering did not have an agreed end time and would likely have continued if the police had not put a stop to it. The offence was hard to detect, which emphasised the need for deterrence. The prosecution sought the highest fine for Loo as he was the primary organiser and host for the gathering, while Ngin was one of the two who had access to the unit and could have prevented the gathering. However, Ngin too participated in the illicit gathering. The two men had a higher culpability than the other guests, said the prosecution. For contravening the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures)(Control Order) Regulations 2020, a first-time offender may be jailed up to six months or fined up to $10,000, or both. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore More Singapore stories: Singapore libraries, archives to resume regular hours from 1 Sept Suntec Singapore retrenches almost half its workforce as MICE industry badly affected by COVID-19 Monthly salary threshold for employment pass applicants to be increased to $4,500: MOM Healthcare workers in Syria are sounding the alarms about the rising number of cases as the regime continue to suppress figures and deny infections reports Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. A Syrian healthcare professional working in a public hospital said that the country is facing an unprecedented catastrophe from Covid-19 and accused Bashar Al-Assads regime of dangerously underreporting coronavirus cases and deaths. There have been weeks of reports emerging from Syria that the country is suffering under the weight of the pandemic and continued conflict, despite official numbers remaining relatively low. The healthcare worker claims there is a dangerous shortage of medical supplies, testing and personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as overcrowding in a number of hospitals in regime-held cities, including in Damascus, Aleppo, and Homs. Nurses and doctors have to purchase their own PPE equipment, they claim, which is unaffordable to many. Over the past weeks, the numbers of coronavirus infections and deaths have rapidly increased and are far higher than the official figures of the Syrian government or the World Health Organization, the anonymous worker wrote in an op-ed for The Guardian. The official numbers were only 1,593 cases and 60 deaths as of 16 August. None of us believe these figures to be accurate. The deputy director of health for Damascus estimated the real number of Covid cases to be 112,500 in the Damascus area alone. The media said there are hundreds of unconfirmed coronavirus-related deaths every day, while in Aleppo hospitals are running out of body bags. In addition to underreporting of Covid-19 figures, only 300 tests are being performed a day in only five government-run centres. We are treating patients in dirty rooms without enough medication and with little equipment to protect ourselves. Our hospitals are working at over-capacity, with beds and ventilators already occupied, the op-ed added. Though the authorities ordered a lockdown in the area this was soon reversed. The early lockdown was reversed without clear reasons, which sent the wrong message to the public. People are not abiding by social distancing and masking. People are left with no choice but to open their businesses and go out to work, which is increasing the spread of the virus, the medic wrote. Healthcare workers are dying The number of Covid-19 deaths among medical personnel in government-held parts of Syria has shot up in recent weeks amid a rise in infections, several sources told AFP. The capital Damascus has been especially hard hit, with doctors warning of a deteriorating situation in overcrowded hospitals struggling to cope with the influx of patients. The Syndicate of Doctors in Damascus on July 25 started to publish lists of doctors it said had died while confronting the coronavirus pandemic. Its latest figures say at least 31 Syrian doctors had died since the start of the virus outbreak in the country. Some of them live abroad, but the vast majority died while inside Syria, a doctor in a Damascus hospital revealed. The doctor, who asked not to be named because he is not authorised to speak on the issue, said most of the dead doctors had not been tested for the covid-19 disease. But the symptoms they had shown led us to believe that they died because of the virus, he said. Now we deal with all hospital cases as though they are covid-19 cases, the doctor said of the response to the growing outbreak in the capital. 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. External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday criticised Pakistan for portraying itself as a victim of terror while grudgingly acknowledging the presence of wanted terrorists and crime leaders on its territory due to sustained international pressure. Jaishankar didnt directly name Pakistan in his remarks while presiding over the Darbari Seth memorial lecture. He described the 9/11 terror attacks in the US and the Covid-19 pandemic as stand-out moments that disrupted the trajectory of human society. Nineteen years after the 9/11 attacks and 12 years since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the world has a range of mechanisms to counter terrorism, including the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), several UN sanctions committees and the Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate, he said. However, it lacks a comprehensive convention on international terrorism as members of the UN are still wrestling with certain foundational principles, he added. All the while, states that have turned the production of terrorists into a primary export have attempted, by dint of bland denials, to paint themselves also as victims of terror, Jaishankar said, a clear reference to Pakistans use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy. But as we have seen last week, sustained pressure through international mechanisms to prevent the movement of funds for terror groups and their front agencies can work. It has eventually compelled a state complicit in aiding, abetting, training and directing terror groups and associated criminal syndicates to grudgingly acknowledge the presence of wanted terrorists and organised crime leaders on its territory, he said. Weeks ahead of an expected assessment of Pakistans counter-terror financing regime, Islamabad issued two notifications on August 18 to enforce UN Security Council sanctions on hundreds of terrorist individuals and entities, including Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and Dawood Ibrahim. One of the documents listed three addresses in Karachi for Ibrahim, wanted by India for his role in the 1993 Mumbai bombings. After the issue was widely reported in the Indian media, Pakistans foreign ministry said in a statement the notifications didnt amount to Pakistan admitting to the presence of certain listed individuals on its territory. Jaishankar acknowledged the struggle against terror and those who aid and abet it is a work in progress. He said, It remains for the international system to create the necessary mechanisms to shut down the structures that support and enable terrorism, whether in South Asia or across the globe. The world, he said, also faces a structural challenge in improving the global architecture used to fight pandemics. In similar crises over the past century, the outbreaks occurred in remote sites or the monitoring systems managed to head off a crisis. This time, however, the international warning systems, reporting protocols and response mechanisms were unable to prevent the spread beyond ground zero, he said. This has highlighted the need for a more enlightened and responsive multilateral system, and a new, inclusive and non-transactional approach to multilateralism, he said. The reform of international organisations is not merely desirable but imperative. We need to modernise the international system, step by step, to make it fit for purpose, beginning by making each entity relevant to the age in which we live, not when it was created, he added. This will require revisiting membership and structures of control, reorienting operational principles and rules, and rebuilding resourcing channels of key pillars of multilateralism, Jaishankar said. Strengthening skill sets and creating a better enabling environment are the goals of the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign since India can make a difference at the global level only by scaling up its capacities, he said. The spirit of local action for global outcomes is reflected in Indias work with France to create the International Solar Alliance, whose framework agreement has so far been ratified by 67 countries, and the launch of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Jaishankar said. The memorial lecture was delivered by UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres, who said India has all the ingredients for exerting leadership at home and abroad. He added the drivers are poverty alleviation and universal energy access two of Indias top priorities. Scaling up clean energy, particularly solar, is the recipe for solving both. Investments in renewable energy, clean transport and energy efficiency during the recovery from the pandemic could extend electricity access to 270 million people worldwide fully a third of people that currently lack it, he said. He added, These same investments could help create nine million jobs annually over the next three years. But rather than use this extraordinary setting to deliver a speech that would ring in people's ears, Trump gave in to his old habits. Trump got his wish. Guests were seated without any distance from one another and there was hardly a mask in sight, despite the fact that more than 1,000 Americans are still dying every day of Covid-19. The speech represented the culmination of the weeklong virtual Republican National Convention. For months, Trump had been saying he wanted to give his acceptance speech in a setting that looked "pre-coronavirus," one that made people forget the pandemic, which has claimed the lives of more than 180,000 Americans in just six months. Trump emerged from the South Portico at about 10:30 p.m. ET with first lady Melania Trump, and they walked slowly down the stairs and along a long red-carpeted stage. President Donald Trump formally accepted his party's nomination for president Thursday night on the South Lawn of the White House, flanked by dozens of American flags and cheered by more than a thousand invited guests. WASHINGTON It was a very grand setting for what turned out to be a very common speech. A crowd of supporters expected to number around 1500 people gathers on the South Lawn of the White House to attend U.S. President Donald Trump's acceptance speech as the 2020 Republican presidential nominee during the final event of the 2020 Republican National Convention in Washington, August 27, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Barria Over the course of more than an hour, the president delivered lines that he has relied upon for years to animate audiences at his huge campaign rallies, which are now a thing of the past. He called Democratic nominee Joe Biden a "Trojan horse" of the "radical left" and accused him of harboring plans to turn America into a socialist hellscape. In reality, Biden ran against and defeated a self-described democratic socialist, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, in the Democratic primary. But for Trump, repackaging his old material may have been the best option. How else could Trump campaign the way he likes to, as an insurgent, when he's been president for four years? By trying to convince Americans that Biden, a career senator and former two-term vice president, was the real Washington insider, the president hoped to blur the lines between being an "insider" and being the incumbent. "We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years," Trump said, all but ignoring the reality that the nation is suffering from widespread joblessness, intensifying racial strife and a pandemic that claims hundreds of lives each day. In Trump's revisionist history, it was Biden who had inflicted damage upon America that needs repairing, not Trump. And much like he does in his rally speeches, the president did not let facts get in the way of his attack lines on Thursday. "Biden has promised to abolish the production of American oil, coal, shale, and natural gas," Trump falsely claimed. "If you give power to Joe Biden, the radical left will defund police departments all across America. ...They will make every city look like Democrat-run Portland, Oregon. No one will be safe in Biden's America," Trump also claimed, referring to the protests in that city. This is the same thing Trump has been claiming ever since racial justice protests broke out late this spring, following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. "The most dangerous aspect of the Biden platform is the attack on public safety," Trump told the crowd. "There is violence and danger in the streets of many Democrat-run cities throughout America." The lines were among several tirades during the speech about "public safety" that employed racially charged language and seemed especially geared toward White, suburban women. In fact, Trump has been telling Americans that Democrats are the party of "crime" and "criminals" for years. He even began his 2016 Republican National Convention acceptance speech with the same familiar threats. "Our convention occurs at a moment of crisis for our nation. The attacks on our police, and the terrorism in our cities, threaten our very way of life," Trump said four years ago. "Americans watching this address tonight have seen the recent images of violence in our streets and the chaos in our communities. ... I have a message for all of you: The crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon come to an end. Beginning on Jan. 20, 2017, safety will be restored." Speaking to a huge arena convention crowd in Cleveland, Trump, the newly crowned GOP nominee, continued: "The most basic duty of government is to defend the lives of its own citizens. Any government that fails to do so is a government unworthy to lead." And that was the one big difference between the "violence in our streets" that Trump talked about in 2016, and the "violence and danger in the streets" that Trump talked about on Thursday. Four years ago, Trump blamed the president of the United States for it. Thursday night, it was the fault of Democratic mayors. This time, the man in the Oval Office wasn't the problem he was the solution. This parallel message, delivered four years later but otherwise little changed, captures a lot of what rang false about the president's speech Thursday night. Given how much has changed in this country in the past four years, and just the past six months, the very notion that Trump would tell voters that "the most dangerous" aspect of his opponent's platform in 2020 is the exact same thing that it was four years ago seemed almost absurd. On July 21, 2016, in Cleveland, this is how Trump ended his acceptance speech: "We will make America strong again. We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again. And we will make America great again!" On Thursday night, he ended this way: "We will make America safer, we will make America stronger, we will make America prouder, and we will make America greater than ever before!" In a very different world, Trump offered the same old sales pitch. BEIJING, Aug. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- RYB Education, Inc. ("RYB" or the "Company") (NYSE: RYB), a leading early childhood education service provider in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter of 2020. Impact from COVID-19 With the unprecedented challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic since late January 2020, the Company encountered disruptions of business starting from the first quarter. Following the control measures and regulations introduced by the government, the Company began in late January to temporarily suspend the operations of its facilities in China. The closure of facilities has continued through nearly the entire second quarter of this year. This had a significantly adverse impact on the result of operation in the first half of 2020 as the majority of the Company's net revenues are derived from tuition fees collected at such facilities. In response to the challenges presented by Covid-19, the Company has taken various actions to mitigate impacts, including measures to ensure the health and safety of the students and families, to optimize personnel and control discretionary spending, especially for the business initiatives facing more serious impact in the near term. Moreover, the Company acted swiftly and effectively to introduce online education content and maintain ongoing parent-teacher communication. The Company is encouraged to see that these efforts and education offerings have been well-received by students and their families. By the end of the second quarter, 75% of the Company's directly operated kindergartens in PRC and Singapore, and over 70% of franchise play-and-learn centers, had resumed operation. Student recruitment at directly operated kindergartens and promotional activities for franchise play-and-learn centers have now resumed through both online and offline channels. Second Quarter 2020 Operational and Financial Summary Number of students enrolled at directly operated facilities was 31,023[1] as of June 30, 2020 , compared with 30,478 as of June 30, 2019 . , compared with 30,478 as of . Net revenues were $12.8 million , compared with $53.6 million for the second quarter of 2019. , compared with for the second quarter of 2019. Gross loss was $9.5 million , compared with gross profit of $11.9 million for the second quarter of 2019. , compared with gross profit of for the second quarter of 2019. Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the second quarter of 2020 was $12.8 million , compared with $2.9 million of net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the second quarter of 2019. Adjusted net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders[2] of RYB for the second quarter of 2020 was $12.0 million , compared with $3.9 million of adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the second quarter of 2019. , compared with of net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the second quarter of 2019. Adjusted net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders[2] of RYB for the second quarter of 2020 was , compared with of adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the second quarter of 2019. Cash used in operating activities was $5.0 million in the second quarter of 2020, compared with $2.9 million of cash used in operating activities for the second quarter of 2019. First Six Months of 2020 Financial Results Net revenues were $30.1 million , compared with $87.8 million for the first six months of 2019. , compared with for the first six months of 2019. Gross loss was $21.1 million , compared with gross profit of $13.8 million for the first six months of 2019. , compared with gross profit of for the first six months of 2019. Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB was $39.5 million , compared with $0.6 million of net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the same period of 2019. Adjusted net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB was $37.9 million , compared with $2.7 million of adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the same period of 2019. , compared with of net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the same period of 2019. Adjusted net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB was , compared with of adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the same period of 2019. Cash used in operating activities was $19.0 million , compared with $10.3 million of cash generated from operating activities for the same period of 2019. "During the second quarter, in the face of prolonged facility closures due to impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, we continued to enhance our online service capabilities to ensure that students would have undisrupted remote access to high-quality at-home learning resources and to a good collection of early childhood education content," said Ms. Yanlai Shi, Co-founder, Director and Chief Executive Officer of RYB, "Following the initial launch in the first quarter of our paid course platform for kindergarteners, during the second quarter the team further added content offerings available on the platform. We simultaneously carried out a pilot promotion of this platform for enrolled students at some directly operated kindergartens, and their parents provided positive feedback. With the help of this platform and most of our facilities across regions back to normal operation over time, we will push forward the online-merge-offline practice for learning at the kindergarten level. While still in its very early stage, I believe this platform will help us better upgrade our service quality as part of our digitalization efforts in kindergarten services. With a complete and polished content platform fully established in the future, we look forward to exploring its potential to be adopted across market. "At the same time, we also completed planning for service management model for third-party kindergarten and play-and-learn center operations. We plan to leverage our integrated online-merge-offline model and expand existing services by this service management model. Through this service management model, we can deliver high-quality content, standardized management systems, and targeted service training to a broad range of facility operators in a systematic manner with modularized offerings. We believe this can also help reinvigorate the industry. In addition, we kicked off our early-years childcare business, an initiative for which we have been doing market research, developing educational content, assembling a team with expertise, and setting up an operating pilot facility for nearly three years. With a supportive policy environment for early-years childcare services, along with our core strengths and network presence, we are confident to see further growth in this service unit, and it becoming an integral part of a refined and expanded service offerings for 0-6-year-olds," concluded Ms. Shi. Mr. Hao Gu, Chief Financial Officer of RYB, added, "In the second quarter, the Company's revenues came under pressure as prolonged facility closures were observed due to Covid-19 impacts across regions. However, we actively executed strict measures to reduce expenses and expenditures and control cash outflows. As compared to the first quarter, the gross and operating losses also significantly narrowed. Our directly operated facilities have started to resume operation in the second quarter, and with the upcoming semester starting in September, we expect to see significant improvement in the Company's operating cash flow. We are pleased that at the end of the second quarter, with the exception of facilities in a few places including Beijing and Wuhan, most of our directly operated kindergartens had re-opened. Thanks to the comprehensive planning beforehand and meticulous advance preparation, we are happy to report a satisfactory attendance rate, or rate of return to our facilities of approximately 80% pre-Covid-19 enrollment levels. Additionally, for the facilities in Beijing, related government authorities have recently announced a clear schedule for re-opening in September. Our faculty and staff members have made preparations and are ready to welcome students back to kindergartens once those facilities reopen." "In the process of upgrading our services and our business transformation, we will make use of the advantages of our existing facility network and enrollment and leverage other resources to achieve better performance and long-term growth efficiently," concluded Mr. Gu. Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results Net Revenues Net revenues for the second quarter of 2020 were $12.8 million, compared with $53.6 million for the same quarter of 2019. Service revenues for the second quarter of 2020 were $11.6 million, compared with $48.2 million for the same quarter of 2019. The decrease was caused by decreased tuition fees as the temporary closure of the facilities in China. While over 60% of the directly operated facilities in China have gradually resumed operation starting from the late May, they remained closed for the most of this quarter due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Franchise services revenues also decreased due to the slow-down of play-and-learn franchise expansion and lower revenue generated from franchisees as the vast majority of the franchised facilities have just resumed operation since the end of May. Products revenues for the second quarter of 2020 were $1.2 million, compared with $5.4 million for the same quarter of 2019. The decrease was due to a significant decrease in the amount of merchandise sold through the Company's franchise network as the franchisees' facilities are still in the warm-up period as they have just resumed operation during the late of this quarter. Cost of Revenues Cost of revenues for the second quarter of 2020 was $22.3 million, a 46.4% decrease from $41.6 million for the same quarter of 2020. Cost of revenues for services for the second quarter of 2020 was $21.8 million, compared with $38.8 million for the same quarter of 2019. The decrease was mainly driven by a decrease in the direct cost as those facilities remained temporarily closed during the most of the quarter and various cost management steps have been taken by the Company in response to Covid-19, such as reducing labor cost and discretionary spending, especially for business initiatives facing more serious negative impact in the near term. Cost of products revenues for the second quarter of 2020 was $0.6 million, compared with $2.8 million for the same quarter of 2019. The decrease was generally in line with the decrease in products revenues. Gross Profit/loss As a result of the foregoing, gross loss for the second quarter of 2020 was $9.5 million, compared with gross profit of $11.9 million for the same quarter of 2019. Operating Expenses Total operating expenses for the second quarter of 2020 were $5.4 million, compared with $6.6 million for the same quarter of 2019. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, operating expenses were $4.6 million, a decrease of 18.6% from $5.7 million for the second quarter of 2019. Selling expenses for the second quarter of 2020 were $0.1 million, compared with $0.7 million for the same quarter of 2019. G&A expenses for the second quarter of 2020 were $5.3 million, a 10.2% decrease from $5.9 million for the same quarter of 2019. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, G&A expenses were $4.5 million for the second quarter of 2020, a 9.0% decrease from $4.9 million for the same quarter of 2019. The decrease in G&A expenses excluding share-based compensation expenses was primarily driven by the decrease in G&A expenses in China as a result of more efforts made by the Company on cost control and reducing discretionary spending to cope with the Covid-19 outbreak. The share-based compensation expenses included in G&A expenses were $0.8 million for the quarter. Operating Income/loss Operating loss for the second quarter of 2020 was $14.9 million, compared with $5.3 million of operating income for the same quarter last year. Adjusted operating loss[3] was $14.1 million for the second quarter of 2020, compared with $6.3 million of adjusted operating income for the same quarter of 2019. Net Income/loss Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the second quarter of 2020 was $12.8 million, compared with $2.9 million of net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the second quarter of 2019. Adjusted net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB, which excludes the impact of $0.8 million of share-based compensation expense was $12.0 million, compared with $3.9 million of adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the second quarter of 2019. Basic and diluted net loss per American depositary share ("ADS") attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the second quarter of 2020 were $0.46 and $0.46, respectively, compared with basic and diluted net income per ADS of $0.11 and $0.10, respectively for the second quarter of 2019. Each ADS represents one Class A ordinary share. Adjusted basic and diluted net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders[4] of RYB for the second quarter of 2020 were $0.43 and $0.43, respectively, compared with adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS of $0.14 and $0.13, respectively for the second quarter of 2019. EBITDA[5] for the second quarter of 2020 was a loss of $10.2 million, compared with an income of $8.2 million for the second quarter of 2019. Adjusted EBITDA[6] for the second quarter of 2020 was a loss of $9.4 million, compared with an income of $9.2 million for the second quarter of 2019. Operating Cash Flow Cash used in operating activities was $5.0 million during the second quarter of 2020, compared with $2.9 million cash used in operating activities during the second quarter of 2019. Balance Sheet As of June 30, 2020, the Company had total cash and cash equivalents of $48.3 million, a decrease from $68.7 million as of December 31, 2019. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents balances was mainly due to the operating cash outflow of $19.0 million during the first half of 2020 as a result of the disruption of the pandemic. First Six Months of 2020 Financial Results Net Revenues Net revenues for the first six months of 2020 were $30.1 million, compared with $87.8 million for the same period of 2019. Services revenues for the first six months of 2020 were $28.4 million, compared with $80.0 million for the same period last year. The decrease was primarily due to decreased tuition fees as the Company began the temporary closures of all facilities in China beginning in late January as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, which remained suspended of operation for the most of the first half of 2020. Franchise services revenues also decreased owing to the slow-down of play-and-learn franchise expansion and lower revenue generated from franchisees due to the impact of the Covid-19 as a vast majority of franchised facilities have started to resume operation since the end of May 2020. Products revenues for the first six months of 2020 were $1.7 million, compared with $7.8 million for the same period in 2019. The decrease was due to a significant decrease in the amount of merchandise sold through the Company's franchise network as the franchisees' facilities were temporarily closed during most of the first half of 2020. Cost of Revenues Cost of revenues for the first six months of 2020 was $51.2 million, compared with $74.0 million for the first six months of 2019. Cost of revenues for services for the first six months of 2020 was $50.4 million, compared with $70.0 million for the same period of 2019. The decrease was mainly driven by a decrease in the direct cost of those facilities which were temporarily closed during the first half of 2020, stringent cost control measures and certain operational strategy adjusted by the Company, such as reducing resource allocation to the initiatives facing more challenges in the near term. Cost of products revenues for the first six months of 2020 was $0.8 million, compared with $4.0 million for the same period last year. The decrease was in line with the decrease in products revenues. Gross Profit/loss Gross loss for the first six months of 2020 was $21.1 million, compared with gross profit of $13.8 million for the same period last year. Operating Expenses Total operating expenses for the first six months of 2020 were $19.9 million, compared with $12.5 million for the same period last year. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, operating expenses were $18.3 million for the first six months of 2020. Selling expenses were $0.4 million for the first six months of 2020, compared with $1.3 million for the same period last year. G&A expenses for the first six months of 2020 were $11.1 million, compared with $11.2 million for the same period last year. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, G&A expenses were $9.5 million for the first six months of 2020, compared with $9.0 million for the same period of 2019. The increase in G&A expenses excluding share-based compensation expenses was primarily due to the G&A expenses incurred in directly operated facilities in Singapore that were acquired during the second quarter of 2019. The increase was partially offset by the decrease in G&A expenses as a result of stringent cost control measures carried out in China. Impairment loss on goodwill was $8.5 million for the first half of 2020, compared to nil for the same period last year. Due to the impact of COVID-19 on operations and financial results, the Company concluded that an impairment indicator existed at the end of the first quarter and the fair value of its certain reporting units, primarily those with new initiatives, were less than their carrying value. As a result of these impairment assessments, the Company determined that there was an impairment loss on goodwill of $8.5 million. Operating Income/loss Operating loss for the first six months of 2020 was $41.0 million, compared with operating income of $1.3 million for the same period last year. Adjusted operating loss for the first six months of 2020 was $39.4 million, compared with adjusted operating income of $3.5 million for the same period last year. Net Income/loss Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the first six months of 2020 was $39.5 million, compared with $0.6 million of net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the same period of 2019. Adjusted net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB, which excludes the impact of share-based compensation expense and changes in redeemable non-controlling interests, for the first six months of 2020 was $37.9 million, compared with $2.7 million of adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the same period of 2019. Basic and diluted net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the first six months of 2020 were $1.43 and $1.43, respectively, compared with basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB of $0.02 and $0.02, respectively for the same period of 2019. Each ADS represents one Class A ordinary share. Adjusted basic and diluted net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the first six months of 2020 were $1.37 and $1.37, respectively, compared with adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB of $0.10 and $0.09, respectively for the same period of 2019. EBITDA for the first six months of 2020 was a loss of $34.9 million, compared with an income of $7.5 million for the same period of 2019. Adjusted EBITDA for the first six months of 2020 was a loss of $33.3 million, compared with an income of $9.8 million for the same period of 2019. Business Outlook The majority of our facilities have been reopened as of the date of this press release, and we expect the remaining of our existing kindergartens will be able to resume operations by the end of the third quarter. Based on the information available as of the date of this press release, for the third quarter of 2020, the Company's management currently expects net revenues to be in the range of $27.0 and $28.0 million. The above outlook is based on the current market conditions and reflects the Company management's current review, which is subject to change given the dynamic impact of COVID-19. Conference Call Management will hold a conference call at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, August 28, 2020 (8:00 p.m. Beijing Time on August 28, 2020). Listeners may access the call by dialing: United States (toll free): 1-888-346-8982 International: 1-412-902-4272 China (toll free): 400-120-1203 Hong Kong (toll free): 800-905-945 Participants should dial-in at least 10-15 minutes before the scheduled start time and ask to be connected to the RYB Education, Inc. conference call. A telephone replay will be available approximately one hour after the call until September 4, 2020 by dialing: United States (toll free): 1-877-344-7529 International: 1-412-317-0088 Replay Access Code: 10147536 Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available at http://ir.rybbaby.com . About RYB Education, Inc. Founded on the core values of "Care" and "Responsibility," "Inspire" and "Innovate," RYB Education, Inc. is a leading early childhood education service provider in China. Since opening its first play-and-learn center in 1998, the Company has grown and flourished with the mission to provide high-quality, individualized and age-appropriate care and education to nurture and inspire each child for his or her betterment in life. During its two decades of operating history, the Company has built "RYB" into a well-recognized education brand and helped bring about many new educational practices in China's early childhood education industry. RYB's comprehensive early childhood education solutions meet the needs of children from infancy to 6 years old through structured courses at kindergartens and play-and-learn centers, as well as at-home educational products and services. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures We use EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, and adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS, each a non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating our operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes. EBITDA is defined as net income excluding depreciation, amortization and income tax expenses; adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income excluding depreciation, amortization, income tax expenses, and share-based compensation expenses; adjusted operating income is defined as operating income excluding share-based compensation expenses; adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders is defined as net income attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation expenses and changes in redeemable non-controlling interest; and adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders are defined as basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation expenses and changes in redeemable non-controlling interest. We believe that EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, and adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS, help identify underlying trends in our business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of certain expenses that we include in income from operations and net income. We believe that EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, and adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS, provide useful information about our operating results, enhance the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by our management in its financial and operational decision-making. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, and adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS, should not be considered in isolation or construed as an alternative to net income or any other measure of performance or as an indicator of our operating performance. Investors are encouraged to review the historical adjusted financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, and adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS, presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures to our data. We encourage investors and others to review our financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's brand recognition and market reputation; student enrollment in the Company's teaching facilities; the Company's growth strategies; its future business development, results of operations and financial condition; trends and competition in China's early childhood education market; changes in its revenues and certain cost or expense items; the expected growth of the Chinese early childhood education market; Chinese governmental policies relating to the Company's industry and general economic conditions in China. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: In China: RYB Education, Inc. Investor Relations Tel: 86-10-8767-5752 E-mail: [email protected] The Piacente Group, Inc. Ross Warner Tel: +86 (10) 6508-0677 E-mail: [email protected] In the United States: The Piacente Group, Inc. Brandi Piacente Tel: +1-212-481-2050 E-mail: [email protected] UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands of U.S. dollars) As of June 30, 2020 December 31, 2019 Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents 48,318 68,728 Term deposits - 1,005 Accounts receivable, net 2,142 2,804 Inventories 6,963 7,256 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 10,943 10,279 Amounts due from related parties - 349 Loan receivables 566 1,149 Total current assets 68,932 91,570 Non-current assets: Restricted cash 784 710 Property, plant and equipment, net 47,614 50,142 Intangible assets 15,356 17,700 Goodwill 44,028 52,687 Long-term investment 2,612 5,237 Deferred tax assets 12,884 18,161 Operating lease right-of-use assets 81,947 83,403 Other non-current assets 13,465 16,484 Total assets 287,622 336,094 Liabilities Current liabilities: Prepayments from customers, current portion(including prepayments from customers of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of $6,658 and $5,904 as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively) 6,658 5,904 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities(including accrued expenses and other current liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of $51,137 and $47,825 as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively) 59,338 56,472 Income taxes payable(including income taxes payable of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of $13,367 and $14,364 as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively) 14,272 14,929 Operating lease liabilities, current portion (including operating lease liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of $14,209 and $13,068 as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively) 17,350 16,399 Deferred revenue, current portion(including deferred revenue of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of $27,413 and $30,266 as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively) 28,978 31,993 Amounts due to related parties (including amounts due to related parties of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of nil and $124 as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively) - 124 Long-term debt, current portion (including long-term debt of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of nil and nil as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively) 45 87 Total current liabilities 126,641 125,908 Non-current liabilities: Prepayments from customers, non-current portion (including prepayments from customers of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of $1,252 and $2,508 as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively) 1,252 2,508 Deferred revenue, non-current portion (including deferred revenue of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of $3,841 and $4,206 as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively) 5,146 5,531 Operating lease liabilities, non-current portion (including operating lease liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of $66,696 and $68,509 as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively) 70,402 71,012 Other non-current liabilities (including other non-current liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of $8,855 and $9,167 as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively) 10,732 11,034 Deferred income tax liabilities (including deferred income tax liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of $671 and $1,271 as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively) 2,715 3,384 Total liabilities 216,888 219,377 Mezzanine equity Redeemable non-controlling interests 8,925 8,801 Equity Ordinary shares 29 29 Treasury stock (11,116) (12,000) Additional paid-in capital 140,569 139,843 Statutory reserve 4,060 4,060 Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income (1,277) 141 Accumulated deficit (73,430) (33,553) Total RYB Education, Inc. shareholders' equity 58,835 98,520 Non-controlling interest 2,974 9,396 Total equity 61,809 107,916 Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and total equity 287,622 336,094 UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share, ADS, per share and per ADS data) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Net revenues: Services 11,596 48,186 28,388 80,029 Products 1,175 5,365 1,702 7,786 Total net revenues 12,771 53,551 30,090 87,815 Cost of revenues: Services 21,758 38,840 50,413 70,036 Products 557 2,779 813 4,009 Total cost of revenues 22,315 41,619 51,226 74,045 Gross (loss) profit (9,544) 11,932 (21,136) 13,770 Operating expenses Selling expenses 124 733 356 1,283 General and administrative 5,277 5,878 11,088 11,201 Impairment loss on goodwill - - 8,454 - Total operating expenses 5,401 6,611 19,898 12,484 Operating (loss) income (14,945) 5,321 (41,034) 1,286 Interest income 136 355 185 560 Government subsidy income 1,742 95 1,887 220 Gain(loss) on disposal of subsidiaries 48 (416) 48 281 (Loss) income before income taxes (13,019) 5,355 (38,914) 2,347 Less: Income tax expenses 566 1,798 4,788 1,361 (Loss) income before loss in equity method investments (13,585) 3,557 (43,702) 986 Loss from equity method investments (116) (183) (2,009) (296) Net (loss) income (13,701) 3,374 (45,711) 690 Less: Net (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interest (854) 431 (6,247) 239 Less: Decrease in redeemable non-controlling interests Net (loss) income attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB Education, Inc. - (12,847) - 2,943 - (39,464) (143) 594 Net (loss) income per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB Education, Inc. Basic (0.46) 0.11 (1.43) 0.02 Diluted (0.46) 0.10 (1.43) 0.02 Net (loss) income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB Education, Inc. (Note 1) Basic (0.46) 0.11 (1.43) 0.02 Diluted (0.46) 0.10 (1.43) 0.02 Weighted average shares used in calculating net (loss) income per ordinary share Basic 27,694,997 27,904,877 27,688,253 28,466,197 Diluted 27,694,997 29,239,156 27,688,253 29,813,542 UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share, ADS, per share and per ADS data) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Net (loss) income (13,701) 3,374 (45,711) 690 Other comprehensive loss, net of tax of nil: Change in cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments (256) (178) (1,765) (241) Total comprehensive (loss) income (13,957) 3,196 (47,476) 449 Less: Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interest (711) 319 (6,595) 276 Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to RYB Education, Inc. (13,246) 2,877 (40,881) 173 Note 1Each ADS represents one Class A ordinary share. RECONCILIATION OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share, ADS, per share and per ADS data) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Operating (loss) income (14,945) 5,321 (41,034) 1,286 Share-based compensation expenses 810 964 1,610 2,261 Adjusted operating (loss) income (14,135) 6,285 (39,424) 3,547 Net (loss) income attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB Education, Inc. (12,847) 2,943 (39,464) 594 Share-based compensation expenses 810 964 1,610 2,261 (Decrease) in redeemable non-controlling interests - - - (143) Adjusted net (loss) income attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB Education, Inc. (12,037) 3,907 (37,854) 2,712 Net (loss) income (13,701) 3,374 (45,711) 690 Add: Income tax expense 566 1,798 4,788 1,361 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment, and amortization of intangible assets 2,968 3,027 6,004 5,468 EBITDA (10,167) 8,199 (34,919) 7,519 Share-based compensation expenses 810 964 1,610 2,261 Adjusted EBITDA (9,357) 9,163 (33,309) 9,780 Net (loss)income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB Education, Inc.- Basic (Note1) (0.46) 0.11 (1.43) 0.02 Net (loss) income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB Education, Inc.- Diluted (Note1) (0.46) 0.10 (1.43) 0.02 Adjusted net (loss)income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB Education Inc.- Basic (Note1) (0.43) 0.14 (1.37) 0.10 Adjusted net (loss) income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB Education Inc.- Diluted (Note1) (0.43) 0.13 (1.37) 0.09 Weighted average shares used in calculating basic net (loss) income per ADS(Note1) 27,694,997 27,904,877 27,688,253 28,466,197 Weighted average shares used in calculating diluted net (loss) income per ADS(Note1) 27,694,997 29,239,156 27,688,253 29,813,542 Adjusted net (loss) income per share- Basic (0.43) 0.14 (1.37) 0.10 Adjusted net (loss) income per share- Diluted (0.43) 0.13 (1.37) 0.09 Note 1Each ADS represents one Class A ordinary share. [1] The number of students enrolled refers to the number of students enrolled before the temporary closure of the Company's facilities in China due to COVID-19 who remained enrolled as at June 30, 2020, and the number of students enrolled in our facilities in Singapore as at June 30, 2020. [2] Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation expenses and changes in redeemable non-controlling interests. See "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP results" elsewhere in this earnings release. [3] Adjusted operating income (loss) is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as operating income (loss) excluding share-based compensation expenses. See "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP results" elsewhere in this earnings release. [4] Adjusted basic and diluted net income (loss) per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders is a non- GAAP financial measure, which is defined as basic and diluted net income (loss) per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation expenses and changes in redeemable non-controlling interest. See "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP results" elsewhere in this earnings release. [5] EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) excluding depreciation, amortization and income tax expenses. See "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP results" elsewhere in this earnings release. [6] Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as net income (loss) excluding depreciation, amortization, income tax expenses, and share-based compensation expenses. See "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP results" elsewhere in this earnings release. SOURCE RYB Education, Inc. Related Links www.rybbaby.com The authorities have allowed Friday prayers to resume at major mosques with an accredited imam from the religious endowments ministry leading the prayers, with strict anti-COVID-19 measures in place Jubilant worshippers returned to Egypts major mosques for Friday prayers this week for the first time after an unprecedented five-month hiatus amid the coronavirus pandemic. Major mosques nationwide opened for the weekly prayers in the wake of lower numbers of daily coronavirus cases under strict preventives measures, with worshippers describing the return of the ceremony as feeling like Eid, according to Ahram Online correspondents. A similar joy is set to follow for Christians; Egypts Coptic Orthodox Church has said will resume masses on Friday starting 11 September with reduced numbers of congregants and other precautionary measures, after a five-month suspension on the back of coronavirus-related restrictions. Masses had resumed earlier this month on every day except for Friday. "Many thanks to Allah for allowing us return to the mosques again, one worshipper said as they congratulated another following the conclusion of prayers at a mosque in Downtown Cairo. The authorities have allowed Friday prayers to resume at major mosques with an accredited imam from the religious endowments ministry leading the prayers, with the weekly sermon set at only ten minutes, under strict measures similar to restrictions applied since the reopening of mosques for daily prayers at the end of June. The preventive measures include worshippers wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and using personal prayer rugs. Mosques will be open only 10 minutes ahead of prayers and will be closed immediately afterwards. Several worshippers at the downtown mosque were prevented from entering for not wearing masks and not having their own prayer rugs. "It's not my own decision, it's the decision of the government and I am responsible for enforcing it," said a mosque official who was preventing people from entering. Inside the mosque, worshippers adhered to the precautionary measures, wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing by following new signs. Others had to perform the prayers outside when the mosque reached full capacity inside, with thongs of worshippers. An Ahram Online correspondent attending prayers at a Maadi mosque in another part of Cairo said some worshippers also had to pray outside after the mosque reached full capacity. Despite the joy, congregants were upset that only a few mosques were currently open, questioning the logic as mosques would be crowded even if less people attended, due to the limited number of open mosques. In another Maadi mosque, the numbers of worshippers was similar to the numbers before the coronavirus, a correspondent said, with throngs of worshippers praying outside in the open air. Social distancing rules were strictly observed inside the mosque. Ninety percent of the people at the mosque were wearing masks and following social distancing rules outside. I came to pray because I have really missed the Friday prayer and missed meeting God at the mosque, and because it is an obligation," Ahmed Saeed, 37, told Ahram Online from behind his mask after he finished praying at a mosque in Maadi. He said he was not concerned about the risk of the virus and that people should adapt. "We go out and go to malls and to work; praying is no less important. The virus is going to be part of our daily lives that we should learn to come to terms with, Saeed said. At a mosque in the Haram neighbourhood of Cairo, another Ahram Online correspondent attended prayers that were so packed worshippers spilled out into surrounding streets. The preventive measures are really good. I was keen on joining the prayers today, despite being a bit worried. I was encouraged [to join] after I saw worshippers flocking to the mosque, Sabet Saqr told Ahram Online after the prayers concluded. Mohamed Ahmed, who prayed outside the mosque due to the huge turnout, expressed his enthusiasm about the return of the weekly service. Im full of joy for the return of prayers. However, people need to be more careful, mainly those praying outside, because people didnt really adhere to social distancing, said Ahmed. *Additional reporting by Mahmoud Elassal, Karim Farouk, Yasser Sediq and Ayat Al-Tawy. Search Keywords: Short link: Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu top NITI Aayog's Export Preparedness Index Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu occupy the top three ranks, respectively, in the first Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2020, prepared by NITI Aayog in partnership with the Institute of Competitiveness. Overall, most of the coastal states have emerged the best performers in the EPI 2020. Six of the eight coastal states feature in the top ten rankings, indicating the presence of strong enabling and facilitating factors to promote exports. Among the landlocked states, Rajasthan has performed the best, followed by Telangana and Haryana. Among the Himalayan states, Uttarakhand is the top performer, followed by Tripura and Himachal Pradesh. Across the union territories, Delhi has performed the best, followed by Goa and Chandigarh. The report also highlights that export orientation and preparedness are not just restricted to prosperous states. Even emerging states can undertake dynamic export policy measures, have functioning promotional councils, and synchronise with national logistical plans to grow their exports. Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are two landlocked states that had initiated several measures to promote exports. Many north-eastern states under the growth orientation sub-pillar were able to export more by focusing on their indigenous product baskets. This shows that a focused development of such baskets (like spices) can drive exports on one hand and also improve farmer incomes on the other in these states. Based on the findings of the report, export promotion in India faces three fundamental challenges: intra- and inter-regional disparities in export infrastructure; poor trade support and growth orientation among states; and poor R&D infrastructure to promote complex and unique exports. There is a need to emphasise on key strategies to address these challenges: A joint development of export infrastructure; Strengthening industry-academia linkages; and Creating state-level engagements for economic diplomacy. These strategies could be supported by revamped designs and standards for local products and by harnessing the innovating tendencies to provide new use cases for such products, with adequate support from the centre. To achieve the target of making India a developed economy by focusing on Atmanirbhar Bharat, there is a need to increase exports from all the states and union territories. The EPI provides invaluable insights on how states can attain this goal, says an official release. The final framework of the EPI was based on essential feedback from states, UTs and organisations like EXIM Bank, IIFT and DGCIS. The data has been primarily provided by state governments. For some of the indicators, RBI, DGCIS and Central ministries were consulted, the release pointed out. EPI intends to identify challenges and opportunities; enhance the effectiveness of government policies; and encourage a facilitative regulatory framework. The structure of the EPI includes four pillars Policy; Business Ecosystem; Export Ecosystem; Export Performance and 11 sub-pillars Export Promotion Policy, Institutional Framework, Business Environment, Infrastructure, Transport Connectivity, Access to Finance, Export Infrastructure, Trade Support, R&D Infrastructure, Export Diversification and Growth Orientation. The Indian economy holds immense potential to become a strong exporter on the world stage. To realise this potential, it is crucial that India turns to its states and union territories and makes them active participants in the countrys export efforts. The Export Preparedness Index 2020 evaluates states potentials and capacities. It is hoped that the detailed insights from this Index will guide all stakeholders towards strengthening the export ecosystem at both the national and sub-national levels, said NITI Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar. The Export Preparedness Index is a data-driven effort to identify the core areas crucial for export promotion at the sub-national level. All the states and union territories have been assessed on crucial parameters that are critical for any typical economic unit to achieve sustainable export growth. The Index would be a helpful guide for the state governments to benchmark regional performance with respect to export promotion and thus deliver key policy insights on how to improve and enhance the same, Amitabh Kant, chief executive officer, NITI Aayog, said. The first edition of the EPI shows that most Indian states performed well on average across the sub-pillars of Exports Diversification, Transport Connectivity, and Infrastructure. The average score of Indian states in these three sub-pillars was above 50 per cent. Also, given the low standard deviation in Export Diversification and Transport Connectivity, the averages are not skewed to the higher side by a few over-achievers. However, states should also focus on other key components in order to improve export competitiveness, the report noted. Speaking at the handover ceremony in Caracas, Vietnamese Ambassador Le Viet Duyen spoke highly of the thriving Vietnam-Venezuela relations over the past time and the sentiments of the NA, Government and people of Vietnam in sharing part of their resources to help the Government and people of Venezuela battle COVID-19. Staff at the Vietnamese Embassy joined hands with relevant agencies in the two countries to airlift the aid to Caracas amid obstacles triggered by the cessation of international flights. Representatives of the Venezuelan NA and Foreign Ministry voiced their gratitude to Vietnam for the support as the COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc in the Venezuela and Latin America in general. They also hoped that the bilateral relations will continue to flourish and obtain more achievements in keeping with the comprehensive partnership. The Kwara State commissioner for special duties, Aisha Ahman-Pategi, has resigned from the cabinet of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq. According to a statement obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, she tendered her resignation on Friday. However she did not disclose the reason for her action. I wish to thank God Almighty for giving me the grace and opportunity to serve as Commissioner for Local Government and now exiting as Commissioner for Special Duties, serving my fellow Kwarans and representing Pategi Local Government in our drive to better the lot of Kwarans. Life is in phases and Im bold to say that having journeyed the political terrain with His Excellency, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, now is the time for me to leave and focus on new ideals. However, she indicated her continuous support for community service and grassroots development in the state. Confirming her resignation, the commissioner for communications, Harriet Afolabi-Oshatimehin, said the government wished Ms Ahman-Pategi the best in her future endeavours. This comes a week after the special adviser to the governor on health, Wale Suleiman, announced his resignation. Mr Sulaiman, a professor of neurosurgery and spinal surgery and former chairman for the neurosurgery department and back and spine center at the Ochsner Neuroscience Institute in New Orleans, said he realised he would be more productive and effective out of government. Concerns Although the outgoing commissioner refused to indicate the reason for the decision, sources in government informed this paper that she did not leave the post on good terms. In fact, Mrs Ahman-Pategis resignation was rumoured in July after she allegedly accused the state Ministry of Finance of withdrawing N300m local government funds while she headed the ministry for local government and chieftaincy affairs. The accusation allegedly then led to an argument between the finance commissioner, Florence Oyeyemi and Ahman-Pategi. Meanwhile, the duo denied these allegations. Afterwards, she was moved to the ministry of special duties during a cabinet reshuffle carried out in the same month. This decision did not go well with the commissioner, sources confirmed. Currently, Mrs Ahman-Pategi travelled outside the country on an unofficial occasion some days ago. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that she sent her resignation letter from abroad. Also, heres how to submit a Modern Love essay or how to be featured in an Unhitched column. Dont feel like writing more than a tweet, an Instagram caption or a Facebook post? Consider submitting to Tiny Love Stories, which are no more than 100 words. Getting married? Heres how to submit a wedding announcement. Continue following our fashion and lifestyle coverage on Facebook (Styles and Modern Love), Twitter (Styles, Fashion and Weddings) and Instagram. The U.S. Labor Department is reminding employers that they must make a reasonable effort to keep track of all hours worked by non-exempt employees even those working varied hours from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The departments Wage and Hour Division on Monday issued a bulletin offering guidance regarding employers obligations under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Bureau said it is hoping to clear up any confusion because of the large number of workers who are now telecommuting. The Labor Department said it last issued interpretive rules on remote work arrangements in 1961. Todays guidance reaffirms that an employer is required to pay its employees for all hours worked, including work not requested but allowed and work performed at home, the bureau said. If the employer knows or has reason to believe that an employee is performing work, the time must be counted as hours worked. In a blog post, attorney Susan Milner Parrott with the Smith Anderson law firm explained that employers can be responsible for work hours that they become aware of either through actual knowledge or constructive knowledge. Employers have actual knowledge when hours are reported on time sheets. Constructive knowledge is trickier. Employers are required to exercise reasonable diligence, meaning they may be held responsible for hours that they should have known were worked by their employees. An employer would be exercising reasonable diligence if the employer established a process by which employees could report unscheduled work time, but the employer should be careful not to discourage, either implicitly or explicitly, the use of such a process, Parrott wrote. The guidance also clarifies that employers will not be held responsible for hours worked just because they could have known, by checking access to the employers computer network or phone calls to supervisors, for example, wrote Taylor Haran of the Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath law firm. One important point: Employers must pay for all hours worked, even if they had a rule against performing the work in the first place, Haran wrote. That principle of law was reaffirmed in 2008 by a 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals decision, titled Chao v. Gotham Registry. Gotham Registry Inc. dispatched nurses to hospitals in need of extra help. After being cited sanctioned by the U.S. Labor Department for failing to pay overtime to registry nurses, the company adopted a policy that prohibited nurses from working more than 40 hours without prior notice. Nurses who did not comply would not be paid for the extra hours worked. The 2nd Circuit ruled that even if Gotham was not aware of the overtime hours until after the fact, it was still required to pay for the hours worked. If Gotham were serious about preventing unauthorized overtime, it could discipline nurses who violate the rule, the 2nd Circuit Court said. It could also entirely disavow overtime hours, announcing a policy that it does not, under any circumstances, employ a nurse for more than 40 hours in a week. On the other hand, employers arent required to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure their employees arent failing to report overtime hours. That precedent was affirmed by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in a decision titled Allen v. City of Chicago. Members of the Chicago Police Departments Bureau of Organized Crime filed suit alleging that they the city did not compensate them for work they did off duty using BlackBerry devices. The officers alleged that the Bureau had an unwritten policy that discouraged them from reporting time that was spent working on the mobile devices, although they had not been specifically ordered not to add that time to the time slips they submitted to their supervisors. However, some of the plaintiffs testified that they did add hours spent doing work to their time slips and were never denied compensation. The time slips did not indicate how the work was done. No one had been reprimanded or disciplined for submitting time slips that included BlackBerry time. A U.S. District Court judge ruled that the city had done the due diligence required of it and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed. The court said while the Bureau could have learned th at its employees were not being compensated for all hours worked by comparing the time slips to call and email records generated by the BlackBerrys, that level of effort is not required by the Fair Labor Standards Act. The reasonable diligence standard asks what the employer should have known, not what it could have known,' the 7th Circuit said, citing a previous ruling. In its guidance, the Labor Department said the employer bears the burden of preventing work when it is not desired; adopting a rule prohibiting extra work hours is not enough. Parrott, of Smith Anderson, said employers can exercise reasonable diligence by ensuring there is a process that employees can use to report unscheduled work time, but the employer should be careful not to discourage, either implicitly or explicitly, the use of such a process. Smith's defense had argued that, once federal jurisdiction was established, the statute of limitations passed in October 2000. Prosecutors argued that DNA technology and subsequent laws to adjust for its application in criminal law essentially reset the clock on the statute of limitations. White disagreed based on the timing of those laws being enacted years after Smith's statute of limitations had run out, saying those laws "(do) not purport to revive prosecutions for offenses with limitation periods that had already expired when the statute was enacted. Loge expressed confidence that the rationale would not have prevented Smith from being prosecuted in Oklahoma, "but the McGirt case prevented that issue being resolved in State Court." To the victims, I applaud your courage, determination and readiness to endure this fight," he said in a statement. "To law enforcement, investigators and DNA chemists, I thank you for all your hard work and commitment. Loge had appeared with Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Director Ricky Adams and Muskogee Police Chief Johnny Teehee to announce Smith's arrest on five counts of first-degree rape by force or fear. We defeat this virus one way: Together. Our actions will ultimately dictate whether we can stay on campus. Further, how we manage the risk of COVID-19 transmission on our campuses will profoundly impact our country, says SMU Student Body President Austin Hickle. Today, The College Health Alliance of Texas (CHAT), a newly formed student coalition of young Texas leaders, released a student guide for college students returning to campus this fall. The student guide is a regularly updated handbook with, in part, best COVID-19 practices from the CDC (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), as well as student insights on how to approach this semester. Some suggestions from the handbook include: Treat your online classes like an in-person course. Have the discipline to dedicate substantial time to it as you would with a traditional course. Know where and how to get treatment and other support services and resources, including counseling or therapy (in person or through telehealth services). Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting. The coalitions purpose is to serve as the voice of the collegiate demographic and encourage students to practice safety guidelines to prevent further spread of the virus. CHAT will effectively communicate the importance of CDC guidelines, actively engage students to be proactive, and facilitate collaboration with university, health and administrative officials. The organization represents 20 of the top universities and colleges in the state with seven members on the Executive Committee. Executive members include: Austin Hickle, Southern Methodist University, Student Body Vice President; Faisal Al-Hummod, Texas Tech University, Student Body Vice President of External Affairs; Cedrick Mattli, Texas A&M University, Vice President of Legislative Affairs; Tessa Schrreiber, Rice University, Government Relations; Oliver Chapin-Eiserloh, Trinity University, Student Body Vice President; Austin T. Stephens, University of Texas at El Paso, Student Body Vice President; and Nikola Skerl, University of Texas at Austin, State Relations Agency Director. We defeat this virus one way: Together. Our actions will ultimately dictate whether we can stay on campus. Further, how we manage the risk of COVID-19 transmission on our campuses will profoundly impact our country, says SMU Student Body President Austin Hickle. Members of the coalition are actively seeking more student leaders to join the initiative to expand outreach and build awareness around campus safety. In the upcoming weeks, the College Health Alliance of Texas will distribute a statewide student survey that will allow students to share their thoughts and concerns from their experiences on campus this fall. The results will be used to brief local and state elected officials on how to better communicate with the collegiate demographic. Links Website: collegehealthallianceoftexas.com Twitter: @CollegeHealthTX Instagram: @CollegeHealthTX About the College Health Alliance of Texas The College Health Alliance of Texas is a group of Texas student leaders united to build consensus, stop the spread of COVID-19 and to keep college campuses open by effectively communicating how following simple public health guidelines is in everyones best interests. Lebanon: consultations for new PM on Monday Three weeks after government resignation (ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, AUGUST 28 - Consultations for the designation of a new prime minister in Lebanon will take place on Monday, nearly three weeks after the government resigned following the devastating explosion on August 4 in Beirut, the Lebanese president's office announced. The consultations will take place shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron's announced return to Lebanon on September 1, following his first visit in the aftermath of the explosion, when he urged the Lebanese leadership to quickly form a unity government. Currently there appears to be no consensus among the political parties on who should lead the new government. (ANSAmed). An unfolding legal scuffle between the world's most valuable company, Apple, and Fortnite-maker Epic Games has captivated the gaming community. But its repercussions could be felt far beyond that realm. Apple shares hit fresh record highs this week, pushing the company's market value above a record $US2 trillion ($2.98 trillion). But the spat between Apple and Epic means one of the key drivers of the stock's recent ascent could now be at risk. Apple recently became the first US company with a market value of $US2 trillion. Credit:James Alcock Thomas Rice, portfolio manager of the Perpetual Global Innovation Share Fund, said Apple's stock resurgence it has quadrupled over the past five years is a direct result of its increased focus on services and collecting digital payments from developers, rather than sales of the iPhone, Mac and watch devices for which the company is best known. "The services income is very valuable, it's very high margin. If there's a threat to those fees over time, I think that will impact how people view the stock," he said. Fresh from its failed Middle East missions, the force is eager to take on the new Cold War with confidence. By Andrew J. Bacevich August 27, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - The United States Army is moving on. In Afghanistan and Iraq, U.S. troops fought long and hard and bravely. Alas, their sacrifices did not result in anything like the decisive victories that were promised when those wars began years ago. But rather than getting all hung up on what went amiss, Army leaders have identified a new arena of ground combat: the Indo-Pacific, with China openly identified as Enemy No. 1. In Washington, the possibility, even the probability of a new Cold War, pitting the United States against the PRC, is a topic of considerable conversation. As far as the Armys leadership is concerned, the time for talk has passed. That new Cold War is already underway and the Army eagerly embraces the challenges that lie ahead, and with confidence. A document called U.S. Army Transformation of Land Power in the Indo-Pacific, issued in May 2020 by Lieutenant General Charles A. Flynn in his capacity as the Armys G-3/5/7, provides the grand strategic roadmap that will enable the Army to meet those challenges. Indeed, allotting the Army a major presence in the Indo-Pacific holds the key to addressing the nations twenty-first century security challenges. General Flynn states the matter straightforwardly. The key idea that underlies the Armys vision for transformed land power in the Indo-Pacificand the strategic lever to regain a competitive stance against Chinais increased presence of forces. Positioning U.S. ground forces throughout the regionthe document mentions Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Philippines, India, and Indonesia as prospective locations, but also hints at Malaysia and Vietnamwill persuade China to behave. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter Joint forces designed and developed for the theater and to counter the PLA, using high-end capabilities to demonstrate all-domain overmatch, are a means to force [emphasis added] the Chinese Communist Party and Peoples Liberation Army leadership to restrain their ambitions and compete constructively inside the U.S.-led international order, Flynn continues. The Army will need both a larger presence in the Pacific and also a different presenceunits possessing greatly enhanced capabilities. These should include long range, area and precision fires, air and missile defense, operational network, combat vehicles, and other critical combat systems and enablers. On the rationale for these new capabilities, the documents solution narrative deserves to be quoted at length: By investing in and developing leap-ahead technology and all-domain concepts, Army formations are able to demonstrate the dominant maneuver that can create operational facts on the ground that maximize the decision space of our national leadership and allow for favorable conflict resolution. Through fires and other effects, Army formations are able to frustrate adversary decision making and produce the kind of attrition and disruption that exhausts adversary will to compete and fight in armed conflict. In laypersons language that dense paragraph, regurgitating a familiar vision of war made new by advanced technology, can be reduced to a single sentence: We will be needing lots more money. Has the present commander-in-chief signed off on this grand strategic roadmap? That President Trump possesses the attention span to trudge through such bloated prose seems unlikely. Whether anyone in the Biden camp comprehends the magnitude of the Armys ambitions is also unlikely. Their attention lies elsewhere just now. A cynic might suspect that there are bureaucratic politics at play here, the Army unwilling to allow the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps to exclude it from an Indo-Pacific money trough that promises to be very deep indeed. That cynic would be right. Research organization is at forefront of pressing global water challenges; New funding coincides with World Water Week and UN's 75th anniversary HAMILTON - Canada today announced a CDN$10 million extension of core funding through 2025 for the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, a research organization at the forefront of pressing global water challenges. Hosted by McMaster University, UNU-INWEH has contributed important insights on world water issues, including water-borne diseases and how to meet the expected large increase in global water demand -- almost 50% by 2030 -- a need impossible to meet as conventional water sources diminish and if current ways of doing business prevail. "As a long-time supporter of UNU-INWEH, Canada recognizes that equitable access to safe water and sanitation is critical to protecting human life. Since the lack of water and sanitation disproportionately affects women and girls, and is being exacerbated by climate change, renewed support to water management enhances women's leadership and increases resilience to climate change," says the Honourable Karina Gould, Canada's Minister of International Development. The funding announcement coincides with World Water Week, and the United Nations' 75th anniversary. Says UNU-INWEH Director, Vladimir Smakhtin: "Available freshwater per capita has declined more than 50% worldwide since 1960 and today the scale of the global water crisis is stunning, with four in seven people regularly experiencing some form of water scarcity." "The coronavirus pandemic is just the latest illustration of how vitally important water is to health and well-being," he adds. "Hundreds of millions of people lack access to clean water to wash their hands, making control of the current coronavirus outbreak, and potentially other similar outbreaks in the future, even more challenging." "The Institute recently embarked on its new five-year strategy to help the world achieve water-related Sustainable Development Goals," notes Dr. Smakhtin. "Canada's strong support for UNU-INWEH has never been more important. We are deeply grateful for its generous and continued commitment. Canada has not only been the Institute's home and principal source of funding since it began, Canadian expertise has greatly contributed to improving the management of world water issues." "The Institute's link to the United Nations brings privileged access to global policy debates on water," says Michael Small, chair of UNU-INWEH's International Advisory Committee, a Distinguished Fellow at the Asian Pacific Foundation and Fellow at Simon Fraser University's Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue. "As a hub for world-class expertise on water -- spanning academia, industry and governments -- the Institute is uniquely positioned to advance practical solutions to water-related challenges that achieve impact globally and nationally." UNU-INWEH works to bridge the gap between the wealth of evidence and research that exists on water resources, and the practical needs of political leaders and decision makers, particularly those in low- and middle-income countries. The new strategic plan (at https://bit.ly/3jfiN7G) places primary focus on four interconnected areas: Helping countries implement water-related Sustainable Development Goals Data and evidence in the water sector are often hard to come by in many countries making it difficult to plan and measure progress. The Institute has created a Policy Support System that helps national governments use existing and emerging national and international data to automatically build a reliable baseline of evidence for use in policy making and planning for effective and equitable water management. The UNU-INWEH's Policy Support System automatically synthesizes and evaluates the data against the Sustainable Development Goal's targets and indicators for safe and affordable access to clean water and sanitation by 2030. In this way, users can view in one summary their strengths and gaps remaining to achieve the SDGs. The platform has been validated and accepted in five pilot countries and is now being rolled out to 50 more. Bringing unconventional water resources and technology revolution for future water security Projections show over 60% of humanity will experience water scarcity by 2030. Conventional water resources - rain and river runoff - are not expected to meet growing water demands. UNU-INWEH has applied its focus to and become a go-to-source for research and information about unconventional water resources: desalination, treated wastewater, atmospheric water harvesting, and others. In one recent study, for example, UNU-INWEH forecast a 24% increase in wastewater worldwide by 2030. Already a vast resource, the global volume of wastewater, properly treated, is enough water to fill Lake Ontario every four years. It contains enough energy to provide electricity to almost 160 million households, the study found, and enough nutrients to meet 13% of world's fertilizer needs. In an earlier study, the Institute's experts reported that the world's roughly 16,000 desalination plants discharge 142 million cubic meters of brine daily -- 50% more than previously estimated -- and enough in a year to cover Florida under a foot (30.5 cm) of chemical-laden brine. The Institute also evaluates the most appropriate digital technologies for adoption in water management in developing country contexts. Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, and other 21st century technologies can be put to a wide range of uses from accurate mapping of flood risks using open data sources to monitoring water quality in refugee camps. Women -- Key to Effective Water Management -- and Migration Water and sanitation management are more effective if women are involved, and UNU-INWEH therefore works with governments to identify opportunities for greater inclusion, representation, knowledge generation and training for women and girls. Over the next five years, UNU-INWEH aims to enhance the capacity of national governments to obtain and evaluate baseline gender-disaggregated water data to support SDG implementation. By equipping policymakers and practitioners with gender-related information on the delivery of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, UNU-INWEH can help unlock the potential for more effective water management and use. UNU-INWEH will also aim to identify conditions for enhanced participation of women in community-based water conflict resolution and how to create them. Future work will pay specific attention to minimizing the impacts of water-related disasters on the health of women and girls in humanitarian crises contexts. The Institute, in partnership with University of Kinshasa, is already studying large-scale migration of communities in the Congo River Basin over the past two decades, the associated conflicts that followed, and the impacts on women and girls. A recent UNU-INWEH analysis suggests that the world will see up to 1 billion people migrating due to water- and climate-related reasons. Future work will focus on unpacking water-migration-gender interlinkages and aim for the formal recognition of migration as an adaptation strategy for water and climate crises. Managing water- and climate-related risks UNU-INWEH synthesizes information and suggests new ways to alleviate various chronic and emerging water-related risks, as well as climate-related risks that propagate through water. As climate-induced floods and drought become more frequent and severe, the Institute analyzes the efficiency of the world's existing early warning systems, with a particular focus on response capabilities of the exposed populations. It is important to comprehensively categorize such systems to make further investments in their development much more effective, and to clarify the overall pathway to their improvement. UNU-INWEH also evaluates emerging climate change-related risks to cities in the Global South, ranging from increasing frequency of extreme climate events to impacts on aging water infrastructure, for example. This knowledge will help city authorities take informed actions for increased resilience. Undertaking research that gauge potential risks from pharmaceuticals and other contaminants of emerging concern to the environment and human health will be another UNU-INWEH priority. In parallel, UNU-INWEH continues on its path to help countries eradicate chronic water-related health risks, such as arsenic contamination of groundwater, which affects some 140 million people globally. UNU-INWEH recently summarized existing knowledge on arsenic-removal techniques and suggested a four-step plan for the complete eradication of arsenic from drinking water in affected countries by 2030 The Institute is also in the process of developing a water-related disease vulnerability and surveillance tool that can measure and visualize the vulnerability of populations and regions to help health authorities anticipate and prevent these diseases, a major issue in many developing countries, exacerbated by climate change. ### UNU-INWEH will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2021. For more information: http://www. https://inweh.unu.edu/ Related news releases: Vast amounts of valuable energy, nutrients, water lost in world's fast-rising wastewater streams https://bit.ly/3lliUQH UN University compares technologies that remove arsenic from groundwater https://bit.ly/3hwMtwk UN warns of rising levels of toxic brine as desalination plants meet growing water needs http://bit.ly/2sQhF25 Where the Water Is https://bit.ly/31rJzDs Vast energy value in human waste: UN University https://bit.ly/2Qr4e4i Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 17:42:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TOKYO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced on Friday that he would step down from his post due to health concerns. The following is a profile of Abe. Abe was born in 1954 and graduated from Seikei University in 1977. He worked in Japan's leading steel manufacturer Kobe Steel in 1979. In 1982, Abe served as an assistant to the minister of foreign affairs. He has since been elected to the House of Representatives nine times starting from 1993. He also once served the post of director of the Social Affairs Division of the LDP, deputy chief Cabinet secretary, secretary general of the LDP, and chief Cabinet secretary. Abe has been Japan's prime minister since December 2012, and previously served in the same capacity between September 2006 and September 2007. During his first tenure as prime minister, Abe abruptly stepped down from his post in 2007 due to chronic ulcerative colitis, an intestinal disease. After a landslide victory in the lower house in 2012, he returned to serve as the nation's prime minister. He was re-elected president of the LDP in September 2018. On Aug. 24, 2020, Abe became Japan's longest-serving prime minister by number of consecutive days in office. Abe has been married. Enditem BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ Burlington Countys candlelight vigil in observance of International Overdose Awareness Day will be held virtually this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The vigil will be held online on Monday night, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Operation Helping Hand will be accessible during the vigil to viewers who want help. The vigil will stream live at the following links: https://youtu.be/Fg5wDGvKnLM and https://www.facebook.com/BCCHCNJ/. International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event which is held on Aug. 31 to help raise awareness of overdose and to help reduce stigma of substance use related deaths. The goal is to highlight the horrible toll of overdose deaths in America, while also giving families an opportunity to celebrate the lives of those they've lost. In 2019, a joint Rutgers-Eagleton/Farleigh Dickinson University poll found that roughly a quarter of New Jersey residents or their family members had taken a prescription opioid painkiller in the previous 12 months. Seven in 10 respondents rated prescription drug use as a serious problem in their community. This article originally appeared on the Cinnaminson Patch Amid the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) furore, six states have filed a petition requesting the Supreme Court to review its order. The six states -- West Bengal, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Punjab -- have sought postponement of the JEE and NEET exams 2020. The Opposition-ruled states' review petition comes after the chief ministers held a meeting with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and decided to move the apex court. The top court on August 17 had dismissed a petition to postpone the crucial exams conducted for admission into medical and engineering colleges. The Supreme Court had stated that the careers of students cannot be put in jeopardy. Also read: NEET, JEE 2020: Furore over exams, nationwide protests; all you need to know Meanwhile, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren urged Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank to consider postponing the NEET and JEE exams. Both these competitive examinations are extremely critical in the career of a student, said CM Soren adding, "Every examinee would thus try to put his best foot forward and, therefore, it is extremely essential to ensure that he takes these examinations in an environment of health safety and mental peace." The Congress party has undertaken nationwide agitation to oppose the conducting of NEET and JEE exams. Protests took place outside Shashtri Bhawan in Delhi on Friday, as well as in Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Jaipur. "If we keep raising the matter, Centre will have to consider the demands of people and postpone JEE, NEET examinations," said Sachin Pilot. Medical entrance exam NEET is to be held on September 13 and engineering entrance exam JEE Main is scheduled from September 1-6. Around 15.97 lakh students have registered for NEET, and 9.53 lakh candidates have registered for JEE-Mains. Also read: NEET, JEE exams 2020: Academicians write to PM Modi in support of Centre's decision Also read: NEET 2020: Allow students to come via Vande Bharat flights to sit for exam, SC to govt NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches at the house of suspect Rajakbhai Kumbhar in Mundra district of West Kachchh in Gujarat in connection with its ongoing investigation into the ISI agent case. According to reports, the NIA team raided the house of Rajakbhai, who is the son of Sumarbhai Kumbhar, on August 27. The NIA had recently arrested an ISI agent for allegedly sending photographs of sensitive and strategically important installations and information of the movement of the armed forces to suspected handlers of Pakistan's powerful spy agency. The suspected ISI agent was identified as Md. Rashid, s/o Idrish, r/o Chaurhat Padao, PS Mughal Sarai, District-Chandoli, UP. NIA re-registered this case on 06.04.2020 u/s 123 of IPC & sections 13, 17 & 18 of UA (P) Act. During the investigation, it was revealed that accused Md Rashid was in contact with Defense/ISI handlers of Pakistan and had visited Pakistan twice. He had transmitted photographs of some sensitive and strategically important installations in India and also shared information about the movement of the armed forces with ISI handlers in Pakistan. The investigation further revealed that suspect Rajakbhai Kumbhar had transferred Rs 5,000/- through Paytm in the account of one Rizwan which was further handed over to main accused Md. Rashid. This amount was remitted to accused Md Rashid by Rajakbhai Kumbhar on the directions of ISI agents in lieu of the information supplied by Md. Rashid to ISI agents. During the search at the house of Rajakbhai Kumbhar, several incriminating documents have been seized. Further investigation in the case is continued. SASKATOON, SK, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Today, the Government of Saskatchewan announced $31 million in funding for a Rare Earth Processing Facility in Saskatchewan delivering on a key element of the 2030 Growth Plan. The facility will be owned and operated by the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC). It will be the first-of-its-kind in Canada and will begin to establish a Rare Earth Element (REE) supply chain in Saskatchewan, forming an industry model for future commercial REE resource expansion in the province. REE metals are naturally occurring minerals that are essential to the modern global economy and economic development. Global demand for REEs will increase significantly in the coming decade as demand for electric vehicles, renewable power generation and all forms of electronics increases. "Saskatchewan's new Rare Earth Processing Facility will be a catalyst to stimulate the resource sector in Saskatchewan and across Canada, providing the early-stage supply chain needed to generate cash-flow, investment and industrial growth of the sector," Premier Scott Moe said. "It will also help ensure the competitiveness of Saskatchewan as we focus on our economic recovery and grow our province over the next decade." "Saskatchewan has a globally recognized mining industry, workforce and culture with local companies already beginning to explore REE deposits both in Saskatchewan, and in surrounding provinces and territories," Minister Responsible for SRC Jeremy Harrison said. "This facility will allow the REE industry to grow and create both immediate and long-term jobs." The conversion of REE ore to individual REE products is done in two main stages. The first is the concentration of ore to mixed REE Carbonate. The second is the more complex separation stage that converts the mixed REE Carbonate to commercial pure-grade REEs. The facility will address both stages of REE processing. The facility is expected to be fully operational in late 2022 with construction beginning this fall. SRC is Canada's second largest research and technology organization. With more than 290 employees, $91 million in annual revenue and nearly 75 years of experience, SRC provides services and products to its 1,500 clients in 27 countries around the world. More information at http://www.src.sk.ca/REE or http://www.src.sk.ca/mediakit. SOURCE Saskatchewan Research Council Related Links http://www.src.sk.ca History. It is often told by the side of the victor. Across the country, there have been protests over the removal of statues that depict only one side of the story. A change to the narrative has been demanded. This is what the staff at the Fort Sumner Historic Site/Bosque Redondo Memorial is currently working on a new exhibit that tells the violent history of Bosque Redondo. Like any social change, its taken some time to come to fruition. The conversation started 30 years ago with a letter. On June 27, 1990, a letter was left by 17 Navajo students who were visiting the historic site. The letter from the students was about their experience visiting the site. The letter said (the site) wasnt telling a true history, says Aaron Roth, Fort Sumner Historic Site manager. They demanded that the truth be told about what happened between 1863 and 1868. During the five years, the U.S. military led by Col. Christopher Kit Carson persecuted and imprisoned 9,500 Navajo (Dine) and 500 Mescalero Apache (Nde) on the reservation known as Bosque Redondo. Carson and the military starved into submission, forced to surrender, and marched the Navajos to Bosque Redondo. Over 2,000 Navajos perished on the Long Walk, and during their time of incarceration and suffering at Bosque Redondo, until their release in 1868. The Mescalero Apaches were the first Native Americans to be incarcerated at Bosque Redondo. Gen. James H. Carleton was in command of the military in New Mexico and made it his first priority to conquer the Apaches and bring them under submission. He ordered Carson to kill any Apache man who resisted and take all women and children prisoners. Mescalero Apache Chief Cadete surrendered rather than face being wiped out, and all 500 members of this proud tribe were taken first to Fort Stanton, then to Bosque Redondo at Fort Sumner, in 1862. Really, the re-envisioning the history is for the people, Roth says. Because we are looking at the narrative and telling a complete story, its been resonating with people as they learn what we are doing. Roth says that for years, the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs which oversees the historic site tried to hold meetings with Navajo and Mescalero Apache leaders. He says that with the introduction of the letter, a lot of questions were being asked, and problems began to arise when officials reached out to the communities. Originally, we said, We need to talk to the right people, Roth says. One issue was that the tribes werent ready to talk about the particular history. Even today, its as if it happened yesterday. Its on the minds of the people, and we wanted to do it right. In 1991, New Mexico State Historic Sites, the Museum of New Mexico and Navajo and Apache leaders began the creation of a memorial that would truthfully acknowledge the history here. The Bosque Redondo Memorial opened at Fort Sumner on June 4, 2005, with New Mexico, Navajo and Mescalero Apache leaders present. Prev 1 of 9 Next The memorial is designed by Navajo architect David Sloan. It is shaped like a Navajo hogan and an Apache tepee and provides an interpretive trail and in-depth information about the history of Fort Sumner and Bosque Redondo Indian Reservation. Roth says the staff is working with Native American leaders to put together a 6,000-square-foot exhibition that will go inside the memorial. It was in 2015, we were at a crossroads, Roth says. We had exhibit funding that had to be spent. The idea on the table wasnt supported by the Mescalero or Navajo Nation. At that moment, it was a matter of, do we move forward with it or scrap it? Mind you, it wasnt the most well thought-out plan. The plan was scrapped because the approach wasnt inclusive. The DCA then asked both tribes to recommend people to help represent their cultural history. These members would have a seat at the table, Roth says. The goal was to redesign the site interpretive plan. By April 2017, the exhibit plan was in motion. Roth says its been a long process, because its being done right. This is something that shouldnt be rushed, he says. Its not something that we can say, Well, we got everything we need and move on, he says. We cannot do that, and we can never close the door and cup our ears and cover our mouths. This is one of the projects that will never be finished. Ive been there since November 2014, and theres always a new story walking in the door. Roth says that staff is completing the exhibit design and that a script is in its final stages. We are approaching the finish line, he says. A lot of good things are coming. We cannot close our minds to any new possibilities even after this is finished. Roth says oral accounts of what the conditions were like before, during and after the Long Walk are crucial to the narrative. It was a crucial component that we were missing, he says. Its been something that has never been asked after Bosque Redondo. We think about the Mescalero that escaped Bosque Redondo in 1865. What happened to them? A lot of visitors think that the Navajos and Mescalero died out. The Long Walk Having completed the surrender and exile of the Mescalero Apache, General Carleton turned his attention to solving the Navajo problem and again enlisted the help of Colonel Kit Carson. On June 15, 1863, Carleton issued the order to Carson to attack the Navajo until it is considered at these headquarters that they have been effectively punished for their long continued atrocities. But this would be by no means a simpler search and capture mission than it was with the Mescalero. The Navajos were large in number and their country was vast and physically challenging. Plus the Navajo had an uncanny ability to simply disappear when being pursued. Carson knew he would fail unless he had experienced guides and trackers who knew Navajo ways and hiding places. He employed 100 Ute Indians, who hated the Navajos, as well as Pueblos and Hopis to help in his attack. During the winter of 1863-1864, Carsons New Mexico Volunteers, aided by Native American scouts and informants, ravaged the Navajo countryside, killing Navajo people, burning their crops and orchards, killing livestock, destroying villages, and contaminating water sources. This scorched earth campaign of Carsons designed to starve the Navajo into submission would be aptly called by the Navajos The Fearing Time. With no surplus of food, and nowhere left to hide, the starving Navajos were gathered at Fort Defiance in Arizona and forced to march to the Bosque Redondo reservation, some 400 miles away, through dangerous river crossings and other perilous conditions. Over several marches, between the summer of 1863 and the winter of 1866, 11,500 Navajo were forwarded to Bosque Redondo. Around 8,500 reached Fort Sumner. Some escaped and fled west, some were captured by slave traders, and many died along the way. This time of suffering is remembered as The Long Walk. Online Visit bosqueredondomemorial.com for information on the memorial in Fort Stanton. For educators, there are virtual classrooms on nmhistoricsites.org/bosque-redondo. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.27 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Greece imported 577,520 tons of crude oil from Azerbaijan from January through May 2020, as compared to 83,000 tons for the same period of 2019, Eurostat told Trend. The country imported 139,000 tons of crude oil from Azerbaijan in January 2020, 90,000 tons in February, 265,693 tons in April and 83,520 tons in May. This is while in 2019, Greece imported 83,000 tons in April, 181,000 tons in July, 89,000 tons in November and 159,000 tons in December. Azerbaijan exported 2,023,202 tons of crude oil to EU countries in January 2020 and 2,112,208 tons in February 2020. 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 As Brad Pitts divorce from Angelina Jolie drags on into its fourth year, the Oscar-winner appears to have finally moved on to a new relationship. Cameras recently caught the 56-year-old actor with German model Nicole Poturalski on a romantic getaway. But, this isnt the first time Pitt and Poturalski have been spotted getting cozy together. Brad Pitt | Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images Brad Pitt and Nicole Poturalski are vacationing in the South of France According to The Daily Mail, Pitt and Poturalski traveled together in a private jet and were spotted at Frances Le Castellet Airport on August 26. It is believed that the couple is staying at Chateau Miraval, the estate he bought with Angelina back in 2011. The outlet published photos that showed Pitt wearing a white face mask, his signature flap cap, and sunglasses. The Once Upon A TimeIn Hollywood star looked stylish in a white t-shirt, a green button-up shirt, and gray pants. Angelina Jolie takes her six kids for dinner as Brad Pitt and model 'girlfriend' Nicole Poturalski vacation in France https://t.co/37iktOgX5j The Sun (@TheSun) August 28, 2020 Poturalski is an accomplished model and mom-of-one who has been on the covers of Cosmopolitan, Elle, and Marie Clare. The 27-year-old is reportedly fluent in five languages. She wore a black face mask with sunglasses and a hat. She also kept things casual with a white shirt, khakis, and a black jacket. An insider confirmed that Pitt and Poturalski are seeing each other, theyre enjoying a vacation together. The duo were pictured together at a Kanye West performance in November 2019 Since Pitt and Jolies split in September 2016, various outlets have linked the Fight Club star to everyone from Arrested Development star Alia Shawkat to his ex-wife, Jennifer Aniston. Even though Pitt is legally single, insiders insisted earlier this year that he hasnt dated anyone since his split from Jolie. However, cameras spotted him in November 2019 with Poturalski. They were together in a VIP box at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles for a Kanye West performance. Eyewitnesses claim the duo were deep in conversation while waiting for the concert to start, and Shawkat joined them later during the show. Brad Pitt, 56, and German model and Angelina Jolie lookalike Nicole Poturalski, 27, 'CONFIRM their romance' https://t.co/dt6hS1ANhn Daily Mail Celebrity (@DailyMailCeleb) August 27, 2020 RELATED: Angelina Jolie Accuses Brad Pitts Team Of Hiding a Little Secret in Their Ongoing Divorce Pitt later shut down rumors that he was dating Shawkat. But, Poturalski successfully flew under the radar. As fans look back at the photos now, it seems pretty clear they were enjoying each others company. At one point, Pitt and Poturalski appeared to get close as he sweetly touched her fingers. Nicole Poturalski is a proud mom with a long list of accomplishments Very little is known about Poturalskis relationship with Pitt, but Us Weekly has confirmed they are dating. The German beauty is a high-fashion model who is currently signed with Next Management in Los Angeles and A Management in Germany. While walking the catwalk over the past ten years, the Berlin-based model learned to become multilingual. Poturalski who goes by the first name Nico is from Bergkamen, Germany, and she is of Polish heritage. When she was 13, her goal was to become a marine biologist. But, after a talent scout spotted her at Disneyland Paris, her modeling career was born. She's a mom and an in-demand model! Meet Nicole Poturalski, the woman who's been spending time with Brad Pitt. https://t.co/DpPDD4ii4D pic.twitter.com/W6XUJ7igv5 Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) August 28, 2020 RELATED: Insider Claims Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt Were Planning For a Baby Before Angelina Jolie Came Into the Picture While modeling for designers like Vivienne Westwood, Poturalski finished school and founded an organization dedicated to helping sharks. Poturalski is also the proud mom of a son named Emil, who appears regularly on her Instagram page. Pitts team would not confirm that he is dating Poturalski because they dont comment on personal relationships. /* custom css */ .tdi_75_868.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_868 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_868.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_868.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_868.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Thursday warned that he would use the rule of law to ensure that any Fulani herdsman who dared to come to the state for vigilante group was jailed. Recall that the Fulani organisation, Miyeitti Allah Kauta Hore, had at a press conference in Abuja recently, vowed to establish vigilante group in all states of federation to combat insecurity. In his response to this, Ortom through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, warned the Fulani organisation not to come to his state, adding that their motive was to carry their heinous activities to another level. The association, while also reacting to the statement, threatened to drag the governor and Benue State to court unless he retracted the statement /* custom css */ .tdi_74_558.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_558 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_558.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_558.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_558.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } But Ortom, while speaking with journalists on Thursday, said, No Fulani group will come to Benue State where Im the governor; you people know that it is a lie, they cannot come. No room for vigilante group in whatever kind. When I confronted them, they said they would not use vigilante group of Nigeria. That one will not operate here. We have our own vigilante that operates here; we have community policing in which we are recruiting now and livestock guard that take care of herdsmen in active support with security men. So no single vigilante group of Miyeitti Allah will come to Benue State to make any noise here. For us in Benue State, we believe in the rule of law an we will jail them. A heroic Army dog is to receive the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross after he took out an Al Qaeda gunman allowing special forces to storm the enemy compound. Kuno, a Belgian shepherd malinois, was shot several times during the operation at the heavily- fortified terrorist base. But he showed extraordinary bravery to still take down the sniper with a military citation afterwards stating that the dog had 'changed the course of the attack'. He suffered severe wounds to both hind legs and received life-saving treatment in a helicopter after the night-time raid. However, the dog's left rear paw could not be saved. Kuno has now become the first UK military working dog to be fitted with a pioneering lightweight prosthetic limb, alongside an orthotic brace to support his other injured back leg. Kuno, a Belgian shepherd malinois, was shot several times during the operation at the heavily- fortified terrorist base He showed extraordinary bravery to still take down the sniper with a military citation afterwards stating that the dog had 'changed the course of the attack' The devices mean the three-year-old can still benefit from full movement and enjoy his regular runs on the beach now he is in retirement. The dog suffered life-threatening injuries in an operation to storm a Al Qaeda compound in mountainous terrain in April last year. The citation for Kuno said his bravery in tackling the sniper who was equipped with night vision equipment had allowed the assault force to swiftly enter a courtyard after landing by helicopter as grenades detonated around them. Kuno will be formally presented with his People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) Dickin medal by the veterinary charity in a virtual ceremony in November They were then able to neutralise the insurgent before clearing the remainder of the building. It added: 'Pinned down by grenade and machine-gun fire from an insurgent, the assault force was unable to move without taking casualties. 'Without hesitation, Kuno charged through a hail of gunfire to tackle the gunman, breaking the deadlock and changing the course of the attack, allowing the mission to be completed successfully.' Kuno will be formally presented with his People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) Dickin medal by the veterinary charity in a virtual ceremony in November. The honour is the highest in existence for military animal valour and was introduced by PDSA's founder, Maria Dickin, in 1943. Kuno will become the 72nd recipient of the medal, following 34 other dogs, as well as 32 Second World War messenger pigeons, four horses and one cat. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: 'Without Kuno, the course of this operation could have been very different, and it's clear he saved the lives of British personnel that day. 'Kuno's story reminds us not only of the dedicated service of our soldiers and military dogs, but also the great care that the UK Armed Forces provide to the animals that serve alongside them.' It is understood the Al Qaeda raid took place in Afghanistan when Kuno was working with the Special Boat Service. Kuno has now become the first UK military working dog to be fitted with a pioneering lightweight prosthetic limb, alongside an orthotic brace to support his other injured back leg He had already conducted 16 operations over a five-month period when he was injured. Kuno required several operations before he could be flown home on an RAF plane for reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation, receiving in-flight care from a Royal Army Veterinary Corps team. Back in the UK he was transferred to the Defence Animal Training Regiment in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, where he underwent further extensive surgery. The surgery was overseen by Dick White, one of the world's leading specialists in canine surgery and special professor of small animal surgery at the University of Nottingham. Kuno then embarked upon a lengthy programme of rehabilitation to restore function to his nerves and muscles just as any other injured service personnel would. Within a few months he was strong enough to be fitted with his bespoke prosthetic. Some 11,000 canines work in the Armed Forces doing everything from sniffing out drugs to attacking enemy combatants just as Kuno did. By PTI COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Friday decided to ban the import of plastic products in a bid to protect the environment and wildlife, a move likely to hit Indian plastic exports to the country. Environment minister Mahinda Amaraweera told Parliament that the proposed plastic product import ban - mainly on toys and household utensils - could also be extended to local manufacturing as well. The government's decision will have an impact on Indian plastic exports as Sri Lanka's main import sources of plastics are India, China and Thailand. He said plastic waste has a damaging effect on the island's wildlife. "Plastics are doing untold damage to our wildlife -- elephants, deer and other animals, We need to take immediate action to arrest this situation," Amaraweera said. Plastic waste had killed elephants and the deer in large numbers. Autopsies have shown plastics deposited in their stomachs. Sri Lanka in 2017 banned the manufacture or import of non-biodegradable plastic used for wrapping food and shopping bags. Sri Lanka has already placed import restrictions on non essential goods -- a move resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic's adverse economic effects. A recently freed Taliban fighter has called for "flexibility" in peace negotiations that are expected to start soon between the militants and the Afghan government. After spending six years in prison, a 27-year-old named Muslim Afghan was released as part of a U.S.-Taliban deal that calls for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan. The ex-prisoner says that after almost 19 years of war, the violence must end for the sake of the country's children, like his young nephew. KYODO NEWS - Aug 28, 2020 - 02:09 | All, Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will hold a press conference from 5 p.m. Friday, his office said Thursday, in what some ruling party lawmakers believe is an attempt to dispel concerns about his health. Holding his first press conference at his office in Tokyo since June 18, Abe is expected to provide an explanation about his recent hospital visits and the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic, according to government officials. Abe has largely stayed out of the public eye in recent weeks. He has only held press conferences on the occasions of the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug. 6 and Aug. 9, respectively, taking a few questions from reporters each day. The 65-year-old premier made two visits to Keio University Hospital this month, later saying he underwent health checkups and was briefed on the results. He had declined to go into details then and said he would speak at a later date. Abe's first stint as prime minister from 2006 to 2007 was cut short due to ulcerative colitis, an intestinal disease that can cause stomach pain, diarrhea and extreme fatigue. He returned to power in 2012 with the help of a new medicine, and on Monday broke the record for longest consecutive tenure as premier. A senior member of the governing Liberal Democratic Party said Thursday that Abe "appears to have suffered a flare-up of the disease but is already on the mend." "I cannot imagine he will step down" at this point, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Abe's current term as LDP leader -- and thus prime minister -- expires in September 2021. In Friday's press conference, Abe will also announce new measures to fight the coronavirus including plans to secure enough vaccines for all residents in Japan by the first half of 2021, according to a government document obtained by Kyodo News. The measures will include greatly expanding the country's testing capacity to conduct mass testing on healthcare providers and nursing home staff in regions that are seeing a rise in new infections. The government will review its guidelines for recommending COVID-19 patients to be hospitalized, prioritizing those with severe symptoms and asking those with mild or no symptoms to self-isolate at home and in designated lodging facilities. It wants to ensure that enough hospital beds are secured for severe cases in anticipation of a scenario in which Japan is also hit by an influenza outbreak in the winter, according to the document. Abe is also likely to refer to a plan to reshuffle his Cabinet and executives of the LDP, of which he is president. Abe last did so last September, but retained key members such as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and LDP Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai. Related coverage: Abe ties Sato for longest uninterrupted term as Japan PM Japan PM Abe eyes holding press conference on Fri.: officials Japan PM Abe revisits Tokyo hospital 1 week after "regular checkup" A dear friend of Rotary, who is a past Conroe Rotary Club President with a brilliant sense of humor and a very dry wit, recently did a hilarious Facebook post, venting a bit about our current global situation. Can we all relate? This was posted just as the double threat hurricanes were approaching the Texas Gulf Coast. He said in part its 2020 so why shouldnt we have a double hurricane? (After all, we have...) worldwide pandemic, wildfires in California ... my grandkids cant attend school, everyone looks like a bank robber, locust swarms in Africa and Asia... He went on with more personal and very funny musings before closing with I will not be shocked when a UFO lands before year-end and we have an alien invasion! Cmon man! We all had a great laugh and thanked him for so perfectly putting into words what we were all thinking which was (and is)... What Next? Cmon Universe - give us a break! Our Rotary Club meetings have had many shake our heads, cmon man moments too as we try to maintain our distance and still help the community. How do we help when we cant engage on a personal face to face basis, when we cant hold our usual fundraisers and when so many of our schools and hospitals cant let us in to volunteer? Not an easy task - but after a little time getting off the ground, were finding ways to help. The Rotary Club of Lake Conroe is continuing their monthly work days at Memory Park. With a dozen or so volunteers arriving shortly after sunrise and finishing before the heat of the day, the parks four acres allow plenty of room to spread out in the wide open spaces. Such a gorgeous place to get in some service hours while taking in the beauty of Mother Nature. The club is also working on a project to take puzzles, books and activity books to a senior living center in Montgomery. Additionally, theyve made monetary donations to both Meals on Wheels and The Montgomery County Food Bank. The Conroe Club is taking a different approach with two projects that begin today. The club will have collection boxes set up in the lobby area of Honor Cafe in downtown Conroe. One box will be for Meals on Wheels - the club is collecting non perishable food items that MOW will use to create care packages for seniors. The second box will be for Camp Hope, an organization that helps Veterans with PTSD transition into health and happiness. Camp Hope needs mens toiletries - shampoo, deodorant, shaving kits, etc - and snack items with a good shelf life, such as beef jerky, peanut butter crackers, cookies and the like. The club hopes to transition into hands on volunteering with these organizations once the virus situation allows that to happen. Club President Chris Sadler hopes that as the word spreads about the collection boxes that the bins will overflow with donations from the community and patrons of the restaurant, as well as Rotarians as they arrive for club meetings each Tuesday. For more information, contact Chris at chris@honorcafe.us. The Rotary Club of The Woodlands continues to operate its wonderful project, The Woodlands Rotary House, day in and day out, helping patients (and their families) as they receive treatment in the Woodlands (and Conroe) Medical Center Hospitals. Club members help the guests upon arrival and any time during their stay that assistance is needed. As a large club with 200+ members, RCW has groups of members doing projects in smaller groups to make an impact in their communities south of the river, including many projects to feed the hungry. Its taken some creative, out-of-the-box thinking, but as this crazy year rolls on, were finding new ways to lend a hand and continue Service Above Self. Thank you Rotarians and Lions and Kiwanions and all the others in our community who continue to find ways to serve. Youre doing A Beautiful Thing! Mark Mulligan/Staff photographer The fire in Westlake, La. that broke out after chlorine leaked from a BioLab during Hurricane Laura was brought under control Friday afternoon and the shelter-in-place order issued by Louisiana authorities was lifted. The blaze, created by chlorine that broke down and heated up, created a gas plume that hovered over the area. Louisiana officials said that while environmental regulators did not detect chlorine gas at ground level where it could be inhaled, the shelter-in-place was issued because the risk was unknown. Louisiana State Police on Friday said the order was lifted after the fire was contained and no longer posed a threat to motorists or residents. The latest coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Friday. This file will be updated throughout the day. Web links to longer stories if available. 8:30 p.m.: British Columbia reported 124 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, setting a new daily record. In a joint news release, Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say active cases have ticked up to 974 in B.C. They reported no new deaths, leaving the death toll in the province at 204. They say public health workers are monitoring nearly 2,800 people after exposure to known cases. There are 23 people in hospital, while 4,310 people who tested positive have recovered. The health officials say the outbreak of COVID-19 on Haida Gwaii has been declared over, with no new cases detected for two incubation periods for the virus. Read more here: B.C. hits new daily record, reporting 124 cases of COVID-19 on Friday 7 p.m. The federal government is extending travel restrictions by one month to limit the spread of COVID-19. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said Friday on Twitter that existing restrictions on international travel to Canada would be extended to Sept. 30. Blair says Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are returning home to Canada will continue to be subjected to strict quarantine measures. Travellers coming to Canada will still be asked whether they have a cough, fever or are having difficulty breathing. New arrivals are required to quarantine for 14 days if they dont have symptoms, or isolate for 14 days if they do. Canada has taken steps to stem the flow of foreign nationals into the country by restricting discretionary travel, including for tourism, recreation and entertainment. Blair said in his tweet that the extension is to limit the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in our communities. Read more here: Canada extends COVID-19 restrictions on international travel until Sept. 30 5 p.m. Ontarios regional health units are reporting another 117 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, which together accounted for the only health units to report double-digit case growth: Peel Region, with 32 new cases; Toronto, at 26; and Ottawa, at 17. The seven-day average for daily case reports in Ontario has been rising in recent days. On Friday, it fell slightly to an average of 113 cases daily over the last week, up from 86 cases per day just two weeks prior. 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. No new fatal cases were reported Friday. However, Toronto reported another seven older fatal cases, identified through routine data quality assurance work. Those deaths happened in April, the health unit said. The city has now seen a total of 1,174 deaths. The province has now seen a total of 44,060 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19, including 2,846 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, although that number has been going up in recent days. The Stars count includes some patients reported as probable COVID-19 cases. This means 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. In the event of a discrepancy, data reported by (the health units) should be considered the most up to date. 4:30 p.m.: Six months into the pandemic, there is talk of reexamining the six-ft. social-distancing guideline. The BMJ released a report on Tuesday arguing six feet is only a minimum for safe social distancing. Instead of one official distance, researchers suggested a graded recommendation depending on factors including whether someone is singing versus talking or interacting indoors or outdoors. Dr. Emily Landon, executive medical director of infection prevention and control at the University of Chicago Medicine, said the paper could be a helpful resource. I think this is a great chart that sort of gives you an understanding of why we have to keep the 6 feet (rule), Landon said. She explained that COVID-19 is a virus spread through droplets, which dont usually travel past six feet. Although it is detected in aerosols, like coughing or sneezing, its still unclear how much transmission is driven by those methods. Researchers created a chart within the report by which people can gauge the level of risk for indoor or outdoor gatherings, and whether someone is wearing a mask. Landon said the report could be helpful for people to calculate risk factors, like how many people are in a room and how far away we stand from one another. Read more here: A new report said six feet may not be enough for social distance. Heres what doctors said 2:45 p.m.: Canadas chief public health officer says families should expect to see cases of COVID-19 in schools as children head back to class in the coming weeks. Dr. Theresa Tam says it is important that each school have a plan and that everyone knows what to do when theres an outbreak of the novel coronavirus. At a media briefing in Ottawa today, she says it is normal to feel stressed about the fact many students are returning to classrooms. But she emphasizes that planning and awareness can help ease anxiety. Tam says while Canada generally has quite low levels of COVID-19, it doesnt mean families wont have lots of questions about being back in a classroom. She says parents face difficult decisions and that carefully weighing the risks and benefits is of paramount importance. Read more here: Families brace for school, work disruptions as cold and flu season nears 2 p.m.: Ontario teachers are denouncing what they describe as the botched implementation of the provinces new math curriculum, saying theyve had little guidance on material theyre expected to teach in just a few weeks. It would be a challenging task in the best of times, they said, but the uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has made it untenable. It just seems that our plans are not where they should be, and the math is one more piece that hasnt really been properly prepared, said Karl Fernandes, a Grade 4 and 5 teacher at a Catholic school in Toronto. And of all the things that we have to tend to right now, a new math program seems to be the one that you could put pause on. And yet, we seem to be told, Just go right ahead. Ontarios Ministry of Education unveiled the much-hyped new curriculum in late June, in Premier Doug Fords latest move to bolster the floundering math scores that were a key talking point in his 2018 election campaign. The curriculum, part of a $200-million back to basics math strategy, incorporates learning to code, expanded learning on financial literacy, and a return to memorizing multiplication tables. The government said students will also now only get one overall mark for math instead of separate marks for each strand. A spokeswoman for Education Minister Stephen Lecce did not respond to a request for comment on the teachers concerns, but pointed to the ministers announcement of curriculum details earlier in the summer, when he said the province must take action immediately to bolster math scores. 1:30 p.m.: Ontario is back above 1,100 cases of COVID-19 for the first time in three weeks as the number of new infections continued to climb, hospitalizations rose 27 per cent and six new deaths were reported Friday, the highest since early July. There were 122 new cases, an increase of four from the previous day, along with 12 more Ontarians admitted to hospital with confirmed or suspected cases of the highly contagious illness, for a total of 61, the Ministry of Health reported Friday. Cases of people recently testing positive and actively fighting the virus have increased by 100 since last Saturday to 1,103 and follow warnings from medical officers in Toronto and Peel that an uptick in COVID-19 in their municipalities means residents must improve their precautions. Active cases fell to a recent low of 891 on Aug. 13. The Stars Rob Ferguson has the full story. 1:20 p.m.: Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting its first case of COVID-19 since Aug. 10. The new case involves a woman under the age of 19 in the provinces eastern health region, which includes St. Johns. Authorities said today the new case is related to international travel and the infected person is isolating. The province says the individual, who is a resident of Newfoundland and Labrador, had recently returned from Asia. Officials say 265 people have recovered from COVID-19 and three people have died from the virus in the province. Mask-wearing became mandatory in indoor public places across the province on Aug. 24. 1:05 p.m.: The Ontario government is asking the provinces school boards to try to spend $50 million to upgrade air quality in schools by Thanksgiving. The request comes in a memo sent to boards by the Ministry of Education earlier this week. The government announced the $50 million in funding for ventilation upgrades earlier this month and is urging boards to speed up spending. The memo also outlines best practices to improve air quality, including opening school windows to increase air flow and using portable air filtration units where possible. The co-founder of advocacy group Fix Our Schools says the timeline will be difficult for school boards to meet given how late in the summer the funding has been allocated. Krista Wylie says the guidelines also fail to take into account the poor condition many older schools are in, making the standards difficult for many boards to achieve. 1 p.m.: Nova Scotia is reporting two new cases of COVID-19. Health officials said today the two people infected are located in the northern health zone and are connected to previously reported cases. There are five active cases of the novel coronavirus in the province. Nova Scotia has reported a total of 1,083 COVID-19 infections and 65 deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus. The province says 1,013 cases are considered resolved and says there are no patients in hospital being treated for the disease. Nova Scotia has reported 73,837 negative COVID-19 test results. 12:20 p.m.: Levee breaches from Hurricane Katrina dumped almost two metres of water into the New Orleans home of Mary Duplessis and her husband in 2005. The house was uninhabitable. Rebuilding meant piles of paperwork in a mountain of bureaucracy. She didnt return to the city for a year. But as the 15th anniversary of the storm approaches, and as another monster storm narrowly missed the city, its not memories of Katrina that weigh on Duplessis mind. Its the coronavirus. Black New Orleanians account for 60 per cent of the citys population but 77 per cent of its coronavirus-related deaths as of June, according to a study by The Data Center, a New Orleans-area think-tank. Among contributing factors, the study found: African Americans are more likely to live in multigenerational homes where its harder to self-isolate, and a larger proportion fill essential jobs that potentially put them in contact with infected people. 12 p.m.: New Brunswick is reporting one new case of COVID-19. Health officials said today the case involves an individual between the age of 10 and 19 who is located in the Saint John area. Officials say the case is travel-related and the infected person is isolating. The province has reported a total of 191 cases of COVID-19, 182 of which are considered recovered. There have been two deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus and there are currently seven active cases of COVID-19 in the province. As of today, 60,598 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in New Brunswick. 11:30 a.m.: The WestJet Group is implementing a strict new policy to ensure passengers wear a mask on its flights including the possibility of being denied travel for a year if they refuse. The airline is also requiring the input of all guests contact information at online and kiosk check-in to help with contact tracing in the case of infected individuals on board a flight. The WestJet Group includes WestJet, WestJet Encore, WestJet Link and Swoop. Passengers have been required to wear a mask during travel since April to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. 11:20 a.m. (updated): Ontario is reporting 122 new cases of COVID-19 and six new deaths related to the coronavirus. The total number of cases now stands at 41,935, which includes 2,809 deaths and 38,023 cases marked as resolved. There were 83 cases newly marked as resolved in todays report. The province says 61 people are currently in hospital with the virus and 18 are in intensive care. It says 12 people are on ventilators. The province was able to complete 31,823 tests in the previous day. 11 a.m.: Quebec is reducing the mandatory isolation period required for people infected with COVID-19 from 14 days to 10. Health authorities said today the change was made in response to evolving science regarding the transmission and the duration of contagiousness of the novel coronavirus. As of today, people can end their isolation period 10 days after their first symptoms appear, or 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19 if they dont show symptoms. Public health adds, however, that people must also meet other criteria to end their isolation, including having no fever for at least 48 hours, and having no symptoms for at least a day other than coughing or loss of taste. The new rules apply only to confirmed COVID-19 cases involving people who are isolated at home and whose symptoms are considered mild or moderate. Those who are in preventive isolation due to being in contact with a confirmed case must still isolate for 14 days to see if symptoms develop. 10:30 a.m.: Ontario is reporting 122 new COVID-19 cases, as the province processed more than 31,800 tests, Health Minister Christine Elliott tweeted. Locally, 29 of Ontarios 34 public health units are reporting five or fewer cases, with 17 reporting no new cases. (more details to come) 10:10 a.m.: On Thursday, the Toronto District School Board permitted tours of two schools to show how principals and staff are figuring out all the complications COVID brings how to screen students in the morning without delaying the start of the day, keeping kids physically distant in the halls and classrooms, and handling lunch and recess safely. Read the full story from the Stars Kristin Rushowy. 9:50 a.m.: An upcoming Formula One race in Italy could be open to 3,000 fans. Tuscany region president Enrico Rossi says local health authorities have approved limited spectators for the Tuscan Grand Prix on Sept. 13. Rossi tells the Gazzetta dello Sport the circuit contains three big tribunes that are well spaced apart so the limit of 1,000 people per the national rules on public events can reasonably be considered as the capacity limit for each tribune. Official government approval is expected by Saturday. Fans will have their temperature taken upon arrival and be asked to observe social distancing procedures and wear masks if it is approved. The only spectators at the Italian GP in Monza a week earlier will be 250 specially invited health workers. 9:02 a.m. An LCBO employee at the 2803 Dundas Street W. location near Keele and Dundas has tested positive for COVID-19, the LCBO says. A notice was posted on the LCBOs website on Thursday. Its been two weeks since the employee last worked at the store in the Junction. The location remains open. 8:47 a.m.: U.S. consumers increased their spending by 1.9 per cent last month, a dose of support for an economy struggling to emerge from the grip of a pandemic that has held back a recovery and kept roughly 27 million people jobless. The July gain marked the third straight monthly increase in consumer spending, the primary driver of the U.S. economy, but represented a slowdown from the previous two months. Fridays report from the Commerce Department also showed that income rose 0.4 per cent in July after two months of declines. The consumer spending report arrives amid a hazy economic landscape, with high unemployment, struggling businesses and deep uncertainty about when the health crisis will be solved and when people and companies will feel confident enough to spend and hire normally again. It also comes weeks after the expiration of a $600-a-week federal unemployment benefit deprived millions of a key source of income and dimmed the outlook for consumer spending. The economy, after a catastrophic fall in the April-June quarter, is likely expanding again. Home and auto sales have been strong. Stock prices have set record highs. A persistently high level of confirmed viral cases has damaged several industries, especially those involved with travel, tourism and entertainment, and is holding back growth. On Thursday, the government reported that roughly 1 million people applied for unemployment benefits last week a historically high level that has prevailed for weeks. 8:38 a.m.: Statistics Canada says the economy posted its steepest decline on record in the second quarter as the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of non-essential businesses and slowed the economy to a crawl. The agency says real gross domestic product contracted at an annualized rate of 38.7 per cent for the three-month period. Economists had expected a contraction in the quarter at an annualized rate of 39.6 per cent, according to financial markets data firm Refinitiv. Almost every single component of the economy that works into calculating GDP was at its lowest point over April, May and June driven largely by lockdowns in April. Economic output rebounded in May by 4.8 per cent, and the agency says June posted an increase of 6.5 per cent. The agencys preliminary estimate for July indicates a three-per-cent increase in real GDP. 8:24 a.m.: Cyclings governing body has relaxed its COVID-19 exclusion rules on the eve of the Tour de France opening stage following complaints from teams that feared their riders would be unduly excluded from the race. After meeting with team officials, the UCI said Friday that a team wont be automatically sent home if two of its riders test positive for the virus as was initially planned. According to the revised protocol, it will be up to Tour de France organizers to decide whether to throw a whole team out of the race. In the case of two or more riders from the same team testing positive for COVID-19 within a period of seven days at a Grand Tour, the UCI will give the event organiser authorisation to announce the withdrawal of the team for health reasons, the UCI said. Four staff members of the Belgian team Lotto-Soudal were sent home Thursday after non-negative coronavirus tests. The team said a mechanic and a member of the rider support staff returned one positive and one suspicious result. Both left the race bubble along with their roommates. 8:07 a.m.: Peru has set another grim record by reporting the highest number of deaths per capita from the coronavirus. With 28,277 confirmed deaths from COVID-19, or 86.2 per 100,000 inhabitants, Peru on Thursday overtook Belgium as the nation with the most victims, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, the IMF and Bloomberg. It comes a week after the South American nation of 33 million posted the worlds deepest economic contraction in the second quarter following a drastic lockdown. More than five months after reporting its first case, Peru has one of the worlds worst outbreaks by other measures too. Over the past seven days, no country has posted more cases. Its also among nations with most fatalities by population size over the past week. The outbreak has been so bad that as much as a quarter of Limas 12 million population may have already had the virus, according to a government study published last month. Officials warn the countrys real death toll may be close to double the official figure. Yet there are signs Peru may be past the worst of the pandemic. While the country reported 153 deaths on Thursday, the number of hospitalized patients had fallen 9.2 per cent from a peak reached 10 days earlier. Despite locking the entire country down early and aggressively, the government has struggled to get control of its outbreak. Cases surged after lock-down measures were eased in July, prompting a ban on social and family gatherings and also delaying plans for reopening the economy. 7:51 a.m.: The International Judo Federation says it is restarting events which should feed into qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. International judo events started to be affected by the coronavirus in February when Chinese teams withdrew from competing in Europe. Cancellations began in March. The governing body says World Judo Tour events will be organized in Budapest, Hungary, in late-October and Tokyo in December. The IJF says the events aim to offer qualification points for the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games. Some continental-level competitions are also planned later in 2020. 7:50 a.m.: A player has tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of a womens tennis tournament in Prague. Tournament director David Trunda says the unidentified player was isolating in her hotel room and will be re-tested. Trunda says the player didnt meet any other participants in the tournament. All 150 players are tested on arrival and have to wait in their hotel rooms for the results. The event is for players who would have been at the U.S. Open qualifying tournament. It opens on Saturday. U.S. Open qualifying was cancelled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. 6:18 a.m.: Statistics Canada will report this morning how the national economy fared in the second quarter of 2020, which is widely expected to show the steepest drop on record due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The countrys central bank has forecast that April, May and June would be the worst three-month stretch for the economy this year, since those months span the height of prevention-related shutdowns. Financial data firm Refinitiv says the average economist estimate is for a 39.6-per-cent plunge compared to the same period in 2019. Much of that drop will be driven by shutdowns beginning in April that have since been rolled back. Last month, Statistics Canada released a preliminary estimate that economic output rose five per cent in June, following an increase in May. Refinitiv says average economist expectations are for an increase in output of 5.6 per cent in June. 6:12 a.m.: Australias hard-hit Victoria state has reported 113 new coronavirus cases for a second consecutive day, with authorities warning that the infection rate will have to fall substantially if a six-week lockdown is to be relaxed on schedule on Sept. 13. The latest daily tallies are the lowest in more than eight weeks, with a peak of 725 in early August. The latest death toll dropped to 12 from 23 on Thursday. Thursdays was the third-highest toll of the pandemic. Authorities want daily infections to fall at least to low double-digits before they would consider relaxing restrictions. Elsewhere in Australia, the federal health department said there were 18 new cases. New South Wales state recorded 13, Queensland three and Western Australia two. 6:11 a.m.: China began moving into its final weekend before a full re-opening of schools amid continuing measures to prevent any further spread of the coronavirus. The country reported just nine new cases on Friday, all brought from outside the country. Hospitals are treating 288 people for COVID-19 and another 361 are being monitored in isolation for showing signs of the illness or having tested positive for the virus without displaying symptoms. China has reported 85,013 cases since the virus was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, with 4,634 dying from COVID-19. The roughly 25 per cent of students still out of school are due to return to classes on Monday. Classes are being held on a staggered schedule and mask wearing and social distancing are required. College undergraduates are also due to return to campus next week, with Beijing ordering tests for all 600,000 taking up places at the citys institutions. 6:10 a.m.: South Korea is tightening social distancing restrictions in the greater capital area, requiring restaurants to provide only delivery and takeout after 9 p.m. and shutting down gyms and after-school academies. Health Minister Park Neung-hoo announced the plans Friday after the country reported 371 new infections of COVID-19, marking its 15th straight day of triple digit jumps and bringing national totals to 19,077 reported cases, including 316 deaths. The measures will be imposed for eight days starting Sunday. Park said more than 470,000 businesses in the Seoul area will be affected by the measures. 6:10 a.m.: India has recorded another high of 77,266 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, raising the countrys total to more than 3.38 million reported cases. Nearly 47 per cent of Indias virus cases were detected this month alone. The Health Ministry on Friday also reported 1,057 deaths for a total of 61,529. India has been recording more than 60,000 new infections per day for nearly three weeks. Indias previous highest daily count was 75,760 on Wednesday. With up to 900,000 tests every day, Indias cumulative tests reached 39 million on Thursday, the ministry said. 6:10 a.m.: Londons Gatwick Airport says it doesnt expect air traffic to return to pre-pandemic levels for four or five years after passenger volume dropped 66 per cent in the first half of the year. The capitals second-biggest airport said Friday that just 7.5 million people travelled through Gatwick in the first six months of 2020, down from 22.2 million in the same period last year. Gatwick says it has already eliminated 740 jobs and expects to cut another 600 during the third quarter. CEO Stewart Wingate says, like any other international airport, the negative impact of COVID-19 on our passenger numbers and air traffic at the start of the year was dramatic and, although there are small signs of recovery, it is a trend we expect to continue to see. 6:09 a.m.: Chancellor Angela Merkel is cautioning that the coronavirus crisis will make life more difficult in the coming months than it has been over the summer and is calling on Germans to continue taking the threat seriously. Germanys response to the virus is generally viewed as relatively successful, but the country has seen a pickup in new infections in recent weeks, as have many others in Europe. Merkel said Friday: We have to expect that some things will be even more difficult in the coming months than in the summer. She said it is important to keep infections down as people increasingly meet indoors. She told reporters in Berlin that we will have to keep living with the virus. The long-time German leader said she had three priorities, including ensuring that children can continue access education despite the pandemic, ensuring economic revival, and maintaining social cohesion at a time when many in society are suffering hardship. 6:07 a.m.: A group of COVID-19 modellers says the British Columbia government should increase physical distancing measures to help it more safely reopen schools next month. Paul Tupper, a mathematician with Simon Fraser Universitys MAGPIE Research Group, says physical distancing has already been relaxed too much, putting schools at risk of possibly becoming centres for new outbreaks. Our predictions are that right now were set for exponential growth to levels higher than we have seen before in B.C., and thats even if we do nothing, even if we just keep things as they are, Tupper said in an interview last week. Friday 12:03 a.m. Venezuelan security forces and authorities under President Nicolas Maduro have used the coronavirus as an excuse to crack down on dissenting voices on social media and even in private messages, Human Rights Watch reported Friday. The New York-based rights group said Venezuelan authorities have targeted dozens of journalists, healthcare workers, human rights lawyers and political opponents critical of the governments response to the pandemic. Some critics have been physically abused to levels bordering on torture, the group said in a report listing 162 such cases from March through June. Human Rights Watch says it verified several complaints through interviews with alleged victims, while also citing reports by Venezuelan media and human rights advocates. In Venezuela today, you cant even share a private message criticizing the Maduro government via WhatsApp without fear of being prosecuted, said Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. The state of emergency has emboldened security forces and armed pro-government groups that already have a record of torture and extrajudicial killings to crack down even more harshly on Venezuelans, Vivanco said. Thursday 5 p.m.: Ontarios regional health units are reporting another 147 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, most new cases in the province were reported in the GTA and Ottawa. Toronto, with 33 new infections, Peel Region, with 27 cases, Ottawa, at 22, and York Region, 14, all reported in the double digits Thursday. Windsor-Essex also reported 12 cases, well above that regions recent trend. The seven-day average for daily case reports in Ontario has been rising in recent days. On Thursday, it jumped to an average of 117 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. No new fatal cases were reported Thursday; one previously listed death was removed from the tally in Peel, where the region has reported a total of 326 fatal cases. The province has now seen a total of 43,943 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19, including 2,839 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, although that total has been going up in recent days. The Stars count includes some patients reported as probable COVID-19 cases. This means 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. In the event of a discrepancy, data reported by (the health units) should be considered the most up to date. - Read Thursdays rolling file NEET, JEE mains 2020: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren wrote to Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhrial Nishank on Thursday, urging him to postpone the JEE and NEET. Soren said that since there is no way to detect and prevent a COVID-positive candidate from appearing in the examination, it would put the rest of the people present in a venue at the risk of being infected. ...conduct of examinations of this scale would require public transport and hospitality units such as hotels, lodges and restaurants to function smoothly and optimally because of the movement of a large number of examinees and their guardians, he said. However, the state government has neither permitted public buses to resume services nor allowed the opening of hotels and restaurants in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, he added. Thus the examinees and their guardians are likely to face serious logistic issues, the chief minister said. Soren further said that there would be some examinees who live in containment zones and it will be difficult for them to move out of the area. In view of the above, I would earnestly request you to kindly consider postponing these two examinations in the public interest, he said in the letter. The letter came a day after seven chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states, including Soren, 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. The government has defended its move to go ahead with the exams despite mounting pressure to defer them, saying that over two-thirds of candidates have downloaded the admit cards which shows that students want these exams to be conducted at any cost. Congress and various opposition parties have demanded that NEET and JEE be deferred due to the COVID-19 pandemic and floods in parts of the country. While the JEE-Main is scheduled from September 1-6, NEET will be held on September 13. The Supreme Court on Thursday said that its 2004 verdict disallowing states from further sub-classifying the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes needed to be revisited by a bench of seven judges or more The legal debate over the 'quota within quota' concept is set to resume after the Supreme Court on Thursday said that the benefits of reservations were only going to certain groups within Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, and held that states should be allowed to provide preferential treatment to the poorest of the poor among SCs and STs. The top court observed that the benefit of quota by and large is not percolating down to the "neediest and poorest of the poor" and it was crystal clear that creamy layer concept for excluding affluent people can be applied to SCs and STs as well. The Supreme Court also said that its 2004 verdict holding that states do not have the power to further sub-classify the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for grant of quotas needed to be revisited by a bench of seven judges or more, and referred the case to the Chief Justice of India. "There are unequals within SCs/STs and socially and educationally backward classes. Reports indicate that SCs/STs do not constitute a homogenous group. The aspiration of equal treatment of the lowest strata, to whom the fruits of the reservation have not effectively reached, remains a dream. At the same time, various castes by and large remain where they were, and they remain unequals. Are they destined to carry their backwardness till eternity?" the court wondered as per a Deccan Herald report. Reservation was not contemplated for all the time by the framers of the Constitution. On the one hand, there is no exclusion of those who have come up, on the other hand, if sub-classification is denied, it would defeat right to equality by treating unequal as equal, the top court said, according to PTI. It further said, The State cannot be deprived of the power to take care of the qualitative and quantitative difference between different classes to take ameliorative measures." What is the creamy layer? The concept of the 'creamy layer' was introduced by the Supreme Court in its landmark 1993 Indra Sawhney verdict (also known as the Mandal Commission case). The court, while giving OBCs 27 percent reservations in government jobs, excluded those belonging to this segment. In 2018, the apex court under then CJI Dipak Misra, for the first time and in a controversial decision, introduced the 'creamy layer' concept for SCs and STs. The bench, in its ruling, contended that being part of the creamy layer allows Dalits and Adivasis to come out of untouchability or backwardness. Those earning above Rs 8 lakh are said to belong to the creamy layer and are thus ineligible for benefits in government jobs and educational institutions. The government, in July, said it was considering revising the creamy layer ceiling for OBCs to Rs 12 lakh. How SCs, STs are classified As per article 341(1) of the Constitution, the President of India, after consultation with a governor, may specify, the castes, races, tribes or parts of groups within castes or races, which shall be deemed to be Scheduled Castes. Accordingly, the President has notified the Scheduled Castes in the order called Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order-1950 and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes List (Modification) Order-1956'. However, under Article 341(2), the Parliament of India by law can include or exclude the groups from the list of the Scheduled Castes. What prompted Thursday's judgement? As per News18, the apex court on Thursday was hearing the Punjab government's appeal against a 2010 judgement by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which struck down Section 4(5) of the Punjab Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes (Reservation in Services) Act, 2006, as unconstitutional. Section 4(5) of the Act provided for first preference to the Balmikis and Mazbhi Sikhs castes in Punjab for Scheduled Caste reservations in public services. On Thursday, a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra said the 2004 verdict of a bench of same strength in the EV Chinnaiah case had held that states cannot give preference to certain Scheduled Castes as it would amount to tinkering with the Presidential list of SCs and STs under the Constitution, and this required to be relooked. The court had relied on Chinnaiah's judgement, saying only Parliament, not state legislatures, can exclude castes deemed to be Scheduled Castes from the Presidential List under Article 341 of the Constitution, as per News18. What is Centre' stand on the issue According to PTI, in December 2019, the Narendra Modi govt urged CJI Sharad A Bobde Supreme Court to reconsider its stand that socially, educationally and economically advanced creamy layer of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) communities should be excluded from the benefits of reservation in government services. As per a report published in The Hindu in 2019, the "Centre's believes that the creamy layer will become a ruse to deprive the backward classes of the benefit of reservation". The report also quoted then Attorney-General of India, KK Venugopal, saying that "the SC/ST community as a whole still continues to bear the yoke of centuries old backwardness". With inputs from PTI Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on August 27 the country strongly opposed any behaviour that would increase tensions in the East Sea. Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga. (Photo: kyodonews.net) He made the statement when asked to comment on Chinas launch of anti-ship ballistic missiles into the East Sea on August 26. Japan has been watching Chinas recent moves in the East Sea with concern, he said, adding that issues in the waters are directly related to regional peace and security, which are legitimate interests of the international community, including Japan. On August 26, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang answered reporters questions about Vietnams response to Chinas conduct of military exercises in seas to the north-northeast of Vietnams Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago. She made it clear that China holding military drills in the Hoang Sa region violated Vietnams sovereignty over the archipelago and ran counter to the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and also complicated the situation, which is unfavourable for ongoing negotiations between China and 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 Hoang Sa archipelago, stop and not repeat such violations, Hang said./.VNA Pharmaceutical companies have raised concerns over some aspects of the governments production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for drugs, which intends to lower dependence on raw material from China. Representatives of the pharmaceutical industry will make a presentation to the Department of Pharmaceuticals and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Mint reported. "There are certain challenges and issues that the pharma industry is facing with the scheme such as the applicant should have a minimum net worth, including group companies; 30 percent of proposed investment is eligible to apply for incentives; and non-allowance of brownfield category. The scheme should also allow existing manufacturers with some incentives," the report qouted BR Sikri, Chairman, ABS Mercantile, as saying. Only 'greenfield' investments, or funding of new facilities, are eligible under the scheme. "There is 65 percent of sale price marking in the scheme. The threshold investment should not be treated as double and this needs to get reconsideration. Maximum incentive per eligible product and per selected applicant need justifications on investment versus return," Sikri added. The Department of Pharmaceuticals said the PLI scheme, notified in July, intends to boost local manufacturing of identified key starting materials (KSMs), drug intermediates (DIs) and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Financial incentives under the PLI scheme are awarded based on sales made by selected manufacturers for 41 products. The Department of Pharmaceuticals and CDSCO said they are open to making modifications in the scheme after discussions with the industry, the report stated. "For the PLI scheme for bulk drugs around Rs 7,160 crore have been sanctioned. The government does not want players who are not interested but are still making an application without any financial back up, which is the reason for setting up the minimum investment threshold, else the scheme will fail," S Eswara Reddy, Joint Drug Controller, CDSCO told the paper. A woman sought in connection with a domestic shooting in Auburn Friday morning has surrendered. Auburn police identified the suspect as 28-year-old Mary M. Williams. The shooting happened about 11 a.m. Friday at a business in the 100 block of Alabama Street. Additional details about the shooting have not been released, but authorities said one person was injured. Williams was last seen leaving the area in a white, four-door CLA250 Mercedes with Alabama license plate JFR957. She was wearing a blue shirt and green pants. Shortly before 4:30 p.m., Williams, surrendered herself to members of the Auburn Police Division and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force without incident. Subsequently, Williams was arrested on a felony warrant for first-degree domestic violence and was transported to the Lee County Detention Facility where she is held on $30,000 bond. Wiz Connected is a smart lighting company known for its affordable smart lighting products. Apart from announcing new smart lights, Wiz is also debuting its presence in Europe, including the UK. Last year, Wiz was acquired by Signify, the company behind the Philips Hue brand. Unlike the Philips Hue, the Wiz products are available at a much lower price and are simpler to setup. More importantly, Wiz doesnt collect personal data like names, mobile numbers, and e-mails. Wiz smart lights now available in Europe The newest addition to the Wizs smart lighting portfolio is LED filament bulbs. These bulbs look similar to the vintage Edison light bulbs but come with all the smart features that make them so special. With the new Wi-Fi and Bluetooth dual-protocol chip, these are described as being easier to set up and more reliable. Advertisement The LED filament bulbs come in Amber & Clear versions with E27 and B22 base options. Besides, they also directly connect to Wi-Fi and there is no need for a hub for accessing the smart controls. The company also introduced the 100W-equivalent A67 light bulb in color and tunable white versions. There is also a smart plug for adding smart functionality to existing lights or devices. The Wiz portfolio now includes a wide range of smart lights and accessories. All these new products can be controlled through your smartphone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Wiz also sells an Infrared remote called the WiZmote with four programmable buttons. It comes in handy when there is no smartphone to control the smart lights. Moreover, the Wiz products are compatible with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Its just more convenient to ask a smart speaker to turn on or off the lights on a regular basis. Advertisement The new smart lights will go on sale in the US starting September In the US, the company will sell its newly launched products through Home Depots online and physical stores starting September. Compared to other popular brands, Wiz smart products are also considerably cheaper in price. At CES 2020, the company also announced a few new products, including the new-gen WiZmote and a motion sensor. The motion sensor can turn off the connected lights when no motion is detected. It can even automatically turn on the lights when the room gets dark. The updated Wiz app also received the new Energy Optimization features like power consumption monitoring. Additionally, it allows users to schedule and customize scenes with more automated features. Hamiltonians could have the chance to volunteer in the new year to test a COVID-19 vaccine being trialled by McMaster University and the University of Cambridge. This is a vaccine that is developed by Canadians and will be tested by Canadians and hopefully Canadians will get first dibs, said Dr. Mark Loeb, infectious disease physician and professor at McMaster. Right now, were not in that situation because there are relatively few vaccines that are being developed and tested in Canada. The potential vaccine was developed using computer modelling and artificial intelligence by Jonathan Heeney, head of the Laboratory of Viral Zoonotics at Cambridge and founder of DIOSynVax, which is a spinoff company for the immunization. It uses information on the virus itself as well as its relatives SARS, MERS and other coronaviruses carried by animals that threaten to spillover to humans again to cause future human epidemics, Heeney said in a statement. 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. Ultimately we aim to make a vaccine that will not only protect from SARS-CoV-2, but also other related coronaviruses. The Cambridge professor is Canadian and trained at the University of Guelph. For help testing the vaccine he looked back home, turning to Loeb, known for his work on influenza immunization and the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI), which is affiliated with McMaster and Hamilton Health Sciences and specializes in large international trials. In fact, Loeb and PHRI are currently finishing up a study of 5,200 people in 12 countries on whether the flu shot reduces cardiovascular events. That trial is one of the reasons Heeney reached out to Loeb near the beginning of the pandemic. To do a Phase 3 trial of a COVID vaccine you really need to be adept at doing large-scale, global, randomized, controlled trials, said Loeb. We have this infrastructure in place so its not a stretch going from this influenza vaccine trial to a large-scale COVID-19 trial. The vaccine has received roughly $3.3 million from the U.K. government for a Phase 1 trial at the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust that is expected to take place this fall. Phase 1 involves testing the vaccine on a small group of people primarily to make sure its safe. The plan for Phase 2 is to test the immunization on 500 Canadian volunteers randomized to the vaccine or a placebo as early as the new year. Phase 2 is looking at immune response so you dont need to be having COVID circulating in that area at that time, he said. In fact its better if its not circulating. Phase 3 would take place in COVID-19 hot spots around the world and require 10,000 volunteers. We are looking at the ability of the vaccine to prevent COVID, said Loeb. Its important to have many sites around the world including potentially Canada ... Phase 3 we have to be flexible and go for sites where we know there is COVID circulating. The vaccine, which is based around DNA, works by blocking the spike proteins on the virus from attaching and invading cells in the body. Our strategy includes targeting those domains of the viruss structure that are absolutely critical for docking with a cell, while avoiding the parts that could make things worse, said Heeney. The way the vaccine works gives it three potential advantages including a lower risk of side effects. The part of the virus that is being used in the vaccine to produce an immune response is called the spike protein. Were looking at part of that spike protein called the RBD the receptive binding domain, said Loeb. One of the advantages of using the RBD is that sometimes when you look at the full spike ... it could lead to more inflammation than one would like so that could potentially have side effects ... There is a strong rationale for it being safer for individuals because its just part of that one component. The second plus is a stronger immune response. There is evidence that the antibodies that would be produced because we are just looking at the RBD component are longer lasting, said Loeb. There would also be more neutralizing antibodies ... to really neutralize the virus. Lastly, it can be freeze-dried as a powder, making it easier to transport and store. Its stable at room temperature, said Loeb. It doesnt have to be refrigerated so if were looking at shipping the vaccine to either remote parts of Canada or remote parts of the world, maintaining the cold chain is not an issue. The funding beyond Phase 1 hasnt been determined yet. It would be ideal if the Canadian government would pay for it because than Canadians would have access to a vaccine, said Loeb. I think its an important opportunity for Canada. View this post on Instagram Reunited and it feels so good. @thefrontbottoms at @monmouthparkracetrack for a drive-in show, kicking off with Skeleton. #frontbottoms #tfb #nj An articulated truck crashed into a residential building at Owode-Onirin on Thursday in Lagos. The accident occured at about 4.10 p.m. on Lagos-Ikorodu expressway. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Director-General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed that only the empty truck was involved in the mishap. The articulated truck veered off the road and crashed into a residential building at Owode-Onirin, he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). No injuries were recorded as the driver and residents of the building were unhurt. Oke-Osanyintolu said that the accident was caused by the recklessness of the driver. The truck has been taken off the building, and the incident under investigation by Owode Onirin police station. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Soumika Das By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: A team of researchers from Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT) claimed to have developed a process for transforming fly ash waste into wealth. They have claimed to have extracted commercially-useful minerals like alumina, impure quartz, calcium silicate and iron hydroxide containing rare earth elements from the ash. The process also aims to solve the problems related to disposal of fly ash. Not just that, the researchers had also collaborated with experts from the Kolkata and Ahmedabad units of Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute to transform calcium silicate, extracted from the fly ash, into ceramic cups. The impure quartz was turned into coloured glasses. But, as the researchers say, the main achievement was extraction of alumina, which could be used for manufacturing of aluminium metal, and the rare earth elements. Led by Senior Principal Scientist in Hydro and Electrometallurgy Department of IMMT Sanjay Kali, the team was conducting the research at the institutes laboratories since 2016 in phased manner. They had collaborated with National Aluminium Company (NALCO). For conducting laboratory tests, they had been procuring fly ash samples from Nalcos thermal Plant in Angul. The researchers had also filed for patenting the process along with Nalco on January 12, 2006. From 1,000 kg of fly ash, we can extract 200 gms of rare earth elements. Around 25 per cent of the extracts is alumina, while 60 to 62 per cent is impure quartz and calcium or sodium silicate, said Kali. The process was tested in bench scale at IMMT. But, the researchers are now trying to set up a pilot plant for greater extraction of rare earth elements. We need huge quantities of fly ash for extracting substantial amounts of the rare elements, he added. On Friday, Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi lauded the process on social media. Reacting to a tweet by Rajya Sabha MP Ashwini Vaishnaw on IMMT technology to harness rare earth elements and other minerals from fly ash and stating that Coal India would be benefitted by it, Joshi tweeted, Sure is an interesting concept of waste to wealth. @CoalIndiaHQ should collaborate with IMMT, Bhubaneswar for harnessing minerals from fly ash. WASHINGTON (AP) Capping a week of protests and outrage over the police shooting of a Black man in Wisconsin, civil rights advocates will highlight the scourge of police and vigilante violence against Black Americans at a commemoration of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Thousands are expected at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Friday, where the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his historic I Have A Dream address, a vision of racial equality that remains elusive for millions of Americans. Note: PennLives Jana Benscoter and Mark Pynes are covering the march, joining a group from the Harrisburg area going to D.C. by bus. Local Harrisburg activists wait to get on a bus to Washington DC for the 2020 March on Washington, on the 57th anniversary of the first march on Washington. @PennLive pic.twitter.com/hQuO7ro67x Mark Pynes (@MarkPynes) August 28, 2020 People are gathering on the heels of yet another shooting by a white police officer of a Black man this time, 29-year-old Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last Sunday sparking days of protests and violence that left two dead. Weve got to create a different consciousness and a different climate in our nation, said Martin Luther King III, a son of the late civil rights icon and co-convener of the march. That wont happen though, unless we are mobilized and galvanized, King said Thursday. He and the Rev. Al Sharpton, whose civil rights organization the National Action Network planned Fridays event, said the objective of the march is to show the urgency for federal policing reforms, to decry racial violence, and to demand voting rights protections ahead of the November general election. To underscore the urgency, Sharpton has assembled the families of an ever-expanding roll call of victims: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Blake, among others. FILE - In this Aug. 28, 1963 file photo, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, addresses marchers during his "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. (AP Photo/File)AP Following the commemorative rally that will include remarks from civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents several of the victims families, participants will march to the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial in West Potomac Park, next to the National Mall, and then disperse. Turnout in Washington will be lighter than initially intended due to city-imposed coronavirus pandemic restrictions that limit out-of-state visitors to the nations capital. To that end, the National Action Network organized a handful of satellite march events in South Carolina, Florida and Nevada, among others. More: Weve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition: Martin Luther King Jr. and the March on Washington Thursday evening, the NAACP began commemorating the March on Washington with a virtual event that featured remarks from voting rights activist Stacey Abrams and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and Academy Award-winning actor Mahershala Ali. Thanks to the activism of countless young people, the movement for justice goes on, Pelosi said. We must keep up the fight and, as John Lewis would say, find a way to get in the way. Later in the evening, the Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of more than 150 Black-led organizations that make up the broader Black Lives Matter movement, will hold its virtual Black National Convention. The convention will coincide with the unveiling of a new Black political agenda intended to build on the success of this summers protests. The platform will deepen calls for defunding police departments in favor of investments to healthcare, education, housing and other social services in Black communities, organizers said. By AARON MORRISON, The Associated Press Melburnians have raced into supermarkets to panic-buy bottled water after residents in 250,000 homes were warned not to use their taps following a night of horrific storms. Supermarkets were stripped bare of any drinking water on Friday following a night of wild weather that contaminated the water supply system across 88 suburbs. Residents were warned to boil any tap water before drinking or they could suffer gastro-like symptoms. Yarra Valley Water issued the warning after non-disinfected water left Silvan Dam and entered systems around the city. Footage obtained by Nine News shows a string of empty supermarket shelves while anxious customers rushed to buy bottles in bulk. Melbourne supermarkets were seen stripped bare of any bottled water on Friday following a night of wild winds and rain A shelf that would usually be stacked full of water was empty on Friday morning after Melbourne was smashed by storms Customers flocked to supermarkets on Friday hoping to bulk-buy bottled water after storms contaminated the supply across Melbourne A Costco in Craigieburn had also sold out of water following a mass panic buy Tap water has become contaminated at 250,000 Melbourne homes and could make residents sick if they drink after wild weather saw the city's supply become contaminated (pictured, wreckage at a Melbourne home following killer storms on Thursday) Undisinfected water is understood to have left Silvan Dam and entered the water system due to the deadly weather (pictured, a fallen tree following the storm on Thursday night) A car is seen stuck under fallen branches in Belgrave, Melbourne on Friday morning following a night of storms A man and his child assess the damage around their home in Belgrave in Melbourne on Friday morning A Costco in Craigieburn had also sold out of water following the mass panic buy with one man taking a photo of a sign outside the store that read 'water sold out'. Yarra Valley Water provided an update around midday on Friday saying they were working to flush out the contaminated water. They explained the storm had damaged the chlorinator which resulted in untreated water from the dam entering the supply system. 'We are working to flush the system now and will confirm when the boiled water notice is withdrawn. If you have already drunk the water, there is a low risk of potential gastro type of illness. People should contact their GP if this occurs,' they tweeted. Three people, including a four-year-old boy, were killed after strong wind gusts brought down trees overnight in Melbourne. The young boy was rushed to hospital in a critical condition after being hit by a tree in Blackburn south at about 6pm on Thursday. A 59-year-old man also died after a tree crushed his car. He had been in a shopping centre carpark in Belgrave. A 36-year-old woman, who was a passenger in a ute driving along the Maroondah Highway at Fernshaw, was also killed by a falling tree at 6.50pm. The driver suffered minor injuries. Harrowing photos have revealed the extent of the disastrous storms as homes and cars were damaged by fallen trees. Many residents woke up to a shock to see their backyards covered in thick branches and fallen power lines. Wind gusts as strong as 124 kilometres per hour were recorded in Mount Gellibrand, east of Colac. Belgrave was hit hard by Thursday night's storms as residents woke to find fallen trees sprawled across their backyards A man wearing a face mask is seen walking between fallen branches and debris in Melbourne One man is seen using a chainsaw to cut a tree trunk that fell down after storms in Melbourne on Thursday night Another vehicle is covered in thick branches after wild winds forced trees to fall down across Melbourne Lilydale and Emerald in Melbournes outer east were hit the hardest by the storm and multiple suburbs across the city were plunged into darkness. There were still about 50,000 homes without power on Friday morning. The State Emergency Service received more than 2,000 calls for help throughout the night. 'We're urging any road users to please drive carefully and to the conditions particularly across the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne and the Yarra Ranges,' the SES said. 'Look out for fallen branches and debris.' Meteorologists are fortunately predicting a calmer weekend ahead with westerly winds up to 20 km/h on Friday becoming light in the middle of the day then becoming north to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening. Saturday should be a sunny 20C with northerly winds up to 40 km/h. One Melburnian captures the wild scenes on Friday morning after trees and power lines were blown to the ground The State Emergency Service received 2,100 calls for help throughout the night as of Friday morning (pictured SES crew at Kaola Street in Belgrave, Melbourne on Friday) A man ducks under a fallen tree that crushed a car on Kaola Street in Belgrave, Melbourne on Thursday evening Multiple suburbs across the city were plunged into darkness during the deadly storm (the wild storm brought down powerlines and trees on Thursday) A Perth father who sent intimate videos of his ex-girlfriend to her father and brother after his wife found out about their affair has been jailed for 20 months over the vicious and humiliating act. Amandeep Singh, 36, was jailed on Friday in the Perth District Court for harassing his former lover who he met on an international flight to Perth in 2016 while he was a passenger and she was working as a flight attendant. The man has been sentenced to 20 months jail for uploading an intimate video of his ex-girlfriend to a pornography site. The court heard the Byford man lied to the woman, whose identity is suppressed, and told her he was single. The pair met up when the woman would travel to Perth for work and began a relationship shortly afterwards which lasted 18 months before Singhs wife and mother to his two children found out. Ann-Marie Holmes, currently the factory manager of Fab 24, Intels advanced manufacturing facility in Leixlip, has been named Assistant General Manager of Fab Sort Manufacturing at Intel. She will assume this role in addition to her current responsibilities as vice president of manufacturing and operations. Ann-Marie will fulfill this new global role from Ireland, according to the company. In recent years the Intel campus in Leixlip, has undergone a significant upgrade project to enable the site to produce 14nm technology. Under Ann-Maries leadership, the Fab 24 facility has become a key production location for 14nm products. Over 4,900 people work for Intel in Ireland. The Roscommon native held a variety of different roles before being named as the Fab 24 factory manager in 2012. She joined Intel Corporation in 1991 as a new college graduate and since then has gone on to work in all four of the Fab Sort Manufacturing facilities in Ireland Fab 10, Fab 14, Ireland Fab Operations (IFO) and Fab 24. Ann-Marie is an Engineering Graduate of Trinity College Dublin. She is married to Paul and has two children, Cian and Ruth. Ann-Marie has worked in Intel all of her career making her the first Irish graduate hire to go on and become Intel Vice President. Speaking about her new role, Ann-Marie said; I have had the honor of leading the Fab 24 team for more than eight years and it has been the greatest privilege to be able to work together with such hard working and dedicated people to create technology that changes the world and shapes the future. I look forward to taking on this new role and embracing the opportunity to work with people across our global manufacturing network as we continue to deliver leading edge technologies. A massive protest was held outside Dhaka Press Club on Friday to condemn the Chinese brutality and suppression against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang Autonomous Region. Bangladesh Freedom Fighters organised the demo in memory of August 28 Uyghur Repression Day. A massive protest was held outside Dhaka Press Club on Friday to condemn the Chinese brutality and suppression against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang Autonomous Region. Bangladesh Freedom Fighters organised the demo in memory of August 28 Uyghur Repression Day saying that Muslims in many countries are unhappy with the inhuman treatment of Uyghur Muslims by Chinas Communist regime. The Chinese government has reportedly detained more than a million Muslims in reeducation camps. Most of the people who have been arbitrarily detained are Uyghur, a predominantly Turkic-speaking ethnic group primarily from Chinas northwestern region of Xinjiang. Human rights organisations, UN officials, and many foreign governments are urging China to stop the crackdown. However, Chinese officials maintain that what they called vocational training centres do not infringe on Uyghurs human rights. Also Read: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe steps down over health issues They have refused to share information about the detention centres and prevented journalists and foreign investigators from examining them. However, internal Chinese government documents leaked in late 2019 have provided important details on how officials launched and maintained the detention camps. Human rights activists allege that most people in the camps have never been charged with crimes and have no legal avenues to challenge their detentions. The detainees seem to have been targeted for a variety of reasons, according to media reports, including travelling to or contacting people from any of the twenty-six countries China considers sensitive, such as Turkey and Afghanistan; attending services at mosques; having more than three children, and sending texts containing Quranic verses. Often, their only crime is being Muslim, human rights groups say, adding that many Uyghurs have been labelled as extremists simply for practising their religion. (ANI) Also Read: US elections 2020: Trump accepts Republican nomination for second term Kim Chong-in, chief of the main opposition United Future Party's emergency committee, closes his eyes during a party meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap By Jung Da-min Next year's by-elections of lawmakers and heads of local governments have become a pressing matter in politics, as the mayoral posts of the country's two biggest cities Seoul and Busan have remained vacant following the death of Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon last month and resignation of Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don in April. This situation could be favorable to the main opposition United Future Party (UFP), as both former mayors belonged to the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and both faced sexual harassment allegations this year. But the UFP is also having difficulty finding mayoral candidates with a strong presence in the political arena. The by-election for the Seoul mayor position, in particular, is considered a battle over the 2022 presidential election, but the main opposition party does not have any figures who garner massive support in public opinion polls. Some former and incumbent lawmakers are being mentioned, including four-term Rep. Kwon Young-se, Yeouido Institute head Ji Sang-wook and former four-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won. However, they do not meet the requirements that the party's emergency committee chief Kim Chong-in has repeatedly stressed a new and fresh figure with management and communication skills. In this Instagram post by entrepreneur and former lawmaker Hong Jung-wook, Tuesday, Hong wrote, "It has been a joy so far. Always be awake, love until the moment you die and never give up. I support your life," raising expectations that he might return to politics. Screen capture from Instagram Amid the search for a popular figure, an Instagram post by former lawmaker Hong Jung-wook gained attention recently. Hong, who served in the 18th National Assembly as a member of the then-ruling Grand National Party, a predecessor of the UFP, left politics but has frequently been mentioned as a potential candidate for the main opposition party in mayoral elections. On Tuesday he wrote on Instagram, "It has been a joy so far. Always be awake, love until the moment you die and never give up. I support your life." The post raised expectations that the entrepreneur may return to politics. Minor opposition People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo speaks during the party's Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap The GOP may not have a platform, and the convention perception is everything, the truth is unimportant rhetoric may seem from another planet, but Democrats who laugh at President Trump do so at their own risk. Where the Democratic establishment is failing is its inability (or unwillingness) to unite the working poor across racial lines and instead allow Republican dog whistles to increase racial conflict to their (and, alas, Russias) advantage. If the Democratic Party made a major effort to unite the working poor across racial lines based upon their mutual interests, it would create a powerful political force that would guarantee a victory, instead of hoping to eke out a slim majority based upon bland promises of a return to normal. Tom Miller, Oakland A living nightmare Concerning Trump vows to save America from Biden (Front Page, Aug. 28): For those of us who are suffering from the loss of a job or a loved one due to the coronavirus pandemic, or who have been impacted by wildfires due to climate change, or who have been victims of racial injustice, President Trumps claim that the November election is a chance to save the American dream is a fantasy. For millions of citizens, that American dream has become a living nightmare since the day that Trump began his term in office. Rhonda Collins-Jackson, Oakland Stop all the rioting The endless rioting and arson in downtown Oakland over racial injustice has reached a point of no return if such a thing is possible. It now seems almost inevitable that sooner or later, a substantial fire and loss of life will be the result of protesters determined to end the disparate treatment of people of color at the hands of law enforcement. I fail to see the connection, of course, and am almost nostalgic for the pre-COVID-19 days when all Oaklanders had to worry about was the torching of new housing under construction. Now, we have to worry about everything being torched. The future of the city is truly anyones guess. I hope strict order can and will be maintained going forward in the name of sanity and the preservation of civilization. Nick Yale, Oakland Vital police reform bills Regarding Police reform clock ticking (Editorial, Aug. 26): Your comments on the need for legislative reform of the police and review of police action by the state attorney general are much appreciated. It will be most unfortunate if these bills are not implemented. More deaths and injuries will result. Barbara Rothkrug, Corte Madera Reassuring workplace I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge some of the steps the company I work for, Bi-Rite Market, has taken for its employees during the COVID-19 crisis. The company has adopted some really useful measures that benefit its workers during this time (such as an increased discount on groceries and an on-site sanitation team), and perhaps the most consequential of them all has got to be weekly COVID-19 testing. Bi-Rite now offers all of its employees testing options on three different days at three different locations, and the lab results usually come back in less than 24 hours. In these uncertain times, its reassuring to work for a place that not only provides steady employment but also makes it feel safe to come in to work each day. Scott Falkowski, San Francisco Diversify public safety When people are asked what they mean by calls to defund the police, it emerges that what is being suggested is a reallocation of the expansive and sometimes inappropriate roles assigned to our police forces. Many police calls might be more appropriately handled by trained professionals specific to the task at hand mental health professionals, mediators, community services workers. Police are necessary for responding to crimes and threats to the community or individuals where an armed presence is called for. While it may be difficult for a dispatcher to sort out the most appropriate response, in some instances an armed, uniformed officer escalates rather than de-escalates a crisis. Rather than defund the police diversify public safety. Nancy Littlefield, Pacifica Denial of responsibility After reading Pence previews Trumps sales pitch to nation (Front Page, Aug. 27), I wanted to both laugh and cry. These simultaneous emotions are due to the fact that Vice President Mike Pence, as part of his 2020 Republican National Convention speech, insisted that the president has done everything right in dealing with a coronavirus pandemic that came from China. That statement is an example of racist scapegoating and supports President Trumps shameful denial of responsibility for not controlling a pandemic that has now killed 180,000 Americans. As for the president presenting a positive and empathetic message to convince more voters to re-elect him, these are character traits that are simply not in his DNA. To borrow from a phrase Trump recently used to describe the still-rising COVID-19 death count: He is what he is. Agatha Abernathy, Palo Alto Beware of vigilantes Regarding Teen charged after 2 killed in Blake rally (Aug. 27): How could a teenager suspected of fatally shooting two protesters and wounding a third in Kenosha, Wis. (during a night of anger after the police shooting of Jacob Blake) have been allowed to leave the scene with a rifle over his shoulder by local law enforcement? President Trump seeks to blame Democratic-led cities for not controlling protesters he calls anarchists. But the real anarchy is when self-appointed vigilantes who support Trump on social media, like this teenager, commit wanton acts of violence that are then ignored by those sworn to protect all citizens. Ryan (8) and Lauren Chaney (10) get ready for their first day back at school since lockdown in Clondalkin Public health teams will be available around the country to fast-track the testing of suspected cases of Covid-19 that emerge in schools. Depending on the time of day, swab results could be back within 24 hours or, if not, within 48. It is one of the measures being developed to tackle the virus threat as up to one million pupils and 100,000 staff return to classrooms for the first time since March. Guidance has been issued to schools about the steps to follow and what will happen if a pupil or staff member is a suspected or confirmed case. The "Schools Pathway for Covid-19, the Public Health" has been developed by the Department of Health, led by Dr Ronan Glynn, the HSE and the Department of Education. It says it is inevitable that, with confirmed cases of Covid-19 within the community, there will be suspected or confirmed cases in schools. Transmission Infection transmission within school is regarded as low risk once measures such as social distancing and hand washing are followed. It is considered more likely pupils or staff would bring the virus into school from home. Where Covid-19 is confirmed in a school, each case will be assessed individually to decide on what follow-up action is needed. The guidance says every school is unique and the risks will be unique too. Public health experts will decide on who else needs to be tested and, in the event of an outbreak - two or more cases - will decide whether to close a school or exclude a class or a smaller group, such as a pod . If a pupil is removed from school with symptoms of concern, parents will have to discuss the matter with their GP, who will decide if a test is needed. Symptoms of concern and/or symptoms consistent with Covid-19 include fever or a new cough, shortness of breath, deterioration of existing respiratory condition or loss of taste or altered sense of taste. If the test is positive, the HSE - not the school - will follow up with contact tracing of close contacts and a risk assessment. Under public health guidelines, close contacts will have to quarantine for 14 days. According to the guidance, the definition of close contacts within schools will be variable. It will not be automatically assumed an entire class will be deemed close contacts. It explains this is because the schools are so varied. In young primary school children, pods - small groups within a classroom - will likely be deemed close contacts and all members will be removed from school. In second-level schools, where there is social distancing rather than a pod, close contacts will be determined by proximity and interaction with the confirmed case. Factors taken into account in determining close contacts in second-level schools will include classroom structure, travel and friendship groups. If the GP decides a child needs to be tested, they then become a suspected case and, at that point, siblings or other household members should also be removed from the school until the test result is received. The guidance also points out children will also continue to display symptoms of other circulating respiratory viruses and refers to the prevalence of a persistent cold among children. It advises that children with a blocked or runny nose but no fever can attend school, but if they require paracetamol or ibuprofen they must stay at home for 48 hours and the parents should phone the GP to assess if a test is needed. Absenteeism Meanwhile, the Department of Education has confirmed it is still obliged under law to inform Tusla when a child has missed more than 20 days in the school year. A spokesperson said it will take into account "the requirement for students who feel unwell with symptoms consistent with Covid-19 or who have been informed to self-isolate, not to attend school". Under the Education Welfare Act, schools are legally required to inform relevant authorities about high absenteeism levels. There are fears absent rates may be higher in schools in the 2020/2021 academic year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. High blood pressure could ruin your love life, doctors have warned. Men with untreated hypertension are at almost twice the risk of suffering erectile dysfunction, a study concluded. Greek scientists found men with a history of high blood pressure had damage to the vessels supplying blood to the genitals. High blood pressure damages artery walls, causing them to harden and narrow. This reduces blood flow - the key to achieving an erection. Men with untreated hypertension are at almost twice the risk of suffering erectile dysfunction, a study concluded The researchers, from the University of Athens, said blood pressure drugs can help things. But they warned that some drugs can actually make things worse, so a careful approach is needed to select the right treatment. The scientists, presenting their findings at the European Society of Cardiology, said impotence could also be a red flag that a man is at risk of dangerous heart disease. Because of blood is struggling to reach the groin, it is also likely to be poor in the heart and brain, which could cause a heart attack or stroke. The researchers tested 365 men with erectile dysfunction and no history of diabetes or cardiolvascular disease. 80% OF PATIENTS ON STATINS STILL HAVE HIGH CHOLESTEROL About 80 per cent of high-risk patients taking statins for cardiovascular disease still have high cholesterol and may need higher doses of the medication, a study finds. Researchers from Imperial College London analysed the findings of a major study of cardiovascular patients in 18 European countries including the UK. Those at the highest risk of cardiovascular 'events' - such as a heart attack or stroke - may benefit from higher doses or injectable versions of cholesterol therapies. Scientists say although statins are a 'first line treatment', when used alone they will not help the majority of European patients achieve their cholesterol goals. They found that if high-risk patients take a combination of cholesterol drugs can cut the risk of heart attacks by 11 per cent and the risk of death by 5 per cent. Advertisement They carried out ultrasound scans on each participants' genitals to evaluate blood vessel health. Blood flow velocity progressively decreased with rising blood pressure. Flow was fastest in those with normal blood pressure, slower in those with high-normal blood pressure, and slowest in those with hypertension - the medical term for high blood pressure. Taking blood pressure drugs helped the problem for those with hypertension. The researchers, however, warned that certain antihypertensive drugs - notably diuretics and beta blockers - have been linked with deterioration in sexual function. Study leader Professor Charalambos Vlachopoulos said: 'The progressive decrease in penile blood flow velocity across the three blood pressure categories in men not taking antihypertensive medication indicates significant structural changes in the penile blood vessels from longstanding hypertension. 'The blood flow differences across the three blood pressure categories disappeared with treatment, suggesting a medication effect.' An additional analysis found that among men with normal or high-normal blood pressure, taking drugs actually reduced blood flow, making the problem worse. Professor Vlachopoulos said: 'These results imply that hypertensive patients already have significant structural damage in the penile arteries and adding antihypertensive drugs does not further reduce penile blood flow. 'But in men with normal or high-normal blood pressure, the penile arteries have minimal structural damage and medications could have a negative impact on penile blood flow.' He urged men with concerns about sexual dysfunction to discuss it with their doctor. 'For men with as yet untreated hypertension, older medications - beta blockers and diuretics - are not ideal and should be used only if absolutely indicated,' he said. '[But] switching to another drug class does not guarantee either the restoration or improvement of erectile function. 'This has to be carefully explained to patients in advance to avoid unreasonable expectations,' he said. US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper on August 26 warned that Chinas plan to modernise military forces will embolden its provocative behaviours in the East Sea. In a keynote speech at an event in Hawaii, Esper said China has fallen short of its promises to abide by international laws, rules or norms or honour the commitments it made to the international community, including not to militarise features in the East Sea. Chinas organisation of consecutive military exercises in the waters to the north-northeast of Vietnams Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago has violated Vietnams sovereignty over the archipelago, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang on August 26. Responding to reporters query, the spokesperson 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, stop and not repeat such violations, Hang said./.VNA In this article: The Man Who Fell To Earth, They Live, Sorceror. Travel the world from the comfort of your sofa as TopFilmTip brings you the best films on TV for Friday, 28 August. Visit Africa with Humphrey Bogart, fly over the Amazon with some animated birds, before globe-trotting with Bond, then finish the day travelling through time with a late night teen sci-fi. Some films may require a Sky subscription. Outstanding odd-couple romantic adventure as Hepburn Bogart steam up the Congo to battle Germans in charismatic classic The African Queen 9:05am Sony Movies Action Family of blue birds transition to wild Amazonian environs amid chaos of unsavoury logging, poisonous Love and an evil Nigel Rio 2 2:50pm Film 4 THE WIND AND THE LION USA, 1974. (FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images) Moroccan Muslim Sean Connery kidnaps American woman causing epic reprisals, epic plot and epic cinematography in The Wind and the Lion 3:00pm Sony Movies Action Soft step-dad's tenuous fatherhood is shaken by arrival of badass biological in emasculating bike crashing comedy fun Daddy's Home 7:05pm Film4 Widow seducing mouse threatener uncovers insidious global crime-spiracy in Sam Mendes' trepanning, breathless beauty Spectre 8:00pm ITV2 Crime writer Ethan Hawke moves family into murder-home and uncovers soul eating demonic deity in grizzly homicidal horror Sinister 9:00pm Horror Channel After discovering her husband's adultery, privileged and pompous older lady moves in with council estate sister in hot-stepping character led rom-com Finding Your Feet 9:00pm Film 4 Friended by unicorn-loving, jort-wearing jolly giant, school-peaker is thrown into banana fighting conspiracy Central Intelligence 9:00pm E4 Shameless vagina owners facedown scientific establishment and plasm puking ghouls in sharp witted phantasmic hilarity Ghostbusters 10:00pm Channel 4 Vexed Mel Gibson tortures a drug dealer, loses some toes and ignores Lucy Liu while deftly navigating criminal underworld Payback 10:05pm ITV4 Demonic superhero, aquatic caporista and fiery woman stand up to evil in Guillermo Del Toros fantasy fun Hellboy II: The Golden Army 10:45pm ITV1 Story continues Homeless mullet man must awaken all humanity from skinless aliens' perception altering consumerist conspiracy in punchy cult fun They Live 11:15pm Film 4 The Man Who Fell To Earth, poster, British poster for 2016 4k restoration and re-release, David Bowie, 1976. (Photo by LMPC via Getty Images) Innocent alien David Bowie is corrupted by earthly vices & exploited by human greed in disjointed cult classic The Man Who Fell to Earth 00:00am Talking Pictures Young lady helplessly flees stab-happy, inexplicably motivated, bullet proof serial killer in John Carpenters slasher Halloween II 12:40am Horror Channel Adolescent inventors incur time-machines tempest of chaotic consequence in Back To The Future homaging found-footage thriller Project Almanac 00:40am Channel 4 Absconded criminal misfits drive volatile consignments of dynamite through treacherous jungle in nerve shredding wonder Sorcerer 1:05am Film4 Everything new on streaming in September: The films premiering on Sky Cinema and Now TV in September The best new films coming to Disney+ in September Everything coming to Netflix UK in September Melissa Stewart doesnt mince words when describing the state of independent restaurants. Were dying, said Stewart matter of fact. Shes the executive director of Greater Houston Restaurant Association - which includes Montgomery County. The organizations represents roughly 13,000 restaurants in the Houston region. Its getting harder and harder and it will take more and more time to recover, she said of the local mom and pop restaurant industry. Already a challenging and fickle industry pre-pandemic, local restaurants have been crippled by the pandemic and the uncertainty that it brought and that lies ahead. Restaurants are currently capped at a 50-percent capacity by state restrictions and with no end in sight to the pandemic, owners wonder how long can they hold out. In March, when dining rooms were closed, we knew that 10 to 12 percent of restaurants would never reopen, Stewart said. We anticipate by the end of this year, we could lose up to 20 to 30 percent of local restaurants. Some restaurants that have already shuttered their doors include Conroes Beanpunk Coffee (which is now the location for Verneles New Orleans Bakery & Cafe), Brio Tuscan Grill and Broken Barrel in The Woodlands and all locations of Bernie's Burger Bus across Houston. Jim Hallers owns two locations of Tailgators Pub and Grill, Citizens Grill of FM 1488 and The Thisty Texan neighborhood bar in Harris County. Hes also on the board of the Texas Restaurant Association. The question in independent owners minds is How do we keep going in light of this pandemic? You try to control costs and you hunker down. Were really just waiting this out, he said. Crisis conundrum In mid-March, businesses of all types came to a halt per state restrictions. Restaurant dining rooms were closed and restaurants that could switched to curbside, delivery and to-go options. Then on May 1, restaurants were allowed to open their dining rooms at 25 percent and eventually 50 percent. But theres still mountains of uncertainty as to what happens next. In April, we just had to hold on for a little while, Stewart said. But here it is in August and we still dont know. The fatigue and the length of it has set in. Some restaurant owners say the uncertainty is the hardest part. If you look at our community, were somewhat crisis resilient, Stewart said. We know what its like to have a flood or a storm. We come together and support each other. Because were so good at dealing with weather-type crises, I think this one has really thrown us for a loop. When we have a flood, you can see the water recede. But we didnt see this coming and we dont see it going anywhere. Owners face a barrage of questions like Do I lay everyone off and hope theyll come back when we reopen? Where is rent going to come from? Do I try to reopen and will there be customers? If Im operating at a limited capacity, then does my customer service experience become cruddy? Theyve also had to become experts overnight in interpreting government regulations and restrictions and constantly changing information. Hallers now questions the complete shutdown that happened in March. He was surprised at the complete shutdown, especially in Montgomery County, which in the beginning did not have large numbers of cases. It was more like a response to what we were watching on TV in New York, he said. Rather than closing down and decimating the economic situation for so many, we probably should have scaled back rather than shutdown completely. The situation has been especially problematic for bars, who were closed twice during the period and remain closed now. It also troubles Hallers that no distinction was made between neighborhood watering holes and nightclubs in government restrictions. The same problem plagues the states breweries and wineries. Why curbside isnt enough Both Stewart and Hallers agree curbside and to-go service helps and it brings in revenue but its not the same as having a packed dining room and to-go service. Stewart gave an example of on a Friday night, a restaurant has a happy hour crowd, a dinner crowd and maybe an after-the-movie crowd. Maybe they stop in a get a drink and then order some food to take back to the family, Stewart said. There are layers upon layers of ways that people take advantage of restaurant services. But if I come in and buy a bag of food for takeout, then Im done and thats the end of my ticket. But if Im sitting there, maybe I want another round of coffee or another round of drinks or a dessert. That all builds extra income for the restaurant. Hallers said fortunately people still do need to eat in a pandemic and the to-go option was great for helping support a limited staff. He was able to rotate his employees for to-go service. Tips were really good March through May and there was an outpouring of support for to-go, he said. Hes also experienced the pandemics impact on his different types of restaurants. His bar remains closed per state regulations. Citizens Grill is more of a middle level sit-down dining experience. Both Tailgators pub and grills focus on sports. And they all draw different clientele. Because Tailgators has a younger base crowd with bar-type favorites like wings, burgers and more, its done better in the pandemic even at 50 percent. Hallers said those businesses are about 90 percent back. But for Citizens Grill, a mid-level sit-down establishment its been more of a struggle. That location attracts older customers who are likely in the highest risk group for COVID-19. Its at 50 to 60 percent of its regular business. And the message in media is still Stay home, Stay safe, Hallers said. On a Monday night 50-percent occupancy is fine. But on a Friday night at 50-percent occupancy we fill up fast and theres no room for anyone else, he said. If theres a wait, people are going to go somewhere else. Theres no experience in waiting. We dont have the capacity on busy nights to really make money, Hallers said. We ask ourselves How do you draw in that other 50-percent of the customers? Benefits of PPP For the businesses who were able to get the Payment Protection Program funds, Stewart said it did exactly what it was supposed to do. It helped make a lot of things whole, she said. It kept employees getting their salaries and utilities paid. It was intended to be an eight-week stop gap solution. And we thought ok, were going to close down for a little bit and slow the cases and flatten the curve and then well be great. But that sure didnt happen. Hallers said the PPP arrived just in time. He received $80,000. The funds had to be spent within an eight-week time frame. When the seventh week arrived, the rules changed and it was announced those funds could stretch to 24 weeks. But it was too late, most of the money had already been spent with no end to the pandemic in sight. The PPP was critical and it saved us, Hallers said. It got us through April, May, June and July. But what about August, September, October, November etc. as this goes on. The PPP also came along at the right time for Linda Ezernack owner of Verneles New Orleans Bakery & Cafe in downtown Conroe. Her businesses was co-owned with Beanpunk Coffee at 330A N. Main Street. When the pandemic began, the owner of Beanpunk opted not to continue with the business. Ezernack and her husband, a chef, decided to take over the whole space and press on. The restaurant closed for four weeks during the pandemic and Ezernack took that time to transition the space and revamp the menu. She was also able to take on the employees from Beanpunk and the employees were able to stay on to help the restaurant transition. The establishment has eight employees. She said making the transition in a pandemic was a challenge, especially financially so the PPP did come in handy and offer them a backup in these uncertain times. Theyve also set up an online menu and began offering Door Dash services as additional revenue streams. They also offer daily specials and have already developed some regulars. Like anything else, some days are good days and some days are slower days. Things are unknown right now, and thats part of the challenge, she said. But Ezernack does see people venturing out a little more and feels like things are moving in a positive direction. Looking ahead The Greater Houston Restaurant Association is working with elected officials at every level both in funding arenas and in regulatory areas. Elected officials have been as generous and thoughtful as can be, Stewart said. It doesnt always mean a yes, but we are being heard. The challenge now is how quickly can restaurants recover. Hallers fears some restaurants will thrown in the towel once their lease comes up for renewal. Hallers and Stewart agree another round of PPP is needed but are doubtful it will come about due to politics and the pending election. Hallers said now a lot of bars are looking at how to tie food to their business. Some are considering if the cost of putting in a kitchen is worth it. He expects the possibility of more chain restaurants and less independents and that recovery for restaurants could take a number of years. It sounds cliched, but the message is go visit your local independents. Every little restaurant you like, make sure youre rotating around and giving them a little business, Hallers said. Maybe that business youre giving them is just the push they need to keep going for another month, and then another month, and then another month. Sanjay Raut said that Rahul Gandhi is the only leader in the Congress, who has unanimous acceptability in the party Shiv Sena alleged that the letter written by 23 senior Congress leaders to Sonia Gandhi was a conspiracy to finish off Rahul Gandhis leadership. (PTI Photo) MUMBAI: Amid the demand to change the guard of the 130-year-old grand party Congress, the Shiv Sena alleged that the letter written by 23 senior Congress leaders to Sonia Gandhi was a conspiracy to finish off Rahul Gandhis leadership. The Sena said that the Congress should revive itself as the country needs a strong opposition party. The executive editor of party mouthpiece Saamana Sanjay Raut said that Rahul Gandhi is the only leader in the Congress, who has unanimous acceptability in the party. Sonia Gandhi is ageing and I dont see Priyanka Gandhi in full-time politics. There are many senior leaders in the party, due to whom Rahul Gandhi is not being able to work, he said. The country requires a strong opposition party and the Congress has a pan-India identity. The party should recover from the present turmoil and resume work, the Sena MP said. Rauts remarks come in the backdrop of the controversy 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 Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Monday unanimously urged Sonia Gandhi to stay on as the party chief till a new president is appointed and authorised her to bring about organisational changes to take on the challenges within. Where were these leaders when the BJP was indulging in below the belt attacks on Rahul Gandhi, and after he quit as the Congress president why these leaders did not take up the challenge to revive the party, Sena asked. When people from within are involved in the national conspiracy to finish off Rahul Gandhis leadership, the party is sure to meet its panipat (defeat). These old guards have sabotaged Rahul Gandhi internally, a damage which even the BJP hasnt inflicted on him, it added. None of them are even district-level leaders, but have become chief ministers and Union ministers riding on the leadership of the Gandhi-Nehru family, said the Sena, which tied-up with the Congress and NCP to form government in Maharashtra last year after a fallout with the BJP. The Rajya Sabha member also said that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray should establish himself at the national level too. To a question if Thackeray should lead the UPA in Maharashtra, he said, The UPA leader is at present Sonia Gandhi. Sharad Pawar is an important leader here. Uddhav Thackeray should also lead the anti-BJP front if state issues are not resolved. Maharashtra should lead the way. President Trump has branded the Postal Service a loser, joke and scam. Its a first-class source of his mail-content. He routinely disparages the Postal Service because it loses money and, by his own admission, he doesnt want to dramatically increase the number of people who can vote by mail. Trump, it should be noted, votes by mail. Critics think hes gone postal. Many also think hes messing with the wrong government agency. Know who dislikes the Postal Service? Almost no one. Sure, people dont enjoy waiting in line, but thats true almost anywhere. Millennials dont patronize the Postal Service, according to its inspector general; one in Texas claimed to New York magazine that mailing stuff causes him anxiety. And dogs have been known to yap and masticate their displeasure. Thats about it. The Postal Service is a massive infrastructure delivered on an intimate scale. It brings us prescriptions, news, checks, condolence notes and birthday cards from Aunt Marge. It is our original information superhighway, dating back to dirt roads and the Pony Express. Sonu Sood is back at it again, being the hero we need! The Bollywood actor became a household name in the last few months since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic. The Bollywood actor has been at the forefront of relief efforts, emerging as the real hero to many, many Indians. Sonu Sood, like a good samaritan, sent hundreds of migrants back home through private buses in the midst of the deadly novel coronavirus pandemic and ensured that everyone reached home safe. Sood has been supporting people who reach out to him through social media ever since the lockdown. Additionally, he has also provided Mumbai police 25,000 face shields to battle COVID-19. Now, he has even won recognition for highlighting self-reliant tribals to build roads in Andhra Pradesh. The tribal residents of Kodama-Bari village in Saluru mandal of Vizianagaram district had laid a road on a stretch of 4 km to their village by themselves, solving the perennial problem which they said had been ignored by the authorities. Their efforts caught the attention of actor Sonu Sood who heaped praises on the initiative on his Twitter handle, with the promise that he would visit the village soon. As many as 200 families living in Kodama are dependant on Bari in the neighbouring Odisha for all their needs. With no road to the village, the residents had been enduring untold hardships. Pregnant women were being shifted the hospital on dolis. Vexed with the wait for the authorities to lay a road, the residents decided to took it on themselves, People Awareness Forum president Kalisetti Appala Naidu told The Hindu. The actor further promised that he would pay a visit to the village soon. I will soon come and visit you guys. you will inspire the nation, Sood posted on Twitter. Now tribals have put up posters showing Sonu Soods support on Twitter. With the kaccha road works almost complete, tribals in Kodama panchayat put up posters of @SonuSood at different points to thank him for the recognition. #Vizianagaram #AndhraPradesh. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/UW5OUlmh8F krishnamurthy (@krishna0302) August 27, 2020 3-time Salur MLA Peedika Rajanna Dora from @YSRCParty writes letter urging @SonuSood to visit the tribal hamlets. pic.twitter.com/azACC7BclU krishnamurthy (@krishna0302) August 27, 2020 Sood also shared these videos on Twitter and called it New India." This is HISTORY. I want the Nation to follow this. NEW INDIA https://t.co/1FPecFqXUD sonu sood (@SonuSood) August 27, 2020 We have our own ROAD now. Hope we get to inspire many more villages around the country to take the responsibility of doing everything on our own. No need to wait for anybody because WE CAN DO IT https://t.co/kagdIlJaVd sonu sood (@SonuSood) August 27, 2020 Naidu added that Sood is already a real hero for the State. Mr. Sood gifted a tractor to a poor farmers family in Chittoor district recently. His visit to the tribal village will certainly motivate the people, Naidu further told The Hindu. Sonu Sood really is the good Samaritan we need! A 14-year-old boy was killed in a deadly battle between Sunni and Shia citizens south of Beirut, igniting fears of further violence in Lebanon a country already blindsided by a financial crisis and this months devastating explosion. Rocket-propelled grenades were fired while machine gunfire rang through the streets during the clashes in Khaldeh, a mixed coastal town just south of the capital. The teenager, Hassan Zaher Ghosn, belonged to a Sunni Arab tribe. It accused members of the powerful, Iran-backed Shia militant group Hezbollah of opening fire on Thursday night. Hezbollah vehemently denied having anything to do with the incident. A Syrian man was also reportedly killed in the clashes. The Lebanese army, now heavily deployed in the area to quell the unrest, said a row spiralled out of control over a poster put up by Shias to commemorate Ashura, a holy day marking the 7th-century martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Relatives and friends of Hassan Zaher Ghosn, 14, who was killed the night before, carry his coffin (AP) The incident took place in an area where Shiites and Sunnis live. Jan Kubis, the United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon, warned of disaster if violence continues. Gravely concerned about the events in Khaldeh area, he said on Twitter. The last thing the tormented Lebanon needs is is sectarian strife a sure way to disaster. A tense funeral for the teenager was held on Friday, where mourners chanted there is no God, but God and Hezbollah is the enemy of God, according to video and local news reports. The body was carried on a stretcher and masked tribesmen fired machine guns in the air. In a statement on Wednesday, the tribe warned they do not compromise with the blood of children, sparking fears of further violence. Recommended Eldest son of murdered Lebanon PM insists Syria and Hezbollah involved The country is already grappling with an unprecedented financial crisis and still reeling from the massive 4 August port explosion which killed 180 people, injured 6,000 and destroyed swathes of the capital. The government resigned in the wake of the blast, which left as many as 300,000 people homeless. Consultations between members of parliament to choose a new prime minister will begin on Monday, as French President Emmanuel Macron is due to land in Lebanon to discuss the reconstruction of the capital and international support. On Monday, French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Lebanon was in such a deep political and economic crisis that the country risks collapsing altogether. Sectarian tensions, meanwhile, have soared in recent months. The rift between the Lebanese Sunni and Shia population widened after the 2005 assassination of Lebanese former prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri, a prominent Sunni politician who in the months preceding his killing was a supporter of reducing the influence of Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Problems deepened two weeks ago when an UN-backed tribunal convicted Hezbollah member Salim Ayyash in Hariris killing. The three judges said Ayyash was guilty of five charges including conspiracy to commit a terrorist act and intentional homicide by using explosive materials. Hezbollah denies any role in Hariris murder. Ali Al-Shahine, a spokesperson for the Arab Khaldeh tribes, accused Hezbollah supporters of trying to put up the poster of Salim Ayyash that sparked the fighting. But this was denied by a military source and Hezbollah, whose spokesperson called it a reckless accusation. Lebanese politicians across the divides scrambled to try to contain the tensions. The Future Movement, led by Hariris son, Saad, urged the Arab Khaldeh tribes to heed his call for self-restraint, saying the incident was the result of unregulated weapons and futile provocations. It is the second case of deadly shootings in a week. Three men were shot dead in the village of Kaftoun in northern Lebanon on Saturday. A Syrian man has been arrested and two Lebanese suspects are on the run, a security source said. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk on Friday confirmed via Twitter that Teslas factory in Nevada was targeted by a Russian hacker, who tried to convince an employee of the company to install a virus in exchange for $1million. In a tweet, Musk wrote, Much appreciated. This was a serious attack, responding to a report on Teslarati. He said that the Nevada factory was the target of a serious cybersecurity attack. Much appreciated. This was a serious attack. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 27, 2020 Earlier this week, the U.S. authorities arrested and charged a 27-year-old Russian national named Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov. As per court documents, Kriuchkov tried to reach out to one of Teslas employees (a Russian-speaking immigrant) via WhatsApp Messenger to plant a malicious malware in Teslas Gigafactory in Nevada. The two had previously met four years ago, in 2016. Kriuchkov claimed he was traveling to the U.S. for a vacation, and the two arranged to meet in Reno. The duo met on several occasions, during which Kriuchkov revealed that he was working with a Russian-based hacker group and proposed the employee to install a piece of malware designed specifically for Tesla in the companys computer system. In return, he promised to reward $1 million to the Tesla employee for executing it. The malware, which reportedly cost around $250,000 was designed to steal sensitive Tesla files and data and upload them to a remote server. Thereafter, the hackers could threaten to disclose this data online unless Tesla agrees to pay a large amount of ransom. However, the attempt to hack Tesla was thwarted when the employee informed about the hacking plot to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Tesla after his first meeting with Kriuchkov. Kriuchkov has been charged with conspiracy to intentionally cause damage to a protected computer by trying to recruit an employee to introduce malware into a system. If found guilty, he could face up to five years in prison. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 04:13:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A farmer checks a sunflower field in the province of Edirne, Turkey, on Aug. 26, 2020. Sedat Kacar, a Turkish farmer who owns two fields in a location near the Turkey-Greece border in Edirne, was saddened by the expected yields loss due to extreme weather this year, at a time when the country has already been hit hard by the raging COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Osman Orsal/Xinhua) ISTANBUL, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Sedat Kacar, a Turkish farmer from the province of Edirne, had a heavy heart as he was busying with sunflower harvesting on his fields in the northwestern end of Turkey. Kacar, who owns two fields in a location near the Turkey-Greece border in Edirne, was saddened by the expected yields loss due to extreme weather this year, at a time when the country has already been hit hard by the raging COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the adverse economic effects of the pandemic, Kacar said that this year the sunflower farmers in the region have also been struggling against extreme heat and aridity, which reduced both the quality and yields of their products. "This area did not receive enough rain during the winter months," Kacar told Xinhua, noting that extreme weather temperatures led sunflowers to get matured early, leading to lower yields. He expected to collect 1.5 tons of sunflower seeds from his land of 10,000 square meters (about 2.47 acres), which would bring in about 5,250 Turkish liras (about 715 U.S. dollars). This year the lowest buying price of sunflower seeds was determined by state institutions as 3,240 liras per ton, up from 2,500 liras in 2019. Meanwhile, the costs of the farmers in the area have increased significantly from last year as the prices of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides were all paid in dollars, according to Kacar. "As the Turkish currency loses its value against the greenback, the money we spend increases automatically," he noted. Kacar will try to sell his products at a commodity exchange market this time, where the sales are auctioned, hoping to get as much as 3,500 liras per ton. For Erdal Akgun, the former chairman of the Edirne Chamber of Agriculture, this year sunflower farmers stated their harvesting in a "blue" mood. He said the insufficient rainfall didn't feed the soil enough, and therefore, sunflowers couldn't abundantly store the water and as a result, they got dried up. "There is no other remedy to cope with the drought other than developing several irrigation methods, otherwise, no single sunflower farmer would be able to pay his debts," Akgun told local broadcaster Edirne TV in an interview. The fields in this border province supplied 30 percent of Turkey's edible oil needs in 2019. The country's total sunflower seeds demand, meanwhile, stands at about 3 million tons per year, according to Okan Gaytancioglu, deputy of the Republican People's Party in Edirne. However, Turkey only produced 1.95 million tons of sunflower seeds last year, far below its total demand. Citing that the COVID-19 pandemic showed that there could be sudden disruption in the food supply chain, Gaytancioglu urged officials to support sunflower farmers with a more rational pricing policy so that Turkey can increase its production and reduce dependence on imports. DUBLIN, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Veneer & Plywood Manufacturers (GLOBAL) - Industry Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Veneer & Plywood Manufacturers Analysis provides a detailed overview of the Veneer & Plywood Manufacturers market and delivers a comprehensive individual analysis on the top 200 companies, including Okura Industrial Co Ltd., Kronospan Holdings Ltd and Kronospan Mielic SP. Z O.O. This report includes a wealth of information on the financial trends over the past four years. The latest Veneer & Plywood Manufacturers 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 Veneer & Plywood Manufacturers report will tell you that 75 companies have a declining financial rating, while 22 have shown good sales growth. Each of the largest 200 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 Veneer & Plywood Manufacturers 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/mf7flx 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 Russian prosecutors have said they see no need for a criminal investigation into the sudden illness of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny - who his supporters suspect was poisoned - and they have found no evidence a crime has been committed. The Russian Interior Ministry said it had started a routine preliminary investigation into the case. Mr Navalny (44) was airlifted to Germany on Saturday after collapsing during a flight from the Siberian city of Tomsk to Moscow. He is now in a medically induced coma in a Berlin hospital. The hospital said its initial medical examination pointed to poisoning, though Russian doctors who had treated Mr Navalny in a Siberian hospital have contradicted that diagnosis. The Russian Prosecutor General's office said yesterday there was no indication a crime had been committed against him. German authorities have agreed to cooperate with Russia on the case, the Prosecutor General's office said, asking Germany to share information about his treatment and promising to give some back in exchange. The Siberian branch of the Interior Ministry's transportation unit said it was carrying out a preliminary investigation after Mr Navalny's flight made an emergency landing in the city of Omsk. It had inspected the hotel room where Mr Navalny had been staying in Tomsk and the routes he had taken in the city, as well as analysing video surveillance footage from the area, it said. The ministry did not find drugs or other potent substances. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated the government's position that there was no need for a formal investigation but that preliminary checks were always carried out in such situations. Mr Navalny's supporters believe he was poisoned by his enemies. He has been a thorn in the Kremlin's side for more than a decade, exposing what he says is high-level graft and mobilising crowds of young protesters. He has been repeatedly detained for organising public meetings and rallies and sued over his investigations into corruption. He was barred from running in a presidential election in 2018. The Kremlin said this week it wanted the circumstances surrounding Mr Navalny's condition to come to light and that it hoped the incident would not hurt its relations with the West. European Union ministers are set to discuss Mr Navalny's condition this week. THE TCI narrowly escaped the wrath of tropical storm Laura, which killed at least 13 people in neighbouring Haiti and the Dominican Republic over the weekend. On Saturday, August 22, residents in the TCI hunkered down for a 50 mph tropical storm which was forecast to pass directly over the territory. The Government ordered a national lockdown which saw airports, businesses and government operations halted on Saturday at 4pm. The lockdown was in keeping with the Governments standard operating procedures and guidelines for disasters and hazards. The territory experienced windy conditions as the storm passed south of the territory on Sunday (August 23). The disturbance was forecast to move over the TCI by Sunday morning with maximum sustained winds near 50 mph with higher gusts. However, the vicious storm veered away from the territory - but not before dumping at least one to three inches of rainfall over the TCI and southeast Bahamas. As the inclement weather cleared up, the shelter in place order was discontinued for the TCI at 4pm on Sunday. While the TCI experienced manageable weather conditions and suffered no loss to life or property, life-threatening flash floods struck in parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The storm was blamed for killing at least 13 people as it battered Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico over the weekend with high winds and flooding. According to the Associated Press, nine people died in Haiti and two went missing, while officials in the Dominican Republic reported that four people were killed during the storm. Those dead included two women, two men and a 10-year-old girl. According to the Haitian Times, the girl was killed when a tree fell on a home in Anse-a-Pitres, which is along the southern coast on the border with the Dominican Republic. The storm strengthened to a category four hurricane as it made its way to the Texas and Louisiana border early Thursday morning. The National Hurricane Centre said a storm surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the coast in southwest Louisiana and far southeast Texas. Laura became the fourth hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. By Kang Seung-woo An online petition critical of the Moon Jae-in administration's policy missteps and beleaguered current and former officials has received widespread attention. President Moon Jae-in / Yonhap Poland will introduce a ban on all commercial flights to and from Croatia starting September 2, in an attempt to stem the flow of the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic. The measure will affect LOT Polish Airlines service between Warsaw and Zagreb, as well as six other seasonal routes to the Croatian coast. Furthermore, Wizz Air will be forced to end its flights from Warsaw and Katowice to Split earlier than planned. Croatia is one of 46 countries from which flights will be banned as of next week. As previously reported, a flight ban to Serbia will be lifted as of next Wednesday , however, all other markets in the former Yugoslavia, with exception to Slovenia, are now on the ban list. 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... The civil aviation ministry said the negative PCR test required of all travellers must be conducted a maximum of 72 hours prior to the scheduled flight to Egypt Egypt said it will require all travellers arriving at the countrys airports to present a negative PCR lab test result for the coronavirus starting 1 September, with the test result dated within 72 hours of the travellers arrival. In a circulation on Thursday, the civil aviation ministry said the negative PCR test, required of all travellers, including Egyptians, must be conducted a maximum of 72 hours prior to the scheduled flight, instead of a previous 48 hours. Children under six of all nationalities are exempted from the decision, it added. The announcement comes a week after Egypt said it will require all travellers arriving in the country to present a PCR lab test result certificate for the coronavirus due to increasing infections in some countries. Egypt began a gradual resumption of regular international flights last month, having shut its airspace in March in the wake of the pandemic. Foreign tourists are currently allowed entry only into the three coastal Egyptian governorates with the lowest coronavirus infection rates in the country South Sinai, Red Sea, and Matrouh. Earlier this week, Egypt said it has received 126,000 tourists since it has reopened to international flights. The government has so far allowed around 600 hotels that have met safety protocols to reopen at a reduced occupancy rate of 50 percent. The country's key tourism sector has been hit hard by the pandemic. Search Keywords: Short link: OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- Some two miles of boulders are positioned along the Lake Michigan shoreline north of North Beach Park. Nearly a year ago, the same stretch of beach was marked by debris of wrecked decks and beach stairs with some piled sandbags here and there. A fallen tree is seen laying across a street after the passing of Cyclone Yasi on February 3, 2011 in Townsville, Australia. (Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images) Child Among Dead After Wild Winds Lash Victoria State A four-year-old boy is among three people killed by falling trees as wild weather lashed Victoria and prompted thousands of calls for help. Victoria Police confirmed the boy died after being struck by a tree at Hawthorn Rd in Melbournes Blackburn South on the morning of Aug 27. A 36-year-old woman also died after a tree hit the ute she was a passenger in along the Maroondah Highway in Fernshaw around 7pm. The 24-year-old male driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries. In another incident, a 59-year-old man died after a tree fell on his car as he was leaving a shopping centre in Belgrave. Police are preparing coroners reports for the three incidents. As of Friday morning, the State Emergency Service had reported more than 2000 calls for help because of the storm, which hit Melbourne early Thursday night. A severe weather warning had forecast wind gusts up to 158 kilometres per hour. The SES said most of the calls were for downed trees, while about 10 percent were for building damage. The worst-hit areas were Mount Evelyn (58 calls for assistance), Belgrave (55), Croydon (45), Lilydale (34) and Mount Waverley (30) all in Melbournes east. SES state duty officer Gerry Sheridan told 3AW on Friday morning they were still responding to 400 jobs and would mobilise crews from other parts of Melbourne. Motorists are being advised to drive carefully, with the transport department reporting multiple traffic lights out. Tens of thousands of Victorian homes have been left without power, with supply companies scrambling to restore services. Meanwhile, Metro Trains say major delays are clearing for the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Frankston lines after an equipment fault near Caulfield. A tree also fell across rail lines near Malvern. Melbourne Press Release 5G could deliver up to $3.3 trillion of economic and social value in Latin America by 2035 Omdia and Nokia publish an in depth report "Why 5G in Latin America" The report finds 5G is essential to Latin America, facilitating digital transformation, GDP growth and a $9 trillion revolution in productivity 28 August 2020 Espoo, Finland - Omdia and Nokia's "Why 5G in Latin America" report finds 5G will come to Latin America, sooner rather than later. The region lags its peers in productivity and economic growth, both of which will be enhanced by digital transformation. This, in turn, requires significantly enhanced broadband communications, and that leads to 5G which could add $3.3 trillion of value by 2035 and a $9 trillion improvement in productivity. The report discusses the region's macro-economic performance over the past decade, making the case for digital transformation and ultra-broadband, especially 5G. It highlights the problem: a gap with developed nations in broadband penetration which is not going away. It goes on to show how 5G impacts both consumers and enterprise and why it is essential to the region, country by country and industry by industry. Brazil will see the largest total gain with $1.216 trillion of 5G Economic impact and an increase in productivity of $3,084 trillion. The ICT industry will be most affected in the country with a $241 billion Economic impact. 5G is essential and therefore inevitable, argues the report, and devotes a chapter to getting ready, outlining recommendations for Service Providers such as upgrading 4G to be "5G ready" and pushing fiber deeper into the network. In a continent where 4G only reaches 50% of mobile connections, Policy Makers are encouraged to finish allocating 4G spectrum, to develop a clear spectrum policy roadmap and an infrastructure policy which both encourages and facilitates the private sector to invest in 5G. Wally Swain, Principal Consultant for Omdia Latin America said: "Latin American countries must diversify their sources of income and jobs into higher value-added activities. Activities including mining and manufacturing must become more productive and 5G will play an important role on this". Osvaldo Di Campli, Head of Latin America for Nokia, said: "5G is much more than access. With 5G, the security of telecommunications networks will be even more crucial since we'll have millions of sensors connected per square kilometers. When we develop equipment in Nokia, we are addressing network security right on the architecture. We deploy a process we call Design for Security, which means safety and trustworthiness are integral to our products rather than patched on top". Resources: White paper: Why 5G in Latin America About Nokia We create the technology to connect the world. Only Nokia offers a comprehensive portfolio of network equipment, software, services and licensing opportunities across the globe. With our commitment to innovation, driven by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, we are a leader in the development and deployment of 5G networks. Our communications service provider customers support more than 6.4 billion subscriptions with our radio networks, and our enterprise customers have deployed over 1,300 industrial networks worldwide. Adhering to the highest ethical standards, we transform how people live, work and communicate. For our latest updates, please visit us online www.nokia.com and follow us on Twitter @nokia. About Omdia Omdia is the new global technology research powerhouse, established in 2020 with the combination of the Informa Tech's research brands (Ovum, Heavy Reading, and Tractica) and the acquired IHS Markit technology research portfolio. Omdia combines the expertise of more than 400 analysts covering 150 markets and thousands of technology, media, and telecommunications companies, publishing over 3,000 research reports a year, reaching over 14,000 subscribers. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 14:29:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TOKYO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to step down from his post owing to concerns over his health, a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) source said Friday. Scheduled to give a press conference on the matter later in the day, Abe is believed to have already announced his resignation at an LDP meeting. The Japanese leader has been quoted as saying that his resignation is meant to have a limited impact on the ruling party and he will continue in his role until a successor is chosen. Rumors about the Japanese premier's deteriorating health have been swirling of late and amplified by two trips to a Tokyo hospital within a week. Abe's first admission to hospital on Aug. 17 for what was described at the time by as a "health check up" that lasted more than seven hours stoked concerns about his health. On Aug. 24, Abe revisited the Keio University Hospital in Tokyo again to receive the results of the checkup and to receive more tests, with the second visit lasting four hours. The same day he visited the hospital for the second time, he became Japan's longest-serving leader with the most consecutive days in office at 2,799. If confirmed, this would be the second time Abe has left the top post due to health issues. Abe, 65, during his first tenure as prime minister, which started in late September 2006, abruptly stepped down from his post in 2007 due to chronic ulcerative colitis, an intestinal disease. After a landslide victory in the lower house in 2012 he returned to serve as the nation's premier and his seven year-tenure has made him Japan's longest ever serving leader. Abe, prior to his health condition, was set to spend one more year at the helm. Abe's presidentship of the main ruling LDP was set to run out in September 2021. Sparking concerns about the premier's ill health, prior to the rumors mounting in public and political spheres, a weekly magazine reported that Abe vomited blood at his office on July 6. Enditem Ukraine and China have agreed to continue increasing trade in goods and services, exploring ways to liberalize trade, and identifying joint projects in the fields of agribusiness, infrastructure, energy, and energy conservation, the press service of the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine has reported. According to the report, these issues were discussed during a video conference between Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture and Ukraine's Trade Representative Taras Kachka and Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy China International Trade Representative Yu Jianhua. The parties discussed mutually beneficial trade and economic partnership between Ukraine and the Government of the People's Republic of China. The parties agreed to continue work on increasing trade in goods and services, exploring ways to liberalize trade, diversifying the range of bilateral trade by gaining access to the Chinese market for domestic products, identifying projects for joint implementation in agribusiness, infrastructure, energy, and energy conservation. "The agreements reached will promote the further development of mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation between our countries, increase contacts at the level of business representatives and ensure the implementation of joint initiatives," Kachka said. op On Tuesday, with its reporter standing in front of a raging fire, CNN ran a ludicrous chyron stating, "fiery but mostly peaceful protests after police shooting." Ordinarily, this wouldn't be worthy of reporting three days later. However, for some reason, this chyron was a bridge too far for many people, and the internet is still flooded with memes. It's apparent that, with this latest denial of objective reality, CNN has finally completed its transformation into Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf, whom many Americans remember almost fondly as Baghdad Bob, the Hussein regime propagandist who insisted that Saddam was winning even as U.S. troops entered Baghdad. In 2003, when our military successfully invaded Iraq and quickly captured Baghdad, Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhafk, AKA Baghdad Bob, was Saddam Hussein's minister of information. As troops neared and then entered Baghdad, al-Sahhaf gave daily press briefings during which he announced the most outrageous lies about the wars. For example, Baghdad Bob insisted that American troops were committing suicide "by the hundreds" and that none had entered Baghdad. Meanwhile, Americans were a few hundred yards away from him, and the audience could hear the sounds of their fighting. On April 8, four days before Americans captured Baghdad, al-Sahhaf was still insisting that U.S. troops "are going to surrender or be burned in their tanks. They will surrender. It is they who will surrender." Baghdad Bob was last heard from some years ago, living in the United Arab Emirates. However, it's entirely possible that he's currently working for CNN, a former news network and now a sloppy propaganda outlet for the anarcho-Marxists of Antifa and Black Lives Matter. Obviously, things are a bit different here for Bob. Last time, American troops were closing in on Baghdad as Bob spun manifest lies about events. This time, American anarchists and communists are closing in on an American city as CNN spins manifest lies about events. But aside from the details, that chyron running across the bottom of the CNN screen is vintage Baghdad Bob: For Americans fed up with a deeply dishonest media, this chyron seems to have been the last straw. Thankfully, rather than copying leftists and rising up with weapons and flames, Americans have instead mounted a sustained ridicule attack against CNN. It's been three days and the jokes keep coming: CC @BridgetPhetasy, who dropped the joke about a "watery but mostly successful voyage" last night. One of her best. pic.twitter.com/46c6jW19fo James Lindsay, just likes thrusting (@ConceptualJames) August 27, 2020 CNN, 1666: Fiery but mostly peaceful night in London. pic.twitter.com/MFL5w3r6NT Chris Rose (@ArchRose90) August 27, 2020 Fiery but mostly peaceful Japanese tourists survey Pearl Harbor pic.twitter.com/wq8jWIshUE RazorFist (@RAZ0RFIST) August 27, 2020 CNN: Fiery but mostly peaceful protests after police shooting... pic.twitter.com/wcIWwYBhRj Mad Liberals (@mad_liberals) August 27, 2020 "Fiery, but mostly peaceful landing." ~ CNN pic.twitter.com/1vns1fYONE G (@stevensongs) August 27, 2020 Fiery but mostly peaceful end to Waco siege. pic.twitter.com/MHpe94GePA Garbage Human (@GarbyJooman2020) August 27, 2020 The Babylon Bee, typically, managed to craft an entire, hysterically funny article from CNNs propaganda: 14 Mostly Accurate CNN Headlines From The Last 6,000 Years Of Human History https://t.co/2hDXFaRHKw The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) August 27, 2020 To all those conservatives and ordinary Americans having fun with this, you've mastered two of Alinsky's Rules for Radicals: "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon" and "A good tactic is one your people enjoy." Keep on doing what you're doing. Image: Anonymous internet meme. Beijings ministries have issued streams of climate change-related rules and targets, and China was at one point considered a leader. This was supposed to be the year that companies got better about environmental and social governance disclosures. Constrained coffers, the viral outbreak, trade war with the U.S., and slowing economic growth will make it harder to put future floods and the like front of mind. That needs a rethink.Consider this knock-on effect. In theory, banks will likely take losses because of natural disasters; their clients will pass them along to insurers. In China, insurance companies arent well-prepared; statistics remain sparse and risk-modelling around flood events has become more difficult. In 2016, Chinas non-life insurers were hit with losses of more than 4 billion yuan related to floods and storms between June and August. This time, Fitch Ratings Inc. analysts expect claims to continue to surge as the rainy season is not over yet in certain parts of China. They noted on July 15 that insurers in Hubei, Guangxi and Jiangxi provinces had reported aggregate incurred losses of more than 500 million yuan as of a week earlier, including claims from motor, agricultural and property insurance.The last thing Chinas burdened, state-run financial institutions need are continued natural disasters. As tough as this year has been, it may be time to re-calibrate priorities. Building 5G base stations and rail lines wont matter if they get wiped out by floods again and again. Bengaluru, Aug 28 : City-based St. Mary's Basilica is going the virtual way to celebrate 2020's nine-day Novena festival amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which attracts thousands of people in normal times, a cleric said on Friday. "This year, all the grandeur and fervour of this festival has been snatched away by the cruel intervention of dreaded coronavirus. We have made alternative arrangements to celebrate this festival spiritually and meaningfully through digital and other social media networks," said Peter Machado, Catholic Archbishop of Bengaluru. Centrally located in Shivajinagar, the basilica will telecast daily spiritual programmes all through the nine days in multiple languages such as English, Kannada, Konkani and Malayalam. Archdiocese of Bangalore app, YouTube channel, website and also the church's website will be the virtual links for the devout to stay connected with the Novena festival. "We have decided to live stream all the spiritual programmes through various digital platforms on all nine days of the Novena, from August 29 and on feast day September 8," said Machado. The archbishop appealed to the devotees to confine themselves to their homes as one family to spend time in prayer and recitation of the holy rosary. Considering the pandemic, the police and the state government have also advised a low key celebration, without crowds of devotees at the shrine and its vicinity. Novena feast day on September 8 is known for the sea of humanity which descends on the church premises. On August 29, the church starts its celebrations with a flag hoisting ceremony. "People from all faiths joyfully and wholeheartedly participate with utmost devotion and piety in these religious services," observed Machado. He said prayers will be held for all devotees and the people in Bengaluru and Karnataka on the Novena days and the feast day as well. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Supporters eager to hear from the Trump campaign after going months without political rallies endured persistent rain to watch Vice President Mike Pence speak in Traverse City Friday. Pence, flanked by construction equipment and Make America Great Again! banners, spoke outside an airport hangar before a crowd of several hundred supporters wearing ponchos and set six feet apart. The vice president visited Michigan and Minnesota Friday, a day after President Donald Trump formally accepted the Republican Partys nomination for a second term from the White House. Pence confidently jogged from Air Force Two to the podium as All Right Now played on the PA system. The vice presidents roughly 35-minute speech featured few appeals to Michigan-specific issues but highlighted Trumps overarching policy accomplishments while urging voters to support him again after the formerly Democratic-voting state flipped in 2016. Four years ago, you in Michigan knew: It wasnt just a campaign, a movement was born, Pence said. Here in Michigan, you believed we could be strong again ... Michigan said yes to President Donald Trump in 2016 and I know Michigan is going to say yes to four more years of President Donald Trump in 2020. Pence returned to the economy several times throughout his remarks, arguing the countrys economic recovery is on the ballot. The vice president said Trump made America great, before the coronavirus struck from China. Democrats have criticized the president for downplaying the virus and moving slowly to help equip states with testing supplies and medical equipment to prevent it from spreading. Pence offered a competing view of the federal response, saying his decision to suspend travel from China saved countless lives and bought time for a seamless partnership with states. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Trump failed to reign in the virus during a press call organized by the Democratic National Committee Tuesday. Whitmer is a national adviser to Bidens presidential campaign. We know that the way out of this crisis is to get the virus under control, to give relief to small businesses and working families, produce PPE and testing supplies right here in the US and encourage mask-wearing and social distancing, Whitmer said. Donald Trump has failed to put together a national strategy to help us reach those goals. We are six months in and there is still is no national strategy. Pence presented a contrast between Trumps achievements and Democratic nominee Joe Biden. He said the election is about whether we will allow a radical movement to dismantle and destroy the American way of life. I know this movement is unstoppable, but we have to decide men and women of Michigan, we have to decide right here and right now, that Joe Biden will never be president of the United States, Pence said. I need you to bring it. Its on Michigan. Michigans 2020 campaign schedule has been lighter than the previous presidential election, as many types of in-person activities carry a new risk due to COVID-19. The virus is linked to nearly 179,000 deaths according to the CDC, including 6,446 in Michigan. Attendees were given temperature checks upon entering Fridays rally. Roughly a quarter wore masks, but most took them off in the outdoor setting. Gloria Pierce has her temperature taken before listening to Vice President Mike Pence speak during his visit to promote President Donald Trump on Friday Aug. 28, 2020 in Traverse City. Nicole Hester/Mlive.com Trumps supporters said they have missed the high-energy rallies hes known for. Brenda Leuerenz, 69, drove nearly four hours from Port Huron to see Pence speak. Michigan supporters organized MAGA car cruises, lakeside boat parades and protests against the governors stay-at-home orders over the summer. Leuerenz has been to all three types of events. She said the grassroots gatherings are a way for Republicans to display their support for Trump while he cant visit them. He cant come here and do it, so we have to find something, she said. We have to rally if he cant rally. Pences visit to Northern Michigan comes as the campaign stopped television ads, though advertising spots are reserved in September through the election. Trumps last arena rally in Michigan was Dec. 12, 2019, the same day he was impeached by the U.S. House. He visited a Ypsilanti Ford Motor Co. facility in May, but the event was organized by the White House instead of his reelection campaign. U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, and Republican Senate candidate John James addressed the crowd before Pence arrived. U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, D-Midland, was also in attendance. Trump won Bergmans congressional district by 21 percentage points in 2016, driving up Republican votes in Northern Michigan counties compared to the previous election. Former President Barack Obama and Biden won the district in 2008. Bergman said the coronavirus hit Northern Michigan hard, pointing to business and school closures. He led the crowd in a round of applause for medical workers but did not mention people killed or infected by the virus. Let me be extremely, directly clear: President Trump helped create the greatest economy in history, Bergman said. There is no one better to bring back jobs and lead our national comeback than President Donald J. Trump. Bergman said voters can choose to support a party that is proud of the American flag and law enforcement or trojan horses of the radical left. James denounced socialism during a fiery stump speech about how Washington has failed to bring deliver prosperity to all Americans. The Farmington Hills businessman said he would bring much-needed representation to conservatives and people of color in the Senate, where Michigan is represented by two white Democrats. When Pence came on stage he invoked James when discussing violent protests in response to police violence in several cities. President Trump and I know what John James knows ... We dont have to choose between supporting law enforcement and standing with our African American families, Pence said. We have done both, we will continue to do both. Dan Hiltz, a retired Michigan State Police trooper, said Pence is a hell of a vice president, a very honorable man. Hiltz, 66, said he used to vote Democrat earlier in his life, but doesnt think Biden has accomplished anything of value during his long career. Im not going to switch horses in the middle of a rapid river, Hiltz said. The president and the vice president are guiding us through. Lets stick with them. Bidens campaign has put a strong emphasis on one tangible accomplishment -- his work to oversee the federal bailout of General Motors and Chrysler. One a call with reporters Friday, surrogates said Biden rescued a critical industry during the last recession and can lead the country through the COVID-19 recovery. U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, said Trumps mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic has caused widespread outbreaks that ground the economy to a halt. Government-ordered shutdowns caused record-high unemployment and a steep recession which could take years to recover from. People do not understand that our economy has shrunk by more than 10% in six months, and that it is the worst drop in the economy since the days of Herbert Hoover, Dingell said. (Its) because of how COVID has been handled. Pence criticized Biden for voting to adopt the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993, saying it led to mass layoffs in manufacturing plants across the country. Pence touted the signing of a replacement deal, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Under President Donald Trump NAFTA is yesterday, the USMCA is here to stay, he said. Caleb Nichols, a 23-year-old Grand Rapids resident, said Trump has earned a second term, pointing to the strong economic growth experienced through most of his tenure. Nichols said Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is more to blame for the economic downturn than Trump due to her executive orders. Nichols said hes not worried about the virus continuing to spread in Michigan. Leuerenz said her daughter owns a gymnastics training facility that remains shut down due to the governors orders. Her parents are in a Southeast Michigan nursing home, and Leuerenz worries about COVID-19 spreading throughout the facility. Shes a supporter of the petition drive to repeal a 1945 law allowing the governor to extend a state of emergency without approval from the Legislature. Supporters of the Unlock Michigan campaign were spread throughout the crowd Friday, wearing branded T-shirts and gathering petition signatures. The campaign is seeking enough signatures to send the measure to the Republican-led Legislature, where it could be enacted without Whitmers input. Supporters voiced a number of theories about Biden, claiming hes mentally unwell, morally unfit, and cant be trusted to govern as a moderate. Several people who spoke with MLive also expressed concerns about widespread absentee voting. Leuerenzs husband Rick said he doesnt think the country is headed in the right direction but trusts Trump to fix the situation in his second term. Were not in a better situation, but were going to get far worse if Democrats get in, Rick said. We have to show our support for Trump and Pence. At the end of his speech, Pence said hes leaving Michigan a little more damp, but a lot more confident. READ MORE ON MLIVE: Michigan Democrats target Pences vote against auto bailout before visit, tout Biden as job savior Michigan supporters celebrate Trumps nomination for a second term on last night of RNC Michigan supporters celebrate Trumps nomination for a second term on last night of RNC Kamala Harris highlights voter suppression in virtual meeting with Michigan Black women President Trump is hoping to visit Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana sometime this weekend, and we hope he can make it. We know that his schedule is busy, but the impact of Hurricane Laura and the importance of this region would clearly justify his presence. We realize that he may spend the bulk of his time in Louisiana because that state was hit worst by Laura, and that would be appropriate. The damage on the Texas side of the Sabine River was not as severe, while our neighbors to the east suffered the full force of Lauras wrath. As coastal residents well know, the east side of a hurricane is always worse. But Orange County was struck hard, too. For people who lost roofs or had trees blown onto their houses, Lauras impact was anything but minor. Gov. Greg Abbotts visit there was appreciated. It is important for governors, senators and presidents to see this kind of devastation firsthand. The look of anguish on a residents face or the image of large trees ripped out like saplings says far more than a dry report can. These storms cause real pain, and in Louisiana, real loss of life. That is something that our political leaders in Austin and Washington should never forget. We also hope that President Trumps hosts emphasize the economic value of the petrochemical plants in this part of the country. Significant national percentages of various fuels, chemical and plastics come out of here; if Lauras damage had been worse, our struggling economy would face even more problems. But while area residents appreciate these plants, we also want to enjoy clean air and water. For the most part we do, but that effort has weakened on Trumps watch. He has relaxed too many regulations that were not that burdensome for industry and that were important to our environment. Most of these plants are profitable and can afford to spend some money to reduce their emissions and operate safely. The economic and environmental goals here are not in direct conflict. With smart policies, we can have both. We also hope that Trump understands that in the coming presidential election, Texas is not such a slam dunk for the Republicans as it has been in every contest since 1976. This state will still probably deliver its electoral votes to Trump, but his victory in 2016 was by a single digit only 9 percent instead of the hefty margin that Republican candidates usually enjoy. And no Texas Republican will forget Sen. Ted Cruzs narrow victory over the tenacious Beto ORourke in 2018. Southeast Texans appreciate people who work hard, play by the rules and try to leave this world better for their children. Around here, integrity and character are not just nice goals, they are fundamental ways to live each day. Candidates who reflect those values will do better in any election. The imprisoned ex-boyfriend of a young woman fatally gunned down in a Birmingham park is accused of paying someone else to kill her. Birmingham police earlier this week announced a capital murder charge against Solomon Minatee III in the July 28 slaying of Raven Lynette Swain. Court documents in the case against the 24-year-old suspect said he was hired by Demarcus Chandler to kill Swain for pecuniary and/or other valuable consideration. Now Chandler, who has an extensive criminal history dating back to when he was just 16 years old, is also charged with capital murder in Swains death. Chandler is behind bars at William Donaldson Correctional Facility after being sent back to prison last year for violating his parole in previous violent crimes was revoked. Birmingham police obtained the capital murder warrant against Chandler on Thursday. Swain was found unresponsive in the drivers seat of her vehicle when South Precinct officers responded at 7:05 p.m. that Tuesday to Underwood Park in the 1100 block of 26th Street South. Birmingham Sgt. Rod Mauldin said when officers arrived at the park, they found Swain in her vehicle that was lodged in the foliage. She was pronounced dead on the scene at 7:48 p.m. Evidence in the park and parking lot indicated multiple shots had been fired, Mauldin said. Several shell casing markers were placed in the lot, which is not far from the Red Mountain Expressway overpass, about a block from The Nick bar. The rear of the park is behind the St. Vincents Hospital parking deck. At least one woman who lives nearby reported hearing the shots fired. Someone in the area called 911, but Mauldin said he didnt know whether there was anybody else in the park at the time of the shooting. Swain is the sister of Pose actor Ryan Swain, who has mourned his sisters slaying publicly on his social media accounts. Court records show Chandler was arrested on June 5, 2019 on felony charges of domestic violence strangulation/suffocation in which Swain was the victim. He was also charged with receiving stolen property after he was found in possession of a Toyota that had been reported stolen out of Fultondale. He was then charged with six counts of probation violation in connection with crimes he committed in 2014. Those crimes happened May 1, 2014 at a Birmingham McDonalds. Police received a call just before 11 p.m. that Thursday on two robbers inside the business at 3013 12th Ave. North. The call came from a citizen on a cell phone. According to arrest affidavits, Chandler and the other suspect, 22, were robbing the restaurant of $147. Three employees inside were held against their will and threatened with violence during the holdup. Officers rushed to the scene and surrounded the restaurant. The suspects eventually surrendered and were taken into custody. No shots were fired and there were no injuries. Chandler pleaded guilty to three counts of kidnapping and three counts of robbery. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison with five to serve. He was released from state prison at the end of his sentence on April 23, 2019. When he was arrested on the new charges and probation violation charges in June, he was initially held without bond. He was then granted bond after his attorney argued he did not pose a danger to himself or others and would adhere to any and all conditions of his bond. On July 26, 2019 Jefferson County Circuit Judge Michael Streety noted in court documents that Chandler had been placed on electronic monitoring. On Aug 1. Streety issued a warrant for his arresting stating he had violated his probation and ordered that he be held on no bond once arrested. Then, on Aug. 5, 2019, Chandler was accused of holding four family members including children hostage overnight in east Birmingham. Birmingham East Precinct officers responded at 10:30 p.m. that Monday to a home in the 500 block of Roebuck Drive. Authorities said the officers were dispatched on a domestic incident. When they arrived on the scene, they found an older female who had managed to escape the house. There were, however, still three other relatives being held against their will inside the home. Two of the hostages were 17, and the other was 11. Police learned shots had been fired inside the home. No one was hurt. By 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, all of the hostages were out of the home. The older woman who initially called police was the first to escape, and then a second hostage also made a getaway. The suspect allowed the remaining two hostages to leave. Police were not able to make contact, however, with Chandler for several hours. A hostage negotiator was brought in and Chandler surrendered shortly before 2 a.m. Nearby residents had been evacuated during the ordeal. Ultimately Chandler was charged with three counts of first-degree kidnapping, attempted murder, second-degree domestic assault and certain persons prohibited from possessing a firearm with bonds totaling $285,000. All of those 2019 charges both from the hostage ordeal and the domestic violence assault on Swain have been forwarded to a grand jury for indictment consideration. In the meantime, Chandlers parole was revoked on the 2014 charges and, in October 2019, he was sent back to state prison to serve the remainder of his sentences. According to the Alabama Department of Corrections, his minimum release date is set for May 2033. On the night that Swain was murdered, dozens of friends and family members flocked to the crime scene. Within hours, whispers began both in the crowd and on social media that Chandler was behind her death. Police have not yet released additional details in the murder-for-hire scheme, nor said how Chandler and Minatee know each other. Chandler was at St. Clair Correctional Facility when the alleged murder scheme was devised, police said, and moved to Donaldson afterward. Minatee pleaded guilty in 2017 to felony burglary and he received a 36-month suspended sentence. His probation in that case ended Dec. 16, 2019. Also in December, however, he was indicted on a robbery charge in which he is accused of robbing another man at gunpoint of cigars, cigarettes and $150. Prosecutors this week requested his bond in that case be revoked pending his new capital murder charge. On April 10, Turasky applied for a PPP loan from an unidentified bank using falsified paperwork that made it appear that Giffords was still open and operating, authorities said. She also wrote on the loan application that the money was necessary to support the ongoing operations of the business, including her monthly rent, the indictment stated. ORLANDO, Fla. - Gov. Ron DeSantis made the case that tourists could safely take commercial flights to visit Florida, as newly reported coronavirus cases grew by more than 3,800 people Friday, down from peak averages of nearly 12,000 cases daily in mid-July. Speaking with industry executives at an airline travel forum in Fort Lauderdale, DeSantis said he hadnt heard of any airline passenger catching the virus on a plane. When this industry thrives, it provides this economic security for so many people in the state of Florida, DeSantis said. Airlines and airport executives told DeSantis that the virus was having the biggest impact on international travel to Florida since many countries had implemented travel restrictions and quarantines on people travelling to and from the United States. DeSantis said 8.8 million people travelled from March to June in Florida, down from 24 million during the same period a year earlier. Travel in Florida accounts for 934,000 jobs and $102 billion in spending, second in the nation behind California, according to the U.S. Travel Association. The Florida Department of Health reported the Sunshine State as having 615,806 total coronavirus cases. Florida reported 89 new deaths on Friday and an overall total of 11,099 deaths. That brought the average daily reported deaths over the past week to 114, the lowest level in more than a month. Floridas average daily reported deaths was third in the country behind Texas at 182 and California at 123. Despite the improving numbers, the virus was interrupting back-to-school efforts in some areas. In central Florida, Osceola County officials announced that Harmony Middle School in St. Cloud would be closed for two weeks after 10 staff members either tested positive for the coronavirus or needed to be tested because theyd been in close contact with an infected employee. In-person lessons in Osceola County began Monday, and school officials said there was no evidence that any students were exposed. The positivity rate in testing in Florida has averaged below 10% over the past week. The number of people being treated in Florida hospitals for COVID-19 has been declining since highs of more than 9,500 cases on July 23. The number of patients Friday morning stood at 3,995, according to a state hospital census posted online. We have had really strong durable declines in almost every indicator, DeSantis said. I think you are seeing very good, positive trends. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the highly contagious virus can cause severe symptoms and be fatal. ___ Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak. Enola Holmes is a new Netflix film starring Stranger Things' Milly Bobbie Brown. Based on the book series by Nancy Springer, it tells the story of Sherlock Holmes' imagined younger sister, Enola, a teenage detective who brings out a more sensitive side of her famously sociopathic brother. And that's where the problem lies. The character and adventures of Sherlock Holmes is mostly in the public domain, as of 2010. There are, however, 10 Holmes stories that are still technically owned by the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. And as the estate explained in a lawsuit against Netflix and Penguin Random House: In World War I Conan Doyle lost his eldest son, Arthur Alleyne Kingsley. Four months later he lost his brother, Brigadier-general Innes Doyle. When Conan Doyle came back to Holmes in the Copyrighted Stories between 1923 and 1927, it was no longer enough that the Holmes character was the most brilliant rational and analytical mind. Holmes needed to be human. The character needed to develop human connection and empathy. Conan Doyle made the surprising artistic decision to have his most famous characterknown around the world as a brain without a heartdevelop into a character with a heart. Holmes became warmer. He became capable of friendship. He could express emotion. He began to respect women. So you see, it's fine to use the public domain elements of the Holmes mythos. But, the estate argues, the idea of Holmes having emotions and respecting women those creative elements were explicitly reserved for the stories still owned by the estate, and thus, Enola Holmes exists in violation of their intellectual property rights. Maybe it would be OK if Holmes were an aloof genius, as he appears in the public domain stories. But any emotional development beyond that is simply unallowed. According to the complaint, it would even be copyright violation if one were to portray Holmes as being concerned for Watson's well-being. The Verge also caught this delightful detail: [Holmes] also starts liking dogs [in the later stories], which a judge actually has described as a potentially protected trait. The Doyle Estate had previously sued Miramax over the 2015 movie Mr. Holmes, which references Holmes's retirement in The Last Bow an event that is still technically owned by the estate. Anyway, Enola Holmes is on Netflix now, and I'll probably watch it this weekend, because it looks like a lot of fun, and this lawsuit is dumb. Arthur Conan Doyle's estate sues Netflix for giving Sherlock Holmes too many feelings [Adi Robertson / The Verge] Conan Doyle Estate Sues Netflix Over Coming Movie About Sherlock Holmes' Sister [Eriq Gardner / The Hollywood Reporter] THERE has been one death as a result of a Covid-19 outbreak at a food processing plant since the pandemic began. The death came to light as it was revealed that there have been a total of 41 outbreaks and clusters at food processing plants reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. A total of 40 people have been hospitalised and there have been 1,502 cases confirmed. Read More Of the 41 outbreaks, 28 were in meat or poultry factories and 13 were outbreaks at other food processing businesses. A Department of Health spokesperson was unable to confirm if the person whose death was linked to a food processing outbreak was a worker. Cases of COVID-19 linked to outbreaks in the settings above are not always confined to factory or food processing workers and may include community cases who are likely to have acquired their illness from one of the outbreak cases, said the department in statement. There were 1,445 confirmed cases of the virus associated with the 28 meat or poultry factory outbreaks, 35 of whom were hospitalised and none of whom died. In addition, there were 57 cases associated with the 13 other food processing outbreaks, five of whom were hospitalised and one person died. A department spokesperson said it was unable to provide a list of facilities where there have been outbreaks for confidentiality reasons. In Northern Ireland, a Brazilian woman who worked at a Moy Park plant passed away due to the virus. With artists releasing songs at a fast and furious pace, its difficult for the average hip-hop head to keep track of it allno matter how tapped in they are. Thats why we created The Ones, a daily post to highlight the song you need to hear. Young Zukaa - Miss Me This a love song, not a lullaby, says Young Zukaa at the end of Miss Me. Its a necessary correctionits hard not to think of counting sheep and rocking to sleep when you first hear Cloudymornings low-key beat, a collection of stripped-down drums and hazy ringtone melodies. Over this gentle R&B production, the Henry County, Georgia rapper lays out all the different ways his lover has criticized him. Zukaa talks over himself, beginning a line just as the last one ends: My bitch told me she wish I was ugly/My bitch told me aint a damn thing funny. Hes pissed off, but hes still loyal: A nigga in this world ever put hands on you/Then you know he gonna die. Zukaa wont let complaints get in the way of his devotion. Check out previous Ones, and listen to new rap from Young Zukaa and more on our Spotify playlist, Apple Music playlist, and SoundCloud playlist. Originally Appeared on Pitchfork A man who married his wife a week after he found how she had been cheating on him has opened up their miserable five-week honeymoon in South America. Greyson Ferguson, a writer for Medium's P.S. I Love You, penned an essay about the disastrous trip he took with his now ex-wife in 2010, detailing how they struggled to stay civil and slept in bunk beds one night. In the six week gap between their wedding and honeymoon, their already rocky relationship was damaged beyond repair after he learned that his new wife was still 'shacking up with the guy' she was seeing before their wedding. Painful: Writer Greyson Ferguson penned an essay about the miserable honeymoon he went on with his now ex-wife after finding out she was cheating on him In another essay, he explained he had gone through with marrying her because he had paid a great deal of his own money for the pricey wedding, and he still loved her. He didn't want to disappoint anyone by postponing the ceremony, but would later regret it. Ferguson admitted he wasn't exactly sure why he decided to go on a honeymoon with his cheating wife he couldn't stand to be around. Part of him was worried his flight ticket would be invalid if she showed up to the airport without the other person on his reservation. He also thought spending weeks in a 'dream destination' might help them work out their problems. 'It didnt,' he wrote. 'Because the last thing you want to do when you despise someone is spend weeks on end with that person in a place neither of you speaks the language. 'Every step in Peru. Every cab ride in Chile. Every dinner out in Argentina, I found the void in my chest begin to consume myself.' Things were so miserable that he contemplated returning home by himself, but he was worried something would happen to his wife after he left and he would be accused of murder. To deal with the crushing pain, he made a point of trying to hurt her by making her feel as inadequate as she made him feel. 'We had struggled to stay cordial the entire time. Many nights ended poorly,' he recalled. Confusing: Ferguson admitted he wasn't exactly sure why he decided to go on a five-week trip to South America with his cheating wife he couldn't stand to be around Struggle: They slept in bunk beds one night just to be apart, and he even went as far as telling her he wanted to date her sister to make her feel inadequate. They later divorced The logistical problems they faced on their trip may have turned into funny stories for a pair of happy newlyweds, but for them, it made their situation that much more unbearable. One morning they were leaving their hotel in Santiago, Chile, at 4 a.m. ahead of their flight to Easter Island when the manager accused them of trying to leave without paying even though they had pre-paid for their room. After using Google Translate to explain what happened, they finally left the hotel, where they had slept in bunk beds the night before. They couldn't find any taxis at such an early hour, and to pass the time while they were walking around they played the 'what if' game in which they asked each other hypothetical questions. When his wife asked him if she ever envisioned them being friends in the future, he admitted he didn't know. With the goal of hurting her, he then asked what she would do if they broke up and he dated her 'thinner' and 'better proportioned' sister. 'Every physical comparison she ever made was always to her sister. And, in her own mind, she almost always lost,' he explained. 'And in one little question, I reminded her of everything her sister had and that she didnt. Including, hypothetically, me.' When she finally answered, she said she would learn to live with it if they were happy together. The two survived the duration of their honeymoon, but they later divorced. 'Although one thing from that entire honeymoon has survived the test of time. I still wouldnt mind going out on a date with the sister,' Ferguson wrote at the end of his essay. Nerissa Gittens-McMillan, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Mobilisation, etc. did not escape a reprimand for having used underserving remarks to a defence attorney. Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne has admitted that the conduct of Permanent Secretary Nerissa Gittens-McMillan in Court on Monday was "unacceptable. Gittens-McMillan was a prosecution witness in the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into an allegation of deprivation of the Nations Public Assistance funds of thousands of dollars, on February 7, 2018. Derville Thomas of Biabou and Learie Johnson of Lowmans Windward, both former employees at the Ministry of National Mobilisation, are facing charges of forgery, theft, deception and conspiracy in connection with the matter. During the PI on Monday, Attorney Grant Connell, who is representing Johnson, made a sharp complaint to the Court that the PS, who serves in the Ministry of National Mobilisation, Social Welfare, etc., had come within his personal space and made an utterance, and he asked the Chief Magistrate to find out from the PS what was said, and to whom it was directed. When the Magistrate asked Gittens-McMillan what she said, she admitted that she told Connell, he was an "evil man. Gittens-McMillan had encroached on Connells space as she walked past the Bar Table on her way to the Magistrate Clerks desk to sign the notes of evidence which had been read back to her, on completion of Connells cross-examination. Connell told the Court that the PS came within his personal space, unknown to him, and if he had reacted with a reflex action to defend himself, and she was struck, he would not have been wrong. "The PS must be told that she must conduct herself within the ethics of the Court, the lawyer said, adding, "This system seemed to be descending into an abyss of disrespect. He described Gittens-McMillans action as very disrespectful to the Court, and noted that on the other hand, he was very calm and respectful during his cross-examination of the PS. "This type of behaviour is unacceptable and unbecoming of the Office she holds. She came within my personal space. "I dont know who gave her that authority to act like that in your Court. I have seen her superiors come to your Court, and they have not behaved like that, Connell observed. The Chief Magistrate agreed with Connell that such behaviour was unacceptable. She also agreed that Connell was very calm during his cross-examination. Connell did not demand an apology, neither did the Court order one, and the PS left after signing the notes of evidence. The PI will continue on September 24. Connell forgives Meanwhile, Defence Attorney Grant Connell says he has no choice but to forgive Permanent Secretary Nerissa Gittens-McMillan for the disrespectful behaviour she displayed at the Serious Offences Court on Monday. Speaking with THE VINCENTIAN on Tuesday, Connell said, "A Permanent Secretary made a comment in Court on Monday. I cant remember her name. I dont know her. I dont know her antecedents in life which might have provoked such utterance, but I have no choice but to forgive her. She may not be aware of the court environ. As referenced earlier, Gittens-McMillan went very close to Connell at the Bar Table and uttered, "You are an evil man. "She came within my personal space, unknown to me. I actually thought it was a prisoner from the prisoners bench which is close to the Bar Table. In the spur of the moment, I could have reacted in defence of myself. It is not something that I expected. the lawyer explained. When asked what he thought could have triggered the PS to react that way, Connell said, "I dont know. It could have been my line of cross-examination in relation to the list of people who are entitled to Public Assistance in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Belarus produces 2.3Mt of cement in 1H20 28 August 2020 In January-June 2020 Belarus manufactured nearly 2.3Mt of cement, 102.3 per cent up on 1H19. In the same period, the cement industry enterprises made nearly BYN400m (US$150m) worth of industrial products, 12.4 per cent up from 1H19. The Belarusian Cement Co made 851,900t of cement in 1H20, a rise of 104.1 per cent compared to 1H19. The company increased sales by 10.3 per cent to BYN453.3m (US$169.7m) compared to 1H19. Meanwhile, Krichevtsementnoshifer manufactured 720,000t of cement, 100.3 per cent up on its 1H19 production. Krasnoselskstroymaterialy output 715,900t of cement, up 102.4 per cent on its 1H19 production total. Aleksandr Dovgalo, director general of the state-owned Managing Company of the Holding Company Belarusian Cement Company, said: "The managing company is diversifying target markets and stepping up presence in countries of the European Union, for instance, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. In 1H20 the growth rate of export to Poland totalled 165.1 per cent, to Latvia 215 per cent, to Lithuania 108.5 per cent. In this period cement shipments to St Petersburg virtually tripled. However, there are certain difficulties relating primarily to the epidemic situation in the countries that consume our products." Important upgrade projects for the industry include the construction of a process line to use RDF fuel and a WHR system at Krasnoselskstroymaterialy. Published under Climate change threatens plants and animals across the planet. Interdisciplinary research by, among others, climate and biodiversity researchers at the University of Copenhagen, has mapped responds of biodiversity caused by abrupt climate changes in the p Approximately 40 per cent of terrestrial ecosystems are projected to have experienced shifts in temperature during the past 21,000 years that are similar in pace and magnitude to regional-scale future forecasts. An international team of scientists led by researchers from the University of Copenhagen and University of Adelaide, has identified and examined past warming events similar to those anticipated in the coming decades, to better understand how species and ecosystems will cope. "Studying locations in regions such as the Arctic, Eurasia, the Amazon and New Zealand can yield knowledge of how climate has changed and how this has impacted plants and animals. Using advanced new methods, including the use of DNA to map biodiversity and precise methods for dating climate change, we have taken advantage of opportunities to find precise causalities. The past climate changes are similar to those that we expect in coming decades," explains Professor Dorthe Dahl-Jensen. By mapping the prevalence of species using combined fossil data archives, researchers were able to see how individual plant and animal species -- and entire ecosystems -- have responded to historical temperature increases: "During large climate shifts of the past, such as the warming from the last ice age to our current interglacial period 11-18,000 years ago, Arctic temperatures have increased by more than 10 degrees Celsius. This is a warming of the same magnitude as the UN predicts can occur in the future, as is described in IPCC reports and forecasts," says Professor Dorthe Dahl-Jensen. Researchers observed that some species, such as antelope, were able to migrate northward, while others, including the Arctic fox, became extinct in areas of what is now Russia. This knowledge can be used to predict how plants and animals will respond to future climate changes. During the last interglacial period -- the Eemian Interglacial Stage, from 115-128,000 years ago -- it was warmer, particularly in Arctic regions. During this time, the central Siberian tundra shifted 200 km northwards, hippos roamed England and giant turtles crawled lazily about the US Midwest. More accurate forecasts, based upon the past The new knowledge compiled by researchers can be used to develop more accurate forecasts concerning which plant and animal species are being threatened with extinction. This in turn can allow for quicker intervention through international conservation measures. The knowledge also makes it possible to map robust ecosystems, which are less sensitive to climate change. "We have gained access to completely new knowledge about how ecosystems, plants and animals have responded to temperature increases similar to those that we are confronted with today and will be in the future. We can use this knowledge to be at the forefront of protecting and conserving biodiversity. It provides knowledge for us to protect the species that remain," says Associate Professor Anders Svensson of the University of Copenhagen's Niels Bohr Institute. "Conservation biologists are taking full advantage of the long-term history of the planet as recorded in paleo-archives, such as those gathered by the team, to understand biological responses to abrupt climate changes of the past, quantify trends, and develop scenarios of future biodiversity loss from climate change," says the study's main author, Damien Fordham, of the University of Adelaide and the University of Copenhagen's Globe Institute. Research into the past demonstrates that many ecosystems are able to adapt to sudden climate change, even when migration is not an option. Thus, it is important to acquire more knowledge and ensure healthy interaction between the planners of future ecosystems and this historical knowledge. Historical archives also demonstrate that other factors, such as the impact of humans and the establishment of cities, the clearing of forests and changes to ecosystems, also have had a very significant impact on species extinction. Results just published in the journal Science. The research article illustrates how interdisciplinary research among climate and biodiversity researchers, and the deployment of new methods, better dating and climate models can be used to generate knowledge that will advance our ability to create and preserve ecosystems. ### The authorities claim they were fleeing on a speedboat to Taiwan. One of them, Andy Li, was arrested on 10 August along with Jimmy Lai under the new security law. Repression in Hong Kong is getting worse. For pro-democracy activists, police are trying to alter the fact that protesters were the victims of the Yuen Long riots. Hong Kong (AsiaNews) Chinese authorities today announced that the 12 people arrested earlier this week by the Chinese Coast Guard off the coast of Guangdong are all Hong Kong citizens involved in anti-government protests last year. The people detained were travelling on speedboat, probably headed to Taiwan to seek refuge. They include Andy Li, a pro-democracy activist arrested on 10 August together with publishing magnate Jimmy Lai under Chinas new security law for Hong Kong. According to the South China Morning Post and pro-Beijing Wen Wei Po, some of the fugitives are linked to a bomb plot foiled last December. Others are accused of concealing weapons. The Hong Kong Police liaison bureau in mainland China has asked for the return of the 12 suspects. Since the new security legislation came into effect on 30 June, Hong Kong authorities have intensified the crackdown on dissidents. On Wednesday, police arrested 16 people in connection with protests against the pro-Beijing Hong Kong government, including Democratic Party lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting. He and 12 other people are accused of taking part in last years riots" in Yuen Long, at the height of the protest movement against a proposed extradition law. On 21 July 2019, a group of hooligans attacked anti-extradition protesters and unsuspecting passengers at the local metro rail station. Dressed in white T-shirts (to distinguish themselves from the black ones worn by protesters), the thugs, armed with iron bars, sticks and other weapons, attacked people, injuring 50. Protesting in the courtroom, pro-democracy lawmakers today slammed the attempt by police to alter the facts of what happened in Yuen Long. Lam reiterated that he had arrived at the scene after violence had already broken out, stressing that he himself was a victim of assault. The US Marshals Service (USMS) has found 39 missing children over a two week period in Georgia, as part of a mission known as Operation Not Forgotten, the agency announced on Thursday. The US Marshals Service Missing Child Unit, in collaboration with Georgia authorities, managed to rescue 26 children and discover the safe location of 13 more in the state, according to CBS News. The agencies began the operation in Atlanta and Macon two weeks ago and found children between the ages of three and 17, according to USA Today. In a press release on Thursday, the USMS said the 26 missing children were considered to be some of the most at-risk and challenging recovery cases in the area. The service added that their level of risk was based on indications of high-risk factors such as victimisation of child sex trafficking, child exploitation, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and medical or mental health conditions. Recommended Human remains found in Idaho home confirmed as missing children The USMS also helped locate 13 other children as part of the operation, and the agency said: Other children were located at the request of law enforcement to ensure their wellbeing. USMS investigators were able to confirm each childs location in person and assure their safety and welfare. Nine people were arrested during the operation, and investigators filed charges, including sex trafficking, drugs and weapons possession, parental kidnapping and custodial interference, according to the service. Darby Kirby, chief of the Missing Child Unit, said in a statement: When we track down fugitives, its a good feeling to know that were putting the bad guy behind bars. But that sense of accomplishment is nothing compared to finding a missing child. The chief added that the agency is working to protect them and get them the help they need. In 2019, the USMS helped recover 295 children across the country, and aided in the safe return in 75 per cent of the cases, according to CBS. Donald Washington, the director of the Marshals Service, said in a statement: The message to missing children and their families is that we will never stop looking for you. Navigating through a deadly pandemic to protect as many people as possible requires government to rely on science, and a dose of common sense. What weve seen with the grip of the coronavirus going on six months is that some policies, such as wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing, should be nationwide. But others can be considered state-by-state where conditions differ. And so Gov. Ned Lamont and state health officials are right to ignore new advice from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that asymptomatic people need not be tested for the virus. This advice is questionable, at best. Previous CDC guidelines called for testing those who had been within six feet of someone with COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes. On Monday, inexplicably, the agency reversed and said test only those with symptoms. People without symptoms can spread the virus. In Connecticut contact tracing and testing will continue, which is critical for containing the coronavirus from spreading in a community such as Danbury, where cases have spiked in recent weeks. Less clear is how to balance the safety of nursing home residents with the emotional need for the elderly to see and touch loved ones. Nearly three-quarters of the coronavirus deaths in Connecticut through July 30 were long-term care residents. Closed to visitors since mid-March, nursing homes were allowed limited visits in June. On Thursday, Lamont and acting Public Health Commissioner Deidre Gifford announced relaxing the limits somewhat. Indoor visits of up to 30 minutes would be allowed with patients who are deteriorating with social isolation or are close to death. As long as there is no COVID in the facility those compassionate visits can go on, Gifford said. This seems right and reasonable. Republican leaders said Friday, however, the new measures do not go far enough. All 14 members of the Senate Republican Caucus wrote to Lamont asking him to open indoor family visits for all nursing home residents, not just those in decline or near death. The negative impact of isolation on mental and physical health can be just as dangerous as the pandemic itself and must not be overlooked, the Republicans wrote. This is a empathetic response to families who feel helpless separated from their elderly loved ones for months. But before that could happen, if health officials agree, another change is required: Testing must increase. Initially in June Lamonts executive order required nursing home staff to be tested for the virus every week. Later he amended that to let the facilities stop testing if they had no positive results for 14 days. Recently two nursing homes, in Hamden and Hartford, were each fined $1,140 for failing to comply. Now one-quarter of a nursing homes staff has to be tested every week, which amounts to each worker tested once a month. Is that enough? Connecticut must assess what practice works best here, on all fronts, and be ready to pull back if evidence shows the coronavirus resurging. Public health officials are telling health care providers that some patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 may only need to self isolate for 10 days after developing symptoms. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/8/2020 (509 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. 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. Public health officials are telling health care providers that some patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 may only need to self isolate for 10 days after developing symptoms. The new recommendation is based on updated data and research that shows people are infectious and can spread the virus to others for up to 10 days after they develop symptoms, a statement from Shared Health said Friday. "Because this depends on each persons individual situation, public health officials/health care providers will continue to work with individuals who test positive to determine how long they should self-isolate," it said. "Its important to note that self-isolation of 14 days is still recommended by public health or medical professionals where an individual may have had contact with a positive case of the virus." Self-isolation of 14 days is still required for people who have been exposed to the virus, as well as travellers from outside Canada or Canadian destinations east of Terrace Bay, Ont. because the incubation period for the virus is 14 days, so it can take up to 14 days for symptoms of COVID-19 to develop after someone has been exposed to it. Staff Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 10:55:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- China's Mars probe Tianwen-1 has travelled around 100 million km as of 10:08 a.m. Friday, according to the China National Space Administration. The Mars probe is in a stable condition and its multiple payloads have finished self-check. It has travelled in orbit for 36 days and is 10.75 million km away from Earth. Enditem She has a wealth of knowledge on reality television, having starred as The Bachelorette in 2016. And on Wednesday, Georgia Love weighed in on the batch of current Bachelor contestants on Twitter. The Channel 10 journalist, who is engaged to her season's winner Lee Elliott, likened some of the women to 'COVID idiots'. 'Have they not seen the show before?' Georgia Love took a swipe at The Bachelor cast and its 'COVID idiots' in tweets shared during Wednesday's episode. Pictured in November Wednesday's episode saw Juliette Herrera offering to give her spot on a group date to pal Areeba Emmanuel, after falling sick. Georgia was baffled by the women who said Juliette should still have gone on the date, regardless of how ill she felt. 'The girls saying you have to go on group dates even if you're sick are 100 per cent the idiots who went to work after getting a COVID test,' she posted on Twitter. Turn of events: Wednesday's episode saw Juliette Herrera (left) offering to give her spot on a group date to pal Areeba Emmanuel (right), after falling sick Vocal: Georgia was baffled by the women who said Juliette should still have gone on the date, regardless of how ill she felt Thoughts: Georgia did not stop there, also questioning sarcastically how producers ended up casting women who weren't familiar with how the show works. Pictured: Areeba Georgia did not stop there, also questioning sarcastically how producers ended up casting women who weren't familiar with how the show works. She noticed the distraught faces on the women when Bachelor Locky Gilbert spent alone time with someone else. 'It's quite amazing the casting team managed to find so many girls who've seemingly never seen nor heard of the concept of this show before??' Georgia wrote online. 'Girls who've seemingly never seen nor heard of the concept of this show before?' The Channel Ten journalist noticed the distraught faces on the women when Bachelor Locky Gilbert spent alone time with someone else The One: Georgia is one of The Bachelor franchise's success stories, having got engaged to plumber Lee Elliott (pictured) in September last year Georgia is one of The Bachelor franchise's success stories, having got engaged to plumber Lee in September last year. However, they have been forced to scrap their destination wedding in Italy due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, they hope to say 'I do' in Georgia's home state of Tasmania, but are having trouble organising the day due to the lockdown in Melbourne, where they both live. 'We're just planning as if everything will be okay by next year, but we still don't know whether it will be,' Georgia recently told Now To Love. 'It's also hard to do a lot of it when we can't even get down to Tassie.' Asserting that appointed Congress president may not have even one per cent support in the party, senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, one of the signatories to the dissident letter, on Thursday pitched for elections to the Congress Working Committee and key organisational posts of state chiefs, district presidents, block presidents and said that those opposing are afraid of losing their positions. While adding that prospects of the party would be better if elected body leads the party otherwise Congress will continue to sit in the Opposition for the next 50 years. When you contest the election at least 51 per cent is with you and you contest the election against only 2 to 3 people within the party. A person who will get 51 per cent of votes will be elected. Others will get 10 or 15 per cent votes. The person who wins and get charge of the post of part president, it means that 51 per cent people are with him. The election has the benefit that when you fight elections, at least your party is 51 per cent behind you. Right now, the person who becomes president might not even have one per cent support. If CWC members are elected then they cannot be removed. So what is the problem, Ghulam Nabi Azad told ANI. Others who stood second, third or fourth will think that we have to strengthen the party while working hard and will win next time. But, the president who is elected now does not have even the support of 1 per cent of party workers, he said while reiterating that elections make the foundation of the party strong. Drawing attention to the consequences of not conducting the elections on the partys prospects in the elections, he said that Congress party has been appointing someone as party president in the state who comes and goes to Delhi and who are recommended by big party leaders. The remarks came three days after the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest decision-making body of the party passed a resolution and requested Sonia Gandhi to continue to lead the Indian National Congress until such time as circumstances will permit an AICC session to be convened. We even do not know whether such persons have the support of 1 per cent or 100 per cent. There are many who do not have even 1 per cent support. This happens in the state, district, CWC elections for party leadership. An appointed person can be removed but an elected person can not be removed. What is wrong with this, he said. He strongly criticised leaders who are opposing the elections, saying, the people who are claiming to be the loyalists are actually doing cheap politics and are detrimental to the interests of the party and to the nation. Slamming those for opposing elections, Rajya Sabha member said, Those office-bearers or state unit presidents or block district presidents who attack our proposal know that they will be nowhere when elections happen. Whoever is genuinely invested in the Congress will welcome the letter. I have said that State, district and block president of the party should be elected by the party workers, he said. He lamented for not holding the elections in the party for the past several decades, For the last many decades, we do not have elected bodies in the party. Maybe we should have pushed for it 10-15 yrs ago. Now we are losing elections after elections, and if we have to come back we need to strengthen our party by holding elections. If my party wants to be in opposition for the next 50 years, then there is no need for elections within the party, he said. Mentioning that the sole purpose is to make Congress active and strong, he said, But those who simply got appointment cards continue to oppose our proposal. Whats the harm in having elected CWC members who will have fixed tenures in the party. Anyone who has a genuine interest in the internal working dynamics of Congress would welcome our proposal to have every state and district president as being elected. The entire Congress Working Committee should be elected, Azad said. Azad, who is Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said their effort was to make the party strong and active and those who simply got appointment cards continue to oppose their proposal. Stressing that he has no personal ambitions but is loyal to his party, he said, I had CM once, Union Cabinet Minister, CWC member and general secretary of the party, I do not want anything for me. I will remain in active politics for the next 5 to 7 years. I do not want to be party president. As a true congressman, I want elections within the party for the betterment of the party. Rajya Sabha member said that Congress worker who has little interest in the party welfare will welcome his letter. The CWC meeting was held on August 24 in the backdrop of a letter in which Azad and 22 other leaders had called for full time active leadership, sweeping reforms and elections of the CWC. There was also a suggestion for a mechanism for collective leadership to guide the partys revival. Several leaders in the party, including party chief ministers, had raised questions over the letter and the issue figured in the CWC meeting. Apart from hailing the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, the CWC also lauded the role of party leader Rahul Gandhi, saying he has resolutely led the fight against the BJP-led government from the front. Sonia Gandhi continues to remain as interim president of the party in August last year after Rahul Gandhi resigned taking responsibility for the partys dismal performance in the Lok Sabha polls. (ANI) "He spoke in generalities that everyone found agreeable at first and meaningless upon reflection." That is one summary of Democrat icon Franklin Delano Roosevelt's speaking style. Last week's Democratic National Convention shows how little Democrats have changed a beautiful outer shell with nothing inside. Professions of equality, justice, compassion, and empathy are precisely the types of slogans many of us find initially agreeable but too vague and empty to warrant additional thought. The only difference is that today's Democrats bring a parade of celebrities to play the part of aesthetically pleasing decorations on the outer walls of their empty shell. Democrats have built their brand on proclamations of benevolence. They've successfully branded themselves to many Americans as the party who cares about others, the tolerant people, the non-racist party, and the party for good-hearted people who want us all to get along. This brand image was mostly built on the backs of tie-dye-shirted, pacifist 1960s hippies. Educators romanticized the sit-ins and protests for decades, which calcified the left as the brand of non-violence. After all, the pacifist hippie is a much better brand spokesman than the Black Panthers or the Weather Underground, who routinely committed terrorist attacks in the 1960s. To be fair to Democrats, they have no choice but to be disingenuous. They are beholden to a brand image that doesn't accurately depict who they are. For decades, the left's monopoly on mass communication systems concealed its true character. Today, ubiquitous camera phones and social media have made leftists' hate and violence impossible to hide. Their only option is pretending to align with the existing Democrat brand and hoping we forget the last ten years. Democrats approve of burning cities, mass riots, and hundreds of beatings for those willing to wear Trump-branded clothing. Surveys show that nearly half of leftists won't even be friends with Trump-supporters. There are also countless examples of Trump-supporters blacklisted for incorrect political viewpoints. None of this is congruent with a kind, tolerant, peaceful brand. Perhaps the pinnacle of the left's false brand image happened at a Minnesota high school when students violently beat another student for carrying a Trump flag during a protest against gun violence. It's hard for someone to be likable when any level of disagreement is anathema to him. The same applies to the Democrat brand. Hollywood has resorted to rewriting existing superheroes to be more woke because it can't create woke heroes. That's because there is nothing admirable about wokeness. Children don't aspire to be perpetual complainers who thrive on destroying people for typos. There is nothing likable about paranoid malcontents, who see racism and Russian assets everywhere they look. Nobody wants to be a leftist because it sounds miserable, and multiple polls prove that Democrats are less happy than Republicans. Democrats can create superheroes just not in their own image, because there is nothing honorable or likeable about the left. Its brand is dead. The Democrats' brand has collapsed beyond repair and they know it. The current strategy to prevent the flock from fleeing the pasture is not preserving their brand, but branding the alternative option as so deplorable that it's beneath consideration. The only way to cover up the noxious fumes of leftism is to double down on the negative branding of Republicans as a party of hate. "Love Trumps Hate," "Make America Hate Again," "Hate Has No Home Here" these are merely a few of the slogans attempting to link hate to the conservative brand. Hate speech, hate crimes, hate groups everything is "hate." The dominance of the Democrat brand throughout mass media, education, and American culture successfully branded the left as the default way to vote especially for young people. But Democrat branding efforts are most effective when they're the only show in town. For years, the left has bullied Republicans to preserve its brand monopoly. If conservatives are scared to share their political beliefs, it makes those flamboyant about their left-wing politics seem like the morally superior choice. If Republicans were morally superior, why would they hide their views? Threats, intimidation, and doxxing are the primary reasons for the silence, and this bullying has prevented Republicans from taking pride in their brand. The real cause for the vitriol toward Trump-supporters is that this new Republican pride is symbolic of the left's brand decline. With every MAGA hat is the realization of the left's intimidation and propaganda not working as effectively as they once did. The rage that follows is a panicked leftist struggling to understand why the left's efforts aren't working. Leftists have inundated Americans with leftism at every turn but can't understand why some people still don't convert. Every sighting of a MAGA hat is a reminder that the Democrats' brand is fading fast. The only solution is to take the conservative brand down to their level and regain the advantage of the default vote. Their desperation is obvious when they compare Donald Trump to Democrat segregationists like George Wallace, often incorrectly labeling Wallace as a Republican to strengthen the lie. It no longer matters if lies, censorship, and cancel culture further damage the Democrat brand their brand has already collapsed. Efforts must focus solely on damaging the conservative brand. Besides, if they win one more election, they won't need to rely on branding anymore. A Democrat sweep in November will provide amnesty to 20+ million illegal aliens, plus another five to ten million immigrants imported over the next four years through our new open borders policy. These new American citizens will be bribed with our tax dollars to vote away our rights. A Somalian immigrant isn't going to turn down a monthly paycheck to preserve your Second Amendment rights. Antifa will help draft public policy; they'll abolish the Electoral College and pack the SCOTUS with leftists. That's not hyperbole, either they are open about all of this. Under such circumstances, it will be difficult for Republicans to win an election anytime soon. They know how close they are to reaching their goals which is why the Democrats no longer even try to defend their brand. Democrats have sacrificed their brand to win in 2020 without any contingency plan. Their lust for power has blinded them to the consequences of destroying their brand in a losing effort. When Trump wins in November, the death of their brand will finally sink in. Bode Lang is a conservative blogger who produces conservative videos on YouTube. You can find him at https://www.youtube.com/c/Bodelang. As the rate of new coronavirus cases across South Carolina begins to subside, in-person visits with patients are a revived possibility for some health care systems. Citing a decline in community spread, Prisma Health said Friday it will allow a single visitor per patient beginning Tuesday. With special permission, additional visitors can see dying patients who have COVID-19. "Being with a loved one is, in itself, a healing therapy," said Dr. Scott Sasser, who oversees Prisma's COVID-19 response. Prisma, like other hospital systems in the state, had already allowed limited visitation for dying patients, as well as those in pediatric and obstetrics wards. Workers have been filling the gaps by coordinating virtual visits by phone or video. Meanwhile, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control has scheduled 248 mobile testing clinics through Oct. 17. Residents can go to scdhec.gov/covid19testing for information about getting tested at a mobile clinic or one of 223 permanent COVID-19 testing facilities. Beginning next week, DHEC will begin providing data on coronavirus cases in K-12 schools around the state, said Dr. Brannon Traxler, a physician consultant for the public health agency. Cumulative case totals and a rolling 30-day average will be included in the data. At the University of South Carolina, cases keep climbing. The state's largest college added 210 new cases Thursday, bringing the total to 577. Cases have spiked by more than 500 percent since Monday. Classes just finished their first full week. USC reported 35 percent of quarantined beds are occupied. The school also quarantined another house in its Greek Village, the sixth placed on restriction this week. But the campus alert system, which uses 11 criteria including testing to supplies, stands at "low." A day after saying he asked staff to draw up plans for closing campus, President Bob Caslen said he was "committed to ensuring in-person classes" this fall despite reports of parties continuing on and off campus. "While this weeks rise in the number of positive COVID cases concerns me, we always knew that there would be a rise in cases once the entire campus community returned," he said. "Fortunately, all of our cases to date have been minor. ... As Ive said repeatedly, we will take the steps needed through education and, if necessary, student discipline to slow the spread of the virus within our campus community. Statewide numbers New cases reported: 903 Total cases in S.C.: 114,400, plus 1,551 probable cases New deaths reported: 23 Total deaths in S.C.: 2,521, plus 134 probable deaths Hospitalized patients: 979 Percent of positive tests: 15.7 percent Total tests in S.C.: 989,673 Hardest-hit areas Charleston County had the state's highest number of new daily cases at 109, according to DHEC. Richland County followed with 103 and Greenville County had 63. What about tri-county? In addition to Charleston County's 109 new cases, Berkeley had 22 and Dorchester had 13. Deaths Beyond the 23 confirmed deaths, DHEC is investigating five more that were possibly caused by COVID-19. Of the new, confirmed deaths, 19 were patients age 65 and older. They were from Aiken, Anderson, Bamberg, Charleston, Dorchester, Edgefield, Florence, Greenville, Greenwood, Orangeburg and Richland counties. Four patients ages 35 to 64 also died. They were from Aiken, Berkeley and McCormick counties. Hospitalizations DHEC reported 979 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized as of Friday. Of these, 146 were on ventilators and 246 were in intensive care. What do experts say? Authorities continue to urge South Carolinians to avoid being indoors or within 6 feet of unmasked people. Several municipalities have formalized the request with local ordinances. "Masks remain critical in our fight against COVID-19," Traxler said. The agency's data shows that masks and other face coverings are driving down case numbers in communities where they're worn, she said. DHEC continues to encourage all state municipalities to adopt mask ordinances to increase the number of South Carolinians using the critical tool in fighting the pandemic, Traxler said. "We need to continue to do those things we know will keep it at bay," she said. From the air, the destruction of Hurricane Laura is especially stark. Photographs from The Associated Press show entire neighborhoods surrounded by green-brown floodwater. A glassy high-rise stands with most of its windows missing. An airport hangar is shredded into ribbons of metal. After days of gathering strength in the Gulf of Mexico, Laura grew into one of the most powerful storms ever to strike the U.S., a Category 4 monster with 150 mph winds that surpassed even Katrina, which hit Louisiana almost exactly 15 years ago. Laura pounded the Gulf Coast with wind and rain, unleashed a fearsome wall of seawater and killed at least four people. The system sheared off roofs and left whole neighborhoods in ruins. Most of the homes that remained intact still had missing shingles, shattered windows and yards strewn with debris. The hurricane maintained strength for hours after making landfall and carved a destructive path hundreds of miles inland. Buildings and homes are flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP Buildings and homes are flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP A apartment building is damaged Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, after Hurricane Laura went through the area near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP Buildings and homes are damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP A chemical fire burns at a facility during the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP Buildings and homes are flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Cameron, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP Blown down trees and debris surround damaged homes in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP Buildings and homes are damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP Buildings are damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP It wasnt long after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ended his short visit to Sudan and the Gulf states that a senior PLO official was in praise of the Arab leaders standing up to the American official. Saeb Erakat, the PLOs Executive Committee secretary, took to Twitter to send words of appreciation to the leader of Bahrain. We highly appreciate the position of H.M. King Hamad Bin Issa Al Khalifa of Bahrain. We hope that Mr. Pompeo will use his hearing skills. End the occupation then normalization, he wrote. Earlier, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki had praised Sudan for its principled stand for rejecting the US attempts at blackmailing Sudan to trade normalization with the lifting of Sudans name from countries that support terrorism. Erakats tweet was followed Aug. 27 with a strong statement by the PLO Executive Committee that included a warning to Arab states not to follow the path of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The committee warned against the repercussions of any normalization of relations between the Arab countries and the Israeli occupation, calling on all Arab countries not to follow the footsteps of the United Arab Emirates that recently signed a normalization agreement with apartheid Israel, the official WAFA news agency reported. While the tweets and public statements combined both support and warnings, the Palestinian leadership was active on other fronts including calls on the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to meet and denounce the UAE for violating the consensus that has been reached and repeated since Saudi Arabia suggested the Arab peace initiative at the Beirut summit in 2002. Public opposition and criticism of the UAE normalization deal with Israel acted as a public deterrent to other Arab countries that might have been considering a similar deal following the UAE move. Posters calling Emirati Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan a traitor were plastered all over the Arab and international media with the exception of the Saudi media. Writers and intellectuals throughout the Arab world called for a cultural and political boycott of the UAE and vicious op-eds were also published denouncing the UAE move while praising the position of Kuwait and later Saudi Arabia, which publicly declared their commitment at an early stage for the Arab peace initiative. The action of the Israeli government was also a contributing factor in sending a warning to countries considering normalizing relations with Israel. Hours after the UAE-Israel announcement was made, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went on air and insisted that the annexation plan was still on the table and that Israel no longer feels it needs to support the internationally accepted land for peace formula. The intervention by Israel to block the sale of US F-35 fighter jets further eroded what many had called a major Middle East breakthrough. Meetings by the Americans and Israelis with their UAE counterparts were canceled by Abu Dhabi in protest. The combination of the attacks against the UAE and the F-35 fighter jets sale debate appears to have resulted in a failed effort by Pompeo, who by the time he reached his last stop, Oman, stopped talking about the need to join the UAE in normalizing relations and reverted back to the need for unity within the Gulf Cooperation Council. While the Palestinian leadership and the public were busy criticizing the UAE move and warning other countries not to follow suit, there was some blowback for supporters from the Emirates who worry that the attacks could have long-lasting negative effects on Palestinians. Suha Arafat, the widow of late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, was vocal in the defense of the Emirates insisting that those who opposed the normalization agreement should not oppose the UAE and its historic support for Palestine. I want to apologize in the name of the honorable people of Palestine to the Emirati people and their leadership for the desecration and burning of the UAE flag in Jerusalem and Palestine and for insulting the symbols of the beloved UAE country, she wrote. The difference in opinion does not spoil the friendliness of the cause. Another complicating factor has been the presence in the UAE of renegade Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan. While Dahlans senior aide Samir Mashrawi publicly stated opposition to the normalization agreement, many advised against widespread attacks against the UAE. With Pompeo failing to prod Sudan, Bahrain and Oman, for now, from following the UAE, it appears that the Palestinian leadership and people have succeeded, at least temporarily, in stopping the chance of the feared domino effect. As was the case with the US move of its embassy to Jerusalem, the Palestinian leadership has proven that it has a tremendous negative power and that it can use its wide network of friendly governments and people around the world from slowing down or stopping moves that hurt the Palestinian cause. What continues to be missing, however, is the ability for the Palestinian leadership to shift its negative power to positive power that can produce a breakthrough that people in the streets of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank can feel directly. [music, God Bless The U.S.A. by Lee Greenwood] My fellow Americans, tonight with a heart full of gratitude and boundless optimism, I profoundly accept this nomination for president of the United States. [cheering] Gathered here at our beautiful and majestic White House, known all over the world as the peoples house, we cannot help but marvel at the miracle that is our great American story. In recent months, our nation and the entire planet has been struck by a new and powerful invisible enemy. Like those brave Americans before us, we are meeting this challenge. We are delivering lifesaving therapies and will produce a vaccine before the end of the year or maybe even sooner. [applause] And this election will decide whether we will defend the American way of life or whether we will allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it. That wont happen. [applause] At the Democrat National Convention, Joe Biden and his party repeatedly assailed America as a land of racial, economic and social injustice. So tonight I ask you a simple question: How can the Democrat Party ask to lead our country when it spends so much time tearing down our country? [applause] In the strongest possible terms, the Republican Party condemns the rioting, looting, arson and violence we have seen, in Democrat-run cities all, like Kenosha, Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago and New York, and many others. And on Nov. 3, we will make America safer, we will make America stronger, we will make America prouder, and we will make America greater than ever before. [cheering] Donald Trump did not come to Washington to win praise from the Beltway elites. Donald Trump came to Washington for one reason and one reason alone: to make America great again. [cheering] My father has strong convictions. He knows what he believes, and he says what he thinks. Whether you agree with him or not, you always know where he stands. I recognize that my dads communication style is not to everyones taste, and I know that his tweets can feel a bit unfiltered. But the results? The results speak for themselves. Crowd: Four more years! Four more years! We will stand our post on behalf of the millions of Americans whose stories arent told in todays newspapers, whose struggles are just as real. Well continue to support American families as we defeat the coronavirus and return our economy to the envy of the world. The stakes have never been higher, which is why Im asking you to support Republican Senate candidates across the country and re-elect my friend President Donald Trump. Biden has changed his principles so often, he no longer has any principles. Hes a Trojan horse, with Bernie, AOC, Pelosi, Black Lives Matter. Before I begin, Id like to say that our hearts go out to the Blake family and the other families whove been impacted by the tragic events in Kenosha. As Jacobs mother has urged the country, 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. In order to succeed and change, we must first come together in love of our fellow citizens. History reminds us that necessary change comes through hope and love, not senseless and destructive violence. [music] [cheering] THE ruling Zanu-PF party has expressed confidence in reclaiming the Kwekwe Central Constituency seat ahead of the impending by-election for the vacant seat. The seat was left vacant following the untimely death of Masango Blackman Matambanadzo, who was the only legislator representing the National Patriotic Front (NPF) in the house of Assembly. Matambanadzo won the seat on a Zanu-PF ticket during the 2013 elections before again winning it on a NPF ticket after he was fired form the ruling party. Although the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) is still to come up with a solid decision on whether to conduct by-elections or not given the Covid-19 outbreak, aspiring candidates have hit the ground running. The development comes as Zec announced that it was proceeding to fill the proportional representation vacant seats which arose after the opposition MDC-T party recalled some of its parliamentarians because it is bound to do so under the law, giving hope that a by-election may be held for the seat. Zanu-PF Midlands provincial spokesperson, Cde Cornelius Mpereri confirmed that aspiring candidates were already on the ground trying to garner votes. I can confirm that there are some aspiring candidates who are on the ground in preparation of the primary election. This is being done while we await guidance by Zec as you are aware they are yet to decide on whether to conduct elections or not given the Covid-19 outbreak, said Cde Mpereri. He said although it was yet to be officialised, there were some aspiring candidates who were already working towards reclaiming the seat for the party. It is their democratic right and as a democratic party, we cannot stop any party cadre from contesting as long as they meet the required standards. But we are yet to have official information on who is aspiring as we will also await the Central Committee to guide us on the way forward, said Cde Mpereri. Although he could not be drawn into naming those who are on the ground, a fierce battle is expected between the previous candidate, Cde Bishop Kandros Mugabe who was thwarted by Matambanadzo in the 2018 election and Cde Energy Dhala Ncube. Cde Mupereri expressed optimism that this time Zanu-PF would win the seat. We are definitely reclaiming the seat this time around as we are emerging stronger than before. We have learnt from our past mistakes and this time we will make it right. We are also taking advantage of the fracas in the MDC-A. They are currently at sixes and sevens and we will definitely be ruthless in such a situation, China's foreign ministry spokesman has warned the United States authorities that Chinese consumers could ban or boycott iPhones, Apple products if WeChat is banned in the US. The statement comes after the US President Donald Trump announced a ban from next month for TikTok and WeChat accusing them of threatening national security. Chinese consumers could soon ban or boycott their Apple products if popular messaging app WeChat is banned in the US, said China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijan pointing to a Weibo's survey showing most consumers are ready to ditch Apple. Lijan, in a tweet, said, "If WeChat is banned, then there will be no reason why Chinese shall keep iPhone and apple products." If WeChat is banned, then there will be no reason why Chinese shall keep iPhone and apple products. pic.twitter.com/qkKuMNQ87f - Lijian Zhao (@zlj517) August 27, 2020 Lijan also shared a video from a press conference, where he accused the US administration of "piracy" over a ban on the chat app. It is unjustified for the US to impose sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals for involvement in construction activities in their own country. pic.twitter.com/3jpaN9z8v9 - Lijian Zhao (@zlj517) August 27, 2020 "It is unjustified for the US to impose sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals for involvement in construction activities in their own country," he added. Lijan said that a Weibo survey showed that around 95 per cent of respondents would ditch their iPhone if WeChat is added to the US blacklist. WeChat has more than 1.2 billion active global users with most of them located in China. US President Donald Trump, earlier this month, signed an executive order which would block all transactions with WeChat starting September. The ban would also require Apple, Google and other US-based tech firms to remove the Chinese messaging app from their respective app stores. Lijan, during the press briefing, denounced Trump administration's attempt to shut out non-US companies under the guise of 'national security' and said WeChat ban was ideologically driven form of 'economic bullying'. The feud over banning Chinese apps comes amid growing political and economic tensions between the US and China. Trump administration has taken aim at several Chinese firms, including Huawei, accusing them of collaborating with the Chinese government. However, US will not be the first to ban Chinese apps as India has already banned 59 such apps for privacy reasons and national security. (Edited by Vivek Dubey) Cacao in Colombia is not a major driver of deforestation -- yet; new research shows cacao stakeholders have to overcome barriers to reach markets that value zero-deforestation, complicating one of Colombia's post-conflict strategies When Brazil refused soy grown on deforested land in the Amazon, the movement spread worldwide. Brazil's Soy Moratorium in 2006 became the first zero-deforestation agreement. And from cocoa in Ghana to palm oil in Indonesia, now companies would have to explain: where was their product from? Did it contribute to deforestation? But more than a decade later, there is little concrete evidence that zero-deforestation pledges have cut deforestation or carbon emissions. While zero-deforestation support has grown, companies still have no guidelines through which they may measure progress. The result is a vague nod in the direction of improvement, with little concrete evidence that it works. "There are no one-size-fits-all, silver bullet solutions. Zero-deforestation supply chains is not one either," said Augusto Castro-Nunez, a scientist at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. "It just doesn't work as a blanket approach for all countries and all supply chains. The proliferation of zero-deforestation pledges might creates uncertainty for small and large producers alike, without a clear roadmap to implement those pledges." A smarter approach might be to include a raft of sustainability measures along every part of the supply chain, embedded as value addition. This is because ending agriculture-driven deforestation requires global-level commitments - like zero-deforestation pledges - to be tailored to local contexts. Colombia is a case in point. Here, cocoa does not appear to replace virgin forest. Rather, it is used to replace illicit coca plant used for cocaine production. The research led by Castro-Nunez also shows that in Colombia, cocoa production, even if it is only for local markets, offers a pathway out of conflict and poverty. The research, which maps cacao production in Colombia and overlays it with deforestation hotspots, was published in Applied Geography and has been used by the Colombian Cacao, Forest and Peace Initiative. The study was funded by Germany's International Climate Initiative, or IKI, as part of its Sustainable Land Use Systems (SLUS) project led by the Alliance. Yet even though the science tells us that cocoa is not a driver of deforestation in Colombia like palm oil is in Indonesia, small producers must still adhere to zero-deforestation practices. Indeed the top prices and niche markets it attracts, continue to sweet-talk cacao stakeholders across the country. And yet, although 90 percent of those small farmers live in poor and post-conflict areas where cocoa is produced, they risk being cut out of supply chains if they do not comply with zero-deforestation requirements. The impact: to switch to other crops, like coca - leading to an exacerbation of the conflict from which these small producers are trying to escape. "The expectation is for producers is that because their cacao does not drive deforestation, it could reach new international markets and command higher prices," said Castro-Nunez. "This has not happened at a wide-scale but there is potential." Castro-Nunez and colleagues say that instead of dropping producers from supply chains for not meeting zero-deforestation requirements, different value-addition strategies can be adopted along the chain. Relationships can be made and nurtured; producers can receive support, finance and information to build their businesses sustainably. Suppliers must work together to add value and help producers out of conflict and poverty. Much of the burden for investing in zero-deforestation pledges would be carried by producers. Without access to finance, knowledge and the right networks, producers are often not in a position to invest in meeting these goals, reducing further any chances of creating sustainable markets and helping themselves out of the situation. So investment in the value-chain approach to build peace and support zero-deforestation and other context-specific situations is critical. Since in Colombia, cocoa is promoted as an alternative to illicit coca, support must be given to help legal businesses develop and thrive, towards peace and transparency. Reducing deforestation in agricultural production is undoubtedly a must. But first, the extent to which a product is contributing to deforestation in any specific location must be determined. We can't manage what we can't measure: we need more data about what is happening on the ground to define commitments. In Colombia, demand for zero-deforestation cocoa might even drive up competition to produce cocoa for these high-end markets touting certification as a solution. "Eventually, the laws of supply and demand tell us that this would drive up deforestation in the future, undermining the very goals the zero-deforestation movement was set up to meet," said Castro-Nunez. So, while we know that we must reduce deforestation caused as a result of agricultural intensification, we still don't know how to do it. Pledges with no roadmap for implementation cannot help us meet a raft of not only zero-deforestation outcomes but sustainability outcomes in general. "I do believe that bringing about zero-deforestation and a sustainable future is possible. But it requires more than sweet-talk," said Castro-Nunez. "We need granular data, context-specific and peace-driven motivations. And a roadmap for implementation: one which makes a real difference for every person along a product supply chain, from smallholder farmer to chocolate lover." ### A yearslong push to award the military's highest valor medal to a soldier who entered a burning Bradley fighting vehicle multiple times to pull comrades to safety has just received a major shot in the arm. In a letter to lawmakers this month, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he believes Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe deserves the Medal of Honor, and he'll work to approve it -- although there will be a few final hurdles to overcome before the process is complete. After giving the nomination careful consideration, I agree that SFC Cashes actions merit award of the Medal of Honor, Esper wrote in the Aug. 24 letter. He noted that the final authority to award the medal rests with the president and said his determination "in no way presumes what the decision of the president might be." Read Next: Space Force Now Has An Official Uniform Esper's letter came in response to a plea from three lawmakers, all military veterans: Reps. Stephanie Murphy, D-Florida; Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas; and Michael Waltz, R-Florida. Cashe was a Florida native, and his family still lives in the state. Cashe, a 35-year-old infantryman who died Nov. 8, 2005 of catastrophic burns he sustained during the heroic rescue effort in Samara, Iraq, has long been championed as one of the most deserving heroes of the post-9/11 conflicts to be passed over for the Medal of Honor. On Oct. 17, 2005, he pulled all six of his soldiers out of the burning vehicle, despite his fuel-soaked uniform, which ignited as he entered the Bradley again and again. Three of the soldiers would later die of their burns. Cashe posthumously received the Silver Star, the third-highest valor award, for his act of heroism. Many were surprised when Cashe did not receive a Medal of Honor upgrade during a three-year Pentagon-wide review of valor awards for the post-9/11 conflicts. Roughly 60 award upgrades were approved as a result of the review, including a half-dozen Medals of Honor. Doug Sterner, the creator of the Hall of Valor database of military awards, told Military.com in April 2019 that Cashe needed to be on the list. "It's the most perfect example of a Medal of Honor I've ever seen," Sterner said at the time. "If the review is done and Alwyn Cashe hasn't been awarded the Medal of Honor, I won't be a happy camper." Kasinal White, Cashe's older sister, told Military.com that she received the news of Esper's decision yesterday -- on her 62nd birthday. "I was thinking, I can't scream right now, or someone will call the cops," she said, of getting the phone call. "It was the best birthday present I could get." White, of Tallahassee, said she has worked tirelessly over the last 15 years to see Cashe awarded the Medal of Honor "because of our last name," and their family's legacy. "My dad, he was a poor boy from the projects who made good. We hailed from the projects of Seminole County," she said. "My dad never finished high school, but all his daughters have at least one college degree, and all sons represented in the military." Cashe, one of nine siblings, never turned down a challenge. "It was no surprise to anybody when he went into the Army," White said. "It was like, 'Are they ready for you?'" Murphy, Crenshaw and Waltz first wrote Esper in October 2019 -- 14 years after Cashe's death -- calling for the SecDef to review his case. "Each of us proudly served in the United States military or worked at the Department of Defense," they said at the time. "In addition, each of us cares about the process our nation uses to award medals for military valor, believing this process should satisfy the most rigorous standards of independence and integrity." Murphy is a former Defense Department National Security Specialist. Crenshaw served as a SEAL officer and Waltz is an Army Green Beret officer who rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Cashe also has powerful supporters within the military. Lt. Gen. Gary Brito, who this month became the Army's deputy chief of staff, G-13, was Cashe's battalion commander in Iraq. He has advocated on behalf of the fallen soldier in the past, writing in 2014 that "You don't often find truly selfless sacrifice where someone put his soldiers' welfare before his own." The regulations surrounding Medal of Honor awards may present their own hurdles, however. The rules stipulate that the medal must be approved within five years of the act of valor, absent a waiver from Congress. While Congress broadly approved such a waiver in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act to assist the Defense Department's upgrade review process, it expired at the end of 2019. White said she understands the new waiver has the support it needs on Capitol Hill. When Cashe's award package is finally approved, she said, "Oh my God, there is going to be a party, the likes of which you have never seen before." -- Gina Harkins contributed. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. Related: Navy, Army See Most Valor Medal Upgrades in Pentagon's Review After an unprecedented closure due to COVID-19, branches at the worlds busiest urban library system are unlocking their doors. We asked Toronto Public Librarys reopening team about helping people during a pandemic. Star: How many branches are open now and when will all be open? TPL: We have 72 branches open with plans to open additional branches in September and all branches open by the end of the year. Star: What changes will visitors to branches notice? TPL: Many services are now available, including browsing and borrowing, placing holds, computers and wi-fi usage, as well as work, read and study areas. People can also sign up for a library card, print, photocopy, scan and access quick information services. Star: Do people with books from before the lockdown face big overdue fines? TPL: Were encouraging customers to return items promptly to reduce the wait time for others. However, at this time, if customers are unable to return items by the due date, they will not be charged fines. Star: How have online services been affected by the pandemic? TPL: Weve seen heavy use of our digital resources, including OverDrive for ebooks and audiobooks, streaming video services Kanopy (up 120 per cent) and Hoopla (up 40 per cent), and eLearning platforms like Lynda.com (up 37 per cent). In September our Appel Salon series will have online programs including Covid-19 and Digital Disruption: Can Technology Save Us? and Marlowe Granados: Happy Hour. Star: What should parents and kids know about student resources? TPL: We have a diverse collection of fiction and non-fiction books in our branches and online, plus on-demand video programs on YouTube. Our Kids website has homework help, while Brainfuse has free daily help for students. We will slowly restart, in select branches this fall, our Leading to Reading program. Teens can get online support through our TPL Teens website. Star: Youth hubs in libraries are an important part of the citys plans to give kids safe spaces and combat gun violence. How have they been affected by the pandemic and whats ahead for them? TPL: Youth Hubs have been closed since March. Open branches with existing Youth Hubs will introduce revised services with new safety protocols on September 8 at 11 locations: Albion, Barbara Frum, Cedarbrae, Centennial, Downsview, Fairview, Malvern, Maria A. Shchuka , Parliament, Sanderson, and Thorncliffe). Flemingdon Park and York Woods branches will offer Youth Hub service when they reopen, likely in late-Sept or early-Oct). Ten new Youth Hub locations are being introduced later this fall (Agincourt, Don Mills, Kennedy/Eglinton, Parkdale, Jane/Dundas, Mount Dennis, North York Central Library, Richview, S. Walter Stewart and Weston). Star: Has the pandemic affected any future plans for TPL, like branch openings or service expansions? TPL: We recently launched a new 5-year strategic plan which we are now putting through the pandemic lens. The services and initiatives that were identified through the strategic planning process are even more critical and needed in the community, especially the vulnerable community, and we plan on moving forward and implementing as many as those as we can in the coming months and years. We also continue to work on capital projects and renovations, projects that were already in the works and a few new projects. There is, however, the reality of the citys financial situation which may impact the larger projects. Star: What do Torontonians need to know about their library system at this very strange time? TPL: We are doing our very best to get our services back up and running. We are working within some restrictions and limitations and ask that patrons be patient and respect everyone while using our spaces. And to wear a mask and use hand sanitizer to protect yourself and others while using the library. Star: Has the pandemic affected reading habits? TPL: In the early days there was a surge of interest in how-to books about food cookbooks, baking books, books about growing your own vegetables. Arts and craft books were also big. Months later, people are returning to their pre-pandemic reading interests mysteries, thrillers, literary fiction, etc. are all doing well. Answers were edited for brevity and clarity. David Rider is the Stars City Hall bureau chief and a reporter covering city hall and municipal politics. Follow him on Twitter: @dmrider College of DuPage gladly served as an early voting location in the primary election and was approached for the Nov. 3 election, a statement from the college said. Because the college is officially closed to the public during the global pandemic, COD is continuing to refrain from external rental requests. The college takes its role as a resource for the community very seriously and we look forward to a time when we can welcome the full COD community and valued guests back to campus. Scott Morrison has slammed 'provincial' state premiers who have refused to open their borders to areas with few or no cases of coronavirus. In a speech at the annual bush summit in Cooma, New south Wales, the prime minister said border restrictions were hurting regional areas. He said he has heard examples of farmers being unable to move around their properties because they cross state borders and teachers being unable to get to work in neighbouring states. Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) has shut her state's border with the whole of New South Wales Australian state border restrictions Victoria: Completely open, but other states are banning residents from going there NSW: Border with Victoria is closed but others are open without restriction Queensland: Open to everywhere but Victoria, NSW, and the ACT Northern Territory: Open to everywhere but Victoria and Sydney, which must do hotel quarantine South Australia: Closed to Victoria, NSW arrivals must self-isolate, rest are open Tasmania: Closed to Victoria, everywhere else must do hotel quarantine Western Australia: Closed to everywhere without an exemption Advertisement 'Borders cost communities and their economies,' he said. 'They must be proportionate to the risks and they must only be there when health evidence transparently supports that position and only for as long as absolutely necessary.' He added: 'It is reasonable for Australians to have access to medical facilities, to get to work and have access to their own properties.' Western Australia and Tasmania are closed to all states and Queensland is not letting anyone from NSW or the ACT cross the border, even if they are from ares with no cases. The prime minister said he feared state premiers were forgetting the federation and 'retreating into provincialism.' 'Australia was not built to have internal borders. In fact the very point of federation was not to have them. That was the point of Australia,' he said. 'We must be one and indivisible as a nation. We must be Australians first and we must not allow this crisis to force us to retreat into provincialism. That's not the answer.' The prime minister has ordered health experts to come up with a definition of a hotspot to guide states on which areas they should shut their borders to. 'We need to get borders open, taking into account health advice that is conveyed transparently,' he said. The prime minister is pushing for a streamlined approach to appeals against state border closures during the pandemic. He has been a frequent critic of states which have shut their borders without releasing the medical advice informing their decisions. From Friday, people living or working 40km each side of the South Australia-Victoria border will have restrictions relaxed but remain subject to virus tests. Farmers and border communities continue to raise concerns with restrictions shutting Victoria off from NSW and SA. NSW has agreed to make the border zone 50km with an agricultural exemption of 100km. But red tape continues to frustrate farmers and agricultural businesses trying to move animals and machinery. 'I will continue to work to ensure we have a transparent and fair process, that there are appropriate appeal rights in place for people who are affected by these decisions,' Mr Morrison said. Meanwhile, the national virus death toll rose to 584 on Friday with another 12 victims in Victoria. Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan (pictured) has refused to open the state border While deaths are rising, new case numbers are falling with Melbourne in harsh lockdown and restrictions in country areas. Victoria recorded 113 cases for the second day in a row, the lowest number since July 5. Mr Morrison is continuing to dig in behind his beleaguered aged care minister while defending issues in the federally regulated aged care system. The government has made qualified apologies about issues in the sector while also pointing to problems in Victoria's coronavirus protection regime and health response. The prime minister has also downplayed reports of a plan to evacuate stranded Australians from overseas and place them in outback quarantine centres. Phishing is on the rise with more than 1.6 million attempts to transfer users to phishing pages via links within emails blocked from January to June, showing small and medium businesses need cybersecurity improvements in the context of continued remote working. The second quarter of every year often saw phishers relaxing given that the months of April to June are usually vacation period across the globe. However, triggered by the still ongoing pandemic, this years second quarter proved to be productive for malicious actors online. According to Kasperskys latest statistics, cybercriminals targeting small and medium businesses (SMBs) in Southeast Asia (SEA) spent their months seeding phishing emails proactively. The global cybersecurity companys anti-phishing software applications prevented 1,602,523 phishing attempts against companies with 50-250 employees, a 39% increase compared with the same period last year. Data showed that, in the first half of this year, Kaspersky has foiled the most phishing attempts in the region against SMBs in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Singapore tolled the fewest phishing emails in the region, but still witnessed an increase of 60.5% compared with the same period last year. On a worldwide scale, Brazil was the country to have the most phishing emails prevented by Kaspersky in the second quarter of 2020, next to Russia, France, Columbia and the United States of America. According to our telemetry, phishing attempts remained a rising threat to SMBs in the region from the first quarter until the second quarter of the year. This can be triggered by the fact that most of the lockdown measures across Southeast Asia were implemented by the end of March, which then welcomed the second quarter with millions of first-time remote workers, says Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky. Globally, top phishing topics include campaigns using the coronavirus as bait, such as mask selling scams, donation requests for coronavirus vaccine research funding, scams exploiting coronavirus fears, pandemic-related bonuses and compensations. Other themes being exploited are employee performance appraisals, important messages from HR or admin, urgent password check requests, urgent press release notices, email back-up notices, among others. Cybercriminals are making use of the current chaos to commit social engineering attacks such as phishing emails. By including hot topics and phrases related to the COVID-19 pandemic in their messages, the chances of an unsuspected user clicking infected links or malicious attachments increase tremendously. Threats are also harder to track over personal home networks. Add in the reality that we are all strained mentally which makes as more vulnerable to committing mistakes, it is essential for SMBs to acknowledge that working from home increases cybersecurity risks and take the necessary steps to protect the data and the cash flow that they still have, Yeo adds. To help SMBs train their employees, Kaspersky is offering a three-month free Automated Security Awareness Training which aims to help small and medium enterprises kick-start their companys cybersecurity culture. This program is available until end of September 2020 and works with up to 500 users. The global cybersecurity company also acknowledges the challenges being faced by the SMB segment, thus, giving a buy 1 year license get 1 year license for free promotion for its unparalleled endpoint solutions which include: Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Cloud and Cloud Plus Kaspersky Security for Microsoft Office 365 Kaspersky Hybrid Cloud Security. Kaspersky experts also suggest the following tips for SMBs and employees to avoid being lured by cybercriminals through phishing: President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of a national centre for the control of small arms and light weapons, the national security adviser, Babagana Monguno, said. The centre will be domiciled under the office of the NSA and efforts are on to give it a legal backing, Mr Monguno told State House reporters Thursday. He added that the centre will be similar to the counter terrorism centre and the cybersecurity centre, both of which are domiciled under his office. Mr Monguno made this announcement after Thursdays council of state meeting, which had past heads of state in attendance. He noted that when fully operational, the centre will work in compliance with already laid down international standards and ECOWAS moratorium on the control of small arms and light weapons. He added that when in full throttle, the centre will control the inflow of these weapons, while also working on mopping up and disposing of those already in use. Based on my recommendation to the president, he has approved the establishment of a national centre for the control of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria, to be domiciled in the office of the National Security Adviser, Mr Monguno said on Thursday. This centre on control of arms will provide the strategic framework for containing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons especially those coming from across our borders especially within the West Africa sub-region and through the maritime environment. He said that the president has directed that there should be improved synergy between the armed forces and other security agencies in the country, to aid intelligence sharing and gathering. What this means is that there should be improvement in the synergy and collaboration between the Armed Forces on one hand and the intelligence agencies on the other hand while we simultaneously work with the paramilitary organisations, he said. He noted that the president has also given his nod to the procurement of more arms and ammunition to boost the fight against insurgency and other security challenges in the country. To this end, Mr Monguno said the office of the NSA is coordinating the use of drones to patrol the vast lands where bandits and kidnappers operate. At the heart of the security challenges in the country, which has left many dead and thousands displaced, is the free flow of light and small weapons, security experts say. This is even just as the nations various security agencies have intercepted some of the criminal syndicates smuggling these arms to cause mayhem. No fewer than 415 Nigerians were killed in various violent attacks across Nigeria in July, according to a report by a non-governmental organisation, Nigeria Mourn. US senator Rand Paul has said that a group of more than 100 people who confronted him as he left Donald Trumps acceptance speech to the Republican Convention were an angry mob who threatened his life. Just got attacked by an angry mob of over 100, one block away from the White House, the Kentucky senator wrote on Twitter on Friday. Thanking the Washington DC police department for their assistance, he added that officers had were literally saving our lives from a crazed mob. According to the Associated Press, the crowd that enveloped Mr Paul and his wife on Thursday night had yelling for him to say the name of police shooting victim Breonna Taylor, a black woman who was killed in his state. Some were heard chanting Breonna Taylor and no justice, no peace!, but in contrast to the senators comments, there appeared to be little violence. Another yelled Say Her Name before a protester appeared to clash with an officer, who was pushed backwards, sending him into Mr Pauls shoulder. Video posted to social media showed officers escorting the senator and his wife to their hotel at a walking pace as protesters continued to heckle. It comes amid a week of renewed anger over the police-shooting of a black man, Jacob Blake, in Wisconsin, which has intensified months of unrest over racial injustice in the US. However protests in Washington DC on Thursday night were significantly smaller than the crowds that took to the streets following George Floyds death in Minneapolis police custody in May. A robust police presence outside the Republican convention event at the White House monitored the situation. Istanbul police fired teargas and chased away hundreds of mourners at the burial on Friday of a lawyer who died on the 238th day of a hunger strike she staged to protest her jailing on terror charges. Friends said Ebru Timtik weighed just 30 kilogrammes (65 pounds) at the time of her death late Thursday, which drew condemnation from Turkish opposition parties, international lawyers associations and the EU. Police fired volleys of teargas as Timtik's friends and supporters approached a cemetery on the northern edge of Istanbul where her body was buried. "Ebru Timtik is immortal" and the "murderous state will be held to account" supporters chanted after laying her lawyer's robe and flowers across her grave. Helmeted anti-riot police armed with shields threatened to attack the crowd unless they stopped chanting, and chased after them once the ceremony ended. An AFP reporter saw one young boy detained. Earlier police, backed up by armoured vehicles, clashed with Timtik's supporters across various parts of Istanbul in chaotic scenes while a police helicopter hovered overhead. "She would defend the people in various cases, like Soma," said Timtik's colleague Naim Eminoglu in reference to a 2014 mine disaster in which 301 people died "And that is why she was on trial," Eminoglu told AFP. The European Union said Timtik's death highlighted "serious shortcomings" in Turkey's justice system. "Ebru Timtik's hunger strike for a fair trial and its tragic outcome painfully illustrate the urgent need for the Turkish authorities to credibly address the human rights situation in the country," EU spokesman Peter Stano said. - US embassy bombing - Timtik was a member of the Contemporary Lawyers' Association (CHD), a group accused of having close ties to the outlawed Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C), a far-left Marxist organisation. Story continues The DHKP-C has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly attacks in Turkey, including a 2013 suicide bombing at the US embassy in Ankara, which killed a Turkish security guard. In 2019, an Istanbul court handed multiple sentences to 18 lawyers, including Timtik, on charges of "forming and running a terror group". Detained in September 2018, Timtik was sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison, which prompted her and some other lawyers to start a hunger strike in February. After turning the hunger strike into a death fast together with another lawyer, Aytac Unsal, she was moved from the prison to a hospital in July. The pair were consuming only liquids and vitamins, and a forensic report showed at the time that their condition was "not suitable" for a continued stay in prison. The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), which represents bars in 45 European countries, expressed its "shock" in a letter to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkish officials received her death with a wall of silence. Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told the official Anadolu news agency he would lodge a personal complaint against members of Istanbul Bar Association for unfurling a banner "of a terrorist organisation" from its balcony. The banner depicted a picture of Timtik. - Fight over body - Timtik's friends and supporters had feared her body would be buried in secret, and around 300 people gathered outside the forensic centre when news of her death first emerged on Thursday night. Police used teargas while forcefully dispersing around 100 of her supporters as they tried to gain access to her body outside the Istanbul forensic lab on Friday morning. The funeral ceremony was held at an Alevi worship house. Police sealed off the area and deployed several water cannon trucks while a police helicopter circled overhead. Opposition parties forcefully condemned the death of Timtik, who friends said was born in 1978. "If a lawyer pays for her demands for justice with her life, there is nothing left to say except that no one in this country is safe," Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmaker Musa Piroglu told AFP. Turkey has in the past seen hunger strikes launched by left-leaning political groups. Last year, thousands of prisoners ended their hunger strike against the conditions of jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan around 200 days into their protest. lsb-arp-fo/zak/pvh Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Mardika Parama (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 28, 2020 16:39 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4132860 1 Business yogyakarta-international-airport,Jokowi,infrastructure-development,flight,traffic Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo officially inaugurated Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) in Kulon Progo regency on Friday, several months after its full operation began in March. Situated around 45 kilometers from the city of Yogyakarta, the new airport has replaced the older Adisutjipto International Airport as the main flight hub in the province of Yogyakarta. The president touted YIAs development and construction processes, which took less than two years, while also highlighting the airports features, which he described as the best in Indonesia so far. The airport construction was really fast, just 20 months. That was really quick, Jokowi said during the broadcasted inauguration ceremony. Im sure this airport will be the busiest airport when a [COVID-19] vaccine is available. The new airport boasts a 3,250-meter runway, which compares to just 2,200 m at Adisutjipto International Airport, and can accommodate wide-body aircraft like the Boeing B777 and Airbus A380. YIA has a passenger capacity of 20 million per year, a massive upgrade from Adisutjiptos 1.6 million, due to its larger terminal of more than 219,000 square meters. A total of Rp11.3 trillion (US$775 million) was invested in the airport, with land acquisition accounting for around Rp 4.2 trillion and the remaining Rp 7.1 trillion spent on the construction of the terminal and runway. The new airport is equipped with an early detection system for earthquakes, tsunamis and extreme weather events. It can withstand an earthquake with a magnitude of up to 8.8 on the Richter scale and a 12-m-high tidal wave, Jokowi said. Insya Allah [God willing], we are prepared for the possibility [of disasters], he said. Separately, state-owned air navigation firm AirNav Indonesias president director Pramintohadi said YIA was equipped with state-of-the-art navigation equipment that would increase the airports flight capacity compared to Yogyakartas older airport. YIA has a capacity of 28 aircraft movements per hour, much higher than Adisutjiptos 17 movements per hour. So, we can imagine the significant addition to the capacity of aircraft movements, which will support air connectivity in the Yogyakarta area, he said in a statement. AirNav Indonesia invested Rp 87.6 billion to build the 39.5-m air traffic control tower, administration building, operational building and navigation facilities, according to the companys statement. The tower is equipped with a satellite navigation system, surveillance radar and Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS), among other equipment. With the YIAs full operation, Pramintohadi said, Adisutjipto airport would be used specifically for training and military purposes, while all commercial flights would be directed to the new airport. With the increasing capacity comes a huge potential for passenger growth in the future. Connectivity in the southern part of Java also remains high, which we could capitalize on, he said. Meanwhile, Angkasa Pura I (AP I), in charge of both the construction and operation of YIA, reiterated that the new airport would resolve the capacity constraints of Adisutjipto airport, according to AP I president director Faik Fahmi. National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia and its low-cost subsidiary Citilink Indonesia have moved inbound and outbound flights serving Yogyakarta to YIA from Adisutjipto airport. Similarly, the largest private carrier, Lion Air Group, has also moved the Yogyakarta operation of its airlines, Lion Air and Batik Air, to the new airport. The and its youth wing on Friday staged protests at many places in Haryana, Punjab and their joint capital Chandigarh against the holding of JEE and NEET amid the COVID-pandemic. Various opposition parties, including the Congress, have demanded that the Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) be deferred due to the COVID-19 pandemic and floods in parts of the country, even as the Union government has made it clear that they will be held as per schedule with due precautions. In Haryana, leaders and workers held protests at many places including Karnal, Kaithal, Bhiwani and Sirsa. workers in Bhiwani burnt an effigy of the Union education minister and demanded that the exams be deferred keeping in view the present COVID-19 situation. In Sirsa, Congress workers, during a protest, demanded that the exams be deferred for now. "What is the urgency of holding these exams when cases are increasing. Why are lives of thousands of students and their families being put at risk," a Congress leader said. Haryana Congress president Kumari Selja said that during the past few weeks, there has been a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases. "In this situation the government is bent upon holding JEE and NEE exams which has raised worries of lakhs of students and their parents. Given the situation as it is now due to COVID, how will the government make stay and transport arrangements of so many students," the Congress leader said. "Moreover, in some parts of the country the flood situation has aggravated. Should the government be stubborn about holding these exams or take decisions keeping interests of people in mind?" Selja asked. While NEET is scheduled to be held on September 13, engineering entrance exam JEE-Main has been planned from September 1-6. Around 8.58 lakh candidates have registered for the JEE-Main and 15.97 lakh have registered for the NEET. The exams have been deferred twice in the wake of the pandemic. Members of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress, led by its president Pradeep Chhabra, staged a protest against holding of these exams, with him saying this is not the time to "endanger the lives of students". "Don't play with the lives of students," read a placard at the protest in Chandigarh. At many places in Punjab, the Youth Congress submitted memorandums addressed to the Centre through the district administrations on the issue. It demanded that these exams be put off for the time being. Punjab Youth Congress president Barinder Dhillon said that these exams should be put off as holding them at this stage would put lives of thousands of students at risk. Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar had on Thursday hit out at the BJP-led government at the Centre, accusing it of "playing with the lives" of millions of youth by being "adamant" on conducting JEE and NEET exams, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Jakhar's reaction came a day after Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh 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 NEET and JEE. On Friday, ministers of six opposition-ruled states moved the Supreme Court on seeking review of its order permitting the Centre to conduct NEET and JEE entrance exams this year amid the persisting COVID-19 pandemic. The top court on August 17 had refused to interfere with the conduct of medical and engineering entrance exams -- NEET and JEE --scheduled to take place in September saying that life must go on and students can't lose a precious year due to the pandemic. PTI SUN VSD . (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.) Club 20 said the show will go on at its traditional political show will go on Sept. 19, even if the Democrats and half the Republicans don't show up. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 28, 2020) - Cypherpunk Holdings Inc. (CSE: HODL) ("Cypherpunk" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed a non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") through the issuance of 10,100,000 units ("Units") at a price of C$0.05 per Unit for gross proceeds of C$505,000. Each Unit is comprised of one common share (each a, "Common Share") in the capital of the Company and one half of one whole Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Common Share at an exercise price of C$0.10 until August 27, 2022. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance and the resale rules of applicable security legislation. This Offering is subject to final approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange. The Offering is considered a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101") as certain directors and officers of the Company subscribed for 6,700,000 Units pursuant to the Offering. Such related party transaction is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of securities being issued to the related parties nor the consideration being paid by the related parties exceeded 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The participants in the Offering and the extent of such participation were not finalized until shortly prior to the completion of the Offering. Accordingly, it was not possible to publicly disclose details of the nature and extent of related party participation in the Offering pursuant to a material change report filed at least 21 days prior to the completion of the Offering. In connection with the Offering, certain finders' of the Company received a cash commission in the amount of $1,225. The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to invest in additional opportunities in the cryptocurrency, blockchain and privacy sector. The additional capital will enable the Issuer to execute on its unique position as a vehicle set-up to invest in companies, technologies and protocols, which enhance or protect privacy. Its strategy is to make targeted investments in business and assets with strong privacy, often within the blockchain ecosystem, including select cryptocurrencies. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Generally, any statements that are not historical facts may contain forward-looking information, and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or indicates that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be" taken, "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to the Company's intention to complete the private placement offering and its goal of making investments in the blockchain and other sectors and enhancing value. There is no assurance that the Company's plans or objectives will be implemented as set out herein, or at all. Forward-looking information is based on certain factors and assumptions the Company believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by law. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. Investor Relations Contacts: Lana Thompson Operations Coordinator, Cypherpunk Holdings Inc., info@mail.cypherpunkholdings.com Office: 416.599.8547 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/62744 Connecticut is blessed with strong communities, hard-working people, an ideal location, and natural beauty. And yet, our people have long suffered the worst state economy in the country, sky-high cost of living, and the highest electricity bills in the continental United States for a grid that does not even work. Our state can do better, but it will require a change in leadership. You would never call the arsonists to put out a fire they set. Likewise, you cannot trust the legislators and regulators who presided over a horrible economy and disastrous electrical utilities for years to save us from them either. To watch Democratic state legislators feign indignation over the failures of Eversource reminds me of Capt. Renault in Casablanca exclaiming that he is shocked shocked! that there is gambling going on in (Ricks cafe)! These people have had total legislative power and oversight of the utilities for many years. Yet they either sat idly by while rates rose and the grid degraded or precipitated the decline themselves. How can they escape accountability for the failures of Eversource that occurred on their watch? Electricity has become expensive and unreliable, because of state policies. Eversource has become more powerful but worse at its job as a utility, because of state policies. First, the state legislature has foisted layers of regulations on consumers such as the Renewable Portfolio Standard while marginalizing affordable clean energy options such as nuclear and certain hydroelectric sources. Second, the regulators forced us into long-term purchase contracts for expensive wind and solar power in secret and outside of an open, competitive bid process. Third, they made Eversource a stakeholder in those long-term contracts, effectively expanding its monopoly vertically into power generation, while neglecting its only real duty for transmission and distribution. Fourth, they neglected the declining durability of the electricity grid. Standing atop a mountain of their own failures, Democratic state legislators are now touting a new plan, the Take Back Our Grid Act. It has some good parts, more bad parts, but mostly misses the whole point. The good: It aims at holding the utilities accountable for the costs their errors impose on customers. How and whether they will achieve that is an open question. The bad: It gives more power to the regulators at the Pubic Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) who let the grid and Eversource get so bad over the last decade. What have they done to earn more trust? It also mandates more spending by the utilities, which will obviously be passed on to consumers, without investigating what type of spending is optimal to improving the grid. But worst of all, it ignores the underlying causes of the cost and unreliability: red tape and the growing monopoly power of Eversource. As your state senator, I will advance an all-of-the-above clean energy strategy that incorporates more nuclear, hydroelectric, and other affordable power sources to our grid. I will advocate ending secret long-term energy contracts in favor of an open and truly competitive bid process. And I will fight to reduce Eversources monopoly power by stopping vertical integration and force them to focus on reliable distribution of energy. Connecticuts sky-high utility costs are insult to injury of a long-suffering economy. Our state has had no real median household income growth for three decades and no job growth in two decades even before the current recession began. Worse yet, there are signs that more jobs are leaving our state permanently. Unilever, which used to employ more than 1,000 in our state, recently announced it will eliminate its final 135 jobs in the state. Recently, Greenwich Time featured some of the 15 percent of Connecticuts workforce currently on unemployment and worried about whether they will ever find work in our state again. It is unpardonable that the Democratic state legislature just held a special session in which they did not so much as lift a finger to discuss the livelihoods of those families. Its wrong that they did not debate what they will do to stop future tax increases on our overburdened families again. And its telling that Democratic candidates for state legislature like my opponent are avoiding talk of Connecticuts economy and tax burden. Connecticut needs to stop or reverse Democratic legislators regressive policies such as tolls and massive payroll taxes, which will go into effect in January. Our state needs new leadership that will cut taxes and red tape, reduce excessive spending, and focus on the biggest issues affecting families. Connecticut can do better than no electricity and no jobs. Its time for a change in our state. Ryan Fazio is a candidate for state Senate for Greenwich, Stamford, and New Canaan. A FATHER-of-three killed his familys pet Chihuahua by throwing it on the floor of their home with such force that its skull was smashed, it has been alleged. Michael Connors (25) is also accused of imprisoning his frightened partner in the apartment and threatening that after the dog was killed she would be dead too. A court heard that a postmortem on the Chihuahua revealed it died of blunt force trauma to the head. Mr Connors is facing trial, and his case was adjourned after a judge granted him bail despite garda objections. The accused, of Glen Druid, Shanganagh Road, Shankill, is charged with killing a protected animal and falsely imprisoning and threatening to kill his partner at Lambda Apartments, Monkstown Farm, Dun Laoghaire, last April 9. At Dublin District Court, Detective Garda Gary White told Judge John Campbell he arrested the accused on Sunday and took him to Dun Laoghaire Garda Station, where he made no reply to the charges after caution. Objecting to bail, he cited the nature and seriousness of the allegations. Det Gda White said it was alleged that Mr Connors locked the front door of the apartment and kept the only key, leaving the woman and their three children there for 90 minutes. It was alleged he threw the Chihuahua on to the floor with such force that he smashed its skull, killing it. Det Gda White said it was the prosecutions case that the accused threatened to kill the woman, saying the dog was dead, she would be dead too, which put her in fear. Mr Connors and the woman were in a relationship and had three children together, the court heard. It was alleged that a complaint was made, and the remains of the dog were removed by the garda. A post-mortem was carried out, and the pathologists report stated that the cause of death was blunt force trauma consistent with being thrown to the ground. Applying for bail, defence barrister Garrett Casey said Mr Connors was presumed innocent. He said the time for a case to go to trial was long before Covid-19 and would be longer now. There was a high possibility the accused would be in custody for a lengthy period if refused bail, he said. Judge Campbell granted bail on condition that Mr Connors signs on three times a week at Shankill Garda Station, has no contact directly or indirectly with the alleged victim, is of sober habits and observes a curfew between 10pm and 7am. He must live at his given address in Shankill and stay out of the Monkstown Farm area. Bail was set in the accusedsown bond of 300, with no cash lodgment required. Mr Connors is to appear in court again on September 18. WASHINGTON - No nation is too small or too distant from Washington, it seems, to be excluded from the Trump administrations campaign to counter Chinas efforts to supplant America as the dominant Pacific power. Evidence of this is Defence Secretary Mark Espers decision to fly nearly halfway around the world partly so he can spend several hours in Palau, a Pacific archipelago of barely 20,000 people southeast of the Philippines. There is no suggestion of a direct Chinese military threat to Palau. Instead the island nation is an example of the sometimes-obscure battleground on which the United States and China are pursuing a great power competition for global influence in an era of a more inward-looking Washington and an increasingly assertive and ambitious China. The power struggle is intensifying on multiple fronts and is seen by some as an emerging cold war akin to the mostly non-shooting conflict that played out between the United States and the Soviet Union until the collapse of Soviet communism in 1991. In defiance of Beijing, tiny pro-American Palau is one of only 15 states with official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the self-governing island that China claims as its own territory. We are concerned about China continuing to try to flip countries that recognize Taiwan today to establish diplomatic relations with China instead, said Heino Klinck, the deputy assistant secretary of defence for East Asia. We find that destabilizing, quite frankly. The United States made that very switch itself when it recognized Beijing as the sole legal government of China in 1979, although Washington maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan and sells arms to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act. More broadly, Klinck said in an interview, Esper wants to reinforce the U.S. commitment to a long-term relationship with Palau. A little country, maybe, but they punch above their weight when it comes to enlistment rates in the U.S. military, Klinck said, adding that six Palauans have been killed in a U.S. uniform in Iraq and Afghanistan. Under a 1994 Compact of Free Association, Palauans are eligible to serve in the U.S. military. The list of the Trump administrations complaints about China is long and extends far beyond Palau. Washington derides Chinas militarization of the South China Sea, regards with suspicion its expanding nuclear arsenal, and has retaliated this year for its alleged use of diplomatic facilities in the United States to co-ordinate theft of economic and scientific secrets. The coronavirus pandemic and commercial trade, too, are sore spots. For its part, China sees U.S. policy as designed to limit its rise as an economic and military power. American and Chinese warships often jockey for position in the South China Sea. In July, the Trump administration took the diplomatic tussle to a new level by declaring illegitimate nearly all of Chinas maritime claims in the South China Sea, a broad declaration that favours the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan and Brunei. On Thursday, shortly before Esper was due to depart Hawaii for Palau, the Pentagon issued a public statement of complaint about Chinese military exercises, including a test-firing of ballistic missiles, this week around the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. It called the moves destabilizing and an attempt to assert unlawful maritime claims and to disadvantage Chinas neighbours. Also, a U.S. Navy destroyer, the USS Mustin, patrolled in international waters near the Paracels on Thursday in a move designed to challenge Chinas encroachment into contested waters there. Chinas defence ministry said Friday it had organized its naval and air forces to monitor and verify the U.S. warship and warned it away after the Mustin trespassed into the Chinese territorial waters. Chinas troops will always stay on high alert and resolutely safeguard Chinas sovereignty and security and uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea, the statement said, quoting Senior Col. Li Huamin, spokesperson of the Chinese militarys southern command. Esper is making his first visit to the Asia-Pacific region since the coronavirus pandemic forced him to limit international travel in March. Espers visit illustrates an important reason for the Pentagons interest in nurturing ties: Palau sits on a North Pacific pathway that links U.S. forces based in Hawaii and Guam to potential hotspots on the Asian continent. Esper also will be visiting Guam. No U.S. defence secretary has ever visited Palau, according to the Pentagon historians office. In a study last year, the RAND Corp. said the Freely Associated States, of which Palau is a part along with Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, are crucial to the promotion of the administrations Asia-Pacific strategy. It said their position in the Pacific is tantamount to a power-projection superhighway running through the heart of the North Pacific into Asia. The U.S. military has a legacy, but no troops, in Palau. Marines suffered heavy casualties in attacking Japanese positions on the southern Palau island of Peleliu in September 1944. The United States administered Palau under U.N. auspices after World War II and is responsible for its defence until 2044 under the Compact of Free Association. Palau is no stranger to U.S.-Chinese tensions. In 2009, several Chinese ethnic Uighur men who had been swept up in Afghanistan as terrorist suspects and imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay were released and sent to Palau. Their resettlement there reportedly angered Beijing, which wanted them repatriated. Esper planned to lay a wreath at the site off Palaus coast where a U.S. Navy Avenger torpedo bomber crashed on July 27, 1944. The three Americans aboard perished; they were from the same carrier-based Navy torpedo squadron, VT-51, as Ensign George H.W. Bush, the future president. Randall Schriver, who until eight months ago was the Pentagons top Asia policy official, says Palau is a logical stop for Esper, given that China is the administrations No. 1 foreign and defence policy concern. It reflects the broadening competition and Beijings efforts to exert more influence in the North Pacific islands, Schriver said, as well as the tug of history that binds the United States to wartime partners. Although Palau is well off the beaten path of a Pentagon chiefs normal itinerary, Espers visit is a gesture of support for a small country feeling the strain of what Washington calls Beijings predatory economics. In 2018, Bejing effectively banned Chinese tour groups from visiting Palau, which had relied on China for a large portion of its tourism. The move was seen in Palau as a move to pressure its leaders to switch diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to Beijing. In a speech in February spelling out the U.S. approach to China, Esper highlighted his concern for smaller countries. Communist China is exerting financial and political pressure, publicly and privately, on many Indo-Pacific and European nations large and small while pursuing new strategic relationships worldwide, he said. In fact, the smaller the country, the heavier the hand of Beijing. In the Pacific, Esper says, China aims by 2049 the 100th anniversary of its communist revolution to be the dominant military power in Asia. My Favorite Quotes Recent Quotes Portfolio Summary Your most recently viewed tickers will automatically show up here if you type a ticker in the Get Quotes box on the top of the page. TWILIGHT OF THE GODS War in the Western Pacific, 1944-1945 By Ian W. Toll On the morning of May 8, 1945, Gen. George Marshall traveled from his Pentagon office to the White House to tell President Harry Truman that Germany had surrendered. Im glad to hear it, Truman said, because for a while there I thought we were fighting the British. The Marshall-Truman tale, though undoubtedly apocryphal, was repeated thereafter as a reminder that, during the war in Europe, the relationship between the British and Americans was so acrimonious that Marshall, and his British counterparts, feared their alliance might shatter. It didnt, but a working knowledge of the fraught Anglo-American partnership remains crucial to understanding the European conflict. The same is true for the war against Japan, though for a different reason. There, the inter-Allied feuding that marred the war with Germany was replaced by a fractious competition between the United States Navy and the Army over resources, strategy and public acclaim. It is a credit to the historian Ian W. Toll that this antagonism, played out through the personalities of Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Adm. Chester Nimitz, remains an important, but not crucial, subtext of Twilight of the Gods, the third volume of Tolls superb trilogy on the Pacific War. In truth, as Toll implies, the MacArthur-Nimitz competition was never as enervating to the war effort against Japan as the American-British competition was in Europe. For good reason: By mid-1944, the United States war economy could provide both MacArthur and Nimitz with enough of what they needed so that the defeat of Japan, though it would cost more lives, was not in doubt. Whats more, the Army-Navy competition over strategy was driven by geography and not personality with Nimitz hesitantly agreeing with MacArthur during a July 1944 conference in Hawaii (mediated by Franklin Roosevelt) that an American invasion of the Philippines was a military necessity. Dispensing with the MacArthur-Nimitz meeting in his first chapter (its a good tale, but often told) allows Toll to turn his focus on the Navy, his true area of expertise as well as his enduring passion, and he deftly completes the portraits of Admirals Ernest King, Chester Nimitz, Raymond Spruance and William Bull Halsey that he provided in his previous volumes. What emerges is a study as detailed as it is unsparing, with King, Nimitz, Spruance and Halsey as pivotal to victory in the Pacific as George Marshall, Dwight Eisenhower, Omar Bradley and George Patton were to the victory in Europe. And while the names of these Navy giants do not roll off the tongue as readily now as those of their celebrated Army counterparts, they should with Nimitz emerging as the true architect of Americas Pacific naval strategy and Spruance as his masterly, if sometimes overly careful, tactician. The rise of Nimitz and Spruance pushed the irascible King into the background, where he took on his proper role as the Navys key defender among the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with Halsey cast as Nimitzs headstrong bad boy. But Halsey was not Nimitzs Patton: Patton needed constant monitoring, but made few mistakes; Halsey was more pliable, but made mistakes galore. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Silke Koltrowitz (Reuters) Zurich, Switzerland Fri, August 28, 2020 10:01 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4113dc6 2 Lifestyle watchmakers,Geneva,switzerland,timepiece,Bulgari,breitling,luxury Free Luxury watchmakers Bulgari and Breitling and a handful of Swiss brands are gathering in Geneva this week for a scaled-down industry exhibition, braving the coronavirus pandemic to try to revitalize demand. The big Swiss watch fairs in Basel and Geneva, which usually attract thousands of visitors, were cancelled earlier this year because of the virus. This week's gathering, the first of what will be known as "Geneva Watch Days", will be very different. Instead of using a big exhibition center, the event will be spread over a number of the city's luxury hotels. Jean-Christophe Babin, the boss of Bulgari, who devised the new format to help to "rekindle the flame", said the new setting along with strict hygiene rules would help to prevent infection. "It is important to physically meet our customers," Babin told Reuters in an phone interview. "We hope the event will help us gain market share." "This is sending a strong signal that we are determined to grow whatever happens." Bulgari expects about 60 retailers and 100 journalists, bloggers and influencers to attend. Demand for luxury watches has collapsed during the pandemic as the Chinese, the industry's biggest customers, could not travel or shop. Read also: Watchmaking art is eternal, says Jean-Claude Biver Swiss watch exports plunged 68 percent in May, but the downturn slowed in June and July as mainland Chinese started shopping again. But Babin said global demand was not back to pre-crisis levels with the virus still very present in North and Latin America. South Korea and mainland China had rebounded nicely, but not enough to make up for declines in America and Europe, he said. Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling, said on a webcast on Wednesday: "Luckily we are now seeing some of our markets return to a new normal and sales are bouncing back as well." Edouard Meylan, chief executive of H.Moser & Cie, said sales of his brand were only down 2% so far this year and demand was encouraging, but he was worried about some of his suppliers. "We depend on suppliers for cases, dials, straps, and some of them could go out of business because big brands cut their orders, also for next year," he said. Babin said Bulgari might buy strategic suppliers, notably in jewelry, if that became necessary. Rapidly changing quarantine rules in Europe have had an impact on this week's event. Babin said visitors from Spain and Belgium had cancelled due to quarantine regulations. But retailers and media from elsewhere in Europe were coming, plus also quite a few people from the United Arab Emirates. Topics : watchmakers Geneva switzerland timepiece Bulgari breitling luxury Aug 27 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates is likely to raise output plans which would be much higher than its OPEC+ quota, consultancy Energy Aspects said in a note on Monday. * "A big rise in Murban exports (caused by the UAE ignoring its OPEC+ commitments) and meagre Chinese crude buying have dealt a double blow to oil bulls," it said. * The producer group includes members of the OPEC+, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil powers including Russia, who together pledged to make record cuts of 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd) in May to counter a supply glut during the novel coronavirus pandemic. * Spot crude exports from the UAE have risen materially since July, in part due to a combination of destocking from tanks that had filled up during the April production surge and lower domestic refinery runs, the consultancy added. * "Our sources suggest the UAE's output plan for October will be a massive 0.9 mb/d higher than its quota." * If these plans are realised, global crude stockdraws may be 0.6 mb/d lower than their current forecast at 1 mb/d on average from July through October, the consultancy added. * The UAE's undercompliance seems to explain why physical crude markets have been consistently weaker than implied by most balances (including ours), it added. * Data shows among OPEC members, the United Arab Emirates, which made additional voluntary cuts in June, overproduced by around 50,000 bpd over the May-July period. (Reporting by Shreyansi Singh in Bengaluru; editing by Grant McCool) Former Prime Minister and JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda on Friday said his party would soon launch a state-wide protest against the BJP government for its failure to provide relief to flood hit farmers of the state The government has failed to provide relief to the farmers within a year. In this regard, we will soon launch a state-wide protest, Gowda said. The JD(S) supremo stated this during a video conference with party leaders at the district and Taluk level, including defeated candidates in the previous elections, on the flood situation in Karnataka and the plight of farmers. Party leaders from Chikodi in Belagavi district, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Hubballi-Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri and Uttar Kannada participated in the meeting. Gowda alleged that the government had not paid compensation announced last year to affected farmers of North Karnataka, a region battered by floods for two successive years. He charged that the district in charge ministers were not responding to the grievances of farmers. The former prime minister said he would tour the affected districts along with his son and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and JD(S) state president H K Kumaraswamy, once there is a decline in coronavirus cases. Samford Universitys president since 2006 has announced he plans to retire. President Andrew Westmoreland said his retirement will be effective June 30, 2021. Samfords Board of Trustees announced the decision at a called meeting on Thursday. Westmoreland sent an email to students, employees and alumni today. Ive said so often that, despite my many flaws, I am a better person because of my association with Samford, Westmoreland wrote. Jeanna and I agree that serving here is the greatest honor of our lives. Westmoreland and his wife, Jeanna, previously spent eight years at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas Including our 15 years at Samford, Jeanna and I will have served more than 23 years in presidencies at two universities. Our careers in higher education now span more than four decades. We have been blessed with opportunities far beyond our dreams and we believe that this is the appropriate time to open the door for new leaders at Samford. Westmorelands tenure as Samfords president has been marked by enrollment growth, new and enhanced campus facilities and a growing national reputation for academic quality. Since 2006, enrollment has increased by almost 30 percent and the university has seen 11 consecutive years of enrollment growth. More than 30 new or enhanced academic programs have been added at the undergraduate and graduate level, including many in the College of Health Sciences that was established in 2013. The university has raised more than $400 million in philanthropic gifts and has invested approximately $100 million in its physical plant and campus. Samford also continued gains in its reputational standing among higher education institutions, being recognized as one of the best Christian universities in the country in national rankings for teaching quality, value, and affordability. Among these recognitions, the university is ranked third nationally for student engagement and first in the state of Alabama in a national ranking published by the Wall Street Journal. As we begin this transition in the universitys leadership it is important to remember Samford is stronger today than at any time in its 179-year history, said Samford Board of Trustees Chair Bill Stevens. We all are immensely grateful for the tremendous service of President Westmoreland. Westmoreland added that mountains of work must be accomplished this fall and next spring and he plans to be fully engaged until the arrival of a new president next summer. Westmoreland came to Samford following 27 years of service in higher education, including eight as president at Ouachita Baptist University. After retirement from the presidency he plans to reside in Birmingham and to continue serving in a part-time capacity as Executive Director of Samfords Frances Marlin Mann Center for Ethics and Leadership. It has been our blessing to get to know and serve with Andy and Jeanna as they have led us as our President and First Lady, Stevens said. They have modeled Christian leadership in every way for all of us. Their dedication, beliefs and support have been felt throughout the university and the entire Samford community. We will forever be grateful for their service and wish them the best in every way. Jeanna Westmoreland, who has more than 25 years as a teacher, university educator and administrator and university presidents wife, serves as executive director of the Samford Legacy League, a volunteer organization that promotes advocacy for the university and raises scholarship funds. She is also a member of the Orlean Beeson School of Education Deans Executive Council. The Westmorelands host about 10,000 guests in their home each year for university and community activities. A search for Samfords next president will begin immediately. Trustees Tim Vines, CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, and Beth Thorne Stukes a corporate and civic leader from Jasper, Alabama, will serve as co-chairs of the search committee. Michael Morgan, assistant to the president at Samford, will serve as search committee secretary. The trustees will further discuss the presidential search and other business at their meeting on September 11. Refineries along the Gulf Coast began to restart a day after hurricane Laura made landfall in Louisiana, most of them only suffering minimal or no damage. Motiva and Valero have so far been the only ones to report a problema chemical leak that was quickly contained for Motiva and a release of sulfur dioxide for Valero. The refiner said the gas was released during the shutdown of a refinery ahead of Lauras landfall. Oil prices immediately fell when it became clear that the likelihood of prolonged refinery disruption was small despite Lauras unfortunate trajectory and landfall. Historically, hurricanes lead to widespread shut-ins, but production is immediately restored within a matter of days, therefore, leading to little long-term supply disruption, the chief executive of Velandera Energy, Manish Raj, told MarketWatch. More than 84 percent of oil production in the Gulf of Mexico remained shut in on Thursday and more than 60 percent of natural gas production after oil companies evacuated close to 300 production platforms. The oil output shut-in stands at 1.558 million bpd, and the gas output shut-in stands at 1.65 billion cu ft daily. Related: Oil Major Equinor Stops Drilling In U.S. Shale Patch Laura made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in southwestern Louisiana near Cameron in the early hours of August 27, with wind speeds reaching 150 mph and torrential rains drowning the coastal line. The Texas Railroad Commission has said it was ready to assist refiners with any leaks or spills they might suffer as a result of the hurricane, or any other problems caused by Laura. Some 16 percent of U.S. refining capacity was shut down ahead of the hurricanes landfall, Argus Media reported, and Total was already restarting its Port Arthur refinery on Thursday. Motiva, Valero, and Exxon were still assessing the restart of their facilities. Some refineries will take longer to restart, according to the report, because of extensive damage to the electrical grid in western Louisiana by the winds the hurricane brought to the coast. At the time of writing, BP was the only producer in the Gulf that said they were preparing to restart production. By Josh Owens for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Brussels, Aug 28 : The European Commission (EC) has signed its first deal to buy Covid-19 vaccines from pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides said. She told the media after signing the agreement at the EC premises in Nicosia with AstraZeneca on Thursday that the deal makes it possible for EU countries to purchase up to 300 million vaccines, reports Xinhua news agency. According to an EC statement, through the contract all EU members will be able to purchase 300 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, with an option for further 100 million doses, to be distributed on a population-based pro-rata basis. AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford joined forces to develop and distribute the university's potential recombinant adenovirus vaccine aimed at preventing Covid-19 infection, the EC said. AstraZeneca's vaccine candidate is already in large-scale Phase II/III Clinical Trials. According to the EC, it has concluded successful exploratory talks with four other pharmaceutical companies. Kyriakides said the EC is engaged in discussion with some more. "The negotiations have resulted in the signing of the first agreement by which we make good our promise to safeguard a diversified vaccine portfolio for the protection of the public health of our citizens," she added. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Parents who took the law into their own hands to punish a 'paedophile' are now facing murder charges after torturing and 'killing an innocent man' with 'particular cruelty'. Police believe that a girl, ten, who said Russian Dmitry Chikvarkin, 48, had touched her and a three-year-old was 'lying' as a 'joke'. The truck driver had given a lift to the two children at the request of their parents to take them to a carer. Dmitry Chikvarkin, 48, gave a lift to two children after their parents asked him to take them to a carer When the three-year-old's mother Valeria Dunaeva, 25, came to collect the girls, they told her that Chikvarkin 'had touched them below the waist', it is claimed. She reacted furiously, and told her lover Sergey Chabin, 33, father of the ten-year-old. The pair gathered three male friends and went to attack the truck driver acting as vigilantes, say police in Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Sverdlovsk region. A law enforcement source told Znak newspaper: 'They found the man who previously gave a lift to the children. 'First, he was raped in the anus with a metal pipe. 'Then they smashed his head with the same pipe, breaking his skull.' The woman who had cared for the children - an aunt of Dunaeva's ex-husband - was attacked as she tried to protect her friend Chikvarkin. The truck driver, the father of a six-year-old girl, was alive when the group left but died later from head wounds. A friend told Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper: 'He just wanted to help by giving the kids a life, but he was killed. 'He would never harm children.' The children told the three-year-old's mother Valeria Dunaeva (pictured) that Mr Chikvarkin 'touched them below the waist' Dunaeva told her lover, the ten-year-old's father, Sergey Chabin (pictured) and he attacked Mr Chikvarkin with three other male friends Police say they have interviewed both children and believe the older girl invented the accusation as a 'joke'. They concluded the claim he had touched the pair was a 'lie'. Dunaeva and Chabin along with an alleged accomplice Mikhail Ivanov, 27, have been detained. Reports say they are charged with 'murder with special cruelty by a group of persons by prior conspiracy.' Two other 'attackers' are reportedly on the run. The men face possible life sentences, and the woman up to 20 years in prison. Another round of layoffs swept through Wyoming coal country this week, with 80 more coal miners losing their jobs. The owner of the Antelope coal mine just outside Wright confirmed Friday it had laid off 80 hourly workers who had previously been furloughed in May. Navajo Transitional Energy Company, the nation's third largest coal firm, said the decision came in response to depressed demand for coal and the persistence of a global recession. "As we continue to evaluate markets amidst the coronavirus and economic recovery, we do not anticipate an increase in orders from our Antelope mine through the end of the year," NTEC spokeswoman Catie Kerns said. "Based on this information, we have moved the previous furloughed employees to a laid-off status. While we regret the hardship this causes, we want to be transparent with our employees and give them every opportunity to move forward and do what is best for them and their families. We will monitor conditions and rehire as it the opportunity arises." The company did not immediately respond to an inquiry regarding the status of severance or health care for the workers. New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin said that a Syrian ceasefire agreement has been reached in which Russia and Turkey will act as guarantors. Further, Putin claimed that the truce will begin from Thursday midnight and subsequently peace talks will occur between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government and the opposition in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana. Russia's defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, said that the truce would constitute 62,000 opposition fighters across Syria and a hotline has been established by Russian and Turkish militaries to monitor compliance. Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu said on Wednesday that Turkey and Russia had agreed on a nationwide truce plan for Syria but none of the key players in the conflict had offered any immediate confirmation. Also Read: Iran troops to join Syria war; Russia targeting not only IS, but rebels trained by CIA The Syrian army too said on Thursday that it would halt all military operations from midnight, under the deal brokered by Russia and Turkey. "The general command of the armed forces announces a complete halt to all hostilities on Syrian territory from the zero-hour of December 30th," Syria's army said in a statement carried on state television. It added that the halt excluded combat against the Islamic State group and the former Al-Qaeda affiliate previously known as Al-Nusra Front, now rebranded the Fatehal-Sham Front. Syria's leading opposition National Coalition body, a political entity based in Turkey, confirmed its support for the truce. "The National Coalition expresses support for the agreement and urges all parties to abide by it," spokesman Ahmed Ramadan told AFP. He said key rebel groups including the powerful Ahraral-Sham and Army of Islam factions had signed the ceasefire deal, though there was no immediate confirmation from rebel officials. The agreement comes after Syria's government recaptured the country's second city Aleppo from rebels, in the worst blow to opposition forces since the war began. The ceasefire will be the first nationwide halt in fighting since a week-long truce from September 12-19 that collapsed after several incidents of violence. A previous truce was implemented in February, with both of those deals organised by Russia and the United States. Thursday's agreement is the first nationwide ceasefire brokered with the involvement of Turkey, a backer of the Syrian opposition. Russia is a key supporter of Syria's President Bashar-al-Assad and began a military intervention in support of his government in September 2015. Despite backing opposing sides in the conflict, and souring of relations after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane in November 2015, Ankara and Moscow have worked increasingly closely on Syria. Tens of thousands of people were evacuated from Aleppo after a ceasefire was brokered earlier in December by Ankara and Moscow. Also Read: Syrian war 'cancer on a global scale', says UN chief Antonio Guterres With PTI inputs For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. UNODC launches the Colombo Commentary, a guide to strengthen the independence of national anti-corruption agencies Vienna (Austria) 28 August 2020 The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has launched the Colombo Commentary, a guide to assist policymakers and decision makers in their efforts to promote the independence of anti-corruption agencies. As more and more people publicly demand justice and an end to corruption, the role of anti-corruption agencies appears as crucial as ever to restoring trust in public institutions and fostering integrity. The UN Convention against Corruption calls for the establishment of independent anti-corruption bodies, yet a recent analysis undertaken by UNODC reveals that half of the States parties reviewed under the second cycle of the Conventions implementation review mechanism received a recommendation to strengthen the independence of their anti-corruption body or bodies. Anti-corruption agencies from around the world developed in 2012 the Jakarta Statement on Principles for Anti-Corruption Agencies, to provide a set of benchmarks for the establishment of such agencies. The Colombo Commentary on the Jakarta Statement on Principles for Anti-Corruption Agencies brings together the experiences of anti-corruption agencies to demonstrate how the Jakarta Principles can be implemented in practice. It aims to inspire and assist States parties and anti-corruption agencies in ensuring that national anti-corruption frameworks are developed and strengthened in line with the requirements of the Convention. The guide reaffirms the critical importance of independence of anti-corruption agencies to ensure the success of anti-corruption strategies around the world. UNODC continues to stand ready to assist States parties in designing adequate legal frameworks in line with the Convention, using all available guidance. In this regard, the Colombo Commentary is a valuable addition to our toolbox in the fight against corruption. The Colombo Commentary will be shared with delegates at the upcoming Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on the Prevention of Corruption to be held from 31 August 2020 until 2 September 2020 in Vienna, where, among other issues, the topic of enhancing the effectiveness of anti-corruption agencies will be discussed among parties to the Convention. More information: Advertisement 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.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.Source: Eurekalert Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Norman Harsono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 28, 2020 11:58 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c411b9a4 1 Business Freeport-Indonesia,PTFI,copper,smelter,Gresik,mining,ESDM Free The development of two metal smelters by gold and copper mining firm PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) has fallen well behind schedule because of the pandemic-related lockdowns. The company expects them to come onstream one year late. The copper concentrate smelter one of only two being developed in Indonesia reached a 5.9 percent completion rate in July, below the targeted 10.5 percent, according to the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministrys mining director general, Ridwan Djamaluddin. Meanwhile, the companys gold and silver smelter had reached 9.79 percent completion, below the 14.3 percent target, he said during a hearing with House of Representatives legislators and Freeport Indonesia on Thursday. The government, he continued, expected Freeport to finish construction by 2023, despite the companys previous requests to extend the deadline to 2024, as the new Coal and Mineral Mining Law mandates all metal ore must be processed domestically by 2023. We will follow the prevailing law, Ridwan said. Freeport deputy president director Jenpino Ngabdi stated on Thursday that project contractors based abroad were unable to finish project designs, finalize prices and procure equipment due to international lockdowns. Due to COVID-19, delays have been ongoing for around nine months, he said. We ask to be given a relaxation to complete the smelter in 2024. Freeport Indonesia has disbursed $290 million for the smelters as of July, mostly for land clearance. The combined investment value for the two smelters is $3 billion. The projects, both located in Gresik, East Java, are among dozens of smelters being developed in Indonesia as the country, which relies heavily on mining for export revenue, ramps up plans to downstream the mining industry. Read also: Jokowi reaffirms Indonesias 'massive downstreaming of natural resources In May, Freeport also stated that it would operate the Grasberg mine in Papua, the worlds biggest gold mine, with a skeletal team after a rise in coronavirus infections in the area, according to Reuters report. New Delhi: After almost a week into the investigation related to the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, the CBI has summoned late actor's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty for questioning. This is the first time that CBI has called her for the questioning. According to sources, different teams have been formed by the CBI for the questioning. Samuel Miranda, Siddharth Pithani, cook Neeraj, Keshav and Rajat Mewati along with Rhea and her brother Showik reached the DRDO guest house in Mumbai this morning for the probe. An officer of the team will be monitoring her body language while answering questions. The CBI has prepared a long list of questions related to her relationship with Sushant and his family, business interests with him, details of her foreign trips, the account of June 8, her location between June 8 to June 13 etc. It has been learnt that questioning may last for more than 8 hours. The CBI has also got details about Rhea's one of the bank accounts in New Delhi at Lodhi road branch of ICICI. Meanwhile, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) after registering a criminal case against actress Rhea Chakraborty over drug conspiracy reports in connection with actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case has arrived in Mumbai. A five-member team has been constituted under the supervision of Deputy Director of Operations (NCB) KPS Malhotra. Apart from Rhea, who was Sushant's girlfriend, the agency has also booked a few others, against whom the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had already registered a case earlier. The NCB will probe their alleged dealings in banned drugs. A team from Delhi will investigate the case in Mumbai. The case has been registered under Sections 20, 22, 27 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The other day a puling Don Lemon, the infamous CNN anchor, not a purveyor of citrus flavored tequila, ripped the mask off the Democrat/leftist body politic when he opined that presidential candidate Joe Biden needed to speak out against the rioting currently destroying Democrat-run cities because the unrestrained violence was beginning to hurt him at the polls. In uttering nary a word about the impact the widespread suffering and destruction was having on Americans, he starkly displayed the callous disregard Democrats have for this nation and its citizens. When he said of the violence, I know its showing up in the polling. Lemon was admitting the unofficial Democratic Party policy of let them riot and blame Trump for the human suffering and economic devastation, was no longer operable. For Democrats, it was never about George Floyd or Jacob Blake. To Dems, while Floyd and Blakes deaths were a tragedy, the true tragedy would be the reelection of Donald Trump. Someone once said that if you give people long enough and listen carefully, they will always tell you who they are. Lemon is telling us exactly who the Democrats are. It was a staggeringly profound confession, whether he intended it as so or not. Perhaps next he will advise Biden to advocate reopening the economy and the schools because trying to destroy the country in order to use impoverished and despondent Americans against Trump for political purposes was also costing him votes. Now, with the successful RNC Convention, and its parade of regular people of all stripes effectively explaining to the public the debacle Democrats are trying to force-feed Americans as the new, new normal, floundering Democrats are panicking. Yet, with people starting to fight back, it may be too late for them. With Antifa, the paramilitary arm of the Democratic Party, BLM, its ideological arm, and the media, its propaganda arm, the Democrats have confected a riotous monster they are no longer able to control. When you allow people to run rampant in the streets with no repercussions, the anarchy, looting, and arson that result awakens within the faux revolutionaries their woke muscles, allowing them to feel big, and, most importantly, in charge. Breaking stuff and burning stuff is fun. Looting is not only fun, but profitable. Being able to order people around is empowering. For the aspiring sociopaths roaming free in our streets, hurting people with impunity is a dream come true. Why would they ever want to stop now? Democrats will now seek to add tepid disapproval of rioting and rioters to their active and avowed support of protestors just as Americans have come to the conclusion that they are one and the same, and are beginning to take to the streets to fight back. At some point, Americans will have had enough and are going to confront the attackers themselves. We are seeing it in Kenosha, Wisconsin, as well as in selected areas all over the country. Say what you will about Kyle Rittenhouse, now charged with murder after killing two Antifa/BLM members and wounding another in Kenosha, under circumstances which seem to indicate self-defense, but he is the logical creation of the Democrat policy of forcing people to fear for their lives, families, property, and livelihoods. The rioters, the Democrats, and the media have been playing with fire and are now being consumed by the inferno they created. More and more, regular Americans are taking to the streets to either confront rioters or delineate a border beyond which they are not allowed to pass, and they are doing so armed. People actively protecting their neighborhoods, neighbors, and businesses by banding together to confront rioters is something that should have been expected and now, more than likely, is too late to stop. Expect to see much more of it. The law and order Trump, always an outspoken supporter of police, has long called for an end to the violence while continuously offering federal assistance. He has been serially rebuked by Democrats who have tried to score political points with the anarchy by using the suffering populace against him in their election campaign to install the King of Aphasia, Joe Biden as president. Cmon man, did they really believe that would work? Now, as it hurts Democrats in the polls, they will find that not only will changing course further erode their relationship of convenience with their leftist brethren, it will also not make a difference with outraged rioters except to further provoke rebellious conflagration. The Democrats fomented civil war and that is exactly what they are getting. The author can be found on Twitter @williamlgensert Image: Needpix Televangelist Kenneth Copeland says any Christian who doesnt vote is guilty of murder Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Warning Christians that praying for President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence isnt enough, televangelist Kenneth Copeland urged them to vote this November because if they fail to cast a ballot, they will be guilty of murder. Any Christian who stays at home and doesnt vote is guilty of murder. Every person who votes for someone knowing, knowing that they push for abortion and to kill a baby anytime they want to kill it, theyre just as guilty as the doctor that performed the abortion. Theres no way around it, said the Texas-based prosperity preacher in a podcast interview with Charisma Magazine founder and CEO Stephen Strang Monday. The leader of Kenneth Copeland Ministries urged Christians to not focus on the personalities of Trump or Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, but on their political platforms to inform their decisions. For people of faith, he argued, there can be only one choice in this election because the Democratic Party has totally and completely separated themselves from God. Forget the personality. Joe Biden is a nice guy, hes got a great smile, hes a very likable man, but what is he saying, Stephen. When Im standing on the platform preaching, Im not standing on a stage, Im standing on a platform and I preach and teach from that platform, Copeland said. Im not agreeing with Donald Trumps personality. Ive met him, Ive laid hands on him and prayed for him. Personally, I like him but Im not voting for a personality here. I am voting and putting and casting my ballot concerning that platform. And God is no longer part of the platform of the Democratic Party. They have totally and completely separated themselves from God, the televangelist declared. Copeland further explained that when he talks about the Democratic Party being separated from God, he is referring to the leadership because he knows a lot of wonderful Democrats, but their politics can certainly be judged. Strang argued that the hatred for President Trump can only be explained in spiritual terms and Copeland agreed, adding that Satan has always hated America because it was founded by people who love God and sought the freedom to worship Him. The Charisma CEO also noted that the pandemic was being used to restrict religious freedom and argued that it was an important reason for Christians to ensure the presidents reelection. Theyve used this pandemic to take away our freedoms, which I think is one of the most important reasons to vote for Donald Trump because he has been a strong defender of religious freedom and of churches and of Christians, Strang said. Hes been a great friend of Christians. Yet some Christians nitpick and say hes not a nice guy and they shouldnt vote for him, but the alternative is socialism, Strang argued. Strang said he was concerned that a lot of Christians had become apathetic when it comes to voting and some arent even registered to vote. A lot of Christians arent registered to vote. Were afraid that a lot of Christians will stay home instead of vote. Why do you think theres such apathy in the Body of Christ? asked Strang. Lack of knowledge, Copeland replied, noting that younger Christians dont understand the meaning of socialism or capitalism. They are in this never-never land, so they just listen to the ones that are doing the most talking, the 83-year-old said. Copeland said Christians need to understand that when Jesus walked the earth, He also lived in a very political time and it was politics that killed the Savior. Amid the politics, he added, is raging spiritual warfare. It doesnt do any good to pray if youre not willing to act. Pray for the president, yes, pray for the vice president, yes. Go vote. Go vote. I said go vote, Copeland said with a chuckle. Vote in every election. Vote in every local election. Vote every time they open the polls. The Bible, the first covenant and the second, are very, very political documents. A lot to say about politics. The biggest problem in the day of Jesus was political. Religious politics and Roman politics. Biggest problem He had. In fact, it got Him killed. But thank God Hes alive today. Hes on the throne and prayer changes things, he said. Evangelicals met with threats of violence, blasphemous slogans exiting White House after Trump's RNC speech Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment More than 100 prominent evangelical leaders attended the fourth night of the Republican National Convention where President Donald Trump accepted the party's nomination for a second term. While leaving the White House grounds, however, attendees including older adults and those with disabilities were attacked by rioters who threatened violence. Among those who attended the president's speech on the South Lawn included Pastors Jentezen Franklin, Ed Young, Jack Graham, Robert Jeffress, Bishop Harry Jackson, the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, Ralph Reed, chair of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, and radio host Eric Metaxas. Johnnie Moore, a prominent religious freedom advocate and founder of the KAIROS Company who also attended the speech, told The Christian Post that he experienced the riots firsthand. Violent provocateurs waited for us (and others) outside the White House gates in the citys jurisdiction, at nearly midnight, Moore recalled. Rather than succeeding at intimidating us with their vicious threats of violence, expletives, blasphemous slogans, hatred and intolerance they simply proved the very points the president made in his speech. No doubt, D.C.s Democrat mayor slept peacefully in her bed while these threats, attacks and insults were not even reserved for the elderly, disabled or young, he added. I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. Whats awful is that the very thing this does is take away the voice of peaceful protestors, whom we want to hear. After describing what took place as Democrat-endorsed and Democrat-enabled anarchy, Moore thanked the many members of law enforcement who worked so hard to get us home safely last night. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said in a post on Twitter Thursday night that he and his wife were surrounded by an ever-growing number of rioters who threatened violence after he was recognized. "Just got attacked by an angry mob of over 100, one block away from the White House. Thank you to @DCPoliceDept for literally saving our lives from a crazed mob," he wrote on Twitter. Rand Paul just got chased by a crowd back to his hotel, after leaving the White House from Trumps Republican Party Nomination #DC#DCProtestspic.twitter.com/h1kPcZG1jh Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) August 28, 2020 In an interview with "Fox & Friends" Friday morning, Paul said: "I truly believe this with every fiber of my being, had they gotten at us they would have gotten us to the ground, we might not have been killed, might just have been injured by being kicked in the head, or kicked in the stomach until we were senseless." "They were shouting threats to us, to kill us, to hurt us, but also threats saying shout, shouting 'say her name,' Breonna Taylor, and it's like you couldn't reason with this mob, but I'm actually the author of the Breonna Taylor law to end no-knock raids, so the irony is lost on these idiots that they're trying to kill the person who's actually trying to get rid of no-knock raids," he added. "We're not going to let you go alive unless you'll say you're for criminal justice reform," the rioters shouted, according to Paul, who explained that he has authored 22 criminal justice reforms with both President Trump and former President Barack Obama. Evangelical Christians are a big part of Trumps electoral coalition. According to exit polling from the 2016 election, then-candidate Donald Trump captured 80% of the white evangelical vote. Trumps acceptance speech, which lasted 70 minutes, touched upon one of the subjects evangelical Christians are most passionate about: abortion. The president slammed the Democratic Partys position on the issue. Joe Biden claims he has empathy for the vulnerable yet the party he leads supports the extreme late-term abortion of defenseless babies right up until the moment of birth, Trump declared. Democrat leaders talk about moral decency, but they have no problem with stopping a babys beating heart in the ninth month of pregnancy. Tonight, we proudly declare that all children, born and unborn, have a God-given right to life, he added. Trump also slammed his Democratic opponent as being a trojan horse for socialism and a member of the failed political class. For 47 years, Joe Biden took the donations of blue-collar workers, gave them hugs and even kisses, and told them he felt their pain and then he flew back to Washington and voted to ship our jobs to China and many other distant lands. Joe Biden spent his entire career outsourcing their dreams and the dreams of American Workers. Offshoring their jobs, opening their borders, and sending their sons and daughters to endless foreign wars, Trump asserted. While the speech focused heavily on the policy differences between the president and Biden, the address also featured an emotional tribute to fallen police officers. Trump prefaced the tribute by proclaiming that my administration will always stand with the men and women of law enforcement. Every day, police officers risk their lives to keep us safe and every year, many sacrifice their lives in the line of duty, he said. The president specifically highlighted NYPD Detective Miosotis Familia, who was murdered in 2017 by a man who hated her purely for wearing the badge. Detective Familia was a single mom, Trump explained. She had recently asked for the night shift so she could spend more time with her kids. Throughout that portion of the speech, the cameras focused in on Familias children, who were seated in the audience. Two years ago, I stood inside the U.S. Capitol alongside those beautiful children and held their grandmothers hand as they mourned their terrible loss, Trump recalled. We honored Detective Familias extraordinary life. Trump also mentioned David Dorn, the retired African American St. Louis police officer who lost his life while guarding a store from rioters and looters as the city was engulfed in violent riots following the officer-involved death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. He acknowledged the presence of Dorns family in the audience. Dorns wife, Ann, spoke at the convention ahead of the president. While Trumps acceptance speech was the headline of the evening, the final night of the RNC featured other notable speakers in the hours leading up to the presidents address. Alice Marie Johnson, who had her life sentence commuted by Trump, praised the president for his embrace of criminal justice reform. The parents of Kayla Mueller, who was taken hostage, raped, tortured, and murdered by the radical Islamic State terrorist group, gave an emotional address praising the Trump administration for giving them empathy we never received from the Obama administration. San Francisco will reopen hair salons, barbershops and nail salons for outdoor service beginning Tuesday. Outdoor fitness centers and gyms may begin operating Sept. 9. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) San Francisco officials announced Friday that hair salons, barbershops and nail salons may offer services outdoors beginning Tuesday, joining other parts of the state in a measured plan for reopening. Outdoor gyms and fitness centers can reopen Sept. 9, officials said. Dr. Grant Colfax, San Franciscos public health director, said during an online news conference that learning centers, community hubs and classroom learning and child-care facilities will be a top priority in reopening as well as small businesses. We know that education, and particularly early education, is a key public health intervention we simply cannot hit pause on, he said. The strategy to gradually resume the operation of some businesses, with modifications, comes two months after the city put the brakes on wider reopenings amid a surge in coronavirus cases. Since statewide restrictions were implemented in March, cities and counties have been able to impose more stringent regulations on a local level, and San Francisco had lagged behind many other parts of California when the state began to reopen the economy in late May and early June. The city had decided in late June to reopen hair salons, barbershops, tattoo parlors, zoos, outdoor bars and outdoor swimming pools and then made an abrupt about-face as infection rates rose sharply. Those numbers have since dropped, and Friday's decision reflects the city's growing confidence in the downward trend of daily coronavirus cases. San Francisco has been averaging about 75 new cases of COVID-19 a day. That number has been coming down in recent weeks, but it remains in the red zone, Colfax said. In announcing sweeping new changes to statewide reopening criteria, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday said that all 58 counties in California will be permitted to operate hair salons and barbershops indoors beginning Monday. It was not immediately clear whether San Francisco would alter its plans to allow for indoor services, but Mayor London Breed said additional announcements would follow next week. Story continues Scientists now know that outdoor activities are the safest way to avoid infection, Colfax said. So as we increase outdoor activities we must we must continue to wear our masks, socially distance and wash our hands frequently, Colfax said. Our success is so dependent on each person doing their part. Breed noted that hundreds of businesses in San Francisco have closed permanently during the pandemic and expressed compassion for parents and students who have been required to attend classes remotely. The city has been largely shut down for six months, she said, and now is time to make some levels of transition. Biopharmaceutical company Regeneron is to add 400 jobs at its industrial operations facility in Limerick as the company continues work on the development of a Covid-19 treatment. The new roles will bring the number of workers based in the former Dell facility in Raheen to more than 1,400. Last month, Regeneron signed a 380m contract with the US government to supply hundreds of thousands of treatment doses of its REGN-COV2 anti-viral cocktail to treat and prevent Covid-19. The drug is in late-stage clinical trials. A famous South African conservationist has been mauled to death by his own 400lb white lions that he kept at his safari lodge. West Mathewson was attacked by two white lionesses after he unlocked their gate to take them for a morning walk. Mauled to death The 68-year-old conservationist ran a popular safari known as Lion Tree Top Lodge that is located near the town of Hoedspruit, around 280 miles north west of Johannesburg. Mathewson's wife, 65-year-old Gill Mathewson, tried to save her husband by distracting the lionesses named Demi and Tanner, but they already had inflicted fatal injuries, and it was too late when she got to him. According to a report in the Telegraph, the lionesses had killed a man in 2017 who was working on a neighboring property after the two broke out of their paddock. Also Read: Leopard Attacks Park Ranger; Big Cat's Release Into The Wild Goes Wrong Tehri Fergusson, Mathewson's daughter-in-law, told the Telegraph that Mathewson's death could have been the result of a rough play. She said that they would only know why he died once they have the results of his autopsy. Fergusson added that Mathewson was not as young as he thought he was, and they are not sure what actually happened, but there was very rough play involved. Both of the white lionesses were tranquilized after the attack on August 26, and they have been taken to a local endangered species center. According to Fergusson, they will later be released into the wild. Dangers of raising wild animals In May 2018, the British owner of a wildlife park in South Africa was hospitalized after being mauled by a lion that he had raised since it was a cub. The 67-year-old victim, Mike Hodge, suffered severe injuries to his neck and his jaw after he was attacked in the Marakele Animal Sanctuary in Thabazimbi area, Limpopo province. The horrifying footage shows Hodge being pounced on by the lion as he tried to leave through a gate, he was then dragged off towards some bushes. The onlookers can be heard screaming as Hodge was attacked and pawed by the lion. Another man in the video was heard shouting for someone to get a rifle, while a sobbing woman was heard begging for someone to help Hodge. After a few seconds, gunshots were heard. Hodge entered the lion's enclosure after there were reports about a smell in the compound, according to Independent.Co. South African police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe told News24 that officers investigated the incident. Lt. Ngoepe added that Hodge was immediately taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The lion, named Shamba, was put down after the incident. Bernadette Maguire, a spokeswoman for the Hodge family, said in a statement that the attack happened just as tourists were being shown around the sanctuary. According to the statement, Hodge was only too aware of the dangers of working with wildlife, but they remain his passion, even after the incident that almost cost him his life. The family was saddened by the death of the lion, which they raised. Related Article: Mountain Lion Viciously Attacks 6-Year Old Girl in Park, Saved by Man With Hard Punch in Ribs @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 28, 2020) - Rockcliff Metals Corporation (CSE: RCLF) (FSE: RO0) (WKN: A2H60G) ("Rockcliff" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that an affiliate of Kinross Gold Corporation ("Kinross") has commenced a Summer 2020 drill program at Rockcliff's Laguna Gold Property ("Laguna") in Snow Lake, Manitoba. The planned 5,000-6,000 m drill program will follow up on high-grade gold assay results from the Winter 2020 drill program. Pursuant to the July 2018 option agreement, Kinross may earn up to a 70% interest in Laguna and the Lucky Jack gold properties by spending $5,500,000 over the 6 year term of the option agreement. Laguna, located in the Flin Flon-Snow Lake Greenstone Belt hosts the historic Rex-Laguna gold mine, Manitoba's first and highest-grade former gold mine. Discovered in 1914, eventual periodic gold mining from the Laguna, between 1936 and 1940, produced over 60,000 ounces of gold with an average grade of 16.7gpt. Laguna includes 28 contiguous mining claims totalling 3,501 hectares. Winter 2020 Drill Program A 13 hole, 5,240 m Winter 2020 drill program followed up on the success of the Fall 2019 drill program (reported in a press release dated January 27, 2020). Multiple holes intersected significant, shallow, gold mineralization. Drilling tested 3 main gold areas located at the historical Bingo shaft area, the Laguna Main Zone and the Kiski Vein. The significant intersections highlighted below are not true thicknesses. Additional drilling will need to be completed to determine true thicknesses of the mineralization. LG20-001: 1.13g/t across 1.00 m and 1.38g/t across 1.0 m LG20-002: 6.42g/t across 1.00 m, 6.38g/t across 0.55 m and 1.82g/t across 0.65 m LG20-004: 1.46g/t across 1.00 m LG20-005: 2.07g/t across 1.0 m and 1.58g/t across 0.48 m LG20-008: 2.00g/t across 0.50 m LG20-009: 4.97g/t across 0.50 m and 2.14g/t across 1.0 m LG20-010: 11.1g/t across 1.0 m LG20-012: 20.1g/t across 1.13 m, 2.69g/t across 0.50 m and 3.91g/t across 0.50 m LG20-013: 8.40g/t across 1.05 m Typical accessory mineralization associated with gold mineralization at Laguna is arsenopyrite which is predominantly associated with strongly sericitized and silicified rhyolite and in quartz veins over one to three metres in thickness. The arsenopyrite is predominantly disseminated within the sericitized zones and generally follows along hairline fractures and margins of quartz veins. Figure 1: Geology plan view of the Bingo and Laguna vein areas highlighting Winter 2020 drill locations To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3071/62743_5d1d653414a0b8a1_001full.jpg Figure 2: Geology plan view highlighting Kiski veins and location of Winter 2020 drill holes To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3071/62743_5d1d653414a0b8a1_002full.jpg Spring 2020 Prospecting Program Additional surface work this spring on the adjoining Lucky Jack property to the south confirmed the presence of gold in quartz veining along strike of the historical Zona Shaft and at the historical Lucky Jack showing. The highest grade assay from Zona was 32.9g/t gold and the best result from the Lucky Jack area was 4.4g/t gold. Granodiorite is the host rock to the veining in both areas. Summer 2020 Laguna Drill Program The Summer 2020 drill program is now underway. Between 5,000-6,000 m of drilling is planned. The program will follow-up on the high grade intercepts encountered in the previous successful drill programs and will include focus on the Laguna area and the Kiski Vein area . Drilling will test along strike and at depth of the known gold mineralization. Additonal holes have been designed to test a large resistivity anomaly that was identified in the recently completed 3D Induced Poloarization geophysical survey model. Quality Control and Quality Assurance Drill core is logged and sampled in a secure core storage facility located in Snow Lake, Manitoba. Core samples from the program are cut in half, using a diamond cutting saw and are sent to ALS Geochemistry in Thunder Bay, Ontario. ALS North America is accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2017. All samples are analysed for gold using standard Fire Assay-AA techniques. Samples returning over 3.0g/t gold are analysed utilizing standard Fire Assay-Gravimetric methods. Certified gold reference standards and blanks are routinely inserted into the sample stream as part of the quality control/quality assurance program. QP Ken Lapierre P.Geo., VP Exploration of Rockcliff, a Qualified Person in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in NI 43-101, has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this press release. About Rockcliff Metals Corporation Rockcliff is a well-funded Canadian resource development and exploration company, with a fully functional +1,000 tpd leased processing and tailings facility as well as several advance-staged, high-grade copper and zinc dominant VMS deposits in the Snow Lake area of central Manitoba. The Company is a major landholder in the Flin Flon-Snow Lake greenstone belt which is home to the largest Paleoproterozoic Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide district in the world, hosting mines and deposits containing copper, zinc, gold and silver. The Company's extensive portfolio of properties totals over 4,500 square kilometres and includes eight of the highest-grade, undeveloped VMS deposits in the belt and high grade gold properties. For more information, please visit http://rockcliffmetals.com Youtube: Rockcliff Metals Corporation Twitter: @RockcliffMetals Linkedin: Rockcliff Metals Corp Instagram: Rockcliff_Metals For further information, please contact: Rockcliff Metals Corporation Alistair Ross President & CEO Cell: (249) 805-9020 contact@rockcliffmetals.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from the historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking. Although Rockcliff believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/62743 Mortgages going underwater in particular, and amid the pandemic economic crisis, home ownership in general, may constrain job mobility and income, a new Olin Business School study finds. Credit: Shutterstock At a time when evictions and mortgage defaults have been likened to an oncoming tsunami across America, a big-data study of loan-to-value ratios in the wake of the 2007-08 recession carries a cautionary forecast for vexing economic weather ahead: The higher a worker's outstanding mortgage relative to their home value, the worse their future income growth and job mobility. Those were the key findings when four researchers, including two from Washington University in St. Louis' Olin Business School, delved into the wage data and credit profiles encompassing 30 million Americans across 5,000 companies. They found a negative relationship between workers' income and their home loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, especially when the home was underwater (higher principal owed than value). For example, the scientists discovered that people with underwater mortgages earned $352or 5%less monthly than workers with less mortgage debt relative to home values. Compounded by credit and liquidity issues, these workers are virtually stuck, unable to move to a job with a better income or a new area, the researchers wrote in their study forthcoming in the Review of Financial Studies. And it could well translate to the COVID-19 economic effects today. "The impact of the current crisis on local economies varies widely across the U.S.," said Radhakrishnan Gopalan, professor of finance at Olin and study co-author. "Our study highlights the difficulties someone in a worse-affected area may face in trying to pack up and move to a less-affected region. Furthermore, our study also highlights an important cost of homeownership: For instance, buying a home will constrain your labor mobility, and in the long run that may adversely affect your labor income." "This is one of the first studies to tie detailed credit histories to information on worker mobility and pay increases," added co-author Barton Hamilton, the Robert Brookings Smith Distinguished Professor of Economics, Management & Entrepreneurship and director of the Koch Center for Family Business at Washington University. "Prior work has analyzed these factors in isolation and has not made the connection between the two." Seeking ways to scrutinize the effect of home equity and labor income, in addition to the mechanisms intertwined, the researchers used Equifax information and Corelogic house-price indices to drill down to study a random sample of 300,000 workers with an active mortgage over a 72-month period earlier in this decade. They measured home equity as LTVthe unpaid mortgage vs. the market valueon the workers' primary residence. They additionally accounted for home-value increases/decreases using ZIP-code level price fluctuations and controlled for local economic conditions. Moreover, they contrasted the income path of homeowners versus renters who worked at the same firm, were of a similar age and job tenure, and held a similar level of income and non-mortgage debt. What the data essentially showed: Homeowners facing high LTVs were less likely to change homes, but more likely to change jobs, if they could. And renters working at the same companies and with similar job tenure faced no such issues. Additionally, homeowners with high LTVs faced slower income growth while renters faced no such penalties. It wasn't as cut and dried as a rent-vs.-own debate, though. Income and mobility for homeowners could vary. A worker could face relatively smaller income declines or find greater employment opportunities if they lived in a metropolitan area with more jobsfor instance, an IT worker in San Francisco/Silicon Valleyor a state with softer non-compete laws limiting movement within an industry. Still, they found that declines in housing prices as a result of that 2007-08 recession suggested a 2.3% reduction in monthly wages economy-wide due to constrained mobility. "If the adverse effects of the current pandemic on local economic conditions also spill over to house prices, then we will find ourselves with a number of underwater homeowners," Gopalan said. "In that scenario, the effects we document will be very relevant." Gopalan and Hamilton were joined in the research by two former Olin Ph.D.s, Ankit Kalda and David Sovich, who work at Indiana University and the University of Kentucky, respectively. They wrote that a homeowner with an underwater mortgage were to face a new job offer in a different area, they were confronted with three (unappealing) prospects: Sell and swallow the shortfallmeaning they still must require some access to liquidity, despite being credit constrained. Retain the home and rent it outmeaning there will be no or negligible down payment on a new home in the new area. Walk away and default on the mortgagemeaning deeper credit issues. In short, their mobility was as hampered as their current job situation, the co-authors said. A worker may not seek out better opportunities in the first place and, consequently, feel adverse effects on income because of an undermined bargaining power at the current workplace. For the record, the median individual in their study group was 41 years old with an annual $41,015 salary; comparatively, the median person in the U.S. workforce overall in that time window was 41.9 with an annual $41,392 income, the co-authors wrote. The median loan: $192,400. "Our study highlights an important cost of home ownership," Gopalan said. "While the "American dream' is usually defined in terms of building wealth through home ownership, the financial crisis has revealed a few glaring holes in this story. Our study formally quantifies one important cost of following the "American Dream." A relatively safe way to own a house is to make sure one has sufficient down payment or home equity so that even if house prices fall, one is not stuck with an underwater mortgage. To this extent, our study recommends caution in pushing mortgages with less down payment." Hamilton added: "Our study highlights that policies affecting financial markets can directly impact the labor market as well. Businesses also need to be aware of the indirect costs that credit markets and home ownership may impose on mobility and the optimal allocation of their workforces." Explore further A government program that reduces mortgage defaults More information: Radhakrishnan Gopalan et al. House Prices, Mortgage Debt, and Labor Mobility, SSRN Electronic Journal (2017). Journal information: Review of Financial Studies Radhakrishnan Gopalan et al. House Prices, Mortgage Debt, and Labor Mobility,(2017). DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2963114 Mayor G.T. Bynum on Thursday re-iterated his desire for more local governments to implement mask mandates or for the state to step in and do so to help hospitals. "Our hospitals here in Tulsa do not just serve people that live in the city of Tulsa," Bynum said during a news conference in addressing the reports issued by the White House Coronavirus Task Force. "They serve the people that live in this entire part of the state of Oklahoma and I think that when our first and foremost concern is protecting the capacity of those hospitals to save lives, it shouldnt just be on the citizens of Tulsa to protect that capacity." Since Aug. 2, the White House task force has recommended a statewide masking mandate in Oklahoma. Its first report, dated June 29, recommended ensuring public use of masks in "all current and evolving hot spots." Notably in the Tulsa metro, Broken Arrow with a population of more than 100,000 is without a mask requirement and is making up "a larger and larger portion of the county's total cases," according to Tulsa Health Department Executive Director Bruce Dart a week ago. Australia Post's top executives could still share in millions of dollars in bonuses this year despite offering to forgo their right to the special payments amid a looming coronavirus-induced recession. The national mail service has opened the door for its executive team to share in up to $7 million in bonus payments after the organisation defied dire forecasts to record a 7 per cent jump in full-year revenue and a profit before tax of $53.6 million. Australia Post boss Christine Holgate could still get her bonus despite a March offer to reject it. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Chief executive Christine Holgate announced to staff in late March that senior management would take 20 per cent pay cuts and waive their right to bonuses as it looked to slashed its costs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms Holgate, who was paid $2.5 million last year as the nation's highest earning civil servant, is estimated to be in line for a $1 million-plus bonus while other executives could take home up to $600,000. Riding on the success of its Galaxy A71 and A51 devices, Samsung grabbed the top position in the premium smartphone market (Rs 25,000-Rs 50,000) in India for the first six months this year, a new report said on Friday. While the South Korean giant captured 37 per cent market share in H1 2020, Apple continued its impressive run in the premium segment, growing by 14 per cent (year-on-year) with 26 per cent market share in the country, according to the 'CMR India Mobile Handset Review Report'. OnePlus was a distant third with 15 per cent market share in the premium segment in H1 2020. "Owing to the pandemic, H1 2020 was a tough period for the overall smartphone industry in general, with multiple challenges. However, the premium smartphone segment was one of the least affected segments. In fact, the segment grew owing to strong consumer demand and good supply-side dynamics," said Anand Priya Singh, Analyst, Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CMR. Overall, the smartphone shipments in the premium segment grew 18 per cent (YoY) in the country in H1 2020. This segment accounted for 5 per cent of the total smartphone shipments in the January-June period. Samsung's domination of the overall premium smartphone segment was made possible through good supply side dynamics, attractive discounts and smart channel strategies. Samsung Galaxy A71 was the star in this segment, contributing to 19 per cent in this segment. For Apple, the iPhone 11 continued to garner good market response in the initial part of the year. "On the other hand, the all-new iPhone SE 2020 is on track to repeat the exceptional performance of iPhone 11. It captured 8 per cent market share of the total premium smartphones shipped during Q2," the report mentioned. According to the report, India's premium smartphone segment is potentially slated to grow 20 per cent (YoY) in H2 2020, with many new device offerings anticipated from various players in the festive season. "Samsung and Apple will be in a dead heat in H2 2020, and potentially slated to garner 28-29 per cent market share each," the report said. Beyond the incumbents, the new premium segment aspirants, including the likes of Xiaomi and OPPO will seek to shake the turf. "In H1 2020, consumer demand in the premium smartphone segment continued to remain high, and, in fact, fuelled the market growth. This bodes well for H2 2020, and, especially, in the run-up to the all-important festive season," said Amit Sharma, Analyst, IIG, CMR. Beyond the incumbents, aspirational premium brands will seek to make inroads into the premium segment, he added. Professor Joseph Kofi Teye, Director of the Centre for Migration Studies (CMS), College of Humanities, at the University of Ghana, has been appointed a member of the International Organization of Migration (UN Migration) High-Level Advisory Group for migration research and publishing. The Migration Research and Publishing High-Level Advisers consist of migration experts from around the world who partner International Organizations for Migration Research team to produce balanced, rigorous, and evidence-based research and analysis of international migration and displacement. Prof. Joseph Kofi Teye has also been appointed a member of the International Advisory Board (IAB) of Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC)in Migration and Integration. The IAB of CERC is comprised of renowned scholars and stakeholders from across the globe, covering a wide range of disciplines. According to the University of Ghana official website, the IAB provides feedback and direction on the CERCs progress and builds important connections to international research and policy networks. The appointments, it said, were in recognition of Prof. Joseph Teyes vast research experience and outstanding contribution to international migration governance, including his role as the lead migration expert for the development of National Migration and National Labour Migration policies in various African countries, such as Sierra Leone, Ghana, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Commenting on the joint announcements, Prof. Dan Ofori, Provost of the College of Humanities, lauded Prof. Teye for his achievements and commended him for his exemplary scholarly leadership which has culminated in these appointments. Prof Ofori therefore, urged Prof. Teye to serve with distinction and make his membership of both Boards count. He further wished him well. "The University of Ghana congratulates Prof. Joseph Kofi Teye for these achievements," he said. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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. A changing of the guard is happening in Napa as Diamond Creek Vineyards welcomes two new faces in key roles. A changing of the guard is happening in Napa as Diamond Creek Vineyards welcomes two new faces in key roles. Nicole Carter, who was appointed President at Merry Edwards Winery in October 2019, will also lead the iconic Napa winery purchased from the pioneering Brounstein family earlier this year. On the winemaking front, Graham Wehmeier brings his expertise in winemaking and viticulture and will progressively take over from longstanding and celebrated winemaker Phil Steinschriber. I am delighted to welcome Nicole Carter and Graham Wehmeier to Diamond Creek to ensure the legacy of Al and Boots Brounstein continues, and to lead our ambitious program of renovation in the vineyards and in the cellars in the years to come. Our relentless endeavor will always be to express the uniqueness of this extraordinary terroir, stated Frederic Rouzaud, President & CEO of Maison Louis Roederer and 7th generation of the family. Winemaker Phil Steinschriber, who has been with Diamond Creek since 1991, will work in tandem with Graham over the next harvest to transition the winemaking and viticulture to him. Graham joins Diamond Creek with a rich background in both winemaking and viticulture at well-known wineries in Napa and Sonoma such as Futo, Cornell and Merryvale. In early 2020, in its quest to produce great wines with strong identity, Maison Louis Roederer chose to anchor its roots in the unique terroir of the Diamond Mountain District appellation, further growing its portfolio of exceptional properties in the United States. Our long-term vision and unwavering commitment to making great wines in Northern California have served us well through bright and more challenging times. The mission with Diamond Creek is to continue to craft singular cabernet sauvignons that are among the very best in Napa Valley. I welcome Nicole and Graham to the challenge and wish them the very best of success, noted Gregory Balogh, President & CEO of Maison Louis Roederers US operations. Maison Louis Roederer Originally founded in 1776, Champagne Louis Roederer continues as one of the very rare Champagne houses to remain firmly in the hands of the same family, since 1832. For three centuries, seven successive generations have been responsible for building a reputation for unparalleled quality and continuity. Its focus on meticulous viticulture, best demonstrated with an ongoing conversion to organic and biodynamic vineyards, as well as precise winemaking, account for the House's enduring excellence and success. Since 1990, Maison Louis Roederer has strategically acquired esteemed family-owned wineries with an approach centered around identical core values, long-term vision and continuity. Ramos Pinto (1990), Champagne Deutz and Delas Freres (1993), Chateau de Pez (1995), Domaines Ott (2004), Scharffenberger Cellars (2004), Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande (2007), Merry Edwards (2019) and Diamond Creek (2020). Roederer has also established new ventures: Roederer Estate (1982) and Domaine Anderson (2012) and owns Descaves, an historic wine merchant on the Place de Bordeaux. Diamond Creek Founded in 1968, Diamond Creek is California's first exclusively Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Vineyard. Visionary pioneer Al Brounstein assisted by his wife Boots defied modern conventions and planted Bordeaux varietals on secluded Diamond Mountain. The four vineyards Red Rock Terrace, Volcanic Hill, Gravelly Meadow and Lake produce a small amount of long-lived wines that are elegant with great depth and richness, honored and cherished by connoisseurs the world over. Noah Berger / Special to The Chronicle Around 20 demonstrators staged a small but vocal protest at the corner of 24th and Mission streets in San Francisco Thursday, demanding the ouster of President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence ahead of the final night of the Republican National Convention. The protest remained peaceful Thursday afternoon with no sign of police and broke up after about an hour. That was in contrast to initially peaceful protests Wednesday night in Oakland which later saw stores and property vandalized and fires set at the Alameda County Superior Court Rene C. Davidson Courthouse. On Monday, August 24, 2020, in the framework of the ongoing military cooperation between Greece and the United States of America, a joint aeronautical exercise was held with the participation of means and personnel of the two countries, in the sea area south of Crete. On Monday, August 24, 2020, in the framework of the ongoing military cooperation between Greece and the United States of America, a joint aeronautical exercise was held with the participation of means and personnel of the two countries, in the sea area south of Crete. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link Greek-American naval and air forces hold joint aeronautical exercise in South of Crete. (Picture source: General Staff of National Defense Defense (GEETHA)) The Hellenic National Defense General Staff (GEETHA) on Tuesday published photographic and video footage from a Greek-American naval and air force exercise that took place south of Crete on Monday. The exercise was attended by frigate (F/G) AEGEAN, submarine Type 214 as well as six F-16 fighter jets, along with American destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill, and navy helicopters from both sides. Greek-American naval and air forces hold joint aeronautical exercise in South of Crete. (Picture source: General Staff of National Defense Defense (GEETHA)) According to GEETHA, the exercise included initiatives for joint operational planning, defense, communications and information sharing, and actively demonstrates the strong long-standing ties between the two countries. In its announcement, it added that the exercise helped strengthen the level of preparedness, engagement capability and cooperation of the two sides. The drills took place amid rising tensions in the eastern Mediterranean Sea between Greece and Turkey over resource claims. Greek-American naval and air forces hold joint aeronautical exercise in South of Crete. (Picture source: General Staff of National Defense Defense (GEETHA)) Even over a hundred years ago, the Belfast Telegraph was first with the news. In 1912 the newspaper reported the sinking of the Titanic on the same day that the liner went down in the north Atlantic an amazing feat for the time. The Tele was the first newspaper in Europe to report the collision with an iceberg, after a telegram was sent to the newsroom alerting it of the disaster in what remains the earliest documented notification of the disaster. The message on Post Office paper and sent to the Belfast Telegraph's Royal Avenue office, the largest selling newspaper in Titanic's home city of Belfast, on April 15, 1912. It was received by sub-editor Robert Bob McComb. Its author quoted a Reuters report as the source of the news and described the famous luxury liner as sinking in mid-Atlantic. Expand Close The telegram sent to the Belfast Telegraph newsroom alerting us of the disaster / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The telegram sent to the Belfast Telegraph newsroom alerting us of the disaster The telegram reached the office in time to run the story that afternoon on the front of the second edition of the paper just hours after the White Star Line vessel had sank, in one of the greatest scoops in Irish newspaper history. It was given to McComb as a gift when he retired after 34 years at the Belfast Telegraph. His family inherited it when he died in 1932 and auctioned it in 2012. Expand Close Reporting history: sub-editor Robert McComb / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Reporting history: sub-editor Robert McComb The message, in truncated wording, reads: White Star Liner Titanic wh. Reuters states is sinking in mid Atlantic as result of collision wi iceberg left Southampton last Wedy. On maiden voyage to New York. She has lgth of 882 feet wi ninety two feet breadth & was luxuriously fitted up wi especial regard to requirements o wealthy Americans. In the pre text message and internet age, the scale of the disaster was underestimated. The front page of the Belfast Evening Telegraph that day read: The Titanic sinking. Collision with iceberg. Disastrous maiden voyage. Passengers transferred to lifeboats. No danger of loss of life. And it wasnt until the next day that the scale of the disaster began to emerge more fully. On April 16, 1912, "Titanic lost, unparalleled shipping calamity, tragic collapsed of a maiden voyage, reported loss of over 1,600, women and children saved, 675 rescued by lifeboats, graphic details" is how the Belfast Telegraph reported the disaster on its front page. Expand Close Titanic lost: Belfast Telegraph front page on 16/4/1912, one day after the disaster / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Titanic lost: Belfast Telegraph front page on 16/4/1912, one day after the disaster That night thousands of people gathered outside the Belfast Telegraph building waiting for the names of survivors as they began to trickle through. Donald Trump has said that the ten most dangerous cities in the United States are all run by Democrats, in a tweet sent shortly before his vital closing speech to the Republican National Convention. 'The Ten Most Dangerous Cities in the U.S. are ALL run by Democrats, and this has gone on for DECADES!' he tweeted on Thursday night. 'Democrats and Biden didn't even mention the Anarchists, Agitators, Looters and so called 'Peaceful Protesters' at their Convention. 'They will allow rampant crime, just as they do in Portland. If they ask us, as they must do, we will end crime in their Democrat run cities, FAST!' Trump, pictured on Thursday, tweeted that the most dangerous cities are run by Democrats The president tweeted shortly before his speech to the RNC, on the closing night of the event Trump did not provide any data to indicate how he was judging the most dangerous cities The previous night, Mike Pence told the RNC: 'The hard truth is ... you wont be safe in Joe Bidens America.' Trump, who is campaigning on a law and order platform, did not provide any data to support his claim, and the 'top ten' listing varies depending on which statistics are used. However, it is true that many of the cities with the highest homicide rates in the United States - St Louis, Detroit, Chicago, New Orleans, Baltimore - are run by Democrats. They are also cities with high levels of inequality, and Democrats tend to live in urban areas. New York City, with a Democrat mayor and a Democrat governor, is suffering from a dramatic uptick in shootings. Since late May, violent crime has spike in the city, raising fears among long-time residents that the 'bad old days' could return. Last month, shooting incidents across the city were up 177 per cent compared to last year, according to NYPD data. Murders were up 59 per cent for the month, burglaries rose 31 per cent, and auto thefts increased 53 per cent. For the month, shootings were at levels not seen in the city since the mid-90s. This year is on track to be the most violence since 2015, with almost 900 shootings already Four people were shot and 21-year-old man left in a critical condition on August 18 in Queens Police arrest a man in Detroit - frequently listed as one of the most dangerous US cities Smoke rises from a police cruiser in Philadelphia on May 30, during George Floyd protests Police and protesters are pictured clashing in Philadelphia on May 30 In Chicago, police and protesters clashed on August 15 during a night of unrest and looting Critics of the president pointed out that the crime and unrest was taking place under his administration. Police have shot and killed 1,019 people this year, according to a Washington Post database. Based on data reporters have been collecting since 2015, the paper also found that police have killed black Americans at over twice the rate of white Americans. As of earlier this year, the number of police killings was comparable to that of previous years, including those that were tracked during President Barack Obamas administration. This summers demonstrations, which have helped drive a shift in public opinion about the presence of racism in policing, have also been the scene of police violence against protesters. In cities across the country, police have escalated attacks on protesters and used tools including pepper spray, tear gas, and rubber bullets to do so. In Kenosha, Wisconsin, protests against police brutality draw a crowd of self-styled 'militia' to 'protect' the streets, resulting in the murder of two people on Tuesday night. A Christian college in Milwaukee, Wisconsin has canceled plans to have Vice President Mike Pence deliver a commencement address, citing unrest in nearby Kenosha where black man Jacob Blake was shot by police last weekend. Wisconsin Lutheran College announced the news on Thursday, less than 48 hours before the Vice President was set arrive at the small school to speak. In a statement, a college spokesperson said that 'after further review with careful consideration of the escalating events in Kenosha, Pence would not be delivering the address.' The college, which enrolls about 1,200 students, is located about 40 miles from Kenosha - which has seen four consecutive nights of civil unrest following Blake's shooting. Wisconsin Lutheran College has canceled plans to have Vice President Mike Pence deliver a commencement address, citing unrest in nearby Kenoshawhere black man Jacob Blake was shot by police last weekend The college, which enrolls about 1,200 students, is located about 40 miles from Kenosha - which has seen four consecutive nights of civil unrest following Blake's shooting Protesters have been taking to the streets to demand an end to systemic racism following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Protests have been co-opted by rioters and people from out-of-state looking to stir up an already-volatile situation A Black Lives Matter supporter holds a sign that reads 'Stop murdering people of color' in front of a row of police officers in Kenosha on Monday Last Sunday, Kenosha police shot Blake seven times in the back after responding to a domestic incident. Blake survived but is paralyzed from the waist down, and the shooting sparked several nights of Black Lives Matter protests, which spilled over into riots. In shocking scenes broadcast from the city, entire car yards were set on fires, businesses were looted and homes were vandalized. Armed protesters and vigilantes were also seen strolling the streets of the city as cops failed to contain the situation. On Tuesday night, authorities allege Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old police admirer from nearby Antioch, Illinois, shot and killed two protesters and wounded a third. The deceased were named as Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26. Rittenhouse has now been charged with murder. Blake, who is a father of six, is now in a stable condition in hospital after undergoing surgery The two men who were killed were Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, and Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, about 15 miles west of the city. The wounded person, Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, of West Allis, about 30 miles northwest of Kenosha, was expected to survive, police said. Chaotic scenes have unfolded in Kenosha over the past four nights, with protests co-opted by rioters Flames roar from a row of cars torched by protesters a few blocks from the county courthouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Monday Protesters 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 The unrest in Kenosha was alluded to in a separate address Pence gave on Wednesday evening during the Republican National Convention. 'Joe Biden would double down on the very policies that are leading to violence in America's cities. The hard truth is you won't be safe in Joe Biden's America,' Pence warned, after calling for 'law and order' on the streets. 'And under President Trump, we will always stand with those who stand on the thin blue line and we're not going to defund the police, not now not ever.' More than 270 students and alumni signed an open letter posted online objecting to the visit, which was announced prior to the violence in Kenosha. The vice president will be replaced by the Rev. Mark Jeske, of St. Marcus Lutheran Church. New Delhi: Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case is currently being investigated by the CBI. Meanwhile, after late's actor's girlfriend, Rhea Chakraborty in her first interview with a news channel recently presented her side of the story with claims about Sushant's mental health, former girlfriend and actress Ankita Lokhande has rubbished it all. Ankita took to social media and clarified with her startling revelations, blasting each of Rhea's claims. Take a look: In fact, she found support from her 'Manikarnika' co-star and actress Kangana Ranaut, who wrote: Fact #Sushant had no history of mental illness before dating Rhea last year, this mental illness plot point was introduced in a goth hotel post genius plot twist of air sickness on a trip to Europe, who is the lame scriptwriter? Fact #Sushant had no history of mental illness before dating Rhea last year, this mental illness plot point was introduced in a goth hotel post genius plot twist of air sickness on a trip to Europe, who is the lame script writer? https://t.co/v2gu3BmEWk Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) August 27, 2020 On the other hand, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) after registering a criminal case against actress Rhea Chakraborty over drug conspiracy reports in connection with actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case has arrived in Mumbai. A five-member team has been constituted under the supervision of Deputy Director of Operations (NCB) KPS Malhotra. Apart from Rhea, who was Sushant's girlfriend, the agency has also booked a few others, against whom the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had already registered a case earlier. The NCB will probe their alleged dealings in banned drugs. A team from Delhi will investigate the case in Mumbai. The case has been registered under Sections 20, 22, 27 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. A wonderful microcosm of China's reform and opening up, the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone has set a number of national firsts", and is home to countless historic events that have had a great impact on the country. These events outline the context of Shenzhens development over the past 40 years, and embody the spirit of daring to try and taking the lead. First commercial housing residential compound (Photo/CCTV News) In 1980, the construction of Donghu Liyuan, the first commercial housing residential compound, began after China's reform and opening up was launched. The houses were priced in Hong Kong dollars, and cost about 50,000 yuan ($7,260) each. Shenzhen created a precedent in the market-oriented operation of using land as a means of production in China. First stock (Photo/Nanfang Daily) The Baoan United Investment Company issued China's first stock on July 8, 1983. On June 25, 1991, the shares of China Baoan Group were listed and traded on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. China's joint-stock enterprises have developed rapidly ever since. First to break fixed employment system In 1980, Shenzhen took the lead in breaking the traditional system of fixed employment in Chinese mainland, implementing two-way choice and establishing the labor contract system and support system. In 1982, Shenzhen launched pilot wage reforms, reformed the labor distribution system, and took the lead in implementing a structural wage system in mainland, giving enterprises autonomy in distribution so that workers could get more pay for more work. First to scrap coupon-based supply of grain and oil In 1982, Shenzhen became the first in the country to experiment in commodity price system reforms. In 1984, Shenzhen opened up its supply of grain, meat, cotton cloth, edible oil and other commodities, and prices were liberalized, ending the nearly 40-year-old ticket system, 10 years ahead of the rest of the country. First million-kilowatt-class large commercial nuclear power plant (Photo/Xinhua) In 1982, China formally approved the construction project for the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant, the first million-kilowatt-class large commercial nuclear power plant in Chinese mainland. The Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station has promoted the development of China's nuclear power industry. First theme park In 1985, construction began on the Overseas Chinese Town, serving as a prelude to the construction of "theme parks" around Chinese mainland. After 35 years of development, the Overseas Chinese Town Group is ranked among the top three theme park groups worldwide. First land auction In December 1987, Shenzhen held China's first public auction of land use rights. This is the first time that land use rights entered the market as an asset in China, and was hailed as "a revolution" after the establishment of the land use system in New China. First McDonald's in Chinese mainland (Photo/Xinhua) In 1990, the first McDonald's restaurant in Chinese mainland opened at the East Gate of Shenzhen. On the first day it opened on Oct. 8, long queues formed inside and outside the restaurant, which demonstrated the improvement of residents' incomes and the change in the way food and beverage consumption was viewed after the reform and opening up. First stock exchange (Photo/Xinhua) In April 1988, Shenzhen Development Bank launched the earliest securities trading. In November 1989, the Shenzhen municipal government made the decision to establish the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. In December 1990, the Shenzhen Stock Exchange opened on a trial basis. First pilot project to create a national innovative city In 2008, Shenzhen was listed as the first pilot city in China to create a national innovative city. Since then, independent innovation has become the leading strategy for Shenzhen's urban development. Construction of first demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics In October 2018, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, visited Shenzhen, and stressed that China would continue to be dedicated to reform and opening up. China will build Shenzhen into a pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics. A former exotic dancer seriously injured in a 2010 car crash with an off-duty Massachusetts police officer has been paid about $8.6 million by the insurance company for the strip club, according to court records. Kailee Higgins was paid by Capitol Specialty Insurance, her attorneys wrote in an Aug. 19 filing in U.S. District Court in Worcester, The Telegram & Gazette reported. The payment comes 17 months after a federal judge ruled following a trial that the insurance company broke the law by shoddily investigating the crash and denying Higgins compensation for years. The crash occurred in Worcester on Nov. 28, 2010. Higgins, who required more than 10 facial surgeries and was left with a diminished mental capacity, had a blood alcohol level of .15, according to records. Higgins, 20 at the time, sued, alleging the Centerfolds club in Worcester served her as many as 15 shots that night and was liable for serving her and then letting her drive drunk. The judge found that Capitol and its senior claims manager conducted a superficial investigation into the crash. An email from the newspaper to lawyers representing Capitol went unanswered. The off-duty officer was not charged. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Carriers A man who was shot in the bicep while confronting a gunman during the Black Lives Matter protests in Kenosha has been identified as a social justice activist. Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, from West Allis, 40 miles north of Kenosha, was left in a serious condition after being shot by 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse amid protests in the city on Tuesday night. Grosskreutz, who worked as a paramedic in Milwaukee and is currently studying outdoor education at a college in Wisconsin, was rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery and is now in a stable condition. Video and images from that night show Grosskreutz was holding a pistol in his right hand when he was shot by Rittenhouse. Moments prior, the teenager had shot and killed two others - 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum and 26-year-old Anthony Huber. A man who was shot in the arm during Tuesday's night protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, has been identified as 26-year-old Gaige Grosskreutz Friends said that Grosskreutz is a social justice activist, former paramedic, and current college student who used his medical training to help apply a tourniquet to his arm after he got shot A family friend said Grosskreutz is now in a stable condition and will be able to keep his arm, but will have to have reconstructive surgery after 'losing his bicep' Patti Wenzel, 55, who considers Grosskreutz to be 'like a son', revealed he had been injured and said he is expected to keep his arm, but will need reconstructive surgery. Speaking to the Chicago Sun Times, she said Grosskreutz had gone to the protest equipped with a medical bag - intending to provide help, if anybody needed it. Despite ending up being the one who needed medical attention, Wenzel said Grosskreutz had the 'wherewithal' to tell those helping him to apply a tourniquet, to stop him from bleeding out. She added: 'Hes always been someone whod help out his friends and give them the shirt off his back if he has one.' Wenzel added that Grosskreutz is part of the Peoples Revolution Movement of Milwaukee, a social justice group. Shooter Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, has been arrested and charged with five federal counts including first-degree murder, which could see him jailed for life Rittenhouse's attorney has admitted that the teen (pictured left before the attacks, and right on the night) carried out the shootings, but says he acted in self-defence She said he is also a keen kayaker, and often takes people out on boating trips. He is due to graduate from college in December, records show. Video and images from Tuesday night show Grosskreutz approach Rittenhouse while the teen is sitting on the ground, having been knocked down by other protesters. As Grosskreutz approaches with a pistol in his right hand, Rittenhouse opens fire, hitting Grosskreutz in the arm. He quickly turns away, clutching his forearm and screaming in pain as blood streams over his hands. Additional images show Grosskreutz sitting on the floor as fellow activists strap a tourniquet to his upper arm, before he is taken to hospital. Autopsies on the other two victims show that Huber died from a single gunshot to the chest which struck him in the heart. The two men who were killed were Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, (left) and Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, (right) about 15 miles west of the city. Huber's devastated girlfriend broke her silence over his 'murder' Friday, saying her 'heroic' boyfriend died trying to save the lives of her and other protesters Meanwhile Rosenbaum died from multiple gunshots that hit him in the pelvis, back, and hand. After the shooting, Rittenhouse was able to leave the scene and travel home across state lines to Antioch, Illinois, where he was arrested the following day. He is now facing a five-count federal indictment, which includes first-degree murder, reckless homicide and attempted murder. First-degree murder carries a possible sentence of life in prison. Rittenhouse's lawyer has admitted that he carried out the shooting, but said the boy acted in self-defense after being attacked by protesters. 'From my standpoint, its important that the message be clear to other Americans who are attacked that there will be legal resources available in the event false charges are brought against them,' attorney Lin Wood said. Demonstrators had taken to the streets of Kenosha following the shooting of unarmed black man Jacob Blake, which was caught on camera. Blake could be seen walking to his car as officers pointed their gun at him, before being shot seven times in the back as he opened the door and attempted to get in. Police have subsequently said they found a knife on the floor of the car, and that they had been called by Blake's girlfriend, who told them he didn't have permission to be on his property. Jacob Blake (pictured) was shot seven times in the back by a cop in front of his three young children Sunday. Outrage is building over the cops' response to white teen Rittenhouse compared to black man Blake Turkey to stage new naval drill, accuses France of bullying Iran Press TV Thursday, 27 August 2020 1:50 PM Turkey has announced new naval exercises near its shores after accusing France of "bullying" as escalating tensions between Ankara and Athens in the eastern Mediterranean Sea over gas and oil exploration risked turning into a military standoff. The Turkish navy said on Thursday that it would stage "gunnery exercises" at the edge of its territorial waters in the northeastern corner of the Mediterranean Sea next Tuesday and Wednesday. Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said the drills were "security related" and did not directly concern Turkey's controversial search for natural gas that has pitted it against Greece and the European Union. The Turkish defense minister on Thursday also warned: "There's neither a deadline nor a limit" to Turkish exercises and exploration in the eastern Mediterranean. "They will be carried out as much as they are needed ... We are determined to protect our rights." Turkey is involved in a dispute over oil and gas exploration rights with Greece and Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean. Earlier this month, Turkey dispatched a warship-escorted research vessel to explore for energy resources in the disputed waters of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, where Greece claims exclusive rights to the seabed. Athens responded by sending warships to the area and placing its military on alert. France, in clear signaling of support for Greece, also dispatched warships and planes for joint drills with Greek forces. Greece's European support is led by EU military powerhouse France. In recent days, Greece -- joined by France, Cyprus and Italy -- have staged its own war games. French President Emmanuel Macron has also called for EU sanctions against Ankara for "violations" of Greek and Cypriot sovereignty over their territorial waters. The EU fully backed Greece's maritime claims last week and sanctioned two Turkish energy executives, warning Ankara to "immediately" stop its oil and gas exploration activities in the eastern Mediterranean. The French intervention has particularly upset Turkey. The Turkish defense minister in a televised interview said that France had adopted bullying policies to destabilize the region. "The time for bullying is over. You have no chance to force (us) to take some actions through bullying," Akar said. "It's an empty dream to think about preventing or changing the activities of Turkey or the Turkish armed forces," he said of the French military presence in the region. Akar also urged Greece to stop hiding behind France or the EU and said: "As Turkey and the Greeks, we need to solve our problems by holding talks... We say we should talk, we say dialogue and want a solution." Turkey had paused the research activities on a request from Germany but restarted them after a maritime agreement was signed between Greece and Egypt. Ankara described that agreement as "worthless" and an attempt to keep Turkey out of the region. Mediterranean war games must stop to allow talks: Germany Germany on Thursday called for an end to naval exercises in the eastern Mediterranean Sea to allow space for talks between Greece and Turkey. "We need a diplomatic solution to this conflict... The preconditions for these talks are that these maneuvers in the eastern Mediterranean are stopped," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters in Berlin. "For sure the parties will not sit down at the table when warships are facing each other in the eastern Mediterranean." EU foreign ministers meeting in Berlin are discussing tensions in the area. Germany's intensifying efforts to calm the rhetoric and get talks on track have so far been ineffective. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country will not give up "what it deserves" in the Mediterranean Sea, warning Greece against making mistakes that would pave the way to its "ruin". Erdogan has also vowed to continue the country's energy exploration in the disputed waters despite warnings from the EU and the military buildup by France. NATO says seeks to avoid accidental clashes in East Mediterranean Later on Thursday, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) said it is looking for ways to avoid accidental clashes in the Eastern Mediterranean while supporting German diplomatic efforts to defuse the worsening dispute over energy resources there Speaking to Reuters, NATO's secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said the military alliance is considering "deconfliction" measures to prevent naval accidents in that region, but refrained from giving further details. "I am also exploring the possibilities of NATO developing mechanisms to prevent incidents and accidents, a set of deconfliction mechanisms," Stoltenberg said after meeting with European Union defense ministers. "The fact that there are so many ships, so many military capabilities in a quite limited area, that in itself is a reason for concern," he added. Stoltenberg noted that said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas' meetings during the current week in Athens and Ankara must be supported to allow Greece and Turkey to reduce tensions. "What I think is important now is to support the German efforts to try to establish a platform for dialogue, for talks between two NATO allies, Turkey and Greece," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address AUSTIN About a week after Texas Democrats took several Green Party candidates to court and had them knocked off the ballot for failing to pay candidate filing fees, state and national Republicans are taking a similar case to the state's highest civil court. The Third Court of Appeals ruled against three Green Party candidates, but in the case of the Libertarians, the court dismissed the case as moot, saying it was no longer timely because the Aug. 21 deadline to declare a candidate ineligible had passed. The Republicans petition was filed Aug. 21. This latest lawsuit filed by the Republicans names 40 Libertarian candidates, including two candidates for Texas Supreme Court, three for Texas Senate, 10 for Texas House and 25 for Congress. The high court doesnt have much time to take action: Friday was the deadline for the Secretary of State to certify candidates for the ballot. Its a last-ditch effort on their part, said Libertarian Party of Texas Chair Whitney Bilyeu. Theyre clearly desperate to do everything they can to remove voter choice at the polls to continue to have a one-party state here in Texas. The Libertarians say their candidates chose not to pay the fee for various reasons: some were taking a personal stand against a law they believe to be unconstitutional, some filed with the Secretary of State during a window of time when a judge had temporarily blocked the law, and others simply did not have the funds. The filing fees in Texas are $3,125 for the U.S. House, $1,250 for Texas Senate and $750 for Texas House. Fifty-three of 70 Libertarian candidates paid theirs, state data shows. Lawyers for the Republicans wrote that timing is of the utmost importance because each day closer to September 19 the date ballots are mailed makes relief less practical. Attorney and state Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, said in a statement about the suit: I hope the outcome is that voters are given the chance to vote for candidates who followed the law in order to be on the ballot. The cases can be traced to a 2019 law, House Bill 2504, which requires minor-party candidates to submit the same number of petitions or filing fees as major-party candidates. Separate suits seeking to overturn that law are pending. SIMILAR CASE, DIFFERENT OUTCOME: Appeals court blocks three Green Party candidates from 2020 ballot At the Texas Supreme Court, the Texas House Republican Caucus PAC and National Republican Congressional Committee, as well as 27 of their candidates and the GOP parties in Harris, Travis and Tarrant counties, are arguing that while the deadline to challenge eligibility may have passed, the deadline to challenge a candidates' application is Sept. 18, the day before any mail-in ballots are sent out. While third-party candidates have seldom taken enough votes from major party candidates to change the outcome of an election, a Hearst Newspaper analysis from last year showed, as Texas elections become more competitive, their chances of doing so have gradually been improving. The Texas Democrats succeeded in forcing the Green Party to remove candidates David Collins, who was running for Senate; Tom Wakely, who was running for the 21st Congressional District that includes portions of northern San Antonio, and Katija Kat Gruene, who was running for the Railroad Commission. The legal challenge was filed by their Democratic opponents MJ Hegar, Wendy Davis and Chrysta Castaneda, respectively. Laura Palmer, co-chair of the Green Party, said the lawsuits have in effect allowed for unfair application of the law where some third-party candidates who did not pay fees are denied a place on the ballot while others in the same situation are allowed to stay. The three Green Party candidates have already been removed from the ballot, though two others who have not paid the fees but were not named in the suit state House District 119 candidate Antonio Padron and state Senate Distict 26 candidate Julian Villareal will remain on the ballot. Elliott Scheirman, a Libertarian running against Rep. Dan Crenshaw in Houstons 2nd Congressional District, said the GOP suit is a testament to the substantial growth and support that the Libertarian Party has gained and proof that Republicans feel threatened. You might notice that they omitted targeting Libertarians from races without a Republican running, Scheirman said. This demonstrates a cherry-picked tactic to remove competition for themselves but not for Democrats The Green Party candidates had every right to be on the ballot, too, and Texans deserve a right to choose who they support. Salmerh Umar A young Hausa lady has taken to Twitter in search of her better half. The lady identified as Salmerh Umar urged Nigerians on Twitter to pray for her to get the right man on the social media space. The young lady with Twitter handle @SalmerhUmar said she cannot hide her feelings anymore. Salmerh, who is from Gombe state, shared two pictures of herself on the microblogging site to let people know how beautiful she is. The young lady obviously wants to experience the sweetness of marriage and leave the world of spinsterhood. Her post has generated reactions from tweeps who took to the comment section to share their thoughts. Some of those that commented indicated their readiness to take the young lady as their bride, saying they are also single. Someone even dropped his number in the comment section, asking her to contact him. Another Twitter user asked her to check attitude very well as she as to fine to be single. See her tweet below: Britain's Got Talent star Alesha Dixon has warned that 'there will be arguments' among her fellow judges as they prepare to whittle down the acts. In a first look at a one-off special ahead of the semi-finals, Alesha, Simon Cowell, David Walliams and Amanda Holden reunite, where they have the tough job of cutting 200 acts down to just 40. And as ever at this stage, things will do doubt get tense as the judges battle it out to put their favourites through, with Alesha, 41, declaring 'let the fight begin!' Drama pending: Britain's Got Talent star Alesha Dixon has warned that 'there will be arguments' among her fellow judges as they prepare to whittle down the acts The special show, Britain's Got Talent: The Finalists Revealed, is set to air on Sunday night and will show the judges making their final decisions. This will be followed by the first of five pre-recorded live semi-finals, kicking off on Saturday 5th September. Filmed back in February, the clip sees the four judges dressed to the nines as they come together to make the huge decision ahead of the semi-finals. They're back: In a first look at a one-off special ahead of the semi-finals, Alesha, Simon Cowell, David Walliams and Amanda Holden reunite, where they have the tough job of cutting 200 acts down to just 40 They will be tasked with picking just one act from each show to go through to the grand final, with the viewing public then picking the other act once the show is broadcast. Expressing the importance of the choices they will make, Amanda, 49, said: 'Deliberation day for me never gets any easier. 'We're making or breaking people's dreams.' Bring it on! And as ever at this stage, things will do doubt get tense as the judges battle it out to put their favourites through, with Alesha, 41, declaring 'let the fight begin!' Big decision: Expressing the importance of the choices they will make, Amanda, 49, said: 'Deliberation day for me never gets any easier. We're making or breaking people's dreams' While Alesha predicts fireworks as she added: 'Today is a day of tough decision, it's the day I dread the most, I know for a fact that we're going to have arguments'. Teasing that she and her fellow judges will no doubt butt heads of the decision, she declared: 'It's going to be a long day, let the fight begin!' While Simon, 60, remarked at the tough competition as he noted: 'There are so many people who could win this year'. Following the semi-finals, the live final will air albeit with some big changes, most notably the absence of music mogul Simon, who is recovering after breaking his back in a shock bike accident. Reunited: The special show, Britain's Got Talent: The Finalists Revealed, is set to air on Sunday night and will show the judges making their final decisions Tough: 160 will be left disappointed as Simon, Alesha, David and Amanda whittled down 200 acts to just 40 He'll be replaced by Ashley Banjo, with he Diversity star, 31, - who won the ITV show in 2009 with his dance troupe - taking up the new role for the first semi-final. Simon told The Sun: 'Ashley will be a fantastic addition to the panel. He knows the power of the show and the responsibility of it. 'I couldn't think of a better person to sit in my seat whilst I follow doctor's orders. I hate that stupid bike.' Back to business: Alesha and David arrive ahead of their huge decision for the show Choices, choices: Filmed back in February, the clip sees the four judges dressed to the nines as they come together to make the huge decision ahead of the semi-finals Clearly excited about his judging gig Ashley added: 'As if 2020 couldn't get any crazier! Walking on that stage as a 20-year-old street dancer from East London and now I am walking out there and stepping in for the big man. 'It feels really nice, almost poetic.' Entertainment mogul Simon broke his back earlier this month after falling from his new Swind EB-01 bike at his Malibu home. Although it had been hoped that Simon might be able to appear via video call for the already delayed shows, it has now been confirmed that he will not be seen at all. Big job: They will be tasked with picking just one act from each show to go through to the grand final, with the viewing public then picking the other act once the show is broadcast Let's do this: Amanda and Simon talk as they attempt to pick which acts will go through to the semi-finals A source told The Mirror: 'It was decided that the idea of having him judge the BGT finalists via a link was just not feasible nor sensible. 'Everything is fixed, he just needs healing time. Flying halfway across the world is not part of the plan and he has agreed to put his health first.' The shows have already been hit by delays due to coronavirus restrictions. Although the audition episodes were shown in April the live finals had to be postponed. Shoes to fill: Ashley Banjo will stand in for Simon as a judge on Britain's Got Talent while he recovers from breaking his back (pictured in 2019) Replacement: Simon said: 'Ashley will be a fantastic addition to the panel. He knows the power of the show and the responsibility of it' (pictured in April) Filming has also been changed to ensure that crew and acts can remain socially distanced and there is going to be a virtual audience. Now instead of live shows, the episodes will be pre-recorded and shown in what would have been The X Factor's prime-time Saturday night slot. Britains Got Talent: The Finalists Revealed will air from 6:30pm to 8pm on ITV, followed by the first pre-recorded semi-final on Saturday 5th September at 8pm. As the COVID-19 pandemic leads our nation into the deepest economic contraction since 1947, people are left wondering how to put food on the table while 50 million jobs were lost and the price of consumer goods continues to rise. With the loss of income and the uncertainty of the future, people are turning to food pantries to make ends meet, with local food banks serving record numbers of households, and reports across the nation of people waiting in their cars for hours to pick up their food distributions. To make matters worse, the pandemic is exposing structural inequities within the food system, where corporately owned, centralized food supply chains are unable to deliver healthy food options to food insecure families during a time of crisis. Farmers of all kinds lost restaurant and wholesale accounts, and opportunities to sell directly to consumers came into question as communities grappled with the best ways to keep people safe, while ensuring access to food and protecting local economies. Suddenly, everyone in the food system, from field to fork, needed to adjust, respond and turn chaos into opportunity. Fortunately, Montanas farmers market season is going strong, providing a critical source of revenue for Montana farmers and connecting residents to fresh, local foods. At the Community Food and Agriculture Coalition, we work to ensure that all Montanans have access to local food, coordinating the Double SNAP Dollars program and supporting the development of new markets across the state. This summer, we are excited that families have the opportunity to shop at farmers markets with Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits. P-EBT is a one-time benefit available to families who lost access to free and reduced-price meals during COVID-related school closures last year. Families will receive $330 per eligible child on an EBT card that can be used to purchase food anywhere SNAP benefits are accepted including many Montana farmers markets. Whats more, P-EBT also qualifies for Double SNAP Dollars, allowing families to further leverage their dollars to help our local farmers. CFACs Double SNAP Dollars Program (DSD) matches SNAP and P-EBT benefits, dollar for dollar, up to $20 per day, at participating farmers markets across the state. Since inception in 2015, the DSD Program now serves nearly 6,000 Montanans and has recirculated over $450,000 to our local farmers, ranchers, and farmers markets. The best thing about the program is that there is no application. When a SNAP customer or P-EBT family visits a farmers market, all they need to do is visit the market booth, swipe their EBT card, and ask for the DSD match. This program is slick because farmers markets are the backbone of the local food economy. In times of food insecurity, the nations 9,000 farmers markets provide producers and consumers a direct market channel to ensure that people get fed. When paired with SNAP and P-EBT, farmers markets can function as an even greater economic stimulus for local food producers. In Montana alone, the 10% of our population that participates in SNAP receives around $12 million per month in food benefits, and this number is growing with P-EBT. Matched by Double SNAP Dollars, these programs can infuse the local food economy with millions of dollars through the 72 farmers markets across the state. To find a market near you that accepts EBT, visit www.doubledollarsmt.org. To learn more about P-EBT, visit www.montanameals.org. Ian Finch is the Food Access Programs Manager for the Community Food & Agriculture Coalition in Missoula. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Schools do not need to inform parents that a student or teacher has been sent home due to Covid-19 symptoms, and other pupils or staff do not need to be removed from class. Guidance from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) states there will be no "blanket policy" in place to test an entire class or year group should a case of Covid-19 be confirmed. Instead, a risk assessment will be carried out by public health teams to determine who is a "close contact" of a student or staff member within the school. According to the document, a class of students, and their teacher, will not automatically be deemed close contacts if a case of Covid-19 is confirmed in their classroom. This is because school settings are "varied", it states. All primary school children in a pod will likely be deemed close contacts, while in secondary schools, close contacts will be determined by proximity and interaction as well as class placement; classroom structure; common travel; social networks; and friendship groups etc. Read More Covid-19 cases increase by 93 with no new deaths reported Children deemed close-contacts following the risk assessment will be removed from school, and tested per the national guidelines. They will also be advised to restrict their movements and remain alert for symptoms. As test results remain confidential as per doctor-patient relationship, no other child, parent, family, or teacher will be informed if a child in a school is found to have Covid-19. Confirmed cases of Covid-19 will be contacted directly by contact tracing centres. However, parents should be advised at the point of testing that their childs swab test result will likely need to be shared with their school if Covid-19 is detected if it is deemed necessary for the safe management of any potential outbreak. Only details as necessary for safe onward management are shared with an agreed senior person in the school, such that appropriate public health actions can be undertaken, the HPSC says. Any actions to be taken by a school will be communicated directly by them. School management will be informed if children or staff need to be sent home, or if partial or full closures are deemed necessary. Theres a powerful force linking three of the top wineries in Niagara. Her name is Kelly Mason. She makes wine for Domaine Queylus, Honsberger Estate Winery and The Farm, bottles with cult-like followings. And many of her bottles sell out in a flashfor good reason. She makes sublime wine. To give you an idea of just how good they can be, taste the 2017 Domaine Queylus Tradition Pinot Noir, VQA Niagara Peninsula ($31.95 winery only/queylus.com). This elegant red is immediately riveting with its incredibly compelling tapestry of aroma that calls to mind roasted mushroom, smoked meat, and blackberries with a touch of soy sauce somewhere. Then, the attack is invigorating and complex, the black fruit centre threaded with all the savoury notes found on the nose within a seamless structure braced by the balanced but mouth-watering acidity that comes from cool climate Pinot Noir. Just a lovely, intricate wine for the money. Score: 94 Or sample the 2018 Honsberger Estate Cabernet Franc, VQA Creek Shores ($32.00 winery only/honsbergerestate.com). This bottle is similarly exciting with its fragrance of crushed black cherries and chalk that draws toward the saturated, velvety entry that unfolds with blackberries and plum, earth, and bittersweet chocolate. The rich centre is shot through with tart raspberry, which keeps each sip lifted and quenching. And the finish persists. Just delicious. Score: 94 The latest batch of wines from The Farm arent even available anymore. That winerys inventoryexcept bottles allocated for restaurantssells out every year in one day, despite no advertising or marketing. The winery simply opens its cellar door one day a year and sells the winean event that spread strictly through word of mouth. The date varies each year but happens in August. This year, it has already happenedhence the sold-out status. The only difference this year was bottles were ordered in advance online at thefarmwines.ca and picked up curbside. Outside of that one day, The Farm doesnt accept visitors. Kelly Mason is clearly a skilled winemakerand busy. After hours and on weekends, she is pruning and managing her own vineyard. She purchased that plot of landnow called, Mason Vineyardon Twenty Mile Bench in 2012 and grows her own Pinot Noir from 30-year-old vines. She calls it her itty bitty pinot project. The fruit from there goes into top cuvees at Domaine Queylus and The Farm. Its a project to watch. So, who is Mason? Well, shes a rising star who has spent the past 25 years or so doing everything right to put her where she is today. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Western University in 1995, an International MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University, and a viticultural degree from Brock University. She has interned at Saintsbury, a winery in Carneros, Napaone of the first wineries in California to make Pinot Noir because of its cool microclimate. In Ontario, she interned at Tawse Winery and under Sebastien Jacquey at Le Clos Jordanne winery, which specialized in premium Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. That winery closed temporarily in 2016. Jacquey was hired by John Howard who owns Megalomaniac Winery and is making wines of distinction there. From Le Clos Jordanne, she moved to Domaine Queylus where she assisted winemaker Thomas Bachelder. She worked with him for three years before he passed the baton to her in 2016. Now Bachelders wines sell out in a flash through his secret tasting room called the bat cave. While assisting at Le Clos Jordanne, Mason took on the role of winemaker at Honsberger Estate Winery. And while still an assistant at Domaine Queylus, she was hired as winemaker at The Farm. Now she makes wine at Queylus, Honsberger and The Farm, while growing her grapes at Mason vineyard. Ive always been passionate about wine. After my degree at Western, I moved to Tuscany with Magna International, the company I was working for at the time, says Mason. When I returned to Ontario to do my MBA, I brought 300 bottles of wine with me. So, there I was, a student, in this little condo with 300 bottles of wine. Her dream was to retire, buy a vineyard, and make her own wine. Then, after her MBA, she thought, why wait? Why not go straight into wine? That was in 2006. So, she headed to California and the rest is history. Shes living her dream. It always amazes me to see a bottle of my wine on the table and people drinking it, says Mason. I just cant get my head around that people are drinking something I created. Humility is always a good quality in a winemakerespecially when combined with ambition. This winemaker has both. Her red wines are quite good, but so are her whites. The 2018 Domaine Queylus Cuvee Champlain La Grande Reserve Chardonnay, VQA Niagara Peninsula ($49.95 winery only/queylus.com) will appeal to those who like restrained, minerally whites. The nose suggests crushed stones and salt with more of the same on the palate, laced with seashell, lime, grapefruit pith and a touch of raw nut. I find this wine quite charming, and the length of each sip lingers for ages. Score: 90 The 2019 Honsberger Handshake Series Sauvignon Blanc Sur Lie, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore ($32 winery only/honsbergerestate.com) starts with honeysuckle and lemon zest on the nose before sliding in with yellow plum and lemon sorbet that stream in like a flood of light. As the wine tapers toward the finish, suggestions of damp herbs and freshly baked bread tease the senses. Score: 91 The Farms 2018 Green Label Chardonnay, VQA Niagara Peninsula ($25), is sold out at the winery. But its a tasty wine with a satiny texture, pristine purity of fruit, and delicate complexity. Think ripe apricot and crisp apple flavour laced with a touch of Chantilly cream and almond. Pure refreshment. Score: 90 If you like Domaine Queylus, Honsberger or The Farm wines, this peek behind the scenes shows you the link. Theres brilliance there. And if Mason Vineyard ever gets its own label, look out. Correction - Aug. 28, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Le Clos Jordanne winery is now closed. In fact, the winery was temporarily closed in 2016 but was reopened in 2019. A common sight on American warships is a green-light laser that can be used to communicate between ships or discourage, or even temporarily blind, operators of small boats that get too close to the ship. The British were the first to equip their warships with these lasers and they were used during the 1982 Falkland Islands war against Argentine fighter pilots. Those British lasers were capable of blinding people at close range and that was one of the situations that led to a 1995 international treaty banning military use of lasers that permanently blinded people. Most nations have observed that treaty but a notable exception is China, which equips its warships with a more powerful laser that can cause permanent blindness under some conditions. These lasers have been used against American patrol aircraft in the South China Sea. These lasers were initially developed as pointing devices and became popular with teachers and anyone giving a presentation. These were the eye safe green lasers and by 2005 U.S. troops in Iraq discovered that the green laser pointer could be used to force oncoming drivers to halt. These commercial pointers had a range of about two kilometers and cost about $70. Eventually, the U.S. Army bought them in bulk and distributed them to troops manning checkpoints or base entrances. By 2006 green lasers were mounted on M-4 assault rifles (in place of the grenade launcher under the barrel) to make it easier to aim at the driver of an oncoming vehicle. The U.S. Department of Defense also began developing more capable laser devices and encouraged commercial firms to manufacture them for the military. This led to such popular devices as the LA-9/P, which became available in 2010. This device can be mounted on a rifle, or simply a rifle stock, and used by individuals. The LA-9/P weighs less than a kilogram (1.6 pounds) and is powered by three AA batteries. This device is visible up to 1,500 meters in daylight and 4,000 meters at night. At 500 meters the LA-9/P can dazzle or blind, which is especially effective against operators of small boats. The LA-9/P can be set to disable the dazzle/blinding option if it is not needed. Another 2010 laser tech development was a U.S. Army green laser dazzler device, This was used in Afghanistan, mounted in the CROWS RWS (remotely controlled gun turret) found in many hummers and most armored vehicles. The main function of the dazzler was to get vehicles approaching checkpoints at high speed to stop. Troops dont know if an approaching vehicle, especially at night, was a suicide bomber or a driver simply seeking to buzz past the check point. Without the dazzler, the only option is to open fire. This often gets civilians killed. Most Afghans dont appreciate the security aspect, and believe a driver has the right to try and zip past a checkpoint. The dazzler can also be used on hostile gunmen to ruin their aim. These new American lasers are called GLEF (Green Laser Escalation of Force). Unlike the earlier handheld green lasers GLEF, when mounted in CROWS, is easier to aim and use, and also can quickly add machine-gun fire if the dazzled target turns out to be hostile. Similar green lasers have been around for a while. In 2009 Canada bought 750 similar VWT (Visual Warning Technology) systems, for about $7,500 each. These are eye safe (they won't blind you permanently) green laser pointers mounted in a weather proof, articulated enclosure, that enables the troops to operate the laser remotely, to flash the laser light at oncoming drivers, to get them to stop at checkpoints or other locations. Unlike urban Iraq, where information gets around quickly, the Canadians in Afghanistan also launched a publicity campaign there to get people, especially those in rural areas where the troops operate, informed about the green lasers. Even if people don't get the message, they will know enough to hit the brakes if they get an eye full of green laser. Warships most often use the LA-9/P just to warn small boats away to avoid collision or to keep them outside of a security zone. On land the special laser dazzlers are used to blind the fire control systems of hostile armored vehicles. Yet the most common use of the eye-safe lasers is still as an alternative to opening fire with bullets at checkpoints or aboard ships. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh quarantined himself after two Congress MLAs who met him during the assembly session here on Friday tested positive for COVID-19. IMAGE: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh speaks during state Vidhan Sabha session, in Chandigarh, on Friday. Photograph: PTI Photo The MLAs, Nirmal Singh and Kulbir Singh Zira, got tested for the disease after the one-day monsoon session. 'Punjab chief minister @capt_amarinder has decided to go into 7-day self quarantine, as per government protocol and the advise of his doctors, after two MLAs who met him in the Vidhan Sabha tested positive for #COVID19,' tweeted Raveen Thukral, the media advisor to the chief minister. Singh and Zira represent Shutrana and Zira seats, respectively. "He (Nirmal Singh) got himself tested on August 25 and then his report was negative. Based on this report, he entered the House," Speaker Rana K P Singh said. After Singh felt feverish on Friday, he got himself tested again and was found positive for the disease, the speaker said, adding that the MLA was in the House for about 15 minutes. The speaker said his primary contacts would be traced and tested for the infection. Zira got himself tested for COVID-19 after the session, Health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said. The 12th session of the 15th Vidhan Sabha began at 11 am here with strict protocols in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The speaker had made a coronavirus negative test report mandatory for ministers, MLAs, officers and employees to attend the session. Only one member per bench was allowed to sit in the House to ensure social distancing. U.S. Blacklists Russian Entities For Chemical, Biological Weapon Research By Mike Eckel August 27, 2020 U.S. authorities have imposed "blacklist" restrictions on three Russian military and civilian scientific facilities, citing their alleged involvement in chemical and biological weapons research. Those targeted by the U.S. Commerce Department include one Russian Defense Ministry facility that is involved in Russia's attempts to develop the world's first COVID-19 vaccine. In a notice published on August 27 in the Federal Register, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security said it was blacklisting a total of 60 entities in Russia, China, France, Switzerland, and elsewhere. It said their activities were "contrary to the national-security or foreign-policy interests of the United States." Formally, the move imposes new licensing restrictions on U.S. companies that seek to do business with the blacklisted companies in Russia or elsewhere. The measures are considered less stringent than other U.S. sanction programs, such as better-known U.S. Treasury Department financial sanctions. Still, it is expected to have a dissuasive effect on firms that might otherwise do future business with the blacklisted entities. The blacklisted Russian facilities include the Defense Ministry's 33rd Central Research and Testing Institute, near Saratov, as well as the 48th Central Research Institute and its facilities in Yekaterinburg and Sergiyev Posad. Russian officials have said the 48th Central Research Institute has been collaborating with another civilian facility, the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, in Russia's push to develop a coronavirus vaccine. The 48th Central Research Institute was where two groups of volunteers, including Russian enlisted personnel, received the first tests on humans in June under the Russian vaccine development program. Earlier this month, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had approved a vaccine. Putin claimed the vaccine was safe and effective. But Russia has not publicly released any data about its limited human tests. Medical experts have expressed skepticism and concern about Putin's claims because the Russian vaccine has not gone through crucial Phase III testing upon thousands of people -- a necessary step to ensure it is safe and effective for wide distribution. The Gamaleya National Research Center was not blacklisted. Russia's blacklisted civilian facility is the State Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology. During the Soviet era, it was responsible for developing the military-grade nerve agent known as Novichok. Novichok was identified by British authorities as the toxin used in the 2018 near-fatal poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. Two Russian military intelligence agents were charged by British law enforcement with committing the attack. A British woman also died after she accidentally exposed herself to the toxin used in the poisoning attack against the Skripals. In a statement posted on the Facebook page of the Russian Embassy in Washington, Ambassador Anatoly Antonov rejected the allegations in the Commerce Department's blacklist announcement. "It seems confusing to us. Especially since no evidence were presented. Familiar vague terms are used such as 'there is a reasonable cause to believe,'" Antonov said. "We would like to receive some clarifications from our colleagues regarding these groundless allegations." Both the United States and Russia previously had some of the world's largest chemical-weapons arsenals, and both have been gradually destroying their remaining stocks, though experts say the process has been slow. The other foreign companies blacklisted by the Commerce Department are alleged to be involved in activities like illegally shipping U.S. aircraft parts to Iran, performing "unsafeguarded nuclear activities," and helping China build island structures in order to make territorial claims over disputed waters of the South China Sea. With reporting by Current Time Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-blacklists -russian-entities-for-chemical-biological -weapon-research/30805564.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 Mary Vevang Anderson never thought she'd feel unsafe in Minnetonka, an affluent suburb less than 10 miles from Minneapolis. But ever since fires and looting destroyed hundreds of businesses in Minneapolis in the days after the killing of George Floyd, the 54-year-old mother of three has been frustrated. While she supports the protests - her 23-year-old son participated in them - she's upset by the uptick in shootings in areas of the city she used to love to visit, and afraid the violent crime could spill over into her suburb. She's horrified by calls to defund the police. "It's really a horrible thing to see what's happened," she said. "Lawlessness is everywhere." Things have gotten so bad, she said, that her neighbor is selling her house and moving up north, further away from the city. Vevang Anderson is among the suburban women President Donald Trump is targeting with his law-and-order message at the Republican National Convention this week, through tweets directed at the "Suburban Housewives of America" and in television campaign ads falsely suggesting Joe Biden supports defunding law enforcement. He's counting on them to help him flip competitive states like Minnesota, which he narrowly lost in 2016, and which Vice President Mike Pence will visit Friday. "In some suburbs, [women] make the critical margin of difference," said Kathryn Pearson, an associate professor of political science at the University of Minnesota. "If it were just up to men voting, Trump would have won in Minnesota." That's why the GOP has focused so heavily on these women this week. On Wednesday night, outgoing White House counselor Kellyanne Conway praised Trump for elevating women to senior positions and helping her "shatter a barrier in the world of politics." Earlier in the week, a video montage highlighted mothers among White House staffers, and Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel referred to herself as a "a real housewife." The convention's speakers have also sought to portray Trump as a defender of law enforcement and to link Democrats to violence in major cities. "You won't be safe in Joe Biden's America," Pence said Wednesday night. But when Trump speaks on Thursday night, Vevang Anderson won't be watching. Despite supporting him as a candidate four years ago, the small-business owner and longtime conservative can't bring herself to vote for him again - or to even watch him on TV. "Trump's lost his moral authority with me. He's so bombastic and he's cried wolf so many times," said Vevang Anderson, who owns a salon that has struggled to stay afloat amid the pandemic. "I don't even know at this point what he can do to regain my confidence in him." While she believes Joe Biden is a "good man," she's not set on voting for him either. She worries that he's simply a figurehead being propped up by the Democratic establishment, a party that contradicts so many of her conservative, small-government views. "I have turned my TV completely off," said Vevang Anderson, who used to be heavily engaged in politics, and who majored in American studies in college. "I have not even seen Biden speak. I don't even know how to pronounce his running mate's name. I just can't take in what's happening in the news." Not everyone feels so disengaged. GOP organizers are aggressively campaigning in these districts, adamant that a "silent majority" of conservative women is energized to vote for Trump. A hot-pink "Women for Trump" bus drew crowds on a tour through the state last week and made stops in several suburban towns. Several conservative women in the Twin Cities suburbs said they did not know any friends or neighbors who voted for Trump in 2016 who weren't planning on voting for him again. "Everyone I know who was on the fence does not regret it," said Wendy Eckman, 71, of Minnetonka. Her friend Holly Barnhill Hernandez said Trump wasn't her first choice in 2016, but she did end up voting for him, and looks forward to supporting him again. Barnhill Hernandez, who is president of the Northwest Metro Republican Women group, has been pleased by the list of conservative judges Trump has nominated, and how he has kept his promises and overcome "incredible obstacles," such as "the Russia collusion." "He stands up for people and fights back, and that's kind of refreshing," said Barnhill Hernandez, a 61-year-old teacher who lives in the suburb of Plymouth. "I don't see anyone who has shifted away from him." In fact, she said she's noticed increased interest in the organization; at an event last week, 10 new people showed up, she said. But it's hard for her to gauge how many of her neighbors actually support him. Minnesotan neighbors, particularly in suburban areas, tend to keep their politics to themselves, and Barnhill Hernandez and other Trump supporters she knows don't feel comfortable putting signs in their yards or bumper stickers on their cars, she said. The only lawn signs she sees in her suburb are for Democratic candidates and Black Lives Matter. Suburban districts have moved left in recent years, in Minnesota and across the country. Women in the Minneapolis suburbs turned out in large numbers in 2018 to unseat two Republican incumbents, including in Vevang Anderson's district. Polling suggests that trend may continue. Nationwide, women now favor Democratic nominee Joe Biden by 23 percent, according to an average of national polls since late June. And according to a mid-July Washington Post-ABC poll, women trusted Biden over Trump on questions of "crime and safety" by a 23-point margin, 57 percent to 34 percent. In Minnesota, a Star Tribune poll in May found that 63 percent of women statewide disapproved of Trump's performance as president, an 8 percent rise from a February poll in his disapproval rating among women in the state. The increase was even bigger in the suburbs, according to the Star Tribune. But Biden's ability to capture the state will depend on women in these suburbs turning out to vote, said David Schultz, a political science professor at Hamline University. "It's less likely that they'll vote Republican and Trump, but they might just say, 'I'm not going to vote,'" Schultz said of women in these suburbs. "If he can't bring them over, he can at least try to push them out." Democrats in the state have crafted their own message on law and order, one that they hope will energize suburban voters. When a Republican state lawmaker in June demanded that Minnesota's governor apologize to "moms out in the suburbs scared to death" about the protests, state Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, a Democrat, responded with a hashtag that took off on Twitter: #IAmASuburbanMom." "I am a suburban mom. I don't need an apology," she tweeted. "I need the GOP Senate to support meaningful legislation to address systemic racism and police brutality." State Sen. Melisa Franzen, who became the first Democrat elected to her seat in 2012, said she believes women in her suburban district won't fall for Trump's "scare tactics," particularly when it comes to public safety. "I just don't think it's going to work," she said. "We're not going to put up with it." The suburbs around Minneapolis have grown increasingly diverse as well, which is reflected in their elected officials. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat, the first Somali American in Congress, represents a nearby district. For her part, Vevang Anderson is ready for a broader message. What she needs is more leadership in Washington, she said, especially for business owners like her who are struggling in the pandemic. She owns a salon and a co-owns a spa, and both of the businesses were shut down for 10 weeks. Even now, business is down about 20 percent, and her employees have occasionally had to quarantine while waiting for test results. She needs faster and more widespread testing, she said, and "some kind of confidence in the marketplace." In reading over the news coverage of the RNC, she was shocked that the pandemic was rarely discussed. And watching the news out of Kenosha, Wis., she worried about how Trump would respond to the civil unrest. She feared he might once again take "a threatening approach that just ratchets up the violence." She wishes Trump would put aside his Twitter account, pledge "not to be petty" and focus on reviving the economy, she said. "I'm just resigned to the fact that he's not going to be that guy," she said. "He's got a long way to go to convince me to believe him again." Yves here. Because ordinary people have accepted so much abuse at the hands of the top 10% and their manager-stooges, the powers that be assume that the public at large will continue to consume their shit sandwiches. But the lack of meaningful resistance in the wake of the financial crisis doesnt translate into continued passivity now. First, the rich took proportionately greater hits initially, although they then quickly wound up better situated due to the recovery in incomes and asset values disproportionately favoring the better off. Second, the big way the middle and lower middle classes took hits was via the loss of home equity, through 9 million foreclosures than in most cases could have been forestalled through modifications that would also have left investors better off than foreclosure. It was the mortgage servicers, who were paid to foreclose but not to modify loans, who were in charge of this destructive dynamic. The Obama Administration wasnt willing to break a sweat to force them to behave, despite having ginormous legal leverage thanks to widespread failure to transfer mortgages properly to securitization trusts, a problem that for ~80% of the mortgage securitizations, could not be remedied absent having a time machine. One reason this large-scale wealth stripping didnt lead to a revolt was the afflicted homeowners were isolated. Most had fallen into foreclosure due to suffering a crisis-induced income hit. Under our value system of borrowers are guilty if they cant pay even when other borrowers who couldnt pay, namely banks, got ginormous bailouts with no executive or board member suffering, the borrowers were stigmatized. Many also were ashamed and didnt know or find people in similar situations until it was too late to do much about their situation. Another factor that kept a possible resistance in check was that food stamp use under the Obama Administration. Confirming that the recovery left a lot of citizens behind, the number receiving food stamps rose though 2013 and remained elevated for the rest of his term. Oh, and that data obscures the fact that the Obama Administration cut food stamp benefits by $8.7 billion in 2014, with 850,000 suffering reductions of an average of $90 a month. So keeping food in citizens bellies looks to have gone a considerable way towards keeping people struggling to survive enough afloat to keep them from taking desperate measures. The initial astute Republican move of generous unemployment payments and some additional income, along with a freeze on evictions, helped preserve most peoples living circumstances during the Covid shock. That is now coming unraveled with no second stimulus in the offing, any further eviction halts being up to states and cities, and the Trump Administration having shred the fallback safety net, food stamps. See our related post today on how consumers are already spending less on groceries, an indicator of widespread stress. And now theres a focus for a long-simmering, well-warranted sense among large swathes of the public of having been exploited, with far too many people in charge either profiting directly or refusing to intervene because it might impair their social and financial status. Police abuse, and the unwillingness of the well-off to impose curbs or reconstitute particularly rancid police forces is serving as a focus for anxiety and anger on many fronts. And its not as if white people are naive about their risk exposure, given more and more video evidence of police roughing up journalists and clearly harmless old people deemed to be too close to protests. By Thomas Neuburger. Originally published at DownWithTyranny! You know in your hearts that only a #SixtiesStyleMovement will address this situation. You know in your hearts that electeds are impotent or bought, and elections alone will never be enough. You know in your hearts that the day of Real Resistance is coming. How about now? https://t.co/eRo0V3Nnna Thomas Neuburgers errant politics (@Gaius_Publius) August 26, 2020 A general strike counts as real resistance. Yours truly Yours truly The next horrific murders are upon us. In the bland reporting of the New York Times: Arrest in Overnight Shooting During Unrest in Kenosha, Wis. An Illinois resident was arrested in violence that occurred during a confrontation between demonstrators and a group of men armed with guns as protests continued over the police shooting of Jacob Blake. KENOSHA, Wis. An Illinois resident has been arrested in connection to a shooting that left two people dead and another person wounded during a chaotic night of demonstrations over the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., officials said on Wednesday. A court document from Lake County, Ill., shows that Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, was arrested in Antioch, Ill., on Wednesday morning after being charged with first degree intentional homicide in the fatal shooting that took place only hours earlier. (emphasis added) The Times report portrays the event as chaotic, and its filled with details like this: Tuesday evening was spent in a shifting, hourslong standoff between the police and protesters. Protesters assembled outside a newly erected metal barrier protecting the courthouse and threw water bottles, rocks and fireworks at the police. As well see, the event was a lot less chaotic than it was reported to be. The order behind the chaos was cops appearing to work with the right-wing thugs to suppress the actual protesters. Kyle Rittenhouse This brings us to the shooter, Kyle Rittenhouse. According to the Huffington Post report of the incident, Police are investigating a group of men with guns who were lined up outside businesses a few blocks down the road from the courthouse, according to The New York Times. Ostensibly, the vigilantes were there to protect businesses from fires that had been set during previous nights of demonstrations. Though Rittenhouses connection to vigilante groups is unclear, he was quoted before the shooting saying that he considers himself a militiaman and was willing to use his rifle to protect people and property. And Rittenhouse was very pro-cop. A now-deleted Facebook page that appears to belong to Rittenhouse featured almost exclusively pro-police imagery and photos of the suspect carrying guns. At some point, he changed his profile image to a Blue Lives Matter sign and held a fundraiser for a police nonprofit called Humanizing The Badge. Kyle Rittenhouse in Kenosha (source) Whats missing from these reports, both of which whitewash police actions, are details like these: Cell phone video shows Kenosha Wisconsin police officers in an military vehicle telling armed White militia members they appreciate them being there and giving them bottled water; while in the background cops can be heard ordering protestors to disperse. pic.twitter.com/73SsfCUYWj Rebecca Kavanagh (@DrRJKavanagh) August 26, 2020 and these (click through to the video to hear, cops told us, were going to push them down by you, cause you can deal with them): Here, a militia member says cops told them they would push the protestors towards them because they knew they could handle them. pic.twitter.com/S6lzmJfOJe Rebecca Kavanagh (@DrRJKavanagh) August 26, 2020 and these: Heard with my own ears on the scanner in Kenosha last night: I cant tell if those are protestors or our guys says a cop as a group of 100 or so people was moving from one area to another. He was referring to the armed vigilantes our guys of course. #DefundThePolice The Bern Report (@TheBernReport) August 26, 2020 Even Rashida Tlaib understands what happened: Look at him roaming freely while protestors are met with military war like equipment and tear gas. https://t.co/Va7wkf9X8l Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) August 26, 2020 There are more reports like these, which, of course, will either go viral, or go unreported by the media most people read and listen to. Systemic Change by Non-Systemic Means Its more than obvious by now that cops are siding with right-wing thugs, using them even, against whoever stands with the protesters. When will this end? It will never end by ordinary, electoral means until those elections are backed by the kind of organized, 1960s-style movement Mario Savio, leader of the Berkeley Free Speech Movement, speaks to assembled students on December 7, 1964.(AP Photo / Robert W. Klein) that adds the critical mass of the people, chaotic and unruly, to the orderly exercise of power by elected officials who, frankly, with cops, also want the real left to lose The nation may not be to that point yet, but its not far away. Thats why big-media outlets like the New York Times want to paint these protests, all of them, as either chaotic or left-wing-violent only, and why they hide the state violence that incites and encourages those violent responses. A real left-wing movement a 1960s-style revolt, a real rising of the people is the stuff of nightmares for editors at the Times, and many of its readers as well. Yet what will make a change that makes real change? Electing more Democrats? If theyre the right ones, yes, thats needed but not enough. Will the eighteenth protest after the thirtieth police murder of the hundredth or two-hundredth victim, black, brown or poor, of state-enforced austerity and racism will that finally make a difference? Weve seen this movie. Trayvon Martin was murdered in 2012. How are things different today? What has America done since that sad day to make lives better and safer for the victims of our police and the victims of the economic system that creates police victims? Ill say it again: You know in your hearts that the day of Real Resistance is coming. How about now? A strike counts as resistance; AOC understands that. A general strikecounts as real resistance. Will it take a general strike to make real change? If so, when should that start? A selfie Temple University professor Devon Powers posted on Twitter her first day returning to campus, after months of it being closed due to the coronavirus. Read more On Monday, I taught in a physical classroom for the first time since March. Everything felt new. New students, of course, but also a new classroom and format, new technologies and protocols, a plethora of new rules. So much was new that I brought printed notes to make sure I remembered everything I had to remind students about something I havent done since my rookie teaching days more than a dozen years ago. My employer, Temple University, also spent the summer preparing for students return something of a rookie, too, learning the ropes. COVID-19 has upended business as usual for higher education, rendering dense classrooms, crowded dormitories, and lively campuses a potential danger. Im sure the administrations planning efforts were time-consuming and stressful, and many of the people involved acted in good faith. I also cant pretend to comprehend all the political, economic, and other pressures that might have informed the decision to reopen campus despite the obvious perils. Heres what I do know: No matter how thorough Temples planning, they didnt anticipate what I experienced in my classroom this week. My years of college teaching scarcely prepared me for this. Beyond the fear and awkwardness of the COVID classroom, what surprised me most was how nourishing it felt to be there. I loved hearing my students laugh and talk to each other, felt bonded to them more deeply and faster than Ive ever experienced. The power of that humanity helps to explain why some decision-makers argued to preserve the in-person college experience this semester. Ironically, that powerful humanity may be what makes this experiment a failure as weve already seen at Michigan State, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a growing number of colleges and universities around the country. READ MORE: The angst of being an adjunct professor during COVID-19 | Opinion The return to campus rests upon what Temple calls the four pillars facial coverings, physical distancing, frequent handwashing, and health monitoring. They draw from the best practices outlined by public health officials and resonate with whats become the common sense of managing risks amid pandemic life. There is plenty to criticize about these pillars they do not involve universal testing and say nothing about our North Philadelphia neighbors, for starters. But many of us who work or attend Temple were likely already practicing them, suggesting they might be practical to implement. The problem with these guidelines, and the return centered around them, is that they expect us to avoid the very things that bring classrooms and campus to life. They depend on us behaving as perfect rational actors, rather than human beings who are vulnerable and sometimes unsure, especially after so many months of isolation. They place responsibility on us as individuals, letting the leaders and systems that fail to protect us off the hook. And they require us to evaluate encounters in black and white when, just days into this semester, I have already seen many shades of gray. Doing the right thing always sounds easy and righteous, but often doesnt fit into an interactions rhythms. Devon Powers On Monday I taught a group of anxious first years. My voice echoed in the boxy classroom; the back of the room felt far away. Do I wander back there to better engage those students, or do I stay put and keep my distance? After class, a well-meaning student with an ill-fitting mask approached me to share something sensitive they didnt want other students to hear. Do I lean in, to respect their privacy, or do I tell them to back off? Before class, two students who hadnt seen each other for months gleefully high-fived and shook hands. During class, another fiddled with his mask. Do I pause class to admonish them? Or do I let it slide these tiny lapses wont hurt anyone, right? The answers to these questions are easy in the abstract, but hard in the moment. You understand what I mean if, over the last few months, youve had a neighbor stand too close, or seen a store patron half-masked and said nothing. Doing the right thing always sounds easy and righteous, but often doesnt fit into an interactions rhythms. One misstep in a fleeting moment may not land you in the hospital, but a cascade of them, played out hundreds of times across thousands of contacts in a deeply intermingled community, could easily become an uptick of cases. Add that to the many integral parts of college life lunches, coffees, frisbee games, classes, dates, and yes, parties and things could rapidly spiral out of control. READ MORE: Caravan of Temple students, faculty, community members protest universitys reopening on move-in day After this week, I understand more deeply than before the purpose of our campus community. I get that people need it, not just economically, but emotionally and existentially. I also can see how our good intentions, old habits, and best selves could make it all unravel. Resting our communitys health on individual compliance is a way of punishing us for what makes us courteous, welcoming, and good when we hold the door for a stranger, comfort a homesick student, hug a crying friend, or reserve judgment about a colleagues questionable choices. To truly keep the community safe demands more than individual vigilance. It requires mindful leadership that can make hard decisions including closing. I hope Temple does that before its too late this semester. Reality doesnt always go according to plan. Devon Powers is an associate professor of advertising at Temple University. The Alabama National Guard has deployed about 350 military police officers from several units to Wisconsin to help respond to the civil unrest and violence there in the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake last Sunday. Gov. Kay Iveys press secretary had announced on Wednesday that the governor authorized up to 350 National Guard members for that purpose if needed. Some protests in Kenosha, Wisc., have led to violence. Today, Alabama National Guard Deputy Public Affairs Officer Jacqueline Whitt said National Guard members from the state are going to Wisconsin but said the Guard would not disclose the names of the units or departure times because of operational security. At the request of Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, National Guard members from Michigan, Alabama and Arizona, will assist Wisconsin in support of protecting life, property and the right to peacefully assemble, Whitt said in a statement. These National Guard professionals will operate under State Active Duty status through emergency management assistance agreements with Wisconsin, remain under their respective governors control, and will adhere to Wisconsin state law. The National Guard is proud to assist local and state partners in Wisconsin to ensure our fellow citizens right to safety and maintaining order. WAFF reported that members of the Huntsville National Guard unit boarded a plane bound for Wisconsin this afternoon. Authorities have charged a 17-year-old gunman for fatally shooting two protesters and wounding a third in Kenosha. LOBAMBA Finance Circular No. 2 of 2013 needs to be amended to limit the amount of fuel which Cabinet ministers can use. This was said by the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), MP Phila Buthelezi, yesterday. Presently, Cabinet ministers, including the prime minister and presiding officers, have an uncapped use of fuel from the Central Transport Administration (CTA), courtesy of the circular. revenue The chairperson said this would also help in revenue collection as the Eswatini Revenue Authority (SRA) would also be able to tax that benefit. In response, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Finance Sizakele Dlamini said they would take the committees suggestion under consideration. She highlighted that before the 10th Parliament, in particular under Finance Circular No. 1 of 2010, government only afforded ministers a certain percentage of car allowance and they would also fuel their vehicles out of their own pockets. She said, however, with the introduction of Finance Circular No.2 of 2013, the ministers were allowed to purchase vehicles not exceeding E800 000 and the fuelling costs were borne by government. Dlamini said it was now difficult to control how much the ministers spent on fuel. The PS said Finance Circular No.2 of 2019, which had been suggested by the Royal Commission, had attempted to address the issue, but the circulars implementation was suspended. Expenditure She said currently, there was no control of that expenditure, save that during the present day controlling officers were expected to inform ministers if they had exceeded their quota. She revealed that with the current fuel shortages faced by government, Cabinet ministers were only allowed to fuel their cars once per week at the CTA. It is only now that we are able to control how much fuel ministers use because of the current challenges faced by government, submitted Dlamini. She said each ministry had been allocated 30 per cent of their CTA budget to be spent on fuel. Controlling officers can only now inform the ministers if they have reached their limit, she said. The PAC chairperson further stated that Circular No. 2 of 2013 should also be amended to include the attorney general (AG). MP Buthelezi said he personally had nothing against the AG getting benefits like Cabinet ministers, but that his office should be legally included in the circular, which was solely for parliamentarians and politicians, including emabandla. He said in other jurisdictions, the AG also had similar benefits. Buthelezi said the minute which had been written by the former PS at the Ministry of Finance, Bheki Bhembe, held no water as it was not necessarily a legally binding document, which was why the AG should be included in the amended circular. A Tennessee teenager has pleaded not guilty to felony murder and other charges in the death of her 15-month-old daughter, whose disappearance prompted a search across three states. Megan Boswell, 19, wore a mask as she appeared via video briefly Friday for an arraignment in Tennessee's Sullivan County Criminal Court to plead not guilty to the 19 charges against her. It was Megan's first court appearance since a grand jury indicted her on 19 charges including the murder and the abuse of her daughter, 15-month-old Evelyn Mae Boswell, earlier this month. Megan Boswell, 19, is pictured as she makes a video appearance during her Friday hearing, when she pleaded not guilty to the 19 charges against her in her daughter's death A grand jury indicted Megan (left) on charges surrounding the disappearance and death of her 15-month-old daughter, Evelyn Boswell (right), whose body was found in March During the arraignment, prosecutors told the judge they had not decided whether to seek 'enhanced punishment' either life without parole or the death penalty for Megan, Knox News reported. If the prosecution doesn't seek enhanced punishment in her case, Megan could be sentenced to a life term with the possibility of parole after serving 51 years in prison if she's convicted of her charges. Megan's lawyer asked the court for a trial venue change, on the basis that the months-long media coverage over Evelyn's disappearance and following investigation had tainted the potential jury pool. The judge said that venue change motion would have a hearing on December 3. Evelyn was initially reported missing by Megan's father, Tommy Boswell Sr., on February 18, even though the child had not been seen since December, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said. Megan (left on July 31, right on March 2) was charged with felony murder and child abuse, although authorities have not yet revealed the manner of Evelyn's December 2019 death Megan is seen here speaking with a news station about her daughter prior to her body being found, while police still had an Amber Alert out for the girl Evelyn (pictured) was first reported missing by her grandfather, Megan's father, in February Authorities would go on to find Evelyn's remains inside a shed owed by Megan's father at the family compound in Blountville, Tennessee. Authorities pictured at the home on March 6 Megan allegedly first told state investigators that Evelyn was with the childs father, who is stationed with the US Army in Louisiana, but he did not have Evelyn, media reported. Megan then said her mother took the child to a campground in Virginia, but authorities found no sign of the girl there. Megan was then jailed for making false statements. Evelyn's remains were found inside a shed owned by Megan's father, Tommy, at the family's compound in Blountville, Tennessee, in March. It was determined that Evelyn had died in or around December 2019. Tommy has yet to reveal to the public why he hadn't reported the missing girl earlier, but denied having had any involvement in her disappearance or her death, according to reports. Authorities have not yet revealed how Evelyn died, however the grand jury presentment indicates two legal theories under which Megan is being accused of killing the girl, either as the result of a child abuse act or through child neglect, Knox News reported. Her grand jury indictment claims that Megan had abused her daughter's corpse, a charge which typically indicates a body had been moved or hidden. Last week, the Sullivan County grand jury indicted Megan on two counts of felony murder; one count each of aggravated child abuse, aggravated child neglect, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse and failure to report a death under suspicious, unusual or unnatural circumstances; and 12 counts of false reports. Bollywood actor Sonu Sood had recently requested the government to postpone JEE and NEET exams amid a pandemic. He wrote a tweet expressing how we shouldnt risk students lives during Coronavirus for exams. He tweeted saying, Its my request to (the) government of India, to postpone the #Neet/#JEE exams in the current situation of the country! In the given #COVID19 situation, we should care utmost & not risk the lives of students! #PostponeJEE_NEETinCOVID It's my request to government of India, to postpone the #Neet/#JEE exams in the current situation of the country! In the given #COVID19 situation, we should care utmost & not risk the lives of students! #PostponeJEE_NEETinCOVID@EduMinOfIndia @PMOIndia sonu sood (@SonuSood) August 25, 2020 However, the government decided to go ahead with the JEE and NEET exams amid the Coronavirus despite the whole situation miring controversy. People from across the nation, including politicians, Bollywood actors, and people in general objected for the exams to take place. But, the government has anyway decided to go ahead with the exam processes. So, Sonu Sood has now decided to help the students who are from flood-hit states to the examination center. Checkout his latest tweet here- I N C A S E #JEE_NEET doesnt get postponed. pic.twitter.com/D2iYzt4wf4 sonu sood (@SonuSood) August 28, 2020 Earlier today, Sonu Sood also re-tweeted a students video, who expressed that he doesnt have any funds to travel for the examination amid the Coronavirus. The actor wrote that he is willing to help all those students who are stuck in flood-hit regions of Bihar, Assam, and Gujarat. Incase #JEE_NEET happens: To all the students who will be appearing & are struck in flood hit areas of Bihar, Assam & Gujrat. Do let me know ur areas of travel. Trying to make ur travel arrangements to reach ur examination centres. No one should miss their exam bec of resources https://t.co/fv5GqjOq90 sonu sood (@SonuSood) August 28, 2020 His posts have been going viral on the internet and he has once again acted as a messiah for many in the time of difficulty. Heres what the people on the internet have to say about his stance- Lge rho sonu sir Ankush Parihar (@Ankush_Parihar5) August 28, 2020 Apna neta kaisa ho ,sono sood jaisa hoon. Kartik Rao (@itsmeK_rao) August 28, 2020 Yes good idea Smile (@Smile67260946) August 28, 2020 @DrRPNishank @narendramodi Jo govt ko Karna chahiye wo @SonuSood enko Karna pd rha h ADIKARAH (@Adikarahh) August 28, 2020 Good job bhai, Sandeep Pawar (@Sandeep19872472) August 28, 2020 Wonderful! Sonu Sir. Rustic Indian traveller (@TravellerRustic) August 28, 2020 Sir apse Jada mhan koi ni hoga is duniya me salute for you sir from my heart Divyansh Rathore (@Divyans07076721) August 28, 2020 Sure My Real Hero @SonuSood ... Your best wishes always all students... You are God on Earth... Always be Happy... God Bless you... Mukesh Soni (@mukeshsoni_skr) August 28, 2020 Sonu Sood is doing what the government should have done and now people will always look up to him as a real life superhero. Ms. Kilgour has an impressive 36-year career in community banking. She joined MainStreet Bank in 2017 and prior to that she served as Senior Vice-President of Operations for Middleburg Bank for 22 years, where she reduced costs, improved processes, and built a high-performing operations team. Lisa was also Chief Operating Officer at Middletown Valley Bank and Vice-President of Operations for Farmers & Merchants Bank. Lisa is a proven leader and active participant in the community. Currently, she serves as the Chair of Virginia 1st and the Jack Henry & Associates Silverlake National Board. As a member of the Bank's leadership team, Lisa makes valuable contributions to the organization's growth by identifying business needs and presenting strategic solutions to streamline operations, launch products, deploy new technologies, and improve bottom-line performance. She has an in-depth knowledge of system capabilities and a clear understanding of the end-user experience. Lisa attended Virginia Tech as a computer science major. She is also a graduate of the VBA Executive Leadership Program, BAI Graduate School of Banking for Operations & Technology, and Leadership Loudoun. "MainStreet Bank has always been a top performer in the community banking industry in implementing leading edge technology," said Lisa Kilgour, Chief Operating Officer of MainStreet Bank. "I am honored to help lead this innovation and deploy new technologies that improve our processes and enable us to deliver the best possible financial products and services to our clients." Executive Vice President Jacob Hutchinson will continue his role as Chief Operating Officer for the holding company and has transitioned to the role of Chief Risk Officer for the Bank. "This change allows us to centralize all areas of risk under one group," said Jacob Hutchinson, EVP and COO of MainStreet Bancshares, Inc. and CRO of MainStreet Bank. "I look forward to further enhancing our dynamic approach to risk management." "Lisa is well-positioned to keep MainStreet Bank on the leading edge of financial technology," said Jeff W. Dick, Chairman & CEO of MainStreet Bancshares, Inc. and MainStreet Bank. "With Lisa leading the Bank's operations and technology and Jacob focused on risk management, we have a very powerful team controlling the Bank's infrastructure." About MainStreet Bank: MainStreet Bank operates seven branches in Herndon, Fairfax, Fairfax City, McLean, Leesburg, Clarendon and Washington, D.C. In addition, MainStreet Bank has 55,000 free ATMs and a fully integrated online and mobile banking solution. The Bank is not restricted by a conventional branching system, as it can offer business customers the ability to Put Our Bank in Your Office. With robust and easy-to-use online business banking technology, MainStreet has "put our bank" in over 1,000 businesses in the metropolitan area. MainStreet Bank has a full complement of payment system services for third party payment providers with nationally known market leaders on-staff ready to help payment providers create a solution perfect for their needs. MainStreet Bank has a robust line of business and professional lending products, including government contracting lines of credit, commercial lines and term loans, residential and commercial construction, and commercial real estate. MainStreet also works with the SBA to offer 7A and 504 lending solutions. From sophisticated cash management to enhanced mobile banking and instant-issue Debit Cards, MainStreet Bank is always looking for ways to improve its customer experience. MainStreet Bank was the first community bank in the Washington, DC metropolitan area to offer a full online business banking solution. MainStreet Bank was also the first bank headquartered in the Commonwealth of Virginia to offer CDARS a solution that provides multi-million-dollar FDIC insurance. Further information on the Bank can be obtained by visiting its website at mstreetbank.com. This release contains forward-looking statements, including our expectations with respect to future events that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "expect," "plan," "project," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "pursuant," "target," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations include: fluctuation in market rates of interest and loan and deposit pricing, adverse changes in the overall national economy as well as adverse economic conditions in our specific market areas, maintenance and development of well-established and valued client relationships and referral source relationships, and acquisition or loss of key production personnel. Contact: Brian Baker (571) 375-1358 SOURCE MainStreet Bancshares, Inc. Related Links https://www.mstreetbank.com Advertisement Seven new coronavirus hotspots in the north of England and Wales have been flagged up today by a Covid-19 symptom-tracking app that uses data from more than three million people. King's College London researchers highlighted South Tyneside, Oldham, Redcar & Cleveland, Wirral, Bradford, Barnsley and Denbighshire as potential areas of concern. This adds to Blackpool, Halton and Manchester which remain on the list from last week. In promising news for areas already under local lockdown rules, public health bosses today said that Trafford in Greater Manchester and Burnley and Hyndburn in Lancashire are expected to be released from tough restrictions that banned residents from meeting other households in the comfort of their own home or garden. It comes as data from the Office for National Statistics suggest England's coronavirus outbreak has slowed down for a third week in a row, with experts estimating there are now just 2,200 new cases per day. Some 28,200 people in England are thought to be infected at any one time - 0.05 per cent of the population or one in every 1,900 people. This total is an increase from last week's estimate of 24,600 but the number of new daily cases dropped from 2,400. Similar data produced by the King's College app also shows signs of the outbreak shrinking, estimating there are 1,200 new cases per day in the UK. The figure has barely changed from last week. The promising statistics are welcome and come as the Department of Health's official testing programme has shown worrying surges in new cases in recent weeks. Yesterday 1,522 cases were confirmed - the highest daily figure in 11 weeks. Data from the Covid Symptom Tracker app, run by King's College London, has picked out seven new potential coronavirus hotspots using local testing data and self-reported symptoms from some of its 3.9million users in the UK (Pictured: Areas highlighted in red have been added to the hotspot list this week, while those in grey were already on the list and remain high-risk areas) Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that there was a spike in new daily cases of Covid-19 in July, after pubs, restaurants and sports centres reopened, but this now appears to have levelled off and be declining. Today's estimate is that 2,200 people catch the virus each day in England TRAFFORD, BURNLEY AND HYNDBURN 'WILL BE RELEASED FROM NORTH-WEST LOCKDOWN' Trafford, Burnley and Hyndburn will be released from tough North West lockdown measures, it was claimed today. Everyone living in Greater Manchester was banned from meeting other households in the comfort of their own home or garden under a desperate attempt to tackle rising rates of Covid-19. But a local health chief today confirmed that Trafford, home to 236,000 people, will be exempt from the rules as of next week. Restrictions on mixing between different households in Burnley and Hyndburn will also be lifted, bosses claimed. Number 10 has yet to confirm the moves but ministers are set to officially announce an update to local lockdown rules this afternoon. Health Secretary Matt Hancock chaired a 'Gold Command' meeting yesterday to discuss further action in badly-hit areas. Millions of people in the North West and the Midlands are currently affected by rules designed to control the spread of coronavirus. It comes amid fears Birmingham could be the next place to face tighter lockdown rules, after the government added it to the official watchlist last week because of a spike in cases. Local health bosses warned residents of the city that 'what we do in the next seven days will decide if we go into lockdown or not'. Officials in the Midlands city, home to 1.1million people, were this week given extra powers to shut down bars and restaurants that don't make themselves Covid-safe, and will also be able to close parks and cancel weddings. Advertisement In other British coronavirus news: Trafford in Greater Manchester, and Burnley and Hyndburn in Lancashire, are expected to be released from local lockdown rules after a meeting of the Joint Biosecurity Centre yesterday; Britain is preparing to fast-track a coronavirus vaccine to get it approved without the EU's say-so, and will train more doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, physiotherapists and even vets to administer the jabs; A poll of more than 14,000 adults in 14 countries found that people believe the UK and the US have handled the coronavirus pandemic worse than any other developed country; Prime Minister Boris Johnson is stepping up his efforts to get people back into their offices and bring an end to working from home as he prepares a PR campaign to revive struggling town and city centres; Research published overnight revealed that not a single previously-healthy child has died of Covid-19 in Britain, and that all the six youngsters who did die were severely ill before they caught the virus. Today's weekly report from the Office for National Statistics maintains that the outbreak in England is rumbling on at a steady pace, with cases neither rising nor falling significantly. The report said: 'There is some evidence of a small increase in the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 in July, following a low point in June, but this continues to level off... 'There is not enough evidence to say at this point that there has been a fall in incidence in the most recent week, therefore we continue to report that the incidence rate for England remains unchanged.' It statistics show a mixed picture, with the total number of people thought to be infected increasing from last week (24,600 to 28,200) but the number of people catching it each day falling (2,400 to 2,200). The data always operates within a range of possibility and this week's true figure for daily new cases could be anywhere between 1,100 and 3,800, the ONS admits, while total infections could be 20,000 to 38,000. ONS's report maintains, as it has throughout the outbreak, that there is no measurable difference in infection rates across different regions of England. It shows that there appear to be more people testing positive in the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London than in other regions, but the differences are not statistically significant. In this respect the ONS's report is at odds with other sources. All of the local lockdown measures imposed by Government are in the Midlands, North of England or Scotland. And on an official watchlist published by Public Health England, only three out of 28 at-risk areas are south of the Midlands - Luton, Swindon and Slough. This chimes with the watchlist compiled by the Covid Symptom Tracker team, which contains only areas in the Midlands and the North. The ONS's report admits, however, that there is 'high uncertainty' in its predictions of regional positive case rates The Manchester Evening News claimed Trafford council leader Andrew Western has confirmed that the Greater Manchester borough will be released from lockdown. Pictured, Altrincham's George Street - Altrincham is a town in the borough of Trafford Lancashires director of public health Dr Sakthi Karunanithi confirmed the news that Burnley (pictured) and Hyndburn would be removed from lockdown but warned residents that the lifting of additional restrictions 'should not lead to complacency' PHE data released last week revealed that the infection rate in Hyndburn (Pictured, Accrington, the main town in the borough) was 42.1, one of the highest rates in the country Data from the app project, which uses testing data and self-reported symptoms from more than three million people, suggests there are 1,073 new cases of coronavirus per day in England. These form the majority of the projected 1,292 daily cases across the whole UK, and mark an increase from the 1,265 (1,071 in England) estimated last week. The app data suggests 18,340 people currently have Covid-19 and that cases continue to decline - last week's total estimate was 20,299. Researchers behind the project said flat and shrinking data showed that even as local outbreaks pop up around the country, these don't seem to be spreading and impacting the national situation. Picking out hotspots of the disease, the team listed South Tyneside, Blackpool and Oldham as the worst affected areas, each with over one in 500 people infected. Data from the Covid Symptom Tracker app run by King's College London and health tech company ZOE shows that areas of the Midlands, North and Scotland appear to be worst hit by coronavirus Blackpool, and the fourth and fifth placed Halton and Manchester, appeared on last week's list but seven of the 10 worst affected were newcomers. They also included Redcar & Cleveland, Wirral, Bradford, Barnsley and Denbighshire in North Wales. Places that were on last week's list but were no longer areas of concern included Rochdale, Dundee, Nottingham, Blackburn and Salford. Project leader Professor Tim Spector said: 'Whilst we are nowhere near back to normal life yet, it appears that the measures currently in place seem to be keeping this low level of Covid within most of the population, which is good news. 'However, until we have a vaccine, we will continue to walk along this knife edge with the ever present threat of cases going up again. 'While there are higher numbers in these local outbreaks in the North of England, we arent seeing these small local outbreaks spreading more widely. 'They seem to be well controlled. While the official number of UK confirmed cases is slowly rising, this may be due to increased and more efficient testing.' King's College's estimates, produced alongside health tech company ZOE, are based on results from 8,117 swab tests between August 9 and August 22, and from self-reporting among the app's 3.9million users in Britain. The numbers of people reporting coronavirus symptoms and testing positive for the disease has tumbled since the the start of summer and now appears to be levelling off in all regions, Covid Symptom Tracker data shows GOVERNMENT DRAWS UP PLANS TO FAST-TRACK A COVID-19 JAB The Government is drawing up new rules to fast-track any coronavirus vaccine by giving it emergency approval, when one is eventually found to be safe and protect patients from the life-threatening disease. A change to current laws could allow the UK to sidestep the European Medicines Agency's red tape and get a jab rolled-out faster, without waiting for approval from the EU. And the Government is also training up an army of medical workers to be able to give out the jabs in order to speed up the process. This could include pharmacists, midwives, paramedics, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and even vets. The workforce is set to be trained by October. The race to find a vaccine for Covid-19 is hurtling ahead, with scientists around the world designing and trialling dozens of candidates in the hope that one will work and spell an end to the pandemic. One of the most promising has been developed in the UK by researchers at Oxford University and is already in large-scale human trials to test its effectiveness. Donald Trump is reportedly considering fast-tracking it for use in the US before the election this November, even though scientists haven't proven it works. When one is eventually found to be effective and safe, officials will scramble to get it to as many people as possible to avoid another devastating wave of deaths like the one Britain suffered this spring, when 40,000 infected patients died. A jab is not expected to be found until 2021 but Number 10 is drawing up emergency plans now in case of a scientific breakthrough before Christmas, officials said. Advertisement Data showing that the numbers of cases appear to be stable - although outdated in comparison to the daily testing numbers - offer some hope that the size of Britain's outbreak is not increasing. The Department of Health's daily test results show that more and more people are testing positive for the virus. Britain yesterday recorded 1,522 new Covid-19 cases in its highest daily toll for almost 11 weeks. Statistics show that the daily average number of positive tests is now 1,138, which has more than doubled since dropping to just 540 in mid-July. Hopes the crisis was finally under control rose last week after the rolling-average dropped for four days in a row but it has now risen every day since Friday, which was the last time it was in three figures. The last time the UK recorded more cases than yesterday was June 12 (1,541), which was three weeks before ministers eased lockdown rules and allowed millions of Britons to celebrate their summer with the return of pubs and restaurants. Experts warned the relaxation would inevitably trigger more cases but other scientists urged the nation to learn to live with the virus to avoid further economic catastrophe caused by blanket policies. And scientists and doctors also maintain that part of the reason the number of positive tests is rising is because the testing programme is getting better at finding people with the disease. It still does not detect everyone - if the ONS's estimate of 2,200 is correct, the 1,500 positive tests yesterday shows hundreds are still being missed - but it is feasible that more targeted testing, such as setting up extra facilities in areas with localised outbreaks, could pick up on more infections without there actually being any more nationally. Professor Rowland Kao, an epidemiologist and data scientist at the University of Edinburgh, said: 'The increase in the number of cases does need to be viewed with caution a single figure may in part be due to fluctuations. 'However, it does reflect a general trend towards larger numbers of cases. Releases of restrictions, increased numbers of imports due to people travelling overseas, and evidence of poor adherence in some cases to such restrictions that remain, all have the potential to contribute to increased transmission. 'This trend also reflects patterns seen in other European countries which released restrictions earlier and therefore saw a case resurgence earlier. 'Whether or not this represents the beginning of a second wave of a national epidemic will depend on the ability of the test and trace system to respond effectively by stamping out as many local outbreaks as possible, quickly.' One saving grace even if the numbers of cases are rising is that the death toll does not seem to be picking up pace, which experts say is because cases may now be more common among younger people who are less affected. Dr Simon Clarke, professor of cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, added: 'It should be remembered that we have not yet seen corresponding increases in hospital admissions, let alone deaths and it seems likely that wed need to see sustained increases in the daily numbers of fresh diagnoses and hospital admissions before the authorities move towards any significant tightening of restrictions on our lives. 'People need to remain conscious of the risks of infection and get tested if they have any symptoms.' Jamelle Bouie What else mattered: Trump is the unambiguous underdog in this election. His tasks is to regain just enough lost ground to eke out an Electoral College victory. This speech was an opportunity to do just that, and he failed. If you were on the fence about Trump, nothing in this rote, laundry list of a speech will likely assuage your concerns. Trump could have reintroduced himself to the public, he could have shown his commitment to solving problems like the deadly pandemic killing a thousand Americans each day. He did neither, wasting an important chance to shift the ground of the campaign. Linda Chavez Using the White House as a backdrop for a political convention was a travesty, but so was filling the audience (amid a pandemic) with federal workers like the I.C.E. agents the president pointed to during the speech. The White House should not be a prop for a reality show president. Gail Collins Trump announced his candidacy in an inappropriate place (White House lawn) to an audience that was way too squished for coronavirus summer. That was actually the only exciting part. Ross Douthat Well, the president gave a speech. It previewed some plausible lines of attack against Biden for the fall; it cited some genuine achievements; it had some predictable falsehoods and exaggerations but mostly it just went on forever, in that singsong that Trump falls into when hes reading a teleprompter and finds the prepared text a little dull. Bidens speech a week ago was tighter and better; this one was by turns OK and tedious, neither a hectoring authoritarian balcony performance nor a successful populist stemwinder. Overall the Republican convention was a more impressive piece of entertainment than what the Democrats put together, but it ended with a fizzle and a yawn. Michelle Goldberg The night Donald Trump was elected, Rachel Maddow told her shellshocked audience, Youre not dead and you havent gone to hell. Rarely have I been less sure. To watch this hateful huckster brand the White House with banners bearing his name, turning it into a stage set for American caudillismo, was a low point in the history of the presidency. It was like something out of The Man In The High Castle. It was a defilement. Nicole Hemmer Tonight revealed the central contradiction of Trumps campaign. After insisting Trumps presidency has been the most successful in history, speakers warned the nation was cracking apart, wracked by chaos and lawlessness. Even if you dont think thats Trumps fault (which: really?), he neither prevented nor fixed it. Not a great argument for a second term. Nicholas Kristof With Covid-19 recently claiming about one American life every 80 seconds, President Trump should be modeling social distancing and the wearing of masks. Instead, masks were barely visible and chairs were close, spreading the worst kind of public health messaging to the American public. Frankly, I didnt understand The Sting when it opened in 1973 and I was 10. What with the movies manifold tricks and streetwise double-crossings, I grasped only the basics. In 1930s gangland Chicago, two handsome, sneaky crooks (Paul Newman and Robert Redford) were swindling another handsome, far more sinister crook (Robert Shaw). This they do by trying to fleece him of half a million dollars in a bogus betting parlor, populated by a mob of their associates. What I liked most were the mustaches. Time passed, and by the time I had my own mustache, I was captivated by the films special craftsmanship. When The Sting came out, audiences were packing theaters to see the jarring violence of The French Connection, The Godfather and The Exorcist. By contrast The Sting was a rascally, old-fashioned caper flick, immensely inventive and dressed up in 70s Technicolor. Yet it was a smash in its own right. Recently, as I was convalescing at home (not from Covid but from a drop foot), I caught The Sting by way of tonic. (Its streaming on Peacock.) The medicine worked. Heres why: The Look MOSCOW, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Moscow Cargo LLC took part in the international online forum for the development of cargo routes NETWORK CARGO ONLINE on August 25-26. The forum was initiated by the Center for Strategic Research in Civil Aviation (CSR CA), one of the largest organizers of professional aviation events. The forum, held on the EURASIAN.NETWORK online platform, brought together leading Russian and foreign industry experts: representatives of state regulatory bodies and senior managers of airlines, airports, handling agents and other companies involved in air cargo transportation. The participants discussed a wide range of issues related to the impact of the pandemic on the aviation business, including forecasts for the restoration of air traffic on international passenger routes, the dynamics of cargo turnover and the prospects for the development of supply chains in the context of COVID-19. One of the key topics was the industry's readiness to handle temperature-sensitive cargo, primarily pharmaceuticals. According to the international agency WorldACD, medical and pharmaceutical goods were the only category of cargo for which there was an increase in air transportation volumes in the first half of 2020 compared to 2019.This trend was due to a sharp increase in demand and the need for prompt deliveries of medical goods, mainly personal protection equipment and ventilators to the regions impacted by the coronavirus. The logistics industry is now preparing to transport and store the COVID-19 vaccine. Taking into account that the expected temperature stability of the vaccine will be +2 + 8 C, the primary burden will be on the air transport industry, whose share of the global volume of cargo transportation in the cold chain system, according to experts, exceeded 70% even before the pandemic. In this regard, the participants were particularly interested in the remarks of Elena Konkina, Commercial Director of Moscow Cargo LLC, invited by the conference organizers as the keynote speaker for the panel discussion "Air cargo industry in a new reality. Development of cargo terminals". In her remarks, Ms. Konkina discussed the requirements of the market for modern terminal infrastructure and the quality of TTSP (time & temperature sensitive products) cargo handling, and how the largest cargo terminal in Russia manages to ensure compliance with all the conditions of the "cold chain" and withstand strict temporary standards for ground handling of pharmaceutical cargo. Moscow Cargo LLC is a modern high-tech cargo aviation terminal and the main handling operator of Sheremetyevo International Airport, which serves 72.5% of the airport's cargo and postal turnover. Today, the Moscow Cargo terminal has a total area of 42,300 m, designed to handle 380 thousand tons of cargo per year. It is the largest in Russia, the CIS and Eastern Europe, and has no analogues in Russia in terms of technical equipment. High-tech equipment and production facilities for handling special categories of goods allow Moscow Cargo LLC to efficiently service all types of cargo without restrictions. In 2019, the Moscow Cargo terminal handled over 275,000 tons of cargo and mail, an increase of 12%, which is significantly higher than both the national indicators and the average indicators of the global air cargo market. SOURCE Sheremetyevo International Airport Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 11:25:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Teacher Dawn Burrows gets ready for a maths class with her Year 6 pupils from Landywood Primary School in a socially distanced classroom in Staffordshire, Britain on June 8, 2020. (Photo by Jon Super/Xinhua) "It is possible to safely reopen schools, but one of the first criteria that needs to be met is that we not have an epidemic that's spiraling out of control," an epidemiologist said. BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- As a new semester is about to start, governments and schools across the globe are mulling a series of strict measures to ensure students and teachers can return to campuses safely without getting infected by coronavirus and triggering new outbreaks. "It is possible to safely reopen schools, but one of the first criteria that needs to be met is that we not have an epidemic that's spiraling out of control," U.S. think tank the Council on Foreign Relations quoted Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University, as saying. Students have a class in Hubei Shuiguohu No. 1 Middle School in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Aug. 10, 2020. (Photo by Zhao Jun/Xinhua) In China, 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. In addition, the Beijing municipal authority has issued a breakdown of school opening schedules for the coming fall semester, which staggers the school opening peak to reduce COVID-19 control pressure on campuses. A student has his temperature checked before entering the Shuangyushu No. 1 Primary School in Beijing, capital of China, June 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) According to a notice issued by the municipal leading group office for epidemic prevention and control earlier this month, all teachers, students, and staff from low-risk areas must present a green health code to be able to return to school. Those from medium-risk areas shall observe the 14-day quarantine rule and take nucleic acid tests before returning to campuses. Beijing education authorities have also asked staff and students to wear masks at school and only take them off on outdoor occasions where there are no crowds and no contacts. A sign reminding people to wear face masks is seen in front of a library on Georgetown University's main campus in Washington, D.C., the United States, July 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) In the United States, President Donald Trump has urged universities to keep reopening their campuses, despite reports of COVID-19 cluster outbreaks among students across the country. The virus is very dangerous for older people, "but for university students, the likelihood of severe illness is less than or equal to the risk of a seasonal flu," Trump was quoted by CNBC as saying. "Instead of saving lives, the decision to close universities could cost lives. It is significantly safer for students to live with other young people than to go home and spread the virus to older Americans," Trump said. Staff members greet the graduates at Burlingame High School in San Mateo county, the United States, May 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) However, some universities are rethinking their plans to reopen for the fall semester after several outbreaks emerged soon after students returned to campus. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday announced a plan to encourage outdoor instruction when schools start next month. "We want to give schools the option to do as much outdoors as they can," de Blasio said at a briefing. A woman walks past the closed Maria Montessori High School in Rome, Italy, March 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Tingting) In Europe, Italian authorities are working against the clock to finalize plans for reopening the country's schools on Sept. 14. The wearing of face masks will be mandatory for teachers and staff all the time, and for students in primary and secondary schools (from 6 to 18 years old) every time the one-meter safety distance rule cannot be observed. It will be up to each school's management to arrange classrooms in a way that guarantees proper social distancing. Families will be asked to measure the body temperature of children each morning before school starts, and to keep them at home if their temperature exceeds 37 degrees Celsius. If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, the Local Health Unit (ASL) will be in charge of the situation. Each ASL will specify the required containment measures according to the guidelines and the given school's specific conditions. The Health Ministry has launched a campaign offering free voluntary serological tests to all public and private school staff between Aug. 24 and Aug. 30. Students attend a class at a school in Yaounde, Cameroon, June 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Jean Pierre Kepseu) Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged African countries to put solid COVID-19 prevention measures in place before embarking on reopening of learning institutions. A recent survey conducted by WHO in 39 Sub-Saharan African countries indicated that schools were open fully in six countries, closed in 14 and partially open in 19 to enable students to do examinations. More than 10 African countries are planning to resume in-person learning in September, which marks the beginning of the academic year. "Schools provide a safe haven for many children in challenging circumstances to develop and thrive. We must not be blind-sided by our efforts to contain COVID-19 and end up with a lost generation," said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, adding that adequate safeguards should be in place to minimize the risk of contracting COVID-19. The UN children's fund (UNICEF) said that extended school closures have increased the vulnerability of African children to hunger, malnutrition, depression and sexual violence. Indian American Sonam Patel is shown here with her late husband Yogesh Patel, who was killed Aug. 11 evening at his motel in Cleveland, Mississippi, by a former guest who repeatedly struck him with a bottle. Sonam Patel told India-West she has been unable to perform last rites for her husband as the Bolivar County, Mississippi coroners office has not yet released the body. We are Hindus. We are not supposed to keep the body for so long, Patel said through tears. (photo courtesy of Sonam Patel) Tim Tebow supports Anti-Human Trafficking for the very first time on his 33rd birthday. Over the years, Tim Tebow states it has been a mission about which he has been extremely passionate. As a team, he expects support and unity across the world for the worldwide fight against human trafficking. "The problem is also right in our backyards. The United States is the largest consumer of this horrific industry." Apart of his efforts, Tebow created a GoFundMe as his set goal is to raise $750,000. Tebow left a message to supporters. https://www.timtebowfoundation.org/anti-human-trafficking https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/rescuethemnow "As some of you may know, I am turning 33 here pretty soon. A couple of years ago, we started something fun. In honor of my birthday, I decided to ask for help infringing on life-changing surgeries to children in the Philippines. Your support of my birthdays in previous years has been overwhelmingly humbling." Tim Tebow "This year, on my 33rd birthday, nothing would mean more to me than for you to consider joining us in the fight against Human Trafficking. We have a big mission ahead of us and some might even say that the problem is too big. Too difficult. Too overwhelming." "I know through God's blessings and your support, we can reach or even surpass our goal! When the TTF family rallies together around the burdens the Lord sets on our hearts, the impossible becomes POSSIBLE!" "There is an eternal celebration taking place." MECOSTA COUNTY, MI A man suspected of stealing a moped Thursday, Aug. 27, was killed minutes later in a crash, sheriffs deputies said. The victim, whose name was not released, was a 46-year-old Remus man. Mecosta County sheriffs deputies were responding to a 10:22 p.m. report of a stolen moped near Remus when dispatchers reported a crash. Police said that a 30-year-old Cedar Springs man, driving a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze, rear-ended the moped. The rider of the moped, which was believed to be stolen, died at the scene. The car driver was not hurt. The incident remains under investigation. Read more: Driver who plowed into woman on sidewalk gets minimum 7 years for death West Michigan woman charged with neglect after son drowned in Lake Michigan Man pinned under lawn tractor dies The following resolution was unanimously adopted by the Fifth National Congress of the Socialist Equality Party (Australia) held on August 1416, 2020. The main Congress resolution was published on Wednesday. A resolution defending Julian Asssange, Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden was posted on the WSWS yesterday. This congress resolves to build the International Youth and Students for Social Equality as a central component of the fight for the revolutionary, internationalist program of the Socialist Equality Party and the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), the world Trotskyist movement. The global breakdown of capitalism, triggered by the coronavirus, is propelling students and young people into major social and political struggles. The younger generation is coming of age politically, as the irrationality of capitalism and a society dominated by a corporate oligarchy is being witnessed in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, and the serious illness of millions more. In addition to being exposed to the dangers posed by the virus as a result of the criminally negligent policies of governments, young people are among the hardest hit victims of the social counter-revolution that is accompanying the pandemic. They are also central targets of an escalating assault on democratic rights, demonstrated by the build-up of police and military powers in every country, and are imperiled by the stepped-up imperialist war drive, including threats of a US-led war against nuclear-armed China or Russia. The reality of capitalism has already politically radicalised millions of students and young people. Over the past several years, polls internationally, in the US, Europe and Australia, have shown that the majority of young people favour socialism over capitalism. Mass global youth rallies last year, in opposition to the refusal of governments to address climate change, were attended by as many as 200,000 in Australia. More than 100,000, many of them young people, took part in Australian protests against police violence, called in solidarity with the US demonstrations triggered by the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis last May. Globally, social upheavals over the past two years, from Chile to Lebanon and the US, have been characterised by the participation of younger sections of the working class. The same social conditions that have triggered those struggles exist in Australia. Even prior to the pandemic, Australian rates of job insecurity were higher than most other advanced economies, with up to half the workforce employed on a casual or contract basis. Some 75 percent of young people in the labour market under the age of 19 were casuals, along with 42 percent of those aged between 19 and 24. Over the past six months, many of them have been thrown on the scrap heap, as governments provide only a pittance in relief to the unemployed and tens of billions of dollars to the largest corporations. Youth joblessness has reached levels not seen since the 1930s Great Depression. Last month, real rates of unemployment among the young stood at over 26 percent. If those who were underemployed or had stopped looking for work were counted, it would be a staggering 48 percent. Rates of poverty, housing insecurity and mental health issues are soaring. More is to come, with the trade unions intensifying their decades-long collaboration with governments and corporations in the destruction of jobs and wages. The unions have signalled that they will spearhead an even more sweeping restructuring of workplace conditions and industrial relations. This is aimed at shoring up corporate profits and condemning young people to a future of mass unemployment and social misery. The IYSSE must expand its base among young people in working-class suburbs, as well as in the factories, warehouse and retail sectors and the gig economy. It must fight for an understanding that the struggles of younger sections of workers can only go forward, on the basis of a turn to the entire working class, and the adoption of a socialist program, aimed at nothing less than the complete re-organisation of society to meet social needs, not private profits. The IYSSE must build a base among high school students. All of the fundamental issues confronting young people are concentrated in their plight, including the social counter-revolution, the prospect of war and the assault on democratic rights. Already, high school students, along with educators, have been treated as guinea pigs in the pandemic. They have been subjected to the dangers of coronavirus infection, as part of a reckless reopening of the schools, aimed at creating the conditions for workers to be forced back to their places of employment. An orientation must also be made to international students. The most oppressed section of the student body, they have been treated as cash cows by universities, employers and governments for decades. Now, many are stranded in Australia and are facing a social catastrophe of joblessness, homelessness and poverty, with virtually no government assistance. The turn to these layers is inseparable from the struggle in defence of public education. Universities, which have already been thoroughly corporatised, are being ever more directly subordinated to the demands of big business. Thousands of job cuts among academics and staff have been enforced by the unions since the pandemic began. The federal Liberal-National government has moved to double course fees for arts degrees and other courses in the humanities. TAFEs are being decimated, with quality vocational training a thing of the past. Instead, so-called streamlined courses are being rolled out, to provide young people with the minimal skills they require for menial, casual labour. High schools are subjected to endless funding cuts, and a standardised-testing regime inimical to genuine learning. The IYSSE, along with the SEP and the Committee for Public Education, fights for the unity of all educators, students and staff, in a common struggle for free, high-quality public education for all, from kindergarten to the tertiary level. This requires a political offensive against those parties responsible for the assault on education, including Labor, the Greens and the trade unions. The war against the social rights of the working class is being accompanied by stepped up preparations for war abroad. Australia is on the frontlines of a US-led offensive against Beijing, aimed at ensuring American imperialist hegemony in the Asia-Pacific and internationally. It is fully integrated into a massive US build up in the region and backs all of Washingtons diplomatic, political and military provocations. The IYSSE must alert students and young people to the immense dangers posed: a nuclear war that would threaten the very existence of human civilisation. It will develop its exposure of the central role being played by the universities in the war drive, including the cultivation of pro-war think tanks on campuses across the country, and the development of partnerships between the universities and US arms manufacturers, such as Lockheed Martin. The IYSSE must combat the promotion of nationalism and xenophobia, aimed at lining up young people with the plans for war. It opposes the xenophobic anti-China campaign being waged by the political and media establishment, and defends the rights of all migrants, including Chinese international students, who have been particularly targeted. In its fight against war and climate change, two of the existential dangers threatening young people, the IYSSE insists on the need for young people to act on a scientific Marxist analysis. Just as warnings of the horrors of a nuclear war have failed to halt the dramatic escalation of imperialist militarism, so appeals to capitalist politicians to enact policies that would reverse climate change have fallen on deaf ears. Both developments are systemic: they are the product of the social relations of capitalism, based on the private ownership of the means of production and the irrational division of a globally-integrated world into antagonistic nation-states, each advancing the interests of their own ruling elite. The struggle to end war and to safeguard the planet, therefore, requires the fight for socialism. This understanding is incompatible with the protest politics promoted by the pseudo-left organisations, such as Socialist Alternative and Socialist Alliance. Their claims that governments can be pressured to enact reforms are a fraud and a cover for a political establishment that is hurtling to the right on every question. The bankruptcy of a reformist perspective has been demonstrated by the ignominious end of Jeremy Corbyns claims that the British Labor Party could be transformed into an instrument for socialism, and the conclusion of Bernie Sanders fraudulent political revolution within the US Democratic Party. Both have been complicit in intensifying social attacks on the working class and the drive to war, and have endorsed openly right-wing figures as their party leaders. They were promoted, by sections of the capitalist media and the pseudo-left, to divert the leftward movement of young people behind parties of big business on the basis of phony left-populist rhetoric. The struggle against postmodernism is central to the exposure of the pseudo-left and the development of a socialist movement among students and youth. The rampant subjective idealism of postmodernism is directed against the Marxist insistence on the revolutionary role of the working class, and the possibility of revolutionary practice based on the cognition of objective social relations and the laws of history. Amid a major crisis of world capitalism, the postmodernists insist that students cannot understand the world or fight to change it. The official promotion of postmodernism has gone in hand with the cultivation of identity politics, based on race, gender and sexual orientation. Its central purpose is to divide the working class, while advancing the interests of a privileged layer of the upper-middle class in the unions, academia and the top echelons of the public sector. The role of identity politics, in seeking to divert social opposition along reactionary racial-communalist lines has been demonstrated in the US, where the Democrats and the media have asserted that protests against police violence involve a struggle between white and black people, rather than between the working class and the ruling elite. This has served to cover over the class character of state violence, which is aimed at defending social inequality and the rule of a corporate oligarchy, as well as subordinating the demonstrations to the very political forces responsible for police killings, including the Democrats. The promotion of Aboriginal nationalism in Australia, by Labor, the unions, the Greens and the media, has played the same reactionary role. In this period, which has been defined by the ICFI as the decade of socialist revolution, the IYSSE will fight to win students and young people to the revolutionary traditions of Marxism, embodied in the Russian Revolution and the fight against its Stalinist betrayal by Leon Trotsky and the Fourth International. Its task is to build a mass socialist youth movement, train students as fighters for a revolutionary perspective, and build the SEP as the party of the working class. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) arrived in person on Thursday ready to deliver arguably her most forcefuland strategicadmonishment of President Donald Trump in the general election. After briefly addressing the natural disasters imperiling the country, wildfires in California and Hurricane Laura in Louisiana and Texas, Harris set her sights on the human-generated horrors gripping the nation. On the eve of the 57th March on Washington, I will speak about the recent events in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Harris said, starting out a powerful 20-minute speech. Jacob Blake shot seven times in the back in broad daylight in front of his three young sons. Seven times in the back in broad daylight in front of his three young sons. As Vice President Biden put it, the shots fired at Mr. Blake pierced the soul of our nation. Its sickening to watch. Its all too familiar. And it must end, she said. The incident has spurred days of protests over excessive police aggression in the city. On Tuesday, violence struck again when a teenage male, who is white, allegedly shot and killed two demonstrators in the street. He was arrested on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported. Ive had conversations like this with far too many mothers and fathers, Harris said. But you will see and hear no one with more courage, more character and more moral clarity. People are rightfully angry and exhausted. And after the murders of Breonna and George and Ahmaud and so many others, its no wonder people are taking to the streets. And I support them, she went on, paying tribute to Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery by name. Trump Whitewashes His COVID-19 Record at Convention Trump, asked earlier in the day by reporters whether he had spoken to the Blake family, ignored the question. Drawing an obvious contrast to the president, who has sought to demonize protesters throughout the summer, Harris said she would support their peaceful efforts, even giving their parents a seat at the table if the Democratic ticket wins in November. We should not confuse them with those looting and committing acts of violence, including the shooter who was arrested for murder, she said. Story continues And even as we experience this reckoning with racial injustice, we must also confront another crisis, she said, shifting her focus to the COVID-19 pandemic, a topic Republicans barely acknowledged throughout their week of party television. Harris then tore into the Trump administrations response to the crisis using words that seemed designed to shred Trumps self-image, saying repeatedly not only did the president fail to protect the American people but that he was wrong from the beginning. Instead of rising to meet the most difficult moment of his presidency, Donald Trump froze. He was scared, she said. And he was petty, and vindictive. The California senator carried that theme throughout her remarks, carefully toggling between policy-oriented points that the Biden campaign has promoted for months and more sweeping personal observations about what she views as Trumps presidential deficiencies. Hes the president of the United States, and its not supposed to be about him, she said, not-so-subtly alluding to Trumps tendency to turn the countrys attention towards his own personal fixations. Staring straight into the small, socially-distanced group of reporters gathered at George Washington University, she said that the president displayed a reckless disregard for the well-being of the American people, deliberately using a line of legal jargon in a nod to her prosecutorial background. Donald Trumps incompetence is nothing new, she said. That has always been on full display, but in January of this year it became deadly. Leading up to her moment on stage, the senators address was billed as an official campaign event, which also marked her first solo anti-Trump speech after being selected as vice presidential nominee in August. The pre-written remarks reflected a similar style to what she offered in her first shared appearance with Biden in Wilmington, Delaware earlier in August, where she also heavily criticized Trumps response to coronavirus. Harris has quickly risen to become Bidens highest profile surrogate on the virtual campaign trail, and, occasionally, in person as both members of the Democratic ticket start to cautiously resume more typical election events. She has also been a relatively permanent fixture throughout the first three days of the Republican National Convention, where speakers dipped in and out of mentioning her alongside Biden as the wrong choice for the country. In turn, Harris provided commentary from the sidelines, primarily tweeting short rebuttals to factual inaccuracies that piled up during the event. On Wednesday, when Vice President Mike Pence offered his full-fledged backing of the presidents credentials and character to a maskless audience at Fort McHenry, Harris sought to present the Biden-Harris view of Trump as the opposite. Lets be clear where Trump and Pence got us: millions out of work, students across our nation who cannot go back to school, and 180,000 lives cut short by coronavirus, she wrote on Twitter. The following day, she returned to that message, adding more personal criticisms of Trump. You don't get a second chance at getting it right, Harris said. Well, President Trump, he got it wrong from the beginning. And then he got it wrong again and again. And the consequences have been catastrophic. 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. Samsung has officially begun selling its new Galaxy Note 20 series in India starting today. The company has listed various offers for its customers apart from the pre-booking orders it announced earlier this month. As for the pricing, the Galaxy Note 20 is priced at Rs 77,999 while the Note 20 Ultra is priced at Rs 1,04,999. According to Samsung, customers can effectively buy the Galaxy Note 20 for Rs 66,999 from the Samsung Shop as they would receive a voucher Rs 5000 and HDFC Bank cashback of up to Rs 6000. Similarly, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is available for an effective price of Rs 88,999 with Samsung Shop voucher worth Rs 7,000 and HDFC Bank cashback of up to Rs 9,000. Consumers will also be eligible for an upgrade bonus of Rs 5000 if they dont buy using HDFC Bank debit and credit cards and additionally, customers can get a 22.6-percent discount when they purchase Microsoft 365 Family from the Samsung Shop app. For gamers, Samsung will also offer in-game benefits of Rs 5,000 while playing Forza Street and Asphalt 9, as part of the Samsung Rewards Program. The new Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra feature a similar design and look along with the new S-Pen stylus. The Note 20 comes with a plastic finish on the back and a flat 6.7-inch 1080p AMOLED panel with a regular 60Hz refresh rate while the Note 20 Ultra comes with an edged (curved) 6.9-inch 1440p Dynamic AMOLED 2X with a 120Hz refresh rate and glass back. Samsung has also pulled the latency of the S-Pen down to just 9ms, which is impressive considering the Note 10 had a latency of 59ms. Both come with Samsungs Exynos 990 chipset and as for the memory configurations, Samsung India is only offering the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra in 256GB storage. The Note 20 comes with 8GB of RAM while the Note 20 Ultra comes with 12GB RAM as well as 5G connectivity. The bigger Note 20 Ultra packs a 4,500mAh battery while the Note 20 comes with a 4,300mAh unit. Both come with 25W fast charging, which isnt as fast as the Note 10 from last year, but there is also support for USB PD 3.0 which means consumers get a wider choice when picking a charger. You also get wireless charging with support for Qi as well as reverse wireless charging to charge your watch or earbuds. As for cameras, both come with triple cameras at the back and a single camera in the front inside the punch hole. The Note 20 Ultra comes with a primary 108-megapixel sensor with two 12-megapixel cameras, while the Note 20 has a 12-megapixel primary sensor but with a 64-megapixel telephoto camera and another 12-megapixel camera for ultra-wide shots. Both can shoot up to 8K videos while the front camera comes with a 10-megapixel sensor. You can purchase the Galaxy Note 20 comes in Mystic Blue, Mystic Bronze, and Mystic Green colours, while the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra comes in Mystic Bronze and Mystic Black colours. Read all the Latest News and Breaking News here Belarus' opposition says the poll was rigged and the EU, among others, disputes the results Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko armed with a Kalashnikov-type rifle near the Palace of Independence in Minsk, Belarus. (AP) Berlin: The European Union has agreed to impose sanctions on up to 20 senior Belarus officials suspected of election fraud and the crackdown on protesters and is likely to put President Alexander Lukashenko on its list at some point, the bloc's foreign ministers said Friday. Belarus' authoritarian president of 26 years has faced weeks of protests since he was re-elected to a sixth term on August 9 with 80 per cent of the vote. The opposition says the poll was rigged and the EU, among others, disputes the results. In the first four days of demonstrations that followed, Belarus security forces detained almost 7,000 people and injured hundreds with rubber bullets, stun grenades and clubs. At least three protesters died. Around 180 people were detained at rallies on Thursday. We have general agreement on how the list will be structured and who will be, more or less, on the list, Czech Republic Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek told reporters at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Berlin. However, the technicalities involved in legally finalizing the list won't be concluded for at least another week. Asked whether the Belarus president will be hit by a travel ban and asset freeze, Petricek said he believes that Lukashenko should be on the list. The question is whether in the first stage, or a later stage if there is no progress. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius agreed that Lukashenko should be on the list now, but he acknowledged that there may be tactical reasons to keep the Belarus leader off. Lithuania had tabled its own list of 118 officials. Some countries prefer a gradual approach that would ratchet up pressure by adding more names progressively if Lukashenko failed to enter into talks with the opposition. Greece and Cyprus are also believed to be demanding that sanctions be slapped on Turkey for what they say is its illegal energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean before the two countries agree to the measures against Belarus. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Thursday that he stands ready to send police to Belarus if protests there turn violent, but sees no such need yet. Linkevicius said that we cannot exclude this invasion, and that the EU must also send a clear warning to Russia. Oximeters & infrared thermometers have been known to flatten the COVID-19 curve in India Delhi based Tushti International Pvt. Ltd. has recently announced the launch of finger-tip pulse oximeters and infrared/Non-contact thermometers in India, after recognizing the indispensable need for the products amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The pulse oximeter & IR thermometers are based on all-digital technology and are intended for non-invasive measurement of functional oxygen saturation and body temperature respectively. Both products, now extremely useful for early detection and management of coronavirus, are cost-efficient and easy to use. Tushti has also roped in actor Sonu Sood as its brand ambassador. Tushtis offerings boast of high quality and accuracy and hold certifications from international bodies such as FDA, WHO-GMP, CE, & QAA. The brand which is completely made-in-India, oximeters, and infrared thermometers are priced at INR 1,999/- and INR 2,999/- respectively, and come with a one-year warranty. The brand aims to educate people across the country about the correct use of the products, and how they are vital in gauging and keeping a close check on ones health, especially as we remain uncertain of how the pandemic unfolds. Commenting on the launch of the products, Shobhit Agarwal, chairman-cum-managing director, Tushti International Pvt. Ltd. said, We, at Tushti, noticed that many unbranded, or even fake products with zero credibility have been flying off the shelves, whether at pharmacies or online marketplaces. With bringing 100% made-in-India oximeters and IR thermometers into the market, we aim to remedy this problem of unreliable products and serve consumers with nothing short of the best. They've been married for 21 years, but Matt Preston's wife Emma is still largely an enigma. The 55-year-old prefers to stay out of the limelight, leaving her food critic husband to lap up the attention. Matt, 56, and Emma first met back in 1993, when the former MasterChef judge moved to Australia with his ex partner. Private: They've been married for 21 years, but Matt Preston's wife, Emma, is still largely an enigma. Pictured together at the Newcombe Medal in Melbourne in December 2011 Despite this, Emma and Matt's ex are surprisingly good friends, and his former partner is even the godmother to their 19-year-old son, Jonathan. In addition to Jonathan, Matt and Emma have two more children, William, 16, and Sadie, 14. The couple started out as friends, with Emma telling The Australian Women's Weekly in September 2009 that she initially thought the flamboyant star was 'gay'. Daddy's girl: Matt and Emma share three children together, sons Jonathan, 19, and William, 16, and daughter Sadie, 14 (pictured) 'I used to pour out my heart to him about being single,' Emma told the publication. Added Matt: 'And I used to sit there listening to this, thinking, "That's amazing. She's such an incredible, beautiful woman".' Emma said she only realised Matt was straight after meeting his friends, who 'were the same - they all love their clothes and are pedantic and fussy about their food'. Rare outing: The couple started out as friends, with Emma telling The Australian Women's Weekly in September 2009 that she initially thought the flamboyant star was 'gay'. Pictured together at Derby Day in Melbourne in October 2009 She added: 'Matt is probably more feminine than most blokes... But Matt loves women and women love Matt.' Despite their decades-spanning marriage, Emma prefers to stay out of the public eye, and in an interview with TV WEEK in July 2017, Matt said he makes a point of ensuring weekends are for family only. 'Mostly it's about saying the weekends are sacrosanct and that's family time,' he said at the time. Inc Magazine revealed that NanaMacs Clothing Co. has ranked #832 on its annual Inc 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nations fastest-growing private companies. With a three-year growth of 572%, this year marks the fourth consecutive year NanaMacs has made the Inc. 5000 list including two top 500 rankings. The Inc. 5000 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. As a family owned business, here at NanaMacs, it's all about the customers. They drive our business forward through unique interactions which require constant changes to our ecommerce approach. With 40 employees and adding more all the time, we are very grateful to our employees and customers for making NanaMacs successful. Its an honor to be on the list for the fourth year in a row, #362, #592, #364, and this year at #832. The other companies that have come before us in past years have been an inspiration. It drives us to succeed year after year. Jeremy Shute, COO NanaMacs Clothing Co. was a lifelong dream turned reality in February 2013 by owner and founder Susan Shute. As a namesake to her grandparents, NanaMacs is family owned and operated in Post Falls by Susan and Jeremy Shute, who were both raised in the Northwest. In addition to this ranking, NanaMacs ranked #2 on the list for Idaho businesses, and #44 for all retail businesses on this years Inc. 5000 list. NanaMacs just completed building and moved into their new 40,000 square foot warehouse and office building in Post Falls, Idaho. They currently employ 40 full-time on location and remote warehouse associates, models, marketing specialists, photographers and customer service representatives. To keep up with sales, NanaMacs is looking to hire 13 additional key roles in the coming year. A main attribute to NanaMacs success is their very active and unique social media presence. By launching 20+ new styles daily via a live fashion show, customers can interact and ask our various sized models about the fit and styling. NanaMacs was the first boutique to host Facebook Live videos as a way to interact with customers and showcase new clothing and trends. With 8 in-house models, they are able to foster more personal relationships with customers through the brands social media channels. NanaMacs customers are wearing clothing they love, but may have never tried before in fear of judgement or peer pressure, or the inability to see how it might fit without being in a brick and mortar store. The NanaMacs VIP Facebook Group is an additional outlet where customers are not only getting styling and sizing tips from fellow NanaMacers, but it is an amazing community filled with uplifting women who are making lifelong friends. 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. 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 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 multi platform 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 on the Inc. 5000 Conference, visit http://conference.inc.com/ Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks involve disrupting computer networks by flooding them with traffic New Zealand's spy agency has been brought in to help fight back against cyberattacks that crippled the country's stock exchange for a fourth straight day on Friday. Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) intelligence agency had joined efforts to contain the threat, which market operator NZX claimed was foreign-sourced but provided no further details. "There are limits to what I can say about what action the government is taking behind the scenes due to significant security considerations," Roberts told reporters. "But we are aware of the impact this is having on the market and officials have been working with the NZX. "Ministers have asked the GCSB to assist, and the National Cyber Security Centre within the GCSB are assisting." He added that the National Security System -- which is intended to ensure a coordinated response between intelligence agencies and government during a crisis -- had been activated. "The GCSB's capability is the thing that is in play here, they know a lot about cyberattacks," he said. "We can apply that capability to a company (NZX) who obviously have a critical role." Experts have told local media that possible perpetrators include a state-sponsored incursion, online activists with an anti-capitalist agenda such as Anonymous, or a criminal enterprise seeking a ransom. Asked if NZX had received a ransom request, Robertson replied: "I'm not aware of that, that's something you'll have to take up with GCSB." The GCSB declined to comment. Regulators from the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) said the exchange had told it that investors' data had not been compromised. "In the circumstances, the FMA supports the decisions of NZX to halt trading, for periods where issuers are unable to release information to the market," the agency said. - 'Wake-up call' - Story continues Sean Duca, a Sydney-based regional chief security officer at Palo Alto Networks, said the fact that top officials had activated the crisis plan showed the seriousness of the situation. "The ramifications are not just significant to the financial sector, it's more the fact that someone's targeting something of national interest, that's part of the country's critical infrastructure," he said. Such infrastructure includes systems that provide essential services such as the electricity grid, communication networks and transport providers. "Attacks like these are a bit of a wake up call to organisations... and maybe they say OK let's do something now, Duca said. Rizwan Asghar, of Auckland University's school of computer science, said 'denial of service' (DDoS) attacks, which bombard systems with data requests or traffic, occurred regularly but were usually contained by the target's security systems. He was not aware of a critical piece of infrastructure such as NZX experiencing such comprehensive security failures over such a long period. "On day one, I wasn't surprised, these attacks are pretty common," he told AFP. "The second day I was surprised it was still happening, but having four days in a row. It's very concerning that they can't deal with this amount of attack traffic." Asghar said the source of DDoS attacks was hard to track because the culprits used vulnerable computers then wiped their activity logs, so even the owners may not know their machine had been used for illegal purposes. He said the NZX outages showed the need for governments to build proper security into critical infrastructure systems before cyberattacks occurred. "Often those things will happen and they'll say 'we need to get some security, but security is not an add-on, it's not something you can plug and play right away," he said. "We need to invest in security and take a proactive approach, not just reactive. ns/arb/dan The bank will conduct an independent internal audit of the processes for data collection. The World Bank is suspending the publication of the Doing Business ranking due to a number of irregularities found in certain reports. Read alsoZelensky enacts law to facilitate investment in Ukraine"A number of irregularities have been reported regarding changes to the data in the Doing Business 2018 and Doing Business 2020 reports, published in October 2017 and 2019. The changes in the data were inconsistent with the Doing Business methodology," the World Bank said in a statement on August 27. In this regard, the bank will conduct an independent internal audit of the processes for data collection. The data of countries that were most affected by the irregularities will be retrospectively corrected based on the findings. "The publication of the Doing Business report will be paused as we conduct our assessment," reads the statement. Doing Business ranking Tension prevailed at a village in Belagavi district bordering Maharashtra on Friday, with a section of people objecting to installation of a statue of 18th century warrior and freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna. Photograph: Shashidhar Byrappa/ANI Photo Police resorted to lathi charge to bring the situation under control. According to official sources, some admirers of Rayanna installed his statue at a road junction in Peeranwadi during the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. A section of others raised objections as the news spread, leading to tension in the area. Those objecting, largely Marathi speaking, are opposed to the location where they want to install a statue of Maratha ruler Shivaji, after whom the circle is named. They also have apprehensions that its name too may be changed in future. Realising that the situation was turning tense with some skirmish breaking out, police used batons to disperse the gathered crowd. According to officials, they also tried to calm the protesters stating that the statue has been installed without requisite permission and the issue can be dealt with legally. An first information report has been booked in this regard and action will be taken, they said. Additional forces have been called in to avoid the situation spiralling out of control. Reacting to the incident, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa in Bengaluru said, he has spoken to Belagavi deputy commissioner and other officials and has given them necessary instructions. "I have told officials that without differentiating between Kannadigas and Marathi people, the situation should be handled delicately and issues should be resolved... everything is peaceful now, everyone is cooperating. I thank the people for this.. everything will be resolved," he told reporters. Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said police have taken stringent measures to control the situation, and that he has spoken to Belagavi Police Commissioner and IG, also ADGP Law and Order is visiting the area. "All necessary police bandobast is being made..." he said, adding that the administration was taking all efforts to resolve things peacefully by taking everyone into confidence. On August 15, police thwarted attempts to install Rayanna's statue there, citing absence of permission from the authorities for the same, and also Supreme Court directions against such moves near highways. This had led to protests in different parts of Karnataka by pro-Kannada organisations, especially in Belagavi, which has a sizable Marathi-speaking population. District in-charge Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi had said on Thursday a decision to install the statue will be taken on August 29 within legal parameters and as per the guidelines of Apex Court. Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he has spoken to Belagavi District in-charge Minister, Deputy Commissioner and Police Commissioner, asking asked them to deal with the situation carefully. Alleging that the government by neglecting the Sangolli Rayanna statue issue has allowed it to become controversial, in a statement he said there can be no compromise on the issue of state's land, water, language and people who are its pride. "I also appeal to Kannada organisations and admirers of Rayanna to be patient and cooperate in resolving the issue," he added. Janata Dal-Secular leader H D Kumaraswamy hit out at a section of Marathi people for protesting against the statue of Rayanna and said there is no need for anyone else's approval for installing the statue of a great freedom fighter. In a series of tweets, he said whether it is Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti or Shiv Sena or someone else, if anyone insults Rayanna, the brave son of this land, it is like testing the patience of Kannadigas, and warned that they don't tolerate such things. "There can be no compromise on the issue of the state's land, water, language and border...," he added. Sangolli Rayanna (1798-1831) was the army chief of the erstwhile Kittur Kingdom ruled by Rani Chennamma and fought against the British who hanged him to death from a Banyan tree near Nandagad in Belagavi district in 1831. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 21:13:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BANGKOK, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Ministry of Public Health on Friday said in a press briefing that it had already suggested the Thai government to temporarily suspend labor import from Myanmar until the latter is able to stem COVID-19 cases from further outbreak. It's quite worrying as COVID-19 cases are on the rise at our neighboring country, said Sophon Iamsirithaworn, director of the ministry's Bureau of General Communicable Diseases, referring to Myanmar. Not only should Thailand suspend temporary labour imports from Myanmar, Thai authorities need to ramp up efforts in intercepting border areas against illegal crossing into Thai soil. Sophon said he is concerned that the illegal entry of Myanmar workers into Thailand may lead to the country witnessing a second wave of infections. It took collective efforts from state and private sectors in stemming COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand. We have passed three months without a single case of local COVID-19 transmission case, Sopon said. Earlier on Friday, A total of 37 Myanmar nationals, 35 migrants and two drivers, were arrested for illegal entry into western Thailand, bordering Myanmar. The Thai Immigration Bureau had repeatedly warned foreign migrants of illegal entry, threatening a permanent ban of re-entry if arrested. Thailand and Myanmar share a border for a distance of about 150 kilometers. Enditem F rom religious zealots and convicted criminals to the proudly polyamorous - Louis Therouxs 26 years in television have served up an endless stream of tense encounters, hilarious exchanges and surprisingly touching moments. Having started out in television in 1994, Theroux became a household favourite thanks to his fascinating and hilarious Weird Weekends, which took an honest if not slightly mickey-taking look at subcultures at the fringe of American society. Theroux was an instant hit with his bookish, slightly nerdy appearance betraying an awkward, self-deprecating but entirely relatable charm. With Covid-19 putting new projects on the backburner for the time being, the documentary maker is taking stock of his lifes work in the new BBC Two series Louis Theroux: Life on the Edge. His 50th birthday earlier this year also offered food for thought, he tells the Evening Standard over Zoom. It felt like we'd reached the point where it would make sense to take a pause and look back. We were previously thinking about some way of diving deeper, connecting the dots and updating shows. Louis Theroux explores his oeuvre of work / Dave Benett/Getty Images for NET And then everything was kicked into touch by Covid-19, so it turned into something more. Here, Theroux reflects on some of his most memorable encounters The Westboro Baptist Church are victims of their own beliefs (The Most Hated Family in America) One of Theroux's most memorable documentaries saw him meet the most hated family in America / BBC/YouTube Fred Phelps was a lawyer during the civil rights movements litigating for equality of the races. It feels like gay rights and the rights of black people or people of colour are kind of in some way aligned, but in his world, they really werent. But he was someone who liked putting peoples noses out of joint. So I think in a weird way, there's a continuity that was a controversial position for him to take in the 60s and the 70s. He liked being unpopular. Shirley Phelps was his right-hand woman, and she was fairly charismatic in television appearances. I was fascinated by an old school fire and brimstone Baptist Church in which the women appear to be kind of empowered as they seemed to be running it. It was the daughters and nieces that had the loudest voices. The biggest question for me was: How do you tell that story in a way that feels like it's responsible? That is absolutely holding them to account for what theyre doing, how theyreterrorising people, humiliating and upsetting people. The Best Netflix Documentaries - In pictures 1 /20 The Best Netflix Documentaries - In pictures Homecoming Netflix Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator Netflix Making A Murderer Netflix Taylor Swift: Miss Americana AP The Confession Tapes Netflix Amanda Knox Netflix Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes Netflix The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann PA Abducted In Plain Sight Netflix The Staircase Netflix Surviving R Kelly Getty Images Tiger King Netflix The Innocence Files Netflix Don't F**k With Cats Netflix Wild Wild Country Netflix But at the same time, we highlight that in their own way, they are a victim of their beliefs. Thats what I try and do more generally in my own work. In a tabloid telling, people from such totally different or extreme backgrounds may appear two dimensional - and I tried to show them in three dimensions and as human beings. I wanted to push the envelope when studying sex (Weird Weekends: Porn & Weird Weekends: Swingers) Getting involved: Louis Theroux is fed by a member of the Sex Positive Portland group / BBC I knew [making documentaries] about sex would be funny and I was just desperate for programmes to work. I almost had a kamikaze attitude to making television that was honed by working on TV Nation with Michael Moore. Moore had a take no prisoners attitude to making TV. He used to say that if you ever get arrested when you make your programme, consider it a good one. I wanted to push the envelope and do things I was uncomfortable with as it was going to lead to usable material. I was conscious that they might see me as an outsider so I thought if I throw myself into things like quite literally throwing myself naked in the pool at the swingers party - and build rapport that way, not just with my subjects but viewers at home; I wanted them to think Im up for it. Thats not to say I wasnt very self-conscious looking at sex. A woman I was interviewing during the porn documentary just whipped her top off halfway through and said: 'I just got new breasts!' I didnt want to look as if I was pandering to a sleazy, Benny Hill-type humour. I made myself more okay with it by saying that we're looking at the male perspective, and the embarrassment and indignity of the male performer. Max Clifford viewed people as currency (When Louis MetMax Clifford) Theroux compared Clifford to a 'nightclub bouncer' Max Clifford had a restrained animal energy. He radiated, it wasn't exactly an unfriendliness, but kind of professional reserve. He was like a bouncer at a nightclub who hasnt found your name on your list, and that sense of Youre not coming in. And he was going to be professional about it, but if you pushed him, he made it clear it wasnt going to end well for you. He viewed people as currency. That was part of his job. If you were pursuing a relationship that you didn't want the tabloids to know about, hed create another, fictional one, and then tell the tabloids where to get these set-up shots. And then the tabloids were so beholden to him repeating these stories, that they thought, Well, why don't we just go with the big one because we'll get photos and then maybe an interview. It created an enormous amount of power for Max, and editors were afraid to cross him. It speaks volumes and it doesnt say great things about Fleet Street. I have warm feelings towards Joe Exotic (Americas Most Dangerous Pets) Theroux met Exotic before Tiger King made him such a sensation He was vulnerable, colourful, outlandish, charismatic and confusing. For me, he cared about the animals, but I don't think he always cared for the animals like to the level of required professionalism that even he would acknowledge. At that time he had two significant others. One of them is the one in Tiger King, John Finlay. There was a point at which my film about exotic animals was going all about Joe Exotic, there's a lot of material there. But we didn't end up using material to do with Joe's domestic life, with his feud with Carole Baskin. But I have warm feelings towards Joe. I probably would have got along quite well with Scientologists (My Scientology Movie) Theroux rowed with a prominent member of the controversial church / Getty Images I met Catherine Fraser when I visited the Sea Org, and she came out and said: What is your name? Lewis? Are you a journalist? Can you even read? She became my designated handler. I think in another context, I probably would have got along quite well with Catherine Fraser, but shes a dedicated soldier on the mission for Scientology which is a secretive and at times highly aggressive religious organisation. It was a story I dreamed of telling. Im not sure if theyre still after me. I read a little about the after-effects and harassment or negative attention, where I thought for a while they might be looking at my emails or trying to, or trying other ways to make me feel uncomfortable. Theres so much written and filmed about Scientology thats critical. Its like the Eye of Sauron its this lighthouse of intimidation, but it can only swivel and point in one direction at a time. At the moment, they're preoccupied with other people, Im quite low on their list. There were some horrible stories about Joe Jackson (When Louis met Michael Jackson) Theroux found Jackson 'brooding and intimidating' / Reuters In Jackson family mythology, Joe occupies a prominent place because it was alleged he's the one that would tease Michael Jackson about his nose, saying it was like a pepper because it was so big. It was also said he was physically abusive to his children, by using a belt to discipline them. At the same time, he was the one to fashion them into the Jacksons. He was a musician himself or had been and then became a manager, so he gets credit for that. There have been horrible stories that are said about him and his personal morality. At the same he endured a lot in his own upbringing, to be a black man in Gary, Indiana. The first half of the 20th century was not an easy road to hoe, as they say, for Joe. He was softly spoken, but behind it was a slightly brooding and intimidating energy. I like drills unapologetic street energy (Weird Weekend: Rap) Even before I did Weird Weekends I thought it would be interesting to explore the world of rap and gangsta rap. I thought it was going to be intriguing with the conflict that I have being white and middle class going into a world thats so different. That obviously has risks associated with it, but also potential dividends from the comic contrast. What worked to my advantage is that Im a rap fan, and still am. I like drill! Im not an expert on drill but my kids listen to it from time to time and I enjoy the unmediated, unapologetic street energy. We put a lot of thought into making sure we told the story in the right way. I do participate with my own raps and have fun with the idea I am middle class and drive a Fiat. Ive since caught up with Mello T from that episode, hes got two children now; I think one is at college and the other is about to start college. So there is a positive after-story to the rap game. Louis Theroux: Life on the Edge is coming to BBC Two on Sunday 6th September at 9pm. Beijing Bans Beef Exports From Fifth Australian Abattoir Beijings has suspended beef imports from a fifth Australian abattoir, just hours after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced new laws which could spell the end of controversial Chinese-backed agreements in Australia, including Victorias Belt and Road Initiative and the Confucius Institutes. The Chinese General Administration of Customs suspended imports from Queensland beef producer, and family-owned business, John Dee Warwick. The announcement on Aug. 27, alleged that the drug chloramphenicol was detected in sirloin meat from the abattoir. The department has notified John Dee Warwick of the suspension, ordered an investigation, and to report back in 45 days. On May 13, the Chinese authorities suspended imports from four Australian abattoirs. At the time, Trade Minister Simon Birmingham noted the suspensions appeared to target highly technical issues. On Aug. 27, the prime minister announced the new Foreign Relations Bill, which would give the federal government the authority to review, approve, or veto agreements between foreign government entities and sub-national governments in Australia. The law also captures agreements entered into by universities and potentially private institutions. It places a host of Beijing-backed agreements under the microscope including the controversial Belt and Road Initiative in the state of Victoria; Confucius Institutes in Australian universities; academic partnerships with Chinese institutions; sister-city agreements with Chinese authorities; and even the Port of Darwin lease. The British fear of failure and rising child poverty could be behind UK teenagers feeling the least satisfied with their lives across Europe, according to a charity report. British 15-year-olds reported the lowest levels of life satisfaction and the greatest fear of failure across 24 European countries, the Childrens Society said. The charitys annual Good Childhood Report examined international data from a survey by the Programme for International Assessment (PISA), conducted in 2018. The UK also ranked last for childrens overall sense of purpose, with just over two in five (43 per cent) saying they felt their life lacked clear meaning or purpose. And it had the second highest levels of sadness, behind Malta. The Childrens Society said there was a strong correlation between fear of failure and low satisfaction, and some evidence of rising child poverty playing a part. Recommended Johnson falsely claims child poverty has fallen despite huge rise Chief executive Mark Russell said modern life has been chipping away at our childrens happiness over the past decade. He said: We need action and for the government to provide long-term investment to stop this toxic trend. As we emerge from the coronavirus crisis and children return to the classroom, we must hit the restart button. Policy manager Richard Crellin added: As a society, we put significant amounts of pressure on our children to succeed, especially at school, and this has consequences for well-being. Good exam results are seen as the key to future success and often prosperity, so children feel incredibly anxious about what will happen if they dont do well. Our previous research has found this fear of failure is much worse amongst children living in poverty. For them, the stakes are even higher and they may feel that failure could irrevocably damage their future prospects. It is therefore vital that we rethink what it means to fail and to succeed. An educational culture which tells children they only have one shot at success in school places unnecessary pressure on young people. Learning should be a lifelong endeavour and not something that feeds fear and distress. The Childrens Society also noted the UK had the largest increase in relative child poverty between 2015-18, about four percentage points, whereas child poverty fell on average by about two percentage points across the 24 countries. The findings raise questions about whether increasing levels of child poverty in the UK may be having a detrimental effect on childrens subjective well-being, the charity said. Wellbeing scores were calculated using four measures life satisfaction, happiness, sadness and sense of purpose. The study found a marked difference between girls and boys, with almost a quarter (23 per cent) of girls and 14 per cent of boys with low scores in at least three measures. Separate UK research analysed by the charity shows a continued decline in 10-to-15-year olds overall happiness. Between 2009 and 2017, the number of UK children in this age group who were unhappy with their friends rose from an estimated 86,000 (1.9 per cent) to around 155,0005 (3.5 per cent) The Understanding Society study showed that, among 10-to-15-year olds, boys are consistently happier with their appearance than girls, while girls are happier with their schoolwork. Since 2009, when the survey started, boys and girls average happiness scores for life as a whole, friends and school have dropped. The proportion of boys unhappy with school has risen, as has the proportion of girls unhappy with their friends. The Childrens Society said the coronavirus pandemic may have further affected childrens happiness in these areas. It warned that any response must distinguish between fluctuations in wellbeing that are related to Covid-19 and more longer-term trends. A government spokesperson said getting children back to school in September is a priority because of the significant benefits to their education, development and wellbeing. Recommended Relief and joy as first pupils return to school in coronavirus era He continued: Our guidance for schools is strongly focused on wellbeing and helping pupils re-engage in their education and we have provided thousands of schools, colleges and teachers with online webinars and training modules. The Department for Education said an 8m training scheme to help teachers cope with the impact of the pandemic on childrens mental health will be available in schools from September. PA One man is dead and another jailed after a deadly shooting Thursday night in Union Springs. The shooting happened about 7:30 p.m. near Underwood Avenue and Baskin Street, police said. Investigators said a verbal altercation took place reportedly because the victim was taking too long to cross the street and gunfire then erupted. Police on Friday identified the victim as 29-year-old Joharian Allen. The suspect 22-year-old Jermiah Penn is charged with capital murder in Allens death. Police said Penn fled the scene but surrendered to off-duty Bullock County sheriffs Deputy Chad Faulkner, whom the suspect knew. No additional details have been released. A coronial investigation is under way into the cause of death of a COVID-19-positive Victorian man in his 20s widely reported to be the youngest Australian to succumb to the virus. The review into the man's cause of death has raised important questions about how Australia classifies coronavirus fatalities and comes as 113 new infections were recorded in Victoria in the past day. The coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Credit:AP The state's death toll climbed to 496, with 12 more deaths, all linked to aged care outbreaks. Almost two weeks after the young's man death was reported on August 14, it is yet to be included in the national coronavirus tally. kuzma/iStockBy KARMA ALLEN, ABC News (STANLY COUNTY, N.C.) -- A North Carolina man hugged his family as a free man for the first time in decades this week after serving 44 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Ronnie Long was greeted by family and community members who had long proclaimed his innocence on Thursday afternoon when he made his long-awaited exit from the Albemarle Correctional Institution in Stanly County, North Carolina. He had spent 44 years arguing for an appeal, along with a team of advocates and pro bono attorneys, in an effort to overturn his 1976 conviction. The team logged a victory earlier this week when the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Longs constitutional rights had been violated during his trial. Long was 20 years old when an all-white jury sentenced him to 80 years in prison for raping a notable white woman in his hometown of Concord, North Carolina. He was convicted despite a lack of physical evidence tying him to the rape. In 2005, his attorneys discovered evidence that was withheld during the trial and could have proved his innocence, according to a website dedicated to freeing Long. "At the beginning of this ordeal, if anyone would have told me that I would be locked up for forty-three (43) years, I would have thought them to be totally insane. There isnt no way I can put up with this monotony for 43 years," Long wrote in a journal entry posted on the website. "Throughout history Black men has been a marked product for racial discrimination ... so why not me." In a separate part of the entry, Long indicated that he was simply convicted because of his race, saying the cards were always "stacked against" him. "After really contemplating on the subject, the evidence may not have made a different because the deck was stacked against me, and it wouldnt have mattered what type of evidence I had against the state," he said. "I were going to prison. I had been chosen and I were going to prison. Some 40-plus years later, Im still around, still here fighting, and if it be the will of the Creator, I shall overcome." Long, just days from his 65th birthday, said he got through the ordeal due to God and family. "That was my inspiration," Long told Charlotte ABC affiliate WSOC, gesturing to his family. "I got my inspiration from them, and God. It felt good because I was getting feedback that I was loved and supported." "They will never, ever, ever, ever lock me up again," Long added. A GoFundMe campaign set up by his wife, Ashleigh Long, had raised about $12,000 as of Friday afternoon. Ashleigh Long, who married him in 2014, said she set up the $500,000 fundraiser to help with her husbands transition to life outside of prison. "Ronnie is going to need everything when he is freed. ANY amount helps. Everything donated will go to Ronnie to use when he is free," the campaign said. "Come on #TeamRonnieLong let's get Ronnie set up to enjoy his life as a free man!" Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. REDMOND (dpa-AFX) - Walmart Inc. said it is in talks with Microsoft Corp. for the U.S. business of Chinese video-sharing app TikTok, which is facing a ban by U.S. President Donald Trump. With its move, the retail giant hopes to use the highly popular mobile app's integrated e-commerce and advertising capabilities to reach its own omnichannel customers. According to the company, a potential relationship with TikTok U.S. in partnership with Microsoft could also grow its third-party marketplace and advertising businesses. In a statement, Walmart said, 'We are confident that a Walmart and Microsoft partnership would meet both the expectations of U.S. TikTok users while satisfying the concerns of U.S. government regulators.' Earlier this month, Microsoft had announced its talks with TikTok's Chinese parent ByteDance Ltd. to buy the app's business in the US, New Zealand, Australia and Canada. Oracle also joined later in the race to buy TikTok's U.S operations. Bloomberg now reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that Oracle and Microsoft have submitted bids to China's ByteDance to buy the US operations of its TikTok app. Microsoft's bid includes a partnership with Walmart. A deal is expected to come within a week, before the scheduled 45-day time for the proposed ban to come into effect unless it is bought by a domestic company. It was on August 6 that Trump signed the Executive Order to ban TikTok, along with another Chinese firm WeChat, citing a threat to national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. Following Trump's order, TikTok filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the Administration's decision, taking strong exception to the allegation that the company is a national security threat. Amid these developments, TikTok's Kevin Mayer, who took charge as Chief Executive Officer on June 1, resigned. He has been replaced by TikTok, General Manager Vanessa Pappas. TikTok is already banned by India citing threat to national security, while the company earlier decided to exit Hong Kong market after China established a new national security law for the semi-autonomous city. 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. She's been reunited with her husband Tim Robards after he quit long-running Channel 10 soap Neighbours to be with her ahead of the birth of their first child. And on Friday, Anna Heinrich looked thrilled to be spending some quality time with her beau in Byron Bay. The 33-year-old lawyer flaunted her ample cleavage in a bikini as she posed for a selfie Tim took of the Bachelor couple relaxing on the sand. Hubba hubba! On Friday, a pregnant Anna Heinrich put on a busty display in a skimpy bikini while on a getaway with husband Tim Robards in Byron Bay In the picture, the expectant mother glowed in a skimpy striped bikini top. The blonde stunner wore her luscious long locks in a tousled half-up half-down style and natural makeup with a touch of bronzer and a soft pink lip. Her hunky husband, 37, flaunted his bulging biceps and chiseled chest as he sat beside her. Glowing and gorgeous: In the picture, the expectant mother glowed in a skimpy striped bikini top Tim poked his tongue out in one image. 'Sometimes I just gotta bite my tongue or I get in trouble from the boss...' he humorously captioned the post. Anna and Tim are enjoying a luxurious holiday at Byron Bay's Blackbird resort. Getaway: Anna and her husband, Tim Robards (left), are enjoying a luxurious holiday at Byron Bay's Blackbird resort On Monday, the blonde beauty shared a stunning photo, as well as video footage, to Instagram of their picturesque surroundings. '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. Relaxing: On Monday, the criminal lawyer shared a stunning photo, as well as video footage, to Instagram of their picturesque surroundings 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. '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. Mirror Lake Inn, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World The results show a desire to travel this year now that travel restrictions have been slightly relaxed, a willingness to travel internationally by plane and a preference for smaller hotels where their experience can be managed and customised. A survey undertaken by Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) shows that an affluent group of Travel Ready advocates are driving pent up demand for luxury holidays this year. The survey, conducted in partnership with Liz Hall Hotel & Travel Consulting, looked at the current sentiment towards travel of over 6,000 members of the luxury brands INVITED programme. The results show a desire to travel this year now that travel restrictions have been slightly relaxed, a willingness to travel internationally by plane and a preference for smaller hotels where their experience can be managed and customised. The survey results split the recipients into 3 groups the Travel Ready, those who have already booked and maybe even travelled taking increased safety precautions in their stride; the Travel Reserved, those who are keen to get away but still cautious about potential risk; and the Travel Reluctant who are unlikely to travel until things have returned to normal. With over 46% of recipients expecting that they will be in the same position financially next year, it comes as no surprise that over 30% fall into the Travel Reserved group and are currently planning a holiday in 2021. In North America, 29% are Travel Ready and are planning a holiday before October this year, with an additional 24% looking at getting away in Q4. In total, 74% of respondents said that they were willing to fly agreeing almost unanimously (93%) to additional health checks at the airport to ensure the safety of all travellers. Of North Americans surveyed, 43% are initially planning to travel domestically and 38% were prepared for international travel. SLH reservations data for bookings originating from North America since August 1st reflects these numbers, with 42% of reservations for US hotels, primarily in New York State and California. International bookings made in August were mainly for Q4 visits, with top destinations being Sweden and Finland. In terms of selecting accommodation, over 90% of recipients stated that they would feel most comfortable in a small hotel, while private residences were also popular. SLHs Exclusive Use reservations option allows guests to turn over 250 SLH hotels, ranging from 5 to 200 rooms into a fully-serviced private residence. With more than 36 intimate hotels offering fewer than 12 rooms, this becomes a viable option for guests wanting to travel with a small group of family and friends. As expected, location, flexible booking and cleanliness were the most important considerations. SLH has recently launched a Stay Small, Stay Safe programme ensuring third party accreditation for all member hotels with the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC). Hotels offering discounts and offers were of least importance to SLH guests. Richard Hyde, Managing Director of Small Luxury Hotels of the World says: Our members have always shown great resilience and an enduring appetite for travel so its encouraging to see that they are Travel Ready, looking at options both close to home and abroad for 2020. Our small hotels are able to offer so many solutions from their location in low-key destinations and neighbourhoods, to their versatility to become essentially a private residence. We have established Stay Small, Stay Safe to ensure that our guests can travel with peace of mind, both for themselves and the destinations they are visiting, and to encourage those who are reserved or reluctant to travel that is it safe when the time is right for them. For more information visit http://www.SLH.com About Small Luxury Hotels of the World: Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) is the most desirable community of independently minded travellers and independently spirited hotels in the world. We turned the luxury boutique hotel into a phenomenon and selected the distinctive, the diverse and the downright delightful. People, places and experiences with individual character, intimate charm and inherent class. We've personally visited, vetted and verified over 520 hotels in more than 90 countries. We are envisioning a future where people experience the world with intention, experience its intensity and protect its integrity. Be part of the community - join us at INVITED, visit us at http://www.SLH.com, contact a travel agent or call the Small Luxury Hotels of the World VIP Desk. Click here to view a full contact listing by country. I: @smallluxuryhotels / F: @smallluxuryhotelsoftheworld / T: @SLHLuxuryHotels Even beyond that initial communication, veterinarians need to consider training, strategies, and even ethicsincluding the slippery slope of receptionists inadvertently practicing medicine over the phone. Veterinarians have had to make major shifts to accommodate the needs of their patients during this pandemic while keeping their staff and clients safe. Of course, practice owners are very familiar with the need for curbside service; one unanticipated effect of this shift is that according to GeniusVets survey data, call volumes have increased by 104% (more than doubled) at practices across the country. This requires new strategies, tools, and approaches to ensure continued excellent client service. As a DVM and the owner of The Drake Center in Encinitas, California, Dr. Michele Drake knew that a huge change was needed to speed up call response times and ensure her high standards of client service were maintained despite the challenges of COVID. To support my clients during this difficult time, Ive leaned on the training and culture-building strategies Ive had in place at The Drake Center for many years, but Ive increased our internal communication and support. I also worked with my partner and GeniusVets CEO, Harley Orion, to find technology tools to get the inbound phone calls under control, Dr. Drake noted. My team was able to find technology solutions that allowed for managing client arrivals at curbside by textstreamlining communication and, in turn, greatly increasing efficiency. Orion echoed Dr. Drakes sentiments but further noted, Even beyond that initial communication, veterinarians need to consider training, strategies, and even ethicsincluding the slippery slope of receptionists inadvertently practicing medicine over the phone. If youre not utilizing call tracking, monitoring hold times, and leveraging online profiles to acquire appointments through digital channels, you risk losing your clients to the competition. The advice given during the webinar will include how to handle high call volume, manage call times, define your veterinary practices phone processes, and make the most of text messaging; as well as how to effectively track, monitor, and review calls to ensure great client service. GeniusVetsthe top-performing marketing agency serving the veterinary industryis hosting this Defeating the Phone Frenzy event as part of their Webinar Wednesday series on September 2 from 4-5 PST. Special guests from Zingle, a leading text-based client service platform, will be joining to share how The Drake Center and other practices have leveraged their tools to deliver text-based arrival management for curbside, improving patient flow and efficiency. Reservations are required and space is limited. To register for this webinar, visit https://www.geniusvets.com/webinar. About GeniusVets GeniusVets is the premier platform that connects pet parents with quality veterinarians and proven pet care advice from DVMs. The mission of GeniusVets is to create better pet health by educating and uniting pet owners and veterinarians. For more information about GeniusVets, visit geniusvets.com. Contact Harley Orion media@geniusvets.com West African countries on Friday demanded an immediate civilian transition in Mali and elections within 12 months as they considered sanctions after rebel troops toppled the country's president and seized power. The demands were spelt out after the new junta released ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, seized in the August 18 coup, but also apparently granted their new chief the powers of head of state. The coup shocked Mali's West African neighbours and ally France, heightening worries over instability in a country already struggling with an Islamist insurgency, ethnic violence and economic stagnation. After a video summit, the 15-nation Economic Community of West Africa State called on the junta "to initiate a civil transition immediately" and the "rapid establishment of a government to (...) prepare the legislative and presidential elections within 12 months." Mali's former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was ousted by young officers on August 18. By Ludovic MARIN (POOL/AFP/File) In a closing statement, Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou, who also chairs ECOWAS, said sanctions would be "gradually lifted depending on the implementation" of the bloc's requests. "Staging coups is a serious sickness for a country," he said in earlier remarks. "To cure them, there's only one prescription: sanctions." ECOWAS slapped sanctions on Mali after the August coup, including a closure of borders and ban on trade and financial flows. It demanded the release of Keita and other detained leaders and insisted on a swift return to civilian rule. Keita, 75, 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 crashed as he failed to counter the country's raging jihadist insurgency and brake Mali's downward economic spiral. After an escalating series of mass protests, young army officers mutinied on August 18, seizing Keita and other leaders and declaring they now governed the country. They have called the junta the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), led by a 37-year-old colonel, Assimi Goita. Timeline of the main developments in Mali's post-election political crisis.. By Gal ROMA (AFP) Friday's video summit came after a three-day ECOWAS visit foundered over a timetable for civilian transition, and the junta's announcement on the eve of the conference that Keita had been freed. Issoufou said Keita had told the ECOWAS envoys "that he resigned quite freely, convinced that this decision was necessary for peace and stability in Mali." Handover issue Within hours of taking control, the junta promised to enact a political transition and stage elections within a "reasonable time." According to the chief ECOWAS envoy, former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, the coup leaders wanted a three-year handover period. This was rejected by the ECOWAS team, which called for an interim government, "headed by a civilian or retired military officer, to last for six or nine months, and maximum of 12 calendar months," Jonathan said on Wednesday. ECOWAS on Friday said that the person overseeing the handover should be "an individual, civilian, recognised... for their intellectual and moral standing" and that there should be a "civilian prime minister." A rally organised last Friday by a protest coalition cheered the junta for toppling Keita. Its leaders have vowed to "work with" the military over returning the country to civilian rule. By ANNIE RISEMBERG (AFP) "No military structure should be above the transition president," it said. But a new document posted on Mali's Official Journal, a gazette which publishes new laws and regulations, invests the head of the CNSP with the powers of the head of state. Named "Basic Act NA001/CNSP," the document was posted online on Thursday. The CNSP "designates a president who assures the duty of the head of state... embodying national unity... and guaranteeing national independence, territorial integrity... (and) respect for international agreements," it says. This individual appoints senior civil servants and military and "accredits" foreign ambassadors, according to the document. AFP has asked the junta's spokesman to confirm its authenticity. Jihadist warning In other remarks, Issoufou lashed the Malian military for launching the coup when the country was in the throes of an eight-year-old jihadist insurgency. Thousands of lives have been lost, hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes and swathes of the country have been abandoned to armed Islamists by the state. The junta "is refusing to return to the barracks at a time when, more than ever, the army is required to focus on its traditional mission," Issoufou said. He warned that the jihadists sought to "exploit the current institutional void" -- a scenario that happened after Mali's last coup in 2008. President Donald Trumps accomplishments establish him as an effective social justice president. He speaks proudly and joyfully of results not platitudes: improving the lives of minority communities through increased employment, reducing income disparity by bringing highly paid manufacturing jobs back to the USA, giving offenders a second chance at life through criminal justice reform, securing ongoing funding for historically Black colleges and universities, and supporting parents in their efforts to get a good education for their children through school choice. President Trumps... Scott Morrisons proposed Foreign Relations Act is all about closing the seams in our federation and giving practical effect to the Commonwealths constitutional power on foreign relations. Its necessary because of the world we live in, primarily because other nation states are exploiting the gaps between our federal, state, territory and local governments to Australias disadvantage. Daniel Andrews, the Premier of Victoria, gave speech at the parallel sessions of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing in 2017. He was the only Australian state or territory leader invited. Credit:Sanghee Liu The new law is also necessary because the current informal consultation between states and the Commonwealth just isnt working. We can see the problem graphically with Victoria. Victoria has signed up to Xi Jinpings controversial Belt and Road Initiative, saying its all about jobs. In contrast, the federal government recognises the strategic and foreign policy danger in partnering on an initiative designed to build Chinas strategic, technological and economic power over others. Right now, with Beijing using trade as a weapon against Australia, this concern looks well placed. If Francis Fukuyama had been right back in 1992 with his "End of History" thesis, nation states would have receded into the background as we all entered a post-Cold War liberal international nirvana. But this globalist vision got mugged by the return of national power, particularly as practised by the authoritarian Peoples Republic of China. Only about half of the physicians licensed to prescribe buprenorphine an opioid-based medication to treat addiction actually prescribe it to patients, a national study from the Pew Charitable Trust and the Deerfield Institute has found. Buprenorphine has been marketed as more accessible than methadone, another opioid-based addiction medicine that long has been dispensed only through federally licensed treatment centers. Bupe, as many patients and practitioners call it, can be prescribed from physicians offices and taken at home, but significant federal restrictions still surround its prescription and use. Physicians who treat substance use in Philadelphia said the study shows the need for more doctors to be licensed to prescribe buprenorphine or to remove the licensing requirement altogether. After all, many argue, no such special license is needed to prescribe the painkillers that are at the root of so many addictions. Doctors must take a special course to prescribe buprenorphine and, once they pass, may take on no more than 30 patients with opioid use disorder. (Later, they can ask to take on a larger patient load, and some doctors are permitted to prescribe buprenorphine to up to 275 patients.) As of 2018, only about 5% of physicians had a license to prescribe buprenorphine despite increasing demand for the drug and an overdose crisis that killed 70,000 people in the United States last year alone. [Bupe] can be prescribed for pain without any of these regulatory requirements. When prescribing it for opioid use disorder, its layered with all these barriers. Theres a stigma around the medication, said Beth Connolly, the project director of Pews substance use prevention and treatment initiative. It was really important to study what some of the barriers are, and whether people are actually prescribing it. The study looked at the monthly buprenorphine patient volume for physicians licensed to prescribe the drug between April 2017 and January 2019. Just over 50% wrote at least one prescription during that time period. And most of the physicians who did regularly prescribe it didnt hit their patient cap, in some cases prescribing to just a handful of patients. The problem isnt necessarily that individual doctors arent prescribing to as many patients as possible its that so few doctors can prescribe buprenorphine at all, said Jeanmarie Perrone, the director of the Division of Medical Toxicology and Addiction Medicine Initiatives in the University of Pennsylvanias Department of Emergency Medicine. I think what we need is more doctors in general to let anyone prescribe, said Perrone, who has spearheaded an initiative to get more emergency physicians licensed to prescribe the medicine. Treating addiction can be complex, she said, and an individual doctor with 275 buprenorphine patients on their roster might have trouble providing the support and attention to patients at this level, Perrone said. I wouldnt challenge someone too much if they said, I know my caps at 30, but I want to provide the best care for these 27 people Im caring for, said David OGurek, an associate professor of family medicine at Temple University Health System. Still, OGurek said, the stigma of addiction treatment keeps other doctors from considering getting licensed. You hear from doctors, My practice is going to become overrun with people with opioid use disorder, he said. But the reality is that people with opioid use disorder are likely already currently in your practice. Whenever Im giving a training, I talk about how, as a family physician, doing this type of care is probably the easiest thing I do all week. Theres complications and stress, but those exist in a regular primary care day. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the federal restrictions around buprenorphine and methadone have been relaxed in the name of social distancing. Buprenorphine can be prescribed via telemedicine now previously, federal law required an in-person appointment. And patients can obtain take-home doses of methadone previously a privilege for just a few. Connolly said that Pews researchers have anecdotal evidence that more people have been accessing buprenorphine treatment in general, and added that she hopes the relaxed requirements around prescribing can be sustained after the pandemic passes. Silvana Mazzella, the associate executive director of Prevention Point the Philadelphia public health organization for people with addiction said staff had been terrified they would lose patients in the medication-assisted treatment programs during the pandemic. Many of Prevention Points clientele are homeless and dont have phones to access telehealth options. But we actually went up in adherence, Mazzella said. With limited treatment and almost nothing being open during the first two months of COVID-19, people were clinging to whatever resources they had. But the pandemic has complicated addiction treatment in other realms. In the three Penn emergency departments where Perrone has pushed for more buprenorphine prescriptions, the number of patients seeking help for withdrawal plummeted during the pandemic, likely for fear of contracting COVID. Withdrawal is a key opportunity for doctors in the ER to encourage someone into treatment. About 20 patients a month came to the ER needing buprenorphine before the pandemic, Perrone said. Thats dropped to about six a month, she said, and many of the patients who have made it to her ERs say they relapsed during the pandemic. I see a lot of people whose last [buprenorphine] prescription was in March, she said. And you ask them, and theyve all fallen off because of logistics, access [to health care], fear, money, housing, everything. Physicians said they hope the lessons they are learning about addiction treatment during the pandemic spur permanent changes. We need to address the reasons why people are [licensed to prescribe buprenorphine] and arent using it. We need to make sure were building the type of treatment system patients need and want, one they design on their own, OGurek said. I think health systems right now are so taxed and still sort of in pandemic mode. But it really is a critical opportunity to really evaluate the way we were doing things before, and how we do things onward. Portland protests were markedly calm Thursday as President Donald Trump invoked the citys demonstrations during his Republican National Convention speech and Mayor Ted Wheeler pledged quick action to revive downtown. Absent were showdowns between protesters and police that punctuate many Portland demonstrations. A weekly peaceful march looped from a Southwest Portland park to the Multnomah County Justice Center and back, drawing no police response. The night marked a lull in a month thats featured 13 riot declarations and 217 protest arrests. Trump, speaking Thursday from the South Lawn of the White House, twice derided Portland in his convention address. Make no mistake, if you give power to Joe Biden, the radical left will defund police departments all across America, he said. They will pass federal legislation to reduce law enforcement nationwide. They will make every city look like Democrat-run Portland, Oregon. He later said the Republican Party condemns rioting, looting, arson, and violence seen in Portland and other democratic-led cities. Earlier Thursday, Wheeler met with the Portland Business Alliance and 70 other business and civic leaders to discuss his plan to revive downtown. Wheeler rushed to put together the meeting amid intense pressure from businesses and neighborhood groups, who have been expressing growing alarm about the state of downtown for weeks and have become increasingly vocal about the threat to their organizations and communities as theyve failed to see meaningful action from the city. He also said Wednesday that ending nightly violence and getting our community back on its feet would be a major priority for the city and something he believed was a necessary prerequisite to the economic recovery of downtown. While he repeatedly said he supported peaceful protests and the Black Lives Matter movement, he roundly condemned property damage and the throwing of items at police by a small group of violent extremists. Portland protesters have taken to the streets every night since late May, demonstrating against police violence and anti-Black racism. The protests, which have now continued for 92 days, were set off by the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, a Black man. Protests against racial injustice have again ignited elsewhere this week in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Blake, a Black man, was apparently shot in the back and is now paralyzed. Sports competitions, including Game 5 of the Portland Trail Blazers first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers, have also been postponed. -- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 Jamie Goldberg of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Gallo LLP today announced that it has submitted for filing at the San Francisco Superior Court a lawsuit against Uber Technologies, Inc. (UBER) for breach of contract, fraud, and labor code violations on behalf of 190 current and former professional employees who received Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) as part of their compensation packages. Estimated direct financial damages for the current 190 plaintiffs exceed $9 million. Gallo currently represents more than 270 affected employees, and is continuing to sign new clients . The lawsuit is expected to be the first filing in a series. An estimated 15,000 current and former Uber professional employees (all those who received RSUs that vested on Uber's IPO) have similar claims, with estimated direct economic damages totaling $200 million. The disputes may be subject to mandatory arbitration, which will preclude a class action, such that only those who engage attorneys can hope to be made whole. As part of their compensation agreements, thousands of Uber employees were given RSUs that became fully vested on the May 9, 2019 IPO, requiring Uber to issue shares of Uber common stock neither sooner nor later than six months following the company's IPO, on November 9, 2019 (after the expiration of the lock-up period). Uber instead unilaterally chose to issue the shares on the IPO date of May 9, 2019. Employees consequently received shares at the IPO price of $45 each and were taxed on that amount, even though they could only realize $27 per share after the mandatory 180 day "lock-up" period was over and they were legally able to sell shares to cover their tax obligations. As a result, RSU holders have paid or will pay an estimated total of $200 million more in income taxes --- taxes they would not have owed but for Uber's unilateral decision --- and will and have realized that much less value than their contracts with Uber entitled them to. Some employees may have ever owned more in income tax than they could realize from sale of their stock, depending on the stock price when they sold---such that their equity compensation resulted in a net loss to them after taxes. The lawsuit alleges that Uber made the decision seeking to fix its 2019 compensation expense associated with issuing the shares, and to eliminate the risk its stock price would rise from the IPO date to November 9, 2019, increasing Uber's compensation expense by an indeterminate amount. But in the process Uber imposed on RSU holders the risk that the share price would decline, causing them to owe tax on income they could not realize. The lawsuit also alleges that Uber's executives and underwriters knew that the share price would likely decline, prejudicing RSU holders, but still opted to accelerate the settlement date for its own benefit, possibly on the advice of its IPO underwriters. On average, stock prices are lower than IPO prices six months post IPO. Lyft went public a few weeks before Uber. And Lyft's share price---perhaps the most relevant data point for Uber's analysis---had already declined from its IPO price by the time of Uber's IPO. Gallo LLP currently represents more than 270 current and former Uber professionals who have engaged the firm to assert these claims, and continues to sign new clients through its dedicated client website at https://uberrsuclaims.gallo.law?ml=24056004 . All Gallo clients seek to have Uber pay them a pre-tax amount the after-tax net from which will cover the income taxes Uber's decision imposed. About Gallo LLP San Francisco-based Gallo LLP (www.gallo.law) is a law firm serving businesses, executives, and consumers alike, making winning arguments privately and in state and federal courts. The firm prosecutes public interest and consumer fraud cases, like this one, as part of its ongoing commitment to promote ethical business practices. Ray E. Gallo is its managing principal and trial counsel. SOURCE Gallo LLP Related Links https://www.gallo.law World leaders wished Japanese Prime Minister a rapid recovery on Friday and praised his contributions to bilateral relations during his years as Japan's longest-serving leader. Abe announced Friday that he is stepping down because of a health problem. He is expected to stay on until a new governing party leader is elected and formally approved by the parliament. SOUTH KOREA: South Korean President Moon Jae-in's office said Abe dedicated many years to the development of bilateral relations and achieved various meaningful accomplishments as Japan's longest-serving prime minister. It said Seoul will continue to work with Tokyo's next prime minister and Cabinet to promote friendship and cooperation between the countries. Relations between South Korea and sank last year to their lowest point in decades as they feuded over trade issues, wartime history and military cooperation. GERMANY: Longtime German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has worked with Abe during both of his spells in office, said she regrets his resignation. has been the longest-serving prime minister of Japan, so he has helped shape Japan's history, Merkel told reporters in Berlin. He was always someone who advocated multilateralism and made clear over the great distance between Germany and our common basis of values. She added, I wish him all the best from the bottom of my heart and thank him for working well together. TAIWAN: Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said Abe has always been very friendly to Taiwan. He has always been very positive, no matter it be his policies or his feelings toward Taiwanese people. We cherish the friendship he has for Taiwan. We also wish him good health. CHINA: Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian declined to comment directly on Abe's health, saying it was Japan's internal affair. However, he added that China and are close neighbours. We are willing to work with Japan to jointly press ahead with continuous improvement and development of China-Japan relations. BRITAIN: Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab paid tribute to the great things that Abe has achieved, and said he "leaves a strengthened UK-Japanese friendship, which we look forward to continuing in the years ahead. I wish him well for the future. PHILIPPINES: Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr described Abe as Japan's greatest postwar PM (prime minister) in a tweet. He said Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Abe had a frank relationship. Watching President Duterte and PM Abe talking was like watching two old friends, no holds barred, talking frankly and freely of the true lay of the land and what can and cannot be done, Locsin said. OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: IOC President Thomas Bach credited Abe with the return of the Olympics to Japan after the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics. All the Japanese athletes and the athletes of the entire world are very grateful to him, Bach said. The Olympics were to be held in Tokyo this year but were postponed a year because of the coronavirus. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The breadth of entrepreneurial talent in Los Angeles is outstanding and this award recognizes the amazing team we've built. I share this honor with my team. GeBBS Healthcare Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of technology enabled Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) Solutions for Healthcare Providers and Payers is pleased to announce that its Chairman & CEO, Nitin Thakor has been recognized by EY as a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020 Award in Greater Los Angeles. Now in its 34th year, the Entrepreneur of The Year program honors entrepreneurial business leaders whose ambitions deliver innovation, growth, and prosperity as they build and sustain successful businesses that transform our world. Thakor was selected as a finalist by a panel of independent judges. 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. I am honored and humbled by this recognition," said Thakor. "The breadth of entrepreneurial talent in Los Angeles is outstanding and this award recognizes the amazing team we've built. I share this honor with my team. The award is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious business awards in the United States, recognizing entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who are excelling in innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Since its launch, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries around the world. For additional information about the Entrepreneur Of The Year Greater Los Angeles program, please visit http://www.ey.com/us/eoy/greaterla. Join the conversation on social media using #EOYGLA and #EOYUS About GeBBS GeBBS Healthcare Solutions is a KLAS rated leading provider of Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) services and Risk Adjustment solutions. GeBBS innovative technology, combined with over 9,500-strong global workforce, helps clients improve financial performance, adhere to compliance, and enhance the patient experience. Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, GeBBS has won numerous accolades for its medical coding outsourcing and medical billing outsourcing, including being ranked in Modern Healthcares Top 20 Largest RCM Firms, Black Book Market Researchs Top 20 RCM Outsourcing Services, and Inc. 5000s fastest growing private companies in the U.S. For more information, please visit http://www.gebbs.com or contact Tyler Cowart at 310-953-4444 ext. 214 or tyler.cowart@gebbs.com. About Entrepreneur of The Year Entrepreneur of The Year is the worlds most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs. The program makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership, and achievement. As the first and only truly global awards program of its kind, Entrepreneur of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries. Please visit http://www.ey.com/eoy. About EY EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction, and advisory 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 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. For more information about our organization, please visit http://www.ey.com. In early August, an extreme weather phenomenon often referred to as an "inland hurricane" swept across Iowa causing significant, widespread damage. So, how does that storm stack up against the strongest hurricane so far in the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season? The two events are vastly different in size, shape and origins, but they do have some similarities and will likely both be remembered as some of the biggest weather events of 2020. On Monday, Aug. 10, Iowa and northern Illinois were hit by a derecho, a swift-moving complex of thunderstorms that caused extensive wind damage over hundreds of miles. This was one of the strongest derechos in recent years that caused damage over such a large area that it was visible from space. However, unlike hurricanes, derechos do not have storm surge, which is one of the costliest and deadliest aspects of a hurricane. The derecho raced eastward across the Midwest, causing destruction along its path on Monday, Aug. 10, 2020. (NWS Chicago) A little over two weeks after the derecho hit the Midwest, Hurricane Laura exploded into a powerful Category 4 storm as it tracked over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It made landfall in southwestern Louisiana at 1 a.m. CDT on Thursday, Aug. 27, as the strongest storm so far in the "hyperactive" 2020 Atlantic hurricane season and the strongest hurricane to hit the U.S. since Michale in 2018. Hurricane Laura made landfall just as it was reaching peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, just shy of being classified as a Category 5 storm. There are not many weather stations in southwestern Louisiana where the center of Laura moved ashore, but a station in Lake Charles clocked a wind gust of 137 mph as the eye was about to move over the city. The derecho in Iowa was right on par with these reports with winds equivalent to what is found in a strong Category 3 or Category 4 hurricane. "Maximum estimated winds were around 140 mph, which caused extensive damage to an apartment complex in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa," the National Weather Service said. "The maximum measured unofficial wind gust was 126 mph at Atkins, Iowa, in Benton County," which is about 10 miles west of Cedar Rapids in the eastern part of the state. Story continues Comparing wind damage photos from the two events shows how similar the winds of each phenomenon can be -- and why derechos are often referred to as "inland hurricanes." On the left: A tower in Marion, Iowa, that was blown over amid intense winds from a derecho on Aug. 10, 2020. (NWS) On the right: People survey the damage left in the wake of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Holly Beach, La. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Even though the wind gusts were of a similar magnitude, one key difference is the duration of the winds. In the derecho, the strongest winds lasted just a few minutes, while in a hurricane, strong winds can last for hours. The long-duration winds led to more damage over a larger area in Louisiana and eastern Texas and were compounded by the destructive flooding and storm surge near the coast. Wind damage and power outages go hand in hand when dealing with severe weather, and the aforementioned events left scores of residents in the dark. Power outages from Laura peaked late on Thursday at around 900,000 outages, but were starting to decrease by Friday, according to PowerOutage.us. This number could have been significantly higher if Laura had tracked over a more populated area of the Gulf Coast, such as New Orleans or Houston. Looking back at the derecho in early August, just over 1 million power customers were left in the dark with tens of thousands going without power for more than a week due to the extensive damage to the state's power grid. A radar loop showing a powerful derecho, sometimes referred to as an 'inland hurricane' charging across the middle of the U.S. earlier this month. (AccuWeather) CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Despite the impressive wind speeds from both systems, they combined for fewer outages than Tropical Storm Isaias. Isaias was much weaker than Laura or the derecho, but it hit the densely-populated northeastern U.S., leaving more than 3.5 million in the dark. New Jersey alone accounted for approximately one-third of the number of power outages. Although some statistics are similar between Hurricane Laura and the early-August derecho, there is a large difference between the two in terms of the economic toll. Both are billion-dollar weather disasters, but the far-reaching impacts of Laura will take a much bigger toll than the comparatively smaller derecho. "AccuWeather estimates that the derecho caused $11.2 billion in damages across the 770-mile swath of the United States that it affected due to extensive losses in crops, including 10 million acres of crops that were destroyed across Iowa, the nation's top corn-producing state," AccuWeather Founder and CEO Dr. Joel N. Myers said. Laura is projected to cause losses two to three times greater than the derecho, accord to Myers. AccuWeather estimated the total damage and economic loss caused by Laura will be $25 billion to 30 billion, Myers said ahead of the storm's landfall. This estimate includes damage to homes and businesses as well as their contents and cars, job and wage losses, infrastructure damage, auxiliary business losses, medical expenses and closures. The estimates also account for the costs of power outages to businesses and individuals and for economic losses because of highway closures and evacuations, as well as extraordinary government expenses for cleanup operations. AccuWeather Radar Loop for Hurricane Laura An AccuWeather radar loop showing Hurricane Laura strengthening over the Gulf of Mexico and then making landfall and moving inland over rthe U.S. (AccuWeather). Miraculously, there were zero fatalities reported after the derecho in the Midwest and, as of Friday afternoon, 10 deaths reported after Laura. "It was just so unrelenting. The winds would come up and it's like, they just would not go down, and it was just one of the scariest things I've ever been through," Patty Palmer, who rode out Hurricane Laura in her home, told AccuWeather National Reporter Jonathan Petramala. Similar stories emerged out of Iowa as residents began to pick up the pieces following the destructive derecho, which leveled millions of acres of cornfields. "Having a hurricane in Iowa was kind of one of those things you wouldn't think would happen," Cody Halling, a farmer in Perry, Iowa, told AccuWeather National Reporter Bill Wadell. "2020 ... You don't know what's coming next." Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios. The EU's top negotiator has 'rung round Europe leaders' amid fears trade deal talks with the UK are on the brink of collapse. Michel Barnier is trying to get Boris Johnson to compromise and has asked German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron for support. It comes as Tory MPs warn the EU it must realise the UK is 'under new management' and will not cave in during Brexit talks 'like Theresa May'. The EU's top negotiator Michel Barnier (pictured) has 'rung round Europe leaders' amid fears trade deal talks with the UK are on the brink of collapse Michel Barnier is trying to get Boris Johnson to compromise and has asked German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron (pictured) for support The German government (pictured Chancellor Angela Merkel), which holds the rotating presidency of the EU council, had intended to discuss Brexit during a meeting next week An EU insider told the Daily Express: '[Michel Barnier] thinks we're coming to the end of the road.' Germany currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council and had intended to discuss Brexit during a meeting of ambassadors scheduled for September 2. But it was dropped due to a lack of progress in recent months in discussions between Brussels and the UK as they try to agree the terms of the future relationship. EU officials accuse London of a 'wasted summer' and are said to be increasingly of the view Downing Street is prepared to walk away without a deal and blame the Bloc. Tory MPs believe the move to drop Brexit from next week's meeting is posturing by Brussels and is part of a bid to pile the pressure on Number 10 to make concessions. Senior Tory figures have claimed the EU 'still fails to understand' that the UK is now 'under new management' and will not be pushed around during talks. But a lack of progress means the matter has been dropped from the agenda. Tory MPs today warned Brussels that Boris Johnson, pictured during a visit to a school in Leicestershire, yesterday, will not cave in during negotiations One senior MP told MailOnline: 'This has always been the pattern. David Davis said this very early on in his term as Brexit Secretary. 'He said that the way the EU operates is that they make the decision at the last minute or even stop the clock. 'There could be an element of the EU wanting to put pressure on the UK. They may think that if we think they are not interested in a deal it will panic us but I don't think that will happen. 'The problem we have got is that they have set out these red lines in fishing and the level playing field and they are not willing to talk about everything else. But we are only interested in the 'everything else'. 'Given the time constraints it is increasingly unlikely that we will get a comprehensive agreement. 'I think what the EU still fails to understand is we are under new management now and it is not like it was under Theresa May.' It had been hoped Chancellor Angela Merkel would emerge as a dealmaker during crunch talks this autumn. 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 to be completed 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. Referring to the Covid-19 pandemic as an Act of God that will result in a contraction of the economy in the current fiscal, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told states that the estimated deficit of Rs 2.35 lakh crore in GST revenue this fiscal year can be made good by borrowing from the market against future tax revenues. State finance ministers, who in the meeting insisted on the borrowing to be done by the Centre to make up for revenue shortfall, said there was a lack of clarity regarding the proposal and that the distinction that the Centre is trying to make between shortfall due to GST implementation and coronavirus pandemic is unconstitutional and a betrayal of federalism. Citing a legal opinion from the Attorney General, Sitharaman ruled out the Centre making good the shortfall from either its coffers or by borrowing on its balance sheet, as the government said its legal obligation was only to compensate states for losses arising out of the GST rollout. The deficit can be made good by states borrowing using a special window, she said, adding this loan can be repaid after five years from the collection of GST cess. States can borrow about Rs 97,000 crore - the deficit arising out of GST implementation - or the entire Rs 2.35 lakh crore, she said. If states agree to either of the options, it would effectively mean that cess would continue beyond five years of GST rollout. The proposals were opposed by several states, with Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal saying the solution provided by the Centre is not acceptable to the state. The solution was thrust upon us saying that the Centre will stand guarantee and the amount will be repaid from the compensation cess which will continue for 2-3 more years. This is not acceptable to Punjab," Badal said, adding the compensation amount due to the state is Rs 6,500 crore. Delhis Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said under the existing administrative setup, the Delhi government cannot take a loan from the RBI and the Centre should do so to meet the Rs 21,000 crore deficit. He accused accused the Centre of betraying" federalism by refusing to pay GST compensation. The Centre had promised that it will pay GST compensation at the rate of 14 per cent, for five years, in case of revenue shortfall, to the states. But today in the GST Council the Centre refused it, saying there was no provision for compensation in situations like a pandemic," he said. The Kerala government also termed as unacceptable" the two options placed before the GST Council. Opposing the options, he said in both options the states will have to sacrifice a part of the compensation. He made it clear that full compensation was a constitutional right of the states. While the non-NDA ruled states such as Kerala, Punjab and West Bengal had voiced strong opinions about the Centres obligation to compensate states, Sitharaman said there was no attempt to politicise the GST Council meeting on Thursday. Several BJP-ruled states also asked the Centre to clear the dues. There was anxiety that all of us should get compensation," Sitharaman said. There was no politicisation, there were worries and worries were addressed in the sense that we were coming up with an option." But outside, there is obviously an attempt to politicise it, she added. In 2017, all states agreed to subsume their local taxes such as VAT into the new, nationwide Goods and Services Tax (GST) in return for the Centre promising to make good any loss of revenue in the first five years. But with the economy slowing down, Rs 70,000 crore shortfall was seen in last fiscal and this year it is estimated to widen to Rs 2.35 lakh crore. Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey said out of this amount, only about Rs 97,000 crore is attributable to the implementation of GST, while the rest in on account of the coronavirus pandemic. Detailing the options presented to the states, Sitharaman said the Centre, in consultation with the RBI, will provide a special window to states to borrow Rs 97,000 crore at a reasonable rate of interest. This money can be repaid after five years from the collection of cess. The other option is that the states borrow the entire GST compensation gap of Rs 2,35,000 crore through the special window. The minister said the GST Council decided that the borrowing arrangement would be for the current fiscal and a review would be done at the beginning of the next financial year. A detailed note on the two options would be shared with the states and they would give their views on it in seven working days. The minister said as soon as an arrangement is agreed upon by the GST Council, the Centre will clear the pending bi-monthly compensation. The compensation amount due for the April-July period stands at Rs 1.50 lakh crore. This year we are facing an extraordinary situation we are facing an act of God which might even result in a contraction of the economy, to what percent I am not getting into that. Therefore, we said that portion (of compensation) which strictly is hardwired in the (GST) Act, we will arrange, give it to you," Sitharaman said. The discovery has been deemed "unprecedented." A treasure of national significance thirty-two silver coins dating back to 1000-1019 have been found in Horodnytsia, Zhytomyr region. That's according to Oleksandr Alfyorov, a researcher with the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences, who took to Facebook to break the exciting news. These are the first coins minted in Rus-Ukraine, the expert wrote. Read alsoUkraine puts into circulation new UAH 10 coins (Photos, video)They depict the Kyiv prince on the averse, and the princely sign "Volodymyr's trident and Sviatopolk's two-pronged symbol". "Late night yesterday, some people my friends know contacted me, saying they had found these coins under absolutely routine circumstances. From our very first words, we came to a general accord that this find of the century must be handed over to the state, by law," Alfyorov wrote. "We need to secure this transfer because it is a precedent throughout all the years of independence. At the same time, the coins should not be lost in some high office hallways, but transferred to a museum. If you please, for history and science, I name this find 'Horodnytsia treasure'," the expert added. Ukraine treasures: other news Treasures from Kyiv Pechersk Lavra have been found in a Moscow museum. Most of the items discovered had been previously presumed lost. Painting by Pierre Louis Goudreaux, An Amorous Couple, stolen in Ukraine by Nazis during WW2 has been returned from the U.S. The repatriation of the art object became possible due to successful cooperation between diplomats and special agencies of the two states. Social activist Anna Hazare on Friday turned down Delhi BJP chief Adesh Guptas request to join the party in a mass movement against the Aam Aadmi Party government. Gupta, on August 24, wrote to Hazare asking him to join a BJP-led agitation alleging the AAP government in Delhi has become the new name of social, political and economic corruption. In his letter, posted on his Facebook profile on Friday, the 83-year-old criticised the BJP for doing little to deliver on its promise of corruption-free India. Hazare said he felt sorry reading Guptas letter, writing that there cant be anything more unfortunate that a party [BJP] which claims to be the largest political party in the world is calling an 83-year-old man, living in a 10x12 feet room in a temple, with no money or (political) power to join their movement. Hazare, who along with Arvind Kejriwal (now Delhi chief minister) and others started the India Against Corruption (IAC) movement in 2011, wrote, It is your government at the Centre. A lot of Delhi issues are under the central government. CBI, Economic Offence (Wing), vigilance, Delhi police are under the Centres control. The Prime Minister has always said that his government has taken tough action to eradicate corruption. If the Delhi government is corrupt, then why is it that your government is not taking any action against them? Or is it that the Centres claims to eradicate corruption are hollow claims? Gupta issued a statement, in which he said, Anna Hazare ji had organised a mass movement against corruption in Delhi in 2011 and the AAP, born from the same movement, is steeped in corruption today. In this context, the BJP had requested him to give his support. He himself has admitted that he has always been protesting against corruption and will take part in the fight against corruption in future. The BJP is committed and capable to fight every battle against corruption. We request those who have been fighting against corruption to join this movement. When contacted, AAP refused to comment. Sanjay Kumar, director at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), said the BJP tried to use Hazare to give legitimacy to its anti-corruption campaign. But the move backfired. Hazare had distanced himself from AAP after the latters victory in assembly elections in 2015. The BJP, I think, tried to use him as a symbol to start their anti-corruption campaign. It would have given legitimacy to their campaign given that Hazare is an anti-corruption crusader. But BJP needs to understand that unlike 2015, AAP won the recent assembly elections because of the work it has done in its first tenure. Empowering community members to demand transparency, accountability and justice in the implementation of community projects is critical in local governance. Mr Johnson Opoku, the National Director of Programmes at the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), who stated this said the ability of citizens to conduct social auditing on development projects in their communities was crucial to ensure acceptability and ownership. Mr Opoku was speaking at a community forum on social auditing organized by the NCCE for the people of Borfuorakura, in the Sekyere Afram Plains District. The programme was part of the second phase of the Accountability, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (ARAP) being implemented by the NCCE in 260 districts across the country with funding from the European Union (EU). The ARAP is a joint anti-corruption initiative between the Government of Ghana (GoG) and the EU to promote good governance, advocate and lobby for increased accountability. Mr Opoku said the social auditing concept would increase the awareness of the community members of the operations of the local government system, and to empower them to demand accountability from duty bearers. Social Auditing is not an event but rather a process towards achieving results such as producing community ownership of projects as well as deepening effective and efficient delivery of social services to communities. It is done through promoting discourse among citizens and office or duty bearers on planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and programmes, Mr Opoku said. Besides, he said social auditing would help to promote good governance by reducing corruption and improving accountability and compliance with the rule of law. Mr Arthur Wilson, the Ashanti Regional Director of NCCE, said education, health, agriculture, roads and infrastructure, social services, and energy are issues of concern to the local citizenry. He said when well audited by the community members, could lead to the attainment of the SDGs goals 1, 2, 3, which emphasizes poverty reduction, zero hunger, good health, well-being and quality education. Mr Francis Oppong, the District Director of the Sekyere Afram Plains, urged the community members to prioritize their needs through action plans. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The 2020 Shanghai Tourism Festival will run a week shorter than its usual duration due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the municipal government announced on Friday. In addition, the annual festival, which is set to take place from Sept 12 to 27, will not feature the traditional float parade for its opening ceremony this year, but the opening of the newly extended east section of the Nanjing Road pedestrian street. New routes, including the Huangpu River tour and Country Park tour and products related to food, shopping and cultural and tourism experience will also be launched during the festival. According to the organizers, the event will be extended to neighboring cities in the Yangtze River Delta region with promotion activities scheduled to take place in Nantong in Jiangsu province, Wenzhou in Zhejiang province, and Huangshan in Anhui province. YEREVAN, 28 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 28 August, USD exchange rate up by 0.21 drams to 487.24 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 3.32 drams to 579.23 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.05 drams to 6.54 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 3.44 drams to 646.66 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price down by 129.50 drams to 30137.36 drams. Silver price up by 13.50 drams to 426.8 drams. Platinum price up by 225.50 drams to 14568.57 drams. Pentagon Expects Return to Deconfliction After 'Unfortunate Encounter' With Russian Troops in Syria Sputnik News 20:50 GMT 27.08.2020(updated 21:12 GMT 27.08.2020) On Thursday, a spokesperson for the US Department of Defense said the US expects a "return to routine" in eastern Syria following a clash with a Russian patrol that left four US service members injured. On Thursday, Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman told reporters that Russian forces in eastern Syria earlier this week "breached our deconfliction arrangement in Syria and injured US service members with their deliberately provocative and aggressive behavior." "We commend our personnel on the ground for deescalating this unfortunate encounter through professionalism and restraint, which are hallmarks of the US military," Hoffman said. "We have advised the Russians that their behavior was dangerous and unacceptable. We expect a return to routine and professional deconfliction in Syria and reserve the right to defend our forces vigorously whenever their safety is put at risk." In Syria's al-Hasakah Governorate, Russian and American forces often find themselves patrolling the same roads, and encounters between them are often tense at best. During a Tuesday encounter near the town of al-Malikiyah, a Russian patrol approached a US roadblock and in the ensuring encounter, a collision between Russian and US vehicles left four US servicemembers with concussion-like injuries. However, the narratives differ depending on which side you ask. Washington maintains the Russians gave chase as the American forces attempted to withdraw, but the Russian side, which has video footage to backup their claim, says the US forces attempted to block them from passing as well as from going around their position. A similar incident occurred near the same town in June, and just last week, US forces opened fire on a Syrian Arab Army roadblock nearby outside the city of Qamishli, killing one Syrian soldier. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hours after the National Council of State (NCS) ratified the appointment of a chairman and officials of the National Population Commission, controversy has trailed the name of the person appointed as chairman. The NPC is responsible for conducting the national census in Nigeria, which last conducted a census in 2006. A few minutes after the meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, addressed State House reporters. Mr Mustapha told the journalists that the council had ratified the list containing the chairman and the other officials of the commission. He did not list the names of those approved, this newspaper learnt. However, State House reporters had sighted a list allegedly sent to the council by Mr Buhari. In the document marked SECRET, dated August 12 and sent to the council members, Silas Agara was named as chairman. The other six nominees were Muhammed Dottijo (Sokoto); Razaq Gidado (Kwara); Ibrahim Mohammed (Bauchi); Joseph Shazin (FCT); Bala Banya (Katsina); and Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin (Lagos). Messrs Agara, Dottijo, Gidado, Mohammed and Shazin were nominated for a first term of 5 years while Messrs Banya and Salu-Hundeyin were to enjoy a renewal of term of 5 years. The journalists thus went to town with the story that Mr Agara had been confirmed as chairman and the others as members of the NPC. However, hours after the story was published by several media including PREMIUM TIMES, presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, sent a brief message to reporters saying a different person was confirmed as chairman. Mr Shehu in the message said Nasiru Kwarra was confirmed as chairman of the population commission and not Mr Agara. He did not give any explanation for the change. When PREMIUM TIMES contacted Mr Shehu, he simply said the earlier circulated name of Mr Agara was a mistake. The Error While the list relied on by the journalists contained seven names, a statement made by Senate President Ahmad Lawan, who also attended the NCS meeting, showed that a list of names, different from that seen by the journalists, was approved by the council for the NPC Mr Lawan told journalists after the meeting that a list of 12 names was confirmed for the NPC. Senate President Ahmad Lawan [PHOTO CREDIT: @DrAhmadLawan] We have considered the appointment of the National Population Commission, the chairman and eleven others, Mr Lawan said. Two of them continuing and nine newly appointed to work on the National Population Commission of this country. Mr Lawans statement of the list containing 12 names tallies with that published by an online newspaper, Sahara Reporters, which published a story on Tuesday saying the list of seven names had been replaced with a list of 12 names with Mr Agara also removed as chairman and replaced by Mr Kwarra. The newspaper, however, attributed the change to religious reasons. The newspaper, citing a presidency source, said some officials of the Buhari government were not comfortable with the NPC being headed by a Christian, thus leading to the change. It published the August 12 circular as well as another dated August 21 to the NCS members that showed that Mr Agara had been nominated to only be a member of the NPC while Mr Kwarra was to be the chairman of the commission. Both men are from Nasarawa State. Mr Agara, a former deputy governor of the state, is a Christian while Mr Kwarra is a Muslim. Nigerias estimated 170 million population is largely made up of Christians and Muslims. Thursdays controversy is expected to further add to the allegations of bias against the Buhari administration which has been accused of both religious and ethnic bias, an allegation the president and his aides have repeatedly denied. Zakharova made the remark in a statement issued at a regular press briefing in Moscow on August 27 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Vietnams National Day (September 2). She highlighted that the victory of the August 1945 Revolution of the Vietnamese people under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh ended foreign domination and paved the way for the establishment of a new country on the Indochinese map, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The Vietnamese people fought to defend their freedom and independence in the following years, with two resistance wars against the French colonialists (1946-1954) and US imperialists, the spokeswoman said, affirming that the Vietnamese peoples heroic struggle concluded successfully in 1975, helping reunify the country and heralding the birth of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Zakharova stated that the large-scale political and economic support of the former Soviet Union for many years was of significance to the Vietnamese State in the early stage of its establishment. She emphasised the time-honoured tradition of friendship and win-win cooperation between Vietnam and Russia, affirming the special nature of their bilateral relations. This year, Vietnam and Russia celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of their diplomatic ties, with bilateral relations growing dynamically in the spirit of a comprehensive strategic partnership and on the basis of the rich experience accumulated over previous years, the spokesperson said. On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Vietnams National Day, she extended her wishes for the peace and prosperity of the Vietnamese people. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 23:18:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BANGKOK, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Thai economic think-tank experts on Friday said that Thailand's gross domestic product (GDP) will shrink by 10 percent this year and then will recover in a U-shape after. "The Thai economy reached the bottom of its downturn in the second quarter of this year and was facing many uncertainties including the COVID-19 pandemic, baht appreciation and political situations," said Nataporn Triratsirikul, assistant managing director of Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research) "Therefore K-Research has revised its GDP decline projection further downwards from 6 percent to 10 percent this year. "However, the Thai economy is set to recover in the form of U-Shape only if there is a vaccine for COVID-19, and that the Thai skies are open to tourists," Nataporn said. The government would see tough challenges ahead in implementing economic stimulus measures well as risk to second wave infections remains, she said. How well the Thai government handles the challenges will determine the shape of the U-curve, she said. Thanyalak Vacharachaisurapol, deputy managing director of K-Research, said loans from Thai commercial banks would grow by 6.5 to 8 percent this year compared with 2.3 percent last year as banks were assisting customers in reviving businesses. Commercial banks were financially strong and would be a key mechanism to help customers pass through the crisis, Thanyalak said. Enditem People urged to use 999 responsibly ahead of what is expected to be a busy Bank Holiday Weekend This article is old - Published: Friday, Aug 28th, 2020 The Welsh Ambulance Service is urging people to use 999 responsibly over the Bank Holiday weekend. Traditionally the service sees an increase in demand as people take advantage of the long weekend and the next three days are expected to be no different. August has been an exceptionally busy month for the Welsh Ambulance Service already. Wednesday 12 August, which was the hottest day of the year in Wales, was its busiest day of the year so far second only to New Years Day. Lee Brooks, the Trusts Director of Operations, said: More people are out and about socialising with family and friends on the Bank Holiday weekends, and this can lead to more people becoming ill or suffering injuries and requiring medical attention. While there are plans in place to deal with the increase in demand, we only have a limited number of crews and vehicles available which means that we need to prioritise those sickest patients first. It also means that people not facing a serious or life-threatening emergency could wait longer for a response or be asked to seek alternatives to an ambulance response. We certainly dont want to discourage people from calling 999 in a genuine emergency, but are asking people to consider whether an emergency ambulance is the most appropriate service for their needs. Examples of when you should call 999 include choking, chest pain, stroke, serious blood loss and unconsciousness. Using 999 correctly helps crews to reach those patients most in need of clinical attention. Our clinical staff often find themselves responding to patients who have reported a serious condition only to find they have a minor illness or injury which could have been treated by an alternative service, said Lee. The service is reminding the public of the alternatives to 999. Lee said: If youre ill and unsure what to do, please visit 111.wales.nhs.uk for advice and information or to take a symptom checker quiz. Alternatively, visit a pharmacy, your GP or a Minor Injury Unit. You can also call 111 to speak to a Nurse Advisor, or 0845 46 47 if its not available in your area. Keep yourselves and others safe so that emergency ambulances are available for those who need them most. We also continue to live with the presence of Covid-19 and so we need to continue to follow the guidance from Public Health Wales and Welsh Government. Anyone visiting Wales this weekend should remember to bring any essential medicines and stock up on repeat prescriptions before they travel. Reports of individuals failing to self-isolate as they joined large-group gatherings in the Prairie Mountain Health region has led the province to crack down and impose a new public health order. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/8/2020 (510 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Reports of individuals failing to self-isolate as they joined large-group gatherings in the Prairie Mountain Health region has led the province to crack down and impose a new public health order. Beginning today, Manitobans are required to self-isolate for 14 days if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or if they have been exposed to the virus by close contact. Failure to do so can result in fines for non-compliance up to $486. "All individuals this applies to will be contacted by Public Health through the usual process," said chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin. "Once notified, the person must go to their residence or an approved self-isolation location and remain there for 14 days, or as long as directed by Public Health." Roussin said Public Health did not necessarily confirm reports of gatherings. "What concerned us in the Prairie Mountain Health region, especially in the Brandon region, was the number of large gatherings that we linked cases to, then reports of large gatherings that had people who should have been self-isolating in attendance," he said. Roussin said those reports, as well as increasing numbers, led to the decision to designate Prairie Mountain Health as orange according to the provinces pandemic response system, as well as to implement a non-compliance order. Seeking to clarify a topic of much confusion and consternation in Brandon how the province could designate the health region as orange, while schools in the area remain at yellow Roussin said the goal of the colour levels is to target the epidemiology of an area. The province raised the level to orange in Brandon because of a number of rising indicators and the epidemiology indicated a lot of those were related to large-group gatherings. "Thats why we tailored it on the large-group gatherings, to reduce gathering sizes. But we didnt apply the order to any other sector," he said. The pandemic response system document states what may occur at the orange level, but the only aspects of the orange level the province moved on are limiting group sizes to 10 and making masks mandatory in public spaces. "Just like (with) restaurants, retail and any other sector, we did not apply (orange) to schools at this time," he said. Meanwhile, a Brandon resident who asked not to be named told The Sun that St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg cancelled an important appointment already rescheduled three times since March due to a directive not to serve people from the Prairie Mountain Health region. The Brandon resident and family members are not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, nor had they been around anyone who tested positive, they said. Theyve remained in a bubble. They said the hospital would not reconsider. Roussin, while not familiar with the particulars of that case, said public health has not given a directive to cancel anything, or any hospital procedures, as an overall status. The Sun could not reach communications personnel at the hospital Thursday afternoon. Beginning Sept. 1, all visitors arriving at health-care facilities health centres and hospitals throughout the province will be required to wear a non-medical mask. The directive doesnt apply to private primary care clinics, but Public Health strongly encourages Manitobans to wear masks when seeking care, Roussin said. Employers need to prepare for excessive levels of absenteeism, Roussin said. Anyone experiencing even minor symptoms, such as a scratchy throat or mild headache, are asked to self-isolate and get tested. Temperature is not a trustworthy indicator, he said. Roussin also encouraged every eligible Manitoban to get a flu shot this fall. CODE RED FOR BRANDON CARE HOME A previously identified COVID-19 case in the Prairie Mountain Health region is a health-care worker from the Rideau Park Personal Care Home in Brandon, according to a statement released Thursday morning by the health authority. The care home is now in the critical red level of the provinces pandemic response system. Further, the health authority stated the health-care worker wore protective personal equipment (PPE) and is self-isolating, while close contacts have been identified and the case investigation is continuing. PPE requirements currently at Rideau Park Personal Care Home are face mask and eye protection, plus the continued use of good hand hygiene practices, before and after all patient contact, according to a spokesperson for the health authority. The Brandon Sun reached out to chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin by email to ask when the worker was infected and when they worked prior to testing positive. "Were not able to provide that information to ensure the privacy of the individual. However, we can confirm that the individual is self-isolating," stated a provincial spokesperson by email. "Once the region was made aware of the positive test result, case investigations began, and close contacts were identified and notified. Public health officials have assessed the risk to be low, and the outbreak protocols were implemented in an abundance of caution. This information was shared with residents, families and staff, as well as the public." The regional health authority stated families, staff and close contacts have been informed. "While no other cases have been identified as linked to this case and the risk is assessed to be low, out of an abundance of caution an outbreak has been declared," the PMH statement reads. "This means the site is putting additional measures in place to further reduce the risk to residents and staff, and restricts visitation at the facility." Roussin, during his Thursday afternoon update, told the press the facility had been upgraded to the critical red level. This means the site is putting additional measures in place to further reduce the risk to residents and staff, and is restricting visitation at the facility. The Sun learned families were advised of the situation early afternoon on Wednesday. The health authority did not confirm with The Sun until Thursday morning, while public health official confirmed the situation 24 hours after families were notified. "Whats important with these cases is we get the report, well notify an individual of their positive status. We then start a case investigation. So just from the requisition, its unlikely that well know anything about where they work," Roussin said. "We have to reach out to that individual. We have to hear where they work, when the symptoms started, if theyre in the period of activity, then we do a thorough investigation. So the (public) reporting is a sort of an afterthought once we have everything in line." He said close contacts are notified as soon as they can be found, and that is mostly within 24 hours. "Then well make a public announcement when we are certain our investigation is accurate." BY THE NUMBERS The province announced 22 new cases of COVID-19 as of 9:30 a.m. Thursday. A case previously reported on Aug. 15 was removed from the case totals, bringing yesterdays count to 21 and the total number of lab-confirmed cases to 1,064. Nine of the new cases are in the Prairie Mountain Health region, bringing the total number of active cases to 212, with 373 recovered and one death. The number of active cases in Brandon is 126. The five-day positivity rate is three per cent. Roussin said that high number is due to targeted testing in known clusters. Roussin also reported an additional death a women in her 90s associated with the outbreak at Bethesda Place in Steinbach in the Southern Health-Sante Sud health region. The total number of deaths is now 14. Province-wide, there are 407 active cases, with 643 people recovered. Six people are in hospital, with one person in intensive care. On Wednesday, 1,429 laboratory tests were done, for 130,835 tests conducted since February. mletourneau@brandonsun.com Michele LeTourneau covers Indigenous matters for The Brandon Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism. (Bloomberg) -- Everything now appears to be going right for Xiaomi Corp., the Chinese smartphone maker whose stock failed to gain traction following its 2018 initial public offering. Shares rose 5.4% Friday, putting this months surge at what would be a record 52%. Xiaomi is at all-time highs while larger rival Huawei Technologies Co. deals with U.S. restrictions intended to crimp adoption of the companys 5G wireless technology. This weeks second-quarter report showed Xiaomis premium phones are making inroads in China, helping profit more than double. And an electric vehicle maker that Xiaomi invested in soared 41% in its U.S. debut on Thursday. About 20 brokerages have raised their stock-price targets on Xiaomi in the wake of the second quarters report, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The markets turnaround comes after Xiaomi was one of the few mainland technology giants whose shares persistently traded below its initial public offering price. From the high just days after its debut, Xiaomis stock fell 61% at 2019s bottom amid U.S.-China trade tensions and a global smartphone market slowdown ahead of the launch of 5G service. The company has been in a tough battle for market share with Huawei and smaller players Oppo and Vivo. When founder Lei Jun went public in July 2018, he said he wanted first-day buyers to double their returns. Morgan Stanley analysts wrote in a note last week that Huawei having to increasingly use third-party chips will reduce its competitive advantage in phones and give Xiaomi an opportunity to gain share in China. Xiaomi could increase market share from Huawei not just in China but also Europe and Latin America, said Citigroup Inc. analysts including Andre Lin on Thursday. (Updates stock performance data in the 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. Mosquitoes infected with a unique bacteria have led to a 'staggering' drop in dengue fever in Indonesia, researchers say. Dengue, a tropical virus that causes high fever and aches, infects some 400 million people each year and kills up to 25,000. Scientists released millions of mosquitoes injected with Wolbachia, a bacterium that prevents them from transmitting the virus. The team found that dengue infections were 77 percent lower in treated neighborhoods, compared to areas not exposed to the infected insects. Scroll down for video Scientists in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, infecting mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia, a bacterium that prevents them from transmitting dengue fever. Neighborhoods that were treated with the infected insects reported 77 percent fewer cases of dengue than areas not exposed 'This is a real breakthrough, a new hope for us, for the people and hopefully for the program,' says Adi Utarini, public health researcher at Yogyakarta's University of Gadjah Mada, who co-authored the study. Over a three year period, bacteria-carrying mosquitoes were released into a dozen randomly chosen areas in the city of more than 300,000, while twelve other were selected as controls. Examining hundreds of dengue patients across Yogyakarta, researchers found more than three-quarters had not been in the designated neighborhoods. That translates to people from those areas being four times less likely to be infected, Nature reported. Dengue, a tropical virus that causes high fever and aches, infects some 400 million people each year and kills up to 25,000. It is carried by the Aedes aegypti, a mosquito that thrives in tropical climates and breeds in stagnant water A worker sprays for mosquitoes in Singapore. Insecticides only keep mosquitoes away for a few days and insects can develop resistance. Co-author Nicholas Jewell, a biostatistician at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, called the results 'pretty staggering, 'I've never been involved in a study quite as successful as this,' he told Nature, 'We've never had anything like this. Condoms provide this level of protection.' Jewell says the estimates are probably on the conservative side, since tracking people's movements between neighborhoods is so difficult. Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes in the lab. The trial in Yogyakarta follows earlier experiments in Australia and Vietnam The trial was coordinated by the World Mosquito Program, which issued a press release this week. Detailed results will be presented later this year at a conference and published in a peer-reviewed journal, according to the WMP. BUGGING OUT: THE THREAT OF DENGUE FEVER Dengue is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes. It is caught by people visiting or living in Asia, the Caribbean, and North, South or Central America. Mosquitoes in the UK do not spread the virus. In most cases, the infection is mild and passes in around a week. Symptoms usually include: Fever Severe headache Pain behind the eyes Muscle and joint pain Nausea and vomiting Widespread rash Abdominal pain Loss of appetite There is no cure or specific treatment. Patients can relieve their symptoms via painkillers, staying hydrated and resting. In rare cases, dengue symptoms can develop into severe dengue. Elderly patients, or those with other medical conditions, are most at risk. Severe dengue fever symptoms can include: Severe skin bleeding with spots of blood on and under the skin Blood in the urine and stools Respiratory distress - when the lungs cannot provide the vital organs with enough oxygen Organ failure Changes in mental state and unconsciousness Dangerously low blood pressure Severe dengue is usually treated via a blood and platelet transfusion, IV fluids for rehydration and oxygen therapy if levels are low. Advertisement Transmitted by mosquitoes, dengue fever infects nearly 400 million people annually, according to the World Health Organization, mostly in tropical parts of the developing world. In Indonesia alone there are more than seven million cases each year. The disease causes high fever, severe headaches and joint pain and can result in lethal complications that kill up to 25,000 people every year. WHO reports cases of dengue have spiked 30-fold in the past 50 years as humans encroach into mosquito habitats and contribute to climate change. An 2018 trial with Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes in Australia also saw rates of dengue plummet, but the effects were not compared to areas that hadn't been exposed. A subsequent test in Vinh Luong, Vietnam, led to an 86 percent decline in dengue compared to a nearby resort town. Scientists call the Yogyakarta experiment a 'gold standard' trial. 'This is the result we've been waiting for,' said Scott O'Neill a microbiologist and director of the World Mosquito Program. 'We have evidence our Wolbachia method is safe, sustainable and reduces incidence of dengue.' The Indonesian trial ended a few months early because of the coronavirus panidemic, but O'Neill says the results are encouraging enough that Wolbachia should start being deployed 'worldwide across large urban populations.' Wolbachia occurs naturally in around 60 percent of all insect species, including dragonflies, fruit flies and moths. Scientists first discovered it in mosquitoes living in the drainage system beneath Harvard University in the 1920s. Aedes aegypti, or yellow fever mosquitos, thrives in tropical climates and breeds in stagnant water. They also carry yellow fever, Zika and the chikungunya virus, though Wolbachia doesn't appear to interfere with the spread of those diseases. Typically, countries plagued by the pests spray insecticide, but this only keeps the mosquitoes away temporarily. Insects can also develop resistance. Using bacteria to fight disease-carrying mosquitoes has been in development for decades, but it's not the only technique scientists are testing. This month, government officials in Florida gave the green light to release millions of genetically altered mosquitoes into parts of the Keys. The transgenic insects have been tweaked to sire female insects that die as larvae, before they grow big enough to bite humans and spread disease. Any male offspring would pass on the defective gene. But locals and environmentalists complain releasing transgenic mosquitoes could lead to a heartier, insecticide-resistant breed of bugs. The British street artist Banksy has bankrolled a new ship, named after 19th-century French anarchist Louise Michel, to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean. The pink and white vessel, which is decorated with Banksy's signature artwork, has already rescued 89 people after leaving on a secret mission from the Spanish port of Borriana, near Valencia, on 18 August. The crew of Louise Michel, a 100ft motor yacht decorated with a girl in a life vest holding a heart-shaped buoy, is understood to be made up of ten European activists. A twitter account in the boat's name says it offered support "in very rough seas to an operation assisting Sea-Watch 4, a humanitarian ship operated by the NGOs Medecins Sans Frontieres and Sea-Watch, before carrying out its own rescue mission. Fourteen women and children were among those recovered from a rubber boat in the central Mediterranean on Thursday, reported the Guardian newspaper, which has exclusive pictures of the mission. The Louise Michel is now looking to transfer the migrants to a European coastguard vessel, or to drop them off at a safe seaport. Anti-fascist struggle The ship's crew identify as anti-racist and anti-fascist activists seeking radical political change, the Guardian reported, adding that only female crew members are authorised to speak on the ship's behalf. The real Louise Michel, herself dubbed the French grande dame of anarchy, was a revolutionary and teacher, and a leading figure in what may be the most anarchistic episode of French history the Paris Commune. Captain Pia Klemp, a German human rights activist facing prison in Italy for past migrant rescues, said she believes was chosen by Banksy because of her firm political views. He contacted her my email and told her she looked like a badass before offering money to buy a boat, she told the Guardian. A former French customs vessel with a top speed of 27 knots, the Louise Michel is smaller in size but considerably faster than the usual NGO ships intervening in the Mediterranean. Klemp is hoping it will be capable of outrunning Libyan coastguard vessels looking to apprehend the migrants and return them to detention camps in Libya. Private insurer (LGI) on Friday said its promoters have infused Rs 100 crore in the company last month, reflecting their confidence in the firm's ability to build a substantial business in India. The company has also denied rumours around its stake sale. "Liberty General Insurance' promoters, Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, Enam Securities, and DP Jindal Group remain confident of the company's ability to build a substantial business in India. "With a further infusion of additional capital of Rs 100 crore made in July 2020 by its promoters, the total invested capital including share premium is now Rs 1,834 crore," said Roopam Asthana, CEO and Whole Time Director, LGI, denying a media report suggesting stake sale. A media report earlier in the morning suggested Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal was eying a stake in the company. This fresh infusion of capital by the promoters amid prevailing difficult economic situation in the country indicates their commitment and confidence in Liberty General's ability to grow profitably for many years to come, Asthana said. The company has undergone several rounds of capitalisation, LGI said, adding the current promoters are committed to the company's long-term growth. LGI said it is financially strong with a solvency ratio of 2.65 (as on June 30, 2020) as against required regulatory solvency ratio of 1.5, indicating adequate capital support for planned growth. Overall, the company registered year-on-year growth of over 36 per cent for the fiscal ended March 31, 2020. It has also recently launched a new product -- Liberty Critical Connect - and an innovative offering Liberty Assure under the regulatory sandbox mechanism, it said. LGI is a joint venture between Liberty Citystate holdings PTE Ltd - a group company of US-headquartered Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, Enam Securities, and Diamond Dealtrade (a DP Jindal Group company). It commenced operations in 2013 and offers motor, health and personal accident covers apart from commercial, fire, engineering and marine insurance. Cash-strapped Videocon Industries, which is fighting a bankruptcy case in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), exited from the general insurance business in early 2018 by selling its entire 51 per cent stake in the then Videocon to the DP Jindal Group and Enam Securities. While DP Jindal Group presently has 26 per cent stake, Enam Securities holds 25.32 per cent in Company. The foreign partner Liberty Mutual Insurance Group holds 48.68 per cent in the firm. The company has an employee strength of over 1,100 with presence across 100 plus locations in 29 states and UTs. Its partner network consists of about 5,100 hospitals and more than 4,300 auto service centres. (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.) Mr William Agyapong Quaittoo, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akim Oda in the Eastern Region, has cut the sod for construction of seven projects under the One Million Dollar per a Constituency Programme. He said, the construction of the projects under the programme was in fulfilment of the President's campaign promise to Ghana in 2016. The projects include; the construction of 18 - bed maternity ward at Oda Government Hospital, administration block for St. Francis Senior High Technical School, Community-based Health Planning Services (CHPS) Compound at Community six - Oda, Spot improvement of Aboabo town roads and Oda Nkwanta town roads, Bonka - Agyei drains phase II, at Oda - Old town and Kindergarten block at El - Shaddai School, Oda. He indicated that, the total cost for the projects was GH5,000,000.00 and expected to be completed within five months. Ms Victoria Adu, the Birim Central Municipal Chief Executive said, Oda constituency was fortunate for the approval of such number of projects and urged the people in the area to support the projects. Dr Emmanuel Acquah Harrison, the Medical Superintendent of Oda Government Hospital said, the construction of the maternity ward when completed would improve health delivery in the municipality and advised women to be conscious of their status during pregnancy by attending antenatal clinic for treatment. Mr Benjamin Cudjoe, the Birim Central Municipal Director of Education advised parents to monitor their children's studies as they stayed at home in the period of the coronavirus. 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 Last Monday, on the first night of the Democratic National Convention, the comedian Ziwe tweeted at the Democratic Party and asked it to be a guest on her Instagram Live show. It was a joke, but Symone Sanders, a senior adviser to former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., heeded the call, and she joined Ziwe on Thursday night as the Republican National Convention wrapped up. Most of Ziwes guests are canceled, and she asks them questions that are at the root of whatever caused them to be excommunicated from pop culture. While neither Ms. Sanders nor Mr. Biden has been canceled, younger voters of color, as well as younger white progressives, have tended to view Mr. Biden far more skeptically than the older Black voters who helped him clinch the Democratic nomination. Bethlehems VegFest returns for a 10th year with a hybrid of virtual and in-person events beginning Monday, followed by Eastons VegFest returning for a second year Sept. 12 in Downtown Easton. Suffice it to say, it wont be like the Lehigh Valleys past festivals celebrating healthy eating, thanks to restrictions aimed at stemming the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus illness. But organizers still have a lot in store for the vegetarian-friendly and even the vegan-curious. In fact, Bethlehems VegFest culminates Sept. 5 with The Curious Vegan Trail on-site event in Center City Bethlehem. Tickets for the event running 1 to 5 p.m. are $35 and include a passport and map, entitling the holder to sample 100% vegan offerings at 11 participating locations. Guests will also receive personal hand sanitizer and have to comply with COVID-19 restrictions. Other in-person events in Bethlehem require tickets, as well, and are in addition to free live-streamed events also beginning Monday. Visit the events Facebook page or webpage hosted by the Downtown Bethlehem Association for all the details. VegFest in Easton started in 2018 in Tatamy before moving along the citys Delaware River-front last year. It is scheduled Sept. 12 this year in Riverside Park, beginning at 11 a.m. and overlapping with the tail end of that mornings Easton Farmers Market in neighboring Scott Park. Tickets are not required for the free event, said founder and co-director Rachel Douglass, and again the event has a list of COVID-19 guidelines in place. The Easton festival runs through 5 p.m. Full details are available through the events Facebook page and website hosted in partnership with the Easton Area Chamber of Commerce. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 16:55:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned against states retreating into "provincialism" amid the COVID-19 crisis. The prime minister on Friday called for unity amid the most "significant downturn in our lifetime" as a result of the pandemic. He again called on borders between COVID-19 safe states and territories to be re-opened. "We must be one and indivisible as a nation. Whether we're from the bush, whether we're from the city, whether we're from Queensland, the territory, Western Australia, we must be Australians first," he said in a speech on Friday. "And must not allow this crisis, this pandemic, to force us to retreat into provincialism. That's not the answer." "In many of the border communities, residents are simply trying to move from one COVID-free region to another COVID-free region. And so we need to get borders open based on a common set of fair simple principles taking into account the advice of health professionals that is conveyed transparently." As of Friday afternoon there had been 25,448 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia, and the number of new cases in last 24 hours is 131. Of the new cases, Victoria confirmed 113 for the second consecutive day and the state has also confirmed 12 new deaths, taking the national death toll to 583. "All of the 12 deaths are linked to known outbreaks in aged care facilities. To date, 496 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria," said a statement from the Department of Health and Human Services in Victoria on Friday. The department also said that there are 1,362 active cases relating to aged care facilities and 449 active cases among healthcare workers in the state. New South Wales confirmed 13 new cases and Queensland confirmed another three. The number of cases in Australia has grown by about 4.2 percent in the seven days since Aug. 21. By comparison, the figure grew by about 7.3 percent in the previous seven days. However, the death toll has grown by more than 100 since Aug. 21 from 472 to 583. Enditem Find all of the most important pandemic education news on Educating N.J., a special resource guide created for parents, students and educators. Saturday is SAT testing day in New Jersey and across the nation, though many high school students who planned to take it will have to wait until the next opportunity. At least 73 high schools in New Jersey that planned to offer the SAT have canceled the exam, according to a list compiled by The College Board, while 63 were proceeding with the SAT as of Friday morning. The online cancellation list is updated every three hours but the organization says that additional locations may choose to close or reduce capacity on short notice, even on test day. Vernon Township High School is among the locations offering the SAT exam on Saturday, and is outlining safety precautions on its website. Students will be seated at least 6 feet apart and all must wear a face covering. Temperature checks are required both at home, and upon arrival, and anyone with a temperature over 100.4F will not be permitted to take the test. Testing staff also will administer a short survey, in order to determine if a student should be sent home due to illness. Pauline Anderson, Vernon high schools principal, said that 10 classrooms will be used for the testing, with 10 students per classroom. We are filled up, Anderson said. Of the 100 students taking the test, only 15 are from Vernon, she said. Anderson said a student who lives two hours away sent an email, in order to confirm the high school hadnt cancelled it. Asked why the high school decided to proceed with the SAT, Anderson credited MaryJean Ryerson, a counselor at the high school who is coordinating the testing. I think her heart just broke for all those kids who signed up, Anderson said. As of a week ago, approximately 178,600 of the 402,000 high school students across the U.S. who were registered for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests were unable to proceed due to many testing locations either closing or reducing capacity amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to The College Board. The New York City-based non-profit develops and administers the SAT. Keep up with the latest in N.J. schools coverage. Sign up with your email here: In a statement Aug. 18, The College Board cited the disruption and uncertainty students are facing in asking colleges to extend deadlines for receiving test scores and to equally consider applicants unable to take the exam. SAT tests in March were postponed at more than a dozen locations in New Jersey due to coronavirus concerns. Subsequent administrations of the exam were canceled. Asbury Park High School, Clifton High School, Edison Township High School, Jefferson Township High School, Lakewood High School and Roxbury High School are among the locations closing their test centers this time around, according to The College Boards list. Jaslee Carayol, a spokesperson for The College Board, told NJ Advance Media on Thursday that colleges understand testing opportunities are limited and that most are not requiring a score for their upcoming admissions cycle. We know this is a frustrating and challenging time for families as they navigate the college planning process, Carayol said in an email. Rutgers Universitys New Brunswick campus and The College of New Jersey announced in May that prospective students will not have to submit SAT or ACT test scores, but may continue choosing to do so as part of their applications. Carayol said the SAT testing will be offered monthly through the end of the year. This story has been updated with comments from Pauline Anderson. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Have a news tip or a story idea about New Jersey schools? Send it here. Vietnams consistent view is not to prohibit the development of Internet, but its 'reverse side', which is contrary to cultural identity, national customs and traditions, and hinders social development. The Vietnamese Governments consistent view is not to prohibit the development of the Internet, but the 'reverse side' caused by the Internet, which is contrary to cultural identity, national customs and traditions, and hinders social development. According to the Vietnam Digital Advertising 2019 report released by Adsota, last year Vietnamese spent about 6 hours and 42 minutes every day per person accessing the Internet on all devices. Specifically, they spent 2 hours and 33 minutes on social media, higher than the world average of 2 hours and 16 minutes. The Internet and social networks on the one hand benefit users, but also have downsides, including human rights issues. These issues require regulatory frameworks and policies to promote the positives and limit the downside in cyberspace. Children are the most vulnerable in the online environment. Ms. Lesley Miller, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Vietnam, said that besides the opportunities, the Internet and IT also pose many challenges. Networking platforms revolutionize the lives of children, but at the same time bring about the most horrible abuse and exploitation of children. A representative of the Ministry of Public Securitys Department of Cyber Security and High-tech Crime Prevention (A05) said that the number of criminal cases that this agency receives annually is about 1,000, of which the number of cases of crimes against children in cyberspace is increasing. The crime trend is also moving gradually to cyberspace. The social network environment is now considered fertile ground for fake news. Recently, fake information about popular actor Tran Thanh using drugs spread quickly on Facebook. Tran Thanh found the fake news spreader and decided to sue the person. The actor said that he suffered mental damage, and lost some advertising contracts because of the rumor. Tran Thanh is not the first famous person in Vietnam who has suffered from fake news. The Ministry of Public Security said that taking advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic, hostile forces and politically dissatisfied subjects at home and abroad have spread false information in cyberspace to distort the epidemic situation and the Vietnamese governments efforts to fight the pandemic. Many people released false or inaccurate, unverified information to attract views, causing social confusion. On social networks, hostile and reactionary forces have created a lot of groups and forums as well as fake and malicious information in order to propagate, distort, incite, and disturb information, and cause confusion in public opinion, creating instability in security and order to destroy the Party and State. Some took the name of "freedom of expression" to express their personal views, but actually for the purpose of creating internal instability, divisions. If these cases are handled, the hostile forces will use the guise of "Vietnam violates the right to freedom of expression", "Vietnam violates Internet freedom" ... Vietnam has implemented synchronous solutions to ensure network security, to prevent, fight and handle Internet users who abuse the Internet to violate the rights and interests of the state and citizens. This is not only consistent with international laws and the laws of other countries in this field, but also contributes to promoting the development of the Internet and the digital economy in Vietnam and protect the rights of people and society. According to a report by the Ministry of Information and Communications, for the management of electronic information, the ministry in 2019 negotiated with Facebook and Google to ask these two platforms to cooperate in remove content that violates Vietnamese laws and take measures to prevent the spread of fake news and fake accounts. The Ministry of Information and Communications also coordinates with relevant ministries and agencies such as the State Bank of Vietnam, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Public Security to synchronously deploy legal, economic and technical measures to request Facebook and Google to strictly comply with the laws of Vietnam. Mr. Luu Dinh Phuc, Director of the Department of Broadcasting, Television and Electronic Information, said that Facebook has paid special attention to fake news. The Ministry of Information and Communications will continue to work with Facebook in preventing fake news on the social network. To deal with the problem of fake news in cyberspace, the Ministry of Information and Communications has implemented a number of solutions such as directing domestic telecommunications firms to prevent websites of unknown origin from reporting fake news, strictly dealing with domestic subjects spreading fake information. The Ministry has directed press agencies to fight against fake news and distorted news that misrepresents the State's policies and laws, and coordinate with ministries, branches and localities to promptly provide information and orient press agencies with accurate, complete and objective information on burning issues that are popular in cyberspace to limit the negative impact. On that basis, the Ministry of Information and Communications will establish an effective and instantaneous information sharing mechanism between authorities and telecommunications service providers, the Internet and the community in coordinating and handling sources spreading illegal information on the Internet, by operating systems to support users to access the Internet safely. In addition, the Ministry supports and develops the community, establishes a simple, convenient communication mechanism that is ready for users to report sources of information that violate the law, and harmful information to individuals and organizations to the authorities. The Vietnamese Government has recently issued "Regulations on sanctioning administrative violations in the fields of post and telecommunications, radio frequency, information technology and electronic transactions", which took effect on April 15, 2020. This Decree increases the fine to VND20 million (over $800) for acts of abusing social networks to post and share untruthful information that distort, slander, and offend the reputation of agencies, the honor and dignity of individuals ... to ensure safety in cyberspace. It can be seen that the legal system of Vietnam on the rights of citizens to freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and freedom to access information is basically complete, synchronous and compatible with international law on human rights. In particular, the Law on Cyber Security is gradually coming to life and contributing to ensuring safety in cyberspace. The Law on Cyber Security has created a solid legal foundation to prevent, combat and handle illegal activities in cyberspace, and to protect the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals. All individuals can still express their opinions on cyberspace, and freedom of expression is completely unrestricted if they comply with the provisions of law. In addition, the law helps create a healthy and safe cyberspace. Vietnam does not prohibit the development of the Internet, but only prohibits the reverse side caused by the Internet, that is contrary to cultural identity, national traditions and customs, hindering social development, infringing on main political security, social order and safety of the country. Thai Khang Thu Hang Boeing Co. told airlines this week to pull eight of its 787 jets from service after discovering two manufacturing issues in the rear fuselage sections of the aircraft that are fabricated and assembled at the planemaker's South Carolina plant. The aerospace giant said in a statement that it found "two distinct manufacturing issues in the join of certain 787 aft-body fuselage sections, which, in combination, result in a condition that does not meet (Boeing) design standards." All 787 tail sections, including aircraft that go through final assembly at the other Dreamliner plant in Everett, Wash., are made at Boeing's South Carolina campus from lightweight carbon fiber materials. The FAA was notified, Boeing said, and it is conducting a "thorough review into the root cause." The grounding was first reported by the aviation-focused news site The Air Current. Boeing did not identify which carriers are involved. The news report said United Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Air Canada were affected. Singapore Air could not be reached for comment Friday. Representatives with United and Air Canada each confirmed pulling a 787 from service. "We immediately contacted the airlines that operate the eight affected airplanes to notify them of the situation, and the airplanes have been temporarily removed from service until they can be repaired," Boeing said Friday. The company is analyzing data for the rest of the in-service fleet, and more action could be required. The eight grounded this week were the only planes determined to have an immediate flight safety issue. The FAA said in a statement Friday that the agency is "aware of the matter and continues to engage with Boeing." The company added that it will "continue to work closely" with regulators. Repairs on each plane will take about two weeks, Boeing estimated. In 2013, the entire fleet of Dreamliners which at that time was 50 jets total were grounded because of issues with lithium ion batteries. Part of the fleet was put out of service again in 2018 because of faulty Rolls-Royce-made engine blades. Boeing would not confirm whether this was the only time a Dreamliner grounding has been caused by a structural issue with its airframe. The company is still dealing with the consequences of the March 2019 grounding of its 737 Max, which has not been cleared to fly passengers yet. The first of two deadly crashes of the Max jet happened almost two years ago. While final assembly of 787s is split between North Charleston and Everett, all aft-body fuselages are made in South Carolina. Some of the joined aft- and midbody sections are then flown on Boeing's massive Dreamlifter cargo plane for final assembly in Washington state. Others are rolled over to the assembly plant on the North Charleston campus next to Charleston International. Boeing is currently studying a possible consolidation of Dreamliner production to one location. Many analysts and industry watchers expect that the Everett line could be shuttered if the company goes that route. In addition to assembling all aft- and midbody 787 sections, Boeing's North Charleston plant is the exclusive manufacturer of the 787-10, the largest of the three Dreamliner models. Shifting operations to South Carolina could present cost savings opportunities, which is key as the company tries to weather the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced Boeing to lay off workers and slash production rates. But the Charleston plant has drawn scrutiny in the last year after reports of shoddy production work and allegations of prioritizing speed over safety. Last month, the FAA released letters describing alleged harassment and "undue pressure" its safety representatives experienced while working with managers at the North Charleston plant, including some of the most senior leaders. In its statement Friday, Boeing reiterated that its "highest priorities" are safety and quality. A New York state geothermal energy company is expanding into Connecticut, first in Fairfield County this fall and next year in New Haven County. Dandelion Energy of Peekskill, N.Y., has begun advertising in Fairfield County and expects to install its first geothermal system by Oct. 31, said Michael Sachse, the companys chief executive officer. The company, founded in 2017, was spun off from the research and development lab at Googles parent company, Alphabet. They had this division, Google X, and the goal was to come up with world changing ideas, Sachse said. Google remains one of Dandelions financial backers, he said. Geothermal energy is the thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth. Deep beneath the earths surface, the temperature remains at a 55 degrees constantly, Sachse said. We drill a very deep, very narrow hole in the ground, install a tube and run water through it, he said. The tube is a closed loop, so the water is continually recirculating the liquid. The companys geothermal heating system uses an electric-powered heat pump inside a home. The buried tube or pipe system, also known as ground loops, circulate fluid. The heat pump and circulating fluid continuously transfer heat. During summer, the geothermal system draws heat from the air in a home and transfers it to the ground. During winter, it draws heat from the ground and transfers it to the home, according to the company. Sachse said geothermal energy systems are not widely in use in Connecticut currently, especially for homes. The reason ... is geothermal has struggled to be cost competitive, he said, Were offering cheaper geothermal and DEEP (Connecticuts Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) has increased incentives for geothermal. In the past, a geothermal energy system for an average-size home easily could cost anywhere from $50,000 to $60,000, Sachse said. We think we can start at $40,000 and there is a federal tax credit that reduces the overall cost by 26 percent, he said. Sachse said Dandelion is able to offer geothermal heating and cooling at a lower cost because the company focuses strictly on residential systems. Most geothermal providers have a significant focus of their business on commercial projects, he said. Were able to use smaller, lower impact equipment to install our systems. We want to be able to say yes to potential customers and part of that is being able to fit our equipment in your yard. Sachse said Fairfield County was a logical new market for Dandelion to serve, because it allows them to use existing warehouses the company has in New York Citys northern suburbs. Another reason for targeting southern Connecticut as its newest market is the number of homes in the state that are heated by oil, he said. There are 550,000 houses that use home heating oil, Sachse said. Oil heat tends to be more expensive. Those are words to object to for Chris Herb, executive director of the Connecticut Energy Marketing Association, a trade group whose members include a majority of the states independent home heating oil dealers. Herb called residential geothermal energy systems a waste of time effort and money. Most people are so price sensitive that theres not a lot of excitement about spending north of $40,000 to heat and cool your home, Herb said. A new boiler will cost anywhere (from) $7,000 to $12,000 for a system burning renewable biodiesel. At that price, we could install four of our systems for the cost of one geothermal system. Herb also stressed that independent home heating oil dealers are family owned businesses that support 13,000 jobs in the state. Sachse said geothermal energy systems are very efficient compared to using oil heat. From a heating standpoint, you are using 80 percent less energy, he said. Geothermal is a clean, cost-saving alternative to fossil fuels. Were excited to work with Connecticut homeowners to lower their heating bills while never having to worry about a fuel delivery again. Dandelions geothermal systems can be purchased for cash or with financing, Sachse said. Homeowners in Connecticut who pay cash and switch from fuel oil or propane heating could save about 50 percent in annual home heating and cooling costs, he said. According to Sachse, the savings means the cost of the system pays for itself in fewer than seven years. luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com NEW DELHI: Six ministers of non-BJP ruled states moved the Supreme Court on Friday (August 28, 2020) seeking review of its order permitting the Centre to conduct NEET and JEE entrance exams this year amid the persisting COVID-19 pandemic. The review plea has been filed by ministers from West Bengal (Moloy Ghatak), Jharkhand (Rameshwar Oraon), Rajasthan (Raghu Sharma), Chhattisgarh (Amarjeet Bhagat), Punjab (B S Sidhu) and Maharashtra (Uday Ravindra Sawant). The plea has been filed through advocate Sunil Fernandes. On Aug 17, the top court had refused to interfere with the conduct of medical and engineering entrance exams - NEET and JEE - scheduled to take place in September saying that life must go on and students can't lose a precious year due to the pandemic. The apex court had dismissed a plea by one Sayantan Biswas seeking direction to National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts both the NEET and JEE exams, to postpone them and said that there was absolutely" no merit in the plea. Meanwhile, Congress party workers today held protests outside Shastri Bhawan, demanding the Centre to postpone JEE and NEET exams in September. Delhi Congress leaders and workers, including its president Anil Kumar, were detained by police on Friday during a protest against the holding of the JEE and NEET exams amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Several Congressmen were detained by the police near the Shastri Bhawan and taken to the Mandir Marg police station, Kumar said. "The Centre and its education ministry are endangering the lives of 25 lakh students by being adamant on holding the JEE and NEET when the number of coronavirus cases is going up in the country," he said. The Delhi Congress chief said despite opposition from many states as well as from students and their parents, the Centre is not reconsidering its decision, which is unfortunate. "We are only requesting the Modi government and its education ministry to postpone the two exams for some days till the COVID-19 situation is under control," he said. While the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) is scheduled to be held on September 13, engineering entrance exam JEE-Main has been planned from September 1-6. Around 8.58 lakh candidates have registered for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)-Main and 15.97 lakh have registered for the NEET. The exams have been deferred twice in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Banks are facing major challenges to carry out their capital increase plans this year due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. ACB is among a few banks to complete the charter capital this year. Photo ACB To meet the capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of the international banking standard Basel II as required by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), many State-owned and private commercial joint-stock banks approved plans to increase capital early this year. However, the pandemic might ruin their plans, especially for banks that didnt report high profit last year. It has been reported that only a few banks, including ACB and Bac A Bank, have succeeded in their capital increase plans to date. Recently, ACB was among few banks to complete the charter capital hike from VND16.63 trillion (US$713.73 million) to nearly VND21.62 trillion through issuing shares at a rate of 30 per cent to pay dividends in 2019. Bac A Bank also increased its charter capital from VND6.5 trillion to VND7.1 trillion by issuing 58.5 million additional shares to pay dividends, with a ratio of 9 per cent. Some other banks expect to do the same to increase their capital in the remaining months of this year as it is considered the most feasible method amid the pandemic. HDBank announced it would issue shares to pay dividends at a rate of 50 per cent and bonus shares at the rate of 15 per cent, increasing its charter capital from nearly VND9.81 trillion to VND16.088 trillion. If the issuance is completed this year, HDBank will have the highest charter capital growth in the local banking industry. TPBank is also planning to issue shares to increase its charter capital, which is expected to increase from nearly VND8.6 trillion to more than VND10.6 trillion. To meet the plan, TPBank will issue more than 181 million shares and issue nearly 34 million shares under an employee stock ownership programme. Many other banks, such as MB, SCB and VietA Bank are also planning to raise capital using the measure. While increasing stock dividend to hike capital is the fastest solution at this moment due to the impacts of COVID-19, experts forecast it would be uneasy to do as it needed approval from the banks shareholders. In fact, in the current situation, it is difficult to raise capital right from existing shareholders, let alone potential investors, including foreign investors. From the beginning of the year until now, due to the outbreak of the pandemic, all economic sectors and industries have slowed and faced challenges to raise capital. There are only some four months left this year while the country has to resolve the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in some localities, causing difficulties for sectors, including banking, to raise capital. It, therefore, challenges banks to meet their capital increase plans set early this year, banking expert Nguyen Tri Hieu told Viet Nam News. Despite the challenges, Hieu said the application of the capital adequacy ratio Basel II standards should follow the SBVs roadmap this year, explaining that the more challenges the banking system faced, the more transparency needed to be improved. The COVID-19 pandemic will be one of the tests to prove the resilience of the countrys credit institution system to difficulties. Meeting Basel II standards is also a confirmation of the banks financial strength and reputation, Hieu said. As for State-owned banks Agribank, Vietcombank, VietinBank and BIDV, the SBVs Governor Le Minh Hung recently directed agencies to work with relevant ministries to increase charter capital for the banks. While Agribank might be allowed to increase capital using the State budget, VietinBank and Vietcombank expect to get the hike through paying dividends in shares. At the end of 2019, the average CAR of the four State-owned banks according to Basel I standards was only 9.4 per cent, slightly higher than the prescribed minimum CAR of 9 per cent. This level is much less than the CAR of private joint-stock banks (12.1 per cent) and lower than the average CAR of the entire system of credit institutions (13 per cent). Notably, industry insiders said if calculating based on Basel II standards, the CAR of the banks would fall below 8 per cent. VNS Thu Ha Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 28, 2020 16:02 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c412f42c 1 National mud-volcano,eruption,Blora,Central-Java,jawa-tengah,poisoning,buffaloes,residents,semburan-lumpur Free A hot mud crater managed by the Randublatung forest management unit (KPH) at the Padas forest management resort (RPH) in Gabusan village, Central Java, erupted on Thursday morning. Gabusan village supervisory non-commissioned officer Chief Sgt. Jatmiko said four villagers were poisoned after inhaling gas from the eruption as they were herding buffaloes nearby. Four residents, namely Marno, Sukimin, Kadis and Warino, were suspected of suffering from gas poisoning and were rushed to the nearest Puskesmas [community health center], Jatmiko said on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com. As many as 19 buffaloes belonging to residents were reportedly buried in the mud, he added. Gabusan village head Parsidi said the mud eruption occurred at around 5:30 a.m. with a deafening boom. This one had the highest burst, reaching a dozen meters, and it was loud, Parsidi said. RPH Padas forestry police member Agus Rimbawanto said the eruption reached a radius of up to 1 kilometer, which was unusual for the area as it was used to experiencing small eruptions. So, from morning to noon, it was still gushing and many residents were scared, Agus said. Resident Supriyanto, 36, said that unlike past cases, the vibrations from the mud eruption this time reached the surface and the settlements. We were shocked that the [eruption] was this strong, he said. Only one buffalo has been found safe. Read also: Drilling, not quake, caused Sidoarjo mud volcano: Paper Kandeng Selatan Energy and Mineral Resources Agency head Teguh Yudi Pristiyanto suspected that the Blora incident was a mud volcano, with a burst of mud mixed with poisonous gases. Residents were poisoned by inhaling gas. This phenomenon occurs naturally, not just as a result of well drilling, Teguh said. According to Teguh, a similar phenomenon occurred in 2013 at the same location, where a mud volcano expelled liquids such as hydrocarbons and gases such as methane. The Indonesian Association of Geologists East Java chairman, Handoko Teguh Wibowo, echoed Teguhs statement, saying that the eruption was a mud volcano. This shows the emergence of mud volcanoes. The mud has a composition of gases, water and solids, said Handoko, who is also a geology and mining engineering lecturer at the Adhitama Institute of Technology in Surabaya, East Java. Unlike in a volcano that emits magma, the temperature of materials resulting from a mud volcano is lower. The materials released are fine grains suspended in a liquid. The gas produced is generally methane, with a small amount of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. In Indonesia, mud volcano eruptions have occurred in Sidoarjo, East Java, which is still frequently discussed, as well as in Blora, Grobogan and Rembang regencies in Central Java and in several areas in East Java. Handoko said the mud volcano in Blora was characteristically different from that in Sidoarjo. The Sidoarjo mud volcano had a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius. This one reached 30 to 32 degrees, he said. (syk) Wind and rain couldnt keep Connecticut Republicans from gathering at a golf course in Waterbury Thursday to tune in to the final night of the Republican National Convention as they awaited the headliner: President Donald Trump, who would accept the nomination for a second term. Roughly 50 people gathered under a tent to watch and cheer for the final lineup of speakers, including Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, a former Democrat. Many in the crowd in Waterbury had hoped and expected to make the trip to Jacksonville or Charlotte for the convention, but ended up voting by proxy earlier in the week due to the COVID pandemic. For people like Ben Proto, a Stratford Republican attending his fifth convention and fourth as a delegate, the virtual event just didnt compare. The thing about the conventions are the people in the room, the excitement in the room. Everyone jokes about the confetti and the balloon drop, but the balloon drop is important, Proto said, comparing the conventions for both parties to the pace lap of the Indianapolis 500. The engines are revving, theyre getting lined up, theyre heading toward the starting line, and that balloon drop is like the green flag. Its on after that. Still, hes not concerned about the impact missing that excitement will have on the campaign over the next two and a half months. Generating excitement isnt going to be a problem, Proto said. The Democrats dont have any excitement for Joe Biden. Its all about Trump, whether you love him or hate him. Jeff Santopietro, Connecticut coordinator for the Trump 2020 campaign, said if not for the rain and storms, the tent would have been full in Waterbury Thursday night. We still got 50 or 60 people, and that really shows the excitement for the president, Santopietro said. Throughout the week, the Republican National Convention featured speeches from Vice President Mike Pence, numerous family members including first lady Melania Trump, top administration officials, leading GOP lawmakers and speakers from swing states that Trump will fight to win in 2020. But the convention was also important for down-ballot Republicans vying for open seats. It provided an opportunity to appeal to voters and donors across the country. Michael T. FitzPatrick, a member of the Republican state central committee from Glastonbury, has tuned into the convention all week and was so moved by Kim Klacik, a young black Republican running for the seat left vacant by Rep. Elijah Cummings who died last October, that he sent $25 to her campaign. In contrast to a Democratic watch party a week ago for the nomination of former Vice President Joe Biden, the event in Waterbury did not draw the top Connecticut elected Republicans, though some candidates for office were on hand including Margaret Streicker, challenging Rep. Rosa DeLauro in the 3rd Congressional District, and David X. Sullivan, challenging Rep. Jahana Hayes in CT-5. No former presidents spoke in support of Trump, a contrast with the Democratic National Convention, which concluded last week and featured former presidents Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. George W. Bush is the only living former GOP president. On Thursday night, Connecticut Republicans Leora Levy, of Greenwich; John Frey, of Ridgefield, and state Republican party Chairman J.R. Romano were set to watch Trump accept the Republican nomination in person at the White House. The three are members of the Republican National Committee. Levy and Frey represented Connecticuts GOP delegates in Charlotte, N C., where the party held a proxy vote to nominate Trump on Monday, the first day of the convention. Weve done a very good job making the case for re-electing President Trump, Levy said. A Cuban immigrant, Levy praised the speech of a Cuban-American man on the first night of the convention who argued that Democrats would direct the country toward socialism and communism. A day or two before I left for Charlotte, I spoke to my father, who is 89, Levy said. We escaped from Cuba in 1960. We came here for freedom. We came here basically to save our lives and I had the exact same conversation with my father. He said, If the United States goes communist where do we go next? There is nowhere else to go. We must prevent this from happening in America. Conservative Peter Wolfgang, president of the Family Institute of Connecticut, praised the pro-life messages in the convention, noting that Trump has become the most pro-life president in recent history with his appointment of judges who oppose abortion and speech at the 2020 March for Life, among other actions. I was a hairs breadth shy of being a Never Trumper in 2016. I voted for him in 2016 with great reluctance, he said. Ive never been happier to have been so wrong. Others, including former U.S. Rep. Chris Shays, R-4 , have decided to support Biden in 2020. Shays endorsed Biden last week with more than 20 other former Republican members of Congress. Id support Joe even if he wasnt running against Donald Trump. From my view, his age is really a benefit, Shays said. Hes learned from his successes and hes learned from his mistakes. I just consider him very wise. I re-read his speech and I would have been proud to give it. The Republican convention has presented a case that Trump was the law-and-order candidate who would stand up for freedom of religion and school choice, oppose abortion, cut taxes and pull America from the economic devastation created by the pandemic. Trump issued a pardon and presided over a naturalization ceremony at the White House, blending official acts and the use of federal property in an unprecedented manner that controverted political norms and federal law. The GOP convention also featured mid-sized live audiences at speeches at the White House and Fort McHenry in Baltimore without masks or social distancing despite coronavirus regulations on gatherings. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in a telephone conversation with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen expressed appreciation to her for her support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. "We look forward to a meeting of the leaders of the N4 [Normandy Four] countries after the meeting of our advisers. We really want to maintain a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire regime. We are doing everything to move forward until the end of the war," he said on Twitter on Friday. Theres another part of Trumps 2016 acceptance speech that attempts to paints Biden who is not yet president but is to blame for all terrible things happening now in a bad light: The most basic duty of government is to defend the lives of its own citizens. Any government that fails to do so is a government unworthy to lead. A man has been charged with assault and arson after an attack Wednesday night, Bethlehem police say. He beat up a sleeping woman about 11 p.m., court papers say, then came back an hour later and punched her several times before trying to light a blanket on fire that covered her and three children. Dameion Emmanuel Joseph, 20, of the 600 block of Fiot Street in Bethlehem, grabbed the woman by the neck and hit her twice in the face during the first incident, police said. The second time around, he assaulted her, dragged her by the hair and threatened to burn down the house before pulling out a lighter, flicking it and putting it to the blanket, city police said. Joseph was arrested by Bethlehem police and arraigned at 9:30 a.m. Thursday before District Judge Nancy Matos Gonzalez on charges of arson, simply assault (six counts) and harassment (two counts) and housed in Northampton County Prison in lieu of $250,000 bail, records show. His preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled 9 a.m. Sept. 10 in Gonzalezs court in South Bethlehem. Court papers do not list an attorney for Joseph. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Tony Rhodin can be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. More: Lancaster County woman accused of killing her infant son headed to trial Armed and dangerous suspect wanted after Pa. woman shot multiple times and killed in her backyard: cops We need people to come forth: New dads unsolved killing in Harrisburg frustrates family The couple fled their native Syria in the midst of heavy violence and eventually made it to Malaysia. And then, for eight years, they waited to go to their new home. Waill and Dana Tatari, who arrived about a month ago, are the second Syrian family to be taken in by the Bow Valley Syrian Refugee Project. They will make a home of Canmore, thanks to the sponsorship. The pair, now finished their 14-day quarantine, and are getting to know their new community which at first felt a bit frigid compared to what they were used to. "I remember when we first arrived here it was night and it was freezing cold. And when I say freezing cold, it was 16 [degrees]," said Waill. With a laugh, he adds that he's been told by many people to prepare for below zero weather in the winter. The first time he stepped into their Canmore house, Waill says he cried, as the couple haven't had their own place since being in Syria. "It's overwhelming," Dana said. "Everything is different. We always meet nice people here, like Canadians are amazing." A long journey The couple says that while they were in Malaysia, they were set to go to New Zealand. They had an interview setup with their immigration officer, and were expecting to leave for the country sometime afterward. But about 12 hours before the interview, Waill said they got a call saying their file had been withdrawn. While trying to find somewhere else to go, Waill reached out to a cousin who lives in Canmore and who moved to Canada about 14 years ago. It was how they were put in touch with the Bow Valley group. That was back in December 2016, when Debra Hornsby, chair of the Bow Valley Syria Refugee Project, said the group received their email. Hornsby said the group had just finished bringing in a family of six, who were settled into Canmore. She said it happened to be the right time, while the group felt they had capacity for another family. "He and Dana were stuck in Malaysia. They had no status there. They had fled Syria during some of the heaviest fighting," Hornsby said. Story continues The Tataris' application was completed in 2017, and then they waited. It wasn't until March that the Bow Valley group announced the couple's permanent resident visa applications had been approved by Canada. Then, as they were waiting for their travel dates, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. "Everything stopped," Hornsby said. But on July 23, the couple finally arrived. "It would have been four years this coming December." Hornsby said it wasn't difficult to raise the funds to get both families to Canada. She said they're hopeful the group can sponsor another family eventually. Under the group's sponsorship terms, the couple will be provided with living expenses and support for one year. Settling in "We felt home from Day 1," Waill said. "In Malaysia everything is different. We were always anxious, because we don't belong there, in a way. We were still illegal. so we couldn't do anything." Dana says she thinks the pandemic, to an extent, may have hurt the plight of other Syrian refugees around the world, partly because the war crisis might not be getting the same attention it previously did in pre-COVID-19 times. "For sure, that will affect them because when you're worried about yourself and your family, it's harder to think about people in other countries," she said. "This is understandable." The couple says they're grateful for the support of the community and the sponsors from the Bow Valley group. And they're looking to grow roots in their new community. Waill is a graphic and web designer, but he said he recently took a slight pivot in his career he became a game designer. "Hopefully I'll try to start my own gaming studio," Waill said. "I want to find a way to settle here, maybe buy a small house here, have a car and just do my thing." "I think it's going to be fine," Waill said, chilly weather and all. Egypt's New Cairo Misdemeanour Court on Thursday upheld a one-year suspended sentence for the former head of the countrys Central Auditing Organisation (CAO), Hisham Geneina, in addition to fining him EGP 20,000 on charges of spreading false information against the state. Geneina was sacked in as top auditor of the country's main anti-corruption agency in 2016 after he made statements to the media saying that widespread graft had cost Egypt EGP 600 billion in the period from 2012 to 2015. The state security prosecution said previously that Geneinas claims about government corruption were inaccurate. In addition, a statement issued by the general prosecutors office said that Geneinas statements exaggerated the amount of corruption, claiming that the former auditor stated during investigations that those numbers included other years as well, and other reasons than just corruption. In July 2016, Geneina was convicted in a lower court and given a one-year prison sentence, suspended by a EGP 10,000 bail payment, and a EGP20,000 fine. The former chief auditor challenged the ruling and in December 2016 the New Cairo Misdemeanour Appeal Court gave him a suspended one-year sentence. Following the acceptance of the appeal for a retrial, the case was referred to the New Cairo Misdemeanour Court, which started its first session in July of this year. After three sessions it issued a ruling upholding the one-year suspended sentence on Thursday. Geneina is currently serving a five-year sentence on a separate conviction in a military court in 2018. The military prosecution charged him with "offensive statements towards the state" following his claims during an interview with the HuffPost Arabi news website that former military chief Sami Anan possessed documents containing state secrets and evidence relating to major events since 2011. Geneina was a leading figure in Anan's short-lived 2018 presidential campaign, before Anan was barred from running in the elections by the National Elections Authority for not obtaining the approval of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces as an active member of the military. In April 2018, an Egyptian military court sentenced him to five years in prison for spreading false news about the armed forces and the country's internal affairs. The verdict was upheld by the military appeals court in March 2019. Search Keywords: Short link: MULTAN, Pakistan - A Pakistani court on Wednesday convicted on terror financing charges three associates of a radical cleric wanted by Washington for his role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Two of the militants, Malik Zafar Iqbal and Abdul Salam Bhattvi, were sentenced to five years in jail, while the third, Abdul Rehman Makki, received an 18-month sentence from the court in Lahore, the counter-terrorism department said in a statement. The three men are close associates of Hafiz Saeed, the founder and chief of the outlawed group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was blamed by India for the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people. The three men were found guilty of collecting funds for Saeeds charity organizations, Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Falah-e-Insaniat, which are alleged fronts for Lashkar-e-Taiba and Saeed has been serving a 5 1/2-year prison sentence since February after being convicted of financing terrorism. Since gaining independence in 1947, Pakistan and India have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir, which is split between them and claimed by both in its entirety. Read more about: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday quashed an earlier order, considered discriminatory, and allowed home quarantine for asymptomatic Covid 19 cases in Jammu province like it is being done in the Kashmir Valley. Govts major decision--All asymptomatic Covid positive cases in Jammu province to be in home isolation with conditions as in Kashmir--free oximeter, compulsory, Arogya Setu & proper isolation space with a poster outside the house. Those presently in hospital to wait till they test negative, the department of information and public information posted a tweet on Friday. However, in a striking contrast to governments claims of augmenting health infrastructure to effectively tackle Covid 19 pandemic in Jammu and Kashmir, the government medical college and hospital (GMCH) in Jammu is bursting at the seams during these testing times. GMCH Jammu is a major referral hospital where patients from all the 10 districts of the region are referred and treated. Government medical colleges and hospitals in nine other districts of Jammu province are referring even asymptomatic Covid cases to us. At least such cases can be retained and treated in their respective district hospitals, said a senior doctor of the GMCH Jammu explaining the reason behind overcrowding at the hospital. Citing the pressure on GMCH, senior doctors have been questioning the logic for the two yardsticks for asymptomatic cases in Kashmir and Jammu regions. Also Read: Jammu and Kashmir, 9 states account for 89% of Covid-19 deaths: Govt In Kashmir, the administration is allowing home quarantine of asymptomatic cases contrary to the situation in the Jammu region. As a result theres 100 percent bed occupancy in GMCH Jammu, he said. From 28 Covid cases on March 28, the tally in Jammu and Kashmir has now gone up to 35,135, out of which 26,721 have been cured while 671 have died. Also Read: Over 77,000 Covid-19 cases recorded for the first time, tally goes up to 3.38 million Another doctor said that nearly six months on since the first Covid 19 case was detected in Jammu on March 8, the GMCH Jammu was bursting at the seams. He also questioned the logic of hospitalizing asymptomatic health staff, who could have looked after themselves and saved some hospital beds. Since the anomaly has been removed by the government allowing home quarantine in Jammu province, things will improve for us and people as well, he noted in relief after the administration allowed home isolation. Parents of a five-year-old boy who accidentally consumed caustic soda at Ananekrom, a farming community in the Asante-Akim North District, have appealed for financial support for the boy to undergo a surgery. Wakeem Asalewe drank the substance when he was two years old but now requires GH60,000.00 to reconstruct his damaged food pipe. For three years, the boy is unable to swallow both liquid and solid foods and is fed through a tube inserted into his stomach via the abdominal wall by doctors at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). His parents are unable to raise the funds for the surgery and have appealed to public support and save the life of the child. Asalewe is expected to undergo four surgeries to correct his narrowing oesophagus before he can eat. Mr Roland Welga-Miah, the District Director of Health Services, who brought the plight of little Wakeem to light, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that GH15,000.00 was needed for the first surgery. He appealed to well-meaning Ghanaians and philanthropists to donate towards the treatment of the child to GCB-Agogo Branch Account Number: 6221130003359. A medical report signed by Dr Michael Amoah, a Paediatric Surgeon at KATH indicated that the boy was diagnosed with corrosive oesophageal stricture, which rendered him incapable of swallowing food. It said staged management had commenced but he required colonic bypass-replacing the strictured oesophagus with the colon. 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 Glenwood Burley, a retired Richmond police officer, said hes not sure that there is all that much tweaking that needs to be done with the department. He cited the low morale among the rank and file, who he said have been stretched thin by the recent civil unrest, and the lack of vocal support expressed by city officials. The police department is currently in need of stabilization, said Burley, referencing the recent turnover at the top. But he added that he thought communication between officers and the public could be improved, as well as the perception of the department in some of the neighborhoods it patrols the most. At the task forces Aug. 21 meeting, the group posed some daunting questions about whether the department would acknowledge the harm it has done in some of Richmonds most vulnerable communities and whether those communities can heal, if police dont make the acknowledgment. Along with policy recommendations, Stoney tasked the group to help our city heal. LOS ANGELESAVN Media Network is pleased to announce the launch of the Daydream Contest on AVN Stars. Are you someones fantasy? A welcome distraction? Or what is your favorite pleasant thought that takes your mind off the task at hand? Get creative with a personal photo that shows how youre a daydreamor what you daydream about. Just be sure that you are in the image that you submit. This three-day, 72-hour, fan-voting contest started at midnight PDT on Aug. 28 and goes until 11:59 p.m. PDT on Aug. 30. All AVN Stars are eligible to enter and the Top 10 vote-getters will each receive cash prizes with the winner getting $750! To enter, just go into your Settings, click on the Contests tab and upload your image. Under contest rules, all uploaded images must feature the content creator; in addition, creators are required to post a tweet about their participation in the contest. To join AVN Stars for free, visit stars.avn.com. Designed specifically for the needs of adult entertainers, AVN Stars is a subscription-based community where creators can monetize their content without worrying about censorship, discrimination, suspensions or shadow-bans. Creators may charge a subscription fee or make their posts available free of charge. Donald Trump Jr retweeted a post that claimed the Department of Justice is dropping the hammer, as 74 protesters face federal charges over Portland demonstrations. On Friday, the presidents eldest child retweeted a post from former Vice journalist and self described disaffected Liberal Tim Pool, which claimed the DOJ is dropping the hammer over protest arrests in Portland, Oregon. Mr Pools tweet linked to a press release from the US Attorneys Office in Oregon, which read: 74 people facing federal charges for crimes committed during Portland demonstrations. In the statement, Oregon US attorney Billy J Williams wrote: Violent agitators have hijacked any semblance of First Amendment protected activity, engaging in violent criminal acts and destruction of public safety. He added: The US Attorneys Office and our federal law enforcement partners are expeditiously working with local and state law enforcement to identify, arrest, and prosecute these individuals that are disrupting the rule of law in our communities and physically attacking our law enforcement officers and destroying property. Violent agitators not only delay real reform, but make our community less safe by keeping law enforcement from responding to other critical calls for service. Black Lives Matter protests have been taking place in Portland for the last three months, following the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis. Mr Floyds death sparked protests in every state in the US in opposition to police brutality against African Americans, and protesters in Portland have called for reform of the citys police department. Last month, the Trump administration deployed federal agents to the city, after the federal courthouse became a target of nightly violence. Portland police have arrested more than 500 people at protests since late May, while the federal agents arrested an additional 100 people during demonstrations at the courthouse last month. Recommended Portland protesters burn Maga hats on eve of Trump convention During his speech at the Republican National Convention (RNC) earlier in the week, Mr Trump Jr said that anarchists have been flooding our streets, in relation to the Portland protests. He added that: Every American must be free to live without the fear of violence in their communities, in their homes, and said that police forces across the US should not be defunded. No matter what the Democrats say, when we dial 911, we cant have it going to voicemail, Mr Trump Jr said. The Trump administrations decision to deploy federal agents in the city was criticised by mayor Ted Wheeler last month, who told demonstrators: We dont want them here, and added: We demand that the federal government stop occupying our city. However, as the violence increased at some protests over the last month, the mayor called for demonstrators to stop the violence. After some demonstrators started a fire outside the Police Bureaus East Precinct building, Mr Wheeler pleaded for violence to stop and said he will not tolerate similar actions during future demonstrations. When you commit arson with an accelerant in an attempt to burn down a building that is occupied by people who you have intentionally trapped inside, you are not demonstrating, you are attempting to commit murder, Mr Wheeler said. The mayor added: I believe that city staff could have died last night. I cannot and I will not tolerate that. This is not peaceful protests. This is not advocacy to advance reforms. However, violence has continued during some protests in the city, and 23 arrests were made on Monday, as Portland authorities declared a riot when fires were started outside of its North Precinct. In a press release about the federal charges filed on Friday, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Seattle, Eben Roberts, claimed the community in Portland needs to work together. The special agent said: Progress can only be made if community leaders, law enforcement and the public come together in the name of social change, justice and peace. 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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. Courtesy call He made the appeal when the 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 last Wednesday. 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. Contest of ideas Otumfuo Osei Tutu stated that politics was a contest of ideas and development. He, therefore, advised politicians to tell Ghanaians what they intended doing to transform their lives for the better, as they solicited for votes ahead of the December general election. That, he said, required that political parties explain their manifestos and development agenda to the people to help Ghanaians to make informed decisions in the choice of their leaders. Otumfuo Osei Tutu lauded Prof. Opoku-Agyemang for emerging as the running mate to the NDC flag bearer. He advised her to endeavour to bring her expertise to bear on the activities of the party as it sought to regain power. NDC agenda Former President Mahama said the party would not disappoint Ghanaians 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 stated. Citing the NDCs agenda, which aimed at injecting into the economy $10 billion, the former President said the plan had been designed to drive job creation, entrepreneurial and infrastructural growth. Former President Mahama emphasised 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. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang was grateful to the Asantehene for granting the two leaders audience, saying the NDC stood for peace and development. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A group of religious leaders from Kenyas different faiths under the Dialogue Reference Group has demanded accountability in the use of funds meant for COVID-19. Rose Achiego & Vatican News English Africa Service Chairman of the Dialogue Reference Group, Archbishop Martin Kivuva of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa delivering a press statement at Ufungamano House, Nairobi, said that Kenyans were extremely unhappy with the corruption in the country. A concerning lack of transparency This Dialogue Reference Group is appalled at the downward spiral of descent into the madness of uncontrolled corruption being witnessed in our nation. This trend is immoral and is contrary to the teachings of God, and we fully condemn it. The information in the public arena indicates that the country has received more than 190 billion Kenya Shillings to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. However, there has been great lack of transparency and accountability in the expenditure of these funds, which has lent credence to accusations that most of the money has been misappropriated. It is inconceivable for us that a Kenyan can sit and plot how to steal money meant to save the lives of Kenyans! said Archbishop Kivuva flanked by other religious leaders. Parliament needs to exercise its duty of oversight The Group reminded the countrys Executive and Parliament not to abet corruption by neglecting their duty of oversight and vigilance over public funds. The reports of corruption touching on the Covid-19 funds are a condemnation on the Executive and Parliament, who have the sworn duty to protect the lives and resources of Kenyans. We remind you that every time you abet corruption by failing to exercise your oversight mandate, you are breaking your oath of office, the Church leaders said. Public expenditure, procedures and documentation must be transparent Archbishop Kivuva said that the Dialogue Reference Group had noted that corruption in Kenya is perpetuated by bureaucratically instigated opacity in public finance manifested by the lack of details, clarity and information on matters such as expenditure, procurement and disbursements among others. The Group has made an urgent appealed to the Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, to act swiftly and save the situation. As the Supreme Court-mandated CBI inquiry into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput entered the second week, fans of the star across the country seem to be following the developments with hawk-eyed attention. And Google search trends across the country are proof. In the past 24 hours, Google searches for the word claustrophobia seemed to spike on Google. But why are Indians suddenly looking up claustrophobia on the internet? The answer is a recent interview that Rajputs reported former girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty gave to India Todays Rajdeep Sardesai when she said that Rajput felt claustrophobic in flights and that he had been taking medication to deal with it. Her words were flatly refuted by Rajputs former girlfriend Ankita Lokhande who shared a video of the 32-year-old actor flying a plane. His family also refuted the claims. Is this #claustrophobia?You always wanted to fly and you did it and we all are proud of you pic.twitter.com/5gc2sgyaEK Ankita lokhande (@anky1912) August 27, 2020 Since then, searches for claustrophobia have searched. People also searched for related terms for prescription drugs like Modafinil" and bipolar disorder". People also searched for Rajdeep Sardesai and the uses of Modafinil is the treatment of claustrophobia. Incidentally, the highest number of searches for claustrophobia came from Arunachal Pradesh, followed by Nagaland and Manipur. Chakraborty, however, has repeated her claims of Rajput being on drugs to CNN News18s Marya Shakil in an interview in which she said he had been on drugs from before he met her and that her role had only been to stop him. Rhea came under scanner after Sushants father KK Singh filed an FIR against her in Patna. Now, when the case has been taken over by the CBI, she and her family has been quizzed by various investigative agencies in the case. Since then, the actress has been facing intense public scrutiny and has appeared on multiple platforms to deny the charges of fraud and abetment in Rajputs death by suicide levelled against her by the deceased actors family. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 22:53:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and nearly 40 others were wounded on Friday in a ballistic missile fired by the Houthi rebels against the northeastern province of Marib, a government official told Xinhua. The Houthi-fired ballistic missile targeted a security camp of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government in oil-rich Marib, causing a huge blast, the local government source said on condition of anonymity. He confirmed that around five security personnel were killed by the Houthi missile attack and nearly 40 others were injured at the scene. A medical source at Marib's general hospital said that several security members were critically injured and need adequate medical care. The Saudi-backed Yemeni government has controlled much of Marib since it recaptured the province from the Houthi rebels in late 2015. Yemen has been mired in civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized control of much of the country's north and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in early 2015 to support Hadi's government. Enditem Fifty-seven years after the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic I Have a Dream speech at the Lincoln Memorial, a new generation of leaders in the racial justice movement spoke at the same spot on Friday and committed themselves anew to pursuing Kings vision. Less than a year before he was assassinated, my grandfather predicted this very moment, Yolanda Renee King, the daughter of King's oldest son, Martin Luther King III, said in leading the speakers portion of the day. We have only just begun to fight. The Get Your Knee Off Our Necks march organized by the Rev. Al Sharpton and his National Action Network comes at a time of nationwide unrest and ongoing protests over Black people being slain or severely injured by the police. (Sharpton is also a host on MSNBC.) Speakers at Fridays march included the father of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man who was shot seven times by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday and left paralyzed from the waist down. Im tired of looking at cameras and looking and seeing Black and brown people suffer, Jacob Blake Sr. said. Were not taking it anymore. I ask everyone to stand up. People attend the March on Washington on Aug. 28, 2020, at the Lincoln Memorial. (Julius Constantine Motal / NBC News) Demonstrators take part in Other speakers included the mother of Breonna Taylor, an EMT who was killed by police in her own home in Louisville in March, and the brother of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man who died after pleading for help as a white police officer kneed him in the neck in May. Tamika Palmer, Taylors mother, urged people at the march to "stand together" and vote in November. As the crowd chanted Breonna Taylors name, Palmer was at a loss for words after thanking the people who have fought for justice for her daughter. (No charges have been brought against the officers involved in the raid that killed Taylor.) I wish George were here to see this right now, Philonise Floyd, Georges brother, said. Thats who Im marching for. Im marching for George, for Brianna, for Ahmaud, for Jacob, for Pamela Turner, for Michael Brown, Trayvon and anybody else who lost their lives. Story continues Floyd added that today it has never been more clear that change is needed. Everyone here has made a commitment, because they wouldnt be here for no other reason right now, he said. Sharpton first proposed the march on June 4 while delivering the eulogy for George Floyd. The decision to announce the march, after briefly discussing it with Martin Luther King III, was spur of the moment, Sharpton said. Demonstrators take part in Attendees participate in the March on Washington at the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Julius Constantine Motal / NBC News) During his speech, Sharpton explained that one of the reasons for the march was to demand police accountability through federal legislation. Demonstration without legislation will not lead to change, he said. Among his demands was that the GOP-majority Senate pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act a bill that aims to combat police brutality, use of excessive force, and racial bias in policing. Sharpton later criticized President Donald Trump for failing to acknowledge Jacob Blake, as well as others like Taylor who were killed by police. How do you speak when this young man Jacob sits in a hospital and you wont call his name? Sharpton said to the crowd, which National Action Network organizers tallied of upward of 50,000. After the speeches, protesters marched socially distanced for about a half mile from the Lincoln Memorial to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. At the end of his speech, Sharpton told the crowd that it was time to have a conversation with America. We need to have a conversation about your racism, about your bigotry, about your hate, about how you would put your knee on our necks while we cry for our lives, Sharpton said. We didnt come here to start trouble. We came to stop trouble. Saturday: Sully - Miracle on the Hudson (2016) BBC1, 8.30pm. On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 takes off from LaGuardia airport in New York bound for North Carolina with 155 passengers and crew on board. Three minutes into take-off, a flock of Canadian geese impacts the aircraft, causing multiple strikes to both engines that necessitated an emergency landing. Captain Chesley Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) glides the stricken Airbus A320 onto the Hudson River in freezing conditions and oversees the evacuation of everyone on board aided by First Officer Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart). However, the subsequent investigation by the National Transportation casts doubt on Sully's version of events. Directed by Clint Eastwood, Sully: Miracle on the Hudson is a masterclass in sustained tension, which replays the events of that fateful day from multiple perspectives. Sunday The Hangover (2009) ITV2, 9pm Two days before he walks down the aisle, Doug (Justin Bartha) heads for a stag weekend in Las Vegas with pals Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Stu (Ed Helms) and eccentric future brother-in-law Alan (Zach Galifianakis). Upon arrival at the luxurious Caesars Palace hotel, several hours of heavy drinking ensue and in the morning, Phil, Stu and Alan wake with pounding headaches and no memory of the night before. A trashed hotel suite and the presence of a baby in a closet are the first signs that something is dreadfully awry; the absence of the groom-to-be comes a close second. The Hangover is a bawdy buddy comedy, fuelled by the rapport between the leads - the actors are clearly having a ball, and the hilarity is infectious. Monday Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) ITV, 8pm In the musical sequel, Sophie Sheridan (Amanda Seyfried) anxiously prepares for the grand opening of Hotel Bella Donna. Thankfully, her mother's best friends Tanya (Christine Baranski) and Rosie (Julie Walters) are on hand to calm Sophie's nerves and encourage her to look to the past for courage. Cue flashbacks to the young Donna (Lily James, in the role made famous by Meryl Streep) embarking on her lusty Mediterranean odyssey with the young Sam (Jeremy Irvine), Harry (Hugh Skinner) and Bill (Josh Dylan) via Paris. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again lays all of its Abba love on us with platform heels, tongue-in-cheek humour and joy-infused musical performances choreographed to perfection by Anthony Van Laast. The addition of Cher as Streep's impeccably coiffed mother is a masterstroke. " " A Friends' Meeting House sign stands outside Quaker Cottage in Yorkshire, England, 2016. Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images The most recognizable Quaker in the world isn't even a real Quaker. In 1877, the owners of the German Mills American Cereal Company trademarked the image of "a man in Quaker garb" to make their rolled oats seem more wholesome and honest. But wait, isn't he supposed to be William Penn, the Quaker who founded Pennsylvania as a utopia of religious tolerance and brotherly love? No, the Quaker Oats guy is not an actual person, says the brand, but rather an image that reflects the Quaker values of "honesty, integrity, purity and strength." So who are the real Quakers, formally known as the Religious Society of Friends? The first Quakers were a renegade Christian sect that broke with the Church of England in the 17th-century. Modern-day Quakers live all over the world, come from all walks of life and espouse a wide diversity of beliefs. The central conviction of Quakerism is that God (or "the Divine" or "the Light Within") dwells in every man and woman, and that each person can receive direct revelation or inspiration from that same spiritual source. Today, Quakers are relatively few in number 380,000 members worldwide, according to Friends Journal in 2017 but strong in a faith that encourages real-world action. Quakers live out their core principles through "testimonies" that include pacifism, environmentalism and social justice. To learn more about Quakerism past and present, we spoke with Robynne Rogers Healey, a historian of Quaker Studies at Trinity Western University in Canada. Advertisement 1. The First Quakers Were Radicals Quakerism was born in 17th-century England, "a time of immense social and political upheaval," says Healey, when the kingdom was rocked by bloody civil wars, the execution of a king and autocratic crackdowns on religious agitators. George Fox was one of those agitators, a radical Christian reformer who saw hypocrisy in the class-based hierarchy of the Church of England and taught that every person had equal access to God's light. Fox and his supporters never set out to start a new religion, but rather to purify Christianity by ridding it of paid clergy, sacraments like communion and baptism, and even church buildings themselves. Since the Church of England was the official state religion of England, Parliament could pass laws punishing religious dissenters. One such law was the Conventicle Act of 1664, which prohibited unauthorized worship meetings (called "conventicles") of more than five people, a direct attack on the Quakers. Advertisement 2. 'Quaker' Was Originally an Insult Many of the names we use today for Christian sects Baptists, Methodists, Mormons were originally used as insults, including "Quaker." "'Quaker' was a derisive term that was thrown at George Fox one of the many times he was hauled into court for breaking the law," says Healey. "The magistrate made an insulting comment about the quaking, shaking and other emotional manifestations of the spirit that accompanied Fox's meetings, which were highly apocalyptic in nature." According to one story, Fox didn't take kindly to the name and retorted that it was the magistrate who should be quaking and trembling for breaking the word the Lord. The name that Fox and the other early Quakers preferred to call each other was simply "friend," taken from John 15:14, in which Jesus said, "You are my friends if you do what I command you." As Quakers began to get more organized, they took on the name the Religious Society of Friends or just the Society of Friends. Today, the word Quaker has lost its derogatory connotation and is used interchangeably with the Society of Friends. Speaking of terminology, Quakers adopted their own type of "plain speech" that distinguished them from other groups, as well as a plain manner of dress. Until the 20th century, Quakers exclusively used the pronouns "thee," "thou," "thy" and "thine" because "you" was reserved for the upper classes and Quakers wanted to erase such class distinctions. Quakers also ditched the standards months and days of the week because they were named after pagan gods. Instead, they said "First Month" and "Second Month" or "First Day" and "Second Day," with Sunday being the first day of the week. Even today, some Quaker meetings will list their worship service as "First Day at 10 a.m." " " The marriage of Pennsylvania founder William Penn and Hannah Callowhill took place at the Friends' Meeting House, Bristol, England in 1696. Quaker weddings were known for the simple dress worn by the bride and groom and the absence of any officiant. All members present signed the marriage certificate as witnesses. Spencer Arnold Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Advertisement 3. Modern Quakers Are Defined by Diversity of Belief Centuries have passed since George Fox first broke with the Church of England and Quakers have endured their fair share of "painful separations" caused by theological and doctrinal disputes, says Healey. The result is that modern Quakers represent a broad spectrum of spiritual beliefs, from a Bible-centered, evangelical-style Christianity to a more spiritual and agnostic approach. "A Quaker is not a Quaker is not a Quaker," says Healey. "Where a Quaker comes from actually matters. While a Quaker from London, England and another from Nairobi, Kenya would both consider themselves Quakers, they probably hold fairly different theological positions." If Quakers can be said to have core beliefs, chief among them is the conviction that God or the Divine is both within us and outside of us; that every person is endowed with a measure of the Divine and has equal access to revelation and inspiration. While there is no single international organization for all Quakers, there are two groups that represent the two major schools in modern Quakerism. The Friends United Meeting (FUM) is decidedly Christian in its focus and its style of worship looks more like an evangelical church. The Friends General Conference (FGC), on the other hand, is more focused on spirituality and social justice, and views Jesus not necessarily as the Son of God, but as "a good guy and a model for how to behave," says Healey. Advertisement 4. Quaker Worship Is Largely Silent There are also two schools of worship in modern Quakerism. "Programmed" meetings have a pastor, hymns and sermons and more closely resemble a standard religious worship service. But in much of the Quaker world, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom, Quakers hold "unprogrammed" meetings that forgo most of the trappings of church and are largely held in silence. Attending an unprogrammed meeting might be confusing to a first-time visitor. Members enter in silence, take a seat and begin a process described as "waiting worship" or "expectant waiting." The expectation at an unprogrammed Quaker meeting is that by quieting the mind and body, you'll be able hear the spiritual promptings of God. Occasionally, someone at a Quaker meeting might be prompted to speak, at which point they stand, share the "light" they received while listening to the spirit, and then sit back down in silence. Waiting worship sounds like meditation, but it's different in two important ways. For one, quieting the mind is not the end goal or waiting worship, but an entrance point for having a divine encounter or conversation with God. Secondly, waiting worship is not done in isolation on a mountain top, but within a community. Whether spoken or in silence, the understanding is that God is transmitting essential truths to the whole community, not exclusively to you. A particularly spiritual meeting, in Quaker parlance, is called a "gathered meeting," even if it's silent the entire time. The meeting is over when people start to shake hands with their neighbors. Worship services are often followed by fellowship and socializing over coffee and snacks. Advertisement 5. Quakers Believe in 'Letting Your Life Speak' Silent worship on Sunday (sorry, First Day) morning is only one small part of being a Quaker. There's an expectation to take the light and truth received from God and put it to work in the world. According to an old Quaker saying, you should "let your life speak" as a living testimony of God. Pacifism, for example, is one type of Quaker testimony. Since way back in the 17th century, Quakers have called for an end to all war and violence, and modern Quakers have played influential roles as conscientious objectors and "ban the bomb" activists. "We utterly deny all outward wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any end or under any pretence whatsoever, and this is our testimony to the whole world." Quaker statement to King Charles II, 1660 Other Quaker testimonies include equality (including, historically, the abolition of slavery), integrity, simplicity, community and care for the Earth and the environment. One prominent example of Quaker testimonies in action is the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO), an organization that dates back to the original 1945 UN Charter and works to promote Quaker values of peacemaking and environmental stewardship across the world. Advertisement 6. Quaker 'Meetings' Have Multiple Meanings Early on, George Fox realized that because Quakers don't believe in oaths, creeds or clergy, there needed to be an organizational structure that kept the faithful on the same spiritual page, more or less. "Fox may not have been a great theologian, but in modern terms he was a fabulous bureaucrat," says Healey. "He really knew how to organize." Quakers worldwide are organized into tiered groups called "meetings." There are local, regional and national meetings, but they don't go by those names. Instead, a local Quaker meeting the people with whom you worship every Sunday is called a "Monthly Meeting" or a "Preparative Meeting." Within a geographic region, there is also a "Quarterly Meeting" which meets, yes, quarterly, to discuss the needs of the several Monthly Meetings in the area. The "Yearly Meeting" is the largest of the umbrella organizations and can encompass an entire country or a large geographic area like the Southeastern Yearly Meeting in the U.S. Quakers might identify themselves by any or all of these subgroups. For example, one might say, "I'm a member of the Harrisburg Monthly Meeting of the Caln Quarterly Meeting of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting." Healey contends that Fox's "meeting" structure is what has kept Quakerism relevant and alive over the centuries. "[The meeting structure] isn't only for the purpose of trying to determine what's happening in different places, but to better be able to care for all of the members," says Healey. Quaker meetings come to decisions by a consensus, but not by voting. The matter is discussed among the group until a suitable decision is made and recorded by a clerk. Advertisement 7. Quakers Made It Big in Chocolate, Not Oats Some of the biggest names in the British confectionary business were founded by Quakers, including Cadbury, Fry's and Rowntree's. " " The entrance to the Cadbury factory in Bournville on April 5, 2017 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The Cadbury family was famously Quakers and this influenced their business practices, such as constructing pleasant houses for their workers. They also helped create the old age pension and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images For centuries, only members of the Church of England could attend university, says Healey, so many Quakers pursued a "practical education" in the trades and became successful businessmen. In the early 19th century, Quakers were strong supporters of the temperance movement and some Quaker tradesmen began promoting drinking chocolate as a tasty yet tame beverage choice. Next came chocolate bars. Quaker-owned chocolate companies earned a reputation for fair dealing and high-quality goods free of contamination. Firms like Cadbury went the extra mile for its workers, building them an entire village in Bournville with schools and parks and an employee swimming pool. Some other hugely successful Quaker-owned businesses were the British banking giants Barclay's and Lloyd's of London. Advertisement 8. The Future of Quakerism Is ... Kenya While the number of Quakers in Europe and the U.S. shrinks every year, there's been an explosion of Quaker converts in Africa, particularly Kenya. By some estimations, more than half of today's Quakers live in Africa, and as many as a third of all Quakers live in Kenya. Christian Quaker missionaries arrived in Kenya in 1902 and found a receptive audience among peace-loving tribes in places like Kaimosi. Because of their evangelical roots, Kenyan Quakers are far more likely to identify as Christian than Quakers in the West. Kenyan Quakers also have programmed worship services with charismatic pastors, big choirs and worship bands, a far cry from the silence of unprogrammed meetinghouses in New England. The growth of Quakerism in Kenya and Latin America hasn't been without controversy. There are stark ideological differences between the subdued old-school Quakers and the youthful, so-called "noisy Quakers" in Kenya. Divisions over same-sex marriage between liberal and conservative Quakers, for example, almost canceled a Quaker gathering in Kenya in 2012. Now That's Cool William Penn and John Cadbury aren't the only famous Quakers. Two U.S. presidents grew up Quaker Herbert Hoover and Richard Nixon and Quaker actors include James Dean and Judi Dench. Theres nothing like knocking off a few bruised and battered Republican in name only incumbents in a Wyoming primary election to make self-proclaimed real conservatives whoop and holler. Four-term moderate Sen. Michael Von Flatern (R-Gillette) had the biggest target on his back, with several groups and well-heeled conservative donors out to end his political career. They helped Troy McKeown trounce Von Flatern by more than 1,000 votes last Tuesday. He wasnt the only high-profile GOP legislator to fall out of favor with voters. House Majority Whip Tyler Lindholm (R-Sundance)... After three years of documenting Ghanas undiplomatic relationship with Nigeria and its citizens, President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed not take it lightly any longer with his Ghanaian counterpart Nana Akufo Addo. Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed hinted of reciprocation in the uneasy ties between the two African countries. He said the government is concerned about the incessant harassment of Nigerian citizens in Ghana and the progressive acts of hostility towards the country by Ghanaian authorities. According to him, the federal government is urgently considering a number of options aimed at ameliorating the situation. Among the breaches of the Vienna Convention Nigeria recorded against Ghana include: Seizure of the Nigerian Missions property located at No. 10, Barnes Road, Accra, which the Nigerian Government has used as diplomatic premises for almost 50 years. This action is a serious breach of the Vienna Convention. Demolition of the Nigerian Missions property located at No. 19/21 Julius Nyerere Street, East Ridge, Accra, another serious breach of the Vienna Convention. Aggressive and incessant deportation of Nigerians from Ghana. Between Jan. 2018 and Feb. 2019, 825 Nigerians were deported from Ghana. Closure of shops belonging to Nigerians. Over 300 Nigerians shops were locked for four months in Kumasi in 2018; over 600 Nigerian shops were locked in 2019 and currently, over 250 Nigerians shops have been locked. Residency permit requirements, for which the Ghana Immigration Service has placed huge fees, far higher than the fees charged by the Nigerian Immigration Service. These include the compulsory Non-citizen ID card (US$120, and US$60 for yearly renewal); Medical examinations, including for COVID-19 which is newly-introduced, at about US$120), and payment for a residency permit (US$400 compared to the N7,000 being paid by Ghanaians for residency card in Nigeria) and outrageous stipulations in the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act. Mohammed said when the Act was initially promulgated in 1994, a foreigner was required to invest at least US$300,000 by way of equity capital and also employ 10 Ghanaians. It has now been amended twice, with the 2018 GIPC Act raising the minimum capital base for foreign-owned businesses to US$1m. Though targeted at foreigners, it seems GIPCs definition of foreigners is Nigerians. The GIPC Act also negates the ECOWAS Protocol, he said. Other issues the minister listed are: Negative reportage of issues concerning Nigerians resident in Ghana by the Ghanaian media is fuelling an emerging xenophobic attitude towards Nigerian traders and Nigerians in general. The immediate fallout is the incessant harassment and arrest of Nigerian traders and closure of their shops. Harsh and openly-biased judicial trial and pronouncement of indiscriminately-long jail terms for convicted Nigerians. There are currently over 200 Nigerians in the Nsawam Maximum prison in Ghana alone. The Federal Government will like to put on record the fact that even though over 1 million Ghanaians are resident in Nigeria, they are not being subjected to the kind of hostility being meted out to Nigerians in Ghana, he said. He explained the main reason Ghana gave for the seizure of Nigerias property at No. 10, Barnes Road in Accra is the non-renewal of lease after expiration. He, however, added the Ghanaian authorities did not give Nigeria the right of first refusal or the notice to renew the lease. By contrast, the lease on some of the properties occupied by the Ghanaian Mission in Nigeria has long expired, yet such properties have not been seized, he added. Having demonstrated its commitment to all the international charters on diplomatic relations, Nigeria, Mohammed said, believes that commitment being taken for granted. This will no longer be tolerated under any guise, he said. PV: 11 By PTI MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Friday granted permission for a Muharram procession in the city with stringent restrictions in place in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. A bench of Justices S J Kathawalla and Madhav Jamdar gave permission after the Maharashtra government granted hearing to a local Shia Muslim organisation that had petitioned the court seeking permission for a symbolic procession for Muharram amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The state government and the petitioner, All India Idaara-E-Tahafuz-E-Hussainiyat, reached an agreement and informed the court of the same on Friday, following which, the court granted permission for the procession. As per the court's order, members of the Shia Muslim community will be permitted to carry out the procession on August 30, between 4.30 pm and 5.30 pm on one pre-determined route only by trucks and not on foot. Maximum of five persons will be allowed on a truck and only five will be permitted walk with the 'Tazia' symbol for the last 100 meters on the selected route, the order stated. ALSO READ | Chennai's Dawoodi Bohras prepare for Muharram at homes The five participants of the procession will have to give their home addresses to the Mumbai police beforehand, the court said. The court also directed the state government to impose all necessary restrictions, including section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code [CrPC] if required, to control crowds and manage the procession. In its plea filed through advocates Rajendra Shirodkar, and Shehzad and Asif Naqvi, the petitioner organisation had said each year, between the 7th and 10th day of Muharram, the Shia community here carries out a procession holding 'Alam' and 'Tazia' symbols from Mohammed Ali Road to the graveyard on Reay Road in the city. The petitioner urged the court to grant permission to carry out the procession this year as well, albeit with limited number of people and with necessary precautions such as masks and social distancing in place. ALSO READ | Restrictions in parts of Kashmir to prevent Muharram processions The petitioner had come to HC after the state government issued two government resolutions earlier this month prohibiting mourning processions and asking everyone to mark Muharram at home in light of the pandemic. The organisation had argued that if the state government had permitted Ganesh idol immersions with health safeguards, it must also permit the Muharram mourning procession. The bench on Thursday had directed the state disaster management department to give the petitioner a hearing and said if the organisation was asking for something similar to what was allowed for Ganpati festival then the state could not deny it permission, as it would amount to "discrimination". As per Friday's order, the procession will be carried out from Bhendi Bazaar to the Shia cemetery in Byculla in the city. ALSO WATCH: Local activists from central Pennsylvania are en route to Washington D.C. to participate in the Commitment March on Washington, whose rallying call is Get Your Knee Off Our Necks. Black Lives Matter Harrisburg and local nonprofits UniteCentralPA and reloved organized the free trip. One hundred people signed up to take part. The march will take place on the 57th anniversary of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.s I Have a Dream speech. More than 100,000 people are expected to attend. We will continue to have updates on todays march throughout the day. Check back with PennLive for the latest details. READ MORE: 57 years after Kings Dream, a new March on Washington focuses on violence against Black people Weve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition: Martin Luther King Jr. and the March on Washington Black Lives Matter, other nonprofits offer free bus trip to Commitment March on Washington The Southern Illinoisan on Aug. 19 filed a lawsuit in Williamson County Circuit Court alleging four agencies of improperly withholding public records sought under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. The City of Marion, Williamson County Sheriffs Office, Illinois State Police and Williamson County Coroners Office denied The Southern access to all public records pertaining to the March 1987 homicide of 32-year-old Marion resident Ladonna Cooper. FOIA requests were submitted to each agency seeking public records regarding Coopers homicide for an upcoming installment in The Southerns Chasing Closure series, which takes an in-depth look at unsolved cases in the region. As part of the series, The Southern reported last year on the still-unsolved murder of 22-year-old Ryan Livingston, who was killed on July 14, 2006 in Carbondale. We believe in the publics right to access public records, said Tom English, executive editor for The Southern. FOIA is important to holding our public bodies accountable, and what we have asked for is well within our rights. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act states: All records in the custody or possession of a public body are presumed to be open to inspection or copying. Any public body that asserts that a record is exempt from disclosure has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that it is exempt. The City of Marion failed to respond to a FOIA request sent on April 29 within the five business days afforded under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. After multiple inquiries, the city replied on May 11 and said the requested information could not be released because Coopers case is open and active. In the response, Marion City Clerk Tammy Beasley said you may have a copy of the original report. The Southern was never provided with that document. The Illinois Attorney Generals Public Access Counselor has ruled many times the mere fact an investigation is underway is not, by itself, enough for a public body to meet its burden to withhold records in their entirety. Courts have ruled on several occasions that exemptions to disclosing records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act are to be read narrowly, so as not to defeat the intended purpose of FOIA. The Williamson County Sheriffs Office claimed a records request was unduly burdensome due to the Cooper case file containing thousands of pages of items and records. The Southern was granted an opportunity to narrow its request to a manageable portion, but was still denied all records even after submitting a narrowed request. The Illinois State Police denied The Southern its records pertaining to the case, citing a letter from Marion City Attorney Wendy Cunningham, which said the Marion Police Department was the initial investigating agency and the City would respectfully request you deny any records in your possession on the same basis. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, everyone is entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government. The law states access to public records promotes transparency and accountability of public bodies at all levels, adding that it is a fundamental obligation of government to operate openly. The Williamson County Coroners Office denied The Southerns request for Coopers autopsy, toxicology and coroners inquest reports, saying release of the records would interfere with law enforcement proceedings. When The Southern contacted me, I was presented with an article about the unsolved murder of Ryan Livingston in Carbondale, Coopers daughter, Jodi Cooper-Kelly, said in an August statement to The Southern. I was absolutely taken away by the narrative provided and the facts given without causing harm to Ryans case. I wanted my mothers story to be written and told in the same manner. I wanted more to be said about her last few moments on earth. Cooper-Kelly has also recently submitted numerous FOIA requests regarding her mothers homicide. So far, she, too, has been denied access to all records pertaining to the case. I have made multiple FOIA requests to obtain records from moms case, Cooper-Kelly said. Every request has been denied over and over again. Only one request of mine has yet to be answered. I know that as Ladonnas daughter, I have a right to these records per FOIA laws and statutes. I am very saddened and disappointed by the actions and responses from the Marion Police Department, Williamson County Sheriffs Office, Illinois State Police, the Coroners Office, as well as attorneys within. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act says: When a request is made to inspect or copy a public record that contains information that is exempt from disclosure, but also contains information that is not exempt from disclosure, the public body may elect to redact the information that is exempt. The public body shall make the remaining information available for inspection and copying. Yet, Cooper-Kelly and The Southern have not received a single item requested under FOIA pertaining to the case. Attorney Ian Russell from the Davenport, Iowa, law firm Lane & Waterman LLP drafted and filed the complaint on behalf of The Southern. The complaint seeks a declaration that the defendants have violated the Illinois FOIA and requests the court to order the agencies to produce the records requested redacting only information that is truly exempt. In addition, it asks the defendants be ordered to pay civil penalties under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act and reasonable attorneys fees. Reporter Marilyn Halstead contacted all four agencies named in the lawsuit after it was filed. Beasley said the City of Marion had no comment regarding the lawsuit. The Williamson County Sheriffs Office, Illinois State Police and Williamson County Coroners Office did not return Halsteads calls for comment. Cooper-Kelly said it has been years since her family was provided with any updates by authorities involved with the investigation. In 2010, the Williamson County Cold Case Squad was established and moms case was the first of many that they began working on, Cooper-Kelly said. Members of my family, along with myself, have participated in discussions and meetings with the Cold Case Squad. Her case has, to our knowledge, been untouched since at least 2014 and all communication with the Marion Police and Cold Case Squad ended. "But, I never wanted her story to end too. Cooper was an assistant manager at the Bonanza Family Restaurant, which was located on Illinois 13 just east of Interstate 57 in Marion. The building that once housed Bonanza is currently Tequilas Mexican Restaurant. According to previous reporting in The Southern, Cooper was in charge of closing the restaurant on Wednesday, March 4, 1987. Cooper called her husband, Bobby, shortly before midnight to tell him she would be about 10 minutes late getting home. The restaurant had seen significant business that evening and Cooper was still filling out paperwork before leaving for the night. When Cooper didnt make it home by about 12:30 a.m. Thursday, Bobby was concerned and drove to the restaurant. When he found no trace of his wife, nor her car, he drove home and called Bonanza management. Upon arrival, managers noticed the nights receipts and cash were also missing. The findings were then reported to the Marion Police Department. During the course of the investigation, police found what appeared to be blood and signs of a struggle outside the restaurant. At about 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 1987, Coopers abandoned Buick was discovered on South Sixth Street near its intersection with East Stotlar Street in Herrin. Investigators found what appeared to be blood inside the car. On Friday, March 6, 1987, a woman who was looking at waterfowl from an observation tower in the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge noticed what she thought to be a body in her scope. The Williamson County Sheriffs Office responded and found Coopers body about 150 yards west of the observation towers on Illinois 148 near the edge of a small body of water. A coroners inquest jury determined Coopers cause of death was homicide due to multiple stab wounds. A mother is everything a child looks up to, Cooper-Kelly said. Shes your protector, your counselor, your teacher, your cheerleader, and your place of respite. My brother, sister and I, we didnt get that. We had that taken from us I never wanted it to come to this. I just wanted to tell her story, but her last fight has now become my fight. Marilyn Halstead contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 4 Angry 4 On-reserve schools are taking an abundance of caution this fall, with many First Nations leaders still weighing the risks of a full return to classrooms next month amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in Manitoba. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/8/2020 (510 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. On-reserve schools are taking an abundance of caution this fall, with many First Nations leaders still weighing the risks of a full return to classrooms next month amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in Manitoba. Some communities are closing their physical buildings indefinitely. Others are offering blended instruction, which will see students in all grades attend school on alternating days. A few remain undecided. Despite their differences, the consensus appears to be that all First Nations students will have an opportunity to learn remotely, if their family doesnt feel comfortable with in-class learning. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Nora Murdock, Director of Instructional Services at the Manitoba First Nations School System, and Charles Cochrane, Executive Director of Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre are working to get their students back to class. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press) "During this time of a pandemic, theres already a lot of anxiety and uncertainty and fears that parents or community members may have and if we mandate that everybody come back to school whether they like it or not thats just adding to their anxiety," said Nora Murdock, director of instructional services at the Manitoba First Nation School System. The equivalent of a provincial school division for federally funded First Nations education, the MFNSS oversees schools in 11 different First Nations, or approximately 2,000 K-12 students. Students are expected to return part time in classes no larger than 15 in Bloodvein, Brokenhead, Dakota Tipi, Dakota Plains, Fox Lake and York Landing, starting on Sept. 8. While Roseau River and Pinaymootang have delayed start times, students are also expected to do a mix of in-class and at-home learning throughout the school year. Lake Manitoba, Lake St. Martin and Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nations do not plan to open their schools at all for the fall term, instead offering all students learning via technology and paper packages. Murdock said each First Nation is taking into account its unique communitys needs and in the case of Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation, leaders took into consideration the communitys proximity to Brandon when making a decision. MFNSS is supplying its schools with guidelines and everything from masks to computers to sanitizing foggers for school buses and buildings. Murdock said an entire school will likely be required to close for a deep cleaning if a COVID-19 case is detected. Officials in Sagkeeng have yet to make a decision about reopening a little more than a week before the first school bell is scheduled to ring. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files) Outside MFNSS, First Nations including Sagkeeng and Manto Sipi have yet to make a decision about reopening a little more than a week before the first school bell is scheduled to ring. While there have yet to be any COVID-19 cases diagnosed in a Manitoba First Nation, poverty, inadequate infrastructure and underlying health conditions put Indigenous peoples at a greater risk of community transmission, which has prompted proactive measures among leaders. "We dont want our communities to have to experience this concern of COVID, so if it means not opening schools, we should support the decision," said Charles Cochrane, executive director of the Manitoba First Nation Education Resource Centre. With that in mind, Cochrane said the centre will help provide on-reserve high school students with online learning through Wapaska Virtual Collegiate this year. Many families in communities where students typically move to urban centres to attend high school dont feel comfortable doing that this year, he added. Anxiety is one of many challenges communities will face this year. Unreliable internet, overcrowded schools and teacher shortages are among others. At Ebb and Flow School, principal Kathleen Morrisseau said that if teachers call in sick, the school will likely rely on educational assistants to fill in. The K-12 school in Ebb and Flow First Nation will provide blended learning for students this year, starting Sept. 21 a delay announced in light of the recent virus spike. When students do return in alternating days, there will be temperature checks on the school bus and Plexiglas shields between desks. We dont want our communities to have to experience this concern of COVID, so if it means not opening schools, we should support the decision. Charles Cochrane, executive director of the Manitoba First Nation Education Resource Centre 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. "Its unusual, but I have faith in our staff and our leaders to make sure that we succeed," Morrisseau said. Teachers will focus on core subjects, but Morrisseau said there will also be opportunities to continue with land-based learning that encourages students to be outdoors. Ottawa announced earlier this week a total of $112 million in funding for First Nations across the country to support measures to safely open schools. Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller confirmed the funding will be distributed "very shortly," based on the number of students studying on-reserve. maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie (Natural News) If it wasnt clear enough in the initial street video; there is now more video evidence proving that Kyle Rittenhouse acted in self-defense when he shot down two Antifa/BLM thugs and injured a third one on the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Even though he clearly saved his own life from fatal threats, 17-year-old Rittenhouse is being charged with first-degree intentional homicide. He was arrested in his home town of Antioch, Illinois the next day. The media declared Rittenhouse to be a fugitive from justice even though he turned himself over to law enforcement after he was attacked. Hand-gun toting felon fired the first shot, vindicating Rittenhouse who properly defended himself In the street footage, Rittenhouse was fleeing from a mob of assailants, one of which appeared to carry a handgun. In the video, the handgun-toting assailant fired the first shot. The muzzle blast can be seen on cell phone video. There were reportedly eight other shots fired in the distance before Rittenhouse was faced with a life or death decision. As he was being chased and audibly shot at, Rittenhouse showed tremendous patience and resolve. Instead of turning around and firing at the assailants upon hearing the first gunshot, Rittenhouse kept retreating, running away from the threats. One assailant allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail during the chase. When Rittenhouse fell to the pavement, the assailants narrowed in and attempted to bash him to death with a skateboard. Rittenhouse waited until the last moment to defend himself, saving his own life as he was being bashed in the head. Even more telling, one of the assailants narrowing in was clearly holding out a handgun. As that assailant narrowed in, this is when Rittenhouse made a wise decision, putting a round in the head and another round in the chest of the two nearest assailants, while injuring another. Rittenhouse fired just four shots, stopping short of putting down other assailants that could have also been packing. There were allegedly at least eight other shots fired from unknown sources before and another eight shots fired after Rittenhouse defended himself. Rittenhouse allegedly had been carrying the semi-automatic rifle to protect a nearby business from the threat of rioters and looters. The area he was chased across had previously been ransacked by rioters who had clearly busted out car windows. Rittenhouse, under duress and under fire, ultimately saved his own life from Antifa thugs and other violent demonstrators who had been tearing up Kenosha for three days straight. The first assailant to be taken down was Joseph Rosenbaum, 36. Video allegedly shows him chasing Rittenhouse and throwing something at him. Rosenbaum was a registered sex offender for a sex crime involving a minor. The second assailant, wielding a skateboard, is Anthony Huber, whose rap sheet includes battery and strangulation. The man wielding a handgun is allegedly a convicted felon named Gaige Grosskreutz. He is also a member of the Peoples Revolution Movement, a communist group that seeks to overthrow America. The left-wing media is currently trying to paint these Antifa/BLM assailants as civil rights heroes, but they are nothing more than violent thugs with a history of violence who were actively pursuing an innocent young man. Its time for democrat mayors and governors to stop siding with these Antifa/BLM terrorists and condoning their behavior. Its time for these traitorous democratic leaders to be held accountable when they openly allow these domestic terror groups to continue their rampage, threatening innocent lives. In the wake of Kenosha, how many young and innocent people will be left with no option but to act in self-defense, only to be crucified by the left-wing, traitorous media? When will the true criminals be tried, and the innocent be set free? Sources include: Brighteon.com TheHill.com Twitter.com TheGateWayPundit.com NaturalNews.com Berlin, Germany -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/28/2020 -- EPM Scientific are a specialist recruitment firm in the Life Sciences sector, helping clients achieve their goal of securing talented professionals for the positions behind life-saving medicines and devices. Germany has a strong reputation in this sector and holds Europe's largest pharmaceuticals market, the fourth largest in the world. EPM Scientific is at the forefront in recruiting for this fast-paced nationwide industry which spans from Munich and Frankfurt to Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg, years of experience has put the firm at the top end of recruitment specialists for the sector. Careers within the Life Science industry require ambition, determination and a bright mind but can provide exciting career opportunities for the right people. The jobs available are varied and extensive, from 3D printing to gene sequencing, artificial intelligence and pharmacovigilance. EPM Scientific have a strong network of industry professionals to aid their recruitment processes as well as using the latest in recruitment technology to ensure social distancing is adhered to throughout the application process. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry has potential to increase in growth by 11% this year, a positive report for those hoping to progress in their Life Science careers. Life-saving medicines and technology have become increasingly important in Europe and Germany due to the fast spread of the virus. The advances in cutting edge research, a long production tradition and immediate sector market access are aspects Germany has a significant advantage on. "During uncertain times, EPM Scientific offers reassurance. Crises come in many different forms financial crashes, oil gluts, and now a global pandemic", commented Luis Rolm, Global Marketing Director at EPM Scientific. He went on to say, "Yet, whatever the challenge, we remain steadfast in our service. We continue to offer guidance to clients in the Life Science sector and help them secure top talent." The Life Sciences industry can provide vast career opportunities for the brightest minds who are excited by the prospect of an ambitious, career with challenging aspects. EPM Scientific not only has a nationwide network of job opportunities in the industry but access to resources globally to extend their recruitment reach. The firm has over 750 employees worldwide with access to a network of professionals in over 60 countries. EPM Scientific is also part of the Phaidon International group and is the preferred recruitment partner for over 70 companies internationally. With an exclusive network of professionals within the Life Sciences industry to aid the search for rising talent, EPM Scientific can guarantee a wealth of knowledge is used to enhance the recruitment procedure. EPM Scientific DE can provide permanent, contract and multi-hire recruitment solutions in the plentiful career opportunities within the Life Science sectors, these roles include R&D, clinical development, medical communications and biometrics. The firm's aim is to tackle the challenge of talent, to discover, secure and progress the most talented minds so that clients and candidates can have peace of mind as EPM Scientific are experts in providing the top talent to companies int his field. EPM Scientific aim to secure positions for talented professionals and provide support to both employee and employer. This involves building strong, durable teams who can withstand the tumultuous nature of living and working through situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The firm believes in supporting corporations in their bid to improve the culture and outlook of their workplace, for example increasing the number of women in STEM. By providing opportunities for the industry to evolve, more growth will follow with career and medicinal technological development to benefit Germany's pharmaceutical sector. To find out more information about Life Science Recruiting Firm visit https://www.epmscientific.de. For any media enquiries please contact Gary Elliott at Iconic Digital 020 7100 0726. For all other enquiries please contact EPM Scientific: +49 30 72 62 11 444. For more information about EPM Scientific services, please go to https://www.epmscientific.de. About EPM Scientific EPM Scientific partners with organizations across the fast expanding pharmacovigilance sector. The firm's 750+ employees support growth and development among enterprises where innovation and insight will be crucial to both current and future generations. Mainland Affairs Council urges Hong Kongers to enter Taiwan legally ROC Central News Agency 08/27/2020 09:55 PM Taipei, Aug. 27 (CNA) People from Hong Kong should follow existing legal channels if they wish to move to Taiwan, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said on Thursday, following a report of Hong Kongers being caught by China's coast guard while trying to flee to the island in a speed boat. MAC deputy head and spokesperson Chiu Chui-cheng () said that if people from Hong Kong and Macau need to seek Taiwan's assistance for political reasons, they should follow the existing mechanism under the Laws and Regulations Regarding Hong Kong & Macao Affairs. Chiu was speaking at a routine press briefing when he was asked to comment on a Radio Free Asia report about a dozen Hong Kong youths being caught by the Chinese authorities while they were in a speed boat heading to Taiwan. The report cited the Chinese Coast Guard's post on the China-based microblog service Weibo. According to the report, several of the youngsters have been released on bail after being detained for taking part in protests against a proposed extradition bill last year that was later withdrawn by the Hong Kong government. Also in response to a reporter's question, Chiu expressed the Taiwanese government's concerns about Hong Kong police arresting 16 people, including two opposition members of the territory's Legislative Council -- Lam Cheuk-ting () and Ted Hui Chi-fung () -- on Wednesday. Chiu said the authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong should respect the rights of Hong Kong people in their pursuit of freedom, democracy, human rights and rule of law, and resolve the current situation through frank communication with its people. Protests were ignited in Hong Kong in June 2019 by opposition against the extradition bill, and later evolved into demonstrations demanding for universal suffrage and democracy, including the direct election of Hong Kong's leader. In response, Beijing imposed a national security law in Hong Kong at the end of June this year, which led to the arrest of leading pro-democracy figures, such as media tycoon Jimmy Lai (), founder of the Apple Daily newspaper. (By Lai Yen-hsi and Kay Liu) enditem/cs NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address LOWER GWYNEDD More than 60 people tuned into a virtual town hall Tuesday evening as legislators, educators and community leaders had a frank conversation about racism and law enforcement. The Race and Equity Solutions Tour, hosted by state Sens. Maria Collett, D-12th Dist., and Anthony Williams, D-8th Dist., was broadcast on Zoom and streamed on Facebook. Panelists included a pastor, the president of a local civil rights organization, a college professor, an associate dean for the University of Pennsylvanias law school, and a district attorney. I pray that the time we have is not just conversation, but we can talk about action. What do we do next? How do we respond next? Thats my next question: Where do we go from here? asked Rev. Charles Quann, of Bethlehem Baptist Church, in Spring House. Its something Collett took seriously, referencing several pieces of legislation aiming to accomplish sweeping reforms to further police accountability and oversight. She added that these types of conversations are paramount. Its gonna help us move forward as we figure out ways to move the legislation that we have already proposed and craft new legislation thats really going to make a difference here in our commonwealth, Collett said. The Memorial Day death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police sparked outrage and protests across the country calling for racial justice. Peaceful demonstrations have taken place in several Montgomery County municipalities including Ambler, Lansdale and Norristown as protesters marched for George Floyd, Briana Taylor and other victims of police brutality. For Quann, the issue at hand is much bigger than political ideology. This is not about politics, this is about social justice, Quann said. This is about fairness to all of Gods people, and as an African-American, my voice is gonna be raised regardless of penalty, regardless of what people may say, regardless of whether Im a minister or not. This cannot continue to happen. Williams agreed. Understand those of us who are Democrats do not suggest that we dont appreciate the protection of law enforcement in our communities, we do; that we do respect that they go to work every day and put their lives on the line for us, Williams said. What were raising up our voices about are those few bad apples and actors continually are allowed to repurpose themselves and return to service and continue that pattern that breeds fear in many Americans. Quann called out the systemic racism in this country. We have seen racism at every level, and the tragedy that just took place in Wisconsin, and I believe that it is taken place because we have a president who allows this to happen, he said, referencing the shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake last week in Kenosha, Wisc., and media reports about the following violence. Local leaders shared their experiences working to foster relationships in the community. Quann has collaborated with nearby Congregation Beth Or, the Lower Gwynedd Police Department and the municipalitys board of supervisors. Yet, theres still more to be done. I am constantly working to make sure this church is engaged in community, and establishing relationships, and talk about how we work together across faith lines, across race lines, and making sure that the voices of Black Americans are heard and recognized, not just in Montgomery County, but also in the city of Philadelphia, he said. We cannot ignore whats taking place in Philadelphia as to say were not a part from that. Fellow panelist Shaykh Anwar Muhammad owns The Black Reserve Bookstore in downtown Lansdale and serves as president of the NAACPs Ambler chapter, which covers the North Penn, Upper Dublin and Wissahickon school districts. By day Im a bookstore owner, by night Im the Black panther of Lansdale, and now surrounding areas, Muhammad said. So Im also a superhero. So for those of you who did not know come past the store to Wakanda and many will tell you that Skaykh Anwar is the Black Panther. Muhammad has established a rapport with the police departments and officials within his organizations jurisdiction. I havent gotten to work with the Black Panther yet, but I look forward to that, and I may have to deputize him so we can do some more work together here, said Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele. Steele said he didnt enter his position at the district attorneys office lightly. Quite frankly the way I look at this as a prosecutor I believe it is my job to represent everybody in the system and so that includes victims, that includes police, that includes the community, and that includes defendants, Steele said. So we take the oath very seriously when it comes to doing this job and doing the job that we do here in Montgomery County. Steele highlighted the efforts between the the countys courthouse, district attorneys office, correctional system, veterans affairs, and behavioral health units to implement diversionary programs such as Drug Court. Our diversionary programs in Montgomery County are robust and they come in a variety of different ways and different treatment courts, he said. According to Steele, of the 8,000 adult cases last year, 25 percent were conducted through diversionary programs. Steele added that there are similar resources for juvenile offenders. The county has a youth aid panel, which Steele said consists of 42 panels and 260 volunteers. The kids have offenses going into programs never arrested, [and] dont have a record after this, Steele said. With respect to changing the conversation, Collett posed a question to her fellow participants, asking in part what do white people do to learn from the experiences of people of color without burdening people of color? Joy Bostic, director of African and African American Studies at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, had a simple answer: Get educated. She encouraged listeners of Tuesdays forum to get involved by following activists, learning about the Black Lives Matter movement, reading books from area bookstores like Muhammads, taking courses at Montgomery County Community College, and cultivating a dialogue with local organizations. Get out there and use all your resources, she said. When confronted with this change, Muhammad stressed that this is not just a Black problem this is an everyone problem. We have to be able to stand up and not be complacent in the ways in which people are dehumanizing, stereotyping others in ways, and for Black people, that could mean life or death, Bostic said. In recent months, conversations have stirred about defunding police. For Quann, thats not necessarily the answer. We dont need to defund the police department, what we need is a deeper commitment, and it starts at the top, he said. Instead, he said its critical to take action regarding law enforcement reform. I believe that we need to get rid of those police officers who have no regard for the lives of Black men and women, and it seems as though its just increasing every day, he said. So we have to be able to respond in ways that indicate that we care that Black lives matter. That those officers should be terminated, prosecuted and that we have a government that stands behind that. John Hollway, associate dean and executive director of the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, evoked a legal perspective on whats been occurring. When a mistake happens, a death in custody, a use of daily force, a wrongful conviction, our moral obligation is to acknowledge that error, learn from it and make changes that will prevent it from happening again, Hollway said. When we fail to do those things we actually compound the error, he continued. Communities lose faith in our law enforcement agencies and that starts a downward trust spiral where our agencies lose legitimacy. How is public trust restored? Hollway concluded its by accountability and transparency. This is done through investigations such as a Sentinel Event Review, which he said should be mandatory whenever theres a wrongful conviction, death while in custody or use of deadly force. Hollway said the investigations should be conducted by objectively trained moderators who then issue recommendations, which should be published and made available to the public. He added there should be safe harbor provisions to encourage police departments and other criminal justice agencies to conduct SERs. I wholeheartedly think that this is an avenue that we can use to prevent things from happening in the future, Steele said. As the conversation concluded, Collett thanked the panelists and her fellow moderator for their time that evening expressing her appreciation for the comments made on race and equity. I really am so overwhelmed by the incredible knowledge that you shared with all of us, your compassion and your ability to really help us really break these issues down and understand how we can be better informed and how we can approach every interaction to make sure were standing up for citizens in our community, people who are Black and Brown who we see being mistreated, Collett said. But Andrew Parton (pictured), EY Oceania Insurtech Leader, admits this uptake in interest on insurtechs from insurers is leaving brokers feeling threatened and left out of the picture. Read more: MD on the future of insurtech I think some brokers are worried about being disintermediated, he conceded. Brokers are intermediators in the process, as has always been the case, and those intermediaries have to be clear about the role theyre playing and the value theyre adding. Technology is often a disintermediator and by adding technology, you can often eliminate steps that traditional intermediators are making. I think brokers may feel that theyre under threat, but if you think about what a broker value proposition is, its about knowing the customer and making it easier for them to do business with insurers. Theres a lot of insurtech and technology out there that is focused on that, Patron says, and as such, he believes technology is going to find out the intermediaries that arent necessarily adding value. If I were a broker, I would be just as much thinking about what my strategy is, and how I can differentiate myself. How do I deliver customer value propositions? And where am I lacking capability to help me do that? And I would be looking at what insurtechs are out there that can plug in some of those gaps. Additional findings from EYs third annual survey of Australias insurtech ecosystem found that partnerships between incumbent insurers and insurtechs are becoming increasingly common 80% of insurers are currently collaborating with an insurtech. However, most partnerships are still occurring on a small scale, for specific point solutions within individual pockets of business. To move to the next stage of optimisation and to fully harness the benefits of insurtech, insurers will need a clear, holistic digital strategy and an implementation roadmap that address legacy technology issues. I think insurers recognise that gone are the days where they can source all the capabilities they need within their own four walls, Parton continued. There are examples of insurtechs out there that can do much better than they can, so theres a realisation from the insurers that there are opportunities out there. I think insurers know other insurers are doing this and if they dont, theyre going to be left behind. Insurtechs are getting more prolific and theyre getting better at being able to understand the needs of insurers. They come from a customer centric standpoint more often than insurers do, and so, theyre getting more and more compelling compositions. Read next: "The ones who get there quickly are the ones who will win" The benefits and advantages that insurtechs bring to the table for insurers is centred on the fact they focus on customers a lot more than traditional insurers have. While insurers tend to think about products and perils how to develop a product around a scenario of catastrophe and how to sell the product through which channels and to who, Parton says insurtechs flip that form of thinking upside down. [Insurtechs think] whats the customer, whats the customer problem and how do I work that back into insurance? Theres just a different mindset ... Insurtechs by definition are technology firms, so at their heart, they have modern technology, theyre able to develop much more rapidly a prototype and vary what theyre building thats very, very difficult for an insurer to do, he added. Most of the insurers technology is old and even on modern technology, the process to go through changes is lengthy. So, the ability for insurtechs to be more dynamic and more agile is again something that insurers struggle to find anywhere else. After four days of apocalyptic warnings, ranting speeches and a bizarre claim about hamburgers, president Donald Trump brought the Republican National Convention (RNC) to a close on Thursday night with a speech from the White House. Speaking from the South Lawn in front of a crowd of around 1,500, Mr Trump warned that his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, posed an existential threat to US, claiming the former vice president would demolish the American dream should he win Novembers election. Fearmongering appeared to be the theme for most of the week, as speaker after speaker sought to portray the race for the Oval Office as a choice between law and order under Mr Trump, or the breakdown of society with Mr Biden. In addition to the obvious scare tactics, there were a number of episodes at the event which erred on the slightly more bizarre side, even by the standards of a party whose leader recently welcomed the support of QAnon conspiracy theorists, who believe that a cabal of Satan-worshipping Democrats, Hollywood celebrities and billionaires runs the world while engaging in paedophilia, human trafficking and the harvesting of a supposedly life-extending chemical from the blood of abused children. Here, we bring you five of the most baffling moments of the RNC 2020. 1) Kimberly Guilfoyle shouts at an empty room Ex-Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle warns of 'human sex drug traffickers' in RNC speech In a pre-recorded address broadcast on day one of the convention, Kimberly Guilfoyle delivered a high-decibel speech which drew astonished reactions. Ms Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and girlfriend of the presidents son, Donald Trump Jr, shouted loudly throughout her address, which she delivered to an empty room while violently waving her arms and gesticulating. The 51-year-old said Joe Biden and Kamala Harris would destroy the country and enslave Americans with a victim ideology if elected. Concluding her speech, Ms Guilfoyle raised her arms high into the air before declaring: the best is yet to come. 2) Donald Trump Jr says Joe Biden is Loch Ness monster of the swamp Donald Trump Jr says Joe Biden is 'Loch Ness monster of the swamp' at RNC Donald Trump Jr delivered an address that led to accusations that he was high on drugs, claims he later denied. Appearing glassy-eyed and sweaty, according to onlookers, the presidents son like his other half delivered apocalyptic warnings that America would not be safe under a Democratic administration run by Mr Biden. The 42-year-old also said Mr Biden is the Loch Ness monster of the swamp in a bizarre comparison to the mythical creature legend said to be hiding in the depths of a Loch Ness, thousands of miles away in Scotland 3) Gun-toting St Louis couple address conference Gun-toting St Louis couple who aimed guns at unarmed black protesters complain they face charges Despite facing charges of unlawful use of weapons, a St Louis couple who pointed guns at unarmed Black Lives Matter protesters addressed the convention. Mark and Patricia McCloskey both lawyers addressed the audience in a pre-recorded speech, denouncing the charges against them and hitting out at what they described as the mob who passed their Versailles-style mansion. The demonstrators had been marching towards the home of St Louis mayor Lyda Krewson to demand an end to police brutality. The radicals are not content just marching in the streets, said Mark McCloskey in his Monday address. They want to walk the halls of Congress. They want power. This is Joe Bidens party. These are the people who will be in charge. 4) Mitch McConnell says Democrats want to control the number of hamburgers people can eat Mitch McConnell warns of Democrats' war on hamburgers in plug for 'my friend' Donald Trump Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell contended Democrats want to limit the number of hamburgers Americans can eat as he urged voters to give his friend president Donald Trump a second term in office. The Kentucky Republican spoke from his home state rather than the White House. This election is consequential, Mr McConnell said, warning Democrats want to decide how we should live our lives. His message was simple: Democrats want central control over all decisions American make under a socialist form of government. In a more bizarre turn, he then specifically claimed that Democrats wanted to control how people eat. Democrats want to tell you what kind of car you can drive and even how many hamburgers you can eat, Mr McConnell said in his pre-recorded speech. 5) Womens suffrage likened to the formation of the Tea Party During night three, RNC viewers were shown a newsprint montage of the womens suffrage moment, which started with a segment that placed emphasis on the words Tea Party, in an apparent reference to US conservative political movement. View the full video below In the run up to US Elections 2020 begins, Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris on Friday slammed Donald Trump over Covid-19 response and defended protests against racial injustice. In her speech at Republican National Convention (RNC), she stated that people are rightfully angry and exhausted. Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris in a speech on Thursday defended the ongoing nationwide protests against racial injustice and slammed President Donald Trump on his response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States. Racially-charged protests were refueled on Sunday after a viral video showed African American Jacob Blake being shot in the back seven times by a police officer. People are rightfully angry and exhausted, Harris said in her rebuttal speech to the Republican National Convention (RNC). After the murders of Breonna [Taylor] and George [Floyd] and Ahmaud [Arbery]and so many others, its no wonder people are taking to the streets, and I support them. We must always defend peaceful protests and peaceful protesters. Harris further said that peaceful protesters must not be confused with looters and rioters, including the 17-year-old shooter arrested and charged with murder. We will not let these vigilantes and extremists derail the path to justice, Harris said. Also Read: Pence slams Biden over no miracle coming remark on Covid-19 Also Read: TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer quits amid lawsuit against Trump administration Harris said she and Joe Biden talked to Blakes family on Wednesday and discussed the need to heal the country. In addition, Harris also said Trump has failed to protect the American people with his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Harris said Trump had a reckless disregard towards the pandemic and that his incompetence has become deadly, citing the 180,000 US COVID-19 deaths and the more than 5.8 million cases that have been reported in the country. The final night of the semi-virtual RNC will begin Wednesday night at 8:30 pm EST (0030 GMT on Thursday). Trump will deliver his nomination acceptance speech from the south lawn of the White House. Also Read: US sanctions Chinese individuals involved in South China Sea militarization India, one of the largest troop contributors to UN peacekeeping operations, has co-sponsored a Security Council resolution that calls for full, effective and meaningful participation" of women personnel in peacekeeping operations. Indias Permanent Mission to the UN, in a tweet on Friday, said India is proud to co-sponsor" the resolution which was put forth by Indonesia. We are proud to co-sponsor the UN Security Council Resolution on women in peacekeeping that calls for full, effective and meaningful participation of women in peacekeeping operations," the Indian mission said. In line with the priorities we (India) have set for ourselves, during our tenure in the Security Council beginning 2021, India will continue to push for greater involvement of women in all areas," the Indian mission said. In June, India was elected non-permanent member of the Security Council for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2021. It will serve as the president of the powerful 15-nation UN body for the month of August, 2021. India will preside over the Council again for a month in 2022. India has a long tradition of being associated with UN Peacekeeping since its inception. The country made history in 2007 when she deployed the first all-women Police Unit in the UN Mission in Liberia. India is the fifth largest contributor of uniformed personnel to the UN Peacekeeping Forces. It currently contributes more than 5,400 military and police personnel to the UN peacekeeping operations in Abyei, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, the Middle East, Sudan, South Sudan and Western Sahara as well as one expert to the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia. Over the last 70 years, more than 160 Indian military, police and civilian personnel have lost their lives while serving in UN Peacekeeping Missions around the world, the highest deaths from any troop-contributing country. Anyone over 65 is currently eligible for free subway rides and discounts on rail tickets and admissions to national and public museums since 1981. But at that time over-65s took up a mere four percent of the total population, and now they account for 16 percent. The government wants to raise the age when pensioners become eligible for public benefits like free subway passes from the current 65 as the population ages. According to Statistics Korea, the proportion of the elderly population will grow to more than 20 percent in 2025 and a whopping 47 percent by 2067. In a meeting on Thursday, the government decided to begin discussions on how to improve the benefits system for the elderly. Participants said there has been a change in the public perception on what age is considered old due to the extended life expectancy and healthcare. In a 2017 poll, 59.4 percent said that people are old when they are over 70. The government plans to launch a task force in the second half of this year to come up with a policy. In a workshop in January last year, Health and Welfare Minister Park Neung-hoo stressed the need to begin a public debate on ways to raise the pensionable age from 65 to 70 on a step-by-step basis in preparation for a forthcoming super-aged society. Some experts favor maintaining the current system because the over-65s typically have even less money than they used to even if they continue working. Prof. Yu Jeong-whon of Ajou University said, "Let's face it, the operating costs of subways don't jump enormously just because more elderly people take it. Elderly people can improve their health and contribute to boosting consumption if they take subway to engage in more social activities, which benefits everyone." Irish travel software firm Datalex has insisted it remains on track to deliver earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) of between $750,000 and $1.5m (634,000 and 1.27) for 2020 despite the huge challenges facing the airline industry that is its customer base. The Dublin-based firm, which has for almost two years been battling to recover from an accounting scandal, said it made an adjusted Ebitda loss of $1.3m in the first half of the year, down from the $2.8m (2.3m) it lost in the first half of 2019. Its revenue in the first six months of 2020 tumbled 42pc to $13.2m (11.1m), with platform revenue slumping 43pc to $7.7m. The software company has been kept afloat by billionaire financier Dermot Desmond, who owns just under 30pc of the business. He has also thrown it a 21m debt lifeline. Datalex said that on a like-for-like basis, Covid resulted in a 29pc decrease in revenue in the period. However, total operating costs before exceptional items fell 47pc to $15.6m (13.2m). It has renegotiated business partner arrangements, eliminated discretionary spending, frozen recruitment, implemented voluntary leave options and reduced working hours for employees. Chief executive Sean Corkery said that the performance in the first half had been achieved even though the aviation industry faces "particular" challenges. Datalex's customers include airlines around the world, including Aer Lingus, JetBlue, Air China and SAS. Mr Corkery said the first half results were in line with expectations and reflect a "continuum of resilience" at the business. Datalex signed no new customers during the first half of the year as the global aviation industry continues to be pummelled by the effects of the Covid pandemic. However, it said it renewed commercial contracts with a major Chinese customer during the period. It added that one significant existing customer contract is under renegotiation, "which if successful will allow cumulative revenue for all of 2020" to be recognised in the second half of this year. It also said it continues to be in talks with a number of potential new customers despite the pandemic. Despite sticking to 2020 guidance it issued last month, Datalex conceded that it's "difficult to accurately quantify the likely impact on our financial trading and performance as it is not known how long the pandemic will persist". It pointed to July data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents most of the world's airlines, which showed that the recovery in passenger traffic has been slower than expected. "Despite the inevitable impact Covid-19 will have on the airline industry for the months ahead, the group is confident that appropriate actions taken during the first half of 2020 as well as other materially beneficial factors expected in the second half of 2020 will enable the group to report a positive adjusted EBITDA for the full year," it said. It added: "Datalex occupies a key space with transformative software and products which can help airlines recover quickly. We are confident Datalex products are supporting and can continue to support our customer base as they manage the Covid-19 crisis while rebuilding our revenues and profitability." In our recent special legislative session, I introduced legislation, HB11, to remove the power that the state of New Mexico currently holds to force individuals, under threat of house arrest, to vaccinate people against their will in the case of a public health crisis. The governor would not allow my legislation to be given a hearing. At the time, I spoke to many folks who thought my concerns were alarmist. Unfortunately, no one can think that now. In (one of) Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams weekly COVID-19 briefing(s), she stated that she plans to (consider making) the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for nursing home residents, health care workers, educators, first responders and corrections populations. She also seemed to imply that requiring the vaccine for schoolchildren was also under consideration. Now that everyone must take the threat of mandatory vaccination seriously, lets consider the implications of such a policy. First, I must state that mandatory COVID-19 vaccination and medical freedom are mutually exclusive. Forcing healthy people to take a vaccine under threat of legal prosecution is wrong. The government shouldnt be allowed to force you to undergo a medical procedure or inject something into your body against your will. In the case of this particular vaccine, if one is approved and produced, we will be dealing with a substance rushed through approval. With potentially unknown side effects, I would be very wary of forcing such a vaccine on a large population even without my belief in medical freedom. Mandatory vaccinations might also violate the religious freedom rights of individuals who have a religious objection to vaccination, particularly to vaccines made with fetal cells. Any potential coronavirus vaccine could be derived from fetal cell lines, but this is still uncertain. I am also concerned about the economic results of such a policy when it comes to teachers, police officers, doctors and other professionals choosing to leave the state if they are faced with the prospect of mandatory vaccination. If the governor makes good on her promise, I may be forced to either take the vaccine or give up the practice of medicine in New Mexico. And I will not take a vaccine with such a high potential for unknown side effects. But I would like to raise one more reason why mandatory vaccination is dangerous. At the end of the session, I received a call from a lobbyist for (a) major pharmaceutical company who was concerned that I would even draft such legislation. Thats because pharmaceutical companies stand to benefit more than anyone else from mandatory vaccinations. Weve seen this type of corruption in state politics before: in 2007, Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed an executive order mandating that all 11- and 12-year old girls in the state should receive the HPV vaccine. It was later revealed that not only had the company that produced the vaccine substantially donated to Perry, but his former chief of staff had become a lobbyist for the same company. Pharmaceutical companies produce life-saving drugs, for which I am tremendously grateful. But they should not be given financial and political power at the expense of individual liberty. I am a doctor, and I am not against vaccinations. I think most vaccinations in use today are extremely beneficial. But the best tool, and the only tool worth using in a free society, is persuasion, not force. There is a very wide gulf between recommended and required and its a gulf we, as Americans, should not cross. Every time, while scrolling your Facebook, Instagram, or even TikTok timeline, you might have seen advertisements of several goods and services that allow you to make your order and pay for the purchase. Along with the development of information technology, commercial transactions have also been made possible electrically. Consequently, in Nepal also, there are various companies like Daraz, Sastodeal, and Urbangirl which have thrived on the possibility of e-commerce. This digital version of doing commercial transactions over the internet, also known as e-commerce, has been in the centre of attention among the urban youth in Nepal these days. Now, the Covid-19 pandemic has also highlighted the importance of e-commerce among the costumers as well as the vendors. So, one may be curious about when and how this business model that has been proving its worth to its fullest in this unprecedented time came into existence and reach this phase today. The history of e-commerce in the world began with the foundation of CompuServe in 1969. In 1984, the same company, believed to be the first major e-commerce enterprise of the world, launched Electronic Mall that allowed its users to buy from more than 100 online retailers/merchants. It was the first instance of online retailing in the world. E-commerce worldwide is flourishing and has now seen a boom. E-commerce was introduced in Nepal with an aim of letting Nepalis residing abroad send gifts to their families, friends, and relatives living here. The shift from physical stores to virtual ones began in the late 1990s. Bal Krishna Joshi, a co-founder of thamel.com, claims his company is the first-ever e-commerce company in Nepal. We have recently asked him to explain the rise of e-commerce in Nepal including his observations. Here is what he has to say: Inspiration from the US, registration from the US I was in the US in the late 1990s. Then, with the advent of the internet, e-commerce companies like Amazon and eBay were launched and operated there. While observing all these growths, I thought of doing something similar in Nepal. Executing this idea in 1998, we started thamel.com as a business-listing website with an aim of globalising and digitising the business of the shops located at Thamel. Then, various shops of Thamel started registering their shops on our website by paying a certain amount as the registration fee. There was also a chat platform on our website which would allow the potential buyers and sellers to communicate with each other. As making international phone calls was very expensive those days, introducing this chat platform enabled them to communicate at a low price. With the launch of our website, the first-ever digital or internet venture of Nepal, everyone got excited, and our company witnessed a commendable pick-up within one year of its establishment. However, in the second year, we witnessed that our business was gradually losing because the businesses registered on our website did not want to continue. Their business was already flourishing and they thought they would no more need our help. Consequently, we were having a hard time sustaining financially. But, interestingly, we came to witness that some Nepalis living abroad were communicating with their family members via the same chat platform of our website. This was totally unexpected. I remember an incident from our early years. In the spring of 2001, the Matatritha Aunshi (Mothers Day) was around the corner. We realised it would be great if Nepalis who were out of the country for their studies or work could send gifts to their family members, friends and families. Thereafter, we converted our website to an e-commerce site from a business-listing website. But, to our dismay, we did not receive much business on Matatirtha Aunshi as expected. Interestingly, there was no infrastructure for e-commerce in Nepal then. We had registered our site in the United States only in 2000, one year before we converted our site into e-commerce. Slow progress After this failure, I was thinking of quitting all these. I was still in the US. And, one day in 2001, while I was sitting with my friends, chitchatting, suddenly one of my friends proposed if we could send goats to our home in Nepal for Dashain. He wanted to make a joke, but this idea hit my mind. I found it very interesting. As it was around two months before Dashain, we prepared everything for selling goats. For about two weeks, we did not receive any orders. Then, we advertised this scheme on nepalnews.com. After that, in the third week, we received our first order. By the time Dashain was over, we did the business of around 50,000 dollars. The payment was made by the Nepalis residing abroad and goats were delivered in Nepal. This story of selling goats on the internet was covered by every international and national mainstream media then. After this, we started selling many things such as cakes, fruits, vegetables, and whatnot, until 2006. After 2006, I moved to digital remittance, realising that e-commence was never a profitable business in Nepal and customers also started asking if we could send money in Nepal. Mushrooming growth After us, munchahouse.com, now changed into muncha.com was launched by Muncha House, the first-ever online department store in Nepal, located in Balkumari, Ason. Established in 2000, it is considered the first online department store in Nepal. Nepalis living in the USA, the UK, and Australia used this website to buy and send gifts to their near and dear ones in Nepal. Gradually, many e-commerce companies came into operation. Such major companies include NepBay.com, now changed into Thulo Market established in 2007 (as an online directory of products and shops in Kathmandu), Foodmandu (2010), Sastodeal (2011), Urban Girl, now changed into UG Bazaar (2012), Daraz (initially started as Kyamu in 2013 and acquired by Alibaba Group in 2018) and many more. With the launch of eSewa, the first payment gateway of Nepal, in 2009, and other payment services like Khalti, IME Pay, and many more, a fertile ground has been laid for the growth of e-commerce in Nepal. The road ahead Today, there are about 40k+ registered commercial websites in Nepal. Sooner or later, every small or big business venture will launch their e-commerce sites. There are hundreds of e-commerce sites in Nepal already. However, even after almost two decades, e-commerce is still in a nascent stage due to infrastructure-related hassles that include the lack of digital mapping, strong legal provisions and regulations and integrated payment systems, high logistic costs, and many more. I still believe the e-commerce business in Nepal has been more about glamour and popularity than about actual business. The companies are yet to do transactions in a big volume. The Bombay high court (HC) has directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to file an affidavit in response to the objection raised by Elgar Parishad accused advocate Surendra Gadling against the transfer of investigation into the case from Pune Police to NIA. Advocate Satish Talekar told a division bench of justice RD Dhanuka and justice VG Bisht that the petition challenged the move as the transfer was done after the Pune Police had filed the charge sheet and additional charge sheet. NIAs advocate Sandesh Patil informed the court that he was not in a position to argue as he did not have a copy of the petition and hence needed two weeks. However, Talekar opposed it and submitted that Gadling had lost his mother last week, but due to the pendency of the current petition, the special NIA court was not hearing his application for interim bail and hence NIA should not be allowed two weeks. The court directed Talekar to serve a copy of the petition to NIA and directed NIA to file a reply within a week and posted the matter for hearing on September 8. SAO PAULO, Brazil Tucked away on a bottom shelf in Sonia Gomess studio here is a small cardboard box. Inside, two scarves one woven in mustard-colored cashmere and the other in a printed silk are carefully folded. A handwritten letter sits on top. The thought that a small part of me could become a part of your work really inspires me and makes me smile, it reads. The scarves, from an admirer of her work, were gifts, like the other secondhand textiles stretched across the metal screens on Ms. Gomess studio walls and hanging from the hooks in its ceiling an antique wedding dress in layers of cream lace and silk, a sky-blue tablecloth with white embroidered flowers that once belonged to a friends grandmother, fragments of gold lame that used to be parts of a Carnival costume that she combines with everyday materials like furniture, driftwood and wire to create abstract sculptures. The materials were given to Ms. Gomes in the hope that she could twist, stuff or stitch them, giving each item a new significance as it becomes part of her work. A haulier has pleaded guilty to his part in the deaths of 39 migrants in a trailer on the back of a lorry. The bodies of the Vietnamese nationals were discovered on an industrial estate in Grays, Essex, shortly after the lorry arrived in Purfleet on a ferry in the early hours of October 23 last year. Among the men, women and children were 10 teenagers, two of them 15-year-old boys. An inquest heard that their medical cause of death was asphyxia and hyperthermia a lack of oxygen and overheating in an enclosed space. On Friday, haulier Ronan Hughes, 40, from Co Armagh, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey - the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales - to 39 counts of manslaughter. He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration between May 1 2018 and October 24 2019. It was alleged he played a leading role in the operation, with his trailers and drivers used to transport migrants. Hughes appeared in the dock alongside Eamonn Harrison, 23, of Mayobridge, Co Down, who is alleged to have driven the lorry trailer to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge before it sailed to Purfleet in England. Harrison pleaded not guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Harrison and Hughes appeared at the Old Bailey after being extradited from Ireland in July. FLINT, MI -- The state of Michigan wont rush to file details about its $600-million settlement with Flint residents in federal court -- partly because it wants to give others accused of wrongdoing all the time they need to join in the deal. Assistant Attorney General Richard Kuhl told U.S. District Court Judge Judith Levy this week that the 45-day waiting period is built-in to the states process for handling the settlement to allow for finalizing details and to encourage other defendants to join in in helping Flint move forward. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nesel announced the settlement Aug. 20, and have said the bulk of the money it provides would go to Flint children who were 6 or younger when they first were exposed to city water during the water crisis. In announcing the settlement, Nessel also said the state wants other defendants to join the deal before its submitted to the court for approval, which her office said was expected to be completed within about 45 days. Levy told attorneys at a virtual status conference that shes preparing to consider the settlement as soon as it arrives. I will set up a procedure on the motion as soon as the motion is filed, Levy said. I (have) assured everyone ... that I will turn all my attention that I possibly can afford in light of my docket to addressing that motion when its filed so it can be handled in a timely manner. The judge asked Kuhl when to expect the settlement, and he said he expects to submit it one or two weeks after the 45 days have passed -- in mid to late October. Although the state has released a summary of the settlement, many questions still remain about the proposed arrangement, including how much attorneys will receive and how money awarded to children will be dispersed. Residents wont have a chance to file a claim for money until after attorney fees have been set aside for the lawyers involved and until a claims process is approved by the federal court. Its not clear if the settlement will include any other defendants, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the city of Flint and its former employees, and consulting companies that advised the city on various water issues before and during the federally recognized health emergency here. Two engineering companies that are among the defendants in Flint water cases told MLive-The Flint Journal last week that they will continue to defend themselves in lawsuits brought by residents and dont plan to settle cases. Lawsuits will continue against defendants that dont join in the settlement, attorneys for the residents and the state have said. Flints water crisis occurred after the citys water source was changed to the Flint River in a failed attempt to cut costs while state-appointed emergency managers waited to tap into a new water pipeline that was being built by the Karegnondi Water Authority. The tap-in never happened and the city was reconnected to the old Detroit water system in October 2015 after studies and testing showed rising levels of lead and bacteria in water and in the blood of city children. More than 100 lawsuits filed by city residents in state and federal court have accused defendants including the city, state, and federal governments as well as the consultants, of wrongdoing for their roles in the resulting water crisis. Youngest Flint water crisis victims to get 80 percent of historic $600 million settlement Consultants say theyre scapegoats, wont settle cases with Flint residents over water crisis First requirement for getting part of $600M Flint water settlement will be more patience Ford self-driving vehicles are poised to begin a monthlong test of automated parking in a Detroit garage in an illustration of how self-driving cars may revolutionize the urban automotive experience. A Ford Escape with already available features demonstrates automated valet parking in a Detroit parking structure. The vehicles will demonstrate the system by automatically pulling in and out of parking spaces and avoiding obstacles, including pedestrians, other parked vehicles and stray objects as small as a glass of water or a cat darting through the structure. The vehicles will use technology thats already available on Ford vehicles, said Greg Stevens, Ford global manager of driver assistance technology. Automotive technology supplier Bosch will equip the garage with Lidar, a light mapping technology used by self-driving vehicles, and other sensors also using parts that are commercially available today. The company has already demonstrated similar technology in Germany, but this marks its first official demonstration in North America, Bosch Director of Mobility Solution Sales Kevin Mull said. The demo isnt open to the public. Lidar sensors can guide vehicles through the parking structure. "Automated valet parking," which is how Ford and Bosch are describing the demonstration, could increase the garages capacity by 15%-20% because vehicles can be parked closer together if you neednt leave space for the doors to open and people to enter and exit. It takes parking out of your life as a pain point, Fords Stevens said. When a driver pulls in, the driver is directed to stop on a designated spot near the garages entrance and exit their vehicle. The system then directs the vehicle to the closest empty spot. The vehicle uses its onboard sensors to park there. When the driver is ready to leave, the vehicle is summoned to meet them near the entrance. A Ford Escape with already available features parks itself in a Detroit parking structure. In addition to freeing people from the hassle of parking, the system could direct electric vehicles to charging pads or send them to the apartment buildings entrance. It could also have vehicles arrange themselves for a quick exit after work or events like concerts and sports. Story continues Parking development is a major issue for property managers in metropolitan areas, said Heather Wilberger, chief information officer at Bedrock, the garage owner. This sort of autonomous strategy can mean packing more cars into tighter spaces while alleviating issues like car door dings or dealing with someone who is double-parked. This is about retrofitting existing garages in ways that improve the consumer experience as well as improve the bottom line for garage owners as they fit more cars into less space, Wilberger said. Fitting 20% more vehicles in existing decks just solves a practical problem, Mayor Mike Duggan said. This kind of feature is just one more message that the city of Detroit is the place where the future of mobility is going to be developed," he said. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Self-driving cars will park themselves at Detroit parking garage Prime Minister Scott Morrison during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House on Aug. 26, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images) New Foreign Relations Law Stops Beijing Exploiting Gaps in Australias Federation Prime Minister Scott Morrisons new Foreign Relations Bill will close a gaping seam between federal, state, and local governments that has been exploited by Beijing, according to an expert. Michael Shoebridge, director of defence at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), told The Epoch Times on Aug. 27, that the value of a cohesive national strategy between different levels of government was on display during the COVID-19 pandemic, and was sorely needed to address gaps in foreign affairs. Chinas policy is an area where this is clearly vital and where the new law will be powerfully useful, he said. On Aug. 27, the prime minister, along with Foreign Minister Marise Payne, announced the Foreign Relations Bill which will give the federal government power to scrutinise, and potentially veto, agreements between foreign governments and Australias state and territory governments. Related Coverage Belt and Road, Confucius Institutes Could Be Scrapped Under New Australian Law The law would also cover agreements entered into by universities and local councils. What Australia is doing is ensuring that arrangements that are entered into by state and territory governments are in Australias national interests, Payne told Channel Nine on the same day. Most importantly we do our due diligence on those agreements, and we ensure that they are consistent with our foreign policy approach, she said Australias Foreign Minister Marise Payne speaks during a news conference at Australian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, on Jan. 10, 2019. (Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters) Within six months of the new laws coming into place, states and other bodies covered will have to complete a stocktake of existing agreements for review. There are over 135 agreements across 30 different countries to be examined. Shoebridge pointed to Victorias controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) agreement as to the most likely target for the new law once it is passed. It shouldnt take a new law for the Victorian government to align on foreign policy with the federal government, which has constitutional responsibility and power in this area, but thats what seems to be needed, he said. Beijing courting Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews participation is the most iconic example of the seams between levels of government causing problems, Shoebridge said. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media in Melbourne, Australia on Aug. 24, 2020. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Clive Hamilton, author of Silent Invasion, wrote in The Age on May 23 that the Victorian governments championing of the BRI was an example of how Beijing shifted its political focus from federal to state as scepticism around relations with the CCP became more prominent in the political environment nationally. Salvatore Babones, associate professor at the University of Sydney, told The Epoch Times on Aug. 27, that the Foreign Relations Bill rightly consolidates foreign policy in the hands of the federal government. If state governments and universities behaved responsibly, the bill wouldnt be necessary, he said. The universities tried to tackle their China dependence with last years foreign interference guidelines, but that effort at self-governance has largely failed, he added. On May 12, it was revealed 13 Australian universities with Confucius Institutes did not register on the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme which was established in 2018 as part of an effort to add visibility to the nature of foreign influence in Australia. The International Building at Griffith University where the Tourism Confucius Institute operates on the Gold Coast campus. (Richard Szabo/The Epoch Times) and the Confucius statue at Gold Coast Chinatown, which was partly funded by the Confucius Institute. (Shiftchange/Wikimedia Commons CC) Organisations acting lawfully on behalf of a foreign government or entity to carry out activities for political influence were encouraged to register. Confucius Institutes have come under scrutiny for potentially being a trojan horse for CCPs soft power efforts in Western nations. Last year, the Minister for Education Dan Tehan announced new guidelines for the university sector to protect itself from foreign interference. Babones hoped the federal government would not need to exercise the powers vested by the Foreign Relations law. I hope and suspect that the government would be much more circumspect about intervening directly in other agreements, he said. Chinas then-Vice President Xi Jinping (now Chinese leader) unveils a plaque at the opening of Australias first Chinese Medicine Confucius Institute at the RMIT University in Melbourne on June 20, 2010. (William West/AFP/Getty Images) While it may be irresponsible for states and universities to sign deals with the totalitarian government in China, the best answer to totalitarianism abroad is to educate people at home, not to force them into actions against their will, he continued. Shoebridge added that the law would compel universities to reveal academic collaborations with Chinese academic institutions that may be connected to the Peoples Liberation Army or programs under the Thousand Talents Program. The protective value of the new law is strong, and the simple fact that arrangements with foreign governments must be on a public register will probably drive better behaviour than we have seen to date, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 17:25:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TOKYO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a press conference on Friday that he will step down from his post due to health concerns. However, Abe said that he would continue his political career and would run in the next election. The prime minister, 65, said his health condition worsened and he began feeling fatigued in July. He said that he lost confidence in his ability to serve the Japanese people. The PM said that he needed to be treated for a flare-up of his intestinal disease that led his first one-year stint to end abruptly in 2007, adding that he would receive new treatment but required prolonged care. Abe will remain in office until his successor is chosen, he said, but stopped short of naming his preferred successor. The Liberal Democratic Party will decide next week on how to hold a leadership election, with parliamentarians and representatives of local chapters likely casting ballots, according to local media reports. Abe said the downtrend in COVID-19 cases prompted him to resign. The PM said at a government meeting on Friday that Japan would aim to secure COVID-19 vaccinations for all citizens by the first half of 2021. He also announced a set of measures against the novel coronavirus including increasing the country's virus testing capacity ahead of the flu season. Enditem With nine votes, residents in Ward II nominated Brian Hughes to campaign for Lisa Maes seat on the Green River City Council last week. As of Tuesday morning, Hughes hadnt accepted his nomination. Election results were certified by the Sweetwater County Clerks Office Friday. Hughes received 11.69% of the write-in votes tallied in Ward II. Others collecting more than one write-in vote were George Jost with four votes, Maes with three votes and Carol Ross, Daniel Wilson, Sherry Bushman, Willy Cargile, Mitchell Maser, Dean E. Bowers, Rosanna March, William R. Lewis and Nicholas Hastert... Syracuse, N.Y. Three years ago, filmmaker Jeremy Garelick bought an old high school in Central New York with hopes of reviving a genre made famous by the late, great John Hughes. Today, The Binge hits streaming service Hulu and brings that dream to fruition, channelling some of Hughes most famous Brat Pack-era movies. The new Hulu original film, shot in Syracuse last year, was released Friday morning after getting a world premiere on the big screen at the New York State Fair drive-in Thursday night. The party comedy puts a funny twist on the premise of The Purge horror films: Set in a time where all drugs and alcohol are illegal, the only day anyone can participate in the fun is on Binge day. The movie follows three friends Skyler Gisondo, Dexter Darden, and Eduardo Franco as they turn 18 and are eligible to participate in the Big Binge Party for the first time in the near future (the year 2032), while the high school principal (Vince Vaughn) tries to stop the students, including his daughter, from going wild. Garelick, who founded the production company American High at the former A.V. Zogg Middle School in Liverpool, N.Y., now home to Syracuse Studios, directs the film on a script from Jordan VanDina. (The building is used for all the school scenes, and the school itself is named American High School for the film.) Unsurprisingly, there are the wacky moments that come with a night of binge-drinking (and bong-smoking) that youd find in any teen party movie, from Superbad and Booksmart to American Pie and Project X. Garelick first made waves in Hollywood as an uncredited writer for The Hangover, coming up with the storyline involving Mike Tysons tiger and the outrageous photos during the end credits, so a lot of the funniest bits come from shock moments (like Gisondos wonky eyebrow and The Gauntlet drinking competition). But where Garelick really succeeds is in borrowing from Hughes library of classic movie moments. Vaughn is basically playing Ed Rooney from Ferris Buellers Day Off (but sounds more like his Old School and Wedding Crashers characters), while the boys are all trying to get to a party where one hopes to tell his crush (Grace Van Dien) how he really feels, as if Jake and Samantha from Sixteen Candles switched places. Then theres a slew of comedic moments involving an animals death a cow, instead of the dog from National Lampoons Vacation (written by Hughes). Theres even a big musical number in Hanover Square that suddenly interrupts the movie, much like the dance scene from The Breakfast Club or Ferris singing Danke Schoen and Twist and Shout on a parade float. The Binge might not be as memorable as Hughes films 20-30 years from now (though it could be fun to revisit in the year 2032) but it certainly stands out as the biggest film shot in Syracuse. More than 2,000 extras and 50-60 local crew members worked on the movie, shot at places like Onondaga Lake Parkway, Carnegie Library, Clinton Square, Village Burger in Liverpool, a bridge in Van Buren, and the Greater Syracuse Soundstage (formerly known as the nano film hub in DeWitt). The Binge is now streaming on Hulu. The movie is rated TV-MA and is not recommended for younger audiences. The Binge is the sixth movie filmed in Syracuse to be released this year. Holly Slept Over, Banana Split, Big Time Adolescence, and Looks That Kill, all produced by American High, were released this spring. Big Time Adolescence, starring Pete Davidson, is currently streaming on Hulu and Banana Split is on Netflix; the other two titles are available on digital and Video On Demand (VOD). A fifth movie, Gabriels Inferno, directed by Tosca Musk and based on the best-selling erotic romance novels by Sylvain Reynard, is currently streaming on Passionflix. The total number of COVID-19 coronavirus cases topped 50,000 in both the Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs this week, with up to a quarter of the cases in each agency confirmed in August alone. Yet even as the number of positive tests and deaths continues to rise among service members, veterans, employees and family members, the rates of those hospitalized or dying from the pandemic have remained steady in DoD throughout August. And at the VA, hospitalizations have dropped considerably. Read Next: Space Force Now Has an Official Uniform Across the U.S., COVID-19 cases remain relatively high. Thats even as the number of new cases have declined since the July peak, when the country averaged more than 60,000 new cases per day. As with the rest of the country, DoD saw its cases more than double last month, rising from 18,071 on July 1 to 39,591 July 31, a 119% increase. But with 13,442 new cases across the services in August, the rate of new infections slowed this month, averaging 1,338 new cases every two to three days. In July, the average was 1,956 additional cases every several days. So far in August, DoD-affiliated COVID-19 patients -- service members, dependents, civilian employees and contractors -- have been hospitalized at a rate of 15 every two to three days. One to two deaths have occurred every several days, for a total of 80 since the outbreak began. As of Aug. 26, six military personnel, seven dependents, 50 civilian DoD employees and 17 contractors had died from the coronavirus. A total of 1,175 have been hospitalized since the first case was confirmed in a DoD dependent in February. The Army -- the largest military service -- has consistently had the highest number of COVID-19 cases since overtaking the Navy in early June. According to the Pentagon, the Army has had 12,925 cases, the Navy 8,548, the Marine Corps 4,585, and the Air Force 5,624. The National Guard Bureau, which currently has more than 19,000 members activated to support pandemic operations, including testing and facilities cleaning, has had 4,597 total cases since the outbreak began. At VA, more than 50,800 cases have been confirmed since the outbreak began, with 3,525 VA beneficiaries hospitalized or monitored, a 38% decline from a month ago. As of Aug. 27, 2,694 VA patients have died from the illness, including 529 in August alone -- the second highest month for COVID-19 deaths at the department since May, when 740 veteran patients died. Forty-nine VA employees also have died as a result of the pandemic. The continued outbreak continues to stymie travel, training and schooling across the Department of Defense. Travel restrictions have been lifted at 103 of 241 DoD installations, an increase of just nine bases since July 27. Some of the Army's largest installations, including Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and Fort Bliss and Fort Hood, Texas, remain on restriction. Department of Defense Education Activity schools have started welcoming students back in their hallways this month 123 of the system's 160 schools, including nearly all DoDEA schools in Europe and more than half in the Pacific Region. Twenty-five of 50 DoDEA schools in the U.S. remain closed and are teaching students through remote learning. Of the 25 that have opened or plan to open, one, at Marine Corps Base Quantico, has had to shut down temporarily after a middle school student tested positive for the coronavirus. The school will be thoroughly cleaned and is scheduled to reopen Aug. 31. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Related: US Troops May Not Get Priority for COVID-19 Vaccine After All Kabul, Aug 28 : Thirteen civilians, including six children, were killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Afghanistan's Kandahar province on Friday, an official said. "The victims -- six children, two women, five men -- were admitted at the Spin Boldak district hospital following the explosion," Ahmad Jawid Afghan, director of the hospital, told Xinhua news agency. Local residents said the blast occurred when a mini bus came in contact with the IED in the Loya Kariz locality. They said the victims were returning home after attending a wedding and the vehicle was destroyed in the blast. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident yet. Militants in Afghanistan have been using home-made IEDs to make roadside bombs and landmines to target security forces, but the lethal weapons also inflict casualties on civilians. More than 800 civilians were killed and over 2,330 others wounded in IED explosions in 2019, according to official figures. Lauren Silverman was spotted enjoying a day at the beach in Malibu with son Eric on Thursday, as her partner Simon Cowell continues to recover from back surgery. The brunette beauty, 43, cut a chic figure in a black off-the-shoulder romper, which she teamed with a wide-brimmed white hat, as she and her friends watched their children try their hand at boogie boarding in the surf. Her outing comes as her 60-year-old partner has been nicknamed 'The Terminator' by his pals after bouncing back following the six-hour surgery to repair his broken back, caused by a horror accident on an electric bike at his Malibu home. Life's a beach: Lauren Silverman was spotted enjoying a day at the beach in Malibu with son Eric on Thursday, as her partner Simon Cowell continues to recover from back surgery. Shielding her eyes with a pair of stylish sunglasses, stunning Lauren looked carefree as she watched her seven-year-old offspring bond with his pals. Joining in on the fun, she also waded into the Pacific Ocean for a cooling dip amid the sweltering late summer temperatures over much of Southern California. Wearing a pair of swimming shorts, adorable little Eric appeared keen to show his doting mother his boogie boarding skills during their two-hour visit to the beach. Fun day: The brunette beauty was joined by pals as she strolled behind her son Eric (pictured) Looking chic: The brunette beauty, 43, cut a chic figure in a black off-the-shoulder romper, which she teamed with a wide-brimmed white hat Shades: The mother-of-two shielded her eyes with a stylish pair of shades for her day in the sun Surgery: Lauren's outing comes as her 60-year-old partner Simon Cowell continues to recover from six-hour surgery to repair his broken back, caused by a horror accident on an electric bike On Saturday, Simon was pictured for the first time since his horrific bike accident, as he headed to a Malibu hospital for a check-up. The TV personality injured himself a fortnight ago after testing his new electric bike in Los Angeles. He broke three vertebrae in the fall and has had a steel rod inserted in his back after the painful accident. A source told The Sun: 'One of his friends joked that the metal holding him together makes him The Terminator - which amused Simon. He won't mind if that sticks, but the main thing is that he's on the mend. Chat: She sat on the golden shore as she chatted and laughed with the small group of friends Heated: Her day out came amid a late summer heatwave taking a grip on Southern California In the details: She accessorised with a selection of bracelets and a delicate pendant necklace 'The experts are pleased with how things are looking and he's doing physiotherapy at home every day. It's looking good.' Speaking exclusively with MailOnline after the accident, sources close to the family said: 'He's in good spirits and knows he had a lucky escape and that this could have been worse.' And within two days Simon was already said to be back on his feet walking around and even taking work calls despite reportedly facing 'weeks' of physiotherapy. The family sources added: 'He's doing really well considering everything. Adorable: Lauren aided her offspring as he prepared to take part in a boogie boarding session Surfer in the making: Doting Lauren proudly looked on as her son hit the shallow end of the surf Stepping out: On Saturday, her partner Simon was pictured for the first time since his horrific bike accident, as he headed to a Malibu hospital for a check-up Smile: The brunette beauty appeared to be in a decidedly upbeat mood as she enjoyed her day 'He's been walking around already, obviously he has to be careful, which is expected considering surgery was only one day ago. 'Simon has even been working yesterday and also today he's been on emails on his iPad since early morning.' 'He's in good spirits and knows he had a lucky escape and that this could have been worse,' they added. Despite his speedy recovery, it's been confirmed that Simon will not appear in the Britain's Got Talent finals, which are due to start filming at the end of this month. Toned: Lauren looked enviably tanned and toned as she meandered along the golden shoreline Eye: She enjoyed a chat with her friend as the pair kept a close eye on the frolicking children While it had been hoped Simon could make appearances via video call, bosses confirmed on Sunday that Diversity star Ashley Banjo will be replacing him. A source also told The Mirror: 'It was decided that the idea of having him judge the BGT finalists via a link was just not feasible nor sensible. 'Everything is fixed, he just needs healing time. Flying halfway across the world is not part of the plan and he has agreed to put his health first.' Bike: Lauren's partner Simon injured himself a fortnight ago after testing his new electric bike On the mend: Simon, with whom she shares son Eric, broke three vertebrae in the fall and has had a steel rod inserted in his back after the shock accident As long-time principal and covid survivor Lisa Edmiston prepares to reopen her middle school in Astoria, she has worked to manage the fear shared by her staff and students. She has also made arrangements for herself at a local funeral home. On this weeks Kicker, Edmiston and Michael Elsen-Rooney, an education reporter for the Daily News, speak with Kyle Pope, editor and publisher of CJR, on how to assess what city education officials say, New York mayor Bill de Blasios dismissive attitude toward education unions, and the pandemics effect on the culture of the Department of Education. SHOW NOTES NYC takes on big challenge updating school ventilation systems as reopening looms, Michael Elsen-Rooney, New York Daily News Sign up for CJR 's daily email NYC students already behind in class struggling in virtual summer school, Michael Elsen-Rooney, New York Daily News Glowing coverage of Cuomo also raises difficult questions, Ross Barkan, CJR Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Amanda Darrach is a contributor to CJR and a visiting scholar at the University of St Andrews School of International Relations. Follow her on Twitter @thedarrach. People enjoy a hike at the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area in Los Angeles on Aug. 8. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) Even as California finally begins to see declines in both COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations, health officials and experts are preparing for a potential third surge of coronavirus cases fueled by two groups that already have been hit hard: low-wage essential workers and young people. The summer spike in COVID-19 has started to ease, and governments soon will need to consider how they might begin to reopen the economy further. Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to outline his plans Friday. California's first effort at reopening was disastrous, with the spring's worst weekly death counts doubling to nearly 1,000 during the summer. Last week's total fell to about 900. There already are warning signs about what the fall may bring. Even though most college campuses remain closed, there have been outbreaks recently, at USC and UC Berkeley for example, tied to fraternities. Large outbreaks persist at workplaces staffed by low-income employees, working in jobs like garment manufacturing and food processing that are largely staffed by Latinos. A new surge in the pandemic is far from a certainty but experts said it's essential that California learn from the mistakes of the last reopening. Of the more than 12,600 California COVID-19 deaths so far, more than 8,800 have been reported since Memorial Day, around the time the economy began to reopen and some people got back to old routines. "Where I'm worried that we're going to see a ton of transmission is in middle schools, high schools and colleges," said Dr. George Rutherford, UC San Francisco epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert. "We all saw the disastrous openings at the University of North Carolina, Notre Dame, Michigan State ... and a couple weeks earlier in high schools in Georgia and other places. I think that's really where a lot of the action is going to go on." Rutherford and others also have concerns about Latino workers and their families, who account for a disproportionate share of COVID-19 cases and deaths in California and will be placed at even greater risk when the economy reopens further. Businesses that employ low-income essential workers have come under scrutiny for their health and safety practices. Story continues Robust coronavirus testing that yields results much faster must be at the centerpiece of a broad reopening of society, experts say. Physicians cheered Newsom's announcement Wednesday of a $1.4-billion contract with an East Coast medical diagnostics company to more than double the number of tests that can be processed in the state. The goal is to get test results back within 24 hours, a time frame that will be far more useful to controlling the pandemic than currently, where the average turnaround time can take up to seven days, Newsom said. "The entire way we control this pandemic after we do masks and distancing is for people to be able to test, get results quickly, and then make decisions based on those results," said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, chair of UC San Franciscos Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Test results that come back a week later are essentially worthless in helping to slow the spread of disease, because those infected will already have been past the point at which they were transmitting the most amount of virus, Bibbins-Domingo said. Quick results also are profoundly important to making contact tracing where county officials reach out to the close contacts of newly diagnosed people to ask them to get tested and quarantine themselves a valuable tool to slow the pandemic. A seven-day turnaround time for test results "makes not only testing worthless, but the contact tracing activities that follow worthless," Bibbins-Domingo said. Colleges, where students live in close quarters in dorms and like to party, will be especially tricky to reopen. It's hard to imagine how colleges can more fully reopen without large-scale testing, Bibbins-Domingo said. The data offer clues into how a new surge of disease could hit. Adults ages 18 to 49 now make up 60% of coronavirus cases, despite being just 44% of California's population. They also currently account for 31% of all COVID-19 hospitalizations in Los Angeles County, up from 23% in mid-March. Among racial and ethnic groups, 60% of California's cases are being diagnosed among Latinos, who comprise 39% of the population. The state's economic reopening should happen at a slower, more methodical pace, said Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, medical epidemiologist and infectious disease expert with the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. While California's COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths have fallen, they're still way above the springtime plateau. "I don't think that we should open up again until we are below that first plateau and then I think what we need to do is a more phased approach in that reopening," Kim-Farley said. For instance, officials should wait two to three weeks between each phase of its reopening process before moving on to a broader reopening, to see if the previous action worsened disease transmission. Los Angeles County health officials also have urged caution. The effective transmission rate in L.A. County is 0.92, meaning every person infected on average is infecting another 0.92 people. While such a rate indicates cases will continue to decline, there are reasons to be worried. The disease transmission rate "is still very, very close to 1, which means that any relaxation of the precautions that people take could result in the numbers climbing back up," said Dr. Christina Ghaly, director of health services for L.A. County. "It's up to each and every one of us to continue the practices that will allow that progress to be maintained until we have a virus vaccine." In both L.A. County and Orange County, health officials have suggested slower approaches to a new round of reopening. "We all have learned that the earlier reopening ... brought about transmission," said Dr. Clayton Chau, director of the Orange County Health Care Agency. "So I think we have learned from that lesson, and my recommendation would be, we will reopen in phases." He added: "There will be outbreaks. And that's the thing that keeps me up at night." "It would not be a good idea to move with haste on reopening plans, until we can make sure that we get through Labor Day, with people acting appropriately and us taking all of the precautions," said Barbara Ferrer, the L.A. County public health director. It'll also be important to get the flu shot, as hospitals can ill afford to withstand a "twindemic" of hospitalized flu patients at the same time as COVID-19 patients. Flu shots have already started to become available. Some business closures ordered by the governor may have to stay in place for the foreseeable future. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government's top infectious diseases expert, recently told actor Matthew McConaughey in a 40-minute interview on Instagram how much he loved to go to a bar after work with his wife to have a beer and a hamburger. But now is not the time for barhopping. "Give it up for now. Bars are the hotspots. No hanging out in bars," Fauci said. "Because we know when the bars get closed, the infection goes down. When people just let it rip and go to bars, it goes up." Lin reported from San Francisco, Lee from Los Angeles. Times staff writers Colleen Shalby and Phil Willon contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. SoftBank, Toyota venture unveils van with enhanced airflow as COVID-19 measure A converted Hiace van is displayed by Monet, a mobility joint venture from SoftBank Corp and Toyota Motor Corp, in Tokyo By Sam Nussey TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese mobility venture has unveiled two adapted vans, one which can serve as a workspace or a mobile shop, and another that pumps fresh air through the vehicle to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading between passengers. It is the first commercial offering from Monet, a joint venture between SoftBank Corp <9434.T> and Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T>. In one version, the adapted Toyota Hiace van takes in outside air and circulates it through the interior, which is also fitted with screens and curtains to limit virus transmission. It can seat eight passengers in the back. The other version of the van allows users to fix fittings to the floor and arrange the interior as a shop or work space. The Monet joint venture was first announced in October 2018 with the goal of becoming a platform for driverless services. Neither design incorporates self-driving technology and, in the case of the multi-purpose design, Japan's road rules require fittings such as tables to be stored before moving off. The venture hopes to sell 100 units in Japan to customers from government and companies this financial year. Monet is the first alliance between Japan's largest automaker and its No.3 wireless carrier and has attracted support from other domestic automakers as the industry races to develop autonomous vehicles and services. (Reporting by Sam Nussey; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) Married At First Sight's Natasha Spencer celebrated her return to the red carpet in Sydney on Thursday. The 26-year-old turned heads in a racy black frock that showed off her cleavage and toned back, as she posed for photos at the COVID-safe movie premiere for Tenet. She was later joined by former co-star Aleks Markovic, who accentuated her nine kilogram weight loss in a skin-tight pink frock. Reality TV reunion: Married At First Sight's Natasha Spencer (left), 26, flaunted her curves in a racy black frock... as she posed with former co-star Aleks Markovic (right), 32, on a night out in Sydney on Thursday Natasha teamed her full-length silk dress with black stilettos and a coordinating structured handbag. She styled her brunette locks out and straight, and her makeup included bold brows, false lashes, a metallic eye shadow and a slick of gloss on her plump pout. The influencer warmly embraced Aleks, 32, with the pair posing up a storm outside of the Dendy cinema complex. Dazzling arrival: Natasha looked sensational in a plunging black silk frock, at the COVID-safe movie premiere for Tenet Beauty: Natasha styled her brunette locks out and straight, and her makeup included bold brows, false lashes, a metallic eye shadow and a slick of gloss on her plump pout Aleks paired her bodycon-style frock with beige strappy heels and a white faux-fur jacket. The beauty entrepreneur added touches of bling in the form of hoop earrings and a crucifix necklace. She styled her fair locks out and in a middle parting, and her makeup was striking. In her element: Natasha, who 'wed' Mikey Pembroke on MAFS this year but has since parted ways, looked happy and body-confident as she posed outside of the Dendy cinema complex Details: The influencer added a structured handbag and black strappy heels to the look Trim and terrific: Natasha's frock also cinched in at her slender waist, and drew attention to her toned arms Pals: Natasha posed up a storm with Aleks, who showed off her nine kilogram weight loss Natasha and Aleks looked to have had a lot to catch up on, as they mingled outside. The beauties both starred on this year's season of Married At First Sight. Aleks 'wed' real estate agent Ivan Sarakula, but split before their final vows, while Natasha had a tumultuous relationship with operations manager Mikey Pembroke. Natasha pushed Mikey to breaking point after revealing he 'only lasted 10 seconds' in the bedroom. The couple made the mutual decision that they are better off as friends at a commitment ceremony, and were applauded by the relationship experts. Pretty in pink: Aleks, who 'wed' Ivan Sarakula but has since parted ways, looked incredible in a skin-tight pale pink frock, teamed with beige strappy heels and a white faux-fur jacket Glamorous: Aleks styled her fair locks out and in a middle parting, and added touches of bling in the form of hoop earrings and a crucifix necklace In 2012, Joe Biden was in Michigan for a rally. But first, he wanted to talk with some autoworkers. Ron Bieber, the political director for UAW at the time, got eight presidents from UAW locals in a room for what was supposed to be an hour. Biden stayed for two. This isnt a plug for Abbott Laboratories as much as it is recognition of what the companys new antigen test $5, 15 minutes, simple, and highly accurate represents at a generic level, for it is certain to be the first of many similar tests that all promise the same things. Low cost. High accuracy. Fast results. The very fact that I am celebrating these reflects what we have had to live with for the past eight months of the coronavirus disease. Tests that are complex (either in terms of testing requirements or expertise). Tests that are slow. And tests that are inaccurate. Those are the kind of trade-offs even people who understand testing have had to make. As for those that dont, one test is as good as another a behaviour exemplified by the Union health ministry and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), both of whom should know better, not bothering to enforce, or even issue guidelines on when which kind of test should be used. Antigen tests have been around for some time. They have always been relatively inexpensive. And they have always been quick. But they were also inaccurate when it came to so-called false negatives, or showing infected people as uninfected. This low specificity (the technical term for what are called true negatives, which means someone identified as uninfected in the test is actually uninfected) made them unreliable. Around the world, researchers, health care workers, and policymakers insisted that the right way to use them (if they had to be used) was to follow up a negative test with another antigen test or, preferably, a molecular test such as the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction, or RT-PCR, one. Where time is a constraint, the use of antigen tests makes sense. For instance, they can help isolate infected people quickly in containment zones, or hot spots of the virus. Where it isnt, molecular tests must be used. The fact that most early antigen tests for Covid-19 were unreliable was worrying, but expected. Most people (including this writer) were convinced that the problem was a temporary one. Science (and Big Pharma) were sure to find an answer to this testing is an area where we have made huge progress over the years. Ergo, it was only a matter of time before companies started launching accurate antigen tests. We now have one. And there is a very high likelihood that there will be many more. We may even have molecular tests that provide results within the hour. According to clinical studies, the specificity and sensitivity (ability to identify true positives, or an infected person as infected) of the Abbott antigen test is on par with that of molecular tests such as RT-PCR. For those interested in details, the Abbott tests sensitivity is 97.1% and specificity 98.5%. Thats a big jump over the previous generation of antigen tests. There is a caveat, though: field performance of any test, even the RT-PCR one, rarely matches its clinical performance. There have been some high-profile instances of RT-PCR tests going wrong (and that is only to be expected; that some of these will go wrong is a mathematical possibility). Still, the new antigen test (currently launched only for the US), and those that will invariably follow, provide a near-perfect solution to testing. And by providing accurate results soon (the antigen tests being used in India provide results within the hour, but are not very accurate) they can help isolate infected people, regulate entry into offices, schools and colleges, public places, and public events basically play a key role in the return to normalcy. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON President Donald Trump (L) arrives with wife First Lady Melania Trump to deliver his acceptance speech for the Republican Party nomination for reelection during the final day of the Republican National Convention from the South Lawn of the White House on August 27, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) Trump Accepts Republican Presidential Nomination President Donald Trump accepted the Republican nomination for president on Aug. 27 as part of the culminating speech at the Republican National Convention. The acceptance is a formality since Trump has been the presumptive Republican nominee since his inauguration in January 2017. Vice President Mike Pence accepted his nomination in a speech at Fort McHenry in Maryland the day before. I stand before you tonight honored by your support, proud of the extraordinary progress weve made together over the last four incredible years and brimming with confidence in the bright future we will build for America over the next four years, Trump said before an audience outside the White House. My fellow Americans, tonight, with a heart full of gratitude and boundless optimism, I profoundly accept this nomination for president of the United States. The incumbent president delivered a scathing critique of the far-left policies Democrat nominee Joe Biden has embraced during the 2020 campaign. In the weeks leading up to the Democratic National Convention, the former vice president formally merged his campaign platform with that of Democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas, Trump is expected to say later in the speech, according to his campaign. We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years. At the Democrat convention, you barely heard a word about their agenda. But thats not because they dont have one. Its because their agenda is the most extreme set of proposals ever put forward by a major party nominee. With the exception of the live-audience speeches by Trump, Pence, and First Lady Melania Trump, the rest of the Republican National Convention was held in form of remote speeches or remarks before an empty audience in Washington due to concerns about the spread of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus. Biden spokesperson Andrew Bates responded to the speech by blaming the CCP virus pandemic on Trump. As the worst public health crisis in 100 years spread like wildfire, he disregarded warnings from his own experts and cited Chinese government propaganda to justify his inaction. Even after his botched response has cost over 180,000 Americans their lives, he still has no plan to overcome the coronavirus and he has doubled down on trying to take healthcare coverage away from tens of millions of people, Bates said, according to Politico. In addition to highlighting his accomplishments, Trump struck an inspirational note at a time when the United States is recovering from the economic plunge prompted by the lockdown meant to stop the spread of COVID-19. The Republican Party goes forward united, determined, and ready to welcome millions of Democrats, independents, and anyone who believes in the Greatness of America and the righteous heart of the American people, the president is expected to say later in the speech. This towering American spirit has prevailed over every challenge, and lifted us to the summit of human endeavor. With the Republican and Democratic conventions concluded, Trump and Biden will next face each other in a series of three debates. The first debate is scheduled for Sept. 29 at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Debates on Oct. 15 and 22 will follow in Miami and Nashville respectively. Pakistans senate standing committee on information and broadcasting passed amendments on August 26 to the Press Council of Pakistan Bill (2020) and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority ordinance. The amendments opens up the chairperson role of the press council to journalists, while the ordinance takes stronger focus on labour contracts in media houses. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ) call on Pakistans authorities to ensure that media rights are not breached in the name of resolving labour issues. The Press Council of Pakistan Amendment Bill 2020, introduced by Pakistani Muslim League (Nawaz) senator Javed Abbasi, effectively abolishes a provision requiring the appointment of a retired Supreme Court judge as chairperson of the council and opens it up for journalists, lawyers or retired judges of any court. The amendment also provides that the maximum age limit of the chairperson as 60 years. The approved amendments in the PEMRA ordinance now empowers the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to enforce and ensure the employment contract between the media house and media workers, including journalists. Under Section 30 of the PEMRA ordinance, the PEMRA is empowered to monitor the employment status of journalists and media workers in TV channels and take necessary actions for breaches. Pakistan has faced ongoing negative focus on labour rights in the countrys media, given the countrys high number of journalist deaths due to stress-related issues connected to non-payment of salaries, widespread media sackings and other labour issues that have plagued the industry for several years. The new PEMRA ordinance is now expected to tackle a well-catalogued list of labour issues in Pakistans media such as employment without contract, illegal sackings, leave without pay and partial salary payments. PFUJ secretary general, Rana Muhammad Azeem, said: We welcome these amendments and hope it helps to resolve the issues of contract and salaries of the media workers in the electronic media. The IFJ said: The IFJ and the PFUJ have strongly campaigned on the dire labour situation facing media workers in Pakistan and welcome a focus to labour rights in the countrys media industry. However, given PEMRAs history of encroaching the spirit of free press and freedom of expression, the IFJ seeks strong assurances from PEMRA will not breach media rights in taking on this role. Breonna Taylor's ex-boyfriend was arrested on drug charges on Thursday after warrants were issued for his arrest. Jamarcus Glover, 30, was charged with complicity possession of a controlled substance for cocaine and heroin, complicity trafficking in marijuana, complicity tampering with physical evidence, complicity to trafficking cocaine and no operators/moped license, according to Wave3 News in Louisville, Kentucky. Mr Glover was named on the search warrant that officers were executing when they stormed Ms Taylor's apartment and killed her in the process. While Mr Glover has been arrested for the crimes he has allegedly committed, the police officers who killed Ms Taylor still have not been brought to justice. Vice News uncovered that at least five of the police officers involved in the shooting death of Ms Taylor were part of another botched raid in 2018. Recommended LeBron James wears parody MAGA cap to call for justice Breonna Taylor The officers - Brett Hankison, Myles Cosgrove, Mike Campbell, Mike Nobles and Joshua Jaynes - all worked on the case that led to Ms Taylor's death. All of the officers but Mr Jaynes were present at the raid. Mr Jaynes requested the search warrant. During their botched 2018 raid, the officers burst into the home of Louisville resident Mario Daughtery. They detonated flash bang grenades in his house and shouted at his girlfriend, Ashlea Burr and their teenage children. The police believed - based on a tip - that marijuana was being grown inside Mr Daugherty's residence. Despite the warrant not calling for a "no-knock raid," the responding SWAT team did not knock when they arrived at the home, and used a battering ram to burst in through the front door. One of Mr Daughtery's daughters - believing they were being robbed - fled the house out the back door and went to hide in an alley. Police found her cowering in the rain and - with guns drawn - demanded she get onto the ground. They asked if she had any weapons on her, but the girl said she was just trying to reach her grandmother, who lived next door to them. The raid resulted in zero charges. Mr Daughtery and Ms Burr filed a lawsuit against the Louisville Metro Government, but no charges were ever brought against the officers, and the city moved to dismiss the case. Of the police involved in the botched raid on the Daughtery residence and in Ms Taylor's apartment, only one appears to have faced any formal consequences. Mr Hankison was fired from his job because he "displayed an extreme indifference to human life" during the raid at Ms Taylor's apartment. He was one of the two officers who fired their weapons during the raid. The other was Mr Cosgrove. Mr Hankison is appealing his firing, though his appeal is in limbo while the criminal investigation into the shooting is completed. Ms Taylor's shooting, along with the murder of George Floyd by police and the shooting of Jacob Blake, have sparked numerous protests against police brutality and racial injustice. Demonstrators have been in the streets since late spring. WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump accepted the Republican Party's nomination for reelection on Thursday night and is seeking to draw contrast between himself and his Democratic rival Joe Biden. "This is the most important election in the history of our country," Trump said in a speech from the White House South Lawn to a crowd of more than 1,000 people. "There has never been such a difference between two parties, or two individuals, in ideology, philosophy, or vision than there is right now." Trump went after Biden from economy to foreign policy, trying to paint the 77-year-old moderate political veteran as beholden to the "radical left." The president notably hammered a "law and order" message, a major theme of his reelection bid, as he warned against an America under the Biden presidency. "The most dangerous aspect of the Biden platform is the attack on public safety," Trump said. "Make no mistake, if you give power to Joe Biden, the radical left will defund police departments all across America ... No one will be safe in Biden's America." Biden, whose campaign has made racial justice a pillar, has said that he supports police reform but not the movement to "defund the police" in response to a nationwide reckoning over what activists have described as police brutality and systemic racism after George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May. Floyd's death sparked weeks-long protests and social unrest across the United States. Public anger has been reignited in the wake of the Aug. 23 police shooting of 29-year-old African American Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which has led to consecutive days of protests and violence at times in the city. In Washington, protesters gathered near the White House with the intention of disrupting Trump's outdoor speech, with the Secret Service beefing up security around the presidential residence. Trump didn't address the shooting or the issue of racism in his acceptance speech. Instead, he touted job numbers for African Americans, doubled down his support of law enforcement agencies, and blamed the unrest in cities like Kenosha, Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago, and New York, on Democrats. "There is violence and danger in the streets of many Democrat-run cities throughout America. This problem could easily be fixed if they wanted to. We must always have law and order," he said. "All federal crimes are being investigated, prosecuted, and punished to the fullest extent of the law. Kate Bedingfield, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign, rebuked Trump's remarks in a statement, saying that "In Donald Trump's America, safety is pitted against justice, Americans are pitted against one another, and the violence that Trump warns of plays out on the streets of communities across our country -- stoked by his own words and actions." Biden said earlier on Thursday that he thinks Trump is "rooting for more violence, not less." "He views this as a political benefit to him," said the former vice president. "And he's clear about that. And what's he doing, he's pouring more gasoline on the fire." Making his case for reelection clear, Trump also touted what he believes were accomplishments of his first term, made promises for the next four years, and tried to reshape the narrative of his administration's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. "In recent months, our nation, and the entire planet, has been struck by a new and powerful invisible enemy," he said. "We are meeting this challenge. We are delivering lifesaving therapies, and will produce a vaccine before the end of the year, or maybe even sooner! We will defeat the virus, end the pandemic, and emerge stronger than ever before." The United States passed the grim milestone of 180,000 coronavirus deaths on Thursday, with nearly 5.9 million cases -- more than anywhere else in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University. Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe the United States is handling the pandemic worse than other countries, according to an NPR/Ipsos poll released earlier this month. Biden's running mate, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris of California, hit Trump on his response to the public health crisis in a speech on Thursday afternoon. "It's relentless. You can't stop it with a tweet. You can't create a distraction and hope it'll go away. It doesn't go away. By its nature, a pandemic is unforgiving," Harris said. "If you get it wrong at the beginning, the consequences are catastrophic. It's very hard to catch up ... President Trump got it wrong in the beginning." The finale of the 2020 Republican National Convention, under the theme "Land of Greatness" on Thursday night, also featured speeches from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, former New York City mayor and Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, and the president's daughter and senior adviser Ivanka Trump. Trump, 74, was a businessman and television celebrity before entering politics. He won the 2016 U.S. presidential election as a Republican by defeating then Democratic presidential nominee and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Biden, 77, was U.S. vice president from 2009 to 2017 after serving 36 years as U.S. senator for state of Delaware. This is the third time Biden has run for president. According to the RealClearPolitics polling average, Biden leads Trump by 7.1 percentage points nationally. However, Trump has repeatedly dismissed polls showing him falling behind as "fake." Trump will hold a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire on Friday in the hope of building momentum for his campaign after the White House acceptance speech. Biden said on Thursday he will begin traveling to battleground states after Labor Day, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. The Commission on Presidential Debates has scheduled three debates between Trump and Biden and one between Vice President Mike Pence and Harris in the next two months. The 2020 U.S. presidential election will take place on Nov. 3. The Lebanese presidency will convene consultations with parliamentary blocs on Monday to designate a new prime minister, the presidency said, after the government quit earlier this month following the catastrophic explosion at Beirut port. Lebanon's fractious sectarian parties have so far failed to agree on who should lead the next government. President Michel Aoun is required to designate the candidate with the greatest level of support among MPs. The post of prime minister must go to a Sunni Muslim in the Lebanese sectarian system. It was not immediately clear who would emerge with the biggest support among MPs. Saad al-Hariri is so far the only serious name floated for the post to replace Hassan Diab, who continues in a caretaker capacity until a new government is agreed. But Hariri said earlier this week he was not a candidate after several major parties said they did not support his return to the job. The consultations will take place a day before French President Emmanuel Macron visits Beirut as Paris presses Lebanese leaders to take action to save the country from a destabilising financial crisis. 'Civil war' Macron on Friday warned that Lebanon risks a return to civil war if it is left alone to deal with the crisis that followed the deadly Beirut port explosion this month. "If we let Lebanon go in the region and if we somehow leave it in the hands of the depravity of regional powers, it will be civil war" as well as "the defeat of what is the very identity of Lebanon," he said. Macron was speaking as he prepared to head to Lebanon on Monday in a new bid to press its leaders to undertake radical reform in the wake of the explosion this month that left 181 dead. The Iran-backed Shi'ite Hezbollah and its Shi'ite ally the Amal Movement want Hariri to be prime minister again. But Hezbollah's main Christian ally, the Free Patriotic Movement founded by Aoun, opposes his candidacy. Groups at the other end of the spectrum, notably the Christian Lebanese Forces Party and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, also do not support Hariri's return to the job. (FRANCE 24 with REUTERS, AFP) The Recapitalization Transaction, if completed through the Plan of Arrangement, provides the best available result for Shareholders Over 100 parties were contacted with over 50 signing confidentiality agreements as part of the strategic alternative review conducted by the Special Committee If the Recapitalization Transaction is not approved by Shareholders and is instead completed through CCAA Proceedings, Shareholders will lose the entirety of their investment The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that all securityholders vote FOR the Recapitalization Transaction to be completed by way of the Plan of Arrangement NEW YORK and TORONTO, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. ("iAnthus" or the "Company") (CSE: IAN), (OTCQX: ITHUF), which owns, operates, and partners with regulated cannabis operations across the United States, is warning its securityholders about inaccurate and misleading statements pertaining to the Company's previously announced recapitalization transaction (the "Recapitalization Transaction"). The purported group of shareholders (the "Misinformed Shareholders") made the misleading and inaccurate statements to the Company's shareholders ("Shareholders") and these statements, if relied upon, could cause Shareholders to lose the only opportunity they have to maintain any equity in iAnthus in connection with the Recapitalization Transaction. iAnthus wishes to ensure that the Shareholders make an informed decision as to how to vote on the Recapitalization Transaction and cautions securityholders not to be misled by these statements. iAnthus encourages securityholders to read the management information circular of the Company dated August 14, 2020 (the "Circular") in respect of the meetings of securityholders (the "Meetings") to approve the Recapitalization Transaction and related meeting materials, which have been filed on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com and have been uploaded to the Company's website at: www.ianthus.com/2020-special-meetings. There are five significant misleading statements, which we address separately below. A Robust Strategic Alternative Review was Conducted by a Special Committee of Independent Directors Statements by the Misinformed Shareholders imply that the Company's secured lenders (the "Secured Lenders") unilaterally forced the Company into the Recapitalization Transaction. This is not true . The Recapitalization Transaction was agreed to following an extensive strategic alternatives review process. Such process included dedicated involvement of a special committee of independent directors of the Company (the "Special Committee") formed to review the strategic alternatives available to the Company. The Special Committee retained Canaccord Genuity Corp. ("Canaccord Genuity") as its financial advisor to assist in conducting this review. Canaccord Genuity was selected due to the combination of: (i) its vast experience and relationships with companies, investors and lenders in the cannabis industry, (ii) its full service investment banking capabilities, specifically including its M&A, financial advisory, debt advisory and restructuring capabilities, and (iii) its cross-border team experience. As part of this strategic alternative review, the Company, through Canaccord Genuity, contacted approximately 100 parties, including approximately 50 parties to explore and discuss a divestiture or divestitures of select assets, a corporate sale or other form of merger transaction, and approximately 50 parties to discuss financing alternatives. Ultimately, iAnthus signed confidentiality agreements with, and provided confidential evaluation materials to, more than 50 parties. In addition, the Special Committee considered other alternatives, including the sale of non-core assets, revenue-enhancing initiatives, and other options to maximize stakeholder value. After completing this extensive review and consultation process, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), on the recommendation of the Special Committee, and with the support of its legal and financial advisors (including Canaccord Genuity), concluded that the Recapitalization Transaction represented the best available alternative to improve the Company's capital structure and to maximize and preserve value for the Company and its stakeholders. This decision further considered a fairness opinion (the "Fairness Opinion") provided by an independent firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC"), who concluded that, as of July 28, 2020, and based upon PwC's scope of review and subject to the assumptions made, matters considered and limitations and qualifications contained in the Fairness Opinion, the Recapitalization Transaction by way of Plan of Arrangement is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Shareholders. The Fairness Opinion was prepared for the sole use of the Board and Special Committee as one factor among others to consider in deciding whether to approve the Recapitalization Transaction. The Fairness Opinion may not be relied upon by any other party. There are NO Alternative Transactions Available Which are Superior for Shareholders The Misinformed Shareholders imply that there are alternative transactions available to the Company that would result in a superior outcome for the Shareholders. This is not true . While the Special Committee, supported by its legal and financial advisors, identified and evaluated a range of strategic alternatives, none surfaced that offered more value for the Shareholders than the Recapitalization Transaction. CCAA Proceedings Will Result in NO Recovery for Shareholders As stated throughout the Circular, if the Recapitalization Transaction is not approved by Shareholders, it will be effected by way of proceedings ("CCAA Proceedings") under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) ("CCAA"). In such case, the Company is required to commence the CCAA Proceedings immediately, but not later than five business days, following the Meetings. The Misinformed Shareholders misstate the potential outcomes if the Recapitalization Transaction is not approved by Shareholders, and as a result, CCAA Proceedings are commenced. The Misinformed Shareholders imply that a judge in CCAA Proceedings always has the discretion to balance interests of shareholders and creditors and imply that as a result, the Shareholders may have some chance of recovery under CCAA Proceedings. This is not true . Instead, the CCAA expressly precludes the court from sanctioning any compromise or arrangement that provides for payment to shareholders if creditors are not paid in full. After conducting an extensive strategic alternatives review process, no transaction was available to the Company that provided for full payment to the Company's creditors (i.e., the Secured Lenders and the holders of unsecured debentures (the "Debentures")). In the present circumstances, therefore, a CCAA judge will not have the discretion to fashion a remedy that sees any recovery at all for Shareholders. In simple terms, if securityholders approve the Recapitalization Transaction by way of the Plan of Arrangement then there IS recovery available for Shareholders. If the securityholders do not approve the Recapitalization Transaction by way of the Plan of Arrangement, then the Recapitalization Transaction will be completed under CCAA Proceedings and there is NO recovery available for the Shareholders in the current circumstances. The Recapitalization Transaction is Supported by the Board, Special Committee and Management The Misinformed Shareholders state that the Board is not satisfied with the Recapitalization Transaction. This is not true . The Board and the senior executives of the Company support the Recapitalization Transaction, and the Board, on the recommendation of the Special Committee, has unanimously: (a) approved the Recapitalization Transaction; (b) authorized the submission of the Recapitalization Transaction to securityholders and the Court for their respective approvals; and (c) determined that the Recapitalization Transaction is in the best interests of the Company and its stakeholders. The Board, with the benefit of a recommendation from the Special Committee and on advice from its financial and legal advisors, has chosen to pursue the Recapitalization Transaction not because it was forced to by the Secured Lenders, but because the Recapitalization Transaction was the best alternative available to the Company and its stakeholders (including the Shareholders). Securityholders are encouraged to read the key benefits of the Recapitalization Transaction found in the Circular and on the Company's website at www.ianthus.com/2020-special-meetings. US$60 Million of Unsecured Debentures are Also in Default The Misinformed Shareholders do not take into account the US$60 million of outstanding principal amount of Debentures . As referenced in the Circular, the Company defaulted under the terms of the Debentures on April 14, 2020. The initial consenting Debentureholders (as defined below) are arm's length to, and not affiliated with, the Secured Lenders and have negotiated on behalf of their own interests in connection with the Recapitalization Transaction. The terms of the Recapitalization Transaction, as agreed to by the Company, take into account the competing demands of both the Secured Lenders and the holders of the Debentures (the "Debentureholders"), as well as the interests of Shareholders and other stakeholders of the Company. In other words, the Company has had to consider the differing interests of a large number of securityholders, including the Secured Lenders, the Debentureholders, and the Shareholders. As at August 27, 2020, the Company had approximately US$135 million owing to the Secured Lenders and approximately US$63 million owing to the Debentureholders, with each such debt tranche continuing to accrue interest and other charges. Do Not Be Misled. Understand the Facts and Vote FOR the Recapitalization Transaction to be Completed by Way of the Plan of Arrangement to Ensure Shareholders Receive the Best Available Consideration. The Board of Directors Unanimously Recommends a Vote FOR. Securityholders' Questions or Voting Assistance iAnthus' securityholders who have questions or need assistance with voting their respective securities can also contact the iAnthus' Proxy Solicitation Agent, Laurel Hill Advisory Group. Laurel Hill Advisory Group North American Toll Free: 1-877-452-7184 Calls Outside North America: 1-416-304-0211 Email: [email protected] The Circular The Circular contains, among other things, details concerning the Recapitalization Transaction by way of the Plan of Arrangement, the background to and reasons for the Board's favourable recommendation of the Recapitalization Transaction by way of the Plan of Arrangement, the requirements for the Plan of Arrangement to become effective, procedures for voting at the Meetings and other related matters. Securityholders are urged to carefully review the Circular and accompanying materials as they contain important information regarding the Recapitalization Transaction and its consequences to Securityholders. A copy of the Circular is available on the Company's website at www.ianthus.com/2020-special-meetings or under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Proxy Mailing Update As disclosed in the Company's news release dated August 18, 2020 (a copy of which is available under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com), the Company has mailed the Circular and associated materials for the Meetings. The mailing was completed within timelines required by applicable securities law. The Company is not aware of any mail delays, and furthermore the Company has been informed by some Shareholders that they have already received their materials for the Meeting(s) in the mail. About iAnthus iAnthus owns and operates licensed cannabis cultivation, processing and dispensary facilities throughout the United States, providing investors diversified exposure to the U.S. regulated cannabis industry. Founded by entrepreneurs with decades of experience in operations, investment banking, corporate finance, law and healthcare services, iAnthus provides a unique combination of capital and hands-on operating and management expertise. iAnthus currently has a presence in 11 states and operates 36 dispensaries (AZ-4, MA-1, MD-3, FL-16, NY-3, CO-1, VT-1 and NM-7 where iAnthus has minority ownership). For more information, visit www.iAnthus.com. COVID-19 Risk Factor The Company may be impacted by business interruptions resulting from pandemics and public health emergencies, including those related to COVID-19. An outbreak of infectious disease, a pandemic, or a similar public health threat, such as the recent outbreak of COVID-19, or a fear of any of the foregoing could adversely impact the Company by causing operating, manufacturing, supply chain, and project development delays and disruptions, labor shortages, travel, and shipping disruption and shutdowns (including as a result of government regulation and prevention measures). It is unknown whether and how the Company may be affected if such a pandemic persists for an extended period of time, including as a result of the waiver of regulatory requirements or the implementation of emergency regulations to which the Company is subject. Although the Company has been deemed essential and/or has been permitted to continue operating its facilities in the states in which it cultivates, processes, manufactures, and sells cannabis during the pendency of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no assurance that the Company's operations will continue to be deemed essential and/or will continue to be permitted to operate. The Company may incur expenses or delays relating to such events outside of its control, which could have a material adverse impact on its business, operating results, financial condition, and the trading price of the Common Shares. Forward Looking Statements Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including concerning COVID-19 and the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in iAnthus' periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "hope", "could", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "potential", "believe", "should", "our vision" and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements relating to the Recapitalization Transaction. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. iAnthus disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and iAnthus does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release. The securities to be issued pursuant to the Restructuring Transaction have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. "United States" and "U.S. person" are as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act. SOURCE iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. Related Links https://www.ianthuscapital.com/ Queensland taxpayers have funded an 8.2 per cent increase in wages for the staff of state government ministers in the past two years, more than double the rate of inflation over the same period. The latest public report into ministerial office expenses reveals wages between July 1, 2019, and June 30 this year have soared to $28 million, an increase of $1.2 million from the previous year. Despite the growing costs of keeping ministerial advisers on the books, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's administration found $2 million in savings. Since the last election, ministerial staff wages have ballooned by $2.1 million. The jump in the wage cost would have been $751,000 if the government had capped increases to the inflation rate, which was 2.9 per cent from mid-2018 to March this year. [John Patsalos] joined the American Nazi Party in 1960 and shortly changed his name to Patler to make it sound more like "Hitler". Patler later became a captain in the American Nazi Party... However, he was expelled from the Party in March 1967 for alleged "Bolshevik leanings" after disagreeing with [American Nazi Party leader George] Rockwell about some of the party's policies. Patler later described his relationship with Rockwell in very endearing terms, stating "I loved him like a father and he loved me like a son". In his last known letter to Rockwell, Patler wrote "I don't think there are two people on earth who think and feel the same as we do... You are a very important part of my life. I need you as much as you need me. Without you there is no future". On August 25, 1967, George Lincoln Rockwell was shot and killed while getting into his car, which was parked in front of a self-service laundry at an Arlington, Virginia, shopping center... Patler was arrested half an hour later about a mile from the scene of the shooting. Patler was convicted of first-degree murder on December 16, 1967 by an Arlington jury and subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison... Who was John Patler? I'll start with an extended snippet from his Wikipedia entry...Now, why am I discussing Patler on a blog about comics? Well, first he was a cartoonist for the Nazi party magazine,I can't seem to find any of those cartoons, but Craig Yoe noted a couple years ago that he received a copy of Patler's comic book,, from Patler himself after Yoe had a fan letter published in#174. (For the record, you can find scans ofonline without too much difficulty, but I'm not going to repost or link to them here, because it is horribly, horribly racist. There are exactly three panels in the whole comic that do not have an overt slur, or derogatory comment or caricature. I mean, I was originally thinking I could post it and say, "Don't make comics like this" but not even Comicsgaters make comics this offensive.)(Interesting Side Note: #174 was the last issue of!)(Interesting Side Note 2: That issue is cover-dated August 1967 -- the month that Patler killed Rockwell!)Yoe's letter is pretty innocuous. He compliments the creators on their books' quality relative to earlier comics, and notes that he was glad they printed fans' addresses because he likes "writing and exchanging views with fans in my own stateOhio." That evidently was enough to encourage Patler to send him a copy of his comic. Seems to me like a bit of stretch to see that as code for "I want to communicate with Nazis" but as evidenced by his killing this alleged father figure, it doesn't sound like he had a very firm grasp on reality.Which I think is true for anyone who is that ruled by hatred. If you let your life be run by such negative emotions that it directs even your creative free expression, maybe you need to re-think your life and your priorities. That shit will drain your soul, and make you considerably less human than even the imagined sub-human qualities you see in other races. Sure, not every racist is going to wind up murdering someone like that, but there are still plenty of Kyle Rittenhouses, Jonathan Mattinglys, and Travis McMichaels out there who will seemingly still gleefully kill someone because they've got too much melanin.I'm not naive enough to say, "Why can't we just all get along?" But damn, if you see someone oozing that much hatred, try to get them some help! Living with hate like that just isn't healthy! live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More IT services major HCL Technologies said it has set up its first European Cybersecurity Fusion Center in Gothenburg, Sweden. HCL Technologies' Cybersecurity Fusion Center (CSFC) is a state-of-the-art security operation and response facility, integrating multi-domain security teams, processes and cutting-edge analytics - enabling organisations to detect threats faster and resolve incidents efficiently, it said in a statement said. The Gothenburg CSFC further strengthens HCL Technologies' global innovation drive, adding to the cybersecurity capabilities of its existing network of five CSFCs across North America and Asia, it added. HCL Technologies (HCL) noted that the rapid shift to remote working for many organisations due to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the emergence of new threats, forcing IT teams to rewrite their security playbooks. Powered by HCL Technologies' Dynamic Cybersecurity Framework, the CSFC addresses these needs through the capability to analyse millions of events per second, it said. "Cybersecurity is a key focus for HCL, as it plays a vital role in enabling organisations to transform in a rapidly evolving world where new-age applications, cloud and IoT (internet of things) are defining the future digital enterprise. "Our CSFC's enable this by defending organisations' digital assets and the Gothenburg Center is perfectly placed to effectively meet the most complex needs of our global customers," HCL Technologies Corporate Vice President (Cybersecurity Services) Maninder Singh said. Apart from monitoring and alerting, the centre will also resolve and remediate incidents. It will help European organisations comply with local regulations concerning data sovereignty, the statement said. In a separate statement, HCL said it is extending support to India's largest zoo in Chennai - Arignar Anna Zoological Park - as well as the Madras Crocodile Bank to help them overcome the challenges from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Chennai Zoo and the Crocodile bank depend heavily on the revenue generated through visitors for the animals' upkeep and facility maintenance. However, given the pandemic and the resultant restricted people movement have severely impacted this revenue stream, prompting the two organisations to look for external support to provide critical animal care. HCL is extending support to help with animal feed and care at the two facilities, while also providing salaries to the caretakers involved in sanitisation and maintenance for six months, the statement said. The Crocodile Bank - which houses over 2,000 adults and 100 juvenile crocodiles and other species - has been engaged in the conservation of rare species for over four decades. Arignar Anna Zoological Park houses 2,700 animals of nearly 170 species, including mammals, birds and reptiles. During the lockdown, HCL has provided over 1.20 lakh feeds to the stray and abandoned animals in Noida and Bengaluru. It has also supported Friendicoes SECA (Society for the Eradication of Cruelty to Animals) by providing animal feed for 3,000 rescued animals for 65 days. HCL is also extending similar support to the Lucknow Zoo in Uttar Pradesh. The West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) has warned that the integrity of the 2020 election is at stake because of the tensions between the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party. In a report, WANEP said the inter-party tensions could escalate into aggravated violence during the elections of December 7, 2020. The lack of trust and confidence on the Electoral Commission of Ghana by the National Democratic Congress to conduct a credible election which can lead to a rejection of the results and the democratic dividends of the country often referred to as the best example for democratic success and governance standard in West Africa. The National Democratic Congress was opposed to the compilation of a new voter register in Ghana and the new legislation accompanying it. It also accused the government of suppressing citizens in its strongholds during the process. Its flagbearer, John Mahama, warned that the opposition party will not accept the results of any national poll that it deems flawed. The WANEP report also highlighted wider concerns for security in the West African sub-region because of recent turbulence in Mali, Cote d'Ivoire and Guinea. WANEP thus called for quiet diplomacy led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West and Africa and Sahel with support from ECOWAS. It wants discussions with the governments and key opposition parties in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea and Ghana in order to find amicable ways to resolve the existing political disagreements to ensure the credibility of elections in these countries. WANEP further suggested a code of conduct for peaceful elections renewed and signed by major political parties in Ghana which will be facilitated by institutions and civil society organisations of influence. It also advised the setting up of a platform for cooperation between Election Management Bodies, State Security and organized civil society for early warning and response to mitigate violent threats in identified hotspots in Guinea, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire. May Thu never told her family she was suffering. Sure, she spoke of leaving her job in Singapore, but didnt blame the family whose house she kept clean. After the pandemic shut down travel, those who knew May Thu said she became distressed and didnt understand why she couldnt return home to Nga Pu Taw township in the Irrawaddy delta. She would cry when the closure of Changi Airport was extended. Earlier this month she complained she was in pain, so the family she worked for said they gave her time off to rest at a dorm operated by her employment agency. It was there on Aug. 16 that she leaped from the fourth floor. She survived, but her spine was crushed. Neither her family, her employers or the police are entirely sure why. Her sister, May Cho, told Coconuts they spoke infrequently because May Thu did not have her own phone, which may have contributed to her loneliness. We usually talk on the phone two times every month, she said Friday. We are now waiting for her to come home and will treat her the best way we can. As May Thu recovers from her attempted suicide, the Singaporean family who employed her is saddled with impossible debt to pay. National University of Singapore student Goh Meng Huang says his parents are hawkers who sell tofu dishes. His brother works in an office. We do not have the ability to pay for this bill, Goh said in an online appeal of the SG$80,000-and-growing hospital bill. Nonetheless, he told Coconuts yesterday, the family would keep the 26-year-old woman in hospital and do what it took for her to mend. Donors have committed SG$22,412 to their crowdfunding campaign. He described the heartwrenching call during which they asked May Thus family to approve risky spinal surgery doctors said she needed. The mother was so heartbroken and cried until she couldnt speak, so the sister gave the yes to the spine surgery, and we went on with it, he told Coconuts. Since then, his mother has been visiting May Thu at the hospital almost daily. As of Wednesday, he said she could speak again and was out of critical condition. Story continues Its become normal over the past few decades for people to leave Myanmar and work abroad for higher income. In 2015, Myanmar responded to persistent episodes of abuse and mistreatment by ordering a halt to all such domestic work abroad, especially to Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia. It lifted the ban in late 2019. Despite the ban, an estimated 50,000 Myanmar women went to Singapore to work as maids. May Thu had worked for the Gohs in Singapore since December 2017. Although her contract ended at the end of 2019, the family extended her contract as she was hard-working. May Thu had been due to return home for an annual leave of three months from May to July. We approached her agent at Hyperlink Services Pte Ltd multiple times since early May 2020 to speak with her, in which he counseled her that it was not within our control and hoped that she could remain patient until the airport was opened, Goh wrote in his post. May Thu was placed behind hundreds of others on an embassy waiting list for a repatriation flight. Shes now No. 275 on that list, which means she could possibly fly home late September. But the embassy says she cannot fly until the hospital releases her clear to fly. She cant go out of the hospital and need[s] to continue treatment, said a Myanmar embassy rep who would only identify herself as Ling. We need to check her condition and make sure she is well and can walk around. In the meantime, Goh said the agency which employed May Thu and the dormitory where she was injured has denied any financial responsibility as it was not an accident. Jesmond Bay, one of Hyperlinks owners, told Coconuts via phone today that the agency had assisted in any way it could, even though he said there was no contract between us anymore. According to Bay, the agency had helped Gohs family translate May Thus conversations and initiated contacts with the Myanmar embassy to secure a relief flight but did not receive a response until Goh took over. Bay also agreed to house May Thu at the dorm for a week even though he was not obliged to do so since the helper was contracted by the employer, he said. But May Thu had insisted on staying at his lodging, so he acceded. Another domestic helper from Myanmar was staying in the dorm as well, and Bay thought she could keep May Thu company while she rested and recovered from her injury. The other helper was also waiting for a flight home but was no longer contracted with her employer. Two other workers staying at the dormitory were from Indonesia and the Philippines respectively. Bay said that the other helpers had described May Thu as a very quiet person who kept pushing everyone away. For someone who had lived in Singapore for nearly three years, May Thu could not speak English well, he added. When we hit the 6th day in our lodging, my staff talked to her again, say: Is your leg OK already? If your leg not OK you just let me know. I will talk to your employer that we can extend your stay. But [she] never say anything, Bay said. On the day May Thu was supposed to return to the Gohs, her leg seemed to have recovered. So it surprised Bay to learn she had jumped out of the window. Bay said that May Thu had used the scissors and a kitchen knife in a bid to stab herself was stopped by other dorm residents. One of the helpers was injured in the process. Thats when May Thu jumped. This thing has traumatized my whole lodging, Bay said. According to him, the police have closed their investigation. They had not responded to inquiries as of publication time. With regards to the hefty medical bill, Bay said that it wasnt the agencys responsibility. Additional reporting and writing Nurul Azliah Read more Coconuts Yangon stories here This article, Myanmar womans suicide attempt leaves Singapore family with impossible debt, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Donald Trump has given Alice Johnson a full pardon just one day after the former inmate praised the president at the Republican National Convention. The pardon was announced on Friday afternoon in the Oval Office with Ms Johnson and reporters present. Were giving Alice a full pardon ... We are going to do it right now, Mr Trump said. That means you can do whatever you want in life and just keep doing the great job youre doing, he added. Alice has been doing an incredible job since shes got out. This comes two years after Mr Trump commuted Ms Johnsons prison sentence. At the time, Ms Johnson had already served 21 years of a life sentence after she was convicted of charges of conspiracy to possess cocaine and attempted possession of cocaine. Kim Kardashian West took on Ms Johnsons story and met with Mr Trump in the Oval Office in 2018 to implore the president to commute the inmates sentence. One week after the Oval Office meeting, Mr Trump announced that he would commute Ms Johnsons sentence and she was released from prison. Ms Johnson, who has since become a criminal justice reform advocate, spoke on the final night of the Republican National Convention. During her speech, she told her story of her release from prison. I was once told that the only way I would ever be reunited with my family would be as a corpse, MS Johnson said. But by the grace of God and the compassion of President Donald John Trump, I stand before you tonight, and I assure you, Im not a ghost." When President Trump heard about me about the injustice of my story he saw me as a person. He had compassion. And he acted, she added. The 63-year-old went on to praise the president for signing the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice bill, into law six months after he commuted her sentence. The law gave federal judges more leeway when sentencing certain drug offenders while also boosting prisoner rehabilitation efforts. It also reduced life sentences for some drug offenders with three convictions, or three strikes, to 25 years. Other provision included in the law were incentives given to prisoners who participated in reform programs and expanding eligibility for elderly and terminally-ill prisoners to secure compassionate release. When mentioning the law during her RNC speech, Ms Johnson called it real justice reform. It brought joy, hope, and freedom to thousands of well-deserving people, she said. Imagine getting to hug your loved ones again. Its a feeling I will never forget. "And to think, this first step meant so much to so many. I cant wait because were just getting started, she added. The pardon on Friday was a surprise event not listed on then president's calender. It was also the second pardon he issued this week. Jon Ponder, who was convicted of robbing a bank, was given a pardon on Tuesday, After his time in prison, the man created a reintegration program for former inmates. Two law professors, including one who served as President George W. Bushs ethics adviser, have filed a complaint to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel accusing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of violating federal laws by addressing the Republican National Convention while on a diplomatic trip overseas. The complaint, filed on Wednesday, asserts that Mr. Pompeo abused his office by taping his nearly four-minute speech from Jerusalem, where he met on Monday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials. The address, which aired on Tuesday night, showed the citys holy sites over Mr. Pompeos shoulder as he praised President Trumps foreign policy and endorsed his re-election. The complaint said there was no evidence that the Republican Party or the Trump campaign had covered the cost of flying Mr. Pompeo and State Department staff members to Jerusalem on a government jet. Kathmandu, August 28 The government of Nepal is introducing a new aviation policy that allows private individuals and companies own and operate aircraft for personal use. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has recently finalised the draft of the new policy. Now, it will be reviewed by stakeholders before its official endorsement and implementation. As per the draft, private individuals and firms can buy and operate single-engine aircraft for personal and training uses. A regulatory body will set terms and conditions for such use. Once registered for individual purposes, the aircraft cannot be used for commercial purposes. Security conditions for such aircraft will be as same as that for commercial aircraft. Meanwhile, the policy will put an end to the import of the aircraft that are more than 12 years old. Till now, the aircraft up to 15 years of age have been allowed for import. The policy has also proposed an independent probe commission to investigate aircraft crash incidents. International Civil Aviation Organisation and European Union have been pressing Nepal for such a body to improve security measures. KYODO NEWS - Aug 28, 2020 - 23:12 | All, Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday he will resign due to a flare-up of his chronic intestinal disease, ending his nearly eight-year stint as Japan's longest-serving leader, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, with many of his political ambitions unrealized. Abe, who just four days ago set a record of staying in power for 2,799 consecutive days, will leave office without achieving his long-cherished goal of amending Japan's pacifist Constitution or seeing the Tokyo Olympics due to be staged next summer while still the country's leader. "As I am no longer in a condition to respond confidently to the mandate of the people, I have decided I should not stay in the prime minister's post," the 65-year-old said at a nationally televised press conference. The abrupt announcement, already setting off a contest for his successor, came amid falling public support for his Cabinet as many perceived his government was dealing poorly with issues stemming from the spread of the virus. The Liberal Democratic Party, headed by Abe, is considering holding a leadership election on Sept. 15 or around that day, according to senior party lawmakers. Abe said he had been able to keep the illness, ulcerative colitis, which led to his first resignation as premier in 2007, under control for most of his tenure, but he started to feel fatigue from mid-July and was diagnosed with a relapse earlier this month. Abe said he thought now was the right time to step down from the top job as he believes the number of new cases of the novel coronavirus has been on a downtrend and he has been able to compile new measures to fight the pandemic, including plans to secure enough vaccines for all residents and expand testing capacity to 200,000 a day. "I apologize to the people from the bottom of my heart for having to leave the job amid the coronavirus pandemic while many policies are still halfway toward realization," he said. Abe said he will remain in office until his successor is chosen by the ruling party and he plans to continue his political career, running in the next general election. Asked who he thinks should succeed him, the premier refrained from commenting. Potential candidates include Fumio Kishida, the LDP policy chief and a former foreign minister, Yoshihide Suga, known for his behind-the-scenes coordination skills who has been the chief Cabinet secretary since Abe returned to power in late 2012, and Shigeru Ishiba, a former defense minister who has often been critical of the prime minister. But Finance Minister Taro Aso, who doubles as deputy prime minister, said during a meeting Friday night of his party faction that he will not aim to become the next LDP president, according to an attendee at the gathering. The LDP will decide next Tuesday on how to hold its leadership election, with parliamentarians and representatives of local chapters likely to cast ballots, instead of all party members, according to sources familiar with the matter. Abe's decision to quit came as a surprise to many, including his close aides. "I was taken aback," Tomomi Inada, one of the aides, said at LDP headquarters, noting the announcement was all too sudden and unexpected. Financial markets reacted sharply to the news, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average briefly diving more than 2 percent from Thursday while the yen strengthened against the U.S. dollar. Abe made two hospital visits this month, only a week apart, for what his aides called health checkups after he was reported as having vomited blood at the prime minister's office in early July. Questions about Abe's health had been raised from time to time after he unexpectedly resigned due to worsening of his illness in 2007, only a year after becoming the country's youngest premier in the postwar era at age 52. After returning to power, Abe said he had overcome the intestinal disease with the help of a new drug. On Monday, he became Japan's longest-serving prime minister by number of consecutive days in office, eclipsing the previous record held by his great uncle Eisaku Sato (1901-1975). His government's measures to deal with the pandemic have faced criticism, such as over the distribution of washable cloth face masks, which arrived too late and turned out to be too small for many. The masks became known as "Abenomask," which means "Abe's mask" in Japanese and is a pun on his touted "Abenomics" economic policy package that calls for bold monetary easing by the Bank of Japan, generous fiscal spending and deregulations to spur economic growth. The government also drew flak for suddenly abolishing its plan to offer 300,000 yen ($2,830) to financially struggling households amid the pandemic and deciding to provide 100,000 yen to each resident, and for trouble with online applications. A Kyodo News opinion poll in August found 58.4 percent had been discontent with the government's handling of the pandemic. The approval rate for Abe's Cabinet, which stood at 62 percent at the start of his second stint, came to 36.0 percent in August. During Friday's press conference, Abe said it was "gut-wrenching" to have to leave the job while still trying to guide the Japanese economy out of deflation, sign a peace treaty with Russia, and amend the Constitution. He also said he is pained by his failure to resolve the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. Abe had initially appeared to be on course to shore up the country's economy with Abenomics by setting the inflation target at 2 percent and introducing massive monetary easing, which has given a boost to Japanese stock indexes and employment. The positive economic impact has helped Abe ride out a string of money and favoritism scandals engulfing him and his Cabinet members, including the dubious sale of state-owned land to a school operator linked to his wife Akie. But the fruits of his policies were nearly wiped out by the novel coronavirus, causing a practical halt of economic activities. He raised the consumption tax twice, to 8 percent in April 2014 and to 10 percent in October 2019, but Japan is still far from achieving fiscal health. Abe was often regarded as a hawkish conservative seeking to raise Japan's profile overseas. In 2014, he went ahead with a reinterpretation of the pacifist Constitution to enable the use of collective self-defense -- defending allies even without an attack on Japan itself -- and expanded the role of its defense forces under new security legislation in 2016. In the diplomatic arena, Abe was a familiar face in international gatherings and Japanese government officials said he could talk frankly with many foreign leaders, notably U.S. President Donald Trump, who has become his golf buddy. But the abduction issue remains unresolved even though Abe said it was "the highest priority" for his administration, and no date has been fixed for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un despite Abe's overtures. Trump raised the issue when he held his second summit with Kim in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi in February 2019, at Abe's request. Negotiations toward signing a postwar peace treaty with Russia have hit a snag as well. Tokyo-Moscow ties have remained hampered by a decades-old territorial row over Russian-held islands off Hokkaido. Gist of Abe's press conference announcing his resignation Abe says: -- resignation meant to avoid his health issue creating leadership vacuum. -- he needs prolonged treatment for ulcerative colitis. -- he lost confidence in his ability to serve Japanese people. -- now is the only time he could resign amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. -- he will remain in office until his successor is selected. -- he apologizes to the Japanese people for stepping down at this time. -- it is with utmost regret that he failed to amend the Constitution, bring Japanese abductees home from North Korea. -- will continue his political career, run in next general election. Chronology of major events of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government Sept. 20, 2006 -- Abe becomes president of the Liberal Democratic Party after its leadership election. Sept. 26 -- Abe appointed Japan's 90th prime minister. July 29, 2007 -- Abe presides over the LDP's crushing defeat in the House of Councillors election. Sept. 12 -- Abe announces his intention to resign as prime minister. Sept. 26, 2012 -- Abe returns to the LDP presidency after its leadership election. Dec. 16 -- LDP regains majority in the House of Representatives election. Dec. 26 -- Abe becomes prime minister for the second time after the LDP and its coalition partner New Komeito win back the lower house. July 21, 2013 -- The ruling coalition secures a majority in the upper house, ending the divided Diet. Dec. 26 -- Abe visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo, becoming the first prime minister to do so in seven years and drawing a backlash from China and South Korea. April 1, 2014 -- Japan's consumption tax is raised from 5 percent to 8 percent. July 1 -- The Cabinet approves a controversial reinterpretation of the Constitution allowing Japan to come to the aid of allies under armed attack in collective self-defense. Dec. 14 -- The ruling coalition retains a two-thirds majority in the lower house election. Sept. 8, 2015 -- Abe re-elected unopposed as LDP president. Sept. 19 -- Japan enacts security legislation aimed at expanding the scope of the Self-Defense Forces' operations overseas. July 10, 2016 -- The ruling coalition gains a two-thirds majority in the upper house election. Oct. 22, 2017 -- The ruling coalition retains its two-thirds majority in the lower house election. Sept. 20, 2018 -- Abe secures a third consecutive term as LDP leader. July 21, 2019 -- The ruling coalition wins a majority of contested seats in the upper house election but falls short of the two-thirds of seats needed to propose amending the pacifist Constitution. Oct. 1 -- Japan's consumption tax rate is raised to 10 percent from 8 percent, after twice being delayed. March 24, 2020 -- Abe and the International Olympic Committee agree to postpone the Tokyo Olympics for one year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. April 7 -- Abe declares a state of emergency for seven prefectures over the pandemic. Aug. 17 -- Abe checks in at a Tokyo hospital for what an aide calls a "regular health checkup." Aug. 24 -- Abe revisits Tokyo hospital for additional checkups and marks record as Japan's longest-serving prime minister in terms of consecutive days in office. Aug. 28 -- Abe announces his resignation as prime minister. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Congress Legislature Party chief Siddaramaiah on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention in withholding the Karnataka Land Reforms Amendment ordinance passed by the cabinet. Deeming the ordinance an attempt to dilute the safeguards meant to empower the farming community, Siddaramaiah said it will deter India's growth story. He urged PM Modi to direct Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa to withhold the ordinance so it could be discussed in the assembly. "The ordinance will have a multi-pronged effect on the farming community and political economy of Karnataka. Historical efforts to make one who tills the owner of the land will be undone, and pave the era of rich owning the land," Siddaramaiah said. He added that the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board already has 36,000 acres of undeveloped land which can be utilised for industrial development instead of "eyeing productive lands of farmers". Pointing out that farmers and their families will be adversely affected and many will be forced to turn labourers in the lands of industrialists or big farmers as a result of the ordinance, Siddaramaiah warned of the 'zamindar system' making a comeback. He alleged that the attempt at land reforms was in tune with the interests of Bengaluru's land mafia, which is waiting for more land to make enormous profits through real estate an observation that found support from party colleague and former Union minister Jairam Ramesh. Karnataka Govt under @BSYBJP-avaru is pandering to land sharks and real estate mafia with this ordinance. It will undo decades of land reforms in Karnataka, directly impacting farmers from marginalised communities. It must be revoked immediately as demanded by @siddaramaiah-avaru, he tweeted. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at a news conference in Lansing, Mich., on May 18, 2020. (Michigan Office of the Governor via AP, Pool) Michigan Gov Whitmer Deploys National Guard Units to Kenosha Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Aug. 27 authorized the deployment of two companies of the Michigan National Guard to Kenosha, Wisconsin, upon request by Gov. Tony Evers, to quell unrest amid ongoing riots in the city. Whitmer said they will support public safety and protect First Amendment rights to peaceful assembly in Kenosha. The two companies of Michigan National Guardsmen and women will operate under State Active Duty through an Emergency Management Assistance Compact, she said Thursday. This means that they have not been federalized and they can be recalled to Michigan at any time by Whitmer. Michigans dedicated National Guardsmen and women have played a vital role to keep Michiganders safe in recent months during the pandemic, and they were a key factor in ensuring peaceful protests in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Lansing after the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor earlier this summer, Whitmer said in a news release. Following a request from Governor Evers, I have authorized the use of two companies of the Michigan National Guard to assist civil authorities with public safety. I am confident that our guardsmen and women will work hard to keep our neighbors in Wisconsin safe while working to protect their First Amendment rights to peaceful assembly. Unrest in the Wisconsin city was sparked by the Sunday shooting of Jacob Blake who was resisting police arrest. Blake escaped police attempts to restrain him with a stun gun after which he went to his car and opened the car door. The 29-year-old was then shot by police who were responding to a domestic incident between Blake and his ex-girlfriend. Blake admitted to having a knife in his possession at the time, according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice. A lawyer for Blake didnt respond to an inquiry on the matter. The shooting has left him paralyzed and fighting for his life, according to his family attorney. The officers involved were placed on administrative leave and the matter is being probed by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. A criminal complaint obtained by The Epoch Times showed Blake was charged last month for trespassing, third-degree sexual assault, and disorderly conduct. The Michigan National Guard is always ready to support civil authorities when requested to assist, Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, Adjutant General and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, said in a news release Thursday. The men and women of the Michigan National Guard are well trained, equipped, and ready to assist our neighbors and emergency response partners in Wisconsin to protect people, their property, and their right to peacefully protest. President Donald Trump on Wednesday deployed almost 1,000 National Guard and over 200 federal law enforcement agents, including FBI and U.S. Marshals, to the city. President Trump condemns violence in all forms and believes we must protect all Americans from chaos and lawlessness, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement. This is why he is encouraging Democrat Governors to request the National Guard and federal law enforcement to augment their local law enforcement efforts. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. The CBI boss leading calls for UK workers to return to the office has revealed she is only going back herself for two days a week from September. Dame Carolyn Fairbairn told BBC Radio 4 today that she doesn't expect staff at CBI bases across the UK 'to come into the office until at least the end of the year.' She added: 'We have our office open for those members of staff who really want to come in, I myself am going to work two days a week from the office from the beginning of September. 'But absolutely crucially, we have said to every single staff member, no one will be expecting them to come into the office until at least the end of the year.' The Confederation of British Industry has 13 offices across the UK in cities including London, Belfast, Glasgow, Newcastle and Leeds, alongside international hubs in the US, China and India. Dame Carolyn Fairbairn (pictured), director-general of the CBI, today revealed she is only going back to the office herself for two days a week from September Josh Hardie, deputy director-general of the CBI, today told MailOnline 'only a handful of staff' have so-far returned to the workplace. He explained their offices have been open to employees who were 'struggling to work from home and did not need to use public transport to get to work' since mid-June. 'Our next phase of reopening will be from September 7, where we are helping those staff members who wish to come back to the office to do so, including senior management,' Mr Hardie said. 'No-one is being obligated to return before the end of the year. But we do believe it is important to build confidence for our staff so that it is as easy possible for those who want to use the office to do so. Josh Hardie, deputy director-general of the CBI, today told MailOnline 'only a handful of staff' have so-far returned to the workplace. Pictured: A CBI office in London 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 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 'Things won't return to how businesses operated pre-COVID-19, nor should they. Remote working for many businesses and employees has been a real success and we shouldn't lose those gains. But there is a balance to find as the economy reopens.' Director-general of the CBI Dame Carolyn, who speaks for almost 200,000 firms, this week warned commercial centres risk becoming permanent 'ghost towns' if Boris Johnson does not do more to get office workers back at their desks. 'The UK's offices are vital drivers of our economy,' she said on Wednesday. '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. 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 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 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. 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. 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. Advertisement '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.' She added that getting staff back into offices and workplaces is as important as the return of pupils to school. Today, Dame Carolyn explained a return to work is 'about balance between flexible working and office working' as she echoed her concerns about deserted city hubs. 'We've seen the most extraordinary effects from flexible working, productivity improvement, better quality of life, there's no doubt about that and we're not going back to where we were,' she said. 'We must remember the huge importance of offices. The mental health benefits of being in an office, the training benefits for young people, and the third reason I think is absolutely fundamental, we do have a number of our bigger cities, they feel like ghost towns. 'We risk destroying the ecosystem of the small businesses, the large businesses, the offices that make the city centres so vibrant.' She added that firms are 'really thinking hard' about how to implement a return to work, with some employees who are keen to return to the workplace still concerned about public transport and childcare. 'We know that there is real demand for coming back to the office from some people,' Dame Carolyn said. 'Firms want to do right by their employees and create that flexibility. 'I think there are a number of things the government can do, the first is Test and Trace, this is all about confidence in people feeling it's OK to leave the home. 'Public transport, we hear again and again people are concerned over the safety of public transport - actually it's relatively empty at the moment, people are by and large wearing masks. 'We're not talking here about a stampede back to the office, that simply is not going to happen, but unless we start putting the measures in place to build confidence, the childcare, the test and trace, the confidence in public transport, the risk is that we will look back discover we have lost something incredibly valuable.' An audit of major employers conducted by the Mail this week revealed 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 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. 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. 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 this week: 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. The teenage gunman charged with fatally shooting two protesters in Kenosha on Tuesday, had started a Facebook fundraiser for a police charity on his 16th birthday. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, launched a campaign for 'Humanizing the Badge', a nonprofit organization aimed at supporting law enforcement, in December 2018, according to old social media posts. The teenager asked friends to donate to the charity, which he said sought to 'forge stronger relationships between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.' The appeal was launched through Facebook's popular fundraiser feature that allows users to collect money for a charity of their choice in lieu of gifts on their birthday. Users can choose from a list of 750,000 nonprofits and set a target for the amount of money they want to raise. The post is one of several social media posts that have emerged in the wake of Rittenhouse's arrest revealing his admiration for law enforcement and police. Much of Rittenhouse's Facebook is devoted to praising law enforcement, with references to Blue Lives Matter - the movement that supports police. He also previously participated in a youth public safety cadet program (right), according to social media Humanizing the Badge released a lengthy statement on Thursday addressing the teenage gunman's links to the group Rittenhouse was formally charged with first-degree intentional homicide and other offenses on Thursday for fatally shooting two protesters and injuring a third, while 'defending' Kenosha during a demonstration on Tuesday. The two men who were killed have been identified as Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, and Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, about 15 miles west of the city. The wounded person, Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, of West Allis, about 30 miles northwest of Kenosha, was expected to survive, police said. In a statement shared on Facebook on Thursday, Humanizing the Badge appeared to try to distance itself from Rittenhouse and the shooting after the fundraiser was widely reported by several news outlets. The charity said the fundraiser did not necessarily mean Rittenhouse had a direct affiliation with the group, adding that Facebook lets 'anyone' create a campaign on their page for any nonprofit. 'Our Board of Directors believes that it is essential to release this statement, neither in support of, nor condemnation of, anyone involved in the Kenosha situation, but more specifically to address the implied involvement of Kyle Rittenhouse with the Humanizing the Badge organization,' the organization said. 'There are 2 relevant facts regarding what has been reported: 1) it is a mischaracterization of the Facebook fundraiser process to state that Rittenhouse 'held a fundraiser' for Humanizing the Badge, which has left some people with the impression that he has some direct affiliation with our organization because he does not. 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 two men who were killed were Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, and Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, about 15 miles west of the city. The wounded person, Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, of West Allis, about 30 miles northwest of Kenosha, was expected to survive, police said 'And 2) we have examined records dating back to January 1, 2020 and have found no evidence that Kyle Rittenhouse raised any money whatsoever that was donated to Humanizing the Badge.' The organization went on to say its intention is to support everyone's right to due process and that it does not state 'opinions and assumptions as fact.' 'We let the investigation proceed and the justice system do its difficult work. What will ultimately come out of this case remains to be seen,' the statement read. As news of Rittenhouse's arrest broke on Wednesday, Facebook removed the suspected gunman's account and blocked searches under his name. Much of the teen's Facebook page was devoted to praising law enforcement, with references to Blue Lives Matter, a movement that supports police. He was also seen holding an assault rifle in several photos. 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. In January this year, Rittenhouse also sat front row at a Trump rally at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa in January this year. A now-deleted TikTok account, believed to belong to the teen, also shows a video he took at the event. Photo: (Photo : GoFundMe) Mom, Stephanie Blais, was attacked and killed by a black bear in Canada. Her father, Hubert Esquirol, told a local news station that she, her husband, and two children are staying in a remote cabin. On August 20, Esquirol was speaking with his daughter over the phone to talk about a broken water pump outside of the Saskatchewan cabin the family is staying in, the CTV News reported. Blais was with her husband, Curtis, and their nine and two-year-old children visiting Mckie Lake at that time. Blais ordered her nine-year-old son, who was beside her, to go to the house. She asked him to get the satellite phone antennae so that she could get a better connection and signal. Then, Esquirol heard something like a gurgling noise coming from Blais's end of the phone. See also: Florida Father Dies of Coronavirus Leaving Children Orphans [Mom Died of Cancer] Pepper-sprayed and shot the bear twice Esquirol told the outlet that he called his daughter's name, but there was no response. Four minutes later, he called back and let it ring but still got no answer. Curtis called him seven minutes later and explained that a bear had attacked his wife. He said that he pepper-sprayed the bear and shot it twice before giving Blais a CPR. However, by the time he did, his wife already had no pulse. The family had previous training and experience in the wilderness based on a GoFundMe page. The page wrote that an older male bear did the "unprovoked and surprise predatory attack." A tribute wrote that Blais had a zeal for life next to no one else. It wrote that she always talked about how blessed she is to be able to be at home and raise her children showing how loving and passionate she is about motherhood. See also: Arizona Teen's Stepfather Charged with Murder Nearly 20 Years After She Disappeared It also wrote how free-spirited Blais was and how she loved the earth. She shared her joy, passion, love, compassion, wisdom, and selflessness with the people who crossed her path. It wrote that donations will be used for Blais' children's college tuition. It also said that the donations would allow self-employed Curtis the "gift of time and options." As of writing, the page has already raised $80,000. The CTV News reported that this bear attack incident is the first in Saskatchewan since 1983. Esquirol and Curtis are helping the children through the traumatic experience. Esquirol told the outlet that while the kids look okay from the outside, he believes that it has a lifetime effect. See also: California Woman Dies Tragically on the Same Day She Gives Birth to Miracle Baby What to do in case of a beark attack The US National Park Service has guidelines on what to do in case of a bear attack. When encountering a brown bear, you should lay flat on the floor on your stomach and place your hands behind the neck. The NPS said that you should never attempt to fight back. When you happen to encounter a black bear, you should run to a secure place or kick the animal in the face if it attacks you. (JTA) There was already some buzz around An American Pickle, the biggest Jewish movie of the year, before the movies star Seth Rogen made comments about Israel that seemed to set the Jewish internet on fire. In the new movie, Seth Rogen plays Herschel Greenbaum, a Jewish immigrant who is preserved in pickle brine for 100 years and emerges to meet his app developer great-grandson Ben, also played by Rogen, in modern hipster Brooklyn. The movie seems to exist in a world where Israel doesnt exist Herschel Greenbaum fell into the pickle brine before Israel was founded and B... Litchfield is Connecticuts least populated county, yet, according to the authors of a new book, it boasts more ghosts and legends than anywhere else in the region. These hauntings reportedly include haunted caves and camps that harbor spirits that once called these places home. The book. Haunted Litchfield County, for instance, reports that The Clairvoyant of Colebrook communicated regularly with the dead, while some guests of the now-closed Yankee Pedlar Inn refuse to leave. Theres a ghost canoe floating in Twin Lakes in Salisbury, and a friendly literary spirit at the Bank Street Book Nook in New Milford. The book (Arcadia Publishing and The History Press) of paranormal happenings in Litchfield County towns and cities was researched, written and photographed by Tom DAgostino and Arlene Nicholson, who have been extensively studying and investigating paranormal accounts for more than 37 years with well over 1,200 investigations to their credit, according to the pair. As the creators of 13 books and counting, together they have penned and captured on film the haunts and history of New England. The pair said they have appeared on numerous television and radio shows, and have been interviewed by numerous publications with regard to the paranormal. DAgostino is a graduate of Rhode Island College with a degree in political science, and builds his own musical instruments, many from the Medieval and Renaissance eras. Nicholson is a professional photographer, and is a tarot card reader with years of experience and success in the field. The pair reside in Connecticut and work with some of the most notable names in the field, investigating the paranormal in New England and beyond. The couple hosts Dining with the Dead 1031, an interactive investigation dinner event where the guests become the investigators in some of the most haunted locales in the region. We started writing books about 15 years ago, DAgostino explained. We began with Haunted Rhode Island. We were both born and raised in Rhode Island, the smallest state in the U.S. with the most haunts per capita. Before they began writing books, the pair visited Litchfield County and were enthralled with the area, said Nicholson. It is rich with legend and lore and we felt it would make an interesting book, added DAgostino. The latter said he and Nicholson were aware of some of the local hauntings. Some haunts are well-known within the paranormal community and I had read about them over the years. Said Nicholson, We were curious as to what more existed. The more we researched, the more we found. It was quite eye opening. The Evergreen Tavern (Woodbury) we visited just after renovations were completed and before the new owners reopened the Tavern. The spirits actually acted up while we were there taking photos. The Evergreen was quite a surprise also but I never expected some of the accounts we researched. DAgostino also thought the story of the Winsted Wildman was intriguing. At the very beginning of the process of writing a book, the pair said they go to the internet to get a feel of an area. Then they delve into their personal collection of approximately 2,000 books on New England history, legends, haunts and related subjects. We visit historical societies and make phone calls to set up interviews with those who are knowledgeable about the mysteries of the region, said DAgostino. Added Nicholson, When we gather enough information, we break out a good old-fashioned road atlas and plot a course, book places to stay, and hit the road. The rest is usually serendipitous, which is always the most magical part of the process. The pair visited the county six times. A few times, we were able to multi-task because we also conducted private investigations in the area, said Nicholson. From the time we were contracted to write the book until its release was approximately one year, DAgostino explained. We did have a bit of a head start, though, because we garnered some of the material years before we even thought of writing the book. Nicholson said she and DAgostino love the region, adding, We found it fascinating and wanted to delve deeper into history, haunts, and legends. DAgostino chipped in, Some people told us there was not a lot to write about in the area, but the more we dug, the more we found, and the more fascinating the region became to us. Nicholson said that the couples collaboration is a mix between working seamlessly and bouncing ideas off one another. We seem to have come up with a system where we each use our strengths and ideas. For example, Tom does the initial research and I do the edits the first drafts. We then visit the places to get a first-hand experience of locations, and conduct paranormal investigations when applicable. We also take photos for the book, Nicholson said. We do a lot of editing while traveling. Tom will read what we have while I drive and we discuss edits and revisions. We go back and forth with each other until we feel the product is ready for the publishers eyes. DAgostino said of paranormal research, There is so much we still do not know. Until we can go to the the other side and come back, or develop a definitive technology that can actually allow a ghost to sit and chat with us, we are grasping at straws for answers. We may never know in our lifetimes why ghosts, spirits, or whatever you wish to call them exist. The authors said they are more than satisfied with their new book. As always, History/Arcadia publishing is fantastic to work with, the publisher, art, and editing departments are second to none, offered Nicholson. Said DAgostino, This book, being the only one of its kind, is very exciting for us. We appreciate the opportunity to write a whole collection of stories that Litchfields people can enjoy. We are thrilled about the final product. He added, Although Litchfield County may be the most sparsely populated county in Connecticut, it is truly alive with history, incredible accounts of ghosts, legends, folklore and even a `Wildman. The book can be purchased starting Sept. 14 at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, the History Press website and many independent and small bookstores, gift shops and other stores throughout the region. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 28, 2020 23:30 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c413ea6c 1 Headlines Environment-and-Forestry-Ministry,finance-ministry,REDD,environmental-pledges,Paris-Agreement,NDCs,grant-funds Free Indonesia is expected to receive another grant for its efforts to reduce carbon emissions and deforestation, despite the numerous devastating forest and land fires of the past few years. The government is set to receive a grant of US$103.8 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), after an announcement at the 26th meeting of the funds administrators from Aug. 18 to 21. The grant is to be awarded through the results-based payment scheme of the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) initiative based on Indonesias claim of having avoided 20.3 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions between 2014 and 2016. This is further proof of Indonesias commitment to mitigating climate change, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said during a virtual press conference on Thursday. Under the 2016 Paris Agreement, the landmark pact of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Indonesia vowed to reduce its emissions by 29 percent against a business as usual projection by 2030, and up to 41 percent with international assistance. Based on its second Biennial Update Report (BUR-2) on the Environment in 2018, the government would need at least $247.2 billion to be able to achieve its emissions reduction target. Over the past five years, about 3.9 percent of the annual state budget, or Rp 89.6 trillion ($6.13 billion), has been allocated for climate change mitigation. The GCF grant is another incentive from international donors Indonesia has received as part of its commitment to combating deforestation. In late May, the government announced it was eligible to receive $56 million from Norway also under the REDD+ scheme but based on a bilateral agreement. We congratulate the environment and forestry minister and her team for successfully getting approval for the grant from the GCF, which is based on emission reductions and deforestation mitigation pursuant of REDD+, said Finance Minister Sri Mulyani during the virtual event. She said the funds would be channeled through the Environmental Estate Fund (BPDLH), a public service agency under the Finance Ministry tasked with managing funds for environmental protection and conservation. The grant is to be used over the course of four years to support the implementation of REDD+ and improve provincial forest management, the minister added. Sri Mulyani said the government was also currently pursuing other environmental grants, including the Forest Carbon Partnership and BioCarbon Fund schemes, which would net the government $110 million and $60 million, respectively. She also said her ministry had introduced climate change mitigation measures such as tax incentives for the renewable energy industry, climate budget tagging and green bonds, among other things. The GCF grant was approved even as the country continues to face the annual threat of wildfires, which has peaked in recent years. According to Environment and Forestry Ministry data, 1.65 million hectares of forests were lost to fires last year, second only to the 2.61 million ha that burned during the massive 2015 fires. The 2015 fires were considered the worst in two decades, costing the country more than $16 billion. The highest annual rate came between 1996 and 2000 when 3.5 million ha of forest burned. To date, 38,772 ha of forest has burned in 2020. However, the awarding of the grants has not been without criticism. A group of civil society organizations issued an open letter regarding the disbursement of the GCF REDD+ funds to Indonesia and Colombia, arguing that the countries emission reduction claims were not accurate, in part due to the period-based selective data parsing. The majority of REDD+ emission reductions claimed must thus be regarded as paper reductions that bear little resemblance to the actual emissions that were avoided, environmentalists said on Aug. 17. The letters signatories, comprising 85 civil society groups including 15 from Indonesia, called on the GCF Board to refrain from approving future REDD+ funding requests. The government initially applied for the GCF grants based on its achievements between 2013 and 2017, but only results collected between 2014 and 2016 were approved by the GCF board. According to official data, Indonesia lost 493,300 ha of forests in 2017 and 2018, although 53,900 ha of forest cover was replanted, trimming the net loss to 439,400 ha. From 2018 to 2019, Indonesia lost 465,500 ha of forests and replanted just 3,100 ha, bringing the net forest cover loss to 462,400 ha. Minister Siti acknowledged that the open letter had been discussed during the recent GCF board meeting. What we must understand is that this [long] process followed the proper methodology, systems and data in a transparent manner, and was verified by an entity accredited by the UNFCCC, which is [part of] the UNDP [UN Development Program], she said. Sadak 2, Mahesh Bhatts grand return to direction after two decades, is a big letdown, at least this is what Twitter believes. The film started trending on Twitter after it was streamed by Disney+ Hotstar on Friday evening. While a couple of trade analysts gave the film 1-star rating, other netizens also didnt seem very impressed with the film, which stars Alia Bhatt, Sanjay Dutt and Aditya Roy Kapur in the lead roles. Related: Alia Bhatt and Mahesh Bhatts Sadak 2 Becomes Lowest-rated Film of All Time on IMDb With 1.1 Score Sadak 2 has been facing a barrage of dislikes since some days, especially in the aftermath of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death. After June 14, when the actor was found dead at his Bandra apartment, many believed in the theory that he was not treated well in the film industry because he was an outsider. Later, this turned into a strong campaign against many actors and filmmakers whose relatives are also in the film business. Released on August 12, the trailer of Sadak 2 has been at the receiving end. It currently holds the record for being the most-disliked video on YouTube, with a staggering dislike ratio of 95%. The close second spot belongs to Swedish YouTuber PewDiePie who has a dislike ratio of 93% on his video titled Can this video get 1 million dislikes?" with nearly 5 million dislikes". Heres how Twitter reacted to the film: #OneWordReview#Sadak2: UNBEARABLE.Rating: Just cannot be compared to its first part Lacklustre plot Lethargic and lifeless screenwriting Music doesnt work either Terrible waste of the brand [#Sadak] and talent associated with this film. #Sadak2Review pic.twitter.com/Tyt1qQR6do taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) August 28, 2020 #Sadak2 is a torture. An opportunity is missed,A franchisee is killed. Atul Mohan (@atulmohanhere) August 28, 2020 #Sadak2 - Rating TORTURE of EPIC proportion, full on nonsense yet hilarious script & screenplay.Villain Gyaanprakash will make you laugh like mad, best comic actor of 2020. Bhatt saab career weakest direction,Why alia did this film only guru gyaanprakash knows. #Sadak2Review pic.twitter.com/65yJ6hbZDP Sumit kadel (@SumitkadeI) August 28, 2020 Review- #Sadak2#Sadak2ReviewRating - 1*/5 Unbearable - Slow paced - illogical@MaheshNBhatt last film #SADAK2 will be a BLOT on @VisheshFilms forever, In movie Father tried to kill his daughter, and in reality Mahesh killed his classic film SADAKSadak 2 is a cult DISASTER pic.twitter.com/VyZQjTAx9R Rohitt Jaiswal (@rohitjswl01) August 28, 2020 Mahesh Bhatt to film Critics right now #Sadak2 pic.twitter.com/fukodh9Dol SK PARODY (@SK_Parodyy) August 28, 2020 You know what to do right ? #Sadak2 1.7 ziada hai pic.twitter.com/rVOm6bRzZl #AllLivesMatter (@ExSecular) August 28, 2020 #Sadak2 Mahesh bhatt checking sadak 2 ratings in from 2020 movies rating list pic.twitter.com/W0PkNx9x6p my name is sanghi (@bagga_daku) August 28, 2020 Everyone is giving review of #Sadak2 movie.Le me pic.twitter.com/Zdv4zDS3TF Rahul Singh (@heres_the_rahul) August 28, 2020 However, these are just the first reactions. With more publications coming out with detailed reviews, the general opinion might change. The market for coronavirus vaccine in India could potentially be $6 billion in terms of sales for the coming three years. The public exchequer is expected to pay only about $2 billion to immunise just half the number of people needed to reach herd immunity levels, a global brokerage said. The report further adds that only 30 per cent of the country's approximately 1.3 billion population, would be immunised by the government with two doses. The remaining population will purchase the doses from the private market, it added. "If the government chose to vaccinate the entire population, they would need to set aside an additional $6 billion. This would imply an almost 100% increase to the current Central Government Healthcare budget," Mint reported citing a research by international brokerage Sanford C Bernstein. According to the brokerage's estimation, the vaccine would be priced at $3 per dose for government procurement. Similarly, the rate would stand at $6 for the private market. Meanwhile, five more volunteers were inoculated with the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine candidate in Pune on Thursday as part of the phase II clinical trial launched in search for an antidote against the viral infection. Earlier, two volunteers, aged 32 and 48, were given a shot of the 'Covishield' vaccine, being manufactured by the city-based Serum Institute of India (SII), on Wednesday when the phase II clinical trial of the medicine began at Bharti Vidyapeeth's Medical College and Hospital. The race for a COVID-19 vaccine is hotting up even as countries continue to see a daily rise in the number of positive cases. India's virus tally has sprinted past the 33 lakh-mark. Also read: Coronavirus vaccine trials: 'Respect the process, be patient for two months,' says Adar Poonawalla Also read: Coronavirus vaccine: Phase 2 trials of Oxford candidate start in India; two get vaccinated DUBLIN, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Atmospheric Water Generator Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Product (Cooling Condensation, Wet Desiccation), by Application (Industrial, Commercial), by Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2020-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global atmospheric water generator market is expected to reach USD 8.9 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 19.5%. Increasing consumer demand for atmospheric water generator (AWG) in industrial and commercial applications is expected to drive the market. Moreover, depleting freshwater reserves, particularly in Asia Pacific and Latin America region is anticipated to further propel market growth. Furthermore, various characteristics offered by AWGs such as high purity water output, and easy transport are expected to drive their demand in military applications over the forecast period. Growing demand for AWGs to replace traditional supply units such as water pipelines, especially at industrial and commercial workplaces, is likely to open new avenues for the industry over the forecast period. However, high capital cost and energy consumption associated with the product are expected to hinder market growth. The water output offered by AWGs primarily depends on the humidity and temperature of the surrounding environment, which affects the performance efficiency of the system. Product innovations to reduce the cost and improve its efficiency are expected to propel the AWG market over the forecast period. Report Highlights Cooling condensation accounted for 98.9% revenue share in 2019 on account of its high output coupled with less complex mechanism when compared to wet desiccation technique The residential application segment, in terms of revenue, is expected to witness a CAGR of 16.7% from 2020 to 2027 owing to rising disposable incomes coupled with product innovations is expected to drive the demand for AWGs in the segment The product demand in Latin America , in terms of volume, is likely to witness a CAGR of 17.7% owing to depleting freshwater resources coupled with uneven geographical distribution of freshwater resources, and inadequate water supply infrastructure , in terms of volume, is likely to witness a CAGR of 17.7% owing to depleting freshwater resources coupled with uneven geographical distribution of freshwater resources, and inadequate water supply infrastructure The product demand in India is anticipated to reach USD 302.9 million by 2027 owing to the rapid industrial growth coupled with increasing construction and manufacturing activities in the country is anticipated to reach by 2027 owing to the rapid industrial growth coupled with increasing construction and manufacturing activities in the country In January 2020 , Energy and Water Development Corp, (EAWD) sold its self-sufficient energy supply AWG system to a Mexican company engaged in manufacturing bottled water Key Topics Covered Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope Chapter 2. Executive Summary 2.1. Market Outlook 2.2. Segment Outlook 2.3. Competitive Insights Chapter 3. Market Variables, Trends, and Scope 3.1. Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping 3.2. Industry Value Chain Analysis 3.2.1. Distribution Channel 3.3. Technology Framework 3.3.1. Cooling Condensation Atmospheric Water Generators 3.3.1.1. Refrigeration Condensing 3.3.1.2. Pressure Condensing 3.3.1.3. Combination Technique 3.3.2. Wet Desiccation Atmospheric Water Generators 3.4. Regulatory Framework 3.5. Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) Market - Market Dynamics 3.5.1. Market Driver Analysis 3.5.1.1. Decline in Freshwater Levels 3.5.1.2. Rising Technological Advancements 3.5.1.3. Favorable Government Regulations 3.5.2. Market Restraint Analysis 3.5.2.1. High Carbon Footprint 3.5.2.2. High Power Requirement 3.6. Atmospheric Water Generator Market: Key Opportunities Prioritized 3.7. Business Environmental Tools Analysis: Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) Market 3.7.1. Porter's Five Forces Analysis 3.7.2. PESTLE Analysis 3.7.3. Potential markets 3.7.4. Buyer Landscape 3.8. Key Client Reviews Chapter 4. Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) Market: Comparative Analysis 4.1. Water Pipe Infrastructure 4.2. Water Desalination Plants 4.3. Atmospheric Water Generators 4.4. Cost Comparison Analysis Chapter 5. Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) Market: Product Estimates & Trend Analysis 5.1. Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) Market: Product Movement Analysis, 2019 & 2027 5.2. Cooling Condensation 5.3. Wet Desiccation Chapter 6. Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) Market: Application Estimates & Trend Analysis 6.1. Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) Market: Application Movement Analysis, 2019 & 2027 6.2. Industrial 6.3. Commercial 6.4. Residential Chapter 7. Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis 7.1. Regional Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2019 & 2027 7.2. Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) Market: Regional Movement Analysis, 2019 & 2027 7.3. North America 7.4. Europe 7.5. Asia-Pacific 7.6. Latin America 7.7. Middle East & Africa Chapter 8. Competitive Landscape 8.1. Company Market Position Analysis 8.2. Vendor Landscape 8.3. Company Dashboard Analysis 8.4. Key Company/Competition Categorization Chapter 9. Company Profiles 9.1. Akvo Atmospheric Water Systems Pvt. Ltd. 9.2. Dew Point Manufacturing 9.3. Saisons Trade & Industry Private Limited 9.4. WaterMaker India Pvt. Ltd. 9.5. PlanetsWater 9.6. Water Technologies International, Inc. (WTII) 9.7. SkyWater Air Water Machines 9.8. Drinkable Air 9.9. Hendrx Water 9.10. Energy and Water Development Corp. (EAWC) 9.11. Atlantis Solar 9.12. GENAQ Technologies S.L. 9.13. Air2Water LLC 9.14. EcoloBlue, Inc. 9.15. Watergen For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/rcl9tt 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: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com VANCOUVERA group of COVID-19 modellers says the British Columbia government should increase physical distancing measures to help it more safely reopen schools next month. Paul Tupper, a mathematician with Simon Fraser Universitys MAGPIE Research Group, says physical distancing has already been relaxed too much, putting schools at risk of possibly becoming centres for new outbreaks. Our predictions are that right now were set for exponential growth to levels higher than we have seen before in B.C., and thats even if we do nothing, even if we just keep things as they are, Tupper said in an interview last week. Since then, the B.C. government introduced new fines for those who flout public health orders regarding physical distancing by hosting large gatherings or refusing to adhere to protocols at restaurants and other businesses. Provincial health officials also warn that single models are limited and a wide body of evidence suggests schools wont be major drivers of community transmission. The SFU group, whose model has not been peer reviewed, is not suggesting schools should be closed, only that they should be given priority over things like bars and indoor dining, Tupper said. There are strong arguments for how important in-class learning is, especially for already vulnerable kids. One way to think about it is we have a certain budget for how much indoor social activity we can have, and we should be spending that budget on things like schools and child care, he said on Wednesday. The best shot for schools being safe is if we curtail other activities. The MAGPIE group forecasts that under conditions as of Aug. 14, active cases would increase to between 1,500 and 4,000 by Sept. 11, with the majority concentrated in the Lower Mainland. Schools open Sept. 10. The virus appears less prevalent among children and youths, so the model assumes high school students have a 40 per cent lower prevalence rate than the general public. That would mean about one in 2,500 students would be infected when schools reopen, which the group describes as very low. If half of those infected show symptoms and stay home, that means a school with 1,500 students returning would have a 20 to 30 per cent chance of hosting an infected student. Tupper notes that modelling for schools is difficult. The apparently lower prevalence and impact of the virus on kids could mean the existing plan and preventative measures in schools will be enough to avoid dramatic outbreaks. Its also difficult to use jurisdictions that have already reopened schools as examples for the model because there are so many variables, such as how far apart desks are spaced and the degree to which the general public is distancing. Our degree of confidence is very low on exact numbers because every school is different, he said. On Wednesday, Education Minister Rob Fleming said the government aims to get as many students back in classrooms as possible, although learning options will vary by school district. All elementary and middle schoolers can return to classrooms full-time, while some high schools will use a hybrid of in-class and remote learning. Almost 70 per cent of schools are shifting to a quarterly semester model where students will study two courses every 10 weeks. Tupper said Wednesday the models are unaffected by the governments latest plans for reopening schools, adding that the semester model could help reduce transmission. Dr. Reka Gustavson, deputy provincial health officer, said in a statement that models create theoretical scenarios based on assumptions. While mathematical models can provide useful insights into questions, they do not forecast what will happen, Gustavson said. At this stage in the pandemic, she said health officials are relying less on individual models and more on actual disease data in combination with a full body of evidence covering whats known about the disease, the novel coronavirus and school openings around the world. School settings are not expected to be major drivers of community transmission, she said. Dan Coombs, a mathematician at the University of British Columbia, said his own kids are set to return to high school in the fall. Its sobering when you look at numbers like that, he said in reference to the SFU figures. Overall, he said school transmission should reflect wider transmission within the community, so COVID-19 cases in schools should vary across the province. Theres no magic number that would indicate schools should be closed, he said, but school districts should prepare plans for when that might happen. At this stage, the evidence suggests children are less likely to develop severe symptoms from COVID-19 but the harmful effects of closing schools is well known, he said. I think its very important that we do reopen schools and we do what we can to make that happen and make it happen as safely as possible. Fleming said Wednesday there are guidelines for what happens if and when a case should present itself at schools, including what to do and when it warrants a public health investigation. Broadly speaking, the ministry has asked school districts to prepare to move to fully remote or hybrid models of learning if there is a significant second wave. Well be able to move forward as well as we can move back, Fleming said, depending on public health orders. In an article titled Ethics of COVID-19-related school closures published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health on Aug. 7, Michael Silverman, Robert Sibbald and Saverio Stranges argue for a regular re-evaluation of the need to open or close schools as new data emerges. They call for at least a partial reopening because of the apparent low risk of the virus to children and negative consequences of a closure. Theres very limited evidence that school closures have any impact on coronavirus outbreaks, they write. Silverman is with the division of infectious diseases at Western University in London, Ont., Stranges is a professor at Westerns department of epidemiology and biostatistics, and Sibbald is with the London Health Sciences Centre. Modelling studies suggest school closures have the greatest effect if the virus has low transmissibility and if attack rates are higher in children than adults, neither of which they say are likely true for COVID-19. Although high school students may have higher rates of infection, preschool and elementary students have an especially low infection risk and do particularly poorly with distance learning, the article says. Reopening schools for these younger children is an urgent priority, it says. Children kept at home have higher rates of anxiety and depression, more screen time and are at greater risk of physical abuse. For vulnerable families, the loss of access to school services like counselling, special education and nutritional support is concerning. And the economic effects of parents being kept home to provide child care are particularly severe for disadvantaged families, the article says. Although the long-term effects of our current COVID-19-related schooling policy are largely unknown, it is safe to say that there are likely to be several unintended consequences which we will recognize only after the data are compiled. Read more about: While there are many theories for why COVID-19 differently affects genders, evidence points to the key differences being biological. The COVID-19 pandemic has raised many questions around why the SARS-CoV-2 virus, COVID-19 infections, and the global job and economic crisis have impacted men and women differently. A consistent pattern has emerged of higher death rates among men compared to women infected with COVID-19. Data shows that men are roughly twice as likely to die from a COVID-19-related illness than women are. Simultaneously, more women with COVID-19 are likely to get diagnosed early since in most countries, women account for the majority of health care workforce. In a study published in the journal Nature on 26 August, scientists report that a neutralising immune response against COVID-19 was stronger in women, irrespective of age. The immune system workings that are detailed in the study are an "important basis for the development of a sex-based approach to the treatment and care of men and women with COVID-19," the authors say. The research community has gathered some evidence and come to a consensus that differences in infection rates in men and women are not all that different, but the outcomes are. This pattern seems to be repeated in nearly every countries reporting, and raises important questions concerning the spread and clinical impact of this pandemic: Men and women equally likely to contract COVID-19? Based on available data, experts say COVID-19 infection rates are similar for men and women. In other words, men and women are equally likely to contract a COVID-19 infection. However, a significantly higher proportion of men succumb to the disease than women. However, India and many other countries do not report their COVID-19 cases and deaths separately for women and men, and many more do not report data disaggregated by both sex and age. This leaves little scope for independent data analysis on testing, infection rates or other factors affecting COVID-19 in men and women. Also read: Study of 5 lakh women hints at oestrogen, birth control pills offering some protection against COVID-19 Once infected, are men more severely affected? More so in India than the numerous other COVID-19-affected countries, data shows that men were found more likely to have grave complications from COVID-19, and death. Older men with underlying disease were also found more vulnerable than their female counterparts to COVID-19-related complications. Countries around the world are reporting significantly higher mortality rates of COVID-19 in men than women. A recent study in Frontiers in Public Health concluded that men are at least twice as likely to die of COVID-19, regardless of age. Men were also less likely to survive critical cases of COVID-19. Biological basis for gender differences in COVID-19 The SARS, influenza, Ebola and HIV epidemics all affected men and women differently. Gender-specific information is vital to understanding how a virus affects the population because men and women are likely to have very different reactions to the virus, vaccines and treatment, experts told The New York Times. The reasons may be hormonal, genetic or even related to differences in intestinal bacteria. These differences can have different basis on a biological level: hormonal: like effects of sex hormones testosterone, oestrogen or progesterone. The body's response may also vary in people undergoing hormonal therapy. genetic: like females have two X chromosomes, which include more immunity genes or differences in intestinal bacteria. immune response: a more vigorous immune response in women increases the capacity to fight off an infection, as well as the risk of autoimmune diseases. Early studies also report a higher number of antibodies of the sub-type IgG in women compared to men after a SARS-CoV2 infection sets in. There is also evidence that mast cells in women can initiate a more active immune response, which helps better fight infectious diseases. Sociological COVID-19 impacts Sex differences between women and men that play a role in severity and mortality from an acute COVID-19 infection in the short term. But sociological factors also have a big part to play. Though trends show the infection rates and morbidity affecting more men, the emotional impact of the pandemic seems to disproportionately be falling on womens shoulders in many countries. More unpaid care, domestic work, loss of jobs and income, and increase in gender-based violence are some factors contributing to more pandemic-linked stress and anxiety among women, according to a UN Women resource. Behavioural COVID-19 impacts Behavioural differences have also been put forward, for example, men are more likely to be smokers, and women wash their hands more often. At the same time, women also experience more side effects from medication than men do, which means dosing and sex-specific side effects of vaccines and therapeutics needs to be considered. Data also shows that both men and women are finding it difficult to find necessary medical supplies, hygiene products and food. The proportion of people who could not see a doctor, experienced longer wait times or had difficulties accessing necessary products, shows that more women in developing countries were at a disadvantage. Differences in sociological rights in many forms (cellphone ownership, access to the Internet, education history, etc) could prevent people from accessing potentially life-saving information. It so happens, women were found less likely to receive information about COVID-19 than men in developing nations, Bangladesh and Pakistan among them. Health and safety impacts With stay-at-home orders during lockdown, people with violent partners are at higher risk of abuse but find themselves isolated from helpful people or resources. France saw domestic abuse cases triple in the first week of lockdown, while Australia reported a 75 percent increase in cases and Lebanon saw calls to a local abuse helpline double in March this year compared to last year. While domestic violence can affect men or women, women are the victims in a disproportionate majority of cases. Higher rates of tobacco consumption, a reluctance to seek proper and timely medical care play a role in who will be hit hardest. Womens health services, such as access to contraception, are also precarious unless governments state that they are essential services. Family planning organisation Marie Stopes has estimated that 9.5 million women and girls worldwide were at risk of losing access to their contraception and abortion services in 2020 due to the pandemic. Implications for COVID-19 response While there are several theories as to why COVID-19 might differently affect genders ranging from lifestyle choices, to sociological factors, to differences in chromosomal structure to the complex workings of our immune systems the evidence points to the most likely reason being biological. Sex differences also affect the immune system's response to an infection. Verified by more independent studies, these differences could have implications across all levels of the world's COVID-19 response from clinical trials, to treatment, to vaccinations strategies. JACKSON COUNTY, Mississippi -- Singing River Health System will offer drive-thru COVID-19 testing in Pascagoula, St. Martin, and Hurley during September. The first testing date is Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the Jackson County Fairgrounds at 2902 Shortcut Rd. in Pascagoula from 8 a.m. to noon. On Thursday, Sept. 10, St. Martin Community Center at 15008 LeMoyne Blvd. will host drive-thru testing from 8 a.m. to noon. The final drive-thru testing date is Thursday, Sept. 24 at St. Ann Catholic Church, located at 21424 Hwy. 613 in Hurley, again from 8 a.m. until noon. There is no out-of-pocket cost for the testing, although those wishing to be tested are asked to bring insurance information, if available. Participants are also asked to remain in their vehicle throughout the testing process. Four Jackson County MGCCC students win Phi Theta Kappa scholarships GAUTIER, Mississippi -- Four students at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community Colleges Jackson County campus have earned prestigious scholarships from the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Emma Landry of Gautier, Tina Nguyen of Biloxi and Logan Simmons of Ocean Springs were named 2020 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholars, while Jessica Rushing of Vancleave was named a Trustmark Workforce Development Scholar. Nguyen was also named an Oberndorf Lifeline to Completion Scholar. Phi Theta Kappa offers members scholarship opportunities to help with educational expenses while enrolled in associate degree programs. Winners are selected on the basis of scholastic achievement, community service and leadership potential. Two Jackson County students earn ClearWater Solutions scholarships JACKSON COUNTY, Mississippi -- Two local high school graduates have been awarded $1,000 scholarships by ClearWater Solutions -- two of 10 students across the southeast to receive the scholarships. Anna Gabby Wilson, a Gautier High School graduate, and Nakiya Owens, a graduate of Moss Point High School, received the scholarships on the basis of their exceptional academic accomplishments, involvement in school activities and community service. While at Moss Point High School, Owens was an honor student, a member of the Tiger cheerleading squad, and participated in Navy Junior ROTC, as well as several campus clubs. Her plans included attending the University of Maine and majoring in mathematics. Wilson was also an honor student at Gautier High School, a member of the Student Council, and editor of the school yearbook. She also participated in numerous clubs and activities. She plans to attend MGCCC and study radiology. People weary of the deteriorating relationship between Australia and our largest trading partner often ask: what is Australia's China strategy? The relationship is at its lowest point since diplomatic relations began with the People's Republic of China nearly 50 years ago. Wang Xining, deputy head of mission at the Chinese embassy in Australia, during his address to the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra on Wednesday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen We are in the diplomatic freezer: Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Trade Minister Simon Birmingham are unable to get a phone call with their direct counterparts. Meanwhile, Beijing has hit Australia with three major trade strikes and threats of tourism and student boycotts during the global pandemic. On Wednesday, China's deputy ambassador in Canberra, Wang Xining, delivered an impressive performance at the National Press Club that was somewhat conciliatory towards Australia. Farmers are being urged to strictly observe public health physical distancing guidelines as the autumn sales in livestock marts get underway. Livestock vendors and buyers have been told to take new guidance seriously to avoid disruption - and potential mart closures - during a crucial time of trading. The ramp up in seasonal store and breeding sales combined with new clusters of confirmed Covid-19 cases has prompted a call to action from the Scottish government and industry bodies. The Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers (IAAS) said farmers cannot afford to have an outbreak traced back to a mart as it would have 'severe implications'. We have worked hard as an industry to ensure livestock marts have remained open throughout lockdown and we want to ensure the trade fully continues for all of our vendors and buyers," Donald Young, president of IAAS, said. We are asking everyone coming to marts to play it safe. We appreciate its hard... but we would ask you to please wear your masks if you can, keep your two-metre distance and only attend if you really need to. "These are essential short-term measures for long term gain for all involved, he said. Marts have responded to the two-metre physical distancing regulation by staggering places at ringside, livestreaming sales to different rings within the mart, spreading sales over two days and restricting access to penning areas. Livestock trading is currently buoyant with both lamb and beef prices higher than last year, attributed to a strong retail trade reflecting people cooking more at home, the lamb demand triggered by the Muslim festival of Qurbani in July and the restaurant sector re-opening. NFU Scotland added that it was 'imperative' to keep the vital service provided by livestock marts operational. President Andrew McCornick said: It is the most important time of year for cattle and sheep sales, and for some, particularly in the Highlands or the West, it will be the only sale they will attend. "There is a lot of extra work going on behind the scenes to make sure the marts can operate. We mustnt jeopardise this trade with complacency. "Marts provide vital price transparency and should they be forced to close, everyone involved in the livestock trade would suffer." In line with public health regulations from the Scottish government, IAAS has been working with their team to create a framework for individual auction marts to operate within. Each mart has its own regulations, depending on their own operational circumstances. However, common to all is the recommendation to wear face masks and maintain a two-metre distance with other householders. US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper (Photo: AFP) Hanoi US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper on August 26 warned that Chinas plan to modernise military forces will embolden its provocative behaviours in the South China Sea, which is called the East Sea in Vietnam, and the East China Sea. In a keynote speech at an event in Hawaii, Esper said China has fallen short of its promises to abide by international laws, rules or norms or honour the commitments it made to the international community, including not to militarise features in the East Sea. Chinas organisation of consecutive military exercises in the waters to the north-northeast of Vietnams Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago has violated Vietnams sovereignty over the archipelago, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang on August 26. Responding to reporters query, the spokesperson 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, stop and not repeat such violations, Hang said. SPRINGFIELD Joseph A. Quinlan, a longtime prosecutor and former news reporter, lost his battle with cancer a year ago, but his legacy will live on through a journalism scholarship at his alma mater, the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Family and friends announced the Joseph A. Quinlan and The Daily Collegian Alumni Scholarship for Journalism on the one-year anniversary of his death, Aug. 28. Quinlan, who was 61 when he died, was a native of Lowell and a 1980 graduate of UMass majoring in journalism and political science. After graduation, he worked for several years for the Associated Press in Springfield before pursuing a law career. His sister, Marian Quinlan Walsh of Florida, said the family is thrilled with the creation of a scholarship fund in her brothers name. Having this scholarship in Joes memory will be a lasting remembrance of Joe, for his family and his many friends for many years to come, Walsh said. Joe believed journalism is a fire that cannot be extinguished but must be fed. There would be nothing better for Joe than knowing he added a log to the fire of a budding journalist. Quinlans career included working as an assistant district attorney in Hampden County and in the Northwestern district attorneys office, as well as in Worcester and Middlesex counties. He survived a knife attack in 1989 in Springfield by then-state police Lt. John J. Mace, who was trying to burn courthouse records to cover up a theft. Mace was sentenced to 18-30 years in state prison, ultimately serving 9 years and receiving parole in 1999. The scholarship is for undergraduate students, and will be based on financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid. The recipient must be a journalism major and in good academic standing, organizers said. To honor Joe is a privilege, said Mark Curelop, a lead organizer of the scholarship and a longtime friend of Quinlan. In this day and age, what were seeing coming out of the press, we need journalism scholarships more than ever. Curelop said Quinlan was his news editor at the Daily Collegian, describing him as very tough, but you learned so much. Curelop and other graduates of UMass would often see Quinlan at Daily Collegian reunions. Friends and colleagues, particularly alumni of the Daily Collegian, created the scholarship with approval from the university and the support of Quinlans family, Curelop said. The group needs to raise at least $25,000 to launch and maintain the scholarship fund, Curelop said. The college would then grant a $1,000 scholarship annually, possibly expanding in the future, he said. Walsh said the scholarship helps the student financially but is more than that. It is the power of words, Walsh said. Joe knew that power and valued the tenet that words can change an individual, a community and the world. A biography of Quinlan, prepared by journalist Teresa Hanafin of the Boston Globe, described him as a dogged reporter and a tenacious attorney who smoothed the rough edges of life with a wry sense of humor, and a kind, generous heart. His was a life of trials and triumphs, a life well-lived with passion and compassion in equal measure, Hanafin wrote. Walsh said her family was not affluent, and her brother worked tirelessly since the third grade, delivering the Lowell Sun to help raise tuition money for UMass, and worked various jobs and kept up his grades as a double major, graduating with honors. Joe was determined to better himself so he could help others, Walsh said. Those wishing to make donations to the scholarship fund can do so online through the UMass Development Office. Checks can be mailed to: Joseph A. Quinlan and The Daily Collegian Alumni Scholarship for Journalism, c/o Records and Gift Processing, Memorial Hall, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 134 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003. Millie Bobby Brown has admitted that she has a 'lot of faith' in herself and described how becoming a producer for her upcoming Netflix film just 'came naturally'. The Stranger Things star, 16, also joked to GLAMOUR UK that she 'came out of the womb having a voice' as she stressed the importance of being her own 'support team'. However Millie, who is best known as Eleven in the hit Netflix series, also shared her 'struggles with anxiety' which has been 'hindered' by growing up in the public eye. Honest: Millie Bobby Brown has admitted that she has a 'lot of faith' in herself and described how becoming a producer for her upcoming Netflix film just 'came naturally' Millie, who has produced and starred as the title character in the upcoming mystery film Enola Holmes, the sister of Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill), revealed she has a lot of 'faith' in herself as a young actress. In an interview with GLAMOUR UK, where she also posed for the front cover and stunning shoot, the teenager said of her role as a producer: 'I was very nervous. I'm not going to lie...But as soon as I walked on to set, I didn't even have those thoughts come into my head. 'I just said, 'Oh, should we try this, or should we try that?' It just naturally came to me; it was such an amazing opportunity for me to learn and grow. I love putting my input in and have it been appreciated and listened to.' She continued: 'I do have a lot of faith in myself. As a young person and as a young girl I was very listened to so I'm very lucky that I get to tell my story of that experience. Confidence: The Stranger Things star, 16, also joked to GLAMOUR UK that she 'came out of the womb having a voice' as she stressed the importance of being her own 'support team' 'But listen, I came out of the womb having a voice. My mom was like, 'Mill, you need to shut up.' I've always had something to say!' However Millie, who shot to fame aged 12 in Stranger Things, described how she prefers to keep 'most things' in her life 'private' and revealed how criticism of her appearance fuels her 'anxiety'. She said: 'I keep most things private in my life. Personally, I struggle with anxiety and in some ways, this has hindered it. Role: Millie, who has produced and starred as the title character in the upcoming mystery film Enola Holmes, the sister of Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill), revealed she has a lot of 'faith' in herself as a young actress 'When I'm having a bad day or I'm feeling very anxious, some things like when people say, 'Oh, you looked bad at this award show because you looked like this or you looked like that,' those things make me a little bit more anxious and that hinders me a little bit more.' But the teenager told how her upcoming role as Enola, the youngest member of the Holmes family who goes off in search of her missing mother (Helena Bonham Carter), has taught her the importance of 'self-love'. 'I think Enola Holmes also taught me that being with yourself, being your own biggest critic, being your own biggest support team is so important, too,' Millie explained. Millie, who grew up in Dorset, England, and settled in Florida with her family to pursue her acting career aged eight, said: 'I rely on myself to give myself self-love, because that's just literally the only way I can. 'I tell myself, 'Wow. I did good in that,' and I have to give myself love because that's important. Everyone has to empower themselves.' The film, which is based on the book series of the same name by Nancy Springer, sees Enola tackle mansplaining and reverse ageism as she is determined to track down her mother. Millie said: 'The broader message is touching on female empowerment. But we also show that, hey, it's okay to be a young girl and really not know what you're doing or what your purpose is in life. Premise: But the teenager told how her upcoming role as Enola, the youngest member of the Holmes family who goes off in search of her missing mother (Helena Bonham Carter), has taught her the importance of 'self-love' 'But that doesn't mean that you don't have one. It means that you just have to find it.' Speaking about her hopes for Eleven and going into the fourth season of Stranger Things, Millie said: 'Oh my god, she's been through so much, I just hope she's happy. 'I always say to the [Duffer Brothers], 'Can she just not smile like in one take?' I would love her story to be rounded off by like a good ending. Open: Millie, who is best known as Eleven in the hit Netflix series, expressed her 'struggle with anxiety' which has been 'hindered' by growing up in the public eye (pictured in January) 'I trust the Duffer brothers so much that it's going to be beautiful and I'm going to love it no matter what it is. 'But I'd love for her to get her powers back because she is a hero, she is like a super woman in a way.' She added: 'And she loves Mike - I want them to get married. That's what I need. I need a wedding scene for Stranger Things, period.' 'Eleven in a wedding dress and her going, 'Sorry, my nose is bleeding. It's a white dress.' Doesn't it just seem like it would fit.' Millie looked effortlessly chic for the GLAMOUR UK cover and photoshoot, she wore a striking neon green jacket with slicked back locks at her home in Atlanta, Georgia. Read the full interview in the GLAMOUR UK August Digital Issue online now https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/magazine The majority of Britons believe the BBC are wrong to remove the lyrics from Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory at the Last Night of the Proms, according to a poll. The survey shows more than half of people oppose the move, which comes amid claims that people are offended by the lyrics of the much-loved anthems - because they are 'racist'. As it stands, the patriotic songs will be played by an orchestra only on September 12, supposedly because the lack of an audience will diminish their impact. God Save the Queen and Jerusalem will still be played in full at the event, led by Finnish conductor Dalia Stasevska, 35, which will take place without an audience and with limited performers. Now YouGov research for The Times shows 55 per cent of people surveyed oppose the move to cut the lyrics from the two songs, compared to 16 per cent who back the decision. The majority of Britons believe the BBC are wrong to remove the lyrics from Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory at the Last Night of the Proms, according to a poll God Save the Queen and Jerusalem will still be played in full at the event, led by Finnish conductor Dalia Stasevska, 35, which will take place without an audience and with limited performers. Conductor: 'I did not axe Rule Britannia' A Finnish conductor caught up in a row over the Last Night of the Proms has issued a statement insisting she is not responsible for axing Rule Britannia and recognises it as an 'important part of the event'. BBC sources cited in the Sunday Times claimed Dalia Stasevska, 35, was one of those keen to 'modernise' the event and reduce the patriotic elements involved. Ms Stasevska, who has voiced her support for Black Lives Matter, was swept up in controversy following reports that she had concerns about the words to Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory. But Ms Stasevska has now spoken out in a statement, issued on her behalf by management company HarrisonParrott, insisting she had no part in the BBC's decision to not have the patriotic anthems sung. Advertisement Five per cent of people polled believe the songs should not be performed at all at the Last Night of the Proms. In the same poll, YouGov, who surveyed 1,646 adults this week, found the BBC was still perceived positively, but not by much. The poll showed 48 per cent of people surveyed viewed the broadcaster favourable, in contrast to the 44 per cent who did not. However, just a quarter of people surveyed said they believed the BBC should stay in its current form, while around a third said it should be funded by advertising. A BBC spokesman told the Times: 'We are very lucky to have a Proms at all this year and that is down to the artists that have made it possible.' The new poll comes after Dame Vera Lynn's daughter yesterday said her mother would still be signing Land of Hope and Glory if she was alive and branded the BBC's decision as 'daft'. 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. 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". Speaking out: Virginia Lewis-Jones with her mother, Dame Vera Icon: Dame Vera Lynn topped the iTunes chart on Wednesday 'She would feel the same thing and if she were here now she would be singing it.' More than 100,000 people sign MailOnline's petition urging BBC to reverse Last Night of the Proms decision More than 100,000 people have signed the MailOnline petition urging the BBC to reverse its censorship of Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia at the Last Night of the Proms. Bosses at the broadcaster are under fire from across the political spectrum after caving in to politically-correct critics who are offended by the much-loved anthems - because they are 'racist'. MailOnline has launched a petition that will be sent to Director General Lord Hall calling on him to reinstate the singing of both songs with immediate effect. The petition reads: To the Director General of the BBC Dear Lord Hall, We call on the BBC to immediately reinstate the singing of the much-loved British anthems Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia. If you would like to sign the petition, please click here or fill in the form above. Advertisement 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. 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.' 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, calling the decision 'idiotic' and a 'ghastly mistake' by bosses who have 'lost touch' with the British public. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this week said opposed the BBC's decision. He said: 'I think it's time we stopped our cringing embarrassment about our history.' 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. 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 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. The BBC has maintained the decision was not prompted by perceptions of racism and that it was actually due to Covid-19 restrictions, with fewer performers allowed on stage, making it harder to perform the song with a traditional chorus. A BBC spokesperson said the songs will be sung next year. The spokesperson added: 'We obviously share the disappointment of everyone that the Proms will have to be different but believe this is the best solution in the circumstances and look forward to their traditional return next year.' Small-scale poultry farmers in Vietnam tend to respond to viral outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) by rapidly selling their birds as a way to avoid financial loss. Credit: Alexis Delabouglise, CIRAD/Penn State Small-scale poultry farmers in Vietnam tend to respond to viral outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) by rapidly selling their birds as a way to avoid financial loss, according to a new study by an international team of researchers. As these birds are commingled with other birds in markets and trading networks, this practice may increase the likelihood of widespread disease transmission. The findings could have implications for government policymaking in the many regions of the world where small-scale poultry farming and avian influenza risk co-occur. "Avian influenza is deadly to humans, with a case fatality rate between 25% and 50%," said Maciej Boni, associate professor of biology, Penn State. Fortunately, reports of human-to-human transmission over the past 15 years have been either absent or anecdotal. COVID-19 took us by surprise, but with HPAI we have a known threat with the potential to become pandemic. If we ignore the active role that poultry farmers play in the control and dissemination of avian influenza, we may miss another opportunity to curtail an emerging disease outbreak at a stage when it is still controllable." Lead author Alexis Delabouglise, an animal health economist at CIRAD-Agricultural Research for Development in France who was a postdoctoral scholar at Penn State when the research was performed, explained that small-scale poultry farming is practiced by millions of Vietnamese households and by millions more throughout southeast Asia, mostly on a scale of fewer than 100 birds per farm. These farmers make decisions on a daily basisoften in response to economic incentivesabout when and where to sell their flocks. And their decisions can influence disease spread. "If the price of poultry goes up, farmers might expand their farming activities, which could create more outbreak risk," said Delabouglise. "If there is an outbreak on a neighboring farm, they might choose to sell their poultry early to avoid their own birds from being infected and to avoid lower prices. And if there is an outbreak on their own farm, the evidence in our study shows that they would be likely to sell their birds early to avoid both monetary loss and epidemiological risk." Boni and colleagues, including researchers at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) in Ho Chi Minh City, conducted a longitudinal study of small-scale poultry farms in the Mekong river delta region of southern Vietnam with a goal of characterizing the effects of disease outbreaks on poultry harvest rates, as well as on two prevention practicesvaccination and farm disinfection. The team followed 53 farmers and their management of more than 1,000 poultry flocks for a period of two yearsfrom 2015 to 2017. "Working with partners in endemic countries day-in and day-out on study details and public health priorities is key to establishing collaborations that allow these long-term follow-up studies to succeed," said Boni, who led a research group at OUCRU for eight years. Researchers found that small-scale farmers increased their harvest of broiler chickens by 56% during outbreaks with no sudden deaths and by 214% during outbreaks with sudden deaths. Credit: Alexis Delabouglise, CIRAD/Penn State Delabouglise, the statistical lead on the project, used mixed-effects general additive models to investigate farmers' probabilities of harvestingeither selling or slaughteringflocks, of performing avian influenza vaccination on flocks that were not previously vaccinated and of disinfecting farm facilities when faced with an outbreak. Their findings appeared in eLife on August 25. "We found that farmers did send their chickens to market early when there were outbreaks occurring on their farms," said Delabouglise. "Specifically, small-scale farmers increased their harvest of broiler chickens by 56% during outbreaks with no sudden deaths and by 214% during outbreaks with sudden deaths. This has the potential to exacerbate the outbreak and spread the virus even further." The team noted that sudden deathsthe deaths of chickens less than one day after the onset of clinical symptomsare considered to be indicative of HPAI infection. Interestingly, the team found that the probability of disinfection was not affected by the occurrence of outbreaks. Finally, the team found that the likelihood of vaccination against avian influenza strongly increased with flock size. The probability of vaccination was almost zero for flocks of 16 birds or fewer and nearly 100% for flocks of more than 200 birds. According to Delabouglise, one reason that millions of small-scale poultry farmers may not be vaccinating their birds could be their desire to avoid transaction costs associated with declaring flocks to governmental veterinary services before vaccination. Another reason could be that due to their small size, their vaccination status is not controlled and, therefore, vaccination is less worthwhile from the farmers' perspective. "Crucially, it is these smaller flocks that are more likely to be sold into trading networks during outbreaks," he said. "The rapid sale of sick birds can contaminate other birds at traders' storage places and those at live bird markets. It also exposes consumers and traders, slaughterers and retailers to an increased risk of infection." Delabouglise noted that, on the flip side, a massive arrival of underage birds in a live bird market, or a price decrease due to the temporary oversupply of poultry, may be a sign that an outbreak is occurring. Small-scale poultry farming is practiced by millions of Vietnamese households and by millions more throughout southeast Asia, mostly on a scale of fewer than 100 birds per farm. Credit: Maciej Boni, Penn State "This is an interesting area for surveillance of livestock diseases," he said. Delabouglise said that the team's results could help governmental agencies create policies that aim to avoid the spread of HPAI. "Small-scale farmers could play an active role in the control of emerging infectious diseases if they are given the opportunity to depopulate their farm upon disease detection without disseminating pathogens in trade circuits," he said. "Policymakers could encourage the establishment of formal trade agreements that encourage such 'virtuous' management of disease outbreaks in poultry." One such "virtuous" management strategy could be for farmers to sell their sick chickens as feed for pythons and crocodiles raised on neighboring farms. Another could be to set up agreements with neighboring large commercial farmers who can give them financial indemnities to destroy the birds as a way of protecting their own flocks. "It would be impossible to have reliable public-health control over the millions of small-scale poultry flocks in a place like Vietnam," said Delabouglise, "but providing economic incentives to responsibly manage birds during disease outbreaks is feasible." Other authors on the paper include Nguyen Thi Le Thanh, Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme; Huynh Thi Ai Xuyen, Ca Mau Sub-Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health; Benjamin Nguyen-VanYen, Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme and Ecole Normale Superieure; Phung Ngoc Tuyet, Ca Mau Sub-Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health; and Ha Minh Lam, Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme and University of Oxford. The Defense Threats Reduction Agency, the Wellcome Trust and the Pennsylvania State University supported this research. Explore further How can vaccination be improved to eradicate avian influenza H5N1 in Indonesia? More information: Alexis Delabouglise et al, Poultry farmer response to disease outbreaks in smallholder farming systems in southern Vietnam, eLife (2020). Journal information: eLife Alexis Delabouglise et al, Poultry farmer response to disease outbreaks in smallholder farming systems in southern Vietnam,(2020). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.59212 Head of Monitoring Unit at the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu has ridiculed former President and NDC flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama over his promises to Ghanaians. Former President John Mahama is counting on the votes of Ghanaians during the general elections to become President again. The former President, in his bid to come back to power, has given a catalogue of promises to Ghanaians and among some things he's pleged to do are to legalize commercial motocycle business, known in local parlance as ''okada'', improve health infrastructure and also review the government's free education policy by making it better for school children, their parents and families. These are but a few things that the former President has said while the nation waits on his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to unveil their 2020 manifesto. Meanwhile, the okada legalization promise by Mr. Mahama has been met with a barrage of objections because, when he was President of Ghana, he wanted to shut down okada business. Mr. Mahama is however unperturbed by the dissenting views as he continues to give new campaign promises. Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Charles Owusu said President Nana Akufo-Addo has done all that his political opponents, in this case referring to the former President, couldn't do and additionally doing other great things to improve the living conditions of Ghanaians. Alluding to the government's free water and subsidized electricity supplies to Ghanaians for six months, the first rolled out during the lockdown season from April to June and the second phase beginning in July, he believed the President's remarkable feat is creating headache for Mr. Mahama and the NDC. According to him, the President has widened the gap between him and the former President, therefore causing the latter to making outrageous and annoying promises. "Why do you want to take people on a race like that?" he jovially asked President Akufo-Addo. 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 France has suspended the use of glue traps in hunting birds until the end of this year, stopping short of a ban on the controversial practice which conservationists say is "cruel and odious". Hunters in France are given a quota of how many birds can be killed using glue traps, which president Emmanuel Macron announced yesterday had been set to zero for this year, compared with 42,000 in 2019. Conservationists have long rallied against the practice, which has been banned for years under European Union regulations. In July, the European Commission gave France three months to consider its position on glue trapping, or risk a case being brought before the European Court of Justice. France is the only country to still permit the use of glue trapping, which the European Commission said does not comply with the 2009 Birds Directive aimed at protecting the more than 500 wild bird species found in the EU. The Commission said in the warning: "France has authorised several methods for the capture of birds, such as glue for thrushes, nets and traps for skylark and pigeons, which are not selective and are forbidden by the Directive." Campaigners have welcomed the suspension, though were disappointed that an outright ban had not been implemented. This is a good result, because until now every year an exception was made allowing the hunt. But they are not banning the practice, only suspending it, said Yves Verilhac, president of the France Bird Protection Association. The association says glue trapping is a cruel and odious practice from a bygone era and that France should join other EU nations in outlawing it completely. The suspension was announced after Mr Macron and Barbara Pompili, France's ecology minister, met with hunting federation president Willy Schraen, who criticised the decision. Mr Schraen said the suspension was purely political and argued that no protected species were caught in glue traps. However, Ms Pompili noted that the glue traps are "non-selective", meaning that hunters cannot choose which birds are caught. Additional reporting by Reuters Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 28 : The daily number of Covid cases continues to peak in Kerala, even as the state is getting ready to celebrate Onam - the traditional harvest festival. On Friday, state Health Minister K.K. Shailaja, in a statement, said there were 2,543 cases and 2,097 recoveries, both the highest in a single day so far. At present, there are 23,111 active case, while 45,858 have been cured, she said. In the past 24 hours, 41,860 samples were sent for testing, Shailaja added. Thiruvananthapuram district continues to lead with 532 cases, of which 497 were local infectees. With Onam festivities beginning and the state government allowing people to do festival shopping, activity picked up across markets and roads in the state. Long-distance bus services also have been resumed and it remains to be seen what the impact will be when the festivities end early next week. At present, there are 1,94,431 people under observation, which includes 19,125 people in hospitals while the total hotspots in the state number 599. Banks and state government offices will remain closed from Friday till Monday. Latest updates on Onam Festival 2020 In the past month, shares of Mastercard Inc (NYSE: MA) have gained 15.9%, more than double the 7.6% gain by competitor Visa Inc (NYSE: V) in that time. On Thursday, one Wall Street analyst said Mastercards recent outperformance underscores the fact that Visa is the better investment at this point. The Analyst: Bank of America analyst Jason Kupferberg reiterated his Buy rating for Visa and raised his price target from $227 to $234. He also reiterated his Hold rating for Mastercard and raised his price target from $324 to $358. The Thesis: Kupferber said much of Mastercards outperformance in recent weeks was likely driven by what was perceived to be better second-quarter earnings numbers. However, he said Mastercard management was clear on its earnings call that client incentives drove revenue upside largely due simply to timing. Management also mentioned timing as a primary factor in operating margin upside as well. After adjusting for the timing impacts, Kupferberg said Mastercards quarter was essentially in-line with Visas. Looking ahead to the second half of the year, Kupferberg said Visa is better-positioned to potentially report some meaningful earnings beats, and the stock also has more valuation upside given it currently trades at a 12% earnings multiple discount to Mastercard. Mastercard bulls may argue that the companys 13.5% US debit volume growth compares favorably to Visas, at 8%, but Kupferberg said those numbers are a bit misleading given Mastercards debit volume is only half the size of Visas. Given current choppiness in consumer spending, we believe the higher mix of debit (which tends to be linked to more non-discretionary purchases) is a plus, Kupferberg said. Benzingas Take: Its difficult to get a clear picture of the underlying trends for both Visa and Mastercard these days. Kupferberg said stimulus funds, including unemployment benefits in many states, created significant noise in both companies second-quarter numbers. Story continues Related Links: Facebook Forms New Group To Rationalize Payments Across Apps Sarat Sethi Likes American Express See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Zain Imam Approached For Bigg Boss 14 A source was quoted by Pinkvilla as saying, "They offered the show to Zain Imam. This was the first time they thought of Zain. Colors and Zain have done Khatron Ke Khiladi also together, so they wanted to see if he'd be game to come on board as one of the contestants on Bigg Boss 14." Zain Rejects Bigg Boss 14! Apparently, Zain has rejected the offer, as the source further added, "Zain is a very private person and doesn't find himself comfortable sharing his space with anyone. It's impossible for him to live in the same house with 13-14 other people who he doesn't know well. Despite the channel giving him a very good deal, he declined it." Pearl V Puri Approached For The Show! It is also being said that Bepanah Pyaar and Naagin actor Pearl V Puri has also been approached for the show. Apparently, he was offered a huge amount of Rs 5 crore to participate in the show. Pearl Offered Rs 5 Crore To Participate In Bigg Boss 14! A source revealed to Spotboye, "Makers are quite keen to get Pearl V Puri on board and to convince him they have offered him a lucrative amount of 5 crore. However, the actor has not said yes yet and is contemplating on the offer due to his other project commitments." A Turkish human rights lawyer serving a terrorism sentence in Istanbul has died after a seven-month hunger strike she launched to demand a fair trial. Ebru Timtik, 42, weighed just 30 kilograms (66 pounds) at the time of her death at an Istanbul hospital Thursday, her law office confirmed. The Kurdish lawyer was on the 238th day of a hunger strike she hoped would draw attention to her case. She and 17 other lawyers were convicted in March 2019 of ties to the outlawed Revolutionary Peoples Liberation Party/Front (DHKP-C), a leftist militant group designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. Lawyers groups said the court proceedings lacked credibility, noting that the judges who initially ordered the lawyers be released from pretrial detention were taken off the case, and that some witness identities were kept anonymous. Their appeal was rejected in October 2019, and Timtik was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison. In April, she and her colleague Aytac Unsal announced they would continue their strike even if it led to their deaths. They were forcibly hospitalized in late July. Timtiks death drew condemnation from a host of rights groups, Turkish opposition parties and foreign officials. The human rights commissioner at the Council of Europe, which counts Turkey as a member, blasted the countrys judicial system as one that views lawyers as guilty by association with their clients. Ms Timtiks death is a tragic illustration of the human suffering caused by a judicial system in Turkey that has turned into a tool to silence lawyers, human rights defenders and journalists, through systematic disregard for the most basic principles of the rule of law, Dunja Mijatovic said in a statement. Thousands of political prisoners are languishing in Turkish prisons on terrorism charges for alleged ties to various groups, including the banned Kurdistan Workers Party and the Fethullah Gulen movement, which the government blames for the failed coup attempt in 2016. This year, two imprisoned members of a defiant left-wing folk band who were also accused of ties to the DHKP/C died while on a hunger strike. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 15:09:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- A coalition of environment and business groups warned that Australia is "woefully unprepared" for the impacts of climate change. In a paper published on Friday, the Australian Climate Roundtable (ACR) said the climate change debate in Australia was too focused on the cost of action rather than the cost of failing to act. The ACR is made up of environmental groups such as the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and leading business groups including the Business Council of Australia (BCA) and Australian Industry (AI) Group. "There is no systemic government response (federal, state and local) to build resilience to climate risks," the paper said. "Action is piecemeal, uncoordinated, does not engage business, private sector investment, unions, workers in affected industries, community sector and communities, and does not match the scale of the threat climate change represents to the Australian economy, environment and society," the paper said. "Even with ambitious global action in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement, Australia will experience escalating costs from the climate change associated with historical emissions." "These costs will be significant and will require a concerted national response to manage these now unavoidable climate-related damages." It called for the Australian government to guide its policies by adopting a long-term objective of net-zero emissions by 2050 for the Australian economy as a whole, and of increased social equity and global competitive advantage for Australia in a net-zero world. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 20:06:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- India's Supreme Court Friday rejected a petition seeking postponement of local elections in the country's eastern state of Bihar in the wake of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The court described the petition "premature" as dates for the elections are yet to be announced and said coronavirus crisis cannot be a "valid reason" for stopping elections. "COVID-19 cannot be a ground for stopping elections and interfering with the powers of the Election Commission," the top court said. "This court cannot tell the Chief Election Commissioner what to do. He (CEC) will consider everything." Elections in Bihar are due later this year. Over the past few months, there have been calls for putting off the Bihar election. Last week, the Election Commission announced new rules for voting in the time of COVID-19. These include door-to-door campaigns with only five people and gloves for voters. A maximum of 1,000 voters can be present at any polling booth at a time, and every voter's body temperature will be checked before the person is allowed to enter the polling booth. The rules also allow candidates to complete their paperwork online. Bihar is the eighth worst-hit state in India with 128,780 COVID-19 cases including 538 deaths. Enditem The incident itself was classified as a fifth alarm fire, but Dovel said the district did not know how many departments in total were involved. The district is also part of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS), which is a statewide response system to various emergencies. It is made up of about 38,000 Illinois firefighters, or 1,175 of the states 1,246 fire departments, according to their website. BETHLEHEM Town Supervisor David VanLuven publicly apologized at a meeting Wednesday night after he used an expletive to describe a local activist during a town board meeting. At the start of the meeting, held on Zoom, VanLuven was reading off a list of names and reached that of Xavier Cruz, who is the head of the advocacy group Bethlehem for Social Justice. After Cruzs name was said, VanLuven could be clearly heard saying dk. The comment happened before the meeting was recorded. So while those logged into the event would have heard the insult, it is not on the copy of the meeting that's posted on the town website. What this was is a continuation of a pattern of blatant disrespect with our group and me personally, said Cruz, 20, a University at Albany student. Cruz, who is Latino, said he is the only person of color represented in any of Bethlehems major activist groups, and the only area activist VanLuven has publicly criticized. VanLuven apologized to Cruz during the meeting after multiple residents criticized the supervisors behavior during the public comment period. I was terribly inappropriate, VanLuven told the Times Union on Thursday. Im deeply disappointed in myself for letting my thoughts out like that, regardless of whether my microphone was on or not. The Democratic supervisor said he had been frustrated with Cruz and his group for allegedly spreading gross untruths about Chief Gina Cocchiara and questioning her commitment to social advocacy. But whether its justified or not is really irrelevant, I dont have the luxury of speaking like that, VanLuven said. Cruz accepted the apology, but emphasized that VanLuvens comment was preceded by a turbulent and problematic relationship between young activists and the supervisor. Cruz told VanLuven the apology should be directed toward them. Bethlehem for Social Justice held a meeting roughly two months ago to discuss negative interactions with Bethlehem police, Cruz said. VanLuven showed up to the meeting with Cocchiara, to the dislike of his group. She was promoted to chief at the same meeting, and is the first woman to hold the post. He ambushed us and brought an armed cop to interrupt people trying to tell their stories, Cruz said, describing how it felt to have the two town leaders coming to the meeting. Cruz alleged that VanLuven attempted to discourage the crowd of mostly college students from activism, saying the change they sought doesnt happen on a local level and that local protests dont change anything. Who he really owes an apology to is the young people who he ambushed and tried to harass out of continuing to be advocates, Cruz said. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. VanLuven said he never made such a statement, and that the entire meeting was a gross miscommunication. I heard that there were a group of students who are making signs to support Black Lives Matter, which I thought was great. So I went to that meeting, and Gina came along to express our support, VanLuven said. Unfortunately what we wanted to convey there was not successfully conveyed. It was a dreadful meeting. The group presented a list of demands to achieve racial justice to VanLuven and Cocchiara, including firing or reprimanding police officers who make racist comments in private, and no longer sending Bethlehem police to Albany to enforce curfews and engage in riot control. Cruz said those demands were rejected by the town officials. The things they were calling for are good ideas and things we should be striving for absolutely, VanLuven said. But theyre not things you can just snap your fingers and do right away. Bethlehem activist groups also criticized VanLuven for the manner in which he appointed Cocchiara, a process they characterized as too secretive when they had been calling for open civic engagement in the appointment process. The former detective sergeant, who is white, is also the first openly gay police chief to lead the department. Cocchiara and two other male candidates qualified for the chief's position through a civil service exam. Shinzo Abe is expected to step down over health concerns (Eugene Hoshiko, Pool/AP) Japans prime minister Shinzo Abe is to step down due to declining health, according to a senior member of the ruling party. Hiroshige Seko, a Liberal Democratic Party secretary general for the upper house of parliament, confirmed Mr Abe had told party executives he is resigning. In a country once known for its short-tenured premiers, his departure would mark the end of an unusual era of stability that saw him strike up strong ties with President Donald Trump even as Mr Abes ultra-nationalism riled the Koreas and China. While he pulled Japan out of recession, the economy has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic, and he has failed to achieve his cherished goal to formally rewrite the US-drafted pacifist constitution because of poor public support. Mr Abe is a political blue blood who was groomed to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, former prime minister Nobusuke Kishi, and sought to make Japan a normal and beautiful nation with a stronger military and more focus on the non-political emperor. Expand Close Shinzo Abe, centre right, arrives at Keio University Hospital in Tokyo (AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Shinzo Abe, centre right, arrives at Keio University Hospital in Tokyo (AP) Concerns about his chronic health issues, simmering since earlier this summer, intensified this month when he visited a Tokyo hospital two weeks in a row for unspecified health check-ups. Mr Abe, whose term ends in September 2021, is expected to stay on until a new party leader is elected and formally approved by parliament. He abruptly resigned from his first stint in office in 2007 due to his health, which has fuelled concerns about his recent condition. On Monday he became Japans longest serving prime minister by consecutive days in office, eclipsing the record of Eisaku Sato, his great-uncle, who served 2,798 days from 1964 to 1972. But Mr Abes second hospital visit on Monday has accelerated speculation and political manoeuvring towards a post-Abe regime. He has acknowledged having ulcerative colitis since he was a teenager and has said the condition was controlled with treatment. He has not made clear if it is related to his recent health issues or hospital visits. Expand Close Japans economy has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic (Kyodo News/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Japans economy has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic (Kyodo News/AP) After his recent hospital visits were reported, senior officials from Mr Abes cabinet and the ruling party said he was overworked and badly needed rest. His health concerns added to speculation that his days in office are numbered, when his support ratings are already at their lowest levels due to his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and its severe impact on the economy, on top of a slew of political scandals. Shigeru Ishiba, a hawkish 63-year-old former defence minister and Mr Abes arch rival, is a favourite next leader in media surveys, although he is less popular within the ruling party. Low-key former foreign minister Fumio Kishida, defence minister Taro Kono, chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga, and economic revitalisation minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is in charge of coronavirus measures, are widely tipped in Japanese media as potential successors. The end of his scandal-laden first stint as prime minister was the beginning of six years of annual leadership change, remembered as an era of revolving door politics that lacked stability and long-term policies. When he returned to office in 2012, Mr Abe vowed to revitalise the nation and get its economy out of its deflationary doldrums with his Abenomics formula, which combines fiscal stimulus, monetary easing and structural reforms. " " Grief is a powerful emotion that's tied up with loss, loneliness, guilt and other feelings that can be suddenly overwhelming at times. johnhain/Needpix On a recent gray, drizzly afternoon, I found myself with a McMansion-size case of cabin fever and a hankering for the wind in my hair, regardless of the weather. Coronavirus be damned. So I laced up my boots, snapped on my fanny pack containing pandemic essentials, grabbed my raincoat and high-tailed it to a nearby state park. Moving my body blissfully through the misty rain on a trail I'd hiked a thousand times, I felt high on the sweet endorphin rush of well-being and at one with the great I Am. Where the trail meets the lake, a man was squatted on the shore fishing, and as I put on my face mask to say a muffled, "hello," the sun peeked out, dappling the water with sparkles of light that glinted off the side of his rusty, bobbing bait pail, which I noticed was emblazoned with the fading words, "Old Pal Minnow Bucket." Then out of nowhere it hit: A roaring freight train of abject sadness crashed into me, leaving the bits of me that weren't pulverized vibrating with heartache, loneliness and a cavernous sense of loss. Buried under the wreckage of grief, I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. The landscape around me had morphed into a cacophonous blur. Bawling and completely deflated, I sat down against a tree, feeling utterly suffocated by affliction. After about 30 minutes that felt more like eternity, the amplified sensations subsided, leaving me mentally agitated, physically drained and spiritually bone dry. What was it that had temporarily knocked me off my feet? I had been blindsided with a STUG a sudden (or subsequent) temporary upsurge of grief. Advertisement What Is a STUG? "A STUG is essentially an overwhelming and almost incapacitating feeling of grief that comes out of nowhere," says Laura Silverman, LCSW and owner of Sweetgrass Integrative Counseling and Therapy in Atlanta, Georgia. "It can occur at any time, including many years after a loss. But it is most experienced during the first year of grief." Dr. Therese Rando, a psychotherapist and grief counselor, coined the term STUG in the early 1990s. Rando likened the STUG experience after the death of a loved one to waves coming in and out from the ocean occasionally a tsunami comes along and rips our feet out from under us. Silverman shares from her own experience. "Five years after the loss of my mother, I found myself sitting on my staircase one night, sobbing, convinced that I had forgotten to say goodbye to my mother. My husband and son had to remind me that I was with her at the end, planned the funeral and did her eulogy. It took several minutes for me to calm down and to recall the events." "The problem with a STUG," says Silverman, "is that when we are experiencing one, it feels like it is all there is. That it will never end. In that sense it is very scary. A STUG can also leave us feeling completely alone because it is extremely hard to describe to another person how we are feeling. Because a grief attack tends to come out of the blue and is so consuming, it appears to be disproportionate to what is happening in the moment. This can leave people around us baffled and unable to help. STUG is often accompanied with feelings of confusion, loneliness, deep sadness, regret and more. It is often experienced as sobbing, numbness, inability to think and physical pain. It comes with such strength that people often describe it as hitting a wall or having a boulder land on them. Some have described feeling like they are not themselves during a STUG, leaving them feeling untethered from everything they understand about themselves, about their world, and even about their relationship to God or the Universe." Advertisement The Cycle of Grief A STUG is profoundly linked to the connection or relationship we shared with our deceased love one. So the annual cycle of birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and the change of seasons may magnify our grief. Likewise, retirement, graduations, the birth of a child, weddings events where our loved one is profoundly absent may activate painful emotions. Less predictably, our senses may be ignited out of thin air by a particular song, scent, food or film our loved one enjoyed. In my case, I was STUGGED on a random day in the middle of the woods by an old minnow bucket exactly like the one my dad (who died 14 years ago) had that my brother (who died 18 months ago) and I used to play with as kids. Go figure. "Nothing happens in a vacuum," notes Silverman. "The nature of the relationship we had with the person we are grieving, the nature of their death, and how we were taught to express our feelings all impact our grief experience. All of this combines to create a painful stew of longing, shame, guilt, loneliness and heartbreak. So, a STUG may be driven by many layers of unresolved issues with our loved one. It may be driven by feelings of helplessness at being able to prevent their death or suffering. It can be the result of pent up emotions that had no place to go." "Powerful feelings experienced during a STUG can leave one feeling completely exhausted and depleted. It is important to take care of the physical self by drinking water, removing oneself from noise and activity, and breathing with special focus on the exhale. Once calm, it may be helpful to talk with someone or simply sit with someone. I encourage clients to find something that sounds, tastes, looks, or feels pleasant and engage with it. That can be as simple as looking at the blue sky, listening to the wind in the trees or drinking a cup of warm tea." "As unpleasant as a STUG is, it's important to note that it is temporary. It will pass even though it can feel like it is going to go on forever," says Silverman. "The fact that you've had a STUG doesn't necessarily mean that it will recur. What it does mean is that you had one, got through it, and now know you can handle it if it happens again." We live in disquieting times on many fronts, as millions of people in communities across the globe are coping with a multitude of threadbare emotions, including grief. Silverman says it's important to find a meditative or prayer practice that lends itself to sensing connection to others. "We are not alone. We are connected to every other soul on the planet ... and none of us have lived our lives without experiencing grief and handling hard stuff. If you are reading this article, you made it through. So, you can do hard. You, we, can get through hard times and this moment in history together." T oday's Google Doodle honours the life and work of revered French writer Alexandre Dumas. Born in 1802, Dumas went on to pen a number of legendary novels including The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, the serial publication of which first began on August 28, 1884. His works are still enjoyed today and have seen him become one of the most widely read French authors. Following decades of achievement, Dumas died in 1870 at the age of 68, leaving behind a legacy of more than 100,000 published pages. So, here's a look back at his life: Google Who was Alexandre Dumas? Dumas was born under the name Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie in Villers-Cotterets, France, in 1802. He later assumed the surname of his paternal grandmother, Marie-Cesette Dumas, a woman of African descent and a slave in present-day Haiti. Dumas' father had done the same as an adult. Aged 20, he moved to Paris in 1822 and established himself as a playwright before going on to pen novels, many of which were originally published as serials, including The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers. Dumas' adventure novels drew heavily on the experiences of his father, General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie, who enjoyed a prestigious career in the French military. He would go on to found the Theatre Historique in Paris in the 1840s and write several travel books inspired by adventures in Europe and elsewhere. But after decades of achievement, Dumas died on December 5, 1870, at the age of 68. He was survived by his son, also named Alexandre Dumas, who went on to become a playwright and novelist himself. Today, Dumas' works have been translated into more than 100 different languages and are enjoyed by readers in his native France and around the world. Karthik K K By Express News Service MYSURU: Pourakarmikas in Mysuru are not just sweeping the roads every day to keep the city clean, but are also working tirelessly to contain the spread of Covid. Though 71 pourakarmikas, 15 underground drainage workers and 20 staffers of the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) tested positive for Covid-19 so far, many of them, who have recovered, are back to work and fighting on the frontlines. From collecting waste from houses of those under home isolation and delivering grocery and other essentials to them to spraying disinfectant at containment zones and counselling family members of infected patients, these Covid warriors are playing a major role in the pandemic fight. With most of them working on the frontlines, many had contracted the virus while discharging their day-to-day duties. Four pourakarmikas and a second division assistant of the corporation succumbed to the virus. Nanjundaswamy, a sanitary supervisor at Gandhinagar, contracted the virus while working in containment zones. I dont know exactly where I got infected, but got tested when I developed symptoms. I was shifted to a Covid hospital and within a few days I returned home and completed my isolation period. I returned to work again and continue to do the best, he said. A few recovered corporation staffers are setting an example by donating blood to retrieve plasma for Covid treatment. Raju, a staffer at the health section of the MCC, was the first to donate plasma in the district. I took two of my friends, who had recovered from the virus, along with me. It is safe and moreover, its everyones responsibility to donate and help other patients recover, he said. MCC health officer Dr Nagaraju pointed out that pourakarmikas, health officials and other staffers were doing a tremendous job in containing the spread of the virus. Besides setting up a care centre for the MCC staff, we have also set up a dedicated tele-monitoring system to keep an eye on the health of our staff and pourakarmikas. We have also distributed immunity boosters to field workers, he said. It's been real, hasn't it? Two weeks of montages about who is the nicer grandfather and competing testimonies from small business owners, two unmemorable speeches delivered far too late for the target audience of senior citizens in the Midwest to watch them live. The guy who wrote the draconian crime bill is accusing the guy who (partially) repealed it of being an authoritarian monster; the latter is insisting that the former, along with his party, are simultaneously too soft and too tough on crime. In 67 days we will know whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden is going to be the next president of the United States. What we might not know is why. Obviously in the barest formal sense we will learn that one man managed to win a majority of the 538 electoral votes and that the other did not. But this is not an election in which there are well-defined "issues" at stake or competing visions of the common good that are even remotely as clear as partisans on both sides believe. In fact, we cannot even agree on what the national mood is or what the country has been through in the last year. Did we just narrowly survive a naked coup attempt against a sitting president by rogue partisan elements in the FBI and the Department of Justice held over from the last administration? This is what the president and his supporters were telling us as recently as February, but if the Republican National Convention was any indication, this is something that everyone, not least Trump himself, has agreed to live and let live. The GOP's rhetoric concerning the lockdowns was similarly incoherent. Poll after poll suggests that public feeling about the coronavirus is split on more or less partisan lines. Listening to Trump and his children, one would get the impression that no one has taken the virus more seriously, that no issue has been of more importance to him and his supporters than continuing to take every possible precaution to arrest the spread of the virus whose victims are predominantly older than 65. The fact that every single speaker was not hammering away at the need to reopen schools, easily the single best wedge issue available to Republicans since the War on Terror in 2004, beggars belief. Instead, a handful of people didn't wear masks. This is what we call saying the loud part quietly. Story continues Meanwhile, last week's Democratic convention was similarly baffling. Over and over again we were told that the most pressing issue facing the country was not unemployment or rising crime or the pandemic or even Trump himself but a kind of grand coalition of systemic prejudices Big Racism, Big Sexism, Big Homophobia, Big Transphobia, etc. of which the president is merely the public face. We are already seeing the half-hearted pivot, as senators like Chris Murphy of Connecticut tweet both sides-ism (and then repent of it) and mayors like Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C., decry the iniquity of harmless upper-middle-class white people being harassed outside of their favorite brunch locations. What is the real crisis again? I think it is fair to say that so far this has not been the election anyone thought it would be. It is not being fought on schools being closed or on the efficacy of lockdowns, much less on impeachment, but on who should be in charge of the stock market and which septuagenarian is more avuncular. The first step is not admitting you have a problem. It's deciding what the problem should be. More stories from theweek.com 5 more scathingly funny cartoons about the Republican National Convention This Massachusetts primary is everything wrong with the Democratic Party Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez may have a lot to do with Joe Kennedy's primary struggles 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. && - Big tragedy struck a Nigerian family as a woman, Adedotun Afusat Feyishara, died hours after she gave birth to four children at once - Afusat had been trying to conceive before the quadruplets came along as she waited for long seven years - Oluwatomisin, her sister who made her death known, said she would be greatly missed by her family PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed! A woman, Adedotun Afusat Feyishara, who waited seven years to have children passed away shortly after she gave birth to a set of quadruplets on Tuesday, August 25. The sister of the late woman, Olawale Adedotun Oluwatomisin, shared the horrible news on her Facebook page on Thursday, August 27, as she said that Afusat was her confidante. The grieving Oluwatomisin said she never thought she would ever use her picture to announce her death, adding that God took her and gave them three girls and a boy. She used the picture of Afusat when she was pregnant with her babies. Many people who commented on the post offered their condolences. "Words cant describe how wonderful u are, a great listener, my fashionista, my gist partner, a shoulder to lean on in the time of worries, my confidant, a sister like no other, I never for once imagined using your pics for obituary but God knows best. "God took you and gave us Quadruplet (3 girls and a boy) you will forever be remembered. I love you sis and I will always do, still we meet and part no more. RIP Fadimu Feyishara Afusat Ajoke Ade omo Adedotun," she posted. A collage of the late woman. Photo source: Facebook/Oluwatomisin/Afusat Source: UGC Below are some of the reactions it got: Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that a 54-year old Nigerian woman, Funmi Ajagbe, gave birth to a set of triplets in her first pregnancy, a thing that does not usually happen. The new mothers friend, Odunayo Olupona, took to Facebook to disclose that Funmi welcomed her babies despite the long wait. PAY ATTENTION: Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news update In her post on Tuesday, August 11, she posed a rhetorical question, asking: "Is there anything too hard for God to do?" as she emphasised with Yoruba praise words how great He is. She said that the newborns are all same gender, boys. Odunayo said her case is a perfect example that no matter how rough the road is, joy always comes at last. The friend added not only has God given her extraordinary gifts with the babies, but her name has also changed. Man who lost wife after delivery of quintuplets cries for help | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng Boris Johnson was on a collision course with the unions last night as he prepared a fresh push next week to get all civil servants back to their desks to set an example. Downing Street sources said the Prime Minister was determined to get every official back to demonstrate a safe return to work is possible. However, unions have warned that any attempt to force civil servants to return could result in industrial unrest. Britains human rights watchdog also signalled its opposition, saying the country had proved it could work flexibly and we cannot backtrack now. The PM ordered departments to draw up plans in July for a phased return to work following the lockdown which saw at least 95 per cent based at home for months. But a Downing Street source acknowledged progress had been slow. They said: You will see a more firm direction to Whitehall to get back to the office next week. The Prime Minister is very keen on getting more people back to the workplace. Downing Street sources said the Prime Minister was determined to get every official back to demonstrate a safe return to work is possible Nine in ten staff who worked from home during lockdown want to carry on in some capacity, study finds Nine in ten staff who worked from home during the lockdown want to carry on in some capacity, a study has found. Forty per cent said they got as much done as they did in their office. And more than a quarter reckon they actually ploughed through more work at home. But three in ten believe that their productivity fell, academics at Cardiff University and the University of Southampton found. The report Homeworking in the UK: Before and during the 2020 lockdown quizzed a sample of 6,000-7,000 workers. It is believed to be the first to analyse the data. It found working from home rose from 6 per cent of employees before the start of the pandemic up to 43 per cent in April. Professor Alan Felstead, of Cardiff University, said: Giving employees flexibility on where they work could be extremely beneficial for companies. He said the results suggested there could be a major shift from the traditional workplace. Advertisement The main focus has to be on getting every civil servant back at their desk. It sets an example to the rest of the country and demonstrates that it can be done safely. 'The process has started but it has been slow. It will be accelerated now because this is a priority for the PM. The move will be seen as a slap-down for Health Secretary Matt Hancock who broke with the Government position this week by saying he was happy for his officials to continue working from home as long as they could operate effectively. No official figures are available for civil servants who have returned to work so far, but insiders suggest it may be as low as 10 per cent. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps yesterday ducked questions on his officials, but said he hoped the figure would rise to 20 per cent next week. Ministers face a fight with the unions over the back-to-work push. Dave Penman, of the FDA which represents senior civil servants, said: Ministers are increasingly sounding like dinosaurs. 'Millions of employees are working from home very successfully whilst employers are recognising that the world of work has changed and are embracing it. 'The genie wont fit back in the bottle best not to try. The Public and Commercial Services Union, the largest in the civil service, previously warned that any bid to get officials back to work could lead to industrial unrest. General secretary Mark Serwotka has written to the Government saying it is potentially illegal to move staff from one working place to another that is less safe. A union official predicted that, despite the tough line from No10, departments would not get most staff back this year, adding: We know theres pressure. General secretary Mark Serwotka has written to the Government saying it is potentially illegal to move staff from one working place to another that is less safe Taxi bosses warn industry is facing economic catastrophe Taxi bosses yesterday said the industry is facing economic catastrophe as drivers are operating at just 10 per cent of the level they were before lockdown. And industry chiefs warned thousands of drivers face losing their jobs. Demand for taxis to airports, one of drivers biggest earners, has plunged after holidays were cancelled. Bosses said deserted offices were also fuelling the crisis. Insiders said fares were down by as much as 90 per cent. Steve McNamara, from the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, said: Fares are still few and far between for those taxi drivers who are back out working around 10 to 20 per cent of what they were pre-Covid-19. Some bosses accused the Government of neglecting the industry by not helping drivers adapt their cars to limit the viruss spread. But the Department for Transport said it was committed to keeping drivers and passengers safe, which was why it urged passengers [to] wear face coverings during trips. Advertisement Weve seen a change in tone. But a lot of departments have been quite clear regardless of the politics, they will not see people coming back to offices that are not Covid-secure. Theyre definitely not going to get back this year. Ministers faced a backlash yesterday over reports that a Government publicity campaign would warn workers they could lose their jobs if they fail to return to the office. No10 distanced itself from the suggestion the campaign would indicate people working from home are risking the sack, saying it was deeply irresponsible. Sources said the campaign would feature adverts in local newspapers next week urging employers to make sure workplaces are Covid-secure and encouraging people to think about going back. But one minister told The Daily Telegraph those working from home could be more vulnerable in any company restructuring. The Equality and Human Rights Commission said there should be no question of peoples jobs being vulnerable if they do not return to the office. Its interim chairman Caroline Waters said: Having seen how it is possible to work flexibly and retain productivity, we cannot backtrack now. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would not intimidate people back to work. The Labour-run Welsh government yesterday said it would continue to advise people to work from home where possible. Commuters are to be offered three-day season tickets Commuters are to be offered three-day season tickets to help get Britain back to the office, it was claimed last night. Many workers have saved huge sums by staying at home and no longer want to pay the cost of a full season ticket if they are not going in every day. Campaigners say part-time tickets are the only way to entice them back on public transport. Writing in the Mail earlier this week, Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, the director-general of the CBI, said they supported the flexible season tickets. It was claimed an announcement on new ticketing could be made next month. Advertisement 'Start playing your part to save city centres,' council chiefs are urged as they say up to eight in ten workers will not be expected to return until next year By David Churchill Town halls were last night urged to play their part by getting more workers back into offices to rescue city centre shops. A Daily Mail audit of councils suggests only a fraction of staff have returned. Many said up to eight in ten workers will not be expected to return until next year or until the pandemic is over. Only a few said they plan a drive to get them back in the coming weeks. We sent the survey to more than 80 councils. Of the 25 that responded, 21 said either only a fraction or less than 20 per cent of office workers had returned. Cambridgeshire County Council in Cambridge said about 3,000 of its 4,300 staff are office-based. Of these, about 80 per cent continue to work from home Nottinghamshire County Council in Nottingham has 8,000 to 10,000 workers. It said the majority of our office staff will be remaining at home Several claimed no more than a fifth will return until the pandemic is over due to distancing restrictions. But critics dismissed this, accusing unions of scaremongering public sector bosses into being overly cautious. Local authorities in some areas are among the biggest employers. CBI boss Dame Carolyn Fairbairn has warned Mr Johnson must do more to get workers back at their desks Their staff provide crucial footfall for businesses that rely on busy offices. The findings last night led to renewed calls for Downing Street to toughen up its back to work message. Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: Public servants must lead the way and play their part. Then the Government can tell all those companies that have said no one is going back until the New Year that they have a duty and obligation to help the economy. If people dont return to offices, smaller businesses will crash and burn. Some of these people have probably been out in pubs and restaurants on the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, so why cant they replicate that in their office environment? He also accused unions of scaremongering public sector bosses. He said: The 20 per cent thing is just b*******. They are just trying to damage the Government. It is nearly a month since Boris Johnson heralded August 3 as the day work from home guidance ends. He said Britons could return to offices at the discretion of their employers. But the response of town halls deals a further hammer blow to commercial centres starved of customers. London City Hall normally has 800 people working in its River Thames HQ but sources said only a limited number are back. A spokesman for mayor Sadiq Khan said: Guidelines mean that only around 200 staff can safely work from the building. Kent County Council in Maidstone said it has around 6,500 staff accessing remote technology, which is the vast majority of our office-based staff. Kent County Council in Maidstone said it has around 6,500 staff accessing remote technology, which is the vast majority of our office-based staff A spokesman added: We do not expect staff who are normally office-based to return on a permanent basis until into next year, except where they need to for business. Cambridgeshire County Council in Cambridge said about 3,000 of its 4,300 staff are office-based. Of these, about 80 per cent continue to work from home. It said they will only allow about 20 per cent to return if distancing guidelines are to be adhered to. Suffolk County Council in Ipswich has around 2,800 office staff but said only a fraction are back. Suffolk County Council in Ipswich has around 2,800 office staff but said only a fraction are back A spokesman said: Our policy is if its working at home, continue to do so. Nottinghamshire County Council in Nottingham has 8,000 to 10,000 workers. It said the majority of our office staff will be remaining at home. Exeter-based Devon County Council said office workers are not expected to return unless they need to. It was a similar story for Cumbria County Council in Carlisle, Somerset County Council in Taunton, Hertfordshire County Council in Hertford and city councils such as Peterborough, Coventry and Barnsley. It comes after figures this week revealed only around 17 per cent of staff have returned to work in the 63 biggest cities. CBI boss Dame Carolyn Fairbairn has warned Mr Johnson must do more to get workers back at their desks. Writing in the Mail on Thursday she said: The costs of office closure are becoming clearer by the day. There are more than 340 councils in England which employ hundreds of thousands of people. Just 5% of workers have returned to Business Secretary Alok Sharma's office despite him leading calls for firms to get workers back to their desks By Jim Norton Business Secretary Alok Sharma led calls this week urging firms to get workers back to their desks. But he faced accusations of hypocrisy last night after just 5 per cent of his own departments 1,800 staff arrived at its central London HQ. Just 95 were seen entering the Whitehall building on Thursday morning, even though the Government has urged the country and its own 430,000 workforce to return to their desks. Earlier this week, Mr Sharma said: If you need to come in you should. I hope what we will see is people coming back into the workplace and, yes, I personally would like to see London vibrant again. Business Secretary Alok Sharma led calls this week urging firms to get workers back to their desks. But he faced accusations of hypocrisy last night after just 5 per cent of his own departments 1,800 staff arrived at its central London HQ Last night, former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said Mr Sharma should note the proverb Physician, heal thyself, adding: The Government has control of departments. Theres a very strong case they should say to civil servants, You must come back. Its safe and theres no excuse. The Mail has monitored the number of staff going to work at several Whitehall departments between 7.15am and 11am in the past month. Just 39 entered the Department of Work and Pensions on Wednesday, which is 18 less than a fortnight ago and equates to just over 2 per cent of the 1,700 who worked there before lockdown. At the Department for Education there was still very little change in numbers, with only 3 per cent of staff turning up on Wednesday. Its boss Gavin Williamson was among 64 people seen entering an increase of just two in a fortnight. A recent Mail poll found 51 per cent of Britons believed civil servants should set an example to the country. At the Department for Education there was still very little change in numbers, with only 3 per cent of staff turning up on Wednesday. Its boss Gavin Williamson (pictured) was among 64 people seen entering an increase of just two in a fortnight. Attendance across other Whitehall departments remains low, but the number seen to return is beginning to increase slowly. The largest increase was at the office housing more than 2,200 staff from the Treasury and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, where 227 signed in up from 178 two weeks ago. Meanwhile, 238 staff arrived at the main entrance to the Home Office headquarters up from 198. Former business secretary Sir Vince Cable called on Mr Sharmas ministry to show by example. A Government spokesman said: It is safe to return to a Covid-secure workplace and government departments have ensured appropriate measures are in place to enable as many civil servants as possible to return safely. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps was also accused of hypocrisy yesterday after urging Britons to get back to work. When an interviewer pointed out to him that he was still at his Hertfordshire home, Mr Shapps said he had commuted to the Department for Transport on an ad hoc basis. A day after National Peoples Partys (NPP) national president and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma expelled the partys Manipur unit president for allegedly acting against the constitution of the party, expelled state unit chief Thangminlien Kipgen said that he never acted in the said manner and will never go against the constitution of the NPP. In a statement and a video released on Thursday, Kipgen said, I have never acted against the constitution of the party as alleged by the national president as I have already stated earlier, the national president was misled by some individual for their personal gain. The recent constitution of the state election authority was also done in accordance with the partys constitution since the present tenure of my presidentship is about to expire on 26 August 2020. On Wednesday, Sangma had announced the expulsion of NPP Manipur unit president Thangminlien Kipgen from the party after he was re-elected uncontested for a three-year term, saying the process of his election violated the partys constitution. Also read: NPP expels newly elected state president in Manipur He said, In order to ensure that the (partys Manipur) office continues, we appointed N Kayisii who is also the tribal affairs minister in the state of Manipur as the interim president. The election to the state unit of Manipur will take place very shortly following all the procedures of the constitution of the NPP, he added. Reacting to Sangmas statement, Kipgen alleged that the appointment of the interim president is not line with the partys constitution as he, N Kayisii, has failed to renew his party membership. Thus, he is no longer a member of the NPP Manipur, he said. Therefore, on the recommendation of the disciplinary committee under Article 19 of the partys constitution, I expel him (Kayisii) from the party for 6 years, he added. He also claimed that the constitution of the NPP referred by the national president is neither found in the ECI website as well as in the NPP office in Manipur. Despite the show-cause notice issued by the NPP national secretary on August 20, asking him to respond within 15 days from the date of issue of the notification, he was expelled on August 24 which is unconstitutional, unbecoming and uncalled for, he claimed. It may be noted that 4 legislators of NPP, which became a national party in June last year, are ministers in the BJP-led government in Manipur. America will land the first woman on the moon, President Donald Trump has said and promised to launch a new age of American ambition in space if re-elected. Trump's remarks came as he formally accepted the Republican nomination for a second term from the South Lawn of the White House. Trump, 74, said that if re-elected the US will win the race to 5G, and build the world's best cyber and missile defence. We will launch a new age of American ambition in apace. America will land the first woman on the moon and the United States will be the first nation to plant its flag on Mars, Trump said in his address to the Republican National Convention on Thursday. Trump said that in his first term, his administration launched the Space Force, the first new branch of the United States military since the Air Force was created almost 75 years ago. Over the weekend, the Trump campaign released a 49-point "Fighting for You!" second-term agenda, according to which the president promised to "launch space force, establish a permanent manned presence on the moon and send the first manned mission to mars. FARMINGTON The former Farmington police officer who resigned last year after he was filmed by his own vest camera using force to restrain an 11-year-old girl has been charged with child abuse and battery. Zachary Christensen, 36, is accused of a third-degree felony count of child abuse and three petty misdemeanor counts of battery, according to the criminal complaint. The New Mexico Attorney Generals Office this week announced the agency was charging Christensen with the alleged abuse and battery of a minor, which occurred Aug. 27, 2019, at Mesa View Middle School. We must uphold the law and ensure that New Mexicos schoolchildren are protected, particularly those who are most vulnerable New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas said in a statement. I will hold any individual accountable when they harm a child. Steve Murphy, Christensens attorney, told The Daily Times the New Mexico State Police conducted a thorough investigation within two weeks of the incident and no criminal charges were filed. Murphy added the AGs Office was trying to grandstand and he is looking forward to a trial in this matter. The AGs news release stated Christensen is seen in his body-cam video engaging in a physical altercation in front of Mesa View administrators, who are heard in the video verbally disapproving of the incident. Christensen resigned from the Farmington Police Department on Oct. 1. He had been a school resource officer for four years when he resigned. Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe previously told The Daily Times that Christensen violated the departments policies for unsatisfactory performance and use of force. Hebbe in a statement to The Daily Times this week apologized for how the student was treated by Christensen. The department publicly posted the video footage from Christensens body camera for the community to watch. The graphic footage depicted Christensens response to the reportedly disruptive female student near the entrance to the school. Christensen believed the student struck one school official and shoved the hands of another. Hebbe previously said those instances did not occur after watching the video. As the former officer tried to place the student into handcuffs, she resisted, which led to the two wrestling. Christensen at one point slams the student into a window. She sustained a mild concussion, along with some bruises and scrapes, in the incident. Christensen wasnt initially charged in the incident. An arraignment has been scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sept. 11 in Aztec District Court. As the city braces for what may be another weekend of unrest, Brown stressed that the Chicago Police Department is sworn to serve and protect everyone. That includes protecting our First Amendment right, our sacred right to protest. That also means protecting all of us from violence or harm. We can, and we will, do both. The restart of services to Lusaka will offer Emirates customers in Zambia the opportunity to travel to Dubai, as well as an array of onward connections to Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and the Americas through the airline's Dubai hub. The addition of Lusaka also broadens Emirates' reach into Africa with nine destinations served. Although Mr. Martignetti has been described as a child star, neither he nor his parents had any ambition for him to become one. He was playing ball with his friends one day when several talent scouts from the Jerome OLeary advertising agency approached the boys asking for directions. Recognizing them as outsiders long-haired, hippie types, Mr. Martignetti told the Globe his friends replied with an insult. The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission has released the schedule for UPPSC State/Upper Subordinate Services mains examination 2020. As per the schedule, the commission will hold the UPPSC State/Upper Subordinate Services mains examination from September 22 to 26, 2020 at many locations including Ghaziabad and Lucknow. UPPSC PCS Mains exam schedule: The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission has released the schedule for UPPSC State/Upper Subordinate Services mains examination 2020. All those who had applied can visit the official website at uppsc.up.nic.in. The UPPSC 2020 recruitment will see examinations for the posts of Assistant Prosecution Officer Prelims 2018 (16 February 2020), UPPSC Main 2018 Exam for Assistant Forest Conservator/Range Forest Officer (23 February) and 6 others. This calendar provides complete information on State PSC exam that will take place in the year 2020. UPPSC Exam Calendar 2020 Exam Date Assistant Prosecution Officer Prelims 2018 16 February 2020 UPPSC Assistant Forest Conservator/Range Forest Officer Main 2018 Exam 23 February 2020 UPPSC PCS Main Exam 2019 20 April 2020 Assistant Prosecution Officer Main 2018 Exam 16 May 2020 UPPSC PCS (Prelims) Exam 2020 UPPSC Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF)/ Range Forest Officer (RFO) Prelims 2020 21 June 2020 UPPSC Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF)/ Range Forest Officer (RFO) Main 2019 16 August 2020 UPPSC PCS Main 2020 Exam 15 October 2020 UPPSC Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF)/ Range Forest Officer (RFO) Main 2020 3 December 2020 ALSO READ : Students to netas plan massive protests over NEET row: While JKhand CM demands postponement of exams, Tgana NSUI chief begins indefinite fast Steps to check other information realted to UPPSC PCS Mains exam schedule: Step 1: Visit the official website uppsc.up.nic.in Step 2: Now, click on the link which says NOTICE REGARDING COMBINED STATE/UPPER SUBORDINATE SERVICES (GEN./SPL. RECTT.) (M) EXAM-2019 Step 3: The examination schedule will open on your screen Step 4: Students must not forget to download it for a future reference As per the schedule, the commission will hold the UPPSC State/Upper Subordinate Services mains examination from September 22 to 26, 2020 at many locations including Ghaziabad and Lucknow. ALSO READ : State cannot promote students without final year exams, deadline can be altered: SC on UGC guidelines California firefighters are urging residents not to attempt to put blazes out themselves as wildfires tear through the state. Residents have organised and attempted to fight the fires south of San Francisco, according to the Associated Press. They have stayed to fight the fires despite evacuation orders and urging by public officials to flee the area. According to California firefighting agencies, it is illegal for people to go into evacuated areas. They oppose the residents' attempts because they fear their efforts will interfere with official firefighting efforts. Ken Pimlott, a retired director of Cal Fire, said that residents attempting to stop fires or sneak back into evacuation areas isn't uncommon, but the level of organisation by residents during the current bout of wildfires is unprecedented in his experience. "People are frustrated with the lack of resources available. People are always going to try to sneak back in, but it sounds like this is growing to a new level," Mr Pimlott said. "I haven't seen people re-engage to this scale, particularly with the level of organisation." Recommended Lightning strikes spark new California wildfires One of the groups, operating near Boulder Creek - a community near the Santa Cruz mountains - has been dubbed the "Boulder Creek Boys", and includes former volunteer firefighters. The group has been attempting to protect homes and fight fires, sometimes using only dirt and fire hoses. Further north, civilian crews stayed in place to protect their homes. They feared that firefighters would have too few resources to make it to their small community, called Bonny Doon, and save their homes. A pair of brothers even brought their own firetruck in to help deal with the blazes. Daniel Berlant, the Deput Director of Cal Fire, said he wasn't aware of the groups around Santa Cruz, but said efforts such as theirs tend to hinder official efforts more than they help. "Our firefighters have equipment, communication and decades of experience, which allow us to battle dangerous fires," Mr Berlant said. "We absolutely stress that everyone needs to evacuate early. These efforts, while well-intentioned, absolutely slow us down." He explained that firefighters sometimes have to compete for road space with civilians, and that civilians using water limits the water pressure available to official responders. There have been reports of looting around Santa Cruz in the wake of the evacuations. The Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office has arrested give people on suspicion of burglary. The sheriff's office urged everyone to stay away from the evacuation zone to prevent further looting. Islamabad, Aug 28 : Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that allowing his predecessor Nawaz Sharif to leave the country was a "mistake" and that his government "regretted" the decision. In a wide-ranging interview to ARY News on Thursday night, Khan hinted that he was pressurised into sending Sharif abroad, saying that the reports presented to his government suggested that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) supremo was severely ill, reports Dawn news. The federal cabinet, he said, had held a long debate over whether the government should let Sharif leave on humanitarian grounds. The Prime minister further said the court had declared that the government would be responsible, should anything happen to Sharif. The premier also recalled that PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif submitted indemnity bonds worth 7 billion PKR, promising the former leader would return to the country. "Now we feel embarrassed. Now he (Nawaz Sharif) has started doing politics (from) there as well and, when you see him, it seems like there is nothing (wrong) with him. "We did not give and NRO, we tried our best to do what we could, but the medical opinion presented to us was that if we didn't do anything, he could die, that he might not even reach London. This is what we were told and after that we would have been held responsible. So after that we sent him in good faith," Dawn news quoted Khan as saying in the interview. Khan's remarks came after Adviser to the Prime Minster on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar on August 22 said that the government has approached the UK for Sharif's extradition after he was declared an "absconder". On October 29, 2019 the Lahore High Court granted the former leader an eight-week bail for treatment within Pakistan and on November 16, he got a four-week permission to travel abroad for treatment. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Natural Polymer Market Competitive Analysis Global Natural Polymer Market is fragmented in nature and is characterized with the presence of large number of players across the globe. Key industry participants are integrated across the value chain in order to gain competitive advantage and capture market share. The market is price sensitive and is influenced largely by the availability and supply of raw materials. Companies are investing in product innovation to extend application scope in new sectors. Industry/ Innovation/ Related News August 2017: Dupont and Archer Daniels Midland received bioplastics honor from Plastics Industry Association in Washington. The award was given to both the companies for developing a method to produce dicarboxylic methyl ester, a bio-based monomer, from fructiose derived starch. August 2016: Ashaland Inc. announced the spike in hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) by 8% due to rising raw materials prices. The company aims at providing premium products to its customer base and thus had to increase prices. Industry participants in the Natural Polymer Market has faced the issue of volatility in raw material price and availabilty. In addition, certain raw materials are indigeneous and companies have to suffer with profit margins in such cases. Natural Polymer Market Overview Rising demand for green alternatives in end-use industries such as packaging, textile, and medical is anticipated to drive Global Natural Polymers Market growth over the forecast period. Shift in preference for bio-based products coupled with growing end-use industries is further expected to uplift demand for Natural Polymers. Growing application scope in medical industry such as osteoarthritis and pharmaceuticals treatments is a key factor driving product demand. The growth of medical industry in developing economies of Asia Pacific, Middle East and South America is a major factor contributing towards market growth. Increasing per capita disposable income coupled with presence of advanced healthcare facilities in developed region including North America and Europe is slated to boost overall market growth. Get Free Sample @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1632 Environmental benefits associated with Natural Polymers has escalated their adoption across end-use industries such as food & beverages, oilfield and packaging significantly. Stringent regulatory framework promoting the usage of bio-based products along with rising environmental concerns is slated to fuel Natural Polymer consumption over the forecast period. The strong growth of pharmaceuticals is expected to further benefit the growth of Natural Polymers Market. The growth of pharmaceutical industry will subsequently uplift the demand for fermentation products and starch. End-Use Industries such as medical, food & beverages and packaging widely utilize cellulose ethers obtained from various plants such as wood pulp and cotton. Other commonly used cellulose ethers are hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, and microcrystalline cellulose. Increasing application in End-Use Industries such as adhesives & sealants, toiletries, construction, and leather tanning among others is expected to result in increased product demand over the forecast period. However, high cost in comparison to synthetic polymers along volatile raw material availability is anticipated to hinder market growth and pose challenges for market participants. Rising awareness regarding deforestation, stringent norms, along with unavailability of seasonal raw materials are few of the areas that obstruct the development of Natural Polymer Industry. North America was the leading regional market in 2016 and is set to witness robust growth rate over the coming years. Presence of advanced technologies coupled with rising need for reducing dependence on petroleum based derivatives are few of the key factors set to augment regional market growth. Medical application was the leading segment in the region followed by food & beverages. U.S. government aims at reducing carbon footprints significantly that is expected to benefit the growth of Natural Polymer Industry. Region such as Asia Pacific and Latin America are anticipated to witness moderate growth owing to heavy usage of synthetic polymers and relatively easy regulatory framework. However, rising consumer awareness coupled with environmental concerns in Indian & Chinese cities such as Delhi and Beijing is expected to shift focus towards bio-based alternatives. COVID-19 Study in Detail: COVID-19 Impact Analysis on Bio-Based Chemicals Market @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/report/covid-19-impact-bio-based-chemicals-market COVID-19 Impact Analysis on Surfactant Market @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/report/covid-19-impact-surfactant-market Impact of COVID-19 on Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Market @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/report/covid-19-impact-recycled-polyethylene-terephthalate-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 "Getting to meet them, and hear their stories, is just something super special. I know from speaking with other people that they enjoyed our presence just as much as we enjoyed theirs, and they inspire us to be better." Cadet Second Lieutenant Alexis Nyce. The Georgia Department of Public Health announced it will change the location and schedule of its free COVID-19 tests in Catoosa County from the Catoosa County Health Department at Benton Place to the Ringgold United Methodist Church at 7484 Nashville Street in Ringgold. GDPH nurses and staff will offer free COVID-19 tests at Ringgold United Methodist Church on Mondays and Tuesdays of each month and the first and third Saturdays of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. This new schedule will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 1. There will be no testing available on Saturday, Sept. 5, but testing will resume Labor Day, Sept. 7, and Saturday, September 19. Anyone wishing to receive a free COVID-19 test at Ringgold United Methodist Church must enter from the Cleveland Street entrance. For more information, call 706 295-6704 or visit www.nwgapublichealth.org. The total production of passenger vehicles, three wheelers, two wheelers and quadricycle in the month of July 2020 stood at 1,715,514 units, as against 2,428,518 units in July 2019, registering a de-growth of (-) 29.36 per cent, as per the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). While the auto industry has been facing challenging times even before COVID-19 struck, the pandemic has resulted in this industry witnessing degrowth. Sales are down as well, with SIAM reporting that passenger vehicles sales was 336,513 units in April-July 2020, compared to 902,799 units in April-July 2019, down by (-) 62.73 per cent. Two-wheeler sales was down by (-) 60.54 per cent in April-July 2020 at 2,574,467 units, compared to 6,524,784 units in April-July 2019. Also read: Facebook and KPMG's latest Zero Friction Future Report on Auto Industry With the unabated increase in COVID-19 cases in the country and lockdowns still continuing in different phases across states, the pandemic pressure will continue to hit the auto industry. Meanwhile, in a release issued, Rajan Wadhera, President, SIAM, stated, After few consecutive of months of plummeted sales in a post-COVID scenario, there are signs of Green-Shoots in passenger vehicles and two-wheelers, where the year-on-year de-growth is much lesser than the previous months. The sales numbers in the month of August would indicate if this is a sustainable demand and not just a pent-up demand. But do auto majors share his optimism? How are they creating engagement for customers in times of social distancing? How are the Tier 2 and 3 markets spurring demand? Will the festive season give a boost to sales? Adgully spoke to some leading auto players to gauge the market sentiments and how they are looking at a rebound. Elaborating on how his company has been keeping their consumers engaged in COVID times, Rahul Pansare, Head of Marketing and PR, FCA India (Jeep), said, We initiated many digital campaigns to ensure a high recall for the Jeep brand. One of the campaigns close to my heart was the #WFHHeroes or Warriors For Humanity Heroes, which was an opportunity for us to showcase the social work that the Jeep Community was doing to help frontline workers during the pandemic. This advocacy campaign reached over 30 million social media users, with active engagement with 350,000 people. The #WFHHeroes campaign videos generated views of over 9.4 million and were shared 226,000 times on social media. Besides this campaign, we had rolled out the Jeep Fanatics Quiz, #StayingIndoors Challenge and #IndoorAdventures. To make booking and buying Jeep easy for customers, we introduced Book My Jeep, our online retail platform which is equipped to aid customers from the bookings to purchase process by following simple steps from the comfort of their homes. While COVID-19 has affected all businesses in the last few months, brands are seeing a revival as India Unlocks. The auto industry, especially passenger vehicle, is witnessing a month on month growth in bookings and retails, which is currently around 80-90 per cent of pre-COVID levels, as per industry data. Smaller towns are leading the growth in demand in the automobile sector as compared to the metros and Tier 1 cities. Vivek Srivatsa, Head Marketing, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, informed, At Tata Motors, we are seeing more active buyers from the smaller cities and, therefore, our strategy too is focused accordingly. Our marketing campaigns have also gone regional, where we communicate in the local language addressing regional requirements, thus getting closer to the customers. This helps us to communicate more effectively while also building trust in the brand. With customers reluctant to step out of their homes due to the pandemic, a primary challenge for the auto industry is to get the customers to visit the showrooms and dealerships. To address this issue, the auto industry has turned to digital and innovation in a big way. Explaining how Honda has been reaching out to its customers during these times, Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Director Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, said, We know that we are in the era of contactless customers and that is why including our network as well as the corporate level marketing at Honda, we have enhanced our digital capability in the last three months. We also started our online platform for our customers to provide the trust and transparency and booking their Honda two wheelers. Pansare added here, Our digital retail platform Book My Jeep has been up and running since May. Customers can book their Jeep online and go all the way to purchasing it on Book My Jeep, which is easy to use. The Book My Jeep system is designed in such a way that any customer can place a booking and the system automatically geo-target the customers location and also informs the local dealer there about the interest. We offer test drives and deliveries at customers doorstep, should they opt for it. Customers are not only looking for more offers now, but also proper sanitization and safety measures. Tata Motors has launched on-ground initiatives such as Sanitised by Tata Motors to assure customers that the highest standards of safety are being followed in their car dealerships nationwide. Speaking about the initiative, Srivatsa said, As part of this initiative, customers will receive a fully sanitised vehicle from Tata Motors dealerships. Especially designed labels confirming Sanitised by Tata Motors will be pasted on the vehicle post sanitisation, and the vehicle will remain untouched by the dealership teams until its delivered to the customer. This years festive season is going to be an important time for the auto industry looking for a rebound. Speaking about Hondas strategy for the festive season, Guleria said, We are preparing hard at the ground level along with our dealer partners, network partners, even in terms of broader offerings, we are expanding our product portfolio well before the festival, our production along with our supply chain is working very hard, despite its migrant labour issue. We are ensuring that our customer can buy their favourite two wheeler vehicle during the festival time. A 40-year-old man, who was searching for his missing son in southeast Delhis Pul Prahladpur, was beaten to death on Thursday night allegedly by two men who were infuriated at being persistently asked if they knew of the boys whereabouts. Police said the two men Dheeraj Arora (29) and Rakesh Arora (31) have been arrested and charged with murder. They both drive gramin-sewa vehicles and live in Pul Prahladpur area, officers said. Southeast deputy commissioner of police RP Meena said a team from the Okhla Industrial Area station was patrolling the area on Thursday night when the incident came to light. The team was at Maa Anand Mai Marg when they saw a pregnant woman crying for help, with an injured man lying unconscious beside her. Our personnel took the man to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, Meena said. Police said the woman, Pappi Devi, and her husband, Krishan Kumar Meena, hail from Jaipur. They were searching for their seven-year-old son, who they said had gone missing a few minutes ago, in the area. She said that when her husband asked the men about his son, they got irritated and assaulted him, and hit him on the head with a metal rod, Meena said. Multiple teams were deployed to nab the murder suspects and find the couples missing son, he said. The boy was located a few hours later, and reunited with his mother. A raid was carried out after we received a tip-off that one of the two drivers sleeps in mini-trucks nearby, which led to Rakesh Aroras arrest, the officer said. The officer said Rakesh confessed to have attacked the man and also revealed the whereabouts of his brother Dheeraj, who was then arrested from the area. The brothers said they were both drinking alcohol in their tempo when Meena asked about his missing son. They said they got irritated because Meena was repeatedly asking about his child. Dheeraj caught hold of him and Rakesh hit his head with a metal rod. When his wife started shouting for help, both of them fled, Meena said. Police said they have recovered the rod used in the crime. The two arrested men do not have any previous criminal involvement, Meena said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 28 2020 The recent discovery of a COVID-19 cluster in the Agriculture Ministry has added to a growing list of such office outbreaks and raised concerns about possible transmission between animals and humans in Indonesia. About 350 employees of the ministrys Livestock and Animal Health Directorate General have been tested for the virus, and at least 17 have been found positive, according to department spokesperson Aryani Gumelar. 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 WATERLOO REGION Pandemic-related stressors and their toll on mental health are creating a community crisis, finds a new survey from the local YMCAs. Theres a significant threat of what some medical practitioners are calling an echo pandemic, said Jim Moss, vice-president, workplace well-being, for the YMCAs of Cambridge and Kitchener-Waterloo. People who may not be directly affected by COVID-19 itself may be caught up in a wave of associated mental illness or challenged mental health. I think were at a risk of a much larger group needing care, and not capable of providing care. Intended to gauge the state of workplace well-being in Waterloo Region and surrounding areas, the WorkWell survey asked people how theyre coping in the midst of the pandemic, and what their most pressing needs are. The survey completed in July and August by 1,200 residents of Waterloo Region, Guelph and Stratford-Perth working in various sectors found that scores in categories such as well-being, stress management, inspiration, belonging and sense of community had all dropped significantly compared to a similar survey conducted late last year. I was expecting the data to be eye-opening, but I was shocked at just how serious the state of workplace well-being is in our region, Dave Whiteside, the YMCAs director of insights and research, said in an email. In my opinion, this is an emergency in our community and it requires everyone to take it seriously, because the scores indicate that there is a significant portion of our community that is on the verge of burnout and serious mental health concerns. Moss, Whiteside and Nate Robertson, all formerly of Plasticity Labs, arrived at the YMCAs in July to develop a new workplace well-being program offering consultation, training and support. Moss said many survey respondents identified not just stress, but depression and anxiety as well. There was more of it than we expected. The findings were concerning enough to prompt a call to action now; a full community impact report is expected in October. Organizations could start reacting on Monday to these things, Moss said Friday. Were not emphasizing the things that could take longer. Chief among workplace needs are flexible work arrangements that help employees navigate new stresses such as back-to-school arrangements, and effective communication from leadership that can provide clarity in uncertain times. If leaders clearly communicate why well-being is important and what that means in terms of tangible actions, this demonstrates that they are willing to walk the walk, and sets a strong example that tending to your well-being should be applauded, rather than looked down upon, Whiteside said. Individuals can create consistent daily routines that provide structure and a sense of control. People should also take advantage of employee assistance programs if available; the confidential services often provide round-the-clock mental health supports. Sometimes people take generalized data and think thats not my team. We need them to not think that way, Moss said. We cant afford you to not take action. With election season upon us, tensions between partisan political parties are rapidly increasing. As members of the Church, christians are oftentimes caught up amidst these political engagements, however, the head of the Assemblies of God denomination urges congregations to be wary of the divisive nature of politics. Doug Clay, the general superintendent of the Assemblies of God in the U.S. released a pastoral letter in which he wrote, "We should be extremely cautious that we do not allow division to seep into Christ's Church that will inevitably lead to self-destruction." Clay recognizes that the Church has a role in politics, but that they must stay true to their denomination's mission of "evangelism, worship, discipleship, and compassion." As Clay and Dr. Jim Harris, Associate Rector at Emmanuel Church, both acknowledge the Church must be both "salt and light," as derived from the Bible in Matthew chapter five. Harris explains in his paper titled The Church's Role in Politics, that he considers the Church's role in politics, similar to Clay, an ethical one, and that christians should "consider ethics as an expression of God's compassion for humanity: God's desire for the best for creation." Therefore, Clay urges his denomination's members to "have a biblical understanding of the issues we are facing in our society in order to make informed decisions in the voting booth." And thus when making a decision politically, to stray from partisan division, and instead to make each decision based on "its impact on the Kingdom of God and on our neighbors." The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday questioned Rhea Chakraborty here in connection with the mysterious death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput for over 10 hours and she has been asked to appear again. According to CBI sources, agency officials questioned Rhea about her relationship with Sushant. The agency has summoned her again in the coming days. Rhea arrived at the DRDO guesthouse at around 10.20 a.m. and was questioned till 8.30 p.m. Her statement was recorded by CBI's Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Superintendent of Police Nupur Prasad. The questioning comes a day after Rhea gave interviews to multiple news channels. Besides Rhea, her brother Showik was also questioned separately. The agency will now study the statements of the brother-sister duo to check if there is some inconsistency in their versions. CBI sources said that Rhea was asked about what happened during her Europe tour with Sushant; when she took Sushant for treatment and also to a healer; and why she avoided calls from Sushant's father when he asked for details of his son's treatment. Rhea was also asked why she left Sushant on June 8, and why she ignored his messages and blocked his number. She was queried about why she changed the staff at the residence of the 34-year-old actor, who was found dead at his Bandra flat in Mumbai on June 14. She was also asked to answer how she got the pins of the debit cards and internet banking of Sushant. The CBI team questioned Rhea about when she came to know about the death of Sushant; who gave her the information; whether she visited Sushant's flat; and how she managed to see Sushant's body when she visited Cooper Hospital. This comes a day after Sushant's father Krishna Kishore Singh made the sensational allegation that Rhea had administered poison to kill his son, and demanded her arrest. Earlier, Sushant's kin have blamed the Chakraborty family for his death and allegedly swindling Rs 15 crore from his bank account, but Rhea has denied all the accusations. Sushant was found dead in his rental duplex flat in Mont Blanc building in Bandra west on June 14, sparking a furore in Bollywood and political circles with multiple agencies entering the fray. The CBI registered a case against Rhea, her brother Showik, her father Indrajit, her mother Sandhya, Sushant's ex-manager Shruti Modi, his house manager Samuel Miranda and unknown others after the case was transferred from the Bihar Police who had registered the first FIR in the case on July 25 on a complaint by Sushant's father. The SIT arrived in Mumbai from Delhi along with the forensic team after the Supreme Court ordered a CBI probe. The CBI has so far questioned Rhea's brother Showik, Sushant's flatmate Siddharth Pithani, his personal staff Neeraj Singh and Dipesh Sawant, among others. Initially, the Mumbai Police which registered an accidental death report, had interrogated Rhea, followed by the Enforcement Directorate and now the CBI, with the Narcotics Control Bureau waiting in the queue to probe the drugs angle in the case. Shinzo Abe, Japans longest-serving prime minister, announced on Friday that he would resign, ending a term in office in which he pursued with mixed results a conservative agenda of restoring the countrys economy, military and national pride. Mr. Abe, 65, the grandson of a prime minister, was initially elected to Parliament in 1993 after the death of his father, a former foreign minister. He first served as prime minister beginning in 2006, but stepped down after a scandal-plagued year in office. He became the countrys leader again in 2012, promising to fix its beleaguered economy and achieve his nationalist dream of amending Japans pacifist Constitution to allow for a full-fledged military. After he had served nearly eight years in office, he said it was ailing health a relapse of a bowel disease that had contributed to his previous exit in 2007 that led him to resign. US soldiers stage their vehicles for a patrol in northeast Syria, December 27, 2019. US Army/Spc. John Stauffer A US-Russian military vehicle crash that injured four American troops in Syria alarmed both Republicans and Democrats, leading many to issue a joint statement. Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts told Insider President Donald Trump is to blame for rapidly exiting the region and leaving only a small force to confront the numerically larger Russian force. James Phillips, a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, described the latest clash as a culmination of competing interests. "This is likely to continue until the Russians see that this incurs more costs than benefits for them," Phillips told Insider. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. A US-Russian military vehicle crash that injured four American troops in eastern Syria alarmed both Republicans and Democrats, leading many of them to come together to issue a rare joint statement condemning the Kremlin's "aggression" in the region. "We are appalled by reports of Russian military aggression toward US troops on the ground in Syria and strongly condemn their actions," ten House Armed Service Committee lawmakers wrote in a joint statement. "We strongly urge Russian forces to stop these aggressive behaviors immediately." "It is critical that officials at the Pentagon and the White House also clearly communicate to the highest levels of the Russian government and military that actions like this will not be tolerated," the statement added. Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, a former Marine Corps infantry officer, told Insider that President Donald Trump was to blame for leaving only a small group of US troops in Syria to face a much larger Russian force. "First, President Trump abandoned our service men and women in Syria and handed control over to the Russians. Then, Russia paid the Taliban to kill US troops in Afghanistan, and Trump was silent," Moulton told Insider, referring to Trump's drawdown from Syria earlier in 2019 and the news reports of Russia's intelligence service paying Taliban-linked insurgents for bounties against US troops. Story continues "Now Russia is intentionally crashing into and injuring US soldiers," Moulton added. "The president is not saving any lives or trying to get us out of endless wars, he's getting Americans killed because of his total recklessness and ineptitude." Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, an Air National Guard officer, called the incident "disturbing" in a tweet directed at Putin and said it was "not a game you will win." Turkish and Russian troops patrol through Idlib province, Syria, March 15, 2020. Turkish Defense Ministry via AP The blame game The vehicle crash occured at around 10 a.m. local time on Tuesday. Video footage of the incident on social media showed two vehicles colliding after Russian armored vehicles drove towards a moving US mine-resistant ambush protected all-terrain vehicle (M-ATV). In a statement from the National Security Council, a spokesman said US forces were conducting a "routine ... security patrol" when they were met with the Russian force's "unsafe and unprofessional action." "The Coalition and the United States do not seek escalation with any national military forces, but US forces always retain the inherent right and obligation to defend themselves from hostile acts," the statement added. Meanwhile, Russian officials blamed their American counterparts. "In violation of the existing agreements, the US troops attempted to block the Russian patrol," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. "In response to that, the Russian military police took the necessary measures to prevent an incident and to continue the fulfillment of their task." Roughly 500 US service members are officially deployed to Syria as part of its continued campaign against ISIS militants in the region. But Trump, in addition to US defense officials, have added that US forces were deployed in an effort to protect oil fields from ISIS, the Syrian regime, Iran, and other destabilizing actors. Russia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, continues to operate in the country and began providing military assistance to the embattled dictator's forces in 2015. A US military convoy drives near the town of Qamishli, north Syria, October 26. 2019. Baderkhan Ahmad/AP 'This is likely to continue' US and Russian-linked forces have come to blows in the past. In 2018, hundreds of Syrian troops and Russian-government linked mercenaries were killed or injured after the US conducted airstrikes and artillery strikes in eastern Syria. US officials have alleged that waves of Syrian troops and tanks had advanced and fired on their location, forcing them to act in self-defense. James Phillips, a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, described the latest clash as a culmination of competing interests between Russia and the US. "This is another long line of incidents that the Russians have provoked, and it demonstrates the degree to which US and Russians clash," Phillips told Insider. "I think it's a manifestation of how the Russians are trying to create incidents to undermine US influence and access to the region. I think ultimately they'd like to deprive US forces of their supply route to Iraq by taking over roads." According to Phillips, Russia's actions are another attempt to make a "political point that US forces there are spread thin, and likely will not be staying that long." The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, US Army Gen. Mark Milley, held a phone call with his counterpart, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, on Wednesday following the incident. Details of the call were not made public after both generals agreed to keep the discussion private. Despite the deconfliction efforts by senior military officials, further action by State Department leaders or the White House may be required in order to prevent future clashes in Syria, according to Phillips. "This is likely to continue until the Russians see that this incurs more costs than benefits for them," Phillips told Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider Two things I've noticed in my short time as a Houstonian: People from Houston will never miss a chance to talk about their city (seriously), and they always find a way to come together when others are in need. What I'm pleased to discover though, is that showing compassion for others isn't just exclusive to people in Houston. Hurricane Laura was a Category 4 hurricane when she tore through Louisiana on Wednesday night, and a group of chefs from the Bayou City have come together to provide relief for victims in the form of food and supplies, according to Htown meals for Hurricane Laura relief. Chefs Ben McPherson of BOH Pasta & Pizza, Martin Weaver of Watever Fresh, Steve Sharma of El Gran Malo and Jessica Timmons of Cherry Block Craft Butcher are among those who have launched a fundraiser to raise money and collect supplies to take to Louisiana. McPherson said they've already been in contact with the Lake Charles police and fire departments, as well as the Cajun Navy. H-TOWN CHEFS FOR LAURA RELIEF: Chef Jose Andres' World Central Kitchen pitches in with Hurricane Laura relief efforts, Houston Chronicle reports They've received hundreds of donations so far, already raising more than $9,000 of their $12,000 goal, but they're not stopping. "We're already halfway to our goal, but we won't stop there," McPherson told Chron.com. "The more money we raise, the more supplies we can provide." Every $5 donated provides a meal prepared by Andes Cafe, BOH Pasta, Cherry Block, El Big Bad, Margeux Oyster Bar or Rudyards, according to Facebook. The chefs hope to raise enough money to make 2,400 meals. It was three years ago when Hurricane Harvey ravaged Houston, a days long storm that left behind $125 billion in damages and claimed the lives of more than 100 people. "Back when Harvey hit us three years ago, a lot of people from that area came to our aid," McPherson said. "This was one of the first ways I could think of to help." Donations can be dropped until Sunday, Aug. 30, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 409 Travis Street in Downtown Houston. BOH is also accepting donations in-house for nonperishable food items, cleaning supplies and personal hygiene items. Elon Musk has said advances in battery technology could make electric planes commercially viable within three years. The Tesla boss made the claim just two weeks after the electric car maker published a research paper detailing vastly improved next-generation battery cells. The breakthrough appears to have prompted Musk to revise a previous prediction from 2019 that it would be at least five years until commercial batteries achieve a 400Wh/kg energy density, which he calculated is necessary for flight. 400 Wh/kg *with* high cycle life, produced in volume (not just a lab) is not far, he tweeted. Probably 3 to 4 years. Several companies are already working on zero-emission planes, though Tesla is yet to commit to building one. Musk has hinted several times that he is interested in creating one, even as far back as 2010 during his one-line cameo in Iron Man 2. Got an idea for an electric jet, he said. In a 2016 interview he revealed that he already had prototype designs for a vertical take-off vehicle, though they have never been publicly released. In an interview two years later he said Teslas focus remained on cars, claiming that developing an electric plane isnt necessary right now. Small-scale operations are already underway, with the first ever commercial test flight with an electric plane taking place last year in Canada. Harbour Air flew an electric seaplane for 15 minutes over the Fraser River, in what could be the first step towards electrifying its entire fleet of more than 40 planes. This historic flight signifies the start of the third era in aviation the electric age, Harbour Air said in a statement at the time. Non-commercial planes have proved that sustained flight using battery power is possible. In 2017, Solar Impulse 2 made history by becoming the first electric plane to circumnavigate the globe. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent. Older adults experienced greater depression and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study by Indiana University researchers, and relationship strength (perceived closeness to network members) moderated the relationship between loneliness and depression. The study, published in The Journal of Gerontology: Series B, was authored by Anne Krendl, associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Brea Perry, professor in the Department to Sociology at IU Bloomington. What we found is the pandemic was associated with worse mental health outcomes for many older adults. However, for some, having close social networks seemed to serve as a protector against negative mental health outcomes." Anne Krendl, Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences Krendl and Perry's study examined whether social isolation due to the COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders was associated with greater loneliness and greater depression for older adults, and, if so, whether declines in social engagement or relationship strength moderated that relationship. Researchers compared personal social networks, subjective loneliness and depression of 93 older adults in the Bloomington community, six to nine months prior to the pandemic and from late April to late May when most people were under stay-at-home orders. Two-thirds (68 percent) of older adults reported spending less time than before with people they loved, according to the study, and 79 percent felt like their social life decreased or was negatively affected by COVID-19. However, 60 percent reported spending somewhat or much more time reconnecting or catching up with people they cared about and 78 percent were using some form of internet technology to keep in touch during the pandemic. On average, older adults reported spending about 76 minutes socializing virtually or over the phone each day. "Although prior research has shown that people in this age group are not avid users of social media, the pandemic seems to have moved the needle, with more older people relying on social media to try to stay connected," Krendl said. Research has shown that loneliness is associated with a number of negative outcomes for older adults, including higher rates of depression and higher mortality, while closeness to individuals in their networks can result in greater emotional well-being . "Although older adults were relatively adaptable in staying connected during the pandemic, we found that adults who felt less close to their social network during the pandemic experienced increased depression. However, for older adults who felt closer to their social networks during the pandemic, depression only increased markedly for those who also had experienced a large increase in loneliness." It is important, Krendl said, to fully understand the short-term impact the pandemic has had on older adults' mental health well-being so resources and services can be available to those who need it. Furthermore, Krendl will continue to follow up with those who took part in the survey, to see if changes in their mental health remain short-term or lead to permanent changes. "One period of increased mental health problems does not necessarily mean a permanent change," she said. "But certainly, periods of mental health distress can have longer term implications for health and well-being. Characterizing those shifts will be important for understanding the full impact of the pandemic on older adults' mental and social wellbeing." The study was conducted with support from the IU Office of the Vice President for Research. (Alliance News) - Mkango Resources Ltd, a rare earth minerals exploration company focused Malawi, on Friday said increased exploration expenses resulted in a widened net loss for the first half. The company, which is developing the Songwe Hill rare earths project in the African country, also said that the ongoing feasibility study at the project will now complete in the second half of 2021, owning to movement restrictions put in place by Malawi due to the Covid-19 pandemic. "Whilst the feasibility study on Songwe Hill is continuing with work underway in Australia, South Africa and the UK, the company believes that some work streams may still be impacted, however the degree of impact is currently uncertain. Following a review of the various ongoing work streams, the company is now targeting completion of the feasibility study in the second half of 2021, in line with an anticipated more stable market environment and favourable backdrop to advance project development," Mkango explained. The company said that a government delegation has expressed satisfaction with all of the exploration and development works at the Songwe project. Malawi's Mining Minister Rashid Gaffar said: "I am impressed with the progress of the project, as well as the project's level of transparency and all of the corporate social responsibility taking place. We understand you have invested a lot in this project, therefore as government, my ministry will support you so that the future mining operation commences." For the six months ended June 30, the company's net loss widened year-on-year to USD2.4 million from USD1.1 million loss recorded a year ago. Total expenses for the first half jumped year-on-year to USD2.1 million from USD1.5 million, which includes exploration of USD1.2 million versus USD756,171. Mkango posted a net loss of USD913,764 for the second-quarter to June-end versus a USD365,739 loss. Mineral exploration expenditure for the quarter jumped to USD613,565 from USD301,186, mainly due to the mineral extraction development ongoing at the Songwe Hill project. In addition to exploration expenditure, the company recorded foreign exchange losses of USD212,034 in the quarter compared with a gain of USD116,699. Mkango did not generate any revenue in either financial periods, with the company still being in mine development phase. The company had cash of USD6.4 million at June 30, compared with USD9.5 million at December 31, 2019. Shares in Mkango were up 2.6% at 5.90 pence each in London on Friday afternoon. By Tapan Panchal; tapanpanchal@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Horace Anderson (L) speaks about his son, Lorenzo Anderson, in Seattle, Wash., on June 29, 2020. (David Ryder/Getty Images) Father of Teen Killed in Seattle CHOP Zone Sues for $3 Billion The father of a teenager with special needs who was gunned down in Seattles so-called autonomous zone filed lawsuits this week against the city, county, and state, seeking $1 billion from each. Lorenzo Anderson, 19, was killed on June 20 around 2:20 a.m. City officials tolerated the zone, known as CHOP, for weeks before shutting it down on July 1 following the murders of Anderson and another black man. Evan Oshan of Oshan & Associates is representing Horace Anderson, Lorenzo Andersons father. He told The Epoch Times that the lawlessness of the zone made the death foreseeable. There was no safety, there was no security. This whole region was completely abandoned and this special needs kid, basically, was put into a dangerous situation, he said. It was a predictable, preventable death. A city spokeswoman told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement that city officials are not able to comment on pending claims or litigation. Inquiries sent to the county and state werent returned. The filings claim that the action and inaction by city, county, and state officials are directly responsible for creating the chaotic situation. Friends and family gather for a memorial and rally for peace in memory of Lorenzo Anderson in Seattle, Wash., on July 2, 2020. (David Ryder/Getty Images) The state abandoned the zone without a working plan to provide essential services, creating a danger, one of the lawsuits says. After the shooting, the state failed to provide medical assistance to Lorenzo Anderson despite knowing it was urgently needed, it added. He died. Then-Police Chief Carmen Best told reporters that after activists took over the area, the number of crimes soared. Response times suffered. Some calls went ignored. If that is your mother, your sister, your cousin, your neighbors kid that is being raped, robbed, assaulted, and otherwise victimized, youre not going to want to have to report that it took the police three times longer to get there to provide services to them, Best said on June 12. Video footage showed police officers turned away from the zone by angry demonstrators, some of whom were armed. Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, both Democrats, rebuffed offers of assistance from the federal government. At one point, Durkan claimed in a CNN appearance that the occupation could lead to a summer of love. The situation developed the way it did because of our elected officials lacking the political willpower to enforce the rule of law, Mike Solan, president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, a police union, told The Epoch Times in June. People stand near tents outside the abandoned Seattle Police Department precinct in the so-called autonomous zone in Seattle, Wash., on June 23, 2020. (David Ryder/Getty Images) This is the closest Ive seen to becoming a lawless state that Ive seen in my lifetime, he said. You have an area of a city, a major urban area, in the United States of America, where armed people are in control of government-owned roadways, but also government-owned facilities, but also privately-owned buildings and privately-owned property. Oshan, the lawyer, told The Epoch Times that he believes punitive damages will be awarded. Leaders have a responsibility and theyve let us down, completely, he said, adding, This case is going to teach a lesson. The lawsuits follow a class-action filing from business owners and residents who also argued that city officials abdicated their duty by allowing the autonomous zone to persist and even provided support in the form of portable bathrooms and other measures. Durkan is also battling a recall petition. Lorenzo Andersons mother filed a separate wrongful death claim against the city last month. She and Horace Anderson are not together, Oshan clarified. Horace Anderson primarily raised Lorenzo Anderson, he said. Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins (R) and Assistant Chief Willie Barrington (L) walk inside the CHOP (Capitol Hill Occupied Protest) zone in Seattle, Wash., on June 26, 2020. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo) Horace Andersons already-devastating loss of his son was exacerbated by the city not contacting him about the death until a week after it happened, and by being blocked from seeing his sons body. Anderson, a nonpartisan who prefers to stay out of politics, was stunned when he got a call from President Donald Trump. At the time, in early July, Anderson said he was struggling to sleep. Oshan said hes still traumatized by what happened. Marcel Long, 18, was charged several weeks ago with Lorenzos murder. He is still not in custody. Echo Liu contributed to this report. The bureau found that the bank didnt get customers consent before signing them up for the overdraft service, and sometimes printed out forms for them to sign with the opt in box already checked. Employees also verbally gave customers misleading or incomplete information, such as suggesting the service was free, the bureau found. As part of the settlement, the bank agreed to pay about $97 million to more than 1.4 million customers who enrolled in the service from 2014 through 2018. It also agreed to pay a $25 million civil penalty. Based in Cherry Hill, N.J., the bank has about 1,250 branches throughout the Eastern United States. In a statement, TD Bank said it did not admit any wrongdoing. The bank said it disagreed with the bureaus conclusions, but had cooperated fully to resolve the matter and was moving forward with a continued focus on meeting the needs of our customers. The bank continues to offer its optional overdraft service, Debit Card Advance, saying it is valued by customers and helps them avoid declined transactions due to insufficient funds. The bureau had opened a review of the opt-in rule more than a year earlier. Dozens of banks and industry groups argued for keeping the rule unchanged, while consumer advocates urged stronger protections. In March, the bureau cited a continued need for the rule and said it would not change. Here are some questions and answers about overdraft service: Are banks waiving overdraft fees because of the pandemic? Some banks automatically waived overdraft fees while the economy was shut down, partly to avoid having federal stimulus funds deducted from consumer accounts. (New York instructed banks to temporarily waive penalties.) As states have reopened, most banks are charging the fees and considering refunds on a case-by-case basis, after customers contact the bank. Its definitely worth asking the bank to waive the fee, said Rebecca Borne, senior policy counsel at the Center for Responsible Lending. A chef who broke the jaw of a Russian man in a row over street parking narrowly avoided going to jail on Friday. Ciaran Murray (32) of Powerscourt Place in Belfast, received a 12 month prison sentence suspended for three years after he pleaded guilty to a charge of grievous bodily harm. The charge related to an incident on November 24, 2018, when the victim parked his car outside Murray's home. Murray complained to the man about parking outside his front door. A neighbour offered to let the victim park outside her home but he declined. Belfast Crown Court heard Murray started to argue with the man. As Murray walked away he called the injured party a "f***ing a***hole''. The victim and his wife start speaking in Russian and Murray said to them: "What language are you f***ing talking in?'' The man replied: "Shut up.'' The prosecution case was that at this point Murray started to "violently shake'' the man before he broke free and pushed the defendant. His wife told police that her husband was then on the ground with Murray "kicking and punching him'' before he went unconscious. The injured party was taken to hospital where it was discovered he had sustained a broken jaw in the assault and also a fracture to his right ankle, likely to have been caused by a fall to the ground. Murray was arrested two months later and claimed he was assaulted first and had acted in "self defence''. Judge Stephen Fowler QC said Murray worked as a chef, was in a stable relationship and although he believed the assault was out of character, he added: "In my view you have an anger management problem.'' The judge said the attack came a month after Murray disclosed an incident of trauma from his childhood to his family and as a result complained of "low mood and anxiety''. Judge Fowler said he accepted that Murray's remorse was "genuine''and the injury inflicted was "beyond what was intended''. The judge said the appropriate sentence was one of 24 months, divided equally between custody and supervised licence. However, Judge Fowler said that given that at the time Murray had just told his family and a medical professional about his childhood trauma and the impact prison would have on him during the Coronavirus pandemic, he had decided to suspend the 12 month sentence for three years. The judge warned Murray: "If you lose your temper or involve yourself in any offence whether it is violent or not, you will be brought back to court and sentenced for that offence and that will be put on top of this 12 months sentence.'' The United Nations human rights chief is calling for a quick investigation into death threats against Congolese Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege. Michelle Bachelet on Friday said Mukwege is a ``true hero`` for his work as a human rights defender. The doctor founded a hospital in eastern Congo that is renowned for its work treating survivors of sexual violence. ``His life seems to be at serious risk,'' she said of Mukwege, who survived an assassination attempt in 2012 and has faced death threats before. U.N. human rights office spokesman Rupert Colville said ``it's difficult to say at this point exactly who is behind these death threats.'' He noted that Mukwege has repeatedly denounced human rights violations in Congo, adding: ``The threats appear linked more to his advocacy.'' Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has made a public commitment to ensure Mukwege's security. Search Keywords: Short link: Despite losing a major investor, backers maintain the Canadian Motor Speedway remains on track to become a reality. What is needed is a little more time to get things going, said partner and executive director Azhar Mohammad, who told council construction will begin in summer 2021. He appeared before council Aug. 24 to ask councillors to back a request by the speedway group to extend a sunset clause built into the Ontario Municipal Boards (now the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal) approval of the project back in 2012. At the time, speedway backers were given until Sept. 13 of this year to get the project off the ground; otherwise, rezoning approved at that time would revert to its previous agricultural designation. A written request for the extension was also submitted to the provincial planning tribunal, Mohammad said, adding the group is reasonably confident they will be successful. The track is planned for rural property near Laur Road and Bridge Street. Obviously, its coming right down to the wire, as a race does, he said. A long, complicated process has been full of hurdles for the speedway proposal, including the planning appeal and acquisition of land for the project. We did, at one point during this 10-year journey, lose our funding from an investor because it was just neverending and unfortunately that has made planning excessively difficult. The new investor, he said, has great experience at this. Ward 5 Coun. Don Lubberts asked Mohammad when the speedway company expects to get access to funds delivered by the new investor. As far as funds are concerned, weve shown were very confident in our ability ... this is not Middle East money, which was also a challenge for us during the early stages and the mid-stages of the project. So were confident the money will be ready for us to execute within the next few weeks. Mayor Wayne Redekop, meanwhile, asked if the planning tribunal was to grant the year extension, if that would be enough to get the project off the ground. I think what a lot of the public does not know, and a lot of council as well, (is) the amount of background work that has been done under the radar here is significant, Mohammad said, adding once funding is in hand things like closing on land purchases could be done immediately. The one year, from our perspective, is a safe time to deliver what we need to deliver. Mohammad denied rumours that the project is dead. He said just because public statements werent being made on a regular basis, didnt mean work wasn't going on. Our absence, which has been deliberate, actually feeds a lot of the rumour mills and conspiracy theories that we have abandoned our plans, he said. Yet, nothing could be further from the truth. Former NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon remains involved, he said, and the speedway company has been busy assembling investors and partners in the project. He said the speedway company has spent $35 million navigating the bureaucratic process to get the project off the ground. A lesson learned has been the need for a predictable and abundant time frame in order to move the project along. This is one of the reasons why we are pursuing an extension to the sunset clause. Without it, our tens of millions of dollars and 14 years of persistent effort would be wasted. The speedway company has a project execution plan Mohammad said could be shared with council confidentially. He said the speedway owns all core lands for the development, and all that remains is to purchase additional parcels from people Mohammad referred to as supportive landowners. Ward 1 Coun. George McDermott said he has always been in support of the project, but asked Mohammad what difference the extension would make. Mohammad said all properties necessary for the development have been purchased already and any outstanding properties required are due to the conditions laid out by the municipal board. The owners of the lands in question, he reiterated, have been supportive throughout the process. Theyve been extremely, extremely patient with us. When it was first approved by council back in 2010, the project was touted as a $450-million investment in the town. That figure has grown to $700 million, Mohammad said, with changes to incorporate industrial uses for manufacturers as well as some acute health-care facilities. YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan assesses the awarding ceremony at Sardarapat Memorial unique for the reason that the participants of Tavush clashes personally receive their awards, while this is the 1st time an acting servicemen receives the title of National Hero, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan said on August 28 during the awarding ceremony. ''We have gathered at Sardarapat Memorial, which symbolizes the glorious victory of the Armenian nation against the Ottoman army, for a very exclusive reason. This is an exclusive event since 16 servicemen will be awarded with the first-class Order of "The Combat Cross" and 55 servicemen with the second-class Order of "The Combat Cross". It's exclusive that 24 of the awardees are present here and I will enjoy the honor of personally handing them the awards, while the other awardees are right now carrying out their mission of protecting the borders and security of the Republic of Armenia. This is an exclusive event also for the reason that for the 1st time in the history of Armenia an acting servicemen is awarded with the title of the National Hero of Armenia. I will hand over the Order of Motherland certifying the title of National Hero to captain of the Armenian army Ruben Sanamyan, and tomorrow he will carry out his usual military duty at his regiment'', Pashinyan said, adding that heroes are not only found in books, but they are here, next to us. ''They live with us, in the same building, city, village. They have become a hero, which means each of us can become a hero and it's our duty to become a hero every day and everywhere'', the PM said. Ruben Sanamyan is responsible for organizing the successful defensive actions at the Anvakh military outpost during July clashes, the Armenian Army position that came under multiple heavy Azerbaijani attacks in mid July. As an officer and commander, Captain R. Sanamyan displayed exclusive courage, selflessness and bravery in defending the fatherland and ensuring its safety. Captain Sanamyan skillfully commanded the personnel of a special reconnaissance team encouraging the servicemen through his personal example, giving individual objectives, organizing the neutralization of multiple enemy attacks at the ANVAKH outpost by inflicting significant losses to the adversary manpower, arsenal and military equipment. Together with his team, Captain Sanamyan risked his life and carried out difficult and dangerous engineering works at the outposts surroundings, gathered valuable intelligence documents, weapons, ammunition and a number of other technical means and information through reconnaissance. As a commander, Captain Sanamyan accurately analyzed the adversarys actions, assessed the situation, predetermined potential developments and through joint actions together with the outpost personnel kept the Anvakh outpost inviolable. Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan, Editing and Translating by Tigran Sirekanyan BERLIN: The European Union has agreed to impose sanctions on up to 20 senior Belarus officials suspected of election fraud and the crackdown on protesters and is likely to put President Alexander Lukashenko on its list at some point, the blocs foreign ministers said Friday at a meeting in Berlin. In Vienna, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe offered to mediate between the two sides in Belarus, with chairman Edi Rama pledging not to interfere in internal affairs, but at the same time stressing human rights abuses must end. Belarus authoritarian president of 26 years has faced weeks of protests since he was reelected to a sixth term on Aug. 9 with 80% of the vote. The opposition says the poll was rigged and the EU, among others, disputes the results. In the first four days of demonstrations that followed, Belarus security forces detained almost 7,000 people and injured hundreds with rubber bullets, stun grenades and clubs. At least three protesters died. Around 180 people were detained at rallies on Thursday. We have general agreement on how the list will be structured and who will be, more or less, on the list, Czech Republic Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek told reporters. However, the technicalities involved in legally finalizing the list wont be concluded for at least another week. Asked whether the Belarus president will be hit by a travel ban and asset freeze, Petricek said he believes that Lukashenko should be on the list. The question is whether in the first stage, or a later stage if there is no progress. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius agreed that Lukashenko should be on the list now, but he acknowledged that there may be tactical reasons to keep the Belarus leader off. Lithuania had tabled its own list of 118 officials. Some countries prefer a gradual approach that would ratchet up pressure by adding more names progressively if Lukashenko failed to enter into talks with the opposition. Greece and Cyprus are also believed to be demanding that sanctions be slapped on Turkey for what they say is its illegal energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean before the two countries agree to the measures against Belarus. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Thursday that he stands ready to send police to Belarus if protests there turn violent, but sees no such need yet. Linkevicius said that we cannot exclude this invasion, and that the EU must also send a clear warning to Russia. German Chancellor Angela Merkel told she stressed the importance of Belarus sovereignty in a recent call with Putin. I hope that such a unit wont be deployed, she told reporters in Berlin. The EU has supported proposals from the OSCE to promote dialogue in Belarus, one of the organizations 57 member nations, and has said it stands read to provide assistance to further them. In a special meeting on the situation in Belarus in Vienna on Friday, Rama, who is the prime minister of Albania, laid out the case for the organization to assist in facilitating talks between Lukashenko and the opposition. For the country to move forward safely and as securely as possible will require mutual understanding and cooperation inside Belarus, Rama said. And our role should be to help bring that about. He emphasized that if we are to play a constructive role it is not for us to take sides and that the OSCE could provide dispassionate third party counseling. But at the same time, he noted the restrictions on journalists, and the injury and loss of life to protesters in the government crackdown, saying that the picture is ugly, to say the least. Belarus is here, with us, as a friend, but friends must remind each other of important truths, and the authorities in Minsk need to hear this one, he said. The OSCE is founded on principals that include full respect for democracy and human rights There cannot be any ifs or any buts about this. These are principles and they must be upheld. ___ Lorne Cook reported from Brussels. Frank Jordans and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of Belarus at https://www.apnews.com/Belarus 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 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has removed its description of the newly elected President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Akinwumi Adesina as flamboyant. Mr Adesina was re-elected as the President of the bank on Thursday. Flamboyant Nigerian banker Akinwumi Adesina has been re-elected chairman of the African Development Bank (AfDB) after weathering a political storm over allegations of corruption, the news organisation reported on the re-election of Mr Adesina. The correction came after the international media organisation received a heavy backlash from Nigerians and other Africans on social media over the usage of flamboyant. While some posited that the word is inappropriate as it implies one is showy and noisy, others accused the media house of bias against the former agriculture minister. A few others accused the organisation of fueling the already concluded probe of Mr Adesina. Recall that earlier this year, he was quizzed over allegations of misconduct. In a petition by a group of whistleblowers, the AfDB boss was accused of 20 breaches of the banks code of conduct. But the bank found the allegations to be frivolous. He was cleared of the accusations afterwards. Who signed off on this? This is far from BBC standard. 1. Whats the flamboyant doing here? 2. Banker is hardly the way to describe his professional life. 3. President of AfDB, not Chairman Or are you people now into parody ni? Tolu Ogunlesi, a presidential aide, wrote. Another Twitter user posted Flamboyant. That word in an article by BBC to my mind recalls British categorisation of our pre-Independence National Leaders in flowing robes flamboyant. Funny part is youd rarely find a pix of Akinwunmi Adesina in anything other than dark coloured suits. Morning @BBCAfrica. Whether you like, call him flamboyant, (agungun la, agungun tete), no skin off our noses. In fact we own it. He is our own @akin_adesina of the AfDB. Yes! He is lively, dapper in a suit, expressive in face, solid brains & he is Nigerian. Thats the way we roll, said a twitter user. OdunEweniyi The BBC used the word flamboyant to describe Dr Adesina TWICE. Months apart. And both times people called them out. Now that theres no controversy to continue peddling, you apologize. LOL. The year @BBCAfrica changed the meaning of Brilliant, Erudite, Excellent, Exceptional, Astute, Proven track record to Flamboyant. Is this racism, wilful ignorance, stupidity or just poor grammar, or a combination of all? BBC Africa, please do much better. Thanks, another user tweeted Correction In a tweet on Friday evening, BBC posted the corrected version of the report. Advertisements This was also reflected in the section dedicated for African reports on its website. Correction 28 August: We have removed the description of Dr Akinwumi Adesina as flamboyant from this post. We recognise this absolutely unintentionally may have caused offence, and is irrelevant. We have also corrected Dr Adesinas title. He is of course president of the African Development Bank, not chairman, the news organisation wrote. Advertisement An Extinction Rebellion protester dressed as 'mother nature' complete with an all-green ensemble and a floral headpiece has been arrested after she joined demonstrators using spray paint to leave hand prints on centuries-old University of Cambridge buildings. It comes as Civil servants were warned they could be the victim of a cyber attack by climate change activists. Police arrested dozens of climate activists on Friday as the resumption of Extinction Rebellion's protests following a hiatus during coronavirus lockdown saw the oil firm Shell's main London office and the University of Cambridge targeted. One woman was dressed in a floor length green skirt and matching top as she was led away by police following a demonstration at the prestigious British university. The protester was pictured using her hand as a stencil to leave hand prints outlined in black spray paint on 300-year-old Senate House, built in 1720. Another protester was pictured laying on the grass with the spray-painted hands seen on a university building behind them as police officers stood and kneeled nearby. Meanwhile, parliament's online security body has warned Extinction Rebellion could try to target officials working for parliamentary committees to access social media accounts. In an email entitled Cyber Security Threat This Weekend, Parliamentary Digital Service's cyber security team warned them to update and strengthen passwords and check official accounts over the bank holiday weekend for any 'suspicious activity', the Guido Fawkes blog reported. An Extinction Rebellion demonstrator is arrested after spray painting hand prints on Cambridge's Senate House, which was built in 1720 Several arrests were made in Cambridge after protesters spray painted hands on university buildings. One, left, wore a green ensemble as she campaigned for more environmental policies Another protester was pictured laying on the grass with the spray-painted hands seen on a university building behind them as police officers stood and kneeled nearby Female protester wore a floral display on her head as she was led away following her arrest at the Senate House in Cambridge Activists from Extinction Rebellion unfurled a banner on Westminster Bridge near the Houses of Parliament today Two police officers stood over protesters, one of whom lay on the ground, as demonstrations continued in Cambridge Protesters holding placards take part in a demonstration organised by XR outside the Shell building in London today The group, pictured in London today, are calling for Shell to stop all exploration for oil and gas & begins a rapid process of ending fossil fuel extraction Police arrested two climate activists as the resumption of XR's protests following a coronavirus-forced hiatus saw the pair target oil firm Shell's main London office today Protester wearing an Extinction Rebellion top was pinned down by police officers in a street near the University of Cambridge Protesters holding placards take part in a demonstration organised by XR outside the Shell building in London today They had painted the word 'lies' in large green letters on the glass front doors of the building as other protesters held up a banner. 'Officers attended and two women aged 33 and 47 were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. Both remain in custody,' a police spokesman said. Extinction Rebellion, whose protests brought parts of London and other cities to a halt last year, has said it is restarting mass demonstrations this week having paused them earlier in the year due to the coronavirus. It plans to target airports and impose roadblocks during the bank holiday weekend as it kicks off a new programme of climate change demonstrations. Beginning today a 'regional rebellion' over four days will see protests staged across the country, including in London, Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff and Leeds. Extinction Rebellion activists are seen marching on the Southbank during a protest. They are calling on the UK government to scrap the high speed rail project and instead invest in sustainable projects Protesters wore masks and attempted to follow social distancing measures as they marched along the streets of London Protesters wore elaborate costumes as they joined crowds gathering to fight against climate change in Cambridge on Friday Extinction Rebellion climate change protesters and activists unfurl banners on Westminster Bridge against the Shell oil company in London today Extinction Rebellion climate change protesters and activists next to the London Eye today XR protesters and activists unfurl banners on Westminster Bridge against Shell today A protester takes part in a demonstration organised by the environmental group Extinction Rebellion in London today A protester holding placards takes part in a demonstration organised by Extinction Rebellion at Shell building in London today Due to the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on travel, protesters are encouraged to take action locally with the aviation sector, banks, the fossil fuel industry and petrol stations as targets. The protests are being held ahead of larger-scale demonstrations planned for London, Manchester and Cardiff on September 1. Protests this weekend are expected to include roadblocks, marches, sit-ins, bike rides and picnics, with campaigners emphasising their ethos of 'non-violent direct action'. XR supporters will also be encouraged to protest digitally, and urged to phone their MPs and 'institutions of power'. Police officers drive past a protester holding a placard as he takes part in a demonstration outside the Shell building today Protesters holding placards take part in a demonstration organised by the environmental group outside the Shell building today Charlie Siret, 19, and Fern, 18, locked themselves together and blocked the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol last night Anneka Sutcliffe, from XR Actions Circle, said a 'few thousand' people had indicated on Facebook they would join the London events, but numbers were expected to be lower than at demonstrations held in October. Converging marches will start from Tate Britain, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Cathedral and Smithfield Market. Other protests will include a roadblock on Prince Street Bridge in Bristol, a mass bike ride from Brighton to London, banner drops and rallies against the expansion of Luton Airport and the aviation industry at Gatwick Airport. Avon and Somerset Police said the Clifton Suspension Bridge would close from midnight on Thursday because of the Bristol protest, and could be shut until 6am on Tuesday at the earliest. YES Bank has appointed Sumit Gupta as the new Chief Risk Officer of the bank for a period of three years. He will succeed Neeraj Dhawan, "who has decided to explore opportunities outside the Bank", the private lender said in a filing to the exchanges on Friday. Gupta will assume office on September 1. The YES Bank board also approved the appointment of Ashish Chandak as the new Chief Compliance Officer of the bank for three years. He will replace Rakesh Mehran, who was appointed as an interim Chief Compliance Officer. Chandak too will take charge on September 1. ALSO READ: CRISIL, Ind-Ra upgrade Yes Bank's ratings on improvement in funding, liquidity profile Sumit Gupta has been associated with YES Bank since its inception and has held various positions across the company in diverse roles. He currently holds the position of Group Head - Large Corporates in YES Bank. In this role, he is primarily responsible for strengthening and scaling up large corporate that include government banking, MNC Banking, supply chain banking, agricultural product management, strategic government advisory, and food and agricultural advisory. Gupta holds a B Tech degree from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and an MBA degree in Finance from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. He has around 30 years of overall experience in working with companies from various sectors. Prior to joining YES Bank, he was an Associate Director with RaboBank. He has also worked with Standard Chartered Bank, CRISIL and Maruti Suzuki. ALSO READ: YES Bank share gains nearly 5% on rating upgrade by CRISIL, Ind-Ra Ashish Chandak is currently working with YES Bank as Group President II - Management Excellence and Governance (MEG). He is primarily responsible for leading the MEG group which is responsible for conducting staff accountability reviews, providing consulting and management advice and ensuring adoption of best-in-class governance practices across the bank. He has been associated with YES Bank since 11 years and has held various positions across Bank in diverse roles. Chandak did his Engineering in Electronics and Instrumentation. He also holds an MBA degree in Finance from MS University, Baroda. Before joining YES Bank, he was Director, Investments with ICICI Ventures Funds Management Co Ltd. He has also previously worked with IDFC Limited, L&T Finance Limited and Thermax Limited. ALSO READ: Yes Bank sells 100% stake in YESAMC, YTL to GPL Finance No Ukrainian army casualties were reported over the past day. Ukraine has reported one enemy provocation on Thursday, August 27, 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 28, 2020. In particular, the enemy opened fire from under-barrel and hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers near the town of Avdiyivka. Read alsoOSCE records 11 ceasefire violations in Donbas on Aug 25The 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 Friday 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 Halton Regional Police have located and arrested a man who was released from prison by mistake on Aug. 17. Amritpal Singh Aujla, 28, from Brampton was released from Maplehurt Correctional Complex. Aujla was re-arrested in North York Thursday and will face additional charges. Saudi Arabia detains in-law of ex-top intel agent in exile: Family Iran Press TV Thursday, 27 August 2020 6:37 AM The regime in Riyadh detained another relative of a former senior intelligence official in exile, who has recently sued Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at a US court over an assassination attempt against him, the family says. Omar al-Jabri, 21, and Sarah al-Jabri , 20, children of Saad al-Jabri who has lived in exile in Canada since the rise of bin Salman to power in 2017 had been detained in March. Riyadh's forces also arrested Jabri's brother in May in another attempt to force the ex-spy chief to return home. In a tweet on Wednesday, Jabri's other son, Khalid, said his brother-in-law, Salem al-Muzaini, had been summoned on Monday to a Saudi state security office in Riyadh, where he was arrested. He has not been seen or heard from since. "Salem's arrest is an obvious attempt to intimidate and blackmail my father," the tweet 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 terrorize my family. Salem's arrest is a blatant attempt by MBS to interfere with the US judicial process," said. Jabri was a senior aide to the deposed former crown prince, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, and served as the primary Saudi liaison to Western spy agencies. Bin Nayef, who was always regarded as the senior royal figure closest to western governments, briefly became heir to the throne but was ousted in a palace coup in 2017. Fearing for his life, Jabri, who was abroad at the time, decided not to return home. His children were arrested 10 days after the detention of bin Nayef and another senior prince, Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, a brother of King Salman and an uncle of bin Salman, also known as MBS. Earlier in August, Jabri filed a lawsuit at a US federal court in the District of Columbia against MBS, accusing the top royal of dispatching a hit squad to North America to trap and kill him. The ex-official, who functioned as a top aide in the Saudi Interior Ministry for years, is reportedly under increased protection by police and private security guards in Canada. The lawsuit alleges that a team of Saudi agents carrying forensic gear and including forensic experts arrived at an airport in Ontario in October 2018. They tried to enter on Canadian tourist visas but were turned away by Canadian border officials. Jabri claimed that his close ties with the US intelligence community and deep knowledge of the prince's activities had turned him into one of the key targets of bin Salman. Riyadh has already issued Interpol red notices, the highest-level notice, seeking Jabri's extradition, accusing the former senior intelligence officer of corruption. The international police organization, however, has dismissed the notices as political. Nevertheless, the Saudi regime has urged other countries to send Jabri back to the Arab kingdom. In his Wednesday tweet, Khalid said Muzaini 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 called for al-Muzaini's release as well as his siblings Sarah and Omar, who "have been held incommunicado in Saudi since March because our father rebuffed MBS's demands that he return to the kingdom." It comes two years after the young Saudi crown prince reportedly orchestrated the gruesome assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, a dissident journalist who had been critical of bin Salman's policies before he was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. Jabri, a graduate of artificial intelligence from Scotland, is believed to be very well-informed about Saudi Arabia's top secrets, including the identities of dissidents killed by bin Salman and the place where they have been buried. Saudi authorities have accused Jabri of involvement in corruption, saying he has been misusing his position to amass a personal fortune. Bin Salman wants him in the kingdom under the pretext of getting the money back. Some fear that Jabri could eventually be forced back to Riyadh through Washington's lobbying given the close ties between bin Salman and the US administration. That could pose the defector to a similar fate to that of Khashoggi. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Donald Trump stood on stage on the South Lawn of the White House and addressed a large, non-socially-distanced crowd on the final evening of the Republican National Convention. He descended the White House steps with first lady Melania Trump to the tune of "God Bless the U.S.A." At the end of his acceptance speech which lasted over 70 minutes, the longest in recent history he was joined on stage by Donald Trump Jr., 42, Ivanka Trump, 38, Eric Trump, 36, Tiffany Trump, 26, and Barron Trump, 14. Kicking off his speech, he said, "All of my children and grandchildren, I love you more than words can express." Michael Boulos, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Lara Trump, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr. Tiffany Trump, President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Barron Trump during the fourth day of the 2020 Republican National Convention on the South Lawn of the White House on Aug. 27, 2020. (Oliver Contreras / Sipa USA via AP) During his remarks, Trump touted his record over the past four years and how he handled the coronavirus pandemic. He claimed his administration has pioneered treatments and that America has among the lowest case fatality rates of any major country in the world. NBC News reports that COVID-19 has killed more than 180,000 people in the U.S. since the end of February and has neared 6 million cases. Trump also promised to have a COVID-19 "vaccine before the end of the year, or maybe even sooner." Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in July that the U.S. will know by the end of the year or beginning of 2021 whether a coronavirus vaccine is safe and effective. The president also cited his support for police. "My administration will always stand with the men and women of law enforcement," he said. "Every day police officers risk their lives to keep us safe, and every year many sacrifice their lives in the line of duty." He added that Democratic nominee Joe Biden supports defunding the police. Biden "does not believe that police should be defunded," campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement in June. We must never allow mob rule," Trump said on Thursday of the recent civil unrest across the country. "In the strongest possible terms, the Republican party condemns the violence, the looting, the arson and violence we have seen in Democrat-run cities." Story continues Ivanka Trump addressed the same crowd earlier in the evening to introduce her father and highlighted her father's promises made and kept to working families in his freshman term and how he's "changed Washington." "But Donald Trump did not come to Washington to win praise from the Washington elites. Donald Trump came to Washington for one reason: to make America great again," Ivanka Trump said. "I recognize that my dads communication style is not to everyones taste. And I know that his tweets can feel a bit unfiltered, but the results, the results speak for themselves." US-POLITICS-VOTE-REPUBLICANS (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) The White House adviser also noted his affinity for his 10 grandchildren. She said her 6-year-old son, Joseph, built his grandfather a Lego replica of the White House. The president still displays it on the mantel of the Oval Office so he can show world leaders he has the greatest grandchildren on earth, she laughed. I agree. Earlier in the week, Trump's two oldest sons and youngest daughter, Tiffany, addressed the convention. Donald Trump Jr. spoke on Monday night, and Tiffany and Eric Trump followed on Tuesday. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has resigned after a prolonged battle with a chronic illness, declaring he could not give his full attention to the country's coronavirus crisis while fighting the disease. Abe, Japan's longest serving Prime Minister and a key figure in international relations, has suffered from ulcerative colitis for more than a decade. The 65-year-old left his first term in office in 2007 to treat the inflammatory bowel disease. Apologising to the people of Japan on Friday, Abe said he could not afford to make any mistakes as the country attempted to recover from COVID-19. Pedestrians walk past a screen displaying a live broadcast of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaking on Friday. Credit:Bloomberg "I need to fight against the disease and be treated. I made a judgement that I should not continue my job as prime minister," he said in Tokyo. "I want to extend my appreciation to the people of Japan." Right away, like that same morning, we put out guidance that said we continue to see significant transmission here in Chicago, and the Chicago Department of Public Health continues to recommend testing for asymptomatic contacts of anybody diagnosed with COVID-19, said Dr. Allison Arwady, director of the citys health department, during a Facebook Live show on Thursday. That has been our guidance all along, and we were very clear that is locally still the recommendation. FILE PHOTO: A logo for the company Afterpay is seen in a store window in Sydney By Nikhil Nainan (Reuters) - Afterpay laid out plans on Thursday to expand its buy-now, pay-later service to at least four continents, capitalising on the sector's burgeoning popularity, as the Australian firm said its full-year loss more than halved. An online shopping boom triggered by the coronavirus outbreak has boosted growth in the BNPL sector and helped turn Afterpay into one of Australia's 20 most valuable stocks, having soared more than 10-fold since March. The quarter to June was Afterpay's best in terms of the amount of sales it processed, and underlying sales in fiscal 2020 doubled from last year to A$11.10 billion ($8.04 billion). With nearly 10 million active customers and competition building, Afterpay set it sights on Asia with the acquisition of a Indonesia-focused but Singapore-based BNPL, EmpatKali. "They have got an established, albeit, very early stage position in Indonesia," Chief Executive Anthony Eisen told Reuters. The Southeast Asian country has the world's fourth-largest population and its booming digital economy is expected to top $130 billion by 2025. Afterpay also formally announced its launch into Canada and said earlier this week it would venture into mainland Europe, starting with Spain, France, Italy and possibly Portugal and Germany, facing up directly with Klarna on its home-turf as global competition intensifies. "We are in the land grab phase of growth," said Andrew Mitchell, a senior portfolio manager at Ophir Asset Management. In a volatile trading session, Afterpay shares climbed close to 6% to a record high, but quickly reversed course to trade sharply lower. It was marginally higher by late afternoon in line with the broader market. In the United States, active customers more than tripled during the year accounting for more than half of the company's base, while underlying sales more than quadrupled to A$4 billion and make up more than a third of sales. Story continues Tencent-backed Afterpay, which offers small interest-free instalment loans to shoppers and makes money by charging merchants a commission, reported a loss of A$22.9 million for the year ended June 30. ($1 = 1.3803 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Shashwat Awasthi and Nikhil Kurian Nainan in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta, Stephen Coates and Kim Coghill) Kristina Wong Residency Performance artist, comedian, and writer Kristina Wong's virtual residency at Wesleyan University's Center for the Arts includes performances, a Wesleyan Engage 2020 talk, and noontime talks with Wesleyan students. "Wong is an activist artist dedicated to forging meaningful social change, interrogating heteronormative standards, subverting racial and gender stereotypes, challenging complacency, and empowering audiencesa model for the values that we hold here at the Center for the Arts," said Fiona Coffey, Associate Director for Programming and Performing Arts. "During a time when civil liberties are being eroded on a daily basis, our nation is convulsing with protests over police brutality and systemic racism, and our healthcare system and federal response to the pandemic is in tatters, Wongs voice is needed more than ever. She is a remarkable example of an artist who is responding in real time to the current moment and who is also translating her community activism into art and performance. What an extraordinary model for Wesleyan students and our audiences to have." Read more on the Center for the Arts blog. View past events as part of this residency. Image by Larry Sandez. In the early days of Instagram, posts usually consisted of grainy snaps of random objects and dodgy filters, when many famous faces were just starting out on the picture sharing platform. And when you compare their first ever post to their most recent, the transformation is often quite remarkable. In celebration of simpler times in the celebrity sphere of Instagram, FEMAIL has collected a selection of posts from when they signed up. One star opted to share a photograph of a herd of deer for their first offering, while another uploaded a picture of a roaring fire. So, can you guess the public figure behind these snaps? Scroll down for answers 1. Sitting by a roaring fire on a rainy day: Which celebrity do you think would have posted this calming snap back in 2011? 2. Nearly noon: If you recognise the red bricks of this regal building taken more than five years ago you may be able to piece together who the first post belongs to 3. This herd of deer were blissfully unaware how famous they would become when this picture was shared with the caption 'Deerstagram?' in 2012 4. Love birds: Which celebrity shared the scene they woke up to in 2014 featuring this adorable pair of pigeons in love in the hustle and bustle of New York City? 5. Rastafarian icon Bob Marley featured on one celebrity's first post with the caption: 'I'm actin brand new on u a--holes' 6. This famous face was less than impressed with the Los Angeles traffic when they shared this Instagram post with the caption: 'None' 7. If you recognise the subject of this photograph you may be able to pinpoint who shared this as their first ever post on Insta 8. In contrast to the previous first post, this Instagrammer shared a snap of the usually frantic Los Angeles roads looking deserted Russia Claims Convoy Rammed U.S. Military In Syria In Self-Defense August 27, 2020 The Russian Defense Ministry claims a Russian patrol in Syria acted in self-defense when a vehicle in a military convoy rammed a coalition vehicle carrying U.S. soldiers. Four U.S. soldiers reportedly suffered "mild concussion-like symptoms" as a result of the incident, which took place on the morning of August 26 in northeastern Syria. Video of the encounter shows multiple Russian military vehicles traveling across an open field when they encounter U.S. military vehicles blocking a nearby road. The collision appears to occur after U.S. vehicles enter the field in an attempt to prevent the Russian convoy from advancing. U.S. General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discussed the incident by telephone with his Russian counterpart, General Valery Gerasimov. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, coalition forces in Syria had been notified about the Russian convoy's planned route, and the Russian military took "necessary steps" to end the incident and "further implement the assigned task." U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot said on August 26 that the coalition patrol vehicles left the area to "deescalate the situation," calling the Russian military's actions "unprofessional" and a violation of deconfliction protocols agreed by the United States and Russia in 2019. Based on reporting by The New York Times, Politico, and TASS Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-claims -convoy-rammed-u-s-military-in-syria- in-self-defense/30805493.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 Vietnam veteran Tomas Sandoval lived in Lincoln Heights and was in Vietnam during the Aug. 29 Chicano Moratorium march. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) As helicopters and C-130s flew over a mountaintop bunker in Vietnam, an Army soldier flipped through a copy of Time magazine and asked Tomas Sandoval two questions. Are you from Los Angeles? How about Mexican? Sandoval said yes to both. "Look what your boys are doing to your city," the soldier said, tossing Sandoval the magazine, turned to an article with the headline: "Chicano Riot." The story detailed how thousands of demonstrators marched through East Los Angeles for the National Chicano Moratorium Against the Vietnam War. What was intended to be a quiet rally, the article stated, "ended in violence and tragedy." Keepsakes of Vietnam veteran Tom Sandoval, a young man from Lincoln Heights who was overseas during the Chicano Moratorium, include dog tags and a tape recorder he used to dictate letters home. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) To 21-year-old Sandoval, it felt "like my people didn't give a damn about me." It was the summer of 1970, and as Sandoval fought in a war he'd been drafted into, activists back home protested a system that sent so many Mexican Americans like him to fight in Vietnam. Latinos in the U.S. had proved their patriotism for generations by fighting in this country's major conflicts going all the way back to the Civil War. Veterans returned to join the middle class, to fight for civil rights and a better future for their children. But with the Vietnam War, a new sentiment swept across barrios nationwide: skepticism. You had young activists recognizing that this was an unjust war, and recognizing it was taking an unjust toll on people of color in the United States," said Lorena Oropeza, a history professor at UC Davis who wrote a book about Chicano protest to the Vietnam War. "What they really did was flip this military tradition of saying, We served, treat us right, treat us as equals and said, 'Why do we have to die to be treated as equals?' But back in Vietnam, the young soldier from L.A's Eastside wrote an angry letter to his wife that read, in part, "What's come over everyone. They're all trying to prove something. But what?" Story continues Tom Sandoval keeps a stack of letters he wrote to his wife while serving in Vietnam. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Today, Sandoval knows the Moratorium, and the Chicano movement as a whole, was necessary to bring attention to inequalities. Half a century later, there's something familiar in the renewed mass of humanity turning out to protest, in the signs demanding justice and peace; in the anger and maybe, too, the hope. "We're 50 years beyond that ... march," Sandoval said. "I still think more needs to be done." The Sandoval family is no stranger to military service. Two of Tomas Sandoval's uncles served, one in World War II and the other in the Korean War. His father tried to enlist but was denied because of back issues. Instead, Sandoval's father helped assemble Airstream trailers and raised his sons in a "working-class family." The parents rented apartments before settling in a three-bedroom home in Lincoln Heights. But, like with so many other Mexican Americans on the Eastside, the Vietnam War came for them. Manuel, Tomas' older brother, was drafted in December 1965. After growing disillusioned with East L.A. College, Manuel had let his credits drop preventing him from getting a deferment. Vietnam veteran Tom Sandoval, wore a rosary on a helmet he decorated with a peace sign while overseas in 1970. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) The next year, in June, he left for Vietnam. It was the first time the new Marine had been on an airplane. At that point, there weren't many protests. "It was still a patriotic thing to fight," Manuel said. "The older generation, the Second World War people, were behind it all.... I found that it was because you were Chicano, you had to prove yourself a little more than a gabacho." Three years later, the year Tomas was drafted, Rep. Edward Roybal entered an article into the congressional record entitled "Mexican American Casualties in Vietnam." Twice as many people with Spanish surnames were dying in the war in proportion to their population in the Southwest, according to studies by academic Ralph C. Guzman, a future deputy assistant secretary of State. "Historically, Mexican Americans have been a suspect, 'foreign minority,'" Guzman wrote. "Like the Japanese Americans during World War II they have been under great pressure to prove loyalty to the United States." The next month, La Raza the most influential Chicano magazine of its era ran the article in its entirety. Printed at the bottom: "Support Moratorium on War." Vietnam veteran Tom Sandoval, front row, fourth from right, with the men he served with in 1970. (Courtesy of Tom Sandoval) The first Chicano Moratorium protest in East L.A. came on Dec. 20, 1969. It was promoted in La Raza, which printed that the moratorium would be held in honor of Chicanos "channeled into the death pits" of Vietnam. "Chicanos have for a long time been helping to keep America free by dying for her in wars, but America in return keeps Chicanos enslaved in poverty and misery," the article stated. That month, Tomas Sandoval celebrated Christmas in Vietnam. The soldiers decorated the tree with gum wrapper foil. He was one of three Latinos in the platoon. Many of the other soldiers "didn't even know what the heck a Mexican was," he said. "What are you?" they'd ask and then joke, "Oh, you're like those guys with the big hats and the bullets." Another soldier, from Alabama, couldn't pronounce his last name and called him "Sal-Vayno." Vietnam veteran Tom Sandoval, center, took copious amounts of photos while overseas in 1970. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) The next year brought more protests in the U.S. In the jungle, Sandoval spent months dodging bullets. In the summer of 1970, he experienced horrors during the invasion of Cambodia: soldiers dying around him, intense firefights, close calls. By the time Sandoval returned to Vietnam, "all of us kissed ground." It became clear soon enough, though, he said, that they were not there "saving anyone from communism." Manuel had been back in Lincoln Heights since 1967 and witnessed firsthand the protests against the war. At first, he derided the protesters as "long-haired freaks." Coming back as a Vietnam veteran hadn't been easy. When he went to clubs and women asked about his buzz cut, he preferred to say he'd been in jail rather than admit he served. When Manuel went for job interviews and said he'd just returned from Vietnam, the interviewer would ask, "How do you sleep at night?" On Aug. 29, 1970, Manuel was in East L.A. when he heard that the protesters were marching down Whittier Boulevard. He and his friends stood on the outskirts and watched as people carried signs that read "Stop the war." Later that day, he watched on TV as the demonstration ended in violence. Hundreds were arrested, and Los Angeles Times columnist Ruben Salazar was one of three people killed. Vietnam veteran Tom Sandoval lived in Lincoln Heights and was in Vietnam during the Aug. 29 Chicano Moratorium march. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) "I was against all that protesting. It wasnt until much later that I understood that they helped end the war," Manuel said. "It helped change the consciousness of the country." For Manuel, that perspective shifted the longer the war dragged on. Every year more men were killed "and we weren't advancing." Tomas came back from Vietnam in time for another walkout in 1971. But at that time, he had a pregnant wife and needed to focus on supporting his family. It wasn't until years later that he learned about the educational inequities and how the movement was necessary to bring those issues to light. He knew some of the veterans who marched and their wives who were involved in the movement. "I didn't understand the full focus of it," he said. "It took me a while." Fifty years later, Tomas' son, Tomas Summers Sandoval, teaches history and Chicanx-Latinx studies at Pomona College. He's conducted oral histories with Latino veterans of the Vietnam War, transforming their words into a public history exhibit, a play and an upcoming book. "It's a personal thing," he said. "But in the world of Chicanx studies, everything is sort of personal." There were veterans who came back from Vietnam and became involved in antiwar movements and others who were hostile to those politics. Summers Sandoval interviewed one veteran who went to the moratorium and fought a cop because he was hitting someone else. Most of those returning, he said, were just trying to "grapple with all the issues that they're dealing with after war, in a military that does very little to integrate you back into society at that time period." Today, Hispanics are the fastest-growing minority population in the military, according to the Pew Research Center. The issues from decades ago still remain, says Oropeza. She questioned how equitable education is in California and throughout the U.S. "If people really want to serve, I say go for it," Oropeza said. "But I like people to have options, and oftentimes they go to the military because college is just not in their purview." Manuel, now 74 years old, works as a security officer. In recent months, he listened as co-workers talked about attending Black Lives Matter protests. They called for some of the same things protesters had demanded as they marched in 1970. "The same guy that wrote the signs then, he wrote the signs now," he said. His brother, long ago retired from a Latino business center, praised the strides achieved by Chicano Moratorium activists. "I just wish more changes could have been made," Tomas said, "and that we wouldn't have some of the same issues today." MPs will be asked to get themselves tested for coronavirus at least 72 hours before the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Friday. Besides MPs, parliament staff and media personnel, among other entrants to the building, will also be required to undergo the test. Visitors will not be allowed during the session that will be held as per the guidelines, including those on social distancing, issued by the health ministry in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The session is likely to start from September 14 and conclude on October 1. To finalise the arrangements for the upcoming session, Birla on Friday chaired a meeting of officials from the Ministry of Health, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Delhi government, and Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats. Comprehensive arrangements have been made in the Parliament building for the upcoming session in wake of the pandemic and MPs will be requested to get tested for coronavirus at least 72 hours before the start of the session," he said after the meeting. Random tests will also be conducted in Parliament. Besides MPs, all those expected to enter the premises, including officials from ministries, representatives from the media, and staff of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats, will also be tested before the start of the session, Birla said. Top sources in the Lok Sabha Secretariat said that all central hall passes have been suspended. Birla said arrangements have also been made for zero-touch security checks during the session and, if required, random tests for COVID-19 can be conducted during the session. Birla said the sitting arrangement of all MPS has been done keeping in mind the guidelines issued by the Health Ministry and the protocol of social distancing would be adequately followed. He said all other arrangements have been reviewed to ensure the best of safety for all members, their staff and others. Birla said he was hopeful the MPs would abide by the protocol and not violate any guideline. A series of meetings have already taken place and reviews have been done keeping in mind the 18-day session that begin on September 14. The Centre has listed 11 ordinances to be passed in the Monsoon Session. In response to a growing demand from travellers, AXA Gulf, one of the largest international insurers in the GCC, has introduced a cover for Covid-19 to all its travel insurance policies. The insurer has moved quickly to adapt its travel cover after research from IATA (International Air Transport Association) revealed that 44% of travellers would increase their likelihood to start flying again if Covid-19 insurance was made available, said a statement. As travel restrictions are relaxed, customers are looking to get away and an increasing number of destinations are opening up to them. AXA has identified the top 10 countries where visitors are not required to quarantine, and the good news is theres something for everyone. The countries are: Seychelles; Greece; Tanzania; Bulgaria; Czech Republic; Italy; Croatia; Kenya; Indonesia and Austria. For anyone testing positive AXAs travel policies now include the cost of Covid-19 emergency medical expenses and the insurer will also meet expenses associated with the rescheduling of a return flight caused as a result of the virus, the statement said. Franck Heimburger, Chief Personal Lines Officer at AXA Gulf, said: Covid-19 has had an unprecedented impact on global travel and with many people in the region spending time in isolation over the last few months, its no surprise that they are eager to travel and seek a change of scenery. Vacations and travel are clearly a top priority post-lockdown purchase for many people and in line with our purpose to protect what matters, it made sense to provide the necessary peace of mind to those individuals and families looking to travel safely. As one of the largest global insurers, our team is available around the clock for any medical emergency assistance you may need worldwide. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size On the first day of the new Abbott government, Australias climate scientists got a pretty clear message. It was September 18, 2013, and within 24 hours of the swearing-in ceremony at Government House in Yarralumla, the new environment minister, Greg Hunt, had called the head of the Climate Commission and sacked him. It was a short and courteous conversation, Dr Tim Flannery recalls. Im pretty sure that cabinet hadnt been convened when they did it. My very strong recollection is that it was their very first act in government. Flannerys colleague on the commission, Professor Will Steffen from the Australian National Universitys Climate Change Institute, was also sacked, along with all the other commission members. I think we were the first definitive action of the Abbott government, Steffen recalls. They got rid of us and you could probably measure it in hours rather than days. What surprised the scientists most was not their hasty sacking but how quickly the government obliterated their work. The website that wed spent a lot of time building was taken down with absolutely no justification as far as I could see, says Flannery, the one-time principal research scientist at the Australian Museum and internationally renowned scientific author. It was giving basic information that was being used by many, many people teachers and others just to gain a better understanding of what climate science was actually about. The Climate Commission had been set up in 2011 by Julia Gillards Labor government as an independent source of information for the public to understand climate change and its impacts on Australia. But the commission and its members had been pilloried as alarmist by sceptical columnists in the Murdoch media and by radio shock jocks from the beginning. Flannery was expecting the commission to be disbanded, but the decision to kill its website hurt. I was almost proud to be sacked for the first time in my life from that post by Greg Hunt. Other commissioners Professor Lesley Hughes, a Macquarie University biologist who worked with the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); Gerry Hueston, a former Australasian president of BP; and Roger Beale, the former head of the Department of the Environment during the Howard years were all sacked by letter. Beale would wear the sacking as a badge of honour. I was almost proud to be sacked for the first time in my life from that post by Greg Hunt, he told me later. Advertisement Despite the attempt to erase their work from history, a group of the commissioners were determined to push on with their work. Within days of their sacking, they launched a publicly funded website under a new name, the Climate Council, and kept pumping out reports on climate science for the public to read. (Its still active.) Hunt argued that shutting down the Climate Commission was just part of the governments plans to avoid duplication of services with the federal environment department. But Hunt, like everyone in the Abbott government from senior cabinet members down, knew the prime minister was a climate sceptic who questioned a lot of what the commission had reported. Abbott had made it clear over his years in opposition that he was dubious about mainstream climate science, opposed putting a price on Australias carbon emissions, and was hostile to renewable energy targets. As environment minister, Greg Hunt (right) persuaded Tony Abbott not to oppose climate science publicly. Credit:Edwina Pickles I think that the proposition that climate is changing drastically, that man-made carbon dioxide emissions are the cause, and that therefore we must drastically reduce, almost at any cost, our carbon dioxide emissions I think that proposition is not well-founded, Abbott told me, echoing similar remarks hed made to the ABCs Four Corners program while in opposition. Hunt liked to distance himself from Abbott on climate change by professing his own belief in the science. As environment minister, he struck an agreement with Abbott that the new government would not challenge climate science publicly. Abbott largely abided by this. Nevertheless Hunt worked hard on Abbotts strategy to dismantle or review almost every major climate change policy put in place by Labor. That meant a purge. Unknown to Flannery and his colleagues, other sackings were already taking place. Hunt was not the only executioner; other senior ministers had to take up the axe as well. The Saturday after Abbotts election, Treasury secretary Martin Parkinson was pushing his shopping trolley through Coles in the upmarket Canberra suburb of Manuka when his mobile rang. On the line was Australias most senior bureaucrat, Ian Watt, head of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. He told Parkinson to come to his office that afternoon before abruptly hanging up. No pleasantries, no nothing, Parkinson recalls. His wife Heather Smith, also a senior public servant, was in the shopping aisle with him. I think this is going to end badly, he told her. Advertisement More than any other public servant in Canberra, Parkinson had a long history with climate change policy. A big-thinking economist with a policy brain to match, Parkinson had worked for the three previous administrations John Howards Coalition government, and Kevin Rudds and Gillards Labor governments on schemes to put a price on carbon emissions. Until now, no one in the Abbott government had suggested Parkinsons past would be a problem. After all, no incoming government had ever removed a Treasury secretary as far as anyone could remember. Since the election a week earlier, Parkinson had been talking with the new treasurer, Joe Hockey. He even got a call from the ebullient Hockey on the Friday night. Great first week really think were going to work well together, Hockey told him. He asked the Treasury secretary how his weekend went. Shithouse, Parkinson replied. You bastards sacked me. But when Parkinson arrived at Ian Watts office that Saturday afternoon, he found Watt waiting anxiously with the Public Service commissioner, Steve Sedgwick. Watt couldnt look his old colleague in the face. Instead he read out some legal words saying, effectively, the Abbott government didnt have confidence in Parkinsons ability to run the Treasury. Oddly, they then asked Parkinson to stay on to help sort out Abbotts promised Commission of Audit on government spending and deliver the first budget. If Parkinson was willing to do that, they might find him an overseas posting at the International Monetary Fund. The Treasury secretary was not impressed. I looked at Ian and I said, Im not going anywhere. If they want to sack me, they can sack me. After some difficult words back and forth, it was understood Parkinson would stay on for the budget. The two bureaucrats then gave him a hug before he left. Parkinson was totally stunned. Parkinson heard nothing from his minister, Joe Hockey. So on Monday, he rang Hockeys chief of staff, Grant Lovett. It was soon clear that Lovett was not in the loop: he asked the Treasury secretary how his weekend went. Shithouse, Parkinson replied. You bastards sacked me. A few minutes later Hockey was on the line. He had no idea this was going to happen, Parkinson recalls. He was clearly upset. In fact it was a combination of upset and furious. And he went in to bat for me. Advertisement Abbott hadnt told Hockey he was purging his most senior, experienced public servant but Hockey bowed to Abbott and sucked it up. The purge that targeted Parkinson became known in Canberra as the night of the short knives. Loading People were sent hell, west and crooked, says Allan Behm, the former chief of staff for Labors climate change minister Greg Combet. Behm had served for years as a senior defence bureaucrat. I couldnt find any work. Nobody would touch us, he tells me. Abbott was just getting started. He was determined to completely overhaul Australias climate change policy. He had already put the wheels in motion more than a month before the election. While still opposition leader, a confident Abbott had written to Watt to tell him the bureaucrats should begin drafting laws to repeal Julia Gillards Clean Energy Act as soon as the election was over. The ground-breaking act passed in 2011 had put a price on carbon emissions. The same day he wrote to Watt, Abbott had sent a warning letter to the chair of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), businesswoman Jillian Broadbent. Knock your socks off and tell me I shouldnt be pursuing my job whilst youre not my minister. The CEFC, set up by the Gillard government, was designed to drive investment in clean energy. During the caretaker government period before the election, Abbott wanted Broadbent to make sure it immediately ceases to assess or make any further approvals or payments. Advertisement Hunt and then shadow finance minister Andrew Robb also wrote to the CEFCs board members before the election with the same message: were going to disband you, so dont enter into any new contracts. But when one opposition frontbencher contacted Oliver Yates, the corporations feisty chief executive, appointed by the Gillard government, Yates told him to back off. I said, I dont know exactly what the law is here but knock your socks off and tell me I shouldnt be pursuing my job whilst youre not my minister, Yates recalled telling him. As soon as you are my minister, as I understand it, you cant ask me not to pursue my obligations. Under my role as a statutory officer, my power comes from Parliament. Yates was absolutely right. The former Macquarie executive was lacking in some of the social niceties, but he knew how to read legal advice. Neither Hunt nor Hockey nor Abbott had the power to shut down the CEFC until they got a new law through Parliament, and that included the Senate. Broadbent quickly realised at their first meeting that neither Hockey nor Cormann had a clue what the corporation did. Despite this, straight after the election, Yates and Broadbent were summoned to a meeting with Hockey and the new finance minister, Mathias Cormann. Broadbent was deeply worried that the government, in its haste to kill off the corporation, would have a fire sale of all its investments in renewable energy projects. That would trash the value of the assets, something she really wanted to avoid. Broadbent told both ministers the corporations investments were good and they would be able to sell them at 100 per cent of their value if that became necessary. Hockey was genial, but Broadbent quickly realised at their first meeting that neither he nor Cormann had a clue what the corporation did that it was working in syndicates with big private investors to get large renewable projects built. It was part of their platform to unwind it, but they had little understanding of what we were doing. So in the end, the treasurer said, What exactly do you do there, Jillian? she recalls. Advertisement COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) today reported net income of $452.0 million, or $11.29 per diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2020 ended August 1, 2020. This result includes a one-time, after-tax benefit of $341.9 million, or $8.54 per diluted share, associated with the distribution centers sold as part of the previously announced sale/leaseback transactions that closed during the quarter. Excluding this benefit, adjusted net income was $110.1 million, or $2.75 per diluted share (see non-GAAP table included later in this release), which compares to the company's guidance for the second quarter, as provided on June 26, 2020, of $2.50 to $2.75 per diluted share (non-GAAP). Adjusted net income includes approximately $10 million of additional store, distribution center, and corporate bonus expense that was not contemplated in the company's June 26 guidance. Adjusted net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2019 was $20.6 million, or $0.53 per diluted share (non-GAAP). Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2020 totaled $1,644 million, a 31.3% increase compared to $1,252 million for the same period last year, with the growth resulting from a 31.3% increase in comparable sales, and sales growth from new and relocated non-comp stores, offset by a slightly lower store count year-over-year. Commenting on today's announcement, Bruce Thorn, President and CEO of Big Lots stated, "I am delighted with our record-breaking results in Q2. Our comp increase was the best in the company's history, and adjusted EPS was the most we've reported in a second quarter, and more than five times what we reported a year ago. Comp sales were driven by strong results both in-store, where traffic and basket were each up double digits, and on-line, which drove almost five comp points, and where we acquired more new customers than in any prior quarter. I continue to be very proud of how our team has responded to the challenges over the past six months. The results in Q2 were made possible by exceptional teamwork across the entire organization, and I want to thank our associates in our stores, the distribution centers, and our corporate headquarters for their dedication, compassion and tireless efforts. Throughout, we have maintained our commitment to serving our customers and our communities in as safe and healthy environment as possible." Mr. Thorn continued, "Looking forward, the third quarter is off to a strong start and I am confident that our Operation North Star strategies will continue to drive top line growth, increase customer engagement, and deliver tremendous leverage in our business. With our assortment of everyday essentials and stay-at-home products, we are well positioned for what appears to be a new normal. Our balanced offering of thoughtfully curated merchandise, neverouts, and closeouts, differentiates us from the competition and continues to surprise and delight our customers with tremendous value. Our operating results under Operation North Star, along with our commitment to disciplined capital management, position us to continue driving significant shareholder value." Earnings per diluted share Q2 2020 Q2 2019 Earnings per diluted share $11.29 $0.16 Gain associated with the distribution centers included in the sale/leaseback transactions less related expenses (1) ($8.54) - Impact of costs associated with early implementation phases of the strategic business transformation review (1) - $0.37 Earnings per diluted share - adjusted basis $2.75 $0.53 (1) Non-GAAP detailed reconciliation provided in our statements below. Inventory and Cash Management Inventory ended the second quarter of fiscal 2020 at $714 million compared to $874 million for the same period last year with the 18% decrease resulting from strong sales results in all merchandise categories in the quarter and a slightly lower store count year-over-year. The company ended the second quarter of fiscal 2020 with $899 million of Cash and Cash Equivalents and $43 million of long-term debt, compared to $54 million of Cash and Cash Equivalents and $468 million of long-term debt as of the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2019. Share Repurchase Authorization As announced in a separate press release, on August 27, 2020, the company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $500 million of the company's outstanding common shares. The authorization may be utilized to repurchase shares in the open market and/or in privately negotiated transactions at the company's discretion, subject to market conditions and other factors. Pursuant to the authorization, shares may be repurchased commencing September 1, 2020, and the authorization is open-ended. Dividend Also announced in a separate press release, on August 27, 2020, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per common share. This dividend payment of approximately $12 million will be payable on September 25, 2020, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 11, 2020. Company Outlook As of March 30, 2020, the company withdrew its full year guidance for fiscal 2020. At this point, the company continues to believe it does not have sufficient visibility to reinstate full year guidance. The company expects to provide a business update at the end of September when it has greater visibility on expected results for the current quarter. Conference Call/Webcast The company will host a conference call today at 8:00 a.m. to discuss the financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2020. A webcast of the conference call is available through the Investor Relations section of the company's website http://www.biglots.com . An archive of the call will be available through the Investor Relations section of the company's website http://www.biglots.com/ after 12:00 p.m. today and will remain available through midnight on Friday, September 11, 2020. A replay of this call will also be available beginning today at 12:00 p.m. through September 11 by dialing 877.660.6853 (Toll Free) or 201.612.7415 (Toll) and entering Replay Conference ID 13707540. All times are Eastern Time. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) is a neighborhood discount retailer operating 1,407 stores in 47 states, as well as a best-in-class ecommerce platform with expanded capabilities via BOPIS, curbside pickup, Instacart and, now, PICKUP with same day delivery. The company's product assortment is focused on home essentials: Furniture, Seasonal, Soft Home, Food, Consumables, Hard Home, and Electronics, Toys & Accessories. Big Lots' mission is to help people Live BIG and Save Lots. The company strives to be the BIG difference for a better life by delivering unmatched value to customers through surprise and delight, being a "best place to work" culture for associates, rewarding shareholders with consistent growth and top-tier returns, as well as doing good in local communities. For more information about the company, visit www.biglots.com. Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and such statements are intended to qualify for the protection of the safe harbor provided by the Act. The words "anticipate," "estimate," "approximate," "expect," "objective," "goal," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "will," "should," "may," "target," "forecast," "guidance," "outlook" and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. Similarly, descriptions of objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to the expectations of management as to future occurrences and trends, including statements expressing optimism or pessimism about future operating results or events and projected sales, earnings, capital expenditures and business strategy. Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of assumptions concerning future conditions that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Forward-looking statements are and will be based upon management's then-current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance and are applicable only as of the dates of such statements. Although the company believes the expectations expressed in forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of knowledge, forward-looking statements, by their nature, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, any one or a combination of which could materially affect business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Forward-looking statements that the company makes herein and in other reports and releases are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, developments related to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic,current economic and credit conditions, the cost of goods, the inability to successfully execute strategic initiatives, competitive pressures, economic pressures on customers and the company, the availability of brand name closeout merchandise, trade restrictions, freight costs, the risks discussed in the Risk Factors section of the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other factors discussed from time to time in other filings with the SEC, including Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. This release should be read in conjunction with such filings, and you should consider all of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures the company makes on related subjects in public announcements and SEC filings. BIG LOTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) AUGUST 1 AUGUST 3 2020 2019 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $898,560 $53,705 Inventories 713,504 874,058 Other current assets 83,956 112,675 Total current assets 1,696,020 1,040,438 Operating lease right-of-use assets 1,663,020 1,208,349 Property and equipment - net 727,091 860,648 Deferred income taxes 16,597 16,077 Other assets 66,762 66,783 $4,169,490 $3,192,295 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $379,409 $345,355 Current operating lease liabilities 206,088 239,592 Property, payroll and other taxes 93,829 86,177 Accrued operating expenses 137,428 206,733 Insurance reserves 35,360 37,745 Accrued salaries and wages 44,755 35,192 Income taxes payable 179,821 614 Total current liabilities 1,076,690 951,408 Long-term debt 43,074 467,800 Noncurrent operating lease liabilities 1,472,307 1,021,130 Deferred income taxes 4,639 0 Insurance reserves 56,333 52,122 Unrecognized tax benefits 10,442 13,381 Other liabilities 177,845 41,911 Shareholders' equity 1,328,160 644,543 $4,169,490 $3,192,295 BIG LOTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share data) 13 WEEKS ENDED 13 WEEKS ENDED AUGUST 1, 2020 AUGUST 3, 2019 % % (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Net sales $1,644,197 100.0 $1,252,414 100.0 Gross margin 683,564 41.6 498,230 39.8 Selling and administrative expenses 504,000 30.7 455,026 36.3 Depreciation expense 33,974 2.1 30,023 2.4 Gain on sale of distribution centers (463,053) (28.2) 0 0.0 Operating profit 608,643 37.0 13,181 1.1 Interest expense (2,548) (0.2) (4,565) (0.4) Other income (expense) 1,357 0.1 (789) (0.1) Income before income taxes 607,452 36.9 7,827 0.6 Income tax expense 155,480 9.5 1,649 0.1 Net income $451,972 27.5 $6,178 0.5 Earnings per common share Basic $11.52 $0.16 Diluted $11.29 $0.16 Weighted average common shares outstanding Basic 39,239 39,000 Dilutive effect of share-based awards 801 77 Diluted 40,040 39,077 Cash dividends declared per common share $0.30 $0.30 BIG LOTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share data) 26 WEEKS ENDED 26 WEEKS ENDED AUGUST 1, 2020 AUGUST 3, 2019 % % (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Net sales $3,083,346 100.0 $2,548,210 100.0 Gross margin 1,254,320 40.7 1,017,277 39.9 Selling and administrative expenses 962,631 31.2 915,631 35.9 Depreciation expense 71,664 2.3 62,820 2.5 Gain on sale of distribution centers (463,053) (15.0) 0 0.0 Operating profit 683,078 22.2 38,826 1.5 Interest expense (5,870) (0.2) (8,298) (0.3) Other income (expense) (1,960) (0.1) 121 0.0 Income before income taxes 675,248 21.9 30,649 1.2 Income tax expense 173,953 5.6 8,931 0.4 Net income $501,295 16.3 $21,718 0.9 Earnings per common share Basic $12.79 $0.55 Diluted $12.66 $0.55 Weighted average common shares outstanding Basic 39,184 39,461 Dilutive effect of share-based awards 419 83 Diluted 39,603 39,544 Cash dividends declared per common share $0.60 $0.60 BIG LOTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) 13 WEEKS ENDED 13 WEEKS ENDED AUGUST 1, 2020 AUGUST 3, 2019 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Net cash provided by operating activities $322,263 $100,850 Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 546,499 (85,965) Net cash used in financing activities (282,074) (24,752) Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 586,688 (9,867) Cash and cash equivalents: Beginning of period 311,872 63,572 End of period $898,560 $53,705 BIG LOTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) 26 WEEKS ENDED 26 WEEKS ENDED AUGUST 1, 2020 AUGUST 3, 2019 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Net cash provided by operating activities $468,384 $158,285 Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 517,586 (162,731) Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (140,131) 12,117 Increase in cash and cash equivalents 845,839 7,671 Cash and cash equivalents: Beginning of period 52,721 46,034 End of period $898,560 $53,705 BIG LOTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited) The following tables reconcile: gross margin, gross margin rate, selling and administrative expenses, selling and administrative expense rate, gain on sale of distribution centers, gain on sale of distribution centers rate, operating profit, operating profit rate, income tax expense, effective income tax rate, net income, and diluted earnings per share for the second quarter of 2020, the year-to-date 2020, the second quarter of 2019, and the year-to-date 2019 (GAAP financial measures) to adjusted gross margin, adjusted gross margin rate, adjusted selling and administrative expenses, adjusted selling and administrative expense rate, adjusted gain on sale of distribution centers, adjusted gain on sale of distribution centers rate, adjusted operating profit, adjusted operating profit rate, adjusted income tax expense, adjusted effective income tax rate, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted earnings per share (non-GAAP financial measures). Second quarter of 2020 - Thirteen weeks ended August 1, 2020 As Reported Adjustment to exclude gain on sale of distribution centers and related expenses As Adjusted (non-GAAP) Selling and administrative expenses $ 504,000 $ (3,956) $ 500,044 Selling and administrative expense rate 30.7% (0.2%) 30.4% Gain on sale of distribution centers (463,053) 463,053 - Gain on sale of distribution centers rate (28.2%) 28.2% - Operating profit 608,643 (459,097) 149,546 Operating profit rate 37.0% (27.9%) 9.1% Income tax expense 155,480 (117,194) 38,286 Effective income tax rate 25.6% 0.2% 25.8% Net income 451,972 (341,903) 110,069 Diluted earnings per share $ 11.29 $ (8.54) $ 2.75 The above adjusted selling and administrative expenses, adjusted selling and administrative expense rate, adjusted gain on sale of distribution centers, adjusted gain on sale of distribution centers rate, adjusted operating profit, adjusted operating profit rate, adjusted income tax expense, adjusted effective income tax rate, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted earnings per share are "non-GAAP financial measures" as that term is defined by Rule 101 of Regulation G (17 CFR Part 244) and Item 10 of Regulation S-K (17 CFR Part 229). These non-GAAP financial measures exclude from the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") a gain resulting from the sale of our Columbus, Ohio, Durant, Oklahoma, Montgomery, Alabama, and Tremont, Pennsylvania distribution centers and the related expenses of $459,097 ($341,903, net of tax). Year-to-date 2020 - Twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 As Reported Adjustment to exclude gain on sale of distribution centers and related expenses As Adjusted (non-GAAP) Selling and administrative expenses $ 962,631 $ (3,956) $ 958,675 Selling and administrative expense rate 31.2% (0.1%) 31.1% Gain on sale of distribution centers (463,053) 463,053 - Gain on sale of distribution centers rate (15.0%) 15.0% - Operating profit 683,078 (459,097) 223,981 Operating profit rate 22.2% (14.9%) 7.3% Income tax expense 173,953 (117,194) 56,759 Effective income tax rate 25.8% 0.5% 26.3% Net income 501,295 (341,903) 159,392 Diluted earnings per share $ 12.66 $ (8.63) $ 4.02 The above adjusted selling and administrative expenses, adjusted selling and administrative expense rate, adjusted gain on sale of distribution centers, adjusted gain on sale of distribution centers rate, adjusted operating profit, adjusted operating profit rate, adjusted income tax expense, adjusted effective income tax rate, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted earnings per share are "non-GAAP financial measures" as that term is defined by Rule 101 of Regulation G (17 CFR Part 244) and Item 10 of Regulation S-K (17 CFR Part 229). These non-GAAP financial measures exclude from the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP a gain resulting from the sale of our Columbus, Ohio, Durant, Oklahoma, Montgomery, Alabama, and Tremont, Pennsylvania distribution centers and the related expenses of $459,097 ($341,903, net of tax). Second quarter of 2019 - Thirteen weeks ended August 3, 2019 As Reported Impact to exclude transformational restructuring costs As Adjusted (non- GAAP) Selling and administrative expenses $ 455,026 $ (19,452) $ 435,574 Selling and administrative expense rate 36.3% (1.6%) 34.8% Operating profit 13,181 19,452 32,633 Operating profit rate 1.1% 1.6% 2.6% Income tax expense 1,649 4,993 6,642 Effective income tax rate 21.1% 3.2% 24.3% Net income 6,178 14,459 20,637 Diluted earnings per share $ 0.16 $ 0.37 $ 0.53 The above adjusted selling and administrative expenses, adjusted selling and administrative expense rate, adjusted operating profit, adjusted operating profit rate, adjusted income tax expense, adjusted effective income tax rate, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted earnings per share are "non-GAAP financial measures" as that term is defined by Rule 101 of Regulation G (17 CFR Part 244) and Item 10 of Regulation S-K (17 CFR Part 229). These non-GAAP financial measures exclude from the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP the costs associated with a transformational restructuring initiative of $19,452 ($14,459, net of tax). Year-to-date 2019 - Twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019 As Reported Impact to exclude department exit inventory impairment Impact to exclude transformational restructuring costs Adjustment to exclude legal settlement loss contingencies As Adjusted (non- GAAP) Gross margin $ 1,017,277 $ 6,050 $ - $ - $ 1,023,327 Gross margin rate 39.9% 0.2% - - 40.2% Selling and administrative expenses 915,631 - (34,785) (7,250) 873,596 Selling and administrative expense rate 35.9% - (1.4%) (0.3%) 34.3% Operating profit 38,826 6,050 34,785 7,250 86,911 Operating profit rate 1.5% 0.2% 1.4% 0.3% 3.4% Income tax expense 8,931 1,553 8,928 1,696 21,108 Effective income tax rate 29.1% (0.4%) (1.2%) (0.7%) 26.8% Net income 21,718 4,497 25,857 5,554 57,626 Diluted earnings per share $ 0.55 $ 0.11 $ 0.65 $ 0.14 $ 1.46 The above adjusted gross margin, adjusted gross margin rate, adjusted selling and administrative expenses, adjusted selling and administrative expense rate, adjusted operating profit, adjusted operating profit rate, adjusted income tax expense, adjusted effective income tax rate, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted earnings per share are "non-GAAP financial measures" as that term is defined by Rule 101 of Regulation G (17 CFR Part 244) and Item 10 of Regulation S-K (17 CFR Part 229). These non-GAAP financial measures exclude from the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP (1) an inventory impairment amount of $6,050 ($4,497, net of tax) as a result of a merchandise department exit; (2) the costs associated with a transformational restructuring initiative of $34,785 ($25,857, net of tax); and (3) a pretax charge related to estimated legal settlement of employee class actions of $7,250 ($5,554, net of tax). Our management believes that the disclosure of these non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors because the non-GAAP financial measures present an alternative and more relevant method for measuring our operating performance, excluding special items included in the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, that management believes is more indicative of our on-going operating results and financial condition. Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures, along with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, in evaluating our operating performance. SOURCE Big Lots, Inc. Related Links http://www.biglots.com It was John O'Donohue who once said that a week by the sea could cure all ills and restore a person to a new equilibrium. In the dog days of August, after months of writing and farming, my soul was empty and I knew the only place to recharge it was the mountains and oceans of Kerry. I headed south last week, escaping the flatlands of the middle part of this green kingdom. In another year, in another season, I would have thought first of getting on a plane to make a journey to the sun. However, in the time of the great sickness we are on our raft in the North Atlantic. After my week, I am glad of this raft, for she has revealed herself in new ways to not just me, but all those who have travelled within her for their summer break. In movement, there is a feeling of freedom. Perhaps migration is in our DNA? Like the birds of the air, we need to move each year in search of a new horizon, a new experience. I headed south for the Dingle Peninsula and the mountains of Saint Brendan. I've been writing a new book about a riverboat journey and I wanted to walk in the footsteps of Saint Brendan in his old home because he is the father of all boat journeys. The Cosan na Naomh is an ancient pilgrim path running from Ventry Beach to the foot of Mount Brandon. The 18km pathway goes from one side of the peninsula to the other and, I was told, was designed for pilgrims to come from the sea in their canoes. I have always been fond of Saint Brendan, not because of his voyage to America, but rather because here was an Irish saint who, much like Saint Patrick, did battle with old gods on mountaintops. Also like Saint Patrick, he had his disciples and he went on great voyages of discovery. The day was fine as I set off through the old country lanes and thickly blossomed hedges laden with wildflowers and blackberries, which I picked at my leisure. It was a curious thing to note that the blackberries in Kerry had come into season before the ones in my native Longford and all around me grew different wildflowers and plants. As a student forester had told me at my campsite the night before, they are members of the Lusitanian flora, namely a select group of 15 or so plants that are found only in the southwest of Ireland and the Iberian peninsula. They are, I was informed, a hangover from the last ice age or, as some think, they were brought here by the early people of long ago. The Cosan has been the site of pilgrimage for the Kerry people since medieval times and, though the day was fine and the region was full of tourists, I walked alone. Perhaps I thought this voyage of mine was a teaching one. Perhaps the trip was hidden in my magnetic mind. The birds move north in summer to find new resources and I too moved north in search of a new story. About three miles in, I gained three friendly companions in the form of local farm dogs. They were all mongrels of one breed or another. I don't know why they took it upon themselves, but they began the pilgrimage with me through the Dingle countryside. The first half-mile was in the universe of their understanding. Soon, however, we were miles from their farmhouse and try as I did to send them home, on they came. And so, not wanting to turn back, I decided that these were to be my brothers of the road. 'Why not?' I reasoned, as Saint Brendan also had a crew. We walked on by the old roads past the countryside, which is a world of its own for the people who live there. It contained, I reasoned, everything that life wants in rural Ireland: land, water and a hardworking people. At last, we came to Gallarus Oratory. To my knowledge, it is the oldest intact church in Kerry. I walked into its one-roomed single space and offered up my prayers to the gods of writing and prayed for the health of my family and farm, as any pilgrim would do. The dogs did not enter the church, perhaps sensing the aura of the space. I attempted to walk on towards Brandon but our path now was on the public road and my canine brothers were running in front of cars and vans. I knew there was a risk they would be hit, so we turned back for Ventry. It had already been two hours of walking and there would be another two to come. It was, I thought to myself, enough of a pilgrimage to make a man holy in this day and age. Back at the farmhouse, I met a confused farmer who was glad to see his dogs returned. The little devils, he said, and we fell into talking about the land in the way that only farming people can. "It must be beautiful to work the land here with the sea on your back and the mountains to the front," I said. "When the wind blows and you get a smell of the wild fuchsia, there's no place like it," he said simply. I never did finish that pilgrimage but the talk with him was as good a tonic as any sort. In travelling to distant lands so often, we come to meet ourselves in a different form. I went to bed that night tired from my Camino and I knew I had regained what I had come south for - the excitement for tomorrow. Maybe that's what the Cosan na Naomh is all about. Some health workers in Ondo State have accused the state government of denying them salaries in the past 15 months. The 25 health workers, who took to social media to call out the government of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, said life has been miserable for them despite their active participation in fighting the new coronavirus in the state. The health workers include doctors, nurses, scientific officers, pharmacists, medical lab technicians and record officers and currently work at government hospitals in Owo, Ore, Ikare Akoko, Irele and many other parts of the state. This newspaper gathered that they were employed into the Ondo State civil service under the health management board on June 26, 2019 during the tenure of Oluwatoyin Akinkuotu as Head of Service (HoS). PREMIUM TIMES also obtained copies of employment letters duly signed by Adeniran Ikuomola, the Permanent Secretary of the State Health Management Board. Some of the affected individuals spoke with our correspondent under the condition of anonymity to avoid being sanctioned. We have been living on debt for the past one year. We were recruited and offered appointments letters but no payment. We kept working due to the promise that the government will attend to us, one of the doctors said. A pharmacist told PREMIUM TIMES that quitting the job at the period of COVID-19 may hinder the effort of the government towards curbing the deadly virus. He, however, said that despite their travails, they keep up with the normal office activities. We have reached out to the state Assembly and some other stakeholders but effort to get our salaries proved abortive and were getting tired of this injustice, another affected person said. When contacted, the state Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogo, told our correspondent that the current HoS, Oluwadare Aragbaiye, is in the best position to give reason for the neglect. Mr Aragbaiye, is however, yet to respond to PREMIUM TIMES enquiries as of the time of filing this report. He did not respond to our correspondents calls and text messages. Salt-to-steel conglomerate Tata Sons has made provisions of Rs 16,439 crore for its now-closed telecom business, taking the total amount written off for the loss-making business to nearly Rs 60,000 crore. The holding company for Tata Group's companies cited the figure in its annual report for 2019-20, according to a Business Standard report. Tata Teleservices' (TTSL) total adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues stand at 16,798 crore, of which the company has paid Rs 4,197 crore. Tata Sons reported a dividend of Rs 404 crore in FY20, the same as the previous year, in order to help TTSL meet its financial obligations, the report said. Tata Sons injected capital worth Rs 7,000 crore into TTSL, the report added. The report said the conglomerate's consolidated profit after tax in FY20 dropped to Rs 10,916 crore from Rs 28,463 crore the previous year, hurt by a rise in exceptional items. Auditors raised concerns about the ability of Tata Steel Europe and AirAsia India to continue as going concerns since the businesses have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, Business Standard reported. The auditors cited a letter from TS Global Procurement to Tata Steel Europe, which said a working capital commitment should not be construed as a promise of future financial support to Tata Sons, the report said. "Accordingly, there can be no certainty that the funds required by Tata Steel Europe will, in fact, be made available. These conditions, along with the other matters explained in the special purpose financial information, indicate the existence of a material uncertainty, which may cast significant doubt about Tata Steel Europes ability to continue as a going concern. The special purpose financial information does not include the adjustments that would result if Tata Steel Europe were unable to continue as a going concern," the auditor stated, as quoted by the publication. (Natural News) Its become quite obvious that the radical Leftists who are destroying one American city after another are looking for any excuse they can find to riot and loot. Wanton destruction and theft exploded again in Minneapolis Wednesday evening over an incident that did, indeed, involve the death of another black man and police. But the cops didnt shoot him and he wasnt unarmed: He killed himself. According to KSTP: [A]t about 6 p.m., the male suspect was located on foot on Nicollet Mall between 8th Street and 9th Street. As officers approached the suspect, the suspect produced a handgun and took his own life. Minneapolis police spokesperson John Elder said people began to live stream to social media that officers had shot the suspect in the head. Elder said that information is false and police have surveillance video of the incident taking place. He appears to have seen officers approaching. He turned into a doorway of a building, produced a handgun, put it up underneath his chin. He then adjusted his stance, and shot himself underneath the chin closer to where it meets the neck, Elder said. Minneapolis police even posted surveillance video of the incident to prove that the suspect who was being sought by officers because he allegedly shot another man but later took it down from online because the department determined it was harmful to the mans family. And the governor acted this time, ordering state police and the National Guard into the beleaguered city, which will take years to recover, if it ever fully does. Minneapolis, its time to heal. We must rebuild and recover. Dangerous, unlawful behavior will not be tolerated. The State Patrol is headed to Minneapolis to help restore order. I remain in close contact with the city and every state resource stands ready to help bring peace, Democratic Gov. Tim Walz said in a tweet. But it was all reactionary. Mobs turned out once again to destroy what doesnt belong to them, take what isnt theirs, and commit random acts of violence over a lie. **Warning: VERY graphic If people are willing to burn down neighborhoods, destroy and kill on behalf of violent criminal sex offenders, they will riot for anyoneincluding someone who kills himself. This is #BlackLivesMatter. https://t.co/3VZt8yeGhY Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) August 27, 2020 BLM rioting broke out again last night in Minneapolis after police were blamed for a black male who committed suicide. Here, they hurled a metal projectile at an officers head and knocked him to the ground. #BlackLivesMatter #MinneapolisRiots pic.twitter.com/T9f3vbP5B6 Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) August 27, 2020 Another angle of the brazen assault on the officer at the BLM riot overnight in Minneapolis: pic.twitter.com/wGKTimJ8l2 Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) August 27, 2020 What will it take for this nightmarish behavior to end? Will these protests simply burn themselves out, like that Left-wing lunatic mayor of Portland, Ted Wheeler, says, or will they go on and on and on, gaining in intensity and violence? The answers were lying on the street in Kenosha Tuesday evening two rioters shot to death by a 17-year-old boy who once belonged to a police cadet program and who obviously believed he could make a difference protecting property in the once-sleepy city of about 100,000. In short, no they wont burn themselves out. Rioting begets rioting; looting begets looting; violence begets violence. After the shootings in Kenosha, do you think people who have a propensity to continue rioting and looting at the drop of a hat Black Lives Matter supporters, Antifa anarchists, etc. are going to show up unarmed in the future? No, they wont. And lets not forget there is already a movement afoot on the Left to arm up and play militia over systemic racism remember the Not F**king Around Coalition, the black militia that has threatened violence repeatedly? The only thing that will quell violence and end the cycle of looting and destruction is law and order, the same kind that President Donald Trump is employing and the same kind that President Richard Nixon and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani promised when they began their respective terms back in the day. Americans want law and order. They crave it. And they are demanding it. Whats more, the political leaders who deliver it will earn voter support for decades to come. Sources include: TheBlaze.com NaturalNews.com KTSP.com New Delhi: A Delhi court on Friday sent suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain to the Enforcement Directorate custody for six days in a money laundering case related to the communal violence in northeast Delhi in February. Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat allowed the ED's application for Hussain's custody in the interest of effective and proper investigation. The ED had sought Hussain's custody for 14 days, saying he had not cooperated in the investigation and given evasive replies. "In the interest of the effective and proper investigation, I deem it fit to allow the present application. Hence the application is allowed. However, six days custody of the accused namely Tahir Hussain is given to the IO. The concerned jail superintendent shall get COVID-19 test of the accused person conducted and after the test report, shall hand over the custody of the accused to the IO or ED officials on behalf of the IO," the judge said in his order. The court asked the Tihar Jail superintendent as well as the investigating officer (IO) to intimate it about the time when the custody of the accused is handed over to the IO or police officials concerned. It directed officials to medically examine Hussain every 24 hours. The court permitted Hussain's counsel to confer with him for a period not exceeding half an hour at the beginning of the ED custody and after every 48 hours during the custody remand at the venue communicated to the counsel. "The concerned officials shall ensure that they remain outside the audible range during the period. Needless to state that the accused and his counsel shall follow the necessary distancing protocols in view of the outbreak of COVID-19," the court said. "After expiry of the ED custody, the IO shall hand over the custody of the accused to the jail superintendent who shall follow the protocol regarding the COVID-19," it said. During the hearing, ED's Special Public Prosecutor N K Matta alleged that Hussain was involved in money laundering and various other fraudulent acts of cheating, falsification and forgery of documents, and criminal conspiracy. Matta said the ED has seized several incriminating documents and digital devices after conducting searches at various premises. "Statements of several persons have been recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and WhatsApp chats, bogus invoices, and other incriminating documents have been recovered," the public prosecutor said. He also alleged that Hussain had entered into a criminal conspiracy by fraudulently transferring money from the accounts of many companies. The money so obtained are allegedly proceeds of crime which were then used for committing various other scheduled offences, Matta claimed. He said Hussain had not cooperated in the investigation and given evasive replies. "Thus he was required to be interrogated as he has to be confronted with various documents, data and statements of various persons," Matta said. Senior advocate K K Manan, appearing for Hussain, opposed the application saying Hussain was a victim of circumstances and was not required for custodial interrogation as he faced the threat of torture. No case is made out against him, the senior counsel claimed. Hussain was arrested in connection with the riots in northeast Delhi in February. He has also been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in a conspiracy case related to the riots. He was also arrested in connection with the alleged murder of IB official Ankit Sharma during 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. Arnott's has unveiled its new corporate logo, confusing many Australians who worried their beloved parrot was gone forever. The brand, which makes Australia's beloved Tim Tams, revealed the new look on Friday, with many shocked the iconic parrot had been altered after more than 150 years. But the sleek new logo will only appear in corporate settings, with the original design still gracing packets of Arnott's biscuits. 'We know Australians love the iconic Arnotts parrot logo and that is not changing at all,' a spokeswoman said. 'Our new corporate logo represents our new corporate group structure, uniting all of our food brands, including Arnotts, Campbells and V8, under one umbrella.' Some confused biscuit fans have already taken to Twitter, wrongly worried about the fate of the beloved parrot design. Arnott's have revealed their new corporate logo (pictured) with many Australians slamming the change The current logo (pictured) has been seen on Arnott's biscuits for more than 150 years and will still appear on packaging 'The original logo was great. Don't change it, Arnotts. Everything does not have to be a fashionably stylised representation of the classical,' one tweeted. 'What the bloody hell do #arnotts think they're doing? The new logo looks very cheap and unclassy! If it ain't broke don't fix it,' another wrote. 'Which marketing genius came up with this awful substitute for a much loved and awesome iconic logo?' said one. 'What a mess. Boycott Arnott's?' someone said. 'Does it work? That's a big fat no,' one tweeted. Twitter erupted into a frenzy after the new logo was released with many saying there was no need to change The macaw parrot has been the face of the brand since the 1870s, after founder William Arnott received one as a gift by a captain upon his return from Scotland. The logo was then drawn by Arnott's daughter-in-law who took a keen liking to the bird. Arnott's Group CEO George Zoghbi said the new look was a way to see the company grow in Australia and internationally. 'We have a fantastic legacy, a strong business and a plan for growth by building a world-leading group of businesses from right here in Australia,' he said. Arnott's was founded in 1865 and is well known for its large assortment of biscuits including Tim Tams, Saos, Shapes and Mint Slices 'Our business began as a family group led by William Arnott and bonded by their spirit and determination to succeed. Today we are proud and privileged to have a locally-run operation built on local ingredients, quality, freshness and authenticity. 'Our strong performance and the launch of our new corporate brand identity is laying the foundations for our continued growth in Australia and beyond.' Arnott's was founded in 1865 and is well known for its large assortment of biscuits including Tim Tams, Saos, Shapes and Mint Slices. The company was bought by American investment company KKR in December for a staggering $3billion. The brand was one of few to soar during the COVID-19 pandemic having an additional four million sales of packs of chocolate biscuits between March and June. Two million extra cans of soup, two million packs of stock and a million units of V8 Juice were also sold. Seoul: South Korean investigators on Thursday summoned the countrys ambassador to France as they widened their inquiry into a corruption scandal involving impeached President Park Geun-hye to include allegations as her administration blacklisted thousands of artists for their political beliefs. The special prosecution team was planning to question Mo Chul-min over a supposed blacklist of 9,000 artists deemed unfriendly to Parks administration and allegedly denied government support. Mo served as Parks senior secretary for education and culture in 2013 and 2014. South Koreas opposition-controlled parliament impeached Park on December 9, weeks after state prosecutors accused her of colluding with a longtime confidante to extort money and favors from companies and allow the friend to interfere with government affairs. The political turmoil came after years of frustration over Parks heavy-handed leadership style that critics blamed for setbacks in freedom of speech. Her government pushed to dissolve a leftist party and arrested union leaders, while journalists were pressured with legal and other threats. Artists have complained about censorship. In 2014, organizers of the Busan International Film Festival clashed with the citys mayor who unsuccessfully tried to block a documentary on a ferry sinking earlier that year that killed more than 300 people, a disaster partially blamed on government incompetence and corruption. The mayor of another city, Gwangju, recently acknowledged he was pressured by the government to exclude a painting satirizing Park from an art fair in 2014. Parks alleged backlist reportedly included some of South Koreas most famous cultural figures, including Oldboy film director Park Chan-wook and poet Ko Un, whose name frequently surfaces in discussions for the Nobel literature prize. They had signed statements criticizing the government for its handling of the 2014 ferry disaster and supporting opposition candidates during presidential and mayoral elections, according to Do Jong-hwan, an opposition lawmaker who broke the list to the media. Artists groups say that the allegedly blacklisted individuals, including actors, painters and musicians, have been inexplicably denied financial support available under government programs and prevented from using state venues. Former Culture Minister Yoo Jinryong, who stepped down in 2014 amid fallout with Park, said in a recent radio interview that the blacklist was passed to the ministry through Mo or another presidential secretary. Cho Yoonsun, the current culture minister who was Parks senior secretary for political affairs from June 2014 to May 2015, denied Yoos accusation that she was involved in creating the list, telling lawmakers she has never seen such a list. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. On Monday, Jay Shepard, a "Catholic Donald Trump Republican" from Vermont, made the 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." HEFEI, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- German carmaker Volkswagen will pilot its autonomous-driving travel service in China as the first license plate for road tests was issued to the company on Wednesday. The road testing is scheduled in September this year in Haiheng Community of Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, aimed at optimizing user experience, according to Volkswagen Group China. The testing area covers 16 square km, with a total road length of 80 km, along which the vehicles are expected to pass by schools, shops, parks, hospitals and residential communities. Volkswagen plans to test the first batch of 10 autonomous-driving electric vehicles with passengers on board in early 2021. Some 400,000 residents in the area will be able to hail a self-driving car using a mobile app. Weiming Soh, executive vice-president of Volkswagen Group China, said the integration of the company's software and hardware technologies has enabled Volkswagen to provide autonomous-driving travel service to customers. "The pilot project is not only a major cooperation agreement between Hefei and Volkswagen but also a milestone in Hefei's development of smart city and its intelligent-connected vehicle industry," said Wang Wensong, vice mayor of Hefei. In May this year, Volkswagen announced that it would invest around 2.1 billion euros (about 2.5 billion U.S. dollars) in electric mobility in China. Of the total investment, 1 billion euros will be used to raise Volkswagen's stake in the e-mobility joint venture with Chinese JAC Motors from 50 percent to 75 percent and to acquire a 50 percent stake in JAC's parent company JAG. In another deal, Volkswagen would pump the remaining 1.1 billion euros into Gotion High-tech Co., Ltd., a Hefei-based manufacturer of electric batteries, becoming the latter's largest shareholder. Enditem Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a new plan Friday to rekindle a California economy decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic, a four-tier system in which counties must show consistent success in stemming the transmission of the coronavirus before allowing businesses greater flexibility to reopen and group activities to resume. In doing so, Newsom appears to be taking a far more cautious approach than his first effort in the spring, when his decision to rapidly ease restrictions led to such a major surge in cases that he ordered another statewide shutdown. "We're going to be more stubborn this time," Newsom said during a news conference Friday in Sacramento. "This more stringent, but we believe more steady, approach." For most of California, the new rules wont result in many immediate changes because restaurant dining, religious services, gyms and fitness centers, movie theaters and museums will remain restricted to outdoors only in the vast majority of counties in the state. But beginning Monday, hair salons and barbershops can open statewide, including for indoor services if they adhere to requirements for social distancing and employees wear masks and follow other health-related mandates. All retail stores and shopping malls also are permitted to open at a maximum of 25% capacity, state officials said. Counties will be allowed to ease restrictions in progressive stages, slowly granting Californians the everyday freedoms they enjoyed before the outbreak if virus transmission wanes in their counties. Unlike last time, the governor said, the decision to grant counties the ability to open businesses will be based entirely on data showing the spread of the virus among residents. The criteria for each tier will be uniform for all 58 counties in California, and a Newsom advisor said the new system takes effect Monday. The vast majority of counties including all those in Southern California except San Diego will begin in the first and most restrictive tier. Story continues Tier 1, widespread transmission: Most nonessential businesses must be closed. Counties in this tier have more than seven new COVID cases per 100,000 people per day and a coronavirus test positivity rate of more than 8%. Tier 2, substantial transmission: Some nonessential indoor businesses remain closed. Counties in this tier have between four to seven COVID cases per 100,000 people per day and a coronavirus test positivity rate of between 5%-8%. Tier 3, moderate transmission: Some businesses can open with modifications. Counties in this tier have 1-3.9 new COVID cases per 100,000 people per day and a coronavirus positivity rate of 2-4.9%. Tier 4, minimal transmission: Most businesses can reopen, with modifications. Counties in this tier have less than one new COVID case per 100,000 people per day and a coronavirus positivity rate of less than 2%. For example, restaurants in counties in Tier 1 will be allowed only to serve customers outdoors. Once a county moves into Tier 2, restaurants can serve customers indoors, but only at 25% capacity. At Tier 3, that rises to 50% capacity and at Tier 4 full capacity, as long as social distancing and other safeguards are in place. The Newsom administration also updated its COVID-19 website to explain the status of every county and provide a description of which businesses can open and what activities are permitted The new rules also provide a new pathway toward the partial reopening of schools in some communities. School officials in the 20 counties listed in the states new structure as having substantial, moderate or minimal virus transmission will be able to offer limited in-person instruction on school campuses once those counties maintain that status for at least 14 days. Counties with even fewer incidences of confirmed coronavirus cases and lower test positivity rates could allow students to return to campus part time even earlier. But the effect of the new rules on K-12 education, for now, is minimal. Most counties would still not be allowed to offer in-person instruction for K-12 students. Those that can move forward are subject to rules rolled out by Newsom last month, under which outbreaks can close individual classrooms on a campus or if more substantial an entire school district. The new system will be based on averages of new cases each day per 100,000 residents and the percentage of positive cases compared to the overall number of tests conducted. The reopening rules require counties to wait at least 21 days before moving to the next reopening tier (some counties may be eligible to move out of the first tier sooner at the outset). If a county has met reopening metrics for the next stage for at least two continuous weeks, it will be allowed to progress to the next stage when the 21-day wait period expires. Otherwise it will be required to remain in place until it meets the benchmarks for the next tier for two straight weeks. Counties that fail to meet the metrics for their current tier for two consecutive weeks will be required to move to a more restrictive tier, according to the governors office. The governor's office said the metrics will be reported as seven-day averages calculated every Tuesday but will be based on data from a full week earlier to give counties time to provide up-to-date information. "I like this new framework because of the clear guidance on which and when each business sector is able to reopen," said Orange County Health Care Agency Director Dr. Clayton Chau. Chau said he has asked the state to clarify how the new system will affect efforts to resume in-person education. Newsom's decision to replace his original reopening plan from the spring comes after he faced criticism for allowing counties to reopen too quickly. That plan, which was announced in May, relied on local officials to attest to their own readiness to reopen. But instead of requiring counties to meet the benchmarks outlined in his plan, Newsom permitted dozens of counties to move forward as long as local officials said they could increase testing capacity or train more contact tracers in the weeks and months after businesses opened their doors again. The virus surged, counties weren't prepared to conduct the necessary case investigation and contact tracing, and California and other states around the country experienced a massive testing shortage. "It collapsed the effectiveness of our efforts to kill the virus," state Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) said of the governor's deferral to counties during the first reopening. "It's too easy for local officials to acquiesce to the allure of making choices that people like and avoiding the anger that comes from telling people things they can't do." In the past, Newsom has blamed the outbreak on county officials. He said the state allowed counties to reopen only if officials could prove that COVID-19 hospitalizations had stabilized and that medical centers, nursing homes and other essential services had adequate protective equipment and were prepared to accommodate and care for a surge in patients affected by the virus. Adherence to those reopening standards was the responsibility of the counties, not the state, Newsom said. In recent weeks, counties have complained about the lack of instructions and communication from the governor and California Department of Public Health about the path forward. Thirty-four counties that were on the state's monitoring list as of Friday morning have been forced to close businesses after local reopenings resulted in increased community spread of the coronavirus, increased hospitalizations or limited hospital capacity. But nine other counties lowered the spread of the virus and were taken off the watchlist, only to find themselves in limbo awaiting Newsoms new instructions about when and how they could begin to reopen businesses. Some counties, a Newsom advisor said, will initially be subject to additional restrictions under the Tier 1 rules but will be able to move up earlier if current conditions hold. That could mean Orange County, in particular, could move up to a less restrictive tier in early September. The delayed information from the Newsom administration, which left some counties in the lurch for nearly two weeks, added to a growing frustration among local officials over sometimes incomplete directives and poor communication from Sacramento since the pandemic began. San Diego was the only county in Southern California to be placed on the states Tier 2 level, which will allow indoor operations to resume in a modified capacity at movie theaters, places of worship, museums and restaurants. County health officer Dr. Wilma Wooten said that there is some concern that residents from outside counties where certain indoor operations are not yet allowed may flock to San Diego County, posing a risk to the rate of transmission. The good news is that were opening up as a percentage of capacity, Wooten said about the fact that 25% or 100 people whichever is less will be allowed inside those places. Los Angeles County, which has remained on the watchlist since it was announced in June, has been placed in the most restrictive tier. "Although the State today revised slightly the list of permitted activities in Tier 1 to allow for the re-opening of both hair salons for indoor services and indoor shopping centers for permitted retail establishments, the County Health Officer Order has not been changed to permit these re-openings," the county said in a statement. The number of cases in L.A. County, which totals more than 237,000 and accounts for the bulk of the states total infections, surged in June after the county rapidly reopened various sectors of the economy after months of closures. Transmission related to Memorial Day weekend activities and other informal gatherings also contributed to an increase in cases throughout the state. At the same time, mass protests over the death of George Floyd erupted. 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 and hospitalization continued after the Fourth of July weekend, followed by a case reporting backlog 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 states new guidelines come as protests have once again emerged after the police shooting of Jacob Blake, who is Black, and as Labor Day approaches. Times staff writer John Myers contributed to this report. MGM Resorts International will lay off 18,000 previously furloughed workers in the United States as widespread travel restrictions due to the coronavirus crisis continue to dent its operations. The casino operator told employees in separation letters sent Friday they are ending employment from Monday, August 31, CNBC reports. The letter said the company will recall additional employees as more if its properties reopen and will offer health benefits to furloughed employees through to September 30. The location of the job cuts was not confirmed. The company is among Nevada's largest employers, where it has 13 resorts on the Vegas Strip, but also operates casinos in Mississippi, Massachusetts, Michigan, and overseas in Macao, China. MGM Resorts International will lay off 18,000 previously furloughed workers from Monday as the company struggles amid the ongoing pandemic. Pictured, the MGM Grand in Vegas MGM CEO Bill Hornbuckle, pictured in May, wrote a separation letter to employees Friday The company had about 52,000 full-time and 18,000 part-time employees in the US as of December 31, meaning that Friday's announcement will affect a quarter of the its pre-pandemic workforce. Chief Executive Officer Bill Hornbuckle said that employees who will be laid off on Monday will remain in the company's recall list, with those returning to work by end of 2021 retaining their seniority and benefits. 'Federal law requires companies to provide a date of separation for furloughed employees who are not recalled within six months,' Hornbuckle explained in the letter. 'Regrettably, August 31, marks (that) date.' Casinos in Nevada closed March 17 and unemployment in the state reached 28.2 percent, topping levels last seen during the Great Depression. Casinos reopened in early June, but the climb back has been long and slow. They were allowed to welcome back guest from June 4 but only at 50 percent capacity. MGM's Empire City in New York and Park MGM in Las Vegas have remained closed as the coronavirus pandemic continues throughout the country and the casino industry takes a massive hit. Even the company's properties that have reopened on the Las Vegas Strip have been drastically affected by the massive slump in travelers and tourists, as well as the lack of sporting events and conferences being held. Visitor volume in July was down 61 percent compared with the same period last year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Despite the improved cleaning measures, Las Vegas casinos remain quiet The Vegas Strip is struggling to recover from the three month closures. Pictured is the Bellagio located on the strip which is operated by MGM who also hold a stake in the resort Gambling revenue in Vegas was also down 38 percent, bringing in about $330 million compared with nearly $543 million a year earlier. 'I understand the impact this will have on these employees and their families. Nothing pains me more than delivering news like this,' Hornbuckle wrote. 'The heart of this company is our employees and the world-class service you provide. Please know that your leadership team is working around the clock to find ways to grow our business and welcome back more of our colleagues.' According to the La Vegas Review Journal, MGM furloughed nearly 63,000 employees this year as the pandemic first struck and lockdowns began. MGM has since called back 'tens of thousands' of workers since restrictions were eased. MGM's Empire City in New York remains closed as the company lays off thousands Other casino operators may soon be following suit in laying off employees as labor costs remain their highest expense. Circus Circus and Penn Nation Gaming Inc. have already issued a legal notice to employees that they may be forced to do so, the Review Journal reports. Hornbuckle remained optimistic in Friday's letter, despite the bad news. 'While the immediate future remains uncertain, I truly believe that the challenges we face today are not permanent,' he said. 'We will bounce back from this stronger and better than ever. And we will continue in our mission to entertain the world.' He was only named as the permanent appointee for the company's President and CEO position in July after previously acting in the role since March. Shares in the company began to climb Friday as the news was announced and were up 5.26 percent in the afternoon. They had already been steadily climbing back after a dive following the closures in March. The company also received a boost from August 10 when media and internet company IAC bought a 12 percent stake in the casino operator as part of a bet on online gambling. MGM's shares soared 14 percent after the announcement. Stocks in MGM Resorts International began to rise Friday afternoon after the announcement The company was hit hard in the past six months but beginning to recover Lockdown closures of casinos sent shares plummeting in March. They reopened in June A number of companies are announcing jobs cuts as the U.S. economy suffered its sharpest contraction in at least 73 years in the second quarter due to disruptions induced by the pandemic, with corporate profits sinking deeper. Earlier on Friday, Coca-Cola said it was offering buyouts to 4,000 employees ahead of pending layoffs. Half of Coca-Colas sales come from stadiums, movie theaters and other places where people gather in large numbers - venues that have been closed during the coronavirus pandemic. Revenue tumbled 28 percent in the Atlanta company's most recent quarter. United and American airlines, beset by plunging air travel, cut thousands of jobs this week. Tech company Salesforce is cutting 1,000 jobs and Bed Bath & Beyond cut 2,800 positions. Those numbers represent only a fraction of the carnage across the U.S. economy. Thursday, the Labor Department reported that another million Americans applied for unemployment benefits. More than 14.5 million are collecting traditional jobless benefits - up from 1.7 million a year ago - with no end in sight. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits totaled a seasonally adjusted 1.006m for the week ended August 22, compared to 1.104m the prior week, it was announced Thursday The Conference Board, a business research group, reported this week that consumer confidence has tumbled to its lowest level since 2014. Consumer spending makes up about 70 percent of the economic activity in the U.S. And although U.S. consumers increased their spending by 1.9 percent last month, it's a small dose of support for an economy struggling to emerge from the grip of a pandemic that has held back a recovery and kept roughly 27 million people jobless. Congress passed the $2.2 trillion CARES Act stimulus package to blunt the downturn in the pandemic's opening weeks, however provisions of the bill supporting laid-off workers, small businesses as well as key industries have already expired or will do so soon, raising fears of prolonged economic damage. The United States is home to the world's worst coronavirus pandemic with more than 180,000 dead and 5.8 million infected. In Nevada, there have been 67,220 as of Thursday evening and 1,271 deaths. Numbers spiked again in the state Thursday with 554 new cases and 21 additional deaths. After a disagreement over landlines, members of the Military Security set fires to the post office in al-Bukamal, injuring a number of Iranian militia guards reports Ayn Al-Furat. A number of Iranian Revolutionary Guards militia members were injured after elements of the regimes Military Security set ablaze the al-Bukamal post office, east of Deir ez-Zor. The act was the result of a dispute due to between the two parties. The dispute erupted between the military security and the Revolutionary Guards after Haj Askar, the leader of the Revolutionary Guards, refused to provide Military Security personnel and officers with landlines. Members of the Military Security responded by burning parts of and equipment at the post office in al-Bukamal. The fire resulted in the injury of a number of mail guard employees, who sustained moderate burns. Iranian forces and Iraqi and foreign militias supporting the Assad regime are deployed in large areas in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, especially between the border cities of al-BuKamal and al-Mayadeen. 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. Kate Middleton has penned a letter to a five-year-old boy with prosthetic legs who walked six miles in 30 days and raised 1m for hospital that saved his life - after being inspired by Captain Tom Moore. Taking to Instagram, Tony Hudgell's journey account shared a letter written by Kate Middleton, 38, and captioned the post: 'We was all super excited today, that Bear received a special letter from Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge. Absolutely one to treasure.' In the letter, the royal congratulated the youngster, from West Malling, Kent, on his 'amazing' fundraising efforts - adding that his achievement was 'hugely appreciated.' 'I wanted to send you my congratulations following your amazing fundraising efforts last month for Evelina London Children's Hospital,' she wrote. Kate Middleton, 38, has penned a letter to a five-year-old boy with prosthetic legs who walked six miles in 30 days and raised 1m for hospital that saved his life - after being inspired by Captain Tom Moore. Pictured, during a visit to Barry Island, South Wales, on 5 August Tony Hudgell (pictured) had to have both his legs amputated in 2017 as a result of abuse suffered at the hands of his birth parents 'It was wonderful to hear how you were inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore's story to carry out your own walk. I am very impressed that you carried on even after reaching your target of 10km! I know that your efforts have been hugely appreciated by Eveline, and we are all so proud of what you have achieved.' I hope that you manage to have a very well deserved rest before starting on your next adventure - whatever that may be! Catherine.' Tony Hudgell had to have both his legs amputated in 2017 as a result of abuse suffered at the hands of his birth parents. In the letter (pictured), the royal congratulated the youngster on his 'amazing' fundraising efforts - adding that his achievement was 'hugely appreciated' Tony Hudgell, five, from West Malling, Kent, has raised more than 1 million for the Evelina London's Children's Hospital in London He set out to raise 500 for the hospital that saved his life by walking 10km in 30 days. But his incredible efforts captured the hearts of tens of thousands of people, with a staggering 1,073,121 raised for Evelina London Children's Hospital in just a month. Tony has had to relearn how to walk on his new prosthetic legs but was determined to follow in the footsteps of his hero Captain Tom Moore. He hugged his adoptive parents Paula and Mark Hudgell as he crossed the finish line in his home town of West Malling in Kent on 30 June after completing his challenge. They were joined by friends, family and hospital staff to celebrate Tony's achievement. NDC Deputy Communications Officer, Kwaku Boahen has asked the Chief of Defense Staff, Lt. General Obed Boamah Akwa to resign with immediate effect. Kwaku Boahen held that if the Chief of Defense Staff was responsible for the deployment of Military officers who were assaulted at Dome-Faase near Obom over land related issues, then he doesnt deserve to hold his office any longer. Chief of Defense Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces should resign from his post if he was the one who deployed the Military men to the Dome-Faase with immediate effect, he told host Yaa Konamah of UTVs Adekye Nsroma. According to Kwaku Boahen, he will be surprised if General Obed Boamah Akwa is aware of the operations that led to the assault of his men. I dont believe that the Chief of Defence Staff will be responsible for sending his men to cause mayhem at Dome- Faase community . . . it will pain me if he has knowledge about their deployment, he said. He called on the General to conduct thorough investigations into the matter. Background Some residents of Dome-Faase near Obom in the Greater Accra Region have been accused of assaulting two soldiers over a piece of land in the area. The soldiers clashed with the residents while protecting the property for the Mponuahene of Akyem Apedwa who they claim is the owner. According to the Spokesman for the residents, there have been rumors of armed land guards working with military personnel to terrorize their communities. Soldiers vacate haunted community A number of soldiers who descended on Dome-Faase, a community near Kasoa where two suspected soldiers had been brutally assaulted by residents have vacated the area. Their departure Thursday, follows a meeting between the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Ga South Municipal Assembly, Mr. Joseph Stephen Nyarni and the leadership of the soldiers deployed to the area. The assaulted soldiers were said to have been deployed to the community to protect a parcel of land which a chief was claiming ownership of, but led to a clash between the soldiers and residents. According to a report by Accra based Joy FM, the soldiers left the area on Thursday afternoon, after retrieving all guns seized by the community members during the clash. 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 It comes after the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) once more recommended that pubs without a food licence should remain closed. A proposal to make organising or attending a gathering of more than six people an offence is being considered by Cabinet this afternoon. They will also consider giving gardai new powers to shut down pubs that breach public health guidelines. The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) is in favour of the Government introducing a temporary prohibition. It argues that people drinking in a pub operating within the guidelines is safer than gatherings in private homes. The VFI chief executive, Padraig Cribben, said: "If we are in such a bind, if the numbers are increasing at such a rate, what we actually should do is look at whether we should take a period of three weeks and stop the sale of alcohol in off-licences." Advertisement He said the Government could "take action" immediately and bring in minimum unit pricing for alcohol. Cork publican Michael O'Donovan said he was also in favour of closing off-licences and banning supermarkets from selling alcohol. House parties have been an ongoing concern since the very start of this pandemic, he said. If the Government are really serious about bringing these numbers under control and getting them down, they need to take a serious look at where the alcohol is purchased for these house parties. It is not being purchased in licenced premises. A licenced premises is a much more controlled environment. Health officials on Thursday night said they were monitoring 393 clusters of the virus around the country 252 of which are related to private homes. Dr Colm Henry, a member of the NPHET, said now was not the right time to reopen pubs and international experience showed that congregated settings and alcohol were not good conditions for transmission of the virus. Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, Dr Henry said the new advice was to double up on all our behaviours, which meant that now was not the right time to reopen pubs with rising community transmissions. It is a worrying (at least for some) index of how badly the UK-EU trade talks are going that the German government has dropped the item from the next meeting of the EUs college of ambassadors. There is simply nothing to report back on, and nothing for the 27 diplomats to confer with their respective governments about. As the current holders of the EUs rotating presidency, the German government is entitled to propose such a move; there appears to have been no objection among the rest of the EUs member states. By now, according to the more rosy predictions made in the 2016 referendum campaign, the Europeans and the British would have moved past the transition period and already been trading freely, and on a scale and manner not so very different to when the UK was a full member of the customs union and single market minus the obligations around free movement of labour and the EU budget. Even ardent Remainers assumed that leaving the EU would probably entail continuing engagement with the customs union and/or the single market, in whole or in part. This is why non-EU states such as, variously, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine who had trade and economic arrangements with the EU were often cited as possible models. So were the EU free trade deals being negotiated with the likes of Canada and Japan. Brexiteers also say that the EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier suggested a bare bones free trade deal (no tariffs or quotas) as one of the sliding scale of options, shown as steps on a slide at a presentation during the early phase of Brexit. The (non binding) UK-EU Political Declaration, agreed and published alongside the (binding) UK-EU Withdrawal Treaty last October also envisages a broad economic and political partnership of some sort. MOUNT PLEASANT, MI - There are 110 confirmed cases of COVID-19 connected to students returning to Central Michigan Universitys Mount Pleasant campus. There are an additional seven probable cases, bringing the total potential cases to 117, the Central Michigan District Health Department reported Thursday, Aug. 27. These cases include current and former students, as well as associated community members. While a CMU spokesperson previously said there are pockets of cases tied to three off-campus houses, the health department is not aware of any super spreader events, according to Steve Hall, the departments health officer. While the recent large spike in cases is due to the current outbreak, we continue to see cases within the community as we have throughout the pandemic, Hall said in a news release. This is why it is important for all residents to continue practicing the recommended preventative measures: wear a mask, stay a minimum of 6 feet from others, avoid large gatherings, wash your hands frequently, and stay home if you are sick. CMU reported 54 new cases among students, faculty and staff during the week of Monday, Aug. 17, and has not yet updated its webpage with numbers for the week of Monday, Aug. 24. The university will update its student and staff case count daily instead of weekly beginning Tuesday, Sept. 1, said Heather Smith, executive director for communications. The university suspended in-person Greek life activities and has threatened to fine and suspend students involved in large gatherings. The health department issued an emergency order Monday that limits outdoor gatherings in Mount Pleasant to no more than 25 people. Read more: Central Michigan University student return linked to about 100 coronavirus cases Outdoor gatherings in Mount Pleasant limited to 25 after Central Michigan University coronavirus spike Central Michigan University reports 54 students with coronavirus, suspends in-person Greek activities The civil rights march comes at the end of a summer rocked by protests over racial injustice. Washington, DC Tens of thousands of people gathered in Washington, DC on Friday to denounce racism, protest against police brutality and commemorate the anniversary of the 1963 civil rights march when Martin Luther King Jr made his famous I Have a Dream speech. In his iconic address, King lamented the unspeakable horrors of police brutality and envisioned a reality, a future where his children would one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. Kimberly Jones, a Black woman from Illinois, was one of hundreds of marchers, lining up to enter the National Mall. Fifty-seven years later we are still fighting that same fight, Jones said, the fight for equality. Im angry, Im frustrated, and Im disappointed, she said. Demonstrators gather for the Get Your Knee Off Our Necks Commitment March on Washington 2020 in support of racial justice in Washington The march comes at the end of a summer rocked by nationwide protests and racial unrest over police killings of Black people sparked by the death of George Floyd, who died in late May after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharptons National Action Network began planning for the march back in June in the wake of Floyds death. On Friday, he delivered the keynote address in front of the cheering crowd. The reason we had and still have to say Black Lives Matter we go to jail longer for the same crime like we dont matter, we get poverty, double the unemployment like we dont matter, were treated with disrespect like we dont matter, he said. So we figured wed let you, Black Lives Matter and we wont stop until it matters to everybody. Reverend Al Sharpton addresses the Get Your Knee Off Our Necks Commitment March on Washington 2020 on the spot where Reverend Martin Luther King Jr delivered his I Have a Dream speech 57 years ago today in Washington, US [Tom Brenner/Reuters] Martin Luther King III, a son of the late civil rights icon, also took the stage and addressed his fathers legacy as well as the issues that continue to plague this generation. We are courageous but conscious of our health, we are socially distant, but spiritually united, we are masking our faces but not our faith in freedom, we are taking our struggle to the streets and to social media, King said. The nation has never seen such a mighty movement in a modern-day incarnation of what my father called the coalition of conscience, he added. Relatives of an ever-growing list of police killings in recent years, including Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor also briefly took turns addressing the crowd. The protest, called the Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks, gained new urgency in recent days, after police shot another Black man, Jacob Blake, multiple times in the back at close range in front of his children in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Blakes father and sister attended the march. The father had earlier said that Blake has been paralysed from the waist down. After the speeches at the Lincoln Memorial, participants marched to the nearby Martin Luther King memorial, led by the families of victims of police violence. People attending the march have their temperatures checked before entering the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, on the 57th anniversary of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jrs I Have A Dream speech [AP Photo/Julio Cortez] But unlike the historic 1963 event, when more than 200,000 people took part to demand equality and an end to racial segregation, this years march comes in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, a disease that has killed more than 180,000 Americans and has disproportionately affected Black people. Participants were required to wear masks and temperature checks were conducted at the entrance. Hand sanitiser and face masks were being distributed by volunteers. Organisers estimate some 50,000 took part in the march in Washington, DC after shuttle buses from coronavirus hotspots were cancelled. But hundreds of thousands tuned in to the virtual commemoration, which featured civil rights activist Reverend William Barber. Politicians, entertainers and celebrities were also in the lineup. Sharelle Jackson, from New Orleans, Louisiana whose own daughter contracted the coronavirus earlier this summer, said she was determined to come, despite the risks. This is so important, I will be as safe as possible, wear a mask, social distance and use hand sanitiser, she said. Its a sacrifice that needs to be made for the change that we require. The event is also taking place during a fraught political moment, following national conventions by the Democratic and Republican parties over the past two weeks. US President Donald Trump, who is running for a second term in office on a law-and-order platform, has not denounced Blakes shooting and on Thursday announced that he has dispatched federal forces to quell the protests in Kenosha. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1299376529672208384?ref_src=twsrc^tfw Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris recorded a three-minute video on Twitter, which was played during the march. She said if civil rights activists from the 1960s were here today, they would share in our anger and frustration as we continue to see Black men and women slain in our streets and left behind by an economy and justice system that have too often denied Black folks our dignity and rights. They would share our anger and pain, but no doubt they would turn it into fuel, Harris said. They would be lacing up their shoes, locking arms and continuing right alongside us to continue in this ongoing fight for justice. On the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington, lets continue to march on for justice, in the name of our ancestors and in the name of our children and grandchildren. pic.twitter.com/BlP5oCEbxW Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 28, 2020 Water bottles and energy drinks were being distributed as groups of people, all wearing masks gathered on the grass around the Reflecting Pool on Friday, some dangled their feet in the water on a particularly hot and humid day, listening to the speeches. Speakers talked about the importance of justice, police reform and referenced John Lewis, the late lawmaker who spoke at the 1963 march. They spoke of hope and of the importance of voting in Novembers election. Victor Radcliffe who came from Dallas, Texas, said that it was deeply meaningful to him to come on this day to demand racial equality and change, as well as reflect on Kings vision. Fifty-seven years ago Martin Luther King was out here, and were still fighting for that dream, Radcliffe said, but the reality is, were still living a nightmare. ABC News One day after President Joe Biden appeared to cast doubt on whether the midterm election results will be legitimate without the passage of a new voting rights law, his vice president and press secretary worked to dispel any mistrust in the integrity of the vote. "Speaking of voting rights legislation, if this isn't passed, do you still believe the upcoming election will be fairly conducted and its results will be legitimate?" a reporter asked Biden Wednesday at a lengthy press conference marking the end of his first year in office. "Well, it all depends on whether or not we're able to make the case to the American people that some of this is being set up to try to alter the outcome of the election," Biden said. Why CPJ is demanding the release of Kashmiri journalist Asif Sultan Aliya Iftikhar of the Committee to Protect Journalists speaks to Lounge about hate speech, free and fair reportage, and why India needs to do much more to protect journalists On 27 August, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent non-profit, non-governmental organization based in New York City wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The letter, demanding the release of Kashmiri journalist Asif Sultan, was signed by 397 journalists and civil society members like N Ram, Karan Thapar, Mani Shankar Aiyer, Harsh Mander, Meenal Baghel. advertisement advertisement A journalist who covers politics and human rights for the Srinagar-based Kashmir Narrator, Sultan has been detained since 27 August 2018, under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), for allegedly being complicit in harbouring known militants. CPJ also had a poster printed in The Washington Post, in solidarity with the Sultan, demanding that he be freed. This year, other Kashmiri journalists such as Masrat Zahra and Gowhar Geelani were booked under the UAPA, others were summoned for questioning and the editor-in-chief of The Kashmiriyat, Qazi Shibli, was jailed twice in the last year. With the new media policy in Kashmir, which, among other things, authorizes government officers to decide on what is fake news and take action against journalists or organisations, there is a growing fear. advertisement advertisement Conversations around the freedom of the press in Indiaor the lack thereofhave been front and centre this month, particularly after journalist Ratan Singh was shot in Ballia in Uttar Pradesh. Journalists from Caravan magazine filed a complaint with the police in northeast Delhi earlier this month, stating that a mob attacked Kashmiri photojournalist Shahid Tantray and the woman journalist on their team was sexually harassed, while on assignment, by a group of men. At least five journalists were attacked after a riot broke out in Bengaluru on 11 August. India ranks 142nd among 180 countries in the 2020 World Press Freedom Index. Mint spoke to Aliya Iftikhar, senior researcher, Asia Desk, CPJ about how international organizations can help strengthen and encourage free and fair reportage in India, the media situation in Kashmir since 5 August 2019, and the way forward. Edited excerpts: advertisement advertisement The CPJ has been advocating for the release of journalist Asif Sultan for a long time. Could you tell us some of the efforts made in this regard? Does this kind of pressure/advocacy usually yield results? CPJ has been advocating for Aasifs release since the day he was detained two years ago. We have raised his case with Indian members of parliament, the European Union, the United Kingdom, French, and Norwegian embassies, and the US State Department. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to garner support for a Kashmiri journalist, especially when they are being accused under an anti-terror law, given the narratives and perception of Kashmir across India. But Aasif Sultan is a journalist who has been imprisoned for two years now because of his reporting. No journalist should ever face that. advertisement advertisement Our hope with the letter and advertisement is to increase awareness about Aasifs case and to make sure he is not forgotten. We hope that journalists in Kashmir, in India, and across the world will raise their voices and let the Indian government know that it is never okay to jail a journalist. And, of course, we hope that India will swiftly release Aasif, especially considering the concerns around covid-19. What are the challenges you see for the press in Kashmir since the abrogation of its special status on 5 August 2019? advertisement advertisement Unfortunately, there will be many. Kashmiri journalists are already working in a dangerous environment and under a climate of fear, given the various threats they face from multiple actors. This climate of fear has been exacerbated also by state surveillance, police questioning journalists about their reporting, and criminal and anti-terror cases that have been filed against journalists. Add to that proposals to increase regulations over Kashmiri media, such as the social media policy, and the space for independent journalism continues to shrink. As an organization that has been observing this situation, how would you assess press freedom in India over the last few years? advertisement advertisement Unfortunately, press freedom in India has been rapidly declining in recent years. Theres been a significant increase in harassment and intimidation that journalists face, particularly with legal and criminal cases that are filed against them for critical reporting. Journalists who have dared to report critically have also been detained or physically attacked, and in some cases even murdered. There has been no justice or accountability in the majority of these cases, which allows attacks on journalists to continue going unchecked. Unfortunately, this shows a government that prioritizes criminalizing journalism and critical reporting instead of upholding press freedom. advertisement advertisement Over the last year alone, India has seen large-scale protests and even violence in the National Capital in February. Under these circumstances, how important is a free press and what is your assessment of the coverage? A free press is most crucial at times of large protests and historical moments. Journalists have to be able to document what is happening and inform the public without fearing for their safety. Nowadays, especially with the prevalence of smartphones and social media, many people can be journalists, not just those who have accredited press badges. CPJ will assist anyone we determine has been regularly disseminating news and information and is facing retaliation for their work. advertisement advertisement There is a debate in India with regards to free speech and hate speech, particularly in the media. Your thoughts? Theres no doubt that hate speech is a huge problem, there have been so many well-reported pieces on hate speech on social media platforms, especially in India where there are so many people who use social media. In many of these reports there have been clear links showing government and political officials who have ties to people who perpetuate hate speech, or may perpetuate it themselves. I think social media platforms havent adequately addressed concerns over hate speech and they must do a better job. The Indian government and politicians also have a responsibility not to engage in hate speech and they should explicitly condemn it if its coming from their supporters. Its also important that as this much-needed debate happens, that governments dont use regulating hate speech as a guise to further control or limit critical reporting. Union Township Board of Trustees approves Construction Code Ordinance and first readings of Zoning map amendments Zoning Ordinance updates. The decisions on these new business items were made at the Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 26. The meeting was held on Zoom which community members could access via online or through their phone. The first item on the agenda was a second reading and potential adoption of the new Construction Codes Ordinance. The first reading occurred on Aug. 12. The proposed ordinance is meant to consolidate all construction-related into one new ordinance with necessary updates. This includes the adoption of the International Property Maintenance Code, which includes provisions for blighted and dangerous buildings and confirms that Appendix G of the Michigan Building Code for flood-resistant construction is enforced by the Township, and adopts relevant FEMA flood hazard maps. The new ordinance also reaffirms that Union Township is designated as the local enforcing agency for the state construction code under Public Act 230 of 1972. According to the action request form from Township Manager Mark Stuhldreher, the proposed updates to the Construction Codes Ordinance are necessary to address technical issues and outdated provisions, and to consolidate construction-related regulations into one ordinance. The second reading and adoption of the Construction Codes Ordniance was approved unanimously by the board of trustees. The next item on the agenda was to introduce a first reading for for the proposed PREZ20-01 and PREZ20-02 amendments to the Official Zoning Map. According to the request for action from Stuhldreher, the corresponding amendments to the Official Zoning Map depicted on the attached Area A, B, C, and D maps were initiated by the Township to be consistent with the proposed Ordinance updates. This includes: To rezone land depicted on the Area A Map east of S. Crawford Road abutting portions of Saddle Lane, Stirrup Lane, and Bridle Lane in the NW1/4 of Section 34 from R-5 (Single-Wide Mobile Home) District to R-2B (One and Two-Family) District To rezone land depicted on the Area B Map east of S. Isabella Road abutting portions of Jonathon Lane, Bertshire Drive, Jenchris Lane, Honey Bear Lane, and Ruby Road in the NW1/4 of Section 13 from R-5 (Single-Wide Mobile Home) District to R-2B (One and Two-Family) District To rezone land depicted on the Area C Map east of Packard Street on the north and south sides of E. Pickard Road and also abutting portions of Corporate Drive, Belmont Drive, Carter Street, and Betty Lane in the SE1/4 of Section 11 and NE1/4 of Section 14 from B-6 (Auto-Related Highway Business) District to B-7 (Retail and Service Highway Business)District To rezone three (3) lots depicted on the Area D Map on the northwest corner of the E. Pickard Road and S. Isabella Road intersection in the SE1/4 of Section 11 from B-6 (AutoRelated Highway Business) District to the B-5 (Highway Business) District According to the request for action from Stuhldreher, the development of the proposed new Zoning Ordinance included an evaluation of the existing Residential and Business Districts. The Townships consultant identified R-5 (Single Wide Mobile Home) District as outdated and no longer fully consistent with applicable state laws and established housing-related case law in Michigan. Also, the removal of B-6 was determined in order to reduce duplication among Highway Business zoning districts, which are similar in character and mix of land uses. For areas A and B, rezoning of land from R-5 District to the R-2B (One and Two-Family) is consistent with the existing R-2B zoning of the immediately adjacent land and with the Master Plans designation of these areas for future Residential land uses. For areas C and D, the rezoning of land from B-6 to B-7 districts on the Area C is consistent with the existing B-7 zoning of the immediate adjacent land, and with the Master Plans designation of land along the E. Pickard Rd. corridor for future Community Commercial land uses. Similarly, the proposed rezoning of the three (3) lots depicted on the Area D Map from the B-6 District to the B-5 (Highway Business) District is consistent with the adjacent B-5 zoning to the west and north and this Master Plan future land use designation, the request form said. A public hearing on the amendments was held by the Planning Commission on July 21st at their regular meeting on July 21, as well as a review of the proposed amendments at the Planning Commissions August 13 meeting. The zoning map amendments were unanimously approved. The next item was the first reading for the proposed PTXT20-02 Zoning Ordinance Update and list of additional revisions and corrections as recommended by the Planning Commission. A review of the Zoning Ordinance was considered necessary after the adoption of the Townships Master Plan in 2018. According to the action request form from Stuhldreher, the Board of Trustees entered into an agreement with McKenna Associates, Inc. on July 25, 2018 to work with the Planning Commission to research and prepare an updated ordinance document, with Christopher Doozan, AICP, serving as the lead consultant for the project. Key updates to the proposed ordinance includes: Up to date with current state laws and established case law. Reorganized for ease of navigation and readability, including consolidation of various requirements into tables where possible. Graphics and flowcharts have been added to illustrate regulatory concepts and approval processes. Comprehensively updated site plan and special use permit approval processes to improve outcomes, provide additional certainty to applicants, and allow for input from the Planning Commission earlier in the site design process. Revisions to the Planned Unit Development option designed to make this a more attractive option for developers, and a more effective tool for implementation of Master Plan policies in the Bluegrass Area. Added review guidance in the Amendments section to assist the Planning Commission and Board of Trustees with review of rezoning applications. Updated site development standards (landscaping, exterior lighting, parking, etc.) to improve screening and buffering between land uses of different intensities, and to further enhance the visual character of the community as new development takes place. A nonconforming sites section has been added to allow the Township to work more collaboratively with owners of older developed sites to make improvements related to public safety and other key elements without requiring the entire site to be brought up to current standards. Comprehensively updated sign regulations designed to minimize the need for variances while also providing additional signage options for businesses and others. Other changes include revisions to the home occupation provisions, new short-term rental housing regulations, updated wireless communication facility standards, and updated requirements for accessory buildings and structures. Adoption of an updated Zoning Ordinance is a necessary step in the ongoing implementation of the Township Master Plans future land use and development policies, and to ensure that the Township remains in compliance with applicable state laws and established case law, the action request form said. Adoption of the new Ordinance is also justified by the community benefits to be gained through updated land use and site development standards, and development approval processes that provide additional certainty to applicants and allow for Planning Commission input earlier in the site design process. Since March 2020, multiple meetings with the Planning Commission, as well as an Open House, have been held on the matter in order to account for the revisions made up to the First reading. The first reading of the Zoning Ordinance updates, revisions, and corrections was approved unanimously by the Board of Trustees. For more information, visit uniontownshipmi.com. Russias State Duma lawmaker faces trial on bribery charges RAPSI, Eugeny Varlamov 10:50 28/08/2020 MOSCOW, August 28 (RAPSI) Indictment has been approved against State Duma lawmaker Vadim Belousov and his alleged accomplice Margarita Butakova as part of a 3.2-billion-ruble (about $45 million at the current exchange rate) bribery case, the press service of the Prosecutor Generals Office of Russia reports. Investigators claim that from May 2010 to January 2014, Belousov, ex-chief accountant of the First Bread-baking Complex Butakova, ex-governor of the Chelyabinsk Region Mikhail Yurevich and other accomplices conspired to receive over 3.2 billion rubles from the Autobahn Holding managers for favoritism and assistance in auctions. In May 2017, the Sverdlovsk Regional Court issued an arrest warrant for Yurevich in absentia on allegations of taking 26 million rubles in bribes and incitement to defamation. During the pretrial investigation, upon a prosecutors motion the State Duma gave its consent to stripping Belousov of the MPs immunity and bringing him to criminal liability. In June 2018, I went to Friendship Park south of San Diego, the only place along the 3,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border where immigrants documented, undocumented or semi-documented are allowed to meet their families on the other side. I encountered a Mexican construction worker who hadnt seen his mother for 17 years, because he was working incredibly long hours every day on this side of the fence, earning money for her hospital bills. Across the ugly, industrial barrier, his mother thrust her pinkie, and he touched her pinkie with his, the only contact that the gap in the fence would allow, in what the migrants call the pinkie kiss. And she said that she loved him, and he told her that he missed her. This son is not a rapist or a drug dealer, as Trump has often described people like him. Hes an ordinary hero. Were lucky he came here, with his work ethic, his love of family. Americas cruel, arbitrary, capricious, corrupt and self-defeating immigration laws keep out countless people just like him, hurting us as a nation and wrecking human lives. A new data centre is about to open in Kenya, courtesy of PAIX Data Centres, an African provider of cloud and carrier-neutral colocation data centre services. According to local press reports, PAIX (Pan African Internet Exchange data centres) plans to open the facility called PAIX Nairobi-1 at Britam Tower, the capitals tallest office building, in Upper Hill, Nairobis financial district, in November. There is, apparently, a strategic reason for this. The company has suggested that the office facilities of Britam Tower make the location attractive for international customers that are considering opening offices in Nairobi and points out that it gives them proximity and access to critical data infrastructure. Nairobi-1 will host 240 cabinets with a total power capacity of 1.5MVA, 690 square metres of whitespace, and a guaranteed uptime of 99.982 percent, making the site highly suitable, PAIX says, for its interconnected customer community of internet service providers, telecom operators, cloud providers, content distribution networks, digital media and enterprises. PAIXs data centre project in Kenya is supported by the Dutch government via the Dutch Good Growth Fund, providing PAIXs data centre projects with long-term growth financing. PAIX was founded in 2016 by a team of data centre, telecom industry and investment professionals with a track record in the African market. In its data centre operations, PAIX aims to offer a leading global quality service level to its national and international customer base across the African continent. In Ghana, its other major market to date, PAIX operates the country's leading carrier-neutral data centre with the highest concentration of networks. Known locally as RackAfrica, it is situated in Accra. The NIA has conducted a search at the house of a suspect in Gujarat in connection with a case involving Pakistan's ISI handlers. The search was conducted on Thursday at the house of Rajakbhai Kumbhar in West Kutch. The case pertains to an FIR registered on January 19 at Lucknow's Gomti Nagar police station on the arrest of Mohammad Rashid of Chandoli district's Mughalsarai. The NIA re-registered the case on April 6 under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). During investigation, it was revealed that Rashid was in contact with defence or ISI handlers in Pakistan and visited the neighbouring country twice. He had transmitted photographs of sensitive and strategically important installations in India and also shared information about the movement of the armed forces with ISI handlers in Pakistan. Kumbhar had transferred Rs 5,000 through Paytm to the account of one Rizwan, which was further handed over Rashid. The amount was remitted to Rashid by Kumbhar on the directions of ISI agents in lieu of the information supplied to them by the former. During the search at Kumbhar's house, incriminating documents were seized. Further investigation in the case is underway. With more than 7,300 new cases, France is just shy of the 7,578 high set on March 31 during its lockdown period. Russias coronavirus cases surpassed 980,000 after the country reported 4,829 new cases in the last 24 hours. The number of coronavirus cases in Latin America surpassed seven million, as legislators in Argentinas capital passed a law allowing relatives to maintain a bedside vigil for patients dying of COVID-19. South Korea extended social-distancing rules in the capital, Seoul, amid a triple-digit rise in cases, while India reported another record jump in daily cases. New Delhi has reported the worlds highest single-day caseload every day since August 7. More than 24.5 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, and 16 million have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 833,000 people have died. Here are the latest updates: Friday, August 28 23:34 GMT California unveils new plan to reopen businesses Gavin Newsom, governor of the US state of California, announced a new process for reopening businesses that is slower and more gradual than what the state tried earlier this summer. The new rules announced on Friday create a four-tier, color-coded system that counties will move through based on their number of cases and percentage of positive tests. It will rely on two metrics to determine which tier a county is in: case rates and the percentage of positive tests. California has the most confirmed virus cases in the nation, with nearly 700,000 and third-most deaths at 12,550. 20:33 GMT IMF staff reaches agreement with Ecuador on $6.5bn loan International Monetary Fund staff reached an agreement with Ecuador on a $6.5bn, 27-month loan programme to help the country deal with the dual shock of COVID-19 and the plunge in oil prices. The IMF said the Extended Fund Facility follows Quitos successful renegotiation with bondholders, and complements a $643m emergency loan the Washington-based crisis lender provided in May. The new loan is subject to approval by the IMF board. 19:27 GMT Italys busy summer lights fuse on coronavirus resurgence fears A man performs a backflip at Mondello Beach, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Palermo, Italy [Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters] Italy is standing at a crossroads in its fight against the pandemic as it recorded more than 1,400 new daily cases following a summer during which Italians and foreign tourists were allowed to move around freely. We are in the classic phase which is preliminary to a second wave; this is [like] the fuse that is lighting, hence we need to get all the firefighters to switch it off now, said Pier Luigi Lopalco, a professor of hygiene and preventive medicine at the University of Pisa. Read the full story here. 18:40 GMT Canada extends international travel ban Canada extended a measure barring most foreign travellers from entering the country amid continued efforts to limit the introduction and spread of the coronavirus, Minister of Public Safety Bill Blair said on Twitter. Our government is extending the existing restrictions on international travel to Canada by one month until September 30, 2020 to limit the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in our communities. (1/2) Bill Blair (@BillBlair) August 28, 2020 The extension to September 30 applies to foreign travellers entering Canada from outside the United States. Canada has a separate agreement for border crossings with the US, which is in place until September 21. 18:30 GMT France reports record daily high France has reported 7,379 new confirmed coronavirus cases, a new post-lockdown record following the 6,111 record reported on Thursday and just shy of the 7,578 high set on March 31 during the countrys lockdown period. The total number of confirmed cases rose to 267,077, while the cumulative number of deaths from COVID-19 rose by 20 to 30,596, the health ministry reported. 18:20 GMT France doing everything to avoid lockdown: Macron French President Emmanuel Macron said his government was doing everything possible to avoid another nationwide coronavirus lockdown but added it would be dangerous to rule out any scenario. Were doing everything to avoid another lockdown and in particular a nationwide lockdown, Macron told journalists. Weve learned enough to know that nothing can be ruled out. But were doing everything to prevent it. French President Emmanuel Macron, wearing a protective face mask, delivers a speech as he visits a site of pharmaceutical group Seqens, a global leader on the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients [Christian Hartmann/AFP] The number of coronavirus infections has spiralled higher in France in recent weeks, particularly among young people, although the number of patients receiving life-saving treatment in hospitals is stable. 18:15 GMT Spain reports 3,829 new cases Spain has diagnosed 3,829 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, health ministry data showed, down from a revised count of more than 6,000 the previous day. A cumulative total of 439,286 infections have been detected since the onset of the pandemic. In the past seven days, 129 people have died from the virus, bringing the total toll to 29,011, the data showed. The latest statistics could be modified in the future as Spain retroactively adjusts its official data. 17:10 GMT UK records 1,276 new daily infections The United Kingdom has recorded 1,276 new daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, down from the 1,522 recorded on Thursday. A further nine people have died after they tested positive for the disease within 28 days. The UK has been increasing the number of tests it is conducting, particularly in areas with local outbreaks. 17:00 GMT Hungary to close borders to foreigners Hungary will close its borders to foreigners as of September 1 to curb a rise in coronavirus infections and Hungarians returning to the country from abroad will have to go into quarantine, Prime Minister Viktor Orbans cabinet chief has said. Gergely Gulyas said Hungarian citizens could leave quarantine only with two negative COVID-19 tests. Exceptions for foreigners entry would be military convoys, humanitarian transit and business or diplomatic travel. 16:38 GMT Greece extends lockdown in migrant camps The Greek government said it would extend a lockdown imposed on migrants living in camps on its Aegean Islands and eastern frontier until September 15 as coronavirus cases mount. Lockdown was first ordered in the camps on March 21. Authorities are particularly concerned about the viruss spread in camps on five of the Aegean Islands. The facilities were designed to hold fewer than 6,100 people, but at present 24,000 are crammed into them in unsanitary conditions. Athens decided to extend the lockdown to prevent coronavirus cases from appearing and spreading, the migration ministry said. 16:12 GMT Pandemic hampers search for missing persons in Latin America Restrictions on movement because of the coronavirus have put the brakes on the search for thousands of disappeared people across Latin America, said the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Resolving the fate and whereabouts of missing persons is a daily challenge that needs effective and coordinated search efforts even while the coronavirus spreads, said the ICRC. In some countries, organisations that deal with missing persons cases closed their offices because of COVID-19, while support groups had meetings disrupted, as well as searches and exhumations. I was going to a self-help group, but we had to cancel two months [of meetings] because an attendee got infected, said Maria Luisa Lazarin from Mexico, who is looking for her missing son. 15:36 GMT Berlin police prepare for violence at protests Police prepared for possible violence at protests in Berlin this weekend as activists opposed to coronavirus restrictions called on social media followers across Europe to arm themselves and join them in the German capital. More than 3,000 officers will be on the streets and water cannon will be used if necessary, police said. This openly expressed willingness to use violence against authorities is a new dimension for us, Berlin police Vice President Marco Langner told a news conference. Activists were angered by Berlins decision to ban demonstrations planned for Saturday opposing government measures after marchers at a recent rally failed to wear masks or maintain social distancing. 15:10 GMT Bangladesh and India companies sign vaccine deal Bangladeshs Beximco Pharmaceuticals is investing in the Serum Institute of India (SII) to ensure Dhaka gets priority access to COVID-19 vaccines being developed by the Indian drug manufacturer, said the company. The deal announced by the Bangladeshi generic drugmaker comes after Dhaka said this month it was ready to hold trials of candidate vaccines being developed by India as both countries seek to curb the spread of the virus. SII has partnered with AstraZeneca, the Bil & Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance to produce more than a billion doses of a COVID-19 vaccine for global supply. This landmark agreement reflects the deep-rooted desire for collaboration between the two countries and as representatives of the two nations, between us we can go a long way towards helping to mitigate the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the heads of both companies said in a statement. 14:35 GMT Spanish police arrest pandemic-denier Spanish police said they had arrested a man near the northeastern city of Zaragoza, who believed the coronavirus pandemic to be a hoax, for inciting hatred and violence across several anonymous social-media profiles. The 38-year-old, who claimed that health professionals and the media were behind what he called the COVID farce, urged his followers to attack politicians and journalists, police said. All this would be solved with a shot to the back of [Spanish Prime Minister] Pedro Sanchezs head, he wrote on one of his accounts. In other posts he said the headquarters of Spains doctors union should be burned down and described those who believed in the virus as bad and ignorant people who deserved to die, according to the police. 14:06 GMT UK COVID-19 reproduction R rate steady Shoppers walk past social-distancing signs at the Covent Garden shopping and dining district in London, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease [File: Toby Melville/Reuters] The reproduction R number of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom remains between 0.9 and 1.1, said the government, indicating that the rate of infection is most likely either broadly stable or slightly growing. The latest growth rate for the whole of the country is between -2 percent and 1 percent, meaning the number of new infections is somewhere between shrinking by 2 percent and growing by 1 percent every day. 13:35 GMT Denmark extends support for cultural activities Denmark said it will extend support for theatres and sports clubs and other cultural activities impacted by coronavirus curbs on large gatherings until the end of October. The government injected more than 300 billion Danish kroner ($48 billion) into the economy at the beginning of the crisis, including direct economic aid to businesses, state-guaranteed loans, and extended deadlines for tax payments. Most of those packages will be phased out at the end of August as planned following an improvement in employment numbers, the government said. 12:30 GMT Moderna in talks with Japan to supply 40 million doses of vaccine Moderna Inc has said it is in talks with Japans government to potentially supply 40 million or more doses of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The vaccine candidate, mRNA-1273, would be distributed in Japan by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, beginning in the first half of 2021, if it receives regulatory approval. The news comes as the country scrambles to secure access to enough doses of the vaccine to inoculate its population four times over, as it prepares to host a delayed Summer Olympics next year. 11:55 GMT Bangladeshs Beximco in vaccine pact with Serum Institute of India One of Bangladeshs largest drugmakers, Beximco Pharmaceuticals, announced that it will invest with the Serum Institute of India (SII) to ensure Bangladesh gets access to vaccines it is developing for the novel coronavirus. The deal comes after Bangladesh said this month it was ready to hold trials of candidate vaccines developed by India as both countries seek to curb the spread of the virus. The investment amount will be treated as an advance and once the vaccine receives regulatory approvals, SII will include Bangladesh among the countries who will be the first to receive an agreed quantity of this vaccine from SII on a priority basis, Beximco said in a statement, citing the heads of both organisations. 11:30 GMT J&J to start mid-stage vaccine trials in three European countries Johnson & Johnsons Janssen unit will begin mid-stage trials for its coronavirus vaccine in Spain, the Netherlands and Germany next week, Spains health minister said, as the US drugmaker expands testing for its experimental shot. The phase two trial will last two months and include 550 participants across the three countries, including 190 people in Spain, Salvador Illa told a news conference in Madrid. Spain, which has western Europes highest tally of coronavirus cases, is also working with AstraZeneca via the European Unions vaccine procurement programme to secure sufficient doses. The coronavirus disease has infected over 5.8 million Americans and killed more than 180,000 people, the highest tally in the world. [Henry Ford Health System via AFP] 10:55 GMT Slovakia adds six EU countries to quarantine requirement Slovakia will require travellers from six more European countries to stay in quarantine from September 1 due to rising numbers of coronavirus cases there, the Health Ministry said. They are Croatia, a particularly popular holiday destination for Slovaks, as well as Spain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Malta. Anyone who has visited those countries in the previous two weeks will be required to self-quarantine for 10 days, or present a negative test after at least five days self-isolation following entry to Slovakia. The ministry also advised people not to travel to Greece and certain parts of other European countries due to rising numbers of coronavirus cases. Those areas include the Czech capital, Prague, the Austrian capital, Vienna, and in the UK, Tayside in Scotland and the Northwest region of England. 10:30 GMT Amsterdam ends experiment with mandatory face masks The city of Amsterdam said it was ending an experiment with mandating the use of face masks in crowded public spaces as a way to slow the spread of coronavirus, as the peak of the tourism season has passed. The city, bucking national guidelines that only require masks on public transportation, had introduced mandatory masks in tourist hotspots on August 5. Social distancing requirements remain in place in the city, which remains a virus hotspot, and nationally. 10:00 GMT Merkel warns situation to get more difficult over winter German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the coronavirus pandemic will make things more difficult in the coming months and over the winter. It will probably get more difficult, Merkel told reporters at a news conference. 09:30 GMT Philippines reports 3,999 virus cases, 91 more deaths The Philippine health ministry confirmed 3,999 additional novel coronavirus infections and 91 more deaths. The ministry said total confirmed cases have reached 209,544, about a fifth of which were reported in the past 10 days, while deaths rose to 3,325. The Philippines has the most confirmed COVID-19 infections in Southeast Asia and the regions second-highest number of coronavirus deaths, next to Indonesia. A boy wears a face shield while watching an online learning class from a smartphone in Manila, Philippines [File: Reuters] 09:00 GMT China approves Sinovacs vaccine candidate for emergency use: Report Sinovac Biotech Ltds coronavirus vaccine candidate CoronaVac was approved in July for emergency use as part of a programme in China to vaccinate high-risk groups such as medical staff, a person familiar with the matter told the Reuters news agency. China National Biotec Group (CNBG), a unit of state-owned pharmaceutical giant China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm), also said it had obtained emergency use approval for a coronavirus vaccine candidate. CNBG, which has two vaccine candidates in phase three clinical trials, did not say which of its vaccines had been cleared for emergency use. 08:15 Indonesia reports record new virus cases for second day Indonesia reported 3,003 new coronavirus cases, its biggest rise in new infections for a second successive day, data from the countrys COVID-19 task force showed. The new cases brought Indonesias total coronavirus infections to 165,887, while 105 more fatalities took the death toll to 7,169, the data showed. 07:45 Russias coronavirus cases surpass 980,000 Russia reported 4,829 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing its nationwide tally to 980,405, the fourth largest caseload in the world. Russias coronavirus task force said 110 people had died over the last 24 hours, pushing its official death toll to 16,914. Russia says 110 people died over the last 24 hours, pushing its official death toll to 16,914 [File: Anadolu] 07:10 GMT UK transport minister: It is now safe to return to work The British government will urge people to return to offices and other workplaces where it is safe to do to help the economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, Transport Minster Grant Shapps said. Our central message is pretty straightforward: we are saying to people it is now safe to return to work, he told LBC radio, referring to a campaign set to be launched next week. 06:45 GMT France hopes to avoid Switzerland quarantine measures France is hoping to avoid COVID-19-related quarantine measures imposed on its citizens travelling to and from Switzerland, French junior European affairs minister, Clement Beaune, told Europe 1 radio. 06:15 GMT Ukraine reports daily record of 2,438 new virus cases Ukraine registered a record 2,438 cases of the new coronavirus in the past 24 hours, officials said. Ukraine this week 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. The country has so far reported a total of 114,497 infections and 2,451 deaths from the virus. 05:50 GMT Japans Abe aims to secure virus vaccine for all citizens by mid-2021 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced new measures to fight the coronavirus pandemic, including boosting testing capability to 200,000 tests per day and aiming to secure enough vaccines for all citizens by mid-2021. Abe also said Japan will allow foreigners with residence status to enter the country from the start of next month. Abe says Japan will allow foreigners with residence status to enter the country from the start of next month [EPA] Hello. This is Umut Uras in Doha, taking over from my colleague Zaheena Rasheed. 04:52 GMT India reports record daily jump of 77,266 infections India has reported a record daily jump of 77,266 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, taking the countrys total to 3.39 million. India has reported the highest single-day caseload in the world every day since August 7, a Reuters tally showed, and is the third-most affected country behind only the United States and Brazil. Deaths in the same period went up by 1,057, taking the total toll to 61,529. Catholic nuns from the Missionaries of Charity, the global order of nuns founded by Saint Mother Teresa, wear protective face shields as they prepare to distribute free snacks and tea among the poor in Kolkata, India [Rupak De Chowdhuri/ Reuters] 04:26 GMT Venezuela using COVID-19 to crack down on critics, says HRW Venezuelan security forces and authorities under President Nicolas Maduro have used the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to crack down on dissenting voices, Human Rights Watch reported. The New York-based rights group said Venezuelan authorities have targeted dozens of journalists, healthcare workers, human rights lawyers and political opponents critical of the governments response to the pandemic. Some critics have been physically abused to levels bordering on torture, it said in a report listing 162 such cases from March through June. In Venezuela today, you cant even share a private message criticizing the Maduro government via WhatsApp without fear of being prosecuted, said Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. 03:57 GMT Trump says US will crush COVID-19 with vaccine this year US President Donald Trump has promised to crush the coronavirus pandemic with a vaccine by the end of the year, as he accepted the Republican Partys presidential nomination for a second term. We are marshalling Americas scientific genius to produce a vaccine in record time, Trump said. We will have a safe and effective vaccine this year and together we will crush the virus. 03:22 GMT UN concern over widespread COVID-19 transmission in Syria Ramesh Rajasingham, the United Nationss deputy emergency relief coordinator, says COVID-19 is having a dramatic effect on healthcare services in Syria, where limited testing is obscuring the real extent of the pandemic. Official COVID-19 figures suggest community transmission of the coronavirus is widespread in Syria, he told the UN Security Council (UNSC), with the majority of the 2,440 cases confirmed by the Ministry of Health not traceable to any known source. Reports of healthcare facilities filling up, of rising numbers of death notices and burials, all seem to indicate that actual cases far exceed official figures, he told the UNSC. Meanwhile, healthcare workers still lack sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) and several facilities have suspended operations due to lack of capacity and staff falling ill from COVID-19, he said. 02:43 GMT S Korea extends coronavirus curbs as cases rise Chung Sye-kyun, the prime minister of South Korea, has extended social distancing rules in the Seoul metropolitan area for one more week amid another triple-digit increase in daily coronavirus cases. The phase two restrictions, which ban gatherings of more than 50 people indoors, were due to expire this weekend. Chung said there are growing calls to elevate the distancing requirements to the highest level on the three-phase level, but that remains the choice of last resort given its economic and social repercussions. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 371 new coronavirus cases as of midnight on Thursday, bringing the countrys total to 19,077, including 316 deaths. 02:16 GMT USs COVID-19 death toll passes 180,000 The United States has added 931 new coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the countrys total death toll to 180,527. An additional 42,859 new infections brought its overall caseload to 5,860,397. 01:39 GMT Curfew in Cubas Havana Havanas governor has announced an overnight curfew and a ban on travel from the Cuban capital to other provinces and greater restrictions on the circulation of vehicles in a bid to curb a new peak in coronavirus cases. The new measures will come into effect on September 1 for 15 days, Reinaldo Garcia Zapata said on national television, at which point the situation will be reassessed. 01:01 GMT Australias Victoria reports steady rise in cases Australias second-most populous state the epicentre of the countrys latest COVID-19 outbreak says it detected 113 new cases in the past 24 hours, a number that remained unchanged from the previous day. Strict lockdown measures have helped ease the daily rise of COVID-19 infections in Victoria after the state hit a one-day high of more than 700 cases about three weeks ago. Australia has now recorded nearly 25,500 COVID-19 infections nationwide, while the death toll rose to 584 after 12 people died in Victoria. 00:54 GMT Buenos Aires to allow relatives to attend patient deaths Healthcare workers in the Argentine capital will be instructed to allow family members to maintain a bedside vigil for dying COVID-19 patients under a new law approved on Thursday. In much of the world, the coronavirus has been defined as the disease of loneliness. There are many cases where people said their loved ones died because they felt alone, said Facundo Del Gaiso, the city congressman who introduced the bill. The measure allows one family member, between the ages of 18 and 60, to keep vigil with the dying patient, with the exception of pregnant women or people with pre-existing medical conditions. 00:31 GMT Severe or fatal COVID-19 very rare in children, study finds Children and young people are far less likely than adults to get severe cases of COVID-19 infection, and death from the disease among children is exceptionally rare, according to research published in the British Medical Journal. A study of COVID-19 patients admitted to 138 hospitals in the United Kingdom between January 17 and July 13 found that less than 1 percent were children, and of those, fewer than 1 percent or six in total died, all of whom were already suffering from serious illness or underlying health disorders. We can be quite sure that COVID in itself is not causing harm to children on a significant scale, said Calum Semple, a professor of outbreak medicine and child health at the University of Liverpool, who co-led the work. The highest-level message really has to be that [in children with COVID-19] severe disease is rare, and death is vanishingly rare and that [parents] should be comforted that their children are not at direct harm by going back into school, he told a briefing. While the overall risk of children getting severe COVID-19 is tiny, the researchers said, children of Black ethnicity and those with obesity are disproportionately affected, as previous studies in adults have found. 00:18 GMT Latin Americas coronavirus cases pass seven million Coronavirus cases have passed the seven-million-mark in Latin America, according to a Reuters tally, even as some countries begin to show a slight decline in infections in the region with the worlds highest level of contagion. The daily average of cases fell to about 77,800 in the last seven days through Wednesday, against almost 85,000 the previous week, the tally based on government figures showed. Latin Americas increase from six million to seven million occurred in 13 days, two more than the previous million mark. Hello and welcome to Al Jazeeras continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. Im Zaheena Rasheed in Male, Maldives. For all the key developments from yesterday, August 27, go here. Two men were grievously injured after their car fell from the Janakpuri elevated flyover in West Delhi and landed on the service road below late on Thursday night, police said. According to Deepak Purohit, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West), the car, a Honda City, took nearly a 30-feet plunge after flying off the flyover and crossing over its side wall on the left. Also read: 20-year-old BBA student arrested after cyclist dies in accident The injured men have been identified as Anuj and his friend Vijay, both 29 and residents of outer Delhi neighbourhoods. Given the manner of its fall, it appears the car was being driven at a high speed, said the DCP. The blood test reports of the two men are yet to arrive so the police couldnt immediately say if the person driving the car was under the influence. The accident occurred around 11 pm on Thursday, soon after the car climbed the flyover from Janakpuri side, the DCP said. Fortunately, there was no vehicle on the service road below where it landed. The car was badly damaged. Our policemen rushed the injured men to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, said the DCP. The duo is in a critical condition and their families got them shifted to private hospitals for treatment. The DCP said that police would write to the civic agencies to get the side walls of the flyover raised as it was a matter of concern that its height wasnt enough to prevent the car from falling down. A case of rash and negligent driving has been registered at Vikaspuri police station and the police are probing, said the DCP. /* custom css */ .tdi_75_458.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_458 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_458.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_458.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_458.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno on Thursday inaugurated the Tukur Buratai Institute for War and Peace built as part of the concerted efforts to overcome the challenges of insurgency in the Northeast. Speaking at the event, Zulum lauded the foresight of the Nigerian Army in building the institute, located in Buratai, Biu Local Government Area of the state. He regretted that the insurgency had inflicted debilitating impact on the state and the neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad and Cameroon. He said: Our dear state is the worst affected with many citizens still in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps. /* custom css */ .tdi_74_989.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_989 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_989.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_989.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_989.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Im not unaware of where we were before the inception of the President Muhammadu Buharis administration and the successes recorded by the military in the war against terrorism. With the level of destruction of infrastructure and displacement of people from their communities, we have the task of rehabilitating them. The task before us now is to return the people to their communities and restart their means of livelihoods, he said. The governor said that it was for such reason that the state government was devoting its limited resources to empower and encourage the people to return to their communities. The army is a reliable partner in this endeavour, he said, adding that the state government shall work with the institute to design a template and programmes for peace building, reconstruction and development of the communities. He appreciated the sacrifices of gallant troops, saying, We shall continue to support the Armed Forces. When we occasionally criticise them, we do so with a view to improving on our successes and not out of lack of appreciation. In a remark, The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, regretted that one of the greatest challenges facing the world today is terrorism with its huge toll on human lives. Buratai said that Nigeria has had its fair share of terrorism in the form of Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast part of country. He said that the military had been working substantially with the support of government and other security agencies to rout terrorism and return peace to the affected areas. He said that the success of the troops would enable the IDPs to go back to their communities and resume their normal productive activities. This is the surest way to put in a nail on the coffins of insurgency, he said. He commended the troops for their sacrifices in defending their country, saying the Nigerian Army would continue to treat their welfare and families with topmost priority. He commended the people of northeast for their continued support, pointing out that without their support and understanding, the successes achieved would not have been possible. Continue to support our security agencies with timely intelligence as the war on terror is a collective responsibility of all, he said. He said that the institute was part of Nigerian Armys aim of understanding all forms of warfare, particularly new forms of asymmetric conflict, including terrorism and insurgency. The Tukur Buratai Institute aims at training and capacity building for military personnel as well as civilians in counter-terrorism and insurgency, humanitarian responses, peace building and construction. The COAS said the institute had six centres, including research, documentation, counter-terrorism and insurgency, cyber security, strategic communication and centre for museum and archives. In a speech, the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the Nigerian Army University, Biu, Prof. Kyari Mohammed, said the conversion of the museum to an Institute of War and Peace was part of armys efforts of defeating the Boko Haram insurgency not only by kinetic force. Mohammed said that in 2014, Buratai town was severally attacked by insurgents. He opined that the institute would intellectually provide education, which the insurgents detested in their campaigns of war. Academicians intend to look for and proffer solutions to end the ongoing war with Boko Haram and abet future occurrences. The institutes building was donated by Buratai in 2015 as a museum, where relics of war and insurgency were displayed. In 2019, the Nigerian Army decided to upgrade the museum to become a centre for counter-terrorism and insurgency, Mohammed said. According to him, this year, the University Council in its wisdom thought it necessary to upgrade the centre to an institute. It will deal with post-conflict peace building and reconstruction, disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration. The centre will also study other forms of conflict around the country and beyond. We aspire to be the centre of excellence in post-conflict peace building and proffering solutions to violent conflict, the VC said. He said the institute would be devoted to the study of all aspects of war and peace. NAN report that the more than a decade-long Boko Haram insurgency has claimed at least 36,000 lives with the destruction of over $9 billion (N3.42 trillion) worth of property in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to resign due to deteriorating health, the Japanese public television reported on Friday. It noted that the head of government had already made a decision. Abe is expected to announce it at a special news conference, which will be held at 17:00 local time (11:00 Moscow time) on Friday. After the resignation, if it really takes place, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party will have to endorse a candidate for prime minister in parliament. Currently, the party and its allies have a majority in both houses of the national parliament, which will make it possible for them to obtain parliamentary approval without any obstacles from the opposition, TASS reported. Earlier this month, Shinzo Abe set a record for the longest tenure as head of government in the history of Japan. He has chaired the Cabinet for a total of 2,799 consecutively since the start of his second term as prime minister in December 2012. Per capita, however, India has had far fewer deaths than those two countries and many others, which doctors say reflects the country's younger and leaner population. One reason the country is reporting such a steep rise in infections now is simply that it is testing more. India performs nearly 1 million tests a day, compared with 200,000 a day two months ago. Four at Republican convention test positive, officials say Four people at the Republican National Convention in North Carolina this week tested positive for the novel coronavirus, officials said on Friday, even as Republicans played down the US health crisis in re-nominating President Donald Trump. The party's convention, which began with one day of events in Charlotte, North Carolina, despite the pandemic that has killed more than 180,000 Americans, ended on Thursday after four days of speeches lauding Trump. Throughout the convention, Republicans largely abandoned talk of the crisis as if it had abated, instead reminding voters of the robust economy that existed beforehand. The official Twitter feed of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, where Charlotte is located, said two convention attendees and two event support staff had tested positive and all were "immediately isolated". Convention spokesman Michael Ahrens confirmed the four positive tests out of about 1000 administered. "The RNC had diligent safety protocols in place, including testing all attendees before arriving in Charlotte, and again upon arrival," Ahrens said in a statement. On Thursday night, Trump delivered remarks at the White House before a crowd of more than 1000 people seated in chairs centimetres apart, with little evidence of face masks being worn despite health experts' recommendations. Vice-President Mike Pence on Wednesday exchanged at least one handshake while greeting supporters during convention activities, a scene that starkly contrasted to last week's nearly all-virtual Democratic convention. New infections in France just shy of lockdown record France reported 7379 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday, a new post-lockdown record following the 6111 record reported on Thursday and just shy of the 7578 high set on March 31 at the peak of its initial wave. Metropolitan France is now seeing an "exponential progression of the virus transmission", the health ministry said in a weekly review of the coronavirus situation. The total number of confirmed cases rose to 267,077, while the cumulative number of deaths from COVID-19 rose by 20 to 30,596, the health ministry reported. Despite the rapid rise in the infection rate, the hospital numbers were relatively stable, as the virus is mainly spreading among young people who show relatively few symptoms, the ministry said. The cumulative death toll rose by 20 to 30,596 while the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 was unchanged at 4535 and the number of people in intensive care rose by six to 387. Merkel says pandemic to worsen, vaccine is key German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Friday that the coronavirus pandemic would worsen in coming months, and that life would not return to normal until a vaccine against it had been developed. As Merkel makes preparations to step down before the next national election in October 2021, she made clear that she expects the pandemic to define her last year in office. Life would not return to normal until a vaccine had been developed, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said. Credit:Getty Images Urging citizens not to drop their guard against the virus as Germany's daily infection rate rises, she told a news conference: "This is a serious matter, as serious as it's ever been, and you need to carry on taking it seriously." Even though Germany would not fully repay debt incurred to fund relief measures offsetting the impact of COVID-19 until 2058, such stimulus was essential as the economy could not be allowed to grind to a halt, she said. Meanwhile, she said further contracts for COVID-19 vaccines were "in the works" between drug companies and the European Union, whose rotating presidency Germany holds until December. With none of the many vaccines under development having yet passed through phase III trials, the European Commission this week secured at least 300 million doses of British drug maker AstraZeneca's potential treatment. Turkey's daily COVID-19 death toll hits highest level since May The daily number of deaths in Turkey due to coronavirus rose to 36 on Friday, its highest level since mid-May, while the number of daily new cases again rose above 1500, according to Health Ministry data. Loading This week the level of new daily cases has risen to levels last seen in mid-June, prompting the government to impose measures to combat the spread of the pandemic. The Health Ministry figures showed a total of 1517 new cases on Friday, bringing the total number of cases to 265,515. The daily death toll was the highest since May 17, when it stood at 44. The total death toll in Turkey stands at 6245. Responding to this week's surge in numbers, President Tayyip Erdogan has announced that all state institutions may now implement "flexible working methods" while the Interior Ministry said it was banning certain events and celebrations. Freedom and Swedens Constitution In most countries, the tool of choice to flatten the curve of the coronavirus pandemic is the lockdown. Not in Sweden, which has chosen a rather laissezfaire approach. The borders have been kept open, and Swedes are free to travel within the country, visit bars and restaurants (with some restrictions), parks, hairdressers, gyms and most other places. The cornerstone of the Swedish response is its constitutions most important part, the Regeringsform. Chapter 2, Article 8 states: Everyone shall be protected in their relations with the public institutions against deprivations of personal liberty. All Swedish citizens shall also in other respects be guaranteed freedom of movement within the Realm and freedom to depart the Realm. The Regeringsform makes exceptions only for prisoners and military conscripts, and there is no provision for a peacetime state of emergency. While the constitutions of neighboring Finland and Norway also guarantee freedom of movement, neither juxtaposes that provision with a broad protection of personal liberty. The Swedish Constitution comes into play in another, more significant way, namely the strong independence of public authorities from government interference. This unique feature originated with the Regeringsform of 1634, which followed the death of King Gustavus Adolphus II in the Thirty Years War. It insulates Swedens public institutions from political meddling to a much greater degree than in any other democracy. The Public Health Agency of Swedenlike other public bodies, such as the worlds oldest central bank, the Riksbankoperates with an incomparably high degree of independence from the government. Chapter 12, Article 2 of the Regeringsform spells this out: No public authority, including the Riksdagthe Parliamentor decisionmaking body of any local authority, may determine how an administrative authority shall decide in a particular case relating to the exercise of public authority visavis an individual or a local authority, or relating to the application of law. So the Swedish Public Health Agency is directed and operated by expertsnot government political appointees. These experts are the architects of Swedens response to the coronavirus pandemic. They have developed a broader approach than most epidemiologists. The collaborative work of health economists and epidemiologists at the Swedish Public Health Agency has produced a response that explicitly considers the overall impact of their policies on the Swedish economy and people. The heads of the Public Health Agency have the last word. The independence of public authorities seems to suit the Swedes. They have strong trust in public institutions, in the governments effectiveness and honesty, and in the democratic process and rule of law. This trust is, in large part, derived from the freedoms guaranteed by the Swedish constitution. Swedes also trust each other to a remarkable extent, as documented in international surveys. According to a recent poll, 63% of Swedes reported that they trusted most people, compared with only 30% in the U.S. So when Swedens state epidemiologist, Anders Tegnell, speaks, Swedes listen to his advice on social distancing, washing hands for at least 30 seconds, and selfisolation of atrisk groups, like those over 70. It isnt only Swedens epidemiologists who have the Swedes earseconomists do, too. The great Swedish economists, starting with Knut Wicksell (18511926), have been active in the public sphere and have had an outsize influence on Swedish policy. Once the coronavirus appeared, Swedish economists cautioned that a policy of restrictions, such as lockdowns, would impose enormous economic costs to society, and that it might be as bad as the disease itself. Swedes listened. Swedens exceptionalism rests on both its formal written constitution and the high degree of trust infused in the countrys customs and habits. Its one thing to have rules, another thing to follow them. Follow me on Twitter. By Steve H. Hanke www.cato.org/people/hanke.html Steve H. Hanke is a Professor of Applied Economics and Co-Director of the Institute for Applied Economics, Global Health, and the Study of Business Enterprise at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Prof. Hanke is also a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C.; a Distinguished Professor at the Universitas Pelita Harapan in Jakarta, Indonesia; a Senior Advisor at the Renmin University of Chinas International Monetary Research Institute in Beijing; a Special Counselor to the Center for Financial Stability in New York; a member of the National Bank of Kuwaits International Advisory Board (chaired by Sir John Major); a member of the Financial Advisory Council of the United Arab Emirates; and a contributing editor at Globe Asia Magazine. Copyright 2020 Steve H. Hanke - All Rights Reserved 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. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Now, there are no grounds for severing diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Belarus, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said. "We do not break off relations with Belarus, we pause the preparation and holding of official meetings between our countries. But there is no reason for any break in diplomatic relations at the moment. Therefore, of course, we do not plan to resort to this step now, and the Belarusian ambassador continues to perform his functions here in Ukraine," the minister said at an online briefing on Friday. Kuleba also noted that all official contacts between Ukraine and Belarus are paused "until the situation in Belarus stabilizes." "This also includes the process of preparing for the [Ukrainian-Belarusian] Forum of Regions," added the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. There will be no water cut in Mumbai from Saturday as the water levels in the 7 lakes that supply water to Mumbai have reached 95.19 percent. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced the withdrawal of the water cut on Friday afternoon. On August 5, the BMC had imposed a 20 percent water cut in Mumbai, the seven lakes had 37.36 percent useful water content as opposed to the same time in 2019 when the lakes had 89.96 percent useful water content. This was reduced to a 10 percent water cut on August 21, after the water levels in the seven lakes crossed the 85 percent mark. The seven lakes are Tansa, Bhatsa, Middle Vaitarna, Upper Vaitarna, Tulsi, Vehar and Modak Sagar. On Friday, the BMC announced, Due to heavy rains in the last few days, water storage has increased in the catchment area of 7 lakes which supply water to the BMC area. As of 6 am today (Friday), the total water storage in all the seven lakes has reached 95.19 percent. Taking this into consideration, the BMC administration has decided to withdraw the water cut which was implemented from 5th August 2020. Accordingly, regular water supply will be provided to BMC area from 29th August 2020. Also read: 346 policemen in Maharashtra test positive for Covid-19 in last 24 hours The BMC also decided to regularize the water supply to villages and areas in Thane and Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation that receive their water supply from the Mumbai civic bodys lakes. As of Friday morning, there was 13,77,690 million litres of water in the seven lakes, amounting to 95.19 percent of useful water content. This is as opposed to the 13,95,663 ML water or 96.43 percent available the same time last year. The BMC supplies 3,850 million litres per day (MLD), against a demand of 4,200 MLD. After the 20 percent water cut, the BMC supplied 3,080 MLD of water to Mumbai, according to information from the BMC. The seven lakes are bifurcated into two systems: the Vaitarna system, which supplies to the western suburbs and the island city, and the Bhatsa system which supplies water to the eastern suburbs. The lakes are situated in Mumbai, Thane and Palghar districts. DHAKA, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has programmed a 5.9-billion-U.S. dollar firm and a 5.2-billion-U.S. dollar standby project assistance for Bangladesh in 2021-2023, according to the new Country Operations Business Plan (COBP) for Bangladesh. "Given the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, we are enhancing our partnership with Bangladesh by adjusting program priorities to help the country overcome immediate challenges related to health and social protection, accelerate economic recovery, and maintain inclusive growth," ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Manmohan Parkash was quoted as saying in a statement Thursday. According to the COBP, 5,938 million U.S. dollars is for firm projects while another 5,170 million U.S. dollars is for standby projects, and 35.6 million U.S. dollars for technical assistance programs during 2021-2023. The standby list includes a pipeline of bankable projects that respond to the country's needs and growing absorptive capacity, to be financed depending on the availability of additional lending resources. Regardless of firm or standby status, ADB said its projects will be selected and processed based on strong government demand, sector absorptive capacity, and readiness, among other criteria. The COBP is aligned with the guiding principles of the Bangladeshi government's eighth five-year plan and its core themes of promoting prosperity and fostering inclusiveness, and ADB's Strategy 2030, it added. Today is Thursday, Aug. 27. Here are some of the top stories we are covering. Bars, concert venues and sport arenas won't fully open to the public in Massachusetts until there is a vaccine, or a treatment, for COVID-19. But if one were to be approved in the fall, or winter, who would be immunized first? And who would administer it? The fourth and final stage of reopening may seem a long way off given that vaccines are still in various stages of development, but experts agree that planning for the eventuality of a vaccine should begin now. "It would be a tragedy if a vaccine were produced, available and effective and we couldn't get it to people fast enough," said Lauren Stienstra, program director for homeland security and emergency management at the National Governors Association. The NGA published a policy memo this month suggesting that a "whole of government" response will be needed to successfully distribute a vaccine to the public. Gov. Charlie Baker sits as a member of the NGA's executive committee. Read the full story here Other top stories Landlords Fail To Overturn MA Eviction Ban In Court An eviction ban in Massachusetts meant to protect renters from housing instability during the coronavirus pandemic will stand following a Suffolk County judge's ruling in a lawsuit on Wednesday. Two landlords from Worcester and Randolph sued to stop the eviction moratorium law, saying that it violates their constitutional rights, Commonwealth Magazine reported. A separate lawsuit over the ban has been filed against the state Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development in federal court, but that case has yet to be resolved. Gov. Charlie Baker signed the eviction moratorium on April 20, and it will be in place until at least the middle of October. Under the law, a landlord can't evict a tenant for "non-essential" reasons like not paying rent. Landlords can still evict tenants who violate criminal laws or break a lease in an egregious way. Story continues Attorney: Death Of Fort Hood Soldier From Brockton 'A Form Of Murder' The body of Sgt. Elder Fernandes, who was reported missing from Fort Hood in Texas last week, has been found, his attorney said Wednesday. Natalie Khawam, who is representing the Fernandes family, was told about the discovery late Tuesday night. She said the body was found hanging in a tree near railroad tracks. "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 at a press conference in Florida Wednesday afternoon. Also Police Seek Public's Help In Natick Hit-And-Run Investigation A driver that hit two people along Washington Avenue on Aug. 18 may have had contact with other drivers, authorities say. Fallen Heroes Memorial In Mansfield Honors Thousands Killed In War On Terror "Freedom isn't free. They were all comrades in arms." Swampscott Students Protesting Remote Start Of School Year The students will also use the demonstration to protest the Northeastern Conference's decision to delay fall sports. Second Newton Marijuana Shop Edges Closer To Opening Cypress Tree, at the former Green Tea restaurant at the corner of Elliott Street and Route 9, is wrapping up construction this November. State House News Service and CBS Boston contributed to this roundup This article originally appeared on the Boston Patch Vanessa Hudgens was seen shopping for pet supplies at the Los Feliz pet shop Healthy Spot on Thursday with her beloved dog, Darla. The 31-year-old actress donned an ash-grey top that read Mayfair with denim bottoms and brown sandals as she made her way out of the establishment in the Los Angeles neighborhood. Hudgens, who played Gabriella Montez in High School Musical, had her wavy brown locks down and parted and kept protected from coronavirus in a leopard print mask with matching sunglasses.' Out and about: Vanessa Hudgens, 31, was seen shopping for pet supplies at the Los Feliz pet shop Healthy Spot on Thursday with her beloved dog, Darla The outing came after the beautiful actress took to Instagram to celebrate National Dog Day with a clip of Darla. 'Happy #nationaldogday I cant imagine my life without Darla,' she said, adding the hashtag, #adoptdontshop. The Spring Breakers star, who visited Turks and Caicos earlier this summer, opened up to Collider in August of 2018 about the unique way Darla came to be her pet, during a time she was in her nine-year relationship with Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood star Austin Butler. 'What happened is that my boyfriends mom lived in an apartment building and, in the thick of summer, day in and day out, she would see, on her neighbors balcony, a little dog,' Hudgens told the outlet. Focused: She donned an ash-grey top that read Mayfair with denim bottoms and brown sandals as she made her way out of the establishment in the Los Angeles neighborhood Awww! The outing came after the beautiful actress took to Instagram to celebrate National Dog Day with a clip of Darla The Powerless star described the unsatisfactory conditions the dog was living in at the time: 'There was no food or water for her, and she was out there for hours on end.' Hudgens said Butler's mother 'knocked on their door and was like, "If you guys cant take care of the dog, let me take care of it," and they gave her the dog.' 'So, when she passed away, me and Austin took Darla in, and shes just been our little angel.' Fit: Vanessa was spotted walking in workout gear earlier this week Hudgens said that she saw changes in the personality of the pooch once it was being cared for. 'Ive gotten to see her come out of her shell,' she said. 'When we first met her, she wouldnt even let us touch her, and now shes just the ultimate snuggle bug.' Hudgens said that she feels 'having a dog really brings a great sense of responsibility because theyre honestly like children, except that you can leave them on their own for a few hours and theyll be okay. 'I feel like she sees the best in me, which helps me see the best in myself, as well.' We are trying to do the things that we can. I doubt we can say we are perfect, but we are doing everything we can as we work through the things that have occurred here, Antaramian said. The community has become more strongly supportive of all minorities, and that is where we are heading. August 27, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - So, the tumult and the shouting--such as it was--dies, the Capitalists and the Cronies depart, still stands this diseased, battered country, reeling in furious confusion, justified outrage, passionate nonsense, and reflex violence as it shifts its focus to the geeks and freaks--the Bearded Lady, Sword Swallower, and Pinhead--wholl parade their freakish kinks... No. I cant do it any more. Theres no zest, no satisfaction, no pride in ridiculing an unmitigated tragedy, and what has happened to America is a tragedy. To make fun, to satirize, to cleverly lampoon it, as if there was a purpose in such ridicule is just too sad, too grim an exercise to justify. Whats changed? Why wont the old ways of critiquing our country work any more? Its because wit, humor, and irony are devices used to impel change for the better. They lose all effect when change is impossible and essential change is no longer conceivable in America. The root cause is our system--fantasized, mythologized, sacralized--built on injustice, inequity, and engineered privilege, with a profound and tacit hypocrisy that even its purveyors couldnt comprehend. Our foundation was laid on footings of genocide, slavery and empowered oligarchy and the nation so based and created evolved exactly as it had to do. The last four years of Trump, has forced into high relief and placed under spotlights, the grotesque falsity and ugliness that our deeply corrupt polity has made hallmarks of our failed state. Yet these years of the Trump Era have altered nothing significant about us, nor have they deviated from the dark, sinister character of our notorious history. Their dull, dense and banal evil were the inevitable result of decades of raw crime that went before. What they have done--in their bald vulgarity, in their gallumphing, puerile hubris, their refusal to mask our historic amorality with fulsome, exculpatory rhetoric and paeans of high spiritual purpose--is to advertise in grisly detail the vacuous arrogance, blatant cruelty, bottomless avarice, and brazen, bullying aggression that has insulted, violated, and alienated the world. It is psychological fact that when the gap yawns too wide between what is asserted and reality, when a description clearly no longer matches an object, when what is said bears no relation to what is experienced, then the faith theyre intended to bolster evaporates and is gone. This is what has happened in America. From our beginning, our Exceptionalist mythology, with its heroic gospel, its philosophical poetry and gorgeous, vital imagery had kept its iron lock on the minds and hearts of a vast majority of us. It has taken only one lifetime for it to be exposed, decoded, and sprung. Americans, long taught that they were a superior people in the most just, honorable, wise, heroic nation on earth have had their faith battered and broken, gradually, against their will, by decades of crime and folly, with each new outrage and imbecility hard-sold to them as what it was not: an action of the most heroic humane kind, for the most admirable of motives. Perfected in World Wars I and II, sustained with difficulty in Korea, it began to rapidly unravel in Vietnam, and the blatant, bloody fiascos of Aghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and--diplomatically--Iran, have proven the myth a maudlin yarn of bathetic fiction. Only ignorant, blind, propagandized boobs and kooky xenophobes still cling to the gory fairy tale of Exceptionalism and the dirty joke of Americas purity and nobility it trumpeted to the world. Concurrent with the bloody amorality of America all over the earth, as our government partnered with and coddled dozens of the most brutal, vile, murderous maniacs ever to live, arming their police states, death squads, torture regimes, and mercenary jihadis, the myth was used to hoodwink and impoverish the great bulk of innocents at home who supported it. For generations the economic security of working people has been actively undermined and their wages eroded by their own corporate government. They were told there was no money for social well-being as they watched a tiny clique of titans of finance enrich itself beyond imagination, and obscene defense budgets milk billions via government fiat for the War Machine to kill millions of peasant enemies in places they couldnt find on a map. Deception and murder overseas; fraud and crushing punishment at home: these are the filthy realities the grotesque fairy tale so long and diligently concealed from us. That horror is ended. Its deep, fatal effects are not. The greatest peril to a state occurs when its people no longer believe that it represents them. When that faith fails, as it did in Periclean Athens, in late imperial Rome, Republican Spain, and Weimar Germany, state machinery seizes up, its authority dissolves, and there is war in the streets. That we are nearing such a point is made obvious by the bitter polarity and violent opposition between Trump and anti-Trump factions, but also in a deeper, more dangerous division between the tyrannical, wealthy oligarchy that owns the country and demands endless war and American hegemony, and the great majority that lives as economic victims of that insane ruling clique. Now, faced with by far the most ominous sociopolitical disfunction of our modern history, and with the overlay of the unknown destructive potential of Coronavirus and the certainty of inexorable climate catastrophe already evident, we are given the Presidential election of 2020, hyped to the max by solemn, phony politicians and hysterical media flacks, packaged as if it addressed, in any way, the interlocking complex of impending disasters. The absurdist commedia del arte of two old, ridiculously inept, and grossly impaired buffoons heading two sick cadres of leased political whores who jointly serve the .0001%, is the memento mori of America. Regardless of the outcome of this sorry farce, the end of the country in any recognizable form will be accelerated, fast tracked to implosion. As in any natural process, disintegration will not be sudden or immediate. Dissolution may take as long as creation. As it proceeds, Americans will suffer and their suffering will be intense, acute and inescapable. They will grope and grasp for answers, remedies, fixes, and find none. They have been schooled that all problems have solutions and can be overcome. It is not so. Their myth deceived them. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) addresses the virtual convention on August 27, 2020. (Photo Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty Images) Democratic Party Has Distanced From Tradition, Faith, and Family: Jeff Van Drew Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), who left the Democratic Party and joined the Republican party in December 2019, said that the Democratic Party has been distancing itself from tradition, faith, and family. He made the remarks on Thursday night during the Republican National Convention (RNC). Van Drew served in several positions in Dennis, New Jersey, during the 1990s. He said that the Democratic Party accepted him after he explained that his political viewpoints are not left, but middle to conservative. The local leaders said the Democratic Party was a big tent, and they accepted people like me, he said. But he realized after joining Congress that the Democratic Party had been taken away from its original position and moved to the left, and even further radical by the squad, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.). I noticed things were changing, the Democratic Party had become less accepting of American Tradition, less believing in American exceptionalism, less supportive of traditional faith and family. In an opinion piece that was published earlier in the day, Van Drew criticized his former party as a mob that drives policy decisions with the goal of starting over with a new system of governance. The Democratic Party National Committee didnt immediately respond to an email request for comment. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), left, meets with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Dec. 19, 2019. Van Drew left the Democratic Party for the GOP over the formers shift away from moderates. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Van Drew, then a Democratic first-term congressman, announced on December 2019 that was switching to the Republican party after meeting with President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in the Oval Office at the White House. This is just a better fit for me, Van Drew said. This is who I am. The switch came a day after House Democrats voted to impeach Trump. Van Drew voted against both articles of impeachment. He won the Republican primary for his seat on July 7. Zachary Stieber contributed to the report. There's obviously no shortage of hilariously bad movies in the world, lest forget that less than a year ago, several acclaimed British actors strapped on skin-tight green outfits to participate in one dude's feline sex fantasy. But for some reason, recently our thoughts have turned to one of the, most truly baffling cinematic experiences of all-time: Cool As Ice starring Vanilla Ice, and a bunch of other people who probably don't want us reminding everybody that they were in Cool as Ice. Perhaps it's because we just have Ice on the brain thanks to the news of his upcoming biopic. Or perhaps it's because we're slowly going mad thanks to the perpetual Hellscape that is 2020. In either case, we thought we'd take a stroll down memory lane -- or at least the douchey back alley behind memory lane -- to discuss this gloriously terrible motion picture. The year was 1991. George H.W. Bush was president. The U.S. economy was almost entirely dependent upon bootleg t-shirts of Bart Simpson. And despite sounding like a frozen Starbucks beverage, white rapper Vanilla Ice was a giant friggin' star thanks to the racism of American DJs and good, old-fashioned intellectual property theft. Ice sold millions of albums and became a household name. His star shone so brightly, he inspired a doll more cursed than Annabelle and Chucky put together. Then he made the leap to the big screen with a cameo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze. They even sold VHS tapes featuring both the music video and an interview with Vanilla Ice unpacking the rigorous artistic process that led to the creation of "Ninja Rap." Japanese shares tumbled Friday (August 28) on the news that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will resign. The Nikkei share index dropped as much as 2.65%, before closing down by just over 1.4%. Japans longest serving premier said he was stepping down over health concerns after almost eight years in the job. "I needed to fight against the disease and be treated and I was not really in a perfect state in terms of health and still I had to make important political decisions. . Investors fear his departure will mean an end to the mix of aggressive monetary and fiscal stimulus dubbed Abenomics. Aided by close collaboration with the central bank, that helped revitalise Japanese shares. The Nikkei hit 27-year highs in 2018. Japan-watchers say the impact on the economy is more mixed though. The Bank of Japans huge stimulus programmes lifted business sentiment and helped exporters by weakening the yen. Corporate governance reforms encouraged foreign investors to pour money into Japanese stocks. But structural reforms to tackle weak productivity, an aging population and rigid labor markets never really materialised. Now the global health crisis may be undoing what gains Abe did achieve. Japan posted its worst ever economic contraction in the second quarter. And the countrys huge public debts limit the governments ability to respond. Even so, investors welcomed the stability Abe brought to Japans top job after so many short-lived predecessors. Fridays market wobble suggests many worry what might come next. The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea against the election commissions decision to hold assembly elections in Bihar amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, saying the commission would have considered all aspects. The state assembly elections are scheduled to be held in October. A three-judge bench headed by justice Ashok Bhushan dismissed a PIL (public interest litigation) filed by a Muzaffarpur resident Avinash Thakur seeking postponement of the elections. Pointing to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the state and floods that have displaced thousands of residents in 14 districts of north Bihar, the petition argued that the health of citizens should be paramount and not holding elections. The petition cited a newspaper clipping of August 12 in which the chief election commissioner was quoted saying that elections to the 243-member assembly in Bihar would be held as per schedule. The election commission will take care of every situation. They must be considering everything, the bench observed. Political parties in the state are divided over holding elections during a pandemic. Some parties such as the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) have requested deferment of polls. Left parties have supported this demand. However, the ruling combine of the Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have indicated that they are happy to go ahead with the elections. The petitioners counsel, Neeraj Shekhar, said the Representation of Peoples Act gives power to the commission to defer polls. He asked the court to seek a report from the commission or the state authorities to assess the situation on the ground. He stated that there is a ban on any political, social or cultural gathering in the state due to Covid-19 at present. The election commission is getting poll-ready though the dates have not been announced yet. Recently, the poll panel released guidelines for the conduct of polls in Bihar, which provide for the last hour of polls to be used for voting by Covid-19 patients and those suspected of having the disease. Only 1,000 voters at each polling station will be permitted. All voters will undergo temperature checks and wearing of masks shall be compulsory. The guidelines provide that a candidates convoy will have no more than five cars. Three persons at a time have been permitted for door-to-door canvassing. Politicians and administration are focusing on election preparation instead of battling with floods and Covid-19, the petitioner told the bench. Shekhar urged the court to consider the ground situation and direct the election commission to not ask the state government to recommend holding of elections. The bench, also comprising justices R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah, said, We cannot interfere with the process of elections. What you suggest cannot be a ground to stop elections. This kind of petition under Article 32 cannot be entertained. The petitioner decided to withdraw his plea. Shekhar made a final request to move a representation to the election commission in this regard. The bench said that this right was available to the petitioner even otherwise and refused to pass any direction to the effect. In a major reshuffle, a Delhi Police officer who was heading one of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the northeast Delhi violence was on Friday transferred to the legal cell, officials said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Rajesh Deo has been transferred to the legal cell as Deputy Commissioner Police (DCP). Earlier, the officer was holding an additional charge of the legal cell, they said. In February, the northeastern parts of the national capital were rocked by communal violence that claimed at least 53 lives and injured many people. Along with Deo, Ram Gopal Naik, who is also the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), has been transferred as DCP traffic. According to an order issued by Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Monika Bhardwaj, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) has been transferred as DCP (Crime) while Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Anto Alphonse has been transferred to North district. Santosh Kumar Meena, who was DCP (Security), has been made DCP (Dwarka). While Bijendra Kumar Yadav, additional DCP, (Northwest) has been transferred and given the charge as DCP, Traffic while Vikram Harimohan Meena, DCP (Traffic) has been given the charge as Additional DCP, Northwest district. DCP (Traffic) Anita Roy has been transferred as DCP (Security). Besides them, 1989 IPS batch officer S K Gautam, who was posted at Special Commissioner of Police, Head quarters has been transferred as Special Commissioner of Police, Security. Meanwhile, Nuzhat Hassan, who is Special CP, Women Safety, has been given additional charge as Special CP of General Administration. Anand Mohan has been promoted as Special CP, Training and IPS 1996 batch Jaspal Singh, has been made as the Joint CP, New Delhi Range, while Indian Police Service: 1998 batch, NS Bundela, who was posted as the Joint CP (Traffic), has been transferred as Joint CP, Central Range. Ajit Kumar Singla, Additional CP (Crime), has been posted as the additional CP (Traffic). According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the import volume of HFCS into Vietnam had increased continuously in recent years from 82,000 tons in 2017 to 150,000 tons in 2018 and continued to increase to 190,0000 tons in 2019. This type of liquid sugar imported from China is extremely cheap. Although it is made from corn, it is processed to increase sweetness, so it is produced at poor quality. Therefore, it not only devaluates and threatens the sugar industry in Vietnam but also can be hazardous to the health of consumers. In the afternoon on August 27, the office of the MoIT informed the press that the Trade Remedies Authority under the MoIT sent a questionnaire to all enterprises manufacturing and exporting liquid sugar products refined from corn starch from foreign countries into Vietnam, which the investigation agency was informed.The deadline to answer the questionnaire is before 5 p.m. Vietnamese time on October 2 this year, according to the MoIT.Earlier, the MoIT promulgated Decision No.1715/QD-BCT to launch an anti-dumping investigation on some high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) products originating from China and South Korea.To ensure their rights and interests, the Trade Remedies Authority under the MoIT requests all relevant foreign manufacturers and exporters to participate and cooperate fully throughout the investigation process,' the MoIT announced. It added that the contents of the answer sheets will be the basis for the investigation agency to consider and draw the conclusion of this case.In case that the investigation agency does not receive the reply on time or the information provided is inaccurate or incomplete as required, the investigation agency of Vietnam will use the available information to conclude following Article 75 of the Law on Foreign Trade Management. By Van Phuc Translated by Gia Bao The student body, backed by Congress led Opposition, have planned massive protests today to protest the conduct of JEE NEET amid Covid-19. Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren has also urged Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal to postpone the exams. As the demand to postpone JEE NEET exams intensifies, the student body has planned massive protests today to put pressure on the National Testing Agency. Their voice will be amplified with support with the political clout. Latest reports suggest students across the country will wear black bands on their arms/forehand, raise black flags and turn their social media display picture black. Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren extended his support to the student body on Thursday. In a letter to Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal, CM Soren urged him to postpone the exams and mentioned the difficulties that the state as well as students will face if the Centre goes ahead with JEE NEET in September. Members of National Students Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress staged a protest in Hyderabad on Thursday demanding postponement of JEE-NEET, Telangana Common Entrance Tests (CETs) and the cancellation of final year exams of UG/PG students. Also Read: SSC CGL Tier 2020 date announced, check notice here Also Read: Delhi Police Constable 2020 recruitment: Know vacancy, last date to apply and how to apply @ssc.nic.in NSUIs Telangana President Venkat Balmoor started an indefinite hunger strike at Gandhi Bhavan here. While talking to ANI, Balmoor said, The state government is behaving in an anti-student way. Looking at the central and state governments attitude, the students are losing hope and committing suicides. We can tolerate anything but not this irresponsible attitude. As a last resort, I am going on fast unto death. It is either justice or my death. I am ready for both. Parents are worried about how to send their children to give exams. We had staged a protest at Pragati Bhawan and also we had given our demands to the State Education Minister. They did not respond. Telangana High Court decision is pending on the PIL that we have filed seeking postponement of exams amid COVID-19 pandemic, he added. Balmoor said that various districts are affected due to flood and hence we are demanding that State government should postpone the exams,. The National Testing Agency (NTA) is scheduled to conduct the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) 2020 [NEET] on September 13 and Joint Entrance Examination Main [JEE] examinations on September 1-6. Also Read: Row against JEE Main, NEET exams: Opposition likely to move SC Hitting adult milestones. Making relationships work. Settling into the anxieties of independence. And getting your own house in order. The political dominance of Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic and his Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) looks to be running into many of the same pressures as people do as they, too, near their 30s. Djukanovic has been the tiny Adriatic coast country's driving political force since the splintering of Yugoslavia in 1991. But he and his allies could face one of their biggest electoral challenges ever when 540,000 or so registered voters go to the polls on August 30 in a referendum on the government and its broadly pro-Western agenda. Montenegrins and their economy are stinging from the global pandemic's toll on tourism and people's lives in their laidback corner of the Balkans. The residue of a failed Russia-backed coup during the last election, in 2016, along with a string of unresolved corruption scandals continue to taint the national political landscape. And the country has seen near-constant protests by supporters of the powerful Serbian Orthodox Church since ruling parties rammed through a new law on religion in December 2019. "The atmosphere around the election is more febrile than in any parliamentary [elections] since Montenegro regained its independence in 2006," says Kenneth Morrison, a professor at De Montfort University and author of the book Nationalism, Identity And Statehood In Post-Yugoslav Montenegro. 'Most Important' Vote Djukanovic this week called the vote "the most important in Montenegro's history because we must decide whether Montenegro continues its EU integration or becomes a theocratic state." The opposition has appealed to voters to turn the page on years of alleged corruption under DPS leadership and to safeguard religious freedom for the Serbian Orthodox Church and its believers, estimated at around half the population. It is spearheaded by the For The Future Of Montenegro alliance, which is led by a Democratic Front party that promotes close ethno-national ties with neighboring Serbia and closer ties to Russia. A centrist alliance called Peace Is Our Nation has polled third recently and could prove vital if, as is expected, no bloc emerges with a clear majority to govern. A handful of smaller parties, including minority-based groups, are also running. The DPS has a majority of 42 deputies in the current 81-seat parliament. A widely cited poll earlier this month showed its support at around one-third of voters versus around one-quarter for the For The Future alliance. Just as in neighboring Balkan states Serbia and North Macedonia in recent months, the pandemic has particularly hampered opposition parties' chances to make their case to voters. But protests ostensibly aimed at the religious law and frequently organized by Serbian church leaders have tapped into the Serb identity of some voters and provided an outlet for public frustrations. Inner And Outer Peace Djukanovic has dominated Montenegro's strongest political party and served as president or prime minister with only a few brief gaps from the Yugoslav breakup through Podgorica's declaration of independence from Serbia in 2006 and NATO accession in 2017. He has portrayed the vote as a stark choice between Montenegro's current pro-EU path and an abandonment of national identity in favor of outside powers like Serbia and Russia and a "dark ideology" reminiscent of "the Middle Ages." Belgrade and Moscow reject accusations of trying to unduly influence events in Montenegro, which still has no firm date for EU membership. Russian officials have denied involvement in a 2016 election-day coup attempt despite convictions in absentia of two Russian intelligence officers for a plot that reportedly included an order to assassinate Djukanovic. Prosecutors argued that the coup d'etat was an effort by pro-Russian elements to derail Montenegro's final steps toward NATO membership. A two-year trial resulted in 13 convictions, including members of Montenegro's opposition Democratic Front (DF), the Russian intelligence officers, and Serbian nationals including a police general. The "dark ideology of the Middle Ages" remark by Djukanovic was a clear shot at the Serbian Orthodox Church, its Belgrade-based leadership, and its Montenegrin arm, officially known as the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral. The Serbian Orthodox Church has a history of downplaying distinctions between Serbs and Montenegrins dating back a century and stoking Serb nationalism before and since a majority of voters in a Montenegrin referendum backed independence from Serbia in 2006. More than one-third of Montenegro's 620,000 citizens still identify as Serbs, and around half of them are thought to worship under the auspices of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Those ethno-national and religious pulpits, combined with shared language and frequent family ties, have provided Belgrade and the Serbian church with powerful levers to pressure Podgorica. Montenegro's law on religions, passed in December 2019 after a walkout by pro-Serb lawmakers, could legally strip the Serbian Orthodox Church of hundreds of religious sites. It prompted pledges by the church and its faithful in Montenegro and neighboring Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina to defend Serbian Orthodox property. Authorities this week filed criminal charges against the leader of the opposition For The Future Of Montenegro coalition, Zdravko Krivokapic, and six Serbian Orthodox priests over unauthorized "autoliturgies" that descended on the capital and blocked traffic on August 23, just one week before the election. "In many respects, the real political battle in Montenegro is not between the DPS-led government and the opposition, but between the DPS and the Serbian Orthodox Church," says Morrison. He says the head of the local arm of the Serbian church, Metropolitan Amfilohije, and his clergy "have been far more explicit in their appeals to voters to reject the 'godless' DPS" than in the past. But Morrison adds that it is unclear whether such clerical outrage will translate into votes. No Strangers To Scandal Other government critics point to a troubling pattern of corruption and failure to prosecute bribery and other official abuses under DPS rule. A drumbeat of scandal and failure to prosecute has followed the country's 2016 national elections. An investigation is still not complete into accusations that senior DPS officials faked donors to flout campaign finance laws four years ago. Two years later, Montenegrins marched in the streets after a purge of the public broadcaster and its overseers appeared aimed at ensuring programming friendlier to the ruling parties. Last year, the government was accused of handing out apartments and mostly unrepaid loans to public officials, including prosecutors and judges. Soon after that, months of protests broke out after a secretly recorded video appeared to show a businessman, Dusko Knezevic, handing over a cash-stuffed envelope to a senior DPS official. And more recently, Svetozar Marovic, a fugitive former president of Serbia-Montenegro who cooperated closely with Djukanovic before his conviction on corruption charges in 2016, has leveled accusations against the DPS from neighboring Serbia. "The situation in Montenegro has changed significantly in the past year and the potential for further deterioration exists," Morrison says. "The problem is, fundamentally, that the election will not solve any of the problems that have underpinned Montenegros long-standing political crisis but may merely bring those problems into sharper focus." As details of Brooklyn Beckham 's April wedding to Nicola Peltz (inset) emerge, FEMAIL look at how the 22-year-old photographer will be marrying into a family whose fortune dwarves his own - with helicopters, mansions and a team of staff an everyday reality for his actress fiancee. While Brooklyn is arguably among the most famous British celebrity offspring worth 350million, American starlet Nicola, 27, is certainly no stranger to a life of wealth and fame, with her businessman father Nelson Peltz, 79, estimated to be worth 1.3 billion. Nelson, a former top Trump supporter, shares eight of his ten children with his third model wife (both seen centre) of 35 years Claudia Heffner Peltz, and the pair count a 27-bedroom mansion complete with ice hockey rink and a flock of albino peacocks, top right, as well as a 76million, 44,000sq ft home in Palm Beach,bottom right, - the reported wedding venue - as their homes. Despite being born into wealth, Nicola's siblings have also carved out their own successful careers, with her brother Brad, 32, an ice hockey player, and Will, 35, an American actor best known for his roles in Unfriended and Men, Women & Children. Far left: Nicola's only sister Brittany, 30, is a figure skater. Centre inset: The Beckham and Peltz family together. Volunteers are new face of disaster recovery in United States FILE PHOTO: Men stand on top of a damaged home after Hurricane Laura passed through Lake Charles, Louisiana, By Laura Sanicola and Ernest Scheyder STARKS, La. (Reuters) - Travis Maher, a 46-year-old Texas firefighter, knew the drill on Monday when he was told to prepare for possible waterborne rescues and assess damages to homes caused by Hurricane Laura. In 20 years as a volunteer with disaster recovery group Texas Task Force 1, Maher has been deployed across the United States to take part in more than 40 missions including Sept. 11, 2001, and Hurricanes Ike, Katrina and Harvey. He is part of the new face of disaster recovery in the United States, people who put aside their jobs and homes for days or weeks to help storm victims and assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Texas Task Force was formed after the 1995 Oklahoma City federal building bombing and since has been joined by other groups, including Team Rubicon, organized by military veterans, and ad hoc groups like the Cajun Navy, which grew out of calls for boat owners to help during 2005's Hurricane Katrina. "I love emergency management and helping coordinate things and being in chaos, to provide calm," said Jeff Byard, 48, a member of Team Rubicon while taking a break from duties in Carlyss, Louisiana. Byard was working alongside a group of 18 volunteers this week. "There's just so much roof and home damage with this storm...we're going to have a lot of work to do," he said. The rescue groups are welcomed by the best known disaster aid group, American Red Cross, and some including Texas Task Force have become FEMA affiliates. "Responding to disasters is a team effort," said Red Cross spokeswoman Greta Gustafson, noting it provides shelter, food and emergency relief supplies as other groups handle search and rescue. Maher arrived in Texas with 36 volunteers from Texas and Missouri and began conducting surveys of damage from their car windows. Most of the damage in rural Jasper county came from tall trees knocked down by the storm winds. "We are essentially an extra layer of protection to state and local officials...but there are a lot of volunteer groups as well who do their own thing," he said. Story continues The COVID-19 pandemic has posed problems for staffing this year. Team Rubicon decided not to deploy volunteers over 65 years old. "It's been challenging, because many of our volunteers fall into that age range, but we made a decision early on as they're one of the at-risk populations," Byard said. Byard and Maher each expect to be deployed for about 14 days, though Team Rubicon expects their presence in hard-hit areas of Louisiana could last much longer. "I like this kind of work, because it's firefighter training times 10," Maher said. "I'd like to think my kids are proud of me," said the father of two teenagers. (This story corrects to clarify nature of Byard's work) (Reporting by Laura Sanicola in New York, Additional reporting by Ernest Schneyder in Louisiana; Editing by David Gregorio and Sonya Hepinstall) Undeterred by the cancellation of the bid for the redevelopment of Asia's largest slum at Dharavi, Dubai-based Seclink Technologies Corporation has decided to rebid for the project whenever the bids are reinvited. The Maharashtra government has decided to scrap the earlier bids and reinvite fresh tenders for the project. "We will abide by whatever decision is taken by the government. If they are going to reinvite the bids, we will participate again. Since the project touches lives of thousands of people, we want to be part of this development," Hiten Shah, partner, ... Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer The U.S. rig count, which has been in a state of freefall since oil markets crashed in March, held steady over the past week in a growing sign that the drilling sector has hit bottom and is slowly recovering. Energy companies operated 254 oil and gas rigs nationally, the same as last week, according to Baker Hughes, a Houston oil-field services company that has been tracking the onshore rig count since the 1940s. There are 180 oil rigs, down three from last week, and 72 natural gas rigs, up three from last week, as well as two maintenance rigs in operation nationally. The launch of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto ahead of the 2020 general election has been rescheduled. Party executives had slated the launch for Monday, August 301, 2020 but information available to Citi News indicates that the event will not come off as planned . It is unclear why the event was postponed. A new date and venue will, however, be announced later, according to Citi News sources. According to the NDC, its campaign document was presented to the party's manifesto committee weeks ago. Already, the NDC has stated its yet-to-be-outdoored 2020 manifesto will be superior to the one released by the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) last week. Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says the NDC's manifesto will be driven by the real needs and aspirations of Ghanaians . Mr. Ablakwa in a Facebook post said Ghanaians will appreciate the wisdom in the NDC manifesto when it is launched on Monday, August 31, 2020. One can therefore immediately see the wisdom of the NDC leadership when they chose to embark on a people's manifesto which our opponents ridiculed. Clearly, you cannot get it wrong when you go to the people and engage them directly on what constitutes their needs, hopes and aspirations. Certainly, the NDC is better positioned to present a far superior manifesto on Monday. A manifesto from the people and for the people as it ought to be. Meanwhile, the NDC has described the NPP's manifesto as recycled promises which do not inspire hope. According to the opposition party, the promises outlined by the NPP do not reflect the work done by the party after being in office for over three years. citinewsroom Officials at the University of Arizona claim that they have prevented a COVID-19 outbreak by detecting the coronavirus in samples of feces taken from sewage produced by one of the on-campus dormitories. When the test sample came back positive, university officials tested all 311 students and employees who live and work in one of the on-campus dorms. They found that two of the students were asymptomatic positive and were quarantined, according to The Washington Post. With this early detection, we jumped on it right away, tested those youngsters, and got them the appropriate isolation where they needed to be, former US Surgeon General Richard Carmona said. The University of Arizona says that it quickly isolated two students who tested positive for COVID-19 after detecting coronavirus in their dorm's water sewage. The dorm, Likins Hall, is seen in the above stock image As part of its plan to safely reopen its campus, the University of Arizona is testing sewage wastewater from all 20 on-campus dormitories. The above image is a stock photo of a lab at the university in Tucson Carmona has been hired to direct the task force in charge of safely bringing students back to campus. Some 5,000 students are expected to return to the Tucson campus for move-in day this week. The university will be doing a mix of in-person and online classes to begin the fall semester. As part of the schools efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19, it said it would test the sewage water from all 20 on-campus student residences. Other colleges like the University of California at San Diego and Syracuse University are doing the same. On Tuesday, heath experts at the university found signs of the virus in wastewater from Likins Hall, one of the on-campus dorms. All students living in the dorm were required to pass antigen tests before they were allowed to move in. But it was after coronavirus traces turned up in the feces from the dorm that the two asymptomatic positive cases were discovered. According to Carmona, without the sewage testing, the two students could have spread the virus without knowing it. You think about if we had missed it, if we had waited until they became symptomatic and they stayed in that dorm for days, or a week, or the whole incubation period, how many other people would have been infected? he said. Arizona was a national hotspot in late June and early July. But it has since become a relative success story after cities and counties implemented mask measures and Governor Doug Ducey ordered bars, nightclubs and gyms to close. Can coronavirus be spread by feces? A study published in May 2020 in the Lancet found virus particles were present in feces of COVID-19 patients nearly 5 weeks after the patients tested negative. These particles were still viable and could cause fecal-oral transmission of the coronavirus, the Chinese researchers warned. Fecaloral transmission has previously been seen in people with SARS and MERS. Researchers say routine stool sample testing, as well as the existing throat swabs. should be used to make sure a person is clear of the virus. Scientists also call for strict precautions to prevent transmission from the virus found in feces. A new study shows the toilet lid should be put down before flushing to ensure infectious particles do not drift around the bathroom or cubicle. Turbulence from the cascading water designed to remove fecal waste creates vortices which can carry infection droplets from stools up to 3 ft above the water level. Up to 60 per cent of the ejected particles rise high above the rim and they can remain airborne for more than a minute. Advertisement The state Department of Health Services reported just 32 new cases on Thursday, the lowest total since May. That brings the state pandemic total to 200,658. Arizona reported just 33 new deaths on Thursday, bringing the overall toll to 4,932. The university says it has detected 46 positive cases after administering antigen tests to more than 10,000 students. Robert C. Robbins, the university president, expects COVID-19 cases to climb. Its inevitable, he said. The issue is going to be can we handle the steady flow of cases or do we get a big spike in cases that overwhelms our ability to isolate and continue to test. Last week, Notre Dame and Michigan State universities became the latest colleges to move classes online because of the coronavirus as colleges struggle to contain outbreaks and students continue to congregate in large groups without masks or social distancing. The decisions came the same day a third school in the 17-member University of North Carolina system - UNC at Chapel Hill - reported a COVID-19 cluster in off-campus housing. The University of Oklahoma is requiring its sororities to recruit new members virtually after learning of students attending large social events without taking precautions against the virus. Students at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville could face punishments as stiff as expulsion if they host big parties, if they wont cooperate with COVID-19 contact tracing or if they dont complete forms documenting their self-isolation, Chancellor Donde Plowman said in a video conference Tuesday. Health experts in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and Australia, have turned to lab-testing of feces samples in hopes of preventing outbreaks of COVID-19. Scientists believe nationwide monitoring of sewage systems could be a good way to identify future disease hotspots before they manifest in infection numbers. This could act as an early-warning system to prevent the need for local lockdowns. Sushant Singh Rajput Death Anniversary: A Timeline of the of events that have transpired so far Here is what the CBI will ask Rhea Chakraborty India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 28: Rhea Chakraborty is being questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the Sushant Singh Rajput case. The CBI has prepared a questionnaire and her statement would be recorded by the investigating officer. The CBI is probing the case after the Supreme Court ordered that it be handed over to the central agency. An NDTV report while quoting sources said that one of the questions she would be asked is why she had asked for a CBI probe. Following the death of Rajput, she had tweeted to Union Home Minister Amit Shah asking for a CBI probe. Sushant Singh Rajput death case: Rhea Chakraborty arrives DRDO for CBI questioning She would be asked about how she got to know about the death of the actor and whether she had gone to his Bandra home after that. Further she would be asked whether she communicated with him after leaving his home on June 8 and also why she had left the Bandra home. The CBI would also want to know if she had a fight with the actor and also why she had blocked his calls. Details regarding the medication, doctors and psychiatrists would also form part of the CBI's questionnaire. Her relation with the family is also something that the CBI would want to know about. Flight rules: Banned from flying if you remove mask & more news | Oneindia News This is the first round of questioning by the CBI. She would be summoned many more times. The CBI probe which is at a very preliminary stage as of now would try and join the dots to understand what led to the actor's death. The CBI has questioned several others including the late actor's flatmate among others in the case. The CBI after it completes individual questioning of these persons will later get them face to face if necessary and probe them. Who Are The Potential Reformist Candidates For Iran's 2021 Presidential Election? Behrouz Turani August 27, 2020 Most assessments and predictions so far about Iran's next presidential elections have taken a conservative victory for granted. Many media outlets have published lists of conservative candidates for the June 18, 2021 elections from among veteran politicians who have already held high offices, as well as younger neo-cons who entered the Iranian Parliament as recently as in May 2020. However, there is much less discussion in the media about possible reform-minded candidates to run for President in 2021. Unlike the conservative camp that has branched out into at least four different groups with varying conservative tendencies over the years, the combination of political forces in Iran's once-popular reform camp has remained more or less the same during the past two decades. Two centrist parties, the Executives of Construction and The Moderation and Development Party, as well as one major reformist party the Unity of Nation Party, and the remnants of the Participation Party and national Trust Party which are reminiscent of Iran's political parties in the late 1990s and throughout the 2000s. Conservatives control too many levers of power, from the parliament to religious institutions, election watchdogs and having the advantage of a close alliance with the Revolutionary Guard. The spokesman for the Executives of Construction party Hossein Marashi has said in a mid-August interview with the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) that the party has plans for the presidential elections but did not name any candidate. However, politicians close to the party have occasionally named Mohsen Hashemi, the head of the Tehran City Council and a son of former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani as someone who would be willing to run for president in 2021. There was also talk of Hashemi's candidacy in 2017 but it was unlikely at the time that he would want to step in the presidential race while like-minded Hassan Rouhani and Es'haq Jahangiri were also competing for the post. Even if Hashemi, a more or less popular figure, gets the go-ahead to run and his qualifications are endorsed by the conservative-dominated Guardian Council, his kinship to President Rafsanjani is not likely to work in his favor considering the fact that Rafsanjani senior he had lost his popularity in Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's inner circle. However, it appears that both the party and Hashemi himself are currently assessing his electability by bringing him to the media spotlight on various occasions. Close to the same party as an influential politician and one of the few reformists welcomed in Khamenei's household is current vice-president Es'haq Jahangiri. He has never concealed his interest in the post. Nonetheless, during the past seven years not only he did not have any opportunity to shine in the Rouhani administration, but he has also lost some of his influence in the rivalry over power with Rouhani's Chief of Staff Mahmoud Vaezi. Pointing out his powerlessness, Jahangiri said once that he did not even have the power to replace his secretary. On the other hand, his biggest achievement, the government rate of exchange now known as "the Jahangiri rate" has been questioned by politicians and businessmen alike as the preferential rate for importing essential commodities was blamed as a source of financial corruption. Meanwhile, the corruption case against Jahangiri's brother has adversely affected the vice-president's credibility and reputation. He has also expressed support for a controversial businessman who has acquired industrial plants in Khuzestan Province from the government in questionable circumstances. The man has driven the once plants profitable to insolvency and thousands of his workers have been protesting for months as their wages remain unpaid. Although Iranian voters are known for their short memory span, still such a track record for Jahangir is not likely to be forgotten easily. Another reformist figure said to be a contestant in the 2021 presidential election is former vice-president and former MP Mohammad Reza Aref. Recently he resigned his position as the chairman of the reformists umbrella organization following the state of indecision that left the camp entirely out of the competition in the Iranian parliamentary elections last winter. Aref was also harshly criticized by reformists and other politicians as well as a range of Iranian analysts for his inaction in the reformist-dominated previous Majles. He said "silence" was his strategy, but the strategy does not appear to have led to anywhere. His experience of the past four years at the Majles has overshadowed any possible political capital he might have accrued during his career as chancellor of Tehran University, the Minister of Science, President Mohammad Khatami's vice-president and finally the leader of the reform camp at the parliament. Yet one more prominent reformist figure who might run for president in 2021 is Mostafa Moein, a former presidential candidate whose qualifications were endorsed by the Guardian Council only after Supreme Leader Khamenei intervened. Yet, he won just a few million votes in the 2005 election. Moein was Iran's Science and Higher Education Minister under Khatami, but he resigned from his post after a major student unrest. One of the biggest criticisms of his performance is that his career is marked by several resignations that cast a shadow of doubt on his resilience as a politician. Like most prospective candidates, Moein has said that he no plans to nominate himself for the presidential race, but he certainly has political ambitions. His latest effort was his candidacy for the Majles in 2016. But he was disqualified by the Guardian Council. A fate that might be awaiting him if he decides to run. Looking at the uncertain political fortunes of potential reformist candidates, perhaps there is a reason why most assessments and predictions so far have taken for granted a conservative victory. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/who-are-the- possible-reformist-candidates-for-iran-s-2021 -presidential-election-/30806076.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| 2020-08-29 00:11:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HANOI, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam reported two new cases of COVID-19 infection on Friday, bringing its total confirmed cases to 1,038 with 30 deaths from the disease so far, according to its Ministry of Health. The new cases include a 23-year-old man recently returning to the country from abroad and being quarantined upon arrival, and a 29-year-old woman in Vietnam's central city of Da Nang reportedly in contact with a COVID-19 patient, said the ministry. Meanwhile, 26 more COVID-19 patients have been given all-clear, raising the total cured cases in the country to 663 as of Friday while there are over 70,900 people being quarantined and monitored in the country, according to the ministry. Enditem By PTI NEW DELHI: MPs will be asked to get themselves tested for COVID-19 at least 72 hours before the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Friday. Besides MPs, parliament staff and media personnel, among other entrants to the building, will also be required to undergo the test for the coronavirus. Visitors will not be allowed during the session which will be held as per the guidelines, including those on social distancing, issued by the health ministry in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Monsoon Session is likely to start from September 14 and conclude on October 1. To finalise the arrangements for the upcoming session of Parliament Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday chaired a meeting of officials from the health ministry, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Delhi government and Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats. CLICK HERE FOR COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES "Comprehensive arrangements have been made in the Parliament building for the upcoming session in wake of the pandemic and MPs will be requested to get tested for coronavirus at least 72 hours before the start of the session," Birla said after the meeting. Besides MPs, all those who are expected to enter the Parliament premises, including officials from ministries, representatives from the media and staff of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats, will also be get tested for the coronavirus before the start of the session, Birla said. The speaker, who is custodian of the Parliament building, made this announcement after a long meeting with the health secretary, ICMR director general, AIIMS director and officials from the DRDO and the Delhi government. Birla said arrangements have also been made for zero-touch security checks during the session and if required, random tests for COVID-19 can be conducted during the session. Sources said the Monsoon Session is likely to be held in two shifts -- morning and evening -- with each House using both chambers for their seating to ensure social distancing.Due to the pandemic, this will be in a way a first-of-its-kind session with various modifications, including no visitors being allowed. ALSO WATCH: It didn't take long for veteran storm chaser Jeff Piotrowski to step into gear, helping people out after Hurricane Laura ravaged communities in Louisiana. He captured all the intense moments from the beginning as Laura eyed the Gulf Coast to landfall, and now to rescue and recovery. "THERE AIN'T NO WAY TO GET TO THEM": Storm victims who rode out Hurricane Laura asking for help In Piotrowski's Thursday morning update, he tweeted about finding a man in the middle of storm surge water, after his house collapsed near I-10. "He was trapped under walls," Piotrowski tweeted. "Have another local taking him to mother's house. Finding people in the water." He also filmed the Capitol One building in Lake Charles as it was being "shredded" by high winds. HURRICANE GUIDE: Ongoing coverage throughout hurricane season from Chron.com "I can confirm we have some injuries in downtown Lake Charles," Piotrowski tweeted. "Flying glass from some of the skyscrapers fell on people...don't know the extent of the injuries. When tornadoes threatened as the eye wall pushed into Lake Charles, Piotrowski warned residents about the possibility of tornadoes. "Multiple waves of tornadoes developing. This is going to continue to ramp up, " Piotrowski tweeted. Another storm chaser, Reed Timmer, captured footage of buildings ripped by the high winds in the powerful eye wall of Laura. Timmer filmed the utter devastation and damage to Hackberry, Louisiana after the intense storm surge. As the eye of the monster storm developed, storm chaser Josh Morgerman filmed the winds savagely lashing the trees in Sulphur Louisiana. "We got lucky, because I got 9 lives," Morgerman tweeted. "Whoa!" One of the most gut-wrenching moments came when this Weather Channel reporter Stephanie Abrams stood outside in the most powerful winds and rain. Things turned south when 150 mph winds sent glass shattering, and this reporter running for cover. "You can see it's already starting to knock us off our feet," Weather Channel Stephanie Abrams said. "We're watching the water very closely as that will be rising." alison.medley@chron.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 19:16:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HANOI, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Economic ministers from the 10 ASEAN members and China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) agreed to enhance economic relations and work together for a stronger multilateral trading system at a virtual meeting on Friday. At the 4th ASEAN-HKSAR Economic Ministerial Meeting, the ministers acknowledged the importance of having collective action and international cooperation in the economic recovery process while recognizing the critical role of the rules-based multilateral trading system and the importance of free and open trade and investment in sustaining efforts for a post-COVID 19 environment, said the meeting's joint media statement. They agreed to enhance economic relations between the ASEAN and the HKSAR, including through utilization of the ASEAN-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement (AHKFTA) and the ASEAN-Hong Kong Investment Agreement (AHKIA), the statement said, noting that the two agreements have entered into force for the HKSAR and eight ASEAN members. The ministers looked forward to the full implementation of both agreements by end of 2020 to deliver a strong message illustrating concerted efforts in pursuing free and open trade and investment, according to the statement. The statement also noted that the total bilateral merchandise trade between the two sides reached 111 billion U.S. dollars in 2019. The meeting took place within the framework of the 52nd ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting and related meetings under the co-chair of Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh and the HKSAR government's Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Yau Tang-wah. Enditem Rhea Chakraborty arrived at the DRDO guest in Mumbai on Thursday for questioning by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death case. Rhea reached the DRDO guest house at Kalina in Santacruz, where the CBI officials are staying, in a car around 10:30 am. Mumbai: #RheaChakraborty arrives at DRDO guest house, where CBI team investigating #SushantSinghRajputDeathCase, is staying pic.twitter.com/yioaQdWj5b ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2020 On Thursday, Rheas brother Showik Chakraborty was questioned by the CBI in the case of Sushants death. The Supreme Court last week upheld the transfer of an FIR, lodged by Sushants father in Patna against the late actors purported girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting his suicide and misappropriating his money, to the CBI. Earlier on Thursday, Sushants flat-mate Siddharth Pithani was called by the CBI for the seventh consecutive day for questioning in the actors death case. On Wednesday, Pithani was grilled for over 12 hours by the probing agency. The manager of Waterstone Resort, where Sushant had stayed for a brief period, was also seen visiting the DRDO guest house on Wednesday. A team of Bandra Police here also visited the guest house on Wednesday and left after an hour. Pithani, cook Neeraj Singh and domestic help Deepesh Sawant were present in Sushants house at Mont Blanc Apartments in suburban Bandra when the 34-year-old actor was found dead in his room on June 14. Queensland police say they are still deep in a complex investigation into a Melbourne millionaire who travelled on his superyacht from Victoria to Queensland with friends and family members on board. A criminal investigation is under way into the 15-day journey taken by the group, including Simonds Group executive director Mark Simonds. They were placed into mandatory hotel quarantine in Queensland on Wednesday after the 30-metre superyacht, dubbed Lady Pamela, was initially granted an exemption to enter the state for maintenance work. Queensland police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski told reporters at a press conference on Friday the number of agencies involved had led to a complex situation. Photo: (Photo : unsplash/ConvertKit) A mom, Amanda Simpson-Roja, got separated from her two-year-old baby girl when she let her baby, Kaiya, visit extended family with her grandmother. The lockdown has prevented her baby from returning home to Orlando, Florida. The gut feeling Amanda's mom, Grace Rojas, went on a month-long trip to Panama to see their extended family, bringing her granddaughter, Kaiya. Amanda said that her cruise ship engineer husband, Alex Rojas, was going to fetch them from the well-planned trip on his way home. The next morning, she had the "gut feeling" that she would not see her baby for a long time when she took Kaiya to the airport. Scheduled flight home got canceled Weeks later, COVID-19 spread through the world. On March 16, Alex got stranded off the coast of Miami when the lockdown happened. Kaiya and Alex's scheduled flight home got canceled indefinitely. See also: Florida Mom "On Drugs" Tries to Kidnap Neighbors' Babies, Caught on Ring Video The 37-year-old mom's heart sank, and she could not talk when she heard the news. She was alone at home taking care of her one-year-old daughter, Evie. For the next five months, she pleaded and negotiated with the US and Panamanian authorities to let her daughter come back home. Rode to Panama On August 12, Amanda grabbed a last-minute seat, which allowed her to hold her baby's arms again. She rode a humanitarian flight to Panama City. She felt complete after receiving a big hug from Kaiya. See also: Mom Was "Blown Away" by Strangers' Sweet Gesture upon Hearing About Son's Leukemia On August 11, a day before she left home, Amanda received a call from the Panamanian consulate. She got approved for the monthly humanitarian flight to Panama. Amanda was in disbelief because she believes that something would surely go wrong. She quickly enlisted Evie to her close friend, Arin Dale, to look after her baby. Early the next morning, she flew to Washington D.C., to catch the six-hour flight to Panama City. Amanda felt it was a miracle to have everything fall into its place. For two days, she got quarantined at her hotel. See also: Premature Baby Born with Tumor Bigger than Her, Now Thriving [Parents Refused to Abort Her] While picking up a grocery delivery in the lobby, Amanda suddenly looked up and saw Grace and Kaiya walking in. The two drove seven hours from Grace's hometown of David. Kaiya looked around and was confused at first. Amanda knelt and thought that her daughter did not recognize her. Then the little girl looked at Amanda, called her "mommy," and touched her face. Late at night on August 14, the trio got home. The next day, friends greeted Amanda, Kaiya, and Evie with welcome home signs, balloons, and a car parade. For Amanda, it was a dream come true to finally be with her daughter after five months. This year, activists were calling for greater reform within the criminal justice system and for equality under the law, said Brenda Coles, president of the National Action Network (NAN) chapter in Richmond, Virginia. The nonprofit civil rights organization sponsored Friday's event, along with partners that included the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, NAACP, NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and National Urban League. More than three dozen companies and other groups also participated. "Fifty-seven years ago, Dr. King marched for jobs, freedom, economic equality and the end of racism, Coles said. Today the deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, and others put the focus on reforms for police accountability as well. That is what's important. It's that legislation leads to change, and that can then lead to reconciliation." Robbie Williams, 67, traveled to the march from Covington, Kentucky, and told The Associated Press that attending was her way of speaking to my children and my people. My message to my children is to stand up no matter what." While many of the thousands of activists who came to this incarnation of the March on Washington were young, older people were also in the crowd. The majority of the members from the Richmond NAN chapter who traveled to Washington were some of the same activists who marched 57 years ago, Coles said. "They're excited because they're seeing a change. And they feel they may not be able to see this again, said Coles, who has been an activist for 39 years. If it wasn't for our seniors, I would not know what I know today. They taught me. They pulled me up. They trained me." In the first ever online annual general meeting (AGM) in history of Tata Sons Private Limited, the representatives of the Mistry family reportedly raised concerns over the losses in various Group companies including aviation. Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran chaired the meeting which was also attended by CEOs of Tata Group companies and Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata. Chandrasekaran is said to have countered the allegations levelled by the representatives of the Mistry family saying that the Group maintains commitment in all the business it operates including aviation. The Group would support both airlines - Tata SIA Airlines and AirAsia India - since it has been in the sector for a long time now, he said. Concerns were also raised by some shareholders on Group's telecom and Tata Steel's European businesses. Tata Sons is the holding company of Tata Group and holds the bulk of shareholding in the Tata Group of companies. Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust are the two biggest shareholders of Tata Sons, with a combined stake of around 50 per cent, while the Mistry family owns 18.5 per cent stake. In October 2016, the board of Tata Sons had voted to remove Cyrus Mistry, the sixth chairman of the Group, from the post of Chairman after offering him an opportunity to resign voluntarily. Meanwhile, Tata Motors Ltd (TML) aims to reduce its total debt to near-zero levels in three years and generate free cash flows from FY22 onwards, Tata Motors Chairman N Chandrasekaran said while addressing shareholders at Tata Motors' 75th annual general meeting on Tuesday. Chandrasekaran said the company would also look to unlock non-core investments in order to deleverage the business. "In terms of the path ahead, I would like to speak about five dimensions. Currently the Tata Motors Group has a net automotive debt of Rs 48,000 crore and we are deleveraging this business substantially. "We have set a target to significantly bring down the debt and come to near-zero debt levels in the next three years," Chandrasekaran told shareholders. Also read:IndiGo, Tata-backed Vistara and AirAsia take off as SpiceJet, GoAir lose clout Also read: Tata Group plans to launch e-commerce 'super app' to take on RIL, Amazon In what is probably the poorest region of the world, West Africa, there is an unsung success story. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) doesnt just work for economic integration; it tries to defend democracy and prevent war among its member states, and often it succeeds. Right now it is trying to deal with a recent military coup in Mali, a country with devastating poverty, runaway population growth, an Islamist insurgency, and a long record of military takeovers: four since independence in 1960. Intervention is always a tricky business, because the tangled ethnic and political details are different for each of the fifteen member states. The Mali coup of Aug. 18 was driven partly by frustration among the military, who are taking heavy casualties in the war against the jihadi groups and often go unpaid, but also by the soldiers awareness that there would be some civilian support for a coup. President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita won re-election last year in a fairly honest vote, but only because the opposition parties were so badly split. Keita did not get a majority of the vote, and he got very few votes in the capital, Bamako, where the corruption of his entourage is most visible. Massive demonstrations against him began in the capital in June, and by last month Ecowas was trying to mediate between him and the protesters. He dug his heels in; the soldiers saw their opportunity; and they acted. The crowds in Bamako rejoiced at the coup, but the 14 other ECOWAS countries, aware of how vulnerable they are to similar events, took a different view. Almost every one of them has seen a coup or a civil war, and now that they mostly have elected civilian leaders their priority is to defend democracy. Their concern deepened when Colonel Assimi Goita, leader of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People the coup leaders always chose names like that announced that the military would stay in power for three years to carry out reforms before holding elections. So ECOWAS sent a delegation led by former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan to Mali to help restore constitutional order. (Nigeria, which has half the population of ECOWAS, cannot give orders to the other members, but it is definitely first among equals.) At first Jonathan tried to persuade the military to put Keita back in office, but the elected Malian leader was already in their hands and had agreed to renounce the presidency. Besides, the street in Bamako would not tolerate his return. At that point, the Nigerian ex-president switched to trying to persuade the soldiers to hold an election after only one year and thats where the talks are stalled today. Not a particularly edifying tale, and it may not even end well, but look whats actually happening here. A bunch of West African countries, each with its own huge problems, has learned to act together to protect the civil and human rights of the citizens they are supposed to serve. They dont always succeed, but they win more often than they lose. They cannot send military forces into another ECOWAS country uninvited, but they have a joint peacekeeping force that frequently gets asked to help (Ivory Coast in 2003, Liberia in 2003, Guinea-Bissau in 2012, Mali in 2013, and The Gambia in 2017). Indeed, ECOWAS has become the second most effective regional organization in the world. Second, because the European Union definitely comes first. In a continent that has seen more destructive wars and more dreadful regimes than any other, the EU has brought its citizens two generations of peace, considerable prosperity, and even a common identity. It has its flaws, of course. The Polish and Hungarian governments are not really friends of democracy, but its their EU membership that holds them back from more extreme actions. Its hard to build regional organizations that defend democracy and prevent war, because they inevitably infringe on the absolute sovereignty of the state. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) cant bring itself to condemn genocide in Myanmar, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation doesnt even criticize Chinas oppression of Muslim Uighurs. The Organization of American States is still too much under U.S. influence, the African Union is only a modest improvement on the old Organization of African Unity, and the Arab League is a joke in poor taste. ECOWAS often fails, but it is a beacon of hope. BAMAKO, Mali - West African leaders on Friday urged Malis junta to take no more than one year to hand over power to a civilian government, as regional heads of state held another virtual summit after initial negotiations with the military coup leaders failed. The junta calling itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People has met one of the regional blocs demands, releasing former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on Thursday more than a week after his midnight resignation that followed the coup. However, the junta has proposed waiting until 2023 to hold new elections, a condition immediately rejected by the 15-nation bloc known as ECOWAS. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who participated in the summit, urged the junta to heed the blocs calls. The people of Mali and the military leaders need to appreciate the fragility of their country and the imminent danger which it poses to the citizens of Mali as well as the ECOWAS sub-region, he said in a statement. After a similar coup in Mali in 2012, democratic elections took place within 18 months. ECOWAS already has suspended Malis membership and halted financial flows to the country. Neighboring countries have shut their borders and other sanctions have been threatened in a bid to force the junta leaders to capitulate. The regional group had suggested mobilizing a standby military force to restore civilian rule, a proposal now far less likely after thousands of Malians took to the streets to support the ouster of the elected president. Nigerias president said Malis ruling junta must immediately release all other senior government officials still being detained. African countries and others have expressed fear that Malis upheaval could allow Islamic extremists to extend their reach, undermining seven years of international efforts to stabilize the country following a French-led military operation in 2013 to drive jihadists from control of the major northern towns. Read more about: Set on nearly two acres, the stylish home expands to a loggia, stone terrace, spacious yard and swimming pool. (Hilton & Hyland) In Brentwood, a brand-new Mediterranean-inspired estate on nearly two acres has traded hands for $25.8 million, making it the highest sale the Westside neighborhood has seen this year. Its Brentwoods fourth sale north of $20 million in 2020 and the highest in the area since last summer, when Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham bagged $28 million for his place. A hot spot for celebrities, the neighborhood also saw John Travolta sell his 9,100-square-foot Spanish-style home to Scooter Braun for $18 million earlier this year. This ones a tad bigger at nearly 9,300 square feet. Designed by architect William Hefner with interiors by Estee Stanley, it boasts five bedrooms and seven bathrooms across two stories. Highlights include a glass entry, a living room under 18-foot ceilings, an oak-and-marble kitchen, an 800-bottle wine cellar, a screening room and a screened-in loggia with a limestone fireplace. The formal dining room opens to a landscaped stone terrace. A host of balconies hang off the back of the home; some overlook the sprawling lawn with sweeping city and ocean views, while others take in views of the deck with a swimming pool and spa. Gary Gold of Hilton & Hyland held the listing. David Kramer and Andrew Buss, also with Hilton & Hyland, represented the buyer. Steven Carrillo, 32, ex-Air Force sergeant, pleaded not guilty Thursday to murder charges in the ambush killing of a sheriff's deputy in June A US Air Force sergeant pleaded not guilty Thursday to murder charges in the ambush killing of a sheriff's deputy, one of two killings of law enforcement officers he is suspected of committing in Northern California. Steven Carrillo, 32, who officials say is associated with the extremist anti-government 'boogaloo' group, entered the not guilty plea in a Dublin, California, courtroom Thursday, the East Bay Times reported. During his court appearance, Carrillo wore a face mask with the words 'We the people,' written in marker on it, along with initials 'BLM' - for 'Black Lives Matter' - and 'Portland, Kenosha, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.' Carrillo pleaded not guilty to the June 6 death of Santa Cruz Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, 38, in Ben Lomond, California. Authorities said Carrillo ambushed Gutzwiller and other sheriff's deputies while they responded to a report of a van containing firearms and bomb-making materials. Gutzwiller was killed and several other law enforcement officials were wounded during the incident, according to authorities. Police said that while ambushing Gutzwiller and other Santa Cruz deputies, Carrillo used an AR-15-style homemade rifle and threw pipe bombs at them, according to the Mercury News. Carrillo also allegedly tried to carry out multiple carjackings after killing Gutzwiller in the gunfight with police. Authorities said Carrillo ambushed Santa Cruz Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, 38 (pictured) and other sheriff's deputies while they responded to a report of a van containing firearms and bomb-making materials, leading to Gutzwiller's death on June 6 People pictured June 7, holding posters in support of Gutzwiller after his death, outside the Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner's Office Carrillo previously pleaded not guilty to a federal murder charge after he allegedly shot at a federal building in Oakland and killed David Patrick Underwood (pictured) Carrillo also faces federal murder and attempted murder charges after he allegedly sprayed bullets on May 29 across a guard shack in front of a federal building in Oakland, California, killing David Patrick Underwood, a federal protective service officer, and wounding another officer. Federal prosecutors linked Carrillo to the far-right, anti-government 'Boogaloo' movement - which claims to be preparing for a second Civil War - based on the far-right phrases he wrote in his own blood on the hood of a car he is accused of stealing after killing Gutzwiller, and also through his social media posts. 'BOOG,' 'I became unreasonable' and 'stop the duopoly' were among the phrases written in blood on the hood, according to photo evidence included in court documents. The killings happened amid protests against police brutality following the killing of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis. Carrillo pleased not guilty in federal court to murder and attempted murder in the Underwood case in July. Vice President Mike Pence referenced Underwood's killing in his Wednesday evening speech at the Republican National Convention. Pence said Underwood was 'shot and killed during the riots in Oakland, California.' The FBI has said that Carrillo and his co-defendant in the federal case, Robert Justus, traveled to Oakland to assassinate law enforcement officers but were not part of a protest that night that came in the wake of Floyd's killing. Underwoods killers picked that day because they knew local police would be distracted by the protests, according to federal authorities. Carrillo is eligible for a death sentence if found guilty in either federal or state court. Federal prosecutors in Underwood's case aren't expected to make a formal recommendation about whether they'll pursue the death penalty until at least mid-September. Salome Zourabichvili, President of Georgia sent a congratulatory letter toMehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. "Your Excellency, dear Mehriban, It is my pleasure to congratulate you, on behalf of the people of Georgia and on my own, on your birthday," the letter said. "This day is an opportunity to reflect on the work you have done over the years to bring our two countries together. Our meeting last year during my visit to Azerbaijan opened the doors to our cooperation in the years to come," Georgian president wrote. "Azerbaijan and Georgia are two nations that are bound by ancient friendship, centuries of common struggle, and common interests as neighborly countries. Our partnership is one based on honesty," Zourabichvili wrote. "It saddens me to know that you are celebrating your birthday while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage on across the world. But as we have come to learn and as I discussed with President Aliyev last April, it is through our solidarity, through international cooperation that the global community will defeat this virus. Let me use this opportunity to once more reiterate my most sincere condolences to those who died from this invisible enemy in Azerbaijan," the letter read. "And yet, I remain convinced that through this very same international solidarity, the world will come out of the current crisis with more unity and stronger than before. Once this pandemic subsides, I look forward to welcoming you to Georgia," the letter said. "Madame First Vice-President, on your birthday, let me convey to you and to your family my hopes for health, strength, and prosperity," Zourabichvili wrote. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

Ronan Hughes, 40, of Co Armagh in Northern Ireland, entered his plea at the Old Bailey.

He was charged with 39 counts of manslaughter after the bodies of 39 Vietnamese men, women and children were found suffocated in the trailer of a lorry on an industrial estate in Grays in the early hours of 23 October 2019.

Hughes also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration between 1 May 2018 and 24 October 2019.

Among the victims discovered in the container were 10 teenagers, the youngest of whom were two 15-year-old boys. The oldest person found deceased was 44.

DNA from families who believed their relatives were victims was used to identify many of them.

An inquest has heard the victims' medical cause of death was asphyxia (a lack of oxygen) and hyperthermia (overheating) in an enclosed space.

Prosecutors alleged Hughes played a leading role by allowing his trailers and drivers to be used in human trafficking, and was one of several men accused of being part of a people-smuggling ring linked to the deaths.

Hughes appeared in the dock alongside Eamonn Harrison, 23, from Mayobridge in Northern Ireland - after both men were extradited from the Republic of Ireland last month.

Harrison is alleged to have driven the lorry trailer to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge before it sailed to Purfleet in England.

He pleaded not guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

In April, lorry driver Maurice Robinson, 25, from Craigavon in Northern Ireland, also pleaded guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter over the deaths.

Robinson also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration of non-EU citizens between May 1 2018 and October 24 2019 and acquiring criminal property, but denied a further charge of transferring criminal property.

In June, Romanian Alexandru-Ovidiu Hanga, 28, from Essex, admitted one count of conspiring to assist unlawful immigration between May 2018 and October 2019.

During Friday's hearing Gazmir Nuzi, 42, from Tottenham, appeared at the Old Bailey by video link and pleaded guilty to a single charge of assisting unlawful immigration on or before 11 October 2019 and 18 April 2020.

Harrison is due to go in trial at the Old Bailey on 5 October with three other defendants.

Gheorghe Nica, 43, from Basildon, has previously denied 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Valentin Calota, 37, from Birmingham, and Christopher Kennedy, 23, from Co Armagh, have denied being part of a people smuggling conspiracy.

Remanding the defendants in custody, Mr Justice Sweeney said the trial would last for five weeks instead of eight.

The article quoted the status of Beaumont as the pro football capital of the world in the early 1970s because of the many National Football League players who had come through its talent-rich high schools. It should have said talent-rich Black high schools, Charlton-Pollard and Hebert. Just about every year, either C-PHS or HHS would be the state champion in Texass league for Black-only high schools. The White-only schools in town, however, were pretty poor at football. (My older brothers played on those teams, so I was at every game.) My memory (which is flawed) is that in the early 1970s there were 22 players in the NFL from Beaumont. All the NFL players from Beaumont were from Black schools. How could a town of 120,000 produce so many NFL players? My take has always been that the coaching must have been superior. 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 wasnt registered as living at the address, was taken to the police station but let go after his identity was established. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 15:37:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VIENTIANE, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Laos is likely to lose around 483.3 million U.S. dollars of its export revenue, or 8.4 percent, compared to 2019. The Lao government had set a target to increase exports to 6,422 million U.S. dollars. However, Laos' exports for the first seven months stand at 2,316 million U.S. dollars, according to the Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce. The value of exports in July is better compared to March, April, May and June as the Lao government initiated measures to reopen businesses after the COVID-19 pandemic, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Friday. The country is still facing a huge trade deficit. During the first three months of 2020, the country's export revenue stood at 410 million U.S. dollars. It was 391 million U.S. dollars in February and 343 million U.S. dollars in March. Lao exports during April stood at 209 million U.S. dollars, which increased to 264 million U.S. dollars in May, 337 million U.S. dollars in June, and 372 million U.S. dollars in July. These figures do not reflect the earnings from electricity exports. The main exports, include copper ore and copper products, bananas, wood pulp and paper scraps, camera frames and parts, and beverages including water. Laos also exports mixed gold, gold bars, clothing, electrical devices and related equipment and rubber. China remained the top export destination for Laos, followed by Vietnam and Thailand. As COVID-19 spread within the country earlier this year, particularly from April to the beginning of May, the government directed factories to suspend operations, which impacted both short and long-term business. Enditem B.C. health officials are reporting the provinces first suspected cases of multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Described as similar to Kawasaki disease by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, the syndrome is usually associated with COVID-19. However, B.C.s eight suspected cases did not test positive for the virus, did not have antibodies and did not have confirmed exposure to someone who had a confirmed case of COVID-19. Because of a change in case definition, B.C. health authorities are now reporting these cases. The five boys and three girls were all hospitalized. Two were in intensive care, although all have fully recovered now. The median age of cases was four, said Henry. She also reported 68 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C. today, including four that are epidemiologically linked. The provincial total of cases is now at 5,372. There are 906 active cases, an increase of 10 from yesterday. Twenty-two people are in hospital, and seven of those are in critical care. Of the hospitalized individuals, 19 are in the Fraser Health region and three in Vancouver Coastal Health. There was one new death in long-term care, bringing B.C.s total COVID-19 related deaths to 204. Additionally, 2,810 people now under active daily followup because of close contact. There were no new health-care outbreaks, with active outbreaks continuing at nine long-term care or assisted living facilities and two acute care facilities. There was one new community outbreak, at a construction site in the Interior Health region. Community exposures continue to occur for various locations and flights into and out of B.C. Provincial authorities also released new cumulative case data from January to July. During that time, Richmond had 103 total cases, which represents 25 to 50 per 100,000 population according to the chart. However, Henry noted that this data only reflects diagnosed cases that were either positive tests or epi-linked. Health Minister Adrian Dix said there were 4,582 COVID-19 tests conducted yesterday. This weekend and always, prevention remains our goal, stopping the spread remains our duty, and consistently using the skills weve been taught remains our direct path to both, he said. Read more about: With rising COVID-19 cases, two nursing home deaths and two locations now reporting outbreaks, Manitobans don't need to worry they need to be vigilant, say public health and nursing home advocates. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/8/2020 (510 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. With rising COVID-19 cases, two nursing home deaths and two locations now reporting outbreaks, Manitobans don't need to worry they need to be vigilant, say public health and nursing home advocates. "There needs to be continued vigilance in ensuring people who aren't feeling well are being tested and self isolated," said Julie Turenne-Maynard, executive director of the Manitoba Association of Residential and Community Care Homes for the Elderly. "We need to work together to ensure we keep it out as much as we can." MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Julie Turenne-Maynard, executive director of the Manitoba Association of Residential and Community Care Homes for the Elderly (MARCHE) that represents non-profit care homes. On Thursday, the death of a woman in her 90s who was a resident Bethesda Place nursing home in Steinbach was reported. The death of another woman in her 90s infected with COVID-19 at Bethesda Place had been reported on Tuesday. The cases there reportedly stem from a worker who was infectious but hadn't yet developed symptoms. Nearly 300 kilometres to the west, a health care worker has now tested positive for COVID-19 at Rideau Park Personal Care Home in Brandon. The worker was reportedly wearing proper PPE on the job and is now self isolating. No other cases have been reported there but investigations are under way. (TIM SMITH/THE BRANDON SUN) Rideau Park Personal Care Home in Brandon. Steps have been taken in Manitoba to prevent the virus from causing the carnage it inflicted this spring at personal care homes in B.C., Ontario and Quebec, said Turenne-Maynard. "l don't think it's going to get to those levels we've seen in other provinces," she said Thursday in Winnipeg. "It's so important to ensure staff are in full PPE and everyone is confident of how they're feeling to ensure COVID doesn't come in." When visitation restrictions were partially lifted to allow loved ones and essential caregivers into personal care homes, there was going to be an increased risk, said the care home advocate. Now, public health has slapped restrictions on both the Brandon and Steinbach personal care homes, raising the pandemic risk level at both to a "red" and "critical" response level with no visitors allowed. Bethesda Place Care Home in Steinbach. (The Carillon / Nicole Buffie) The first COVID-19 case at Bethesda Place in Steinbach was reported Aug. 17. Less than a week later, there were seven cases with staff and three residents infected. Then, two residents died. The remaining cases include one resident and five employees, Roussin said Thursday. The colour-coded pandemic response system is just one more measure that should help Manitobans get through what is expected to be a long and challenging time because it is targeted and doesn't penalize everyone, said Turenne-Maynard. In May, Manitoba restricted personal care home employees to working at a single nursing home to prevent the virus from being spread at multiple sites. On Thursday, the chief provincial public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, said all personal care home staff are screened for symptoms every day. Pork plant case count discrepancy explained A discrepancy in the number of Maple Leaf Foods workers testing positive for COVID-19 is due to the lag time in the company reporting new cases to public health and its investigation and reporting of them. click to read more A discrepancy in the number of Maple Leaf Foods workers testing positive for COVID-19 is due to the lag time in the company reporting new cases to public health and its investigation and reporting of them. On Tuesday, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 832 reported 74 workers have tested positive for the virus with 62 active cases, while chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin that day reported just 52 workers tested positive with 34 cases still active. On Thursday, Roussin explained at a COVID-19 media briefing why their numbers differ. He said when public health is notified of positive cases, it conducts an investigation and does its surveillance before the numbers are reported to the public. "The company might hear someone tested positive today and just announce that, where we wouldn't announce it for a couple of days until we've gone through all of that. As of Thursday, 75 employees at the pork processing plant tested positive, with 41 of the cases still active, Roussin said. Close Administrators haven't let their guard down during the pandemic because they know the deadly toll it can take, said Turenne-Maynard. "This is the last thing they want to see happening in their homes. For sure there is anxiety, there's fear but they're being diligent in maintaining those protocols." With the fall and flu season coming, she's hoping the provincial government follows through on its plan to create shelters adjacent to homes for visits in case they have to reimpose restrictions and prohibit visitors. Care home administrators and staff are also waiting for word on paid sick leave for employees who have to self isolate because of COVID-19. "We're just asking for some solutions to that," she said. "We anticipate this is going to continue and may increase when the cold and flu season is here." Roussin urged Manitobans get a flu shot when it becomes available this fall. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca 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. FRANKLIN, Tenn., Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Logo Brands, Inc. has entered into a multi-year exclusive agreement with the University of Florida, effective immediately. The agreement grants Logo Brands exclusive rights to manufacture, produce and distribute University of Florida Gators tailgate and outdoor lifestyle products across multiple retail channels. The product categories in the agreement include chairs, tents, tables, coolers and tote bags. Logo Brands Logo Brands will make Gators tailgating products available through Walmart, Target, Dick's Sporting Goods, Academy Sports, Bed Bath & Beyond, Fanatics and many other major retail outlets, in addition to the Logo Brands website. "We are thrilled to partner with this amazing school and brand," stated Maggie McHugh, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Logo Brands. "Florida has a strong and dedicated fan base and we are excited to work closely with this program to expand Florida's footprint in retail." With more than 52,000 students and legions of loyal fans, the University of Florida has a strong customer base for licensed Gators-branded products. By partnering with Logo Brands, the university ensures that officially licensed tailgating merchandise is available online and in stores across the county. The University of Florida is the 18th school to sign exclusively with Logo Brands to produce branded tailgate gear for fans. The other universities are: Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Cincinnati, Colorado, Connecticut (UConn), Fresno State, Georgia, Kentucky, Miami, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Washington and Wisconsin. About Logo Brands Logo Brands began in 2000 by shipping tailgate chairs from a garage just outside of Memphis. In less than a year, the company moved into its first warehouse. Logo Brands, now headquartered in Franklin, just outside Nashville, is a leading manufacturer of officially licensed products for more than 450 teams and organizations including collegiate, NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS and NASCAR. The company's assortment spans the categories of outdoor lifestyle, indoor living and on-the-go with more than 170 different product lines. Media Contact: Amy Luke Phone: 615-716-4907 Email: [email protected] Related Images image1.jpg SOURCE Logo Brands Related Links https://logobrands.com Ontario vowed to end the appalling practice of tossing inmates with mental illnesses into solitary confinement after a particularly tragic case of a woman held in those brutal conditions for more than 200 days. In a landmark 2013 settlement, Ontario acknowledged the terrible harm caused by solitary confinement 22 hours or more a day in a six-by-nine-foot cell. It committed to banning its use for inmates with mental illnesses, except as a rare last resort, and imposing a 15-day limit for everyone else. And yet, for the second time since then, the Ontario Human Rights Commission has filed court documents to try and force the province to live up to those basic and necessary obligations. That this latest motion, filed on Tuesday, is necessary is sadly indisputable. A report last spring by an independent reviewer, retired judge David Cole, found the use of solitary confinement has actually increased since Ontarios commitment seven years ago to reduce it. Placing people in solitary, or segregation as its officially called, is still common practice in Ontarios correctional facilities. And, says the report, prolonged segregation (15 days or longer) remains a routine practice for individuals with mental health and/or suicide risk alerts on file. The report also found that Ontarios prisons use segregation at a rate well above that in British Columbia, demonstrating there is another and clearly better way to treat inmates. Most troubling of all, the counsel for the human rights commission says the data shows that people with mental health disabilities are actually placed in segregation more often and for longer than other prisoners. How can that be seven years after the province explicitly recognized the particularly harsh effect that solitary confinement has on people with a mental illness? Ontarios Correctional Services has shown, yet again, that it cant be trusted to implement the changes it is legally bound to implement. Ontario is not alone in that problem. The federal government, which has taken steps to reduce the use of solitary, now claims that changes made last year means solitary no longer exists in its prisons. That is an unconscionable stretching of the truth. It gave solitary a new name structured intervention units and dropped it to 20 hours a day, conveniently falling just outside the United Nations technical definition. Even worse, though, is that the Correctional Service of Canada has refused to provide the expert panel convened to monitor those changes with the data it needs to do its work. This week the panel publicly stated that its term is finished and it basically has no idea whats happening in federal prisons. That provides the public no reason to be confident that anything has changed for the better. So two governments have committed to reduce or eliminate solitary confinement and both appear to be failing badly. We know prisoners are not a popular bunch, but this cant be allowed to continue. The debilitating effects of solitary confinement on prisoners mental health are well known. Theres a reason the UN defines stints in solitary beyond 15 days as torture. It should be used only as a last resort and not, as it so often is, to put a troubled inmate out of sight and out of mind, or as a way to maintain security in the face of under-staffing or lack of appropriate mental health care inside institutions. Solitary is not a fix-all for the challenges of running a prison; it is, as Ontarios highest court said last year, an outrage to standards of decency and amounts to cruel and unusual treatment. We mustnt lose sight of the fact that rehabilitation is the primary aim of our prison system, and the extreme deprivation of solitary causes substantial harms that get in the way of that goal. Its long past time to deliver on the promised reforms. Nearly half of the oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico almost 300 were evacuated by Wednesday, along with most of the offshore rigs. Producers shut in 84% of the oil produced in the region, taking about 1.6 million barrels per day off the market. The Gulf region usually produces about 15% of the oil in the U.S. Producers also shut in about 61% of the natural gas produced in the Gulf. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 28 By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend: The Japanese Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd company and Turkmenistans Turkmengas State Concern reviewed the implementation of the second stage of a project to build a gasoline production plant in the Akhal region of Turkmenistan, Trend reports with reference to Nebit-Gaz electronic newspaper. The reviews were made during an online meeting between the representatives of Turkmengas with Managing Executive Officer of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd, Tatsuya Watanabe. Thus, the parties actively cooperate in the construction of new projects in the oil and gas and petrochemical industries. In recent years, representatives of business circles of Japan have expressed interest in enhancing the mutually advantageous cooperation in implementing projects in the field of petrochemical, electric power, construction materials industry, As reported, Turkmengas State Concern of Turkmenistan concluded a contract with the Japanese Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. for the provision of consulting services for the management of a gas-to-gasoline (GTG) plant. The contract provided for the management of the plant for the production of gasoline from natural gas in the Ovadan Depe area, located in Turkmenistans Ahal province near Ashgabat, the capital. The plant can process over 1.7 billion cubic meters of natural gas and produce 600,000 tons of RON 92 gasoline, 12,000 tons of diesel fuel, and 115,000 tons of liquefied gas in a year. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva OC Rescue Operations Spike During Pandemic An extreme increase in search and rescue missions in Orange County, California, is diverting needed resources from wildfire relief efforts, county officials say. Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said during an Aug. 26 press conference that there had been a 225 percent increase in the number of remote rescues in the county compared to the same period over the last two years. The rescue operations threaten fire relief efforts by diverting needed helicopters. The combination of an increase in the number of hikers and the excessive heat we have been experiencing has led to a record number of search and rescue calls in Orange County, Barnes said. This level of call volume may not be sustainable, and even more importantly means many people are recreating outdoors without being prepared. Many county residents have turned to local hiking trails because gyms are closed and options for exercise are limited, Barnes said. County fire officials, who also spoke at the Fullerton Airport press conference, said helicopters from both the Sheriffs Department and the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) are used to respond to wildfire calls. When a search and rescue mission is called in, the first responders must drop what they are doing and attend to iteven if that means abandoning a dangerous vegetation fire that could potentially affect nearby residents, they said. If first responders dont provide services to these rescues, they could turn into genuine emergencies, they added. OCFA Capt. Dan Dufrene said, We will always put life before property. And if there is a rescue call, we will respond to that instead of, or in lieu of, responding to a vegetation fire. Dufrene said many Fire Authority operations could have easily been avoided if hikers had been just a little prepared. Just the other day, we were out on the San Juan Trail for three hikers who had said they were lost and stranded. It turns out when we actually made access to them all they needed was water, Dufrene said. The officials advised hikers to better prepare by drinking plenty of water before and during their outings, and by designating a cell phone for emergency use only instead of using it for photos and draining the battery. They also recommended that hikers research their destinations and let someone know their plans beforehand. OCFA Chief Brian Fennessy said officials were appealing to the community, to those who like to go out to recreate. Have fun, but be prepared, Fennessy said. A man walking on a Bayonne street just before 9 p.m. Thursday was sucker-punched and robbed, authorities said. The 27-year-old victim told police he was on West 20th Street when a man approached him from behind and punched him in the chest, Bayonne Capt. Eric Amato said. The victim fell to the ground after being struck, and the assailant snatched the victims wallet, which contained cash and his identification, from his pocket. The attacker then fled, Amato said. The 27-year-old declined medical treatment. The incident is under investigation. CONCORD, N.C. - A North Carolina man who spent 44 years in prison for a rape he says he didnt commit was freed Thursday. Ronnie Longs attorney broke the news of his impending release via Twitter on Wednesday, the Charlotte Observer reported. The state said it will ask the district court to enter a writ vacating Ronnies conviction. In short, Ronnie Long is coming home! lawyer Jamie Lau wrote. Longs conviction was then vacated on Thursday and he was released from the Albemarle Correctional Institution shortly after 5 p.m., news outlets reported. Earlier this week, a federal appeals court had granted a new hearing for Long. A judge had criticized North Carolina for defending Longs conviction despite the possibility that investigators withheld evidence. A motion filed by North Carolinas Attorney Generals Office said that interests of justice call for immediately remanding the case to the district court. Long was a 20-year-old Black man living in Concord when he was accused of raping a white woman. Longs attorneys have said that more than 40 fingerprints collected from the scene were never shared and did not match Longs. Semen samples also were never disclosed to the defence. They later disappeared. 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. NDC Communications Officer for Kintampo South, Mr. Mathew Atanga 28.08.2020 LISTEN The Kintampo South Constituency Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Mathew Atanga has accused the ruling New Patriotic Party (NDC) of claiming credit for projects it did not undertake. The vice-president Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia at a Town Hall Meeting recently captured a number of projects by the ruling party in a delivery tracker. The Kintampo South DCE Hon. Alex Gyan in an interview with Wontumi TV has given credence to the listed projects. But reacting to the claims by the NPP, Mr Mathew Atanga has itemized the projects with details exposing the ruling government of project thievery. Read the full statement below: Mathew Atanga writes.... 27 - 08 - 2020 EXPOSING THE LIES OF HON ALEXANDER GYAN, DCE/PC FOR KINTAMPO SOUTH DISTRICT/CONSTITUENCY. I owe it a duty to the people of kintampo south to set the records straight following the deliberate attempt by the DCE Hon Alex Gyan and his party the NPP to harvest from where they have not sown. Indeed, the magnitude of lies that were told by His Excellency Dr Bawumia and the DCE's subsequent appearance on Wontumi TV to give credence to same and as well captured in their delivery tracker, it has become more imperative that, I let the people of the district and Ghanaians know the contrasting reality on the ground. For purposes of clarity, I will itemize the projects, state how it was captured on the tracker and provide facts surrounding these projects: Baabu Teachers Bungalow; Delivery Tracker: Ongoing construction of teachers bungalow at Baabu. This information is palpable lie. This teachers quarters was under construction during NDC's time but unfortunately, when NDC left power the project has since been abandoned at roofing level. Infact, opinion leaders of Baadu approached Hon Alex Gyan and pleaded with him to complete the project but he declined and cited lack of documentation covering the project as a reason for his decision. Maternity Home, Anyima. Hon Alex Gyan yesterday on Wontumi TV claimed among other things that he built a Maternity Home at Anyima. Again this is one of the most dishonest statement to come from a DCE. The facts are that, Nana Saah Gyamfua, the queen mother of Anyima and former member of council of elders solely built the facility. The DCE and his NPP government have absolutely no hand in how the project was conceived and executed. The planning, financing and construction of the Anyima maternity home was solely borne by the queen mother. Dining hall,Jema Senior High School The claim made by Hon Alex Gyan that the magnificent dining hall building is the NPP government's project is total falsehood. The dining hall as at November 2016 had been almost completed and was actually being used by the school. However, the contractor paused the work as the elections approached and returned after the elections and finished up with the painting. Similarly, the boys dormitory and girls dormitory at the Jema Senior High School were all at the same stage of completion prior to NDC's exit from power. The continuous attempt by Hon Alex Gyan to appropriate these projects as his achievement is shameful. Teacher's Quarters at Jema Nkwanta. According to the tracker, this is a project that the NPP government has constructed and completed. This is yet another figment of the DCE's imagination. This quarters is a GETFund project which traces its source from one Mr Baffoe who works with GETFund and hails from Jema Nkwanta. Hon Yaw Effah Baafi who was MP at the time facilitated the construction of this teacher's quarters. The DCE and his NPP government knows absolutely nothing about the project. Any move by the DCE to claim ownership of this project will be fraudulent and must be investigated by the appropriate authorities. In a related development, the DCE yesterday claimed glory for the library building that is situated behind the Jema district directorate. But like the teacher's quarters, Mr Baffoe and Hon Yaw Effah Baafi are the rightful people to seek praises for this project. Water and sanitation: Tracker: Completed Construction of Boreholes in the following communities; Kwabia, Paninanmisa, Sabule. It is not true that the DCE constructed boreholes in the above communities. Kwabia had a borehole that the people fetched water from, but the DCE in an effort to score cheap political points and to create the impression that he is doing well, converted the existing borehole to mechanised one. It must be noted that, the people of Kwabia resisted that move and requested the DCE to drill a new borehole for the purpose of mechanising it. But usual of him, he disregarded their request and did it at his own convenience. Paninanmisa same can be said about the Paninanmisa project. The borehole was drilled by world vision Ghana in 2013 for the Paninanmisa CHPS compound. Hon Alex Gyan in same fashion converted the existing borehole to a supposed mechanised one. It is sad to note that, for close to a year now water doesn't flow from the taps due to the shoddy nature of the project. Sabule the project in sabule is a replica of those spoke about earlier. Bredi Tracker: Ongoing construction of 3-unit classroom at Bredi. Again, this is a grievous lie by the DCE. Facts; Hon Felicia Adjei current MP for the constituency built the 3-unit classroom for the Bredi R/C school. The building though not officially handed over, is being used as JHS block by the school. I have decided to limit the narrative to the projects thievery by the DCE and his government, however, the other projects which I have not touched on also have sufficient inequities which will be dealt with in my next article. Notwithstanding, from the above facts that I have made available show clearly that, Hon Alexander Gyan has underperformed as DCE. It won't be wrong to conclude that he is the worse DCE that Kintampo south district have ever had. Long live Kintampo south! Long live NDC! By: Mathew Atanga Communication Officer Tel. 0246403237 Email. [email protected] Colorado Politics senior political reporter Joey Bunch is the senior correspondent and deputy managing editor of Colorado Politics. His 32-year career includes the last 16 in Colorado. He was part of the Denver Post team that won the Pulitzer Prize in 2013 and he is a two-time finalist. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has requested all MPs willing to participate in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament to undergo RT-PCR test. Massive changes and logistics overhaul in Parliament have been planned to tackle any possible spread of Covid pandemic. At a preparatory meeting, chaired by Birla on Friday, it was decided that the RT-PCR test that usually takes 24-48 hours to come up with the results will be conducted. Officers attending the session and journalists who are covering the session will also undergo Covid tests, it was decided at the meeting attended by union health ministry, officials from the Indian Council of Medical Research, Defence Research and Development Organisation, AIIMS and the Delhi government. The session will start on September 14 and run till October 1. The two Houses - Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha - will operate in shifts with the Lower House starting at 9 am and the other at 3 pm. A senior official added that the proceedings may even spill over to weekends if the agenda requires extra time. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh assembly had asked all its MLAs to undergo Covid test when it met recently amid the pandemic but Chhattisgarh assembly withdrew its circular asking for a similar test for all its lawmakers. It was also decided to set up a Covid test facility in Parliament itself where the MPs and others can come and get tested, said a senior official. The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh, recommended that the session should last from September 14 to October 1, according to people familiar with the matter. The dates will now have to be approved by the cabinet, which will then forward them to the President. It has also suggested 18 sittings as the government has a total of 11 ordinances to clear, the people cited in the first instance added on condition of anonymity. The government is also bracing for a demand from Opposition parties to debate the India-China border conflict, the Covid situation, the state of the economy, problems of migrant workers and the recent allegations against social media giant Facebook. The Houses are being prepared for the session with measures such as ultraviolet germicidal irradiation of the air-conditioning system, 10 display screens for live proceeding, placards to indicate names of parties, earmarked seats for top leaders and special cables linking the two Houses. While ministers, former PMs and floor leaders will get preference in the main chamber, many party MPs even from the ruling party will be accommodated in the galleries. The government will aim to replace 11 ordinances during the session. This includes a cluster of agriculture-related ordinances promulgated during the Covid pandemic to help Indian farmers such as the Farmers Produce Trade And Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) and the Farmers (Empowerment And Protection) Agreement On Price Assurance And Farm Services Ordinance and essential commodities amendment ordinance. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have accused Donald Trump of rooting for violence amid unrest in Wisconsin and attacked him for a lack of leadership on the coronavirus pandemic. Their comments came hours before Mr Trumps planned address on the final night of the Republican National Convention. He views this as a political benefit, Democratic presidential nominee Mr Biden said on MSNBC about protests in Wisconsin after police shot a black man earlier this week. Hes rooting for more violence, not less. And its clear about that. Joe Biden said Donald Trump is hoping for violence (Andrew Harnik/AP) Ms Harris, the vice presidential nominee, said Mr Trump has showed a reckless disregard for the well-being of the American people in failing to contain the coronavirus. It was her first major Trump-focused speech since she joined the Democratic ticket. The two had been largely silent during the first three days of the Republican convention, during which Republicans have tried to link them to protesters, warning a Biden presidency would make America less safe and erroneously saying he wants to defund the police. Meanwhile, the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, has once again sparked protests against racial injustice and police brutality. Days later, a 17-year-old white gunman was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of two protesters in clashes between vigilante militias and demonstrators. White House adviser Kellyanne Conway suggested on Fox & Friends that the Wisconsin unrest could help Mr Trumps reelection chances. The more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns, Ms Conway said, the better it is for the very clear choice on whos best on public safety and law and order. Mr Biden does not support defunding the police but has advocated for overhauling US police practices after years of high-profile killings of black Americans by officers. Ms Harris, meanwhile, sponsored a Bill in Congress to ban certain police practices like chokeholds and no-knock warrants and would create a national registry for police misconduct, among other things. In Washington on Thursday, Ms Harris defended the protesters in remarks sure to give fuel to Mr Trump on the conventions final night. Its no wonder people are taking to the streets and I support them, she said. Make no mistake: we will not let these vigilantes and extremists derail the path to justice. Mr Biden, who has largely limited travel to near his home in Wilmington, Delaware, during the pandemic said he would consider travelling to Kenosha. If I were president Id be going, Mr Biden said. But its hard to tell now what the circumstance on the ground is. Should he make the trip, Mr Biden said, he would attempt to pull together the black community as well as the white community and sit down and talk about how we get through this. Nath said BJP brought disrepute to Madhya Pradesh by indulging in horse trading Bhopal: Congress veteran and former chief minister Kamal Nath on Thursday accused the ruling BJP of indulging in horse trading to topple his 15-month-old government in March, bringing in aya Ram gaya Ram (encouraging defection of elected representatives) politics in the state. Nath said BJP brought disrepute to Madhya Pradesh by indulging in horse trading, which was hitherto alien to political culture of the state, to pull down his government. He was talking to reporters while emerging from chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans official residence here where he had a closed-door meeting with him that lasted nearly half-an-hour. Nath said they held discussions on ensuing three-day session of MP Assembly, scheduled to commence on September 21. He however refused to elaborate further. Nath dismissed the charges made by the BJP that his government had failed to deliver the promise of waiving crop loans of farmers. "My government had waived crop loans of 26.5 lakh farmers and the rest beneficiaries would have been covered in phases," Nath said while presenting pen drive to the media containing the details of beneficiaries of the scheme during his regime. Nath said he wanted to promote the state as an investment destination by creating a brand of MP in the national and international level. "I wanted to create a brand of MP outside the state. But, BJP has tainted the image of the state by indulging in horse trading to pull down my government, formed with due mandate of the people," he said. He said the upcoming by-polls to 27 Assembly constituencies in the state may change course of history of the state. "I will not call it a mini-Assembly election. But, I will say the ensuing Assembly by-polls will change course of history of the state and also the fate of this government," he said apparently claiming that Congress would return to power in the state in the by-elections. While BJP has a strength of 107 in the 230-member MP assembly whose effective strength has reduced to 203 after 25 former Congress MLAs resigned from the house and two others passed away. Congress has 89 MLAs. Of the rest seven MLAs, two are from Bahujan Samaj Party, one from Samajwadi Party and five are Independents. (Newser) A polar bear attacked a camping site and killed a foreign national in the remote Svalbard Islands on Friday, authorities said, adding that the animal itself was killed as well. The man was rushed to the hospital in Longyearbyen, where he was declared dead by doctors, Deputy Governor Soelvi Elvedah said. Longyearbyen is the main settlement in Norway's Arctic Svalbard archipelago, which sits more than 500 miles north of the Norwegian mainland. The attack occurred just before 4am and was being investigated, the governor's office said. The victim's identity and citizenship weren't immediately given. No one else was injured, but six people were hospitalized for shock, per the AP. The polar bear was found dead in a parking lot by the nearby airport after being shot by onlookers, the governors office said in a statement posted on its website. story continues below An estimated 20,000 to 25,000 bears live in the Arctic. It wasn't clear whether the polar bear was one of two polar bears seen roaming the area this week, per the governors office. "This is also a strong reminder that we are in polar bear country and must take the precautions to secure ourselves," Elvedah said. The website says bears may appear anywhere on Svalbard, which is dotted with warnings about them. Visitors who choose to sleep outdoors receive stern warnings from authorities that people must carry firearms while moving outside of settlements. Norwegian broadcaster NRK said the victim was the fifth person to have been killed by polar bears since 1971. The last time it happened was in 2011, when a British teenager was killed. An autopsy in this most recent case will be conducted at the University Hospital of North Norway in Tromso, north of the Arctic Circle. (Read more Norway stories.) The debutante ball or 'Debs' is the highlight of many a young person's summer and has long been acknowledged as a key rite of passage into the real world. But much like exams and graduations, the traditional Debs has been put on the back burner by Covid-19. Debs Ireland, which specialises in organising balls every summer for up to 40,000 students revealed today that they have postponed 150 of their 200 post-primary school events to 2021. Debs Ireland owner Alan McArdle said Covid restrictions have massively impacted business. "I can see us taking up to two years to recover from this but it's the students that are missing out on a huge milestone in their lives." Aoife O'Dwyer is leaving cert student in Kanturk, Co. Cork, she was a member of the school's debs committee which had to make a call on the event. "We had been debating for over two weeks, trying to decide whether we should postpone the debs or just cancel it. But postponing the debs didn't look like it would work out, the future seemed so uncertain, so we decided the best option was to just cancel." Aoife had been looking forward to her debs since starting secondary school and was upset that her day in a ball gown never came to pass. "They're events you hear talked about year after year and to miss out on them, it's quite disheartening. And then if you add in the stress that surrounded the leaving certificate cancellations, I think we needed to have something good related to 6th year to look forward to, but unfortunately, it just wasn't possible to hold such events." 40037768 [/readmore] Wiktoria Goebiowska is a leaving cert student in Balbriggan in Dublin. Her school has postponed the event to October but she "doesn't think it'll even happen". " Honestly, I'd be upset if it didn't go ahead, I even had an idea of the dress I wanted". For many girls, the debs dress is the most important aspect of the event. Debs Dress Ireland owner Una Sheffield described this year "as a complete and utter write off" for her business. "Our new season is launched in January and it was very busy, a lot of people paid deposits. March is another busy month for us, but then the debs were cancelled, then rescheduled, then cancelled again. It has impacted us hugely ", the Westmeath woman said. "A lot of those dresses are still here", she added. Una's clients arrive by appointment, often with their mother or close relative. "It's a special day, it's something you remember. These girls are being robbed of that bond. It's a sad day for the girls and a sad day for businesses". Other functions, such as the Galway races, black tie events and formal weddings have been cancelled, leaving "specialised business like mine practically gone". The Debs have been part of an Irish teenager's life since the 1980s and evolved into an elaborate affair and Alan McArdle has seen many changes. "Back then, there were a few bouncers and everything finished up at 2am and everyone split up to go to house parties and the night just fizzled out which was a bit of an anticlimax. "Today, the students, including the lads put serious effort into their appearance on the night to make sure theyre looking their best on the red carpet. "They have a drinks reception followed by a four-course candlelit meal, then they have an Oscar-style awards ceremony". By the end, he says "most people are pretty much sober and just longing to get home to sleep." For students and businesses, it's yet another hit they must take thanks to Covid-19. 40036727 [/readmore] Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 18:12:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VILNIUS, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania reported 48 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, including 28 in the capital Vilnius, the country's health ministry said Friday. Among the new cases, 36 became infected after contact with current patients, while the circumstances of infection of 9 others are not yet known. The other three were imported cases from Malta and Ukraine. According to local website Lrt.lt, the new cases represent the biggest daily spike in COVID-19 cases in the country since April 19, when Lithuania reported 59 new cases. "It is holiday time, in July and particularly in August, and people relax, which gives the results we have. The daily average for August is around 25 cases," Daiva Razmuviene of the National Public Health Centre was quoted as telling LRT RADIO. According to the country's health ministry, Lithuania had registered 2,810 COVID-19 cases by Friday morning, including 86 deaths and 1,816 recoveries. Enditem. Students maintain social distancing as they enter Ecole Marie Rose in Saint Sauveur, Que., as elementary schools outside the greater Montreal area reopen on May 11, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz) Teachers Are a More Diverse Group Than Many People Realize Commentary No matter what province you are in, right now there is only one message from teachers unionsteachers are scared to go back to work. According to teachers unions across the country, teachers want two-metre physical distancing requirements enforced throughout the school day. To make this possible, class sizes should be reducedand reduced substantially. In addition, all K-12 students and staff should wear masks all day long. As well, the start of the school year should be delayed so teachers have more time to plan for a safe re-entry. Judging by these demands, it sounds like all teachers are living in fear and terrified of going back to work in busy classrooms. The only way to make teachers happy, it seems, is for governments to spend hundreds of millions of dollars hiring extra teachers and enforcing stricter health protocols. The problem is that this narrative only reflects the views of some teachers. Ive been a full-time public school teacher for 20 years and I have no problem going back to work this fall. And many other teachers feel the same way. These teachers might not be vocal on social media, but thats because they are focused on doing their job rather than making political statements. This is far from the only time when teachers unions have taken hardline positions that fail to reflect the diversity in opinions among their membership. For example, most teachers unions are unapologetic defenders of progressive education policies. They promote the alleged merits of discovery/inquiry methods, student-centred classrooms, and individual learning styles. As a case in point, the Alberta Teachers Association (ATA) was an enthusiastic supporter of the previous NDP governments wholesale adoption of the 21st Century Skills fad, which prioritized so-called generic critical thinking skills and de-emphasized content knowledge. Now, Premier Jason Kenneys government is moving forward with curriculum changes that place more emphasis on academic content, and the ATA has positioned itself as its foremost critic. It should come as no surprise that much of the professional development unions provide for teachers reinforces the progressive approach teachers learned about in their university education courses. However, there are many teachers across the country who take a more traditional approach to teaching. These teachers recognize the importance of teacher-led classrooms, rich curriculum content, and direct instruction. In many cases, these teachers receive little support from their respective unions. The unfortunate reality is that teachers who think differently often find themselves under enormous pressure to toe the party line on these and other issues. The same is true when it comes to standardized testing. Teachers unions across Canada are implacably opposed to standardized testing, no matter how well-designed these tests are. According to the unions, standardized testing interferes with the professional autonomy of teachers by forcing them to teach to the test. Hence, the unions frequently launch public relations campaigns against all forms of standardized testing. But this does not reflect the views of all teachers. Many teachers recognize that standardized tests are a helpful tool in identifying student academic progress. In addition, properly designed standardized tests are based on the provincial curriculum. Thus, any teacher who properly teaches the curriculum is already teaching to the test. Just as optometrists use standard eye charts to measure eyesight and doctors rely on standard blood pressure monitors to check blood pressure, teachers should be fine with using standardized assessment tools. Sadly, this one-sidedness often extends to political issues as well. For example, earlier this year the British Columbia Teachers Federation (BCTF) issued a statement of support for the protesters who were blocking railroad lines in solidarity with the hereditary chiefs of the Wetsuweten First Nation. This action gave the distinct impression that teachers were united in opposition to the Coastal GasLink pipeline. However, not only was this statement contrary to what many teachers believed, it ran contrary to the wishes of the elected representatives of the Wetsuweten themselves. Given that many of the chiefs were elected on the basis of their support for the natural gas pipeline, and the jobs it would provide for their members, it was arrogant, to say the least, for BCTF to take a one-sided stance on this issue. Its also highly unlikely that northern teachers in resource-based communities that depend on this pipeline appreciated their unions dogmatic intervention on the opposite side. Fortunately, grassroots teachers are far more thoughtful and diverse in their opinions than their union leaders. Teachers can be found expressing views that range across the political spectrum and teachers are involved in all major political parties. The same is true when it comes to their approaches to classroom instruction. Some teachers take a more traditional approach while others prefer more progressive methods. Regardless of their political or pedagogical ideology, all teachers deserve to be respected and represented by their unions. That is what true diversity looks like. Unfortunately, teachers unions often take stands on issues that leave many teachers wondering why their opinions are being undermined. Not all teachers are afraid to go back to work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The teachers unions should reflect the diversity of views that teachers hold and not just the views of those on one side of the political spectrum. Michael Zwaagstra is a public high school teacher, a senior fellow with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, and author of A Sage on the Stage: Common Sense Reflections on Teaching and Learning. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. A pony was found dead with its right ear cut off and its skull smashed while a mare was 'disembowelled' in the latest mysterious acts of savagery against French farm animals. Part of the pony's face was sliced off and its diaphragm had 'exploded' as though somebody had jumped on it, an autopsy revealed after the vicious attack in Saint-Vallier in the south of France. Police told Le Journal de Saone-et-Loire there was 'little doubt' it was a human attack and that 'technical and scientific' personnel were hunting the culprits. Violent attacks on horses have occurred across the country, with severed ears apparently being collected as 'trophies' - leaving authorities mystified. Earlier today France's agriculture minister vowed on Friday that those behind the acts of cruelty would be brought to justice. Julien Denormandie, speaking on a visit to stables in Saint Eusebe where a horse's ear was cut off, said: 'We are here to show that all branches of the state are mobilising to get justice done. 'There is clearly a professionalism, people acting with a certain level of technique.' At least 15 horses have been mutilated across France since the start of the year, with eyes, ears and bones hacked from animals' bodies (pictured, a horse found recently in Puy-de-Dome) In a separate attack, a mare was found 'disembowelled' in Vaucluse near the Mediterranean coast last weekend. According to 20 Minutes, the mare's owner raised the alarm after reading about similar acts of violence elsewhere in the country. While most of the attacks have been on horses, a calf was found dead in the Sarthe department with its ear hacked off and lacerations on its genitals last Friday. The attack on the calf in Sarthe has led prosecutors in Le Mans to open an investigation 'given the national phenomenon of animal abuse that has been highlighted'. 'This is the first case reported in the Sarthe department and, to our knowledge, the first case on a calf, the cases of abuse identified having mainly affected horses,' a source told French media. Meanwhile, authorities are investigating 'acts of cruelty' in Jura in eastern France after two mares had their genitals mutilated. Local prosecutor Lionel Pascal denounced the 'barbaric acts' as 'pure cruelty' but said the two animals had survived the attacks. A horse had its throat cut in Eure-et-Loir in France last weekend by attackers who were condemned by the animal's owner as 'barbarians' A racehorse was found dead in February in the Vendee region, near Nantes, with one of its ears severed. The owner said it would have taken a group of people to restrain the animal Elsewhere, a horse had its throat cut in Eure-et-Loir, a mare was found dead with an ear missing in Deux-Sevres while two others had their genitals mutilated near Saint-Claude but survived. Johan Papillon, a farmer in Eure-et-Loir, raged at the 'barbarians' who had cut his horse's throat in the early hours of the morning. Mr Papillon said the attackers had put a halter around the horse's neck and tied it to a tree in order to commit their 'vile act'. The animal survived but needed up to 300 stitches on its neck, according to Mr Papillon who said the horse had apparently broken free of its restraints. Prosecutors say they have 'no leads' at the moment which could point them to the attackers. Stable owner Thomas Desgres said he found his mare in her box with a slashed ear late Tuesday night. He added: 'Now, I sleep here. I patrol every half-hour. It's tiring,' he told Denormandie. The president of the French Equestrian Federation Serge Lecomte, who accompanied the agriculture minister, said: ''It is cruel savagery of a kind we have rarely seen before. 'Is it a cult? Cruelty towards animals is the precursor to cruelty towards humans.' A donkey found dead in Forges les Eaux, north of Paris, in June had one of its eyes cut out and an ear removed A horse found dead in Neuvy-en-Sullias, near Orelans, in March had been stabbed several times in the neck and stomach, and had an ear cut off Animals have come under attack in various parts of France, including in northern France, near the Atlantic coast and in the countryside near Lyon. At least 15 attacks on horses and donkeys have been reported in France since the start of the year. One horse was even stabbed in its meadow across the border in Belgium, according to Estelle Beeckmans who condemned the 'cowardly' attack. French media says there is no apparent link between the affected owners, apparently ruling out the possibility of revenge attacks. However, the fact that the mutilated animals regularly have their ears cut off could mean that the attackers are pursuing a 'trophy'. Security officials have previously suggested the attacks could be linked to a fetish,s sadistic ritual or grisly online 'challenge'. 'Is this a challenge on the internet? The impulse of an individual? All avenues are being investigated,' Bruno Wallart of the police in Riom in the Puy-de-Dome region of central France, where several horses have reportedly been mutilated, said in June. Local investigations are backed by the Central Office on the Fight against Threats to Environmental and Public Health of the French national police. Not that long ago, the jumble of conspiracy theories and magical thinking known as QAnon was seen by manyif they knew of it at allas a sideshow confined to the dark corners of the internet, alternative communities like 4chan and 8chan, where people with a screw loose muttered to one another about the deep state. Fast-forward a few years and there are more than a dozen people running for Congress who have expressed some form of support for QAnon theories. The president and members of his family have retweeted Twitter accounts that are part of the QAnon ecosystem. How did we get here, and what should journalism be doing? Do we help or harm when we cover QAnon? To answer these and other questions, weve been using CJRs Galley discussion platform to talk with journalists and QAnon experts. Am I surprised by QAnons rise? No, Parker Molloy, editor-at-large at Media Matters for America, said. Anyone whos been following the medias overly credulous coverage of right-wing conspiracies for the past several years could see this coming. Media cannot lift people with fringe beliefs into the mainstream, reward them, and then shake their heads wondering how those fringe beliefs became mainstream. Molloy and others warn that the Q movement is adept at manipulating the media to recruit new members. That could be seen in the days leading up to the Republican National Convention: Over the weekend there were a number of Save The Children rallies that were essentially QAnon rallies, ostensibly about fighting child trafficking, Molloy said. But many local news outlets were more than happy to take their stated motivations at face value and without much scrutiny at all. Responsible reporting would have identified these rallies as QAnon-inspired, would have clearly stated that movements ties to terrorism, murder, and a number of other crimes. As QAnon becomes more mainstream, New York Times opinion writer Charlie Warzel said, there is a risk that QAnon will become a shiny object in the press and a lot of people who havent been paying attention to the movement will cover it poorly and sand down the edges of what is really a dangerous and fringe set of beliefs. Warzel hasnt written much on QAnon, in part because I was trying to be mindful about giving oxygen to this movement. But his feelings changed when NBC reported on the number of Facebook groups devoted to Q. Id been feeling that the movement had long-since reached critical mass but this felt like proof. Will Sommer, of the Daily Beast, said that when he is thinking about reporting on a QAnon story, I like to consider how much a real-world effect this is having. If its just a dumb internet belief, its not worth my time, my readers time, or the possibility that Id be amplifying it. But once things start having an effect in the real world, I think its worth writing about. ICYMI: Journalisms Gates keepers Kevin Roose, of the Times, had a bad feeling about how quickly the QAnon movement was growing when he saw the size of the groups devoted to it on Facebook and YouTube. Now, he said, QAnon has expanded its appeal to normals instead of just those who belong to shadowy internet discussion forums. I define normie tipping point as the point when my non-journalism friends, family members, people I went to school with, etc. start texting me to ask: So, whats up with this QAnon thing? he said. Alice Marwick, a researcher at UNC-Chapel Hill, said that she and a colleague conducted a study recently showing that QAnon believers are people who reject expert knowledge, especially institutional expert knowledge, in favor of what were calling populist expertise. Populist expertise, Marwick explained, is Crowd-sourced, bottom-up creation of knowledge that often explicitly critiques what scientists, academics, journalists, or mainstream politicians think. People enjoy participating in conspiracy groups like QAnon, she said, and once theyre in, its really hard to get people out of the Q mentality. Anna Merlan, of Vice, said that QAnons rise is not all that surprisingmost people in the United States already believe at least one conspiracy theory. And people in the really deep end of the pool, as it were, tend to be people experiencing some form of instability (or perceived instability). Conspiracy theories can be a way to respond to feelings of disaffection, loss, threat, and isolation. Julia Carrie-Wong, a technology writer with The Guardian, said that even though Facebook has recently taken some steps to block QAnon groups on its platform, the company is clearly to blame for having increased QAnons profile. Facebooks algorithms appear to have driven vulnerable people toward extremism and conspiracism, she said. Thats why I would argue that Facebooks role in QAnons growth during the pandemic goes beyond negligence. Its malfeasance. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Heres more on QAnon and disinformation: A hydra : Ben Collins, of NBC News, called Q a hydra of all of the loose ends of conspiracy theories from talk radio, comments sections, and even physical, pre-Internet newsletters over the last three decades. He also described QAnon as an elaborate revenge plot for all of the mythical, explosive, just-around-the-corner promises of Democratic indictments since the Clinton era. The only thing thats changed is that the severity of the crime went from bureaucratic malfeasance (Whitewater, Benghazi) to actually eating children on behalf of Satan himself. Fact-free : Molloy said that journalists covering Q need to understand that theyre not dealing with people who can be swayed by facts. She added, Theres a real tendency in the media to ignore problems that originate on the internet until they become too much to handle. Gamergate was a great example of this. QAnon is another. When toxic online movements are allowed to exist unchecked, she said , they build to a point of being near-unstoppable. If news organizations want to handle these movements better in the future, it would serve them well to invest more time and energy monitoring and reporting on the underbelly of the internet, working with misinformation experts, and most importantly, understanding that in interviews, many of these movements will not be upfront about their actual goals. Fan fiction : Adi Robertson, of The Verge , said that QAnon plays to the strengths of the internet . The internet is fundamentally designed to help people draw connections between things, so its easy to find and fun to link up, she said. She cited Tim Hwang, of Harvards Berkman-Klein Center and the MIT Media Lab, who has described conspiracy theories as fan-fiction about reality. That can be disorienting to journalists, Robertson went on. I think a lot of new media was built on the idea that rational debate and exposure were the key to a better world, and that the internet was supposed to be a font of information compared to something like cable news or talk radio. That left people, including me, really unequipped to deal with the weaponization of rationalism, which is sort of what QAnons do the research ethos is all about. Other notable stories: In a story published by the Washington Post on Thursday , Judd Deere, a White House spokesman, said that the administration is compiling a very large dossier on David Fahrenthold, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, and others Deere described as a disgrace to journalism and the American people. The statement came when the Post requested comment for a story that Fahrenthold co-wrote about Donald Trumps company charging the US government more than $900,000 for hotel room fees and other services at his Mar-a-Lago estate, in Florida. Deere accused the Post of blatantly interfering with the business relationships of the Trump Organization and demanded that it must stop. Matt Gertz, of Media Matters, writes about recent comments from Politico suggesting that voters probably dont care that the Republican convention may have violated the Hatch Act. The scope and brazenness of Trumps use of government resources to prop up his political campaign is unprecedented, and it could be a major scandalif reporters decided to treat it as one, Gertz argues. But some political journalists are shrugging off Tuesdays events, arguing that while the administrations actions were unethical, they probably wont matter to voters. That, Gertz writes, ignores the reality that the extent to which voters care about such stories is linked to the amount of time and attention cable and broadcast news producers and print and online news editors are willing to devote to them. Conde Nast has named Dawn Davis, a publishing industry executive, as the next editor-in-chief of Bon Appetit . Her appointment follows the resignation of Adam Rapoport over accusations of bias and a discriminatory culture during his tenure as editor, and more complaints about unfair pay, which prompted some journalists of color to withdraw from the magazines popular video series. In Davis, Bon Appetit will be getting a book world veteran known for publishing the work of marginalized voices , including The Known World by Edward P. Jones, which won the Pulitzer Prize. In 2013, Davis launched 37 Ink, an imprint of Simon & Schuster focused on representing a diverse array of writers; its books have included The Butler , by Wil Haygood; Heads of the Colored People , by Nafissa Thompson-Spires; and The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl , by Issa Rae. Davis starts at Bon Appetit on November 2. The Election Integrity Partnership, a coalition of research entities including the Stanford Internet Observatory and the DFRLab, studied how effective it was when Twitter put a warning label on a fallacious Donald Trump tweet, disabling retweets. The restrictions on the tweet, the group found, had a clear effect on its propagation, but after retweeting was disabled, Trumps supporters simply shifted from retweeting to quote-tweeting. That suggests that misinformation will continue to spread, the researchers believe, and other tweets will keep on chiming in to offer Trump their support. According to a report by Radio Free Liberty , Belarusian police detained dozens of protesters and journalists working for local and foreign media in Minsk, the capital, amid demonstrations and strikes challenging the results of the recent presidential election. Yesterday evening, sixteen journalists were detained in the central Freedom Square, according to Vyasna, a human rights center, as they prepared to cover a demonstration calling for President Alyaksandr Lukashenkas resignation and demanding that new elections be carried out in a free and fair manner. An investigation by BuzzFeed News comparing Chinas digital mapswhich remove images of prisons used for detaining Uighur Muslimsto publicly available satellite imagery revealed evidence of 428 sites in Xinjiang that appear to be prisons and detention centers. According to BuzzFeed , that represents a dramatic escalation of the countrys abuse of the Uighur people and contradicts claims by the Chinese government that it has released some or all of its detainees. Clarity Media Group, the owner of Colorado Politics in Denver and The Gazette in Colorado Springs, is starting an online daily newspaper in Denver that will aim to provide more hard-hitting news, investigative journalism and thought-provoking local opinions than any other publication in the city. The Denver Gazette , as the new paper will be called, begins publication September 14. We see ourselves as presenting a news alternative for all consumers in Denver, Chris Reen, the publisher of the Colorado Springs Gazette , said. Were focused on fact-based, straight, balanced, non-agenda driven news, which is more important now than ever. Despite assurances that Beijings new national security law would not affect Hong Kongs free press, the Guardian reports that the Chinese government has denied a visa to a local outlet. The Hong Kong Free Press , an English-language publication, had wanted to hire a new editor, Aaron McNicholas, an Irish journalist already based in Hong Kong; after an almost six-month wait, Chinese immigration officials rejected his work visa application. No official reason was given, and its believed to be the first time Hong Kong immigration has rejected a journalists work visa for a local publication. ICYMI: Jacob Blake, Breonna Taylor, and the arbitrariness of the police-shooting news cycle Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 28, 2020 18:46 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c413a8c5 4 City Bekasi,Bekasi-City,railway-station,Dutch-colonialism,Dutch,cultural-heritage,construction Free A joint expert team has unearthed the remains of a structure believed to date back to the Dutch colonial era at the Bekasi railway station in West Java during the laying of double-double tracks (DDT). The team, consisting of members of the Bekasi City Cultural Heritage Expert Team, the Banten Cultural Heritage Conservation Body (BPCB), state-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) and the Bekasi city administration, found a brick arch and wall on Friday after four days of excavation. It was a fruitful excavation. There is a brick arch located three meters south of the brick structure. Both structures have a similar form, head of the Bekasi City Cultural Heritage Expert Team Ali Anwar said in a written statement on Friday, as quoted by kompas.com. Read also: Jakarta MRT developer keen not to dig up trouble in route expansion Ali said the brick structure was found 30 centimeters underground. The team continued the excavation to a depth of 1.6 meters. The Banten BPCB will conduct further examinations on the structure to determine whether it dates back to the Dutch era. Ali added that his team was considering preserving the brick structure as a heritage ornament at Bekasi railway station. We will discuss with related stakeholders about whether to keep the structure buried or to use it as decoration of the new Bekasi station, he said. (aly) Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain said the recent increase in COVID-19 cases was due to patients from outside seeking treatment in the National Capital, return of migrants who left during lockdown as well as increased testing New Delhi: The Delhi government will scale up COVID-19 testing through its network of 300 dispensaries and hospitals, and start aggressive contact tracing of coronavirus patients in the city, Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Friday. The health minister said the AAP government is committed to doubling the COVID-19 test from the present 20,000 per day to 40,000 per day within a week. Jain said the recent increase in number of COVID-19 cases in Delhi was due to various reasons: including patients from outside seeking treatment in the city, return of migrants who left Delhi during lockdown as well as increased testing. "People can have free COVID-19 tests at the dispensaries whose time has been extended to five hours from 9 am to 2 pm. Even if dispensaries conduct on average 100 tests and hospitals 200 tests per day, the target of scaling up testing to daily 40,000 from the currently around 20,000, will be met," he said when asked how government plans to scale up testing in the city. He said 300 dispensaries and hospitals are conducting free COVID-19 presently. The government will also create awareness about this move. Testing in containment zones and districts will go side by side, he told reporters. "Presently, out of 3,700 corona patients in Delhi government hospitals, around 30 percent patients are from other states. Also, the number of tests were lower as people stayed home during the recent festivals. Now tests have increased and so has the number of positive cases," he said. His comments come days after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said COVID-19 tests will be doubled in view of the "marginal" increase in coronavirus cases in the city. "Delhi has the highest rate of per million testing in the country. We are working on the strategy of aggressive contact tracing and testing and Corona will be completely checked if the strategy succeeds. After doubling the number of tests to 40,000 we will trace and test all the contacts of COVID-19 patients," he said. The health minister said Delhi was still "halfway behind" the peak of the pandemic and the rise in number of positive cases in last few days was not a second wave of the COVID-19 infection as was claimed by some experts. "Its a short duration rise. Delhi is still halfway behind the peak. The positivity rate is around 7 percent which at one point of time was 30 percent," he said. Jain said the government has the availability of adequate number of kits to double the testing to 40,000 per day. "The asymptomatic cases are tested through the rapid antigen test which takes around 30 minutes. There can not be a fixed ratio of rapid tests and RTPCR test which is employed for symptomatic patients," he said. Delhi government is prepared to deal with a situation if number of containment zones increase due to doubling of the testing, he said. The minister said the hospitals have been directed to refer need of oxygen concentrators in case of discharged COVID-19 patients, and the government will provide it to those facing breathing issue or low oxygen level. He said Delhi government will fight dengue by making Delhiites partners in its '10 Hafte 10 Baje 10 Minute' campaign against mosquito breeding to be launched next month. "We know that kids can do it," she said. "Preschool kids can wear masks all day. Model good behavior when they go out in public ... when talking with kids, be honest and truthful about what is going on without stoking fear. You have to think about how to have children interact with people and still be safe." Brown offered some practical suggestions on how to do that: Children can visit with their grandparents using a videophone connection. Children can ride bikes with their friends as a way of taking part in a social event while maintaining distance at the same time. "Ultimately, the fewer people you are exposed to, the better," Brown said. "Our family has chosen not to do indoor play dates and sleepovers. We stay outside. I know with parents going back to work and kids going to school it is really hard. Some parents are pairing up: One house today, and the other tomorrow." In short, she said, there's no one solution that will apply to every family. Factors including the amount of risk for COVID-19 among family members will come into play. So much for the taboo on wading into primaries. Speaker Nancy Pelosi stunned Democrats last week when she backed Rep. Joe Kennedys bid to unseat Sen. Ed Markey in a contentious Massachusetts Senate primary. Days later, liberal superstar Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) fired back with an endorsement shocker of her own becoming the first lawmaker to support a progressive primary challenger trying to defeat House Ways and Means Chair Richard Neal (D-Mass.), her most high-profile Democratic target to date. The episode represents the latest crack in a long-standing but unofficial policy on Capitol Hill to not get involved in primaries featuring incumbents. And the trend is not just limited to Democrats. An increasing number of House Republicans including some GOP leaders have grown more comfortable this cycle picking sides in races where they feel its urgent to intervene. Now lawmakers, aides and strategists in both parties say the pattern will be difficult, if not impossible, to reverse. Its a shift that reflects the ideological and anti-establishment churn taking place in the Donald Trump era, and its sparking concern among the old guard about rising intraparty warfare. "More and more members of Congress are going to look and say 'rules are rules' but if in fact theres a district thats suffering were going to see a lot more members of Congress supporting challengers, said Marie Newman, who knocked off longtime Illinois Democratic Rep. Dan Lipinski earlier this year with the backing of several prominent Democrats. Even as leaders in both parties have tried to paint any decision to wield influence in primaries as a special case, younger firebrands are interpreting their leaderships involvement as a green light to show support and spend money on the challengers they prefer. If the establishment is going to start shooting at the outsiders and the pro-Trump elements of our caucus, then the bullets arent only going to be flying in one direction, said Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, who backed the successful GOP challenger to Rep. Ross Spano (R-Fla.) after a member of GOP leadership targeted one of his other colleagues. Story continues Rep. Matt Gaetz speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill. Playing in primaries has long been looked down upon in both the Republican and Democratic Party, where leaders deploy multi-million-dollar campaign arms to shield incumbents and squash any potential challengers. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee took it a step further this cycle enforcing a blacklist of vendors who work for candidates seeking to oust sitting lawmakers, a move that outraged progressives and motivated them to get even more involved in primary campaigns this cycle. These places operate on members dues, said Brendan Buck, a GOP strategist, referring to the parties campaign arms. To be able to get members to contribute, they need to convince them its an incumbent protection operation. Otherwise, he added, that trust is eroded and the money stops coming in. Plus, its dangerous to take a shot and miss. Leadership used to even shy away from open primaries amid fears of picking the wrong candidate and alienating a future colleague. Its a risky play, no doubt, said Buck, who served as a top aide to former Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis). You better be damn sure its gonna work if youre gonna do it. People have long memories. But now, insurgent lawmakers angry with the establishment and tired of abiding by the kind of decorum that once governed Washington are looking to flex their muscles in primaries and put leadership on notice. No one gets to complain about primary challenges again, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted in response to Pelosis endorsement of Kennedy. The freshman lawmaker, who has won the ire of some colleagues for her openness to supporting primary challenges, also called on the DCCC to get rid of its vendor blacklist. It seems like less a policy and more a cherry-picking activity, she wrote. This is hardly the first time rank-and-file lawmakers have engaged in primaries although many more are openly doing so this year but its now easier than it was a decade ago to actually wield influence through the use of grassroots fundraising and social media. The old ways of Washington empower leadership through money. But were starting to see that the message and movement may be more important than money, said Gaetz, who swore off PAC funding. In todays world of social media, digital communication and wall-to-wall cable television, the leadership no longer has a stranglehold on the brand or the messengers. The 2022 cycle may offer further opportunity for insurgents, as incumbents may be facing entirely new constituencies after the latest round of redistricting. Allies of Pelosi have defended her decision to back Kennedy, arguing the speaker did not undermine her policy of fiercely protecting House incumbents since she was weighing in on a Senate race. Progressive lawmakers and strategists have dismissed that explanation. What were seeing right now is the Democratic establishment really being honest in public about what theyre doing. Whats not a change is them taking sides in primaries they have long done it for years and years and years, theyve just been more private about it, said Charles Chamberlain, executive director of Democracy for America. Ocasio-Cortez, who declined to be interviewed for this story, shot to prominence after toppling one of the most powerful Democrats in the House: Joe Crowley, the Democratic Caucus chair who was often mentioned as a potential future speaker. A fellow member of her liberal squad, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), took down longtime Rep. Mike Capuano in 2018 and has since backed other primary challengers. Progressive challengers have already unseated several long-entrenched Democratic incumbents this year, including Lipinski, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Eliot Engel in New York, and Rep. Lacy Clay in Missouri. If Neal is defeated by Holyoke mayor Alex Morse, it would be a huge victory for Ocasio-Cortez and a disappointment for Pelosi. The speaker spent several minutes praising Neals progressive bona fides at a news conference Thursday and said his district would suffer a tremendous loss if hes ousted. In February, Ocasio-Cortez launched her own political action committee, which has backed primary opponents of Neal, Engel and Lipinski. Other progressives, including Pressley, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Katie Porter (D-Calif.) are among the lawmakers to endorse challengers to their colleagues this cycle. Waleed Shahid, communications director for the left-leaning Justice Democrats, pointed out that several prominent Democrats including Engel actually came to Congress by defeating an incumbent Democrat. Pelosis endorsement of Kennedy, whether she intended to or not, will create more room and space for incumbents to endorse in primary challenges, he added. Primary competition has to happen when a party is struggling to define itself, Shahid said. What primaries literally are, are places to define what it means to be a Democrat or what it means to be a Republican. On the GOP side, lawmakers were eager to boot controversial Iowa Rep. Steve King, who has made racist remarks and came close to losing his general election last year. Five House Republicans donated to his successful primary opponent, Randy Feenstra: Rep. Steve Stivers, the former head of the House GOPs campaign arm; retiring Rep. Paul Mitchell, who was a member of GOP leadership at the time; retiring Rep. Will Hurd, the lone black Republican in the House; and Reps. Adam Kinzinger and Dusty Johnson. Gaetz, meanwhile, said he wasnt planning to get involved in Spanos race. But after GOP Conference Chair Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) backed Rep. Thomas Massies (R-Ky.) Republican opponent something Gaetz confronted Cheney about during a private conference meeting he said it is clear they are now free agents. Cheney and Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) later pulled their endorsements of Massies challenger, Todd McMurtry, after his old racist tweets resurfaced. But Cheney argued during the closed-door meeting that Massie was a special case, pointing out that Trump himself has called for him to be thrown out of the party. And Cheney has supported other colleagues facing competitive primaries. Gaetz maintains that he isnt trying to become a major player in contested primaries, noting he didnt get involved until late in the cycle and focused on his home state of Florida. The two-term lawmaker also said he is focused on getting Trump reelected and only backed Spano opponent Scott Franklin because he would better boost the presidents agenda. He called Spano who is under investigation by the DOJ for possible campaign finance violations a flawed candidate. But both Gaetz and Ocasio-Cortez have serious sway on the right and left, respectively, so if they do decide to get more involved next cycle, things could get messy. Several other Gaetz-backed candidates sailed to victory in open Florida GOP primaries last week, including far-right activist Laura Loomer who has been banned from Twitter and Facebook for racist comments and attacks on Islam but who has little shot at winning in November. One of the jobs of leadership is to keep the peace amongst your team. A real quick way to have your team fall apart is if there is suspicion that certain members are trying to unseat other ones, Buck said. Politics is a team sport. And if your team devolves into this type of fighting, its really hard to put that back together. A judge has agreed to delay a decision on whether a 17-year-old from Illinois should be returned to Wisconsin to face charges accusing him of shooting dead two protesters and wounding a third during a night of unrest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha. The Illinois judge postponed Kyle Rittenhouses extradition hearing to September 25 during a brief hearing that was streamed online. Rittenhouse faces five felony charges, including first degree intentional homicide and first degree reckless homicide, and a misdemeanour charge for possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor. Rittenhouse did not appear in the livestreamed hearing, where his lawyer Jennifer Snyder, an assistant public defender in Lake County, Illinois, asked for the delay. The judge said Rittenhouse had been permitted to speak by phone with his mother and was in the process of hiring a lawyer. Expand Close Protesters march against the shooting of Jacob Blake (AP/Morry Gash) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Protesters march against the shooting of Jacob Blake (AP/Morry Gash) Rittenhouse, a white teenager who was armed with a semi-automatic rifle as he walked Kenoshas streets with other armed civilians during this weeks protests, would face a mandatory life sentence if convicted of first degree intentional homicide. Under Wisconsin law, anyone 17 or older is treated as an adult in the criminal justice system. He was taken into custody on Wednesday in Antioch, Illinois, the city about 15 miles from Kenosha where he lives. The shootings were largely caught on mobile phone video and posted online. The shooting by police on Sunday of Mr Blake, a 29-year-old black father-of-six who was left paralysed from the waist down, was also caught on mobile phone video. That shooting made Kenosha the latest focal point in the fight against racial injustice that has gripped the country since the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. Three nights later, Rittenhouse was armed and on the streets of Kenosha, saying that he was protecting businesses from protesters, according to widely circulating mobile phone footage. Expand Close Rittenhouse was arrested after two people were shot dead during protests in Kenosha (Pat Nabong/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rittenhouse was arrested after two people were shot dead during protests in Kenosha (Pat Nabong/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) The criminal complaint said that Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, followed Rittenhouse into a used car park, where he threw a plastic bag at the gunman and attempted to take the weapon from him. The medical examiner found that Mr Rosenbaum was shot in the groin and back which fractured his pelvis and perforated his right lung and liver and his left hand. He also suffered a superficial wound to his left thigh and a graze wound to his forehead. Rittenouse then ran down the street and was chased by several people shouting that he just shot someone before he tripped and fell, according to the complaint and video footage. Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, was shot in the chest after apparently trying to wrest the gun from Rittenhouse, the complaint said. Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, who appeared to be holding a gun, was then shot in the left arm after approaching Rittenhouse, the complaint said. Rittenhouses lawyer, Lin Wood, said the teenager was acting in self-defence. Colombian authorities intercepted a narco-submarine transporting $18 million worth of cocaine for Mexico's fastest-growing cartel. The massive drug bust was made 52 miles off the Pacific coast city of Tumaco on Sunday and netted the arrest of three individuals who were manning the submarine. According to the National Defense Ministry, the submarine is valued at $1.2 million and has sufficient space to transport up to three tons of cocaine. The vessel was also equipped with a special satellite navigation system that programmed its arrival in Jalisco, Mexico, in the first week of September. The Colombian National Police and Armed Forces intercepted a ship Sunday off the coast of the port of the city of Tumaco and seized $18million worth of cocaine that had been purchased by Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel Colombia's National Defense Ministry said the narco submarine was expected to arrive in Mexico in the first week of September Colombian authorities said the submarine was carrying 1,055 kilos but was actually equipped to carry triple the amount Intelligence reports revealed the shipment had been arranged by the Grupos Armados Organizados Residuales E-30 [Residual Organized Armed Groups], considered one of the most dangerous criminal syndicates in Colombia with links to murders and kidnappings in the provinces of Narino and Cauca. The group had entered an agreement to sell 1,055 kilos of cocaine to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of the most powerful criminal organizations in Mexico, and drop off the delivery in Costa Careyes, an exclusive resort town off the Pacific Ocean. Colombian anti-drug police inspect a submarine that they say was loaded with cocaine bound for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel A Colombian law enforcement agent tests the purity of the cocaine shipment that was seized Sunday The Jalisco New Generation Cartel's influence rivals that of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman old Sinaloa Cartel, which is now operated by his sons, the organization's co-founder Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, and Rafael Caro Quintero. The Jalisco network is led by Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera, for whom the Drug Enforcement Agency is offering a $10million reward for information leading to his capture. His cartel has a presence in 24 of 32 states in Mexico and has shipped cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl-laced heroin to the United States. The Colombian narco submarine seizure comes nine months after Spanish authorities intercepted a vessel with $121million worth of cocaine following a week-long, 4,800-mile voyage. TUSTIN, Calif., Aug. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 31, 2020, the US Attorney's Office issued a press release titled "Three Individuals Charged for Alleged Roles in Twitter Hack". Wallin & Klarich, A Law Corporation argues that the US Attorney's Office press release gives the misleading impression that Mr. Fazeli and the two other persons mentioned in the press release worked together to compromise "over 100 social media accounts and scammed both the account users and others who sent money based on their fraudulent solicitations." Nima Fazeli has hired the legal counsel of Wallin & Klarich, A Law Corporation to represent him in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, United States vs. Nima Fazeli, Case No. 3:20-MJ-71049 MAG. The counsel for Mr. Fazeli would like to set the record straight for their client. Paul Wallin, Senior Partner of Wallin & Klarich, states that, "Mr. Fazeli is a student at the University of Central Florida planning to graduate in December 2020 with a degree in finance and plans to attend graduate school to pursue a Master's in Business Administration. Nima has no prior criminal record and no prior history of arrests. He comes from an educated family that is very loving and supportive." "When any governmental agency chooses to issue a press release alleging criminal conduct, it is imperative that they take the time to make clear what crimes they are alleging against each person mentioned in their press release. People's lives and reputations can be and often are severely damaged when they do not do so. The US Attorney's press release issued on July 31 did not properly clarify the charges being levied against each defendant and has miscast Mr. Fazeli's role in this legal claim," Mr. Wallin added. Mr. Wallin continues, "The truth is that Mr. Fazeli had no involvement in hacking or attempting to hack any celebrity Twitter accounts and did not solicit payments in Bitcoin from any Twitter users. In fact, our client is not being criminally charged with having anything to do with the celebrity Twitter hacking or Bitcoin solicitations. He is being accused of one unrelated charge." The press release by the US Attorney stated: "The allegations of a criminal complaint are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless or until the allegations against them are proved beyond a reasonable doubt." In this case, Mr. Fazeli has entered a plea of not guilty. At this time, the Counsel for Mr. Fazeli requests that the media not reach out to Mr. Fazeli or his family directly. Please contact Attorney Paul Wallin or Jonathan Lynn of Wallin and Klarich for further information or comment on this legal matter at (714) 730-5300, or by email at [email protected] or [email protected]. Related Links Senior Partner Paul J. Wallin Bio Partner Jonathan M. Lynn Bio SOURCE Wallin & Klarich, A Law Corporation Related Links https://www.wklaw.com Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) in a statement Friday said he "fell short of [his] own standard," by choosing not to wear a face mask at President Trump's Republican National Convention acceptance speech on Thursday night. Why it matters: Former North Carolina state Sen. Cal Cunningham, the Democratic nominee to challenge Tillis for his seat in November, accused his opponent of hypocrisy for stressing the importance of wearing a mask, but foregoing any face covering during Trump's speech. What they're saying: "Tillis apparently sets a different standard for himself. He was captured maskless in Washington Thursday surrounded by nearly 1,000 other people, most of whom were also not wearing masks or social distancing, after posting a photo to Twitter wearing a mask," the Cunningham campaign said on Friday. Fans are not allowed to travel to the Spa circuit during the Belgian Grand Prix. The circuit itself is closed to the public, but the woods around it are not. Nevertheless, the Belgian government advises enthusiasts not to entrench themselves in it in order to follow the race. Strong fine Via Twitter, the federal police of Belgium explained that fans are not allowed to enter the so-called 'disqualification zone' . Anyone who does so and gets caught will receive a hefty fine. The amount is set at 350 (313). Just like at Silverstone, the police will also act firmly. During the British Grands Prix fans were also not allowed to go near the circuit. In Belgium the police have a similar policy. Grand Prix F1 : Er wordt niemand in de ontradingszone toegelaten zonder geldige reden of tot de perimeter zonder toegangsbewijs van de organisatie. Overtreders riskeren een boete van 350.#ShareTheBelgianGrandPrix@Home ! #BelgiumGP #BelgianGP #F1 #formel1 Federale Politie (@federalepolitie) August 28, 2020 A secret report by former Queensland Labor state secretary Evan Moorhead calls for greater union and branch member involvement if the party is to be successful in future elections. The report, prepared in July, discusses Labor's failure to wrest a Brisbane City Council ward away from rival parties for 20 years and the two byelections in 2020, making recommendations for the campaign before the October state election. Prominent surfer Wayne Bartholomew beside Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in 2015 when the Gold Coast won a World Surfing Reserve award. Credit:Luke Sorensen The report this month went to Labors administrative committee, which decided not to distribute it to branches. A case for change based on policy development will continue to be frustrated by the tricky LNP, unless we can make them own the policy failings of their administration, it says. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 04:54:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on May 29, 2020 shows the White House in Washington D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) To appeal to his voters, President Donald Trump has made the enforcement of "law and order" a major theme of his reelection campaign, repeatedly lashed out at cities run by Democrats, and sought to paint a doom-and-gloom picture of what the country would look like under the Biden presidency. WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The White House has beefed up security ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's speech to accept the Republican Party's renomination from the South Lawn on Thursday night, while protesters are expected to stage demonstrations in the capital city. The Secret Service said in a statement that it, "in coordination with the National Park Service, is announcing perimeter closures of the areas in and around the White House complex," including Lafayette Park, which sits north of the presidential residence. "These measures include security fencing which is being erected and will be clearly marked," the statement added. "These closures are in an effort to maintain the necessary security measures and ensure public safety." Protesters opposing Trump are expected to gather in downtown Washington, D.C. on Thursday night. Shutdown DC, an activist group, has planned to hold a noise demonstration to counter Trump's remarks. A pro-Trump rally will take place at Freedom Plaza, east of the White House, on Thursday night. The event, organized by the Maryland GOP and the Maryland Black Republican Council, expects to draw up to 2,500 participants. U.S. Secret Service staff respond to a shooting near the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, Aug. 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Trump will "unload on" 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and go after the former vice president on "everything from the economy to trade," according to Politico, citing people familiar with the address. "At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas," Trump is expected to say. The remarks will come as protests and riots raged on in Kenosha, Wisconsin in the wake of the Aug. 23 police shooting of 29-year-old African American Jacob Blake. Police on Wednesday arrested a teenager who allegedly shot and killed two people late Tuesday during the protests. On Wednesday night, Vice President Mike Pence in his acceptance speech stressed Trump's "law and order" message and reiterated the administration's support of law enforcement officers but didn't address what activists have called systemic racism in policing and in the United States at large. Police stand guard in front of the White House during a protest over the death of George Floyd in Washington D.C., the United States, on May 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump said he could increase the presence of National Guard in Kenosha to address the unrest if needed. "We will put out the fire. We will put out the flame," he said. "We will stop the violence very quickly." Biden, in an interview with MSNBC on Thursday, accused Trump of "rooting for more violence, not less." "He views this as a political benefit to him," the former vice president said. "And he's clear about that. And what's he doing, he's pouring more gasoline on the fire." To appeal to his voters, Trump has made the enforcement of "law and order" a major theme of his reelection campaign, repeatedly lashed out at cities run by Democrats, and sought to paint a doom-and-gloom picture of what the country would look like under the Biden presidency. Joe Biden, whose campaign has made race relations a key part of his White House bid, has said that he supports police reform but not the movement to "defund the police." The finale of the 2020 Republican National Convention (RNC), under the theme "Land of Greatness," will also feature Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, former New York City mayor and Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, and the president's daughter and senior adviser Ivanka Trump. A fireworks display is expected to light up the sky above the National Mall after Trump concludes his remarks. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 28) Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin, Jr. had a stern warning to China after it reportedly fired missiles in the South China Sea. News reports said China fired an "aircraft-carrier killer" into the disputed waters this week, which is said to be a warning for the United States to stay away. Earlier this week, Beijing accused Washington of sending a U-2 spy plane over a "no-fly zone" to disrupt China's military exercises as tensions rise. Locsin said he immediately checked the map to verify the area where China was holding its drills and found that the exercises were "not taking place within the coordinates of our territory." "It was interesting to watch. However, I warned and this kind of irritated Beijing should those naval exercises spill into my territory, then they must expect the worst," Locsin told CNN Philippines' The Source. The country's top diplomat said he is not ruling out options on how to go against China's incursions in disputed waters, but said he is "not afraid of any eventuality." President Rodrigo Duterte has said it's best to shelve the territorial row as he focuses on warmer ties with Beijing, adding that the country cannot afford to go to war with China to assert the 2016 ruling of a Permanent Court of Arbitration-backed tribunal. The Hague tribunal invalidated Beijings sweeping territorial stakes in the South China Sea and recognized Manilas sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone which China claims. The DFA has resorted to filing diplomatic protests whenever it finds China taking aggressive steps in the West Philippine Sea, the most recent of which involved the Chinese Coast Guards confiscation of Filipino fishermens fish aggregating devices or payaos in Scarborough, a shoal west of Zambales which is being claimed by both Manila and Beijing. READ: China hits back at PH after diplomatic protest: Stop illegal provocations If push comes to shove, Locsin said the Philippines can count on the US to defend the Philippines, citing the decades-old Mutual Defense Treaty. "When it says it will come to the defense of the Philippines... we (US) will throw all our weaponry at the enemy," he added, citing his good ties with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. "An attack on the US will give them all our might. Everything we have you may laugh at our ability but we will... Any attack on us, I believe the US will, at the sake of its prestige, (defend us)." RELATED: Terminating VFA will make the implementation of Mutual Defense Treaty more challenging former DFA Sec. Del Rosario Locsin insisted that Manila should continue its patrols over the country's exclusive economic zone. The Cabinet official pointed out that the US is unlikely to shirk its duties to defend the Philippines as its credibility as a global power relies on its ability to fulfill its commitments to other nations. The Rajasthan police have arrested a 40-year-old man who was allegedly spying for Pakistan, officials said on Friday. The accused Mushtak Ali, a resident of Barmer, was spying for Pakistan and has been arrested under provisions of the Official Secrets Act, ADG Intelligence Umesh Mishra said. ATS Rajasthan got inputs from military intelligence about this man. He was interrogated in Barmer and was brought to Jaipur on Thursday on confirmation of spying, he said. He used to pass on various kinds of information to Pakistan-based handlers through WhatsApp and Facebook messengers using his mobile phone. The officer said Ali's father Khandu Khan was arrested by Barmer police on August 9 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Illinois was a free state in pre-Civil War America, but one of its most prominent and successful politicians profited from the abominable institution of slavery. Thats why a statue of Stephen A. Douglas will be removed from the Illinois Capitol grounds in Springfield. The board of the Office of the Architect of the Capitol decided to honor a request made by Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. This powerful Democrat stated in July that he had learned of Stephen Douglas disturbing past as a Mississippi slave owner and his abhorrent words toward people of color from reading Michael Blumenthals biography of Lincoln. The University of Chicago announced in July that it will remove from its campus a bronze plaque that bears an image of Douglas as well as a stone from a long-demolished building that was part of the old University of Chicago, which Douglas had helped found. University President Robert J. Zimmer said that Douglas didnt deserved to be honored because he profited from his wifes ownership of a Mississippi plantation where black people were enslaved. Douglas indeed made money from slave labor. He married his first wife, Martha Martin, in 1847. When her father died just a year later, she inherited a cotton plantation in Mississippi that included 100 slaves. Douglas received one-third of the plantations profits as compensation for managing the enterprise. He continued to derive income from this plantation after Marthas death in 1853. Nonetheless, Douglas denied being a slaveholder and insisted that he was merely honoring the terms of a family trust. Douglas claimed he was neither pro-slavery nor anti-slavery. He promoted popular sovereignty, which allowed the residents of an American territory to decide whether they wanted slavery to exist within their borders. Scholars have long noted Douglas indifference to the suffering of the enslaved. Allan Nevins in 1947 published A House Dividing, which was the second volume of his eight-volume Ordeal of the Union series. In that work, Nevins took Douglas to task for his role in repealing the Missouri Compromise, which had banned slavery from Louisiana Purchase lands located north of the 3630 parallel. Our Illinois senator, according to Nevins, was curiously blind and callous toward free-soil arguments because of his lack of moral repugnance to slavery. While abolitionists regarded Douglas as pro-slavery, however, supporters of slavery came to regard him as not nearly pro-slavery enough. While debating Lincoln in the city of Freeport during the 1858 Illinois senate race, Douglas stated, It matters not what way the Supreme Court may hereafter decide as to the abstract question whether slavery may or may not go into a Territory under the Constitution. The people have the lawful means to introduce it or exclude it as they please, for the reason that slavery cannot exist a day or an hour anywhere, unless it is supported by local police regulations. Douglas assertion, which became known as the Freeport Doctrine, was well-received by Northern Democrats. Southern Democrats, however, were outraged by what they saw as Douglas hostility toward the expansion of slavery in the United States and flouting of the 1857 Dred Scott decision. When the Democratic party nominated Douglas as its presidential candidate in 1860, southern Democrats bolted the party and nominated Vice-President John C. Breckinridge for president on a pro-slavery platform. Lincoln, who had lost the senate race to Douglas just two years earlier, won the presidency. In late 1860, Douglas contacted Alexander Stephens, who would later serve as the vice-president of the Confederacy, and offered to seek the annexation of Mexico as a slave territory to avert secession by the southern states. Such an annexation would have been catastrophic for both nations. When the Civil War began, Douglas affirmed his support for the Union. In a speech delivered in Chicago shortly before his death on June 3, 1861, he proclaimed,Every man must be for the United States or against it. There can be no neutrals in this war only patriots and traitors. Altons statue of Douglas should remain in place, however. The statue doesnt honor Douglas the slaveholder. Historical accuracy requires its presence. A factual depiction of our citys Lincoln-Douglas debate requires statues of both participants. John J. Dunphy of Alton is an author, the Godfrey 15th Precinct Democratic Committeeperson and recording secretary for the Godfrey Democrats. Worse, at least six people have been reported dead - one of them was a 14-year-old girl was killed after a tree fell onto her home, according to The Associated Press. Other fatalities include a 68-year-old man who also died when a trees fell on his home, and a 24-year-old man who died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator inside his residence. Another man drowned in a boat that sank during the storm, authorities said. EU Firms up Belarus Blacklist as OSCE Offers to Mediate BERLINThe European Union has agreed to impose sanctions on up to 20 senior Belarus officials suspected of election fraud and the crackdown on protesters and is likely to put President Alexander Lukashenko on its list at some point, the blocs foreign ministers said Friday at a meeting in Berlin. In Vienna, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe offered to mediate between the two sides in Belarus, with chairman Edi Rama pledging not to interfere in internal affairs, but at the same time stressing human rights abuses must end. A girl covers with an old Belarusian National flag as people stand near the place where Alexander Taraikovsky died amid the clashes protesting the election results, in Minsk, on Aug. 24, 2020. (Dmitri Lovetsky/AP Photo) Belarus authoritarian president of 26 years has faced weeks of protests since he was reelected to a sixth term on Aug. 9 with 80 percent of the vote. The opposition says the poll was rigged and the EU, among others, disputes the results. In the first four days of demonstrations that followed, Belarus security forces detained almost 7,000 people and injured hundreds with rubber bullets, stun grenades, and clubs. At least three protesters died. Around 180 people were detained at rallies on Thursday. We have general agreement on how the list will be structured and who will be, more or less, on the list, Czech Republic Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek told reporters. However, the technicalities involved in legally finalizing the list wont be concluded for at least another week. This image made from video shows Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko armed with a Kalashnikov-type rifle near the Palace of Independence in Minsk on Aug. 23, 2020. (State TV and Radio Company of Belarus via AP Photo) Asked whether the Belarus president will be hit by a travel ban and asset freeze, Petricek said he believes that Lukashenko should be on the list. The question is whether in the first stage, or a later stage if there is no progress. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said that Lukashenko should be on the list now, but he acknowledged that there may be tactical reasons to keep the Belarus leader off. Lithuania had tabled its own list of 118 officials. Asked after the meeting whether Lukashenko would be targeted, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell declined to be specific, saying that this information needs to be protected until the sanctions are legally adopted and in force. He also said that evidence is still being gathered on why the officials should be listed, just in case they launch legal challenges against the sanctions. EU foreign afairs chief Josep Borrell holds a press conference in Brussels on May 26, 2020. (Pool/Getty Images) Borrell explained that most countries prefer a gradual approach that would ratchet up pressure by adding more names progressively if Lukashenko fails to enter into talks with the opposition. The initial list was short. It has been increasing over the last days. It was in the beginning 12, then escalated to almost 20. I think it will still escalate in the following days, he said. Everything will depend on how things develop in Belarus and which is the attitude of the regime. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Thursday that he stands ready to send police to Belarus if protests there turn violent, but sees no such need yet. Linkevicius said that we cannot exclude this invasion, and that the EU must also send a clear warning to Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speak in the stands during the closing ceremony of 2019 European Games, in Minsk, on June 30, 2019. (Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters) German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she stressed the importance of Belarus sovereignty in a recent call with Putin. I hope that such a unit wont be deployed, she told reporters in Berlin. Merkel said she has also tried to call Lukashenko, but that he has refused to speak with her thus far. The EU has supported proposals from the OSCE to promote dialogue in Belarus, one of the organizations 57 member nations, and has said it stands ready to provide assistance to further them. German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks to the media in Berlin on March 22, 2020. (Clemens Bilan/Getty Images) In a special meeting on the situation in Belarus in Vienna on Friday, Rama, who is the prime minister of Albania, laid out the case for the organization to assist in facilitating talks between Lukashenko and the opposition. For the country to move forward safely and as securely as possible will require mutual understanding and cooperation inside Belarus, Rama said. And our role should be to help bring that about. He emphasized that if we are to play a constructive role it is not for us to take sides and that the OSCE could provide dispassionate third party counseling. Thousands of people gather for a protest at the Independence square in Minsk on Aug. 23, 2020. (Dmitri Lovetsky/AP Photo) But at the same time, he noted the restrictions on journalists, and the injury and loss of life to protesters in the government crackdown, saying that the picture is ugly, to say the least. Belarus is here, with us, as a friend, but friends must remind each other of important truths, and the authorities in Minsk need to hear this one, he said. The OSCE is founded on principles that include full respect for democracy and human rights There cannot be any ifs or any buts about this. These are principles and they must be upheld. By Lorne Cook and David Rising Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said he "can't put a date" on when 'wet' pubs will be allowed reopen as a new Government support package worth 16m for pubs, bars and restaurants has been announced. The new funding includes a restart grant and a 40 pc top up for businesses remaining closed. Businesses can now receive a minimum of 5,600 and a maximum of 35,000 under the grant for additional expenses and preparations for reopening when they are allowed to do so. Read More A waiver of court fees and associated excise and stamp duties relating to the renewal of pub and other liquor licences this year, and excise duty on on-trade liquor licences on renewal in 2020 has also been introduced. Speaking at a briefing this evening, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said he "can't put a date" on when 'wet' pubs will be allowed reopen. He said the National Public Health and Emergency team (Nphet) is working with government on protocols "that might allow for the reopening of pubs into the future, if the virus starts going the right direction again." "But I can't put a date on that at the moment," he added. "Ireland is the only country in Europe where wet pubs are fully closed. In most countries. They are open with some restriction and we're examining exactly where that can be done and we're building on, I think, a very good compliance from the restaurants sector where we've only seen one significant cluster out of very many. "So that's the point we'd like to get to in the next couple of weeks, but I can't guarantee that's possible. This is just some additional aid to help out in the interim." When asked if he thinks pubs will reopen again before the end of this year, the Tanaiste said he "can't say that with certainty." The Cabinet today agreed legislation granting additional enforcement powers for Gardai in a bid to clamp down on pubs that are not adhering to public health regulations, the Tanaiste confirmed. Under the legislation, gardai will be able to close a premises found to be in breach of regulations for a day. If regulations are breached a second time, a garda superintendent can seek a seven-day closure order. Where regulations are breached a third time, the legislation will allow for a possibility of closure up to 30 days. License holders will have the option to appeal the order. Mr Varadkar said the move to give gardai additional powers comes after "quite concerning" instances of social distancing and other regulations being broken in some bars occurred in recent weeks as gardai say they have found 165 pubs that are suspected to have breached public health guidelines. Files will be prepared for the DPP in each of these cases. The Tanaiste said: "I think the vast majority of people running businesses are doing everything they can and are doing a fabulous job, I think, to work within the regulations. But we have seen a few instances where social distancing has really broken down, and that does undermine everyone's efforts against Covid. "This will now give the gardai the power in an extreme situation to close a business, or in less extreme situations to go to the district court and ask that the business be closed for a period of time." Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the legislation, which will be published on Monday, will help deal with cases where premises are continuing to break regulations. "It has been over the last few weeks really, more so since the beginning of July and coming into August, that we've seen an increase in cases of non-compliance. "But in particular, an increase in a small number of premises that are continuing to be non compliant. That's why we've brought this in now. And again, we've only brought this in, because we feel that the cases are starting to increase," she said. "It will give gardai an ability to stop things in their tracks before they get out of hand." Fianna Fail TD Michael McGrath said the new measures are to give pubs "every fighting chance of surviving this period" until they are allowed to reopen. The Minister said she expects the regulations to be enforced "in probably a minimum of circumstances" and that the more severe penalties "possibly mightn't be applied at all." Meanwhile, the Department of Health has today reported 127 additional confirmed Covid-19 cases in Ireland, and no further deaths. There is now a total of 28,578 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland, and 1,777 coronavirus related deaths. Of the cases notified today, 52 are in Dublin, 13 in Monaghan, 9 in Tipperary, 8 in Meath, 8 in Wexford, 8 in Roscommon and the remaining 29 are located in Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Offaly, Waterford, Westmeath and Wicklow. Sixty-six are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case and 8 cases have been identified as community transmission. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 28) Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Friday argued that the government cannot hold hostage thousands of nurses who wish to work abroad instead of in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Locsin said several members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases share the opinion of President Rodrigo Duterte that nurses should stay in the country as "reserve force" should the pandemic worsen. But for the foreign affairs chief, the government should pay them the amount they would have earned abroad if not for the deployment ban. "I said, in that case, pay for it. I don't mean pay peanuts for it, I mean pay big money if you want keep them in reserve... [We] cannot hold a section of our population hostage for that eventuality" he told CNN Philippines' The Source. Locsin has been vocal on his stand against the deployment ban, saying it is unconstitutional to deny the nurses their right to travel and earn a living. He added that the huge number of nursing graduates who are left unemployed or underemployed by the government policy is unacceptable. "I know there are competing claims on nurses, but for God's sakes 400,000 is an army," the top envoy said, referring to the number of unemployed or underemployed nurses in the country. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said only 600 nurses are affected by the total deployment ban, citing information from the Philippine Nurses Association. Locsin said he will continue to fight for the plight of healthcare workers despite constantly losing the argument with members of IATF. "They earn peanuts in our lousy medical system and they are well treated and respected abroad, which is what every person needs," he stressed. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III earlier said that the ban will be reviewed by authorities, assuring there will be a "positive development." The government has flip-flopped on the deployment ban. In April, officials announced the exemption of all medical workers who have competed their documents as of March 8, ahead of the imposition of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine. An August 17 resolution of the IATF stated the temporary suspension of the deployment of all medical and allied health workers, without mentioning any exemptions. That resolution was revised on August 20, with government now allowing those who have secured contracts and overseas employment certificates before March 8 to leave the country to work. Related: Govt again allows deployment of health workers with contracts as of March 8 The news that many have been waiting for has finally arrived, and some fans couldnt be more excited. From the family that brought the famous dinner fight, to Chantel Everetts memorable tell-off of Pedro Jimenos sister, Chantel and her family are back. The Family Chantel, which follows Chantel and Pedro as they navigate the murky waters of marriage, is coming back for season 2, and the premiere is right around the corner. When will The Family Chantel return? Chantel Everett and Pedro Jimeno | chantel_j_ via Instagram Fans were first introduced to Chantel and Pedro in season 4 of 90 Day Fiance. They became instant fan favorites, and made their way to 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After before scoring their own spinoff. Pedro, Chantel, and her family are more than memorable, and have provided fans with awesome sayings for years, including, Stupid Americans and The Family Chantel. The highly anticipated new season of The Family Chantel will return to TLC on Monday, October 12, at 9 p.m. E.S.T. Chantel will be joined by her equally famous family, including her mother, Karen, who has quite a following herself. The new season will feature some new faces, including Chantels other brother, Royal, who is older. He returns home with a woman named Angenette, who is from the Philippines. They met online, and it sounds like there is going to be some major drama in this new family dynamic. The Family Chantel will embark on a trip to the Philippines for Royals second wedding, which sounds like it will be more than eventful. Fans react to the news of season 2 of The Family Chantel RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Why the First Meeting Between Chantel and Pedros Families Goes So Wrong Reddit is buzzing about Chantel and Pedros new show, but not everyone seems to be on board with it. A Reddit user recently posted a screenshot sharing the news via 90 Day Fiances social media, and while some fans say they will watch, there is a lot of hate on Reddit for the upcoming season. I watched the show and found it entertaining. But I am actually really surprised they got a second season, a fan on Reddit said. Another fan also finds it humorous. Yeah I thought it was funny too, said a fan. However, not everyone seems to agree. Thanks for giving me more reasons to turn off my TV TLC. I feel like youre giving me an intervention, another Reddit user wrote. Other fans clearly wont be watching. Havent we suffered enough in 2020? Why do you hate us, TLC? a user asked. Super hard pass! I didnt even watch the first one, another Reddit user said. Chantel Everett shares the news with her followers Chantel Everett posted the image for the new season sharing the announcement with her followers on Instagram, and fans there couldnt be more thrilled with the news. So Ive been keeping a secret from you guys. Im so glad that I can finally tell you that we are going to air our 2nd season of The Family Chantel. , Chantel captioned the post on Instagram. So excited for season two!!! You look stunning, a fan commented. A lot of fans really seem to love Chantel and Pedro. So excited girl I love you and Pedro! My favorites! , said a fan. Yay best family from 90 Day Fiance, someone else wrote. There is a lot of speculation about the promo image for the new season, which features the family standing side by side. However, Royal and Angenette are standing to the far left, prompting a lot of fans to ask about who they are. Whos that on the far left? a fan wondered. Who are the two people on the left end? another fan inquired. A lot of fans have opinions about The Family Chantels renewal. Some cant wait, while others admit that they wont be watching the new season. Israels airport authority on Friday listed the departure of a commercial Israeli airliner to the United Arab Emirates on its planned schedule for the first time. Why it matters: The milestone flight is another sign of progress in the U.S.-brokered normalization deal between the two countries that was announced two weeks ago. El Al Flight 971 the international calling code for the UAE operated by a Boeing 737 will depart Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport at 10 a.m. Israel time on Monday, flying directly to Abu Dhabi through Saudi airspace. The plane will include several delegations: A U.S. team led by President Trumps senior adviser Jared Kushner will also include national security adviser Robert OBrien, White House envoy Avi Berkowitz and U.S. envoy for Iran Brian Hook. An Israeli team led by national security adviser Meir Ben Shabbat will also include the director-generals of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Health. A group of Israeli and American reporters are also expected to be on the plane to cover the flight as well as talks between the U.S. and Israeli teams with Emirati officials. Whats next: The Israeli delegation is expected to have technical talks with the Emirati government on Monday and Tuesday regarding a set of bilateral agreements for the opening of embassies, direct flights and visas. You just got your eighth Emmy Award nomination for playing a 1940s movie studio exec in Netflix's Hollywood who romances a much younger man played by Dylan McDermott, your costar on The Practice, your first Emmy-winning role. It was an unexpected reunion. When producer Ryan Murphy told me our characters ended up together, I said, What? Are you crazy? I've gotta be 20 years older than Dylan. He said, You can play 50." On The Practice, you played another formidable female authority figure whos tough and nobodys patsy, but also as sexy as she wants to be. That was really groundbreaking. It was a really scandalous thing. Because, I mean, that was 1999. And they did not have women on television of my age, 50, playing a really smart, capable, a very powerful judge with a lot of personality and a lot of interesting clothes and then have her be having this affair with her clerk who files a complaint against her because she ends the relationship, and hes mad. Wasnt that whole episode a joke that referred to the Lewinsky scandal? Mike Nichols, who was a friend of mine, wrote me a note and said, President Clinton has a lot to answer for. How does the Great Leader stack up against your classic roles? Its a comedy and requires that deft balance between playing it for real, but also somehow weaving a comic thing in there, so that she can be both powerful and do something just slightly ridiculous. And, you know, Ive been playing characters like that all my life actually. Thats something that I like to do. At least 13 killed and large parts of Pakistans largest city submerged after record torrential rains in August. Islamabad, Pakistan At least 13 people have been killed by urban flooding in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, the countrys largest city and its commercial hub, as torrential monsoon rains have left large parts of the metropolis inundated and without electricity, officials said. Those killed include people who have drowned in their homes, been crushed under collapsing walls or electrocuted by short-circuiting wires, Dr Seemin Jamali, the executive director of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), told Al Jazeera on Friday. On Thursday, the city received more than 223mm of rain in a 12-hour period, the countrys meteorological department said, the highest seen in a single day since records began. More than 484mm of rain has fallen in August so far, according to the data, more than 10 times the monthly average. The havoc that has happened here from the inclement weather and the urban flooding has overwhelmed everyone, Dr Jamali told Al Jazeera by telephone. You would be shocked looking at the streets of Karachi. There is no way you can get out in that water. This was 26th street DHA Karachi, my neighborhood.this is why I was worried about my family, my father. What we have witnessed in Karachi today was apocalyptic in some ways. The true hurt & damage will be visible after the water recedes. Nothing but devastation. #KarachiRain pic.twitter.com/loWHBQ1rZC Fakhr-e-Alam (@falamb3) August 27, 2020 Major roads and infrastructure across the city of 22 million people were flooded under several feet of water, with residents unable to reach hospitals and rescue workers deployed to attempt to save those whose homes had been destroyed. There was a lady who was in a wheelchair who drowned in the water from her own house, a 56-year-old lady who couldnt get out of her own house because she was differently-abled, said Dr Jamali. As water levels rose, the citys electricity utility company shut down power to large parts of the metropolis in order to protect citizens from electrocution from malfunctioning wires or other machinery. Video footage showed roads and walls being washed away by the force of water in several areas, as the citys drains and sewage channels overflowed from the volume of water. Motorists abandoned their cars on major roads and were forced to walk, as many vehicles were washed away by the flooding water. The collapse of infrastructure also affected landline and cellular telephone networks, which began to fail on Thursday as the volume of use rose, residents say. The impact of the floods is also continuing for many, as their livelihoods or businesses have been decimated by the water [Muhammad Sabir Mazhar/Anadolu] Pakistans military established an emergency flood control centre in Karachi to assist victims, with medical camps and emergency food rations being distributed. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) also set up several such centres. In a statement, the military said it had distributed more than 10,000 meals and begun work to shore up flood control walls along major water channels. With the regular transport infrastructure inundated, rescuers were deployed by boat in working-class communities to help deliver the aid. Military helicopters flew overhead to survey the damage. This year has seen record levels of monsoon rains across South Asia, with massive flooding in Bangladesh and India. Since June, at least 106 people have been killed by monsoon flooding across Pakistan, according to the NDMA. More rain is forecast for Friday, with the current weather system due to weaken over the weekend, Pakistans meteorological department said. On Thursday, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said his government would be announcing a plan for a permanent solution to the problems caused by floods by cleaning of drainage channels, fixing of the sewage system and resolving the huge challenge of water supply to the people of Karachi. Several proposals for revamping the citys decrepit water drainage infrastructure have been made by national and multilateral development organisations such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank over the last decade, but none have been taken up by the countrys government so far. Asad Hashim is Al Jazeeras digital correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim Could the province have been more confusing in the use of its own new colour-coded Pandemic Response System? Not if it tried. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/8/2020 (510 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Could the province have been more confusing in the use of its own new colour-coded Pandemic Response System? Not if it tried. Following the announcement yesterday that a health-care worker at the Rideau Park Personal Care Home here in Brandon had tested positive for COVID-19, the province further announced that the facility has been moved to Code Red, a "critical" designation that calls for the home to restrict visitation, and add more precautionary measures. It was only a week ago that Manitoba chief medical officer Dr. Brent Roussin announced that the Prairie Mountain Health region was designated Code Orange, which meant implementing some of the tightest COVID-19 restrictions in the country as of Monday. Masks were now mandatory in public places and the province limited group sizes to no more than 10 in both indoor and outdoor spaces. And all because our region has been experiencing more and more coronavirus numbers. Every single day we hear of more cases in the RHA and in the city of Brandon. As of Thursday afternoon, there were 126 active cases of the virus in Brandon, along with another 52 active cases in the Asessippi region, and a total of 212 for the whole of PMH. However, this orange designation does not apply to the Brandon School Division, which remains operating under the yellow designation. We should not be blaming the Brandon School Division for this odd designation. As Supt. Marc Casavant told The Brandon Sun yesterday, the division works directly with Manitoba Education and the chief medical officer and takes direction from them. "Manitoba Education creates a reopening of schools plan, and the chief medical officer puts a number of health orders in place that school divisions have to comply with those," Casavant said. "Health orders are legally bound, so the quick answer is I dont see that we have any ability to say no." Its worth reminding readers that Casavant and the whole board were under the obvious impression a week ago when the orange designation was first announced that the school division was also having to follow suit. But thats not how it has worked out, as we learned on Monday. It seems very strange that the province would choose to make such a haphazard use of its own brand new colour-coded system. We do understand that the province believes the Manitoba-wide protocols and restrictions for school divisions should be enough to ensure the safety of our students. Clearly not all parents in our region are convinced of that fact just yet, though Roussin attempted to clarify why the Brandon School Division is under the yellow designation during his press conference yesterday. As reported in todays paper, Roussin said the goal of the colour levels is to target the epidemiology of an area. The province raised the level to orange in Brandon because of a number of rising indicators and that the epidemiology indicated a lot of those were related to large-group gatherings. "Thats why we tailored it on the large-group gatherings, to reduce gathering sizes. But we didnt apply the order to any other sector," he told media yesterday. The pandemic response system document states what may occur at the orange level, but only if a provision in the document is implemented and the province has not done so. The only aspects of the orange level the province moved on are group sizes and mandatory masks. In the same way that Code Orange does not fall on "restaurants, retail and any other sector," the province decided not to apply the same restrictions to schools. What Roussin did not explain, however, was why this was not stated from the very beginning when the orange designation was first announced for the health region. That lack of clarity has caused a real problem in the region as media, educators, health professionals, business owners and ordinary citizens attempt to make sense of the new restrictions. We also suggest that even with this explanation parents will remain largely confused about why their child will be under an orange restriction on a city playground, and a yellow restriction on the school ball diamond just a few streets over. What we do know, at least, is that the city of Brandon has the dubious distinction of having all three of the worst colour designations in the province under the pandemic response system red, yellow and orange. Just dont try to explain it to anyone. By Aparajita Ghosh, TwoCircles.net Mumbai: As the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the country and access to healthcare became a challenge, a Muslim doctor Dr Syed Moinuddin Shabbir in Bangalore has been providing free medication at peoples doorsteps. Support TwoCircles I visited a house and saw a family surviving on biscuits and water for a week, Dr Syed Moinuddin Shabbir told TwoCircles.net. Dr Shabbir said that he has been visiting the residents of Bangalore since the very beginning of COVID-19 lockdown in March. The 46-year-old doctor is Vice Principal at Santosh Group of Institution and works as Lab Head Operations at Santosh Hospital, Bangalore. He had initially started with visiting the residents of Shivajinagar and later extended his services to the residents of Pullikeshinagar and Bharatinagar as well. No transportation to hospitals in lockdown has caused a lot of problems and we observed a spike in blood pressure and diabetes, so we decided to supply basic insulin and medicines, he said. Dr Shabbir self-funds for the insulin shots needed for diabetic patients and other basic medications that people could not avail due to lockdown. Along with Arun Kumar Bhora, a social activist from Bangalore, he has been working on this initiative to take healthcare to peoples doorsteps. The migrants who were stuck in the city were abandoned by their owners and when we reached out to them, we got to know they needed basic essentials too, said Bhora. Then we started to help out the migrants as well. The duo rides a two-wheeler turned into a mobile ambulance with wireless mic and speaker to spread awareness regarding COVID-19 and its symptoms in the by lanes of the city. The lockdown has inspired us to take the step and lend a helping hand to the needy, he said. The duo visits the residents daily delivering groceries and essentials funded by Rotary Bangalore Cantonment at doorsteps. The organisation with the help of local advocates, doctors and other philanthropists of the city has also funded for 10,000 masks and soaps that are delivered into police stations and slums of the area. Mehboobunissa, 48, is a regular patient of Dr Shabbir and could not visit the hospital due to lockdown. He visited me whenever I called him and when I was sick, he treated me with free medications every time, she said. I could not walk because of the pain in my leg. He helped me walk. He is like a godfather to me, she added. As the pandemic was spreading, the number of daily wagers working in the city was observed to be less. The duo decided to visit and got to know that most of them are facing health issues and due to lack of medication they could not resume working. I work for 8 hours in the hospital and later resume to keep a check on the patients on the ambulance for another 5 hours and consult online at night to the home quarantined, he added. Till date, Dr Shabbir has treated nearly 4,000 patients amid the ongoing lockdown. The local police have proactively helped them to cover more than one lakh people and aware them of the virus. In the lockdown, the transgender community was completely neglected and needed essentials and groceries, so we provided them with necessities for a month, said Bhora. The recent communal riot that took place in Bangalore on 11 August has made Dr Shabbirs task a difficult one. He has been visiting several police stations for check up in the lockdown but could not reach since the riot took place in the city. We get calls for groceries and essentials from the riot-hit areas and we tried to sneak in through our mobile ambulance but we could not reach them because of roadblocks, said Bhora. The good Samaritan has delivered ration and essentials to nearly 15,000 needy residents of the city and assures to provide his services to the society until the lockdown uplifts. State-owned power giant on Friday said Ujjwal Kanti Bhattacharya has taken charge as its Director (Projects). "Before appointment as Director (Projects), NTPC, he has worked as MD and CEO (Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company Ltd), Executive Director (International Business Development) and Executive Director (Projects), NTPC," a company statement said. Bhattacharya joined in 1984 as engineering executive trainee, and was initially posted at Korba, which was then situated in Madhya Pradesh, the statement added. He is an Electrical Engineering Graduate from Jadavpur University, Kolkata. He has also completed his PG Diploma in Management from MDI, Gurgaon. Bhattacharya started his career in greenfield project construction, followed by working in the different areas including power plant operation & maintenance and technical services at NTPC Farakka (1,600 MW) in West Bengal. After serving various departments in Farakka, he moved to NTPC Talcher Thermal (450 MW) plant in Odisha. Bhattacharya has significantly contributed to NTPC's vertical and horizontal business diversification as well as growth through inorganic route, as per the statement. He has been at forefront of joint venture (JV) formulation and project conceptualisation for 1,320 MW Maitree Power Project in Bangladesh, the company 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.) Why arent there more African-American filmmakers in the Criterion Collection, the prestigious Blu-ray/DVD archive of cinema from around the world? That was the question the New York Times reporters Kyle Buchanan and Reggie Ugwu set out to answer this month in a report that examined the archive, prized by cinephiles and film schools alike. Of more than 1,000 titles, only six are by African-Americans. The answer came down to the president of the collection, Peter Becker, who ultimately makes the decisions about which features and artists are included. He said he had personal blind spots, and added, The fact that things are missing, and specifically that Black voices are missing, is harmful, and thats clear. We have to fix that. Bigg Boss 13 winner Sidharth Shukla has time and again proved that he has a heart of gold. He recently extended his support to an Acid Attack Survivor by helping raise funds for her online. The actor's kind gesture had his fans take to social media to shower him with love whilst hailing him as 'true inspiration' For the unversed, Sidharth recently shared a post on his Instagram account about a woman who was a victim of an acid attack by her own husband. The actor requested his fans and followers to extend financial aid for her treatment if possible. The post quickly garnered momentum with Sids ardent fans offering help and raising money for her. The actor later thanked his fandom in a tweet for all their help and support. He wrote, Good job guys so proud of you ... thank you for your love and support for the cause hatts off and like they say 'You have not lived a perfect day...unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you. God bless you all (sic). Check out some of the fan reactions garnered by Sidharths post: @Gouthu_Murthy Yayy FINALLY we reached the Set Target Siddy we get repaid, we get their love and blessings in abundance, all that matters in life Thank You for Spreading awareness about this cause and we all are so proud of you as well as ourselves Take care & have a nice day @inikhil16 The support you showed to an acid attack survivor and The Laxmi Foundation is a great example of your humanity and generosity. God bless you @JThakers #ProudToStanSidharth you have always emerged as real hero in real life... your caring and down to earth nature shows that how much you care and love...! (Social media posts are not edited) ALSO READ: Bigg Boss 14: Sidharth Shukla To Be Special Guest In The House? ALSO READ: Sidharth Shukla-Neha Sharma's Dil Ko Karaar Aaya Out: You Can't Take Your Eyes Off This Cute Couple TORRINGTON Among his many responsibilities as director of United Way of Northwest Connecticut, Owen Quinn is chairman of the Torrington Correct Count Committee, focused on making sure everyone has filed a census report. Now, Quinns responsibilities include every town, a recent report on census returns from the Northwest Corner shows. Quinn reports that recent reports on returns show Torrington was at 65.8 percent; Salisbury, 42.7; North Canaan, 49.4; Canaan, 50; Sharon, 47.2; Cornwall, 49.5; Norfolk, 55; Goshen, 57.7; Colebrook, 57.7; Winchester, 60; Hartland, 74.8; and Barkhamsted, 70.3. Also, New Hartford, 68.4; Kent, 51.5; Warren, 55.8; Litchfield, 64.6; Harwinton, 77.1; Burlington, 81.5; Thomaston, 70.6; Morris, 57.6; Washington, 48.1; Sherman, 59.4; Bridgewater, 66.7; and Roxbury, 65.9. These numbers are fluid, Quinn said, as more forms are mailed or completed online or by phone. Torrington is just a smidge behind the states numbers, and thats good, Quinn said. The numbers are what they are. Our goal is to get as many people to file their census report by the deadline, which is Sept. 30. As of Aug. 27, 64.6 percent of U.S. residents have responded to the census. Connecticuts response number is about 68.7 percent. The U.S. Census asks residents nine questions about their households, employment and families. This year, taking the census has been made easier: people can do it online, by mail or by telephone. The U.S. Census Bureau also extended the deadline for people to file responses to Sept. 30, leaving just about a month for states to increase the numbers. Officials said that the more responses the bureau receives and reports to the federal government, the more funding a state receives for social services, infrastructure and education. Quinn and Kevin Shippy, his liaison for Connecticut Census 2020, are working with the Torrington Correct Count Committee to encourage residents in the Northwest Corner to complete their census questionnaire. Since 1790, the U.S. Constitution demands a count of all residents living in the United States, Quinn said. The statistical data collected determines legislative representation in Congress, and how $675 billion in federal funds will be distributed. Thats why Mayor Elinor Carbone asked me, as executive director of the United Way of Northwest Connecticut, to be in charge of the correct count committee, he said. Its important for all of the communities to get as much federal money as they can for people in need. Quinn said that the funding distributed by the federal government determines, for example, money for free and reduced lunch programs for students, money for social service programs for families and the elderly and many other programs. These critical fund represent money that we in northwest Connecticut find ourselves on the losing end of, as opposed to more densely populated areas in the state, he said. So Elinor thought it was important to drum the streets, to get those people who are hard to count - who are invisible, in a sense, included in that count. Federal dollars, Quinn said, support schools, town and city infrastructure and improvement to everything from bridges to buildings, as well as health care programs, and safety nets. It helps provide safety nets for people who are in the ALICE category of the states economy - which stands for Asset Limited Income Constrained Employment, he said. Quinn and Shippey are encouraged by the census results, but there are some outliers that need a push, Quinn said. He pointed out that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Litchfield County is overwhelmed by new arrivals. There are residents who have moved here to a new or secondary home Theyre leaving places like New York City and other areas, and its critical that these families complete the nine census questions, he said. It will affect our local response rate. We want to also make sure that every elected official and state representative is involved in this process, and use every weapon in their arsenal to count every person correctly. Many census responders, according to Shippey, have used the internet to fill out the census questions. Those rates are pretty good, he said. But as the Sept 30 deadline approaches, census employees called enumerators are knocking on doors in areas where responses are low. Weve identified key neighborhoods that are underserved and undercounted, Quinn said. Census workers will be wearing masks and carrying photo ID, and visiting households that havent done the census. According to a statement from Connecticut Census 2020, Census takers are wearing masks and following social distancing guidelines. In most cases, census workers will make up to six attempts at each address to count possible residents this is the same number of attempts we have been planning all along. Further, census takers are expected to visit homes during the originally planned hours between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., local time, including on weekends, to reach more people. Census takers are also calling some households to help them respond to the census, providing one more way to count hard-to-reach communities and people who have not yet responded. Identifying a Census Bureau employee can be done by checking their ID badge, which includes the persons name with a photograph, a Department of Commerce watermark and an expiration date. Employees will also carry an official 2020 census bag and a Census Bureau-issed iPhone. Census takers will not ask for a social security number, bank account or credit card information, political information, money or donations. They will also never ask about your citizenship status, Quinn said. Thats not what this is about. Quinn urged people to get their census done. If youve got the form, mail it back, he said. If youre worried about the virus and having someone come to your home, call. Avoid having an enumerator knock on the door and do it yourself. Quinn stressed that his agency, the United Way, benefits greatly from the data provided by the U.S. Census. Day care centers we support, for example, rely on social service programs. Our school students benefit from the free or reduced lunch programs. The YMCA, homeless shelters, food pantries Based on the number of people in an area, we get essential funds, based on our population. We cant do that if the census doesnt provide the information thats needed, Quinn said. For some people, there are immigration concerns, and postal concerns, and a lot of political rhetoric on both sides of the issue right now, but its not about that, he said. Its about getting people the help they need. Coca-Cola Co. plans to offer early-departure packages to almost 40 per cent of its North American workforce to cut costs amid changes in the soft-drink business. About 4,000 employees in the region will be offered packages with benefits if they agree to leave, the soda maker said in a statement Friday. A similar program will follow in other countries and there will also be an unspecified number of layoffs, the company said. The Atlanta-based corporation is reducing its staff amid continuing challenges for companies selling sugary drinks as consumers cut back on calories. Bottled water also faces new hurdles amid growing environmental concerns. Beverage sales face uncertainty in the months ahead as stadiums remain spectator-free in many countries and bars and restaurants have restricted operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Coca-Cola, which had about 86,000 employees worldwide at the end of last year, also said it plans to reorganize its business, including creating new operating units for regional and local operations that will work with category marketing teams. The company will reduce the number of its units to nine from 17, and expects the global severance programs to result in expenses of about $350 million (U.S.) to $550 million. The shares rose one per cent to $48.70 at 9:35 a.m. in New York. They had dropped 13 per cent this year through Thursdays close, as the Standard & Poors 500 Index gained 7.9 per cent. Large companies across sectors have announced tens of thousands of job cuts in recent weeks after economies emerged from shutdowns to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, from global airlines to Boeing Co. and Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. Coca-Cola chief executive officer James Quincey said in an earnings call last month that he expected the global economy to take two or three years to recover. Read more about: NMDC jumped 12.29% to Rs 107.8 after the board approved to the proposal to demerge its NMDC Iron & Steel Plant in Nagarnar, Chhattisgarh. The board of directors of the company in their meeting held on 27 August 2020, accorded in-principle approval to the proposal to demerge its NMDC Iron & Steel Plant (NISP) at Nagarnar in Chhattisgarh, the company said in an exchange filing. The media reported that the demerger of the steel plant would reduce the stress on its parent company's balance sheet. NMDC has been funding the plant from its internal accruals. But now any additional funding for the steel plant would be funded by the demerged entity, the reports added. Meanwhile, NMDC reported 54.67% slide in net profit to Rs 531.01 crore on 40.67% fall in total income to Rs 2,009.27 crore in Q1 June 2020 over Q1 June 2019. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 27 August 2020. NMDC said the COVID-19 had an impact on the operations of the company during the current quarter ended 30 June 2020. There has been a loss of around 18.23 lakh tonne of production and 23.94 lakh tonne of sales of iron ore. EBITDA dropped 58% to Rs 826 crore in Q1 June 2020 from Rs 1,989 crore in Q1 June 2019. EBITDA margin contracted to 43% in Q1 June 2020 from 61% in Q1 June 2019. Profit before tax came at Rs 759 crore in quarter ended 30 June 2020, falling 60% from Rs 1913 crore in quarter ended 30 June 2019. The iron ore production dropped 22% to 66.05 lakh tonnes (LT) from 84.28 LT. The iron ore sales skid 28% to 62.75 LT from 86.69 LT. NMDC is India's single largest iron ore producer, presently producing about 35 million tonnes of iron ore from 3 fully mechanized mines, two located in Chhattisgarh and one in Karnataka. As of 30 June 2020, the Government of India held 69.65% stake in the mining company. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A CEO has revealed the top five traits highly memorable and successful people have in a job interview. Robert van Stokrom, National President of the Recruitment and Consulting Services Association (RCSA) told Australian recruitment company Seek a memorable person often has confidence, curiosity, passion, great communication skills and is proactive with their career. Those who have or adopt these five particular traits are more likely to be remembered by employers after job interviews, in social situations or at work and are more likely to succeed in their careers. A Chief Executive Officer has revealed the top five traits highly memorable people have, including confidence, curiosity, passion, great communication skills and is proactive with their career 1. Confidence, not arrogance Confidence is a memorable asset because it demands attention and assures that the individual is self-reliant, knows what they want and what their skills are. 'A firm handshake, smile, and good eye contact during a greeting are enough to indicate the person you're meeting is confident,' Robert said. Being confident when meeting new people in a social setting or during a job interview is also a great way to make a good first impression. But it's important to remember to be confidence and not arrogant, as arrogance is often frowned upon or undesired and doesn't have the same positive impact as confidence. Confidence is a memorable asset because it demands attention and assures that the individual is self-reliant and knows what their skills or capabilities are 2. Curiosity Being curious demonstrates an eagerness to learn new skills or discover a better alternative way to achieve something, so candidates should never feel shy to ask questions during an interview. This trait can be shown easily by asking questions, listening intently when another person is speaking and showing interest in what they're saying. Being inquisitive will also allow the individual to advance the skills they already have while developing more abilities by acquiring new knowledge. Being curious demonstrates an eagerness to learn new skills or discover a better alternative way to achieve something THE BIGGEST MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE THAT JEOPARDISE THEIR SUCCESS Not speaking up and voicing your opinion during meetings or at work Not asking for what you want and avoid asking for a promotion Focusing on what your weaknesses are rather than strengths and skills Telling yourself 'I can't', 'I won't' or 'maybe another time' rather than 'I will' Lacking self confidence and clarity of what you want to achieve Doubting yourself Not controlling anxious feelings Avoid seeking help from others Never taking action and stepping out of your comfort zone Fearing failure Advertisement 3. Passion Passion is another great quality to have and show during job interviews to demonstrate a strong work ethic and determination to succeed. 'Passion is motivation and energy,' Robert said, adding: 'It shows that a person is driven, is willing to work hard, has ambition, and is eager to learn.' While many often say they're passionate on their resume, it's important to demonstrate this trait during job interviews by giving examples. 4. Be proactive Successful and memorable people are usually proactive at work and in their everyday lives. Being proactive is also a quality recruiters and employers desire to see in potential employees. 'When I meet someone who's self-reliant, has an ability to take charge, is first to act, and responds well to change, I'm nothing short of impressed,' Robert said. Passion is another great quality to have and show during job interviews to demonstrate a strong work ethic and determination to succeed 5. Great communication skills Being a good communicator is not simply about being social, it's also about telling jokes when appropriate, having a good vocabulary and listening to others. 'There's no position in the world in which having a strong ability to listen, understand and then speak clearly isn't a positive thing,' Robert said. Having great communication skills will also give individuals the ability to respond properly, ultimately leading to becoming more memorable and developing their career further. COVID-19 has disrupted almost everything. Most schools in the United States wrapped up the 2019-2020 school year with zero students in their buildings, hoping to slow the spread of the virus. Distance learning is the new normal -- something deployed quickly with little testing, opening up students to a host of new problems, technical glitches, and in-home surveillance. Zoom replaced classrooms, online products replaced teachers, and everything became a bit more dystopian, adding to the cloud of uncertainty ushered in by the worldwide spread of a novel virus with no proven cure, treatment, or vaccine. Schools soon discovered Zoom and other attendance-ensuring options might be a mistake as miscreants invaded virtual classrooms, distributing sexual and racist content to unsuspecting students and teachers. These issues have yet to be solved as schools ease back into Distance Learning 2.0. Then theres the problem with tests. Teachers and administrators have battled cheating students as long as testing has existed. Now that tests are being taken outside of heavily controlled classrooms, software is stepping in to do the monitoring. Thats a problem. Its pretty difficult to invade someones privacy in a public school, where students give up a certain amount of their rights to engage in group learning. Now that learning is taking place in students homes, schools and their software providers seem to feel this same relinquishment of privacy should still be expected, even though the areas theyre now encroaching on have historically been considered private places. As the EFF reports, testing is now being overseen by Professor Big Brother and his many, many eyes. All of this is in place just to keep students from cheating on tests: Recorded patterns of keystrokes and facial recognition supposedly confirm whether the student signing up for a test is the one taking it; gaze-monitoring or eye-tracking is meant to ensure that students dont look off-screen too long, where they might have answers written down; microphones and cameras record students surroundings, broadcasting them to a proctor, who must ensure that no one else is in the room. Mass biometric surveillance has finally come home. Like equally intrusive productivity software used by employers with work-at-home employees, this proctoring software treats peoples private spaces like classrooms. What would be upsetting to adults is targeting minors. And, unlike company employees who may have the option to pull the plug on their employment rather than be subjected to this, students generally dont have this kind of flexibility. For many, its either this school (and its spyware) or nothing. All this data and content being gathered on minors is subject to almost no public oversight. The software deployed by schools demands tons of personal info from students before it can even be used by them. And thats just the beginning of the invasive data collection. As the EFF points out, some school software collects additional info, such as computer and software information. Other log URLs visited and how long students stay on certain sites or web pages. Its unclear what happens to all this information proctoring companies are gathering on minors. But there doesnt appear to be anything preventing them from using this information however they please. Some companies, like ProctorU, have no time limits on retention. Some of this information they share with third parties. And when student data is provided to the proctoring company by an educational institution, students are often left without a clear way to request that their data be deleted because they arent considered the datas owner. Even if you can ignore the dystopian mass biometric collections targeting minors, youre left with the logistic issues. Some schools/software may think theyve caught a cheater when all theyre really "caught" is someone struggling with a less-than-ideal internet connection or dealing with compatibility issues. Or maybe the perceived "cheating" is nothing more than uncooperative siblings wandering into rooms where testing is taking place. Granted, controlling off-campus testing to limit cheating is a noble goal. Its also an impossible one. Schools havent eliminated cheating in environments they completely control. The tradeoff here doesnt appear to be acceptable. Students are being asked to give up a whole lot of privacy in exchange for minimal gains in remote testing integrity. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on August 27 asked ministries and agencies to closely monitor and accelerate granting of visas to foreign experts and investors. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on August 27 asked ministries and agencies to closely monitor and accelerate granting of visas to foreign experts and investors. At a meeting with representatives from a number of ministries, agencies and localities, the Government leader proposed resuming commercial flights to certain countries with high COVID-19 safety indexes, stressing the need to seek all possible ways to support the national economy. He urged the Ministry of Finance to coordinate with the Ministry of Health in devising a plan on COVID-19 treatment fee collection. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to fly home Vietnamese stranded abroad, and bring foreign experts and investors to Vietnam in an appropriate and flexible manner. Great efforts are needed to prevent the spread of the pandemic, and the widespread closures of businesses, as well as unemployment at the same time, the PM emphasised, suggesting extending the social welfare package. If business and production would not be promoted and job issues would not be addressed, high unemployment rate is visible, causing social disorder, the leader warned. He reiterated basic measures in the fight like wearing face masks in public places and avoid mass gatherings, while highlighting international cooperation in vaccine research. The PM cited a survey conducted by the Party Central Committees Commission for Information and Education as saying that 97 percent of the respondents expressed their support for guidelines and measures adopted by the Government, the PM and the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. Phuc lauded efforts in dealing with outbreaks in 15 localities, including Da Nang, Ha Nam, Hai Duong, Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Hoa and Quang Nam. Pointing to the latest local transmission in the northern province of Ha Nam, he asked ministries and agencies, especially the health ministry, to stay vigilant during the combat. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 09:24:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- No new locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases were reported Thursday across the Chinese mainland, the National Health Commission said Friday. A total of nine confirmed cases arriving from outside the mainland were reported Thursday, with four in Sichuan, three in Shanghai and one each in Fujian and Guangdong, the commission said in its daily report. Two new suspected cases, also imported from outside the mainland, were reported in Shanghai. No deaths related to the disease were reported Thursday, the commission said. On Thursday, a total of 45 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery, the commission said. By the end of Thursday, a total of 2,464 imported cases had been reported on the mainland. Of them, 2,271 had been discharged from hospitals after recovery, and 193 remained hospitalized, with four in severe condition. No deaths from the imported cases had been reported. As of Thursday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland had reached 85,013, including 288 patients who were still being treated, with four in severe condition. Altogether 80,091 people had been discharged after recovery, and 4,634 had died of the disease on the mainland, the commission said. There were still three suspected COVID-19 cases on the mainland, it added. According to the commission, 10,040 close contacts were still under medical observation after 1,654 were discharged on Thursday. Also on Thursday, 16 new asymptomatic cases, all from outside the mainland, were reported, and two asymptomatic cases were re-categorized as confirmed ones. The commission said 358 asymptomatic cases, including 313 from outside the mainland, were still under medical observation. Enditem At the heart of it was a desire to offer skeptical voters a reason to give Trump a second look and to convince them the president is better than they believe. The pitch was aimed particularly at suburban women weary of his behavior and upset with his handling of the coronavirus response. The goal was to defend Trumps handling of the pandemic and focus heavily on policies that might persuade wobbly voters that even if they dont like the presidents rough edges, he is worth the vote. The orchestration of the event was handled by a group of former Trump aides and GOP consultants, according to a person involved, including consultant Boyd Wagner and former White House aides Tony Sayegh, Adam Kennedy, Cliff Sims and Steven Cheung. You cant publish one scoop after another just because youve been in the library for a few days, said Dr. Napolitano, a delegate of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences. Thats not the way to work. Its not a historical method. Dr. Kertzer only managed to work a few days in the archives when the coronavirus caused the Vatican to shut its doors, but he continued to research with a Rome-based church historian, Roberto Benedetti. The documents include pages that Dr. Kertzer described as steeped in anti-Semitic language. In one document concerning the 1943 roundup, The Rev. Pietro Tacchi Venturi, a close adviser, proposed that Pius XII tell the Germans there was no need to use violence against Italys Jews because Mussolinis racial laws were sufficient to contain the tiny Jewish minority within its proper limits, Father Tacchi Venturi wrote. One does not understand why and what need there is to return to a question that Mussolinis Government considered already taken care of. Father Tacchi Venturis proposal was dismissed by a memorandum, written by the Rev. Angelo DellAcqua, then an official at the Secretariat of State who went on to become the cardinal for Rome, that sought to convince Pius XII not to lodge a formal protest against the Nazi roundup, but instead to speak of it privately with the German ambassador recommending to him that the already grave situation of the Jews not be aggravated further. Cardinal DellAcqua was also involved in the much-publicized case of the Finaly brothers. The war had left many Jewish orphans in Catholic countries, and on at least two occasions, Jewish leaders had appealed to Pius XII asking for help in ensuring that they be returned to Jewish families. As one document published in 2004 shows, in some instances, church policy had been to resist. The Finaly boys had been secretly baptized, and the church in France had at first actively opposed attempts to give them back to surviving relatives, because the church believed they should be raised in their new faith. BAY CITY, MI Police are investigating the armed robbery of a 7-Eleven in Bay Citys South End. At 1:21 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, police responded to a report of an armed robbery in progress at the 7-Eleven at 1510 Kosciuszko Ave., said Bay City Public Safety Capt. Nathan Webster. By the time officers arrived, the robber had fled on foot. The lone clerk who was in the store told police the robber had brandished a handgun. The robber made off with about $80 and two packs of cigarettes, specifically Newport 100s, Webster said. The clerk was not physically injured in the ordeal, Webster said. The clerk described the suspect as a white man in his 20s, standing 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing about 145 pounds, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants, black sneakers, and a black medical mask covering his nose and mouth. Officers searched the surrounding area, but were unable to locate the suspect, Webster said. Armed robbery is a life offense in Michigan. Police are asking anyone with knowledge of the robbers identity to call them at 989-892-8571. Read more: Woman who robbed Bay City 7-Eleven wearing gas mask gets prison Ypsilanti man accused of robbing 7-Eleven in Bay County Reward offered for masked robber who fired gun in Bay County 7-Eleven A Pakistani court on Wednesday convicted on terror financing charges three associates of a radical cleric wanted by Washington for his role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Two of the militants, Malik Zafar Iqbal and Abdul Salam Bhattvi, were sentenced to five years in jail, while the third, Abdul Rehman Makki, received an 18-month sentence from the court in Lahore, the counter-terrorism department said in a statement. The three men are close associates of Hafiz Saeed, the founder and chief of the outlawed group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was blamed by India for the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people. The three men were found guilty of collecting funds for Saeeds charity organizations, Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Falah-e-Insaniat, which are alleged fronts for Lashkar-e-Taiba and Saeed has been serving a 5 1/2-year prison sentence since February after being convicted of financing terrorism. Biden, Trump Unite in Condemning Riots, Diverge on Solutions News Analysis President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden condemned the riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Aug. 26 but offered different solutions for quelling the unrest. Trump denounced the violence and asked the governor of Wisconsin to deploy the National Guard and accept federal assistance to catch and deter the rioters. Biden suggested that Americans should unite and heal, do justice, end the violence, and end systemic racism in this country now, but omitted any mention of a law enforcement response. The president and his election opponent were both responding to the raging nighttime riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which broke out on Aug. 23 in response to the police-involved shooting of Jacob Blake. Biden said in a recorded statement on Twitter on Aug. 26: As I said after George Floyds murder, protesting brutality is a right and absolutely necessary, but burning down communities is not protest. Its needless violence, violence that endangers lives, violence that guts businesses, and shutters businesses that serve the community. Thats wrong. In the midst of this pain, the wisest words that Ive heard spoken so far have come from Julia Jackson, Jacobs mother. She looked at the damage done in her community and she said this: This doesnt reflect my son or my family. So lets unite and heal, do justice, end the violence, and end systemic racism in this country now. On the night prior to Bidens statement, Trump had called on Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers to call in the National Guard. After briefly declining the assistance, Evers deployed 1,000 National Guard service members and accepted the White Houses offer of more than 200 federal law enforcement personnel. The White House issued a statement condemning the violence. President Trump condemns violence in all forms and believes we must protect all Americans from chaos and lawlessness, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement. This is why he is encouraging Democrat Governors to request the National Guard and federal law enforcement to augment their local law enforcement efforts. The breakout of the violence in Kenosha coincided with the first night of the Republican National Convention on Aug. 24, serving as an active example of the riots condemned by Republican speakers who blamed Democrats for turning a blind eye to the violence. In much of the Democratic Party, its now fashionable to say that America is racist, former Ambassador Nikki Haley said on the first night of the GOP convention. That is a lie. America is not a racist country. America is a story thats a work in progress. Now is the time to build on that progress, and make America even freer, fairer, and better for everyone. Thats why its tragic to see so much of the Democratic Party turn a blind eye toward riots and rage. The Biden campaign didnt respond to a request for comment. Biden and Trump had previously united in condemning the violence that broke out in response to the police custody death of Floyd on May 25. In that case, the two 2020 candidates diverged on the use of law enforcement to address the riots. After the first night of violence, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 27, Trump threatened to send in the National Guard to suppress the riots, called the violent agitators thugs, criticized the citys Democratic mayor, Jacob Frey, and asked him to get his act together and bring the city under control. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, activated the National Guard on the same day and said the situation in Minneapolis is no longer, in any way, about the murder of George Floyd. It is about attacking civil society, instilling fear, and disrupting our great cities. Two days later, Biden issued a lengthy statement on Floyds death. The Democratic presidential nominee encouraged the protests, but didnt condemn or mention the riots, vandalism, looting, and arson gripping Minneapolis. It is the duty of every American to grapple with itand grapple with it now. With our complacency, our silencewe are complicit in perpetuating these cycles of violence, Biden said. We must commit, as a nation, to pursue justice with every ounce of our being. We have to pursue it with real urgency. We have to make real the American promise, which we have never fully grasped: That all men and women are not only equal at creation, but throughout their lives. On May 31, after the riots had raged in cities across the nation for five nights, Biden condemned the violence. He called for an end to violence, but unlike Trump, didnt encourage a law enforcement response. He instead suggested that he would work toward racial equality as president. 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, Biden said. We must and will get to a place where everyone, regardless of race, believes that to protect and serve means to protect and serve them. Only by standing together will we rise stronger than before. More equal, more just, more hopefuland that much closer to our more perfect union. Antifa Democrat politicians have generally avoided condemning the riots, vandalism, looting, and arson associated with the protests led by the Black Lives Matter movement. The issue is thorny because violent agitators, many under the general umbrella of the Antifa anarcho-communist group, have systematically hijacked peaceful protests. Trump has said his administration intends to designate Antifa as a terrorist organization, but the promise hasnt materialized. Antifas cells are horizontally organized and employ sophisticated operational security, complicating both prosecution and formal designation. Biden appears to have never publicly mentioned Antifa by name. Breast milk strengthens a child's immune system, supporting the intestinal flora. These facts are common knowledge. But how does this work? What are the molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon? And why is this not possible the same way with bottle feeding? The reasons were unknown until a team from the RESIST Cluster of Excellence at Hannover Medical School (MHH) recently discovered how alarmins are that mechanism in a project involving the University of Bonn. The results have been pre-published online in the medical journal Gastroenterology. The paper will soon be appearing in print. "Alarmins are the 'gold' in breast milk. These proteins prevent dangerous intestinal colonization disorders that can lead to blood poisoning and intestinal inflammation," relates Team Leader Prof. Dr. Dorothee Viemann of the Hannover Medical School (MHH) Clinic for Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology. The post-natal intestinal immune system, i.e. intestinal flora and mucosa, mature through interaction with bacteria in the environment. This gives rise to optimal bacteria diversity which lasts a lifetime, affording protection against many diseases. "Alarmins control this adaptation process," explains Professor Viemann, whose research has revealed that these peptides and proteins both derive from breast milk and arise in the child's intestinal tract. The process of labor plays a role in this, as infants born via planned C-section exhibit lower levels of alarmins than vaginally-born infants. Additionally, premature infants are less capable of producing alarmins themselves than full-term infants. Such individuals are thus more prone to suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases. For this research work, supported in part by the Volkswagen Foundation as part of the "Off the Beaten Track" initiative and by the RESIST Cluster of Excellence, the team measured alarmin concentration in infant stool samples in the first year of life to study the effect thereof on the development of the intestinal flora and mucosa. "Supplementation with these proteins could support the development of newborns which do not produce enough alarmins or get enough in breast milk. That could prevent a range of long-term conditions linked to intestinal colonization disorders, such as chronic intestinal inflammation and obesity," says Professor Viemann. This statement is supported by the observation, among others, that a single administration of alarmins in the mouse model affords protection against poor colonization and associated diseases. Now building upon their findings, the RESIST researchers are planning further preclinical work, as well as clinical study at a later stage. The lead authors are Maike Willers of the MHH and Dr. Thomas Ulas of the University of Bonn. "Our contribution was performing all bioinformatic preprocessing and analysis of the genetic data of the totality of all microorganisms derived from infant stool samples, which gave information about the composition of and possible imbalances in the intestinal flora," said Dr. Ulas of the LIMES Institute ("LIfe and MEdical Sciences") at the University of Bonn. Mathematical modeling, he explained, was crucial in enabling the scientists to demonstrate that alarmins significantly impact the development of the intestinal flora. RESIST: Research to Help the Weakest Among Us The RESIST (Resolving Infection Susceptibility) Cluster of Excellence led by the MHH is comprised of roughly 45 research teams whose work is focused on a common goal: to better protect those highly susceptible to infection, such as newborn infants. RESIST members include hospital physicians who are highly familiar with the situation of patients and fundamental research scientists who study pathogens and their interaction with the immune system in all possible detail. There are six RESIST partner institutions and the organization's spokesperson is Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Director of the MHH Institute of Virology. RESIST receives funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG). Further information about RESIST is available online at: http://www.RESIST-cluster.de ### Publication: S100A8 and S100A9 are Important for Postnatal Development of Gut Microbiota and Immune System in Mice and Infants, Gastroenterology, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2020.08.019 Press contact: Prof. Dr. Dorothee Viemann Clinic for Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology Hannover Medical School Phone +49 511 5327823 Email: viemann.dorothee@mh-hannover.de Dr. Thomas Ulas LIMES Institute University of Bonn Phone: +49 228 43302641 Email: t.ulas@uni-bonn.de The current era of cancel culture is upon us. From former Senator Al Franken, to Ellen Degeneres and Amy Cooper, people everywhere are having their lives upended because they violated the current social taboos of their community. Of course, such communal forms of control through shaming and shunning are nothing new to our shores they were a staple of the Puritanism of our early Pilgrims and are today quite common in many religious communities. While these tactics can serve a purpose in shepherding more individualistic societies, they can also easily descend into mob-like forms of vigilante justice. But why this current ascendance of cancellation from the left? Today, progressives are extremely frustrated and enraged. They still cant believe that Donald Trump was elected president; its a hard pill to swallow after the promise of the Obama era. Whats even more frustrating is the fact that he has remained, for the most part, untouchable. This, despite the Mueller Report, which didnt lead to an indictment but, as Robert Mueller himself doubled down on, didnt exonerate him either. Trump remained untouchable even after being impeached by the House and through the Southern District of New Yorks investigations into him and his associates. The list goes on. Trump has done everything in his power and even beyond it to poke his finger in the eye of progressives. Whether its by dismantling every environmental regulation, filling the federal court benches with right-wing activist judges, sometimes seeming to fan the flames of white supremacy, attacking racial equality efforts, disenfranchising minority voters and sabotaging every multilateral treaty that he can, is making the left feel insanely impotent. Top that off with Trumps blatant disregard for the truth, vilification of mainstream media, and proclivity to stoke deep state, QAnon conspiracy theories all the while mismanaging the worst public health crisis the world has seen in a century and you can begin to understand their uncontrollable rage. So, what have progressives done in response? In fact, theyve done many things, including helping to mobilize some of the largest protest marches in the history of our country against misogyny and racism. But they, not unlike the Puritans, have also turned on themselves, and in doing so, they got tight. Meaning, more conforming, rigid and constraining. In her fascinating book, Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: Tight and Loose Cultures and the Secret Signals That Direct Our Lives, psychologist Michele Gelfand tells the story of how national and subgroup cultures differ in the degree to which they are tight or loose. Extremely tight cultures, like those found in Pakistan, Malaysia and Singapore, have very clear and strict rules, norms and taboos for social behavior. When members of their society deviate from the rules, theyre often met with harsh sanctions from other citizens similar to our online cancel culture today. Looser cultures on the other hand, like in Brazil, Greece and New Zealand, may also have rules, but citizens see them more as guidelines or suggestions, and allow much more room for social deviance and individual expression. What is particularly interesting about Gelfands research is what she learned about how tightness develops within a group or culture. Her studies suggest that tightness comes from living under prolonged states of threat and attack. Nations that have suffered repeatedly throughout their history from either alien invasion from other groups, or even from natural disasters tend to become much tighter, mostly out of necessity. When under threat, groups often find that they need to get in sync coordinate and communicate more efficiently and effectively in order to survive. This is precisely why military units across the globe have clear rules, tight norms and often brutal sanctioning regimes for rule-breakers. They need stringent standards in order to survive. Read the whole story: The Hill By Ayya Lmahamad Italy was Azerbaijans main trading partner in the period between January and July 2020, the State Customs Committee has reported. The trade turnover with Italy accounted for $3.7 billion out of Azerbaijans overall trade turnover of $15 billion in the first seven months of the year. According to the report, the volume of Azerbaijans trade turnover with Italy amounted to $3.1 billion. At the same time, amount of export to Italy amounted to $933.2 million. Turkey was Azerbaijans second trade partner in 2020 with $2.5 billion-trade turnover followed by Russia with the trade turnover of $1.5 billion. Italy was Azerbaijans top trade partner in 2019 as well with the mutual trade turnover amounting to $7 billion. It should be noted that Italy is one of Azerbaijans main trade partners in the world 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 accounting for 17 percent of crude oil consumption in Italy. Italy has so far invested $770 million in Azerbaijans economy, while Azerbaijan's investments in Italian economy amount to $1.7 billion. 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. Meanwhile, imports amounted to $5.9 billion, which is 38.54 percent from the total volume of foreign trade. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz An Accra Circuit Court has asked a 30-year-old musician to pay a fine of GH2,400.00 for stealing items valued GH167.87, belonging to Shoprite Company. In default, David Ike, an Australian would serve a three-month jail term. He denied the charge but was found culpable after the trial Ike is also facing trial in a different court over alleged use of a narcotic drug without authority. The convict in his defence told the Court he picked the items and was going to pay but he was told the place had closed. In sentencing, Justice Mrs Ruby Naa Aryeteey, a High Court Judge sitting as an additional Circuit Court Judge considered the facts that he was in custody for two years. Besides, all the stolen items were retrieved, the cost, Ike being a foreigner and having no fixed place of abode. Police Inspector Samuel Ahiabor told the Court that the complainant is a security guard at the West Hills Mall located at Weija whilst Ike had no fixed place of abode. On August 8, 2018, at about 2000 hours, whilst customers were shopping at the Mall, the convict also entered the Shoprite section of the Mall and picked a bag, where he loaded it with pieces of Cring Crackers biscuit, one medi-soft soap, two pieces of Lindor chocolate, two sets of Floral tissue, underwear, two plastic bottles of Voltic water, one packet of Burger peanuts and a bag, all valued GH167.85. He said Ike did not pay and walked out of the shop but he was apprehended by the said security man who asked him to produce receipts covering the items. Inspector Ahiabor said after failing to provide the receipt, he was then handed over to the policeman at post and a search on him revealed one wrap of a substance suspected to be a narcotic drug. He was re-arrested by the New Weija Police together with the exhibit for investigations. Inspector Ahiabor said in his cautioned statement, Ike admitted the offences whilst the exhibit was sent to the forensic laboratory for 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 John Pennington, of Walton, Ky., told his Facebook followers about being told to leave Canada after he stayed in the country during its travel ban. A Kentucky man traveled to a Canadian resort for some fun during the pandemic. Instead, he got a visit from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for violating Canada's Quarantine Act and now faces big fines and possible jail time. John Pennington, 40, of Walton, Kentucky, was fined $1,200 on June 25 after staff at a Banff hotel called the police saying they believed the U.S. citizen was violating COVID-19 quarantine laws. He could also face a fine of up to $750,000 or six months in jail. Pennington could not be immediately reached for comment. Americans are not allowed into Canada. But many have used a loophole to travel through Canada on the way to and from Alaska. Fewer than 10,000 Canadians have died from COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University data. More than 180,000 people in the U.S. have died. RCMP attended the hotel and as a result of their investigation, they found a second individual in his presence, a female from Calgary, and found him to be breaching the requirements to quarantine while he traveled through Alberta, so he was issued a ticket under the Alberta Public Health Act, said RCMP Cpl. Tammy Keibel in Calgary. Pennington, who calls himself Mister Collagen on social media, told his Facebook followers about the incident in a video on June 26. His page includes weight loss tips and motivational quotes. As of Tuesday, more than 2,000 people had watched the video of Pennington explaining the incident. He flew to Seattle and traveled to Canada and Alaska, he said in the video. He added that he didn't understand why police visited his hotel room after he was approved by border patrol. Local police didn't stop him and the hotel allowed him to check in. "I thought I was good to go," he said in the video. He added that he would have understood if the hotel told him he wasn't allowed to stay when he booked the room. In the comments, someone asked him how he was able to pass border patrol. He said he told patrol officers that he was traveling for "transit purposes," adding a winky emoji. Story continues In July, Canada implemented strict rules about Americans entering the country who say they are headed to Alaska. The Canada Border Services Agency only allows such travelers to enter at one of five crossings: Abbotsford-Huntingdon (British Columbia), Kingsgate (British Columbia), Osoyoos (British Columbia), Coutts (Alberta) and North Portal (Saskatchewan). Drivers are allowed a reasonable period of stay to make the transit and are limited to travel within Canada using the most direct route to Alaska. They are barred from driving through national parks, leisure sites and tourism locations, and receive a hang tag for their rear-view mirror indicating the date they must depart Canada. Keibel said officers received a second complaint about the Kentucky man the next day when someone spotted a car with American plates in a parking lot near the gondola to Sulphur Mountain. They located Mr. Pennington up on Sulphur Mountain. As a result of him again allegedly being in violation of the quarantine through his travels, there was some consultation with a quarantine officer in Calgary and the decision was made to charge Mr. Pennington under the federal Quarantine Act, Keibel said. He was arrested and subsequently released for a court date in November. Keibel said she was not aware of any other charge under the Quarantine Act. She said those violating the rules are given strict instructions and Pennington had received a warning after his initial ticket. You dont expect it. You would hope people would follow the direction provided and comply with the laws in place, especially after it was made clear what the expectations are, she said. Keibel said Pennington was escorted out of the park boundaries and told to continue on his journey. 3 things I wish I had known before traveling to stay in a 4 Star Resort & treated like a criminal in the middle of the night Posted by John Pennington on Friday, June 26, 2020 Julia Fair is the Northern Kentucky government reporter through the Report For America program. Anonymous donors pledged to cover the local donor portion of her grant-funded position with The Enquirer. If you want to support Julia's work, you can donate to her Report For America position at this website or email her editor, Carl Weiser, at cweiser@cincinna.gannett.com to find out how you can help fund her work. Do you know something she should know? Send her a note at jfair@enquirer.com and follow her on twitter at @JFair_Reports. Don't miss any Northern Kentucky news and sign-up for the NKY.com newsletter here This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kentucky man faces fine, jail for violating Canada's Quarantine Act Agartala/Aizawl/Guwahati, Aug 29 : As the deadly coronavirus continued to spread across the northeast, Mizoram on Friday became the latest state in the region to see its tally cross the 1,000 case mark, while Tripura surpassed the 10,000-mark. Mizoram, however, is the only state in India where there is no death reported so far due to the contagious virus. According to Mizoram Health and Family Welfare Department officials, with 29 more cases detected in the past 24 hours, the tally went up to 1,003 while 514 people have recovered from the disease. Of the 1,003 Covid-19 positive cases, including 175 women, 33.33 per cent belong to Central Para-Military Forces and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). After Assam, Tripura with 10,417 Covid-19 positive cases become the second most affected state among the eight northeastern states. With 93 deaths due to the coronavirus, Tripura's mortality rate is 0.89 per cent against Assam's 0.28 per cent. In Tripura, 7,037 people recovered from the disease while there 3,284 active cases as on Friday night. National Health Mission (NHM) officials in Assam said that so far 98,807 people tested positive for the virus and 286 among them died. Of the total cases, 19,211 are active, 79,307 people have recovered and three migrated out of the state. NHM officials also said that the number of recovered patients in Assam is 3.8 times the number of active patients. The state's recovery rate is 80.26 per cent. Meanwhile, with rising coronavirus cases, lockdown was re-imposed in Barak Valley region in southern Assam comprising three districts - Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj - from August 27 to September 4. The Barak Valley region, the gateway to Tripura, Mizoram and western Manipur, would also remain in lockdown on September 5 and 6, as Assam observes a weekend (Saturday and Sunday) lockdown. In Shillong, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said that it was decided to re-open several important tourist spots including Ward's Lake, Lum Nehru Park and Elephant Falls from September 1 for local tourism in accordance with health protocols and standard operating procedures laid down by the government. Meghalaya so far registered 2,202 Covid-19 positive cases. The hill state has 1,272 active cases and nine patients have succumbed to the infection so far. In Imphal, Manipur Health and Family Welfare Department's Additional Director Khoirom Sasheekumar Mangang said that the state so far registered 5,843 positive cases, including 1,511 belonging to Central Para-Military Forces. So far, 27 people have died. Covid-19 cases are also rapidly rising in the three remaining northeastern states - Nagaland (3,784 cases, nine deaths), Arunachal Pradesh (3,633 cases, five deaths) and Sikkim (1,542 cases, three deaths). Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer, amid Black Lives Matter rallies early this summer, was consistently supportive of the right to protest peacefully. Despite some demonstrators turning to rioting on May 31, Schmaderer told The World-Heralds Henry Cordes that he knew police also could have handled some things better. He vowed to conduct a thorough review which we still await and make appropriate changes. It seemed inconsistent, then, that at the end of a peaceful protest July 25, police arrested 120 people en masse, kettling marchers on the Farnam Street bridge over Interstate 480. At least one was roughed up, after riding his bike toward officers. Police chose to book everyone at the county jail, which led to a real mess complicated by a computer glitch. Some demonstrators, charged with nothing more than obstructing a public passage, were held for 24 hours at the jail, which was struggling with a COVID-19 outbreak. Ultimately, the city attorney decided to pursue charges against only 30 people, mostly on misdemeanors. So it is wise that Schmaderer has established a policy moving away from mass arrests. Officers now must tell exactly what that person did that violated the law to make an arrest, Mayor Jean Stothert said. Cambridge has been named as the best place for students to work and live in the U.K. on completing their studies, according to a list compiled by a graduate careers app. With working from home having become the norm for many due to the coronavirus pandemic, finding your first job as a graduate may be a search that no longer has to be isolated to a big city like London. In fact, Debut found the U.K. capital came in 39th place in a ranking of Britain's best towns and cities for college graduates. Debut ranked the U.K.'s 50 most populated towns and cities based on how they scored on seven factors: average salary, monthly living costs, average rent for a one bed property, employment rate, percentage of the population aged 18-25, number of pubs and bars per 10,000 people, and the number of restaurants per 100,000 people. The graduate recruitment app used existing data from the likes of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and property website Zoopla to give each location an overall average score out of 100. The average salary, collected from ONS's 2019 data, was given a double weighted score. So, while London had the highest average salary of 36,797 ($48,910), it also had the largest average monthly living cost of 827.99 and the steepest monthly rent rate of 1,930. Cambridge claimed the top spot, partly thanks to its high rate of employment, with more than four-fifths of its population in a job. The city in eastern England also had the second-highest average salary, at 34,565. Living costs were also slightly more bearable than in the capital, at 707.85 a month and rent at 713. Its university rival Oxford came in second place on Debut's list, with an average annual paycheck of 31,472. It typically costs 702.41 to live in the city in central southern England and 761 to live in a one-bed home. There may be some out there who say George W. Bush's presidency was not marked by diplomacy. But if you talk to former Bush family cook Matthew Wendel, he'd give you a different perspective. Wendel did not cook for the Bush family in the White House. That was handled by White House chefs. But when the president and his family visited or brought world leaders to Camp David or Prairie Chapel Ranch, it was his cheeseburgers the Bush family most loved to serve to the likes of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Saudi Arabian Ambassador Prince Bandar bin Sultan, and Mexican President Vicente Fox. Though he cooked for the Bushes at many important occasions, he would never call himself a "chef," he writes in a new book from the White House Historical Association. Chefs are classically trained. Matthew Wendel just makes food people like to eat -- which is part of the book's title, "Recipes from the President's Ranch: Food People Like to Eat." They're also easy to make, like his "Sunday Night Stacked Cheese Enchiladas," a Bush family favorite. Before he was cooking up Gulf Shrimp for President Fox or teaching Chancellor Merkel how a Texas BBQ pit works, he was just a regular caterer from the heart of Midland, Texas. The Bush family loved his work so much, which he first did for George W. Bush's 1995 gubernatorial campaign events in Texas, they asked him to work for them. He was with the family through the 2000 election and declined to work at the White House itself. "Food people like to eat," is taken from how former First Lady Laura Bush's mother described Wendel's cooking. So while he would be on hand to cook for the first family at their ranch or at Camp David, he wasn't cooking up formal state dinners. In 2007, President Bush hosted Queen Elizabeth II for a formal state dinner, with a menu that included spring pea soup with American caviar, Dover sole almondine, saddle of spring lamb with chanterelle sauce, arugula salad with champagne dressing and farmhouse cheese, and for dessert, meringue and spun-sugar rose blossoms. This is not how the menu went for Matthew Wendel at the family's Prairie Chapel Ranch northwest of Crawford,Texas. There, the Bushes were more likely to serve sweet and spicy mashed sweet potatoes, green chili mac and cheese and Matty's fried chicken -- a recipe Wendel received from his mother and served to French President Nicolas Sarkozy. As for the diplomatic cheeseburger, nothing could be simpler. Just add 3.5 tablespoons of your favorite sweet and smoky barbecue sauce to lean ground beef and serve with extra-sharp cheddar on a toasted bun, just how the former First Lady likes it. Just don't make it too thick, she'd caution. The face you make when you're about to get your favorite cheeseburger with the British Prime Minister. (White House photo by Eric Draper) Wendel's cheeseburger was at the first official meeting between President Bush and former U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Camp David in July 2007, so it will probably work for your home functions as well. -- 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. Trinidad, Aug 28 : The spinners, led by an evergreen Mohammad Nabi, helped St Lucia Zouks to a convincing six-wicket win over the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in Match 15 of the ongoing Caribbean Premier League. Daren Sammy's side dominated Thursday's contest right from the get go, restricting the Patriots to a paltry score of 110/9; and chased down the target within 15 overs to consolidate their position towards the top of the table. Batting first, Patriots didn't have any answer against Nabi as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Alzarri Joseph, however, played a useful cameo in the end, as his team got 37 runs off the final three overs to end with a score of 110/9, giving them a bleak chance of defending it in the second innings. Nabi was pick of the bowlers as he returned with figures of 5/15 in his 4 overs. Zouks then chased down the total riding on the knocks from Roston Chase (27) and Najibullah Zadran (33) in 14.4 overs. Meanwhile, Trinbago Knight Riders also continued their dominance in the CPL, bowling and fielding superbly to blow away the Guyana Amazon Warriors top order and completing what could have been a tricky chase on a slow pitch with time to spare in the other game of the day. Batting first, Warriors posted 115/3 in their alloted 20 overs, riding on 28 not out from Keemo Paul. Shimron Hetymer and Ross Taylor also contributed with 26 runs each and helped their team reach a respectable total. However, Riders didn't find any difficulty in chasing down the target as their rode on unbeaten knocks of 39 and 28 from Tim Seifert and Darren Bravo respectively and got past the finishing line with 10 balls to spare. Brief scores: St Lucia Zouks 111/4 (Najibullah 33; Imran 3/23) beat St Kitts & Nevis Patriots 110/9 (Dunk 33; Nabi 5/15) by 6 wickets Brief scores: Trinbago Knight Riders 115/3 (Seifert 39; Tahir 2/25) beat Guyana Amazon Warriors 112/7 (Paul 28; Pierre 3/18 by 7 wickets WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump delivered a scathing and wholesale attack on Democrat Joe Biden and fiercely defended his stewardship of a nation buffeted by historic crises on Thursday night, appealing to voters for a second term in an election he said would either preserve or destroy the "American way of life." In formally accepting the Republican presidential nomination from the South Lawn of the White House, Trump cast himself as an insurgent rather than the incumbent he is, railing against Biden as eminence of "the failed political class." He blamed the former vice president and his Democratic Party for the nation's chronic socioeconomic problems as well as for the anger and unrest coursing through the country today. "This is the most important election in the history of our country," Trump said. "This election will decide whether we save the American Dream or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny." He added, "Your vote will decide whether we protect law-abiding Americans or whether we give free rein to violent anarchists, agitators and criminals who threaten our citizens. And this election will decide whether we will defend the American way of life or whether we allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it." Trump's speech capped the four-day quasi-virtual Republican National Convention and was delivered against a remarkable and unprecedented tableau - "the People's House" transformed for an evening into a campaign rally site. Trump spoke from a red-carpeted stage adorned with American flags and bookended by massive campaign signage, with the White House's grand portico illuminated against the night sky as his backdrop. After his 70-minute speech, among the longest acceptance speeches in history, fireworks exploded over the National Mall, some of the blasts bearing the president's name, T-R-U-M-P. And as the coronavirus pandemic still rages coast to coast, an estimated 1,500 guests gathered on the South Lawn flouting social distancing recommendations and mostly forgoing face masks - exemplifying the convention's aim to falsely portray the virus as fading away. 3 1 of 3 Washington Post photo by Jonathan Newton Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Washington Post photo by Salwan Georges Show More Show Less 3 of 3 The president punctuated his party's dark, dystopian warnings that Biden is beholden to the far-left wing of the Democratic Party - "a Trojan horse for socialism," he said - and, if elected, would transform America's democracy into something dangerous and sinister. "Joe Biden is not the savior of America's soul; he is the destroyer of America's jobs - and, if given the chance, he will be the destroyer of American greatness," Trump said. Later, invoking Biden's two terms as vice president and nearly four decades in the Senate, Trump added, "We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years. Biden's record is a shameful roll call of the most catastrophic betrayals and blunders in our lifetime. He has spent his entire career on the wrong side of history." Trump's speech came at a moment of piercing pain for a country convulsing anew over continued racial conflict. Sunday's police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, in Kenosha, Wis., reignited mass protests and led to an unprecedented boycott by professional athletes in protest of racial injustice. The agonizing and continuing reckoning over race was only one of the crises Trump confronted in his address. He argued that, despite the wreckage on his watch, he could lead the country out of the pandemic and bring back the tens of millions of jobs lost in the accompanying recession. "Our nation, and the entire planet, has been struck by a new and powerful invisible enemy," Trump said. "Like those brave Americans before us, we are meeting this challenge. We are delivering lifesaving therapies, and will produce a vaccine before the end of the year - or maybe even sooner. We will defeat the virus, end the pandemic and emerge stronger than ever before." By contrast, Trump argued, "Joe Biden's plan is not a solution to the virus, but rather it's a surrender to the virus." Washington Post photo by Jabin Botsford By positioning himself as best equipped to see the country out of this year of catastrophe, Trump reprised a signature argument from his Republican convention address in 2016, when the first-time candidate declared, "I alone can fix it." In that speech four years ago in Cleveland, Trump painted a dire portrait of America as lawless and terrorized, and overrun with immigrants - similar to the one he says Biden would create should he become president. Trump used his speech Thursday to defend his management of the pandemic, which continues to ravage the country for the eighth straight month and has claimed the lives of at least 177,000 people in the United States. The number of deaths and continued spread of cases in this country vastly outpaces every other nation. The Democrats delivered a sustained assault on Trump's handling of the pandemic at their convention last week. Some Republican convention speakers sought this week to counter that argument by asserting that the president did the best he could and saved lives - at times relying on false or misleading claims. Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., both gave forceful rebukes of Trump's handling of the pandemic and of race relations on Thursday, effectively prebutting the president's address in afternoon appearances. Harris delivered a systematic indictment of what she called the president's "catastrophic" mismanagement of the virus. The former prosecutor marshaled evidence as if in a courtroom to argue that Trump had demonstrated "reckless disregard for the well-being of the American people" by failing to take the coronavirus more seriously in January and February. "Instead of rising to meet the most difficult moment of his presidency, Donald Trump froze," Harris said. "He was scared, and he was petty and vindictive." Trailing Biden in most national and battleground-state polls, Trump planned to use his convention appearance not only to galvanize his most loyal supporters but also to attempt to expand his coalition with an appeal to more moderate voters. That includes college-educated White women in suburban areas who helped lift Trump to victory in 2016 but abandoned the Republican Party in the 2018 midterms, and who many of this week's convention messages have targeted. Trump's eldest daughter, Ivanka, a senior White House adviser who is seen by the Trump team as having particular appeal with female voters, introduced her father. Ivanka dubbed Trump "the people's president," claiming that he governs with "common sense" and has been "fighting for you from dawn til midnight, when the cameras have left, the microphones are off and the decisions really count." She gave a full-throated endorsement of his accomplishments and praised him as a bipartisan dealmaker trying to heal the nation - despite his record of partisan acrimony with Congress, a logjammed legislative agenda and repeated efforts to pit groups of people against each other. As seen earlier this week, Thursday's lineup of speakers included several who served as character witnesses seeking to soften Trump's rough edges on issues of race, empathy and compassion. "Many on the other side love to incite division by claiming that President Trump is a racist. They could not be more wrong," said Housing Secretary Ben Carson, the only Black member of Trump's Cabinet. Alice Johnson, who also is Black, delivered one of the convention's more emotional speeches as she described her personal journey in prison, where she served a lifetime sentence until Trump granted her a pardon. "I was once told that the only way I would ever be reunited with my family would be as a corpse," Johnson said. "But by the grace of God and the compassion of President Donald John Trump, I stand before you tonight - and, I assure you, I'm not a ghost. I am alive, I am well, and most importantly, I am free." In his own remarks, Trump declared, "I say very modestly that I have done more for the African American community than any president since Abraham Lincoln, our first Republican president. And I say that I have done more in three years for the Black community than Joe Biden has done in 47 years." The unrest in Kenosha, Wis., has played out all week in a split screen from the Republican convention. Democrats have pointed to the shooting as evidence of systemic racism, and the resulting outpouring of anger and unrest as the consequence of a president who refuses to acknowledge it. A White teenager, Kyle Rittenhouse, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide after two people were killed and another seriously wounded by gunfire at the demonstrations. Republicans, meanwhile, have argued that the protests play in their favor, evidence that "law and order" must be maintained, as Trump has vowed to do. "The more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns, the better it is for the very clear choice on who's best on public safety and law and order," Kellyanne Conway, Trump's departing senior counselor, said Thursday on Fox News Channel. Vice President Mike Pence, in his address Wednesday night to the Republican convention, invoked protests in Kenosha, as well as recent demonstrations in Minneapolis and Portland, Ore., to argue that Biden would "double down on the very policies that are leading to violence in American cities. "The hard truth is you will not be safe in Joe Biden's America," Pence continued. Biden responded Thursday to Pence's charge by noting that the tumult is occurring during Trump's presidency. "The problem we have right now is we're in Donald Trump's America," Biden said in an interview with MSNBC anchor Andrea Mitchell. "What's he doing except pouring gasoline on the fire? This happens to be Donald Trump's America." Trump has said little about the incident in Kenosha. But in his remarks Thursday night, the president warned that a Biden presidency would "demolish the suburbs," "confiscate your guns" and "defund police departments all across America" - even though Biden has not proposed any of these policies. "No one will be safe in Biden's America," Trump said. "If the Democrat Party wants to stand with anarchists, agitators, rioters, looters and flag-burners, that is up to them, but I, as your president, will not be a part of it," Trump added. "The Republican Party will remain the voice of the patriotic heroes who keep America safe and salute the American flag." The stagecraft of Trump's various appearances at this week's convention - especially his formal acceptance speech Thursday night - was designed to leverage the powers of incumbency and showcase him as president. Trump has obliterated the line between governing and campaigning and tested legal boundaries this week, breaking the long-held norm of presidents not using the White House for overt political activities. In a pair of remarkable pretaped scenes that aired as part of the Republican convention's prime-time programming on Tuesday, Trump staged a naturalization ceremony for five new citizens as well as granted a pardon - both instances of the president performing his official duties inside the White House for convention cameras. In addition, first lady Melania Trump used the White House Rose Garden as the backdrop for her convention address Wednesday night. And a number of government officials addressed the convention, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who spoke from Jerusalem, where he was traveling on a taxpayer-funded diplomatic mission. The White House has maintained that these activities have been legally permissible. Whereas Democrats orchestrated an entirely virtual convention, in strict adherence to social distancing and other public health guidelines and with the aim of modeling best practices, the Republican convention was a hybrid between a virtual program and a traditional convention in a packed arena. The marquee Republican speeches were staged before live audiences, including Pence's address Wednesday night from Fort McHenry in Baltimore, where most attendees sat outdoors relatively closely together without wearing masks. Trump's crowd on Thursday was the largest of the week, with an estimated 1,500 people gathered on the South Lawn. The Trump campaign told reporters that the Republican National Committee worked with Patronus Medical, a medical, safety and health company, to institute "proper protocols" in compliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to ensure the safety of attendees. But an overwhelming majority of the attendees were not expected to be tested for the novel coronavirus, and chairs were placed only inches apart in defiance of distancing guidelines. - - - The Washington Post's Josh Dawsey, Chelsea Janes, Felicia Sonmez and John Wagner contributed to this report. Orange County is asking its residents to submit a damage survey in the wake of Hurricane Laura's catastrophic path. While the survey does not guarantee disaster relief assistance, it does give residents an opportunity to request assistance from volunteer organizations. It also gives county agencies the information it needs to potentially request more resources and volunteers. The defence ministry has decided to host the next edition of Aero India -- considered Asia's largest aerospace exhibition -- in Bengaluru in February, notwithstanding the coronavirus pandemic, officials sources said on Friday. IMAGE: IAF advanced light helicopters display team 'Sarang' performs during the 'Aero India' air show at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru. Photograph: Abhishek N Chinnappa/Reuters The ministry took the decision to hold the biennial event as scheduled following inputs from major stakeholders including the domestic defence industry and global aerospace majors, they said. The sources said the main event will be held from February 3-5 while the exhibition will be thrown open for general public on February 6 and 7. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has already held a number of internal meetings including one on Friday on hosting of the mega event in its traditional venue of Yelahanka Air Force station on the outskirts of Bengaluru. "It was decided that the event will be hosted while taking maximum precaution against the coronavirus pandemic," said a source. Since its inception in 1996, Bengaluru has been hosting the event. In the event, the government will showcase India as an attractive destination for investment in the defence manufacturing sector besides highlighting series of initiatives it has taken to promote the domestic industry, the sources said. A number of global defence majors and big investors are expected to participate in the event besides official delegations from several countries, they said. Several leading aerospace companies have already offered to set up manufacturing bases in India provided they get big-ticket contracts. United States aerospace giant Lockheed Martin has already said that it will not sell its newly rolled out F-21 fighter jet to any other country if India places an order for 114 planes. Another aviation major Boeing too has announced that it is ready to set up manufacturing facilities for its F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft if it bags the Indian Air Force contract. It will be the first major global defence event in India after the country unveiled a series of measures like pruning of the import list of weapons systems and increasing the FDI limit from 49 per cent to 74 per cent in defence sector under the automatic route. The government is also taking steps to implement an ambitious policy under which select private firms were to be roped in to produce key military platforms like submarines and fighter jets in India in partnership with global defence majors. On August 9, the defence minister announced that India will stop import of 101 weapons and military platforms like transport aircraft, light combat helicopters, conventional submarines, cruise missiles and sonar systems by 2024. In a related development, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (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 the largest importers of arms globally. According to estimates, the Indian armed forces are projected to spend around $130 billion in capital procurement in the next five years. However, the government now wants to reduce dependence on imported military platforms and decided to support the domestic defence manufacturing. The defence ministry has already set a goal of a turnover of $25 billion (Rs 1.75 lakh crore) in defence manufacturing in the next five years that included an export target of $5 billion (Rs 35,000 crore) worth of military hardware. Progress in fighting the Hennessey Fire yielded two major results Friday: the 4,000 or so people living in the greater Angwin area can return to their homes and St. Helena Hospital announced it would resume seeing patients Saturday after a 10-day closure. Napa County announced at mid-day that mandatory evacuations had been lifted for the ridgetop community of Angwin, home to Pacific Union College, as well as all of Atlas Peak Road outside Napa. On Thursday, evacuation orders were lifted for Deer Park including St. Helena Hospital, with the hospital announcing Friday that it would again be treating patients as of 6:30 a.m. Saturday. Licensed for 151 beds, the hospital will be reestablishing all services, including the Emergency Room which also closed due to the fire danger on Aug. 19, said Linda Williams, the hospitals communications manager. Two regulatory agencies toured the hospital Thursday to verify the hospitals readiness to again treat patients, Williams said. This was likely the first time in over a century that St. Helena Hospital, founded in 1878, had to shut its doors, Williams said. The facilitys proper name is now Adventist Health St. Helena. Without patients to care for, the staff was able to give the facility an intensive cleaning. The hospital has never looked so good. Everything is spic and span, Williams said. The hospitals off-site clinics in Napa, St. Helena and Calistoga had remained open during the fires. Both the Napa-centered Hennessey Fire and the larger, all-encompassing LNU Lightning Complex fires showed little growth overnight, Cal Fire reported Friday morning. The Hennessey Fire grew by a little more than 2,000 acres, and has now blackened a total of 313,536 acres in four counties, Cal Fire said. The fire has been considered 33% contained for the past day, with most growth in Yolo and Lake counties. The northwest tip of the Hennessey Fire, burning just south of Middletown in Lake County, remains the top priority Friday for firefighting efforts on the LNU Lightning Complex fires, Cal Fire officials said. Were going to try and close up this last piece of line down through the area immediately above Angwin and Calistoga and some other communities in Napa County, said Cal Fire Operations Section Chief Chris Waters at a Friday morning briefing. Around the breadth of the Hennessey Fire, Waters said that a lot of repopulation efforts will be taking place and trying to get folks back home. Specifics were not announced. Lightning-caused fires raced through dry chaparral and woodlands starting Aug. 17 before moderating weather and a growing army of firefighters gained the upper hand this week. The LNU Lightning Complex is the second-largest in California history. During peak evacuations, some 17,000 Napa County residents were ordered to evacuate their homes. Evacuations remain in place in many parts of rural Napa County near Lake Berryessa. Cal Fire said it is trying to make sure that it has firm control over burned areas before additional evacuation orders are lifted. The LNU Lightning Complex, which includes several fires in Sonoma County, now totals 371,249 acres and is 35% contained, Cal Fire reported. The fires have destroyed 1,080 structures in five counties, but the count is not complete, Cal Fire reported. Cal Fire said smoke would continue to intrude into the skies over Napa County due to the many fires burning in the region. Air quality was expected to be moderate in Napa on Saturday. Bay City News contributed to this story. Editors Note: Because of the public safety implications of the wildfires, we are providing access to this article free of charge. To support local journalism, please visit https://napavalleyregister.com/members/join/ and consider becoming a member. You can reach City Editor Kevin Courtney at kcourtney@napanews.com or at 707-256-2217. 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. Im not proud of everything here, but Im absolutely proud of the people, he said. It doesnt matter: Black, white, yes we have our problems. There are all of these issues. But the people here love each other and in times like this we band together and help each other. Especially in times like this. Thats why we stay. Mike Steele, a spokesman for Louisianas emergency management office, said it would take time for officials to take stock of the damage in coastal communities where theres only a few routes to get in and out. But by noon Thursday, he said, his office had no reports of entire neighborhoods trapped in floodwaters and in dire need of rescue. Were optimistic that we did better than what was expected. Still, state officials warned that water levels across Louisiana were dangerously high, particularly in Vermilion Parish and southwest Iberia Parish, coastal areas where water levels continued to rise on Thursday afternoon. Aly Neel, a spokeswoman for the Louisiana Department of Health, said there were at least 67 inoperable water systems around the state, some because of power outages but others that were perhaps more seriously damaged, affecting more than 220,000 people. Sheriff Michael Couvillon of Vermilion Parish said officials had expected Hurricane Laura to bring 12 to 18 feet of storm surge to the parishs lowest-lying areas, which faced a mandatory evacuation ahead of the storm. But by Thursday afternoon, Sheriff Couvillon said, the parish saw just half that. God definitely blessed us, he said. YARD STICKS AND TISSUES? De Blasio defends school ventilation tests; MTA threatens services cuts and toll/fare hikes, and Adobe Blues is coming back. (Hot Zone) Posted by Staten Island Advance on Thursday, August 27, 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 Thursday, we talked about how de Blasio commented on videos that showed workers using yardsticks and tissue paper to test school ventilation systems. We also discussed how the MTA said that tolls and fares could increase, with service cuts also possible, if the agency didnt receive $12 billion in federal aid. See the video above for those conversations. In the video below, we talked about how de Blasio said that permission for outdoor dining could be extended past the current stop date of Oct. 31, making some think that there was no possibility that indoor dining would be allowed in NYC before that. And Cuomo said earlier in the day that he was monitoring the situation when it comes to opening shopping malls, indoor dining and movie theaters in New York City. He said the state would make the determination at the appropriate time. Were all in this together. Well all get through this together. New Delhi, Aug 28 : As India and China continues to be in a border dispute deadlock, Beijing has started laying fibre optics cables and installing other equipments for Fifth-generation wireless technology -- commonly known as 5G -- along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Chinese People's Liberation Army troops were also found constructing barracks and other structures near the Pangong Lake. The intelligence agencies flagged that construction for 5G was noticed near Demchok area, one of the disputed sites at LAC, in the first week of August. The agencies noticed installation of equipment for new spectrum bandwidths, laying of fibre optics cables and the development of cellular transmission technology. The agencies also alerted that fresh construction works were seen along the Pangong Lake despite China having stated they will move back. New huts and sheds have come up at Pangong Lake. This is happening even when both the countries are in dialogue for disengagement. The India-China standoff is nearing four months after tensions broke out in early May. While initial disengagement took place in Galwan Valley and Patrol Point 15; Pangong Lake and Gogra-Hot Springs area also known as patrol point 17A remains volatile. At Pangong Lake, China has strengthened their positions between Finger-5 and 8 and India is to take up this move very strongly. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has refused to pull back eastwards from the 8-km stretch it has occupied from Finger-4 to Finger-8 by building scores of new fortifications there since early May. The mountain spurs jutting into the lake are referred to as Fingers in military parlance. As China is not moving back, several rounds of deliberations took place in Delhi to decide the future strategy. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat has also said if talks fail India will think of military options. Frequent meetings have been taking place in the security establishment to review the situation along LAC in Eastern Ladakh. China has made an attempt to change the status quo by putting up shelters and setting up a camp in areas that were under Indian control so far. India has found that the Chinese side has started troop, artillery and armour build-up in three sectors of the LAC -- western (Ladakh), middle (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh) and eastern (Sikkim, Arunachal). Intelligence agencies had also alerted that China has also mobilised soldiers near Uttarakhand's Lipulekh Pass, a tri-junction between India, Nepal and China situated atop the Kalapani Valley. On June 15, as many as 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese troops were killed in a violent clash in the Galwan Valley. (Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who was among the 'group of 23' that wrote to Sonia Gandhi seeking urgent organisational overhaul, has come under attack from some leaders in Kerala, with a senior MP calling him a 'guest artist' and asking him to follow party policies. Hitting out at Tharoor, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee working president and the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha, Kodikkunnil Suresh on Friday said everybody in the party should work according to it's policies and programmes. Suresh's statement created ripples in the state party unit, with many senior leaders voicing concern over the 'bid to weaken Tharoor'. "Shashi Tharoor is certainly not a politician. He came to the Congress party as a guest artist. He is still continuing in the party like a guest artist," said Suresh, who represents Mavelikara constituency in the Lok Sabha. Taking a dig at Tharoor, the former union minister also said 'Tharoor may be a global citizen', but he should not think that he can take any decision or say anything according to his will. "Ultimately, he should follow the party (policies and programmes)", Suresh told reporters here in response to a query. Reacting to Suresh's statement, senior party MLA P T Thomas said the Kerala PCC has clearly stated that the Congress leadership in Kerala stood with the position taken by A K Antony in national politics. 'However, the move to weaken Tharoor under the guise of this is unfortunate. A universal personality like Tharoor should be assessed on the basis of his high renown,' Thomas said in a Facebook post. Kerala PCC vice president V D Satheesan said 'Tharoor is not our enemy'. Describing the ex-United Nations official a leader with global footprint, Satheesan said Tharoor is 'our dear MP who could trounce the Fascist forces thrice' in Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat. 'The CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) and the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) are our enemies," he said. Satheesan also said the political affairs committee of the Kerala PCC has decided to support the decision taken by the Congress Working Committee. Tharoor and P J Kurien, who were signatories to the controversial letter written to Gandhi, will support the decision taken by the CWC, he said. Young Congress leaders like K S Sabarinadhan, MLA, and Kozhikode District Congress Committee president T Siddique also came out in support of Tharoor. Suresh's statement targeting Tharoor came a day after the Thiruvananthapuram MP said that it is the duty of all to work together in the interest of the Congress once the party chief has stated that the matter is 'behind us'. 'I've been silent for 4 days on recent events in @INCIndia because once the Congress President says the issue is behind us, it is the duty of all of us to work together constructively in the interests of the Party,' Tharoor tweeted on Thursday. 'I urge all my colleagues to uphold this principle & end the debate,' he said in the tweet. Earlier on Thursday, former KPCC President and Lok Sabha MP K Muraleedharan had also taken a dig at Tharoor over the issue, calling him a 'global citizen'. A section in the Congress's state unit are also upset with Tharoor over his open support to the Centre's move to lease out Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for 50 years to Adani Enterprises. "The people want the airport. It's some politicians who are opposed to it," Tharoor had said, while all political parties in Kerala, barring the BJP, opposed the Centre's decision to give the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to Adani Enterprises on lease. Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday asked the Centre to listen to students and act upon their wishes over holding the Joint Entrance Exams (JEE) and National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) next month amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Congress and other opposition parties have raised their voices against the entrance exams, held for admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and medical colleges across the country, in September. Ministers from six non-BJP-ruled states have filed a review petition before the Supreme Court challenging its August 17 order which had allowed the central government to hold NEET and JEE in September despite the prevailing Covid -19 situation. My dear students, I feel for you because you are now facing a very difficult situation. The issue of your exams, of when they should be taken up and where, is the most important issue not only for you but your family too, Gandhi said in a video message. ALSO WATCH | Rahul Gandhi slams govt on NEET & JEE; 6 opposition ruled states move SC You are our future. We depend on you to build a better India. Therefore, if any decision has to be taken regarding your future, it is important that it is being taken with your concurrence. I hope the government listens to you, listens to your voices and act upon your wishes. This is my advice to the government. Thank you. Jai Hind, Gandhi said in the message tweeted by her party. She had held a meeting with the chief ministers of seven states earlier this week over the issue during which West Bengals Mamata Banerjee and Punjabs Amarinder Singh called for moving the Supreme Court. The ministry of education has said JEE Main and NEET-UG will be conducted in September as scheduled amid a growing chorus for postponing the crucial tests in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. JEE Main is scheduled from September 1-6 and NEET is planned on September 13. Around 8.58 lakh candidates have registered for JEE-Main and 15.97 lakh have registered for NEET. Before Sonia Gandhis message, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged people to raise their voice against the Centres decision to hold the exams next month. Unite your voice with lakhs of suffering students. #SpeakUpForStudentSafety from 10am onwards. Lets make the Govt listen to the students, Gandhi tweeted in the morning. The government, on its part, has said that more than 1.7 million candidates have already downloaded their admit cards for JEE and NEET, which shows students want the exams to be conducted. National Testing Agency (NTA) officials told me that over seven lakh candidates have downloaded the JEE-Main admit cards while over 10 lakh aspirants have downloaded the NEET admit cards. This shows that the students want the exams to be held at any cost, Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said on Thursday. We have received mails from students and parents who are in favour of holding the exams, as they have been preparing for the exams for at least two to three years. The Supreme Court too opined that a full academic year cannot be wasted. After two deferments, the exam dates have been finalised, he added. The Supreme Court last week dismissed a plea seeking postponement of the two exams amid a spurt in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country, saying a precious academic year of students cannot be wasted and that life has to go on. NTA has said it will increase the number of examination centres, put in an alternative seating plan with fewer candidates per room and staggered entry and exit for safely conducting NEET and JEE in September. The exams have been deferred twice in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The JEE-Mains was originally scheduled to be held from April 7 to April 11 but was postponed to July 18-23. The NEET-UG was originally scheduled for May 3 but was pushed to July 26. Having attended University of Chicago in Hyde Park as an undergraduate, Cantara crafted a nostalgic scent with the neighborhoods many bookstores and libraries in mind, with hints of leather and musk. Lincoln Park, on the other hand, is a springy and green mixture of aromas like bergamot and grass. For the Andersonville candle, Cantara drew inspiration from history. The neighborhood, which was built on a cherry orchard, is represented in a sweet scent of rose, cherry blossom and magnolia. Britain has not taken in any refugees fleeing persecution and war through its resettlement scheme since the pandemic began, figures show despite restarting deportations and reopening travel routes for the public. The programme, which is the only safe and legal route to the UK for most refugees, was closed on 12 March because of coronavirus but is still yet to restart almost six months on. Campaigners claim ministers have prioritised holiday travel over refugees living in peril, while charities warned the rise in dangerous Channel crossings could be linked to the lack of safe routes to the UK. More than 5,000 have completed the perilous journey from northern France so far in 2020. Stephen Hale, chief executive of Refugee Action, said it was baffling that the UK government had arranged travel corridors for summer holidays, but prevented resettlement flights a life-line to many. He added: While pausing the programme earlier this year was understandable due to the pandemic, there is no earthly reason why it cant be restarted now. The recent increase in Channel crossings highlights the urgent need for safe and legal routes to accessing protection in the UK. Yet nobody is making a safe or legal journey through refugee resettlement. The government must get the programme up and running as a matter of urgency. Labour called on the government to address the issue. Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said: The UK has rightly made commitments to offer a place of safety to some of the most vulnerable people on earth, such as children fleeing violence in Syria. As some travel restrictions have been lifted the government should look at how we can now meet those commitments safely, and show compassion and competence in its approach. Official figures published on Thursday show the number of refugees arriving under the UKs resettlement scheme which was announced last year and merges three existing resettlement programmes fell from 894 between January and March to none between April and June. The Home Office confirmed to The Independent on Thursday that there had still been no arrivals due to the ongoing pandemic meaning the scheme has been frozen for almost six months. Between April and September 2019, the UK welcomed 2,732 refugees via the resettlement scheme. In June last year the Home Office announced that the UK would welcome between 5,000 and 6,000 refugees under it in 2020-21. Government data also shows that the overall number of asylum applications received by the Home Office between April and June 2020 nearly halved compared with the first three months of the year. Meanwhile, The Independent revealed earlier this month that 285 people were deported from the UK on seven charter flights between April and June, along with 374 escorts, at a cost to the taxpayer of 1,105,931. Human rights and immigration solicitor, Christopher Desira, questioned whether the coronavirus crisis was being used as an excuse to pause something the government is not genuinely interested fulfilling. He added: It is baffling. Theres no practical or logistical reason for continuing to pause this especially when the government is fully capable of managing travel for the benefit of the economy. Sheroy Zaq, of Duncan Lewis Solicitors, warned that people who had been accepted as refugees by the UK were waiting in limbo overseas as a result of the continued pause on the resettlement programme, and that this was symptomatic of this governments shameless attitude towards foreign suffering. An alternative legal route to the resettlement scheme is family reunion, which has not been officially closed during the pandemic, but is described by charities as a complex process to navigate and has been made even more difficult during the global crisis. Naomi Phillips, director of policy and advocacy at the British Red Cross, said: While Covid-19 wont have decreased the number of people who have been forced to leave their homes due to war, persecution and violence, it has significantly impacted their ability to apply for asylum. Access through other initiatives, like the family reunion process, have also been hit, meaning families cant be reunited with their loved ones. Nine in every ten family reunion visas issued in the UK go to women and children, and if theyre unable to be reunited in safety they will often be left in incredibly precarious situations. Conservatives vote down plan to help reunite unaccompanied child refugees with UK families Its vital that, as the world continues to respond to this global health pandemic, steps are taken to ensure that families are able to reunite quickly. A Home Office spokesperson said: We resettle more refugees than any other country in Europe and are in the top five countries worldwide. Since September 2015, we have resettled more than 25,000 vulnerable refugees, with around half being children. Due to the unprecedented pandemic, the UK along with many other countries are currently unable to resettle any refugees, but we expect arrivals to resume as soon as conditions allow. 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. Donald Trump Jr speaks at the Republican National Convention on 24 August, 2020 (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. (AP (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 (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 (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 (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. Given this unprecedented circumstance and all the regard to the cost of looking after the victims in our country who survived and their families and also the 50 million New Zealand dollar plus ($33 million) downstream in real terms of providing safety for this terrorist, then the sound, reasonable, logical thing to do would be to ask Australia to step up, Winston told Nine Network television. Wuhan in April - OEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images A World Health Organization team sent to China to investigate the origins of coronavirus did not visit Wuhan, where the pandemic first emerged late last year, sparking criticism. The WHO reiterated on Thursday that the two officials who visited China were part of an advance mission whose role was to lay the groundwork and terms of reference for the international investigation into the origins of Sars-Cov-2, which was agreed earlier this year. Dave Sharma, an Australian MP, told the Financial Times: It is another disturbing incident of the WHO - which is charged with safeguarding global public health - putting the political sensitivities of a member state above the public health interests of the world. Australia lead calls in April for an international inquiry into the origins of Covid-19, which a Chinese envoy this week likened to Brutus betraying Julius Caesar. The US has also been critical of China's and the WHO's handling of the outbreak. The WHO said the visit to China had been successfully completed and a call asking all WHO member states to propose experts for the mission was expected to be issued shortly. Once selected, the international team is expected to visit China, including Wuhan, later this year, say WHO sources. Exact timings will depend on how long the selection process takes and travel conditions dictated by the progress of the pandemic. It is understood the two officials in the advance party had a productive trip. They were quarantined in a hotel outside Beijing for the best part of two weeks but conducted multiple calls daily with their Chinese counterparts. Further time was spent in meetings in Beijing. This included extensive discussions with their Chinese counterparts, including video conversations with senior scientists from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Chinese scientists are gathering evidence and conducting preliminary research in cooperation ahead of the start of the investigation in cooperation with overseas counterparts. This is expected to be shared with WHO and the mission members once the investigation formally starts. Story continues The idea that two officials would visit Wuhan to sort out the origins of the disease before the terms of reference had been set or the members of the international team selected was fanciful, said sources. The investigation into the origins of the virus will be a herculean scientific effort which may never bear fruit. Most experts say so-called spillover events where animal viruses are picked up by humans are constantly happening. Most burn out naturally but a few explode. The most important thing in terms of preventing another pandemic, say experts, is not to pinpoint a precise event but to understand the environmental conditions - animal husbandry, supply chains, food processing etc - that increase the risk of a major outbreak. Many of the initial cases of Covid-19 were linked to a seafood market in Wuhan. Calls have grown for an inquiry into how the coronavirus pandemic began, and how exactly the bug jumped from animals to humans, as experts believe. More than 120 countries successfully pressed for an investigation into the origins of the outbreak in May during the World Health Assembly. China agreed to the inquiry, saying it would be appropriate only after the pandemic was brought under control, but didnt specify how much access would be granted to experts. The inquiry has been politically charged, with the US and other nations blaming Chinas cover-up and missteps for exacerbating a devastating virus outbreak that has now sickened more than 24 million people, and killed nearly 830,000. This is a regime that failed to disclose information they had about a virus thats now killed over 100,000 Americans, hundreds of thousands across the world, cost the global economy trillions and trillions of dollars, Mike Pompeo, US secretary of state, said in July. As such, any WHO inquiry in China would be completely, completely whitewashed, he said, citing Beijings actions to destroy samples and silence whistleblowers. Beijing has pushed back against those claims and instead has focused on its success in containing the coronavirus. Beijing has also sought to win diplomatic points by selling medical and protective equipment to other countries, some of which has turned out to be faulty. Chinas staunch defence of its coronavirus response and ongoing diplomatic spat with Australia, which led the push for an investigation means tensions remain high. Chinas foreign ministry repeatedly deflected questions from foreign journalists about the itinerary and access granted while the WHO two-person team was visiting in July. Takeaways from the AIA Real Rewards Poll 2020 highlight the value of an all-rounded approach to health, and provides insights on opportunities to further support Singaporeans on their health journey SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 27 August 2020 - AIA Singapore today announced findings from the AIA Real Rewards Poll 2020 which revealed that: As a result of COVID-19, two-thirds (65%) of Singaporeans realise that they have been taking their health for granted, With more than 7 in 10 (72%) defining the true value of good health as living healthier, longer, better lives with their families and loved ones in today's socially distant world, and A whopping 93% prioritised staying healthy over other pursuits to get through the circuit breaker period. As a result, a significant three quarters of respondents (75%) recorded an improvement in at least one aspect of their well-being -- whether in terms of improved eating habits, physical health, sleeping pattern, or mental health -- within 8 weeks from the start of the Circuit Breaker in early April 2020. The study was conducted amongst 875 participants in mid-June 2020 as Singapore moved into phase two of safe reopening. "It is encouraging that, in these trying times, Singaporeans have taken steps to make positive changes to their health, and they are already reaping the rewards of these simple actions. Our aim is to support even more Singaporeans to achieve their health goals, building on this momentum to enable them to truly live healthier, longer, better lives. We know that it is not enough to only take care of our physical health. This is why, as a leading insurer in the health space, we take a holistic approach to protecting our customers' wellbeing across financial, physical, and mental health," said Ms Melita Teo, Chief Customer and Digital Officer, AIA Singapore. The AIA Real Rewards Poll 2020, combined with an analysis of AIA Vitality members' health, provided three note-worthy insights for Singapore. Story continues #1: Singaporeans are adapting by looking beyond keeping active to stay healthy: A well-rounded approach to health includes eating well and getting adequate sleep Singaporeans did not compromise on eating right as they continue to spend approximately S$470 a month personally on healthy food, even as they reduced overall living expenses amid the pandemic. Instead, they got healthier and saved money by cutting down expenses on junk food and alcohol. Overall, Singaporeans were placing a high priority on making healthier choices, allocating the highest portion of the living expenses (34%) on healthier meal choices. Aside from nutrition, Singaporeans are also adapting by paying off their sleep debt. Adults are recommended to get approximately 7 -- 9 hours of sleep daily[1]. More than 2 in 5 (43%) of Singaporeans have improved their sleeping habits in this period, pointing to reduced commuting time as the key reason why. This is also reflected in sleep patterns of AIA Vitality members: There were twice as many qualifying sleeps tracked on the wellness programme -- of at least 7 hours daily -- during the Circuit Breaker compared to the preceding months. The need to address sleep deprivation is especially critical in Singapore, which ranks as the third most sleep-deprived city in the world.[2] AIA launched the #OneMoreHour initiative last year, encouraging people to get an additional hour of sleep, with a content hub created to help improve their sleeping habits. This follows from a 2019 study AIA conducted which found that 56% of Singaporeans get six or lesser hours of sleep each night and more than half worry about not getting adequate sleep or want to get more. 3 in 5 (59%) agreeing that getting one more hour of sleep would boost their mood and energy.[3] In addition to the multiple negative impact on health, sleep loss comes at an economic cost too. Developed economies are estimated to be losing 2 -- 3 % of their annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a result of insufficient sleep.[4] #2: Keeping healthy helps Singaporeans better manage their mental health: More needs to be done to ensure Singapore's mental well-being Unsurprisingly, approximately 3 in 5 (60%) of Singaporeans are anxious about our post-coronavirus world. Keeping healthy has helped many manage their stress and anxiety: Approximately 1 in 3 (30%) Singaporeans reported improvements to their mental health during COVID-19 -- aided by simple steps such as getting at least seven hours of sleep, eating more nutritious meals, and spending quality time with loved ones. Multiple aspects of keeping healthy contribute to improved mental well-being[5]. However, a similar number of Singaporeans also reported a decline in their mental health due to increased stress and anxiety (30%). This echoes a worrying trend seen elsewhere in Singapore as a result of the pandemic. The National Care Hotline, set up in April 2020 to provide additional support for people facing mental health challenges, received more than 6,600 calls by the end of the same month with approximately 1,000 people identified as requiring even more targeted support thereafter[6]. #3: Singapore continues to be the most active in Asia, even amid COVID-19: Nurturing a stronger healthy-living culture a joint responsibility of the public and private sector Compared to their counterparts across the region, AIA Vitality members in Singapore were the most active group: Despite the pandemic, members in Singapore recorded the highest percentage of workouts tracked on the programme between January to May 2020 amongst 12 markets across Asia-Pacific. Even before COVID-19, AIA Vitality members in Singapore have consistently been amongst the most active. For members who are active on the programme's Weekly Fitness Challenge, more than half typically exceed the minimum weekly target. "The success of our nation's initiatives to encourage healthy living is evident in the continued high levels of activity amongst Singaporeans despite the Circuit Breaker measures, with many finding creative ways to continue keeping fit while working from home. This is encouraging, and speaks to the immense opportunity we, the private sector, have to continue nurturing a healthy-living culture in Singapore and improving the health of our population," shared Ms Teo. With more than 100,000 members in Singapore alone, AIA Vitality was the first wellness programme introduced by an insurer locally in 2013 and has since yielded significant health results: Strong clinical outcomes[7] for members including improvements in glucose levels, blood pressure, cholesterol levels and BMI. The impact of AIA Vitality has been most salient amongst members who were initially reported to be in the unhealthy age. On average, they have gotten "younger", reversing their Vitality Age by approximately 2 years since joining the programme. The difference between members' Vitality Age compared to their biological age has since shrunk by half. Vitality Age is a measure of how healthy an individual is relative to their actual age. Designed by medical experts, AIA Vitality stands out for its well-rounded approach to health. The programme is constantly being evolved to help members better understand and improve their own health. These ongoing enhancements are developed based on insights gleaned from data on members' health improvements, continued research, and behavioural science, amongst others. To help individuals and families in Singapore embrace new norms of reaching their health goals at home, AIA hosted AIA Live on 2 August 2020, an online event where AIA Global Ambassador David Beckham, award-winning chef Jeremy Pang and celebrities from across Asia Pacific came together to explore how to achieve healthier, longer, better lives together. Local celebrities Andie Chen, Andrew Marko, and Amanda Chaang were part of the exciting line-up for the day. AIA Live covered multiple aspects of health and wellness including sessions on fitness, meditation, making healthier meals, body positivity, and more. A recording of the full AIA Live programme is available for viewing here: https://bit.ly/AIALive2020SG [1] 'How Much Sleep Do We Really Need?' (2020) SleepFoundation.org. Information available at: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need [2] 'How does Sleep Deprivation affect You?' (2020) HealthHub.sg. Information available at: https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1034/sleep-deprivation#:~:text=Singaporeans%20are%20amongst%20the%20most,sleeping%20well%20is%20not%20okay. [3] 'Get #OneMoreHouse of sleep for a healthier, longer, better life' (2019) AIA. Information available at: https://www.aia.com.sg/en/onemorehour.html [4] 'Investing in sleep for health and wellbeing dividends. A view from one of Asia's leading sleep scientists.' (2019). Dr Michael Chee, Professor, Duke-NUS Medical School and Principle of the Cognitive Neuroscience Lab. Member of AIA's Healthier, Longer, Better Lives Advisory Board. Information available at: https://www.aia.com/en/healthy-living/onemorehour/professorchee.html [5] 10 Essential Tips for Mental Well-Being' (2020) HealthHub. Information available at: https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1926/10-Essentials-for-Mental-Well-Being [6] 'Mental health fallout: How COVID-19 has affected those in Singapore. (9 May 2020) The Straits Times. Janice Tai. Social Affairs Correspondent. Information available at: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/mental-health-fallout [7] Metrics improvements tabulated based on members' first submission and latest submission of their health screening results. About AIA AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively "AIA" or the "Group") comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 markets in Asia-Pacific -- wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR[8], Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Brunei, Macau SAR[9], New Zealand, a 99 per cent subsidiary in Sri Lanka, and a 49 per cent joint venture in India. The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai more than a century ago in 1919. It is a market leader in the Asia-Pacific region (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$291 billion as of 30 June 2020. AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia-Pacific, AIA serves the holders of more than 36 million individual policies and over 16 million participating members of group insurance schemes. AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code "1299" with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market (ticker symbol: "AAGIY"). [8] Hong Kong SAR refers to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. [9] Macau SAR refers to Macau Special Administrative Region. CALEDONIA, MI -- Four Caledonia School District students have tested positive for coronavirus, officials say. Only three attended any school hours and all have been in self-quarantine since Tuesday, Aug. 25. District administrators issued a letter about the cases Thursday, Aug. 27 and later the same day announced a suspension of in-person classes for Friday at the high school. School officials became aware Tuesday that a student -- who did not attend the first day of classes Tuesday -- was experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. They learned the student had been in close contact with other students last weekend. School officials then called families of those students and asked them to self-quarantine. As of Thursday, the initial student experiencing symptoms and three others have tested positive for COVID-19. Administrators said three students who had contact with the first symptomatic person attended morning classes Tuesday, but have been in self-quarantine since then. A staff member who had contact with one of the students prior to school also is under self-quarantine. Anyone considered a close contact of the coronavirus-positive students will be contacted by the Kent County Health Department. School officials late Thursday said they would have only virtual instruction Friday at the high school at the recommendation of the Kent County Health Department. We continue to partner with the Kent County Health Department and follow their guidelines and requirements. We are also thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the school building according to the letter. Again as a reminder, we ask that everyone monitor their children for the onset of symptoms related to COVID-19 daily. If you notice any change in the health of your child, please call your medical provider first.' Like multiple districts in Kent and Ottawa counties that reopened this week, Caledonia is offering classes in person as well as online. Grandville schools on Thursday also sent a letter to its parents informing them that an employee at Grand View Elementary tested positive for COVID-19. The staff member was only at the elementary for the half-day of school on Monday, Aug. 24, the first day of if the academic year. Parents of the students overseen by the staff member have been contacted. More from MLive Grandville Schools employee tests positive for coronavirus Gov. Gretchen Whitmer tightens order that allows workers with COVID-19 symptoms to stay home West Michigan woman charged with neglect after son drowned in Lake Michigan A little after 8 p.m., a group calling itself Refuse Fascism led a crowd of about 150 protesters from Black Lives Matter Plaza toward the Trump hotel, attracting a chorus of honking car horns as they cut through downtown traffic along K Street. As D.C. police scrambled to block off intersections to allow the group to safely pass, the demonstrators chanted to the beat of a drum. Some invited people eating outside at a restaurant to join them there were no takers while others stopped and posed for selfies. , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 21:59:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Aug. 28, 2020 shows a supply-demand matchmaking meeting held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), in Shanghai, east China. Over 60 exhibitors and more than 100 purchasers participated the Pre-Expo Supply-demand Matchmaking Meeting for Automobile Exhibition Area of the 3rd China International Import Expo (CIIE) held here on Friday. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 28 Trend: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $3 million grant from its Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund (APDRF) to support Kazakhstans response to COVID-19 pandemic, Trend reports with reference to ADB. The grant, which is provided by the Government of Japan, will be used to procure essential medicine and medical equipment to help expand the capacity of the countrys health care system. On 25 June, ADB approved a $1 billion package of assistance under its COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support (CARES) Program to help Kazakhstan mitigate the health, social, and economic impacts of the pandemic. Additionally, a $1 million grant from ADBs ongoing regional technical assistance is being disbursed to procure personal protective equipment for health care workers. ADB has also partnered with the United Nations Development Programme to improve the countrys medical waste management system and is supporting the Ministry of Healthcare to improve its COVID-19 Management Centers system for receiving online applications used to register and monitor data on infected people, as well as to assist those who recovered from infection. On 13 April, ADB tripled to $20 billion its initial package to address the immediate needs of its developing members as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. ADB also approved measures to streamline its operations for quicker and more flexible delivery of assistance. Visit ADBs website to learn more about its ongoing response. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members - 49 from the region. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Fri, August 28, 2020 10:05 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4114cd2 2 World Saudi-Arabia,death-sentence,human-rights Free Saudi authorities are reviewing death penalties against three men convicted of crimes when they were minors, a statement said Thursday, as the kingdom seeks to improve its human rights record. Ali al-Nimr, Dawood al-Marhoon and Abdullah al-Zaher, activists from the minority Shiite community, were arrested as minors in 2012 on terrorism-related charges after they took part in anti-government protests during the Arab Spring uprisings. Citing a royal decree, the Saudi Human Rights Commission (HRC) in April said the kingdom was ending the death penalty for those convicted of crimes committed while they were under 18. The public prosecutor ordered a review of the three cases this week, the HRC said in a statement. "These referrals mark important progress in faithfully implementing an important reform in the legal system, and in advancing human rights in Saudi Arabia," HRC president Awwad Alawwad said in the statement. "They demonstrate the critical importance of these reforms not just in changes to the legal code, but in actions." Campaigners said the families of the three detainees were not officially notified about the review and found out through the media. "The announcement to review the death sentences against these three young men is a significant and long overdue step towards justice," said Philip Luther, Middle East and North Africa research and advocacy director at Amnesty International. "We call on the Saudi Arabian authorities to ensure that any retrial that follows is conducted in a fair, transparent and open manner... The authorities must also ensure that the 'confessions' extracted from them through torture are not used in proceedings." The kingdom has one of the world's highest rate of executions. Individuals convicted as minors would receive a prison sentence of no more than 10 years in a juvenile detention facility, according to the HRC. Campaign group Reprieve also welcomed Thursday's announcement. "If the Saudi authorities are true to their word, and the death sentences of all people convicted of childhood crimes are to be reviewed, then this is a hugely positive development," said Reprieve's director Maya Foa, calling for the sentences to be commuted. "Ali, Dawood and Abdullah were imprisoned as boys, and have spent almost a decade of their youth in fear of execution." Reprieve said there were currently four people convicted of childhood crimes at risk of execution in Saudi Arabia, and prosecutors were seeking death sentences against another nine juveniles. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is aiming to blunt international criticism over the kingdom's rights record and its opaque judicial system, especially since the October 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In April, the HRC also announced Saudi Arabia was abolishing court-ordered floggings, in a move welcomed by campaigners. Activists are, however, skeptical that the reforms will see political prisoners released, pause a sweeping government crackdown on dissent or end executions. Donald Trump's decision to ban the use of WeChat and TikTok in the US has fanned tensions with China Chinese consumers could boycott Apple if the United States bans WeChat, China's foreign ministry spokesman warned Friday, as the clock ticks down on a US order to block the popular social app. US President Donald Trump this month announced a ban from mid-September on WeChat and another Chinese-owned app, TikTok, accusing them of threatening national security, further stoking tensions between Beijing and Washington. But foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian tweeted Friday that "If WeChat is banned, then there will be no reason why Chinese shall keep iPhone and apple products". Zhao had already on Thursday said "many Chinese people are saying they may stop using iPhones if WeChat is banned in the US", and accused the US of "systematic economic bullying of non-US companies" by targeting the Chinese app. The comments mark a rare direct reference by Beijing to boycotting an American product and come as the superpowers spar on multiple fronts including military activity in the South China Sea, Hong Kong and blame for the coronavirus. Chinese social media users on Friday responded with mixed feelings to Zhao's warning on Twitter, which is blocked in China but accessible through virtual private network software. "I use Apple, but I also love my country," one user on the Twitter-like Weibo platform. "It's not a conflict." "No matter how good Apple is, it's just a phone. It can be replaced, but WeChat is different," another user argued. "Modern Chinese people will lose their soul if they leave WeChat, especially business people." Wechat, known in mainland China as Weixin, has more than 1.2 billion active users. Trump's executive order against WeChat forces the platform to end all operations in the United States and bans Americans doing business with it. Apple accounted for eight percent of China's smartphone market in the second quarter of 2020, according to Counterpoint Research, far behind domestic leader Huawei. Explore further Tencent profits up as gamers stay home but WeChat ban looms 2020 AFP CNO Financial Group, Inc. CNO has been gaining traction from its cost-control efforts and investment in technology. The company is well-poised for progress, evident from its favorable VGM Score of B. Here V stands for Value, G for Growth and M for Momentum with the score being a weighted combination of all three factors. Over the past 60 days, the stock has witnessed its 2020 earnings estimates move 4.2% north to $2 per share. CNO Financial came up with an earnings surprise of 20.1%, on average, beating on the bottom line in three of the trailing four quarters while missing on the same in one. The companys second-quarter 2020 adjusted earnings per share of 43 cents exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 30.3%. Its total revenues also improved 3.5% year over year to $1.01 billion on higher insurance policy income, improved income from policyholder and other special-purpose portfolios, and increased fee revenues and other income. The top line also outpaced the consensus mark by 23.4%. Now lets see what makes the company an investor favorite. CNO Financial has been consistently making efforts to improve agent productivity, and sales and advertising. In June 2019, the company added a web chat facility to its Colonial Penn website, which will offer customers a unique omni-channel experience. In the third quarter of 2019, it entered into a new strategic technology partnership with Cognizant and HCL Technologies. With added technology, CNO Financial gains access to employer partners, which was initially absent due to dearth of a sophisticated benefits platform offer. All these initiatives helped it enhance lead productivity and provide better customer experience. It has also been taking cost-curbing measures over a period of time. In 2019 and during the first six months of 2020, its benefits and expenses declined 18.3% and 10.2%, respectively, year over year. The company will pursue further strategic actions to control costs and enhance its earnings profile. We expect its expenses to decrease going forward on the back of its cost-containment program. CNO Financial has been raising its quarterly dividend since 2013. Frequently conducted share repurchase programs are a major capital deployment strategy for the company. In 2019, the company returned capital worth $319 million to its shareholders. It also witnessed a steady cash flow for the past several years. This should attract investors attention. However, due to the current market volatility and the uncertainty revolving around COVID-19, the company scrapped its 2020 guidance. It also anticipates the remaining years earnings to be affected by lower interest rates and an increased pressure on the insurance product margin due to the coronavirus. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings is pegged at $2, indicating a rise of 11.1% from the prior-year reported number. Shares of this currently Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have rallied 18.5% in a years time against its industry's decline of 10.4%. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Story continues The price performance looks stellar in comparison to other stock movements in the same space, such as Chubb Limited CB, Aflac Incorporated AFL and American International Group, Inc. AIG, which have lost 17%, 23.6% and 41.5%, respectively. Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through Q2 2020, while the S&P 500 gained an impressive +44.0%, five of our strategies returned +50.9%, +93.8%, +122.2%, +153.0%, and even +156.8%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 Q2 2020, while the S&P averaged +5.5% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +51.7% per year. See their latest picks 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 CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Aflac Incorporated (AFL) : Free Stock Analysis Report American International Group, Inc. (AIG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Chubb Limited (CB) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research At least four people who were at Mondays Republican National Convention meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, tested positive for COVID-19, according to county officials. Two attendees and two other "individuals supporting the event" tested positive for COVID-19 and were immediately isolated, according to an official release North Carolina's Mecklenburg County posted on Friday. A Republican spokesperson told ABC News a number of safety precautions were put in place that included testing all attendees both before traveling to Charlotte and, upon arrival, contact tracing protocols were followed. While wearing masks and social distancing were encouraged, they were not enforced. MORE: RNC praise for Trumps COVID-19 response at odds with months of missteps: ANALYSIS "Out of roughly 1,000 tests administered, two RNC attendees, despite having negative tests prior to travel, and two Charlotte locals who planned to serve as event support staff tested positive upon arrival. All were sent home," RNC Communications Director Michael Ahrens told ABC News. According to the country release, "approximately 792 COVID-19 tests were conducted among individuals attending or providing support to the Republican National Convention (RNC) Meeting in the City of Charlotte." PHOTO: President Donald Trump points to member of the audience after speaking during the first day of the 2020 Republican National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., Aug. 24, 2020. (Andrew Harnik/AP) But on the ground in Charlotte, where over 300 delegates from around the country traveled to the city, most attendees packed inside the Charlotte Convention Center did not wear masks, bucking North Carolinas COVID-19 statewide mask mandate. The convention in Charlotte, which was separate from the rest of the week's convention events that were held in Washington D.C., is not the only Trump event that has been linked to attendees testing positive for coronavirus. Earlier this summer, Trump held a rally in Tulsa that public health experts in the state say contributed to a rise in cases in the city. MORE: Trump rally likely contributed to surge in COVID-19 cases, Tulsa health official says Story continues There were at least eight Trump campaign advance staffers in Tulsa, two of whom attended the rally, that tested positive for the virus. The White House pushed back on the idea that the rally in Tulsa contributed to the cases as White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said she had "no data to indicate" that was the case. Thursday night at the White House, there were upwards of 1,500 people in attendance for the presidents acceptance speech on the South Lawn. The Trump campaign released a statement ahead of the event which read, "strict protocols are in full compliance with multiple guidelines set forth by the United States Centers for Disease Control, the District of Columbia Department of Public Health, and other leading authorities on health safety." However, there were very few masks were worn and social distancing was not observed. PHOTO: People applaud as President Donald Trump visits the Republican National Committee convention site, Aug. 24, 2020, in Charlotte. (Evan Vucci/AP) Former Vice President Joe Biden, along with several of his staffers, said that Trump hosted a coronavirus "super spreader" event on the South Lawn. "Mr. President, Americans are canceling weddings and holding funerals without family. They're sacrificing so more Americans don't have to die. But instead of leading by example, you hosted a super spreader event on the South Lawn. When will you take the presidency seriously?" Biden tweeted Thursday night. Trump will be holding a campaign event in New Hampshire on Friday. This comes weeks after the president canceled the previously scheduled event in the state due to an inclement weather forecast. The event will be the first at which the Trump campaign will enforce a mask mandate for all attendees in order to comply with New Hampshires state rules. 4 people test positive for COVID-19 at GOP convention in Charlotte originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Donald Trump is my No.1 internet obsession, and not in a fawning fanboy way, more in a hey, let me check in and see if he fell into a soybean thresher overnight kind of way. And no, of course, Im not wishing a soybean threshing accident on him it could be a wheat thresher, a corn thresher, anything large and spiky that can be easily hosed down afterwards. Id rather be living in a state of joyous, peaceful Trumpless-ness. Credit:AP Of course, Im kidding: I wouldnt wish a soybean-threshing on anyone not even soybeans. Have you ever seen them up close? Theyre adorable, like a cannellini bean with charisma. But I do want Trumpys presidency to be over, so I feel compelled to check constantly through the day, looking for breaking news that will destroy his re-election chances. If I cant find anything, Ill check again in case somethings happened in the three seconds since I last checked. An aircraft from One Caribbean that is based in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. One Caribbean Ltd. Barbados (OCL Barbados) trading as One Caribbean - has been cleared to resume flight to the BVI. Word of this was confirmed by Reginald Adams, CEO of OCL Barbados, who said that he had received an official letter from BVI authorities on Sunday, August 23, indicating that the suspension was lifted. BVI Immigration Minister Vincent Wheatley said the recent suspension placed on the airline was a clear statement to all airlines that the territory is taking its COVID-19 protocols very seriously. The airline was embargoed from flying to the BVI days ago after reportedly breaching one of the territorys recently-implemented entry policies. The policy for which OCL Barbados is accused of breaching falls under the BVIs Advanced Passenger Information Act. It requires all airlines arriving in the territory to provide information on its passengers at least 24 hours prior to their arrival. Consequent upon the breach, the airlines Foreign Operators Permit (FOP) to fly to the BVI was indefinitely suspended, after an August 4 flight into the BVI. But according to Chief Executive Officer of OCL Barbados, Reginald Adams, a last-minute change in the BVIs protocols contributed to his airlines breach. "Tortola changed their protocol on a Saturday and we were not updated as to the change, Adams told a media house in St Vincent where the airline is based. He said the flight proceeded to the BVI the following Monday unaware of the change. It was carrying three BVI government employees at the time. Due to the changes of the protocols, one of the three passengers was not accepted into the territory and therefore had to return to the point of departure. According to the new policy, all passengers are to be in possession of a valid travel certificate issued by the Ministry of Health confirming that they are safe to enter into the BVI. CEO Adams said that following investigations into the matter, it was concluded that there was no intent on the airlines part to break the BVIs COVID-19 protocols, and the suspension was lifted. We need help. Fast. That was the message Congressman Paul Tonko heard repeatedly during a teleconference roundtable earlier this week with seven Capital Region restaurateurs and Melissa Fleischut, president and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association. The restaurant industry needs funding immediately to survive the next six months, said Patrick Noonan, chairman of the board of directors of the Lark Street Business Improvement District and owner of El Loco Mexican Cafe in Albany. Commenting after the roundtable with Tonko, Noonan said, Without it, many places will not survive. Across New York, about 18 percent of the states approximately 50,000 restaurants are closed, temporarily or permanently, because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a restaurant association survey from earlier this month, said Fleischut. An earlier NYSRA survey led to the projection that 11 percent of restaurants would not survive the pandemic-related business slowdown, a figure expected to rise the longer state health restrictions and safety mandates continue. Association members survey responses revealed that 90 percent expect to see zero net profits within the next year, Fleischut said. Tonko, a Democract from Amsterdam whose 20th Congressional District covers parts of five Capital Region counties, is among the approximately 180 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives of the RESTAURANTS Act. The bill, which Tonko said he hoped would be taken up in earnest in mid-September and could be passed within weeks, would provide $120 billion directly to the hospitality industry. Unlike federal business bailout and assistance programs earlier in the pandemic, which came in the form of forgivable loans and other measures, the RESTAURANTS Act would provide grants to the industry. Responding to criticism that some earlier funding went to large restaurant groups, the new bill has provisions that call for limiting recipients during the first two weeks to restaurants with $1.5 million or less in annual sales. Further, it would be unavailable to publicly traded restaurant groups or chains with more than 20 locations, and $60 million in administrative funds would be earmarked for outreach programs to help direct grants to restaurants owned and operated by women, veterans and people of color. It provides a menu of rescue, said Tonko in a phone interview. Forget bailout, he said. This is a country drowning in red ink. This is rescue. Among the hospitality industrys central complaints about initial rounds of federal financial assistance was how it disproportionally favored large corporations and largely ignored the small restaurants that are the lifeblood of the economy in their neighborhoods, cities, states and across the nation. The airline industry, with 10 major carriers, or 18 if cargo and regional passenger operators are included, employs about 750,000 people in America, according to federal figures. It has already received $50 billion in direct federal aid, and there is a push for another $25 billion. In comparison, there are about 600,000 independent restaurants in the country, according to the National Restaurant Association, and the industry as whole employs approximately 16 million people 21 times more than airlines. To date, no federal funds have been approved specifically for restaurants. Characterizing restaurants as having been absolutely decimated by this pandemic, Dominick Purnomo, co-owner of the sibling restaurants Yonos and dp: An American Brasserie in Albany, said in an email after the Tonko teleconference, This legislation is absolutely necessary to stabilize the largest private-sector employer in the nation. In media interviews earlier this month, Purnomo said his restaurants, which his parents founded in 1986 and have been in their current location for more than 14 years, may not survive through the fall without federal and state assistance. Beyond urging Tonko to push for fast passage of the RESTAURANTS Act, local owners on this weeks roundtable raised additional concerns about modifications to earlier funds provided through the Paycheck Protection Program. Heidi Knoblauch, owner of Plumb Oyster Bar in Troy and an executive of Pioneer Bank, which distributed some PPP funds, said in an email that the IRS has ruled that businesses cannot deduct operating expenses paid with PPP loans. She said she urged Tonko and his colleagues in Congress to amend PPP and tax regulations, adding, This tax burden will crush many small businesses at a time that they are attempting to get back on their feet. They were very engaged, said Tonko of local restaurateurs who participated in the teleconference. They were very sincere, he said. Im very thankful that they would share themselves in such an up-front way. J apanese shares plunged today after speculation broke out in local media that prime minister Shinzo Abe was set to resign for health reasons. The Japanese stock market index, the Nikkei 225, fell from 23310 to 22678 within minutes of the first reports before staging a partial recovery. Investors dislike uncertainty and were concerned about what his successor might do for the economy at such a fragile moment for the country as it wrestles with the global implications of coronavirus. Abe was Japan's longest serving PM and brought in his famed monetary and fiscal programme dubbed Abenomics which brought a measure of stability to the country for his seven and a half years in office. Japanese shares doubled in value during his time as relations strengthened with its giant trading partner, the US. Abe's rein also saw a trade deal with the European Union which has spread prosperity to the country's exporters. Meanwhile, his efforts to modernise corporate life in the country, albeit somewhat diluted from his original plans, has been seen by most as a revolution for the traditional, sclerotic old ways. Stewardship and corporate governance have improved, making overseas investors far more willing to invest as the country's bosses engaged with shareholders as never before. There were continuing concerns, however. Cross shareholdings between companies remains baffling and undemocratic for outside investors and the scandalous treatment of Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn set back the country's image as a place that might begin welcoming foreigners to lead its businesses, but the overall direction of travel was positive. The fear now is whether his successor will continue the reforms or adopt a more populist and patriotic tone, retrenching back into protectionism and the internalisation of the past. Speculation about his health has been rife in recent days, hitting fever pitch when it was announced that he would hold a press conference today. Derek Halpenny, head of research for Global Markets in Europe, Middle East and Asia at Japanese bank MUFG highlighted Abenomics' success in beating deflation - at least until coronavirus struck. "Abenomics' objective was rid Japan of 15 years of mild deflation since the bubble burst in the 1990s. In that context alone, it was successful. Japan has had the longest run of positive inflation since deflation began 1995. "You can debate whether the scale of policy required to do that was worth it, or what its long term consequences are, but purely on that metric, it did have a successful outcome." He predicted Abe's successor would be a continuity candidate, keeping the Japanese economic ship on a similar course. With so much at stake for the Japanese economy, particularly as coronavirus takes a harsh toll on growth and threatens to send prices falling again, there is too much to lose from anything else. A division bench of the Bombay High Court on Friday disposed of the petitions filed by Vernon Gonsalves and Dr Anand Teltumbde, both accused in the Elgar Parishad case, seeking direction for them to be tested for Covid-19. Their petitions were disposed of by justice RD Dhanuka and justice VG Bisht after the state submitted their reports where they had tested negative for the virus. The report was also handed to their families as well. Gonsalves and Teltumbde are currently lodged in Taloja jail. The state in an earlier hearing had submitted the Covid-19 negative reports, however as there was a discrepancy in the report of Dr Teltumbde, the bench had asked the state to submit a correct report to the court and to the family. The bench while hearing the petitions was informed by advocate Devyani Kulkarni that though the court had directed the state to hand over the Covid-19 test reports to the families, it had not done so. She even submitted that it seemed that the correct report of Dr Teltumbde was also not prepared and hence the state should be directed to comply as soon as possible. She further submitted that the state had only handed over a cover letter to the lawyers which stated that the Covid-19 tests were conducted and the reports were negative. She said that the detailed report was not received. Chief public prosecutor Deepak Thakare for the state sought time and submitted that the Covid-19 report of Gonsalves and the corrected report of Dr Teltumbde would be handed over to the families and hence the matter be placed for hearing after the lunch hour, which the court agreed. After lunch when the petition came up for hearing, Kulkarni informed the bench that they had received medical reports of both Gonsalves and Dr Teltumbde, and were satisfied and hence the petitions could be disposed of. After hearing the submissions the court disposed of the petitions. Gonsalves and Dr Teltumbde had moved the petition for getting themselves tested for Covid-19 as they had been in close contact with Telugu poet P Vara Vara Rao who is a co-accused in the Elgar Parishad/Bhima Koregaon case while he was being treated in the Taloja jail hospital. After Rao tested positive for Covid-19, both Gonsalves and Dr Teltumbde had sought to be tested due to their advanced age and comorbidities and for the safety of other inmates of the jail. Both had been shifted to an isolation unit after they were tested and until the reports came. Tweets Reveal What Australians Think of COVID Rules As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the world, Australians tweeted about panic buying more than any other country especially about toilet paper and limits on alcohol purchases. A Monash University study has analysed nearly three million tweets across six countries to identify key trends associated with public attitudes towards the pandemic. It used data from six countries Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, the US and UK to determine which public health measures received community support and whether public commentary offered insights into potential enablers and barriers towards community acceptance. The researchers analysed Twitter-based discussions of public health measures, such as hand-hygiene, social distancing, travel bans and working from home during the first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the absence of a vaccine, public health measures have been implemented by governments around the world to slow the spread of COVID-19. In order for governments to maximise adherence towards future public health measures and curb unnecessary behaviours, such as panic buying and spreading misinformation, researchers say clear, consistent and timely communication is paramount. Key findings of the study included: * Australian and Irish users perceived the issuing of frivolous fines based on ambiguous rules to be a revenue raising activity. This eroded public trust. * Australians tweeted about panic buying more than any other country, especially about toilet paper and limits on alcohol purchases. * Australians repeatedly referred to the decisions about non-essential service closures, specifically about the restrictions on mourners at funerals while hair salons remained open. * New Zealand displayed the greatest acceptance of public health measures, while the US showed the lowest. Thats in spite of these countries having the most and least restrictive of public health measures respectively. * Racially charged language and use of anti-China hashtags to signal tweets about COVID-19 were almost exclusive to the US. * The British were most concerned with at-risk individuals such as immunocompromised and the elderly, while New Zealand was most concerned with vulnerable community groups such as Maori and those without stable accommodation. * Irelands delay in shutting pubs and clubs for St Patricks day frustrated users juggling working from home with homeschooling children. * Anxiety and sadness were expressed in UK tweets. The availability and expense of mental health services was perceived poorly. Machine Learning Researcher Caitlin Doogan said the Monash team used algorithms to analyse nearly three million public tweets about the implementation of public health measures. Sydney After years of delays, The New Mutants is finally in theaters, and a select few critics braved theaters to get the first look. But the verdict from early reviews is that Josh Boones so-so X-Men spinoff wasnt worth the long wait, and may not be worth moviegoers immediately going back to theaters either. The New Mutants has been delayed since before even the Disney-Fox merger way back in 2018, and some fans wondered if it would ever hit the big screen. And now that it has, Disney did not make the film widely available to critics, with some like The A.V. Club announcing their intentions not to review the film at all. But a smattering of critics just 18 on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing have saddled The New Mutants with a lowly 22% on Rotten Tomatoes, calling it middling, so-so, or perfectly fine, with one critic going as far as to call it the worst X-Men movie ever. Also Read: 'The New Mutants' Scores $750,000 in Thursday Previews At its best, the story that arises from this setup is visually inventive and much darker than were used to seeing in Marvel/X-Men films, TheWraps Michael Nordine writes. But while its never actively bad, The New Mutants rarely imbues any of its happenings with any real heft. Like the remote hospital that serves as its setting, the film as a whole feels too closed off from the rest of its fictional universe to matter much. Boones film mashes up the superhero genre with horror elements and 80s teen movies like The Breakfast Club and puts a trio of women front and center. But many critics said that The New Mutants never feels as scary or as fresh as it should be, even though it finds some standout moments. For instance, Boone introduces a same-sex couple storyline in the film but then directly references a scene from Buffy the Vampire Slayer that already did the same thing. Generic and, at its best, straining to be heartfelt, director Josh Boones adaptation of the Marvel spinoff comic series is a Marvel movie spinoff in its own right, making vague references to the X-Men franchise but attempting to stand on its own. Unfortunately, it rarely does, The Hollywood Reporters Jordan Mintzer wrote, adding that theres very little new here. Story continues Also Read: Check Out the Opening Scene of 'The New Mutants' Right Here (Video) Scott Mendelson of Forbes was less kind, calling it a nothing-burger of a movie and even worse than the poorly received Dark Phoenix. The New Mutants is a miserable motion picture. Its a monotonous, redundant and irrelevant fantasy flick that fails to commit to being a teen melodrama, a YA fantasy or a horror movie, instead offering half-assed components of all three, he wrote. Despite a strong cast, the all-too-rare presence of an LGBTQIA romance between two lead characters and a few moments of visual inventiveness, Josh Boone and Knate Lees The New Mutants boils down to being, yes, a terrible feature-length prequel for a sequel that absolutely no one will ever want to see. See excerpts of other reviews below: Michael Nordine, TheWrap At its best, the story that arises from this setup is visually inventive and much darker than were used to seeing in Marvel/X-Men films. One of the mutants was brought here after killing 18 people, and Danis ability to conjure literal monsters leads to a climactic battle thats genuinely awesome. But while its never actively bad, The New Mutants rarely imbues any of its happenings with any real heft. Like the remote hospital that serves as its setting, the film as a whole feels too closed off from the rest of its fictional universe to matter much. Scott Mendelson, Forbes Lacking marquee characters and existing as yet another feature-length prologue, The New Mutants fails as a teen melodrama and, partially because we know none of the core cast is in any permanent danger, fails as a horror movie. Whether it justifies itself as an X-Men movie is irrelevant since it is a very bad X-Men movie, the worst of the franchise by default. At least X-Men Origins: Wolverine had multiple locations, multiple characters and big-scale comic book action that resembled a trashy 1980s Cannon flick. New Mutants visuals are generally drab, and the few moments of fantastical color lit up the screen by comparison. Despite a refreshingly inclusive cast and a front-and-center same-sex romance, The New Mutants is like watching a lousy TV pilot for a show that you know didnt get picked up. Jordan Mintzer, THR At best, Boone coaxes good performances from his cast, especially the troika of Blu, Taylor-Joy and Williams, who add layers of panache and emotion to their characters while kicking ass at the same time. Per Wikipedia, The New Mutants is meant to be the last entry in the X-Men series one of the films producers, Simon Kinberg, directed the rather disastrously received Dark Phoenix, which came out last year but you could easily see these three young women joining Marvel Studios growing gamut of superheroines. Its just too bad the movie that launched them doesnt have the same impact. As far as the mutant franchise goes, it never makes its last stand. Jason Gorber, /Film There will be an audience for The New Mutants, and in time it may even achieve a kind of cult status, with people seeing themselves in these troubled characters as they come to terms with their own challenges. For now, we get a film that is perfectly fine in being perfectly fine. In a world where normal seems very abnormal indeed, to experience something middling feels surprisingly refreshing, and while its road to the screen has been fraught, the end result is a decent, entertaining film that is worth seeking out when time and circumstances allow. Chris Knight, National Post Its doubtful any movie could live up to more than two years of pent-up anticipation, and this movie confirms that doubt. Its a simple story, passably directed by Josh Boone (The Fault in Our Stars) and adequately acted, but thats about it. Peter Debruge, Variety Despite all the meddling and interference the film reportedly went through, The New Mutants feels pretty coherent in the end. What it doesnt achieve is a memorable personality of its own. The projects so committed to being a 1980s-style teen- and horror-movie homage that it never distinguishes itself. What was intended to establish the foundation for a possible standalone trilogy plays like an elaborate pilot for a series youd never watch, and while the production values are slick, the performances and set pieces have the awkwardness of cable TV. Read original story The New Mutants Wasnt Worth the Long Wait to Reach Theaters, Critics Say At TheWrap 1. The reckoning over racial justice continues to ripple across the country. Thousands gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington for a protest aiming to recall the 1963 March on Washington and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s I Have a Dream speech. Attendees were screened for fevers, and masks and hand-sanitizing stations were ubiquitous. The N.B.A. and its players union announced a plan to use arenas as election polling places as part of a deal to resume the playoffs on Saturday, two days after players staged a dramatic work stoppage in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany discussed her mastectomy and breast cancer scare in remarks at the Republican National Convention, saying the first calls she received at the hospital were from Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump. "This president stands with Americans who have pre-existing conditions," she said. The president has actively sought to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, of which a crucial component prevents health providers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. He has not offered a replacement, should the US Supreme Court rule against the law, which has insured millions of people. "As I came out of anaesthesia, one of the first calls I received was from Ivanka Trump," she said. "As I recovered, my phone rang again. It was President Trump, calling to check on me. I was blown away." She told Americans that she has fought within the administration to protect the future for her nine-month-old daughter. "When I look into my baby's eyes, I see a new life, a miracle for which I have a solemn responsibility to protect," she said. "That means protecting America's future." The president's Justice Department has asked the Supreme Court to invalidate the ACA, a signature health policy under Barack Obama that the president's Democrat rival Joe Biden has pledged to expand if elected. In an interview on 19 July, the president promised a "full and complete" health plan "within two weeks" to replace the ACA, following efforts among Congressional Republicans to "repeal and replace" a measure that has insured more than 20 million Americans and expanded Medicaid coverage eligibility. The president did not produce a plan. The administration has rolled back several key elements of the law, including eliminating the "individual mandate" that forced a penalty to Americans who did not have insurance. The removal of that part of the law has served as a legal basis to invalidate the law. Officials have also rolled back policies that allow health providers to deny coverage and care to women and transgender people, part of an administration-wide effort to rewrite sex discrimination policies across housing, education and employment sectors. Stripping pre-existing coverage from the ACA could impact roughly 54 million Americans, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The challenge to the law is under way during the coronavirus pandemic that has seen millions of Americans lose employer-provided insurance coverage after layoffs and business closures. An estimated 5.4 million Americans lost their health insurance within the first few months of 2020. More Americans became uninsured between February and May than over any year in history, according to a report from nonpartisan consumer advocacy group Families USA, which compiled state-by-state reports estimating Covid-19's impact among workers under 65. In that time, at least 22 million Americans lost their jobs or left the workforce. The Lost Colony of Roanoke has been an unsolved American mystery for centuries, but to Scott Dawson it was not the English settlers who went missing, it was the Croatoan tribe who helped them that did. Dawson, an author and hobby archaeologist, has spent nearly a decade searching for proof that the group integrated with the natives after being 'abandoned' 400 years ago and claims the colony assimilated with the natives on Hatteras Island. Throughout the investigation, he uncovered writings from settlers who 'knew' the colony had went to live with the tribe, along with a number of artifacts that place the two groups together on the island. A number of new Croatoan and English items have been excavated, including an iron key, a native farming tool, a gun barrel and olive jars, which adds more weight to Dawson's claims. However, Dawson explained there has been a clue to the settler's whereabouts since the beginning - a wooden post discovered at the abandon camp with the word 'Croatoan' etched on it. 'The entire concept of the colony being lost is total fiction,' said Dawson. 'The truth of the Croatoan was lost in order to prop up a racist myth designed to hide assimilation. Scroll down for video The Lost Colony of Roanoke has been an unsolved American mystery for centuries, but to Scott Dawson (pictured) it was not the English settlers who went missing, it was the Croatoan tribe who helped them that did 'In 1937 the lost colony play was created and North Carolina was still 30 years away from being desegregated. 'If they had a play that ended with the colony assimilating with the Croatoan the public would have torn down the stage. 'Also it would be impossible to pretend the colony was lost if the relationship they had with the Croatoan was explained.' Dawson recently published a book about his findings, called 'The Lost Colony and Hatteras Island,' which tells the tale of the missing English settlers, but also of the forgotten Croatoan tribe. He and a team of archaeologists have found a number of Croaton and English items in the same layers of dirt, including an iron key (right), a native farming tool (left), a gun barrel and olive jars Dawson explained there has been one clue since the beginning - a wooden post discovered at the abandon camp with the word 'Croatoan' etched on it. 'The entire concept of the colony being lost is total fiction,' said Dawson 'The Croatoan are pretty similar to all the tribes from the area,' says Dawson. 'They used sea shells for different tools more and as grog for pottery instead of pebbles. 'They adopted firearms and metallurgy before any other tribe. 'They had the same burial practices and religion as tribes around them and the same technology and type of houses. 'They were not so different from other tribes until they adopted the English.' In 1587 a group of English settlers arrived on Roanoke Island to start a new life, but three years later more than 100 of the colonists vanished. However, Dawson and other experts are sure the settlers moved to Hatteras Island to live with the Croatoan tribe Dawson explains that one of the returning crew members wanted to travel to Hatteras Island (pictured) to see his daughter and granddaughter, but a hurricane stopped the voyage and he never saw his family again - but he knew they had moved to the Island Although the world still deems the colony a mystery, writings from Governor John White, one of the settlers who returned to a deserted camp in 1590, suggest he knew where they had moved camp. White recorded that he was never able to search Hatteras Island because of weather and dwindling supplies, but his writings indicate he took solace in the message carved into the post. Dawson recently published a book about his findings, called 'The Lost Colony and Hatteras Island,' which tells the tale of the missing English settlers, but also of the forgotten Croatoan tribe 'I greatly joyed that I had found a certain token of their being at Croatoan where Manteo was born,' reads the passage. Manteo, a leader of the Croatoan tribe, befriended the Lost Colony settlers before traveling back to England with the explorers. Dawson explains that White wanted to travel to Hatteras Island to see his daughter and granddaughter, but a hurricane stopped the voyage and he never saw his family again. Only White had family in the colony and everyone else aboard the ship wanted to leave, Dawson explained. 'What a shame because they saw columns of smoke coming from the island and that is how the story ends. 'No one ever went back not until John Lawson 100 years later.' Lawson, another English explorer, landed in what is now Charleston, North Carolina, about a century after the lost colony and to his surprise encountered natives with blue eyes who could 'speak out a book', according to his personal records. The story of the Lost Colony begins in England where Queen Elizabeth I and explorer Sir Walter Raleigh wanted to create a new capitol in America by sending an expedition of 115 people to break ground. The ship, which landed in 1587, was also the first to bring women and children to the New World, which included Governor John White's pregnant daughter Eleanor White Dare. Several weeks after settlers landed in Roanoke, Eleanor gave birth to the first English baby born in American, naming her Virginia Dare. Governor White soon returned to England to ask for more supplies, but he and other Englishmen were caught in the war between Spain. When he was finally able to make it back in 1590 on his granddaughter's third birthday, the colony was deserted. Pictured is a gun barrel found during the investigation on Hatteras Island. 'The funny thing is both the colony and the Croatoan became 'lost,' Dawson said. 'They are never mentioned in the story until there was the words on the tree' Pictured is a 16th century olive jar found on Hatteras Island. The excavation of Hatters Island revealed the natives and English built their homes side-by-side The story of the Lost Colony of Roanoke More than 400 years ago, Queen Elizabeth I and explorer Sir Walter Raleigh had hoped the 1580s expedition to America would create a new capital for England, but something went terribly wrong. The ship, carrying 115 explorers, was the first to bring women and children to the Americas when it landed in 1587. The group included Governor John Whites pregnant daughter Eleanor White Dare. Several weeks after they landed in Roanoke, Eleanor gave birth to the first English baby born in the New World and named her Virginia Dare. Governor White soon returned to England to ask for more supplies, but was held up in England for three years while the English warred with Spain. When he was finally able to make it back in 1590 on his granddaughter's third birthday, the colony was deserted. Numerous theories have surfaced about what happened to the 115 English settlers. Some suggest they died from disease, were massacred by either Native Americans or Spanish settlers or assimilated into a nearby Native American tribe, either as friends or slaves. However, there is one other theory - the settlers went to live the nearby Hatteras Island with the Croatoan tribe Advertisement The only thing left was the engraved post, which told the men the group had moved to Hatteras Island to live with the tribe. 'The funny thing is both the colony and the Croatoan became 'lost,' Dawson said. 'They are never mentioned in the story until there was the words on the tree. 'So much focus is on the abandoned colony, but an entire tribe was lost at least to history.' While excavating parts of the island, Dawson and a team of international archaeologists uncovered thousands of artifacts, belonging to both the Croatoan and English. 'Houses were found to have been built side-by-side. We thought the English would have had their own chunk of land,' explained Dawson. The team has found bullets mixed in with arrowheads, along with English copper fittings for shoelaces (pictured), iron keys and a gun barrel - all where the tribe had lived The Dare Stone Another clue about the Lost Colony of Roanoke was discovered in 1937, the Dare Stone. Discovered on the North Carolina-Virginia border, the stone was believed to be written by Eleanor White Dare, Roanoke Governor John White's daughter, and possibly tells the story of what happened to the settlers when they left their colony on Roanoke. Another clue was discovered in 1937, the Dare Stone. the stone was believed to be written by Eleanor White Dare, Roanoke Governor John White's daughter, and possibly tells the story of what happened Scholars have since been able to transcribe the markings. On the first side, below a cross (the emergency symbol) the message reads: 'Ananias Dare & / Virginia Went Hence / Unto Heaven 1591 / Anye Englishman Shew / John White Govr Via'. The other side of the stone told the supposed story of what happened to the colonists after Governor White returned to England in 1587, in more detail. Written from the perspective of Eleanor, the writer says the colonists left Roanoke and had two years of 'Misarie'. According to experts , the stone says more than half the settlers died and eventually there was news that a ship had arrived off the coast. The stone also notes it should be taken to Governor White and the Native American to bring it to the governor will receive 'Plentie Presents'. It was signed 'EWD' for Eleanor White Dare. Advertisement 'Their blacksmith shop was in the village which is a little surprising. 'We are thinking from a 2020 point of view, but people in the 16th century were powerfully racists and there was a language barrier, so who knows what variables played into that.' Dawson recently shared new artifacts uncovered at the Hatteras site. The trove includes English copper fittings for shoelaces, an iron key and a gun barrel that belonged to the settlers. However, in the same layers of soil there laid a a whelk shell the Croatoan used a a hoe to farm with they called it a rashaquon and a olive jar - both belonging to the tribe. These relics, Dawson claims, adds more support to the notion that the two groups lived in harmony on the Island and learned to work together. The Croatoan tribe was plagued with small pox in 1695, which spread across North Carolina, killing 95 percent of the people in just one year. 'After that they just never bounced back,' Dawson said. 'But if it wasn't for the Indians, we would have had web feet.' By Associated Press CANBERRA: Australias prime minister said Friday he was open to allowing an Australian white supremacist who slaughtered 51 worshippers at two New Zealand mosques to serve his life sentence in his homeland but the victims wishes would be paramount. A transfer would buck international convention and require changes to the laws in both countries, but proponents of the idea have called for Australia to take responsibility for imprisoning Brenton Harrison Tarrant and take the costs off New Zealanders. Tarrant, 29, was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without parole for the March 2019 attacks in Christchurch. He is the first person to be denied the possibility of parole in New Zealand and has enhanced security in prison for his own safety. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said while New Zealand has made no official request the Australian government was open to taking him back. Im pleased that that terrorist will never be released anywhere ever again, Morrison said. Well have an open discussion and look at the issues around this. Most of all, were concerned about what the views of the families would be for those affected, and we want to do the right thing by them, he added. New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is among the most vocal proponents. Given this unprecedented circumstance and all the regard to the cost of looking after the victims in our country who survived and their families and also the 50 million New Zealand dollar plus ($33 million) downstream in real terms of providing safety for this terrorist, then the sound, reasonable, logical thing to do would be to ask Australia to step up, Peters said. Tarrant was a legal resident of New Zealand at the time of the massacre, and international practice is for criminals to serve time in the jurisdictions where their crimes were committed. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has shown little enthusiasm for a transfer, telling reporters that current laws dont allow it and that any decision should be driven by the wishes of survivors and family members. Opposition leader Judith Collins is among those opposed, saying Australia might then want to send back hundreds of New Zealand citizens in Australian prisons. Peters said sending Tarrant back could require special laws because the near-neighbors do not have a legal framework for prisoner transfers. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said he would take legal advice on whether Tarrant might become eligible for parole if he entered Australias prison system. Wed have to look at what happened in terms of parole or the way in which our legal system would work here, Dutton said. First priority is to keep him in jail for the rest of his life, and well work very closely with New Zealand on any request that they provide, Dutton added. New Zealand has criticized Dutton for deporting increasing numbers of New Zealander criminals once they have been released from Australian prisons, accusing the minister of exporting Australia's problems. Some criminals have lived in Australia since childhood and have no family or social networks in their homeland. The New Zealand government argues that Australia should take responsibility for them turning to crime. There is no suggestion of a direct Chinese military threat to Palau. Instead the island nation is an example of the sometimes-obscure battleground on which the United States and China are pursuing a great power competition for global influence in an era of a more inward-looking Washington and an increasingly assertive and ambitious China. The power struggle is intensifying on multiple fronts and is seen by some as an emerging cold war akin to the mostly non-shooting conflict that played out between the United States and the Soviet Union until the collapse of Soviet communism in 1991. Leading members of an international heroin-smuggling gang have been arrested by gardai during a series of raids across three countries. The Lithuanian crime group, which set up complex drug trafficking networks in Ireland, has been dismantled following more than 60 pre-planned raids. A total of 18 suspects have been arrested during searches in Lithuania, Ireland and the North, while assets valued at 700,000 were also seized. The arrests followed a three-year investigation during which gardai identified several key figures of the crime group, including one man living in Dublin. Sources said the gang would lure vulnerable people into travelling to Ireland under the pretence of legitimate work but on arrival they would be forced into street dealing. They would be regularly ferried between the capital and other towns to avoid gardai. Eurojust, the EU agency which deals with judicial cooperation on criminal matters, said the operation had dismantled the group. Detectives believe at least 65 people were trafficked into Ireland in order to deal heroin. The lengthy investigation also identified three Lithuanians as key players. Members of the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) carried out eight searches in Dublin, Cork, Waterford and Kerry with the help of armed regional support units. Five men were arrested on foot of European arrest warrants issued by Lithuanian authorities and were brought before an emergency sitting of the High Court. Four were remanded in custody while another man was bailed under strict conditions. Assistant Commissioner John O'Driscoll, in charge of the Garda's investigations into serious and organised crime, said the operation illustrates "the potential to tackle suspected criminal activity engaged in by those who are involved" in crime on an international dimension. It had identified a Lithuanian man responsible for recruiting and trafficking people from his country into Ireland to move drugs and launder money. Investigators also identified his two main lieutenants, who assisted in setting up a complex drugs network on both sides of the Border since 2015. At least 20 people were suspected of involvement in running the criminal enterprise. The case was referred to Eurojust in 2017 due to the cross-border dimension of the criminal activity and the following year a joint investigation team was set up between agencies in Lithuania, Northern Ireland and Ireland. Jari Liukku, head of Europol's serious organised crime centre, said the arrests were "the culmination of a major investigation involving teams from across Europe working closely together to target criminals causing harm in local communities". The Zimmerwald Laser and Astrometry Telescope ZIMLAT in Zimmerwald, which is used for distance measurement to space debris objects. Credit: University of Bern, AIUB On the afternoon of February 10, 2009, the operational communications satellite Iridium 33 collided with the obsolete Cosmos 2251 communications satellite over Siberia at an altitude of roughly 800 kilometers. The collision was at a speed of 11.7 kilometers a second and produced a cloud of more than 2,000 pieces of debris larger than ten centimeters. This debris spread out over an extensive area within a few months and has been threatening to collide with other operational satellites since then. This event was a wake-up call for all satellite operators, but also for politicians. "The problem of so-called space debrisdisused artificial objects in spacetook on a new dimension," says Professor Thomas Schildknecht, head of the Zimmerwald Observatory and deputy director of the Astronomical Institute at the University of Bern. The near-Earth space is getting tight In certain orbital regions, the risk of collisions is already so high that active satellites must regularly perform maneuvers to avoid debris. The European Space Agency ESA processes thousands of collision warnings per satellite per year for its fleet of satellites and carries out dozens of maneuvers per year. In most cases, the potential collision partner is one of about 20,000 known space debris objects. "Unfortunately, the orbits of these disused satellites, launcher upper stages or fragments of collisions and explosions are not known with sufficient accuracy, i.e. only to a few hundred meters," explains Schildknecht. It is therefore often impossible to decide whether an evasive maneuver, which is very costly in each case, is even necessary and really reduces the risk. Accurate orbits thanks to laser distance measurements The measurement of distances to such objects using the satellite laser ranging method is an effective technology to improve the trajectory accuracy to a few meters. "We have been using the technology at the Zimmerwald Observatory for years to measure objects equipped with special laser retroreflectors. Only a few observatories worldwide have succeeded in determining distances to space debris using special, powerful lasers to date," Schildknecht continues. These measurements were also previously only possible at night. The breakthroughdaytime observations using a geodetic laser On June 24, 2020, researchers from the University of Bern succeeded for the first time ever in carrying out daylight observations of space debris using a geodetic laser at the Swiss Optical Ground Station and Geodynamics Observatory Zimmerwald. Geodetic laser systems are at least one order of magnitude less powerful than highly specialized space debris lasers. In addition, the detection of the individual laser photons diffusely reflected by the space debris objects in the flood of the bright daytime sky's background photons poses a particular challenge. The success at Zimmerwald Observatory was only possible thanks to the combination of active tracking of the debris using a highly sensitive scientific CMOS camera with real-time image processing and a real-time digital filter to detect the photons reflected by the object. Thomas Schildknecht comments on this: "The possibility of observing during the day allows for the number of measures to be multiplied. There is a whole network of stations with geodetic lasers, which could in future help build up a highly precise space debris orbit catalog. More accurate orbits will be essential in future to avoid collisions and improve safety and sustainability in space." Explore further Scientists find way to track space junk in daylight The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Thursday announced its first list of eight candidates for the bypolls to Madhya Pradeshs 27 assembly constituencies even as the Election Commission (EC) is yet to announce their schedule. The eight will contest seats in the Gwalior-Chambal region that are reserved for scheduled castes (SC), the partys traditional voter base. Twenty-two Congress lawmakers resigned in March to bring down chief minister Kamal Naths government in the state and necessitated bypolls to the seats they vacated. The resignations paved the way for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s return to power in the state.Three more Congress lawmakers resigned from the state assembly and joined the BJP in July. The remaining two seats had fallen vacant due to the death of the sitting lawmakers. In the 230-member state assembly, the BJP has 107 lawmakers, Congress 97, BSP three and Samajwadi Party (SP) two. There are also four independent members in the House. After the bypolls, the majority mark in the state assembly will be 116. BSP, SP and three independent lawmakers announced their support to the BJP in March. State Congress spokesman Bhupendra Gupta said even in 2018 the BSP contested elections against the Congress but got just three seats. The voters of the Congress are committed and the BSPs decision to contest the byelections will not affect our prospects. BJP leader Rajneesh Agrawal said every party has the right to field its candidates. But we are going to win all the seats in the bypolls. State BSP office secretary CL Gautam said, The next list of the candidates will follow. We will contest all the 27 seats. The other parties are yet to announce their candidates for the bypolls that are expected to be held by September. Political analyst Bhagwandev Israni said, There is not going to be a major difference in the political situation during the bypolls in comparison to what state witnessed during 2018 assembly elections. Though BSP has some base in Gwalior-Chambal region and it can affect the prospects of a few candidates in certain constituencies, the contest will be mainly between the Congress and BJP. Its a common corporate practice to use philanthropic pursuits to improve both their communities and public images. Some organizations donate both funding and manpower through formal philanthropy programs. Others choose to give regularly to selected charities. But for Pamela Davis, that wasnt enough. Davis decided to build an organization with the community at the center. Davis is founder and CEO of Nonprofits Insurance Alliance (NIA), a social enterprise and insurance carrier that serves the nonprofit sector exclusively. Built on the premise that business can be a force for good, and nonprofits can join together to build mutually beneficial capabilities, NIA was designed to serve the needs of the community from the start. At the time of NIAs inception in the 1980s, the nonprofit community faced tremendous challenges securing insurance. There was a liability insurance crisis, and nonprofits struggled to find insurance at any price. Insurers, unwilling to take on what they deemed as high-risk nonprofits, levied untenable rates. GL insurance premiums for nonprofits increased 200 percent or more for one out of every four nonprofits in the state of California. Without affordable coverage, many nonprofits could not stay open. NIA was built on the premise that business can be a force for good, and nonprofits can join together to build mutually beneficial capabilities. In her masters thesis at the University of California, Berkeley, Davis presented a solution to the nonprofit insurance crisis: a self-funded insurance pool that could offer nonprofits specialized protection. When established insurance experts heard about the idea, most of them dismissed it immediately, saying that it would put all of the bad risks together and that the pool would fail within a year. Her economics professor was equally dismissive of her solution. He said if nonprofits were insurable, there would be insurance for them, Davis says. He added that market supply would increase to cover the demand and prices could not be kept artificially high because insurance is a competitive market. Yet Davis was convinced of the viability of the nonprofit insurance solution. So, in 1989, Davis opened the doors to NIAs first office. That same day, the Loma Prieta earthquake hit. Fortunately, the location suffered no physical damage, but the quake had knocked out utilities to the NIAs newly acquired offices. Davis managed to convince the utility company to restore NIAs power first so she could provide leased space to the many small business forced out of damaged buildings. Business went on. So did the obstacles. The managing general agency (MGA) hired by NIA to handle NIAs underwriting signed a three-year contract, but after just one year, it breached the contract without notice via fax. However, Davis was able to pivot quickly. Despite the MGA exiting unexpectedly, she had built and maintained solid business relationships with insurance brokers. Because Davis had worked hard with the brokers that first year in demonstrating that even little nonprofits deserved great service and affordable prices, those brokers continued working directly with NIA. Today, as insurance carriers are once again exiting the nonprofit market, NIA is expanding. The organization has an impressive membership: over 20,000 nonprofits in 32 states and the District of Columbia. Community-Centered Business What that means to NIAs member companies is stability and continuity. Thats as it was designed, Davis says. By stabilizing an underserved market, NIA is proof of how a community-facing approach to business can reap multiple rewards, she says. NIAs proof of concept lies in the fact that the organization reported $575 million in assets for the combined group in the most recent fiscal year. NIA has distributed to member organizations over $47 million in dividends. Its virtuous business model delivers a financial service and generates funds that are returned to policyholders. Every organization should be operating with a dual purpose: doing whats right for the business while also doing whats right for the community. Why thats critical: the healthier the community, the healthier the businesses serving that community are, and the better the market for all. Its about sustainability. When your orientation is to the community first, your priorities are aligned in that direction, says Davis. There is no conflict as some investor-driven companies experience between what is right for the organization and what is right for the community. Right now whats right for the community is getting assistance in addressing COVID-19 concerns. Most recently NIA gave more than $500,000 in grants to help nonprofits meet urgent needs brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak. More importantly, NIA provided stable pricing and coverage for tens of thousands of nonprofits when commercial insurers were dropping nonprofits and dramatically increasing prices. Particularly now, that focus outward is critical. However, Davis says a long-term approach to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic is whats needed to successfully address it closer to home. We can get through it if we help local communitiesand organizations that care for themsurvive. (The Federal Reserve announced on July 17th that they are expanding their lending program to cover nonprofits as few as 10 employees.) And she says local communities need that support as they are forced to respond to rapid changes on multiple fronts: economic shocks, business cycles, and environmental devastation to name a few. How the organization responds is easier when consideration for impact on community is an inherent part of the organizations mission. Davis believes being community-focused is a better business approach because it takes into consideration all stakeholders. That means every organization should be operating with a dual purpose in mind, she says: doing whats right for the business while also doing whats right for the community. We need to change our business thinking to get out of the problems we are now facing. Short-termism is increasingly antithetical to sustainable businesses and healthy communities. While its easier to have sustainability and a stakeholder mindset from the outset, Davis says any organization can learn to pivot. She suggests understanding first what the organizations financial drivers are. Are you trying to maximize profit every year? Do you need to grow rapidly to satisfy investors? What impact does focus on short-term financial results have on the long-term health of the business? She says successful businesses that are connected to their communities, and the needs of their customers, have a long-term vision. Short-termism is increasingly antithetical to sustainable businesses and healthy communities. Expanding the Economic Pie Part of that long-term vision should include expanding the customer base. Davis says, There is a lot of value in expanding who gets access to products and services, which is what, presumably, the organization is good at. Can your products and services offer value beyond your current customers? How can you create offerings that will appeal to others? How can you promote your products to nontraditional audiences? Such a forward-looking examination of the business can help an organization tap into a more community-focused mindset while capitalizing on new revenue streams. Businesses leave a lot of opportunity unharnessed because they think the appeal is limited or not everyone can pay full freight, Davis says. Its erroneous thinking, she says, because in a market economy there are multiple product levels that can be created and made available. By thinking about how business can create broader economic valueand opportunityand not defaulting to short-term thinking, she says business can expand the economic pie which is at the heart of creating value for communities. If this year continues on the same track, NIA will write more new business this year than it wrote in its first 10 years of existence. Likewise, building a business model that can respond to external forces unlocks an organizations ability to adapt. Existing business models may not be able to respond quickly to external upheaval, but a more flexible thought process can help an organization pivot quickly and remain both true to the community and true to its own bottom line, says Davis. Its a move NIA is having to make currently. Nonprofits are facing the worst insurance market in 35-plus years. Because were willing to insure nonprofits at a time when commercial carriers are fleeing the market, our members are able to manage disruption and continue operations with one less crisis to worry about. Her message to social entrepreneurs: if NIA can do it in the insurance industry for the nonprofit sector, it can be done in much the same way in every business. NIA was designed to be a nonprofit just like the nonprofits it insures, Davis says. But that decision-making process actually works equally well for all businesses. Long-term thinking garners customer support and loyalty, and it improves the bottom line overall. It does not matter whether you are creating profits for nonprofit owners or for individual shareholders. By doing the right thing for the customer and thinking long term, everyone benefits. The proof is in the numbers NIA grew by 44 percent outside of California in Q1 2020, and is seeing double-digit growth during a pandemic. Davis says, If this year continues on the same track, NIA will write more new business this year than it wrote in its first 10 years of existence. She adds, That wouldnt happen if there was a vibrant insurance market serving nonprofits. Imagine how many other underserved segments could benefit from more community-minded business models. Davis sees NIA not as an exemplary business, but as a model for what business can be. I hope others see the power of our example and create new businesses that are not stuck in old paradigms of investor-driven capital that has not served our world or all communities well or fairly. Topics California Market Insurance Wholesale Syrian Constitutional Talks Resume After COVID-19 Threat Fades By Lisa Schlein August 27, 2020 Negotiations to draft a new constitution for Syria have resumed at U.N. headquarters in Geneva. They were temporarily suspended after four members of the Constitutional Committee tested positive for COVID-19 Monday. The talks, which are a crucial element in ending Syria's nearly decadelong conflict barely got off the ground before they were stopped. The U.N. special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, was clearly upbeat when he announced that Swiss health authorities had given the green light for the talks to go ahead. He said secondary testing done in recent days for the coronavirus indicated the earlier positive cases posed no risks. Nevertheless, he said, meetings of the 45-member Constitutional Committee will proceed with extreme caution and with strict safety measures in place. "We are at this stage proceeding here in the Palais des Nations only with those who have tested negative," he said. "This is out of an abundance of caution and based on the advice of the United Nations medical authorities." Pedersen said committee members had told him they were eager to resume the negotiations. He said this was a good sign for the difficult process ahead. At the start of this round of talks, Pedersen said he did not expect any major breakthroughs, but he believed even small progress toward building confidence and trust could lead toward a political settlement. "I have also received a strong signal of support from key international players for the United Nations' facilitation of the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned process, and this is indeed very much appreciated," he said. Representatives from Russia, Iran, Turkey and the United States are in Geneva monitoring the talks from afar. Pedersen said they would have no involvement in the proceedings, though he would be meeting them on the sidelines. The U.N. mediator called the first meeting earlier this week constructive. Before it was halted, he said the committee had agreed on a clear agenda for this session. He said he was looking forward to substantive discussions over the next few days. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address (MEMRI via JNS) The announcement of a normalization agreement on Aug. 13 between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, in advance of the signing of an Israel-UAE peace agreement, sparked many reactions across the Arab world. Senior Saudi journalist Mishari al-Dhaidi wrote in his Aug. 14 column in the London-based Saudi daily Asharq Al-Awsat that the agreement was an historic diplomatic achievement and compared it to the peace agreements with Israel signed by Egypt and Jordan. In contrast, the Qatari press, as expected, vehemently attacked the agreement, including with invective a... The government is doing the right thing by using loans for road construction. Its just that it has to give preference to roads that are overcrowded. This is what second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan told economic reporters today. Asked how he would assess the fact that the government has made slaughter of animals at a slaughterhouse mandatory and that many villagers are complaining, Kocharyan said the following: The government needs to subsidize certain expenses. It has to assume the function, organize and make the slaughterhouses work and privatize them in two years. If you prohibit something and make people do what you want them to do, you have to make most of the expenses. I would solve this issue differently. I would simply set up small slaughterhouses in all big villages through a state program. This would become community ownership for a village or perhaps the nearby villages, and villagers would reach agreements with each other. If the government doesnt do this, who will? This is a very understandable option, but the government doesnt talk to the people involved in the sector. Armenias government officials think they know everything. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jeff Mason and Joseph Ax (Reuters) Washington, United States Fri, August 28, 2020 12:15 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c411ccc2 2 World Donald-Trump,Republican-nomination,US-presidential-election,US-presidential-race,White-House,Joe-Biden Free A defiant President Donald Trump accepted the Republican nomination for a second term on Thursday with a blistering attack on Democratic rival Joe Biden, asserting that a Biden victory in November would only exacerbate the racial strife and coronavirus pandemic besieging the nation. Speaking from the White House South Lawn despite criticism he was using the executive residence as a political prop, Trump portrayed Biden, a career politician with a long record as a moderate, as a far-left extremist who would usher in a lawless, dangerous America. "This election will decide whether we protect law-abiding Americans, or whether we give free rein to violent anarchic agitators and criminals who threaten our citizens," Trump said on the fourth and final night of the Republican National Convention in a rambling speech that lasted more than an hour. "No one will be safe in Biden's America." Despite the pandemic, Trump delivered his remarks in front of more than 1,000 people, standing in front of dozens of American flags and basking in chants of "Four more years!" and "USA.!" Though an incumbent, Trump remains a self-styled outsider, an approach that won him the White House, his first elected office, in 2016 on a promise to end the crime and violence he said was afflicting the country. After days of civil unrest and violence in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where on Sunday police shot a Black man, Jacob Blake, in the back, Republicans on Thursday sought to turn the chaos to their advantage by claiming Biden would "defund the police." Biden has rejected that position. In trying to paint Biden as a tool of the "radical left," Trump also distorted the Democrat's policy positions on a host of other issues, including immigration, guns, law enforcement, abortion and energy production. As the night unfolded, Biden struck back on Twitter, writing, "When Donald Trump says tonight you won't be safe in Joe Biden's America, look around and ask yourself: How safe do you feel in Donald Trump's America?" The made-for-television scene - befitting the first reality TV host to serve as president - stood in marked contrast to Biden's acceptance speech last week, which was broadcast live from a largely empty arena in a nod to the disease. The crowd, seated in white chairs inches apart, showed little evidence of social distancing or face masks despite health experts' recommendations. The coronavirus prompted both political parties to scale back their conventions and make events mostly virtual. The Trump campaign said it had taken appropriate health precautions. In a reminder of the country's divisions, attendees could hear anti-Trump protesters at nearby Black Lives Matter Plaza as he spoke. More than 180,000 deaths More than 180,000 people have died in the United States from the coronavirus - more than any other country, according to a Reuters tally - amid a fresh wave of protests over the latest high-profile police shooting of a Black American. In Kenosha, relative calm returned after three nights of civil strife ending on Tuesday, including arson, vandalism and deadly shootings. Trump, a former New York real estate developer, is seeking to turn around a re-election campaign that has been largely overshadowed by a health crisis that has put millions of Americans out of work. In his speech on Thursday, Trump repeated his assertion that China is to blame for the pandemic and promised to rebuild what Republicans have called the "greatest economy" in history. But opinion polls have shown most Americans are disappointed in his response to the coronavirus, which he played down for weeks. While his approval rating among Republican voters remains high, dissent is mounting within the party. In three open letters being published on Thursday and Friday, Biden won endorsements from more than 160 people who worked for Republican former President George W. Bush or for past Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and John McCain, the New York Times and Politico reported. Earlier this week, 27 former Republican lawmakers endorsed Biden while the Lincoln Project, among the most prominent Republican-backed groups opposing Trump, said a former Republican Party head had joined it as a senior adviser. Thursday's program aimed to counterbalance those defections, featuring a video showcasing former Democratic voters who say they now support Trump and remarks from US Representative Jeff Van Drew, who abandoned the Democratic Party to join the Republicans after voting against Trump's impeachment this year. "Joe Biden is being told what to do by the radicals running my former party, the same radicals trying to install him as their puppet president," he said. The program also included several emotional appeals, including from the parents of Kayla Mueller, an aid worker who died after being held captive for months by Islamic State militants in Syria. The Mueller parents said they blamed the Obama administration for failing to rescue Mueller. Trump kicked off the week on Monday by accusing Democrats of seeking to steal the election by advocating for mail-in voting. His previous high-profile speeches have also emphasized grim themes, including his inaugural address in January 2017 that described "American carnage." Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Some Recent Developments In April 2020, Chart Industries has been awarded a design study for hydrogen fuel cells by a naval architect researching hydrogen propulsion through fuel cells for a variety of medium and large ships. Chart holds over 500 liquid hydrogen references, specialist know-how and in-depth hydrogen risk mitigation experience, and therefore it was selected for this kind of project. It will give Chart Industries one more opportunity to show its expertise and to boost its credibility in the market. In February 2020, Chart Industries, Inc. signed a Letter of Cooperation with ExxonMobil India LNG Limited, an affiliate of ExxonMobil, and Indian Oil Corporation focused on pioneering virtual pipelines to accelerate gas access in India. Virtual pipelines deliver liquefied natural gas by road, rails and waterways not connected by physical pipelines. This opens up company for several cryogenic applications, helping the demand for equipments required for it. In May 2020, Linde announced that it has started up the first of two new high-purity nitrogen generators in Shanghai, China, as part of a 20-year contract to supply ultra-high purity industrial gases to GTA Semiconductor. The second generator is expected to come on stream by 2022. The new plant is located in the Shanghai Lingang Industrial Zone, one of the largest industrial parks in Shanghai. Linde will supply GTA Semiconductor's US$5.1 billion wafer fabrication plant with ultra-high purity gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, as well as compressed dry air (CDA). This will also create demand for cryogenic equipments, giving it a boost in that region. To request a sample copy or view summary of this report, click the link below: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/cryogenic-equipment-market In November 2019, Washington-based BioLife Solutions Inc. bought Custom Biogenic Systems. Inc., a Bruce Township-based cryogenics equipment supplier for $11 million I cash and $4 million in common stock. The deal gives BioLife a new revenue source and technology as the firm aims to build its cryopreservation capabilities and hit $100 million in revenue. In April 2019, Cardiff based Cryo Storage Solutions secured the final tranche of a 150,000 funding round to complete development of a new cryogenic, low temperature sample storage facility. Cryo Storage Solutions offers a range of cryogenic and -80 degrees celsius storage, disaster recovery and product or risk management services. They hold the exclusive Cryotherm distribution agreement for both the UK and Eire, allowing them to supply high end cryogenic equipment, Dewars, Bio-banks and SiVL Pipework systems. This investment will enable the company to complete its Human Tissue Authority license, meeting increasing demand for high quality cryogenic storage from hospitals, medical research organisations and others, leading to more demand for the cryogenic equipments in the market. In November 2018, the technology company The Linde Group was awarded a contract from Chinese chemical and energy company Inner Mongolia Huineng Coal Chemical Co Ltd to supply a mid-scale LNG plant near Beinichuan in Inner Mongolia. The Linde Engineering group became responsible for engineering, procurement and site services for the LNG plant with a nameplate capacity of 750,000 tons of liquefied natural gas per annum. The plants technology was based on Lindes proprietary LIMUM process, a multi-stage mixed refrigerant process that provides best-in-class energy efficiency, and proprietary core cryogenic heat exchangers. This deal became an important deal, as it helped Linde group in establishing itself in that region. In November 2018, Chart Industries, Inc. announced that it completed the acquisition of VRV S.r.l. and its subsidiaries. VRV is a diversified multinational corporation with highly automated, purpose-built facilities for the design and manufacture of pressure equipment serving the Cryogenic and Energy & Petrochemical end markets. This acquisition helped Chart Industries to gain more expertise and technology to expand its own business in new regions. In January 2018, Chart Industries, Inc. announced the acquisition of Skaff Cryogenics & Cryo-Lease, LLC. Skaff provides quality repair service and remanufacturing of cryogenic and liquefied natural gas storage tanks and trailers. Skaff also maintains a portfolio of cryogenic storage equipment that is leased to customers for temporary and permanent needs. Customers include major gas suppliers, as well as a variety of smaller distributors and end users. This acquisition of Skaff expands Charts direct regional presence for service and aftermarket support in the Northeast United States. This is a very strategic expansion for Chart, as they drive to bring more value to their customers. 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. Students enjoy playground fun in a safe place, even while wearing their masks. Jewish Academy of Orlando's students loved heading back to school with their friends. Here are a few peeks from the first day of school. ... Vodafone UK has become the first UK mobile operator to switch on an OpenRAN 4G site, partnering with Mavenir, the industry's only end-to-end cloud-native Network Software Provider for Communications Service Providers (CSPs). This deployment in Wales is connecting Vodafone customers around the Royal Welsh Showground in Powys. Vodafone plans to use OpenRAN to more cost-effectively extend 4G services to rural communities and introduce new suppliers in the radio network. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200827005273/en/ OpenRAN increases flexibility, agility, speed of rollout, and helps to decrease costs by using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and new innovative virtualised and open solutions. OpenRAN is the foundational principle of open interfaces and product interoperability. It is based on initiatives from the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) and O-RAN Alliance, and will lead to networks that are more flexible, innovative and cost effective, and enables new suppliers to support mobile networks. In this deployment, the RAN is also virtualised (vRAN). Virtualised RAN is the software application running on COTS that delivers cost effectiveness, increased flexibility and agility to the mobile operators, whilst providing one architecture for many different deployment scenarios. Vodafone UK Chief Technology Officer Scott Petty said: We are delighted to work together with Mavenir on the important milestone of the UKs first live OpenRAN site. The introduction of the technology enables us to introduce new suppliers, such as Mavenir, giving us greater flexibility when rolling out our mobile network. Were proud to be pioneering the development of OpenRAN and will be monitoring the performance of this first site. We are proud to have achieved such a milestone with Vodafone and to provide innovative radio solutions in the market that transform the mobile network economics, while deploying technology with greater flexibility, greater efficiencies, and more agility as a full end-to-end Network Software Provider, said Pardeep Kohli, President and CEO at Mavenir. Mavenir is committed to bringing transformative innovation and technology to the telecommunications space and will continue to leverage our long history and experience in virtualised network solutions. About Vodafone UK: Vodafone UK connects people, businesses and devices to help our customers benefit from digital innovation. Our services span mobile, fixed line connections, home and office broadband and the Internet of Things (IoT). Having made the UKs first mobile phone call and sent the first text message, Vodafone has a history as a tech pioneer. In 2018 we made the UKs first live holographic call using 5G, and were first to start carrying live 5G traffic from a site in Salford, Greater Manchester. We now have 5G in more places than anyone else, with multiple locations now live across the UK and the rest of Europe. Today we serve more than 18 million mobile and fixed line customers in the UK, with 4G network coverage at 99%. Our customers voted us the UKs Best Mobile Network at the 2018 Trusted Reviews Awards for the second year in a row. To help deliver Gigabit UK, our full-fibre broadband roll-out programme now covers 15 UK towns and cities through partnerships with CityFibre and Openreach. Connectivity is at the heart of what we do as it gives us a huge opportunity for good. We are using our network, products, talents and technology to help society prosper and respond to significant social and environmental issues. Our free Digital Parenting magazine is helping families and schools across the UK to navigate the online world safely. Meanwhile, the Vodafone Foundations work with researchers at Imperial College is developing personalised cancer treatment using the processing power of smartphones. We are part of Vodafone Group, one of the worlds largest technology communications companies, with mobile operations in 26 countries, partnerships with mobile networks in 55 more, and fixed broadband operations in 19 markets. As of 30 September 2019, Vodafone Group had approximately 625 million mobile customers, 27 million fixed broadband customers, and 22 million TV customers including all of the customers in Vodafones joint ventures and associates. For more information about Vodafone UK, please visit: www.vodafone.co.uk About Mavenir: Mavenir is the industry's only end-to-end, cloud-native Network Software and Solutions/Systems Integration Provider for 4G and 5G, focused on accelerating software network transformation for Communications Service Providers (CSPs). Mavenir offers a comprehensive end-to-end product portfolio across every layer of the network infrastructure stack. From 5G application/service layers to packet core and RAN, Mavenir leads the way in evolved, cloud-native networking solutions enabling innovative and secure experiences for end users. Leveraging innovations in IMS (VoLTE, VoWiFi, Advanced Messaging (RCS)), Private Networks as well as vEPC, 5G Core and OpenRAN vRAN, Mavenir accelerates network transformation for more than 250+ CSP customers in over 140 countries, which serve over 50% of the worlds subscribers. Mavenir embraces disruptive, innovative technology architectures and business models that drive service agility, flexibility, and velocity. With solutions that propel NFV evolution to achieve web-scale economics, Mavenir offers solutions to help CSPs with cost reduction, revenue generation, and revenue protection. www.mavenir.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200827005273/en/ Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > Prashant Bhushan vs. Supreme Court - Contempt of Court or Truth and (...) by Sukla Sen Right now, we, Indians, are witnessing an extraordinary spectacle, involving the highest court of the land. So much so that the venerable New York Times has characterised it as the Supreme Court being on trial! [1] A brief recap of the developments that led to it. Two recent tweets [2], dated June 27th and 29th, by Prashant Bhushan, a senior Supreme Court advocate - widely acknowledged as a crusader for justice and fairness in public life, has raised a veritable storm. On July 9, 2020, a petition [3] was filed by Mahek Maheshwari, advocate, for contempt based on the tweet [the one on June 29th] against the CJI, with an application for exemption from producing consent of the Attorney General (AG) or the Solicitor General (SG), sitting on a motorbike. [4] The matter was listed on July 22 before the Bench presided over by Justices Arun Mishra, B R Gavai and Krishna Murari. The bench in a rather unusual manoeuvre, while considering the complaint before it took suo motu cognisance of this tweet and also the earlier one on June 27th - which had talked of the role of the Supreme Court and its 4 CJIs, in particular, during the last six years in the destruction of democracy in India, and initiated contempt proceedings against Bhushan, on that basis thereby (allegedly) dodging the need for the consent of the AG. To cut a long story short, for now, on August 14 morning, after holding a session of hearing on August 5, the bench pronounced Bhushan guilty after concluding that he has committed "serious contempt of the Court". [5], [6] The next hearing date for arguments on the quantum of punishment to be meted out was fixed on August 20. On that day, the hearing was concluded, but, the sentence, as anticipated, was not delivered; instead Bhushan, despite his assertion of disinclination, was granted time (till August 24th) to recant and in such an event the bench is to consider it on the following day. [7] It is pertinent to note here that during the hearing on 20th, Bhushan had, in fact, submitted a written statement emphatically affirming his tweets as his bonafide belief and refusing to seek any mercy or magnanimity from the Court: My tweets were nothing but a small attempt to discharge what I considered to be my highest duty at this juncture in the history of our republic. I did not tweet in a fit of absent-mindedness. It would be insincere and contemptuous on my part to offer an apology for the tweets that expressed what was and continues to be my bonafide belief. Therefore, I can only humbly paraphrase what the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, had said in his trial: I do not ask for mercy. I do not appeal to magnanimity. I am here, therefore, to cheerfully submit to any penalty that can lawfully be inflicted upon me for what the Court has determined to be an offence, and what appears to me to be the highest duty of a citizen. [8] The other noteworthy point is that the AG, who had been summoned, apparently only as a part of the mandatory provision, had requested the Court not to punish [9], which would be rejected just out of hand, and be abruptly cut short whenever he tried, only with limited success, to point out that what Bhushan has told is nothing too unusual. Regardless, he could manage to interject [10]: Five judges of the Supreme Court who have said that democracy has failed in the Supreme Court which is what Bhushan said in his tweets. Secondly, I have nine judges of the Supreme Court saying that there is corruption in the higher judiciary. Two of them made statements while they chaired (not clear). Seven of them said so immediately after their retirement. I have extracts from all of them. I myself made a speech in 1987 in the Indian Law Institute... On 24th, Bhushan submitted yet another written affidavit reaffirming his earlier position, the essence being: I have made the statements [i.e. the two subject tweets] bonafide and pleaded truths with full details, which have not been dealt with by the Court. If I retract a statement before this court that I otherwise believe to be true or offer an insincere apology, that in my eyes would amount to the contempt of my conscience and of an institution that I hold in highest esteem. [11] Now, coming to the spectacle, by charging and convicting Prashant Bhushan - widely known for his brave and arduous legal fights for justice, of committing "contempt of court", to be followed by dauntless Bhushan demonstratively claiming the glorious moral legacy of Gandhis hugely courageous fight against the mighty and oppressive British Raj and its legal order, the Supreme Court has, at one stroke, removed a largely observed long-held taboo - opened up the floodgate of public review of its own conduct and the place that the judiciary should occupy in a democratic set-up. Something unprecedented - going by the comments even in the mainstream print media, let alone its radical cousins. Take, for instance, Soli Sorabjee in a national newspaper. To be sure, Sorabjee, is no sundry "radical". (Nor, for that matter, the incumbent AG - K K Venugopal.) Apart from his other formidable credentials, he had been the Attorney General also under the Vajpayee government and subsequently, the Vajpayee government - during its second term, would bestow upon him the Padma Bibhushan.12 [12] This is what he has said: Mr. Sorabjee said the court could have ignored the first tweet and the second tweet was merely an opinion. People have different beliefs, do you punish people for having some beliefs which are not to the liking of the Supreme Court, Mr. Sorabjee asked. Mr. Sorabjee said truth is an absolute defence against contempt. He said a person should be given an opportunity to prove his allegations are true. If Mr. Bhushan is ready to establish the facts of his allegations, then how can you prevent him... He should not be intimidated into silence. Of course, if his allegations are baseless, frivolous, then punish him. But dont punish him for just saying it, Mr. Sorabjee said. . . . He also disagreed with the courts view that the Attorney General of Indias prior consent was not necessary before initiating suo motu contempt. The Attorney General is the first law officer. He should be consulted. They cannot ignore him. Inherent powers of the court to initiate contempt (under Article 129 of the Constitution) is subject to certain limitations. Inherent power to do what? This is a misuse of the inherent power [emphasis added], Mr. Sorabjee said. [13] There are, of course, others, who are far more outspoken. Just two examples: I. This case and the judgment is sui generis (one of a kind) not only because the manner in which the court has, without adverting to or considering Prashant Bhushans detailed explanation/response , come to the conclusion that he was guilty of having committed criminal contempt; BUT also because of the manner in which the matter was initiated, heard and decided all within 30 days and that too by video hearing as the court has not been holding actual physical hearings. [14] Thats Aspi Chinoy, a senior advocate, practising in the Supreme Court and High Courts. II. As laffaire Prashant Bhushan plumbs the depths of ignominy, the inevitable question is this: Where do the citizens of this country go from here and how does the legal profession propose to deal with the salvo fired by the Supreme Court on 14th August 2020, holding Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt for his two tweets of 27th and 29th June 2020? . . . How a non-maintainable and incomprehensible contempt petition was illegally filed, promptly entertained by the registry, promptly placed before Justice Mishra on the administrative side, promptly converted into a sou [read: suo] motu contempt petition by him, and promptly taken up for hearing by a bench headed by himself, is now too well-known to be laboured. So too is the animus Justice Mishra bears against Bhushan, an aspect of the matter elaborately set out in his letter of protest to the CJI dated 25th July 2020. The letter stated in no uncertain terms that he had a reasonable apprehension that he would be denied a fair and impartial hearing by a bench headed by Justice Mishra. He sought the intervention of the CJI to place the matter before another bench, which did not contain Justice Mishra. Of course nothing was done in the matter by the CJI, and so the suo motu contempt was heard and disposed of by the bench headed by Justice Mishra. Having followed the matter and written about it in the recent past, I had no doubt what the result would beguilty as condemnedthe Court being the prosecutor, judge and executioner. And so it came to pass [all emphases in original]. [15] This is yet another senior advocate, Navroz Seervai, who has just not minced his words. He has also underlined the fact that the Court in its August 14 judgement simply refused to take up the detailed affidavit [16] filed by Bhushan to, inter alia, substantiate his two tweets the first one dealing with the destruction of democracy and the role played by the SC in particular, in great details. In fact, there has been an avalanche of critical reactions, including from legal practitioners: Advocate-on-Record Prashant Bhushans conviction for contempt of court has drawn angst, dismay and opposition from retired judges, notably R M Lodha, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph. Their support, along with that of "thousands of lawyers... Thats how a comment [17], in a leading daily, visibly, meant to be, unfavourable to Bhushan has put it. Nothing, perhaps, can be any more eloquent. Of the numerous issues raised, one is why Justice Mishra should not, in the first place, have had been on a bench - let alone heading it, adjudicating a complaint against Bhushan. Heres an extract: Unfortunately, Justice Mishras independence has been questioned publicly, repeatedly, in certain quarters, including by some of the senior lawyers. Bhushan himself has criticised him in the past. In February 2020, Bhushan wrote about the presence of Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and other top BJP politicians at a family event of Justice Mishras son-in-law. He had tweeted: Apparently this blue-eyed Joint Secretary is the son in law of a senior SC judge & the Mundan ceremony of his daughter was at the residence of that Judge. [18] Heres yet another: While Prashant Bhushan is known as a crusader against the current regime] Justice Arun Mishra on the other hand has very recently and publicly expressed unbridled adulation for the prime minister. We thank the versatile genius, who thinks globally and acts locally, Shri Narendra Modi, Justice Mishra said while expressing his wholesome gratitude towards the prime minister for inaugurating the International Judicial Conference 2020. A few bar associations had passed resolutions condemning Justice Mishras comments, calling them inappropriate and impinging upon the impartiality of the judiciary. [19] Also relevant in this context is a slightly dated, but still pretty much useful, brief glimpse into his past records: [Book Extract] Whither judicial aloofness? What to make of Justice Arun Mishra hearing matters involving his friends in high places. [20] Yet another point being made is the haste that the Court has displayed juxtaposed with its studied reluctance to take up some vital cases, for months. Heres a brief list and analysis: SC took only 24 days to deliver Bhushan verdict even as Kashmir, CAA matters await decisions [21]. An observation, a part of a brilliant analysis of the whole affair and its broader implications, which hits the nail right on its head is: A charge that Mr. Bhushan has attempted to shake the very foundation of constitutional autocracy in India would, on the other hand, be credible. This, he has done. And there is every reason and every urgency for all of us to join him in attacking, through peaceful and legal means, the very foundation of constitutional autocracy in our country. Autocracy has, after all, been our norm since time immemorial. It is an ancient tradition for us. Democracy, on the other hand, is a new and nascent experiment, forced on an unwilling elite by a mass struggle for freedom. The language and culture of autocracy comes easily to us a justice system in which the kings law is conveyed by courts to an obedient people; the law is enforced with an iron hand which, with firmness, strikes those who attack the majesty of courts (words in quotes are from the judgment). [22] Conclusion The Court had assembled on the 25th. Advocate Rajiv Dhavan again pleaded that Prashant Bhushan should not be punished. The Court kept its verdict reserved. [23] Regardless of what the final judgement turns out tobe, the way the case has dragged on, since pronouncement of the guilty verdict, clearly shows up that the Court could not simply ignore the outpourings of public outrage. But, that is no guarantee as regards the final outcome, which, in any case, is due by September 2nd, the day the head of the bench is due to retire. Even more importantly, the case has thrown up the salient issue of freedom of expression, in general, and freedom of legitimate criticism of the Court, based on facts, in particular. Bhushan has elaborately chronicled, in his detailed affidavit, how democracy stands increasingly subverted over the last six years and what role the highest court of the land has played. The Courts refusal to deal with this substantive, and core, issue while dealing with the case is utterly disturbing. Building up of public awareness appears to be the only remedy. 26 08 2020 A hit-and-run driver on Friday killed a commercial motorcyclist on the overhead bridge at the popular post office area in Ilorin. The accident, which occurred at about 4:10 p.m., a source said, was due to over-speeding by the driver of a private car and the commercial motorcyclist. The duo reportedly had a head-on collision, leading to the death of the motorcyclist on the spot. According to the source, who preferred anonymity, the incident also left the passenger at the back of the motorcycle seriously injured. When a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) visited the scene, officials of the Kwara Traffic Management Agency (KWARTMA) were seen conveying the corpse and the injured passenger to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. Efforts to stop the driver of the private car who knocked down the victim were said to be abortive. When contacted, Ajayi Okasanmi, the Police Public Relations Officer in Kwara, confirmed the incident. (NAN) Despite the ban on Chinese apps in India, the enthusiasts of such apps are still downloading them using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), a trend which may defeat the governments motive for the ban. Even as the government banned 59 Chinese apps, including the popular TikTok and Camscanner, many people have been downloading and using them through the VPNs. DH spoke to five different people who have downloaded the banned apps in the past five days through VPNs. I downloaded TikTok and Camscanner in my new phone and use them almost every other day. VPNs have always provided a big loophole, one user told DH, requesting anonymity. In case of TikTok, existing users are not able to login using their old credentials. However, the users are accessing the TikTok videos through VPNs and without registering on the app. TikTok India wasnt able to provide data on downloads through VPNs, as the downloads get registered in the name of other countries. In case of Camscanner, once downloaded through VPNs, people are able to access it without connecting to the VPN again. The company didnt respond to the queries sent by DH till the time of filing this copy. A VPN works by routing your devices internet connection through your chosen VPNs private server rather than your internet service provider (ISP), so that when your data is transmitted to the internet, it comes from the VPN, rather than your computer. At the start of the year, before the government decided to ban the Chinese apps after skirmishes with the communist country in the border area of Ladakh, 45% of the 560 million internet users in India were also active VPN users. Our data shows that 45% of internet users in India are also active VPN users. Given that there are 560 million users, it translates to 252 million active VPN users. This data is from the start of the year and so does not take into account the effects of the pandemic, VPN review service Top10VPN told DH. Experts expect the downloads of VPNs to have grown during the pandemic. Previously, the government had banned porn websites in India. However, porn viewing continued, using the VPNs. BROADALBIN At the Ozoner 29 drive-in movie theater, more than 100 Republicans honked their car horns, hooted and hollered Thursday night as they watched President Donald J. Trump accept the Republican nomination and pledge to restore "law and order" to a divided nation. "We had our own mini-convention, said Sue McNeil, chair of the Fulton County Republican Party. "We had Trump signs and Trump paraphernalia; we had red, white and blue glowsticks. This is Trump country up this way. The eager supporters watched as Trump delivered an hour-long speech at a White House transformed in unprecedented fashion into a backdrop for the president's re-election campaign. In contrast to the scene at the drive-in, more than 1,000 Republicans sat shoulder to shoulder some masked, some not on the South Lawn to watch the final night of the Republican National Convention. "It was a great way to culminate what I thought was an excellent convention," said New York GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy, who was in the audience. Throughout the week, the RNC featured speeches from the vice president, first lady, top administration officials, leading GOP lawmakers and speakers from swing states that Trump will fight to win in November. George W. Bush, the only surviving Republican president, did not appear. Over four nights, convention speakers argued that Trump would stand up for law and order, freedom of religion and school choice, oppose abortion, cut taxes and pull America from the economic devastation created by the pandemic. Trump issued a full pardon and presided over a naturalization ceremony at the White House as part of the convention program, blending official acts and the use of federal property in ways that overturned political norms and, to many of his critics, federal law. "Hes addressing his base. He believes in mobilization. He believes the virus is going to give him an advantage in that," said Clifford Brown, professor of government at Union College. Hes also trying to address the moderate Republican. That's why the parade of the African-American speakers. Hes saying, 'Im not a racist.' (Those speeches) are not aimed at the African-American voters; hes not trying to peel that off. Its for white voters worried hes racist. On the last night of the convention, the president's home town of New York City was a focal point: Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, the president's personal lawyer, and Patrick Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association of New York City, both spoke condemned the uptick in violent crimes in the city and what they described as a culture of lawlessness. You wont be safe in Joe Bidens America," Lynch said in his remarks. "We can have four more years of President Trump or you can have no safety, no justice and no peace. Talk of impeachment was almost entirely absent in both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, except in the RNC speech by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, who called the Ukraine inquiry and U.S. Senate trial "baseless," "illegal" and a "scam" intended take away the voice of voters. Between the coronavirus and racial unrest, it was a sign of how far the country has moved on in six months, and how both parties viewed impeachment as an issue to be avoided on the stump. Across the country, viewership of the RNC was down compared to 2016, according to Nielsens analysis of the first two nights. The GOP convention also featured mid-sized live audiences at earlier speeches at the White House and Fort McHenry in Baltimore, despite coronavirus regulations on gatherings. On Thursday night, the packed White House audience included Langworthy; Andrea Catsimatidis, the Manhattan GOP chair; former New York City comptroller candidate John Burnett; former U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Blakeman of Long Island; and Tom Dadey, longtime Onondaga County GOP chairman. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Protestors gathered outside the White House on Thursday night, and some confronted the White House guests as they exited surrounded by police. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-K.Y., said he was surrounded by a "crazed mob" and was scared they would attack him. Langworthy called it a "disgusting" scene. "It was hostile, it was ugly and it was intolerant," he said. Most of the traditional business of conventions caucus meetings, delegate dinners and other social gatherings were cut short this year. Only about 350 Republican National Committee members from around the country gathered in Charlotte, N.C., the convention's official host city, for convention activities over the weekend and Monday. But New York delegates got together in small groups locally to watch the convention Monday through Thursday, in addition to the drive-in move theater festivities. Christine Benedict, Albany County Republican chair and a New York delegate, called the convention a success. I just dont get how anyone couldnt vote for him after last night," she said. "There was no stone left unturned. McNeil, the Fulton County chair, first met Trump when he was considering a run for governor in 2006. She liked how he was "respectful," looked in her the eye, gave her his cell phone number and called her back within the hour. She called Thursday's acceptance speech strong and energetic and right to the point. As the campaign continues this fall, New York Republicans often frozen out in a state where they hold no statewide office and run neither legislative chamber will go door to door wearing masks, make phone calls and attempt to excite Republicans to support the ticket up and down the ballot. "We've been working hand in glove with the (presidential) campaign straight through," Langworthy said. "There's investment as we speak in key districts around New York, especially in Congress but also down-ballot, for state Senate and Assembly. We will work with them on turning out our vote." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan Fri, August 28, 2020 14:46 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4127c61 1 National gas-explosion,North-Sumatra,Deli-Serdang,death,gas-cylinders,LPG-cylinders,ledakan-tabung-gas,sumatera-utara Free Four people are dead and nine severely injured after several LPG gas and oxygen cylinders at a welding workshop in Hamparan Perak District, Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, exploded on Thursday morning. The explosion also damaged four cars and one motorcycle that were passing the scene. North Sumatra Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) chief Sr. Comr. Abu Bakar Tetusi said the explosion occurred among LPG gas and oxygen cylinders being used by a welder, identified as Erwin, who was working at the shop when the incident occurred. "A total of five cylinders exploded, so the explosion was very big. It killed four people and injured nine others," he told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. According to Abu Bakar, the explosion claimed the lives of Erwin and two other people in the workshop. The driver of an SUV, which was passing by the shop, was also killed after a flying piece of metal smashed through the car windscreen. He said the explosion was the result of negligence and was not intentional or caused by a bomb. Binjai Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Romadhoni Sutardjo said the authorities were currently investigating the incident. "Based on our initial investigation, the source of the explosion was some LPG and oxygen cylinders used at the workshop," Romadhoni said. "We have sealed off the area with police lines for further investigations," he added. According to Romadhoni, several houses located next to the workshop were also damaged in the blast. (nal) Dane DeHaan has said he'd love to play Nosferatu. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images) Dane DeHaan has revealed he thinks it would be cool if he ever got the chance to play iconic vampire Nosferatu. The actor told Bloody Disgusting that the blood-sucking villain is his dream horror role on their Boo Crew podcast. Maybe like Nosferatu, he said when asked about his dream role. That'd be cool, right? I think I could do it. It'd be fun." Read more: DeHaan says Spider-Man was setting up Sinister Six Dehaan was promoting Quibi series The Stranger alongside co-star Maika Monroe, who is best known for her horror roles in It Follows and The Guest. Monroe plays a driver for a ride-share app who has to deal with DeHaans sinister passenger. Dane DeHaan in Quibi series 'The Stranger'. (Credit: Quibi) Released in 1922, Nosferatu was helmed by German filmmaker F.W. Murnau and is held up as a landmark for both the horror genre and silent cinema in general. The film was an unofficial and unauthorised adaptation of Dracula, which was sued by the estate of Bram Stoker, despite the changed names. They ordered all prints of the movie to be destroyed, but several survived and went on to shape cinema history. Read more: History of vampires on film Max Schreck played the titular vampire, with Klaus Kinski taking on the role in a 1979 remake helmed by Werner Herzog. A modern remake has been announced, with The Lighthouse filmmaker Robert Eggers attached to the project. Max Schreck as the vampire Count Orlok, in a scene from F. W. Murnau's expressionist horror film, 'Nosferatu'. (Photo by Frederic Lewis/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) DeHaan has always been at home playing dark characters on the big screen, having portrayed a teen turned super-villain in Chronicle, the Green Goblin in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and a patient trapped at a bizarre health facility in A Cure for Wellness. Read more: Valerian becomes box office flop He had less success when he attempted to play a more conventional hero role in Luc Bessons ambitious sci-fi Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. If he doesnt ever end up playing Nosferatu, theres always the Joker. Hed smash it. Congress MP from Kanyakumari H Vasanthakumar, who had been fighting the coronavirus infection, died at a private hospital in Chennai on Friday. The 70-year-old leader, the working president of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, was also a renowned businessman and was the founder of famous retail chain Vasanth & Co. Vasanthakumar is survived by wife, two sons and a daughter. Apollo Hospitals in a statement said the MP was treated in a critical care unit for severe Covid pneumonia. Despite all active medical measures, his condition deteriorated gradually due to COVID complications and he passed away today," the hospital said. Expressing grief, the Congress in a tweet said: We are deeply saddened by the untimely demise of H Vasanthakumar. A staunch Congressman, true leader of the people and beloved MP. He will be sorely missed by all members of the Congress party and his followers." We are deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Shri H. Vasanthakumar. A staunch Congressman, true leader of the people & beloved MP. He will be sorely missed by all members of the Congress party & his followers. Our prayers are with his family in this time of grief. pic.twitter.com/BU49MrbNXg Congress (@INCIndia) August 28, 2020 Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences, tweeting: His strides in business and social service efforts were noteworthy. During my interactions with him, I always saw his passion towards Tamil Nadus progress." Saddened by the demise of Lok Sabha MP Shri H. Vasanthakumar Ji. His strides in business and social service efforts were noteworthy. During my interactions with him, I always saw his passion towards Tamil Nadus progress. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/SmuAK8ufAx Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 28, 2020 Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said in a tweet, The stalwart Congress leader served the people of Tamil Nadu throughout his life. His passing away is a personal loss to me as well as to the Congress." Vasanthakumar had been admitted to hospital on August 10 after he tested positive for coronavirus. He remained on life support and ECMO support for the last week as his condition was critical. His health worsened since Friday afternoon. The two-time MLA was first elected in the 2006 state assembly polls and then again in the 2016 elections. He also contested the Lok Sabha polls last year and defeated sitting BJP MP Radhakrishnan. Expressing grief, Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami said, Vasanthakumar, who started his career as a salesman, came up in life through his hard work. He did excellent service for the educational and economic growth of the poor and earned the love of people in his public life." In his condolence message, Rahul Gandhi said, The news of Kanyakumari MP H Vasanthakumars untimely demise due to Covid-19 has come as a shock. His commitment to the Congress ideology of serving the people will remain in our hearts forever. Heartfelt condolences to his friends and family members." Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President KS Alagiri said a pillar of the state unit has fallen. As a mark of respect, hen announced a week-long mourning and said party flags will fly at half mast and all party events are being cancelled. (With inputs from PTI) When President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in for a second term last May, he hinted at plans to strengthen his administrations response to surging poverty and various humanitarian crises afflicting the country. On August 21, last year, Mr Buhari created the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development and nominated Sadiya Farouq to head it. Part of the Ministrys responsibilities is to coordinate the administrations Special Intervention Programmes (SIPs), and superinted over the humanitarian policies of the government. In the ministry are subsumed six federal agencies, namely: the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Person (NCFRMI),; North East Development Commission; National Emergency Management Agency; Social Investment Program; Sustainable Development Goals and the National Agency For Prohibition And Trafficking In Persons. Ms Farouq, 46, is a political ally of Mr Buhari since the days of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) where she served as the national treasurer of the party and later national treasurer of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC). She hails from Zurmi Local Government Area in Zamfara state. Before her appointment, she was a member of the National Assembly Service Commission. She once headed NCFRMI, too. A brief of her positives and negatives: There is no doubt that the Minister has recorded some achievements especially in the humanitarian sector bringing succour to Nigerian citizens stranded abroad and the distribution of relief materials to communities and IDPs arising from communal conflicts, insurgency, natural disaster, and insecurity in the country. For instance, during the COVID-19 induced lockdown, Ms Farouq personally monitored the distribution of food items and cash to beneficiaries who were majorly internally displaced persons and other vulnerable Nigerians to cushion the pernicious impacts of the pandemic on them. But she has also faced a lot of criticisms and controversies on the job. For example, there is this persistent allegation of corruption especially in her handling of the N500 billion yearly funded Social Investment Programmes with many of its beneficiaries across social media calling for her resignation from office over delay or non-payment of their monthly allowances. She has also been accused of nepotism over her distribution of federal government grants during the COVID-19 lockdown across Nigeria, a development that led to the leadership of the National Assembly calling for a total review of the process of distribution. In December 2019, Ms Farouk was reportedly queried by the office of the President for exercising powers beyond her official briefs after she employed more aides than officially approved and for also delaying the payment of the monthly stipend of N-Power volunteers. PREMIUM TIMES takes a look at the Ministers performance . Social Investment Programmes The SIPs are Mr Buharis measures to help poor Nigerians especially unemployed youth and other vulnerable citizens alike to cushion the effects of poverty on them through cash transfers, cash-for-work, N-Power, and national school feeding program for primary school pupils. The scheme was domiciled in the office of the Vice president, Yemi Osinbanjo during Mr Buharis first term in office. It has since been moved to the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry at the inception of the Presidents second term in office In December 2019,shortly after the scheme was moved to the minister, controversies sprung up involving the Presidential Special Adviser on Social Investment, Maryam Uwais, about the exit package for disengaged N-Power volunteers as each party traded blames on who was responsible for the delay in disengaging the beneficiaries. The minister had blamed the National Social Investment Office (NSIO) under Mrs Uwais for having no viable plan for the exit of the beneficiaries. In reaction, Mrs Uwais said her team had made exit plans which had not been implemented before the program was moved to Ms Farouqs ministry. She also said she briefed Ms Farouq on those plans. However, in its first few months as custodian of the SIPs, the ministrys assessment was that it was faced with a lot of irregularities transcending to a staggered payment of its monthly stipend to beneficiaries with the school feeding, cash transfer, TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni initiatives all on standstill. Sources at the presidency informed this newspaper that the minister was taking her time to study what the program really entailed; a move that slowed down the scheme with many of the beneficiaries calling her resignation, saying that the delay in monthly payments since she took over the control of the social programme had caused them untold hardship. The program came back to life under the ministry after the Presidents national broadcast speech in March, instructing the minister to pay a three-month moratorium on loans to all TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni beneficiaries and kick-off the school feeding as relief efforts to buffer the Covid-19 impact on Nigerians who affected by the pandemic. For the N-Power Programme, the humanitarian ministry did not pay October 2019 stipend until November 2019. And November was paid on the 11th December 2019. Fortunately, December stipends were paid in the same month. Also, January stipend was paid around 23 and 24 February, while the February stipend was paid in March and March stipends paid in April while April was paid in May; and May was paid in the same month. Payment for June was paid in August and July is yet to be paid, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. Advertisements Although the minister admitted the hiccups in the payment, she explained that her ministry encountered issues with the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) which caused the delay in payment to the beneficiaries. In addressing the issues of non-payment, in July, the ministry fished out about 14,020 N-Power beneficiaries who had existing accounts details in other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies MDAs, an action that violates the N-Power Programme which is basically for unemployed graduates and undergraduates. Before that, the ministry had in June declared open the disengagement plans of both Batch A and B graduates enrolled in the N-Power scheme, opening a new portal for fresh intakes of volunteers that have seen a record of over five million people that so far applied. Ms Farouq also said her ministry would ensure the existing beneficiaries are absorbed into government entrepreneurship schemes after completion of psychometric assessment to determine competence and placement into various opportunities. However, there were reports that some members of the National Assembly fraudulently received slots of about 50,000 out of the 400,000 beneficiaries willing to partake in the scheme from the minister, Ms Farouq. According to a report published in Sahara Reporters, the forms were allegedly distributed by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and three other Nigerian politicians to their wards and supporters. But, in separate statements reported by PREMIUM TIMES, both Mr Lawans spokesperson, Ola Awoniyi, and Senate spokesperson, Ajibola Bashir, denied the allegations, describing them as false and a fairy tale. Assessment: With all efforts by the ministry in streamlining the N-Power programme for better efficiency and transparency, the minister is yet to solve the issues of incessant delay in payment to beneficiaries. Many beneficiaries who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES complained of hardship since she became head of the scheme. Also, nothing substantial has been heard for the exit package for the outgoing beneficiaries, aside from media promises. School feeding programme: As earlier stated, there was no school feeding in the first few months after the minister assumed duty. The ministry, therefore, resolved to modify the program by providing vouchers to the beneficiaries with uncooked food items to children in primary 1 to 3 in public schools already participating in the feeding programme. READ ALSO: The minister said 3.1 million households in Lagos, Ogun and the FCT were targeted to benefit from the Covid-19 palliatives in the country, amid lockdown. On August 4, Ms Farouq during the Presidential Task-force briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja claimed that her ministry spent about N523.3 million feeding the pupils during the coronavirus induced lockdown. She said the disclosure was against the backdrop of allegations of corruption in the social intervention programs. Assessment: While the initiative is considered laudable despite the pandemic induced- lockdown, the ministry failed to provide adequate transparency in respect to identifying the pupils and their respective homes that benefited from the palliatives thus making the whole process prone to corruption. My only issue is how they (ministry) modified the programme and how it was able to identify the homes of the children, because some of these children stay as far as 5-10km away from schools, and many of the school house masters do not even know where the children are staying. Hamzat Lawal, director, advocacy group Follow the Money Connected Development CODE, said in a phone interview with PREMIUM TIMES. Cash Transfer: After Mr Buharis directive in March, the minister immediately kick-started the disbursement of N20,000 cash to 5,000 beneficiaries in Abuja Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. The initiative was piloted in three states Lagos, Ogun, and extended to other states like; Anambra, Imo Nasarawa, Jigawa, Kano and Katsina. Ms Farouq also announced that the social grant could only reach 25 per cent out of the over three million poor Nigerian captured in the Federal Government World Bank assisted National Social Register (NSR) amid the economic hardship caused by COVID-19. The NSR is an initiative under the National Safety Net coordinating office, NASSCO in collaboration with the Youth Employment and Support Operation (YESSO), a World Bank assisted programme. It identifies the poorest households in given communities across 34 states of the federation. Meanwhile, the Conditional Cash Transfer(CCT) , as a federal government project, sources funds from the 2017 agreement with Switzerland on the return and monitoring of the $322m Abacha loot. The FG also obtained $500 million credit from the World Bank to run the initiative for six years between 2016 and 2022. An additional source of the fund comes from the N500 billion for NSIP, captured in Federal Government budgets since 2016. Assessment: Despite the aims of the program targeting Nigerians who are considered to be the most affected from the COVID-19 induced lockdown, experts say the scheme lacked adequate mechanisms to keep track of the beneficiaries. Tunde Ajileye, a financial expert and partner at Lagos-based research firm, SBM Intelligence, said, Theres essentially no real way to track what is said to be disbursed/spent on these schemes to actual recipients and therefore audit to say exactly how much is spent was really spent. Once such a scenario is the case, it gives room for those that simply want to declare money spent without spending it to do so, Mr Ajileye said. Mr Lawal of CODE also said the ministry lost the opportunity at financially integrating people through the CCT initiative. When you look at this conditional cash transfer when you call it transfer, it is supposed to move from the CBN or federal government account to a private individual account who have been captured in the NSR. So when you withdraw this money and pay by hand you make it open for corruption, this is also contradictory to the federal government cashless policy, he said. Meanwhile, in the heat of the widespread controversies and criticism around the identification and selection of vulnerable persons in the NSR, the minister bowed to pressure by handing over the relief materials to the state governors for proper distribution, and as well digitisation the cash transfers and other programmes under the NSIP. She also engaged the Code of Conduct Bureau, anti-graft agencies, EFCC, ICPC and security agencies such as State Security Service(SSS) and others for monitoring. She also terminated the contracts of two payment service providers (PSP) for delaying the CCT to beneficiaries in four states of the federation. MarketMoni, TraderMoni, FarmersMoni: Nothing was done on these projects, perhaps because of the lockdown and restriction of movement across the country. Some say the projects will only come on board when it is election time again as seen during the 2019 campaigns. Humanitarian Duties The ministry played a significant role in the evacuation of 256 Nigerians from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on May 6 by the federal government as the first batch of Nigerians stranded abroad, as well as the return of 198 Nigerians that were stranded in Lebanon due to the coronavirus pandemic. Equally, the ministry ensured through the tripartite agreement in August 2019 for the Voluntary Repatriation of 133 Nigerian refugees living in Cameroon. In March 2019, the Nigerian government allocated resources for the repatriation of another 4,000 refugees. In a pipeline explosion in March that occurred around Abule Ado in Amuwo Odofin local government area of Lagos state, the ministry was able to align with other federal agencies; National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), activated the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other local emergency services at the scene, with a view to rendering any assistance and disaster management expertise that may be required. Similarly, the ministry, in its humanitarian duties, visited and delivered relief items to victims of the February killing of 30 persons in the militant Islamists raid in Auno town on a major highway in Borno State. The UN estimates that violent attacks by non-state armed groups in parts of the North-East have displaced over 240,000 Nigerians, with Borno State being the most affected. Also, 7.1 million people (2.3 million girls, 1.9 million boys, 1.6 million women, and 1.3 million men) in the North-East rely on humanitarian aid this year. December 2019, the minister also inaugurated the Nigerian Peoples Disability Parliament that aims at addressing issues relating to inclusiveness and the need to be given a chance to contribute to society. Recommendations I believe this is one year, and the government still has three years to go, theres a lot of potential and opportunity to take a step back to reflect, to review and to get key feedback from Nigerian people. Most importantly, she needs to convey critical stakeholders meetings that inform her policy and decisions. And also provide data that would inform Nigerians particularly at the grassroots, Mr Lawal said. Delhi Finance Minister Manish Sisodia accused the Centre of "betraying" federalism by refusing to pay GST compensation to states, and demanded it take loan from the RBI on behalf of the city government which he said is facing a revenue shortfall. Emerging out of a GST Council meeting, he said the Centre has refused to pay GST compensation to states and asked them to take a loan from the RBI to meet their shortfall caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, under the current hybrid system (of governance), the Delhi government cannot take a loan from the RBI. The Centre should take a loan from the RBI on behalf of the Delhi government," he said. Sisodia, also Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister, said the city government estimates a revenue shortfall of around Rs 21,000 crore in the current financial year. The Central government's refusal to pay GST compensation to states is the "biggest betrayal" in the history of federalism in India, he said. Sisodia also charged the Centre with failing to fulfil its promise made to states at the time of launch of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime four years ago. "The Centre had promised that it will pay GST compensation to states at the rate of 14 percent for five years in case of revenue shortfall. But, today at the GST Council meeting, the Centre refused it, saying there was no provision in law for compensation in situations like a pandemic," Sisodia said in a briefing. He accused the Centre of "double standards". In the first two years when the Central government earned extra cess of Rs 47,000 crore, which was supposed to be given as compensation, they kept it in their fund. Today, when the revenue is decreasing, they started taking opinion of the Attorney General on whether they are liable to give this amount to states or not, he said. Sisodia also alleged that the Centre has "failed" to properly implement the GST which was why it could not neither control price rise nor boost revenue of the states. "I am not against GST, but the central government has failed to implement it properly. Had they implemented it properly, the states would not have to beg like this. First, the Centre failed in implementing GST reforms properly, and now they are betraying states and running away from its responsibility of giving GST compensation," he said. The Delhi government collected Rs 7,000 crore less tax in the first four months of the fiscal. It will have a shortfall of Rs 21000 in the whole year. "The central government should take a loan on our behalf as we also need to pay salaries to our doctors, teachers, engineers and other employees, he said. If there were no GST, the states would have managed taxes and expenses in their own way. But after joining the GST regime, they had to surrender most of their rights to the GST council, he said. Sisodia claimed that many states, including some BJP-ruled ones, demanded compensation from the Center in the meeting. They quoted the minutes of previous meetings of the GST Council where it was "clearly stated" that the Central government "takes full responsibility" to compensate them in case of revenue shortfall, he added. eye-on-india Big Story | Govt may extend GST cess How will it impact businesses and consumers? In this edition of Big Story, Moneycontrol's Sakshi Batra explains how the likely extension of GST cess will have a significant impact on businesses and consumers. New Delhi, Aug 28 : Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi and former party chief Rahul Gandhi on Friday targeted the government over its decision to hold the NEET and JEE exams amid the coronavirus pandemic and said that the safety of students should not be compromised due to the "failures of the government". In a video statement, Sonia Gandhi said, ""My dear students, I feel for you because you are now facing a very difficult situation. The issue of your exams, of when they should be held and where, is the most important issue not only for you but your family too," she said. "You are our future. We depend on you to build a better India. Therefore, if any decision has to be taken regarding your future, it is important that it is taken with your concurrence. I hope the government listens to you, listens to your voices and act upon your wishes. This is my advice to the government. Thank you. Jai Hind," Sonia Gandhi said. Rahul Gandhi also shared a video statement over the issue and said that safety should not be compromised. "NEET-JEE aspirants' safety should not compromised due to the failures of the government. The government must listen to all stakeholders and arrive at a consensus," Rahul tweeted, along with a video of his message to the student community as well as the government. "You are the future of this country. You are the students and you are going to take this country to new heights..." the Congress MP said, targeting the government over its handling of the coronavirus crisis. "What I don't understand is why you should be held responsible and why further pain should be imposed on you... So why should the government force anything on you? It's important that the government listens to the students," he said. The Congress on Friday staged protests across the country over the government's decision to conduct NEET and JEE examinations in the month of September. The Delhi Congress, Indian Youth Congress and the NSUI staged protests outside the Ministry of Education in the national capital. Delhi Congress and Youth Congress workers were detained from the protest site. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi: A video has gone viral on social media showing a swindler running away with jewellery worth Rs 1.2 lakhs. The video shows a customer walking into Kudhooru Jewellery Store in Vijayanagar area of Bangalore who swiftly attempts to fool the employees with a non-functional credit card and suddenly runs away the jewellery. But an active Shubha, owner of the sop promptly jumps across the counter and succeeds in catching the swindler customer. Later, the man was handed over to police. The whole episode was captured on CCTV and proved that how promptness and spontaneity foiled the swindlers bid. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. TORONTO, Aug. 28, 2020 /CNW/ - Lingo Media Corporation (TSXV: LM) (OTCQB: LMDCF) (FSE: LIMA) ("Lingo Media" or the "Company"), an EdTech company that is 'Changing the way the world learns languages' through innovative online and print-based technologies and solutions, announces its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020. All figures are reported in Canadian Dollars and are in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards unless otherwise noted. Q2 2020 Operational Highlights Online English Language Learning: enhanced reporting functionality improved chat feature and capability added alerts and notifications to distributor and client dashboards initiated work on a new mobile APP secured two sales contracts with a customer in Japan (first client in Japan ) (first client in ) secured sales contracts with two universities in Colombia conducted a webinar in LATAM for teachers to help them deal with the COVID/remote teaching challenges with over 1,500 attendees conducted a webinar in Asia for teachers with several hundred attendees for teachers with several hundred attendees in concert with the Canadian Embassy in Colombia , presented to key organizations on how to best teach online , presented to key organizations on how to best teach online Print-Based English Language Learning: expanded the existing market for PEP Primary English program into an additional province in China Q2 2020 Financial Highlights Second Quarter Ended June 30st 2020 2019 Revenue $ 977,389 $ 895,205 Operating and development expenses 202,275 230,372 Income before amortization, share-based payments, depreciation, finance charges and taxes 775,114 664,833 Amortization, share-based payments, and depreciation 34,909 119,527 Finance charges, taxes, foreign exchange 115,876 114,655 Total expenses 353,060 464,554 Net profit 624,329 430,651 Total comprehensive income 557,802 4188,142 Earnings per share $ 0.02 $ 0.01 Revenue for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020 totalled $977,389 as compared to $895,202 in Q2 2019. totalled as compared to in Q2 2019. Operating and development expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 totaled $202,275 compared to the expenses of $230,372 in Q2 2019. Included as a reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses are government grants of $168,326 relating to the Company's publishing and software projects. The Company applied Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy ("CEWS") and received $78,287 during the second quarter as a reduction of General and Administrative Expense. totaled compared to the expenses of in Q2 2019. Included as a reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses are government grants of relating to the Company's publishing and software projects. The Company applied Emergency Wage Subsidy ("CEWS") and received during the second quarter as a reduction of General and Administrative Expense. Net profit for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 was $624,329 or $0.02 earnings per share (basic) based on 35.5 million shares or $0.02 earnings per share (diluted) based on 40.4 million shares as compared to a net profit of $430,651 for Q2 2019 or $0.01 earnings per share (basic) based on 35.5 million shares or $0.01 earnings per share (diluted) based on 41.5 million shares. was or earnings per share (basic) based on 35.5 million shares or earnings per share (diluted) based on 40.4 million shares as compared to a net profit of for Q2 2019 or earnings per share (basic) based on 35.5 million shares or earnings per share (diluted) based on 41.5 million shares. Income before amortization, share-based payments, depreciation, finance charges and taxes was $775,114 in Q2 2020 compared to the income of 664,883 in Q2 2019. Financial Highlights for the Six-Month Period Ended June 30, 2020 Six Month Period Ended June 30 2020 2019 Revenue $ 1,074,513 $ 1,007,169 Operating and development expenses 3,344 610,032 Income before amortization, share-based payments, depreciation, finance charges and taxes 1,071,169 397,137 Amortization, share-based payments and depreciation 65,694 151,695 Finance charges, taxes and foreign exchange 147,527 129,313 Total expenses 216,56 891,040 Net profit 857,948 116,129 Total comprehensive income $ 956,882 $ 89,243 Earnings per share $ 0.02 $ 0.00 Revenue for the six-month period ended June 30, 2020 totalled $1,074,513 compared to $1,007,169 for the same period in 2019. totalled compared to for the same period in 2019. Operating and development expenses for the six-month period ended June 30, 2020 totalled $3,344 as compared to $610,032 for the same period in 2019. The reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses is primarily due to the company received government grants of $223,326 relating to the Company's publishing and software projects and one-time refundable tax credit, Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit in the amount of $904,940 related to the Company's investment in digital products in 2016. The Company applied Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy ("CEWS") and received $78,287 during the period as a reduction of General and Administrative Expense. totalled as compared to for the same period in 2019. The reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses is primarily due to the company received government grants of relating to the Company's publishing and software projects and one-time refundable tax credit, Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit in the amount of related to the Company's investment in digital products in 2016. The Company applied Emergency Wage Subsidy ("CEWS") and received during the period as a reduction of General and Administrative Expense. Net profit for the six-month period was $857,948 as compared to net profit of $116,129 for the same period in 2019. as compared to net profit of for the same period in 2019. Income before amortization, share-based payments, depreciation, finance charges and taxes was $1,071,169 , as compared to $397,137 for the same period in 2019. "We are very pleased with the addition of key distributors in our core markets and the results for the first 6 months. COVID has introduced us with both challenges, as well as, opportunities. While our markets initially experienced difficulties adjusting to the new reality of remote learning, we have been seeing enhanced acceptance by institutions to adopt additional e-learning solutions. We expect to see further opportunities in the marketplace as a result," said Gali Bar-Ziv, President & CEO of Lingo Media. The unaudited condensed interim financial statements for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 and Management Discussion & Analysis are available at www.sedar.com. About Lingo Media (TSX-V: LM; OTCQB: LMDCF) Lingo Media is a global EdTech company that is 'Changing the way the world learns language', developing and marketing products for learners of English through various life stages, from classroom to boardroom. By integrating education and technology, the company empowers English language educators to easily transition from traditional teaching methods to digital learning. Lingo Media provides both online and print-based solutions through two distinct business units: ELL Technologies and Lingo Learning. ELL Technologies provides online training and assessment for language learning, while Lingo Learning is a print-based publisher of English language learning programs in China. Lingo Media has formed successful relationships with key government and industry organizations internationally, with a particularly strong presence in Latin America and China and the U.S. and continues to both extend its global reach and expand its product offerings. Follow Lingo Media On: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LingoMedia Twitter: @LingoMediaCorp YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/lingomedialm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lingo-media-corporation RSS: http://feeds.feedburner.com/LingoMedia Portions of this press release may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of securities laws. These statements are made in reliance upon Sections 21E and 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties or other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results, performance, or expectations implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and involve certain risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary materially from management's expectations and projections and thus readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Lingo Media has tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words such as "may," "should," "expect," "hope," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "plan," "estimate" and similar expressions. Lingo Media's expectations, among other things, are dependent upon general economic conditions, the continued and growth in demand for its products, retention of its key management and operating personnel, its need for and availability of additional capital as well as other uncontrollable or unknown factors. No assurance can be given that the actual results will be consistent with the forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by US Federal securities laws, Lingo Media undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason. Certain factors that can affect the Company's ability to achieve projected results are described in the Company's filings with the Canadian and United States securities regulators available on www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE SOURCE Lingo Media Corporation For further information: Lingo Media, Khurram Qureshi, CFO, Tel: (647) 831-1462, Email: [email protected], To learn more, visit us at www.lingomedia.com Related Links http://www.lingomedia.com Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment According to recent report from the Centers for Disease Control, 40 percent of American adults have reported struggling with mental health or substance abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. One-third reported feelings of anxiety and/or depression, and one-quarter said that they were struggling with trauma-related issues. One in eight reported either developing or increasing substance-abuse problems. Worst of all, 11 percent reported that they seriously considered suicide in the last few months. Two years ago, by comparison, that number was just one in twenty-five. And, the CDC study revealed that certain segments of the population have struggled more than others. For example, one in five essential workers reported suicidal ideation, as have one in three unpaid caregivers for adults, and one in four 18- to 24-year-olds. And of course, there are others who dont fit into categories like these, but who were already struggling with mental health issues before the pandemic. As one mental health counselor told Business Insider, When you think about the building blocks of stress, it fits . . . helplessness and hopelessness is what shows up in all of these categories, and thats what leads to [suicidal] ideation . . . anxiety and depression. Think of those who, for months, ran to provide care and help for others while risking infection themselves. Or, think about those already dealing with the stress of caring for loved ones who have significant physical or mental disability, only having to do so without the typical public services that have been suspended. These are just a few of the pre-existing conditions exacerbated by COVID-19. Like the pre-existing physical conditions triggered and complicated by COVID, this CDC report is suggesting that there are psychological conditions of co-morbidity as well. For years now, experts have warned of the so-called deaths from despair, describing the increased rates of mental illness, depression, and addictions among many population segments in our country. In addition to these, however, theres another pre-existing condition that often goes unmentioned: American hyper-individualism. A particularly poignant meme going around aptly describes what happens when these complicating conditions converge. In the image, the word Im is followed by other words that are crossed out, such as depressed, unloved, broken, and dying inside. The only descriptive word not crossed out is Fine. This CDC report confirms what were already knew. Americans are far too quick to give and to accept fine as an answer to the question, How are you doing? Prior to COVID-19, this was tragic. Mixed with the stress and isolation of COVD-19, its potentially lethal. If ever there was a time for the Church to be the Church, this is it. Not only is the Church able to identify, reach out, and help those who are struggling, but every other institution weve become used to relying on is not able. We are truly in a situation that if not the Church, then who? Of course, this requires that churches become communities where people feel free to share struggles. While Christians have come a long way in their attitudes towards mental illness, too many of us still view depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide as weaknesses, or even sin. Of course, we cannot wait for others to admit struggles. Christians must become proactive in seeking out others, checking on them, and when necessary, asking the follow-up questions when we hear the answer, fine. For example, unpaid caregivers for adults shouldnt have to tell us that they face enormous struggle and stresses that have only been made worse during COVID. It should be obvious to us. Young people who are struggling to find work or who are fearful because of the pandemic shouldnt be mocked. We need to encourage them, reach out, and help them. And, we should reach out first. Thats the Church being the Church. In fact, maybe the most important and practical lesson to take from this pandemic is to stop asking, How are you doing? and instead ask, How can I help? Download the MP3 audio here. Originally posted at breakpoint.org KYODO NEWS - Aug 29, 2020 - 01:53 | All, Japan The body of a 62-year-old construction worker was found Friday in a 30-meter-deep oil tank at a construction site in Yokohama, near Tokyo, after an apparent accident earlier this week, police said. After removing rainwater from the old tank, police and rescue workers on Friday morning located the heavy machinery that had been in use at the time of Tuesday's accident. Divers then found the body of Kazuaki Takahashi near the driver's seat of the machinery at around 5:40 p.m., the police said. Takahashi apparently fell into the tank on Tuesday evening with the equipment he was using near the tank's edge. The police believe part of cover of the tank collapsed, carrying the heavy machinery along with its operator into the hole. The oil tank, measuring 45 meters in diameter, was originally constructed for use by the Japanese Navy. After World War II, it had been used for jet fuel storage by the U.S. military before the lot was returned to Japan in 2005. Star Plus had launched Saath Nibhaana Saathiya 10 years ago which made the characters of the show, especially, Gopi, Kokila and Rashi played by Gia Manek/Devoleena Bhattacharjee, Rupal Patel and Rucha Hasabnis household names. The show is still remembered for Gopi bahu and Kokila's heavy and powerful dialogues. The show was back in news just a few days ago, as an online creator Yashraj Mukhate, created a rap 'Rasode Mein Kaun Tha?' out of Kokilaben's dialogues. The video became viral and netizens created hilarious memes on the rap and characters of the show. These things have now made the producers announce the second season of the show! Yes, you read it right! The producer of the show Rashmi Sharma told Mumbai Mirror, "Saathiya has been a talking point since its launch in 2010. During the lockdown, its reruns were widely watched and that made us believe this is a good time to bring it back with a new season. Its recall value is still very strong. There will be many new characters and a twist in the storyline, but it will remain a family show and be driven by relationships." When asked if Kokilaben will be back, the producer said that Saathiya can't return without Modi family, so Kokilaben and Gopi will be back! The producer also confirmed to ETimes TV that Rupal and Devoleena will be reprising their roles once again. Also, the makers are also on a hunt for new faces. A source close to Devoleena said, "Devoleena won't be able to divulge much details at the moment." Also Read: Saath Nibhana Saathiya's Kokilaben Aka Rupal Reacts To Her Dialogues' Hilarious Viral Rap Russian S-400 (File image: Reuters) Russia will not only deliver the first regimental set of the S-400 Triumf air defence system to India in 2021 but is also ready to consider accelerating delivery of subsequent consignments. A report in the Financial Express quotes Maria Vorobyova, the official representative of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) of Russia, as saying that there have been detailed discussions with the Indian partners and the delivery of the first regiment is expected by the end of 2021. The schedule of fulfilling the contract has been discussed in detail with the Indian partners, and the delivery of the first regimental batch is expected by the end of 2021. 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, Vorobyova added. India and Russia had inked the $5.2 billion defence contract for the S-400 Triumf air defence system in October 2018. The original date for India to start receiving delivery was reported to be in the October 2020-April 2023 timeline. However, in the wake of border tensions with China earlier this year, New Delhi had urged Moscow to deliver units early. The S-400 Triumf It is considered one of the worlds most advanced air defence systems. It is developed by Russia's Almaz Central Design Bureau. Its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) reporting name is 'SA-21 Growler'. The system is able to track flying objects over 600 kilometres. It can engage with these hostile targets and shoot them down using missiles in a range of up to 400 km. It can shoot down hostile aircraft, drones, ballistic missiles and hypersonic targets. Every unit consists of multiple components: a long-range radar to track objects, a target acquisition radar, a command post vehicle and battalions of launchers. The system can carry multiple types of missiles catering to different strike ranges. While specifications of the S-400 systems that are to be delivered to India are unclear, the regular variant used by Russia consists of at least eight launchers with 32 missiles. The system can reportedly shoot down strategic bombers such as B-1 and B-2, airborne early warning and control system (AWACS), fighter jets such as the F-16 and strategic cruise missiles such as the Tomahawk. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has F-16s in its fleet. What makes public and commercial spaces safer and what doesnt Across the country, businesses and officials have responded to the pandemic in the mode of Adrian Monk. In Florida, one town gave a resident permission to spray the streets with hydrogen peroxide. At Equinox, the Whole Foods of gyms, employees clean facilities three times a day and once overnight using medical-grade, E.P.A.-registered disinfectants and next-generation electrostatic hand-held and backpack sprayers. And in New York City, the subway system is shut down every night for four hours so train cars can be disinfected, a protocol that is expected to cost the Metropolitan Transportation Authority up to $500 million even as it faces insolvency. Are these deep cleaning regimens a wise use of time and resources? Many scientists dont think so: As Derek Thompson writes in The Atlantic, the coronavirus is spread primarily through the air; becoming infected from a surface elevator buttons, packages, doorknobs, subway poles seems quite rare, especially if people practice good hand-washing hygiene. Covid-19 has reawakened Americas spirit of misdirected anxiety, inspiring businesses and families to obsess over risk-reduction rituals that make us feel safer but dont actually do much to reduce risk even as more dangerous activities are still allowed, he writes. This is hygiene theater. It could be much more productive, Zeynep Tufekci argues in The Atlantic, for business and government to train their attention on the air we breathe. In July, hundreds of scientists signed an open letter urging the W.H.O. to acknowledge that the coronavirus is airborne, meaning that it may spread not only through large respiratory droplets that quickly fall to the floor but also through microscopic particles that hang in the air for long periods. If the signatories of the letter to the W.H.O. are correct, Dr. Tufekci writes, adding ventilation to our mitigation stack is exactly what we should focus on, doing everything necessary ranging from the more expensive upgrades to our air-quality infrastructure to opening the windows that are right within our reach. Six feet of distance? Its more complicated than that Since the beginning of the pandemic, keeping six feet away from people outside ones household has been the quintessential rule of social distancing. But a paper published on Tuesday in The BMJ (formerly The British Medical Journal) argues that the six-foot rule is an oversimplification descended from 19th-century science. Instead of single, fixed distancing rules, the authors propose graded guidelines to better reflect the many factors that determine how dangerous a given setting might be. What does that mean in practical terms? The general scientific consensus, according to Andrew Joseph, Helen Branswell and Elizabeth Cooney of Stat, is that indoors is riskier than outdoors, large groups are riskier than small groups and prolonged contact is riskier than brief contact. Loud talking, heavy breathing, singing and screaming also raise the risk of viral spread. Mark Wilson Jr., 30, was arrested Thursday in connection with the murder of two brothers who were his girlfriend's nephews A Florida man was arrested for allegedly killing his girlfriend's two young nephews with a hammer and knife inside their own home. Putnam County Sheriff Gator DeLoach said Friday that Mark Wilson Jr., 30 - who he called a 'sick monster' - was arrested Thursday night for allegedly killing Robert Baker, 12, and Tayten Baker, 14, in Melrose, Florida. The two brothers' bodies were found by their mother, who has not been named, when she woke up on Wednesday morning. During a press conference, DeLoach said that Wilson was a long-time family friend of the Baker boys and their aunt's boyfriend. Wilson and the boy's aunt - who has not been named - were living in a shed on the Baker family's property, WCJB reported. Brothers Robert Baker, 12 (left), and Tayten Baker, 14 (right), were found dead by their mother Wednesday morning. Authorities said their aunt's boyfriend, Mark Wilson Jr, killed them Wilson was said to have an extensive criminal and drug history, but did not have a history of violence. DeLoach said that Wilson had used a hammer and knife to allegedly kill the two boys, but had not harmed either their mother or a younger sibling who were in the home at the time. The boys' father was not home when they died. It's unclear what time the boys were killed. 'Very quickly detectives honed in on Wilson and immediately established this individual was only a threat to those around him,' DeLoach said on his Facebook page. 'Unfortunately, Robert and Tayten were the ones who suffered whatever was going through Wilsons twisted agenda.' Putnam County Sheriff Gator DeLoach shared this picture of Wilson (second from left) being taken into custody by sheriff's deputies Thursday night DeLoach also shared this picture of Wilson as he was being arrested on Thursday DeLoach called Wilson a 'sick monster,' saying he hoped the DA would pursue the death penalty as punishment for the murders Authorities have not yet revealed a possible motive behind the boys' deaths. Police said the Baker family had only just moved from Florida's Polk County to Putnam County 16 days prior to the incident to be closer to family. 'The Baker family did a lot to help these two individuals and, unfortunately, it ended in the brutal death of Robert and Tayten,' DeLoach said during the press conference, according to News 4 Jax. 'Were grieving, along with the family.' In his Facebook post, DeLoach wrote that: 'This arrest is only the first step in bringing Robert and Tayten justice. My sincere hope is that the death penalty is pursued in these senseless murders.' Police as still investigating to see if anyone else was involved in the boys' murder. Wilson now faces two counts of first degree, premeditated murder and is expected to make his court appearance via Zoom on Saturday morning. He is currently being held in jail without bond. A doctor holds a sign criticizing the government medical policy at the Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. AP Doctors entered the last day of their three-day nationwide strike Friday in protest of the government's medical reform scheme, but concerns are looming over service disruptions as trainee doctors have vowed to continue their collective actions indefinitely. Tens of thousands of practitioners have joined interns and resident doctors at general hospitals for the walkout, raising their voice against the government's move to increase the number of medical students. Their walkout has gone ahead despite a mandatory return-to-work order from the government, which has warned of possible jail terms as it would cause major difficulties when the country is faced with spiking novel coronavirus cases. The strike is the second of its kind and organized by the Korean Medical Association (KMA), which has some 130,000 members. However, the Korean Intern and Resident Association (KIRA) representing the trainee doctors, as well as fellow doctors, at major general hospitals have said they will continue their indefinite walkout as planned. The KIRA has made clear on numerous occasions that its members will not return to work unless the government reconsiders its plans, and a number of trainee doctors have submitted letters of resignation. American history is no stranger to heated election disputes. In 1824, Adams beat Jackson in a race thrown to the House of Representatives. In 1876, Hayes beat Tilden in a race that ended Reconstruction. In 1888, Harrison lost the popular vote but won the electoral vote, beating Grover Cleveland. In 1960, Kennedy beat Nixon, allegedly benefiting from vote fraud in Texas and Illinois. In 2000, Bush beat Gore in an election fought through Florida and up the Supreme Court.In none of these cases, did the Republic fall. But today is different, if you believe the dire warnings from what's being billed as aof government officials and election experts.Today, the end is near. The Transition Integrity Project (TIP) warns of anelection season marked by "illegal actions," defiance of the popular vote,federal seizure of mail-in ballots,and attempts toand pillage the Treasury.These paranoid polemics are featured in an ostensibly non-partisan report circulating widely among the Left as Election Day nears. The villain of this set piece of course is Donald Trump.The report can be read simply as an occasionally hilarious guide to the Left's id. After spending many pages trashing the president as a violent racist democracy-stealing criminal and worst-person-ever, TIP states that itBut the document also provides some interesting clues about how the Left would handle a close contest.TIP said it engaged over 100 participants in a series of electoral war games: fourThe four scenarios: a race too tight to call on election night; a Biden popular vote and Electoral College win by a big margin; a Trump win in the Electoral College but a loss of the popular vote; and a Biden popular and electoral win by a narrow margin.The results of all four exercises werethe report says. President Trump is likely toForget about the courts. Never mind that the legal system is the bulwark of our democratic process. TIPthe reports says. That's telling.The TIP conclusions are dire.the report says. Trump might call for recounts; launch investigations into disputed results; halt mail-in ballots;andtoElection officials might be intimidatedRepublican-controlled state legislatures might be coerced into installing Trump-friendly Electoral College electors.To counter these evil plans-of which by the way there is not a shred of evidence outside the blusters of a famously blustery president-Team Biden and its supporters shouldBiden-friendly congressional leaders shouldthe report says.Civil servantscomrade. The media should start preparing their Trump-steals-the-election stories in advance.In summary Trump bad, Biden good. Close election stolen. Fight it in the streets, not in the courts. Military, media, law enforcement, civil servants-get on the right side, you have been warned.The rest of us have been warned, too. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Sun protection products are also popularly known as sunscreen or sunblock. These products are formed to help the skincare protecting it from Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which leads to sunburn, tanning, and skin cancer. Over the last few years, the awareness of the harmful effects of UV rays has risen dramatically. Terms such as Sun Protection Factor (SPF), which define a product's ability to screen or block out the sun's burning rays and 'ultraviolet B-rays (UVB rays), have become familiar. Also, UV / UVB radiations cause the skin to go brown, burn it, make it look older, and can even cause skin cancer. They say, over 90 percent of skin aging comes from sun damage. Therefore, SPF and sun protection has become paramount in any skincare routine and become well regarded in today's eco-chic sun care space. As a cumulative effect of these, the sun protection products market is invariably garnering tremendous traction on a global platform. Also Read: http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/07/26/1892297/0/en/Sun-Protection-Products-Market-Demand-to-Reach-USD-11-002-34-Million-by-2025-at-5-31-CAGR-Predicts-Market-Research-Future.html According to Market Research Future (MRFR), the global sun protection products market is estimated to create a valuation of USD 11,002.34 MN by 2025. MRFR also asserts that this rise in the sun protection products market size would be registered at 5.31% CAGR during the forecasted period (2019 2025). Rising per-capita expenses for wellness and influence of media & fashion industries are the two major factors that are impacting the market growth, positively. Additionally, faster adoption of these products, alongside the burgeoning personal care industry and the growing number of wellness clinics, are increasing the sun protection products market share on a global level. The market is exploding with constant product developments and innovative promotional strategies. Inspired by changing consumer demand, manufacturers bring new formulations & variations in their products, such as oxybenzone-free, organic sun care formulas, and others. They bring-in new market trends such as organic and natural ingredients, incorporating antioxidant-rich plant protection into their sun-care products. To naturally boost the efficacies of their formulas, they use plant-based ingredients, including Algae, Red Raspberry Seed Oil, and others. With their increasingly transparent approach, these players influence consumer expectations and slice-out a substantial market share for themselves. Such product development strategies increase the sun protection products industry's worth, significantly. On the other hand, harmful side effects of chemicals used in sun protection products are hampering the market growth. Chemicals such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, homosalate, and titanium dioxide are extensively used in sunscreen products. These chemicals can not only be harmful to humans but can also cause hormone disruption, endocrine disruption, organ system toxicity, and contact allergies. Nevertheless, the emergence of natural or plant-based ingredients products would support market growth throughout the assessment period. Sun Protection Products Market - Regional Analysis Europe dominates the global Sun Protection Products Industry, both in terms of value and volume. The large user base of sun protection products, which is the largest in the world, is a key growth driver for the growth of the regional market. France, Italy, and Spain are the major countries in the region exhibiting rising demand for sun protection products. The presence of major sun protection products manufacturers is another key growth driver pushing the sun protection products industry sales in the region. North America possesses a considerable share in the global sun protection products market. Factors such as high per-capita wellness budgets, the significant influence of media & fashion industries, and the presence of large players are driving faster adoption of sun protection products. Besides, the expanding personal care industry and the growing number of wellness clinics are fostering the North American sun protection products market, hugely. The sun protection products market in the Asia Pacific is expected to be highly lucrative for market players, growing briskly. Factors such as spreading awareness towards skin protection against UV rays and the high number of skin cancer cases drive the growth of the regional market. Australia and India are the leading country-level markets, which are estimated to acquire the largest share in the regional market during the review period. The APAC sun protection products market is projected to register a growth rate of 5.49% over the forecast period. Sun Protection Products Market - Segments MRFR has segmented the market into four main dynamics to widen the scope of understanding, By Form : Gel, Lotion, Cream, and others. By SPF Range : SPF 15, SPF 30, SPF 50, SPF 70, and others. By Distribution Channel : Store-based (Supermarkets & Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores, others), Non-Storebased, and others. By Regions : Europe, Americas, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Rest-of-the-World. Sun Protection Products Market - Competitive Analysis Highly competitive, the sun protection products market appears to be fragmented due to the presence of many notable players. Consumer's preferences and demands are constantly changing, and surprisingly, manufacturers can meet their requirements every-time. They are ever ready to supply their demand, such as products with herbal & natural ingredients, with high SPF protection that can hold up through sweat, swimming, and sports, etc. The sun protection products industry is ready to invest time & money for further required R&D & formulation work. Many vendors are also trying to expand their business by entering new geographies like Latin America, Africa, and APAC. Major Players: Players leading the global sun protection products market include L'Oreal S A (France), Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. (US), The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (US), Shiseido Co. Ltd. (Japan), Revlon, Inc. (US), Avon Products, Inc. (UK), Amway (US), Groupe Clarins (France), Lotus Herbals Pvt. Ltd. (India), Beiersdorf AG (Germany), Edgewell Personal Care Company (US), Unilever (UK), and Procter & Gamble Company (US), among others. Access Report: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/sun-protection-products-market-8087 Industry/ Innovation/ Related News: November 14, 2019 --- SC Johnson (the US), a leading global manufacturer of personal care products, declared about their acquisition of a majority stake in a leading sun care brand in the US - Coola. SC Johnson has bought two sun care businesses and a men's skincare line this year, bringing the number of brands in its lifestyle category up to 8. In June, SC Johnson acquired the Sun Bum brand, comprising product portfolio sun care, hair care, and lip care. These acquisitions are welcome additions to the company's portfolio of trusted products and expand its robust selection of fast-growing, on-trend products. 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 products, services, technologies, applications, end users, 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. To stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members. Contact Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Back in March, when the lockdown was first announced, it caught many by surprise. And when it got stretched, things, quite understandably, became extremely challenging for many, especially those living alone. Yami Gautam, too, was stuck in Mumbai, with just her maid for company. The actor though, who hails from Chandigarh, stayed put and kept herself busy with cooking and work. I must admit it wasnt easy at all, especially in the initial days (of lockdown) says Gautam, adding: But then, I got used to it (living alone). As far for my professional commitments, I had assured all my producers that I wont leave the city till I complete my job. And as a professional, I just couldnt have left any of my work mid-way. In fact, one of her work commitments was dubbing her portions for an upcoming film, during which she got the scare. It was tough to step out, as the fear always plays on your mind. So, I wanted to wrap it all quickly. But on the third day, I felt a bit unwell with a slight fever and breathlessness. Naturally, I was very distressed but then, I went for some home remedies including kadha etc. that my mother had suggested. And thankfully, I recovered and was absolutely fine in 2-3 days, says the Uri: The Surgical Strike actor. A few days back, after having wrapped up all her work commitments in Mumbai, Gautam decided to fly to Chandigarh to be with her family. That flying experience, too, was so new with all those protective gear and guidelines etc. You end up feeling extremely anxious and theres a sense of fear, regardless of how much you try to keep your calm, says the actor, who quarantined herself for two weeks after reaching her home-town. For the past few weeks, Gautam has been spending some great quality time with her family. I know the pandemic has been extremely tough but at the same time, it has also given many people, like me, an opportunity to spend such lovely time with our loved ones. Otherwise, when do you get so much time with your family, says the actor, who has Ginny Weds Sunny, with Vikrant Massey readying to release on an OTT platform soon. In terms of future work, Gautam has signed a few films, but is waiting for the makers to make official announcements. They are also waiting for an opportune time to talk about it. For me too, talking about work feels a bit different now (laughs). But I am really happy that I would be doing some really exciting work in the coming days. They are extremely different from one another, says the Kaabil actor, who feels getting back to work like earlier would be a challenge. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Love Island's Sam Bird has announced his engagement to fellow reality star Kailah Casillas after eight months of dating. The 27-year-old, who appeared on season four of the beloved ITV2 dating series, took a break from his romantic Greek getaway to reveal the exciting news on Instagram on Friday. Making the announcement on the social media platform, Sam shared two photos with his fiancee showcasing her incredible ring. Loved-up: Love Island's Sam Bird has announced his engagement to fellow reality star Kailah Casillas after eight months of dating and shared these pictures on Instagram on Friday The former ITV2 star couldn't help but pay tribute to his time in the Majorcan villa as he referenced one of the most used phrases that season and simply wrote: 'All my eggs in one basket.' Several of Sam's Love Island co-stars shared congratulatory messages for the newly-engaged couple under the post. Adam Collard penned: 'Buzzing for you both even if I did lose my 30 year old banker. Congrats to you both, Ill start the stag do planning tonight'. 'Jeeez Samuel! Congrats fella,' wrote Charlie Brake. While Jack Fowler shared: 'Go on the boy!!' Sparkling: Making the announcement on the social media platform, Sam shared two photos with his fiancee showcasing her incredible ring Ring to it: Kailah took to her Instagram Stories to share snaps of their engagement On a high from their engagement, Kailah, who appeared on MTV's The Challenge, post a photo on Instagram on Thursday sharing the news while showing off her brand new diamond ring. The Florida native penned: 'I'm marrying my favorite person in the world' (sic). To which Sam lovingly commented, 'Can't wait for the rest of our life together'. The brunette beauty also took to her Instagram Stories to shares several short clips of her engagement ring and wrote across one: 'I'm lucky @samrobertbird'. The couple's engagement comes after Kaliah previously revealed how they first began dating. Celebrations: Several of Sam's Love Island co-stars shared congratulatory messages for the newly-engaged couple. While Jake Quickenden and Shelby Tribble also commented Speaking about their blossoming romance in an April YouTube video, she explained that she slid into his DMs in January after a fan contacted her and told her Sam had been liking her photos. The TV star then reached out to personal trainer Sam, to which he responded and said, 'I'm going to book a trip to come see you.' MTV viewers will recognise Kailah from her numerous appearances on The Challenge, competing most recently on Total Madness and for her brief stint on Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club. The American beauty previously dated DJ Michael 'Mikey P' Pericoloso while competing on The Challenge, but cheated on him with Celebrity Big Brother star Stephen Bear. Joy: The couple are currently enjoying a romantic getaway to Greece Delight: The American star shared several clips of the couple in the moments after their engagement Romance: Sam and Kailah first began dating in January. Pictured together at a BRIT Awards after party in February Meanwhile, Sam was catapulted into the limelight on 2018's instalment of Love Island where he began dating Georgia Steel after being pied by Josh Denzel when he returned from Casa Amor. The pair split three months after leaving the villa amid claims Georgia hadn't been 'loyal' to Sam. However, the former couple briefly grew close once again when they appeared on Ex On The Beach: Peak Of Love - but it wasn't meant to be. Georgia went on to have a whirlwind romance with Callum Izzard in August 2019 when they met during the filming of Ex on the Beach: Peak Of Love, with the couple becoming engaged just a month later. Challenge accepted: MTV viewers will recognise Kailah from her numerous appearances on The Challenge. Pictured with co-star Jenna Compono in 2017 Love Island: Sam was catapulted into the limelight on 2018's instalment of Love Island where he began dating Georgia Steel Although the couple were living together in Essex, it appears lockdown got the better, leading to their split. A source told The Sun Online at the time: 'Callum has moved out of their Essex apartment during lockdown. 'They were recently flat hunting in Manchester together, but it's been called off. Georgia is now planning to move up to Manchester alone.' WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Authorities in Zimbabwe must release from prison Hopewell Chin'ono, an award-winning journalist who has been jailed on trumped-up charges and held in reportedly inhumane conditions, leaders of the National Press Club and the National Press Club Journalism Institute said Friday. Chin'ono has won the prestigious CNN-sponsored African Journalist of the Year award and was named a Nieman Journalism fellow at Harvard University, among many other honors. Now he has become one of several dozen journalists jailed across Africa as a consequence of their work. In Zimbabwe, he is one of scores of people--opposition leaders to activists to priests--who have been incarcerated for criticizing authorities. Chin'ono was taken into custody on July 20 and charged with inciting violence against the government. His arrest came in the wake of his reporting on government procurement fraud. "Hopewell Chin'ono is a solid journalist who has been jailed for having the temerity to report the truth," said Michael Freedman, president of the National Press Club. "Journalists in the United States join other concerned people in condemning this injustice, and we call for his prompt release." Chin'ono has been repeatedly denied bail and is being detained in an overcrowded cell without adequate sanitation or food, his legal team has said. He and his fellow prisoners are said to lack protections against the coronavirus, even as at least two other jailed journalists, one in Egypt and the other in Honduras, have died from COVID-19 this year. Angela Greiling Keane, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, the Club's nonprofit affiliate, expressed outrage at the conditions of Chin'ono's detention. "It is bad enough to jail Chin'ono or any reporter on phony charges and then deny him bail, but it is even more appalling to keep him in intolerable conditions that could jeopardize his health," Greiling Keane said. Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the World's Leading Professional Organization for Journalists. The club has 3,000 members representing every major journalism organization. The Club and the National Press Club Journalism Institute form a powerful voice for press freedom worldwide. The Institute promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press, and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire civic engagement. PRESS CONTACT: Lindsay Underwood for The National Press Club; [email protected], (202) 662-7561 SOURCE National Press Club Related Links http://press.org This years performances mark 125 years since the first season of the classical music event. Musicians will perform live at the Royal Albert Hall but without an audience due to coronavirus restrictions across the final two weeks of the season, ending in the much-talked about Last Night of the Proms. The run-up to the Last Night has seen musicians, media industry figures and even Prime Minister Boris Johnson weigh into the debate over the singing of Rule, Britannia! and Land Of Hope And Glory. The traditional songs, which some find controversial because of their perceived ties to imperialism, will be played without lyrics at this years Last Night, however the BBC has confirmed they will be sung again in 2021. Mr Johnson has said he found the decision difficult to believe. Advertisement I think its time we stopped our cringing embarrassment about our history, about our traditions, and about our culture, and we stopped this general bout of self-recrimination and wetness, he added. However the BBCs outgoing director-general Lord Tony Hall insisted the decision to remove the lyrics was a creative one, but confirmed the issue of dropping songs because of their association with Britains imperial past had been discussed. There will be no live audience to sing along and wave flags because of coronavirus restrictions. Proms conductor Dalia Stasevska has said she played no role in the decision not to sing the lyrics to the songs. A YouGov poll for The Times found 55% of people oppose the BBCs decision to strip the songs lyrics, 16% think the instrumental compromise is the best solution and 5% think the songs should not be performed at all. The festival will begin on Friday with a performance by the BBC Symphony Orchestra at Londons Royal Albert Hall which will feature Beethovens Eroica symphony. There will also be performances later in the calendar staged in locations including Salford Quays and Cardiffs Hoddinott Hall. The 2020 programme will feature a mixture of live and archive performances which will be broadcast across a range of BBC platforms, including BBC Radio 3, BBC Four and iPlayer. The Last Night will be performed on September 12. Prosecutors on Thursday charged a 17-year-old from Illinois in the fatal shooting of two protesters and the wounding of a third in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during a night of unrest following the weekend police shooting of Jacob Blake. Kyle Rittenhouse faces charges of first-degree intentional homicide, one count of first-degree reckless homicide, one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. He would face a mandatory life sentence if convicted of first-degree intentional homicide, the most serious crime in The shootings late Tuesday largely caught on cellphone video and posted online and the shooting by police Sunday of Blake, a 29-year-old Black father of six who was left paralyzed from the waist down, made Kenosha the latest focal point in the fight against racial injustice that has gripped the country since the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. The two men killed were Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, and Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) west of the city. A third man was injured. Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, of West Allis, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Kenosha is recovering after surgery, said Bethany Crevensten, another activist. She said Grosskreutz was volunteering as a medic when he was shot and called him a hero. Rosenbaum was shot and killed first, after following Rittenhouse into a used car lot, where he threw a plastic bag at the gunman and attempted to take the weapon from him, according to a criminal complaint released by prosecutors Thursday. The medical examiner found that Rosenbaum was shot in the groin and back which fractured his pelvis and perforated his right lung and liver and his left hand. He also suffered a superficial wound to his left thigh and a graze wound to his forehead. Rittenouse then ran down the street and was chased by several people shouting that he just shot someone before he tripped and fell, according to the complaint and cellphone footage. Huber, who was carrying a skateboard, was shot in the chest after apparently trying to wrest the gun from Rittenhouse, the complaint said. Grosskreutz, who appeared to be holding a gun, then was shot in the left arm after approaching Rittenhouse, the complaint said. Rittenhouse's attorney, Lin Wood, said the teenager was acting in self-defence. From my standpoint, it's important that the message be clear to other Americans who are attacked that there will be legal resources available in the event false charges are brought against them, 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.) Democrats want Michigan voters to remember Vice President Mike Pence voted against the auto bailout as he is set to hold a rally in Traverse City Friday. Joe Bidens presidential campaign has put a strong emphasis on his work to save the auto industry during the Obama administration. Surrogates have been carrying that message in Michigan, a key battleground state, arguing that he rescued a critical industry during the last recession and can lead the country through the COVID-19 recovery. Read more: 11 years later, Joe Biden focuses on auto rescue in Michigan In a press call with reporters, U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, and Haley Stevens, D-Rochester Hills, criticized Pence for opposing the 2008 bailout as a member of Congress. Dingell said allowing Chrysler and General Motors to go bankrupt would have had a devastating impact on Michigans economy. Dingell also touted Bidens plan to invest in energy-efficient vehicles as a boon to Michigan automakers who are competing with foreign companies to develop the next generation of products. Theres nobody who understands autos better than Joe Biden, Dingell said. The Democratic National Committee launched digital ads targeting Traverse City Friday ahead of Pences visit. The ads are straightforward, reading Autoworkers: The administration failed us. Read more: Mike Pences Michigan rally is first for presidential campaigns here since COVID-19 struck President Donald Trump has also kept a focus on the auto industry, criticizing Biden for voting for the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993. Trump called Biden the destroyer of jobs Thursday in a speech accepting the Republican Partys nomination for president. Bidens record is a shameful roll call of the most catastrophic betrayals and blunders in our lifetime, Trump said. He has spent his entire career on the wrong side of history. Biden voted for the NAFTA disaster, the single worst trade deal ever enacted. Trump claimed responsibility for replacing NAFTA with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which passed with bipartisan support earlier this year. The president said it would lead to auto companies building their factories in America. Im going to tell you why that attack is not going to work here in Michigan, said AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber Friday. Weve lost auto jobs under Trump in Michigan. Bieber pointed to layoffs at a U.S. Steel Corporation in Ecorse, and the resulting economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. There were 42,400 motor vehicle manufacturing jobs in Michigan when Trump took office, which dropped to 22,700 in April during the height of the pandemic. As of July, there are 5,600 fewer jobs in motor vehicle manufacturing. Michigans unemployment rate remained at 8.7% in July. Dingell said the economic recession was directly caused by Trumps handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dingell also acknowledged workers have been screwed by bad trade deals that allowed businesses to take advantage of cheaper foreign labor. Dingell the USMCA does a better job of protecting domestic manufacturing jobs than the previous trade agreement, but credited negotiations between the White House and House Democrats for the improvements. Bieber said Democrats in Congress played an important role in improving the USMCA. Thats not Trumps NAFTA, he was ready to sign off long before on a crummy replacement bill that did nothing, Bieber said. It was Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats in the House, who had steel backbones and said no to Trumps administration, and to Trump, and said thats not good enough. Dingell and Stevens both have experience in the auto industry. Dingell was a community relations and government relations executive with General Motors, while Stevens worked in the Obama administrations auto rescue task force. Stevens said Trump has failed to uphold his promises to Michigans auto workers. We dont need talk, we dont need lip service, we dont need failed promises, Stevens said. READ MORE: Mike Pences Michigan rally is first for presidential campaigns here since COVID-19 struck Michigan supporters celebrate Trumps nomination for a second term on last night of RNC Why Michigan Trump supporters are sticking with the president in 2020 Biden campaign aims to blame Trump for economic impact of COVID-19 in Michigan The parents of American aid worker Kayla Mueller, who was kidnapped and tortured by ISIS until her death in 2015, have slammed the Obama administration for not doing enough to rescue their daughter, in an emotional speech at the RNC. Carl and Marsha Mueller on Thursday praised President Trump for taking action against their daughter's captors, saying she would still be alive if he had been in office when she was abducted. 'Let me just say this: Kayla should be here. If Donald Trump had been president when Kayla was captured, she would be here today,' Carl said. 'The Obama administration kept telling us that they were doing everything they could, but their version of everything wasn't enough,' he added. Scroll down for video Carl and Marsha Mueller on Thursday praised President Trump for taking action against their daughter's captors, saying she would still be alive if he had been in office when she was abducted Kayla Mueller, an American aid worker, was kidnapped and tortured in Syria between 2013 and 2015. During her captivity, she was raped by the former ISIS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, U.S. officials said Kayla, an international aid worker, was abducted in 2013 and held hostage in Syria, where she was sexually abused and tortured before she died in 2015 aged 26. ISIS said that Mueller was killed near Raqa in February 2015 during an air strike carried out by the US-led international coalition against the jihadists, although her body was never found. During her captivity, she was raped by the former ISIS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, U.S. officials said. Al-Baghdadi later killed himself during a U.S. special forces raid operation in 2019. The grieving parents accused the Obama administration of not being decisive enough when it came to saving Kayla's life, claiming it missed an opportunity to bring her home when it delayed a rescue mission in 2015. 'We put all our faith in the government, but the government let us down,' Carl added. 'The military prepared a rescue mission but the White House delayed it. By the time it went forward, Kayla had been moved to another location. 'After 18 months of brutal torture, we learned from ISIS that Kayla had been killed.' The grieving parents accused the Obama administration of not being decisive enough when it came to saving Kayla's life when she was held hostage by ISIS members in Syria Al-Baghdadi killed himself during a U.S. special forces raid operation, under Trump's command in 2019 The Muellers also claimed Obama refused to meet with them until ISIS had already murdered other Americans, and said they are yet to hear from former vice president and now Democratic candidate, Joe Biden. 'The Trump team gave us empathy we never received from the Obama administration,' Carl said. 'The Obama administration said it was doing everything it could. The Trump administration is. What a difference a president makes.' The Muellers went on to thank the U.S. Army special operators who conducted a raid on Al-Bagdadi's compound under Trump's command last October. 'After we learned the Al-Bagdadi was killed, we learned something else. The operators named themselves task force 814, after August 14, Kayla's birthday,' Carl said. 'And they named the mission Operation Kayla Mueller. To those soldiers: thank you. Kayla was looking down on you.' Marsha added: 'Carl and I support Donald Trump because of his commitment to make and keep America great, not with the power of the government, but with the passion of people like Kayla. 'Americans who, even in the darkest days, always have more fight left inside of them. Americans who don't just talk, they act.' ISIS had reportedly demanded 5million euros from Kayla's family, telling them that they would send 'a picture of Kayla's dead body' if their demands were not met. In an interview after Kayla's death, President Obama defended the government's policy of refusing to pay ransoms for hostages saying the U.S. would do everything it can 'short of providing an incentive for future Americans to be caught.' 'I don't think it's accurate to say that the United States government hasn't done everything we could,' Obama told BuzzFeed News. 'I deployed an entire operation - at significant risk - to rescue not only her but the other individuals who had been held, and probably missed them by a day or two, precisely because we had that commitment.' Hubballi: The tussule between Kannadigas and Marathi people in Belagavi has resurfaced in the form of a statue row this time. Kannadigas are demanding installation of the freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna's statue at a circle in Peeranawadi village situated at the outskirts of Belagavi, while Maratha-speaking people urging the government to install the Maratha emperor Shivaji's statue at the venue. Tensions erupted in the village when a group of Kannada activists barged into the venue to install Rayanna statue at 3.30 am on Friday, forcing the police officials to resort to laticharge against the irate Marathi-speaking people who staged protest by pelting stones. The Kannada activists had made a similar attempt at an unauthorised installation of Rayanna statue on August 15. But, police officials had stopped their attempt when Marathi-speaking people opposed the move and demanded removal of the statue from the venue. Police had also taken the Rayanna syatue into their possession. The Marathi-speaking people are contending that a Shivaji statue is already there near the circle and installing the Rayanna statue at Shivaji circle will create confusion in the minds of people visiting the village. The statue row between Kannadigas and Marathas has been posing a tough challenge to the government and politicians, especially those who hail from Kuruba community to which Rayanna also belonged. Some Kannada activists are targeting rural development and panchayat raj minister, Kuruba leader K S Eshwarappa, who tried to mobilise the community by launching Sangolli Rayanna Brigade to showcase his strength to his rivals within BJP and Opposition parties. The minister will visit Belagavi on Saturday to find a solution to the issue through negotiations with both groups. "Pro-Kannada organsations are demanding the district administration and government since last 4-5 years to install Rayanna statue at the venue. But our demand is not fulfilled despite submitting several memorandums to the local elected representatives. Therefore, we decided to instal the statue on Friday morning," senior Kannada activist Ashok Chandaragi said. The security has been beefed up as tensions continued in the village. Home minister Basavaraj Bommai has directed senior police officials in Bengaluru to visit the village to supervise security arrangements. Meanwhile, the Kannada activists have staged a protest by holding a procession from administrative building of Suvarna Soudha to the office of the Belagavi deputy commissioner. The district in-charge minister Ramesh Jarkiholi also held meetings with officials and assured the Kannada activists that row will be resolved soon. Unions representing health workers, including nurses, cleaners, porters, paramedics and ambulance staff, are submitting claims for pay rises for hundreds of thousands of staff following years of austerity. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Unison and the GMB Union have said now is the time to reward NHS workers as they battled against the coronavirus crisis this year. The RCNs Fair Pay for Nursing campaign is demanding a 12.5 per cent pay rise for nursing staff across the UK. The GMB said its claim was for a 15 per cent pay rise, while Unisons demand would see every NHS employee receiving an increase of at least 2,000 by the end of this year. Unison, the UKs biggest union, said this rise is equivalent to around 1 an hour extra for all staff, including healthcare assistants, radiographers, porters, midwives and paramedics. If the claim is accepted, minimum wages in the NHS would exceed 20,000 per year for the first time, more than 20,400 annually in Scotland, said the union. In a letter to the prime minister, Unison pointed towards Boris Johnsons own struggle with Covid-19, asking him if his recent personal experiences taught you about the value of what [the NHS staff] do. They are now looking for you to reflect that in their pay. So, Prime Minister, why wait? it added. The unions said that NHS workers have endured a decade of real terms pay cuts despite the country relying on them more than ever. Dame Donna Kinnair, general secretary of the RCN, said: The Fair Pay for Nursing campaign is about recognising the skill, experience and responsibility demonstrated every day, in every year, by nursing support workers, nursing associates, registered nurses and all members of the profession. Recommended The slow turnaround for test and trace results is straining NHS trusts This is about more than the professions response to Covid-19 it is about increasing the attractiveness of the profession, to fill tens of thousands of unfilled nursing jobs and reach safe staffing levels. It is time to pay nursing staff fairly. Rachel Harrison, GMB national officer, added that the NHS were at breaking point before the pandemic hit, and the crisis has exacerbated the situation. Staff put their own lives on the line, attending work to care for others, whilst being in fear for the safety of themselves and their families. They have been failed at all key points during the crisis, particularly when it came to pay, PPE and testing, she said. Now is the time for the Government to make amends. Now is the time to pay up. Thats why GMB is calling for pay justice, a real terms pay increase that makes up for the approximate loss of 15 per cent. Substantial enough to repair the decade of austerity and real terms pay cuts suffered by our key workers in the NHS and privatised companies operating within it. ANTIOCH, Ill. A white 17-year-old who says he went to protests in Wisconsin to protect businesses and people has become a flashpoint in a debate over anti-racism demonstrations that have gripped many American cities and the vigilantism that has sometimes met them. On Tuesday, Kyle Rittenhouse grabbed an AR-15 style rifle and joined several other armed people in the streets of Kenosha, where businesses had been vandalized and buildings burned following a police shooting that left Jacob Blake, a Black man, paralyzed. By the end of the night, prosecutors say, Rittenhouse had killed two people and severely wounded a third. At a hearing Friday, a judge postponed a decision on whether Rittenhouse, who is in custody in Illinois, should be returned to Wisconsin to face charges, including first-degree intentional homicide that could land him in prison for the rest of his life. To some, Rittenhouse is a domestic terrorist whose very presence with a rifle incited the protesters. But to others who have become frustrated with demonstrations and unrest across the country hes seen as a hero who took up arms to protect people who were left unprotected. Kyle is an innocent boy who justifiably exercised his fundamental right of self-defense. In doing so, he likely saved his own life and possibly the lives of others, said Lin Wood, a prominent Atlanta attorney who is now part of a team representing Rittenhouse. The protests in Kenosha are just the latest to erupt during a reckoning over policing and racial injustice following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. As they have in other cities, rallies devolved into violence and vandalism at some points, and the National Guard was called in. The commander of the force said Friday over 1,000 guard members had been deployed, and more were on the way. Rittenhouse, once part of a youth cadet program for aspiring police officers, can be seen on his Facebook page posing in a blue police uniform with a silver badge and broad-brimmed hat. In other online photos and videos, he takes target practice and brandishes a rifle above the caption, Blue Lives Matter. On Tuesday night, as Rittenhouse stood in front of a boarded-up building, he spoke to a reporter from the Daily Caller news site. People are getting injured and our job is to protect this business, 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. Rittenhouse and a friend armed themselves on Tuesday and made their way to a mechanic shop whose owner had put out a call for protection, according to a statement from John Pierce, an attorney representing Rittenhouse. In the attorneys description of events, Rittenhouse had tried to offer medical help to injured people before he was accosted by multiple rioters, leading him to open fire. The hashtag #FreeKyleRittenhouse has trended on Twitter, a self-described Christian fundraising site, GiveSendGo, says it has raised more than $100,000 for Rittenhouses defense, and a post including photos of Rittenhouse cleaning up graffiti in Kenosha before the shooting was shared and liked thousands of times. The night of the shootings, Rittenhouse is seen on video as a green-shirted figure running across a parking lot with a rifle followed by a man later identified as Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, according to a criminal complaint. Rosenbaum throws a plastic bag at Rittenhouse, misses, then five shots ring out, and Rosenbaum falls to the ground. He later was declared dead. I just killed somebody, Rittenhouse says into his cellphone, according to the complaint, and he starts running and several people give chase. Beat him up! one person in the crowd says. Another yells, Get him! Get that dude! Rittenhouse trips and falls. One man holding a skateboard appears to try to grab the gun from Rittenhouse. A shot rings out, and the man, Anthony Huber, 26, staggers away. He also died. In the scuffle, lasting just seconds, Rittenhouse shoots a third person armed with a handgun, according to the complaint. That man, Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, has a deep wound to his arm but has survived. After the shootings, Rittenhouse can be seen walking toward police with his gun slung over his shoulder and his hands in the air. Police riding in tactical vehicles roll right past him. He later turned himself in in his hometown of Antioch, Illinois, according to Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis. The police have faced questions about that response. On Friday, Miskinis described a chaotic scene to reporters and said that there was nothing to suggest that this person (Rittenhouse) was involved in any criminal behavior. Miskinis said it was not a lapse in judgment to not stop Rittenhouse and ask for identification to see if he was old enough to carry a weapon, given the number of people on the street, many wearing masks that obscured their faces. Wisconsin allows gun owners to openly carry in public, but a person under 18 cant legally possess or carry a firearm unless that person is hunting or target practicing with an adult or in the military. Before the shooting, some officers were seen on video thanking the group Rittenhouse was with for their help and tossing them bottles of water. Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth told reporters Friday those officers were not his deputies. He added that he was not asking armed citizens to help law enforcement respond to unrest. Before the shooting, Rittenhouse lived in a quiet apartment complex a half-hours drive away from Kenosha, with his single mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, a 45-year-old nursing assistant who filed for bankruptcy two years ago. Jeanie Quillin, who lived in an apartment building next door, did not know the Rittenhouses but said area residents were on edge over the teens arrest and their fears that the demonstrations could come to their doorsteps. I want to know how a 17-year-old could get ahold of an AR-15, she added. Rittenhouses mother did not return calls Thursday, and the nursing home listed in court papers as her employer, Libertyville Manor, would not confirm she still worked there. Rittenhouse dropped out of high school during the 2017-18 school year, according to a statement from a school district official sent to The Washington Post. A year earlier, court records show, his mother had asked for an order of protection from police for Rittenhouse and his now 19-year-old sister, McKenzie, saying that a 13-year-old bully was calling her son dumb and stupid and threatening him. She eventually dropped the matter. On his social media posts, Rittenhouse appeared to be an enthusiastic participant in the Public Safety Cadet program run by local police departments that trains 14- to 21-year-olds in the basics of law enforcement. Beyond confirming he was involved, the Grayslake Police Department would not comment further. On his 16th birthday, he appealed to Facebook friends to help him celebrate by donating to a nonprofit supporting police called Humanizing the Badge. Rittenhouse also did a stint as a part-time lifeguard at the YMCA in Lindenhurst, Illinois, according to Man-Yan Lee, a representative for the organizations metro Chicago branch. He was furloughed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. In videos on his TikTok account, which has just 25 followers, he is seen assembling and disassembling a rifle and what appears to be a shotgun. Bruh, Im just tryna be famous, he says on his TikTok bio page. ___ Condon reported from New York. Associated Press writers Scott Bauer and Todd Richmond in Madison, Wisconsin; Jake Bleiberg in Dallas; Don Babwin and Sophia Tareen in Chicago; Tammy Webber in Fenton, Michigan; and David Klepper in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed, as did news researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York. ___ For AP coverage of racial injustice issues: https://apnews.com/Racialinjustice Australians are devouring more Tim Tams than ever while working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, Arnott's has revealed. The iconic chocolate biscuits sold an extra four million packets in the period from March and June, when Australians were ordered to work from home. Workers also purchased an extra two million cans of soup, 2.7 million stock packets as well as one million extra V8 juice bottles in the same time frame. Stay-at-home staffer took it upon themselves to recreate a 'work kitchen' at home and stocked up on items they initially would have readily available to them in the office. An extra four million packets of Tim Tams have been sold during lockdown (pictured, Aussies working from home with a pack of biscuits) In the last financial year, Arnott's sold 270 million Tim Tams (stock image) which only increased in popularity during the pandemic Due to the increase in purchases, Arnott's revealed production costs soared a further six per cent in the last financial years. In the last financial year, Arnott's sold 270 million Tim Tams, five million Campbells soups products and 3.5 million V8 juice bottles. The company bought $110million worth of products from Australian farmers, equating to more than 72,000 tonnes of flour, 23,000 tonnes of sugar and 4,400 tonnes of Australian and New Zealand-made dairy products, The Australian reported. Despite the company being sold for $3.3billion last year to US private equity firm KKR, chief executive George Zoghbi, said the company will expand in Australia. 'Our business began as a family group led by William Arnott and bonded by their spirit and determination to succeed,' he said. 'Today we are proud and privileged to have a locally-run operation built on local ingredients, quality, freshness and authenticity.' 'A big part of our strategy will be investing in our people and products while minimising our environmental impact and supporting the communities in which we operate. 'We have a responsibility to continue that legacy for many generations to come.' Workers also purchased an extra two million cans of soup, 2.7 million stock packets as well one million V8 juice bottles in the same time frame HARRISBURG While Montgomery Countys coronavirus positivity rate ticked up slightly during the last week, the county still has one of the lowest coronavirus positivity rates among southeast Pennsylvania counties, according to the latest data from the state Department of Health. For the period Aug. 21 to Aug. 27 the percent-positivity rate for Montgomery County was 3.1 percent, according to the states COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard. That was an increase from the 3.0 percent-positivity rate the county recorded for the previous seven-day period Aug. 14 to Aug. 20. Health officials believe having a positivity rate less than 5 percent indicates a county is controlling the spread of the virus and keeping it suppressed. According to the data, Montgomery County currently has the fourth lowest percent-positivity rate in southeast Pennsylvania, behind Lehigh, Bucks and Chester counties. Lehigh posted a percent-positivity rate of 1.5 percent, according to the most recent data, while Bucks posted a positivity rate of 2.6 percent and Chester recorded a percent-positivity rate of 2.9 percent. According to state data, for the most recent seven-day period ending Aug. 27, other neighboring counties recorded the following percent-positivity rates: Delaware (3.5%); Philadelphia (3.4%) and Berks (4.8%). Gov. Tom Wolf said the states COVID-19 dashboard is designed to provide early warning signs of factors that affect the states mitigation efforts. The data available on the dashboard includes week-over-week case differences, incidence rates, test percent-positivity, and rates of hospitalizations, ventilations and emergency room visits tied to COVID-19. As of Aug. 27, the statewide percent-positivity rate decreased to 3.2 percent from 3.4 percent the previous week. Earlier this week, Wolf said he was pleased about the continued decrease in the statewide positivity rate. This is a testament that our actions are working, but we still have more work to do. The virus is still circulating, and we must continue to wear masks, practice social distancing and avoid large gatherings to keep our numbers low, stop the spread and allow more freedom, Wolf said. To keep the positivity rate below 5 percent, Montgomery County Commissioners Chairwoman Dr. Valerie Arkoosh stressed residents should continue to abide by all mask wearing, handwashing and social distancing recommendations. Arkoosh also urged residents to cooperate with contact tracers. Working together, we continue to suppress viral spread in Montgomery County. But our data does show a small uptick in numbers, which reminds us that we cannot let up. This definitely serves as a reminder that this virus is very much still with us and is still extremely contagious, Arkoosh said during a news briefing earlier this week. Keeping the spread of the virus low will enable our businesses to stay open, facilitate our children returning to in-person school and keep our hospitals and first responders safe. With the economy flattened by the pandemic, Trump has turned increasingly toward touting the stock market as a reflection of his reliable stewardship of the economy. by Nihal Krishan Just a few months ago, President Trumps handling of the economy was his best argument for reelection. Now, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic wiping out much of its post-2016 gains, it remains unclear how Trump would handle the economy during a second term. Recent campaign speeches give one a sense of Trumps confident, albeit vague, direction for the future of the economy. Not surprisingly, the president often sums up his economic message as: Buy American and hire American, as he stated earlier this month during a speech at a Whirlpool plant in Ohio. In that speech, Trump articulated six campaign promises related to the economy: He wants to defeat the coronavirus; rise from the pandemic-induced recession more prosperous and resilient than ever; make America the premier medical manufacturer; bring pharmaceutical and medical supply chains to the United States and end reliance on China; push back against globalism by bringing back jobs and factories using every available tool, including tariffs; and uphold the commitment to put American workers first. But these promises offered little in the way of detail. Neither did Trump spokesman Judd Deere offer much when asked last month about the presidents agenda for a second term. The White House is engaged in an ongoing policy process for a bold second-term agenda that continues the Transition to Greatness that ensures we are a safer, stronger, more prosperous America, Deere told reporters. Instead, as the Associated Press's Jonathan Lemire put it, Trumps messaging has almost entirely relied on the notion that because he presided over a strong economy once, he is the right person to lead the recovery. Using the once-booming economy as evidence, Trump argues that he should be reelected because hes kept all of his promises from the 2016 election. Of course, this is not entirely true. Trump did succeed in renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement, slashing a number of regulations, and enacting tax reform, but he failed at repealing the Affordable Care Act and making any progress on decreasing the national debt. Trump has also not been able to enact a five-year ban to keep White House and congressional officials from lobbying, part of his drain the swamp agenda. By and large, Trumps campaign has focused less on his own positive agenda and much more on the disastrous future he says would ensue if Democratic rival Joe Biden is elected. Our entire economy, and our very way of life, are threatened by Bidens plans to transform our nation and subjugate our communities through the blunt-force instrument of federal regulation at a level that you havent even seen yet, Trump said at an event in July at the White House. His campaign and the Republican National Committee have repeatedly attacked Bidens tax proposals, which have been released in stages. [Bidens] plan to raise taxes by $4 trillion would stifle the American economy, and it would devastate the recovery that we are beginning to see under the presidents leadership, even in the midst of this pandemic, Vice President Mike Pence said on a campaign call with reporters last month. (Bidens campaign disputes this message, maintaining that ads put out by the Trump campaign falsely claim that the former vice presidents proposals will heavily raise taxes on middle-class families. Instead, Bidens campaign says his tax plans will target the wealthy and corporations. Biden has said he wont raise taxes on people making under $400,000.) Even before the pandemic, the presidents economic agenda was a bit murky. Before the 2018 midterm elections and then again late last year, Trump said he wanted to work toward a middle-class tax cut that would go into effect if he was reelected and Republicans controlled Congress. Trump even went so far as to promise in January that the tax cut plan would be unveiled within 90 days. This did not happen, perhaps due to the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic. Yet Trumps State of the Union address in February, before the pandemic hit, suggested a second term that would be far less deferential to the GOPs traditional priorities and the wishes of businesses and donors. While the speech was not particularly focused on new policy initiatives, the lack of attention paid to taxes was noteworthy. Beyond crediting his 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for helping to rapidly revive an already growing economy, there was no mention of new tax breaks, including no mention of the promised middle-class cut. Yet in the face of the pandemic, the president this month signed an executive order seeking to defer payroll taxes. Trump had been advocating for a payroll tax cut throughout most of the pandemic, unsuccessfully lobbying for lawmakers to include it in economic relief plans back in March. Finally, Trump decided to go around Congress with his executive order, which would reduce the amount of taxes taken from workers paychecks to fund federal entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare. It is unclear whether this move and other coronavirus-related economic stimulus measures reflect the emphases of a second-term economic agenda or whether they are simply reactions to an unprecedented nationwide lockdown. Lest we forget, it is an election year, and Trump is currently trailing Biden both nationally and in several swing states. Actions such as the Congress-skirting executive order, as well as the presidents memoranda earlier this month extending the temporary suspension of student loan payments, could easily be seen as near-term vote-getters rather than as elements of a predetermined plan for economic growth. With the economy flattened by the pandemic, Trump has turned increasingly toward touting the stock market as a reflection of his reliable stewardship of the economy. As such, Trump offered one of the few specific second-term policy promises earlier this month, telling Fox Businesss Maria Bartiromo, Im going to do a capital gains tax cut to 15% in the second term. Cuts to capital gains are a far cry from the populist economic message he ran on in 2016, when Trump blasted the hedge fund people who make a lot of money, and they pay very little tax. Whether a true plan or simply a campaign promise, it does represent something of a departure, at least in terms of the voters Trump is targeting. Otherwise, Trumps economic plans have remained vague yet confident, save his specific outburst at Goodyear on Twitter. Dont buy GOODYEAR TIRES, he tweeted last Wednesday. They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS. This pushing of boycotts against companies he feels slighted by is at least much more in line with Trumps traditional economic messaging. Indeed, the Trump camps lack of policy details and the presidents growing tendency to issue unilateral policy changes get to the heart of what his reelection campaign is promising, both on the economy and everything else. And that is simply Trump himself. Four years ago, accepting the Republican nomination, Trump said: "I alone can fix it." His economic policies heading into a second election appear to follow that same theme. Nihal Krishan is an economic policy reporter for the Washington Examiner where this piece first appeared. The rally comes amid fresh outrage after police shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, multiple times in the back. Months of widespread protests and unrest over the police killings of Black Americans will culminate this Friday with a national march on Washington, DC that commemorates a historic 1963 civil rights march. Tens of thousands are expected to gather at the Lincoln Memorial in the United States capital to take part in the Get Your Knee Off Our Necks Commitment March demanding equality and policing reforms. The march will coincide with the 57th anniversary of Reverend Martin Luther King Jrs iconic I Have A Dream speech. Were at a time when anti-racism and this fight against police brutality is at the forefront, said Lopez Matthews, a historian and digital librarian at Howard University in Washington, DC. Its a perfect time to have another march to bring attention to these issues. Reverend Al Sharpton announced the march during the funeral of George Floyd, a Black man who died on May 25 after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Floyds death galvanised months of nationwide protests against police brutality and demands for racial justice in the country. Demonstrators take part in a protest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Kenosha, Wisconsin [Stephen Maturen/Reuters] The march also comes in the midst of fresh outrage and renewed protests after Jacob Blake, a Black man, was shot by a policeman multiple times in the back at close range as he opened his car door in the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin on Sunday. Blakes father will speak on Friday. Two people were killed during protests in Kenosha on Tuesday night, allegedly by a young white man who was caught on smartphone video opening fire with a semiautomatic rifle. The shooting left a third person wounded. We will NOT stand for looting, arson, violence, and lawlessness on American streets, US President Donald Trump said on Twitter, adding that he would be dispatching federal forces to quell the protests in Kenosha. 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 Fridays event is also taking place during a fraught election year. Trump, who is running for a second term in office on a law-and-order platform, is trailing Democratic challenger Joe Biden in most opinion polls ahead of the November 3 election. Biden accused Trump of rooting for violence. Whats he doing? Hes pouring more gasoline on the fire, Biden told MSNBC on Thursday. Persistent problems Over the past 57 years, observers and activists say, conditions for Black Americans have improved, in part because of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination based on race. But inequality, systemic racism and police brutality continue, said Danielle Belton, editor-in-chief at digital magazine The Root, and these have proven difficult to overcome. Dr Martin Luther King Jr, with arms raised, marching along Constitution Avenue with other civil rights protestors carrying placards, from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington in 1963 [File: AP Photo] A lot of the same problems still exist, Belton told Al Jazeera. Thats why we need to keep talking about them, thats why we need to keep marching, thats why we need to keep organising. Yes, some things have changed in many ways, and in many cases for the better, she added, but the reality is a lot of these issues are very persistent, because they are woven into the fabric of American society. In June, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would ban police use of chokeholds and end qualified immunity for officers, among other reforms. And in July, Democratic senators reintroduced legislation that would restore a provision of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965, named after the late civil rights icon John Lewis, but that was gutted by the US Supreme Court in 2013. The law required states with a history of voter suppression to seek federal clearance before changing voting regulations. Both measures are awaiting action in the Republican-controlled Senate. Coronavirus pandemic Unlike the 1963 march, when more than 200,000 people participated, Fridays rally comes during an outbreak of COVID-19, a disease that has infected more than 5.8 million Americans and left 180,000 dead the highest number of cases and deaths in the world. With cases still rising in many parts of the country, organisers said they expect about 50,000 participants after shuttle buses from coronavirus hot spots were cancelled. The in-person march will require people to wear masks and organisers said that hand sanitising stations and temperature checks would be conducted. Civil rights groups organising the event, the NAACP and the National Action Network, have encouraged people to join the march virtually, or participate in satellite rallies in Kentucky, South Carolina and Texas, where outdoor large screens will livestream the Washington rally. Black Lives Matter demonstrators marching towards the White House during racial inequality protests in downtown Washington, DC, the US [Erin Scott/Reuters] Natalie Hopkinson, assistant professor in Howard Universitys Department of Communication, Culture and Media Studies, said a smaller crowd could potentially affect the impact of the rally, but it will not undermine the sense of urgency around addressing racial justice and inequality in the country. The numbers do make a difference and that is what made the George Floyd protests really powerful, Hopkinson said. But were having a moral reckoning right now, and the march is going to be part of that. Its all on the same continuum of getting justice for Black people, which has been elusive. And yet, while the struggle for equality has in essence remained the same since the civil rights movement in the 1960s, Hopkinson says, the methodology as well as the optics have changed. Unlike King, who wore a suit and tie, spoke about reconciliation and called for non-violence, this summers protests were held by outraged, young activists many donning shorts and T-shirts and prone to chants such as F*** Trump. Thats very significant because its a signal that its not about respectability politics, you dont have to be respectable to have human rights, Hopkinson said. This summers protests around the country were organised and energised by the Movement for Black Lives, a national coalition of more than 150 Black-led organisations of young activists formed after the 2014 killing of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old unarmed Black man shot dead by a white police officer. The movement is demanding more radical changes than the legacy civil rights groups organising Fridays march. They have been pushing for the passage of the BREATHE Act, which would divest funds away from police departments and prisons in favour of investments in healthcare, education, housing and other social services in Black communities. The movement is scheduled to hold its virtual Black National Convention on Friday evening, when organisers will unveil a new political agenda intended to further build on the momentum of this summers protests. History is like a wave Fridays march, meanwhile, seeks to restore and recommit to the dream Dr Martin Luther King, Jr defined that year, according to a press release, as well as call for police accountability and reform, and to mobilize voters ahead of the November elections. In 1963, King lamented the unspeakable horrors of police brutality and said he dreamt that his children would one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. Dr Martin Luther King Jr, addressing marchers during his I Have a Dream speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC on August 28, 1963 [AP Photo] King was assassinated in 1968. Expected to participate in Fridays march are Martin Luther King III, a son of the late civil rights icon, attorney Benjamin Crump and the relatives of Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor victims of police killings. Following a commemorative rally, participants in Washington will end the day with a march to the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial. Steven Cleveland, creator of the documentary A King in Paradise, which explores Kings activism and life, said the original march, much like the upcoming one, was meant to be an inspirational moment in Black history rather than a practical one that would deliver immediate political results. But King, as a leader, Cleveland says, had the rare ability to both inspire people and deliver policy changes, exemplified by his success in helping pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It is one of the keys to MLKs greatness, Cleveland told Al Jazeera. He was the person to both be aspirational and practical. He delivered, using his aspirational talent. And the dream that King famously described that day, of racial equality and freedom, acknowledged that some progress had been made, but that there was a long way to go and it was going to take time. History is like a wave, with moments of progress and regression, Cleveland said. History is not linear, history is over time gaining a little bit of ground until we reach a place where we move past the oppressive nature of systemic racism, piece by piece, bit by bit. (Natural News) A report by the medical examiners office in Hennepin County, Minnesota, claims that George Floyd had a fatal level of fentanyl in his system when he died on May 25 while in police custody. Dr. Andrew Baker, Hennepin County Chief Medical Examiner, said there was no physical evidence, according to court documents. The documents stated that Floyds level of fentanyl was pretty high, claiming that he had potentially fatal levels of the drug in his system. A memo from the medical examiners office has stated that had 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. The memo also noted that additional tests were underway to complete the autopsy. New report contradicts earlier information The Armed Forces Medical Examiner has stated that George Floyds death was, in part, due to a homicide. This is supported by video footage of his arrest, which shows former police officer Derek Chauvin with his knee pressed down on Floyds neck before his death. (Related: Transcript shows that George Floyd was doped up on drugs, resisting arrest during police encounter.) 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 Armed Forces Medical Examiner said. Prior to the most recent release, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner had also concluded that the homicide was the primary cause of Floyds death. New documents, released at the request of the attorneys of former police officer Tou Thao, paint a different picture. One of the memorandums, filed on May 26 after a virtual meeting with Baker, claimed that Floyds autopsy revealed no physical evidence of asphyxiation. Baker, however, did admit that his investigation was incomplete, pending a toxicology report. The other memorandum, filed on June 1 by the Attorneys Office, indicated that Baker claimed that Floyds fentanyl level was pretty high, potentially at a fatal level. However, reports by independent medical examiners hired by Floyds family that were released alongside the memorandums still list Floyds death as being caused by traumatic asphyxia due to the compression of his neck and back during restraint by police. Drug use played a role in George Floyds death The report from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner isnt the first to point out Floyds fentanyl use and the role it may have played in his death. Last week, the defense attorney representing Thomas Lane, one of the officers charged in the case, argued that these charges against his client should be dropped. Lawyer Earl Gray cited body camera footage of the arrest and alleged that Floyd had ingested drugs. He specifically pointed to a white spot on the left side of his tongue that was apparently two 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, wrote Gray 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. On top of fentanyl intoxication, other factors, including other drugs, are also being pointed to as having played a role in Floyds death. The Hennepin County Medical Examiners office also lists arteriosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease as being contributing factors to Floyds death, alongside recent methamphetamine use. For more on the death of George Floyd and the riots that it spawned, follow Violence.news. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com Fox9.com President Bashar al-Assad has visited the city of al-Qardahah to smooth things over with the Makhlouf family, following his falling out with Rami reports Al-Modon. Many questions are left unanswered following president Bashar al-Assads visit to the city of al-Qardahah. Chief among which are: Has Assad succeeded in his endeavor to patch things up between his family and the Makhloufs, after the relationship between them deteriorated after many properties belonging to Rami Makhlouf were seized. Informed sources told Al-Modon that Assads mission behind the visit, which witnessed meetings between Assad and the dignitaries of the Assad and Makhlouf families, was not a difficult one, given the kinship ties between the two families. It was assumed that Assads mission would not be easy, given Makhloufs economic prowess along the Syrian coast and the prominence of his family. However, it seems that economic interests govern relations within the Alawite sect, regardless of family ties. The Makhlouf family is considered one of the most prominent Alawite families, and a number of the al-Qardahah families (the Assad stronghold) have strong ties with it. The Makhloufs economic and political power has been escalating for the preceding decades. The concessions Assad made to Ihab Makhlouf, Ramis brother, including awarding him the contract to operate duty free markets seem to have returned some serenity to the turbulent relationship. The director of the Sham Center for Democratic and Human Rights Studies, Alawite opposition figure Aktham Naissa sees that, handing over a part of Ramis companies to Ihab has contributed to appeasing the Makhlouf family, as the acquisition returned to the family some of the great privileges it had lost Naissa added that pushing Ihab, who has a weak personality, to the forefront of the Makhlouf family, is a step in the right direction to finding a solution to Assads tension with Rami. He told Al-Modon, Rami enjoys considerable popularity with the Alawite sect, thanks to the al-Bustan Associations assistance to the communitys disadvantaged, and his position began to be buttressed as a result of the erosion of Assads popularity, after the poverty and hunger that the sect paid as a price in Assads war. This confirms, according to Naisa, that Assads visit was successful in terms of restoring family relations, considering that, the visit is an attempt to restore relations with the Makhlouf family, and also to rebuild and strengthen the relationship with the people of al-Qardahah, which has suffered some damage. While the attempt has succeeded in achieving some of its goals, it did not contribute to raising the level of Assads popularity among the Alawites. Other views consider that the entire Makhlouf case is not worthy of Assads personal efforts, on the grounds that Makhlouf has always been an employee of the Assad family, and one of the familys habits is to change employees without providing justifications. Journalist Bassam al-Youssef, a Syrian Alawite dissident, said that linking Assads visit to al-Qardahah to the conflict with Makhlouf is a hypothesis that is not supported by facts, considering, that the Assad-Makhlouf dispute does not necessitate a reconciliation visit. He believes that if Assad wants a reconciliation with the Makhlouf family, he could have sent a delegate on his behalf. He added, Today, after all that happened, the Makhlouf family has become weak and not influential enough for Assad to pay it a reconciliation visit. Generally speaking, there are no Alawite figures today that constitute an obstacle for Assad. Youssef added, Rami Makhlouf is old news, and even his family no longer wants to defend him. All the regime cares about today is money and personal interests rather than the Alawite families issue. Assad and Ramis disagreement had been covered by the media, after the regime requested Makhlouf to pay accumulated taxes on Makhloufs investments, including those tied to telecommunications company Syriatel. The dispute ended with the seizure of Rami Makhloufs money and the arrest of some of his senior employees. 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. Surveillance footage seized by authorities in western Mexico captured the tragic moment a 16-year-old girl was set on fire by two male individuals after she was brutally beaten at a home. The disturbing incident occurred last Saturday when Danna Marian Reyes was hanging out at a friend's home in Mexicali, Baja California, where she was allegedly stabbed inside a room by at least three of her friends. Authorities have so far arrested three individuals, whom have been identified by authorities only by their first names: Jesus Guadalupe Mendoza, 25; Teresa Michelle Tamarillo, 23; and Kevin Jesus Toscano, 18. Police are still looking for a fourth suspect, Jose Octavio Castillo. While discussing the brutal murder, a state prosecutor stoked criticism by highlighting the fact that Reyes was heavily tattooed. WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT Danna Marian Reyes was reportedly stabbed to death Saturday by her friends in Mexicali, Mexico, before three individuals who have been arrested were caught on video burning her body Teresa Michelle Tamarillo boards the front passenger seat of a vehicle as Kevin Jesus Toscano and Jesus Guadalupe Mendoza follow her after they set Danna Marian Reyes' body on fire Saturday in Mexico A medical examiner's report indicated Reyes' death was caused by stab wounds to the neck and head trauma. At least 45 percent of her body was burned. Jose Navarro, 16, told the prosecutor's office that the group had been smoking marijuana, taking methamphetamines and drinking alcohol since from early Saturday until 2pm local time when Toscano, Castillo and Mendoza locked themselves in a room in the latter's residence. Navarro said he and another minor, Carlos Antonio Espinoza, were sitting in the living room when Reyes started screaming and crying for help before one of the individuals shouted at her, 'we are not playing around, you are f*****.' Navarro said he attempted to leave but was intercepted in the street by Castillo, who had allegedly departed the house to retrieve a gallon of gasoline. The witness said Castillo forced him back in the home and the group threatened his life if he said anything after he saw a bag allegedly containing Reyes' body wrapped with a blanket. Teresa Michelle Tamarillo (center) is led away by the police after she and two other suspects, Kevin Jesus Toscano and Jesus Guadalupe Mendoza, were seen on video setting on fire the body of 16-year-old Danna Marian Reyes in Mexicali, Mexico, last Saturday A medical examiner said Danna Marian Reyes' death was caused by a stab wound to the neck and head trauma The surveillance video shows one of the individuals standing atop a wall and dumping the body to the ground. A car later arrives and the three detained suspects could be seen dragging Reyes' body before she was set on fire. The group returned to the vehicle and abandoned the scene. Reyes' gruesome death sparked further outrage when Baja California state attorney general Guillermo Ruiz highlighted the murdered teenage girl's tattoos during a press conference this week. 'Sadly in Mexicali, [Saturday], a 16-year-old girl was murdered, but the girl also had tattoos everywhere,' Ruiz said Wednesday after the video of the attack went viral. 'This girl we have as a victim from Mexicali had a tattoo of a machine gun or an AK-47 on her forearm and it is very serious that we do not take the precaution of taking care of adolescents.' One Twitter user characterized Ruiz's comments as victim blaming. 'It is the same as saying they rape us for wearing a short skirt,' she wrote. The Baja California State Human Rights Commission has demanded that the prosecutor's office not 're-victimize or stigmatize victims of crimes such as femicide' by associating 'criminal conduct' with 'body modifications such as tattoos.' Teresa Michelle Tamarillo (bottom right), Jose Guadalupe Mendoza and Kevin Jesus Toscano were charged with homicide The inside of future nuclear fusion energy reactors will be among the harshest environments ever produced on Earth. Whats strong enough to protect the inside of a fusion reactor from plasma-produced heat fluxes akin to space shuttles reentering Earths atmosphere? Zeke Unterberg and his team at the Department of Energys Oak Ridge National Laboratory are currently working with the leading candidate: tungsten, which has the highest melting point and lowest vapor pressure of all metals on the periodic table, as well as very high tensile strength properties that make it well-suited to take abuse for long periods of time. Theyre focused on understanding how tungsten would work inside a fusion reactor, a device that heats light atoms to temperatures hotter than the suns core so that they fuse and release energy. Hydrogen gas in a fusion reactor is converted into hydrogen plasma a state of matter that consists of partially ionized gasthat is then confined in a small region by strong magnetic fields or lasers. You dont want to put something in your reactor that only lasts a couple of days, said Unterberg, a senior research scientist in ORNLs Fusion Energy Division. You want to have sufficient lifetime. We put tungsten in areas where we anticipate there will be very high plasma bombardment. In 2016, Unterberg and the team began conducting experiments in the tokamak, a fusion reactor that uses magnetic-fields to contain a ring of plasma, at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility , a DOE Office of Science user facility in San Diego. They wanted to know whether tungsten could be used to armor the tokamaks vacuum chamber protecting it from rapid destruction caused by the effects of plasma without heavily contaminating the plasma itself. This contamination, if not sufficiently managed, could ultimately extinguish the fusion reaction. We were trying to determine what areas in the chamber would be particularly bad: where the tungsten was most likely to generate impurities that can contaminate the plasma, Unterberg said. To find that, the researchers used an enriched isotope of tungsten, W-182, along with the unmodified isotope, to trace the erosion, transport and redeposition of tungsten from within the divertor. Looking at the movement of tungsten within the divertor an area within the vacuum chamber designed to divert plasma and impurities gave them a clearer picture of how it erodes from surfaces within the tokamak and interacts with the plasma. The enriched tungsten isotope has the same physical and chemical properties as regular tungsten. The experiments at DIII-D used small metal inserts coated with the enriched isotope placed close to, but not at, the highest heat flux zone, an area in the vessel typically called the divertor far-target region. Separately, at a divertor region with the highest fluxes, the strike-point, researchers used inserts with the unmodified isotope. The remainder of the DIII-D chamber is armored with graphite. This setup allowed the researchers to collect samples on special probes temporarily inserted in the chamber for measuring impurity flow to and from the vessel armor, which could give them a more precise idea of where the tungsten that had leaked away from the divertor into the chamber had originated. Using the enriched isotope gave us a unique fingerprint, Unterberg said. It was the first such experiment conducted in a fusion device. One goal was to determine the best materials and location for these materials for chamber armoring, while keeping impurities caused by plasma-material interactions largely contained to the divertor and not contaminating the magnet-confined core plasma used to produce fusion. One complication with the design and operation of divertors is impurity contamination in the plasma caused by edge-localized modes, or ELMs. Some of these fast, high-energy events, akin to solar flares, can damage or destroy vessel components such as divertor plates. The frequency of the ELMs, the times per second these events occur, is an indicator of the amount of energy released from the plasma to the wall. High-frequency ELMs can release low amounts of plasma per eruption, but if the ELMs are less frequent, the plasma and energy released per eruption is high, with a greater probability for damage. Recent research has looked at ways to control and increase the frequency of ELMs, such as with pellet injection or additional magnetic fields at very small magnitudes. Unterbergs team found, as they expected, that having the tungsten far from the high-flux strike-point greatly increased the probability of contamination when exposed to low-frequency ELMs that have higher energy content and surface contact per event. Additionally, the team found that this divertor far-target region was more prone to contamination of the scrape-off layer even though it generally has lower fluxes than the strike-point. These seemingly counterintuitive results are being confirmed by ongoing divertor modeling efforts in relation to this project and future experiments on DIII-D. This project involved a team of experts from across North America, including collaborators from Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, ORNL, General Atomics, Auburn University, the University of California at San Diego, the University of Toronto, the University of TennesseeKnoxville, and the University of WisconsinMadison, as it provided a significant tool for plasma-material interaction research. DOEs Office of Science (Fusion Energy Sciences) provided support for the study. The team published research online earlier this year in the journal Nuclear Fusion. The research could immediately benefit the Joint European Torus, or JET, and ITER, now under construction in Cadarache, France, both of which use tungsten armor for the divertor. But were looking at things beyond ITER and JET were looking at the fusion reactors of the future, Unterberg said. Where is it best to put tungsten, and where should you not put tungsten? Our ultimate goal is to armor our fusion reactors, when they come, in a smart way. Unterberg said ORNLs unique Stable Isotopes Group, which developed and tested the enriched isotope coating before putting it in a form useful for the experiment, made the research possible. That isotope would not have been available anywhere but from the National Isotope Development Center at ORNL, which maintains a stockpile of almost every element isotopically separated, he said. ORNL has unique expertise and particular desires for this type of research, Unterberg said. We have a long legacy of developing isotopes and using those in all kinds of research in different applications around the world. In addition, ORNL manages US ITER. Next, the team will look at how putting tungsten into differently shaped divertors might affect contamination of the core. Different divertor geometries could minimize the effects of plasma-material interactions on the core plasma, they have theorized. Knowing the best shape for a divertor a necessary component for a magnetic-confined plasma device would put scientists one step closer to a viable plasma reactor. If we, as a society, say we want nuclear energy to happen, and we want to move to the next stage, Unterberg said, fusion would be the holy grail. UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the Department of Energys Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science. ATLANTIC CITY City Council voted to begin the process of removing activist Steve Young from two appointed positions during a special meeting Friday morning. Young, 60, who has a seat on the Citizens Advisory Board and is chairman of the Planning Board, was arrested last month after organizing a Black Lives Matter protest aiming to shut the city down. Both positions are unpaid. It was one of many protests throughout South Jersey in the wake of the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis while in police custody. Atlantic City police charge 95 in May riot/looting ATLANTIC CITY The citys Police Department has charged 95 people after an exhaustive inve Six council members voted in favor of the resolution, while council Vice President Moisse Mo Delgado, 2nd Ward Councilwoman Latoya Dunston and Councilman-at-Large Jeffree Fauntleroy II voted against it. The resolution does not remove Young from his seats but starts the process, city Solicitor Robert Tarver said. Young will receive written notice of allegations against him, and he has an option to have a hearing. Then, council would vote on whether to remove him. Young, who said he was participating in the March on Washington on Friday, the 57th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s I Have a Dream speech, said he looks forward to the hearing. More than 3,000 COVID-19 cases per day to cause overcrowding in hospitals, create critical situation by Oct source The overcrowding of hospitals and a critical situation is expected until October 2020, if the number of new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) disease recorded exceeds 3,000 cases per day, the government's source told journalists. According to him, the government is currently drafts protocols for the educational process in schools and the conduct of elections, which will be ready in the coming days. The source also said that the mortality rate for COVID-19 disease is currently 2.2%. As far-right political parties extend their influence in many Western societies, there is a risk that the achievements of liberal democracy could eventually disappear The US presidential elections are drawing nearer, and the countries of the European Union are rethinking politics now that the Covid-19 has become part of life, especially as important elections in Germany and France are on the horizon. There is also the major question of whether the far-right will continue its rise. Most answers to this question link it to temporary issues of economics, but this would be a mistake. Standards of living have been declining in most Western countries, and the causes are a combination of diminishing labour competitiveness at home, a corresponding increase in the competitiveness of the Asian economies, and the arrival on a mass scale of transformative new technologies that are gradually eliminating scores of jobs, all in a highly globalised world. These economic conditions appear to be permanent, and they bring about fears within large social groups in many Western societies. Fear stirs knee-jerk responses, with the fearful social segments blaming the leaders of their countries for allowing conditions to deteriorate so far. Worse, many see them as colluding with the beneficiaries of these economic and technological changes. Many ask, with good reason, if the austerity programmes they have been suffering for over a decade now were matched by the transformative changes in the political economy of the two decades prior to the 2008 financial crisis, which generated immense wealth for a small section of beneficiaries. But things are much worse even than this, as large sections of these social groups see their leaders and many such beneficiaries as being socially detached from them, talking about values, ways of life and political norms that most of those in these large social segments have never subscribed to. This talking has, over the past decade or so, turned into a prevailing form of correct politics that they are expected to adhere to. For many at the top of Western societies, such developments have meant progress and almost a cultural end of history in which they have arrived at the summit of societal and political development. This has been manifested in different ways in the notion of converging with the ideal of the European Union, in the thinking of the American intellectual Brahmins in the north-east of the United States, in major policies across Europe with noticeable impacts on how society looks and feels, and in the direction technology has taken, envisioning a future for the human race underpinned by dramatic advances in artificial intelligence. The division that has always separated Western societies from the rest of the world has also become obsolete. Now there is a new division that separates the beneficiaries of the political economy of the past two decades from the rest, whether in Western societies or elsewhere. True, this new separation is fundamentally economic. But the social and political separation that goes with it has been more problematic. Though there is not a prevailing cultural or value system uniting the beneficiaries of this new situation across the globe, there is, however, a prevailing rhetoric anchored in a certain way of seeing progress. This correct politics that originated in the West and that has become the mantra of beneficiaries there has to some extent been (selectively) used by beneficiaries elsewhere. For the large social segments not benefitting from such developments, to be separated economically from the ruling classes is one thing. It is quite normal, and it has effectively been the order of things since history began. To be separated from the ruling classes by culture, values and ways of living is quite another thing, however, and this has built up feelings of rejection. The fact that within this separation there is a strong current of superiority whereby the prevailing rhetoric implies that the new culture, new values and new ways of living are superior to those of the rest of the population has also turned the rejection into anger. This is why seeing the rise of the far-right as an economic problem alone is not only mistaken but also dangerous. It presupposes that economic solutions to the declining standards of living in the West are the route to stemming the rise of the far-right. But that route must also be political, where values, a sense of belonging and a serious sense of respect are ingrained in the relationship between the prevailing political system and the largest possible sections of society. Yet, this is not happening, and the situation is getting worse, for the responses to the rise of the far-right are deluded and insincere. FALSE SOLUTIONS: They are deluded since, whether in the American centre-left or in most European centre-right and centre-left parties, campaigns in the nascent electoral season are anchored on economic growth and saving jobs. But these things are not enough. The fundamental questions behind the rise of the far-right will re-emerge every time there are major elections or plebiscites. The popular rejection of such responses did not disappear with the coronavirus; it was suppressed by an unprecedented development that no one alive today has witnessed before. But it will return at a time when the anger will be that much stronger. As long as the separations and rejection and anger exist, the underlying feelings will trump all economic arguments and attempted solutions. The responses are also insincere because some mainstream political forces have actually borrowed rhetoric from the far-right in order to compete with it for some social constituencies. Yet, irrespective of the rhetoric, these parties are nevertheless still trying to preserve the political economy of the past few decades. This is understandable, because the immense and highly concentrated wealth that has been generated over these decades as a result of that political economy remains the key source of finance for most mainstream political parties. This wealth wants to contain the threat of immense change, not by confronting the anger, but by absorbing its force. However, this will not work, as the gradual movement of large social groups towards the far-right has, as explained above, been stirred by strong feelings, not utilitarian calculations. These feelings will also not turn into acceptance of the ruling classes as they steer the Western economies out of the coronavirus pandemic. We should remember that former British prime minister Winston Churchill lost a general election after steering Britain to victory in World War II. A majority of British voters, though highly respectful of and many would say grateful to him, wanted a new leadership for a new period that they wanted to be different. The comparison to the situation today is not exact, primarily because most of todays leaders are neither respected by the people and nor do the people feel grateful to them. If attempts at absorbing the force of this anger will not work, what could? The problem here is that some in the prevailing political economy might calculate that divide and rule would be a good strategy to preserve and perpetuate the current system. We might thus see even more polarising media messaging, political rhetoric and the creation of new political forces whose only function will be to channel some of the anger and rejection away from its current concentrations. We might see a further demonisation of the other (for example, immigrants to Europe) and attempts to create more enemies of the people as a way of dissipating the force of popular anger as opposed to absorbing it. But save for a shock that totally alters the dynamics of political sentiments in most Western societies a war, for example this dissipation strategy will also not work. This brings us back to where we began with the responses of the mainstream Western political parties to the rise of the far-right. They must resist the inclinations, and become free from the tentacles, of some of their main financiers. They must move from the intellectual laziness of mixing far-right rhetoric with policies of temporary painkillers that do not address the problems of the prevailing political economy. They must seriously address the widening gap in culture and values between the elite and the rest. In the same way that a new cold war has now effectively begun, and geopolitics has returned to a world of confrontations between different blocs, domestic Western politics have moved beyond the unquestioned supremacy of liberal democracy. There is a war of ideas already raging in the West, and to meet it there is a need for a new strategy with the objective of re-establishing respect for the prevailing political system, a system which the largest sections of society still identify with and relate to. This will likely entail a return to earlier forms of liberal democracy detached from the economic manifestations that have accompanied it over the past few decades. How to do this will be the major question that the Wests centrist political parties must take seriously. We, as non-Westerners, must also wish them well, for true liberal democracy remains the most successful political system the world has ever known. Its demise in its historical homeland would be a loss for us all. *The writer is the author of Islamism: A History of Political Islam (2017) and Egypt on the Brink (2010). *A version of this article appears in print in the 27 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Brandman University is launching new GIS certificates for students seeking knowledge applicable to careers in business, government and nonprofits. "When you can visualize a problem - and the spatial data behind that problem - you can solve it in a timely manner and build communities while saving businesses and lives, said Sheila Lakshmi Steinberg, professor of geographic information systems, social and environmental sciences. A new academic year is opening at a time of economic uncertainty, and Brandman University is helping students build futures in business, nonprofits and government by launching new certificate programs focused on geospatial data analysis and business skills. The certificates are new for the 2020-21 academic year, which will begin Monday, Aug. 31. The programs will prepare undergraduate and graduate students for leadership and analyst positions in which the abilities to collect, understand, and share data are critical skills. Brandman is creating new programs in geospatial analysis to meet business needs for data expertise and to help future leaders make better-informed decisions. Today, so many of the problems that we face in society must be addressed using data analytics and spatial thinking, said Sheila Lakshmi Steinberg, professor of geographic information systems, social and environmental sciences. Major events like economic recovery, fires, pandemics, political elections, marketing, and social justice all require an understanding of who, where, and how people are impacted. When you can visualize a problem - and the spatial data behind that problem - you can solve it in a timely manner and build communities while saving businesses and lives. The new certificate programs in geographic information systems (GIS) are stackable, so credits earned on the way to a certificate can be applied to degree programs when students choose to further their studies. The average expected time for students to complete the new certificates ranges from six months to a year. Learners can acquire new knowledge and upgrade their resumes in a relatively short amount of time. We anticipate that many working adults will look towards higher education during this time to expand their skillsets, Chancellor Gary Brahm said. New students may have their eyes on a new job, or perhaps they want to spend the additional hours they have at home to pursue a new interest. Whatever their motivation, a certificate enables students to cultivate new abilities and receive a credential in less time than would be required to complete a degree program. The new certificate programs: Undergraduate Certificate: Spatial Social Sciences (School of Arts and Sciences) Undergraduate Certificate: GIS and Data Analytics (School of Business and Professional Studies) Graduate Certificate: Economic Development Using Location Intelligence (School of Business and Professional Studies) Graduate Certificate: Emergency Management Using GIS (School of Business and Professional Studies) Graduate Certificate: Geospatial Marketing Analysis (School of Business and Professional Studies) Brandman programs emphasize the applicability of geospatial thinking and analysis to professional communication and informed decision making. Faculty teach geospatial concepts using industry-leading Esri software. Prior experience in GIS is not required to enroll in the new programs. Roughly three quarters of American adults holding a college-level certificate said their most recent credential of this kind was either very or somewhat useful in obtaining employment, according to the Adult Training and Education Survey. Whats more, 58% of survey respondents said their last certificate was useful when it came to increasing their earnings. The U.S. Census Bureau collected survey responses in 2016. Brandman will provide all classes required for the new certificates in entirely online formats during the Fall Trimester to safeguard students, faculty and university staff from the new coronavirus. More information on additional degree and certificate programs involving geospatial analysis, such as the Undergraduate Certificate: GIS Use in Nonprofit Organizations, is available here. ABOUT BRANDMAN UNIVERSITY Brandman University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. As part of the Chapman University System, Brandman blends a legacy of academic excellence with innovative programs and support services designed for students with busy schedules. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, credential and certificate programs designed to be relevant to more than 90 career paths. Brandman serves about 22,000 students, about 14,000 of whom are degree-seeking students, at 25 physical campuses in California and Washington, as well as online. Brandman offers fully-online courses for students anywhere in the United States and for military personnel serving abroad. For additional information, visit the universitys website. FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 28, 2020 / WheelHouse IT Proudly Announces Best-In-Class Global MSP Ranking by 2020 Annual Channel Future WheelHouse IT is proud to announce that the company has been ranked as one of the Best in Class MSP Businesses according to the 2020 Channel Future MSP 501. This is the 13th year that MSPs from around the world have competed for the prestigious award. Applicants are judged on revenue, health, and longevity, as well as the company's commitment to recurring revenue goals, and the business' operational cost-effectiveness. In 2020, Channel Futures ranked WheelHouse IT as number 94 of 501. "These benchmarks are what local businesses should examine when choosing a Managed Service Provider with the experience, skillset, business knowledge, and defined strategy to help them succeed in this fast-changing digital landscape," says Kris Blackmon, Senior Content Director, Channel Partners, and Channel Futures. "In all the Managed Service Providers that Florida and New York have to offer, WheelHouse IT stands as a shining example of excellence." Unanticipated at the beginning of 2020, the business world was forced to accelerate the pace at which it incorporates technology into everyday operations when the coronavirus pandemic hit. COVID-19 changed everything when millions of workers around the world were thrown unexpectedly into the chaos of learning to operate businesses from home. As we all know here in the US, businesses scrambled to get technology into the hands of employees who were suddenly locked down in their homes. They had to figure ways to keep a far-flung workforce in constant contact with the network and with each other. IT departments had to scope out ways to keep the network and its new, far-flung satellite offices safe from cybersecurity intrusions. While some businesses are thriving on the new model, others have questioned just how sustainable the working-from-home model will prove in the long-term. IT departments continue to struggle to protect networks from security breaches originating from less secure home networks. In addition, employees thrust into unfamiliar territory working at home wonder if they have everything that they need to stay productive, untroubled, and most of all safe. Into the breach steps WheelHouse IT WheelHouse IT uses Microsoft's network of organizations to provide additional network security layers as well as portals to help manage employees. WheelHouse IT builds on Windows 10 Professional's reliability and harnesses the collaborative capabilities of Microsoft's Teams software. Together these capabilities make it possible to fully manage staff from anywhere. Communication is always job one whether the team works in the firm's building or in their own homes. Microsoft's Teams builds strong communication avenues that enable employees to form partnerships that foster collaborative work and allows them to troubleshoot. Microsoft Teams hallmarks are high productivity rates and robust team morale. Microsoft Teams, together with WheelHouse IT's Modern Workplace solution, has everything teams need to succeed from anywhere. WheelHouse IT's guide to Microsoft Teams demonstrates how Microsoft Teams helps grow businesses by using the new remote and digital environment to advantage. The combination of Windows 10 and Microsoft Teams means teams get the tools they require to do their jobs proficiently without interference and without fear of cybersecurity intrusions. In addition, WheelHouse IT provides first-class training that ranges from working with Microsoft 365 or basic security training to tips for working at home. And they do it included with each Microsoft license they sell. In this new digital business world, WheelHouse IT has eliminated the need to contact the physical office. They have the remote work scene covered. So while most work-from-home products allow workers to work remotely, they offer little substantive help. They do not address what happens when a loss of power takes out the electricity in a neighborhood or how a business can cope when the server or data center loses the internet connection. In such circumstances, remote work options are not helpful. But WheelHouse IT works to answer those questions through the Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD). WVD, centered within the Microsoft Azure Cloud, keeps network connections safe from natural disasters, power outages, and other unexpected events. It does this by safely connecting the network and staff to the cloud. The cloud provides 24/7/365 network connectivity. And that means staff attains the freedom to work anywhere, anytime; all they need is an internet connection. The best part is, that as part of the Microsoft network of organizations, WheelHouse IT can assist a business in acquiring all the world-class productivity, collaboration, and security products it needs. WheelHouse IT is a Managed Services Provider (MSP), and a Microsoft Gold Partner. Headquartered in South Florida and bi-coastal offices in New York and Los Angeles, the company has been in operation for 20 years during which time it has earned a stellar national reputation helping companies negotiate successfully through the world of Microsoft. WheelHouse IT has over 50 IT professionals that help companies save money by making the most out of the Microsoft network of organizations, so they can avoid paying for add-on services to do what they already have access to in the Microsoft universe. You can learn more about WheelHouse IT by visiting their website https://www.wheelhouseit.com CONTACT: Rory Cooksey WheelHouse IT News@wheelhouseit.com 954.474.2204 x 2 SOURCE: WheelHouse IT View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603817/WheelHouse-IT-Best-In-Class-Global-MSP-Business Selfie cameras have always been the biggest hurdle in the pursuit of the all-screen-front of smartphones. Bezels got thinner and thinner until they transformed into notches that eventually evolved into punch holes. The logical next step is an under-display front-facing snapper and ZTE is expected to introduce a working smartphone with the technology next Tuesday, September 1. This is a huge motivator for other companies, and Xiaomi has revealed it is also joining the race. A company VP shared on his Weibo profile that their third-generation solution is finally ready for mass production, as well as posting a video, revealing how the tech works. The Chinese company is calling the final solution a third-gen camera since the first iteration was a lab-only product, while the successor was a camera and a screen on a prototype that still wasn't good enough for mass production. The third version is finally ready to hit the pipelines and be a part of a smartphone with wider availability. Xiaomi explained how the tech works in a separate post on the official Weibo profile. The panel is doubling the number of pixels over the small circle to have the same pixel density and color accuracy as the rest of the screen. It is borrowing colors from the neighboring pixels but is able to turn off/go black on-demand - mostly when the camera is turned on. This is how the camera works and what pictures it takes Due to the new pixel arrangement, Xiaomi is now able to implement its own understanding of how light should be transmitted in order to minimize any glare. The image is extremely clear with proper colors, allegedly so quality won't be sacrificed. Mass production of devices with the new selfie camera will begin next year and hopefully, the Mi 11 lineup will be the first to get it. Source | Via Two directors at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have been arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). One of the arrested directors is in charge of education, health, and social services, while the other is in charge of special projects. Their arrest, PREMIUM TIMES learnt, borders on allegations of abuse of office regarding COVID-19 spending by the NDDC and the mishandling of the commissions scholarship programme. The directors, whose names could not be ascertained Friday night, were arrested on Monday and were detained till Thursday before they were released on administrative bail. Azuka Ogugua, ICPCs spokesperson, confirmed the arrest to PREMIUM TIMES, Friday. She did not, however, mention where the officials were detained and when they would likely be quizzed again. The NDDC was set up in 2000 by the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo to fast-track development in the troubled Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The commission has, however, been plagued by corruption, while the people in the region continue to live in poverty and the commissions uncompleted projects are found in almost every community. The National Assembly launched a corruption probe of the agency which later became controversial, with the commissions management accusing senators and House of Representatives members of cornering for themselves several contracts. A forensic audit of the NDDC is yet to commence, 10 months after it was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari. The acting Managing Director of the commission, Kemebradikumo Pondei, admitted recently that the commission spent N1.5 billion for its staff as COVID-19 relief funds. A report by the Senate said top management of the NDDC paid themselves N85.6 million to attend a graduation ceremony in the United Kingdom at a time Nigeria was on lockdown and airports shut because of the COVID-19 pandemic. READ ALSO: The Senate also said NDDC officials paid themselves scholarship grants at a time hundreds of deserving scholarship beneficiaries had not been paid for years and were stranded in different countries. I think people were treating the place as an ATM, where you just walk in there to go and pluck money and go away, I dont think they were looking at it as an interventionist agency, Godswill Akpabio, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, said last year about the corruption in NDDC. KYODO NEWS - Aug 28, 2020 - 19:11 | All, World, Japan, Coronavirus The Japanese government said Friday it will lift coronavirus-related re-entry restrictions on foreign residents from Sept. 1, citing increased testing capacity at airports, after calls mounted from the expatriate community that the ban is discriminatory. Under the new policy, around 2.4 million foreigners in Japan with resident status, including permanent residents, business people, students and their families, can now leave Japan and be allowed back in. Around 29,000 foreigners who have already left Japan to countries and regions designated as areas subject to entry denial after April 3, will also be allowed to return. Q&A: Japan's coronavirus-related travel restrictions Currently, re-entry of foreigners is permitted only to those who had left Japan before April 3, even if they have resident status, except under "special exceptional circumstances," such as the death of a family member. Returning residents will be required to take a polymerase chain reaction test within 72 hours before departing for Japan and provide the result to authorities upon arrival. If the test indicates they are infected with the novel coronavirus, they will be denied entry, according to government officials. If permitted to enter Japan, they will be required to self-isolate for two weeks to monitor their health and to refrain from using public transportation during that period, they said. Until the change comes into effect, Japan will continue to deny entry to all foreign nationals in principle who have recently been to any of 146 countries and regions, including the United States, China and all of Europe. Thirteen more -- Bhutan, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Ethiopia, Gambia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Nigeria, Malawi, South Sudan, Rwanda and Lesotho -- will be added to the list on Sunday, the government said. The lifting of restrictions on foreign residents will be welcome but considered long overdue by those who had been unable to travel to their native countries or did so and have been stuck outside Japan. Many took social media to vent their frustrations, and organizations such as the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan have issued statements asking that the policy be reviewed. Regarding the timing of the latest decision, another Japanese government official said the government is aware of the need to resume cross-border travel, and the lifting of entry restrictions was made possible due to expanded testing capacity at airports, including Narita, Haneda and Kansai airports. As for those newly coming to Japan, the government has started talks with 16 economies, including China and South Korea, to gradually ease restrictions for long-term residents such as expatriates and those making short-term business trips. Japan resumed accepting long-term residents from Thailand and Vietnam in July, while agreeing to start the same easing measures with Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar from September, at the earliest. With Singapore, Japan has agreed to open borders for short-term business travelers from September. The eligible businesspeople will be exempt from a 14-day self-quarantine period after arriving, provided they submit an itinerary of their stay, limit their travel to between where they are staying and the workplace, do not use public transportation and avoid random contact with people. In August, Japan started accepting newly arriving sponsored foreign students. Related coverage: Japan raises travel advisory for 13 countries mainly in Africa Tokyo pitches disaster prevention through Animal Crossing clips New figures show that across the height of the pandemic lockdowns in 2020, churches across the Diocese of Norwich saw their in-person congregations halve but they retained 94% of their worshippers with the help of online and church-at-home services. New figures show that across the height of the pandemic lockdowns in 2020, churches across the Diocese of Norwich saw their in-person congregations halve but they retained 94% of their worshippers with the help of online and church-at-home services. Why we need the water of life Regular columnist James Knight explains why water is so important in our lives, especially the spiritual variety. Read more Norwich church needs Outreach Weekend Cafe Manager St Stephens Church is seeking an Outreach Weekend Cafe Manager to become part of its successful and dynamic Cafe team, serving the community and city. Read more Trustee treasurer role at King's Lynn foodbank Kings Lynn Foodbank are urgently seeking a new Trustee Treasurer to work with a fun, friendly, team who are all passionate about combating food poverty in Kings Lynn. Read more Christian pregnancy charity gets Yarmouth hub TimeNorfolk, the Christian pregnancy loss charity, has opened a space dedicated to counselling for bereaved parents in Great Yarmouth. Read more Family days at Norwich Cathedral The schools and families learning department at Norwich Cathedral are holding two sessions morning and afternoon for a Family Activity Day at the Cathedral on Wednesday February 16. Read more Churches prepare Queen's Platinum Jubilee plans Churches, Christian charities and youth organisations are working together to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee over the four-day Bank Holiday from June 2-5 and a new website has been created to celebrate the Queen's 70 years of faith and service. Read more Eckling Grange cares for the elderly Despite some bad press, there are some Care Homes where 'Care' really does mean 'what it says on the tin', and a star example of this is the Norfolk Christian residential care home, Eckling Grange, at Dereham. Read more New Commission to look at use of Norfolk churches A new Church Buildings Commission has been launched with the purpose of looking at the church buildings across Norfolk and Waveney in terms of their use and sustainability. Read more Norfolk link to teaching opportunity with TCKs A Norfolk couple working in Asia have been helped by teachers of Third Culture Kids, and a programme is now inviting more people to get involved with it. Read more Norfolk charity seeks mentors for prison leavers Community Chaplaincy Norfolk (CCN) continues to provide a Both Sides of the Gate Mentor support service to people leaving prison in Norfolk. Read more Prayer and Worship week for Sheringham church Lighthouse Community Church in Sheringham has launched a Prayer and Worship week as they seek Gods guidance for 2022 Read more South Norfolk church schools are set to merge The Diocese of Norwich St Benets Multi Academy Trust has been given the green light to amalgamate Harleston CE Primary Academy and Archbishop Sancroft High School into one All Through School. Read more Norwich conference looks at how to tackle spiritual abuse Following a series of revelations about high-profile Christian leaders, a group of Norfolk churches is organising a conference to look at spiritual abuse and godly leadership. Read more Revelation vacancy for Centre Manager The Revelation Christian Resource Centre and Cafe is seeking to appoint a Centre Manager. Read more Gardening morning at N Norfolk Christian centre The Pleasaunce Holiday Centre in Overstrand is holding a work-party morning on Saturday February 5 and would like as many people as possible to join in to help get the gardens ship-shape. Read more Poringland Bible teachers look at a building project The Way of the Spirit is starting the New Year with a meeting in Poringland to explore the Book of Nehemiah. Read more House of Genesis needs part-time support worker The House of Genesis is seeking a part-time (20 hours per week) Support Worker to contribute to the day-to-day running of the charity, which provides accommodation to homeless adult men in Norwich. Read more Didi Chuxing, China's largest ride-hailing platform, is stepping up efforts to expand its global footprint and diversify its businesses, despite the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company said it has launched a car-hailing service in Russia earlier this week, marking the first European market in its global road map as it looks to outpace rivals such as Uber Technologies Co. The services will initially be available in southwestern Kazan, the capital and largest city of the Russian Republic of Tatarstan, home to the country's largest IT park. The move came as the peak global daily orders on Didi's platform surpassed 50 million for the first time on Tuesday, reflecting reviving consumption and economic recovery. Gu Dasong, executive director of transportation and the development research center at Southeast University, said the Russian market could offer a rich source of customers for Didi. According to a 2019 study by HSBC Bank, 45 percent of Russians have at least one ride-hailing app on their phones. Didi, however, could face competition from Yandex Taxi, which holds about 27 percent of the local ridehailing market. Yandex Taxi was founded by Russian internet conglomerate Yandex NV. In February 2018, it has merged with Uber in Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia and Kazakhstan to create a new private company called MLU BV, incorporated in the Netherlands, according to the company's official website. The expansion into Russia is part of Didi's broader efforts to expand its overseas presence. Its services are already available in a string of countries and regions including Australia, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, Colombia and Panama. Cheng Wei, CEO of Didi, said at the start of this year that the company aims to achieve 100 million global orders per day and accumulated 800 million monthly active users globally in three years. At the same time, Didi is also diversifying into more areas, including on-demand freight services, car rental, financing, food ordering and delivery services in its home turf, as the company looks for more opportunities to boost investor confidence. Didi officially unveiled the Uber freight-like service on its app in June, with the service initially available in 10 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province. Sun Naiyue, an analyst at Beijing-based market research consultancy Analysys, said that Didi's edge lies in the 550 million-odd users on its platform. Also, Didi has many offline companies as partners, which can attract more people to shift from driving cars to driving trucks and vans. Liu Qing, president of Didi, said in an interview with CNBC in May that the company's core ride-hailing business has become profitable, but she did not offer specific data. Analysts said Didi's active performance in recent months also indicated that it may be preparing to go public in the near future, though the company said it did not have any such plans yet. California Plans to Double COVID-19 Testing, Newsom Says California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new contract on Aug. 26 that will ramp up COVID-19 testing in an effort to expand the states ability to track and prevent the spread of the disease. The new contract will provide an additional 150,000 COVID-19 diagnostic tests each day to Californians, with an improved turnaround time of 24 to 48 hours. The agreement will provide reduced costs for tests as well as prevent supply chain logjams, according to a press release. We are building our own laboratory capabilities right here on California soil with a stable supply chain to fight the disease, lower the prices of testing for everyone and protect Californians most at risk from COVID-19, Newsom said in the Aug. 26 press release. The California Senate Republican Caucus said via Twitter on Aug. 26 that Newsom should have acted much sooner. Five months after shutting down California, the Governor finally decides to get serious about building out testing capacity. #CaDeservesBetter, the tweet stated. The contract is with PerkinElmer, a company based in Massachusetts with 20 office locations nationwide, including a manufacturing site in Santa Clara. The tests will use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic testing, but the contract allows the company to modify the tests if new technology becomes available at a cheaper price. Under the new contract, each COVID-19 test will cost $30.78a steep decrease from previous tests, which range on average from $150 to $200 each, according to the news release. To recoup the costs, the state will use a third-party service to bill insurance companies or other payers. The goal is to begin processing tens of thousands of new tests by Nov. 1 and reach full capacity by March 2021. The contract will initially cost taxpayers $100 million, but could be worth up to $1.4 billion, according to The Associated Press. The release said that with the broader availability in testingthe California Department of Public Health reported Aug. 27 that 85,658 tests had been conducted statewide in the most recent 24-hour periodthe state will be better able to offer testing for communities at higher risk of transmission, including essential workers and minority communities. Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, praised the new contract. Black Californians have been disproportionately sickened and killed by COVID-19. I am pleased that Governor Newsom is prioritizing more testing equity for all Californians, Weber said. State Senator Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) said, Californians need testing that is accessible, equitable, cost-effective and timely. This deal meets all those metrics. Newsom made the move to increase Californias testing capacity despite recently revised Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. The new CDC guidelines, modified on Aug. 24, suggest an individual does not need to be tested for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, unless they are vulnerable and showing symptomseven if they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the disease. I dont agree with the new CDC guidance, period, full stop. Its not the policy in the state of California, Newsom said during an Aug. 26 press conference. We will not be influenced by that change. Were influenced by those that are experts in the field that feel very differently. That is not the policy guideline that we will embrace or adopt here in California. The announcement came on the same day that Orange County opened its second COVID-19 testing super site at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. The new super site will start by providing 500 tests each day for the first week, and then increase to 1,000 tests per day by week two. Another super site opened six weeks ago in Anaheim. Together, the two sites will provide county residents 2,000 tests per day. I am so pleased we are opening this new site to offer additional convenient access to testing for our residents, particularly for those within my district, Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Michelle Steel said in an Aug. 27 press conference. As of Aug. 27, Orange County had been off the states monitoring list for five consecutive days due to decreasing positive test rates. Once the county stays off the list for 14 consecutive days, all K-12 schools will be permitted to reopen for in-person instruction. The Orange County Health Care Agency on Aug. 27 reported 369 new COVID-19 cases and 29 deaths, bringing the totals to 47,459 confirmed cases and 947 fatalities. The government should come up with a special stimulus package for the domestic automobile industry in order to revive the segment which is expected to de-grow in the current financial year as well, Auto components major said. While addressing shareholders at the company's 68th annual general meeting (AGM), Ltd Chairman Bernhard Straub said the downtrend in the Indian automotive segment continues against the backdrop of cyclical and structural changes accompanied by added pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic uncertainties. The nationwide lockdown followed by cluster wise lockdowns and uncertainties have led to the first quarter of the current fiscal seeing the deepest decline ever, he added. The domestic tractor market is witnessing a bounce back to normal levels followed by two-wheeler and passenger cars, while light commercial vehicles also are showing signs of revival, he noted. ' On the other hand, the heavy commercial vehicle industry has not yet shown any signs of revival, Straub said. "Against this backdrop, the automotive sector is expected to show de-growth for the financial year 2020-21. In this context, it is important that the central government comes up soon with a special comprehensive stimulus package for the automotive sector," he said. Investments in construction activities and infrastructure have to continue to boost the demand side, he added. Straub said the Indian economy is expected to see the sharpest contraction in 40 years and as reports suggest India's GDP for the financial year 2020-21 will be negative by 3.5 to 5 per cent. This is primarily due to rising COVID-19 infections and weak fiscal stimulus resulting in lower inclination to consume, especially as credit growth remains muted and banks are saddled by rising bad loans, he noted. "At the same time, the rural areas of the country are expected to lead the demand recovery, driven by better minimum support price for the upcoming Kharif harvest and increased MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) spends in allied business activities. Also, the rural areas have seen a lesser impact of COVID-19 as compared to the urban areas," Straub said. Terming the last fiscal as challenging in terms of business, Straub said the company's exports, the bulk of which were to Germany, China, Brazil, Bangladesh and Malaysia decreased by around 21 per cent as compared to the previous year. The company's total revenue from operations declined 18.6 per cent to Rs 9,841.6 crore in 2019-20 as compared with 2018-19 on a comparable basis, he said. "The domestic revenue from operations of your company declined 19.8 per cent; whereas export revenues declined by 3.6 per cent," he told shareholders. Straub noted that the pandemic and the lockdown that followed disrupted established supply chains and showed the need for the industry as a whole to be more flexible and agile in its processes. The difficulties are not expected to abate anytime soon and it will take a few years for the industry to recover completely, he said. "It is inevitable that the current situation will have a less than favourable effect on our production and growth. We believe that it will take at least four to five years for the in India to get back to normal. We may have to shift our gears down to tackle rough roads, but our engines of growth and our clear vision of the future will take us steadily forward," Straub 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.) Stimulus payments were sent out to about four million qualifying Americans in the form of Economic Impact Payment Cards, or EIP cards, back in May. There's a possibility that Internal Revenue Service is sending out the same thing again. EIP cards were sent to only a small portion of the 159 million stimulus checks that IRS first sent out. Most stimulus payments for the first round were sent either as direct deposits or a physical check. Americans who received payment as EIP cards can use the funds at any retail store where Visa cards are accepted, online or at ATMs, said a Pop Culture report. Senate Republicans and House Democrats still haven't agreed on specifics regarding the stimulus. This leaves many wondering when the second stimulus payments will be coming and if the second check will come the same way. Here are some things you need to know about EIP cards and whether you could get a second stimulus in this form soon. What is an EIP card? An EIP card is a prepaid debit card. According to CNET, it is used by the Treasury Department to distribute stimulus payments under the CARES Act. It was the Treasury Department's alternative to electronic money transfer or paper checks. It is provided to some eligible US residents who did not have banking information stored in the government files. The EIP card can be used to buy from stores, get cash from in-network ATMs and transfer funds to personal bank accounts without a fee. Once this card arrives, the user has to head to the EIP card website to activate it. Information on how to use it is also available on the website. Who is qualified to get stimulus payments through EIP cards? Those who received the first round of stimulus payments through an EIP card instead of a check will likely get it through the same means again. Payments may also be sent through EIP cards if a person's tax return was processed by IRS service centers in Andover, Massachusetts, or Austin, Texas, according to a Treasury press release. The significance of these service centers is not yet clear. How are EIP cards sent? If a person is qualified, their EIP card will be sent to the address listed on their last tax return. It will be in an unmarked envelope from "Money Network Cardholder Services." For the first round of stimulus payments, Value Walk report said about 800,000 people possibly threw the letter away before opening it. It was easy to do this as the letter wasn't clearly marked. Payment cards are usually sent as such, in plain envelopes, to avoid fraud and thieves. It's not yet clear if the IRS will send the second round of payments in an unmarked envelope too. If you received an EIP card for the first round, you'll likely get another one. How fast would it take to get an EIP card for the stimulus? If another coronavirus relief bill is passed, it will take longer to get EIP cards going than by direct deposit. When CARES Act was passed in March, the first EIP cards did not come out until mid-May. It is possible, though, that the process will be faster as there is already a path to follow. Tracking the second round of payments can be done through the Track My Payment tool from IRS. Check these out! Second Round of Stimulus Checks Seem to be in Danger Republicans Are Set to Propose New Stimulus Bill Second Stimulus Check Is Possible Next Month If Congress Acts Former IPS officer and new BJP entrant Kuppusamy Annamalai and four party leaders were booked on Friday by police for allegedly violating lockdown restrictions and unlawful assembly, a day after his maiden visit to the party office in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. Annamalai had visited the party office in Siddhapudurarea here on Thursday, during which more than 50 people, including party workers, accorded him a grand welcome, to the accompaniment of a band, police said. BJP State vice-president Kanagasabhapathy, General secretary G K Selvakumar, Treasurer, S R Sekhar and district president, Nandakumar, among others, were present. Police said they had violated lockdown restrictions and traffic had also been held up for a while. Hence they were booked under various sections of the IPC, including 143 (Unlawful Assembly), 341 (Wrongful restraint), 269 (negligence likely to spread infection of any disease and 285 (negligent conduct), police said. Annamalai had joined the BJP on August 25 at the party national headquarters in Delhi, asserting that he would work to bring the "nationalist spirit" to Tamil Nadu. He had described himself as a nationalist and claimed that BJP was the only party that doesn't have "dynastic politics, nepotism or sycophancy". The final plat for housing development west of Jamestown was approved last week by the Sweetwater County commissioners -- paving the way for the development of homes near Rolling Green Country Club. The development encompasses nearly 42 acres north of Interstate 80 off of Gaensselen Road. The area is zoned as a single-family residential subdivision. Eric Bingham, director of the countys land use office, said the zoning is the most restrictive zoning, only being open for the development of residential homes. He said property owners could not have horses or livestock on their property und... Entergy Texas customers can expect rolling blackouts for the next few days, even in areas impacted by Hurricane Laura. The company reported Thursday afternoon that it was told by Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which monitors the reliability of its system, that it would have to reduce the load on its systems or risk a more extensive, prolonged power outage that could severely affect the reliability of the power grid. To protect the bulk electric system from a larger power outage, MISO directed Entergy to shed load in Texas, MISO said in a statement. This is a highly unusual action and is due to significant damage of the transmission system caused by Hurricane Laura. The result of that order has been power outages in parts of the utilitys service area, including Beaumont and the Woodlands, to address strain on the already taxed grid. Entergy has also asked customers in its western area north of Houston to voluntarily reduce power usage, especially as rising temperatures increase the system-wide demand for power. The outages sparked concern and anger with customers in some of the affected areas, but Entergy said it hasnt selectively chosen which parts of its service area go without power. We are working so it will be rolling to different customers across Texas and wont impact just one area, Entergy Texas spokesperson Allie Payne said. The system itself identifies the area based on need and load, which dictates the outages. Entergy has said it will take MISOs cue on when to stop the periodic outages as it monitors the repair process and the grids stability. More Information Entergy has asked customers reduce electricity usage through some of the following methods: Raise the central air conditioner thermostat to 78 degrees. Window units should be adjusted accordingly. Use energy-efficient electric ceiling fans and portable fans to circulate air and help occupants feel cooler. Close window blinds, drapes and curtains to reduce warming in the home from direct sunlight. Check the air conditioner filter to be sure it is clean. Restrict laundering clothes, washing dishes, bathing, etc. to later evening or early morning. These activities produce moisture and increase humidity in the house, making the air conditioner work harder. Wash clothes with cold water, cook foods at the lowest possible setting and resist the temptation to open the oven door while baking. Do not allow cooled air to escape from the home. Check caulking around doors and windows. Close the fireplace damper. Fill holes and gaps where wiring and pipes enter the house. Make sure your clothes dryer and attic are vented properly. See More Collapse The lack of a timeline might not be a comfort for evacuees returning to homes that might still be without power, but county officials said they have been briefed on attempts to provide some relief. Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick said he wasnt aware that power outages may have been an issue when he allowed evacuation orders to expire and, although he would have allowed people to come back and assess their property damage, that knowledge might have impacted some of his decisions. Its one of those situations that highlights why we have people comply with mandatory evacuation orders, he said. When people were away for an extended period of times in Rita and Ike, because there was a lot of work to do, they got frustrated when they couldnt come check their properties. People now took the position not to evacuate because they didnt want to deal with that this time. Branick said Entergys status as a non-member of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is a challenge for borrowing much needed electricity for the grid, but he and other officials had been briefed on the possibility of agreements being approved that may help add some relief. jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/jd_journalism In July 2017, 28 state governments agreed to give up their sovereign right to levy taxes to make way for the Goods and Services Tax (GST). They agreed to do so because the central government put in an insurance clause, guaranteeing a 14% annual increase in their revenues up to 2022. Meeting this commitment has become increasingly challenging. In a GST Council meeting held on Thursday, the Centre has asked the states to borrow money to meet an (expected) shortfall of Rs 2.35 lakh crore in the promised compensation this year. Of this, it has estimated Rs 97,000 crore as arising from GST implementation a narrow technical definition that gives it a possible way out of paying the remaining Rs 1.38 lakh crore , which it attributes to Covid-19. The Centre will approach the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to facilitate this process and the repayments will done by extending the duration of cess on luxury and sin goods. But finance ministers of many Opposition-ruled states have objected, arguing that it is the Centre which should have borrowed the money rather than states. These objections are valid when read with the spirit of the GST law. The final decision will be taken next week, when the Council meets again. The states are already in a tight spot. Pending arrears for GST compensation payment to states from April-July 2020 stand at Rs 1.5 lakh crore. While the Centre has claimed that the revenue situation will improve over rest of the year and the total shortfall this year will be contained to Rs 2.35 lakh crore, there is no guarantee on this count. Many private projections estimate that the economy will remain in contraction zone until December. GST is not the only revenue head under strain. The states will also have to contend with a big shortfall in their own revenues and lower transfers from the Centre for direct taxes and other indirect taxes. A growing share of non-divisible pool of central taxes, such as the windfall tax gains from fall in crude oil prices, will mean that the states bear a greater burden of the revenue shortfall due to the pandemic. The states are doing most of the heavy lifting in fighting the health and economic consequences of the pandemic. The uncertainty on GST compensation payments, along with a huge shortfall in states share in other central taxes, means that Indias fiscal federalism is facing its biggest crisis in a long time. Iranian women have taken to Twitter to break years of silence and share detailed stories of sexual abuse, including intrafamilial incidents, naming alleged abusers with hashtags such as #rape, #assault and #NoMeansNo. Some alleged abusers are well-connected and famous figures in Iran -- stars of sports and media and the arts, doctors, teachers and professors. It all started with a tweet in early August by an anonymous user explaining how one could convince a woman to engage in sexual activity on a first date by kissing her without asking and pretending it was because aher beauty was striking." That user later deactivated his account after facing a huge backlash. The unprecedented support of Twitter users encouraged not just women but also men to reveal the names of their alleged perpetrators, which even led to revealing some individuals accused of serial abuse. MORE: Iranian and Turkish women join black-and-white Instagram challenge In one case, multiple women said they'd similarly been raped after being drugged with a perpetrator's homemade wine. Tehran Police arrested that suspect -- introduced as "Mr. K.E." -- and called for others who have possibly been assaulted by this person to come forward, as the Islamic Republic News Agency reported on Tuesday. "We assure the anonymity of all complaints," said Hossein Rahimi, Tehran's head police general, encouraging other survivors to speak to authorities. Domestic media started to cover the issue just after the police acknowledged the online movement by arresting the alleged serial rapist. But the issue hasn't been covered on national television. "It takes time until the taboo of disclosing sexual assaults breaks down in a wider scale," Mahboubeh Hosseinadeh, an Iranian women's rights activist, told ABC News. Related: US intends to restore UN sanctions on Iran, Trump says Sara Omatali, a Washington-based educator, is one of the many who said she longed for the day when women got the opportunity to lighten their traumatic burdens by speaking about them publicly. Story continues MORE: Iranians unite in Twitter campaign over planned execution of 3 protesters, leading to retrial Omatali said she suppressed bitter memories of being sexually assaulted by a famous Iranian painter for years. As the #MeToo Movement took shape in the U.S. in 2017, those memories came flooding back. "All these years I remained silent, as I was afraid of those who would tell me I had no evidence to prove my claim ... but now, I feel that it is below my dignity to stay silent out of fear," she wrote on Twitter. Even with so many sharing such intimate stories, many still were surprised to see the names of friends and colleagues among accusers and abusers. "I burst into tears reading about those women who were assaulted by some people known as women's rights activists," Hosseinzadeh said. "It was the last thing I could imagine I had to get prepared for." Lawyers have joined in the social media surge, offering to help survivors pro bono to pursue justice against alleged abusers. "I am ready to represent victims of rape and sexual assault on women for free and to be with them at all stages of the proceedings. My share in the fight against sexual assault on women," Marziyeh Mohebi, a lawyer, wrote on her Twitter page Wednesday. MORE: Iranians shattered by economic pressures, rising rents amid COVID-19 pandemic MORE: 'Snapback'?: Inside Trump's controversial move to bring back UN sanctions on Iran In a turn of events, while some of the women who exposed their alleged rapists wrote that they would bring legal cases against abusers, others said they wouldn't pursue a legal remedy because they don't agree with execution, the legal punishment of rape in Iran. "The fact that some of the survivors of sexual assault are against the execution and say it is why they would not file a case at the court shows how our people are ahead of the existing law," Hossesinzadeh said. "For example, based on the current law, if a man kills his own child, he would only face three to 10 years in prison, but the punishment for rape is execution." Hosseinzadeh pointed to a recent honor killing. "The law lags behind the public in this case," she said, "and it is up to the media and NGOs to seize the momentum for future positive changes." ABC News' Somayeh Malekian contributed to this report. Iranian women flood Twitter with stories of sexual abuse originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The High Authority for Communication (HAC), the media regulatory authority in Mali, has praised the professionalism of the audiovisual and print media in covering the socio-political crisis facing Mali, urging them to persevere in this direction, in a statement obtained on Friday to PANA Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said there will be violence and chaos in the United States if President Trump is defeated, in a fiery speech on the final night of the Republican National Convention on Thursday. Giuliani framed the election between Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden as a choice between the Democrat policies soft on crime against the Republican program of law and order. He also described the rioting that has accompanied protests over racial issues in cities around the country this summer as part of a surging crime wave that threatens the suburbs. It is clear that a vote for Biden and the Democrats creates the risk that you will bring this lawlessness to your city, town or suburb, Giuliani said, adding, It can come to where you live. Giuliani, who enjoyed a national reputation as an anti-crime crusader during his tenure in City Hall from 1994 to 2001, used New York City to make his case. He began his remarks, which were prerecorded at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., by describing the Big Apple as overwhelmed by crime and laying blame at the feet of the current mayor, Bill de Blasio, a Democrat. Now today, my city is in shock. Murders, shootings and violent crime are increasing at percentages unheard of in the past. We are seeing the return of rioting and looting, Giuliani said, adding, Dont let Democrats do to America what they have done to New York! Rudy Giuliani addresses the virtual Republican National Convention on Aug. 27, 2020. (via Reuters TV) The number of murders in New York is currently up more than 30 percent compared to last year. Shootings have also increased by about 87 percent. Murders and shootings have risen sharply in many large cities during the coronavirus pandemic. However, Giulianis more generalized assertion about an increase in violent crime in New York was false. While the rates of murders, shootings and burglaries are all up this year, rates of other major crimes, such as rapes, assaults and robberies, have fallen. Giuliani then turned to Biden, whom he called an obviously defective candidate. He associated Biden to more liberal Democrats and suggested that the former vice president is a Trojan horse for Black Lives Matter, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and their pro-criminal, anti-police, socialist policies. Story continues The idea of Trump as the last bastion of defense against a tide of crime exemplified by the protests has been a major theme at the convention. Demonstrations have taken place all around the country since May 25, when an African-American man, George Floyd, was killed after being restrained with a police officers knee on his neck. The protests have intensified in recent days in Kenosha, Wis., after a Black man named Jacob Blake was filmed being shot several times in the back by a police officer. In many cities, some rioting and looting has taken place within or alongside the protests. At the Republican National Convention, multiple speakers have baselessly suggested that Democratic support for the Black Lives Matter movement amounts to an encouragement of looting. Trump has made the idea of law and order central to his campaign. According to one Trump ally, Giuliani a longtime associate of the president who was on his legal team during the impeachment trial earlier this year has been a major advocate of this approach behind the scenes. The source said Trump sees Giuliani as an authoritative figure on racial issues and crime, given his experience in New York City. While Giuliani oversaw a sharp drop in crime, the New York City Police Department had multiple high-profile controversies over police brutality during his tenure. Giuliani, however, remained a staunch advocate of his police force. Rudys been successful with the aggressive approach, the campaign source said of Giulianis tenure as mayor. In his remarks, Giuliani wove a tale that began with Floyds death. He claimed that Democrats did not want to work with President Trump to enact criminal justice reform measures because it might make President Trump appear to be an effective leader. He then hinted at a conspiracy between Democrats and protesters from the Black Lives Matter and far-left Antifa movements. They had a president to beat and a country to destroy, Giuliani said of Trumps opponents. So, BLM and Antifa sprang into action, and in a flash, hijacked the protests into vicious, brutal riots. From then on, BLM, Antifa and their criminal co-conspirators were in charge. Soon, protests turned into riots in many other American cities, almost all Democrat. Giuliani also accused Biden and other Democrats of doing too little to stem violent crime in recent years in the predominantly minority cities they lead. It has been like this for decades, and its been controlled throughout by Democrats. In fact, shamefully, Obama and Biden did nothing at all to quell the carnage. I guess these black lives didnt matter to them, Giuliani said. There were some notable holes in Giulianis narrative. For example, cities run by both Republicans and Democrats have seen spikes in murders and shootings in recent months. Giuliani also didnt explain how, if the protests are contributing to rising crime and are aimed at taking on Trump, the chaos would continue if Trump was defeated. However, he confidently declared that the country is facing a grave risk. If Biden is elected, along with the Democrats who are unwilling to speak out against this anarchy, then the crime wave will intensify and spread from cities and towns to suburbs and beyond. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: This article was first published by The Lowy Institute and is reprinted here with permission. Albert Einstein once said that in the midst of every crisis lies great opportunity. For an open trading nation like Australia, the pandemic is an unparalleled crisis. The nation is facing its worst downturn since the Great Depression, along with recessions in key trading partners, severe disruptions to global supply chains and a rising tide of protectionism around the world. Australia needs visionary, long-term thinking if it is to emerge from this shock and set itself up for the decades ahead. Here is my four-point plan for a post-pandemic trade revival. Diversification of our export markets Twenty years ago, China bought about 5% of Australias goods exports. That has risen to an all-time high of 48.8%, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data released this month. Against the wishes of the doomsayers and the fearmongers who would prefer economic disengagement, China is cushioning the brutal shock of this pandemic on Australias economy. The benefits of this trading relationship over many years should be celebrated, but Australia should also seek to avoid exposure to economic shocks that can result from an over-reliance on any single market. Australia cannot snap its fingers and find a replacement for a huge market like China. But its time the nation finally got serious about building better relationships with India and Indonesia, both of which are predicted to be among the worlds top four economies within 30 years. Diversification is hard and will take decades to realise, but nothing will happen unless the Commonwealth government makes it a priority. Australias current economic ties did not occur by accident. Following the Second World War, no export market compared to Britain, but Australias leaders of the day worked tirelessly to build the resources industry and export to Japan and Korea, and later to China. Now, instead of a national plan to undertake diversification, we have a series of broken promises. Take, for example, Australias languishing trade and investment relationship with India. Two years ago, former Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade secretary Peter Varghese delivered a landmark report on India that found no single market over the next 20 years would offer Australia more growth opportunities. So far, the Government has done remarkably little in its response to the reports 90 recommendations. Inexplicably, Trade Minister Simon Birmingham has declined to adopt Vargheses key target to lift Australian investment in India almost tenfold to reach $100 billion by 2035. And when Scott Morrison held a virtual summit with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in June, little attention was given to the trade and economic relationship. Its not surprising, therefore, that trade figures this month showed Indias share of Australian exports had dropped below 2%, the lowest level since 2003. Diversification of our export products Australias reliance on four key exports resources, agriculture, tourism and education has served it well for decades, but the growth prospects of these sectors are uncertain. The government should foster new export industries. A recent Harvard Growth Lab Atlas of Economic Complexity ranked Australia 93rd in the world for the complexity of goods and services exported, lagging Kazakhstan, Uganda and Senegal. This is mainly because the countrys exports are dominated by a relatively small number of highly valuable commodities. More government investment in research and development will boost advanced manufacturing capabilities, which will move the economy up the ladder of complexity. The power of small business must be harnessed. Of the more than 2.3 million businesses operating in Australia, only 53,000 sell their goods to the world. The Morrison government is trumpeting a new bilateral trade agreement with Indonesia, but little has been done to arrest a worrying decline in our understanding of Indonesia, its people and language. However, many small to medium enterprises (SMEs) do not have the confidence to consider such opportunities or the capabilities to be able to expand into overseas markets. Many are hampered by a lack of information about Australias network of free trade agreements, the relatively high cost of complying with regulation and inadequate access to trade finance. Australia is a global laggard in this area. SMEs account for only 14% of Australias exports, whereas in G7 countries they account for 25% and the European Union average is 35%. Lifting SME exports to 25% of Australias exports would increase our GDP by an estimated $36 billion. Improve our Asia capabilities Australian business knowledge of Asia is still very limited. Among ASX top 200 companies, only 4% of directors and 5% of senior executives have worked in Asia for more than five years, according to a recent study by AsiaLink Business. The Morrison government is trumpeting a new bilateral trade agreement with Indonesia, but little has been done to arrest a worrying decline in our understanding of Indonesia, its people and language. Its a national embarrassment that more students in Australia were learning the Indonesian language in Australian the 1990s than they are today. I found it difficult recently to enrol in a post-graduate Indonesian studies course in, of all places, Western Australia, the state with the closest ties to Asia. The government refused for months to provide emergency funding to the Australian Consortium for In-Country Indonesian Studies (ACICIS), which has played a key role in forging closer relations with Indonesia for the past 25 years by arranging student placements. ACICIS finally received a financial lifeline this month, but only after it was forced to retrench 60% of its staff while it waited for a response. Unless there is a genuine effort to boost the nations Asia capabilities, and to draw on the talents of Asian diaspora communities, Australia will struggle to maximise its opportunities in the region. Lift our trade diplomacy Australia must become a global leader in defending free trade and working with like-minded nations to restore faith in the enfeebled World Trade Organisation. But the governments commitment to such cooperation remains under a cloud. Last year, Scott Morrison railed against the threat of negative globalism and ordered an audit of Australias role in international organisations. Australias stake in strong global rules-based architecture is more important than ever, but the Prime Minister would rather cling to slogans than deliver for the national interest. Australian diplomats must be at the forefront of supporting and strengthening the rules-based order and working with allied and aligned nations to speak out against unilateralism and protectionism. The Supreme Court of India upholds the July 6 circular of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to hold university final year exams in its verdict today. The Court was pronouncing its verdict on August 28 on the pleas challenging the decision of the University Grants Commission (UGC) asking universities and colleges to conduct final year exams by September 30 amid the COVID-19 pande States cannot promote students without an examination, the court has ruled The court also said that states can postpone examinations under the Disaster Management Act, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, and they can consult the UGC to fix fresh dates. This may surprise you, but most meats in Brazilian-style barbecue are seasoned with only rock salt. The salt locks in juices and the natural flavor of a cut of beef, defining the iconic Brazilian style of cooking meats on a spit over open flame. The exception to this sacred rule however, has always been chicken. I grew up going to my familys home on the beach or in the countryside of the state of Sao Paulo in Brazil, and weekends were never complete without a family barbecue (or two). As a kid, Id hang with my uncles who were tending to the grill. Id study their technique, the way the meats crisped, and try to score the first taste of whatever was ready first, which was usually chicken wings and hearts. Well leave the hearts for another day, but there was something that just hit differently about those wings. They had the most complex taste of anything on the grill, and contrary to the beef cuts, every household had a different way of seasoning their wings. You see, the thing with Brazilians is that they LOVE getting in on a secret, and a wing recipe probably ranks somewhere near the top of juicy secrets. So when a friend of mine told me about an amazing new way to marinate chicken wings in a red wine-based marinade I was intrigued. I looked forward to the prospect of impressing my friends and family with one of the few seasoning variables I could introduce to the barbecue. And wouldnt you know it, it was a hit. Not just the red wine essence that lingers on every bite, but that distinct smoky spice from the cumin, the additional acidity of the red wine vinegar, the earthiness of the oregano and the herbaceousness of the parsley. And more than anything, these wings just looked incredible. Both in their violet hue when they came out of the marinade and in their crispy golden skin upon completion. I havent lived in Brazil for 30 years, but I still visit my family every year, and importing and adapting Brazilian barbecue style into my California cookouts ensures that what comes off my grill is something you wont readily eat anywhere else. Adrian Spinelli Over the years, I tweaked the recipe to feature more herbs and spice. Rosemary isnt as prevalent in Brazilian cooking as it is in the U.S., so its addition is a subtle nod to my American roots. Brazilians add pepper to everything after its cooked, so I added crushed red pepper in the marinade itself. A touch of olive oil gives the wings a glazy shine and the signature crispy grill marks of American-style barbecue.For snacking, I pair them with a baguette and a traditional Brazilian vinaigrette salsa, which you can later spoon onto bites of the wings. For the past decade in the Bay Area, my temple of barbecue has been Sunday mornings at the Oakland Coliseum parking lot for Raiders home games. Which was until the Raiders officially left Oakland for a new $1.84 billion stadium in Las Vegas the best tailgate lot in the country. I used to love taking the bags of marinated wings out of the cooler, seeing how the color of the liquid had morphed with all of the spices and seasonings in the red wine. Why is it purple? people would ask when they walked by my tailgate as I placed the wings on the grill. Its a red wine marinade. Come back in 20 minutes and try one! Theyd come back like clockwork to grab a couple wings and share a laugh. Because when my family is 6,500 miles away, everyone in that parking lot became my family. With the pandemic putting the joy of tailgating on hold for now, Im looking forward to Labor Day to re-create the Brazilian-style barbecue minus the parking lot. Adrian Spinelli is a Brazilian-born San Francisco freelance arts and culture journalist. Twitter: @AGSpinelli Email: food@sfchronicle.com Brazilian BBQ Red Wine Wings With Vinaigrette Salsa Serves 6-8 When the safest way to have friends and family over for a meal these days is outdoors, we should really be relishing in a golden age of barbecuing. This Brazilian BBQ-style chicken wings recipe combines herbs and spices in a red wine-base marinade for a totally unique take on a classic grilling starter or main. Pair it with this traditional Brazilian vinaigrette salsa and bread to keep folks fed and happy ahead of time. So fire up that grill and those summer playlists and enjoy this taste of Brazil! Wings 3 to 3 pounds chicken wings, cut party-style, without tips 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 medium onion, diced 1 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley 1 tablespoon cumin 1 tablespoon dried oregano (or cup chopped fresh oregano) bottle red wine (Merlot or Cabernet) 1 cup red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon black pepper 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, lightly crushed teaspoon crushed red pepper cup olive oil Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Vinaigrette 4 vine-ripened tomatoes, seeded and diced 1 small onion, finely diced 1 small green bell pepper, diced cup olive oil cup white wine vinegar cup chopped parsley 1 tablespoon dried oregano (optional) Sliced baguette, to serve To make the wings: Combine all of the ingredients in a 2-gallon zip-seal bag. Gently massage the wings through the bag to mix all of the ingredients as well as possible. Marinate in the refrigerator overnight. To make the vinaigrette: On the day of your barbecue, combine all of the ingredients, mix well in a medium serving bowl, cover and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour. To finish: Before placing the wings on the grill, take the vinaigrette out of the fridge, mix thoroughly and serve with sliced baguette so guests are happy and occupied while the wings are grilling. Clean the grill grates and grease lightly with oil. Prepare a medium-high gas or coal fire grill. Remove the wings from the marinade and place on the grill. Cooking time is 15-20 minutes, depending on your grill setup. Take a look at the underside of a couple of wings after 5 minutes to get a grip on how hot your grill is operating and to ensure that theyre golden with a slight grill mark crisp on each side before flipping entirely. Gradually lower the heat towards the end of the cooking process if youre using a gas grill, to make sure your wings are cooked through, but not burning. Remove wings when golden and cooked through and serve immediately in a large bowl with plenty of napkins. Saude! A four-month-old paraplegic kitten was given a new lease of life by employees of an animal shelter in Charlottesville, Virginia, after they built him a cart. Called Paddington, the kitten was surrendered to the Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA. Upon inspection, the shelters veterinary team determined he was in a generally healthy condition despite not having the use of his hind limbs. Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA clinic technicians built Paddington a small cart fashioned out of a plastic dog muzzle and wheels from a broken kitten tower. Paddington was born to be wild, but its hard for him to get time on his wheels because people never want to put this snuggly kitten down, Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA said. Credit: Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA via Storyful Citizens wait in long lines to receive COVID-19 testing at a public health center in Gwangju, 250 kilometers south of Seoul, Friday, after a bus driver in the city tested positive for the virus. / Yonhap 'The current situation is like the calm before the storm' By Jun Ji-hye Health experts and government officials have shown differing opinions on when the ongoing second wave of COVID-19 infections will reach its peak, intensifying confusion among citizens amid growing fears over the resurgence of the virus. While some health experts and insurance analysts said the new wave of COVID-19 appears to have already passed its peak, other experts and health authorities warned of a further spike in the number of virus patients. Joo Young-soo, a senior official at the National Medical Center who heads the COVID-19 joint response team, said the team believes the latest wave of infections had reached its peak, at least in the Seoul metropolitan area, on Aug. 23. "The increasing trend has started to flatten out," he said. Baek Soon-young, a professor from the College of Medicine at the Catholic University of Korea, agreed to some extent, saying the "explosive" increase in the number of additional cases may have been halted. "Many people were worried that infections traced to a massive rally held in central Seoul, Aug. 15, could spread to other parts of the nation, but there has been no explosive increase in coronavirus cases outside the capital area," he said. "But concerns still remain as there are many people who refuse to get tested, or whose whereabouts have yet to be figured out." JPMorgan Chase & Co issued a similar prediction in its report published Aug. 20, saying Korea's second wave of virus cases might peak by the end of this month, and subside by early November after bringing about around 7,000 new cases. The insurance analysts said in the report that the scale of the latest wave would be smaller, compared to the first wave of infections that occurred between February and March, because the country's capability of tracing and testing patients has been strengthened, and enhanced social distancing guidelines have been implemented. As COVID-19 transformed our bedrooms into workplaces, isolation has become the norm for a growing number of employees in lockdown. With mental health concerns on the rise, the increase of social isolation exposes employees to an unspoken workplace hazard: suicide. Many falsely believe suicide to be a rare consequence of mental illness. This is a misconception; the statistics show that suicide is far more common than we are led to believe. In fact, Canadians are more likely to die from suicide than by homicide. For adolescents aged 15-24, it is the second most common cause of death. And each day, approximately 11 people in Canada take their own lives. Suicide and suicide attempts can happen to anyone, at any point in their lives. But the stigma and lack of widespread suicide prevention training makes it difficult for people to give or find support. The reality is that not enough people engage with the topic of suicide. So even when suicidal ideation is identified, coworkers may lack the confidence to support their peers head-on. When identifying suicidal ideation, there can be some warning signs. For example, expressions of hopelessness, or abrupt changes in personality. But these signs arent always obvious. So even if its just a hunch, it doesnt hurt to ask: it sounds like youre going through a lot, are you having thoughts of suicide? For most people in this scenario, the biggest challenge is for the very word suicide to materialize from their lips. What if bringing up the word increases the risks of someone actually taking their life? This is the question on everyones mind when they first start their training. But this isnt true. Talking about suicide does not encourage suicide. Rather, studies have shown that talking about suicide reduces the risks of death and increases the likelihood of obtaining tangible referrals to mental health professionals. One training program, SafeTalk, teaches individuals how to recognize and support people with suicidal ideation. It is a program designed for the general public. Because in order to protect a community, suicide prevention training needs buy-in from everyone. As a Residence Don at the University of Toronto, SafeTalk training is mandatory on an annual basis. Being live-in stewards, we have a responsibility for keeping our residence students safe. Indeed, there were some harrowing nights, as the Dons responded in real-time to mental health crises such as depression, panic attacks and thoughts of suicide. And each time, we fell back on our training to best support our students and at times, each other. With SafeTalk being just one of the many training options available, why havent more employers implemented suicide prevention training as part of their workplace safety orientation? Unfortunately, the cost of training can be discouraging. But many employee benefits plans already cover a wide range of medical conditions, and insurers should consider covering suicide prevention training as a form of preventative care. COVID-19 has largely disrupted the way we view work and the workplace. But it has also given companies an opportunity to come out of the pandemic with a stronger framework to support employee mental health. By normalizing suicide prevention training at work, we will be taking the first step to destigmatizing suicide, and ultimately, saving lives. Today, European governments are balancing the need to keep their economies running while warding off the ever-present threat of COVID-19. Recent outbreaks of the virus in countries such as Belgium, France, Germany, and Spain are prompting questions about whether the much-feared second wave of the disease has already arrived. With European businesses already facing challenging trading conditions, and unemployment rising, many are fearful about what the autumn will bring. So what are the key differences between markets in terms of the challenges that businesses face and how they are coping with the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic? Members of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants Regional Advisory Panel for Europe exchanged perspectives in a recent videoconference. France France has experienced a recent surge in COVID-19 infections, which has led to the government making it mandatory for people to wear face masks outside in busy parts of Paris. Mask wearing will also be compulsory in certain outdoor areas of other cities. In the event of a second wave, the government plans to impose local lockdowns in affected areas rather than one that affects the entire nation. The increase in infections is worrying for French businesses that are still trying to recover from the first wave of COVID-19. Hotels and restaurants, in particular, are struggling due to social-distancing rules and peoples reluctance to travel. Their finance teams are revising budgets, working out how to reduce costs, and undertaking cash forecasts till the end of the year, based on at least three scenarios worst, probable, and best. Shops are also finding the trading environment difficult. The finance leader for a manufacturing company said that supply chains were the biggest problem for his business. It cannot access certain parts due to suppliers becoming insolvent, so it is trying to find alternative suppliers and asking its existing suppliers that are still solvent to make components they wouldnt normally produce. Investment is on hold, including investment in the digital transformation of finance, while short-term staff contracts are not being renewed. Many employees who were previously based in an office are still working from home part time to fulfil their childcare responsibilities and enable social distancing in their workplaces. As a result, companies are looking to reduce their expenditure on buildings, whether those are rented or leased premises. Germany Germany coped well with the first wave of COVID-19. Nevertheless, it has tightened its border controls in response to a spike of infections. The coronavirus has disrupted supply chains, while the summer holiday period is also causing activity to slow down. A finance leader who works in consultancy said there is increased demand for consultancy work and a rise in job advertisements for finance professionals. Students are now returning to schools following the summer holidays. Germanys small and medium-sized enterprises have proved to be resilient during the COVID-19 crisis, partly because of their flat hierarchies and cash-based culture. They havent necessarily innovated to overcome the challenges theyve faced over the past few months, but they have been very effective at improvisation. Poland There has been a rise in COVID-19 cases in Poland, including an outbreak amongst miners in the Silesia mining region. As a result, life is still far from normal in the country, and the government has issued strict rules on how to behave in offices. Large companies are prolonging home working for employees where possible and investigating whether they can permanently save on the cost of premises. Although resorts by the sea and in the mountains are full now due to the high season, the Polish tourism industry has been hit by the fall in foreign tourists visiting the country. The finance leader for a food company said his business was working towards getting employees back in the office by 1 October, but the plan could be adjusted if there is a second wave of infections. He also noted that the pandemic had led to changes in consumers buying patterns, with positive implications for his business people are buying more spreadable fats because they are baking and making breakfast at home. Also, more people are turning to vegan or vegetarian food. His finance team is currently focused on securing the companys supply chain, monitoring payments, and ensuring that it has optimum levels of cash liquidity. There is also innovation in the food industry as a result of the pandemic, especially in how products are reaching consumers. Also, the business is making greater use of digital tools to interact with customers and business partners. The finance leader has highlighted that technology is an enabler for longer-term sustainability and survival. Russia Russia appears to have weathered the worst of its initial COVID-19 outbreak and is now trying to restart its economy. The government is providing some state aid to vulnerable businesses, but this may not be enough. Some bigger companies are on the brink of bankruptcy, while the owners of smaller businesses are largely relying on their own entrepreneurial skills to survive. People are afraid to go shopping in public, which means that stores are offering substantial discounts to attract customers. Finance teams are helping their organisations withstand a general drop in consumer confidence. Some businesses did, however, manage to benefit from the crisis, for example, home delivery firms and online learning providers. Similarities and differences The COVID-19 pandemic presents common challenges to businesses across Europe, including the health and safety of employees and supply chain disruption. However, economic conditions and government restrictions vary by market, presenting unique challenges to businesses, depending on where they operate. Yet all European businesses face the prospect of an uncertain and potentially very difficult autumn and winter trading period. For many, their survival will depend on whether government policies can contain the virus and prevent a second wave of the pandemic and whether business and public confidence can be built, and maintained, into 2021 and beyond. Andrew Harding, FCMA, CGMA, is chief executiveManagement Accounting, and Jakub Bejnarowicz is regional directorEurope, both at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Oliver Rowe, an FM magazine senior editor, at Oliver.Rowe@aicpa-cima.com. In 2017, AMP Capital institutional director Julia Szlakowski made a formal sexual harassment complaint against senior London-based manager Boe Pahari. AMP penalised him to the tune of $500,000 in 2018, a quarter of his annual bonus, and Szlakowski left the company. Pahari was recently promoted to chief executive, the second most powerful job at the venerable money manager. On Monday he was demoted again, and AMP Chairman David Murray and fellow board member John Fraser resigned. In this episode, national editor Tory Maguire is joined by business columnist Elizabeth Knight to discuss the lessons businesses can learn from AMP's egregious sexual harassment problem. SEATTLE Microsofts quiet pursuit to buy TikTok suddenly appeared dead a month ago, when President Trump said he wanted to ban the popular social media app for national security reasons. So Brad Smith, the tech giants president, went to work. He called two dozen lawmakers, telling them that TikTok would be safe in Microsofts hands. Within 48 hours, he had what he needed. Mr. Trump saw a tweet by Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of the president and one of the people Mr. Smith talked to, calling a Microsoft deal win-win. Soon, Satya Nadella, Microsofts chief executive, was on the phone with Mr. Trump, and got his blessing to proceed with acquisition talks. It was another win for Microsofts quietly effective Washington influence operation. The software giant was once a cautionary tale of an arrogant tech company caught off-guard by government scrutiny. But under the leadership of Mr. Nadella and Mr. Smith, it has built one of the most potent forces in the nations capital, one that could give it an advantage over the several potential bidders for TikTok if the company continues to pursue a deal. Claudia Lovelace (left) recipient of the inaugural Annette Liverpool scholarship, accepts her award from Mrs. Beverly Liverpool, Dean of the School of Nursing and wife of Andre Liverpool. Inset: Annette Liverpool This country has another source of support and encouragement as far as assisting entrants into secondary school is concerned. Last week Wednesday, at the Signature Lounge & Bar, the Annette Liverpool Scholarship was launched, and broadened to what can be described as the Annette Liverpool Scholarship Fund. The original intention of a single award in the name of Liverpool, was broadened to include other awards, the result of efforts by on the ground co-ordinator and Chairperson of the Scholarship Committee - Latoya DeRoche-John, who successfully canvassed commitments for at least five other awards. This was in response to the 78 applications that were received. The events signature award - the Annette Liverpool Scholarship, conceived and funded by Liverpools three sons, Colin, Kurt and Andre, and other relatives of Liverpool, was awarded in its inaugural year to Claudia Lovelace of the Questelles Government School. Lovelace, in delivering a Vote of Thanks, said inter alia, "This scholarship illustrates a firm belief in the potential of the nations youth and the critical role education plays within our society. Thank you for blessing our tomorrow with hope and opportunity. The Award The Annette Liverpool Scholarship is to be disbursed in a staggered manner. During the first three years, allocations will be made annually as follows: first term EC$1,000, second terms EC$250, third terms $250 representing a total of $1, 500. For years four and five, the allocations increase as per: First Term EC$1,250, second term $250, third term $250 a total of $1,750. If the scholarship recipient gains entry into the SVG Community College, allocations annually (for two years) will be; first term $1,250, second term $250 a total of $1,500. Retention of the scholarship is predicated on the recipient maintaining a consistent 70% passing grade. Other awards handed out, each amounting to $1500 annually for five years, were: the Adrian Rose Scholarship (in honor of Veronica Toney) awarded to Jaylon Lynch, Georgetown Primary School; the Claudette Butler Award granted to Iyanna Quashie, Questelles Government School; the Dianna John Scholarship received by Yannie Bascombe and the Leonora Davis Scholarship awarded to Matthew Wilson, both of St. Marys R.C School; Noel and Casynella Cyrus Scholarship copped by Parizz Cudjoe, Lower Bay Primary. The event, in essence, saluted Mrs. Annette Liverpool an educator par excellence, for well over 30 years. She enjoyed teaching stints at the Kingstown Preparatory School, the Girls High School and at the St. Vincent Teachers College. She was a noted Mathematics Specialist Teacher/Lecturer. Her classroom prowess provided the foundations upon which many professionals, not just educators, built successful careers. One such person is the current Chief Education Officer, Elizabeth Walker. She told last week Wednesdays ceremony, "I stand here today a product of Mrs. Annette Liverpool. I am who I am today because of her. She was my teacher, she inspired me, she guided me, she encouraged me and pushed me to do my best. . "Its because of her legacy that other donors were inspired to contribute to the scholarship [fund] moving it from 1 to 6. I must say to the donors, youve made a valuable investment which will bear fruit. That is an investment in our human resources, and I want to thank you greatly for that contribution. The ceremony heard brief remarks from sons Andre, resident in SVG, and Kurt via Zoom from his domicile in New York. Man Pleads to 39 Manslaughter Counts in Container Case LONDONA truck driver from Northern Ireland on Friday pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the deaths of 39 people found in the back of a container truck last year in southeastern England. Ronan Hughes, 40, of County Armagh in Northern Ireland entered the plea at Central London Criminal Court. The victims, all of whom were Vietnamese, were found Oct. 23 in the back of a truck in an industrial park in the English town of Grays. The scope of the tragedy became clear as police released the names and ages of those who died in one of Britains worst incidents of human smuggling. Two of the dead were only 15, while the oldest was 44. About 20 of the victims came from one province, Nghe An, in north-central Vietnam. Hughes also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration of non-European Union citizens between May 1, 2018, and Oct. 24, 2019. Hughes appeared alongside 23-year old Eamonn Harrison also of County Down, Northern Ireland, who is alleged to have driven the trucks trailer to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge before it sailed to Purfleet in England. Harrison pleaded innocent to 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and will face trial Oct. 5 with three others. Gazmir Nuzi, 42, of Tottenham in north London, who appeared via video-link, pleaded guilty to a single charge of assisting unlawful immigration on or before Oct. 11, 2019, and April 18, 2020. The pleas were not the first in the tragic case. Another driver Maurice Robinson, 25, of Craigavon in Northern Ireland, pleaded guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter in April. Robinson discovered the bodies after transporting the container from Purfleet to Grays. In June, 28-year old Alexandru-Ovidiu Hanga admitted to one count of conspiring to assist unlawful immigration. An assignment from a Wylie Independent School District social studies teacher in Dallas seemed to compare police officers to the Ku Klux Klan, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott wants the teacher fired because of it. Fraternal Order of Police vice president Joe Galmadi brought attention to the eighth grade class assignment via Twitter last Thursday. He tweeted a cartoon collage that shows men dressed as police officers, slave owners and members of the KKK, holding their knees on a Black mans neck as he struggles to say the words "I can't breathe." It's clearly in reference to George Floyd, who grew up in Houston's Third Ward before dying in Minneapolis police custody on Memorial Day. Former police officer Derek Chauvin was captured on video kneeling in his neck for nearly nine minutes, prompting murder charges against himself and three other officers who failed to step in. SAY THEIR NAMES: George Floyds brothers honor Black victims of injustice at DNC: 'Our actions will be their legacies' "This is abhorrent and disgusting, and only further widens the gap between police officers and the youth in our community," Gamaldi said. By Aug. 23, the tweet had caught the attention of Gov. Abbott, who called it beyond unacceptable. "Its the opposite of what must be taught," he said, quote tweeting the original post. "The teacher should be fired." The governor ended his tweet by saying that he was asking the Texas Education Agency to "investigate and take action." Gamaldi eventually acknowledged that the district apologized and pulled the assignment, and would also be issuing a direct apology to parents. CBS' Dallas-Fort Worth affiliate reported that in an email to parents, the school principal said teachers wanted to provide the students with current events to analyze the Bill of Rights. And while some parents felt the lesson sparked a difficult conversation that needed to be had, all of the backlash, of course, still isn't a good look. What do you think? Was the teacher out of line for the assignment? Today feels like a momentous day psychologically for our Victorian readers, who saw new coronavirus cases finally drop below 100. For many, today's near-Spring weather also gave them a much needed boost to hold out for the last two weeks of stage three and four restrictions. We asked for your stories and photos today and have been swamped. Thanks so much to everyone who wrote in, I'm sorry we can't publish every single one. Here's a final wrap up of some of my favourites: "I just read the updated numbers and I am very teary. What an emotional roller coaster this is ... Enjoying the sun on my back porch" - Shelley "Having a backyard vacation! Basking in the sun with watermelon frappes, heaven!" - Brook Two young Melburnians enjoy a paddling pool frappe. Credit:Brook (Age reader) "Well, we haven't strangled each other yet...so that's one good thing. We really do feel for people who are going through this crisis on their own, must be incredibly hard for them. Hope and pray that it doesn't last much longer... hang in there folks!" - Geoff and Pam Pendlebury "My husband and I took the dog for a walk along Dandenong Creek. Many, many walkers, runners and cyclists, and some storm damage from Thursday. We also came across some adorable COVID cuteness!" - Kate KM Kate's husband and dog walking amongst trees damaged in Thursday night's ferocious winds. Credit:Kate (Age reader) "Spent the day in the garden. Mowed the lawns. Kids grabbed an ice cream from up the street. Played in the front yard. Kids doing some yoga in the sun. Now reading on the back verandah with music playing in the background. Lockdown seems like a distant memory albeit for a few hours." - Brad A backyard COVID-19 campout. Credit:Naomi (Age reader) "Weekend away." - Naomi "In beautiful Eltham North I was soaking up some much needed Vitamin D and doing some soul-soothing crafting, while our puppy, 'Autumn', brought cries of delight to people walking past. My world has narrowed down too much physically, spatially and emotionally, and I haven't made the most of the hour of exercise, or even our beautiful garden. Responsible for myself and two children, I lurch between letting things go based on it being extraordinary circumstances, and beating myself up for not having the energy or skills to look after myself better and provide a happier, more productive and constructive environment for my kids. And compared to many, I have it easy. Today has cracked open my darkened soul just a little." - Katharine Bamburi Cement sees surge in profit before tax 28 August 2020 Kenyas Bamburi Cement has announced a 15 per cent YoY decline in turnover to KES16.23bn (US$150m) for the first half of 2020, against KES18.66bn in the 1H19. However, the company saw a surge in profit before tax to KES213m from KES23m in January-June 2019. Published under (Newser) The Globe and Mail calls her a "notorious, colorful footnote in pop culture history" and a "woman of mystery." To the rest of the world, Cathy Smith was best known as the one-time girlfriend of Gordon Lightfoot who injected the drugs that ended up killing comedian John Belushi. Now, Smith's own death has been announced. The resident of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, died Aug. 18 at age 73. No official cause of death has yet been given, though she was said to have been in declining health over the past few years. Born in 1947 in Ontario, Smith quit school at 16, gave up a baby for adoption after getting pregnant at 17, and took a waitress job at a Toronto music venue. She met Lightfoot in the late '60s, and the two had a tumultuous affair (he was married when they met) until the mid-'70s, which is when he wrote his hit "Sundown," inspired by their stormy relationship. story continues below After their breakup, Smith sang backup, worked for the Rolling Stones, and dealt drugs in Los Angeles. She ended up in a crowd that included Belushi, and she spent the last five days of his life with him. She admitted that, on March 5, 1982, before she left his bungalow, she'd injected him with the speedball that killed him. First charged with second-degree murder, Smith pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and served 15 months in prison. While there, she taught computer skills to other inmates, including members of the Manson Family. She was released in 1988 and deported to Canada, where she took a job in Toronto as a legal secretary, per Deadline. Smith saw Lightfoot one more time, at a 2014 concert in Vancouver. "I truly believe they were the love of each other's life," a friend who attended the concert with Smith tells the Globe. (Read more obituary stories.) ALBANY Citing state and federal aid cuts, Albany's city school district is proposing drastic instructional changes for students in grades 6-12 in a school year that's just weeks from starting including the full suspension of in-person classes for almost all students in grades 7-12. As local governments and school districts reel from the revenue drop caused by the coronavirus pandemic's impact on the economy, Albany Superintendent Kaweeda G. Adams presented what the district termed "the difficult financial update" and list of proposed changes during Thursday night's Board of Education meeting. A similar decision was made Thursday for the Lansingburgh school district in Troy, where classes will be taught online for all students in grades 3-12. The district's superintendent, Antonio Abitabile, blamed cuts 20 percent cuts in state aid for the decision. No date was offered for when in-person classes could be resumed. The Albany district estimates its budget shortfall could range as high as $26 million for the coming academic year due to aid reductions related to the crisis. The state Budget Division, it noted, recently began withholding 20 percent of most local aid payments. "The inequity of this 20% flat cut by our government cannot be understated and leaves me struggling because I know this decision further impedes our ability to educate our neediest children," Lansingburgh's Abitabile wrote in a statement to parents and staff. He estimated the cuts in state aid represents 12 percent of our overall budget or $6.5 million out of the district's $52 million spending plan. The Albany school district's proposed changes, as laid out in the district's release and a PowerPoint deck, include: All general education students in grades 7-12 would enroll in a fully virtual instructional model. No in-person or "hybrid" option would be available for general education students at the secondary level. All students in grade 6 would enroll in an elementary learning model with attendance in person five days a week unless a family chooses the fully virtual instructional model. Sixth-graders selecting in-person instruction would be assigned based on the districts current feeder patterns: North Albany Middle School sixth-graders would remain at North Albany; Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle school would serve its assigned sixth-graders, plus sixth-graders from Albany School of Humanities (ASH) and Giffen Memorial Elementary School; William S. Hackett Middle School would serve its assigned sixth-graders, plus sixth-graders from Eagle Point Elementary School and Thomas OBrien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST). "Schools will be calling all sixth-grade families beginning Friday to explain these proposed changes and give families an opportunity to change any enrollment choice options if they would like, pending the boards final decisions next week. Elementary students from pre-K through grade 5 would continue as planned five days in-person or five days virtual, per each familys choice. "The one change for elementary students would be that, because of the large number of families selecting the fully virtual model through the enrollment choice options (53 percent district-wide), the district is planning for all PK-5 students to remain in their school building," the district stated. Special education students in K-12 would continue to attend school in-person five days a week. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The district is also proposing to "restructure or suspend" the Albany International Center and Tony Clement Center for Education programs for 2020-21. Students from these programs would become part of the general student body: AIC and Clement students in grades 7-12 students would enroll in a fully virtual model; AIC students in grade 6 could choose the fully virtual model, or the fully in-person model. "The district is continuing to evaluate all programs and staffing district-wide to identify additional reductions," the release stated. The board is slated to consider the changes in a meeting next week. China's first amphibious assault ship completes maiden sea trial PLA Daily Source: China Daily Editor: Chen Zhuo 2020-08-28 00:56:57 The first Type 075 amphibious assault ship of the People's Liberation Army Navy has finished its first sea trial, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry, confirmed on Thursday. Wu told a news conference in Beijing that the Type 075 is the PLA's first class of amphibious assault ship. It has a strong combat capability and is capable of conducting multiple kinds of tasks, he said. The first Type 075 ship 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. The ship started its first sea trial from the shipyard on Aug 5. The completion of the sea trial means construction of the amphibious vessel has basically been completed. Engineers will now fix problems exposed during the trial and prepare for further trials. The first Type 075 vessel was unveiled in September at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a major shipbuilder that is part of State-owned defense conglomerate China State Shipbuilding Corp, followed by the second such ship in April. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 28) Sixty-two local and international civil society groups are calling on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to establish an independent body to investigate the killings and other human rights violations in the Philippines. [W]e urge you to actively work towards the adoption of a resolution establishing an independent international investigative mechanism on extrajudicial executions and other human rights violations committed in the Philippines since 2016, the groups said in their letter to the UNHRC dated Aug. 27. They said this should be part of the councils robust response to the June report of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on the "widespread and systematic" killings in the government's war on drugs. Bachelet had said the bloody campaign is being carried out without due regard for the rule of law, due process, and the human rights of people who may be using or selling drugs. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra represented the government during the 44th regular session of the council. He revealed for the first time that an inter-agency panel chaired by his office had actually been looking into all the 5,655 anti-drug operations that resulted in deaths. The 62 organizations, however, see it as a mere attempt to evade international scrutiny, thus their demand for a UN-led mechanism. They also cited recent attacks against human rights defenders, government critics, and even the press. The Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat, an attached office of the Palace, urged the petitioners to engage with the government instead, but not without discrediting them. Not only are we are not aware of what exactly the specific advocacies of these organizations are, but most of these organizations are not even known in the Philippine human rights community, much less by the Filipino people, the secretariat said. Some of the petitioners are international organizations Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Reporters Without Borders, as well as local groups Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, Free Legal Assistance Group, and Karapatan, among others. The presidential body reiterated Duterte's commitment during his fifth State of the Nation Address that the Philippines will not dodge its human rights obligations. Coming in from the last UNHRC session, the Philippines continues to take significant steps to further its human rights work despite the systematic vilifications that are aimed to undermine this pursuit, it added. The UN Human Rights Council will convene for its 45th regular session on Sept. 14. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 28, 2020 16:07 510 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c413097d 1 National Bima-Arya,Bogor-mayor-Bima-Arya,Bogor-city,online-learning,COVID-19,coronavirus,home-learning,wifi,COVID-19-in-Indonesia Free The Bogor administration in West Java plans to provide free WiFi across the city to support students and teachers practicing long-distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The free internet connection service will be installed in at least 900 spots across Bogor, Mayor Bima Arya said. The Bogor Communications and Informatics Agency has been tasked with carrying out the program. Bima said every community unit (RW) in the city would have at least one password-free internet network soon. Hopefully, the networks can be installed immediately to support long-distance learning, Bima said on Thursday, as quoted by tempo.co. Read also: Ministry provides Rp 7.2 trillion in phone credit, data packages to support distance learning Bogor Development Planning Board (Bappeda) secretary Rudi Mashudi said separately that the administration had set aside around Rp 1.8 billion (US$123,503) in funds to realize the free WiFi connection program. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced authorities to temporarily close schools to prevent virus transmission, with online learning used as a substitute for classroom teaching. However, online-based study has presented new obstacles, particularly in regards to unequal access to technology and the internet. A survey by the SMERU Research Institute revealed that people in a number of regions, especially outside Java, lack access to the internet and digital devices. (vny) "Cybersecurity is unique because it's a relatively new, fast-evolving field that needs deep, market-ready skillsets to be imbibed. The Astraea-Cybint Bootcamp offers a unique opportunity not only for fresh graduates but also Indians seeking a shift to a global career in Cyber Defense," said Kaushik Ray, Managing Director, Astraea Solutions. "We chose to partner with Cybint because it's the only turnkey program that focuses highly on careers in Cyber Defense and role diversity beyond India." According to NASSCOM, in the rising digital economy, global cyber-attacks along with data protection and privacy laws are estimated to lead to a USD 35 billion revenue opportunity - creating over 2 million new cybersecurity jobs to India's workforce by 2025. However, India's cybersecurity workforce shortage already stands nearly 10% higher than the global average and there is a critical need to address the demand for job-ready security professionals through skills-based initiatives. The Cybint Bootcamp is a 3-month intensive training that has a proven record in leading its graduates to high-paying entry-level cybersecurity jobs. With an accelerated learning methodology stemming from the company's Israeli military background, there is a strong focus on in-demand skills and curriculum informed by trends in the cybersecurity industry allowing those with no prior background to transition into the cyber industry. "We are proud to have Astraea joining our cyber center network and are eager about bringing skills-based, real-world cybersecurity programs to India," said Cybint CEO and Founder, Roy Zur. "This partnership follows recent announcements of Cybint Certified Centers in Singapore and in Myanmar, and we are excited to see the adoption of our innovative cybersecurity training programs throughout the Asia-Pacific region." Barak Granot, Head of Economic & Trade Mission, at the Embassy of Israel in India, added: "We are proud to see the growing partnership and collaborations between Israeli and Indian companies in the Cyber Security arena. In July 2020, we facilitated the MOU's signing on Cyber collaboration between the GOI and GOI, and we can genuinely say that change has come following those government initiatives with more and more companies from both India and Israel are eager to take the relationships forward. I wish to congratulate Astraea (India) and Cybint (Israel) for their collaboration and to take this opportunity to Invite all the relevant Indian companies to participate in the upcoming ISRAEL HLS & CYBER 2020 virtual event that would take place during the 14th and 15th of September 2020." About Astraea Founded in 2012, Astraea is a leading service provider of tech driven cyber security and healthcare services. It has projects in various state governments and corporates in providing Cyber Security knowledge services. Astraea also provides placement linked certified skill training programs in Cyber Defense with Israeli majors like Cybint. Our culture is entrepreneurial with mutual respect among colleagues and a dedication to teamwork. About Cybint Cybint is a global cyber education company with a commitment to reskilling the workforce and upskilling the industry in cybersecurity. With innovative and leading-edge education and training solutions, Cybint tackles cybersecurity's two greatest threats: the talent shortage and the skills gap. The Cybint team is comprised of military cyber experts, industry professionals, and educators united under the vision of creating a safer digital world through education, training, and collaboration. For more information on the Cybint Cyber Center model please visit: https://www.cybintsolutions.com/cyber-center/ SOURCE Cybint Related Links https://www.cybintsolutions.com 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 cloud of smoke and dust rises in the sky after the so-called Tsar Bomba was detonated in a test over the remote Novaya Zemlya archipelago in USSR. (Courtesy Ministry of medium machine building of USSR/Russian state atomic energy corporation Rosatom/Handout via Reuters) Russia Releases Secret Footage of 1961 Tsar Bomba Hydrogen Blast MOSCOWRussia has released previously classified footage of the worlds largest nuclear explosion, caused when the Soviet Union detonated the so-called Tsar Bomba almost 60 years ago. The hydrogen bomb, which carried the force of 50 million tons of conventional explosives, was detonated in a test in Oct. 1961, just over 13,000 feet over the remote Novaya Zemlya archipelago above the Arctic Circle. The footage shows an immense fireball and an almost 200,000-foot high mushroom cloud rising after the explosion lit up the sky. The views were captured from several angles by cameras installed on the ground and onboard two Soviet aircraft. A plane drops the so-called Tsar Bomba in a test over the remote Novaya Zemlya archipelago in USSR. (Courtesy Ministry of medium machine building of USSR/Russian state atomic energy corporation Rosatom/Handout via Reuters) The testing of an exceptionally powerful hydrogen load confirmed that the Soviet Union is in possession of a thermonuclear weapon with the power of 50 megatons, 100 megatons, and more, a narrator tells the audience. The documentary was published online for the first time by Russian state nuclear agency Rosatom last week as part of events to mark the 75th anniversary of Russias atomic industry. Developed between 1956 and 1961 as the Soviet Union engaged in a nuclear arms race with the United States, the Tsar Bombathe King of Bombswas the largest hydrogen bomb ever and was claimed to be 3,300 times as destructive as the weapon that leveled Hiroshima. A mushroom cloud rises after the so-called Tsar Bomba was detonated in a test over the remote Novaya Zemlya archipelago in USSR. (Courtesy Ministry of medium machine building of USSR/Russian state atomic energy corporation Rosatom/Handout via Reuters) The 30-minute film, which opens with a Top secret title, features all the test stagesfrom the transportation of a 26-ton weapon in an aviation bomb casing by railway to post-explosion measurements of the radioactive fallout. The Tsar Bomba far surpassed the largest explosion the United States has ever conducteda 15-megaton Castle Bravo hydrogen bomb detonated on Bikini Atoll in 1954. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- The worlds largest dam is under pressure in the massive flooding thats wiping away billions of dollars of value in China. The predicament symbolizes a looming crisis for Beijing. Climate change is bringing more frequent and intense deluges that threaten the economic heartland, and infrastructure defenses installed with the disasters of previous eras in mind cant keep up. Theres very little time to prepare for whats coming. The problem isnt that China lacks water management projects. It has built hundreds of thousands of levees, dikes, reservoirs and dams on its seven major river systems. But many are struggling to cope with months of rain-fed flooding that has ravaged vast swathes of industrial and agricultural land and engulfed millions of homes. This past week, officials feared that the Three Gorges Dam on the mighty Yangtze was peaking and could overflow. Elsewhere, authorities have blown up barriers that were causing more damage than help.China has experienced three of the worlds 10 most devastating floods since 1950. The limited number of deaths this time is a testament to how far the country has come, with officials saying that at least 219 people have died or disappeared. Yet flooding in cities is getting worse, a sign of rising populations and failure to execute urbanization policies. Annual average losses from river inundations are the highest in the world.Flood policy hasnt been made the a priority it should be given the high stakes. The Yangtze River Economic Belt is home to more than 40% of Chinas population (about 600 million people) and accounts for almost 50% of export value and 45% of gross domestic product, according to China Water Risk. On its own, the region could be the third-largest economy in the world. More severe disasters are anticipated. Hydroclimatologist Peter Gleick, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, told the South China Morning Post that climate change is increasing the risks of extreme rainfall events, making it even more likely that dams like the Three Gorges will be unable to prevent the worst flooding from occurring in the future. Story continues A study has found that if temperatures rise by 2 degrees, flows around the Yangtze and other major world rivers will intensify, increasing the frequency of huge floods. Heavy rain days are already more numerous and intense inside cities compared to suburban areas along the Yangtze, a study using rainfall records over two periods between 1961 and 2010 found. Such days increase by 30% on average in places like Suzhou, near Shanghai, known for wedding gowns and bridal exports along with big tech factories. China isnt shy about deploying money. Last year, 726 billion yuan ($105 billion) was shoveled into water conservancy construction the highest in history, according to CLSA Securities Ltd. Flood management has received 1.2 billion yuan in central government funds since the beginning of the rainy season. But theres competition. Trillions of yuan are being spent to support a national recovery from Covid-19, including building massive 5G capacity to ensure future manufacturing capabilities. Thats certainly justifiable. Roads to nowhere arent.Past disasters tend to frame thinking about future ones. Yet threats arent static climate change is speeding up the severity of flooding. Risk assessments need to factor in where Chinas wealth is being built. For instance, quantifiable flood losses in heavily industrialized Guangdong province in 2015 reached around 30 billion yuan, but disruption to its concentration of roads and railways, ports and airports pushed costs far higher. The cities of southern China are at great jeopardy. One example of how mitigation efforts are being outpaced is the strategy of diversion zones adopted two decades ago, setting aside areas where authorities released water to control excessive flow. Resettled people have since been driven further away from zones where they were supposed to live as ever-larger amounts of water need to be unleashed. Eventually, they end up on lands that arent eligible for compensation. Beijings ministries have issued streams of climate change-related rules and targets, and China was at one point considered a leader. This was supposed to be the year that companies got better about environmental and social governance disclosures. Constrained coffers, the viral outbreak, trade war with the U.S., and slowing economic growth will make it harder to put future floods and the like front of mind. That needs a rethink.Consider this knock-on effect. In theory, banks will likely take losses because of natural disasters; their clients will pass them along to insurers. In China, insurance companies arent well-prepared; statistics remain sparse and risk-modelling around flood events has become more difficult. In 2016, Chinas non-life insurers were hit with losses of more than 4 billion yuan related to floods and storms between June and August. This time, Fitch Ratings Inc. analysts expect claims to continue to surge as the rainy season is not over yet in certain parts of China. They noted on July 15 that insurers in Hubei, Guangxi and Jiangxi provinces had reported aggregate incurred losses of more than 500 million yuan as of a week earlier, including claims from motor, agricultural and property insurance.The last thing Chinas burdened, state-run financial institutions need are continued natural disasters. As tough as this year has been, it may be time to re-calibrate priorities. Building 5G base stations and rail lines wont matter if they get wiped out by floods again and again. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Anjani Trivedi is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering industrial companies in Asia. She previously worked for the Wall Street Journal. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. As the companys chief executive and major shareholder, Philip Rodrigs acknowledges that beginning the Raynar Portfolio Management investment firm with two projects in the middle of a pandemic and consequential global recession is less than ideal. Fortunately, Rodrigs flexible leadership style helps Raynar Portfolio Management thrive during trying times. The company embraces remote work policies and uses this decentralisation to its advantage when communicating with clients. The decision to invest in companies whose functions simplify life during COVID-19 also contributes to RPMs successful launch. These investments, coupled with Rodrigs leadership, have established Raynar Portfolio Management as a force to be reckoned with in the U.K. markets. How Remote Work Helps Rodrigs Expect the Unexpected Philip Rodrigs launched Raynar Portfolio Management in January of this year. The organisation operates with two distinct strategies: Raynar Enhanced and Raynar Flagship. Raynars Enhanced framework seeks to optimize client opportunities across all types of asset class. Raynar Flagship, on the other hand, is specifically available to professional investors looking to invest in U.K. equities for the significant majority of a stock market life cycle. Flagship draws on Rodrigs specialist experience of investing in the smallest listed firms on the UK markets. It is never preferential to begin a business endeavor during a global economic downturn, let alone a pandemic. Rodrigs flexible leadership demonstrates that he skillfully expected the unexpected by establishing a forward-thinking, client-oriented remote work approach. This policy is essential in helping RPM adapt to COVID-19. For example, Rodrigs uses his firms work-from-home policy to schedule more flexible client-facing meetings. He points out that clients typically set aside a few days a year to meet with investors, and you have to grab a slot then. The pandemic suspended this norm, but working from home made it much easier to find the time. That ability to make the best of an unforeseen event highlights RPMs anticipated durability in investment management. Co-Opting Expertise During the COVID-19 Economy Rodrigs investing expertise lies in smaller sized firms. He designed the Raynar Flagship Strategy cognizant of managing liquidity. In this economy, the ability to keep a close tab on the pulse of the markets when creating an effective investment strategy is a more valuable skill than ever before. Rodrigs demonstrates that talent with Flagships framework. It is built with the flexibility to reduce exposure to equities in favor of other assets. This flexibility aims to preserve capital in unfavorable investment conditions while also focusing on investments whose functions are compatible with the current state of the economy. As the world navigates its most severe economic decline since the 2008 Great Recession, some may avoid investing due to market volatility. Rodrigs keeps that volatility at the forefront of his investment firm, not as a deterrent but as an opportunity. The firm works under the notion that market volatility creates a chance to identify attractive investments that may have become mis-priced or might have otherwise flown under the radar. These attractive investment opportunities include companies where COVID-19 is creating significant lasting changes that positively impact the future of their business. Among these attractive investment opportunities are the video conferencing software LoopUp and satellite broadband provider BigBlu Broadband. These stocks were expected to increase in demand from the COVID-19 pandemic due to an uptick in the number of employees participating in remote work. Since COVIDs impact on business development requires more wireless compatibility, both businesses represented a skillful opportunity for Rodrigs firm. Ultimately, the decision to incorporate COVID-19 beneficiaries into its business model speaks to the firms ability to identify attractive investments during uncertain times. About Philip Rodrigs With 18 years of professional experience in investing, Rodrigs investment background demonstrates the potential to turn your passion into a career. He first began investing in 2000 with initial capital from a family gift. From there, he competed in investing competitions for two years. Those competitions eventually led him to Invesco Perpetual, where he worked as a trainee fund manager. Since then, his resume includes tenures at T. Rowe Price International and Investec Asset Management. Today, he leads the firm he founded Raynar Portfolio Management. The firm specializes in alternative investment funds and promises to search high and low for great investments. He presides over dedicated individuals committed to helping their clients achieve the best possible outcomes. His firms strategy includes the framework to withstand shocking global conditions. With a strategy carefully designed to accommodate challenging market conditions, says Rodrigs, we seek to deliver great client outcomes by focusing investment into unique firms that deliver for all stakeholders as they flourish. This built-in, crisis-proof approach to investment demonstrates Rodrigs unique leadership abilities; his skill and experience in the U.K. equity market help him and his company thrive, regardless of the discouraging global climate. The 10th of Muharram commemorates the death of Prophet Muhammads grandson in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. Ashura is marked on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, by all Muslims. It marks the day Nuh (Noah) left the Ark and the day Musa (Moses) was saved from the Pharaoh of Egypt by God. The Prophet Muhammad used to fast on Ashura in Mecca, where it became a common tradition for the early Muslims. Ashura this year will be marked in most places on August 29. But for the Shia, it is also a major religious event to commemorate the martyrdom of Husayn Ibn Ali al-Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who died at the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. Every year since then, many Shia mark Ashura by performing a pilgrimage to the mausoleum of Imam al-Hussein, which is traditionally to be held his tomb in Karbala. Sunni Muslims commemorate the day through voluntary fasting. Virus fears This year, as the coronavirus pandemic rages on, governments and health authorities are cautioning people to commemorate Ashura with strict health guidelines. In a letter to Irans Health Minister Saeed Namaki earlier this month, The Iranian Psychiatric Association demanded a complete ban of any gatherings, especially communal mourning ceremonies that will take place during Muharram and on Ashura. Senior Vice President of Iran Eshaq Jahangiri, who contracted COVID-19 earlier this year, tweeted the coronavirus has made mourning sites precarious, in reference to Ashura. Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Lebanons Hezbollah group, has urged followers to suspend public gatherings, amid a surge of COVID-19 cases in the country. The situation has become out of control, there are many cases, and the hospitals are no longer able to cope, Nasrallah said on August 17, urging worshippers to instead put up black flags outside their homes and shops to mark the religious event. Battle of Karbala In early Islamic history, some Muslims supported Ali, the cousin of Prophet Muhammad and the fourth caliph (temporal and spiritual ruler) of the Muslim community. Their support was based on the wish that the caliphate should stay within Prophet Muhammads family. They were called Shia, which means the supporters in Arabic. Ali was murdered in 661 AD and his leading opponent Muawiya bin Abi Sufiyan became caliph. READ MORE: Lebanon Shia in bloody ritual on Ashura Muawiya was succeeded by his son Yazid. Alis son, al-Hussein, refused to accept Yazids legitimacy and fighting between the two broke out. Al-Hussein, accompanied by his family and a few fighters, faced Yazids army. A defiant al-Hussein refused to surrender even though he realised he was outnumbered. After a brief battle, he and his followers were killed. Shia commemoration The death of Imam al-Hussein is considered by the Shia community to be a symbol of humanitys struggle against injustice, tyranny and oppression. The primary rituals and observances on Ashura consist of public expressions of mourning. Some in the Shia community resort to self-flagellation with chains and the blunt ends of swords. This is intended to exemplify the suffering Imam al-Hussein experienced shortly before his beheading. However, in recent years, some Shia religious leaders have been discouraging the bloodletting, saying it creates a backward and negative image of their community. Such leaders encourage people to donate blood to patients in need. Many Iraqis cook throughout the night and offer meals of rice with meat and chickpeas to the pilgrims attending the ceremonies. NEET, JEE mains 2020: Amid growing concerns over holding JEE and NEET in the country, the Congress in Rajasthan will hold demonstrations on Friday in front of all central government offices in the state demanding postponement of the exams. The party has also decided to run a digital campaign called SpeakUpForStudentSafety on social media. On Thursday, PCC president Govind Singh Dotasra said the students are pressing their demands for postponement of exams in view of the continuous spread of coronavirus in the country but the central government is adamant on its stand about conducting the exams. The decision to hold the exams has put lakhs of students and their family members in trouble. The students are in panic and stress and the Centre should listen to them, Dotasra said. He said the Congress will hold demonstrations in front of all central government offices at district headquarters in the state on Friday at 11 am. In Jaipur, the demonstration will be held at MNIT gate on JLN Road which will be participated by Dotasra and other senior Congress leaders and workers. He said social distancing norms will be followed during the protests. 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. Matt Weinert is used to driving a bulldozer through rugged terrain. As the owner of High Demand Earth Work in Napa Valley, he specializes in clearing land so that vineyards can be planted. But now, Weinert can add another special skill to his bulldozing resume: stopping wildfires. When the Hennessey Fire ignited in Napas eastern hillsides on Aug. 17, Weinert and his crew were at Ovid Vineyards, in the middle of a job clearing 25 acres of rock for a new vineyard. Suddenly, they could spot smoke rising from the other end of Pritchard Hill, behind Chappellet Winery. The Ovid team reached out to Cal Fire, but with so many fires up and down the state, we knew theyd be stretched pretty thin, said General Manager Jack Bittner. It soon became clear that if they wanted to keep the Hennessey Fire from advancing, they would have to fight it themselves. We didnt have any expectation that the cavalry was coming, Bittner said. What Weinert and a neighboring vineyard-development crew accomplished over the next few days was extraordinary: Using their bulldozers, they cleared chaparral, brush and other vegetation to create a nearly 4-mile firebreak across Pritchard Hill. They saved some of Napas most prestigious wineries like Chappellet, Ovid, Colgin, Bryant and Continuum and kept the fire from moving further into Napa Valley. They werent the only ones to effect a rogue, community-firefighting operation in Napa County last week. In a testament to how thinly spread resources are right now, many residents and vineyard owners in the county relied on their own knowledge and equipment to remove brush in hopes of stopping fire. In Pope Valley, closer to Lake Berryessa, a group of residents including winery and vineyard owners hopped in their bulldozers and built a 5-mile-long fire line, which ultimately saved many homes. On Howell Mountain, vintner Randy Dunn recruited some volunteer heavy equipment operators to clear more than 2.5 miles of firebreak through the densely forested Wildlake Preserve. Austin Peterson Its cowboy activities, as Dunn called them, and controversial. Though these rogue efforts largely succeeded, Cal Fire does not condone residents defying evacuation orders, and there are air-pollution regulations surrounding certain types of heavy machinery. Removing trees, too, can raise environmental concerns. Still, since Aug. 17, more than 1.35 million acres of California land have burned an area larger than the state of Delaware and theres no way that Cal Fire can be everywhere, said Diana Eackle Hawkins, owner of Pope Valley Winery. People forget about all the people who live in rural Napa, Hawkins said. Its harder to get resources out here. But there are a lot of us who live out here. And were gonna do everything we can to protect each other. For Hawkins and her community, the battle began on Aug. 18, when it became clear that the previous days lightning storm had sparked fires near Lake Berryessa, part of the LNU Lightning Complex. Hawkins brother, David Eackle, runs the familys heavy equipment business, and soon, he and several other operators were in tractors clearing brush to establish a barrier for the fires. It was steep, steep terrain, said Hawkins. By the next day, she, her brother and several other residents had drawn out a plan for a longer firebreak. She ran logistics on the ground, helping to coordinate meals. Some people drove the bulldozers, while others came through the line with chain saws, cutting vegetation. By Aug. 21, theyd gotten Cal Fires attention, and the state agency sent in firefighters to set a controlled burn from the fire line theyd created, with hopes that it would burn enough of the land in the wildfires path to cut it off. Joel Steffen, a Pope Valley resident who had stayed behind to help, called it the 5-mile hail Mary. Josh Anstey It worked. The fire destroyed several Pope Valley homes behind the fire line, but it could have been so much worse, Hawkins said. Over on Pritchard Hill, Chappellet Winery, one of Napa Valleys most famous estates, was the first line of defense. Dominic Chappellet watched from the top of his familys property as the Hennessey Fire began approaching from a nearby canyon on Aug. 17. We could see it crawling towards us, he said. Then the flames arrived at the adjacent ranch, owned by Dominic Chappellets cousin. Its open pasture and forest. Weve known that property our whole lives, he said. And because we had access to it (through my cousin), we felt it was our job to keep the fire in the wild land and off our property and our neighbors properties. Soon, Weinert and the Ovid vineyard crew were on the way. Colgin Cellars was developing new vineyards, too, and sent over its crew. In all, six bulldozers including a 108,000-pound Caterpillar D9 set to work moving chamisa, coyote brush, greasewood and manzanita out of the way, establishing a safe zone at the edge of Chappellet. That whole place is fuel, Weinert said, adding that he now has bruises all over his side from bouncing around in the D9. Danger was approaching: It was like running with the fire right behind you. Clearing that line is a job that, under normal working conditions, would take Weinerts crew about two weeks, he estimated. They did it in two days. By Thursday afternoon, Cal Fire crews arrived and, as in Pope Valley, started a controlled burn from their line. If not for their efforts, Weinert said, some of the most special places in Napa might have burned. Matt Weinert A similar saga played out on Howell Mountain, west of Pope Valley. Dunn, owner of Dunn Vineyards, noticed a plume of smoke in the Wildlake Preserve, a 3,000-acre property thats part of Napa Countys Land Trust. His daughter posted on Facebook: Anybody got a dozer? They ended up with two volunteers, who took out miles of vegetation. Cal Fire did show up at various points to check on them, Dunn said, but the hard work had been done by community members. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. The blaze came right up to the fire line theyd cleared, but no farther. It looks like a bomb field now, Dunn said. This years fires were a wake-up call, said Chappellet. Although wildfire has come to Napas eastern hillsides before, including during the 2017 Atlas Fire, this is the closest its gotten to Chappellets property since the early 1980s. After 2017, his family became more vigilant about creating defensible space, and they plan to become even more aggressive now. Building fire lines in California is going to become more important, said Cyril Chappellet, Dominics brother. Swimming pools might be helpful; keeping animals who graze on flammable brush might be a good idea, too. If we want to continue to protect ourselves and our neighbors, people have to realize that the tops of these hills may have the scar of firebreak on them. This sort of civilian firefighting, however, is not condoned by Cal Fire. We would never recommend that somebody stay behind to protect their home, said public information officer Brice Bennett. When an evacuation order is issued, he said that residents should take it seriously and leave. Joel Steffen Creating defensible space at ones home is important, Bennett said, but August is not the time to do it. We call that doing the right thing the wrong way, he said. Sometimes when youre clearing defensible space, you can create a spark or a mechanical heat or spark a fire yourself. He recommended that property owners consult readyforwildfire.org and their local FireSafe Council for help creating firebreaks during other parts of the year. But these people who live and work in Pope Valley, Howell Mountain and Pritchard Hill say they had no other choice but to do what they could to keep the fires at bay. I dont know where this fire would have gone, said Cyril Chappellet. Without these crews on hand, theres a very good likelihood that a lot of people would have lost a lot more. Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine critic. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley Instagram: @esthermob A Connecticut judge has ruled that candidates for elected office can use public campaign funding to pay for child care while theyre campaigning, clearing the way for more parents to run for office in the state. The plaintiff, Caitlin Clarkson Pereira, a Fairfield mother, ran for state representative in 2018. The state agency that oversees campaign finance laws rebuked her attempt to use public election grants to cover child care. The grants can be used to pay for travel and other expenses produced by a campaign. I am elated that the court ruled in our favor, Clarkson Pereira said after the Thursday ruling from Superior Court Judge John L. Cordani. We have gone multiple election cycles without knowing the final verdict, keeping countless candidates from entering races because the expense of child care would be such a burden. I have always been confident this was the answer we should have received from the beginning, and its past time Connecticut officially joins all the other states that allow such an expense. In August 2018, Clarkson Pereira, a Democrat, filed Connecticuts first formal request to use a public-campaign grant to pay for election-related child care. She was the young mother of a three-year-old trying to balance parenting and her first run for elected office. The State Elections Enforcement Commission denied Clarkson Pereiras request, but she continued to fight. She sought a declaratory ruling from the elections body. In April 2019, the commission ruled public campaign funds from the Citizens Election Program cannot be used to pay a babysitter while a candidate is on the hustings. A month later, Clarkson Pereira sought to overturn that ruling by filing a complaint in state Superior Court in Bridgeport. Cordani decided campaign funds may generally be spent to pay for child care costs incurred by a candidate as a result of campaigning as long as such payments are a direct result of campaign activity, reasonable and customary for the services rendered and properly documented by the campaign. The State Elections Enforcement Commission struggled over whether campaign funds should be permitted to cover child care expenses, said Michael J. Brandi, SEECs executive director and general counsel, on Friday. The Commission respects the courts decision and has tried very hard not to overstep its regulatory role, which is why weve proposed legislation to clarify precisely this area of the law, Brandi said. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the legislative measures didnt move forward this year. Cordani found child care was a necessary campaign expense to others covered by the public election grants. Allowing reimbursement of child care expenses that arise solely as a result of the campaign and would not have existed absent the campaign serves the public policy embedded in the foregoing statutes of encouraging all types of people, including those with small children, to run for public office to ensure that all segments of our population are represented in our government, Cordani wrote. Similarly, it ensures that candidates with small children can play on an even playing field in the campaign as compared to candidates without small children. Clarkson Pereira was supported in her pursuit to change the ruling by the Federal Election Commission chair, Ellen L. Weintraub, and several state lawmakers and officials. Weintraub said Friday the ruling was some real progress that will make it easier for parents and especially (lets face it) moms to run for office. Clarkson Pereiras attorney, Alexander Taubes of New Haven, who took the case pro-bono, said The courts ruling will benefit the entire State of Connecticut and candidates struggling for fairness nationwide. The commission already allowed candidates financing their campaigns through privately raised funds to use those monies to cover child care. The Federal Election Commission allows Congressional candidates to use campaign funds to pay for child care. States including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Texas, Alabama, and Arkansas also permit campaign funds to be spent on child care. emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson Clothes, footwear, cab fares to get costlier from January 1, 2022: All you need to know GST on textiles will not be increased from 5 to 12 per cent: FM Sitharaman CPI(M) targets Centre over 'Act of God' remark on GST revenue shortfall India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Aug 28: The CPI(M) on Friday hit out at the government over the shortfall in GST revenues and claimed it was "blaming the heavens" after its "cronyism, incompetence and callousness" destroyed the economy. The Centre on Thursday placed before the GST Council two options for borrowing by states to meet the shortfall in GST revenues pegged at Rs 2.35 lakh crore in the current fiscal. Briefing reporters after the 41st meeting of the GST Council, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the economy has been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is an 'Act of God', and it will see a contraction in the current fiscal. On GST revenue shortfall, Centre gives states two options "Central government must borrow if need be and pay the states their legitimate dues. Why should the states borrow? 'Cooperative Federalism'? Having destroyed the Indian Economy now looting the states. Divine intervention? "A mix of cronyism, incompetence and callousness has failed our people and destroyed their livelihoods and lives well before the pandemic. Blaming the heavens now," CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said in a series of tweets. As per the Centre's calculation, the compensation requirement by the states in the current fiscal would be Rs 3 lakh crore, of which Rs 65,000 crore is expected to be met from the cess levied in the GST regime. Flight rules: Banned from flying if you remove mask & more news | Oneindia News Hence, the total shortfall is estimated at Rs 2.35 lakh crore. Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey said of this, Rs 97,000 crore is on account of GST shortfall, while the rest is due to the impact of COVID-19 on the economy. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 28, 2020, 15:15 [IST] His Hollywood career has just edged into its fifth decade, after he rose to fame following roles in a number of film hits from the 1980s onward. And Matt Dillon, 56, showed support for the medium he so loves when he and his longtime girlfriend Roberta Mastromichele attended the premiere of City of Ghosts at Rome's Timvision Floating Theatre on Thursday. The veteran actor, who is set to join the jury at the 77th Venice Film Festival in September, happily posed for photos with his other half at the cinematic event. Ciao Bella: Matt Dillon, 56, and his longtime girlfriend Roberta Mastromichele attended the premiere of City of Ghosts at Rome's Timvision Floating Theatre on Thursday Dillon cut a smart-casual figure, arriving for the evening's screening in a grey collared T-shirt, which he teamed with a pair of cream chinos. The Hollywood actor complemented his look with a pair of black leather trainers and swept his hair off his face into a sleek style. Matt's other half Roberta showed off her own flair for fashion, stepping out in a statement floral silk maxi skirt. The Italian beauty complemented the statement piece with a cropped white T-shirt and styled her brown locks into tousled waves, while she kept her makeup minimal. Relaxed: Dillon cut a smart-casual figure, arriving for the evening's screening in a grey collared T-shirt Mane attraction: The Hollywood actor swept his hair off his face into a sleek style Last month, Dillon served as the honorary president for Filming Italy Sardegna Festival in Cagliari. And earlier this week, it was revealed that he would replace Romanian director Cristi Puiu on the main competition jury at the 77th Venice Film Festival in September. The festival is set to run September 2-12 and is the first major film festival to go ahead in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Audience members will be required to wear face masks during screenings and take a coronavirus test if they are arriving from countries outside their green list. Jury duty: The veteran actor is set to join the jury at the 77th Venice Film Festival in September Taking over: It was revealed that he would replace Romanian director Cristi Puiu on the main competition jury The Oscar nominee will join writer-director Veronika Franz, UK writer-director Joanna Hogg, writer Nicola Lagioia, German filmmaker Christian Petzol and French star Lucivine Sagnier on the jury, which is presided over by actress Cate Blanchett. Dillon rose to prominence in the late '80s with roles in films such as the Outsiders and Rumble Fix. In 2006, he received Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for his critically-acclaimed role in Crash opposite Sandra Bullock. Since then, he has gone on to star in dozens of films including the gruesome flick The House That Jack built in 2018. Star power: The Oscar nominee will join the jury, which is presided over by actress Cate Blanchett Blooming lovely: Matt's other half Roberta showed off her own flair for fashion, stepping out in a statement floral silk maxi skirt at the event in Rome. Pictured with director Abel Ferrara (L) He was seen on the red carpet for that project with his girlfriend of nearly six years, Roberta Mastromichele. The couple first started dating in 2014, and though they sparked rumours of engagement in 2017, they are yet to publicly confirm any plans to wed. Last year, Matt defended his decision to star in the Lars Von Trier Film The House That Jack Built, after it sparked walkouts following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Style savvy: The Italian beauty complemented the statement piece with a cropped white T-shirt Speaking in an interview in MR PORTERs weekly digital magazine The Journal in November 2018, he admitted: 'I'm OK that people are upset. 'It's meant to be upsetting to you, and you should know, if you're going to see this that it is going to some very dark, disturbing places.' He added: 'But I think it's a good film. Really good. And I'm glad that I did it.' In the film, Matt stars as Jack, a serial killer with more than 60 deaths to his name who relishes bloodshed and plots increasingly horrifying ways to inflict death. The Delhi high court (HC) on Friday dismissed a plea by Mehul Choksi, the uncle of diamantaire Nirav Modi, seeking a pre-release screening of a docu-series Bad Boy Billionaires to be aired on Netflix, an over the top (OTT) platform, on September 2. Justice Navin Chawla said that Choksi, through his counsel, advocate Vijay Aggarwal, is allowed to file a civil suit as what is being alleged as infringement by him is a private right and cannot be granted by the court. Referring to an earlier order, passed by a division bench of the Delhi HC in another matter, the court refused to grant him a pre-release viewing while reiterating that there are no regulations to control the content on OTT media services. Choksi had moved the Delhi HC against a docu-series to be aired by Netflix. Bad Boy Billionaires focuses on the alleged fraud committed by many high-profile business tycoons in India. The poster, released by Netflix, shows Choksis nephew Modi, among other businessmen, who have been arrested by investigating agencies, according to advocate Aggarwal. On Friday, Aggarwal, appearing for Choksi, said that he may be given a pre-release screening to see if the docu-series contains any material that might malign his client. However, countering his submissions, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, appearing for Netflix, said that there is no regulation in India to control OTT content. He said that only two minutes have been dedicated to Choksi in the episode on Modi in the docu-series. He submitted that in the two minutes on Choksi, several interviews that he had given to news channels and media outlets have been showcased and all of them are in public domain. He also contended that there is no relevance to Choksis court cases in the docu-series. Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, the counsel for the filmmakers, said that Choksi is a fugitive and has taken the citizenship of another country. He said Choksi must be barred from seeking legal relief in India because he took the citizenship of another country. Krishnan also submitted that though Choksi knew about the docu-series since 2018, he chose not to move court and avail relief for the past two years. The court dismissed the plea and asked Choksi to approach the appropriate forum. Choksi, in his petition, had stated that he got to know of the docu-series release on August 24, when he saw the trailer following which he was flooded with phone calls. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 05:42:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People wait to receive COVID-19 test at a temporary test site at Sunset Park of Brooklyn in New York, the United States, Aug. 13, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) The move drew criticism and confusion from public health experts, who said that to identify asymptomatic COVID-19 patients through testing is greatly important. WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has changed its COVID-19 testing guidelines, no longer recommending testing for most people without symptoms, which has sparked controversy as experts warn it may hamper the timely identification of asymptomatic individuals with COVID-19. The new testing guidelines, updated earlier this week, ask people to get tested if they have symptoms of COVID-19, or have had close contact (within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes) with someone with confirmed COVID-19, or have been asked or referred to get testing by their healthcare provider, local or state health department. "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," said the new guidelines. That is a stark change from the previous CDC guidance, which emphasized the importance of testing people who were in close contact with infected people. "Testing is recommended for all close contacts of persons with SARS-CoV-2 infection," said the previous guidance. "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." People wait to receive COVID-19 test at a temporary test site at Sunset Park of Brooklyn in New York, the United States, Aug. 13, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) The move drew criticism and confusion from public health experts, who said that to identify asymptomatic COVID-19 patients through testing is greatly important. The change could undermine contact tracing, a core strategy for slowing the spread of the virus, they noted. According to a CNN report, the new guidelines were the result of political pressure. "It's coming from the top down," a federal health official told CNN of the new directives. The new CDC guidelines appeared to be the result of an idea raised to the task force by CDC Director Robert Redfield a month earlier, when a surge of coronavirus cases strained U.S. testing resources and some members were looking for new messaging on how to stem excess testing, said the CNN report. "This Guidance has been updated to reflect current evidence and best public health practices, and to further emphasize using CDC-approved prevention strategies to protect yourself, your family, and the most vulnerable of all ages," said Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Brett Giroir. "Many of us are confused by @CDCgov excluding people without symptoms from testing guidelines," tweeted Natalie Dean, an assistant professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida, citing an HHS spokesperson as saying the guidance was revised to reflect "current evidence" and the "best public health interventions." "But what is the evidence?" she asked. Duty of all to work in partys interest says Shashi Tharoor India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 28: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who was among the 'group of 23' that wrote to Sonia Gandhi seeking urgent organisational overhaul, said on Thursday that it is the duty of all to work together in the interest of the party once the party chief has stated that the matter is "behind us". Tharoor had so far maintained a silence since the letter appeared in the media and was heatedly debated at the Monday meeting of the Congress Working Committee, which urged Sonia Gandhi to continue as party president and bring about organisational changes. "I've been silent for 4 days on recent events in @INCIndia because once the Congress President says the issue is behind us, it is the duty of all of us to work together constructively in the interests of the Party," Tharoor tweeted. Congress has proven, more things change, more things remain the same "I urge all my colleagues to uphold this principle & end the debate," he said. However, a resolution has been passed since then against one of the 23 signatories to the letter, Jitin Prasada, by a district unit of the party in Uttar Pradesh, while changes announced by Congress for its various positions in parliamentary party units are being seen as having ignored the seniority of several letter writers. This has also prompted many political watchers to warn of some imminent rebellion within the ranks and files of the party. Another key member of the 'group of 23' Kapil Sibal tweeted earlier in the day that the party needed to target the ruling BJP with "surgical strikes" rather than targeting its own, referring to Jitin Prasada, against whom a resolution was passed by the Lakhimpur Kheri district unit in Uttar Pradesh seeking disciplinary action for being a signatory to the much-criticised letter within top echelons of the party. The party's Lakhimpur Kheri, in its resolution against Prasada, accused him of "gross indiscipline". Flight rules: Banned from flying if you remove mask & more news | Oneindia News Meanwhile, one of the senior-most leaders in the 'group of 23', said they wrote the letter to the party chief because they felt that a "third person" coming in as an interim president in absence of a full-time and permanent president would harm the prospects of the Congress party. "No third interim president would have the authority to implement things, and the names doing the rounds as the interim President would have been a disaster," he told a TV channel, referring to Rahul Gandhi having first resigned as a president last year and then Sonia Gandhi having been appointed as an interim chief in August last year. "This letter was written to strengthen the party keeping in view our inner-party democracy," India TV quoted Azad as having said in the interview. There should be some programme to galvanize the party if "we have to fight out the present BJP government", Azad said. After the seven-hour meeting of the party's top decision-making body, the CWC on Monday made it clear that no one will be permitted to undermine or weaken the party and its leadership. The CWC resolution stated that inner-party be raised only within the party and not in media or public fora "in the interest of propriety and discipline". Some senior Congress leaders, including Sibal, Wasnik, Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari, had met at Azad's house in the national capital on Monday evening itself, soon after the CWC debated their letter. Sources said the 'group of 23' might meet again soon to devise their next course of action and they are expecting a lot more leaders to join them for safeguarding the party's interests and future prospects. Having a "full time, active and visible" leadership, devolution of powers to state units and revamping the CWC in line with the party constitution are some of the key suggestions made by the 23 senior Congress leaders in the letter to Sonia Gandhi to revive the organisation. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sausan Atika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 28, 2020 Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan on Thursday announced that he would again implement another 14-day extension of the transition period for gradual easing of the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), effective starting Friday. The extension is the fifth since the capital began its so-called transitional PSBB phase on June 4 to revive the sluggish economy. And this time, Anies is looking to reopen movie theaters, despite the continuing surge in COVID-19 cases. 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 U.S. energy exports severely disrupted by Hurricane Laura Man walks past fallen electrical lines to get to residence in aftermath of Hurricane Laura in Sulphur, Louisiana By Scott DiSavino and Jessica Jaganathan NEW YORK/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil and gas exports from the United States have been severely disrupted by Hurricane Laura, with nearly a million barrels per day (bpd) of crude exports likely reduced this week by closures of U.S. Gulf Coast terminals and disruptions at ports. The hurricane also temporarily suspended operations at several liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in the world's third largest exporter of the super-cooled gas, with shipments on track to fall to their lowest in 18 months. Laura made landfall early Thursday near the Texas-Louisiana border, one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the region, and raced north. Ports of Lake Charles, Beaumont and Port Arthur remained closed on Thursday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The Port of Houston, which is the top U.S. crude oil export hub accounting for about 600,000 bpd of shipments, closed on Wednesday and was in the process of reopening to commercial shipping late Thursday, according to the Coast Guard. Some 50 vessels, most of them tankers, were at anchorage offshore and waiting to re-enter the Houston Shipping Channel, said JJ Plunkett, port agent for the Houston Pilots Association, which guides vessels in and out of the ship channel. The closures of Houston Port, Beaumont and Port Arthur were expected to reduce seaborne crude export capacity by nearly 1 million bpd, data intelligence firm Kpler estimated, based on average figures over the past four months. U.S. crude exports averaged about 2.9 million bpd in the last four weeks, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The closure of those ports would also reduce a total of about 830,000 bpd in refined product departures, Kpler said. The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP), the largest privately-owned crude terminal in the United States, also suspended operations at its marine terminal on Sunday ahead of the storm. Oil tankers have headed back to major loading points along the Gulf Coast on Friday after taking shelter at Corpus Christi on Thursday, shipping data on Refinitiv Eikon showed. Story continues LNG tankers in and around the Gulf of Mexico start to resume operations https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/jbyprqqbwve/LNGTankerFleetUSGulf.png Two LNG tankers are currently waiting near ports to load cargoes while several others are still off the Caribbean, Kpler's Rebecca Chia said. The extent of disruption would depend on any damage inflicted on export and production facilities. Energy companies were gearing up to survey the storm's impact on Thursday. Oil & gas loadings resume at U.S. Gulf Coast after Hurricane Laura https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/xegpbooqzvq/Pasted%20image%201598579186817.png Loadings of LNG cargoes from the United States have also been delayed. LNG exports were on track to fall to 2.1 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) on Thursday, their lowest since February 2019, according to data from Refinitiv. "Given the direct hit on the Sabine Pass and Cameron LNG export terminals by Hurricane Laura, they will likely be the last terminals to restart exports in the Gulf," analysts at ClipperData said in a note, referring to Cheniere Energy Inc's Sabine Pass and Sempra Energy's Cameron LNG export plants in Louisiana. Both plants suspended operations earlier this week and said they would conduct damage assessments as soon as it was safe to do so. Separately, Venture Global said on Friday that its Calcasieu Pass LNG facility which is under construction in Cameron, Louisiana, has sustained minimal impacts from the hurricane and that it is working with contractors to regain access to the site. Location & tracks of LNG vessels delayed by a major storm in the Gulf of Mexico https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/jbyprqkgove/LNGStormDelays.png (Reporting by Jessica Jaganathan in Singapore and Scott DiSavino in New York; Additional reporting by Devika Krishna Kumar; Editing by Simon Webb, Marguerita Choy & Shri Navaratnam) Even though it was stated that no action would be taken against the senior leaders who had written to Sonia Gandhi, they say that the retaliation had already begun, reports Aditi Phadnis IMAGE: Kapil Sibal and Ghulam Nabi Azad are among the 23 leaders who wrote the letter to Sonia Gandhi asking for an organisational overhaul in the Congress. Photograph: PTI Photo At a meeting of the Congress Working Committee held last week, party president Sonia Gandhi said that while she was hurt at a letter written by 23 senior leaders charging leadership drift, no action would be taken against them. However, some of the dissenters have dismissed this statement as humbug and said the retaliation had already begun. Unfortunate that Jitin Prasada is being officially targeted in Uttar Pradesh Congress needs to target the Bharatiya Janata Party with surgical strikes instead wasting its energy by targeting its own, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal tweeted. The post came after the district Congress president in Prasadas area, Lakhimpur Kheri, passed a resolution calling him a traitor and sought his expulsion. Dheeraj Gujjar, the district Congress president claimed he was instructed by an unnamed All India Congress Committee general secretary to release the statement. On Wednesday late evening, Congress general secretary (organisation), KC Venugopal, issued a letter announcing that a five-member committee was being set up to study and align the partys stand on several ordinances. The government would seek to clear those in the forthcoming parliament session. The members of this committee would be P Chidambaram, Digvijay Singh, Jairam Ramesh, Gaurav Gogoi, and Congress MP from Ludhiana, Dr Amar Singh. Missing were the names of the other two top lawyers: Abishek Singhvi and Manish Tewari -- MP from Anandpur Sahib and another signatory to the letter. Although the Congress had said an AICC session would be held in six months in which a new president would be elected, it did not reflect in the CWC resolution. Hence, the dissenting leaders were left puzzled over the resolutions implications, asking whether the election would be held and process completed in six months? Or would it start after six months? In another interesting development, Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna, in an editorial, criticised the Congress dissenters: unusual because Shiv Sena has no locus standi in judging the internal affairs of the Congress party. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan -- who was one of the architects of the Sena-Congress government and braved extensive opposition to the idea especially from Sonia Gandhi -- is a signatory to the letter. Clearly now, he is a target. Former Union Minister Veerappa Moily, also a signatory, said in a statement, after the CWC meeting, that "it is an admitted fact that organisation of the Congress party is not in a position to take forward the party philosophy and protect the democracy in the present turbulent condition prevailing in the country." Moily had lost the Chikkaballapur Lok Sabha constituency and was among several senior members of the Congress in Karnataka to have lost the election. But party rival and SC leader Mallikarjun Kharge succeeded in bagging the Rajya Sabha seat when elections to the upper house were held in June. A pregnant teacher who was extremely careful to avoid COVID-19 has died after friends organised a surprise baby shower, not realising one of them was infected. The woman Camila Graciano, 31, was eight months pregnant when she caught the virus in the city of Anapolis, in the central Brazilian state of Goias, after contact with one of the people at the surprise party friends had organised for her. Despite her precautions, the widespread nature of the novel coronavirus in Brazil meant she was ultimately unable to avoid contracting the virus. Thankfully her baby survived. The mother had desperately tried to avoid contracting the virus. Source: Australscope/Newsflash Her family said that knowing her pregnancy was at risk, Ms Graciano had taken great care not to leave her home during the pandemic. However, her brother Daniel Helio Ambrosio told local news outlet Globo that her co-workers organised a surprise baby shower towards the end of her term. One of her friends who turned up had reportedly already contracted coronavirus but was asymptomatic and therefore unaware. Soon afterwards she [the friend] got really bad and let the others who were there know. Unfortunately, my sister was one of those infected, Mr Ambrosio said. The expectant mother was rushed to hospital three days after the party. Her family struggled to find a bed for her as all of the citys intensive care beds were occupied at the time. Her brother said: They were thinking about taking her to [the major cities of] Goiania or Brasilia. Thanks be to God we have many friends who we mobilised in order to get an ICU bed for Camila, and finally we got one in the Santa Casa [Hospital]. She was admitted into a maternity ward for high-risk pregnancies which has beds specifically set aside for women with COVID last Wednesday. Her childbirth had to be induced to save the baby, who was born premature but has been faring well. Story continues Thank God my niece is showing good signs, shes breathing alone in the incubator, and doesnt need oxygen, Ms Gracianos brother said. Brazil has recorded the second most known coronavirus cases and related deaths in the world during the pandemic, behind only the US. Brazil is officially the second worst country on coronavirus infections with nearly 3.8 million known infections. Source: Oxford Despite the severity of Ms Gracianos condition, the family had high hopes that she would recover, and she was even showing signs of significant improvement. Right after giving birth, she showed some major improvement. Even the doctors said:'Look, have faith, because her lungs are improving, her heart rate is improving, her blood pressure is improving, Mr Ambrosio recalled. On Friday last week (local time), she started to deteriorate and died the following day. On Friday she started to get worse, the virus had mutated very strongly, and she didnt stand a chance, he brother said. According to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins University, Brazil has suffered more than 3,761,000 cases of COVID-19 with 118,649 related deaths. Australscope 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. WASHINGTON - Just past dawn Friday, more than a half-century after Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the Lincoln Memorial's marble steps and offered his vision for a fair and righteous America, thousands of protesters descended on the nation's capital at the end of a summer that has laid bare just how distant the fulfillment of his vision remains. Among them was Marilyn Boddy, 62, who had never attended a protest in her life. As a decades-long federal employee, Boddy had always been reluctant to join in public demonstrations, but that changed when she heard the Rev. Al Sharpton eulogize George Floyd, who died in May beneath the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. "It was right there, in the emotion of that moment, that I knew I would be here today," Boddy said, describing the anger and anguish that shot through her while watching the televised service from her New Jersey living room. On Friday, 200 miles south, she wore a mask inscribed with "BLACK LIVES MATTER" and a red T-shirt featuring the same words, surrounded by the faces of 11 dead Black men and women: Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice, Mike Brown, Eric Garner, Sean Bell, Jordan Davis, Rayshard Brooks and Breonna Taylor. "We are sick and tired," she said, surveying the crowd swelling behind her. "At this point, I'd crawl over glass to be here." It had been exactly 57 years since King spoke about his dream of unity but also warned, in words quoted far less often, that "the whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges." It had been three months since those foundations were shaken yet again, this time in the furious, fiery aftermath of Floyd's killing. It had been six weeks since the death of civil rights icon and Georgia congressman John Lewis, the last living speaker at the original March on Washington, where the 23-year-old had told the crowd, "We are tired - We are tired of being beaten by policemen." It had been five days since a Kenosha, Wis., officer shot Jacob Blake in the back, paralyzing him in front of his children. It had been three days since, investigators say, a White teenage vigilante with an AR-15 gunned down two men who had confronted him on a night of chaotic protests in Kenosha. It had been two days since America's greatest athletes refused to take courts and fields, to entertain a country that, to many of them, did not value their Black lives as much as White ones. And it had been less than 24 hours since President Donald Trump accepted the Republican Party's nomination from the South Lawn of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, transforming "The People's House" - fortified behind concrete barriers and high metal fences - into a campaign prop. Trump gave a speech laced with falsehoods to a tightly packed crowd of more than 1,500 people, almost none wearing masks in the middle of a pandemic. "No one will be safe" in Joe Biden's America, the president warned at the end of a week of extraordinary devastation in his America: Wildfires devoured homes in the West, a Category 4 hurricane leveled neighborhoods in the South, protesters lit buildings aflame in the Midwest and a still-raging pandemic took more American lives than were lost on 9/11, pushing the total death tollto at least 178,000. Sharpton, who organized Friday's "Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" March on Washington, took aim at Trump, his supporters and everyone else who ignore the country's deeply rooted racism. "For too long, you acted like we didn't matter," Sharpton declared from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, directly addressing the country. "They say, 'Well, everybody matters.' But everybody hasn't mattered the same in America. The reason we had and we still have to say 'Black Lives Matter' is because we get less health care, like we don't matter. We go to jail longer for the same crimes, like we don't matter . . . Black lives matter, and we won't stop until it matters to everybody." What followed was a procession of anguished Black men and women whose loved ones had been killed or maimed in recent years. The line of grieving families ran so long that not all of them had a chance to speak. Eric Garner Jr. led the crowd in a familiar chant - "I. Can't. Breathe." - and offered a reminder: "It's been six years since my father's words became our words." Ahmaud Arbery's father, Marcus, shared the simplicity of what he missed: "I'm used to my boy calling me, saying he loves me. Sometimes I'm like, 'He forgot to call me.' " Trayvon Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, pleaded for persistence: "Even though it looks dark, I want to tell you to be encouraged. . . . Stand up. We was built for this." Friday's protest was one of contrasts - of messages of despair and of hope, of people asking, "How, after all these decades, are we still fighting for change?" while others declared, "This is the change." When David Queen Sr. heard months ago about the new March on Washington, he knew he would go. Queen, 50, was born several years after the historic 1963 march that inspired Friday's event. But he grew up steeped in the stories and symbolism of that day - and disappointed, repeatedly, that the social evils of that era refused to recede as he became an adult, and then a father. "Some progress has been made. But we still have a long way to go," Queen said as he stood on the Mall shortly before noon. Behind him, the Washington Monument speared into a hot, hazy August sky. "If you base it on freedom, I'd say we are 20 percent there." Standing beside Queen was his 32-year-old son, David Queen Jr. Like his father, he was born and raised in Baltimore. The pair had made the trip south, and masked themselves on a sweltering summer day, out of conviction that they needed to stand up for a better, more equitable future for African Americans. What did the son expect of America by the time he was his father's age? "Do you want to know what I think or what I hope?" he said, because what he expected fell far short of what he longed for. Nearby, two Black brothers from Houston looked out over the same crowds and listened to the same speeches, but what they saw was progress, not failure. Instead of feeling discouraged by the police shooting of Jacob Blake or the killings at the Kenosha protest Tuesday, the Jones brothers had come to believe that America was more united for racial change than ever. They found proof in the number of companies that have spoken out and the professional sports teams that have boycotted games for the cause. "It feels like, for the first time, there's movement," said Alford Jones, 64. "It's so diverse. It's not a Black movement. People are coming out from all over. You see it today. Injustice has no color." People of every age and race and from across America had descended on the mall from all directions, carrying messages on signs and on their sweat-soaked T-shirts: "Unbreakable," said one. "B----, don't kill my tribe," said another. "Good trouble," read a tank top commemorating Lewis. One woman wore a dress that simply said: "Nah." By midday, the crowds stretched far beyond the area that required a temperature check to enter. Law enforcement was far more limited than it had been during the tense standoffs the city has seen this summer. Where military tanks had once blocked off streets, activists now saw District of Columbia garbage trucks. U.S. Park Police passed easily through the crowd gathered near the gates around the Lincoln. Satellite-topped TV trucks outnumbered police cruisers on 23rd Street. Thousands lounged in the grass around the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, listening to speeches and slipping down their masks to sip water beneath the shade of American Elms. They cheered as speakers talked of Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., of America's teachers, of the responsibility to vote. After the speeches, many activists marched to King's granite statue and Black Lives Matter Plaza while others shut down streets and bridges as thunderstorms rolled in. Before the rain, the crowd included hundreds of children, and though they couldn't see beyond all the adults around them, the kids still tried to make sense of why they had all come. "We are here so they can stop shooting us," explained Malik Leak, age 11. "White people are not happy that Black people are happy," offered Rylee Bates Trenard, age 9. "The law is that you can't attack an innocent Black man," added Malcolm, also 9, as he scooped up a handful of Goldfish. "It doesn't make any sense. They know that, but they are still doing it." Sharilyn Wagner, 71, rested on a bench, thinking about Malik and Rylee and Malcolm's generation as she fanned herself with a sign that said, "I don't understand how you don't understand." She had taken vacation from her job as a bus driver, flown from Austin to Baltimore, then paid $70 for a taxi to get here at 8 a.m. "There were ones that have gone on and paved the way for us - Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis - but my generation hasn't come that far," Wagner said. "But I believe in this younger generation, oh yes I do. I just know that the young people are going to take us where we need to be" - she pointed to a reporter's phone - "with all that high tech and stuff." She watched the crowds pass by, noticing just how many of the young Black women were wearing braids. In 1978, she said, she was told she couldn't wear her long braids while she worked as a bus driver. She had to remove them as she fought the rule through her union. She won. On Friday, gray ringlet curls framed her Chanel mask as she listened to Martin Luther King III speak of dismantling "systemic racism, once and for all." In 1963, when his father stood in the same spot, Wagner had been a student in a segregated middle school. When she came home that day, she watched the speech on a small black-and-white TV. Her parents, who had grown up picking cotton, told her that man was "making good sense." Now she would have the chance to tell her children, grandchildren and great-grandchild about this day, when she heard a new vision for a just America that she hoped wouldn't take another half-century to reach. - - - The Washington Post's Michael E. Miller, Emily Davies, Lola Fadulu, Julie Zauzmer, Rebecca Tan, Michelle Boorstein, Marissa Lang, Kyle Swenson, Michael Brice-Saddler, Meagan Flynn, Teddy Amenabar, Samantha Schmidt, Katie Mettler and Peter Hermann contributed to this report. Alice Moon promotes cannabis products. Her first episode of unpredictable vomiting occurred on Halloween night in 2016. Read more The vomiting happened with little warning and for no apparent reason. The first episode occurred on Halloween night 2016, as Alice Moon and a friend were strolling around her neighborhood, admiring the trick-or-treaters. Suddenly Moon began to vomit. It made no sense, she said. She went home and smoked some marijuana, which she knew could quell nausea and vomiting and is used by some people undergoing chemotherapy. Moon, a Los Angeles public relations specialist who promotes cannabis products, had worked in the marijuana industry since 2011. (California legalized cannabis for medical use in 1996 and for recreational purposes in 2016.) For several years Moon, now 31, had used cannabis at night to combat long-standing insomnia and to moderate anxiety and depression. She described herself as a daily user who was not addicted. I was never one of those people who was stoned all day, she said. A few days after the Halloween episode, which lasted a few hours, she saw a doctor who diagnosed reflux. He advised her to eliminate spicy or acidic foods, such as tomatoes, and to take a nonprescription acid-blocking drug. For a few months, those measures seemed to work. But by early 2017 the vomiting returned. Moon noticed that the episodes, which occurred weekly, appeared to coincide with her consumption of alcohol, even in small amounts, so she stopped drinking. The vomiting, however, continued. She flew about once a month for business and lost count of how many Ubers I threw up in, she said. I was definitely concerned, Moon said, but I didnt know what to do. Typically thin, she began to lose weight; at 5-foot-6, she weighed 110 pounds. In late 2017 she read a blog item about an alarming condition affecting some regular users of cannabis: intractable and untreatable vomiting that could last for days. I did let it sit in my brain for a while but it didnt make sense, Moon said. As the episodes increased in frequency and severity, Moon discovered that the only thing that seemed to quell hours of vomiting was a hot bath. As soon as Id get out of the water I would start throwing up, she said. Some nights she fell asleep on the bathroom floor, spent and dehydrated. One of the worst episodes occurred in March 2018 when Moon spent five days in New York City on a much-anticipated birthday celebration for her mother. Moon was overcome by waves of abdominal pain, nausea and sweating so profuse she stripped off her hat, coat and gloves despite the 30-degree temperature. The gastroenterologist Moon saw shortly after her disastrous trip performed a physical exam and questioned her closely after Moon told her she was a regular user of cannabis. Solution Based on Moons symptoms and the relief hot baths provided, the gastroenterologist suspected cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), the same disorder Moon had read about and dismissed a few months earlier. The unusual condition was first reported in 2004 by doctors in Australia, who described a small number of frequent cannabis users who developed severe vomiting relieved by hot showers or baths. The only way to stop the episodes, Australian researchers reported, was abstinence from marijuana. Once thought to be rare, CHS is being reportedly increasingly by U.S. doctors in states that have legalized cannabis. The gastroenterologist advised Moon to stop using marijuana for three to six months and return if she was still having symptoms. Moon demurred. I was unconvinced this was the cause, she said. Moon decided to attend a cannabis-themed dinner party in Malibu. A few hours after she got home, Moon began throwing up and didnt stop for more than two weeks. Four days into her ordeal, Moon went to an urgent-care center near her home. The doctor on duty had never heard of CHS. He administered intravenous fluids to treat severe dehydration and gave her antinausea medication, which is typically ineffective against CHS. When she seemed better, he sent her home. Three days later, when she was still vomiting, a friend drove her back to the urgent-care center. The doctor she had seen previously called the gastroenterologist she had consulted. She ordered blood tests as well as CT and MRI scans; all were normal. A few days later, the vomiting stopped. For the next five months, Moon said, she mostly avoided cannabis, while struggling with insomnia and depression. In late September, she began intermittently using CBD capsules, hoping they might be less likely to trigger vomiting than edibles or vaped marijuana. That seemed to be the case until Dec. 22 when, on a holiday visit to her family, Moon developed the worst attack she had experienced. The vomiting was so severe that Moon cut short her trip and returned to Los Angeles, where she spent four days in a hospital. Doctors there, she said, diagnosed gastroparesis, a disease caused by the stomachs failure to empty properly. Moon was also diagnosed with an ulcer and a bacterial infection. She said she told her hospital team about her CHS diagnosis; they told her they had never heard of it. People said I looked like I was dying, remembered Moon, who slowly recovered. It was the last time she used the drug in any form. But Moon said she did not anticipate the void that abstinence would leave, particularly because her professional and social lives revolve around cannabis. Its been very hard, she said. To Itai Danovitch, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Moons experience reflects the difficulties many patients face. (He did not treat Moon.) People have strongly held ideas about substances they use, said Danovitch, who specializes in addiction psychiatry. There are a lot of cultural, spiritual, social and community aspects to cannabis that strengthen users attachment to it. Many people, he added, are reluctant to tell doctors that they use the drug or that they are dependent on it. CHS remains way underrecognized by doctors, he said, and is a diagnosis of exclusion typically made after other conditions have been ruled out. It is not known why some users are susceptible or why hot water quells symptoms. One study found that, on average, patients racked up seven emergency room visits and three hospitalizations before being diagnosed with CHS. Moon now uses meditation to treat her insomnia and takes medication for depression. She said she has encountered hostility from those who dont believe CHS exists or claim she exaggerated her symptoms. She hopes her openness about her experience will help others. Recently Moon helped the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada draft an informational handout for cannabis users. Her website also contains information about CHS. Im trying to spread the word, she said. Rating agencies CRISIL and India Ratings (Ind-Ra) have upgraded Yes Bank's infrastructure bonds and other papers on the back of improvement in its funding and liquidity profile recently. CRISIL upgraded the bank's rating on Rs 20,000 crore certificates of deposit to A2-plus from A2 besides reaffirming its BBB/Stable rating on the private lender's tier two bonds under Basel III and infrastructure bonds. Ind-Ra on the other hand also revised upwards the bank's long-term issuer rating to BBB from BB-(minus) while resolving the rating watch evolving. Also Read: Yes Bank to raise ESOP pool to 225 million; fixes MD-CEO's remuneration at Rs 2.84 cr Explaining the rating action, CRISIL said the "upgrade in short-term rating reflects an improvement in funding and liquidity profile of the bank with a gradual increase in its deposit base as well as sizeable capital raised recently". With this, Yes Bank has paid back Rs 35,000 crore out of the Rs 50,000 crore special liquidity facility it availed from the RBI in March 2020, which is ahead of its earlier plan. Moreover, the lender's liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) has also improved in recent months. It stands at 114.1% as of June 2020, as compared to 37% in March 2020. As of June 2020, Yes Bank has total deposits of Rs 1.17 lakh crore, as against Rs 1.05 lakh crore as on March 31, 2020. Furthermore, the bank has also raised Rs 15,000 crore via a follow-on public offer (FPO) in July 2020, improving its capital position substantially. Also Read: Anil Ambani loses ADAG Mumbai headquarters to YES Bank after Rs 2,892 crore default CRISIL added that the ratings continue to be supported by the expectation of further extraordinary systemic support from key stakeholders and substantial ownership by the State Bank of India (SBI), which will play a major role in Yes Bank's credit rating in the future. Meanwhile, Ind-Ra also said that multi-notch upward revision and the resolution of rating watch manifest considerable progress in the bank's profile as well as operating metrics after its reconstruction in March (2020). The agency expects Yes Bank to continue to better its operating metrics and liability profile over the next few quarters as it continues to make provisions for coronavirus-related impact on its portfolio. After eight intense nights of programming, the 2020 conventions will come to an end on Thursday: President Trump will formally accept the Republican nomination, and the general election season will officially begin. How to watch: The speeches will run from 8:30 to 11 p.m. Eastern time. The Times will stream the convention, accompanied by chat-based live analysis from our reporters and real-time speech highlights. 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.; 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 8:30 p.m. Whos speaking: President Trump will formally accept renomination and deliver his convention speech at the end of the night. Other speakers include: There is a need to shift focus from who investigates to how suicides are investigated. Representational Image Three decades back, when I joined the police, suicide cases were entrusted to the junior-most investigating officers in the police stations for inquest. Once the autopsy report was made available, the officer concluded, death is suicidal in nature, no suspicion of foul play, and that was the end of the story. Of course, in a few instances, the autopsy report and circumstances did raise suspicions requiring registration of a criminal case and further investigation. But it was relatively uncommon for families to question police findings. The media was still not as ubiquitous in our lives and people were not as vocal. By now, police officers realise that suicide inquiries are potential minefields. Society feels an understandable sense of empathy for a person who has ended life and seeks an answer. The near and dear ones cannot believe that a person they know so intimately and for so long, could have taken such a decision of their own volition. They cant do it is their obvious view and so a logical demand for justice. Problem is, the dead tell no tales. Suicide victims mostly end life in their personal space. There are no eyewitnesses. Suicide notes, the final will and testament, even when available, are mostly cryptic statements of a person who is running away from life in a hurry. Consequently, all the ingredients of a mystery are in-built for crafting many conspiracy theories at will and at the cost of the privacy and dignity of the deceased and those in his or her life. The pressure on the police to find a scapegoat to end the storm is enormous. Most suicide victims have no news value. Their families reconcile to the tragedy after sometimes. Otherwise, there would be much more hullabaloo. For a variety of reasons, investigative findings of the Indian police have suffered from trust deficit historically. When allegations are levelled, some with merit and many without, senior officers in the police, government or courts have had an easy way out. Any case, facing accusations, is handed over to another team of police officers, known by a different name, hoping for a more satisfactory conclusion. There is a need to shift focus from who investigates to how suicides are investigated, if serving the truth is the goal. Four areas need to be considered for systemic reform. First, an autopsy and its findings are absolutely vital. Once autopsy surgeon(s) have recorded conclusions, the fate of the case is almost sealed. Neither the police nor the court can change a clear autopsy finding unless the autopsy surgeon or one of the team members disowns the report in part or in its entirety. So, changing the investigating team is just a waste of time. The new team can only seek a few clarifications, but the basic conclusion, in sum and substance, will be the same. There are three problems here. First, bodies are handed over to the family almost immediately for last rites. Unless the body has been buried, there is no scope for exhumation and a second autopsy in case of any doubt. Second, laws should permit the presence of a qualified autopsy surgeon to represent the interest of the family and he may provide a report to the familys counsel like in the West. In the absence of an alternate expert opinion, lawyers have really no basis to question police findings. Thirdly, the infrastructure and skill set currently available for autopsy is hardly of a desirable standard in most parts of the country. The ideal way will be that a specialist autopsy surgeon examines the dead body without any time pressure, gets all the related test reports and submits findings before body is handed over for last rites unless family disavows future claims. This will take between a week and 10 days. Second, the mandate of a police inquiry is to eliminate the apprehension of murder or what is called foul play. A police officer is neither trained nor required under the law to get into psychological aspects of a suicide, which requires a psychological autopsy. In psychological autopsy a qualified forensic or investigative psychologist reconstructs the state of mind of the person at the point of death. There are established protocols for such a procedure. A person may decide to end life for a variety of complex psychological reasons. There might be long-term behavioural issues as well as immediate triggers. Sometimes the person has expressed an intent earlier and might have shown symptoms of self-harm. If a person is under clinical care then the clinician may have followed a set of strategies that may require peer review. None of these are in the scope or competence of cops. In India we do not have any practice of psychological autopsy as of now. Third, there is a need for a coroner court system so that a full judicial process can be gone through as part of an inquest. In colonial times such elaborate inquest was limited to metropolitan towns. We now need to assign greater value to human life, and seek a full inquest in all cases of equivocal deaths. Fourth, the only major research on suicide in India is the statistics compiled by the National Crime Record Bureau, which is largely a presentation of data generated by the police. There is a need for collaboration between the academia and the police for better understanding of suicides and their causes, which can be relied upon for psychological autopsy, psycho-linguistics for understanding suicide notes and other investigative supports. Also, policy interventions can be made to address incidence of suicide. Besides, India needs to deal with mental health issues far better. Investigation into suicide cases needs to be carried out with greater professionalism and transparency. Otherwise, from time to time we will have episodic maelstroms that will captivate TV audiences and undermine police credibility only further. Activist on Friday said it was "unfortunate" that the Delhi BJP should ask him to join in its agitation against the AAP government when it has a huge cadre of its own and wields power in the Centre. His going to Delhi would not make any difference as he did not believe any party can give the country a bright future, Hazare said in a letter to Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta. Gupta had on Monday written to Hazare, urging him to join his party's "mass movement" against the Arvind Kejriwal government, which he had claimed was "a new name of social, political and economic corruption". Reacting to Hazare's response, Gupta on Friday said "the Delhi BJP has a strong organisation and is capable of leading all kinds of mass movements but wanted the symbolic presence of the social activist because the AAP was born out of the movement led by him". Several senior Delhi BJP leaders criticised Gupta for bringing "embarrassment" to the party. "What could be more embarrassing than this. It seems Gupta did not consult senior party leaders before writing to Hazare," said a former Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party president. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was Hazare's key ally in his 2011 anti-corruption agitation in the capital. "I felt disappointed reading your letter written to the press. Your party, BJP, has been ruling the country for the past more than six years," Hazare said. "What could be more unfortunate than leaders of a party, which has youth cadres in big number and claims to have the highest number of members in the world, urging an 83-year-old fakir (monk) like who resides in a temple's 10X12 feet room and has no asset and power, to join in its protest," he wrote. The BJP-led Union government controls agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Hazare said, asking why no legal action was being taken against the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi if it was corrupt. His agitations were never against any party, the octogenarian said. The BJP came to power in 2014 showing dreams of corruption-free India, "but the worries of people have not lessened", Hazare said. Political parties find faults with their rivals, but need to introspect and talk about their own flaws, he said. "In the present condition, I don't think any party can give a bright future to the country. Many parties are stuck in the circle of making money out of power and attaining power using money," he said. "....people will not get relief until the system changes. Hence, I feel my coming to Delhi again will make no difference," Hazare 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.) COVID-19 conspiracy theorists have launched an orchestrated online attack, dubbed digital warfare, aimed at shutting down aspects of the mainstream media's reporting of the coronavirus crisis. A co-ordinated spam attack on The Ages Facebook page on Thursday forced the removal of an article, about suicide rates during the pandemic, after the page was flooded with thousands of comments including threats, abuse, defamation and conspiracy theory material. The article reported on information from the Victorian Coroner that showed there had been no increase in suicides in 2020 compared with the previous year, despite the mental health challenges of the pandemic. The attacks prompted a senior editor at Nine, owner of The Age, to accuse Facebook of "providing a safe space for nutters". She said the goal was "finding a comfortable normal which will take us through the rest of the pandemic". "I feel we are at a place now where we can conceive a balance of people getting about their lives, going to work, increasing economic activity and yet controlling the spread of the virus but it does require effort every single day," Ms Berejiklian said. "It is a daily battle ... we have to be vigilant." In aged care facilities, existing visitor restrictions were being extended as a precaution against COVID-19 spread, a NSW Health spokesperson said, as the current CBD outbreak included people who have travelled from several parts of Sydney and the Central Coast. "There is currently no evidence of any cases in aged care residents or staff in aged care facilities in NSW," the spokesperson said. "These are precautionary steps to prevent the entry of COVID-19 into this vulnerable setting." As the weather warms, with temperatures forecast to reach 25 degrees on Sunday, Ms Berejiklian urged the public to adhere to social distancing rules as they enjoyed parks and beaches. NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said police would be enforcing public health orders to ensure people remained safe. Police will be patrolling the coastline and lifeguards, council rangers and national parks personnel will also help enforce rules. Lifeguards will patrol beaches to ensure people are following social distancing rules. Credit:Wolter Peeters NSW Health issued updated advice for visitors to the City Tattersalls Club, saying anyone who visited the venue on Monday, August 24, from 8am to 2pm, was now deemed a close contact and must get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days, even if they return a negative result. Dr Chant said it was not known how the virus was introduced to the club but believes it spread within the venue's gym. "We had a seeding event its amplification in the setting of a gym and that has seeded a number of other workplaces and led to people's exposure in the community [at] a number of venues we have announced," Dr Chant said, urging the public to go to the NSW Health website and check the list of venues issued health alerts. The latest NSW Health surveillance report found almost half of the locally acquired cases detected last week waited more than three days to get tested after the onset of symptoms. Three of the five COVID-positive people with no known links to confirmed cases or clusters did not get tested or self-isolate until at least four days after their symptoms appeared. Among cases with links to previous cases or clusters, six out of 14 waited more than three days for their swab and five people didn't self-isolate for more than three days after symptom onset. Ms Berejiklian said too many people believed mild symptoms were "nothing to worry about". "You have to assume it's COVID," she said. "We don't want to see the virus spread, we don't want you to infect your loved ones because often that's what happens. They might wait a few days to get tested because they don't think it's urgent but meanwhile they may have unintentionally infected the rest of their household, their work colleagues and anyone they have gone out to dinner with." "One person in a fortnight or a couple of days can really infect so many others." She urged people in western and south-western Sydney, in particular, to get tested if they had any symptoms. "We know that is where there is undetected community transmission. We know that is where we have to concentrate our efforts," she said. One of Friday's new cases attended Anytime Fitness gym in Marrickville on Monday, August 24, between 7pm and 8pm. Anyone at the gym at this time is considered a close contact and is required to get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days until September 8. Meanwhile, all staff and students at Ryde Secondary College have been asked to self-isolate and learn from home after a staff member tested positive. St Gertrude's Primary School at Smithfield, near Fairfield, also closed on Friday, along with Double Bay Public School in Sydney's east and Homebush Public School in the west after a staff member at each school tested positive. A case was also diagnosed in a resident who had spent some time in border communities, which brought two NSW residents in close contact. They are being monitored and will remain in isolation for 14 days. People who attended the following venues are considered casual contacts and are advised to monitor for symptoms, and immediately isolate and get tested if they occur: The Matterhorn, Turramurra, on Saturday, August 22, 6pm to 8pm (close contacts have been notified). Parish of Holy Name, Wahroonga, Sunday, August 23, 9.30am to 11.50am. LiquorLand, Marrickville, Sunday, August 23, 5.15pm to 5.30pm. Eat Fuh, Marrickville, Sunday, August 23, 5.20 to 5.40pm. The Metro Petroleum, Hurlstone Park, Monday, August 24, 10.20am to 10.30am. NSW Health is treating 69 COVID-19 cases, including six in intensive care, four of whom are ventilated. Of the cases, 83 per cent are in non-acute, out-of-hospital care. With Rachel Clun The claim: A shark was seen swimming down a highway in Lake Charles, Louisiana As Hurricane Laura roars through parts of Texas and Louisiana, an old image of a shark swimming down a freeway has once again gone viral. "Shark seen swimming down I-10 in Lake Charles, LA! #HurricaneLaura2020," reads an Aug. 27 Facebook post by Charlie's Hurricane Page. The post, which now has over 700 shares, is accompanied by a photo claiming to be a shark swimming down a highway flooded with rains from Hurricane Laura. In a Facebook message to USA TODAY, the page said it's a long-running meme in the storm chasing community and it was shared as a joke. "Been roughly 10 years now since it first started circulating, and I post it with every major storm to try and lighten the mood around a depressing situation," the page said, along with the original photo of a kayaker and a shark trailing behind him. While the photo was intended to be a joke, the image still manages to fool some during almost every natural disaster that involves flooding. Fact check: Annually shared hoax falsely warns of two moon observation in late August Image dates back to 2011 The photo originally appeared in 2011, after Hurricane Irene hit Puerto Rico. The hoax also made the rounds in 2015 after Texas was hit with heavy rains, in 2016 during Hurricane Matthew and again in 2017 after Hurricane Harvey, Snopes reported. Snopes found that the image was photoshopped from a 2005 photo of a kayaker being followed by a great white shark and was then pasted into a photograph of a flooded street. This hoax shows up after many big storms: a faked photo of a shark swimming up a freeway. Fact check: Statue of Liberty unveiling wasn't nativist but referenced Haymarket affair Thomas Peschak, the kayaker in the original photo, wrote on his site that he "could never have imagined" that his image would be taken out of context during hurricanes. "On August 24 (2011), the shark appeared on a social news website in the form of a photograph taken from the open window of a car driving along a flooded street. Next to the car was 'my' white shark swimming through the flooded streets of Puerto Rico," Peschak wrote, adding that a closer look at the photo revealed that the shark was identical to the one in his photograph. Story continues "It appears that a crafty Photoshop artist superimposed the shark into a scene of a flooded street," Peschak wrote. Fact check: Cannibal Club restaurant in LA is fake, and Priscilla Chan isn't involved When questioned about shark rumors during a 2018 FEMA briefing on Hurricane Florence, Jeffrey Byard, then-associate director of FEMA's Office of Response and Recovery, said, There are sharks in the water, thats not a rumor. But, you know, I dont think theres a sharknado effect or anything like that." Why does the photo keep appearing? Despite many debunks throughout the years, the fake photo still spreads online, and experts say it could be due to fear. Peter Adams, senior vice president of educational programs at the News Literacy Project told USA TODAY in 2017, when the shark photo gained traction during Hurricane Harvey, that he thinks "natural disasters create a kind of perfect storm for viral rumors." "These are very emotional events. There is a lot fear in the immediate area. There's a lot of confusion and there's intense curiosity on the part of the rest of public to see what's happening on the ground," Adams said. David Shiffman, a postdoctoral researcher at Arizona State University who studies shark conservation and misinformation, also says fear is a driving factor for these hoaxes. "Everyone is scared of sharks, and the idea that a city is so messed up that even sharks are in danger; that's a story that has legs but not a story that has truth," Shiffman told USA TODAY. He said people want to help by sharing this photo thinking it's real information but that, "it's never been true, it's not true this time and it's not true the next time." Shiffman added that while this false claim in particular isn't likely to cause harm, people want accurate information on how to get help during a natural disaster and "wrong information pollutes that." This isn't how sharks behave Even if the photo were real, experts say it's unlikely for sharks to swim closer to the shore during a hurricane. Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach, told the Atlanta Journal Constitution in 2017 that sharks and other fish are sensitive to barometric pressure, which drops during a storm. Lowe said sharks feel that change in pressure and swim deeper into the water during a storm to be safer. Our ruling: False A shark was not spotted on a highway during Hurricane Laura. The photo is doctored and has been a hoax on the internet for years. We rate this claim as FALSE. Our fact-check sources: Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Photo of shark on a flooded highway is faked Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 16:30:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NUR-SULTAN, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kazakhstan will relax more quarantine restrictions from Aug. 31 as the country's epidemiological situation has improved, the Kazakh Prime Minister's Office has said in a statement. According to the health ministry, weeks of strict restrictions have yielded significant results, with the COVID-19 infection rate falling by 10 times compared with its peak season, while the number of ambulance calls has fallen by 4.2 times and the occupancy of beds by 80 percent. Based on the current situation, the Interdepartmental Committee under the Kazakh government decided to loosen more restrictive measures, the statement said. Starting from Aug. 31, religious sites, swimming pools, fitness centers, cultural facilities and national parks will be allowed to reopen with limited opening hours and visitors. Bus services between cities and regions will also be restored. A nationwide lockdown in Kazakhstan was in effect from March 16 to May 11, while another lockdown began on July 5 and lasted for more than one month. Since mid-August, shopping malls, trading houses, markets, beauty salons, hairdressing salons and spa centers resumed operation. Kazakhstan has also restored international passenger flights between Turkey, Ukraine, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates. As of Friday, Kazakhstan logged 105,408 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 95,253 recoveries and 1,563 deaths. In August, the country also reported 24,632 pneumonia cases with COVID-19 clinical symptoms, with 278 related deaths. Enditem Anti-governmental protestors at a rally in Independence Square in central Minsk - Misha Friedman/Getty Images Belarusian police have arrested hundreds of protesters and detained a crew of BBC journalists amid an ongoing crackdown on demonstrations against dictator Alexander Lukashenko. A wave of protests broke out across the country this month after Mr Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for 26 years, claimed 80 per cent of the vote in a rigged presidential election. While Mr Lukashenko has rejected calls to cede power, the opposition also insists it will not back down and on Thursday evening a reported 3,000 people demonstrated on Independence Square in Minsk. Police arrested around 200 people, according to observers. A BBC crew was detained for two hours in what correspondent Steve Rosenberg called a clear attempt to interfere with coverage of events in Belarus. Dozens of other reporters were detained, including journalists from Russia. Belarusian authorities have arrested reporters and hindered their work throughout the three weeks of protests. Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secreatary, condemned the arrests. "This was a blatant attempt to interfere with objective & honest reporting," Mr Raab said on Twitter. "The Belarusian authorities must stop targeting journalists & #defendmediafreedom." Police have also used rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas on demonstrators. Thousands were arrested, hundreds injured and at least three people died, while those released from custody showed evidence of beatings and reported other abuse. The latest demonstration came hours after Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, said Russian police were on standby to be sent to Belarus if the situation in the country deteriorated. In the days following the August 9 election, the Belarusian regime seemed on the brink of collapse amid a wave of popular protests and strikes. But since then, Mr Lukashenko has ordered law enforcement to quell further protests and launched a criminal case against the opposition. Story continues Officials in both Minsk and Moscow have accused foreign forces of trying to destabilise Belarus. Mr Lukashenko has put the army on high alert and ordered military exercises along its border with Lithuania and Poland. EU foreign ministers were set to meet on Friday to discuss sanctions over police violence. The EU imposed sanctions on Belarus in 2004 and 2011 over vote rigging and abuses of human rights, but lifted many in 2016 after Mr Lukashenko released political prisoners. Vietnam reports more Covid-19 reinfection cases Two more Covid-19 patients in Vietnam have tested positive for Covid-19 again following their recovery, one in the northern province of Ninh Binh and the other from the central city of Danang. Patient 543 from Ninh Binh was treated at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi after returning from Equatorial Guinea. Following their recovery, he was discharged from hospital and sent to be quarantined at a local hospital. He had a positive Covid-19 test result after the 14-day isolation process. He is now in stable health and being medically monitored at Nho Quan Districts General Hospital. This was the second Covid-19 reinfection case in Ninh Binh so far. Meanwhile, on Friday morning, Danang reported the first recovered Covid-19 patient tested positive for Covid-19 again. The case is Patient 424, a nurse from Danang Hospital, She was moved to Danang Lung and Respiratory Diseases Hospital for Covid-19 treatment on July 26 and released from hospital on August 10. She isolated herself at home afterwards. On August 24, she had retested positive. Vietnamese woman tests positive for Covid-19 in Japan A woman from the northern province of Hai Duong tested positive for Covid-19 after flying from Hanoi to Tokyo this week, Japan Airlines reported. The female passenger from Gia Loc District tested positive for the virus after she landed at Narita International Airport in Tokyo on Tuesday. Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi was informed of the results. The positive result was shown through a rapid test as soon as she arrived at the Japanese airport. She was then quarantined straight away. Seven staff members at Noi Bai International Airport have been identified to have come into close contact with her, consisting of four security guards and three ground service employees. They have all isolated themselves at home as regulated. Several Vietnamese passengers also tested positive upon arrival in Japan. Hung Vuong Hospital sends parents messages about infant patients' health Hung Vuong Hospital in HCM City provides free information to parents about their newborns' health via phone messages every day as parents are not allowed to visit the children due to COVID-19 prevention measures. Dr Hoang Thi Diem Tuyet, the hospitals director, said the city Department of Health has instructed the hospital not to allow parents to visit the department for newborns. Because newborn babies are so young, close contact with them amid the COVID-19 pandemic raises the risk of infection. But the hospital understands parents wanting to know about their babies health, so it is providing information via phone messages, Tuyet added. For babies with severe disease, the hospital calls the parents to its counselling room where they can see the babies through images from a 360-degree camera. The hospital is providing a discount of 5 per cent for service costs for pregnant women who deliver from September 11 to December 31. The hospital estimates that nearly VN5 billion (US$215,221) in costs will be saved. Vietnam presents medical equipment to Venezuela At the ceremony in Caracas (Photo: VNA) The Embassy of Vietnam in Venezuela on August 27 handed over medical equipment to the host countrys Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with 20,000 face masks from the Vietnamese National Assembly to the Venezuelan counterpart. Speaking at the handover ceremony in Caracas, Vietnamese Ambassador Le Viet Duyen spoke highly of the thriving Vietnam-Venezuela relations over the past time and the sentiments of the NA, Government and people of Vietnam in sharing part of their resources to help the Government and people of Venezuela battle COVID-19. Staff at the Vietnamese Embassy joined hands with relevant agencies in the two countries to airlift the aid to Caracas amid obstacles triggered by the cessation of international flights. Representatives of the Venezuelan NA and Foreign Ministry voiced their gratitude to Vietnam for the support as the COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc in the Venezuela and Latin America in general. They also hoped that the bilateral relations will continue to flourish and obtain more achievements in keeping with the comprehensive partnership. Mexican Labour Party leader lauds Vietnamese doctors efforts General Secretary of the Mexican Labour Party (PT) Alberto Anaya Gutierrez visited the Ho Chi Minh Acupuncture Centre in Mexico City on August 27, during which he lauded contributions of Vietnamese doctors in providing health care services to Mexicans. The PT leader also spoke highly of the working attitude of the centres doctors and staff who have worked closely with their Mexican colleagues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic for peoples health. He thanked the centres leaders for maintaining effective cooperation with the PT over the past 20 years, expressing his hope for further expansion of the ties. The official extended greetings to Vietnam on the 75th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Day, showing his admiration to the Communist Party of Vietnam and Vietnamese people for their success in national defence and construction, especially during the doimoi (renewal) cause. He said that Vietnams success in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic shows the solidarity of the Party and people of Vietnam as well as the capacity of Vietnamese doctors. On behalf of the working team of Vietnams Central Hospital of Acupuncture, Dr. Ho Quang Minh thanked the PT leaders for his attention to the centre. He pledged to continue working hard in the spirit of the friendship between the two peoples. COVID-19-hit students in Da Nang offered free goods The chapter of the Vietnamese Students Association in the central city of Da Nang on August 27 launched an aid programme to help students of local colleges and universities hit by the COVID-19 pandemic to get daily necessities free of charge. With 500 million VND (21,612 USD) mobilised from different sources, the Sieu thi se chia 0 dong (zero-VND supermarket for sharing purposes) programme offers essential supplies, medical products, and food. By presenting student cards, each student is allowed to take four products at maximum. Head of the association Le Cong Hung said there are over 5,000 students stuck in Da Nang. The programme aims to promptly cater to their demand for necessities so that they could stand side-by-side with the city in overcoming the current pandemic hardship, he added. It is scheduled to take place from August 27 to 28 as well as from August 31 to September 1 at the Da Nang College of Economics Planning, the Da Nang Architecture University, and the University of Economics The University of Da Nang. Le Thi Hai Phong, a student of the Da Nang Architecture University, said her family is having financial difficulties and finds it hard to supply her, adding the programme makes her feel happy and more secure. No new COVID-19 cases reported on August 28 morning, 12 in serious conditions Vietnams total COVID-19 cases remained at 1,036 as of 6:00 on August 28 as no new infections were confirmed over the past 12 hours, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. A COVID-19 checkpoint (Photo: VNA) Vietnams total COVID-19 cases remained at 1,036 as of 6:00 on August 28 as no new infections were confirmed over the past 12 hours, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. Earlier, Vietnam reported two new COVID-19 infections as of 6pm on August 27. One of them was an imported case who was sent to a concentrated quarantine facility in the south central province of Khanh Hoa upon arrival. The female patient returned home from Taiwan (China) on the VJ2849 flight of budget carrier Vietjet Air on August 7. The other was a resident of the central city of Da Nang, the countrys largest outbreak. He had close contact with recently-detected COVID-19 patients. Of the total COVID-19 cases in Vietnam, 688 were locally-transmitted ones. The number of infections linked to Da Nang city since July 25 has surged to 548. Meanwhile, five patients were given the all-clear on August 27, lifting the recoveries to 636. The COVID-19 related fatalities have risen to 30. Among those still under treatment, 41 have tested negative once for SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19, 52 twice and 51 three times. As many as 70,916 people who had close contact with confirmed cases or arrived from pandemic-hit regions are under quarantine at present. There are 12 patients who are in very serious conditions, nine of them very critical and three may die at any time. PM orders accelerating visa grant to foreign experts, investors Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on August 27 asked ministries and agencies to closely monitor and accelerate granting of visas to foreign experts and investors. At a meeting with representatives from a number of ministries, agencies and localities, the Government leader proposed resuming commercial flights to certain countries with high COVID-19 safety indexes, stressing the need to seek all possible ways to support the national economy. He urged the Ministry of Finance to coordinate with the Ministry of Health in devising a plan on COVID-19 treatment fee collection. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to fly home Vietnamese stranded abroad, and bring foreign experts and investors to Vietnam in an appropriate and flexible manner. Great efforts are needed to prevent the spread of the pandemic, and the widespread closures of businesses, as well as unemployment at the same time, the PM emphasised, suggesting extending the social welfare package. If business and production would not be promoted and job issues would not be addressed, high unemployment rate is visible, causing social disorder, the leader warned. He reiterated basic measures in the fight like wearing face masks in public places and avoid mass gatherings, while highlighting international cooperation in vaccine research. The PM cited a survey conducted by the Party Central Committees Commission for Information and Education as saying that 97 percent of the respondents expressed their support for guidelines and measures adopted by the Government, the PM and the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. Phuc lauded efforts in dealing with outbreaks in 15 localities, including Da Nang, Ha Nam, Hai Duong, Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Hoa and Quang Nam. Pointing to the latest local transmission in the northern province of Ha Nam, he asked ministries and agencies, especially the health ministry, to stay vigilant during the combat. COVID-19: Quarantined people must be tested twice, says Health Minister The Ministry of Health has proposed that localities test those in concentrated quarantine facilities twice before releasing them into community. Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long made the request on August 27, after a young man, while waiting for the second test results, left a concentrated quarantine camp in Hai Duong for Ha Noi and was later confirmed to have carried the virus. Even those who have finished the 14-day quarantine period at concentrated facilities have to self-isolate at home for another 14 days to ensure they are safe from the virus, Long told a meeting of permanent members of the Cabinet. He affirmed the outbreak in Da Nang, Quang Nam, and Hai Duong has basically been put under control, but warned the risk of community transmission is imminent in hospitals, business establishments, schools and offices. The acting minister therefore proposed the Government continue to remind people of preventive measures against the virus, including wearing masks in public places and frequently washing their hands with soap or sanitizer. He also proposed that localities step up contact tracing and virus testing to early detect and quarantine suspected cases in order to prevent the virus spreading to a wider community. As of 18.00hrs, Vietnam has recorded a total of 1,036 COVID-19 patients, of whom 637 have recovered from the disease. Another coronavirus fatality was announced on August 27, raising the death toll caused by the disease to 30. Indonesia to provide free COVID-19 vaccines to people Indonesia plans to provide COVID-19 vaccines to its people free of charge by 2021, Chairman of the COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Committee Erick Thohir said on August 27. Erick Thohir said there will be 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2020 obtained from the UAEs G42 and Chinas Sinovac. He explained that the plan is to make free vaccines available to the public by utilising the state budget and using the national health care system (BPJS) data as the basis for vaccine administration. To reduce the burden on the state budget, which is experiencing a widening deficit, he asked those who can afford it to pay for the vaccines independently. He added that his committee is also continuing to prioritise the ongoing development of the Red and White vaccine./. Ho Chi Minh City standing strong with Da Nang browser not support iframe. As the COVID-19 pandemic rages around Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Da Nang, one of the countrys hardest-hit areas. Many companies have presented gifts to prevent the spread of the pandemic to doctors, soldiers, and people in Da Nang, in a spirit of fighting a war together. This is one of the pioneering enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City exporting antibacterial fabric masks, supplying tens of millions to the market since the outbreak began. The company now prioritises domestic orders and has sent 10,000 antibacterial fabric masks to support Da Nang in the fight against COVID-19. Responding to a call from the Vietnam News Agency, many businesses in Ho Chi Minh City and the citys textile and apparel association joined hands to take on the virus. Such endeavours are small but significant. Gifts from businesses in Ho Chi Minh City were well-received in Da Nang and delivered where needed thanks to help from the Vietnam News Agency Television division youth union. Tens of thousands of masks, medical gloves, and bottles and tubes of hand sanitiser provided great encouragement to doctors, soldiers, and people in Da Nang during these tough times. Support from businesses, organisations, and individuals to Da Nang and the central region in general provides major encouragement to people to overcome the difficulties and dangers. It also contributes a great deal to beating the pandemic and ensuring no one is left behind. Over 250 Vietnamese citizens brought home from RoK More than 250 Vietnamese citizens were flown home from the Republic of Korea (RoK) on a flight of budget carrier Vietjet Air on August 27. The flight was arranged by the Vietnamese authorities, the Embassy of Vietnam in the RoK and the carrier, together with relevant agencies of the RoK. The passengers included children under 18, the elderly, pregnant women, the ill, labourers with expired labour contracts, students without accommodations and others in extremely disadvantaged circumstances. The Vietnamese embassy sent its staff to assist them with boarding procedures at the airport. Security, safety and hygiene measures were carried out throughout the flight to protect their health and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Upon landing at the Cam Ranh International Airport in the south central province of Khanh Hoa, those on board received health check-ups and were sent to concentrated quarantine facilities. More flights are set to be conducted in the time ahead to repatriate Vietnamese citizens with disadvantaged circumstances, depending on their need and quarantine capacity at home. Indonesia records highest daily number of COVID-19 cases on August 27 Indonesia records the highest daily number of COVID-19 cases on August 27 with 2,719 cases, bringing the countrys total count to 162,884. The same day, 120 COVID-19 patients died, raising the total fatalities to 7,064. Also in the past 24 hours, the Philippines had 3,249 new COVID-19 cases and 97 related deaths. The countrys total number of COVID-19 patients is now 205,518, the highest in Southeast Asia. In Myanmar, the Government on August 27 ordered all schools to close amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases. The decision was welcomed by parents. The pandemic returned early last week in Myanmar after one month without any new cases detected in community. Most of the latest patients are residents around Yangon. The country now has 586 cases and six related deaths. Meanwhile, Cambodia has allowed public schools in four cities Kratie, Stung Treng, Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri to re-open on September 7. Cambodia had not detected any cases of COVID-19 for 12 consecutive days as of August 26. The country so far confirmed 273 cases, with 264 given the all clear. Cambodia sets up COVID-19 Health Insurance Coalition The Cambodian Government has formed a COVID-19 Health Insurance Coalition charged with covering treatment costs for all foreign travellers who enter Cambodia amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Khmer Times. Under-Secretary of State at the Finance Ministry Ros Seilava said that the Inter-Ministerial Commission for Combating COVID-19 has put forward health measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and that foreign tourists are required to have health insurance which covers the disease. Therefore, the Finance Ministry has collaborated with the Insurance Association of Cambodia, which comprises of eight insurance companies and the Cambodia Reinsurance company, to form an insurance consortium. Insurers will provide COVID-19 health insurance for any client who tested positive for COVID-19 and they will be treated at a hospital designated by the Ministry of Health until fully recovered, Seilava said. The insurance company will be responsible for treatment costs, with cover up to 50,000 USD. Cambodia had recorded no new infection cases for 12 consecutive days from August 15 to August 26./. New Delhi, Aug 28 : The Central government on Friday extended the tenure of IAS officer Abhishek Jain as Director of Census Operations and Director of Citizen Registration, Punjab and Chandigarh, for two more years. The central deputation of Jain, a 2002 batch Himachal Pradesh cadre officer, began with effect from December 19, 2017. "The competent authority has approved the proposal for extension in the central deputation tenure of Abhishek Jain for the post of Director of Census Operations (DCO) and Director of Citizen Registration (DCR), Punjab and Chandigarh, beyond December 18, 2020 and for a period up to December 18, 2022 or until further orders, whichever is earlier", a Ministry of Personnel order said. The airline posted an image on Facebook depicting Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Deputy Prime Minister Francois Bausch in front of the decorated plane as it landed in Luxembourg. The plane was decorated in support of the Luxembourg government's campaign to promote the use of face masks during the pandemic. It touched down in the Grand Duchy for the first time on Thursday. Links Cargolux's mask wearing plane lands at Luxembourg Airport 'Harry Potter' creator JK Rowling said on Friday she would give back an award presented by the US Kennedy family after one of its members criticised her views on gender issues. The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organisation gave Rowling its Ripple of Hope honour last year. But the group's president, Kerry Kennedy, said this month the British writer's outspoken views on gender 'diminished the identity' of trans people. 'Kerry Kennedy recently felt it necessary to publish a statement denouncing my views,' Rowling said in a statement on her website. 'The statement incorrectly implied that I was transphobic, and that I am responsible for harm to trans people,' she added. 'I absolutely refute the accusation. Kerry Kennedy present JK Rowling with the Rowling its Ripple of Hope honour last year. Rowling is now returning the award after Kennedy said the writer's outspoken views on gender 'diminished the identity' J.K. Rowling speaks onstage at the 2019 RFK Ripple of Hope Awards at New York Hilton Midtown on December 12, 2019 in New York City Pictured from left to right: Wendy Abrams, actor Chris Tucker, Kerry Kennedy, Glen Tullman, and J.K. Rowling attend the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Hosts 2019 Ripple Of Hope Gala & Auction In NYC on December 12, 2019 in New York City 'In solidarity with those who have contacted me but who are struggling to make their voices heard, and because of the very serious conflict of views between myself and RFKHR, I feel I have no option but to return the Ripple of Hope Award.' Rowling sparked controversy in June for tweeting about the use of the phrase 'people who menstruate' instead of women. 'I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?', she wrote. It led to a string of denunciations, including from the actor Daniel Radcliffe, who played Potter in the blockbuster film franchise, and other actors who starred in the series. Rowling had earlier expressed support for a woman who had lost her job over what her employer deemed to be 'transphobic' tweets. Presiden of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights award Kerry Kennedy attends the RFK Human Rights 2019 Ripple Of Hope Gala & Auction In NYC on December 12, 2019 in New York City Rowling said 'accusations and threats from trans activists have been bubbling in my Twitter timeline' ever since but she had also been 'overwhelmed' by private messages of support. She said the 'toxicity' around the discussion was damaging and frightening for people within and outside the trans community. 'I've been particularly struck by the stories of brave detransitioned young women who've risked the opprobrium of activists by speaking up about a movement they say has harmed them,' she said on Friday. 'I've been forced to the unhappy conclusion that an ethical and medical scandal is brewing.' Rowling's comments are the latest controversy surrounding her work. In some parts of the world, they have been banned for being linked to witchcraft and the occult. Famed horse racing trainer Bob Baffert will not face a complaint related to Triple Crown winner Justify's failed drug test from the Santa Anita Derby. (Gregory Payan / Associated Press) The positive drug test on Triple Crown winner Justify after the Santa Anita Derby, which has languished for more than two years, will finally reach the complaint stage and be heard on Sept. 20. The California Horse Racing Board voted in closed session on Aug. 20 to proceed with the matter as a condition of a settlement with Ruis Racing, owner of second-place finisher Bolt dOro. However, a complaint will not be made against trainer Bob Baffert because of strong evidence of environmental contamination. A second positive in Bafferts barn belonged to Hoppertunity, winner of the Tokyo City Cup race, on April 8, 2018, the day after the Santa Anita Derby. Given that Justify and Hoppertunity positives occurred over two years ago and at most the CHRB would only seek a warning, the CHRB chooses not to file complaints against Mr. Baffert in these matters, the CHRB said in a statement. The main issues that remain are the purse payouts for the Santa Anita Derby, which is $600,000 for first and $200,000 for second, and if Justify can claim to be the only Triple Crown winner who retired undefeated. He only ran six races. There was never any doubt that Justify would be able to run in the Triple Crown races given the time that it takes to adjudicate a drug case. The Santa Anita Derby was the only points race that Justify won, but once the initial positive was known, because of confidentially laws, the CHRB could not make it known, not even to the Kentucky Racing Commission. The California legislature is currently looking to change the transparency laws. It is possible that if Justify is disqualified from the Santa Anita Derby that the Kentucky Racing Commission could nullify the results of the Kentucky Derby, but that seems extremely unlikely especially given that the CHRB chose not to issue a complaint against Baffert. The drug positive did not become public until last year when it was reported by the New York Times. Examples of medications often associated with environmental contamination, where the CHRB has elected not to file trainer complaints, are scopolamine and zilpaterol, the CHRB said. With respect to these two complaints, given the cluster of positives and near-positives of scopolamine and/or atropine, as well as our investigators evidence of jimson weed, we determined that the cause of the positives in the Justify and Hoppertunity matters were environmental contamination. Story continues The CHRB has also issued trainer complaints this year dealing with scopolamine but recommended that only warnings be given. At the time of the Justify positive, there were seven cases involving five different barns that showed scopolamine, which is found in jimson weed. The levels of the other five horses, were not as high as those in the Baffert barn. Technically, because of the way the horse allegedly received the drug, it would be classified as a poisoning rather than a drugging. Dr. Rick Arthur, CHRB equine medical director, would not comment on the Justify and Hoppertunity cases but did give a window in to what may have brought the CHRB to their conclusion. If there is just scopolamine, then it is likely pharmaceutical, Arthur said. If there is also atropine it is likely environmental, especially when you see it in a number of horses. Its not absolute but that is most likely. Justify and Hoppertunity had amounts of scopolamine and atropine. Based on past rulings, the presence alone of a drug, usually brings disqualification regardless of the circumstances. Doping horses is race fixing and violates fraud and racketeering laws, and after the horses who often pay with their lives, the bettors are the real victims, said Kathy Guillermo, senior vice president of PETA. The stewards decision, more two years later, would have no impact on those who bet the horse pending any kind of additional litigation. Three critically endangered Delacour's langurs were released into the wild in the northern Vietnamese province of Ninh Binh on Thursday. Cuc Phuong National Park, in cooperation animal welfare organization Four Paws Viet, transferred the Delacours langurs (Trachypithecus delacouri) to the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in the province for the release. The three langurs are a family that were born in captivity at the endangered primate rescue center of Cuc Phuong National Park. The father langurs name is Huynh, the mothers name is Emily, and their baby is Bonny. Before their release, they were sampled for tests for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, and some other diseases as per international standards. Conservation workers transfer a family of Delacours langurs to the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex for their release in Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam. Photo: Four Paws Viet The Delacours langurs were also brought to semi-wild areas to be trained in order to develop their natural behaviors. Their growth and development during the training process were monitored thanks to electronic chips implanted in their bodies. The Delacours langur is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex used to host Delacours langurs during the 1990s, though their numbers were wiped out by poaching. Releasing the langurs back into the naural habitat would not only create an attractive highlight for visitors to the site, but also raise public awareness of conservation. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! New Delhi, Aug 28 : Through its in-house mobile app 'Pension Corner', the CISF will, from Friday, be in touch with all its retired personnel to cater to their needs. With the help of this new digital initiative, pensioners will get connected to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) units spread across the country, and receive invitations, over SMS, on important occasions in the nearest unit. Apart from an inbuilt grievance redressal mechanism, all important circulars like job opportunities and benefits pertaining to pensioners can also be accessed using this Android app. The digital platform undoubtedly not only motivates and increases the self-esteem of such personnel, who devoted their life in guarding the nation's assets even at the remotest location of the country, but will also boost their morale and provide them support at a time when they are needed to be cared for, the CISF said. The new initiative was launched on Friday under the guidance of CISF Director General Rajesh Ranjan by creating the app to get in touch with the pensioners and to bring them on to the digital platform, which will offer 'a one-stop solution'. 'Pensioners Corner' will be available in both web and Android platforms with the facility for pensioners to access their data on the move, said the CISF -- the over 1.60 lakh strong Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) which is responsible for providing security to almost 60 airports across the country, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), various government buildings and many more strategic locations. In a statement, the CISF said it always considers its retired personnel to be a "cynosure" of the organisation. To tackle the unforeseen Covid-19 situation and ensure the continuity of the functions in its offices, the CISF had also recently launched web application "e-Karyalay", which digitally replicates traditional file movement. To handle various security-related concerns and to pace with the existing standards, it has embodied the digital signature feature. This application has been hosted at the CISF cloud having all security arrangements in place to safeguard the data. Further, a data recovery site has also been established to maintain round the clock services of e-Karyalay. With CISF establishments spread across the country, the journey to a completely paperless office was not easy but the CISF took up the big challenge of replacing the five-decade-old system prevalent in the force. Movement of files between offices has been replaced by the digital movement of files and delay in file processing has also been reduced as physical presence in the office for this. It has proven to be a blessing for officers having charge of multiple offices who earlier used to travel from one office to another for signing files. On a national level also, frequent movement of personnel for movement of files, service books and other official documents have been curbed, leading to immense savings in the TA/DA expenditure, a CISF official said on condition of anonymity. This "Green Initiative" by the CISF has also saved a substantial amount of government money to the tune of almost Rs 1 crore, said the CISF. It said that the cost of making the requisite app was found on the higher side and involving lengthy time on a market survey, and the "challenge was undertaken by the tech branch of the force headquarters to make the app in-house to save the cost and time. The force has taken e-governance to the last man in the field and has furthered the vision of digital India". (Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@ians.in) Xtalks Life Science Webinars There is an urgent need to develop non-invasive tools for diagnosis and disease tracking, as well as therapeutic strategies, for patients with NASH, from early stages through advanced liver fibrosis. 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Xtalks webinars also provide perspectives on key issues from top industry thought leaders and service providers. To learn more about Xtalks visit http://xtalks.com For information about hosting a webinar visit http://xtalks.com/why-host-a-webinar/ During her first one-on-one appearance since joining Joe Biden's ticket Democratic ticket for president, Kamala Harris has addressed the police shooting of Jacob Blake, stating officers "should be charged" based on the evidence. The former attorney general was asked by NBC Today's Craig Melvin on Friday what scenario would justify an officer firing his weapon. "I don't see it. But I don't have all the evidence," Ms Harris said. "The man was going to his car. He didn't appear to be armed. If he was not armed, the use of force that was seven bullets coming out of a gun at close range in the back of the man, I don't see how anybody could reason that that was justifiable," she added. Mr Melvin then asked the vice presidential candidate whether officers should be charged for shooting Mr Blake seven times in the back, leaving the man currently paralysed from the waist down. "I think that there should be a thorough investigation and, based on what I've seen, it seems that the officer should be charged," Ms Harris said. "Everyone should be afforded due process," she added. "That is absolutely one of the important tenets of our system of justice. But here's the thing. In America, we know these cases keep happening. And we have had too many Black men in America who have been the subject of this kind of conduct." The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigations is currently investigating the police shooting that happened in Kenosha on Sunday. The two officers involved are reportedly cooperating with the investigation and neither has been taken into police custody. Mr Blake, who remains in the hospital recovering from his multiple gunshot wounds, is reportedly handcuffed to the bed, his father, also named Jacob Blake, said when speaking to CNN. "My son is fighting for his life," the father said. "He is holding on ... that's a little overkill to have him shackled to the bed." The family has not been informed by police as to why Mr Blake is handcuffed to the bed, despite him being paralysed. Ms Harris said she believes there is still progress to be made on "the condition of black men in America", something the Biden-Harris ticket plans to address. "We have talked about it in regards to policing in the criminal justice system, but let's talk about the realities of the fact that every man, including every Black man, wants to be able to take care of his family and live with dignity and be respected," she said. "The Biden-Harris plan is about investing in communities with a particular concern about those communities that have been long neglected to ensure that there will be economic opportunity." Juan Manuel Fuentes and his family arrived on the Costa del Sol from Madrid on 7 August, excited about their summer holidays. When they reached their second home in the Sierra Bermeja development, at the edge of Estepona, they came across a very sad story. "There was a strong smell and a lot of flies, and when nothing changed after a few days, I started to suspect that it could be a smell from a dead body," explained Juan Manuel. His thoughts turned to a neighbour who hadn't been seen since they arrived. "There were clothes hanging out that hadn't been brought in," he added. There was no reply after several attempts knocking on the door. Fearing the worst, Juan Manuel called the Local Police in Estepona and the municipal Health department, "but they didn't pay any attention to me", explained Juan Manuel. He then contacted National Police and the local fire brigade, who did come and break into the building, discovering the dead neighbour. The man was a Briton, around 50 years old and who had been living in the rented property for some 20 years, sources said. "He didn't speak Spanish and he only said 'hola' and 'adios' when our paths crossed in the passageway or entrance," explained Juan Manuel. Juan Manuel's family were also concerned that the man may have died of Covid-19. "We don't know how long he had been there for and if there are remains in the property that could be contagious," he said. The local council later confirmed that the death was due to natural causes and not coronavirus. Not fully vaccinated? No entry to malls, restaurants in Haryana from Jan 1: See Covid-19 guidelines Lockdown in Haryana 2022: Know Time, Districts List, Guidelines, Rules, What Is Allowed & What Is Not Allowed Haryana lifts weekend restrictions, malls to now close on Monday and Tuesday India oi-Deepika S Chandigarh, Aug 28: In a major relief to retailers amid spread of COVID-19, the Haryana government on Friday modified its order of weekend closure of malls and markets. "Shopping malls and shops, except those dealing with essential goods and services, shall remain closed on Monday and Tuesday in the market places of urban areas of Haryana. Accordingly, there is no bar on opening of shops and shopping malls on Saturday and Sunday in these areas," a statement from Haryana government said on Friday. Restaurant chains and mall operators have been protesting the weekend closure announced by the Haryana government last week. Haryana agriculture minister JP Dalal tests positive for COVID-19 Haryana reported a spike of 1,293 COVID-19 cases and 12 more deaths due to the coronavirus, according to a medical bulletin. The death toll in the state now stands at 646, while the total number of cases is 59,298, it said. Flight rules: Banned from flying if you remove mask & more news | Oneindia News Of the 12 fatalities, Rewari, Panchkula and Kurukshetra reported two deaths each, while one person each died in Nuh, Jhajjar, Karnal, Rohtak, Gurugram and Faridabad districts, according to the state health department''s daily bulletin. The districts which reported fresh cases include Gurugram (141), Sonipat (123), Faridabad (96), Panchkula (94), Yamunanagar (84), Panipat (79), Rewari (75), Ambala (71) and Hisar (61), it said. The active cases in the state stand at 9,962 while 48,690 people have been discharged after recovery from COVID-19. President Trump took center stage on the final night of the Republican National Convention and delivered a speech that sought to assure voters that despite more than 180,000 COVID-19 deaths and a badly damaged U.S. economy amid the coronavirus pandemic, he had made good on his promise to make America great again. Like incumbent presidents before him, he also spent much of his speech laying out his proposed agenda for a second term. He saved plenty of time to attack Joe Biden, the man hoping to succeed him in the White House. Here are the key takeaways from day four of the RNC, whose theme was America, Land of Greatness: Flouting coronavirus guidelines, Trump delivers defiant acceptance speech President Trump delivers his acceptance speech at the 2020 Republican National Convention on the South Lawn of the White House, on Aug. 27, 2020. (Carlos Barria/Reuters) In a defiant speech accepting the Republican presidential nomination that went on for more than an hour and contained 5,600 words, Trump repeatedly mocked his opponent and trolled his political enemies. Gesturing to the White House behind him, an unprecedented setting for a political convention speech and one that Democrats say was in violation of the Hatch Act Trump chided the opposing party. The fact is, Im here, he said. Whats the name of that building? But Ill say it differently. The fact is: Were here, and theyre not. His crowd of nearly 1,500 supporters, seated closely together on the White House South Lawn, cheered the insult. Joe Biden may claim he is an ally of the light, but when it comes to his agenda, Biden wants to keep us completely in the dark, Trump joked at another point. He doesnt have a clue. In some respects, Trumps entire speech felt like a protest against the social-distancing restrictions intended to slow the spread of the virus, which he has been chafing under for so long. His campaign issued a statement Thursday saying it was following strict protocols. It did not specify, though, which protocols were being followed, and many in the audience did not wear masks. Like the speakers on the RNC schedule this week, Trump painted the choice between him and Biden in stark and absolute terms. This election will decide whether we save the American dream, or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny, he said, as protesters outside the White House leaned on car horns and blew vuvuzelas in the background. Story continues When he did speak about the pandemic, the single biggest threat to his chances of being reelected, Trump depicted a string of successes. Nevertheless, the United States has reported far more cases and deaths from the virus than any other country. We developed, from scratch, the largest and most advanced testing system in the world. America has tested more than every country in Europe put together, and more than every nation in the Western Hemisphere combined. We have conducted 40 million more tests than the next closest nation, Trump said. We developed a wide array of effective treatments, including a powerful antibody treatment known as convalescent plasma that will save thousands of lives. Thanks to advances we have pioneered, the fatality rate has been reduced by 80 percent since April. He did not mention that the head of the FDA recently walked back earlier remarks in which he seemed to endorse Trumps positive assessment of the promise of convalescent plasma. Recent results have apparently yet to show the results the president has claimed. The president was much more comfortable attacking Biden and the liberal Democrats he portrayed as controlling his rival. How can the Democrat Party lead our country when they spend so much time tearing down our country? Trump asked at one point. He also quipped, Joe Bidens agenda is made in China. My agenda is made in the U.S.A. Biden, meanwhile, has also called for an increase in American manufacturing. President Trump accepts the Republican Party nomination on the South Lawn of the White House on Aug. 27, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) As to Trumps agenda for a second term, he made a long list of pledges, some of them difficult to square with reality. Trump promised to expand charter schools, hire more police officers (something that in fact falls to local jurisdictions), ban sanctuary cities and bolster the manufacturing sector. He said he would reduce taxes and regulations at levels not seen before and create 10 million new jobs (although the country has lost millions of jobs during his first term, thanks to the virus). Also on his list: to strike down terrorists, appoint more conservative judges (which would be more difficult if the Democrats were to retake control of the Senate) and to protect Medicare and Social Security (which are threatened by his own spending proposals). Meanwhile, he said he would protect medical coverage for preexisting conditions (despite his administrations lawsuit to kill the Affordable Care Act), expand oil drilling and land the first woman on the moon. The central message of the convention and of Trumps speech was that Biden is not, in fact, a moderate Democrat, but a radical Trojan horse controlled by people intent on tearing the country to shreds. Standout speaker Ann Dorn One standout moment at Thursdays convention came courtesy of Ann Dorn, the widow of a retired St. Louis police captain who was fatally shot by looters in June amid unrest after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. It was a deeply personal speech. Violence and destruction are not legitimate forms of protest, said Dorn, her voice breaking with emotion as she recounted how her husband, a retired Black police captain, David Dorn, 77, was killed. They do not safeguard Black lives. They destroy them. I relive that horror in my mind every single day, she said, often close to tears. My hope is that having you relive it with me now will help shake this country from the nightmare we are witnessing in our cities and bring about positive, peaceful change. Her speech was undeniably powerful, offering a graphic illustration of the consequences of lawlessness that Republicans at the convention had warned about all week. How did we get to this point where so many young people are so callous and indifferent towards human life? she asked. This isnt a video game where you can commit mayhem and then hit Reset and bring all the characters back to life. David is never coming back. He was murdered by people who didnt know, and didnt care, that he would have done anything to help them. At the same time, Dorns decision to tell her story at the RNC did not sit well with her two stepdaughters. We know his wife is a Trump supporter, but he was not, Dorns daughter Debra White told the St. Louis American. He frequently said they were not able to talk about politics because they were at the opposite ends of the spectrum. I know he would not want his legacy to be for his death to be used to further Trumps law-and-order agenda. Giuliani rails against Black Lives Matter Rudy Guiliani addresses the virtual Republican National Convention on Aug. 27, 2020. (via Reuters TV) Rudy Giuliani, President Trumps personal lawyer and the former mayor of New York City, used his speech Thursday to go after the citys current mayor, Bill de Blasio. Following the RNC playbook on the causes of recent urban unrest, he placed the blame for rising crime rates and violent protests in U.S. cities squarely on local Democratic officials, shifting all responsibility from the president. Giuliani, never one to pull his punches, declared: If Biden is elected, along with the Democrats who are unwilling to speak out against this anarchy, then the crime wave will intensify and spread from cities and towns to suburbs and beyond. He did, however, go even further than many other Republican speakers this week, portraying Biden as a pawn of Bernie, AOC, Pelosi, Black Lives Matter and his partys entire left wing. The inclusion of Black Lives Matter with the GOPs list of usual suspects was noteworthy, and Giuliani went on to elaborate a theory implicating antifa, the umbrella term for left-wing groups that sometimes engage in street brawls, in a more sinister conspiracy. It seemed for a few brief shining moments like Democrat and Republican leaders would come together with a unified proposal to reduce police misconduct, Giuliani said. This possibility was very dangerous to the left. They had a president to beat and a country to destroy, and although a bipartisan coalition agreeing on action against police brutality would be very valuable for the country, it would also make President Trump appear to be an effective leader. So, BLM and antifa sprang into action, and in a flash, hijacked the protests into vicious, brutal riots. Twice in his speech, Giuliani conflated Black Lives Matter with antifa. The single biggest signal to encourage wanton lawlessness was surrendering a police headquarters to criminals in Minneapolis, he said. From then on BLM, antifa and their criminal co-conspirators were in charge. Giuliani closed his remarks by saying, Mr. President, make our nation safe again. Its a theme Trump touched on at a different RNC. In his GOP acceptance speech four years ago, Trump had pledged that in his first term: Beginning on Jan. 20, 2017, safety will be restored. Read more from Yahoo News: The states elections director called on the Harris County clerk to halt plans to send mail ballot applications to all 2.4 million registered voters, labeling it an abuse of voters rights under the Texas Election Code. By sending applications to all voters, including many who do not qualify for voting by mail, your office may cause voters to provide false information on the form, Texas Elections Director Keith Ingram wrote in a letter to Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins on Thursday. Your action thus raises serious concerns under Texas Election Code. Ingram called the countys plan an abuse of voters rights because every voter cannot possibly be eligible for a mail ballot. Hollins refused to alter his plan. The county clerks office issued a statement in which the Democrat who took office in June said his office would provide detailed guidance along with the mail ballot applications to explain who is eligible. Voters will, of course, make their own decisions if they qualify to vote by mail, Hollins said. Providing more information and resources to voters is a good thing, not a bad thing. Mail voting has become a divisive political issue during the coronavirus pandemic. A Politico/Morning Consult poll found that 81 percent of Democrats and 33 percent of Republicans supported universal mail voting. President Donald Trump has asserted, without evidence, that expanding mail voting will lead to instances of fraud. In Texas, the issue has become a proxy fight between Republican state leaders and local Democratic officials over how the states urban cities and counties are run. In Texas, voters can apply for mail ballots if they are 65 years of age or older, will be out of the county or incarcerated during the voting period, or are disabled. The disability clause has been at the center of debate during the pandemic. The Texas Supreme Court ruled in May that lack of immunity to the virus alone does not meet the disability standard; however, it could be one of several factors to qualify a voter for a mail ballot. County clerks and elections administrators have no responsibility to vet applications, the justices said. That, essentially, leaves voters to determine their own eligibility. Ingram said by sending an application to every voter, Harris County could impede the ability of people who need to vote by mail to do so, describing a scenario in which the countys mail ballot infrastructure is overwhelmed by millions of applications. Ingram said if Hollins did not abandon his plan by Monday, he would ask Attorney General Ken Paxton to intervene. Paxton in a statement late Friday said he trusted Hollins would comply, Sending millions of mail ballot applications to voters who have not requested them and many of whom are not eligible to vote by mail will only sow confusion, Paxton said. He said doing so would be unlawful but did not clarify how. The Secretary of States Office, which includes Ingram and his elections division, can intervene only when a county clerk or elections administrator is impeding the ability of voters to cast ballots, Assistant Harris County Attorney Douglas Ray said. I dont see how this impedes someones right to vote by sending them a form they may be able to use to vote, Ray said. Nothing in the Texas Election Code prohibits counties from sending mail ballot applications to voters, said Myrna Perez, director of the voting rights and elections program at the Brennan Center for Justice. She said Texans already face obstacles to voting, citing the states strict voter ID law and lack of online registration, and, therefore, state leaders should not criticize efforts to increase turnout. It is out of step and really bad customer service to be threatening an election administrator that wants to make sure their voters have information and access, Perez said. State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, said Ingrams letter validated his concerns about Hollins plan. As I said this week, this overreach by Clerk Hollins and the 3-2 majority on Commissioners Court, massively raising their election budget, actually opens the door to vote harvesters and potential fraud in my opinion, said Bettencourt, a frequent critic of local Democrats. The court on Tuesday approved an additional $17 million, mostly from federal CARES Act funds, to increase the number of early and Election Day voting places, extend voting hours and hire up to 12,000 poll workers. Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, part of the three-member Democratic majority that approved that proposal, said Thursday that he backed Hollins mail ballot plan. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo agreed. Its hard to fathom that in the year 2020 we still need to fight against concerted efforts to deliberately alienate voters and restrict access to the ballot box, Hidalgo said in a statement. Were doing everything humanly possible to make sure everyone eligible can cast a ballot safely, regardless of who they want to vote for. Hollins sent each voter 65 and older a mail ballot application for the July primary runoff. The number of mail votes jumped in that elections; Hollins told Commissioners Court on Tuesday he expects a similar increase for the fall general election. Texas is one of seven states in which all voters are not eligible for mail voting. Nine states mail ballots directly to all voters, while the remaining 34 allow any voter to request a mail ballot. zach.despart@chron.com COLUMBUS, Ohio - After days of lower rates of positivity on coronavirus tests, Ohio exceeded 5%, according to the Ohio Department of Health. On Wednesday, the positivity rate was 5.7%, the Ohio Department of Health reported Friday. (The positivity rate data lags by two days.) This is above the 7-day rolling average rate of 4.4% of tests coming back positive, and it exceeds a recent low of 3.4% on Aug. 17. The World Health Organization advises governments against reopening when the positivity rate is above 5% on average for the past 14 days. Ohio still has a while before its average exceeds 5%. The positivity rate is seen as an indicator of infection among a population. Over 2.1 million coronavirus tests have been conducted in Ohio, an increase of 24,706 since Thursdays report, the heath department reported. This figure reflects total tests conducted. Some people have more than one test. Cases, deaths The number of newly reported coronavirus cases in the state increased by 1,296 on Friday compared to the day before and was above the 21-day rolling average of 1,021. In all, 120,124 people have had coronavirus in Ohio; 100,127 are presumed recovered. The number of people who have died with COVID-19 increased by 29 on Friday to 4,105. This is above the 21-day average of 22. The new cases and deaths didnt necessarily all happen in the past 24 hours. There can be a lag of when they occur and when they are reported by local entities. The cases and deaths of coronavirus are both those confirmed through testing and those the state and federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consider probable, which means they are diagnosed by a physician, among other criteria. Hospitalizations The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 on Thursday was 800, down from a week ago, when it was 849. Thursday is the most recent day for which the Ohio Hospital Association has data. The number of people in intensive-care units was 271, down from 283. The number of people on ventilators was 151, down from 155. Elsewhere in the U.S. Over 5.8 million coronavirus cases have been documented across the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins Universitys Center for Systems Science and Engineering. That includes 181,000 deaths. The five states with the highest numbers of deaths are: -New York, with 32,926; -New Jersey, with 15,930; -California, with 19,699; -Texas, with 12,370; -And Florida, with 10,957. Other coverage: Just six of 88 counties are red on latest Ohio coronavirus advisory map Newly reported Ohio coronavirus cases up 1,244, an increase Gov. Mike DeWine attributes to kids in school: Thursday update State officials advise people arriving in Ohio from 4 states to self-quarantine: travel advisory map 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 She returned to the UK earlier this month after a family break to Barbados. And Coleen Rooney cut a casual figure in black activewear as she stepped out to pick up some essentials in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, on Friday. The WAG, 34, was seen dashing from her black 4x4 in gym leggings and a hoodie as she braved the rain for a local supermarket trip. On the go: Coleen Rooney cut a casual figure in black activewear as she stepped out to pick up some essentials in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, on Friday A fresh-faced Coleen looked radiant as she showcased her bronzed complexion from her getaway to Barbados with husband Wayne, 34, and their four children. Accentuating her pretty features, Coleen scraped her brunette locks into a messy bun as she loaded shopping bags into the back seat of her car. The mother-of-four paired her laid-back look with comfortable grey trainers and showed a glimpse of a leopard print cami underneath her zip-up hoodie. Chic: The WAG, 34, was seen dashing from her black 4x4 in gym leggings and a hoodie as she braved the rain for a local supermarket trip It comes after Wayne was every inch the doting dad as he shared a pair of throwback snaps from their sunny holiday on Friday. The former England captain couldn't contain his laughter as he giggled with his sons Klay, seven, and Kit, four, during an afternoon of fun in the swimming pool. In the snaps, Wayne, Klay and Kit appeared to be in fits of giggles as they enjoyed their family getaway. Sweet: It comes after Wayne was every inch the doting dad as he shared a pair of throwback snaps from their sunny holiday on Friday The trio certainly appeared to be enjoying their family break, with Wayne captioning his post: 'Nothing better than laughing with the boys.' Earlier this month, Coleen jetted to Barbados for a family holiday with husband Wayne and their sons Kai, 10, Klay, seven, Kit, four and Cass, two, as well as her dad Tony and mum Colette, and brother Joe. She enjoyed several weeks on the sun-kissed Caribbean island with her family, with current government rules stating those returning to the UK do not have to quarantine after travelling to the country. Fun in the sun: She recently enjoyed a sunny getaway to Barbados with her husband Wayne Rooney, their four sons Kai, 10, Klay, seven, Kit, four and Cass, two Earlier this month, Coleen was spotted heading into the Barbados airport with her family, though husband Wayne was absent, having flown home earlier to begin pre-season training with his current club Derby County. The sunshine break was no doubt needed for Coleen, who is currently engaged in an epic WAG war with Rebekah Vardy after she accused her of leaking stories to the press last year, a claim Rebekah vehemently denies. Coleen was also accused of leaking stories to the press by Rebekah earlier this month, after she told in a bombshell legal document how she had been left suicidal by the accusation that she had leaked stories about Coleen and her family. She also claimed in the document drawn up for her libel battle against Coleen that the stress of the scandal had left her fearful of losing her unborn baby and suffering panic attacks that made her too scared to leave her home. Sunny: The sunshine break was no doubt needed for Coleen, who is currently engaged in an epic WAG war with Rebekah Vardy after she accused her of leaking stories to the press last year, a claim Rebekah vehemently denies The I'm A Celeb star complained of being made a 'scapegoat' by her rival seeking to blame her for stories appearing when in the past Coleen had approved of her friends leaking gossip about her. The document says Rebekah believes she 'has deliberately been made a scapegoat (sic) by the Defendant (Coleen) for past 'leaked' stories.' It points to previous stories about Coleen and Wayne with some 'in particular about their marriage, which have in fact come from the Defendant's friends, at times even with the Defendant's approval.' Rebekah describes in her document how Coleen's public denunciation of her on Instagram while she was seven months pregnant had 'gravely injured her reputation'. Detailing how Coleen had 'caused her enormous distress and very extreme embarrassment', she disclosed how she had been bombarded with abuse on social media. Residents of Adamrobe in the Akuapem South Constituency of the Eastern Region on Friday, August 28, have protested the deplorable nature of roads within the area. The demonstrators said they took the action because they felt government had neglected them for far too long. They also complained that several assurances by their Member of Parliament, Mr. Osei Bonsu Amoah, to have the road issue addressed had yielded no positive results. They further threatened to vote against their MP and the New Patriotic Party government if nothing is done to get their roads fixed. One of the demonstrators said, Since 1992, we have consistently been voting the NPP but we dont benefit from our share of the national cake when the party is in power. So all we are saying is that, if our roads are not fixed, there is no way we are going to vote for the NPP. We will either vote skirt and blouse or boycott the elections totally. We need this road fixed immediately, a protester said. Another resident also said, We have hit the street because we think that weve been neglected for too long. This community is just very close to Accra but our road network is very bad. Our MP has been an MP for years and is contesting for another four years but nothing has been done in this community and the adjourning communities. Another resident also said, I joined the demonstration because I live in this community and the road is really bad. Drivers even charge higher fares because of this. They normally close immediately after 10 pm. We live in this community and have our properties here. We want it developed. ---citinewsroom Yesterday, Rhea Chakraborty made some revelations regarding the late actor. During an interview with a leading news channel, she revealed that Sushant did not share a great relationship with his father as he left his mother at a young age. Rhea further added that his mother too was suffering from depression which eventually was the reason behind her death. Talking about Sushant, Rhea said that he was a wonderful soul and the best human being on earth. The actress revealed that once when she found out, he'd paid Rs. 35,000 for her hair and make up, she immediately transferred the money to his bank account since she didnt want him to pay for them. Rhea added that even though shes been made the villain in the case, shell continue fighting bravely as she gets strength knowing that Sushants watching her. Ever since Sushant Singh Rajput passed away on June 14, his girlfriend Rhea Chakrborty has been in the eye of the storm. She has been at the receiving end of hate on social media, some even going so far as to accuse her of murdering Sushant. Even Sushant's father KK Singh accused Rhea of killing his son.Read More - CBI calls Rhea Chakraborty for Interrogation Regarding Sushant Singh Rajput The delegation led by Chief of Police Vahe Ghazaryan today left for Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) where President of Artsakh Arayik Haroutyunyan received Chief of Police of Armenia Vahe Ghazaryan, as reported the press service of the Police of Armenia. During the meeting attended by Chief of Police of Artsakh Ashot Hakobjanyan, the parties discussed issues related to the cooperation between the partnering institutions and attached importance to more active and coordinated efforts of the law-enforcement authorities of the two Armenian republics. The delegation also visited the Police of Artsakh where the leaderships of the Police of Armenia and Artsakh laid flowers at the plaque eternalizing the memory of the police officers who died for the homelands independence and maintenance of the legal order. Afterwards, Chief of Police of Artsakh Ashot Hakobjanyan received the delegation of the Police of Armenia. He stated that the close cooperation between the two institutions of Artsakh and Armenian has always been fruitful and at a high level and promises to be stronger, more sustainable and more effective under the memorandum signed on July 24 of this year. The speeches were followed by an award ceremony during which the Chief of Police of Artsakh awarded Vahe Ghazaryan the FABARM shotgun, while other officials of the Police of Armenia were awarded medals. KAMPALA According to a new report released by Pollicy.org on the internet experiences of women in African countries, one third of Ugandan women have experienced gender based harassment online, The report outlines that the most common type of online gender-based violence experienced in Uganda is sexual harassment, accounting for 42% of respondents, followed by offensive name calling (24%) and stalking (17%). The report notes that while the internet enables people to access knowledge, conduct business and connect with others, it is also proving to be a dangerous place for women, since social media is used as a new way to reinforce old systems of oppression and violence. Recent reports suggest that gender-based violence as a whole is only getting worse during the Covid-19 crisis. The United Nations Population Fund estimated that three months of lockdown would result in 15 million more cases of domestic abuse and millions of women losing access to vital services like contraceptives and prenatal care. A recent Kenya Health Information survey reported that close to 4,000 girls under the age of 19 were impregnated in a single county over the lockdown about 200 of these girls were below the age of 14. In Kampala, it was reported that two women were killed by their partners within one day in early August. There has so far been a lack of robust data about how women experience gender-based violence online in Africa, and without any data, digital platforms and legal systems can ignore the issue, but now more information on the seriousness of the problem is coming to light. Pollicy.org, a civic-technology organization based in Kampala, Uganda, in partnership with the Feminist Internet Research Network under the Association for Progressive Communication and with funding from the International Development Research Centre, conducted a study of over 3,000 African women living in five countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, and South Africa) to understand their experiences with GBV online. Ms Neema Iyer, the founder of Pollicy.org, said that the main aim of the study is to inform evidence-based policy to push for digital equality. We want to understand how online gender-based violence manifests across Africa, and how technology companies, which are often based out of Africa, respond to this violence. When thinking of our afrofeminist future, we need to think of an internet where both the developers and users understand the intersectionality of the lived experience of an African woman, she said. Other recommendations include training law enforcement personnel on a gender sensitive digital safety curriculum to address complaints of online gender-based violence and to provide timely technical assistance, counselling, and support to women who do choose to report. The report says countries should also adopt data protection and privacy laws, as well as ensure that commissions and mechanisms are in place to implement data protection laws. The numbers released in the report are striking: 75% of women interviewed reported suffering from mental stress and anxiety due to their experiences of online violence. 28.2% of respondents experienced some form of online violence, and that number rose to 32.6% in Uganda. 71.2% of online gender-based violence (OGBV) across Africa took place on Facebook, followed by 27.4% on WhatsApp and 12.4% on Instagram. 50% of Ugandan victims who reported the experience to the social media platform had no resolution. 66% of women responded by blocking or deleting the perpetrator; 20% ignored the perpetrator and 14% deleted or deactivated their own accounts. Only 12% reported the abuse to the website or online platform. 90% of the respondents who experienced online violence either did not know the identity of the perpetrator or found them to be a stranger. 29.2% of women interviewed did not know where to turn for information on online safety and security. 95% of Ugandan women were not aware of any policies or laws in place to protect women against online gender-based violence in Uganda. Most countries across the continent do not have specific legislation or strategies against online gender-based violence. Even in terms of data capture, for example, the Uganda Demographic and Household Survey 2016 (UDHS) reported that 22% of women experience domestic violence, but no data on online GBV was reported. Related In this screenshot from the RNCs livestream of the 2020 Republican National Convention, personal attorney to U.S. President Donald Trump and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani addresses the virtual convention on August 27, 2020. (Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty Images) Giuliani at RNC: Dont Let Democrats Do to America What They Have Done to New York! Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani lambasted the far-left policies of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) in a speech at the Republican National Convention on Aug. 27 and blamed the progressive mayor for the crime wave sweeping what used to be Americas safest large city. Now today my city is in shock. Murders, shootings, and violent crime are increasing at percentages unheard of in the past. We are seeing the return of rioting and looting. During riots this Democrat Mayor like others has often prevented the police from making arrests, Giuliani said. New Yorkers wonder how did we get overwhelmed by crime so quickly and decline so fast? They elected DeBlasio because of their reflexive historical instinct to vote for a Democrat just because he was a Democrat and not to consider carefully his destructive policies and inadequate background, the former mayor added. Dont let Democrats do to America what they have done to New York! Responding to Giuliani, Bill Neidhardt, the spokesman for De Blasio, wrote on Twitter, Crime in New York City is lower under Bill de Blasio than Rudy Giuliani. And speaking of crime, remember when two of Rudys associates were indicted after trying to buy political influence on behalf of Ukrainian and Russian agents? Giuliani, who is the presidents personal lawyer, used New York City as an example of the kind of policies Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden would adopt if he was elected to office. He called Biden a Trojan horse for the partys left-wing, which is just waiting to execute their pro-criminal, anti-police policies. Giuliani and other speakers at the convention spoke before an empty auditorium in Washington due to concerns about the spread of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, commonly known as the coronavirus. Trump delivered his GOP nomination acceptance speech to cap off the four-night event. The former mayor said that the bipartisan denouncements of the police conduct in the death of George Floyd presented a great opportunity for the country to unite, but alleged that the Democrats did not want Trump to be perceived in a positive light. They had a President to beat and a country to destroy, and although a bi-partisan coalition agreeing on action against police brutality would be very valuable for the country, it would also make President Trump appear to be an effective leader, Giuliani said. So, BLM [Black Lives Matter] and Antifa sprang into action and in a flash hijacked the protests into vicious, brutal riots. The former mayor, who was instrumental in bringing down crime in the city, said that Democrat-run cities provide an example of how the country would be under Biden. He noted that 36 of the 50 largest cities, most run by Democrats, now have homicides increasing by double digits. Chicago is far and away number one in homicide, leading number two Philadelphia by 200 murders in this year alone. It has been like this for decades and its been controlled throughout by Democrats, the mayor said. In fact, shamefully Obama and Biden did nothing at all to quell the carnage. Both Biden and Trump have condemned the violence which broke out recently on the heels of the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, as well as the wave of riots following Floyds death. The Republican National Convention touted the Trump administration's approach to the economy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, honored first responders and levied harsh attacks on Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. Vice President Mike Pence, Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump's children lauded the president while slamming the Democratic Party's agenda, which some called socialist. They also highlighted Trump's approach to relations with China, claiming the trade war successfully protected American workers. The convention also featured speeches from those who said they had been victimized by "cancel culture." During the four-night event, Trump participated in a naturalization ceremony for five newly minted American citizens and pardoned convicted bank robber Jon Ponder. Kellyanne Conway, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Larry Kudlow and others served as character witnesses for Trump. Ivanka Trump said her father's determination had not wavered during his term, "Washington has not changed Donald Trump. Donald Trump has changed Washington." Trump and Pence formally accepted their nominations to the Republican Party's ticket for the 2020 election. Watch the video to see the newsiest moments from the four nights. Standard time is going to be your best situation where your social clock, your internal biological clock and your sun clock are going to be more likely, for the most time, to be better aligned, said Phyllis Zee, chief of sleep medicine at Northwestern Universitys Feinberg School of Medicine. She added: It may not be true for every single person. It really depends on where you live, whether youre an owl or a lark. All of these things matter. But I think overall, as a general policy, that would be the healthiest solution. Dhaka, Aug 28 : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced that her government was setting up 100 Special Economic Zones (SEZ) "for further industrialization and generating more employments". She made the remarks while launching two power plants, 11 grid sub-stations and six new transmission lines vitually from her official Ganabhaban residence on Thursday. "A huge amount of money is being spent for producing electricity. We're now importing LNG and we are still giving a huge amount of subsidy to the power sector. But we have to keep in mind that itis not always possible to give subsidies," she said. "We've already been able to provide electricity to 97.5 per cent people of the country and we hope we could give it to 100 per cent people by 2021." Hasina said her government has planned to generate 24,000 MW electricity by 2021, 40,000 MW by 2030 and 60,000 MW by 2041 for the overall economic development of the country. "We've taken massive programmes to celebrate the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman this year and the golden jubilee of independence in 2021 and our goal is to light up every house of the country by 2021," she added. The premier said the government was not only producing electricity and constructing power plants, but also making arrangements of transmission lines. "We're expanding rural electrification and reaching power to every house by adopting multifaceted plans. As a result, the rate of electricity users enhanced to 97.5 per cent from only 47 per cent and the number of clients increased to 3.74 crore from 1 crore. "We're increasing and developing transmission and distribution lines to ensure electricity for all as well uninterrupted power supply," she said. Noting that the government has multifaceted the electricity production, Hasina said power is now being generated through gas, coal and solar panel. "As many as 58 lakh solar panels have been set up in the country and grid line is being set up so that the electricity produced from solar energy can be added to the grid lines," she said. The Prime Minister requested the people not to misuse electricity. "It's my earnest request to you to maintain austerity in using electricity... you'll be benefited if less electricity bill comes," she said. During the launch, Power Division Secretary Sultan Ahmed made a presentation titled "Power Sector in Bangladesh: From Bangabandhu to Bangabandhu Daughter" on the sector's development over the last 11 years. Besides, a documentary on the power sector development was also screened. While talking about the coronavirus pandemic, Hasina said not only Bangladesh, the entire world is now suffering for it. The premier urged all to comply with the health codes properly to protect themselves from the transmission of the disease. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Hamburg, 28 August, 2020 In these times of lockdowns, travel restrictions and major health concerns, music, books and other artistic forms help people cope with difficulties and handle challenges. The COVID-19 crisis has also resulted in artists being unable to tour and many people around the world being unable to travel home. Now, two Australian artists based in Hamburg are kicking off a series of words and music events NHS surgeons are only working at around 50 per cent capacity in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, despite record numbers of people on the waiting list for routine treatment. Professor Neil Mortensen, president of the the Royal College of Surgeons, revealed surgeons 'didn't have much to do' during the lockdown, as routine operations were cancelled to make room for an expected swarm of Covid-19 patients. But they are struggling to get back to pre-coronavirus activity levels, despite barely any infected patients being in hospital. Surgeons say infection control measures and a lack of testing have left them unable to attack the backlog. Official figures show there are no more than 770 patients with the disease in hospital across the UK, just 64 of whom are on ventilators. Meanwhile, data shows 1.85million people have waited at least 18 weeks for planned surgery the target time set by the NHS. It is the worst figure since records began in 2007. NHS surgeons are only working at around 50 per cent capacity in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Professor Neil Mortensen, president of the The Royal College of Surgeons (stock) Professor Mortensen told The Telegraph: 'Most surgeons would say productivity is around half what it was before.' He told the newspaper that there were obstacles in restoring services to levels seen before Covid-19, which experts say is needed to clear the backlog. Health bosses fear up to 10million patients will be left waiting for treatment by this winter. A lack of routine testing for NHS staff is hindering efforts to create 'Covid-free' zones in hospitals, he said. And doctors have previously warned social distancing in hospitals will mean fewer patients can be admitted at any given time. Medics said efforts to restore services are moving too slowly, with some likening their empty hospitals to 'the Mary Celeste' a ship discovered abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean in 1872 because so many patients are being kept away. IS THE WAITING LIST ACTUALLY 15MILLION? 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 yesterday. 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'. 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. 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. Advertisement An NHS spokesperson said: 'Actually, elective surgery has already rebounded from around 30 per cent of its usual rate during the peak of covid when hospitals were looking after 108,000 coronavirus inpatients, to over 60 per cent earlier this month, and is steadily increasing beyond that. So predictions that surgery will be stuck at 50 per cent of usual levels are already clearly false. 'As for emergency services, we agree with the new leadership of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine that covid means safe alternatives are needed to A&E overcrowding.' Dr Susan Crossland, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, added: 'There is still pressure on the system due to the cautious restart of outpatient and elective work compounded by the reduction in acute beds due to the necessity of infection control and isolation.' In March, all routine surgery was postponed to free up 30,000 beds for Covid-19 patients who were expected to flood hospitals. Hospitals in England were told to postpone all non-urgent elective operations from 15 April at the latest, for a period of at least three months. Joint replacements, cataract removals and hernia repairs were all among the elective surgery postponed in order to free up beds. In May, health leaders set out a series of measures to help hospitals increase routine operations and treatment, to get back to normal activity levels. But patients who need important planned procedures will be put in the diary first, leaving millions who are not in urgent need but still possibly in pain waiting. Professor Mortensen, a colorectal surgeon, said many patients had been left distressed following the decision to suspend routine surgery for months. Data revealed last month showed 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. 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. And cancer charities have warned of a ticking time-bomb of the disease because so many appointments and procedures had to be cancelled by the NHS so hospitals could make way for an expected deluge of coronavirus patients. However, it is also estimated one million Covid-19 patients could have died had there not been efforts to protect the NHS, according to reports. A potential second wave in the autumn and winter, coinciding with the flu season, will cause even more chaos in the NHS, experts fear. It had been hoped the private sector would help deal with non-Covid patients during the pandemic. Private hospital beds were bought by the NHS 8,000 at an estimated cost of 2.4million a day in anticipation of NHS hospitals being overwhelmed. The idea was to use private hospitals as 'Covid-free hubs' to take on the load of other care for vulnerable people, such as for cancer patients. But the health service's intensive care wards were not overrun during the peak of the pandemic and the majority of the private beds went unused even though thousands of operations were cancelled. Consultants have warned few private hospitals are now operating as Covid-free hubs to get back up and running, and claim hundreds of the country's best doctors have been left 'twiddling their thumbs'. It comes amid fears the strategy to 'protect the NHS' actually cost lives. Recent government figures revealed the lockdown killed two people for every three that died of the coronavirus between March 23 and May 1. Some 16,000 are thought to have died because they didn't get medical care for problems such as heart attacks while 25,000 died of the virus, according to a report given to SAGE, the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies. The 16,000 people who died included 6,000 who didn't go to A&E during lockdown because they feared catching the virus. Another 10,000 people are said to have died in care homes after being discharged early from hospital and having a lack of access to care. The 'stay at home' message was driven hard throughout March, April and some of May, and statistics show A&E attendances dropped massively as a result. Casualty departments in England recorded just 1.53million attendances in March, down 22 per cent on February and 29 per cent on March 2019. A&E visits were 57 per cent lower in April 2020, when up to 1,000 Covid-19 deaths were being reported per day, compared to April 2019. Dr Chris Moulton, former vice president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said he feared Covid-19 safety measures being made by the NHS were now putting patients at far greater risk. The A&E consultant said too great a reliance on 'virtual' consultations meant people were being denied basic care. Dr Moulton said: 'My worry is that a number of organisations, including the NHS, are using Covid as a reason to distance themselves from people and that carries risks.' Policies which encourage patients to book an A&E appointment by calling 111 will also make it challenging to access immediate care, he said. Plans for a 'phone first' model are set to be rolled out across the NHS before December, according to board papers seen by The Times in July, in order to relieve pressure on the NHS. Pilot studies of the ring-ahead scheme at casualty departments in Portsmouth and London have reportedly produced good results. Stephen Powis, NHS England's national medical director, told the Commons Health and Social Care committee that the NHS wanted to move towards a phone-ahead scheme. He revealed at the end of June: 'We want to move as we did before Covid increasingly to a 111-first model, which ensures that we do everything we can to give appropriate advice to signpost people to the most appropriate place for treatment.' Dr Moulton said: 'The last thing [you want] when you are in an emergency is to make a phone call; if you've chopped your fingers off you don't want to phone before you go,' said Dr Moulton, an A&E consultant at Bolton NHS Foundation trust. 'I worry that under the guise of a post-Covid world we are making it harder and harder for people - especially the elderly - to access hospital and GP care, making people navigate online and with videos.' By Express News Service PUDUCHERRY: Pushed to the wall by the PWD with dues pending for six years, the Builders Association of India, Puducherry, has given an ultimatum to the government to pay up in the next 15 days failing which they will stop all ongoing work in the Union Territory including COVID-19 emergency work. Former chairman S Parthasarathi in a press communication said that over Rs 100 crore is outstanding from the PWD for the work done in the last six years. In the Pondicherry region alone, about Rs 60 crore is outstanding to contractors who have executed work after being awarded tenders. Apart from this, Rs 40 crore is outstanding for contractors who have done emergency work on nomination basis. The government has also withheld the security deposit and earnest money deposit which have not been refunded. The association had also conveyed the plight of the contractors to the Lt Governor, Chief Minister, PWD Minister, Chief Secretary, Secretary (Works) and Chief Engineer, urging them to take action and giving a letter requesting settlement of outstanding dues. Already three contractors have committed suicide. We invest in this business by lending and borrowing from banks and private financial institutions, which are pressurizing us for payment of interest. Without receiving payment from the government, we are not able to pay the interest at a time when our livelihoods are at stake," he said. We had cooperated with the government with a lot of patience till now and cannot any further," he said. Since there was no positive approach from the government, if the outstanding amount is not paid within 15 days, the association along with other construction associations will join together and engage in a series of agitations and stop all ongoing work in the Union Territory including COVID-19 emergency work, he said. A group of researchers at the University of Alberta, Canada claim that prodrug GC376, which is used to treat a potentially fatal feline coronavirus disease, is effective against the COVID-19 causing virus, SARS-CoV-2. Prodrugs are compounds that have to be metabolised inside the body before they become active. GC376 gets converted to GC373. The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications, suggests that the drug targets an enzyme called Mpro in the COVID-19 causing virus and is a strong drug candidate for the treatment of coronavirus disease since it is already shown to be effective in animals. The research team is set to launch phase 1 clinical trials of the drug soon. Feline coronavirus (FCoV) Feline coronavirus FCoV, is a common infection that affects about 25 to 40 percent of domestic cats in the world. The virus enters a cats body through the oral route (licking, for example) and multiplies in the intestines. The cat will expel the virus in its feces where the virus may survive for up to a few weeks. Disinfectants readily destroy the feline coronavirus. Most cats that get this infection are asymptomatic. However, they may develop a mild form of diarrhea or it could lead to a life-threatening condition called feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). The latter only develops when the FCoV virus develops a mutant strain inside the intestinal tract of the cat that can infect macrophages (a type of immune system cell) and spread throughout the body. FCoV is an alpha-coronavirus while SARS-CoV-2 is a beta-coronavirus. The former does not cause infection in humans though there have been some cases where scientists found SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies in cats. Protease inhibitors and the latest drug Proteases are enzymes that are crucial to the functioning of cells. Proteases inhibitors are one of the most common classes of drugs that are considered for the treatment of diseases when they show low toxicity. Proteases like Tipranavir have been used to treat HIV. Other HIV drugs like lopinavir and ritonavir are also proteases. Mpro is a protease present in SARS-CoV-2 virus that helps the virus replicate and make copies of itself. This protease has previously been suggested to be resistant to mutations and hence a lot of experts have been looking for inhibitors that can stop the Mpro protease from functioning. Various other Mpro inhibitors, including ebselen, an investigational drug for hearing loss and disulfiram, a drug used to treat alcoholism, have previously shown to be effective against the COVID-19-causing virus. GC376 has been proposed to have broad specificity against the Mpro of the novel coronavirus previously. To study the effect of this drug against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the researchers exposed the virus to the drug in cell cultures. It was found that GC376 when incubated with SARS-CoV-2 converts to GC373, which binds to the active site of Mpro protease, inhibiting the function of the protease. The active site of an enzyme is a pocket in the enzyme wherein the substrate (the compound an enzyme acts on) binds to it. We determined the three-dimensional shape of the protease with the drug in the active site pocket, showing the mechanism of inhibition. This will allow us to develop even more effective drugs," said Joanne Lemieux, corresponding author of the study and a professor of biochemistry at the University of Alberta, Canada in a news release by the university. She also added that the team will keep on looking for modified versions of this drug which would fit even better in the active site of Mpro and would thus be more effective. For more information on coronavirus types, read our article on Coronavirus infection. Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health. By Express News Service BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court on Friday appointed Justice HS Kempanna, former judge of the High Court, as the Claims Commissioner to assess the damage done to public and private properties by rioters, investigate liability and award compensation to victims in connection with the violence that occurred on August 11 in DJ Halli and KG Halli police station limits in the city. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Ashok S Kinagi passed the order appointing Justice Kempanna as the Claims Commissioner. Justice HS Kempanna This was after hearing the petition filed by the state government seeking to initiate suo motu proceedings and appoint the Claims Commissioner in terms of the order passed by the Supreme Court in 2009 in relation to destruction of public and private properties in violence over a derogatory post on social media. The bench directed the state to issue a notification appointing the former judge as Claims Commissioner within a week immediately after this order is uploaded on the website and provide required infrastructure and staff to him. In relation to a public interest litigation filed seeking directions to transfer the investigation to NIA from the state police, the bench ordered the state government to file objections. ASEAN+3 determined to promote economic development and reduce risks from COVID-19 ASEAN Economic Ministers held a video conference with the regions partner countries including China, Japan and South Korea (ASEAN+3) on Friday. Vietnams Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh at the meetting. VNA/VNS Photo The meeting, organised within the framework of the 52nd ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting and related conferences (AEM-52), was chaired by Vietnams Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh, Chinas Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan, Japans Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Kajiyama Hiroshi, and South Koreas Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Yoo Myung Hee. According to statistics from ASEAN, the total value of trade transactions between ASEAN and the three partner countries reached US$890.2 trillion, contributing 31.6 per cent to the total value of ASEAN trade transactions with all partners in 2019, a slight increase of nearly 1.5 per cent year-on-year. The total value of foreign direct investment (FDI) from these three countries to ASEAN reached about $32 trillion in 2019, 19.9 per cent of the total FDI into ASEAN. The ministers expressed their deepest sympathies and concerns about the loss of lives and suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. They agreed to continue co-operation to fight the pandemic, develop the economy and stabilise macro policies among parties, as well as maintaining supply chains, especially for essential goods such as medical goods and food. The ministers emphasised the importance of keeping the business communitys confidence in the region post-COVID-19 pandemic and focusing resources on economic promotion, social stability, particularly the signing of the Agreement For Regional Economic Comprehensive Partnership (RCEP) in 2020. To effectively implement the ASEAN + 3 Joint Statement on Mitigating The Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic, which was adopted by the ASEAN +3 ministers on June 4, the ministers agreed to strengthen co-operation to implement the action plan between the two sides, promoting economic development, minimising risks brought by COVID-19, and being ready to deal with any unexpected situations in the region. The ministers also welcomed positive progress in negotiating the RCEP and effective preparation steps for the signing of this agreement by the end of this year. They also reaffirmed the important role of the RCEP in enhancing the trust of the business community and strengthening the structure of the regional economy, as well as proving the regions support towards an open and equitable trading system based on common principles. 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. 19th Amendment to the U.S. ConstitutionOne hundred years ago on the morning of Aug. 26, U.S. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby quietly signed, at his home, the proclamation certifying the 19th Amendment. A week after the measures ratification by Tennessee the last state needed a womans right to vote finally became enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. That November, women across the United States headed to the polls many for the first time. Before the 19th Amendment became law, some states and territories largely in the West already had given women the right to vote. In Virginia, on a cool and cloudy Election Day throughout much of the commonwealth, more than 75,000 women cast ballots, according to the Library of Virginias must-see exhibit, We Demand: Womens Suffrage in Virginia, which reopened Wednesday after being closed because of COVID-19. Voters in 1920 had to choose from among three presidential candidates Republican Warren G. Harding, Democrat James M. Cox and Socialist Eugene V. Debs congressional members and local officials in some communities, as well vote on as six proposed amendments to the state constitution. In Roanoke, women voters outnumbered men. As described in The Campaign for Woman Suffrage in Virginia by Brent Tarter, Marianne E. Julienne and Barbara C. Batson, (who curated the suffrage exhibit at the library) a Martinsville woman told her husband as they headed out the door to the polls: Put on your collar and your coat. This is a day of triumph and dignity. Indeed it was. This momentous day came 144 years after the Declaration of Independence had proclaimed that all men are created equal. That promise, Tarter, Julienne and Batson wrote, drove the campaign for the abolition of slavery and for universal white manhood suffrage before the Civil War, to enfranchise African American men after the war, to win the vote for women late in the 19th and 20th centuries and powered the civil rights, American Indian and womens movements later in the 20th century. Suffragists began their organized campaign for the vote in 1848 during the first womens rights convention in the United States, held in Seneca Falls, N.Y. The first federal proposals for women suffrage in Congress emerged 20 years later. A milestone came when the territory of Wyoming extended full voting rights to women in 1869, followed by Utah, Colorado and Idaho by 1896. Women will never have equality of rights anywhere, she never will hold those she now has by an absolute tenure, until she possesses the fundamental right of self-representation. This fact is so obvious as to need no argument, said noted suffragist Susan B. Anthony in 1902. Meanwhile that same year in Virginia, an odious new Constitution dramatically reduced the number of eligible voters especially African American men. As the debate over womens suffrage unfolded in Congress in the years before World War I, Most or all southern Democrats opposed a federal amendment, which they believed threatened the principle of states rights and the ability of those states to limit African American voting, according to The Campaign for Woman Suffrage in Virginia. Only one member of Virginias congressional delegation C. Bascom Slemp, a Republican from Southwest Virginia supported the amendment. Virginia wasnt among the 36 states that ratified the 19th Amendment. Oddly, that action didnt come until 1952 32 years after women first cast their ballots. While much had been gained for women with the passage of the 19th Amendment, it would take years more for all to be able to truly exercise that most fundamental of American rights: voting. Obstacles remained for decades in Virginia, such as the insidious poll tax and literacy test. Voting was treated as a privilege, and not a right. Across the United States, Puerto Rican women were excluded from the 19th Amendment and didnt gain the right to vote until 1935. Native Americans didnt gain full citizenship until 1924. Asian immigrants couldnt become citizens until 1952. African-American voters, especially in the South, didnt enjoy full enfranchisement until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Wednesday also was is Womens Equality Day, an observance started in 1971 to commemorate the 19th Amendment. While work remains, Virginia has made some notable political inroads: The General Assembly boasts a record 41 female legislators, including the first female House speaker, House majority leader and Senate president pro tempore. Three of Virginias Congressional members are women. The Equal Rights Amendment, first introduced here in 1973, finally cleared the General Assembly this year. The importance of voting should go without saying. It allows citizens to be full participants in our republic. If you have a vote, you have a voice and a say in who represents you, how tax dollars are spent and what priorities are championed. You can help effect change. One hundred years after the 19th Amendment, your vote matters more than ever especially in this critical election year. RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH Ahead of the October 10 governorship election in Ondo State, Nigerian businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim, on Friday officially dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Ibrahim also donated 20 Kia Picanto cars to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the APC candidate toward his re-election campaign. Mr Ibrahim, who was presented with APC membership card in Igbotako, Okitipupa Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, said that he defected to the APC to work for Mr Akeredolus re-election bid. The business mogul cum politician, who was a factional PDP candidate in 2016 governorship election, said that he would deploy resources to ensure Akeredolu re-election. Today, I am officially joining the APC and donating the campaign vehicles to support Akeredolu; I will pull resources and do everything humanly possible for his re-election because of his impressive performance in the state. I brought PDP into reckoning in the state and I will as well withdraw my support from the party, I will channel resources to dislodged PDP and other parties in the state in favour of Akeredolu. What happened in 2016 will replay again for Akeredolu to win. I urge all residents in the Southern district to go out emasse and vote for APC on October 10, Ibrahim said. Mr Akeredolu, while receiving Mr Ibrahim to APC, lauded him for joining the APC and donating the campaign vehicles at the crucial time. READ ALSO: He expressed his appreciation to Mr Ibrahim for his show of love. The governor described Ibrahim as a helping angel who chose to help against all odds. Indeed, I was so happy for this rare show of love of Ibrahim because he acted like an angel sent to me. I urge all residents to ensure you go all out to vote APC in the coming election, Mr Akeredolu said. NAN reports that Ali-Modu Sherrif, a former governor of Borno State, Ade Adetimehin, the state APC Chairman, party chieftains and supporters from all the 18 LGAs, government functionaries and traditional rulers were present at the ceremony. (NAN) Furious Britons have hit out at the Government over new measures that require them to be back by 4am tomorrow or face quarantine. Travellers are quickly making plans to return to the UK from the Czech Republic, Jamaica and Switzerland before the new measures are imposed. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced on Thursday evening that those arriving in England from those countries after 4am on Saturday will need to self-isolate for 14 days. A couple landing at Heathrow Airport from Switzerland on Friday morning explained how they had cut short their Swiss Alps honeymoon because of the looming changes to travel quarantine rules. Daniel Maree and Leisa Evans, from Stevenage, spent around 200 on new flights, so they would not have to self-isolate for two weeks as their original flight would have arrived back in England after 4am on Saturday. The couple, both 43, and travelling with their four-year-old son, were due back later on Saturday but decided to change their flight home before the Government's announcement. 'We took a chance and said well if it happens it happens,' Mr Maree said. 'I would have lost two weeks of work. I'm self-employed, so no work, no pay. It would have affected us quite a bit, especially after an expensive holiday. Daniel Maree from Stevenage, who cut short his honeymoon, at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal 2 after arriving back from Zurich Saul Burban, 26, from London, who cut short his holiday, at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal 2 after arriving back from Zurich Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced that those arriving in England from those countries after 4am on Saturday will need to self-isolate for 14 days 'We anticipated it so it wasn't that much of a shock. Yeah it's a bit disappointing.' Mr Maree said they had flown out a week ago despite being aware of other countries being hit recently with changes to travel quarantine rules. 'It's a once-in-a-lifetime trip you do, so we thought we'd take the risk,' he said. On the Government's handling of travel corridors, he added: 'I'm sure they know beforehand that they are going to announce it, say a week later. So they might give people a bit more notice, which would have been probably better.' Travel experts today warned the industry will 'continue to suffer' as long as 'quarantine remains the principal strategy in the Government's containment of Covid-19.' A spokeswoman for ABTA, The Travel Association, said: 'Todays addition of the Czech Republic, Jamaica and Switzerland to the Governments quarantine list, and the FCO advisories against all but essential travel to those countries, will have upset the travel plans of many customers, and added to the difficulties of their travel organisers. **Are you rushing home due to the new measures?** Email tips@dailymail.co.uk Advertisement 'Given the rapid change in infection rates in different areas, it is vital the Government moves as quickly as possible to assess risk on a regionalised, not whole-country basis. 'Only by doing this will we be able to minimise the impact on consumer confidence to book and to travel, and minimise the impact on an industry that has already seen 90,000 livelihoods affected.' Noel Josephides, director of the Association of Independent Tour Operators, added it was 'too short a notice period' to change the quarantine rules. 'It totally puts people off booking holidays for fear they will have to return within a day or two of arrival, as with Spain and France,' he said. 'The travel industry needs, above all - having missed the vitally-important summer booking season this year (effectively, three winters in succession, when we don't make any money), for the public to regain confidence in booking holidays. 'We also need to support our host destinations, which rely on the British market to a considerable degree. 'Regional lockdown, allied with testing - as the Portuguese have done, very successfully - is key to everything.' A traveller arriving at Heathrow Airport from Zurich in Switzerland today explained how he had rebooked his flight to beat the impending travel quarantine deadline. Saul Burban, 26, from London, flew out on August 16 and was due back at 8pm on Saturday, but managed to spend just 28 on a new flight. He said: 'We got the warning a couple of days beforehand. It would have been a massive drama if they'd only told us on the day, or only mentioned it on the day. Alexandra Harrison-Rowe said she was stuck overseas with her medic husband who faced complications as a result of the decision Rosie Di Matteo said: 'What a bloody joke how can the airline industry get back with these ridiculous changes, you might as well say no travel for 2020' 'But there were rumblings in the press a couple of days before that so it sort of gave me a heads-up so I knew to sort of keep an eye out on it. 'When I thought 'yeah, they are going to make the decision' I just rang up, I actually rang up a little bit earlier to get my flight and I'm happy that I did because that was the only flight that was available leaving at 7 o'clock in the morning.' Mr Burban said he knew the risks of travelling, but added: 'I hadn't seen my family in about eight months and it was the first opportunity.' He added: 'People have had a pretty hard couple of months. If someone wants to go on holiday they do it at their own risk. As long as they're responsible and quarantine for two weeks when they come back it doesn't bother me. 'Luckily I managed to get back a little bit earlier, if I hadn't I'd have probably had to quarantine myself. I wouldn't have expected much sympathy because I chose to go out there in the first place.' Peter Wright had been visiting relatives in his wife's native Czech Republic for a few weeks with his grandson, who will be taking his driving theory test on Monday before returning to college. 'I noticed the last time countries were added to the list from which you must quarantine there was a reasonable notice given, so we thought the same would apply if anything happened which would affect us,' Mr Wright told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'On this occasion it seems around 40 hours from the announcement of the government to the time you must be back in the UK. Switzerland has also been added to the list of quarantine nations (pictured: Brienz town) Stats showed that Jamaica was dangerously close to the threshold for quarantine with a seven day rate of 19.8 per 100,000 before the decision was made 'The time was 4am, wrote off Saturday altogether as a day to travel. 'Friday, today, is the only day on which anyone could travel back to the UK from the Czech Republic and avoid the need to quarantine.' He added: 'Why does the government keep varying the number of days notice for these things? WHAT ARE THE CORONAVIRUS INFECTION RATES IN THE AT-RISK COUNTRIES? The latest figures were calculated by the Press Association, based on data collected by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Ministers have claimed countries with a seven-day rate of 20 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people will be hit with quarantine conditions. MailOnline asked the Department for Transport to explain how it calculates the figures because the ECDC only gives a 14-day rate and different data sources give varying estimates. Switzerland Switzerland is already over the threshold, with a seven-day rate of 21.2, PA claims. Separate figures from Our World in Data, a project run by Oxford University researchers who track the pandemic, show its infection rate is 21.91, up to August 27. The website claims the country, home to around 8.6million people, recorded 1,878 cases between August 21 and 27. Czech Republic The Czech Republic is currently recording a seven-day rate of 19.4 cases per 100,000, PA claims, up from 16 a week ago. Our World in Data statistics from the ECDC show the infection rate in the country, home to 10.7million people, is actually above the threshold (20.14). It recorded 2,153 cases between August 21 and 27, the website claims. Jamaica Jamaica, home to around 2.9million people, also appears to be dangerously close to the threshold with a seven day rate of 19.8 per 100,000, PA claims. Our World in Data figures suggest it has already tipped the safe limit, with an infection rate of 20.85. It recorded 612 cases over the past seven days, the website claims. AND WHAT ABOUT ITALY? Italy is widely expected to remain on the UK Government's safe travel list. PA says its case rate stands at just 10.8 per 100,000 which suggests the country is very unlikely to face action in the coming weeks. Our World in Data data suggests it is slightly higher, with 12.03 cases for every 100,000 people up to August 27. Italy, home to 60.4million people, saw 7,262 cases last week, according to the website. Advertisement 'First there was none, then the last announcement it seems they've come to their senses and given some reasonable notice, and this time around, again, next to none. 'There's no consistency from this government in anything. They make things up as they go along.' Mr Wright added that quarantine requirements were not 'altogether unreasonable', but the government should have introduced 'proper' measures back in February but 'didn't bother'. Alexandra Harrison-Rowe said she was stuck overseas with her medic husband who faced complications as a result of the decision. She posted on Facebook: 'We are currently stuck on hold to Ryanair, stuck in Czech Republic having come over urgently to see family. 'My partner is a Consultant anaesthetist so he's SUPER excited to deal with 14 days worth of surgical list changes. 'There needs to be more notice, we should've been given AT LEAST 72 hours notice.' Another Brit, who contacted MailOnline, is currently in Brno, Czech Republic, for health reasons and has now been left unable to return home until next Wednesday. She said: 'I travelled with my family as we wanted to make a holiday out of the trip. 'Ryan air cancelled our return flight on Wed, 3rd Sept from Brno so we had to book new flights from Vienna (1 1/2 hr train journey) at more cost. The next day Austria was added to the UK list so I then had to book return flights on Czech Airlines at more additional cost. 'We flew out on Wednesday, 26th August and last night I had to book more flights at an additional Cost of 650 with Ryanair for my husband and child to fly home this evening to avoid self quarantine due to the new school year and my husband having to work. 'Unfortunately due to medical reasons I have to stay until next Wednesday and fly from Vienna and then quarantine so I will not be able to return to the office. 'What were originally cheap flights to Brno return at around 250 have now cost me over 1k to avoid quarantine. 'All because less than 20 people in 100,000 have tested positive for Covid in Czech Republic. 'I wouldnt mind but there is about to be a drive in the UK for all London City office workers to go back to work, which will require me to get on a train and packed tubes in rush hour without having to self isolate!' Julian Griffiths, who is on his way home from Switzerland through France, told Radio 4 there were 'thousands' of others driving back to Calais. 'We're allowed to get out of the car and fill up with fuel, we're not allowed to go to restaurants or shops or things like that, so yeah we have to just pretty much go straight across to Calais,' he said. 'I think the notice is consistent with the last couple of announcements but the crazy thing is that whoever makes these decisions has to use their judgement. 'You're allowed to travel from Portugal, and I don't know anything about the Portuguese health service but you're now facing quarantine if you live in Switzerland, and we now have free testing at local GP surgeries, both for the virus and the antibodies, and we've had that for months. 'The level of testing and the quality of care and the quality of healthcare here is so much higher I would say than almost anywhere that looking at the simple metric it might seem fair.' He added: 'The idea that somehow if you're in the UK it's more dangerous to go abroad is completely wrong. If you want to avoid dying of Covid you should probably come to Switzerland.' Scotland took Switzerland off its quarantine-exemption list last week. Swiss International Air Lines is selling seats on a flight from Geneva to Heathrow departing on Friday afternoon for 321, while flights on Saturday after the new quarantine rules come into force are available for just 99. A flight from Zurich on Friday is available for 244. British Airways put on extra services from the Czech Republic and Switzerland to Heathrow following the quarantine announcement, costing 268 from Prague, 308 from Zurich and 353 from Geneva. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned British holidaymakers that quarantine rules could continue to change rapidly. He told Sky News: 'When people travel at the moment, when coronavirus is still a thing, (they) just need to be aware that unfortunately things can change very quickly and, you know, if you go with your eyes open and you know that things can change, it won't then come as so much as of a surprise.' Reductions in coronavirus cases mean that Cuba has been added to the list of destinations from which people can arrive in England or Wales without entering quarantine, while Wales has also removed the quarantine requirement for arrivals from Singapore. It came as new enforcement powers entered into force from midnight, meaning that anyone facilitating an unlicensed music event or 'any other unlawful gathering of 30 people or more' could face a hefty penalty. The Home Office has also said that fines for not wearing face coverings where it is mandated such as on public transport and in supermarkets will also double for repeat offenders from Friday. People not wearing masks and those participating in unlawful gatherings can be fined starting at 100, doubling for each repeat offence up to a maximum of 3,200. In Wales, indoor visits to both adult and children's care homes have been given the green light from Friday. Visits will be subject to strict controls to help prevent transmission of Covid-19. Meanwhile, a major media campaign will be launched by the Government next week which will encourage workers to return to the office. The adverts will promote the Government's aim to reduce the number of employees working from home amid fears that town and city centres are becoming ghost areas as workers stay away. Labour has criticised the plans as being 'unconscionable'. Shadow business minister Lucy Powell said: 'It beggars belief that the Government are threatening people like this during a pandemic. Forcing people to choose between their health and their job is unconscionable. 'Number 10 should condemn this briefing and categorically rule out any such campaign.' However, Tory MPs have said that workers need to get back to the office. Speaking to The Times, Conservative MP Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, warned of 'devastating consequences' if workers stayed at home. The UK 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 and the 14 day self-isolation requirement for returning travellers. The DfT said there has been a 'consistent increase' in the rate in Switzerland over the past four weeks, reaching 22.0 on Thursday. It added that Jamaica's rate rose from 4.3 on August 20 to 20.8 on Thursday, while the Czech Republic has seen 'a consistent increase in newly reported cases' over the past three weeks, with a 25 per cent spike from 1,723 between August 14-20 to 2,153 during the following seven days. Writing on Twitter Mr Shapps said: 'Data shows we need to remove the Czech Republic, Jamaica and Switzerland from our list of #Coronavirus Travel Corridors to keep infection rates DOWN. The coronavirus case rate in Italy is currently at 10.8 per 100,000 which suggests the country is unlikely to face quarantine restrictions in the coming weeks. Termini railway station in Rome is pictured on August 23 'If you arrive in the UK after 0400 Saturday from these destinations, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days. 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 Channel Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Cyprus, 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, 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, Taiwan, Turkey, Vatican City State, Vietnam. Advertisement 'Data also shows we can now add Cuba to those countries INCLUDED in Travel Corridors. As with all air bridge countries, please be aware that things can (and do sometimes) change quickly. Only travel if you are content to unexpectedly 14-day quarantine on return.' The Department for Transport (DfT) said equivalent measures are being put in place in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Scotland took Switzerland off its list last week. The DfT advised British travellers in Switzerland, Jamaica and the Czech Republic to 'follow the local rules and check the FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) travel advice pages'. People hoping to return to the UK on Friday before the quarantine requirement is introduced face a struggle. All direct flights from Prague to London appear to be sold out. Swiss International Air Lines was selling seats on a flight from Geneva to Heathrow departing on Friday afternoon for 493, while flights from Zurich cost 377. The latest statistics showed 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. Jamaica was appears to be dangerously close to the threshold with a seven day rate of 19.8 per 100,000. However, Italy remains on the UK Government's safe travel list. The case rate in Italy stands at just 10.8 per 100,000 which suggests the country is very unlikely to face action in the coming weeks. Greece now also appears 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). The latest figures were calculated based on data collected by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. **Are you rushing home due to the new measures? Email tips@dailymail.co.uk** on Friday reported 77 coronavirus-related fatalities, taking the death toll due to the disease to 3,294, while 5,447 new cases pushed the infection tally to 2,13,824 in the state, officials said. "In the last 24 hours, 5,447 fresh COVID-19 cases were found. There are 52,651 active cases in the state, while a total of 1,57,879 people have been discharged after recovering from the infection," Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters here. Of the 52,651 active cases, 26,270 are in home isolation, he said, adding that on Thursday, 1,22,277 tests were conducted in the state. The total number of tests done so far in the state have goneupto over 52 lakhs, he said. Prasad said among those affected with COVID-19, 14.15 per cent belong to the age group of upto 20 years, 48.85 per cent belong to the age group of 21-40 years, 28.43 per cent belong to the age group of 41-60 years and 8.7 per cent belong to the age group of 60 years and above. Till Thursday, Kanpur has recorded the highest number of deaths due to the disease at 399 followed by 323 in Lucknow, 156 in Varanasi, 139 in Prayagraj, 131 in Meerut, 125 in Gorkahpur, 110 in Bareilly and 106 in Agra among others, he said. In a review meeting, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asked officials to ensure that 1.50 lakh COVID tests are conducted in the state daily and manpower necessary for this is arranged. The chief minister stressed that testing, especially rapid antigen tests, should be increased, an official spokesman said. Adityanath also said the presence of 50 per cent of the staff in government offices should be ensured and asked all additional chief secretaries and principal secretaries to inspect offices in their jurisdiction and initiate action against officials and workers found absent at 9.30 am. He also asked district magistrates to ensure that they resolve the problems faced by the people, besides carrying out their responsibilities to deal with the COVID-19 situation. (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 government has maintained that the approval of five agreements to allow a special purpose vehicle (SPV), Agyapa Royalties Limited, to leverage Ghanas mineral royalties to secure about $1 billion is in the best interest of the country. The Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, said the deal would allow the government to leverage Ghanas mineral royalties to finance large infrastructural projects, especially in mining communities. At a press briefing held at the Ministry of Finance in Accra yesterday, the minister dispelled some public assertions that the deal was shrouded in secrecy and raised conflict of interest issues. He stressed that due procedure was followed in enacting the Minerals Income and Investment Fund (MIIF) Act, 2018 (Act 978) and the subsequent approval of the five agreements that paved the way for Agyapa Royalties to own the rights to mineral royalties in the country. This deal is not hasty, it is not rushed and not shrouded in any secrecy because we have been working at it since 2018. We are confident that Agyapa is going to be the largest company in Africa in the mineral royalty space and it is in the best interest of this country, he stressed. The agreement On Friday, August 14, this year, Parliament approved five agreements to allow the country to derive maximum value from its mineral resources and monetise its mineral income accruing to the state in a sustainable and responsible manner. That would be by allowing the MIIF, created by Act 978 of 2018, to incorporate a subsidiary/subsidiaries and use them as SPVs to engage in pure commercial private sector transactions to maximise the mineral royalties from the 12 gold mines, with four penciled to come on stream in the medium term. The approval covered the Minerals Royalties Agreement, the Amended and Restated Minerals Royalties Investment Agreement and the relationship agreement among the government, the MIIF, Agyapa Royalties Limited and ARG Royalties Ghana. The rest are the assignment agreement between the MIIF and Agyapa Royalties for the assignment of the right of the fund to Agyapa to receive the royalty value due from ARG under the investment agreement for the acquisition of the allocated minerals royalties from the fund in consideration for shares to be issued by Agyapa to the fund at an agreed price of $1 billion. The approval was to enable the country to use Agyapa Royalties as an SPV to secure about $1 billion and leverage to finance mines in Ghana and across Africa. The yields accruing could also be used to finance large infrastructural projects by the MIIF. By that agreement, Agyapa, which will operate as an independent private sector entity, will be able to raise funds from the capital market, both locally and internationally, as an alternative to the conventional debt capital market transactions. The funds, which are expected to be raised from the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE) through initial public offers (IPOs), will be a long-term capital, without a corresponding increase in Ghanas total debt stock, and hence without a public debt repayment obligation. Brouhaha Following the approval of those agreements, some groups, including the Minority in Parliament, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and some civil society organisations (CSOs), raised concerns that the agreements were opaque and amounted to the mortgaging of the future of the country. The opposition NDC raised concerns that the deal was shrouded in secrecy, with its flag bearer, Mr John Mahama, serving notice that he would cancel the deal if he won power. Additionally, a coalition of 15 CSOs called the Alliance of CSOs working on Extractive, Anti-Corruption and Good Governance, is demanding the immediate suspension of the implementation of the controversial SPV, Agyapa Royalties Limited. The coalition said until there was full disclosure on the beneficial ownership of Agyapa Royalties, the implementation of the deal should be deferred. Beneficial ownership Responding to those concerns, Mr Ofori-Atta said the issue of disclosure of beneficial ownership of the Agyapa Royalties transaction was a non-starter because the government was the owner of the company. As it is now, Agyapa Royalties is 100 per cent owned by the MIIF, which is also 100 per cent owned by the government. It is after listing it on the stock markets, both in Ghana and London, that shares will be floated, and even that, the government will keep at least 51 per cent of the shares, he added. Rushed? Touching on claims that the deal was rushed through Parliament, the Finance Minister said the facts pointed to the contrary because stakeholders, including the Attorney-Generals Department, the Minerals Commission, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Bank of Ghana and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), had all played key roles since the process started in 2018. Benefits of deal Mr Ofori-Atta described the deal as timely because gold prices were higher and the country could benefit more from the royalties. He also said returns from the deal would be used for capital expenditure in four critical sectors education, health, housing and infrastructure, mostly in mining companies. The deal will also help improve the quality of roads in mining communities. Heavy trucks and vehicles ply the roads in mining areas and it is important that the roads are in good condition, he said. Additionally, he said, jewellery companies and refineries would be established to promote value addition in the gold value chain. Conflict of interest On concerns about possible conflict of interest situations in the Agyapa Royalties deal, a Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Charles Adu-Boahen, said such a situation would not arise. On the specific issue of the Senior Ministers son, Mr Kofi Osafo-Maafo, being made a consultant to the deal, he said due procedure was followed to hire him based on his competence in fund management and securitisation. 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 FC Isle of Man and Guernsey FC to contest new trophy A new trophy is set to be contested by FC Isle of Man and Guernsey FC after the announcement a sporting partnership had been agreed. Guernsey licensed bank, Skipton International, will sponsor the event for an initial three-year period as the two island based teams play each other for the Skipton Cup. The two sides faced each other in FC Isle of Man's first-ever match earlier this month at The Bowl in Douglas, with the hosts running out 1-0 winners thanks to a Jack McVey penalty. This deal now means they'll face each other on an annual basis, with the added bonus of some silverware up for grabs. The inaugural Skipton Cup match will take place at Guernsey FC's Footes Lane on 12 September. Shepard Fairey "When the looting starts, the shooting starts" -DJT These images are a stark reminder of the atrocities perpetrated by this President and his allies. We are connecting what has been said and done with the importance of voting. Our message is simple: Remember what they did and vote them out, said co-founder Robin Bell. Several of the nations most critically acclaimed, award-winning artists created unique works focused on Trumps failed leadership on issues like police brutality, racism, hate speech, immigration and the Coronavirus pandemic, overlaid with controversial statements from Trump and his allies. Viewers are urged to go to RememberWhatTheyDid.com, where they can pledge to vote, register to vote, learn about early voting or crowdfund more billboards in battleground communities across the country. The RemememberWhatTheyDid.com and #VoteThemOut Campaign is part of a get out the vote and voter registration drive focused on often overlooked and underrepresented communities, including African American, Latinx and young people who are frequently underrepresented at the polls and not reached with traditional political advertising. See the art and learn more here: https://rememberwhattheydid.com/ The RemememberWhatTheyDid campaign is launching in four battleground cities: Detroit, Michigan; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Phoenix, Arizona. The jarring and emotionally-charged images will be featured on five billboards in each city as well as in a poster street art and GOTV campaign led by local partners in neighborhoods and businesses. The campaign is organized by Robin Bell, known for his video projections on the Trump Hotel in DC, and Scott Goodstein, a veteran of the Obama 2008 and Sanders 2016 campaigns and brings together some of the most critically acclaimed social justice artists of our time, including Shepard Fairey (creator of the iconic Obama poster), Nekisha Durrett, Nate Lewis, Rafael Lopez, Robert Russell, Rob Sheridan, and Swoon (Caledonia Curry). A partner on the effort is Collective Super PAC, the SuperPAC affiliate of The Collective PAC which is dedicated to building Black political power with candidate support and nationwide voter registration and education campaigns. The Collective is working to create an America where Black people are equally represented at every level of government. The Covid pandemic coupled with continued police brutality brought to the surface inequities across race and gender in every facet of American life. This reckoning with Americas racist legacy has been led by young activists who have taken the movement for Black Lives to the streets. The artwork embodies the energy of these young activists in an effort to connect to communities on a visceral level and to move everyone to the voting booth in November, said artist Nekisha Durrett. These images are a stark reminder of the atrocities perpetrated by this President and his allies. We are connecting what has been said and done with the importance of voting. Our message is simple: Remember what they did and vote them out, said Bell. Some forty percent of voters arent reached by the usual voter-file matched political advertising and many of these voters are in communities that are underrepresented at the polls. In an election year this important, we cannot allow any of our communities to be overlooked, said Goodstein. Life imitates art, and the images we see have a direct impact on our democracy. The Collective is proud to work with the Artists United for Change community as they depict what we are all feeling the need for change and realizing that change come November 3rd, said Quentin James, Founder and President of The Collective. In his piece, artist Shepard Fairey takes on police brutality in a shocking way. My art piece is a reminder that while the American public was protesting in the streets, in record numbers, against racism and police brutality, Donald Trump was encouraging police brutality against the protesters, reinforcing the very same problems within law enforcement and the criminal justice systems the protesters were demanding to be reformed. This image implies that the police are supposed to be peacekeepers, not warriors, and that Donald Trump is on the wrong side of social justice and the wrong side of history! -Shepard Fairey The RemememberWhatTheyDid campaign is a project of Artists United for Change. Follow us on twitter at: @rememberin2020 On Instagram at: @rememberwhattheydid https://www.facebook.com/RememberWhatTheyDid/ KEY VOTING FACTS: Black voter turnout fell in 2016 and latino turnout was flat, even as a record number of Americans cast ballots (Pew Research) Letters: Justice's statue is bad enough, but how about that horticulture statue? The scene was one of such unimaginable horror that it still haunts Matthew Gould's dreams and consumes his waking thoughts. On a warm May Friday afternoon last year, he returned early from work to find his adored teenage daughter Ellie lying inert in a pool of blood in the kitchen of the family home in Calne, Wiltshire. The fact that she was dead did not register immediately. And in the panic that enveloped him, Matthew did not notice the knife lodged in his daughter's throat. Neither did it occur to him that she could possibly have been murdered. Ellie Gould's parents Carole and Matthew are pictured 'I thought at first she'd had an accident, that she'd reached for something in a cupboard, slipped and banged her head as she fell. 'But there was blood splattered all around the kitchen; too much for that to have happened. It was horrific. 'The rest is a blur. I phoned 999 and I heard myself say I thought Ellie was dead. They were telling me how to resuscitate her, but she was lying cold and stiff on the floor. 'I knelt alongside her. There was blood all around her head and neck. 'I shouted at her, 'Wake up! Wake up!' 'I called my next-door neighbours for help. I phoned my wife Carole. I said, 'Ellie's had an accident. Come home. Drive safely.' I didn't know I was screaming, but Carole says I was hysterical.' Carole continues: 'I don't know how I drove back home. I heard a police car with sirens and I thought: 'That couldn't be anything to do with us.' 'All I could think of during the 15-minute journey from work was that maybe Ellie was unconscious. Perhaps she'd slipped and fallen or had a nasty accident with a knife. 'As I drove round the corner there was Matt crying at the end of the drive and police cars everywhere. 'Matt was distraught. He was screaming, 'She's died,' and it was numbness, utter disbelief. I said, 'What? It can't be true.' We couldn't believe it. Even now we can't. You feel you're acting out part of a drama. You're asking, 'What has happened to our happy, contented lives?' On a warm May Friday afternoon last year, Matthew returned early from work to find his adored teenage daughter Ellie (pictured) lying inert in a pool of blood in the kitchen of the family home in Calne, Wiltshire What had, in fact, happened was unthinkable. Ellie, 17, a bright and beautiful young woman with a life full of hope and promise ahead of her, had been murdered by her ex-boyfriend Thomas Griffiths stabbed at least 13 times in the neck in a frenzied attack after he tried to throttle her because she had finished their three-month relationship. Griffiths, who was 17 when he killed Ellie, was jailed for 12-and-a-half years at Bristol Crown Court last November after pleading guilty to her murder. Both Carole, 50 and Matthew, 53, who own and run a family business, were appalled by the leniency of the sentence and have since campaigned for teenage killers to face longer in jail. Today the Goulds are speaking fully for the first time, exclusively to the Daily Mail, as they come a step nearer to realising their goal, with the news that Justice Secretary Robert Buckland is considering handing longer sentences to killers aged 15 and over. The changes, likely to be referred to as Ellie's Law, are expected to be unveiled next month and will include new provisions for murderers aged between 15 and 17 to be sentenced to at least 15 rather than 12 years. The Ministry of Justice is also due to put forward proposals for child murderers to face imprisonment without parole, as set out in the Conservative Party's 2019 manifesto. We are delighted by this news,' says Matthew who, with Carole, met the Justice Secretary in January. Thomas Griffiths, 17, who pleaded guilty to murdering Ellie 'Mr Buckland told us he was committed to raising sentences. He showed genuine emotion and great kindness; it was clear he was touched by our case, and it is good that he's stood by his word and the changes will be known as Ellie's Law.' The Goulds also lobbied Home Secretary Priti Patel. Carole says: 'We told her, 'It just doesn't seem right that a young girl sitting at home revising for her A-levels can be brutally murdered and the perpetrator's punishment is 12 and a half years. How is that ever, ever justice?' and Priti Patel said, 'It's not, is it?' The punishment should fit the crime, and it doesn't.' She adds that Ellie, who planned to go to university to study psychology and hoped to join the police force, would have endorsed the campaign. 'She had actually just gained an A grade for an extended essay about juvenile murderers and the age of criminal responsibility,' says Carole. 'When I think about it, it sends shivers up my spine. 'Ellie cared about justice and fairness and she would have wanted Griffiths to be properly punished. We're doing this for her, but also because we're frustrated by a system that allows someone who commits such a terrible crime to be treated so leniently. 'Griffiths is an evil monster. He is a danger to society, particularly to women. He became obsessed with Ellie within weeks. He could become obsessed with another woman. I believe he is a psychopath. He should be kept locked up for the safety of other women.' 'I'm not a person who hates,' adds Matthew, 'but I do hate him. I pray daily that he does not make it out of prison. Ellie had so much going for her. She was talented and kind, she loved animals; she was a fantastic horsewoman. And she was just so lovely. You'd expect a father to say that of a daughter, but she was delightful. 'And as a family, she, her older brother Ben, Carole and I . . . we did everything together. 'Time has not healed, I don't think it ever will. It has not even touched the sides of our grief.' As you listen to Matthew's voice crack with emotion; as you see Carole's blue eyes brim with tears, the weight of their grief seems unendurable. Ellie's murder was as cold-blooded as it was calculating. On the day of the murder Griffiths was filmed on CCTV taking a bus home, early in the morning from Hardenhuish School, Chippenham, the 'high performing' academy both he and Ellie had attended since they were 11. Back at his home he hid in a wardrobe until his mother, a school's special educational needs co-ordinator, left for work. Then, although he had not passed his driving test, he drove illegally in a Ford Fiesta his parents had bought him to the Goulds' four-bedroom home in the quiet market town. Ellie had, according to friends, ended their relationship the day before because she found Griffiths' attentions 'suffocating'. Within an hour of going to her house he had left again, having murdered her before placing her hand on the handle of the knife to suggest she had inflicted the fatal wounds herself. He then coolly returned to school as if nothing had happened. Later, in an attempt to cover his tracks, he sent Ellie messages asking if she wanted to meet and claimed the scratch marks on his neck where Ellie had most likely tried to defend herself were self-inflicted because he was 'depressed'. Carole recalls how she and Matthew welcomed Griffiths into their convivial family home. It seems an added violation that so despicable a crime should take place in the sanctuary of their own home. She says: 'They started going out at the beginning of February last year. Griffiths was her first boyfriend. Until then, she'd been more interested in her ponies than boys. She was petite, 5ft 3in, and so fearless. 'For her 17th birthday February 6 she asked, 'Is it all right if Tom comes to tea?' 'It was about the second time we'd met him. We had a Chinese and prosecco. Griffiths had some cider. We had a cake. It was low-key because it was a school night. 'We thought he was quiet. We couldn't understand what Ellie, who was so bubbly, saw in him.' 'Actually,' adds Matthew, 'it seemed a complete mismatch. He was dull and had no conversation. His table manners were slovenly.' Carole remembers the last conversation she had with her daughter. 'She was learning to drive. I'd said, 'You can practise this weekend,' and she was looking forward to doing some show-jumping. Then the last thing I said to her was, 'Make sure you do your revision, won't you?' That afternoon their lives became a waking nightmare. Carole returned from work to find the road to her home swarming with police; her access to the house and Ellie blocked. 'I thought: 'There's an ambulance and paramedics there. Surely they can do something?' Matt and I were sitting in the back of a police car. We didn't want to leave Ellie, but they couldn't let us into the house. It was a crime scene. 'The police had seen the knife in her neck by then. There was talk about it possibly being suicide and it breaks my heart to even think that was a suggestion.' Matthew adds: 'But pretty soon afterwards, the police were asking us if she had a boyfriend, and the next-door neighbour described a young man coming to the door with a hood up, fitting his profile.' Carole goes on: 'And then the penny dropped. 'We were utterly destroyed; in complete shock. 'A couple of days later we went to see Ellie and it was really hard. She looked very peaceful in a white gown and they had put plasters over the stab wounds in her neck. I want Griffiths' mother to read that; what her son did,' she cries. Inevitably, the police investigation and court case brought additional stress. Carole says: 'Our barrister said: 'We're expecting him to get 12 and a half years' and you want to scream and shout. 'No! That can't be the outcome! You haven't got that right.' Their rage is volcanic. 'I believe in an eye for an eye. 'Twelve years is deemed a life sentence for someone of 17, but it isn't life, is it? Is this really British justice at its best?' 'We were happy people before this,' says Carole. 'It's not just us. The ripple effect on wider family and friends has been so wide. One person has caused so much damage to so many. It's just wrong.' There has been much, too, that has compounded their grief and outrage. Griffiths' parents and younger brother remain in the area; a proximity they find unbearable. 'I went to their house on the anniversary of Ellie's death,' says Carole. 'I wanted them to carry with them the image of the pain in my eyes. 'They said, 'Our lives have been destroyed as well.' 'But I can't let anger ruin my life. I have to channel it through Ellie's charities, through Riding For The Disabled, and by standing up for women who are killed by men.' Even so, she cannot suppress her frustration that the justice system is skewed, she believes, in favour of the perpetrator. Like all prisoners serving sentences for murders committed when they were under 18, Griffiths will be eligible to have his tariff reviewed half way through his jail term. 'If he has made 'exceptional progress' he will be able to apply to have his sentence reduced,' says Carole. 'Some prisoners have had a year taken off their sentence and that's just wrong, isn't it?' They remember back to the court case. 'Griffiths stood in the dock with his head down. 'He did not look up at us at all. He was a coward,' says Carole. In a letter read to the court by his barrister, Griffiths expressed 'heartfelt remorse' and said that he had been under a number of stresses, including his father's cancer diagnosis, as well as exam pressure. Carole is not convinced: 'He has not shown proper remorse. He has never explained why he killed our daughter. 'We think about what might have been. Ellie used to talk about her future . . . this monster has taken it all away. 'The most difficult times are the milestones. A-level results week was terrible. Her 18th birthday was awful. 'And then every Friday we watch the clock and think about what happened. 'We cannot leave this house because although Ellie died here, she also spent her entire life here. We wouldn't want to move because there are happy memories, too. 'We have left her bedroom just as it was on that day. 'We keep the window shut because the room still smells of her perfume. Her school bag is as she left it. 'But all I have left of my precious daughter is a box of ashes and a lock of her hair.' By Kazeem Ugbodaga An helicopter has crashed into a building at Salvation Road, Opebi area of Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. The helicopter reportedly crashed around 12:15pm on Friday. However, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, confirmed the crash, saying that response team of the agency was on their way to the area. The Accident investigation Bureau AIB said it had just received report of the accident involving an Helicopter in Opebi Area of Lagos. Spokesperson AIB, Tunji Oketunbi said they have deployed their crew to the scene. Director General, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu confirmed the accident. He said the agency received distress calls concerning a privately operated helicopter that crashed into 16 A Salvation Road, Opebi, Ikeja and that the agency immediately activated the emergency response plan. Oke-Osanyintolu said the helicopter was carrying three people, and that one was in the intensive care unit at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital while the other two were killed on impact and there bodies had been deposited in mortuary . We are on top of challenges, especially crowd control. Operation is ongoing and updates will follow, he said. Related NORCROSS, Ga., Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- StandUp Wireless announced that beginning today, it will upgrade all Louisiana and Texas customers to unlimited talk and text and 3GB of data for the next 30 days in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Laura so customers can connect to essential services and loved ones as they work to rebuild. The Category 4 Hurricane made landfall in Louisiana on Thursday as one of the strongest storms on record, bringing catastrophic storm surge, extreme winds and flash-flooding to the Gulf Coast. Access to wireless cellphone services is critical in the aftermath of disaster as communities and families begin the process of rebuilding. StandUp Wireless is committed to keeping its thousands of low-income customers in Louisiana and Texas connected to emergency services, medical care, shelter, family and friends during the crisis. "Our hearts go out to all residents along the Gulf Coast who were in the path of Hurricane Laura," said Eric Schimpf, chief operating officer at StandUp Wireless. "StandUp Wireless is committed to providing all the support we can to our customers and our communities. Our hope is to keep them connected to friends, family and emergency services they may need as the process of rebuilding begins." "Residents in Louisiana and Texas have a lot of things on their mind during this time. Worrying about how many minutes they have left on their cellphone plan shouldn't be one of them," Schimpf said. Unlimited talk and text benefits include 3GB of data and are available to StandUp Wireless customers in the two states through Sept. 27. StandUp Wireless partners with the federal government's Lifeline program to offer discounted wireless service to people participating in programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, Veterans Pension and Federal Public Housing, or based on household income. Lifeline is administered by the Universal Service Fund and allows eligible households to maintain a single mobile or home telephone line to ensure access to job, family and emergency services. Louisiana and Texas residents can find out if they qualify for the program at StandUpWireless.com/apply-now. Since 1999, StandUp Wireless has connected hundreds of thousands of customers to wireless services through the Lifeline program. The company's mission is to keep communities connected by providing wireless access to those who need it most. To learn more about StandUp Wireless and Kentucky's unlimited voice plan, visit www.standupwireless.com. About StandUp Wireless For nearly 20 years, StandUp Wireless has connected hundreds of thousands of customers to what matters most, serving as a lifeline to family, employment opportunities, friends, healthcare providers and more. Licensed by the Universal Fund's Lifeline program in 30 states and Puerto Rico, StandUp Wireless operates on the nation's largest and fastest 4G network to bring free wireless cellphone and internet services to low-income Americans. For more information, visit https://standupwireless.com/. Contact: Krystan Krailler, 513-257-7262, [email protected] SOURCE StandUp Wireless National Guard troops stand guard inside of a fenced area that surrounds several government buildings in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 27, 2020. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Kenosha Demonstrations Dwindle, Remain Peaceful Overnight Black Lives Matter demonstrations in the Wisconsin city where three nights of rioting took place remained peaceful overnight as the number of people gathering dwindled to about 100. Demonstrators defied the curfew imposed by Kenosha officials to try to keep the peace, assembling around a park near a courthouse that rioters set on fire on Sunday night. Law enforcement officers occasionally rolled into the area in vehicles to make a handful of isolated, apparently targeted arrests of individual protesters, who were swiftly surrounded by police, grabbed, and whisked away. Investigations into arson and other crimes committed earlier in the week are ongoing, authorities said at a briefing on Thursday. The core group of remaining demonstrators, carrying a few Black Lives Matter signs and chanting, No justice, no peace, gradually diminished to several dozen huddled in the park as the night wore on. Earlier Thursday, the Kenosha Police Department announced it had seized helmets, gas masks, protective vests, illegal fireworks, and suspected controlled substances from a minivan with out-of-state license plates. The vehicle was moving in concert with two others with out-of-state plates. The Trump administration surged officers and agents to Kenosha this week and Michigan, Arizona, and Alabama National Guard troops were being added to the Wisconsin National Guard force already on the ground, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said. People march during a protest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 27, 2020. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) Things calmed down Wednesday, with little violence reported. Demonstrators marched through residential areas, attempting to wake families up in their homes. Since Wednesday, the entire atmosphere of Kenosha has changed dramatically as far as the people who live here. And I think the crowds last night were small. There was a few hundred people and they walked peacefully through Kenosha and they did exactly what they wanted to do as far as the protest to make people know their concerns, but they did it without violence, Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth told reporters at the briefing. In contrast to previous nights, we didnt see streams of cars coming in from outside the county, he added. I can tell you from the law enforcement standpoint, the situation is much calmer, Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis said. The chaos that started Sunday culminated in gunshots on Tuesday night. A 17-year-old Illinois teenager was arrested and charged with homicide and attempted homicide after allegedly killing two and wounding another. He is being represented by a prominent law firm, whose clients have included President Donald Trumps personal attorney Rudolph Giuliani. The situation was sparked by the police shooting of Jacob Blake, 29, after police were called because a woman said he was at her home but shouldnt have been. Rioters smash windows at the Kenosha County Administration Building 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) Officers tried arresting Blake, deploying a stun gun, but he escaped and walked around his vehicle, opening the drivers side door and leaning forward, investigators with the Wisconsin Department of Justice said. While holding onto Mr. Blakes shirt, Officer Rusten Sheskey fired his service weapon seven times, the departments latest update stated. Blake was rushed to the hospital and has undergone multiple surgeries. He admitted to investigators that he had a knife in his possession. Prosecutors are waiting for a report from the department before deciding whether to press charges against Sheskey, who was put on leave with the other police involved. Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, a Democrat, told reporters at a briefing Thursday that the investigation is ongoing, but we dont need an investigation to know that blight shooting falls in a long and painful pattern of violence. And this is a pattern of violence that happens against black lives too often across this country, he said. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (L) speaks at a news conference with Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 27, 2020. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, said he was concerned by reports that Blake is handcuffed in his hospital bed. Hes paid a terrific price already been shot seven or eight times in the back. So I cant imagine why thats happening, he said. Blake was charged last month with sexual assault, trespassing, and disorderly conduct, according to a criminal complaint obtained by The Epoch Times. Several Wisconsin police associations wrote a letter to the governor this week, describing remarks hes made since the shooting as premature, judgmental, inflammatory. A continued pattern of statements and press releases based on opinion and unsubstantiated claims puts peoples lives at risk. These are not peaceful protests. There have already been two deaths and many injuries. Continued remarks like those already made by each of you have also put the lives of law enforcement officers, National Guardsman and the public at risk, they wrote. Evers insisted he was only stating facts. We have an African American man who was shot seven or eight times in the back. So as he was attempting to get into his car, and thats what I said, he said. The American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday, meanwhile, called for the resignations of Beth, Miskinis, and Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian, arguing they had mishandled the response to Blakes shooting. Reuters contributed to this report. Hope Gap (cinemas, Curzon, 12A) Verdict: A marriage cliffhanger Rating: Matthias And Maxime (MUBI) Verdict: A friendship overheats Rating: She Dies Tomorrow (cinemas, Curzon, 15) Verdict: As tedious as it sounds Rating: Bill Nighy and Annette Bening messily uncouple three decades of middle-class marriage in Hope Gap. The problem is that Edward (Nighy) knows the break-up is coming, while Grace (Bening) has no idea. We do, though. Their conversation is like a ping-pong game of passive aggression and unspoken resentment played out over the kitchen table. Something has to give. Bill Nighy and Annette Bening (pictured) messily uncouple three decades of middle-class marriage in Hope Gap The problem is that Edward (Nighy), who is a semi-retired history teacher, knows the break-up is coming, Grace (Bening) has no idea Edward is a semi-retired history teacher who favours dowdy cashmere pullovers and avoiding conflict. Grace potters about reading poetry on her computer, but also has a demanding side, bolstered by her unswerving Catholic faith. When the couple's twentysomething son Jamie (The Crown's Prince Charles, Josh O'Connor) arrives for the weekend, Edward confides in him... a burden no child should bear. Soon the kitchen table goes flying with all the crockery and battle begins. Grace is terrifying in her anger, green eyes piercing with holier-than-thou moral superiority. This is followed by near-suicidal depression their house is conveniently located near the Hope Gap beach and white cliffs in Seaford, East Sussex, and the script indulges in several cliffhangers. The film was adapted by director William Nicholson from his 1999 play The Retreat From Moscow, but never quite expands to fit the big screen. While the cast cannot be faulted, the stagey back-and-forth domestic dialogue runs at full pelt when it might be better to show and not tell. Classical Muzak coupled with shots of white cliffs do not a movie make. Their house is conveniently located near the Hope Gap beach and white cliffs in Seaford, East Sussex, and the script indulges in several cliffhangers Nor does panning round discarded household objects as reminders of the past. Perhaps the play did this better, too, but Edward's references to Napoleonic soldiers left to die by their comrades on the retreat from Moscow are blindingly obvious. 'In extremis men can be cruel,' he tells his history class but not his wife. What's somehow radical here, however, is the way the film mostly follows Grace's point of view, and she is a difficult creature, hard to empathise with. But she is both magnificent and awful in a scene in a solicitor's office. The most amusing moment of revenge occurs when Grace gets a labrador puppy and names him Edward. At least the dog is willing to have his tummy tickled. Hope Gap reminded me of another intelligent dissection of the unspoken tensions of a long marriage 2015's 45 Years, starring Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay. Brilliant, devastating and definitely worth streaming, too. Sometimes tender, sometimes unexpectedly brutal, Matthias And Maxime questions the lifelong friendship of two men, after they end up kissing in a friend's film. Sometimes tender, sometimes unexpectedly brutal, Matthias And Maxime questions the lifelong friendship of two men, after they end up kissing in a friend's film The talented 31-year-old French-Canadian filmmaker Xavier Dolan directs, writes and plays Maxime in the drama, which opens with a reunion at a lakeside house. Maxime is gay. His friend Matt is a straight, sharp-suited lawyer with a steady girlfriend. When someone's annoying little sister, a film student, persuades them to kiss on the sofa for a video, convention falls apart and causes them to question their lives. They end up sharing a waterbed, platonically. Arty swimming scenes also ensue. Time ticks by as Maxime plans to move to Australia, but Dolan's film refuses to take the obvious route, and immerses the viewer in the men's separate lives. Maxime's relationship with his ex-alcoholic mother (Anne Dorval) is brilliantly realised, the anger bursting like a boil. The meandering film often shows a seedy side of Canada, which upends the usual cliches. She Dies Tomorrow is a woozy, pretentious drama about a young woman who suddenly becomes convinced her end is nigh. She Dies Tomorrow is a woozy, pretentious drama about a young woman who suddenly becomes convinced her end is nigh. Pictured, Kate Shell and Kentucker Audley Soon Amy's death paranoia (above) infects everyone she meets, including her scientist friend Jane (Jane Adams), who studies mysterious microscopic viruses Kate Lyn Sheil plays Amy, who has a freakout which involves wandering around drunk in a silver evening dress, armed with a leafblower. She scopes out cremation urns online and considers having herself made into a leather jacket for posterity. Soon Amy's death paranoia infects everyone she meets, including her scientist friend Jane (Jane Adams), who studies mysterious microscopic viruses that loom luridly on the screen. The American film was written and directed by Amy Seimetz long before coronavirus, and could do with a new ending. Whole dinner parties of middleclass folk hallucinate that they're doomed. All very self-indulgent. Spy-fi thriller's mind-bogglingly good Tenet (cinemas, 12A) Verdict: Get back, back to the movies Rating: The blockbuster that's supposed to bring light to thousands of darkened cinemas around Britain is out now and worth the wait. Christopher Nolan's spy thriller is a mind-boggling and timebending spectacle which will leave audiences high on kinetic energy. The no-expense-spared action includes a bullet-pumping bunker bust, a crash staged using a real Boeing 747, and astonishing car chases that literally enter another dimension. Christopher Nolan's spy thriller Tenet, starring Elizabeth Debicki and John David Washington (above), is a mind-boggling spectacle which will leave audiences high on kinetic energy It stars John David Washington, pictured, as a U.S. secret agent called The Protagonist, and Robert Pattinson as his deceptively languid British counterpart Neil. They try to foil Andrei, a psychotic ex-Soviet arms dealer (Kenneth Branagh with a hokey accent) who has dastardly plans. So far, so Bond. But Nolan takes the spy game to chess grandmaster level, as time inverts in a parallel universe. The British director has played similar tricks in previous films Interstellar and Memento, but there is surprising pleasure here in seeing events reel crazily backwards. Even the film's title is a palindrome. Washington (BlacKkKlansman) is a smart, muscular hero, as comfy dispatching foes in SWAT team gear as he is in a Savile Row suit. John David Washington is a smart, muscular hero, as comfy dispatching foes in SWAT team gear as he is in a Savile Row suit Pattinson leaves Twilight behind as a too-cool-for-public- school chap with a steely interior. Elizabeth Debicki plays Andrei's wife Kat, an elegant English rose gone rampant, trapped in a marriage which takes coercive control to new heights. But there's barely time to catch your breath as Tenet bounces from India to Estonia, Norway to London, with a stopoff on a superyacht moored off Italy. The clever, exhilarating comeback that cinemas have been hoping for. Get Duked (Amazon) Verdict: Horror-comic Highland fling Rating: This is a teen comedy pitched somewhere between The Inbetweeners and Trainspotting as four 16-year-old misfits are sent on a Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition into the Scottish Highlands. It has lots of up-your-kilt attitude and was made for peanuts by music video director Ninian Doff. Get Duked is a teen comedy pitched somewhere between The Inbetweeners and Trainspotting, starring Eddie Izzard as a local duke and Georgie Glen (above) in its adult cast Four 16-year-old misfits are sent on a Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition into the Scottish Highlands, but the trip becomes more a psychedelic, rap-fuelled rampage The adult cast includes Eddie Izzard as a local duke, plus Kate Dickie and Kevin Guthrie as bumbling, Hot Fuzz-style police. Facing expulsion from school, Duncan (Lewis Gribben), Dean (Rian Gordon) and DJ Beetroot (Viraj Juneja) are sent to man up in the mountains, along with the irritatingly enthusiastic, homeschooled Ian (Samuel Bottomley). The trip becomes less educational, and more a psychedelic, rap-fuelled rampage, as the posh huntin' shootin' and fishin' fraternity take exception to the councilestate 'vermin' roaming their land, culminating in a battle fought with rifles, swords and cup-a-soup. Thomas K. Gilhool, 81, of Philadelphia, a lawyer who fought for the rights of children, the disabled, and the poor, died Saturday, Aug. 22, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston after suffering a heart attack while on vacation. Mr. Gilhool was lead counsel in two landmark federal cases that changed treatment of the nations disabled people. He believed they had civil rights that could be enforced through litigation, something that hadnt been done before. Those who knew Tom recall his creativity, passionate spirit, perseverance, driving energy, and leadership, said a statement from the Public Interest Law Center, where he was chief counsel for a quarter century. When he found a path forward for advancing justice, he inspired others to follow and gave them the tools and knowledge to do so. In Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1971), he argued the state must guarantee a free public school education to children with intellectual disabilities. Previously, they had been barred from public school. The case eventually resulted in a 1975 federal law now called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It mandated that an individualized education program (IEP) be created for each student. In the second case, Halderman v. Pennhurst State School and Hospital (1974) Mr. Gilhool argued that the segregation of Pennhurst residents and the harsh conditions to which they were exposed violated their constitutional right to equal treatment under the law. In 1977, U.S. District Court Judge Raymond Broderick ruled that isolation at the institution for the mentally and physically disabled was clearly separate and not equal. He ordered the state to place residents in the community with appropriate social services. After appeals were exhausted, Pennhurst closed in 1987. Mr. Gilhools work sparked a national movement for the removal of the disabled from asylums, but it also resonated personally with Mr. Gilhool whose brother, Bob, was developmentally disabled. When his father died in 1954, Mr. Gilhool persuaded his mother to send Bob, then 10, to Pennhurst. I remember telling her it was just like a college campus, to my everlasting shame, Mr. Gilhool said in a 2008 Inquirer article. We could have invented something, even then, to keep him at home. His brother left Pennhurst in 1961 and is in a group home. Born in Ardmore, Mr. Gilhool came from a family of Pennsylvania miners who struggled during the Great Depression. He knew his lifes work would be advocating for the downtrodden. I somehow knew and I think it came directly from my mother and father there is no greater happiness than participating in struggles to rearrange things, he said in an oral history recorded from 2004 to 2008 by the Disability Rights and Independent Living Movement Project at the University of California. As a young attorney, Mr. Gilhool was part of the first generation of legal service lawyers, helping to support the founding of Community Legal Services. He ran unsuccessfully for Philadelphia City Council twice in the late 1960s and supported welfare rights groups in the city. He earned a bachelors degree from Lehigh University in 1960, and both a masters degree in political science and a law degree from Yale University in 1964, the same year he married law school classmate Gillian Russell. After law school, he joined the Philadelphia law firm Dilworth Paxson, where he worked on the Girard College case. Stephen Girard had left a fortune in the 1840s to fund a school for poor white male orphans. In the 1960s, civil rights leaders fought to integrate the school. And so, I became the guy who worked with Cecil B. Moore, the NAACP leader, in finding plaintiffs, Mr. Gilhool said. In 1968, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled that Girard College must accept Black students. In 1975, he joined the Public Interest Law Center. He worked on numerous lawsuits, including one to ensure that severely impaired children received instruction in school and not just custodial care. One important thing he did was hire some amazing people and establish an agenda, said his wife, Gillian. He served as Gov. Robert P. Caseys secretary of education from 1987 to 1989, then taught eighth grade for a year at Phillys tough Vaux Middle School. Besides his brother, Bob, and his wife, Gillian, he is survived by a daughter, Bridget Russell Gilhool; a son, Nicholas Kane Gilhool; four grandchildren; and a sister. Plans for a memorial celebration were pending. Photo: CTV News The Trump International Hotel in Vancouver is closing, according to employees. CTV News is reporting the hotel, which opened in 2017 amid controversy, has been closed due to COVID-19 since April. That closure was expected to be temporary, but now, a staff member reached by phone Friday said the hotel is no longer taking reservations as it has been closed. The front entrance to the lobby is boarded up and the hotels online booking system is down. The employee told CTV the closure was still new information to employees. Its not clear how many people will lose their jobs. The Trump family does not own the hotel, but rather licenses out the use of the name to developer Holborn Group, which has yet to comment. with files from CTV Vancouver The fascist gunman responsible for mass shootings at two Christchurch mosques on March 15, 2019, was sentenced yesterday to life in prison with no possibility of parole. Brenton Tarrant had earlier pled guilty to 51 charges of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one charge of committing an act of terrorism. It is the first time such a sentence has been handed down in New Zealand. Christchurch High Court Judge Cameron Mander said the gunman was motivated by base hatred of people perceived to be different and showed no mercy. You ignored the pleas of the wounded to be spared. You advanced on them, stood over them and shot them. A lawyer speaking on Tarrants behalf said he did not oppose the sentence. The gunman made no other statement, contrary to some predictions that he would use the hearing to espouse his white supremacist and fascist ideology. The sentence was delivered after three days of hearings during which 93 people delivered victim impact statements. They included relatives of those killed, as well as survivors of the massacre. Sara Qasem, whose father Abdelfattah was killed, said: I no longer feel safe in my own home, in my own country and I [will] always carry this heavy stone in my heart for a tragedy that was one tragedy too many. Hamimah Tuyan, who lost her husband Zekeriya, addressed Tarrant, saying: You put bullets into my husband and he fought death for 48 days, 18 surgeries until his last breath. My eldest son has only five years worth of memories with his father. My wee one much less, not enough. Tony Green, a spokesman for the Al Noor mosque which was targeted in the attack, told Radio NZ he and others were relieved by the sentence, but added that there are some serious questions to be asked about how the attack could occur. Ferroze Ditta, general secretary of the Muslim Association of Canterbury, who was injured in the attack, said there were mixed reactions to the terrorists decision not to speak. Tarrants guilty plea means he has not faced any public questioning during a trial about how he was able to carry out the attack, whether he had accomplices, and the source of his fascist motivations. Ditta, Green and the Islamic Womens Council have called for the release of an interview conducted with the terrorist by the Royal Commission of Inquiry set up by the Labour Party-led government ostensibly to investigate the attack. The inquiry, which has been held entirely in secret, is due to release a report on November 26. The government will then decide what information is made public, including about why the police and intelligence agencies did not prevent the attack and whether they had prior knowledge of Tarrants activities. Norwegian journalist Asne Seierstad, who wrote extensively about the 2011 massacre by Anders Breivik, one of Tarrants idols, told Radio NZ on Wednesday: Tarrant and many of the shooters in America, they have announced their shooting [online] sometimes 24 hours ahead. Where were the authorities then? Two days before his attack, Tarrant posted anti-Islamic images on Facebook, including a clear threat against Al Noor mosque (see: Why was the New Zealand terrorist attack not prevented?). In 2016, Tarrant was reported to Australian police for making a death threat on social media, but the complaint was dismissed. The following year the Bruce Rifle Club near Dunedin, where Tarrant practiced shooting, was reported to New Zealand police by someone alarmed by the racist and violent language used by club members. Again, the complaint was not followed up. In an extraordinary statement following the sentencing, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern basically demanded an end to public discussion about Tarrant. She told a press conference: The other job we have is making sure that he has no notoriety, that he has no platform, and that we have no cause to think about him, to see him or to hear from him again. [emphasis added] In response to Arderns earlier requests for the media not to report on the gunmans ideology, New Zealands major media companies had agreed to censor statements made by Tarrant during court proceedings and avoid quoting from his manifesto. The document was banned by the state censor shortly after the attack, in order to prevent discussion about its contents, including his admiration for US President Donald Trump, and the similarity of his anti-immigrant and anti-socialist views to those of established political parties. These include the right-wing nationalist NZ First Party, which is part of the Labour-led coalition government. The manifesto also notes that far-right extremists frequently join the armed forces. Several members of the fascist group Action Zealandia, which shares Tarrants views, have served in the NZ military. One unnamed member has been arrested for allegedly sharing restricted military information. It is not known whether the group had any contact with Tarrant, who was known in fascist circles in Australia. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, who leads NZ First, declared yesterday that this terrorist should be returned to the country that raised him, Australia, to serve his sentence. Such statements are aimed at denying the role New Zealands political and media establishment has played in encouraging the anti-Islamic and racist sentiments which influenced Tarrant. Peters himself has repeatedly smeared Muslims as potential terrorists and has demanded that immigrants made redundant during the pandemic should go home. NZ First is leading an anti-Chinese campaign to justify NZs integration into US-led war preparations. Successive governments, led by the Labour and National Parties, sent troops to the illegal US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They poured money into the spy agencies to target the Muslim community in New Zealand and carry out mass surveillance while ignoring the growing danger of white supremacist violence. Arderns government has exploited the terrorist attack to further boost the powers of the state. Through the Christchurch Call initiative, she has led a campaign by governments internationally for increased censorship of social media, which Ardern and other governments have blamed for encouraging terrorism (see: New Zealand government introduces internet censorship legislation). The reality is that the extreme right is being fostered internationally, including in the US, Germany, Australia and New Zealand, by governments, media commentators and academics, and protected by state agencies. The aim is to divert rising working-class anger over social inequality away from the capitalist system, onto foreigners and other minorities. YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the violation of the rights of officer Gurgen Alaverdyan who appeared under the Azerbaijani jurisdiction. ARMENPRESS presents the statement: We strongly condemn the degrading treatment of the officer Gurgen Alaverdyan, who appeared under the Azerbaijani jurisdiction on August 22. This is a flagrant and gross violation of the international humanitarian law. By publicly violating the dignity of Gurgen Alaverdyan, Azerbaijan denies the right of the prisoners of war to be entitled in all circumstances to respect for their persons and their honour which is asserted by civilized humanity and enshrined in the Third Geneva Convention. Such practice represents a distinctive method of notorious terrorist organizations and, as we can observe, of Azerbaijan as well. The dictatorial regime of Azerbaijan, while feeding its people with disgraceful propaganda and Armenophobia, covers up the serious setbacks of its armed forces in the July battles by coercing the prisoner of war to read out its sham narratives. The fact that Azerbaijan is one of the few countries to have refused to ratify all the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions also demonstrates their disregard of the international humanitarian law. The continuous violations of international humanitarian law by Azerbaijan seriously undermine the establishment of an environment conducive to peace. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday (August 28) ordered that no state government and universities can promote final year students without holding final year university examinations amid the COVID-19 pandemic, reported news agency PTI. However, the Court gave states the discretion to approach the University Grants Commission (UGC) for an extension of the deadline by which final year exams should be completed. A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said if any state feels they can't conduct exams by that date, they must approach the UGC for new dates to hold the exam, said PTI. The Supreme Court on Tuesday (August 18) had reserved its order on a batch of pleas challenging a circular of the University Grants Commission (UGC) mandating to conduct the final term exams in all affiliated universities by the end of September. The UGC, through an affidavit, had earlier told the Supreme Court that the decision of Delhi and Maharashtra government of cancelling the final term examination directly will "directly impact the standards of higher education in the country". The affidavit was filed in on a batch of pleas challenging UGC's July 6 circular and seeking cancellation of final term examination in view of COVID-19 situation. Earlier, the UGC had said that the July 6 guidelines are based on recommendations of experts and have been made after due deliberation and it is wrong to claim that it will not be possible to conduct the final examinations in terms of the guidelines. Chris White, vice president operations (right) with Johnny Rivers, Vietnam War veteran and recipient of the Got You Covered program roof This doesnt cover half of what we owe him and his fellow brothers and sisters in arms, but its my belief that no veteran should ever worry about having a roof over their familys heads. - Sam Boak Boak & Sons, Inc. is a residential and commercial contracting company in Youngstown, Ohio that specializes in roofing, insulation, siding and gutters. The company has a strong reputation in the area for giving back to the community. With many past and present members of the armed forces employed at Boak & Sons, the military holds a strong place in the heart of the company. This summer, the company announced they will be starting a program called Got You Covered which will donate a new roof to a local veteran in need. As the first year dedicated to the Got You Covered program, Boak & Sons is taking extensive measures to make sure the project is done right. Boak & Sons partnered with the Mahoning Valley Veterans Service Commission (MVVSC) in Youngstown to find a recipient of the program. MVVSC assists veterans, their spouses, widows, dependents, etc. with their benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the State of Ohio. They also provide transportation, administer a temporary relief program for financial aid among many other services to the veterans of the Mahoning County region. Susan Krawchyk, department head of the MVVSC, shared the request with her commissioners to help Boak & Sons find the right candidate. MVVSCC requires an application from veterans to qualify for this program with specific requirements such as proof of service, service status and era of service. Through that vetting process, they found Vietnam Veteran Johnny Rivers. 75year-old Johnny Rivers enlisted in the army in 1963 as an enlisted soldier in the A company, 1st Battalion 503rd Infantry. He now lives in Youngstown with his 13-year-old twin daughters. Rivers came to the MVVSC looking for help finding someone to fix his roof after Boak & Sons had already asked the commission to help them find a candidate for their Got You Covered program. Rivers application was approved and the company is now putting the project together to replace the roof of his home. This year has been hard for our entire community, said Sam Boak, president and founder of Boak & Sons, Inc. Boak & Sons has always been about giving back, but it just seems to mean much more this year. Got You Covered was a dream we had a few months ago, but it wasnt hard to just reach out and make the right connections to turn it into a reality. I hope other businesses like us take the time to open their eyes, take a look around and start addressing the help that is so direly needed right in our own back yard. Other companies have already stepped up to help Boak & Sons with this project. Owens Corning, one of the top global companies in roofing material supply, is donating 100% of the materials needed for this project. Boak & Sons is even partnering with a local landscaping company, My Second Nature, to spruce up the landscaping around Rivers home. This is a man who dedicated a portion of his life to our nations freedom, said Sam Boak. This doesnt cover half of what we owe him and his fellow brothers and sisters in arms, but its my belief that no veteran should ever worry about having a roof over their familys heads. To learn more about the Got You Covered program and to stay updated on the status of the project, visit the Boak & Sons Facebook page or their website at http://www.boakandsons.com. If you know of or are a veteran in need of a roof, contact the Mahoning Valley Veterans Service Commission at https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/568/Veterans-Service-Commission. You can also learn more about Owens Corning and My Second Nature by visiting https://www.owenscorning.com/ or https://www.mysecondnature.com/. Businesses who are looking to get involved in a project like this should also contact the Mahoning Valley Veterans Service Commission and call to those who have served. 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/ Jammu: Seven people were killed, when the vehicle they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, police said on Thursday. The incident occurred last night in Paddar belt of the district. The vehicle skidded off the Kishtwar-Himachal Pradesh road and rolled down into 500-foot deep gorge, a police officer said. "Seven persons travelling in the vehicle including its driver were killed in the mishap," he said. Bodies of all the victims were recovered, the officer said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. A partnership between the Bachman Foundation and Cleveland State Community College is benefiting all students as the institutions Fall 2020 semester gets underway.A $10,000 gift from the Bachman Foundation has made the purchase of a two-year license for the Kurzweil Software System possible. The new system is helping Cleveland State Community College assist all students, including those with learning disabilities and other obstacles this semester. The gift also helped purchase Echo Livescribe smart pens which assist students with note taking.The latest research shows that 1 in 5 collegiate students have some sort of learning disability.However, three out of every four students with a learning disability do not report it to the college they attend. However, this latest purchase by Cleveland State will not only assist those with learning disabilities. It has something to offer everyone. This text-to-speech software, that was only available to students with disabilities, will now be available to all Cleveland State students, said Juliann Mathis, Cleveland State Disability Services coordinator.A CSCC sophomore from Cleveland who is using the new software said it is all about the details. The Kurzweil software helps me by making sure that I do not miss any important details in a question while I am taking a test, said the student. This is a very important factor for me.The Kurzweil Software System provides features to assist English Language Learners, those with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and other learning disabilities to succeed alongside their peers. Additionally, the system also has tools to help those battling other obstacles. From college students with very busy schedules beyond their coursework and studies, to military veterans who have needs not seen in typical adult students returning to the classroom, this is a gift that will impact many at CSCC.The tools this software provides to Cleveland State will help our students with, as well as without, learning disabilities," said Mark Wilson, Cleveland State director of Counseling and Career Services. This will truly be helpful to so many students who come to Cleveland State. Basically, this gift from the Bachman Foundation will make a powerful impact for so many.From assisting those with reading disabilities in taking examinations to effectively allowing learners to read, comprehend and demonstrate knowledge independently, the Kurzweil Software System can be of assistance to any collegiate student. TOJOY Global CEO Ge Jun voiced his confidence that TOJOY could indeed become the next trillion-dollar valuated company. Ge pointed out similarities that TOJOY's model has with Apple where Ge worked as an executive for years as the company built itself into the world's first company with a trillion-dollar valuation. Ge said that Apple had succeeded by integrating the world's best production capabilities with world class software development and visual and ergonomic design. Ge felt that TOJOY is doing something similar as it integrates the shared resources of over 800,000 active entrepreneurs on the TOJOY platform to accelerate businesses. With millions of entrepreneurs worldwide ready to put their own resources towards promising business models, the market is large. Ge also explained why he feels TOJOY will become a trillion-dollar valued company. "TOJOY has accelerated 229 projects, delivering rapid growth through services in exchange for equity," said Ge. "In another five years, TOJOY can reach 2,000 to 3,000 accelerated companies. In accordance with the value growth created for these companies, it is expected that TOJOY will grow to a trillion-dollar market value." Ge said he believes that enterprise-level services such as TOJOY's will increasingly be in demand over the next 20 years. According to Ge, there is no other business ecosystem comparable to the forest-like one Mr. Li described that TOJOY has created. "Platform + Sharing" model hopes to create the next super unicorn The resilience of this platform was shown by TOJOY's continued business growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Having prepared a global collaborative digital business platform in advance, TOJOY was able to take its full business online quickly at the start of the pandemic. This not only brought its Unicorn Business Opportunity Sharing Conferences online, but also enabled all 7,000 of its employees to work remotely. Even before China's pandemic recovery, the TOJOY Entrepreneur Cloud app hosted nearly 30 online China Unicorn Business Opportunity Sharing Conferences and released more than 100 high-quality projects. In its first online/offline event following the pandemic, the 2020 China Unicorn Carnival, TOJOY announced that 34 projects that were incubated on the TOJOY Sharing Platform have collectively launched plans to list publicly. This brings TOJOY one step closer to its goal of a trillion-dollar valuation. TOJOY plans to continue helping innovative companies grow into large companies it refers to as "big trees", and thus grow its ecosystem into a lush "forest". With this system it hopes to become the next trillion-dollar valuation super unicorn. SOURCE ToJoy Shared Holding Group Co., Ltd. Related Links https://en.tojoy.com/ Further reports of doorstep criminals targeting Wrexham homes after 6,000 stolen from one resident This article is old - Published: Friday, Aug 28th, 2020 A fresh warning has been warning after further reports of doorstep criminals targeting households in the Wrexham area. It comes after a man, who lives in the Beeches area of Wrexham, had 6,000 stolen yesterday. Three men in a green van offered to clean the homeowners guttering for 30. However when he went to pay, he found a man coming down his stairs. Later he found that thousands of pounds have been stolen. Earlier today Wrexham.com reported that a warning has been issued by police after reports of a distraction burglary gang operating in the Wrexham area. The group have gained entry into the homes of elderly people in Salisbury Road, Wrexham on August 26 and Heol Gwenallt, Coedpoeth on August 27. Any information can be reported to North Wales Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Scientists have created the first full map of mosquito immune cells and found a new type of cell that could have a role in how mosquitoes are able to fight off malaria. The findings, published in the journal Science, could help scientists uncover new ways of preventing mosquitoes from spreading the malaria parasite to people and break the chain of transmission, the researchers said. Malaria affects more than 200 million people worldwide and killed an estimated 405,000 people in 2018 - most of them babies and children under five years old. It is caused by Plasmodium parasites, which are spread in the bites of female Anopheles mosquitoes. We discovered a rare but important new cell type, which we called a megacyte, which could be involved in immune priming and which appears to switch on further immune responses to the Plasmodium parasite, said Oliver Billker, a molecular infection expert at Swedens Umea University, who co-led the work. The mosquito immune system controls how the insect can transmit parasites or viruses, Billkers team explained in the study, but until now, scientists knew little about the cell types involved. The team studied both Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, which transmit malaria, and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which carry viruses that cause other human infectious diseases such as Dengue fever, Chikungunya and Zika. They analysed more than 8,500 individual immune cells to see exactly which genes were switched on in each cell and to identify molecular markers for each unique cell type. Mosquitos appear to have a sweet spot of immunity to parasites like malaria, with enough immunity to the infection that it doesnt kill the mosquito but not enough to remove the parasite, said Sarah Teichmann, an expert at Britains Wellcome Sanger Institute who co-led the study. (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 London, Aug 28 : Chelsea FC has completed the signing of Brazilian defender Thiago Silva, who has signed a one-year contract with the club, having the option of a further 12 months. His time as a Paris Saint-German player was coming to an end was one of the sub-plots on the big stage of the Champions League final at the weekend and he has opted to cross the English Channel to continue his long and distinguished career. "I am so happy to be joining Chelsea. I am delighted to be a part of Frank Lampard's exciting squad for next season and I'm here to challenge for honours. See you soon Chelsea fans, I look forward to playing at Stamford Bridge very soon," said Silva. Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said: "We are delighted to be able to add a player of Thiago Silva's proven world-class credentials to our squad. "Having performed at the highest level for many years, we have no doubt his experience and quality will complement the many exciting talents we already have here. "Thiago will be an excellent fit and we hope he can add some new trophies to his impressive list of honours," he added. His signing follows the addition on Wednesday of Ben Chilwell to the squad and continues the long tradition of top Brazilian players gracing the pitch for Chelsea. Malang Sarr also joined earlier this week and will be on loan in 2020/21. Silva was an important player for Brazil as they lifted the Copa America at the Maracana last year and he has represented his country 89 times in total, scoring seven goals. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text As Boris Johnson prepares to launch his campaign to drive people back to the workplace, office employees throughout the UK have mixed feelings about shifting from working from home to getting on public transport and heading back into city centres. A report by academics at Cardiff University and the University of Southampton found that 88 per cent of employees who worked from home during the coronavirus lockdown would like to continue doing so in some capacity. But some workers have said working from home constantly is an isolating experience and are looking forward to the return to traditional working life. Bryce Wilcock, 29, told The Independent that there are some things that simply cannot be replicated in an environment where everyone works from home, and its especially important for those working in creative industries to be in one place. The PR account manager works at Creo Communications in Sunderland city centre, and said he cannot wait to go back to the office in two weeks. My company adapted really easily to working from home, we provide PR, creative design, social media campaigns and such, so everything was really quite seamless and productivity levels were high even when working from home, he said. But theres no replacing the creative cohesion you have in the office, its not something you can replicate in working from home. Weve always been a flexible company, but I think now going forward, remote working is not something well implement as a permanent feature. Socialising with colleagues and developing new work connections was something both Mr Wilcock and Buzz Carter, 23, said they missed about being in an office. Mr Carter, who works in marketing at an online blinds retailer in Essex, said he found working from home constantly too isolating and lonely. His company returned to the office two weeks ago and most of them have been working full time there. Working from home was a mixed bag. I enjoyed not having to commute and have the ability to be more relaxed than at an office, but I did find it isolating because Id be home all day. At the time, my girlfriend was still working from the office, so for about 10 hours a day, five days a week, Id be alone. Aside from going back to the office, commuting to and from work is also at the forefront of employees minds particularly for those who use public transport and have to make longer journeys. Saurav Dutt, a business development manager, said he is worried about difficulties breathing while wearing a mask on a full train and the anxiety of being in a crowded space. He recently started to go back into work one day a week, commuting from Warwickshire to a large office building in central London. I think it will have a bigger impact on staff morale than we realise, he told The Independent. People will be worried while on the journey to work, about being in close proximity with other people in a train at capacity, and will bring that anxiety into the workplace, where they will be exposed to even more people. With winter coming, there is the usual risk of getting a cold or flu, but with this virus still around, fears will be even more heightened. Making the office Covid-secure plays an important part in reassuring workers it is safe to go back. Hollie Hines, a content and digital PR specialist at Clicky, in Chester, said she is happy with her offices new setup and praised her agency for going the extra mile to make staff feel safe. They reviewed the office space and carefully rearranged the desks in an L-shape so we have naturally socially distanced barriers, and we now have a booking system so we can choose when we want to go into the office and book in to ensure there arent too many people there at any one time, she said. Each desk has its own hand sanitiser and they provide us with masks. Weve also been given the option to work from home permanently if we want to, but I go in an average of twice a week, which I really enjoy. Ms Hines said if all companies could operate this way, people would feel much better about going back to work in city centres. Despite the positive tone echoed by some employees about going back to the office, most of them said they did not agree with the way the government is pushing to get people back into the office. It feels like theyre doing it for the wrong reasons, said Mr Carter. People arent being made to go back because working from home isnt effective it is effective but the government is pushing so people have to pay 5 for their Pret A Manger lunch. It just doesnt feel based on science to me, and I cant imagine commuting all the way to London and getting on the tube under these circumstances. Labour called on the government to categorically rule out the campaign, calling it unconscionable to force people to choose between their health and their job. Recommended Labour attacks government for urging return to offices during pandemic Mr Wilcock said encouraging people to go back to the office is one of the few right things this government is doing, but that they arent using the right approach. People with vulnerable loved ones should not be pushed back into the office, and theyre wrong in saying that they may be sacked if they continue to work from home, he said. Reports ahead of the official launch of the back-to-office campaign quoted government sources as warning that working from home isnt the benign option it seems and made employees more vulnerable to being sacked. It should depend on what you do and where you work, it should be on a case by case basis ultimately, no one should be forced to go back to the workplace if they dont feel safe. Sebastian Mattern, a solicitor from commercial law firm Tiger Law, said reports that employees may be at risk of getting sacked if they continue to work from home are absolute nonsense as there are plenty of protections for workers in place. If people have been told to work from home or their employers have offered that opportunity, there is absolutely no difference in the types of protections they are afforded, he told The Independent. Everybody needs to be treated the same way. President Trump's niece, Mary Trump, has been watching members of her family parade in front of the cameras during this week's Republican National Convention, talking about the president being family-focused and compassionate, and she said it's been "disturbing to watch." "Maybe I know better than most people how untrue so much of what they're saying is," Mary Trump said on MSNBC Thursday night. "The idea of passing Donald off as a great family man is up there with trying to pass him off as a successful businessman." People need to scrutinize his actions, she said, instead of listening to "what people who are either related to him or paid by him say about him. We have so much evidence that he doesn't care about other people, that he doesn't care about people in his family, and I'm not entirely sure why American citizens continue to be fooled by the rhetoric." She'd like supporters to take a step back and "forget about whatever party you belong to, forget about your preconceived notions, and pay attention to what's happened in this country in the last 400 years, or four years I can't tell anymore," she quipped. Trump recently published a book, Too Much and Never Enough, about her uncle, and wrote that he used racial slurs. MSNBC's Rachel Maddow asked her how she thinks he may feel about running against a Black woman, Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.). Trump said she thinks "he's going to have a very hard time with it. He's going to have to walk a tight rope." It's not just that "she is a woman of color," Trump continued. "It's Kamala Harris, who knows exactly how to speak to people like Donald. I was really pleased with her speech today because she made it very clear she's not going to pull punches and she is going to go right at the problem, and Donald's not used to that." Mary Trump on President Trump, her uncle: "He feels no shame. He has no humility. And that's part of the reason we're in the mess we're in." pic.twitter.com/eG129cWKjX MSNBC (@MSNBC) August 28, 2020 More stories from theweek.com Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman dies at 43 McConnell inexplicably claims that Democrats want to tell Americans 'how many hamburgers you can eat' 5 more scathingly funny cartoons about the Republican National Convention Every so often, the world of tennis is thrown into the spotlight for reasons that have littl The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), together with the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) and the Swiss Sustainable Tourism Programme (SSTP) have joined hands to launch a new Green Travel section on the national tourism website: www.vietnam.travel/sustainability. Hanoi Foreign travellers dreaming of their next vacation in Vietnam can now find the countrys best sustainable tourism options in one online destination. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), together with the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) and the Swiss Sustainable Tourism Programme (SSTP) have joined hands to launch a new Green Travel section on the national tourism website: www.vietnam.travel/sustainability. Users visiting the section will find articles dedicated to best practices for responsible travellers, guides on following Vietnamese customs and local etiquette, and pieces highlighting the countrys lesser-known destinations. To make it easier for travellers to find sustainable tourism providers in Vietnam, the webpage features a catalog of reputable businesses across the country. Visitors can look up outstanding tours that are educational, ethical, as well as eco-friendly; find sustainable accommodations among lodges, homestays, and hotels; and discover souvenirs such as crafts, textiles, and stationery brands that preserve Vietnamese culture and support local communities. The section also offers hand-drawn infographics on sustainable travel in Vietnam, and in-depth stories for those interested in Vietnams ethnic minorities and traditional craft villages. To make the experience actionable for travellers planning trips, a collection of leading tour operators offering sustainable experiences is also included. In order to ensure the listed companies are standout examples of practicing socially and environmentally sustainable tourism, TAB sought the expertise of SSTP consultants to research the contents of the Green Travel section in accordance with the sustainability criteria established by SSTP for the tourism industry in Vietnam. Tourism officials said the Green Travel section represents progress, and is a first step in Vietnams endeavours to support sustainable travel businesses and assist responsible travellers coming to Vietnam. Over the coming months, the national tourism website will make debut videos showcasing the countrys best sustainable tourism assets and outstanding experiences, and will host giveaways for sustainable Vietnamese products and holidays on its official social media channels, found under the handle: @vietnamtourismboard. Already social media users can show their support for responsible travel by searching in GIFs for the keyword greenvietnam, and posting the stickers to their stories on Instagram and Facebook. Vietnam recently also launched a Visit Vietnam from Home page, encouraging travellers to explore the country even while the borders are closed. The page delivers virtual travel experiences such as 360-degree tours, local recipes, colouring pages, and immersive videos. Not wanting to wake my husband, I tiptoed in the dark to bed. Unbeknownst to me, our 84-pound standard poodle had wadded up the rug beside my bed. I stumbled and hit the floor hard. I dont think Max set out to make me fall when he attacked the rug. But his fun left me with an aching back and twisted knee. Have you ever considered that our careless behavior can cause people to trip in their faith? Jesus said, It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble (Luke 17:1-2 NASB). What Is a Stumbling Block? Blue Letter Bible defines a stumbling block as any person or thing by which one is (entrapped) drawn into error or sin. We may not intend to cause someone to stumble in their faith, but our actions, or lack of, can lead others into error or sin. In Galatians, Paul confronted the Apostle Peter for causing believers to stumble. His hypocrisy led even faithful Barnabas astray. When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray (Gal. 2:11-13). Like Peter, the pressure to conform or not call attention to ourselves may cause us to compromise our faith values. We may think our actions dont matter. But our actions impact others as well as ourselves. In this day and age, we are constantly bombarded with different opinions and agendas, many that are in direct contrast to the teachings of the Bible. The pressure to conform to a world culture that is against Christ is intense. Sometimes when I see someone publicly stand up for whats right, rather than conforming to the popular opinion, I think of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the three young men who stood when everyone else knelt before a golden idol (Daniel 3). Their stand caused them to be thrown into a fiery furnace. It costs us to resist the culture and stand for our faith. But Jesus warned that going with the flow and being a stumbling block that leads young believers into error costs more. Jesus said, It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble (Luke 17:2). In the furnace, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego met the pre-incarnate Christ. Their miraculous protection gained the attention of the pagan ruler. Not even a hair was singed! And their courage still inspires us today. Jesus rewards those who stand with Him, whether in this life or throughout eternity. Dont Stumble Over an Offense After telling the disciples to watch themselves, Jesus talked about dealing with those who wrong us. Was He changing the topic? I dont think so. So watch yourselves. If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them (Luke 17:3). When a fellow believer sins against us, Jesus doesnt say to overlook it. He says to rebuke them. Why would He say that? I believe He wants to protect us from resentment and from passively becoming an accomplice to their sin. This also gives that brother or sister the opportunity to repent. If they are wronging us, theyre probably wronging others too. Rebuking sin protects both of us. We dont want to enable sinful behavior. Photo credit: Sparrowstock Forgive Them Over and Over And if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying I repent, you must forgive them (Luke 17:3-4). The number seven often represents completeness. It means we keep forgiving, no matter how many times they repeat their wrong (Matt. 18:21-22). If someone came to me seven times in one day saying, I repent, I wouldnt trust them. The good news is, Jesus doesnt say to trust them. He says to forgive them. To forgive means to let go, let be. It also means to cancel a debt. In Matthew 18:23-35, Jesus told the parable of a king who forgave a servants huge debt against him. The forgiven servant then went out to collect lesser debts from a fellow servant. When the man couldnt pay, the forgiven debtor threw his fellow servant into prison. After having been forgiven so much by his king, youd expect this man to be eager to forgive those who owed him far less. His unforgiveness shocked all who saw it. Of course, the king represents Jesus, the King of kings. We are the servant who was forgiven much. To not forgive a lesser sin after receiving so much grace after all, our sin crucified the Son of God is wicked and appalling. When the king heard of this mans unforgiveness, he turned him over to be tortured. Anyone who has harbored bitterness in their hearts knows those torturers. Every time you think of that person or how they wronged you, you suffer. When we refuse to forgive those who wrong us, we trip over their offense and others topple over us. Forgiveness protects our hearts from bitterness. Hebrews 12:15 says bitterness can defile many. When young believers see us holding a grudge after God has forgiven us, we become a stumbling block that can lead them into sin. Increase Our Faith The disciples responded much like you and I would, Increase our faith! (Luke 17:5). How much faith does it take to forgive a repeat offender? Not as much as you might think. Jesus tells a story to illustrate that forgiveness doesnt depend on the size of our faith, but the object of our faith. He replied, If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, Be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it will obey you (Luke 17:6). Perhaps Hes saying that a mustard seed of faith can uproot a tree of bitterness. He goes on to point out the difference between doing something because we feel like it and doing it because Jesus tells us to. Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, Come along now and sit down to eat? Wont he rather say, Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink? Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty (Luke 17:6-10). A servant carries out his responsibilities, not because he feels like it, but because its his duty. Even when a servant returns tired and hungry from working in the field, he prepares his masters dinner before his own. When Jesus tells us to forgive, we forgive, not because its convenient or because we feel like it. We forgive because He is our master and we are His servants. We do it to please our Master. Forgiveness is a matter of duty. We dont wait until we have more faith to obey. We choose to obey, and He supplies the strength to let go of the wrongs weve suffered. When were tempted to compromise, may we remember Jesus warning and watch ourselves. Jesus said stumbling blocks will come into the world. May we be careful not to be one. Photo credit: Getty Images/ArisSu 4 Drawing from her walk with Christ, and decades as a Christian counselor, coach, and Bible teacher, Debbie W. Wilson helps women give themselves a break so they can enjoy the fruitful and satisfying life found only in Gods grace. She is the award winning author of Little Women, Big God, Give Yourself a Break, and Little Faith, Big God. She and her husband Larry founded and run Lighthouse Ministries, a nonprofit counseling, coaching, and Bible study ministry. She is an AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) certified speaking and writing coach. Debbie enjoys a good mystery, dark chocolate, and the antics of her two standard poodles. Refresh your faith with free resources at debbieWwilson.com. Manufacturing organizations can realize cost savings and drive business efficiencies CHICAGO, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- YASH Technologies, a leading global consulting, technology, and outsourcing company and its subsidiary, C5MI, has announced that YASH-C5MI DRCM, a packaged solution that addresses the specific plant maintenance needs of manufacturing companies, is now an SAP-Qualified Partner-Packaged Solution. This solution will help organizations with seamless manufacturing operations, accelerate time-to-value, reduce risks, and drive predictable outcomes. Speaking on the announcement, Manoj Baheti Founder President & CEO at YASH Technologies, said, "In these challenging times, YASH and C5MI are focused on helping clients re-imagine business operations as they lay the roadmap to resilience. In partnership with SAP, we have put together DRCM, a scalable solution for organizations to drive business efficiencies in their manufacturing processes. Building on the SAP S4HANA digital core, this solution allows clients to take advantage of their existing applications to create value-added capabilities." On this occasion, Martin Newell Director, Enterprise Asset Management at C5MI, said, "We are honored to have the SAP seal of approval for our rollout approach of SAP Intelligent Asset Management for customers who are just starting or expanding their Maintenance 4.0 journey. By structuring our DRCM implementation methodology into a set of rapidly deployable packages, SAP customers are now able to realize the full potential of their digital investments quickly." YASH and C5MI are the "Partners of Choice" of Fortune 500 organizations globally with their manufacturing consulting, Infrastructure, Cloud, and Digital solutions and services. As one of the largest global SAP service providers, YASH and C5MI have an extensive portfolio of manufacturing solutions and a strong track record of deploying them to enable enterprises to differentiate themselves competitively. The DRCM solution offers several add on packages. To learn more about the manufacturing solution portfolio from YASH Technologies and C5MI (a division of YASH Technologies), visit www.yash.com, www.c5mi.com, or contact [email protected]. About YASH Technologies YASH Technologies focuses on enabling its customers to succeed and drive end-to-end Digital Transformation throughout their enterprise. As a leading technology integrator and outsourcing partner for large and fast-growing global clients, YASH combines operational and IT technology with flexible business models to enable value-driven innovation. YASH's customer-centric engagement framework integrates strong domain expertise and consulting capabilities with proprietary methodologies to provision digital, application, and infrastructure services. Headquartered in the U.S, with delivery and sales centers globally, YASH serves its customers across six continents. YASH is an SEI CMMI (Level 5) and an ISO 9001:2015 certified organization. For more information, please visit www.yash.com or email [email protected] About C5MI C5MI is a services firm comprised of trusted business practitioners with in-depth knowledge and first-hand experience managing world-class business processes, and implementing cutting edge technology solutions for manufacturers and supply chains globally. We are the only firm that offers companies looking to improve their business processes the full package: process excellence advisory and full-scale technological implementation from a trusted journey partner. We will save them money first by making their processes more efficient and effective. We will help them improve their business operations through investments in technology, further increasing efficiencies, always working alongside them throughout their journey. We see ourselves as allies, not as consultants, that's why we excel at providing customers long-term value and continuous improvement to create better, stronger, and more efficient companies. For more information, please visit www.c5mi.com YASH Technologies Media Contact For the United States: Sachin Kumar Singh- [email protected] , +1309 755 0433 For Asia Pacific: Rusha Mazumder- [email protected] SOURCE YASH Technologies Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson testified at a congressional hearing Friday, Aug. 28 that despite attempts to suppress voting, Michigans primary election proved a safe and secure election can be held. Benson was one of several witnesses who testified in Fridays U.S. House Homeland Security Committee, chaired by Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss. Some witnesses and committee members included Mark Dimondstein, the president of the American Postal Workers Union, U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, and Michael Adams, the Kentucky Secretary of State. Thompson said the meeting was held to understand whether the U.S. Postal Service is capable of delivering absentee ballots in Novembers presidential election. During this time of crisis Americans are depending on the postal service to deliver life-saving prescription, essential goods and importantly, the election ballots, Thompson said. Millions of people are choosing to vote by mail for the first time to avoid possible exposure to COVID-19. Thompson went on to say that President Donald Trump has openly acknowledged that he is depriving the Postal Service of additional funding, and that the disinformation hes spreading about mailing in ballots could suppress voter participation as well as undermine confidence in election results. Just yesterday Michigans Secretary of State alerted voters to a racially charged robocalls using lies to discourage minority voters from voting by mail, Thompson said. This must stop. We cannot allow disinformation to destroy our democracy. Related: Michigan SOS warns of robocalls to Detroit voters using racially-charged stereotypes and false information to deter voting by mail Trump has attacked Michigans leadership several times on Twitter during the pandemic. One of those tweets was directed at Benson for mailing all Michigan voters absentee ballot requests. On Aug. 27, Bensons office reported that Detroit voters were getting robocalls deterring them from voting absentee by lying about their information being given to debt collectors, the police and health agencies. Benson said the coronavirus pandemic and misinformation about this years election has brought historic pressures to the states ability to provide safe, secure and timely elections. Earlier this month we held a statewide primary in Michigan, which serves a blueprint for running safe, secure and accessible elections in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Benson said. Our primary success demonstrated that proactive data-driven planning and collaboration at the state and local levels supported by federal resources can result in successful elections this year. This is a good sign for November. However, the emerging challenges in postal delivery with the U.S. Postal Service have created enormous uncertainties for citizens in our state, who seek to utilize an otherwise safe, secure and reliable method to vote absentee. Dimondstein, president of the postal workers union, said there has been a two-pronged assault on absentee voting by mail. First is unfound that argument that the service does not have the capacity to deliver mail-in ballots during this election season, Dimondstein said. Postal workers are up to the test and the Postal Service has ample resources to safely and securely accept and deliver every ballot mailed in. On a daily basis, the U.S. Postal Service delivers almost 500 million pieces of mail and during the typical holiday season, it can deliver about 3 billion pieces of mail. The expected increase of mail-in ballots can be easily handled, Dimonstein said even if all 50 million voters mailed in their ballots. The second unfound charge is that voting by mail is fraudulent. Voting by mail has proven to be an incredibly safe and secure method, Dimondstein said. More than five states conduct their elections entirely by mail. Benson said its clear that even in the midst of a global pandemic people want to vote. More than 2.5 million Michigan citizens voted in August, the highest turnout that the state has ever had for a primary election. The SOS said there has been zero evidence of fraud as a result of absentee voting. Second, we learned citizens need to have a clear, reliable and safe option to vote early, whether in person or by mail, Benson said. More than 1.6 million Michigan voter cast their ballots before election day. Benson noted this amount surpassed Michigans previous record for people voting by mail or prior to election day, which was 1.3 million absentee ballots cast in the 2016 general election. This dramatic increase underscores the importance of expanding absentee and early voting options to all citizens and ensuring they know exactly how to exercise those options, Benson said. Voters must have the choice to vote in person on election day without risking their health throughout our state traditional polling places remained open for August primary. None of Michigans precincts were consolidated and the SOS expects none will be in November either. Election offices were staffed by some of the close to 10,000 new election workers hired by the state, Benson said. The SOS has distributed nearly 1,000 drop boxes in Michigans cities and townships where absentee ballots can be dropped off. Benson said no credible threats have been made to any of the boxes. Benson said the infrastructure and resources for holding a safe election is there, but clerks need more time to process ballots. In Kentucky, Adams said absentee ballots are processed by clerks a month ahead of the November election and that its helped clerks offices tremendously. The results arent announced until the election is over, of course, Adam said. It took about a good week to get all the ballots counted but it would have taken even longer without that. This allows our county clerks to pivot to three weeks of in-person voting. A bill that would allow Michigan clerks to start processing absentee ballots ahead of the election is currently in the state legislature, Benson said. The bottom line for me is that this year, the results of our elections in Michigan, and I believe nationwide, will be an accurate reflection of the will of people. Our elections will be secure, Benson said. There are two other bills that have been introduced to the state legislature that would help with the influx of absentee ballots. One bill, HB 5987, would allow mailed ballots to count if they are postmarked by election day, even if they arrive up to two days later. The third bill, HB 5991, requires clerks to contact voters if the signature on the absentee ballot doesnt match that registered with the state. Now the conventions are over, and the last chapter of the electoral season begins. But does it make sense even to think of seasons anymore? And will the next two months have anything in common with past election years, when Americans engaged in earnest with the horse race, the stump speeches and the all-important debates? The coronavirus pandemic has scrambled our usual sense of temporality, from the day-to-day expectations of being busy, keeping appointments and enjoying weekends, to the larger sense of the year having an orderly progress to it, spring, summer and fall. President Donald Trump's improvisatory politics, his incessant generation of crises and his unwillingness or incapacity to focus and follow through on an agenda have led to 3 1/2 years of dizzying urgency, shifting narratives and a perpetual sense of emergency. But time has never seemed so strange as it did during the Republican National Convention. Both major political parties have traditionally used the quadrennial party gathering to create a narrative, and narratives come with an inherent sense of time. Whether you agreed with and were susceptible to these story line themes - to Ronald Reagan's "Morning in America" and Bill Clinton's "Bridge to the 21st century" - they came with implied ideas about how time flows. The sun had finally come up and a new day was beginning; we would move resolutely forward into a new millennium, and perhaps a new age. It was impossible to discern the temporal narrative from the Republican National Convention, a confusion aptly captured by the idea that Trump would make American great again, again. A nation beset by catastrophes - a pandemic, racial tension, ongoing police violence against people of color, massive unemployment, a collapsing economy, two hurricanes, raging wildfires - was threatened by: a catastrophe, if it elected Joe Biden. And Biden was proclaimed the once and future master of catastrophes, blamed as both the cause of our current crises (given his previous service as vice president) and the progenitor of yet worse catastrophes if he is elected in November. At times, parsing the temporal logic felt a bit like reading an E.E. Cummings poem: The president will redo what he never has done, which was done unto him by he who will undo it. The past 3 1/2 years were strangely absent, in part because many of the things proclaimed as Trump's accomplishments don't have much presence or impact in most people's daily lives and in part because 3 1/2 years is a long time, and to dwell on this period of chaos and confusion wouldn't be flattering to the president's record. Even if you oppose everything the Democrats stand for, the Democratic convention offered a far more consistent sense of how time would operate if the party retakes the presidency. The dominant metaphor was of healing, which implies a slow and steady return to a previous condition. It encapsulates an apparent contradiction, that we move forward to get back to something we once enjoyed. The difference in how time was offered to the public was perhaps best seen in two of the most memorable moments of the conventions: the short speech given by a young man who was inspired by Biden to work on overcoming his stutter, and the curious shouting into an empty room by former Fox News personality Kimberly Guilfoyle. Brayden Harrington's two-minute speech unfolded as gripping drama, a study in courage, in which the audience followed every moment, rooting for him. Guilfoyle's speech felt a bit like a modernist drama from the last century, an absurdist romp, both mesmerizing and endless. One speech had a beginning, a middle and an end; the other felt like sustained madness, a fortissimo blast of pure dissonance with no room for a crescendo or diminuendo or nuance of any sort. The temporal confusion at the Republican convention was largely caused by the confusion of catastrophe narratives that dominated the news. A hurricane was intensifying by the hour; nightly protests were plagued by violence, including a deadly encounter allegedly instigated by a teenager who left a disturbing social media trail of White grievance. And then there were those longer-arc catastrophes, including the monthly death march of the pandemic that began and spiraled out of control on the president's watch, and the economic collapse that may be entering a new period of intensifying severity. Leadership is, in part, a matter of changing people's sense of time. When everything seems to be falling apart, the public is encouraged to stay calm and see the larger picture. Yet a good leader must also build a sense of urgency to deal with challenges that unfold over longer arcs. The phrase "managing expectations" carries a sense of political cynicism - that the public is manipulated by scaling up and down, as needed, the hope and promises of a particular administration. But in a larger sense, managing expectations is the essential business of all politicians, the good ones and the frauds. The current president doesn't do that, because he lives only in the now. Detractors who are exasperated by his lying and inconsistency often suggest that it has something to do with logic, that even the indisputable fact of his having said something on videotape is not registered as evidence when he claims never to have said it. It is difficult to know what is inside his head, but from the outside it often seems as if the mendacity is better attributed to a fundamental temporal flaw in his relationship to the world. The past is simply disconnected from the present or only exists to bolster the immediate needs and exigencies of this moment. When the past is inconvenient, the past vanishes. He doesn't ignore it; rather, it simply ceases to exist. It is impossible to know why he behaves this way, whether it is a psychological or physiological condition or simply an idiosyncratic adaptation that he has learned to use to his benefit. But his influence, as president and as one of the master manipulators of the public sphere, is such that we are all now living some of our lives in that same, strange world of temporal distortion. Yes, it is maddening when people discount facts, evidence and science; but it is even more maddening when they fracture and warp our sense of time itself. Time is an abstraction. We feel it but can't really comprehend it. Waiting gives us one sense of time; immersion in a rollicking narrative another sense of it. The current political season, the next 8 1/2 weeks, will probably be felt by most people as a looming period of insanity and stasis. No crisis, no new outrage, no new catastrophe will unsettle the president's core support; few are likely to alter their vote because of something that happens in the debates or on the campaign trail. For those deeply disturbed by the real crises, including the potential destruction of our democracy, that are directly attributable to the president, the next months are like that period between a worrying diagnosis and a necessary operation. It's best not to think of the malignancy and its growth. Just stay calm and wait until the scheduled procedure is done. For those who believe in the president, despite the ever-larger chorus of insiders and intimates (including his own sister) who have raised alarms, documented the abuses and filled out the narrative of his incompetence and cruelty, the coming weeks will be felt with a similar sense of grim, determined impatience. So, we are all waiting, which is a terrible way to spend time. Waiting is loss, the theft of time, the dissolution of possibilities. But we are waiting for different things. More than half the population is waiting for time to get back to normal, for one thing to follow another with predictable causality, for Americans to start the long, hard work of rebuilding, repairing and healing their desperately sick county. And the rest of the country, that portion of the electorate that believes nothing that is happening today has anything to do with what happened four years ago, is also waiting. But waiting for what? For something worse than what has already happened to not happen, again, again. Radio fined $4K for fake about hospital equipment deficiency during pandemic flickr.com/ Quinn Dombrowski 15:24 28/08/2020 MOSCOW, August 28 (RAPSI) A magistrate court of Moscows Tverskoy district on Friday fined Radio Svoboda (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) 300,000 rubles ($4,000) for fake information on the equipment deficiency in St. Petersburg hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic, the court press service told RAPSI. The broadcaster was found guilty of distribution of knowingly false socially significant information masquerading as hard facts. The media was fined for a publication reading that there is deficiency of lung ventilators and alleged discontinuation of the ventilation of serious coronavirus-infected patients. Earlier, the article was banned in Russia and blocked upon a request of the Prosecutor Generals Office. The Bombay High Court on Friday rejected the interim bail application of Elgar Parishad case accused Prof Sudha Bharadwaj, who is lodged in Byculla Womens jail after taking note of assurances from the state that Bharadwajs health was being monitoried continuously and she was being provided adequate medical attention. The court perused the affidavit filed by the state which included the latest medical report of August 21, wherein Bharadwajs vital parameters are shown to be normal. The court also noted the undertaking by the state that if the need arose, Bharadwaj would be shifted to a super speciality hospital like was done in the case of another accused P Vara Vara Rao. The division bench of justice R D Dhanuka and justice V G Bisht, while hearing the bail application of Bharadwaj, was informed by advocate Ragini Ahuja that there was a contradiction in the July 21 and August 21 medical reports of Bharadwaj. Ahuja pointed out that while the July report said that her vital parameters were on the higher side and she had heart ischemia, the August report stated that her vital parameters were normal and the aspect of heart ischemia was left out. Ahuja questioned the omission claiming the condition of heart ischemia could not be remedied without proper treatment. The state, however, stated that Bharadwajs health was being monitored round the clock and she was being provided proper medication for her co-morbidities. The affidavit further said that the administration was bound to provide all the necessary medical facilities to Bharadwaj and if the need arose, she would be shifted to Sir J J hospital or even a super speciality hospital in the same way as was done in the case of another Elgar Parishad accused, P Vara Vara Rao, who is lodged in Taloja jail. Also Read: Varavara Rao discharged from Nanavati Hospital, returns to Taloja jail After perusing the August 21 report and comparing it with the July 21 report, the bench observed that there was no contradiction in the two reports and stated that since Bharadwaj was being provided round-the-clock monitoring and the necessary medication for her co-morbidities, it was not inclined to grant her bail and hence rejected it. Bharadwaj had approached the HC on June 11 after a special NIA court had rejected her interim bail application on the grounds of health. Bharadwaj had submitted that she suffered from various co-morbidities and due to overcrowding in the Byculla Womens prison, she was susceptible to contracting the Covid infection, hence she should be granted bail. Vehicle checkpoint on the Pacific Highway on the Queensland-New South Wales border in Brisbane on April 15, 2020. (Patrick Hamilton /AFP via Getty Images) Unborn Baby Dies in Australia After CCP Virus Border Exemption Confusion An unborn baby died this week after an Australian woman heavily pregnant with twins waited 16 hours for emergency care in Sydney, allegedly after she was told she would be unable to cross the Queensland border due to CCP virus travel restrictions. The family of the woman, who is from Ballina in New South Wales, claims she was forced to travel from Lismore to a hospital in Sydney after she was initially told she would be unable to obtain a CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus border exemption to undergo surgery at the Gold Coast University Hospital in Brisbane, some 125 km (78 miles) away. The womans father, Allan Watt, told media outlets that the family found out on Thursday that one of the unborn twins, who were 24 weeks along, had died. He said the baby became anemic during surgery at Sydneys Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. They waited 16 hours at the Lismore Base Hospital before they could get a care flight to Sydney and they got to Sydney at one in the morning and operated on her about 6 or 7 hours later, he told the Courier Mail, adding that he believes if his daughter was treated in Brisbane, it could have made a difference. They found out yesterday and went for a scan and the baby was deceased. She was the healthy bub and unfortunately she was the one who passed away yesterday, he told 4BC radio on Friday. Watt said a doctor told the family they could not cross the border for care. Its busted our family apart, Im up here, her sisters and brothers are in Queensland and theyre in Sydney, Watt told the radio station. Queenslands top health official Dr. Jeannette Young granted the border exemption for the Ballina woman after she had already flown to Sydney. Young said that applications for CCP virus exemptions are not required in emergency cases, and ambulances or helicopters wont be stopped at the border, AAP reported. The health official said she has received a flood of requests that has made it difficult to filter and process genuine applications. I believe I am a compassionate person but at this point in time we are working through the process. All of these exemptions come to me and I work through them, she said. Thats not sustainable because we are getting so many requests now, we are getting very large numbers of requests, particularly from Victorians who want to come up to Queensland because they dont want to remain in lockdown. I actually genuinely believe, and we do this in Queensland, that whenever possible you should get care close to where you live, the chief health officer added. You shouldnt be travelling for hours to get care, so this applies to people who live in NSW. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk described the death of the baby as an absolutely tragedy. This year, home has become far more than just where the heart is. It's where millions of people have been working, sleeping, attending school, cooking and entertaining. Droves have fled cities looking for quieter landscapes and more space, and home renovations are more desirable than ever. But the perfect home isn't always perfect from the get-go, and for some, taking on a renovation project could be the ideal move. "A fixer-upper can be challenging but ultimately leads to a beautiful, tailored house with the added potential for great return on investment," Benjamin Massey, an architect and real estate developer focused in New Orleans and New York City, told TMRW. To find out what a fixer-upper entails before taking the leap, TMRW spoke to Massey and real estate broker Janen Ardia. After all, we're not all Chip and Joanna Gaines! Prepare for the process Massey, an architect and real estate developer, works on a living room renovation in a fixer upper in Savannah, Georgia. (Courtesy Benjamin Massey) While some folks may feel like a DIY pro after a few months spent at home, investing in a home flip is an intensive process that takes time, resources and usually some professional guidance. "Fixer-uppers are definitely for people who enjoy a project. It can be fun, exciting and rewarding to purchase a house and customize it to your needs," Massey said. To take on this endeavor, Massey, who is expert in architecture, design and real estate, advises understanding the steps and finding the right professional to help in each case. The realtor: It can be a painstaking search to find the right project. A realtor can help locate a house with good bones in your desired neighborhood that meets most of the homeowners needs, while an architect/designer can finish carrying out the vision to accommodate the homeowners lifestyle and improve the propertys value. The architect is trained to handle major renovations from letting you know if walls can, or should, be removed, updating the curb appeal (how a home looks from the street), or letting you know if it is possible to fit that bidet into the bathroom (if not, there's always the attachable kind in case there's another toilet paper shortage). The designer can also help assemble the color and finish selections needed to create a harmonious feeling throughout the home. A good designer can help you prioritize projects and provide alternative solutions that ultimately save you time and money. For example, a fresh coat of paint on old cabinets, some new countertops and fun lighting can completely transform the kitchen without getting into major renovations. The contractor handles the building work, from basic carpentry to full renovations and additions. When looking to hire a contractor, it is important to get bids from multiple people and select someone you get along with. Massey generally speaks to at least three different contractors before selecting one for the project. Story continues Find the right property Massey designed an open concept bathroom with lots of natural light. (Courtesy of Benjamin Massey) According to Ardia, the saying, "location, location, location," holds true in any market and right now, houses are in high demand at premium prices with low mortgage rates and limited inventory. Homes in suburban or rural areas are of interest to many and it's important to find the right property, especially when considering resale. "A level piece of property, preferably not on a well-traveled road and in an area where conveniences are plentiful, is your first step. A house that has the best potential is usually one that is desirable during most conditions in the market; a ranch, a colonial ... they both have excellent resale appeal," Ardia told TMRW. It's also great to find a house with the potential to open the floor plan so that the main living area can be visible from most of the entertaining area. Watch for red flags and hidden costs According to Janen Ardia, who has 36 years of experience in real estate, red flags for flips include septic systems older than about five years (they should be tested either way), a home with electric heat and old windows. These are expensive to fix so unless you're prepared to drop thousands of extra dollars in addition to renovations, steer clear. With older homes, Massey said there are typically hidden costs such as termite damage, rotten wood, busted pipes or old heating. Ventilation and air conditioning equipment can also add up. It's important to have a full inspection (or two) before jumping in. Since repairs and renovations can be time consuming, consider it may be challenging to live in the house while it's under construction. If it's an option, it might be wise to tackle many of the larger renovations before moving in. "A major rule of thumb with almost any remodeling project is to remember that it will typically end up costing more than you think; the price usually has a way of escalating once the project begins," Massey said. "However, when done thoughtfully, the homeowner will enjoy these upgrades while inhabiting the space, and these projects will most likely pay off later when they go to sell." What are the most important rooms to fix up or look for in a fixer-upper? A spacious kitchen with lots of good light, new appliances and storage should be a top priority. (Courtesy Benjamin Massey) The kitchen, the bathrooms and outdoor living space are the three most important areas of focus when planning your renovation, according to Ardia. "Without a doubt, the kitchen is always the room you should look at and how you can make it even more appealing. Does it have the ability to be 'opened up?' Can an island be part of it? Plan on taking your cabinets to the ceiling so storage space is plentiful," Ardia said. "You dont have to spend a fortune on quality, but most buyers are savvy when it comes to particle board cabinets and vanities or solid wood. Spend the extra money when flipping; it will make a difference." If a home has carpeting throughout, plan on installing hardwood floors. In addition, spacious rooms are desirable and, particularly for larger suburban homes, at least two bathrooms plus a half-bath is something buyers typically look for. "Since the pandemic, buyers are now imagining themselves staying home, working at home and vacationing at home. Sell the lifestyle and the house will go with it," Ardia recommended. Ready to renovate? Follow Massey's key professional tips Create an open kitchen space with lots of light. Before Massey invests in a fixer-upper or designs one for a client, he creates a plan detailing the renovations room-by-room, each little wish or desire he or the client wants and all the repairs that need to be made. Before outlining your own, consider Massey's tricks of the trade: The World Health Organization will next week receive a raft of pledges of support for its plan for COVID-19 vaccines for all. But the agency has already had to scale back its ambition. The United States, Japan, Britain and the European Union have struck their own deals to secure millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses for their citizens, ignoring the U.N. bodys warnings that vaccine nationalism will squeeze supplies. If other countries that can afford it pursue a similar approach, the WHOs strategy for fighting the coronavirus pandemic globally and equitably risks coming undone, experts warn. If that were to happen, its fairly clear that there would be insufficient volumes of vaccine available for any other countries, particularly in the first six to nine months, said Alex Harris, head of global policy at the Wellcome Trust health charity. Countries wishing to be part of the WHO initiative, dubbed COVAX, must submit expressions of interest by Monday. More than 170 countries, including Canada, Norway, South Korea and Britain, have submitted non-binding expressions of interest to participate in the scheme, which the WHO has touted as the only global initiative to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are available worldwide to rich and poor countries alike. It has signed up nine COVID-19 vaccine candidates and set out plans to obtain and deliver 2 billion doses by the end of 2021 across countries that sign up. But it has struggled to get wealthier countries on board in full beyond pledges of funding and warm words about donating surplus vaccines. Last week, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus criticised nations that hoard vaccines, warning the strategy will worsen the pandemic. In a last-ditch call for support ahead of Mondays deadline, he wrote letters to members urging their participation. The EU Commission is fully committed to the success of COVAX while it enters into parallel talks with vaccine manufacturers for supplies for the bloc, a spokeswoman told Reuters. Britain said it was supporting COVAX to ensure equal access to vaccines, including funding, while doing its own bilateral supply deals. White House did not immediately comment on the situation. The United States did not participate in the launch of the programme in April or a fundraising event in May. DEALMAKING The EUs aggressive dealmaking for vaccine supplies and tepid statements about COVAX have in particular undermined the initiative, which is co-led by the WHO, the GAVI vaccines alliance and the CEPI Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. The European Commission is likely to pledge cash for COVAX but it is also securing its own supply deals for member states, deeming COVAX too slow and expensive. Brussels has told countries they can help fund COVAX, but cant seek to buy vaccines via both schemes, a Commission spokesman said. Forced to choose, some countries have pulled out of COVAX entirely. The Czech Republic and Portugal were listed as early backers, but government support appears to have cooled after joining the EU vaccine procurement programme. Prague has opted for the EU programme instead. Portugal has asked for an initial delivery of 6.9 million doses of vaccine when the EU programme becomes available, the government has said. Asked if it would take part in COVAX, a spokesman for the countrys drug regulator INFARMED said it would coordinate its participation in the programme with other European nations. Other WHO members, which are already major donors to existing global vaccine programmes unrelated to COVID-19, are still on the fence too. Brazil, with the worlds second worst coronavirus outbreak outside the United States, has not yet decided whether to participate, a health ministry spokeswoman said. In Japan, deputy Health Minister Hisashi Inatsu said he would like to enter discussions about participating, but the government has not said if it will submit an official expression of interest by Monday. Like many wealthy nations, Japan has ordered its own supply of shots, with almost 250 millions of doses of potential vaccines booked from AstraZeneca, Pfizer and BioNTech. RADICAL DEPARTURE Officials say both COVAX and government deals can run in parallel, but thats a radical departure from the original plan outlined in the spring. In acting alone, countries will create a few winners and many losers, Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, warned on Monday. It also means poorer or less powerful countries may go to the back of the queue for vaccines that could help them control the pandemic. The risk is that access to COVID-19 vaccines will be defined by purchasing power and the ability to sign advance purchase deals rather than the medical needs or the shifting epidemiological situations, said Dimitri Eynikel, EU representative on medicines and vaccines for Doctors Without Borders. The initiative is all the more significant for the WHO as scrutiny grows on its handling of the pandemic. The results of the first round will highlight the challenge of tackling a global crisis with competing individual interests. One senior European government official explained the dilemma facing wealthy nations: how to support a vaccine for developing countries when there may not be enough for your own population. Diverting resources abroad is difficult to sell at home, he said. 54/54 Nakkiah Lui has been given her own publishing imprint at Allen and Unwin named after her grandmother Joan. Joan will start with a handful of titles, the first of which is due to be published in late 2021 or early 2022. Lui, who will soon start filming her new series Preppers and is adapting Black Is the New White for TV, said she wanted to lend her audience and networks to supporting new voices who have struggled to access mainstream publishing opportunities. Credit:Renee Nowytarger ChartRequest is proud to announce that its ranked No. 799 on the annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nations fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economys most dynamic segment its independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. Its an honor to be on the Inc. 5000 for the second year in a row, said Christopher Carter, Executive Chairman of ChartRequest. Since our establishment in 2012, weve been driving innovation in our field by constantly refining our HIPAA-compliant release of information and care coordination software. Over the past eight years, weve developed into an industry leader. Yet we still have the agility and creativity of a start-up thanks to our forward-thinking team that listens to our clients, anticipates their needs, and integrates new features into the application accordingly. To date, ChartRequests growth has predominantly been organic, driven by word-of-mouth, while the companys primary focus has been on developing its software. In the past year, however, ChartRequest has also started to ramp up its sales and marketing organization to meet the demand for software and services in the HCIT segment. Looking ahead, were planning to continue expanding service lines, Carter went on to say. In the near future, well be launching new healthcare software products to enhance the ChartRequest portfolio. Well be customizing our flagship release of information product to meet the specific needs of our requestor customer segments plus, well be releasing an entirely new software solution to streamline several workflows for healthcare providers. Stay tuned for more developments! About ChartRequest Founded in 2012 in Atlanta, GA, ChartRequest is a healthcare information technology and services company that specializes in electronic medical record fulfillment, outsourced medical record fulfillment, and referral management solutions. The company leverages forward-thinking strategies and innovation to deliver automated, HIPAA-compliant solutions that empower solo physician practices, large group practices, national urgent care platforms, imaging centers, community hospitals, and integrated delivery networks to streamline their operations and reduce their overhead. In addition, ChartRequest provides a secure, paperless release of information platform for legal firms, insurance companies, ERE users, and other requestors that need to protect sensitive and business-critical information. ChartRequest is dedicated to eliminating manual and paper processes in ROI and referral management in order to realize 100 percent electronic workflows for its clients and staff. Since its establishment, the company has managed more than 500,000 secure requests for protected health information on behalf of its providers. The network using its services to exchange vital continuation of care documentation currently comprises over 5,000 healthcare providers in 49 states. For more information, visit https://www.chartrequest.com/. CONTACT: marketing@chartrequest.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 21:27:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has decided to extend a debt moratorium for the country's crisis-hit tourism sector by six months, local media reported here Friday. A debt moratorium on capital and interest for Sri Lanka's tourism sector which was initiated in April 2019 in the wake of the Easter attacks and expected to expire on Sept. 30, has been extended until March 31 2021, the CBSL announced. The CBSL requested licensed commercial banks and licensed specialized banks to provide moratoriums following representations made by the Ministry of Tourism and in light of the ongoing effects of the pandemic on tourism-related businesses. Tourism industry stakeholders, including The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) and Colombo City Hotels Association (CCHA), welcomed the moratorium extension, citing difficulties faced in the wake of the 2019 Easter attacks and the pandemic. Sri Lanka's international airports remain closed to foreign tourists, with zero arrivals recorded since May, as the government continues to keep a tight lid in order to eradicate the pandemic. Enditem By Lee Hyo-sik Korean Air released a statement, Friday, demanding the Seoul Metropolitan Government stop blocking the sale of a site in downtown Seoul, which the air carrier seeks to dispose of to raise much-needed cash. Korea's largest flagship carrier said the city likely violated the law by designating its 37,000-square-meter site in Songhyeon-dong, Jongno-gu, as land for a public park, urging city officials to stop infringing on its property rights. The company bought the former compound of embassy housing for American diplomatic personnel for 290 billion won ($240 million) in 2008 to build a hotel. But it has been unable to do so because of opposition from the city government. To secure cash amid its worsening bottom line and plunging travel demand, the carrier now wants to sell the property, worth about 500 billion won. But Seoul city has designated the site as a public park, driving off those prospective buyers. "Seoul city has not secured enough money to buy the Songhyeon-dong land. It does not have specific plans either on how to create the park," Korean Air said. "The city government's action is tantamount to blocking the sale of our private property, which is illegal in fact." The company also said the city should scrap the plans to build a park on privately held land and stop obstructing its attempts to sell off the property. In June, the air carrier filed a civil complaint with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission against Seoul city for interfering with its plan to sell the site, which is part of its self-rescue measures to stay afloat. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-28 05:09:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Almost one-third of the world's 1.5 billion schoolchildren affected by the COVID-19 shutdown of their schools were unable to use remote learning, a UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) report said on Thursday. "For at least 463 million children whose schools closed due to COVID-19, there was no such a thing as remote learning," said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF executive director. "The sheer number of children whose education was completely disrupted for months on end is a global education emergency." "The repercussions could be felt in economies and societies for decades to come," she said in a release accompanying the report. It used a globally representative analysis of the availability of home-based technology and tools needed for remote learning among pre-primary, primary, lower-secondary and upper-secondary schoolchildren. The report considered access to television, radio and the internet. Then it took into account the availability of curriculum delivered across those platforms during school closures. Even when children have the technology and tools at home, they may not be able to learn remotely through those platforms due to competing factors in the home, including pressure to do chores, being forced to work, a poor environment for learning and lack of support in using the online or broadcast curriculum, the report said. Children from the poorest households and those living in rural areas are by far the most likely to miss out during closures, the report said. Globally, 72 percent of schoolchildren unable to access remote learning live in their countries' poorest households. In upper-middle-income countries, schoolchildren from the poorest households account for up to 86 percent of students unable to access remote learning, UNICEF said. Globally, three-quarters of schoolchildren without access live in rural areas. The report highlighted significant inequality across regions, with schoolchildren in sub-Saharan Africa the most affected, where at least half of all students cannot be reached with remote learning. It also noted varying rates of access across age groups, with the youngest students most likely to miss out on remote learning during their most critical years of learning and development. Enditem ZEBULON, N.C.: A Tesla driver, whose car was on Autopilot mode, was watching a movie on his phone when he crashed into a sheriffs deputy car, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said. A state trooper and a Nash County deputy on Wednesday were on the side of U.S. Highway 64 and responding to a previous crash when the Tesla slammed into the deputys cruiser, news outlets reported. The cruiser hit the troopers car, pushing the two officers to the ground, the patrol said. No one was hurt. Authorities have charged Devainder Goli of Raleigh with violating the move-over law and watching television while operating a vehicle. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could comment. Teslas Autopilot system is designed to keep a car in its lane and a safe distance from other vehicles. Autopilot also can change lanes on its own. Last month, authorities in Arizona said a California man was driving a Tesla in Autopilot mode when it hit a state troopers SUV on the side of the highway and pushed it into an ambulance. As of January, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has started investigations into more than a dozen Tesla crashes dating to at least 2016 in which the agency believes Autopilot was operating. Tesla has said repeatedly that its Autopilot system is designed only to assist drivers, who must still pay attention and be ready to intervene at all times. The company contends that Teslas with Autopilot are safer than vehicles without it, but cautions that the system does not prevent all crashes. Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor Photo: (Photo : Photo by Daria Obymaha from Pexels) A study in Belgium shows that children who grew up in an environment with greener spaces have higher IQ levels. Hasselt University researchers conducted a study that looked into 620 children who are seven to fifteen years old. Other studies have already proven that green space can affect cognitive and behavioral aspects. However, this study by Belgium researchers is the first to tackle intelligence as an outcome in living in greener spaces. The study proves that there is a direct correlation between IQ and greener spaces. READ ALSO: CDC Says Kids Consume More Fast Food, Experts Reveal It Is Not Very Surprising Result of the study by Belgium researchers According to the Optimist Daily, the study shows that kids who live in urban areas with greener spaces (specifically 3 percent) have an IQ that is 2.6 points higher. In previous studies, the IQ level of those who live in greener spaces has already been seen as higher. However, some argued that the higher IQ levels could be because of higher financial resources. READ ALSO: Grandparents Are "Too Soft" or Too Lenient to Kids, According to a Study That is something that has been addressed in the recent study of Belgium researchers. The wealth and education of the study's subjects were controlled, and still, there is a correlation between the intelligence and more significant greener spaces. Aside from kids' IQ level, rate in behavioral challenges among kids who live in greener places also appear to be significantly lower according to the study. The Belgium researchers' study shows that kids who live in greener places have lower aggression and a better attention span. READ ALSO: 6 Tricks That Parents Can Use to Encourage Kids to Study What do the findings mean? Mainly, the study wants to show the public health impact of knowing that there is a correlation between kids' IQ levels and the environment where they live. The paper states that "These findings are relevant for policymakers and urban planners to create an optimal environment for children to develop their full potential." READ ALSO: American Moms Work for 98 Hours a Week, a Study Reveals Purpose of the study Previous studies only focused on urban areas and the IQ level of kids living in those areas, and this study explored even the rural areas. The intelligence and behavior of the kids were also studied in this research. The Belgium researchers who conducted the study on the IQ levels of kids aim to understand health disparities in urban and rural environments. They believe that as these matters are understood, maintaining and improving one's well-being can be achieved as well. READ ALSO: Studies Say Keyboards Can Be Full of Bacteria, but How Can We Keep Them Clean? Vioguard Explains Masks and activewear were among the few bright spots for Gap Inc., which posted a sales decline of 18% for May, June and July compared with the same period a year ago. Athleta, which focuses on active and leisure wear, was the only subsidiary of the company to report a sales increase during that time. Banana Republic, which focuses on trendy office wear, was the weakest of the lot, the company said in its earnings call Thursday. The San Francisco retailer, which also owns Old Navy, Janie and Jack, and Intermix as well as its namesake Gap stores, saw its second-quarter sales fall to $3.2 billion from $4 billion in the same quarter a year ago. The company said it brought in about $130 million from selling face masks to people and companies during the three-month period. Gap said its second-quarter results improved meaningfully compared with the first three months of the fiscal year. Online sales skyrocketed, up 95% from the 2019 second quarter, while in-store sales dropped 48% during the coronavirus pandemic. Gap said it began reopening stores closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in May, and by Aug. 1, approximately 90% of its stores worldwide were open. Sales at Athleta rose 6% compared with a year earlier, while sales at Old Navy fell 5%, sales of Gap brand merchandise were down 28%, and sales at Banana Republic fell 52%. Banana Republic faces the biggest challenge as many Americans continue to work from home and dont need traditional office attire . The pandemic has caused a shift in consumer behavior, said Kirthi Kalyanam, director of the Retail Management Institute at Santa Clara University. Shoppers have no choice but to buy online even those who love to shop in stores may have inhibitions because of the virus. But as long as people are at home, the need for a stylish wardrobe seems less. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes The retail industry had plenty of troubles before the pandemic, with fewer people visiting malls and neighborhood stores, and an abundance of online competition. But since March, the industry has faced a worsening crisis as stores have closed, some permanently, and shoppers pulled back on spending amid rising unemployment. While bankruptcies have mounted among apparel chains pummeled by the coronavirus outbreak, other retailers, such as sporting goods, home goods and hardware stores, have seen sales climb. Gap is expecting to permanently close 225 underperforming Gap and Banana Republic stores mostly at malls this year. Three of four San Francisco Gap stores have recently closed, including the companys Market Street flagship location. Gap released its earnings after markets closed. Its shares fell 2% in after-hours trading. Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shwanika Instagram: @shwanika LVMH and Tiffany push back deal deadline by 3 months 28 august 2020 News French luxury goods giant LVMH and U.S. jewellery chain Tiffany will give themselves another three months to complete their $16.2 bn tie-ups after the deal did not close on the Aug. 24 date set out in deal documents, according to media reports. Louis Vuitton owner LVMH agreed last year to buy Tiffany in its biggest acquisition yet, betting it could restore the lustre of the U.S. jeweller by investing in spruced-up stores and new collections. Under the deal terms, Tiffany and LVMH set Aug. 24 as the first deadline to complete, but with the proviso that one of the parties could push back that deadline as far as Nov. 24. The deal between LVMH and Tiffany has yet to receive the regulatory approvals it requires, in particular from the European Union. Since the acquisition was agreed, LVMH deliberated about whether to renegotiate the deal, in part on the grounds of the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on Tiffany's business. But in the end, LVMH decided not to seek a re-negotiation. Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough&Polished OGDEN, Utah, Aug. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney Theron Morrison of Morrison Law Group, Utah's only statewide bankruptcy and debt defense law firm, was one of only five attorneys in Utah selected to appear in the upcoming issue of The Top 100 Attorneys of 2020. Attorney Theron Morrison of Morrison Law Group, Utah's only statewide bankruptcy and debt defense law firm, was one of only five attorneys in Utah selected to appear in the upcoming issue of The Top 100 Attorneys of 2020. As founding attorney for Morrison Law Group and one of the top five attorneys in Utah, Morrison leads the state's largest bankruptcy and consumer protection law firm with debt relief services related to chapter 7 and chapter 13 bankruptcy, workouts, delinquent taxes, loan modifications, short sales, student loans, and defending Utahans against illegal collection. Morrison Law Group has served more than 20,000 Utah families since its founding in 2004. Top 100 Magazine candidates are selected utilizing proprietary software, which employs an algorithm to search a variety of online resources -- including social media, blog posts, peer reviews, and Google indices -- for industry-specific terms and keywords. Once the software has compiled a preliminary list of qualified candidates, the selections are analyzed manually by Top 100 Magazine staff to make the final selections. The magazine also accepts nominations through their website and social media channels. Morrison holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and criminology from Metropolitan State University of Denver and earned his juris doctor degree from Willamette University College of Law. He has served as the Weber County Bar Association president as well as president of the National Consumer Bankruptcy Council, an affiliation of some of the nation's largest bankruptcy firms. The National Consumer Bankruptcy Council honored Morrison as "National Bankruptcy Attorney of the Year" in 2015. The Morrison Law Group is Utah's only statewide consumer law firm with a focus on debt relief services, including bankruptcy, student loan debt, short sales, taxes, and creditor harassment. The firm has offices in Logan, Ogden, Sandy, and St. George. For more information, visit morlg.com. Contact: Cassidy Palmer [email protected] 801-872-3871 SOURCE Morrison Law Group Related Links https://morlg.com/